Operation Toe Dip: 3d MSOT - CallSign Fawcett - On the beach

Posted on 20 Jun 2019 @ 3:27pm by Captain Edward Bolingbroke (Dec-Jan 2389 - TRNSFR After Gorn War) & Lieutenant Junior Grade Eira Cortez & Major Terrance West & First Lieutenant Gregor Goss (Dec-Jan 2389 - TRNSFR After Gorn War) & Senior Chief Master-at-Arms Isabella Kelly

Mission: Hahai i na pilikua nui - Hunting Monsters
Location: Canterra - LZ Bogota
Timeline: T+1 0450hrs Zulu

[ON]

[Canterra - LZ Bogota]

The noise and commotion died away, leaving only the hiss and crackle of the down Gorn craft as it burned brightly on the beach.

Wells sank to her knees in the sand, staring out over the dark lake, a few pieces of flotsam were all that was left of the Air Boat and her companions.

She looked over to West and the Marines, tears streaming down her face "All that is left of the Binkman family is a fifteen year old boy! A family of farmers, all dead but one boy! Wiped out! You have to stop this, stop this killing and get the Hegemony off our world! Get them off our home!"

West gritted his teeth. "That's the plan, ma'am. He gave his life defending his home."

“That’s not a lot of comfort for a fifteen year old Major” Wells replied “I told you, a lot of people believe the Federation abandoned us. If you don’t take this planet back that boy’s going to think that’s true for the rest of his life, however long that is!”

"We'll take her back. I'll be sure of it," West promised.

The Major stood there in a moment of silence before turning to Goss.

"Goss, ready evac. Tell Hilo to do a sensor sweep north of us to see if anything is emitting. Doctor Wells, do you know if there are any anti-aircraft batters along the river, north of us?

"Yes Sir," Gregor answered crisply, stone faced. =/\= Fawcett to Hilo, there's been a change of plan, get airborne and prepare to conduct a low-altitude sensor sweep of the region to our north. =/\= Turning back to the Major, Gregor offered his recommended course of action. "We can't afford to stay here sir, the LZ is too compromised. I suggest that we head east, following the original plan, until Hilo has finished the sweep."

=/\= This is Griffith-Bailey, reading you loud and clear sir. Preparing to get airborne now and getting the sensors ready for the sweep =/\= Spencer acknowledged, flicking the switches and smiling at the sound of the engine starting up.

West pulled out a PADD and stood to the left of Goss.

"East? That's the capitol. I figure we could scope out the farms near Sophiaville, to ascertain any enemy presence. Intel said the capital would be the base of Gorn operations," West looked at Cortez for her input.

Cortez stood there for a few seconds longer trying to comprehend what she just witnessed before snapping out of it and looking wide eyed at the Major, nodding, "Uh yes. Sir. Reports that have been received have shown there are at least three to four buildings, maybe more, currently housing their base of operations. Scoping out the farms would be a wise choice though, sir."

"Sir, I recommend that I go on ahead and scout out the area," replied Isabella, as she knew that by going in front she could keep them out of any trouble that might be lurking.

"We're going by air, chief, unless you want to walk that far," West smirked. "If you want point once we land, that's up to the L-T."

"Aye Sir," replied Isabella as she knew that it would have been a long walk, but by getting there quicker by air then she was all for it, but they could be spotted and that was a concern for her. But it wasn't her place to question the order.

"Towards the capital, or towards Sophiaville, both work, but we have to decide quickly," Gregor Intoned. He looked out over the surface of the water for signs if the Hilo coming back to life.

"Let's split the baby then. We do an arc, scan both and hopefully get a two-for-one deal. The Colonel wanted us to scan the capital anyways, although I feel like we won't be anywhere close to the strength to take her," West remarked. "How are the comms?"

"Still dead," Gregor answered. "You mean for us to be aboard while the Hilo does its sweeps sir?"

“I told you, it’s The Scythe you need to re-tune to shortwave frequencies,” Wells said

"Okay," Gregor replied, fiddling with the controls on his wristguard.

Wells continued "And they will pick up your shuttle the moment you get above any ground features. We think they have the The Scythe set from about ten thousand feet down to really low level, it’s like some kind of flat plane of combined sensor and jammer.

"We gave up using shuttles because they always seemed to track us whenever we got more than a hundred feet up in open ground. You can maybe use the terrain around here or the Skyscrapers but once you’re out over the plains they pick you up!”

