Episode 71. Old Tools, New War
Context
- Coordinated Universal Time
- Thursday, August 8, 2024 - 00:51
- Location
-
- Earth
- Russia
- Moscow
- Subterranean Network
- Main Block
- Kremlin HQ
- Timeline
- Schak'Irra Timeline
- Previously
-
After landing on a ruined Red Square, Agnes's squad infiltrated the vast underground network beneath Moscow. They discovered a mass grave and lost Delta and Foxtrot Units, wiped out by the Tholians. Only Agnes, Tarsi, Eros, Gomard, and Lebeau survived, descending to the main block where they captured Yevgeny Prigozhin. Tarsi cracked the Kremlin systems: the recordings incriminate the Minister of Defense, the State Duma, and the FSB in the launch of the July 15 nuclear strikes, and old archives show that aliens, possibly the crew of the Schak'Irra, were captured in 1954. Facing a dead end, Prigozhin offered a deal: he would guide the team toward Putingrad (Gelendzhik) in exchange for his freedom, a fragile alliance accepted for lack of any alternative.
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 |
| Yevgeny Prigozhin | Russian Empire / Private Militia | Militia Leader | Human | Schak'Irra Timeline |
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 |
| Counselor/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, Charlie Unit: 9 soldiers |
TL;DR
Tarsi continues searching the Kremlin computers while Agnes watches the chaos ravaging Moscow's underground levels on the monitors. The Tholians keep advancing, impossible to reason with and unaffected by universal translators. Time is running out. Thanks to Tarsi's knowledge, the team understands that the creatures are vulnerable to firearms and extreme temperature shifts. As they debate an escape plan, Prigozhin reveals that a convoy of Soviet weapons is waiting in an underground station: a steam locomotive, two T-34 tanks, and several armored vehicles. A relic from the past century, but perhaps their only chance to flee toward Putingrad. Despite Agnes's doubts, Eros volunteers to drive the locomotive, Gomard to operate the cannon, and Tarsi suddenly warns that the Tholians have just reached their level. The time to run is approaching.
Story
While Tarsi continues her investigation on the Kremlin computers, my eyes stay fixed on the surveillance screens.
They show the raw horror unfolding in Moscow's underground levels.
Scenes of violence, endless clashes... everything confirms the chaos around us.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Tarsi, what can stop the Tholians?
Cmdr. Tarsi
I would say... negotiation, first of all.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Are you serious?!
Those creatures talk?
Cmdr. Tarsi
Yes, Tholians talk.
But for some unknown reason, the universal translator doesn't work on them, even though their language is recorded.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Maybe they have several dialects.
Did you think of that?
Cmdr. Tarsi
I did, yes.
But the Federation has maintained relations with them for several centuries, tense ones, admittedly, without ever running into communication problems.
Ens. Eros Vitos (Weapons Engineer)
Uh... stupid question.
What if the translator itself is simply defective?
Cmdr. Tarsi
No, Eros.
We all have individual portable translators.
If one fails, the others take over.
It is highly unlikely that they all became defective at the same time... especially since they work perfectly well for understanding the Russians.
Yevgeny Prigozhin (Militia Leader)
Comrade, I confirm.
I understand your rudimentary Russian perfectly.
Cmdr. Tarsi
You must be the exception that proves the rule, because for a while now, all we've been asking you to do is shut your big mouth.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
So we don't have a choice.
We'll have to fight them.
What are their weak points?
Cmdr. Tarsi
They are vulnerable to conventional firearms.
They also react very badly to temperature variations.
Intense heat or extreme cold can weaken them... even neutralize them.
Col. Robert Gomard (Army)
With our friend's arsenal, we have enough to give them a beating.
Look, Agnes. Napalm mines.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
You are completely insane, Robert!!!
We're underground.
If even one of those things explodes, we're all done for!
Col. Robert Gomard (Army)
I know.
But for our escape to Putingrad by train, we'll have to mine the track behind us.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Myeah...
We still have to reach the station in one piece and find a means of transport.
Yevgeny Prigozhin (Militia Leader)
Ahem... ahem!
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
What now, big guy?
Yevgeny Prigozhin (Militia Leader)
On the platforms, there is already a convoy of weapons cars, ready to be hauled by a 4-6-0 class E locomotive from the Great Patriotic War.
A true little jewel of Russian engineering.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
A World War II steam locomotive... loaded with weapons?
Yevgeny Prigozhin (Militia Leader)
Yep, little lady.
Two T-34 tanks, armored vehicles... and three BM-21 Grads.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
In other words, nothing but heavy, antique arsenal, perfectly useless for fighting in confined spaces!
Yevgeny Prigozhin (Militia Leader)
Wrong.
One of the T-34s is loaded on the last railcar.
Its cannon is aimed backward.
Col. Robert Gomard (Army)
Hmm...
Combined with laying napalm mines, that could block the track and keep the Tholians from following us.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Uh, Robert...
For your information, none of us is familiar with his great-great-grandfather's technology.
Who's going to drive the loco?
Who's going to fire the shells?
Yevgeny Prigozhin (Militia Leader)
My men can handle that.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Keep dreaming, big guy.
Your role is to escort us to Putingrad.
After that, everyone goes home.
Ens. Eros Vitos (Weapons Engineer)
Captain...
I can drive the locomotive.
I know the basics. Not academically, but... enough.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Are you certain you know how to drive this kind of machine, Eros?
Ens. Eros Vitos (Weapons Engineer)
If I say so, Captain.
Col. Robert Gomard (Army)
And I can fire the shells from the T-34.
One archaic tank isn't going to stop me.
Cmdr. Tarsi
Agnes, I don't want to alarm you, but the Tholians have just reached our level and should be knocking at the door any minute now.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Understood.
Get ready to move out.