NRPG: Here it is, finally. The Last of the posts for the mission of Requiem. Compiles for our more recent missino will be coming shortly, Ill be spacing them out for the benefit of the 56k users amung us. At least 2 more coming, both of this size, about 100 posts each. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mission Requiem, Day 3 Stardate 2406.07.03 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ List of Headers: (USS Boudicca - Captains Quarters - Capt Sevant - 0240) (USS Boudicca - Main Engineering - Senior-Chief Melody Haverstaad - 0425) (USS Boudicca, Bridge, Commander Grailik, 0425) (USS Boudicca, Deck 11, Commander Grailik, 0440) (USS Boudicca, Battle Bridge, Commander Grailik, 0453) (USS Boudicca - CSO's Office – ACSO Dr. Vegra Gretud - 0535) (USS Boudicca - Bridge – OPS Lt. Schafio - 0942) (USS Boudicca - Main Engineering - Lt jg Trevan West- 0945) (USS Boudicca - Main Engineering - Senior Chief Melody Haverstaad - 0945) (USS Boudicca - Main Engineering - TAC/ASC Ensign Ryko Skylynx-0945) (USS Boudicca - Main Engineering - Lt jg Trevan West- 0946) (USS Boudicca - Main Engineering - ACEO Enaj - 0946) (USS Boudicca - Bridge - Capt Sevant- 0947) (USS Boudicca – Bridge– TAC/ASC – Ensign Ryko Skylynx – 09:50) (USS Boudicca - Bridge - Capt Sevant - 0950) (USS Boudicca - Bridge – OPS Lt. Schafio - 0950) (USS Boudicca - Main Engineering - Senior Chief Melody Haverstaad - 0950) (USS Boudicca -Main Engineering-TAC/ASC Ensign Ryko Skylynx-0950) (USS Boudicca - Bridge – OPS Lt. Schafio - 0950) (USS Boudicca - Bridge – OPS Lt. Schafio - 0950) (USS Boudicca -Engineering Jeffries Tube- Lt jg Trevan West-0952) (USS Boudicca - Bridge - CO Sevant - 0955) (USS Boudicca - Jeffries Tube - ACEO Enaj - 0956) (USS Boudicca - Deck 18 - ACSO Dr. Kyle Rin - 09:58) (USS Boudicca - Jeffries TUbe, Lt jg Trevan West - 1015) (USS Boudicca - Bridge - Sevant - 1018) (SS Backtron, Engineering Section Deck 4, MCO Major Straton, 1020) (Boudicca – Counsellor's Office – COUNS Dr. Domini Alizara & TAC/SC William Bush - 1021) (USS Boudicca, Marine Transporter, MCO, Major Straton, 1025) (USS Boudicca - Marine Transporter - MXO Spider Drizzt - 1025) (USS Boudica- Main bridage- ACSO Ens Vegra Gretud-1025) (Boudicca - Sick Bay - CMO Lt. Commander Kestra Troi - 1030) (Boudicca - Sick Bay - COUNS Dr. Domini Alizara - 1034) (USS Boudicca - Corridor adjacent to Main Sickbay - Major Drizzt - 1036) (Boudicca - Sick Bay - CMO Lt. Commander Kestra Troi - 1040) (USS Boudicca - Deck 18 - ACSO Dr. Kyle Rin - 10:40) (Boudicca - Deck 6, Jefferies Tube - Capt Sevant - 1040) (USS Boudicca, Corridor right outside Sickbay, MCO, Major Straton, 1042) (USS Boudicca, Sick bay, CMO Lt Commander Kestra Troi, 1050) (USS Boudicca - Secured Labs - Capt Sevant - 1050) (USS Boudicca, Sick bay, COUNS Dr. Domini Alizara, 1051) (USS Boudicca, Outside Sick bay, CMO Lt. Commander Kestra Troi, 1055) (USS Boudicca – Science Lab 1 – OPS Lt. Schafio - 1100) (USS Boudicca, Outside Sick bay, MCO, Major Straton, 1110) (USS Boudicca - Outside Sick bay - Major 'Spider' Drizzt - 1110) (USS Boudicca - Main Engineering - Senior Chief Melody Haverstaad - 1114) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Start of Compile, Part 1 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Captains Quarters - Capt Sevant - 0240) ==================================== Caladryll gently placed the over-jacket of his uniform on the edge of the chair, and sat slowly into its deep cushions. The Boudicca was, at least for the time being, safe... or at least as safe as they could be, on a Starship on the fringe in the middle of a civil war. They were well underway back to the River, the Boudicca was beat up and utterly unable to continue her patrol, even assuming they had taken care of the spiders home-ship. Which they hadn't. Sevant leaned his elbow against the arm of the chair and proceeded to massage the bridge of his nose. He stopped after a few moments, though he continued leaning his head against his fingers. In times past, this is where Vicki would have rubbed his shoulders, or slapped him if he was being stupid... He ripped himself from that thought before it could fully form. Mourning his family was defiantly not healthy at this point in time. He had four hours to rest before he was going to be back on duty, he needed to make the most of it. Grieving over his family was not considered restful. "Captains Personal Log," he began, with his eyes closed and head still perching on his fingers. "Stardate, 2407.06.03... no, 04." He took a breath and leaned his head back against the cushions, he kept his eyes tight-closed. He stayed silent though, he was having troubles putting all his thoughts in order. After a minute of silence, the computer beeped, [Would you like to continue?] "Yes," he said, his tone gravel. Sevant sighed and took another breath, "I could be dispassionate, and simply report what I've seen. However, anyone interested in that can find my official Ships logs after they are unsealed, assuming we aren't destroyed first. These logs... these logs are for the historians, so they can hear all the little details, all the unofficial motivations that prompted me to do what I did. And, as much as its for the historians a hundred years hence, it's for me as well, so I can make sense of what I've seen in the last couple days." Another paused, followed by; "Imp not entirely sure that I've done things right, but I've pulled us out of combat. My blood screamed battle, most of me wanted to say 'damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!' and plunge into the rage of the fight. The part of me that diverged, the part of me that won, said that it would be a useless sacrifice and that we had a higher cause to survive for..." He stood up slowly, and his face turned into a grimace. "So I've pulled us out, and in doing so I've left people in danger. I don't think I could be blamed for that, in terms of strength we are so hopelessly outmatched that we wouldn't have done much good. On the other hand, I don't know that for sure, and I'm a Starfleet Officer... pledged to give my life in defense of the Federation, etc etc." He looked at himself in a mirror. His face was gaunt, slightly flushed green from the stim he took earlier to remain fully alert until he felt they were safely out of combat range. His childhood scar ran brokenly down his face, over his eye and down his cheek. A slightly newer, slightly brighter, and smaller knife-scar ran diagonally across the old cut, the heritage of a Romulan knife on the Nimitz. His expression was null, and his eyes were haunted. It was the face of a warrior. "We are still counting casualties, the boarders were exceptionally efficient. The number of slashed dead are still piling up, the number of Zombies is also painfully high. We haven't figured out yet what they were doing, all I can say is that anyone zapped has lost everything. Their thoughts, feelings, memories, everything but automatic functions. They are alive, they breathe and have such reactions as swallowing. But, they are mindless, hardly living at all. Several have already been allowed to expire due to living wills, this certainly qualifies, the rest we have packed into the Cargo Bay triage area like cattle. I haven't seen bodies packed like that since we unloaded the Romulan cadavers off the Nimitz for safe-keeping on Geneva." He shivered slightly as he turned his gaze away from the mirror, he cold only stand to look at himself for so long. "Anyway," he continued after several more moments. "We are proceeding with all possible speed to the River, and then hence to Geneva where we can receive some repairs. We are going to be months laid up, we haven't got a choice in the matter. The ship is torn up, both inside and out, and we still have lingering problems from the rushed refit. With luck, we can be done in four months, but I would say we are going to be closer to six unless they find a lot of free resources to spend on us." Sevant sat back into the chair, his mindless wandering over. "There will be more, but I need sleep. Computer, end log." ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Main Engineering - Senior-Chief Melody Haverstaad - 0425) ==================================== Melody grimaced as she brought up her phaser and loosed three quick shots in succession into the upper-segment of a spider that had moved up beside her. Someone screamed off to the side as her target blasted into pieces, and another moved to take it's place. She took another couple shots, but they were absorbed by the creature. She cursed as someone else took her place and blew it to hell. She wasn't paying any more attention then that, she already had her phaser down and was running through a different frequency patterns. "No good Chief, they're eating us up!" her squad XO bellowed as he took aim at another and blasted a couple of its legs off. Melody's face was pulled back in a grimace as her side lanced pain, she had caught the sharp edge of one of the enemies legs. Her uniform was good and wet already from the gash, but she didn't have time to stop and look at it. Besides, if she hurt, she wasn't in shock... It was all good. "No choice XO, we've gotta hold em off!" she bellowed back as she flipped the phaser up and took aim down its barrel. She took two quick shots that blew one of the spiders apart before it could get a hold of an engineer, then turned her targeting and started firing at another. Her XO was right though, they just didn't have enough manpower here to stop the flood, and they had been taken too much by surprise to get much for reinforcements right away. "Withdrawal to the core!" she bellowed into the chaos, "To the CORE!" Her squad was well trained, and the Marines were also well trained, they began covering each other as they backed into a cordon around the warp core itself. Engineers were rushing everywhere, some armed, some not. The lucky ones were those that managed to get to a weapons cache or stay near the security/marine teams. The unlucky ones were laying on the ground like bags. She cursed as she jumped to the side when one more Spider jumped at her, but it was taken apart before it could reach her. Her side pulled with sharp pains, nothing to be done about it. One more spider made moves towards her general direction, she pulled her side-arm and fired for several long seconds, dismantling it with the stream of power. "Fall back!" she once again screamed into the din. ==================================== (USS Boudicca, Bridge, Commander Grailik, 0425) ==================================== "XO," Sevant said, turning toward Grailik, "Grab a Marine and make way for the Battle Bridge double-time. If we go offline here, the ship is yours." "Understood," Grailik said, nodding and lifting his phaser. He pointed at one of the two marines still on the bridge. "Your with me Corporal." The Marine nodded, hefted his phaser rifle and moved toward the emergency ladder that led from the bridge. Grailik followed. The two started down, moving as fast as they could. ==================================== (USS Boudicca, Deck 11, Commander Grailik, 0440) ==================================== Grailik and the marine with him exited the jeffries tube into the corridor nearest the Battle Bridge. As soon as they left the tube they could hear the sound of weapons fire down the corridor. Using simple hand signals, Grailik told the marine his plan and moved toward the sound of weapons fire. ~All those years with Robert and his merry band of marines comes in handy once more.~ (NRPG: That's Admiral LoDona for those who are wondering.) They soon came upon a half squad of marines and security personnel engaged in a fierce fire fight, surrounded by more than a dozen of the spider like machines that had invaded the ship. ~Damn things are crawling on the ceiling too.~ Grailik thought opening fire along with the corporal, setting up a cross fire. Three of the spiders quickly turned and moved toward Grailik and his escort. Amazingly enough all 3 of the spiders moved directly toward the marine and seemed to ignore Grailik's presence completely, till he blew two of them away. The marine destroyed the last as it swiped at Grailik with one of it's sharp legs and not it's glowing appendage. Grailik dodged just in time to avoid getting impaled, just as the corporal blew the thing away. With the added help and fire power, the marines and security detail soon destroyed the last of the spiders leaving the corridor a mess of broken metal and charred pieces. Several crewman lay on the ground, staring unseeing at the ceiling, the rest regrouped. Grailik, the corporal hot in his heels, moved toward them "Ensign," Grailik said to security officer in charge of the group, "You and your men are with me. We're heading to the Battle Bridge. If more of them bastards show, we will be assuming control of the ship." The ensign nodded, and ordered his squad to form up around Grailik. With, a circle of marines and security surrounding him, phasers pointing in every direction, Grailik moved off once more toward the battle bridge. His own phaser still at the ready. ==================================== (USS Boudicca, Battle Bridge, Commander Grailik, 0453) ==================================== Grailik marched into the middle of the battle bridge, his escort quickly moving to make sure it was secure. After a quick, yet through, search the Ensign turned and nodded the all clear. "Computer," Grailik said, moving toward the center seat, "Recognize, Commander Grailik, First Officer USS Boudicca, Omega Charley 5695. Activate all stations, and prepare to transfer all command functions to this location." [Commander Grailik recognized. Standing by to transfer command to current location.] "Grailik to Sevant. I'm in position. Standing by, Grailik said, slapping his comm-badge (Reply Sevant) "Ensign," Grailik said, "I want you at tactical. Access internal sensors and find out where them things are at. We need to give our forces some direction and where to concentrate fire power." Grailik ordered other members of the detail to man other stations, silently thanking the fore site that Star Fleet used to and cross-trained it's personnel to handle other stations in an emergency situation. