16 - Ikar's Folly
Posted on Wed Nov 6th, 2024 @ 8:46pm by Commander Jenna Ramthorne & Remal Kajun & Patin & Captain Rhenora Kaylen
Mission:
The Beginning of the End
Location: Bajor
Bajor - Cottage
The sound of something exploding in the garden shattered the tentative calm that had pervaded the trio within the cottage. Rhenora shot upright, the meditation now shattered. She glanced around, eyes wild with fear. Out the window she saw a thick coating of white building, covering everything within sight. She sat upright and swung her legs over, settling her feet on the floor before standing and testing the ever changing equilibrium that accompanied the last few months. Her stomach clenched in a way that had nothing to do with her labour. The small building just outside the fence had been blown up, smoke and debris now coating the snow around it. Thankfully it was only a storage shed for garden equipment but the shock was the same.
"They're coming"
It was more a statement than anything else. Until now they hadn't discussed tactics, or even much detail as to what they expected to happen.
"Aki, how many and from which direction?" She asked cautiously, her brain switching into a tactical mode as though her body didn't exist.
Even as her head turned, Ikar'agal (Aki) was gone. The front door opened and then closed again as if an invisible entity was playing ghostly pranks. Remal noticed and replied, "looks like he's on the move." He moved over to where she was standing and offered her a hand phaser. "It's not much, but we need to find a defensive position. Maybe they are still attempting to scare us, if we're lucky." He added clearly uncertain of the words even as he said them.
The moment there was an explosion outside Ikar had stood and activated his shroud, a personal cloaking device that allowed him to move virtually unseen. He slipped out the door and into the snow beyond, preparing his own personal defenses against those of the enemy. He had several tactics he could use, but first he needed to fight back those who had crossed the line.
Rhenora took the weapon and peered through the windows. " it's hard to see anything with the snow" she commented with a frustrated sigh. Thick drifts were starting to fall, making any movement outside more challenging. In the distance she could see movement but couldn't discern what it was.
" I need to see" it was more a request than a statement, the tactical mind unable to sit back without solid intel.
Remal looked around at their options, not wanting to leave the shelter of the cabin, even just to look. But she was right, they needed to see what was coming for them. They needed to know what they were going to be up against. For as far as they knew, they were on their own, cut off from their friends and loved ones. "Alright, what do you suggest?" He asked, seeking her expertise.
" Got a tricorder?" She asked, and headed for the front door, throwing a light jacket over her damp skin.
A cold blast drove snow through the doorway as she opened it. "Definitely snowing" she grumbled, stepping out in bare feet and allowing the cold to get the blood flowing. She took a few more steps, breathing through another contraction and grimacing as her body fought against her. Her heightened stress was not helping.
Remal pulled the medical tricorder from his pocket and attempted to scan their surroundings. The device glitched whenever he would attempt to scan beyond 10 feet. Strange, but it also seemed to glitch whenever it would pass over Rhenora, something he had yet tried to do.
"I'm guessing, but it seems the dampening field that effected our communications is also hindering our ability to scan." He said, not mentioning the problem he had in scanning Rhenora or their child. An explosion rocked the ground twenty yards away. "At least we know they're out there, in this mess somewhere."
"We're surrounded, our only escape is to the beach and I dare say we're not swimming" the dryness of the remark was apt.
"I don't relish being open and exposed like that either." He was looking through the heavy flakes and noticed the moonlight shining off the water. He then looked up but all he could see was snow falling from the clouds. "I'm at a loss. Stay here in the safety of the cabin or venture out to the open beach." Remal was showing his uncertainty in the situation, his mind clearly filled with worry by what was happening all around them.
Rhenoras eyes were drawn to the darkening sky, rapidly covering with the expectant clouds promising more snow. There was a clear patch, far across the ocean however where the Celestial Temple should be, it flourished into life but began to be obscured in an eclipse.
