Post by Atreides Conscript on Dec 22, 2006 19:33:21 GMT -5
Kira Owen: As you make your way toward the ship, you think to yourself about the risks of this venture. There is no way that Commander Kayta would understand a Federation officer aboard her ship, but there's no way to get Maxwell back to the vessel without bringing the guard with you... or is there?
As you begin to formulate a plan, an explosion brings an abrupt halt to your thoughts. The Federation guard raises his rifle to the ready and takes in the situation. Down the way, you both see two station guards running out of a burning building. Beams slice down from the building across the street and vaporize the two unfortunate men.
"What the hell is going on?" the guard asks rhetorically. As you both take in the situation, the two men from the building-top spot you. They start moving toward the roof edge nearest to your location. You notice the guard go tense as he grips your arm tightly. "We need to get out of here!"
You couldn't agree more. Other than the rifle in the guard's hands and the pistol at Maxwell's hip, you're devoid of armament. It's fight or flight from this point.
Maxwell Hooper: First the pain, then the hurting, now the pain again. Your head is beginning to clear, but your vision is getting fuzzier. You are now very aware that you're loosing blood, and that you are being dragged toward your ship. What's more, there's a Federation escort with you. That won't go over well.
Unfortunately, you're in absolutely no position to deal with any of these problems. Just as you muster the energy to speak your current thoughts, whatever jumbled mess that may be, you hear what is definitely an explosion.
Could this get any worse? Oh great, yes it could... your nose feels like it's been broken again. Can't you just go unconscious and have it easy?
Klisikar Pub: The situation is hopeless. You are all surrounded by Federation security, all of them with weapons ready and eyes sharp. Commander Spetra is stalking about the room, hands behind his back, making sure that the investigation is running smoothly.
Finally, the Federation medical team arrives, escorted by station security officers and other men in drab green uniforms. The station security guards relieve the Federation man at the door, and the green-clad men move to the center of the room where one of them clears his throat.
"We are representative of the Cestus militia. It has come to our attention that a Federation starship is orbiting our planet with hostile intentions. It has also come to our attention that eight different station regulations have been broken in the previous scuffle and in this following investigation." The man looks very unhappy, and eyes everyone in the room with equal suspicion.
Commander Spetra steps forward. "What authority do you have here, sir?" He stands with the smug look of a man who knows that he will win whatever exchange comes next. "The Cestus Colonial government does not legitimately recognize any armed force on the planet other than the Guard."
"Then I suppose that it would be appropriate to mention that the Cestus Colonial government doesn't govern this planet any longer. We are in control, and we do not approve of your actions Commander." The man glares daggers at Spetra, who glares right back.
"A coup against the government? I have my doubts that your armed actions will be successful." Commander Spetra looks around the room, making eye contact with all of his men. Each of them looks back with fervor in their eyes."
"They already have been. The capital city, this starport, and the orbital defense system are all under our control. You will give me your unconditional surrender, or you will all be detained by force."
"I see." Spetra looks directly into your eyes, Yen, and then into yours, Charlie. His eyes seem to beg for your attention. He then winks at the both of you as his arm tenses for a quick grasp at the weapon on his belt.
Threl Jondro: The captain looks at you like she has just been slapped across the face. You hear the sound of the guard moving behind you.
The captain raises her hand as if to call off the man behind you. "Well, I am quite sorry Mr. Jondro, but we've already touched off. We will be out of the atmosphere within seconds."
She looks uncertain. You are welcome to one of our empty suites for the duration of the journey back home to Risa. If not, we can drop you off along -"
"Captain!" A crewman with an earpiece, presumably for communications, turns around and faces her commanding officer. "A Federation starship is blocking our course. They are demanding that we either set back down or... submit to a full search!"
"What!?!", the captain exclaims. "Send to the Federation ship. This is not your jurisdiction. Move out of our course or the proper authorities will be notified."
The communications officer turns back to her station and repeats the captain's words. A few seconds go by before another crewman yells out.
"Captain, they're raising their shields!" He checks his equipment again. "What!?! Incoming!" The vessel's hull reverberates under the stress of an explosion.
