Canterra - Operation: Cold Comfort: Nemo's Lode Down among the dead men Pt II

Posted on 07 Sep 2019 @ 9:46pm by Captain Edward Bolingbroke (Dec-Jan 2389 - TRNSFR After Gorn War) & Lieutenant Commander Iria Taltos & Gunnery Sergeant Kyle Walken & Lieutenant Junior Grade Anyi Nila

Mission: Hahai i na pilikua nui - Hunting Monsters
Location: Xore Mine

[ON]

[Level Eight]

The sound of the elevator coming up had Iria tensing up but she made herself relax and get ready to jerry-rig, the door controls to keep it open for the Marines to be able to fire on the Gorn as they descended again. She gave Ensign Anyi a small grin, "I think our ride is almost here."

"Running into another phaser fight, just what I was hoping for." Nila scoffed.

[Level Ten – Cavern]

Bolingbroke was hunkered down exchanging fire with a Gorn sentry. The creature was devilishly accurate and he was forced to stay in place behind a large rock, which was starting to heat up with the disrupter impacts it was taking. Had pushed up his night-vison visor, e feinted going out to the left side then popped up and fired a long beam over the top. The Phalanx Trooper was behind some kind of mining excavator machine. Bolingbroke adjusted hi aim towards the machine’s engine compartment and was rewarded with an impressive burst of sparks as the power cell ruptured.

The electrical explosion drove the Trooper back and it was hit with fire from three other Marines, they overwhelmed its suit shield and it went down.

Bolingbroke looked over his rock for another target.

Walken peered from behind the rock he was using for cover, he was rewarded with a disrupter shot just missing him as he pulled his head back behind cover. The marine had found that he was pinned from two different angles. "Jackson! You got a shot?"

"If you can distract them, then yes!"

Walken lifts his phaser rifle and waves it from side to side, the movement was enough to get them to focus fire on him as Jackson fired twice towards the closest Gorn behind one of the makeshift barriers.

"That was surprisingly easy." Chea said

Whether they were winning the fire fight or the Gorn were withdrawing into the tunnel Bolingbroke was not sure but it seemed the incoming fire was lessening after a few moments there was no more fire from the Gorn. He peered cautiously around his rock, his night vison was gone due to the flashes of the weapons but he thought he could see movement in the darkness around the tunnel entrance.

Then some kind of weird noise came out of the black, a sort of keening wail. It did not sound like anything he’d heard from the Gorn. He slipped the night-vison visor back into place. He blinked as his eyes adjusted to the gray-green image and he focused on the tunnel entrance about a hundred and fifty meters away.

There was indeed movement, a line of figures were coming out in to the cavern, seemingly in rank and file. Besides the noise, there was something else odd, the figures moved in a strange jerky way, their arms were held out before them in an unnatural way. The group looked small for Gorn, shorter and less massive

Bolingbroke watched fascinated and wary of what was coming towards him. Then as the group got closer he realized, they were not Gorn but Humans. They were dressed in identical one piece overalls and all had implants!

Walken stood up from behind his cover once he saw the Gorn falling back but now to see large moving objects moving towards them again, he was about to duck and cover to get into a firing position but stopped once he saw that it was humans walking towards them.

"Did...they let them go?" He questioned as he soon noticed that something was off, arms out, their legs were almost shuffling. "Cap, something isn't right."

Bolingbroke nodded "l know, why would they let them go?"

"Because they felt that they had an advantage? Release them knowing we'd react and they bug out?" Chea asked

"But they've got nowhere to bug out to..." Bolingbroke replied "Infantry have them bottled up from the other side" Whatever was going on, it had him worried.


[Level Eight – Elevator Room]

A few moments later the elevator rose up the shaft, coming to a halt, the doors slid open.

Kadesh waved the team aboard, turned to Taltos and Nila and pointed to the door controls. “All yours”

Nila walked up to the control panel and tapped a few buttons, she soon had the main large red button held down.

