Operation Cacophony

 Episode Name:  Operation Cacophony

   Written By:  Grey

         Cast:  Adansae, Ga'roth, Ghorev, Green, Grey, Lopez, Milosevic, Nilee, O'Rielly, Orion Pirate, 
                Shipyard and Takamura.

  Produced By:  Starfleet

  Directed By:  Grey

     Aired On:  Sun Jun 26 04:03:03 2005

     Stardate:  55070.3

Time: Friday Jun 24 08:00:00 2005

Stardate: 55065.9

The camera slowly pans around the blue, brown, green, and white of a class M planet, the warm cerulean of large oceans covering most of its surface. As a large land mass comes into view so too does the shipyard in low orbit. As the latter appears, a voiceover starts, the unfamiliar voice of a man. "The shipyard it about to go active. Attached to this transmission you will find the schematics for the shipyard." Cut to the inside of sparse, small quarters and the man who is speaking. "The shipyard will be fully operational in less than five days. Right now they're taking power from the weapons and shields to support the dry docks. That will all change when the second core comes online however. I'll send another transmission in 12 hours. Belon out." The man stands from the table, straightening the worn jacket he's wearing as he starts for the door. The camera cuts and Belon is now entering some sort of cramped command center, heading for a workstation. Before he reaches it, the door to the command center hisses open to reveal three men. "Belon, I think we need to talk," says the lead man, raising his disruptor as the camera fades to black.

Time: Friday Jun 24 21:13:11 2005

Stardate: 55067.2

The camera fades back in, now in what is undoubtedly a Starfleet office. Behind the desk sits a man wearing four solid gold pips on his collar, a man with a strong, heavy build and slightly greying hair. The door to his office chimes and he sits back a bit from his work, saying, "Come." The door hissing open and an Ensign steps in. "Captain Ged'it, I think we have a problem. Lieutenant Olan missed his scheduled check in. There's been no word from him since he transmitted the the schematics a little over 13 hours ago."

Time: Sat Jun 25 11:31:42 2005

Stardate: 55068.7

Again the camera cuts, and now Captain Ged'it is entering another man's office, the office of Admiral Whitehorse. "Sir, I think I found us a little bit of luck. The IKS Kolarus is at Station 419 right now, sir. They just arrived yesterday for repairs. She's a B'rel class scout with a joint assault team on board. The Kolarus can't respond, but we can move the assault team onto the USS Thomas Paine and have her respond. I already have a tactical response being drafted and we can send it out within an hour, maybe two at the most."

The Admiral stands from his desk, moving over to the Sector Map to stare at it for a moment. "Station 419 is our closet asset to the shipyard. Very well, bring me the plan as soon as you have it finalized. Let's get a move on it for Lieutenant Olan's sake."

Time: Sat Jun 25 17:03:09 2005

Stardate: 55069.2

Ghorev makes his way down into the command well as soon as the door opens, clearly in conversation.

Into his com badge, Ghorev says, "I need a qualified pilot on the bridge of Thomas Paine, triple time, and I need pre-pended clearance to depart. Is there anyone else in Operations Section on call at the moment?"

Over Ghorev's com badge, Lopez says, "Aye, Sir, there is also Lieutenant Green, on call."

Into his com badge, Ghorev says, "Are either of you qualified pilots, by any chance? Or even pending qualfication? We are in a *very* big rush."

Over Ghorev's com badge, Lopez says, "Aye, Sir. I am pending qualification, but I don't have access to that information about Lieutenant Green."

Into his com badge, Ghorev says, "Then summon your replacement, and run as if your feet dare not touch deck plating. Summon Mister Green on your way. Ghorev out."

Ghorev taps his com badge and terminates transmission.

Ghorev taps his com badge. "Commander Ghorev to Ensign Adansae."

Over Ghorev's com badge, someone says, "Ensign Adansae here."

Into his com badge, Ghorev says, "Ensign, you show as the medical officer on rotation today. I'm a bit hesitant on that, since I show you as a counselor -- I'm assuming you did the psychiatric track and you're a qualified physician on your internship now?"

Over Ghorev's com badge, Adansae says, "Yes Commander -- that's correct."

The turbolift doors slide open with a hiss.

Green steps out of the turbolift.

Green has arrived.

Lopez steps out of the turbolift.

Lopez has arrived.

The turbolift doors slide closed.

Into his com badge, Ghorev says, "Well, then cry 'Opratha!'" -- the reasonably well-known Andorian equivalent of 'hooray', 'huzzah', 'hoo-ah', or a dozen similar such exclamations seems not at all unnatural from him -- "for the luck of the rotation, Counselor, you're about to get front seat experience. Report to the bridge of USS THomas Paine triple time, and take a seat with me in the Command well. For the next few hours, you're medical officer on a combat mission."

Over Ghorev's com badge, Adansae says, "Opratha, Commander! I'll be right there."

Ghorev taps his com badge and terminates transmission.

Ghorev taps his com badge. "Commander Ghorev to Lieutenant Nilee."

Over Ghorev's com badge, someone says, "Lieutenant Nilee here."

The turbolift doors slide open with a hiss.

Into his com badge, Ghorev says, "I've been ordered to drop some Allied ground troops somewhere dangerous, Lieutenant. I need a hand on sensors I can trust. That's you, Phil Laco, or Mister Norvan on a good day. Normally, I'd give Phil first refusal, but protocol says you're first. If you're coming, say 'Yes, sir', and get down here as if your hindquarters had built-in ion thrusters."

Adansae steps out of the turbolift.

Adansae has arrived.

The turbolift doors slide closed.

Ghorev meanwhile motions to Lopez and Green to take the two forward consoles, and then gestures as if to indicate the bridge as a whole -- oh, yes, a pre-flight check.

Lopez arrives in step with Lieutenant Green, moving at a rapid clip, energized with each step of the walk onto the bridge. One hand pops a knuckle on her fist as she slides around the wing of the Oval for the helmsman's station.

Over Ghorev's com badge, Nilee says, "Yes, sir."

. o O Green thinks, "That's it. /That's/ what to get Alek and Barana for a wedding present- built-in ion thrusters in his rear."

Into his com badge, Ghorev says, "Good. Ghorev out."

Ghorev taps his com badge and terminates transmission.

Ghorev taps his com badge. "Commander Ghorev to Lieutenant Takamura."

Over Ghorev's com badge, someone says, "Lieutenant Takamura here."

Adansae enters just behind Lopez and Green, her face slightly flushed -- as if she'd run the entire way. Once inside, she pauses to look around, taking her time as she gets her bearings.

The turbolift doors slide open with a hiss.

The turbolift doors slide closed.

The turbolift doors slide open with a hiss.

