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The saga continues…
Both shuttles cleared their respective ship's air space at exactly 0645 as ordered by Captain Kirk. Sulu commanded Alpha Shuttle with Kirk at navigation while Navik commanded Beta Shuttle with Hoso at navigation. Each shuttle had twenty crewmembers, who were outfitted to integrate into Vulcan society. The two shuttles' courses were matched perfectly without communications, like a pair of well seasoned dancer partners following invisible cues in the inky black of space as they made their way to the desert planet. Anticipation curled thickly through the air of the Star Fleet crew.
Touch down at their side-by-side landing sites was at 0659, several minutes ahead of schedule. The vessels were immediately powered down, and the crew began to file out. Navik and Sulu secured their shuttles before reporting to Kirk for further orders. "Alright, Alpha Team come with me and Beta Team follow Navik. Our only chance of success will be a fast and vigorous attack on the front of the perimeter. As soon as shots are fired, Navik your team should start the rescue mission. Bones, you are to beam back with the patients." Navik and Bones nodded their understanding. "Remember, we are to refrain from killing Kodos if at all possible." He glanced around making eye contact with all forty team members. "Alright, ladies and gentlemen, I believe it's time we reminded the assholes who they are dealing with." Jim hiked his rifle higher under his shoulder and tucked it under his robes. The rest of the crew began hiding their high-powered assault weapons.
The entire group raced across the desert towards the city. Having to remain hidden, the shuttles had landed three kilometers from the farthest edge of the population. The morning was still cool enough that the humans of the group were not greatly affected by the temperature. However, the pace Kirk and Navik had set was unforgiving. There would be little time to waste in case they had been spotted, so the less time they spent in the open, the less likely they were to be spotted by the Romulans. Once they had arrived in the outskirts of the capital, the two groups split without further acknowledgement. Alpha Team consisted of thirty, heavily armed Vulcan businessmen, while Beta Team consisted of ten, less suspicious, less armed servants.
Jim led his group down the main thoroughfare of the metropolis; some of the group even stopped and spoke with several of the Vulcans who were quite willing to help along their attempts. Some were able to gain intel on exact numbers of Romulans and when they arrived, another group was able to confirm that Selek and Sarek had been taken hostage. The Vulcans had taken notice of the arrivals, but had little choice on accommodating their guests. The Colony had been crippled much too easily for Kirk's taste, something else that would be ratified after this mission. They surveyed the area, noticing that only the main government of the Colony had been taken hostage by the terrorists. Keeping a dignified pace, the group had spread out so they weren't all grouped together. For the first time, James T. Kirk was a welcome sight amongst his mate's brethren.
Navik led her group down the back alley way with no one stopping or acknowledging the group. They all walked together in single file, Navik in the lead with McCoy right behind her, keeping their heads bowed and stature balanced between humble and honored. It was a fine line they walked between blending in and not drawing attention to themselves and keeping their senses on alert. Navik was monitoring Alpha Team's approach of the residence through the many tie-ins to the main avenue from the alley. They had been well-received by the general populace it seemed, as many Natives had chosen to help make their swarm less suspicious. Her group was the first to arrive, but the kept hidden in a darkened side street adjacent to the back of T'Pau's house. With a quick nod to McCoy, she clicked her com letting Kirk know they were in position.
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Alpha Team approached the main gate, where Selek had stood, risking his life sending back surveillance shots of the area. Taking a deep breath, Jim nodded and those who were not original members of his Team slowly departed. This was crunch time. There was no easy way to do this, other than to just barge in and start demanding answers. So, with Kirk-esque agility he kicked open the front gate with his team swarming in through the front lawn. Of course, his less than tactile approach had set the alarm system blaring, before Sulu had shot the control. For several tense seconds, the group made their away across the grounds towards the main residence without resistance before the Romulans came streaming out to meet them, already taking aim and firing on the group.
