|
Post by Lieutenant Kei-teh Kintaru on Jun 16, 2005 13:24:14 GMT -5
As Maxwell left the table, I snatched the precious Jade Stone and stormed out of the dinning hall. Zhukov’s apologies meant nothing to me. He stole something that could very well have fallen into the hands of the enemy, something that could have changed the enitre universe from bad to worse. He had betrayed me and my honour. He betrayed my clan. And worst of all… I had failed my family.
I snuck off into my quarters to inspect the Stone for any anomalies. I checked for scratches and markings that could of affected it… but I had to make sure that this was the REAL stone. The thought of subterfuge hadn’t left my mind until I placed it above the small lamp near my bed. The familiar star constellation painted the ceiling of my room. This was an early form of mapping from many thousands of years ago. The star formation could only be seen from the direct entrance of the tomb; if you could look up into the sky and see it, you knew that the fate of existence was within your grasp…
A chill ran down my spin. Something so small and insignificant could cause the end of everything… There was no way Ren would ever get this again. The fortune that could fund Ren would make him unstoppable… My temper still hadn’t dissipated yet, so I decided to relieve some stress by going to the dojo for some martial arts training.
The dojo was just a simple hall with some lightly padded flooring to ease exercise impacts on the foot as well as falls that were, as I could see, often. Though slightly tatty, this area would suit my needs.
I still wasn’t at ease within my mind. I had been training with a solid oak frame that resembled a human in a fighting stance, practicing hand to hand combat techniques. The face was merely a wooden oval shape with no characteristics at all. I stood in a traditional Kintaru stance, my left arm outstretched, my right fist by my right hip, feet one in front of the other with a distance of roughly 12 inches away from each other. Both fists were clenched and my palms sweaty. My entire body was exhausted. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. When I opened my eyes the wooden head had distorted and eerily changed. The face took form into something that filled my heart with even more rage. I stared into General Rens mocking eyes.
“Haven’t you gotten stronger boy?!” Ren said
“You murdering bastard…” I muttered with absolute hatred
“Still seeking revenge? You still cant see that your clan was just… insignificant? A small speck on something that is FAR bigger than anything you could possibly comprehend?”
“… Shut up”
“Hmm? Pardon?” He said, tittering.
“SHUT UP!” I shouted as I launched into Ren.
My rage exploded. As my punches collided, Ren’s face shattered into a million splinters of wood. Soon His image had disappeared and all that was left was a severely ruined training doll… minus the head.
“That’s quite a temper you had” said a familiar voice.
“… you startled me…” I said as Mamba appeared from the shadows.
“We better get you to sick bay…” she said, a slight look of concern fluttered her face. I didn’t understand will a hear a faint drip. A large splinter had rammed itself into my knuckles and caused a large gash across hand.
“… I’ll be fine” I grunted, looking away from the wound and Mamba. As I did, I bit into the large splinter and pulled it out.
“If I could just look at it I’m sure…”
“I SAID I’ll be fine” I shouted, pounding the ragged wooden frame, causing it to topple over from its support post.
Silence filled the room and for a long while Mamba looked at me with sad eyes while I stared 100 yards into the distance. It was a while before either of us spoke.
“I’m… sorry” I said grudgingly “I’m just… so upset over what happened. I was infiltrated Mamba… Something that was so precious to me… something I SWORE to protect was taken from me…. AGAIN… can you imagine how that feels? Utter betrayal!” “Yes… I know how it feels…” she said. As Mamba said that I soon realised she had, courtesy of General Murlance…
“Now are you gunna’ let me have a look at that?” she said, her words slightly soothing my rage. After deciding that I needed stitches, we ventured to sick bay and continued our talk.
“Its quite nasty but I think you’ll pull through.”
“u-huh” I said as Mamba began preparations for the stitching. All the medical staff were on call at the time, so Mamba decided to do the procedure herself. Her medical knowledge had perhaps surpassed my own and possibly everyone on the team… should was certainly going to become a great asset to the team. Mamba started the procedure.
“You know… Zhukov is sorry”
“u-huh…”
“when you left Zhukov had such a guilty face on him… Sometimes Kintaru… its hard to follow your own feelings… and it’s even harder to see know who to trust”
I still wasn’t convinced.
“Take me and Murlance… I trusted him and he turned on us… Seeing the greater good I helped you guys out…”
My interest peeked a little.
“Now take Zhukov… his old commander, someone who he would have died for, needed him to take your Map Stone…”
I carried on listening as she finished the third stitch.
“However… he saw the greater good and returned it to you…”
I remained silent.
“If you can trust me… someone once loyal to Murlance… can you not trust Zhukov?”
I had suddenly realised the truth… Zhukov wasn’t with the enemy anymore. He knew where his alliances stood
“There all done” she said smiling.
