CHAPTER 10: PLANETFALL

[Dome]

Fegh shakes his head as he holds the wall and then says, "I believe they are landing more troops."

[dakota]

"More? We better find a way off this rock before the whole place is overrun." Balus said," Captain, is there enough room aboard ship if we try to evacuate the locals, provided they want to leave?"

[doc]

"We'll see what we can do, Corporal." The Captain replies.

The tunnel opens up into a large antechamber - nearly two dozen men, women, and children are huddled as the groundshakes now take on the a soft hum in the background. Vela and Mokar go to reassure them.

"Corporal Walkir, Engineer Krystal, stay with them. Lieutenant, with me." The captain leads Fegh some distance back into the tunnel until they are well out of earshot.

"Alright Lieutenant, this is my assessment - we might be able to get some of these survivors and refugees off-planet as a rescue mission, but it is well outside our parameters to pick a fight with a new group of interstellar invaders, or to supply a rebellion when we're so hard pressed here. Do you concur, or do you have alternate suggestions?" He asks bluntly.

[dakota]

"Yessir." Balus replied without hesitation. He relaxed a bit in the larger chamber, then looked at Krystal," Get some rest and recharge while you can. i figure things will get hairy again soon enough."

[sasqaricious]

"Will do." Krystal responds as she lays down in the area (Open sun patch preferable) and rests the best way she can.

[Dome]

"Sir," Fegh starts before sighing and then continuing, "I have been trying to determine the best course of action. I fear it does not look good. The first landing craft held more troops then they probably needed to subdue a pacifist society, I think the vibration we just felt was more of those landing crafts. This small group or movement," he says motioning around the room, "is to small to stand against this force, even with our support. In time while being under oppression, more may rise to fight that oppression, but now not enough of them seem willing to fight so backing a rebellion when no one wishes to rebel is foolhardy at best. We must try and withdraw."

Fegh pauses and looks around the room at the people gathered there, and then their own people. He continues, "at the same time taking into consideration that the enemy came through their defensive field destroying all their space defenses, I do not think our ship should even attempt to engage their ship. Revealing itself even just to pick us up may cause it to become a target. While we must withdraw, we must do so with caution."

[doc]

The captain nods at Fegh's assessment. "I concur. I think it best that we offer these survivors, and just them, the opportunity to go with us. Our resources aboard ship will be taxed enough simply making escape." His scars seem to lighten slightly. "Though I hate the thought of leaving any creature at the mercy of tyranny such as this. We should clear this particular city, then make contact with the Victory to set up a discrete rendevous. I'll need you to keep the troops in line should anything...unexpected occur."

Krystal, there's only some dim artificial lighting, nothing natural.

Balus, you see that the people are looking at you with a mix of awe and fear.

[Dome]

Fegh says, "sir if we can move to the far side of the planet we may be able to have the Victory land without being detected. If they can keep the planet between themselves and the invaders, they may be fine. Perhaps we can use Engineer Krystal's ability to move everyone in a forcefeild faster than walking, unless the locals have a solution."

He pauses and adds, "I understand. I feel the same way, unfortunately we do not have the resources to stop this invasion. Our attacks on Burnyr only seemed to slow him down. I do not believe he has been eliminated."

"Perhaps we should speak with the leaders of this movement. They may be able to help us develop a stratagem for our withdrawal."

[sasqaricious]

Krystal unhappy that there is no natural light sighs and tries to manuever into the limited light she has. She closes her eyes and tries to rest and gain a little strength so when the time comes she will be ready.

[dakota]

Balus frowned a bit," It's okay folks. I'm really just a big kid. I don't eat people or anything. " He smiled trying to instil some trust [dice=100][rand=6964660925793347491288185880652760375455033322926724410658487676906]

[doc]

"The Ambassador and I will speak with them. You go check on the rest of the team." The Captain nods. "And I think it's safe to say that any urbanized part of the planet is covered with the invaders - we need to extract to more remote regions and let the Victory's stealth tech do the heavy work.

The aliens try to become calmer, but their high state of shock seems unshakable, Balus.

[Dome]

"Acknowledged," Fegh says before turning from the Captain. He makes his way to Engineer Krystal first, since she seemed to be the most affected by their battle.

"Engineer, how are you holding up," he says as he kneels down next to her.

[sasqaricious]

"I am fine. I just need time to recharge, it took a lot of energy to hold that field and left me weakened. I could of done other things save the problem..." she trails off remembering that it is not good to say bad stuff, and not her place.

[Dome]

Fegh outs a reassuring hand on her shoulder, "I understand. In the end we did the right thing, and the best we could. If we have to move, will you need help? Keep in mind now is not the time to be heroic, I need to know the truth."

[sasqaricious]

"I think I can go on my own. I just wish there was some sun down here to help me out. I will be ready if need be, and if you need to I can produce a weaker force field." She responds, not used to someone talking to her like that.