Episode 67. The Aragthonian Nest
Context
- Coordinated Universal Time
- Wednesday, August 7, 2024 - 21:12
- Location
-
- Earth
- Russia
- Moscow
- Subterranean Network
- Main Block
- Timeline
- Schak'Irra Timeline
- Previously
-
Agnes Rodriguez's squad has managed to enter the Kremlin underground after surviving a missile storm. Alpha, Delta, and Foxtrot units advance through the tunnels toward the central block, guided by Tarsi's scans. The atmosphere is oppressive: strange noises, uncertain life signs, and the feeling of being watched. As they pass through the last armored door, the tension reaches its peak, and the mystery of the recurring metallic noise remains unexplained.
Characters
| Name | Affiliation / Branch | Title / Rank | Species | Original Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agnes V. Rodriguez | NATO / Special Fleet | Captain | Human | Schak'Irra Timeline |
| Tarsi | Starfleet / Temporal Division | Commander | Andorian | Prime Timeline |
| Robert Gomard | NATO / Army | Colonel | Human | Schak'Irra Timeline |
| Eros Vitos | NATO / Special Fleet | Ensign | Human | Schak'Irra Timeline |
| Charlie Unit | NATO / Army | Support Unit | Human | Schak'Irra Timeline |
| Delta Unit | NATO / Army | Assault Unit | Human | Schak'Irra Timeline |
| Foxtrot Unit | NATO / Army | Recon Unit | Human | Schak'Irra Timeline |
| Unknown / Alien / Tholians (Aragthonians) | Tholian Assembly | N/A | Tholian | N/A |
Manifest
| USS Enterprise | |
|---|---|
| Affiliation | NATO |
| Location | Earth Orbit |
| Captain | Agnes V. Rodriguez |
| First Officer | Angie Chen |
| Pilot | Eric Corda |
| Communications | Emilie Flores |
| Operations | Charlene Savea |
| Tactical | Eric Corda Charlene Savea |
| Science | Manu |
| Advanced Weapons | Eros Vitos |
| Sickbay | Victor S. Calpel |
| Advisor/Consultant | Manu |
| Custodian | Manu |
| Passengers | Tarsi (Confidential) Robert Gomard and his squad |
| Ground Teams |
Alpha Unit: Robert Gomard, Agnes V. Rodriguez, Eros Vitos, Tarsi, 5 soldiers Charlie Unit: 9 soldiers Delta Unit: 9 soldiers Foxtrot Unit: 9 soldiers |
TL;DR
Entering the main block, the squad discovers a colossal mass grave: thousands of Russian bodies, torn apart by an unknown force. Communications degrade, then familiar noises echo, the same ones heard in the tunnels. Delta and Foxtrot units are decimated in seconds by translucent creatures with orange reflections. Tarsi identifies the attackers: Tholians, also known as Aragthonians. Surrounded, Agnes, Gomard, Tarsi, and Vitos desperately try to raise defensive domes while the creatures descend on them by the hundreds.
Story
Delta Unit has just unlocked the door to the main block.
It opens slowly, with a metallic grinding sound that echoes for a long time in the darkness, adding even more anxiety to this gloomy place.
Inside, the room is plunged into shadow.
Colonel Gomard's soldiers turn on their flashlights.
And the shock hits us without any filter.
A mountain of corpses.
Russian soldiers... and civilians.
Piled on top of one another.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
My God...
What a horror.
What happened here?
Ens. Eros Vitos (Weapons Engineer)
It is a real mass grave.
Col. Robert Gomard (Army)
At least these Russians will not get in our way.
Come on... let us not linger. Move forward.
Cmdr. Tarsi
These people were not killed by conventional weapons.
Look at the mutilations.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Indeed.
There are no traces of firearms.
Radiation does not cause wounds like that.
Ens. Eros Vitos (Weapons Engineer)
Uh...
Does that not scare you?
If the Russians are capable of such atrocities toward their own, what will they do to us if they capture us?
Col. Robert Gomard (Army)
Ensign Vitos, know that Russian atrocity has no limit.
Move forward.
Cmdr. Tarsi
Wait.
I am detecting many life signs...
About ten meters away, in the vast area ahead of us.