"What are they thinking? They can't just fire on us!" The captain looks frantically around the room. She then centers her eyes upon you. "They're looking for you, aren't they?" Her hand shoots to her hip where it comes to rest on the grip of a pistol.
Post by gryphonpoet on Dec 23, 2006 0:45:41 GMT -5
"They're looking for you, aren't they?" the Captain spat out as the situation deteriorated beyond her control.
With a fast and dextrous move, Jondro moved his newly-finished staff into a position to rest against the hand drawing her pistol. Enough pain to make a point filled the Captain's consciousness. It pinned her hand to the hilt of her weapon, but Jondro applied nowhere near enough to break bones.
"Captain," he answered through his soft smile. "I have been honest with you. I am but an itinerant servant of the Prophets. I don't believe the Federation is looking for me, though I am certain the Cardassians are."
The smile on Jondro's face never wavered, never flickered, never faltered. "Perhaps now is time for a more rational approach than the murder of a guest who may or may not be here willingly."
Still listening for the bodyguard's heavy breathing, the Bajoran continued. "Instead of casting blind accusations, maybe you should talk with them and see what exactly the humans want. It may be, if in the Prophets' wills, that you don't have what they are searching for."
Jondro now released the Captain's pinned hand from beneath his skillfully maneuvered staff with a flourish that told of a level of skill in that weapon that few in this time could know. He returned to the posture from before. His hands caressed the top knob of his staff as his body maintained an non-threatening pose. The smile... yes, that smile... could not hide the machinations of his mind as viewed through his eyes.
These words form in Kira's mind. What the hell did she do to deserve this. All she wanted was some more tea leaves. She never did get her warm Saki. She managed to get out of the bar with out too many questions but now this. She looks at the guard.
"Take him. Your stronger and we can move faster." She pulls the pistol off Maxwell as she pushes his weight of onto the guard looking around quickly for some cover she points to an alley on the same side of the street as the burning building. "There!" she yells as she begins to run. Pistol in one hand she uses the other to locate her communicator in her outside pocket. They had to get out of range or under cover. The alley was the quickest and most likely means of achieving that. She had to radio too. They needed help. Big time. She doubted now her escort would care too much about Maxwell and herself being Maquis. They were both quite non-threating compared to the people mostly likely trying to vaporise them.
Her free hand closes around the communicator. "This Kira to Unity's Vengeance ! We need help, now!" She yells into the receiver.
Maxwell felt his body weight shift, and he had slid off of his rescuer's shoulders. Mister Hooper was suddenly aware of his body, lying in great agony, on the ground again. Rolling over as best he could, Maxwell could see clearly into the heavens, where fire was raining down on the planetside. Or, was it something else? He wasn't sure. All he knew was that he was lying right in the path of the moving people. A Federation entourage on one side, a whole colony on the other. He knew this wouldn't end well, unless... unless... what was her name? Unless she could raise the ship. Yeah, it should have still been in dock. The Ulara's Faithful is in port... no... wait, wasn't it the... Vengeance... Something like that... Solidarity or Cohesion... or something. Maxwell couldn't keep anything straight at this point. He could tell that someone was calling for that ship, the Unity's Vengeance she called it. His eyes were glassing over now, as he watched the stars falling and the clouds passing in an uninterested way. A smile started to crease his shock-induced awe...
Charlie looked at the new arrivals, any coup or hostile takeover was not good for her. Once again, she looked like a Starfleet officer, she was human and it was the default choice for those who see her.
"I see." Spetra looks directly into your eyes, Yen, and then into yours, Charlie. His eyes seem to beg for your attention. He then winks at the both of you as his arm tenses for a quick grasp at the weapon on his belt.
Charlie didn't think, in a choice between who to side with, she begrudgingly chose Starfleet. The militia would not believe she was Maquis, and she was more likely to redeem herself if she helped the Starfleet with their 'problem'.
This was not her fight, but as a wise man once said she and the Starfleet men 'were going in the same direction'. As Spectra reached for his pistol, Charlie rose to her feet in such a fast motion she surprised even herself. She charged the nearest miltia in her effort to escape the room.
