The Domino Effect

 Episode Name:  The Domino Effect

   Written By:  fortunae

         Cast:  Domino, Fortunae, Heller, Kzeviv, Randal and Solok.

  Produced By:  Starfleet

  Directed By:  Fortunae

     Aired On:  Fri Aug 08 05:52:21 2003

     Stardate:  53419.3

Time: Thu Aug 07 21:08:43 2003

Stardate: 53418.4

<CONTEST> Randal contests his Fitness (Vitality) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!

<PROVE> Randal has the merit of Indomitable at 2.

<CONTEST> Randal (claiming advantage) contests his Presence (Willpower) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Dramatically Fails!

<CONTEST> Kzeviv contests his Fitness (Vitality) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Dramatically Fails!

<CONTEST> Kzeviv contests his Presence (Willpower) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!

<CONTEST> Domino (claiming advantage) contests his Fast Talk skill vs a difficulty of Impossible and Succeeds!

<CONTEST> Domino (claiming advantage) contests his Charm (Persuasion) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Succeeds!

The Planet Occa...

... Deep in the unspoiled woodlands outside the farmed rural areas of New Florida, a combustion engine truck moves along an unnamed and unmapped forest trail and pulls into a city of camouflaged tents where it is met by grim faced humans in Occan military uniforms. The camp appears to be in a high state of actvity with Vector Thrust aircraft lifting off and scrambling into the night while other vehicles are loaded with troops and departing out the razor wire topped gate of the chain length fenced perimeter of the camp. To the quintet in the back of the vehicle and their four ferociously serious Romulan guards, a two days have passed since they were drug from thier own vehicle and their escape plan dashed by the surprise appearance of Romulans...

Two days of questions, two days of pain for some. Heller was the first and highest priority for the the Romulan woman who lead their capture; but he made a choice very familiar to him in his life -- that of painless survival -- and soon he was confessing the entire story. Yes, they were looking for Dominion Tech salvage, yes they came on a cloaked ship, no he doesn't know where the ship came from, yes Randal Thorne was the captain of the ship for the trip out, yes -- he is under contract by the UNA to fly cargo vessels and such, no he didn't know the details -- no this is not a sanctioned operation by the UNA, yes he was trying to make a score by taking care of this on his own -- No he doesn't know what the Nausicaans want with cloning tank? To make Clones? Ow, that hurt, yes it is possible the tanks are really for the Vorta. And then more questions about matters that seemed far away and unimportant to young human -- until he made a stringent effort to be as convincing as possible when asked if he played any part in the unfortunate accidents that took place on Nausicaa III regarding the Romulans of late... but, with that done... just when he thought he was off the hook, he found himself taken to a "Autoconfessional" regardless of his cooperation because, Voidrai explained, "She would be remiss if she passed up this opportunity to teach him some fear and respect for the Romulan Star Empire and it's ambassadors" ...

Then came the Ferengi's turn, a very different approach as he was willing to talk most readily, "I am just a tech support guy for this job, no I haven't worked with most of them before, Heller's girlfriend set it up but it's with an understanding the UNA will be buying, yes they knew right where the tanks were, no we didn't know you were here, no this is just business, would I be agreeable to taking an untraceable latinum stipend to refuse to report i was here or that there were Romulans here? How big a stipend -- no no I just meant for my own records. A bonus for intelligence on Lux's activities? Yes, I'd be happy to think about it back in my cell..."

For the Dread Pirate Randal Thorne, things were not so "friendly" as he proved resistant and as infuriating for the Romulan Star Navy as he has ever been for Starfleet -- until they brought him to the chair and the pain started. Pain that was explained to him was not the actual torture but rather the physical tuning and refinement for the /real/ torture that would come. This would track his reactions to various painful stimuli until they were able to pinpoint just what combination to use to wring the most out of him before his brain fractured and he was left a drooling vegetable. He was determined to resist, at least for a bit to prove his resolve before he told them all about the job, after all, really why not? But he discovered that the pain was very real, this was not a game to the Romulans at all, and realizing from the sampling what real horror was awaiting him, he talked. He talked about the job, he talked about his previous jobs for the UNA. He talked about his crew on the Red Pulsar, he talked about his time with the Masquis, he talked about things he'd heard on the station, he talked about things he merely suspected there, he talked about friends about enemies and as he talked it became easier to talk -- a chance to get everything off his chest for once without recrimination as the Romulans just nodded and encouraged gently until it was time for another scheduled dose of pain of course. He talked about Solok, he talked about Kostva. He talked until his voice was horse from talking, so they gave him water, and he talked even more. He talked until he was exhausted from talking and pain and fell asleep... when he awoke later in the holding room, sore and bruised, he realized that even he didn't fully know the level of information he had provided the Romulans...

And while Randal sang the song of his life nearby, Kzeviv's turn came and he faced it with a jutting jaw of rejection married with comments of sexual implication and sass -- he would show these Romulans that they knew nothing about torture compared to what he had faced at the hands of the Jem Hadar, and the Romulans seemed almost sympathetic, they too had had friends tortured by the Dominion -- but they assured him by comparison the Dominion were toddlers with sharp scissors and then made to prove it so to him with the chair and his last sarcastic remarked died on his lips the moment the first searing pain exploded up his spine and he talked -- he talked about the mission, about his reasons for following Thorne onto it, about Heller, about Solok about Domino about the ship what he knew about the tanks, what he knew about how they didn't trust the girl about how she seemed too well informed about why he left Starfleet and the Rapid Response Force and yes here were the guys in my unit back then most of them are dead, emergency control codes I only remember a few they are probably all different now... the pain continued the talking continued until it was a bright mid day when he was drug exhausted to unconcsciousness from his seat and dropped back into the cell with the others...

..and as for Domino, who at first seemed the least important -- By what right do you have the authority to question me? My government will hear of this. What government? The Occa goverment of course. Yes I am an agent of Occan intelligence, here is my control number and ID number, you can call this office to confirm this. Yes my mission was to help Heller get the tanks off of Occa discretely and purchased for hard currency from the UNA. Why? Well we couldn't sell them openly could we? And we needed to dispose of them, might as well make some money in the process and broaden our smugglers market. So you didn't know about it, I didn't know about you either. You will completely destroy my cover, not that you care? Them talk? Are you kidding? They will be glad to escape with thier lives and get paid. Tell you where my ship is at? I'm sorry I can't do that, but you can just ask for your contact in the government to authorize it and I'll be happy to. No, I don't mind waiting. Yes sending me back with them would be ideal just in case.... oh, please hit me once, I need to be convincing.. yes, that should be sufficient.." -- and not long after she was tossed back in with others looking not to much worse for wear but clearly a victim of interrogation as well...

...but that was then, and now as the truck's rear gate is lowered the group finds itself in a new military camp and escorted roughly into a medium sized tent with several cots where a boy of about seventeen in a uniform tells them, "Stay here and stay quiet and you will probably live. Once the new governmet is in place an accomodation can be reached I'm sure, so don't try to escape or they will kill you." He then slips out of the tent, leaving them alone and for the first time since capture, able to speak to each other...

Kzeviv sits. His regular neutral expression seems to be absent, replaced with a rather out-of-place grin. "So." he says, chuckling, "How was your day, Mr. Thorne?"

