Following the trail...
Posted on Mon Feb 25, 2019 @ 9:34pm by Fleet Captain Rhea Kennit & Lieutenant Samantha Raylen & Lieutenant Commander Miguel Torres & Major Victor Crowe & Lieutenant Penelope Naroot & Lieutenant Arashi Tanaka Mr. & Lieutenant Cassandra Kennings & Lieutenant Nicole Anderson & Lieutenant JG Camille Lévesque PhD & Senior Chief Petty Officer Samantha Summers & Lieutenant JG Markus Davenport
5,710 words; about a 29 minute read
Mission:
Plaga Navis
Location: USS Victory
Timeline: 3 Days after the quarantine ended
[Main Bridge 0700]
Exiting the turbolift, a large mug of coffee in hand the Captain crossed to her seat and settled back. She didn’t ask for a status report, she had read the latest information already before coming to the bridge. Breakfast was in her hand: rich black coffee. She had ignored requests from Nathan to speak with her from his holding cell. Her last discussion with him had left her rather weary of his games, and she was now letting him stew for the time being.
Victory was on course to arrive at the last port of call for the freighter, an orbital transfer station located at the edge of a large asteroid field which was being mined for resources found within the slowly tumbling massive asteroids. Once they reached Station DQ-Omega 7, she hoped to be able to track the activities of its crew while the vessel had been taking on supplies and passengers. They’d already confirmed via subspace communications that no sign of the lethal disease had broken out on the station proper, but that didn’t mean that it hadn’t come aboard the freighter while the ship was here. On the contrary, it made Kennit more certain than ever that however the virus had been contracted, it happened here. Otherwise, as virulent as it was...the denizens of the Station would be dead or dying as well.
Still pale, she felt more invigorated and strong than she had felt in years. Using the holodeck, she’d run a program which provided a Borg regeneration module. Able to monitor the ship’s status while connected via connection nodes which had re-emerged on her spine, her body was charged in a way she hadn’t enjoyed since she’d left Admiral Bennett’s direct command years ago. The feeling was..exhilarating.
“Helm. I want full sensor sweeps of the area as we approach the transfer station. Identify and note the locations of every ship in the area, their identity and where they’re coming from, and where they’re going," the Captain said.
"Aye, Captain," Penny said, scanning as she piloted them in. All the variables were swimming through her head as she processed every ship's vector and integrated them all. It was more fun than she usually had at a station. "Want their engine signatures recorded as well?"
Jim Holbridge walked over to a work station and accessed his reports, sending them to the captain's personal viewer. "Captain, I have forwarded all of the data I have managed to collect to your terminal. To answer your question, we are in what is considered neutral space, a pirates haven. Many of the ships on our scanners will be running without proper ICS transponders, so we won't know the exact number of vessels in the area."
"We might be able to supplement that," Penny said. "If we watch for course corrections along non-standard lanes, we can see if the distortion looks like an engine signature."
Jim nodded. "Good thinking, lieutenant. Once we detect them, I can scan the databases for ship ID and all the trimmings."
“Some of these ships may not like being scanned.” The Captain said thoughtfully. “Set Condition two. Bring weapons systems to ready alert. No point in wearing everyone out with a full yellow alert however, if someone out there is stupid enough to decide to get frisky..we’ll teach them a lesson.”
Cassandra walked onto the bridge quickly, sitting down at communications and affixing her earpiece in her ear. She watched the local comm traffic, looking for unusual dead zones and quiet spots.
Lieutenant Logan was at the Ops console. "All systems show green, captain. Reserve power on standby, at your command. Sensors operating according to specs."
Holbridge smiled at the younger man. "Lieutenant, I need a boost on the sensor gain for port-side cluster, lower quarter near Section 9." A moment later. "Perfect! Captain, all ships in scanning range are showing as registered freighters with Starfleet and local databases. Got a couple running hot impulse engines, but not enough to warrant a shutdown. I recommend we take a closer look at them."
Jim shifted the forward viewer to show the aforementioned vessels, seemingly talking to himself as he adjusted the resolution of the sensor suite. "Crossing through temporal distortions to an alternate reality stresses a ship's drive system, and freighters built before the Dominion War and in other quantum realities do not have the technology to counter the effect, thus the impulse engines take the brunt of the entry shock as the generated warp field tends to reflect the distortion waves formed on entry into a new quantum reality. That's what causes phase variances that can destabilize an impulse engine array." Jim looked around at the faces staring at him. "What? I helped design fighters at Jupiter Station for a few years and picked up a thing or two!"
