The Planet of Death Part 2

Posted on 12 Feb 2020 @ 3:26pm by Commander Amelia Fox & Captain Jonathan Reynolds & Lieutenant Mitchell Graham & Lieutenant Commander Aidan Datari & Lieutenant JG Rosaline Belikov & Ensign Gwen Leighton

Mission: Mission 3 - Whom gods destroy ...
Location: Villanueva
Timeline: MD1 1500
1928 words - 3.9 OF Standard Post Measure

ON:

The two Son'a led Amelia down a corridor into another room which was obviously been used as the main control room for their operation. There was a table in the center with a number of Son'a sat at workstations. They all stopped working when Amelia was led into the room.

One Son'a who had been walking around keeping an eye on all came over to her. "Welcome. I'm Karam. We've been expecting you."

Aidan led the remainder of the team back to another room. "What do we know about these Orions?" he asked the two security officers. "I know the language but otherwise, beyond them being master conners, I don't know much about them."

"You can't really generalize an entire species like that." Gwen said," All Orion's vary depending on where and by whom they were raised. Whatever brought them here could be a personal mission or one that's part of a larger picture." She shrugged, "Only way to know is to ask. Otherwise, we're just guessing."

Amelia looked around the room before addressing Karam. She thought to herself They think I'm in charge so might as well play along... see what we can learn.". She kept her voice low but added a quiet fury to her tone. "So, why exactly have you fouled things up? I give you simple instructions and you can't even follow them. Someone is going to pay for this!"

He looked at her afraid for a moment then burst out laughing. "Oh! You're good. Very believable, "Then turning to two guards "Seize her."

Two Son'a grabbed her and held her by the arms. She kept playing things cool on the outside but inwardly she knew she was in trouble. "Very funny. You take your orders from me or have you forgotten?"

Before Karam responded, an identical voice to hers replied. "You're half right. Actually, they take their orders from me!"

Out of the shadows in the corner of the room behind Amelia emerged another Amelia Fox, dressed in black leather. She came and stood in front of her Starfleet counterpart with a wicked smile on her face. She took hold of her face and kissed it before adding "Hello there Amelia Fox. Don't I look beautiful?."

Though not surprised to see her mirror universe counterpart, Amelia's heart sank. "I knew you were here."

The other Fox replied "I know you know. You're as smart as I am. Even working for these Federation fools. I've been watching and listening."

The Penny dropped for Amelia. "The implant!"

Mirror Amelia nodded. "You see! Just as smart as me. Now, why don't I take a moment to explain all my plans and divulge all my evil schemes? Actually, I've got a better idea. Your command codes. Now!"

Amelia looked at her with disbelief. "You're kidding? You know I'll never give you my codes."

The other Fox raised an eyebrow, just like Amelia did. "I think you will." She half-turned and called out "Kill one of her team. I don't care which!"

"WAIT!" Amelia called out.

Her doppelganger looked at her "You fold fast." She smirked.

Amelia replied "I know me. You're not bluffing."

The mirror Amelia folded her arms. "See. Smart. But for not answering the first time.." She Called out again "Wound one of them!"

Amelia dropped her head slightly then whispered "Fox two two Seven Beta Gamma."

The Mirror Fox looked at her counterpart. She sighed and moved closer, whispering intimately in her ear. "Don't fight me. Eventually, you'll see what I'm doing is right and join me. I know me too. But now, unfortunately, it's nap time..."

Amelia looked puzzled before she heard, and felt a hypospray on her neck and she blacked out.

Aidan looked to the security officers. "You're right the best way is to ask, but my own personal experience with them, albeit limited, hasn't been grand. But I'll try to keep an open mind." As he said that, he saw Belikov go down, clutching her leg. "Rose!" he called out, rushing to her side.

From an adjacent darkened corridor two Son'a emerged. Both were carrying disruptor rifles. The one in front still had his weapon tucked into his shoulder and pointed at the away team. He had done the shooting. The other, standing slightly behind the shooter, held his barrel down but at the ready. He spoke into a wrist communicator. "It is done."

Yelling out in pain, Rose grabbed her leg near where the disruptor had hit. Even though she'd been shot before, each experience was just as painful as before, especially with disruptors.

"WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?" a voice bellowed. It was a woman's voice. She was marching their way, having just emerged from a turbolift door. She was wearing what appeared to be some kind of protective pressure suit, including a helmet and visor. The head gear came off. She was Orion. "There is to be no discharge of weapons in this area! Do you have any idea what could happen? "

"We didn't fire any weapons," Aidan replied without looking up. He was trying to tend to the intelligence chief, trying to assess her injury. "Except mine, all were confiscated when we arrived." After all, he could not lie and say they had no weapons.

The Orion also knelt down to examine the wound. "Not you, them! This area of the caverns has crystalline mersium in the rock formations. The particulate floats in the air. If it comes into contact with an open wound like this it will turn gangrenous. Do you have a ship we can beam to?"

