Canterra - Operation: Cold Comfort: Nemo's Lode Down Among the Dead Men Pt. IV

Posted on 19 Oct 2019 @ 9:11pm by Captain Akio Tachibana & Lieutenant Commander Iria Taltos & Gunnery Sergeant Kyle Walken & Captain Edward Bolingbroke (Dec-Jan 2389 - TRNSFR After Gorn War) & Lieutenant Junior Grade Anyi Nila

Mission: Hahai i na pilikua nui - Hunting Monsters
Location: The Xore Strike Mine
Timeline: Following Nemo's Lode Down Among the Dead Men Pt. III

[ON]

[Pump House]

At the top of the cliff the walkway opened on to a small plateau, there was a ferro-crete building there.

The dim glow of control panels shone out through the open doorway.

Nila stared at the doorway, the lighting caused a shiver to go down her spine as she looks at this 'building'. They had no idea if any Gorn were inside or hiding anywhere else so the Bajoran was very slowly as she creeps up on the open doorway.

Iria narrowed her eyes as edged forward her natural night vision useful here in the dim to near darkened entrance, "The panels are in good order from what I can see."

She took a few steps closer quietly hesitant, "I can't tell if the shadows are equipment or a hiding Gorn from here." She said to Nila looking at the Bajoran woman, she pointed to herself and pointed to the left side of the entrance and then pointed at Nila then the right side as she shrugged her shoulders.

If they went in from different angles they would hopefully get past if there was a Gorn in there.

There was a flash from inside and a chunk of ferro-crete exploded just above Talto's head as she moved to the door frame.

Iria cursed and dove forward into a somersault hoping her rolling would bring her near the contro panel but mostly she was hoping the Gorn was lousy shot at smaller moving target? Between her and Nila had to get past this Gorn and get the pumps going before the whole place flooded.

"Really?! What is with you idiots, you know that you are gonna die for no reason!" Nila shouted as she took cover away from the open door. She points at Iria and motions for her to go around and see if there was another way inside.

Iria stayed low scrambled around quickly as she could checking for other possible options for entry. It didn't take long to find the answer was a great big nope. The only way in was in the room where the Gorn was hiding and shooting from...

There were two more shots from in the building in reply to Nila. One hit the door frame again, the other left a smoking hole in the ground near her feet.

"You must be the worst Gorn in here, I'm standing still and you still can't hit me. No wonder they left you here alone to die, I wouldn't want a waste like you fighting by my side either!" She continues to taunt in hope Iria can find a way in.

The Gorn was firing on the wood now that Nila was hiding behind, Nila had to drop down to avoid the disruptor as it punched through the wall. Nila had his full attention now, she saw that Iria had made a full rotation around the building meaning that this was the sole way inside. "Well unless you have an idea all I can think of is a very stupid plan of charge."

Iria shook her head, "Nothing sorry," she took a breath and gave Nila a wry grin. "Good luck to both of us." Iria pulled off her boots the wet socks stuck too them as she did and after a moment she pitched one boot high and left at the doorway opening, the other she pitched towards the right side corner. She hopped that the Gorn wouldn't be able to hit the boots and them at the same time but from Nila's taunting the Gorn inside was not the greatest shot.

Iria snuck into the room while Nila kept the Gorn's attention. She stayed low and quiet as she moved to wards the control panels for the pumps. With Nila keeping the Gorn busy she just had to work quickly to get the pumps going again before the Gorn noticed her.

While the Gorn focused on Nila, Iria had begun getting the pumping station back online, her fingers nimble over the controls. She kept glancing over her shoulder and to see where the Gorn was but so far he was still busy trying to get Nila and her stream of taunts.

[Below the Pump House]

Mason peered around the limb, the machine seemed to have stopped. The cutting disc arm was stationary off to her left, the disc still spinning. The plasma torch arm was down in front of the machine, boiling away water in a hissing cloud of steam.

There was a metallic clunk above her and she looked up, right as a heavy Gorn foot kicked her right in the face!

Mason felt her nose break, her front teeth shatter and her left cheek split open. She was thrown back by the force of the kick and went under again, water pouring down her throat. The pain of it was intense on her ruined teeth but she clamped her mouth shut, trying desperately not to drown.

Before she could even think of her next move a tremendous weight landed on her, slamming her down on the bottom. The Gorn had jumped in on top of her and was pinning her down.

