Apocalypse Now

Posted on Mon Jul 19th, 2021 @ 8:15pm by Captain Shran dh'Klar & Commander Jonathan Grayson & Commander Samantha Howard & Lieutenant JG James Phoenix

Mission: A Dark Looking Glass
Location: Mirror Universe

The Intendant entered the Operation Center with a handful of guards, her clothing tattered, and her body bruised and bloodied. She had a foul look about her as she began to bark at her subordinates, "What is going on here? Why are we without power? And what is the status of Shran and the rebels?"

The station rocked, which didn't add to the confidence of the low level subordinate who knew he had to answer her questions. "My Intendant," he began, his voice trembling, "the Terrans have returned and are attacking us. We have no outside support, and it appears they have boarded the station and sabotaged nearly every system. We don't know where they are inside the station, nor can we give you an update on Shran."

The Intendant looked at the man with contempt for several seconds, then smiled devilishly as she pulled a disruptor out and then shot him. "This is unacceptable. The Terrans will not retake this station. I want them dead. All of them. Now!" she screamed.

Several of the men present quickly began to scurry, running to hide from her wrath as much as to follow her orders.

Meanwhile, Bashir was leading his group of rebels (which included Jon and Phoenix) through the corridors of the station towards the operations center. At current they were on the Promenade in a fire fight with a patrol of troops. Bashir was smiling as he fired at the enemy troops.

Jon was more methodical in picking out targets and firing. Slowly they were thinning the ranks of the enemy troops. All he wanted to do was confront the Intendant and pay her back for all the pain she had caused Essie and Sam and Phoenix. Then get off this damn station and back to their universe and save Essie.

James had climbed up the stairs onto the second level of the promenade to have the high-ground advantage. He shot his rifle at two of the enemy soldiers, downing both of them. He too wanted to get back to their own universe and get off of this station of hell.

Sam meanwhile was tending the wounded, the cargo bay where they had been left had become a temporary infirmary for those wounded or dead. Considering the ferocity of the fighting and the high level of emotional involvement she was barely keeping on top of the living, let alone the dead. There was no-one to help, only the walking wounded who could move under their own steam. Her medkit exhausted she resorted to old school first aid - tearing strips of clothing and using water to cleanse and irrigate the wounds. It was messy and brutal but at least some of these people wouldn't die alone.

As Sam tended to the wounded, visitors arrived in the form of Smiley and the rest of his men that had split with Grayson and the others during the escape. Smiley came in and looked around. "Where is that gobshite Bashir?"

" Gone to take back the station" Sam retorted as she tended to the wounded who were continuing to steam in " You haven't got any more medical supplies stashed have you?" The question was rhetorical of course, she knew there was nothing available.

"Of all the ignorant things. He was supposed to meet us here, not go off on his own trophy hunting. And then he takes some of your people with him, making things even worse. Always bollocking things up." Smiley looked rather perturbed. He looked at Samantha and sighed. "Apologies doctor. I didn't mean to vent my frustration towards you. You look like you could use some assistance." He looked at his men, "She needs some assistance. Get her one of those medkits." He turned back towards Samantha, "I'll leave a medic and a couple men here with you doctor, for protection. I'll find your other crewmates, and I'll make good on my promise to send you home."

She didn't know wether to believe him or not, not daring to hope that they'd ever get off this spinning tin can. However the assistance and the supplies were more than welcome. If nothing else these people needed medical assistance in whatever form she could provide.

"Thank You, we need all the help we can get at the moment." She admitted, nodding in acceptance as the medical supplies appeared in a tattered case. She dared to open it, taking stock of the meagre supplied. It wasn't much but it was better than nothing.

Meanwhile, on the Promenade, the firefight continued. Bashir and his troops, including Grayson and Phoenix were taking ground and thinning the troops numbers in a methodical fashion. They weren't gaining ground without a cost though, as several of the Terran fighters had been wounded or killed. And making matters worse, the Intendant's troops were getting reinforcements, two groups, one on the main level and one on the upper deck.