Iria knelt beside the control panel ready to over ride the back up door closing procedure. "All good to go ready to descend to the party down stairs."


[Level Ten – Cavern floor]

Bolingbroke watched as the group came closer. Walken was correct, something was wrong… But what?

Why were they moving like that?

A couple of the Infantry Marines were nearer to the group, they moved out of cover and approached the colonists, calling to them. “Federation Marines! This way! Run! Come on! Over here!”

They were trying to get the colonists away from the Gorn and to safety.

Almost as one the group turned, lurching and stumbling towards the two Marines, who stood waiting for them, eyes and weapons on the tunnel. Watching the last known position of the Gorn and not the approaching colonists.

Bolingbroke felt a shudder run though him, a strange feeling of dread.

Something just felt off to Walken, these Gorn refused to surrender but now they give up the biggest thing of leverage they had in the colonist.

Chea shuddered. He couldn't quite put his finger on it but he felt off. He kept his carbine close.

The group of Implanted Humanoids reached the Marines. The colonists suddenly crying out, not in anger but fear and consternation.

Bolingbroke heard one calling clearly, a woman crying out “Get back! Get away from us! Get away! Please! Get away!

But then the group ploughed right into the two men. The colonists grabbed and grappled with the two, fists and arms swung and the Marines went down under a swarm of colonists!

“Bloody hell!” Bolingbroke was shocked but sprang into action. Flipping his rifle to stun he called out.

“Phasers on stun! ON STUN! Take them down! Take them all down!”

Selecting the wide beam stun maximum setting he sighted his weapon and fired into the group. The colonists were brutally attacking the Marines, but they were still shouting warnings and begging the Marines to get away from them.

Kyle thought back to early to the mines, "The implants...Cap! It's the implants, it must be controlling their bodies against their will! That makes the most sense to me."

All of Blue element with the exception of Norman who was not in a good position to get a shot of with his busted ankle switched their phasers to the maximum stun setting available on them. "You heard the Captain widespread, make sure to hit them all if you have to hit the two Marines out there rather they be stunned then killed."

With that Walken and his team fired into the crowd of colonists.

Chea barked a Bleddyns curse as he fired stun shots into the approaching horde. "Honorless prices of excrement!"

A split second later the Gorn burst back out of the tunnel Disrupters blazing! Five armored Phalanx troopers led the charge. Two flame throwers spewed out burning jets of fuel and one launched rocket propelled grenades. Another dozen Gorn followed on, spreading out into a skirmish line they began to advancing on the Marines.

"Son of a bitch." Kyle grumbles to himself as he ducks back behind the rock he was using for cover, "Lee, Jackson make sure the colonists stay down. Van Pier get that phaser back to regular settings and help me with the Gorn."

With their phaser set back, the two lurched out from their separate covers and began to return fire on the Gorn who was firing with the rocket-propelled grenade seeing it as the most threatening target at the moment.

Moving to where he got a good head on the Gorn, Chea opened fire. He hit one Gorn square in the chest, and the shot was shrugged off. "Right. Still on stun." The canine marine quickly fixed that and fired again. "That's better!"

The Gorn fell back a smoking hole in it's chest.


[Level Ten - Elevator]

With the doors jammed open Kadesh stationed six of the Team in the open doorway, three kneeling, three standing behind them, weapons held ready. The rocky sides of the shaft slid by as the elevator descended. His commbadge chirped

=/\= Bolingbroke to Kadesh! The Gorn are countering. We’re under heavy fire! Be ready to support the moment you have targets! Be aware there are stunned friendlies in between us and Gorn! I say again - Stunned friendlies on the ground between the lines! =/\=

=/\= Kadesh copies! We’re on it elTee! Just a few more seconds! =/\= He briefed the Team. “You heard the Boss, be ready! The moment we drop into the cavern open up! Mark your targets and take them down! Watch for friendlies on the ground!”

