Staging area part 3

Posted on Sat Apr 23rd, 2022 @ 10:34am by Captain Maia Sterling & Lieutenant Steve O'Carroll & Lieutenant Commander Sheena Toran-Blake & Lieutenant Commander Robert Hendon & Lieutenant Commander Havri Belbre & Lieutenant Rick Gibbs & Captain Karyn Somers

Mission: The Riixian Insurection
Location: 2nd moon of Betazed
Timeline: 239503.20

Captains Log Stardate 239503.20

Assault teams from the Leto have a two-pronged mission, Lieutenant Brannon is leading the rescue mission to recover Commander Toran's parents and to disable the psionic amplifier located and the central nexus. Lt Karen Somers and the 95th Rifles are to assault and take out the biogenic weapon located in a missile silo 5 kilometres southwest of Niation falls. So far reports from the Leto have been quiet. They have come up with a method to scatter crystals in the upper atmosphere to disperse any psionic signal, this will they assure me prevent deaths as the signal will be degraded to a minimum of 65 per cent. I would prefer it to be 100 per cent but it was a plan we came up with at the last minute. Mr Gibbs on the Leto is relaying information back and forth to all hands. The success of this mission is now in the hands of my very capable crew. The Betazed council is meeting soon to decide the fate of their relationship with the Federation.

[ON]

CJ1 to hover leader, I am sensing a disturbance not far from the central nexus. I can sense several off-worlders but I can't get a fix on my sensors. They must be using some sort of bio masking technology. Shall we go in for a closer look?

Yes Roger CJ1 we can recon the area, have CJ2 and CJ3 reconnoitre and find out who and what they are. We don't need any more trouble from the Caliphate. Do not attack unless you can verify who they are. CJ Leader out.

The three hovercraft converged heading 015 and increased their speed to 200 KPH. They still had no sensor or life readings but these were Betazoids they could sense minds.

=/\= Corporal Humphries to Lieutenant Somers, bogies are heading in our direction, copy. They will be here in just less than 3 minutes =/\=

Tapping a spot on her helmet to activate her sub-dermal communications =/\= understood, thank you, Corporal, please keep Comms silence and they may just pass us by =/\= Karyn said.

Corporal Humphries clicked the mic once for acknowledgement.

He then primed his TR-116 assault weapon and took good cover perhaps he might get lucky and be able to capture one or more of the hovercraft.

The three hovercraft converged on the squad's position from three different angles, scanning beams were intense. Finally over a loudspeaker CJ1 said This is Betazed Hoverteam Security, We know you are down there somewhere. Come out and identify yourselves.

oO So much for passing us by Oo He thought lamely.

Karyn looked at Brannon and spoke quietly "what do you want to do El-tee?" she asked as Karyn was for once at a loss on what to do.

Brannon smiled," I have never given up and don't plan to start. Let's side into two teams and hit them hard and fast you and your Marines on the right flank and me along with my Security team hit the left we can get them if we surprise them. What do you think LT Somers?

Then you help Toran get her parents and we will get the weapon. at the same time. It will force them to divide and conquer. Which gives both missions a better chance of success. And we don't want that weapon getting away. I want it destroyed to prevent further chances of this happening again."

"Got it El-tee," Karyn said and spoke to her Rifles as they moved into position on the right flank.

Gunny Becket organized the men on the right flank.

"We are in position L.T." Gunny stated.

Message relayed to Lieutenant Somers in Staging Area Three from Gibbs on the ship. =/\= Scans are complete. There are waves of psionic energy and it keeps growing in strength. Particularly in the directions of the Council Chamber of the Chancellory. Could be able to distribute the particles in the atmosphere and the scattering field should be reduced by 73-74%.

Also, there are no other ships in the area but for us and the patrol ship, but of course, there's got to be bad news. The biogenic weapon on the second moon is starting a build-up to launch. Estimated 30 minutes to fire." =/\=

"Again over the loudspeaker, this is Betazed Internal Security, please acknowledge." One of the hovercraft sent.

Karyn double-tapped the Comms button on her helmet to acknowledge the message, her Rifles locked eyes with her and all nodded they got the message too...

Then she decided to trust her gut "Betazed Internal Security! Thank the Maker, you are our ride I take it?" Karyn said to the vehicles near their position

"I am Captain Selo, I am surprised you got the message. Yes, we are here to get you to the silo. It has been activated and we have less than 30 minutes to get you there if you can have your squad taken aboard our three ships we can get you there a lot faster. We simply don't have the equipment to disarm it. Captain Selo said.

All three hovercraft landed and the armoured doors opened.

