Fish out of Water (Echo Shuttle)

Posted on Tue Feb 21st, 2012 @ 5:17am by Captain Richter Sarajevo

Mission: Mission Two: Fight Fire With Fire
Location: Aruah System; Romulan Space

:ON

Richter paced up and down the center walk-way of the shuttle. A hour would have been long enough to comb space for these damn Remans but the hour had come and gone. He was easily starting to loose hope in the completion of the mission -- before it even started.

"Marine Angelo." Richter spoke out in the direction of the Shuttle's operations station. "Tell me you have got something for me."

"No sir." Angelo returned, "Just the same shit we've been looking at for over an Hour." He turned back to Richter, "Perhaps Keyes' luck is faring better.

Richter let out a sigh as he clapped his chest, ""Echo to Zulu. You guy's find anything yet?"

"Zulu to Echo." Keyes came back "Just dust and echoes. There's a few microbes over on that moon that might be a threat to us in a hundred billion years, but there's no sign of any Remans."

Richter narrowed his lips as he looked out upon space from the viewer window. He was moments away from calling the mission off and returning to the Ardeshir, "Understood. We are not getting so much as a..."

"Sir." Angelo spoke up looking to his sensors, "We've been registering a heavy concentration of cosmic dust pouring in toward the System's sun. Silicon. Iron. Aluminum. Many of these elements are naturally occurring in a system." turning back to Richter, "Ejections from cosmic collisions and the like but there is an awful lot out there."

"A mining station?" Richter asked.

"I would guess so, Sir. These readings would indicate heavy mining taking place somewhere in the system." Angelo reason.

"Something wrong Zulu?" Keyes spoke over the comms

With a nod to the Marine Richter went to the communicator again,"Keyes.We've been getting small particle readings and that we are starting to believe are more than just cosmic dust. We are getting traces of silicon, iron, and aluminum that are much stronger here in the inner-system than were you are in the outer. It doesn't appear to be naturally occurring and I am starting to wonder if the base that we are looking for is even a Military Instillation."

"Zulu, those compounds wouldn't be there if someone wasn't shifting a serious amount of ore" Keyes replied "It'd have to be a heavy mining rig, hard to hide something that big though. Has to be cloaked."

"That is what I am thinking" Richter said with a nod "The small Terrestrial planets of the Inner system aren't showing signs of mining but I wonder if the dust could be coming in at the Systems sun from the outer ring or perhaps a moon orbiting one of the gas giants. I want you're boat to look into it and see what you find. We're heading your way now.."

Gomez, the Marine Pilot spoke over his shoulder. " .. Fifteen Minutes, sir." as if he knew what Richter was going to ask.

"ETA 15. Richter out."

With that Richter clicked off the communication as the shuttle turned from the System sun and began its return to the outer ring and Zulu shuttle.

"Alright gang, listen up." Richter spoke looking back over the Marines who eagerly awaited a chance to get the hell out of the shuttle. "Looks like we might still salvage this cluster-fuck of a mission."

He scanned his eyes over their faces, "We are going to rendezvous with the Zulu shuttle at what we now believe to be a Romulan Mining station. That adds another possibility as we may be dealing with civilian Romulan miners who could be caught in our cross fire. I want everyone to stay alert and make sure you have a confirmed target before opening fire on anyone. Understood?"

There came a grumbled reply from the Marines.

"UNDERSTOOD!?" Richter reiterated louder.

"Yes sir." came a uniform reply.

"Alright then let's.." Richter began to say before being interrupted by the coms.

"Echo Shuttle, we are under attack! We have found the space station and are being fired upon!" Keyes' voice reverberated through the shuttle.

As bad as getting fired upon was, the words came of some relief to Richter. There target had identified itself.

"Understood Lieutenant. We are still in route .." Richter replied leaning over the Operations station. ".. we'll be there in 5. We are going with the plan as is. Get that cloak down and you have permission to board the ship. When we arrive we'll take the opposite side of the station and try to meet your gang somewhere in the middle."

"Copy that, I'll see you onboard." Keyes spoke over the communications

"I have their location, sir." Gomez spoke, "I am going as fast as this ship can carry."

Richter patted the pilot on the shoulder with an approving nod. "Now is when the fun begins" he smirked.

Standing upright as he through more on the ambitious Keyes, "And Lieutenant." looking up toward the shuttle ceiling, "No casualties on either side." Richter reiterated. "Echo Out."

"Alright you bunch'a apes.." Richter said turning back to the Marines. "Check your gear we land in 5. You all know the standard Federation terms of surrender.." he spoke glancing over them.

"We offer safe passage and quarter to any enemy-combatant who is willing to Surrender -- this is non-negotiable. Should a Reman surrender you are not to abuse, attack, or any other way harm the person in question."

"Second. Any and All Romulan's located will be returned to this shuttle or a safely fortified position. You will give them medical aid, food, or anything else they require."

"Lastly, any and all Romulans we encounter --- regardless of rank and insignia --- will be classified as 'Civilian'. As a Civilian it is our mission to escort them from the field to a safe location. You are not to draft or conscript any Romulans aboard even if they wish to help us. This is a Federation Mission with only Federation Personal."

"Approaching the base, sir." Gomez spoke, "The shields and Cloak are down."

Richter looked back over his shoulder to the pilot, "Thank you." looking back, "Alright boys. Lets do this thing."

:END