Ensign T’Fearne - The Unexpected Frequency of War
Teayl Thorn
(( Outside Docking Port 2, Deck 6, Main Compartment, DS33 ))
The corridors of Deep Space Thirty-Three reverberated with the rhythmic thwump of phaser fire and the jarring crackle of disruptors. The Alliance’s relentless assault was a celestial storm, the station’s shields holding as the enemy fire splashed against the energy field in a terrifying fireworks display. Seiuri Squad held the breach at bay at docking port 2 until the intruders transported behind enemy lines were turning the tide. Seemingly the transport inhibitors had failed somehow. Their grip on the port was slipping, and Death was sitting on the promenade, picking his teeth with a scythe.
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: ::nodding sagely:: I couldn’t agree more. Commander, what say you?
Raga: Agreed. ::He addressed Fighting withdrawal. ::He tapped his comm badge:: =/\= Seiuri to docking port two teams. Fall back and regroup at the next muster point. Fighting withdrawal, don’t let them overrun you trying to retreat and someone make sure the damned transporter inhibitors there are working. =/\=
As if on cue, a Sheliak materializes in their midst. Ensign Valo opened fire before it could pose a threat, taking it down with impressive precision and reflexes.
Briza-Kar: We need to fall back while we still have a chance!
Breeze’s low growl triggered a flicker of distraction in T’Fearne’s mind, but she quickly refocused on the Commander’s orders, readying herself to move. She watched the Chief expertly shoot down both an emerging Sheliak and another just materializing from the transporter beam.
Kiran: ::smiling:: Two for one, gotta love it.
Raga: Move it, Ensigns. We’ll cover you then leap frog back.
To emphasize his point, Raga opened fire, providing cover for their retreat.
T’Fearne: Yes Sir. :: sprits to the next barrier in sinc with Valo:: Cover now!:: Unleashing suppression fire::
For one terrifying moment, she found herself engaged in close-quarters combat as they started their tactical withdrawal, T’Fearne was too close to risk a level 6 shot, if she missed the consequences would be deadly. She dropped her rifle to let it hang on its strap, and her Akai seemed to materialise in her hand. With a practised movement, she flicked out, extending the baton and slipped it between two of the six leg joints of a Tholian enviro suit, fouling the invader's next step. It stumbled enough that she retracted and ran past, leaving it open for her comrades and taking up her rifle again. Chief Solana had been right about relying on the familiar in times of chaos.
Turning and providing cover for Raga, Kiran and Breeze. They repeated that motion, cover and run, focusing on fortifying their retreat while keeping an eye on the chaos around them.
Valo: Sir, we’re losing morale.
Kiran: ::looking at Valo:: Understood, but not the time. Rely on your training; thinking too much might get you dead, kid.
Raga: Focus on what you’re doing, Ensign. Morale shifts during battle, but the priority is staying alive and fighting.
T’Fearne: Ronin Strong, huh? :: Saying it mostly to herself, but glancing at Valo::
They were new to the Ronin, the sentiment meant little to her. Time to see if it was more than just a saying.
Without waiting for a response, she dashed down the corridor with the Seiuri squad.
(( Muster Point 4, Deck 6, Main Compartment, DS33 ))
They reached Muster Point 4, where reinforced barricades provided a temporary reprieve. Security officers waited, ready for the next wave. One shouted a warning as the squad approached.
Security Officer: Get behind the barricade, we're setting off explosions!
Without hesitation, Breeze leapt over the barricade, followed swiftly by Kiran and Raga. They hit the ground and turned to fire shots toward the bottleneck to suppress the enemy as T’Fearne and Valo made their run to cover. She flipped herself over the barrier and out of sight.
Kiran: ::a half smile creased the corner of his mouth:: I think it’s time to blow this popsicle stand!
Raga: What is the fascination with destruction of dessert carts? You’ve been around Humans too long, Chief.
Sliding down the barricade and bumping shoulders with the squad, the Vulcazoid had picked up a collection of emotional impressions that she was doing her best to ignore for now, but she caught the desire to banter and understood it to be designed to calm nerves while keeping them sharp.
T’Fearne::: Joining in:: I missed out on visiting the Warp Stone Creamery before the Alliance shot the station to the Great Fire. I think the Commander should take Seiuri Squad out for ice cream after we deal with these intruders. :: flashing a wry grin:: I’ve had this flavour called smoked salt caramel at the academy. It was good, interesting flavour profile.
Valo/Breeze: RESPONSE
BOOM!
The corridor erupted in a brilliant, fiery explosion, sending debris ricocheting off the bulkheads and filling the space with a cloud of thick, acidic smoke. The deafening roar of the blast made it nearly impossible to hear anything over the cacophony.