Unknown
...Skrrkk chlkkk tsssk zzzip sssschk...
Ens. Eros Vitos (Weapons Engineer)
That noise again...
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Stop moving, Robert.
Let us take stock.
Tarsi, show me the map.
Cmdr. Tarsi
The area ahead of us is an immense cube about fifty stories high, surrounded by peripheral corridors.
At its center, several vertical shafts.
They are probably used for ventilation... or freight elevators.
We need to use them to reach the lowest point.
That is where the command center is located.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
How can you be so sure?
Cmdr. Tarsi
By deduction.
It is the most secure area of the complex.
The walls are thicker, the materials reinforced, and access is locked by several successive armored doors.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Then let us secure the level where we are first.
After that, we will take the access ramps leading to those shafts.
Col. Robert Gomard (Army)
Very well.
Delta Unit, clear the left corridor.
Foxtrot Unit, the right corridor is yours.
Alpha Unit, with me.
We advance through the central corridor.
Rally point in front of the shafts.
Execute!
Delta Unit
Aye, Colonel!
Foxtrot Unit
Aye, Colonel!
Col. Robert Gomard (Army)
Hello Charlie Unit, this is Alpha Unit.
Everything under control on your side?
Charlie Unit
This is Charlie Unit.
The rubble has been cleared in the metro tunnel.
The shuttles have been moved closer to the entrance.
We are awaiting your instructions.
Col. Robert Gomard (Army)
Hold your position.
Continue watching the bunker access.
Alpha Unit, out.
Our three units split up, each following its progression plan.
Then, almost immediately after they disappear from view, the silence breaks.
Phaser discharges.
Screams.
And very quickly, I understand that those screams are not Russian.
Delta Unit
Hello Alpha Unit...
We are being overwhelmed by-
AAAAAAAH!!!
Col. Robert Gomard (Army)
Delta Unit, fall back!
Delta Unit, do you read me?!
Delta Unit
[...]
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Good God...
We are in deep trouble.
Ens. Eros Vitos (Weapons Engineer)
Captain...
Do I have permission to freak out?
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
That is your right, Eros.
We are all scared.
Cmdr. Tarsi
This is not a good sign.
You were right, Agnes.
This mission is suicidal.
We are losing men by the handful.
Colonel, you must call Foxtrot back immediately!
Col. Robert Gomard (Army)
Hello Foxtrot, this is Alpha.
What is your situation?
Foxtrot Unit
Monsters...
Giant things are coming down on us!
AAAAAAHHH!
Col. Robert Gomard (Army)
Foxtrot!
Foxtrooooooot!!
Foxtrot Unit
...Skrrkk chlkkk tsssk zzzip sssschk...
Cmdr. Tarsi
Look...
At the far end of the area.
We are not alone.
Silhouettes slowly emerge from the darkness.
Massive forms.
Segmented.
Chitinous.
They advance with a dry, almost mechanical clicking.
Alien
...Skrrkk chlkkk tsssk zzzip sssschk...
Col. Robert Gomard (Army)
What are those...
those orange lobsters on legs?
Cmdr. Tarsi
Holy moly...
Tholians.
Tholian (Aragthonian)
...Skrrkk chlkkk tsssk zzzip sssschk...
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Those are the Aragthonians?
They are the ones who attacked us in orbit with their ship?
Cmdr. Tarsi
Yes.
That is them.
Col. Robert Gomard (Army)
Quick!
Fall back toward the shafts!
Run before they cut us off!
Cmdr. Tarsi
Eros, help me deploy several energy domes.
The one we have will not hold long against their fire.
We are going to overlay them to strengthen our protection.
Ens. Eros Vitos (Weapons Engineer)
Understood, Tarsi.
Tholian (Aragthonian)
...Skrrkk chlkkk tsssk zzzip sssschk...
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Form a circle!
Protect Tarsi and Vitos during deployment!
Col. Robert Gomard (Army)
Fire at will!
For God's sake, shoot!
They are coming from every side!
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Robert, our phasers have no effect!
Tarsi, hurry!
Deploy those damn domes, they are on us!
Tholian (Aragthonian)
...Skrrkk chlkkk tsssk zzzip sssschk...