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - CSO's Office – ACSO Dr. Vegra Gretud - 0535) ==================================== Vegra walked to the Science Department and did what he was told and reported to Dr Rin. Vegra reached the dr and said “ENS Jg Vegra Gretud reporting for duty.” Kyle motioned for Vegra's PADD with his current orders on it. "Welcome aboard Ensign, I’m sure you'll find the Boudicca suitful to your needs?" Kyle asked with a raised eyebrow. “If there is profit involved then I am involved. This profit is the profit of knowledge.” "Finish getting any items to your quarters, then I will need you to begin your duties by monitoring the current probe read-outs on science panel nine. Let me know of any strange activity you might come across." Kyle returned to his work and watched as the ensign took his leave towards the science department. Vegra walked around his quarters and unpacked his many numbers artifices ~I wish I had my craft my quarters are there~ Vegra walked to the bridge and begins taking readings and stopped suddenly several people who were like the Borg just beamed aboard. Vegra hide behind a corner and took some tricoder readings. Vegra then ran off to Dr Rin. “Dr some people just beamed aboard they look like the ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Bridge – OPS Lt. Schafio - 0942) ==================================== Yalta was a bit surprise to have intruders on the bridge and when she saw those... things looking like spiders, she really didn't like them, it gave her a chill. Everything went fast around her, orders given by the Captain to destroy those creature. She picked up her phaser and manage to get one. Little did she know that another was coming near her. She gave it a kick, change the frequency and fire at it. It shook her a little to see those creature and she heard Ensign Skylynx asking."You okay?" “I am alright... I hate crawly things.” She turn her gaze to him. “I'm alright!” "Good, I wouldn't want you to get hurt before I have a chance to take you to dinner," he said, as he checked the status of the ship on the main cutaway display. “If we come out of it... my treat! Get the internal defenses system online please.” Ryko returned to his station, has she return to hers to pick up the pieces of info all around the ship figuring that it would be needed soon. "Status report." Sevant ordered, looking at his Ops officer. “We have some casualties... so far 37 people have been affected by those... Spiders. They have invaded all important decks. Medical, engineering, tactical, bridge, Mess Hall and all decks in between. Medical, engineering, tactical have reported to have push back or destroyed the invaders. But, internal sensors are detecting that they are still on board... it's not over. Captain, we need to analyze one of those things to figure out what to make of that ship who is waiting patiently for his minions work to take over us, they didn't move since they back away. Also, all the internal shields might be not delaying them... I have reports of walls being cut by those things.” ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Main Engineering - Lt jg Trevan West- 0945) ==================================== Trevan listened as Melody cursed as she jumped to the side when one more Spider jumped at her, but it was taken apart before it could reach her. She pulled her side-arm and fired for several long seconds, dismantling it with the stream of power. "Fall back!" she once again screamed into the din. "Melody!, Over here" said Trevan from behind a bulkhead, "Computer activate security measure 16a," he spoke hoping to be heard over the commotion around him. A containment field sparked to life around the warp core, and the rear isolation door came down, crushing several already dead crewmen. "They can't see me behind this wall for some reason, perhaps of the heavy Tritainium and Nitainium in the walls. I am glad to see you are okay. There is an emergency ration kit back there somewhere, here let me look at you." Melody turned away from Trevan but he could see she was in pretty bad shape, "Look, I need to treat that with at least an anti-infection cream before you go running off and your guts spill on my deck." Trevan grabbed her shoulder and pulled her towards him, he applied some cream and a hypospray for the pain. "There, that should do it, but I would get my ass to sickbay. I am to terrified to move, go without me." ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Main Engineering - Senior Chief Melody Haverstaad - 0945) ==================================== Melody cursed as a force-field went up around the warp-core and the Boudicca's forces started constricting around it. A heavy blast door went down, blocking off most of the invaders, which lessened the utter chaos that was going around. The few that were in the immediate area were blown to hell within moments, leaving everyone breathless for several long moments. "Re-form!" she bellowed, she couldn't take the chance that this small portion of engineering would hold... And they wouldn't be able to stay for long, lest the rest of engineering get destroyed. There were still plenty of engineers out there, and from the look of it a number of her security forces as well. She joined the Chief Engineer a few moments later. "They can't see me behind this wall for some reason, perhaps of the heavy Tritainium and Nitainium in the walls. I am glad to see you are okay. There is an emergency ration kit back there somewhere, here let me look at you." ~I don't have time for this.~ she thought as she began turning away to bellow more Battle Orders. She was interrupted however, "Look, I need to treat that with at least an anti-infection cream before you go running off and your guts spill on my deck." Melody grimaced as he grabbed his shoulder and pulled her over. Now that there wasn't the *immediate* threat of being ripped apart, she had to admit that her side didn't look good. Through the tattered remains of her tunic he applied a cream, then hit her with a painkiller. While he worked, she considered the tactical advantage his words could possibly give her, about possibly being 'blind' to certain metals. "There, that should do it, but I would get my ass to sickbay. I am to terrified to move, go without me." "Can't" she said shortly. "Not if you want the rest of your engineers in one piece." She turned to look at what was left of her defensive squad, it didn't look promising. She tapped her badge, "Haverstaad to Security, we require serious reinforcements in Engineering." (reply: TAC/SC, TAC/ASC) Melody took a deep breath, "Alright Sir, if you want to work some engineering magic to clear your area, it would be appreciated." She hefted her phaser rifle and checked the charge, then looked at the crew. "Mount up and keep near the bulkheads, behind them if possible!" She looked at the CEO, "The blast door, if you would..." ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Main Engineering - TAC/ASC Ensign Ryko Skylynx-0945) ==================================== Ryko ran through the corridors, avoiding several sparking panels, and entered main engineering to find Chief Haverstaad under heavy fire. He dropped to as shuttle run and joined her. "Understand you have pest problems?" Ryko said as he prepared his phaser rifle. The chief was evidently in no mood for small talk. She hefted her phaser rifle and checked the charge, then looked at the crew. "Mount up and keep near the bulkheads, behind them if possible!" She looked at the CEO, "The blast door, if you would..." Ryko approached side by side with Haverstaad and waited for the "game" to begin. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Main Engineering - Lt jg Trevan West- 0946) ==================================== She looked at the CEO, "The blast door, if you would..." Trevan nodded in her direction,"Computer raise the blast door." the computer chirped its reply and within a few moments the blast door was raised and the troops started to file out, when Trevan heard what can only be described as a plasma explosion near the blast door he dove into the Jefferies Tube protecting his head. When the smoke had cleared he noticed the blast door had come down in the exposition and he was not happy. "Computer raise blast door." No reply. "West to anyone come in, I am trapped in Jeffries Tube 15 section 5baker. There is a plasma leak in hear radiating the cabin, I can't beam out nor can I walk out. Anyone getting this transmission please respond." Trevan leaned his head back against the wall, "Why do I end up in these things all the time?" ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Main Engineering - ACEO Enaj - 0946) ==================================== While crouching behind some data banks Saim heard something on her comm. =^=West to anyone come in, I am trapped in Jeffries Tube 15 section 5baker. There is a plasma leak in hear radiating the cabin, I can't beam out nor can I walk out. Anyone getting this transmission please respond.=^= "West, this is Enaj here. Give me a second and I will see what I can do." (reply Trevan iyw) Saim got up slowly and looked at the data banks, which moments before she had been hiding behind. Locating the maintenance panel she brought up Jefferies Tube 15 section 5baker. Wreckage surronded the whole of it and the situation looked grim. If the CEO did not get out soon the plasma would fill it and anyway if I stray shot went his way it would be nasty. Saim however did see a way out. Above West's position was a tube that Saim could through. There was not so much wreckage that Saim could not get through with a laser. The amount of heat it created should not be a problem. With this plan in mind Saim headed to the wall, gun in hand, keeping low, to get to the tube's entrance. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Bridge - Capt Sevant- 0947) ==================================== "Status report." the Captain ordered. "We have some casualties... so far 37 people have been affected by those... Spiders. They have invaded all important decks. Medical, engineering, tactical, bridge, Mess Hall and all decks in between. Medical, engineering, tactical have reported to have push back or destroyed the invaders. But, internal sensors are detecting that they are still on board... it's not over. Captain, we need to analyze one of those things to figure out what to make of that ship who is waiting patiently for his minions work to take over us, they didn't move since they back away. Also, all the internal shields might be not delaying them... I have reports of walls being cut by those things." Sevant nodded, that fit the pattern on Backtron, why take down a forcefields when you could cut through a wall? That meant only the heaviest of the shielded areas would offer any real protection, mostly engineering and the aft Antimatter containment sections, they had the thickest bulkheads of duranium in the entire ship. He gestured to one of the things, "Work on one of these, we'll get you to a lab when we can." ==================================== (USS Boudicca – Bridge– TAC/ASC – Ensign Ryko Skylynx – 09:50) ==================================== Ryko was relieved that Yalta was okay, and was quickly hurrying about his orders. He was about to exit the bridge when his badge chimed. =^=Bush to Skylynx, Is the bridge secure Ryko?=^= came Bush's voice over the com. Ryko looked around. The one unvapourised creature was not shoing any signs of life, captain sevant seemed to be kicking it. "Aye sir, intruders speedily repulsed. How are things on your end?" Ryko said as he continued to assess the impact of the unwanted guests. =^=Details are meeting heavy resistance, we need to come up with some other plan than the automatic weapons the aliens are in some instances carrying our people chances are we will hit them. Ryko make sure you stay on the bridge, a detail is on route to you=^= "Belay the team to the bridge, we have it covered. The Marines are under your command now, Lieutenant, hop to it!" Sevant said as he stood. "Put me on speaker." he said to Ryko. Ryko returned to his station and activated the shipwide com channel. "Bridge to Crew: Condition Black, Full Anti-Borg procedures. These are not aliens, these are machines, and they are reacting like the Borg in adaptation. Destroy them, take no chances, and avoid all physical contact. Bridge Out." Sevant jerked a head to the two Marines, then looked back over Ryko. "Get yourself to the Chief, he is under heavy attack. Move!" Ryko wasted no time. He hurried out of the turbolift. