Captured - The Sale? PT1

Posted on Sat Feb 29th, 2020 @ 1:23am by Commodore Phoenix Lalor-Richardson & Lieutenant Sapphire Morgan [Lalor] & Lieutenant JG Nerinath zh'Rhilror [Lalor] & Avalon [ADMIN NPC] & Captain Gary Taylor & Lieutenant Commander Aurelia Taylor & Lieutenant JG Gallia Norris & Commander Sthilg & Lieutenant Colonel Azhul Naxea & Commander Arrianna Salannis an Vantar & Lieutenant Commander Turak & Lieutenant Tate Sullivan Ph.D. & Ensign Olivia (Carter) Voight & Lieutenant Commander Alicia Kelea-Salik & Lieutenant Nevada McKay & Lieutenant Casper Thornhill & Lieutenant Commander S'hib & Legate Imik S'Niohun [Lia Taylor] & Lieutenant M'Tuuri Sh'iss [S'hib] & Lieutenant JG T'Kek [Naxea] & Chief Warrant Officer Man'darr [Naxea] & Lieutenant JG Heather De La Rosa {Kelea-Salik} & Private 1st Class Durak

Mission: Casperia Prime - A lesson in relaxation
Location: Various - Planet Side - Elysium
4648 words - 9.3 OF Standard Post Measure

=/\= Planetside=/\=

The ships were ready, hidden deep within the hangers.

Those the orions deemed ready for sale were shackled and led to a large holding area. They were chained to stout posts about a meter apart. There were dim lights glowing.

Guards chained them and then left.

Dressed scantily in a two piece grey cloth slave outfit with the top a simple wrap and the bottom a loin cloth that stopped just above her knees, Naxea had been chained to the post with her arms above her head to the post. Her ankles had been chained as well to the post. Yet, she couldn't help but think about S'hib and the abuse he must have received.

A Tirade of Curses, insults, and solicitations filled the air in both Federation standard and Romulan, as the lithe, dark skinned form of Dr. Nevada McKay was dragged kicking and screaming into the room, clad in as little as possible, leaving her young looking, tattooed body on full display, the swirling patterns of Romulan and Human Tribal tattoo's blended across both her arms. Her Long brown hair was disheveled and messy, yet for the most part smoothed with an almost unnatural regularity.

The Men dragging her grunted and slapped her chains onto the hooks of the Post, pulling her arms back behind it before the shorter of the two paused and slammed a fist into her gut. "Stupid bitch, You'll learn your place soon," he grunted before walking off, shuffling away with a wince and a rub to his groin.

She grunted at the blow and slumped as pain washed over her,a wicked grin flashing across her face as she hung there, happy she'd at least gotten one good kick in.

One more slave was dragged into holding area, naked, covered in dirt and dried blood, his filth ridden body was limp in the arms of the Orions. They paid no kindness towards him as they approached a free post and tied his arms high above his head, he was little more than livestock at this point.

Then they left for the last time, leaving his unconscious body to hang there in front of the others.

Anger, shock, and sadness hit Naxea all at once as she watched S'hib be hauled in. She pulled against her restraints in a futile effort to get free. "You bastards!" she cursed.

Nevada Winced and clenched her fists, the chemical cocktail she'd been hit with to sedate her having worn off hours ago thanks to her Little blood borne helpers. "He Needs Medical Attention, or he'll be a Net Loss for you," She Said as she struggled against her restraints, Decades of medical training compelling her to help her crewmate.

The first sign that S'hib was still among the living was a painful cough, his body remaining limp in his restraints as he coughed again, spluttering a small amount of blood from his lips that hit the floor with a sickly wet splat.

“Now what...” S’hib groaned as his vision slowly returned, aware of other prisoners but not who they where, the sedatives still swimming in his blood slowing his cognitive functions to a numb crawl.

"Hang in there, S'hib," Naxea said.

The familiar voice sent a chill down his spine, his mind suddenly filled with questions he wasn't sure he wanted answers to. "Naxea?" He said while tilting his head to the side, his heart sinking when his eyes caught hers.

