Compile#22 July 25-29 (USS Rosenante & USS Boudicca Joint) --------------------------------------------------------------------- Mission: Once More into the Breach Day 4 Stardate: 2414.01.18 Compile Summary (USS Rosenante - Ready Room - CO - Captain Ahmed Ibn Salid - Day 4 1326) (USS Rosenante - Holodeck 1 - Bridge Simulation - FO - Commander T'Larah Sullivan - 1328) (USS Boudicca - Bridge - CO Captain Durand - 1329) (USS Rosenante - Holodeck 1 - Bridge Simulation - CO - Captain Ahmed Ibn Salid - Day 4- 1332) (USS Rosenante - Holodeck 1 - Bridge Simulation - CO - Captain Ahmed Ibn Salid - Day 4 1335) (Dovek II - Rescue Team – CMO Lt jg Kimiko Ichijo- Day 4 – 1606.5) (USS Rosenante - Quarters - CO - Captain Ahmed Ibn Salid - Day 4- 1630) (Dovek II - Rescue Team - ACEO Lt JG Eian O'Neill - Day 4 - 1635) (Dovek II, Crash Team, SO, Taylor Dolan, Day 4 -1637) (Dovek II, Mine Team - ATAC/SC Ensign (jg) Jessica Signos - Day 4 - 1638) (Dovek II - Mine Team - 2O/COPS -Lieutenant Tom Jackson Day 4 - 1645) (Dovek II, Mine Team - ATAC/SC Ensign (jg) Jessica Signos - Day 4 - 1717) (Dovek II, Rescue Team, SO, Ens. Mike Rosenbauer and Eva Saint-Jean, Day 4 -1720) (Dovek II, Mine Team, SO, Paulo Serrano, Day 4 -1725) (Dovek II- Survivors- CSEC Lt Chance Raschen- Day 4- 1726) (Runabout Rosencrantz - Science Officer Ensign Nickolas Romanoff - 1727) (Dovek II, Mine Team, CEO Lt. Steven Matrix, Day 4 -1728) (Runabout Rosencrantz - CMO Lt jg Kimiko Ichijo - Day 4- 1729) (Runabout Rosencrantz, Lieutenant jg Sanok, 1730) (Dovek II - Mine Team - 2O/COPS -Lieutenant Tom Jackson Day 4 - 1731) (USS Boudicca - Battle Bridge - aFO - Cmdr Josh Caskie - Day 4 - 1732) (Runabout Rosencrantz - Rescue Team - CMO Lt jg Kimiko Ichijo- Day 4, 1733) (Dovek II, Mine Team - CTAC/SEC Lt. jg Ben Soma - 1735) (Dovek II - Mine Team - SciO, Ens, jg Narvak - 1736) (Dovek II - Mine Team -CTAC/SEC Lt. jg Ben Soma- 1737) (Dovek II, Rescue Team, SO, Ens. Mike Rosenbauer and Eva Saint-Jean, Day 4 -1738) (Dovek II - Rescue Team - ACEO Lt JG Eian O'Neill - Day 4 - 1740) (Dovek II - Runabout - Science Officer - Ensign Andrew Maddox - 1742) (Dovek II, Mine Team - ATAC/SC Ensign (jg) Jessica Signos - Day 4 - 1743) (Dovek II, Mine Team, SO, Paulo Serrano, Day 4 -1744) (Dovek II, Mine Team - ACSO Ensign Isra Caliel - Day 4 - 1745) (Borg Pyramid, Command Plexus, Volus, Day 4 - 1754) (Drovek II Lieutenant Tom Jackson 2O/COPS Day 4 1755) (Drovek II, Mine Team, CTAC/SEC Lt. jg Ben Soma,1756) (Borg Pyramid, Regeneration Alcove, ATT Commander Matthew McLaren, Day 4 - 1757) (Dovek II - Runabout - Science Officer - Ensign Andrew Maddox - 1757) (Runabout Rosencrantz, CTAC/SEC Lt. jg Ben Soma-1802) (Runabout Rosencrantz, SO, Ens. Mike Rosenbauer, Day 4 -1821) (USS Boudicca - Brig - TAC/SC Lieutenant(SG) Detron Trei -2000) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Rosenante - Ready Room - CO - Captain Ahmed Ibn Salid - Day 4 1326) Ahmed had just finished placing the last of the critical items that he kept in his ready room into the sealed cargo container which rested on his desk when his commbadge chirped. =^=Sullivan to Captain Salid=^= He quickly closed and sealed the container, locking it with his thumbprint and entered access code before reaching up to tap his commbadge. "Salid, here go ahead Commander." he replied. =^= I have assumed command of the holo-bridge. If you would be so kind to relinquish the tactical controls we will be ready to receive you as soon as you wish to join us.=^= she reported. "Excellent work commander, I will transfer those systems momentarily. I'll be joining you within the next ten minutes. Salid out." (reply Sullivan iyw) Ahmed stepped over towards the monitor on his desk to transfer the codes in question when there was a sudden trembling of the Rosenante. A moment later it repeated and then did so again. Instead of transmitting the codes right away, he used them to access the tactical sensors. They only confirmed what he already knew. The Borg tactical Cube had begun their bombardment of the planet using high-yield gravimetric bursts. The rumbling and shaking was the shockwaves as they spread out from the detonations coming into contact with the ship's shields. The Borg bombardment was no where near their vessel and Ahmed doubted that they were anywhere near the Boudicca either. That meant that for now, at least, both ships were not in any immediate danger. Satisfied that he could now transfer the codes quickly and without any concern, he transferred them to Sullivan in the holodeck. Then picking up his carry case, he headed in that direction. --------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Rosenante - Holodeck 1 - Bridge Simulation - FO - Commander T'Larah Sullivan - 1328) Not long after the Captain ended their conversation T'Larah could feel a slight tremble through the deck. Then a short moment later, again only a little stronger. "Computer, what is the source of the vibrations affecting the Rosenante?" [Working.] chirped the computer. After the briefest of pauses, the computer answered. [Probable cause of disturbance, 79.38% gravimetric warheads released into the atmosphere in an aggressive search pattern.] "Distance to disturbances?" she asked. [150,000 km to first warhead detonation.] "Given the current search pattern, estimated time before the warheads become a threat to the vessel." she ordered. [At current pattern 58 minutes and 12 seconds.] "And the USS Boudicca? How long before they are effected?" she asked. [Unknown with current data.] At that moment the double doors opened and Captain Salid entered the holodeck. A single step through and they whooshed shut behind him, again completing the illusion. T'Larah began to vacate the center chair and Ahmed waived her back down. As the Captain made a straight-line course for Science Station II, he began to research something. ~Presumably he felt the same disturbances I and everyone else on the ship had, hopefully he wasn't researching what she already had the answer to.~ After a few minutes the computer stated that what ever it was that the Captain was viewing, he needed a secure terminal to go any further. ~Obviously not what I have found out.~ "Commander Sullivan. Please retain the CONN. I have to report to my quarters to view these records. I will return as soon as I am able. If you see any indication that the Away teams have lifted off from the planet, notify me immediately." "Understood, but before you leave, are you aware of the probable Borg bombardment of this planet's atmosphere?" (Reply Captain Salid, assuming the positive) "I did what I could without the tactical sensors, but with current data a little over 50 minutes for the Rosenante, however I don't have enough data for the computer to calculate for the Boudicca. With a coordination with the Boudicca, we can move our vessels discreetly to areas that they have already searched, giving us more time until the away team contacts us." (Reply Captain Salid) (Posted by Todd) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Boudicca - Bridge - CO Captain Durand - 1329) With the casualties and amount of damage the ship had sustained, there had been plenty to do. After entering thier area of refuge, the Boudicca had been cruising -- more correctly, sprinting and drifting in alternating pulses -- in order to present a moving target for the Borg sensors. Concealed as they were, time was on the Borg side. They were relentless, single-minded (literally) and would not deviate, Alan knew, unless some parameter of the equation changed. For his part, Durand had been able to be something more than a mere supernumary for a change. His engineering background was being put to good use indeed. As the desperately short handed engineering and damage control teams had been working on critical tactical systems, he had been working away at control system damage on the bridge itself. The tactical situation was still critical; volatile to the point that he dare not leave the bridge unless absolutely necessary. In this fashion, he was able to be more than a spectator, and yet be immediately available if needed for a command function. He had been half buried in damaged console and control hardware for the better part of thirty minutes when he slowly extricated himself to stretch his cramped muscles. As his head cleared the access panel, he looked up to see Ensign Selek observing him from a standing position. ~If I didn't know better, I'd *swear* he was smirking at me! Never seen a Captain do repair work before?~ "May I help you, Ensign?" he inquired with an upturned eyebrow. Selek seemed almost startled by the question. Perhaps his logic told him it was much more likely to meet Durand's normally gruff demeanor than an almost conversational jocularity. "Indeed Captain. I bring an updated status report in Lieutenant Roberts' stead. He is occupied, but we deduced that you would wish to have the changes immediately brought to you." Durand rolled over and buttoned up the access panel he had been working inside, then got to his feet without visible effort. The benefits of physical conditioning, he mused, were that you bounced back very quickly. "Go ahead Mister Selek." Selek seemed to look inside himself a moment, probably processing his thoughts with Vulcan efficiency. He had, Durand recalled, scored incredibly highly on all Starfleet testing. "Sir, forward phaser arrays remain offline, however all but a single torpedo launcher have been returned to service. The number seven tube forward is damaged beyond repair without EVA. Engineering did not wish--" "--To risk an EVA under combat conditions. Good choice whoever made it. Go on." "Yes sir. Sickbay reports all wounded are being treated. They regret to report that two of the critical cases have died. Petty Officer Caldwell, and Crewman Billocks. They were both in the number seven torpedo tube rack area when the cutting beam hit." Durand swore softly, but certainly not outside the Vulcan's hearing range. "Go on," he said very softly. "Primary deflectors are back on line, operating on the secondary shield generators in two locations. Engineering recommends we avoid damage to the starboard bow, ventral section if possible, as this area is currently under-protected. Warp power reserve is up to sixty one percent, stabilized and building slowly. Lieutenant Roberts estimate is the ship is now seventy seven percent combat effective. That is all Captain." "Very well Mister Selek. Pass on my compliments to all departments." Selek nodded and turned, heading back to his station. Durand stared at his back for a moment, then he had a thought. It should have occurred earlier, but for whatever reason it had not. ~Could it have anything to do with the fact that you haven't slept in almost four days? Sometimes I wish I were Vulcan... or better yet, an Android...~ ~No. Not a machine. Not even partly one. That is precisely what we are battling.~ "Durand to Caskie." (Reply Caskie) "Commander, the Borg will be lobbing charges in our direction -- gravimetric perhaps, or something else unguided I suspect -- shortly. They won't be content to sit out there and search with ineffective sensors forever. I'd like you to launch two shuttlecraft and remote pilot them... you should be able to do that from the battle bridge. They will be our point defense system, since the forward phasers are still offline. Have them park twenty five kilometers or so forward of us. If sensors detect any Borg ordnance incoming for the Boudicca, move them to intercept. I don't like the idea of sacrificing anything, not even unmanned shuttlecraft, but I don't want us taking any further damage sooner than we have to. Have you anything to report?" (Reply Caskie, Room for more iyw) "Very well Commander. I doubt we will have much more time. Either the away teams will need us, or the Borg will change the game. Soon." "Notify the Rosenante of our most current status, please." (Reply Any) (Posted by Russ) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Rosenante - Holodeck 1 - Bridge Simulation - CO - Captain Ahmed Ibn Salid - Day 4- 1332) "Understood, but before you leave, are you aware of the probable Borg bombardment of this planet's atmosphere?" "I am commander and to be honest I'd almost be disappointed if the Borg hadn't complied. How long before the Borg search patterns becomes an issue for us?" "I did what I could without the tactical sensors, but with current data a little over 50 minutes for the Rosenante, however I don't have enough data for the computer to calculate for the Boudicca. With a coordination with the Boudicca, we can move our vessels discreetly to areas that they have already searched, giving us more time until the away team contacts us." "Understood. Leave the Boudicca to Captain Durand. I have no doubts he can see to the safety of his ship. Let's focus on maintaining ELINT protocols and avoiding the Borg search pattern. As soon as we know the Away teams are on their way up. Break radio silence. Notify the Boudicca and break cover. We're going to be racing to pick up the away team, while she keeps the