A wolf in sheep's clothing Pt 7

Posted on Thu May 9th, 2024 @ 4:36pm by Commodore Finchley Kerr & Lieutenant Commander Shr'Nesh Karadis & Lieutenant Commander Wyatt Steele & Lieutenant Evelyn Steele & Captain Kevin, Lord Kilbane of Sanquhar

Mission: The missions never over.
Location: The city shrine, Sestus One.
Timeline: Current.

Wyatt got the disruptor and the D'k tagh. he handed Eve the disruptor as he placed the dagger in his waistband. "Eve, you lean on me. I'll support you, my legs are okay, my vision is wonky especially with the right one almost closed."

Eve nodded. “I’ll do my best...to guide you.” She smiled as best as she could.

Finchley steadied Karadis and helped her to the door, "No heroics Karadis, just a steady pace, if we encounter any Klingon's, kill them, it's that simple."

Karadis nodded, she didn't need to be encouraged any more than that. Moving out into the corridor, she used the wall to help her stay upright. She was surprised that no other Klingon's were present, were they so sure that none of her group were able to move let alone escape?

It didn't take 'to' long before they were at the door to the chamber that they'd been taken to to meet and be tortured by T'kLar, and inside, voices could be heard, but nothing distinguishable.

Finchley looked round and asked Eve and Wyatt, "How are you two baring up?"

Wyatt looked up at Finchley as he and Eve came to a stop. he was supporting Eve the best he could to avoid doing any more damage to her broken ribs, "Just fine sir. Nothing a month on Wrigley's Pleasure Planet wouldn't cure."

“I’ll survive” Eve offered Finchley a brief smile. “Besides it wouldn’t...be very professional of me...if I gave up now...would it?”

Despite the seriousness of their situation, Wyatt couldn't help but chuckle at Eve's statement and the not-so-subtle zinger at the captain.

The 'being professional' dig at Finchley was now being taken too far, and his head whipped around to look at directly at Eve, but said nothing, what he had said to her was true, and he would ensure it stayed that way, he had already planned how to show her he wasn't kidding.

Suddenly, a scream came from within the room where he knew Kilbane was being kept and tortured. Finchley silently pointed to Wyatt to take up position on the near side of the door, where he could open it. He himself limped over to stand opposite the door.

Wyatt saw Finchley look hard at Eve and knew that didn't bode well for her/them But before he could think more on it a scream came from inside a room. He saw the captain point for him to take a position on the near side of the door.. Leaving Eve with Karadis, Wyatt got into position and waited.

Finchley used hand signals to Wyatt to infer that once he opened the door, he was to fire on anyone to their left of the door in the room, except Kilbane if he was there, and Finchley would fire on anyone on the right.

Wyatt nodded his head to show he understood the captain's instructions. he just waited for the door to open.

Finchley took a breath, he wasn't in decent shape, none of them were, but he needed to act as quickly as he could. The good thing was that they had surprise on their side, and those seconds could be vital. He nodded his head to Wyatt.

Wyatt returned the nod. He brought the disrupter up and was ready to start shooting as soon as the captain opened the door.

Taking the sideline with Karadis, Eve gave her a curious look. “So what do you think? Do we stand a chance of getting the hell out of here?”

"That depends" Karadis replied, "If the Captain goes in there to rescue Kilbane and manages to do so without getting himself or Lieutenant Steele killed, he then has two choices. He can capture or kill Tk'Lar then try to make it back to the Thall with us in the state we're in. Or...he can try to kill or capture Tk'Lar then go and try to free the cities citizens from the mines, and then try to get us back to the Thall when we're more than likely in a worse state than we're in just now, with the possibility of one or more of us not making it. Either way, we're going to be in a bad way or dead, but look on the bright side, at least you'll have done it 'professionally'."

Eve offered a wry smile. “I did kind of rub that in a bit didn’t I?” She grinned but avoided laughing. “I know I’ll be in for an earful later. I know my uncle prefers professionalism but some of us work better when we haven’t got to worry about protocol getting in the way.”

