(( Habitat Dome “The Hab”, Moon Sigma, Ross 580 System))
The Orion slid the sling of her phaser rifle around so the rifle settled in front of her suit and she briefly checked both holstered Aquila phasers on her thighs to ensure all her weapons were at setting eight.
Solana: Someone has to take care of them and as far as I know, I’m the one with the most combat experience against Tholians. I told you I’d come prepared. If they get passed me those should help give you an advantage.
She gestured to the satchel sitting near the cases the pattern enhancers had come in. It had a very finite number of concussive and stun grenades. Two each.
Esot: So don't let them get past you. ::smiling grimly:: Give 'em hell, Chief. ::to Aduko:: I would ask you to remain, if you please - you are my good luck charm. So far.
Aduko: ::Twice in as many minutes, someone's words caused Joakim to whirl around in surprise.:: That's the nicest thing a Cardassian has ever said to me. ::He took a few steps closer to the ensign, curious to see her new subroutine but also curious to get a better look at its creator.::
Kel: Chief, Administrator, be careful. I'd like you both back in the same condition you're leaving in.
tr'Kharis: ::to Solana, squaring his incredibly triangular shoulders:: Then I will accompany you. Show you the route they will likely take. They are like crystalline insects, creatures of habit. If we intercept them, perhaps there is a way I can help deter them from their course of action.
Jenta tapped the door controls and held her rifle straight in front of her as the door hissed open. She cleared her corners before stepping fully through it and glance behind her standing halfway in the doorway.
Kel: Good luck!
tr'Kharis: I leave you in command of the base…of our peop…personnel. Don’t worry about what you think I would do. Do what you think is right as you always have, Joakim. ::stepping close to Aduko for a moment:: And if I do not return… my friend… Jolan’tru.
Aduko: Jolan'tru, Shodar. ::Joakim reached out his suited right forearm to meet Soldu's, and looked into his eyes.:: I'll get our people out...and save a spot for you.
Solana: I suggest you seal this door behind me. I’ll signal when it’s clear.
She said with the confidence of a seasoned combat veteran, but with no bravado. Neither Starfleet Marines or Security were the sort to underestimate a foe they’d fought before. And Tholian workers were no less deadly if you gave them the opening as any other member of the species.
The Orion gave them a nod and quickly disappeared down the corridor towards the direction Chief Tucker had warned them the workers were heading from. Head on a swivel with the rifle following suit. As she stopped by a junction she pressed her back against a wall and took a moment to unsheath one of her curved knives from the small of her back. She held it in her left hand, with a finger through the loop and held the rifle on top of it in the same hand.
This preparation would make the difference should any of the Tholians get too close for her to use her rifle or switch to a sidearm before they were on top of her. She took a slow breath to focus herself and glanced at the bracer of her EV suit to check the tricorder scans. Faint Tholian signatures briefly picked up. They were getting closer but she had some time to find an ambush point to defend.
((Outside the Hab, Surface of Moon Sigma, Ross 580 System))
Jenta was pleasantly surprised by the administrator. For his part, despite the age he presented at, he was able to keep pace with her as well as she would have expected any Imperial Romulan to have been able to in ages past.
While some took issue with Romulans, she had served with one who was half-Human and respected her greatly. And as Orions had a less than savory history, she was not one to judge by the whole. She let each’s actions inform her opinion of someone, though she didn’t discount everything. Romulan cunning was never to be underestimated. Still, she showed trust by not showing concern for having the Romulan behind her.
Solana: I don’t like this, things are far too open. Of all the times to need the big cat and his rifle.
She heard the Romulan call after her and turned.
tr'Kharis: They won’t approach directly. If you want to ambush them we should go this way ::gestures toward a jagged outcropping of basalt rising from the moon’s grey dust:: There is a high outcropping they will pass by. If we go to the top we can use the advantage of the high ground. Is that acceptable?
She took a moment to study it from a distance and then glanced back towards the hab they’d come from. She nodded after a few moments.
Solana: That would be the perfect roost for our ship’s sniper. Shame he’s going to miss out. ::She angled her phaser rifle and used the scope to survey the outcropping:: Looks like there’s a couple spots we can conceal ourselves.