Randal doesn't answer Kzeviv. In fact, he hasn't spoken a word since being reunited with the others. His eyes dart around from place to place but fail to focus on anything specific. It's disconcertingly reminscient of a frightened, confused animal in a trap, having long since ceased trying to pull itself free. He has enough volition to seat himself on a cot and huddle his knees with his arms, but for now, that seems to be about it.

Kzeviv looks at Randal for a few long seconds. Kzeviv himself doesn't physically look to be in too good a shape, but he seems to be less bad off than Randal. He turns his gaze to Domino for a few moments, then looks over at Solok and Heller, fixing them with a stare, the same disturbing grin on his face.

Heller, by contrast, is his usual self. More or less. He seems to have found a nice corner of cot upon which to rest. He eyes his team-mates. "Hey, it's not so bad. The guard says we'll live." He even offers a smile. Self-appointed morale officer.

Solok finds himself a cot to sit on, folding his arms over his chest. He just sits quietly, watching the others and keeping his mouth shut. Every once in awhile he casts a quick glance up to the top of the tent, and sweeping the corners.

Domino kneels down beside Randal and says in a quiet sympathetic voice, "Randy, I know that they hurt you, but we need you to pull yourself together. We have to stay sharp so we can capitalize on an opportunity to get out of here alive."

Kzeviv breaks his usual norm of silence and nonresponse, letting his voice take an air of caustic sarcasm. "You seem to be doing rather lovely, Mr. Heller. As with you, Mr. Solok." He turns to Domino, who is sitting next to Randal, giving her a healthy smile, then looks back at the others. With the same tone, he continues, "It seems certain that our Romulan friends already know everything." He looks over to Domino. "Does anyone happen to know why we're here, rather than shot en-mass?"

Randal's attention focuses on Domino for a few moments after she speaks to him, but his expression doesn't cease being mostly blank. In the next moment, though, he's glancing away, having slipped back into his inner torment.

Domino says, "I would imagine it's because they either have something in mind for Tiger because of his UNA contacts, which is why we were questioned instead of executed... or they have figured out another use for us but don't have time to put in place yet. They program people to be their agents, don't they?"

Domino says, "Did anyone figure out /why/ the Romulans are here?"

Solok tilts his head as he looks to Kzeviv, "You think that if we talked, they'd put us back in with people who hadn't talked?" He waves his hand, saying, "It's all just a trick to sow discord into the ranks. They've probably got this tent bugged."

Heller gives Kzeviv a smile laced with sarcasm, then looks to Domino, blanching just a tad. Programmed? Solok gets a look. "Maybe we... _all_ talked." He looks around the room, with a purpose.

Domino says, "I talked, there was nothign we were doing that was worth not talking about. It was a business deal, we didn't know they were out in the woods or we would have gone a different direction, we hope to have a buyer to sell our tanks to and we don't care if there are Romulans here or not."

Kzeviv hrms. He continues to face Domino. He turns briefly to face Solok. "Shut up, Solok," then back to Heller. "Of course we all talked. Look at us." He looks back at Domino. "If they had wanted to program us as one of their agents, it would already have been done. From the way I look at it, the only likely candidate for that would be me, and I know that I'm not. There's some reason in their self-interest to send us here. Either the Occans want us, and the Romulans had some reason to give us to them, or this is all part of some larger plan. I doubt the Romulans would want to grab for power here, so it must be something else ..." He narrows his eyes, thinking.

Domino says, "I don't feel /guilty/ about talking anyway.. they knew who three of you were when we were captured."

Kzeviv hrms. "The only clue that we have is the fact that they captured us. Whatever we were doing, it had the potential to step on their plans. They wouldn't have needlessly revealed themselves, otherwise."

Randal continues to look here and there without apparant direction. If anything that the others are saying are getting through to him, it's not outwardly apparant.

Heller nods. "Fame is a curse." To Kzeviv, "Romulans on Occa. Romulans on Occa... Hrm." Heller, being party to some of the diplomatic affairs in this sector, might actually be able to form an educated guess. That is... if he was paying attention in those meetings. He settles back on his hands, thinking.

Domino says, "Perhaps they thought we knew about them and so took us prisoner for that... originally. Or they were going to shoot us until that witch recognized Tiger and so they grabbed us instead. We're probably lucky he was in the front seat... can someone help me with Randal, if he goes catatonic and we do have a window of opportunity to escape.. well we can't just /leave/ him here to pay for it, can we?"

Solok nods to Domino, "We can. I mean, he's useful and all, but there's only so much I'm willing to weigh myself down with in the event of an escape. And the resale value of bulk meat is rather low these days. I'd be better off hauling a cot out of here."

Kzeviv fixes his stare on Randal. He grins. "He looks like someone I once knew." He chuckles. After a few moments, he stands up and takes a seat on the other side of Randal. "I may not be Starfleet, but even the Avengers has its code." He nudges Randal.

Randal's gaze floats over to Kzeviv as he gets nudged. And he scowls. It's faint, bit it's a noticable change. He nudges Kzeviv back, just a bit harder. And then his expression glazes over after a moment, and the leg of the cot across from him suddenly draws his interest.

Kzeviv gets up and looks at what Randal is examining. His expression grows bland, but he retains his tone. He kicks the leg weakly. "C'mon, Randal. Wake up. Wake up and fetch the stick."

Heller pulls out of his reverie, to glance at Randal. A humane sigh. "I'll help." He glances at Kzeviv, as he stands, regarding the Centauran critically. "Ok, that's just wrong. Have some compassion." He eyes Randal. He kneels down. He pauses. Then he shakes his head, resigned, and... he applies a few random, gentle slaps to Randal's cheeks.

Domino says, "Gentlemen, you keep working on Randal, as for me, I'm going to work on getting us out of here..."

Solok sighs a little as he gets off his cot, "We're going to get ourselves killed, just watch." He then actually starts hunting around in earnest for bugging devices.

At about the third slap, Randal's eyes dial on Heller. And take on a glare. "You're gonna have to hit me harder than /that/, you wuss," he says sarcastastically. And promptly, tries to bury his fist in Heller's gut. Well, at least he's 'awake' now, apparantly. And fortunately for Heller, still physically weak from his ordeal.

Kzeviv walks over to Domino. "What's your plan?"

<CONTEST> Randal (claiming disadvantage) contests his Unarmed Combat (Karate) skill vs Heller's Dodge skill and Succeeds!

Domino says, "Didn't I just say to work on Randal? I am thinking of a plan, I can't explain it to you while I think about it." A moment of thought. "Okay now I have a plan, I'm going to go the little girl's cathole."

<CONTEST> Randal (claiming disadvantage) contests his Fitness (Strength) skill vs Heller's Fitness (Vitality) skill and Succeeds!

Heller retreats from Randal's fuzzy-minded fist of fury, the blow staggering him, and knocking him down, winded. Clutching his gut, he regards Randal with a vaguely hurt expression. "Ay! I was trying to help! A _little_ gratitude _might_ be appreciated. You were looking pretty bad, you know. Yeesh."

Kzeviv looks over at Randal and Heller, then back at Domino, then at Solok. "This should be interesting."

