==/-\== USS Gott - Main Engineering ==/-\== The view from upstairs wasn't looking too good. Walsh's team had successfully diverted the Xchi's attention towards them, but by the time Cortez's team had cleared the second level and was able to fire down onto the rest of the Xchi, two men were down, including Ran'ar who took a big slash to the stomach. There were about a dozen Xchi still alive fighting to the death and even with the hail of phaser fire coming from the upper level, Walsh's tam was slowly being overran. It was then that an anonymous figure appeared from the hallway and ran to Rana'rs aid. It was Jones who spotted him first, "Who's that idiot", he yelled getting Cortez's attention. "Dammit, Covering Fire", he yelled as the figure picked up the teams doctor and carried him out of the room into the hallway, unfortunately with two Xchi chasing after. Cortez's first instinct was to send someone after the two bugs, but he knew that engineering was the objective and right now they needed all the marines they could get to finish off the rest of the Xchi. "If that asshole gets Rana'r killed I'm gonna beat the shit out of him", he mumbled as he shifted his fire back towards the main attack. It didn't take too much longer to finish off the rest of the Xchi, once about half of them were killed they all bunched up in a corner allowing them to be completely surrounded and slaughtered. It was as if they were suddenly afraid of dying. As the last one fell to the ground dead Cortez looked around the room. The walls and floor were covered in blood and guts. Body parts from both human and Xchi were laying all over the place, making it impossible to walk anywhere without tripping over some poor saps arm or some Xchi's leg. As Cortez scanned the room his eyes finally rested on Walsh who's face was stained with bug blood. Neither one of them had to say anything, Cortez knew exactly what the Major was thinking. "I'd hate to be the person who has to clean up this mess". ==/-\== A Few Hours later ==/-\== After the battle in Engineering the marines scowered every deck and every room for any remaining Xchi stragglers. There were a few here and there but most seemed to be lost and confused and were quickly dispatched. "Thats the last of them", Cortez said as he approached Major Walsh, holding his helmet between his arm and his hip. "The ship is completely clear of all Xchi forces". "Good, whats the body count", the Major replied. "We lost 18 marines and just about everybody is wounded", he answered. Walsh took a deep breath and then continued talking, "OK, divide the remaining ODA into security teams and set up a shift schedule". "Yes Sir", Richard quickly answered, then turned and walked away. As he headed down the hallway towards where the remaining marines were resting he looked down at his rifle and switched the power setting to stun. Then looking over at the picture inside his helmet he let out a smile and plopped it back on to his sweaty head and continued walking. ==/-\== End Log ==/-\== Corporal Richard Cortez ODA Weapons Specialist USS Chimera