I Don't Think We're In Kansas Anymore...

Posted on Thu Oct 12th, 2023 @ 1:07pm by Lieutenant Betaras K'ner

Mission: The Return
Location: Outpost 382
Timeline: Current

[Outpost 382 HQ]

K'ner nodded in agreement when the commander mentioned being watched. She didn't, for a second, think the Undine had completely retreated. They would undoubtedly have left someone or something behind to monitor their movements at the least. And, the supposition that the Norris crew was being played kept coming back up. If the Undine were planning a comeback, this would make a good initial test ground.

She waved her squad forward, holding perimeter around the inner group as they headed for the HQ to try to re-establish comms. That would be critical if they expected to be able to leave at some point, and she really didn't desire to stay around here. Contrary to the diplomat's observations, their first encounter was met with deception, attack, and the Undine fought to the death instead of being taken prisoner, which was always her preference. She didn't set the rules of engagement, but as Rodale inferred, K'ner would protect the crew and their charges, should they find any, and bring 'em home.

Once they reached the building, K'ner gave Rodale a last nod and looked at her team. "Deena, head for medical. Inventory and check the logs. I'll take the mess see if anyone is there and when they last ate. Even after the fact, someone will try to get back in there to get any supplies they can find to survive. MOVE OUT!"

As Deena double-timed it out of sight with her mates, K'ner took a roundabout route to the mess hall, marked 'Company Cafeteria' on the map showing in her visor. She didn't need to tell her squad their job, confident if any of their equipment detected movement or life signs, everyone would know immediately.

Reaching the parking lot outside the building with the mess hall, as well as management housing, she could appreciate these smaller outposts that weren't spread all over, or so many personnel there were multiple locations for each function. Didn't necessarily make it easier, especially when they expected an ambush around every corner, but it would be simpler this time around.

The others concealed themselves for several minutes as everyone watched, both visually and with their instruments. K'ner kept an eye on Deena's vid-feed at the outer edge of her HUD but no one was meeting any resistance there either. It would be beneficial to her team's energy reserves if the Undine had actually retreated and only left behind observers to gauge their responses, but she was going to plan otherwise. They would also expect the Federation personnel to visit the medical suites and look for food.

K'ner looked left and right, feeling the twinge in her gut that something wasn't right, and she could see her team felt it too. Something wasn't right, or maybe it was too good... Much like one of the previous encounters, they'd cleaned up too well. No evidence of conflict was apparent from the two sides they could see from here, and Roadie's micro-drone revealed the same on the other sides.

What she did think was odd were the open doors on the roof, they should've been closed. She wasn't quite sure what that meant, if anything, but they didn't have to charge in without some urgency pressing them. Haste makes waste, they said, and gets people killed, she said. Plus the glass windows easily indicated the eating areas were vacant.

They would still have to sweep and check for hiders, but for now, they watched as she saw a dot on her visor from Korra.

"Hey Boss... I'm in. I do love corporate setups and their lovingly need to monitor. I've got progs checking backwards in logs to last movements. Everything is empty for all three floors, but the system has been accessed recently. These things may be smart, but they're a little clumsy digitally. Logs are missing but the location tags are still there...

"ahhh... There are two vids playing loops... One is the back kitchen area where they store and clean up. Looks like the locals have some preference to actually prepare food here and not rely on the replicators. Lots of structure back there so that would make sense if they're subtly blocking our scans for bio signs. The other area is near the top floor. I imagine they can belay, so given they know we're watching for tactical backup support for whatever they're playing at, it would be simple to deploy from there and drop down the side. It's only 3 floors..."

K'ner sighed. "We can do that in about 3 seconds and be in position to engage so I think we should expect them to be just as efficient... I'm thinking if they're lying in wait in that kitchen area they'd have to be holed up in the walk-in freezer or frig. If the Norris was in overwatch we could just have them drill down with the big dish sensors but we're on our own for this one.

"Team... We will be going in, of course, but let's see what Little Jimmy can tell us. If those things are hiding, they have to have some vid space or sensors to let them know when to spring the trap. Roadie, you've got the roof. Drop a couple of stun pods up there. Those won't stop them but it'll certainly slow them down. Peke, send in your baby and see if you can find cameras."

