In the Lion's Den

Posted on Sun Mar 17th, 2024 @ 3:01pm by Commander Kevin Lance & Lieutenant Tracey Walker Jr

Mission: Thunderdome
Location: Paarth Elion Three
Timeline: Current

on:
{Grendaas Stronghold}

Kevin, Trace and crewman Rogar made their way through the gates of the Grendaas stronghold under the disinterested eye of the guards in the watch towers. They were dressed in the simple robes of the farmers that worked the fields outside of the stronghold, courtesy of three of those same said farmers who were now the bound and gagged guests of the rest of the away team.

Picking Trace for the reconnaissance had been a no-brainer. His engineering expertise and eye for the technical would be useful in identifying the purpose for the various buildings and equipment they were bound to encounter.

Picking Rogar had been a little more difficult. He had wanted a female along as invisibility seemed to be their superpower in the male-dominated society. Kevin had quickly dismissed any thought of bringing Mira or Geneva along. Their actions in Tumbleweed demonstrated that they were ill-suited for playing the submissive woman for as long as would be needed on the reconnaissance. Kevin didn’t fault either for being unwilling to submit to the abusive bullying but he didn’t relish the idea of their cover being blown either.

K’ner he had immediately dismissed as she wouldn’t even play at being submissive. The Captain had been prescient in her belief that K’ner would chafe under the restrictions. So that had left crewman Rogar. It was fortunate as she struck Kevin as rather docile. She wasn’t very attractive and had a short, squat frame that even as a Paarthian could best be described as pudgy. He wasn’t sure how good of a security guard she was but at least Kevin wasn’t worried that she would lose her cool and blow their cover.

They had left most of their weapons, expect for a single blade hidden in the grey robes, back with the rest of the away team. On this mission, anonymity was the most powerful weapon.

“Lieutenant Walker,” Kevin ordered, “you take crewman Rogar and get a layout of this settlement. Try to make a map if at all possible and identify the critical infrastructure. I am going to see if I can get a location of these scientists and get a count of soldiers. We’ll meet back here when the sun id halfway to the horizon,” It was a little before midday so that would give them about 4 hours. “Be careful and don’t draw too much attention to yourself.”

"Is it just me," Trace asked, "or does there seem to be an inordinate number of children."

Inadvertently, the Chief Engineer had given voice to something that had been nagging Kevin. Their were a lot of kids. Most were running and playing in groups but a fair percentage of babies and toddlers accompanied women going about their work. None of the children seemed to be older than seven Earth years.

"I imagine that after months out collecting tithes, when the soldiers return it is quite the baachanal," Trace continued with a jaded tone in his voice, "Keeps 'em barefoot and pregnant."

"What?" Kevin asked not understanding the comment.

Trace's face turned a deep shade of orange when he realized what he had said. "It is an old Earth saying," he explained, "from male dominated groups about how to keep a woman." He was glad he hadn't said it in front of Geneva.

Kevin nodded in understanding. Seemed an accurate assessment in the current environment. Rogar just blinked uncomprehendingly.

"Be that as it may, we're burning daylight," Kevin quipped, "Move out."


It was a couple of hours later when Kevin felt fairly certain that he had determined where the scientists were being held. He had spent most of the time carrying the same crate from one place to another. Occasionally, a guard would challenge him and give him another task or tell him to move along. Kevin would comply with the minimum amount of words. Usually, the guard would lose interest and go on to other things, leaving Kevin to his actual task of gathering information.

The building that he determined as the most likely place for the scientists to be held was a large fortified block that soldiers continually entered and exited. It might have been an unassuming office building prior to the fall but had been hardened over the intervening two decades. Entry points were limited and windows on the first and second floors were covered with small firing slits being the only gaps. It looked like the bastion for the last stand of a tyrant.

He had not been able to gain access to the building. His attempts had all been turned away but had been enough for him to be able to assess the security arrangements. His access to the other buildings had been less contested, mostly drawing surprised questions when he did draw anyone's attention. By process of elimination, he concluded that the scientists must be in the fortified structure.

Kevin was on the verge of terminating his investigation and returning to the rendezvous point when a sizable entourage exited the building. They were better dressed than the other denizens of the stronghold, even the guards. Two men lead the procession, followed by three females, then four more males. The guards straightened up noticeably as the group exited.

