Viva la Resistance! - Part 1

Posted on Monday 6 August 2018 @ 22:35 by 1st Lieutenant John Kayhill

Mission: The New Collective
Location: Vega Xu, Tilliax Settlement
Timeline: 239507.29
818 words - 1.6 OF Standard Post Measure

John looked out the window of his office as the sun was starting to set on the Tilliax settlement of the Vega Xu colony, causing the shadows in the valley to grow deep. The Vega Xu was fifty years old and had grown to three settlements. Agreed, there were not a lot of people at each settlement. All were strong and self-sufficient and due to the discovery of a dilithium deposit the colony would be growing once they could prepare a mine properly.

The Tilliax settlement was the oldest settlement in the colony and it was half-inside and half-outside a small mountain. The settlers originally it for defensive purposes. The Marine command center was built on the inside of the mountain. It wasn’t the largest settlement, but that would change soon as the dilithium deposit had been found when a rescue team went in to find two kids that had been exploring the caves of the mountain and had gotten stuck.

“Go home Gunny”, John said to his senior NCO, Gunnery Sergeant Maximillian “Max the Man” Manson, as he turned back to his desk in the office that he shared with the Gunny.

John swore if his parents had named him Max Manson, he would have changed his name when he was old enough. The Gunny had apparently run with it over the course of his life though and he was forever known amongst many Marine companies as “Max the Man”. It was often said, "If you need something, go see Max the Man."

When John had first arrived, he was floored that a Corporal had called the Gunny that and started to chew the man out. The Gunny set him straight about it and now only three weeks later John had found himself saying, “You have to see Max the Man” a few times.

“If you are here sir”, Max said. “I’m here.”

“Max, I am doing paper-work”, John said. “It isn’t like we are on an intergalactic hub station. This is a colony with only three settlements on it and each settlement has only one platoon. I have only been here three weeks, but I think I can handle this, trust me. Go home and be with your wife.”

Max opened his mouth to say something and the red alert klaxon went off and Max gave John a look that said, ‘Where would you be without us NCO’s’.

“Computer why are we at alert?” John asked.

At that point a private who had been on system watch ran into John’s office and in almost perfect unison with the computer, said, “We’re under-attack.”

John said, “Computer activate tactical display and show area of attack.”

The computer complied as John, Max, and the private went into the command center.

“That’s Xalia center”, the private said.

“The Governor”, Max said and looked at John.

“Computer open a channel to the Governor’s office”, John commanded.

“Unable to comply” the computer replied.

“Why not”, Max asked as senior Marine’s started coming into the center to get and verify orders.

“The Xalia settlement communication system is off-line” was the response.

“Great”, John muttered. “Open a channel to Platoon Bravo at Centar settlement.”

“Channel open, audio only”, the computer replied.

John was starting to get truly worried. Communications was vital, especially out on a colony world.

“This is Lieutenant Kayhill, what’s your sitrep?” he said.

“*static*…ptain Jonas. *static* under attack by *static*”

The channel cut out.

“Computer re-establish link”, John snapped.

The computer beeped in compliance and a burst of static was followed by, “We are under attack by the borg.”

The channel cut out abruptly.

“Computer send emergency channel, all available languages, this is Lieutenant John Kayhill, Starfleet Marine Corps, Vega Xu colony. We are under attack by the Borg. Avoid the planet at all costs. Repeat, avoid the planet.”

The computer beeped in compliance and sent the message as John’s men looked at him dumbfounded and the room grew silent.

The Private in the room said, “You aren’t going to ask for help?”

“No, Private, I’m not”, John replied with a scowl. “We are the only settlement left here and there are who knows how many mining survey ships on the way because of that dilithium deposit. If the borg are here, I’m not going to feed them anymore innocents. We are Marines, we get people out of danger, not lead them to it.”

A sly grin crossed his face, “Plus, I’m not going to have any Fleeters taking credit for saving the colony once we kick the Borg off of it.”

Max bellowed out, “Oorah!” to which all the Marines returned the battle cry.

“Alright, arm up Marines”, John commanded as the lights flickered a little. “It’s going to be a long night.”

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1st Lieutenant John Kayhill
Marine Company Commander
USS Merlin