JP: Lt. Jack Kessler, Lt. Avander Promontory, Lt JG TK Cabrillo, Cmdr. Etan Iljor, Cmdr. Lia Rouiancet, Lt. V'Kel Kel - Kessler's Gambit - Thresish PART 4
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((Foxy Lady, Thresish, Zet Space)) - PART 4
Following their discussion each member of the team took their gear and started to fine tune their equipment. It was not long before The Foxy Lady had reached Thresish and made their landing. Havig tripled checked equipment, the team had made the 12 kilometer hike to the edge of a sloping rock formation that overlooked the facility they found read about in the intel report. Jack crept up behind some low lying shrubs, keeping as low to the ground as he could and paused. Lifting a set of monoculars to his eyes he began scanning the facility for patrols and guards.
Kessler: ::handing the monoculars to Etan:: Commander, that’s our target.
Iljor peered through the monoculars at the structure, taking in as much as possible.
Etan: Quite the five star resort. :: he responded sarcastically. :: Remind me to make a booking before we leave.
TK remained at the rear of the group maintaining a low profile as well and keeping an eye out for anyone or anything trying to sneak up from behind. The senior officers could have the fun from here as far as he was concerned. As he listened to the sounds in the forest and looked around he was starting to remember the weird monster on the ceiling of the galaxy that Rox had led them to. oO Next time TK, just get off the ship. Oo
Promontory: Everyone ready?
Kel: Ready as I’ll ever be.
V’Len had one of the phase rifles in his hands. Not that it would have done him any good. He had never been great with phasers. Fortunately he’d brought along his ice knife which he felt more competent with. He also had several small medpacs around his waist. These were provided courtesy of Nelv, the pirate who owed V’Len a favor.
Iljor drew a breath and nodded his head.
Etan: Same here.
Rouiancet: I’m good to go.
Kessler: Ok, then as we discussed. Etan, Promontory and Cabrillo go up the south wall first. Rouiancet, V’Len and I will make the climb after you have secured the roof and the air intake vents.
Jack looked around at the group. This was it, this was the moment he would find out for sure what and where his parents were and they would have the evidence to point the Federation and possibly the UDP at the Zet for what had happened.
TK looked around at Jack and nodded. He knew the plan and knew what he was getting into. Once on the roof TK would need to knock out the air intake sensors without letting anyone know that they were there. Then the descent into the ventilation system would be rather easy based on the data they had.
Cabrillo: Let’s do this quickly please.
Promontory: ::to Iljor:: Commander, who do you want on point?
Iljor did not know TK Cabrillo that well, but he had worked with Avander a number of times. The decision was an easy one to make.
Etan: That would be you, Lieutenant. :: he smirked. :: Cabrillo, you’ll bring up the rear.
Avander nodded and stepped quietly down the slope ahead of Iljor and TK.
Rouiancet: Doctor, Mr. Kessler? Shall we?
The air was crisp with a light fog covering the ground. Had they not been in black and trying to sneak into a Zet facility it might almost have been considered a pleasant evening for a hike.
Kel: Lovely weather.
Kessler: ::smiling at V’Len:: At least we are not trekking around in this gear in a dry heat.
Rouiancet: (with a small smile) No. It’s almost like a temperate autumn on Earth.
Kel: Once we’re on the roof we’re using the maintenance access hatch to enter is that right?
Kessler: Correct. Avander and TK will have to bypass the sensors and then we can access the maintenance system. According to the reports the Zet does not have sensors inside, just those on the hatch.
Lia almost snorted. She knew firsthand how fragmentary those reports were likely to be. She duly issued a warning:
Rouiancet: “According to the reports.” Keep your wits about you.
It was eerily still and quiet. V’Len’s antenna began to tingle. There was something on the air. A vibration.
Kel: ::urgently:: Something’s coming. We need to move.
Jack jerked his head around to look in the direction V’Len was looking.
Kessler: They are not supposed to have roving patrols. This wasn’t in the data.
Rouiancet: No. But we need to avoid them. Thoughts?
Kel: I know it’s not part of the plan, but we need to get around the side of the building.
It was then the lights came up. They weren’t shining on the roof or on the ground where Jack, Lia and V’Len crouched hidden in the shadows. Instead the vehicle seemed to have simply stopped while heading into the area. Doors opened and muffled voices could be heard.
Kel: I’m open to suggestions. If we move now we’ll surely be seen.
Jack froze and got as low as he could. If they were spotted then this entire mission was blown and they would be in for a rough exit.
Kessler: ::softly:: Hold here.
He watched as the other two got as low as they could and he allowed his eyes to shift to the team on the roof. They were sitting ducks if the alarm was sounded so Jack, Lia and V’Len had to ensure they were not.
Rouiancet: We need something to draw attention away from them.
But what? If the situation demanded it, they might offer themselves, but Lia didn’t think the situation was yet that dire. Not yet, but she could see it rapidly developing in that direction. She implored herself: think!
Up ahead with the advance group, the sound of the patrol had caught TK’s ears along with the light being cast from the vehicle the Zet were using. TK crouched even lower to the roof top and moved the control access interface for the maintenance hatch. Motioning to Promontory to join him, TK carefully started to access the internal structure of the control panel.
Cabrillo: ::softly:: Once I trip this magnetic lockout we’ll have 15 seconds to bypass the sensor codes or the alarms will trigger. Are you ready?
Iljor watched the vehicle nervously, praying to The Prophets that they did move in their direction. If they did, this unsanctioned and legally questionable mission would end in disgrace. If the Zet did not kill them, Starfleet Command would drum them all out of the service.
