<USS Avalon> Abandon Ship!

Abandon Ship

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After a few moments Adrian returned from the COM station with a smirk on his 
face. "Well o' course the thing works, it has to defy all logic that something 
looking like that wouldn't work at all." He looked around at the gathered 
party, noting that Laney and T'Leara were not present. "We need to get the Doc 
and their medical crew up to the ship stat. They're surrounded by Breen 
vessels. Laney too." He said, speaking more directly to his marines but also 
including the eldest child in his field of vision. 

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The eldest nodded slowly. ~Luca can see to that for you.~ his tired voice 
whispered in Adrian's head. 

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"Laney and the Doc are fussing with one of them cryo-tanks in the back," 
Chapman interrupted. "Guess it got tweaked wrong in the landing." 

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"What the hell," Duarte's voice sounded from the back. Storming toward the 
front cabin she demanded, "I thought they said the tanks were full of 'research 
material'?"

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"Well, what the hell is it then?" Adrian said after he nodded for the eldest to 
make the neccessary arrangements. 

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"A Fleeter. 5'6" ish, blonde...late leenish looking...ensign...still in 
uniform. They're seeing of there's a way to safely bring him out of stasis 
before the tank totally crashes or if he's just dead and that's it now," Duarte 
answered, then watched for a reaction. 

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Adrian spun in her direction. "A WHAT" he said, trying his best to control the 
mixture of confusion and rage in his voice. He turned and looked back at the 
eldest boy. "What exactly is going on with those pods?" 

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The eldest girl moved protectively in front of the small units, but it was 
T'Leara who answered for them from across the room. "They are programmable 
gestational chambers. Portable wombs, if you will. It would appear that they 
chose not to leave any of their own behind when they fled." 

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"No can do," Carlisle announced to Duarte as she came forward. "We have to 
either find a way to get those chambers aboard the Avalon fast so we can repair 
the unit or bring him up safely, or we're going to lose him." She sighed before 
continuing. "Get's worse, too. Settings on the other one show another humanoid 
life form in stasis in it, too. So much for 'research material'." 

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Duarte wheeled on T'Leara, "You knew about this?"

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"Not about the cryotanks, no. I admit no surprise, however." T'Leara responded 
calmly. "It is in keeping with their research parameters, as well as the 
character of the researchers in question."

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"How'd you know what those were?" Chapman asked, gesturing toward the smaller 
pods.

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"I designed them." she responded without flinching. "Prior to that they were 
using live hosts. None survived the actual birthing process, however. I 
designed them in an effort to preserve lives."

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The eldest seemed to be ignoring the byplay, instead focussing his attention on 
the floating youth, who shook his head vehemently. The next-eldest male, moved 
toward the eldest, a look of profound concern on his face. The eldest waved him 
off, and nodded again slowly toward the floating youth, who this time 
apparently chose not to argue. Closing his eyes he sighed, then slowly opened 
his fist. A small egg shaped hole appeared above his hand then moved toward the 
center of the room where it began expanding. ~You can return to your ship 
through there,~ the eldest told Adrian at last. 

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"Whoa now, were not going anywhere just yet." Adrian said to the eldest youth. 
He turned to Duarte and Carisle. "Tell the Doc and Laney that they need to 
figure out how to dislocate those pods from their holding areas for us to get 
them through the portal here, and then get the rest of medical team onto 
Avalon." Adrian didn't wait for a reply but instead turned directly to Chapman. 
"I need an inventory check of all that we've got." 

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Finally he turned back to the boy and smiled. "Now, lets talk about a couple of 
things. We need to get everyone off of his shuttle and we're going two 
different places. And by everyone, I mean everyone." 

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The marines moved to follow orders quickly. The eldest, however, merely shook 
his head in response to Adrian's announcement. 

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"Why would we leave this place?" The eldest female demanded. "Where would you 
have us go? Back to the labs, perhaps?"

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"It's not safe here, you have to realize that," Carlisle answered as she 
reentered. " We can't just leave you here."

