Elective Complications
Episode Name: Elective Complications Written By: Fortunae Cast: Albertz, Dakin, Donavon, Fortunae, Gellan, Havaris and Stewart. Produced By: Starfleet Directed By: Fortunae Aired On: Wed Jul 30 05:28:12 2003 Stardate: 53397.7
Time: Tue Jul 29 20:42:39 2003
Stardate: 53396.8
Unseen, due to the ultra-tech wizardry of the Romulan Star Empire, the Advent of Sorrow, or Ts'Lux T'Gora in it's native language, slips into the atmosphere of the planet of Occa. Bypassed are the sensor sattelites, ignored the ground sensor stations that search the nearby reaches of space for uninvited intrusion and the sleek vessel adjusts to a graceful glide plane descending path that will take it once over the city...
On the bridge of the vessel, the alert eyed Lieutenant Tolsar of the Romulan Star Navy adjusts his stiff backed position on his command throne, saying "Sensors, report. Have you pinpointed the location of the Terran diplomat?"
A young female officer responds without taking her eyes off of her screen, "Yes, sir. The humans were surprisingly clever to implant him with a subdural tracking and locator device. It made picking him out of a city full of humans very routine. I must inform you that your supposition was also correct sir, they do have the area he is held in cordoned off with transport inhibiters. No doubt salvage from the war, they are of Federation Manufacture."
Tolsar nods and swivels his command throne to face the aft portion of his bridge. "Have you selected a suitable beam down position that will not show up on the municipal transport scanners?" A mature male officer standing in a leaning position over a station in the aft portion of the bridge responds, "I have, sir. There is a warehouse in the sub-urban sector of the city that was prepared for the liberation of the planet during the war by the resistance and has been kept prepared for covert transportation. I found it by pulling up the battle plan operations data on file in our Occan situational report and checked all the listed sites, this is the most convenient one. It also shows a benefit of allowing easy commandeering of local civilian ground vessels for use in transit once deployed."
Tolsar nods and swivels his chair back around to face the front. "Transporter Room, inform our passengers we are coming about to deploy them, and will feeding them local scans, navigational orienteering data and the position of their rescue point to the mission commander's PADD. Jolan Tru, Starfleet." He then steeples his fingers and awaits placidly the announcemet that his will has been executed.
Moments later, within the confines of a large warehouse, six strips of green light emerge from points, expands in particle sparkles and then solidify six persons in starfleet uniforms. There is a silent moment as the whine of the transporter fades, then in the distance the sounds of ground car traffic can be heard. It is night time here, local planet time nearing midnight on a world where that is still referred to as the witching hour...
Dakin reveals his Combadge.
Dakin reveals his Type II Phaser.
Dakin reveals his Tricorder.
Gellan reveals her Tricorder.
Donavon reveals her Type II Phaser.
Donavon reveals her Combadge.
Albertz reveals his Combadge.
Havaris has his rifle shouldered during transport, though it lowers now that he materializes, the diminutive Bajoran eyeing the interior of the darkened warehouse without the benefit of his rifle's floodlight. Stealth is, after all, the order of the day. Or, in this case, the order of the night. He takes a pair of steps forward, turning towards a window of the warehouse to move closer to it. Trusting his eyes above the tricorder at his hip, apparently. Only then does he reach for his PADD, step away from the window, and begin accessing the mission plan. "Get me a tricorder scan of the area. Maintain communicator silence and nobody turn on their lights. Check for nearby ground-vehicles. Dormant ones, preferably." Havaris glances up for a moment to note, "And secure a perimeter. I need to review the information the Romulans gave us."
Gellan looks around to get her bearings, standing still until her eyes adjust to the change in lighting. Her tricorder is out, but it's her natural abilities she uses to scan first. Black eyes scan the warehouse, focus 'off' somewhat, as she concentrates. And then she nods slightly, looking to Havaris. "I only sense one person nearby, probably security, but I think he's asleep," she says after stepping closer to him to speak softly.
Dakin looks over to Donavon and Stewart and points them over to opposite corners of the warehouse, near the catwalk-entry staircases, for perimeter detail. He himself inches his way over to a door on the west side of the building. "The Romulan's orbital scan placed several large vehicles just outside this door," he says to Kusto in a soft voice. He takes position alongside the door, waiting for Kusto's cue.
Eyes settle to the encompassing darkness in order to gain relative night vision, a bit cumbersome to say the least. Donavon's fingers slide over her held phaser as she raises it into position while padding softly towards a corner for the perimeter check. She peers about, searching past the windows to confirm the scans the Romulans had provided them while noting sounds of anyone approaching.
Stewart shoulders the rifle he's carrying, to draw the Type II, and heads over to take his corner position, crouching behind a crate and peering over, ready to take action if anyone should burst in. He keeps his eyes open, watching for signs of movement.
Albertz blinks a couple of times upon beam-in, somewhat taken aback by the darkness. Deferring to the security officers until immediately ordered to do so, the nurse walks backwards a few steps and looks around, giving a nervous tug at the strap of his medkit.
Donavon wields her Type II Phaser.
Dakin wields his Type III Phaser Rifle.
The darkness becomes less so as their night vision begins to shift to compensate from the brightness of the Romulan transporter room to meet the needs of the local environment... the only sounds aside from that of the distant traffic remain those made by the starfleet away team.
. o O Sleeping Guard thinks "No no ladies, a perfect 300 score on the bowling round does not actually require you to be my concubines, but I won't resist if you insist..."
. o O Dakin thinks "Okay, so far, so good. No fireworks... yet... check the charge... full-bore, good to go... hope someone can operate one of those contraptions..."
. o O Donavon's heart palpitates reflecting the rising nervousness, a normal pre-emptive jitter in anticipation over the mission.
<CONTEST> Havaris contests his Security (Security) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
. o O Stewart is excited and tense, though not particularly worried. To him, this is a game. A particularly intense and high-stakes game, but a game nonetheless. In other words, he's having fun.
Havaris nods down at his PADD in agreement with Rann, "So they did. They also promised us the Orb of Destiny. And we know how well that went." Havaris spends a moment more frowning at his PADD before letting out a soft, nasal sigh. "Right. This is where having Thea would come in handy. I know jack-all about internal combustion engines." Without further ado, Havaris replaces his PADD and flips out his tricorder, scanning briefly before shifting his gaze up to the window of the overseer's office, three stories up among the catwalks. He frowns rather much at said window. Raising his voice just enough to carry, Havaris gives the very definition of a briefing. In that it's brief. "The lifeform is up in that office. So be careful. We have 22 klicks to cover into the city center. The Ambassador is on the twenty-third floor of a thirty-story building in downtown New Florida. We need to commandeer a vehicle and drive that distance, or our window is closed." With that, he moves to the door near Dakin, eyeing its surface and jamb for something. What, it's hard to say. After a moment, he shoulders his weapon and replaces his tricorder at his hip, dropping to a knee before the door. "The door is wired. I saw motion sensors on the car park through the window. The wires lead up there. To the office. Where there's a sleeping guard. I can handle the doors, someone needs to handle a resonance interference on their tricorder. Just enough to hide us from the motion sensors. The guard stays sleeping, the locks roll over once we pass through, and the motion sensors are sated after we've left. Nobody knows. Hopefully, nobody notices a truck is missing. It's a risk we take. I'd rather not risk confronting the guard /or/ dropping the security network from the office, in case they're networked to the local security forces here. So. Get me that resonance field, get over here, and once I get the locks rolled, we move. Any questions?"
Dakin looks over to the door where Havaris looked, then turns to the group and shakes his head. "None here. Only just to be safe, I recommend having Stewart or Donavon covering the guard from a distance in case something goes wrong and he gets roused from the blissful slumber."
Havaris eyes Dakin at the suggestion, giving him a nod. "We'll need two resonance fields, but it's sound. Stewart? You're covering the guard. The rest of us head out. Rann? Want to get to work on your tricorder?" Havaris continues to jimmy at the lock and security thereof. Carefully.
Gellan's eyes drift upward, toward where Havaris said the sleeping guard is, and then follow him across to the doors. Great. Of all the times not to have an engineer on the team. She looks hopefully at the others on the team, while slipping over toward Havaris and the doors.
