The Heretic
Posted on Tue Feb 21, 2023 @ 11:28pm by Lieutenant Colonel Nicholas Means III & Lieutenant Alanna Wells & Civilian Hydel Turvan
2,204 words; about a 11 minute read
Mission:
Si vis pacem, para bellum
Location: Shuttle Craft 046
Timeline: (Shortly after Blood is on your hands)
The access hatch for the shuttlebay slid open as the numerous rows of Xi'Cadian security troopers came through the shuttle bay dragging several individuals between them. Each row consisted of two Xi'Cadian troopers dragging unwilling Marine or Starfleet personnel with them. As the group finally came into the berthing area they unceremoniously threw them onto the deck plating next to each other.
"Opal Oliver, Ensign; Giovanni Marek, Chief Petty Officer; Ch'vhalar, Chief Petty Officer. . ." 1st Leader Suda'ron, the apparent leader for this squad of Xi'Cadians, read off from the name of the gathered individuals from his data padd as he stood next to a shuttlecraft that had been prepped for departure.
"Davuud, Saku; Lance Corporal, Jitaah Vith; Private, and Evans, Brock; Staff Sergeant" 1st Leader Suda'ron continued to reading as he examined the other individuals. "It appears we've honored by the arrival of what the Federation call their Maa-Reens." He laughingly said as he saw the group.
"What's that word they shout when they're excited. . ." He asked one of his other Troopers.
"I believe it is. . .HOOAH, 1st Leader." responded one of the subordiante Xi'Cadians.
"Yes, that's it, HOOAH Sergeant, HOOAH!" He said as he jabbed his finger into the chest of the Staff Sergeant before him. "Go on, say it for us. . .HOOAH!" He continued gleefully.
Chief Petty Officer Giovanni Marek bowed his head so the enemy wouldn't see him grin at the sergeant's bravado.
Wincing as the jabs jarred his broken ribs. With his hands bound behind him, he lifted his head, glaring at him through his one unswollen eye. Pausing a moment, to prepare he spat heavily in the face of the Xi'Cadian. "That's OORAH you Son of a Bitch."
1st Leader Suda'ron recoiled back in horror and unmitigated disgust. Within Xi'Cadian culture, the worst insult one could heap upon another soul was to spew your internal fluids onto them.
"Dak! Vin'stah Peshtu! Peshtu!" The Xi'Cadian leader shouted in his native tongue to the other troopers. The Federations translators were slow to process the exact meaning, but one could tell by the level of anger in his voice that it certainly was not a nice description of the Starfleet Marine.
The Xi'Cadian continued to shout in his language as he pointed directly at SSGT Evans, Dr. Opal Oliver, and Chief Petty Officer Ch'vhalar and shouted for them to be put inside of the shuttle directly behind him. The others were directed to the second shuttlecraft that had just completed its startup routine.
Evans struggled as best he could but his injuries limited his movements. It wouldn't take much to send one of his broken ribs into a lung or over organ and he had expected that to happen after spitting on the Xi'Cadian but to his surprise that didn't happen. Instead, he watched as he was seperated from his fellow Marines as they were forced into one shuttle and he another. "Where are you taking them?! Davuud, Jitaah...ahhh...It'll be ok..."
As the access hatch to the shuttlecraft closed behind Suda'ron, he walked over to the still bound Marine and stared at him intently for several moments as he wiped the remainder of the Marine's flem off of his tunic. The two shuttlecrafts launched from the bay. "As ordered, we were to put all of you on shuttles destined for the Dyson Shipyards." He said as he walked past the three individuals towards the front of the shuttle. He pressed several buttons on the wall panel and activated a force field between himself and the three prisoners. Although both had been cleared to depart from Deep Space 5, it was obvious that this particular shuttle was going in a different direction than its companion shuttle.
Evans looked to his fellow prisoners they too saw that the shuttle they were on was not headed to the shipyard with the others. "Where are you taking us?"
Suda'ron stared again at SSGT Evans with distain. "I used to be just like you a long time ago. A fought under the banner of Supreme-Governor Arkul during our war to liberate our people from the treasonous Krulan Vastan regime." He said. "My people fought for over 30 years to free our people from the tyranny of the Visheny and we were just on the cusp of liberation when our Elders made First Contact with the Federation." He said with disgust in his tone.
"Did you know that when the Federation made first contact we were on the verge of finally defeating the largest tribe of the Visheny and their heretic forces!?" He asked rhetorically. "We were this close of finally ridding ourselves and our planet of their existence," he said forcefully. "They no longer were able to maintain their dilithium mines and were on the verge of utter collapse, but then the Federation arrived," he said.
"Your Federation knew they couldn't merely pick a side, so they forced us into a truce...if you can even call it that. This so-called cease fire forced us to give back territory and dilithium mines that we had secured and forced us to form a provisional government for planetary administration," he said tensely. "That is how former Prime Minister Zora Krulan was able to rise to power and become elected," he said with a roll of his eyes.
"In less than 2 years, our Elders signed a power-sharing agreement with those traitors and laid down arms. But we all knew that it was a farce. The Federation forced my people to surrender because our planet and its dilithium would not be welcomed into the hallowed halls of the Federation if we were still fighting." He said angrily.
"Our Honored Elders chose to sell us out just to appease the Federation." He emphasized by slamming his fist on the console. "But High Commander Arkul was smart enough to recognize this farce for what it was, so he chose to bide his time until the time was right to strike back against the cowards that had been placed in leadership over our people." He added.