"We can," Gwen said, "But we can't bring you aboard without knowing who you are and ensuring you don't have a weapon on yourself."

"Commander Fox ordered us to wait here," Aidan countered, "we aren't going back to the ship unless we are in danger. We can treat Lieutenant Belikov's injury here." Orders were orders, and he wasn't just going to leave their commander behind. Not unless absolutely necessary. "I do recommend moving to a location without mersium in the air." He looked to the Orion female who had joined them. "And who are you?"

The Orion shot Aidan an angry look. "The name is Dr. Velaya. I work here. Who are you and why are you wandering around this level?"

"Just get me a medkit, I'll be fine" Rose said through gritted teeth. "Either that or give me your phaser lieutenant"

Aidan nodded at Rose, handing her the medkit he had carried all along. Giving her his phaser wasn't an option, he felt as team leader he shouldn't be unarmed. "Lieutenant Aidan Datari," he answered the Orion, "we received a signal and came to investigate."

Before the Orion could answer, a female voice replied: "She's a nobody, just a scavenger." Commander Fox walked around the corner and joined the other Starfleet officers. She looked at Aidan with a small smirk. "Hello again... tut tut tut..." she added wagging a finger at him "Have you let one of our colleagues get shot?" She looked at Belikov and sighed "I'm afraid it looks like you'll live." She then seemed to do a double-take and corrected herself "I mean, it doesn't look that serious, I'm sure you'll be fixed up good as new when we return to the ship. "

She turned back to Aidan "I've made contact with the people how are in charge around here. It's some members of the Ceta led by a man called Karam. They told me all their plans, with a little persuasion. I'm not sure we need to waste our time with this... individual."

"screw you too Commander" Rose said under her breath.

The Trill's eyes narrowed as he studied the commander for a moment. "Are you alright commander?" he asked in concern, "you seem a little... off..." Perceptive to auditory changes, he had picked up on the change of voice and speech pattern. "What are their plans ma'am... because so far Doctor Velaya hasn't been hostile towards us. In fact, she's been helpful instead."

Fox had apparently caught what Belikov had said and her eyes narrowed slightly. You shall soon be eating those badly chosen words she thought to herself before answering Aidan "I think that's best left until we are back on board the Andromeda and I can brief the Captain. What else have you learnt so far?"

"Nothing of significance," Aidan replied, "I think we should head home." He nodded to the Orion. "Thank you doctor for your assistance," he answered in very accented Orion. It wasn't a language he was fluent at, but he had hoped to learn more.

Dr. Velaya stood, her eyes fixed on Fox. "You all shouldn't be down here without protective gear. The sooner you leave, the better." She brushed past them and continued on her way.

The Trill science chief frowned. "We best heed her advice Commander," he said while continuing to treat Rose. "Have medical stand by. All team members must be cleared by medical before resuming their duties. There's something in the air here...I recommend decon."

Fox nodded. “Very Well.” She had studied some older text on Starfleet that the alliance had managed to get their hands on so she knew some of the lingo required. She tapped her comm badge.

“Fox to Andromeda. Request beam up for the away team. We’ve found an Orion Doctor who has some information. The away team has been exposed to some kind of contaminate and Lieutenant Belikov has been injured. Advise full decontamination.”

"Reynolds. Would that doctor be willing to come up here and talk with us?" Jon asked. "We may need their help if theres been exposure to something."

“Standby”. She looked at Aidan. “Wait here. I’ll be right back?” She followed the Orion down the dismal corridor. When she caught up with her, she checked she was out of earshot of the away team before she spoke. “Velaya, The Captain wants you to come back to the ship with us.” She stepped closer and whispered low and deadly. “These Federation fools think I’m one of them, so let's not alter that perception shall we? Remember our arrangement. I delivered the weapons on time and you paid promptly. You’re smart and you know I only deal with smart people. They know not to screw with me, understand?”

She stepped back and adopted a friendly tone once again. “Our Captain extends his hospitality and would like for you to join us aboard our ship. Shall we?” As she gestured back to the rest of the team.

Velaya looked her in the eye, then glanced at the away team, then back at her. So many questions, but there was no time for them now. She decided to go along with it. "As you wish."

By the time they had returned to the group, Rose has wrapped a bandage around the wound on her leg and with Aiden’s help she’d managed to stand up, “thank you Lieutenant”

Fox tapped her com badge again. "Fox to Andromeda. Five to beam up. Energise!"

OFF:

Lieutenant Amelia Fox
Executive Officer
USS Andromeda

●● Lieutenant Amelia Fox
Executive Officer
USS Andromeda

●● Lieutenant Aidan Datari
Chief Science Officer/2nd Officer
USS Andromeda

●● Lieutenant Mitchell Graham
Chief Flight Control Officer
USS Andromeda

●●● Captain Jonathan Reynolds
Captain
USS Andromeda