"Just as long as you put them back when you were done," Penny giggled.
“Now, now, children. Play nice..” Kennit drawled, her attention momentarily caught by yet another annoying message from Dr Anderson which she had no intention of responding to. The Doctor’s concerns regarding her restored spinal implants were unfounded and she wasn’t in the habit of responding to nagging. Swiping the message left to clear the screen, she went back to enjoying her coffee.
Logan continued to watch the power levels. He kept track of everything, and adjusted where the power would do the most good.
"Captain, my scans show a thermal variance 550 million kilometers to starboard. It's huge, 2500 meters in length with comparable draft. It's definitely strange." Jim called from his terminal.
"Confirmed," Penny said. "It's keeping pace on a parallel course and adjusting as we do. Officially calling it strange, odd or weird depending on your preference.
"Well, normally I wouldn't bother with it but it seems to be tracking us on a parallel course." Jim looked at the captain meaningfully, sending her viewer his data. "The spikes repeat every 6,000 km."
Tapping the small screen at her chair, the Captain took a look at the vessel’s indicated by Mr. Holbridge and studied the data he’d complied for a moment. “Alter course, lets go take a closer look. Maybe say hello..” Kennit said after a moment.
"Aye, Captain," Penny said from the helm. "Altering course towards the strange anomaly."
Holbridge felt a tingle in his spine. He quickly accessed his private files collected over the last ten years and quickly searched the data..."Captain, I recommend we do not change course. Science station are there any trace gases in the immediate vicinity of Victory in concentrations of 400 parts per million or greater?"
Camille, presently the on duty science officer, nodded as Jim looked her shoulder at the sensor data. "Oui, Commander. Detecting a dense cloud in our immediate vicinity, about that dense. 80 PPM Nitrogen, 20 PPM oxygen, 10 PPM carbon dioxide, 5 PPM helium. Looks like the other 300 PPM is various metallic vapors, like a vaporized ship hull."
Jim nodded. "Captain, something was blown up before we got here, and whatever is out there is waiting for us to make a move. This tells me whatever is out there is loaded for bear and hunting, and if we make one wrong move we are toast. The thermal spikes could be exhaust from a ship...." Jim looked at the captain, his expression grim. "Lieutenant," Jim looked back over her shoulder at the screen. "Can you get a reading of what is immediately forward of the last thermal spike?"
Camille adjusted the sensors to do a maximum-strength scan of the area ahead of the thermal spike. She pushed her glasses back up her nose and squinted at the data on her screen. "No reading, Commander. No reading at all. I should be picking up dust or cosmic rays, but no. Even emptier than empty space, which is impossible so it's probably a trick."
"Captain, based on this information, we are being tailed by a possible cloaked ship. Recommend Red alert status!"
When Zack heard "red alert", he immediately went into full Ops mode, getting ready to augment ship's systems with standby power.
Penny's hands flew over her board, readjusting their course, keeping them somewhat on their original course so it didn't look as if they'd just changed their mind because they figured something out. "Won't red alert just tell them we figured out they're there whoever they are?"
Kennit waited a moment, just to be sure that the back and forth chatter directed at her without waiting for her to answer was indeed finished for the moment before she spoke. “There are multiple reports of pirate activity in this region striking Federation ships. If there is a potential cloaked vessel out there we have a duty to identify it and, if it proves to be a pirate vessel intent on unlawful activity, then we are bound by Federation law to take action in defense of Federation interests. On that note, prepare for MVAM mode. Yellow alert, keep the shields down but your fingers on the controls and ready. In the event our lurking friend out there reveals himself, shields up without waiting...”
"Aye, Captain!" Penny said, tapping her fingers on her board excitedly and hitting the communications button. "Davenport and Sandusky, report for MVAM," she said, then closed the channel. She began the checklist, her hands flying.
Kennit looked at her Firet Officer, “I need you on the Secondary Battle Bridge in the event we do initiate a black alert. If that ship out there is one of the pirate ships which have been causing problems, we’re going to give them a reason to change their chosen profession.”
Alec's eyes gleamed with...was it excitement? anticipation? It was hard to tell as Rhea stated she wanted him on the Secondary Battle Bridge. He rose smoothly from his seat. He nodded his agreement at her statement. "They will regret going into this line of work," he added.
