Winston Chronicles; Qob/Tranquility Universe : The Main Event

[Mitar Precip 0]

2018

The Main Event

 

Sunset District a.k.a.”Unspeakable District”

 

 

 

Across the Street from the Winston Garage was a what humans called in the past a “strip mall.” The shopping center was completely vacant, the local crime rate and violence had taken its toll in the immediate neighborhood. At least that was before the Guardians relocated the Winstons to the vacant vehicle repair shop. Now signs were up on the vacated strip mall suggesting businesses would soon be arriving. The Guardians’ continued presence around the Winston garage made the area somewhat secure. The vacated strip mall had already been refitted and refurbished along with security cameras making the area “feel” safe.

 

Vargros was impressed. Whomever Death was consulting somehow allowed the Cycles access to the cameras in the vacant “stripmall” with an outstanding view of the front of the Winston Garage. His slicing expertise was not needed. Death only requested him to install the server feeding the array of video consoles in the new command center of the Cycles of Death.

 

Death stood behind Byblos along with two other Nausicaans trusted with his life. He knew Byblos and Vargros worked well together. Hence he chose them to help lead the attack remotely. The Nausicaan leader requested Byblos for an update.

 

Byblos turned briefly, adjusting his headset to speak to his leader. “All Riders en route Lord Death, the traffic signals are remarkably cooperative today. Also note on the video screens that the Guardians are all staring at their ODRI’s rendered ‘confused’ .”

 

“Gee, I wonder who arranged that?” chirped Vargros.

 

“Silence!” Death commanded the smaller Nausicaan manning the command station. “Byblos, I assume all our targets are present?”

 

“Yes, Lord Death. Deputy Shrike is visible on the far left interior of the Garage, Winston the engineer is next to him without his ODRI device. It looks like they are trying to figure out what is wrong with their precious ODRIs,” Byblos commented. “The Sheriff is next to Shrike with a big grin on his face. There are at least a dozen Guardians some also looking at their ODRIs from what I can see via our cameras. Four additional Guardians at the corners of the Garage behind their four Speeders armed with rifles. There will be an impressive firefight, exactly what you desired.” Byblos lowered his head to meet Death’s eyes.

 

“Excellent. Estimated arrival time?” Death inquired this time to Vargros.

 

“Seven minutes, my Lord. All cycles are cruising towards the target.”

 

A sudden movement drew all eyes to the right side of the Garage, another speeder had arrived. Death nodded in response to the arrival. “The more the merrier!”

 

Vargros was the first to note who had arrived. “Death, that is not a Guardian speeder, that is a Klingon vehicle! Two Klingons now exiting, one opening the door for ...another Klingon with one impressive Bat`leth.”

 

“What! Vargros your reports mentioned nothing of a Klingon presence at this event!” Byblos said with haste as he received another update from the incoming cycles. “Four minutes until the attack.” Byblos moved in front of his leader blocking the view screens. “Lord Death this is an unacceptable complication!”

 

Death waved his right hand dismissively. “If Klingons wish to meet their death with the Guardian scum that is their mistake. Remove yourself from my view.”

 

Vargros examined the Klingon vehicle on the viewscreen. “It’s armored. The Trike cannon will have to hit that vehicle first instead of the main targets”

 

“Byblos, inform ‘Longbeam’ of the new arrival and inform him he is to destroy that Klingon vehicle first,” Death commanded.

 

“My Lord, Nausicaan steel is never to clash with Klingon blades, our forefathers have taught us that for centuries..we must abort-

 

Death slapped Byblos across the face. “Silence you cowering fool! I am aware of the ‘Axiom’, but today WE have the upper hand. Our cannons will cut them down with the rest of the Guardians-

 

Vargros dared to interrupt. “Death, Byblos is anticipating a Klingon counterstrike that no Guardian will be able to stop. Their is wis-

 

“Must I do this myself!!!” Death ripped the com set from Byblos’ head and screamed into the mike..”Riders of Death!, today unleash vengeance for our fallen comrades! Let no one escape. All present at the target our enemies of the Cycles! Kill at will!”

 

Vargros turned his chair back to the monitor in stunned silence. Death was making a grave error, but he knew there was nothing else he could do.

 

Byblos however was not finished. “You will bring an end to us all this day attacking the Klingons! You are insane!” Byblos began to reach for his sword but was instantly hit from behind by a disruptor bolt that sent the big Nausicaan to the floor.

 

Death proceeded to put his boot on the back wound of Byblos. “Take this coward to his barracks. I will deal with him later.” He turned forward to the Nausicaan at the computers. “Wise Vargros, anything else you wish to add to this discussion?”

 

“Only that the attack has begun my Lord,” Vargros replied obediently.

 

The Trike vehicle carrying two Nausicaans appeared onscreen. Coming to an immediate stop, a Nausicaan swiveled a large cannon on the rear of the Trike. The first shot from it penetrated the rear armor of the Klingon vehicle, causing it to burst into flames.

 

Behind Vargros’ back Death howled in victory. Aside from the Cycles’ leader rejoicing at the fight shown on the monitors, Vargros heard his friend Byblos being dragged down the hall. He sighed inwardly. Byblos had made a costly mistake challenging Death, now somehow he had to save his friend’s life. But, all he could do is watch as the gunbattle continue, until suddenly the video transmission failed.

 

“Vargros! Get the video back up!” Death growled.

 

“There is nothing I can do my Lord, power has been lost in the area, most likely a stray shot hit a city EPS line. You should still have audio.” Vargros added.

 

“Very well,” Death adjusted the COMM headset for his use. “All Cycles continue the assault, once all targets are dead use the exit routes as planned!”

 

 

THIS IS A TNN NEWS ALERT,

 

“I am Max Precip,” the Bolian anchorman commented. “We go live to a developing situation in the Sunset District. TNN Reporter Anar Tamara is on the scene. Anar..”

 

A Female Bajoran reporter appeared on the screen. “Yes, Max I am about two blocks away from a Terrorist Attack which took place about an hour ago. This attack has been described to me by a Guardian source as a, and I quote, ‘a well organized terrorist attack against Guardian officers of the Sunset District.’ Details are sketchy, but from what we have been told, the target of the attack was the Sheriff Iktar Senar of the Sunset District, he has been killed along with at least 10 others. The attackers were also killed by Guardians present. There are also unconfirmed reports that Klingons were killed as well in this attack-”

 

“Anar, what would bring the Sheriff to your location we have on display for our viewers?” The anchor interrupted as a map of the attack location was put on the screen.

 

“Max, the only information I have is it was a ‘civic ceremony’ honoring a civilian for helping the community. The Sheriff was apparently hosting the event and Klingons were in attendance as well.”

 

“Anar, have your sources indicated if the Rainmakers were behind this attack?” The view switched back to the Bajoran reporter with a cloud of smoke not far in the distance.

 

“Max, this area has been in a known as turf war between Guardians and the Nausicaan Hovercycle Gang called the ‘Cycles of Death.’ But, I can tell you by experience reporting many incidents involving the ‘Cycles of Death’ here in what many call the ‘Unspeakable District’; this would be by far, the most direct attack on Guardian law enforcement they have ever carried out. Although it is important to point out it is to early to report who is responsible for this attack. We hope to have an interview with a press agent as soon as we can. Reporting live from the Sunset District, I am Anar Tamara for TNN News”