There was so much she wanted to say to S'hib. "Stay with us," Naxea replied.

=/\= USS ELYSIUM =/\=

=BRIDGE=
“Captain!” The call came from Operations.

Phoenix turned and moved to the ensign who was sitting there. “Report”

“We have a large ship entering the system. They are not responding to hails from the Starport.”

“On Screen.”

On the screen appeared, an Orion Corsair. (https://sto.gamepedia.com/Orion_Corsair_Flight_Deck_Carrier)

Phoenix turned. “Red Alert. Track that ship’s trajectory! Rescue teams to Transporter Rooms. Launch fighters!” She called out the orders. "Senior Staff to the bridge posts!"

[[SET CONDITION 1. RED ALERT!SET CONDITION 1. RED ALERT!SET CONDITION 1. RED ALERT!]] blared through the ship!.

Down in the chief MD's office, the big gorn sprang awake. Blinking as his eyes adjusted to the light he groaned as he saw the phantom that was haunting him. " Why are you here? I couldn't sssave you." He said weakly as he pulled himself out of bed before he grabbed his jacket and belt before heading to the door. He had a job to do.

Having just returned from the surface, Lia was surprised by the red alert. *What the hell is going on*, she wondered. Not stopping to remove her sidearm she rushed to the bridge, the turbo lift seemed to take an age to arrive at the bridge. "Commander Holmes reporting, what's the situation Captain?" A glance at the view screen showed an approaching vessel, *Orion Corsair, that could do it* she thought.

Gary came onto the bridge, he had been in his office studying the reports of the missing officers, trying to find a pattern. He quickly moved to the XO's chair having seen the Orion Corsair on the viewscreen. "Weapons are online, Shields are as well but we'll have to drop them if we want to transport people to or from the surface."

Back aboard ship with the rest of the away team Ariana quickly made her way to the bridge, she wasn’t sure if she could be of any use but at least being there she might be able to provide an insight. Stepping out she made her way over to her seat and sat down.

Jessica climbed into her Valkyrie and brought it's systems online. "Alpha Wing, Beta. You are on me when we launch. Gamma and Delta are in reserve. I want a flanking maneuver. Right into the Corsair's raider bays. We will get our leathernecks into the ship. Weapons to disable." Jess noted. "Gamma and Delta. Keep your eyes open. The Orions would not be so brazen to abduct starfleet officers without a plan."

Jessica slid a picture of Mila into a slot on her dash and launched with Alpha and Beta. "Wing Commanders, weapons free on the raiders they launch, but no critical hits on the Corsair. Repeat, weapons to disable."

A red light flashed on Lia's console, *Romulans??? You gotta be kidding me* she thought. "Captain, we have a bigger problem than that Corsair. There's a Romulan ship close by, it's cloaked but it's done something to give it's self away".

"Monitor it! But they can take a bloody number and get in line." Phoenix called back.

Gary's head whipped around to face Lia. "Romulans?" He had a bad feeling about this. "Can you get any idea how close Lia?" He asked.

Arrianna turned from her console. "I'm attempting to use a tachyon sweep to force the Romulan vessel out of cloak." Her hands ran over her console.

"Boss." Jessica came on the comms. "I think we need to hail them, Get their intentions. They probably know that we know they are there. No sense ignoring the elephant in the room."

"Go ahead Jess." Gary replied. "Lets force their hand and see what they have to say ...if anything."

Were her orders suggestions now? Phoenix mentally fumed but she focused on the Orions. "Commander Taylor, prep landing rescue teams. I want our people picked up as soon as we have a location of that orion ships landing coordinates."

"Absolutely Captain, I'll see to it." Gary replied, sensing Phoenix's ire. "Permission to accompany the teams down."

"Boss, I think it's the Captain that should be calling the Romulans. I just work here." Jess responded.

Gary addressed Phoenix again, "Captain if you'll allow me to speak to the Warbird." He had a distinct feeling he knew who commanded the Romulan vessel.

Phoenix took a breath. "no commander You go lead the away team" She said.

"Captain...." Gary said under his breath. "This is Mishka! I know it is! I'm telling you. She's back for revenge. She wants me."

