USS Illuminar

Mission: In the Vanguard
Day: 12
Stardate: 2446.07.01
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(Norkan Colony - Sector 3 - SPA LT Ariel Trei - 0112)
(Knight 2 - Cockpit - Pilot - Lt. Arthur ‘Snoopy’ Corday - 0113)
(Norkan Colony - Sector 3 - 2O/CSec/Tac - Lt Commander T’Mur - 0115)
(Norkan Colony - SPA LT Ariel Trei - 0116)
(Knight 3 – Pilot Ensign(jg) Pihi “Kestral” Piripi - 0120)
(Norkan Colony - Sector 3 - 2O/CSec/Tac - Lt Commander T’Mur - 0121)
(Norkan Colony - SPA LT Ariel Trei - 0122)
(Knight 3 – Pilot Ensign(jg) Pihi “Kestral” Piripi - 0125)
(Knight 2 - Cockpit - Pilot - Lt. Arthur ‘Snoopy’ Corday - 0126)
(Norkan Colony - Sector 3 - 2O/CSec/Tac - Lt Commander T’Mur - 0127)
(Norkan Colony - Sector 3 SPA LT Ariel Trei - 0128)
(Knight 3 - Cockpit Pilot Ensign Pihi "Kestral" Piripi - 0130)
(Norkan Colony - Sector 3 - 2O/CSec/Tac - Lt Commander T’Mur - 0131)
(Knight 2 - Cockpit - Pilot - Lt. Arthur ‘Snoopy’ Corday - 0132)
(Norkan Colony - Sector 3 SPA LT Ariel Trei - 0133)
(Norkan Colony - Sector 3 - 2O/CSec/Tac - Lt Commander T’Mur - 0135)
(Knight 1 – Cockpit – FSXO, Lieutenant Tempest Grey Wolf - 0137)
(Knight 3 – Pilot Ensign(jg) Pihi “Kestral” Piripi - 0140)
(USS Raptor --Sickbay -- Deck 5 -- Nurse Maggie Rachet-- 0153)
(Knight 2 - Cockpit - Pilot - Lt. Arthur ‘Snoopy’ Corday - 0215)
(USS Raptor - Sickbay -- Deck 5 -- CMO/3XO Commander Quinna Solice -- 0230)
(Norkan Colony - Sector 3 - 2O/CSec/Tac - Lt Commander T’Mur - 0235)
(USS Raptor - Deck 1 - Bridge - SecO/ATac- Lt. Andy Tayler- 0245)
(USS Raptor - Deck 1 - Bridge - CO, Captain Sekal - 0246)
(USS Raptor - Deck 5 - Counselors Office - Bondmate/Counselor - Temas Laredo - 0247)
(Outside the system - Oos - 0249)
(USS Raptor - Deck 1 - Bridge- Bondmate/Counselor - Temas Laredo - 0250)
(KNageri Oos - Control Center - Xenolithe Commander - Ch’tar 308 - 0251
(Outside Norkan Space- Oos - 0252)
(USS Raptor - Deck 1 - Bridge - CO, Captain Sekal - 0255)
(NorKan Colony – Downtown District - Marine - 2LT Charles Temerity - 0310)
(Norkan Colony - Sector 3 - 2O/CSec/Tac - Lt Commander T’Mur - 0330)
(Norkan Colony - Sector 3 - Marine - 2LT Charles Temerity - 0335)
(USS Raptor -- Sickbay Chief Medical Officer Office -- Deck 5 -- CMO/3O Commander Quinna
Solice and Nurse Maggie Ratchet -- 0800)
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(Norkan Colony - Sector 3 - SPA LT Ariel Trei - 0112)

After liberating another group of Romulans the instructions were given to go 5K west to the next
readings of survivors. She also saw the pattern T'Mur saw but if the xenolithe think making the
effort on the planet makes their offensive ability weaker they are dead wrong. She can call for a
few Klingon warbirds to join the fight along with several more from allied houses. It would be
glorious. Until then she kept up with the group to the next facility.

(Reply Any)
(Posted by Edward)
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(Knight 2 - Cockpit - Pilot - Lt. Arthur ‘Snoopy’ Corday - 0113)

Snoopy and Kestral had spent nearly an hour laying down cover fire for the marines, either
leading them to a target, or covering their 6 after the fact. He would take the lead as the new
pilot covered, then they’d reverse, and she would lead while he covered. The Xenolithe were
not plentiful, but they were resilient, and difficult to kill. He watched a Xeno warrior get hit by a
shot from his cannon, and get back up, albeit unsteadily.

=^=T’Mur to Knight 2, Snoopy, I need you to reroute to my location.=^=

“Roger that Lt. Commander,” Corday replied. He looked at his sensors and found her location.
There was a group of a dozen Xenolithe encircling them, and a group of Romulans. “Knight 2 to
Knight 3, we need supply ground support to the team about five miles south west.”

(reply Pihi)

They banked their ships and headed towards the team.

(reply Pihi)
(posted by Al Muir)
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(Norkan Colony - Sector 3 - 2O/CSec/Tac - Lt Commander T’Mur - 0115)

They had managed to gather all of the Romulan civilians in a central ocation of a plaza. She
tapped her comm badege.

“T’Mur to the Canopis, you may begin transport at your leisure.”

=^=Roger that T’Mur. We are getting ready to transport group one.=^=

There was a hum and half of the Romulans disappeared in a haze of the transporter effect.

=^=Group one received. Preparing to transport group...=^=

As FO of the Canopis said the words there was an explosion over the area. A bright flash was
quickly followed by a distortion field. T’Mur looked at the others then opened the comm line.

“Repeat Canopis,” she said, “your transmission was incomplete.”

There was a crackle then a broken message. =^=...disruption field… unable… transport…
working…solution. Stand by.=^=

T’Mur sighed, “Well that was unexpected. Looks like we are going to have some people to
protect until the Canopis can figure a way to transport the remaining Romulans from our
location. So we need to set up a defendable perimeter.” She turned to Pevn and Trei, “See if
any of the survivors have any weapons or experience in security or tactical.”

(reply Trei)
There are Thirty-five Romulans, and the seven of us,” she assessed. “All we have to do is hold
off,” T’Mur looked at the readout of her tactical display on her HUD, “a dozen Xenolithe
warriors.”

Tagon almost smiled, “Should be a piece of cake.”

(reply Trei, Linnis)
(posted by Al Muir)
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(Norkan Colony - SPA LT Ariel Trei - 0116)

She saw the disruption field that affected the transport of the 1st group. As far as she knew the
group was stuck in a holding pattern until the transporter room can figure it out. They had a
much bigger problem on the planet surface. According to T'Mur they had to deal with a dozen
xenolithe warriors. She instructed to see what kind of battle experience the Romulans had and
prepare them to fight. That will be a hard task considering the short time to work with to plan a
defense. She was better at this tactically in theory but not much in practice. She proceeded to
instruct the group as a whole basic attack skills. She worked with individuals when she could
but the strategy is to make this a stick and move tactic and allow the officers to complete the
job. She said to herself munuQmeH qeylIS. ( Kahless give me strength).

(Reply T'Mur, Any)
(Posted by Edward)
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(Knight 3 – Pilot Ensign(jg) Pihi “Kestral” Piripi - 0120)

Pihi lined up the fighter, “Knight 3 preparing for an attack run,” she said.

[May I recommend a spread of micro torpedos targeting the rear of the enemy forces] came a
voice.

“Who’s that?” she said, startled out of her focus.

[AI 59 echo 31 at your service] the voice replied. [Fighter Information Display and Operating
system version 3. You can call me FIDO]

“Great,” she said, “I have a dog on board. OK FIDO, we’ll try it your way,” she said. Admittedly
she didn’t know the burst radius of the micro torpedos. “Set yield for 50%”

[Yield set] replied FIDO

She turned the fighter and lined up on the rear guard, “Knight 3, Fox one” she called as she
pushed the fire button. Two micro torpedos left their launch tubes, streaking through the sky to
the target. Pulling her ship into an arc, she pointed it at the lead column, “Going hot with
cannons,” she called, strafing the line meters from the Marines, before pulling up to assess the
damage.

As she did, she noticed the strange shimmering again, which winked out as the Xenolithes were
hit with her cannon fire.