“Mamba… thank you”
“Well it was just simple stitches…”
“No… for clearing my mind”
“Your…”
I stood up and walked out of the room.
“… welcome” Mamba said, a small smile crept across her face.
Unexpectedly, I stumbled upon a saddened Zhukov not too much later. He was sitting the in holo-vid room, flicking through pre-recorded shopping channels and what not.
Anything good on?” The channel surfing stopped as Zhukov paused for a second.
“…Just your standard shit…” he muttered. I let out a faint laugh.
Zhukov… thank you for returning the stone. The Kintaru clan is in your debt” I said placing a hand on his shoulder. He looked up, puzzled at first until he saw the wide smile on my face.
“Now… I think channel 384 has “Kendo!” with Ted Strooger… you should practice, your combat skills were sloppy today, AT BEST!” We looked at each other in silence before crying in laughter. Zhukov was forgiven… and soon all would be back to normal. Or as normal as things could be in this war ridden universe…
|
|
|
Post by Captain Benjamin Maxwell on Jun 16, 2005 13:56:35 GMT -5
My boots thundered on the metal grating of the JumpShip's steel corridors, my focus split between furatively typing out a text-only message on my comm unit and keeping from colliding into personnel and objects as I ran. I had managed to verbally relay Dillenger's instructions to the majority of the Legionnaire crewmembers that were in the mess hall, but Mamba, Zhukov, and Kintaru had disappeared shortly after I left the table. I hoped they had their comm units on them, as the ship was far too expansive for a deck-by-deck search in the scant twenty minutes before...whatever was about to happen...happened.
I was headed toward the infirmary, several decks away, the last place I had seen Nick Schuster. Although Garland had been discharged, and had actually been well enough to join us for our celebratory meal, the young agent was still recovering from his wounds, and couldn't walk far. I had a sinking feeling that we were about to encounter some fairly ruthless adversaries, and I wasn't going to let another one of our own die on this mission, especially one who was almost totally helpless.
Funny how you keep making that promise to yourself, Maxwell. Do you ever intend to actually make good on it?
I slid down a ladderway, my combat boots making a thunderous crash onto the grating below. Charging into the infirmary, I nearly collided with Commander Mamba.
"Commander - where's the physician on call?"
"Well, I don't know, Kintaru and I -"
"Kintaru was with you? Where did he go?"
"I don't know...he didn't say...he was here to get a splinter removed, and then he took off...why? What's happened?"
"It's what's about to happen that has me worried." I replied. "Where's Schuster?"
"Back here," Mamba gestured, leading me to a partitioned-off recovery alcove where Schuster's bed had been moved as new patients came in. He was sleeping, and didn't stir at our presence.
"Captain, with all due respect..."
"I don't know. Something is about to happen. I don't know what - or how - but we've specific instructions from Dillenger not to interfere. I...think it involves the Clans," I hesitated, holding up the Ghost Bear insignia, "and if that's so - unfortunately - we need to heed his warning. I need you to find Kintaru and Zhukov, and let them know that their lives are in danger. Get them back to my quarters aboard the JumpShip, and seal yourselves in."
"And then what? We wait? To what end?"
"I don't know. I don't have anything further from Dillenger. I've instructions to secure with you, but I need to know what kind of danger this crew is about to be put in. I'm going back for some answers."
Mamba nodded, and gestured toward the still-sleeping Schuster.
"Do you want me to take him with me?"
I nodded.
"Yes. Can you carry him on your own?"
Mamba gave me a sarcastic look and a smile.
"I'm not some sort of helpless waif, you know," she shot back, walking to the bedside and waking Schuster, handing him his glasses as he looked around, disoriented.
"Good. You'd better hurry. I don't think we've got much time left. Get him into a Legionnaires uniform once you've secured the quarters. Use one of mine, if you have to."
"Will do."
Mamba paused.
"Good luck, Captain."
"And to you as well. Be safe."
I ducked into the corridor, heading back the way I came - into harm's way.
|
|
|
Post by Wedge Lourde on Jun 16, 2005 19:30:05 GMT -5
I was in my Quarters when I heard a "grub Alert", as me and my old squad on Kentares called it. I walked into the poorly lit cafeteria to see Zuhkov, Maxwell, Keith, and Dillenger eating and talking over a bowl of "Schlop".
"Maxwell, sir, It was good working with you. And nice tackling, Keith. I saw you and Maxwell crush the poor blake "badstard".
You too, Sargeant., Said Maxwell. Care to join us, Wedge? Sorry, Guys. I have to submit my Mech Scematics to Quartermaster to fix. Tell you what. I'll return after I deal with my mech. Promise.
|
|
|
Post by Dr. Jessica Saturina on Jun 16, 2005 20:25:55 GMT -5
Resting in the cool shadows of the dojo after my workout, I heard someone come in the door. Before I had a chance to say anything to them, they began their workout. I decided to stay quiet and just watch.
