Behold! The wicked bend their bow

Posted on Fri May 13th, 2022 @ 5:26pm by Captain Samuel Woolheater

Mission: MISSION 0 - History Speaks
Location: Titan Orbit and Camp Margrave - Titan Surface
Timeline: The Past - Six Days Ago
Tags: Emily, Jubilee
3614 words - 7.2 OF Standard Post Measure

[ON:]



Behold, the wicked bend their bow, and ready fix their dart; -Psalm 11:2a


===SIX DAYS AGO - SS. JUBILEE – OBSERVATION DECK - EN ROUTE TO TITAN ===

“Excuse me?” a woman’s voice said. “Is anyone sitting here?”

Emily turned her head to see an older woman, perhaps in her seventies indicating to the empty seat on the bench.

“No, please. Have a seat” Emily happily said. She had been here watching the stars whizz behind them as the Jubilee sped towards Titan and her reunion with Samuel.

“Oh good! Oh, my stars. What a view!” the older woman said as she took a seat. Emily made a bit more room and smiled back. “Thank you,” said the other woman. For a minute they sat in silence as the stars streaked by. The Dawson-class cruiser was full of family and friends, business travelers, tourists, vacation seekers. All of them on their way to the Sol system and maybe even Earth.

The older woman turned and looking at Emily said, “Where are you headed dear?”

Emily answered, “Titan. I’m meeting…a friend there.”

“Titan!” the older woman said knowingly. Then she added, “Starfleet friend?”

Emily smiled back, “He’s a marine.” And the older woman nodded. “I used to work on Titan. At the base there. In the commissary. By the way, I’m Tamara” the older woman said introducing herself. Emily took her hand and giving her a squeeze said, “Emily. I’m pleased to meet you, Tamara.”

“Where’s home?” Tamara asked. “Pacifica.” “Oh, I’ve been there many times. Lovely beaches. What a beautiful place to call home!” Emily smiled back, “Yes, it is. I am lucky.” A few quiet moments passed as they both watched the stars passing by. This time Emily spoke up.

“This is my favorite part of the trip” she said. Then adding, “The anticipation. The excitement of what comes next.” She looked over at Tamara. The older lady answered, “You mean when you meet your friend?” Emily nodded, “Yes. It’s been over a year since we were together.”

Tamara nodded, “I remember the feeling. The butterflies in my tummy. The feeling of being light-headed.” Emily smiled and nodded, “I couldn’t sleep a wink last night.” Emily waited a moment and asked, “Where are you travelling to?” Tamara said, “I’m going home. Earth. My brother’s celebration of life service.” Emily said, “Oh! Forgive me I am so sorry.” Tamara turned and waved her off, “For what? You had no idea. And he was ten years older than me and never took good care of himself. He had a good life though.” She paused a moment and added, “Robert was a good man. More than that. He was a man with an upright heart.” The older lady looked at Emily, “I think that’s what people most admired in him. Yes. Robert was a man with an upright heart. I’ll miss him; but I have shed my tears for him. Now? Now, I am going to celebrate the memories. Whatever else the past may be; it is the past.”

“You were close to him?” Emily asked trying to walk the fine line between polite concern and not being nosey.

“Oh yes. But I have other brothers, sisters, nephews, and nieces. We’re a big family.” Tamara answered. “That helps you know?” Emily nodded and after a moment she returned her gaze to the stars as they streaked by.

A voice over the intercom came on. It was the ship’s captain, “Passengers and crew, may I have your attention? We’ll be dropping out of warp in just a few seconds here. We are entering the Sol system. Our first stop will be Titan. We’ll be arriving on-time. The local time on Titan is 1830 hours. Our arrival is in fifteen minutes…”

Emily said, “Nice to meet you, Tamara. This is my stop. I want to get my things and then I’ll be off. I’m going to go and call ahead to the base.”

Tamara smiled and thanked her, “Do take care. It was a pleasure. Oh? You’re friend the marine?” Emily said, “Yes?” as she got up to leave. “What’s his name?” asked the older woman. “His name is Sam.” Tamara said, “Oh! My German Shepherd is named Sam. He’s a good dog too!” Emily cocked her head at the odd comment but couldn’t help but laugh a little. “That’s a good name though” Tamara answered smiling back. “Yes. I think so. I’ll tell him he’s named after your dog.” And they both chuckled.

As Emily got up from the bench and turned to leave, Tamara noticed several dots forming behind them. First two, then four…then more. Her face went from curiosity to concern. The dots were getting closer and larger, and they were rapidly approaching.