(Reply Knight 1, Knight 2)
(Posted by Pippa)
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(Norkan Colony - Sector 3 - 2O/CSec/Tac - Lt Commander T’Mur - 0121)

T’Mur watched as Trei had begun to instruct several of the Romulan’s on fighting techniques.
She assumed that her look for experience had been a negative and she was trying to give them
the benefit of her own experiences. Although she was unaware of Trei’s battle experience. She
was trained to fight, but her experience was not as extensive. None of them were that
experience. After all, they’d been out of the shipyard less than a year.

As she walked towards Trei she held up a hand. “Stop. Everyone please sit down.” She could
sense the relief from the Romulan’s. “Ariel, May I talk with you?”

(reply Trei)

She led the woman away from the group. Once they were out of war shot she began to speak.
“Lieutenant, I had asked to find anyone with experience. We do not have time to give them the
skills they would need to fight the Xenolithe. I also would prefer that they stay out of the way. We
won’t have the time or resources to protect anyone that enters the fight unprepared. Do you
understand?”

(reply Trei)

“I am assuming that you could not find anyone with the experience we need?” she asked.

(reply Trei)

“Our job is to keep these people alive until help arrives “ T’Mur said.

She looked down at her scan and saw the Xenolithe closing in. She turned to the Romulan’s.

“Everyone get in that building,” she ordered. “Keep the children in the middle of the group.” She
then turned to the team. “Everyone find a defendable position around this compound. Stay in
view of at least one other person.”

Suddenly the sound of a fighter flew over them. There was a series of explosions as it fired a
complement of micro torpedoes, followed by phase cannons. Two of the Xenolithe disappeared
from her scans. The others scattered, but quickly returned to their March towards them.

“Get ready for ten incoming,” T’Mur warned. She found her place behind a wall and closed her
eyes in an attempt to feel for Sienna and send her a message of love.

(reply Trei, Linnis, any)
(posted by Al Muir)
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(Norkan Colony - SPA LT Ariel Trei - 0122)

T'Mur came over and gave the Romulans a break from the self defense training. She felt the
relief from the group. T'Mur relayed that it wasn't her job to train the civilians but to protect
them. T'Mur relayed that there wasn't enough time to do that anyway and directed the
Romulans inside the building. A fighter jet made a pass through sending micro torpedoes
 down on the dozen xenolithe. Two of them were taken out leaving 10 marching in on the
building. T'Mur ordered the team to find a position to defend. She can probably handle 1 or 2
xenolithe at a time then move to help in the battle. She prepared for the battle. She drew her
Batt'leff from her back and began practicing her battle swings with the Batt'leff. She imagined
herself a can of pesticide killing the xenolithe 1 by 1 with the xenolithe shouting in fear
"Raaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaid." She was ready to kill. She roared in Klingon. "tIqwIjDaq jIpaw'
'e' vI'ol. Heghlu'meH QaQ jajvam.(I am a spray of pesticide. It is a good day to die.)

(Reply Any)
(Posted by Edward)
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(Knight 3 – Pilot Ensign(jg) Pihi “Kestral” Piripi - 0125)

While her initial strafing pass had scattered the Xenolithes, they had already regrouped and
were marching towards the Federation position.

Looking down, she watched as the people started to move from the central square to a building.
It would provide some cover but who knew how long it would provide shelter.

“OK FIDO, got any brilliant ideas?” she asked.

[I am monitoring communication traffic between the ground and the USS Canopis. It appears a
disruption field is preventing the transport of the civilians off the planet.]

“Great,” she cursed. “Can you find it?” she asked.

[I am scanning the area now] the computer replied.

Pihi started looking out the cockpit to see if she could see a likely target. A flashing crosshair
appeared.

[The crosshairs highlight the location of the disruption field generator with 95% certainty] FIDO
said [Analysis suggests a low pass attack will be necessary to take it out.]

A feral grin came over Pihi’s face. “Knight 2, have located a potential source of disruption field.
Beginning attack run.”

(Rely Knight 2)

“OK FIDO,” she said, “spin up the micro torpedoes, 100% burst. We’re going in.”

She pushed down on the stick, while increasing to attack speed. Her fighter was mere meters
above the ground as she pushed towards the target.

[I have a solution] FIDO replied.

“Knight 3, Fox one,” she said as the crosshairs turned red. She released two torpedos before
pulling her fighter straight up.

[Enemy returning fire] FIDO reported.
Pihi started to break and roll to avoid the returning fire. Her shields lit up as some of the
weapons found their mark.

“Report FIDO. Did we take the field down?” she asked as she leveled off her climb and began
to circle the area.

(Reply Knight 1, Knight 2)
(Posted by Pippa)
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(Knight 2 - Cockpit - Pilot - Lt. Arthur ‘Snoopy’ Corday - 0126)

Snoopy had tracked the other side of the Xenolithe flank but was unable to fire into it. They had
chosen to move in an area where civilians had found refuge. He didn’t want to risk firing into
them a perhaps dispersing them into the buildings he wanted to keep them away from.

=^=Knight 2, have located a potential source of disruption field. Beginning attack run.=^=
“Hold on, Knight 3,” he responded. “That area is unsecure and we have no idea what they have
down there.”

All he received back was static as he realized that he had just flown through aa pocket of
ionized air. But the time he was able to retransmit he was receiving second message.

=^=Knight 2, have located a potential source of disruption field. Beginning attack run=^=

He sighed and shook his head. The exhuberance of inexperience. He fell in behind Kestral and
stayed above her and above to protect her. She was on her own from the surface. She fired a
volley of torpedoes at the ground. They exploded on their intended target. However she
received some heavy fire from the ground. He winced as two explosions rocked the ventral side
of her fighter.

=^=Report FIDO. Did we take the field down?=^=

He heard her request over the open comm. He scanned the field to see that it still stood. He
made a strange face as he adjusted his sensors.

“That’s a negative Knight 3,” he told her. ‘Your torpedoes were on target, but it appears that was
more than one energy signature feeding that field. We need to hit the other two simultaneously.
And before you turn for that run, have a look at your ventral shielding. You took a couple of
serious hits.”

(reply Pihi)
(posted by Al Muir)
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(Norkan Colony - Sector 3 - 2O/CSec/Tac - Lt Commander T’Mur - 0127)

T’Mur watched as the Xenolithe marched towards them. A fighter flew over them and there was
a moment of dispersal. There was an explosion outside of their zone and the a noticable
shimmer in the dispersion field. She could only surmise that the fighters were trying to locate
and eliminate to source of the filed.
But it was too late. The Xenolithe were upon them. The first three entered the edge of the
plaza. There was no effort to be stealthy about it. Perhaps, in their experience, they had
neveer encountered a foe that was capable of producing a resistance that require such
strategies. Fortunately, they had developed strategies of stealth and camouflage. The odds did
not appear to favor the Xenolithe too greatly, but that was only if you counted their effectiveness
by numbers. But T’Mur knew that one Xenolithe fighter, most likely, had the effect of three,
maybe four, human fighters. They could not afford to allow the Xenos to grain a dominant
position in the plaza.

The Xenolithe were larger, stronger, and more resilient, but they had the element of surprise.
She whispered of the comm, “Dogan, with me.”

The Brikar just nodded and moved along the building towards the trio. He did not have the
capacity to move as stealthily as the Vulcan did, but he did what he could to attract the least
amount of attention. That was probably what caught their attention. The Xenolithe stopped and
began to move towards Dogan. When they were all committed to the assault on the Brikar
T’Mur stepped out from her hiding place and fired her phaser rifle at full power.

The blast hit two of the Xenolithe who whirled and turned with a guteral squeal, however they
were basically undamaged. T’Mur had really just been trying to get their attention. Dogan used
that moment to launch his assault. He closed the distance with a speed that seemed not
possible for his size. The Xenolithe that still had its attention on him tried to react, and brought
its weapon around, but his shot missed. The Brikar grabbed the Xenolithe around the neck and
squeezed until there was a crack, and the insectoid creature dropped.

The second turned in time and fired into Dogan's chest. The Brikar’s eyes narrowed and he
frowned. “Ouch. And you put a hole in my uniform.”

This exchange was a bit more dramatic than the first, with an exchange of blows. The
Xenolithe’smovement were fluid and well aimed. Fortunately Dogans hyde was like stone and
he remained unharmed. Then it was his turn. He grabbed the Xenolithe’s arm and pulled it into
his body. Then he wrapped his other arm around it and began to squeeze until there was a
sickening crack.

