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Post by Captain Elizabeth Razzor on Jul 26, 2019 15:34:05 GMT -5
Liz returned to her cabana, untying the flowered sarong from around her hips she dropped the wispy silk wraparound onto her bed and walked out onto her patio. She had a few moments to relax before her dinner with Val and Zee. Her eyes scanned the horizon as she watched the lovely sunset of the twins suns. Her mind drifted off to thoughts about her husband and she felt the longing of the feeling of being in his strong arms weigh heavily on her. Her temporary assignment to command the Gigantes had taken longer than expected....She knew Marzz was understanding...given the nature of what he now knew of her past...but this was perhaps testing the man's resolve...however she also knew in her heart he was a life long line officer himself...and he knew the life..and what it entailed...
She sighed some and leaned on the railing, closing her eyes trying to recall the safety she felt whenever in his embrace.
Her reprieve was not a long one as her PADD buzzed, interrupting her pleasant reverie. She picked up her PADD and quirked a brow as she saw the message and the depth of its encoding and encryption. She smirked as she muttered softly to herself as she keyed in her old access codes.
"Been a while..." She entered the last level and looked at the messaged which read simply...
She took a long moment to take in the symbol and her full understanding of its true implications and just who had sent it, without hesitation she keyed in her response. Ensuring it was equally encrypted as the original message she hit send.
She watched as her response was delivered and as both the message and her answer were deleted to the point of non-existence from her PADD. She turned her gaze out to the dimly appearing stars and sighed an enigmatic sigh. After a few moments she pushed herself off of the railing and returned to her cabana to prepare for dinner with her friends.
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Post by Captain Elizabeth Razzor on Aug 6, 2019 19:40:03 GMT -5
Liz returned to her cabana as the Risan suns finally set. The silence of the semi darkened room served as a reminder that Marrzz's all to brief appearance and her respite had come to an end. She smiled and leaned against the door frame a moment, allowing her arms to come up around in her in memory of being once more in his arms. Her smile faded, memory waved away as if nothing more than wisps of smoke as she saw her PADD had been moved to the central room's coffee table.
She sighed and padded over to the replicator and ordered herself a cold beer before heading over to activate it. She watched as a single phrase appeared...a text message awaiting her answer...
---COMMENCE TRANSMISSION---
CONTROL:
Aquarius
Liz took a sip of her beer and keyed in her response....
AQUARIUS:
Standing by, send traffic.
Instantly she got her response...
CONTROL:
Review, confirm and recommend.
She sighed some yet her eyes remained fixed on the screen with a hint of cool lethality as the screen came to life. She waited patiently as both of her retinas and her neurological sensor data had been scanned.
Incident Log I-3456-032
WARNING, ATTEMPTED ACCESS DETECTED. SCANNING FOR PROPER CREDENTIALS.
CREDENTIALS RECOGNIZED. LEVEL ████ CLEARANCE GRANTED.
The following incident details a possible SRA-3456 manifestation in the Large Magellanic Cloud, Sector 2030, ███ colony world of ██████, following a massive earthquake. Several ██████ reconnaissance teams were deployed, assigned to the USS Solomani as a geological research team. Away teams with the recon elements embedded made planetfall following the evacuation of the colony's second largest city, to assess whether or not the earthquake had been caused by an anomaly. All that was understood at this time according to Avynei assets were several unknown anomalies were reported to manifest in several locations during and shortly after the quake, resulting in 2,562 missing sentients. ██████ reconnaissance personnel were not expected to encounter SRA-3456 at this time, as manifestations of the reported anomalies had ceased in the prohibited zone 64 hours after the majority of the civilian population was evacuated. No coherent descriptions of the unknown anomalies had been as of yet consistent, that and SRA-3456 were believed non-native to the Large Magellanic Cloud.
Incident Log I-3456-32
Foreword: ██████ Reconnaissance teams were deployed in squads of 4, with one member of each team possessing helmet-mounted camera equipment. The following log details the events surrounding Squad 3. 3 of the 8 teams were noted to have encountered SRA-3456; however, the cameras for Squads 1 and 6 were destroyed early during interaction with SRA-3456 entities and not recovered until far after the encounter. This log is a transcript of the audio and visual feeds between Squad 3 and Command. Other members of the squad were not subject to audio communications between Commander Bryans and the ██████ communications officer in the Bulwark class shuttlecraft deployed on site.
