Michael did not like this idea but orders were still orders and there was logic to Cornwell's demand. An admiral's demand. Time was of the essence and people were dying. They were care more capable to take down the Klingons than a human squad given their advantage. The Klingons clearly didn't do enough research. Michael though knew herself; the others would kill the Klingons, but she knew she could disable them soon enough.
She was tired of killing.
Gold light faded from Michael's vision, feeling both Stamets and Landry beside her though the scene around her she could describe as a total mess. Emergency force fields were holding, bodies of all federation species were everywhere, from Ensigns to commanders to even a captain or so.
All around, there were sounds of fighting… metal slashing through flesh, phaser fire… heartbeats of life were disappearing every couple of seconds from either side of the fight. It set her senses onto an immediate height alert, her fangs sharpening out.
"Burnham. Take the first 5 decks ahead, Stamets, the five bellow. I'll take the five above. Once the Klingons in your area are disabled or dead, secure the area and reroute emergency power to force fields and life support." Landry called though.
Michael nodded and darted forwards.
Unlike discovery, the hallways were immediately larger and she could spread her senses out further. She heard the other two take other route but it didn't take her more than a few seconds to come across the first squad of six Klingons….
Then the second…
And it was almost all too easy. Bone crunched under her hands, flesh tore but she took the extra moments to destroy all their weapons before moving on if any had stayed alive. But she felt no enjoyment for each one but there was a primal desire within her. A hunting instinct that clawed at her mind to turn off and take cover. To label everything that had a heart beast as prey. To kill and to feed.
Michael recalled the taste of Klingon blood easily and the idea was temping but she didn't allow her control to waver. Not now. Not after the Terrans. She'd not allow her instincts to define her.
The admiral's call for all three of them was not expected but logical. Speed was the key. To not only take down the Klingons but to preserve those still left alive. Hundreds were dying and their abilities would easily enable them to take out the Klingon threat in a short amount of time. The benefit of being top hunters. Undead… lethal.
Michael weaved down the corridor, slowing now though she could hear the others, the sounds of Klingons getting lesser and she couldn't sense too many in her current area though she could pick up the scent of blood; human, Vulcan and a varying selection of others. She could hear voices and sounds of those barricading and huddled together, even the sounds of make shift medical rooms from the calls of people for hyposprays and other equipment.
"Life support is failing…"
The familiar voice caught her attention, dim but clearly Vulcan.
"Klingons are on route. Those doors aren't going to last much longer." The tone clipped of another person, then the cocked sound of a phaser. "We should leave and get to another deck while we can"
"No. Our position is secured, Shukar. We've got access to the computer but if we lose this room then we lose this deck and everyone else if we can get our communications going then—."
"You!"
Her attention drew back to her immediate location, her head turning sharply. Ruby eyes locking onto a group of 4 Klingons. Michael growled softly, baring sharpened fangs at the group as she moved towards them. Weapons were raised though she watched at the realisation to what she was reach them.
"I don't want to kill you but I can if you force me. Drop your weapons and surrender." Michael demanded.
None of the back down, one fired though she lazily watched the green beam before she darted around and gripped the front of the barrel and squeezed. Metal caved under her grip then she grabbed his arm and twisted
Crack!
Crack!
Crack!
Crack!
Each of the group fell, sporting broken limbs though she knocked a few out, keep them quiet. The last though she kicked him hard enough in the leg to hear it crack, wincing at the sound of the scream…
"What was that?" one of the humans asked.
"Back up?" The Andorian suggested.
Michael reached down and yanked away the Klingon's weapons. Using a fallen pipe that she manipulated like rope to secure his hands as well as the others then knocked on the door.
"Are they knocking?"
"Why would a Klingon knock, Admiral Yetson?" The tone voice of a clear Vulcan remarked.
Michael sighed though she looked to the key pad on the side. Tapping on it. Opening up the comms.
"This is specialist Burnham. Do not open the door but please identify." She called through.
"Burnham? I thought Discovery was lost."
"No, it resurfaced earlier." The Andorian spoke, "I was on it."
Feet moved and she heard some more tapping.
"Comms on our side are down." The Vulcan answered.
"No, but I can still hear you. Your systems are damaged so I assume anything against vampires are too." Michael replied. "There are three other vampires on this base, taking it back on Cornwell's orders. Please identify."
"Admiral Patar, Terral, Yetson, Shukar, Gorch, Wilson, Paris and Wright." One voice answered, "What's the situation?"
"Discovery's holding position, all the ships we've disabled or destroyed, about fifty nine thousand federation crew still alive here and less than two hundred Klingons here which are dropping considerably. Three vampires on the base and one, from my understanding is on the flag ship. I'm clearing out the Klingons in this section but can you start rerouting power back to life support, defences and emergency force fields?" Michael asked
On the other side she heard movement of quick walking that stopped, then the tapping of a touch pad. "Not all from here. Most of our technology was damaged."