Borg off our backs long enough for us to do so." (Reply Sullivan) "Very good commander, Carry on." Ahmed turned and headed off the holographic bridge. --------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Rosenante - Holodeck 1 - Bridge Simulation - CO - Captain Ahmed Ibn Salid - Day 4 1335) After making a quick stop to secure his carry case, Ahmed had made his way to the Holodeck. Despite the fact that he knew all the details of how a holodeck worked, it still never ceased to amaze him exactly how 'real' everything on the deck appeared. The stations were exactly like those on the bridge, minus the gap in the ceiling of course and the stations destroyed by the Borg attack. The shaking of the Rosenante's decks had taken on a rhythmic frequency, indicated the top speed at which the borg could fire their weapons. Some of the blasts had only gotten marginally closer and once again Ahmed was certain that they were in no immediate harm. When he stepped inside, he could tell that Sullivan was about to depart from the center chair to allow him to assume it, but he waved her back down and instead moved over to science station II. There was an inkling in the back of his head, something that Durand had mentioned. Something about the USS Denver. He had been on the mission when the three senior commanding officers had been assimilated, and the computer core stolen. It was the very limited intervention by the Borg that bothered him. It gnawed at his gut and threatened to drive him batty. He understood well enough how the Borg conducted their 'missions'. They normally assimilated the entire crew of a starship once they'd encountered it, unless there was some stroke of luck that had allowed the ship to escape. But listening to the story that Alan Durand had conveyed, there was no mention of a special circumstance involved. Instead, it was almost as if the entire mission that the borg had undertaken was to assimilate only the three senior-most officers and to take the Denver's computer core. Yet for the life of him, he couldn't think of any reason why the Borg would be immediately interested in those particular items. One or the other perhaps, but that specific combination of people and data? ~What were they on about?~ he inquired of himself. ~What was it that they found all those years ago, that caused the Borg to go hunting the Denver? Why had they taken so much more time to be subtle enough to draw the Denver into an ambush by attacking the colony? How and more importantly why had the Borg been interested enough in a single Science ship to go to so much trouble?~ He reached out and ordered the ship's computer to pull up and display all the logs of the USS Denver. He skimmed through a few to get a feel for the captain and his crew, before skipping forward to the encounter with the Borg. It only took him a few moments to locate the stardate, but when he went to find files, they were all sealed, by order of Starfleet Command. ~now that's interesting.~ he thought. ~What was it that the Denver found? What was so bad that Command felt the need to seal the records?~ "Computer Display all ship's mission logs for the USS Denver between stardates 06.22.2397 and 06.25.2397" Ahmed stated. [[Unable to comply. This is an insecure display terminal. Display of records requested requires a secure terminal with Alpha three security protocols.]] Ahmed's eyes grew to the size of saucers as her heard the response. Only a Flag level officer or above could access these records from a secured terminal. Not even a starfleet captain could do so. Whatever it was that the Denver found, it was big and very classified. There was an aspect here though that Starfleet command probably didn't consider. And that was the fact that since Ahmed was in command of a small task force, that made him a Fleet Captain. That meant he now, even if temporarily, possessed the necessary command rank to view the files that had been sealed. "Commander Sullivan. Please retain the CONN. I have to report to my quarters to view these records. I will return as soon as I am able. If you see any indication that the Away teams have lifted off from the planet, notify me immediately." (reply Sullivan) Daniel Greene --------------------------------------------------------------------- (Dovek II - Rescue Team – CMO Lt jg Kimiko Ichijo- Day 4 – 1606.5) Kimiko was tired; the whipsawing of her emotional state had drained her. The fear, anger, euphoria, and wariness had shattered that calm that she usually maintained. ~That’s it; this is the last time that I leave the ship~ Kimiko thought, savagely ~Stupid Borg. Billions of stars in billions of galaxies and they have to have the pastime of ‘let’s go see what the Federation is up to’~ The doctor, wrapped up in her own thoughts, didn’t notice the approach of Dr Candle. “Doctor” , he said, Kimiko barely manage to stop the undignified squeak, but was not able to stop for jumping. “been considering the conditions of the survivors. I’ve recently had experience of dealing with people trapped with high levels of radiation but I need your experience” Kimiko tilted her head and motioned for him to go ahead. She was pleased to have something to distract her. “My knowledge of anti-proton radiation is a bit sketchy, what do you know of it?” Basil asked “Well, most of what I know about it is from theoretical division, I know of one occasion that it was used on a grade four tumor.” The doctor paused for a moment. “A pineoblastoma, I believe. She nodded and continued. “However, from what I remember from the caution sheets for the over-dosage of therapy, the acute threshold is still a lot higher then what we will be exposed to, unless we are here for about a week.” “It is the terrestrial radiation that I am concerned with” Kimiko stated “but if we can leave within four hours give or take, only anyone seriously compromised will pass into the chronic stage.” “The rest is pretty straight forward, treat for external and internal contamination, I have found a treatment of Zn-DTPA and Prussian Blue to be fairly effective treatment, a bit dated I suppose, but it works faster and with fewer courses then the triumvirate that Starfleet Pharmcom is touting. (Reply Candle) “Yes , it does have fewer side effects, but convalescence is nearly three times as long. That allows a patient a greater chance of opportunistic infections and of annoying the physician with the demands to return to duty.” “Besides” Kimiko finished “All of the side effects of binding drugs, particularly the Blue can be managed” (Reply Candle) (Posted by Jack) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Rosenante - Quarters - CO - Captain Ahmed Ibn Salid - Day 4- 1630) Despite the unease that the occasional burst of a gravitic mine might cause him, Ahmed had otherwise been completely focused on the details flashing across the display in his quarters. There had been literally thousands of pages worth of data to look through, and even with his edict memory, Ahmed was having such a difficult time deciphering it. Recalling it was one thing, but comprehension was something entirely different. What he could determine, however as that the data that had been stored aboard the USS denver, was in fact the cause for all of what was happening on Dovek II, or at least as closely as he could follow. Although some of the finer points were beyond him, for reasons of sheer volume of data if nothing else, the broader aspects were starting to become clear. Sometime prior to the Borg attack on the Nova Class Denver, the crew of that ship had discovered a structure dating back to the Age of Makto. The structure was most assuredly T'Kon in origin and appeared to be some sort of data archives. Investigating, the crew of the Denver managed to access a sizable chunk of data from the archives, among them was data concerning Dovek II and the construction of a device designed to save the planet for a radioactive death. From the details that he could decipher, the device was a massive sphere, designed to hold trillions upon trillions of specialized nanites that could in some manner deploy into the atmosphere of a planet and disperse naturally. These nanites would be inhaled, and would be inserted into the planet's complete biosphere within a dozen years. Their function would be two fold. The first was to absorb radioactive isotopes that bombarded the atmosphere of the planet, by binding them in some sort of advanced nucleonic compound. The latter was to bind free-radicals that were absorbed by living creatures and planets after they were absorbed by the body. Using this two-pronged approach would seem to have the added benefit of extending the natural lifespan of those affected. The captain, first officer and chief science officer each had one of three sets of codes necessary to decrypt the section of the Denver's database that the denver Carried in her computer core. It was supposed that the Denver could conduct a series of investigations into validating some of the data in the file, as a result she was assigned to a new mission, dedicated to just that task. Between the time of the initial discovery of the Archives and the Denver's reassignment, some of her crew were reassigned. One of them, an archeologist named Vroth Simal had retired to a colony at the edge of Federation space. Three weeks later that colony was destroyed by the Borg, and it can be assumed that the Borg gained information that put them on the trail of the Denver. Later, they devised a plan and executed it in the form of an attack upon a federation colony using a Borg Probe. That led the Denver to respond. The borg then assimilated the personnel it desired and stole the ship's computer core. Their mission completed they began working on the data. At some point they must have run across the reference to the sphere on Dovek and dispatched the mission here to capture it. Looking back at the data, it was clear to see that the original developers of the sphere had not realized the danger they were in soon enough to enact their plan. They had fitted the sphere with a temporal drive chamber, a means to shift their device backwards in time so that they could deploy their device in advance and thus save their world from destruction. Obviously that hadn't happened, but with such a device in the hands of the Borg Collective, that level of technology would prove disastrous for the Federation. A device that could be modified to seed a world with Borg nanoprobes would be bad enough. If that device could also travel through time, it would be nearly unstoppable. Durand may have known more than he realized. He may not have put together the puzzle himself, but if he were to see this data, he'd understand its significance. They'd all understand it's significance. (reply Sullivan) Daniel Greene --------------------------------------------------------------------- (Dovek II - Rescue Team - ACEO Lt JG Eian O'Neill - Day 4 - 1635) Eian was engaged in hand-to-hand combat with a Borg, his mind in that tunnel-vision mode that one got when one was running off of pure adrenaline. He knew there were others around him, fighting their own battles and perhaps even losing. He knew there was a drone approaching from the left. But all his mind was processing at the moment was a way to bring this drone down without getting assimilated. He saw each of the Borg's movements before they happened, with each twitch of a joint or whir of a servo, he knew what was coming next. He slammed his T-116 into the drone's eyepiece and shattered it, ripped the grey skin on the Borg's throat with his fingernails, dealt a heavy bow by ripping one of its hoses out of its head, causing sparks to fly everywhere. He ducked down and rolled on the ground to avoid the massive swipe of the drone's mechanical arm. He knew he couldn't kick the Borg's legs out from under him--its mechanized armor was much too sturdy and he was much too tired. ~He'll move left and attempt to kick....now's my chance to grab that hose...~ he jumped up and caught hold of one of the drone's chest hoses and pulled as hard as he could, out and then up. The drone's eyes bulged as its heart stopped, and it dropped in a heap. Eian looked around, panting. He saw that others were engaged in similar battles, that a few of the survivors who were able to fight had joined in, and he yelled, "Retreat to the shuttle! Retreat to the shuttle!" He knew some had to finish their fights before they could start retreating, but they needed to start now if they were going to get back before more drones arrived. Then, not far away, he saw a large group of drones behind a lone figure...he was dragging his leg slightly and looked dirty and bloody. But it was green blood. ~Sanok!