Begin Log...Stardate ██████
[The helmet mounted camera is switched on as the reconnaissance squad departs their shuttlecraft. The street depicted both in front and behind the unit, as the camera swerves with the operatives head, is noted to have sustained significant structural damage, with many visible points where the concrete of the vehicular roads has buckled or split apart.]
Bryans: This is reconnaissance squad 3, Orange Leader. Command, do you read?
Command: We read you Orange Leader.
[The feed turns to the left and the right, noting two other individuals, each equipped with standard field agent equipment.]
Bryans: Mic check?
Lopez: Lopez reporting.
Chou: Check, Check, is this thing working?
Byers: Reading you loud and clear, Commander.
[Bryans is seen pointing at the screen.]
Bryans: Command, is the camera in Byers' helmet transmitting?
Command: We're getting clear transmission from the camera. Navigation is sending you coordinates to each of your armor's tricorders. Agents Lopez and Chou have been provided ███ counters. Remember, any deviation from the norm is grounds for further investigation. Should you encounter an anomaly, radio its location and containment teams will be deployed. Under no circumstances is your squad to engage an anomaly. From this point forward, communications with Command will be directed to you.
Bryans: Roger, Command.
[The camera tilts slightly downward, pointing at a square device on Agent Byers wrist.]
Bryans: Ok, our target is 3 clicks south. We'll have to cross the ████ river here. Chou, Lopez, I want those ███ counters counting as we're moving. The moment those levels look weird, you say something, got it?
Lopez: Yes sir!
Chou: Got it.
Bryans: Byers you stick close to me.
[For the next 10 minutes, Squad 3 moves through five blocks of damaged buildings and roadways, with no signs of anomalous activity.]
Lopez: Hey boss, my counter just got a huge spike.
Chou: Was about to say, my needle went all the way into the red for about three seconds.
[Bryans holds up his hand to stop; the reconnaissance members stop in the street. Byers moves slowly in a 360 degree arc as she attempts to locate the source of the elevated Hume readings.]
Bryans: Command, you got all that right?
Command: We got it Orange Leader. We're not picking up anything on the visual or au-...
[At this point Command noted the presence of a dull, rhythmic thumping noise. Intensity of the thumps indicated a distance of roughly 300 m between the source of the disturbance and the camera's microphone.]
Bryans: Command?
Command: Please hold your position, Orange Leader.
Lopez: Boss, do you hear that?
[The sound is noted to have grown slightly louder, and decreased in distance from 300 to 250 meters away.]
Chou: Sounds like a horse walking on pavement.
[The camera begins another 360 degree arc as Agent Byers scans the surrounding environment. The noise abruptly ends after two minutes of continuous increase in intensity.]
Lopez: Holy shit.
Chou: Commander…
Bryans: Command, we might have a problem.
[The camera pans up from the ███ counter on the ground, and captures a blurry image of just what might be SRA-3456 standing in an intersection 200 m away. The camera zooms in on the entity, and Command notes the translucent skin, and fused human torso in the middle of the horse-like back. The torso appears to remain limp and motionless for approximately 30 seconds.]
Bryans: Command, believe we have identified the entity responsible for the quake.
Command: Negative Orange Leader. SRA-3456 can not be responsible for the earthquake. It is a non-native anomaly.
[The communications officer begins talking to one of the higher clearance reconnaissance Command officials]
Command: [overheard by Bryans] O'Donnell! We have a possible confirmed SRA-3456 manifestation!
Bryans: What? That's 3456? What is it doing here?
[The torso begins to move, slowly straightening into an upright position. Its arms begin swinging, damaging or destroying several structures around it, and drawing Bryans' attention.]
Command: Orange Leader, Command has authorized a ███ drone strike. Move your team out of the street and into the high-rise two buildings to your left.
Bryans: Roger Command.
[The camera focuses on Bryan for another five seconds as he turns to address the squad, before focusing on the entity. SRA-3456 has stopped moving its arms. The entity turns towards the reconnaissance team. It emits a loud vocalization for approximately five seconds.]
Command: Orange Leader, get your team out of there! It's seen you!
Bryans points to the side street, and the camera swivels in that direction bringing a large high-rise into frame.
Bryans: Everybody move! Now!