Nilee steps out of the turbolift.

Nilee has arrived.

The turbolift doors slide closed.

Into his com badge, Ghorev says, "I'm in need of a steady hand at Mission Ops on the birdge of Thomas Paine, post-haste, to drop almost four dozen Allied troops on a sensitive target. That's you. If your feet touch deckplating before you make it to that station, you took too long."

Over Ghorev's com badge, Takamura says, "On my way, Sir. Takamura out."

Green starts to open her mouth for reporting in, then shuts it and nods, heading down briskly to settle at the Ops console. Time to rev 'er up. Well, not literally, but warming up the board and running a pre-flight check is a good thing.

Ghorev's com badge clicks as Takamura drops off channel. The channel closes.

As the turbolift doors slide open as they are almost constantly now as bridge crew begin to take positions, Lieutenant Nilee steps out of them without so much as an acknowledgement to most of the bridge, a quick glance is shot Ghorev's way before he heads immediately for the science station.

Nilee sits down at Science.

The turbolift doors slide open with a hiss.

Takamura steps out of the turbolift.

Takamura has arrived.

Green sits down at Ops.

The turbolift doors slide closed.

Takamura sits down at Mission Ops.

Lopez stands at her board, lighting it up and pinging data off of the major systems, listing them one at a time at half speech volume, "Ops, Conn, Tactical, Engineering..." the list scrolls away in the growing buzz.

Adansae lingers just to the left of the doors, looking as uncertain as -- well, as a newly-appointment Ensign on her first mission for the station.

Ghorev motions to Adansae, then to one of the command well chairs. Right. Medical officer sits with the CO.

Lopez sits down at Conn.

Green gets all the pretty lights on her board lit up in the correct order, finally giving a nod of satisfaction. "Green lights across the Ops board, Commander."

Adansae finishes her inspection of the room, and after studying each of the other crew members in turn, she hurries over to take her place beside Ghorev. She's able to keep the smile from her face, but just barely.

Adansae sits down at Command.

Ghorev nods. "Thank you, Mister Green." Then lowers his voice to say something as the Ensign in teal sits down nearby.

Takamura steps off the turbolift and glances about quickly to make sure he doesn't run into anyone on the way to the Mission Ops station. Standing behind the console, his fingers rapidly tap away to bring the control station to life. Only after making sure that his lights are all green does he look up at the rest of the assembled crew.

Quickly tapping at the controls of the science station, Lieutenant Nilee lights up the board in front of him, and data begins to scroll across the monitor before him.

At his place, Ghorev says "I'll tell you what I tell all first-time mission medical officers. Remember to breathe. When you stop breathing, then *I* have to start worrying."

At her place, Adansae glances over to Ghorev with a slightly surprised smile. "Aye, sir," she returns quietly. "Continue to breath. I think I can handle that."

. o O Lopez thinks, "Okay, Station... where's our clearance to drop the moorings?"

. o O Green thinks, "Wonder what's up. I don't think I've ever seen Commander Ghorev in such a rush to get moving before."

Ghorev nods at the quiet response, and then...

Ghorev taps his com badge. "Commander Ghorev to Lieutenant JG O'Rielly."

Over Ghorev's com badge, someone says, "Lieutenant JG O'Rielly here."

Into his com badge, Ghorev says, "Security is stretched thin at the moment. Too thin for my liking. Which means you have a rare 10 second window of opportunity to forget everything else you know, and *just* be an officer for the day, standing a watch at tactical on a combat mission. Strike now before I change my mind, Lieutenant."

Over Ghorev's com badge, O'Rielly says, "On my way Commander."

Ghorev taps his com badge and terminates transmission.

Ghorev turns to Takamura the moment the connection drops. Gives the big Japanese fellow one of those looks, with a nod to the Tactical station. GIven the invitation he just made, the implication seems to be 'keep an eye on him'.

The turbolift doors slide open with a hiss.

O'Rielly steps out of the turbolift.

O'Rielly has arrived.

The turbolift doors slide closed.

Green lifts an eyebrow slightly, now that she has time to listen more closely to what's going on. Not very much time, though, as her attention is drawn to a light that starts to blink silently. Bending forward to acknowledge it, she says after a few seconds, "We've received clearance to drop moorings and depart at your command, sir. A moment to seal the airlocks and we're clear to go."

. o O Green thinks, "O'Rielly? The man barely knows how to shoot a /hand/ phaser."

Takamura reports to Ghorev as he looks up from the console. "Mission Ops is online." When the big Andorian fellow gives him that look, Takamura nods once solemnly. He glances to the Tactical console, then back to his own.

Ghorev nods. "Signal engineering that we're about to clear moorings and have them send someone up here as soon as they can be spared from below-decks." Then his gaze moves just a sliver in an arc from Green to her seat-mate. "Mister Lopez, drop moorings, take us out, spinward and coreward from the station. Full impulse at yellow zone, then set course for System 85723 and jump to maximum warp once we're in the green."

"Aye, sir." Tay's hands busy themselves in sending the required messages to Engineering, a glance making sure the airlocks have been secured.

O'Rielly steps onto the bridge, fidgeting with his uniform and zipping up the collar. He heads straight over to the Tactical console and does his own checks, taking over from the NCO who got it ready. Even at the danger of repeating something that was already said, he calls out, "Tactical ready sir."

Nilee taps quietly at his controls. Listening to the buzz of departure around him.

When O'Rielly takes over Tactical, Takamura gives the spook a slight nod before looking back towards Ghorev as he calls out orders.

Adansae's fingers work at the arms of her chair like burrowing creatures looking for a safe haven, but her expression remains one of just-concealed excitement.

The conn console receives the double fan of Lopez's lightly browned fingers, as she begins to comply with the order. "Aye, Sir," she says and pauses, watching her panel under the ready ruffle her digits. "Thomas Paine is clear of the docking arm. Moving to impulse." There is a another pause as the ship hums away. "Jumping to warp in a minute, fifty."

. o O Lopez thinks, "And the little ship said, I think I can, I think I can..."

Ghorev says, "Excellent." He turns to Adansae. "We're ferrying Allied troops -- almost four dozen total Romulans and Klingons. Just in case, you may want to spend the travel time--" he motions towards the small armrest console in her chair "--refreshing yourself on any Klingon or Romulan physiological details you may have forgotten."

Green continues to pay attention to her board for the nonce, and then her eyebrows lift ever so slightly. Her tone remains neutral as she reports, "Commander, a message from the main cargo bay. la' Ga'roth is requesting permission to come to the bridge."

. o O Green thinks, "We're carrying those assault troops? Curiouser and curiouser."

Takamura raises a brow slightly when he hears what the Paine's cargo is today. With a slight smile, he nodshis head slowly.

