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David Meets Goliath

Posted on Wed Jul 28th, 2021 @ 4:18pm by Commodore Keiben Haistro & Lieutenant JG G'Rani & Commander Peter Horn & Commander Lillian Carter & Lieutenant JG Anek Tua & Lieutenant Commander Junjie Han & Lieutenant JG Osil Haistro

2,194 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: Episode 3 - Fear Is Fear Itself
Location: Deck 1 - Main Bridge
Timeline: Mission Day 4 @ 1622 Hours

ON

The Copernicus was now groping its way slowly through the Briar patch. Lillian was fighting her urge to relieve the ensign at the conn and fly the ship herself. She knew that a good leader had faith in her crew and it could shatter the ensign's confidence in herself. "Steady as she goes helm, and keep an eye on the impulse manifold. They're notorious for overheating in this mess."

The young woman replied "Aye Sir."

Lillian thought back to her first time a the helm. "That's some smooth flying there. Nice work."

The ensign relaxed slightly and the level of stress in her voice dropped considerably "Thank you Sir."

"Distance to contact?"

"Just over a hundred thousand kilometres. ETA 10 minutes." The ensign replied.

"Has sensor resolution improved?"

"Marginally Sir, but nothing to write home about... That said the cloud is considerably denser up ahead so we are likely to lose more resolution the further in we go!"
G'rani reported from the Engineering station, her clawed hand dancing across her console as she managed the power output of all systems, channelling more to internal systems and limiting the output from the impulse and warp engines so as not to run the risk of igniting the local Metrion Clouds.

"Understood, keep working on it." Lillian replied.

"Sensor resolution has degraded by an additional 12%," the Trill Operations Manager said from his workstation as the ship sailed through the Briar Patch. Typing on the workstation, "You weren't kidding about this density. This is like trying to navigate through soup."

Eventually, the Copernicus pushed through a particularly dense cloud and a planet came into view as well as something completely unexpected in orbit. Lillian stood up, her mouth fell open. She recognised a Cardassian space station when she saw one, but she never expected to see one here.
She pressed her comm badge "Bridge to Keiben. Sir, we've reached the source of these energy readings. I think you better get out here."

As the Captain entered the bridge Lillian reported "It's a space station. Cardassian in design. From the looks of it, it's similar to the design of Deep space nine but it looks more modern. Like an updated version."

"What the hell is it doing all the way out here!" Keiben asked to no one in particular as he took his seat and offered the first officer seat to Commander Horn who was still not looking all to please after their brief conversation. "Junjie what can you tell us and Anek are you able to interface with the stations mainframe".

" I'm having a hard time getting any readings from the station Captain. " I can concur that it is indeed a newer Cardassian design then Deep Space nine. I can tell you that there is power output from the station, the readings are still scrambled somewhat Sir, But what I cannot confirm is any life sign readings at this range. It's either the cloud interference or they are shielded. "

Peter sat, having left Khione in the ready room as the captain had been abundantly clear he didn't want the pup on the bridge. That left him feeling very on edge, and he had to fight hard to keep himself under control. Instead, he fixed his eyes on the main screen, where he was sure an image of said station would appear any second now.

Anek brought up the communications systems and attempted to interface just as he was asked. Inputting sequence after sequence on the workstation panel he kept hitting dead ends. The Lieutenant sighed as he maneuvered through the different screens, fingers dancing over the multicolored keys amidst a symphony of discordant tones. "So far I'm not able to break through their encryption and into their systems. I'll keep trying, but I wonder why this is out here. It doesn't make much sense, unless the Dominion were involved. Son'a space isn't far from here and they were allied toward the end of the war."

From the helm, Lillian was still monitoring their approach. Sensor resolution was still reduced and Lillian had reduced their closing speed just to be on the safe side. On her sensor display, she could see the station and the planet. Then she frowned. Multiple small, fast moving objects appeared on the sensor sweep..... then disappeared.... then reappeared again. Dozens of them... coming from the station..... heading towards them.... She could get a clear reading but her gut instantly told her what they were.... and they were not good.

She called out "Torpedos incoming! Dozens of them on multiple vectors! Can't get a clear reading but estimated impact in less than 20 seconds!"

"Osil, raise the shields. Red alert. Lilly evasive. Junjie signal the away team, inform them about the situation. Anek, any power you can direct to Shields and engines... now would be the right time!" the orders fell from Keibens lips, almost tumbling over one another.

"Raising shields," the younger Haistro complied, slender yet calloused fingers dancing across the console.

The young Trill's fingers raced over the Operations panel as the computer tried to accommodate the Captain's wishes, having automatically dropped the Lieutenant's efforts to hack into the Cardassian computers when the torpedoes were detected. Nova Class ships may've been small, but they had a lot of resources at their disposal when needed. The computers employed automated responses and algorithms, but they were hitting some brick walls. "Doing my best, Captain, the computer is giving me some trouble about rerouting resources to the defenses. I'm trying to bypass."

" Aye Sir!!! " came Junjie's response Copernicus to away team the ship is under attack! We will contact you as soon as we are safe. Copernicus out.

"Captain!" Lillian called from the helm "I don't think they've got a positive lock on us. They're firing blind! But they're not shy on wasting ammunition." The ship shook hard as one of the torpedos found its mark.
"There's too may!" Lillian's hands were flying over the console. "I can't shake them all. Also, there is a large cloud of Metreon gas behind us. If one of those torpedos ignites it..."