Randal immediately looks sheepish as recognition registers on his face, at long last. "Oh. Uh. Sorry, reflex." He smiles in a chagrined fashion and extends a hand to help Heller back up.

Domino only spares the Punch and Heller show a moment of a glance then slips out of the flap of the tent where she can be heard speaking in suddenly more velvety tone; "Oh! Don't shoot me... I uh..." her voice becomes much softer. "I need to tinkle. I can't tinkle in there with all of them watching me. That Ferengi would just keep staring, they're perverse as a species you know? Won't let their women wear any clothes... not even their own /mothers/. Can you help me, pleeeease?"

<CONTEST> Domino (claiming advantage) contests his Fast Talk skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Succeeds!

<PROVE> Heller has the flaw of Slow Healing at -2.

The young shoulder makes a startled noise, then an unsure one, then a disgusted snort and finally a quiet, "Well, you're supposed to be kept in there, but I can't have some creeply alien pervert oogling you while you... ahem, tend to personal needs." An audible gulp and a slight tremor in his voice the follows, "B-but I'd have to watch you to m-make sure you didn't escape... you know?"

The young soldier makes a startled noise, then an unsure one, then a disgusted snort and finally a quiet, "Well, you're supposed to be kept in there, but I can't have some creeply alien pervert oogling you while you... ahem, tend to personal needs." An audible gulp and a slight tremor in his voice the follows, "B-but I'd have to watch you to m-make sure you didn't escape... you know?"

Domino says, "Oh..." and a purr enters her voice, "Well that's completely different... handsome young man like you is very different than a creepy orange troll, don't you think. So.. uh, can we go now, it's a bit urgent." The last said in a little babydoll exhalation. "Please."

Heller eyes Randal's hand critically. He seems, perhaps, a bit more taken with his injury than he ought to be. Whether it's an act or not... his critical look is not long-lived. After a minor show of distrust, in the form of a look, he accepts Randal's hand. "Yeah, well. Watch it. I'm a bleeder." Which is probably not far from what he said to the Romulans not too long ago... "Are you... coherent?"

Kzeviv looks at the others as he listens to the conversation outside. He speaks quietly, "It looks like her plan is working. Now's not the time for a reunion. If he's lucid enough to punch you, it's good enough. Be ready to move when she gets back."

Randal peers at Heller, as if the man had just asked him if he was Locutus of Borg. "Of course I'm coherent." He peers around the tent (in a much more attentive and sharp way then previously, it might be noted) and asks quietly, "Where are we?" His attention takes note of Domino's backside (and lingers) as she leaves the tent. Glancing over to Kzeviv, he comments quietly and somberly, "Be ready to move if she /doesn't/ come back, too."

Heller responds to Randal. "Well, as long as you don't start talking like him." He indicates Kzeviv with a sarcastic smile and a thumb-jerk. He straightens up, as Domino leaves. "I'm ready." He whispers it with a bit too much exuberance, and lo he finds himself wincing, again, with the minor pain of it.

Kzeviv nods, looking over to Randal. "I know." He looks back outside, peering through the flap of the tent. "We're in an Occan facility. We don't know where. A soldier mentioned a change of government. Something major is happening right now, and we might be able to take advantage of it."

Time: Thu Aug 07 23:57:17 2003

Stardate: 53418.7

GAME: Solok spends a courage point.

<CONTEST> Solok contests his Search skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!

<CONTEST> Solok (claiming advantage) contests his Search skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!

Solok hunts around for some time, grumbling, "Bloody Romulans. Looks like they trust us. Or don't consider us able to do anything. Pity. Can't rewire trust, but I could rewire a bug."

<CONTEST> Domino contests his Unarmed Combat (Karate) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Succeeds!

<CONTEST> Domino contests his Search skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Succeeds!

<CONTEST> Domino contests his Security (Security Systems) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

Kzeviv stands near the exit, looking outside. "The guard isn't back yet," he states plainly. "Whatever her plan is, I think it's working so far."

Randal glances over to Solok and chuckles. "If the Romulans had any further interest in us, they wouldn't have handed us off to the locals. Getting away from the Occans might take a bit of doing, but once we do we'll be able to make good our escape." He glances away. "Much easier than escaping from Romulan custody, at any rate." He doesn't actually sound confident. Or rather, perhaps the truth of that statement bothers him for some reason.

<CONTEST> Domino (claiming advantage) contests his Stealth (Stealthy Movement) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Succeeds!

. o O Randal thinks "And why would the Romulans risk it? They... they know what I... what we, are capable of."

<CONTEST> Domino (claiming advantage) contests his Computer (Data Alteration) skill vs a difficulty of Difficult and Fails!

<CONTEST> Domino (claiming advantage) contests his Stealth (Stealthy Movement) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Succeeds!

<CONTEST> Domino (claiming advantage) contests his Computer (Data Alteration) skill vs a difficulty of Difficult and Succeeds!

Heller rubs his belly lightly. "The guard said that we would probably live, _if_ we didn't try to escape. I can't see how they can let us get away, knowing what we know about the Romulans. So." He looks at the tent flap. "As we have deduced, they still need us, for something." He lifts a hand, vertically cutting the air with it, for emphasis, while he talks. "So, if we don't _try_ to escape, they probably _will_ kill us. Which... isn't what that guard said, at all. But it's the logical progression of thought." He pauses. "Maybe."

Kzeviv continues to look outside. "We've already established that we need to get away from here." He pauses as he looks outside for a moment. "I can't see anything out of the ordinary. Whatever she's doing, she's keeping it quiet, which is a good sign." He turns to look at Heller. "Exactly how good is she?"

Randal smirks, perhaps grimly. "If you want logic, Heller, you're dealing with the wrong Vulcanoids," he comments wryly. "I do agree with your line of reasoning. They have no motivation for letting us ever go free, at best." For some reason, Kzeviv's question to Heller brings a wide smirk to Randal's face. Whatever his verbal response might be, though, Randal keeps it to himself.

Solok thumbs over towards Domino, "I think the decision on whether or not to try to escape has sailed." He heads over to Domino's bunk, beginning to dismantle it into individual aluminum rods. These he then fills with dirt to add weight, stuffing cloth in the ends to keep the dirt inside. "All right, the operation of these things is simple. You grab one end, and hit people with the other end. For your convenience, these are ambidextrous and fully-reversible. They work as well left-handed as right handed, and it doesn't matter which end you use." And he distributes variably-lengthed bits of weighted aluminum to the others.

Heller looks back at Kzeviv. He cracks a grin, half-wistful, half-lascivious. "When she's good? Very very. When she's bad..." He tilts his eyebrows wiggling them slightly for emphasis. That done, he settles into a more reasonable approximation of sobriety, which isn't necessarily sober, but it is sincere. "She seems to have a knack for success. Look at it this way, she's set this up, seems rather experienced, in general, and the Tal Shaava didn't have a clue who she was." He waves his hand around while he talks. Solok's behaviour is met with a critical look, and a disbelieving, negatory smile. "That's aluminum, man. I couldn't knock out my grandmother with that."

Heller adds, looking around the group innocently, "Not that I would."