In response, Jim began firing instead of issuing an order, his team quickly scattered for cover. Three Red Shirts were already hit and lay bleeding in the sand; Jim would not be able to help them until they neutralized the situation. They had expected an army, they had been prepared or so they thought, but they had not taken into consideration that they Romulans might have known they were coming. Their attack had been precise and thought-out as they fired on the invaders.
Falling behind a large rock in the middle of the lawn, Jim and Sulu began alternating shooting over the top and around the sides. "I think they were expecting us." Jim winced as he shot down two Romulans back to back.
Sulu, keeping the area around their rock clear, shouted his reply. "I didn't expect there to be so many!" He had already killed five, with two more added to his list. "This is just like that damn drill only without the fear of falling." He tried to keep up their spirits.
With in seconds, all the visible guards had been neutralized. Sulu quickly made his way towards the men lying in the middle of the battle ground checking for life signs as Jim began to check on the rest of the group. In all, five of the thirty had perished, but this was not the time to mourn. "Let's head inside, everyone be on the lookout, I doubt this is all his company." Jim crept towards the door, glancing inside and sending three of the Columbia Security members in first and waited for their signal. Only, instead of an all-clear Jim heard more shots fired.
Ducking down, Jim led his group inside. Ten more Romulans were waiting on the other side of the vestibule. Jim shot down three as he rolled to the inside door way and Sulu managed to take out four as he did the same. Vascik took out the rest, not even bothering to duck down and lead the group further into the house. Jim, panting and covered in sweat, followed the Tellarite Lieutenant towards their next scrimmage. His motto, his battle hymn repeating over and over in his mind – Spock and their son must be protected.
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Upon hearing the phaser fire, Beta Team rushed towards the gate. The security system had been deactivated and Hoso was able to push the gate open leading the second wave of invasion. "Tricorders indicate three Vulcan life signs on the third level." McCoy worked quick to locate their targets.
Navik led her team into the structure. Surprisingly, no one was waiting inside the door. Motioning for the rest of the group to follow her, she kept watch as the other nine headed up the back stair case. McCoy was the last to enter, so she followed him up keeping her eyes on the floor behind her. As they made their way to the second level, Ensign Smith kept sentinel as they ascended and after they passed he took flank. Sharing a pondering gaze with McCoy, the Commander and CMO both seemed to suspect this was too easy, all most as if it were a trap.
Before they had time to think any further on their shared inquiry, Mulligan, who had taken point, arrived at the third level and came under phaser fire. His body fell limp to the side of the stair case as the next two rushed forward to cover the rest of the group, both shot down by enemy fire. Forcing McCoy behind her, Navik ran up the stairs, phaser at the ready. Peering around to see how many were left, she counted five dead Romulans and four wounded but alive and shooting. Whipping around the wall, she shot down three Romulans in rapid succession as Smith took down the fourth, both covering McCoy and sweeping the empty rooms as they made their way towards the room holding the three Vulcans. The other four in their group secured the rest of the level.
Smith opened the door and rushed in to secure the room as McCoy and Navik followed. The three Vulcans all were covered in blood, but conscious in one corner of the room. Navik approached first. "Eldest T'Pau, Ambassadors, we are from the Federation Ships Columbia and Enterprise. This is Dr. McCoy he will be assessing your wound. We will be immediately transporting you to the Enterprise for medical care." She spoke softly as she slowly approached the trio.
Relieved the three stood, T'Pau wrapped the young woman in a crushing hug. "You are brave, young one." She whispered, thankful they had been found.
Bones was running a tricorder over Sarek as Selek was clapping his shoulder in relief. "They are all fairly healthy for what they have endured." McCoy reported to the Commander.
Navik nodded, stepping away from the Eldest, startled by the show of emotion from the Vulcans, flipping open her communicator. "Navik to Enterprise, four to beam out immediately." She allowed herself a small smile as she turned back to face the group. "Live long and prosper." Her Vulcan salute was perfect, and they returned as they vanished from the demolished room, McCoy disappearing with them. Turning back to her men, she led them down to where Kirk was still fighting to secure the location.