CTO Cmdr Raiser, USS Broadsword (ACTD) TO Lt.JG Ro'kar, USS Perseus (ACTD) "The warrior of Light, like the experienced fighter, knows his or her own immense strength and never fights someone who doesn't deserve the honour of combat" - Paulo Coehlo
Yen watches as Spetra man talks about the hassle of their world. Still standing she was pretty sure that they didn't think of her as a threat. She only looked twelve after all. Sometimes being Chinese did have its benefits. She put her hands behind her back and waited patiently for what would happen.
"They already have been. The capital city, this starport, and the orbital defense system are all under our control. You will give me your unconditional surrender, or you will all be detained by force."
Yen cocked her head to one side and raised an eyebrow.
"I see." Spetra looks directly into your eyes, Yen, and then into yours, Charlie. His eyes seem to beg for your attention. He then winks at the both of you as his arm tenses for a quick grasp at the weapon on his belt.
Yen gave Spetra a confused look, like a doe caught in the head lights kinda look. She had practice with this look. When she saw that Charlie had decided who it was she was siding with. Yen stepped into action. She got a terrified look on her face, screamed a blood curdling scream, dropped to her knees, lifted one hand to her face, and pointed behind Spetra. She had done this before in a pinch.
The reaction for almost everyone at this is to look behind them to see what was so terrifying to make her scream like that.
"You think that you can tell us apart? Many have tried, but then again, many have failed. What do you think the price for that is?" The Three Sisters Lylie-governess to a child of the first plain "You grew up. Thats a shame. The carousel never stops turning. You cant get off either. Its a shame."
Post by Atreides Conscript on Jan 2, 2007 0:56:19 GMT -5
Charlie Azumi: As you begin your charge across the room, you hear the sound of a young woman's scream. You glance back, only for a second, and see Yen pointing furiously past Spetra toward the men you are charging at. As you turn back around to investigate the object of her terror, a hard object clobbers you across the face.
After regaining your senses, you look up off of the floor to see one of the militia pointing a phaser-rifle directly at your own countenance. He has a look of utter contempt in his eyes as he begins to pull upon the trigger. However, before his finger gets the chance to see you slain, his body disappears behind bright orange light... never to be seen again.
Fire breaks out all over the room as Federation crewmen begin to tumble with the local militia. To your left a Starfleet ensign is butted with the bulk of a phaser-rifle into his visage. His teeth crumble under the force as the weight of the weapon is born down upon him.
To the right a Federation lieutenant slashes a shard of glass through a militiaman's throat. A red spray covers the uniform of the next militia, already discharging his disruptor into the lieutenant's chest. To the Starfleet crewmen, the might be unreal, but to you, a Maquis... this is everyday life.
"You owe me one," Spetra mutters exasperatedly as he pulls you up off of the floor. "I would suggest that we find the quickest way out of here, only then will we be in a position to resist." His words seem cold, even lifeless. You've seen men like him before. You call them veterans.
Yen Ling: As you scream, you see your shipmate lose her balance under a well-placed rifle-check. A militiaman stands defiantly before her, preparing her very end. Before you can stop your facade and draw your weapon, Spetra draws his and levels it at the would-be killer. The militia officer never has a chance to scream.
The room has broken out into yet another brawl, but unlike before, this one is utterly lethal. War has come to the Klisikar Pub, and now you have to get out. Why can't you ever have a drink in peace?
You see Spetra picking up Charlie a few yards in front of you. As you watch her begin to lift her own weight with his aid, you notice a man behind them with his phaser-pistol leveled directly at you. Before you can dodge out of the way, a searing pain slices through your shoulder. Your disruptor, held by the now useless hand, clunks to the floor as you convulse in pain.
Kira Owen: As you turn for the alley, a plasma grenade goes off down the street, showering the area with liquid heat. The Starfleet guard heaves Maxwell's weight and makes a quick run for the alley. You do the same.
