Away Team

Posted on Mon Nov 2nd, 2020 @ 11:53pm by Captain Rhenora Kaylen & Commander Savar cha'Salik hei-Surak Talek-sen-deen & Lieutenant Bonnie "Bon-Bon" Durnell & Lieutenant T'Strella Drake & Lieutenant Aurora Vali & Ensign Bob Gomez

Mission: Diplomatic Masquerade

ON

Captain Kaylen Rhenora waited as the away team assembled on the transporter platform - it would be the first of many to beam down to the planet below in an effort to locate the civilisation before their allotted time expired and Gul Maccet forcibly removed them from the region.

"Stay safe" She said, sounding a little like a worried mother more than a Captain.

T'Strella readied her kit, straightened her uniform and made her way to the away mission area.

She listened to the Captain and nodded to the other's. She knew the Gul and others would be ready to pounce at any open opportunity......

Aurora stepped into the room and joined the rest of the away team. She smiled politely at T’Strella as she stood alongside her. She’d come prepared with the necessary away team kit but she didn’t plan on using a phaser unless she really had to.

~ Planet side ~

Savar was already on the planet's surface. He was looking for more evidence of a civilization and so far had come up with nothing at least nothing on the surface but what of the mines? Could a civilization be underground? Could it flourish? he would wait for more members to beam down. Perhaps Aurora could sense them.

Ensign Bob Gomez looked around the barren planet, his first away mission and he felt terribly nervous. He clutched his tricorder as though it were a lifeline. Even his hands were shaking slightly. Though wearing the gold of operations he had nightmares of being the token redshirt.

"Ensign Gomez, have you found any further signs of a civilization here?" Savar asked even as he searched for signs to indicate a civilization was present.

Gomez was examining some symmetrical holes in the rock wall, using his tricorder to get some readings. To the layman it was nothing other than a series of large circular tunnels, approximately 40cm in diameter. "Maybe. These could be ventilation shafts for an underground colony" he mentioned.

Materialising on the planet’s surface Aurora was immediately struck by a sense that she hadn’t picked up on from orbit, which was unusual. Although the sense she was getting was from beneath her feet. “There’s definitely life here” She looked towards Savar. “Commander ... there’s life here, and it feels ... beneath our feet.”

"Interesting Lieutenant." Savar replied to Aurora's announcement. "Can you sense anything else in regards to the life that is here?"

Aurora let her mental defences down to get a better sense. “I can’t give you specifics but from what I’m sensing there must be a considerable number of colonists living below the surface here.”

"Understood Lieutenant. I know you will do the best you can." Savar answered as his com chirpped.

" Liberty to Away Team" The voice of the ships CO rang through the comm-badges of the away team.

"Go ahead Liberty." Savar replied crisply.

" Just a word of warning Commander Savar - we feel the Cardassian's are up to something. Watch your back" The Captain cautioned, concern colouring her tone.

Aurora looked at Savar concernedly. “Cardassians are hard to sense and even harder to read. They’re mental disciplines make them that way. I’m not sure if I’d sense them in time to warn anyone.”

"Understood Liberty." Savar answered closing the channel. "Lieutenant be even more attentive to anything you might sense. It may be Cardassians." Savar looked at the other members of the away team and spoke. "Pay close attention to your location and where you are in reference to other members of the away team. Stay in sight of each other at all times." He instructed.

Aurora stood scratching a rash on her arm, she hadn’t noticed it until now as it had only just started to irritate. “I am sensing ... a gathering of people but that could be colonists. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly where.” She sighed. “Be careful with the flora and fauna here, I must have come into contact with something and it’s pretty irritating.”

Savar looked at her arm. "Do you wish to return to the Liberty Aurora?" He asked and in the next breath added, "Stop scratching."

Aurora did as she was instructed but shook her head. “No I’ll be fine Commander.” She offered a reassuring smile.

Nearby under instruction from the Gul, a platoon of highly trained Cardassians began to move silently through the arid environment. Technology shielded their location from passive scans, their footsteps were light and even their breathing was hushed. They had one order - capture the lead Liberty away team - alive.