Randal glances over toward the Ferengi. "Well, 'Toymaker,' I would have hoped for something more along the lines of an emergency transporter or at least a single-use disruptor. But I suppose that's better than nothing." He smirks. Peering over at Heller, he comments, "Heh. From what I can tell, Heller, she'd be more likely to knock /you/ out with one of those." He raises his eyebrows in a mischeiviously malicious expression.

<CONTEST> Domino (claiming advantage) contests his Unarmed Combat (Karate) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Succeeds!

"It's packed with dirt for extra weight." Solok shrugs slightly, hefting one of the bars. "I could probably knock out your grandmother with one of these things. I'm sure you could too, if only you'd give it a shot. And given our two supplies of raw material, those being aluminum bars and dirt, it's the best I can come up with at the time."

Kzeviv looks over at Randal for a few moments. He walks over to Solok and takes one of the makeshift clubs.

And Randal's malice is met with a sincere grin and an amused laugh. "Granny preferred wooden implements, actually." He mock-shudders a bit, in remembrance. He sighs, and takes up one of the aluminum pipes anyway, grinning his resignation away. "What the heck. Dirt. Maybe I can threaten them with silica poisoning. If, in fact, there is such a thing."

"It's me," Domino warns before slipping into the tent, and perhaps the warning comes because she is now dressed in the uniform of a Ocaan military member. She notes that Randal is ambulatory and active and flashes a smile. Over her shoulder is a duffle bag which she immediately sets down and opens to toss uniform pieces at all of the boys but Solok. She then extracts and sets down three assault rifles inside, her own dangling over her shoulder by it's strap. "Solok, I'm afraid the best I can do for you is to ride in this bag here and pose as equipment until we can get to a vehicle. You'll have to fold up in a ball, one or two of the boys can carry you." She looks around intently, her emerald eyes flashing as she says, "There is big stuff going on, looks like a military coup against the free elections, looks like the Romulans are helping out put in a Romulan Friendly government. I got into their administration tent and served some coffee then hacked into their milnet and forged us travel authorizations and the papers we need to draw a vehicle from the motor pool. We have to move fast or they may find the guys I knocked out despite my stashing them in cots. I got a local map by stealing it, took a code and sign book for checkpoints as well. I think we're covered, but we need to go because well, you all don't really have the most military hair cuts do you? The motor pool is 50 meters south by south east of here, we go directly to it, you go to the truck, I'll take care of the motor pool officer... can any of you drive a combustion engine vehicle? If not, one get up front and wait for me the rest get in back. I say we have ten minutes on the outside so get changed.. I'll..." and she winks laciviously, "...keep watch as you do." A wink concludes the briefing.

Kzeviv quickly picks up the uniform pieces and gets to work, wasting no time.

Randal looks at Solok's clubs, then looks at the rifles. He goes for a rifle, setting it aside for now as he also gathers up a uniform. "I don't operate anything that doesn't have a sustained flight ceiling. He examines the gun a bit more closer as he changes closed (modesty's for those without a hectic itinerary, after all) and comments, "I don't see any way to change the setting on these things. I assume they're only set to kill?"

Heller gives the lovely and fabulously successful Domino a well-deserved look of love, takes a uniform, and nudges Randal in passing (as he is changing). "That's my girl." He too proceeds to dress, at a reasonably quick pace. He picks up his rifle as Randal questions the humanity of the weapon, but shrugs and slings the thing over his shoulder, as he'd seen the soldiers do. "I can't use the thing worth a damn, but I can point it, if need be. Plus, it will make a more effective club, if need be."

Kzeviv finishes changing not long after, and he picks up an assault rifle. He examines it for a few moments. "Where's the firing mechanism and safety?"

Domino says, "Well, if you feel merciful, you can always shoot someone in the leg or the arm, or use it as a club, but no, generally bullet launchers don't have a stun setting outside of the Holodeck."

While people are changing, Solok picks up one of the rifles, pulls out the clip, removes a single shell, and then puts the clip back in. He then picks up a previously unused piece of aluminum pipe, bends it back and forth until metal fatigue snaps it off very short, and then sticks one of the metal pins used to hold the cot together through the back end. The shell is then tucked into the front, a little piece protruding while the back end of the shell rests against the cot pin. He then carefully removes the bullet, apparently just having been getting sizing, and then wraps the bullet together with the modified piping, tucking both in his pocket.

Domino says, "Okay, it's like this..." she takes the rifle, she pushes a button and pulls out a clip, then pops it back in, she yanks on a charging handle and an unspent bullet ejects out the side port then she moves it back forward. "Locked and loaded." She then adjusts a simple switch on the side, "Safety off." Then then puts the rifle to her shoulder in a disturbing easy fashion and points it at the tent pole, "Aim, squeeze the trigger don't yank it and it will discharge. The weapon will jump so you will want to brace it a bit." She lowers the weapon. "Easy."

Kzeviv nods briefly. He turns to look at Solok. "What are you making, Toymaker?"

Randal frowns and looks at the weapon again. "Bullet launchers? Oh. That would explain the lack of an energy gauge, too." Shouldering the rifle, he's all suited up and ready to go, but he does spare time for the rolling of eyes and the muttered comment, "Primitive world."

<CONTEST> Solok (claiming advantage) contests his Material Engineering (Weaponsmithing) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

Domino says, "Okay, looks like it's time to put the Ferengi into the bag."

Solok looks over to Kzeviv, "Do you want me to explain it, or would you rather we just continued trying to escape?" He sits down in the bag, tucking a hand into his pocket to grip the little assembly just created. "In the interests of fair warning, and team cooperation, I have to inform you that if you catch one of my ears in the zipper, and I will have to shoot you."

Heller follows along Domino's movements, nodding as she completes the demo. Still, he spares the weapon a mildly curious look, shaking his head. "Crazy." His attention is drawn by the Ferengi-in-the-bag remark. He quirks a grin, and looks to Solok, as he kneels to the bag, smiling. "Just keep your lobes down, then. And don't squirm." Ziiip!

Domino says, "Tiger you come with me, Randy you and Kez get Solok and follow... don't stop to look around, act like you know where you are going and people will assume you do."

Domino then slips out of the tent and turns right moving at a military paced walk...

Kzeviv looks at Heller, slinging the rifle over his shoulder. "Get moving," he says quietly. With that, he picks up the front end of the bag and waits for Randal to get the back.

Randal supports the other end of the bag and nods to Kzeviv. "Here goes nothing," he mutters wistfully just before they take leave of the tent.

Heller's hand goes under his chin, sliding forward, palm-backwards, in an age-old gesture of disrespect. Then he winks. At Kzeviv. And with that, he is off, too, past the flap and out into the dangerous outside...

Outside the camp is a riot of organized dynamic activity, though the population has shrunk considerably since the quintet was first offloaded from Romulan custody. They move quickly and efficiently after the left-righto-left stepping Domino and in moments spot the handful of trucks remaining in what was once a full motor pool, as well as a few more sport MUV's with pintle-mounted energy weapons and sattelite uplink dishes. Domino points with a casual wave of her arm in what might otherwise look like a gesture to adjust her shoulder strap for her rifle then takes a sharp left ducking under the camouflage netting of a tent marked MOTOR POOL by a black and green wooden sign. She passes into the tent and is gone from view.

