Shopping Center Shootout

Posted on Sun Feb 7th, 2016 @ 2:58pm by Lieutenant Marc Madigan & Kestarah K'Mara & Commander Jordan Gunning & Master Chief Petty Officer Arathenar ch’Darnath
Edited on on Wed Mar 2nd, 2016 @ 11:08pm

Mission: By Dawn's Early Light
Location: Electronics Store - Promenade
Timeline: After Sojourners Board 332

The sheer noise of the phaser fire bursting, melting and fizzling through the bulkheads of the main Promenade deck was deafening and Commander Jordan Gunning knew one thing for damn sure - he and his team were pinned down.

He popped his head up above the counter of the shop in which they had taken cover and quickly dropped as a phaser bolt smashed into it just in front of him, sending dust flying into his face. He pawed at his eyes, trying to get his vision back and dropped his rifle in the process. "It looks like they're bolstering their numbers and pushing the other fire teams back across the deck. We're pinned down in here."

Master Chief ch'Darnath squeezed off a burst of fire from his rifle before ducking down next to Gunning behind the shop's counter. It was a serviceable barricade, and provided cover, but the Andorian was thoroughly uncomfortable with the squad's position. "See, it's that kind of battlefield clarity that got you all those pretty pips on your uniform," the Master-at-Arms snarled sarcastically as he checked the cool-down cycle on his rifle.

"I thought it might impress you." Gunning replied as he did his best to release a couple of volleys over the counter, covering their numbers as much as possible. "Fact remains, we need to get out of here."

The Andorian squeezed off a few more bursts, felling at least one of the invaders. "You'll get no argument from me on that point."

Gunning was suddenly struck by a thought. "What about the jefferies tubes? Some of the shops have underfloor access points which lead into the tubes, we could try to get round and flank them while someone stays here and lays down some fire."

Ch'Darnath saw the opportunity at the same time. As the Sojourners advanced, pushing back the other teams on the promenade, they left their rear vulnerable. It was a potentially fatal mistake and they had to take advantage. "If we can get one, maybe two shops down we'll be able to get them in a crossfire." He smiled a predatory grin as he grew excited at the opportunity. "Their leader's a fool to leave their asses exposed like that. Let's teach them a lesson."

"Agreed." Gunning replied as he turned to their companions behind the counter. "K'Mara, Madigan, hold them here and keep thinning their numbers, we'll flank them."

Madigan fired a couple of more shots at the attackers, hoping at the very least to keep them pinned. "We'll do what we can, sir. Just try to hurry. I don't know if we can hold this position for long, especially if you reduce the number of rifles on hand."

Kes bit back a bad remark. "Ok, boss." She got into position so that she was ready the shoot and then take names. "Today is a good day to die!"

"Perhaps," Madigan replied bluntly. "But with all due respect, I think I'd prefer to survive this one."

There was a small hatch in the floor, an untrained eye might have missed it entirely but it led to a tiny crawlspace where the two officers could just about wriggle into the jefferies tube which lay just behind the store's stockroom. "After you." Gunning motioned as the Andorian lowered himself into the tiny gap.

Keeping his rifle trained along the narrow tube, ch'Darnath made his way through until he came to the next vertical access point. He keyed his authorisation and the hatch clicked. Slowly, he lifted the hatch and peered out. His eyes and antennae searching the space for any threats. He couldn't find any problems and the sound of phaser fire seemed further away than it had been back in the electronics shop.

He looked back down to see Gunning awaiting his assessment. "Looks clear," he said. "I'm going up."

"I'm right behind you."

The big Andorian heaved himself out of the tube and crouched down with his rifle at the ready, peering through the darkness of what looked to be a clothing store. "Clear," he said, then helped the commander up.

Gunning struggled through the gap, having to toss his rifle onto the floor of the store to allow him the room he needed. "Back on the salad when this is over." He whispered, before he directed ch'Darnath to follow him.