James continued firing at ground troops when he noticed the group on the opposite side of the upper level begin to fire at him. He ducked with five or six shots nearly missing his head. He quickly showed himself so he could fire at them. He managed to fire at them and downed four of them. Two of the soldiers fell off of the second floor and onto the first floor.

The fire fight continued. Bashir and two of his men pushed forward while the soldiers directed their fire towards Grayson's position. Using the distraction, they moved into a more advantageous position and opened fire on the troops, quickly dispatching them. Just as it looked like they were going to be done with this round of fighting, reinforcements arrived and the fighting continued in ferocious detail. Fighting could be seen and heard both on their level and the upper level of the Promenade. Two of the troopers feel to the ground level causing a momentary stir.

Jon fired with methodical precision. He was like a machine, firing and bringing down one enemy trooper after another. His face was set in stone, his anger white hot and his heart was breaking. Essie, the woman he loved with every breath he took and every beat of his heart was dying. Their only chance to save her was to get out of this hellhole of a universe and back into their own and as quickly as they could. So, he fired again and again all the while silently praying that Sam could keep Essie alive.

James continued firing at the troops on the ground, as well as the second level. He heard soldiers coming up behind him. At the same time, he saw the enemy soldiers on the other side fire at him and the rebels on the second floor in sync. James ducked, as did most of the other rebels on the second floor. The shots that were meant for the rebels ended up hitting the other soldiers instead. James hopped up and fired at the remaining enemies on the top floor.

However, with Phoenix distracted, one soldier that wasn't hit yet decided to sneak attack the Ensign. The soldier hit James in the back, causing James to nearly fall off of the second floor. He then returned the favor by hitting the soldier with his rifle, dazing him. James then picked him up and threw him off of the ledge.

"Heads up!" he shouted at Jon and a few other Rebels so they wouldn't get hit by the enemy falling to the main floor of the promenade.

Jon looked up as James yelled and watched the enemy trooper hit the deck with a satisfying thud. He then returned to firing on the enemy.

Back where Sam was the sound of weapons fire was increasing, there was a guard inside the door gripping his weapon as he stood to protect the fallen that kept coming. Sam did her best to shut out the noise, focusing on keeping as many people alive as she could.

Suddenly the noise outside grew louder as screams were added into the sounds of the disruptor fire. The rebels at the door looked terrified as the sounds of footfalls became more pronounced. They backed away from the entrance as a shadow crept over the entranceway. Suddenly, a surprising and less than welcome person appeared before Samantha and the others...Shran. The Andorian looked at the sight and then looked back into the corridor for a moment. "Pathetic. I hope your other compatriots look better than what I am looking at right now." He looked at Samantha, "I'm here to help you. If you want to get home, its time to come with me. Take this, you look like you need it" he said with a gruff look on his face, obviously not doing this entirely of his own volition, as he tossed a fully stocked medical kit to Samantha.

Sam looked shocked wether she tried to cover it or not, not only was Shran not actively trying to kill her but now he was offering to help and had provided a fully stocked medical kit to boot. " I don't understand" She said quietly, but did what she could to prep Essie to be moved.

Shran stared at Samantha. He could hear her despite her low tone, but her words were exactly what he expected. "My reasons for helping you are of little concern. Just be glad our interests are currently aligned" he said with his normal level of contempt.

She didn't trust him, not as far as she could throw him which at this point was nowhere at all. "Fine - what do you need me to do?" She asked with the same level of contempt as to what he had shown.

Shran sneered ever so slightly. "I need to get you home, which means I need to get rid of the Intendant. You'll be coming with me, along with you sick friend there. With luck we will run into your more aggressive friends along the way. Now, let's go" he said, a mix of emotions in his voice and in his mannerisms.

On the Promenade, the fighting appeared to be going well for the Terrans. They seemed to have dealt with most of the Intendants troops, which was made easier once Smiley and his group arrived. Smiley argued with Bashir about what likely amounted to trivialities to at least Bashir.

The Terrans seemed to have the fighting under control even with Smiley and Bashir arguing. Grayson looked over at James. "Lets get back to Sam and Essie and see if we can find away off this hellhole."

James stepped down onto the first floor and looked at Jon. "Agreed."