GAME: Dakin spends a courage point.
<CONTEST> Dakin (claiming advantage) contests his Personal Equipment (Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!
With a flick of her eyes and a slight nod, Donavon silently nods to Stewart, clear on this end to cover the guard, as she assumes to protect the rear of the group. She stands clear of the two Lieutenants and their work, phaser readied. Constant eye swiveling occurs, shifting about in order to catch any changes.
<CONTEST> Stewart contests his Stealth (Stealthy Movement) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!
Stewart starts heading up along the catwalk, trying to get into a position from which he can adequately cover the guard. Which means the third floor catwalk, in this case. Which will take him awhile, as he's currently more interested in getting there without ruining the plan than in getting there fast.
<CONTEST> Dakin contests his Security (Security) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Havaris contests his Security (Security) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!
Albertz follows close behind Gellan and the other two Lieutenants, each step deliberate, calculated to make the least amount of noise possible. No questions from the Scot thus far, perhaps a bit of hoping everything goes without a hitch, but no questions for the time being.
. o O Albertz thinks "They'd've been better off sending Doctor Malloy on this mission. Not me. I'm the one that's around to knock over that tin can that gets us discovered!"
Havaris, still working at his task on the door, glances up at Dakin briefly with a raised eyebrow. "How's that field coming, Rann?" Havaris glances back to the guts of the security panel before him, finally crossing the correct wires. There is a click, the panel light remains contentedly green, and Havaris breathes a near-silent sigh of relief. "Door security and locks bypassed."
. o O Havaris is currently earily calm, as compared to his usual state of twitching tension. He is in his element, charged with nervousness and excitement, yes. But not anxiety. This is confidence.
Dakin frowns and shakes his tricorder a couple times. "Almost tripped the Wraith-damned thing just now... giving it another try..." He keys in another sequence, hoping this one will work.
<CONTEST> Dakin (claiming advantage) contests his Personal Equipment (Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
"Hey, Rann?" Havaris glances up with a grin. "Don't get us killed, huh?" Ah, jokes between war buddies. Certain to inspire morale.
<CONTEST> Stewart contests his Stealth (Stealthy Movement) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!
Stewart continues along the catwalk, up onto the second level. Almost there, almost there. Little further, and then everyone will be done bypassing the security and it'll be time to sneak back down.
Gellan lets out a silent breath, sort of deflating, since she was holding it. She glances behind her to Albertz, and then beyond to Donavon. The joking gets her attention back, and she screws up her face. "Yes. Please." Smile.
As Stewart is creeping along... suddenly out of the darkness he sees a face looming into view!
... then he realizes he's just seeing himself in a mirror further down the catwalk.
Albertz tries on his best impression of a sneaky security man by staying out of the way in a hopefully inconspicuous spot. If you think you're melting into the shadows, you /are/ melting into the shadows. Hamish allows himself a small smile at Havaris' wisecrack and cinches the strap to his medkit a little tighter without even being aware of the action itself.
<CONTEST> Albertz contests his Presence (Willpower) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!
Anything to clear the air of tension, the joking causes Donavon to crack a hidden grin. With her back towards the main group, she peers around including an eye scan above at the skylights, then over at where Steward disappeared off to.
. o O Donavon thinks "Remember this isn't a movie. There won't be any ninjas crashing from the overhead skylights to take us out."
Dakin smiles as the sequence he inputted apparently did the trick. "Got a stable field." He looks to Kusto and Sharra. "All the same to the two of you, I've got better things to do than die and risk the collective post-mortem wrath of Thea and Morgan. We're clear."
"I hear that. Thea'd bring you back just to kill you again." Kusto butts his rifle gently into Rann's leg as he straightens up, in rather good spirits all said. "That field is good enough to cover the door to the truck. Stewart will have plenty of time and opportunity to sneak out once we get the truck started. Move out, double cover. Myself and Rann, Albertz and Sharra. Meg, you bring up the rear. Let's move." Havaris then tugs open the door, peers outside, and rolls out of the door while waiting for Rann to follow suit. He makes his way rather directly for the nearest truck, drawing up at its back between the truck and the wall, neat and flush.
Gellan wields her Type II Phaser.
Albertz settles into the shadowy spot he's chosen, not particularly hidden but at least comfortable there. Unfortunately, Hamish McStealthy has managed to position himself directly beneath a leaky pipe high above him in the warehouses' rafters. A large, cold, wet, unpleasant drop falls earthward and lands smack dab on the back of Hamish's neck causing the nurse to nearly jump out of his skin. Biting down hard on his bottom lip, he manages to confine his surprise to a shiver running down the length of his body and a supressed nigh-inaudible gasp. That was close.
Dakin moves out after Havaris, having pouched his tricorder and brought his rifle to bear. He follows along silently as possible, his back to Kusto. His eyes scan the night sky and their immediate surroundings for any possible resistance. Sure, psionics and orbital scans have them effectively unchallenged. The worst kind of trouble is the kind you can't see or feel.
Stewart peers out at around the second level mark, sees that people are now filing out again, and so back down he goes. Sneaky sneaky as possible on a metal catwalk, and taking his time rather than going pelting along. Better to miss the truck than ruin things for everyone else.
<CONTEST> Stewart contests his Stealth (Stealthy Movement) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!
Gellan finally pulls her phaser free, trading it for the tricorder. She waits at the door for Havaris and Dakin to roll out and make for the truck. Once their both clear, she turns to nod to Albertz, and then scurries out the door trying to keep low, run, and not shoot herself in the foot in the process.
Hand motion to her neck, Donavon signals to Albertz to watch himself. Things are tense enough not to tempt the ninja fates. Phaser is brought up as she slides into position, back to the main group. Once Gellan and Albertz have passed through the doors, only then does she follow, but with constant peering over her shoulder and around.
Albertz tugging his collar upwards to dry his neck, Hamish hurries along behind Gellan when prompted by her nod. His hand rests on the phaser on his hip but he doesn't draw the weapon. Running with phasers is all good fun until someone puts an eye out.
. o O Donavon thinks "Why am I the butt of every situation?"
<CONTEST> Stewart contests his Stealth (Stealthy Movement) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!
Outside, the night is clear and the stars shine down upon the landscape... the trucks like slumbering beasts are still and huge in comparison to the Bajorans that creep from the warehouse in advance of the remainder of the team. The Truck park is boxed in by a chainlink fence about 4 meters talk, vaguely on the far side of the park a gate near the empty street can be made out. In the near surrounding area, more large warehouse like structures, and further on between spaces in same, can be made out the shapes of domiciles and streetlights.
Stewart finally makes it back onto ground level. Once there he moves a little more rapidly, but is still putting an emphasis on not making noise. And he's significantly behind the rest of the group right now, playing catchup.
Dakin looks over to the gate as he backs himself against their chosen truck aside Kusto. "One of us should get the gate, while another of us tries to figure out how to operate this thing." He then casts an eye to the rest of the away team, making sure everyone's accounted for.
"I'm pretty sure I've got the most vehicular training. No practical engineering background for this thing, however. I'll give it a shot. The rest of you, get in back. Anyone with any engineering background in material engineering or vehicular maintenance? Speak up now. Otherwise, I'll get in the cab and get to work. Dakin? Wait for Stewart. Hand off your Tricorder to him and hop in. He can check out the gate and get it open. It's what he does. We'll be invisible by that point, to the sensors."
Havaris no doubt says this. Yes. Yes, he does.
Gellan makes it to the truck, ducking behind it and hopefully out of sight. The truck is then given a dubious look, as a thought occurs. "This is a combustion engine?" she asks, turning to Havaris. "Aren't they a bit noisy? Someone is bound to take notice of it at some point..?"
"You're mentioning this to me... now?" Havaris blinks at Gellan and rubs at his face. Momentary frustration. "Right. So we push it out of the gate and start it elsewhere." Kusto eyes the truck with a small frown. No. Not happening. Muttered aside to Dakin is the instruction, "Give me your tricorder, go back in, tell Stewart to neutralize the guard. If there's some sort of operating device to make this thing go easier? Tell him to grab it."
<CONTEST> Albertz contests his History (Earth - 1908's) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!
GAME: Albertz spends a courage point.
