Taking It To Another Level

Posted on Mon Nov 21, 2016 @ 1:32am by Lieutenant JG Lucia Cusack & Ensign Michael Donovan
Edited on on Mon Nov 21, 2016 @ 1:35am

Mission: An Orion to Die For
Location: Holodeck
Timeline: MD 2 || 1330 hours

After they arrived at the holodeck Lucia entered and waited for Michael to follow behind. Once he was there she activated the program and took position behind the pillar ready to take on her first set of targets.

Michael grinned. Oh yeah, this gonna be a good round, he thought. "Level Five it is then. Let's give 'em hell!" He peered around the edge of the pillar and, seeing no one, started to dash back to his container. But just because he didn't see someone didn't mean that he wasn't seen. As he ran, a barrage of tetryon pulse launchers were fired at him. His container could no longer hide him. He found an abandoned runabout and ducked behind it. Level Five was going to be a real test.

Lucia was bombarded by pulses and soon her pillar wasn't proving to be a very good hiding place. She decided to make a run for a building to her left which would provide an excellent sniping position - although she had to get out of her hiding spot first. After their opponents stopped firing Lucia darted out of her hiding spot and towards the door she had her sights set on.

"Come and get me you sons of bitches!" Lucia called.

Just before she got through the door and slammed it closed Lucia felt a phaser shot hit her on the back. It didn't hurt - much. Lucia then looked around for the stairs to take her up to the window she had chosen as a sniping position.

Michael thought that it couldn't get any worse as he raised his rifle and took aim at the holograms that had fired at him. He got both of them and was about to celebrate when a small buggy rode by firing a mounted phaser cannon. "Aw c'mon!" he screamed. "Are you serious!" The runabout he was behind took a pretty good hit and nearly rolled. The buggy was moving too fast for him to get a decent shot, but he took a few wild ones anyway. One hit the passenger with the tetryon pulse launcher, one hit the back wheel, and the other missed entirely.

Lucia watched the buggy as it raced across her line of sight. She activated the scope on her rifle and lined up her shot - although it wasn't very easy because it was still moving.

"You've got a flat tyre and your still moving?" Lucia muttered to herself.

After another few moments however she had a clear shot at the buggy's driver which she took. Moments later the driver slumped over the wheel before vanishing. She didn't celebrate however and quickly vacated the window to find another - Lucia knew too well that using the same spot for more than one shot was not the thing to do.

Finding her next sniping position - a floor down and on the other side of the building - she waited.

After the buggy crashed, Michael took out the one who had fired the phaser cannon. The phaser cannon...nah, he would leave that for another time. He scanned the area and quickly ran to the crashed buggy for cover. Shots of tetryon energy flew by him as he ran. Once he settled himself at the front of the buggy, he looked in the direction they came from and saw a darkened building at quite the distance with nothing between them. Yeah, this was gonna be fun. After activating the scope, he scanned the front of the building. Michael saw a container marked as Clancium Oxide. "Medium yield explosive and superior thermal dispersion characteristics. Must be careful here. One stray shot and, well, end of program."

In her next position Lucia scanned the building opposite with her rifle's scope. She could also see Michael down below by the crashed buggy but that was about it. It appeared the enemy were now resorting to the same tactics as Lucia was - it was going to take a lot of patience for them to win this battle over their enemy - even if they were only holograms.

"This isn't fun if you hide away..." Lucia said.

She suddenly saw something just within the sights of her scope. Altering the rifle's trajectory she could see that they were waiting to ambush Michael and Lucia when they entered - so she decided to rejoin forces with her colleague so they could attack from two different angles and spring the trap.

"They're setting up an ambush inside the entrance of that building...I'm thinking we try and get in from the side using what we can to hide us from their sights as we head over. There's a way in so we can attack them from above but it'd involve a climb up a ladder and through an access door" Lucia said.

Michael watched to cover Lucia as she was coming over to join him. He nodded as she explained what she saw. "Sounds like a plan to me. Climbing a ladder and crawling through whatever we need to crawl through isn't a problem either. But, if you'll check out the front of the building, there's a container of Clancium Oxide right out front. One stray shot and the whole block goes up."

"We'll have to make sure they don't see us. There's a gentle rise about fifteen metres away that we can hide behind to get in - but we'll have to get over to it without being seen first. I'm not sure we can run fifteen metres without them seeing us...unless we can create a distraction that gets them looking in the other direction...although it's got to be one that doesn't make them shoot that container" Lucia said.

"We're both Security officers," began Michael. "I bet between the both of us we can get that phaser cannon to repeatedly fire in the opposite direction. Either way, they're looking at the crashed buggy and wondering why the cannon is going off or looking in the direction in which it's firing and assuming that's where we are."

Lucia nodded. "Agreed. If you want to go and do that I'll cover you just in case they decide to take a shot at you - although if they do that they're going to risk blowing that container up. Ready?"

