#31 In the Depths

Posted on Tue Nov 22nd, 2022 @ 10:28am by Captain Rogue Green {Meji} & Lieutenant JG Jamie T. Kirk/AKA: "Jim" & Lieutenant Tara Herculoid PhD

Mission: BUGS OH NO!!
Location: asteroid
Timeline: current

ON:

Kirk had Delta 5 sitting at the ready five position as she awaited the arrival of Commander Green. Going through a quick pre-flight she saw that her people had seen to the craft while it had been back aboard. Unlike the other shuttles and the fighters, Deltas used energy torpedoes that were created and designed with Borg technology mixed in. She could fire energy torpedoes all day but they took time to charge if she went all out. They were to be used sparingly, and when a bigger punch was needed. Understanding that was what endeared the craft to lil Miss Kirk.

Green came aboard and shut the aft hatch, making her way forward, both sabers hooked to her belt at the hip. One on the left, one on the right. She had no particle weapons but did sport a utility belt with tricorder and two concussion grenades. As always her personal palm PADD was in her thigh pocket on the right and a hand held communicator in the left. If badges went down or got lost she had a backup. "We good, Kirk?"


"Ready when you are, Commander." Jim kept her voice professional. The recent mention of a demerit really kicked her in the brain and woke her up to the fact that she had made mistakes.

"Free this bird, Ensign."

Not one who needed to be told twice, Kirk manipulated her console and 5 lifted from the deck. With bow pointed at the open bay she pushed her thrusters key and the small craft zipped out of the interior and into open space. "Free and clear, Sir."

"Park and wait for Rivers, between the pylons." Ordered Green. While she spoke she removed her tunic and red shirt, now sporting the sleeveless black undershirt over which she donned a black leather vest. From a small bag she brought with her she strapped on leather bracers with scale mail style plates running down the outer portions, with plates over top of the back of her hand. Should she give a backhanded fist blow to an enemy they will definitely know they have been smacked. She sat down in the seat above and behind Kirk.

Tara dressed in a flight suit and helmet, climbed aboard the fighter, ran the launch and flight check, and carefully moved the fighter over to behind the Delta. Switching on all systems she placed the cloak on hold and charged the weapons. Tapping the com "Commander I'm ready when you are."

Alesha boarded the Delta carrying a phase rifle, two side arms along with a phaser and two extra power packs. A couple of hidden explosives just incase things got heated. Taking a seat Alesha looked out at her fighter. "Tara signals ready commander."

Ro tapped the comm key. "I heard that, Rivers, thanks. These do work," she quipped with a grin, pointing at her own ear. After the seriousness of the meeting she wanted them to see that Commander Rogue Green may have been upset but it was not something she chose to do on a regular basis. "Activate your cloak when ready, Tara. Maybe we can offer a few surprises of our own. Kirk, best speed to the asteroid. Herculoid, Green, out."

Kirk got the Delta moving and angled out and away from Amandora as she set a direct course for that massive asteroid.

Tara lifted off and followed the Delta out of the Amandora's hanger bay and cloaked the fighter. Tapping her com "I'm cloaked. Weapons are charged and ready. I'll keep coms down to a minumn."

As 5 moved toward the asteroid Green focused her eyes on a monitor, and the faraway freighters now sitting alongside one another. The one they had seen to with Amandora was the one she concentrated on. Cosmo was mechanical so she could not reach him with the Core like she could with organics. So, tapping away on her console she created a text message, encoded it, then sent it in a split second burst. The message was a brief how are you, where are you, and, can you get us inside? Within moments a message was sent back.

--Hello, Master. Good to see you are still fully functional. I am on the damaged freighter, with repairs nearly completed; 97.3%. My status is unharmed and fully functional. Would it be too much to ask to rejoin you?--

Green gave a chuckle which caused Jim and Alesha to look her way. "Sorry, guys. Cosmo is on the line and being...well...Cosmo in his responses."

Kirk gave a grin, glad the little beach ball was okay. "At full impulse we should arrive at the asteroid in eight minutes. However, we are in beaming range now. Cosmo got any ideas on that? Our sensors seem unable to penetrate too deeply into the interior."

"I've seen your little Cosmo but that's all," Alesha said "Is there an opening into that asteroid? If so Tara may be able to fly into it while she's cloaked."