Meanwhile, T’Mur had drawn her dual blades and was striking at the exoskeleton of the third
Xeno. They rebounded without effect. However she was close enough that its energy weapons
were useless. It, too, had been forced to hand to hand combat. As T’Mur dodged to one side
the Xenolithe moved suddenly and caught her with a blow to her ribs.

Even with her Vulcan physiology she could feel the force of the blow and something in her suit
gave. She pushed the pain to the back of her mind and saw the opening at the joint of the
shoulder. With all her strength she thrust her blade deep into the space. The purplish, black
blood ran down her arm.

When her arm made contact with the creature she suddenly sensed its thoughts. It was
telepathic, of a sort. She didn’t exactly understand its thoughts, but she could feel it die. The
sensation caught her by surprise, leaving her momentarily stunned.

Dogans rough hands on her shoulders brought her mind into focus, although some of the
images left by the Xeno lingered.
“Lt. Commander, are you alright?” Dogan sounded concerned.

T’Mur shook her head to clear it and nodded. “Fine. Let’s get to the others.”

(reply none)
(posted by Al Muir)
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(Norkan Colony - Sector 3 SPA LT Ariel Trei - 0128)

Ariel saw T'Mur and Dorgan fight the xenolithe. Dorgan was having a better go at it than T'Mur.
She saw T'Mur touch one of the xenolithe. She reacted strangely when the xenolithe died. She
deduced that the xenolithe must be telepathic in some way. That was not her concern for a
xenolithe was charging toward her. She readied her batt'leff and used the charging momentum
to let the bug rush past her then she did a turn thrust with her batt'leff. She then twisted her
batt'leff into the xenolithe like a spiked edge sword drilling through the bug effectively killing it
but not avoiding getting its green blood all over her. She will deal with that later. The second
one was harder. She decided to make the xenolithe get itself stuck in the wall with its
aggressiveness. When it got its claws buried into the wall, she hammered its head until she
sliced it off. With the two bugs taken care of she caught u to T'Mur and Dorgan.

"I know I have bug blood all over me. I will clean that up later. I killed 2 of them. If you killed 2
then we have 6 more to deal with. Lets team up."

(Reply T'Mur, Dorgan, Any)
(Posted by Edward)
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(Knight 3 - Cockpit Pilot Ensign Pihi "Kestral" Piripi - 0130)

=^=That’s a negative Knight 3. Your torpedoes were on target, but it appears that there was
more than one energy signature feeding that field. We need to hit the other two simultaneously.
And before you turn for that run, have a look at your ventral shielding. You took a couple of
serious hits.=^=

Piri switched her monitors, looking at the shielding. Sure enough, the ground weapons had
penetrated her shield.

"FIDO, analyze the damage, any solutions?" she asked.

[Working] it replied. [Shield modulation might work, but insufficient data to confirm]

"Knight 2, Knight 3 acknowledges." she replied. Sure he wanted all the glory. "Going Vertical to
get a better scan," she added, pushing her fighter towards space. "Call the attack"

(reply Knight 2)
(Posted by Pihi)
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(Norkan Colony - Sector 3 - 2O/CSec/Tac - Lt Commander T’Mur - 0131)

T’Mur watched as Ariel Trei walked towards her and Cal. She had dark blood sprayed across
her tactical suit. She looked at the Betazoid/Klingon hybrid curiously.
"I know I have bug blood all over me,” Trei acknowledged. “I will clean that up later. I killed 2 of
them. If you killed 2 then we have 6 more to deal with. Let's team up."

“We actually killed three,” T’Mur corrected. “It would appear that the rest of our team has
engaged with the remaining five. I agree, we will need to work together to defeat them in a
group. We have been fortunate to only engage them one on one so far.”

They made their way to the opposite side of the plaza to find that the Xenolithe had gone with
their strength, working as a unit. The sound of energy weapons
Discharge filled the air.

At the edge of the group Pevn lay on the ground. His blue skin looked gaunt and he had a large
burn on his left shoulder, but he appeared to still be alive. Kelly Long had positioned herself at
the entrance of the building where the civilians were being secured. She had spent a lot of time
with T’Mur, earning her place on this team. T’Mur was certain that she would die before she
allowed anything to happen to the civilians.

Carol Linnis, Korag M’d’Unas were laying down heavy fire in an attempt to keep the Xenolithe
back. The modern weapons were much more powerful than forty years ago. They were able to
stun the Xenolithe briefly, but they made steady progress towards the building.

T’Mur pulled her weapon round and opened a comm. “Focus your fire on the Xeno on the left,”
she ordered.

She began to fire her weapon. She was soon joined by Dogan, then the others. After fifteen
seconds the Xenolithe dropped to its knees. Five seconds after that it fell to the ground. T’Mur
wasn’t certain it was dead but the others had used that time to close the gap and start running
towards the building.

“Hold them back and prepare for hand to hand,” she called out and began running towards the
small swarm.

Dogan groaned a little as his feet began to move his mass as quickly as it could. T’Mur lithe
body moved swiftly and covered the ground in moments. M’d’Unas roared and jumped out from
his own hiding place, his kur’leth drawn and swinging at the nearest Xenolithe. The blade struck
true but rebounded off the tough exoskeleton. He barely dodged the return of Xenolithe’s claws.

The Klingon pressed his attack at the Xenolithe’s legs. The blade klanged off the thigh and slid
into the joint, It cut but not deeply. A second Xenolithe turned and drove its claws through the
M’d’Unas’ battle suit and picked him off the ground. The creature reached up with its other hand
and pulled the Klingon into two pieces. That was enough time for T’Mur to roll in and send her
own dagger deep into the shoulder joint. Her second went into the neck.

Cal arrived in time to stop the Xeno with the injured leg from getting hold of T’Mur. He picked it
up and hefted it into the remaining Xenolithe. They scattered and quickly disappeared into an
adjacent building.

“We need to find them before they pick usoff, one at a time,” T’Mur said.

(reply Linnis, Trei, any)
(Posted by Al Muir)
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(Knight 2 - Cockpit - Pilot - Lt. Arthur ‘Snoopy’ Corday - 0132)

Snoopy watched as Kestral shot her ship up towards the outer atmosphere. There was no
doubt she had courage and skill. He had to wonder if she had wisdom or was foolhardy. Only
time would tell. It was why he had a tough time flying with someone he barely knew. He‘d seen
far too many skilled fighters that were taken out by an impulsive streak.

=^=Call the attack.=^=

“Lucy, give me some good news,” he said to his AI.

[There are field generation stations at these points.] She displayed a topographic image
showing where there was a power signature. [A simultaneous strike in both locations should
bring down the field with a 92% probability of success.]

“92%?” he questioned, more to himself. “It’ll have to do. Send the coordinates to Knight 3.”

[Affirmative. Coordinates sent.]

He opened his comm line. “Knight 2 to Knight 3, I’ve sent you two sets of coordinates. A
coordinated strike should take that dispersion field out. I have the the target to the north. You
take the southern target. On my mark.”

(reply Pihi)

He moved into position. “And…mark.”

With that he dove his ship down at the northern target. His display showed Knight 3 on route to
the south. The sky started to explode around him. He flew around the incoming fire. Lucy was
able to find a pattern to the defenses and was able to predict where the explosions would occur.
His shields held on the ones that were not in the predictable pattern.

[Shields are holding at 88%,] Lucy warned him. [In range in 5 seconds.]

As soon as his targeting computer locked on he fired a volley of micro torpedoes at the
generators and followed up with his phased cannons. There was an explosion as the strikes hit.
He pulled up and away from the battle area as he looked into his sensor readings to see what
happened with Knight 3.

(reply Pihi)
(posted by Al Muir)
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(Norkan Colony - Sector 3 SPA LT Ariel Trei - 0133)

She didn't have a lot of experience in Commando style fighting but it was worth a shot to catch
the Xeno off guard. She rolled in the dirt of the planet getting her tactical covered as possible so
she looked like a clump of dirt on the ground. She went after the xenos into the adjacent
building. When she entered the building, she assumed a compact crouch so she could slide on
the floor and still look like a piece of dried brush. She found one of the xenos and slowly
creeped up from behind. She knew that energy weapons were ineffective but if she could get
the xeno to fight itself and strike from behind that was the tactic she was willing to try. The xeno
looked down at her on the ground and disregarded her. That was the chance to use a blinding
tactic. She got as close as she could and created a dust cloud so the xeno could not see her.
The xeno tried to slash at the cloud trying to hit whatever was making the cloud. She used this
to rake the xeno from behind then return to her crouch position. The xeno looked behind it to
see what hit it. The xeno returned to search for sight in the cloud. She moved a little and then
thrust her batt'leff into the xenos back dissecting it. The xeno was still alive when it hit the
ground. She grabbed its head and snapped its neck. The sound of the metallic crack was most
satisfying and will be sung in Sto'vo'kor. She went in search for the other xeno. She hoped
T'Mur and Dorgan would help her with the rest of them.

