Deadly Allegiances
Episode Name: Deadly Allegiances Written By: Shaft Cast: Havaris, Medes, Nilee, Shaft, Takamura and Va'tol. Produced By: Starfleet Directed By: Shaft Aired On: Mon Dec 23 02:37:23 2002 Stardate: 52871.9
Time: Sun Dec 22 20:13:17 2002
Stardate: 52871.2
Scene: The Thomas Paine has been running routine patrols of the Federation / Romulan Neutral Zone, filling in for the Norway Class USS Antietam that had to retire from the line for a refit after the battle at Occa nearly saw her scuttled. She'd been pressed back into service as quickly as possible, but with the war at an end time is less pressing, the need for her presence less obvious, and the opportunity for her refit obvious. For the first hours of the patrol, all is quite well. Long range sensors show routine activity as far as the eye can see, but as the Thomas Paine draws closer to the intersection between the Klingon / Romulan / Federation intersection, distress signals begin to light up the Operations panel.
Not one, but two distress calls from within the Neutral Zone. One, from a Klingon Light Cruiser. Another from a Romulan Bird of Prey. Both reportedly under fire, both requesting immediate assistance from any nearby allied craft. That would be the Thomas Paine.
-- Action --
Havaris straightens up in his seat as the signals begin crying, glancing to the Ensign at Operations with a raised eyebrow. Upon receiving the full report, he turns toward Va'tol, "Helm, set a course, Warp 6. Tactical, go to Yellow Alert. Raise shields the second we come out of warp, I don't want any surprises out there. Sciences, what's going on out there?"
"Yes Sir." He nods, pinpoiting the two ships and setting a course on Warp 6.
Takamura nods at Havaris, while his fingers dance across the console putting the ship on Yellow Alert. "Aye, sir." He then prepares to engage the shields.
<CONTEST> Va'tol contests his Shipboard Systems (Flight Control) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!
Nilee glances up towards Havaris as he begins issuing orders as the standard patrol shifts to something a little bit more active. He nods in response, "Initiating scans now, sir..." he begins tapping commands into the science station, aiming sensors at the location of the two vessels' distress beacons.
GAME: Nilee spends a courage point.
<CONTEST> Nilee (claiming advantage) contests his Shipboard Systems (Sensors) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Succeeds!
Medes has arrived.
Nilee glances up from his station as reports from sensors start to feed in, "I have two vessels engaging each other on sensors, one Romulan and one Klingon light cruiser size vessel. They both have light damage, but shields are close to failing on both vessels."
<CONTEST> Takamura contests his Shipboard Systems (Tactical) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!
The Thomas Paine turns into the Neutral Zone, entering Warp to speed their arrival at the origin of the distress calls. The trip is brief, owning to their close priximity to the firefight, and in less than a minute, the Thomas Paine is leaving warp 100,000km distant from the battle. Her shields raise the moment the Warp Field drops, and they begin closing on the fight at 1/4 impulse, buying them time to decide on a course of action.
Havaris settles back in his seat, biting his balled fist at Nilee's news. That's never a good sign. Bobbing his fist against his lips for a moment, the Bajoran finally straightens up again as they leave warp, going so far as to rise from the Command Chair. "Ops, open a hailing frequency. Helm, keep us out of weapon range for now. I don't want to risk Transporting anyone off of a damaged craft. We don't have enough transporters for an effective evacuation in the first place... Tactical, I want weapons on-line. Yesterday. And someone get Medes on the bridge. I need a structural analysis of these craft."
Va'tol moves his hands around the console, lowering the speed and putting the ship on hold.
And, as called, the Littlest Engineer appears from... well, wherever else she was, exactly, being Medes-like and Engineery. With a brief nod offered to Havaris, she moves directly to Engineering and settles in, beginning to pull up reports and analyses.
"Aye, sir," replies Takamura as he quickly brings the phaser banks and photon torpedo launchers online.
Nilee continues working with the science station quietly, having not been given any specific orders, he simply keep his scanners on both vessels, monitoring any changes, and trying to gather any additional useful information he can.
<CONTEST> Nilee (claiming advantage) contests his Shipboard Systems (Sensors) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Succeeds!
Nilee glances up from his station towards the arriving engineer, giving a nod, "I have forwarded the results of my scans to your station, Ensign."
Medes sits down at Engineering.
One of the Viewscreens is shortly overtaken by a side-by-side view of the bridges of both battling craft. The Klingon craft is predictably dark and red with a sneering Klingon in command. The Romulan craft is predictably sterile with a silver and green interior, the unflappable and confident commander of that craft appearing certain of his victory. As he must, being Romulan. Both begin speaking at once.
"Starfleet! We DEMAND you open fire on the Romu--"
"Ignore the Targh, Lieutenant. The Romulan Star Empire requests you honor our Alliance and assist us in the destruction of our attacker."
"Lying Romulan swine! It was you who attacked /us/!"
"From our side of the Neutral Zone? I find that unlikely. The Klingons have violated our treaties, Federation... Will you now do the same?"
GAME: Medes spends a courage point.
<CONTEST> Medes (claiming advantage) contests her Systems Engineering skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Succeeds!
Havaris glances from one side of the view screen to the other, a bit wide-eyed at not being able to offer an introduction or even receive one from his contemporaries. He works his jaw for a moment before finally interjecting. "I am Lt. JG Havaris in command of the USS Thomas Paine. We request you /both/ cease fire at once and proceed out of the Neutral Zone until this matter can be sorted out..." Havaris glances to Operations for a moment, then back to the screen. "Please stand by." The feed is disengaged temporarily, though the fighting continues. "I doubt they're going to stop. The Klingons, most of all. Suggestions, people."