Michael laughed. "If we ever get put on an away team together, I'm teaming up with you. But yeah, I'm ready. Let's do this."

"You're on" Lucia replied.

She looked around for a decent vantage point to cover Michael and settled on a small abandoned bunker which had good viewpoints but she was well shielded from enemy fire.

"I'll go and hide on top of that bunker behind the sandbags and cover you. If anyone starts coming towards you I'll give you a signal - a bird noise. Once the gun starts firing I'll run for that rise as I'll have a bit further to run than you" Lucia said.

"Okay," Michael said. "That'll work. I don't think it'll take to long to get the cannon working like I want. Whenever you're ready..."

"Let's do this" Lucia said.

Lucia stood up and ducked to hide herself from the view of the enemy she spotted watching out of the window above the front door. Once she had entered the bunker she climbed up the ladder and opened the external hatch to gain access onto the roof. Once in position she positioned her rifle and used the scope to watch Michael and ensure he wasn't seen.

Michael waited until Lucia was in place and ready. Then he took off, phaser rifle in hand. He didn't plan on getting caught off guard by having it slung around his back. When he reached the crashed the buggy, he climbed up into the back and looked in the compartments for an emergency toolkit. He found it and immediately removed a couple of panels. Michael knew that energy from the power cell was controlled by all three modules; the beam control assembly, safety interlock, and subspace transceiver assembly. At least on a phaser. And this was just a much bigger and much more powerful version. So the same principles should apply. Hopefully. He quickly found the prefire chambers where the energy would be routed by shielded conduits. An idea came and he quickly decided that a straight beam rather than a repeating pulse might be better. He made a minute adjustment that removed the collapsible charge barrier which temporarily held the energy before passing to the actual emitter for discharge. He also disengaged the safety interlock, allowing a constant beam without him having to stay there and pull the trigger. Satisfied, he put the panels back on, aimed the cannon in the opposite direction of the building, and fired. When he released the trigger, the beam continued firing and he was pleased. Michael quickly jumped down and ran the small rise, which was slightly more than fifteen meters away now.

Once the cannon started firing Lucia vaulted over the edge of the building and after a forward roll and standing back up she sprinted as fast as she could to the rise. Her fitness was certainly one of her better attributes although it wasn't the case until she'd implemented an exercise regime upon joining her first ship a few years ago. Once she'd met up with Michael she paused and looked over the crest of the rise to ensure their access route was still clear.

"It's still clear. Let's go" Lucia said.

Lucia led the way and after going the long way round they were at the bottom of the ladder ready to climb up - hoping that nobody would see them - although just as she was about to the door next to the ladder opened and a guard came out. Just as he had closed the door and was about to turn she swung her rifle at the guard who fell to the ground and then disappeared.

"That felt good..." Lucia commented.

Michael laughed and shook his head. "Girl, I'm glad I'm not on the receiving end of your skills." He stationed himself on the side of the door that would open and readied his phaser rifle. Looking to Lucia, he grinned, "After you."

Lucia giggled before starting to climb up the ladder. It was metal but because of the climate the cylindrical ladder rungs weren't cold to the touch - something Lucia was grateful for. After a short climb she managed to reach the top and slowly climbed onto the small platform to wait for Michael. She didn't want to open the door yet just in case any guards came out and ambushed them - she didn't plan on losing this round.

Michael had split his attention between guarding the door and watch Lucia's ascent. When she got to the top, Michael slung the rifle over his back and made short work of getting up the ladder. He walked over to where she was on the platform. "You know, you're quick for a half-pint," he said, chuckling. "Alright, you wanna open the hatch and I'll blow away the first one that sticks his head up." The Ensign readied his rifle once again.

"I've been working out for the last few years. That helps" Lucia grinned.

Lucia then opened the door slowly and sprung into the building - only to find the corridor was empty. She watched Michael enter the building and she gestured for him to join her as she walked slowly towards the door.

"Alright. That door could lead to anywhere and it could even be booby trapped...so let's approach it with caution. I don't think it'll lead us onto the atrium if I remember the outside of the building correctly but we can't be far off" Lucia said.

"Agreed," Michael said. He had lowered his voice, but not to a whisper. He quickly checked behind him to make sure there was no one there. Michael silently inspected the door for any signs that it might have been tampered with. Finding none, he slowly opened their access to the other room, or whatever it was.

Lucia followed Michael into the next corridor where she spotted a guard walking towards them away from what she presumed was the access point into the atrium. Seeing her one and only chance to eliminate him before he fired Lucia aimed and fired - with the phaser beam firing over Michael's shoulder and striking the guard who then fell onto the floor and vanished.

"That was close" Lucia whispered.

"You're telling me," Michael whispered back, with an added chuckle. "I felt the heat from that one. Nice shot though." He cautiously made his way down the corridor, checking each of the doors off to the side to see if they were locked. He didn't want any surprises coming out behind them. "Let's see where that guy was coming from, shall we?" he asked as he approached the place where the guard had vanished.