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Bridge - Capt Sevant - 0950) ==================================== "XO," Sevant said, turning toward Grailik, "Grab a Marine and make way for the Battle Bridge double-time. If we go offline here, the ship is yours." "Understood," The FO said as Sevant turned his back, "Your with me Corporal." Sevant turned back to survey the situation, things were not looking up. They might be clearing the ship, bit by bit, but the ship was still out there. If their tactics were to be believed, then they would stay out of weapons range until their drones had done the dirty work, then come and clean up. "Analysis of that ship?" The Tactical officer shrugged, "We have more brute strength, their weapons drain us on different frequencies however, so the advantage is nil. And they seem to have more sublight speed then we do." "Not afraid of time-dilation issues then," Sevant said quietly before filing the information away for later use, there might be something he could do with it. He was about to order damage-control teams to the bridge when the image on the screen suddenly started moving. "Incoming!" bellowed the TAC officer. Sevant braced himself, "Fire all weapons, evasive maneuvers!" The ship shook again with weapons fire, this time it didn't take a sustained burst to open a hole in the shields for further beaming. Two more creatures were beamed onto the bridge, and were immediately shot apart by the kneeling Marine by the primary turbolift door. Sevant didn't wait to see if more came, "Concentrate all fire on their weapons systems!" "Weapons systems, Aye Sir." the Tactical officer reported. Several vollies of phasers and quantum torpedoes followed a few moments later, and the enemy ship rapidly broke off attack. "Stay back," he ordered a moment later, "We can't take em head-on without full support," He looked over again, "How many made it on board this time?" ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Bridge – OPS Lt. Schafio - 0950) ==================================== Yalta look at the Captain, there was nothing new for her to say, at least nothing that he already knew. So she waited for his instruction which came quickly. "Work on one of these, we'll get you to a lab when we can." “I can start a primary analysis here.” Yalta got up took the one most complete and made her way to Science console. She put her tricorder on the console in continues scan, relaying all the data to the ship computer. Her attention was shifting between what was going on and this thing. Science was never her strong suit but this was a weapon and that was in her alley. "We can't take em head-on without full support," He looked over again, "How many made it on board this time?" She heard her replacement at OPS say. “About 40 of these things are on board.” “Captain, they have a sort of positronic brain, heavily plated. They can transmit and receive data, if we could reprogram them we could send them back to them with the same program they are using against us. It might take time, I don't have one nearly intact here. The eye thing, is a mind probe, it seem to seek a particular brain pattern. I would guess that telepaths are particular affected by this. I would need a lab and one or two of those things a bit more intact to break the program.” ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Main Engineering - Senior Chief Melody Haverstaad - 0950) ==================================== "Computer raise the blast door." the CEO said. Melody licked her lips and looked at the newest TAC/ASC. "Sir, luck and honor." (reply: Skylynx, if desired) A few seconds later, the door was fully open. The security guards and Marines that were left didn't need marching orders, they had already received them. Several of them started firing cover as others darted out and took positions as near to duranium doors as possible. Melody held up her phaser and walked solidly forward, her face a battle-mask of anger at having her ship and crewmates hurt for no reason. "Kill em all!" she bellowed as she opened fire herself. She managed to jump passed the mass of psi-spiders that had gathered when the Blast Door had been shut, and found herself a panel to hide behind. She quickly lost track of the TAC/ASC, but he was the least of her worries... He could take care of himself as well as any. Melody was about to start firing again when a flash distracted her from the corner of her eye. She didn't have time to register much of anything about it before she was knocked sprawling against the far wall from a powerful explosion a half-moment later. She managed to hold onto the phaser with great difficultly as she slammed into a bulkhead. She spared half a moment for her dizziness, caused when her head had hit the bulkhead, then started pulling herself away from the wall and back to her spot. "Report, All units report!" ==================================== (USS Boudicca -Main Engineering-TAC/ASC Ensign Ryko Skylynx-0950) ==================================== "Computer raise the blast door." the CEO said. Melody licked her lips and looked at Ryko. "Sir, luck and honor." "Luck has nothing to do with it, Chief. Let's go raze some aliens," Ryko said. He raised his rifle to his eye and stared through the crosshair at the opening door. "And so they raged into the heat of battle, the smell of blood in their nostrils..." he said, almost totally out of character. A few seconds later, the door was fully open. Ryko stood and charged forward with the first wave of Security Officers and Marines that were left. Several of them started finding cover as others darted outand took positions. Ryko fired off a few shots to confuse the invaders, then took up position as near to duranium doors as possible. Melody held up her phaser and walked solidly forward. "Kill em all!" she bellowed as she opened fire herself. Ryko smiled and began pulling the trigger on reflex more than instinct. One by one the grotesque spider-like machines fell, but more seemed to come out of nowhere. Ryko sent another two flying to the ground. Behind him he saw a detatchment of his best officers charging toward him. "Come on in, the water's fine!" he said as he continued dodging between targets. He was becoming lost in the moment, surprising himself at the level of fun he seemed to be having at destroying these invaders. Out of the corner of his eye, an explosion wracked. He turned and saw Haverstaad slammed against the wall from the resulting shock. He tried to move in and buy her some time to recover but there was no need. She was up within seconds. He stayed where he was and continued shooting. "How many you got, chief?" he yelled over the cacophony of fire. (Reply Haverstaad) "12! Keep it up, we'll drive this scum off yet!" The battle continued, starfleet firing endless bolts of phaser fire, determined not to let the aliens close enough to make physical contact. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Bridge – OPS Lt. Schafio - 0950) ==================================== “Captain, they have a sort of positronic brain, heavily plated. They can transmit and receive data, if we could reprogram them we could send them back to them with the same program they are using against us. It might take time, I don't have one nearly intact here. The eye thing, is a mind probe, it seem to seek a particular brain pattern. I would guess that telepaths are particular affected by this. I would need a lab and one or two of those things a bit more intact.” "Soon, Lieutenant, soon. Pull out whatever you want to study and be ready to move quickly." he said. He looked around the bridge, bits of it were blasted to hell, it was far to open to effectively defend if more creatures were going to come. He needed to get to the battle bridge once it was operational. “I will be ready!” Yalta got up, brought all the pieces close to her, to see better what she would need. Yalta took the part of the positronic brain incast inside metal and the outside. It wasn't going to be practical to work on it here and she knew that this was the key with the eye thing. “Computer, replicate a back pack, 1 cubic foot it should contain.” Yalta put everything in just in time to hear the captain say to vacate the bridge. "Alright, everyone." Sevant said, standing up again. "Prepare to vacate the primary bridge." “I'm ready!” She took the phaser rifle and secured it. She could feel the adrenaline rushing through her veins and she loved it. She decided to stick with the Captain, there was safety in numbers. Sevant walked over to the Operations officer, "There will be more of these things closer to a science lab, are you ready?" “I am ready!” She put on the back pack and followed. Yalta didn't have any problem to follow up the group, and aware of her environment she was looking out with the others for the enemy. Yalta kept track to what the captain was saying and the orders given, in her head he wonder how she would open that casing who protected the positronic brain. It's been a while since she had that course in the academy. Yalta just followed and it seem that it was a dream when she was on the right deck and the Captain signaled her that she could come. "Clear." “Great!” Yalta came out of the jefferies tube silently. She followed the Captain crouched and hugging the wall. When they got to the labs, Captain tapped in his own security clearance to open the doors. "Quickly, Lieutenant." he said, still covering the corridor with the door open. Yalta rush inside and taking her back pack off and drop it on the table. The phaser rifle, she took it off and place it on a chair near her. The door closed behind shut behind them, Yalta gave a glance toward the captain, knowing that for now, he was her bodyguard. "You have your labs, Lieutenant, proceed with all speed." he said. “Already starting Sir!” Yalta grab all the tools near, tricorder and everything she could possibly need. She proceeded with a deep scan. Tritanium, 3 microns, she found the tool she needed for it and look for the inside while she was scanning. She didn't want to trip on anything. She knew that the power source was outside, and she might feed it with a tricorder, she continued to explore the device through the scan. ~There, the positronic brain... intact. There the hatch... need the right frequency or we are in trouble... maybe.~ She took the eye thing and proceeded to scan it. They transmitted and scan through it, it was sensitive to the brain patterns of empathic and telepaths. A quick search made her found the right frequency brain pattern. She got up and scan the only empath near her. The Captain. “The brain is in cast inside a tritanium box, 3 microns thick. That will be no problem for me to open, I found the opening, probably for repair they created it. But it seem to be with a particular frequency, considering the behavior of the device I selected a few 100 variables signals. I have eliminated 50 % of them as I am speaking.” Yalta was working on the thing while talking. “I'm cross reference with what I have found so far with are ship scan.... and now up to... 20 variables.” Yalta could sense the Captain looking at her a bit impatient. “I can't rush this... if I do, we might become in more trouble then we are right now. The balance is.... there, that is what I was searching for.” Yalta open the box and could see the circuits. “It is still active and intact.” Yalta brought it back to the table to have better light and also the tools. She didn't know how long she was working on it but reattach the eye, but left it blind. She decided to download the information. Finding the right connection, and hock in up to the tricorder, it downloaded everything quickly. “I'm downloading what ever it has taken and didn't have time to transmit. I'm through with that process.” To her surprise, it ask something of her. “What was the next program? It's asking me this... diagnostic she punch.” the result were breath taking. “Captain, 10 minutes and I will have a solution.” Yalta studied the diagnostic, and because of the damages, it gave her the information without asking. She found the circuits for the reprogramming and also how it worked. She reprogrammed the frequency and reset the set of orders.” “Captain, I have change the frequency of this one easily... I think I can make the others do the same and change their orders. It goes like this. Signal is from the ship that is just out of rang, which for them is a problem because those things can't transmit when the mother ship is far. Which gives us the advantage, they don't know what is going on here. I found there frequency, I can order then to change frequency and those bugs which are our enemies becomes are allies. If we play are cards right, simultaneously we get close to that ship and transport those bugs with the same order with one thing more... if they are ordered to change frequency one more time, they are ordered to self destruct. Unless you have another idea, but it was the only choice I had in the menu of there program. I don't think they expected us to get so deep in the program of those things.” ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Bridge – OPS Lt. Schafio - 0950) ==================================== “Captain, they have a sort of positronic brain, heavily plated. They can transmit and receive data, if we could reprogram them we could send them back to them with the same program they are using against us. It might take time, I don't have one nearly intact here. The eye thing, is a mind probe, it seem to seek a particular brain pattern. I would guess that telepaths are particular affected by this. I would need a lab and one or two of those things a bit more intact.” "Soon, Lieutenant, soon. Pull out whatever you want to study and be ready to move quickly." he said. He looked around the bridge, bits of it were blasted to hell, it was far to open to effectively defend if more creatures were going to come. He needed to get to the battle bridge once it was operational. “I will be ready!” Yalta got up, brought all the pieces close to her, to see better what she would need. Yalta took the part of the positronic brain incast inside metal and the outside. It wasn't going to be practical to work on it here and she knew that this was the key with the eye thing. “Computer, replicate a back pack, 1 cubic foot it should contain.” Yalta put everything in just in time to hear the captain say to vacate the bridge. "Alright, everyone." Sevant said, standing up again. "Prepare to vacate the primary bridge." “I'm ready!” She took the phaser rifle and secured it. She could feel the adrenaline rushing through her veins and she loved it. She decided to stick with the Captain, there was safety in numbers. Sevant walked over to the Operations officer, "There will be more of these things closer to a science lab, are you ready?" “I am ready!” She put on the back pack and followed. Yalta didn't have any problem to follow up the group, and aware of her environment she was looking out with the others for the enemy. Yalta kept track to what the captain was saying and the orders given, in her head he wonder how she would open that casing who protected the positronic brain. It's been a while since she had that course in the academy. Yalta just followed and it seem that it was a dream when she was on the right deck and the Captain signaled her that she could come. "Clear." “Great!” Yalta came out of the jefferies tube silently. She followed the Captain crouched and hugging the wall. When they got to the labs, Captain tapped in his own security clearance to open the doors. "Quickly, Lieutenant." he said, still covering the corridor with the door open. Yalta rush inside and taking her back pack off and drop it on the table. The phaser rifle, she took it off and place it on a chair near her. The door closed behind shut behind them, Yalta gave a glance toward the captain, knowing that for now, he was her bodyguard. "You have your labs, Lieutenant, proceed with all speed." he said. “Already starting Sir!” Yalta grab all the tools near, tricorder and everything she could possibly need. She proceeded with a deep scan. Tritanium, 3 microns, she found the tool she needed for it and look for the inside while she was scanning. She didn't want to trip on anything. She knew that the power source was outside, and she might feed it with a tricorder, she continued to explore the device through the scan. ~There, the positronic brain... intact. There the hatch... need the right frequency or we are in trouble... maybe.~ She took the eye thing and proceeded to scan it. They transmitted and scan through it, it was sensitive to the brain patterns of empathic and telepaths. A quick search made her found the right frequency brain pattern. She got up and scan the only empath near her. The Captain. “The brain is in cast inside a tritanium box, 3 microns thick. That will be no problem for me to open, I found the opening, probably for repair they created it. But it seem to be with a particular frequency, considering the behavior of the device I selected a few 100 variables signals. I have eliminated 50 % of them as I am speaking.” Yalta was working on the thing while talking. “I'm cross reference with what I have found so far with are ship scan.... and now up to... 20 variables.” Yalta could sense the Captain looking at her a bit impatient. “I can't rush this... if I do, we might become in more trouble then we are right now. The balance is.... there, that is what I was searching for.” Yalta open the box and could see the circuits. “It is still active and intact.” Yalta brought it back to the table to have better light and also the tools. She didn't know how long she was working on it but reattach the eye, but left it blind. She decided to download the information. Finding the right connection, and hock in up to the tricorder, it downloaded everything quickly. “I'm downloading what ever it has taken and didn't have time to transmit. I'm through with that process.” To her surprise, it ask something of her. “What was the next program? It's asking me this... diagnostic she punch.” the result were breath taking. “Captain, 10 minutes and I will have a solution.” Yalta studied the diagnostic, and because of the damages, it gave her the information without asking. She found the circuits for the reprogramming and also how it worked. She reprogrammed the frequency and reset the set of orders.” “Captain, I have change the frequency of this one easily... I think I can make the others do the same and change their orders. It goes like this. Signal is from the ship that is just out of rang, which for them is a problem because those things can't transmit when the mother ship is far. Which gives us the advantage, they don't know what is going on here. I found there frequency, I can order then to change frequency and those bugs which are our enemies becomes are allies. If we play are cards right, simultaneously we get close to that ship and transport those bugs with the same order with one thing more... if they are ordered to change frequency one more time, they are ordered to self destruct. Unless you have another idea, but it was the only choice I had in the menu of there program. I don't think they expected us to get so deep in the program of those things.” ==================================== (USS Boudicca -Engineering Jeffries Tube- Lt jg Trevan West-0952) ==================================== The plasma radiation was filling the cabin and slowly killing Trevan, he was breathing hard and sweating buckets. Around him was nothing but a sealed door on one end of the enclosed space and at the other, a deadly plasma fire. With no obvious means of escape TRevan started to panic and speak aloud, "Well, transporting is out of the question and I don't have a working tricorder or phaser, so, I guess I will die." Trevan slapped himself in the face, "C'mon Trev, get with the program! You're an engineer, a Starfleet engineer, you can get out of this. Think, what is behind that wall." Trevan thought for a moment and realized that there was an adjoining Jeffries tube right behind him that accessed most of the ship. He looked around and decided he needed something to cut through about a foot of duranium to get to it. Trevan removed the wall panel and it gave way fairly easily and revealed some optic cabling and a EPS power tap that supplied power to the lower decks. "Well, it's either use the EPS power tap and sever power to 2 decks or die sitting here." he thought out loud again. TRevan ripped off a part of his uniform and grabbed the semi-hot power tap and yanked on it until it gave way, shooting great arcs of power around him. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Bridge - CO Sevant - 0955) ==================================== "Captain, they have a sort of positronic brain, heavily plated. They can transmit and receive data, if we could reprogram them we could send them back to them with the same program they are using against us. It might take time, I don't have one nearly intact here. The eye thing, is a mind probe, it seem to seek a particular brain pattern. I would guess that telepaths are particular affected by this. I would need a lab and one or two of those things a bit more intact to break the program." "Soon, Lieutenant, soon. Pull out whatever you want to study and be ready to move quickly." he said. He looked around the bridge, bits of it were blasted to hell, it was far to open to effectively defend if more creatures were going to come. He needed to get to the battle bridge once it was operational. (reply: ops, if desired.) Sevant found his seat again and folded his hands together, keeping track of the running battles as best he could. After twenty minutes, the call he had finally be waiting for finally came in, =^=Grailik to Sevant. I'm in position. Standing by.=^= "Alright, everyone." Sevant said, standing up again. "Prepare to vacate the primary bridge." (reply: any) "Computer, transfer all command protocols to the Battle Bridge." [done] "You have control, Commander." Sevant said as he pulled his phaser, "We will be working our way there shortly, Ill be escorting Lieutenant Schafio to a science lab. Send a security team in that direction to clear one out." (reply: FO, any) "Alright people," Sevant said, "Everyone to the Battle Bridge, take the Jefferies tubes when possible. Move!" (reply: anyone left on the bridge) Sevant walked over to the Operations officer, "There will be more of these things closer to a science lab, are you ready?" ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Jeffries Tube - ACEO Enaj - 0956) ==================================== =^=I am going to attempt something from this end, it will take a bit but I think it's the best and safest option. Go back to engineering and hold down the fort. The Boudicca needs you now. That is an order Ensign.=^= "Understood sir." However instead of heading back to engineering Saim connected a panel she had brought to one of the cables and plugged into engineering. "Sir. If you need any intel I have it at my fingertips." ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Deck 18 - ACSO Dr. Kyle Rin - 09:58) ==================================== Taking quick glances around the corner everyonce and awhile Kyle continued to hatch his plan. He would make a brake for it in the other direction hopefuly not running into any other of those spider things. Taking a seat at the wall just a few feet from the turbolift he had exited so many minutes ago something began to enter his mind. The thoughts rushed in so fast he couldn't make heads or tails of it, of course his mother was betazed but he didn't have that much of the gift. Still he tried his hardest to seperate whatever it was the thoughts began to slow down and make sense focusing with all of his mind Domini began to fiill his head. It seemed like she was in pain but Kyle coudn't quite determine that to it's fullest extent. He was sure that something was happening to her but what he couldn't quite determine that. Without any thought Kyle started to tap his com badge but stopped himself before doing so ~No, that will cause too much noise i might be detected.~ But he wanted to make sure Domini was ok but how would he do something like that without the use of his com badge. Pushing the thoughts outta of his head Kyle began to focus on his telepathic ability he recieved from his mother, indeed she was half betazed and her mother before her was full betazed. ::Kestra...:: he said slowly with all his thought focused he wasn't sure if it was working or not. ::KESTRA:: he spoke louder in his mind.. ::Is Domini ok? Are you ok? What is happening?:: Losing his concentration Kyle pounded his fist into the floor. "Damn, if only i had recieved some kind of training with this gift." he spoke to himself in a low tone. There would be no more time to waste taking to his feet and peaking around the corner one last time, yep it was still there Kyle walked out into the corridor and began in the other direction slowly, keeping his eyes fixed on the spider in front of him. His movement however was stopped turnning around slowly he had ran into another one. He failed to look down the other direction before making his way. Reacting on impulse the spider spun around and spotted Kyle running back to the turbolift section. Taking a quick look in the other direction the spider he tried so hard to avoid was coming at him full charge. Two of these spider things were rushing him looking around in a panic state he tried to spot something that could help. There however was nothing of use maybe he could get both of them to run into themselves, he would have to time this just right taking a solid stance he looked to his left then his right watching as both spiders ready there prod weapons as they charged down on him. ~Got to time this just...~ It was now or never Kyle jumped towards the turbolift landing on the floor he shielded his eyes as there was a large explosion. It worked both spiders had impaled themselves completely there was nothing left but a blackend floor and two heaps of fried metal. Taking to his feet Kyle brushed himself off and then collapsed to the floor, it seemed one of the spiders had struck him in the back. There was a heavy burnning sensation reaching for his com badge he tapped it once but to his avail it was damaged from the fall. ~Only one other way of contacting someone.~ ::KESTRA! Please come to deck 18 i need your help:: Kyle layed motionless trying his hardest to fight the pain and hang on until someone arived. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Jeffries TUbe, Lt jg Trevan West - 1015) ==================================== Trevan kicked the steaming panel and it shot across the access tunnel and echoed throughout the chamber but he finally succeeded in escaping his radiated tomb. He was badly burned, bleeding from almost every limb and was feeling horrible from the radiation, somehow he needed to get off this deck but he was to weak to move any more. "West to medical team, I am trapped and need medical attention, beam me the hell out of here." ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Bridge - Sevant - 1018) ==================================== =^=Grailik to Sevant. I'm in position=^= "Stand by to take over immediately," Sevant said as he looked at the bridge. Sighs of battle were showing, luckily the turbolifts had been locked down and nothing could get onto the bridge by any other area of the ship. The craft, however, was proving to be a problem. Sevant brushed a small cut on his arm before moving to stand between the Operations and Conn stations. "Tactical, status." "Shields down to 40%, and Engineering is still besieged so they aren't getting better. Structural breeches in several places, and that new batch of intruders has yet to be put down." Sevant turned his head again, "Status of the enemy ship?" The tactical officer took a few moments, then said, "As far as I can tell, Sir, they have taken a small beating themselves, but the level of damage is purely conjecture." The Vulcan turned back, "I've about had enough of this. Target all weapons," he said quietly before looking down at Conn. "And move us in, full impulse." He put a hand on the back of the Operations seat, "Emergency power to shields," (reply: any) Sevant folded his arms behind his back and waited. The enemy had moved well out of range after dropping their second load of trooper-machines. They hadn't come back for more, but that wasn't conclusive proof that they had been dealt a harsh blow. Sevant rather doubted it, in fact. The Boudicca, a nimble warship herself, sprang forward without any other warning, and within five seconds was within range. "Fire." was his only command. Several seconds later, the alien ship came to frenzied life and swung around. It took off at high-warp, its engines making a dark rainbow against the black Starscape. Sevant frowned deeply, "Report?" Tactical sounded confused, "I didn't hit em that hard!" he said, "Not unless they really were technologically inferior, or they don't deal well with surprise attacks!" He lightly put a hand on Schafio's shoulder, "Keep an eye on them, as long as they remain within sensor range. If they double-back, let me know immediately." (reply: Ops) Sevant turned again and made way for his chair. "Sevant to Security, Status report?" (reply: Security) At lastly, now that they had a few free moments, he tapped his badge once more. "Sevant to transporter room, are you still online?" =^=Yes Sir.