It was Kintaru that had come in the dojo. He went to his workout quickly, but his workout grew in intensity quickly. I had the feeling this was more then just a workout. He put everything he had into it. I watched as he completely destroyed the wooden dummy. I remained quiet until his anger seemed to be completely spent. Then I noticed he had hurt his hand.
“That’s quite a temper you have”
“… you startled me…”
I moved a little closer to him sure he was done venting.
" We should get you to sick bay" Directing my gaze at the big wooden splinter protruding from his hand..
“… I’ll be fine”
It took a lot of convincing, but he finally went to sick bay with me and allowed me to tend to his wound. Holding his hand gently, I cleaned it carefully. After giving him a shot of lydacaine to deaden it. I carefully put the stitches in closing the wound. I took this opportunity to talk with him about Zhukov and what had transpired between them. At first he didn't look convinced, but after awhile he began to see things more clearly.
There all done I said smiling at him. He thanked me but before I could say anything he was gone. I smiled to myself, hoping I had made a difference in his opinion of Zhukov. Honestly not that easy for me seeing how our mission started off, but he did turn out to be a trustworthy person.
Just as I was about to leave the sick bay, Captain Maxwell came rushing in. A very concerned look on his face. We almost ran into each other. He asked where the physician on call was.
"Well, I don't know, Kintaru and I -"
"Kintaru was with you? Where did he go?"
I told him I didn't know where he had gone. He asked about Schuster. I showed him where Schuster was.
"Captain with all due respect ...."
"I don't know. Something is about to happen. I don't know what - or how - but we've specific instructions from Dillenger not to interfere. I...think it involves the Clans," I hesitated, holding up the Ghost Bear insignia, "and if that's so - unfortunately - we need to heed his warning. I need you to find Kintaru and Zhukov, and let them know that their lives are in danger. Get them back to my quarters aboard the JumpShip, and seal yourselves in."
"And then what? We wait? To what end?"
"I don't know. I don't have anything further from Dillenger. I've instructions to secure the Legionnaires, but I need to know what kind of danger this crew is about to be put in. I'm going back for some answers."
I made a gesture towards Schuster. "Do you want me to take him with me?"
"Yes. Can you carry him on your own?"
I shot the Captain a sarcastic look. "I'm not some sort of helpless waif, you know,"
"Good. You'd better hurry. I don't think we've got much time left. Get him into a Legionnaires uniform once you've secured the quarters. Use one of mine, if you have to."
"Will do."
I paused.
"Good luck, Captain."
"And to you as well. Be safe."
The Captain ran from the room. I turned my attention to Schuster, who was very groggy but awake. I went over to his bed putting my hand on his shoulder I shook him gently.
Schuster wake up. This is Commander Mamba, it is urgent that we get you out of here and to Captain Maxwells quarters. I know you are weak and can barely walk but I will do most of the work.
I reached for the robe on a chair, pulled him up gently and began dressing him like a baby, first one arm then the other. Snapping the front closed, I uncovered his legs, moving them over the side of the bed. He kept closing his eyes so I kept talking to him, telling him to try and stay awake.
Schuster put your arm around my shoulders and lean on me as much as you need to. I will get you to the Captains quarters, don't worry.
Putting my arm around his waist pulling him tightly close to me, I pulled him to his feet. He kept mumbling things but I wasn't real sure what he was saying. It was a struggle but I finally got him to the Captains quarters. Took him in, laying him gently on the bed. I needed to put a Legionnaires uniform on him per the Captains orders, but I needed to find Kintaru and Zhukov first. I made sure Schuster was comfortable.
Schuster don't move from here. You are safe here. I'll be back as soon as I can.
"mumbling from Schuster"
I quickly left the room, tearing down the corridors of the ship, frantically looking in every empty room I came across. Then an idea hit me, I ran like a mad women to the recreation room, but they weren't there. Breathing heavy from all the exertion my heart pounding so hard it felt like it would jump right out of my chest. I took off running again, looking in every room, then finally coming to the holo-vid room. I thought I heard voices, I burst into the room, they were there.
Thank ....... god ....... I ....... found ....... you ........two.
So out of breath I could hardly speak, but I had to catch my breath and calm down. Both Kintaru and Zhukov looked at me with puzzled looks on their faces. Kintaru spoke first.
"What is it Mamba, whats the matter? Calm down catch your breath.
Yes ...... I ....... need ....... to ........catch ....... my ..........breath.
Standing there trying to calm myself I quickly took some deep breaths..
You are both to come with me to Captain Maxwells quarters. I don't know a whole lot about what is going on but he ordered me to find you and take you there.
Mamba what's up? What the hell is going on?