~ He ran as quickly as the radiation-filled environment would let him, and caught up with his CO. He shielded the man and put up a small blockade, throwing several photon grenades that detonated weakly and did some damage, but didn't halt the oncoming group of drones. Knowing they didn't have much time to evade this group, he slung Sanok's arm over his shoulders to allow him to run faster. As they headed to a volcanic pillar for cover, Eian said, "Sir, I've ordered a retreat to the shuttle. There appears to be one additional group of drones approaching from the west," he pointed to the horizon, where they could see a small group of bipedal cyborgs slowly getting closer, "and with your group here, I think we'd better get out of here as quickly as we can." (reply Sanok) (posted by Morgan G) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (Dovek II, Crash Team, SO, Taylor Dolan, Day 4 -1637) The Borg Drone that had once been Taylor Dolan had not been noticed in the frantic melee and struggles for survival among the survivors during the ambush. Taylor had been lifted off the ground by a tactical drone, and although he had initially struggled, all such efforts had ceased as soon as the Borg nanoprobes had entered his bloodstream. Here on this world, Taylor Dolan had ceased being an individual and had become a weak version of a Borg drone. He had not been enhanced with cybernetics, there hadn't been time or facilities, instead the collective had simply assumed complete control of his body, blocking out all the thoughts that had once made him unique in the universe. He had walked out of the chaos while the others had fought for their lives, completely uncaring and mechanical. The Borg nanoprobes had only infected the left side of his face, leaving the only real mark that was visible to the uninitiated, and Volus knew all too well to use the newly converted as weapons. With Dolan's assimilation had come intimate knowledge of the Away team that had crashed on the planet. He knew their names and more importantly he knew who their commander was. Like all species that were comprised of individuals, they depended upon a hierarchy to lead them. Without leadership resistance collapsed and so, Volus, in the guise of Taylor Dolan used the terrain of this forsaken world to work his way closer to the mission's commanding officer, Robert Lorimar. As he rounded the last of the outcroppings of stone, he could see through the eyes of the newly formed drone, the collection of survivors looking to their leader for direction as they watched another of their number succumb to the ravages of Borg nanoprobes. Impassively Dolan turned drone, raised his hand phaser and took aim at Robert Lorimar. Without a leader, all resistance would collapse. (reply Any- especially Lorimar) Daniel Greene --------------------------------------------------------------------- (Dovek II, Mine Team - ATAC/SC Ensign (jg) Jessica Signos - Day 4 - 1638) The mine team breached the cave, undetected and unknown to their enemy. She was thankful for the time being they had disappeared from the Borg and there relentless pursuit. It was a huge sigh of relief. She had only three mags left for the TR-116 she borrowed from Serrano, her pulse rifle power was down to fifty percent and her to side phasers were all but spent. She put her back against the wall of the cave and slowly slid to the cave floor, caring for her wounds has she went. She let the coolness from the stone seep into her, it felt unbelievable, Jessica closed her eyes for a brief moment has she took it all in. If nothing else they had made it. A small assault team had punched a hole into the Borg lines and made it to their objective. They had defied the odds and laughed in the face of death. Then her thoughts were shattered. "Damn!" said Matrix. "Well Steve what's our chances of getting this fracking thing there detonating it?" Spoke Jackson a worried look on his face. "We're down to 67%...I doubt this thing will make a dent in the side of a salvage barge." exclaimed Matrix. "Is it possible to detonate it without power cells?" Tom asked. "It needs a catalyst to detonate the warhead...energy, mechanical or chemical. I didn't expect this radiation to sap the power out otherwise I would have brought a induction cartridge." replied Matrix. This was not the interaction Jessica wanted to hear, has she checked her stores. She had four photon grenades, they were not in the best of condition and she was loath to give them up. "Would these help?" She asked the two lieutenants, her voice came out more like a little girls than the female warrior they had seen outside the cave. It was a stark reminder of how Jessica must appear to the rest of the group. A child, deeply wounded, she could only imagine that scene, and how it played on their mind. (reply Jackson, Matrix) Jessica quickly retreated to the coolness of the wall. In the cave, while the ones with the knowledge of how to make the mine go boom pondered how to do so. Jessica took her tricorder and scanned her wounds. Four the first time she was able to take stock of herself and see actually how bad her injuries were. Her right arm was not that bad, the bleeding was all but stopped by the bandage, and it looked to be in good order. However, the injury in her lower-mid section over her left leg was a different matter. if the shot had been any more center and lower she would of lost the limb. The shot missed any major organs and arteries but that did not mean it wasn't still a bad wound. The disruptor blast had fragmented on impact sending small tendrils of energy into her damaging not one area but many along the blast area. It would be tricky to treat and even more so to control on the battlefield. The bandages appeared to be holding but Jessica knew that to be false. The bleeding due to the fragmentation had become more internal. She was running out of time, the tricorder was more precise on that point... three hours, was all the time she had left. Soon Jessica would start to feel the effects of the blood loss. The longer they took the more of a hindrance she would become. She sighed heavly closing her tricorder. (posted By Matthew Locke) (reply Has noted above, any.) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (Dovek II - Mine Team - 2O/COPS -Lieutenant Tom Jackson Day 4 - 1645) The team was exhausted. Tom made a note to schedule workout sessions with Mike Rosenbauer - Jackson was in need of it! He and Steve Matrix were discussing the activation chances of the mine. His friend Steve was worried the mine could not explode. This worried Jackson - to be so close and face failure Tom did not like the taste of failure as it was very bitter. Steve Matrix suddenly remembered the Borg power modules He shouted his brainstorm to his team mates. "Brilliant idea Steve" Jackson said scurrying to his downed Borg. He retrieved his unit and returned it to Matrix. Tom was somewhat of a tinkerer who loved watching a natural born engineer like Matrix at work. (Reply: any) (Posted by: Bill) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (Dovek II, Mine Team - ATAC/SC Ensign (jg) Jessica Signos - Day 4 - 1717) The mine team's efforts were nothing short of the things legends were made, and if any lived though this mission She was sure the mine teams exploits would go in federation history. It took time till the Borg drones to find the team but find them they did, and once they were discovered, so close to the Tkon sphere they brought the hole of their force down upon them, or so it seemed. It was thanks to a make shift shield that held them at bay, till the powers cells ran dry. Then it was up to the security force to keep the Borg away from the mine. Soma, and Serrano both had held against a wave of intense fighting, and both were showing the many wounds that came with holding the line. It was now Jessica's turn. She, they all, heard the Borg coming down the tunnel. Jessica made her way to her feet, She could see it in there eye's. ~Don't go, you've done enough, you'll die, it's suicide, I could order her to stay.~ Or some other thought along those lines. But none dared make her stay at this point. It was every persons right to choose when and how they were gonna meet death and Jessica was gonna be damned if it was on flat on her back. She rose from the cave floor, neatly fell but caught herself on the wall, then found her feet unsteadily. She reached for her twin combat knives and drew them. They hissed from their scabbards with a blood seeking hiss. Jessica had long forgotten how she came to have the twin black daggers that were soaked in blood, but she was grateful for them. She looked over the mine team "If I don't return know that I died well." She then turned to Jackson. "If I fall...." She paused emotion choking the words in her throat. She swallowed hard. "... Tell Eian I love him." She turned, walked off to face the Borg and make good on her word. "I will show them a Hell that is white, snow white." The cave was not long but it did have it's advantages a number of bends that defenders could hide behind and draw the Borg numbers close. It was behind one of these bends where Jessica now hid, She waited the cave at this point was near total darkness. Borg targeting lasers bounced of the walls has they approached. Jessica tried to ignore her wounds and took a deep breath to steady her breathing. The Borg broke the bend, Jessica did not know or care if the drone saw the knife that managed to find itself into the drones chest. ~One~ She lead with lunge to the Borg on the far side of the one that had now found death. Even wounded like she was she was still quicker than the drone as Jessica slammed the knife between the drones ribs and into his heart. ~Two~ She pulled her knives and and faced the next set of drones coming her way. The next drone raised his arm and filled the cave with the green light of disruptor fire. Jessica dropped under the incoming fire reversed her grip on one of her knives, holding the weapon by the blade, and sent it flying. She watched the blade turn end over end and struck the drone in the forehead and stuck there. The drone jerked and dropped to the floor ~Three.~ Jessica did not know if it was an act of brilliance or sheer determination that spurred her next act. The oncoming assault force was more than she expected the Borg were determined to flush the mine team from the cave. Again the cave filled with disruptor fire, Jessica took cover behind a fallen Borg as blast cut though the back of her left leg. Jessica cursed at the new wound has she cut the servos of the Borg she took cover behind. The wire sparked has they were freed from there place ~Good they were still alive.~ She lifted his disruptor arm and placed the active wires to it. First nothing happened, she tired again this time in another area. A Borg drone was right upon his mechanical hand reaching for her when the arm Jessica raised short circuited, and showered the area in sparks and the green glow of disruptor fire. ~ Four, five, six, seven,~ They went down in quick order has she fired from the drones arm, the eights was the lucky one she fired but the blast was deflected by the green glow of adapted shields. Jessica tried to rise but the drone was quicker. It lifted her from the ground it grip cutting into her shoulder has it slammed her into one of the caves walls. Jessica could taste the iron from blood in her mouth. The Borg's arm can toward her nanotubles reaching for the soft flesh of her neck. Jessica tried in sheer desperation to hold that arm back with her good arm while wrapping her bad arm around the Borg's that held her in place. She was able to shift her weight in the struggle placing her wounded leg against the wall. She winced in pain has she felt wounds open and feel the flow of fresh blood. Blood she could ill afford to lose. With her good leg she kicked, a series of heavy lighting fast, deadly kicks. She hit where ever her foot found purchase; ribs, neck, stomic, all was fair game. One of the many kicks crushed the drones windpipe and broke his collar bone. But Jessica refused to give, more out of some unknown fear of being nearly assimilated she continued her onslaught till the drone fell away from her. ~Eight~ The Borg stopped in there advance, if only for a moment. Allowing Jessica the time to gather her knives. She hoped that never before had they seen someone put up such a resistance. She knew they were analyzing her to find the best way to remove this obstacle from there path. Six raised their weapons and unleashed a barrage of disruptor fire intent on killing the girl who stood before defiantly before them. Jessica charged, what else could she do, screaming in defiance of the woulds she carried and the others she was receiving. Blast ripped though her armor, she dodged enough that they did not land a solid hit. She was covered with blast marks two deep near misses showed on her right side under her rib cage only about an inch apart. Many of these gouges appeared on her arms and legs. Her armor was useless now. She emerged from the storm of fire, jumped to the closest wall, winced in pain, then spring-boarded into the air she was above the fire, and closed the distance to the Borg force. She landed knelling on the shoulders of the center drone. She struck with her knives at the two flanking Borg burying her knives deep with in there skull. Then in a swift movement of her hips snapped the neck