-=/-\=- Officer's lounge, USS Chimera -=/-\=- Shane nodded as the door closed behind Rangi and looked at the two other officers in the room. They were Major Walsh and his XO 2LT. Cortez. Both still looked a bit battered and deep in his mind Shane was sorry for those men. They had just returned from what looked like hell (on Earth) and he intended to send them down again. He stood up from his chair and said: "Thank you all for coming. I think you have guessed why I called for this meeting." He went over to the wall panel and pushed a button. A three dimensional map of the Einhoften facility appeared on the screen. It was a compilation of data they were provided with by SSF Command and data the away team gathered in the field. Shane looked at Walsh and continued: "Even if the initial plan of taking the facility over failed, the goal remains the same. We need to retake the facility and rescue the human personnel that is kept captured by the Marduk. Now because it was you three down on Sidos and not me, I would like to hear suggestions how to accomplish that." Rangi had taken her place. setting her shoulder bag on the floor next to her feet. She watched the map illuminate and studied it, recognising the areas her small team had been in, the research labs and the underground shuttle bay. This new map was much more detailed than the first they had been shown for Walshs team had managed to bring a great deal of information back with them. Rangi looked across at him, waiting to hear his suggestion. Richard spoke up, interrupting the Major before he was able to speak, "With all due respect sir", he began, "We didn't fail, we could have completed the mission without coming back to the ship. Our team didn't need any help, we had everything under control". He finished talking, expressing a pretty pissed off look on his face. They didn't call for help, they didn't need help. Shane looked at Cortez with wonder. He wouldn't even dream to become such a reply from the ODA XO. "You didn't need help?" Shane asked not ready to believe this point. "You believe that you and your few man could take control of Einhofen all alone?" he kept wondering. Richard glanced over at Walsh, "Your damn right we could have." Shane shook his head: "Lieutenant, Commander Summer's team reported a dozen Jem'hadar soldiers and more coming. The Chimera was attacked by five Marduk runabouts ... I wont believe that there were not at least several dozens of Jem'hadar soldiers in the facility." Looking at the marine ODA XO he continued: "I know you, the Major and your men are seasoned marines, but a score of 5 vs. some 50 seems a little bit too much even for you" "Sir, we're ODA, were supposed to be outnumbered", Richard replied quickly. Shane waved with his hand and said: "Anyway, I called you back to the ship and here you are. Now I want to hear suggestions from you how to retake the facility and save the prisoners." Looking at the two marines he said: "Please no plans like I am Captain Federation and I'll beat them all". Shane looked at Rangi like asking for her opinion. " There were up to twenty in the underground area." Rangi stated meeting Cortez eye. "All well armed and clearly knowing where we were.N'et'vor mentioned hostages though we saw no sign of them. The Jem'hadar we met were their usual aggressive selves." Richard spoke up again, "We need to use their aggression against them". he paused, "I suggest a diversion here", he pointed to the map,"To the south, consisting of two or three men. That should draw the majority of the Jemmy's out of the complex. And then we can send the main force in through here", he pointed to a small ridge line to the west,"Through this ridge line." Shane looked at the map and considered Cortez's plan. "I think those man in the south would have to be armed to teeth to lure the Jem'hadar in a decent number. I am no strategist, but I certainly wouldn't send all my men to counter a few intruders. But a few intruders with heavy phaser cannons inflicting massive damage ... that's an another story" Looking at Rangi he asked: "Rangi, you had dealing with the Marduk down there as well. What do you think about their intelligence and leaders? Do you think they would act as LT. Cortez assumes?" "Not really..no" Rangi replied simply, looking at Shane but seeing an amused expression on Walshs face from the corner of her eye. She ignored it. "We know for certain that some Jem'hadar have undergone successful 're-education' but that some retain their aggression and are able to contain it until it suits them to act. The re-education has taught them to think carefully....they plan...they have strategies too. They no longer rush head long into a fight screaming 'Victory is life'...at least not all of them." She looked back at the two marines one of whom plainly discounted her opinion. "I think they assume that you will underestimate them." she said switching her gaze from Walsh to Cortez and then turning back to Shane added.. "And they could well be right." Richard held his breath while Rangi spoke. He completely disagreed with her. "Ma'am, I'm sure what you faced down there was terrible", he said sarcastically, women were susceptible to exaggeration, it couldn't have been nearly as bad as things had been on the surface. "But the Jem'hadar will not back away from a fight, I don't care how altered they are, all we need is for them to be distracted long enough for the main push to break through there initial line of defense". He paused and looked at Commander Guzman, "Sir the men who would cause the distraction could be beamed to safety once the main force had begun there attack." Shane looked back at Cortez and said: "To be honest, I am inclined to agree with Rangi. We had to deal with the Marduk shuttles and whoever was in command there ... it was no bloodthirsty dumb Jem'hadar. Those shuttles used tactics and traps ... even foresaw what we will do and used it against us." Seeing the disagreement in Cortez's face he said: "But you and the Major fought the Jem'hadar on the ground and its not me who is supposed to be the expert in ground combat." Glancing at Walsh he continued: "Unless someone here has to add something, we will go as the Lieutenant suggests." Looking at Cortez he continued: "Lieutenant, take all ODA crew you think is necessary and lead the attack as outlined here. Goals are simple: save the captured human crew and retake the facility. We need contact with your team in the facility, so either take command of the communication room or destroy the inhibitors. I will call for reinforcements from SSF Command ... just in case. I think there are two marine units within 12 hours by warp distance from here. They can either assist you if the Marduk resistance proves to be too strong for you or stay on the facility as temp crew until SSF Command decides what to do with the facility. Looking at the three officers assembled he asked: "Any questions?" Rangi shook her head and shifting in her seat said. "No Sir." She looked at the two marines wondering what they would think to the plan for having reinforcements called. "Well then that gives us 12 hours to finish up this mission", Richard said in a low voice. There was no way he was going to let marine regulars get to the compound before it had been secured. "No questions", he said looking back towards Guzman. Shane nodded: "All right then, you have your orders. Start as soon as possible. Dismissed!" -=/-\=- End Log -=/-\=- Commander Shane Guzman Commanding Officer USS Chimera Commander Rangi Summers Executive Officer USS Chimera 2nd Lieutenant Richard Cortez ODA Assistant Commander USS Chimera