"Declarations of All Sorts"
(previous post "Request Obiedence")
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Prav sat at his desk looking over the PADD that Elan had given him. Although the modifications to the rifles were promising, there was no guarantee that they'd be anymore effective against the Imperians then their standard issue rifles.
His concentration was interrupted by the entrance of his second in command. The Klingon waited for him to acknowledge her presence before taking the seat in front of his desk.
"Did the Oltharian have anything that we could use?" she inquired.
He slid the PADD over to her and waited while she looked over the modification.
"Interesting," she said as she slid it back to him. "How effective do you really think these weapons will be?"
He shrugged slightly. "I don't know, but they have to be a damn sight better then what we used in the cargo bay." He paused for a moment, glancing down at another PADD. He had been running a variety of scenarios before Tes'Karka had entered. "I anticipate casualties to be high," he said regrettably.
Tes nodded in agreement. "And with this modification the chances of friendly-fire injury have increased," she added casually.
This was going to be a bad one, he could feel it in his bones and he knew that Tes could feel it as well. The silence that had followed Tes' statement was broken as Maya's voice filled the small office.
=/\= Lt. Pravat, we are approaching the HATHOR. You and your men need to report to transporter rooms 7 & 8. =/\= Maya ordered.
"On our way," he said, getting up from his desk and following Tes out the door.
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Half the platoon was assembled in transporter room 7 with Pravat and the other in transporter room 8 with Tes'Karka. Elan had kept his promise and the marines were greeted by cases of modified pulse rifles. As each rifle was quickly claimed the squads began to fall into formation and prepare for insertion on to the HATHOR.
Prav was overseeing the distribution of weapons when he noticed the familiar form of the Shillian Executive Officer. Leaving his Aid-de-Camp in charge he walked over to where the Shillian stood watching the soldiers get prepared.
"Joining up or just slumming for a while?" he asked as he stepped next to the Science Officer.
She stared at him, a puzzled look on her face. "Neither, I came down to oversee the transport and to," she hesitated a moment. "And to make sure everything was running smoothly."
He was about to explain to her he was joking but he realized that this was the moment he had been waiting for; it was now or never, literally. He had been thinking about it a lot since their encounter with the Imperian in Cargo 15. He always knew that there would be a chance he wouldn't come back when he embarked on combat missions but this was the first time there was someone he cared about to come back to. He knew that just in case anything was to happen to him, there were some things he needed to say to her.
"Maya," he said, looking very serious. "Could I have a word with you, out in the corridor?" There weren't too many options for privacy and the corridor offered the best opportunity he was going to get at this point.
Maya was a little surprised at his request expecting him to be completely focused on preparing for this upcoming battle. "Yes, that would be fine," she said, walking toward the doorway.
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He was quite please to see that the corridor was virtually abandoned as all you needed to be in that area were already in the transporter rooms.
"What is it that you need to say?" she asked looking to the Enaran with curiosity. She assumed he was going to apologize once again for what had happened on the bridge though in her mind, no apology was needed.
"Ah," he started hesitantly. "I, um well ah, I've been thinking about some things lately, well, since what happened with the Imperian in the cargo bay. And ah, well it's made me realize um a few things, and ah well one of which er, has to do with um, you."
She stared at him, completely thrown by his lack of coherence. She had never heard him fumble over his words like that, even after taking blows to the head. Immediately she became concerned that something might be wrong medically.
"Are you feeling well?" she asked, noticing a thin stream of sweat running down the side of his face. She also noticed that the palms of his hands seemed a little sweaty as well. "Should I call Doctor Halliwell?" she asked.
Almost immediately he could feel a warm rush across his cheeks and he hoped she wouldn't take his blush as another sign that he was sick.
"I'm fine Maya," he said trying to ignore her look of concern. "What I'm trying to say here, and I'm not doing a very good job obviously, is that, well you know we've spent some time together, not professionally, well I guess it was professionally but, well it didn't always feel that professional. Not to say that you, or I for that matter, ever acted in a less than professional way, because you always have. I just mean, well, I've enjoyed spending time with you and ah, well if everything goes well, on the HATHOR I mean, um, well if I come back that is, I would ah, well I'd like to spend more time unprofessionally with you."
Maya blinked a couple of times, unsure of what he had just said and unsure how to respond.
His nervousness increased with her silence and finally he blurted out, "I love you Maya and I hope we can continue this discussion when I come back." He quickly leaned over and kissed her and then just as quickly turned around and disappeared back in the transporter room.
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He rushed back in hoping to leave his nervousness and insecurity behind though the thought of leaving Maya caused a hollow feeling in his stomach.
"Sir, we are ready to transport," Sergeant McMearty reported as soon as he saw his commanding officer.
"Okay, Command team, assemble on the platform, Alpha squad you're following,"
Prav barked as he headed to the platform, all remnants of his earlier insecurity had vanished.
As the transporter chief engaged, Maya walked in just in time to watch Prav and his men vanish into blue sparkles.
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The marines were transported as close as possible to Uxtar's position. As the marines appeared they were greeted briefly by the Hirogen and his men. Prav noticed a very scared looking doctor and wondered what she was doing on the front lines.
"You are a sight for sore eyes," Uxtar said walking over to the MCO. "I hope you come bearing good news," he said eyeing the rifle in the marine's hand. Prav took the extra rifle he had Sergeant McMearty bring along and handed it to the HATHORs Security Chief.
"This is the best news I have, but I can't guarantee how effective it will be," Prav said. He quickly explained to the Hirogen what Elan had said about the use of the weapon and the cautions that needed to be taken with it. "We are going to have to be very precise in our attack in order to limit the chances of friendly fire."
"Understood," Uxtar said, looking over the modified rifle.
Lea had overheard Prav's warnings and shook her head as she approached the two warriors. "You've got to be kidding me; the best you could bring was something that will most likely hit our own people? Great! With you on our side, why worry about the Imperians!"
Prav glanced over at the doctor, refrained from asking her why she was even there. "If we adjust our attack pattern we should be able to decrease the chances of being hit by any deflection."
Lea didn't look convinced but decided to let it go, not point in arguing with marine and too be honest she did hope he was right.
=/\= Lieutenant Pravat, all squads are in position, =/\= Tes'Karka reported over the communicator.
"All right," Prav said to those standing around. "We've got some Imperians to fry. I want you using a delta attack formation, and keep your eyes open for energy deflections. Remember, these weapons have not been tested, so take it nice and easy until we can see exactly what they can do."
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Writing for:
1st Lt. Pravat 2006 post #078
Stardate: 60341.1605
Setting: USS ANUBIS, MCO office
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Stardate: 60341.1620
Setting: USS ANUBIS, Transporter Room 7, Deck 12
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Stardate: 60341.1625
Setting: USS ANUBIS, Corridor Deck 12
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Stardate: 60341.1630
Setting: USS ANUBIS, Transporter Room 7
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Stardate: 60341.1640
Setting: USS HATHOR, Corridor, Deck 2
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Matt Kelly (downwitmal@yahoo.com)
MCO
USS ANUBIS
