MarkWarrior
Well-known member
Chapter 19
“Calm down, we’re here to help,” I told the people that had been herded into cages as I let my rifle fall down on my sling and behind my back. “We got your distress call and came as soon as we could.”
“How do we know that you’re telling the truth, huh?” A Turian stepped forward and in front of the rest of the captives. “You could be a different set of pirates for all that we know.”
“Armor’s too good,” an Asari slurred as she shakily stood up with a blanket wrapped around her. “Only the wealthiest of pirates would be able to afford something like that.”
“I’ve got medical supplies here,” I said as a couple of fireteams met me in the cargo bay where I was located. “And we should be able to get those collars off of you.”
“You some sort of hotshot merc unit?” The Turian challenged as he refused to move away and let us help the rest of the captives. “Because you don’t look like any respectable unit I’ve ever seen.”
“You can move and let us render aid, or you can be moved by us and we’ll still render aid,” I stated. “Choice is yours.”
“What do you think you are? A Krogan?” the Turian scoffed while looking at me clad in my specific armor.
“Mathis, move him before I shoot him,” I sighed. “I’m not here to argue with idiots today.”
“There’s always one,” Mathis replied as he yanked the door off of the cage with a sharp tug and then manhandled the Turian over to where the medics were setting up a triage station.
“What are you doing? Put me down!” The Turian yelled while Mathis picked him up.
“Should have moved when you had the chance,” I shook my head before turning to the rest of the captives. “We still have more sections of the ship to clear out, but I need to know if there are more catpvies before we start moving out.”
“This is only a third of us,” the Asari spoke up as she moved herself over to the triage area. “We were the ones that put up a fight and so they stuck us here in this area where we could be easily spaced if they had any more issues.”
“Any thoughts on the locations of the others?” I asked as an EOD tech worked on the explosive collar on the Asari’s neck while a medic went over her physical body.
“Not a clue,” the alien shook her head. “Likely over to the barge though, it’s typical pirate behavior after all.”
“Thanks for your help,” I told the Asari before turning to Mathis and collecting my fireteam. “We’ve still got sixty or so civilians to free. Grab a couple of the EOD techs and medics and let’s get moving.”
“Pirates,” Natasha scoffed as she led her fireteams through the corridor and to the entrance of the bridge. “They never put up the kind of fight that is appreciated.”
“You think they’d invest their loot into better gear,” Aethyta agreed. “But for some reason they never do.”
“Too much work,” Jane Thastus spoke up. “Pirates are rarely professionals, and the few that act like it can be a legitimate threat to a military. It is actually safer for them to look and act like a bunch of idiots because it means that there is no real action that seems necessary. And when a pirate group does decide to get professional it means that they typically stop acting like pirates and realize they can form the beginnings of a nation-state.”
Regina Levi just stopped and stared at her fellow Galaxy Commander for a minute before moving on.
“What?” Jane asked the ex Smoke Jaguar warrior. “I got my degree on studying the patterns and habits that pirates fall into.”
“When did you have time to get a degree?” Jill Viola asked as they pushed forward. “I am always too busy to have time to do that sort of thing.”
“I am not the only one who has acquired a degree,” Jane responded. “Regina and Alexandra have also acquired degrees. It was recommended by Mathis when we were settled down in a time of peace while on Kentares.”
“Alright then,” Jill replied. “I shall have to look into this sometime.
–
–
“Finally, a worthy adversary,” Natasha said as she grabbed the Krogan that charged her and threw him into the bulkhead with enough force that it left a dent in the wall. “You are a big one.”
“Need a hand?” Aethyta asked as she exchanged fire with the group of pirates holding down the choke point that was the entrance to the frigate’s bridge.
“No,” Natasha grunted as she wrestled with the Krogan. “This is the most fun I’ve had in days. Don’t take this from me.”
“Banging!” Regina called out as she tossed a flashbang into the bridge before following it. The small rounds pinging off her armor as she moved into CQC with her pistol and combat knife drawn.
“Following,” Jane replied as she hefted her rifle and followed the other warrior, hosing down a pirate that got in her way before shifting and targeting the next one.
–
–
“I’m not as familiar with all of the different physiologies yet,” the medic treating her told Tela Vasir. “We’ve got the basics down, but we’re still working on getting expert data on advanced treatment. Just let me know if I do something wrong, and we’ll move on from there.”
“I’ve just got some bruises and scrapes for the most part,” Tela tried to brush the medic off at first before she felt a glare and a finger touch her broken arm.
