compile summary -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stardate: 2408.07.27 (Tch'Kair orbit - Orbital station - Waste Reclamation Facility - Tch'Kairn Slave Nor'hath - 1811) (Tch'Kair orbit - Orbital station - Waste Reclamation Facility - ATAC Ensign (jg) Lo'ren T'Vof - 1811.5) (Tch'Kair orbit - Orbital station - Waste Reclamation Facility - ACEO Ensign (jg) Eoin Mac Liam- 18:12) (Tch'Kair orbit - Orbital station - Science Sections - ACEO Ensign (jg) Eoin Mac Liam - 18:20) (Tch'Kair orbit - Orbital station - Science Sections - ATAC Ensign (jg) Lo'ren T'Vof - 1826) (Tch'Kair orbit - Orbital station - Science Sections - ACEO Ensign (jg) Eoin Mac Liam - 18:27) (Tch'Kair orbit - Orbital station - Science Sections - ATAC Ensign (jg) Lo'ren T'Vof - 1848.5) (Tch'Kair'n orbit, Orbital station, Meeting Room, Waagoshin Commander Alpha 1, 18:50) (Tch'Kair'n orbit, Orbital station, Meeting Room, FO Commander Eva Straton, 18:52) (Tch'Kair'n orbit, Orbital Station, Planetary Science Section, ACSO Ensign (JG) Kenneth McKenzie, 18:52.5 hours) (Tch'Kair'n orbit, Orbital station, Command Center, Waagoshin Commander Alpha 1,18:53) (Tch'Kair orbit, Orbital station, Medical deck, Alpha 10, Krega, 1853.2) (Tch'Kair'n orbit, Orbital Station, Planetary Science Section, ATAC Ensign (jg) Lo'ren T'Vof, 18:53.5 hours) (Tch'Kair'n orbit, Orbital Station, Planetary Science Section, ACSO Ensign (JG) Kenneth McKenzie, 18:54 hours) (Tch'Kair orbit - Orbital station - Planetary Science Section - ACEO Ensign (jg) Eoin Mac Liam - 18:55) (USS Hades- Bridge -CSO Jericho Haynes- 1858) (Tch'Kair orbit, Orbital station, Medical Deck, COUNS Ensign Anamitra Ripley, 1901) (Tch'Kair orbit - Orbital station - Planetary Science Section- Waagoshin Escort- Knars- 1902) (Tch'Kair orbit - Orbital station - Planetary Science Section- ATAC Ensign(jg) Lo'ren T'Vof - 1902.5) (Tch'Kair orbit, Orbital station, Planetary Science Section, ACSO Ensign (JG) Kenneth McKenzie, 19:03 hours.) (USS Hades, Transporter Room, aCO Commander Eva Straton, 19:05) (USS Hades, Transporter Room, ATAC Ensign (jg) Lo'ren T'Vof, 19:05.5) (Tch'Kair'n orbit, Orbital station, Command Center, Waagoshin Commander Alpha 1, 1906.5) (USS Hades- Bridge -aCTAC/ CSEC Lieutenant Baylon Trinin- 1908) (USS Hades- Bridge -CSO Jericho Haynes- 1908.5) (USS Hades- Bridge -aTac/CSEC- Lieutenant Baylon Trinin- 1909) (USS Hades, Bridge, aCO Commander Eva Straton, 19:10) (USS Hades - Sickbay - Dr. Chase O'Neil - 1911) (Graelridge-Holding Area -CMO Angeni O. Windsong-Trommashere- 1912) (Graelridge-Holding Area -aCEO Lieutenant Darla Wright- 1915) (Graelridge-Holding Area -CMO Angeni O. Windsong-Trommashere- 1917) (Graelridge- Medical Area -aCEO Lieutenant Darla Wright- 1925) (Graelridge- Medical Area- CMO Angeni O. Windsong-Trommashere- 1926) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- begin compile Stardate: 2408.07.27 (Tch'Kair orbit - Orbital station - Waste Reclamation Facility - Tch'Kairn Slave Nor'hath - 1811) Nor'hath was about to go back to work, when she spotted the female turning back towards her again. ~Great cycles, what now!~ she thought with a little irritation. The being approached to within just a few short notoks of her and then made a very bizarre gesture that almost reminded Nor'hath of the traditional Tch'Kairn greeting of universal friendship and peace. "My apologies, I intended no disrespect just now. I am a passionate person and to see fellow sentient beings in a position such as yours and such as I once experienced causes me much alarm and anger. Please, be assured that my anger is not directed at you but at those who would presume their dominance." she then explained. A sense of concern suddenly swept through her and Nor'hath stepped rapidly forward, she placed bother her manipulators on the female's shoulders and gently forced her arms back down to her side. Nor'hath could tell that she was very strong for a non Tch'Kairn, who could lift nine times their body weight if they chose to. "Please do not show deference to me. If Knars should see..." she pleaded. "My scanning and recording device will record our conversation adequately without being opened. I will speak in my own language and you will hear yours because of the translation matrix embedded in that device and this one."Lo'ren pointed to a shiny badge worn on her chest in reference to 'this one'. "I understand, " Nor'hath said, "I was a merchant, I know about translators." she continued. "Please, tell me what you can. I will listen to anything you might be able to say to me." the female pressed. ~On again to the subject of the message then?~ Nor'hath thought, but spoke quickly and clearly. "I know nothing of this message that you speak of, and I daresay neither do the long-snouts. Our communications systems from before the war are of a fractal type, but they have not been in use since the long-snouts came here and invaded us." Nor'hath swiveled two of her eyes towards the Waagoshin overseer here. Soon Knars would grow bored of the place and order them all back to work. "There are rumors of a resistance however. I personally know nothing of them. Go now, leave me in peace before the Waagoshin see us talking thus." ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Tch'Kair orbit - Orbital station - Waste Reclamation Facility - ATAC Ensign (jg) Lo'ren T'Vof - 1811.5) The Tch'kairn made a quick move that forced her hands down to her sides. The abrupt way it happened cause Lo'ren to catch a glimps of fear from the contact before she was able to block anything else that came. ~Better keep your guards up, Bird.~ The bug-alien spoke quickly and matter-of-factly "I know nothing of this message that you speak of, and I daresay neither do the long-snouts. Our communications systems from before the war are of a fractal type, but they have not been in use since the long-snouts came here and invaded us." Lo'ren nodded at this explanation and took away the added information that the Waagoshin didn't like deference shown to any but themselves. She nodded at the larger sentient to continue. Nor'hath swiveled two of her eyes towards the Waagoshin overseer here."There are rumors of a resistance however. I personally know nothing of them. Go now, leave me in peace before the Waagoshin see us talking thus." Lo'ren nodded, "Thank you for your time. You have been most helpful." She turned and walked away just as Knars took his head out of the venting and barked for the group to leave. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Tch'Kair orbit - Orbital station - Waste Reclamation Facility - ACEO Ensign (jg) Eoin Mac Liam- 18:12) "Xaxora, the Nilgik slave I was talking to, told me that the Waagoshin are going to most likely make a move against the Hades. She also implied that they may try invading the Federation. We need to report this to Commander Straton immediately. Also, if this is true, I've got an idea of something we can do to bend this situation to our will." Lo'ren looked a bit surprised at Eoin's seeming ease at revealing this information that the Waagoshin obviously wanted to keep hidden. He nodded his head slightly towards Knars, still deafened by the sounds of his air recycler. Lo'ren then spoke to Eoin. "Commander Straton is well aware of the behaviours of the Waagoshin, Mr. Mac Liam. I suspect she's aware of much more than that as well." She deliberately put stresses on using Eoin's surname and the words suspect and more. "Yes, I understand that the commander is meeting with a higher-up, but they're no more likely to reveal anything than Knars and his underlings here are." His mild confusion regarding her cryptic statement gave her cause to explain just a little. "The Niglik and I seem to share a particular talent. My contact and I connected very well." All of a sudden, like the sun rising over the mouth of the river near his home, Lo'ren's hidden message dawned on him, with all the brilliance associated with both the idea of the link between the two of them and the cryptic meaning, which in retrospect, shouldn't have been too hard to figure out. "Ah, I see, you've kept an open telepathic link with Commander Straton this whole time. Brilliant once again, Lo'ren," he said, beaming and clapping her on the shoulder. She nodded, "Yes, that's correct. I have a full base of communications for the Niglik." Lo'ren now addressed the team as a group. "Has anyone taken time to address the Tch'kairn?" Eoin shook his head, saying, "No, I haven't. Unfortunately, I didn't see any Tch'kairn in this area. I suppose we may run into them later on, though." (reply Lo'ren, room for more) Just at that very moment, Knars decided to surface from his air recycler indulgence. "This portion of the tour is now over!" he said loudly. "Workers will return to work now!" Eoin nodded in the direction of the Nilgik slaves, as a sort of silent thank you for their help. But it was lost on them, as they were already scurrying around, going back to work. "Come I have orders to show you some of the science areas as well. I tire of being here." Eoin smiled. "Not that I blame you. The stink would keep me away as well." As they began to file out of the Waste Reclamation facility, Eoin whispered into Lo'ren's ear. "When we get another quiet moment alone, let me tell you about the idea I had for a trump card." ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Tch'Kair orbit - Orbital station - Science Sections - ACEO Ensign (jg) Eoin Mac Liam - 18:20) Eoin followed Knars, looking around, noting different system interfaces, hoping that he'd know enough about their systems to use them to the Hades' advantage, should the need arise. The party stopped once again, and Eoin saw they were in some sort of laboratory. "This is the Botanical sciences area. These...sl...scientists record a variety of data on plants from the planet below. Many drugs, poisons and foods have been discovered in this way. There is also work being done to increase the productivity of luxury foodstuffs as well as staple foods here. In this manner we can see to it that we can feed all the population of this planet." Eoin tapped a few more buttons on his PADD, and muttered, "Creidim go riar siad go maith go leor roimh tháinig sibh anseo, sibh tuillí beag."* Lo'ren spoke to Knars about the place they were now in. "So, have they discovered any new foods unknown before your ships arrived?" (reply Knars) She nodded, "I see, anything suitable for consumption by the Tch'kairn or Nigliks?" (reply Knars) She nodded again, keeping her reactions very close and guarded. Lo'ren decided to test her luck again with some interaction, though nothing on as grand a scale as the Waste Reclamation Centre. "Would we be able to observe some of the work close up? I'm sure the methodology would be interesting to our scientists back home and I can see that Mr. McKenzie here is interested also." "I would be interested as well. These look like very interesting systems. I may not be a scientist, but I would be a poor engineer if I didn't know my way around the laboratory." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Tch'Kair orbit - Orbital station - Science Sections - ATAC Ensign (jg) Lo'ren T'Vof - 1826) Lo'ren looked around politely and made a few attempts to address theTch'kairn scientists, though nothing so bold as she'd done in the WRC. Shequickly became assured that they would not speak to her and that Knars' -benevolence - before had been a one-off thing. Eoin and Kenny looked andscanned and generally behaved as they ought. Lo'ren wasn't a scientist, andthough she could jerry-rig a few things engineering-wise, she was noengineer and so she left the fun to them. What she was was a tactical animal, and the numbers were alarming -tactically speaking. She'd come to understand from her brief contact withthe workers in the WRC that the Tch'kairn were peaceful to the point ofnon-violence. Lo'ren had a bad feeling that there were more dogs about thannormal... plus the escort of Knars and the Three Stooges. She didn't likeit, and hadn't for a while. She felt Jack in the back of her mind, and hewas of a like mood to her own - perhaps a reaction to her emotions runninghigh or something he was seeing himself - Lo'ren kicked herself again,wishing they had a fuller connection rather than this fuzzy emotionalthread. Lo'ren continued to observe and take mental notes about everything, stayingsomewhat close to Eoin without making it so they got in the way of the workbeing done. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Tch'Kair orbit - Orbital station - Science Sections - ACEO Ensign (jg) Eoin Mac Liam - 18:27) "I would be interested as well. These look like very interesting systems. I may not be a scientist, but I would be a poor engineer if I didn't know my way around the laboratory." Knars turned slowly to regard Eoin, looking at him in a strange manner. Eoin couldn't figure out exactly how he was being regarded, but he didn't like it. He shifted his weight from his left to his right foot. "Very well." Knars said with a slight bark. "You may observe, but do not disturb the workers, do not touch their machines and do not get in the way!" he added with a slight growl. "Thank you, sir." Eoin nodded his head slightly, and walked around, scanning with his tricorder. When Knars wasn't looking, he tried talking to a one of the "scientists." "Listen, I know what's going on. Some of the Nilgiks told me what was happening. But I've got an idea, if you would like to help me out --" At that point, without even looking up from their work, the Tch'Kairn slave lifted up one of its hands in a gesture Eoin didn't know off the top of his head, but more or less translated as a dismissive "leave me alone." Eoin couldn't argue with that. He just shrugged his shoulders and continued scanning. After a few more minutes, he started back towards Knars and the entrance. He clandestinely pressed a few more buttons on his tricorder, translating the information into Welsh, a language he was absolutely sure none of the Waagoshin had any knowledge of. Speaking in a low voice that Knars couldn't hear, let alone understand, Eoin spoke the command "Achub gwybodaeth at ffeilia Mac Liam 'n saith 'n naw Alpha."