Death Comes Knocking

Posted on Sat Aug 14th, 2021 @ 7:54am by Captain Mattias Richardson [Reece] & Commodore Phoenix Lalor-Richardson & Commander Arrianna Salannis an Vantar & Michael Bishop & Lieutenant Commander Malakai Starr [Taylor] & Sasha Stone [Whavi] & Lieutenant Clara Lawson & 1st Lieutenant Joshua Young [Taylor] & Lieutenant Commander Kara Starr {Kelea-Salik} & Consul Josephine Carlyle-Cragen

Mission: Darkness Rising - A Phoenix Lalor Sub Plot
Location: Cragen's ship
Timeline: MD 24 /1243 hours (local)
2592 words - 5.2 OF Standard Post Measure

***Cragen's Ship***

" ..they may have escaped, Admiral, but I WILL find them!" Cragen was speaking to Fleet Admiral Matthew Highlaw, his immediate superior in the criminal orginzation. Even though Cragen had hundreds of years worth of experience over Highlaw, the former Starfleet admiral seemed to possess connections that the El Aurian had never managed to cultivate.

"No, you won't" Came Highlaw's icy reply. "You got done by a rival gang Cragen. Several of your slaves were found by Starfleet being sold on by a low level pawn." The old admiral crossed his arms.

Cragen chewed back the retort. He kept telling himself that he needed the human. For now. "Admiral," he calmed some and tried a different tack. "How long have we worked together? Have I ever not done something that I swore I would do? Have you not made an untold fortune from our dealings? I have been doing this longer than your grandparents were alive. Sometimes, setbacks happen. The only thing to do...." Suddenly, a console off to Cragen's right started to blink an urgent message. "Excuse me, Admiral..." he move away from the comm station to access the activated console.

Highlaw rolled his eyes. And he waited.

Cragen looked over the information given, then cursed happily. Moving back to Highlaw's image, Cragen smirked dangerously. "As I was saying, Admiral. I will get them, because I know where to look. One of them just activated one of the PADDs that was in my private study, and a homing signal was sent out. As soon as we end this, I will be heading back to Rigel X."

"Are you sure it was one of those who," here Highlaw smirked "tore down your building?"

Cragen gave Highlaw a dangerous grin. "Oh, yes, my dear Admiral. You see, along with the homing beacon, an image of the person who accessed it. It was the woman who acted the role of the buyer of my stock. And what's more, she apparently is one of my far lost grandchildren. Looks like I'm about to have a little family reunion."

Highlaw merely shrugged. "Not unless I get to them first Cragen. Such resourcefulness should be... rewarded."

Cragen sneered. "They're mine, Highlaw. Especially that woman. I will get our money back for them, even if i have to sell them off to do it. Stay away from my planet. I'll be in touch." He then shut down the comm channel before the human could say anything more.

"Bishop!" He bellowed.

Bishop was at his side almost immediately. "Yes sir." He inquired.

"Get us the FUCK back to Rigel X! That group is still there!"

Bishop nodded, "At once sir." He turned to leave, "Do you wish us to approach by stealth once we are in system?"

"Yes!" Cragen snarled. "I don't want them to know that we're there until I've got collars around ALL OF THEIR DAMN NECKS!!"

===Elsewhere===

Highlaw bit back a laugh. Predictable. But he turned to his aide. "You know what to do."

The aide nodded. "I have already started tracking down the group. Cragen destroyed their base. So they will be harder to find now. But we will find them before he does." So saying the Aide left the room.

===New Black Watch Base===

Kate spent the time in the base lounge working on the painting she was making of Josie.. It was definately taking form. Josie dressed how Arrianna had found her on that day in England 1662. And she took a lot of artistic license as well.

Mattias and Malakai were sparring down in one of the many dining rooms-turned gym. Kara and Lily watching from the side. Both men had landed several good hits on the other, but neither seemed to be tiring.

Kara was enjoying watching the two men in her life sparring, it was nice that they were finally getting along. She offered Lily an apologetic smile as she got up to head to the bathroom for the umpteenth time since she’d been sitting there, anti-sickness meds partially worked but it seemed her morning sickness needed something stronger that only a doctor would really be best to sort out. For now she was going to have to do her best to cope with it even though it was sapping what energy she had.

Kate finished the painting and smiled at it. Taking a brush, she wrote her name in Alindari Script on the lower lefthand side. "Guys... It's finished."

Hearing her call out, Mattias dropped his guard briefly to turn his head towards her.

