The Retreat : The Mission

Captain Devore sat with in his motley crew. Dressed in different attire all the remnants of a time long gone, the gentle captain looked over them. He smiled as he looked at Rashad, a powerful woman, who now is equally dressed. Junora was dressed in a simple outfit, but her weapon was a bow and arrow. Unlike the rest of the crew who sported swords or bladed weapons, she was to be the archer of the group. Devore again smiled as he looked at his son. He looked like he was ready to become a man, sixteen and ever more a man with each passing day.

Major Phanan sat next to the Captain, looking at his sword and feeling himself. Never had he felt such an unfamiliar sensation. Metal, cold and lifeless rested upon his skin, the only barrier was a thin cotton tunic. Morriden seemed to be on that seemingly enjoyed his outfit. His large bastard sword was out and he solemnly sharpened and honed the massive blade. Finally Dakul approached him, the massive Cardassian dressed in metal armor was an interesting sight.

"Captain. I must protest. I don't understand what is the purpose of this 'clothing'." He sneered emphasizing clothing.

"Lieutenant. This entire exercise is for you and T'kul. Hopefully for once you will learn to work together."

"With all do respect she doesn't want anything to do with me."

"Maybe so, but this will change after this weekend." Devore stood up. "Okay everyone. Come here and gather around. I have a few words for you." The crew obliged sitting around the burning campfire that someone had started. "We are here to learn how to work as team. From this moment on, we are not lieutenant whomever, captain, or major, but Marc, Jon, and Rashad. I know that this will be hard to accept but for this weekend to work we must overlook ranks and position.

"This weekend is going to be from a time when ancient creatures ruled the Earth. As in Illium X, archaic weapons, to our standards, will be used. Swords, bows, and daggers will be the weapons of choice. This time period in Earth's history was what was known as the Dark Ages. The rule of the sword was the governing system. It was a lawless time where great warriors and kings ruled territories and battled for land and resources. We will be a band of travelers in search of work. A damsel in distress, a treasure hunt, or a simple battle between mercenaries such as us will be the theme. I don't even know, for I added a randomizing algorhythm of over a hundred different missions. Therefore I am just as in a mystery as you are.

"The object of today is to work together. If not we will surely 'die'. At the same time, I feel that we can have a lot of fun. Are there any questions ?" Everyone shook their heads. "Good. Shall we begin. Computer. Execute simulation Devore 110 randomizing code alpha, alpha, one."

<Standby> The holodeck changed and suddenly the room was a circus. The people in the circus looked at the group and laughed. Clowns and audience laughed heartedly as they took in a good look of the motley crew, especially at Rashad.

"Um Captain. I don't mean any disrespect, but this does not look like the 'Dark Ages'." T'kul said.

"True. Computer. Re-execute the last command."

Suddenly the circus disappeared and now the lush greenery of a temperate forest appeared. They now stood in the middle of a highway, not the highway of the 20th century, but one of the 5th or 6th century. In the 20th century it may have been a wagon trail winding through the forest, but in this time, it was a highway. "This looks more like it."

Just over the trees, Taline noticed something in the distance. A mass of smoke rose, not choppy puffs, but a steady flow of black fog floating up. Taline approached Captain Devore. "Captain..." Taline quickly corrected himself, "...Marc, I think something's going on over that hill." Taline pointed excitedly to the area in question, eagerly awaiting something exciting.

"I see. Well let's go find out what it is."

Bridge

Commander Devore sat on the Bridge. The Hellcat was on the screen as they approached the planet.

[... and the ] began Barker in a staticky and broken communique. [The polaran emmissions are coming from somewhere on the northern continent.]

"Very well Commander. But be careful. I would have to hate to explain why we may be less a science officer," Devore said with a smile.

[Understood. Hellcat out.] Barker said.

"Helm, take us to heading 134 mark 3. I want to stay close to the Hellcat just in case there is problems." Devore said.

"Aye sir." Helm said entering the coordinates.

"Don't call me sir, Mister. Youkum. Maam would work."

"Understood."

Just as Youkum entered the coordinates, the lights on the Bridge flickered and dimmed, then after about five seconds came back to full strength. "Commander Devore to Engineering." Sierra said tapping her combadge. "What is going on down there ?"

[Commander Tyra here. Sierra, I am not sure. The warp core is fluctuating as well.]

"Is there any danger to the ship ?"

[I don't see any.]

"Commander...." Gordan said from Ops. "........internal sensors are registering a cascading power failure in deck 12 through 15."

"What ? What is causing it ?"

"I am not sure."

"Run a system wide diagnostic level 5."

"Initiating. Computer, what is going on ?"

<Pleeeese ressssttattte kuessssttiionn> The computer said losing her sound.

"Send a repair team to the computer core. Sounds like we have a virus."