* Though he had not yet gotten the go-ahead on the virus, Eoin still kept the idea on the back burner, just in case. He looked up at Knars, and smiled. "I've got all I need here. Thank you for the opportunity." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Tch'Kair orbit - Orbital station - Science Sections - ATAC Ensign (jg) Lo'ren T'Vof - 1848.5) Knars informed them when it was time to move on and Lo'ren fell into step.They didn't journey far and Lo'ren quickly scanned the new room, as was her habit. What looked like a massive window dominated the far wall, but it had text and symbols floating across it. ~More likely a wall.~ Her hackles rose as she came to the conclusion that they'd walked into a trap. There were no exits other than the one they'd come in by and Knars was in the way. The central console was quite intriguing and Lo'ren made a couple of attempts at operating it, but it was dead to her touch. ~Perhaps it is keyed to DNA or a particular code word or voice.~ She mused as she walked closer to the wall, gazing at the beautiful planet. The Stooges came closer and Lo'ren moved away from them and back towards Eoin ane Kenny. As she turned away Knars' communications device blipped and moments later the commotion started. Several growling yips came from near the wall behind her and Adam's strangled cry, coupled with the sharp tang of iron-rich blood. Before she could even turn she knew Adams had died.~Ti'Amah!~ Lo'ren had her phaser out and was going to retaliate when the doors slid aside, admitting a pack large enough to rend all three of them without so much as breaking a sweat. Her face momentarily became a mask of rage before she decided that they were still alive and a fight to the death - no matter how much she wanted to tear out the hearts of every single Waagoshin - would do little good. She moved slowly over to her fellow officers and grabbed their hands, pulling them away from any instruments they were reaching for. She did something that under normal circumstances would be considered an attack on the pair of them. ::Be calm,:: Lo'ren projected her message quickly before letting go, ::We are alive and they outnumber us too greatly. A resistance movement sent the fractal message.:: She hoped that was enough information to keep them from making any stupid mistakes. "Hold your fire, gentlemen." Lo'ren's voice was ice cold and authoritative. Inside she was imagining Knars ripped up and her hands the ones to do it. She stared at her imagined victim. "You are mine" she said simply, a growl emanating from deep in her throat. She let him take her meaning any way he would. If he tried to attack, she would have excuse to kill, if he ignored it or took it another way, she would keep her promise for later or have a different excuse to kill. She would not be a slave again and the primal Vulcan, the pre-logic Vulcan within her was raising its ugly emotional dangerous head. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Tch'Kair'n orbit, Orbital station, Meeting Room, Waagoshin Commander Alpha 1, 18:50) Alpha 1 was now visibly relaxed as he faced the alien pair, after they had come to an agreement on proper protocol things had gone much more smoothly. Straton wasn't relaxed at all however as befitted one of a warrior race, she was edgy and suspicious when this had started and remained so. ~Vigilance is always warranted when encountering an unknown, it had been far easier to surprise the peaceful races such as the Tch'kairn and Nilgiks who looked for allies and cooperation. This race has known war and conquered their fair share, that much is certain.~ A blinking red light on the table before him caught the Waagoshin commander's attention, he kept his ears aloft with barely a twitch as the fruition of his plans was beginning to manifest. He turned his attention lazily back to Straton and her escort. "My pardon but something of importance has come up." (Reply: Eva, Walsh) Pressing a button he spoke. "What is it Kronty?" =^= The shipment of Begothin is readied Commander, they are standing by and awaiting your approval before sending it.=^= "Very good." His lips curled a bit in satisfaction. "If you will pardon me for a moment Commander I have an item of business to attend to in the command center." Alpha 1 rose from his seat. "I will be only a moment, in the meantime my sixth will see to your comfort." ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Tch'Kair'n orbit, Orbital station, Meeting Room, FO Commander Eva Straton, 18:52) "My pardon but something of importance has come up," Alpha 1 said as a light began to blink on the table in front of him. "Of course," Eva said, with a slight nod. She listened carefully to the exchange between Alpha 1 and his subordinate taking the opportunity to look around the room. "If you will pardon me for a moment Commander I have an item of business to attend to in the command center." Alpha 1 said as he rose from his seat. "I will be only a moment, in the meantime my sixth will see to your comfort." Eva simply nodded as Alpha 1 turned and exited the room. She easily picked up his sense of gloating as he left and knew that things were about to change very drastically. ::Be on guard, something is about the happen,:: She sent to Walsh still standing a few feet away from her. ::I will keep the guards in the room occupied. You prevent their reinforcements from gaining access to the room.:: (Reply Walsh) Lowering her shields a bit more she was able to pick up the increased sense of anticipation in the guards in the room and the growing blood lust. They were only waiting for the signal to attack. She silently moved one hand to her phaser, the other she moved to the combat knife she had hidden at her waist, but did not draw it...yet. When the light on the sixth's rod like weapon started to flash and he curled his lips back from his fangs, Eva knew they were about to attack. She fired first. Her shot hitting the Sixth clean in the chest sending him flying backward. With a quick flick of her wrist she sent her combat knife at the next closest guard burying it's razor sharp blade deep into histhroat. She was out of her seat before her knife had even reach it's target firing at her third and fourth targets. The fourth guard managed to dodge to the side and only took a grazing shot. ~They are fast bastards.~ Eva thought. Firing again and again while not standing still long enough to let the Waagoshin's get a good shot at her. With her free hand she flung a chair at one the guards still standing, ruining the shot he was preparing to take at Ensign Walsh. While she fired again at the one who had managed to dodge her last shot this time catching him in the face. She noted that the door had opened and more guards were trying to pour into the room but Walsh was keeping them at bay with a blistering barrage of phaser fire. ~He won't be able to keep that up for long.~ Eva knew as she started firing at the last standing guard in the room and taking him out after a couple of near misses. ::Commander Straton, The Waagoshin just kidnapped the Captain, CEO and CMO. They tried to take the bridge, we have dead here.:: Lt. Trinin voice sounded in her mind suddenly. ::Emergency beam out now! Get the Away Team back on board now!::Eva replied, even as she spun on the door Alpha 1 had exited through and opened fire on the guards trying to pour through. Seconds later Eva felt the familiar tingle of the transporter beam grab hold of her as they were beamed off the Waagoshin station. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Tch'Kair'n orbit, Orbital Station, Planetary Science Section, ACSO Ensign (JG) Kenneth McKenzie, 18:52.5 hours) Kenny walked into the new room with his team and looked around. They had been told that this was the Planetary Science Section which observed the weather patterns on the planet below. In the middle and along the walls were consoles and at the opposite end of the room, was a large window which overlooked the planet. There was a holographic touch-button overlay which hung over the window. The one thing which stood out was the fact that there were no one else other than Wagoshiin. The room certainly looked genuine, but he was not sure. Kenny's mind had been focused on the fact that he did not trust the Wagohsiin one little bit, and he was waiting for some attack at any second, which was the main reason he stayed close to Adams. Being Security, he was better trained to take on the Wagoshiin in a fight, but Kenny was still hoping that nothing would come of it. "This display is the heart of this department. It can track weather patterns, locate mineral deposits or track geothermal activity or stresses caused by volcanic or tectonic activity. Please, feel free to observe the planet. The scientist that normally works here is ill today, so I am afraid that I will be unable to answer many questions." said Knars or whatever his name was. Kenny didn't care, he still had distrust for them and really just wanted to get this tour over with. Despite the fact it was his job to investigate such places, he was more thinking of genuine peaceful exchange of officers, not a oblivious facade which both sides were most likely playing to see who would make the first move. It made him nervous. He was not used to such things. Not for the first time, he kept telling himself that he was over reacting, but he knew deep down that he was not. Something was going to happen in the end and in all truthfulness, he knew that he was going to have to fight down panic as well as the Wagoshiin. He was no warrior. Sure, he had a hand phaser and had pasted the mandatory phaser training with flying colours, but that was because is was mandatory and the targets were flying dots which didn't fight back. He felt ashamed for his sense of panic, but at the same time, he knew he had every right to be afraid of these aliens. He kept telling himself that he had joined Stafleet to study planets and alien technology to father benefit the Federation, not play games with aliens who were most likely going to kill them. Kenny was not sure which was worse, the fact that they were in danger, or the fact that they had to pretend everything was alright when it was not. Kenny thought it was the latter. He knew that one day he would be involved in a fight, but this was different. It was not like some battle where both sides hunkered down to fire at each other, it was more like a game of chess where one player waited for the other to make the first move, or slip up. Lets just get this over with, he thought, his defiant arrogance flaring up again, ~if I'm gonna die, then I will die doing my job.~ He walked to his right, over to one of the closed control panels, and Adams followed, looking nervous too, but also ready and alert. ~Easy for him,~ Kenny thought, he had been trained for this. Kenny took at a look at the layout. Of course, it was in Wagoshiin, or whatever other alien langue was the original owner, so he opened his tricorder to translate. While the tricorder was doing this, Kenny took a look around to make sure everything was OK. He bit his lip when he saw that the way they had come in was the only way in or out, and that the Wagoshiin were blocking it. That did not make Kenny feel any better. He turned back to his tricroder and was confused when he saw that the tricorder was telling him that there was nothing to translate. he typed on the keys, telling the device to translate the control panel again, and that's when he was that the only two form of energy emitting from the control panels was light and heat. This was not a control panel. A series of growls and screams came from behind Kenny and he turned to face them, also facing the door. His main fear had come true; The Wagoshiin rushed forward, one came right for Adams, but before he had time to pull out his phaser, the fox slashed at him with his claws, severing the poor mans jugular, causing him to spit and giggle as he drowned in his own blood. Kenny was not sure why he did it, fear, anger, self preservation, but he pulled out his phaser and was about to fire when the same Wagoshiin attack him. He fought down the urge to panic and close his eyes as the thing pounced on him. As he was knocked backwards, his phaser fire shot harmlessly in the air, hitting the ceiling. For a brief second he thought the Wagoshiin was going for his jugular with his teeth and that his life was over but the alien didn't attack him, he just pinned him to the ground. The things mouth was so close to Kenny's face he could smell drool and stale meat. Kenny didn't care why the Wagoshiin had not killed him. Maybe he was under orders not too and just pin the team down, maybe he was waiting for his pray to fight back. Kenny didn't care. He was going to fight, weather they wanted him to or not. He would show them that he was not going to be taken without a fight. He kicked up at the stomach of the Wagoshiin as hard as he could, which turned out to be very hard. The alien was thrown back with a whelp of pain, and Kenny immediately jumped up and behind a console, clutching his phaser like a loved child. He then jumped up and looked over the fake console, using it as cover, and pointed his phaser at the Wagoshiin. To his surprise they had stopped, and stood at the door way. Kenny didn't care and was about to fire, when we saw that eniether Lo'ren