Malakai had started to throw a punch when Mattias turned and dropped his guard, he pulled back. He wasn't one for cheap shots.

Kara reappeared from the bathroom, hearing Kate’s call she walked over to take a look. “Wow... that’s beautiful Kate!”

"It's the moment I met Josephine Carlyle." She noted. "I met her and I was instantly enthralled by her. She was trapped in the year 1662, and spent most of two years... isolated... With the company of two dogs and her books. So I told her I was a collector of Fine Jewlery from Florence and I showed her my combadge." Kate smiled. "I had to be sure... If she was of that time, she would have simply told me she didn't know... but she recognized it and knew what I was." Kate mentioned. "And she certainly wanted to go back to the time of replicators and holodecks."

“We’ll her her back Kate, one way or another we’ll get Josie back” Kara offered a warm smile. “I’ll let the others take a look at your lovely painting, I’m going to lie down for a little while.”

"What are you looking at Kara?" Malakai asked coming over to where Kate and Kara were standing. Seeing the painting, he let out a low whistle. "Wow Kate! That's fantastic. Can I get you to paint one of Kara?"

"Certainly. I'll even do one of Mattias, Jax, and even the Information Booth over there." Kate chuckled a bit.

“I’ll gladly pose for you when I’m not feeling so rung out!” Kara grinned as she turned and headed for hers and Malakai’s Quarters.

Mattias moved over to the group. "Appreciate the thought, Kitty but, this mug wasn't meant for a beautiful painting like this."

Lily merely hugged his arm and rested her head on his shoulder as she studied the painting.

"THE INFORMATION BOOTH HAS A NAME!" Sasha called out from the far end of the living room. She was cuddled up in the over sized papasan chair she claimed the moment she saw it.

Jax sent her a smirk "Yeah what was it again? M? Q? or 99 from the old spy movies?"

Lily reached out and clipped Jax around the ear.

"Ow LILS!" he squawked.

"oh Jax!" she mimicked back. Turning she looked at Sasha. "Anything happening out there Sasha?"

Before Sasha could reply, the proximity alarm started to sound through out the complex.

Mattias reacted immediately, gently pulling his arm from Lily's grip. He then sprinted towards the new armory.

Kate was right behind Mattias. Grabbing her sword, a hand phaser, and a sniper rifle. She loaded them swiftly. She then turned to Mattias. "I'll find a perch with a good view and cover you guys the best I can. Anna, Josh.. See if you can get set up to flank our intruders. I need someone as my spotter." Kate got her cloak and hood on and concealed her face with it.

Kara had almost reached quarters when the alarm sounded, uncertain whether it would be safe for her turn around and go back unarmed she found the nearest place to hide knowing if she was in quarters that she’d have no other way out but the door. At least a hidden spot out in the open area would give her a chance of more than one way to escape any intruders, she just wished she was armed.

The sound of the shuttle's engines started to reverberate through the mansion. Then, as quickly as it approached, it flew away. In moments, it was gone, never having even slowed down.

Kate looked up. "Strange.... It was a shuttle... I don't like this Lily. "

Lily nodded. "Everyone arm up. And meet back here ASAP." She ordered and moved to the console to bring up the house's security camera's.

Sasha stepped up beside Lily, "This area isn't on a patrol route or anywhere near enough to a port for someone to be flying this close without looking for someone."

Lily nodded. "I know. I guess that visit to the compound was indeed a bad idea." She muttered

Sasha's padd pinged suddenly.

“Odd…” Sasha breathed as she read the message on her PADD. The sudden alert and shuttle that flew over head had to be more then just random coincidence. “Looks like we found work.”

Mattias reentered the room, now fully dressed and armed for full combat. His battle suit fully charged and ready for anything. As his helmet was currently opened, everyone could see his face. "Oh? Who's the client, Sasha?"

Kate leaned against the wall, looking at Sasha. "I think managed to get a feel on our intruder before he flew away. He definitely has s proposition for us."

Kara reappeared from her hiding place, joining the others. “What happened? Who was it?”

Malakai had returned armed to the teeth and heard Kara's question. "Don't know but I don't like this. I recommend we stay alert and armed at all times. We don't need to let our guard down,:

"I'll take the first watch with someone else.. My telepathy should be enough to alert me if someone's sneaking aroun." Kate Offered.

"I'll take first watch with you, Kate." Mattias spoke up. "I'll add my suit sensors to the defense as well."