"Uhh...Captain?" Penny said. "Respectfully suggest Commander Hunter remain here. Doctor Anderson wanted both of you to remain off the secondary module while the virus samples were on board."
“Doctor Anderson is not in command..” the Captain replied. “Orders stand. If we separate the ship the XO will be on station as required.”
"Aye, Captain," Penny said, realizing her error and turning back around. "Well that went well," she said under her breath, looking at Logan.
"Yes right. Well if there's nothing else, I'll be off to the Secondary Bridge." Alec quipped and headed for the lift to take him to his destination.
[Secondary Bridge]
Nicole rushed onto the secondary bridge with Davenport and Faraday right behind her. The skeleton crew there moved aside as Davenport half vaulted into his seat the helm, Faraday took up at tactical and Nicole sat down in the center chair, activating the command systems. They'd gotten word to prepare for separation, and while her team was securing the lab setup in the cargo bay, and evacuating the area, she was the ranking officer to ready the secondary bridge until Commander Torres could take over.
"Helm online, beginning pre-separation checks," Davenport said, all business now that he had to impress someone.
Nicole looked up to respond as the doors opened and jumped to her feet. "What in the name of Saint George are you doing here?" she said as Hunter walked in.
Alec stopped his progress toward the center seat looked at her a slight grin on his face as he pointed up with a finger. "Captain sent me to take command. Though it looks like you already got started on that." He paused for a heartbeat before continuing. "Oh, excuse me." As he moved to walk around her to get to the command chair.
"Remind me to kill Penelope when next I see her," Nicole growled, moving to the secondary chair.
"Now, now Doctor. For what it is worth Penny did object and the Captain stopped her dead in her tracks. Besides would you really want to kill such a nice girl? For shame." He teased.
Nicole straightened her top and crossed her legs, setting up a link to Sickbay on her armrest console. "Secondary module stations are reporting ready," she said. "Sickbay ready for separation, and cargo bay is secure and evacuated. I've got someone on standby in the control room to jettison everything if things get rough."
Alec nodded as Nicole rattled off the state of readiness for the secondary bridge. "Excellent, good work Doctor." He leaned toward her, "Well? Would you?" He repeated.
"Nothing I haven't done before," she snarled, quietly.
Confusion graced Alec's features. "Excuse me? What?"
"I said all Secondary Module stations report ready," she said, her voice back to full volume and her authoritative tone back in place.
Alec was unfazed by Nicole's snarl. "I heard that and very good. However that isn't what I was referring to. I mean it sounded like you said that is nothing you hadn't done before. You having killed her before."
"No I said that wasn't nothing I hadn't done before," Nicole said, evenly. "A triple negative."
Alec stared at her, "Well? Care to elaborate?"
"No," she said, staring at her readouts.
Alec nodded. "I see." His tone now shifting to cold and formal. "Very well Doctor. Have it your way but I will find out. You can count on it." He assured her.
[Main Engineering]
Miguel saw the yellow alert appear on his console. Then he heard the Captain give the order to stand by for MVAM. He knew it was about to hit the fan. "Alright everyone get to your MVAM stations!" he called out. he started to input the commands that would turn some of the stations into copies of the consoles on the bridge as he knew soon he'd be getting people that normally wouldn't be in engineering arriving soon to man them. He also stood up from his main engineering station and turned to Sam. "Engineering is yours Lieutenant." he said as he walked over to the center of the room where he would assume command of the third section of the Victory if the order should be given to separate.
Martin Sandusky rushed into Engineering, slipping past the crewmen on duty and pulled out a seat at an APS, converting the console to helm control. "Helm controls responding and active," he said to Torres. "Ready to separate on bridge's orders."
[Main Bridge]
Jim looked uncomfortably around as the crew began to settle in place for multi-vector assault mode. He walked over to Kennit's chair and said, "Excuse me, captain, but I noticed you had a fighter in the hangar bay. I am a qualified pilot in three models of fighter craft, and as I would be in the way during ship ops I am requesting permission to fly the fighter or my gunabout, unless there is somewhere else I could be of use."
Before the captain could answer, the bridge turbolift slid open to admit Major Crowe and a contingent of mean-looking Marines, armed to the teeth. "Sgt. Cranford, your post is now on the bridge. You will keep the senior officers out of harm's way at all times, am I clear?"
