The Final Dance

Posted on Mon Apr 26th, 2021 @ 6:55am by Commodore Phoenix Lalor-Richardson & Lieutenant Sapphire Morgan [Lalor] & Consul Josephine Carlyle-Cragen & Avalon [ADMIN NPC] & Captain Gary Taylor & Lieutenant Commander Aurelia Taylor & Commander Sthilg & Lieutenant Colonel Azhul Naxea & Lieutenant Commander Alicia Kelea-Salik & Lieutenant JG Gallia Norris & Lieutenant Victor Barclay de Tolly & Lieutenant Tate Sullivan Ph.D. & Lieutenant JG Miraj Derani & Master Sergeant Kieran Fredericks & Captain David Tonelly [Reece] & Lieutenant Commander Savar cha'Salik hei-Surak Talek-sen-deen [Taylor] & Lieutenant Scott Gregory [Taylor] & Lieutenant Tonya King ( Barclay de Tolly ) & Legate Imik S'Niohun [Lia Taylor] & Captain George Charles [Reece] & Lieutenant JG T'Kek [Naxea] & Ensign BF 345078 (john Snow.) [Sthilg] & Senior Chief Petty Officer Fernando De La Rosa [Taylor] & Gunnery Sergeant Luxa Gami [Naxea] & Lieutenant JG Heather De La Rosa {Kelea-Salik} & Private 1st Class Durak
Edited on on Mon Apr 26th, 2021 @ 6:57am

Mission: Season 5: Episode 1: No Exit
Location: various
Timeline: MD2 - late
5623 words - 11.2 OF Standard Post Measure

IC
- Elysium bridge -

Phoenix hated waiting. It was a character flaw she knew. She knew that Naxea would signal when they had located the away team. Thus they needed to be ready to jump in, deploy their fighters, beam the group out and get the hell out as fast as the could.

She hit the comm. [["Attention all hands, Secure for battle. Secure all posts and civilians to the shelters. All fighter pilots to your ships."]]

That was announced through the ship.

Having washed and changed, Lia now returned to the bridge. She used the ships scanners and then faced Phoenix. "The enemy fleet hasn't moved, and there seems no increase in their power output". She then attempted to scan the enemy vessels again, "Still can't get anything on the enemy ships, so weapons still can't get a lock. We'll be defenseless as we approach, nothing else to report Captain".

Alicia helped out getting civilians to the shelters before making her way to the bridge. She didn’t need to be on the bridge but given the circumstances it was where she wanted to be. Making her way there she stepped out of the turbolift and headed over to her seat.


- Sickbay -

In Sickbay Heather was doing her best to keep busy, she trusted Fernando to keep himself safe. He’d come back to her, she knew he’d come back.

After feeling confident there were enough hands to ensure the civilians got to the shelters in record time, Tate informed Alicia she would be heading to Sickbay to prepare for potential injuries. seeing Heather moving around to keep busy, Sullivan just prayed the reassurance she had offered her earlier wouldn't be false.

- Quell'ish -

The enemy and the Rescue team was in a pitched battle but, the Rescue team was winning, having cleared a route for Olivia. "Lieutenant Voight! Set up those emitters!" Naxea ordered. "We'll cover you!"

A sight break caused Naxea to pause as she spotted the grey armored soldier she had fought. The leg she had stabbed it had apparently been bandaged with a metal band encasing his leg and wound and it was staring at her as it began to charge. She managed to fire two shots that ripped open his armor but seemed to not stop him as it crashed her at full force. The impact felt like she had been hit by a shuttle. "Damn," she moaned as she got up. "Alright you bastard. Let's go." Naxea blocked a fast punch by the alien before being caught off guard by his quickness with his leg that connected hard against her shoulder. Stepping forward, she slammed her fist into it's midsection, casing it to take a step back and she pushed her attack, blocking another punch, this time grabbing the arm, twisting and slamming her foot into the side of the knee of it's injured leg, causing an audible crack to sound. The soldier cried out in pain, delivering a powerful backhand in response as it limped back.

Gritting it's mandibles behind it's helmet, it had had enough of this alien female. Though it admired her tenacity and skill as a warrior. It was time to end this fight and take the enemy's morale as it raised his arm and snapped off a small explosive projectile from his left gauntlet.