Green gave Alesha a grin and a slight nod. "He's a character, that's for sure. But, he's a dedicated little guy and if there is a way inside by vessel, he'll find it. Let me see what he has so far." Green sent another message, but this time what she said was texted and sent. "Cosmo. Is there any type of tunnel or landing bay? Our sensors cannot penetrate the asteroid's interior."

A bleep sounded to announce an incoming scroll text. "Master, there is a tunnel but it is closed with a door disguised as a side of the asteroid itself. I am working to find a frequency to override. Also, I have an inclination as to where Doctor Bjorgo got transported to but, it is questionable. Without exact scans any one of you could get beamed into a solid wall."

The text had appeared on all stations, on a secondary monitor for each. Everyone could see it. Green looked at the others. "Cosmo can hear us and everything we say will be texted to him. Any ideas, ladies? Do we risk a blind beam-in, or do we try the door?"

"I say try the door," Alesha said "If what he said is true we don't need to risk being beamed into a wall."

Tara sent a text over "We need to bring Tore's body back."

"You hear that, little buddy? Get that door open as soon as possible. Kirk, Herculoid, something tells me it will be a tight squeeze. Once the door is open, slow and steady." Advised Green. "There are bound to be twists and turns since an asteroid has no concept of design, it just IS. Tara, get on our six and follow us in. If we come under attack, cloaked or not, if you're in front you'll get nailed."

Cosmo added in text. "I have concluded through logical deduction that the enemy may not be able to see us as much as we cannot see her. In other words, Master, the camouflage provided by the asteroid works for and against her. This freighter has been here for some time and we have yet to be contacted or disturbed."

"I'm right behind you," Tara said "Weapons are hot and standing by."

TAG

***

Over on the asteroid Jynxza had gone back across the bridge opposite the one where Bjorgo's corpse lay, passing through corridors and coming to a room that was secure from a great amount of damage. The Gorn she had working for her had been promised a great hunt. Anyone who came into the asteroid were open game, and with Gorn, they would also be used to lay their eggs within (new Gorn information from Strange New Worlds). But, here in this secure chamber there were no Gorn; no threats whatsoever. There were, however, two enclosed bassinet stasis units for newborns.

Jynxza stood and looked down upon her sons as she stood between their beds. They could hear her when she spoke as the audio pick-up was enabled. She laid a hand on each clear cover as she explained what it would mean to be her sons.

"A being can have anything, if they are willing to sacrifice. With your birth comes a solemn vow.
You-will-have-nothing!
Your privilege is the dirt.
In the darkness only ambition will guide you.
The oaths you swear, the promises you make; they are yours alone.
Your freedom will be the battles you fight.
The losses you suffer your birthright.
Your entitlement the pain you endure.
And, when darkness finds you, you will face it alone."

Having said her piece Jynxza removed her hands from their stasis bassinets. Stepping back out of the circular ring pattern on the floor, surrounding the babies and their bassinets, Jynxza raised a bracer and pressed a ruby there. The ceiling opened with a circular opening above the children, a bright light streaming down from it as four technological rings dropped from the opening and landed around the bassinets. Within moments the bassinets and everything within the rings was turned to energy and sent shooting up into the ceiling. Outside the asteroid that beam of energy was sent directly to a cloaked ship, and was wide open to view. The cloak shimmered for a moment as the ring device landed the children safely aboard the small ship. Once aboard, as per programming, the small vessel waited until hidden again and then turned from where it was originally pointing, activating thrusters enough to get the ship moving as they again shut down and allowed the vacuum to maintain velocity without energy output.

With her children safe Jynxza turned and walked back towards the central core and the singularity.

***

Green heard Tara, asking as she did so. "Cosmo, you in yet?"

The text came back. "Now, Master." A section of more or less flat asteroid, fairly close to the derelict freighter, popped out and then separated as a set of double doors. Within could be seen a cavernous tunnel with intermittent navigation lights to show the way.

"You're on, Kirk," said Green as she leaned back in her seat and let the Ensign drive the car.

"Here we go," stated Kirk as she turned towards the opening. "Herculoid, I'll try to do this quick. Don't get too close so that you can't see around me in case I have to make a sudden turn." With that said Kirk drove into the opening while she cut environmental by 25% and shunted that power to her thrusters and shields. And, yes, she activated her shields to help buffer any collisions they may make with a sudden outcropping of ice, rock, or both.

"Acknowledged,adjusting course and speed," Tara responded as she cut the engines and used thrusters only. Tara raised shields. With the cloak engaged the shields were only at eighty percent but enough to cover anything thrown her way.