"Crystal, sir!" Sgt Cranford replied, her dark eyes looking for objections from anyone on the bridge.
The Captain found the Sergeant’s attempt at a glare almost amusing, Starfleet Marines could be so cute sometimes.
Crowe simply nodded. "Captain, request permission to join the party. I brought along additional security for MVAC and have assigned two more squads to each bridge section." Crowe's blue eyes were fiery as he looked evenly at the captain.
“Granted.” She answered. “If we are dealing with pirates, they might actually try to board us..”
"Roger that, captain." Vic hustled over to the workstation Holbridge had just left. Vic noticed there was a collapsed screen and quietly opened it. It was a jumble of useless data, but Vic quietly saved the information to his personal server in his office. Jim wasn't the kind to leave messages lightly. Vic began rapidly typing in deployment orders and sending them to his platoon commanders. "Captain, all sensitive areas of the shape have at least a 4-man fire team backing up the security complement. Main Engineering is staffed with cross-trained Marines that can lend a hand, as is Sickbay."
SCPO Summers Quarters: Listening to the 'chatter,' Summers shook her head and thought, ' The *worst* she can do is kill me,' and hit her com badge. " Summers to Captain...request permission to come to the Bridge to work..or where ever you think I would best serve.."
“Qu’vatlh...” Kennet muttered under her breath. “Don’t you have a duty station to get to?” She answered. “Why are you asking instead of just getting there?”
Summers shook her head. "Captain, I was ordered to go to my quarters from Sick Bay - that's why I am here. Heading out to duty station now. Out." Summers shook her head ' Grupa dupa..' she muttered under her breath as she left her quarters...
Jim just nodded at the captain and made his way to the turbolift. "Hangar bay!" he barked as the doors hissed shut. Back in the saddle one more time Bouncer! he thought with a huge smile.
[FLIGHT DECK]
Jim walked onto the deck, wearing a freshly synthesized flight suit bearing the insignia of his old attack fighter/bomber composite squadron, VMAF-33. The flight helmet in his hand was not new and showed several dings and scratches.
The flight crew had the sleek Valkyrie MKIII bird prepped for flight, and Jim was impressed. he quickly climbed the boarding ladder and began the pre-flight sequence. "Computer, engage manual steering and engine thrust controls."
=/\=Manual steering controls engaged.=/\=
"Bridge this is Commander Holbridge; Headbanger One-One in the green, standing by for take off instructions."
=/\=Headbanger One, Flight control, proceed as instructed. Come to heading two-seven-seven, mark eight-two and stand bye to engage.=/\=
[Main Bridge]
"Acknowledged," Penny said, mapping out flight plans for when the Captain gave the order.
Logan just paid attention to his console and their readings. He had to be prepared for anything.
From her place in the center seat, the Captain said “Lets see what we can find.. check the sensors for any sort of echo, or distortion wave also I want you to search for any variance within subspace, cloaked vessel’s radiate slight subspace variance at warp speeds. Maybe we’ll be able to pick up something more concrete about what may or may not be out there...”
"Checking sensor's, captain. Looking for echo's, distortion waves. Also scanning subspace for any indication of cloaked vessel's, ma'am." Logan's finger's danced over the ops console.
"Try 313-mark-7," Penny suggested. "I'm reading ships diverting around the area."
“Lieutenant Logan,” called Camille from the science station, “try shifting the bandwidth on the lateral sensor array down a bit. It might make subspace distortion waves easier to see.”
[Headbanger One]
Jim advanced the throttles and the sleek fighter leaped from the deck and through the force-field. A twist on the stick to the left and Holbridge came face-to-face with the specified coordinates, but saw absolutely nothing. "Victory, Headbanger; Captain Kennet, I have visual confirmation of nothing. Science station, please confirm the location of the anomaly."
[Main Bridge]
Camille worked on her console, feeding in the data from Ops' most recent scans. "Bearing three-one-four-mark-sixteen, Headbanger," she told the comm system. More quietly to Penny, she said with a smile "You were close!"
Penny spared half a glance to stick her tongue out then returned to her boards.
"Confirmed. Mr. Logan ready the main deflector dish for a multiphasic resonance burst at the same coordinates."
"Working, Captain." His fingers moved on the console like a pianist on a piano.
“Take your time. No rush..” Kennit drawled.
