The command post was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. No one wanted to be the first to speak. Only the pings of active sensor returns and beeping of tricorders set on automatic proved that sound still existed. I slowly let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding. The quiet chirps coming from the headset I had casually discarded broke me from my fugue. No doubt Brays and Phenna’s teams requesting orders and status updates. Marcus had been commanding the operation, those teams needed orders now, that was my job. I approached the holo table and thumbed the transmit switch for yet another time today.
“Captain Zh’kaarrin to all teams. Break contact and fall back to your primary rally points. The gas has been deployed, keep out of team one's corridor. Savitskyaya and Popovich cover our retreating teams. Confirm your orders.” For a brief gut wrenching moment there was no reply, then Chief Phenna’s voice came over the line.
“Confirmed Captain, breaking contact, falling back by teams.”
“Good work Chief. Watch yourself out there.” I replied. The clipped replies from both shuttles confirmed their orders as well, finally Commander Glov Gronnahk's voice came over the link.
“Confirmed Captain, it's going to take us a moment to take down and exfil these launchers. Captain…” He paused a moment before continuing. “I have eyes on Marcus’s position, there are survivors, looks like the Klingons are taking prisoners if you can believe it.” I could hear the incredulity in his voice and I couldn't believe it either. The Klingons did take prisoners when needed, but nothing about this situation indicated any such necessity. What were Klaugh’s men playing at? Bray continued, distracting me from my musings.
“Permission to go get our boys Captain?” I could hear the anticipation in his voice. I wanted more than anything to give the order. My Andorian soul ached to do anything to save them from capture. However, my training won out. There was still one thing that needed to be confirmed first, before I could order any rescue.
“Kohl, what's the status of the gas dispersal?” I called, a hopeful lilt to my voice.
“Dispersal is at forty-four percent winds continuing to blow south west away from our lines. Dispersal should reach rally point two in.” She paused for a moment to run the calculation on her tricorder. “Eleven minutes.” That was enough time for a rescue attempt at least, though one detail was bothering me. The wind was blowing the gas towards team twos attack corridor and they would have to swing wide to the south and then double back to attempt a rescue. I needed confirmation.
“Ok Lieutenant, That wind puts the gas between team two and rally point two right?” I asked Lieutenant Kohl. She took a moment on her tricorder to double check.
“Yes and I don't like how fast the wind is moving, Captain.” she replied after confirming her readings. “It could easily cover team two while they were en route or cut off their escape.” That was a problem, we would need team two once the gas had settled, not as additional casualties. I pressed the transmit switch again, ready to give one of the hardest orders of my life.
“Negative Commander, the wind puts the gas between you and team one. Get back here and we’ll go get them after the gas has settled.” His reply was to rattle off a series of loud expletives. That was fine, I deserved it.
“Confirmed Captain.” He stressed the word captain in frustration. “Falling back.” With both teams now in retreat, I needed to steady the rest of the crew. This was a terrible blow to us. Everyone here had known someone on that team. I let go of the transmit switch so I could address the command post.
“I meant what I said, about going after them.” I said, quietly at first, but growing in intensity. “You heard Commander Glov Gronnahk, the Klingons took prisoners. We are going to get all of them back!” I was shouting by this point. “Lieutenant Kohl, let me know the minute the gas concentration drops to safe levels, Lieutenant Risi, I want everyone we pulled off the line back on it five minutes after that! Any questions?” There were none.
The stillness that had filled the command post was broken as officers sprung to their duties. I however, found myself aimless and wandering. I stumbled through the door of the command post in a daze. The events of the last few minutes had left me reeling and physically ill. My first officer and his entire team, almost thirty Starfleet officers were either dead or captured. I had just presided over the deaths of nearly a fifth of my ship's crew. That realization pushed me over the edge. I barely had time to rip my rebreather off before my stomach voided itself of its contents against the wall of an outbuilding. I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand, secured my mask and stood back up to take stock of the situation.
Based on Commander Foro’s earlier estimates, the gas would take around a half hour to fully encompass the Klingon line and another to dissipate to safe levels. That gave me an hour to get everything ready. The plan was simple, at least in my head. I would lead the remainders of teams two and three back into no mans land and we would take the bulk of the Klingons mercenaries prisoner to force them back to the bargaining table. Them now also having prisoners was not part of the initial equation, but couldn't be helped. Unfortunately that time before I could put the plan into action allowed me an hour to ruminate on my failures. A sonic boom from overhead cut short any immediate thoughts however. Likely the Popovich accelerating to combat speed as it departed the space port on a casualty evacuation mission. This was a stark reminder I still had the crew fighting and dying right now. I hoped my stubborn insistence to remain here hadn't killed any more of them.
