[USS Vanguard] The Magnificent... Four?
- From: Kent Kavan <tonykavan@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: ncv80221@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Wed, 10 Aug 2005 02:10:27 -0700 (PDT)
Chief Petty Officer Craig Kavan
USS Vanguard
After "All Roads Lead to Carillon"
Craig pulled the front of his wide-brimmed hat down closer to his eyes to
shield them from the bright sun as he entertained the thought that they may as
well have beamed onto the star it was that blasted hot.
The wide brimmed hat had seemed silly at first, but after being exposed to the
sun he quickly began to appreciate it. What he couldn't understand though, was
why the frilling computer had seen fit to outfit him with a long sleeve shirt.
He'd rolled the sleeves up but it didn't seem to help much. It was still just
plain hot.
In retrospect, he'd rather be sweating his tail off right now than be back on
the bridge. That last stand off was tense, and very out of character for the
ship's officers. In his experience they'd all been behaving strangly for the
last couple of days, but for the Doc to suddenly try and take command... And
for Valentine to react like she did, and then that crack from the Doc about
enlisted personell... The whole thing left him with an uneasy feeling.
"Later," he told himself and hefted his Winchester rifle. The computer had
called it a "thirty aught six," or some other such non-sense. He knew that it
had something to do with the type of projectile it fired, but he couldn't place
its relative size as compared to any other weapon of the age. He no more knew
what "thirty aught six" meant than if the computer had told him the rifle was a
"purple people eater."
Craig watched the horizon while Ceelak scanned the surrounding area with a
tricorder.
"As best as I can tell Commodore, we're right on top of where team one landed."
Santos turned to Kavan. "Chief, try the ship."
Craig reached in between the buttons of his shirt and tapped the communicator
stuck to his undershirt. Instead of the usual chirp the communicator made a
noise best described as a low pitched burp.
Santos had a sour expression on his face and turned to look at the horizon. He
seemed about to speak when a horse and rider appeared at the top of the closest
hill at a full gallop and headed straight at them.
Instinctively, the foursome began to spread out and Craig looked for cover
which he found in the form of a shallow ditch close by. Craig looked over the
primitive sights of the ancient weapon and as the rider got closer he realized
that it was a young girl, no more than fifteen. She was filthy, covered in
dirt and a smear of blood stained her light colored dress. What concerned
Craig the most though, was the look in her eyes. Shocked, terrified, the girl
wore the expression that he'd seen too many times on missions like this.
She reigned the horse to a stop as she came closer. Commodroe Santos moved
closer to speak with her and caught the girl as she practically fell out of the
saddle, mumbling and exhausted.
Immediately, Doctor Droin produced a medical tricorder from a hidden pocket and
scanned her while Craig and Ceelak began a leap-frog to the top of the hill to
see if the girl had been followed. Craig moved first while Ceelak covered him
and vice-versa until Craig, staying as low as possible, crawled to the military
crest of the hill to afford himself a view of the other side.
They had transported in near a village, near as he could tell, it was a good
three or kilometers off to the east with one dirt road leading in from the
north and continuing through town to the south. Ceelak joined him and scanned
the town with a pair of field glasses. Craig heard him click his tounge and
then he handed the binoculars to Craig.
"Look at the center of town."
Craig zoomed the binoculars in where Ceelak suggested. Craig knew the remnants
of a fire-fight when he saw one. Plasma weapons or projectile, the town square
had the same look to it. Ten or fifteen bodies laying in various places.
Craig saw more than one shocked person scrambling about, trying to decide what
they should do. No weapons were currently in view, whatever had happened, it
was over now. Most disconcerting however, was the look of the damage.
Craig left Ceelak where he was as a lookout and returned to where the Commodore
was squating in the dirt next to the young girl. Doctor Droin had tucked away
her equipment and was trying to coax the girl into drinking some water.
Santos looked up as Craig approached. "Chief?"
"Commodore, there's a town about three or four kilometers the other side of the
hill. Near as we can tell, they've had some kind of a fire-fight. Several
bodies still in the square. Doesn't look like they have any idea what to do."
"Daddy!" The girl suddenly cried out and began to sob. She leaned into Doctor
Droin who hugged the girl to her protectively.
Santos sighed. "All we've been able to get from her is something about
bandits, and that they killed her father." He thought for a moment. "I
wonder... Chief, could you see the..." He stood up and motioned for Craig to
follow him out of ear shot of the distraught girl before continuing at a near
whisper.
"Chief you said that everyone seemed lost, that no-one was taking control?"
Craig nodded and responded in a low voice, "Yes sir. Like..." Craig realized
where Santos' line of thought was going. "You suppose that someone came in and
killed everyone in charge? City council, sheriff or marshall...?"
"Doctors, teachers..." Santos sighed as he finished Craig's sentance. "Anyone
in any type of government or leadership position. It wasn't that uncommon for
outlaw bands to take over small towns, make them pay tribute, that type of
thing. If a town tried to stand up to them, well, retribution could be
ruthless."
The Chief's brow furrowed as he thought that over. "I've read novels and
played holodeck programs from this era, but I thought some of that was blown
out of proportion." Craig shook the thought away. Out of proportion seemed to
be the norm rather than the exception lately. "What's our next move sir?"
Crag asked his CO.
"Well Chief, if you were here on an away mission with orders to blend in, and
this sort of thing happened close to where you were assigned what would you do?"
"I'd be dipped in a Tholian hot wax before I'd stand by and let innocent people
suffer."
Santos nodded. "Let's home away team one has the same idea. This may be our
best chance to catch up to them. The trick is to not do anything to violate
the Prime Directive."
As Santos turned to walk back to Droin and the girl, Craig stopped him by
grabbing his arm. "About the Prime Directive sir."
Santos turned back, "Yes Chief?"
"Sir, I think it may be too late. There was some evidence on a few of the
buildings of energy weapon discharge. There may already be someone else here
violating the hell out of the Prime Directive."
END
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