Superior Weapons and Tactics

Posted on Wed Apr 16th, 2025 @ 9:20am by Lieutenant Ayana Hillis & Commander Jonathan Grayson & Lieutenant Commander Callie Raven-Grayson & Lieutenant Inara Senn & Lieutenant JG James Phoenix

2,972 words; about a 15 minute read

Mission: Genetic Purity
Location: Neues Deutschland

Callie was removed from the holding area, leaving the other females to stare at their captors through the bars of their cell. Half a dozen armed men stood around the cell, watching them. This was redundant with all the other security in place, but they seemed intent on keeping close tabs on them.

Inara plopped down on a bunk "Ninety-nine Nazis lined up to the wall, ninety-nine Nazis lined up, if one of these shits were to be shot. Ninety-eight Nazis lined up to the wall."

"Not sure a drinking song is the most appropriate thing at the moment" Ayana noted as she looked around at the area, assessing it for weaknesses.

"Just letting them know what will happen when I get to the Washington's tactical console." Inara mentioned. "Regardless, Space Nazis is not what I expected. I suggest pissing them off enough so they'd kill us as we are going to end up in a concentration camp. And dh'klar. He's going to file this incident away under classified and call it a day."

"In what reality do you think I would let you on my tactical controls?" questioned Ayana. "And the captain will do what is necessary. I'm actually expecting all hell to break loose down here rather soon."

"In the reality that I will drop fifty megatons of photon torpedoes on this place. And dh'Klar will have to let it happen. You know why. But we're getting ahead of ourselves, as we're being used as hostages, and Callie is about to be experimented upon. She's going to wish she was dead soon. And when you snap, Ayana, we will have something in common. Count yourself lucky that you have never experienced how it is to feel like you are missing pieces of yourself on a daily basis. Even the ideals I once tried to stand for is nothing but a pile of turkey shit they feed you at the Academy." She looked at Ayana in the eye."

Ayana shook her head. "You never cease to amaze Inara. Deanna is right, you are a misanthrope, but at least you are on our team. As for your thoughts on bombarding this place from orbit, probably a foregone conclusion already. My concern is that the captain may not wait until we are recovered. He doesn't abide by Vulcan philosophy about the needs of the many and all of that, and thank God for that, but if he is placed in a tactical situation where the loss of a few saves the ship and protects the greater good, things could get really interesting down here real fast. Something tells me that shield they activated won't stand up to our weapons once the captain exhausts his patience for diplomacy. Andorians are not known for being the most patient people."

"Ihr Frauen, haltet die Klappe!" one of the guards exclaimed.

Inara rolled over and sighed, speaking quietly. "Another card carrying member of the Deanna Celes club. Maybe there is no intelligent life in the universe after all." She laid on her side.

Ayana checked on Kate. She had been rather quiet since they had been brought in here. "You alright?" she questioned, placing a hand on her shoulder.

Kate winced slightly as Ayana's hand was placed on her shoulder.

Callie was brought into what looked a bit like a sickbay but was most certainly more along the lines of a laboratory. Dr. Goebbels was looking over something at what appeared to be a computer terminal as Callie was brought in by a pair of guards that looked suspiciously more along the lines of henchmen.

Callie looked around not liking what she was seeing in the slightest. “Why have you brought me here? I thought we were supposed to be here as your guests, not your prisoners.”

Goebbels continued working at the console. "You were guests. The humans remain guests, of sorts. But you are not human. A bio scan of you shows you to be some sort of strange hybrid. Perhaps half of your genome is human, but the other half, that is alien. That humanity is capable of such a merger is not surprising. I want to know more about this alien DNA and how it functions within you. I want to learn if it enhances any abilities or perhaps grants abilities. We'll try it the easy way first, but if you prove uncooperative, I have other methods."

“I understand that you’re curious about me, but I’m not permitted to elaborate on my genome.” Callie took a deep breath. “If that means that you’ve got to investigate my DNA further then have at it, but I will not break Starfleet rules, or those of my Captain.”

"So you are willing to confirm having alien DNA but are unwilling to cooperate beyond that" stated Goebbels aloud. "I would rather not have to harm you. Perhaps I can get information from you without physical damage. You should know that our perfection of our genome has included upgrades to it that we believed only in fantasy at one time. I for example have both telepathic and telekinetic abilities. Allow me to demonstrate." She looked over at an instrument table and suddenly an instrument rose in the air and floated quickly into her hand. "You see, my abilities are fairly unique. I believe alien DNA may be able to make it more stable, something we can make more commonplace, a new evolutionary state. Surely you do not wish to suffer unnecessarily."

“Fascinating” Callie gave Goebbels an appreciative nod. “I wish I was able to do that, but alas I can’t. I also cannot give you any further information. If that means you need to ask me more questions then feel free, the answer will be the same.”

