Allegiances 4 – Grounded
by HoD Ro' Matlh & Soghla' Terri (Tell) Hope & Soghla' Jared & Soghla' HIchop Matlh & Soghla' Marie St. Helene & Sogh Marla Varquis & Sogh Thor'nan Mal'Kor & Ensign Jason Hawk

Post Details

Title		Grounded
Mission		Allegiances 4
Author(s)		HoD Ro' Matlh & Soghla' Terri (Tell) Hope & Soghla' Jared & Soghla' HIchop Matlh & Soghla' Marie St. Helene & Sogh Marla Varquis & Sogh Thor'nan Mal'Kor & Ensign Jason Hawk
Posted		Tue Nov 01, 2011 @ 12:35am
Location		Unnamed planet
Timeline		After the crash

The crew stood on the red sand of the desert, looking back at the FHew. It was a pitiful site from the outside. The Port wing was still pouring out black smoke, though no flame was still showing. The Hull was scorched and torn, and the entire bottom deck was exposed through a number of torn sections of plating.

May'Bel came to stand next to Hawk, looking at the scar the ship had cut across the planet's surface. He had various burn marks on his armour, and a cut on his leg.

He thumped Hawk appreciatively on the back.

"Now... THAT was a landing!"

Ro' just stood there watching it while the others assembled behind him. Then he turned his back on it and addressed the crew.

"We have about five hours of daylight left. Fortunately there seems to be some sign of habitation about three hours East of us. A large structure, possibly even a space port. We may be able to sell some of this... stuff for transport off this rock, or at the very least find a radio to call for someone to come and get us."

He indicated to a number of gathered crates, as well as the Nephilim which had survived the impact. "We have loaded the walking platform to capacity. Tell, you are the most experienced at using that thing," he glanced pointedly at HIchop, "without trying to shoot your own allies. Everyone else will need to carry a crate."

Tell afforded herself a small smile that no one could see, she enjoyed wearing the Nephilim suit. As she strapped herself in and the small belongings she wanted to take with her, she looked back at the FHew. A month or so in the yards for a refit and they would have the ship up and running again.

A few minutes later Tell was ready to go when all of a sudden very loud music blared out of the thing. Tell had programmed the music in the Nephilim but now she couldn't get it to stop.

"TELL!" Ro' bellowed over the noise of classical Music at 90 decibels

"Ok, ok! I'm working on it" she snapped back. After a few minutes which seemed like a lifetime and a lot of colourful curses from the engineer; some of which the others had not heard of before, Tell managed to silence it. She stomped over to Ro' "Carry your bag's sir?"

Ro', as much a crewman now as anyone else began to load the Nephilim with crates. When the suit was a loaded as they could manage, without risking toppling it over, he threw another crate of parts over his shoulder and indicated for them to head out.

Marie looked up at the sky. Not a cloud in sight.. She scanned the land around them. There might be habitation out there but there's no sign of vegetation. That means no water out there.

The walk was a long and hard one. Most of the water on the FHew had been lost in the landing, so it was in short supply. There was no real way of judging the temperature, since all the Klingon instruments simply said it was "Qu'vatlh Hot". The red dust coated everything, and soon the team looked like living sand sculptures struggling against the heat and glare. Only the Nephilim seemed unaffected. perhaps, Tell mused, it had a way of clearing dust from its joints as it worked.

Finally they crossed a low rock ridge and could see a large group of dwellings. There were obviously Klingon, even at a glance. There was a heavy wall around the outside and inside were a number of orbital defence cannons protecting a landing area indicative of a trade port. Most noticeably, however, was the symbol emblazoned on most of the banners around the city walls; the emblem of House Matlh.

May'Bel grunted. He sniffed the air with a grimace.

"Something stinks here. It smells of politics, and lies. Did you know this place existed, Captain?"

Ro' shook his head, "I most certainly did not. It troubles me, that a Klingon port flagged so heavily with the trappings of House Matlh, should be kept secret from the Fleet, and operate so close to this pirate group. At least we can be assured of support."

