MSNPC Oolwi - Whatever It Takes
Chris Taylor
(( Makeshift Command Operations Building – Kobyar Capital, Galaris IV ))
MacKenzie: How long will we have to act once the virus is transmitted?
Bancroft: That depends on how fast the signal propagates and how long it takes them to realize they're blind. If their comms are still intact, they’ll be screaming into the dark in about twelve seconds.
Imril: Sounds about right, time-wise.
The Major was quite relieved to see the Doctor able to see again. But the time to revel in that victory was already ebbing away.
Oolwi: I’ve got the signal and virus on my end. Ready to go.
MacKenzie exchanged a long look with each of their officers. There was no surprise in her decision, but it was not recklessly made.
MacKenzie: Very well, then. Proceed.
Richards: I just want to make sure we are all on the same page here. Once the virus is transmitted and the respective people have lost their sight, what do we do then? What’s the plan?
Kexxin put his hands behind his back, stood up straight and turned towards MacKenzie. Before she could elaborate on the plan, Dr. Bancroft interjected with information that would help get them toward a logical course of action.
Bancroft: Pull their sight – temporarily – and short out their drones and transmitters. That should buy enough breathing room for Major Oowli and General Kexxin to broadcast the truth. Ideally with Captain MacKenzie adding Federation credibility. Or, failing that, just her voice calmly asking everyone to please stop blowing things up.
In the moment of silence that followed, the sound of rain pelting the side of the building filled the vacuum. The lights flickered once, but the power held.
MacKenzie: I’m happy to lend credibility, but I don’t think my voice would be anywhere near as credible as General Kexxin or Major Oolwi.
Oolwi: It will bear the credibility of a neutral third party. One that people on both sides of the line respect.
Sam nodded.
Richards: Do we need to have The Artemis on standby in case things go sideways and we need to get out?
The human woman was right to be worried. In battle, no plan survived the enemy untested.
Imril: I don’t think that’s an option. If they're engaging the Orions, they’re out of range. They might even have their shields up by now.
Kexxin: ::To Sam:: I won’t let anything bad happen to you, ::Turning around and facing everyone else in the room:: I won’t let anything bad happen to any of you. ::Looking at Oolwi:: Kobyar included.
Bancroft: That kind of conviction? That’s the root of every good thing we’re supposed to stand for. I know the Federation’s still new to you, General – but peace, protection, no matter what your DNA says? That’s the whole idea.
MacKenzie: ::nodding:: Agreed. It’s just the conviction we need to end this war.
There was a tiredness in the General’s face. But Indeethl had not felt so energized in a long time. A chance to end the war was just push of a button away. Her finger was screaming to push it. Her whole body wanted to leap forth into that better tomorrow.
Kexxin: Major Oolwi, Captain MacKenzie, I am ready and willing to make any sacrifice needed.
Bancroft: Every drop of blood spilled now isn’t for Grunden or Kobyar – it’s for the profit margin of some shadowy interstellar middleman. Let’s shut off the tap.
Imril: Absolutely.
Oolwi: Now and forever.
Richards: Response
The rain and sound of occasional thunder continued to make its presence known outside. After one particular grumble of thunder, there was another, more distinct, very different sound – one that was close enough to shake the walls. Around them, dust shook loose from the ceiling and panels flickered.
Bancroft: That… wasn’t thunder.
MacKenzie: It certainly was not. Someone get me a report.
It wasn’t long in coming.
Kobyar Soldier: A commando team slipped past our watch perimeters. They opened a hole that unidentified armored vehicles are moving into. We’re under siege.
It wasn’t hard to imagine that at least one Kobyar sentry had lost their life to a stealthy blade. But that didn’t tell Indeethl who was coming for the lot of them. Kobyar? Grunden? A mixed force?
Kobyar soldiers lined on either side of the door, weapons drawn. The Quartermaster and another soldier worked to move a barricade bar into place across the door itself. Thick, heavy metal complete with glowing magnetic seals.
Imril: Looks like we have some more volunteers for medicinal blindness.
There was no humor to Imril’s words. Only conviction. The enemy was literally at the door and the team’s choices were whittling down to the least pleasant ones.
Richards/Kexxin: response
The sound of gunfire could be heard outside, accompanied by sounds of footfall. A muffled voice shouting from just outside the locked doors to the control room: “Perimeter breach, north wing!” Then, more gunfire and the sound of an alarm. The sound of magnetic seals locking into place.