"Aye, sir," Adansae replies to Ghorev as she turns to her console and begins looking up the required information. Almost instantly, her expression of anxious excitement is replaced by one of calm concentration.

Ghorev gives an affirmative 'go ahead'-type nod to Green. Then he says, to the bridge at-large, "Ladies and Gentlemen, the Klingon officer you are about to meet is, for those of you who missed his rank, the equivalent of a Romulan Subcommander, or our own Lieutenant Commander Goodwin. In pure rank, he outweighs everyone on Thomas Paine but myself." A smile. Yeah. "But his concern is the ground team, and my concern is this ship. If, once we come under fire -- and I have no doubt that we will -- I am incapacitated, command will devolve to either Mister Takamura or Mister Nilee, depending on which of them is least injured." Then, to Tak and Nilee in turn: "If that happens, gentlemen, you get this ship out of fire and safe away, unless you are absolutely sure you can complete the primary objective and get us out again afterwards."

The turbolift doors slide open with a hiss.

The turbolift doors slide closed.

The turbolift doors slide open with a hiss.

Milosevic steps out of the turbolift.

Milosevic has arrived.

The turbolift doors slide closed.

Nilee turns around to face Ghorev as he is addressed and gives him a firm nod of acknowledgement, "Aye sir, understood."

. o O Takamura thinks, "Four dozen Klingons and Romulan troops? That must be the marines from the Kolarus. I wonder what sort of mission we need them for."

Milosevic sits down at Engineering.

O'Rielly looks down at his console for a moment before reaching for a PADD on his belt. He takes the PADD and places it at the side of his console out of the way.

Milosevic enters the bridge, hands wiping on the thighs of his pants to remove some dirty black residue from his fingertips. He slips into the Engineering section quietly and taps into the console.

Takamura listens attentively to Ghorev. He nods once to the Andorian as the Japanese man's expression gets more serious. "Understood, sir."

O'Rielly sits down at Tactical.

Adansae looks up from her console to listen to Ghorev's announcements; at the mention of incapacitating injuries, she pales slightly. When Milosevic takes his place in Engineering, she gives him a little nod before returning her attention to her console.

The turbolift doors slide open with a hiss.

Ga'roth steps out of the turbolift.

Ga'roth has arrived.

The turbolift doors slide closed.

As the doors to the lift hiss open again, onto the bridge strides a Klingon officer. He strides a few steps onto the bridge and then nods to Ghorev, waiting politely. "Commander Ghorev, my assault team is prepared and waiting in the main cargo area. I have had a chance to review the tactical plan relied to us. With your permission, I'd like to brief your bridge crew."

Ghorev gives a slight nod and a hand-twirling 'go ahead' gesture, not wanting to interrupt the man's train of verbalized thoughts.

Green watches the board for any more incoming messages, nods when none pop up, and turns her seat slightly to give her attention to the Klingon, studying him.

Nilee turns his attention slowly to the Klingon who enters and speaks, giving him a quick visual examination from afar, with a clearly critical eye.

LTJG Lopez punches the Paine out of its graceful slide of impulse and into maximum warp on the specified mark. She makes her calculations, and double-checks the console while waiting for the data on the Paine's estimated travel time. Ana tilts her head slightly, to receive the aural cues of the briefing.

O'Rielly smiles as Ga'roth steps out onto the bridge and wants to address the crew. He remains silent but looks to the man, curious.

Milosevic looks up after logging into the console. He watches the Klingon with veiled interest.

Takamura turns his head when the Klingon commander enters. As the briefing begins, he pays close attention since he will be responsible for maintinaing contact with the assault team.

Adansae looks away from her console to fix her full attention upon the Klingon.

Ga'roth moves over to the Operations area, offering an isolinear chip to Takamura. "Please load the tactical file onto the viewscreen, Lieutenant."

Takamura accepts the chip from Ga'roth, nodding his head curtly. "Aye aye, sir." Turning back to his console, he inserts the chip and calls up the specified data.

The view of space on the viewscreen blinks out to be replaced by a wire frame diagram of a planet with a small shipyard in orbit. After a moment the view zooms in on the shipyard and pauses. Ga'roth gestures half heartedly to the diagram. "This is an Orion Syndicate shipyard orbiting the third planet of system 85723. The system is uninhabited. The shipyard is orbiting approximately one hundred kilometers above the planet surface, so the cowards can hide in the E-Layer Ionosphere. Little do they know their cowardice will be our strength. Computer, advance to tactical stage 1." The diagram shifts, zooming back out and rotating the planet. A indicator appears showing the Thomas Paine approaching the planet from the rear side. "Due to their proximity to the planet's surface, if we approach from the blind side we can reach orbit without being detected. Once in orbit we can swing around the planet at full speed." The diagram on the viewscreen continues to move forward, showing the Paine approaching the planet and then swinging around towards the shipyard.

"Here is where the plan gets interesting," say Ga'roth, pacing a little bit in front of the viewscreen. "The shipyard is not yet fully operational. Its designed to run on two power cores, but only one is online. As they expect to remain hidden that core has been used to power the ship building facilities. If we round the planet fast enough we can launch a true two pronged attack by transporting my Klingon and Romulan team into the shipyard before the power can be rerouted to weapons and shields. We can attack from the inside and the Thomas Paine from the outside."

At this Ga'roth pauses and turns to Ghorev. "Of course, that is the plan suggested by the tacticians. As you, Commander Ghorev, are in charge of the Thomas Paine the final decision about her plan of attack if up to you. I know that whatever you decide, it will be a glorious battle."

. o O O'Rielly thinks, "Is the Syndicate that much more of a pain in the neck here?"

Ghorev says, "The old saying about plans and first contact with the enemy comes to mind, la' Ga'roth. But for a chance to make a Syndicate shipyard worthless and seize the people in charge of it, I think my people are up to the task."

Green's eyebrows shoot up at about Ga'roth's fourth word, and she leans forward, watching the display keenly as she listens. A rather brief glance goes to O'Rielly, then back to the screen.

. o O Green thinks, "Attack from the outside while our team is inside, without killing them ourselves. You better be good at precision target shooting, spook."

Takamura's attention is also perked at the mention of the Orion Syndicate being involved. Setting his jaw, he nods slowly at the rest of the briefing.

Adansae leans slightly forward as she watches the viewscreen. Once Ga'roth finishes and Ghorev responds, she glances back and forth between the two.

Lopez ticks her chin up minutely, following the course of the proposed path in with her eyes.

O'Rielly doesn't notice Green's glance, or at least ignores it. However, the Intelligence officer asks questions that definitely give away his training. "Has there been a full strategic analysis done? And do we know where their power transfer conduits might be? Perhaps if we hit them fast enough and precisely, we can disable their ability to transfer power to shields and weapons."