“No, I can clearly see that it’s broken,” the medic chided her. “Both you and the Batarians have a similar enough skeletal structure that I can figure that much out at least. I’m going to wrap this up in a splint. It’ll take a couple of minutes to harden, and you may feel some heat, but it’ll keep the arm immobile until we can get you scanned and see if there are any more serious problems. Now, would you prefer a female medic for the next part of the examination? I don’t mind if it makes you more comfortable, it’s not like I have a lack of patients after all.”
“Why would that bother me?” Tela asked as confusion shown clearly in her eyes. “You are a professional yes?”
“Different species and culture,” the medic hit the side of his helmet. “Sorry about that. I’ll just finish up and we’ll get you some clothes. I’m certain that we’ve got some that will fit you.”
–
–
“No strenuous activity for three months if not more,” the medic ordered Tela after he had finished checking on the rest of her. “I’ll help you get cleaned up and into some fresh clothes so that you aren’t freezing, but you’re going to need some serious therapy to fix some of that. They made sure that you’re going to need surgery in order to be able to do anything more than hobble, and I’m not even going to discuss the mental health issues with what you went through. I’m not a licensed mental health professional after all.”
“I can’t be a cripple though,” Tela muttered to herself as the medic helped clean her up with a clean rag and then pulled some clothing out of the pack by his side.
“You won’t be,” the medic replied as he depolarized his visor just enough that she could see the small smile. “We’ve got some of the best doctors in the ‘Sphere onboard the Argo, and they’ll make sure that you’re up and running again. Why, I’m on my second arm, and I’m still good.”
“Thank you for the clothing and for the care,” Tela inclined her head to the medic as he helped her into the pair of gym shorts and hoodie that was in his bag. “This jacket, what is it called?” She asked as she stuffed her hands into the pocket at the center of the pullover.
“That’s a hoodie,” the medic cringed internally. “Sorry I didn’t have better clothes, but that was all that I had in my medbag. I actually forgot to pack the normal clothing that we give out for these sorts of things.”
“This clothing will suffice,” Tela replied. “Now, I believe that there are others who require your care.”
“Actually, you’re the worst off, and I’m supposed to make sure that your condition doesn’t worsen,” the man replied. “Now, I’m going to get you something to rest on and to cover you with. And then you’re going to rest. Doctor’s orders.”
“Calm down, we’re here to help,” I told the people that had been herded into cages as I let my rifle fall down on my sling and behind my back. “We got your distress call and came as soon as we could.”
“How do we know that you’re telling the truth, huh?” A Turian stepped forward and in front of the rest of the captives. “You could be a different set of pirates for all that we know.”
“Armor’s too good,” an Asari slurred as she shakily stood up with a blanket wrapped around her. “Only the wealthiest of pirates would be able to afford something like that.”
“I’ve got medical supplies here,” I said as a couple of fireteams met me in the cargo bay where I was located. “And we should be able to get those collars off of you.”
“You some sort of hotshot merc unit?” The Turian challenged as he refused to move away and let us help the rest of the captives. “Because you don’t look like any respectable unit I’ve ever seen.”
“You can move and let us render aid, or you can be moved by us and we’ll still render aid,” I stated. “Choice is yours.”
“What do you think you are? A Krogan?” the Turian scoffed while looking at me clad in my specific armor.
“Mathis, move him before I shoot him,” I sighed. “I’m not here to argue with idiots today.”
“There’s always one,” Mathis replied as he yanked the door off of the cage with a sharp tug and then manhandled the Turian over to where the medics were setting up a triage station.
“What are you doing? Put me down!” The Turian yelled while Mathis picked him up.
“Should have moved when you had the chance,” I shook my head before turning to the rest of the captives. “We still have more sections of the ship to clear out, but I need to know if there are more catpvies before we start moving out.”
“This is only a third of us,” the Asari spoke up as she moved herself over to the triage area. “We were the ones that put up a fight and so they stuck us here in this area where we could be easily spaced if they had any more issues.”
“Any thoughts on the locations of the others?” I asked as an EOD tech worked on the explosive collar on the Asari’s neck while a medic went over her physical body.
“Not a clue,” the alien shook her head. “Likely over to the barge though, it’s typical pirate behavior after all.”
“Thanks for your help,” I told the Asari before turning to Mathis and collecting my fireteam. “We’ve still got sixty or so civilians to free. Grab a couple of the EOD techs and medics and let’s get moving.”
“Pirates,” Natasha scoffed as she led her fireteams through the corridor and to the entrance of the bridge. “They never put up the kind of fight that is appreciated.”
