Operation Toe Dip: 4th MSOT CallSign Hillary - Comm Tower Pt 3

Posted on 07 Jul 2019 @ 8:50am by Captain Edward Bolingbroke (Dec-Jan 2389 - TRNSFR After Gorn War) & Lieutenant Jinn Tevran (Jan 2389 - TRNSFR After Gorn War) & Lieutenant Junior Grade Steven Bernard, Ph.D. & Corporal James Robert, House of Rogath

Mission: Hahai i na pilikua nui - Hunting Monsters
Location: Valley east of Comm Tower Hill
Timeline: T+1 16:40hrs Zulu

[ON]

[Second Lay Up Point]

The stream the wreck Gorn craft was in meandered it’s way along the valley floor, which was mostly tall grass with a few scattered copses of scrub trees.

In one of these the team had established their second lay up point.

The stream was between them and the base of the hill with the communications tower, on the far back it had cut into that hillside, exposing some low rocky cliffs.

Above the cliffs rose a steep scrubby hillside, dotted with rocky outcrops and a few trees clinging to the rocks. The slope led up to the tower on the summit. The hilltop and the base of the tower were not visible from the team’s current position on the valley floor.

Bernard was glad for the opportunity. "I'll go with Gold, ma'am. But I need someone who speaks Gorn to help translate the files we received. The graphics on the corrupted file suggest a relationship to the tower. Even a way to listen into their channels might help us."

Hargreaves nodded gratefully at the reminder; unit security had been her first concern, but she couldn't let the other things slip. "Leave it with me, and I'll se Vue what Tevran, Shikar and I can muddle through of it while you're out there. We've got a transceiver to work on that might help us as well. Alright, report to Sergeant Thrane, she'll sort you out." Hargreaves gestured across the camp to where Gold Element were gathering.

"Aye Ma'am," Bernard said, and crossed the camp to Gold Element.

Gold Element were huddled close together a shirt distance away. They mostly sat in silence, awaiting their orders. A few of them looked up at the approach of the Ensign. As he moved toward them, the Andorian of the group turned to the only human there, an angry looking Sargeant.

"Did the L. T. really stick us with the fleetie, Kapier?" he asked, grinning.

The Sargeant returned the grin with a sigh and a glare. "As long as he can keep his mouth shut better than you, Shav, we're fine."

That drew a large guffaw from the burly half-Klingon Corporal of the group. He stood and approached Bernard. "Don't be mindin' this qoH lot, lil feller. You'll be wantin' to speak to the Staff Sargeant."

He pointed over to the Trill woman currently in conversation with the group's Bajoran medic.

Bernard tried to nod in a way that showed some kind of strength, since Klingons rarely say "thank you," and walked to the Staff Sargent.

As he walked away, JimBob sat back down next to Shave and shrugged. "Well he must be all bowed up, he didn't even thank me."

Staff Sargeant Anika Thrane looked up from her conversation at the Ensign's approach. Petty Officer Rek excused herself and moved away to give the two a modicum of privacy.

"Good afternoon, Staff Sargent," Bernard said, "Lt. Hargreaves sent me to help."

Thrane gave the Ensign a nod and a reassuring smile. "Seems you're our fresh meat, Ensign. We're being sent to take a look at that Comm Tower. Are you up for joining us?"

"I'm up," Bernard said, "what do you want done first?

Thrane nodded at Bernard's response. "Good. We're still a man short from our last mission and I want scouting teams of two. I'll be pairing you with Corporal Rogath. He's new to the unit as well, but is highly experienced and so will be a good match for you. Now I know you're an officer, sir, but in this case, the Corporal will be the lead, understood?"

Bernard nodded, "Understood, Staff Sergeant." Bernard gestured over his shoulder, "Is Rogath the Klingon behind me?"

Thrane nodded. "Half-Klingon. Half... Well, you'll see."

Bernard couldn't help but raise his eye-brows in curiosity. He stopped himself from saying more and nodded instead. "I'll go catch up to him, Staff Sergeant." Then Bernard turned and walked back to the Klingon.

"NuqneH, Corporal?" Bernard said, offering his hand and forearm, giving the typical Klingon Greeting.

JimBob grinned and slapped Bernard right on the shoulder with his massive and gloved hand, possibly harder than the Ensign expected "Well golly! How much of the beautiful language do you speak there, lil fella?"

Bernard was finding out that Cpl. Rogath was no where near the typical Klingon.

JimBob moved steadily and with purpose between what cover he could find to hide his mass. He and the Security Ensign, Bernard, had drawn the long straw and were climbing the hill the Comms Tower was on. Somewhere off to his left, Sgt. Thrane and PO Rek were also on this hill. Kapier and Shav had the quicker climb, but less cover on the other hill. In the short time he had been with the unit, he had seen them operate efficiently together, so he trusted they'd be fine.

He stopped behind a growth of shrubbery and waited for Bernard to come up alongside him. The Ensign was keeping pace well. He seemed like he'd done this sort of thing before, something for which JimBob was thankful, seeing as how they were partners here. They were closing in on the top of the hill, where they'd need to make their approach even more cautiously than they already had been. The weather wasn't clearing up, but being spotted would be a disaster, so they had to be careful.

"See them there trees about 60 yards out to our 2 o'clock?" he asked the Ensign. "That's our next pit stop. You take the lead on this one, fella, and I'll cover ya."

"Aye," Bernard said. The tried to move from cover to cover. Visibility was getting worse and worse as night fell and the rain had not let up. When he got to the trees, he waited for JimBob to come up and said: "I don't know how important this tower is to the Gorn: I haven't seen any land vehicle patrols or troops around it yet. You think they've got enough surveillance so that they feel safe?"

JimBob considered the question. "Well, by now whatever our fleet was doin' should be pretty well resolved. So they may not realize we're muckin' about, or they could be preppin fer a bigger push. Regardless we gotta be gittin to the top of this here hill."

He scanned out into the growing twilight. "Not a whole lot of cover left. Think you and them little legs can keep up if we make a run for the top? Thinkin' we hit the dirt right at the top there."

Bernard smiled, ready for a run, "Let's move!" He said and powered up the hill, going from tree to rock to tree cover.

JimBob raced after the Ensign. He was carrying more weight, but was somewhat taller, so he kept pace easily enough. The two men drove up the hill at speed and as they reached the summit, they both dove to the ground side-by-side and raised their weapons, scanning the summit before them.

To be Continued...

[OFF]