The Battle for Coridan - Fallout Rescue, Part 3
Posted on Thu Jul 10th, 2025 @ 1:53pm by Commander Saul Whitford & Colonel Josiah McEntyre & Sub-Commander T'shir & Lieutenant Commander Alexander Coleman & Major Dranoel Leomas & Major Iria & Lieutenant Amelia Johansen
1,817 words; about a 9 minute read
Mission: The Campaign for Coridan
[Coridan Surface - The Caves]
Amongst the noises of the crammed caves, a comm relay began beeping a signal.
Coleman was working on checking on a few patients with Major Iria and a few of the MACOs when he heard the comms relay beeping. He pointed to it and said, "Is that what I think it is. Please tell me that's what I think it is."
Iria heard the sound from the comms relay indicating it was picking up a transmission. She finished her immediate task and looked over to the CMO and raised a brow in inquiry. "I am a touch telepath, commander. I do not have the ability to know what you are thinking from your current location. However, it would appear that the comms has picked up a signal."
'This is Transport Delta-Four calling any survivors ... repeat ... this is Transport Delta-Four calling any survivors ...' the line was thin, reedy and crackling, but there was no mistaking the strong Minnesota accent of their saviour. Strangled with worry, the pilot radioed across a broad frequency, hoping against hope that someone in the area would answer.
"Thank the gods that someone appears to be coming to our rescue! Think you can open a comms channel and let them know that we're down here?" Coleman asked Major Iria. He would have done it, but he didn't want to mess something up and get them permanently stuck down in the caves.
The sudden crackle and distinct words coming through the comms was a relief - although the Vulcan doctor did not outwardly express such a sentiment. She rushed over to the device to and got to work. "Transport Delta-Four - it is most satisfactory to hear your voice. This is Major Iria - the forward surgical team is currently located approximately 1.1 clicks south of the initial medical evacuation point in a series of caves to limit radiation exposure."
'-oger that Major Iria. One-point-one clicks.' The comm line went dead for a moment. 'Terrain out there is rough - nukes have triggered a ... -tion. Ca- rantee stability. Will try to land, acknowledge?'
"What did they just say? Something about the terrain being tough after the nukes?" Coleman asked, wanting to make sure he didn't miss anything from the message.
T'Mara couldn't help but tilt her head in a gesture that conveyed puzzlement. This was not her native language and did not have the level of fluency to even attempt to parse the incomplete transmission. Hearing that Coleman could not decipher it either was almost...conciliatory.
She pressed the transmit command and replied, "Transport Delta-Four. Say again; your transmission broke up."
The signal came through again, stronger this time. Evidently the comms officer on the shuttlewas working overtime to compensate against the situation. 'Oh you know, landing on the surface is gonna be difficult in your area,' Delta-Four replied. 'Nukes have caused a chain-reaction in the dilithium under the surface - you're pretty close to a vein that's going unstable. Recommend you get to higher ground so we can pick you lot up.'
"They do know that we have wounded down here, right? The first trip was one of necessity. Anymore and people could die because of infection and lord only knows what else," Coleman offered, knowing that the people in the caves probably couldn't survive another trip elsewhere.
Iria's breath came out in an audible huff. It was the only indication that she was in any way perturbed about the situation. "Commander. I do not believe we have any other viable option. What is it your people say about a rock and a hard place?"
Coleman sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose between his eyes as he said, "Yeah, you're absolutely right Major. I think that you hit it right on the nose with that analogy. At least they're on their way and trying to get everyone out of here sooner rather than later."
Dipping her head in silent assent, Iria returned to the comms. "Roger that, Delta-four. We will begin moving the casualties towards the surface now."
'Acknowledged. We'll activate the transponder for you to home in on our position - move as quickly as you can,' Delta-Four warned, 'no telling when that vein will go off.'
It would appear that the medical team had yet another difficult task ahead of them. She looked to Coleman, "Shall we begin moving our patients to the surface for evac, sir?"
"Yeah, lets get them to the surface. Start with the critical ill patients first and we'll go from there," Coleman replied as he helped to start get everyone ready.
"Okay, let's move carefully and quickly," Amelia stated as she walked toward the back of the caves, careful not to yell. "Our rescue is nearby and we need to get everyone out without making too much noise, let's go."
The second evacuation went even more efficiently than the first, and this one was twice as quiet as the officers communicated primarily in whispers and through hand gestures as they began to make their way out of the caves.
Coleman was pressed a hypo into the arm of one of the patients. It was another dose of the medication that made sure everyone could survive the nuclear winter and illness. He looked at Iria and Amelia and asked, "How's the evac to the surface coming along?"