"But who is firing at us," Peter mused out loud, "And can we use that cloud to hide in? Whatever fires at us would be at the same risk as we are if that ignites..."

"Lillian, try and move us out of it's range, Osil boost shield power... draw from life support if you have too!" came Keibens clipped response.

"Not sure that will help us Commander." Lillian interjected. "We're much closer to that Metreon cloud than the station is. We're going to take the full brunt of any explosion."

"I can reroute power to the defensive systems and shields," the Ops Manager confirmed from his workstation, "But I am uncertain if it will provide adequate protections from the ignition." He typed as fast as his fingers would allow on the smooth panel as he tried to figure out a way to protect them.

The projectiles that were soaring their way towards them got closer and closer. Peter watched the screen intently, finding himself leaning forward and holding his breath. He didn't know how many there were nor was that really important. He felt the ship rock as several of them impacted the Copernicus and it was all he could do to keep himself in his seat.

This was bad, he knew as several projectiles soared past them, into the very cloud they had been trying to avoid. The viewscreen lit up as the cloud behind them ignited with the impact of the projectiles and suddenly Peter found himself on the deck, rolling with the impact as the shockwave of the explosion washed over the tiny starship with repeating force.

Lillian's ears were ringing. The force of the impact had thrown her from her chair. She picked herself up and sat back down at her station. She called out above the din. "Helm controls and inertial dampeners are offline! I'm not getting any response from the warp or impulse engines... Or thrusters."

"Main power is failing, emergency power is kicking in. Life support is down on all decks and we have several hull breaches across primary and secondary hulls!" G'rani bellowed over the cacophony of sirens and alarms that had started to illuminate her panel and every other console on the bridge.

Keiben brought himself back up, looking around the bridge and spotting Peter. He ducked down to help him back up. "Lillian, G'rani can you get main power back? Junjie, Anek have you got a read on whatever the hell that was?"

"From the last readings Captain, a small tactical nuke in one of the missiles set off a dense pocket of Metreon gas with the equal yield of a fifty megaton kobolt bomb Sir. Thank the gods there was no radiation to go with it. " Junjie reported.

"Main power generation has been destroyed sir!" G'rani came back with immediately and anticipating his possible next orders she added. "Emergency power can be rerouted to transporters at your command sir!"

Lillian had lifted up one of the panels underneath the helm console and been trying to reroute control. "It's no good Captain. The helm is dead." She got back up with a rather dejected look on her face. "Both main and auxiliary ODN lines have been severed. I'd estimate it would take an engineering team at least a few hours to restore helm control." The ship rocked again, this time more violently as another torpedo found its mark.

"Shields are gone," Osil called from the tactical station, once he'd hoisted himself back up to his feet. "And from what I can see, weapons are out too. We're sitting ducks sir."

Peter accepted the help up, steeling himself as their hands touched to minimize the telepathic contact. He pulled himself back into his seat, his expression grim. "What of the shuttles, can they tow us?" he suggested carefully, and almost under his breath.

"The shuttle bay is open to vacuum Commander and we have no power for emergency shielding" G'rani bellowed over the din of screaming metal, red alert sirens and a multitude of voices tumbling over one another as the full extent of what happened began to sink in. "Sickbay reports no major casualties... Orders Captain!"

Keiben was dazed, images of Ensign Moya, Captain Davies and the rest of the original crew flashing before his eyes. He brought his hand to his forehead and found it slick with warm sticky blood which had started to matt into his hair.

Sensing, and seeing the daze the captain was in, Peter watched him for a few seconds. "Direct them captain," he stated firmly, "your crew is awaiting orders." He shifted so he could look the man in the eyes. "THIS crew is awaiting orders. Do not wallow over the lives that were lost, you cannot help them but you can help this crew." He trusted that his family was safe, that Haley had gotten the boys and was safe. He was needed here, on the bridge. His place was here, he had to remind himself. "Captain!" he said more forcefully. "Orders....or are you not fit to command this crew?"

"But..." Keiben started before the flashing lights, the sirens and the mass of voices reporting the damage and the true extent of the situation. "The crew... G'rani, direct whatever you have left to power escape pods and transporters... Start getting everyone off the ship... Is Yosemite in range Lieutenant Tua?"

Anek was about to answer the Captain when his console started to flicker on and off, the damage having taken a toll. He typed trying to restore it, only to have an error message display. He looked up at his Captain, "Operations is down, Captain," he announced feeling as if he'd failed at his responsibilities to the ship. "I'll see if I can restore it from one of the configurable stations and get you your answers."

"Damn it... We have no choice, the station it is. Osil make sure we have as many hand weapons distributed at the escape pods and transporter rooms. Anek take care of the transporter room. Junjie, see to the civilian population. Lillian if you have anything left move us closer to the station..." he paused having realised one thing. "Has the station ceased fire?"

Junjie got up and head towards the turbolift. " Heading to the emergency staging area to take charge of the civilian evacuation as ordered Captain. " As he departed the Bridge area.

"Seems so," Peter answered, his eyes turning back to the main screen. "I wonder if it was even actively targeting us specifically. If it wanted to destroy is, it would have continued to fire, would it not?" He turned back to Keiben, watching him closely. "Unless it is waiting to see what we are going to do."

Keiben locked eyes with Peter, unable to contain his own worries and fear at what might lay ahead, his gaze not once flinching as he started to do something he never though he would have to do.
"All hands, abandon ship. I repeat all hands abandon ship!"

END

 

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