GAME: Takamura spends a courage point.
<CONTEST> Takamura (claiming advantage) contests his Shipboard Systems (Tactical) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Fails!
"There aren't many options, Sir. I doubt any of them will listen to a single Starfleet vessel. We can try calling other close ships, or attempt to make them listen to logic and cease their attack. Or at least have them speak and buy us some time" suggests the stoic Vulcan, even though Havaris probably knows that already. "An offensive measure would be a mistake."
After her analyses are done, Medes settles back into her chair, propping one elbow on the arm thereof and tapping a forefinger against her lips. "Well, the good news on that frontier is that we could probably take on one of these ships -- in their current condition -- and only be given a run for our money. I have to concur with Ensign Va'tol... if they both turn on us, sir, barring exceptional brilliance on our parts, though, they'll destroy us." Pausing for a brief moment to digest, she goes on, her eyes skimming the LCARS before her. "Both ships are at approximately one quarter shields. On the Klingon vessel, they've got a damaged warp drive. They could prrrobably escape at warp, but if the Romulans pursued? They'd catch them. Easily. The Romulan vessel's got a hull breach on its Engineering deck. This... may or may not begin to affect their primary systems, up to and including life support." Falling silent, she skims the reports again, as if looking for additional details.
Takamura furrows his brow at the interesting predicament they are being put into. "Well, sir, if they will not stand down and negotiate, we could attempt to target their weapons systems and bring them offline. Granted, I only suggest this as a last resort." He doesn't seem overly enthused about the idea.
Nilee remains silent as all those present begin to give ideas, listening quietly, but keeping his eyes on sensors for any changes, pausing as the suggestions fall silence, he pipes up, "I agree with Ensign Va'tol... the longer we keep them talking, the less damage they can do to each other... perhaps if they don't listen we can interject more directly and... force them to talk?"
While asked to 'stand by', the two craft continue to pass one another, blasting their opponents with whatever weaponry seems most expedient. After a particularly telling blow by the Romulans, the Klingon vessel rocks, its port side sparking with green light, outer hull now compromised. And intentional or not, it circles wide and just into weapon range, firing over the top of the Romulan craft, straight into the shields of the Thomas Paine. The bridge is rocked, and alert sirens begin blaring throughout the fragile Federation Vessel.
The Klingon Captain reappears on the screen, "Apologies, Federation. But if this Romulan were dealt with, I wouldn't have missed."
In all of the stories you hear, the Captain rises from his chair and rolls with the punches. This is not one of those stories. Kusto is on his feet when the blast hits their foreward shields, and the concussion knocks him clean off his feet, and nearly over the railing down into the Tactical and Helm consoles. He's regaining his footing when the Klingon comes to gloat, and as the Bajoran tugs down his uniform, he's clearly less than pleased. He glances to Takamura, about one inch away from ordering counterfire. But the crew's suggestions keep his temper in check. "Engineering, Status report. Tactical... I want a firing solution on the Klingon ship. Target weapon systems, but hold your fire. Helm, we're a sitting duck, get us moving. Evasive maneuvers around the fight. And if Sciences could kindly think up a magic bullet to keep these craft apart, I would appreciate it." He's not holding his breath, however. Returning his attention to the screen, Kusto nods his head and replies to the hail. "What proof can you offer us, Klingon, that you were the attacked party?"
<CONTEST> Medes (claiming advantage) contests her Systems Engineering skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Dramatically Fails!
Va'tol nods, increasing the speed to 1/4 impulse. He starts turning the ship, nearing the Klingon vessel in a clock-wise circle. It's a subtle maneuver, but it should make it easier for them to strike back.
<CONTEST> Takamura (claiming advantage) contests his Shipboard Systems (Tactical) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!
<CONTEST> Va'tol contests his Shipboard Systems (Flight Control) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
*BOOM*
That would be Bridge Engineering /exploding./ Ensign Medes, leaned forward in her chair as her hands run over the LCARS, is thrown backwards, spilled onto the floor. A brief explosion of multi-lingual profanity means, hey, at least she's not dead, or hurt too bad to curse. The fact that it continues, quietly, means she's still conscious, even as she lies on the floor, assessing her situation. Hands? Burned. Face? Burned, a little. Wet. Cut? Cuts. Okay. Eyes? Eyes working. Ears? Ears? Anytime, ears.
Takamura reaches a hand up to try to catch Havaris, but it is not needed. Upon hearing his orders, the Asian officer nods sharply. "Understood, sir." He then begins to acquire a target lock on the Klingon's weapon systems, but is interupted by the exploding engineering station behind him. He rushes over to Medes to assess her condition as her calls into his commbadge, "Medical to the bridge."
Nilee began to speak before the console exploded, giving suggestions to Havaris, "The only things I can come up with as a feasible plan at this moment is either tractoring one of the vessels out of the way, or possibly beaming both commanders off their ships in an attempt to sort this out. Both would require a lowering of our shields however." He stops short as the console explodes and having been relatively close in proximity to the exploding engineering station, Nilee braces himself, and instead of raising his arms to shield his face like most beings typically would, his arms and hands fall down to shield the side of his torso, just above where his kidneys would be, were he Human. The result is a couple cuts to the left side of his face due to shrapnel from the exploding console. Grunting slightly, he bites back the slight pain caused by the injuries.
The ship automates to Red Alert, despite Takamura abandoning his station. Smoke begins to fill the bridge as the electric fire of the Engineering console continues unabated. The Thomas Paine continues wheeling an agile dance around the firefight, keeping well clear of stray misses from the disruptors of the opposing craft. A pair of Medical offers respond to Takamura's call, noting they'll be there as soon as possible. The fight continues unabated, though the Klingon begins to laugh as the Thomas Paine's bridge falls into disorder.