Dakin nods to Havaris, then hands him his tricorder. As Stewart make his way closer, he approaches, meeting him halfway. "James, we need you to head back in, neutralize the guard. And if you find anything that'll get this gate open or get the truck running without more jury-rigging, snatch it up." He heads back to the truck, head turned halfway to see any kind of acknowledgement of the order from Stewart.
Gellan winces, mouthing "Sorry," to Havaris. "I didn't realize what it was till we got out here." She leans against the side of the truck, chewing at her lip and fervently wishing she'd had time to follow up on a certain invitation.
<CONTEST> Albertz (claiming advantage) contests his History (Earth - 1980's) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
Donavon slides into place with barely a scurry or trip in the process. The vehicle in question is granted a most solemn of looks, examining it momentarily. Since the command portion is being handled by the Lieutenants who will hopefully set the plans in motion, she assumes point it watching everyone's tail - that is glancing about for signs of life.
Stewart is just emerging after having gone up the catwalk, and back down, and now out again. And now it's time to go back up, and back down? "Uhh... right. You got it. Any idea what such a thing would look like, or should I just empty his pockets?" He waits briefly for the answer before heading back in.
. o O Donavon thinks "I call shotgun! Oh..sit in the back. Okay we're not sitting in the back. I'll stick to watching everyone's back."
Havaris looks towards Stewart with an apologetic shrug and a gesture to the truck, then a wave of his hands and an open mouth to, perhaps, communicate a loud noise. He ends with a dismissive gesture of a hand and a thump of his forehead against the back of the truck. Twice. "I hate this planet." Straightening back up, he turns to offer Sharra an understanding smile and resumes his otherwise confident air. "Just a set back. Nothing more."
Dakin thinks for a minute on his way back then says, "Keys or any kind of electrical device. But yes, empty his pockets all the same. And check his neck, he might be wearing a key or device on a neck cord." he then turns full attention to climbing into the truck's back section.
Ding! The proverbial light-bulb goes off over Hamish's head. Luckily it doesn't light up the whole area. Edging along the truck, practically sticking to it like some bad parody of a secret agent, the Scot slowly makes his way over to Havaris. "Sir!" he stagewhispers almost a little too softly, "I know what this is. It's a /truck/. If we can find a the mechanical key tae start it, I can drive it. I think. I have in holosims and adventures before." The last bit he's not so sure about, but the first bit Hamish would take to the bank. Find the key and he can get the crew where it needs to go.
Speaking up for once during this delightful midnight mission, Donavon whispers, "Sir, my only concern is how inconspicuous we'll appear driving this vehicle out at this hour. Is it normal for this 'truck' to be on the road compared to a smaller vehicle?" Shoulders shrug a tad at voicing the concern that in all appearances can't be settled. Glancing around, there aren't many options and when life hands you lemons….The Ensign quiets and continues to scan the area.
<CONTEST> Stewart contests his Stealth (Stealthy Movement) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!
Dakin says to Donavon, as he gets settled into the truck alongside her, "We used a similar tactic the last time I was here, Ensign. Assuming we don't run into any of the local constabulary and keep a low profile, we should be able to make the trip all the way to the objective without a problem."
. o O Dakin thinks "I hope."
Vocal this time? Not so. Donavon merely nods her head while pondering further on the situation.
Plod plod plod, up goes Stewart to the first level of the catwalks, moving as quietly as he can manage. Of course, stunning an unconscious man is about as noble as clubbing baby seals, but someone has to do it. The stunning, that is.
Havaris eyes Hamish's enthusiasm with a fair amount of skepticism. He adjusts his rifle slightly, peering the man up and down with a bit of a shift of his weight. "Mind if I ride with you? I mean. If you are /certain/ you can handle this thing... that's fine. But. By certain? I do mean certain." Havaris then glances aside at Donavon with a small shrug. "I don't know /what/ would be inconspicuous here. So. Maybe? I don't know." Havaris shifts again, annoyed at his own lack of knowledge in this department. Havaris shifts his gaze to Dakin with a small nod. "Good. We'll do that, then."
. o O Donavon thinks "If it happened last time, wouldn't they expect it this time? Need to stop jumping at shadows. Dakin and Kusto know what they're doing."
Gellan follows Dakin and Donavon up into the back of the truck, as quietly as possible. "I suggest we make ourselves hidden, just in case someone looks out a window and wonders why there's a group of people in starfleet uniforms riding in the back of a truck.."
"Certain as my forehead's clear of cutlery sir." Hamish's eye flashes briefly as the streetlight catches it, cause by a wink? "We find the key sir, the five tonner'll get us where we want tae be."
After briefly considering the trucks arranged in the truck park, a canvas covered cargo truck with a fold down tail seems perhaps the most suitable for what they need...
<CONTEST> Stewart contests his Stealth (Stealthy Movement) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Stewart contests his Stealth (Stealthy Movement) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!
Stewart slowly works his way up the stairs, slipping into the office. He holds the phaser about a half-foot from the sleeping man's torso, and gives him a nice healthy stun. Looks like that nap has been given an extension. Once inside, Stewart grabs the keys. All fourteen sets. And then he begins looking around the office briefly, as a quick check.
<CONTEST> Stewart contests his Personal Equipment (Primitive Tech) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!
<CONTEST> Stewart contests his Security (Security) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Gellan contests her Stealth (Hide) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Fails!
<CONTEST> Havaris contests his Stealth (Hide) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Dakin contests his Stealth (Hide) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Donavon contests her Stealth (Hide) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Fails!
<CONTEST> Albertz contests his Stealth (Hide) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!
Stewart takes a moment to reset the password to the security system (to 'htszmrj0k9i3ab27o7u152g0vn58l61efpx64d9qys43w8', though the magic of fist-on-keyboard typing), and grabs the videophone. The way back down is no problem, no need to sneak with the guard out. Once back with the rest, "We have fourteen trucks, and fourteen keys. And a videophone."
Havaris slowly evens out his expression at Hamish's reply before stating as flatly as flat gets. "Get your uniform into the cab of this vehicle, Ensign, and let it bring your body with it. I will be joining you." Havaris jerks a thumb over his shoulder and glances aside at Stewart, "Give the keys to Albertz. I'll ride shotgun. The rest of you, get in the back. I'll navigate our way. Stewart?" Havaris underhands him the tricorder. "Once we're in, go open the gate for us. We'll pick you up as we drive through."
Havaris adds, "Stick near the truck. We need to move as a pair. You and. This truck."
Dakin grabs hold of one side of the truck's back. He looks to the other occupants of this part of the vehicle. "And yes, you can take this as an indication this is nowhere near a smooth ride."
No pretense as Donavon gets into the back of the truck. She leans forward hoping to peer through the canvas and not in the least realizing that she is noticable. "What's another bump along the way, sir?" She attempts at a faint smile, then shifts sights away from the other occupants towards the open end.
Gellan makes a face and does the same, carefully putting her phaser away to have both hands free to grab. Or whatever.
. o O Havaris is mad. At Albertz. A lot.
The back of the truck carries the mixed scents of mixed produce and even more strongly the offensive scent of diesal fuel permeating the very fabric of the canvas cover.
Stewart hands off the big bundle of keys to Albertz. He salutes Havaris, and says, "Right." And then, sniffing the air, asks, "What is that smell? And more to the point, is it toxic?" He falls into line next to the truck, letting the truck serve as partial camoflage to approach the gates.
Havaris steps around the truck's cab and climbs into the passenger side of the vehicle. He shuts the door as quietly as he can and eyes the interior skeptically. Lovely. "It's fuel. My wife stinks of it sometimes." Havaris adds a moment later. "Nobody light a match."
Albertz hurries over to retrieve the keys from Stewart and goes about the process of trying each key in the door of the truck, after what seems like an eternity (half a dozen tries) the door opens and Hamish scrambles up into the cab, a bit of bounce in his step now that he's actually contributing something. Stretching over the seat, he unlocks the passenger side door for Havaris. "Alright...key goes in here...." he searches around in the dark for the ignition, inserts the key and fires up the truck. He buckles up and checks his hair in the mirror(?!) before shifting into gear and slowly edging the truck towards the gate.
Dakin purposefully takes his finger off the trigger of his phaser rifle and turns the stock of it to where he is now cradling it in an upright position.
