Out of the Frying Pan: Chase
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Charles C
Feb 8, 2011, 1:03:50 PM2/8/11
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[On the ground]
A few more strides and Tank was just inside the tree line when his combadge ear-bud signaled the incoming message. Kneeling behind a fallen log he activated the device to hear Captain Martens.
“Tank, you have two guys sitting at the site right now. Hope you have something planned for them,” Bob said over the secure channel.
Someone would be there to receive his presents after all, "I've set up a welcoming committee for them."
“I’m going to provide as much cover as possible, but … “ Bob suddenly cut out for a few seconds before coming back, “Nevermind, I’ve got more company. I’ll try and hold them off, find them and get back to me when you do.”
"Roger that, watch your six. Ground out." Tank closed the channel and then hesitated momentarily as the explosives he'd placed at the shuttle were triggered.
Fading back into the more dense tree lines Tank started trying to track Krezek. It was apparent the man had some very serious skills
but when you're on the run with a couple civilians, no matter how good your skills are, you can overlook things that another professional can pick up on. So your choice becomes to sacrifice speed for marginally more obscurity, or to break for it and count on running your way out.
Getting himself orientated, the marine colonel set half a dozen anti-personnel photon mines in various deployments along his path. Some he used an infrared tripwire, others he resorted to an actual wire trip system, and he even worked with proximity sensor unit for two of them. All the mines were set to heavy stun and resembled the antiquated Claymore anti-personnel mines of the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
Tank picked up the trail easily and began a jog he could sustain for days if necessary. It wouldn't be the same heavy speed of someone being pursued, but it would keep him fresh for the confrontation ahead. It wouldn't do him any good to find Krezek only to be unprepared to turn and face the at least 3 operatives who were approaching the tree line only minutes behind him.
Staying in his easy run the comm channel opened again, Tank listened to Bob describe his next move, “Tank … I’m going to try and land this thing at the crash site. I’ll be coming your way.”
Without speaking Tank switched his tactical display to re-incorporate the low light and infrared displays as the forest started getting even more dense, then he keyed in a programmed beacon and instruction to Bob’s tricorder. The extremely low powered data burst was multi-faceted. It noted where Tank was, where the probable locations of enemy agents were and identifying a small cordon that according to the geographic layout would be the best place to choke any pursuit. The other thing it did was give Bob a couple of tricks to hide his life signs, the Starfleet Captain was excellent but his battlefield was the stars, the dirt and the mud was Tank’s.
Tank reached into the duffel and pulled out a hand full of what looked like small wafer thing discs, more like poker chips than anything else. He’d had Treyla replicate these in the brief respites when she wasn’t pounding away at more data. With ease he began tossing them to his side every few hundred meters, one to the left and then jogging on, another to the right and so on. The device was a sort of passive sensor which had some very basic holographic technology that could change it’s color to match the ground; Tank called them Chameleons.
The black and camouflage face application Tank wore had reminded him of other battles on distant planets; but this one would be different. Like approaching a guerrilla rebel they wanted to support, Tank would have to find a way to make contact with Krezek without getting shot at. He had noted one empty holster for a hand phaser, so they were most likely armed with at least one sidearm.
As it always had, his mind was busier than ever while in a mindless run; ever alert and aware he was busy with a plethora of details. With the shuttle getting shot down Tank thought at first that Krezek, and whoever he was with as there were untrained tracks as well, wasn’t likely to hesitate using settings beyond mere stun.
Then he had to rethink that, as that would be his tactical side trying to prepare a way around that. More than likely Krezek, being a security specialist, would want to find out why someone was coming after him. The best way to do that would be to stun them and take them hostage.
An idea started forming that Tank didn’t like, not one bit. Then something happened that solidified it.
Tank heard it first, then he saw it thanks to his enhanced display via the tricorder. Two shuttlecraft flew low overhead, slowed, and landed to his right. Tank judged the distance to be at least 3 kilometers, which matched the location of a large clearing. They had been shielded, probably still worried about Bob and his rogue scout even though Tank knew that was grounded.
If they matched the others these new shuttles would be carrying 4 agents a piece, and they were landing which meant they were committed to rooting out any hiding place. This could quickly turn into a protracted battle.
“Merde!” Tank muttered to himself as he quickened his pace, his new distasteful plan cemented in his mind.