[The camera begins to shake, and tilts down as Byers briefly looks at the ground, before returning to a level view. The feed swivels to the left briefly, and captures the approaching ███ drone, before swiveling to the right. The entity can be seen charging towards the squad, appendages reaching towards the screen. The ███ drone is seen as a blur by the camera, and there is an explosion following a microtorpedo launch, as the entity emits a wail and disappears beneath a cloud of smoke.]
Bryans: Will that kill it, Regina?
Command: No, George. It only slows it down.
[The squad enters the high-rise, and begins climbing the stairs. The camera stops shaking as the squad stops on the 8th floor of the building.]
Bryans: Regina, why the hell is it here.
Command: [An argument can be heard between the communications officer and the head of on-site reconnaissance.]
[The screen begins vibrating excessively, and the sound of SRA-3456 approaching the building can be heard. Bryans is seen directing the squad members to the door of a large utility closet. As Byers closes the door behind them, the video feed displays a shadow blocking out the light of the window.]
[The camera is switched, temporarily, to night vision by Byers. The camera vibrates four more times, before the sound of SRA-3456 approaching stops. The entity can be heard breathing heavily outside the window.]
Bryans: Regina, come in Regina.
Command: [The previously mentioned argument can still be heard.]
Bryans: God Dammit.
Lopez: Wish we had a way to see what that thing is doing out there.
Bryans: We do have a camera.
Byers: I am not sticking my head outside that door!
Chou: Hey this is a utility closet right?
Lopez: Yeah.
Chou: Byers, is there a broom in here?
Lens turns to the left, and a broom can be seen.
Byers: Yeah, right next to you.
Chou: Toss me your helmet.
[The screen wobbles, and is inverted as Agent Byers removes her helmet and hands it to Agent Chou. The camera shakes several times, the click of a flashlight and the sound of tape being torn can be heard.]
[The feed stops shaking, and there is a tapping noise.]
Chou: Ah good, this should let us see what's going on. You've got your remote display on right?
Bryans: We'll be able to see what it's doing out there. Good thinking Chou. Whatever it is I hope it's fucked right off.
Byers: Innovative as always.
Chou: Hey we aims to please girl.
Byers: Look for the monster Chowderhead.
[The feed wobbles back and forth, and the sound of the closet door creaking open can be heard. Night vision is disabled as the lens begins detecting light coming through the window. The entities hands grip the side of the windows, and its face comes into frame from the left. It's eyes move back and forth several times. The entity breaths out briefly, fogging the lens of the camera. It emits a vocalization, causing the camera to drop to the floor. The door is heard slamming shut with the force of the vocalization. The entity lingers in the window for a moment, before releasing the sides, and disappearing from view.]
[SRA-3456's shadow begins moving away from the building and out of frame. The camera shakes, and is slowly pulled back into the utility closet. The camera shakes for 60 seconds before it is handed back to Agent Byers. Three minutes pass before SRA-3456 can no longer be heard. The other three squad members appear visibly shaken by the preceding events.]
Command: Orange Leader, is your squad still intact.
Bryans: Regina, what the hell is going on.
Command: You, and two of the other squads, have encountered SRA-3456. It wasn't supposed to be here.
Bryans: Supposed to be? The hell was Command thinking sending us in without confirmation.
Command: George, this line is being monitored.
Bryans: I don't give a damn. You put me and my team in a hot zone, with a hostile entity that isn't supposed to be here. I need to inform my team!
Command: You can't do that Orange Leader, the security cle-
Bryans: Security clearance be damned, we just starred a demon in the face. You think I give a damn about bureaucratic procedures right now?
[10 seconds of radio silence pass.]
Command: You can't tell them what it is.
Bryans: God dammit Regina.
Command: You can tell them what it doesn't like.
[5 seconds of silence.]
Bryans: Are you talking about…
Command: Fresh water.
[15 seconds of silence.]
Bryans: That's helpful Regina, what are we supposed to do, splash a bottle of water on it and watch it melt?
Command: George, if you get to the bridge over ████, it won't be able to follow.
[Bryans looks down at the display device on his wrist, which lights up.]
Bryans: Regina, the crossing is still 1.5 clicks away. We'll never make it there.
Command: Give me a second.
[30 seconds pass in silence. Bryans' display lights up again, followed by those of the other three squad members. The video feed tilts down.]