of the one under her. ~Nine, Ten, Eleven ~ She kept count to help her ignore the pain that racked her body. Her jump of the latest kill has her knives came her of the two on either side of her with a sickening sucking sound. Borg where now all around her. ~A killing circle ~ Jessica became a flurry of movement and knife trusts, jabs, and slashes. she had to, she had to survive. The Borg came at her. She sliced the throat out of one has another drone brought his mechanical arm down on her tearing a deep gash down her back. Jessica's armor barly clung to her body. Has it was little more than tatters. She turned and uppercutted that drone leading with a knife point that punched under his chin and into his brain. She fought she knew not three gashes appeared on her good arm or the fate of the Borg that landed those blows. All that she knew was that after the carnage she stood. More drones appeared, she could no longer fight, has it was she would be lucky to make it back to her team. She armed her last photon grenades and threw it down into the Borg ranks. She smiled has it exploded and engulfed the attackers in flame. She watched has drone bodies trashed, then fell still. She walked back to the mine team. A walk that seemed to last forever, has the adrenaline that processed her system wore off. Her body shook, has the effect of the beating she took now fully took its toll. She could see the Mine team. "Help." her voice cracked barley more than a whisper. Jessica knew she was done, once she fell she would not be up again by her own means. She cleared her throat. "Help!" again she called louder. (reply mine team) Jessica made her away to the team, leaving a trail of blood behind her. Her vision blurred, Jessica knew she was at the edge of consciousnesses. Jessica was laid down, her newly acquired TR-116 placed in her lap. She looked up at those she had bleed with. She looked at Jackson and Soma "I gave them Hell, I don't know if I give any more, but I'll try." Her voice was weak, she wanted nothing more than to close her eyes and drift away, To find her parents. But something made her stay awake keep her eyes open and bare the pain. "Eian I need you..." She spoke softly. It was the first time for has far back has she could remember that Jessica has ever needed someone. All in all twenty drones entered in that wave and twenty drones were never heard from again. (reply Mine team, iyw) (posted by Matthew Locke) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (Dovek II, Rescue Team, SO, Ens. Mike Rosenbauer and Eva Saint-Jean, Day 4 -1720) Although the team was exhausted beyond belief, Mike and Eva had managed to help get the entire team, minus those lost to the Borg to the runabout. The survivors and Rescuers were in almost the same condition, battered and bruised but not in critical condition. Still despite the odds, they'd only lost two dead on the planet so far, and of course the original away team had lost McLaren at the outset. Now they were cresting the final rise leading up to the runabout Rosencrantz and not for the first time, Mike could feel a sense of near ecstasy as their destination loomed closer and closer to being achieved. Between then, They carried one of the two power cells that the crash survivors had salvaged from the crashed Lorimar. The thought had been put forward that if the mine team was suffering the same sort of power drain issues that had plagued the rest of them, that the min simply may not be able to detonate. It had therefore been decided that not only would they deliver the power cell to the mine team, but they'd give them a lift home as well. After all, none of them wanted to leave a man behind, especially not those on the mine team. Mike and Eva reached the runabout first, with the rest of team trailing close behind. he popped the hatch and went in expecting a Borg ambush inside the vessel. he was relieved to realize that he found none. Eva drug the power cell into the runabout and then quickly tucked herself into the co-pilot's seat. before the rest of the team was anywhere near on board, the two of them were working their way through the shuttle's preflight, in an attempt to verify that everything was the way it as supposed to be. Almost at the same time he was finishing, the last of the injured had made it aboard. Eva cycled the hatch closed and mike lifted the runabout off the ground smoothly. he didn't ask for a course or heading, knowing that no one present would really know. He just had to trust in his instincts to guide them. I need someone to start running scans looking for antimatter. At this speed, it won't take us too long to reach the relative location of the Mine team. (reply any Survivor, rescue team) Daniel Greene --------------------------------------------------------------------- (Dovek II, Mine Team, SO, Paulo Serrano, Day 4 -1725) Paulo couldn't understand how he'd managed to survive as long as he had. Three waves of Borg Drones had charged their position since they had taken refuge within the walls of the cave. A makeshift shield had prevented them from reaching the federation team at first until the power cells had finally failed, and from that moment on it had been brutal hand-to-hand combat. Soma, Signos and he had rotated out as best they could in an attempt to give the others a chance to rest enough to keep fighting. It had become more and more difficult and even now Paulo was barely able to stand. None of those in the team had avoided injury, it was just that the security and Tactical officers had taken a lion's share of the punishment. Paulo's left hand had been crushed into a bloody pulp by a Borg Cybernetic claw, and he had three nasty gashed on his chest that had cut all the way down to the muscle. Add to that blood loss, bruises and the effects of radiation and extreme heat and Paulo was still finding himself amazed at his own resilience. Signos was the worst off. She wasn't even able to stand any longer, and had taken up a position behind Soma and Paulo with the last magazine of TR-116 rounds. Now she was the last line of defense; the only thing keeping the Borg away from the Mine. Behind him, Caliel, Matrix and Jackson were doing everything that they could to figure out a way to detonate the mine. The problem was that there simply wasn't enough energy to cause a critical reaction. All they could do was destroy the device. The yield that they could achieve couldn't possibly destroy the Sphere. ~If we only had more power.~ He thought. He heard the sound of approaching drones and shifted his grip on his combat knife. Behind the pile of Borg corpses, fresh troops were inbound. He steeled himself and took a deep breath. As long as he could fight he'd keep killing Borg. They wouldn't get past him as long as he was alive. (reply Mine Team) Daniel Greene --------------------------------------------------------------------- (Dovek II- Survivors- CSEC Lt Chance Raschen- Day 4- 1726) That unreasonable 'Death be Damned' drive Raschen had sometimes was kicking in. The gushing holes in his abdomen and legs probably didn't help matters any for him. For hours Raschen had been cut off and alone. Avoiding medium to large sized formations of Borg Drones. Smaller formations and single drones he would attack. That was how he came about his multiple and severe injuries. Chance had finally hit a point where he didn't even try to attack single drones; besides, he was out power for his weapons and all he had left was his Bowie Knives. Chance found himself near the site of the sphere. Raschen finally came across the runabout he had seen fly over hours before. The engines were apparently warming up with the boarding ramp down. He wasn't sure what he would find inside; help or death. ~Screw it. I'm dead either way.~ So he took the risk and boarded the runabout. He wasn't surprised by what he saw when he entered. Starfleet personnel with phasers aimed at him. (Reply any) Chance tried raising his hands over his head and asked "Can I get a shot of Scotch?" Suddenly he started coughing violently that it caused him to drop to his knees and blood to begin to flow from the corner of his mouth. (Reply Ichijo) (Reply Ichijo, any) Posted by Charlie --------------------------------------------------------------------- (Runabout Rosencrantz - Science Officer Ensign Nickolas Romanoff - 1727) The combined teams managed to elude their pursuers and made it back to the Rosencrantz which was waiting untouched since it had landed. As the power systems came back online it was clear that the radiation from the surface had damaged the runabout, however sufficient power remained to attempt a swift departure. Romanoff boarded the Rosencrantz fairly quickly and managed to grab a science station terminal as the minimal space of the cabin began to become more cramped as more bodies filed in. The shuttle lifted off the ground and vacated the landing zone it previously occupied. It had therefore been decided that not only would they deliver an extra power cell to the mine team, but they'd give them a lift home as well. After all, none of them wanted to leave a man behind, especially not those on the mine team. NRPG: I'm assuming u meant for the following to be a direct quote. If not I will repost. RPG: "I need someone to start running scans looking for antimatter. At this speed, it won't take us too long to reach the relative location of the Mine team." Romanoff nodded in the direction of Rosenbauer as he began a short range antimatter scan. The science station in front of him flashed and beeped until a geographical snapshot of the terrain appeared onscreen. The map displayed a great spike in antimatter concentration, a cavernous location, where Romanoff believed the antiproton bomb and the crew assigned to detonate it were located. "Can anyone confirm this location as the position of the antimatter mine.?" (Reply any) (Posted by Darryl) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (Dovek II, Mine Team, CEO Lt. Steven Matrix, Day 4 -1728) Matrix couldn't believe the combat that had taken place...nor the tenacity of the crew. If they survived he would be witness to their efforts in saving not only Matrix, the mine team, but in assurance of rescuing the hostages and destroying a vital asset of the Borg. Matrix refocused on his fight and pondered the problem. "The detonator energy is down to 47 percent and we're out of power packs. Damn it!" shouted Matrix. (Reply Caliel, Jackson) "Matrix smiled, of course! Of COURSE!" Matrix stood up and looked around. "Pull any power module you can find from one of the Borg. Their systems haven't been affected by the radiation because they are immune." said Matrix. (Reply Caliel, Jackson) Matrix pulled away a few of the Borg bodies and noticed a number of power modules. "There...this one and that one there...that should do the trick. Caliel...get a solder kit out, clamps anything...we need to cross connect these to the power module on the mine." said Matrix. (Reply Caliel) Within a few moments the three of the managed to secure the necessary power modules from the fallen Borg and started to connect the power connections to the mine. Matrix sitting on the ground cradling the mine as though it were a new born baby. "What do you think? Does that look right?" asked Matrix. (Reply Jackson, Caliel) "Countdown from? We need to get everyone out with time enough to clear the area." asked Matrix. (Reply Jackson, Caliel, anyone on the mine team) (Posted by Steve) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (Runabout Rosencrantz - CMO Lt jg Kimiko Ichijo - Day 4- 1729) They had just made it back to the shuttlecraft and Kimiko was directing the placement of the injured. With a quick eye, the doctor surveyed the wreckage that were her crewmates. ~Still are, but are going to be on the sicklist for a while~ Kimiko thought as she headed to crewmen that had received what looked like a blow to the head. She opened her medical tricorder and started looking for a concussion. She noticed some movement out of the corner of her eye towards the hatch, then a raised phaser. ~Oh no~ Kimiko thought and rose to stand in front of her patient, a hypo gripped in her hand. ~If a Borg makes it this far, then it is going to have learn to breath through its skin with about 30mg of Helolisthane onboard~ With only about five mics per kilo of the general anesthesia suggested for major surgery, Kimiko was sure that if the drug didn’t kill it, then it would at least bugger up the system until someone could figure out something that would. A man staggered through the hatch in a familiar uniform and asked for a shot of liquor and fell to his knees in a coughing fit. Kimiko rushed over to the newcomer and yelled out “Someone help me bring him out of the entryway and close that door!” Kimiko wrested him up under on shoulder and walked him over to the other survivors. “I’m sorry, but scotch is not standard issue in Starfleet medical kits, but I have a fairly good sedative that I think that you will like” “Lt Sanok , would you please run a decomm level two, I think that we have breathed enough poison for one day” Kimiko said as she bent over to work on Chance. (Reply any) (Posted by Jack) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (Runabout Rosencrantz, Lieutenant jg Sanok, 1730) The rescue team and those remaining from the runabout crash, were safely inside the Rosencrantz. Through hardship and pain, blood and sweat, radiation, Borg attacks, and facing insurmountable odds, they had accomplished their mission. Sanok had not expected any of them to make it. That's why they weren't heading back now. Rosenbauer, piloting the runabout, was on his way to the location of the Tkon sphere, in hopes of picking up anyone left from the mine team. No one would be left behind. Extra power cells were also being prepared, in case the radiation had affected the mine detonation device. "Can anyone confirm this location as the position of the antimatter mine?" said Romanoff after he had scanned the area ahead. Sanok hobbled to his console and looked at the readings. "I am not a scientist, but it is logical that you have located the mine and our people. Send the exact coordinates to helm." Sanok turned and addressed everyone. "When we land, we will be facing the greatest number of Borg yet today. The mine must be successfully deployed and detonated. All of us are expendable, if that is what it takes." Sanok paused for a moment. "Once we land, Mister O'Neill, you will lead the team of reinforcements. Anyone with minor injuries that can function at near or full capacity, will go with him. I will pilot the runabout and provide air cover for everyone on the ground. Once the mine is deployed, head back as quickly as possible and I will land and retrieve anyone left." The orders were straightforward. The mood was grim, but Sanok knew no one would shirk their duty. The runabout landed and someone opened the hatch. The final assault was about to begin. (reply any) (posted by Bob B.) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (Dovek II - Mine Team - 2O/COPS -Lieutenant Tom Jackson Day 4 - 1731) The team was exhausted. Tom made a note to schedule workout sessions with Mike Rosenbauer - Jackson was in need of it! He and Steve Matrix were discussing the activation chances of the mine. His friend Steve was worried the mine could not explode. This worried Jackson - to be so close and face failure Tom did not like the taste of failure as it was very bitter. Steve Matrix suddenly remembered the Borg power modules He shouted his brainstorm to his team mates. "Brilliant idea Steve" Jackson said scurrying to his downed Borg. He retrieved his unit and returned it to Matrix. Tom was somewhat of a tinkerer who loved watching a natural born engineer like Matrix at work. (Reply: any) (Posted by: Bill) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Boudicca - Battle Bridge - aFO - Cmdr Josh Caskie - Day 4 - 1732) Josh had been sitting in the centre chair of the battle bridge for ages now and since she honestly had nothing to do, apart from request various updates, she had been berating herself about what she could have done better during the last few hours. She should have spoken to Lt Trei longer and attempted to find out the reasoning behind what he had done. Unfortunately the honest little voice in her head that she never seemed to be able to quite get rid off started laughing right about then. ~Be honest Jennifer, you were tasked with keeping an eye on him and he screwed up on your watch again. You would quite happily throw his sorry carcass out the nearest airlock if you thought you could get away with it.~ Quickly shoving that thought aside her she started wondering what was happening with the away crews. It galled her. To be honest it galled her badly that she had not been ordered to lead one of those teams. She wanted to be there leading one of them but at the same time she knew that she was needed more in the battle bridge since if anything happened to the main bridge it would be up to her and the team she had with her to keep the ship going. That quiet little voice spoke again. ~Be honest Jennifer, you want to be down on that planet fighting the Borg.~ Josh shivered. ~Yes I do... Oh lord no I don't. I don't want to have to fight the Borg. I don't even want to be in the same quadrant as the nearest Borg if I can help it.~ Her thoughts seesawed back and forward with not a great deal for Josh to do but monitor what was happening on the Bridge from her position and it drove he crazy. Suddenly the ship rocked slightly. She turned to the science station and realised that there was no-one monitoring it. Turning to tactical she asked for a report. "The Borg are using a series of high-yield gravimetric bursts to try to shake us out of the atmosphere. They are nowhere near us at present however they do seem to be working their way closer." The ship rocked again, harder this time. Josh nodded and realising that she needed more information than tactical had the time to give her she accessed the padd on her chair to let her see which science officers were available. Nodding her head slightly she pressed another button on her chair to open a channel. "Caskie to Vanik. Please report to the battle bridge asap. Caskie out." (Reply Vanik) (Posted by Marilyn) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (Runabout Rosencrantz - Rescue Team - CMO Lt jg Kimiko Ichijo- Day 4, 1733) Kimiko bent over a crewman who was familiar, but she didn’t recall his name. His injuries were not terrible, but almost mundane. The gash on his leg was already showing the effect of radiation poisoning and at this rate, he would probably need a full graft, most of the surrounding tissue appeared to be friable. She inject several meds to bind some of the radioactive agents in his body, a light sedative and an anti-nausea. She overheard Sanok addressing the crew and looked up. "When we land, we will be facing the greatest number of Borg yet today. The mine must be successfully deployed and detonated. All of us are expendable, if that is what it takes." Sanok paused for a moment. "Once we land, Mister O'Neill, you will lead the team of reinforcements. Anyone with minor injuries that can function at near or full capacity, will go with him. I will pilot the runabout and provide air cover for everyone on the ground. Once the mine is deployed, head back as quickly as possible and I will land and retrieve anyone left." Kimiko raised an eyebrow. ~I am hardly expendable~ Kimiko thought, but understood the reasoning behind the statement. She was about to request to stay with her patients and realized that it was likely that the mine team had received injures as well and she might be needed outside too. Kimiko nodded her understanding and reached for a fresh medkit. (Reply any) (Posted by Jack) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (Dovek II, Mine Team - CTAC/SEC Lt. jg Ben Soma - 1735) Ben was feeling the effects of the radiation and the continued Borg attacks, his team looked as bad as he felt. No one had escaped injury, Signos was in desperate need of proper medical attention and Serrano had a busted hand. He never felt worse in his life, blood was flowing from his left shoulder compliments of a drones mechanical appendage. He was certain he had several bruised ribs and likely a few fractured if not broken, it was getting even harder to breath. At this time he didn't even want to take an inventory of the abrasions on his body. The Borg had been relentless in the cave, wave after wave, they just kept coming. He was amazed they had survived the assault, everyone had fought with what little they had left. He placed a hand to his forehead and winced in pain as he ground a little dirt into a cut he was previously unaware of. At first he had thought it was sweat running down the side of his face, as he pulled his hand away he saw that it was blood. They had finally reached the end of the cave and the ledge, time to set the mine. "Lets set that thing up and get out of here." Ben said. "I don't like being in the open like this anymore. We're easy targets and we have nothing left but a few combat knives." Somewhere in the cave the last of the phasers had become useless, now that were forced to go hand to hand and Ben was running out of energy. He didn't know how much longer they could hold out. Then he heard it, off in the distance, the hum of a runabouts engines. Reinforcements were on the way. "The cavalry is coming." He said as he turned and pointed in the direction of the approaching runabout. He moved over to Tom and Steve. "Tell me this thing can still detonate." Ben said. "After what we just went through...........I'd hate to think it was for nothing." (reply Jackson, Matrix, any) He turned then to Caliel and Serrano. "Help Signos into the shade and get her to sit down." He said. "We'll get her on that runabout as soon as it lands." "Mr. Narvak." He said. "Can you get anything on the sphere from this distance, something to give us an idea of why it's so important to the Borg." (reply as above, any) (posted by Milo Young) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (Dovek II - Mine Team - SciO, Ens, jg Narvak - 1736) Narvak leaned against wall, breathing heavily. There was a slight calm after the last wave, the phaser lasted the three shots and became useless. Trying to beat a Borg to death with his hands was worse the useless, they would only induct him into their gang and well... at least he would be able to rest or at least not be so damn tired. Then an idea hit him, quite literally when a exploded Borg bit smacked him in the head. The dead Borg didn't have those shields anymore and would yield to the the cutting setting of a phaser very easily. A few moments later, Narvak had a improvised club. During the previous years, Narvak had occasion to threaten to rip off someones arm and beat him with it, but this was the first time that he actually did it. Twenty minutes and three pummeled Borg later found Narvak leaning against the the cavern wall. Soma, looking somewhat the worse for wear called out. "Mr. Narvak." He said. "Can you get anything on the sphere from this distance, something to give us an idea of why it's so important to the Borg." Narvak took a look at the lieutenant and debated on whether he should point out that it was technology and that alone would appeal to the Borg; that the tricorders were not working and even if he could read the alien's language, placards naming and describing the important pieces of technology only exist in human movies. The science officer decided against educating the lieutenant and flipped on the tricorder. Already the screen was starting to fuzz. "I am showing unknown composite of metals and ceramics that is reflecting at least 75% of stray radiation, including antiprotons..... interesting" Narvak declared. "surface temperature, 5 degrees Kelvin higher then ambient tempture despite proximity of the antiproton stream and..." Narvak stated as the screen pixelated with a shrill beep. The Tellarite smacked the tricorder twice, each time eliciting a shrill squeal "doornail" Narvak pronounced. The science officer stated "Mysterious piece of high technology, that is all I've got for you" (Reply Soma) (Posted by Jack) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (Dovek II - Mine Team -CTAC/SEC Lt. jg Ben Soma- 1737) "I am showing unknown composite of metals and ceramics that is reflecting at least 75% of stray radiation, including antiprotons..... interesting" Narvak declared. "surface temperature, 5 degrees Kelvin higher then ambient tempture despite proximity of the antiproton stream and..." Narvak stated as the screen pixelated with a shrill beep. The Tellarite smacked the tricorder twice, each time eliciting a shrill squeal "doornail" Narvak pronounced. Ben didn't expect to gain much information, but he had hoped for something. The Borg were after the sphere for some reason. The science officer stated "Mysterious piece of high technology, that is all I've got for you" Ben nodded. "Mysterious indeed." He said. He felt like smiling, he almost sounded like Sanok. "Too bad we have to destroy it," He added. "might have been useful." (reply any, none required) (posted by Milo Young) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (Dovek II, Rescue Team, SO, Ens. Mike Rosenbauer and Eva Saint-Jean, Day 4 -1738) Once the location of the antimatter mine was confirmed, mike had set a course and accelerated the vessel to a speed approaching Mach 5. At those speeds, in an atmosphere soaked by radiation, it would be impossible for the Borg to target the fast flying runabout. They, of course, could try, but since they had selected not to do so, even they seemed to realize the futility of such an effort. He had only half-heard all that Sanok had said. His brain had focused in on the most important aspects; the knowledge that they'd be exiting the runabout into a crowd of Borg hungry for their individuality, did not escape him in the slightest. Mike, however calm he may seem, was absolutely terrified of the thought of becoming just another faceless minion of the collective. He