Kzeviv continues walking, casually approaching a truck in the pool. He climbs into the back, hefting the bag containing Solok, and setting it down.

Heller catches the minute movement, his eyes moving towards the truck, his forehead creasing in an expression of feigned deep consideration. He shakes it off. And moves out. Truck, here he comes. And he walks like he means it.

Randal helps carry the bag around to the back of the truck. He swings his arms slightly, as if to simply heave the bag onto the truck bed, but apparantly thinks better of it and helps Kzeviv set it down with care. There'd be a smirk on his face, if he thought he could afford it.

<CONTEST> Domino contests his Fast Talk skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Succeeds!

A few moments later, Domino exits the motor pool tent with a set of keys and some papers on a clipboard in either hand and walks around the front of the truck to pull the chock blocks out of the way of the wheels then climbs in the cab on the driver's side, saying to Heller, "Cross your fingers, Tiger." She then puts the keys into the ignition, starts the truck which rumbles and vibrates powerfully. She shifts into reverse and the truck beeps to warn any behind to make way as she pulls hard on the wheel to reorintate the vehicle and drives to the gate, stopping as two guards hold up their hands and one climbs up on the step next to the driver side window. "Travel orders." He states rather than asks.

Domino offers him the clipboard and he looks it over for a moment before handing it back. "You better get a move on, it's already broken out at the capital. I hear they are showing some Starfleet Commander getting gunned down in the street... incredible." He climbs down as Domino makes sounds of being interested by the news and then the gates open and they drive through... out the back, within minutes, the darkness is complete and the camp quite gone while up front Domino says, "Tiger, there is a GPS locater beacon under the dashboard for navigational help, disable it and toss it out the window would you?"

Heller salutes Domino, with a stern nod and a saucy wink, then proceeds to lean forward to start fiddling with the device.

<CONTEST> Heller contests his Personal Equipment (Primitive Tech) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Fails!

The device starts to beep an angry warning sound and Domino shouts... "NO NO Disconnect the power supply cable first!"

Kzeviv looks up front from the back, hearing the sound. He looks over at Randal. "That sounded good."

Heller's mouth puckers into a slight, wincing expression as he scrambles to do his mistress' bidding. "Power supply... right... er."

GAME: Heller spends a courage point.

Randal frowns as he overhears mention of a Starfleet Commander, and glances over toward Kzeviv. After the truck has been moving again for a minute or so, he glances down at the bag and says in a faint mutter, "Suppose we should open the bag for Solok?" The beeping draws his attention for a moment, but doesn't really hold it.

<CONTEST> Heller (claiming advantage) contests his Personal Equipment (Primitive Tech) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!

Domino reaches across the cab to pinch Marcus' cheek saying, "There you go Tiger, I knew you had it in you."

Heller removes the offending device and quickly defenestrates the thing, as requested, after a minor fiasco in trying to figure out how to roll the window down. "Your wish is my command, doll." He says this with just a hint of machismo. Sincere, that is. "So, do you ever get tired of being so good at everything?"

Kzeviv looks at Randal, remaining silent. He starts to examine the rifle more closely. "It's your call," he says idly. "If we get stopped or a flyer passes overhead, it won't look good to have a Ferengi sitting around."

Domino looks over at Heller for a moment with her eyes widened doe-like, her lips slightly pouty, her nostrils slightly flared, her shoulders rolling as she steers with deliberate effect as she says, "I don't know what you're talking about, I'm just a poor girl trying to get ahead in the universe with the help of a dazzlingly smart, big strong man like yourself."

Randal shrugs. "As long he stays more or less in the bag so we can zip him up and away from the back, we should be alright." He grabs the zipper of the bag and draws it open.

Solok sticks his head up slightly out of the bag, "I just thought that this was an appropriate time to mention that I hate you all."

Kzeviv nods idly at Solok. "How was the ride, Toymaker?"

Randal grins at Solok. "We can stick you back in the bag and zip it up again if you'd prefer to be alone," he comments wryly.

Meanwhile, in the other truck, Heller laughs, a bit sardonically (catching Domino's exagerated response), but warmed by her remarks nevertheless. "Yeah." He rolls his eyes. "Right." A quick wink to Domino, then he sits back, and waits.... for whatever may come...

Hours later Domino is still driving through the back roads of the Occa's wilderness and though she has checked her map several times, she has not offered any explanation to Heller beside her about where they are going or what the next move is... it has been nearly an hour since they saw any traffic other than themselves...

Kzeviv sits in the back, having not said anything for the last few hours, apparently seeming accustomed to this kind of transport. Out of nowhere, he asks, "What is it that you made back there, Toymaker?"

Randal moves over to the cab's rear window and raps on it. "Hey... forgive me for being facetious, but is there any particular reason we haven't tried beaming back to the ship by now?"

Domino without taking her eyes off the road, Domino replies with airy lightness, "Well of course there is Randy, you think I like sitting on this seat? The spring is really being unkind to my derrier I assure you."

Solok climbs out of the bag at this point, grumbling, "If we haven't seen anything by now, we're probably not going to." And to Kzeviv, he notes, "It uses one of the self-contained cartridges from the chemical-reactant weapons. It obviously must be a can opener."

Domino says, "But I do forgive you."

;, perhaps having exhausted the suite of games that he plays with himself in his head, has resorted to looking out the window, watching the scenery pass by. Perhaps if this goes on much longer, he will independantly discover the joy of 'I Spy', since... you don't get a lot of 'I Spy' in warp-capable space craft. Randal's question and Domino's answer draws his attention effortlessly. "Where _are_ we going?"

Heller, perhaps having exhausted the suite of games that he plays with himself in his head, has resorted to looking out the window, watching the scenery pass by. Perhaps if this goes on much longer, he will independantly discover the joy of 'I Spy', since... you don't get a lot of 'I Spy' in warp-capable space craft. Randal's question and Domino's answer draws his attention effortlessly. "Where _are_ we going?"

Domino says, "Westerly mostly, and a bit northerly."

Randal frowns. "Okay. So are you planning to /drive/ back to the ship? Because I don't see that we have any reason to stay on this planet. And some very good reasons to leave it."

Kzeviv looks at Solok with the same blank expression as before. He smiles warmly at Solok, then looks over to Randal. "I don't think we're done here."

Heller grins at Domino, amused. He turns his head, addressing Randal. "Have faith, Randal. She knows what she's doing."

"Unless she's got some method by which we're going to reclaim those cloning tanks," Solok says, now leaning up on the back of one of the seats, "I'm with Randal. What are we still doing here?"

Kzeviv turns forward, addressing Domino, "Do you have some secondary objective in mind that we don't know about?"

Domino clucks her tongue. "The cloning tanks are on the Boneyard, so unless the Romulans got aboard the Boneyard, they are still safe and sound. If the Romulans did get aboard the Boneyard the us beaming up to it would either be an impossibility or very foolish, don't you think? So, to insure we have some financial gain at the end of this job, we are going to take a peak at something else that we may be able to sell, this time information to Yridian brokers if what I think is there is actually there. The Milnet supported my conjecture and supplied the location, so that is where we are going. We should be there very soon, and we have orders that will get us in through the front gate... different from the ones we used to get out, which is why we will stop soon and change the numbers on this truck's bumper with the little can of white paint I borrowed while the Motor Pool officer was getting us the keys."