=== SS JUBILEE – BRIDGE ===

“What’s that?” said the captain. He was looking at the sensors. From astern of the ship were at least a dozen small craft approaching the ship. The captain had a sinking feeling in his gut.

“I’ll take the CONN”, the captain said to one of the ship’s crew. Get on the COMM and hail anybody on Titan.”

The other man started to raise the call, “Starfleet or Marines?”

“Anybody. I see a dozen or more small craft coming aft of us. These aren’t cadets either in some training exercise. This is a commercial traffic route.”

The small fighter craft came swiftly past the cruiser. As they passed, they got a good look at the passenger liner. Several of the ships moved out ahead of the Jubilee and moved past her. Then they turned.

The ones aft of the ship fired first.


=== SS JUBILEE – MEZZANINE AND EMBARKMENT LOBBY ===

Emily had her single carryon and a small travel case. She was just putting her things down next to a chair when the first shots hit. The Jubilee shuddered and Emily felt her ears pop. The alarm klaxons sounded and in the blinking of an eye, everything was ruined. Another shot and the ship rumbled and then she felt the ship lose power. She saw, outside the viewport, several small fighter craft that she could not identify race past the outside of the ship.

Over the ships intercom came the computer’s voice. Not the pleasant one that is so familiar on Federation vessels and installations. This was more artificial,

“Your attention please. Evacuation. Proceed to lifeboats.”

The announcement repeated as Emily could hear explosions, people running and yelling. She ducked into a COMM booth and placed a call to the Marine base.


=== SS JUBILEE – BRIDGE ===

“Mayday…mayday…mayday! We are under attack by unknown ships. Coordinates, 130 by 225 by 100. Our position is…” the man on the ship’s bridge called into the COMM.


=== STARFLEET COMMAND – TITAN AIRSPACE – FLIGHT CONTROL ===

In the Titan Flight Control Room, there were large displays and overlays on boards and monitors all about the room. In the center, was a holographic display of Titan’s space perimeter and the orbital traffic. In one section, about three-quarters of the way out but just inside the security zone, a red circle formed and then zoomed in on that section of the holo-display.

“Pipe it through?” said the CONN officer. A Starfleet officer in charge of this operational theater and the traffic in and out of Titan.

“…mayday…mayday! We are under attack by unknown ships. Coordinates, 130 by 225 by 100. Our position is…130 by 225 by 100. This is the SS Jubilee. We are a passenger cruiser. T transport! Break off your attack! Can anyone hear us?!”

The Starfleet officers and controllers got working quickly. The officer at the sensors started speaking, “SS Jubilee we read you clear. Disengage your engines and evacuate your vessel…”

Another was ordering up Starfleet mixed fighter group. Starfleet fighters that were training were already being called from the far-side of Titan. The fighter group at Camp Margrave was also being spun up, “Sixteen unidentified craft have fired upon a civilian craft SS Jubilee GS-605. Emergency! Request support and interdiction craft be dispatched immediately…”

And on it went. Each station responsible for some of the operations getting to work.

On the COMM was displayed the coordinates of the Jubilee. She was surrounded, taking heavy fire and she was listing and venting atmosphere.

The Starfleet officer barked, “Where are those fighters?”

=== SS JUBILEE – WITH TITAN IN THE BACKGROUND ===

The observation deck exploded outward at the pressure was too much for the weakened transparent aluminum. Shards of the material mixed with bodies spewed out of the deck. Jubilee’s engines were smoldering and then went out. She started to list to port. As she lost her stabilizers. And still – the fighter craft came on relentlessly. Firing again and again at the stricken ship. Their attack didn’t seem coordinated. It seemed random and the whole of the Jubilee was attacked.

Suddenly, something inside the ship exploded outward. The middle of the ship bulged sickeningly outward, like a fat sausage and then quickly contracted before exploding in a bright flash. The two halves of the ship smoking and venting people and debris split apart.

The attackers started to scatter. As they did, the leapt to warp as soon as they reached a certain distance from the wreck. And, just like that, it was over.

To no avail, Starfleet fighters arrived on scene with a medical and rescue frigate. But, it was too late. The fore section of the Jubilee rolled over like a dead whale as she was caught in Titans gravity well. The aft section, split apart again and seemed to not ne caught in the pull of Titan.

It would be hours before a recovery was called off. There were no survivors. And, for the moment, no one claimed responsibility.

