Deployment

Posted on Mon May 28th, 2018 @ 11:33pm by Captain Elijah Michaels & Commander Bertrand Cuprum & Commander Cor Cordale & Lieutenant Commander Ziyal Tajor & Lieutenant Hel Samedi & Lieutenant Jaton Alyl & Lieutenant Sara'draphia T'eseri & Lieutenant JG Scotty Kayne & Lieutenant JG Alejandro Fernandez & Lieutenant Ishan Satele

Mission: Of Machines and Men

Shuttles dropped from orbit and approached the city, flying as close tot he rooftops as possible to minimize sensor signatures. The compin signal led them straight to the facility. While the Trafalgar made a circle of the facility to check it, two shuttle craft landed in the wide courtyard in front of the open doors and disgorged their Marine and Security personnel.

The Marines quickly set up a perimeter around the LZ, which they handed to the Secrity teams to hold while they moved forward to engage the occupants of the structure.

Ziyal strode forward, her phaser rifle slung using a retention strap on her chest and wearing the armor with a Starfleet insigna. She didn't show the deep uncertainty she was feeling. She mostly let the individual squad leaders control their teams. Only telling them to change something if they really needed to.

As they approached the entrance they could see the wide clear doors, wide open to the elements. There was dust and old leaves gathered just inside. The foyer was deep and deserted, but could easily allow dozens of people to move through together.

The figure of a ring master appeared at the door smiling broadly and gesturing for them to enter, "Step up ladies and gentlemen, step up quickly and join us. We've been expecting you."

"I don't like this." opined Mark Whitman, an aged and weathered old Gunny. "The rest of our crew probably listened to everything this - ... robot or hologram or whatever told them, and we're here to not fall into the same trap."

Stroral wasn't going to waste any time with this robot. He held his distance and trained his phase rifle on he ring master. "You will release our people or you will suffer the consequences," he said in the cold and indifferent voice indicative of his Vulcan origin. Despite the monotone nature of the threat, it was no less potent.

Elliot Keller looked at the Vulcan. "I wouldn't advise that either." The Diplomatic Officer said to the Marine. "For all we know there is a protocol or failsafe in place which prevents action against the staff." The Purple clad Officer placed his arm onto the rifle and lowered it. "A few seconds to disintergrate him won't get them back any sooner."

Corporal Spencer Kelly, the Teams explosives guy looked around at the Ringmaster. "What do you mean you've been expecting us? As in you knew we'd come and try to rescue our people?"

There was a flicker ont eh Ringmaster's face as it sought a response. It settled for, "All applicants are welcome."

Stroral turned to his teammates. "Starfleet regulation favours the diplomatic approach. Logic dictates that since the Away Team tried to engage with this being and became trapped here, a more direct approach is warranted." With that, he trained his phase rifle back on the ring master. "This situation seems to require a Vulcan Hello."

"Stand down Stroral. I'll let you know when I'll need your hello. Your not here for show, but I'd rather try a diplomatic approach first." Ziyal said in a cool firm tone. "Mordin, tell me what we're getting on the tricorder. Whitman, Kelly, spread out so that if it tries to hit us with an area effect, some of us might be outside of it. Keller, this appears to be an automated response of some sort. Lets see what you can get out of it."

"Sir." was all Whitman said. Type 3 compression rifle held at the low ready he spread out from the group, moving towards a flanking position, but keeping in line of sight of the rest. He'd done this dance before. Even so, the hairs on the back of his neck stood upright and a chill ran down his spine. This situation creeped him out, he was man enough to admit.

Spencer checked his gear. "I've got an old style chemical explosive set up to disable the shield." The Corporal then examined the charges and detonator. "The punch it packs should be enough to disable almost anything and based on the data we gathered I can adjust its yield."

Elliot looked around at the decayed ruins and the automated staff. "This greeter looks like it's been through some wars, so do the ticket vendors." The Diplomatic Officer heard the message again as he stepped closer. "Corporal Kelly may I borrow a set of pliers?"

The Marine nodded as he handed the Lieutenant something from his Kit.

Elliot nodded and proceeded forward with the pliers in hand. The purple clad Officer firmly placed his hand on the shoulder of the greeter and used the pliers in his left hand to pull some debris out of the automated unit.

"Please refrain from interfering with any support infrastructure," the Ringmaster responded, seemingly unfussed by the assault.

