[End Act 1] MSNPC Major Oolwi - Unsteady Ground
Chris Taylor
((Courier-Bug A-7D-HG9, Kobyar, Galaris IV))
(OOC: THe ‘combat stabilizers’ affecting Bergmen were suggested by Ollie, some text taken from his DMs)(Also, I’ve added tags in for Jovenan and Bergmen. Ignore them if you like.)
Bergmen: Upsy… ::chuckles::
Jovenan: Lieutenant, you’re… Try to hold on for a bit longer, we’re landing.
MacKenzie shook her head. From what she could see, the injuries appeared superficial.
MacKenzie: Get us on the ground, Major…
The Major left the flying to the pilot and wrapped her fingers into her harness.
Oolwi: I believe the Starfleet xpression is… Brace for impact.
The landing was too fast, too uneven, tore up entirely too much ground, and was anything but gentle. When it was over, Indeethl made a mental note to recommend Hui’Jel for a commendation. Assuming they didn't both get thrown out of the Service for this little misadventure across enemy lines.
Jovenan: Lieutenant, what’s your status?
Bergmen: Response
Oolwi: ::pointing to Bergmen:: He's drugged. Combat stabilizers embedded in the chair’s rigging. Needle-less injector. Just enough to take the edge and pain from injuries away, it should pass in hours or so. At least he had a happier landing than the rest of us.
The morbid comments she’d been making were in bad taste she knew. But the longer she was enmeshed in this fight, the more she was sinking back into old habits. The gallows humor of soldiers facing death. Working in front of the holocams had spoiled her.
They each released their harnesses and hopped out of the craft. Hui’Jel too; the bugcraft was simply too much of a target to leave him behind. Unlikely to lift back off, in any case.
The stability of the ground beneath the bugcraft was both welcome and disorienting. Her head was taking longer than the rest of her body to acclimate to the end of the dizzying flight. Indeethl drew her pistol against the threat of smaller Kobyar drones. Painfully aware that she was in enemy territory. That she and her old friend could be shot down at any moment simply for holding their weapons.
The only thing in sight were trails of smoke in the air coming from the town nearby, and the drone graveyard behind them.
Jovenan: Captain, I have the teams’ rough position. Some of them are near the edge of the town, in a building I think, the others are, uh, across the town in some kind of structure. There’s a lot of interference.
MacKenzie: Which is closer?
Oolwi: I’ve only ever seen this place from above. I might be able to pick out some landmarks. Certain structures.
Jovenan/Bergmen: Response
MacKenzie: =/\= MacKenzie to Vailani. =/\=
MacKenzie waited for a moment, glancing at the air in hope. Once again, they were met with silence.
MacKenzie: ::to Bergmen:: Are you able to proceed?
Bergmen: Response
MacKenzie: Then let’s go. Avoid the attention of the locals. Which way, Commander?
Oolwi and Jui’Jel shared another look. This one dripping with gallows humor. The two of them were sure to draw plenty of attention.
Jovenan/Bergmen: response.
MacKenzie nodded affirmatively and they started to walk. Indeethl kept waiting for the roar of grunt wheels bearing down on them all. The moment when a canine voice ordered her to drop her weapon and surrender. Or the sight of one of the smaller Kobyar drones gunning for them. The anticipation was excruciating, made worse by the occasional sound of more explosions.
MacKenzie quickened the group’s pace. The tension in Indeethl’s legs rose in direct proportion to her speed. The instinct to prepare to leap away to, into battle or up to the defense of her comrades, whichever seemed more practical. Adrenaline in need of an outlet that never arrived.
The human stopped dead in her tracks, stopped by a voice slicing through her commbadge.
Silveira: =/\= Silveira to Captain MacKenzie. The Grunden broke the truce and attacked the Kobyar Capital. Our quarters were hit, we are all fine, just minor injuries.
MacKenzie: =/\= What’s your assessment, Lieutenant? =/\=
Silveira: =/\= I don't think my team is useful here. Captain, permission to beam back to the Artemis and provide support from there.
MacKenzie nodded. Indeethl could guess what was coming. When the words came, her eyes sank deep into her head.
MacKenzie: =/\= Go ahead, Sil. I’m calling for an evacuation of the entire crew back to the ship. We’ll debrief there. =/\=
Silveira: =/\= Response =/\= (if desired)
She turned back to her comrades.
MacKenzie: We’re returning to the ship. Major, you’ll forgive me if I say I don’t exactly feel safe having my crew here... But, I hope you or a representative of your government will join us on the Artemis where we can continue our talks and analyses of the information we’ve found so far. In the meantime, we can transport you and your pilot back to the Kobyar capital.
The Major nodded in understanding. She couldn’t particularly blame them for wanting to leave. She blamed herself, in fact, for so drastically misreading the situation in this region. There was an old, old saying on Kydon. Whether it had been coined by a Kobyar or Grunden was lost to history.
“The fog of war has teeth.”
Jovenan/Bergmen: response.
Oolwi: Thank you Captain, but I’ll stay. Someone has to explain to the people here what happened with the drones and why Kobyar soldiers crossed the border. Beam Hui’Jel back to the Capitol, so he can do the same there.
She holstered her gun. Then removed her weapon belts and handed them to the pilot. Where she was going, alone now, they’d be nothing but liabilities.
Oolwi: ::To the Starfleet personnel:: Thank you all for what you’ve done here so far. The selflessness and bravery you’ve shown in defending the people of that township. If this is the last time we see each other, know that I remain committed to finding the answer to whatever -- or whoever -- is behind the horrors committed here. On whichever side of this war that the cause may lay.
Jovenan/Bergmen: response.
MacKenzie nodded to Jovenan and Bergmen.
MacKenzie: =/\= MacKenzie to all Starfleet personnel. Evacuate to the Artemis immediately. =/\=
Any: =/\= Response =/\= (if desired)
MacKenzie: =/\= MacKenzie to Artemis. Three to beam up. =/\=
Jovenan/Bergmen: response.
The trio of offworlders were not long in fading away on waves of blue light. Hui’Jel was soon to follow. He offered her a quick salute as the sparkles began to envelope him. She returned it, and after he was gone she looked once more in the direction of Bretia Township.
Oolwi: ::Pouting:: I really wanted to get beamed.
Major Indeethl Oolwi of the Kobyar Defence Service raised her hands above her head and began walking toward the settlement.
END OF ACT ONE FOR OOLWI… ?
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MSNPC Oolwi
As written by:
Ensign Imril
Engineering Officer
USS Artemis-A
A240110I12