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~Two places?~ The eldest asked as the rest of Adrian's words sank in. 

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"You're not considering leaving," The eldest female turned to the eldest male 
incredulously. 

The eldest shrugged noncommitally.

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"You can't stay here," Carlisle repeated.

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"Stop SAYING THAT," the eldest female demanded as the storm outside increased 
in intensity.

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"Um...guys..." the floating boy interrupted nervously, starting to shake 
slightly. "Is anyone going to go through this or can I close it now?" 

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"I'll see if I might be of assistance preparing the tanks for transport," 
T'Leara told Carlisle before moving back toward the storage area, leaving 
Adrian and Carlisle with to convince the children.

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"Two places yes." Adrian said simply, ignoring the intial thoughts of the 
oldest girl. "The rest of you to the Avalon, 3 of us to the Breen flag ship." 
He gave his words a moment to sink in before he prepared to defend the whole 
situation.

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The eldest simply shook his head. ~We will remain here. You will return to your 
ship. None will be sent to the enemy vessel. You ask us to transport you to 
your deaths. ~ 

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Adrian chuckled for a moment and then turned back to them, very serious. "You 
can't keep this up." He said to eldest boy. "I don't know you or your family 
here, but I do know fatigue when I see it. It's clear that whatever your doing 
to protect us here in this shuttle is draining your energy, and you don't have 
enough of it to hold out against Taggart." He looked around at all of them 
present, including Carisle. "In short, if you stay here, you will die."

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He refocused his attention back at the eldest again before they could peep in. 
"The Avalon is a tough ship, but she won't be able to stand up to a whole fleet 
of Breen, and that's?assuming that Taggert hasn't given them any new toys or 
anything." He walked over, a little closer to the boy. "My marines and I need 
to board the Breen flag ship and take over the Captain. If we do that, then the 
other ships will back off. If we don't, then the Avalon will get destroyed, and 
everyone, and I mean everyone, will be dead." 

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He looked back at Carisle again for a moment before looking back at the leader 
one last time. "You said that I'm transporting us to our deaths. Well, we 
marines are used to those situations, and trust me, the sacrifice of a few for 
the preserving of hundreds it worth it. Carisle will attest to that, but she 
also knows that we aren't gonna die on that ship." He said a wink to her. 

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"He's right," Carlisle assured him. "On all counts. Our best chance is to do as 
he asks."

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"You underestimate Dominiq. He's fine. He can do this." the eldest girl spat 
defiantly. 

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~no,~ the eldest admitted weakly. ~he does not.~

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The girl wheeled on him. "You brought the ship here. You brought the storm to 
hide us. You shielded us from the last ships. Of course you can do this."

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"He's tired," the next oldest boy answered for him. "So tired it hurts. It will 
only get worse from here."

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"So we quit?" The female demanded. "We let them take us back?"

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"We can defend them better from the ship," the male replied. "And one another 
as well. Please, Tiata. He cannot continue much longer. We have to move before 
it happens."

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Her voice softened. "Is it that close then?"

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The eldest nodded, his shoulders set in defeat. 

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"Then it falls to us to protect him now, and them as well if he wishes it." 
Turning to Adrian she nodded. "We will do as you ask."

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Adrian nodded, glad they were able to clear that up. He pointed to two of the 
middle aged youth. "Grab the small tanks. Were gonna get everyone out of here 
and then blow this thing. Carisle," Adrian spoke, turning to his marine. "You 
and Chapman rig this thing as loose as you can, clear?" 

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"I can blow it up if you want," the tiniest child told him, tugging at his 
shirt to get his attention. "I can do that."

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"Boy can she," the next smallest snorted. "The shuttle, and the ships over us, 
and the planet if you want." 

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"maybe we should leave it to them to blow things up, little one," the floating 
boy told her gently. "We'll just help with the things they can't do, okay?"

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She seemed to consider that a moment then nodded. "Okay." She smiled sweetly.