(Reply T'Mur, Dorgan, Any)
(Posted by Edward)
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(Norkan Colony - Sector 3 - 2O/CSec/Tac - Lt Commander T’Mur - 0135)

T’Mur saw the horrified look on Kelly’s face as she stared at the spot that M’d’Unas’ remains lay.
She turned to Dogan.

“Take Longs’s place at the door. Protect the civilians inside.”

The Brikarian just nodded and exchanged a look with the young African woman, who reluctantly
stepped aside.

“Long, with me,” T’Mur ordered. As they moved carefully between the buildings she added,
“Stay close to me.”

Kelly took a step closer but maintained her space for a fight. There was a sound of movement
across some rubble and the duo headed towards the sound. A Xenolithe leapt out at them,
firing its weapon. The two officers dove in opposite directions and the ground where they had
been standing exploded. They both rolled and came to their feet in a ready stance. Kelly
already had her weapon drawn and was firing at the Xenolithe. The creature staggered and
stepped backwards, but appeared otherwise intact.

T’Mur drew one of her blades and moved around as Long continued to fire. The Xenolithe was
clearly in pain, feeling the continuous fire, but its body’s natural ability to absorb the energy was
keeping it up and able to move. T’Mur began to wonder if there was a limit to its ability to
absorb energy. She closed in for a strike at the shoulder joint, but the Xeno suddenly struck out
at her.

It was a glancing blow but it hit her already damaged ribs, and the Vulcan, caught by surprise,
dropped to a knee and dropped her blade. Sensing the sudden weakness the Xenolithe jumped
at T’Mur. The Vulcan’s eyes narrowed, preparing for the attack.

Suddenly there was a scream. Kelly Long launched herself at the Xenolithe and landed on its
back. She had her knife drawn and began a series of downward strikes at the creature’s neck.
The third strike struck true and the blade dug into its neck joint. It let out a sound that must
have been some kind of a scream.

It reached up with a clawed hand and managed to get a hold of Long’s shoulder. It pulled her
off its back and held her up in front front of it. T’Mur pulled her second long blade and pressed
the attack. She winced slightly before she got control of the pain. Then her blade went through
the soft spot of the arm joint. She twisted and the arm holding Long dropped. Kelly fell to the
ground, blood seeping out of the wounds on her shoulder.

However the girl had trained well. She found her footing and launched a double footed drop
kick at the Xenolithe’s chest as T’Mur withdrew her blade. The creature fell to the ground.
Kelly jumped on it’s chest, found her knife and drove it into the side of it’s head. T’Mur drove
her blade into the other side and the Xenolithe’s head rolled back. T’Mur could “feel” its life ebb
out of its consciousness.

T’Mur stood up , her arm resting against her injured ribs. Kelly limped over to her. T’Mur found
it interesting that the Ensign limped, since her injury was in her shoulder. However, she knew
humans had the tendency to displace discomfort into a limp.

“Are you okay, Lt. Commander?” Long asked.

T’Mur nodded, “I will heal. Let’s head back to the civilians.”

By the time they returned the last Xenolithe was laying at Dogans feet. The Brikarian sported a
small, what could only be described as, cut on his cheek. T’Mur had never considered the
option if the Brikar could bleed. But he did have a small trickle of an amber fluid oozing from the
wound. Then he did the one thing she had never seen before. He smiled.

Then Ariel Trei entered the plaza. She was covered in dirt and foliage, which T’Mur found
curious.

Her HUD flashed and she noted that the dispersion field was gone. “Looks like the fighters or
the Marines brought down the dispersion field.” She opened a channel to the Canopis.

“T’Mur to the Canopis, we have Romulan civilians to beam up from this location. Some are
injured. We also have injured and dead crewmen.”

=^=Roger that Lt. Commander. We read 35 Romulan life signs. Transporting now. We also
see… =^= the pause was exaggerated…, =^= the remains of a Klingon and an unconscious
Andorian.=^=

“Affirmative Canopis,” T’Mur replied. She looked at the others. Trei seemed undamaged. Cal’s
injury was superficial, but Kelly was still bleeding.

“No, Lt. Commander,” Kelly said, almost defiantly, “I will be fine if I can have five minutes to
dress this.” She pointed to her shoulder. “What about you?”

T’Mur nodded to acknowledge her grit. “I am… fine. That will be all Canopis.”

=^=Affirmative. Canopis out.=^=

As Kelly moved over and pulled out her field med kit T’Mur watch the Klingon and Andorian
disappear. She knew that she was going to have to tend to her ribs as well. She moved off to
the side and unzipped her battle suit and stripped down the top half and began to wrap a
bandage around her obviously bruised area. She knew that at least two of her ribs were, at the
least, cracked.
Dogan made his way over to her and stopped short, as he realized her state of undress. “Umm,
Lt. Commander, the marines have moved position. They are preparing for a full assault of the
Xenolithe at the center of the capital city.

T’Mur shrugged her way back into her battle suit and nodded. “Then that is our next heading. I
believe we have found all of the outlying survivors. Any remaining will be out of the line of fire.”

Dogan stepped back as T’Mur stepped past him into the clearing. She looked at the four
surviving members of the team. “Okay people, we need to rendez-vous with the marines. We
are at least an hour away, so the sooner we get moving the sooner we arrive. Stay alert. We
are still in a hot zone.”

(reply Trei, Linnis, any)
(posted by Al Muir)
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
(Knight 1 – Cockpit – FSXO, Lieutenant Tempest Grey Wolf - 0137)

As the sorties continued around the city Tempest maintained operational overwatch of the
periphery and that bore fruit as she caught sight of the column 35 klicks out. Checking her
sensors for an accurate count she got tense before speaking into her comm.

“Another xenolithe column inbound, I count one hundred twenty three. 2nd Lieutenant Temerity,
Lieutenant Commander T’Mur do you read? One hundred twenty three enemy combatants
inbound. Buckle in everyone, it’s about to get hairy. They will be within weapons range in twenty
minutes.”

(Reply: Knight 1, Knight 2, T’Mur, Temerity)

“Knight 1 is moving in to begin bombardment, Knight 1 and 2 join me when you can. Knight 1
out.”

(Reply: Knight 1 and 2, any)

The fighter banked right as she began her attack run, 3 fighters weren’t going to stop all of these
xenos from getting to the operation but she was going to slow and attrit them as much as
possible.

Many energy beams began raking her shields as she turned the nose to their center, pressed
the firing stud and began to rake the formation. These xenolithe were prepared however and the
return fire was heavy as she shot through then past their line, the trail of some kind of shoulder
fired missile appeared ahead and she quickly turned hard as the nose came up, the fighter
seemed to pause for an instant before shooting away and leaving the missile in her wake.

She had to make several high G turns before the deadly weapon lost her track and she could
breathe easier. This group was prepared and going to be a hard nut to crack.

(Reply: Any)
(Posted by Charles Gatling)
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
(Knight 3 – Pilot Ensign(jg) Pihi “Kestral” Piripi - 0140)
=^=Knight 2 to Knight 3, I’ve sent you two sets of coordinates. A coordinated strike should take
that dispersion field out. I have the target to the north. You take the southern target. On my
mark=^=

“Copy that,” she said.

[Coordinates have been received] reported her computer.

=^= And … mark =^=

Pihi jinxed to the left and increased speed to the southern target. She was erratic with her flight
pattern trying to avoid the enemy fire. FIDO spoke [Shield down to 70 percent]

“More power to forward shields, prepare the torpedo’s full spread,” she said as she pulled her
fighter up. [Target in range in 10 seconds]

Pihi pushed the fighter down, “Get ready,” she said… “Knight 3, fox 2”

The microtorpedo spread leapt from her fighter. Moments later there was a satisfying explosion.

“FIDO status of the disruption field?’

[The Field is down]

She let out a shout, “Knight 1, mission complete,” she said.

The next thing she heard was the message over the comms.