"Or misfire," murmurs Donavon, head tilted back to peer over her shoulder. One hand is applied to the bed, hoping to mantain a balace while the other holds onto her phaser.
The Truck... rumbles and shakes and roars and vibrates to life. It is load, it is unpleasant, and things in the cab make high pitched sounds of droning and annoying pitch.
GAME: Albertz spends a courage point.
<CONTEST> Albertz (claiming advantage) contests his Vehicle Operations (Ground Vehicles) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
Gellan waves the hand not holding on to the side of the truck in front of her face, wrinkling her nose. "Gods. If they don't hear us, they'll smell us."
Havaris watches Albertz work the truck alive, then squints at the dashboard as things begin to move. Interesting. The noise is off-putting, however, if his expression bears any clues. He leans his head out the window and calls to Stewart. "We're moving. Keep time." Havaris then notes to Albertz. "Stop before the gate. Let Stewart get us through, move through, let him close it up, and hop in. Then we move."
Dakin sighs as the truck begins to move. "No, can't forget that sound. Prophets know I've tried..."
<CONTEST> Stewart contests his Security (Security) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!
Donavon's head uplifts, eyes blinking. Awful noise? She listens to the heavy cranking of the diesel engine and shrugs. This coming from a woman who adores listening to bagpipes.
Once the group reaches the gate, Stewart heads up to try to deal with the padlock. He pulls it out on the chain, beginning to try to futz with the internal workings in an effort to spring it open. And he's not having too much luck right now. He leans back to call out to the truck, "How important is it that the lock stay intact?"
Albertz does exactly as ordered. Stops the truck at the gate and waits for Stewart to work his magic. "Where are we going from here, sir?" Hamish cranes his neck to look up and down the road, checking for traffic.
"That depends," Havaris calls back, "did you tie the guard up before you left him?"
Stewart calls back, "No... but I disabled his alarm switches, took his phone, and his keys. And it might take him awhile to even figure out anything is wrong."
"Break it. We're short on time." Havaris leans back in to the cab and calls up his map on PADD. "Out onto the road, here, left. Then up the main pike to the main artery into the city. I think taking something this large down back streets is roughly equal to asanine."
<CONTEST> Stewart contests his Fitness (Strength) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!
Stewart slings the rifle off his shoulder, to bring the butt to bear on the lock. He gives it a few good, solid thumps, examines it, and then mutters something under his breath. Something that'd be cut by any prudent censor. So then he swings the rifle back around, pushes the barrel up to the lock, and fires. "Door's open", he notes.
As stewart fires his rifle, more noise is made by the lock breaking and falling to ground than the weapon discharge itself.
Havaris watches Stewart's work with a crook of a grin. His head shakes in amusement before he notes aside to Albertz. "Should have been an Engineer." Havaris motions forward with two fingers and calls back to Stewart, "Get in back. We've got a party to crash."
In the distance, the sounds of dogs roused and barking can be heard to carry on the wind.
Albertz leans over to read off the PADD as Havaris explains the route he wants taken. "Aye, it'd be a fairly tight squeeze an' rather incongruous. Main street it is, sir." Hamish settles back into his seat and drums his fingers on the steering wheel, waiting patiently while Stewart first struggles with then finds a quick solution to the lock problem. Shifting into drive, Hamish pauses just long enough to allow Stewart to climb aboard, hangs a left and starts driving towards the destination.
"What in blazes?" Donavon murmurs silently to herself. The sounds of lifesigns, the dogs barking, are heard and Meg tugs out her PADD to review over the earlier scans, almost to memorize the area. All this reading during the bumpy ride semi turns the stomach, but she manages to get by.
Dakin takes position low and immediately to the rear of the truck. He lays his rifle down in a ready-to-fire position in case any pursuing animals appear.
"I really hope that's not company." Stewart swings the gates open, and then circles around to jump in the back of the semi, taking up a position near a handhold for the ride. His rifle strap is wound around one wrist to ensure it won't accidentally slip free, even if it comes off his shoulder.
"Dinnae want tae look too out of the ordinary." Hamish feels around with one hand for a bit and flicks on the headlights, nodding in satisfaction when he finds the switch. "There. That makes things much easier." He's quite happy, bouncing along in the massive diesel and begins to whistle some nondescript tune as the truck trundles along.
And so the truck sets off into the night, disturbing the peace of the suburbs but not unduly so. To the surprise of some, Albertz merges into traffic with only a little hesitation, he obeys the speed limit, he stops when the lights dictate such is required. The fact that the local language is close enough to Fed Standard for him to read the signs, that Havaris has a pre-planned route, and that all that oft mocked study of late 20th century earth culture is finally coming in handy finally is reassuring to the medical officer. As they pass from the suburbs toward the city proper they begin seeing large digital billboards calling on support for various candidates in the upcoming presidential elections. In bright primary colors they flash messages of support for Occa for Occans, for Occans and Earth reunited, for openness to the galaxy at large, and yes, even the embrace of Federation Membership.
Amidst the light late night traffic they also spot the distinct NFPD patrol cars sleekly moving down the streets in rather steep numbers considering the hour, and then, as they stop at a red light at a V intersection, the massive seven story high digitally animated advertisement board flashes images from the local news networks, an add for a particular brand of fast consumer take out food, and a public warning announcement for calls to come in immediately if a specific person is seen. Do not approach. This person is dangerous and if spotted is at work to subvert the Occan government with seditious acts.
What is perhaps the most surprising to Lt Havaris who rides up front and has an excellent view of the public service message is, he recognizes the face being shown from front and either profile as the undertext scrolls full of dire warning...
The face is Lieutenant Dylan Golden, the title below it says Starfleet Operations Terrorist ...
GAME: Havaris spends a courage point.
<CONTEST> Havaris contests his Planetary Tactics (Small-unit) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
Havaris stares up at the billboard curiously, squinting at the scrolling text to see what's so bloody-well popular about Dylan Golden. His lips form an 'oh' as his eyebrows shoot up. Kusto evens out his expression with a vague smirk, turning his head to regard Hamish in profile for a moment. "Well. What do you know, Mister Albertz. Looks like I'm not the only fellow labelled as a terrorist aboard station." He smiles thinly for a moment before glancing back to the road ahead as they pass the image of Golden by. "And by the way? You never saw that." Havaris settles his rifle across his lap just so.
. o O Havaris is briefly overwhelmed with a smug sense of moral vindication.
Albertz stares at the sign a few moments before moving to Havaris and back to the road, chosing to ignore the just so rifle. "Some peoples dearest wish is tae see their name in lights. And...there he is. His mum must be so proud." Hamish shuts his mouth tight after that, concentrating on his driving.
Dakin continues covering the rear of the truck, while still staying out of sight of any passing motorists. The grip on his rifle tightens as the team nears their objective.
The truck travels deeper into the city, and as it does, Havaris formulates a cunning plan... he only has about ten minutes to explain his plan and prepare the immediate steps, but fortunately he can open the back window of the cab and explain his needs through that opening while the Scotsman follow the main traffic artery toward their objective...
Stewart is taking this time to relax, with his rifle kept near him, but out of direct sight of passers-by. Musn't upset the locals. It tends to cause problems, and all.
Gellan scoots closer to the window so she can hear Havaris over the rumble of the truck. Not to mention it gets her a little farther from the exhaust. Not much, but who's counting.
. o O Albertz is suddenly very surprised by something. Not a spike of fear or terror, more of being startled by the unexpected.
Crouched low on the bed, knees pressed for balance, Donavon slips her phaser at her hip until the ride is over. She leans closer to the front cab, straining to listen to the objective from the Mission Commander.
Dakin scrambles back a little after seeing Havaris poke his head in. He sits seated against the back of the cab so he can hear, but still facing the rear of the truck with rifle in hand.