Naxea barely had the time to react before the projectile struck her upper left chest and exploded. Blackness encompassed Naxea as she was blown several feet away, her armor doing it's best to protect it's wearer.

"Colonel!" Gami cried as she charged towards Naxea, leveling her pulse rifle and firing off several bursts that struck the alien soldier, causing the soldier to grunt and begin to fall back. What she saw of Naxea was not good as her armor for the most part was tattered...and covered one half in blood.

Gary was at Gami's side in an instant. "Sergeant get the Colonel out of here now! I'll cover your withdrawal." Even as he spoke Gary was laying down covering fire so Gami and Naxea could get to safety.

Gami moved to Naxea, kneeling down. Her armor's sensors scanned Naxea's body, instantly displaying the carnage. Gami couldn't read any thoughts from Naxea either, although her sensors indicated feint life readings, though dropping. "Hang on," Gami said as she grunted, performing a ranger roll into a fireman's carry. She moved as fast as her legs could carry her. "Medic! I need a medic now!" she screamed as she approached the area where the enhancers were being set up.

Up in his perch, David had seen the explosion. Over the comms, he heard the frantic calls for the medic. While he didn't know the colonel well, she was his superior officer and a fellow marine. Digging in to his growing rage, the El Aurian gained a focus so sharp, he could practically smell the enemy troops. Using this focus, his shots became quicker and much deadlier.

Kieran heard someone screaming for a medic. He looked up and saw Staff Sergeant Gami carrying the Colonel in a fireman's carry. He turned to the sergeant in First Squad. "Hold the line here! " he yelled as he ran to Commander Taylor. "Sir, orders? " he yelled to be heard as he raised his rifle to help Gary cover Gami's escape with Colonel Naxea.

"We'll set up a defensive perimeter here until the Colonel can be looked at and her condition has stabilized Sergeant." Gary answered as he slowly fell back, still firing down on the enemy as Kieran joined him.

Despite the fact that both were under some pretty serious fire, Kieran couldn't suppress a grin.

"Call me Top, sir. " he said. Then he got on the comm frequency for the two squads he'd left guarding the entrance to the cave. "Fredericks to Perimeter Teams! We're falling back and under heavy fire. Stand by for suppressive fire as soon as they're in range! Be aware, they're right on our heels and the bastards ain't carrying roses! " he said.

"Copy that Top. " said the NCO who was commanding the perimeter unit in his absence.

"Alright Top. Lets get ready to light em up. Let them know they picked the wrong marines to mess with." Gary answered, clasping him on the shoulder.

"You read my mind, sir. " Kieran said, a wolfish grin appearing on his face.

Gary gave a tight smile to Kieran. "Alright Top. Lets light these bastards up."

It seemed like the enemy had the same idea. The enemy that had been well behind had closed the distance in their fast land vehicles, and were now close enough to lend their fire power to their comrades, a repeating phaser mounted on the forward vehicle, spitting out blue lines of destruction towards Commander Taylor and the Master Sergeant.

Gary was already in motion as the lead vehicle started to fire at Kieran and himself. "Move Top!" He shouted as he moved for better cover, firing as he did at the vehicle. His shots hitting the armor plating. Looking around he saw a bandolier of grenades on the ground someone either dropped or lost. Taking one. He set the timer for three seconds and threw. The grenade hit the front of the vehicle and exploded in a fiery mix of metals body parts.

Kieran rolled to his right and came up, kneeling. He raised his phaser rifle and began snapping off precise shots at the enemy. He looked over his shoulder at the Commander, who was a few steps to his left, covering his left side.

"Let's fall back, sir. " He suggested. They were fine for the moment, but they were still in the open.

"Roger that Top . Lets move." Gary answered as the pair looked for cover.