=^=Another xenolithe column inbound, I count one hundred twenty three. 2nd Lieutenant
Temerity, Lieutenant Commander T’Mur do you read? One hundred twenty-three enemy
combatants inbound. Buckle in everyone, it’s about to get hairy. They will be within weapons
range in twenty minutes=^= came the call over her com channel.

“FIDO, keep an eye on those incoming combatants. See if there is any terrain we can use to our
advantage.”

[Scanning now] came the computer's voice.

With the confirmation that the field generators were no longer functioning and the dispersion
field gone she reported,

“Heading towards advancing enemies.”

(Reply Knight 1, Knight 2)
(Posted by Pippa)
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
(USS Raptor --Sickbay -- Deck 5 -- Nurse Maggie Rachet-- 0153)
So the question buzzing around sickbay was ‘Who was this Nurse Maggie’. The older
grey-haired woman tied her hair back in a tight ponytail. She wore a stern face that seemed to
lack the laugh lines that are earned from a lifetime of happiness.

She had been sent to the raptor on a temporary assignment. Normally when she was assigned
to a sickbay, it was to clean it up. It was thought to be in a state of chaos. This time she was
sent unannounced. Even Maggie did not know what she was getting herself into. She had
heard rumors that the CMO was taking less of a hands-on role and more of an administrative
role. When she boarded she hit the ground running. She did not take time to get to know the
who’s who of sickbay. Her goal was to take charge and get the work done.

She filed the official complaint with the CMO about the insulant blond doctor in sickbay. She
had apologized as she had not taken the time to learn the name.

Suddenly a text message came across her PADD.

=/\= Please me with Commander Quinna Solice in the CMO office at your earliest
convenience.=/\=

Maggie thought to herself, “Now we shall get things done.”

(Reply none)
(Posted by Kris B)
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
(Knight 2 - Cockpit - Pilot - Lt. Arthur ‘Snoopy’ Corday - 0215)

Corday had watched the initial run of White Wolf and noted the serious defenses that the Xenos
had set up in their perimeter. A serious perimeter. Tempest was still alive thanks to some fancy
flying on her part. She wisely decided to wait for some support before she made a second run.
“Knight 2 to Knight 1,” Snoopy called out, “the cavalry has arrived,”

(reply White Wolf)

“We need a coordinated effort,” he suggested. “I mean, the three of us can split their defenses
but it will still require a lot of evasive flying. This would not be a time for being cautious.”
~What I wouldn’t give for Vic to be here right now.~ He missed his flying partner, and once again
wondered why he suddenly decided to leave without a word.

(reply White Wolf, Pihi)

The three ships split as if in a formation. It made Snoopy feel better. This was the first time that
the three of them were actually flying together, in a scenario that even he had not anticipated for
his babies, and they were working as a team already. It was almost a miracle.
Snoopy banked away and dove straight for the hard deck. Explosions erupted around the ship.
When they stopped he leveled out and fired his cannons in a line across the column of Xenos.
The creatures went flying. Most of them picked themselves up and continued their march
towards the city center. They were focused, that was for sure, because none of them turned
their weapons to the sky. They already knew that was a fruitless effort. Their strength was in
their numbers.
He pulled up and twisted and turned as the ground fire from much more powerful weapons
restarted. He checked his monitor to see how the others were doing and they also were
returning to the upper atmosphere, out of the range of the fire.

(reply Pihi, Grey Wolf)
(posted by Al Muir)
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
(USS Raptor - Sickbay -- Deck 5 -- CMO/3XO Commander Quinna Solice -- 0230)

Quinna looked around sickbay. So many in and so many out. Quinna stood at the nurse’s
station filling out more reports.

“I need your medical reports. The Captain will want to be to know what is happening here.”
Nurse Maggie said.

Quinna turned and looked at the woman, “And who are you?” Quinna asked in reply.

“Just do it,” Maggie sneered and walked away.

Quinna gave the nurse a look and tossed her reports to the side. “Note self… Who is that
person?” Quinna grabbed her coffee and moved to the still-unconscious little girl. Quinna
wondered who she was and what events she had to share. She wondered if she was scared
without her mother. Suddenly a disruption came to her side.

“Excuse me, but you are not assigned here, your area is on the other side. Move it, you are on
report.” Nurse Maggie said.

“Maybe you should report me to the Chief medical officer,” Quinna replied.

“Keep that attitude up, Missy, and I will report you to the Captain himself.” Nurse Maggie
replied. She turned and walked away.

“Who hired that woman?” Quinna asked herself.

(Reply none)
(Posted by Kris B)
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
(Norkan Colony - Sector 3 - 2O/CSec/Tac - Lt Commander T’Mur - 0235)

=^=Temerity to T’Mur. Be advised we have arrived at designated coordinates as directed and
have begun preparing an evac site and fighting positions to repel siege. During movement we
encountered heavy fighting that delayed us. We have taken casualties, 3 dead, and 14
wounded.=^=

T’Mur looked at what remained of her squad and responded. “Roger that, Lieutenant. We have
had our own casualties. We are being supported by the Canopis, currently. Send your
casualties up to them. We should be with you within fifteen minutes.”

(repy Temerity)
T’Mur could feel her ribs ache with each step of their march. She put that pain to the back of
her mind and maintained her pace with the others. Moments later there was an alert on her
HUD. She widened the band of her view and saw that they were entering an area that was filled
with Xenolithe warriors. There was too many of them for such a small force as hers to even
consider an assault. Instead they all changed direction.

Rather than cut a straight line across the terrain towards the city center they wound up moving
around the buildings, staying out of sight. They moved from building to building, carefully.
There were times she had to hold the enthusiasm of certain other members of the team in
check. The four of them were not going to conquer dozens of xenolithe. So far they’d been
lucky in their encounters, and it still cost them in lives.

They were late, but they exited a broken down building and found themselves in an area that
was busy with marine activity. They had set up defensive stations around a perimeter. A group
of marines stopped and looked at them with an expression that could only be described as
flabbergasted. One them moved towards them.

T’Mur didn’t give him a chance to speak, “Where is Lt. Temerity, marine?”

He stopped and blinked, then stammered, “Ummmm….”

“Can you direct me to … ummmmm?” she asked.

“No ma’am,” he again fumbled with his words, “I mean yes ma’am, but it is not ummmm, it is the
command center, about 100 meters that direction.” He pointed past the center of the city’s
central hub.

T’Mur nodded and walked past the marine. She did not know all of the marines, nor did she
care to. She went over to command center that had been indicated to her and found Temmerity.

“Lt. Temmerity,” T’Mur said. “What’s your status?”

(reply Temerity)
(posted by Al Muir)
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
(USS Raptor - Deck 1 - Bridge - SecO/ATac- Lt. Andy Tayler- 0245)

The captain had ordered an intercept path to the Xenolithe ship. He had read the reports of
Commodore and Lt. Weston, but still, they had no idea of how this interaction was going to
happen. They had matched speed with the incoming vessel and met them half way through the
system. If things went badly they wanted to give the ground troops at the Norkan colony a
chance to find some kind defense.

“Captain, we are within hailing range of the Xenolithe ship,” he announced. “Red alert?”

(reply Sekal)

He frowned, wanting to not take any chances, but Sekal was the captain, and knew what he
was doing. The door to the turbolift hissed open and Taylor turned to see Commodore Tahlmari
and Lt. Weston step onto the bridge.
“Sweet mother of …” Tahl exhaled, seeing the ship on the screen. He hadn’t seen a Nageri in
over 40 years. Not long enough in his mind.

The two of them moved to empty stations on the bridge and began to work the controls at them,
taking sensor readings of the ship.

“There are no signs of weapons energy signature or even shields from the ship.

“You see the shields,” Tahlmari warned. “The Nageri create their own natural shielding when
attacked.

Taylor nodded and shrugged. “Well at least we’re not seeing weapons.”

“Small favors,” Weston mumbled under his breath.

“Captain?” Taylor asked what the captain wanted them to do next.

(reply Sekal)
(posted by Al Muir)
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
(USS Raptor - Deck 1 - Bridge - CO, Captain Sekal - 0246)

“Captain, we are within hailing range of the Xenolithe ship. Red alert?”

Sekal turned to Ensign Taylor with a quizzical eyebrow, the alert lamps and klaxon had been
active since he had ordered departure from the planet, perhaps the upcoming clash had so
diverted the humans attention that it had slipped his mind.