=^= "Get the Marines back, now." ==================================== (SS Backtron, Engineering Section Deck 4, MCO Major Straton, 1020) ==================================== Eva stood at the front of the firing line, her scatter gun blazing. Around her and the remaining marines, pieces of the alien machines piled up while more clambered toward them relentlessly, fearlessly. They came on the floor, on the ceiling, and the walls, from every possible direction. Some had even cut through the surrounding bulk heads in an attempt to flank them The marines had almost been over run till another full squad had transported over, bolstering their fire power considerable. Eva had tested her theory three times now, and she was convinced the things were targeting her before the others, but not Spider. Therefore she could only conclude that it was because she was betizoid, a telepath, as Spider had little to no telepathic ability. So, Eva was using herself as bait, despite Spiders objections. She was broadcasting telepathically at random, drawing the things toward her where the marines had set up a very efficient firing range. To their credit though, the spiders seemed to be learning quickly and they were trying new ways to get to her at every attempt. They had already tried to break through the firing line from the rear 3 times now. In short, the marines where holding their own, for now. Eva checked her scatter gun and cursed. She was getting low on ammo as where the rest of the marines. They'd been fighting for 40 minuets now, though it seemed like hours. If they didn't get extracted soon, they would be forced to resort to hand-to-hand combat. Eva didn't like their chances of lasting very long if that happened. =/\=Standby for transport.=/\= Eva heard over her comm-set. She grinned as the marines, with out a word, formed up into a circle still firing at the targets around them. "Energize," Eva said, into the comm-channel. Feeling the familiar effects of the transporter a few seconds latter. ==================================== (Boudicca – Counsellor's Office – COUNS Dr. Domini Alizara & TAC/SC William Bush - 1021) ==================================== Stroking Domini's hair William smiled. "Counsellor, what happened," Domini seemed confused, her thoughts not working right. "I don't know. Everything is so raw." She said, hugging herself and crying. "I can't keep them out." "Its ok everything will be ok soon, the Captain is ordering the Marines in everything will be sorted soon," Domini shook her head. "You don't understand. It can't be ok" She screamed as another psychic wail ripped through her head, tearing a piece of her away with it. She looked up and saw one of the spider things glaring at her, then realized that the place she was seeing wasn't this office, but was really one of the corridors, and she was trapped in a psi sensitive's mind as the spider lowered the cattle prod to her and touched her arm.... She felt something touch her, and realized it was the security chief. He looked so worried about her. "I'm a Mind-Healer." She said, trying to explain. "And everytime a person dies...a part of me dies too, and I can't take it." She said, tears pouring down her face. William hugged the Counsellor, and brushed her blond curls back away from her face. "Domini we can hurt quite badley but time is a beautiful healer. I will be honest im not up on mind effects but i hope you will be fine. Is there anything i can do?" "I... I don't know." She said, feeling warm and safe for the first time today. "I can't deal with them right now, and I am only a hinderance. I should be on the bridge, helping the Captain...I should..." She shook her head, pulling away from him. "I am a lousy officer." "You are not a lousy officer, you have been through a massive ordeal and no doubt if any one else had suffered your ordel they would be in a worst state. most of my security forces are disabled through engagements, you are a very brave," Domini listened and nodded. "You should get back and go defend us. I... I should stay locked here." She said, knowing it was for the best. She could barely take the screams at a distance. "Is there a way to keep them out?" "Well this will proberly help," William stated placing a phaser rifle into the arms of Domini. "Also im going to security lock out your door and seal it. With the marines hopping around it is proberly best to seal you in, they are over zelous as a rule," Domini looked up at him, scared. "Eva seems very nice and controlled. And I don't look anything like one of those spiders...do i ?" "Of course not dearest, you look the picture of beauty," William stated winking. Domini looked up at him, and her Betazoid instinct took over. She pressed against him and kissed him passionately. Betazoids tended to be very physical and loving and with so much death around her and through her, and so much sadness, all she could do was think about kissing the man who had come to rescue her. William paused after being kissed, his English side kicked in with his full bright red cheeks glowing. Smiling William gave her a hug, " My dear this we will have to go into this another time and thank you. That has cheered me up considerably," William stated grinning as a child. Domini pulled back, looking horrified at what she had done. "I...I'm sorry." She said, getting up and going into her bathroom. "Take me to the bridge, please. I ..." She had an idea and went over to the replicator. She summoned up a headache medicine, and slipped the hypo into her pocket. It was one of the ones that had the side effect of dulling the psychic senses as well. . "I should be on the bridge, with the Captain." "Very good Ma'am," William stated unholstering his personal phaser. "Ready when you are Doctor," She blinked at him, then walked over, picking up the phaser rifle. It felt bulky in her hands, and made her feel like she was even more awkward than usual. "Can I trade you?" She asked, quietly. Will grinned and passed over his personal phaser, checking the power settings William activated the spear battery. "I want to call via sickbay, some of my men are there and i want to check on them. Plus the second officer should be on the bridge," "The second Officer?" Domini asked, confused. "Kestra. How is Kestra handling it ?" "I believe the doctor is a little swamped, however we have the issue that sickbay is still not quite defensible therefore i have to atleast offer the doctor a alternative. The Captain has turned down a bridge detalil so im going to switch it to Medical," William stated. Domini blinked as she was led down the hall. "Did you really mean I was beautiful?" She asked quietly. William did not cease his walking and continued to point his face and phaser rifle forward. Coughing he attempted not to become embarrassed. "You are increadibly beautiful counsellor," William never felt comfortable discussing such matters, he had been a career solider as most of his family had been before him. It was always a uncomfortable thing to talk about feelings. Domini followed him, her phaser pointed forward also. "I never thought I was. My sister was always the pretty one in the family. They always said she got all the creative talent, and beauty, and I got all the telepathic ability. My sister is a performer on Earth, and not very psychic at all, for a Betazoid. And we were both disappointments to our family." "Well dear my family was career military, so if you joined the service every one was happy. However i will never understand how any one as attractive as you could be a disappointment," Domini shook her head. "You are lucky." She said. "Neighter of us ever did what our parents wanted of us..so we were all disappointments to them. My parents were not exactly what I would ever call..normal." She said, as they rounded a corner to see four of the spiders. William cocked the rifle then looked at Domini, "We wont be able to deal with four of them. However they will run us down if we try to run. Therefore you run into sickbay, ill hold them!" Domini looked at him, scared. Then she saw the shimmering thing. "Is that a force field?" She asked. "Yep however it wont last long, now GO!" William stated kneeling on his right knee. Taking aim the creatures sped up their attack on the forcefield. Domini nodded and ran into sickbay. She saw a few of the security people there. "The security chief is under attack, outside. 4 of the spiders." She said in a rush. As the Forcefield began to collapse William aimed down the rifle, as it finally flickard and then disapated. William fired his rifle, the first creature fell down and then stood back up. As the next one began to move towards him he fired again. As shot after shot flew out of his rifle they still kept coming. As they were with in a meter Will shot to his feet and smashed the rifle into the creatures skull. As that one fell down he felt the most excrusiating pain as it moved up his body William looked over to the sickbay. His security was coming, smiling William fell to the ground the pain did'nt feel as bad any more. Domini screeched in pain, a high keening sound that had attracted the attention of most of the sickbay. "He's gone.." She cried, hitting a psychic high from it all. "He's dead. And they are still coming." She shook with the force of his death, which had hit her harder than any of the others on the ship. She felt a pounding go through the door next to her, and she scrambled away from the door, hiding behind the biobeds. "They keep coming.." She whispered. "They are attracted to me...." She thought, thinking of the ones that were following the telepaths around the ship. She had no shields any longer and would burn herself out if she kept going like this. She looked around with more than her physical eyes and didn't see the sickbay, she saw pods of the spiders being destroyed, and more moving towards sickbay. She looked over at Kestra. "How many telepaths are aboard this ship, Kestra!" Domini demanded. "And where are they stationed. I think the spiders are attracted to telepaths...there is an entire pod of them moving this way!" She didn't realize that she was shouting, that she was projecting this loudly enough that Eva might hear it on the Backtron. She was just existing in the moment, and barely at that. ==================================== (USS Boudicca, Marine Transporter, MCO, Major Straton, 1025) ==================================== Eva stepped off the transporter resting her scatter gun on her shoulder. She nodded at Sergeant Major Rodriguez, the company's head NCO, a grizzled old war veteran of 40 years. He handed her and Spider a fresh satchel of clips for their scatter guns then fell into step behind them as Eva headed directly for Marine CNC. "Report," Eva said, changing the clip in her weapon, before looking at the tactical display on the situations table. "Not good," Rodriguez said, moving around to the other side of the table, allowing Spider and Eva a clear view. "The damn things are on all decks. We've even had a few fire fight here in the main staging area. We've secured this deck for the time being and I've deployed firing teams here, here, and here incase the bastards decide to come back." Rodriguez pointed out several locations on the ship schematics. "Engineering and sickbay are currently under the heaviest attack. We've recently had reports that the TAC\SC is dead. The ATAC\SC is in main engineering. There are fire fights all over the ship Major. We are doing our best to hold them off but, to be honest it's not going well. The damn things are every where, and they are not acting like normal boarders. They are moving right past crucial ship areas and attacking the crew. We've initiated Borg protocols, but they damn things are fast and they don't give up." Eva nodded as the Sergeant continued his tactical brief, her eyes remained on the display the whole time, a plan forming in her mind. She also noticed the a large number of the spiders where converging on or around main sickbay. ~Kestra and Domini would be there. Good.~ "Alright," Eva said, her mind made up, "I need an 8 man heavy weapons team, that will come with me. Spider, you take the Dealers, Angels and any security or marines squads you find between here and Sickbay and take up position at these locations." She pointed out several different locations around sickbay. I'm gonna draw as many of the things as I can to here." She indicated a corridor junction right in the middle of the 4 points she had told Spider to deploy his men at. Right outside of Sickbay. "When they are all within your radius, and not before, you and your men move to cut them off and we eradicate them. I'm gonna ring the dinner bell big time with 3 of the tastiest little morsels them things have seen in ages. Get the troops reloaded and ready to roll Sergeant." Eva waited till Rodriguez had left before turning to Drizzt. "We have to end this one quickly, Spider. What ever happens, me and my team are expendable. Save this ship and her crew." She paused briefly. "That's an order, Major." ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Marine Transporter - MXO Spider Drizzt - 1025) ==================================== Spider popped open his helmet the second they were off the Backtron, and took a deep breath of the ships air. IT was all he got, his antenna twitched as sounds of battle echoed through the ship. He frowned as he shut the suit back down and took a pack of energy clips for his weapons. "Report," The MCO said. "Not good," one of the NCO's said as he stood aside and let them look at a Master Situation console. "The damn things are on all decks. We've even had a few fire fight here in the main staging area. We've secured this deck for the time being and I've deployed firing teams here, here, and here incase the bastards decide to come back." Rodriguez pointed out several locations on the ship schematics. Engineering and sickbay are currently under the heaviest attack. We've recently had reports that the TAC\SC is dead. The ATAC\SC is in main engineering. There are fire fights all over the ship Major. We are doing our best to hold them off but, to be honest it's not going well. The damn things are every where, and they are not acting like normal boarders. They are moving right past crucial ship areas and attacking the crew. We've initiated Borg protocols, but they damn things are fast and they don't give up." Spider looked on impassively, he was well acquainted with their tactics. "Alright," the MCO said, "I need an 8 man heavy weapons team, that will come with me. Spider, you take the Dealers, Angels and any security or marines squads you find between here and Sickbay and take up position at these locations." Spider looked over, and nodded. "I'm gonna draw as many of the things as I can to here." She indicated a corridor junction right in the middle of the 4 points she had told Spider to deploy his men at. Right outside of Sickbay. "When they are all within your radius, and not before, you and your men move to cut them off and we eradicate them. I'm gonna ring the dinner bell big time with 3 of the tastiest little morsels them things have seen in ages. Get the troops reloaded and ready to roll Sergeant." The Sergeant nodded and headed off, bellowing orders. Spider shifted his grip on the scatter-gun and looked at her. "We have to end this one quickly, Spider. What ever happens, me and my team are expendable. Save this ship and her crew." She paused briefly. "That's an order, Major." The CCE nodded briefly, there was little else for him to say. That was what the Marines were there for, to bleed. He came to attention briefly, then turned on his heel. "Dealers and Angels, on me." he said into his mic, "And keep alert, the Boudicca crawls." ==================================== (USS Boudica- Main bridage- ACSO Ens Vegra Gretud-1025) ==================================== "Alright people," Sevant said, "Everyone to the Battle Bridge, take the Jefferies tubes when possible. Move!" Vegra looked around were was the chief. Every science officer was looking at him. The rest of the crew left. He was left in charge of them. ~Great what do I do. The bridage must have jeffries tubes~ "You two" Said vegra pointing at to unassming crewmembers. "Open the floor jeffries tubes. In the floor" The Crewmembers looked puzzled. "God I thought u went though basic training." Vegra walked over to the floor and ripped up the carpet to reveale a smalll hatch. "Phasors out everyone who knows what down there. On three I will open the door. 1,2.....3" Vegra looked down into a empty void with a ladder. "Everyone down. Except you crewmember. I need zou help locking down the bridage. Hold the bottom 1st junction you come to. Go now.” The one remaing crewmember looked at Vegra look down the rest of the doors and seal them with you phasor.” Within five mintures the job was done and they jumped down the ladder to find the rest of the team holding the postion. “Right everyone we need to find the battle bridage. So lets go.” As soon as they walked into the next tube they saw three of the enemy. ~ they are cyberntic monsters.~ “FIRE.” There was a whirl of red lights. And the three monsters fell. “ Right everyone ok.” There was slience and vegra looked round to see a wounded crewmember. Vegra picked him up and ran the down to the same level as the battle bridge. He walked out and saw about 25 of the cybernetic monsters. Vegra handed the crewmember over to another one and ordered them to the battle bridge. Vegra ran at all of them and began firing. One of them knocked the phasor out of his hand and Vegra carried on fighting hand to hand. Then one of them touched him on the back it was a sense of coldness nothing he had felt before. Then he felt the grip loosen and he looked up to see a Kligon crewmember had a Ba’tok out and had chopped the things head off. “I have never been so pleased to see a crewmember disobeying orders.” “Well I was feeling aggressive.” They both looked up and saw another twenty of them advancing on them they both fought hard then all he saw was blackness and a sharp pain something had hit him from behind. The next thing he knew the captain was staring him in the eyes and slapping him slowly bring him back to reality Vegra looked round and saw the Kligon crewmember on the floor pale as grass obviously dead. ==================================== (Boudicca - Sick Bay - CMO Lt. Commander Kestra Troi - 1030) ==================================== Kestra had been caring for the wounded that had come to them. It had not been many as it seemed that the creatures did not leave any alive once they touched someone. The casualties that had come were injured in various other ways, fallen debris, stray shots from friendly fire, etc. She had hoped that more would have survived from the battle but it seemed that if the cochrane won, it would be at great cost in lives. Kestra felt more than heard the force field beginning to collapse and turned around to see Lt. Bush and the counselor near the door as it opened. She saw the counselor finally lunging throw the doorway and the Lt. starting to fire at the creatures outside. There were too many of them for him and Kestra wonder where was his back up, had they already been taken out. She watched and felt the Lt. as he fought bravely and vigorously taking out a good number of them before they could reach him. Then in what seemed like slow motion she saw them overtake him and him falling. All she could do was send him some comfort in his last seconds knowing that it would bring the creatures to her. As she did, she also thought of the force field, "Computer level twelve shield around sickbay now!" she shouted and there was a sudden blue lite appear at the door as it activated. She knew also that there would be time to mourn the dead around the ship, but, this was not the time to do so. "Troi to Sevant we are being over run very soon. We need help here! Also sir Lt. Bush is dead." She said as she tapped her com. (Reply Sevant, any) "Aye sir I will try" she sighed in reply to his command to hold on as it would take a while to get help to her. She hoped the force field would last that long, if not, they were done. She then turned her attention to the raving counselor, grabbing a hypo with sedation, she went to her. "He's gone.. " Domini screeched as if she was in pain which Kestra could feel she was. Kestra knew that the counselor was on the edge of a mental break down. "He's dead. And they are still coming." She then shook like she was shaking the Lt. death off her. They all started to hear the creatures pounding on the walls and door as it had closed. The counselor scrambled away from the door and hid behind the bio beds. Kestra watched as the counselor reacted and knew it would be better to put her out before any damage was done to her. "They keep coming.." She whispered. "They are attracted to me...." "Why are they attacked to you?" Kestra knelt down beside the counselor. Kestra reached into the counselors mind and saw that all her shields were gone. Soon the counselor looked up at her with a question on her face. "How many telepaths are aboard this ship, Kestra!" the counselor demanded. "And where are they stationed. I think the spiders are attracted to telepaths...there is an entire pod of them moving this way!" Kestra knew that the counselor did not know she was shouting her question but what she said had brought one to her. "Counselor, what have you seen that would give you that conclusion? I need facts counselor before I send that to the captain. Tell me!" Kestra was unnerved by what the counselor had said, but, before she told the captain she had to know how the counselor knew that. ==================================== (Boudicca - Sick Bay - COUNS Dr. Domini Alizara - 1034) ==================================== "Why are they attracted to you?" Kestra asked. Domini tried to focus on her. "They are following me." She felt Kestra in her mind, and Domini latched onto that, showing her the death of the young Ensign in Engineering, the mind of a psi-sensitive human that she had been trapped in. She showed how they seemed to concentrate on him first, then on the others, though there was so much confusion that it was hard to tell. The entire section was being over-run, but Domini had 'known' that the kid thought they were after him only. "Counselor, what have you seen that would give you that conclusion? I need facts Counselor before I send that to the captain. Tell me!" Kestra demanded of Domini. Domini tried harder to focus on Kestra, and found it more difficult as the spiders were banging at the door of sickbay, demanding to be let in, which no one had any intention of doing. "They came here because I was here. They came to my office because I was there. They surrounded Bush and me because I was there. It's all my fault, Kestra." Domini cried, breaking into hysterical tears. She looked up and caught the gleam of the hypo coming for her. "No, don't." She ordered, slapping the hypo out of Kestra's hands. "If I'm asleep they will still come from me, and how will I defend myself?" She said sounding almost coherent for the first time in since Bush had died. She knew that she was getting lost in the pain of the people around her, but she would rather die than end up like the ones in the quarantine area. "Please, Kestra." Domini pleaded. "Please don't let them get me." She shrank further back into her corner. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Corridor adjacent to Main Sickbay - Major Drizzt - 1036) ==================================== Spider cursed as he fired two high-power shots right into small mass of the spider-creatures. It had taken two injured squads nearly fifteen minutes to battle their way to Sickbay, and now they were doing little more then consolidate their positions for the bigger show that was to be coming. He looked inward briefly at his HUD, and looked at the locations of his two primary squads, and the four other squads he had picked up en-route. The three security squads he had put further back behind the Marine lines, as fire support, the Marines were armored against the physical portion of the Spider-beasties attack, though nothing appeared to stop a prod-attack. "All Sickbay squads, report status!" he said into the mic. Several voices spoke up, Spider hunched half in a physically destroyed door and consulted the HUD again. Everyone was dealing with stragglers, and every position had enemy attacks and probes to deal with. Spider took aim with his scatter-gun and took a shot at the only Spider within reach, then hefted it back and waited. =/=You in position, Spider?=\= The Andorian turned his head to look down the blasted corridor before answering. "Aye, Major, all men are in position and dealing with small nuisances." There was silence on the other end, then, a most profound silence. According to the plan, she would be telepathically broadcasting, not something he could hear. Within 45 seconds, however, he knew her plan had been put into action. One of the Angels gave a groan and fell over for no reason, a betazoid female, someone he knew to be telepathic. And not many seconds after that, a sudden swarm of spider-beasties started flowing down the corridors. Spider had been told to wait, and wait he would... But he wasn't going to get *himself* slaughtered while the trap closed. He turned his attention down one of the corridors and blasted one of the spiders that was about ready to turn its attention to his troopers rather then the bait. Within a minute, the place was absolutely crawling with the enemy... Enough so that the possibility of being over-whelmed loomed large in Spiders mind. "Major, opening up now." (reply: Stration, if desired) "Open Fire!" Spider bellowed into the mic. The corridors suddenly opened up with bits of orange energy, dozens of phaser beams lanced out with no apparent rhyme or reason. Assuming they could stem the tide of enemy, this plan would work. After that, he didn't have the time for much rational thought. As they had for the last hour, the Marines and Security forces began systematically destroying the invaders. Some of them failed to dodge the prods and fell down mindless, others were sliced to pieces when the Spiders abandoned what appeared to be their primary task and used there metal forelegs to deadly effect. After non to long, the doors to Medical opened and a slew of Doctors emerged. The MXO cursed, looked at the HUD, and barked into his mic, "Rogers, MxLack, get those doctors out of the line of fire!" =/=Sir!