Milosevic looks down at his engineering console and then up and around the bridge. He gives a perfunctory nod to the plan, as if his assent mattered and then begins tapping his panel with his fingers, checking the engines in preparation for the tactics described.

. o O Takamura thinks, "The Orion Syndicate. I hope that Minos Evanginor is there and we can capture or kill him. It certainly will put Casya's worries at ease."

Nilee listens quietly to the information presented, nodding at a few points, he then asks, "From where did we gather the intelligence for this mission?"

"There is only so much intelligence one man can gather," replies Ga'roth. "A Starfleet officer, Lieutenant Olan, gathered the intelligence. Starfleet hopes this mission will have timely success to rescue the Lieutenant, as it appears he's been captured or killed." Now he looks to Lopez. "Starfleet has already plotted a course for you to follow, since we're following the mission as planned. Its stored on the isolinear chip I handed off." He looks to, and nods to, Ghorev. "I have nothing further Commander. I shall rejoin my team unless you have information for me."

Ghorev continues to lean back in the command chair, listening intently until the end of Ga'roth's brief ... er, briefing. "Of course. Mister Takamura" -- a gesture to the big Asian fella -- "will handle further coordination. To give your men room to breathe in the transporter bay as we approach the drop, he and I will handle transport from up here. Remember that we can only send you down 12 at a time, so Mister Takamura will also handle coordinating with you any splitting up your team might have to do as we discover more about the target zone on the approach. I ask that you stay flexible," he sits straighter in the chair, then actually rises from it, "and if all goes well, by this time tomorrow, we'll be celebrating with goblets and cheers."

. o O Green thinks, "They've got practically no defenses. This is either going to be a cakewalk, or a trip to Hell."

Nilee furrows his brow at the mention of a captured agent, frowning slightly, "Sir," he says, looking towards Ghorev, "If we've got a compromised agent in the midst of the target, should we not assume they're expecting an attack? It would be foolish to leave themselves undefended after discovering an infiltrator in their midst."

Green continues to ponder the display, her brow furrowing faintly. "I have to agree with Lieutenant Nilee, sir."

. o O Lopez thinks, "A 419 mission that doesn't go according to plan? Never!"

O'Rielly says, "With the situation described it's likely they're working overtime to try and get that second reactor online. Better to risk it then to assume an attack and never finish the project."

Lopez watches the comments go back and forth, raising her eyes from her new data every time there is a lapse. Eyes to the road, Lopez. "How much of the attack plan did this Olan know?"

Milosevic keeps his eyes on his own console for now, going through routine diagnostics to check his earlier work belowdecks.

Takamura bows his head to the Klingon when Ghorev introduces him. While the others ask their questions, he just listens to the answers. His questions can wait since he can be in communication with Ga'roth during the voyage.

Adansae keeps her gaze on Ghorev as the commander speaks, then allows herself a smile at his concluding remark. As others address Ghorev, she listens silently and attentively.

Ghorev says, "This is why we are scrambling, in fact. Knowing an attack is coming and being able to meet it are two separate things entirely. Likewise, we can assume that they *know* we are coming, but not when and where. We are, in fact, a last minute replacement. They were likely expecting a cloaked Klingon ship, if they were expecting anything at all -- their tactics will rely on scanning a lot right in front of them for something that does not *have* to arc around a planet, and waiting for the split-second cloak-down shields-down window one waits for when fighting a cloaked enemy you know is there." He looks around the bridge. "Coming around the planet, a Klingon Bird dropping a full ground team has no reason to do that. We can still surprise them. Let us focus on that."

Ga'roth nods to Ghorev, smiling to the Andorian. "I will keep my mind open, Commander, and tomorrow hopefully we can share bloodwine," he says, before heading off the bridge.

. o O Green thinks, "Hope you brought some /real/ bloodwine with you, la'. Gods know we're not gonna get any at the Zone."

Green's lips purse thoughtfully, then she nods once, settling back into her seat again.

Nilee nods his head slowly, "I see." He replies pursing his lips briefly, "Can't they bring the other reactor online well powering their defense systems instead of their drydocks? Perhaps it would be prudent to formulate a backup plan in the event we encounter raised shields on the insallation..."

Once Ga'roth departs, Adansae returns to studying her console window, her brow slightly furrowed with concentration it takes to read and follow the discussion simultaneously.

Ghorev says, "It can take some time to bring a core online. We are gambling that they didn't have the time. If they did, our job becomes harder, but not impossible. On the other hand, I'd like to prepare a distraction, just in case, since we *are* coming around from the blindside of the planet." He turns to Takamura. "Prep three probes to be launched in transponder-and-logs configuration. Erase their logs. Load with Klingon tactical 'chatter'. We'll drop them in a retrograde orbit as we come around the planet's blind side, on a brief delay, and let them start transmitting as we engage. Let them spend energy defending against an opponent that isn't there."

Takamura nods once at Ghorev's orders and proceeds to pass the information along to the crew below decks.

Green's eyes gleam as she listens to Ghorev, taking mental notes.

. o O Green thinks, "Damn, he's good."

Milosevic nods to Ghorev's words and then leans back in his seat, eyes scanning the scrolling digits and flashing symbols on his console.

Adansae smiles at the plan, but continues to bring up new information on her console.

Ana simply continues to enjoy the long stretch of the flight at maximum warp, setting in the last of her manual adjustments before theres a plan to follow.

Nilee nods his head slowly, his concerns apparently being sufficiently answered for the moments, the Trill officer returns to monitoring sensors for the time being.

O'Rielly continues to work over his console and PADD as the journey continues on.

As the bridge crew continues to work, the Thomas Paine hurtles through space at maximum warp. After a few hours they begin to draw close to the target system. Its only minutes now until the actual flight in and attack begins.

GAME: Nilee spends a courage point.

Ghorev says, "Flight Control, bring us in nice and tight." He leans forward in the command chair. "I want us to kiss the the same E-layer they are hiding in as you bring us around. I don't know if you've *done* atmospheric entry on this thing before, Mister Lopez, but now's the time to learn. We're rated for it. We can do it. Bring us in tight and fast so that Mister Takamura can drop those probes and then signal our troops to assemble first wave on the transport dais."

GAME: Lopez spends a courage point.

GAME: Lopez contests her Shipboard Systems/Flight Control+A vs Moderate and Fails.

Lopez announces over her shoulder, "Acknowledged," her hands already beginning to move to sketch out the required trajectory. Never mind that too tight sends you in too deep, which can get hot, and too fast skips you right off the layers of gasses surrounding the planet. Understandably, Lopez, a first-timer at the helm of the Paine, is just a tad tense. The ship plunges in, slightly off course, and high-- sufficient to drop the probes... But Ana has to double up her efforts to bring Tommy-boy back into line with the flight plan.