Without further comment she broke into a quick sprint towards the spot th’Kharis had pointed out.
tr'Kharis: I have considered what they may be carrying. There are… many prototypes stored in the secondary dome. Tools. Weapons. Concepts the Alliance found insufficiently reliable. One such item—abandoned, but not destroyed—was a portable Sencha radiation emitter. ::voice flattening slightly:: From your earlier description… I suspect it may be an early prototype of their superweapon.
That did not sound good. Enough so to make her pause and look at him.
Solana: In Yar’s name. ::she cursed:: Of course they do. The fact they managed to miniaturize it terrifies me. The superweapon they hit us with was almost the size of a Borg cube. ::she clicked her tongue against her teeth:: If they set it off, what damage are we looking at?
tr'Kharis: If they reach the Hab and activate it, best case it would likely destroy the dome, worst case…well. ::faint sardonic smile lacing his words:: You have already demonstrated admirable imagination.
Solana: Not imagination, Administrator. I’ve seen this weapon’s effects up close. And I hope to Yar we can stop them before they set it off.
They reached the outcropping. Jenta took a few moments to find the most optimal positions for both of them to have cover but also good angles to ambush.
tr'Kharis: ::softly, almost contemplative:: You know… for years I obeyed them to keep my people alive. Today, I find a deep desire within myself to enact an opposing strategy.
Solana: Good. Administrator, I’m counting on that. Your people have been through enough post Hobus. No one should have to live in captivity. Especially not when they’ve lost as much as you have. ::she offered a smile:: I know how formidable Romulans are. I served with a half Romulan on my last posting. So, if I can help you get some reciprocity for the treatment your people here have endured, then I will.
She heard him get low in the dusty moon dirt and she wedged herself between two rocks, one of which was angled just right she could lie on it for a better shot, but lean back for cover.
tr'Kharis: Response
Solana: How’s your disruptor? Those old models had a nasty drain on the power cell.
tr'Kharis: Response
Jenta smirked slightly to herself and unholstered one of the two Aquila patterned hand phasers from her thigh, the one she’d be needed to lay on, and tossed it over to him.
Solana: My former Security Chief, now current XO, instilled in all of us to learn every weapon we might face. And Starfleet Marine training is extensive, using any weapon that we might have to scavenge from a battlefield. I have plenty, so feel free to use that one too. Your people will need their leader to guide them once we free you from the Alliance.
Jenta held his gaze for a long moment. Partly gauging his intent but mostly from earnest desire. Orions were a matriarchal society but not every woman held power. For all their deceit in pretending to be ‘slave girls’ many Orion women actually were that. It was a fate she managed to escape and she would not see anyone else oppressed if she could help it.
tr'Kharis: Response
Several sounds of movement caught her attention and she pressed her finger to her lips as the cluster of Tholian workers, all in their exosuits, scurried in their direction holding a container of some kind that she could only assume held something nasty within it.
Shifting slightly so her rifle was at the ready she glanced at the Administrator to confirm whether or not what they were carrying was the prototype he’d mentioned a moment ago.
Solana: I’ll fire first. Draw their focus. Which should give you a clear shot at them.
tr'Kharis: Response
As the Tholian’s drew closer she lined up her shot, aiming for the one closest to her and for the limb holding the container. There was a long, tense pause as she waited until they were a few meters closer then squeezed off a pair of shots at the limb, the surprise of their ambush letting her strike true. The worker stumbled from the hit, its limb lost grip on the container which forced the others to have to either decide to catch it from falling or drop it and defend themselves.
Solana: That was for Thirty Three!
She called out a moment before she switched the rifle to full auto setting and began spraying the group on the left side of the cluster. Not wanting to risk hitting the container. Eventually they returned fire and she pulled herself up behind the cover of rock. Hoping she bought th”Kharis the opportunity for a chance to surprise them as well.
tr'Kharis: Response
[tags/tbc]
=========================================
Senior Chief Petty Officer Jenta Solana
Security/Tactical CQC Specialist
As simmed by
Commander Toryn Raga
First Officer
USS Ronin - NCC-34523
Writer ID: A239410TR0
https://wiki.starbase118.net/wiki/index.php?title=Toryn_Raga