Domino says, "Of course if you boys want to go now.... we can pull over and try to beam out... well, right now. I can come back another time and look into this without you if you prefer."

Randal frowns. "So... we're going to risk our lives again, to invade some sort of military base to retrieve some information that the Yridians /might/ find interesting -- assuming they even care this planet exists," he says, sounding cynical, "giving the Romulans more time to locate your cloaked ship in orbit. Assuming that they haven't, already." He tilts his head. "You wouldn't mind telling us just what you hope to find, would you?"

Heller listens, intently. Ambivalent.

Domino seems to consider then says, "An Iconian Gate."

Kzeviv chuckles. "An Iconian Gate," he repeats.

Domino says, "After I thought about why the heck the Romulans would give a fig about this planet and it's politics, I remembered the rumor the about the Dominion perhaps finding an Iconian ruin just before the alliance came here and put the whupping on them and then the military secretly exploring the find. The Romulans /would/ try to take over a planet in Federation space through a puppet government to get access to a functional Iconian gate, if it's functional of course."

<CONTEST> Randal contests his History (Iconian) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Fails!

<CONTEST> Kzeviv contests his History (Iconian) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Fails!

<CONTEST> Heller (claiming advantage) contests his History (Iconian) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Succeeds!

Kzeviv looks at Randal. "Do you have any idea what an Iconian gate is?"

"An Iconian gate." Randal sounds rather put off. "So... the Romulans are going to all this trouble, just so they can get a fancy pair of fence posts?" He glances over at Kzeviv and shrugs.

Heller puts up a finger. He slides a look at Domino. "Iconian gate. I've come across that... somewhere... before." He thinks about it, then reciting, as if from memory. "The Iconians, rumoured to be an ancient starfaring empire, circa 2 million years ago... wiped out by an unknown factor...etc., etc." He pauses, thinking, then smiles. "...ah, yes... according to remnent records, they built gates that allowed them to travel... thousands of light-years nearly-instantaneously...?" He looks impressed. He looks at Domino.

Domino smiles winsomely, "Isn't he just darling with the knowing of obscure references?"

Heller grins like a cat, eyebrows on the prowl. "Thank-you, darling."

Randal grins insincerely. "Oh yes. It's quite adorable." Sarcasm? It's a wonder Randal isn't gagging on it. He must have built up an immunity over the years. He sighs. "I imagine, since none of the rest of us can operate this vehicle, or contact your ship, this really isn't up to a vote. Is it?"

Kzeviv just chuckles.

Solok sighs slightly, "Next time someone blackmails me into going on a wild goose chase, I'm going to just follow my instincts and have them beaten. It's generally more cost-effective, in the end."

Kzeviv looks through the window. "Exactly what are the odds of this gate being functional?"

Domino says, "Oh, certainly it's up to a vote. If the majority wants to stop right now and try to escape to the Boneyard and leave, we will leave. It's a partnership, right? If we can escape and we get paid, all if good. I'll just look into this later, maybe or maybe not cutting you in on the action. I'm not trying to /force/ you to do this. You know, to be honest, the way you guys regard me is getting rather tedious. I'm taking the same risks, I'm doing my share of the work, but all I get is suspicion and barely masked sarcasm."

Domino says, "I'd like to add, the tanks were there, no wild goose chase. The Romulans were a surprise. I am confident the gate is here as well, but not sure so I'm not trying to lie to you about it."

. o O Domino thinks "What a bunch of grannies. Next time I hire out of work ten year olds, I swear."

"I'm not masking my sarcasm," Randal responds. He rolls his eyes. "I suppose it would be nice to have a one-up on the Romulans, actually. So... fine. I'm up for checking out this gate thing." He shrugs. "Worse comes to worse, if the rumor's true we might have a plan B for getting off this rock."

Heller responds to Kzeviv. "Even if the gate is not functional, we can probably still get good money for it." He gives Domino the thumbs up. "What the heck? I'm in."

Kzeviv doesn't react much, grinning. "I'm seeing this through to the end. It's a decent change from blowing up other mercenaries." He laughs. "Except for the torture. I could probably do without that."

Solok shrugs slightly, and says, "At this point, I'll abstain from the voting. But toss me one of the rifles. If nothing else, I can hope the Great Exchequer accepts bartered goods."

And so, with that decided, Solok's abstention aside but payed for with one of the rifles they drive on for another three quarters of an hour then pull off the side of the road for some quick number alterations, two three's become eights with deliberate applications of a brush and off they go again for the last short leg though Solok is forced to return to the confines of the bag...

At then end of what is clearly a realitively new access road a single guard hut stands beside a closed gate. A solidier emerges while being covered by a companion with a klingon disrupter rifle and holds up his hand for the truck to stop. He climbs up the step of the truck saying, "This is a restricted area, let me see your travel orders."

Domino passes out the orders cut just a few hours ago and says, "Long drive out here. Any word on the.. elections?"

The soldier ignores her for a moment then hands the orders back before responding. "Colonel Aramis is dead, so he must have cut your orders just before that happened. Rumormill says he offed himself after Trefois won the election. Vhypist is in custody for organizing an attempted coup. Maybe I should get this orders verified with the new command structure before I let you all inside. You know, just to be sure."

Domino frowns and growls, "Listen up private -- I don't care if the Colonel is wearing an alien uniform and dancing a jig to the Federation anthem, we just drove all the way out here and my back is killing me and my bladder needs some relief and my orders say to come here and you better just let us in and then sort it out after I've had a chance to park and use the latrine."

<CONTEST> Domino (claiming advantage) contests his Fast Talk skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Fails!

"Oh yeah? Well you can just sit right the hell here while I get your orders confirmed and I mean right here, if you do anything else, my friend over there is going to burn you into the next life, you got me sweetie?"

Domino looks contrite, "I'm sorry, it's just late and the news you just related is rather... well, upsetting. I mean, I got to /go/ and you tell me the old man is dead and you want me to sit out here while you call command and who knows what sort of SNAFU they have going on out there, it could be hours before some officer decidees they have the authority to confirm them and in the meantime I can't even squat behind a tree if you have me stuck in here. Can we at least pull inside and use the bathroom while you check our orders, come on guy... imagine if you were in my situation?"

<CONTEST> Domino (claiming advantage) contests his Charm (Persuasion) skill vs a difficulty of Difficult and Succeeds!

Kzeviv listens to the conversation up front with marked interest.

Randal raises his eyebrows and shakes his head slightly as Domino bluffs her way through the gate. He remains silent, of course, but those that can see him (Kzeviv, pretty much) can take note of the exasperation in his features.

The private looks dubious but then he takes the orders again and looks them over... "I suppose they are technically official so... yeah, okay. You pull over to the second hut to the right over there and you can use the facilities in there, then you wait by the truck until I get these confirmed. Sound fair?"

"Thanks man, you're a /life/ saver. I'm sure I'll have to find a way to make it up to you later." Domino says before licking her lips and giving the young man the appraising eye. He blushes slightly and climbs down waving for his partner to open up the gate and following the truck in, watching as it turns and backs alongside the vehicle he designated before waving for the gate to close and then setting off on foot for the pre-fab hut marked "HQ".