"So, that sounds like no one should be going anywhere by air sir," Gregor mused. "We might not even want to risk flying at treetop height."

West knew that it was only a matter of time before the Gorn were upon them. Air was the quickest way to re-establishing comms. He eventually nodded and unslung his phaser rifle. "You think more colonists are gonna find us?"

"I don't know if my group will have heard it or seen the explosions, they are about twenty kilometers up river," Wells said. "But when we don't return by the agreed time, they will think we have been captured and they will move out." Wells explained.

"It's the only way we could stay ahead of the Gorn and l don't know where the next camp was planned. We don't tell anyone going out on patrol that information in case they are captured.

"They will check back at this camp in three days though at midnight, just to see if we made it and listen out on our contact frequency. But otherwise, they will lay low for a few days."

"Sir," Gregor began, crossing his arms. "I recommend we call off any scan from the Hilo, and instead use it to ferry us to the partisan camp. We could stay in hover mode and skim over the river's surface. That gets us somewhere safer, gives us a chance to collect our long-term supplies, hide the Hilo more carefully, and formulate a more deliberate plan of action."

"Sirs, can I make a quick suggestion?" Cortez piped up. It was a thought that came to mind and she understood if it wasn't a good idea. "Maybe we could possibly get Griffith-Bailey out with us as well instead of being stuck in the Hilo? From what I've seen he's got skills like the rest of us, and it wouldn't hurt to have an extra person in the team too. I understand it would mean taking a few minutes longer to get the Hilo up and running, but I think it might be worth it in the end."

"I like your plan, L-T. I don't want to be here when the Gorn show up. Let's skim the Hilo up river to the camp and if the colonists are gone, we'll set up camp until they return as the Doc says," West directed. "We'll be sure our pilot doesn't have to babysit the Hilo either at camp," he added, mindful of intel's input.

"I'll make it happen," Gregor affirmed. "Team, onto the beach," he called out.

Dr. Wells nodded "l think that would work, there are some deep ravines behind the camp. We could probably get your ship hidden in there.

"One request Major, can we try and retrieve the bodies of Joe and the others. We try not to leave our dead for the Gorn, they.... " Her voice broke a little and a tear ran down her cheek. She took a deep breath and continued ,"The Gorn mutilate bodies Major, l don't want that for my friends or for Joe Junior to have to think about."

West paused and looked at the Doctor, more surprised by what she said. "Yes, of course," he said before turning back to Goss. "Detail a squad to recover the bodies from the air boat."

"Yes sir. Kord, Zhihao, Weston, you're with me, locate and retrieve the partisan casualties." Gregor began stripping out of his harness and eyed the brown water of the lake.

"Thank you Major" Wells nodded and walked down to the beach to await the Runabout.

Isabella stood with her rifle pointing to the ground, looking back at the now destroyed Airboat and the lives that had been lost with it. she thought to herself, oO Damn Lizards, you are going to pay Oo knowing that the bodies needed to be laid to rest. She walked over to Gregor and asked, "Sir, would you like an extra pair of hands?"

"Are you trained in water rescue Ms. Kelly?" Gregor asked. "If not, wait in the shallows, and be ready to take the bodies from us as we bring them up."

"No Sir that I am Not," replied Isabella as she looked back at the Marine, She continued, "Although I would like to learn the skill," as she knew that keeping watch was the best thing for her to do whilst they were under water.

Now down to his underclothes, Gregor waded in to the lake accompanied by the rest of the retrieval team, and slipped under the surface. Visibility was very poor in the murky water, the search would be difficult. He swam toward where the boat had gone down, searching as long as his breath could last, but found nothing, he surfaced for air and saw Kord and Zhihao making for the shore, each burdened with a limp form.

Isabella saw two of the team surface and carrying a limp form with them as she moved in to the water, She said "Here let me help you?" as she took one end of the limp form and helped the marine carry it to the shore.

To Be Continued...

[OFF]


Terrance "Terry" West, Maj, SFMC
CO, 3d MRBN

Gregor Goss, 1LT, SFMC
Leader, 3MSOT

Eira Cortez, LTJG, SF
AINT

Spencer Griffith-Bailey, ENS, SF
FCO

Isabella Kelly, MACS, SF
TACSECLCPO

Dr Helen Wells NPC'd by
Bolingbroke (Tolkath)