Marc fired more volleys over the counter, but had to quickly duck as a disruptor bolt hit the shelving behind him. A small shower of debris rained down on him. As section chief of the promenade, Madigan was taking the Sojourner advancement personally. He also knew that Sebastian Tram, the owner of this shop, would be very disappointed to know that the Sojourners had used it for target practice. They'll just have to deal with that one once they got out of this alive. If they got out of this alive. He fired again over the counter, this time nicking one of the Sojourners in the arm. But another volley from their side forced Madigan back behind the counter.

Out in the corridor, the pair rounded a corner and found themselves behind two rear guards who had clearly been put there to stop just such a thing happening. Thankfully they were both facing in other direction. Gunning nodded to the left hand one and dropped into a low crouch in order to sneak up behind his preferred target, the right hand guard. The sound of phaser fire and crackling fixtures and fittings was growing louder and masked their approach until they were close enough to grab their targets.

Gunning reached up and grabbed his by the neck, placing a strong arm around his throat and slowly tightening his grip as the guard struggled and reached out, going for his phaser, gripping at anything while making little burbling cracks with his restricted vocal chords.

The Master at Arms looked over at the security chief and cocked his head to the side, puzzled. He had already dispatched with his target with a swift, brutal twist of the unfortunate Sojourner's neck, the popping crunch of breaking vertebrae the only sound he made before the lifeless body flopped on the deck. "Are you done yet?" he asked impatiently as the struggle came to a quiet end and Gunning's target stopped all resistance.

"Subtlety isn't really a strong point for you, is it?" Gunning said quietly as they continued down the corridor before stopping at the junction which - with all being well - would lead them back to where they had come from. "You ready?"

"As long as you're not looking for subtlety," ch'Darnath replied with a shrug and a crack of his neck.

"Not anymore." He replied, checking his phaser and took a quick glance around the corner. Too many to count without getting a calculator out. "There's a lot of them. Maybe around twenty at a glance - quite concentrated."

"We've got surprise on our side," ch'Darnath said. "Plus the crossfire will be deadly once Madigan and K'Mara open fire. They'll never know what hit 'em."

"As long as they end up dead, I don't really care." Gunning replied with unusual harshness. "You ready?"

Ch'Darnath bared his teeth and his eyes lit up, "Ready," he growled, steadying his rifle against his shoulder, ready to fire.

"Let's do it!" He shouted, spinning around the corner and launching volley after volley of vicious phaser fire into the backs of the Sojourners whose attention was still solely focused on those left in the shop.

Madigan heard the distinctive sound of phaser fire coming from behind the Sojourners. Not wasting any more time, he ordered the remaining officers with him to take their shots, hoping to catch as many as possible in the confusion. His first shot missed, but the second one hit its mark when the Sojourner attacker became distracted.

Gunning held his rifle at shoulder height, sending volley after volley of fire into the Sojourner troops who were doing their best to pivot and cover both angles. The truth was, in the tight corridor, they were hemmed in and the only way they were getting out was being wheeled out.

They pushed on through the Sojourners, hearing their agonised cries as the phaser bolts ripped through their bodies. Gunning found himself quite sickened at the sound, although they were the aggressors, there wasn't much pride or honour in catching these poor bastards off guard and shooting them in the back. Still, if it came down to them or his people, there wasn't going to be any debate.

They managed to join back up with Madigan and K'Mara and exchanged some exhausted high fives, delighted that they'd managed to pull themselves through. Gunning's combadge chirruped and he sighed.

Commander Gunning, the voice from the other end was that of Alayna Bancroft, his assistant, "Sojourner forces have pinned a detachment down near transporter room fifty. If they reach it they may be able to bring in reinforcements."

"No rest for the wicked." Gunning replied, checking his rifle. "We're on it."

---

Commander Jordan Gunning
Chief of Security

Lieutenant Marc Madigan [NPC: Von]
Section Chief: Promenade

Master Chief Petty Officer Arathenar ch'Darnath [NPC: Drusus]
Master-at-Arms

Kestarah K'Mara
Security Officer
Starbase 332