"Listen to me" Karadis replied, an honesty in her eyes and demenour, not anger "Protocols have kept the Captain, myself and Kilbane alive all the time we've been together, which is pretty significant now. All those like you and Steele there", she thumbed at Wyatt, "who've joined this crew but haven't followed them, or 'thought they got in the way, are dead, mostly on some God forsaken piece of rock, or shithole in the middle of nowhere. However, if that's the way you want it, if that's the way both of you want to continue to act, fill your boots. Just know that none of the three of us will bat an eyelid if it get's you killed, because there'll always be someone else to take your place."

With that, she shuffled along the wall towards the door, making herself ready to do what she could once the Captain and Steele went inside the room.

Finchley reached forward with his left hand and took hold of the door handle. Silently he mouthed "Three, two, one..." to Wyatt, then pulled the door open. Limping forward, he leant on the door surround for support as he looked right. He saw Kilbane strapped to a chair, head down, but half sat up, half leaning forward. Two Klingon guards stood to one side, Tk'Lar standing over Kilbane. He brought up the disruptor and shot the two guards, both of whom hit the ground dead. Tk'Lar tried in vain to get behind Kilbane but Finchley shouted "Once more step General and I'll drop you."

Tk'Lar held up his hands, "Even you, Captain Kerr, wouldn't shoot an unarmed officer."

"Mmmmmm, that's where you're wrong Tk'Lar" Finchley replied, adjusting the disruptor setting to stun. He fired and hit the General square in the middle of the chest and watched him drop.

Wyatt had been prepared to fire as he and the captain came through the door instead, he moved to Kilbane and helped the commander to stand. all while he picked up two more disruptors.

"Get him into the corridor" Finchley said to Wyatt, pointing to Kilbane, "I need a word with the General in private."

"Come on Commander. I've got you." Wyatt replied looping and arm around Kilbane's waist to support him.

Kilbane accepted the help, and as they made their way past the prone figure of Tk'Lar, he aimed a less than accurate kick at the Klingon..."Bastard!" he said.

Eve saw Wyatt returning with Kilbane, getting up she looked to Karadis. “Stay here I’ll be right back.” With that she hurried as best as she could to try and help Wyatt with Kilbane.

Once out in the corridor, Kilbane said, "I'll be fine now Lieutenant, but I'll take one of those disruptors" and disengaged himself from Wyatt as he took the weapon. He walked up the corridor a short distance and stopped, he was sure he'd heard the sound of hurried footsteps. He listened again, and sure enough, he was right, he did hear correctly, and those hurried footsteps were coming his way. He signaled back to the others what he'd heard, then knelt down, raised his disruptor and waited to see who it was.

Meantime, Karadis had entered the room where Finchley was to find her CO standing over the Klingon General, his foot on their neck.

"Bird, this isn't the way" she said quietly.

"That bastard tortured us Karadis, turn round and walk away, that's an order!" Finchley said through gritted teeth.

"You know I can't do that Sir" Karadis replied, "not when we have an outside chance of taking him back alive."

"I said turn round and walk away Karadis!!!" Finchley said louder, slowly putting pressure on Tk'Lar's neck, causing the Klingon to now come round and begin to struggle.

Karadis moved further into the room, knowing she walked a knife edge."Killing him won't make you any better than he is, but bringing him to task will bring about justice for those here on Sestus One who have suffered and died under his oppression. Look, I know you're angry, so am I, so are the rest of us that he tortured, but we're better than this."

"NO!!!" Finchley replied, taking his foot off of Tk'Lar's neck, turning to face Karadis, "He didn't just torture us for information, he tortured us because he enjoyed inflicting the pain as well. He's an under cover SFI officer, or have you forgotten that, he's meant to be one of us!"

"I haven't forgotten that, no Sir" Karadis replied, still edging closer to Finchley, "but you have...we have...a chance to find out what happened to him, and what caused him to do what he's done. Also, he could tell us of any further plans the Klingon's have, he's an asset, he needs to be properly questioned back at SFIHQ."