T'Kek snapped off a shot at an enemy as he rushed forward to Naxea's side. He grabbed the medical tricorder from his kit and scanned Colonel Azhul. "Shit," he cursed. The tricorder listed a multitude of issues from her mangled left arm, burns, shattered ribs, collar bone and a punctured lung, internal hemorrhaging, and at least three dozen shrapnel wounds. 'Come on T'Kek, focus,' he thought to himself, hoping Lieutenant Voight would be done setting up the enhancers soon as he began to slowly remove her helmet. "I'll do what I can but if she doesn't get to Elysium's Sickbay in ten minutes, she's...."

"Don't you dare say that, Sir!" Gami yelled. "Save her!"

T'Kek administered Morathial in an effort to help stabilize Naxea's nervous system and keep her from going into shock. "I will do my best but she requires Sickbay and a more experienced doctor to have a hope to survive," T'Kek said sternly before getting to work to try and at least slow the bleeding.

Gami stood, knowing she couldn't do anything further. "Hang on, Colonel." She turned and rejoined the fight. A moment later, the transporter enhancers activated.

Tonya thought she could reprogram the probe but it turned out if she did what she planned, it would have caused more harm than good.

-USS Elysium-

George had been pacing in the pilot's briefing room ever since the Elysium had called them back aboard and moved away from the enemy starships and the planet. He had initially wanted to go with the rescue team, but was told that his skills would be of more use in the cockpit of his starfighter.

So, now that the call finally came down to mount up, he practically sprinted up to the shuttlebay. Once he got there, he heard the familiar humms of the starfighter engines warming up. He quickly moved through the large space to his starfighter, glad to see that his new REO, a Ferengi by the name of Second Lieutenant Slarth. George had requested her both because of her outstanding file and, as a Ferengi, his Betazoid abilities would not affect her any. "How we looking, Tink?" He aaked, using her callsign, as most combat pilots did.

"Ready to kill some enemies, Demon," she growled from her seat. She didn't like that their shipmates were in danger and she would do everything in her power to help save them.

Imik had moved to the fighter bay's, she watched as the pilots entered their ships and prepared for launch. In a corner she noticed her fighter just sitting, but upon looking harder she now saw it was fully repaired. She sprinted to it and opened the cockpit, flicking the startup switches the returns all came back green. Her fighter was fully loaded with weapons and fuel, in fact it could launch with the rest if she wished it. Climbing down she now headed for the changing room, and quickly changed into her flying gear. Running full pelt, she mounted her fighter and got it ready to join her fellow pilots. "Ojnas Two One Coco seeking permission to join the squadron", she used the call sign her Human crewmates had given her. Moving to her launch spot, she waited to see if she would be allowed to fight along side the Federation.

George heard the request of his comms. While he had never worked with Imik, he had heard she was an excellent pilot. Activating his comm unit, he responded to the request. "Coco, this is Demon. I would be honored to have you as my wingman."

"Thank you Demon, I will follow your lead once we launch. Coco out". Her old self now surfaced, the blood began to sing in her ears. Imik had always found the time just before launch to be the most exciting, this was because you had around you the squadron of fellow pilots. You all knew what you had to do, and now you were going to show your companions that you were able to complete the mission set before you. Using her psychic ability, she touched the minds of every fighter pilot she could see from her cockpit. Something she and her fellow pilots from the Tholian war had done before every mission, a form of good luck and remembrance to those who may not return.

George inhaled sharply upon feeling the unfamiliar presence in his mind. He almost reacted violently, when he realized that it was just Imik, reaching out to all the minds present.

After taking a steadying breath, he opened his mind and reached out to hers. Imik, you gotta warn a guy before you go trying to touch his mind! I nearly took it as an assault. Please, don't do that again without announcing you are going to do so?

George's response shocked Imik, I have flown three times from this vessel, and completed this ritual everytime with no reaction from anyone. I was not aware you were able to sense another psychic, I will refrain from including you in future.

Reaching back out to Imik's mind, George responded. That's not what I meant, Imik. I...I have a troubled past and am not fully trained on my abilities because of it. I have no issue connecting with you in this manner, it just suprised me. Please accept my apologies if I jumped down your throat.

Imik responded as only an Ojnas would, As a psychic one should always be aware and alert to the possible intrusion of one's mind, if you wish I can attempt to teach you some basic defense. But as an Ojnas I will perform our rituals with due care, your apology is accepted but I will no longer bless your house or you in those rituals. She could sense George's confusion, A troubled mind is a difficult thing to control, I think you should talk with the Vulcan Lieutenant Commander Savar. He will teach you to quieten and then control your mind, after that I will assist in teaching you basic defense.