After twenty minutes of weaving her way through the tunnel Kirk's Delta came out into a large cavern chamber. Forcefields were in place to keep space out and the environment showed the air to be breathable. However, there was still no gravity. "Commander Green, scan for a gravity shelf, please."

As she asked that Jim's eyes found a landing platform, large enough for several runabouts to land on safely and with room to spare. Dead center of the platform was a Romulan runabout, parked and all systems down.

Green scanned the interior of the chamber. "Gravity systems detected on the landing pad, and through the rest of the facility. Seems my sister has been busy."

"Sister?" Kirk gave her an over the shoulder look back, one of surprise. "You never mentioned this bitch was family."

"Not by blood, Jim," Green reassured. "We were chosen together and formed quite a bond. I'll explain later. Get us landed."

"Aye, Sir," responded Kirk as she came in steady and put her Delta down in a soft landing. She began to shut down her systems.

"Commander want me to land or stay up here at station keeping?" Tara asked

Alesha stood and gathered her weapons once the Delta had landed.

Ro had stood, along with Kirk and Rivers, her Sense on high. There was no mistaking ripples in the Core. "I shouldn't have come," she said in a low tone, almost imperceptible, talking to herself. "Jynxza knows we're here." Her voice had regained its strength. "Tara, all hands on deck. Jynxza isn't the only one here. I sense a great amount of danger."

Tara dropped the cloak and landed, raising the canopy she tossed her helmet onto the seat as she climbed down, Opening a compartment on the Fighter Tara removed a phaser and phase rifle, Neither were Starfleet issue as the fighter was Amazon, Walking over to where the rest of them were.

Kirk's face was contorted in a look of confusion. "So can I. Is...is that normal?"

"For a Core user, yes." Green went to the bag she had brought aboard and reached inside, pulling forth a saber hilt similar to her own. She tried to hand it to Kirk who stepped back. "Take it, Ensign."

"I haven't the foggiest on how to use that thing," Kirk said. "I'm likely to cut my own limbs off."

"Who else do you think is here?" Alesha asked looking around. Keeping an eye out for anything or anyone.

They had all vacated the Delta, out the aft hatch. The chamber was eerie and shadowed, some kind of mist floating around in barely perceptible wisps. "Predators," said Green. Again, she tried to hand Kirk the saber. "Take it. If nothing else get used to having it. I feel your power growing. Trust your instincts, trust your feelings, and allow the Core to aid you in all things."

Kirk gave in and grabbed the hilt, which Ro immediately turned around in her hand. Jim hooked it to her belt.

Green took a knee, getting the others to do the same around her. "I'll take point. You lot have the particle weapons so you can shoot from afar." There was no door leading down the dark corridor that led away from the landing pad and further into the complex. There was a strange clicking/gurgling sound.

Kirk looked that way as she held her rifle ready for action. "That doesn't sound good." Her brain knew that sound but it would not come to her at the moment. "I know that sound but can't remember why. All I know is it isn't good."

"It sounds big," Tara commented setting her weapon to a higher setting, to kill if need be.

"Commander I have orders to bring you back alive," Alesha said.

Green pulled the phase pistol from Herc's holster and set it for its highest setting just below disintegrate. "Set weapons to kill, people. We're alone here, no comms. If we are going to stop Jynxza then whatever is coming needs to be put down."

A guttural hiss came from down the hall but there was still nothing to see due to the dimness of the entire facility.

"Okay, I know what that is," said Kirk. There was nervousness in her eyes but no fear, backed by a twinge of hatred. "That sound is Gorn. Sounds like a pair, probably mated, and here to hunt and protect the facility. They will eat us alive just for the joy of it."

"Stay abreast of each other and don't step into another's line of fire. We will walk down that corridor and blast anything that comes at us." Ordered Green.

"They spit venom," added Kirk. "To blind their prey. Also, the venom causes a genetic change in your body, no matter the species, and eggs will grow within you. Don't let it touch your skin."

Green looked at her in wonder. "How do you know all this shit, Ensign?"

"I'm a reader, Commander," Kirk answered. "I spent my time reading about those who came before. Pike, Kirk, all those types. The ship's logs for Enterprise, under Pike and Kirk, are on file, you know."

Another hiss, this time sounding like they were slowly getting closer.

Alesha kept her rifle at the ready, it was set to kill as she walked her eyes taking in everything.

Tara checked behind them every few feet to make sure nothing was sneaking up on them, "I've never seen or heard of the Gorn. But I don't like what I'm hearing either."