Please Kintaru, don't ask any questions right now. Time is of the essence, we must move fast. Please both of you come with me, and I'll tell you what I know so far, we just need to go now.
Simultaneously they both said....] "Let's Go!!!!"
Very grateful that they didn't ask a lot of questions and just trusted me, we all went running back to Captain Mawells quarters. Reaching his quarters we all went in. Small space for so many people but this is what the Captain wanted and I was not going to question it. I knew Captain Maxwell was an honorable man, and I trusted him completely. Kintaru saw Schuster in the Captains bed.
What the hell is he doing here. Shouldn't he be in the infirmary?
No, Captains orders as well. He is safer here. Listen guys I don't know a whole lot about this. Captain Maxwell just told me there was danger coming and that we are not to interfere, but remain in here. Also, I need to get Schuster into one of the Captains Legionnaire uniforms. It's for his safety.
They both looked at me oddly but without question helped me get Schuster into a uniform as gently and quickly as possible.
"Now ......Kintaru ......Zhukov all we can do now is wait. The Captain said he would inform us when he found out more about the situation.
I sealed the quarters, per the Captains orders. We all got as comfortable as we could in the small space and we waited.
|
|
|
Post by Star Captain Killian Bekker on Jun 16, 2005 21:28:14 GMT -5
I went to my quarters and tucked away a personal firearm and grabbed a new armband bearing the Ghost Bear emblem.
All at once, kaxxons blared and radio messages frantically called of rmy presence on the bridge.
So, it begins...
I ran to the bridge and quickly assessed the situation. Several small vessels were coming in at high speed and was ignoring any sort of hails.
There was also a slew of fighter escorts as well.
Captain, we are standing by for your orders.
Come to heading 270 and bring out full port side weapons array to bear. Fire a warning shot on my mark.
A symphony of acknowledgements resounded in the room as weapon controls came online and various helm commands were being called out.
The ship lurched a little at the hard bank, but I knew exactly what needed to be accomplished. I had to expose the ship to the boarding parties while maintaining a defensive posture. It all looked fairly standard, but in reality it was a death sentence.
Weapons online and ready to fire. Warning shot prepped and ready on your command.
...Fire!
Naval PPCs crackled and hissed as they slung super heated plasma in a warning shot across the majority of the attackers craft.
Unnerved, they continued their approach.
Sir, they are not wavering. Requesting permission to open fire.
Denied. Mister Vong, please take control of the bridge.
Vong, among a few others on the bridge stood up and took control of the bridge by force. It took only seconds.
Bridge secure.
Good. Radio our friends and let them know.
The ships came in and attached near the shuttle bays of the Samurai's Destiny. When those doors opened, I knew that death swept in and ravaged the area. This was the beginning of a methodical deck by deck sweep. The "sweeper" squads were fanatical Ghost Bear Elementals that were trained to sweep an area littered with friendlies and hostiles and leave only the friendlies in their wake.
Frenzied reports called for help as security teams tried to stop the onslaught, but with little or no warning, even if I had wanted to fight them off, it would be rather difficult.
I donned my armband and exited the bridge. I wanted to see for myself what was going on and I wanted to ensure the safety of Captain Maxwell and the rest of the Legionnaires.
Sir, what is going on? I....
I raised my pistol and fired once into the man. He collapsed onto the floor with a pool of blood spewing from his chest. At that point, I saw Captain Maxwell just as the "sweepers" entered the corridor.
The Captain's eyes widened in horror as half the hall was engulfed in a firestorm of fire that felled all but a few people in the hall. The lead Elemental walked past Maxwell and several lightly armored shock troopers entered. One went up to Maxwell, weapon raised and looked at his armband.
He's marked. Move on.
The team moved to where I was and a pair of Elementals stopped in front of me.
Star Captain Killian Bekker. It's good to see you again. The ship will be secured in another 10-15 minutes. We have a few casualties, but that was all in the Battle Armor storage areas. We managed to overrun it fast enough that they didn't get many powered up.
Whose the marked one?
Captain Benjamin Maxwell. Honorable leader of the Mercenary group the Legionnaires.
Understood. We are about to enter the crew quarter section momentarily. The marked unit out of the way?
They had their instructions. Proceed with caution. Those are good people in their. I want no friendly fire incidents. I WILL, hold someone, and by that I mean you accountable if even one of them is harmed.
By your command sir. My unit has one of the best avoidance of friendly fire incidents to date and I don't intend on breaking that record.
Very well. Carry on.
The team began moving again and several stayed behind to guard the entrance to the bridge. Captain Maxwell walked over and looked me over. He looked at the patch and then at one of the dead bodies.
After a moment of silence he spoke.
|
|
|
Post by Commander Garrett Garland on Jun 16, 2005 22:54:25 GMT -5
“What the hell?” I said under my breath.