"I thought as much." He held up a chunk of metal. "The automated units aren't authentic they've been upgraded and maintained fairly recently."

"But then who upgrades them? The Away Team didn't find any signs of life anywhere and the Victory didn't detect life signs." Kelly commented as he looked at Keller.

Keller shrugged. "Not a clue unfortunately Corporal, but my guess is that they're not wanting to be detected."

"All maintenance is as per the automated maintenance schedule, activated after each application of 50 cycles. Would you please step through the turn-styles and follow me inside?" The android ringmaster intoned happily, drawing back into the structure foyer past a set of turn-styles you might find at the front of any sporting event.

Stroral cocked an eyebrow. "You will return and answer our questions, sir."

Spencer took out his Tricorder and did some scans. "I wouldn't go through the turnstiles." He said raising his hand in a closed fist. "There's an unusual power reading emanating from it." The Marine approached a little closer. "It wasn't there when the Away Team landed but now it's present."

Ziyal nodded, "We'll go around them." She looked at the marines. "Make me a hole so we can get deeper."

The Marine walked to a side wall and scanned it. Then instantly took out a small square shaped charge. He placed against the wall and took a step back. In less than a few seconds the wall caved in and part of it blew away. "There we go job done."

New figures appeared in janitorial outfits who lurched forward and began to collect the debris. the Ring master rolled forward again.

"Please excuse the temporary maintenance. The Greatest Game is still accepting entrants. Please step through the turn-styles...."

Stroral spoke up. "We will not. Not until we have our people and you answer our questions."

The Ringmaster and the staff didn't seem to take much notice. The Rescue team were now stood in the large mock up of a circus. Using the hole created and avoiding the Turnstiles.

"Alright where do we go now?" Keller asked looking around. "Do we just blow a hole in the ground and dig?" He asked.

Spencer looked at the others and then proceeded forwards. "Well I mean it's the best shot we've got." He said firing his weapon into the dirt.

Stroral turned to Tajor. "Talking and diplomacy is getting us nowhere. Permission to use the Vulcan Hello?"

“I wouldn’t recommend doing anything that could compromise power to this facility” Satele said, walking over to the hole in the wall, “we don’t know where our people are and blowing holes everywhere could be detrimental to them."

Ziyal look a look at the map. "Keller, as the Ringmaster what this is a map of. If it's a map of the facility, even the public parts it might be helpful."

Elliot nodded as Spencer went with him. “Excuse me can you tell me what this is?” He asked the Ringmaster.

“I am sorry but you are missing the finest entertainment in the Universe, please enter through the turnstiles and we can begin.” The Rigmaster said in an automated tone.

Elliot shook his head and then looked at Spencer. “10 strips of Latinum says that’s the only response we are getting.”

“I heard that El-tee.” Spencer responded as they headed to the group. “No luck there Commander seems like they’re only interested in the turnstiles and have automatic responses.”

Kelly's looked at the Map. “This part has been blacked out completely in the middle.” The Corporal pointed. “Why Black this part out dead in the middle?”

"To stop us from seeing what they don't want us to see." opined Whitman from a small distance, still covering the entrance with his weapon, from cover. "I suggest we go find out what it is. Nine to ten says it's our people."

"If that's the case we need to find a way to get past the ringmaster," Stroral stated matter-of-factly. He shouldered his phase rifle, and fired a warning shot past the ringmaster's head.

“Wait, what are you doing? He might be our only way in” Satele asked, turning to Stroral, “we don’t know what threatening him will do to our people inside”

"All other more diplomatic avenues have failed. What else would you suggest?"

"Maybe we should follow what the man is saying? if anything it's a sure way to get inside and find out what's going on" Satele suggested, "either that or we start blasting as you suggest and possibly loose any advantage we might have"

“It seems more than likely that’s what the first away team did. The most likely outcome of walking through the turnstiles and the shield is we will suffer the same fate as the others.”

"I have to agree." Elliot said to the others. "The Locals don't seem to mind us being here, they're only interacting with us when we interact with them."

"So what do we do now?" Corporal Kelly asked.

"We go to the bit of the Map we can't see." Elliot suggested as he downloaded the map and then proceeded forwards. The others soon followed on behind him, taking note that the buildings feature decay the closer they got to the middle.

Ziyal considered what everyone was saying before making her decision. "We're already past the turnstiles thanks to the hole." She nodded at the hole that the marines had blasted. "We're going to head to the blacked out area. It might be just some kind of glitch in their system, or it might be something important. Regardless, probing it will give us more information about their capabilities and limitations."

