Operation: Cold Comfort: "Or maybes yous just die anyway!”

Posted on 03 Jul 2019 @ 9:00pm by Lieutenant Junior Grade Emma Walken & Lieutenant Junior Grade Anyi Nila & Gunnery Sergeant Kyle Walken & Lieutenant Commander Iria Taltos & Lieutenant Commander T'Lara & Lieutenant Harry Stevens & Captain Edward Bolingbroke (Dec-Jan 2389 - TRNSFR After Gorn War)

Mission: Hahai i na pilikua nui - Hunting Monsters
Location: The Xore Strike Mine
Timeline: T+3 1645hrs

[ON]

[Xore Strike Mine – Entrance tunnel]

After his exchange with the Frog Squad the Talon hurried back inside to the warmth and safety of the mine complex. He disliked the cold wintry conditions intensely, taking it as a personal slight on his position and dignity. The guards hustled the Humanoids in behind him and lined them up against the entrance tunnel wall.

He glanced briefly at them, they were of little interest to him other than their ability to help him meet the production quotas. Zrk’Szchul had taken longer than most to reach his rank, second hatched, he was not the most aggressive or strongest from his hatching, but he had a knack for being useful to others.

He had made a career out of being the useful sidekick, latching on to the more powerful, rising as those he supported did.

Now his patron had been given control of Canterra and he had been assigned a position in charge of the Topaline Mine. It was not exactly the most prestigious role, but he had been assured that Topaline production was of significant importance to the Hegemony.

If he was successful in achieving the quotas then his name would become known at the highest levels back of Gornar and that would lead on to greater things. That was reward enough, with the exception of being a little dull, it was not a bad assignment.

Besides it was a lot safer here, underground and behind a heavy shield, than being up on a Combat Cruiser facing the Federation and for that he could put up with a lot of dullness.

“I obtained the Sub-Leader’s name Talon!” Reported Fsh’Csazz, his Battle Master and supervisor of the Mine guards “I will file a report on his incompetence with the Talon at Arcsall”

The Battle Master was huge, taller than most of his species and he towered over Zrk’Szchul, who was short for Gorn, as he gave his report. “I thought we should have made him fetch his orders though”

Zrk’Szchul disliked his Battle Master, the fellow always seemed to stand too close, as if trying to be deliberately intimidating. The Mine Talon also thought his junior was impertinent and frequently asked difficult questions, as though trying to embarrass Zrk’Szchul in front of others.

Although he was efficient at his function, if a trifle brutal with the Humanoids. He frequently let the guards beat them and would execute workers on a whim.

Zrk’Szchul had no love for Humaoids, but it was bothersome when Zrk’Szchul's little games affected production. Still, once they had all of the Humanoids implanted with control devices that should no longer be an issue.

“I don’t care what you thought!” The Mine Talon snapped “I’m not going to stand out there in the snow while some idiot fumbles around for his orders! “

“Talon, I think there was something odd about this, they di-“ Fsh’Csazz objected

“I just told you I don’t care! You’re not here to think, you’re here to maintain security or order!” Zrk’Szchul snapped again “Now get these Humanoids processed and get them to work!”

Fsh’Csazz lingered a moment, the talons on his hands clicking, then he leaned it towards Zrk’Szchul, showing his fangs. The Mine Talon had to hold himself steady, it was almost as though his underling were going to challenge him, though he knew he would dare not.

Then Fsh’Csazz said slowly and deliberately, “I obey Talon.”

“Good, get on with it!” Zrk’Szchul replied, waved the Security Master away with his hand, then turned to leave. “I shall be in my quarters. Do not bother me!”

“Of course not Talon” Fsh’Csazz replied behind him, barely concealing the contempt in his voice “I’m sure you must be very busy”

Zrk’Szchul ignored him and went to leave but stopped when the communication system announced
+/\+ Incoming Starfleet Fighters! Incoming Starfleet Fighters! Battle conditions! Battle Conditions!” +/\+

“Raise the shield” He ordered. “They must have followed that idiot Sub-Leader, he brought them here! I will be in the control room. Get these workers processed!” He waved a hand at the group and left.