Something was going on for sure. I was making my way to the bridge after finding the cafeteria deserted when the warning klaxons activated, emitting the proximity alarm; someone had made the jump into this system only a few kilometers away—almost on top of us considering the vastness of space.
As I was exiting a small service corridor which merged with the bridges main access corridor, I heard a gunshot and peeked around the corner. The bridge’s main doors where open, and framed between them was Captain Dillenger, a smoking pistol in his hand. Beneath him lay one of the ships crew members, a pool of blood forming around where he lay. I noticed something different about Dillenger—his arm had a band around it. The band seemed to have the head of a white bear with many paws surrounding it… Clan Ghost Bear? I had only been awake for less than an hour, but already things were heating up, perhaps I should have just stayed in bed.
I heard footsteps to my left; someone was running down the main corridor. As he ran past he looked to his right, his face becoming a conflict of emotions: surprise, fear, sympathy and anger. Finally one of the emotions gave way, anger.
“Garland! What the hell are you doing here? No time to explain, get to my quarters or else you’re dead.”
“Wait! Captain, what’s going on?”
Captain Maxwell turned, the fear now apparent in his eyes, not for himself, but for me, ”Garland, I’m going to say this only one more time, get to my quarters our else you are going to die, simple as that.”
It were times such as these where I wished that I was more politically astute, that I could detect subtleties, and unravel at least a few of the mangled threads which composed the tapestry of conspiracy in which I myself was a single thread. I had barely enough time to finish my thought as I heard footsteps again, but there were definently not from a man. Captain Maxwell sprinted to the bridge, encountering Dillenger but I didn’t have time to watch his reaction, I had to get of there. The footsteps grew louder and with each footfall my chances of survival slimmed.
I backtracked down the service corridor, taking a service conduit to fully mask my journey from the invading force. I reached a junction in the conduit and choose the right path which would lead to a ladder which would reach the officers’ crew quarters. I looked up the ladder and saw the two biggest feet I had ever seen, and they were slowly stepping down the ladder.
If only I had my pistol this would have been so easy. Just a shot right through the groin and into the lower spine would have decimated any creature, even an Elemental. I was surprised that he could even fit in the conduit; he must have exited his battle armor in order to search through them for any hold-outs. It was not until a few seconds later that I noticed a crewman huddling in a small alcove behind me. He was holding a laser welder, good only for welding small pieces of metal together. I turned around to speak to him, but the foot finally made contact with the conduit floor.
Grabbing the welder from the crewman, I proceeded to burn the Elemental's calves, the muscle tissue bursting from the heat. I heard a guttural roar from where the Elemental’s head was, still nearly three meters up the ladder. I proceeded to fuse the Elemental’s flesh with the welder, completely decimating his legs all the way to his mid-thigh. Somehow, he managed to fall in a heap on the conduit floor, his legs useless beneath him, but his arms still fully functioning. He made a grab for me, but only succeeded in knocking away the laser welder and burning one of his hands. One handed, the elemental made a grab for my neck, meeting my hands half-way. With all of my might I began to force the hand back, my own muscles nearly ripping from the strain. I could see the fire in his eyes dimming, he had put all of his energy in this last stand, but with only one hand he couldn’t quite defeat me. Finally, I had managed to lock one of my arms while his was bent, preventing him from reaching any farther. I risked moving my right hand to grab the laser welder, the Elemental making a final push against my solitary repulsing hand.
The Elemental’s final thrust had paid off; my arm could not hold him at bay. His eyes gleamed, thinking my death near, but perhaps he had not realized why I had moved my other arm out of our test of strength. My eyes were the last thing he saw as his were burned out of their sockets by the laser torch. Screaming like a beast, the Elemental clawed at me, smashing my chest with his other, charred fist, certainly bruising, if not breaking some of my ribs. Finally he was still as the laser torch finished transforming him into bear jerky. I left the crewman there with the smoldering carcass of the Elemental, returning the torch and going further down the corridor to the next service ladder.
After popping open the conduit’s hatch, I ran towards the Captain’s quarters, checking to make sure that I was not being followed. I chimed the doorcom, hopefully someone was listening.
“It’s me, Garland, open up.”
A woman’s voice responded, “Garland? One sec, I’m opening the door now—are you sure the corridor is clear?”
I checked down both ways of the corridor, it was clear.
“Ok, open up—oh shit.”
Just as the door began to open I heard footsteps—heavy ones. I slipped inside the room, the door shutting just before the pursuer rounded the corner. I looked at the crowd inside the room.
“What the hell is going on?”
|
|
|
Post by Wedge Lourde on Jun 16, 2005 23:21:34 GMT -5
So what the hell is going on?
No Idea, we were just instructred to report to Captain Maxwell's Quarters.
There was a small rumble, then and explosion. Klaxons and alarms blared, and there was a low, burning rumble. I heard boots in a hall, then some more explosions.