She glanced at her team, "Stroral, your on point. I'll be behind you. Kelly behind me, Keller behind him. Then Whitman, Satele, and Spencer."

Eventually they arrived at the blacked out part of the map. It was open space with a single small structure in the middle, almost like a shed or outhouse with a single door.

Ziyal examined it for a moment. "Whitman, see if we can get the door to open normally. If that doesn't work, Kelly, put down a shaped charge so I can have the option to blow it open. Keller, Satele, give me your thoughts."

"Yes'm." Whitman grunted, rising to his feet from his position and approaching the door, there to try and push it open, using whatever lever or handle was available.

looking over the building, Satele sighed, "perhaps we shouldn't push our luck with the explosives. In such an enclosed area, the shockwave could be devastating to our people. Could we burn through the door with a phaser?"

Alejandro said nothing as this was his first rescue mission ever in the field. He stood ready with the phaser keeping all his wits about him. He analyzed every aspect of the place they were. His tactical and strategic mind began to quickly assess every possible contingency that was plausible, he was good at that after all. He heard Satele recommend burning through the door and remarked in a quiet voice, "Commander Taylor; burning through the door is a sensible plan but it brings the aspect of allowing the enemy to amass their forces, 'Nunca dejes que el enemigo se reúna en la jungla (Never let the enemy gather in the jungle)' as my Aztecs would say."

Stroral nodded as he took up an easily defensible position, his rifle trained on the door. "A good point. I suggest blowing the door rather than taking the time to cut through it using phasers." He reached to his belt and took out a couple of small metallic balls. "I also have flash grenades ready to go should we need them."

Kelly reached into his backpack. "I have a small entry charge I can use." The Corporal placed it on the door. It was designed to cause little to no damage and will allow easy entry. The team took up positions and got ready. "Fire in the hole!" The charge detonated and access to the bunker was granted.

"I believe we have been granted access." Lieutenant Keller said as he peeked round the corner, "shall we?"

Spencer raised his rifle. The Private stood back and waited for orders as he noticed the janitorial staff and the other attendants going about their duties and not noticing the explosion. "Ma'am the locals aren't remotely hostile, we just blew a hole in a door and not a single alarm has been raised." He pointed to his left and the passive nature of the locals. "I'd say that the facility is only activated once you enter the turnstiles as we assumed."

Ziyal nodded, there were problems with that assumption that she didn't like. However, as a working assumpion, it wasn't murderously horrible. She hoped.

"Allright, lets see what they blacked out. Even if we think there arn't any bad guys in there, lets do this by the numbers and get our people out. Marines, take point, lets get our people." Ziyal said.

Pulling out her phaser and tricorder, Satele entered the building and immediately started scanning everything. Technology that could block Starfleet sensors would be of great interest to Starfleet Intelligence, along with some other parties.

The Away Team began their journey on inside and it became apparent that the inner aesthetic didn’t match the outside as small lights were illuminating a path. “No sentries or automated defences.” Spencer said as he proceeded forward.

“2 slips of Latinum says that aren’t any at all.” Looks like they never needed it if the aim was to use the turnstiles and pull up a shield.” Corporal Kelly commented.

"I'll take that bet, this seems to complex for the builders not to build in safeguards" Satele said

"I would still recommend caution," Stroral said as he moved to the right flank of the team, looking for any sign of their people.

The short corridor opened into a breathtaking spectacle. Before them the path stretched away to each side and a rail showed a vast area that dropped into the earth. Along the sides of the pat were cabinets, sealed against time and the elements. Countless numbers stretched away into the darkness on this level, and a quick scan with torches showed that each floor below to the extent of the light had a similar set up.

It took them only a moment to identify the cabinets were storage units. Each contained a contestant, but they were firmly sealed and there were no markings on them except a green light and a number.

However, the tricorder signal that had locked onto the com pin tracker Bertrand had made for his team led them to stairs and down a dozen levels. They arrived at a container inside which the Com pin must be housed. The front showed the same green light, and a number: 1338547.

There were perhaps another four or five occupied chambers and from that point on they all had red lights and no numbers.

OOC: Stevens is inside this chamber, and the rest of the away team will be found either side according to their contestant number. It should be an easy matter for a Federation tech to override the stasis chamber without hurting the occupant, but doing so, one by one, for all 1.3 million occupants is time consuming. Or you can just cut the power.