There were a series of grim “HooRahs” in reply.

The big Klingon Master Sergeant turned to Taltos and Nila. “It’s going to be hot! Expect incoming return fire, as soon as we open up on them, they’ll fire back. Be ready!”

"Guess it was too much to ask that they managed to take the Gorn down in a short amount of time," Nila mumbled.

"Okay." Iria got it, the zone was a mess there was fire from both sides and stunned folks on the ground. So she had to not get caught in the crossfire and find the pumping station and get it back on line. It was easy in theory. Whatever the reality through out would be seen soon enough.

A few moments later the elevator cleared the shaft and dropped into the open cavern. Below a vicious fire-fight was underway. Beams of phaser and disrupter fire lanced out from the Marine positions closest to the elevator and from the Gorn on the far side of the cavern.

There were several explosions from Gorn rocket propelled grenades and jets of roiling fire from their flame throwers. The cavern was lit up with the flashes and explosions.

Below the elevator there was something else, an odd reflection of the bright flares of battle. Odd because it was coming from the floor!

Instead of dull rock there was a black shiney, almost mirrored surface...

"What the hell is that?" One of the Marines asked, pointing with the barrel of his phaser rifle.

"Water" Kadesh said grimly "Lots and lots of water. Alright, enough sightseeing, we have work to do. Target the flame throwers. Take those bastards down first!"

The Marines trained their weapons on the source of the jets of flame and opened up.


[Level Ten – Cavern floor]

The stun shots had finally managed to take down the colonists, there was a heap of them around the two Marines. A couple still twitched and jerked, but most were still.

"Boss! We got a problem!"

Bolingbroke turned back to look at Hudosn who had hailed him. As if being counter attacked by Pseudo-Zombie Colonists and Gorn Phalanx trooper was not enough. He ducked as a chuck of rock exploded, showering him in shards "What?"

"Look!" Hudson was about thirty feet behind, kneeling by a empty ore truck. He pointed behind him.

Bolingbroke followed the gesture, he frowned, trying to work out what he was seeing. The floor was moving! How as it doing that?

"Aww dammit!" He realized, it was water!

Within another few seconds it had reached the kneeling Hudson, a little wave about four inches high was lapping around his boot and knee.

"Brrrr that's cold!" Hudson shivered

The water rolled on, coming towards Bolingbroke and the rest.

The freezing cold water caused Walken to exhale and shiver, "Feel like I fell in the river back home during the winter. Hey, make sure Norman doesn't drown." Kyle ordered to Blue Team.

The Gorn assault continued, the RPG had been taken out but the flamethrower Troopers were now in the vanguard, waving their torches back and forth, closing rapidly on the Marine positions. Their suit shields flashed and flared under phaser fire but they kept advancing.

Bolingbroke was about to call a withdrawl, get his Marines back towards the elevator shaft and find somewhere to set up a better defensive position than out here on the open floor, but with the water coming up behind, now he was starting to feel they were trapped.

Just then a barrage of phaser fire screamed in over head. It was concentrated on the flame thrower troopers. In seconds their shields were overloaded and both went down, one exploded as its fuel tank was ruptured.

=/\= Kadesh to Bolingbroke! We are here Captain! =/\=

=/\= Just in time Master Sargeant! Just in time! Walk your fire forward towards their line. We are going to attack! =/\=

=/\= Kadesh copies!=/\=


[Level Ten - Elevator]

"Stop the elevator!" Kadesh ordered. A Marine tapped the panel bringing it to a halt some forty feet above the water covered cavern floor.

"You heard the Captain, walk your fire forward! Pin the Gorn down to cover our attack!"

The Marines hastened to comply.


[Level Ten – Cavern floor]

With the support fire from the elevator team moving ahead of them Bolingbroke alerted the Infantry at the other end of the tunnel and ordered the attack.

"We're moving up! You know the drill, pair up, one moves one covers. Drive them back to the tunnel, the Infantry are coming at them from behind. Go! Go! Go!"