Nodding in his own cockpit as he heard the words. I know. My...my childhood was...difficult. I was not allowed to learn how to use my abilities properly. After all this, if you are willing, I will tell you, so you will know, truly, who I am.

As she heard George, a feeling of being trapped began to surface in her mind. I am willing to listen to you, but answer me this one question. What method was used against you to limit your ability? Imik could sense a great pain flowing from George's mind. You emotions drive you, this is not good for a psychic. It is not good for anyone, to be so emotionally angry towards others.

Anger and hatred towards his foster parents flooded his thoughts as he replied, Shock collars. On both myself and my twin sister. He took a moment to breath, thought of Miraj and her beautiful smile. His mind started to calm. I'll be okay. Let's just get this mission done and bring our people home. I thank you for any guidance you can offer.

The reply made Imik shudder, she had seem a similar technique used by the Tholians on her own people. This I understand, but now you must look beyond the pain. You can use your ability to aid you in combat, but first you must attempt to quieten your mind even a little.

A wolfish grin filled George's face as he replied. Oh, not to worry there. In the cockpit, i open my mind and feel everything around me. It's the only time that I feel truly comfortable.

=Quell'ish surface=

Tonya placed her backpack of Engineering equipment down as still felt discomfort in her ankle. "Thank you Fernando. We can let the medical team see to the others. I will just sit here and wait my turn which will be last. The first shall go last and the last shall go first."

=BRIDGE=

Phoenix stood and moved to the helm and placed a hand on the Andorian's shoulder. "Ready?"

"Yes Sir,"

"Open the launch bays but no one is to launch until we order." Phoenix said. "Any contact yet?"

"We have them!" Came the call from Operations.

Phoenix straightened. "ALL HANDS, brace for combat. Ensign, engage warp 8."

"Warp 8 yes Sir"

The Elysium jumped to warp and just as quickly they were out of Warp and Phoenix gave the orders "LAUNCH FIGHTERS, shields on rotation Commander Taylor. Operations start scanning and Engineering begin beam up when you have a lock! Beam them straight to medical regardless!"

"Shields on rotation aye, and scanning for enemy fighters". Lia's fingers flew over her console, "Captain, one of the enemy ships is moving towards us. I think they may try to intercept and prevent recovery, I would advise evasive maneuvers".

"Neri!" Phoenix snapped

"Already doing it sir!" Came the reply.

-Launch Bay-

Upon hearing the command to launch, the entire compliment of Elysium's starfighters bled out of her. They then quickly moved into their respective flight groups, awaiting further orders. Where, seconds before there had been but one ship, now, there were dozens.

In Valkyrie 679, Demon and Tink waited with great anticipation for the order to attack. "Now Tink," George said, "when we get released, I'm going to open my mind and will start flying more on thought than on sight. Keep calling out stats and reports, I'll hear you, even if I don't reply right away."

"I got ya, Demon," the diminutive warrior seated behind him replied. "Let's just hope that you can read the enemy."

George closed his eyes briefly, then opened them back up. "Well, I certainly sense something over there."

When the order came to launch, Imik fell in behind Demon. Unlike Demon she was a single seat fighter, this was simply because once action had been engaged in Ojnas pilots used their psychic abilities to aid them in combat. To have an REO in close proximity who wasn't an Ojnas, could lead to serious mental problems for said REO. But this didn't worry or concern Imik, she was used to single seat combat fighters. It was all she had flown during the war, and her four mission stars had all been on single seaters. "Coco to Demon, I have your six covered". Imik had learned the Human fighter language, it was a matter of life and death so everyone had to understand each other.

George replied over his comms. "Roger that, Coco. Stay right with me. We wait until either ordered to attack, or the enemy fires first."

Imik scanned ahead of her, she used both instruments and her ability to locate and fix any threat. "Coco to Demon, I can sense no movement from the enemy at this time. Sensors are not picking up the enemy vessels, but I can sense hostility aimed at our location. Coco out".