"Okay."
"I can try and manually rewrite some of the circuits to this terminal, that window won't hold for long." A gruff voice spoke, the Tellerite—Gorch if she recognised the name to the species.
"Alright, sirs, I have to go but I'll try and reconnect you once I can get to a monitor and you can devise ways of escape or repair once you can talk to the rest of the crew. Burnham out."
"You know, this wasn't what I had in mind for today? Aside from…jumping us all back to our universe…."
Paul's voice drifting to her ears. Michael's looked up from the computer.
It had been an hour since she had lost spoken to the Admirals and Discovery, trying to patch them both through but the only sliver living that out of all the death involves, almost all the Klingons were dead, injured or were forced to surrender. A good portion was now in what was left of Brig, Landry had moved the ones she had broken into other newly secured areas of the base as a second brig. Most of them were sedated and wearing being treated; offering them a good portion of POWs to negotiate with.
She was still trying to get her way through the bases system. Life support was back in operational, as were the emergency power to force fields but there were a lot of crew still trapped in other sectors of the ship.
"What's the number count?"
"Well, we've got about…fifty seven and a half thousand crew trapped in various sectors of the base. The infrastructure barely stable but…. I've think I've almost got through to Discovery. We can have them start beaming the base crew about."
Paul nodded though he was wiping his hands on his uniform, looking very displeased on it, the amount of blood that stained his flesh and hands. But he looked much better than Landry. "I'll help." He moved to the station beside her, "The Admirals are on their way up."
Michael nodded though she paused as she watched him. Michael knew this wasn't what he expected nor wanted to do…. He was not the type of vampire to enjoy this amount of death. "Are you alright, Paul?"
The vampire nodded. "I'll be fine." He smiled tightly but didn't elaborate at her nod of inclination. Perhaps later.
They relapsed into silence, working in quiet though she felt more relieved as Paul manged to bridge the line out to communications
"Burnham to Discovery." He called out, "Do you copy?"
"….ts…" the line was immediately filled with white noise but it was a connection. Michael bent down to the electronics, fiddling with then—"….base one?... comm…low…"
"You're cutting in and out, clearing up the connection." Paul spoke. "Please repeat that."
"Lieutenant Stamets?" The voice of Admiral Cornwell broke though. "What's the status of Star base one?"
"There are many crew still trapped in sealed off areas of the base. We'll need to transport them to safety and get more ships here."
"The other ships are in the vicinity can take more of the crew that are in immediate dangers. Send out a distress call for other federation ships to fall back to."
Michael nodded.
"Admiral Cornwell. It's much relief that you made it." The voice of Admiral Terral calling through. Both their heads turned to see the group of eight admirals make it into their current position.
None looked too worst for wear though roughed up. Shukar's left antennae was severed and roughly bandaged with scrap blue fabric. The others at worse has a few cuts and bruises.
"Terral, I wasn't aware you were moved to this station." Cornwell remarked, "What's the situation down there? We've managed ourselves around another Klingon flag ship but it looks like our success here has awarded away any lingering cloaked Klingon vessels. Discovery can assist but we're due to leave when we can."
"So soon?" Gorch questioned. "We need all the assistance you've got."
"Yes, to why we'll be standing by until more ships can arrive. We've got a new-born on ship and we can't risk her so close to bloodshed. You know the protocols, Gorch." Her tone said it all but Michael felt like she was missing out on the full context… the depth her kind now had with the federation. So many new protocols with vampires she hadn't been aware of…or gotten to reading yet.
"Landry is currently overseeing the brig. We've kept a portion Klingons alive for the federation to keep in holding for questioning or to use as part of negations with the Klingons." Paul spoke. "Once many of the crew are at least transported to safer areas, we can seal off those sections and you can work with what you've got?" His tone almost turned to a suggestion as he glanced to the admirals. "I would however will need to return to Discovery soon."
Terral moved forwards towards them though the others soon broke apart to different areas. "What have you done so far, Lieutenant?" He asked.
Michael moved her attention as Paul quickly ran over what was done, allowing the Admirals to now reinsert themselves, taking the controls back, so to speak.
"Our transporters are working on a few decks. We can beam them out. Where the largest and safest area? I assume you've swept the place?" Paris asked, her eyes on the monitor in front, her brow pulled in.
"There are the mess halls on Deck 56 and 41. There's already a med team set up there for wounded but it's…huge. It also connected to a few other labs that can also be used."
"We've established contact with our other ships, Admiral Terral. Once the USS Ticonderoga and USS Sebrova have done with the repairs to their warp core, they can send more teams down or evacuate to Earth or closest federation planet" Cornwell spoke.
This sort of talk continued for a while but Michael found it a mercy to be eventually transported back to Discovery, mostly for the need of a shower—she knew she looked just as bad as she did after returning from the Terran ship but the space felt good. It had been a while since she had been surrounded by so many people of high authority and somewhere huge—at least in this universe. There was also very little she could do further but she was glad to have helped but the fact that most of it was death…. It didn't make her feel too good.