The trap was set, the Liberty crew were drawing close to the entrance of the cave system, all they had to do was walk into it and the battle would be over in a matter of minutes.

" Hey Commander, look at this!" Bob shouted excitedly, letting all and sundry know he thought he had found something.

"What have you found Mr. Gomez?" Savar inquired as he walked over to the man's location.

Bob was bouncing with excitement, hopping from one foot to the other in his enthusiasm. Having found the ventilation shafts he'd managed to partially trace some of the other tunnels within the system and located an entrance nearby.

" I found it Commander, I found the way underground!"

Savar stood looking at the entrance Gomez had found. it was large enough for them to enter without having to stoop over. "Indeed it seems you have Mr. Gomez, well done.''

" Can we go in? Can we can we? Surely this leads to the colonists that Lt Vali could sense." Bob hopped around like an excited puppy. New to the job his youthful enthusiasm was almost commendable.

"Calm yourself Mr. Gomez." Savar replied coolly. "Lieutenant Vali, can you sense the colonists any clearer or stronger from this location."

Aurora paused at the cave entrance. “There’s definitely a strong sense.”

" Commander Sir, The Liberty have just sent down some co-ordinates for possible entry sites - and this is ONE OF THEM!" He bounced a little higher, almost willing the Vulcan to get excited.

Aurora couldn’t help but smile at Gomez’ enthusiasm. “It would defeat the object if we didn’t investigate while we’re here.”

"Yes Mr. Gomez, yes please contain your enthusiasm. I have already told you could work. In honor of your discovery. you shall be the first to enter." Savar replied as he stopped and looked around his eyes sweeping across the barren, desolate landscape.

" Really really?" Bob spluttered, looking around like he could wet himself. Never in his mind did he comprehend that it was the perfect place for an ambush. He could barely restrain himself as he waited for the senior members of the away team to lead into the narrow opening of the cave. This close to the mouth of the cave he had detected energy signatures deep within the bowels of the planet, this was the confirmation they needed of a settlement.

The Cardassian platoon had silently split, one half was covertly sequestered in the cave's dim entrance, quickly and silently dispatching anyone who entered. The narrow opening only allowed one person at a time through - perfect. The second half of the platoon were hidden behind a large rocky outcrop not 60 metres away. Easy pickings for phasers and not too long a trot for a hand to hand scuffle.

Aurora was absentmindedly scratching her arm, the rash was irritating to say the least. It was distracting her from picking up on the ambush ahead. "Shall we go in?" She looked at Savar.

"Stop scratching your arm." Savar reminded her. "Yes, however let Ensign Gomez have the honors. After all this is his discovery." He looked to Gomez, "Please, Mr. Gomez lead the way."

"Seriously?" Bob's jaw dropped as he hopped from side to side. He took point in the away team and headed towards the narrow opening, squeezing his way inside. Before his eyes could adjust to the darkness a hand was clamped over his mouth and a phaser pressed into his noggin.

Savar followed behind, his eyes adjusting quickly to the near darkness. He saw someone? Thing? Near Gomez and he reacted instantly, "Get out Aurora! Now" As he went to help Gomez.

" I don't think so Vulcan" The lead Cardassian presented phaser first in the gloom. With the majority of the away team now in or still entering the narrow cave the assassins held the advantage. Begrudged that he wasn't allowed to finish the job and only 'capture without harm' those of interest to the Gul, he couldn't help but allow a few fisticuffs in the name of glory.

Aurora had started to turn as ordered but she was now frozen in her tracks unable to go anywhere. She stood scratching her arm which was getting more inflamed and sore. She only stopped when Savar gave her a look that said what he'd voiced several times already 'don't scratch'

" Glin Utuk to Maccet, capture successful, we will escort the prisoners to the agreed location" The Cardassian smiled the toothless grin of a successful ambush. The Liberty team had been captured, and he would be handsomely rewarded as promised. Time to cash in.