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Bones beamed back, helping Selek support T'Pau, to find Spock and his medical team waiting their arrival in the transporter room. Immediately the CMO began barking orders. "Get these three on a gurney and get them to Med Bay. They need fluids and electrolyte supplements." Spock assisted him in gently placing the elder Vulcan on her bio-bed. Her male counterparts were able to lay down unaided. As the crew rushed out, Bones grabbed Spock's arm. "Spock, you've got to get them more back-up." His face pinched as he belayed his requested before turning and chasing after his patients.
Spock steeled himself against the onslaught of emotions at McCoy's confession, and reached for the comm. "This is Commander Spock, Security Team Delta to the Transporter Room." His voice was steady, his hands were sure as he clicked the inter-ship communication. "Captain Lev'kin, this is Commander Spock, Dr. McCoy has returned with the hostages and requests additional security teams to beam to the surface. I am sending Team Delta." This was reason enough for communication black-out to be interrupted.
A voice as seemingly calm as his own answered. "I will be accompanying Team Gamma. We will beam to the location of Team Delta." His answer was a statement, which left no room for Spock to quote previous orders or regulations. "You will assume command of both ships. Lev'kin out." Spock understood the Captain's need to be on the surface, he only wished his situation allowed the same flexibility for himself.
Team Delta entered the Transporter Room taking their spots on the pad for beam down. "Expect heavy phaser fire on arrival." Spock barely had time to give his warning before Scotty had then transported to the surface.
Scotty nodded up at the Commander, understanding his situation, knowing he would have much preferred to lead the rescue mission instead of staying aboard and waiting.
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Navik raced down the levels towards the ever increasing zing of phaser fire. She had sent half her men down the back stairwell to steal in the back side of the fight while she and the rest would charge in from the front. At best estimate there had been over fifty Romulans with heavy artillery, if the two dozen dead in the front lawn were anything to judge by.
Smith had jumped ahead of her taking the right and began firing at the Romulans already engaged with Kirk's team. Navik went towards the left, firing when she had a clear shot. Kirk and Sulu were back to back in the middle of the room with Romulans surrounding them. Navik took out four who were on their way to join the already too large group attempting to over-power the two. Rushing, trying to assist those team members in need, Navik made her way around the perimeter of the room. She kept her eyes open for their main target, Kodos.
About half way towards Kirk, two large arms wrapped themselves around her, over her arms, pinning her against a large body with little defense. "You are having too much fun, female." A gritty voice whispered in her ear, crushing her tightly. Her feet were now dangling off the floor, so with one well-placed kick she broke his knee cap, which pitched them forward face first onto the hard flooring. His body landed on top of hers, knocking the breath from her lungs. Twisting, she was able to roll on her back and face her attacker, allowing for a clear view of the room around her. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Kodos enter the room and head towards Kirk. Struggling with the Romulan who outweighed her two to one, she pressed her thumbs into his larynx, bringing her knee up into his groin which incapacitated him but he was still on top of her. Finally with a burst of adrenaline, she shoved him to the side and ran towards Kirk. With no time to warn him of Kodos' impending attack, Navik threw herself in front of the Captain to block the phaser blast.
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Lev'kin materialized just in time to see Navik covering Kirk as they fell to the ground, a phaser shot echoing in the room. Racing towards the duo, he expected the worst. Kirk was already rolling to the side and checking her for injuries, his hands soaked her blood. He handed off the wounded woman to the other Captain as he stood to face his attacker. Lev'kin was already requesting the Columbia to beam them out. Navik was turning pale in his arms. Fights between the remaining Romulans and the Star Fleet crew were drawing to a close. With fresh reinforcements, the invaders were easily subdued.