As you reach the alley, you find it fortunately deserted. A static-filled signal comes back through your communicator. "This is Kayta. Local militia attempted to board us. We have touched-off and are prepared to take the necessary measures to see all of you back aboard."
Your heart leaps as you hear the reply. They're going to get you both to safety, and you know that Commander Kayta keeps her word. However, just as quickly as your spirits rise, they fall again into despair. They're going to use the transporter.
You remember the last time that the transporter was used. As your ship was receiving a load of food and supplies from a cargo vessel, something went awry with the system. The pattern was lost in transfer, and there was little distinguishable matter left of the first load of fruit. The rest of the shipment had to be transferred by moving to a trade outpost in a nearby star system and carrying it all by hand.
Now you are in serious danger of becoming a sticky mess across the transporter pad in the cargo bay. This couldn't be worse.
Maxwell Hooper: You feel yourself being lifted from the ground by another person... a man. As your eyes begin to fog up from blood-loss, you see the face of your next transport. He is a youthful man, whose eyes are filled with fright, yet resolve at the same.
His other features know no terror as the hell breaks loose about you. His collar shows a small dot of gold light... no a gold rank pip. You fight to recover your sense once again as you realise the identity of your rescuer, your captor, a Federation officer. It is far too late for any recovery however, and you fall one last time into unconsciousness.
Threl Jondro: The captain moves her hand away from the pistol as you return to your former pose. She eyes you with avid distrust, but nods her head slowly nonetheless.
"Open a channel to the Federation vessel. Tell them that we surrender and will put back down to port as soon as possible." The captain's gaze never waivers from your own. Her glare then ends abruptly as begins to again take charge of her own bridge.
"Take this 'servant of the prophets' below, Tucker," she says with disinterest. "You will understand, Mr. Jondro, that I cannot have you on my bridge in such a tense situation. If you resist, you will be shot... if not by me, then by another of my crew here. Do you understand?"
She does not wait for a response from you, but rather turns back around and begins hastily ordering crewmen to unload the cargo from the hold as soon as they make planet-fall. You are not surprised that they would be harboring illegal goods, but you are surprised that the Federation would care about it so far from their own space.
Tucker walks up beside you and motions you past him toward the turbolift. "We have some suites that are not currently in use. You can either stay there on your own, or I'll have to watch over you in the cargo hold... your choice, Mister Jondro.
As you exit the bridge, still making up your mind, you hear the sound of a commanding human voice over the bridge audio. "The captain of the Merlin recognises your surrender, Aphrodite. Put down at the following coordinates." You turn around in the turbolift and watch the action upon the main viewscreen at the front of the bridge.
The scene is disconcerting, to say the least. As the out-board cameras rotate their views, you see a Federation ship bearing down upon a mass of vessels attempting to break atmosphere. By the looks of the ship, you can tell that it is definitely one of the newer vessels. 'What class is that again,' you ponder to yourself. Saucer with two booms leading aft... and an engine bar holding under-slung nacelles. Just what is it that you may be up against? The information then strikes your mind with an unfortunate realisation....
What do you call 4 crows milling about at the side of a road?
Post by gryphonpoet on Jan 2, 2007 13:32:53 GMT -5
Jondro realized that sometimes the Prophets use rather unorthodox means to keep their faithful safe. This was certainly one of those times. But something more important than this pleasure ship's departure had certainly occurred. Too large of a Star Fleet ship had been dispatched and too many civilian ships trying to leave the system.
What had happened?
With a polite bow from the waist, Threl Jondro acknowledged the Captain and turned to his escort.
"I am more than satisfied to remain in one of your suites until this misunderstanding is resolved." Jondro told the huge man now talking to him. "My family name is Threl, Mister Tucker. Please either call me Mister Threl or call me Jondro. The only ones who intentionally muddle our names are the Cardassians. And you seem too intelligent to be one of them." The stress on his last word made Jondro's contempt obvious.
Jondro's smile remained intact as he crossed toward the turbolift. He turned and leaned once again on his well-carved staff.
At least I know that this staff is nicely balanced and has much potential. Threl Jondro's thoughts remained silently behind his gleaming brown eyes.