"Perhaps I have asked too much, Starfleet? I did not realize your shields were as thin as your will to fight! But if it's proof you want, you need look no further than our sensor logs. Our sister ship, the Gr'magh was boarded along the Neutral Zone and flown off into Romulan space! I will transfer the information, provided your officers keep to their stations long enough to receive them. And provided they are not all dead." He ends with another abrupt bark of laughter.
Havaris glances sharply to the side as the Engineering console explodes, shielding his face from flying debris. He, like Takamura, takes a step towards Medes but checks himself, wheeling on the view screen with a glare. He raises his voice in a bellow directed clearly at Takamura, "TACTICAL WILL MAN HIS POST!" Slicing a hand across his neck, Kusto orders the end of the hail, turning now towards Sciences. "Once Ensign Takamura remembers where he belongs, he will lower the shields. Helm? Bring us in a low pass directly over the fighting. Sciences will transport the respective captains to my bridge. Shields will be raised full to aft. And we will escape at maximum impulse. If they take aggressive action, Takamura, return fire. Photon torpedoes. Full spread." Apparently the Bajoran's patience has waned into nothing. Nobody ever said he was a diplomat.
GAME: Havaris spends a courage point.
<CONTEST> Havaris (claiming advantage) contests his Command (Starship) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Succeeds!
Va'tol shakes on his seat after the explosion, shifting his gaze in Medes' direction swiftly and then back to his console. His hands never left the helm, resulting on a a couple shard cuts on the back of his head and cheeks. That's one of those moments a Vulcan's self-control comes really helpful. Knowing that with a lowered shield a hit would be lethal, Va'tol makes a complete turn , rising the ship and passing over the two vessels on 1/2 of impulse, giving them enough time to beam the two commanders in. "Yes sir.." he replies.
<CONTEST> Va'tol (claiming advantage) contests his Shipboard Systems (Flight Control) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
The thing with face and scalp cuts is that they bleed. A /lot./ By the time Thea starts sitting up, half of her face and part of her uniform's shoulder are rather much covered with blood, rather out of proportion to the multiple small cuts that cover her face and the top of her head (one dangerously close to her left eye, within which a myriad of little blood vessels have burst). A good chunk of her unruly hairline has been singed away, and she's got. Well. No eyebrows at the moment to speak of. A second more assessing whether or not she's dead or seriously injured (she's neither), and then, watching her (far-too-close) console burn, she starts edging her way around the deck toward one of the hand extinguishers. It's slow going at first, but once she gets enough confidence in her legs back to get up, it's not that far. Cleaning up all the bloody handprints later is going to get assigned to those two guys who didn't charge the EVA suits. Not that she's going to pick on them /forever/ or anything. Just. Y'know. A little bit longer.
Takamura glances down at Medes, but then hurries back to his station after Havaris' scolding. Silently, he runs his hands over the Tactical console, trying to coordinate the lowering of the shields with the passing over of the fighting ships. He then preps the weapons and shields to engage once the transport is complete.
<CONTEST> Takamura (claiming advantage) contests his Shipboard Systems (Tactical) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!
<CONTEST> Nilee (claiming advantage) contests his Shipboard Systems (Transporter) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Succeeds!
Nilee taps at his console getting target locks and preparing the transporters as Takamura begins to lower shields, the moment they go down, he drops his finger and slaps the energize button. As he does, two seperate energy forms begin to glisten on either side of the bridge.
<CONTEST> Va'tol (claiming advantage) contests his Shipboard Systems (Flight Control) skill vs Shaft's Shipboard Systems (Tactical) skill (given advantage) and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Va'tol (claiming advantage) contests his Shipboard Systems (Flight Control) skill vs Shaft's Shipboard Systems (Tactical) skill (given advantage) and Succeeds!
The Thomas Paine executes a high energy turn and skims over the top of the fighting, her shields lowering in time to effect a beam out of the respective ship Captains. The moment the two craft realize just what has transpired, they wheel about and fire their weapons at the aft of the accelerating Paine. Her shields do not engage in time to save them should Va'tol's evasive maneuvers fall short of the task, but fortunately for the crew of the Thomas Paine, the ship edges and weaves around the incoming fire, rapidly outpacing the slower craft. At least for now.
Aboard the bridge, the energy signatures begin to materialize. And in short order, a Romulan and a Klingon share the smoky bridge with the Starfleet crew. Havaris has his Phaser in hand as do the deck Security teams. The Klingon naturally reaches for his disruptor, while the Romulan takes the more stoic route in tilting his head towards the Klingon in a 'You started this, you'd best end it' fashion.
Havaris trains his phaser of the Klingon, barking at him sharply, "Drop your weapon! NOW! We are going to resolve this peacefully. You will both order your craft to cease fire and pull back to a safe distance while we talk here. I will not see this alliance torn apart over tempers, least of all my own. Helm, push us as fast as you can at full impulse. If they start to overtake us, engage to warp one and continue increasing speed as necessary. Engineering, once that fire is under control, assume Operations. I'll need full power to our engines and aft shields. Tactical, full shields to aft and ready our aft torpedoes for a spread. Sciences, Helm, excellent work."
"Yes, Sir.." replies Va'tol, typing on his console rapidly, making the ship come about and return to Federation ground, on full impulse, trying to avoid enemy fire. If they come faster, so will he.
<CONTEST> Va'tol contests his Shipboard Systems (Flight Control) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!
