Stealing a Moment

Posted on Wed Jul 20th, 2016 @ 6:18pm by Colonel S'er'in'e & Captain Liarra Von

Mission: The Art of Survival
Location: Unknown M Class Planet

Having found a secluded hiding spot several kilometers away it was perhaps safe enough to relax, at least enough to take the up to now constant edge the pair had been enduring since the crash. The rations were still available though S'er'in'e insisted the Captain make use of them, she needed her strength to keep her body strong and also to fight off any possible blood infection the injury may have started.

His own injuries however had developed as he found himself starting to have trouble breathing, mobility in his shoulder and across his chest was impaired and a coppery taste in the mouth was frequent. From the scan he took of himself he knew there was nothing they could do without a medical facility, time at least for him was limited and he could only hope help arrived before it was too late. "I have camouflaged the entrance."

Needing heat S'er'in'e piled some rocks in a small heap between them. He used the phaser to heat them and in doing so provide some light for them to at least see each other, though S'er'in'e obviously had the upper hand in that area. "How is your injury?"

"I've had worse," Liarra quipped, grimacing as she propped herself up near their makeshift campfire. "Darzen once broke both legs doing some grand stunt of his. He was stuck in bed for a month, but he always said that it was 'legendary', or at least that's how I remember it. But he did have full hospital facilities available then. I suppose I'm not so lucky this time."

"I will put a complaint to the hotel establishment." He smiled as he looked at the glowing rocks. "In the mean time, I can offer Federation ration pack C or F?" Holding each in a hand. "May even warm it up with the rocks for a hot meal if you wish?" S'er'in'e was slightly further away from the rocks than Von, a fur coat and heat meant overheating for felines and right now in light of his injuries expelling that heat was difficult.

"Surprise me," Von replied with a shrug. "I'm going to be surprised whether you pick it or I pick it, so it doesn't really matter either way." It had been too long since she had to survive on MREs, and as often as Starfleet chose to change up the menu, there was no telling what was actually in pack C or F. But at least it was edible and life sustaining. That certainly made it better than nothing.

S'er'in'e made her meal hot and ready before serving. He didn't make one for himself as rations were limited and she was limited to them, he himself could hunt what ever was out there. "Liarra, you know we can't keep running forever, especially if we stray out of the interference that is keeping us alive." He looked up from the flames to her, the whisps of yellows and reds from the fire shining in his eyes. "Repeatedly moving you is dangerous and sooner or later I will have to face them, or at least slow them down." He already had a plan formulated knowing the Captain while open to hearing ideas wanted all the trimmings when it came to it. "I can hunt at night, use what I am, I can give them cause for caution as if there are predators in the area and may slow them down and buy us more time."

He knew it was a risk, every well laid plan never survived contact with the enemy, what if he was spotted, heard or further injured or even killed. The latter seemed a moot point at this stage, his own wounds were doing that slowly and Von's injury kept her immobile, die in a cave on a remote planet or die at the hands of those chasing them. At least his plan gave them time, and a chance.

Von wasn't in a position to argue. She could hobble along at best if S'er'in'e didn't carry her, but that would likely leave them even more vulnerable. And it wasn't likely that they would be so luck as to keep finding similar defensible locations. Chances were good that their luck would soon run out. But the interference that was keeping them safe for now was both a blessing and a curse. Eventually someone on Cestus III would realise that they were missing, and the station would almost certainly conduct a search. But the very interference that was keeping their pursuers off their trail would make it almost impossible for a ship to find them. It was hard enough thinking about finding a way to survive; thinking about not being rescued brought up a whole new slate of concerns.

For now, Liarra decided to keep those thoughts to herself. As long as they were still being pursued, if they were in fact still searching, that was going to be the bigger threat. It would be another few days at least before any ships from the station could get within range of their planet, assuming that their flight path could even be traced. "I haven't forgotten about that issue in The Dive. You're certainly a more capable fighter than I am, at least unarmed. Do we know for sure that they are even still out there?"

"They are, they set up camp with a fire and I believe the Klingon sings." S'er'in'e replied as his ears perked up in alert. He turned to the entrance slowly and quietly ready to pounce only to discover a rabbit like creature. As soon as it saw him it darted off with great haste back out of the cave. That could have been dinner. He thought. He returned his attention to the Captain. "Are you happy with my performance so far as CAG?" He asked breaking the silence again. He knew the department was still reeling from the attack with many fighters and other craft still needing repairs or even replacements. No doubt a score of new fighters would be waiting for him when they got back....if they got back.

Von was still contemplating the mental image of the singing Klingon when S'er'in'e suddenly changed the subject. Since they had crashed, most of their conversations had been based on finding a way to survive. Station life had felt like an afterthought to her, but apparently it had not been for her companion. "I've been very satisfied, S'er'in'e," she replied, nodding. "I'll be honest, I was a little worried that some of the pilots, especially the younger ones, would be a bit intimidated by your...presence. But I was pleasantly surprised by how well you were able to keep everyone together, especially after such a short time." She paused a moment before hurriedly adding more. "Not that I didn't think you could do it. It was just a tense time, for all of us." Liarra grew quiet as memories of just how tense the battle had been for her started flooding her thoughts.

S'er'in'e smiled and in doing so his fangs appeared if Liarra was paying attention to it. "When I joined Starfleet I realised it was a majority Human occupation, I was still growing at the time so I was not as large as I am now. With someone my size it can not be helped that I may appear imposing, intimidating and such so I had to learn how to placate and alleviate the fears and worries of people who reacted more to my size than most." S'er'in'e smiled again. "I was serious when I mentioned before that my Mate and I are planning for offspring, I didn't just say it to distract you from what I was to do." A slightly more personal turn of conversation, maybe part distraction from the now giving mind and body time to relax and ease before the next days events.

Liarra would have been lying if she said that she wasn't curious how that would work, but it was not a question that she was about to ask. "Hopefully you'll still be able to. When we get off of this rock, of course." The odds of that happening may have been slim, but they needed to keep some hope alive. "I'm sure my father would have liked for me to have had children. I suppose it's not too late for that, but it's never really been much of a priority for me. I wouldn't have even been joined had it not been for my mother's urging."

"It never ceases to amaze the influence our elders have on our lives even after we have outlived them or moved on from that which we call home." S'er'in'e replied. "You should rest, I will hide the entrance while I am gone so you will not be found." He had a task to do, he may not be proud of what he had to do but he had to do it if it boosted the chances of them living longer.

"Just be careful out there," Von replied. She was sure that the Caitian could take care of himself, but it still made her feel helpless that there was nothing she could do to help. All she could do was worry about keeping herself alive. Deciding that her meal was warm enough, she carefully removed it from the makeshift grill, and mentally prepared herself for the mystery that awaited.