The males will all dressed leathers with weapons prominently displays. The taller of the two males in front sported what appeared to be a pair of semiautomatic pistols holstered one on each side. The females were dressed in less substantial clothing that displayed their curves to full advantage. They were also unarmed and walk demure but quickly, there heads bowed.

The smaller of the two males was speaking rapidly as he rushed to keep up with the larger, "Grendaas, I can't provided you with technological wonders if you insist on keeping the other Feders locked up! I need them working on the equipment and in the workshop!"

"They will remain locked up in my dungeon until I am satisfied that they won’t attempt to escape again," Grendaas replied without breaking stride.

The smaller male made a gesture of frustration that was very human. "Look, I don't need all of the released at once," the one that was probably Professor Kelley reasoned, "You can keep one of the females as assurance towards the good behavior of the others."

Grendaas slows slight as he considered the offer. "The pretty one?" he asked.

"No, Sarath has advanced knowledge of mechanics," Kelley objected, "I need her in the workshop."

"Bah, I don't understand why you Feders rely on females for such things," Grendaas complained, "It gives them unhealthy ideas about their own importance."

"Grendaas! You must release the other Feders!"

Grendaas reached out, grabbed Kelley by the throat and lifted him off the ground. Kelley's kicked at the air in a vain attempt to reach the ground.

"Do not presume to tell me what I must do," Grendaas shouted, "You came to me wanting wealth and power. It is up to you to deliver what you promised, with or without the other Feders." He shook Kelley once more for good measure then dropped him to the ground.

Kelley coughed violently as he hit the ground, struggling for air. Grendaas sneered at the scientist then continued on his way. The rest of his entourage followed but one of the trailing guard kicked Kelley and laughed as he walked by.

After catching his breath, Kelley scrambled to his feet and chased after Grendaas.

So it was an inside job, Kevin thought.

Meanwhile, Trace and Dans Rogar were circling inside of the strongholds outer wall, mapping buildings and noting locations of guards when they fit the jackpot. In a large enclosure on the far side of the stronghold was a large motor pool. The entry was guarded but Dana, carrying a large vase of water, was able to enter relatively unmolested.

The diminutive security guard was in the motor pool longer than he expected and was on the verge of going in after her, Grendaas guards be damned, when she came back out with the vase under her arm.

"What were you doing in there?" he hissed at her.

Dana blinked innocently at him, "They were thirsty and wanted water, so I served them. One of the young guards asked if I wanted to be his sub and I said yes," she screwed her mouth in a half smile, "It was kind of sweet but the older guards made fun of him."

Trace covered his face with a hand and let out an exasperated breath. This he did not need. Patiently he asked, "What can you tell me about the motor pool?"

"There were ground vehicles there."

Trace waited for her to continue. When she didn't, he prompted, "How many vehicles?"

"I didn't count."

Trace closed his eyes and counted to five. He knew, from experience, that Star Fleet used security as a dumping grounds for all the ne're-do-wells. This one would need to be guided by the hand.

"Were there more than five vehicles?" he asked.

"Oh yes," Dana said brightly.

"More than ten?" Trace continued.

Dana's brow knitted as she said, "Yes."

"Move than fifteen?"

"Um..."

"More than twenty?"

"No," she replied with certainty.

So ten to twenty vehicles. "How many big vehicles?"

"There were 3 big trucks like ours," Dana answered finally seeming to pick up on what was expected of her, "The rest were smaller."

Trace looked critically at the gate, "There is no way they could get the big trucks through that."

"Oh, there was a larger gate at the back of the motor pool," Dana volunteered.

That made sense but Trace was tiring of this game of Twenty Questions. "Let's see what else we can find," he said and moved out with Dana in tow.

The sun was almost half way to.the horizon went the three met up. "Did you get a layout of the stronghold? Did you have any trouble?" Kevin askef

"Yes to the layout and no to any trouble," Trace replied. His eyes did dart toward Dana who was absently drawing in the dirt with her toe.

Kevin saw Trace's glance but made no comment instead looking towards the sun. "We have about three hours of daylight left," he said, " Let's get back to the Capatin and rest of the away team. We have a rescue to plan."

:off

Lieutenant Tracey Walker
Chief Engineer
USS Chuck Norris

and

Lieutenant Commander Kevin Lance
Executive Officer
USS Chuck Norris