"Good." Malakai replied, "I'll follow the both of you and then Anna and Josh will follow me."

"We need to decide how to handle unexpected visitors." Kate walked over to a chess seat that happened to be on the table. She grabbed the Rook and the Knight. "I set up with my rifle someplace high." She grabbed the two bishops "Two squads come from the sides. Undetected. Little noise as possible." Kate mentioned and then picked up the Queen. "Lily makes contact with them and asks them what they want. Once or if Lily gives us a signal. We move in from both sides. It's how the Alindari defense force does it, and many other militaries and organization. We ensure they always have two or three fronts to worry about. And we use the terrain and weather to our advantage. Anna, Can you and Josh paint our envirosuits a very light to medium gray" Kate noted "It will make us even more undetected in this environment."

Josh spoke for them both, "Sure won't be a problem Kate. "Come on my little turtle dove. Lets go get creative."

“I suppose my job is to stay well out of the way.” Kara looked at Kate. “I’m the Achilles heel of this team now aren’t I?”

"You aren't our Achilles heel Kara. You are our diamond and we need to protect you from that bastard Cragen," Malakai replied firmly. His tone daring anyone to disagree with him.

Kate spoke. "You're actually more important than you know, Kara. I need you in position to help Josie... She is going to be drugged, brainwashed, tortured programmed to believe Kyle Cragen is her husband, Enslaved, and I'm wondering what else he's done to her. You'll also need to deal with our wounded. I need your help to treat her and get the real Josie back." Kate noted. "I need you to stand by with the treatments you developed for me. Including the withdrawal treatments. She is going to have his drugs and Nanites in her, just like I was.." Kate noted. "Please... help her, Don't let him get her back."

“I’ll do everything in my power to help Josie” Kara gave Kate a reassuring smile. “I’ll help you get her back Kate, no matter what you’ll get her back!”

"Now, Malakai... We need to use the field to our advantage, and control the passageways to our base. We block off all passageways to the base, and create a hidden passageway to the Equinox in case we have to evacuate. " Kate noted.

Lily ignored the chatter and kept her eyes on Sasha. She wanted to know who was hiring them.

"Agreed Kate. Controlling the passageways won't be a problem. We'll set up automatic sentry guns at each entrance. That will keep unwanted visitors out. A passageway to the Equinox can be made by cutting through a wall in the um exam room and installing a secret door. It will get us right to the Equinox." Malakai replied.

Sasha paid little mind to the team busying themselves with defensive plans. Her attention was glued to the information displayed on the handheld screen in front of her. Without looking up she addressed Lily, "A man named Jules Mornington is looking to hire us." Before going into further explanation Sasha connected the console in front of the two women with her Padd, giving Lily a view of what Sasha was looking at. "It says here he's a known associate of the admirals."

Lily considered it. "set up a meeting" She said. "I will go. Kara! I need to be a Bajoran again!" She called out.

Kate spoke. "Not alone, Lily." She folded her hood down. "I am going with you. I'm not losing one more person I care for." The hood concealed Arri's face exceptionally.

"And you will need a biometric scrambler" Clara stated from where she leaned against the wall. "We want them to believe you are Bajoran not just look the part."

“Clara has a point there” Kara looked at Lily. “If you’re going to look like a Bajoran then you need to read as one as well incase anyone scans you.”

"Very well. Lets get this done." Lily said softly.

Kara nodded. “I’ll have you ready in no time.”

Lily looked at Sasha, "Put a team together, Small. we do not want to expose the whole group."

Sasha dipped her head in a slight nod, "You got it."

Lily nodded and looked at Kara. "Lead on Doc."

Kara nodded and headed for the medbay, when they reached the room she motioned for Lily to take a seat. “Okay you know the drill, this won’t take too long I promise.” Kara offered a smile. “Could you use me on the away team? I know I’m something of a liability as I’m pregnant, but I want to be useful.”

"And if it is a trap by Cragen? Bad enough I have to worry about Kate" Lily muttered as she sat. "Kara, Malakai would kill me, as would Mattias, if something happened to you. Not even loving me would save me from the wrath of Mattias."

Kara held up her hands. “Okay, point taken I’ll stay here. If this is a ruse let’s hope they don’t split us up and decide to attack while you’re gone.”

"Just make sure the base is locked down and the power is kept to a minimum." Lily replied

“We will” Kara smiled. “It’ll give me chance to put my feet up and rest. This pregnancy is really sapping my energy levels.”

OFF