Chapter 20 Phase III

U.S. MARINES TRAINING FACILITY

PARIS ISLAND, EARTH

ONE YEAR AGO

Jacobs walked out to the recently refurbished Raptor. Today was a welcome, planet-side break from some of the issues in building the Wisconsin. Bauer was using the Raptors more and more in exercises training the Badgers, which was good for both the Raptors and pilots. Everyone was starting to see the vision coming together. Jacobs was talking to a Marine Colonel about the concept of the Wisconsin, "Colonel, thank you once again for the use of the base."

Colonel Puller asked, "Absolutely, we have not trained Starfleet personnel in years. Is this going to be a return of us training your security?"

Jacobs shrugged, "I don't know. My focus is my ship. Jack Bauer remembered his time here and thought it best to return to our roots."

Puller laughed, "He would. What is up for today?"

Jacobs pointed at the Raptor, "Combat reentry, fly over the shore and head a mile out to sea. We'll drop them off and they perform a rescue."

Puller smiled. "The Killer Carry?"

Jacobs nodded. "That's what he called it. Want to come along?"

Puller shook his head. "Maybe on the one tomorrow. Have fun."

RAPTOR 2

Jacobs just finished flying the reentry. The trainees looked slightly green in the back. Well, Jack didn't want a smooth flight. Jacobs leveled out at fifty feet and started slowing. Turning to Jack he said "Sixty seconds."

Bauer announced, "READY!" All the twelve Badgers stood, faced the rear hatch with their phaser rifles and packs.

Jacobs saw the shoreline pass, and looked at his speed. It was slowing nicely to thirty knots. It was a perfect pinpoint dropoff. Jacobs turned to see Bauer and said, "Drop."

Bauer nodded, grabbed his coffee and said, "You know, Octavian makes the best coffee."

Jacobs chuckled. Whatever floated his boat was ok with him. Bauer added, "Combat drops rarely are precise, things go wrong."

Jacobs looked outside briefly, "I'll make sure they don't land on a ship."

Bauer nodded and yelled, "GO GO GO"

Ensign Kenn was in line and once the drop order came, they stepped to the open hatch and jumped. The fall was only fifty feet, so no parachute was used, but he never liked the impact with the water. Struggling to the surface he grouped with the others and they started to swim to shore. The shoreline looked really far away, too far. That jerk Bauer must've intentionally blown the insertion point just to make them swim farther.

A couple of hours later, the twelve Badgers arrived on shore and started their march. The mission was simply to move a mile inland, pick up a fellow Badger, and carry them back to shore and out to sea where they would get picked up. It was a test of endurance, stamina, and teamwork. Yesterday, he was the guy being carried by McGee, a lowly crewman. McGee was a pencil-necked geek so Kenn was squirming and kicking all the way to shore. McGee never complained. He missed a fair number of shots on the return and incurred a ten-pound penalty for each miss. Kennedy thought it was funny at the time, but Teal'c saw the whole thing and arranged for McGee to be the one carried by Kenn. Kenn wasn't sure how this was going to go.

His muscles were sore by the time they got to the pickup point. If McGee makes this tough on him, he is going to make McGee's life miserable on ship. Getting to McGee, he cut him free, and snapped the two men's harnesses together. Each Badger's combat webbing has attach points to make it easier to carry a wounded team member. Typical of special forces, the Badgers have the 'Leave no one behind' ethos. This exercise reinforces that.

Kenn started marching back with McGee on his back. Kenn's muscles were aching like they never ached before. The course marching back was simple. It was a wide, loose sand-filled field. Holographic targets would appear and he was supposed to shoot them. He already missed twice and Teal'c came out and slid a ten-pound weight on his chest for each miss. There was no pleasing the guy, Teal'c had this look of disgust perpetually.

