Abort, Evacuate, and Reassess (Operation Intercept Part 4)
Posted on Wed Apr 30th, 2025 @ 11:28pm by Captain Remy Johansen & Petty Officer 1st Class Enam Nemec & Commander Maxun Spello & Lieutenant Commander Razka Kas & Major Clay McEntyre III & Lieutenant Xalanth & Lieutenant JG Jezra Siv MD & Corporal Eden McKenzie
Edited on on Thu May 1st, 2025 @ 12:51am
1,756 words; about a 9 minute read
Mission:
Gone, Without Ever Knowing the Way
Location: Holana / Astrea / Marine Shuttle
Timeline: After Operation Intercept
Lt. Commander Razka Kas rematerialized on the Holana's transporter pads in the back of the Holana. Petty Officer Enam called loudly from his control panel at the front of the ship, "Welcome back, Commander!"
Kas nodded to Nemec, even with his goggles, his eyes were not adjusting to the light. He leaned against the bulkhead and removed his respirator.
"Razka to Astrea," Kas said into the COMM. "We're wrapping up the mission with little success."
Over the commbadge, the voice of the Astrea's Executive Officer could be heard. =/\=Razka, this is Spello. Is there anything there that can point us in the right direction?=/\=
"I am unsure.The situation became very chaotic.You'll have to check in with the Marines." Kas said in a measured tone, to conceal his labored breathing.
Though they were not next to each other, Maxun's natural abilities told him that Razka was not telling him everything. =/\=What's wrong, Mister Kas? I can hear it in your voice.=/\=
"It's a mere trifle," Kas sighed. "A chemical storage tank was damaged, and I seem to have inhaled some of the gas before I donned my respirator. I'm just catching breath."
=/\=That sounds more than a trifle, Mister Kas. As soon as you return to the ship, I want you to get to sickbay and have the doc give you a thorough checking over. That is not up for debate, understood?=/\=
"Aye Sir," Kas answered
Unseen, Maxun nodded his head. He then asked, =/\=What else to you have to report?=/\=
"Not at this time," Kas replied through labored breathing. "Lieutenant Xalanth was with us, but he stayed back with McEntyre's team. I'll need orders on his retrieval."
=/\=Return to Astrea. Xalanth will stay with Clay's team and comeback with them.=/\= Maxun replied via the open commchannel.
"Understood, Commander. We're on our way." Kas nodded to Nemec, and the two officers worked in tandem and put in a course back to Astrea.
Clay and the others beamed back to the shuttle materializing on the transporter pad. Clay was mad, the mission had been nearly a complete wash. A little intel but nothing to stop the sales. Clay walked from the back of the shuttle and climbed into the cockpit, pulling up the comms to Astrea.
“McEntyre to Astrea, secure channel Delta-4, for XO or Actual”
Xalanth was slumped back against one of the chairs in the shuttles back breathing in and out trying to control his temper. What a as the humans put it cluster ^£%" this operation had turned into.
<^>"Major McEntyre, you have Captain Johansen. We've heard from Commander Razka on the status. Is everyone back to the shuttle? Any injuries to report?"<^>
<^> "Minor Injuries. I must report Mission failure." <^> Clay reported to the Captain, leaning back in his chair, rubbing his temples. It was a clusterfuck from the moment that the Ensign went rogue and fired on the meeting. There wasn't a chance to recover from this.
"Both parties have withdrawn. We've recovered one data drive of questionable intelligence." Clay continued before calling back to Xalanth. "L-T, want to add anything?" He asked Xalanth.
"I'd recommend Cha'joga be confined to quarters till the investigation is over." Called the lizard.
“I also concur with the Lieutenant’s recommendation and will be asking that proceedings be initiated.” Clay added to Xalanth’s report.
=^="We are aware of the mission status. Commander Spello already heard from the Holana. We'll let Commander Razka know Lieutenant Xalanth made it back with you. Just get everyone back safely.=^= The Captain punctuated her words abruptly, making it clear that there was no more to be discussed.
Clay face when sour but he understood the meaning of the Captain's words. " Aye , Sir." He said with a sharpness. "McEntyre out".
Xalanth let out a reptilian sigh and reached into one of the slots of his armour and pulled out a small flask. Flipping the lid and taking a swig, which he swallowed in one gulp. " Anyone want a swig?" he offered the shuttle.
“No thank you” Clay said seriously as he closed the channel, frustrated and angry. His command had been undercut and undermined.
