Rescue pt 2

Posted on Sun Sep 4th, 2022 @ 5:50pm by Captain Xavier Carey & Commander Antonia 'Tony" Stoffels & Lieutenant JG Kiara Rahl (Jansen-Carey)

Mission: The Lost Brother

Wagnor walked into shuttle bay with his team, he looked at the marine shuttle the Colonel had 'borrowed.' She wasn't kidding about it being the best. The latest still technology and hollow projectors they should be able to get on to the planet's surface without being detected by the Klingons. Two Marines were standing outside the shuttle. One of them looked up and said, "Commander Wagner? You've gone up in the world Soran."

"Drew, it's been awhile," He smiled.

"Not long enough," the marine growled. "The colonel didn't say I'd have to deal with you."

"You don't you're just manning the ship," Soran said. "How's your cousin?"

He sighed. "She's fine, Let's get this over with."

Soran's smirk faded when he saw the look on Tony's face. The look on her face said they would be talking about this later. But she turned to the marine. "You are being disrespectful to an officer. I will not have that in my hearing again."

"Yes Ma'am." The marine said.

A door hissed open on the shuttle and another marine stepped out. "I certainly hope my officers are behaving themselves Commander Stoffels."

The captain stared down the two Marines, "Get to your stations."

"Hey Julian." Tony said with a grin and could just about refrain from hugging him. Julian Capelly had been head of her father's bodyguard for a few years now so she was not surprised to see him here. He was devoted to her parents. And she had a sneaky feeling her mother had ordered him to stay close to her now.

Kiara was standing behind Tony, she offered a polite smile and a nod to the man that Tony obviously knew quite well.

The Capelly's eyes narrowed a little bit as he offered his hand to Soran. "Wagnor. Drew is difficult, but hes also a good officer. So let's just cooperate and get these boys back shall we?"

Wagnor just nodded and motioned for his team to enter the shuttle, he followed behind them to give Tony a chance to speak her friend.

Julian whistled, "your father's told me a lot of stories about him. Please tell me he is not the brains of this operation Ma'am?"

"I am afraid so, Julian. But I trust him with my brother's life."

"That's good enough for me," he said, "Truth be told I think my boy's are just that the Fleet getting all the action."

"Nope there will be plenty of action to go around. And you do know that mum is going to be in the middle of it?" She was surprised he was not with her mother to be honest.

"I'll keep my people in check, you guys are calling the shots." He nodded. "We should get moving."

Soran turned to Kiara, He smiled thinking about the other night is sickbay. "Things are going to get dicey down there stick with Carter. You two have the back of the formation.”

Kiara nodded. “Understood Sir, I’ll stick to Carter like glue!” She smiled. “I don’t aim on being the weak link in this chain.”

"You won't be," Soran smiled. "Here You'll want to adjust that vest."

He adjusted one of the straps of her tactical vest his hand lingered on the small of her back. "You don't want anything to snag as we make our way through the forest."

Kiara nodded. “Understood Sir, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous, but I won’t let you down.” She offered a warm smile.

"You'll do fine," Soran said.

The Angosian looked up to see Tony entering the shuttle, "everybody strap in. this will be a bumpy ride."

Tony nodded. She made sure everyone took a seat and was strapped in securely before she fastened her own straps.

Soran had chosen not to make a smart remark when Tony checked his straps. She was nervous and if double checking that he was strapped and helped her So be it. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, this marine transport reminded his of the old days.

Kiara had been in the field before as a medic but this was her first time on a marine transport. She tended to feel nervous until she had something to focus her mind on, as a medic she needed to keep a clear head when treating patients.

Xavier walked into the shuttle. "Be safe down there, I want you all back here in one piece."

"That's the plan, Sir." Soran nodded.

"Yes sir." Tony said and looked at Ren to get them going.

Xavier took one last look to the group. He knew that a dangerous mission such as this, anything can happen. So many unknowns, so many things can go wrong. Nodding he turned and walked out of the shuttle.

The door sealed behind the captain and they heard the confirmation for the shuttle's launch. The shuttle left the resolution heading for the planet's surface. Soran closed eyes and tried not to let his nerves show.

Without seeing him Tony further down the back tried for exactly the same. Keeping her face impassive she prayed for the strength to get through the next couple of hours and to get her family through safe.

Soran kept his eyes closed and focused on his breathing; he hadn't been a troop transport in years. He really didn't miss it, the shuttle began to rock again as they broke the atmosphere. He heard footsteps on the deck plate, they clopped and were uneven as though the person moving was having to hold on to things to study themselves with the rocking.

"Uh do you need an air sickness bag?'' someone said softly. The voice was dripping with condescension.

Soran's eyes snapped open, he looked at Drew and said. "No fleet boys can hold their cookies."

Both men were whispering Soran was hoping that Tony wouldn't hear their exchange.

"Screw you," Drew growled.