They watched the vid-feed as Little Jimmy glided over to the entrance. From a higher angle it was able to show some cans at the bottom of the door, just on the inside. 'Maybe they're a little old school,' thought K'ner.

Instead of opening the doors, LJ jinked over to the vents coming out of the kitchen. Slipping inside, it turned along the conduit until it reached the filter. That was easy enough to split and open, then it slipped through and the view peeked into the prep area of the kitchen.

There was a bit more mess back here, some food on the floor, and it looked like some stuff had sat out too long, now dried up. K'ner figured the Undine had been here quite a while if that were the case. There were no bodies, alive or otherwise, and the scans didn't reveal any cameras that Korra hadn't already identified.

"Korra... If they have access to the vids, maybe they're just waiting, like us. Let me know if any of them shift view." K'ner saw a green dot on her visor, acknowledging.

Since it was no surprise they were there, or coming, K'ner maneuvered, making it look like she was being sneaky, but not. She could hear a couple of snickers behind her at her tadpole-like skills.

Korra's voice popped up. "You were right boss. Cam is tracking you!"

K'ner sneaked along, and combat-rolled from vehicle to vehicle, trash can to light pole.

"I'll make the front entrance. You guys prepare to ingress the plate glass to the kitchen. Try to glob the walk-in door first. They'll likely be able to destroy the door or the walls, but they'll be a few seconds doing it. Lay down stunners and prepare to wrap one up. I want to give Lt Cdr Rodale a present. I'll deal with the ones coming down, if that's what they planned, and update. No need to plan past that as it'll all be in the fan at that point, if not before."

Reaching the main entrance, K'ner slowly pulled the door open, hearing the screech of the cans attached at the bottom. She left a stunner at the door in case anything came this way and shifted sideways to the corner as she heard the glass shatter around the side as her team made their insertion.

She watched the vid-feed from Roadie's drone on high watch, hoping these pocket forces would be tactically small to avoid detection. At least that part met her expectations but she had to respect them tactically as she saw the two Undine didn't exit the open roof doors, each came from a vent hood not far away. The stunners went off, and it barely slowed them down, but it allowed her the seconds to get into place as they neared the edge to go over.

She focused on one at a time, unloading on one on its way until it slumped and fell the rest of the way to the ground with a sploosh. The second one, realizing its mistake was swinging to the far corner but not before K'ner rapid-fired along its path, snipping its line. Grabbing the wall, the Undine dropped to the next ledge, then to the ground, none the worse for the wear.

K'ner stepped forward, walking towards the creature. She wondered what kind of ego they had, if they reacted from emotion... If purely logical, it would see a tactical disadvantage and escape. She was betting on enhanced desires along with the other extras they'd cooked up for themselves... And given the still stance of this one, it was at least, sizing her up.

She kept her pace, doing some sizing up of her own. They didn't seem to like being penned up with heavy armor, although they did have a uniform, a belt with pouches and hand weapons down each of the three legs, and the comm unit attached to their head that they'd retrieved from previous encounters.

K'ner had watched a few of the old timey westerns... gunfighters standing in an open street, ready to see who was the fastest to the draw. The Undine moved towards her as well now, not drawing its energy weapon but likely confident in its physical abilities.

She thought of the western again and had always considered it rather unproductive, but saw the competition in it. Now though she didn't feel like competing. In battle, winning saved lives... The creature tensed to react as both her rifle fire and shoulder-mounted blaster impacted, tossing it left. She kept advancing, firing twice more, until she stood near, assessing. She could hear silence from the building as she retrieved its gear and a tissue sample for the medicos. Turning she saw her mates clapping from the shattered window, and a white-encased form at their feet.

"I could've used some help there ya know." She said, meeting them in the lot.

"Nawwww, you had that." Korra smiled.

K'ner shook her head and waved them forward. She was confident in her skills, but these Undine were no slouches, and it really could've went either way if she'd given it a chance. They were brutally efficient and had little to no qualms in their thoroughness.

"How many did it take," K'ner said, referring to the containment grenades they carried.

"3! And it took longer than usual to pass out." Peke shrugged.

She knew they'd have already evaluated the mess for last use, and the fact that the Undine were again waiting indicated they'd find no one here either. She shot a short burst message to LCDR Rodale, advising their findings and that they would meet up with the rest of her squad from the medical jaunt, then head for Rodale's position...




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