The Rescue

Posted on Mon Jun 28th, 2021 @ 8:00am by Captain Karyn Somers & Captain Maia Sterling & Lieutenant Commander Havri Belbre & Doctor Samantha Blake, Ph.D (Geology) & Lieutenant Steve O'Carroll

Mission: The Thorion Conundrum Mission Brief
Location: Various
Timeline: After Out of the Frying Pan post

[ON]

Right after Karyn had left the bridge she sent out a call for three Riflemen to be in full combat gear as she headed straight to her quarters and changed into her ground combat gear, she put on her old fashioned webbing and pulled out her blades and put them into their sheaths on the back of her webbing. She then pulled out a TR-116 rifle and then followed the updated version of the Phase pistol that was used during the time of the NX class vessels by their crews, only this one fired bolts of energy much like the Klingon disruptor pistols, but the energy was nadion based not plasma, this looked basically the same as the ones used in the 2152s but it was more streamlined.

She wanted to take her 9mm Baretta Pistol, but she had yet to replicate ammo for that so she used the energy weapon, while it was not much she put all TR116 ammo cartridges she had into the pouches on her webbing and placed the Phaser pistol into the holster low down on her right thigh, Then she pulled out a standard-issue Commando knife which she attached to her belt. then double-checking her loadout "dammit Karyn this is a bit overkill" she said to herself and removed the blades from her harness sheaths and returned them to her bag, now ready she headed out of her quarters and straight to the transporter room, she had a hairband in her hand as she entered the lift and as the doors closed "Transporter room one"

- Transporter Room One -

As she entered transporter room one she was pleased to see the rifles there in their gear and the engineer and nurse in the Fleet version of ground away gear, her outfit under the webbing was an updated version of the MACO outfit from the 2150s, only difference was where the MACO badge would be the 95th Rifle Regiment badge was in place. She stood there looking at the assembled and as she spoke she began to put her long red hair into a ponytail with practised ease.

"Okay, we have located Lieutenant Brannon, so we will be going in to get her, *looks at C'Tinu* "your job Ensign will be to locate the hostiles computers and download any information, do not bother to decrypt, just download and then when done my rifles will set up explosives. *looks at Peeters* Kimberly your only task is to attend to the injured and get them ready for a hot retreat, as it may be a quiet entry, but on the way out this will not be the case, any questions? Ask them now as you will not be able to ask them when on the mission.

"Just show me the computers, and watch how fast they get downloaded," K'Rin said as her tail swished back and forth quickly. Checking her gear and attaching her thin blade to her thigh. Felt good to have it there as added security.

Nurse Peeters didn't have the opportunity to meet her fellow mission members before but she decides this isn't the time for making Smalltalk. She looks in awe at the fierceness of the caitian and the red-haired woman. She feels secure with them on her team and the riflemen are a nice addition too. If it comes down to her shooting skills, the mission is fubar before it begins. "all clear, lieutenant Somers!"

"Right if there are no other questions, get your rumps onto the transporter pad," she said finally joining them then she looked over to her team, then back to the transporter Operator "Energize," she said and she felt the effects of the transporter take her and the familiar gravity of the ship change to real gravity, as the transporter effect faded "first time on terra Firma in years," she said as the rifles that came with them took up defensive positions. *Looks at the two fleet officers.

"Okay you see that compound ahead of us?" she asked pointing to the compound/base in the distance.

Once on the surface, K'Rin's cat senses came alive and her ears swivelled, as her tail swished back and forth in quick motions. She could hear everything including the rustling of a bush about half a click from their position. Moving in the direction indicated, K'Rin padded softly into hiding.

"Yes, ..... I see it!" Kimberly said. It's a weird feeling, being energized. It wasn't her first time but she needed a few seconds to get her bearings. She realised everyone was kneeling while she was still standing upright. Immediately she kneeled next to K'Rin, seeing the caitian react to the new environment was a strange sight. It seemed like the predator in her took over.

"Well that is where we are going, so prepare yourselves," she said with a smile and stood next to the Rifles who were looking through their rifle scopes "what we got gentlemen?" she asked.

"Is everything alright K'Rin?" Kimberly whispered.

