ILLUMINARRPG: Temerity 4 at 0850

Wed Mar 15 18:16:42 UTC 2023

Mission:  Exogenesis
Day: 4
Stardate: 2446.06.04

(Zertos III - Tellarite Mining Complex - Marine - 2LT Charles Temerity -
0850)

He then turned to Temerity, “Lt. I need you and the others to take video
surveillance of the ward.  Suggestions on disposing of them?”

Looking thoughtful for a couple of moments, Charles replied with a tone of
remorse, “We have a couple of options on what to do with the bodies.  The
easiest would be to simply bury them. We can place simple markers with the
names of those that can be positively identified and a simple generic
marker on those we cannot identify.”  He then paused for a moment before
continuing, “I’ll get a detail together to start digging the graves while
myself and the rest of the Marines move the remains, and we’ll collect the
video as we do so.”

(Reply: Hammons iyw)

“I’ll get my Marines together and get rolling on this.” Temerity stated as
he began rubbing his forehead as he moved off.

“I need to go and check on Commander Gregory, and see what Dr. Solace
wishes,” he said.  “Secure the area.”

Temerity faced Hammons with a hardened look in his eye, “I don’t know how
many folks you THINK we have down here, but someone will need to prioritize
and some folks will have to pitch in and get their manicures dirty.” And
then turned to walk away as he tapped his earpiece “Marines to the front of
the main building.  We have a job and none of us are going to like it.”

Even as an NCO, Charles always tried to tell things like he perceived them
without candy coating things.  Once the Marines had gathered together, he
gave them all a rundown of what they were going to have to do before he led
them inside.

As Temerity along with the rest of the Myrmidons, that were literally
boots-on-ground, entered the lab he heard Hammons quip.

“Time to bug out, Chief. Do you have everything you need?”

Steven raised the case as he stepped aside. "It's all in here. Last one out
is a big pile of rocks."

Nevertheless, he fell into step behind the Brikarian with a chuckle. The
marines had also hustled in and were standing by.

"Hello boys, quiet day, isn’t it?"

Temerity had just about had enough of the different holier-than-thou
attitudes from various fleet members, “Mr. Hammons, I am never in a good
mood when I have to carry dead bodies, ANYone’s dead body.  So I want to
quietly inform you that as my Marines are relocating the victim’s bodies,
we will NOT be digging the graves.  So I strongly suggest that you either
assemble a detail to dig the graves for us to respectfully place these
victims in or…well lets just say you would not like the alternative.”
Without awaiting a response, he turned and began giving orders to the
Marines to locate stretchers and prepare the bodies to be moved outside.

Dogan gave the order to move out, but they were hardly on their way before
a humongous, pig snouted, wolfish thing poked its head through a nearby
doorway.

In response to the sudden, unexpected movement, all the Marines reflexively
raised their weapons prepared to defend.

"Lieutenant I suggest you back slowly away with us rather than trying to
play the hero." Hammons noted as he stepped beside him and glared at the
creature with his arm extended.

"Hold your fire gents. This thing is aware and if I were a betting man I'd
say it can probably read our intent. Everyone relax and we may get out of
this without a ruckus."

Temerity couldn’t help but think to himself, ‘I’ve about had it with this
condescending twatwaffle.  I don’t want to go through another
court-martial, but it might be worth it in his case.’  He then turned to
the marines and signaled them to lower their weapons.

Steven lowered his right arm. "We come in peace."

The bump knocked Hammons to the right a bit but his armored suit absorbed
any damage it might have caused such as a sore shoulder.

“That’s something you don’t see every day,” Dogan said.  “What happened?”

Steven's reply may or may not have been helpful. "I don't know what, why or
even how that thing is but I could sense it and it wasn't hostile. All I
felt was ... concern and sadness."

Charles adjusted his rifle so that it was slinged across his back and
stepped up to the animal and held his hand out, palm up, to allow it to
sniff him; just like he would to a dog before attempting to lightly pet its
muzzle.

"I seem to have some latent ability, it surfaced after I bonded with
Alaya." He looked around. "I wish I had some answers, but I don't, sorry.
At any rate this looks like a good time to get out of here."

“We still have a job to do here.  You go ahead and do whatever the hell you
think you must.” The Marine lieutenant directed.

Steven hefted the case and slid past the doorway the creature had popped
out of.

Charles turned to the Marines, “Alright everyone, dip into your rations and
cough up the second largest item you have that you would feed your pet…if
you had one here.  Let him sniff you, pet his muzzle a little and give him
the treat.  He’s most likely hungry as hell. When that’s done, let's start
getting these bodies out of here.”

As they began moving bodies, Charles could not stop his mind from wandering
to the Doers Brigade and the events that followed that horrific event.

(Reply: Hammons iyw, Any iyw)

(Posted By: Chuck Raschen)

Charles Raschen

*"Life is a Gift That Everyone Cherishes,*

*But has to Eventually Return" -Mandalorian Proverb*

*"Under the Bludgeonings of chance;*

*My head is bloody, but Unbowed." -Invictus*

*"Sometimes Bad-Guys Make the Best Good-Guys." -Leverage*
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