had never let on, allowing his fear to fuel the drive and determination that he needed to keep fighting. Hearing the plan and the odds that they faced, He could feel that lump of fear turning into a ball of fuel that would keep his survivor's instincts on edge until he either died or the job was done. As they approached the coordinates, it became apparent that the mine team had chosen an exceptionally defensible position to hole-up. A small cave wound into the wall of an ancient waterway, traveling for some 50-meters before opening onto a stone ledge that looked as if it had once been a part of an ancient aqueduct. The length that once spanned from the mouth of the cave out into the ancient city had long ago been destroyed and on the remnants, Mike could make out the mine team trying desperately to deploy the mine for detonation. If there had been room, Mike would have landed the runabout there, but the Antimatter mine that the team had lugged across the uneven terrain of the planet was too large to allow such a maneuver. Instead he circled around to the bed of the long-dead waterway. He could see a massive series of waves of Borg tactical drones, moving up the concourse and into the cave mouth. He angled the craft in, cut velocity and adjusted the small vessel's delta-v enough to almost cause it to stall. A quick transition from forward momentum to the vertical allowed him to take a group of Borg by surprise. With the thrusters on full to slow their descent, the Drones became airborne and scattered across the area with a chaotic violence that couldn't be adequately conveyed in words. Mike was up from the pilot's seat as soon as the handing struts had settled into the uneven soil of the ancient wash. Sanok slipped past him to take the station and the hatch was down before he could even reach it. Eva was the first out of the craft. She and Mike had conserved the Angel mark II weapons, preferring to keep them as a last minute surprise should they be forced to fight one final stand. It seemed that their forethought might very well be the factor that allowed this desperate plan to succeed. In an instant, the two ex-rangers were leapfrogging forward; firing as rapidly as possible into the backs of the massed Borg drones. behind them the rest of the able- bodied members of the team were following them. Eian was hauling the spare power cell salvaged from the Lorimar and following in the broad wake that the two Rangers were making up the hill towards the embattled mine team. When the Borg adapted to the energy pulses of the Angels, The two started using the high yield photon grenades that remained in their arsenal. They were considerably more difficult to adapt to since they had such a variable yield. When those were expended, they went into hand-to-hand. The Ranger was one of the deadliest close-combat warriors in the entirety of Starfleet. Today Mike Rosenbauer and Eva Saint jean proved exactly how deadly a single Starfleet ranger could be when forced to fight against impossible odds. Their Angels became blunt weapons of mass destruction. Originally built for the Starfleet marines, the weapons had been specially reinforced to allow the soldier carrying them to parry blow after blow. Although the intention was to counter the famed Klingon bat'leth, it quickly proved just as effective against Borg cybernetic limbs. The close confines of the Drones truly prevented them from using their disruptors, a fact that was not lost upon the two warriors as they danced and struck their way through the ranks. They reached the mouth of the cave and physically forced their way past the wall of drones in their way. in their exuberance, they managed to push several of the drones off the ledge at the edge of the cave mouth and down into the remains of the wash. Several Borg in the cave entrance turned, almost in mechanical unison, and for a brief moment abandoned their efforts to push through to the bomb. Their collective intelligence must have realized that the mine could not be detonated without the power cell that Eian was humping up the narrow walkway. They would have attempted to intercept him, but the two Rangers had other ideas. With a snick, they deployed the bayonets from the end of their weapons and started removing those few drones remaining between them and the Mine team from the equation. "Rangers, coming in!" Mike screamed as the last of the drones ion the way fell under Eva's vicious use of the bayonet. (reply any on Mine team) Mike turned and stepped back to get out of O'Neill's way. As he did he noticed the seething mass of drones reassembling for another concerted assault up the wash. The last member of the away team had just rushed past the two rangers when he spotted the Runabout coming in for an attack run against the huddled masses of Borg drones. "Burn you bastards." Mike said evenly as the phaser blasts from the runabout cut massive swathes out of the rock floor of the wash. The Borg unlucky enough to be caught by the blast were destroyed instantly. Those that avoided the immediate energy discharge had to deal with the sudden increase of temperature as the thin atmosphere around the energy beams superheated so fast that flesh ignited alike dried paper. When it was all over, a few hundred drones were burning in the wash, with a ferocity that would rival a small sun. Their flash-heated remains were being consumed so rapidly that the flames were running out of fuel almost as fast as the bodies had ignited. Despite this carnage, there was movement among the bodies and the forces of the collective were regrouping. Sanok had bought them some time, but there was only so much that you could do. (reply All on Planet) Daniel Greene --------------------------------------------------------------------- (Dovek II - Rescue Team - ACEO Lt JG Eian O'Neill - Day 4 - 1740) After such an extraordinary amount of physical exertion, normal circumstances would have had anyone, excess energy or no, wishing for a nap. But when it was decided that they would go in with the power cell and attempt to extricate the mine team, Eian felt energized. He was lucky enough to get away with a few cuts and scrapes, and perhaps a sprained left wrist. He completely ignored the wrist, and didn't even notice the other injuries. On the surface, he felt like he could run a marathon, the adrenaline was pumping so fast. But he knew somewhere in the back of his mind that he, like everyone else, should be near his collapsing point. When the shuttle landed and the door went down, he didn't hesitate. In a mad rush to get the power cell out of the shuttle and begin the struggle toward the sphere, he hauled the thing on anti-grav pads, spinning it around so he could push it like a cart, and ran right behind Rosenbauer and St. Jean. With single-mindedness almost unknown to him, he focused solely on getting the power cell to the mouth of that cave and beyond. ~God protect me,~ was his only other thought. The Rangers did a hell of a job protecting him from drones. They fell one by one around him, explosions catching their bodies on fire and melting their skin from their bones before they were even dead, shrapnel embedding itself into their flesh, the occasional grenade blasting cybernetically-laced parts in his path and forcing him to jump over the gore. He continued running. At one point, he nearly dove over the power cell to shield it from an incoming blast, preferring to be hit than to lose their last hope. The drones increased in number after he entered the mouth of the cave, and he heard Rosenbauer announce their presence to avoid friendly fire. He was forced to smash his rifle into one Borg's throat, and surprised even himself with an adrenaline-induced blow so powerful that the rifle nearly embedded itself in the Borg's flesh. He yanked it out and quickly dove out of the way as one of the team members blasted an incoming drone away from the power cell. The cave was a bloody mess before long, and so was he. Caught in the middle of the carnage, he barely noticed when he was hit with body parts, blood, and disconnected bits of cybernetic equipment. He gave the occasional order or two, but everyone knew what they were doing at this point. He needed to get this power cell to the sphere, and that was all that mattered. Until he saw her. Jessica was laying on the ground near some of her teammates, who were desperately working to get the mine powered up while simultaneously fighting the new onslaught of drones. Eian paused, just for a moment. That moment was long enough for two things to happen. The first was that he realized the condition Jessica was in, and it broke his heart. The second was that a Borg drone got close enough to him to pry him away from the power cell. For one of the first times in his life, he felt true panic as he was seized by the drone, and could see the nanoprobe tubules coming out of the Borg's hand. He wasn't even concerned for himself, but for the mission. Suddenly, an explosion rocked the ground and he was ejected from the drone's grip. He fell to the ground with an 'oomphf' and seconds later felt a wave of heat that singed his uniform and made him yelp in pain. Looking at his hands, he saw slight burn marks, but didn't take the time to study them. He didn't even care what happened to the Borg who had tried to assimilate him--he just dove toward the miraculously undamaged power cell, and continued his run toward the sphere. He unlatched it and hauled it over to Matrix in record speed. Then dropping to his knees, he began helping his boss connect it to the mine, no questions asked. They both knew what to do. And he knew when it was done, as well. (room for Matrix to confirm that it's done and armed) He stood up and with anger he didn't know he had been holding in, picked up his rifle and a nearby knife on the ground and screamed as he dove into the fight, picking the nearest drone and slicing the crap out of it. When he literally beat his way through the fight to reach Jessica, he dropped the knife, slung his rifle over his shoulder, slipped his one arm under her neck and his other under her bloody legs, and lifted her easily. He turned to the other injured officers nearby and screamed, "Come on! We're getting you out of here! If you can stand, get behind me!" He quickly decided he couldn't spare two hands to carry Jessica, and shifted her to a fireman's carry, however dangerous that might be for her, as he picked up a few photon grenades, stuffed them in his pocket, used his spare hand to help one of the injured mine team members to his feet, and began striking the ground with the grenades to make a path for them. He screamed to Rosenbauer, "Secure this area and escort everyone else back to the shuttle. We're getting the hell out of here!" It was a desperate run back to the shuttle. He glanced back every now and then to make sure the other injured members were behind him. They usually were, but he dared not slow down if he could still see them behind him. Jessica couldn't afford him slowing down, and neither could he, at the rate that the drones were coming. His vision was blurred by the bright explosions, his hearing dulled by the concussions around him, his nerves numb with the adrenaline, and all thoughts unrelated to his mission cleared from his mind. At another time, he might have contemplated if he hadn't already become a drone. But as it was, he jumped into the shuttle and set Jessica down with a gentle touch entirely contradictory to his actions in the past few hours. He stroked her hair, picked up his rifle, and went to defend the shuttle until the others were back. When everyone was safely in the shuttle, he collapsed next to her and, ears ringing from the sudden relative silence, he whispered softly, "Jessica..." placing her battered body in his lap on the floor of the runabout. He saw her injuries, some of them extremely severe. The torso wound, the leg wound...she probably wouldn't survive. "Oh, God, Jessica..." (reply Kimiko or Jessica iyw) "You're gonna make it, just hold on, okay? We're going home now," he said softly, and felt tears welling up in his eyes at the sight of her here. Is this what his mother looked like before she died? "I love you..." His mind was reeling. He couldn't process it all...everything had happened too quickly, even for him. He didn't know she was even *on* the mine team. Why didn't he look at the roster? What difference would it have made if he had? As it always was when one "came down" from a period of hyperfocusing as Eian just was, an intense disarray of thought followed. He couldn't focus at all. His mind shifted from the sounds of bones being crushed and cybernetic limbs lopped off to the cacophony of explosions and the beeping confirming the mine had been armed. He imagined the faces of those drones he had killed, and the sight of Jessica laying here in his lap. His body began to shake, the adrenaline in its first stages of wearing off. He gripped Jessica tighter, but not tight enough to hurt her. He noticed that she was shaking too. He did the only thing he could think to do in this time of unrestricted emotion. "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want," he began saying in a quiet voice. "In green pastures, he gives me repose...beside restful waters, he leads me..." (reply any) (posted by Morgan G) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (Dovek II - Runabout - Science Officer - Ensign Andrew Maddox - 1742) Maddox was beyond pleased to be back inside a Federation climate controlled environment again. The cool air issuing from the vents gave Andrew a new found energy. He quickly found his bearings back when he took the science station. He held on with a white knuckle grip as the vessel accelerated past the speed of sound. What had happened after they landed was a mesh of action that Andrew had trouble keeping tabs on. ~I'm just glad I don't have to face those Borg again.