Marie just shrugged. Politics didn't interest her – Klingon or any other flavour. On the other hand, she thought, if that really is a trade port then I can get down to business.

The group made their way down the steep inside slope. Tell found the suit adjusted its walk to compensate but had to slow down greatly under the unfamiliar load.

As they approached the closest gate they could see a group of Klingons assembled to meet them. May'bel and Ro' exchanged glances. None of the Klingons were from House Matlh, though some were wearing badges of minor, allied houses. As they approached, one of the Klingons barked an order and the gates swung open.

"Follow me," the Klingon said simply and led them inside, past the unreadable stares of other Klingons.

Immediately inside was a hive of activity. People of many different races moved purposefully around them; Klingon, Human, Romulan, Nausican, etc. The compound had a definite military feel to it, with obvious barracks areas and training grounds as well as administration and warehouses. It was to these warehouses that they were being led. They joined onto the wide open landing field where there were currently some sort of parade happening. hundreds of people, organised into squads of different sizes, were assembling. On one side of the landing area could be seen a number of armoured vehicles, equivalent to mobile artillery or tanks. From her elevated vantage point Tell could pick out a Nephilim suit was amongst them as well. What was THAT doing here?

"What is this place?" Jason asked out loud not really directing his question at anyone, and returning the glares of the Klingons and other species who were 'shooting daggers' at him because of his uniform.

The Klingon looked at him when he asked the question but chose not to volunteer any information.

Thor'nan simply kept his mek'leths handy; he was determined to defend his captain to the death, especially after his betrayal.

Tell eyed them suspiciously and with distrust. A tingle at the base of her skull warned her that this wasn't going to be easy, in fact it was going to be downright awkward not to mention messy. Ah well, she thought with a small sigh and a shrug, in for a penny, in for a pound.

"Where can a girl get a drink around here?" Marie yelled to no-one in particular. "My throat is parched after trudging over that desert. A decent bath wouldn't go astray either."

Tell nodded in agreement with what Marie said. Oh to be clean again she thought. She waited for an answer other wise she would quite happily snap the guide in two and think nothing of it.

"You can dump your gear here," the Klingon indicated to a clear area at the edge of the tarmac. He did not bother to tell them it would be safe; this was a Klingon place, not a Ferrengi port. "Then I will take you to see the Commandant. He is very eager to see you all. I wouldn't keep him waiting."

They dumped the crates in a pile, Marie wincing with every crash as the resale value dropped. Tell climbed out of the suit and the group followed the guide once again. This time he lead them across the open tarmac. The group noticed that many of the locals were gathering at the edge of the landing strip to watch them.

A figure appeared from the building and began to walk towards them. As he approached he held his arms wide and called in a familiar voice, "Uncle Ro'!"

Ro' returned the embrace with his nephew. "Counsellor CoQ," He replied formally.

Coq waved the name away, "Please, Uncle. We are all family here." He glanced at the Humans assembled behind him, "Well, mostly."

"What is going on CoQ," Ro' growled, not taking any of the lightness of his Nephew's greeting. "What is this place? Why have I not heard of a resupply base here?"

CoQ shrugged, "Quite simply because it is not designed to refit or supply ships. I have armoured tanks, ground troops, even a couple of those amazing Nephilim that you found. This is a ground army, not a fleet ship. The landing strip is purely for supply ships and troop transports."

"We were attacked," Ro' snarled, "And you sent no warning to us. Your sensors would have seen us coming even when cloaked."

CoQ's smile never faltered, "Of course we did, Uncle. Otherwise how would the Nausicans have been able to find you?"

I knew it! I just knew it thought Tell. We're in the damn firing line again. It was all she could do to stop her self from snapping his neck off. Her fingers itched at the controls of the suit. It was all she could do to contain herself.

May'Bel gave a dissatisfied grunt. Politics. The art of fighting without the need for honour.

Marla growled at CoQ. She was now really glad she refused his offer. He was a traitor.

Marie saw the reaction of her shipmates and felt the same way. They'd been used and now they were going to pay for it. CoQ (Oh, what an appropriate name!) had asked for her assistance and.... And he'd asked for everyone else's assistance. Of course! That sly smile, that knowing look....