About the half mile mark, his whole body felt like he was shaking. It was not only exhaustion from today, but also the training up to this point. Not only that, but Bauer and Teal'c were constantly yelling at them about stuff like 'teamwork', 'duty', and other stuff. They never let up. Bauer was at it again right now, "You must find that extra something inside you to complete missions like this. We will not leave anyone behind. You will be the one who will rescue people who otherwise would not be rescued, to give hope to the hopeless. If you are injured, you will not be left behind. If you become a Badger, you will know that your teammates will go beyond their personal limits to drag your sorry butt back."

Kenn had enough of this, this is just another stupid exercise and those that make it will be able to brag that they are the toughest, blah, blah, blah. His body was sore beyond anything he had ever experienced, shaking constantly, and just missed another target. Teal'c came up with another ten-pound weight with that stupid disgusted look on his face. When Teal'c slapped it on the webbing, he asked in that sickening formal accent, "What's wrong Ensign? Is McGee too heavy for you? He is not as heavy as you are, and not kicking like you did yesterday. That is because McGee has honor, which you lack. McGee is trying to help to pass, though I have no idea why."

Kenn stumbled and missed another target. Another ten-pound slab dropped on him. Teal'c continued, "You sicken me Ensign, your pretentiousness, your arrogance, your self-centeredness. You do not have any personal honor and I am surprised you made it into Starfleet. If you think this is hard, this is nothing like what combat is like." Kenn was thinking he could just quit, return to security on some ship. There was bound to be some ship that his uncle could get him posted to. He could return to a normal life. With all this conditioning, he would probably be the hottest new guy on the ship. He would be the toughest and would probably rise in rank and prestige quickly. He had done enough.

Teal'c read his face. "You want to quit Ensign? It would be so easy, just unhook McGee, leave him right here, and go over to Lt Cdr Bauer's cart on the side and ring the bell. Just do it and you can relax the rest of the week. Get those tired muscles some rest. All you have to do is just unhook your webbing, McGee will drop right off." Kennedy thought, yeah, some rest would be nice. Before he knew it, his webbing fell off. He even dropped his phaser rifle and was several steps toward the cart. Bauer had a disgusting look on his face as Kennedy stepped up, reached way up to grab the lanyard, and rang the bell to quit.

Kennedy did not need any of this stupidity. This is all child splay. Just a bunch of guys playing commando. Didn't they know that the time where space was dangerous had been passed? Starfleet was huge and getting bigger each day. No one would dare pick on us.

RAPTOR 2

FORCE-DOCKED ON BLACKBEARD'S HIDEOUT

PRESENT DAY

Teal'c made the pressure check, and looked back at the squad. "Remember that they still have about another minute before the EMP wears off. They will be zero gravity, so watch your movements."

TC had the artificial gravity off, to make it easier for the Badgers to adjust to the station. Teal'c fired the charges then opened the airlock doors. The remaining parts of the hatch were floating inside the station hallway. The team moved inside and covered both avenues of approach. A couple of Badgers set charges immediately outside the door and gave a thumbs-up to Teal'c. Teal'c motioned to move out and the team pushed off and floated down the hallway. Zero G operations make the movement slower, especially in the dark. Each member had night goggles on to see better. Once the team was clear, TC closed and locked both airlock doors.

Teal'c checked his watch and made a motion. All team members got their feet under them and then power started getting restored. The recovery from EMP varies, depending on technology and distance from the EMP unit. In this case, the artificial gravity returned suddenly and all the Badgers were ready. Just around the corner, they heard a couple of grunts and thuds. Teal'c made a quick motion and the team moved forward, rounded the corner, and saw two Norsicans getting to their feet. The front two team members fired their phasers. Phasers were set to a high setting, high enough for an instantaneous kill. The Norsicans dropped instantly. Teal'c motioned and they moved forward.