Phoenix spun on Gary. "Commander, you have your orders. Lead the away team. Leave the rest to us." Then she turned back.

Gary bit back a retort and curtly nodded.

Gallia had been at dinner with Kara and Tayalas when the red alert sent them both to their duties and Tayalas home with Milla, now she was relieving the Ensign on duty and taking over the bridge ops spot, doing a passive scan of the Romulan vessel to match it against vessels they'd previously encountered, "Damn it." She cursed, "Warp signature says we sane this ship befar, Captain."

"Of course we have" Phoenix muttered with sarcasm. "Because they just don't bloody well learn"

Working on her own, Lia now found a slow moving target. But it was going backwards, *What the hell are you playing at?* she wondered. Then an alarm sounded, =^="WARNING!! PROXIMITY MINES!!"=^=. Lia had a light bulb moment, "Captain, looks like our Romulan friend hasn't bothered waiting. We have mines all round except from the Corsair's approach, better alert the fighter's". The tactics of the vessel proved one thing, the Romulans were back and working with the Orion's.

The sound of red alert brought Anje running from her office headed to the bridge, she needed to be planetside, there was nothing she could do for anyone on the ship now.

M'Tuuri remained seated in the mess as crew around her scrambled to get to their posts or simply not be in the way, she was however as far she was concerned, still on break. "Interesting..." She purred, sipping her coffee as she eyed up the Orion Corsair amongst the void of space.

Alicia stood and moved across to Taylor. "Commander, permission to join the away team Sir? I might be of some help."

Gary looked at the counselor. For several seconds he was quiet then he nodded, "Perhaps you can at that. Alright counselor consider yourself added,"

Alicia nodded. “Thank you Commander.” She remained standing nearby ready to go when Taylor said the word.

Jess spoke up. "Captain, I have an idea about these mines, it will cost us a runabout, but it will get us in range of the Corsair."

"Go ahead Commander" Phoenix replied.

"We send a Danube out in front of us with all power diverted to engines and shields. We'll control it remotely and use it to draw the mines away from their deployments. The mines will follow and destroy the Danube. Meanwhile. I'll have Alpha fly a shielding pattern and get our Marines in range of the Corsair." Jess noted. "Other than trying to take out the mines, which are no-doubt cloaked, this is the best I can come up with, as we're running out of time."

"Do it. Norris, work with Vaii please to make it happen. Commander Holmes, location of that Warbird?"

Holmes glanced up at Phoenix, "100.000 metres off our portside, but she's backing off. I don't think they want to engage in a fire fight, just pin us here".

Jess hailed both Norris and Rhodes. "Commander, Gunny. Lets meet in the main shuttle bay. It's time to get our people back, and I have an idea how we're gonna do it. Bring some volunteers. We'll need marines for penetration and medics to evac anyone the Orions have enslaved, and we are going to save every last one on that ship." Jess hated slavery. Once the Corsair was secure, it would take all her self-control from shooting those green scumbags. But she wouldn't do it, she was a Starfleet Officer.

"Aye, Captain." Gallia nodded, rising from her spot at ops and tapping her commbadge, "Norris to Justice and Cadet Brett, meet me in the shootlebay, we're aboot te do some engineerin'." With a nod to the command team she headed into the turbolift, she was about to make the galaxy's biggest remote control toy.

As Gallia was leaving the bridge, Anje was arriving, turning to the Scot, "Be safe out there, your wife and child expect you home and so do I."

"Aye." Gallia nodded, "Dinnae ye go be doin' noothin' stupid, neither, ye mad Russian. Dinnae worry aboot me, we're jus' gon'te do some old fashion, hands on engineerin' is all."

"Right." Anje smiled, walking past the flaming haired beauty to her CO and, whether he knew it or not, her fellow pack member, "Captain, I want to go on the away team with Cdr. Taylor." ~My Aunt will flippin' kill me if I let the Gray Wolf die...~

"If you wish Anje." The captain said

Imik now entered the bridge and approached Phoenix, she bowed and then spoke quietly. "Captain, I have fighter experience. I am doing little good simply standing watching the Federation fight it's enemy, may I assist by asking to be allowed to use one of your fighters and join a squadron or wing?"