She watched him closely. Yes, he knew exactly what was going on. That only left one problem; Marie didn't have a clue what was going on. For want of better response, she fell back on an earlier one. "I said," she said in a soft but commandeering voice, "where can a girl get a drink around here? My throat is parched after trudging over that desert. A decent bath wouldn't go astray either."

"Yes totally agree with you Marie. If there is one thing I have found lacking lately is a decent shower with just the right temperature water. You can never have enough showers for my liking. Now about that drink?" asked Tell.

Marie started thinking very quickly. If this was a military base – and she only had CoQ's word for it – then CoQ had been planning something for some time. The only question was.... No, there really was no question. CoQ planned to take over House Matlh. But CoQ was already leader of House Matlh, so why go to all this..... Of course, CoQ planned no such thing. He wanted it to look like House Matlh had gone rogue. He intended to use these troops and munitions to.... To what? Steady, girl, she thought, don't get ahead of yourself. There is a very dangerous game going on here and you don't know the rules.

She turned to Hope. "I don't think we're going to get that bath. Maybe we should just settle for a bed. At least a Klingon one won't be flea ridden. Fleas don't usually find much nourishment on steel slabs." She cast a quick look around to see if anyone was watching. "Actually, I think we should go for the bath if we can," She said softly. "There's more to this than meets the eye. If we're going to get off this desert, we need to find out what's going on."

"Why?" Ro' asked. Simple and to the point.

CoQ waved his arm expansively, "Why all this? Do I really need to explain it to you? You remember how much father struggled. He was a doctor to the High Council. They did not respect him, but many of them owed him their lives. They resented that. Mother on the other hand was a warrior and well respected by all. My sister and I grew up in their shadow; Haqtaj following mother's warrior spirit, and I learning the subtly of politics and intrigue. When Father died many felt that Haqtaj should take the lead, but you know the traditions still run deep. No female may sit on the Council."

"So it fell to me, the new head of House Matlh."

"And yet I still came across the old resentments and prejudices of my father. Many even tried to get past me by going to Haqtaj instead of through me. Thankfully Haqtaj backed me all the way. As you know she has taken a Federation post to remove the issue as much as possible. Even now, however, I am challenged about my lack of military experience, and how House Matlh has fallen, and power should rest in the hands of people like yourself and Haqtaj. They don't understand that you don't want it, or that I am more suited to the role."

"So I had to remove the power base of Fleet Matlh. It has taken years to whittle down the supply and repairs of the ships to the three remaining craft... two now the FHew is finally out of action. In it's place I am building a land army, mightier than any the Empire has seen since the early days. My Red Army will prove on the field of battle my right to govern this house. There are only two things that stand in the way of my position being secure."

"Haqtaj and myself," Ro' stated the fact.

CoQ nodded, "Regrettably true. I have dispatched assassins to deal with my sister, and I had hoped that the confrontation with the Nausicans would prove to be your glorious retirement also." Here he glanced at the crew with a frown, "Clearly I underestimated you and your crew."

Ro' folded his arms, "So what happens now? You plan to assasinate me as well."

CoQ looked shocked, "No! You are a warrior and deserve a warrior's death."

Ro' gave a mirthless laugh, "Then you will challenge me to single combat?"

CoQ smiled, "Hardly. I know I would not stand a chance against the mighty Ro' Matlh. I offer you a choice."

"Firstly, you could accept retirement and become a general for my army. I know you are better at space battles, but I could use your sword and wisdom."

"Secondly, I will give you another ship and you, and your crew if they wish, can leave House Matlh and forge a new House Ro'. You will be released of any bindings to my house."

"Lastly, I can offer you a glorious death in battle, against insurmountable odds."

Here CoQ waved his arm to indicate the army which had now gathered around them on the platform. There were easily a hundred or more warriors; Klingons, Romulans, Nausicans, Humans, and others.