Hey, This is Garret Garland. Let me in!
Commander Mamba said, "Good to hear from you, Get in here, we were instructed to wait."
I looked around the room. I just wanted to make sure everyone was here. I saw Kintaru, Mamba, Garland, Holms Net, and Zhukov. We were all here, now we just needed to survive untill we knew what was going on.
|
|
|
Post by Dr. Jessica Saturina on Jun 16, 2005 23:32:14 GMT -5
The doorcom chimed. I didn't know who it was and motioned for everyone to be quiet. I didn't want to give away the fact that so many of us were in here.
“It’s me, Garland, open up.”
“Garland? One sec, I’m opening the door now—are you sure the corridor is clear?”
“Ok, open up—oh shit.”
"Good to hear from you, Get in here, we were instructed to wait."
After Garland Jumped in, behind him another man I didn't know came in after him, he spun around and sealed the door again.
“What the hell is going on?”
Well, you probably know more then we do at this point. Captain Maxwell found me, had me bring Schuster here, then find Kintaru and Zhukov and bring them here. I did as he requested, I know no more then that. Did you see anything out there? Could you tell what was going on? Who is this with you, I don't know him?
"At this point all I know is all hell is breaking loose out there. I'm fairly sure we are safe in here, but who knows. This is Sergeant Lourde, he is with us now so its ok.
I looked at Garland with shock and dismay on my face. Suddenly Schuster let out a loud moan. I ran to his side feeling his forehead.
He feels hot. I ran to the bathroom, getting a wash rag, soaking it in cold water. I ran back out to Schuster sitting on the side of the bed I laid the cold rag on his forehead. Picking it up and pressing it against each side of his face as well. He didn't look well.
Kintaru, do you think you have anything on you that would help him. I think he may be running a fever.
I will look Mamba. He began looking through his stuff. I prayed he could find something to help Schuster. Meanwhile everyone else just tried to get as comfortable as they could in such a small space as we waited for word.
|
|
|
Post by Lieutenant Kei-teh Kintaru on Jun 17, 2005 11:26:39 GMT -5
Schuster was pale and began sweating profusely. This wasn’t a fever from infection… I was sure that the doctors on board would of certainly kept things sterile. I then answer hit me.
“Mamba… this isn’t a fever from infection. I think… no, I’m certain that he is bleeding internally…” I said as a look of great concern covered her face.
“Can anything be done?!”
“….Hold on…”
I frantically began rummaging through my medical satchel that contained all of my own concoctions. I finally produced a small plastic test tube of a red powder, which looked similar to Paprika.
“Garland, I need you to boil some water in that kettle”I said as I began to measure a small amount of the powder into my hand. Garland rushed to fill the kettle from the sink just as Mamba began to ask questions.
“What is that? What does it do? Will it help him?” she asked anxiously.
“This is an extract from a type of spice called “Cayenne”. Although it garnishes food, it can also help stop bleeding if the individual will drink a cup of hot water with a teaspoon of cayenne pepper stirred into it. The bleeding will stop generally by the time a person can count up to ten after drinking the cayenne tea. It equalizes the blood pressure from the top of the head to the feet. This keeps the pressure from the haemorrhage area so it will clot naturally. Basically it will work… for now”
Relief filled the commander’s face and everyone else’s. The kettle boiled over and Garland poured some hot water into a coffee mug that sat neatly on Maxwell‘s desk. He then passed the cup to me before I poured in the mixture and stirred it. Now came the tricky part.
“Schuster… wake up”
Schuster grumbled and murmured something in a language I didn’t understand.
“Schuster, WAKE UP!”I said, slapping him from cheek to cheek. Desperate times called for desperate measures.
“….Eh?… Oh.. Itsss you… t-t-t-the ninja… boy… Whats wr-wrong?” he said in a horribly drowsy voice.
“Schuster, listen carefully. You NEED to drink this.”
“Ahhhm not fiiirsty….”
I was beginning to get impatient.
“If you don’t you will die”
“Give--- Gehve it to meh tommorowz…”
I shoved the cup in his face, and began to tip it down his mouth as I grabbed him by the neck, securing his head and opening his jaw. I had successfully managed to get the damned mixture down his throat without it spilling everywhere… well most of it anyways. As the final drop fell down his throat, Schuster swallowed hard.
“that waz tooooo hot ninJA booyyyy…”
“Your welcome.”
“Im- Im’a take a nap now” He said, falling into a deep sleep. After a few short minutes, the special agent’s temperature went down. All seemed calm in the small room as the seemingly endless sounds of death roared all around us.