Havaris falls silent to consider matters, reviewing his PADD and cross-referencing it all with the equipment on hand and his own stock of tricks-of-the-trade. Once he's got a working notion, Havaris rolls up onto a knee and draws open the sliding hatch to prop himself up and motion the Security folks over for a little conference. "This... is going to be tricky. To put it mildly. Once we get to the building, we can access a service elevator from the underground parking garage, it goes all the way up. So the plan is? We bypass the garage entrance with a tricorder pulse, send the cameras into a loop with a re-broadcast of a patched signal. Hopefully, the elevator will be accessible and on the ground when we arrive. If this is /not/ the case, we proceed up the shaft-- you and me, Jimmy -- to level six. One floor below their security level. We poke our heads in, neutralize the opposition, and drop the security networks as necessary. Drop the elevator. Pick up our team. Rendez-vous on floor seven and proceed up to twenty-three. Find our package, drop the inhibitors, call the T'slux, and get our tails the heck off of Occa." Easy! Ahem. "If any of you have a better plan, I'm all ears."
Stewart lifts one hand casually, saying, "Do we know the location of the inhibitors? If we made them our primary target and took them offline, we could cherry-pick the package out of there."
Dakin nods. "I have to agree with Stewart. Though with the addition that we get visual confirmation of Martinez before we evac. Check his physical condition and so forth. Then on up to the roof, take out the inhibitors, call for dustoff."
"With the package, Jimmy. On floor 23. Spec Ops and the Romulans gave us pretty solid intel. The package is with your alternative targets on the same floor, so regardless? We're still going to the same place and facing the same opposition. Mind you, the preferable method of extraction is to return to the truck and return to the warehouse for undetected extraction. That's plan A. Plan B, we take our beam from the site of the package. I'm all for Plan A if it's tenable. Either way, we have to go in and up to execute either option." Havaris shakes his head at Dakin. "It's too risky. We can't forfeit the integrity of the operation's secrecy. We try for Plan A. If that's not going to work, we take our trip from the site. Otherwise, we're back to our initial rally point for extraction. Any other suggestions?"
In the hands of the experienced, Donavon mentally takes notes to review over later and watches the interplay between the three higher up officers. At the mention of picking up the team, she knows her purpose with a flicker of a glance at the driver, then the counselor. If there's a gnawing suggestion, she forces it behind with a tense line to her mouth. No need to delay the mission longer. Just trust in your superiors.
<CONTEST> Gellan contests her Receptive Empathy skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Succeeds!
Stewart shakes his head, saying, "I think that covers everything, actually."
Albertz listens closely to Havaris as the Bajoran outlines the plan. Eyes on the road and hope that you're told to stay with the truck and keep the engine running.
. o O Donavon isn't entirely certain that splitting up the group is the best plan especially if they are detected early on, but does maintain a grip on the gut feeling.
Dakin shakes his head. "None here." He says nothing else at the point, keeping his eyes glued to the rear of the truck and beyond, covering it with his weapon.
"Sharra? You got that? Albertz?" Havaris glances into the cargo hold of the truck, then aside to Albertz to verify his plan is grasped by those that need to understand it.
Gellan listens to the discussion, and during the lull opens her mouth to make a comment. But it's cut off abruptly, her head lifting sharply. She looks around quickly, as the truck moves along, and then visibly winces. "Gods," she groans. "Who..what is it? Stop. Stop the truck."
Dakin blinks and reaches over, placing a hand gently on Sharra's shoulder. "Sharra, what is it?" He gives Havaris a brief look of concern before directing her full attention on the counselor.
"Stop. Stop." Havaris whacks Albertz's arm gently. "Stop. Do as she says." Havaris doesn't question the Betazoid, apparently.
Gellan is frantically looking around, sitting up in the bed of the truck. And then she points, to an alley off to the right. "Down there," she says softly, almost a croak. Its obvious by her expression that she's feeling pain. Someone elses's pain. "A woman. Being beaten? Tortured, maybe. We have to do something," she adds, turning a pleading look on Havaris.
Albertz's mouth is half open about to give an affirmative answer to Havaris' question when he's cut off by Gellan and shortly thereafter Havaris' command. The desire to remain inconspicuous somehow override's Hamish's first impulse to slam on the breaks and he slowly pulls over on the side of the road. All nice and nonchalant.
A car honks it's horn in annoyance as Albertz's pull over to park without signalling.. the driver offering a rude hand gesture as he passes the truck cab and drives on.
"Do we know who?", Stewart asks quietly. And then, after a moment, he adds, "Because this doesn't sound like part of our mission objectives. As bad as that may be to say."
. o O Havaris is, to be blunt, conflicted.
Donavon nods in agreement with Stewart, him voicing the majority of her thoughts. Eyes narrow to slits, not anger but sympathy for the Betazoid, but reality and objectives are harsh most of the time.
Dakin hefts his rifle, as if ready to charge, but remaining seated where he is. "Whichever way we go, Kusto," he says, resigned, "it's your call."
Havaris glances down at the seat back for a long moment. This is why Line Officer exams usually have you blowing up your own ship or sacrificing a planet of billions for the sake of some greater good or other. Starfleet wants to make leaving one woman getting beaten in an alley an easy call. Without lifting his head, Havaris noes aside to Albertz. "Drive." He offers back into the belly of the truck, "ETA is four minutes." And with that, he shuts the sliding window and rolls back into a seated position to stare out onto the passing traffic.
Dakin nods and gives a sympathetic look to Sharra before re-assuming his rear-cover position.
Gellan shakes her head, her eyes on the alley now. "No. We can't just leave her..he'll kill her," she says, darting looks back to Dakin and Havaris, and then shakes her head as the window is closed. She clamps her mouth shut then and turns back to staring down the alley.
. o O Dakin thinks "We don't have a choice here, Sharra. I... I'm sorry..."
Albertz resists the temptation to give that Occan motorist a few choice Glaswegian gestures himself. "Sir...we cannae just drive by like /nawt/ happened. We're kind of involved now." Hamish turns in his seat to face Havaris, "We hop out an fix this. Thirty seconds, that's all it'll take!" He looks into the back of the truck as Gellan speaks again, "They'll /kill/ her, sir."
. o O Unknown woman feels pain... fear... pain... desperation... ahhh... release... nothing.
And as he talks, apparently the Doctor is not continuing toward the target objective.
Stewart pats Gellan on the shoulder, "It happens. And you tried. You had your say. Blood's not on your hands, this time. Let it go. There's nothing to do about it now."
Donavon leans back against the truck's side, chin lowered. All that remains is the wait until the influx of arguements arises and the truck doesn't start. "But who is this her, Hamish? She could be a criminal being punished under their system. We have our orders." Still and quiet now, she tries to refocus on the mission.
"Mr. Albertz, I gave you an order." Havaris is still staring out on the street. "Get this truck moving. Now." Havaris raises his voice tersely and sharply, "Thank you, Mister Donavon, that will be all."
Gellan slowly shakes her head. "Kusto is right. We can't risk it." She sighs and sinks further into the bed of the truck. "Its too late now anyway." Pulling her legs toward her, she wraps her arms around her legs and rests her head against her knees.
Albertz floors the accelerator and peels back out into traffic, nearly snapping off the shifter every time there's a gear change required. He doesn't say a word, no not one. Lips pursed tightly together, eyes locked on the road, not wanting to acknowledge for one moment what's sitting in the driver's seat next to him.
Dakin frowns deeply upon hearing Gellan's words, but says nothing more. Nothing that would cause a delay in the mission and necessitate any more time that necessary spent on this Prophet-forsaken rock.
"Steady, Mister Albertz," Havaris offers at the violence of the driving, "you will calm down and drive less conspicuously. Get us caught, that woman died for nothing." Havaris shifts his gaze back out onto the road with a rather weighted sigh.
Stewart knocks on the window with his fist, "You mind not getting us killed back here? Thanks. I really appreciate that. And not getting the attention of the authorities would also be grand. Thank you."
. o O Albertz is desperately trying to reign in his emotions, a roiling cauldron of anger, disgust, disappointment and heartbreak. Around the edges of that seething mass, calm patterns of order try to break in, slowly but surely they're succeeding.
Since she wasn't holding on to anything but her knees when Albertz floored it, Gellan gets rolled over to her side, spilling with a soft "oomf." Without even pushing herself up, she shoots a glare toward the cab of the truck.
. o O Gellan thinks "Oh, way to go. If I don't get us killed, he certainly will. Note to self. No. More. Distractions."
Albertz slows down to an appropriate speed, still completely focused on the road. He does break his concentration momentarily to cast a glance over his shoulder and through the back window, but says nothing.