Tell looked around her. Where the bloody hell have they all come from she wondered. I feel as if I am caught up in some kind of nightmare and no matter how hard I'm going to try I won't be able to wake up from this one. Fight or flight? she asked herself knowing full well what the answer would be. Since she had been on the FHew she had never walked away from a battle and she didn't intend to do so now. She was in the mood for a good fight anyway so So bring it on Ro'. If we are going to go down then lets give them a good show to remember us by and have music to accompany it. She looked at Ro' "I stand with you," she told him Then indicating to the crowd she drew her fingers across her throat. They're dead.

Thor'nan looked at CoQ. He had been lied to. The Counsellor had made it sound so simple; help Ro' die well, but CoQ had used him to further his own agenda. While Thor'nan was used to being used; he didn't like this particular incident. It felt unclean. He made his decision. He stepped up next to Ro'. He drew his weapons; ready to fight if needed.

Marie was far from an expert on matters Klingon but she'd learnt a lot in the time she'd served on the F'Hew. She still was by no means a fan of Klingons but she had to admit she'd come to admire much about them. Certainly, she considered Ro' an honourable man. From what she could see of CoQ, he was underhanded, conniving and dishonourable. The first two she could cope with – they were, after all, traits of her own which she valued. The third she would normally also admire but in a Klingon...? It seemed to her that CoQ traded on being honourable when he was far from so.

She looked at CoQ and saw contempt in his eyes – contempt for a man who had stood tall and had much left to give. Clearly, CoQ only saw an obstacle to be removed by any means necessary.

“I do not fancy being a foot soldier, Ro' Matlh,” she said. “Not for you and certainly not for that petaQ standing in front of you. I will steal, I will cheat and I will lie for you but I will not do so for him. This is your House, not his. Either he fights for it like a Klingon or he backs down.” She turned to face CoQ full on. “Isn't that the way Klingons do it?”

May'Bel looked at CoQ with a curious expression.

"You're far up the ranks in this house, councillor. You command house Matlh, and it's warriors fight at your command, myself included."

CoQ nodded, "I am glad you understand."

"...Except..." May'Bel interrupted, "...that you just admitted Ro to be the greater warrior. You decline single combat not because such a fight is beneath your station, but because you feel Ro is stronger. I'm no expert at politics, but... I think you've just publicly admitted to being unfit to lead our house!"

Thor'nan said nothing; he hadn't the right.

CoQ's eyes narrowed, "Let's make this simple."

He drew a long line on the ground, with him on one side, and the crew of the FHew on the other.

"Anyone, who is loyal to myself as leader of House Matlh, stand on this side of the line. Everyone left on the other side will be killed."

Cha'a' hesitated then hoisted the unconscious YIghegh over the line to join CoQ. She could not meet the eyes of the crew, but she was House Matlh, and had to obey the head of the house.

Ru'fimohp and Lach were not. They remained by Ro', Maybel, Tell, HIchop. All eyes turned to Jason, Marla and Marie.

Jason stepped up behind Ro'. "Sir, I stand with you no matter our prior issues I'm with you." Jason readied himself for the fight.

Marla glared at CoQ, and then immediately turned to join Ro'.

"Let's indeed keep this simple," Marie said. "You already know where I stand; you don't need me to repeat it." She did not move. "I will add this though: CoQ, I agree with May'bel. You have shown yourself unfit to lead House Matlh. Also..." here she raised her voice for all to hear "...by refusing to face Ro' in combat, you have publicly abgrogated the position of leader of this House and handed it to Ro' on a platter. You have no authority now. It is no longer for you to command. I stand here with the leader of House Matlh."

'Shame I haven't got my violin', thought Tell, 'I have the right tune in mind.'

Thor'nan finally spoke.

"You have used trickery and deceit to assume command of the house. And in doing so you have made me the tool of your dishonor. I may be human, but I was raised Klingon. And I stand with my Captain, though I am not worthy. "

"Let's just get this over and done with shall we and stop wasting my time. I have other things to do" snarled Tell "Hey Marie! Bet you I can score more on the body count than you can."

"You what? You've got yourself a bet, lady. Humans only count for half points though. They're too easy to kill."

"Your on sister!" Tell replied "Lets go Ro'. Let me at em."