RAPTOR 1

FORCE-DOCKED ON BLACKBEARD'S HIDEOUT

TWO LEVELS UP

Bauer's squad was moving out of the Raptor. They too set charges just inside the airlock. Their objective was to try to get between what they thought was an interrogation room and a holding room. They started moving out and travelled only a short distance before gravity was restored. Passing a double set of bulkhead doors, McGee got excited and waved to Bauer. Bauer signaled stop and motioned McGee to come up. "What?"

"Sir, that time I spent on the Claw, I'm positive that sign there says 'Computer'"

Bauer raised his tricorder and scanned it. Sure enough, it shows lots of equipment behind the doors. The universal translator did say "Computer Bay 2"

Bauer thought quickly. If McGee was able to hack in quickly, they might find the location of the hostages. "Team, breach that door. McGee, get ready."

A team member set a charge and two others were ready with flash-bangs. The last three were all ready with rifles. Bauer nodded and the door blew, just as the door was caving inward, the others tossed in the flash-bangs. A moment later, they heard the flash-bangs and Bauer and the Badgers entered. Within a second, four Norsicans dropped dead and McGee went up and plugged in a fiber-optic line to a port he recognized. His portable computer started the hacking routine into the base's computer. The experience on the Claw came in very handy, since the firewalls were nearly identical and McGee breezed right through them. He looked at Bauer and said, "Sir, I'm in."

"Where are they?"

McGee was working frantically, searching through the database. He looked up. "Got the info, there's a lot more."

Bauer made a snap decision. "As much as you can. Where are they?"

McGee sent schematics of the base to all the Badger's computers. Bauer hit his communicator ear button. "Bauer to Teal'c"

Teal'c answered. "Teal'c here."

"Schematics and location of hostages coming through right now. They are in two groups. You take the largest group, you are almost there now. We'll grab the Senator."

Teal'c responded, "On our way."

Bauer clicked his earpiece. "Bauer to Carter."

"Carter here, we got the data. I'm forwarding it to the Wisconsin."

Bauer nodded, "Good. I estimate back in five minutes. Sit tight Commander."

Carter responded with a double click.

Bauer looked at McGee and asked, "What do you have?"

"I've focused on hostages, Federation hostages primarily. It didn't seem like we have enough time to search for the missing loot. What I have found…"

Bauer cut him off. "Anything for us right now?"

"No sir, but I got a ton of data. You will not believe. Too much for a burst transmission."

Bauer started for the door. "We will transmit it when we get to the Raptor. Let's go."

McGee spoke up. "Sir, let's leave the computer here. I can set it to upload information to the Raptor, it's close enough. If we can grab it as we leave, we'll have so much data I can't even think."

Bauer nodded and ordered, "Good idea. You two, claymore the door, remote disarm for us. Let's move."

CORRIDOR 4-5

BLACKBEARD'S HIDEOUT

Jameson was nauseous and vomiting all over the place. The Norsican kept pushing him into walls and bulkheads. They could not see where they were, the hall was totally dark. Suddenly the gravity came on and Jameson fell to the floor with a undignified thump. The Norsican grabbed him and started dragging him down the hallway. "Move it human, or I'll kill you where you stand!"

Jameson retorted, "I am a Federation Senator helping you out. How dare you!"

The Norsican grabbed his bandaged hand and twisted. The pain was incredible and Jameson relented. They started running down the hallway.

USS WISCONSIN

BRIDGE

Jareau turned and said excitedly. "McGee cracked their computer. Here are the schematics!"

Jacobs looked at the tactical screen where Leonaidas started pulling up station schematics. "Ben, target those phaser banks for now. Mr. Bragg, bring us around to heading 127 mark 3. Half impulse."

Leonaidas looked. "Not the power center?"

Jacobs shook his head. "I'm afraid of blowing the whole thing to atoms. Let's go after their command center. Cut the head off." The Wisconsin shook from an incoming volley of fire.

Grimm looked up from his console. "Their shields are strong there. And we're coming from the wrong direction."

Jacobs explained. "The shields are down on the rock side. It's also their blind side. We'll simply fire through the rock, lancing into the command center. It shouldn't take more than two shots with all the damage we've done already."