Suddenly, dozens of small fighters poured out of the two enemy capitol ships. They quickly formed into one large swarm and sped towards the Elysium and her own compliment of starfighters. Once they were close enough, they began firing.

That was all that George needed. Opening his comm unit to all the friendly starfighters, he issued the order. "Okay boys and girls, they just showed their cards! Break and attack!" He pushed his Valkyrie forward at full acceleration. "Everyone stay paired up. Don't let thise bastards split us up!" His fighter began to vibrate as he let loose one pair of phaser blasts after another.

Acting as George's wingman, Imik simply used her fighter to defend George from a flank attack. But those fighters were becoming predictable, something wasn't right.

The area of space between the three capitol ships quikly changed to a swirling mass of dogfighting pilots. Each trying to outclass his or her opponents. At first, several of the enemy craft were easily destroyed. However, because of the sheer number of them, the odds started to turn against the Elysium's fighters. Within the first eternally long five minutes of the fight, while the enemy had lost nearly a quarter of their ships, the Elysium force was cut nearly in half.

"Coco!" George yelled into his comms, "Are you picking up anything in those fighters?! I keep trying to reach into their minds, but keep coming up empty, as if...." He had a thought, then yelled back to his REO. "Tink! Scan those fighters for lifesigns!"

The diminuitive Ferengi worked her controls quickly, then responded. "I've got nothing, Demon! There's nothing but circuitry in those fighters! They're drones!"

George took this fact in. If they were drones, then there was a control link somewhere, possibly on their motherships. Rotating his comm channel, he spoke to Elysium. "Flight control, this is Demon! Please relay to bridge that these fighters are drones. Request bridge scans for and disable control network. We are getting chewed up out here!!"

"Demon this is Coco, they may be machines but their programing is adaptive. They learn as their companions are destroyed, we need to close with the command ship or we will all be destroyed."

"Roger that, Coco!" George replied as another drone fell to his phasers.

=USS Elysium=

Lia heard Demon's request and began scanning for a possible carrier transmission, she found a transmission but the mother ship was stationed behind two of the larger ships. "Demon I have a target for you, but it's gonna cost you in pilots". She waited for George's reply.

George's voice came over the speaker, though it was partially garbled, due to the firefight. "Tell...good ne..!! My pilots.....edy dying!"

"Demon say again, your breaking up". Lia scanned the enemy again, she got the same results. "Demon, the target vessel is being shielded by two larger ships. I can only advise caution if you can't reach it, but our readings state that it's the one controlling the drones".

"Under..ood, .ontrol!" Came George's static-filled reply. "We'll ... a path cl..red! De..on out!"


=Dogfight area=

George heard the reply and wasn't happy. But, something had to be done, because his fellow pilots were dying around him. And where was Vaii?! He hadn't heard her voice at all during the fight. An explosion to his port side pulled him out of his thoughts. "Understood, Control! We'll get a path cleared! Demon out!" Switching back to the starfighter comm channel, he started issuing orders. "All fighters! Rally up on me! We gotta punch through these bastards and eliminate the central control. Valkyries, you provide cover for the broadswords! Everyone else, clear a path! Let's go!!" He then pulled his control yolk hard to port and pushed his throttle to full, firing his weapons as an enemy fighter crossed his path.

"Demon this is Coco, release me from being your wingman. I can use some Ojnas fighter tactics against these drones, allowing you and any others a chance to reach that mothership". Deep within her mind she now began her one dangerous ability even her own people hated, the ability to interact with electronic circuits. With luck as she toyed with the drones control commands, her fellow pilots would reach and destroy the mothership.

Though it went against his training, George knew the odds were not on their side. Gritting his teeth, he communicated to Imik. Do what you can, but don't do anything stupid! I've lost too many friends today!!

Stupidity is not on my agenda, gaining you and the others time to engage the mother ship is. Her fighter now rose to engage the drones, she sent the small vessel into a lateral spin. Within her mind she reached out and found the command pathway of the leading drone. As her fighter fired on the fleet of drones, the lead drone now slowly turned against it's fellows. The drone wasn't easy to turn, but once it did others close to it turned and joined it.