She could see the pain and frustration her Captain was feeling, it was etched all over his face. She slowly reached out her hand, "Please give me the disruptor Sir....please" she said.

Finchley turned back to face Tk'Lar and raised the disruptor, then looked back at Karadis, then back at Tk'Lar again. His hand shook in anger and frustration, his finger slowly reaching the firing mechanism.

Tk'Lar just laughed weakly, "You can't do it Captain, you don't have it in you to kill me" he taunted Finchley.

Karadis was now literally at Finchley's shoulder, "He's wrong, you do Sir, but you won't because that's not how we do things, the mission always comes first, our feelings after."

It was at this point, out in the corridor. that Kilbane yelled, "Incoming!", as the first of the Klingon guards came into view. The first couple of Klingon's came into sight, and Kilbane took aim and fired, felling them both. The next two hardly had time to stopand realise what had just happened before they too were shot down. The next two, seeing their four fallen comrades, stopped and began firing back, causing Kilbane to duck and scramble as best he could back down the corridor.

In the room, Finchley gave Karadis a look of dismay, then told her "Watch him,if he tries to get up, make him pay!"

Karadis nodded and watched as her CO made his way to the door of the room. Turning back to the General she said, "I wouldn't antagonise the Captain, he will actually kill you if he has to."

"We'll see" Tk'Lar replied.

Finchley looked out and up the corridor, and seeing Kilbane crawling back towards him, he instinctively moved to meet him and help him get back into cover at the door.

"How many are there?" Finchley asked.

"I'm not sure Bird, I took four out, and I know there were another two, but that's all" Kilbane replied, grateful to be in a little bit cover.

Finchley looked at Eve and Wyatt and said, "Both of you, in here, now!"

Wyatt looked over at Eve and nodded to Finchley, "Yes sir."

“Aye Captain” Eve followed her husband in.

"We've been in a few tight spots before Sir" Kilbane said, "but this is a little too tight for my liking. As far as we know, there's only one way in and out of here, and the Klingon's are in the way. What's the plan?"

Finchley thought fast, they needed an 'out'...and he knew exactly how they could achieve it.

"Lieutenant Steele" he said to Wyatt, "bring the General to me, and make sure he knows he doesn't have any kind of bargaining chips in this, he's the one who's going to get us out of this situation."

"Yes sir." Wyatt replied. "I'll do exactly that."

With Tk'Lar brought to him, Finchley looked at the General and said, "You're going to tell your soldiers to drop their weapons and allow is to pass or I'll kill you."

"You know I'm not going to do that Captain Kerr" Tk'Lar replied smugly.

"Give me your dagger Karadis" Finchley said to Karadis,holding his hand out.

Unsure of his intention, Karadis felt she had no option but to follow her CO's request, she handed it over.

Looking at Tk'Lar Finchley said, "Give the order."

"No" Tk'Lar replied.

Reversing the dagger in his hand, Finchley plunged it deep into Tk'Lars thigh, deeper than the General had done to him, then twisted it.

Tk'Lar screamed in pain and doubled over, clutching his thigh.

"If I remove that Dk' tagh, you'llbleed out in minutes and die" Finchley said, bending down to whisper harshly in the Generals ear, "But if I leave it there, you'll bleed very slowly but still be alive. Now, you're going to give the order I gave you to your soldiers only now, they'll be told to get in this room!"

"Alright...alright!!!" Tk'Lar answered through gritted teeth. Still bent over, he relayed the message to his soldiers, who in turn slowly put their weapons down and began walking towards the group.

Finchley turned to them all and said, "Right, all of you, make your way along the corridor and upstairs to the shrine and wait for me there."

Karadis limped past him, a look of such intensity in her eyes, "What are you going to do Bird?" she asked.

"That's no concern of yours Karadis, my concern is to see to it that you all get out of here safely" he replied, giving an equally intense stare back. She simply sighed and walked away, nodding to Eve to help Kilbane and Wyatt to follow her.

Eve did her best to help Kilbane as they headed up the stairs, she knew better than to argue with her uncle especially with him in such a mood.