Mason was close to panic, her rifle was pinned under her, the pain and cold almost crippling and with no air in her lungs she knew she was close to blacking out. She grabbed at the taloned foot on her chest, trying to wrench it off her. Mason was well built and supremely fit but the Gorn was too much for her. In response to her attempts the creature pushed down harder, closed its toes and ground it’s talons into her abdomen.

Mason knew she would die within seconds unless she could get the Gorn off her. She knew she would never get her rifle out from under her and went for her right foot instead, cold hands scrabbling at the clip that held her trusty K-Bar knife in the sheath strapped to her calf.

She got it free, taking a firm hold, she stabbed the blade into the Gorn’s foot, stabbing it again and again and again. Barely conscious now she felt the weight on her chest subside, she frantically pushed away,

Surging upwards she managed to get her head above water. She gulped in air, the exposed nerves in her teeth throbbed terribly. Suddenly she was grabbed by the neck and dragged backwards, the Gorn had hold of her in its right claw. It lifted her out of the water, turning her towards she slashed out with her K Bar embedding the knife in the creature’s left arm. It howled in pain and anger, tearing it’s arm abck and she lost hold of the knife. It roared in her face, jaws opened wide as it prepared to bite her.

Mason writhed backwards trying desperately to get out of reach of the teeth, but knowing the she could not. She screamed back at the creature in fury and resignation, spitting blood in its face. “Fuck you!!!”

The Gorn lunged, jaws coming for her. She shut her eyes, knowing this was the end.

There was a searing hot pain all over her face and something wet and sticky splattered all over her as she was released and fell back into the water.

Opening her eyes she saw the Gorn standing before her, its right arm outstretched still, the talons on the hand that had dropped her were twitching. But where its head and jaws had been there was now nothing, the neck ended in a smoking, blackened stump. The body slowly collapsed, falling forward into the water, floating there lifelessly. She stared at it, not comprehending what had happened.

A moment later she jumped when a hand touched her shoulder, she whirled around.

Kadesh was there, his phaser rifle held in the crook of his arm. Three Marine Infantrymen were behind him. “Hellava shot Sarge” One said “Hellava shot!”

Kadesh rolled the Gorn body over, tugged the K-Bar out of its arm and held it out to Mason. He looked her over, taking in the smashed nose and teeth, the blood and torn open cheek.

“You will live” He said with a wide Klingon grin “And have an excellent battle scar!”


[Entrance Tunne]

Once Command Element had arrived Bolingbroke left four Marines to watch the tunnel and set up the attack. Walken and the other two would work their way down the side of the cavern, getting as close as possible to the tunnel entrance before submerging in the water.

Meanwhile, Bolingbroke and the rest would stage an attack to keep the Gorn pinned down and distracted.

As each group moved into position they all shivered in the icy water, which was now up to their waists.

Bolingbroke gave the signal and the team started a furious barrage in the tunnel entrance.
That was the signal for Walken and his team to make their approach.

Walken, Van Pier, and Lee lower themselves down not submerging themselves but they had to stay low even at a distance. The icy cold bites at the two men and one woman phaser and disruptor fire overhead.

It wasn't long until they reached the point that they could no longer stay above the water, Kyle was the first to fully submerge slowly and calmly the three swam the partly submerged tunnel. Finally, the three reached as far as they could go underwater, unslinging their phaser rifles the three kept low as they breached the surface of the water and into the dark unknown of the tunnel.

There were five Gorn, three of them in the armored suits. One of those was much larger than the others and had it's helmet off. It was recognizable as the one who had met the Infiltration team on the landing pad a few hours ago.

All five were facing away from Walken and the others, concentrating on the incoming fire from the rest of the team in the cavern.

Silently Walken points to Van Pier and then at the closest of the Gorn than he points to Lee and signals to the right flank to take the next one. Van Pier and Lee were in position, as Walken keeps low in the water creeping towards the leader. Walken didn't forget him on the platform and he was going to make sure if anything they took him alive.

Walken gave the signal, Lee and Van Pier both fired into the back of the two close Gorn. Walken took a shot at one of the armored Gorn but he focused on the central Gorn, it was strong than him but with the surprise on his side, he uses the butt of his phaser and aims for the Gorn's head.

The butt slammed into the reptile's head and slid off to the side!
The Gorn roared in surprise, pain and anger. It wirled around, moving rapidly for such a big creature. A massive armored fist came flying at Walken's head!

