A Diplomatic Mission

Posted on Tue Apr 2nd, 2024 @ 5:07pm by Captain Malcom Llwyedd & Lieutenant Commander Jörgen Leed & Crewman Thyra Kevensdotter

1,776 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Mission 1: A Long Hard Road Ahead
Location: DS18
Timeline: 24 August, 2396 -1230 Hours

[ON]

Thyra Kevensdotter beamed with pride as she walked behind the Chief Diplomatic Officer. Her mother, Kera Börsdotter, had been Jungfru, a shield maiden, to Kaptian Astra Karrelsdotter, charged with her protection as a personal bodyguard. Thyra had been aboard the Firebird only a short time and now this important task had been assigned to her as well. He wasn’t a Störhatten but her parents would be so proud, she thought giddily.

Alert to any change in the groaning sounds of the crippled ship, Jörgen glanced at the security officer beside him. He had grown accustomed to both Rhiana's acute perception and Jackson's stalking energy. This new addition, Thyra, smiled like a beam of sunshine. Perhaps some would be persuaded to believe she was not a serious candidate for such a dangerous mission. However, Jörgen was not so easily persuaded by casual appearances.

"Since we may face more enemies, did you learn anything in our brief skirmish that might help us if we meet them again?" said Jörgen.

Thyra thought back to the engagement with the aliens in the station's control center. "The creatures weren't affected by phasers on a low setting but appeared to be more vulnerable from the back than from the front," she frowned, "I wasn't able to evaluate their vulnerability to blades."

"You may yet have that chance. Thank you. Every detail we learn may help us understand and communicate with them better." Jörgen increased his phaser to heavy stun. "I hope to avoid violence. Fortunately, you appear well equipped and trusted."

"I look forward to the opportunity to test these aliens more but understand that you have a different purpose," Thyra replied, "Regardless, I will ensure that you are not blocked in your purpose even to the point of my own life."

Her mother had frequently talked about the close relationship that subsisted between herself and Kaptain Karrelsdotter, so Thyra felt authorized to ask, "What is your purpose, Commander? What are we doing and what do you hope to achieve?"

"The moment the wormhole collapsed that changed. We are adrift by ourselves. Rather than a partnership with residents of this quadrant, I want to understand what steps we took on arrival, who attacked, and why. I want peace, and to save lives." Jörgen considered the woman and warrior who walked beside him. "Does that seem weak to you?"

"No, not weak," Thyra answered, "As Storhatten Larasson would say, 'We all want the same things but we have different methods of getting them'. How do you intend to find out why we were attacked?"

Jörgen nodded, pleased by her answer. He did not believe in death and glory missions. "By finding the Bajoran diplomatic corps if they're still alive. Few species attack without provocation, though we do not always recognize what provoked them at first, and they may have interacted with our people. We may also learn from sitting down with one of the aliens--I suppose we are the aliens to them."

Thyra considered his words, then shrugged. She wasn't certain how they were supposed to "sit down with the aliens" when they seemed determined to attack and their weapons were only marginally effective at anything less than a kill setting. Of course, her blades were unlikely to be any more effective at capturing one of them.

Thyra sensed rather than saw the alien. She nonchalantly, in her mind at least, untethered the hand axes from her lower back. "Did I ever show you the axes my father gave me for my twelfth birthday? He was a great Star Fleet Captain but I never got to see him much. Look at the golden inlay on the shaft!" At this last, she shouldered the Lieutenant Commander against the wall, pushing him out of the way of the creature's attack.

She caught the downward sweep of the attacker's forelimb between the crossed handles of her axes. The creature's claws tried to rake her face but only struck empty space. The alien was strong but Thyra used her superior leverage to push it back down the hallway and stepped between it and the Chief Diplomat.

Thyra expected to hear phaser fire from behind her and was confused when she didn't but couldn't take her eyes off her opponent to check the reason why not. She advanced on the alien, axes at the Ready.

Crouching near a service hatch, Jörgen noted the blood pooled near one corner. There was more where Thyra had been standing when she shoved him clear of the attack. She had been planning her target move; he had been looking down at the axes. And the newly dried blood on the floor. He flipped the hatch open and met the glassy-eyed gaze of a young Bolian. Her Starfleet uniform was bloody and torn, her shoulder was badly burned. A medkit lay just beyond her outreached hand.

He checked her pulse. Steady but Shallow. Too shallow. Jörgen glanced over his shoulder; Thyra flowed in step with the alien, her shoulders squared to it. He had to trust her. Turning to the young Bolian, he pulled the kit over and prepared a hypospray. "This should help, and my companion is quite efficient. Be at ease."

