PNPC Senior Chief Kiran Rork - Holding The Line
Martin Tucker
(( Federation Embassy, Deck 1, Main Compartment, DS33 ))
Rork looked down at his dirty, wrinkled uniform. It had holes where he’d narrowly avoided disrupter blasts. His sleeves were rolled up, and he had bruises on his arm that he had no clue how he’d gotten. And he knew when this was all over, he would sleep for days. Now was not the time for sleep. They had to hold the station so they wouldn’t have to go to plan B.
He had his arms crossed, elbows resting on the butt of his Type 33 QCQ phaser rifle slung over his torso. What he needed was a raktajino or a Sluggo! Energy drink something to kick him in the rear. All of this was a reminder of what had been insurmountable odds, a small group of rag-tag beings standing up and saying NO in unison. A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth at the thought that there were good times back in his other life, but there were plenty of bad times, too. Rork, deep down, just wanted to help people, that’s it. Get the bullies to back off and help those that are in need.
Even though this was the first time he served directly under Ronin’s XO, the man had already earned Kiran’s loyalty and trust. If the Commander ordered Rork to run through a wall, he’d ask how fast. Though his loyalty had gotten him into more than one scrape—for that, he had Brac to blame—quickly, his mind went to wondering what that troll was up to.
He shook his head to clear the memories and focused on the Commander. Who was talking, something Rork didn’t realize was that he’d tuned out the noise around him. He was more of a listener and doer than a talker. Actions always spoke louder than words; at least, that’s what his late father would tell him. It was a mantra he carried on through life, it had gotten him this far, no need to change now.
Raga: One wonders if they’re continuing to push solely out of desperation to make their losses more meaningful. ::He remarked dryly::
Kiran: ::half smile:: Could be, or they just hate us that much that they’ll take it on the chin to try and hand us a loss. I don’t see it happening. I think they’re just weapons-grade idiots; they line up to get shot. Do they produce these guys on conveyor belts?
T’Fearne/Kiran/Valo/Breeze: Response
Korras: Response
The unmistakable sound of a Klingon brought Rork to turn hand on the grip of his phaser rifle, and the XO had the same idea as he went for his pistols on his thighs. He was a Klingon and had the blood-stained Bat’leth to prove it. He was wearing services yellow, so he was friendly. Rork let loose the grip of his rifle and went back to crossing his arms and resting them on the butt of his gun.
He’d fought alongside Klingons during the war with the Dominion; he found them to be honorable and trustworthy. It was Romulans you had to watch out for, a distant third to the Cardassians and Jem Hadar. It was stitched into his DNA to hate those three groups. Hell, he wasn’t sure about serving with a Romulan who had come aboard and was working in Operations.
Can you teach an old war dog new tricks?
Raga: Commander Raga, USS Ronin. ::He eyed the bat’leth:: I imagine Tholian exo-suits would be difficult to breach with that, especially with their predilection to explode when they die. I suspect it’ll need sharpening after this is all over?
Korras: Response
Kiran: ::smiling:: yIche'meH wamwI' ::extending a hand:: (Welcome to the suck.) I’m Senior Chief Kiran Rork, I wish this was under better circumstances, like over some blood wine.
T’Fearne/Valo/Breeze: Response
The XO took a deep breath and addressed those assembled in the Embassy. Raga sounded like rocks in a blender, but his voice was still carrying; who needed comms when you had the Ronin’s XO.
Raga: If the medics have cleared you to keep fighting then fall in, we’ll hold the line. Anyone who’s not been cleared but can still hold a phaser you’re going to remain here and hold the Embassy. Protect those who are too hurt to do even that.
Kiran: For those of you who do not have phaser training, just ask one of us, gesturing to the group, and we’ll set you straight. If you have reasons why you won't use a phaser, no worries.
T’Fearne/Valo/Breeze/Korras: Response
He continued.
Raga: You have all gone above and beyond. They assaulted us and you held the line. They pushed our lines for hours, centimeter by centimeter and you didn’t break. You endured pain. And loss. And terror. And you're still here. Even through retreat you still have not broken. Because you are Starfleet. We. Are. Starfleet. And we do not break until our last breath. No bully, nor tyrant, nor disaster will ever take that from you.
The Al-Leyan held no emotion back as he drew on what reserves he had left to try and inspire those under his command to push even harder, farther, longer.
Kiran:::addressing the group:: As I said before, trust your training. Your training will help you through this. Above all, listen to your CO at all times. I know it shouldn’t have to be said, but things do tend to go pear-shaped.
Rork hoped that would sink in, especially for the newbies.
T’Fearne/Valo/Breeze/Korras: Response
Raga: =/= Raga to Ops. We’re here. Every last person we could still reach has fallen back to the Embassy and are positioned throughout the entire deck. A hundred strong between them and you. We’ll make every shot count. =/=
Stergis/Mackenna: =/= Response =/=
Once again, explosions could be heard in the corridors outside the Embassy, including phaser and disruptor fire. It seemed that the Alliance had gotten its collective crap together and was starting another push, which was very inconvenient for all involved.
The sound was getting closer and closer. This made Rork tense and white-knuckle the grip on his phaser rifle; he thought about tossing some of Marty’s special grenades when he realized he was out of them. He made a mental note to replicate more once they returned to the Ronin.
Kiran was standing to Raga’s right and could hear his combadge channel open; it was Osiris, another one of the security team he had yet met
Osiris: =/= The Alliance is pushing again, Port side. =/=
Rork gave Raga, a of course, they are, look.
Raga: You’re with us, Lieutenant Korras.
The XO had barely finished saying he was off to the races. Kiran followed suit, thumbing off the safety and ensuring he had a full charge. They were headed to the port side of the deck. When their team arrived, they were already engaging the enemy.
He noticed Commander Raga pressed against a bulkhead and leaned around a corner. A disrupter blast zipped by his face, missing him by millimeters, drew his attention away from what the commander was doing; he had his problems. He, too, was pressed against a bulkhead, and he’d do a five count, lean out and fire several shots, and then back to the minimal cover.
They were coming from the turbolift and a stairwell. Rork concentrated on those coming off the turbolift, picking them off as they emerged. Not the brightest thing the Alliance had done since they started their engagement some twenty-plus hours ago; he’d honestly lost track of time.
Kiran: I’ve got the turbolift covered at the moment. Is it me, or are they setting up some sort of cannon emplacement? They get that thing put together and we’re going to be in a world of hurt…
Raga/T’Fearne/Valo/Breeze/Korras: Response
Rork nodded and continued to lock down the turbolift. That’s when it occurred to him that maybe they should set up a transporter inhibitor or two since the Alliance controlled a couple of the station's transporter rooms, and you sure as hell didn't want them to beam in more reinforcements.
He called out over the cacophony of phaser and disruptor fire.
Kiran: Commander, do we have any transporter inhibitors left?
Raga/T’Fearne/Valo/Breeze/Korras: Response
Tags/TBC