After the truck pulls forward and into the secured area, Randal comments quietly to Kzeviv, "That woman has either the most charming personality in the sector, or the tiniest bladder." His gaze slides over to the window into the cab as he waits for the next phase of the infiltration to begin.

Domino turns back to speak into the window. "Obviously we don't have alot of time before we're busted. You guys get out of the back and go around that building, I'll leave the truck idlying and go inside to use the bathroom. We are looking for a cave entrance so it should be clearly along that rock face on the far end of camp, just walk that way like you belong here and carry the bag with you, there is probably a check point or something up there so don't get too close and I'll catch up with you in just a minute. Tiger, you go with them... all we have to do is get inside, visually confirm the gate is there and then get outside again, my guess is they probably have transport inhibitors around the site itself. Or, we can cut our losses and try to beam out from the truck right now. What do you want to do boys?"

Kzeviv look around. "Let's do this."

Randal hmphs. "I'd just as soon beam out from the site itself, considering we might not have the opportunity to get out again without raising a warning. We should keep an eye out and see if we can take out any of the inhibitors. Otherwise, it's as good a plan as any."

Domino says, "Okay, ammendment noted. Let's go..."

Kzeviv nods. He picks up the front of the bag and looks at Randal.

Domino exits her side of the truck and takes the time to wave at the gate guard watching her before she walks around the front, taking the time to stretch her back out with hands on the lower back, perhaps real lower back ache perhaps just part of the act, then she walks to the door of the building and opens it filling the area with light before disappearing inside.

Randal pats the bag, gently and perhaps reassuringly, and hauls up his side. Looks like they're all set to head out.

Heller plasters an expression he hopes is military and informed on his face and gets out carefully from the other side, slinking along the side of the truck until he remembers he's supposed to look like he belongs here and he straightens up as he finishes the short trip and helps with the Bag O'Solok.

Kzeviv stands up and casually walks through the camp toward the far rock face with the other two men.

The "cave" entrance has clearly been widened and looks more like the mouth to a mine then a natural formation, and as predicted, two soldiers stand outside it looking tired and bored considering the hour. Domino joins them moments later, apparently having promoted herself while she was in the bathroom and she gestures for the others to follow as she boldly strides toward the two sentries.

"You two, this is the way to the alien artifact?" She demands with an imperious tone and impressive shift in local accent to that of the New Floridian upper crust.

One of the soliders straightens up, "Uh.. yes Major. Um.. are you supposed to be he --"

"Unless you've been asleep for the last several hours you must realize there has been a new president elected, I'm here at the order of a directive from President Trefois himself to look into this matter that the conspirators were hiding from the people of Occa. Now, show me to the thing now or I may have to make a note to remember your name for my report soldier!"

<CONTEST> Domino (claiming advantage) contests his Fast Talk skill vs a difficulty of Difficult and Succeeds!

Kzeviv looks at the two soldiers with a grim expression as Domino talks to them.

The two young men look to each other and without stopping to consider the mater any further turn and lead the way into the mine.. as they turn Dominio physical sags a moment with relief then follows behind them maintaining a steady patter of officious annoyance which keep the soldiers looking eyes front as they escort the thieves to the treasure they seek...

Randal peers at the soldier with which Domino speaks with a faint air of suspicion. It's an act, of course, but hopefully one that adds a touch of apparant urgency and validity to Domino's deception. And another checkpoint is passed. Hopefully, it's the last one they'll have to flaunt their collective fates with.

. o O Randal thinks "Hmm. I'll bet Solok's really not enjoying bag travel. Hmph. Well at least he gets a free ride, now that I think about it. If I have to lift and carry one more thing on this planet, I'm going to shoot someone before I leave..."

They follow thier escorts down the reinforced tunnel of what looks to have been originally a natural cave, and into a cavern full of large lights arranged in towers with several computer stations arranged in a semi-circle where technicians would be working during a more normal time of day. And beyond them is a stone oval approximately 12 meters across and seven meters tall with alien glypsh carved into the side of the stone. The hole in the oval shows the cavern beyond it, and as they arrive a single elderly woman in a white lab coat looks up and demands, "What is the meaning of this intrusion!"

One of the young soldiers says, "Uh, the Major was sent by the new government to look at the site Doctor .. um, President Trefois' orders."

The Doctor frowns as she looks at the group of faux soliders, not so convincing in the light of the cavern as they were in the darkness outside and she says, "President Trefois would have no way of knowing about this project you morons! They are clearly spies! Shoot them!"

An alarm from out of the surface can dimly be heard going off... perhaps indicated the notice that the truck is not accompanied.

Heller blanches at this and says without hesitation, "Oh crap."

Randal unceremoniously dumps the bag. He'll apologize to Solok later, assuming either of them is still alive by then. Rushing forward, he makes a grab for the nearest escort's weapon. He can't shoot at anyone if he can't point it at anyone, after all.

Domino responds by frisbee tossing her clipboard toward the Doctor's face before diving for cover behind a console to buy time to ready her rifle....

GAME: Randal spends a courage point.

<CONTEST> Randal (claiming advantage) contests his Unarmed Combat (Aikido) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

...and Randal succeeds in grabbing the rifle with both hands as the soldier unslings it and tries to bring it to bear -- they wrestle for control over it.

<CONTEST> Domino (claiming advantage) contests his Athletics (Clipboard) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Fails!

Domino the clipboard goes wide but still infuriates the Occan scientist who turns to open a drawer of her desk to retrieve an automatic pistol.

The clipboard goes wide but still infuriates the Occan scientist who turns to open a drawer of her desk to retrieve an automatic pistol.

<CONTEST> Kzeviv (claiming advantage) contests his Unarmed Combat skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!

<CONTEST> Kzeviv (claiming advantage) contests his Unarmed Combat (Starfleet Martial Arts) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

Kzeviv rushes the man behind him, grabbing his weapon and beginning to grapple with him.

Solok is currently within the bag, armed with a rifle. And sure, there's a conflict going on that could possibly use his support. But he's a Ferengi. And so he's remaining within the bag, and doing his best laundry impression.

Heller dives for cover when he sees the woman bring her pistol around to bear at him since Randal and Kzeviv are rifle wrestling with her guards...

Domino pops over the side of the console with her rifle firmly guided, she aims for the Doctor's gun hand and squeezes the trigger...

<CONTEST> Domino contests his Projectile Weapon (Blackpowder Rifle) skill vs a difficulty of Difficult and Succeeds!

*Prck-Kow!* The rifle barks and the pistol goes twisting out of the scientists hand causing her to curse impressively as she tries to find her own cover...

"Heller!" Randal shouts as he wrestles with the guard. "Close this area off! Or hold off the reinforcements when they arrive! Or something!" He steps forward, placing his foot squarely between and behind his opponents' and attempts to leverage him to the ground with as much force as he can muster while retaining a grip on the rifle.

Heller pipes up, "That's okay, everything looks under control from here. Keep up the good work!" He of course does not look over the console to confirm this, but feeling a momentary twinge of guilt or responsibility or perhaps just a hope at future discount prices... he stretches out his arm and drags with some effort the bag that holds Solok within to join him in his spot of "safety". He then look satisfied, after all, he did something to help.