=/\=If my hunch is right, Captain, they are monitoring our comms and we should see something. A resonance burst like the one I just ordered would shred the hull plating of any unshielded ship.=/\= Holbridge radioed
“I don’t want to shred their hull, just get their attention and get a look at who they are..” Kennit replied.
"Deflector is ready, Captain. On your mark."
“Sometime today..” the Captain replied. “Whenever you’re ready..”
"Standby to initiate on my mark....3....2....1
A low thrum could be heard as the pulse was initiated through the starship's deflector dish. Almost immediately on the view screen there was a distinct ripple of deep violet energy which rippled like plasma as the pirate vessel’s cloak collapsed.
The pirate didn’t wait around, at the same moment as it became visible a warning alert blared across the bridge, Victory was being targeted by the pirate’s weapons.
"They're moving!" Penny shouted. "Bearing to starboard and targeting us!"
Her voice somehow sounding bored, the Captain said, “Black Alert. Initiate multi-vector attack mode..”
"Yes, Ma'am!" Penny cheered happily, her voice energetic enough for two, her fingers a blur over her boards as the familiar ka-chunk of the docking clamps releasing sounded, and the ship's mass cut in three, giving them a bit of lift as she veered them away.
[Secondary Bridge]
Davenport saw the order come in. "Separation initiated, secondary helm engaged," he said, holding course as the two other modules broke away. Once they were clear he dipped them down, following Penny's course adjustments towards the pirates.
[Main Engineering]
Sandusky maneuvered the ship down and away, allowing the three pieces to fully come apart and brought his end up alongside the secondary module, veering port as the primary module veered starboard, heading for the pirates.
[Main Bridge]
"Separation complete," Penny said after a moment. "All three sections report helm responding. Arranging Alpha-4 formation to box--well, triangle--them in." She clapped her hands excitedly and steered them off as the three ships took formation.
“Open a channel.” Kennit ordered.
"Aye, Captain," Cassandra said, plying her board. "Channel open."
Upon hearing the confirmation chime that a comm channel was indeed open, she said, “this is the Federation Starship Victory. Identify yourself.”
"Please say, 'Captain Hook.' Please say, 'Captain Hook,'" Penny said under her breath, trying not to bounce with excitement.
SCPO Summers exited the turbo lift onto the Main Bridge, and sat down and 'plugged' herself in. "Summers reporting Captain, I apologize for the delay." She put her head down at her screen.
[HEADBANGER ONE]
Jim watched the ripple effect polarize the cloak the enemy vessel was using, then slapped his throttle to the stops as he placed the now visible enemy ship directly ahead of him. "Headbanger to Victory, I need an ROE check!" (OOC: Rules Of Engagement). Jim quickly brought his quantum phaser cannons and micro-torpedo launchers on line.
[Bridge: Victory]
Vic quickly took a seat in the XO's chair. "Captain, they have a mixture of Federation, Klingon, and Romulan weaponry!"
Summers head snapped up from her view screen, and slowly turned it towards the Captain. Raising an eyebrow, she spoke quietly to her Captain. "Captain, you planning to hit them before they hit you?"
“Why the hell would they have a mix of Federation, Klingon and Romulan weapons... for God's sake talk about a cobbled together piece of shit for a ship...” the Captain answered. “And no..we don’t start fights Ms. Summers...” she added.
The answer to her hail Came a moment later, in the form of phaser fire at the primary and secondary sections and a torpedo launched at the tertiary section of the Victory. Steadying herself with one hand on the back of her seat where she stood, Kennit said simply “We will however..finish one. All sections, target their power systems and fire, set to disable not destroy. Have boarding parties ready to beam across and take control of that ship and it’s crew on my order.”
Summers grinned at the Captain's reply. " Captain, *if* on the chance we do take some 'prisoners,' request permission to be part of the 'de-briefing' party? "
The Captain shot a look at the Romulan but didn’t answer. Somehow the thought of allowing the unstable officer near prisoners didn’t seem like a good idea..
Summers returned the Captain's 'look' with one of her own, a slightly cocked head with raised right eyebrow before turning back to her station.
[Engineering: Victory's 3rd section]
Miguel heard the order from the Captain over the encrypted channel. He looked at the officer that was manning the helm for this section "Attack pattern Alpha." he ordered and then looked over to the officer manning the tactical station. "Phasers only, the Captain doesn't want them destroyed. But standby on torpedoes in case things escalate."