A hand drops against the truck's side as her body is tossed one way or that. Donavon mutters darkly for teeth slammed hard against another when truck is reeled forward.
<CONTEST> Stewart contests his Personal Equipment (Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Havaris contests his Personal Equipment (Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Havaris (claiming advantage) contests his Personal Equipment (Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
GAME: Dakin spends a courage point.
<CONTEST> Dakin (claiming advantage) contests his Security (Security) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Dakin contests his Athletics (Climbing) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Stewart contests his Athletics (Climbing) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Dakin contests his Security (Security) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Dakin (claiming advantage) contests his Security (Security) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!
<CONTEST> Stewart contests his Security (Security) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!
About four minutes later, right on the mark really, the truck turns onto the down ramp leading to the parking garage under the target skycraper. The gated barrier blocks them and a computerized panel awaits their resident security card to activate the gate going up....
Stewart has his tricorder wedged between his feet so as to keep it from sliding around in the event of sudden bumps. This means he's working leaned over, tapping buttons sporadically with a look of concentration. And then eventually he pushes the 'transmit' button. Witness the magic that is a 24th century garage door opener.
Albertz rolls down his window and goes through the motions of swiping an imaginary card through the system, just to make it look semi-authentic.
Havaris is silent for the rest of the trip, staring alternatively at the road outside of his window and Albertz's reflection in it. Once they begin to drop towards the gate, Havaris opens the window into the back and notes, "Stewart, you're up." And once he's up, and the tricks have been implemented, Havaris whips out his own tricorder to begin prepping his scans.
Gellan gets herself back into a sitting position, though she stays low, ready to clamber out of the truck if and when it's time.
Dakin gets a single-hand grip on his weapon, then pulls out his own tricorder for his particular part in this opera.
Donavon slides a hand over her phaser, but nonetheless observes the tense situation.
Havaris works at his tricorder intently, finally nodding his head with satisfaction. "Got a signal lock. Pretty primitive feed, really... Give me a moment to patch it through into the loop." He adjusts his tricorder a touch as he works, attempting to work up the ploy that will buy them the time they need.
The security gate lifts... Stewart's magic apparently good enough... the truck rolls past the gate arm after if lifts and they are inside, past the first hurdle...
Havaris gets the precious footage necessary to fool the cameras into his tricorder's memory and works at routing out a broadcast override. He frowns as he works, finally easing that frown into a vague expression of satisfaction. With that done, slings his tricorder and breathes out a sigh. "Park. It's time to move out."
The parking lot is empty of movement or signs of activity except for those of the Starfleet Away Team, though it is quite full of ground vehicles parked in orderly spaces...
Albertz throws himself into the task of driving around, making like a truck searching for a parking spot while Havaris works the tricorder. Once the loop is established, Hamish parks the truck in a spot as close to the entrance point as possible that will allow an easy egress if and when necessary.
Dakin is the first to climb out from the back of the truck, his rifle slung over his shoulder as he works to get the doors to the elevator unlocked. He cycles through a few bandwidths until finally nodding in approval. "James, get your gear ready. We have ourselves an elevator."
After Dakin's tampering, the elevator doors slide open to reveal that elevator is in fact parked far above at the 7th floor....
Stewart shucks his tricorder back onto his belt, slinging his rifle back onto his shoulder, and getting the climbing gear ready to go. The gear is tucked neatly under an arm, as he scurries on out of the truck, hopping to the ground. "Ready to go."
Havaris rolls out of the truck, dropping to the ground to shut the door quietly and jog to the doorway behind the pair. When the doors open upon an empty shaft, Havaris frowns. Figures. "Jimmy, Rann. Get up there. Get in. Get the grid in hand and send us that elevator. We'll pick you up and continue on our way to the Ambassador's floor. Move it." Havaris then turns to drop to a crouch, watching their backs over his rifle. "The rest of you, find some cover. We'll hold here until we can get up there."
Dakin looks to Havaris, "We may have to break comm silence if we run into trouble." Still, he makes his way alongside Stewart and waits for him to set things up. He takes a look up the shaft. "Looks like the car's parked on seven. Will that reach?"
Gellan climbs out of the truck and stands next to it. She stands still for a long moment, and her eyes go a bit out of focus breifly, but then she nods, satisfied. "He's alive," she says quietly.
Sliding out of the truck, Donavon locates a prime spot for cover, knelt behind another car but able to view the elevator. Now on stable ground instead of the rocking truck, she tugs out her phaser and holds it above her knee.
Stewart nods back to Dakin, saying, "It'll reach. We just use the elevator cable itself, and save ourselves the hassle of figuring out how to run cord up that far. And Sharra, any idea how many others are in there, besides him?"
"There were six in the room with him at the time of the Romulan scan, about an hour ago." Havaris offers that helpfully, still covering their tails.
Gellan shakes her head in answer. "There's too many people in the building, I can't isolate who or how many are around him at this range. I'd have to be closer."
Dakin nods and prepares to head on up as he makes a couple more commands on his tricorder. "The floor hatch should be unlocked. Ready when you are."
"Regardless. You're heading up to the Security level, not to the Ambassador. One thing at a time, gentlemen." Havaris sweeps their backs again before offering, "Prophets guide you." To the departing pair.
Dakin nods and prepares to make the ascent with Stewart. "All right, once we're there, I'll get the floor open, then inside from there. Let's do this..."
Stewart affixes the ascender to the wire, getting the harnesses prepared, and getting his on. To Havaris, Stewart notes, "No, I'm following the plan. Prophets guide you, man." To Dakin, "Let's go."
"Blasphemy," Havaris notes blithely, "has a way of coming back to you, James." Shaking his head with slight amusement, Havaris returns his attention to the expanse of parking garage as seen over his rifle.
A clamp, a few checks of the rigging and soon Stewart and Dakin are zipping at disturbing speed up the elevator cable, and once at the elevator Dakin quickly bypases the security allowing them to disconnect and climb inside the small chamber...
Dakin clambers into the elevator car and extends a hand to Stewart to help him up. He then heads cautiously and quietly to the door's locking mechanism to try and finagle their way into the building corridor... to no avail. He looks over to James. "Give me a hand here..?"
Stewart reaches over to take the tools, saying absent-mindedly, "Sure, one second." He devotes his own attention to the lock, grumbling under his breath. "You know, if these people would get with the 24th century, it'd be a lot easier to break in. I didn't practice on antiques." He shrugs to Dakin, handing the tools back, "I'm afraid we've hit a snag."
And then... as if the Prophets are with them... or perhaps Ifni is mocking them... or Havaris' warning about blasphemy has come true... the doors open... and the security guard on the other side, despite his eyes widening in shock to discover what is within, attempts to bring his sub-machine gun up to deal with the alien invaders....
GAME: Dakin spends a courage point.
GAME: Stewart spends a courage point.
<CONTEST> Dakin (claiming advantage) contests his Energy Weapon (Phaser Rifle) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Stewart contests his Energy Weapon (Phaser) skill vs a difficulty of Difficult and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Fortunae contests his Projectile Weapon (Sub-machine Gun) skill vs Dakin's Dodge skill and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Fortunae contests his Projectile Weapon (Sub-machine Gun) skill vs Stewart's Dodge skill (given advantage) and Fails!
<CONTEST> Dakin (claiming advantage) contests his Fitness (Vitality) skill vs a difficulty of Difficult and Fails!
Dakin's eyes go wide as he sees the opposition before him. He brings his rifle to bear and drops three of the guards with a stun beam before a bullet from one of the remaining guards strikes Dakin in the abdomen and drops the Security Chief on the floor of the elevator car, groaning in pain.
Stewart's hand goes for the phaser at his hip when the door opens, and he drops into a crouch, trying to use the side of the elevator as limited cover. He fires in brief little bursts, each one with only a moment's aim, each just a blip of energy to stun. He calls out, "Drop your weapons."
. o O Dakin emits an utter tidalwave of pain, the kind he's never felt before and prays he never does again. The sort of pain you probably felt in the alley, if just a bit less.