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The storm seemed to die off somewhat outside. "Niq?" the next eldest boy asked 
cautiously. Without replying the eldest crumpled to the ground.

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"Niq!" The smallest child cried, rushing toward him. The eldest girl caught her 
quickly in her arms, holding her back as the shuttle began to shake.

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"Get everyone to the back of the shuttle, quickly," the next oldest male 
ordered. "Luca, get them off the shuttle now!"

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"Move!" Adrian said as he crossed the gap quickly and picked up the eldest boy. 
"Make the portal in the back so we can get the pods out of here!" He moved 
quickly, carrying the eldest boy while he waited for the others to move.

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"You might want to put him down, sir," the next older boy suggested as things 
began to fly around the room seemingly of their own volition. "At least until 
he's done doing..." he ducked as something came too close, putting up his hand 
and sending it shooting off in another direction..."that..." 

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Things began flying around more fast and furiously than before. Chapman grunted 
loudly as one of the half charred chairs slammed against him, knocking him over.

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T'Leara hurried to the major's side as Luca opened the hole in the cargo area 
as ordered. She glanced at Adrian, an oddly nervous expression in her eyes, 
then placed a hand on the eldest's shoulder. Abruptly everything stilled. 

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The next eldest nodded to her. "Stay with him?" he asked, the worry plain in 
his eyes. 

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"For the moment," she agreed.

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Chapman moved to help manhandle the cryotanks through the hole, then stepped 
back to the shuttle side, assisting the med staff through. 

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T'Leara took the eldest from Adrian's arms and moved through the hole behind 
them. 

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Luca, the floating boy, opened a second egg and looked to Adrian as the other 
children followed T'Leara, carrying the small pods with them. "I'll have to go 
last to keep them here. Good luck, sir." 

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Adrian looked around at the young floating boy and his three other marines 
assembled before him. "Alright." He said at last as he looked around. "Are we 
rigged up to blow?" He spoke to Chapman and Carisle. 

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"Aye, sir," both answered at once. 

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"Excellent. Give Duarte the control." He said simply as he grabbed his rifle 
and looked around. "I hope we've got enough firepower for this. Duarte, your 
responsible for those kids and the Avalon. Inform the Admiral of our plan and 
get the kids to a safe location. We don't know who is trustworthy onboard 
Avalon at this point, so keep your eyes peeled, though I imagine that the kids 
can take care of themselves if neccessary." He said with a grin. 

The eldest female gave a feral grin, exposing rows of sharp pointy teeth. "We 
can." she agreed before leaping through the hole.

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"Aye, sir," Duarte replied, passing her rifle and ammo to Carlisle. "See you 
when you get back." 

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She turned then and followed without looking back, leaving only the floating 
boy, Adrian, Carlisle and Chapman on the shuttle. 

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Adrian turned then to Carisle and Chapman. "Well, that went easier then I 
thought. I'm not going to require either of you two to go on this mission with 
me." He said simply, looking back and forth between you. "I'm sure both you 
realize from any sort of 'tactical' training the intelligence of 3 marines 
boarding a Breen attack ship." 

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"I'm in, sir," Carlisle answered simply, readying her weapon.

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Chapman just laughed. "You don't really think I'm gonna let you go have all the 
fun, do you?" he asked with a wink. 

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A strong chuckle escaped Adrian for a moment. "Of course not, I assumed you two 
would come along, but I am at least supposed to offer you the option to back 
out." He checked his rifle at that moment, getting a bit more serious suddenly. 
"We'll move quickly. We need to secure the bridge and set it, leaving the Breen 
commander no choice. Lets show these punks who they are dealing with!" Adrian 
said confidently as he jumped through the other opening. A thought occurred as 
he jumped thorugh. Ya know, I never got to say goodbye to Laney.

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Luca watched them, considering for a moment whether or not he should follow 
them before shaking his head. We are not weapons, he reminded himself silently 
before moving through the hole to the Avalon, allowing both openings to 
collapse behind him. 

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