Fsh’Csazz glared at the Talon’s back and muttered something under his breath. Then turned to the new group of Humanoids. Oh how he hated these weaklings, they were a particularly puny and despicable species. They were nothing but untrustworthy liars responsible for the nuclear destruction of the capital, his mate and hatchlings along with it.

They should all be executed, they were too feeble to stand against the Hegemony without their ships and weapons. His teeth and claws had tasted their blood and he liked the feeling of slaughtering these scum. The little ones had whimpered and screamed and their blood had been bright on the snow. Reprisal for his own hatchlings, he licked his lips at the memory.

Then his mood turned sour again remembering how Zrk’Szchul had whined about the loss of workers. He growled, the Talon was nothing but a lackey to others, it was Gorn like himself who should be in command here! Then these Humanoids would have something to really fear!

Fsh’Csazz walked over to the group, looking at them with his white eyes. There were two males and five females, two had already been implanted. He leered at them showing his teeth.

“Ulllsss… Yous are workers of the Gorn Hegemony!" He voice was deep and bitter, barely able to make the words. "That only worth yous haves! Yous do as ordered! Yous do immediately! No obey, yous die! No questions or yous die! Yous touch Gorn, you die! Yous work, yous live!"

He paused and gave a short barking laugh "Or maybes yous just die anyway!”

The other guards joined in the barking laughs and Fsh’Csazz snapped his jaws at the prisoners again, then walked up and inspected each one in turn.

Mason shuddered despite herself. This was one huge ugly Gorn, its face was marked with scars, it looked like it wanted to tear them apart and she knew they were no match for it without weapons. Even a trusty K-Bar knife would be something but until they could retrieve the phasers they were pretty much helpless. She dropped her eyes, acting submissive and biding her time.

Kyle locked his eyes on the Gorn each one, the one who did most the talking reminded him of the one who ordered him chained up in the middle of the room when he was captured aboard the Wyoming. He talked big but the second someone stood up he would break, but the op didn't call for that. Kyle relaxes himself keeping his emotions in check the mission and safety of the other came first.

Emma was looking down, she was afraid she is adult enough to admit it, but the part they were meant to play was weak and helpless prisoners. That was what she was doing trying to pose herself as more afraid than she truly was.

Nila was biting her tongue, speaking her mind and talking crap to people was a normal thing for her but right now she knew that keeping her mouth shut was her only option.

Iria didn't have to pretend to be afraid, she'd flinched when the large Gorn had snapped his jaws at them, she had a brief flashback of the first time a rather disagreeable Fox terrier had bitten her in her feline form when she was younger. She could well imagine how much it would hurt if the big Horn tried to bite her. She shot a look to Kyle with her left eye wide, her right was 'swollen shut' for appearances.

T'Lara just send quietly. Looking like the Vulcan she was. She made herself appear beaten, but she kept quiet. She looked around to her shipmates. She just waited for the things that would come.

As Harry leaned up against the wall and listened to the Gorn in front of him, he thought to himself oO When we do get to go after these lizards, they will pay for Sif's brothers and sisters, Oo as he remembered those from the K9 division that had been killed when the Gorn had boarded the Hawaii to get the traitors Gorn Doctor back. But for now he would play the weak minded colonist and obey their instructions.

With the inspection over Fsh’Csazz lifts one of his talons and points at Mason, Kyle, Emma, and T'Lara. Three of the Gorn guards have Harry, Nila, and Iria fully pushed up against the metal wall the disrupter rifles pressed against their necks. Another three Gorn approached from the opposite end of the complex leading towards the main elevator. Each one took a position behind the non-implanted captives and jabbed them in the lower back with the end of their disrupters to remind them of who was in charge. "Get walking." One demands pointing down the hall.