Somewhere, deep inside Max's head, things were melding together in a fervant disassociation. One part of his mind rationalized that he was being lifted. Another believed that his ship had lost gravity. Yet another watched the sky explode with bloody light, while a paragon of divinity carried him to a final, glorious battle. His rationale mind, however, caught up with him, just before overloading and shutting down. Crewman Maxwell Hooper placed one hand on the young man's shoulder, glancing first at the golden circle on his neck and then into his face, "Carry on... Ensign."
Suddenly, Max was back in his quiet, dark world where no one could reach him. He was, he wasn't, and he wished he could be and didn't know how. This place of bleak memory was his now.
At that moment Kira feels that one glass of Saki crawl back up her throat. She holds her stomach and bends over keeping the contents of her stomach for spewing out. She stands for a moment absolutely petrified with fear. She feels as if her whole life is passing before her eyes, even worse. Using the transporter is a serious risk to her life, and even worse, if she so chooses, she doesn't have to risk it.
Her mind breaks over the problem at hand. Either she risks using the transporter, and possibly gets herself and Maxwell killed. Then again, if it works, she can see to Maxwell's health immediately, saving his life for certain. Or she denies the transporter and tries to find some other way of getting Maxwell to the ship, mostly likely taking too long and allowing Maxwell to die. The chances were slim. Maxwell's only hope was the transporter, and her best hope was against it.
Then Maxwell groans. She looks over at her shipmate. She hears his words to the Federation solider supporting him. An eerie feeling washed over her as Maxwell face became the same as countless faces before him. Faces of men and women who had been brought to her for medical treatment. Faces of hard working people and harder fighting soldiers. Faces she had failed.
She raised the communicator to her mouth. She swallows hard as she tries not to choke on her words.
"Do what ever is necessary. Maxwell doesn't have much time left."
Charlie had been ready to die at that point, accepting that this was finally the end to all the torture - she'd have preferred dying while gutting as many Cardassians as possible but this would have to do. She didn't have the energy to fight back
Fire breaks out all over the room as Federation crewmen begin to tumble with the local militia. To your left a Starfleet ensign is butted with the bulk of a phaser-rifle into his visage. His teeth crumble under the force as the weight of the weapon is born down upon him.
"You owe me one," Spetra mutters exasperatedly as he pulls you up off of the floor. "I would suggest that we find the quickest way out of here, only then will we be in a position to resist."
Charlie didn't have anything really against Starfleet personnel, just their cowardly and smug way of doing things. They seemed to get it from their Vulcan friends. But now she owed this man her life. There was a trace of honour left in her, as well as noticing an opportunity when she saw it.
"Then, lets get out of here." she could lose the officer once they were away from the conflict - in this chaos it shouldn't be too hard. Now if only her head would stop throbbing so she could see straight. As they proceeded away, she grabbed her distruptor from the floor, this time she knew it was not able to stun, and she intended to use it to kill.
CTO Cmdr Raiser, USS Broadsword (ACTD) TO Lt.JG Ro'kar, USS Perseus (ACTD) "The warrior of Light, like the experienced fighter, knows his or her own immense strength and never fights someone who doesn't deserve the honour of combat" - Paulo Coehlo
Yen looks to see Charlie fall as she gets hit with the butt of a gun. Stunned that Charlie got distracted by that, she watched as the room falls into yet another brawl. Another drink lost because of hot heads.
Yen looks back to Charlie as Spetra helps her up. When he bends down Yen's eyes widen in saprize as she see a man with his phaser-pistol aimed at her. The pain that seered through her arm was unbearable.
Her arm convulses and twitches. Pushing through the pain, Yen grabs her arm and rushes the men blocking her way. Pushing through the men as they try to grab her, but her small size and tight fitting clothes make her a hard target to grab.
"You think that you can tell us apart? Many have tried, but then again, many have failed. What do you think the price for that is?" The Three Sisters Lylie-governess to a child of the first plain "You grew up. Thats a shame. The carousel never stops turning. You cant get off either. Its a shame."
