Time to go find a friend

Posted on Sat Feb 8th, 2020 @ 4:36pm by Lieutenant Commander Aurelia Taylor & Lieutenant JG Roger Moxton & Lieutenant Commander Alicia Kelea-Salik & Lieutenant Casper Thornhill & Ensign Lunara Hol & Avalon [ADMIN NPC]

Mission: Casperia Prime - A lesson in relaxation
Location: Transporter room 3 and Planetside
Timeline: Current
2687 words - 5.4 OF Standard Post Measure

ON

Lia stood in transporter room 3, her new Deputy stood by the door. Somehow he didn't look like he wanted to be here, *Probably nerves* thought Lia. =^=" Holmes to Lieutenant Thornhill and Gunnery Sergeant Rhodes, please report to transporter room 3. Away team will depart in 30 minutes, bring all equipment as needed". She now checked her own kit, Phaser, tricorder, and assorted other sensors.

Rhodes walked in next, eying both the Security Chief and her deputy as he did; According to Little Anje Holmes was trustworthy and would be there in a pinch, he instantly disliked the other one though, seemed slimy to him, "Reporting as ordered, Commander." Rhodes stated, checking his gear.

Casper replied that he was on his way as he continued to stuff various items into the Starfleet Backpack he had. Once complete he hurried to the Transporter Room that Lia had identified, strolling through the door with his rifle on his back attached beside the bag and checking to make sure that his handheld phaser was charged and ready. He felt over prepared but then again that was the way he was and it had saved him on numerous occasions.

"Present," Casper nodded and smiled to Lia.

"Right, if we have to split up. I think it should be Thornhill, Rhodes, and Hol. That's one Marine, one ex-Marine and a Councillor. I'll keep Moxton under my control as he's new to the ship and my department". She looked at her PaDD, =^=Holmes to Lieutenant Hol, you need to get a wriggle on do you have a ETA?" Lia looked at her little team, "Right people, lets all come back and stay alert down there. Once our shrink arrives we can beam down, most of our searching will be underground by the looks of things so stay sharp".

Lunara burst into the transporter room a few seconds later. "Right now, I'd say." prepared for the worst. She was clad in standard issue chest armor, reinforced in the abdomen, with a phaser pistol on her hip. Slung from her shoulder was a first aid kit, and she carried various supplies in her backpack, mostly of the medical variety. She tried to project her usual air of cheerfulness, but in reality she was more nervous than she'd ever been on this ship. Sure, Jalen had plenty of combat experience, and she'd inherited it, but that was still two lifetimes ago, and she was in an entirely new body. Besides, these were Orion slavers they were going up against. Even 120 years later, she still hadn't forgotten Jalen's time imprisoned by them.

Lia glanced at Hol, "Right, Talk with the Gunny. He'll keep you on the straight and narrow, and tell you what to do". She smiled at the amount of equipment Lunara was carrying, "We'll beam down in two groups, but nobody goes anywhere until we're all together. If we have to split, and I do mean if. Stay with that section, I don't want to go looking or rescuing anyone else". She now stood on the transporter pad, and waited for Moxton to join her. "Gunny, once we're down follow on with the others". She now looked towards the transporter operator, "Crewman, beam us down to the co-ords please".

Lunara quickly took her place on the pad, next to Rhodes. "Guess I'll be with you, then," she said with a smile.

On the planet Lia looked about the LZ as she waited for the other three, once they arrived Lia spoke to them all. "Right, our objective is just up this hill. I haven't seen any movement since I arrived, but that doesn't mean their not around". She now pointed to Rhodes, "Gunny, I want you to take the lead. Thornhill in behind the Gunny. I know my job, but this is Marine business. So you two are going to get us in, help extract any and all hostages. Then get us all out again, with no casualties. Questions anyone?" She waited for their response.

"Oohrah." Gunny nodded, this was what he lived for.

Casper nodded to Lia unslinging his rifle and with quick hands powered it up, keeping it on heavy stun he moved to where the Gunny was standing, "Ready when you are Gunny." Everything was natural movement for Casper and he smirked to himself, this was where he was meant to be on the front lines.

Lunara stayed behind them, drawing her phaser in one hand and taking out a tricorder in the other. "I'll follow your lead." Unlike the other two, she didn't live for combat - she'd prefer a nice, peaceful exploration mission. But this needed to be done, and she'd do the best she could.