K'Rin's ears swivelled once again as her whiskers started to quiver. "No...", lifting her head slightly, she sniffed the air. "Human scent on the air," she said quietly as her tail swished slightly.

"I realise, we humanoids, lost a lot of our senses during our evolution. Although we don't need them anymore, I'm kinda jealous the Caitians still have them and are evolving at the same time. Her features are obviously a big advantage for this mission." It seems like she's focused so I decided to let her response sink in and keep a close eye on her.

Ahead of the group was an imposing structure it was a large building with old-style communication masts on plus modern equipment on its roof, the place was surrounded by a high fence with some laser beams at the top where the barbed wire would normally be, either side of the gate was two watchtowers and about five to ten meters on the left and right from the center was some more towers and there was a similar setup all the way around the building, there were spotlights shining out of the base and some inside, there were also guards on the roof and some patrols outside the fence, it would be these that would have to be taken care of first.

The first one lowered his rifle and pointed to the four lookout rooftop points "we have a sentry on the right and left flanks and two in the centre all have heavy long-range weaponry, they will need to be taken out before we can effect entry" the first one said.

The other one who was looking at the ground warned of at least two patrols of two personnel each moving around the parameter with about an hour spacing between them, Karyn sighed "okay where is the nearest cover closest to the compound?" She asked. The riflemen pointed at a particular crop of bushes "All alrighty then, we better move out" she said looking back at the two fleet officers and quietly "okay you pair let's go" she said.

No turning back, Kimberly thought. She took a deep breath and checked if the phaser set on stun because killing creatures was obviously against her code of conduct if it could be avoided. "Yes, Lieutenant Somers" she acknowledged.

Karyn looked back and looked at the Nurse's hand phaser "change the setting to kill Ensign, we are not taking prisoners" Karyn said looking up at the young woman as she finished.

Kimberly was surprised by the order of her superior. She wasn't a killer and she had sworn an oath to help creatures in need of aid, so she decided to change the setting but to keep her phaser in her holster at all costs. If that meant capture or worse so be it. "Yes, ma'am!"

With a nod she looked back to the compound, okay you pair move forward and cover us, I will bring up the rear" Somers added and with a nod both male Marines moved forward keeping low until they got the last available cover, seeing this "okay you pair low and quick, let's go" she quietly said.

K'Rin crouched low, belly just off the ground, padding as quietly as her species is known for, following Somers and the two marines. She stopped occasionally to sniff the air and now the scent had changed making her senses more sensitive. What her nose told her was the enemy was near, and this made her more cautious as she followed the leaders, her tail now barely swishing, but her whiskers trembling more and her hearing more acute.

"Being a nurse, I wasn't part of the assault, so she decided to go last and guard our rear. Something my drill instructor at Starfleet boot camp was very strict about. Always expect the unexpected", she said.

Without answering she moved out practising what she preached until she got into the position the other rifles were hiding, when she got there she pulled out her combat knife "okay cover me I am going in" she quietly said and crept closer to the sentry and in one swift move got behind him and clamped her hand over his mouth and as she did not know where the heart was she cut his throat and made a mental note to find out where the heart was on this species. She dragged the now dead sentry out of sight and into deeper cover before signalling her team forward, the moment Peeters arrived "Nurse, which side is this species heart?" She asked.

The Nurse simply nodded and got to work. While Peeters guarded their rear, she noticed the violence and couldn't help but feel sorry for the victims. It's easy to read about it in reports but actually seeing it, was... sickening.

K'Rin looked at the body and made a mental picture in her head. This was the enemy! Now she could connect the scent with the body. It could prove useful to her in the future.

As the group moved forward the second patrol came around and Karyn quickly dispatched that one too and also hid the body, luckily they had not yet been noticed, so they quickly made it into the interior of the compound, where they paused while Karyn scouted out the area, she had been gone long enough to cause others to worry, but she returned "okay all clear let's go" Karyn said and leading the way she paused at the fence and made a hole and led the team in until they got to a door and looked at K'Rin "Okay get it open" she said indicating the locked door "and try not to set any alarms off!" Somers added.