Kirk was in step next to Green with Tara to her right and Alesha to Green's left. "Imagine a two meter tall bipedal lizard with sharp teeth and claws. As they get older they aren't as quick as the young but..."

Two guttural shrieks came from down the dim hallway and they could all hear feet running at them. While Kirk had been talking Green had focused her Sense down the corridor. After the shriek and the sound of moving feet she focused, and as they got within perfect range, not able to be seen yet, Ro raised her phase pistol with a straight arm stance and stopped walking. "Fire! Cover the hallway!" She began to fire into the darkness and let her aim go here, there, and everywhere as she kept squeezing the trigger. There was a screech of pain and anger.

Alesha dove behind a wall, aimed her rife and started to fire, more shrieks of pain were heard.

Tara took cover behind a large outcropping and fired, several more screams of pain could be heard and then a howl that sounded angry "We've made something mad." Tara kept firing into the darkness.

"Keep firing!" Ordered Green. And, that is what they did. Eventually the screams and screeching was gone. It was eerily quiet after all the firing but Ro stood still just listening.

At the power core Jynxza grinned to herself as she heard all the shooting and shrieks from the Gorn. She reached out and tapped a comm key. "Thank you for dealing with them, Dear Sister. They had outlived their purpose. Come forward to the T in the road and go left, then right. I'll be waiting. I expect a hug." She tapped the comm off and turned from the preparations, taking up her staff. Behind her a small screen showed a countdown of one hour. She had disabled the annoying warning voice.

"She'll get a hug my ass," Alesha said getting to her feet and popping in a fresh power pack. "I'll go first commander."

"I'll be right behind you,"Tara said "I don't trust her, something feels off, it's too quiet."

"I am not a flag officer, Rivers, stop trying to coddle me," replied Green. "I told you this is my fight. You are here to back me up and keep me alive. With the Core she could choke the life out of you with a thought. I must be her focus, then we can work together to bring her down."

"Sorry, Commander, I gotta back Rivers on this," said Kirk. "If you are the target then it stands to reason..."

"You heard me!" Green shot back. "I lead, you follow, or you stay here. Those are my orders." Handing the phase pistol back to Herculoid Ro began to move forward with determined strides.

Kirk let out a breath. "I tried. Orders are orders, I guess." Setting her weapon to the ready Kirk followed her XO.

"She may not be a flag officer but she is the executive officer and next in line to command," Alesha said "If I didn't know better I'd swear she's an Amazon, she's just as stubborn as we are."

Tara holstered the phaser Green had returned to her "We'll flank her."

As Green went she pulled her tricorder and began to scan ahead as she moved. The scans mapped the terrain and all corridors as far as the range went. There was a shimmering sound like that of a transporter behind the party. Green swung about and with a quick move drew and ignited her saber and held it at the ready, the cloud blue blade thrumming as it met the air flow. There, behind them, was Cosmo. He bleeped and warbled in absolute joy as he rolled forward to greet them. Green closed her blade and squatted as he met them, giving the machine a warm hug and a smile. "Sorry, buddy, we forgot to pick you up."

"So this is Cosmo?" Alesha asked "Good to finally meet you. Can you tell Commander Green to be careful."

Cosmo swiveled his 'eye' to look at Rivers and said something with Kirk interpreting. "He says he tells her that all the time but she doesn't listen." She gave Alesha a grin and wink, letting her know she was on her side on this. But, before another word could be uttered Cosmo started to talk a mile a minute.

"Okay, okay!" Green stood up with a worried expression. "Cosmo has scanners that are better range. His sensors pick up a quantum singularity drive dead center of this complex. Now, our mission is two-fold."

Kirk jumped in first. "Bullshit. You face the queen bitch and we'll handle that drive, Sir. No arguments. Keep her off our asses long enough to dismantle or shut that thing down. You two agree?"

Tara and Alesha both nodded in agreement "That bitch has met her match. She hurts the commander I'll kill her," Tara said.

Green looked down at her mechanical 'son'. "Cosmo, go with them and get that drive under our control. No matter what it takes get that thing offline." She turned to the three organics. "God speed. Facing Jynxza is my destiny, I know this now. I have to stop her. I promise you won't see me die this day."

"We better not commander," Alesha said "Be careful but you stop that bitch. Ready Kirk?"

"Let's do this." Kirk said. Cosmo had scanned an alternate route and got them moving around to the other side of the cylindrical central chamber.

--To Be Continued...

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