~ He kept his nose in the science stations. He was using both simultaneously to scan everything and everywhere. As soon as something came through he reported it. "More drones." he stated lound enough for the pilot to hear, if Maddox was not mistaken it was Sanok at the chair. "Lots of them." he said. He was as precise as the sensors were. Due to the radiation interference, he couldn't get a precise number." (Reply any) (Posted by Todd) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (Dovek II, Mine Team - ATAC/SC Ensign (jg) Jessica Signos - Day 4 - 1743) Jessica forced herself to stay awake, she focused her TR-116 on the entry way the Borg were nearly upon them. When she heard the engines of the Runabout has it passed over the city center and settle in the water way. Only to be replaced by the sounds of phaser fire and photon grenades. Jessica Smiled. "They're coming, walking the photon grenades forward, they're using them has a shield." It was an effective strategy, her voice came out weakly. The Borg that were making there way down the cave turned to face a new enemy, the drones were not prepared to face an enemy at there unprotected rear, and they fell quickly. A few continued to make there way toward the mine. Jessica did what she could, picked her targets, and emptied her 116 into their ranks. Jessica's visioned blurred has a photon grenade exploded close by, and sent her ears to ringing. She heard someone scream. "Rangers, coming in!" has the reinforcements came in. Jessica could only see and scattered bits of what happened next has she drifted in and out of consciousness. She saw Eian's face has he came to her. "The mine," she whispered weakly. The next she knew she was lifted in Eian's arms and he, has he for the second time in there short time together carried her to safety. Jessica knew not that the mine was already armed, nor did she notice that change in how she was carried to the shuttle. Events began to blur from one to the next and seemed to spin out of control. Jessica closed her eyes, and waited for it all to stop, one way or another. Then all the phaser blast, explosions and sounds of combat fell away. Jessica felt herself in a cool area, she felt the slight rocking of the shuttle has in made it's way toward home, even though did not know it yet, and Jessica heard a soft familiar voice. "Jessica..." She opened her eyes and looked up into Eian's worried face. It was apparent that Eian was looking over her broken, wounded body. "Oh, God, Jessica..." Her hands were cover in blood from the fighting but she cared not. She reached for him and stroke his cheek. "Eian, I'm sorry..." She said weakly, her voice barely over a whisper. "You're gonna make it, just hold on, okay? We're going home now," he said softly, and felt tears welling up in his eyes at the sight of her here. "I love you..." Jessica held him. "I love..." her hand fell to her slide, has her body went limp in Eian's arms, has Jessica dropped into a death like unconsciousness . A slight pulse could still be found if one knew what they were looking for. But it was clear her body was failing her, and soon without some kind of medical treatment she would in fact die. (reply, Eian, Kimiko, any one else on away team) (posted by Matthew Locke) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (Dovek II, Mine Team, SO, Paulo Serrano, Day 4 -1744) Surprise, fear, awe, anger, denial, amazement- these were just some of the emotions that Paulo felt as the press of Borg attempting to attack the mine suddenly reversed their course and began to attack whomever was coming in from behind them. Whoever they were, they'd brought a lot of firepower. The cave shook and dust fell from the ceiling with every heavy explosion that went off outside. He'd been too focused to really notice the sound of the runabout, but now that the heavy combat had started outside, he could make out the high-pitched whine of runabout thrusters as they made some sort of pass over the dried up wash outside. Paulo, nearly collapsed from relief when the last Drone had turned away from him and the beleaguered mine team. He'd lost enough blood to fill a small inland sea and he was so very weak that he could hardly stand on his own two feet. Covered in dust, blood and whatever else was available, Paulo did not argue when someone took him by the arm and led him away down the ramp and through the writhing masses of Borg Drones to the waiting shuttlecraft. He was ushered inside, and was frankly too shocked at the fact that most of them had survived to be of much use in defending the shuttle. He crawled to the back, leaned against the bulkhead at the rear of the compartment and almost immediately fell into a restless sleep. He'd reached the end of his limits and now that he was mostly safe, his body had simply shut down. (reply None) Daniel Greene --------------------------------------------------------------------- (Dovek II, Mine Team - ACSO Ensign Isra Caliel - Day 4 - 1745) "come on.. come on.." Isra pushed herself further, her mind working overdrive in the conditions of the planet. Although the cave they had found was close enough to detonate the mine and destroy their target, the radiation had weakened it to the point it was acting as nothing more than a paperweight at the moment. In her hands were the broken remnants of a tricorder, and a fully working Phaser. She'd not fired it... But it's power cell was still at half charge. She clipped pieces from the broken tricorder to it, and used a small length of cable to connect the two, since there wasn't enough power to magnetically seal the two together. It was at this point that the Runabout had begun to pass overhead. "That's a runabout... We've got a ride home." she said to herself as the two items in her hand powered up, finally. "YES!" she exclaimed. Everyone assumed she was talking about the Runabout that had just landed, and the sound of Borg-Death just outside, but it wasn't anything to do with that. With no finesse whatsoever, she clambered back to her feet, and slapped the combination of parts down onto the mine. "There. One radiation shield." she explained, before the Rangers had begun making their way in. (reply anyone, iyw) ~I need to get me some combat training like that~ she thought as they moved in with precision, grabbed the wounded Signos, and pulled everyone out. Eian arrived soon after and unlatched the energy cell and hauled it over to Matrix in record speed. Then dropping to his knees, he began helping his boss connect it to the mine, no questions asked. They both knew what to do. Isra could only stand by and watch as they worked, as there was only space enough for two around th interface, but she kept an eye on the mine controls as they worked. "Secondary power source recognised." she said as they plugged in the transfer cable. Then as the control cables were connected and initialised, she smiled for the first time during the mission. "Power in the cell is on 72 percent. That's enough to get the mine back up to 99!" she said to them both, congratulating them for their efforts. At least now Isra felt slightly useful... Confirming the mine had enough power to detonate wasn't on her mission highlights. ~I need a nice relaxing mission to Riza now...~ she thought, after having been thrown into the literal deep end of the galaxy. Soon though, they were sprinting back to the Runabout. A spare phaser in her hand, she stayed with Eian and Signos, watching their back. "There's more borg on the way!" she called as they moved. Tapping on the controls as she ran, the phaser began its warm up to overload. There was no way the Borg hadn't adapted to their weapons fire by now, so she just threw it as far as she could towards the Borg. It fell short. ~DAMMIT!~ she thought, mentally kicking herself. But there was nothing she could do. She just kept running. Lady Luck was on her side however, as it exploded before the Borg could get there, taking a chunk of ancient wall with it too, crumbling it into a barrier the Borg would have to break through to get to the mine. It may well have been a long enough delay to stop them deactivating it before it could go. Panting heavily, Isra leaned against the side of the runabout, sitting on a science station chair. "My... god..." she said, catching her breath. "I never want to see another Borg as long as I live." (Reply anyone, iyw) Written by Andy Jones --------------------------------------------------------------------- (Borg Pyramid, Command Plexus, Volus, Day 4 - 1754) The federation teams on the planet were winning. Their primitive warrior instincts and sheer stubborn determination was winning the day for them. The fact that they had managed to deploy onto the planet without his detecting them had aided them considerably. Even now, he'd sent hundreds of drones down to the planet to stop them. Yet somehow, despite all the statistical calculations and the knowledge that the Collective was superior in every way, the federation officers had somehow managed to continue. The planet was killing them, the Drones had claimed three of their number on the planet, and all of them had been injured to some degree, yet they persisted to resist in the face of overwhelming odds. {{It is the concept of hope that provides them and inner strength}} A member of the collective explained. {{Species 5618 shows a sociological need for hope in times of extreme duress. They somehow utilize it to form a more resistant psychological profile which leads to increased capacity to undertake actions in extreme conditions.}} {{And how can hope be destroyed?}} Volus asked. {{There is insufficient data. The Collective is aware of the emotional state of hopelessness, yet we have been unable to define either concept adequately to allow a detailed analysis.}} His attentions were snapped back to the scene on the planet as a runabout suddenly arrived and disgorged a number of Federation Officers. They were the remnants of the crash survivors intermingled with the group of federation personnel that had rescued them. They had decided, quite illogically and against statistical projections to render aid to the trapped Antimatter team. At first that suited Volus well enough, as it would make assimilating those remaining that much easier to have them together in a single space. But then he saw something through the eyes of one of the drones that changed everything. One of the federation officers, freshly discharged from the runabout was carrying a device. At first Volus thought it may have been an explosive, but members of the collective quickly identified it as one of the energy cells from the crashed runabout. Quickly Volus ordered drones to intercept, while the collective was tasked at determining the importance of the new information. ~I've got them~ He thought as the results indicated that if the antimatter mine had been improperly shielded that the device would be ineffective as a weapon. It would not have the ability to release enough energy to destroy the sphere. The power cell was a means for the federation team to resolve that issue. Wave after wave of Borg Drone shifted direction, converging no longer on the cave and the antimatter mine, but on the carrier of the power cell. With only a few federation officers to protect him, the probability extractions were very much in Volus' favor. Then the unthinkable happened. The federation runabout took off and made a strafing run against the masses of Borg Drones. The phasers of the small craft ripped up the very planet along their route and destroyed hundreds of Drones. He had to shut down many of them because of the extensive nature of the damage. {{Move the pyramid. We must destroy that runabout!} he bellowed into the collective. {{Negative}} the collective responded. {{if we do not destroy that runabout, all will be lost here.}} Volus replied. {{You will comply}} {{Negative. Utilizing the Antiproton beam in such proximity to the antimatter mine will cause it to detonate. The sphere will be destroyed as a result.}} {{If we do nothing the sphere will be destroyed.