I didn't have to wait much longer to find out. The remaining teams returned about twenty minutes later. Lieutenant Kohl had given the all clear and we no longer had to wear our rebreathers in the command post. I was watching the last of the aerial dogfights play out on the holo display when Bray and Phenna entered the command post.
“Reporting ma’am.” I head Chief Phenna from behind me. I turned to face the two of them. Bray was covered in dirt and ash, his armor pockmarked with tiny impact craters from fragmentation weapons. He had a gash through the arm of his red uniform and his purple blood had soaked his sleeve down to his wrist. He looked more tired than I had ever seen him, a bone weary exhaustion that showed in his stance. Chief Phenna wasn't in any better condition, a freshly stapled gash cut across her left cranial ridge and her armor was cut deeply by blows from a heavy melee weapon. She still carried herself with pride but I could see she shared the same deep exhaustion with Commander Glov Gronnahk. I was so proud of the two of them.
“Well done, the both of you.” I crossed from the table to where they stood by the entrance. “I know I have already asked a lot of you but I need one more favor. I want to go and get our people the second it's safe. Can I count on the two of you?” I looked the two of them in the eyes as I spoke. They looked at each other before speaking.
“You don't have to ask us captain, of course we’ll do it.” Bray said, his voice had an unfamiliar note to it. Almost like he was embarrassed. Was he upset that I had asked him? That I might have thought he would have said no? Phenna nodded her assent.
“Thank you, the both of you, come on.” I ushered them out of the building and into the cloudy afternoon. I led them away from the bulk of the people so we could speak privately. Once I knew we were out of earshot, sequestered between two of the smaller buildings, I spoke.
“So, how bad?” I asked, my voice conspiratorially low.
“Seven from my team and an additional three from Ensign Bakshi’s. The medics on the Popovich said Crewperson Sh’Vraal likely won't make it.” I shuddered.
“Four from ours ma’am.” Chief Phenna added. “I also want to put in a special posthumous mention for Petty Officer Guzman, they stormed an emplaced disruptor armed with just their knife. Saved a lot of lives today. The Suliban did well too, your friend was right to have us include them. Fought like bastards.” That must have been that weapon emplacement I had seen while on the roof. I made a mental note to make sure Petty Officer Guzman's actions were recorded somewhere in case everything went wrong. Still that was at least fourteen dead.
“How many do you have that can still fight?” I asked, afraid of the answer.
“I’m sure everyone who can still stand would volunteer, but maybe twenty five to thirty between the two of us. Plus maybe thirty Suliban” Bray answered after a moment's consideration. Those weren't bad numbers, supplemented by everyone we had pulled back from the line. More than enough to take those the gas had incapacitated prisoner.
“Ok you two, get your wounds checked and get your teams fed and rearmed. In less than a half hour I want everyone ready to go get our people back.” I stated.
“Understood Captain.” They both replied.
“Good, take a few minutes to rest, you’ve earned it.” I added after a moment. They both nodded and our group broke apart as they made their ways back to their teams waiting in the assembly area.
I found myself with nothing to do yet again. Confronted with the ugly possibility of being alone with my thoughts, I looked for anything to occupy myself. I didn't want to show my face to my crew right now. What would they even think of me after all that? I had allowed their beloved XO to be captured or killed and for what? The Klingons hadn't attempted a counter attack when we drew down our line, so had our assault been for nothing? I leaned against the corrugated metal of the outbuilding, the cool metal grounding me and looked to the sky. Was there a chance KLICOM had heard our initial messages? Was help coming or had the gas attack merely delayed our fate?