Leonaidas pointed to his big screen showing a schematic of the base from the side. "We'll run the risk of hitting Bauer's team. Data shows that Jameson's room is in that line you are suggesting."

The ship had already moved over to this part. Jacobs realized his goof. "You're right, let's hide here and let our shields regenerate for a minute. We'll think this through."

THE CLAW

TWENTY MINUTES FROM STARTING POINT

Agathon had an idea. "Let's launch our shuttlecraft."

Dietrich responded, "It's slower than us, we'll be caught fast."

Agathon shook his head. "Not to escape in, but to slow them down a little bit more. We'll overload their engines. That will produce a thermonuclear explosion of fifteen megatons I think."

Dietrich was thinking quickly, "Yes, Sir, you're right, ten megatons."

Agathon continued to explain. "Not much, but the fireball should cover our entry into our asteroid field."

Reeves dryly commented, "Might"

Agathon conceded, "Might. It is the best we've got."

Reeves thought aloud, "We could really use that warp core right now."

Agathon tried to regroup, "Focus. What do we need to blow up the shuttle?"

Dietrich answered, "Get Tyrol to rig a simple overload. I can figure a time to explode."

Agathon motioned for him to start. He pushed the com button. "Chief Tyrol?"

"Tyrol here, what rabbit are you going to pull out of your hat?"

Agathon explained the plan. Tyrol answered, "I'll get right on it."

"And make it quick Chief."

BADGER TEAM 2

JUST OUTSIDE HOLDING CELL AREA 2

The data McGee found helped tremendously. The team could have gotten lost down several corridors. The data received from the Claw was good, but not precise. Teal'c's team was ready to enter the area. Again, the charges were set and everyone was lined up ready to enter. Teal'c motioned and the door was blown. Again, the team entered and shot up the waiting Norsicans. Teal'c looked at the doors to this area. The doors were all heavy metal doors with no hinges, appearing that they slid sideways into a protected area.

Teal'c looked at the explosives expert and asked, "What do you recommend? Time is of the essence."

The explosives expert scanned it with his tricorder and pointed. "Phaser an opening. It will be slower but we do not want to injure the occupant further inside."

Teal'c started scanning the other cells. "Proceed with haste. We are going to get them all out of here."

The explosives expert grabbed a piece of chalk and marked where to cut the opening. McGee happened to be the closest and raised his phaser rifle. The expert said "Use setting twelve. Anything more and it will throw slag all over inside the cell." McGee nodded and started cutting. The expert went to the next cell and repeated the procedure. All the missing hostages from the Beluga were freed along with Jameson's crew. There was one final cell to open.

THE CLAW

FIFTEEN MINUTES FROM STARTING POINT

Agathon said, "Here we go, they're almost in range. Launch Shuttlecraft!"

Jensen had a remote link with the shuttlecraft set up, and launched the shuttlecraft from the bay. Agathon asked Tyrol over the com, "How long before it blows?"

"Now about two minutes. It's going to be close."

The shuttlecraft exited and flew close to the Claw. Just when the pursuing ships were within weapons range, the shuttlecraft accelerated towards them. The trick was to have it blow up before it got to them. The increased power from the shuttlecraft only accelerated the overload.

Tyrol was monitoring from engineering the shuttlecraft systems. He hit the com for the bridge, "Any second now!"

Agathon pushed the PA button, "All Hands, collision alert!"

The shuttlecraft caught the Pirates by surprise. When the shuttlecraft blew, the relative speed was away from the Claw. Most of the blast was heading toward the pirates, but some of it made it to the Claw. The Claw shook and tumbled. Agathon recovered control and resumed course at maximum speed. The Pirates had a different perspective. They immediately evaded to avoid being caught up in the blast. The proximity of the shuttle's thermonuclear explosion caused some circuit burnouts and knocked them all off course. It took longer to get back on a pursuit course, but they did, and started closing on the Claw again.