<CONTEST> Randal (claiming advantage) contests his Unarmed Combat (Aikido) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Fails!

Randal tries to get leverage to push the young man down but finds his opponant just as eagerly unwilling to go as he is to send him down...

Kzeviv grapples with the guard, sneering at him with a twisted grin in an effort to demoralize him, "Don't lose your grip now, buddy." With that, he tries to take the soldier down.

<CONTEST> Kzeviv (claiming advantage) contests his Unarmed Combat (Starfleet Martial Arts) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

The soldier, perhaps stunned by the sharp chedder of Kzeviv's sneered verbal riposte, is pulled off balance and goes off kilter to the floor but still manages to keep a grip on his rifle...

Domino runs around the terminal and switches the pointing of her rifle as she brings it over her shoulder to line up for a butt stroke to head series on the soldier fighting Randal warning, "HEADS UP!" She then swings the rifle butt forward...

<CONTEST> Domino contests his Primitive Weaponry (Rifle Butt) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Fails!

... and misses noting, "Oh hell."

Heller, remembers that Solok has his rifle in the bag with him, so opens up the bag to allow another weapon into the fight -- more help -- he smiles, who knew he was such a helpful warrior?

Randal cranes his head back as Domino attempts to smack his opponent. He pushes on the soldier's rifle, as if trying to wrest it downward out of his grasp -- and then abruptly reverses his effort, trying to send the barrel upward across his jaw as solidly as possible.

And so Heller probably learns a very good lesson about disturbing people with rifles. That lesson being that they tend not to appreciate helpful gestures of that sort. Indeed, the rather ungrateful Solok points the rifle up at Heller, "Gooway, find your own hiding spot. This one's taken."

<CONTEST> Randal (claiming advantage) contests his Unarmed Combat (Aikido) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Succeeds!

... and impact it does, the soldier goes down alike a poleaxed pig and doesn't seem to have any intentions to get back up.

Heller holds up his hands and says with contrived solicitude, "Just trying to help and this is my hiding place, I brought you over they left you out there with t .. heh, why don't I just find another one, okay?"

Kzeviv suddenly wrests to the side, trying to tear the rifle free of the grip of the dangling soldier.

Solok replies to Heller, "That's right. He who has a gun gets his pick of the hiding places." And then he goes back to hiding, reaching out to zip the bag back up, save for a little opening to peek out through.

<CONTEST> Kzeviv (claiming advantage) contests his Unarmed Combat (Starfleet Martial Arts) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

... and as Kzeviv is successful the young soldier realizes his apparently alone and he says, "Don't shoot me! Please don't shoot me! I'm just a guy doing his mandatory service obligation I don't care if you Starfleet assassins or anything!"

The Doctor's voice calls out, "Shut up you fool!" She of course remains unseen.

Domino says, "Nice shot Randy!" She reorintates her weapon again and moves over to kick the pistol further away and finds the Doctor where she cowers as Kzeviv deals with the pleading soldier. "You, Get up. And don't you even point a gun at me again! Just put your hands over your head and where I can -- no better idea. You turn off the transporter inhibiters and we'll leave and you'll live. Isn't that right guys?"

Heller calls out, "Sounds good to me cupcake!"

"I don't know," Randal says, pretending to sound undecided. "Our stay on this rock hasn't been four-star service, exactly." He chuckles. "Oh. And for the record, we're not Starfleet, and we're not assassins." He glances over at the impressive alien structure, then at the terminals. And then back to Domino. "Suppose we can at least shoot up their equipment a bit before we go? You know, I'd like /someone/ to suffer at least a fraction of the inconvenience we have on this mission."

Domino says, "If that would drop the inhibitors faster, be my guest but the alarm is on so we need to go. With sooness."

Kzeviv grins at Randal. He then readies his gun for firing, looking straight at the young soldier with his old blank, grim look. "I say we let him live, but I think it's important that he disables those inhibitors." He gives the soldier another twisted smile.

With earnest sincerity the young soldier looks confused as he protests, "Disable my inhibitors? You aren't suggesting the only way you'll let me live is if I have sex with you are you? Not that you're not a /handsome/ guy but I'm not really into that!"

The Doctor stands up scowling, "Transporter Inhibitors you imbecile! They don't want to have sex with you! Fools! I'm surrounded by Fools!" He carefully, as she's being watched, makes a few adjustments on a console and the says, "There. Now you can run back to your Federation and work on how to steal /MY/ discovery you offworlder filth!"

Solok stays inside the bag for the moment, just keeping an eye on things. One little beady eye peering through the opening in the zipper, along with the tip of an automatic rifle.

Randal grins, like a kid in a candy store. He picks a suitably scientific-looking piece of equipment, levels his gun at it and squeezes the trigger. POW! Sparks! Wooo! Take /that/, advancement of knowledge through science! The mindless violence is doing wonders for Randal's stress level. "Alright, I'm done here. Let's go."

Kzeviv looks around, blushing, then says to the soldier's general direction, "I'm not sure whether to shoot you or say thanks."

GAME: Domino spends a courage point.

<CONTEST> Domino (claiming advantage) contests his Shipboard Systems (Transporter) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

"Then away we go... thanks for your hospitality..." Domino offers with a smile at the doctor then she and Heller and Randal and Kzeviv and Solok becomes motes of blue light and are gone. The bag, it falls to the floor flatly.

Several kilometers above the surface the team materializes in the transporter room of the Boneyard and since no Romulans greet them, Domino checks the computer vocally for any recent intruders and is reassured none have come aboard. She the confirms the cargo was picked up, which it was...

Domino says, "If you have no objections gentlemen, let's break orbit and get the heck out of here, we came, we explored, we got the loot, now I think it's time to scoot."

Kzeviv looks at Domino squarely. "I concur quite strongly. It's time to withdraw."

Heller seems content for the moment to sit right on the pad where he arrived crouched down, perhaps allowing his body to catch up with the most recent events or perhaps wishing the transporter had left Solok's rifle behind along with the bag.

Randal sighs, ejects the ammo clip from the appropriated rifle and drops both of the aforementioned on the deck of the transporter room. "Yeah. We got what we came for. And then some. So, unless I needed to shoot at anything else before we go to warp, I'm going to go off and take a shower." He turns, wearily, toward the door.

Kzeviv looks at the others, then looks at the weapon. "Give me a heavy phaser rifle any day." He walks out of the transporter room.

Solok gets up from the floor, having transported in similar position, but now being devoid of suitable hiding places. He stands up, dusting himself off with all the grace of a cat that just jumped twelve inches too short. It's the ''What? I /meant/ to do that'' sort of look.

With far too much energy and enthusiasm the sole female in the group says, "Come on guys! We did it! We got the tanks! We found the gate! Sure we got a little tortured but we are going to get paid /lots/ of credits.." She trails off as Randal and Kzeviv move to depart with very little adrenelin elation showing at all an she looks toward Solok and Heller. A moment passes and she relents, shrugs, "Right. I'll lay in a course and get us out of here."

And within minutes Occa is a planet fading fast on the viewscreen, but the memories some carry from Occa will never be left behind...

-- Fin --