or Eoin had fired, and instead stood with the phasers out, but ready. Kenny resisted the urge to fire, since there was most likely a reason that no one has attacking anymore, and Kenny didn't want to be the one to break the cease fire, but he was so angry at the death of Adams and nearly being killed himself that it was hard. he just wanted to fire and kill the damn bastards for what they did. It was at that moment that he relised that he was not scared anymore. He was wishing for the Wasgoshiin to attack. he was unsure whether it was so he could defend his comrades, or give him an excuse to kill something. To be honest, Kenny didn't care, it was the aliens problem and he was going to do what ever he could to survive. It was when Lo'ren said not to fire and that she relaxed that Kenny's logic began to return to him. He could see now the folly of combat for them. Even thought he and his comrades out-gunned the Wagoshiin, they themselves were out numbered and would most likely only take down a few if they attack before they were taken out. He was unsure why the Wagoshiin had attacked Adams and then pinned down Kenny, only then to pull back. Maybe, during the time that Kenny was pinned down, they had tried and failed to pin down the others, and had returned to the door to see what would happen next. It was the wait which was bugging Kenny. he felt scared, but not afraid in a sense. Despite wishing for a peaceful outcome, he also wanted revenge for the needless killing of Adams and the attack on himself. Logic and arrogance battled with each other as they all waited for the other to make a move. ::Be calm. We are alive and they outnumber us too greatly. A resistance movement sent the fractal message.:: The thought almost made Kenny jump. He then remembered that Lor'en was half Vulcan, giving her the telepathic abilities of that race. Kenny looked over to her for support, he hopped he was not showing the weak and scared side of himself, but rather the logical and sensible side. he was not sure if he was able to. Whatever happened, Kenny needed to speak. "Ma'am." he said, his voice as steady as he could, which was not much, but it was better than he thought he could muster, which showed less fear. "They have killed Adams. What should we do? We can't just sit here, but we are out numbered." 'They have killed Adams?' ~How could I have said that so calmly,~ he thought. What was going on. Before the battle, he was much more afraid, now he was alert and a lot less scared. He had no idea, he only wished this was over. ~If I ever get out of this, he thought, I'll be amazed.~ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Tch'Kair'n orbit, Orbital station, Command Center, Waagoshin Commander Alpha 1,18:53) He made his way to the door which led to the command center and couldn't help an instant of gloating as it opened and he stepped through, when it had shut behind him he made his way to his chair. Sitting down he turned to Kronty who was managing communications. "Report." "The war band is ready commander and I have three alien signatures ready for transport." "Excellent." His clawed finger paused over a blue blinking button as he exposed his teeth. The finger stabbed down initiating the transport and sending a signal to the war bands leading the tours of the station to begin taking the aliens aboard the station into custody. "Now it begins." ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Tch'Kair orbit, Orbital station, Medical deck, Alpha 10, Krega, 1853.2) "So, what is this equipment used for?" The female asked Krega as they moved beyond the doors and farther into the treatment center. Krega turned a suspicious eye on her and her companion then looked toward the pod she was pointing at. He wasn't a medical technician but he did know something about the equipment though not enough to tell her all the ins and outs. He sensed she wasn't worried about the details so much though as nervously digging for something to converse about. Suppressing a sigh of boredom he walked over to the encapsulated system. "This is a chamber for emergency atmospheric supply." He tapped a clawed finger on the glowing buttons of a small control panel less than a foot square and the top of the horizontal cylinder swung open, inside where there was room for one being to lie comfortably. A number of ports on the inside housed different elements such as IV tubes and catheters. "Sensors on the inside monitor the stability and life readings of the patient, it is sometimes used to treat lung disorders caused by exposure to toxic gases or radiation which can adversely effect them." He turned his head slightly to watch the two alien personnel as they made a show of examining it. (Reply: Ana, Haywood) "There are any number of specialized treatment units here in this center..." His voice trailed off as three low beeps sounded from the rod he had strapped to his belt. Without warning he spun, the rod seemingly to magically appear in his hand as he brought it with a crack into the face of the Federation security officer standing nearby. The man had been caught looking with interest into the piece of equipment. With a howl of glee Krega continued the spin and lunged toward the other escort of the personnel who was trying to turn toward him and pull the phaser off his belt at the same time while he shouted for Ana and Haywood to take cover. The man was successful in freeing his sidearm but didn't turn in time as the rod caught the base of his skull and he fell heavily. In the space of a handful of seconds the armed guards had been rendered helpless and Krega had stepped back away from the Hades officers and halfway toward his two Betas who were holding energized rods in readiness, their eyes shining with an unholy light. (Reply: Ana, Haywood) The Alphas chest was heaving in bloodlust and his pulse rang in his ears as he showed his teeth to the two with a blood-curdling grin. "The circumstances of your visit has just changed." He gave a yelping laugh. "You will tell our commanders all they wish to know or you will die and afterwards you will become our slaves. I hope you will be slow to speak so that I might taste your flesh." He longed to attack, to rend flesh but his orders were explicit and if he disobeyed he would die painfully. It was with difficulty he forced himself to remain calm. "You will go with us now." Six more Waagoshin burst through the main entrance and took up their positions behind him with the other Betas. (Reply: Ana, Haywood) Having fulfilled his orders to the letter and wishing he had torn the throats of his enemies out rather than allowing them to live he turned on his heel and escorted the group from the ward, three of the Betas behind the group with the rest dragging their security personnel. Once outside the labs they were dropped to the deck once again and Krega turned toward the aliens. "You will be taken to our holding cells now, if you are suitably fawning I might actually allow those two to live but I make no promises. You..." He pointed to Ana. ...I would enjoy teaching discipline and obediance to." (Reply: Ana, Haywood) "Take them." Had barely leflt his lips when his prisoners began to break into brilliant motes of corruscating light which brightened in intensity as a rising hum rose in the background. "No!" He shouted and leapt toward the two but he was too slow, his clawed hands grasped empty air as they disappeared. Turning in savage wrath he caught one of the Betas and spun him into the wall, leaping upon him as he held him there with his teeth only inches from the other Waagoshin officer. Their eyes met briefly before the Beta flinched and he lowered his eyes. Throwing the Beta to the floor he turned to the rest, the aliens were gone. "Return to your posts." he snarled and turned away, someone had been too slow and allowed the aliens to escape, he hoped he would be the one to punsh them but he held slim hopes there. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Tch'Kair'n orbit, Orbital Station, Planetary Science Section, ATAC Ensign (jg) Lo'ren T'Vof, 18:53.5 hours) The scuffle that Kenny had with one of the Stooges proved that he had the ability, but not the experience to fight off a stronger foe. ~Instinct can only take you so far Kenneth,~ Lo'ren mused as the fight died down and Kenny regained himself. "Ma'am. They have killed Adams. What should we do? We can't just sit here but we are out numbered." Kenny spoke firmly, even with the quaver of fear in his voice. Lo'ren calmly turned to him with a raised eyebrow, "Mr. McKenzie, this is a hostage situation." ~We're prisoners of war, kid.~ Lo'ren was wry in her mind but completely ice on the outside. "Name, Rank and Serial is all we give. That goes for you as well Mr. MacLiam." (reply Kenny, Eoin) "I expect our keepers", Lo'ren spat out this word with vehemence and glared at Knars and the pack that surrounded the three of them, "will tell us what they want soon enough." Jailers across the universe were all the same, the Cardassians were just as pompous as these dogs of war when the felt they had the upper hand. Lo'ren intended that never to happen. They hadn't yet felt her full wrath, but she could bide her time. (reply Kenny, Eoin, Knars iyw) Lo'ren spoke very softly, but in a way that included everyone in the room."I come from a people who have been enslaved before - I myself experienced this slavery. I will not let it happen again." ~So help me Surak and the Prophets.~ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Tch'Kair'n orbit, Orbital Station, Planetary Science Section, ACSO Ensign (JG) Kenneth McKenzie, 18:54 hours) "Mr. McKenzie, this is a hostage situation." Lo'ren was wry in her mind but completely ice on the outside. "Name, Rank and Serial is all we give. That goes for you as well Mr. MacLiam." Kenny cursed to himself, happy that he was a lot calmer now that his comrades were acting logicly and analysing the situation. Regardless, being hostages was one aspect he had not thought of. For a brief moment, he had not thought about being slaves, but rather, being forced to fight for his survival. He lowered his phaser and stood tall, uttering another curse at his captors. "I don't like the idea of being held hostage, ma'am... But then agian, I don't like the idea of being killed in a fight either. (reply Ensign T'Vof) "But at the same time, I would not want to be bound and helpless with them in the same room. I doubt they will show mercy." (reply Ensign T'Vof) "I expect our keepers will tell us what they want soon enough." said Lo'ren "Agreed." Kenny said. "I come from a people who have been enslaved before - I myself experienced this slavery. I will not let it happen again." Kenny looked at her confused. "But... I thought you said stand down." he said, wishing she was more clear before the Wagoshiin got closer. What were they to do? Attack? Surrender. Kenny didn't like either, but the thought of being bound and helpess in front of the aliens was worse to him. Deep down, part of him was wishing for combat, but the purpose not to be taken alive, even thought he knew they had little chance. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Tch'Kair orbit - Orbital station - Planetary Science Section - ACEO Ensign (jg) Eoin Mac Liam - 18:55) Eoin followed Knars and the others into the new room, and was astounded by what he saw. A beautiful, if simplistic display of the Tch'Kairn homeworld. He saw a couple active hurricanes on the weather display in the equatorial regions of the northern hemisphere. A huge smile spread over his face at the displays he saw. "I think I might have died and gone to heaven," he said to himself. "This display is the heart of this department. It can track weather patterns, locate mineral deposits or track geothermal activity or stresses caused by volcanic or tectonic activity." Knars explained. "Please, feel free to observe the planet. The scientist that normally works here is ill today, so I am afraid that I will be unable to answer many questions. "Eoin perused the displays, checking out everything he could. "What I wouldn't give to have a baby like this on the Hades. This isn't a machine, it's a work of art." Eoin barely heard what Knars said next, and decided not to give it any heed anyway. He just kept all his focus on the displays that monitored Tch'Kair. It wasn't until he heard a scream coming from the direction of Adams. He turned to see several Waagoshin all over the poor man. Eoin was shocked, but he made himself react in a more efficient manner. He drew his phaser and trained it on the nearest Waag. But then they changed the rules again. Several more flunkies entered the room, severely outnumbering them. At that point, Lo'ren grabbed Eoin's hand. ::Be calm,:: Eoin heard Lo'ren say in his head, ::We are alive and they outnumber us too greatly. A resistance movement sent the fractal message.:: She let go of his hand. "Hold your fire, gentlemen," Lo'ren spoke after letting go of their hands. McKenzie spoke first. "Ma'am, they have killed Adams. What should we do? We can't just sit here, but we are outnumbered." "Mr. McKenzie, this is a hostage situation. Name, rank, and serial is all we give. That goes for you as well Mr. Mac Liam. Eoin grudgingly holstered his phaser, and put his hands up in surrender. He whispered to Lo'ren. "Imeoidh méin éineacht le é seo, ach beidh mé damnaithe má déanann siad sinn isteach i sclábhaí."