"Our return to the surface is thus far moving along quite efficiently...from what I am observing. We are running low on anti-rad medications. I have inoculated the more critical - their compromised bodies will not tolerate radiation sickness on top of their injuries."
"Good, I'm glad to hear it. Approximately how many more do we have left down here to take up?" Coleman asked, looking around to see who was left behind thus far.
"The last batch of wounded are currently being mobilized. We should make haste to the surface."
As the crew carried the wounded to the surface they were met with darkened skies and falling soot along with the welcome site of shuttles that had come to their rescue. The Unicorn had dispatched what was available, so the shuttles were of varying sizes and capabilities, and were not medical transport ships, nor had they had the time to convert them for such uses, but they would do. The most important order of business was to get everyone to the Unicorn for proper medical treatment, including treatment for radiation poisoning as soon as possible. Minor risks from rough travel were acceptable given the urgency of the situation.
"In here, in here," a voice called out. "Okay, filled up, go on to the next one, send them over there now, Let's go" a red headed sergeant wearing an E.V. suit guided the soldiers where to go.
As soon as one ship was filled to capacity, it shut it's doors, sealed the airlocks and took flight, taking it's passengers to safety without waiting on the other shuttles. It was unclear how many trips they would be taking, and for the wounded who were in agony every minute counted.
Coleman looked at Iria and said, "Is that everyone besides us? Has Amelia gotten the last of the crew up to the ship and started some of the decon protocols for nuclear decon?"
"I believe so, commander." Iria responded neutrally. The skin on her face was beginning to itch, no doubt the effects of her repeated exposure to fallout. It wouldn't kill her, but it was...distracting. "The last of the injured have been moved out of the caves. I have checked to ensure no one was left behind. We are...it."
"Okay, then lets get off of this foresaken planet and get back to the Unicorn. So, that we can get some better medical treatment for us and everyone else besides field rations and medkits. After you, Major," Coleman said, offering her to get on first, as he was trying to be a gentleman.
Iria dipped her head in acknowledgement and took the lead as Coleman gestured for her to do. Now that they were finally making their way back to the surface - she allowed herself to begin experiencing the bone-deep exhaustion held at bay through sheer will. She began calculating exactly how much sleep could be obtained on the shuttle ride back to Unicorn. It most likely would be only down-time they all would be offered until everyone had been adequately stabilized.
Coleman followed her into the drop ship. He could tell how exhausted Iria and everyone else was at that moment. Heck, even he was exhausted and doctors were trained to go for hours on end without needing much rest. But, this whole experience was something out of the norm and he was just ready to get back to the ship, so that he could make sure the people on the planet were properly taken care of.
[Unicorn Bridge]
Whitford heaved a sigh of relief as the last few transports from the surface landed in the Unicorn's landing bays. Coridan was a lost cause - for now. He'd already heard the ripples of whispers that the Coalition would send some sort of mission to help the remaining inhabitants. How or with what resources, Whitford wasn't sure. Might just be talk as far as he was concerned.
He gave the order for the Unicorn to break orbit, gently, and got up from the center chair with a wince. Delta-Twelve's pilot had commed to say McEntyre had made it aboard. Better go brief the boss, he thought, before summoning his relief.
Dranoel returned to the bridge after being cleared to resume duty, the headache still throbbed irregularly softly at the point of impact. He hovered around the tactical relief officer, he gestured for them to remain as some of his focus was lost.
He checked the logs and saw that Coridan had been hit by nuclear weapons, Dranoel wondered about how the Coalition will respond.
[DELTA-12]
Josiah leans back into the jumpseat of the dropship. He was overwhelmed, tired...so tired. His feet throbbed, he could feel the blood in his boots. On the deck, shrouded was the body of Staff Sergeant Bassett. He said he would get him home, just...he didn't think it'd be like this. Josiah had lost men, but to lose them to the hell of a nuclear attack hurt him to the core.
The Romulans had escalated the war. The gloves will come off. Fire with fire, Josiah thought.
Colonel Josiah McEntyre
Commanding Officer
Unicorn NX-151
MACO SOCOM
Commander Saul Whitford
Executive & Chief Armoury Officer
Unicorn NX-151
Lieutenant Amelia Johansen
Medical Officer, Psychiatrist
Unicorn NX-151
NPC Sub-Commander T'Shir
Major Iria
Assistant Chief Medical Officer
Unicorn NX-151
Major Dranoel Leomas
Armoury Officer
Unicorn NX-151
Lieutenant Commander Alexander Coleman, MD
Chief Medical Officer
Unicorn NX-151
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