"If you join my wing, I'm in charge, and you do what I say. Is that acceptable to you, Consul? Because this will take every good pilot we've got." Jess replied. She was very much a no-nonsense squadron lead.

Turning to face the person who spoke, Imik simply bowed in response. She then spoke, "You lead, I follow. This is the way of things, in the squadron the leader is in command".

"Consul, get to the hanger bay and go for it." Phoenix was bringing up holographic displays of the area.

After having returned from extended leave due to the passing of his wife in a tragic accident at the academy, Turak felt he needed to get lost in his work. He needed something to keep his mind off of losing his best friend. Therefore, he felt he would be of use, asking the Captain, "Captain Lalor, respectfully request permission to join Cdr. Taylor and the away party? This seems to be the right time to get back into the fray Ma'am."

"If commander Holmes can spare you lieutenant."

Glancing up from her console, Lia smiled her 2i/c, "Your dismissed Lieutenant, get yourself down to the transporter room stat". As he moved off Holmes continued, "But kindly ensure you return uninjured Lieutenant, it is the logical way".

At the Commander's last request, Turak smiled and replied before he entered the turbolift, "Yes ma'am, it shouldn't be anything we can't handle." With that, he headed down to the armory quickly to grab his phase rifle and pistol and related supplies before he went to the transporter room to join the landing party.

Gary looked to Anje and then Alicia, "Lets get to the transporter room and find our people."

Alicia nodded. "Yes, Sir."

"Try and keep your head down, Sir." Anje encouraged, "Not sure who would kill me first if something happens to you down there, Lia or my Aunt."

=Intelligence Blister=

Casper rushed from where he had been in the ship to the Intelligence Blister of the ship upon the Red Alert call, he picked his way through the crowd of Crewmen and Officers rushing to their duty stations. Running through the door he noticed that his team was already hard at work analyzing all that was coming in from the Sensors. When he looked over to the View screen that was on the wall of the Corsair he nodded but was surprised, 'How did such a thing escape all of our Long Range and Short Range scans?' he thought as he moved over to one of the Consoles. He didn't have to say much to his team as they were all working on their own. The Romulan WarBird also struck him as odd why would they be working together, "Focus what we can on the Warbird... I want to know what ship that is!" he stated to his team.

"You don't have to shout Lieutenant," M'Tuuri purred teasingly as she suddenly appeared beside him, coffee mug at her lips before Casper had turned his head. "I'm right here..." She added, tilting her head towards him as she turned on her paw pad and moved towards an empty station.

Casper didn't think he had been yelling but maybe Cat ears were more sensitive then normal ears he made a mental note to ask Olivia about it the next time that he saw her, "What can you tell me about the vessel M'Tuuri?"

“aside from being cloaked, not much else...” M’Tuuri purred as she pawed at a console, her mug of coffee balancing on top of the LCARs as she narrowed the scans. “They aren’t exactly transmitting an IFF, Sir.” she added before reaching for her mug once more.

Casper hated cloaks he wished they had outlawed them centuries ago, it gave a real unfair advantage and the fact that this one was able to sneak up on them without anyone knowing frustrated him even more. Are they one of the rogue Star Navy vessels, or do they just not want to get into the fight due to their resources. Fuming that he had no information to give the Captain he stared so intently at where the Warbird was he willed it just to blow up by his will and his will alone which it didn't... But... If only.


=Marine Country=

At hearing the red alert, the large form of Warrant Officer Man'darr jumped to action from the table he had been playing Poker at. Still dressed in his armor, he grabbed his pulse rifle and smiled, happy to have something to do. "Finally! Gunny Rhodes, PFC Durak, you're with me! The rest standby for orders."

"Right." Rhodes nodded, walking over to grab his rifle, ~Time to end this dumb shit, one way or the other.~

Man'darr walked briskly with two Marines in tow as he made a bee line to the bridge.