Wyatt silently moved to stand alongside Karadis, "Let me help you Commander,:" He said softly as he looped an arm around her waist.

"Thank you Lieutenant" Karadis said to Wyatt, accepting his help. As they reached the end of the corridor, she glanced round and saw Finchley standing behind Tk'Lar, a disruptor aimed at the base of the Generals skull. There was no knowing what the Captain had in mind, all she knew was that he'd do what it took to get them out, even if it was at the risk of his own life.

Finchley saw that his crew had made it out and up the stairs, and now he had to deal with his situation. He watched as the Klingon soldiers walked past him and into the room.

"Up against the wall, all of you" Finchley said to the soldiers, watching as they slowly, very slowly complied, but being ready to rush him if he made any kind of mistake.

Finchley moved his mouth close to T'kLars ear and said "This is what happens when you fuck with me and torture my crew you bastard!", and raising the disruptor, he shot the soldiers down where they stood.

Shoving T'kLar along the corridor, he walked behind him, the disruptor trained on him. They both emerged from the stairway and into the shrine, and Finchley shoved the General into a seat.

"Lieutenant Steele" he said to Wyatt, "Find us a usable land hopper and bring it to the shrine entrance."

Wyatt nodded."I'll find us something appropriate sir, have no worries. Give me five minutes." Then he was gone slipping out of the shrine.

Looking at Eve he said, "When we're back on the ship, I want you to question Tk'Lar, find out all you can about why he was sent here, yes, the dilithium ore's important, but there has to be more to it than that, you don't just invade a planet for that alone. Use any means necessary, have you got that...any means, to get the information."

“Any means...Aye Sir” Eve nodded knowing exactly what Finchley meant. She was trained to use her telepathic abilities to get inside people’s heads for information, but she’d rarely used them that way. She wasn’t looking forward to having to do it, if it was necessary.

Karadis moved over to an exhausted looking Finchley and asked "What happened down there?"

"I explained to the General there why it wasn't such a good idea for him to torture the crew" Finchley replied.

"Explained?" Karadis went on.

"Yes, in the appropriate manner that he'd understand" Finchley replied, "So let's drop it and figure out what to do next once we have the General back on the ship.

Once outside the shrine, Wyatt began his search. The depot was out. The land hoppers there were all destroyed. Then he thought on it, The General! he moved stealthily as he came to the General's quarters (An old, elegant looking house he had taken over) parked outside was a sand hopper a big one with the General's insignia. "Perfect!" He exclaimed as he moved to it, got inside and started it. Moments later he was outside the shrine. Hopping out he made his way back inside. ""Ride's here, time to go."

Eve nodded as she assisted Kilbane to his feet. “Let’s get the hell out of here, I for one am looking forward to getting back to the ship.”

Watching Eve help Kilbane outside and onto the sand hopper, Karadis turned to Finchley and asked "What really happened down there?"

"As I said, I explained things in a way the General would understand" Finchley replied.

"You killed the soldiers didn't you" Karadis said.

"Did you see me kill them?" Finchley asked.

"How could I, I was up here!" Karadis stated.

"Then you're just guessing" Finchley replied, "but feel free to go back down there and check, only...don't expect us to be waiting for you when you return."

"You really are a cold hearted bastard...Sir!" Karadis replied, spitting in Finchley's face and walking away.

Finchley slowly wiped the spittle off his skin with the back of his hand. He knew she was angry with him, but he needed her to remain like that for what came next. He himself gathered up Tk'Lar and they exited the shrine and climbed aboard the sand hopper.

"Home James, and don't spare the horses" Finchley said to Wyatt.

Despite the pain he was in Wyatt replied with a mock British accent "Ah, yes sir. Very good sir." As he put the hopper in gear and the team headed back to the Thall.

Then looking at the General he said, "I'm going to enjoy watching every single piece of information get ripped out of your brain, and when it's over, you'll just be a shell...a husk...a hollow shadow of what you are now."

Looking at Eve he re-iterated, "Any means..."

Eve gave her uncle a nod of her head. “Yes Sir!”