* "I don't like the idea of being held hostage, ma'am... But then again, I don't like the idea of being killed in a fight either." "Neither do I, Mr. McKenzie. Just follow instructions and I'll make sure you are an old man before you go to the Celestial Temple. These curs don't know what they've gotten theirhands on quite yet." "But at the same time, I would not want to be bound and helpless with them in the same room. I doubt they will show mercy." "You can expect no mercy if you do not obey! If you do not obey I will have him executed." A couple of the guards pointed their guns at Eoin. He didn't take to that kindly, but did his best not to react. "I expect our keepers will tell us what they want soon enough." Lo'ren's voice was filled with hate that Eoin was starting to doubt she could keep in check for much longer. "Agreed," said Ken. "I think we all know what they want." Eoin said. He was determined that, should ever a Waag ever show any kind of disrespect towards Eoin, that would be the last move that little vulpine bastard ever did, even if the other guards would kill him in the process. "Throw down your weapons, or we start killing more of you. Only one of you is considered valuable here. It would be a shame for the rest to die needlessly." "I come from a people who have been enslaved before - I myself experienced this slavery. I will not let it happen again." "It is better that you should die here perhaps and leave these other two to fend for themselves? They do not have your strength, T'Vof, they wouldn't last a year without your help. Put down your weapons and I will see to it that you remain together, where you can protect your pack." "I do not like it, but I understand the logic you provide." Eoin noticed her hand moving toward the phaser on her hip. Eoin slowly did the same, trying to be discreet enough that the Waags wouldn't notice. "But... I thought you said stand down." Ken was definitely confused over Lo'ren's reaction. But Eoin knew her better than that. He knew she was working out a plan even as they spoke. "I did say stand down Mr. McKenzie. It just means that we remain alive to gain our freedom, rather than die as slaves. Do you object to that?" "No ma'am. I have no objection." "Sounds good to me. But we'd better come up with a plan soon." Eoin whispered to Lo'ren. At that point, the Waags could possibly have enough of a reference to translate Irish Gaelic, so he decided to not even bother. Not that it'd matter in the long run, as he noticed his hand start dematerialising. The Hades had gotten a hold of the away team. ~And not a moment too soon.,~ he thought. The last thing he heard from Knars was his exclaiming "What? NO!" Eoin only had a couple of seconds to give a good parting shot, so he made it a good one. "Go raibh maith agat do an turas álainn. D'foilsigh tú gach uile mhic do córasaí go innealtóir an-ábalta. Ádh maith ag tigh mi mar namhaid." He barely had enough time to get that out before he completely dematerialised. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Hades- Bridge -CSO Jericho Haynes- 1858) "Sir something is happening on the station!" Jack cursed as the life reading of security officer Adams went dark indicating a cessation of life readings, Waagoshin life signs that had been clustered near the away teams began pouring into their positions. He jumped to his feet as another report came in, this one from David Adams. "Transports from ten forward, I can't find Captain Sash!" They were being attacked, ~Treachery!~ Jack's mind screamed as he spun to face the OPS officer. "Shie..." He bit off the order, if they raised shields they wouldn't be able to beam the away teams back. "Belay that order!" He was about to order them beamed back onto the ship when chaos broke loose on the bridge. The Waagoshin war band broke through the doorway to the observation lounge and poured onto the bridge, they were well trained, fast and deadly. Security fired on the alien troops and felled one before they were engaged. Jack began firing as he tapped his combadge. "Security to the bridge now!" The Waagoshin quickly established a foothold as the firefight became withering, Jack had taken a position behind the command chair, reaching up he slapped a control on its arm. "Bridge control lockout!" [Command override codes required.] "Computer this is CSO Haynes..." He had his own codes of course, would they work? "... code Beta, 5, Indigo, 3." [Lockout acknowledged, may be overridden by Captain and first officer.] ~No duh!~ One of the Waagoshin had worked his way around as he was ordering the lockout, he raised his weapon toward Jack before he could roll out of the way, that was before the door to the turbolift however screeched in pain and a thundering roar echoed through the bridge almost deafening Jack who brought his weapon around and fired at the Waagoshin, the energy beam struck it in the chest and threw it backward into a console. The Waag didn't even have time to yelp before its consciousness blinked out. He could hear Zzt tearing through the Waagoshin as he looked for another target, the Alpha of the warband however had worked his way around unseen, Jack felt more than heard his presence behind him and as he turned his head slightly he could see a clawed hand holding a rod aimed at his head. ~Drat!~ Then sixth alpha Sanra was grabbed up by the Gerratlian like a rag doll and the two began a short but vicious fight as Jack rolled away from the vicinity. After dispatching the Waagoshin the gore covered Zzt turned toward the knot of officers with bloodlust in his eyes and took a step in their direction as the CSO wondered what to do with him. First things first though, he jumped to the OPS console and locked in the coordinates of the away team then tapped his combadge again as he heard a beam in. "Transporter room beam the away team back now! I'm sending you their coordinates." =^= Receiving and preparing to transport.=^= "Get away from Zzt!" It was the bellowed voice of Lt. Trinin, Jack turned and saw the Gerratlian was moving in his direction so he tucked and rolled away as phaser fire erupted. "Heavy stun!" "Everyone fires on Zzt until he goes down, stay clear of those claws and those jaws! Follow my lead and spread out." Crabbing away from his vicinity Jack held his phaser as the security team took their positions. He heard someone land beside him, cutting his eyes to the side he saw the Lieutenant who then took three steps toward the berserker Zzt. Jack was about to move forward but Baylon's gesture stopped him. "Commander!" Baylon screamed with as much authority as he could muster. And then Zzt attacked. Everyone began firing at once, trying to back up the Gerratlian as the battered CSEC raised his phaser rifle which became twisted plastisteel, Zzt then charged one of the security officers. ~Damn this Ursinoid is tough... and fast.~ Baylon's first discharge wounded Zzt in the leg and caused him to stumble in his charge as everyone poured heavy stun charges into him. Turning the Gerratlian made for Trinin again and apparently desiring to bite his head from his shoulders he almost made it before his strength finally failed him. Jack moved forward to help Baylon up as he gestured for the firing to stop and checked to see if Zzt was still breathing. He then tapped his combadge. "Bridge to sickbay, Commander Zzt is injured. Beam him directly there and keep him sedated for a while" =^= Sedated?=^= "Yes, sedated. I'll explain later." He turned to Jack "Mister Haynes I have the bridge, since this just became a tactical situation and the senior most officer is now incapacitated. You are acting FO until one of the senior officers is back on the ship." "Understood." Jack took three long strides to the OPs console again and displaced David Adams who was moving into position. He slapped his combadge. "Transporter room do you have the away team?" =^= They're widely dispersed but coordinates are locked in. Ready to beam back." "Do it now!" =^= Energizing.=^= Jack looked about the bridge, the carnage now that he had time to look was indescribable, he bit back bile as he mentally took stock of the situation, the Captain at least abducted and the away team in custody but being reacquired. He turned to David. "I want to know who was taken from the ship, get on it now!" (Reply: Baylon) A call came through. =^=I have the away team, one casualty.=^= Jack sighed but didn't relax, he turned to Baylon who was overseeing tactical. "The away team is back aboard sir, one casualty. Security officer Adams was killed." (Reply: Baylon) Jack made his way back to the science console and sat down and began scanning the station, the Waagoshin were bringing their shields up, they had apparently not expected such a quick response by the Hades and were caught by surprise but were determined not to repeat their mistake. "The station has raised their shielding, scanning for the whereabouts of the Captain and other officers." (Reply: Baylon) Jack bit back a curse. "Stations weapons are energizing and Graelridge is moving to cut us off." ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Tch'Kair orbit, Orbital station, Medical Deck, COUNS Ensign Anamitra Ripley, 1901) Krega regarded her for a moment, then Haywood before answering her query. The Waagoshin walked over to the encapsulated system. "This is a chamber for emergency atmospheric supply." He tapped a clawed finger on the glowing buttons of a small control panel less than a foot square and the top of the horizontal cylinder swung open, inside where there was room for one being to lie comfortably. A number of ports on the inside housed different elements such as IV tubes and catheters. "Sensors on the inside monitor the stability and life readings of the patient, it is sometimes used to treat lung disorders caused by exposure to toxic gases or radiation which can adversely effect them." Ana gave Haywood a glance. It was a lot more impressive looking than she would have thought. (reply Haywood) "There are any number of specialized treatment units here in this center..."His voice trailed off as three low beeps sounded from the rod he had strapped to his belt. Ana turned to look at the Waagoshin, but realized that it was too late, everything was already in motion. Ensign Morgenstern was grasping his face where he had been struck even as Ensign Cartwright was drawing his phaser and shouting, "Take cover!" Ana grabbed Haywood by the arm and nearly dragged him off his feet, behind the device that they had been inspecting a moment earlier. There were two reasons for her actions. The first was to get them some sort of protection against some possible firefight, the second was to make the Waagoshin underestimate them, by simulating a more helpless response. She understood that the Waagoshin mentality should immediately accept such an action as submissive, which could improve their chances of survival. When the fight had subsided, and the Alpha was walking away from them, Ana turned to Haywood and whispered, "Do what you can for them." (reply Haywood) Ana slowly stood, careful not to make direct eye contact. The way that his chest was heaving, it was likely that he was in a state of near bloodlust. "The circumstances of your visit has just changed." He gave a yelping laugh."You will tell our commanders all they wish to know or you will die and afterwards you will become our slaves. I hope you will be slow to speak so that I might taste your flesh." He seemed barely in control and Ana did not want to push their luck. "You will go with us now." he added. "Of course we will, we have no choice." Ana replied, playing submissive. (reply Haywood) They were escorted from the Ward then, with some of the Waagoshin dragging the two injured security men. Once outside the Labs, the security men were dropped in a heap. "You will be taken to our holding cells now, if you are suitably fawning I might actually allow those two to live but I make no promises. You..." He pointed to Ana. "...I would enjoy teaching discipline and obedience to." "It might be worthwhile for you to try." Ana replied allowing a slightly sensual tone to invade her voice. "But I'm not easily tamed." (reply Haywood) "Take them." Krega responded with a snarl, but Ana could only smile and give a short wave. She felt the familiar tingle of the transporter taking hold of her and for once she was not concerned about losing her consciousness somewhere along the way. "Maybe some other time Krega." she managed just before the room ceased to exist for her. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Tch'Kair orbit - Orbital station - Planetary Science Section- Waagoshin Escort- Knars- 1902) It was so easy. Knars had managed to capture the aliens without too much difficulty. The security alien had been dealt with and the scientist had finally decided that it was not worth the repercussions of continuing the fight, not when Knars and his small security force outnumbered them so significantly. The female was smart, she was very much the alpha female type that any Waagoshin would cherish. Knars however could see the defiance in her eyes and knew that she was more dangerous than she appeared. It was likely that she would be untrainable. The scientist lowered his phaser and stood tall, uttering another curse at his captors. "I don't like the idea of being held hostage, ma'am... But then again, I don't like the idea of being killed in a fight either." McKenzie stated. (reply T'Vof) Knars narrowed his eyes slightly at the alien. "But at the same time, I would not want to be bound and helpless with them in the same room. I doubt they will show mercy." "You can expect no mercy if you do not obey!" Knars barked, and a couple of the alphas pointed their weapons at the engineer. "If you do not obey I will have him executed." "I expect our keepers", Lo'ren spat out this word with vehemence and glared at Knars and the pack that surrounded the three of them, "will tell us what they want soon enough." Knars barked then, "Throw down your weapons, or we start killing more of you. Only one of you is considered valuable here. It would be a shame for the rest to die needlessly." he commented. "I come from a people who have been enslaved before - I myself experienced this slavery. I will not let it happen again." The female replied. "It is better that you should die here perhaps and leave these other two to fend for themselves?" Knars asked then. "They do not have your strength, T'Vof, they wouldn't last a year without your help. Put down your weapons and I will see to it that you remain together, where you can protect your pack." (reply Lo'ren) "But... I thought you said stand down." McKenzie said (reply McKenzie) Knars raised his own weapon and pointed it directly at the scientist. He could harm him, cause him an injury that would not threaten his life. Then perhaps he would listen. Suddenly, there was a slight humming sound and Knars realized that the aliens were glowing and dissolving into little motes of light. "What?! NO!" he howled in rage and fired his weapon through the now empty space where once McKenzie had stood. Knars stalked forward, his irritation rising with each passing second. He spun then, powered by his rage and emboldened beyond his normal demeanor by his anger. He pounced on the closest Alpha. The Waagoshin would have probably been faster had he actually expected the Beta to attack him, but that expectation never crossed his mind. Knars was far enough down the chain of command to have not been a concern for the higher ranking Waagoshin officer. In an instant, knars had raked his razor sharp claws across the other Waagoshin's belly, splitting flesh and allowing the other's entrails to spill out on to the floor with a sickening squish and a glut of bile and blood., but Knars didn't stop there. The fresh smell of the Kill drove him farther. He pounced on a second Waagoshin Alpha, this one still in shock from watching his associated gutted like a slave. Knars' jaws, clamped over the second Waagoshin's throat and crushed his larynx. Blood squirted from the punctured jugular as Knars spun to face a third Alpha. "get out or die!" Knars barked. "You useless bumbling pups!" Perhaps it was the look in his eyes, or the blood covered visage that shook their resolve, but the other Waagoshin Alpha suddenly lowered their heads, flattened their ears in submission and backed out of the room. Knars howled in anger and frustration. He had been robbed of his slaves and he had been made to look the fool. Then as the howling subsided and knars looked down to realize that he had just killed two Alphas and with that realization, he began to laugh in short little barks. He would now be elevated into the alpha ranks. And when he had the opportunity, he'd make that female his slave and murder her useless friends. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Tch'Kair orbit - Orbital station - Planetary Science Section- ATAC Ensign(jg) Lo'ren T'Vof - 1902.5) "I don't like the idea of being held hostage, ma'am... But then again, Idon't like the idea of being killed in a fight either." McKenzie stated. "Neither do I, Mr. McKenzie. Just follow instructions and I'll make sure you are an old man before you go to the Celestial Temple." Lo'ren never let her guard down, not with so many wretched dogs surrounding the team. "These curs don't know what they've gotten their hands on quite yet." She was hoping toincite one of them to come at her. Knars narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze on her. "But at the same time, I would not want to be bound and helpless with them in the same room. I doubt they will show mercy." "You can expect no mercy if you do not obey!" Knars barked, and a couple of the alphas pointed their weapons at the engineer. "If you do not obey I will have him executed." "I expect our keepers", Lo'ren spat out this word with vehemence and glared at Knars and the pack that surrounded the three of them, "will tell us what they want soon enough." Knars barked then, "Throw down your weapons, or we start killing more of you. Only one of you is considered valuable here. It would be a shame for the rest to die needlessly." he commented. "I come from a people who have been enslaved before - I myself experienced this slavery. I will not let it happen again." The female replied. "It is better that you should die here perhaps and leave these other two to fend for themselves?" Knars asked then. "They do not have your strength,T'Vof, they wouldn't last a year without your help. Put down your weapons and I will see to it that you remain together, where you can protect your pack." "I do not like it, but I understand the logic you provide." Lo'ren slowly moved her hand towards her phaser, which she'd reholstered the minute her own calculations had shown her the futility of fighting... at the moment. "But... I thought you said stand down." McKenzie said Lo'ren looked at him, "I did say stand down Mr. McKenzie. It just means that we remain alive to gain our freedom, rather than die as slaves. Do you object to that? (reply McKenzie) Knars raised his own weapon and pointed it directly at the scientist. He could harm him, cause him an injury that would not threaten his life. Then perhaps he would listen. Lo'ren felt the grip of the transporters and heared Knars' voice call out "What?! NO!" as he howled in rage and fired his weapon. By this time they were safely away and Lo'ren was still seething - the imminent threat to her fellow officer almost carried out, she could have jumped directly at the beast. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Tch'Kair orbit, Orbital station, Planetary Science Section, ACSO Ensign (JG) Kenneth McKenzie, 19:03 hours.) "I don't like the idea of being held hostage, ma'am... But then again, I don't like the idea of being killed in a fight either." McKenzie said to Lo'ren. "Neither do I, Mr. McKenzie." she said. "Just follow instructions and I'll make sure you are an old man before you go to the Celestial Temple." Kenny gulped and nodded, but still held his phaser at the Wagoshiin. So far, nobody had made the first move, which Kenny was glad of. He despite this feeling of wanting to kill the damn foxes, Kenny didn't want to be the one who fired the first shot, nor did he want to die just yet. "But at the same time, I would not want to be bound and helpless with them in the same room. I doubt they will show mercy." Knars snorted. "You can expect no mercy if you do not obey!" Knars barked. As if that was a signal, several of the other Wagoshiin pointed their weapons at MacLiam. "If you do not obey I will have him executed." Kenny's heart sank. He felt a little guilty now that most of the weapons were being pointed at Eoin, but he knew that the weapons were being shifted all the time. "I expect our keepers will tell us what they want soon enough." said Lo'ren, who spat out the words with hate. "Throw down your weapons, or we start killing more of you. Only one of you is considered valuable here. It would be a shame for the rest to die needlessly." Knars barked. Kenny could hear that the Wagoshiin Alpha was becoming impatient. This was not good. Kenny knew that if this continued any longer, things were going to get heated, and people would die. Kenny knew that he would most likely be one of them "I come from a people who have been enslaved before, I myself experienced this slavery. I will not let it happen again." Lo'ren stated in a slalom tone. "It is better that you should die here perhaps and leave these other two to fend for themselves? They do not have your strength, T'Vof, they wouldn't last a year without your help. Put down your weapons and I will see to it that you remain together, where you can protect your pack." Kenny had to admit that he had a point. Despite his defiant arrogance and self pride, Kenny did not think he would last long as a slave. He would either die from exhaustion, or be killed rebelling. The latter was most likely. "I do not like it, but I understand the logic you provide." said Lo'ren, slowly moving her hand with the phaser in it back down and sheathed it. Kenny kept his weapon up, thinking that the Wagoshiin would take this chance to kill them and if it did come, he would be the second to fire, if his sweating palms did not force his phaser out of his hands, he thought. He turned to her. "But... I thought you said stand down." McKenzie said Lo'ren turned to him. "I did say stand down Mr. McKenzie. It just means that we remain alive to gain our freedom, rather than die as slaves. Do you object to that?" As if to show Kenny how the situation was to him, Knars raised his phaser right to him. For a moment, both men had their phasers pointing at each other, looking at their eyes. Kenny thought about it. If they fought here and now, they would most likely die. Even if they did survive, they would most likely be killed by another war party. Kenny cursed. Dispite the fact Kenny loathed being a slave, it would be the most likely survive, for a while at lest. He slowly lowered his phaser to his holster. "No, ma'am. I have no objection." he said, slowly and with hate, looking the Alpha in the eye with contempt. At that moment, he felt his chest go cold. At first, he thought that it was from the feeling that he was exposed to weapon fire, but after a few more seconds, he saw that he was turning bluish white, and it took him a few more moments to realised that it was a transporter beam. The Wagoshiin Alpha roared his defiance, which told Kenny that he and his team were being picked up by his ship. Kenny's heart soared when he saw that it was true, and he felt safe at last. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (USS Hades, Transporter Room, aCO Commander Eva Straton, 19:05) Eva rematerialize'd on the transporter pad with the rest of the Away Team. She quickly took stock of their physical conditions before snapping out orders in rapid succession. "Ensign Parker get to sickbay, you are now acting CMO. We have wounded there. Ensign Mac Liam to Main Engineering, you are now acting CEO. I want maximum warp power as soon as you get there. Ensign T'Vof, Mackenzie, and Walsh you are with me. Ensign Ripley, your services will be needed in sickbay as well. Lets move people. Those bastard have taken the Captain. Lt. Trommashere, and Wright hostage. We will need to get them back." Eva turned and moved toward the door as her comm-badge chirped. =/\=Commander Straton, Captain Sash and Lt's Wright and Trommashere have been abducted from the ship. We are taking evasive maneuvers and moving to a defensible position.=/\= Lt. Haynes said as the ship shuddered slightly as the Graelridge opened up with her own weapons. =/\=Taking fire now, your presence is requested on the bridge if possible.=/\= Eva didn't even slow down as she stepped out into the corridor moving toward the nearest turbolift while slapping her com-badge. "I'm on my way. Plot a course out of the system, full impulse and prepare to go to maximum warp once we are clear of the system." Eva entered the lift with T'Vof and Walsh right behind her. She knew they needed time to regroup, formulate a plan and come at the Waagoshin when and were they would least expect it. She hadn't spent months as Admiral Sevant's Strategic Operations officer without learning a thing or two fleet operations. She knew that if they stayed and fought now they would eventually either be captured or destroyed and that simply would not do. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Hades, Transporter Room, ATAC Ensign (jg) Lo'ren T'Vof, 19:05.5) Lo'ren quickly oriented herself and saw that they'd all made it back - even Security Officer Adams' remains. She grieved for a split second before Straton started snapping orders out. "Ensign Parker get to sickbay, you are now acting CMO. We have wounded there. Ensign Mac Liam to Main Engineering, you are now acting CEO. I want maximum warp power as soon as you get there. Ensign T'Vof, Mackenzie, and Walsh you are with me. Ensign Ripley, your services will be needed in sickbay as well. Lets move people. Those bastard have taken the Captain. Lt.Trommashere, and Wright hostage. We will need to get them back." Straton's commbadge chirped and Lo'ren listened intently, at this point it was a tactical situation and she needed all the info she could get if she was to be of service. =/\=Commander Straton, Captain Sash and Lt's Wright and Trommashere have been abducted from the ship. We are taking evasive maneuvers and moving to a defensible position.=/\= Lt. Haynes said as the ship shuddered slightly as the Graelridge opened up with her own weapons. =/\=Taking fire now, your presence is requested on the bridge if possible.=/\= Lo'ren fell in behind the Commander and heard the update from the bridge, joy at hearing Jack's voice barely nudging her current state of rage. They hotfooted to the turbolift and headed up to the bridge, Straton replying as they ran. "I'm on my way. Plot a course out of the system, full impulse and prepare to go to maximum warp once we are clear of the system." Lo'ren made it a priority to collect herself during the trip up to the bridge. The situation required cool heads, not her mind running off into panic, fear or rage. She'd just had a near brush with her past - in a way that she'd not expected and she was promised more by the dogs. She would kill herself if that came to fruition, so she had to work to stay free. ~Freedom is not a right, but a hard-earned privilege.~ ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Tch'Kair'n orbit, Orbital station, Command Center, Waagoshin Commander Alpha 1, 1906.5) "Commander I am detecting a transporter beam from the alien vessel!" "Raise shields!" His shouted order was complied with instantly but it was too late. "The aliens are gone." "What of Sash and the other two prisoners?" "They remain commander." Alpha 1 rose to his feet in rage. "They have failed me." He howled. "Sanra has failed!" There would be no prize of the alien vessel at this time and its technical experts, his plans had failed bacause of the bungling of subordinates. Alpha 1 was across the command center in two bounds, his security commander, an Alpha four who had been charged with the abduction of the away team and manned the tactical controls now the object of his wrath. The Waagoshin was fast, he had made it this high up the chain of command because of his abilities but Alpha 1 had worked his way up the same way and had generously earned his post. The officer stood no chance of evading the attack. The officer yelped as the Waagoshin Commander caught him by the shoulder and spun his around, instantly Alpha 1's teeth were in his throat and one clawed hand had been shoved into his sternum. With a jerk of his head and a ripping motion Alpha 1's teeth ripped through the throat of the officer carrying its larnyx and its protective sheath of flesh and fur with it. Blood spurted from the gaping hole in its throat and from the great gash in its body as he also ripped down and tore its entrails from its stomach. Alpha 1's face, right arm and uniform were covered in blood as he turned feral eyes back to the other officers in the center and dropped the lifeless husk to the deck. "Get Graffna on the viewer and power up weapons!" The communications tech Kronty had never worked faster in his life, within seconds the Graelridge was on the viewer. =^= Alpha 1...=^= Graffna began. "Destroy that ship!" Alpha 1 howled. "Sanra has failed, do not let them escape!" Graffna's visage paled noticeably. =^= Understood Alpha 1, Graelridge out.=^= The Commander turned upon Kronty again when the transmission was cut off. "Recall all ships to bracket the system in case they manage to slip away, they are not to be allowed out of this system. Do you understand?" Kronty nodded and gulped. "Yes commander." Alpha 1 absently licked the blood from his lips as he turned back to the viewer which showed the Hades breaking orbit as the Graelridge moved to cut them off and he bared his fangs as he rumbled at the ship. "I still have your Captain, if you wish to retrieve him you will have to return, you will not evade me and I will have your technology." He howled then in sudden rage. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (USS Hades- Bridge -aCTAC/ CSEC Lieutenant Baylon Trinin- 1908) Baylon moved to the tactical station. He tried to pull up the tactical console, but it did not respond. "Computer, transfer temporary command of the USS Hades to Lieutenant Baylon Trinin, Acting senior officer, Tribecka- Three- Three- Alpha -Nine- Tribecka" he ordered. [Command transferred and time index logged.] the computer replied. "Disengage bridge command system lockouts." [Lockouts disengaged.] "I want to know who was taken from the ship, get on it now!" Haynes bellowed. "They took Sash, Trommashere and Wright." Baylon answered even as he raised the ship's shields and activated the TIHS. "Helm, full reverse, one-quarter impulse, then bring us about one-eight-zero degrees, tight starboard turn." Baylon ordered as he pulled up the rest of the tactical display. "Aye, sir" the helmsman answered. =^=I have the away team, one casualty.=^= the transporter room called out. Baylon wasted no time, he raised both hands in readiness, as if her were a conductor about to conduct a masterpiece symphony. "The away team is back aboard sir, one casualty. Security officer Adams was killed." Baylon nodded once, there wasn't much that could be said. "The station has raised their shielding, scanning for the whereabouts of the Captain and other officers." Haynes reported "Understood, if you find them let me know right away." Baylon replied. Jack bit back a curse. "Stations weapons are energizing and Graelridge is moving to cut us off." He reached out with his the index finger of his right hand and fired the ship's phasers at the Graelridge, as it moved to intercept them. The brilliant lance of blue energy reached out from the Hades, slamming into the other vessel's forward shields. As an after thought, Baylon added a few extra phaser blasts by dropping the other fingers of his right hand against the interface and watched as the system responded with a silent rapid-fire force of arms. "Mister Haynes please get me a detailed scan of this system. I need to know about every in-system asset that the Waagoshin theatre commander has at his disposal and I need to know yesterday if at all possible." (reply Haynes) "Also notify Commander Straton of the situation. Route her to the bridge if she is not injured. Also have MacLiam sent to Main Engineering if possible, he's now acting CEO." (reply Haynes) Baylon reached out with his left hand and using the tips of his fingers, launched a series of photon torpedoes at the station. He watched as the station's defense shields shimmered in a cascade of color, but otherwise seemed undeterred. He selected the Quantum torpedoes from the optical interface and waited for the indicator to notify him that the load out had been changed. It was ready a moment later. He fired more phaser blasts to keep the Graelridge at bay as the Hades slipped around in a tight starboard arc. Then the ship shook. Baylon turned his head to get a better view of the station and blinked three times very rapidly to tell the computer that he wanted the image enhanced and magnified. The computer was smart; it picked up on his cue and immediately zoomed in- centering the image on his visual line of sight. An energy weapon battery had gone live and was just firing at the Hades for a second time. Again the Hades shook. "Aft shields are holding no damage." He reported out of habit. he was glad that it was just a single weapons battery. He knew that the station had enough firepower to do some serious damage to the Hades if it decided to unleash it's full fury. "Helm, bring us to heading two- zero- three- mark one and take us Z-axis minus 40 degrees. Increase speed to full impulse." "Aye sir, two- zero- three- mark one Z minus 40 degrees, full impulse." The Helmsman repeated as he tapped the commands into the console. Baylon watched as the image surrounding him shifted with the turn and dive, taking them below the solar plane of the system. The increase of speed was only slightly disorienting as the Hades accelerated away from the station and the planet quickly. The imaging software compensated once the speed became constant. The Graelridge was accelerating to keep up, but had not expected the sudden dive, so the Hades had gained a slight bit of breathing space, as now they had managed to escape the weapons range of the station and the Graelridge, although mobile, was not quite in an optimum firing position. He closed his eyes for a moment and pulled his head back, to indicate that the display should return to normal resolution. When he opened his eyes, it had. He jabbed a couple of the fingers on his left hand at the Grealridge, spitting brilliant white quantum torpedoes at the pursuing vessel. Two of the four struck home, the distance between the two ships, being just enough to allow the Waagoshin vessel some time to maneuver clear of the trailing pair. Another pair of phaser blasts lanced outwards, striking the Graelridge's shields, the second was a glancing blow, as the Graelridge's helm officer reacted with uncanny speed. "Mister Haynes, do you have system details yet?" he asked. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Hades- Bridge -CSO Jericho Haynes- 1908.5) Jack had released the OPS console to Lt. Adams and was on his way to science one when Lt. Trinin began firing at the Graelridge, the brilliant blue energy bursts lighting up the screen as he moved. "Mister Haynes please get me a detailed scan of this system. I need to know about every in-system asset that the Waagoshin theatre commander has at his disposal and I need to know yesterday if at all possible." "On it." Jack jerked his thumb over his shoulder and the other officer double-timed it out of the chair and resumed his place at the secondary console. "Also notify Commander Straton of the situation. Route her to the bridge if she is not injured. Also have MacLiam sent to Main Engineering if possible, he's now acting CEO." "Yes sir." His finger stabbed down and opened a comlink to the transporter room and began speaking over the red alert claxon. "Commander Straton, Captain Sash and Lt's Wright and Trommashere have been abducted from the ship. We are taking evasive manuevers and moving to a defensible position." The ship shuddered slightly as the Graelridge opened up with her own weapons. "Taking fire now, your presence is requested on the bridge if possible." (Reply: Straton, room for more) "Ensign MacLiam is required in engineering." (Reply: Eoin, any) Having broken the comlink and relieved to feel Lo'ren's outrage which signaled that she was all right he brought up the long range scanners so that he could carry out the rest of his orders. Short range scans showed the station powering up their main quantum disruptor. "Quantum disruptor on the station operational, incoming." he barked. ~Well now is the time to find out if that defense holds.~ (Reply: Trinin) A yellow beam lanced from the station and plowed into and through the Hades' shields which caused the vessel to surge and buck wildly for an instant. Jack held his breath as the rocking abated, the console flickered for an instant which caused his heart to jump into his throat before it strengthened and steadied with power and telemetry continuing unabated. ~Whew!~ "Mister Haynes, do you have system details yet?" Long range scans were coming online now. "I have long range scans, five smaller warships entering the system now with three more behind them, ETA five minutes. I'm also reading armed installations on the third and fifth planets with heavy weaponry. Scanning posts in the systems are locking on us now." (Reply: Trinin) Weapons fire from the Graelridge as well as missiles from the station were on their way. "We're going to take a pounding." (Reply: Trinin) The ship began to lurch as heavy weapons fire battered the shields which were holding steady so far. The turbolift doors hissed open as Commander Straton and the other bridge officers including Lo'ren and Walsh moved quickly out and began taking their positions. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (USS Hades- Bridge -aTac/CSEC- Lieutenant Baylon Trinin- 1909) "Quantum disruptor on the station operational, incoming." he barked. Baylon opened the palm of his hand flat, then pressed it against the holographic display and slid it to the point that caused the display to show him the station. One of the weapon emitters was already beginning to gather a bright point of gold-white light at it's point and Baylon realized that there wasn't much that he could do except observe and hope that the engineering and science departments had been correct in their calculations. A yellow beam lanced from the station and plowed into and through the Hades' shields. The Hades jerked like a wild Targ that had just been saddled, as the blast struck home. Baylon was nearly thrown from the ring, and only his quick reflexes and ability to grab the tactical console prevented him from being thrown clear of the TIHS interface ring. A ripple shifted through the display, but was gone almost as fast as it had appeared. It seemed that the calculations had been right on the money. "Mister Haynes, do you have system details yet?" Baylon asked. The Science officer turned back to his work although Trinin did not have to wait long for an answer. "I have long range scans, five smaller warships entering the system now with three more behind them, ETA five minutes. I'm also reading armed installations on the third and fifth planets with heavy weaponry. Scanning posts in the systems are locking on us now." ~Ei ght additional ships in five minutes.