Walken drops down and with a whole lot of luck, he just managed to avoid the punch, disarmed now the marine slashes the freezing water towards him before running at him full speed to attempt a takedown. If he dropped him in the water the tide will tip in his favor.

Elsewhere, Lee and Van Pier were now providing crossfire on the remain Gorn who were pinned between the two and the Marine team lead by Captain Bolingbroke at the mouth of the tunnel.

The Battle Master staggered back when Walken ploughed into him, but the armored suit took most of the strike. The Gorn remained standing, grappling with the Marine, it's jaws snapped down towards the back of Walken's neck!

Pushing off with all his might he pushed himself away from the Battle Master, "Made a bad choice." He mumbled to himself about his actions of attempting hand to hand with a Gorn. His rifle was on the other side of the Gorn so he focused on the Gorn and raised up his hands, "How's it feel, you let in a fake Star Fleet team lead by me..and next you are going to be captured by said fake prisoner. You are going to be the laughing stock of the swamp." Having a short temper at times he knows having the edge in the fight if you can throw off your opponent emotionally.

Fsh’Csazz hesitated a moment, his white eyes narrowed as he peered at the Human who had attacked him.

They all looked alike, but he did recognize this was one of the last group to be brought in.

Which had been just before the Federation attacked…!

But this one and its group had been brought in by other Gorn!

That fact suddenly struck Fsh’Csazz and he was immediately enraged. Betrayal! Treachery!

There must be Gorn working with the Federation!

He lunged at the Human, armored claws extended, jaws open wide!

That was what Walken needed he dove back in the water and slides towards his rifle with a quick switch he had it on stun and fired on the Battle Master, the first hit didn't do much of anything as the large Gorn turn and keep coming for Kyle, but a well placed second shot dropped the large Gorn.

Bolingbroke saw phaser fire flashes in the tunnel, Walken and the others must have succeeded in swimming in there.

“Get to the tunnel!” He called “Move! Move! Move!” and set off running himself. It was hard going with the frigid water now waist deep but he pushed on, the rest of the team closing in with him.

Rounding the tunnel entrance they found two Gorn still upright, concentrated stuns beams took them down quickly.

“Cease fire! Cease fire!” Bolingbroke ordered. “Check them over, and get that one up before it drowns” One of the Gorn was face down in the water.

Walken, Van Pier and Lee were standing there shivering but with wide grins. “Good work” Bolingbroke acknowledged “We find anything they might be using to control the colonists?”

"Other then the three of us slowly freezing to death, no we didn't see anything that they could be using for that," Kyle answered honestly his arms folded as he did anything to warm up.

They got the Gorn propped up and secured with a Marine guard standing over each one.

“Yep that’s the big bastard who was on the landing pad, he’s some kind of commander for certain.” Bolingbroke agreed when Walken pointed him out. The Gorn was just starting to come around from being stunned, it was looking around angrily, glaring at the Marines with pure hatred.

Bolingbroke tapped his commbadge =/\=Bolingbroke to Bjornsdotter. “We’ve neutralized the Gorn phalanx, still working on the pumps. What’s your situation? =/\=

=/\=Not good! =/\= Came her reply =/\= I’ve got less than a Company and there are too many of the Implants. We’re barely able to get into the holding area and have not been able to join up with the medical team yet. We’re stunning them but there are so many! They are running amok, no idea how many they have killed or injured! It’s bad, really bad. If the Gorn down there caused this, if they are controlling the Implanted ones, you have to find a way to get it stopped! =/\=

=/\=Acknowledged! We’re working on it! =/\=

A moment later the Infantry Platoon from the other end of the tunnel arrived, with their own prisoners. One in a Phalanx suit and two others, dressed differently and looking a little less belligerent than the others.

“Found these two cowering in a side corridor” The Platoon leader said “And they had this, with them” One of his Marines held up the Transceiver Pack. “Might be what they are using to control the colonists…”

Bolingbroke crossed to the pair, they were dressed like the technicians in the Power Control room. Support personnel, not fighters, he presumed.

“Is that, what this is?” He pointed to the transceiver. “Does this control the Implants you put in our people?”

The two looked at him blankly. Bolingbroke repeated the question, letting his phaser barrel lower to point directly at them menacingly. “Tell me” He repeated “Does this device control the Implanted people, yes or no?”

The two Gorn shifted nervously, one opened it’s mouth as if to speak.