GAME: Takamura contests his Shipboard Systems vs Routine and Marginally Fails.

. o O Lopez thinks, "I'm not going to crash, I'm not going to crash..."

Takamura taps away at his console. "The probes are ready for launch, sir." Once Lopez has them in position, he keys the launch button, sending three probes flying away from the Thomas Paine. "Probes away." He watches their trajectory as they leave the ship. "Only one is on target, Commander."

Ghorev says, "One's all we need. Mister Lopez, we're too high in our orbit -- correct it before they spot us. Sacrifice speed if you have to. Mister O'Rielly, Mister Milosevic, the shooting's about to start, so brace yourselves ... time to give, and to receive."

GAME: Nilee contests his Shipboard Systems/Sensors+A vs Impossible and Fails.

. o O O'Rielly thinks, "Hrm, when's the last time I did this? Oh yeah, simulation. No, wait, there was one other time, wasn't there? This should be very interesting."

Milosevic once again ponders the lack fo seat restraints in Starfleet vessels and shifts in his chair, nodding to the Commander, "Aye, aye, sir. Braced." Hands fly over the console, checking the engine readouts from the wild flying.

O'Rielly nods to Ghorev as his hands drift away from his PADD and move to the console. He just nods once to Ghorev's comment/order/whatever it was. He does make one final look of the readouts to make sure everything is ready.

. o O O'Rielly thinks, "And what did he mean by 'just an officer' anyway."

As Lopez maneuvers the Paine, Adansae is no longer able to study her console and instead closes her eyes -- perhaps seeking calm through a moment of meditation, perhaps just concentrating on her breathing.

Takamura frowns as he watches two of the probes stray, not content with only one in place. He then alerts Ga'roth's teams to prepare for transport.

GAME: Lopez contests her Shipboard Systems/Flight Control+A vs Challenging and Dramatically Succeeds.

Nilee leans close to his monitor for a few moments, his eyes widening as he leans back again, "Uhmm... Commander? I'm detecing massive tachyon emissions... indicative of a very large fleet of cloaked ships... the amount of tachyon particles would suggest close to three hundred..." He peers at his console, "That... can't be right, can it?" He says the latter part more to himself then to the Commander, as is indicated by his tone.

GAME: Green contests her Shipboard Systems vs Moderate and Succeeds.

Lopez sits forward with a look of intense determination. Sacrifice the speed? No sir, not today. She holds her breath, blinks, and smacks her console to input her most recent set of commands. The Thomas Paine banks flawlessly onto course, accelerating to pick up lost ground.

At the Paine rockets through the E-Layer Ionosphere the viewscreen shows the shipyard just beginning to crest the edge of the horizon. Within seconds the Paine will be on top of the shipyard. Of course, the shipyard should be able to see the Paine now.

Ghorev is about to answer Nilee, when the visual comes in. "Red alert! I need status on the target, people!"

GAME: Takamura contests his Shipboard Systems/Sensors vs Routine and Succeeds.

GAME: Nilee contests his Shipboard Systems/Sensors+A vs Routine and Succeeds.

Green's fingers, formerly moving at medium speed, accelerate abruptly. A moment after the Paine would become visible to the shipyard, she says with furrowed brow, "Three ships incoming on an intercept course. They're tiny, maybe fifteen meters in length. Tugs or the like, max speed .5c."

Nilee taps at his sensor controls quickly, apparently his last scan momentarily forgotten, "I'm detecting two armed phaser banks, but their shields are down."

GAME: Takamura contests his Shipboard Systems vs Moderate and Succeeds.

Lopez coasts, decelerating while Green's information comes in. "Evasive maneuvers, Sir?" she asks, glancing over her shoulder toward the command station. The tiniest snowflake can start an avalanch.

GAME: O'Rielly spends a courage point.

GAME: O'Rielly contests his Shipboard Systems+A vs Challenging and Succeeds.

Takamura checks his sensors as well, nodding in agreement with Nilee. "Aye, sir. Shields are down. Transporting the first team now." After a few seconds and taps on the console, Takamura reports, "First team is aboard the station."

Adansae's eyes flicker from person to person as the others go about their work and give reports.

O'Rielly calls out after a moment of working over the tactical display. "Found their shield generators. Should I keep them down permanently sir, or engage weapons or the other ships?"

As the Paine closes fast on the shipyard, the three vessels grow larger on the screen. They are obviously retro-fitted vessels, having been modified for some sort of hauling use here at the shipyard. The shipyard itself is ugly, with a huge structure on one end, a large shuttlebay in the middle and various pods all around it. Even as the ships grow larger the lead two open up with phaser blasts aimed at the Paine.

GAME: Orion Pirate contests his Intellect/logic & Shipboard Systems/tactical vs Lopez's Intellect/logic & Shipboard Systems/flight control (given Advantage) and Succeeds.

As the two blasts connect with the Paine, the ship rocks under the phaser fire but is still coming on strong. The bridge crew is slightly shaken, but nothing too rough yet.

Ghorev says, "Evasive maneuvers for now, Mister Lopez, but prepare to change on half-a-heartbeat to offensive piloting. Tactical, make those shield generators a memory. Hiroshi, let me know when the last man is away, because then you and Mister Milosevic are going to do something clever for me, and something *very* annoying to these shuttles."

. o O Green thinks, "Sounds like a plan."

GAME: Takamura contests his Shipboard Systems vs Moderate and Fails.

GAME: O'Rielly spends a courage point.

GAME: O'Rielly contests his Shipboard Systems/Tactical+A vs Moderate and Marginally Succeeds.

GAME: O'Rielly contests his Shipboard Systems/Tactical vs Moderate and Succeeds.

GAME: Lopez contests her Shipboard Systems/Flight Control+A vs Moderate and Succeeds.

Takamura hangs onto his console while the ship is buffeted by the incoming fire. He taps away at the transporter controls, but the computer buzzes in the negative. "I'm experiencing some difficulty, sir. There seems to be something blocking the transporters."

Adansae clutches at the arms of her chair as the shuttle is hit by the phaser fire, her lips pressed tightly together to ensure that she doesn't accidentally cry out when the next attack comes.

O'Rielly was apparently ready for that order as a small smile crosses his face as he follows orders. He watches on his screen, and prolly a little upwards at the main viewscreen as the torpedos leave the ship. The first volley towards the closer shield generator looks like it's going to miss but it's target explodes, while the second generator reads as going boom as well. "A distant memory sir." He taps a button, "Nilee, Milosevic, find out what that is." He apparently sent something their way.