"That's original," Soran smiled. "I'd rather screw your cousin. "

Drew ball a fist, but continue to stare at Soran.

Tony could not hear what was being said but she could read facial expressions just fine so she moved to the edge of her seat to keep an eye on things.

Soran felt the bench shift as Tony leaned forward, he didn't write eye contact with Drew. He spoke louder. "Did you need something Drew?"

"No Sir."

Tony relaxed as she saw the marine back down. It seemed she would not need to take action now.

Kiara was watching the exchange, but said nothing. It wasn’t her place to stick her nose in where it didn’t belong.

Drew went back to his station, Soran looked over at Tony. "We have an inside joke, he was just wishing me luck."

He gave or he hoped looked like a confident smile, he'd handle his own problems.

Tony let it go for now but she made a mental note to keep an eye on Drew.

Kiara couldn’t help but wonder why it was Drew hated Soran so much, she could feel the hate oozing out of Drew every time he interacted with Soran.

Tony sought eye contact with Kiara and tried to speak without words if she should interfere.

Kiara noticed Tony’s glance, she was obviously worried about what was going on. She gave a minor gentle shake of her head to dissuade Tony from action.

Soran watched the women exchanging glances and contemplated saying something, but before he could...

=#= This is your captain speaking; brace for landing crew we've had to adjust the internal gravity to help to help mask our presence.#=#

Soran gripped his seat.

Tony did the same. She hated this part of missions and hoped it would be over soon.

Seeing the others grip their seats Kiara followed suit, hanging on tightly she almost wished they’d transported down instead.

Soren felt his stomach drop as the shuttle vibrated and came to a stop. He was disoriented for a moment, but quickly recovered. He opened his eyes and saw The captain and two marines enter from the cockpit.

"Sergeant Drew and I are going to accompany your team commander," Capt. Capelly said.

Tony liked the idea of having Julian along but she was not sure bringing Drew was such a good idea. Not with the tension hanging in the air but she had no chance to talk to the captain privately.

Capelly caught the look on Tony's face, "I expect everyone both fleet and marine to do what best for this mission. Either of you step out of line and I'll put your ass in a sling. Get me?!"

Drew could barely contain himself but nodded, Soran nodded professionally.

Tony breathed a little easier she knew Julian well enough to know that he would keep an eye on Drew. But she could not wait until this was all over and she could ask Ren what this was all about.

Kiara nodded in response as well. Now they were down her nerves had changed to professionalism as she picked up her medical backpack ready to go.

Drew looked at his tricorder, "this damn thing malfunctioning, It's not picking up It's not picking up Wagnor!"

"I don't show up on most sensor readings," Soran said.

He turned to Kiara, "Lieutenant sync your tricorder with the Sergeant's."

Kiara nodded. “Yes Sir.”

And just like that Tony's stress level spiked again. "where do you want me, commander?" She asked as casual as possible.

"Capelly and I will point," Soran said looking at Tony. "You and Drew will be watching our six, Rahl and Carter will bring up the rear."

"Understood." Tony said. That suited her just fine keeping an eye on Drew.

Drew nodded to Tony as they exited they shuttle, he pressed a button on his tricorder "That is the vessel is half a kilometer that way"

"Should I be at the front of the information?" Drew challenged.

"You have the COMM and jamming equipment you're a valuable asset." Soran said without looking at him.

"Commander Wagnor knows what he is doing." Tony said in a flat but not hostile tone. "He is in charge of this mission because of that reason. And we will all follow his orders so that this goes smoothly. Understood sergeant?"

"Yes ma'am," Drew said, not making eye contact.

Soren moved in step with capelly, the jungle terrain made things difficult.

Tony followed trying to keep an eye on everything going on at once. Ren to make sure she was following her lead. Drew to make sure he stayed in line and Kiara behind her to make sure she was ok.

Kiara cautiously followed on behind Tony, she was less nervous now that she was concentrating on her surroundings.

They came up on the carcass of a large predator, It looks like it's been killed by Klingons.

Wagnor looked at the carcass, "Look sharp everyone, the Klingons may not be the enemy we may have to worry about."

"Real men aren't afraid of a little wildlife," Drew scoffed.

"Drew speak when you are spoken to," Capelly growled.

Kiara looked around. “I’m not sensing anything out of the ordinary yet, I’ll let you know if I do.”

"Thanks Kiara." Tony said. "Sergeant you know well enough that we do not want to draw attention to ourselves. Defending ourselves against a large predator would draw attention."

They continued to track through the foliage till they got to the top of a hill, Wagnor signaled them to stop. He looked out with binoculars and could see the Bird Of Prey landed in a clearing. There were two warriors on guard, they had some kind of antenna set up near the craft. Probably the anti-beaming field.

"Sergeant activate the jamming signals on my mark," Capelly instructed Drew.

"Wagnor to Stoffels," Soran said into the COMM. "We are in position."

"Alright commander, copy." Aleck said.