The shot!

Posted on Fri Jan 22nd, 2021 @ 10:45pm by Rotush Kenear Minister & Lieutenant Commander Tony Johnson

Mission: The Mentarin Effect
Location: Planetside
Timeline: Current

Minister Rotush sat behind his desk, as he looked at some paper. It detailed what they wanted for what they offered the federation. Outlying everything. This was not much, to the federation. It was simple. They wanted more in regards of payment. But that was not all, the people were ill. The people were dying. The people were rioting. Wanting answers. Wanting accountability. The head of the government would not change anything, however, perhaps a plee to the federation would get some things done.

"Minster Rotush." an aide came up to him. "The Federation has arrived. USS Resolution, is requesting to send down shuttle with the Captain, and two of their crew."

Pausing, "Only two... the captain is coming down." He thought about it. "That was unexpected, usually the first officer is brought in on first meeting. In that case, I will head to the landing zone personally. Give them the all clear, and the coordinates.

"Aye sir."

<>

Rotush sat in a building next to the landing zone, watching as a spec got closer, and slowly the image of the shuttle made its way from the layer of smog that had taken up permanent residence in the atmosphere. A clear blue sky hadn't been seen... for years. More than a decade even.

"Security Forces are at the ready." The aide replied as he approached the minister replied. "Lethal force is forbidden. But they will use force if needed."

Nodding, there were other times when visited there was the need for the use of force, however they did in kind, which resulted in casualties on both sides. It brought change to the government. he himself was the result, to try and bring that change, was the call to the federation. For years, the government sat idly by, did nothing, as the people were dying, the change did come, but a new illness came, new sick. New dying. Was this operation, this mining operation causing it. The people thought so. He was one. But the only thing that they had was the ore. Without that. Their people would plummet. They needed the trade. Now more than ever.

"Lets go out there." He replied as he stepped out of the building, as he watched the shuttle land with a thud... it wasn't unheard of, especially the amount of pollution in the air often messed with the intakes of the engines.

Tony Johnson looked out the window of the shuttle. "Here comes our welcome party."

"Indeed," the Captain replied as he stood up taking a phaser and a tricorder from the Security Chief.

"Sir might I suggest not staying outside too long. The level of pollution I am reading is near dangerous levels especially for someone not used to the environment.". Said James as they got ready to disembark.

"Hopefully they lead us straight into the building," said Tony. "But we could bring oxygen masks just in case."

"A wise precaution, Lieutenant," he nodded to the Chief Engineer, as he watched Tony take their breathing masks. As the trio stepped through the aft hatch of the shuttle, the sound of the gathered protests became audible. They shouted their feelings and hurled their insults, although the Captain couldn't discern anything specific. Leonard briefly turned back to his two officers, ordering "stay alert."

"Of course sir." Said James calmly he slightly adjusted his mask, he rested one hand briefly on the phaser he carried before turning back to the tricorder he was studying. " hmm heavy deforestation massive industrial buildup centering on a single resource and an unruly crowd of protestors. I am reminded of those old holovids from pre and post WWIII. This place is heading down a long dark road but we just might be able to help them." Added James more to himself then the others though he was sure they heard him.

They stood clear of the shuttle, as they were approached by the Minister and his party. As the Minister came closer, there was a change in the mood of the crowd, as they began hurling things towards them, from the perimeter fence that they had been contained behind. A quick scan of the ground told them that it was mostly trash. Balled up pieces of paper and drinks containers and the like were the predominant 'weapon' of choice for the protesters. Someone had even thrown a shoe. Of course, weapon was hardly an adequate descriptor. These were nothing that concerned the Captain, although he was sure that 'Commander Johnson would disagree.

"Captain, It is a pleasure meeting you here." Rotush replied and turned to the other two. "I know that our... request for a party wasnt expected for another thirty years according to our trade agreement. But this is something that cannot wait."

"Minister," the Captain replied, coming closer to the Mentarin, "I'm Captain Matthew Leonard, of the Federation Starship Resolution. These are my Officer's, Lieutenant Commander Tony Johnson, and Lieutenant James Wayne." As he said their names, he indicated for the benefit of the Mentarin's which one was which.

