"Looking For A Fight"
[Previous post: "Homeward Bound"]
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Stardate: 60325.1445
Setting: SURIAL III, Underground Compound, Somewhere
Pravat’s team accompanied by Uxtar and Nico slowly but steadily made their way down the dim corridor. They all instinctively made an effort to minimize the noise they made. All talking ceased, as Pravat began communicating by hand signals. Everyone seemed to know instinctively, something was about to happen. As they neared a turn in the corridor, Pravat signaled for Nico to take point with Uxtar backing him up. The two giants both peered around the corner simultaneously. The scene might have been comical if the situation were not so deadly.
After seeing nothing but darkness down the corridor, Nico stepped out and had taken only three steps when the Hirogen grabbed him roughly from behind, pulled him back, and pushed him up against the wall. The effort it took to manhandle the huge Nausicaan this way would leave Uxtar sore for days.
"Are you mad?" the enraged Nausicaan spat, about to return the favor.
Uxtar made a shushing gesture, and pointed toward the floor. Nico saw nothing, and looked back questioningly at Uxtar, more than a little perturbed. Pravat caught up with the two and looked where Uxtar was pointing. He also saw nothing. Uxtar knelt down and ran his finger along the floor, showing the marine and the Nausicaan what they were failing to see. A thin filament ran the width of the corridor about 10 centimeters from the floor. Nico and Pravat had to kneel and get within a meter of the filament in order to see it. They both looked at the Hirogen amazed the hunter was able to spot it at all.
Pravat carefully traced to fiber to its end. It disappeared into a panel in the wall. He carefully pried open the panel to reveal a plasma mine of considerable yield.
The Nausicaan smiled at Uxtar and pointed to his own eyes and gave the thumbs up gesture, (good eyes). Pravat, in light of this event, reassigned Uxtar the point position through hand signals, and bade him to continue on.
They finally reached the corridor’s end in the form of a reinforced double door. Pravat did not believe it could be blasted open with their phase rifles.
"Any suggestions?" he mouthed to Nico, and Uxtar.
Nico piped up first, "A certain plasma mine right about here," pointing at the middle of the door, "that should take out the door, and anyone standing guard behind it."
Uxtar spoke next, "Is anyone here qualified to disarm that mine, and rearm it here?"
Nico simply said, "Yes." and strode off in the direction they had come to retrieve the mine.
Pravat, Uxtar, and the rest of the marines stood on their haunches waiting silently for Nico to return with the mine. Either that, or the deafening explosion, which would signify the Nausicaan’s death. A 15 minute eternity passed before Nico made his return. The Marines instinctively stepped aside to let him pass with his deadly payload. 30 seconds later he had the mine secured to the reinforced doors and was setting the timer. He looked at Pravat, who held up three fingers, then the O sign. (30 seconds). Pravat then signaled the Marines to fall back, fall back with haste. Nico set the charge, and lumbered back down the corridor where the rest of the team was waiting for the explosion.
Nico laid down on the cold floor with the rest of the troop and looked at Pravat. The marine commander looked back and was horrified to see the ugly Nausicann grinning from ear to ear.
"This is going to be good." Nico said.
At that moment the far end or the corridor exploded with white light a split second before the deafening explosion and shockwave rushed over them.
Uxtar was first to his feet and was sprinting back down the corridor, with Pravat and Nico close behind.
### 2005 post #361
Ensign Nicodemus Rostov
USS MERCURY