---=== + ===---


Lurking in ambush to destroy the man of upright heart. -Psalm 11:2b


=== MEANWHILE – CAMP MARGRAVE – RECONISSANCE CERTIFICATION ===


2ND Lieutenant Sam Woolheater and 2nd Lieutenant Mason Hall had spent the entirety of their day doing recon work to re-qualify their certifications. At the end of that exercise, at the end of that long day, all of the marines that were here for recertification were gathered on the range that they had been on their first day.

Sam and Mason were dressed in cammo gear. Their faces were painted, and they wore marine corps MARPAT boonie hats. Their rifles by their sides as they took a knee to be debriefed. Scoring would take place a little later. Hall and Woolheater were favored to be in the lead.

A Major was going over what was learned today when a land transport arrived. That was unexpected. A Starfleet security officer got out along with a marine MP. They spoke to the Major in hushed tones and handed over a PaDD.

Mason looked at Sam; Sam looked back at him.

“WOOLHEATER?!” the major shouted.

“Yes Major!” Sam said equally loud and equally on point and sharp.

“Come!”, the major indicated. Sam stood from his knee and trotted up to the curious arrivals.

“Lieutenant?” the major said. “I have some bad news. Please go with these men back to HQ. You’re done for today.” The major said.

Sam had the, “Whaaaaaa????” look on his face. “Hand over the rifle. I’ll take it back for you.” The Major said.

Taking the weapon, they walked him to the land transport. Sam got inside and they drove away. 2nd Lieutenant Mason Hall, the Spotter, looked after his teammate concerned.

On the drive back to base, the Starfleet security officer told Sam what happened and wanted to know if he knew what happened to Emily Pope. She was on the manifest of passengers to disembark at Camp Margrave, and she had a visitors pass to see Sam.

The security officer told him all this while he sat in stunned silence as they drove him back to camp. Sam pulled his boonie hat off his head and let it rest in his lap. He was handed the PaDD and he read the information on it.

He sat there in stunned disbelief. The vehicle came to a stop and the Starfleet security officer, and the Marine MP got out. They opened Sam’s door and he got out still holding his hat and PaDD. They started walking towards the administrative building when suddenly, it felt like a ton of bricks hit him and his knees buckled.

The marine MP caught him on the way down, “EL TEE? I got you man. I got you.” Starfleet security also helped steady him. “It’s OK. It’s OK…” they said as they put an arm around him and help him to his feet. “We got you el tee. Lean on us…we got you man.”

He heaved such a deep sigh. From the depths of a broken heart came a wretched cry of sorrow. From a hurt so deep within him. It was a single, mournful cry of the heart. It had no words because it transcended words. Tears are the safety valve of the heart when too much pressure is laid on it. His face, still covered in cammo face paint showed tears in his eyes and on his cheeks. In his hand, on the PaDD was the casualty list and there, among the many dead, was Emily Pope.

A marine MP and a Starfleet security officer were angels for him today. They helped him and propped him up as they took him inside the Admin building.



=== A FEW HOURS LATER - MARINE BARRACKS – SHOWERS ===


Medical had discharged him. A counselor spoke with him. He didn’t really hear her. Something about shock, grief…not to be alone. My office is always open. Someone from counseling walked him back and said he should take a shower and lie down. They could get him a private room if he wanted. Away from other marines. Did they not understand that it would probably be other marines who would be the only ones that could help? He felt numb and dead inside.

Standing in the water, letting the warmth of the water wash over tired muscles and aches and pains felt good. He stood there, eyes closed in the co-ed showers and just…allowed himself to feel….nothing. Minutes passed? Maybe thirty? He opened his eyes and just looked at the walls.

They had slowed him to see the video of Emily’s last call. It would forever be burned into his memory. That and the feeling of being useless.

Other people, other marines, not aware of the pain, talked and laughed about their day. Guys and gals. Nakedness was no big deal.

He shut off the water and dried himself off. It was like he was dead, and he moved slowly. He dressed himself somehow and although he hadn’t eaten in two days, he wasn’t hungry.

Mason came in. He rushed to his teammates side at the bed, “Hey? Hey? Sam? What happened man?” Mason searched his face and knew that something terrible had happened. On the bed, were two PaDD’s. Mason looked at Sam and realized that he was still in shock. Hall picked up the PaDD and read it.

A few of the marines that had been here for recert, the other teams that they were in competition with, still dressed in their cammo gear stopped by. There was a small group here of eight. Mason, looking at Sam, and then he pressed the play button on the PaDD.


=== EARLIER THAT DAY – SS JUBILEE – EMILYS RECORDED MESSAGE ===

Emily stepped up to a COMM terminal and placed a call to Sam. He was, out in the field, just finishing up their last grueling day. The ship shuddered and Emily was so frightened, “Sam! SAM! Oh god. SAAAAMM!!!” she cried.