All of a sudden, the sound of heavy clanking boots and elemental foot steps stampeded down the corridor. They stopped. The a crashing sound, perhaps 6 doors down where the corridor began, could be heard followed by plasma fire and screams. Then another sound of a door crashing, minus the gun shots. Then another and another. Whoever these guys were, they wanted to carry out a deck to deck search. I looked around… it appeared I was the only one armed with my “Ryu” katana.
“… Stay behind me… if you get a chance… escape…” I said as the crashes came closer and closer. I kept “Ryu” sheathed, ready to catch my opponent off guard. Our door smashed open, flying off the hinges and crashing on top of me. By the time I pushed the door off me and looked up, it was too late. The elemental pointed his weapon directly at my face… but hesitated to fire.
“…You… your all marked ones? COME WITH ME!” the elemental said, retracting his weapon and making me feel a little easier. Everyone shuffled a little, unsure whether these were the people Maxwell spoke of.
“I swear by my honour you will not be harmed.” the towering armour said. We all grudgingly followed him. Mamba indicated to me to help out with Schuster. We both helped the barely conscious agent to his feat. His body flopped around and he was unable to balance on his feat, but we somehow managed to get him moving. However, Mamba had a reason for choosing me. Muttering under her breath she asked:
“What should we do…?”
“We’ll move in front of everyone… if there is any HINT of them intending to murdering us I want you to take Schuster and the others out of here…”
“What about you?”
“I’ll keep them busy long enough for you guys to make your escape…”
I looked away from Mamba and kept my eye on the three Elementals that were leading us through the blood stained corridors of the Captains deck. I made quick glances at the numerous bodies that lay slain of the floor. All of the shots on the body, two in the chest and one in the head, proved we were dealing with a group of highly trained professionals.
Clanners…I wondered if they noticed the Kintaru insignia on my face… I wondered, briefly touching the two blue marks located just below my left eye… I even wondered if they would recognise it!
We followed the three Elementals down the corridors of crimson madness…
|
|
|
Post by Captain Benjamin Maxwell on Jun 17, 2005 12:04:50 GMT -5
Gunfire erupted around me, men fell, and explosions echoed across the decks of the mighty Samurai's Destiny as I stood in a near-surreal haze, looking at Captain Dillenger, who stood over the freshly-dead body of one of the JumpShip's navigators, a smatter of crimson blood across the ivory-white inner flap of his command uniform. Wiping a few drops of blood from his cheek with the back of his free hand, he cast his gaze upward from the corpse to lock eyes with me. The steely resolve which had always smoldered within him now burned intensely, and I knew that his inner trueborn was beginning to find its voice again. My heart sank.
"I heard tales that wherever the Clans went, death and bloodshed followed."
I took a step closer to him.
"Tell me that these weren't your trothkin...and that there's a good reason for what's happening here. These people - they helped us. There must be a reason you haven't offered them hegira.
"I need to know what's going on. I have a right to fully appreciate what sort of danger my people are about to be in."
I didn't know what else to say.
|
|
|
Post by Star Captain Killian Bekker on Jun 17, 2005 13:03:36 GMT -5
These men were all selected to become a part of this unit. This unit although an elite Black Operations Company, was full of specially selected individuals.
Some were traitors, others were Clan sympathizers and others were merely elite warriors that were considered "too fanatical" for even the most loyal Kuritan units.
Captain Maxwell's face still rang of confusion, but I could see that he was beginning to understand.
Are there others? Marked as you say?
Yes, most if not all the Clan sympathizers were spared.
Captain, I understand your sentiments, but if the Inner Sphere were to discover what we were doing here, the whole world as we know it will plunge into war and the Word of Blake will overrun the Inner Sphere. Though the WoB wasn't our initial inquery.
What do you mean?
Various Black Ops units exist throughout the Inner Sphere, Clans as well as some others operating on their own.
Well you see, my initial mission was to infiltrate the Kuritan Black Ops, while others infiltrated the units among the other Houses. The ceasefire that is in place between the Clans and the Houses will come to and end soon and we were to divulge as much intel data as possible. However, when the WoB began appearing our mission was altered to assess the threat they posed.
It is this threat that prompted many of the Black Ops to be terminated so that we could make a hasty return to our Clan command structure.
But you've been under Clan command from day one. What prompts the execution of these men? Why not maintain a larger force and deal critical blows to the WoB? I'm sure that the Houses wouldn'y mind their Black Ops fighting the WoB forces to slow their advance while they muster their forces.
While I admire your line of thinking, we discussed that course of action, but we realized that we needed to undermine the backstabbing politics that the Black Op units posed while consolidation of our Clan warriors took place.
End the Black Ops forcing the Houses to be more open in their politics, remove the abilty to conduct secret wars effectively and all at the same time strengthen the Clan by bringing their warriors into the fold and with it all the collected intel of the Inner Sphere.
Yes. You catch on quickly Captain. As you can see, we were concerned about what the Houses were planning once the ceasefire ended. What we learned and the discovery of the WoB early on will save countless lives in the future.