"Lieutenant? Please hurry." Selo said from the door of his hovercraft.

"Sweet, okay people get your rears into the transport, pronto," Karyn said and made sure all her team was in, as she entered she looked at Selo "okay that is the last Captain, let's go!" Somers finished

Load by three. Three people and their equipment into each hovercraft. Captain Celo said.

Soon the squad was loaded and speeding to the silo.

"Lt Somers there is a countdown going on which is why we were sent to you, how do you plan to take out the missile?" Selo asked.

Looking at the Betazoid security officer "I got no idea until we get there officer, it would be pointless surmising as I could make up a plan and what we encounter could negate any plans I make, but the missiles will be disabled" Somers said.

"What is the Earth expression? I guess we're playing this by ear then." Celo replied.

Laughing lightly "very true, very true," Somers said.

=/\= Leto to Toran, Leto to Brannon please come in. What is your status =/\=

=/\= Toran to Leto, you have news for me? We are about to get a ride to the silo=/\= Sheena said into her mic, as she waited to board the hovercraft.

Brannon replied, =/\= I have set charges and have blown the area where the weapon controls are and sent half my security team with Toran. I am in process of joining back up with Toran now. Commander Toran what is your Location?=/\=

=/\= Leto to Toran do you have your parents and if the Psionic projector neutralized=/\=

Wincing in pain, Sheena almost cried out. Her father's outcry of pain came through like a knife stabbing in her mind. Looking at the pilot, " We must hurry my parents are being tortured again. They won't last much longer," Sheena said in a pained voice. They had to hurry, that's all she thought about at the moment.

=/\=Toran to Leto, as soon as I have my parents on my shuttle I will be inbound fast. Have Dr. Herndon be ready to receive them via emergency transport from my shuttle once we are in range. They are in serious critical condition=/\= Sheena contacted Leto immediately as they approached the silo. Her parent's pain was growing the closer they got and she was fighting not to be overcome by it.

=/\= Roger copy Commander, Doctor Hendon will be standing by, Leto out =/\=

Brannon and her team helped to make contact with the hovercrafts. Then they moved out quickly, this was going to be a hot zone soon. They enter the tunnel and moved quickly and after fighting thru the chaos they were able to find the weapon controls. The charges were set and then the times gave them 10 seconds to clear the room and get a safe distance away.

"Chief you and the others go ahead I will give you 10 seconds and start the timer to detonate the explosives. I will join you on the run."

Chief Johnson said, "Roger That. Let's move out everyone."

=/\= Commander Toran we are setting the changes they will blow up the psionic weapon in 10 seconds. We will join you at the exit portal. =/\=

=/\= Understood Brannon=/\= Sheena said. Looking at her small group, " Time to get my parents. Let's go," she said.

She started the timer and was sprinting down the corridor when the blast went off. It knocked her down but she got up quickly and caught up with the rest of her team. They arrived slightly ahead of Commander Toran's team. And waited. Once they got there they help them out.

Meeting up with Brannon, Sheena again cringed as she felt another wave of pain from her mother this time. "We must get the guards who are in the room with my parents out here and subdued quietly and fast so I can get them out and to my shuttle. Their conditions are deteriorating rapidly and can't withstand much more torture," she announced to Brannon.

Brannon joined up and replied. "Understood as they started moving forward Brannon took the second place in line behind Dawson. As they got to a corner the hold signal came up. And Brannon went to check it out. An electronic defensive device was guarding the corridor. She looked at Dawson, "We have to get by that thing to continue."

She picked up a bucket sitting next to her and threw it so it bounced off the wall behind the device. It turned and fired, Brannon, moved quickly, and hit it with a phaser rifle. It exploded in a brilliant blast. She smiled and checked for more none were seen.

"OK let's move out and everyone keep their eyes open for more traps and tripwires.

One objective down one to go, Corporal Humphries, thought as he witnessed the explosion, what a light show...

He ran up to Commander Toran and asked.

"Do you have any idea where your parents are being kept? They were not where the psionic weapon was. We conducted a thorough check. Could they be in the Silo with the biogenic weapon, Ma'am?" Humphries asked.

"Exactly where they are. Half a click from the bio-genic weapon in a small bunker. Let's move out," she said leading her small group out and heading for the area where the bunker was located. We have to get them fast and off the planet," Sheena said. Leading her group, they didn't have too much resistance from the Caliphate guards and with Brannon's help, they retrieved her parents. Her father was in critical condition and Sheena, along with her parents, and grandparents were quickly transported to her shuttle for medical attention. Sheena quickly sent the shuttle for the Leto stopping long enough to com Lt. Somers. =/\=Toran to Somers, have retrieved parents and are headed for Leto and then Betazed to the council=/\=

Tapping a point behind her helmet =/\= Affirmative, we are moving in on the weapon centre and will set explosives and follow you out, requesting communication silence, we are about to move in =/\= Somers said and closed the link.