Nodding, K'Rin quietly worked the lock, her hearing was keen and heard the lock click as it unlocked the door. "Done," she said quietly, stepping away from the door as she quietly opened it, listening all the while for any sounds from within.

Leading the way into the building the group kept low and quiet Karyn paused the group in cover and looked at K'Rin with a puzzled look "I know we are not expected, but does it seem too quiet inside the building to you? There has not even been one patrol?" She asked the Engineer.

"Yes, way too quiet....." K'Rin said lifting her head to sniff the air. Ears swivelling, listening for the slightest sound, nothing. The only thing she could smell was odours that she could not recognize. "I'm not sure of what I smell but there is something on the air," she added.

"So glad it is not just me then," Karyn said and pulled out a tactical scanner to see if there was anyone around "okay reading grouped life-signs two floors up all grouped, some interference, must be where the prisoners are currently being held" she looked over at the Nurse "okay Ms Peeters be ready for anything I sense a trap and I fear those prisoners will not be in a nice state," Karyn said.

She had a bad feeling. She's a great observer and immediately notices Karyn is nervous as the group crawls closer and closer to the compound. As Karyn warns her about the possible trap and bad condition of the prisoners, she holds on to her medical kit and whispers "well then lieutenant, let's hope for the best!" She tried to sound confident but was still afraid.

She nods in response and gives her an encouraging smile and looks at K'Rin "expect any anti-lock picking defences from here on in, I would like to keep the casualties down to a minimum, but experience has proven this is not always the case" she said and looked at the two Rifles and gave a nod and they advanced slowly "okay you pair let's go" she added and followed the Marines forward.

Guarding their rear wasn't an option anymore so Peeters had to force herself to face the troubles that were ahead. She positioned herself safely behind Karyn. All of a sudden, she realises she's holding her phaser, ready to shoot.

K'Rin had her blade in her hand and was crouching low to the ground. Moving ahead slowly, a small movement caught her eye. Not waiting to see, her ears told her it was the enemy, as she silently sprang ripping off the insect's head making not a sound. Returning silently, "Another insect bites the dust. It would have sounded the alarm," she said keeping the swishing of her tail to a minimum.

Karyn looked back with an approving smile then caught up with her troops "okay guys anything ahead?" She asked and one pulled out his scanner and shook his head. Karyn saw a wall interface panel "you pair go up and secure that panel, I will bring the fleeters up" she said and the two Rifles nodded, she had to admire their efficiency as they moved forward.

She looked back and crouched down "Nurse Peeters stick to me like glue, K'Rin when that wall panel is secured I want you to locate the prisoners and see if you can deactivate any hidden traps and blind the thermal sensors of this place as five large mammalian species in the corridors gives off a different heat signature to the inhabitants of this place, try to make us invisible as much as you can, yeah?" Karyn asked.

"Yes ma'am. Understood, locate prisoners, remove hidden traps, blind all thermals so you do not get seen, got it," K'Rin purred softly, ears swivelling for sounds.

Peeters began feeling helpless and uncertain. Why and when did she get hold of her gun? She decided that it was much safer to change the setting to stun after she was pointing it at Lieutenant Somers back. She wished her tactical shooting instructor was here to give her instructions. She wasn't here to take life's but save them, so using Lieutenant Somers as a shield gave her hope that she would leave this opp unscathed with two hostages. "Yes, Ma'am, one step behind you all the way!"

"Very good," she said then saw that the other rifles had made it safe "okay K'Rin, go do your stuff," she said and watched the Engineer move forward "okay Kim, let us go join them, shall we!" She said and moved forward, she was still uneasy about how it was all so quiet, still too quiet she thought.

K'Rin moved forward, crouching low, ears swivelling, nose sniffing the air, "Still too damn quiet to suit me", she said loud enough to just be heard by Somers. Still moving forward she looked carefully for something, anything that would resemble a thermal device. Stopping short, raising her arm in a fist, signalling for everyone to hold their position. In a small outcropping of cement, a thermal device sat nearly obscured from sight. Had it gone unnoticed, it would have set off the alarm system. Carefully she deactivated it but left it in its spot. Removing it would serve to alarm the enemy they had intruders. Giving the all-clear signal, K'Rin continued forward and saw another device and she went through the same procedure until she had cleared out the thermals giving Somers what she wanted, to literally become invisible to all sensors. Now finding a small console with a small screen, K'Rin got it running and found the location of the prisoners. "Somers found the prisoners. They are here," she said pointing out the position to Karyn.