RAPTOR 1

FORCE-DOCKED TO BLACKBEARD'S HIDEOUT

Carter was sitting in the Pilot's seat monitoring com traffic. The WSO next to him announced, "Movement in the corridor."

Carter looked at the monitor. Bauer's team had placed remote-operated claymore mines just outside the hatch along with a sensor. Carter could see two Norsicans running up to the hatch. They looked at the hatch, made a call on their communicators, then looked like they were setting up an ambush.

Carter clicked the communicator. "Carter to Bauer"

Bauer answered, "Bauer, Go."

"Two bad guys just outside the hatch. Looks like they have our position and are setting up an ambush."

Bauer spoke, "Roger that, do not blow the charges. When we call you give us an update on numbers and placement. Bauer out."

Carter finished, "Carter out."

COMMAND CENTER

BLACKBEARD'S HIDEOUT

The communications operator turned. "A squad reports a boarding hatch near Jameson's quarters. We probably have intruders!"

Ragnar thought a bit. "Internal jammers on. Get squads to support them from the direction they came from. Also get some squads to come to the center and track the route to the quarters. In fact," he pointed to the guards in the center, "Go now. Eliminate all intruders."

"Including the Senator?" asked the head guard.

"Especially the Senator! I'm going to my office, send a squad to meet me there."

Ragnar left and the half-dozen Norsicans started after the Senator.

KENN'S CELL

Kennedy felt the gravity go and he started to float. He also noticed the light under the door go out. He was in total darkness, and in pain. Kennedy wondered if he had died or not. The zero gravity helped the pain in the legs because there was no pressure on his fractures. That all went away when the power came back. Kennedy fell to the floor with a hard thump and his legs went even wilder angles than they already were. He howled in pain as the broken bones tore more flesh.

He did not know how long it was, time was meaningless, just that he felt the overwhelming despair that he was going to die and there was not anything he could do about it. He heard some phaser fire that brought his focus back into the room, and some voices. Suddenly, the edges to his door started glowing and he could see phasers cutting through it. The opening in the door was pushed open and Teal'c leaned in. Kenn got it. Crying with relief, joy, and a thousand other emotions he could not even begin to express he said, "Lt Teal'c, you're the most wonderful sight I've ever seen."

Teal'c's face was different this time. There was no disgust. He still had the stern look on him, that was probably just how his face came out at birth. Different was another look, pity? No, it was something he never saw on Teal'c. Compassion. Teal'c said is his usual formal, stern manner, "Ensign, how are you?"

"Broken legs sir."

Teal'c called "MEDIC!" and one of the Badgers showed up. "Broken legs, we got to move him very soon."

The medic answered with a smile, "I'll splint this later and Dr. Mallard will reknit them when we get on board the Wisconsin. Ensign, you'll be walking in a week."

Kenn was overcome with the emotion and just sobbed. As the Medic pulled out the inflatable splints, phaser fire came from outside somewhere. One of the Badgers yelled. "Norsicans in the corridor!"

Kenn yelled, "Teal'c, get them out. Give me a rifle and I'll hold them off for you!"

Teal'c's expression didn't change. "Mr. Kennedy, haven't you learned your lesson yet. We leave no one behind. Also, I'm Lieutenant to you." Turning towards the cellblock door Teal'c yelled, "Frags left and right, maximum power. We will be ready in thirty seconds!" The two closest Badgers pulled out fragmentation grenades and dialed in maximum power. They looked at each other and timed the throw to be exactly the same. There was a pair of loud bangs and the phaser fire stopped for a short time.

The medic said to Teal'c, "Ready! You get his shoulders." Teal'c maneuvered in the small cell and they managed to get Kennedy out into the cellblock hallway. At the far end was the opening to the main hallway that the Badgers just threw the grenades.