“Say nothing!” Fsh’Csazz roared in Gornish and hissed defiance at Bolingbroke.

The pair shrank back, clamping their mouths firmly shut. Bolingbroke looked between the two technicians and the big Gorn. Even though he had not understood the words, his suspicions were confirmed. That one was some kind of commander here.

“Well that answers my question” He said, turning back to the technicians. “Let me tell you both, that right now, you’re prisoners of war. Which means when hostilities end between the Hegmony and the Federation, you will be allowed to return home. But, if you do not help me stop what is happening with the Implanted colonists, then you will be charged with a war crime and will be spending many years in a penal colony! Maybe the rest of your lives…”

“Say nothing Brothers!” Fsh’Csazz again roared in Gornish and then to Bolingbroke in broken Standard “We are warriorz of the Hegemony! We carez not for your threatz!”

Bolingbroke ignored the big Gorn, focusing on the two technicians. “Ignore him. I know he is a leader here, he will be facing his own crimes. Do not be swayed by him. You can go home, if you tell what I need to know. Just turn this thing off, stop those people you Implanted from hurting others!”

The pair looked again between Bolingbroke and Fsh’Csazz, clearly torn between loyalty to the Hegemony and the temptation of avoiding remaining in a Federation any longer than they had too.

“Battle Master” One appealed to Fsh’Csazz “What shall we do?”

His tone was whining and Fsh’Csazz was about to snap at them for being such cowards before these despicable Humans but then a plan entered his mind.

“Do as the Human asks” He said levelly in Gornish “Turn the Implanted ones… Off”

The first technician did not quite catch the Battle Master’s meaning, but the second one did, it gave the Battle Master a slight nod and interrupted the first before it could speak.

“I will does what you askz” It said to Bolingbroke. It pointed to the transceiver “I can enter codez to ztop the attackz”

Bolingbroke did not understand the exchange, something had changed but he was not sure what.

He hesitated, looking between the technicians and the big Gorn.

Fsh’Csazz caught the scrutiny and expanded on his deception.

“They are loyal to the Hegmony!” He said in Standard “They will not help yous Human!” so the Human Phalanx leader would understand. ‘I will killz them if they do!”

“Do it Brother!” He said in Gornish to the Technician, jumping to his feet and making a show of trying to get at the technicians.

Marines blocked his path, shoving him back, one put the barrel of his phaser in the Gorn’s face.

“Get him out of here!” Bolingbroke ordered. “He speaks again stun him! And get the rest out too!”

Once the Marines had moved the other Gorn out of the tunnel he turned back to the technicians.

“This is your chance to show you’re not all mindless beasts” He tried reasoning with the pair. “Stop the killing…”

The pair exchanged a look and one stepped forward “I willz do it” It approached the transceiver, reached out a talon and tapped in a code, then pressed a button. There was a series of beeps, some kind of counter flashed on the display and then went out.

Bolingbroke watched, uneasy, a strange unsettling feeling that he could not describe but knowing he had little choice but to trust this creature

“It iz done” The Gorn said “For the Hegemony!”

Bolingbroke was instantly alert. “What did you do?!” He demanded ‘What did you do?”

The Gorn looked away from him and stood back with his comrade.

“Captain!” He heard Hudson’s voice call from the cavern ‘Get out here!”

“Watch them!” He ordered the remaining Marines, pointing at the two technicians and ran out of the tunnel, splashing back through the water.

On the right, the Gorn prisoners were herded together, guarded by Marines.

The stunned Implanted colonists who attacked them earlier had been moved out of the rising water on to the conveyor belt on the left, so they did not drown. There was a hazy cloud of thin smoke drifting about the bodies. Several Marines were standing by them, one lifted a colonist’s arm, it dropped lifelessly back down.

Bolingbroke stopped, a feeling of dread running through him.

“They’re dead Captain!” Hudson said “The Implants gave them some kind of shock, it killed them. All of them!”

Behind Bolingbroke a Gorn began laughing, a hacking sneering bark. He whirled around. It was the big Gorn.

Bolingbroke advanced on it. “What did you tell them to do?!” He demanded. “What did you tell them?!”

The Gorn laughed in his face…

[OFF]

Edward Bolingbroke, Capt, SFMC
BMSOC/CC
3d MRBN

Iria Taltos, LT, SF
ACHENG

Nila Anyi, ENS, SF
OPS

Kyle Walken, SSgt, SFMC
2MSOT/EL
3d MRBN