Smiling "okay make a direct path to the prisoners clear, now you know what to look for with the sensors see if you can find them on the console and deactivate them remotely," she said to K'Rin, she looks back at Peeters "hope you are ready to see some gory sights, Nurse, as what we are about to face will not be pretty," Somers said.

Peeters began whispering her mantra, something she had come up with when puberty had hit her and bullies became a problem "Breath in... breath out... moves on! Breath in... breath out... move on! ..."

Just then some hostiles appeared out of nowhere, recovering from their surprise quickly, one of the rifles shouted and alert "El-tee hostiles, they know we are here!" one of them shouted.

"Cover fire then," she said and the rifles needed no second telling. She looked to K'Rin "okay Ensign I want you to forget the heat sensors, look for and disable any security defences they have and you do not need to be subtle as they know we are here!" Somers said. As if on cue the alarms sounded and lights began flashing and Somers began cursing a blue streak.

Peeters froze and suddenly her mind went blank for a couple of seconds. She stood there with the gun in her hand, without moving her trigger finger. Lieutenant Somers grabbed her arm and helped her get cover behind a pillar. Lazers were passing their sides and it took a scream for Peeters to get back to her senses and fully aware of what was happening. She looked around and asked Somers "what happened? Who shouted?"

Wasting no time K'Rin pounced, pulling her blade and gutting one, then leaping to take the head off another before she got to another console and literally trashed it bringing an end to the alarms. In taking out the alarms she also disabled all the security systems which pleased her greatly. Leaping once again she killed another bug, this time coming down near Somers and Kimberly. "All alarms and security systems are offline permanently", she hissed. Wiping her blade from the so-called blood of the enemy she waited as she scanned for the prisoners finding them about 100 yards from the inside door. "Found our people. 100 yards from inside that door", she added.

As the firing died down, she tapped the Rifles on the shoulders as she looked to K'Rin "okay Ensign get that door open, I will take the lead she said bringing her TR-116 rifle up and moving forward, as the door opened she aimed down the sights and took out the two surprised torturers, as she entered the two rifles behind her sweeping the room, she lowered her weapon and turned to K'Rin "okay Ensign get to one of their computers download any information then wipe their computer system" she said and looked over at some badly bruised people "Nurse Peeters tend to the wounded, get them fit for extraction, we will not have long here" she said.

"Understood....." Not wasting time, K'Rin grabbed her tricorder and got the computer terminal up and working. Quickly downloading all the information, she then set up a virus program to permanently erase all information it contained.

Peeters took a moment repeating her mantra: "Breath in... breath out... move on!". She stood up and tried ignoring the carnage around her. This behaviour she expected from Romulans and other brutal species, not from her own crewmembers. She decided to let things slide for the moment but when they all returned to the Leto, she will have a hard talk with the captain about what happened here.

Following her crew members inside the room, she focused on the captives. It looked like they were in a bad shape. She made a quick assessment and picked the weakest looking captive to start on. She brought out her medical tricorder and scanned the body in order to see if there was something life-threatening going on. Stabilizing them for transport would be the most important thing, further treatment must be done in the sickbay. Following the readings of the tricorder, she made her first hypospray.

Steve O'Carroll had been thrown to the ground when the explosive forces hit the asteroid, a large chunk of rock nearly crushed his leg, He wasn't going anywhere soon. In fact, He was unconscious.

As Peeters got to work she crouched down in front of Brannon "Lieutenant Brannon I am Second Lieutenant Karyn Somers from the Leto, we are here to get you out, Nurse Peeters will attend to your wounds" Karyn said looking at the bruised and battered and blood-covered woman.