Contrary to the response many would expect from his species, Noha silently extended his hand for the flask. He rarely drank, as he found the inhibiting nature of alcohol insufferable, however the circumstances were exceptional. The Vulcan took a drink from the flask, a faint twitch in his brow the only acknowledgement of the bitter liquid burning his tongue.
"Snik." Xalanth explained as he took the flask back. " It's mixed with herbs to boost muscle relaxation. All cleared as edible for general consumption. " The lizard explained.
"Why not," McKenzie said as she shrugged and reached out for thr flask and took a small mouthful. "Oh good lord," she added as the bitterness hit her tongue causing her to make a face. "It's certainly... different. Nice though."
Xalanth smirked as he handed her the flask and at her reaction to it. " Does wonders if you've been out in the desert for fourteen hours." He added as he took it back.
The Holana was in orbit when Commander Razka beamed aboard from Freecloud, so he and Petty Officer Enam arrived in the shuttlebay well ahead of the other team. Once all teams had reported back, the junior officers were relieved and the senior officers reported to the Bridge.
Clay headed to report as ordered, his pack on his shoulder as he walked towards the turbo lift without a word. Clearly annoyed and frustrated at the situation and how things turned out.
The Captain and First Officer were tracking multiple operations, but when they saw Major McEntyre reporting with Razka and Xalanth the Captain acknowledged them.
"Let's go to the conference room. Commander Andersen, you have the Bridge, I need you on the Away team still for now. Spello, you're with me."
Maxun nodded to his Captain, then followed her as they moved to the conference room door, located at the starboard side aft section of Astrea's bridge.
"Yes Captain." Eirly nodded as she took over and began to relay some precautionary commands.
When Clay arrived he was showing obvious signs of agitation, Lieutenant Xalanth appeared more calm as the pair walked in. Kas was his usual self, though if Remy wasn't seeing things, she could have sworn he looked a little worse for wear.
"Captain," Xalanth said calmly as he stepped forward with the padd, with his after-action report. " My after-action report of the incident. I'd like to add that I take full responsibility for the incident, given that the failure was with my team. Major Clay and his marines had nothing to do with the failure." He replied honestly and professionally, as one of the Dragonian legions was expected.
The Major spoke out, "It is my responsibility to try and salvage this mission, and I would like to do so with your permission. But I still must insist that some kind of reprimand be entered into their record for their gross breach of protocols and failure to follow orders of a superior officer."
At the moment the Captain was too busy and didn't have enough information to assign blame to anyone. Missions fail, you assess, regroup, and learn from your mistakes. If a reprimand is order it most certainly should not be handed down while emotions were still hot.
"I understand that is your position, Major but we don't hand out formal reprimands at knee jerk speed. Let's get everyone's reports in from the mission and we can make formal assessments on what is appropriate later," Remy stated. "As of now, I understand that you are both recommending that she be confined to quarters, so I will order that on joint recommendation. Reports from all team members, including Ensign Cha'joga to be completed by the morning."
"As for trying to salvage the mission. Do you think a deal may still go down in the region?" The Captain asked.
“My gut tells me yes. Nausicians are nothing if not persistent. I would say if they can’t offload what they have to the Breen, then they’ll try the next highest bidder for the shipment. My guess would be the Romulan Remnants. With the state of the former Star Empire being what it is, a lot of the factions are trying to arm themselves to try and take what power is left.” Clay mused.
"They're probably trying to shift it quickly as well. We could use that." Xalanth added.
"Why don't you work on a plan if you are up for it," Remy suggested. "We have a situation with our away team at the moment, Lieutenant T'Lenn and Sub-Commander Acaincus have separated, but Lieutenant Fulvia has eyes and ears on them. We're keeping a close eye on things. Bring me something in a few hours and we'll take a look."
"Anything else?" The Captain looked at her officers.
"If anyone can pull this mess around, it's Fulvia. " Xalanth said as he turned to Clay. " Come on Major, let's see if we can come up with something to fix this mess."
"Okay, get it done. Send us a proposal when you are ready," the Captain ordered. "Dismissed."
Captain Remira Johansen
Commanding Officer
USS Astrea
Commander Maxun Spello
First Officer
USS Astrea
Lt. Commander Eirly Andersen (and Eden)
Second Officer, Chief Security Officer
USS Astrea
Lt. Commander Razka Kas
Chief Flight Control Officer
USS Astrea
Major Clay McEntyre III
Marine Commanding Officer
USS Astrea
Lieutenant Xalanth
Assistant Chief Security Officer
USS Astrea
Lieutenant J.G. Jezra Siv (as Noha)
Chief Medical Officer
USS Astrea
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