With Hudson covering him Bolingbroke broke cover, charged forward fifteen feet, dodging and weaving, firing from the hip as he ran and dived down behind the smoking excavator machine he had blown up earlier.

Coming to his knee he began firing at the nearest Gorn while Hudson made his own run, dropping in beside him. The water was following on relentlessly behind them.

"Who knew this place has all the amenities, including an indoor pool!" Hudson said wryly, his pant legs soaking wet "I didn't see any pretty lifeguards, though, just these ugly bastards!" He aimed at a Gorn and slammed a phaser shot into it's torso.

"Van Pier and Jackson provide suppressing fire and stay with Norman as soon as a medic comes to pick him up you double-time it to catch up with us, Lee your with me." Walken ordered.

With Kyle being closer he aimed his rifle over the rock he was using as cover so Lee could rush up to his side. Keeping low and fast she made it through the water up to the rock and took over for Walken. He ran forward making sure to keep his head low using some equipment for cover now.

Accusay and his Infantry Squad began moving up, alternatively sprinting forward or laying down suppressive fire.

Closing on the three nearest Gorn, the squad charged in, weapons blazing. A brief firefire ensued, the three Gorn went down but so did two of the Marine Infantry including Accusay.

“Medic!” One of the others called, the Officer was down but still living.

Bolingbroke gathered up Hudson, four more Marines and moved left, swinging around behind an ore conveyors belt. Water splashing underfoot as they ran to outflank the Gorn assault. They reached the end of the conveyor belt and had an open line of fire straight along the Gorn’s right flank.

=/\= Sarnt Walken! Keep their attention on you! =/\= Bolingbroke called =/\=We’ll roll up their flank =/\=

=/\= Got it Boss! =/\= Walken held up his hand to signal to Lee to hold up once she reached him. "Lee we are keeping their attention." He relaid the order.

Lee nodded as the pair each took a firing position on one side of the machine equipment, the duo began to fire at the Gorn. Doing everything they could to keep their attention on the two Marines and prevent them from retreating further.

“Gentlemen” Bolingbroke addressed the Marines with him “On my command, Volley fire!”

The group raised their rifles and sighted on the nearest Gorn Phalanx trooper.

Bolingbroke paused for a breath and gave the order “Fire!”

Six phaser’s fired as one, the beams ploughed into the Gorn’s suit, blowing out the shield generator and punching right through the armor. The Gorn crumpled.

“And the next!” Bolingbroke ordered as they shifted aim to the next in line “Fire!” Like the first, the second Trooper went down fast.

“Advance!” The team moved up ten feet “Aim! Fire!” A third trooper fell. “Advance!”

The group relentlessly took down seven Gorn, one by one as they raked the line. There was a final group left clustered around the entrance to the tunnel.

With only a few Gorn remaining Van Pier and Jackson had grouped back up with Lee and Walken after the medic got to Norman. "Alright, Lee I want you to lay down suppressing fire. The second they duck back Jackson and Van Pier move up from the left, I will take the right."

With the plan set, Lee took aim and fired on the mouth of the cave. Van Pier and Walken were the first to move from the machine equipment, the water was low enough that didn't hinder them much and the added side effect that it would be worse for the Gorn. Jackson was quick moving as if the knee-high water the three men didn't have much cover other than part of a converter belt but it was so long the three of them had to lower themselves deep into the water to remain in cover.

The remaining members of Blue Element ready the four began to fire at once on the remaining Gorn.

As the Marine fire found its mark another two went down. The last of the Gorn pulled back to the tunnel entrance, finding enough cover there to hide behind and snipe at any movement in the cavern.


[Level Ten - Elevator]

"That water's getting deep Sarge!" A Marine called out between shots at the Gorn.

Below the elevator the black surface of the water was now lapping around the two foot mark on the elevator ladder.