[Secondary Bridge]
The ship shook with the impact of the phaser fire and Nicole gripped her armrests. "Keep us moving with the shots, Mister Davenport. We need to keep steady."
"Aye, Ma'am," Davenport said, turning with the phaser shots.
"Fire when you have a shot," Alec said. "Preferably up their tailpipes if you can manage it."
"Aye, Sir," Faraday said, aiming for the Pirate ship's engines. "Direct hit, shields weakened. Another strong hit or two and we can take down their warp engines."
"Good shooting, Mister Faraday, keep it up," Alec said. "Aim for the spots where their hodgepodge tech is joined. Let's see if we can get their systems to fight amongst themselves."
"Yes, Sir," Faraday said, firing as they moved.
[Engineering: Victory's 3rd section]
"Roger that. Attack pattern alpha laid in." Arashi said, responding to Miguel, as the phasers fired. "Torpedoes loaded and on stand by." He was making sure that the weapons were firing properly and targeted the sensors so that they could not fire accurately.
[Bridge: Victory]
The ship shook as they exchanged fire, but with three-to-one odds, the Victory was more than a match for the other ship. Finally, their engines damaged and their ship listing slightly, Cassandra's earpiece came to life.
"Captain," she said, "they're hailing us."
"They're venting atmosphere, Captain," added Camille. "And I'm reading power fluctuations in their engines. They're not going anywhere."
Vic got up from his chair. "Tac Teams One and Two to Transporter Room Two! Tactical, listen in on comm freq zero-three-three. Maintain transporter lock on all parties!"
[Headbanger One]
Jim looked at the crippled ship and consulted his instruments. "What a piece of shit!" he remarked, forgetting he was on an open frequency. A blip caught his eye. "Victory, Headbanger, the enemy just launch two escape pods. I'm going after them!" Jim banked towards the closer escape vessel, adjusted the setting of his phasers and crept up on the fleeing pod. Jim fired a warning shot near the pod.
"This is Commander Jim Holbridge, Starfleet Intelligence. Shut it down now or I'm gonna space your sorry ass! "Computer, lock weapons!"
=/\=Weapons locked,=/\= was the pleasant reply.
The pod suddenly did a 180-degree turn and began moving towards Jim's fighter. Jim smoothly banksd out of the way, then broughthe fighter around to the pod's stern. "One more time, shithead! shut it down!"
The pod suddenly stopped and began to shake. The tremors grew worse, and Jim quickly flicked on the fighter's shields.
"Foolish human!" came a voice from the subspace radio seconds before the pod exploded. The blast was small, yet powerful and the fighter shuddered as the blast wave enveloped the shields.
"Damn!" Jim swore. ", Headbanger, the pod just exploded. No shots fired. I'm not picking up any survivors, Mr. Logan,
please confirm."
Penny slowed their approach in case there was a boobytrap in place. She let her own scans look over the area, and looked at Zack, shaking her head sadly.
[Main Bridge]
"Hold position, maintain red alert. Keep weapons locked on that ship. Transporter room, boarding teams clear for transport. I want survivors for questioning. Secure that ship." Kennit ordered.
"All stop, holding, aye," Penny said, holding them in place.
[Headbanger One]
"Copy your last. No sign of the other pod. Headed back to the mother ship, weapons locked and tight," Jim slewed hard to starboard and made his way to the now-crippled would-be attacker. The three sections of Victory were at a safe distance, their weapons no doubt primed and ready, looking like angry wolves waiting for the prey to make a fatal move."
[Transporter Room 2]
Vic looked at the transporter chief. "look alive, troops! energize!"
[Enemy Ship Main Bridge]
Vic and the two tactical squads materialized, weapons at the ready. "Lock this place down! I want a data dump in twenty seconds!"
"Forward clear!"
"Aft clear"
"I got something back here!" Captain Cavanaugh called! Vic and the team hustled to the aft room that would normally be a captain's ready room and saw three people kneeling, their fingers laced behind their heads.
"Weapons down!" Vic shouted. "On your faces!"
"We're unarmed!" a woman cried, then grunted as she was shoved to the deck and secured by an armored Marine.
"Secure these three! Victory this is Major Crowe: enemy bridge is secure, and all major systems are now locked down. Ops can link up with this ship's computer, if it has one," Vic reported. "I have three prisoners for interrogation with possibly more to come. I need Alpha Company beamed over straightaway. If there are more of these shitheads aboard, I'll find em."