Back aboard the ship Alicia had received Pheonix' permission to request to join the away team. With the members off ship she decided it best to head down to the landing zone and speak to Commander Holmes. Grabbing what she'd need and making sure she had her phaser she left a message for Savar before heading to the transporter room to beam down.

Moments later she was standing at the landing zone, it appeared she'd arrived just in time as the others were departing. "Commander Holmes!" She quickly caught them up. "I'm Lieutenant Monroe, the new Chief Counsellor. The Captain said to speak to you about joining the away team."

The sudden appearance of Monroe caught Lia on the hop, "Lieutenant, since your here join the away team quickly. We're about to move up this hill and check things out, I trust your armed?" The group continued up the hill, and Lia thought about just what was waiting for them.

"I brought my phaser Commander, but hopefully I won't need to use it." Alicia smiled and nodded to the rest of the away team as she joined them. Strangely enough even though they were apart she could still feel Savar in her mind, which was comforting.

Holmes took a deep breath, "Councillor, we will be entering an underground bunker. You may very well have to use your phaser, I would suggest following Lieutenant Hol's example and just follow a Marine. Even I'm following them, as they know what to do". A broad grin now appeared on Lia's face, as she pointed to Rhodes and Thornhill.

Alicia nodded. "I might be able to help with that Commander, I'm half Betazoid I can sense when there's someone coming provided they're not of a species that I can't sense. There aren't many species I can't pick up on."

"Really Lieutenant, ok get in behind the Gunny. You'll be as safe as being on the ship, with him in front". Lia looked towards Rhodes, the big Gunny even made her feel safe.

Alicia nodded and moved behind the large figure of Rhodes. She had to follow Holmes gaze as she'd never met most of the away team before, with the exception of Lunara. She smiled as she joined her behind her Rhodes, pulling her phaser ready for whatever was to come.

Lunara looked back at Alicia as she came next to her. "Hi there, boss! Come to join in on the fun?"

Alicia nodded and smiled. "I thought maybe I could be of some use. I guess we'll find out."

"You all just stay on my six and try to keep from getting itchy trigger fingers." Rhodes stated, "I managed to turn a counseling cadet into a passable rifleman, you all shouldn't be a problem."

Alicia smiled. "Don't worry, I passed my last weapons proficiency with flying colours. I just...prefer not to shoot if I don't have to."

"That's all well and good." Rhodes shrugged, "Just don't hesitate when you have to. None of you." ~Two counselors?~ He thought with a completely hidden groan, ~Well, I turned Granola into a passable jarhead, they've got more of a clue than she did.~ "Alright, let's move out." He checked his gear one more time as they did so, turning to check the rest of his team and fighting the urge to shake his head, he smelled hippies...

"Right." Lunara checked her phaser one last time before following Rhodes. It was set on heavy stun. Good enough, she hoped. She didn't want to kill anyone today if she could help it.

As they moved forward Rhodes reflected on the situation at hand, hoping they'd be there in time. The horse was okay and so was the Major, for officers, and he didn't want to bury any of them.

Falling in behind her squad, Lia remembered an earlier patrol. That one hadn't ended to well, out of 22 who started only 10 came back alive 4 of those were badly wounded. But that was then, this squad was smaller and quicker. She watched as the Gunny moved forwards slowly, *Way to go Gunny, keep 'em all safe* she thought. The squad made its way up the hill and to a entrance, the house was further up but a dip shielded them from view. Lia took a deep breath as her team entered to bunker, *This is where it starts* she thought.

Alicia double checked her phaser setting just to be sure, she wanted it set to heavy stun rather than kill after all she was a medical professional the same as Lunara. Now they had to wait and see what awaited them.

Moxton watched as everybody formed up, thinking the whole idea was stupid he fell in along side his Chief. The Marine Gunny didn't like him, he could just feel the hate aimed at him. As the little squad moved off, Roger made sure his phaser was on its highest setting. Anything getting in his way or threatening him, would just disappear from this reality. As they entered the underground he glanced around, *Only fool's and idiots would even think of checking this dump out*, he decided.

Casper moved along with everyone scanning his sector as they moved to where ever they were going, this was his first mission for the CDID and he wanted to make Lia proud. This had been her baby, and while she was now back in Security he was still going to follow what she had put down on paper with what the Department was going to look like. When they moved into the underground Casper slung his rifle across his back and pulled his phaser pistol. The Rifle would be too cumbersome for him as third man back in such close quarters.