~ He thought as he pulled the sensor data over and super-imposed it with red tactical markers on his display. "Their response time is impressive." he said. "Helm alter course, heading one- zero- zero- mark five- five, engage on my command." "Standing by, sir." the helmsman replied. Baylon flexed the fingers on both hands and then brought down the thunder. With, his left, he sent a spread of five quantum torpedoes screaming at the Graelridge, with his left, he lanced out with a series of short rapid fire phaser blasts. The Waagoshin vessel was tough, it took a great deal of the trauma head on before it deviated course. The security chief understood that the Waagoshin commander was trying to spread out the damage across his shields. It was the smart thing to do, and the action that Baylon had been hoping to force the his adversary into. As the enemy vessel, shifted away from the Hades, Baylon doubled his phaser blasts focusing their awesome destructive power on the Waagoshin vessel's drive section, specifically their engines. Even though the enemy vessel's shields never dropped, enough of the Phased energy bled through to cause damage to the ship's engines. The vessel lost speed and began to fall behind the pursuit. "Now Helm engage course change." The Hades turned like a prize fighter ready to strike a telling blow against his opponent. The ship's new vector put it on a direct course towards the smaller three ship strike group that was heading directly into the system. Baylon wasn't ready to deal with two enemy strike groups just yet. Instead his plan was to reduce or cripple the smaller enemy battle group to avoid being bogged down with the larger group. "We're going to take a pounding." Haynes said. Baylon spun back to regard the closest opponent, the Grealridge was now beginning to pump bright yellow bolts of energy into the aft shields of the Hades as she moved away. The ship began shaking with the impacts although the shields and the quantum counter-defense seemed to be holding steady. Then he spotted the missiles. They were swift and sleek, moving way to fast for him to really get a clear look at. Their surface seemed to shimmer slightly under the light of the native star. They were dangerous and he knew it. Baylon turned his attention to the rapidly approaching missiles and lanced out with the Hades' phasers. burst after burst tried to lance into the cluster of missiles, but they were hard to hit. Finally, one of them exploded into a brilliant orange red ball of fire as a phaser struck it. The rest slammed into the Hades. The massive ship jerked as the warheads pummeled the Prometheus class starship's aft port shields. The vessel jerked and bucked, threatening to break her own back under the sudden strain. The Structural integrity fields were having a great deal of difficulty for a few moments compensating for the undulation of the blast waves. A moment later, the ship was steady as if nothing untoward had just occurred. There was a hiss of the Turbolift doors and Commander Straton and some of the other officers strode onto the bridge. "Computer transfer command of the USS Hades to Commander Eva Straton, this time index." [Command Transferred] the computer chirped. "Commander I stand relieved. We have two enemy battle groups moving in from the edge of the system. The first is five ships, the second three. there are heavy weapons emplacements on the third and fifth planets in the system. The Graelridge is to our aft, 250,000 kilometers and falling further away. The station is using missiles. We are currently on an intercept course towards the smallest of the task forces." (reply Eva) "Tactical display now on main view screen as overlay." Baylon replied. (reply T'Vof) "Ensign T'vof please take the Tac II station and prepare to engage the Waagoshin vessels. Ensign Walsh, please assume the Security station. I need to have security teams conduct a sweep of the ship. Watch for unwanted devices, or intruders." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (USS Hades, Bridge, aCO Commander Eva Straton, 19:10) She frowned as the lift stopped and she noted that the turbo-lift door had been ripped to shreds. ~Zzt.~ She thought as she stepped through them and into what could only be described as a slaughter house. Blood and gore was everywhere. Several stations were destroyed and there were signs of weapons fire on the walls. Eva quickly took it all in and then dismissed it. She would deal with it later. She other more pressing matters at the moment. "Commander I stand relieved." Lt. Trinin said after transferring command to her. "We have two enemy battle groups moving in from the edge of the system. The first is five ships, the second three. there are heavy weapons emplacements on the third and fifth planets in the system. The Graelridge is to our aft, 250,000 kilometers and falling further away. The station is using missiles. We are currently on an intercept course towards the smallest of the task forces." "Tactical," she snapped as she moved down to the command deck moving toward the command chair but deciding not to sit in it when she saw some unidentified bloody body parts still covering it. She frowned, shoved the bloody parts off onto the floor along with as much blood as possible and then sat down. "Tactical display now on main view screen as overlay." Baylon replied. "Plot a course toward the three ship battle group,"Eva ordered,"Maximum impulse. Target weapons and engines. Attack pattern Theta 3.Take us right down their throats." (Reply Any on Bridge) Eva watched as the Hades altered course and made headed. She considered going multi-vector but she wanted to hold that for when they made their rescue attempt. It wasn't wise to let the enemy know all of your capabilities in the first encounter, so she would hold that in reserve for now. Within moments the Hades was within optimum firing distance. "Fire!" Eva said. As the Hades opened fire the three ships returned fire and the Hades rocked but the three ships had to break formation or risk colliding with Hades this gave them the hole they needed to escape. "Now! Maximum warp speed!," Eva ordered. Eva watched as the stars streamed into rainbow colors as the ship jumped to warp. The ship shuddered still being a little too far inside the gravity well, but not so far as to cause serious damage to the ship or her system. "Scan for pursuit," She said as she rose to her feet. "Mr. Haynes we will need a place to lay low. I want you and Mr. Mackenzie to find us some place where the Waagoshin won't find us too quickly. When that is done, I want to know how the Waagoshin got the Captain and others off this ship." She then turned and looked at the mess that was currently the Bridge. "Get a repair and cleaning crew up here on the double. We will be transferring primary control to the Acheron Bridge until repairs are completed here." Eva turned and looked at the main view screen her thoughts on the three Star Fleet officer they had just been forced to leave behind. ~We will be back for you. My first responsibility is to the ship though. Captain Sash will know that, still I will not abandon them~ "I want a senior officers meeting in two hours or once we are sure we are not being pursued," She added. "We will need to devise a strategy for getting our people back." ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Hades - Sickbay - Dr. Chase O'Neil - 1911) "So don't forget folks...that's what you get folks..." A gentle baritone hum came from the bariatric biobed that held Zzt. Chase was bending over Zzt's arm, putting in a few stay suitures before he went to work with the dermal regenerator, repairing the intricate vasculature. His eyes had a gentle smile in them as he peaked over the top of his surgical mask. "Don't look so down, darling. This big ol' teddy bear is going to be just fine." Dr. O'Neil winked at the nurse who was dabbing away with a lap sponge at the small rivulets of blood that would make their appearance on Zzt's arm. "Yeah, I'd love to hear you call Zzt a teddy bear when he's awake...I'm just worried about the other crew members. I've been so busy here I haven't gotten a chance to see the injury list..." Chase nodded as he rolled his head around on his shoulders. "I'm sure you will get the chance to meet them soon enough. Give me some more 5-0 Lycril, Kelly Clamp, and the Metz..." He resumed humming as he finished up the last of the lacerations, and he adjusted the flow of Propofol before nodding. "Perfect, if I do say so myself." He stood up, running the sterlizer over his hands. "Now, lets see what awaits us..." Chase pulled aside the curtain that sheilded them from the rest of the bay and he gasped at the sight. Bodies laid strewn across biobeds, some in recognizeable forms, others not so much. Nurses, Medics, and the EMH ran ragged around the bay, sedating some, and pronouncing others. The doors to the Bay never seemed to close, and an endless stream of bio-stretchers ladened with people, and crew members carrying their fallen brothers and sisters. Chase was speechless. He removed his sterile cap, wringing it in his hands. The wounds seemed to have come from some sort of animal, but yet he couldn't believe that Zzt caused these injuries. He knew in his heart of hearts that someone else aboard was sporting a shiny pair of claws and teeth. He walked over to the first biobed as the medic was wrapping the crewman's abdomen and chest with wet, sterile gauze. He lifted the crewmans' hand, turning his hand palm up, and he saw the small LED light flashing black. The medics had began to triage the crew members. Green and Yellow were for the walking wounded who could be treated effectively by the medics and nurses. Red needed his attention immediately, and Black...black had the remote possibility of being saved at the expense of the lives of several patients who could most likely be saved. He lifted the gauze the nurse was dutifully wrapping, and the acrid smell of blood, fecal matter, and urine assaulted his olfactory system. He looked at the nurse who had tears in her eyes and he shook his head slightly. "The Medics are right, give him..." He was about to give the nurse orders to make the patient comfortable in his final moments when the patient shuddered once, and laid still. He reached into his lab coat, pulling out a padd. "Lieutennant Piper Kirkland, Time of Death 1911..." He nodded to the nurse, and he took off the LED sensor, dropping it into a small sterlizer dish by the bed. He picked it up, and handed it to a Medic so they could continue with their triage. He moved over to the next biobed, seeing the red flashing emitter. One look over showed that with a little work, they could pull it off. He surveyed the scene in the bay once more before speaking above the din of the Bay. "Let's do this, Ladies and Gentlemen..." --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Graelridge-Holding Area -CMO Angeni O. Windsong-Trommashere- 1912) Angeni paced back and forth in the holding cell, eyeing the guards viciously. The so called holding area looked like nothing more than a relatively empty cargo bay. She went over to some of the boxes, peering at their lables, but they were written in the Waagoshin language. She sat on top of one of the boxes, a deviant smile on her face as she muttered under her breath. "Here puppy puppy puppy...lemme show you what I can do with a rolled up newspaper..." She was trying to keep herself calm, but the Kayla resonated through her core in gentle little pulses. Every time she thought that the worst was over, it re-surged, making her want to heave the heavy boxes scattered around her at the guards. She walked up to one of the guards, sitting on a box opposite of him. She smiled at him cheekily as she toyed with her hair, but her smile soon gave way to a look of repulsion as she jumped off her box, walking back to Darla. "Holy crap do they smell bad..." She whispered softly. "Any ideas on how to get out of here?" (Reply Darla) Angeni nodded quickly, "My only concern is, any overt movement of trying to escape will have us signing our own death certificates...Did they leave you with anything?" (Reply Darla) "All I have left is a small case of Honey Drops and a padd. My Tricorder got yanked, and..." Her face flushed deeply, "I left my medical kit on the ship...I got nothing..." Angeni nudged a smaller box with her foot, and the lid popped open. Inside was a small garden of strange looking plants. Angeni pulled her sleeve of her lab coat down so that it covered her hand, and she picked up one of the plants, smelling it before shoving it back into the box, slamming the lid. "Okay, that was my plan, anyone else have one?" ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Graelridge-Holding Area -aCEO Lieutenant Darla Wright- 1915) Panic. Deep feral nearly mind-numbing panic. That was the first emotion that Darla felt when she realized that she was caught up in a transporter beam that was not their own. The second was fear. When they had been deposited into some sort of cargo hold it was veryapparent that they were no longer anywhere that she could identify as belonging to the Federation. The construction looked too much like the basic style that she had glimpsed of the bridge of the Waagoshin ship. It seemed more constrained than a station might be, so she immediately made the logical leap that they were indeed on the Graelridge, or at least a ship smaller than the Waagoshin station. Captain Sash had remained quiet through the entire thing. It wasn't because he was at a loss for action or words, it was simply the way he was. His Angosian training was probably working out the millions of ways that they could take down their Waagoshin guards, escape from their makeshift prison and bring the Waagoshin empire, or whatever it was called, to it's knees. For her part in everything, she was willing to let the Captain brood on the tactical details. She wasn't much of a fighter when it came to being seriously outnumbered. In fact she was still wondering how she had somehow managed to get herself involved in all of this mess to begin with. As Angeni took a slight stroll, sat across from one of the Waagoshin guards and then headed back in her direction, Darla was taking in the mechanical aspects of the room that they were in. Forty-five meters by maybe fifty-meters , nearly square, but not quite. Bulkheads made of Duranium, phosperic excitation lighting, one control console near the door, alien language actively scrolling on the screen, a large blast style door that seemed to be a lifting door, and absolutely no way to get to it past the twelve Waagoshin Guards. At least not alive. Angeni came back over to the engineer after staring at one of the Waagoshin guards for a while. "Holy crap do they smell bad..." She whispered softly. "Any ideas on how to get out of here?" Darla frowned, then gestured towards the door with her chin. "Looks like the only way out is past the pups and out the door." she replied, choosing to use a more diminutive word for the Waagoshin. It somehow made the fear in her belly a little smaller. Angeni nodded quickly, "My only concern is, any overt movement of trying to escape will have us signing our own death certificates...Did they leave you with anything?" The engineer, shook her head. "Just my PADD. They took my tricorder and my phaser." She reached her left hand up to her ear lobes and pinched each between her fingers slightly, "Looks like I still have the pair of silver stud earrings my last boyfriend gave me, and my silver Belly button ring as well. Other than that I'm down to my good looks