[Main Bridge, USS Victory]
“Acknowledged.” The Captain answered. “Have the prisoners beamed directly into separate holding cells in the brig. Good work. Alpha Company will join you immediately. Sweep that ship and check for contraband.”
"Aye Captain." Vic answered over the channel.
“Check in every 15 minutes. If you find anything interesting I want to know it..” Kennit told him.
"Roger. Crowe out!"
Then, she said stand down black alert. Maintain yellow alert, initiate rejoining of the ship back into one.”
"Aye, Captain," Penny said, then hit the comm. "Davenport, Sandusky: Let's reassemble."
"You got it, boss," Davenport said, followed by a quick, "Aye" from Sandusky. The midsection swung back around and the lower section came up on their z-axis as Penny took over the controls and with one final ka-chunk she let out a breath. "Docking clamps engaged, interlocks activated, and Humpty Dumpty is back together again," she said, triumphantly.
[Engineering: Victory's 3rd section]
Miguel was relieved when the battle was over, and the ship's three parts were reconnected. "Nice shooting there Mr. Arashi. It was nice to have a pro for down here for once." Miguel said as he patted the Tactical officer on the shoulder.
"Thank you sir. Just doing my job, or at least trying my best to do so." Arashi said. He kept the sensors on the ship, making sure that there wasn't going to be any more surprises.
[Secondary Bridge]
"Good flying, Mister Davenport," Hunter said.
"Thank you, Sir," Markus said, a bit more swagger in his voice.
"Clamps engaged, section secure...I think," Nicole said, double-checking her readout.
"You think? I'd prefer you be sure, Doctor," Hunter said.
"I'm a Doctor, not a Dockmaster," Nicole grumbled. "Confirmed, we're docked and secure," she said after a moment.
"Well that's quite the relief," Hunter said, standing to address the bridge. "Stand down and secure all posts and report to your regular duty stations."
A round of "Aye, Sirs" came back and everyone filed out. Nicole walked into a turbolift and Alec followed in behind her.
"Sickbay," she said.
"So...you shot Miss Naroot?" Alec said, reminding her he wasn't going to let it pass.
"We were on a mission," Nicole said. "It went south. She was taken hostage and I had a weapon, so I relied on Rule 15."
"Rule 15?" he said.
"Never hesitate to shoot the hostage," Nicole said.
"What kind of horrible rule is that?" Hunter said, shocked.
As the turbolift stopped, Nicole got out. "The kind that saved her life," she said simply.
As the doors shut, Alec shook his head. "Bridge," he said.
[Main Bridge, USS Victory]
Summers turned back to the Captain. "Captain, if there turns out to be any Romulans or Klingons among the prisoners with our final tally, perhaps I may be of assistance in their interrogation?"
"Let's at least give them the chance to cooperate, Chief," Alec said to Summers as he passed, taking his seat next to Rhea and giving her a smile. "Captain," he said.
Summers had started to reply in the affirmative to the Commander, but stopped. She glanced at him once more and felt strange inside and looked away quickly back at her board.
“Number One.” Kennit answered. Then, “Let’s get a tractor beam on that ship and get it under control.”
"Aye, Captain," Alec said. "Helm, bring us in front of the enemy ship. Ops, once we're in position get a tractor beam on it and bring it up to a secure position.
"You got it," Penny said, bringing them in. As they got near she swung them around, bringing the larger side of the enemy ship in position in front of the emitter.
It didn’t take long for the Marines to sweep the pirate vessel and confirm all surviving members of its crew had been taken into custody. Of the 26 personnel aboard, 14 were now securely tucked into holding cells in Victory’s brig. They were a bit snug, but the alternative was tossing them out an alirlock. WITHOUT a space suit.
Their ship itself was a cobbled together heap made up of savaged parts from multiple species as previously noted by their scanners. It’s crew primarily comprised of Malon, The vessel’s hold had been empty. They weren’t particularly good pirate apparently.
Giving the order to set course to a Starbase held by the Sikarians where the Malon pirates would be turned over to the authorities which held jurisdiction over this region of space, their ship to be turned over as well.. Kennit symbolically washed her hands of the matter. She had other issues to focus on besides a group of idiotic wanna be space pirates.
Tags to all... waiting on the Marines to tell us what’s over there.
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