Kadesh called to Mason "Mom, need you to go with the Lieutenant and Ensign. Find the pump room and get them back on line. We have to stay here to support the attack, you'll have to climb down"

"Got it!" Mason nodded "C'mon ladies, lets go paddling!" She dropped down and slid over the edge of the elavator's open doorway, her feet found the ladder, she reached back with one hand, grabbed a run and began to climb down.

"Oh here's where all that parkour is going to be handy." Iria muttered as she climbed down following Mason. She had only one real regret right then, her back was freezing from the air flow through the torn apart jacket and shirt she had worn for the infiltration team. At least the fake implant was out and no longer digging into her skin.

Nila was not looking forward to this, slowly following Mason out of the elevator the ladder she was climbing down wasn't stable and it felt to her that it could snap at any second. To make matters worse for her she could feel how cold it was getting just from the water beginning to flood.

The Marine's support fire had lessened as the group climbed out of the elevator, the Gorn began to retaliate, disrupter blasts tore out of the cavern as they tried to hit the elevator.

Mason hunched up as one beam sheared away a chunk of ladder just below her, leaving a five foot gap some fifteen feet from the ground. She clambered down, feet handing clear until she could touch the top of the lower rung, her hands getting scorched from the hot metal of the last rung she dropped, catching hold of the lower section and then clambered down to stand knee deep in the frigid water.

"C'mon!" She called up to Nila and Taltos "Watch that missing bit, just hang down until you get your feet on the lower rungs, then drop and grab it!"

Iria started cursing as she climbed down at the sheared off section she wrapped and arm around the rung, pulled off what was left of her jacket them switched arms to get the other sleeve off. Iria looped the jacket over the rung and lowered herself to the next rung. She swore the whole time. At coming into contact with the really really cold water she sucked in a breath only to hiss it out in discomfort and annoyance, **~~Osik freezing cold wet socks!~~** Iria thought as she kept moving her legs nearly going numb from the cold water against her legs encased in the torn apart pants. If they didn't do something about the water soon she would have to swim her way forward. That wasn't a pleasant prospect at all...

Nila didn't have much choice when she reached the large gap from the broken rung she gripped on to the closer rung to the break and slowly lowered herself down, she could just feel her toes rub against a rung below her. Finally, she reached the bottom and made contact with the ice-cold water, her arms quickly folded as her body began to shake from the cold. "I hate the cold!" She groaned.


[Level Ten – Entrance tunnel]

Battle Master Fsh’Csazz watched as his best Phalanx began to fall. The Federation troops had managed to get control of the elevator and used it as a firing platform, they had stunned the Implanted workers, then they had managed to out flank him and push his Troopers back to the cavern entrance.

Behind him he could hear a second battle, the Federation had attacked down the tunnel, stunning the colonists he had placed as shields first, then surging forward and over whelming his defenders.

Fsh’Csazz realized he would lose this fight, but he would not go down without taking as many of these vermin humanoids with him as he could. He called to the Technicians.

“You have control over All of the Implanted workers now?” He asked

“Yes Battle Master” One confirmed “We do not know where they all are but we can control them.”

“Very well, send them to attack!” Fsh’Csazz ordered

The Technicians bent to the transceiver, tapped in commands and looked back to him “It is done!”

Fsh’Csazz nodded and activated his communication system. He contacted the two Phalanx Troopers he had stationed at the pump house. He knew from his own fighters that there was water knee deep in the cavern now. He gave the two their instructions. +/\+Do not let the Federation take back control of the pumps. This is my final order to you.+/\+

+/\+We obey Battle Master! For the Hegemony!+/\+

Fsh’Csazz gathered his Disruptor and without another word marched down the tunnel toward the cavern, he would lead a final charge on the Humanoids himself.

The two technicians watched him go, looking to each other nervously, they were fifth and six born, never destined for leadership. Carrying the transceiver they scuttled back into a small side passage of the tunnel and disappeared into the darkness.

To Be Continued…