Ikar moved, unseen across the front lawn, his feet leaving tracks in the snow that were quickly swallowed by fresh. He spotted the advanced units who were lobbing small grenades at the cabin. They were enjoying their work, throwing explosives then laughing at the results. Ikar moved close, disgusted by their efforts and the dishonorable nature behind.
The closest unit pulled another grenade, activated it and prepared to throw it when suddenly his arm was stopped by an invisible source. A voice from the snow announced in a deep menacing voice, "You shall not harm my friends." He then twist the arm and forced it to throw the grenade at his buddy, who managed to dive just before the explosion erupted.
"Hey, what's the big idea?" The shocked soldier questioned before watching as the first soldier was lifted and tossed backward ten feet, by an invisible force, landing hard in the snow. "Whoever you are, you will lose!" He pulled out a control device from his pocket and pressed a button.
Beneath the snow pack several devices lit up, illuminating the snow with blue light before suddenly sparking and going dark again. The shock on his face was blatant as he tried the control again. Twenty feet behind Ikar, several devices lit up red before once more fizzling out. One or two set the ground on fire melting the snow surrounding it before becoming extinguished due to the wet ground.
Ikar didn't hesitate to take advantage of the failure. In a breath he had crossed the distance, impacting the second soldier like a bull impacts the red cape of the Matador. The soldier went flying backwards, the wind knocked from his chest. Again he repeated his mantra, "You shall not harm my friends."
Fear driven, the two soldiers picked themselves up and ran as fast as they could back to their leaders to report. Ikar meanwhile continued his recon.
"You're telling me, after months of setup, preparations and planning, you were defeated by a ghost and the snow? The fucking snow!" Brin, clearly angry, eyes red, was yelling at the report just handed to him from two defeated soldiers.
A moment later, another soldier approached from behind, "Sir, we're are being attacked from the rear." The meek man announced. "Elite fighters and a small army of villagers have taken out the rear guard and are dividing our forces." He continued.
Now flanked Brin looked at Faro for her strength. The Wraith within him unsettled and now angry that his plans may quickly fall sideways.
" Time for Plan B" Faro said simply. " continue the fight! The future of Bajor depends on your actions today! " those that were still listening to them gave a cheer and carried on. Dumb luck would have at least some of them make it to the cabin by sheer numbers alone.
Faro dug into her pack and offered two brown monks robes as disguises. Slipping hers on and adorning the elaborate headdress she make a beeline for the cottage. It was forbidden to attack religious order monks.
A silent force stopped them as the entered the garden.
" We are clerics from the Temple, we offer our services most humbly in this trying time. I understand they are with child, and may need aid" Faro spoke to the invisible barrier as though it were something she did every day.
Ikar peered at them skeptically. Everyone was the enemy this day. Everyone held the potential for deception. He held firm, "None shall harm my friends." He stated clearly.
"Please, we only want to help, we are able to provide medical aid, and we have food and other supplies." Faro continued, knowing that this silent force wouldn't know then from the proverbial bar of soap.
Still unsure, but not seeing any weapons on their bodies, Ikar relented, "You will provide aid and then you will be gone. Follow the path." He indicated the snow covered path through the trees. It was barely there and he knew it. A test to see how well these travelers were familiar with the area. No matter what, he would not take his eyes off a potential enemy.
The couple moved forward cautiously, still not quite knowing what the force was that stopped them. Apparently it seemed appeased with their words so far. Faro wished for the Starfleet phaser rifle, something she would loved to have ended this saga this, however their disguise allowed for only a small knife concealed beneath the voluminous robes. She had no idea that their most potent weapon was within Brin himself.
TBC
Captain Rhenora Kaylen
Commanding Officer, USS Sunfire
Commander Jenna Ramthorne
Chief Flight Control Officer & Mission Advisor, USS Sunfire
Remal Kajun
Counselor Aide, USS Sunfire
Husband of the Captain
Played By Commander Jenna Ramthorne
Patin
Friend of the Captain, USS Sunfire
Played By Commander Jenna Ramthorne
