"Damage report Mister Chee." Sharpe asked as he watched an injured female crewman be carried off to sick bay.
"Phaser banks 1-6 are off-line. Transporters are damaged as is the cloak. Communications are off line. " Chee said as he looked over the situation report monitor at his station.
Sharpe was curious to see what had happen to the teams on the planet's surface. "Commander scan the surface see if you can make anything out." Sharpe said walking over towards the OPS station.
"Very well it will take a few seconds." Chee said as he scanned the surface area where the engagement was to have taken place.
"I see 17 Starfleet personnel near the front entrance, and 20 inside the fort. I'm reading only 63 Mullurans." Chee explained as he tapped his console.
"Alright I'm going to the surface. Major Larn ready a type 11 shuttle. Doctor Redinuim prepare to meet us in shuttle bay 2 with another doctor were going to the surface.
Commander Chee. I want you to over see repairs, get communications going first, then transporters. Your in charge till I return commander." Sharpe said following Major Larn to the turbolift.
The Doctor and his two medical assistants were waiting in the shuttle bay for a few minutes when both Larn and Sharpe walked in. Larn and Sharpe took a seat in the cockpit of the type 11 shuttle. Type 11 shuttles were used mainly on the Sovereigns.
Sharpe felt comfortable sitting back in shuttle it had been a long while since he piloted one he thought, then remembered when the USS Shaw was destroyed he flew one.
Major Larn began preflight procedures and then proceeded to take off using maneuvering thrusters. The planet looked blue and green from 5000 feet away. It was a rather beautiful site. "Captain we will approach the away team's position by using the last transporter log. After that we should be able to either see them with our naked eye, or by our scanners." Larn said sounding very official.
The shuttle approached at Impulse and broke through the planet's atmosphere with in minutes. The ride was rather smooth no bumps or jolts. As the shuttle approached the fort going at thruster power they could see evidence of the battle.
Smoke from fires could be seen, rising into the sky. Larn quickly looked at the scanners and read that the 17 life signs were straight ahead. "Major set the shuttle down near the trench about 45 meters away." Sharpe said looking out the view port and seeing a few Federation Away team members waving their phaser rifles. At that moment the comm channel erupted.
[Morning Fellow Hornet crew.]
"Morning this is?" Sharpe paused to see who this was.
[Chief Matthews. And you sir?]
"Nobody of importance just Captain Sharpe. How bad are you guys?"
[Bad sir most of our two leading teams are dead and wounded. Captain Lataro is searching the fort, he's been at it for damn near 15 hours.]
The news didn't sound ground in fact Sharpe was starting to feel bad. "Don't worry we have Lieutenant Redinuim with us." Sharpe shut the comm channel off and looked at Larn as he brought the shuttle down smoothly.
"Major I want you to shuttle the more serious wounded off the surface first."
"Aye sir." Larn stayed in his sit as the back of the shuttle opened and let in some of the hot humid air. Sharpe and the medical team walked out of the shuttle and pass two dead federation officers.
Sharpe jumped into the trench and looked around at the wounded and the very tired away team. He saw Ensign Okul had only a minor facial laceration and the Chief Engineer had a shoulder wound.
"Captain Lataro come in."
[Lataro here is this Sharpe?]
"Yes what is your situation?"
[We've concluded our search a few minutes ago and have located no Commodore Wallace.] Lataro paused for a few seconds.
"Damn it." Sharpe yield aloud.
[We've captured 134 prisoners sir. And some very Vital information on this guerrilla group.]
"Very well Captain. Where are the prisoners?"
[We're holding them in the forts detention cells.]
"Alright stand by we need to secure the wounded first then the prisoners understood Captain." Sharpe said helping up a wounded officer.
"Clearly sir Lataro out."
19 minutes later Major Larn took off with 3 severely injured crewman and 1 officer. The last wounded man to leave was Chief Matthews he and Okul left with Doctor Redinuim. The whole medical dust off took 3 hours.
As Sharpe walked into the fort he say the ground strewn with dead Mullurans and discarded weapons, equipment. What a waste of people. Sharpe thought as he walked passed the scenes. Then the comm channel crackled.
[Captain Sharpe. Commander Chee here.]
"Yes Sharpe here?. I take it you have the comm system working."
[Yes sir. It still is a little jumpy and static filled.]
"Don't worry it's fine. I need you and about 29 security personnel on your way here with a shuttle. We've not found Wallace but have a good idea where to find him with these 134 prisoners. One of them is bound to know. I'll be heading back to Hornet with the latest shuttle. Sharpe out."
[Very well sir on my way.]
Sharpe sat quietly along side Major Larn who was quiet as well on the journey back to the Hornet. Nathan saw the shuttle bay doors open and the shuttle bay. On the shuttle bay floor was 54 black bags laid out in a formation of sorts. The bags began to take the shape of bodies as the shuttle flew over them using it's thrusters. Nathan's heart sank as he realized that the results of the attack were laid out before him. After the shuttle touched down Sharpe stepped off and walked to where the dead collection was lying out.
Nathaniel hated this part of fighting, no mater how many battles he was in he hated to see the end results. "Damn." Sharpe cursed aloud as looked at the lifeless shapes. From behind a young Lieu wearing blue came up. "Sir I count 54 dead 21 wounded. 13 MIA." The Lieutenant handed a PADD over to the Captain. He read it quickly, then handed it back." Sharpe walked over to the exit and was followed by the Lieutenant.
"Doctor Redinuim says that Chief Matthews won't rest as he has been ordered too."
"What? Is he out of sickbay?" Sharpe asked shaking his head in disbelief.
"No he's been sedated. His shoulder has been repaired but needs at least 42 hours rest. We need to get at least 10 of the wounded back to Star Base 901. They need more surgery and we don't have the faculties on board."
"I'll see what I can do. I won't promise anything Lieutenant tell Doctor Redinuim that." Sharpe walked into the turbo lift and stepped onto the bridge that was in the process of being repaired still. Lieutenant Schmidt was working on a power conduit as Sharpe walked passed to the ready room.
"Computer begin personal log. I've seen the results of my orders and it is very disconcerting seeing what happen. It seems as if the Mullurans are one step ahead of us. I will find Richard Wallace if it kills me. End personal log." Sharpe walked over to the replicator and ordered a cup of coffee and sat down and sipped it slowly. It had been 19 hours since he last had a moment of peace to himself.
[Captain Sharpe Ensign Ryan Engineer Chief until Matthews return.]
"Yes Ensign."
[Sir transporters will be off line till Matthews return. We will have warp drive in 49 hours. Cloak needs a complete over haul.]
"Enough Ensign work and repair what you can Sharpe out."
Damn delays.