#66 Hop-scotch with a twist

Posted on Wed Sep 22nd, 2021 @ 6:53pm by Captain Sean Silk

Mission: Mission Guardian Shield
Location: planet
Timeline: current

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Silk had led hi troupe through the empty housing district, now coming up on the open bazaar where daily kiosks were set up for the locals to trade and barter. Thankfully there were solid kiosk spots where the city had constructed permacret bar-style tables to set items on. They, of course, had to be rented. But, with who he had with him Sean knew that he would need to halt them at each one, across a barren landscape of permacrete, except for the bar stands. It would be a game of hop-scotch. He was squatting with the rest and spun half way to look back, holding his rifle barrel up in the air.

"Alright, this is how this will go. I will haul ass to those solid kiosks. You do not move until I signal!" He didn't shout, but the vehemence was clear. He got his mud back. "I need to know, right now." Silk's eyes met each of theirs in turn, then began to dance around. "How far are you willing to go to save your own life?"

"Gimme that pistol and I'll show you." The woman had raven black hair and solid blue eyes. She looked quite capable of handling herself. "Agent Ingunn Selvik, Federation Security." The others all gawked at her. "What? I'm also a Starfleet science officer."

Sean gave a huge smile. "Fuckin-A! Here ya go." He pulled the sidearm free, flipped it around and handed it to her butt first. "Rank, Selvik?"

"Chief Warrant Officer. They tried to give me officer but I told 'em I wouldn't sign up then. This was as low as they would go." Selvik shrugged. "Call it...Wait." She shook her head. "What the hell is your name and rank?"

"2nd Lieutenant Sean Silk, SFMC slash MD." The look of surprise that popped into her eyes for a brief moment was worth it. "Yeah, I'm a doctor. But, I'm a Marine first." Silk made a slashing motion. "Enough bullshit. I'll play point, you stay with the troupe. I signal, you move to me. All of you, and get down behind the cover. Repeat until we're across." Sean slapped her arm. "We got this." Looking out both ways and seeing it was clear Sean ran bent at the waist to the first perma-kiosk. He got down behind it and went prone, easing forward to peer around the corner and scan ahead. After a good fifteen minutes he signaled for the others to advance and within moments they were all hunkered down with him. "Good job, folks. Nice and easy and don't get spooked. Stick to the plan and we all go home, I promise you." Once that was said Silk moved out to the next. They had started this as the sun went down and Sean had to lead them across a shadowy landscape, only half the city lights still functioning. It was time consuming but they were slow and steady.

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