CoQ sneered, "I have an army at my back, including a number of tanks. This is going to be then end of a long saga of Ro' Matlh. It is a shame your TiQ friend is not here to write the ballad after you die."

There was a shimmer in the air - the red hazy glow of a transporter. A figure shimmered into view standing right on top of the line CoQ had drawn.

It was Jared. Somehow the TiQ always had superb dramatic timing.

"I'm sorry I'm late, everyone. Some mercenaries wanted to have a word with me, and they were rather..."

He paused, mid sentance - suddenly noticing the line under his feet.

"Oh... We're up to that bit, are we?"

There was a strange sound in the air, that was starting to get louder. A sort of screeching roar high up in the sky above.

CoQ's eyes narrowed. This was a surprise, and politicians hated surprises, "I arranged for the Nausicans to pull you off the FHew and hold you in a safe place. Where's my ship?"

"Oh... yes... I was going to talk to you about that. If I was you, I'd probably move..."

The rest of Jared's suggestion was drowned out by the sound from the sky, growing louder and louder. After a moment, the entire crowd caught sight of a mercenary ship, screeching down through the sky towards the crowd - shimmering into view as it's second-hand cloaking field failed. For a moment it looked like it was going to hit the ground where everyone was standing, but it made impact a few hundred meters away, ploughing along the ground and digging a great gouge out of the earth. It narrowly missed the assembled ground troops - who were running to get out the way - and ploughed straight into the line of tanks.

Two were buried in a chaotic fountain of earth, erupting from the path of the ship. One was flipped upside down, and disappeared under the ship - probably crushed flat. The ship came to rest a few meters from the final tank, tipping it on one side with an upheaval of earth. Fortunately the crew of that final tank had possessed the presence of mind to leap clear moments earlier.

"...um... never mind," Jared finished, as the noise and chaos finally subsided. "Bit late now."

CoQ ground his teeth, "Jared of Vetus. You are not involved in this. All TiQ are released from political issue. Step over hear and you will be taken to a safe place to observe the execution."

Jared looked down at the line thoughtfully.

"You know... my survival instincts make the choice pretty clear. I mean... a hundred years... none of this is going to matter."

He took a single step over to CoQ's side.

CoQ let a smile of victory escape his lips. In the entire history of the Klingon empire there were no songs with a member of Jared's race on the loosing side.

Jared was still hesitating though... looking somehow unsatisfied.

"But you know... now I think about it... 'an army of a hundred gun down a handful of inconvenient warriors'? That's such a boring song."

He thought for a moment more.

"No... common-sense or no, I can't be bothered writing that!"

He crossed the line and walked over to stand beside Ro - unarmed, but somehow unafraid.

There was a ripple in the assembly. Then Cha'a' hoisted the unconscious YIghegh over the line to join Ro'. She didn't know much about politics or shifting allegiances, but she also knew where she would want to stand when Jared wrote his song.

In fact she started a wave. Of the hundred or so assembled Klingons, no more than a handful remained by CoQ. The rest crossed the line to stand behind Ro'. This still left a handfull of Klingons, and some Nausicans, Andorians, Humans and Romulans on CoQ's side, as well as a Nephilim.

Ro had remained silent but now he spoke. "You speak of power as if it is a thing you can hold in your hand like a blade. You talk of House Matlh as if it were an ideal, rather than a memory of your father. I had this same conversation with your father, My brother, Matlh. He struggled as people questioned his right and honour. He was a doctor and his wife and brother were much better warriors than he. I advised him then to have us both killed."

"He told me that a House was about a family, and he would rather loose his position than a single member of his family through dishonourable means. That is the memory you tarnish here to day. You cling to this house by abandoning all it stands for. Today I fight, not for my life, or for my crew and ship, but for my older brother, who I loved and love still. He was a man of honour, who I was proud to serve. Today he will dine in Sto Vo Kor. If I am to dine with him, I do not count that as a loss."

Thor'nan decided to open up the dance; He charged at a Nausican with his Mek'leth's swinging. The Nausican, surprised by the audacity of this human, was taken by surprise. The field quickly erupted into total chaos.