The sound of phaser fire doesn't surprise Havaris much. He shifts in his crouch, flexing his hand along the underside of his weapon to work out whatever tension the combat above may be causing. It isn't until the report of gunpowder weaponry carries from above that Havaris glances back over his shoulder. He evidences no great reaction to it, turning his attention back to his guarding of the rear with a notation to all concerned. "Stay down. Stay quiet." He shifts back a bit behind his cover and goes reaching into his jacket for something or other. Whatever he eventually comes away with is palmed over his mouth. He tilts his head back, swallows hard, and blinks a few times before readying his rifle again and rezipping his jacket. Eyes widen, blink a few times, then refocus on the matter at hand.
Albertz's hand instinctively reaches for the medkit still hanging at his side as soon as rifle shots are heard after the phaser fire. He does just as Havaris orders, staying down and staying quiet next to the truck.
. o O Albertz thinks "Please /please/ let that rifle have missed."
Stewart doesn't get a vocal response, even as Dakin is hitting he deck beside him and spraying him with blood from his injury.. but he does hear the sound one set of footsteps moving.. flanking... ah... trying to get a better firing position to impregnate him with lead, eh...
<CONTEST> Stewart (claiming advantage) contests his Energy Weapon (Phaser) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!
Gellan starts at the gunfire, ducking down just as Havaris says to. She gasps aloud though, followed by a concerned, whispered voice. "Rann!" Turning her head, looks from Havaris to Albertz. "Rann's hit."
Stewart mutters under his breath, "I really, really hate this planet." He then leans out and picks off the last of the guards, stepping out to carefully make sure that it is, in fact, that last of them. Once he's sure of that, he leans back into the elevator, slaps the ground floor button, and lets it head on its way.
Dakin snarls between gritted teeth as he tries to keep pressure on his wound. "Yeah, wh-what'd I tell you..." He coughs. "P-prophets, this hurts..."
Moments later the express elevator arrives in the parking basement level...
Havaris tilts his head slightly to catch Gellan's grim report. Moreso to listen to the battle overhead. The final sound of gunfire usually tells the tale. And when it proves to be a blast of phaser fire, Havaris is somewhat sated. The mission continues. Havaris, for the record, does not scold Gellan for speaking. Quite the opposite. He glances her way with a faint smile and a small nod of the head. Best he can manage without violating his orders. He glances back over his rifle at the garage level they occupy. When the elevator is heard to be dropping, Havaris motions the team to round it up. He rises up as the elevator clacks into place, turning about to see Dakin on his back and bleeding from a gut shot. Kusto stares down at Rann for a long moment before shifting his rifle in his hands as he glances to Albertz. "Treat him. Fall in. We get to seven. Donavon, you stay behind with Albertz and Rann. Stewart, myself, and YaSharra will go up and get the Ambassador." Havaris then steps into the lift to crouch down beside Rann, patting his shoulder lightly. "Someone's getting a Combat Medal. Should I say congratulations, or is that a bit uncouth?" He grins as he can, waiting for the others.
Donavon nods, a grim expression alighting on her face. She immediately complies with Havaris's orders.
Dakin chuckles, or rather, tries to. Hurts, you know. "Y-you know me, Kusto... anything and everything f-for the job..." Even as he's bleeding on himself, he still tries to get out of the elevator on his own power. The attempt makes it only halfway out. "All right... maybe I n-need some help..."
Gellan steps into the elevator with the others, giving a concerned look to Dakin, and then nods to Havaris to indicate she understands.
. o O Dakin thinks "I'm coming home, nulara... I promised you I'd come home... the Pah-Wraiths or stormy skies, I'm coming back to you..."
Albertz is on his way to the elevator as soon as the door slides open to reveal an injured man. Hamish tries to gently assist Rann out of the elevator and to the ground, not wanting to waste time in an attempt to get him concealed in the truck. Flipping open his tricorder he begins a scan of the stricken Bajoran, as if empirical data wasn't enough.
GAME: Albertz spends a courage point.
<CONTEST> Albertz (claiming advantage) contests his Medical Sciences (Surgery) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
Donavon stops Albertz before he moves Dakin out, "No, treat him here, we unload on the 7th floor like he said. We leave the truck, we have to complete the mission, you can tend him up there, right?"
. o O Albertz is experiencing a bit of a rush of blood to the head right now. He's trying to focus very hard on staying calm and treating the man in front of him.
"Yeah. You're the sort of fellow to give an arm for the cause, Rann." Havaris grins down at Dakin slightly more wry, save for when the other Bajoran starts trying to remove himself from the lift. Havaris is back on his feet, eyeing the man with no real comment either way. It isn't until Donavon speaks up that Havaris nods his head slightly and motions the team back in, wounded man and all. "We can split up once, but twice is just not happening. Treat him on the way up." He spends a moment or two watching Albertz prep the surgery before glancing at the keypad to the lift and pressing lucky seven. "Going up..." Ding!
Stewart waits on the security level, heading over to pick up an Occan weapon, examining it in his hands. He stays well away from the trigger, but otherwise just passes the time before the elevator returns in trying to gain some element of familiarity with the basic operations of the thing. Or however much can be gained in thirty, fourty seconds or so.
In an efficiently short span of time, the elevator is back on the 7th, Donavon and Albertz move Dakin off at that level. Hamish immediately working with skilled effort to treat the serious injuries of the chief of security, Donavon moving to the security controls for the building and using the elevator communicator to inform Havaris she is in position after first setting the computer to purge all the recorded security logs of the nights activities... soon Stewart, Havaris and Gellan are on the 23rd floor. On cue the power goes out in other apartments locking them automatically to prevent accidental witnesses stepping out. The three move up to the door... they hear the faint click as Donavon uses the building systems to unlock the door as was planned...
Albertz snaps his tricorder closed and opens up his medkit. The nurse begins working feverishly on Dakin, trying to stabilise him for transport. First and foremost a hypo of anticoagulants to help stem the massive amount of bleeding along with a painkiller. Micropressure bandages are applied front and back, onto all his wounds. After the bandages are properly in place, another hypo, nano-knitters this time...not to repair the damaged organs but rather stem the tide and stop any more damage from being time. All the while Hamish is talking to himself under his breath and if one were to listen closely it would be clear that he's talking himself through the procedures, step by step.
Dakin just sort of lies there and winces at the various ministrations by Albertz, but, to his credit, he doesn't make any kind of sound aside from ragged breathing.
GAME: Gellan spends a courage point.
GAME: Stewart spends a courage point.
GAME: Havaris spends a courage point.
<CONTEST> Havaris (claiming advantage) contests his Energy Weapon (Phaser Rifle) skill vs a difficulty of Difficult and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Gellan (claiming advantage) contests her Energy Weapon (Phaser) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Fails!
<CONTEST> Stewart (claiming advantage) contests his Energy Weapon (Phaser) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
Once confronted with the door concerned, Havaris tweaks his rifle up to a heavy stun and pats its stock lightly as though to assure it everything is going to be fine. Kusto moves up to the door beside Stewart and lets out a breath, adjusting his ear piece just so. He then removes his compin chevron, breathes on it twice, buffs it on his chest, and replaces it just so. With a glance aside to Stewart, Havaris offers the battle-plan. Years of training and engagement drills honed to a fine edge. Yes, truly, these two will formulate the tactical methodology to carry the day. And it is thus that Havaris notes aside to Stewart, "You go right, I go left, we'll meet YaSharra in the middle. Shoot anything that doesn't look confused and pompous." With that, Havaris glances back to the door, readies his rifle, takes a step back and notes, "Door kick, on three. Two. One..." And with that, the pair step forward and kick with a force sufficient to blow the door wide open...
True to the 'plan', Havaris round into the room, hooking left with his rifle. It takes him only a split second to spot the Ambassador, and he quickly hooks his rifle in that direction while pacing calmly forward. A lance of golden light slams into the chest of one of the Occans over Ambassador Martinez's prone form, tossing him and his cigarette back into the couch. Havaris keeps right on moving, stepping out before a hallway in an oblique. Another Occan pops out of the bathroom, pistol in one hand, razor in the other. Shaving cream over half of his face. Another lance of light sends the man spinning to the ground. Once again Havaris keeps moving, stepping over the man and crushing his razor purely by coincidence of course. He moves to the bedroom at the end of the hall, kicks open the door, and catches one of the men drawing back the slide on his rifle, sending him toppling back over the room's desk. The last Occan standing is offered a grin as he hesitates between staying seated on the bed and reaching for the pistol on the bedside table. Havaris gives the pistol a little gesture with his rifle, the Occan glances that away, and Kusto subsequently stuns him where he lies without further compunction. That done, Havaris checks the closet and retraces his steps along the hallway.