“Wow okay so how do we figure this out?” Lieutenant Keller asked as he looked around. “There are numbers and no names.”

"We free them all." Said Whitman. "Way I figure, everyone single one of these is a victim. So we call in a hospital ship, free them all and sort them out then. Time to put an end to this - whatever 'this' is, once and for good."

Ziyal nodded, considering the issue. "Let's start by getting our people out. Then we'll check the readings of the other tubes. I'll make a decision about if we should start waking them up then. If their stable and secure, I'm inclined to leave them until the hospital ship shows up. We don't have the facilities to take care of a million people."

"Agreed." Whitman opined. "As for our people, computers like to do things sequentially, so chances are the highest numbers is them."

The assumption was quite correct. The casket with the highest number was disabled easily and after a moment slid open to reveal the ship's chief engineer. Despite being a little groggy he was unharmed.

The Thux landed on his feet with something of a thump, and it took a step or two for him to find his balance. He staggered, took a deep breath, and then started to just breathe deep. Air in, air out, air in, air out. He looked to the closest person in uniform, just breathing and centering himself. Just breathe, just breathe...

"Is everyone okay? Is Seran alright?" were the only things he wanted to know.

Working back along the line the away team had soon released their entire team.

One pod revealed one half of Val Seran. She woke up, groggy, slow, sluggish and confused, though as the others seemed t get their bearings, she didn't. Morose, barely responsive, she staggered a bit when brought to her feet but then slumped down onto the grund again, a miserable little heap of physically healthy misery.

But then one pod revealed the other half of her, and as the second Dalacari mind awoke from the mists and reached out into the darkness, it found an answer. Both Dalacari halves stopped dead cold, eyes widening. They slowly turned towards each other, almost a sense of disbelief on both their faces, soon replaced with relief, and both halves of Val just approached each other, saying nothing, staring at each other in silence. Breathing synced up. The blinking of eyes, subtle motions of their hands, out of sync at first, but adjusting to each other.

Jaton drew in a sharp breath as his stasis pod revived him. He grasped at his chest where the phaser had hit him. Everything seemed alright. He felt his abdomen for Alyl. Alyl gave a slight squirm in response, and Jaton smiled as he caught his breath. He swung his legs over the side of his stasis pod and haltingly began to stand.

"Scotty?" he said, looking at the figure emerging next to him.

"Someone tell the guy with the jackhammer to lay off?" he said, sitting up in the stasis pod, "Hey Jaton,"

"You alright?"

"Aside from a killer headache, and the urge to beat the living crap out of that weird ass purple monkey, just peachy," Scotty replied

"Purple monkey?"

"Right, you weren't here for that, we've got a lot to catch up on,"

"Last thing I remember is you shooting me. You said 'I'm sorry.' I wanted to make sure you were alright."

"Don't get me wrong, I'm gonna need a counselor, I'm more worried about getting out of here at the moment,"

"I can understand that." Jaton, now surer on his own feet, went over and helped Scotty to stand up. He draped Scotty's arm over his shoulders to support him. "I just wanted to say I forgive you."

As Bertrand was pulled from the sarcophagus it took him a moment to understand what was going on.

"Report?" he asked the nearest member of the rescue team.

Snapping a salute, Corporal Kelly then looked at Bertrand. "Commander we have been sent by Captain Michaels to rescue you and the Away Team." The Marine NCO looked around. "We managed to get the shield fuzzed enough to get planetside, locals didn't put up any resistance and we avoided the turnstiles."

Bertrand nodded in acceptance of the report. He took in the scope of the chamber they were in and the team working on the remaining containers. "As you were, Corporal."

Waking up as her pod opened, Sara gingerly stepped out started stretching each of her mussels, "well that was not as painful as I had anticipated" she said, pulling out her tricorder and starting to scan the rest of the away team

"Welcome back to the real world." Private Spencer said smiling as the young Marine looked at his superiors. "Runabouts and the Trafalgar are spoiled up ready to go when you guys are."

Elliot took a moment to walk around the chamber room. As a Diplomatic Officer and Galactic History Major, this whole thing fascinated him. "Could we download any of the information about this place? Because it doesn't seem right to let an alien culture such as this to just be left like this." He then placed a hand on the Sarcophagus. "Nor does it feel right to leave them to their fate."