May'Bel grabbed two spheres from his belt, holding one in each hand. He armed the devices with a flick of the thumbs, and then hurled them out into the space between the two forces.

The open field gave the warriors with firepower - like CoQ's human mercenaries - the advantage. that would NEVER do!

The two devices detonated with a "thwop" sound, emitting no explosion, but sending a visible shimmer out in a wave for fifty meters or more. The air just behind the wave seemed to... seethe for a moment, before thickening into grey vapour - shrouding the field of battle in mist and covering the advance of the melee fighters.

Smoke grenades, enhanced with a little TiQ wizardry. The haze would only last a minute or so before it dispersed, but that would be plenty of time to get into the fight. Without even bothering with his disruptor pistols, he drew his paired Tajtiqs and charged into the enemy-filled gloom.

Jason smirked. This He was good at. He had training, yes, but he had always been a natural fighter. {Now the fun begins!} "Never let them get behind you, Always go for instant kills don't waste time when fighting large groups and pick the most dangerous enemy first. That doesn't always mean the biggest enemy either. Watch your backs and if you need help just call me!." Jason yelled over at the others.

Jason drew two collapsible swords and activated them. Running at the handful of disgraceful dogs who thought themselves warriors he slipped into one of the lesser known sword styles that he used. For some reason Jason was enjoying the fight as he never had before, he let loose and dropped his Starfleet shell of calm complacency and just enjoyed the moment. Jason swirled around in a flurry of quick slashes, stabs and thrusts.

Suddenly a shadow fell over him. Jason looked up and saw a huge Nausican. Jason jumped back and switched up his sword style. Putting one foot out in front of him and all his weight on the back foot he leaned back and built up energy in his muscles. As soon as he was ready he leapt forward like a coiled spring. Dodging one of the Nausican's powerful yet unfocused blows, Jason looped around back and quickly stabbed him several times severing his spine. As the Nausican fell to the ground Jason moved on the the next enemy. Enemy after enemy were falling in front of Jason's blades.

Jason spotted an Andorian who was sneaking up on Ro'.

"The hell you will," Jason ran over just as the Andorian was about to strike at Ro'. Jason cut down the Andorian and slapped Ro' on the shoulder as he ran past to fight more enemies.

Jason spotted the Nephilim, "Oh hell no!"

He knew he wouldn't stand a chance in hell against that monster of a machine. Jason headed off in another direction. Running into another Andorian he stopped and smiled savagely.

"My blades are hungry, would you deny them their meal?" Jason quickly dispatched the Andorian but not before receiving a shallow but painful slash across his chest. To add insult to injury he sliced off the fallen Andorian's antenna's.

Thor'nan spotted a burly Klingon sneaking up on May'bel.

"May'bel!" he shouted over the din, charging at the dishonorable cur who would attack from behind. May'bel whirled and just managed to deflect a killing blow from the Klingon's bat'leth, parrying it to one side and driving his other Tajtiq into his enemy's side. He gave Thor'nan a momentary nod of thanks.

Thor'nan felt a body press up back to back with his and risked a glance. Lach Latlh smiled back and the two fought back to back fro the remainder of the battle, just as they had done so many times before.

While the testosterone flowed, Marie stood back. She had no desire to wade into a fight that they were highly likely to lose – the defections from CoQ's side notwithstanding. Then again, she was not about to abandon the fight. She'd learnt well as a too young child how fights between rival gangs worked and, to her, this was all too similar.

Usually they were just brutal confrontations where all available resources were thrown in in the hope of overwhelming the other faction by sheer force of numbers.

She stood back and watched as Jason touched Ro' on the shoulder. She also watched as CoQ sent fresh troops around the left flank. It was where Jason had been holding but he was not now there.

Tell side stepped the game of carnage. Around her bodies flew left, right, up and down. She had to admire the crew of the FHew; they seem to have made the bloody massacre into a living art form. She hadn't started on her 'killings' yet as Marie seemed a little distant and had walked off to one side.