Kiran: ::covering his head and then peaking:: I can’t see a damn thing; anyone got a visual on the bogies?
T’Fearne, her hands pressed tightly over her ears, strained to make out anything through the settling smoke. The disruptor fire resumed almost immediately, cutting through the fog and revealing the advancing Sheliak and the surviving Tholians.
Kiran: Sir, that didn’t even dent their line much…
Raga: Didn’t expect it to, we’re outnumbered here, Chief. Just consider it a target-rich environment. The more we take out the more they have to commit. Hold the line while I get an update on the situation.
T’Fearne: Yes, sir. :: To the other ensign:: Valo, let’s make every shot count.
Valo/Breeze: RESPONSE
Kiran’s movement caught her eye just in time—he had lobbed another grenade. She ducked instinctively, barely avoiding the brunt of the explosion.
WHUMP!
The EMP blast surged through the corridor, knocking out the power and sending the lights into a staccato of flickering bursts. The EMP’s effect neutralized many of their weapons, and the remaining Alliance forces were forced to wield their disruptor rifles like makeshift clubs.
Again, the Chief hadn’t given any warning, and her sensitive ears were already strained from the sounds of battle. If he wasn’t careful, she was going to start calling him "Chief Silent and Deadly" in her head.
Kiran: Orders, commander?
Raga: We hold here. Looks like the transporter inhibitors here are working. ::He tapped his comm badge:: =/\= Seiuri to Epsilon, hostiles have breached the tubes in the vestibule. Junction thirty seven, Alpha. See what you can do to get those inhibitors up again. =/\=
Solana: =/\= Epsilon copies. =/\=
T’Fearne::: Pulling at pointy ears and talking slightly too loud:: A little warning before the next detonation would be helpful, Chief.
Valo/Breeze/Kiran: RESPONSE
Raga: Eyes and Ears ::He announced to let those around him know they should close their eyes and cover their ears::
The Commander aimed with his SOSAR and squeezed the lower trigger. A blinding explosion erupted, filling the corridor with a searing light and a thunderous roar.
T’Fearne, grateful for the Commander’s thoughtfulness, braced herself for the explosion. The sonic shockwaves rattle her senses slightly. As she observed the Sheliak and some Tholians advancing in smaller numbers, she recalled that both the Tholians and possibly the Sheliak were thought to be silicon-based lifeforms.
T’Fearne: Let’s keep a close watch on the impact of these stun grenades. The reduction in their numbers suggests they might be vulnerable to this. oO Could sound or frequency be a weakness we can exploit? Oo
Valo/Breeze/Kiran: RESPONSE
Raga: As long as those inhibitors do their job they can’t beam into this section. Which means that bottleneck is our friend, their numbers are ineffective as long as they can’t get more than a handful through at a time.
T’Fearne:::finding a clear angle:: I’ve got a good line of sight. Engaging now.
Valo/Breeze/Kiran: RESPONSE
The corridor erupted into a frenzy of disruptor fire, forcing everyone to dive for cover. The station trembled under another impact, sending vibrations through the decking beneath T’Fearne as she braced against the barricades. The flickering lights cast erratic shadows, but the shields continued to hold, she hoped it was more than barely.
Raga: Another transport just docked at port two, but we’re holding port one. Looks like they're concentrating their forces here, trying to break through. Keep laying down fire. ::He looked at everyone briefly:: This is a siege, not a skirmish. Five up and firing, give the others a chance to breathe. Swap out between waves and everyone fires when they push hard. Understood?
T’Fearne: Sir.
Valo/Breeze/Kiran: RESPONSE
A comms broadcast crackled through the sector, a voice breaking through the static.
Niac: =/\= Ronin to All Federation Outposts and Installations in sector A113. We are coming. *static* We will not abandon you. For your tomorrows...we give our todays. Ronin Out. =/\=
Raga: Our friends, our family are coming for us. I don’t know about you, but I intend to be here when they arrive.
T’Fearne: We’ll hold the line. Every second we buy them gives a better chance to get to us.
Grasping a renewed sense of determination brought by the broadcast, T’Fearne checked her rifle’s charge and prepared for the next wave. The siege raged on, but they would hold fast.
Raga/Valo/Breeze/Kiran: RESPONSE
T’Fearne: The physical detonations don’t seem to faze them much. :: Shouting over the noise:: But the stun grenades… do we have any intel on their weaknesses? I’d even settle for an allergy at this point.
Raga/Valo/Breeze/Kiran: RESPONSE
T’Fearne: Can we play something through the station’s announcement system? Maybe a sound or frequency they’d dislike, be confused by… or even one they might be attracted to?
Raga/Valo/Breeze/Kiran: RESPONSE
TAGS/TBC!
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Ensign T'Fearne
Security Officer
USS Ronin - NCC-34523
R240107T14