Then, silence.
Then, three methodical rhythmic pounds on the door.
Bancroft: Oh good. Rhythmic pounding. Never ominous. ::casually drifts an inch closer to Kexxin::
Oowli: I need a weapon here!
She got one in short order, and placed it next to her control board to save the trouble of drawing it momentarily.
Imril stirred in their seat, but did not leave their post.
Richards/Kexxin: response
Another bang. MacKenzie drew her sidearm.
Bancroft: …We expecting guests? ::thumb instinctively flicking the medkit latch::
MacKenzie: We are not. (beat) We’re out of time. We have to implement the plan. Proceed when ready.
Imril slammed a finger to their padd.
Imril: Transmitting drone shut-down signal!
If there were any small-unit tactical drones with the people trying to bash their way into the command center, there were no muffled thuds to indicate their failure. But perhaps they hadn't brought any with them, for fear of being discovered and tracked?
Bancroft/Richards: Response
MacKenzie: Major, General, there’s likely going to be a lot of confusion and panic among your people. Put on your best diplomatic hats and be prepared to broadcast to them as soon as we begin.
Oolwi: I have a good idea what I’m going to say. And I’ll be recording it for continual playback.
That way, she could get up and help defend the command center.
Kexxin: Response
MacKenzie’s glance switched between her team of officers, and the two leaders of rivaling factions. There was another louder, more definitive bang on the door. They had to move quickly. After receiving a nod from Imril, she nodded in return.
MacKenzie: Do it now.
Imril didn’t waste a second.
Imril: Sending interference signal, with virus, to the weather drones and city transmitters.
Confirmation pings began coming back almost instantly. From across more and more transmission sources as the virus propagated itself. A spreading web of signals that was almost too much to keep up with visually. And that was just in the city.
Imril: Wow. There are a lot of illicit transmitters. If the rest of the world is like this, then the planet’s well covered with them.
Oolwi: Transmitting signal to Kobyar satellites.
If peace was to happen, it was now or never. Twelve seconds couldn't go by fast enough.
Oolwi: I can confirm a very wide reach for the enemy transmitters. Practically every Kobyar urban center, military base, even our naval flotillas. Multiple smaller settlements.
The transmitters, and presumably the poison they controlled, appeared to have spread out precisely as a viral epidemic would have. ‘Virus’ seemed as good a word as any to describe Vai-Lef and his toxic actions. The thought was punished out of her mind by the coming of another great boom from beyond the wall. The door visibly shook against its bar.
Bancroft/Richards/Kexxin/ MacKenzie: Response
Yet another boom sounded, closer and louder. The door visibly shook against its bar.
Imril kept their eyes to their padd and console, ready to report the instant the virus had been propagated.
A sudden, and all too familiar, crackle of electric chaos pulled Imril’s eyes to the firewall device. Arcs of lighting ran along the edges of the wrapper until -- Bzzak! -- the whole device tore apart at the seams. The sides reduced to smoking globs of half-melted slag. The one half-viable isometric gem shot off for a far corner of the room.
Imril: ::Frowning:: Well, it was worth a shot. Maybe I got some of them.
Bancroft/Richards/Kexxin/ MacKenzie: Response
More silence followed, broken only by the tumbling computer component. As though the people just on the other side of the door were granting those gathered inside the room one last chance to open it peaceably and save themselves a fight. Or were preparing a final, irresitable assault on the barrier. Or both.
The Kobyar soldiers took in a breath at once, bracing for the breach. Refusing to abandon their posts.
Imril didn’t dare reach for their phaser. It would mean taking a hand away from the communications equipment. They had to trust in their fellows to keep them safe long enough to deliver the commands that could stop the enemy rush in mid-step. They did trust them, every one.
It turned out that Bancroft’s estimate had been slightly optimistic. Fourteen seconds after activating the transmission, Imril was able to report success.
Imril: ::Tense:: Done! Total virus coverage achieved! We’re go for knocking out enemy visuals!
Oolwi: Confirmed on my end. Do what you have to do.
The Major leaned protectively over her station, eyes on the door, and began to compose the words that she would soon be broadcasting to the whole world. One way or another, whatever came through that door. she would get those words out.
Bancroft/Richards/Kexxin/ MacKenzie: Response
Tag, and TBC!
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MSNPC Oolwi
As written by
Ensign Imril
Engineering Officer
USS Artemis-A
A240110I12