“You think they’d invest their loot into better gear,” Aethyta agreed. “But for some reason they never do.”
“Too much work,” Jane Thastus spoke up. “Pirates are rarely professionals, and the few that act like it can be a legitimate threat to a military. It is actually safer for them to look and act like a bunch of idiots because it means that there is no real action that seems necessary. And when a pirate group does decide to get professional it means that they typically stop acting like pirates and realize they can form the beginnings of a nation-state.”
Regina Levi just stopped and stared at her fellow Galaxy Commander for a minute before moving on.
“What?” Jane asked the ex Smoke Jaguar warrior. “I got my degree on studying the patterns and habits that pirates fall into.”
“When did you have time to get a degree?” Jill Viola asked as they pushed forward. “I am always too busy to have time to do that sort of thing.”
“I am not the only one who has acquired a degree,” Jane responded. “Regina and Alexandra have also acquired degrees. It was recommended by Mathis when we were settled down in a time of peace while on Kentares.”
“Alright then,” Jill replied. “I shall have to look into this sometime.
–
–
“Finally, a worthy adversary,” Natasha said as she grabbed the Krogan that charged her and threw him into the bulkhead with enough force that it left a dent in the wall. “You are a big one.”
“Need a hand?” Aethyta asked as she exchanged fire with the group of pirates holding down the choke point that was the entrance to the frigate’s bridge.
“No,” Natasha grunted as she wrestled with the Krogan. “This is the most fun I’ve had in days. Don’t take this from me.”
“Banging!” Regina called out as she tossed a flashbang into the bridge before following it. The small rounds pinging off her armor as she moved into CQC with her pistol and combat knife drawn.
“Following,” Jane replied as she hefted her rifle and followed the other warrior, hosing down a pirate that got in her way before shifting and targeting the next one.
–
–
“I’m not as familiar with all of the different physiologies yet,” the medic treating her told Tela Vasir. “We’ve got the basics down, but we’re still working on getting expert data on advanced treatment. Just let me know if I do something wrong, and we’ll move on from there.”
“I’ve just got some bruises and scrapes for the most part,” Tela tried to brush the medic off at first before she felt a glare and a finger touch her broken arm.
“No, I can clearly see that it’s broken,” the medic chided her. “Both you and the Batarians have a similar enough skeletal structure that I can figure that much out at least. I’m going to wrap this up in a splint. It’ll take a couple of minutes to harden, and you may feel some heat, but it’ll keep the arm immobile until we can get you scanned and see if there are any more serious problems. Now, would you prefer a female medic for the next part of the examination? I don’t mind if it makes you more comfortable, it’s not like I have a lack of patients after all.”
“Why would that bother me?” Tela asked as confusion shown clearly in her eyes. “You are a professional yes?”
“Different species and culture,” the medic hit the side of his helmet. “Sorry about that. I’ll just finish up and we’ll get you some clothes. I’m certain that we’ve got some that will fit you.”
–
–
“No strenuous activity for three months if not more,” the medic ordered Tela after he had finished checking on the rest of her. “I’ll help you get cleaned up and into some fresh clothes so that you aren’t freezing, but you’re going to need some serious therapy to fix some of that. They made sure that you’re going to need surgery in order to be able to do anything more than hobble, and I’m not even going to discuss the mental health issues with what you went through. I’m not a licensed mental health professional after all.”
“I can’t be a cripple though,” Tela muttered to herself as the medic helped clean her up with a clean rag and then pulled some clothing out of the pack by his side.
“You won’t be,” the medic replied as he depolarized his visor just enough that she could see the small smile. “We’ve got some of the best doctors in the ‘Sphere onboard the Argo, and they’ll make sure that you’re up and running again. Why, I’m on my second arm, and I’m still good.”
“Thank you for the clothing and for the care,” Tela inclined her head to the medic as he helped her into the pair of gym shorts and hoodie that was in his bag. “This jacket, what is it called?” She asked as she stuffed her hands into the pocket at the center of the pullover.
“That’s a hoodie,” the medic cringed internally. “Sorry I didn’t have better clothes, but that was all that I had in my medbag. I actually forgot to pack the normal clothing that we give out for these sorts of things.”
“This clothing will suffice,” Tela replied. “Now, I believe that there are others who require your care.”
“Actually, you’re the worst off, and I’m supposed to make sure that your condition doesn’t worsen,” the man replied. “Now, I’m going to get you something to rest on and to cover you with. And then you’re going to rest. Doctor’s orders.”