Evens paid little attention to the Xi'Cadian's propagandized rant. Trying to look out the front of the shuttle to get an idea of where they might be going. "I don't believe you nor do I care about your internal politics. What's obvious is that your beloved Ark..., whatever his name is, chose to side with Cardassians. Known to all that can see and think for themselves to manipulate, exploit, or force other races to their own benefit. Let me guess, they offered to help free your people. I'm sure the Bajoran's heard a similar lie before being turned into slaves, used for medical experimentation, and had their planet stripped of resources for 50 years."
The short, but well-built Xi'Cadian laughed aloud. "Viktah...Viktoh!" He said to the Xi'Cadian pilot while pointing to the Marine. "You think we're actually allies with the Cardassians? " He said as he leaned closer to the forcefield. "We're not allies, we merely share the same goals, control over the Portals." He said as he locked eyes with the Marine. "We are going to make right what our weakened leaders made wrong, Maa-Reen. The Cardassians can sit on this planet and rot while the Federation, Klingons, and even the Romulans seek reprisal against them" He said as he leaned back and stood from his seat and walked over to the wall panel.
Seeing what was to come Evans shook his head even as he stared the Xi'Cadian fool in the eye. "I never said you were allies; because you're not. Just lackies. The Cardassians will use you until they get what they want. Then your leaders will vanish, replaced by puppets and the rest of your kind will be enslaved. So go ahead. Do it! Just remember me when the Cardassians stab you in the back."
"You and that insane Doctor over there," He said, gesturing towards the barely moving form of Dr. Opal. "Won't be around to see the Rising Glory of the Xi'Cadian Galatic Union." He said as he pressed several buttons on the wall panel. "My people having a saying, the exact term loses its meaning in translation, but it essentially means, An eye for an eye, leaves everything fair."
"Your insurrectionist campaign has come to an end, Maa-Reen." Suda'ron said with a dramatic pause in order to heighten the suspense. With a beam of pride on his face he pressed the button on the wall.
Giovanni wasn't afraid to die. Like Evans, he expected it. But unlike Evans, he didn't want to draw attention to himself. He needed to keep the Xi'Cadian traitors from learning who he was. Still, he wished he had the guts to stand up to them like the Marine did. Or, perhaps, he'd find a way to go out in a blaze of...something. As long as it was quick and anonymous. Or if he could take some of them with him.
However, the rear access door failed to open.
He pressed the button again, with just a bit more urgency and yet it still remained closed. Suda'ron looked towards the front of the shuttle and saw the Helmsman staring back at him with a rather flat expression on his face.
"Sir, I don't think you should do that." He said pointedly but with the respect necessary for a senior officer. He had chosen to temporarily deactivate the control of the access panel from any other station than his own console
"What do you mean? These heretics have brutally attacked and disfigured our fellow Xi'Cadians. This one cast his bodily fluids onto me!" Suda'ron roared, angrily pointing towards Evans.
"Very understandable, sir. However, the Human from the medical corps may possess information and knowledge that is relevant to our mission." He said, standing up and walk towards Suda'ron and speaking in a whispered tone.
"I reviewed DS5's records and there are multiple entries regarding the Doctor and her involvement with the Temporal investigations of the planet surface. She has worked with the portals prior to our liberation of the planet." The Helmsman whispered.
"But she's barely functional. I'd be surprised if she lived for any number of days." Suda'ron replied in a matching tone. "The heretics are an even bigger cause of disruption." He concluded.
"The heretics may still have some use, sir. Particularly for training. . ." The Helmsman suggested. "They probably won't make it far on the planet surface, it will be a good training scenario for our ground forces at best, and a good source of entertainment at the very least." He said with a sardonic smile.
Suda'ron thought for several moments. He could not deny the logic in his subordinate's advice. The Doctor, while battered and beaten, might still have information that could prove useful to their cause. At the very least, she would make for a good bargaining chip. The heretics would absolutely make for fine trophy for his quarters.
"Very well. . ." Suda'ron said, stepping back from the Helmsman and speaking louder this time. "Lay in a course for the planet surface. Notify High Command & Gul Denat that we have a prisoner to drop off." He said as he looked at the Federation prisoners.
Surprised at the turn of events, Evans looked to the others. All he could do is wait to see what was to come.
Sud'aron walked over to Evans and kneeled down to his eye level as he pulled out a dagger that was several inches long and serrated. "You can't imagine the excitement flowing through me right now, Maa-Reen." The 1st Leader said as he spun the blade between his fingers. ". . .because when High Command is done playing around with you. I get to. . .how do you Humans say it. . .see what you are made of?. . .quite literally" He chortled.
"HOOAH, Sar-Gent?" He said mirthlessly.
Having already expected death by vacuum he sure as hell wasn't going to get gutted alive. Clenching his jaw, he pulled everything he could from the back of his throat and from every bit of saliva he could muster. He pulled him a breath and sent the contents of his mouth flying at the face of the Xi'Cadian. "I told you it's OORAH!
Suda'ron recoiled in horror as he reached for his weapon and raised it at the beats that had just sullied him. As he gripped the disrupt and placed his finger along the trigger he stopped.
This is what this creature wants me to do, to kill him quickly and save him from his fate on the planet below. . .
"Know this: Before I am done with you, you will beg me to finally kill you and end your miserable existence." He said as he holstered his weapon and went back to the fore of the shuttle. He took his seat and contacted the HQ and informed them of their arrival and significant bounty.
Enbrah Suda'ron
1st Leader
Xi'Cadian Home Guard
Brock Evans
Staff Sergeant
StarFleet Marine Corps
Chief Petty Officer Giovanni Marek
Temporal Science
Deep Space 5
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