Milosevic tenses his body against the shaking of the bridge due to the blasts and his hands slap the sides of the console to hold on. "Shields down to eighty percent, Commander."

Lopez clutches at her console to keep from being forcibly jarred against it... being small she has less grip on the floor with her toes. "Initiating evasive pattern omega," she says, and sends the Paine into the tight set of weaves, that throws two of the tugs.

GAME: Nilee contests his Shipboard Systems/Sensors+A vs Moderate and Dramatically Succeeds.

GAME: Green spends a courage point.

GAME: Green contests her Shipboard Systems+A vs Challenging and Succeeds.

Nilee taps quickly at his controls as O'Rielly points him in the direction of an unidentified part of the facility, "That's the living quarters, Mr. O'Rielly... attached is a smaller mess... and the ship construction yard as well." He pauses, "We've got a fighter in there powering up... we can still hit it well it's grounded and disable it before it gets into the fight..."

Green keeps them fingers moving as the ship rocks. "Commander, I'm still only reading the shipyard, those three tugs shooting at us, and-" Abruptly her voice sharpens even further from its briskness. "Two fighters. Looks like they were distracted by your distraction, but they're high-tailing it back toward the yard now."

GAME: Orion Pirate contests his Intellect/logic & Shipboard Systems/tactical vs Lopez's Intellect/logic & Shipboard Systems/flight control (given Advantage) and Fails.

GAME: Shipyard contests his Intellect/logic & Shipboard Systems/tactical vs Lopez's Intellect/logic & Shipboard Systems/flight control (given Advantage) and Succeeds.

The battle continues, with the two thrown tugs veeering off and trying to come around a second time. One sticks to the Paine however, dropping behind Lopez's tight evasive maneuver. The tug is falling off rapidly, being much slower than the Paine, but it still takes a shot at the fleeing ship. This time it misses. However a phaser blast from the station rocks the ship, again shaking up the bridge crew.

Ghorev says, "Mister O'Rielly, these shuttles -- they are rapidly becoming a distraction I want nullified. Mister Milosevic, take primary control of the tractor beams and help him make that happen." He settles into the chair now, finding his rhythm, making the orders come as if he can visualize the battle in four dimensions in his head. "Hiroshi, recalibrate the transporters for the ionization of this level of atmosphere. Make it quick, but don't make it reckless. We've got extra time, now that their shields are down, but not too much." Turning to Adansae: "We might have an Orion or two that needs sedating, fairly soon. Those tugs can't take much of what we can deliver."

. o O Green thinks, "Oh, let 'em breathe air from about 100 kilometers up."

GAME: Takamura spends a courage point.

GAME: Takamura contests his Shipboard Systems+A vs Moderate and Succeeds.

GAME: Lopez contests her Shipboard Systems/Flight Control+A vs Challenging and Succeeds.

GAME: O'Rielly contests his Shipboard Systems+A vs Challenging and Dramatically Fails.

GAME: Milosevic contests his Intellect/logic & Shipboard Systems vs Orion Pirate's Intellect/logic & Shipboard Systems and Succeeds.

GAME: Milosevic contests his Intellect/logic & Shipboard Systems (claiming Disadvantage) vs Orion Pirate's Intellect/logic & Shipboard Systems and Succeeds.

Takamura staggers a step to keep his balance. Focusing intently, he makes the necessary adjustments to the transporter system. "I think I've got it now." After keying the transporter activation key three times, he looks up with a satisfied smile. "All assault teams are safely aboard the shipyard now, sir."

Adansae doesn't fall from her seat when the ship is attacked again -- she's held in place by her white-knuckled death-grip. When Ghorev addresses her, she gives him quick nod.

O'Rielly works over his tactical console, and looks frustrated. "That can't be right. Lieutenant Nilee, can you see if you can find any easily exploitable weakness in those things, eps conduit, underpowered shield emitter, anything?"

Green keeps an eye on her screens and the ongoing battle, one hand holding lightly on the edge of her console for bracing whenever the ship rocks. She observes, "Sir, none of these ships, the fighters or the tugs, can match our impulse speed." A quick glance toward Tactical, then back to her board.

Milosevic deftly maneuvers his hands over the panels, biting his lower lip in concentration. "There you are...hold still...Got ya!" Mumbling to himself still as he works, he eyes the viewscreen and then back to his console. "And one more to grow one...tagged!" He looks up at Commander Ghorev, grinning in success. "Two tagged and bagged, Commander. Holding firm and steady! Shields now down to seventy-five percent, though. Bad news with the good."

. o O Green thinks, "Tagged and bagged? What the hell does that mean?"

GAME: Nilee contests his Shipboard Systems/Sensors+A vs Challenging and Succeeds.

Nilee taps at his sensor controls quickly, eyes narrowing as he ignores everything around him, eyes only gripping the sides of his station if absolutely nessecary to maintain balance, "The incoming fighters are most vulnerable around the engines. It's not much, but aim for them, it'll bring them down quicker then a head on shot."

"Apreciarma -- Would be appreciated," Lopez responds lowly to Nilee's assessment as she bruises a rib against the conn panel. The Paine swings hard and with two held down by Milo's efforts, she evades the other two shuttles, and keeps distance between them and the incoming fighters.

GAME: Shipyard contests his Intellect/logic & Shipboard Systems/tactical vs Lopez's Intellect/logic & Shipboard Systems/flight control (given Advantage) and Fails.

GAME: Shipyard contests his Intellect/logic & Shipboard Systems/tactical vs Lopez's Intellect/logic & Shipboard Systems/flight control (given Advantage) and Succeeds.

. o O O'Rielly thinks, "Thank you Lt Nilee. I knew there was no way those things could be that impervious."

The battle continues fast and furious with the nimble Thomas Paine darting around at Lopez's command. The incoming fighters are thrown by Lopez's moves and like the third, and last free shuttle, are coming around to line up the Paine. Again the shipyard lets loose with phasers blasts and one slices past the Paine harmlessly while the other rocks her again.

Ghorev says, "Mister Milosevic, hold those shuttles *tight* until it is time to let them go. Mister Takamura, hail the shuttles and advise them that they are about to become the cracked whip against the hull of their station, and that is their choice as to whether their shields remain up and we cannot beam them out before they do." He motions. "Helm, bring us in fast and low across the hull of the shipyard so that we can crack this two-tailed whip of ours."

Green reports amidst the chaos, "Incoming message from la' Ga'roth, Commander. The shipyard's command center has been captured and destroyed. They're going after the power core and the," she blinks, her words steady, "Backup control center now, sir."

GAME: Takamura contests his Shipboard Systems/Communications vs Routine and Succeeds.