=\= The Andorian pulled back into the doorway for a few moments, dropped the current power-pack on his scatter-gun and replaced it with another. He had burned more phaser energy in the last hour and a half in anger then he had in nearly a year, this was turning out to be some mission! He slapped the pack in place and heard the tell-tail whine of the compressor powering up for firing. He clicked his tongue, then leaned forward again to engage the enemy. It wasn't a pretty sight, the Major's team was fully surrounded, his own squads just didn't seem to be able to take out the enemy fast enough, not with them pouring in from all over the ship. "This would be a good time to stop broadcasting, Major." he said with infinite patience into his mic, as he started pegging spiders again. ==================================== (Boudicca - Sick Bay - CMO Lt. Commander Kestra Troi - 1040) ==================================== Kestra closed her eyes as she was seeing the death of a young Ensign that Domini was sending to her. The Ensign was in engineering and now she basically knew how Domini knew that the creatures were attacking telepaths first then going after the rest. She now knew why they kept coming to sick bay, she was there and now Domini was there. Kestra felt for Domini as she was feeling the pains of the death throws that a lot of the crew was going through. She had no shielding left to block it out and Kestra could. "They came here because I was here. They came to my office because I was there. They surrounded Bush and me because I was there. It's all my fault, Kestra." Domini cried, breaking into hysterical tears. Kestra wanted to help Domini handle the pain, so, she started to bring the hypo around to inject the sedative. Just as she was about to press it to her neck, Domini looked up and caught the gleam of the hypo coming for her. "No, don't." She ordered, slapping the hypo out of Kestra's hands. "If I'm asleep they will still come from me, and how will I defend myself?" Domini replied sounding almost coherent for the first time in since she came in. "Please, Kestra." Domini pleaded. "Please don't let them get me." She shrank further back into her corner. Kestra looked at her for a few minutes ignoring the pounding by the creatures. She knew that the force field would hold at least for a little while longer. She sat down beside Domini and pulled her into her embrace, "I wont let them get you my Friend." Kestra said to comfort her. She also slowly started to build a shield around Domini's mind, slowly so as not to cause her to fight it, making it feel natural. She wanted to lend some of her strength to Domini until she could get a hold of herself. Kestra watched also as the others of her staff went about their work as she sat there with Domini. Then she heard a different sound, the sound of someone coming through the walls. Kestra then was really scared. "Troi to Sevant, they are coming through the walls, we need help now!" Kestra said a bit too loud into her combadge. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Deck 18 - ACSO Dr. Kyle Rin - 10:40) ==================================== Hundreds if not millions of thoughts scattered there way though Kyle's head as he continued to lay motionless. A few meters away twisted metal along with blackend walls & floors continued to envelope the corridor. As each wave of pain continued through Kyle's back the further he felt from being found or rescued. He would have to carry himself to sickbay by traveling the shortest distance too long a journey and his strengh would be depleted. Kyle began his journey crawling around the twisted mess of metal that had once been after him. As he entered the corridor he took to his feet and began walking ever-so slowly. ~I've gotta find another turbolift... sickbay...~ Kyle continued down the corridor his eyes scanning back and forth wondering if there would be more spiders along the way. He didn't care if more were to jump out or not he'd fight to the death. At least thats what continued to cycle thru his mind ~I'll kill all of you...~ he was becoming delirious and he knew it. If he didn't arive at sickbay soon there wouldn't be much left for the doctor to treat. ==================================== (Boudicca - Deck 6, Jefferies Tube - Capt Sevant - 1040) ==================================== =^=Troi to Sevant, they are coming through the walls, we need help now!=^= Sevant cursed and stopped for a moment, there was nothing he could do, all the help he had in that area was already converging after her first call. "Help is on the way, Doctor, stay calm." He turned to look back at the Ops officer, "We must hurry." he said, unnecessarily. (reply: CMO, Ops, any if desired) Sevant suddenly winced as a mind-call of unbelievable strength filtered through his mind. ::WHOOOYAA!!!! DINNER TIME YA LITTLE BASTARDS!!!! COME AND EAT UP!!!! GOT A SCATTERGUN WITH YOUR NAME ON IT!! WOOOOOYAAAAAAA!!!:: He shook his head, and then winced again as several more strong mind calls started filtering through. He put a steadying hand against the bulkhead and shook his head for a third useless time before slamming his mental shields shut. He had heard the MCO and the CMO at least. ~What are they doing, TRYING to draw the things?~ He put that concern aside for the time being, it would take concentration to field such a strong call, he wasn't going to interrupt it just yet. He was buried in his own work at the moment. It hadn't been an easy climb so far, they were always on the look-out for more of the psi-ders, and they ewer both carrying psi-der parts for scanning in a lab. This was the closest Sevant had come to what he had done as a Security officer in a long time, it almost felt good to be doing it again. He crawled a few dozen more feet, "From here, it's corridor crawling." he said. HE took a breath, then popped the hatch to the main corridor. With phaser forward he looked around, but saw no immediate evidence of any spiders crawling around. He popped a foot out, and pulled himself out with his phaser at the ready. After several seconds he waved the Schafio out, "Clear." (reply: Ops) Sevant's grip tighten on his phaser as she pulled herself out of the Jefferies tube. He had taken them out of the crawl-tubes a few hundred feet from the Secure labs, he didn't want any of these Spiders taking exception to their mechanical brethren being opened, and the security features of the secure labs were just short of fanatical. One or two people could defend them from a horde if need-be, which is what he had intended. Without a word he started moving forward, slightly crouched and near the wall. NRPG: About this time, the psi-ders are being fought down near sickbay. So, the way here is clear. RPG: When the got to the labs, Sevant tapped in his own security clearance to open the doors. "Quickly, Lieutenant." he said, still covering the corridor with the door open. (reply: Schafio, if desired) Once she had gotten inside, he stepped inside the clean-room of the secure labs and shut the outer door. He tapped his security codes into the second door, which would actually let them into the labs, and let the Lieutenant through once it had been opened. He stepped inside behind her and sealed that door as well. "Computer, keep track of internal sensors outside the Secured labs and inform me immediately if any of the boarders are trying to get in." The computer beeped, and that was all he needed. By design, these secure labs were designed to be paranoid, it would take anything a while to burn their way through, and nothing short of a God-like figure would be able to physically break in. "You have your labs, Lieutenant, proceed with all speed." he said. (reply: Schafio) He tapped his badge a moment later, "Sevant to Battle-Bridge, Myself and Lieutenant Schafio have made it to the labs, we ran into no invaders. Status?" (reply: Grailik, any) Sevant took a breath and checked his phaser. At least for the time being, he was going to play security body-guard. ==================================== (USS Boudicca, Corridor right outside Sickbay, MCO, Major Straton, 1042) ==================================== Eva and her team, fighting almost all the way, where finally in position. She deployed her team to cover all angels, with her in the middle adding fire support where it was needed most. "You in position, Spider?" Eva asked over the command frequency. (Reply Spider) She knew he had managed to pick up a few more marines and some security personnel. She just hoped he had gotten enough. Receiving the confirmations from Spider that he and his men where in position, Eva put her plan in motion. ::WHOOOYAA!!!! DINNER TIME YA LITTLE BASTARDS!!!! COME AND EAT UP!!!! GOT A SCATTERGUN WITH YOUR NAME ON IT!! WOOOOOYAAAAAAA!!!:: Eva broadcast as powerfully as she could, in as large an area as she could. She knew she give every other tellepath on the ship a splitting headache but it would also draw the attention of the mind sucking spiders. She kept broadcasting as loud as she could, as from every corridor she saw spiders heading in her direction rapidly. Her men opened fire, and so did she still broadcasting. ::KESTRA, DOMINI! BOTH OF YOU BROADCAST AS LOUD AND AS BROAD AS YOU CAN!! I NEED ALL THEM BASTARDS HERE!!:: Outside Sickbay the fire fight intensified, as Eva and her team fired non-stop into the oncoming swarm of spider machines. ==================================== (USS Boudicca, Sick bay, CMO Lt Commander Kestra Troi, 1050) ==================================== Kestra had a bit of hope as she closed the channel with Sevant. Help was outside in the corridor trying their best to get to them. "Domini we have help coming, just try to hold on a little longer." She said to Domini over the pounding at the walls. (Reply Domini) Kestra was about to answer her when there was a very loud voice in her head. She heard what was said but it was so loud that her shield for Domini collapsed as she tried to strengthen hers up to no avail. Her head started to hurt to the point that she very nearly started to faint from the pain. She recognized the voice a the MCO and wondered how in the universe she could be so loud even if she was right next to her. ::WHOOOYAA!!!! DINNER TIME YA LITTLE BASTARDS!!!! COME AND EAT UP!!!! GOT A SCATTERGUN WITH YOUR NAME ON IT!! WOOOOOYAAAAAAA!!!:: She looked down at Domini to see if she was still with her, which, to her amazement she was. Then the second broadcast hit her just as hard but she and Domini was ready somewhat for it, but, still could not guard against the strength of it. ::KESTRA, DOMINI! BOTH OF YOU BROADCAST AS LOUD AND AS BROAD AS YOU CAN!! I NEED ALL THEM BASTARDS HERE!!:: Kestra could hear that the pounding at her door and walls had lightened up a bit from the broadcast as if they had something better to go to. And knew that her and Domini had to do what Eva said. Eva had a plan, Kestra thought or else she would not have told them to do that. "Domini, I know it might hurt but we got to broadcast with everything we have, now!" Kestra said hurriedly to her. Then turned inward to her abilities to gain what she could, even she knew that hers would not even come close to Eva's, but, she had to give it all she had. ::WHOOYAA!!!! DINNER TIME!!! COME ONE COME ALL!!! COME GET ME IF YOU THINK YOU CAN!! YAHOOOOOOO!!!!:: She sent as loud as she could and using some of Eva's wording even though it was hurting her head to do so. (Reply Domini) "Oh Shit!" Kestra screamed as she started pulling on Domini, "they have broken through!" She was trying to pull Domini to a stand so she could run and fire at the creatures. Kestra continued to run through everything she could think of to broadcast as she started firing her phaser on the creatures which seemed not to be very effective. It seemed to her that the creatures were rounding them toward the door to sick bay and were leaving the others of her staff alone while stalking her and Domini. Kestra was happy to oblige them as she knew that Eva and her teams should be almost at the door, hopefully. Finally, they reached the door and Kestra hit the keypad to open the doors. Kestra heard the firing that was going on past the doors as it opened and as she quickly glanced past the door, she saw more of the creatures turning toward them. The ones from sick bay started pushing them more so they had no choice but to head out. Kestra saw the Marines that were trying to make their way toward them now. "Domini, follow me and keep firing. We need to connect up with the marines and look there is the MCO with them." Kestra started yelling at her. She was still calling out from her mind but she was getting very very tired trying to keep it up and her headache was threatening to close her down all together. Kestra could see that the marines were utilizing scatter guns which seem to be having a better effect on them. Suddenly Kestra felt two hugh marines in full BDU armour and heavy weapons saddle up next to them. "Follow with us now" one of them said as one started heading back to the may group of marines and the other fell in behind them. The main force was trying their best to help blaze a path for them to follow. As they finally arrived where the group was, she noticed the MCO as she was firing. "Major Straton, thanks for the rescue, I think" she said as she looked around at all the creatures that have them surrounded. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Secured Labs - Capt Sevant - 1050) ==================================== "The brain is in cast inside a tritanium box, 3 microns thick. That will be no problem for me to open, I found the opening, probably for repair they created it. But it seem to be with a particular frequency, considering the behavior of the device I selected a few 100 variables signals. I have eliminated 50 % of them as I am speaking." Yalta was working on the thing while talking. "I'm cross reference with what I have found so far with are ship scan.... and now up to... 20 variables." Sevant took a breath and crossed his arms as he shifted his eyes from her to the machine. He was a Security Officer by heart, and he had his ire raised. He wanted them destroyed quickly, understanding could come later. She seemed to notice his general attitude. "I can't rush this... if I do, we might become in more trouble then we are right now. The balance is.... there, that is what I was searching for." She fiddled with it for a few moments and said, "It is still active and intact." "I'm downloading what ever it has taken and didn't have time to transmit. I'm through with that process." To her surprise, it ask something of her. "What was the next program? It's asking me this... diagnostic she punch." the result were breath taking. "Captain, 10 minutes and I will have a solution." Time passed, and she said. "Captain, I have change the frequency of this one easily... I think I can make the others do the same and change their orders. It goes like this. Signal is from the ship that is just out of rang, which for them is a problem because those things can't transmit when the mother ship is far. Which gives us the advantage, they don't know what is going on here. I found there frequency, I can order then to change frequency and those bugs which are our enemies becomes are allies. If we play are cards right, simultaneously we get close to that ship and transport those bugs with the same order with one thing more... if they are ordered to change frequency one more time, they are ordered to self destruct. Unless you have another idea, but it was the only choice I had in the menu of there program. I don't think they expected us to get so deep in the program of those things." Sevant grinned evilly. "Get one of these bugs working, Lieutenant, and get ready to upload commands to their ship... Come up with as many possibilities as possible, I don't know yet what we will be able to do once the invasion is over." (reply: Ops) ==================================== (USS Boudicca, Sick bay, COUNS Dr. Domini Alizara, 1051) ==================================== ::WHOOOYAA!!!! DINNER TIME YA LITTLE BASTARDS!!!! COME AND EAT UP!!!! GOT A SCATTERGUN WITH YOUR NAME ON IT!! WOOOOOYAAAAAAA!!!:: "Eva." Domini whispered, drawing strength from Eva's words. ::KESTRA, DOMINI! BOTH OF YOU BROADCAST AS LOUD AND AS BROAD AS YOU CAN!! I NEED ALL THEM BASTARDS HERE!!:: Kestra said something and Domini tried to focus on it, but couldn't understand them. She did however, understand Kestra's shouting. ::WHOOYAA!!!! DINNER TIME!!! COME ONE COME ALL!!! COME GET ME IF YOU THINK YOU CAN!! YAHOOOOOOO!!!!:: Domini lost the physical words as she concentrated as hard as she could on being appetizing. She projected long and hard just a general bunch of yummy emotions, and felt herself being grabbed by Kestra as they ran out of sickbay. There was weapons fire going on all around her, and the spiders were coming at her. She screamed telepathically, freezing, almost in a 'deer in the headlights' look. Then there was a marine between them and the spiders. She collapsed against the bulkhead next to Eva, feeling very comforted that Eva was there. Then her telepathic abilities burnt out and the world went very dark around her. She was still conscious but couldn't sense anything. "Kestra, I can't sense anything." Domini said, the headache making little lights dance in front of her eyes. It was a well-deserved headache, but it was going to be very incapacitating, very soon. She looked up at Eva's very sparkling form and asked, as the other marines were killing spiders all around them, "What happens next?" ==================================== (USS Boudicca, Outside Sick bay, CMO Lt. Commander Kestra Troi, 1055) ==================================== "This would be a good time to stop broadcasting, Major." Kestra vaguely heard someone say and she agreed with that assessment. She was just barely broadcasting, which, probably was not even reaching the MCO or Domini as they were right beside her as she swayed on her feet. "Kestra, I can't sense anything." Domini said, "What happens next?" Domini finished as Kestra watched her look up at the MCO. Kestra could see that Domini was saying something, but, did not hear what it was. All she could do was to look quizzically at her for a few minutes. Kestra's head was pounding and it seemed to be in the rhythm of weapons fire that the marines maintained. She saw the darkness coming in her mind and was starting to welcome the feeling, but, she knew that if she was to pass out at this point, she would be a burden to the marines. Most likely, though, she might become a dinner snack for the creatures along with others that would try to save her and that she could not handle. To stop the feeling, she shut down her abilities which started clearing her mind a bit at a time. Kestra's head still felt as if it were splitting down the middle, but, she was able to keep herself from passing out. She could see that there were friendly fire coming from all directions now as if the marines had planned this as some sort of crossfire situation. It seemed to be working, but, there were so many creatures. "Major, are we going to survive?" Kestra thought she said as she slid down the bulkhead to sit beside Domini, "We need to, so, we can help those that have survived." She finished not sure if what she said made sense to anyone. Why she had said that she could not fathom, then, as the knowledge of what the creatures were doing hit her, she could not stop the tears rolling down her face. She knew that many of her crew members were already as the so called survivors from the Backton. At this point, she could no longer think on what she should do, just watch what was happening around her. ==================================== (USS Boudicca – Science Lab 1 – OPS Lt. Schafio - 1100) ==================================== “Captain, I have change the frequency of this one easily... I think I can make the others do the same and change their orders. It goes like this. Signal is from the ship that is just out of rang, which for them is a problem because those things can't transmit when the mother ship is far. Which gives us the advantage, they don't know what is going on here. I found there frequency, I can order then to change frequency and those bugs which are our enemies becomes are allies. If we play are cards right, simultaneously we get close to that ship and transport those bugs with the same order with one thing more... if they are ordered to change frequency one more time, they are ordered to self destruct. Unless you have another idea, but it was the only choice I had in the menu of there program. I don't think they expected us to get so deep in the program of those things.” Yalta return to study the remains of the spider. There was a lot of this spider system that she didn't know about. Then, she didn't know how long, the Captain came quietly and said. "The ship is mostly cleared, I'm going to leave you now. Report immediately if you have a problem." “Understood!” Was the more or less mechanical answer that she gave the captain. Yalta sat more comfortably once the Captain was gone and felt like she could breath but just barely. She try to figure the mind scanning system but eventually she drop that to concentrate on the program system. She did make some head way there. She started to make a few test but obviously something wasn't going right. She kept going, returning it, working it, going back from the diagram she had of those things. She hock up one of those legs and try it again, ordering it to move and this time it worked. Then there was a message from Captain Sevant =/\=All senior Officers able, report to the Bridge Observation Lounge in twenty minutes with status reports.=/\= “I'm on my way... Schafio out!” ==================================== (USS Boudicca, Outside Sick bay, MCO, Major Straton, 1110) ==================================== Eva lowered her scatter gun as the last of the spiders in the immediate area was destroyed. Half her team was dead. Eva her self had several of the sharp metal spider legs lodged in various places on her BDU armor. The things had nearly over whelmed them, by shear numbers, but the marines had prevailed in the end. Eva turned, looking down at Kestra and Domini, who were still sitting on the floor leaning heavily against the wall, seeing that they were still both alive, their minds intact, before turning toward Drizzt. "Spider," she said, kicking herself a path through the heap of blasted spider pieces that surrounded her and what was left of her team, "There is still some fighting in Main Engineering. Send two squads down there to help mop up the last of them things. The rest of the marines are to sweep the ship from top to bottom, if there any of them things hiding on board, find them and destroy them." (Reply Drizzt) Eva slung her scatter gun over her back and went back to help Kestra and Domini to their feet. She helped/carried them back into Sickbay, which had taken heavy damage in the fire fight, found two biobeds that weren't covered in debris and set them each down on one. The four marines remaining in her team spread out, canvassing the room for lurking spiders. With a flick of her eyes, Eva opened a comm-channel "Major Straton to Captain Sevant. Majority of the invaders have been destroyed. Sending mop up teams to Main Engineering and through out the ship looking for any lurkers. Sickbay has taken heavy damage. Commander Troi and Lt. Alizara are both in pretty bad shape. Could use a doctor down here." (Reply Sevant) "You two stay put," Eva said, looking from Kestra to Domini, "You've earned a rest. " Eva unslung her scatter gun and took up a position not far away. Directing the final stages of the battle to secure the ship from the invaders. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Outside Sick bay - Major 'Spider' Drizzt - 1110) ==================================== "Spider, There is still some fighting in Main Engineering. Send two squads down there to help mop up the last of them things. The rest of the marines are to sweep the ship from top to bottom, if there any of them things hiding on board, find them and destroy them." "Sir," he said by way of reply as he turned. He took half a moment before saying anything, surveying the damnage briefly before surveying what was left of the Marines and Security forces. They had, of coures, taken casualties... There was no such thing as a perfect ambush when dealing in open corridors of a ship. Not that they had a choice, this was their duty, their holy missino to Starfleet. "One-Time-Deal and Angels to Engineering, there is still a concentration of the enemy there. Lieutenant Johab!" =/=Sir?=\= "Organize the remaining Marine and Security forces for a deck-by-deck scrub of the ship, nothing with metal legs is to be left intact." =/=Sir!=\= The Lieutenant, a senior 1st Lieutenant in charge of a Heavy Assault squad, started barking orders for Marines and Security in the immediate area to organize. Spider hefted his scatter-gun and checked its charge, still at 3/4's power. He took a breath and once more looked at the damage around Sickbay, burning it into his memory. This wasn't the worst battle he had been in, but it had been one of the most fierce... Never before had he fought an enemy where it would be death just to be touched by certain parts of its metal body. "Angels and 'Deal, Mount up and to Engineering double time!" ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Main Engineering - Senior Chief Melody Haverstaad - 1114) ==================================== Melody rested against the panel as someone took her place. She was lightheaded from bloodloss, but there just weren't enough armed security personnel left in Engineering to stop fighting and get help, even after the siege had lightened. Most of the Spider-beasties were gone, but there were enough left coming through the shattered doors of Engineering that they had to constantly be on alert. She looked down at her leg, which had been sliced open by one of the spiders not long after the plasma explosion. A lot of the enemy had been destroyed, but so had a lot of her own forces. The TAC/ASC was still alive and fighting, thankfully, but a lot of other good men and women were laying in unnatural positions with burn-marks. Even more, though, had been pierced by metal, or were laying alive but mindless from that mental-prod the things carried. With a snarl she ripped a piece off a fallen security-officers uniform, and wrapped it around her leg. The pain was excruciating, she just didn't have the time to deal with it. It didn't help that the plasma fire was still burning, though Engineers were working on it now. Main Engineering was incredibly hot, nothing the life-support systems could do could make it cool again... The heat was making her irritable, along with her wounds. She picked up her phaser again and rolled to the side, to avoid putting weight on her leg she was fighting from the ground. She was down to her last power-pack, but it still had nearly a full charge, she was good for now. "There seem to be less of em, Sir." she said over the din of battle, to the Assistant Chief. (reply Skylynx.) Melody briefly wondered how long it had been since they started all this, it felt like they had been fighting for a day. She was about to bellow orders to move forward when every security personnel's badge in engineering rang out, =^=Major Drizzt to Security forces in Engineering, who's highest ranking?=^= Haverstaad let a breath out slowly, then looked over at the TAC/ASC. "Showtime, Sir." (reply: Skylynx) After Skylynx had answered the Marine, a name she recognized as the Marine Exec, only Skylynx's badge beeped. She was close enough, however, to hear what was said. =^=Chief, I've got two squads inbound to help clear you out. What's your status, and how do you want us?" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ End of Part 1 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~