<CONTEST> Nilee (claiming advantage) contests his Shipboard Systems (Sensors) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Takamura (claiming advantage) contests his Shipboard Systems (Tactical) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!
Medes doesn't respond to Havaris' command; apparently, she doesn't hear him. After she's finished putting out the fire at Engineering, the little engineer turns (still bleeding, which seems to not bother her much anymore) and appears rather startled at the fact that there's a Klingon and a Romulan on the bridge. Uhm. Right. She'll just... go over here... to... Operations... and... sit down. And look confused.
Takamura, seeing that the Security teams have the Captains under guard, makes preparations for the Klingon and Romulan retaliations. Between tapping keys, he glances up at the /guests./
Medes stands and leaves Engineering.
Medes sits down at Ops.
<CONTEST> Nilee (claiming advantage) contests his Shipboard Systems (Sensors) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Dramatically Succeeds!
Nilee glances over his shoulder momentarily as he watches the scene unfold after he beams the Klingon and Romulan onto the bridge, before long, his attention is drawn back to the science station and he begins to tap quickly at the sensors, "Performing scans of the Klingon and Romulan vessels..." after a brief pause his results come in quickly, "We can't outrun the Klingons at impulse, but their damaged warp drive will enable us to outrun them at warp very easily..." frowning he continues, "But it is opposite for the Romulan vessel, we can outrun them at impulse, but they'll overtake us even quicker at warp..." Shaking his head, he begins to tap at the station again, "I'm trying to determine which vessel poses more of a tactical threat..." tapping quickly he blinks, once, responding, "Sir! I think I've got something here..." a brief pause, "Yes... I can disable both vessels with our tractor beam by forcing energy into their main sensor arrays by causing a recursive feedback loop... with their power allocations, they will be sitting ducks to this..."
The Klingon raises his disruptor part way towards the Romulan, then considers using it on Havaris. Then decides to lower his weapon. Though he bloody well does not surrender it. He stuffs it back into its holster, instead. The Romulan for his part, runs a finger over the railing nearby and rubs his gloved fingers together, frowning faintly at the accumulated smoke. He takes some interest in Nilee's declarations, shrugging his shoulders lightly. "I'd like to see this before my crew kills you, Lieutenant. Assuming you can stop the fighting, then certainly. I will have no other option but to talk. Do not, and they will have no other option but to kill you. I as well, of course, but my Sub-Commander has been itching for a promotion of late."
Both ships begin to close rapidly due to Va'tol's misstaken calculations, and phaser fire once more ripples into the aft shields, rocking the bridge.
Havaris rolls with the punches this time, smirking down at the Romulan as he does so. "Tactical, hold your fire. Helm, increase speed. Sciences?" Kusto glances towards Nilee with a nod. "End it."
Va'tol increases velocity, still on impulse, maneuvering the ship to avoid another hit. The ship might not resist the next one, so he puts even more effort on it.
GAME: Va'tol spends a courage point.
<CONTEST> Va'tol (claiming advantage) contests his Shipboard Systems (Flight Control) skill vs a difficulty of Difficult and Fails!
<CONTEST> Va'tol (claiming advantage) contests his Shipboard Systems (Flight Control) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Succeeds!
Medes holds on to the side of her chair and quietly removes her jacket, wiping blood away from her face and onto her already-ruined jacket with both hands before she fires up the console. She sends a TEXT MESSAGE over to Takamura. It reads: "My hearing aids are blown out. I can't hear anything. Please relay any verbal orders?"
Takamura drops the shields in time for Nilee to engage the tractor beams. He glances over to Medes and nods. He then sends a TEXT reply: "No problem."
Before Kusto even gives the order, Nilee already has the tractor beams calibrated and fired up, ready to engage... or so he hopes. He nods his head as he hears Havaris speak, letting out a loud, "Aye sir!" in response. He looks down looking over the readouts once more to make sure everything is set, he raises a finger dramatically, and for anyone who could see, he closes his eyes tight, bites his lower lip, and drops his finger hard into the activation button.
GAME: Nilee spends a courage point.
<CONTEST> Nilee (claiming advantage) contests his Shipboard Systems (Tractor Beam) skill vs a difficulty of Difficult and Fails!
The shields drop and the Thomas Paine once more weaves in and out of the line of enemy fire, its thrusters pushing to the limit at maximum impulse, slowly outdistancing the Romulan craft, but fast losing ground to the Klingons. When the craft keep right on coming, the Romulan starts to laugh softly. "We did not ask for the war you have helped to create, Lieutenant. But I assure you, we will win it." Cocksure and apparently certain of his own demise, he ambles over to the tactical console to peer over Takamura's shoulder. "Keep your hand near the auto-destruct. You may need that shortly." The Klingon growls in delight as his craft continues closing on the 'Paine. "My warriors will kill /you/ and then the /Romulans/ and all else who oppose us! The Romulan may not welcome war, but /we do/!" Typical.
Havaris beats his fist against the railing as the tractor beam attack fails to do the job. Their shields are down, they're losing ground, and standing to fight is as much suicide as running from this battle straight into inter-galactic war. "Helm, keep doing whatever you're doing that's keeping us alive! Sciences, if you're confident that this is going to work /try it again/. But if you think it won't, /tell me now/." He glances back at the screen, shaking his head in disbelief. "Engineering, I'm going to need damage control. Where's my console? Tactical. Keep the shields down until Sciences has given up..." He leans heavily onto the rail, murmuring what is likely a prayer.
Va'tol does just that, hopping it works.
