=/\= Norcala, 4 years ago =/\= Acheson hid behind a metal barrel as disruptor fire streamed above his head, narrowly missing him. He called out. “Cease fire, I’m a Federation Officer.” That didn’t seem to matter to the attackers. He tapped his combadge. +TAPS+ Cadet Acheson To Commander Marsh. I’m under heavy fire! +TAPS+ Hold tight, Cadet. I’m on my way. Acheson felt reassured and he fired his phaser back, missing an assailant. They continued the weapons fire. As he looked into the darkness of the metal framework from which his attackers stood, he saw one reach back, as if to throw something. “A grenade … shit” he said. As he watched helplessly, the figure reached back but, before it could throw the explosive, was struck with a burst of red energy, the same characteristic Federation phaser rifle. He looked back and, to his surprise, saw Commander Marsh. She led a team of security. “Cadet, fall towards me. …. When I give the signal. Covering fire!’ The entire security team opened up on the scaffolding and the attacking creatures had no choice but to take cover. “Now!” Acheson ran, squatting, back towards Marsh and he jumped into her concealed position. She grabbed him, reassuringly and helped him take cover. “Fall back!” The security team began to fire intermittently as the Security members began to retreat. Finally, they each ran, as the other side resumed firing. +COM+ Marsh to the Howe. 5 to transport, emergency beamout! With that, she dematerialized with the rest of the team. Acheson rematerialized and turned to Marsh. “Thank you, ma’am. You saved me.” She only smiled. “We’re Starfleet, Cadet. We look out for each other.” =/\= USS Howe, 3 years ago =/\= Acheson charged forward on the deck, with Borg drones everywhere. They didn’t seem to even acknowledge his presence. He kept a low profile with the team and they arrived at Commander Marsh’s location. Looking ahead, Acheson watched with horror. A Borg drone broke through the modulated shields and heading toward Marsh. Marsh fired and tried to resist, but the drone had adapted. He slammed her against the bulkhead and thrust his tubules into her neck. As Acheson arrived running as fast as he could, he saw her face turn grey as the Borg nanoprobes began the assimilation process. He reached for his phaser to do the unenviable task as she disappeared, in a rush of green transporter energy. Acheson’s fear and trepidation turned to fury. He glared at the offending drone, and with a warrior scream slammed his rifle into the automaton. The drone sparked and jerked about, before collapsing to the ground. Acheson checked his rifle, only to see a cracked outer casing. The weapon was no longer suitable. “Quickly. Get the explosives set!” He directed the remaining security officers to set up the explosives to finish the task. =/\= 30 minutes later =/\= Acheson looked up at Petty Officer Wayin. “Are you done?” “Aye, explosives set.” “Move out!” Activating the explosives alerted the collective and Borg drone began appearing. The security team fired, but their weapons had been adapted to. Acheson, in a sudden fealing of panic, yelled out. “Run!” The team ran, as quickly as possible, toward the turbolift. The drones did not pursue at that speed and it seemed as if the team might just escape. As they reached the final cooridor, a lone Borg drone appeared. Wearing a Starfleet uniform, her presence was unmistakable. It was Commander Marsh. “Commander, are you ok?” Acheson called out to her. She offered no verbal response to Acheson and began heading towards him. Acheson checked his weapons. Everything he had had been adapted to. However, he was team leader. It was his responsibility to make sure that they all got to safety. He yelled to the team members: ”I’ll distract her. Go!” Acheson bent his knees, in his best Academy hand to hand combat formation. The body of that which was Commander Marsh ventured forward. She didn’t have the Borg armor, but had a single hand remaining and a multipurpose tool on the other limb. Why the hell didn’t they cover this at the Academy, Acheson thought in desperation. The Borg drone swung and Acheson ducked. She struck the bulkhead and continued, unphased. Acheson reacted in the only way he could think of. He grabbed her hands. With one hand cupped over her mechanical arm and another grabbing her wrist, he tried to assert control. At first the drone did nothing, as the collective attempted to determine what Acheson was up to. Acheson grunted, attempting to bring all of his strength to bear against this immense threat. His muscles began to shake as fatigue was overcoming them but the adrenaline kept them from losing ground. He heard a puzzling mechanical sound coming from the drone and felt the mechanical hand fall back slightly. He mused to himself. Perhaps all that strength training paid off. The drone pulled back, but then push forward violently, striking Acheson in a classic upcut with that mechanical device. His head slammed back from the blow and he fell to the ground, slumping against the bulkhead. The drone bent down, preparing to add another member to the Borg collective. Suddenly, a phaser beam cut across the drone, causing her to drop to the deck. Behind the drone revealed Commander Ryzhov, the Executive Officer of the Howe. “Acheson! Are you ok?” Acheson was dazed and he could only try to get up. Ryzhov looked at the dead drone and frowned. “God, that’s Commander Marsh. Such a shame.” His demeanour appeared significantly less happy upon seeing an hold friend assimilated. He reached for Acheson. “That explosive is gonna go off any second. We gotta move.” Acheson complied, stumbling forward. In front to the turbolift, the two heard the characteristic explosion of the device. +TAPS+ Ryzhov to bridge, are all the Borg dead? +TAPS+ Confirmed. No Borg signatures present on the ship. Naturally, the ship security would thereafter have to search, to be absolutely certain. However, the crisis was over. While the CO and XO would call the mission a success, and Acheson would be commended, he himself felt terrible about his role during the mission. He considered himself responsible for the death of Commander Marsh and would continue to look back and wonder if he could have done more. =/\= END LOG =/\= 1Lt Acheson CTAC USS Chimera <<Some interesting logs for this plot will now make sense>> -- ___________________________________________________________ Sign-up for Ads Free at Mail.com http://promo.mail.com/adsfreejump.htm