"So is this your plan then?" the first officer of the dead ship FHew asked amidst the roar. "Send in the heavy mob and then we go in to finish off and gain the glory?" Tell lifted her elbow at an angle as a jaw connected with it. "Or are we going to play snipers and pick off our least favourite baddie one by one? I can't start my count till you do. Oh and by the way that one there counts as one."

"One to you," Marie conceded as she casually shot a soldier coming round their left flank. "We won't win if we all rush in," she yelled. "Strategy will win this fight, not brute force. Consider me..." Another fell to a deadly disrupter blast "...the reserve force. By the way, that's two to me. You're slacking."

"Another fell to a deadly disrupter blast?" queried Tell as she let loose three knives from her wrist that seemed to make their way back to her as quick as they left. "That's four. Are you having a crisis of conscious, conscience, what ever? If so now is not the time ok. We can talk about that later I'll take that big guy down before you do."

"He's all yours. Conscience...since when did I have a conscience?" Another fell but a particularly nasty looking Nausican quickly filled his place. Marie took him out as well. "Two more to me."

"Duck!" Tell shouted to Marie as a half human something raged towards them. Tells blades took him out cleanly and returned to their owner. I think that makes mine eight, oh nine almost missed one. You looked deep in thought before Marie what were you thinking? Ouch well that's my guitar nail broken." as she took out another human. "Dammit its taken me we weeks to cultivate that one." Tell bent suddenly as something flew past her at high speed. That makes ten so far, five more than you I think. God I need a coffee."

“Now there's a thought,” Marie said. “How about you give some of that brew you loosely describe as coffee to this lot? That'll get...” She jumped back as a knife thudded into the ground between her feet. “I think this is yours,” she said as she threw it into the neck of an onrushing Bolian. “Now where was I before I was so rudely interrupted...? Ah yes, serve coffee to this lot. That will get your count up in no time flat.” She pivoted to her right and took out a screeching Caitian. It's (Marie never could distinguished male from female Caitians) claws were extended ready to rip her throat open. What a pity you never got the chance, she mused.

"What! You don't like my coffee?" she asked as a human's chest made contact with one of her knives. "Now I'm upset."

Jared strode through the battle, focussed, but calm. These kind of fights were a dance. Once you had a sense of the flow and you could see where each step would fall. He ducked a bat'leth stroke smoothly, dancing back as the foe advanced and then watching as another warrior leapt at him from the side. Then he sprang sideways to evade a club-stroke from a Nausican. He nimbly leapt up onto the hunched back of an enemy who was choking one of their new allies, watching with delight as the pursuing nausican swung a vertical stroke down at him. He leapt clear and let nature take it's course, moving away in the confusion.

Just ahead, the Nephilim loomed up - a titan of the battlefield, cutting foes down with great sweeps of it's rotary cannon - each sweep effortlessly excluding its allies from it's deadly barrages.

Of course... it was important to know who the lead dancers were.

With sharp eyes, he read the odd looking characters on the chest-plate of the behemoth war machine. Then he stepped out from the pack and toward it.

The pilot hesitated for a moment at the sight of a lone, unarmed figure moving TOWARDS him. But then he brought the suit's arm around and began to spin-up the cannon to fire.

Jared shouted loudly over the din of battle, intoning in odd, burbling syllables of the long-dead Miletian tongue.

Nephilim 347, system override! Authorisation 335-Alpha!

The gun spun to a halt. The pilot frowned, and worked the trigger a couple of times. Nothing. Damned ancient piece of junk!

Initiate turncoat protocol!

The pilot frowned as the vision in the suit flickered for a moment. He blinked at the HUD display as the green and red pinpoints marking out targets seemed to... switch places.

Nothing else seemed to happen. After a moment he tugged the trigger of the rotary cannon, and saw the barrel twirl round. It was working again.

He brought the barrel down to bare on the tiny little man, only to see that he'd vanished back into the fight.

Oh well. Back to it! Maybe it was time to try a few of those mini rocket things in the shoulder housings...

Marla was a poor fighter. She knew it to be true, and despised that side of her, but they had messed with the wrong ship, and she was angry. She pulled out her weapons, and came at anyone who stood in her way. By the end of the long fight, she was covered in horrible scratches covering her body, but she was still walking, and she felt that as a win.