Command: Your original route took you across the ████, upstream at a narrow point. I've rerouted you to a closer crossing, at the rivers widest point. It's about 1 km out, and should take about 15 minutes, if you use the buildings for cover. The shuttle is already en-route.
Bryans: Roger Command…what is the status of the other two teams?
Command: [Muffled chatter] We've lost contact.
[He turns and looks at each member of the group, before facing Byers.]
Bryans: Anne, I need you to poke your head out the door, make sure that thing isn't out there.
[Perspective shifts slightly as Byers looks out the closet door. SRA-3456 is not seen.]
Byers: All clear sir.
Bryans: Ok, so here's the deal folks. We got something out there that isn't supposed to be here. Command has our evac en-route, but we need to get over the ████ for them to do that.
Chou: Any particular reason for that? Why can't they just pick us up here?
Bryans: You saw what it can do. Command doesn't want to risk a shuttle getting knocked out of the sky. That thing can't cross freshwater. The widest point of the river is 1 km south. We stick to the shadows, and move fast and quiet. That's all you need to know for now.
[Bryans is seen giving the signal to move out. The squad spends the next 15 minutes moving between different buildings. The squad stops approximately 50 yards from the bridge, a few meters from a large intersection. The frame pans from left to right in a 360 arc as Byers surveys the surrounding buildings. There is no sign of SRA-3456.]
Bryans: Command, we're 50 yards from the bridge. No sign of the entity.
Command: The shuttle should be on the bridge, can you see it?
[Byers turns to the front, and the camera zooms in, capturing a Valkyrie class shuttlecraft on the bridge.]
Bryans: Roger Command, we see it.
Lopez: Sweet Mary, Mother of Jesus we're saved.
[The squad begins walking forward, but stops. The camera experiences several severe vibrations, and a ticking noise begins as Chou's ███ counter buzzes in alarm.]
[SRA-3456 emerges from the street to their left, five meters ahead and turns so that it directly faces the reconnaissance squad. The torso leans down on the right side, and both the horse and the human torso emit a vocalization. From the bridge compression phaser fire can be heard, and seen striking with the entity's skin. Two photon grenades strike the entity along its neck to no effect.]
Bryans: Son of a bitch was waiting for us.
Chou: What do we do now?
[The camera moves down to Bryans, who pulls two canisters from his belt, stun grenades.]
Bryans: We run.
Bryans flips the pin on the grenades and looks back at the squad.
Bryans: Shield your eyes. Hey ugly!
[Bryans throws the grenades into the air, and begins running forwards. Byers looks down to avoid the flash. There is a bang, and the entity is heard wailing. Byers looks back up, Lopez and Bryans can be seen in front, They've nearly reached the bridge. The camera turns slightly to the left, and Chou can be seen running alongside Byers.]
[The feed suddenly spins. Byers is level with the ground, and begins sliding backwards. The camera lifts up, and Byers can be heard screaming. Perspective tilts up, and shows the entity's hand wrapped around Byers' left leg. Byers head tilts back to a more level angle, depicting her ascent into the air as she continues screaming. The camera stops moving up, and focuses on SRA-3456's face, at which time it is noted to be smiling. The lens attempts to focus on something embedded within the entities forehead, and zooms in. A golden crucifix, and a World War 1 British infantry helmet can be seen before the camera feed terminates.]
End log
Postword: Time-stamps from visual footage indicate that SRA-3456 de-manifested at the termination of the video feed. Agents Anne Byers, and Louzon Chou have been declared missing, and remain unaccounted for.
Liz closed her eyes a long moment as she let the implications sink in of what she had just witnessed sank in. Her eyes drifted back to the text box and she keyed in her response.
AQUARIUS:
Review complete, Concur that SRA-3456 manifestation confirmed. Recommend the following, SRA-3956 reclassification as ███-3956, LMC active. Withdraw ██████ reconnaissance teams from until reorganization/restructuring has been completed. Brief our new allied assets to the fullest and again recommend further consideration on my theory of /her/ involvement with such anomalies both in our galaxy and the LMC.
CONTROL:
Understood and will comply. Who briefs 001?
Liz stared at the screen a moment and then leaned in and typed ...
AQUARIUS:
I do.
CONTROL:
Understood.
---END TRANSMISSION---
Liz sat back with her beer and watched as her PADD was swiftly purged and restored to its previous set up and operational status. As it finished she turned her gaze out across the now darkened skies and set her jaw.
"Damn...."
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