[Galaxy] [ND] 5 Sep 2161 :: Safe Site #1 :: Carter, Varre', Kalevah, Patrick, Kalli', Mane :: "Open for Discussion"

[Kate Nicholson]

~~~~~

~~Safe site #1~~~

Carter handed Patrick one of the communicators they had appropriated form
the Klingons. "Ah had a feeling these would come in handy." The young
scientist looked around at the huddle of refugees, studying their tense
looks. Many were concerned with the presence of their loved ones, he knew.
There were a few though that simply looked... defeated, deflated, like a
ship's sail that's lost it's wind. From somewhere in the back he thought he
could hear a quiet sobbing.

He took a deep breath, his blue eyes passing from Kalevah, to the security
team, then back to Kalli' and finally to Mane and her father. She had been
spending a good deal of time with Dylan since she had rescued him from the
science labs. He could only hope that it was having a positive effect on
her.

"So what's the plan?" He said finally. "Where do we hit them?" Carter had no
experience with Klingons, or with warfare in general, but he knew these
people needed help, and he wasn't about to let them down.

The big redhead moved forward to stand at Carter's right shoulder. "Yes,
what's our course of action. Surely we're not going to simply sit here and
wait for them to find us." Mane's face twisted into a scowl, revealing her
distaste for such an idea.

Nodding his head Patrick replied "You'll get no argument from me and I for
one would like to know what's going on in my department. Even if I'm not in
the best shape for a counter-attack at the moment." Taking note of his
injuries and how he might endanger an operation whatever it might be.

To everyone's surprise, a small figure darted into the cavern from the
entry. Kalli' knew immediately that it was Adavarre', returning from her
visit to the remote comm station. "Varre'!! Aa vah kislah see? What is
happening out there?"

"Vai. I am fine. Just tired. I talking to Garroway again. Constitution is
coming. Being here in less than 6 hours. I going back with food and water to
wait there for ship arriving," Varre' said eagerly. "Con.sti.tu.tion," she
struggled with the pronunciation of the word, "will be want knowing what we
are doing to fight here. Garroway saying the remote comm station
fre.quen.cy,"  "will be communicating okay to Con.stitution. I being there
and relaying."

Kalevah smiled, relieved to see that Varre' was all right. "This is good
news. But we can not be sitting here just waiting for help to come. We have
people trapped in colony center. I say we go to free them."

Mia Tosah ran up to her friend Varre', and hugged her tightly, even as
Varre' continued to listen to the discussion. Mia whispered in her ear that
the children were well and sleeping. Varre' nodded gratefully and pressed
her forehead to Mia's, then turned her attention back to the urgent matter
at hand. "Okay. Aa you having a plan for getting people out of Colony
Center?" Varre' asked.

"We can use distraction to make Klingons forget infirmary while we sneak
people into the tunnel," Kalevah suggested.

"And when you are all out of Colony Center and in tunnel, then follow tunnel
to forest exit after dark?" Varre' pondered the further implications of that
plan. "Better be hoping Klingons don't find tunnel first. They /are/
distracted. Surely they all knowing about no ships left in space.  That
either making them to be distracted, or it be making them mad and even more
cautious with prisoners."

Varre' thought for a moment, looking at those gathered around, willing and
able to assist. This was so different than the Nausicaan invasion, when so
many of the Dali were still frozen in their passivity and fear. These were
the same people, but given a source of freedom, they were unwilling to allow
it to be stolen from them without a fight to the death. She was saddened by
the need for them to face death, but proud to be among them. It was a
conflicted feeling she struggled with. She caught the eyes of Mane Walker.
"Mane, you having suggestions?"

"I do." The Phoenix survivor said, defiant as always. "It's an old
strategy... divide and conquer." Mane raised her head now, addressing the
crowd. "From what you've all told me these Klingons are predators... and
what's the best way to trap a predator? With /bait/. I propose a small force
be sent in to harass them and draw their attention. Once we get that