}} {{It is a statistical possibility. However should the Sphere be destroyed, we will utilize our temporal contingency}} Volus wanted to scream at the collective and tell them to obey, but he saw the logic and reasoning in their statements. As long as the mine had not detonated, the mission was salvageable, however using the weapons on the pyramid would almost decidedly cause the very destruction that they were trying to avoid. {{Power the Temporal displacement cells.}} he ordered, {{Our temporal coordinates will be 65121.120332.875542145}} {{temporal displacement cells powering.}} Volus smiled. The Federation may well win this struggle, but the battlefield was about to change. {{The Federation runabout is leaving the planet}} the collective announced. {{It seems that they have run out of hope after all. Send drones to dismantle the device.}} {[The cave mouth has been damaged by weapons fire. The way is inaccessible at present.}} {{Make a means of reaching the device. It must be disassembled.}} Suddenly an incredibly brilliant flash of light filled the main viewer as the Antimatter device detonated. On the surface, Volus could feel every Borg Drone simply cease functioning. {{Scanners! Show me the device}} he ordered. The viewscreen shimmered and a massive crater covering under a massive mushroom cloud of debris dominated the view. {{The device?}} he asked. {{destroyed beyond repair.}} {{Move us away from the planet and prepare to open a temporal vortex}} The Borg Pyramid broke orbit and headed slowly towards the stellar parent of the system. Deep within it's core, Seylarions and Chronitons were being created by specialized temporal field cells. ~If I can not have the device here in the present, I shall have it in the past~ Volus thought. (reply None) Daniel Greene --------------------------------------------------------------------- (Drovek II Lieutenant Tom Jackson 2O/COPS Day 4 1755) Tom crouched next to the mine. His was sweating but it wasn’t due to the environmental conditions of the planet. It was about to do something with many potential risks. He accessed the instrumentation panel and flipped through the menus to the activation/detonation sequences. The code to activate was long and thankfully he remembered the code. The mine was now live and it was prompting fro the execution code and countdown time. Turning to Ben Soma. Tom asked “I am initiating the destruction sequence - get everyone out of here - NOW” he yelled. (Reply: Soma) Tom also added “ I’ll bring up the rear Ben” and turned to input the code to start the countdown to detonation. Jackson looked around to make sure everyone was heading to the shuttle. Once satisfied, Tom slowly entered the sequence. The display prompted ‘ Count down time?’. Tom entered the number of minutes - he entered t6 minutes and opted for a silent countdown. The system asked him to confirm his selection. Tom answered yes and hit execute. The timer began its countdown. Tom piled some debris around the device to attempt to hide it should the Borg make it into the cave. Tom stood up made the old earth cartoon character the Road Runner. Tom exited the cave and sprinted to the shuttle. Collapsing inside he ordered - Get the h*** out of here NOW”. (Replay: any on shuttle) (Posted by : Bill) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (Drovek II, Mine Team, CTAC/SEC Lt. jg Ben Soma,1756) “I am initiating the destruction sequence - get everyone out of here - NOW” Tom yelled. Ben moved to help those who couldn't help themselves, the time had finally come to get off this god forsaken rock and put it behind them. He was glad for it to end, he couldn't go much further before having to give in to exhaustion. This mission had been the most demanding he ever been on, physically and mentally the whole team was spent. They were beaten, battered, broken, and bruised almost beyond recognition. They had done their part and now it was time for technology to take over, the mine would finish the task and destroy the Borg's prize. "Let's get these people into the runabout." Ben yelled out. Tom also added “ I’ll bring up the rear Ben” Once Ben had helped the others into the runabout he turned and went back out with Tom. "I'm not leaving you out here alone." Ben said. "You have a shadow until your inside that runabout Tom." Once Tom had finished arming and camouflaging the mine they ran to the runabout. "Get the h*** out of here NOW”. Tom said. Ben wanted to collapse on the deck but he couldn't, he had people who needed medical attention. "Doctor is there anything I can do to help the wounded?" He asked. (reply Ichijo) (posted by Milo Young) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (Borg Pyramid, Regeneration Alcove, ATT Commander Matthew McLaren, Day 4 - 1757) Matthew's ability to resist the voices of the collective had been growing steadily more and more difficult. At first he had thought that he was thinking to himself, but then as time progressed he realized that he was actually hearing some of the more insistent voices of the collective. They were few, a distinguishable thought or voice in a sea of conversation. Matthew found it reassuring that just as in the real situation when listening to people discuss things in a crowd, the vast majority of conversations became nothing more than unintelligible noise. Apparently here, in the collective, the concept was much the same. The general discussion taking place in the distance or all around you was muddled and unintelligible. It was the more dominate discussions that you could make out with any sort of clarity. Despite now being able to hear some of the voices, it oddly enough gave Matthew some hope. If he could analyze the face that he was able to think about the situation analytically in the first place, it meant that he had not yet been assimilated. {{You will be assimilated. You will be modified to service us. Resistance is futile.}} He heard over and over again over the course of the last several hours. It was only because the majority of the implant was operational that he could even track the passage of time at all. Suddenly his attention was snapped to a series of rapid images. It was disorienting at first and he missed a great deal of detail, but then as his brain adapted to the sudden influx of information he began to realize what was happening. He was seeing some sort of action on the surface of the planet. A hundred thousand Borg Drones working feverishly to release the docking clamps holding a massive sphere on the surface. A sphere designed to travel backwards in time and seed the atmosphere of a dying planet with a nanite that would absorb deadly radiation before it could destroy this world. A sphere that had never been launched for reasons unknown, and which now comprised the entire effort of the Borg Collective to assimilate it so that it could be adapted to deploy Borg nanoprobes into the atmosphere of resistant worlds. A superweapon so diabolical that for the Borg to possess it would mean the end of it all. Matthew wanted to scream out, to escape from his prison, but all he could muster was a single movement of his right pinkie finger. He was still himself, and still capable of thought. Yet if he couldn't convey this new data to someone in a position to stop them, there wouldn't be a human race. (reply none) Daniel Greene --------------------------------------------------------------------- (Dovek II - Runabout - Science Officer - Ensign Andrew Maddox - 1757) Information began flooding across both of Andrew's readouts. ~It's active.~ "We have positive confirmation of photon mine activation." Maddox announced, he smiled broadly. ~Activating a weapon of mass destruction just gave me joy. What have these Borg done to us?~ While Maddox was distracted by his sudden revelation, crew began pouring into the open hatch of the runabout. He snapped to focusing again on his readouts. (Reply any) (Posted by Todd) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (Runabout Rosencrantz, CTAC/SEC Lt. jg Ben Soma-1802) Ben headed towards the cockpit careful not to bump into anyone, they were shaken up enough as it was. The blast had been massive, the Borg had been defeated. The runabout began tumbling in the turbulence and Ben grabbed the nearest bulkhead for support. "Everyone hold on." He yelled as the runabout began to roll. After the acrobatics had finished he continued to the cockpit in time to see some of the after math. Debris floated everywhere, they were lucky to have survived. "Great piece of flying." He said to Rosenbauer and Sanok. He steeped behind his friend and rested his good arm on the back of the seat. Now that he had time to stop and relax he was becoming aware of how much damage he received on the surface. His ribs ached making his breathing painful, his shoulder throbbed from the gash he received from the drones mechanical arm, his legs burned and his ankles both felt sprained. It even looked as if his right wrist was beginning to swell. "Oh God." Mike said a moment later, "The Rosenante and the Boudicca are no where to be seen." "Scan for debris." Ben said. "Were they destroyed." (reply Rosenbauer, Sanok) If both ships were destroyed the runabout was a sitting duck, the Borg would pick them off easily. They weren't out of the woods yet. He didn't want to believe that after all they had been through on the surface, all the attacks they had survived, that they would die in the runabout. How was that for irony, they'd been to hell and survived and now they were going to die in the vacuum of space without the ability to fight back. (reply as above, any) (posted by Milo Young) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (Runabout Rosencrantz, SO, Ens. Mike Rosenbauer, Day 4 -1821) Mike could feel his sore ribs screaming as the Runabout accelerated as rapidly as it was able in a very short time. With the Antimatter mine set, it was only a matter of moments before the device would detonate and wipe out anything that was too close to the point of detonation. He had taken the co-pilot's seat next to Sanok, and had a great view of the planet as the shuttle climbed away from the danger zone. The shuttle simply wasn't fast enough. The explosion was tremendous. The raw nature of a quarter ton of anti-matter annihilating an equal amount of matter, was simply too great to truly comprehend. The planet seemed to spasm, as the explosion vaporized a crater a thousand kilometers in diameter. Mountains, lakes, and the city were completely wiped from existence as the massive power did it's work. The sphere never had a chance. The site of the explosion was overshadowed by a mushroom cloud larger than any he'd every witness or even heard of. It rose so high, that it flattened out at the top of the planet's atmosphere. Massive balls of boiling plasma and jets of ionized gases lanced out into the space surrounding the planet seeking something to take their vengeance out upon. In all of that the Runabout was fortunate. The shock wave struck them just as they were leaving the atmosphere. It was almost as if the small vessel was engulfed in a wall of ionized plasma and gas that encapsulated it. The shields held, but the attitude control was all over the board. The ship tumbled so rapidly that Mike couldn't really tell the floor from the ceiling. When Sanok and he had finally managed to regain Control of the ship, they realized exactly how lucky they had been. Opposite the explosion the Borg Pyramid had broken orbit and was far enough away to have avoided the damage, but the planet's single moon, had not been so fortunate. Massive chucks of stone, ripped up from the bed of the detonation site were slamming into the face of that barren planetoid with all the ferocity of a rapid fired projectile weapon. Massive craters and huge cracks appeared as the world took a physical pummeling from it's celestial neighbor. The stabilized the runabouts course, away from that of the Pyramid. Mike quickly performed a scan. "Oh God." he said a moment later, "The Rosenante and the Boudicca are no where to be seen." (reply all in runabout) Daniel Greene --------------------------------------------------------------------- (USS Boudicca - Brig - TAC/SC Lieutenant(SG) Detron Trei -2000) Detron rested for a few hours on the bed saving his strength for an attempt at the Klingon Spirit Quest. His intention of the quest is to contact Matt McClaren and fight the Borg through him. Detron sat up on the bed and drank the rest of his Earl Gray that was sitting there. He had some Blood Pie earlier so that part was taken care of. The next step was to get information on the status of McClaren. Detron closed his eyes and listened to the idle chatter in the Brig. Detron prepared. for the next step of the Klingon Spirit Quest. If it is working proficiently, the Spirit Quest can act as a image seen but not touched. An image that all pass through with no harm to the body projected from. That is the intention Detron is going for. Let the Borg shoot at his image all they want. The result will be hurting themselves. (Reply All in Brig) (Posted by Edward) --------------------------------------------------------------------- End Compile ---------------------------------------------------------------------