The little rag tag bunch stopped as it fully entered the underground base, Lia walked up behind Rhodes. She whispered into his ear, "So what's the plan Gunny? It doesn't look that big, and at first glance appears empty". She scanned the cell next to her and found an problem, "What's with this cell door? Its switched off but the sensors say its active, I suggest we don't enter any of the cells until we have an answer".

Alicia paused to get a feel of the area, she kept her voice low as she spoke. “I’m not sensing anyone in our immediate area but we’re definitely not alone.”

Lunara glanced from corner to corner, remembering what she learned in the past. She made sure to keep the phaser pointed away from everyone, too - didn't want to stun anyone by mistake.

The active cell made Lia concerned, so she lights up the interior of the cell. *Transporter pads??* She thinks she has a idea on how the Orions are moving the hostages, "Stay out of the cells, they're rigged to transport anybody or anything that enters. That's why we didn't find tracks when they snatched S'hib, they stuck him in one of these cells then bugged out". She looked towards Rhodes, he just might have an answer to this situation.

"They're not cells." Rhodes whispered, "They're traps. The Orions had people here, maybe even ours, but they're already gone. We're running behind them, they knew we were coming."

This was why she liked Rhodes, no bull just straight answers to the problem. "I agree, so I think we'll check the rest of this dump and see what we can find. Then reform outside and return to the ship, just be careful and listen to the Marines". Lia then walked slowly down towards what looked like offices, a quick glance showed them to be empty of everything including furniture.

"Alright, let's move out." Rhodes said, his icy voice hiding his frustration better than any cloaking device invented.

Casper moved off from the group to study the surroundings as well, the cells/transporter padd areas didn't have anything in them at all. They were actually pretty clean which lead him to believe that they were meant to transport large groups of people to where ever the drop off point. Before the Dominion War it had actually been pretty easy because the Alpha Quadrant transporter range had been pretty limited, but since the Federation had been able to get a hold of Dominion technology things had and still were changing radically, "I suspect that these are still pretty short range they probably are not far away."

"Could we not test that theory?" Ariana looked at the others. "Send something through and see if either we or the ship, can track where it comes out?"

Lia looked at the small group, "The ship is best placed to track anything sent through, but we're not carrying anything that could fill that requirement". She glanced at the cells, "And before I get knocked down in the rush, we are NOT sending ANYONE through either".

"Let me translate that for you." The Gunny spoke up, "Anybody tries anything that dumb gets their ass kicked by me. Regardless of rank, gender, species, or anything else all stupid is equally worthless to me."

Lunara smirked a bit at that. Quite a far cry from the security types she was used to.

Alicia raised an eyebrow more in keeping with a Vulcan than a Betazoid. Her recent bonding with Savar shining through in her mannerisms. “Don’t worry I’ve no plan to go leaping through.”

"Ok troops, lets get back to the landing site. Gunny put this place out of action, in short blow the damn place to hell". Lia headed for the exit, she stopped and took her last look at this place of horror. *Time to kill some bastards*, she thought.

"OO-RAH!" The Gunny smiled broadly, he had just the thing. A few short moments later he came running out of the cave like he was being chased by every targ on Q'onos, "Wanna live? Try to keep up!"

As the Gunny ran past, Lia took to running after him. "Keep up you lot, seems our Gunny has planted a rather big bang". She noted her little squad was all safe behind her, no use getting casualties at this late stage.

Alicia was a good runner, she always had been not that she’d been planning on going on a sprint so soon after having surgery. Not that it was major surgery or anything and she was fully recovered. She sprinted after the Gunny as fast as she could.

"The hell-" Lunara softly cursed as she broke out into a sprint after him. "Have you people forgotten about remote detonation!?"

"What fun is that?" Rhodes laughed, but didn't slow down, not even a step.

'Reckless!' Casper thought as he ran his phaser rifle up against his shoulder keeping an eye out for any kidnappers. He was not pleased at the Gunnery Sergeants choice of a timed explosion he could have had them run into an ambush on the way back to the LZ.

As her rag tag squad returned to the LZ, Lia noted her assistant was keeping his distance. This troubled her, but for now she had other things on her mind things like S'hib. "Form up people, lets make sure we have everyone", Lia started to count and ensure she had all of the landing party. Once she knew everyone was safe and with her she contacted the Elysium, the little rag tag group returned to the ship.

OFF