Executive Extraction Part 1

Posted on Sat Apr 18th, 2020 @ 8:48pm by Ensign Alexandra 'Lexi' O'Connery & Ensign Michael Sloan & Lieutenant Sovar & Lieutenant JG Mattias Constantine & Ensign Victoria Jemison

Mission: Mission 2 - Fallout
Location: Unknown Planet
Timeline: Day 8, Month 1, Year 0 06:30
1234 words - 2.5 OF Standard Post Measure

It was not often that humans got to watch a sunrise on an alien planet but there Lexi stood watching as the sun finally rose from behind the hell to allow them to start the search for Sloan. "Not something you get to see every day is it?" The young woman said trying to stay positive despite the earliness of the morning and fact they were a search party for a man who had been missing for over 12 hours. Lexi looked around from the vantage point they had most of the surface of the planet were mostly tall shrubs and trees, many of which have a surprising number of different colours. Some even have strong scents that kept setting the Communication off into sneezing.

Minna did what she always did; scanned the area, assess the situation and make ready to protect those under her care. She carried the MACO pulse rifle in her hands, had the battered phase pistol from her mission on Enterprise clipped to her belt, and in a leather shoulder holster had her ancient, though highly effective .44 magnum revolver. Equipped with an optical scope, that revolver was effective out to 500 meters or beyond, and of course not dependent on power. She'd had to resort to it more than once in the expanse, and hoped she wouldn't have to today.

With her phase pistol in hand, Maddison stood near Sergeant Chang, her eyes, scanning the treeline instead of the setting sun. "Yes, very nice sunset, ma'am," Maddison commented. In reality, she knew looking at the setting sun would cause her to miss Earth and the sunsets in the outback. "Got anything, Sergeant Chang?"

"That sensor dead-zone they mentioned is there, at 2 o'clock, starting about 4 clicks from here. That's where I'd recommend we start."

"Understood," Maddison replied giving the sergeant a single pat on the shoulder before turning to the others. "Is everyone good to go?"

Walking to a point abeam the others, Petty Officer Larson simply nodded his head. He was lightly armed, with little more than a phase pistol, but he carried with him a lion's share of survival equipment and extra supplies for the team. It was enough of a challenge, he thought, to rescue one member of the crew. They didn't need to turn into a bigger problem than it already was. Knowing that his brothers and sisters would risk themselves to save him if necessary made it easy for him to volunteer. Plus, the ensign was right - it was a beautiful sunset.

"Ready. Let's go find Commander Sloan."

“I’ll take point” Minna said,.

"Ready," Martinez stated from Minna's side. Training told him to keep the phase pistol at his side until threatened. However, all of his instincts told him that they would be needing it soon.

Lexi offered a nod before realising that they could not see her at the back. She was sorta ready but sorta was not good enough or acceptable so she nodded. "Good as I am going to be Sir." Lexi mused softly.

"The fact that we are unable to scan this area does not bode well. I am unfamiliar with any naturally occurring phenomena that would create a sensor dead zone with such a well-defined boundary. I believe there is a high probability that we will encounter anti-personnel devices, surveillance, and possibly hostile forces," Sovar said. He turned to Sergeant Chang at the lead and gestured toward a rising ridge a short distance away, "Might I suggest since we are limited to visual observation that we first move to the high ground to ascertain more information about the area?"

Maddison nodded at the suggestion. "Spread out to 5 meters apart and watch your footing." Normally Maddison would suggest a 10 meter separation but with the thick vegetation and barely known plant and animal life, she figured a closer formation would be advisable.

Lexi nodded and moved the requested distance roughly away from Martinez and started to work her way to the ridge in the direction keeping her gaze on the ground as she did. She glanced back over her shoulder and saw something like the light reflecting back at her in distance. "What is that?" She wondered pointing to where the light was still reflecting off something shiny.

Sovar brought a pair of standard-issue Terran binoculars to his eyes and looked in the direction indicated. He had superior eyesight and thought himself the natural choice to investigate. After making some adjustments to the binoculars, he brought them away from his eyes and announced, "It appears to be an artificial construct, though a substantial portion of it is concealed by foliage. However, given its location, shape, and apparent composition, it is highly probable that it is a cage or container of a similar nature."

"Sounds like that's where we need to go," Maddison said. "Can you see a way to approach without leaving us open to attack or being spotted?"

"If we proceed in this direction, I believe we will find a pathway through the foliage approaching the area in question," Sovar said, pointing to where the ridge sloped in the opposite direction from which they'd come. Through the branches and undergrowth, there appeared to be an open line of dirt running in the general direction of what they'd observed. "However, moving along the path will leave us exposed to attack. We should heighten our vigilance."

Maddison didn't like that idea at all--it sounded like the perfect ambush site. The foliage made for a crappy tactical situation. "Damn." She turned to Sovar as he was the ranking officer. "I suggest splitting into two groups. One group takes point and if attacked, the second group, who is hanging back and off the trail, can move up and flank the attackers."

Lexi waited silently for an order to be given. She could not see anything unusual, could not hear anything unusual but that did not mean that someone was not there waiting to get them. "I do not think we should split up anything." The Ensign piped up offering a suggestion before she could stop herself.

"We don't have a choice," Maddison replied. "It's the best choice to counter an ambush, but the choice is yours, Sir," she said turning to look at Lieutenant Sovar. She hoped the Vulcan had some tactical training at least.

"Wait," Ensign Luis Martinez called out just loud enough for the group to hear. He held up his scanner and stated, "I'm reading six life signs. One of them has similarities to Commander Sloan and the other five are something completely different." the armory officer's hand crept closer to his phase pistol as he waited for orders.

Lexi froze as she heard further down the pathway noises that sounded like clicks followed by a human voice. "That sounds like Sloan." She whispered knowing they could all hear her. It was hard to miss the echoing noises bouncing off the rocks heading towards them.

OFF::

Ensign Alexandra 'Lexi' O'Connery
Comms Operator
NX Atlantis
(PNPC Leroux)

Warrant Officer Maddison Walker
Armory Officer
NX Atlantis
(PNPC Leyton)

PO2 Ben Larson
Engineer
NX Atlantis
(PNPC Constantine)

Lt. Commander Michael Sloan
Acting First Officer/Chief Armory Officer
NX Atlantis

Lieutenant Sovar
Science Officer
NX Atlantis

Sergeant Minna Chang
MACO First Sergeant / Recon Sniper
NX Atlantis

Ensign Luis Martinez
Armory Officer
NX Atlantis
(pNCP Sloan)