The twin silhouettes of the Savitskaya and the Popovich crossed the sky in low formation, making for the space port. The roar of their engines drowned out my thoughts for a moment at least. I hoped Sala was safe. That thought came unbidden to my mind, as did my earlier confession about the future. Would she still feel the same after all of this? Would it even matter? I was sure this was some sort of battlefield fling if I was being honest with myself. I had seen it happen before, two people trapped in the worst the galaxy has to throw at them finding comfort in each other. If that's all this ended up being, I would be disappointed, but I would understand. The future might very well be a short stint in a Klingon labor camp.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
With a sigh I stood up from leaning against the wall. As much as I wanted to dwell on my many failures, I would have plenty of time for that while breaking rocks in a dilithium mine. Plus my old leg wound was starting to burn and leaning like this would only aggravate it. I still had a job to do and leadership doesn't care about how you feel. I decided to return to the command post to get a clearer understanding of our casualties. I could hear voices approaching me, it sounded like a group of officers returning from the front, either they hadn’t noticed me or didn't care that I was within earshot. I paused to listen to their conversation.
“...Poor fucking Etzan, one second he was standing next to me, the next he was just gone. Heavy disruptor cored him. I hit the deck as soon as I heard it fire and his fucking legs were just standing there with nothing above the knee.” One of them was saying to their compatriot, though I couldn't place the voice. Whoever it was, was close to breaking down.
“I know Sam, I was just behind you, remember?” Another replied. The group was walking towards a collection of crates and their path would soon cross mine. I didn't want to disturb this private ritual. This was the dark mirror of the one I had interrupted when we had first entered the system. The one we all did when not everyone came back. Sam kept talking.
“The stupidest thing is, I called for a medic. Fuck it was just instinct at that point, but what was the medic going to do pick up his legs? Bring them back here with us?”
“You were thinking about your friend Sam, the training took over like it was supposed to. A third voice added. I knew that one, Ensign Lannosh, one of our nurses. She had given me my first physical when I had come onboard and I liked her. Their group approached the crates and set down one of their members. I assumed this was Sam from the sound he made as Ensign Lannosh lifted him off her broad shoulders and placed him down. I took this opportunity to sneak away, but their senses were still heightened by adrenaline and one of them spotted me.
“Shit its the captain!” The three of them who were sitting shot to their feet, while their injured companion rolled to look at me.
“At ease, please sit.” I replied, well no chance of me not interrupting now. Joining them at their impromptu debrief, I crouched between two security officers I didn't recognize so I was at their eye level. “I heard you talking, I’m sorry about your friend.” Leading with this would let them know I had heard and might help them be honest with me, rather than allow them to withdraw into archetypal Starfleet security stoicism.
“Thank you ma’am.” The injured one replied. The other three looked at each other nervously, clearly unsure what to do or say in my presence. I would have to drive this conversation.
“Did you know I came up through Starfleet Security? Class of 2240, strategic operations specialty. I spent my entire career in it until 2254 when I was made First Officer on the Kerala.” I gave this moment to register before continuing.
“I bring this up because, more than most of the crew, I know what this feels like. To come back after a mission like that. You’re going to spend the next while second guessing everything you did, asking yourself if it was enough.” I looked at my own feet for a moment, I was about to tell the four of them to do something I never had. “Lean on each other, like you’re doing now. Others who weren't here or who haven't done it won't understand why you feel the way you do. That's lucky for them, but it's still lonely. Mourn your friend, celebrate once we win this, but look out for each other ok? Captain's orders.” That got a chuckle out of them at least.
“Thanks ma’am.” The man on my left replied. I finally recognized him as Crewperson Sanders.
“Whose team were you with?” I asked.
“Commander Glov Gronnahk’s ma’am.” Sanders replied. Damn, I had been hoping they had been under Phenna’s command. I was itching to know more about the Suliban’s performance, both for my benefit and, I suspected, for Sala’s. He continued.
“They hit us three times, once with targs and then when that didn’t work they tried to storm the hill. The Letheans had brought some kind of impact grenade with them, tore up anyone who was hit by it. It was horrific to see but it didn't help. We had cover and it was a good twenty meters of open ground to climb the hill.” He was back there reliving it again, I could see it in his glassy eyes as they unfocused. I needed to snap him out of it. I put my hand on his arm and squeezed. He gawked at me, his face a mix of confusion and realization.
“Sanders, it's alright. I don't need the details right now. What's important is you did what was asked of you. Make no mistake either, despite everything that happened, we still succeeded. The gas worked and we’re going after Commander Fane and the others as soon as it's safe. Take some time, rest and hydrate ok? We won't leave you here for the next part.” I shook his arm again before letting go of it and making eye contact with the other three.