"The alert is active Ensign. What is the status of the Nageri?"

The tactical officer frowned and looked to the lift as it swished open.

“Sweet mother of …”

Sekal turned his head to the Commodore as he stared at the screen as though seeing a ghost
then fixed his attention on the Ensign again."Verify that the shields and weapons are active Mr.
Taylor."

He waited as the two ships rushed toward one another.

"Captain, weapon controls are frozen."

His head snapped toward the android. "Explanation Mr. William."

"I believe Luma has severed the controls."

Sekal didn't hesitate, his thumb came down on the intercom. "Temas Laredo to the bridge
immediately."

(Reply: Temas)
“Captain?”

""Maintain your position."

He closed his eyes as he sent out a thought to the lenai, when he opened them again she was
standing before him in her anime cat form.

(Reply: Luma)

"Luma, why have you locked out the weapons controls?"

(Reply: Luma)
(Posted by Charles Gatling)
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
(USS Raptor - Deck 5 - Counselors Office - Bondmate/Counselor - Temas Laredo - 0247)

Temas had been wandering around the bridge, trying o stay out of everyone’s way. He could
sense Luma’s dilemma building. The Nageri are sentient, feeling creatures, and he could share
her knowledge of their mistreatment, the level of which was still to be determined. She did not
want to be a willing participant in the assault of such a victim of circumstance. He had been
called to the bridge to be the liaison between Luma and the bridge, but he really had no idea
what Commander Verin really wanted him to do about it.

His thoughts were shattered by the sudden intrusion of another sensation. Commodore
Tahlmari had stepped onto the bridge and sight of the Nageri had sent his mind into a spiral of
memories and fear. The most prevalent was what appeared to be a fighter exploding and his
body burning. If that was a surface thought Temas wondered what lurked deeper in the
Commodire’s mind.

The android, William, announced that the ship’s weapons had been locked out. His calm, cold
voice stated, “I believe Luma has severed the controls.” No emotions.

“Temas Laredo to the bridge immediately,” the captain announced over the comm.

Temas looked at the Vulcan suspiciously/ ~Had he forgotten that I was here. Perhaps the
stress is showing, even on him.

“Captain,” he said as he stepped over to the command chair, “I’m already here.”

Sekal looked at him with surprise and nodded. He closed his eyes and Temas could feel him
contacting Luma.

Luma appeared, in her typical cat form, already looking somewhat defiant.

“Luma, why have you locked out weapons control?” Sekal asked.

Luma had shut Temas out of her mind. She was either trying to protect him from what she was
about to do or say, or she did not want him to influence her. Either way, it appeared she was
about to make a stand, one way or another.

(reply Luma)
(posted by Al Muir)
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
(Outside the system - Oos - 0249)

The living ship had seen them long before as the two war craft were drawn inexorably closer.
But that is not the only thing that the Nageri had sensed, they were like pinpricks of light against
a backdrop of black velvet.

Oos, like all Nageri had some short range telepathy which their oppressors used to give them
orders, orders backed by the threat of inflicted pain if their demands were not met. But threat is
a mild word when dealing with the xenolithe who's threats were more akin to impending doom
and instant obedience was required.

The pinpricks were minds, not like those within the system where many lives had been
extinguished, those had been cold and dead, completely unreadable. And not that Oos could
read their thoughts from this great of a distance but he could perceive them.

Oos knew that the oppressors would demand that these lights be extinguished which made his
already hot hate toward them burn even higher.

Indeed the command came. Not in words of intelligible speech but in an urge, an urge to draw in
energy in preparation to fire. It was an order from the oppressors which was not to be denied.

It had been a lifetime since Oos had encountered such, at his birth the minds of the pod had
been open to him, it had been as much of a revelation as being given sight to see the stars of
the interstellar void.

The xenolithe desired to destroy these points of light.

In return they got nothing but his contempt which surged into the mind of his overseer. The
shock of the other was palpable.

Oos readied himself for the inevitable and when it came there was a difference. The pain, which
had always been a fiery whip laid across his physical being had a decidedly unexpected result.

Rather than obeying, Oos' anger rose against the imperative, rose so high that it minimized it, it
didn't extinguish the pain but relegated it to a non sequitur.

The xenolithe had just made a grave error.

They had released the caged beast from its prison.

Oos would no longer obey them and inhabited though he might be...

Oos was free.

(Reply: Luma)
(Posted by Charles Gatling)
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
(USS Raptor - Deck 1 - Bridge- Bondmate/Counselor - Temas Laredo - 0250)
Temas’ eyes closed as he could feel something reaching out. Another mind. A strong mind. A
mind that was resolute. He could feel the intensity of its conviction. A conviction of defiance.

He had to probe a little but the defiance seemed to be against being told… no not told… forced
to do something it did not want to do. It did not want to… extinguish the lights. It was refusing
to extinguish the lights.

There was a struggle going on for control. Then there was a sudden release.

Laredo’s eyes shot open, “Captain… something’s happening. Something has changed. I can’t
quite get it in focus, but it’s coming from… the Nageri. The Xenolithe ship. It’s… stopped.”

(reply Sekal, Luma, any)

“The Nageri has experienced so much pain,” he said. “But it seems to have reached… for lack
of a better way of putting it, an existential crisis moment. It no longer wishes to obey the orders
of its masters.”

Taylor looked over and reported, “I can confirm that the ship has ceased all movement towards
the planet, and is no longer emitting any energy. All of its systems are neutral.”

“Yes,” Temas said, pointing at the tactical officer, “neutral. But not neutral. It's now working
against its master by not doing anything. I believe it’s risking its life by this action. We have to
help it.”

(reply Sekal, Luma, any on the bridge)
(posted by Al Muir)
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
(KNageri Oos - Control Center - Xenolithe Commander - Ch’tar 308 - 0251

A snarl ran throught the mind Ch’tar’s mind. He had brought up the control of the Nageri. He
had started the process to collect energy and divert it to the weapons systems. He had begun
to work on the calclations that would destroy every life on that new ship in the system. He had
already determined that they were… Federation.

The memory of that word sent a wave of fury through him. So long ago, they were the only
species to turn the Xenolithe swarm back. Either an act of pure genius, or sheer stupidity, led
them to a weapon of last chance. The devestation to the Nageri had been unfathomable.
There was little choice but to retreat. No species before had resisted the swarm so completely.

Now, they were on edge of that space. These… Roumlans were a tasty morsel. A prelude of
what was to come. But the swarm was not ready yet. But soon.

However, now there was a new problem. His ship… his Nageri… was no longer responding to
his commands. The order send energy the weapons was not responded to.

::What is the meaning of this? You will comply or face retribution.::

Has hand wavered over the controls to pain centers. There was no response. His hand waved
over the control and the hum of energy went through the ship directly to the pains centers of the
Nageri.
A squeal released in his mind as he felt Oos writhe in agony. But he could also feel the
resolution of the Nageri. Its own well being was no longer a threat. He could feel that. But he
did not release the pain. Ch’tar was enjoying to much. But he did send a message to Oos. It
was an image. Oos had progeny. The image he sent was a promise. The progeny of Oos was
his next ship.

(reply Oos, any)
(posted by Al Muir)
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
(Outside Norkan Space- Oos - 0252)

Pain, searing waves of agony, threats to Oos' offspring. All part of the package, all expected.
The Nageri was pushed to the threshold then through.

But not to capitulation, no, to action.

Oos opened himself to the radiant energy of interstellar space, far more than was needed for
propulsion as he slowed to a stop and held his position in space. His attention on what was
outside vanished as he looked inward while his rage built.

With such energy reserves he could destroy himself and all aboard, stop them from their
depredations but that wasn't his intent. No, resistance was his intent.

And then there was the very energy which was being used to torment him, it couldn't be
controlled as it came from an outside source but that was not an issue. It had a weakness, it
could be overcome... if he had the power...he hoped.

The ship shuddered, the xenolithe struggling to keep their feet as he gathered his energy.

It has been noted that Oos was not a strong telepath, natively he didn't have the power the fight
back against the commands of his tormentors but what could he channel through the link if fully
powered and beyond.

::Commander! The buildup of energy is immense.::

The xenolithe looked toward his commander and was shocked by what he saw. The slack
mandibulates, the eyes glazed with horror an instant before.