GAME: O'Rielly contests his Shipboard Systems/Tactical+A vs Moderate and Fails.

GAME: O'Rielly contests his Shipboard Systems/Tactical vs Challenging and Marginally Fails.

Takamura nods to Ghorev as he sends the message to the two shuttles. A moment later, he looks up from his console. "Message sent and received, sir. I suppose we'll find out soon enough if they comply." He prepares the transporters yet again, in case the pilots decide to surrender.

GAME: Lopez contests her Shipboard Systems/Flight Control+A vs Moderate and Marginally Succeeds.

O'Rielly nods as he hears Nilee and fires off phaser shots, going after the free shuttle and one of the fighters. He frowns when he finds that his shots don't end up doing a single thing.

. o O O'Rielly thinks, "Okay Bristol, you can shoot better than that. Maybe it's time for torpedos."

"Commander, shields now down to fifty-five percent. Another few hits like that and we're gonna be down to the skin. Shuttles are locked up tight and ready to be slung as needed." Milo works on his panel, hands moving effortlessly through years of training and instinct. "Should I try to repair the shields? Or you want me to transfer full shield strength to the fore?"

. o O Green is frustrated.

. o O Green thinks, "What the hell am I doing, meekly relaying communications?"

GAME: Nilee contests his Shipboard Systems/Sensors+A vs Challenging and Succeeds.

Lopez blasts on through, angling the trajectory of the Paine's flight. "Twenty one seconds to ... whip-crack." Whappish.

Nilee grimaces as he taps at his sensors, "Commander, I'm reading another fighter powering up in the construction yard... if we need a target for our payload, that'd probably be the ideal one."

GAME: Orion Pirate contests his Intellect/logic & Shipboard Systems/tactical vs Lopez's Intellect/logic & Shipboard Systems/flight control (given Advantage) and Fails.

GAME: Orion Pirate contests his Intellect/logic & Shipboard Systems/tactical vs Lopez's Intellect/logic & Shipboard Systems/flight control (given Advantage) and Succeeds.

GAME: Shipyard contests his Intellect/logic & Shipboard Systems/tactical vs Lopez's Intellect/logic & Shipboard Systems/flight control (given Advantage) and Fails.

GAME: Shipyard contests his Intellect/logic & Shipboard Systems/tactical vs Lopez's Intellect/logic & Shipboard Systems/flight control (given Advantage) and Marginally Fails.

As Lopez settles the Thomas Paine on a course for the station, the Paine becomes a target for the two fighters, the free tug and the shipyard. A barrage of phaser is leveled at the Thomas Paine, though only two shots hit home, rocking the little ship very hard.

GAME: Green contests her Athletics vs Routine and Succeeds.

GAME: Nilee contests his Athletics vs Routine and Succeeds.

GAME: Adansae contests her Athletics vs Routine and Succeeds.

GAME: O'Rielly contests his Athletics vs Routine and Fails.

GAME: Lopez contests her Athletics vs Routine and Succeeds.

GAME: Ghorev contests his Athletics vs Routine and Succeeds.

GAME: O'Rielly spends a courage point.

GAME: O'Rielly contests his Fitness/Vitality+A vs Routine and Succeeds.

GAME: Milosevic contests his Athletics vs Routine and Succeeds.

GAME: Takamura contests his Athletics vs Routine and Succeeds.

GAME: O'Rielly contests his Shipboard Systems/Tactical vs Challenging and Marginally Succeeds.

GAME: O'Rielly contests his Shipboard Systems/Tactical+D vs Moderate and Succeeds.

Ghorev shouts out, "Mister Milosevic, your job becomes damage control again, as soon as those ships are away! Hiroshi, if the shuttle crews bring their shields down, beam them directly here but disarm them!" He motions to Adansae, then O'Rielly.

It all of a sudden becomes obvious what Ghorev meant by 'just an officer'... someone who won't fall down when the ship comes under a little fire. But nope, OR isn't just an officer, and his lack of real time on the bridge shows when he is the only one who is knocked from his place by the incoming fire. Shaken slightly, though never stirred, O'Rielly gets back up and reverses his firing order this time. Oh hey, look, it worked. His two targets just happen to get disabled. Maybe they'll think next time before trying to knock only the spook down.

GAME: Takamura contests his Shipboard Systems+A vs Routine and Succeeds.

Green shifts uneasily, glancing toward Tactical, then to Ghorev, "Recommend we avoid targetting the center pod. That's where our assault teams are, three decks apart. Either of the large shuttlebays are viable targets for our weapons though." There's just the /tiniest/, itty bitty stress on the word 'weapons'.

. o O Green thinks, "And if they don't surrender? We just bash them, helpless, into the shipyard? That can't be right."

Takamura watches his readouts for any sign of the shuttles shields going down. "Understood. Their shields are down. I'm energizing the transporters now, sir."

At Ghorev's motion, Adansae is out of her seat and headed over to O'Rielly. She leans in close to inquire about his status; clearly, she doesn't want to embarrass him in front of the others, if being injured by a fall is cause for embarrassment.

Lopez accelerates the Paine for maximum effect, smacking the pair of following tugs into the shuttlebay in question. Shake it like you mean it.

"Aye, aye, Commander. I hope those pirates got their brains going and abandoned ship, if not, it is about to get very ugly in those tincans." Hands fly with determined ease over the panel and Milo looks up at the station looming on the main viewscreen. He glances at Takamura and nods once in acknowledgement before his hands begin to tappity tap over a complex ritual of commands. As the ship veers in close to the station,he looks to the helm. "Cut us hard port on a close fly by, Helm, and let's leave them a little something to remember us by?"

GAME: Orion Pirate contests his Intellect/logic & Shipboard Systems/tactical vs Lopez's Intellect/logic & Shipboard Systems/flight control (given Advantage) and Marginally Succeeds.

GAME: Shipyard contests his Intellect/logic & Shipboard Systems/tactical vs Lopez's Intellect/logic & Shipboard Systems/flight control (given Advantage) and Marginally Succeeds.

GAME: Shipyard contests his Intellect/logic & Shipboard Systems/tactical vs Lopez's Intellect/logic & Shipboard Systems/flight control (given Advantage) and Fails.

The tugs crash into the shuttlebay, their explosion destroying the pod and the fighter within it. No sooner does the Paine cut close by and past the station, for it must go past some to drag the shuttles into it, then does the bridge rock again. The fighter behind the Paine and the shipyard both connect with phaser blasts. As the bridge finishes its shaking, it becomes clear there are new people on the bridge. Four pirates, one Orion, two Humans and Bolian are slumped on the deck. At least one of them crashed to the decking after transport when the Paine was hit. Two non com security officers level their phasers at the pirates, keeping them in check.