“I know you Ensign Lannosh, but I’m sorry I don't recognize either of you.” I wanted to offer them personal words of encouragement and to do that I would need to know their names. Even if said encouragement would feel hollow were someone to say it to me at this moment
“Ensign Darron” replied the other sitting security officer.
“Crewperson Blackford” That was Sam, the injured one. I didn’t recall any pertinent information about either of them at the moment, so I would have to do my best.
“Thank you Crewperson Blackford and Ensign Darron. Everyone on this planet owes you a debt for your efforts today. Take care of yourselves right now, and I'll make sure someone comes to get you four before we go anywhere.” I stood up. “As you were.” They responded with a chorus of thanks and I turned from their little group and made toward the command post to count our dead.
It took me about twenty minutes to scrounge up all the reports. Overall we had fifteen dead, twenty two wounded with four still critical and twenty eight missing or captured. I was saddened to learn that Crewperson Sh’Vraal had died on the flight back to the field hospital. He was the only other Andorian on the crew, and while I hadn’t spent much time with him due to our rank differences, it was still comforting to have someone to commiserate with about the temperature. He had only been twenty two, fresh out of the Andorian War College and looking to make a name for himself in Starfleet instead of the Imperial Guard. I was not looking forward to writing that letter to his parents. At least we had the personnel required for the rest of the plan. I checked the clock absentmindedly after closing all the reports, only a few minutes before we could move to the front again. That meant everyone we had pulled off the line would be making their way back. Maybe Sala was with them? I pushed the thought down, as much as I wanted her comfort I had work to do. Frankly, after everything that had happened. I didn't deserve it either.
Lieutenant Risi had been shadowing me since I had re-entered the command post, following me like a hawk. No doubt out of some misplaced sense of responsibility. I motioned for him to follow me as I made my way out and back to the assembly field. The walk itself was far too short for how I felt. The last thing I wanted was to have to look my crew in the eye and tell them I still needed more from them. At least the overcast that had developed in the last few hours mirrored the grimness of my mood. Weary with both exhaustion and foreboding, I reluctantly put one foot in front of the other and marched myself to my duty.
A crowd had gathered in the cleared space, made up of the remains of teams two and three, those who were returning to man the line, and anyone who found themselves without any specific duties to perform. Interestingly, Commander Foro’s team had returned from the pumping station. I had expected them to make for the relative safety of the center of the colony, rather than return here. My eyes reflexively scanned the crowd for Sala, but I couldn't find her. It was for the best. Though I was impressed at the amount of people here. Suliban posted next to Starfleet officers who in turn stood shoulder to shoulder with Brotherhood troops. The grim parallel between the current moment and my earlier speech was not lost on me. I would be calling on everyone to give yet more, for a cause that seemed all but lost. As I approached all eyes turned to me and a hush fell over the assembled officers. I cleared my throat and spoke.
“I don't know exactly how to explain this, so you’ll have to bear with me.” I couldn't muster the words for an impassioned or rousing speech right now. Honesty was all I had left in me. “I promised you we would get them back and I’m making good on that. I know I have already asked so much of you and I hate to ask you again. This is why I am only taking volunteers for this. This is our opportunity to even the odds and get our people back. We have the advantage, finally and we have to seize it!”
I was starting to get some momentum back and I took a moment to allow my words to sink in. I looked at the faces in the crowd. Some familiar ones stood out to me. Bray had his characteristic half smile at least, though it was clear he was exhausted. I hoped he hadn't taken our previous conversation as a personal challenge, as it would be fine if he sat this one out. Risi remained inscrutable as ever, not even betraying anything through his color shifting. Yamina’s expression at least made sense, fear was etched on her features alongside grim resolve. This expression was mirrored by so many others, Chief Phenna, Lieutenant Kohl and at least a dozen others all wore similar ones. Happily I noted the faces of Crewperson Sanders and Ensigns Darron and Lannosh were in the assembled crowd. Hopefully my words had had their desired effect. Others I didn't know, or knew only sparingly exhibited a range of emotions. Fear, doubt, concern and anger were all represented in the people standing before me. I took a deep breath and continued.
“No one will think less of you if you stay behind. Any volunteers take one step forward.” To my surprise, nearly the entire assembled body surged forward, the sound of the single step in near perfect unison echoing off our surroundings. I found myself completely at a loss for words, stammering for anything to say. Thankfully Bray saved me, his ability to always know the right thing to say on full display again.