For the greater good...
I'm sorry that you had to see it like this.
|
|
|
Post by Captain Benjamin Maxwell on Jun 17, 2005 13:23:32 GMT -5
My train of thought was once again interrupted by a great deal of shouting coming from the gargantuan clamshell doors that separated the bridge of the Samurai's Destiny. The sound of a weapon being racked and the whine of servos revving, as an Elemental clanked rapidly across the metal deck plating, preceeded the scream of an automatic weapon being discharged. There was a scream, the sound of bullets impacting a fleshy target, and then a loud thud. Then came several more shouts, followed by a grenade exploding. Finally, a stretch of silence, followed by the rev of actuators once more.
"And what is your role in all of this? Were the Legionnaires merely a means by which you were able to gather more intelligence?" I asked, trying to keep an accusatory tone out of my voice, and glancing over my shoulder at the mayhem in the hall. "In fact...what of us, at all? Once this...sweep...has been completed, what will become of the men and women under my command? We have all borne witness to this, for better or for worse, and that, potentially, makes us a liability. Are we to become abtakha under the Ghost Bear flag?"
|
|
|
Post by Wedge Lourde on Jun 17, 2005 13:34:42 GMT -5
I felt bad for Schuster, who was half concious, as Kintaru poured the red powder-water solution into his mouth. This process was interupted by an explosion, gunfire, yells of pain, and rumbling. 3 Elementals instructed us to follow them, and that we would not be harmed.
We walked along in the tight corridors of the JumpShip. There were many bodies laying around, and way more bloodshed than expected. None of us said much. We just wanted to see what was next.
|
|
Nicholas Schuster
Regular
DECEASED
"Blakists are like a virus. And WE are the cure."
Posts: 139
|
Post by Nicholas Schuster on Jun 17, 2005 14:12:14 GMT -5
I felt sick. In addition to the aftereffects of the surgery-necessitated anasthesia wearing off, and the antitoxins rushing through my system to counteract the poison that had entered my bloodstream via Murlance's knife, I was beginning to feel excruciating pain rushing across my face and through my leg, as the painkillers that being administered intravenously wore off.
Everything seemed to be happening in a blur...I remembered Maxwell and Mamba talking near my bed...and then being dressed and carried to someone's quarters, a lot of noise and yelling, and now, I found myself being carried again, wearing a Captain's uniform while Elementals and shock troops stormed past me. A bitter taste filled my mouth, and I felt bits of grit on my tounge. This had to be a hallucination. I started to feel dizzy, and I closed my eyes again, hoping that when I woke up, this would all be over.
|
|
|
Post by Star Captain Killian Bekker on Jun 17, 2005 16:55:56 GMT -5
What the Captain asked seemed out of place. Abtakha were captured warriors adopted into the clan as a warrior. The Legionnaires were not captured, but he did bring to bear an important question.
I thought for a moment how I should respond. He knew clan terminology and his tone was strained. The consequences of saying yes would bear the weight of belonging to the clan. Something of which one could not easily nor safely leave. Though it ensured their silence on the events that had transpired.
If I did not do so, the fact that they saw what had happened could very well ignite a war. However, mercenaries are not looked upon well in the Clans and their safety could not be guaranteed.
Captain, you seem to grasp the gravity of the situation. I have seen to your unit's survival because I consider you a Trothkin. There is much honor to be had in that respect as I'm sure you are aware.
I do not have reason to suspect that any of you would become a liability. I have guaranteed your safety have I not?
For now.
Captain, please. You know as well as I do what would result if a Rede is broken. I have made mine to you promising the safety of you and your unit.
I understand. Most of my unit was sequestered aboard our Dropship. Those that were aboard here should be secured in my quarters.
As for becoming an Abtakha, that is something that I need to think about.
Of course, it is not something that can be taken lightly.
Just then, a shock trooper came up to me. Relaying the status of the "sweep"
Sir, all decks report that the ship is secure. We are searching for any survivors in any hidey holes that may be present.
All marked personnel were brought to the Mess Hall.
Was anyone harmed?
Zero marked casualties. We had to provide one with medical attention though. It seems he was from the infirmary.
Probably Schuster.
We suffered 8 casualties and 3 fatalities.
I see. Inform me when operations are complete.
What about this marked one?
He's with me. I'll personally take him to the Mess Hall.
Very well.
Carry on.
The trooper ran off and I turned to Maxwell. We began walking towards the Mess Hall where they were rounding up all the marked personnel.
I had to personally go through them all and ensure that they indeed were the ones that I chosen to be spared.
Captain, you don't need to decide this second, but please let me know what you decide. Regardess, I cannot break my Rede. Not just because it carries the threat of my life, but because on my Honor I choose to.
|
|