He peeled his eyes away and turned to Cabrillo.
Etan: Work quickly.
Promontory: In position.
TK looked at Promontory and then to Etan for the final go ahead. Regardless of what was happening on the ground TK understood the importance of getting the Kessler’s out of this Zet prison. Looking back to the control interface he worked his engineering tools to release the magnetic lockouts and opened the interface. Now it was in Promontory’s hands to get through the next step.
Etan: Proceed. :: he issued the order, ignoring the pounding of his heart. ::
Avander plugged a skimmer into the exposed wires. Fortunately, at their base, all Zet systems used an open programming code–easy to adapt, easy to hack.
Promontory: Keying in the bypass.
Time was ticking by and Jack, Lia and V’Len were still stuck on the ground. The Zet patrol was not supposed to have been here. They had either started a new patrol since the Intelligence came in or the data was wrong. Jack looked over slowly to Lia and V’Len and shook his head as if to indicate this was taking time.
oO Patience Jack…be still, be calm, let them go one about their business. Oo
As if some force willed them on, the Zet returned to their vehicle and moved off in a direction away from where the three were hiding. Darkness returned to the area around them as the vehicle disappeared into the distance and then Jack looked over to V’Len and Lia and nodded.
Kessler: Time to move
Rouiancet: Agreed. That’s the distraction we needed.
And the Zet had provided it themselves. Lia tried not to inquire too much into that, and yet she felt uncertain. Was it all going too smoothly?
V’Len allowed himself to relax. This finger was on the trigger of his rifle ready for the worst. Thankfully the patrol had moved off. He should have asked Greaves for more combat training.
Kel: ::quietly:: That was close.
V’Len knew there was no avoiding a confrontation. Ultimately this was a prison break and there was bound to be conflict. Still he was happy to pull it off for the moment.
Jack allowed the other two to lead the way while he brought up the rear and secured the area behind them. Soon they were making the ascent up the side of the structure as the first team had done.
On the roof, TK watched as Avander worked some piece of equipment he was not familiar with. No doubt some secret tech the Intelligence Officer had with him for these very clandestine acts. Watching his read out the sensor triggers were still up and time was ticking down quickly.
Cabrillo: Come on, you got this right? Five, four, three….
TK closed his eyes and waited for the alarms to trigger.
Etan: Avander…. :: he said, warily. ::
Promontory: Almost got it. ::he fiddled with a connector:: They’ve upgraded their systems. ::he rekeyed the skimmer as he spoke:: Almost… Ha! Got it. (beat) Still no match for us.
The hatchway buzzed and opened.
Promontory: Nothing to it. ::spying the patrol:: Quickly now. ::gesturing to the hatch:: This section should be clear.
TK looked at Commander Etan and with a nod of the head took the lead down inside the hatch and into the maintenance space for the facility. As he descended into the space it was dimly lit but there was enough light to still see a fair distance in each direction.
Cabrillo: ::looking up to Promontory and softly:: Clear
Iljor descended the ladder, his heart thudding in his chest. When he reached the gloomy bottom, his eyes had adjusted to the dearth of light. Looking left and then looking right, he had little clue where to begin their search.
Etan: What now?
Promontory: File in down this way. :: he pointed his hand towards the interior of the facility:: but not too far, wait until all the others are with us. Jack’s got the map.
Jack kept low to the rooftop and swiveled around keeping a watchful eye open as the team began to enter the first stage of the facility. One by one each descended in behind Cabrillo until Jack was left to bring up the rear and secure the hatch behind him. As he did, Jack placed a sensor on the hatch that would relay back to his Tricorder. If the hatch were opened they would know about it.
Jack stepped up to Commander Rouiancet and Commander Etan and held out his tricorder with the Intelligence scans.
Kessler: This way ::beat pointing down the shaft:: 35 meters and then left at the “T” junction.
Ever since the final Command Training Program exam, Iljor trusted Kessler with his life. He accepted the tactician’s recommendation without a moment’s hesitation.
Etan: Alright. Lead on. ::he whispered.
Rouiancet: (with a nod) This way.
Lia did her utmost to speak and to direct the group confidently. Again, she gave herself a reminder that the situation had worked out so far.
The group moved down the corridor noiselessly. V’Len had never experienced such an ominous quiet. Then his antennae began to twitch again. There was something.
They were half way down the corridor when Iljor paused and held up a hand. His senses, already primed, went to red alert in an instant.
Etan: I hear something. ::he whispered, straining to hear.:: Sounds like footsteps.
Kel: I think it’s more Zet.
Kessler: On it Commander.
Promontory: I've got your back.
Lia, like the others, froze. She strained to hear what Iljor had heard, and over the pounding of her heart, she heard the telltale sound – not only of footsteps, but footsteps she recognized.
Rouiancet: Zet. (shaking her head) We wait, or we find another way.
Kel: ::sighing:: Wonderful.
Lieutenant Jack Kessler
Chief Tactical Officer
USS Oumuamua
T239901JK1
Lt Avander Promontory
Intelligence Officer
USS Oumuamua
O239910AP4
Lieutenant jg TK Cabrillo
Engineering Officer
USS Oumuamua
T239901JK1
Commander Etan Iljor
Executive Officer
USS Oumuamua
NCC 81226
C239203TW0
Commander Lia Rouiancet
Strategic Operations Officer
USS 'Oumuamua
V238208LV0
he/him/his (player) & she/her/hers (this character)
Lieutenant V’Len Kel
Chief Medical Officer
USS Oumuamua NCC-81226
T239811VK2
He/Him (character and player)