Safe Harbor

[Ki'rok 0]

The silence spoke volumes. The few remaining members of the Republic sat trying to comprehend all they had learned in the past five minutes. Responsible for damaging the time line; responsible for crippling the Federation; One chance at getting back home.

 

Kirok, having had his fill of sitting while in the brig, stood. It was not meant as a cue, however Captain Velos informed everyone of the lack of...ironically...time.

 

Before the group could get underway, the ship came under atack from a Cricket vessel. The team made their way to the transporter room to beam to the planets surface. Captain Velos, looking suddenly more human than before, wished them luck and vanished behind the sparkling wall of the tranporter beam.

 

Upon materializing on the surface, Ki'rok found himself..for lack of a better term ..in Hell. A group of Marines were involved in an intense battle with Cricket ground forces. As fate would have it, the group appeared smack dab in the middle of it all. Ki'roks training kicked in. It occured to him that he had been fuctioning more as a science officer than security. He made a mental note to apologize to Mr. Link. But now...using the type 1 phaser each of them had received from Captain Velos (along with civilian clothing) Ki'rok tried to lay down cover fire for his crewmates as they made their way toward the Guardian.

 

During an intense volley of fire, Captain Blu was grazed and fell. Without paying attention to the orders coming from her, Ki'rok caught her mid fall and putting her arm around his neck, continued towards the Guardian. It occured to him this had happened before in an academy sim...he had helped his CO...only to have his nose almost broken. Luckily, this time...there was no immediate retribution...although a court martial for disobeying orders would not surprise him in the slightest.

 

After passing Blu off to another team member, Ki'rok turned and opened fire on a Cricket soldier. It was a good shot. Unfortunately, a female marine charged forward at the same time...and was hit square in the back by Ki'roks phaser blast. Someone said something..but Ki'rok didnt hear it...time seemed to slow as he watched her fall. She was dead. Given the circumstances, she would most likely have died anyway. But HE had killed her. That was the first time he had taken a life. He knew it wouldnt be the last but...He fought back the emotions trying to consume him. There were people relying on him. If they were suceessful then this would never happen. The logic was comforting...a bit.

 

After an eternity, the scientists waiting by the Guardian signaled time to go. However, just before the signal, a massive explosion wounded Hans and Apollo. Ki'rok...still reeling from the Hans singing in the brig...decided to help him anyway. Ki'rok helped him to his feet...grabbed the nearest arm...and lept through the Guardian into an uncertain future-past.

Edited April 29, 2004 by Ki'rok