The ship heaved and many things happened at once, the panel the commander was manning
arced from a tremendous surge as the xenolithe commander gave a shriek and was hurled
across the control room with great force to crack horribly against the edge of another panel. The
lights dimmed ... and

The xenolithe who had witnessed this felt something at the edge of his conciousness. He looked
about the room, his mind connecting with the others there who all felt it.

It was grim, it was dark ... it was hatred, seething hatred. Now unbound.

And they knew fear.
(Reply: Luma)
(Posted by Charles Gatling)
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
(USS Raptor - Deck 1 - Bridge - CO, Captain Sekal - 0255)

An extraordinary situation had unfolded on the bridge of the starship. The Nageri, xenolithe ship
was motionless in space at extreme weapons range and showing no sign of attacking while
Luma had refused up to this point to allow the use of the ship's weaponry. The shields were at
100% so protection was not lacking however their ability to attack the xenolithe ship was absent.

As the vulcan sat in the center seat it occurred to him that illogical though the situation might be
it was working to their advantage. Luma stood before the command chair turned in his direction
but was not looking at him nor did she appear to be in contact with her mind bondmate. Was
she possibly in discussion with the Nageri? He could and would investigate this possibility
however his first order of business lay in another direction.

"Mister William, open a channel to StarFleet Command, Commodore Remae."

"Aye sir." The android did so. "No interference from the xenolithe sir, channel is open."

The vulcan looked from the purple furred, anime cat standing before him to the main viewer
then rose from the chair as the image of the Bajoran came into form.

"Commodore."

(Reply: Remae)

Sekal gave him a nod, a silent signal that something unusual was afoot. "An emergency trauma
and rescue team was left at the Norkan colony with a heavy security presence to protect
operations while the Raptor moved out of the system to intercept a xenolithe ship which we
believe to be returning to resupply or extract their remaining elements within the system.

 When we arrived, as per my earlier reports we found that multiple ships had attacked and
largely destroyed the colony and its outposts but had since withdrawn. A marine company and
our Void/Sphinx fighters are providing security for the emergency teams.

The USS Canopis arrived early and is in orbit around the colony with the USS Berang due
within hours."

(Reply: Remae)

The movement of the Vulcan's head and his quirked eyebrow gave notice of the strange nature
of the coming report. "We are monitoring it now Commodore. Mr. William send Commodore
Remae our video feed."

"Yes sir."

As the video of the motionless ship came before Remae's eyes the CO spoke. "The Xenolithe
ship has been motionless for four minutes and twenty three seconds and has made no move to
attack. The Raptor has full shields and is monitoring it while Luma'lenai is in contact with the
Nageri. What conditions might arise from this is currently unknown but if it is possible to assist
the Nageri while subverting the xenolithe's plans we will do so."

(Reply: Remae, any)
(Posted by Charles Gatling)
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
(NorKan Colony – Downtown District - Marine - 2LT Charles Temerity - 0310)

Temerity and the rest of the Raptor’s Marine compliment dubbed the Myrmidons spent the last
few hours uprooted themselves from a defensive position on the outskirts of the southwest
portion of the city, as ordered by Captain Sekal, to relocate and set up a new defensible position
in the Downtown district of the city to prepare an evacuation site and prepare to repel a siege.
Due to heavy fighting while relocating, the movement took longer than originally expected.
Charles learned much from the Marines that had been in similar situations with similarly sized
elements if not larger. Oddly enough, Temerity was the only one to have any experience as a
defender under siege, all the other Myrmidons had experience as the aggressor.

Once they arrived at the designated coordinates S’Ila, Erco, and Meyers with the assistance of
the senior Non-Commissioned Officers began planning and laying out the various fighting
positions.

Once Charles got the casualty report by-name, he tapped his earpiece and began speaking,
“Temerity to T’Mur. Be advised we have arrived at designated coordinates as directed and have
begun preparing an evac site and fighting positions to repel siege. During movement we
encountered heavy fighting that delayed us. We have taken casualties, 3 dead, and 14
wounded.”

(Reply: T’Mur, Any)

(Reply: T’Mur, Any)
(Posted By: Charles Raschen)
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
(Norkan Colony - Sector 3 - 2O/CSec/Tac - Lt Commander T’Mur - 0330)

There had been small skirmishes of xenolithe, testing the defenses set up by the marines. The
marines easily repelled them, but T’Mur could see the pattern of their movememts. It was like
the tide of an ocean coming in in waves. They would come in, then move back. Then come in
with more numbers, then move back and a smaller skirmish. Each subsequent incursion would
come with greater enforcement and more vigorous.

She could almost sense the swelling of the next xenolithe attack. There was a sense of tension
in the air, not created by anything but the anticipation of the next wave. T’Mur knew that this
would be the all out blitz that they had been waiting for. She just hoped that their efforts would
hold them off.

She winced slightly as she walked around the command center. The throb of her ribs became
more insistent and more difficult to ignore. At times it took her full concentration to moe the pain
to a box in her mind and keep it closed. Looking up she saw Dogan watching her through slitted
eyes. He knew better than to speak his concern.
Suddenly there was a noise. It wasn’t a sound, per se, but a presence that presented itself as if
it were a sound. And it grew louder as each moment passed. T’Mur stepped out of the
command center and her team moved to her. The marines had become notably tense, Then it
happened.

Wave after wave of xenolithe broke into the city center. Their mere presence created a roar,
and their movement over the ground created tremors.

The marines responded with a war cry and began to fire their weapons into the wave. Some
had heavy energy weapons, which were proving to be, unsurprisingly, less than successful.
However, many of them had the high powered projectile weapons that Temerity had shown to
T’Mur. The projectiles ripped through the xenolithe. There some working as a team with a large
gun that rapidly fired large calibur projectiles. These were the most effective, but their range
was limited. However, each bullet that struck eliminated a xenolithe. However, hitting them was
not such an easy task.

As the began to cross the open ground another sound came from overhead and behind them.
The three fighters flew over them and began firing into incoming swarm. The ground in front of
the xenolithe exploded and stalled with wave of the swarm. But once the ships passed the
creatures began their forward movement again.

Slowly but surely the numbers dwindled, but their forward motion continued. Each pass of the
fighters only served to slow them down. But their energy weapons were not enough to kill them.
Those who were wounded only rose to continue their march, like zombies. True cannon fodder.

It was only a matter of time, but eventually the xenolithe wave broke past the outer dewfenses
and large cannons. The creatures cut a swathe through those marines. A middle layer of
marines fired continuously, tking care of their shots. They had killed more than half of the
remaining xenolithe before it was evident that there would still be enough of them to resort to
hand to hand fighting.

T’Mur looked over at Temerity knowing that his wish to not have to go to this was not going to
come true. She stretched her shoulders and drew her battle swords. Dogan stood tall,
pounding one fist into the palm of his other hand, threateningly. Trei was already arcing her
bat’leth in preparation for the fight. Kelly Long had picked up an automatic projectile weapon
and looked over at T’Mur with a wicked smile on her face. Carol Linnis had prepared herself in
a similar manner.

The fighters made one final pass, firing into the back line of the xenolithe. They dropped their
last torpedos and a row of Xenolithe exploded sending them flying in all directions, many in
pieces. But that was it for the air support. The enemy was too close to the main Federation
ground forces. Now all they could do is go out looking for stragglers, and the Xenolithe did not
seem like the straggler type.

When the hand to hand combat was imminent T’Mur stretched her shoulders, focused her mind
and brandishing her blades moved over to a flank that had been created by the marine fire.

Dogan was less subtle. He ran straight into the middle of a pack, bowling them over like pins.
He grabbed one of the fallen by the ankle and began to swing it like a club against its own
forces.
Long had become quite adept at picking off single Xenos with her rifle. The shots ran true as
clean head shots. T’Mur lost track of the others as she began to dive between pairs of attacking
Xenolithe and slicing into their leg joints. Then she’d return to drive a blade into their neck joints.

Many of the marines joined into the hand to hand combat. The battle waged for what seemed
an eternity, but when T’Mur checked her mental clock it had really only been 23 minutes.
Twenty-three minutes of continuous fight and killing.

After that she realized that there were no more of the creatures remaining alive nearby. As she
scanned the area all of the Xenos in the area were dead. A few dozen had discontinued the
fight and seemingly had gone to find a place to hide.

T’Mur opened her comm line. “T’Mur to Temerity, we cannot let the remaining Xenolithe escape.
They will continue to be a threat while they live.”

