"Into The Darkness"
[Previous post: "I am Detecting A Pattern Here"]
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Stardate: 60325.1430
Setting: SURIAL III, Underground Compound, Somewhere
As courageous as their opposition had been there had been no mistaking the look in the eyes of the guards as they saw a Hirogen and a Nausicaan led by a Starfleet marine heading their way. Those few seconds of delay were all that Pravat, Nico and Uxtar needed to get the upper hand and drive the guards back into the maze of corridors that this base had been created to be.
Once again the marine Lieutenant glanced at his "men" and grinned. "You know having you here is proving to be a nice advantage. Ever thought of becoming marines?"
Uxtar and Nico looked at Pravat with a look respective of the Hirogen and Nausicaan races leading the marine to understood that the idea had crossed their minds but had been dismissed for one reason or another.
"We have yet to encounter the automated defences your subordinate spoke of," Nico pointed out changing the subject of the discussion onto something less directed at him and more towards the reason why they were here.
"I know," Pravat said, "I keep wondering if this is a 'good thing' or a 'bad thing'. Either the automated system was deactivated to allow the local troops easier access to the corridors or we are walking into a trap."
"Since we have not located any signs of the crew, I would suspect the first. Given our escape and the arrival of your ship, it is very likely that whoever was responsible for our capture decided to relocate the rest of the prisoners to a more secured location," Uxtar said. The voice of the Hirogen was calm and gave no impression that he had been ready or willing to give up regardless of the increased difficulties that they would likely be encountering.
"I was thinking the same thing," Pravat admitted. "That would explain why we have met with so little resistance, the bulk of their forces having been used to secure the rest of the MERCURY's crew."
"This means that as soon as they are done we will be meeting with increased confrontations," Nico said making it sound as if he had been looking forward to the added challenge.
"All I know is that I would feel better if we had some sort of back-up, support or even a distraction to take the pressure off of our being here," the Marine said looking around a corner to make sure that their path was clear. "I just have this nagging feeling that we are being toyed with," Pravat added thinking of just how easily and completely Ensign Summers had vanished leading him to believe that she had been taken prisoner weakening their position that much more as they continued to search for the rest of the MERCURY's crew.
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Mark Hutchings {h172mark16@fastmail.us}
Ensign Uxtar
Former Flight Control Officer 2005 post #359
USS MERCURY