Brannon heard the sound of Federation forces coming. She gets up where she is still able to move around. As a nurse comes over she smiles, " Nice to meet you, LT Somers and Nurse Peeters. Glad you all joined the party. Hope you will forgive the uniform, I was having a great time in the spa here. I am hurt but still able to fight. Give me a hand phaser and I will assist you in fighting back. I am Chief of Security. Take care of the others first. They are hurt worst, especially the Doctor."

Dr Blake and Dougherty are in worst shape than I am. Take care of them first. I can walk where they cannot. Toda did not want me dead yet. I have something she wants and will keep me alive till she gets it.

Peeters wasn't here to discuss which patient she would treat first. Sorry Lieutenant, you're going first, here is your hypospray!

Karyn looks at Brannon, "Sorry El-tee, my orders are to extract you and any prisoners held here, looking at you, that great looking bikini aside you do not look fit enough to fire a weapon, one of my rifles will assist you, Nurse Peeters are they ready to move? Might I remind you that they outnumber us and the extraction will be hairy" Somers said?

"Not a problem Lt Somers. Let's get out of here before we get surrounded and can't get out. I look at the SGT lets go when you are ready. I was thinking of having Star Fleet design a bikini uniform for all the females."

"I heard that..." muttered Jamie as she followed behind everyone, being helped out as the pins and needles feeling remained and she struggled to move.

About that time Steve O'Carrol began to reach consciousness. The first thing he felt was intense pain. He moaned then yelped every word came out as a painful agony his left leg was crushed above the thigh and his right leg was crush below the knee.

"Help me"! Steve cried...

Rescue teams heard him and started digging him out and he was immediately beamed to the Leto's medical bay.

With that, Karyn walked over to K'Rin "okay how are you going with that data download Ensign, do not bother decrypting that can be done later, also if you find any security files etc get them too, yes?" Somers asked.

"Mission accomplished....," K'Rin purred softly. "All info is on my tricorder. Whatever files it contained, security, operations, locations, and anything else that was there is nowhere and their system has been erased by an encrypted virus of my design. There is no possibility to retrieve the information from the computer," she said smiling like a Cheshire cat.

Samantha was relieved to see the rescue team. She only hoped that everyone could now get back to the Leto in one piece. She was a scientist, not a serving girl.

Looking around "on second thought she looked at one of the rifles "rifleman give Brannon your sidearm," she said to a tall Marine who simply nodded and held out the weapon to Brannon.

"Thank you, Lt Somers" as she took the weapon. And set it to kill. Let's make a run for it. I look at the Marines and smile, "Thanks for coming to our rescue everyone.

With that done, "okay you lot outside now" Karyn said as she planted a timed bomb on the underside of the main computer core which had a direct connection to the main power, she hoped it would render the lights and such silent for a bit before the redundant systems took up the job of supplying power to the building, but she was hoping for a chain reaction. She quickly joined the others and led the way as Brannon was able to move on her own the two Riflemen assisted one of the other captives out of the building, exiting was a little quicker as they need not worry about stealth. As they neared the exit opposition suddenly arrived in earnest and the team had to take cover as those armed began firing back, except for the Nurse who was tending to the two freed prisoners. A firefight ensued, but as the Riflemen were expert shot the enemy was dealt with quickly.

She looked back "okay any questions can wait till we are back at the extraction point, let's go," Karyn said and led the way out of the building sticking to the shadows and cover as much as possible, the fact that the sky had darkened was a mixed blessing, but it would help with their exit.

Brannon fired back, Fighting was hard for a while but it was quickly subdued and we were ready to move. "By my count, the explosive will be going off soon. Let's move out." As she took up a position in the group 3rd from the rear.

Karyn mentally shook her head at Brannon's actions and in a bikini as well "thank you, Lieutenant Brannon, c'mon you lot let's get us the hell out of this joint, Nurse Peeters, how are the others?" She asked.

Brannon looks over and winks, "Not a problem. We need all the firepower we can muster right now. And what one is wearing is not important. I agree if I am tracking the time right on the bomb. The explosives should go bang anytime now." The rocks on the surface are hard on Brannon's feet but she keeps moving soon they will be on the Leto and she will be safe again. So it is worth the minor discomfort.