and obvious feminine charms." The last part was meant to be funny, a means to reduce the tension that she was feeling. It must have fallen short though, because Angeni never blinked before rattling off her own inventory of stuff. "All I have left is a small case of Honey Drops and a PADD. My Tricorder got yanked, and..." Her face flushed deeply, "I left my medical kit on the ship...I got nothing..." Darla looked over at the captain who gave a single solemn shake of his head. It appeared that he had not been left much either. Of course his 'not left much' more than made up for the lack of stuff the girls had been allowed to keep. Sash was well known not to need a weapon to deal with threats, after all he was a genetically engineered war machine. Angeni nudged a smaller box with her foot and the lid popped open. This of course drew Darla's immediate attention. Inside was a small garden ofstrange looking plants. Angeni pulled the sleeve of her lab coat down so that it covered her hand and she picked up one of the plants, smelling it before shoving it back into the box and slamming the lid. "Okay, that was my plan, anyone else have one?" "That was a plan?" Darla asked a little surprised. "How exactly was that a plan? We're you planning on doing some gardening or something? Growing a poisonous plant and convincing them to eat it or what have you?" (reply Angeni) Before Darla could reply again, the single door to the compartment lifted into the top of the door frame and a Waagoshin with a large escort arrived. They were all armed with those rods. And quite a few of them were armed with some sort of man catcher type devices. "You are all slaves now. If you attempt to resist you will be severely punished. You will not speak unless spoken to. You will obey immediately or you will die." The Waagoshin barked and the entourage slipped forward rapidly, wielding the devices ahead of them with a sort of expertise that Darla suspected only came from practice with the weapon. She backed up as the closest group of four Waagoshin approached her, another group of four moved towards Angeni and yet twice that many towards the Captain. She managed to dodged the first two thrusts of the device, which was aimed at her neck. The third one however was not so easy to avoid. The Waagoshin decided to gang-up on her. Three of them all thrust their devices at her at once One of them, at least, made contact and Darla was filled with a strange electrical sensation as the device wrapped around her left forearm. It snapped closed instantly and when she tried to jerk her arm away, it released a nasty electrical shock that brought her to her knees. She landed on her knees hard, gasping for breath as her body struggled to deal with the near complete sensory overload that had just coursed through her body. She twisted her head and threw up her right arm top stave off another attack which only allowed them to capture that arm as well and shoot even more energy into her. She let out a moan of pain as the muscles in her back and arms contracted rapidly then the third device was around her neck. Another jolt made it impossible for her to fight back as the first two Waagoshin released her arms. A turn of her head made her vision swim and she could see that Sash at least was also down. He was suffering from the same intense spasms that had wracked her body moment earlier. It looked as if he had done some damage though, two Waagoshin were carrying off one of their compatriots who was nursing what appeared to be a broken left arm. ~Serves them right!~ Darla thought spitefully. She turned to look at Angeni. The Cherokee woman did not appear to have fared much better. "Take the Alpha to a holding cell." The Waagoshin leader finally spoke. He turned his inhuman eyes towards the two women. "Take the females to medical to be processed. See to it that they are inspected and certified free of parasites, Then take them to a holding cell." He stepped forward to look Angeni in the eyes. "This one has spirit. I may need to break her personally." he drawled. Darla cut the Waagoshin a hateful look. "Oh I wouldn't even think about it if I were you. That woman's people wore your ancestors for clothing once." The Waagoshin snarled at her, then raised his left paw and backhanded Darla with a blow that shook her to the core. After she landed, the Waagoshin keeper on the end of the collar applied a little more energy to her than was actually called for. "I may wear your flesh as clothing before the day is out slave!" he threatened, then stepped back away from the two females. "See to it at once!" Uncomfortably, Darla was forced to her feet and guided out of the compartment and towards the medical bay. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Graelridge-Holding Area -CMO Angeni O. Windsong-Trommashere- 1917) "That was a plan?" Darla asked a little surprised. "How exactly was that a plan? We're you planning on doing some gardening or something? Growing a poisonous plant and convincing them to eat it or what have you?" Angeni raised an eyebrow ever so slightly, "Actually I thought...." Her phrase was cut off quickly as she watched several Waagoshin guards walk into the room. A real plan began to form, and she glanced at the sleeve of her lab coat, and she saw a shimmery oil on it, a deposit from the plant. Quickly, she rolled up her sleeve and rubbed a bit of the oil on her forearm. Even on there, the oils stung slightly, but it gave her an idea. She rubbed the oils on her hands, arms, and neck, even slicking down the ends of her hair. She put it anywhere she thought she might be grabbed, licked, or bitten, and she grimaced slightly, realizing she was coming very close to the end of her being able to do anything as she heard the head Waag speak. "You are all slaves now. If you attempt to resist you will be severely punished. You will not speak unless spoken to. You will obey immediately or you will die." Angeni finished folding the leaves into a very small square, and she closed her eyes as she slipped the square under her tongue. A quick swallow revealed no overt stomach issues right away, and she stood up just to see four Waags approach her. They held out a sort of device that she was sure that was going to go around her neck. "I don't think so Tim..." She dodged a few thrusts of the device, and she climbed up onto a box. All the while, she was chewing her cud as it were. When a Waag got close, she spit right into his face. It had the desired effect. The Waag staggered back, howling out in pain, holding his face. Angeni stood tall on the box when she felt a pole slam across her back. She cried out in pain, landing right in front of Captain Sash. For one fleeting moment, she stared into his eyes before being brutally clawed at by the Waag. She felt the claws scrape against her ankle bone, and she kicked and scratched and screamed until she felt the collar snap around her neck. She rose up, only to be brought down by the intense electrical sensation going through her body. She grit her teeth, tradition not allowing her to show fear in the face of an assailant. She looked each one in the eye as more tazing bracelets were snapped to her wrists. Deep down, she almost felt sad, as if the Great Wa-Ya had let her down, but she knew that these emesaries of pain were not in allegiance with Wa-Ya, they, in her mind, were the exact opposite. She looked at Darla, her heart breaking. Why couldn't she have come up with a plan to save them. For a split second, Angeni's heart sank. She was no longer a healer, a provider, the giver of succor. She had failed to help her comrades. She lowered her eyes, feeling her cheek beginning to swell from where she hit the ground when she heard another Waag talking. "Take the Alpha to a holding cell." The Waagoshin leader finally spoke. "Take the females tomedical to be processed. See to it that they are inspected and certified free of parasites, Then take them to a holding cell." Angeni struggled against her bonds, calling out, "No! Don't you dare!" The electricity dropped her to her knees, and she yelled out, but she stood up the minute it stop, the urge to fight strong in her. She got one swift kick off before she was paralyzed where she stood. She watched without being able to move as the leader walked up, eyeing her up like a piece of meat. This one has spirit. I may need to break her personally." he drawled. The electricity stopped, and all Angeni could do was take big heaving breaths of air, but Darla spoke for her. "Oh I wouldn't even think about it if I were you. That woman's people wore your ancestors for clothing once." Angeni watched with wide eyes as the Waag took it upon himself to deliver a blow to Darla that Angeni thought sure had killed her or at least knocked her into a coma. Angeni cried out, ,"Stop! Please stop!" Her voice was choked with tears. "Quit hurting them!" She struggled plaintively against her bonds, "Darla!? Say something...please!" She watched as Darla was pulled to her feet, and they were led off to the medical facility. She looked around for Sash, and she caught a glimpse of him as he was lead away. Angeni allowed herself to be lead to the medical facility, trying to gather herself to keep the emotions bottled up inside of her. The guard allowed her to wipe off her face, and she winced as the oils on her skin made her wound burn fiercely. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Graelridge- Medical Area -aCEO Lieutenant Darla Wright- 1925) The trip to the Medical area wasn't a long one and wouldn't have been uncomfortable at all if the Waagoshin guard that was controlling her collar hadn't felt the urge to remind her that he was there, by activating the thing. The doors finally hissed open and they were half pushed, half-choked through the opening and into the compartment beyond. The compartment was very high-tech and Darla could almost imagine Angeni drooling over the equipment if it hadn't been for the circumstances. "Here are the two female slaves!" the Waagoshin holding Angeni's collar barked once they had arrived. An older looking Waagoshin, his fur containing more gray than red turned to regard the new arrivals with a sense of emotional detachment that would rival most Vulcans. "Put them in the decontamination chamber." he said, then gestured towards a door that was marked with strange lettering. "Then have them strip out of those terrible clothes. I don't want to touch them or those rags until they are cleaned." Darla was nearly jerked off her feet by the collar and half stumbled- half walked to the indicated door, Angeni was right beside her. The door slid open, and Darla noticed one of the walls shimmer and become transparent. The view beyond was that of a medical compartment not much different from the Radiation decontamination chamber in their own sickbay. A sudden push, nearly caused her to trip over the threshold, but Darla managed to stay on her feet. The collar had remained on her neck, but the handle had separated from it and the Waagoshin control pressed a stud in the handle causing Darla to nearly collapse in agony. "Inside now!" he barked at her. Darla nodded and complied. It wasn't long before Angeni was right behind her. The door slid closed and was sealed with a hiss. The Waagoshin escort stepped over to a monitoring post and pressed a button. =^= take of your garments and put them and your other possessions into the slot in the wall. If you do not comply I will punish you.=^= Darla looked at Angeni. "Do they want us completely naked or just to our skivvies?" she asked, although she already knew the answer. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Graelridge- Medical Area- CMO Angeni O. Windsong-Trommashere- 1926) Angeni nearly tripped over Darla as they were shoved into the room. Angeni glanced at the medical equipment, but she knew she wasn't here on a sightseeing trip. "Here are the two female slaves!" the Waagoshin holding Angeni's collar barked once they had arrived. "Slaves my tawny behind!" Barked back Angeni. Once again, she was brought to her knees by the collar before being rudely picked back up. They were told in no uncertain terms where they were to go, and Angeni fought like a caged animal the whole way until she was thrown into the chamber. She laid on the floor, her vision mostly paisley. She struggled drunkenly to her feet, and as she did, she turned to Darla, wiping the small drop off blood from the corner of her mouth. "Are you okay, Darla? Are you hurt anywhere?" (Reply Darla) Angeni put a hand on the womans' shoulder, looking her deep in the eyes, but before she could say anything, they were asked to remove their clothing. "Do they want us completely naked or just to our skivvies?" Angeni shook her head, "I don't think you or I can tollerate these puppy shock collars too much longer. I'm used to running around in my birthday suit..." Angeni slowly stripped out of her clothing, her eyes closed the whole time. Once she was done, she put her belongings in the slot and she moved over to where the camera was that was peering in on them, and she stood proudly before it. As naked as a Jay Bird, she still managed to keep the look of authority on her face, her hands on her hips. The Waag on the exterior pressed a button once both of them were nude, and in minutes, Angeni felt cleaner than she ever had. She felt clean in places she knew existed, but never truly dealt with. To her dismay, all the oil had come off in the super sonic-sonic they had just taken. She crossed her arms over her chest and she faced Darla. She wasn't about to get taken as a slave, nor allow Darla to be taken as one either. "I promise, come hell or high water, we're getting out of here!" ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- end compile