"Lyxis. My name,... Lyxis,...Commander." Her lips moved only slightly, the words squeezed out through clenched jaw.

"Jörgen. Concentrate on yourself. We shall talk soon enough."

The alien slashed repeatedly at the security guard but years of practice with different blades gave Thyra the advantage. She parried the longer forearms while dodging the shorter middle limbs. Knowing that the Lieutenant Commander wanted to capture one of the attackers, she mainly attacked with the flat of her blades but occasionally took a shallow cut at the creature's middle limbs and body.

It was hot work and she felt the sweat dripping off her face and more running between her breasts. The creature was tiring more quickly than she and Thyra was able to get progressively more shots at the creature's head. She increased the tempo of her attacks as the alien began to weave and when the opportunity presented itself, she slammed the flats of both axeheads again on either side of the creature's head. She thought she saw the creature's multiple eyes cross then it slumped to the ground, unconscious.

As soon as Jörgen had stabilized the young woman, he slid back and grabbed his phaser. Rather afraid he had delayed too long, he instead watched the alien crumple to the ground.

"Very well done, Thyra. Those axes were well given, and you have saved another life today besides mine." He gestured to the open hatch where Lyxis lay. "Will you assist me in helping her from there?"

Thank you, Commander,” Thyra smiled as she stowed her axes. As an artist, she always appreciated praise for her work. Then, as gingerly as possible, she squatted at the hatch and lifted the Bolian out with both hands. Slinging the young woman over her shoulder like a slain deer, Thyra turned and indicated the unconscious alien, “What should we do with that, sir?”

Jörgen glanced around for a working console. The only bank in sight was a shattered, sparking mess. "For now we try a forcefield." He tapped his combadge. "If anyone in Engineering can hear me, please erect a forefield around the alien nearby."

Muted static jolted from the badge. Then, after a brief delay, a thin, shimmering field appeared around the alien. The field looked patchy and flickered in places--it was only just more substantial than the communication.

"Please, help," said the woman on Thyra's shoulder. She repeated it to make sure she was heard. In spite of the rough handling, Lyxis felt secure here on this strange woman's shoulder. Solid. "Ma'am, Commander Kalil is injured really badly, and needs help."

"Don't call me ma'am, I work for a living," Thyra answered in mock disgust then less harshly, "Where is your Commander?"

"Up the hallway three blocks," the woman replied, "Near the diplomatic habitat."

"You are in luck," Thyra said cheerfully, looking over at Jörgen, "We were just heading in that direction. Isn't that so, sir?"

"Yes, and quickly," said Jörgen, packing up the medkit. "Where did you come from?"

"From the control center," said Lyxis, clenching her muscles to keep the pain from her face. "He wanted to help. They were behind our lines. I think he lost lots of blood." Her voice lost strength.

"Can you run with her? Perhaps I should carry Lyxis so you can focus on watching the corridor?" Jörgen didn't ask if Thyra was injured. He doubted she would tell him.

"Like my father and mother, I am very strong," Thyra replied as she picked up the pace, "and I can see just fine although she might compromise my ability to fight."

"Then do as you need if a fight comes," said Jörgen. He set out at a fast jog. They were not far now but the alien's ability to strike from hidden places kept them alert. Even with Lyxis on her shoulder, Jörgen trusted her training more than his own. She would likely see danger before he did.

They wove through a ruined hallway and crossed an area devoid of oxygen before arriving at the diplomatic section. The door was intact and did not open when they reached it. Whether anyone was alive was unknown. Jörgen nodded to Thyra, noting that she seemed entirely unwinded, and called out.

"This is Starfleet. Lieutenant Commander Jörgen Leed with Crewman Kevensdotter and Ensign Lyxis. Please let us in."

The door slid open, revealing a large and well-appointed suite. Air wafted out of the room, carrying with it the smell of newness. Slumped on a luxurious couch was an older man, dressed in the purple of the diplomatic corps. On his collar were the pips of a full commander. An assistant kneeled next to him, hypospray in hand, blood covering her right forearm. The ridges on her nose spoke of her Bajoran ancestry. She looked over to the doorway, a desperate look on her face.

"Please, help me," the aide said.

The man's eyes, which had been closed, opened. A faint smile appeared. "Is that you, Jörgen Leed? What miracle brings an old friend to me just when I need one?"

[OFF]

Lieutenant Commander Jörgen Leed
Chief Diplomatic Officer
USS Firebird NCC-88298

Crewman Thyra Kevensdotter
Security Officer
USS Firebird NCC-88298

 

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