Episode 68. Tholian Onslaught
Context
- Coordinated Universal Time
- Wednesday, August 7, 2024 - 10:19 PM
- Location
-
- Earth
- Russia
- Moscow
- Subterranean Network
- Main Block
- Timeline
- Schak'Irra Timeline
- Previously
-
After arriving on a ruined Red Square, Agnes, Tarsi, Eros, Gomard, and his commando discovered that Moscow is largely a vast subterranean network where hundreds of thousands of Russians are packed together. Guided by Tarsi's scans, the assault units managed to enter the Kremlin's central block. The door's opening revealed a horrifying mass grave, then the sudden appearance of alien creatures, the Tholians, also known as the Aragthonians, decimated Delta and Foxtrot units. Alpha Unit, now isolated, had to improvise defenses against a massive attack that turned the infiltration into a fight for survival.
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 |
| Lebeau | NATO / Army | Corporal | Human | Schak'Irra Timeline |
| 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
Trapped in the block, the nine remaining members of the operation are overwhelmed by waves of Aragthonians: the energy dome weakens, and the phasers remain ineffective. Thanks to Tarsi and kinetic weapons recovered on the floor, the team manages to open a shaft leading fifty stories down. After bloody losses caused by crystalline fragmentation grenades, the door is welded shut behind them and the group descends into the darkness of the landings: five survivors, no rope, only the hope that the lower levels lead to the Kremlin command center.
Story
At this precise moment, we are fighting for our survival.
After the loss of Delta and Foxtrot units, Alpha Unit must face a new enemy alone: the Aragthonians, also known as the Tholians.
There are only nine of us left: me, Tarsi, Ensign Vitos, Colonel Gomard, and five soldiers, caught in a pincer by these creatures emerging from everywhere, by the hundreds.
The energy dome keeping them at bay is visibly weakening.
Behind us, the vertical shafts.
Our only way out.
Our last chance.
Tholian / Aragthonian
...Skrrkk chlkkk tsssk zzzip sssschk...
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Keep firing!
Col. Robert Gomard Army
Tarsi, what is behind that door?
Cmdr. Tarsi
One of the shafts leading to the Kremlin command center.
Fifty stories down.
Col. Robert Gomard Army
Corporal Lebeau!
Unlock that damn armored door.
We will cover you!
Cpl. Lebeau Army
Aye, Colonel.
Tholian / Aragthonian
...Skrrkk chlkkk tsssk zzzip sssschk...
At that very moment, a Tholian breaks through the dome.
Its legs loom over me, ready to skewer me.
I stumble backward, still firing.
Useless.
My phaser has no effect.
Tarsi lunges forward.
Her ushaan-tor flash out.
One clean movement.
Precise.
She slices through the creature's legs, then follows with a flying double kick that violently throws the alien out of our protected zone.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
That was close...
Thanks, Tarsi.
Cmdr. Tarsi
Stay on your guard.
Set your phaser to Pulsewave mode to push them back.
Col. Robert Gomard Army
Well, Lebeau?!
What's taking so long?!
Cpl. Lebeau Army
One or two more minutes, Colonel!
Col. Robert Gomard Army
Speed it up, Lebeau!
We will not hold that long!
Ens. Eros Vitos Weapons Engineer
Tarsi...
There are AK-47s on the floor.
Ballistic weapons...
Could these hurt them?
Cmdr. Tarsi
Weapons that inflict physical damage?
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Good idea, Eros.
Load them up and hand them out.
Cpl. Lebeau Army
It's open, Colonel!
Col. Robert Gomard Army
Go! Go! Go!
Everyone inside!
Tholian / Aragthonian
...Skrrkk chlkkk tsssk zzzip sssschk...
Cmdr. Tarsi
Look out, Colonel!
They are throwing crystalline fragmentation grenades!
The projectiles roll across the floor and pass through the dome as if it weren't even there.
Tarsi grabs Colonel Gomard and pulls him violently into the shaft.
The detonations ring out.
Sharp crystal shards burst in every direction.
Four soldiers drop where they stand.
Cmdr. Tarsi
Help me close this door!
Col. Robert Gomard Army
Lebeau, find a way to secure it!
Cpl. Lebeau Army
Make room, Colonel.
I'll weld it shut.
Ens. Eros Vitos Weapons Engineer
Dear God...
There are only five of us left!
It's just like the movie Alien.
We are all going to die one after another!
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Calm down, Eros.
We'll make it.
Ens. Eros Vitos Weapons Engineer
Easy for you to say, Captain!
You used to be in the military.
I am just an engineer!
I never signed up for this kind of mission!
Cpl. Lebeau Army
It is done.
The door is welded shut.
What do we do now, Colonel?
Col. Robert Gomard Army
Grab every weapon you can find.
Then we head down those ladders.
Ens. Eros Vitos Weapons Engineer
Jeez...
You cannot even see the bottom.
Cmdr. Tarsi
According to tricorder readings, it's about two hundred meters down.
Ens. Eros Vitos Weapons Engineer
We do not have any rope to tie ourselves off...
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
No need.
There are landings on every floor.
Col. Robert Gomard Army
Ladies...
After you.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Too gallant, Robert.
Coming, Tarsi?
Cmdr. Tarsi
I am coming, Agnes.
I take one last look behind us.
The welded door vibrates under muffled impacts, as if something is already trying to get through it.
Then I turn my attention back to the void.
Two hundred meters of descent.
Darkness.
And, far below, the heart of the Kremlin.
I take a deep breath... and begin the descent.
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