=Bridge; USS Elysium=

Man'darr stepped onto the bridge, glancing at the view screen and several officers at their posts. "Warrant Officer Man'darr reporting, Captain," he said as he approached the captain's chair while PFC Durak and Gunny Rhodes were redirected to the shuttlebay. 'Wish these damn fleeters would make up their minds,' Man'darr thought. "Who needs to be put down?" Every fiber in his Capellan body yearned to take revenge on the Orions, held back only by his years of Starfleet training.

"Work with Commander Holmes and secure the ship. Assign several to the away team as well." Phoenix ordered.

Holmes heard her name mentioned once again and looked up at Man'darr, "As I've allowed my Vulcan 2i/c to go on the away team, you are now my 2i/c. Secure the ship utilising both Security and Marines, once that's done, report back here for further instructions. Unless we have a security breach, then handle that as you see fit. Are my instructions clear Warrant Officer?"

"Clear. I have Gunny Rhodes, and a platoon of Marines heading to the shuttlebay to board the Orion vessel. A platoon will remain behind and the rest of the Marines are ready to assault the Orion Base," Man'darr reported.

=Security/Armory=

Fernando had gone to the security department and then to the armory. He had gotten a phaser rifle but no orders on what or where to go next. He thought for a moment then tapped his combadge. "De La Rosa to Commander Holmes. "Commander. I'm at the armory and have a phaser rifle. Where do you want me?"

Upon hearing Fernando, Lia thought about where best to use him. =^="Holmes here, report to Warrant Officer Man'darr and assist with securing the ship. Turak is on the away team, so that makes you the senior Security Officer".

"Yes Ma'am I mean sir er Commander!" Fernando finally got out. Now all he had to do was find Warrant Officer Man'darr. He tapped his com again. "De La Rosa to Man'darr. Commander Holmes asked me to assist you in securing the ship. Where do you need me? I am currently at the armory."

"Help secure Engineering," Man'darr said, knowing that and the bridge were the key targets in a boarding.

After being given the okay to transport down to the surface with the away team, Turak stopped by the armory and collected his phase rifle, phase pistol, and communicator. Once done, he double-timed it to the transporter room where the others would be gathering.

"Yes sir." Fernando replied as he gathered his rifle and clipped his pistol to his belt and headed for the armory. Once there he would ask Gallia where she wanted him.

=Sickbay, USS Elysium=

As Tate made her way to Sickbay, her regular Red Alert post, she felt torn. No doubt Gary and Phoenix would handle the alert like professionals, but coming on the heels of their captivity by the Romulans, the capture of crewmembers had to bring up bad memories. Sullivan believed she'd helped Lalor understand her concerns regarding the impact of events on the long-term health of her relationship with Taylor, but there was no telling how the stress of these moments would fray things. She made a silent commitment to head to the bridge as soon as she could, but for now, her job was to help the medical staff prepare for the arrival of their people, likely in various states of physical and emotional trauma.

She moved amongst the various trauma teams with ease, offering, "Please remember not to overlook the psychological impact your behavior will have. In keeping with the trauma informed care protocols we've put in place, keep in mind that unless you're confronted with life-threatening injuries requiring immediate attention, every effort must be made to seek permission from the patient before you touch them or otherwise initiate care. I expect we'll be faced with people in various states of emotional shock and trauma and there's no predicting how they'll respond voluntarily or otherwise."

Seeing nods of assent, Tate offered her thanks and pressed on.

Heather left hers & Tallia’s shared Quarters and made for Sickbay, she wasn’t officially a part of the crew yet but as a nurse she might be needed. Walking into Sickbay she made her way across to Tallia, of those gathered she was the only person she actually knew. “Can I be of some assistance?”

"Prep." Tallia said quickly, "We're about to be standing room only."

“Yes Doctor” Heather nodded, this was one thing she was good and confident at. She quickly made herself familiar with Sickbay and where everything was located before checking everything they needed was at hand for use.

Spotting a familiar face, if only because she'd seen her name and picture on their manifest, Tate approached Heather say hello and introduce herself. "Tate Sullivan. Welcome to the chaos."