Kyle groans from the quick jab, he takes a look back at the three who were being held up. The mission came first, the other three still had the means to help when the power is cute.

Emma kept quiet she figured from the implant that was 'in' they just expect her to follow and do what she was told, she felt bad that the others were hurt but hopefully this mission would be over quickly so they could start helping all the people in here.

Mason flinched away from the jab and got another one as punishment. She stifled a groan, put her head down and trudged forward. Why are they splitting us up? She wondered.

T'Lara looked to the others. She looked to Harry a moment. She didn't fight back when she was pushed to walk. She did what was asked and walked on along with the others. The push did hurt a bit. But she wasn't showing it. She looked with an empty gaze in front of her as she continued walking.

Having just watched the Gorn hit T’Lara, All Harry wanted to do was get his hands on the Lizard, but at the moment he had to play a role and that role was a subservient colonist that had been beaten down by those that had captured him. As he continued to stumble along with the rest of the team, Harry could not wait to get his hands on them, he thought to himself oO That will be so much pleasurable killing these lizards, Oo as she still had not forgiven them for the injuries to his K9 division although they knew that they could get hurt and had been trained for it.

The second Harry attempted to 'stumble' after the group that was sent to the elevator a scaled hand latched around his throat as the largest of the Gorn guard immediately slammed him against the cold metal wall of the mine entrance. "We founds the dumb one who nos listens." The guard raised his other hand a single talon pressed to Steven's neck. "Should save us the troubles of teaching the stupid ones."

The other guards laugh at the situation.

Iria let loose a yelp as the Gorn shoved her against the wall, which made the fake implant along her spine dig in painfully, the Gorn's rifle at her throat, no quite cutting off her airway, was none to comforting either. She had to fight the instinct to fight back against the press against her throat. Iria hated having things against her neck....

It took all of Nila's self-control to not fight back in this situation, all the training she had gone through and everything she had learned while still on Bajor. Had this been any other mission she would have demanded to know where they were being taken but she keeps her mouth shut.

The guards escorted the first group to the main elevator, the doors opened once one of the guards stepped up to it. First, two of the guard entered the elevator rifles lowered but one set of talons at the ready as they waited for the first of the captives to step on board. Behind them, the last of the three guards had his rifle slowly moving between them all.

Kyle was the first to step on board, at least if the Gorn were going to hurt someone he would be the closest target giving the others time to do something.

T'Lara followed close behind. She took a deep breath as she remembered the quiet time at the temple. She remained silent.

Mason followed on. The elevator was huge, maybe six meters by twelve meters. At one end was some kind of tracked mining machine, it had six large drills mounted on a rotating head with hydraulic rams. There was a Human man sat at the controls, he were just staring fixedly ahead, did not turn to look at the Gorn or Mason and the others. He was wearing a brown jumpsuit, did not look beaten or injured but there was a silver gray implant sticking out of the side of his head. Mason shuddered, he looked almost Borg-like.

She moved over to stand next to Walken, her head down but watchful. "What's with that guy?" She whispered to Walken without moving her lips.

"My guess is that's what happens when the implants take full control." Walken had no idea if he was right or not but it was his best guess.

One of the Gorn hissed "You nos talking!"

Emma had noticed the man as well, she focused forward just staring ahead and breathing slowly focused on the doors of the elevator as they slowly opened once more.

To Be Continued...

[OFF]

Iria Taltos, Lt, SF
ACHENG

TLara, Lt SF
CMO

Harry Stevens, LtJg, SF
ATACSEC

Anyi Nila, En, SF
OPS

Emma Walken, En, SF
BIO

Kyle Walken, SSgt, SFMC
3MSOT/TL

Sheila Mason, SSgt, SFMC
3MSOT/TL NPCd by Tolkath

Gorn NPCd by Tolkath and Walken