He was going to let Krezek shoot him...
To Be Continued
By Jean “Tank” Chandler
--“Tank, you have two guys sitting at the site right now. Hope you have something planned for them,” Bob said over the secure channel.
Someone would be there to receive his presents after all, "I've set up a welcoming committee for them."
“I’m going to provide as much cover as possible, but … “ Bob suddenly cut out for a few seconds before coming back, “Nevermind, I’ve got more company. I’ll try and hold them off, find them and get back to me when you do.”
"Roger that, watch your six. Ground out." Tank closed the channel and then hesitated momentarily as the explosives he'd placed at the shuttle were triggered.
Fading back into the more dense tree lines Tank started trying to track Krezek. It was apparent the man had some very serious skills
but when you're on the run with a couple civilians, no matter how good your skills are, you can overlook things that another professional can pick up on. So your choice becomes to sacrifice speed for marginally more obscurity, or to break for it and count on running your way out.
Getting himself orientated, the marine colonel set half a dozen anti-personnel photon mines in various deployments along his path. Some he used an infrared tripwire, others he resorted to an actual wire trip system, and he even worked with proximity sensor unit for two of them. All the mines were set to heavy stun and resembled the antiquated Claymore anti-personnel mines of the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
Tank picked up the trail easily and began a jog he could sustain for days if necessary. It wouldn't be the same heavy speed of someone being pursued, but it would keep him fresh for the confrontation ahead. It wouldn't do him any good to find Krezek only to be unprepared to turn and face the at least 3 operatives who were approaching the tree line only minutes behind him.
Staying in his easy run the comm channel opened again, Tank listened to Bob describe his next move, “Tank … I’m going to try and land this thing at the crash site. I’ll be coming your way.”
Without speaking Tank switched his tactical display to re-incorporate the low light and infrared displays as the forest started getting even more dense, then he keyed in a programmed beacon and instruction to Bob’s tricorder. The extremely low powered data burst was multi-faceted. It noted where Tank was, where the probable locations of enemy agents were and identifying a small cordon that according to the geographic layout would be the best place to choke any pursuit. The other thing it did was give Bob a couple of tricks to hide his life signs, the Starfleet Captain was excellent but his battlefield was the stars, the dirt and the mud was Tank’s.
Tank reached into the duffel and pulled out a hand full of what looked like small wafer thing discs, more like poker chips than anything else. He’d had Treyla replicate these in the brief respites when she wasn’t pounding away at more data. With ease he began tossing them to his side every few hundred meters, one to the left and then jogging on, another to the right and so on. The device was a sort of passive sensor which had some very basic holographic technology that could change it’s color to match the ground; Tank called them Chameleons.
The black and camouflage face application Tank wore had reminded him of other battles on distant planets; but this one would be different. Like approaching a guerrilla rebel they wanted to support, Tank would have to find a way to make contact with Krezek without getting shot at. He had noted one empty holster for a hand phaser, so they were most likely armed with at least one sidearm.
As it always had, his mind was busier than ever while in a mindless run; ever alert and aware he was busy with a plethora of details. With the shuttle getting shot down Tank thought at first that Krezek, and whoever he was with as there were untrained tracks as well, wasn’t likely to hesitate using settings beyond mere stun.
Then he had to rethink that, as that would be his tactical side trying to prepare a way around that. More than likely Krezek, being a security specialist, would want to find out why someone was coming after him. The best way to do that would be to stun them and take them hostage.
An idea started forming that Tank didn’t like, not one bit. Then something happened that solidified it.
Tank heard it first, then he saw it thanks to his enhanced display via the tricorder. Two shuttlecraft flew low overhead, slowed, and landed to his right. Tank judged the distance to be at least 3 kilometers, which matched the location of a large clearing. They had been shielded, probably still worried about Bob and his rogue scout even though Tank knew that was grounded.
If they matched the others these new shuttles would be carrying 4 agents a piece, and they were landing which meant they were committed to rooting out any hiding place. This could quickly turn into a protracted battle.
“Merde!” Tank muttered to himself as he quickened his pace, his new distasteful plan cemented in his mind.
He was going to let Krezek shoot him...
To Be Continued
By Jean “Tank” Chandler
Charles E. L. Cadwallader
"Aut viam inveniam aut faciam" - "I will either find a way or make one"
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