<CONTEST> Va'tol (claiming advantage) contests his Shipboard Systems (Flight Control) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Medes (claiming advantage) contests her Shipboard Systems skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
She's a vampire's dream, right now. Or an appetizer. Blood-covered Medes! She overrides the Operations console with a few smudgy figner-pokes. You /will/ behave like an Engineering console! Now! Very good. JOBS: New CODE job # 451 submitted by Idisha: Test Webpage
Takamura spins counterclockwise, draws his phaser, and fires at the Romulan hovering over his shoulder.
<CONTEST> Takamura (claiming advantage) contests his Energy Weapon (Phaser) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Nilee (claiming advantage) contests his Shipboard Systems (Sensors) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Succeeds!
As they say in Security Training, there is no snarky comeback to a phaser in the gut. The Romulan Commander flies backwards and topples to the floor, eliciting a bark of laughter from the Klingon.
Nilee taps at his console eagerly, trying to figure out what went wrong the first time, apparently, he finds something and nods, "I think I can do it this time, Lieutenant, I've managed to get a better lock on both vessels..." with that, he brings up the tractor beam controls again and reengages the attempt, "Activating tractor beams... now!." He drops his finger down again, this time, with a little more oomph... hopefully that'll make the difference.
<CONTEST> Nilee (claiming advantage) contests his Shipboard Systems (Tractor Beam) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Fails!
Somehow, the Thomas Paine continues to evade all fire from the pursuing craft. It is truly a miracle of fate. Beyond all reason and against all odds. With the Romulan down, there is no forboding speech on the bridge, just a tense silence as matters continue to worsen. The Klingon is smug, certain of victory. The commander of the enemy craft is down, and nothing stands between his crew and victory. Worse still, everything stands between the fleeing 'Paine and survival.
Havaris says nothing as Takamura blasts the Romulan. Nothing at all. He doesn't even comment on it. He's just staring at the screen, waiting for a trail of phaser fire to reach the center of it, rather than at the edges. It's always good to take stock of what may possibly be your final moments. He stays the course, however, straightening up and tugging down his jacket a bit, glancing about the bridge crew. Folding his arms lightly, he more calmly says, "Focus, Galen. Reconfigure your parameters, focus, and try it again. We're running out of time."
<CONTEST> Havaris (claiming advantage) contests his Command (Starship) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Fails!
<CONTEST> Va'tol (claiming advantage) contests his Shipboard Systems (Flight Control) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Succeeds!
Va'tol is able to keep his cool on the helm, swirling and turning the ship to keep those phasers from hitting their damaged shield. "Sir, I might not be able to keep this for long." he says, aware of his limits.
<CONTEST> Medes (claiming advantage) contests her Shipboard Systems (Engineering) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Medes contests her Shipboard Systems skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Dramatically Succeeds!
GAME: Takamura spends a courage point.
<CONTEST> Takamura (claiming advantage) contests his Shipboard Systems (Security) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Fails!
Her voice wildly vascillates in volume as Ensign Medes speaks. It wanders from far too loud down to a quiet mumble, and then ends up meandering about the midrange. If it weren't obvious before that she can't hear herself speak, it is now. "We've got maybe another hit left in us, sir. Impulse drive straining. Ship's systems are operating at... 87 perc... " Medes stops at one point, looks up and across the bridge. Somewhat less than perfectly steady, she hurries across the bridge, grabbing an engineering kit and moving to the base of the destroyed terminal. Perhaps it's the blood greasing her hands and making them move faster than usual. Perhaps it's just luck, but whatever the case, she seems exceedingly pleased with the initial results as she manually shuts off the damaged terminal. Back to what's usually Ops she moves, tapping at her smeared-up console quickly. "Bridge systems optimized."
<CONTEST> Takamura contests his Dodge skill vs Shaft's Energy Weapon (Disruptor) skill (given advantage) and Fails!
<CONTEST> Takamura contests his Fitness skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
Takamura attempts to raise a forcefield around the Klingon Captain but misjudges the location and brings it up to his left.
The Klingon captain glances to his left as the shield raises, and very quickly does the math. Snarling, he draws his disruptor and screams at Takamura, "SCHEMING SLIME DEVIL!" He unleashes a blast of disruptor fire at Takamura, very nearly at point blank range. The seasoned Warrior vs. the seated Ensign...? Not a very even fight.
Takamura flies backwards out of his seat, being tagged in his left shoulder. He ends up lying facedown on the floor. His phaser drops out of his hand and lands near the science station.
Nilee closes his eyes for a few seconds, but not long, as he attempts to calm his nerves that seem to have been unusually shaky in his last two attempts, letting out a long breath, he takes in a deep one, and begins tapping at his console again, concentrating as best he can with engineers scurying around, and the new drama emerging between Tak and the Klingon, finally getting the combination right, he drops his finger down on the engage button... one... more... time, just a split second before the disruptor fire hits Tak, and Nilee instinctively ducks slightly, once again, arms dropping to his sides in an attempt to block hits.
<CONTEST> Nilee (claiming advantage) contests his Shipboard Systems (Tractor Beam) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!
The Thomas Paine continues its evasive maneuvers under the steady guidance of Va'tol, whose piloting skills must make the Vulcan arch an eyebrow in question; simply put, they defy logic. As the Klingon vessel draws within easy firing distance of the Thomas Paine, it lowers its shields and the form of the Klingon Captain begins to particulate in the beginnings of a transport. Chortling, he raises a fist in victory offering a hearty, "DIE WELL!"
It is at this precise moment that Nilee's tractor attack takes hold. It locks on the Klingon vessel and releases a burst of energy direct into its forward sensor array. Energy ripples across the hull of the craft and a blast rocks its aft compartments, lurching it forward in an unguided and unpowered roll. The beam then transfers to the Romulan craft, and as the beam transfers another blast of unguided energy, its shields sparkle and drop, and it begins a far less dramatic drift, dead in space.
