The Demise

Posted on Sun Oct 14th, 2018 @ 1:55pm by Major Michael Tritter

1,053 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Mission 1: The Return to Faltan
Location: Faltan Station - Outskirts
Timeline: MD09 - 1600 Hours

The Major had finally had a chance to fully get back into his element. A patrol, something soo simple was soo... mentally beneficial to the man. Finally back in the saddle. He had been assigned by Colonel Haversford to lead this patrol through a... slightly questionable area of the base. But he was all too eager to oblige. The Major proceeded to lead the team through the area, methodicly clearing sections at a time, until one of his men had called for the Major.

Corporal Tarif, a Bolian Marine, was leading the squad through the bush on the outskirts of the Station. “Did the Colonel tell you what we’re meant to be looking for, sir.”

The Major's gaze shifted towards the large Bolian, he than took a moment before he replied with the following, "Yes, Corporal. Anything that doesn't belong or seem right" The answer may seem slightly cryptic, but it wad truthful and all he had, little did they know that trusting their insticts would be super important.

“We’ve been at this for hours, Major, the only thing that doesn’t seem right is me not being in the officer’s club at the dabo wheel.” Came the voice of a Private.

“Keep it down, if you have nothing important to say then keep it zipped.” Tarif said, keep his eye down the barrel of his phaser rifle.

The Major's focus shifted towards the Private, he kept his gaze focused down range, the Corporal hit the nail on the head, so he felt no need to add further. He than proceeded to make his way through a few more buildings. He than proceeded to knock on one of the doors, he heard nothing. He attempted to make entry, but he had no luck. He than proceeded to motion over the Corporal for cover so he could force entry.

“These buildings seem to be abandoned for some reason, maybe part of the mining the Faltan’s do here. Perhaps the vein ran dry?” A private said as the squad continued to move forward.

“What’s that?” Tarif said, noticing faint smoke raising nearby.

The Major smelled the smoke shortly before the Corporal mentioned something. He than stated, "Corporal, follow me" He turned and double timed it towards that direction. Once he located the source, they were burning bodies... He knew that meant of two things, either they were burned alive or it was a forensic counter measure. He scanned the area for something to put the fire out with. Little did they know that this was a cover up for something much... larger.

There wasn't much to use, but he knew dirt could put out the fire, this wasn't a raging fire, but more of a smoldering one. So he did his best with dirt to at least smother it so the fire would eventually die.

“Seems like an unusual place to have a small fire.” The Bolian commented, as he glanced the floor, foot prints visibly seen. “Looks like we have a lead, sir.” Tarif said pointing to the tracks.

The Major shifted his focus towards Tarif, he than nodded slightly and stated, "Good catch Corporal, let's move" He proceeded to begin to follow the tracks, the Major was a bit like a blood hound in that regard.

They followed the tracks for a good few hundred meters until they came to a scene of absolute carnage. The smell of burnt rotting flesh and flys all over the place. “12 bodies.” Tarif commented after mental counting them, “Wasnt there 12 people in the missing Administrative team, sir?”

Once they arrived at the bodies, the Major proceeded to take a detailed look at each of them. He immediately knew that the fire was a cover up for whatever had actually happened to the team. He had counted the bodies and gotten a final tally of 12. He than looked towards the Corporal, "Yes, thats correct, theres 12 here and the fire is just a forensic counter measure" It was all a cover up.

The Bolian pulled out his tricorder and scanned the area. “We’ll have to get science out here to verify these readings but it looks like Starfleet phaser signatures on the bodies.” He said offering his tricorder for the Major to examine.

Tritter wasn't much of the squint type, he knew enough to understand the basics, but past that... He wasn't much help. He than took the tricorder from the Corporal and took a few moments to review it, he would agree with their assessment with a slight nod, offering the tricorder back to the other man. He than stated, "Yes, and they need to assess the area, we need to know if they were killed here or not... I have concerns in regards to that, due to the forensic counter measures that have been used Corporal" The man's heavily accented voice enhanced the careful and well picked words of the Major.

“You best call the Colonel and tell him what we’ve found, sir.” The Bolian said

Tritter nodded slightly, but he wanted to take a further look at the bodies. The large man shifted to a kneeling position. He scanned the body closely, he noticed something... odd. He took a few minutes to scan the other bodies for the same injuries, they were are similar and his suspicions were correct. He tapped his comm badge and stated, "Major Tritter to Colonel Haversford, we have found the missing team" He spoke in a very direct matter of fact tone. Shortly after he finished speaking, he rose to his feet, head on a swivel scanning for hostiles as he waited for a reply.

”Excellent work, Major. Captain Refelian will be pleased. Are they all safe and accounted for?” Came the Colonel’s reply.

The Major was well prepared to deliver news the Colonel would not like. The reply given to the Colonel was, "Sir, they are accounted for, but safe is not a term I would use in this situation. We'll have to arrange transportation"

Haversford voice tone changed, ”What do you mean, Major?”

The Major quickly picked up the change, almost as if there was a hint of concern in the Colonel's voice, the Major than stated, "Sir, their dead", his tone was very matter of fact.

 

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