Lieutenant Okul had placed the runabout in orbit above the planet and as soon as Commander Wallace could he began a very detailed scan of the planet. Results from the scan only took about 10 minutes and when Wallace read the results he took a deep breath and sighed. "Lieutenant Okul, inform the rest of the detail for a briefing in a few minutes."
Richard walked to the rear of the spacecraft and saw the 7 members of the away mission sitting around the table that was in the middle of the crew cabin. "Listen up. The survey will not happen. Sensors show this planet to have an iridium supply deep in the crust of the planet. It appears there is a labor camp and forced one on the southern continent next to the coast.
Scanners have picked up 2 humans, 1 Cardassian, 2 G'kra, and I Jem'Hadar. They are being protected by 8 Nasccuine guards, and 2 Mullurans. I believe this is a Mulluran faction still loyal to their late leader.
The camp has a 1.5 kilometer type 6 force field around it. On the outside is two buildings." Wallace paused to pass a PADD around that showed two buildings about 45 meters from the main camp.
"One of these is the power generator. It's about 0330 hours on the planet right now, it'll be perfect for a rescue mission." The mood in the room went up. Cadet Tyran gave a big smile. There was a little idle chatter.
"Knock it off. Lieutenant Okul, Cadet Tyran, and myself will beam into this river bed. Cadet Tyran, you will knock out the power as soon as Okul and I take out the two roaming guards. Chief Kirkland, you'll beam above the mine and fire from above and report the Nascauin's movements. I want at least one prisoner from the prison staff. Ok let's mount up."
Well let's see, it's been 5 months since I killed anyone or hurt anyone. I guess I'm overdo, Wallace thought to himself as the rest of the team left. Richard looked up and saw Peter was last to leave the lounge.
"Chief, may I have a word with you?" Wallace said, hoping to try and talk some sense into the man.
"Yes, Commander?" Kirkland responded.
"I realize we go back awhile. However, I've been made an officer, and if you can't accept that or my authority, you will be transferred. So in other words if you don't show me the same respect you show any other officer I will Captain's Mass your butt so fast you won't know what hit you.
"Oh, you will write a written letter of apology to Lieutenant Okul, and show him the respect that is deserved for a Lieutenant Junior Grade.
"I am not going to allow your insubordination stand. If I didn't need your expertise you'd be confined to quarters for one week. Now get out my sight and let's do what do best, Chief." The two men left quietly. The mood was a quiet one amongst the away team.
The surface was cool, so cool the away team could see their breath. Wallace ordered his team to walk along the 3 meter bank of the river bed. The river was running more like a trickle 2 meters wide and half a meter deep.
Okul pulled out his tricorder and followed the map on it to the left of the camp where the two outer buildings were. He picked his head up and saw the two guards roaming the outer perimeter. He noticed that sun was just starting to come up.
In a whisper: "Commander, seems we're right where we need to be." Okul turned and saw Richard turned and tapped his comm badge.
"Chief, are you in position overlooking the camp?" Wallace asked in a low tone.
Kirkland was above the mine and was able to see the camp starting to come alive. His team of four had taken cover behind a group of boulders. Inside the camp was four barracks. One was the Nasacuin barracks. "Yes sir, we better expedite the plan I see two of the guards leaving their barracks inside the camp."
Richard motioned for Tryan to move out to the power generator. Tyran did so and did a quick but careful dash and stopped and slammed his back into the Generator shack making a loud boom.
"What was that?" The Guards said to one another.
Damn kid. Wallace thought as made a hand gesture to Lieutenant Okul to fire at the one guard. In what looked and sounded like a single burst of phaser fire the two guards went down.
The other two Nascuins herd the nose and tapped their wrist comm badges which sounded a alarm. Tryan moved as fast as possible to get inside the generator shed.
Once inside he saw it was power fusion Generator that had solar batteries. Tryan went over to the control panel and saw three buttons and one that was up, the others were down. I hope this right. Tyran thought to himself as he flipped the switch.
The blue glow around the camp went away and the lights to the buildings camp wide went out as the 6 remaining guards came out under phaser fire and returned fire.
In the second outer building the two Mullurans ran out at the same time as Tyran. The one fired his phaser pistol hitting the cadet's ground in front of him. The Cadet jumped to the left falling into the side wall of the shed and knocking him out.
The phaser fight went on for a few minutes, Wallace fired and wounded a Mulluran. Okul fired and killed the other one.
The last Nausican dropped his weapon. And thumped his chest twice. Wallace saw this and rolled his eyes, knowing what it meant.
"What does that mean, Commander?" Okul asked.
"It means he's the senior one of the bunch and challanges me to hand to hand fighting." Wallace walked into the camp and saw the prisoners walking out of their barracks. Not believing what was happening.
"I accept." Wallace replied dropping his phaser rifle and talking his hand phaser off.
"Good I've not fought a human in a while." The Nausican replied throwing a fist towards Wallace. Which was caught.
Richard brought his right arm around and punched the Nausican, in the left cheek, but to no avail. The Nausican then threw Wallace two meters to the ground, then delivered a kick to his left ribs.
Richard rolled over to his right side then was picked up by the Nausican by his shirt tunic. Richard then brought his left fist into the nose of the Nausican which cause Wallace to drop to the ground on his feet. Richard then gave three swift kicks to the enemies chest which seemed to anger him.
The Nausican was angered and head butted Wallace in the forhead. Wallace was then in a bear hug and felt his ribs breaking. "Ah," Wallace yield. He then pulled his mek'leth out with his right hand gave the Nausican a scalp job. The Nausican screamed in pain dropping Wallace to his but.
Richard then delivered the blade into the Nausican's chest. This unphased the alien. "Oh damn." Wallace said seeing it was not working. He kicked the Nausican in the groin with both feet. The Nausican screamed in horror.
"Screw this," Wallace said, pulling out his type one phaser and shot the Nausican in the heart. The Nausican then dropped dead. Breathing hard and collapsing on his back and hurting, Wallace said. "I'm too old for this shit."
Tyran opened his eyes to see Okul tending to him. "Sir we made it?"
"Yes, Cadet."
"What happened.?" Tyran asked.
"You tripped and knocked your head. Now beam back to the runabout and have the LMH check you out?"
Richard was still hurting and recovering from the brawl that took place when Lieutenant Okul brought over four of the prisoners.
"Sir these are the prisoners you wished to speak to?"
"Yes, thank you Lieutenant." Wallace saw the human was wearing a Starfleet undershirt. "I'm Commander Richard Wallace Chief of Security for Serenity. May I ask how you got here."
The human spoke first, he was in his late 50's. "I'm Lieutenant Commander Robert Devin of the USS Panther. We were attacked 13 years ago surveying the Briar Patch sector. Most of the crew died here over the years."
"I'm Gul Clavik my order was attacked rendering a survey 12 years ago. I see the war was lost, Commander, seeing a fellow Cardassain in a Star Fleet uniform saddens me so." The Cardassian said shaking his head.
"And you, Jem'Hadar?"
The Jem'Hadar stood proud and straightened his uniform. "I am the second of 111th Attack Squadron. Ramta'Clan. If you don't mind I need to retrieve my ketracel white supply."
Wallace tapped his comm badge. Mister Kirkland, oversee to the Mulluran prisoner, and send a message to Commodore Hunter, tell him we are returning early with a group of missing prisoners."
"Thank you, Commander Wallace, my government will be most excited with my return. It will help bridge--"
"Save the speech, Gul. Let's beam out of here in 15 minutes, Lieutenant." Wallace said interrupting the Cardassian's usual rambles.
back to TOC