He crushes the razor again along the way. "Clear."
Stewart has his Type II at the ready when kicking, stomping in to a crouch and firing a quick shot wide before sliding in, shuffling along the wall as he heads towards the Ambassador. Or rather, to the most convenient table, now that it's been cleared of Occans. He drags the table over onto it's side (Ambassador side in), takes up a position behind it, and uses the table as a shield to fire at a pair of Occans down a hallway.
Gellan was never able to boast as a good shot with a phaser. But she gives it a good try, sending off a few shots that at least have one man dodging..right into Stewart's sights. In truth, she's more concerned about the Ambassador, and after firing off the cover fire, drops to her knees behind the table to check on Martinez.
Albertz stays with the now stabilised Dakin, not wanting to leave him unprotected and still concerned about condition. A small sigh of relief this time as the only sound to be heard is that of discharging phasers.
Martinez musters with suprising collectiveness considering what has just happened, "I knew Starfleet would come... and I warned these poor beggers you would. I know you're just doing your jobs, and to you I'm just a mission objective, but I thank you all the same, personally." He tries to sit up straight but his bonds are still firm... but he sees Gellan come into view over him and he musters a smile, weak perhaps but sincere. "You told me not to stay, maybe I should have listened... but now you must listen to me. If you take me away from here now, and back home -- then Starfleet violated Vhypists ejection and the pro-Federation parties here have no chance in the election... those chimps knew that, that bragged about how they win either way. If you get me up, get me a shirt... get my wallet form that one with the crewcut... get me outside of this building and then disappear, I can show up at my hotel and act like nothing happened, or better still, I negotiated my own way out of custody an I can deny all of this right here happened to the Occans though you'll all get due credit as soon as the election is over. I realize that you don't have to leave me here... but, I'm asking. Help me help the Federation."
Havaris shoulders his weapon once he's certain the room is clear, moving up to Sharra and Stewart's position near Martinez. He drops down at the Ambassador's side and reaches into his boot to tug out his combat knife, slipping around behind the Ambassador to cut away his binds. "Stewart? Find the Ambassador some clothes. We're going home empty tonight." Havaris notes once the bonds are cut and his knife is replaced, "I hope you know what you're doing, Sir. If that's your call, that's your call. Either way, my team and I are a memory in just under four minutes. So by all means, take about twenty seconds to reconsider."
Gellan frowns at Martinez, then at Havaris. With a sigh, she stands up and shakes her head. "I see the sense of it, Ambassador. But I don't have to like it. I wish you wouldn't do this."
After being cut down Martinez rolls up from the floor and rubs his arms and looks the Bajoran directly in the eyes, his expression serious, "Did any of you get hurt coming to save me?" This question seems important to the Terran Senator cum Ambassador for Earth, he cuts a look to Gellan then looks back to Havaris.
Stewart heads over towards one of the downed Occans, tapping him on the shoulder. "Excuse me, would you have any objections if I borrowed your shirt, on behalf of my good friend over there?" Pause. "No? Why, that's awfully generous of you." And so he begins undoing said shirt, and when he's managed to extract shirt from Occan, he tosses the thing over towards Martinez. "I think you can consider this an indefinite-term, zero-interest loan, courtesy of our friend here."
"My XO took a bullet in the gut and we rolled right by a murder in getting to you. So, Sir, yes, Sir, you could say that. Sir." Havaris matches Martinez's gaze for a long moment before continuing on. "What that has to do with this, however, is rather much beyond me. You're a wrapped package in my head right now, Sir, and my downed man is a detriment to my mission's viability. The women we drove past, just something I get to live with. So don't -you- get moralistic on me now. You want to stay out of duty to the Federation--" a pause as the shirt lands "--there's your shirt. You want to come with us because people are dead and wounded? I'd just as soon leave you behind. Either come because you think your Mission is untenable or stay because it isn't. That's your call." Havaris glances at his padd. "And your call is, Sir?" Havaris glances up from the decrementing clock with tilt of his be-jeweled head.
"You see, that shouldn't have happened.. that's not what I mean. You're /starfleet/ you're the best we have to offer, you shouldn't have to /get/ hurt coming to save me, but you did. I could just leave, I could claim I did my best and wash my hands of this, heck, I'd probably be a hero back home -- but I have to look in the mirror in the morning. It's not often that a guy like me, at my age in my career path, gets to make a real difference in the larger scope of things. You bought my freedom in blood. I can take it and go home, or I can stay here and do something maybe that will make sure that you, or the officers who come after you don't have to buy in blood any more politician's freedom at /this/ place. If I turn my back on this, on what you all just did, if I leave you all to hold the bag in political backlash for /saving/ me... what kind of man does that make me?" He stands up, slipping on the shirt and giving Stewart a nod of thanks. "It would make me a man I wouldn't be want to be, this is where I can make a difference maybe the only time in my life -- that's why I got into public service, so now, I'm going to stay and serve the public, at least if I try and I die that means something, if I run, all of this ultimately was for nothing more than me living. That isn't enough for me, particularly if you had to ignore a murder for to do it." He fishes out his wallet, checks it then pockets it though his burns clearly pain him as he does and then he turns. He offers his hand. "Thank you, you did your jobs well. I hope I can say the same of myself when this is done, Lieutenant...?"
Stewart just takes up a position near the door, phaser in hand, as he waits for the call to move out. His rifle is still slung over his shoulder, and he just occupies himself for the moment by keeping the elevator door open.
"My name doesn't matter, Sir. I was never here, and this never happened. Until after the elections, or so you say. The less you know, the better." Havaris rises back up and circles a hand in the air, motioning to the door. "We'll take you out of here and drop you near your hotel. You're on your own from there." A glance to Stewart and Gellan. And a nod towards the elevator. He glances back to the Ambassador with a faint nod of the head. "Make it all mean something, Sir." He then gestures to the elevator, waits for the Ambassador to board, takes one last look about the room and turns to withdraw. His back to the whole business.
Some time later... on the bridge of the Ts'lux T'Gora...
Lieutenant Tolsar stands facing the communication screen, though who he speaks to is unclear. "No, their mission was a success. Their only casulty is stable in our sick bay currently, Lt Dakin, it is my experience he is rather hardy. They did save the Ambassador but did not bring him along for extraction, instead they left him there but free. I realize that was not the intented operation plan, but that is what they did. It is not my place to question the matter, Lieutenant Havaris says it was a successful mission, as we have been in and out of the system without incident, I agree with his position. You will simply have to make due with what results you have, as for me, I am concluding this communication now --" Tolsar gesturs and his communication officer immediately kills the signal. Tolsar moves back to his command throne and sits heavily, features brooding thoughtfully. He steeples his hands and says no more.
Epilogue --
Ambassador Martinez passes inside to the lobby of the Presidential St.Moritz hotel in New Florida and moves with deliberately crafted false ease to the front desk. "I need my room key please, and please send a call to President Vhypist that I will be willing to meet with him... oh say day after tomorrow, in the mean time I have press conferences all day tomorrow, so sorry. Diplomatic necessity."
The concierge, trying to overcome his shock stutters, "B-b-but they said you were held by terrorists!"
Martinez just holds up his hand, "Key please. I was invited to discuss polictical differences, in the end they realized the soundness of my position in comparison to the fallacy of Isolationism.. but I hope they are okay. After I left I saw some of Vhypists party enforcers heading up to their place... eh, probably nothing, just a big misunderstanding." He starts to move away with his key, the Concierge says, "But, Ambassador, we should call the police..."
"Hey, take it easy... they were asleep at their jobs for the last five days, what's a few more hours? Call them in the morning. They have a tough job you know, rushing around, keeping the peace... making a difference. Got to respect that, I hope I can be so productive, I know some people who are, and I owe them some difference in return."
Time: Wed Jul 30 05:24:39 2003
Stardate: 53397.6
---- Fin ----