Teal'c ordered, "Standard extraction. Three units up front, hostages in the middle, three in back. I'm in back and will carry Mr. Kenn. When we move, front units flashbang the hallway. Standby." Turning to Kenn Teal'c asked, "Ensign, do you remember how to combat-carry a civilian."

Kenn thought. Teal'c was going to lift him up and he would lay across Teal'c's shoulders. Teal'c would hold on to him by a leg and by wrapping the other arm across Kenn's neck. He nodded. Teal'c continued, "Good. You are going to have my rifle." Teal'c lifted Kenn up without so much as a grunt. Kenn noticed that Teal'c had managed to have a phaser pistol in his hand during the lift. Teal'c announced, "On three we move! Mark!"

Silently, everyone counted. On "2" the flashbangs were tossed and banged just as the front Badgers started moving. Immediately phaser fire was heard and the group exited and moved down the hallway back to the Raptor. Occasionally, a Norsican would show up running behind the group. Kenn and the two Badgers would fire. The Badgers mostly did the hits, though Kenn's misses did damage to bulkheads, floors, walls. Kenn asked Teal'c, "Permission to increase to maximum!"

Teal'c said, "Granted!"

The group moved on. At a corner where there was not anybody, Teal'c ordered, "Claymores! Proximity fuse, 30 seconds to arm!" And the two Badgers with him in the back set them. They double-timed it back to the rest of the group. A short time later they heard the claymores go off behind them and some agonizing yells from Norsicans.

Coming up to the corridor that the Raptor was docked to, the group stopped because of Carter's earlier warning. Teal'c told Kenn to push his ear button. The communicator sprang to life. "Teal'c to Raptor 2."

TC's voice came through. "Raptor 2. Say your position."

"Just down the hallway from you. Based on what we heard from Cdr Carter we thought best to check in with you."

TC explained, "There's about 5 that I can see right outside the airlock. I've observed more coming and going, you should have already come across some of them."

Teal'c said dryly. "We have. In thirty seconds, fire the claymores. Mark!"

Teal'c said to the Badgers, "When the Claymores fire, flashbang the corridor. We move then."

Everyone was prepared, and when the claymores blew, the front Badger tossed his flashbang. It went off and the forward Badgers double-timed to the airlock, the rest of the group followed up. The front Badgers turned a corner just beyond the airlock and phasered four Norsicans. Teal'c ordered TC over the communicator, "Secured, open the airlock!" TC pushed a button and the airlock doors opened. The hostages stepped through and floated in the Raptor to the back. The Badger team entered next and started securing the hostages to their seats. Teal'c and Kenn were last. Teal'c passed Kenn to another Badger then closed the airlock doors. "All in!"

TC disconnected from the ring that was attached to the station, and hovered just a couple of feet beyond. He did this just in case they needed to re-dock for some reason. He announced, "Holding station!" Teal'c oversaw the securing of everyone onboard.

BADGER TEAM 1

OUTSIDE JAMESON'S QUARTERS

Bauer yelled, "NOW!" The Badgers blew the door and threw in flashbangs. All entered and covered the room. The point Badger yelled, "CLEAR!"

Jameson was nowhere to be seen. Now where do they look? Bauer asked McGee, "Best guess, Mr. McGee."

McGee looked at his tricorder. "I don't know, they're jamming our sensors."

Bauer asked again, "That's not what I asked, I asked for your guess!"

McGee thought and checked his tricorder. "We know he was being shuttled in and out to a room. I'm guessing it was the commander's office."

Bauer nodded. "Let's go people, we don't have much time."

The team went back out into the corridor and started to move. Behind them a squad of Norsicans showed up and started shooting. Bauer, McGee and another Badger returned fire. Bauer yelled, "Cover us! McGee, lead the way!"