The tractor signal on the Klingon ebbs, sparks, and fades, leaving him standing on the bridge, surrounded by Starfleet Security personnel and their phasers. He is nothing less than dumbfounded, victory snatched from his grasp so quickly as that.
Havaris draws his phaser the moment Takamura is shot out of his station, though his attention remains more or less elsewhere. The Security on the bridge moves to disarm the Klingon as Medical finally arrives to tend to both Medes and Takamura respectively. The space that had been only moments ago alive with weapons fire is now silent, save for the Thomas Paine's Klaxons and silence. "Report. All stations."
"Conn at 100, sir. Fortunately none of the navigational systems were damaged by the Klingon attacks. Shall I put it to full stop?" asks the Ensign, leaning back against his chair.
With no Takamura to tell her what's being said, Medes doesn't report. She leans back in her chair and allows Medical to tend to her there, for the moment, looking less than pleased with being fussed over, as is her rite and custom.
Takamura begs off the Medics until after he's determined the state of the enemy vessels. Dragging himself back to the Tactical console, Tak surveys the sensor scans. He smiles and with a little too much hapiness reports, "Sir, both vessels are dead in space. Their weapons and shields have been disabled." His obligation completed, he slumps down against the console and allows the Medics to do their job.
<CONTEST> Nilee (claiming advantage) contests his Shipboard Systems (Sensors) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!
<CONTEST> Nilee (claiming advantage) contests his Shipboard Systems (Sensors) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!
Nilee having been slightly crouched, he spots the phaser pistol on the ground and picks it up, placing it on the edge of the console as he begins tapping at his station, muttering something under his breath, "That feedback loop must have affected our sensors as well, I can't get a solid lock to determine the status of the two vessels, though, I believe, with the lack of disruptor blasts, it's safe to say they are disabled... it will take me a few moments to recalibrate sensors to get a scan."
The various posts report in and the Thomas Paine breathes a sigh of relief, the status of the opposing vessels welcome news.
The wounded are tended, the guests disarmed, and the Romulan roused from his energy administerd slumber to stand under armed guard beside the Klingon. When Havaris asks them for a full explanation, what he receives is at first puzzling. The Klingon claims that its sister ship was attacked along the Neutral Zone, boarded, and flown back into Romulan space. They came to intercept but arrived too late. The Romulans claim that the Klingons crossed into the Neutral Zone and attacked one of their ships in their space, and that their ship came to the distress call. When they both arrived, they assumed the one was the other and entered into the fray. Both refuse the other's claims vehemently, and each demand to be returned to their ships in order to return to their governments to file an official report. (All hope of continuing the fight has, of course, been abandoned.)
Va'tol makes sure to return them home safely, glad this was all over.
Havaris waves his hand, ordering the guests removed from the bridge as he confers with his crew, resuming his slump in his chair. "Unless we figure out what happened here, gentlemen, we will have no choice but to release our guests. Takamura, are you able to keep to your station? If so, I'll need ideas. From all of you." And having caught on to Medes' situation, he taps a message into his PADD and forwards it her way. He's defied several other SOPs today, no reason to not defy another.
<CONTEST> Nilee (claiming advantage) contests his Shipboard Systems (Sensors) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Nilee (claiming advantage) contests his Shipboard Systems (Sensors) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
Va'tol puts the ship on full stop and turns to regard Havaris. "We should let them go, and leave this matter to be handled by diplomats on a future occasion. It is a logical decision." he states.
Medes, no longer covered in blood, but now all Attended To and looking like nothing so much as irritated with the situation at hand, looks down at her console and reads the incoming message. She idly fingers the bandage just under her eye before replying in her oddly vascillating speech. It sounds like some sadistic toddler is playing with the volume knob on the back of her head. "Scylla and Charibdes, indeed." Thoughtfully, she taps a finger on the edge of her console. "I... " And she pauses. "I imagine letting them go is simplest. It makes my scalp crawl, though. I mean, besides the parts where it's burned." Ha ha. She is the funny. See? Funny. You laugh. Or not, really.
GAME: Nilee spends a courage point.
<CONTEST> Nilee (claiming advantage) contests his Intellect (Logic) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Succeeds!
GAME: Takamura spends a courage point.
<CONTEST> Takamura contests his Shipboard Systems (Sensors) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
Takamura climbs back into the Tactical chair and looks over the console, trying to scan for signs of a previous battle. He furrows his brow at what he discovers. "Sir, Sensors indicate two debris fields. What appear to be the remains of a Klingon vessel in Klingon space and a Romulan vessel in Romulan space."
Nilee has been tapping at his console the whole time, barely lifting his head to take note of the the medical crews that roused the Romulan and the security crews that restrained the Klingon, "I have sensor readings coming in from both ships... the Klingons will be able to restore power in ten minutes... and as for the Romulans... they will be well over an hour before they can restore power..." he pauses, "I'm attempting to gain access to each vessel's sensor logs to determine a cause for this ordeal," after only a momentary pause he smiles, "Ahh, that was easy... just give me a minute to sift through this Lieutenant..." it doesn't take him *too* long to go through the logs before he comes up with a story:
Alright... from what I can piece together, before this all started, there were four vessels patrolling either side of the neutral zone, two Klingon, two Romulan, one of each is still here, the two we disabled. At first, the Klingon vessel closest to the neutral zone was engaged by a vessel of unknown origin, coming from inside the neutral zone. After a brief engagement, the vessel sent boarding parties onto the Klingon ship, and began to retreat, being followed by the Klingon ship, I assume, after it was overpowered in hand to hand combat on the vessel itself. This is what our Klingon friends here detected. The Klingon vessel then travelled into Romulan space, and engaged and destroyed the Romulan vessel closest to the Neutral zone. It then retreated back into the neutral zone, and our Romulan vessel detected the destruction. When the two came to investigate, they detected each other, and thought they had found the guilty parties." He pauses, "I suggest we scan for any other vessels in the area, particularly, tachyon emissions from cloaked vessels."