“Of course we’re all coming, Captain. There's no one here who doesn't want payback or a chance to give these bullies a bloody nose. Everyone’s behind you.” His gruff voice cut through the quiet that had followed. I was beside myself. Never had I imagined that so many people would put themselves in danger at my request. I could feel the burn of tears in the corners of my eyes and rapidly blinked them away before speaking again.
“Thank you, all of you. Ok, let's go get our people back.” Before I could say more Risi and Bray took over, shouting orders to team leaders and Brotherhood squad commanders to coordinate our muster back to the line. As the press of bodies moved around us, I felt a tug at my arm from behind. I grimaced and resisted the urge to turn, already suspecting who it could be and the inevitable fallout of what was about to happen.
“Hey you, that must have been really hard.” Sala said from behind me.
“You were in the crowd?” I replied, still not turning. “I didn't see you.”
“Well I didn't want you to,” she teased. “I could tell you were struggling and I didn't want to spoil the moment for you. I heard about what happened with your first officer. I’m so sorry.” I finally mustered the courage to face her, with my free hand I removed hers from my sleeve and turned. She certainly didn't look as I had expected her to. I expected anger, hate even at my wasteful actions and how they only added to the danger her people faced. What I saw instead was sadness and concern which was for some reason directed at me of all people. I swallowed hard. We were still surrounded by the press of bodies as everyone moved to attend to their duties and the last thing I wanted was for my feelings to come out of me in an uncontrolled rush in front of everyone. Sala seemed to realize this and rather than forcing me to speak, she instead just took both of my hands in hers. We stood there, like an island in the sea of people, quietly together but apart from everyone else. As the crowd thinned she spoke again.
“I know you have to go, but I couldn't stop thinking about you while I was back there. I don't care if it's terrifying, or dangerous, or whatever. I’m staying with you for the rest of this ok?” Her words were a question, but her tone made it clear there was none. She was resolved to stay with me for however much longer we had. I still couldn’t understand why, but I was grateful. Being alone even if it had just been for the last half an hour had been intolerable. While the reasonable part of me recognized that was a problem in itself, any rationality was drowned out by my need to feel loved, even for a moment.
“Ok.” I managed to reply. “I know I can’t stop you, come on, let's join everyone else.”
Our journey to the front was oddly serene. The quietness of the battle's aftermath mixed with the gentle afternoon breeze to create the illusion that all of this was just a brisk afternoon's walk. Sala kept pace with me as we moved along with the mass of people. The crew's spirits were boisterous enough for what we were about to do and I could hear pockets of them talking and even joking amongst themselves. Nearly everyone who had been present in the assembly field had joined us. All of my remaining senior staff had formed the mob into ad hoc teams and I was surprised to see Yamina at the head of one, clearly trying to do her best impression of Commander Fane. I was so very proud of her, over the last few days she had proven without a doubt her fit for her position and rewarded my faith in her tenfold. I only hoped I would be able to enter this into some official record so Starfleet could know of her tremendous effort. All of my crew had impressed me.
I found myself yet again possessed of a nervous energy I couldn't shake and kept fidgeting with my hands as our former positions came into view. We arrived at our line of slit trenches and shell scrapes that formed the leading edge of our line and I looked out across the still burning remnants of the previous action, barely over an hour old. Well it was now or never.
I stepped a few paces in front of everyone else and looked to my left and right. This extended line of Starfleet officers, Brotherhood troops and colonial and Suliban volunteers stretched out for almost four hundred meters in either direction, encompassing what our sensors told us was the entirety of the Klingon positions. We all had our own ways of preparing for battle. The practiced precision of my security officers who were taking turns to check each other's equipment stood in stark contrast to the nervous camaraderie of the Suliban and my less experienced crew. What I found most interesting were the clutches of colonial volunteers and Brotherhood troops who kneeled in small groups in prayer. I let them have this moment, busying myself with checking over my own gear. The armor I had put on just moments before at Risi’s insistence was stifling me and I toyed with the straps for a few seconds before finally settling it into place. With a last check of my new phasers charge and power setting I holstered it and turned back to face everyone.
“There's nothing more that needs to be said. I am so proud of all of you. Let's go get our people.” A cheer came up from the line in response and we stepped off as one.