The team now was moving toward the command center, fighting Norsicans behind them. Bauer, McGee were leading the way and the rest of the team was covering behind them. They came to a bulkhead door that was closed. McGee pulled out the tricorder again and started hacking the lock. The lock released and the door started pulling up into the ceiling. Bauer looked ahead down the corridor and started moving. Suddenly down the corridor, A Norsican with Jameson came around a corner. As soon as the Nosican saw Bauer, he grabbed Jameson by the jaw, bringing his poison claw near Jameson's neck. Bauer saw this and started bringing his rifle up to his eyes. He thumbed the power setting to maximum as his holographic sight came on and started showing his aim. Everything was happening in slow motion, He brought the rifle tight into his shoulder, steadied the aim on the Norsican's nose, and gently pressed the trigger. All this in less than a second.

The Phaser energy leaped out at the speed of subspace transmissions, Warp 20. It went right past Jameson's head and hit the Norsican square in the nose. The phaser at maximum just doesn't only kill, it destroys matter. Even though the beam cleared Jameson's face by at least four inches, the energy of the air being destroyed that close burned him. The beam hit the Norsican, burned clear through his skull, brain, and other side of the skull before exploding his head. The briefing by Dr. Mallard proved useful, that as soon as there was no neural connection between the poison claw and brain, it retracted as the headless Norsican fell to the floor limp. Jameson stood in shock, the first sense he felt was the searing pain along his cheekbone. Next, he felt the body of the Norsican fall away. Lastly, he wiped his eyes from something, only to have blood and gristle appear on his hand.

Jameson started screaming in terror, and before he knew it, his arms were grabbed and he was being drug along the corridor. He started struggling against the person dragging him. A voice yelled at him, "You're alright Senator, it's Commander Bauer, from Starfleet. Follow us if you want to live!"

Jameson blinked and saw six human-shaped forms dressed in black with helmets, combat webbing, equipment, and phaser rifles. In shock he stopped resisting and the group reversed its direction. Bauer yelled, "Frags max power, now!" and the two Badgers behind the guys in front threw grenades down the hallway. The Norsicans saw too late the grenades and when they blew, four Norsicans dropped. Bauer yelled, "GO!"

The first stretch of hallway was clear, and when they came to a corner, Bauer ordered, "Claymores!" A couple of Badgers claymored the corner and the group resumed. Jameson still was in shock, it was like looking at a video playback of something, almost surreal. The violence of it all was shocking. Coming up to the computer center was another squad that was moving toward them. The Badgers instantly fired, and the squad dropped along with a lot of damage being created in the hallway.

At the computer center, Jameson saw that they were stopping. "What are we stopping for?"

Bauer replied, "We are downloading their computer, and need to retrieve this data."

Jameson panicked and argued, "We need to get out of here now! You've made them mad and we got to go now, they are going to try to kill us!"

Bauer ordered, "Senator, shut up now!" Bauer triggered the safety for the claymores remotely, and they retrieved McGee's computer. Leaving the computer center, Bauer put the safeties off for the claymores.

Jameson started arguing again, "What is that for? What are 'claymores'."

Bauer said, "You'd disapprove anyway, just shut up."

Coming up to the corner just before the airlock, Bauer stopped the group. He clicked his communicator earpiece, "Bauer to Carter"

Carter's voice came through, "Jack, you have about a dozen Norsicans in the hallway outside the airlock."

Bauer asked, "Are you compromised?"

"No, they never have even tried to come in at all."

Bauer thought. "Carter, blow the claymores in thirty seconds. We'll do the rest."

Carter answered, "Counting now."

Bauer ordered. "When the claymores blow, throw a flashbang down there. We'll close then frag the corridor beyond it."

Jameson, horrified, interrupted, "Frag, you mean use explosives? WE'LL ALL DIE!"

Bauer tried to stop him, but he raised his voice too much. "Shut up, they'll hear you!"

One of the Badgers turned, "Too late, here they come!"

Bauer yelled, "Frags now!" Two grenades were thrown down the hallway. They took out the first few Norsicans. The Badgers started firing around the corner. Bauer grabbed a flashbang and threw it around the corner and yelled, "FLASH" The flashbang went off and the Badgers resumed their firing. Carter blew the claymores on time, but most of the Norsicans had moved out of the range of fire.