The evil man laughed. "I should have waited until I finished my plan to start firing at you, but oh well, what's one more body added to the top of the pile?" He shrugged.
Kirk held his bloodstained hands up in front of him as he stood in-between the woman who had saved him and the phaser. "What the hell is your plan Kodos? Why have you come to this peaceful Colony to threaten me?" He tried to keep is voice even trying to diffuse the situation as much as possible. "I have nothing to do with New Vulcan." His mind was clicking over the different scenarios of how to disarm this killer before more innocent people were harmed because of him.
Kodos raised an eyebrow. "You are the one that bonded with that half-breed. I heard the good news while me and my fellow actors were on tour, so we decided to make a stop here and wait on the newly weds. I began tapping T'Pau's communications link the first day." He began to walk in a circle around the blonde, kicking Navik's shin. "This planet is very boring; they knew they were being watched, so they stopped doing anything. No comms with Star Fleet, nothing. So we began to monitor all the comms on the Colony for a little excitement. Then your little bitch called home and told his Daddy that you had knocked him up." He stopped in front of Kirk with his eyes gleaming. "I knew that was my chance to seek my revenge. You should have died by my side! You were mine!" He screamed into Jim's face. "But now, I'm going to make sure that your abomination never draws breath." He leveled the phaser at Kirk's chest.
Not showing any fear, Kirk replied. "You are out-numbered." He cocked his head to the line of crewmembers aiming straight at him. "You will not get out of here alive." His voice was cold. Kodos would shoot him, but just as soon as his finger squeezed the trigger, his crew would pummel every available inch of his body with retaliation for their fallen Captain. Spock and their son would be safe, the cost was insignificant.
Once more laughed, Kodos shrugged. "As long as you go down with me, Kirk. We shall rid the universe of two killers at once." He straightened his arm and a phaser shot sliced through the air. Kirk ducked, but Kodos' body fell limply to the floor. Kirk rushed to confirm his death, before turning to find the shooter. Adrenaline pumping through his veins as he confirmed the killer's heart beat no more.
Twisting to find who had saved him from certain death, his relieved eyes fell on a woman who was not garbed like either of the groups, holding a phaser in her shaky hand. "I had to stop him." She looked Kirk dead in the eye. "He would not stop. I would not let him do those horrible things again. He was no longer my father – he had become a monster." Tears streamed down her cheeks.
Kirk rose walking slowly to her. "Just give me the phaser. We all understand why you had to do it. No one blames you." His head stretched out towards her in a peace offering, willing her to hand over the weapon.
She took a deep breath, her sad eyes filled with years of agony. "I blame myself for not stopping him sooner." She pressed the phaser to her temple and before Kirk could stop her, she fired, taking her own life. Her body fell lifelessly beside her father's.
With a shaky breath, Kirk allowed himself a brief moment to acknowledge that the horror of the past few days was finally over, they had won. Turning to assess the damage, Kirk found Lev'kin and Navik still on the floor, her blood seeping in a puddle around her body. Lev'kin was holding pressure, his eyes dull as he watched the life of his First Officer slip away. Kirk raced to their side taking out his communicator. "Spock! Why can't we beam Navik out? She came under fire!" His calm façade slipping.
Spock's steady voice replied. "Columbia is experiencing transporter malfunctions, Mr. Scot is currently trying to locate her signal."
Taking a deep breath, trying to relax Kirk's mind clicked over possible resolutions and answered his mate. "Tell him to lock on to this communicator. Notify Bones and have them beamed directly to Med Bay. Kirk out." As he flipped the communicator shut, Lev'kin and Navik began their journey back across space.
The remains of four Away Teams began to slowly sift through the damage. The fight was over, the danger neutralized, his family safe. Later their would be briefings and countless hearings, but now Kirk's mind focused only three people – the two loves of his life and the one who had saved his own.
A/N: Thanks for reading
I do hope this fight scene was Epic.
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