The Jubilee took another hit and the ship started to list to port. “I love you Sam. I’m so afraid. I was so looking forward to seeing you again Sam!” The video and audio got corrupted here. Most likely at the source when the Jubilee took another hit and lost her long-range antennas. The transmission now had static and discoloration in it.

Another Marine sat on the other end of the bunk. Hall and Woolheater knew her from the recert tests. She put her hand on his shoulder and on her shoulder were another pair of hands. Until the group had laid their hands on him.

Emily put her hand to the screen. She was crying and shaking and trying to hold on as the ship rolled on its side under the attack. “You can be anything you want to be, Sam. I will always love you. You are…my upright man. My upright man…Sam…” the audio was lost. The video showed the ship disintegrate and Emily was sucked out into space as the warp core exploded. Vaporizing the center of the ship as it cracked up.


=== AND NOW ===


No one said anything for a long time. They were there for their brother. They were family. And it didn’t matter your heritage, your origin, your species, your color, who you loved or who you slept with. This was family. This was frater infinitas.

Sam hadn’t said anything for a long time after the group disbanded. Soon, only Mason was left. Of course, Mason was the top bunk.

“Hey?” Mason said after returning from a shower and getting cleaned up. “You…need…anything?”

Sam shook his head, “I….just feel…nothing. I’m sad. But…I don’t feel nothing.”

Mason said, “Its OK. Take all the time you need. There is no schedule. CO says that you are on leave. Open ended. What happened to you today…..man…..there are no words. There are no words.”

Sam nodded. He was exhausted in so many ways.

“Docs say you are just starting on a long road. But…you’re not alone. You know that right?” Mason said as he looked at him.

“Yeah. I know. Thank you Mace. I don’t know what to say…or do…” Woolheater said.

“I know. One step at a time. One day at a time.” Hall said as he took a seat next to him.

From his shirt pocket he handed him a small box. “We got top tier. We’re recertified. Passed in the top tier. 95% total score. I know that who gives a shit right now. Just know that we worked our asses off and it got noticed.”

Sam opened the box and it was a gold ring. Sam stared at it and thought about what was written on the other PaDD.

“I hope this was all worth it?” Sam asked.

Mason shook his head, “No. It isn’t worth a damn. Fuckin’ trophy shit and a plaque. Or a ring. Next year it’ll be someone else.”

Sam looked over at him, “Have you seen my other PaDD?”

Mason looked for it and found it at the foot of the bed. “This?”

“Yeah. Thanks.” Sam took it and didn’t activate it.

“What’s on it? More bad news?” Mason asked. Then he remembered, “Oh. Hey. You might want these too. Major Patel gave them to me. She said that a ceremony was not needed. But that you had earned them. I know that this is really shitty timing. But. Here.” Mason handed him a pip box. Small and hinged, he opened it to reveal two silver bars.

Sam had been promoted to 1st Lieutenant.

“Guess now I have to call you sir?” Mason said. Checking to see how Sam was taking all of this.

Sam looked at the bars. And tears filled his eyes. Because of what was on the second PaDD.

Mason said, “Hey….I know. Shitty timing. It’s a marine thing bro.”

Sam turned on the PaDD and handed it to Mason to read. It was his resignation from the Marine Corps. Just as he had promised Emily before she was murdered. Mason read it and knew what it meant.

“Holy shit! Aww man…did you turn this in?” Hall asked.

Sam said, “No. I was going to….to….I was….” And the tears came anew.

“You were going to resign your commission. So you could be with her.” He held the PaDD in disbelief at the bad luck that could befall one guy.

In a minute the emotion that overwhelmed him passed back into numbness. Mason didn’t say a thing, he just stayed with him.

“So now you have a choice. Stay with the SFMC. Or…turn this in? Fuuuuuck….what a shitty ass choice. How much shittier can a day get?”

Sam sighed. He dried his eyes. The emotions were just too much. “I don’t know what I’m going to do.”

Mason said, “Get some sleep. Deal with this shit later.” And he took the PaDD’s away and the awards and put them in the footlocker. “You want to go for a walk? You want to talk? I’m here for you. OK? You’re my brother from another mother.” He offered him a hand and pulled him into a short hug that meant a lot.




[OFF:]


2nd Lieutenant, Samuel Woolheater
“Saepius Exertus, Semper Fidelis, Frater Infinitas”

===UNASSIGNED===

 

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