(reply Temmerity)

T’Mur stood up and listened to her back creak as she stretched. She limped her way over
dozens of dead bodies and found a seat at the command center. Dogan was soon by her side.
His uniform was tattered and he sported a few more scrapes. Long was next. She looked
exhausted and her left eye was swollen shut. Her right arm had an open wound that seeped
blood.

“Lt. Trei, Chief Linnis, report in,” she called into her comm.

(reply Trei, Linnis, Temmerity)
(posted by Al Muir)
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
(Norkan Colony - Sector 3 - Marine - 2LT Charles Temerity - 0335)

=^= Roger that, Lieutenant. We have had our own casualties. We are being supported by the
Canopis, currently. Send your casualties up to them. We should be with you within fifteen
minutes. =^=

“That is going to be a problem. Something about this area is affecting transporters and our
enhancers got damaged on our trek to this location. We are going to have to evacuate the old
fashion way. We have a clearing inside our perimeter for one to two craft depending on size. I’ll
give you the really bad news when you get here. Temerity out.”

Several minutes later, as Charles was giving orders to redirect fire to several weapons
placements, he heard a familiar voice behind him, “Lt. Temerity,” T’Mur said. “What’s your
status?”

We have been under constant attack by intermittent heavy waves of Xenolithe. We have
suffered heavy casualties.” He noticed her movements and how she held her side at the ribs, as
he continued, “Wounded are being moved to the center and we are short handed on the
perimeter. As for comms, we’re only able to get in contact with units already on the ground.”

(Reply: T’Mur, Any iyw)
Temerity paused a moment before continuing his report. “We need to evacuate everyone.
Wounded and kids first followed by adult refugees and fleet personnel. Marines are out last.”
Charles then stared T’Mur in the eyes and stated, “That is fleet SOP and is NOT up for
discussion, debate, or you pulling rank.”

(Reply: T’Mur, Any iyw)

Temerity grabbed a random Petty Officer by the arm and gave a knife-hand gesture toward the
PO’s face and ordered him, “You will ensure she is evacuated out of here, if not with the
wounded than last of the Starfleet personnel at the latest. If you don’t, I personally will put my
boot so far up your ass, you’ll be tasting the dirt of this planet for the rest of your days. Got it?”

When the Petty Officer nodded, Temerity turned back to T’Mur, didn’t say or wait for anything to
be said before he stormed off to return to the perimeter. On his way, S’Ila informed him that the
Xenolithes are have pulled back again. “That means they are preparing for another charge.”
Charles said as he pulled out his twin Bowie-knives.

Shortly thereafter, the battle began and quickly turned into hand-to-hand combat. Roughly thirty
of the longest minutes of his life, the battle was over and the enemy was in retreat.

=^= T’Mur to Temerity, we cannot let the remaining Xenolithe escape. They will continue to be a
threat while they live. =^=

Letting out a sigh of frustration, he tapped his earbud, “Commander, I do not need to be
micromanaged. You do not have enough fleet security personnel to provide cover for the
evacuation. Only once the evacuation is complete, and not before, then we Marines will
decimate the Xenolithes and be evacuated ourselves. Out.” He cut the channel because he
wasn’t up to discuss the matter or deal with her Vulcan superiority complex. He just wanted to
get this over with and get gone.

(Reply: T’Mur iyw)

T'Mur had not been shy about showing her disapproval of having a Marine contingent on the
ship, and in a way, he couldn’t blame her. Most of the Illuminar’s crew disliked having the
Marines aboard. In the Federation military, Starfleet is the older sibling to the Marines. The
problem is the older sibling always demanded respect from and priority over the younger sibling.
The sad truth that no one in Starfleet really wanted to admit aloud is that Marines did have a
vital role in the safety and security of the Federation. Bloody and vulgar it may be, but vital
nonetheless.

After a few hours, apart from the Marines and a few uninjured Starfleet personnel, the
evacuation was complete and then a report from one of the Marine tracking scouts came in. =^=
The enemy has reformed and is returning to point “Alamo”. We are approximately 15-mikes
ahead of them. Over. =^=

“Fantastic fellas, as soon as you get back, let me know, then get your asses into position for
evac. Copy?” Charles said as explosives were prepared for remote detonation. All he heard
from the scout leader was =^= Copy That, Sir. =^=

Once the last of the Marines had been lifted from the planet, either by shuttle or transporter, now
that they had gotten some transport signal enhancers, Charles was the last in position. He held
the triggering device in his hand for the explosives they had placed and the area while the rest
of the refugees and wounded had been evacuated. He could see the horde of Xenolithes
coming up the hill. The moment he felt the transporter beam around him, he squeezed the
button setting off a chain of explosives that destroyed everything within 500-meters.

(Reply: T’Mur, Any iyw)
(Posted By: Charles Raschen)
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
(USS Raptor -- Sickbay Chief Medical Officer Office -- Deck 5 -- CMO/3O Commander Quinna
Solice and Nurse Maggie Ratchet -- 0800)

Quinna sat quietly in the CMO office. Everything was at a manageable point and it was time to
write reports. Even more, it was time to meet with Nurse Maggie. Quinna had a long list of
complaints against her. Most severe was when she dictated orders in the name of Quinna. The
strange thing was, Quinna never met with Nurse Maggie before and she knew if Stev met with
the nurse, he would have told her.

Quinna looked up Nurse Maggie’s record. She had a reputation for going into sickbays around
the fleet and ‘fixing’ them. But this time, Nurse Maggie seemed less than professional. The
door to the CMO office opened. “What are you doing here? This office is for the Chief Medical
Officer.”

You see at this point, Quinna was sitting in a chair on the guest side of the desk, “Well as it so
happens, I have a meeting. And you are just in time.”

“So I assume you will be addressed for your insubordination to me. I heard you tell the other
nurse that she did not have to fill out the new forms. I have you know that the Chief Medical
Officer is the one that put them in place.” Maggie said with a prideful tone.

“But you have not met the Chief Medical Officer, have you?” Quinna commented as she picked
up her coffee and took a drink.

“How dare you question me, what makes you think I have not met the CMO?” Maggie
questioned accusingly.

“Nurse Rachet, sit down, you are to officially meet the Chief Medical Officer,” Quinna said in a
calm yet authoritative tone.

Maggie’s eyes stared at Quinna, “I have already met here.”

In a way, Quinna knew Maggie was right. “You know, I have to agree with you, you have met
the Chief Medical Officer.” Then Quinna thought she would do something that would make
Nurse Maggie’s Day. “Computer, where is the chief medical officer.”

“Commander Quinna Solice is in the Chief Medical Officer’s office” the Computer replies.

“You see Nurse Maggie, I am the Chief Medical officer. You should have done your homework, I
have done mine.”

Maggie grew silent for a moment, “Really, now this should be interesting.” Maggie then took a
seat on the same side of the desk as Quinna.
“You were once Starfleet’s fixer. You were sent into chaotic sickbays and restructured them.”
Quinna started.

Maggie beamed with pride, “I am better than all of you. I know how things work.”

Quinna corrected her. “You know how you want things to work, and in the past you have been
stellar in your work, working with medical teams instead of dictating to them. Well, that is until 2
years ago when you had been relieved of that duty.”

Maggie’s face started to change.

“Your enthusiasm seemed to turn chaotic yourself. You went from working to demanding. You
not only put the medical teams on the report, and let's say that certain unethical things
happened.” Quinna continued.

“Those items are not to be known,” Maggie said. But that part remained unresponded to.

Quinna continued, “You are no longer Starfleet Medical, but you retain a Starfleet commission.
My first instinct was Starfleet intelligence, but that did not fit. My sources say no. Then maybe
section 31 but again, no. You are part of a covert department. Like section 31 used to be but
they are too exposed now. Operatives are known.”

“You are a little conspiracy freak aren’t you?” Maggie replied.

“Whoever you are and whatever you do, you are getting off this ship. No more creating Chaos
where there is none. No more screwing up my sickbay. When you leave these doors, there will
be security officers that will escort you to your quarters where you will remain until we can send
you on your way. I trust that you would like me to not speak of your indiscretion to anyone.”
Quinna asked.

“I would be grateful that you do not. You were never supposed to know how much you do. You
could get us both into trouble.” Maggie stood. “I would say this was a pleasure.”

“Oh one more thing before you leave, I want your database entries for my medical records,”
Quinna said.

(Reply None)
(Posted by Kris B)
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>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
End Compile