GAME: Takamura contests his Athletics vs Moderate and Succeeds.

GAME: Adansae contests her Athletics vs Moderate and Fails.

GAME: Green contests her Athletics vs Moderate and Succeeds.

GAME: O'Rielly spends a courage point.

GAME: Milosevic contests his Athletics vs Moderate and Succeeds.

GAME: O'Rielly contests his Athletics+A vs Moderate and Succeeds.

GAME: Nilee contests his Athletics vs Moderate and Marginally Fails.

GAME: Ghorev contests his Athletics vs Moderate and Marginally Succeeds.

GAME: Nilee contests his Fitness/Vitality+A vs Routine and Succeeds.

GAME: Adansae spends a courage point.

GAME: Adansae contests her Fitness/Vitality+A vs Routine and Fails.

Ghorev reveals his Type I Phaser.

Ghorev starts to bounce out of his seat, but catches himself. "Damage report! And I include people in that!" Somewhere in that, his phaser comes out, just in case.

It was an unfortunate moment for Adansae to relinquish the safety of her chair. As she checks O'Rielly over for injuries, the next attack rocks the ship and sends her sprawling backwards. A sharp *crack* sounds as something breaks; she gives a cry of surprise and pain.

GAME: O'Rielly contests his Shipboard Systems/Tactical+A vs Moderate and Succeeds.

GAME: O'Rielly contests his Shipboard Systems/Tactical vs Moderate and Succeeds.

GAME: Milosevic spends a courage point.

Green braces herself, eyes hard on her console. "Two engineers with light injuries," then her tone takes on a slightly more grim note. "Security reports one officer killed by a falling bulkhead on level two, sir." Her gaze flicks sideways. "Commander! la' Ga'roth confirms the capture of the shipyard's backup command center, and they have its power core offline. The yard is ours, sir."

O'Rielly grabs onto the console just in time for the hits to the ship to come. He looks to answer Adansae and sees her on the ground in pain. He fires his phasers, disabling the station's phasers before he hears that the power core is offline. Oops. He looks down and says, "Medic down."

GAME: Milosevic contests his Systems Engineering+A vs Challenging and Succeeds.

Takamura maintains his balance as the bridge rocks again. "Transporters and communications are still online, sir." Glancing over to the wounded Adansae, he winces at the cracking sound.

Milosevic's fingers fly over his console, his face grim and stony. Every oune of his concentration on getting shields back up to strength. "Commander, I re-routed power from the warp engines to the shields and repaired back up to seventy percent. Impulse engines are down by fifteen percent. Sensors and tractors are offline."

GAME: Nilee spends a courage point.

GAME: Nilee contests his Systems Engineering/Sensors+A vs Difficult and Marginally Fails.

GAME: Lopez contests her Athletics vs Moderate and Succeeds.

Nilee grabs the sides of his console in order to steady himself, but to no avail, his upper body and face lurches forward and hits his station hard, grimacing, he starts to tap at his controls, "Sensors inop..." he stops as he hears Milo stating the samething and goes about tapping at his controls, "Trying to reroute sensor systems... it's going to take some time, Commander. For the moment, we're flying blind."

GAME: Lopez contests her Shipboard Systems/Flight Control+A vs Moderate and Fails.

Lopez attempts to perform the next course of evasive maneuvers through the cold void. Attempts is operative here, clearly.

The Paine makes another pass, cutting through the disabled tug and fighter to strafe the shipyard, delivering the final knockout blows. Unfortunately the Paine is damaged enough she doesn't respond properly to the helm and clips the disabled fighter. sending one last shudder through the ship. The other figher, seeing his wingmen downed and the shipyard crippled turns away from the fight and jumps to warp a moment. While the sensors can't confirm, the viewscreen still shows him high tailing it away from the battle. It would seem the day is won.

Ghorev says, "Hiroshi, help our medic help herself. The rest of you help Mister Milosevic in bringing sensors back online." He motions with his phaser to the captives. "Hello there, gentlemen. Why don't we chat a little?"

Adansae attempts to right herself, but the resulting pain is enough to send her right back to her position on the floor. She rolls over to one side in order to brace against another attack while muttering darkly. The words being mouthed are quite likely unbecoming to a Starfleet officer.

GAME: Nilee contests his Systems Engineering/Sensors+A vs Challenging and Fails.

Takamura nods once to Ghorev as he rushes to kneel beside Adansae. He uses her own medical equipment to examine and assist the fallen counselor.

Green continues to receive, coordinate, allocate messages from ship and team. "Commander," she says, "The assault team is reporting seven pirates killed, twenty-three captured. They expect to add another ten killed or captured from the habita-" Right around then, Tay glances over her shoulder toward the Andorian boss, and finally notices the prisnoers in their midst. Especially the green one. She finishes, very evenly, waaaaaaaaay too evenly, her eyes on /that/ one, "Habitat area."

. o O Green thinks, "You little freaking bastard. Shoot at us, will you? Try to kill us in the midst of your evil doings? You'd best /pray/ to die at the Commander's hands, lest I get mine on you."

O'Rielly looks towards Adansae, but with Tak taking care of her, he looks to Green and then Ghorev. "Sir, should we download their databases?"

GAME: Milosevic contests his Systems Engineering+A vs Challenging and Marginally Succeeds.

Adansae grits out a grateful smile for Takamura as the man examines her arm. She winces in pain at the lightest touch, but doesn't attempt to pull away from his assistance.

Milosevic keeps lightly tapping the console, eyes squinting in concentration. He smiles, then looks up at Commander Ghorev. "I've got short range sensors back online. Long range is partially back, but will need more work back home. Shields steady at seventy percent, which the best I can do out here. Impulse is still down fifteen and will remain so until we can repair back at 419, Commander."

Nilee taps at the controls of his science station, grimacing at the results he gets, shaking his head, "Nothing..." he again stops short as the engineer pipes up, nodding, good. Something to work with now, his sensor data begins to scroll across the screen again.

GAME: Takamura contests his First Aid vs Moderate and Succeeds.

Takamura opens the medkit, pulling out the autosuture. "Hold still, Ensign," he tells Adansae. "I'll have this set for you in a minute." He then runs the tool over the injured arm.

Ghorev says, "Well, if the long range sensors are good enough to travel .... " He looks at the 'guests'. "... we might as well have this conversation at a later time. Mister Nilee, since O'Rielly is himself a little banged up, you can escort our captives below. The Klingons get the big prize of war, and will hold it until the salvage teams arrive to pick it apart. We'll do what we always do ... we'll get by." A short laugh as he settles back in his chair, still keeping his eye on the men. "Mister Lopez, confirm navigational sensors .... then take us home. Best speed."