Goebbels stared intently at Callie and focused her mental abilities on her. She was telepathic, but it was a crude telepathy, nothing like what Callie might experience with Deanna or another full Betazoid. Because of its crude nature, it felt like hot needles burrowing through her brain as Goebbels probed her, and every moment increased the pain. "You are married and a mother. You are an officer and function as a doctor, a psychiatrist of some sort. One of your parents is from a place called Betazed. Matriarchal society. Something about them." Goebbels broke the connection. "How are you able to block and resist my telepathic probes?"

She took the device she had brought into her hand and placed it against Callie's shoulder. The device pinched and then dug into her arm, taking blood and tissue samples. She snapped her fingers and a male in a white lab coat walked over and took the samples. "We will learn what we need one way or another. But you do fascinate me. Let's see what else we can learn, and how well you can counter me."

Callie’s head was thumping thanks to the crude version of contact and probing from Goebbels, but she had clamped down tight to block any further loss of information. Of the two of them Callie was more experienced with telepathy being a natural telepath. “I will not… allow you to invade my mind!” She raised her mental barriers hoping to stop Goebbels this time.

Goebbels looked at her computer terminal. "Computer, access musical files. Play Mozart symphony 40, G minor, Goebbels musical file preferences." Suddenly music began to play over the sound system in the lab. She looked at Callie, "I enjoy soothing music as I work, don't you agree?" she said with a smile as she began telepathically tunnelling into Callie's mind once more.

Callie put up what fight she had, creating avenues in her mind for Goebbels to follow that didn’t go anywhere except around in circles. Meanwhile her own consciousness was slowly withdrawing behind the barriers she was creating. In the real world the only visible sign of the battle was a small nosebleed.

Goebbels hummed as the music played, Callie did indeed fascinate her, and she had no desire to injure her if it could be prevented. However, she would get the information she wanted. She glanced at Callie securely strapped to the chair. She noticed a small nosebleed. "Ohhhh! Your bleeding! We can't have that." She exclaimed as she got a tissue and dapped it under Callie's nose. "There, that is better." As she patted Callie's head.

“The only thing…that will be better, is when you stay out of my head!” Callie clamped down tight, shutting her deepest thoughts behind a barrier that would take hard force to get to.

Goebbels chuckled without humor as she ran a fingernail under Callie's chin. "Oh pet, that I will never do. You have so many secrets I wish to discover. We will spend a long time together."

*Don’t bet on it* Callie answered telepathically, at this point Goebbels would know she was a telepath anyway. *You aren’t a natural telepath, I am!* She gave Goebbels a powerful telepathic push, enough to give her a good headache. *Now GET OUT!!*

Goebbels took at step back at Callie's telepathic shove. "Oh, you have claws! That is good to know as I explore your mind and learn your secrets one at a time. Unfortunately for you, I do not think you will enjoy the experience." As she tightened the straps at Callie's wrists and ankles ensuring she stayed securely strapped to the chair. "Now, let us get started, shall we?"

Callie struggled through it did little good, she was using all the strength she had to try and keep Goebbels out of her inner most thoughts. She was trying her hardest to protect Jon’s identity, out of the two of them he was the one with more secrets that Goebbels could use, and she knew that being identified as Jon’s wife would put him at risk of being exploited.

Goebbels watched with amusement as Callie struggled but remained tightly strapped to the chair. The chair groaned at her efforts but didn't yield. "Oh pet, save your strength, you will need it for what is coming. I see that you are a mother. You must find that very rewarding."

Callie put up what fight she had, down to near exhaustion she did what she had little choice but to do withdrawing into her own mind her body went limp as she lapsed into unconsciousness.

"Oh, you poor thing." Goebbels cooed. "You rest. For when you awaken, we'll start again." She chuckled and snapped her fingers for the male assistant. "Move her to a bed, strap her down securely. We don't want her to fall off." She chuckled again. It was cold and evil. "Give her a shot to wake her then when she awakens, we will resume our game." She smiled at the unconscious Callie. "I have much planned for you, our game is just beginning."

A while later Callie opened her eyes to find herself strapped down to a bed in a different room. Trying to lift her head to look around hurt like hell, she was trapped with no idea where Jon was or how she would get free.

"Ah, you are awake that is good. I do hope your sleep was pleasant and you are well rested as you will need your strength as our game continues." Goebbels paused as she looked intently at Callie. "Jon." She stated flatly. "You are worried for Jon. No need to worry. "Herr Oberth will take care of your Jon. You need not worry about that."

Callie looked at Goebbels helplessly. “You leave Jon alone, besides you already know what you need to know about me, what more is there to know? You have my genetics, and you’ve rummaged around in my head, you know I can’t tell you anything else.”