accomplished, the frontal group leads away as many as they can, and then the
secondary group assaults what's left. It should be easy... a few of you move
in through those secret tunnels and /wham/."

Mane brought her fist down hard into her open palm to illustrate her point.

"That's all well and good." Carter said from somewhere behind her. "But who
exactly is going to be this /bait/, and how exactly do we rescue /them/?"

The red-frocked amazon turned to face the young scientist, her eyes
half-lidded.

"We won't have to. I've seen these Klingons. They're warriors, they may be
cunning but most often they rely on brute force. A small group, familiar
with moving in the woods, should be able to draw them off and slip away
without too much trouble. Who knows, maybe we'll even be able to pick a few
off at the same time."

"That sounds pretty damned risky to me. From your tone I assume you'll be in
that group?"

Mane nodded. "To be fair, we'll take volunteers, but yes I will be in that
group." Her green eyes drifted towards Dylan, who had remained silent. They
held there on him as she spoke. "And whoever else has the courage to stand
and fight."

Thinking about it for a moment, Patrick said "I'd like to volunteer. I know
I'm not in the best shape but I'm also the best bait as I'm a senior officer
and they want to re-capture me even if the only use I might be to them is a
hostage now."

Kalevah frowned. "Being respectful, Lieutenant, I can not let you go. You
may feel ok at moment but you are still hurt. The risk is too big. And you
can be more useful here working communications."

Listening to the argument being made about how he should not go, Patrick
replied with an annoyed tone "Ok, you've made your point, I would be more
useful here then I would out there. But after what happen to my department,
you can't blame me for wanting to provide more than technical support this
time."

"Nobody is blaming you. You will be just as useful from here, trust me,"
Kalevah reassured him.

Varre¹ was also listening to these people who knew nothing of Klingons. She
had lived and slaved for them for her entire life until 4 years ago. She had
been raped and beaten and tormented by them for six long years here on Oonah
Lotmah. At a long pause in the discussion she spoke. ³They will not follow
us into the woods,² she said bluntly. ³They are strong, but not being
stupid. They knowing they no match for us in woods.  And they knowing it is
Romulans coming. They no caring if they die if dying with honor in battle.
They be pulling together their warriors for a battle with the Romulans. They
don¹t need more prisoners or hostages. Fighting to death, not negotiating;
not shivering behind Dali or Human prisoners. We must letting them be
fighting other warriors, not us. Fighting amongst themselves and against the
Romulans warriors until Constitution coming. That ship taking Romulan eyes
off this planet. We need to be getting message of hope to prisoners inside.
Getting many out as can. Sneaking in, sneaking out. No big boom.²

Carter smiled at the little Daliwakan. She certainly had fire."She's right
Mane. She knows the Klingons better than us. If their backs are against the
wall, it's quite possible that they'll decide to turn turtle." He turned to
Kalli', his face now full of concern. "If they're getting ready to face the
Romulans, what will they do with the prisoners they already have?"

"Get rid of them," Kalevah muttered darkly. "They are in way now. Maybe they
just lock them inside and leave them, but we are already causing trouble. I
don't think they be taking chance on people sitting quiet."

Mane glared at Varre'. She did not enjoy being showed up yet again by the
little mongrel, and the fact that she was the mother that Mane longed to be
grated on her. "Fine." Was all she said in response. "We'll sneak in like
cowards." The big amazon stood pouting with her hands on her hips. "I still
think we have enough to break the turtle's shell. I still volunteer. Show us
the tunnel entrances."

~~~

CPO Kalevah Dinaa 
Corpsman/Senior Enlisted Advisor
New Darwin Colony
& 
Adavarre' Rahndi
Dali Shireev 
New Darwin Colony 
& 
Lt Patrick Hickey
Chief Communications Officer
New Darwin Colony
& 
Lt(jg) Carter Austin
Chief Science Officer
New Darwin Colony
& 
Kalli' Annadar
Captain's Assistant
New Darwin Colony 
(npc apb Kate) 
& 
Elizabeth Mane Walker
Former Huntress
Phoenix Survivor
(npc apb Leo)