Havaris glances to Va'tol with a small frown, not much liking that idea. His frown deepens as Medes chimes in to support leaving after all of this. Takamura's report has him glancing up, perplexed, and when Nilee finally pieces it all together, his face lights up with an obvious show of having 'gotten it'. The Jarhead can be taught, it would appear. "Tactical, raise shields and get our weapons back on-line. Helm, I want us moving. Circle the drifting craft, here, they'll need a defensive net. Sciences, I need a deep sensor sweep. Look for those tachyon emissions. And Engineering..." Kusto glances to Medes with a sigh and a rub of his forehead. He lifts his PADD and taps in a message. 'Stand-by for damage control. Expecting hostiles.'
"Acknowledged.." The Vulcan starts moving the ship once more, circling the drifting vessel slowly.
Medes nods her head in acknowledgement and taps at her console a few times, checking over the bridge's status.
Takamura nods to Havaris. "Aye, sir." He brings both the shields and weapon systems back to full operational status and awaits further orders.
<CONTEST> Nilee (claiming advantage) contests his Shipboard Systems (Sensors) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
Nilee taps at the controls quickly, and frowns, "I have a cloaked Klingon light cruiser coming in on our location... fast..." He pauses and shakes his head, "No sign of the other ship yet though... attempting a more thorough scan of the cruiser..."
Unfortunately, Nilee has no time for that. From a short distance off, a Klingon Light Cruiser decloaks and begins a strafing run across the disabled vessels which the Thomas Paine now circles. Both ships lurch with the blasts, unable to withstand such punishment for long. The vessel then sweeps over the Thomas Paine and begins circling about for another approach. It delivers a message, and that message tells all.
The screen is overtaken by the looming face of a Jem'Hadar. "You have fought us, and now you will fight each other! We die for the Founders! And in doing so, we bring you to ruin! FOR THE FOUNDERS! /FOR THE DOMINION/! Initiate self destruct sequence!" The message ends with the zealotous stare of the Jem'Hadar as its vessel assumes a course towards the center of the Thomas Paine's orbit. The crew have less than a minute to prevent an explosion that will kill them all, and failing that, likely end the alliance and spark a full scale war.
That gets the attention of Havaris. He balls his right fist and literally twitches in a seethe before beating his fist on the arm of his chair as the message ends. "/NO!/" He springs from his seat to lean on the rail before his chair, barking down at Takamura. "BLOW IT TO HELL, TACTICAL! BLOW IT STRAIGHT TO HELL!" Kusto then points at the Helm, "Put us in their path, Helm. Sciences, full repulsors. Push the bastards back!" And not having the time to punch buttons, he hops the rail and strides to Medes' side, tapping her shoulder and points at the shield output, then mouths: 'More power'.
Va'tol advances, putting the ship in direct course to the kamikaze vessel.
<CONTEST> Takamura (claiming advantage) contests his Shipboard Systems (Tactical) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Medes (claiming advantage) contests her Systems Engineering (Operations) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!
MORE POWER! Medes, thankfully, does not do the Tim Allen grunt thing. She just nods sharply to Havaris and increases the power. MORE POWER. RAR.
<CONTEST> Nilee (claiming advantage) contests his Shipboard Systems (Tractor Beam) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!
Takamura targets the Jem'Hadar commandeered Klingon vessel and unleashes the full fury of the Thomas Paine's arsenal. Photon torpedoes and phasers lash out at the Cruiser and lights it up. Tak smiles in delight as he puts the Jem'Hadar in their place. "This is for those mines back on Planet 558, you bastards."
Nilee nods his head once in response to Havaris' order and gives a brief, "Aye sir." Before he begins to work at the console to make that a reality, as the weapons from the Paine gouge deep into the Klingon vessel, Nilee locks the tractor beams on what's left of the vessel's hull after Tak's venting, and pushes it off at a course that will bring it to an empty area of space, far from all three of the other vessels.
There is no adequate metaphor for what the Thomas Paine does to the Jem'Hadar controlled Klingon vessel, though one serves to somewhat illustrate the dramatic nature of its destruction. The Thomas Paine breaks its orbit of the disabled vessels it is now protecting, sliding between their center and the diving Light Cruiser. Its repulsors kick in, spitting the attacking craft like a cockroach on a needle, though its engines strain for advance and its phaser banks send shafts of light skimming across the Paine's shields like flailing antennae. The ship begins to yaw upwards as its thrusters push into overdrive, exposing its underbelly to the incessant barrage of phaser and torpedo fire from Takamura's banks. Each shot rocks the shields, each volley of phasers cuts at its carapace until the meat starts to show. The Paine drives the craft back, her shields threatening to rupture, her engines sparking and starting to short, her repulsors straining against the counterforce and weight of the klingon craft. Energy begins to build, sufficient to stand hairs on arms and cause static sparks when hands touch LCARS.