"I will not touch your Jon. Oberth, clumsy fool that he is will, and I do not like your Jon's odds of surviving." Goebbels smiled like a cobra getting ready to strike. "Yes, you can't tell me anything ...willingly so I will have to get the information another way."

As exhausted as Callie was she was still sensing what was happening to Jon and the others, feeling the pain from their experiences especially Jon’s it was difficult not to show it, but she tried nonetheless.

"Awe you are concerned for your Jon, that is so sweet." Goebbels smirked. "You should be concerned with what is coming for you pet."

Callie offered a wry smile. “I can’t see you harming your precious science experiment too much, you won’t find out much about me if you kill me now will you?”

"Oh pet! I don't have to kill you to find what i want to know. Of course, when I am done your mind will be the equivalent of Swiss cheese. Such is the price we pay for scientific progress."

“My mind is stronger than you might think” Callie offered a tired yet defiant glance. “My mind is my playing field, not yours!”

Goebbels smiled broadly. "You have fire that is good. Makes for what is to come more of a challenge, and I adore a challenge." She looked to her assistants, "Take the defiant one that is in the cells and place her in a restraint. I will work on her next. And summon Doktor Bismarck, have him begin his work on the other two." Looking back at Callie she smiled, "You see liebchen, your refusal to cooperate has consequences."


In the other facility, Jon, Seth, and Phoenix were brought into a large room that looked like some sort of conference room or interrogation chamber. They were seated and restrained, though the restraints were designed to allow them to stand but not give them much range of movement. Hess and Oberth entered and sat opposite them. "Tell us your background information. Who you are, your specific origin" Hess stated.

James spoke first. "Lieutenant Junior Grade James Phoenix, Washington state. Starfleet serial number SS-384-027" The information he gave they either likely knew or would be useless to them. Phoenix would likely regret this in the long run, but it proved effective. It was the same scheme he used when he was trapped in the mirror universe.

"An American" Hess noted. "What is your racial makeup?"

Oberth walked over to a computer terminal and typed in information. Over the speakers in the room, the sounds of Beethoven's 5th Symphony began to play, starting with that damn ominous beginning. Oberth returned to his seat, a smile on his face. "I do enjoy music when getting information. Seems so much more civilized" he said, a vile grin on his face. "Now, where were we?"

"Commander Jonathan Grayson, New York state, Starfleet serial number 227-063. Jon replied coldly and volunteered no more information as the classical music played.

Seth piped up, "Lieutenant Seth Travis, New York state, Starfleet serial number 317-214." and offered no more information.

Phoenix smirked and looked at Hess. "If you've ever taken a science course, you'd know that question is pointless."

Phoenix began to look flush as sweat began to pour down his face. "You look quite bad lieutenant. I think it is getting quite warm in here for you. My, I think you are burning up" Hess said with a vile sneer as Phoenix's left arm suddenly burst into flame. Hess just watched him flail and scream as the fire burned him. And just as it looked to spread, the fire was extinguished with the wave of Hess's hand. "You see, we have unlocked certain abilities, making us much like the gods of old. The ability I possess is called pyrokinesis. I enjoy using it to loosen the lips of those who are being uncooperative."

Oberth stood again and casually walked around and stood behind Seth. He placed his hands on the diplomat's shoulders and suddenly Seth began to convulse as he was electrocuted. Oberth removed his hands from Seth and watched him fall forward in medical distress. "That is just the beginning of what I can do. Frau Goebbels calls this power electrokinesis. It gives quite a jolt to my electric personality, don't you agree?" He looked at Jon, "Now, Commander, I believe we were explaining to you how pointless it is to resist. You are prepared to talk now, yes?"

Jon shook his head from side to side as he watched Phoenix scream from being burned and Seth convulse on the floor from being electrocuted. "We have nothing to discuss Herr Oberth. Not one thing."

The pain died down in Phoenix's arm, just a tad. The heat was real. Literally. "You know" he took a breath and winced, "You need to get the humor down Herr Hess" James quipped painfully before glancing at his arm. One might think the Lieutenant had a death wish. He couldn't let them win. Not after the things he went through in the Mirror Universe. He began feeling a sense of Deja Vu. He had been through this before with different people in a different time. No. He couldn't let his past distract him. Not now.

"You seem to enjoy pain. Perhaps we should increase the heat and see how well we can temper that as you answer all we ask" Hess responded.

Oberth looked at Jon. "Oh, but we do." He fired a bolt of electricity at Jon, shocking him briefly. "We truly have much to speak about."

Jon jerked as the electricity coursed through him. Not enough to cause real pain but give him a good buzz. "No, we do not." Jon repeated firmly.

"Stubborn. Foolish. We simply wish to know how to activate your computers on your craft. Such a thing cannot be worth the suffering of you and your people" Oberth stated empathically.


TBC

 

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