Once fresh and clean, Michael found herself outside of Ash's room… hovering a little before she chimed. She didn't need to wait long, the doors sprang open to reveal low methodical sounds of a familiar beat, low hums… it was Vulcan medication music. Inside, Ash was sitting at the end of his bed, looking to have at least been trying to relax, a book in hand though he looked otherwise healthy—something she felt relieved about since living him in sickbay.
"Michael." He smiled, closing the book. "I…sort of heard what happened. Glad to see you're okay."
Her ruby eyes looked away, stepping in before sighing. "How is it Starfleet to send three vampires to massacre a bunch of Klingons?" She asked, trying to reel back the note of frustration in her tone, sitting down at his sofa.
Ash slipped off the bed, his head tiling as he turned off the music and sat down in front of her. "I'm sure given the circumstances it's perfectly called for."
Michael huffed out distastefully. "I feel like we're being used for emergency cannon fodder. I don't like killing but here I am, another body pile later….again."
Ash said nothing though he moved from in font to beside her. "Did you kill all of them you came across?"
"No."
"I'd say that was something, Michael." Ash smiled, "You're not a predetermined monster. What you are, like everyone else is complicated."
Michael gave him a half-dry look. "At least Star base One is secure. I heard from the bridge that other Starfleet vessels are falling back to help with the clean-up. The news of Discovery's return as…halted the Klingon's advances. More experienced vampires than the new-born's that Cornwell made."
Still, it was the silver lining. Rescue were still on going, but they were still here. Cornwell had said they'd leave for the Bloodstone facility because of Georgiou's new-born status.
"At least we didn't lose the star base altogether. It'd be looking a lot worse for Starfleet if it had. An open door for Klingons to get to earth." Ash pointed out, his hand slipping to her wrist. "You did what you had to."
Michael said nothing. She knew he had better interests at heart in saying that. To do a bad thing for a good reason. Everything that she had done on this ship was like that. Turning Paul for the drive, going against Saru to get him in the drive, becoming a Terran, killing those Terrans, bringing down Lorca, taking Georgiou and now this. It was a list. Not one she was overly proud of.
"How are you, Ash?" Michael questioned, drawing the topic away from herself.
The man looked away then sighed, staying quiet for a long moment to mull. Her eyes flickered to his face, watching the muscles in his face tighten or loosen though there wasn't too much distress hanging around him like before.
"Better." He decided with, "but… I've been debating on…what I should do. Once the war is over."
"Do? Aren't you going to retake your position here?"
Ash shook his head. "No. I don't think… I can properly settle back here. I need to spend some time to…rediscover myself. Vog's memories are part of me and so I know there's mistrust on my identity." He looked away. "I've considered a placement at Bloodstone's security station. Admiral Cornwell's suggestion."
"I thought humans weren't allowed onto the facility for their safety?"
Ash shrugged. "They have a base in orbit. It monitors the station and any visiting vessels to ensure no one sneaks down there."
Michael nodded softly, "So you've been briefed?"
Reaching forwards, Ash plucked up the PADD, showing the display on the screen. "I've been doing some reading. It's quite interesting to see how much was developed for your species."
Her eyes flickered over the text before he put it down again "I'm not shocked. Vampires are dangerous if the body piles are any indication." Now most of Starfleet would know what they were capable of on a rush job. Actually, they probably already knew; the adjustments to what the federation knew was… hard to gather in their time differences since leaving and coming back. Complicated.
"Well, I'm sure once we get to the facility, you could get dropped off there. Cornwell's making me stay down there to oversee Georgiou and—"
"Georgiou?" his head turned sharply to her, brown eyes widening in alarm. "Where did you find her?"
Michael rolled her eyes, feeling a sliver of amusement but she supposed he hadn't been kept in the loop.
"The Terran Georgiou. I got…impulsive. She's turned and now waiting around. I'll need to check on her soon." She was probably grouchy still. Especially given she would have 'missed' out on a homicidal trip that would have been right up her alley.
Ash exhaled heavily, the surprise still coursing through his veins before he rose to his feet. His mouth opened, "Look, I think—"
Ding
Her eyes flickered to the door that interrupted him. His gaze flickering from her to the door before his jaw snapped shut. "Open."
The doors sprang open and Michael smiled as Tilly same in, a tray in hand and an unsurprised expression when she noticed her seated. "I bring you Lunch. I figured you didn't want to be out much so I thought to bring it to you. Maybe hang out?"
Ash forced a smile, reaching for the tray, "Thank you, Tilly." He placed the tray down. "I appreciate the thought, but I believe Specialist Burnham could do with your company tonight. It's been…eventual. More so than mine."
Michael gave him a look though she could take the hint. Darting to Tilly's side though allowed the woman to hook an arm over hers, though she too took the hint and began to tug her along.
"Talk to you later, Ash!"