Ensign Cecil Valo - Feeling it.
Aaron
(( Warrior Sports, Promenade, Commercial Sector, Beta Module, DS33))
Cecil focused on keeping himself steady as the waves of emotions washed over him from the others in the room. Each individual left a distinct impression and as was the case with most people, the emotions came as a cocktail of differing feelings of assorted strengths. At times like these he relied on his mental training and focused himself on one specific feeling that was coming in strong from every single person present. Resolve.
Raga: This isn’t a fight to the death. We’re not there yet. Our strength lies in each other. Never forget, we’re Ronin strong but it’s more than that. I mentioned it not long ago to our colleagues from our sister ship and the station’s CO. Today, we’re Starfleet strong.
While the Betazoid appreciated the sentiment of the pep talk, he couldn’t help but feel like it was somewhat lost on him. He felt like the new kid in class as the teacher read the last chapter of a book he had read none of. Being Ronin strong had a nice ring to it, but he wasn’t sure he qualified just yet. Starfleet strong on the other hand, he had every intention of proving.
Kiran: ::turning to T’Fearne and Valo:: You kids alright? Just remember your training. Oh, and remember center mass. ::he gave a devilish grin::
T’Fearne::: with a determined nod:: Got it, Chief. We’re ready. :: lying through her Vulcazoid teeth and causing ancestors on two worlds to roll in their graves. She glanced at Valo:: By the way, I’m T’Fearne. I think we’ve both been recently assigned to the Ronin. I didn’t catch your name, Ensign?
Cecil met her black voids with his own. While he held no regard for the value of a person based on their species, he couldn’t help but be comforted by the familiarity of their heritage.
He offered a subtle bow of his head.
Valo: Cecil Valo. I reported for duty only today.
Before he could comment further the command console drew Raga in.
Raga: Good news and bad news. Good news, Commander Stregis just sent a distress call and the Ronin and Khitomer have turned around and gone to warp. They’re on the way here.
Kiran: ::grumpily:: Great, they’re hours out if my math works right. I’m sure the commander will verify, but they’re a long way out. ::he gripped his phaser rife:: time to, what’s the saying?::smirking:: Lock and load?
Cecil pursed his lips. It was wild that this guy was so chill. Though the thought of it made him realize how tense he was. He let out a breath and cracked a weak smile.
Valo: Charge and set?
T’Fearne::: quietly:: And the bad news, Commander?
Raga: It’ll take them several hours to get here at maximum warp. Until then we hold the station. Buy as much time for the civilians to evac. You can do this. As the Chief said, trust in your training and trust in each other.
Kiran: ::nodding:: Watch your six at all times; both races are sneaky bastards.
T’Fearne::: musing quietly:: If the Lattice Alliance ships arrive within the hour, it seems unlikely this is a mere coincidence that at the same time we launched a ruse, they’re acting against DS33. Did they have a warning that we were attacking?
That was a good point. How could they have possibly known unless..
Valo: A spy.
The Betazoid had spent several years in the private sector VIP transportation business after his initial rejection to Starfleet Academy. In that time, the biggest threat was always when the enemy had someone in the client’s personal network. Almost every mission gone sideways had an information leak somewhere.
((Timeskip - Forty Minutes))
Raga: They’re late. It’s almost insulting.
On the monitors, the stygian expanse of deep space around DS33 began to light up as Lattice Alliance starships dropped out of warp, the number of flaring signatures overwhelming.
Kiran: If there’s one thing I hate, it’s tardiness..::a grin growing from the corners of his mouth::
T’Fearne::: pointing at the screen:: They’re closing in fast.
Valo watched T’Fearne and gripped his rifle just a little tighter.
The station shook violently as the enemy ships started firing. Disruptors and torpedoes hit the shields, while the station’s defenses returned fire with varying degrees of success. Cheers erupted in the FOP as Snowball’s pilots and an assortment of shuttles crewed by starfleet’s brave engage the enemy with their full arsenal.
Raga: Damn, they’re not wasting time. =/\= All teams, enemy transports are inbound to docking ports one and two. Prepare to repel boarders! =/\=
Kiran: ::clicking the safety off his rifle:: It’s go time kids…
Valo: oO Kids? Oo
He supposed it was a right of passage to razz the newbies a bit. It wasn’t his favorite, but he had bigger things to worry about. Still, if this was an average enough day for people to be smiling and joking around then perhaps he did indeed still have a lot to learn.
T’Fearne: The ports are as secure as we could make them. Time to put it to the test.
Rork joined Raga by the viewscreen, analyzing the scene with a grim expression.
Raga: Looks like the larger transport is heading for docking port 2, so that’s where we’re going. ::He looked back at the lone Kzinti in gold within the room:: Breeze, I need you.