And then, slowly at first, the spitted craft begins to bubble and rupture, orange fire gouting out and guttering in the void. It explodes in all directions, followed by a horizontal slice of blue light as its warp field dies a crib death. Pieces of the vessel slam into the Paine's shields, energy ripples across the hull, Tactical erupts in spontaneous flames. Sciences begins buzzing before it sizzles and dies away. The bridge shakes, main power dies away, and backup batteries kick in, leaving the bridge a smoking ruin. No sign of the attacking craft exists... just three badly damaged Alliance craft spiraling slowly towards Federation Space.
Somewhere in the middle of all of that, Kusto is blown clean off of his feet. And he's in no particular hurry to reclaim them, either. Seems he went down pretty hard. Coughing, he waves a hand to clear the smoke from his face and rolls up to an elbow, touching his forehead where he thinks he is -- no, is -- bleeding. "Report... All stations. Everyone alive?"
Va'tol tries to keep himself on his seat, almost falling to the ground after the massive explosion. He is thrown against the chair, knocking his head pretty hard. The ensign rubs the back of his head. There is some blood dripping down his neck, both from the impact and the shard cuts. "Yes..Sir.." He reaches out for his console, hitting the brakes and putting the ship on full stop.
She keeps her calm all throughout -- there's no small bit of advantage sometimes not to having sound to distract you -- but the explosion itself brings a small volley of appreciative epithets as Medes is thrown to the ground for the second time today. Well, at least she's got a head start on the bleeding. Medes lifts her head from the ground, squints a couple of times, and swears again. Engineering is alive and not out of commission, apparently. Then, there's a long moment of indecision. Station. Kusto. Station. Kusto. Since logic, however, dictates that if the ship fails, EVERYONE DIES, including the Bajoran on the floor over there, she starts to drag herself back to the psuedoEngineering station to take stock of the damage, as she was previously ordered.
As the Tactical console erupts, Takamura brings his hands up to shield his face. His uniform sleeves begin to catch fire, so he rolls out of his seat and across the floor to smother the flames. Responding to Havaris, he says, "Fricaseed, but alive, sir."
Nilee grabs the edges of his station, but with all the rocking and turbulence from the explosion, can't hold his balance and he tumbles and rolls a few feet away. Grunting slightly in pain, he starts to push himself up, and make his way back to his station, only to watch it start to fizzle and shoot sparks back at him. Seeing what could imminently be an explosion, he moves away... fast, but fortunately, the console only dies and there are no more fireworks. He looks up as Havaris takes a head count, "I'm fine, sir..." he responds as he moves towards another auxiliary station, with a slightly limp in his right leg.
Havaris slumps onto his back, now that everyone's stated they're alive. (And Medes, who he had been standing beside, briefly steps into view.) He just lays there for a moment or two, bleeding from a gash to his head and feeling it. With a groan, he rolls up to a seated position and pulls himself up to his feet, leaning heavily on the nearby railing. He uses it to steady himself as he plods back up to the command chair and slumps back into his seat. "I want... damage teams on all decks. Main power as a priority. Send a distress signal out. Inform our guests of our findings and return them to their craft. If we can get underway, set course to 419. Otherwise, await assistance from a Starfleet craft. Retain your posts, pending able replacement, but request such from your departments immediately. When relieved, report to sick-bay. Helm, relay my orders to Ensign Medes." Kusto just sits there slumped for now, rather obviously in need of medical attention himself.
Va'tol nods once more, typing Havaris' orders on his console and sending them directly to the Ops console. He then stays put, waiting for the status report before calculating a course back to the Station..
"It will take an hour or two of work to get back underway," Medes reports in her uneven tones, that sadistic toddler still playing hell with her volume. She's trying, though. Orders for damage teams are relayed to all decks, and she summons one of the Redshirt Brigade, one Ensign Engineer Expendable, to take her place. Woozy from bloodloss at this point, she nevertheless defers assistance with walking at this point, rises from her seat, and starts to head to sickbay. One of her bloody fingertips slides along Havaris' cheek as she passes him, leaving a swipe of her blood so hygenically behind. Ah, love and injury. Anyway, she manages to make it to sickbay under her own power, and Ensign Expendable coordinates the Engineering from here on out.
Takamura finishes his roll into a seated position, then grabs a fire suppressor to extinguish his console with his painfully burned hands. Bringing himself to his knees at a nearby auxillary station, he transfers Tactical to there and summons a replacement. After a quick assessment, he reports to Havaris. "Shields and Weapons are offline, sir." He glances over to Nilee with a half-grin and asks, "Can I have my phaser back, please?"
Nilee manages to get himself to an auxiliary station that is still in some level of working condition, bringing it online, he starts trying to keep an eye on sensors, with the limited power he has at his disposal, to make sure they won't be getting any more unwanted visitors coming up behind them. Glancing over his shoulder at Tak, he arches an eyebrow, "Ohh uhh..." he looks around, towards his console then across the floor, "I think I lost it in all the ruckuss." He shrugs, as his replacement arrives as well.
It takes the crew of the Thomas Paine three and a half hours to get back underway. The Klingon and Romulan craft remain to protect their former quarry from possible attack, and despite the aggressive beginnings to the conflict, the chatter between the ships is almost civil by the end of it all. Once the Thomas Paine is underway, each vessel plots the most direct course into its own space, and the Alliance Craft part ways, but not alliegances.
As the warp elipses of each craft stretch off into the void, debris and silence reigns in the Neutral Zone. At least for a few moments. Shortly thereafer, a Jem'Hadar craft decloaks, circles the area of the fighting, and slows to a stop amid the debris field of the Klingon vessel. A minute later, its crew joins its brethren in death. Ironically too late to prevent the end of a nascent war, just as its opposition had been too late in preventing its start, it explodes in an auto-destruct of its own.
Deadly allies, deadlier alliegances.
-- Cut --
