The Waiting Game...
Posted on Sun Feb 3, 2013 @ 3:49am by Fleet Captain Rhea Kennit & Lieutenant Samantha Raylen & Lieutenant Commander Miguel Torres
971 words; about a 5 minute read
Mission:
Refit and Reorganization
Location: USS Victory
Timeline: 62495.143 {Mon, 19 Nov 2384 13:30}
Captain's Ready Room
Sipping from a cup of coffee, outside through the viewport occasional glimpses of tumbling rocks flitted into view and then passed on. The Victory had established a secure orbit within the asteroid belts as ordered, using the radiation generated by the massive gas giant plant whose orbit crossed through the belts as well as the tumbling motion of the asteroids themselves as a means of hiding their activities in the system. With their running lights shut down, and viewports screened to allow them to see out while keeping all light inside.. the Victory was nothing more than one of the larger bits of space debris should the Hakari sensors pick up the ship as it slowly cruised within the field, course and speed set to match that of the larger asteroids whose orbits and speed had been tracked and calculated in order to help maintain their cover.
Long range sensors had picked up a grainy, slightly distorted view of one of the Hakari ships as it made the short warp run from their home world to one of the outer weapons platforms where it now held station. It was small, it's primary hull a little bulkier and the ship's saucer section shaped somewhat more of an octagonal shape rather than circular as the old NX Class ship's had been.. but at the same time there was no mistaking the similarities in design and intent.
She'd need a comprehensive scan to confirm it... but if she had to make a statement on it right now (which fortunately she did not) - the Captain would have expressed her opinion that somehow, someone within the Federation had taken the technical specifications for the old NX Class ships and brought the data all the way out here to be given (more likely sold) to the Hakari government ..
And based on the communications they were picking up, only ONE of the governmental powers had access to the technology. A war was being waged across their home world and in their small colonial expansion for control of all.. And it looked like the governmental power which was referred to as 'The Allied Sect" was winning thanks to their ill-gotten technology..
They'd know more once the Valkryie flight had been launched, completed it's survey and returned. But for now..
It bothered her.
A lot.
Fifty eight minutes later, Alec entered Rhea's ready Room. He handed her a PADD, "Here you go, one detailed flight plan. One for one Valkryie one for three. You want me to just tell you the specifics rather than you having to read it?"
One eyebrow arched, "Are you suggesting that you feel I might not be able to read it? Or do you just wish to prove that you can.." she asked him, her voice soft and teasing. Picking up the flight plan and looking it over, she said "Are you certain it's wise to move in so close to the system itself.. we don't want to be detected.."
"Far be it from me to even think you couldn't read it Captain, such an idea is preposterous." He bantered back as he stood before her. "Wise? Could be debatable Rhea, but it's definitely prudent. We want to know what's going on. The only way is to get up close and personal."
"Any recommendations for the other two pilots .. should we launch 3 ships rather than just one.." the Captain amended.
Alec was ready with an answer. "Burke and Samuels. They both are rated to fly the Valkryie. Plus their good, solid pilots. Both are laid back, don't rattle. Sometimes I think their dead. Their so cool."
"A walking corpse.. that would at least explain the lingering aroma in the corridor after Samuels left the head the other afternoon.." she replied dead-pan. "All right.. if you want them they're yours. Have them suit and be ready to launch in 30 minutes. Unless you need more time to prepare.."
"That would be them." He quipped, now he hesitated. "Umm....... are you ordering me to take them Rhea? They're good but I can do this. One Valkryie in stealth mode. I can go right to the front door and have a look even ring the doorbell, if you like."
"I do not want you to go ringing anyone's doorbell.." she answered. "And no.. I'm not ordering you to take the two additional ships if you're convinced you can handle it on your own. Be aware however.. if I have to come pull your ass out of a fire you'll have worse things to worry about than singe marks.."
Noting the time, she thumbed her comm and spoke "Kennit to Torres. What's the status on the pre-flight prep for the Valkryie? Have your people completed checking out the ship's systems and ensured that the torpedoes have been loaded?"
Torres looked at the the crew chief as he waited for an answer. The chief and his crew new just about all there was when it came to an engineering stand point about these fighters. So Miguel gave them a wide berth. About thirty seconds after the Captain had called down the chief turned to Torres and gave him a thumbs up. Torres tapped his combadge "The fighters have been checked out and have been armed to your specifications." he reported.
"Thank you Mr. Torres," Katrijn answered. "Keep them warmed up and ready.. we'll want to launch I'm sure within the hour as soon as the XO and I finalize the flight plan for the survey sweep.."
OOC 2.3.13: Ending this now as Torres' player has gone out of town for vacation and I don't think he'll be online until he's back. Since we've been waiting long enough.. time to move on along.. R.K.K.
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