Ziyal considered as she moved towards Bertrand. "If we can get access to their network, I don't see why not. I doubt very much that we are going to be the last members of Starfleet here. That shield of theirs disabled the Victory's shields with ease. We could use tech like that. Not to mention the potential humanitarian crisis of a million people in stasis."

After getting the confirmation it was him, Ziyal handed Bertrand a PADD with a quick brief on what was happening. "Everything you need to know is there. We're taking readings and seeing what data we can get from their system while we get everyone out. Provided there is not some humanitarian emergency, we'll be heading back to the shuttles once everyone is able to move."

"I wouldn't recommend that just yet" Sara said, turning to Bertrand, "I would feel better if we had a dedicated Starship here to help these people with a full medical team. We don't know how long some of the competitors have been here for and prolonged stasis can have deleterious effects on some species"

Walking through the throngs of officers and marines, Cordale was looking for what could easily be called the Needle in a Haystack. If that needle was a unique member of the crew, that is. He spied her, performing what he could only account was some form of ritual that her people did. When they were shot. By their commanders.

"Hey Val." Cordale started up, approaching the Dalacari, "I just wanted to check in on you. That whole ordeal was a bucket of shit, but I figure it must have hit you a little harder than the rest of us. That, and I kinda shot you, so I'm sorry about that." he finished his approach, "You alright?"

It took Val a moment to realize someone was talking to her. She turned to face him, both forms moving in sync, her eyes a bit hollow, her faces a bit sunken. She remained silent for a moment after he spoke, almost as if to process his words. Then she replied though, speaking softly. "Va ek simalek vuro - " and switching focus, though less seamlessly as normal. " - kivar nuuli vo. Masali seman."

At his look of confusion a shake of her heads. "Sorry. I - .. " The other taking over. "You did what you had to and what you did was a mercy. Thank you." A dip of her heads. "I'm not ok. My link took a beating. With time, maybe, with - " Focus shifted again. " - some help, maybe I will be." A pause then. "And you?"

He shook his head, "I did a bunch of things that don't sit well with me, here in the Thux Gut. I... I guess I'm in the same boat as you. I'm not alright, but I'll *be* alright. You let me or Bert or the Captain know what you need, I'm sure they're going to get a hell of a lot of requests in the next few hours. Let's just... go make sure everyone else is on their feet. Sooner that, the sooner we can pack up."

Val closed her eyes for a moment before speaking again. "I need to contact Dalacar. Speak with a - " Cor was used to it by now, one form going silent and the other picking up, almost seamlessly. " - psychologist specialized in link damage." A pause. "And I'm gonna need a stiff drink."

Bertrand was reviewing the information. "All right people. Here is how we will proceed. We revive our own people but stop there. This is potentially a very volatile situation. We don't know what we will find in these pods. It could be multiple first contacts. There could be members of extinct races. There could be hostile life forms. Then there is the question of Prime Directive. This is above our pay grade to decide on. gather your intel and make your reports and recommendations. We let the Captain and the Brass decide how to proceed."

He looked at the disappointment in many faces, "I know how you feel, believe me. I'd like some answers to. But have a look at the impact on our team after only a few minutes suspensions and being greeted by our own crew. Now imagine there is an angry Iconian in one of these pods. You think we are ready for that?"

"You have one hour to gather your data, and no risks. "

He turned to the chief of Opps, "Ziyal, you are still in charge here. My team is going to report to the Victory for a medical and de-brief. The USS Salvation is nearby and she has capacity for this sort of recovery work... at least initially, but she may need to call in support."

He turned to one of the Marines, "Which is the way out?"

"Sir." A weathered marine stepped forward, standing at attention. "Gunnery Sergeant Mark Whitman. Exit's this way. Want me to escort you back now, find your own way, or gather your people and go back all in one go?"

Sara quickly stepped forward, “All at once would be preferable, Commander” she suggested to Bertrand. “That way I can get the medical scans done more quickly.”

"Agreed," Bertrand gave another nod. "My team, we are going topside. The rest of you have an hour. Lead the way, Sergeant."

"Right this way, Sir." Whitman spoke, leading the way out and up, weapon at the low ready.

"Spencer you've got the rear." Kelly said as the Corporal relayed the Gunnys order. "El-tee stick close to me." He motioned to Lieutenant Keller.

"Roger that Corporal." Spencer said as he waited for the others to get into position and then took up the rear, giving one last glance to the remaining Pods.