"Thanks. Good idea - there could be more behind it - and they could go looking for him once they notice he hasn't returned" Lucia said.

Lucia walked up to the position where she'd shot the guard and looked down the nearest corridor. She crept up to the door and then placed her ear to it whilst keeping her hand on the handle ready to fling it open. Inside she could hear murmuring - Lucia thought she could hear at least three different voices behind the door.

She turned around slowly and raised a hand with three fingers on it to tell Michael how many enemies were in the room they were about to burst into. Lucia then started to count down from five to give Michael time to prepare for them to charge into the room and take out the enemies waiting inside.

Three enemies. Michael nodded and set his phaser rifle to wide beam dispersion and pulled it into his shoulder. He kept his eyes on the door, ready to jump in and sweep the room. Michael wondered what else was in the room. Then he remembered that this was a holodeck training scenario and that these three might be the last ones. Who knew?

Lucia reached "one" and flung the door open and like a greyhound she burst into the room and pushed over a table a couple of metres from the door to use as cover.

"Let's have it bitches" Lucia said.

Lucia started firing over the table when there were pauses - there were more than three in this room - but if she remembered correctly it was the room directly next to the atrium.

Michael open fire. He watched as the wide beam cleared a few of the enemies, and then ducked behind a counter. He quickly reset it and moved to the other end of the counter. Noticing an overturned table a couple meters away, he made a run for it. If he could divide them, or at least their attention, it would make them easier to take out.

Lucia crouched behind the table and started laying down fire - taking a few enemies out as they filed into the room from the double doorway into the atrium on the other side of the room. It was proving to be quite a tough test but certainly worth taking the time to do. She knew the table wouldn't shield her forever but it was doing a good job absorbing the damage so far.

With the enemies' attention divided it was much easier to take them out as they had a choice of targets - it was like knocking down skittles at a bowling alley - but Lucia had a feeling the end was now in sight as the groups entering the room got smaller and smaller.

Michael was thoroughly enjoying picking off the enemies as they bottle-necked at the doors. He noticed when they started slowing down and wondered if the atrium was empty or if they were setting up an ambush. Either way, he had a feeling they were nearing then end of it all. He watched as the last group came through and then were vaporized. Waiting to make sure no more were coming out, he quietly slipped from his hiding spot and motioned to Lucia that he would approach the double doorway from his angle.

Lucia nodded and she too stood up and crept towards the doorway. Once they were both there she slowly pushed her door open slightly to look out and spotted two snipers in a position at the top of the atrium - presumably they were there to shoot them if Lucia and Michael came in through the main doorway.

"There's two snipers. They're to the right of us but one is on this side of the atrium and the other is on the other side. I'll take the closest one out and you aim for the furthest one...that should be game over..." Lucia said.

Slowly creeping out of the doorway Lucia kept to the wall and looked for a shooting position. There was only one - behind a small cabinet that was probably big enough to hide her behind - at least Michael could hide in the doorway that she had just emerged from and be much better protected.

Once she could see Michael was in position she raised the scope of her rifle and aimed it up at the enemy closest to her - gently placing her finger on the trigger before firing. The first sniper fell from his position onto the floor of the atrium before vanishing. Lucia then hoped that Michael would take out the other sniper before he saw and shot at her.

Michael had been keeping an eye on the one through is scope. Well, at least the area where he had last seen him pop up slightly. When his cohort fell, the man jumped in alarm and watched him fall. Michael took his turn and dropped the other sniper. When he saw him disappear, he lowered his weapon and looked around at Lucia, winking. "Nice shot, half-pint."

Lucia giggled at the nickname. She was used to getting them and now she could add "half-pint" to the list. Just as they lowered their weapons an alert sounded on the holodeck. They'd finally finished.

"Simulation complete. Ending program"

Seconds later they both found themselves in an empty holodeck and Lucia was feeling satisfied that she'd received a proper test of her skils to make sure that she was always at her best.

"I enjoyed that. We should do it again sometime" Lucia replied.

Michael stood and ran his hand through his hair. "Yeah, I did, too. And now I know that the problem with this phaser rifle really was operator error. Maybe some of these scientists should have a refresher course. Anyway, you're right, we should do it again sometime." He started heading toward the door of the holodeck. "But next time, let's kick it up to Level Seven. Keep getting things more interesting, eh?"

"Sounds like a plan. Anyway...let's get back to the armoury before they notice we're gone and your Vulcan friend comes back to see if you've fixed his rifle" Lucia said.

Lucia started to make her way out of the holodeck and back towards the armoury to find a task to carry out that would take her until the end of her shift.

Michael started laughing. "Oh yeah, that's a good idea. He's gonna want it back pretty soon. All fixed and everything." Michael exited the holodeck behind her and headed back to the armory was well to finish his shift out there. Afterwards, a walk through the ship's promenade area to see what was available for off duty fun was in order.