After closing the link she signalled her team to move in, by this time the whole base was alerted so they encountered some Caliphate resistance, but nothing that they could not handle, after shooting their way through they made it to the tactical centre, gaining entry they secured the room and while two Rifles began to plant some spatial charges, powerful ones, Karyn went to the nearest console and downloaded all data to a portable drive, she would let security decrypt the data at a later date.

Luckily they were not attacked, small explosions elsewhere might have contributed to that, but Karyn could not be sure, soon her Rifles reported that all explosive charges had been planted and she had just finished downloading encrypted data. "okay, set the timer and let's get out of here" Somers said and the lead roles led the way out cautiously. They managed to get down a level before they were fired upon, with some slight injuries on the Rifles side, but the Caliphate personnel fell to the floor dead, as they exited the building Karyn looked at her Chrono and found she only had two minutes to get clear before the place exploded.

"El-tee forgot to mention we found a couple of tanks with flammable and explosive logos on them and we planted some explosives there in concentration, it would not be wise to linger!" He said,

Karyn looked at the Rifleman in question incredulously "geeze Zimmerman you're crazy! That is worthy of my sister, okay people lets speed it up" Somers said as her team picked up speed she activated her communications =/\= Somers to Toran FIRE INTHE HOLE =/\= she said and felt the pressure wave as a very large explosion erupted ripping the facility apart "oof!" she said as she was knocked slightly "damn you Zimmerman" she griped, she let Brannon know as she did not know how far from the building her team was.

As the noise and explosion died down, again tapping her communications =/\= Somers to Brannon, my team will meet you at the shuttle =/\= she added.

Sheena was already moving fast after the chaos of the explosion. This was the ideal time to get her parents and she did. The security team that had gone with her, cleared out the small contingent of enemy raiders quickly.

After getting her father out of the chains, her mother who was actually semi-conscious, on their feet, moved swiftly to the surface and get beamed to her shuttle.

=/\=Toran to Somers, I am currently on my shuttle and beating a hasty retreat to the Leto for medical care for my parents. Toran out=/\=

Turning to the pilot, "Put your foot on the peddle and get this bucket moving!"

It was time Robert made his presents known.

“ It’s ok I am here already.” He said moving towards the injured.

Brannon and her team went with Toran on the shuttle. A couple of her security team members had minor wounds that needed Care. She hit her communications Badge. =/\=Brannon to Sterling I will come to your location and join you. We have Toran's parents. Now it is time for me to stand up to my Betazed duties.=/\=

Looking in surprise at Dr Hendon, "Boy am I glad to see you. My father is critical, my mother is semi-conscious and Brannon has some injured. I need my parents ready and awake to transport to the council chambers as mom's an ambassador as well. Her vote counts and her father is living proof of what the Caliphate are about and how they work", Sheena explained quickly.

Finally getting back to their beam in coordinates Karyn opened up a channel =/\= Leto nine to beam up, energize=/\= Karyn said and a moment later the ship's transporters claimed her team, she was chafing that Toran left in the shuttle they came on, the moment they fully materialized she stepped off the transporter and tapped her Commbadge.

=/\= Somers to Captain Sterling, may I speak to you in person in your CRR please and can Commander Toran be present? =/\= She asked her tone was not a happy one and she knew that Toran would be arriving back shortly or was already on the ship as the woman took their shuttle back to the ship.

=/\= Sterling here, of course, lieutenant, I always have time for my officers. =/\=>

=/\= I will be there in twenty and yes Captain I am not a happy camper, Somers out =/\= she said as she was talking she made her way to her office and removed her combat EVA suit jumped into the sonic shower in her office, she did not take long as she was tamping mad, she got out and put on a clean uniform and made herself presentable and made sure her uniform was straight and then she was once again out the door, the Rifles who saw her, gave her a wide berth.

[OFF]

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A post by:

Captain Maia A. Sterling
Commanding Officer
USS Leto NCC-80916

1st Lt Karyn Somers
Marine XO
USS Leto

Lt. Cmdr. Sheena Toran
Executive Officer
USS Leto

LT Angelina Brannon
Chief of Security
USS Leto

Lt.Cmdr Dr Robert Hendon
Chief Medical Officer
USS Leto