McGee heard some claymores behind them detonate. "We got company moving up behind us!"

Bauer turned and yelled, "You four clear the way, advance when possible and take the Senator! McGee, with me!"

Bauer and McGee ran back down the corridor. Bauer started pulling out a Claymore and McGee saw what he was doing and did the same. All Badgers carried at least one for just this reason. They staggered their claymores to make it more effective then waited. Bauer and McGee had grenades ready. At the first sign of movement around the corner, they threw the grenades and ran back towards the group. A couple of surviving Norsicans came around the corner firing phasers, and McGee turned, knelt and fired back. He hit one and the energy kept going through him causing a small explosion on the far wall. Bauer was firing behind him and McGee got up and took a few paces back and started firing again. They did this alternating retreat all the way back to the main group. The Claymores were used up maiming another couple of Norsicans.

The group made it to the airlock and Carter had opened it up when one of the Badgers called. When the Senator got to the door, looking straight ahead at the floor of the Raptor was unnerving. "I'm not going in there!"

Bauer trotted up, "Get in!"

Jameson, panicked, argued, "No! We can reason with them!"

Down the hall, the Norsicans started firing again. Bauer did a palm strike on the Senator's jaw knocking him out cold and pushed him into the Raptor. The copilot was waiting for him in zero G and pushed him back to the back of the Raptor. The Badgers piled in afterwards and Bauer was last, closing the airlock door. He yelled, "Secured!" Carter disengaged from the docking ring and hovered a couple of feet from the ring.

Carter thumbed his microphone, "Raptor 1, airborne"

A very short time later he heard, "Raptor 2, airborne"

Then over the radio he heard Jacobs' voice, "Raptors, Wisconsin actual. Fly to far side of the asteroid along waypoints designated. Stay close to the surface to avoid interference with the shields and weapons. Destroy command center on your way out. We will meet you at primary rendezvous point."

Both Raptors responded, "Roger" Now all they had to do was escape.

USS WISCONSIN

BRIDGE

Jacobs pushed the com button ending transmission. "Now its time to provide cover for them. Set course 235 mark 97, full impulse. Ben be prepared to fire at will."

As the Wisconsin pulled away, it came in view of the Asteroid's sensors again as well as the phasers. The base started firing and started depleting the Wisconsin's shields. Jacobs looked at tactical and saw that the position was perfect. "Mr. Bragg, bring us around to bring all weapons to bear. Ben, fire at will."

The Wisconsin had maneuvered to a gap that they created when they destroyed a couple of the shield generators. The first volley hit the base and knocked out the base's sensors. Now they had to just keep moving.

RAPTORS 1 & 2

TC had just formed up on Carter and now they were maneuvering towards the command center, under the base's shields. Carter got on the frequency, "TC, Outback. Do we have our weapons crosslinked?"

"Yes sir, and my phasers are set to 'bake'."

Carter ordered, "TC blow your docking ring now, make them breathe vacuum!"

TC and Carter remotely detonated their docking ring, which had an airlock door that the Raptors could use. It also had charges on it to explode on command, exposing the inside to vacuum. Instantly, it sucked out the bodies near the hole. It also forced the Norsicans to close bulkhead doors to keep the whole base from depressurizing, slowing response time and repairs.

Carter smiled, TC's sense of humor was good to make any situation less stressful. He said, "Follow me, we fire when insight."

They came around an outcropping and saw the roof and windows of the center. It was nearly flush with the rock, but visible. Carter pressed the phaser button and both Raptors fired at the command center's roof. There was no contest, the roof was blown and the center depressurized. Carter announced, "Target destroyed."

Jacobs' voice came through, "Raptors proceed with due haste, let's get out of here, we'll cover for you."

TC's voice was heard, "Outback, lets go, we don't want to be part of the lightshow."