Predators Part 8

Posted on Sun Jan 19th, 2025 @ 6:15am by Captain Malcom Llwyedd & Lieutenant Henry Hamilthon Sky & Lieutenant Jackson Smith

962 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Mission 1: A Long Hard Road Ahead
Location: USS Firebird
Timeline: 07 October, 2396- 0900 Hours

[ON]

Jackson's mind was a whirlwind of activity, a constant juggling act between his various roles and responsibilities. Building a network of allies and informants in the Gamma Quadrant, navigating the treacherous currents of the underworld, investigating the conspiracy that threatened to destabilize Deep Space 18, and assisting Gantt with the starfighter project – it was enough to make anyone's head spin.

He was grateful for the inroads he'd made with Gorlab, even if the Ferengi wasn't quite the reliable partner that Zulg had been. It was a necessary compromise, a means to an end. But Jackson couldn't shake the feeling that he was walking a tightrope, balancing precariously between his loyalty to Starfleet and his foray into the criminal underworld.

Lost in his thoughts, he almost didn't notice Lieutenant Sky waiting for the turbolift. With a start, he pulled himself back to the present, offering the young pilot a quick smile as he stepped inside.

"Hey," Jackson greeted him, trying to sound casual. "How are things going? Getting settled in with the Firebird?" He hoped his distraction wasn't too obvious, his mind still buzzing with schemes and counter-schemes

Hamilton greeted him with a nod. "Hello lieutenant, we haven't really had time to get to know each other yet."

Hamilton pointed to his tablet: "Things are progressing slowly but surely, it's one thing to decide to create a new shuttle, getting there is another. The destination is attractive, but the path is tortuous"

Jackson's smile widened as he stepped into the turbolift, followed closely by Hamilton. "I was just talking with Lieutenant Soto," he said, his voice carrying a hint of excitement. "He has some novel ideas for the new fighter project. It's going to be quite the ship."

"Deck 2," he announced, and the turbolift began its ascent. "Heading to the bridge?" he asked, turning to Hamilton.

Before the young pilot could answer, the turbolift lurched violently, the lights flickering and dying, plunging them into darkness. Jackson instinctively reached for the small knife concealed beneath his sleeve, his senses on high alert. While it was likely just a mechanical malfunction, a primal instinct warned him of danger.

"That was weird..." he muttered, his eyes straining to pierce the darkness. The sudden silence was unnerving, broken only by the soft hum of emergency lighting.

Hamilton got up smoothly and picked up his tablet "Thanks to my sports sessions and my good sense of balance, dammit was that shock?"

He pressed his combadge "Hamilton to the bridge, status report, we are stuck in the turbolift!"

Before either of them could react, a deafening explosion ripped through the turbolift shaft above them. A gaping hole tore open in the ceiling, and two hulking Jem'Hadar warriors dropped through, their weapons spitting deadly phaser fire.

Jackson reacted instinctively, dropping to the floor as a searing beam of energy scorched the wall just above his head. His hand shot out, a glint of steel flashing in the dim light. The knife found its mark, burying itself deep in the Jem'Hadar's thigh. With a vicious twist, he yanked it free, eliciting a guttural roar from the wounded warrior.

The Jem'Hadar retaliated with a savage backhand, catching Jackson squarely in the chest and sending him crashing against the wall. The impact knocked the wind out of him, leaving him momentarily stunned.

Using the edge of his Padd as a weapon, Hamilton dealt a terrible blow to the Jem'Hadar by aiming his blow.

The Jem'Hadar fell unconsciously on Hamilthon who used it as a shield to protect himself from the second attacker.

The second Jem'Hadar thus found himself stuck between the wall of the tuborlift and the body of the first Jem'Hadar which allowed Hamilthon to have a better defensive position.

Hamilthon kicked Jackson's boot and yelled, "Get up, it's definitely not the time for a nap!"

Seizing the opportunity, Jackson spun around and lashed out with his knife, severing the Jem'Hadar's hamstring tendon with a sickening thud. The warrior crumpled to one knee, its weapon clattering to the floor. In a flash, Jackson was on his feet, driving the blade into the vulnerable throat. The Jem'Hadar gurgled, its lifeblood staining the turbolift floor.

Jackson staggered back, his chest heaving, blood splattered across his uniform. He fumbled for his comm badge, his fingers slick with blood. "To Bridge, Officer of the Ship!" he barked, his voice tight with urgency. "Call for Red Alert! We have invaders on the ship!"

The unconscious Jem'Hadar at his feet groaned, stirring back to consciousness. Jackson quickly tapped his comm badge again. "Security to turbolift three!" he shouted. "One Jem'Hadar to beam directly to the brig!"

The unconscious Jem'Hadar vanished in a shimmer of transporter light, leaving a faint scent of ozone in its wake. Jackson turned to Henry, his voice sharp and urgent.

"Get to the bridge, Lieutenant!" he ordered. "Make sure no one gains control of the ship."

He tapped his comm badge, a cold dread creeping into his gut. This was more than a random attack. Something was deeply wrong.

"Transporter room beam me directly to the captain's location," he barked into the comm. "Emergency beam out."

A swirling vortex of light enveloped him, and in an instant, he was gone, leaving Henry alone in the darkened turbolift.

Hamilton spoke to himself in the turbolift: "Go to the bridge, he had good ones, save the situation, save the ship, I only had two arms!"

Without encountering any further resistance, he left the turbolift and quickly reached the bridge via the service tubes.

[OFF]

Lieutenant Jackson Smith
Chief Intelligence Officer
USS Firebird NCC-88298

Lieutenant Henry Hamilthon Sky
Chief Flight Control Officer
USS Firebird NCC-88298

 

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