"Heather Raines" She smiled warmly. "It's nice to meet you Tate. I'm not officially part of the crew yet but I'm a nurse so I thought I'd do what I could to help." She clenched her hands together tightly. "I just came from the same circumstances they're coming from so I know what to expect."

Now new details of Heather's arrival came to the forefront of Tate's mind and she made a mental note to see if she could be of personal or professional assistance to her later. For now, however, she offered, "That's very kind of you, Heather, and an excellent way to find meaning in what you've been through. I don't wish to pry or make assumptions about how your recovery is going, but should what you see here trigger some unexpected memories or emotions for you, please don't hesitate to take care of yourself and reach out to me. It's no trouble and nothing to be ashamed of. Sometimes memories and emotions have a way of clobbering us when we least expect them."

Heather nodded. "I'll remember that, thank you." She offered a smile. "I just want to do what I can to help."

Olivia arrived for her duty shift a bit early due to the red alert going off. As soon as she walked into Sickbay, Olivia noticed staff already working on prepping for any possible situation once their crew members were rescued. Olivia jumped in to help preparing for any possible situation they might have to handle.

"Dr. Voight, glad you could make it." Tallia greeted her, "I've got nursing setting up prep, we might want to discuss surgical specialties so the patients go to the right table for their wounds, I specialize in neuro. You?"

Sorry for the tardiness, Doctor," Ensign T'Kek said as he entered Sickbay. "I only just returned from the surface," he flashed his charismatic grin

=Counseling Department=

Savar was hard at work at making sure the counseling department was ready to receive and assist any of the captured officers any way they could. He knew that they undoubtedly had suffered physical pain but mental as well which was much more difficult to deal with and overcome. However he had supreme confidence in the counselors aboard the Elysium and their dedication to helping those who needed it.


=Main Shuttlebay=

Jess waited until the Marines, Medics, and Pilots had assembled. "Okay, listen up. This may be the most dangerous sortee we've ever undertaken. My Alpha wing is going to get the Marines onto the Corsair. Now, we need the remote piloted runabout to lure as many of these proximity mines away as possible. The Runabout's shields and engines set to maximum output, and transfer the ship's life support to the Inertial Dampeners. Make it seem like to the mines that it's as large as the Enterprise and they'll follow." Jess noted. Once we're in range, we split into two and hit the Corsair's flanks. That's where the bays are on this particular class of Corsair, and we need them fighting borders on two fronts so the Marines aren't encircled within these tight corridors. Thoughts?" Jess asked.

Imik now stepped forwards, "I will pilot the remote shuttle Commander, thus leaving you with your usual pilots when engaging the Corsair". She glanced around at the other pilots, "This is a logical course of action, Ojnas tactics are somewhat different from Federation tactics. This will mean I can not interfere with the final assault, it also allows me to dictate what action I wish in regards to the proximity mines".

Gunny Rhodes and PFC Durak arrived in the shuttlebay, along with the two squads of Marines. Durak sighed, he hated fighting in close quarters, especially against a species that were as large and strong as the Orions. 'They're just targets,' he thought to himself, remembering how badly his last encounter with them had been--they had lost Major Azhul.

Rhodes took stock of the personnel gathered, happy to find few weak links in this chain, ~Now to wrap that chain around some Orion necks...~

"Now, the Orions fight dirty. I'm saying anything and everything the Federation won't fight with. Expect chemical gas to be used within their ships to repel boarders. They are cowards too, so expect traps and IED's" Jess noted.

Jess looked at the group. "Any questions? This is a volunteer mission, by the way. We're going in to an Orion hell-hole to rescue men and women wearing our uniform. If you want out, I don't blame you. But if you're in. We're going to free every last person they've taken, and if one of you somehow dies, I'll drag you back from hell for a court martial for dying without orders. So who's up for this?"

Imik walked up to Jess and placed her hand over her heart, "Blessings and my best wishes go with you leader, I will see you once we have vanquished the enemy". She made a small bow and turned for her fighter, *Perhaps this crew do not understand Ojnas way's* she thought.

"Alright, lets go make the Orion's wish they were never born." Jess put on her helmet.