Imik now banked hard and headed for a large enemy vessel, some drones tagged on behind her and joined in her assult. The strain on her mind started to tell, she found it hard to focus and her fighter began to slow. Drone attacked drone, and now Imik's little wing had attacked the the larger ship. But Imik's luck couldn't last and she was hit, limping towards Elysium she now fought to simply fly her damaged fighter to safety. "Coco to Demon, I've done all I can. Blessings go with you and our companions".

George marveled at how effortlessly Imik piloted her fighter. It seemed almost as if she were a part of it. "All fighters, form up on me!" He commanded over the fighter comm channel. "Coco is giving us the opening we need! Let's not waste it!" He jerked his fighter into a spiral to port, making way towards the newly opened hap in the dtone defenses.

In minutes, the rest of the Elysium's starfighters and shuttles broke through the malestrom to the dogfight area. The control vessel was directly ahead. So too, though, were the two captiol ships. On his sensors, he picked up Coco's fighter limping back to Elysium. "Thank uou Coco! Get home safe! I owe you a steak dinner when O get back! Demon out!" He then refocused forward. He opened a comm channel backbto the Elysium.

"Elysium Control, Demon here! We have broken through the drones! Request you keep those big gins off of us while we try to eliminate that control ship!"

"ACKNOWLEDGED" came the reply and Elysium began targeting the control ship.


-Quell'ish Surface-

T'Kek worked frantically on Colonel Azhul to stop the bleeding while Dr. Voight seemed to still be preoccupied with the enhancers. His tricorder beeped out a sharp warning. Taking a quick glance, his eyes widened. "Shit," he muttered as the colonel was going in cardiac arrest. Digging into his field bag, he brought out a cardiac stimulator, pressing it to her chest and activating it. The pulse traveled into Naxea to her heart with no results. "Come on," he pleaded, activating the device again. This time her heart was restarted.

Gami saw only one solution as she leveled her phaser rifle to the top of the cave and fired in several bursts. At that moment the cave began to shake as rocks began to fall onto the enemy, forcing them back, Gami kept firing. "PFC Quinn, fire your isomagnetic disintegrator at the ceiling and crush those bastards!"

The PFC nodded and fired. The explosion caused an entire section of the cave to fall, crushing several enemies and injuring several dozen others.

From deeper in rhe cave, David saw what was happening. Looking back to the away team, he shouted, "Time to go, folks! Grab what you can and lets boogie!" Moving over to Tanya, he knelt down in front of her. "Ma'am, all due respect, but climb on my back. You wont move fast enough with that ankle, and my suit can easily carry yoyr weight."

"Excuse me Corporal. Let me carry the Lieutenant while you with your armor are better suited to provide cover for us. Her weight will not prove a hinderance to me." Fernando pointed out.

Tonya gave a quiet smile. "Thanks. I appreciate it."

David looked at both officers briefly, then nodded. Alright, but stay behind me." He looked up at the rest of the team. "That goes for eeveryone, please. I'd much rather have my suit absorb any incoming fire than your bodies. Gather everything you can carry, we move out in thirty seconds!" He then stood, readied his rifle and counted down. On thirty, he looked over his shoulder and asked, "All ready?!"

"Surrounded by so much chivalry," Tonya says as she looked around. "We are almost done here."

"Lieutenant, if you would please climb onto my back we can begin." Fernando said to Tonya.

"Thank you Fernando," she said with a kind nod. She complied.

"Very good Lieutenant. "Fernando replied before looking over to David. "We are ready Corporal."

David nodded to Fernando. Then, after seeing that the rest of the team was ready, he led them quickly up and out of their temporary shelter. His suit's sensors directing them to where the pattern enhancers were set up.

"We've got about fifty meters, everyone!" David told the away team, after he used his rifle to take out a lone enemy trooper that had taken an interest in them.

-Sickbay; USS Elysium-

The Away Team and rescue team materialized in Sickbay as T'Kek let out a sigh of relief at having more experienced doctors nearby. "I have a Code Blue here!"