"Commander, Lt. Please follow me. The building that we will be using is just down the street." He replied as he walked back towards the building, although not to the building he had just exited, the one just past. "I do understand your wanting of masks, unfortunately, our government does not make said masks mandatory for our people. All our economy is devoted to the mines."

James motioned for the captain to slow down as he had some things he needed to discus in at least a semi private setting. " Sir I tied the tricoder to the sensors in the runabout. These people do not have 30 years if things continue as they are I would guess that within 15 to 20 years without help this planet will be what Venus used to be in our system. Somehow we either have to help them or make them realize what they are doing to their planet." Said James as he handed the captain his tricorder with the information he had gathered.

"We are well aware of our predicament Lt. No need for the secrecy. Our people have... what you people... cat like hearing." Rotush replied as he continued unfazed.

Tony was still scanning the crowd for threats as they moved further away from the people. "If you aware of your predicament, then why not make mask mandatory?"

"Our people..." Rotush replied, "We can withstand most pollutants. Our bodies can filter out most pollutants. It wasn't until just recently, the past 25 years, that things started getting noticed about certain things popping up. More illnesses. Then the federation asked for more. We obliged, then the klingons asked. Then again we obliged. Triple work force. Its why we called you. Its why they blame you." He gestured to the crowd. "Now lets get in so we can talk proper."

As the away team, and the minister approached the building, the noise from the assembled crowd increased, as their words became louder. A few more projectiles found there way towards them, with some now throwing stones. Still nothing that would greatly injure the away team. "Perhaps we would be better inside," the Captain concurred, agreeing with the minister. They didn't reach the door though, as another, loud sound rang out through the air. This sound wasn't like any other that they'd heard so far. It wasn't the sound of the protesters. This was something else.

James dropped and rolled to the side coming up to his knee he quickly started looking for the threat.

Tony immediately pulled out his phaser and immediately scanned the area he believed the sound came from. Clearly the shot was weapon fire and from the sound it was a single shot. "Everyone quickly find cover."

Leonard watched as his officer's looked around, to see where the sound had come from. He felt himself growing dizzy and faint, and losing his balance. As he fell to the ground, he reached out to grab one of them, to steady himself, as he didn't know where he would land. It was only now, as he fell, that he realised the only obvious conclusion, he had been hit.

Rotush managed to grab the man, and as he landed was able to soften the landing. Shock over came him, the sounds of screams came from the protesters as he looked around where the shot was actually coming from, the protesters had dispersed. As he knelt down to Captain he noticed the blood soaking through his uniform.

It was seconds before the team were surrounded by security forces, in a protective stance around the fallen officer as well as the other two.

Rotush looked at the two officers... scared to death... "This was not our doing. This is not why we called you here."

"We need to the Captain back to the ship quickly," Johnson instructed. "Rotush have your people cover us. James help me get him back." The two lifted the Captain and quickly returned to the shuttle. Grabbing the medical kit, he did his best to try to stop the bleeding. "James get us back to the ship quickly and let them know that the Captain has been shot."

"Yes Commander." He replied as he nodded to the officer, giving them the instructions to do whatever they needed.

James did not mess with a polite take off and he threw caution to the wind as he gunned the engines to half impulse raised the shields and sent the shuttle rocketing straight up just as hard and fast as he dared.

A few minutes later the ship was leaving orbit in route to the Resolution. Commander Johnson had done his best to stop the bleeding, but he was fairly certain that there was internal bleeding. Not to mention whatever projectile was used was likely in the Captain's body. As the shuttle pulled into the docking bay, there was a medical staff on standby in waiting.

"Resolution the Captain has been shot," Johnson called from the comm. "Emergency transport of the Captain to sickbay immediately for surgery."

Less than a minute later Captain Leonard's body was transported from the shuttle to the Resolution. Taking a look at his bloody hands, Tony grabbed a rag and attempted to wipe of his hands. Everything in his being told him to return to the surface, but the Commander would definitely want an explanation on what the hell happened down there.