Briza-Kar: Response
Raga: You’re going to be our eyes. I keep hearing about how observant you are and we’ll need that. Let me know where the threats are boarding and moving to if they can’t lock them down quickly enough.
Briza-Kar: Response
The Commander smiled at Breeze and then turned to Rork, T’Fearne, and Valo.
Kiran: After you Commander. ::he swept an arm towards the door.:::
T’Fearne::: smoothly following out the door:: Let’s make them regret trying to take this station.
Valo: Game time.
(( Outside Docking Port 2, Deck 6, Main Compartment, DS33 ))
Valo had been through more training simulations than the average cadet, and yet something still surprised him by the battle that they found themselves wading into. As heavy weaponry blasted through the main compartment it was the smell that he had least expected. Was it the enemies themselves? Was it fried circuitry and similarly damaged areas of the port? As his eyes settled on several wounded, he decided he didn’t want to know.
Raga: We’ve got your backs! ::He announced to the defenders:: Keep them pinned and bottlenecked by the docking port.
Kiran: ::pointing to Valo:: Ensign, lay down a suppression fire over there::pointing off to the right of the bottle neck:: As for you ::looking at T’Fearne::Fire into that bottleneck,
Valo: Yep.
From his position of cover, Cecil had a good vantage of that area and did not hesitate to blast several shots into the designated space. He focused less on targeting and more on keeping them on their toes….or, whatever they had instead of toes. These guys were seriously strange.
T’Fearne::: Ducking behind a barricade, her phaser rifle switching to burst mode with a satisfying zip:: On it.
He watched as T’Fearne unleashed a fury of shots into the enemy with impressive effect.
Valo: Nice one T’Fearne.
Raga/Briza-Kar: RESPONSE
Valo continues to lay down suppressive fire, doing his best to keep his wits about him as the battle raged on around him. It was strange to fight alongside those that were essentially strangers to him only hours before, but their capability was inspiring as they deftly dodged enemy fire and returned it with precision. He tensed when he heard transporters behind him.
Kiran: ::to the XO:: Remind me to suggest transporter inhibitors next time. Also bad news, they’re coming up behind us now, via transporter. ::he fired a couple of shots taking down a Sheliak enforcer::
T’Fearne: oO Ouch. Oo :: grimacing as she called out belatedly:: Hostiles at your aft.
Raga/Briza-Kar: RESPONSE
A loud WOMP resonated through as Kiran deployed an effective attack and Cecil took the opportunity to blast an enemy taken aback by the chaos. Still, they kept coming and from all around them now.
Kiran: ::to Raga:: Sir, I don’t know how much longer we can hold this line, with them pinching us. And I have a limited number of those grenades, but I have a few tactical EMPs. ::he took one off his belt and handed it to Ronin's XO: : Here, take this. Choose wisely.
T’Fearne::: calling out:: New wave incoming! They’re pushing hard at the center.
Valo: Beam-ins are becoming scattered! Multiple locations!
Raga/Briza-Kar: RESPONSE
Blasters continued to hammer into the barricades as the fight continued, casualties continued on both sides, but only the enemy seemed to keep producing reinforcements.
T’Fearne::: shouting to Kiran:: I can reposition the barricades if you cover me.
Kiran: RESPONSE
T’Fearne: Barricade moving now.
Valo watched, impressed, as she made easy work dragging the barricade into place. What he wouldn’t give for a little Vulcan strength in a situation like this.
Kiran/Raga/Briza-Kar: RESPONSE
T’Fearne::: turning back to the bottleneck, redoubling her efforts to fortify their position:: oO We can’t hold this if they keep transporting in… Oo
Valo: Suggesting we centralize and get cover on our backs!
Kiran/Raga/Briza-Kar: RESPONSE
As if in response to the statement a massive Sheliak beamed in right behind his fortified position. He hit it hard with the butt of his weapon. It only caused it to be taken aback, but that was enough for Cecil to get off a clean shot to its center torso at point blank range. Raga was right, his uniform was definitely not pristine anymore.
Kiran/Raga/Briza-Kar/T’Fearne: RESPONSE
He fought on with all the resolution, rage and anger that was boiling through the battlefield. He soaked it all in like a sponge, letting it fuel his actions like adrenaline.
But then it began to shift. He took only a moment to scan the battlefield, taking in the state of the Starfleet teams against the overwhelming and unrelenting force of the enemy. He found himself in close proximity to Raga and looked to him with a concern that was embedding itself into his fiber.
Valo: Sir, we’re losing morale.
Kiran/Raga/Briza-Kar/T’Fearne: RESPONSE
Ensign Cecil Valo
Security Officer
USS Ronin
C239205AF0