K'Rin quickly padded her way, cautiously, for the extraction point.....skidding to a silent stop 20 feet before the clearing. Her nose and ears told her something was wrong. Looking carefully she saw one lone insectoid guard standing in the empty landing zone. Turning quickly, she held her hand up signalling for all to stop. Seeing Somers, she held up one finger indicating there was one problem, a guard. Crouching, judging distance, K'Rin launched herself into the air and came up just behind the surprised guard quickly severing him into two pieces. Waving for the rest to advance, she stood looking down at her enemy. "Serves you right you ugly bug!" she grumbled softly.

From her hiding point, Karyn tilted her head to the right slightly "now that is efficient" she commented "okay let's go" she added and led the rest of the team and rescued captives out "K'Rin stick with the rest and in the shadows and head for the Extraction point I am going to go ahead and make sure the way is clear" Somers said and moved forward keeping to the shadows as she headed out.

"Understood sir," and moved out in the shadows keeping both ears swivelling for noises. So far so good as she moved along.

With that Karyn led the team out through the hole they entered and into the shadows, where she scouted ahead while the others brought up the rear, it was tough going for the others as they had some injuries that needed more than a quick fix me up, she paused at the edge of the shadows to allow the rest to catch up and then BOOM, the explosive devices they had planted exploded.

"Okay, people as fast as we can to the Evac point, they will be more interested in dealing with containing the explosion, but that will not last," Karyn said as she headed at a brisk pace for their beam in the location which was a good size space amongst some large rocks. Here she stopped and looked at the Nurse "okay Ms Peeters give your patients a final check, Mr K'Rin keep a lookout will you" she said then looked at the two other Rifles "okay you guys are first" she said and both tapped their badges.

Only one spoke, "Smith to Leto four to beam straight to medical," the Rifleman said and the transporter claimed them.

"Okay the rest of you gather together," Karyn said and looked like the sky light up in the distance from the fires, but she could hear angry sounds getting closer "I so hate close encounters of the Third Kind," she said.

Once Brannon and the others were back on the ship. She smiled, "Good to be home. With your permission Nurse Peeters I would like to take a hot shower and change my clothes asap. I don't think I need to cause a security problem dressed like this walking around the Leto. And then get a good hot meal in me too."

"Negative Lieutenant, not until you have been thoroughly checked out. I'll get you a new uniform, now sit down." Peeters ordered.

Karyn tapped her Commbadge =/\= Somers to Leto, remaining personnel to beam up pronto, Energize =/\= She said and as the angry sounds came closer the ship's transporter claimed them, soon the gravity of the planet was replaced by the gravity of the ship as the transporter shut down, stepping off the transporter platform she tapped her Commbadge again.

=/\= Somers to Captain, all personnel rescued and all team members accounted for, two of the captives are in medical all others are a bit battered but well, I am sending them to medical with Nurse Peeters =/\= she said.

=/\= Acknowledged! Well done, bring em home. =/\= Sterling said.

=/\= Acknowledged Captain, Somers out =/\= she closed the link and turned to Nurse Peeters "okay, Nurse Peeters take the rescued ones to Medical for a check-up" she said then looked at K'Rin and Peeters "Mr K'Rin Nurse Peeters, when you have time submit a report on what went on down on the planet earmarked for the First Officer" she said.

With that "Good work people, dismissed" she said and left the transporter room, she needed to freshen up and do her own mission report, oO Hell of a first day Karyn, a hell of a first day Oo she thought to herself as she entered the nearest turbo lift and punched in her location when the doors closed.

The tingling feeling finally faded, Jamie Dougherty gave a weak nod, smile, and wave, and exited the transporter room, intent on making her way to her quarters. Unfortunately, the CMO called her on her comm-badge, wanting to give her a once-over.

[OFF]

A Post by:

2nd Lieutenant Karyn Somers
Marine Executive Officer

Lt. Jamie Dougherty
Chief Engineering Officer

Captain Maia Sterling
Commanding Officer

Lt Jg Steve Carroll
Assistant Chief of Operations

Ens. K'Rin C'Tinu
Damage Control Specialist

LT Angelina Brannon
Chief of Security

Samantha Blake, DSci.
Geologist

Lieutenant (j.g.) Kimberly Peeters
Head Nurse