=== Outside main engineering, Research Station === Several minutes had passed since the three engineering teams had left to install the portable power supplies. Keylor remained crouched down beside the open door way, occasionally peaking around the corner to see what the aliens were up to. So far they had been lucky by not running in to any aliens in their ghastly glow. Their luck seemed to be holding since the aliens in the engineering section, about 10 , all seemed to be fully phased in to their space. He was not sure why, but with them phased in, he thought there was most likely less chance of their touch causing so much damage as before. When not looking around the corner, Keylor would look back at the remaining away team members they nervously sat waiting for some thing to happen. Of note was Pvt. Rose who, despite having been required to carry a rifle, did not seem to care to have it in her hands, ready to use. He had overheard her comment to a fellow oda member how she did not approve on weapons for the sake of saving their own existence. He could understand some one not wanting to use force, and Keylor hoped that he would not. Even though Keylor was a trained combat soldier, hardened by years of loyal service, he too preferred a more peaceful solution to their apparently hostile situation. He had yet to start making waves with either star fleet command or star fleet special forces command and he was not about to begin now. He peered around the corner once again, expecting to see the 10 or so aliens standing about in their usual spots, what he saw was something different. In the far side of the engineering room were 4 aliens huddled together squeaking and clicking among their selves. He saw a tentacle like appendage point back to the entrance to the section that he had instructed the three teams to enter. Keylor quickly looked back to Rose who was only one person away form him. He pointed back over his shoulder and whispered. "Rose. There seems to be some activity in there. Is there a way you can get the universal translator to work at this distance?" Vandetta shook her head, "No sir I don't think so. The bleu haze seems to be causing some interference with the receiver. I am afraid we would have to get closer to be able to translate their language." Keylor looked back over his shoulder and peered back in to the engineering section. The four will still talking and pointing back to the entrance. Keylor then motioned for rose to come forward. He scooted back away form the door and motioned for Rose to listen inside. After a minute or so she looked back at Keylor. "I am not sure sir, I am still only beginning to understand their language, but if I am right they seem to mentioning some thing about movement and intruders." Rose leaned back to the door to try to pick up more. Keylor became concerned bout the aliens' possible movements. He was afraid his three teams might have been detected and would soon be prevent from doing their job of shutting down the core. He had to do something to get all of the aliens' attention so his engineers and oda could slip back in behind them and shut down the power to release the aliens hold on their universe. Keylor motioned to the other members of his team. Everyone stood up and gathered in close to Keylor. After Rose had joined the group Keylor whispered. "Ok we need to get their attention and keep them occupied until the others can slip in and disconnect the main power. I am not sure if these rifles will do much so lets see if we can get them in a Mexican stand off." Keylor stated completely out of character. He had heard the term used by one of his boot camp buddies. "Mexican standoff?" one of his team member s asked. Keylor nodded, "yes, a standoff a point where everyone is waiting for the other to make the next move. Here is what Iwant to do. You two, "keylor pointed at tow of them," go to the right fire high and low but do not hit any one of them. You two," he indicated the other two," go tot he left and do the same." He motioned to Rose and himself. "We will take the middle. Go in and fire three bursts and then aim your weapons at the closest one. They have us out numbered 10 to 6 so I don't want to out right fight, at least not yet. Once we have their attention, Rose and I will try to communicate with them and see why they are doing this." Keylor raised up his rifle and gripped it tightly, "we need to get their attention, draw them towards us and then keep it long enough for the others to slip in behind and prepare to shut off the power." He saw nods form everyone. Keylor started to arrange everyone. First in line were the two team members that would go right, then the two who would go left. Lastly it was himself and rose behind him. Once everyone was ready, Keylor saw a nod form the first in line. Keylor raised a hand and motioned to the door. Quickly they entered the room, long gone was their attempts to be silent. As Keylor rounded the corner of the door and entered the room he could see three of the aliens headed out the side entry. The sound of the modified phaser rifles cracked as twelve shots rang out and impacted in various spots in the engineering section. They had done it, every alien in the place was not paying attention to them and headed in their direction. Everyone took their place and stood firm waiting for orders. As the lumbering aliens approached, Keylor looked over to Vandetta. "Ok private lets see if your programming works. " Vandetta nodded and held out the translation device. She tapped a few time and Keylor watched as the device glowed to life. "Keylor looked back to the aliens and pointed his rifle to the one directly in front of him. "Stop" he shouted hoping his words were understood. The aliens drew closer either unaware of his words or ignoring them. "He took aim at the floor in front of one of them and shouted again "Stop or I will shoot!" he then fired a blast on the floor a meter in front of one. They continued to advance. Keylor now aimed at the alien in front of him and fi! red one shit and a tentacle the protruded form it. A shrill came from the alien, it appeared to hurt it, more so than anything they had seen before. Then the translator chirped with a word. "HURT!" The room became motionless as the other aliens seemed to realize that Keylor and his group was not as defenseless as they had been. Everyone stared at each other, some one waiting for the other to make the first move. In his mind Keylor thought, {Ok that got their attention. And the translator seemed to work, at least in deciphering their language. Now if I can only find out why they are doing this, may be we can stop this before we all end up dead.} ===End Log=== Col Bretam Keylor Captain USS Chimera