The ship's chief MD was at the team's side in seconds with his trauma team. Running his arm over his face looked bleak for a moment before it turned into it's usual stoic appearance as he barked. " Let'sss get her into sssurgery now. Sssnow get her replicated blood and plasma." He yelled to the robot who teleported away to retrieve the supplies.

T'Kek allowed the trauma team and CMO take over. He looked down at his blood covered and dirty uniform. He then took in several Marines who were injured in the battle. Unfortunately there would be no rest for him yet. Standing, he made his way to the nearest Marine, guiding him to a nearby biobed and began to treat his injuries.

Heather was quick to join Sthilg, he was going to need all the help he could get in surgery. Her mind needed to be on her work, not worrying what was happening with Fernando. She had faith he’d come back to her alive.

Tonya sat down as she kept quiet. She was glad to be back. Others needed more attention than herself. Her ankle still felt a slight discomfort. Placing weight on it is when the pain starts. Maybe all she needs is Victor to massage it. She smiled to herself of the thought of a slight touch of intimacy. It has been way too long since she had felt it due to the death of her last fiancé. Victor had been brave, honorable and true.

As she watched Heather and the CMO head into surgery, Tate was already crossing sickbay to help with triage. Sullivan knew she needed to prioritize, but she also knew sometimes the quietest people needed the most help and she couldn't afford to confuse quietness with health, even if it were just emotional trauma. Approaching Tonya, Tate offered, "it's good to see you again, although I wish it were under better circumstances. Are you hurt? Perhaps we should get you checked out."

"I sprained my ankle during a phaser fight," Tonya answered. "The medic used the medical tricorder but I still feel pain when I place weight on it. Yes, please look at it."

Fernando sat alone, he leaned back so his head was touching the wall. Closing his eyes. He let out relieved sigh. After a few seconds he opened his eyes and looked for Heather. He didn't see her but with all the wounded that was understandable. He looked at his dirty and sweat stained uniform and closed his eyes again. He would shower and change it later but for now all he wanted was to sit and rest.

David, not being physically injured, moved out of the way, so the medical staff can do their jobs. Activating a control, his helmet folded away, allowing him to breath fresh air. His suit had been sealed since the team left the runabout. To say that he needed a bath was an understatement. Lowing himself cown to the deck, he started to think about everything that had happened and what had been lost.

=BRIDGE=

Operations called out. "We have them commander, all accounted for!"

"Recall our birds, Neri, evasive manoeuvres and get us clear as soon as all birds are aboard!"

"YES SIR" came the chorus.

The recall order came in to each starfighter. "Okay, boys and girls! Time to haul ass home! Break contact and withdraw now!" He hauled back on his controls and began his flight back to the Elysium. "Tink, give me a head count. We land after everyone else."

"Understood, Demon," Tink replied as she began to work firiously on her sensors. Her heart sank when she saw the damage. "We've got only one type 9 shuttle, the Hermes, two Gryphons, 596 and 599, three other Valkyries, 457, 524 and 601, and only the danuble class, USS Mississippi left." The number lost was staggering for the small compliment. It meant that, in equipment alone, the Elysium had lost nine type 9 shuttles, 4 Gryphon bombers, nine Valkyrie space superiority starfightets and two of the remaining three Danube class runabouts. In terms of lives lost, the Elysium had lost fifty-four souls during the space battle to rescue the away team.

Once the last shuttle was aboard, George gave the area of space in which they had just fought one last look. He had lost many people that he had been growing to call friend out there.

Sighing heavily, he finally turned his fighter towards home. A few minutes later, he was secure in the shuttlebay. Activating his comm unit, he spoke. "Bridge, this is Valkyrie 679, Lieutenant George Charles here. All...all fighters aboard."

"Acknowledged" Came the reply. "Thank you for covering our arse Lieutenant"

George nodded and gave a half-hearted, "Roger that." Then he started to climb out if his fighter. Once one the deck, he suddenely seemed to have a hortible thought. He sprang forward and began sprinting towards the nearest turbolift. His destination, sickbay. Miraj had to be okay. She just had to be!

=BRIDGE=

Phoenix looked at Helm "JUMP!" She yelled.

"QSD initiated!" Came the reply. And the Elysium jumped to QSD. Leaving their adversaries behind.