Episode 68. Tholian Onslaught
Context
- Coordinated Universal Time
- Wednesday, August 7, 2024 - 22:19
- 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 | 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, Lebeau, 4 soldiers Charlie Unit: 9 soldiers |
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 exit ticket.
Tholian (Aragthonian)
...Skrrkk chlkkk tsssk zzzip sssschk...
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Do not stop 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 this critical instant, a Tholian manages to cross the dome.
Its legs rise above me, ready to skewer me.
I fall backward while continuing to fire.
Useless.
My phaser has no effect.
Tarsi then throws herself forward.
Her ushaan-tor flash out.
A clean movement.
Precise.
She slices through the creature's legs, then follows with a double jumping 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?!
Is that unlocking coming or not?!
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 we hurt them with those?
Cmdr. Tarsi
Weapons that inflict physical damage?
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Good idea, Eros.
Load them and distribute them to the team.
Cpl. Lebeau (Army)
Done, Colonel!
The door is open!
Col. Robert Gomard (Army)
Go! Go! Go!
Everyone inside!
Tholian (Aragthonian)
...Skrrkk chlkkk tsssk zzzip sssschk...
Cmdr. Tarsi
Careful, Colonel!
They are throwing crystalline fragmentation grenades!
The projectiles roll across the floor and pass through the dome as if it did not exist.
Tarsi grabs Colonel Gomard and yanks him violently inside the shaft.
The detonations ring out.
Sharp crystal shards burst in every direction.
Four soldiers are cut down on the spot.
Cmdr. Tarsi
Help me close this door!
Col. Robert Gomard (Army)
Lebeau, find me something to block it!
Cpl. Lebeau (Army)
Make room, Colonel.
I am going to weld it shut.
Ens. Eros Vitos (Weapons Engineer)
For God's sake...
There are only five of us left!
It is like the movie Alien.
We are all going to die one after another!
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Calm down, Eros.
We will make it out.
Ens. Eros Vitos (Weapons Engineer)
Easy for you to say, Captain!
You are former 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)
We gather all the weapons.
And we go down those ladders.
Ens. Eros Vitos (Weapons Engineer)
Damn...
You cannot even see the bottom.
Cmdr. Tarsi
According to the tricorder readings, the depth is about two hundred meters.
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 cast 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 breath... and begin the descent.