Ro's approach had been very calculating. The whole time he had been talking he had been watching, assessing, planning. When Thor'nan had rushed forward Ro' Had pulled his disruptor and begun firing. There was a lot of ground to cover and he would rather make people cross his field of fir than the other way around.

The first to reach his was a grim faced Romulan. Ro' pistol whipped him to the face, using him for cover in the few moments he staggered and then fell. Now he pushed into the middle of the throng, the bodies of his enemies protecting him from return fire. The Humans taught to focus on large targets and concentrate your fire. The Klingon approach was different. Concentrate on eliminating many weak enemies to reduce your number of opponents. Keep moving so that enemies will have to fire through their own troops to reach you.

He dodged a sword swipe from a Nausican, breaking its neck with a back hand swipe as he stole the disruptor from his belt. Now he was double wielding.

Truth be told, very few opponents were keen to engage Ro's directly. A few tried to take advantage of gaps, coming at him from behind, but Ro' trusted his crew to watch his back, which they were doing. Only two or three souls were brave or foolish enough to face him directly.

All the time, Ro's was watching CoQ. The young Klingon was falling further back through the crowd. He was retreating, even as he sent his forces forward. Ro' began to move purposefully towards him. Opponents shifted, looking for easier targets than the legend of war. Soon CoQ spotted his approach and turned to run. Ro' pulled his D'k tahg and sent it spinning. It caught CoQ in the calf and he fell to the ground.

Ro' quickly caught up to him, but now the other was standing again, the blade pulled from his leg now in his hand, purple with his own blood. CoQ was terrified, you could see it in his eyes. None of his army was rushing to his aide. His allies had all evaporated. How could this happen? How could he be beaten by a handful of insignificant Qo'Hom?

Ro' stood before him and placed the disruptors back in his belt. He stood there with no blade or other weapon out, "End the bloodshed, CoQ."

CoQ snarled and leapt forward. Blade pointed straight at Ro's throat. Ro's didn't flinch, then at the last moment, leaned backwards with the blow and brought his knee up into the stomach of CoQ. The blow was enough to lift CoQ and hurl him over Ro, who was now bent over so his hair touched the ground behind him. The fluid motion spun CoQ and by the time Ro's had flexed back to standing CoQ had landed heavily on the ground behind him.

Ro' turned slowly and looked at CoQ who seemed to be struggling to rise, his hands trapped underneath him as he fell. Ro' gripped the back of his armour and rolled him over. CoQ looked up at him, sputtering purple froth as he tried to speak. His eyes were wide and pleading, and Ro's blade was buried in his chest where he had fallen on it.

"That is not what I meant," Ro's sighed kneeling over the younger Klingon.

CoQ managed on word through the death rattle, "VavloDnI'voy." [Dear Uncle].

Ro' placed a gentle handle on the blade hilt, and whispered, "Matlh DarI'taH StoVokorDaq." [Be with your Father in Sto Vo Kor]

He gave a push on the handle and CoQ spasmed once and was still. At the same moment a stillness spread over the battle. The Klingons of House Matlh new there was a new power in charge, and the Mercenaries knew their pay ticket was over and it was no longer worth dying or killing without a pay check.

Tell turned to Marie. She felt exhausted bruised and battered but still alive and no worse for the battle. She'd had far worse injuries in the past. She had kept a mental score of her 'kills' but wanted to hear Marie's first. She wiped a trickle of sweat from her brow before asking her. "Now that's what I call a fight. How many did you get then Marie?"

Marie shrugged. “Thirteen when I stopped counting. I found I had more important things to worry about. That CoQ must have had something going for him. His troops fought well for him.”

Jason looked around at everyone. "Everyone still alive?" He was waiting to hear that someone was horribly injured or was dead.

"I broke.... a nail" replied Tell furiously "Its taken me weeks, weeks to grow it too."

Ro' looked at his first officer and began to laugh. It started as a low growl, but evolved to a full roar as weeks and months, years of frustration boiled over into release.

However, his laugh was cut short by a new challenge.