Episode 67. The Aragthonian Nest
Context
- Coordinated Universal Time
- Wednesday, August 7, 2024 - 9:12 PM
- 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 |
|
| Science | Manu |
| Advanced Weapons | Eros Vitos |
| Sickbay | Victor S. Calpel |
| Advisor/Consultant | Manu |
| Custodian | Manu |
| Passengers |
|
| Ground Teams |
|
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 slowly swings open with a metallic groan 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.
Nothing could have prepared us for what we see.
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's a charnel house.
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 gunshot wounds.
Radiation does not cause wounds like that.
Ens. Eros Vitos Weapons Engineer
Uh...
Doesn't this 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 brutality knows no limits.
Move forward.
Cmdr. Tarsi
Wait.
I'm detecting numerous 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's assess the situation.
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
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.
Move out!
Delta Unit
Aye, Colonel!
Foxtrot Unit
Aye, Colonel!
Col. Robert Gomard Army
Charlie, this is Alpha.
Everything under control on your side?
Charlie Unit
This is Charlie.
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 assigned route.
Then, almost as soon as they disappear from sight, the silence breaks.
Phaser discharges.
Screams.
And very quickly, I understand that those screams are not Russian.
Delta Unit
Alpha...
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're in serious trouble.
Ens. Eros Vitos Weapons Engineer
Captain...
Do I have permission to freak out?
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
You have every right to, Eros.
We're all scared.
Cmdr. Tarsi
This is not a good sign.
You were right, Agnes.
This mission is suicidal.
We're losing men left and right.
Colonel, you must call Foxtrot back immediately!
Col. Robert Gomard Army
Foxtrot, this is Alpha.
What is your situation?
Foxtrot Unit
Monsters...
Huge creatures are all over 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 move with a dry, almost mechanical clicking sound.
Alien
...Skrrkk chlkkk tsssk zzzip sssschk...
Col. Robert Gomard Army
What are those...
those orange lobsters on legs?
Cmdr. Tarsi
Good grief...
Tholians.
Tholian / Aragthonian
...Skrrkk chlkkk tsssk zzzip sssschk...
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Those are the Aragthonians?
They're the ones who attacked us in orbit?
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'll layer 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...
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