[END ACT 1] Lt. Robin Hopper: By A Hair
Robin Hopper
((Bridge, USS Independence-B – Barossa Nebula, in pursuit of the Miombo))
A high-speed chase, through a benamite-rich nebula, towards a burgeoning quantum singularity had not been on Robin’s anticipated “to-do” list when she’d reviewed her plan for the day, over a veggie omelet, at her kitchen island that morning. Now, seated at her terminal on the Defiant-class Escort’s bridge, she reflected on how ‘routine’ her day was supposed to have been. Lab allocations, performance reviews, lunch in the SRC lounge… Those plans had all gone flying out the window.
She might have been intrigued by the novelty of it all – thrilled even, given the subject matter (after all, what Science Officer didn’t dream, at least a little, of the opportunity to explore such an under-researched phenomenon?) – were it not for the grounding knowledge that the three interdimensional ‘fugivities’ they were currently pursuing towards said singularity were their best hope of finding and recovering their own missing crewmates… and the fact that they seemed to have a death wish, by the way they were flying.
In fact, it was all she could do to suppress the feelings of panic that threatened to bubble to the surface as she watched the chaotic ‘ballet’ play out on her sensor readout. Every time the Miombo strayed uncomfortably close to one of the other little sensor blips she felt, and pushed down, the urge to cry out. But averting disaster meant they had to act quickly, decisively… There was no room for panic. Instead, she focused on what they could control.
Hopper: No response to attempted hails… Commander – we’re closing on them. They’ll be within phaser range in about twenty seconds. ::Shrugging:: Just in case you want options.
Her voice was as steady as she could manage, given the circumstances. It conveyed little, but not none, of the turmoil she felt within. The thought of firing on them, necessary as it might be, made her chest tighten…
Ukinix: =/\= Yosemite to Independence, ready transporters for locking on to all life signs on that shuttle once their shields are down. Target their shields. =/\=
Carter: =/\= Copy that, Commander!=/\=
As the communications cut out, John followed up with his own comment to Reade and Hopper.
Carter: I'll keep that in my back pocket, although I'd rather not blow them to bits or even fire a warning shot either.
((OOC – I am inserting a tag for myself here, since the next response doesn’t make sense otherwise.))
Hopper: ::Nodding in agreement:: The last thing we want to do is damage their shields right before they head into the singularity.
Reade: Good point, Robin.
She gritted her teeth, and looked back down at her console, looking for options that wouldn’t risk the likely destruction of the Miombo and subsequent deaths of everyone on board. However, their list of options was slim. At these speeds, and with shields raised, there wasn’t much they could safely accomplish. They needed to slow them down, lower their shields, or both.
Carter: Range to target?
Hopper: Just under 600,000 kilometers and closing… We’ve lucked out that the Miombo was undergoing maintenance on the nacelles. Their impulse drive is running less efficiently, or we wouldn’t be able to catch up to them without going to warp… We’ll be in range for weapons and transporters in about 6 seconds.
Of course, the use of the transporters would likely require the use of the weapons… She just hoped that, with the Miombo prepared for maintenance, its shields and hull plating weren’t compromised. If so, an errant phaser strike from the Defiant’s array could obliterate them – and their transporters likely wouldn’t be fast enough to save the crew.
Reade: =/\= Hey Ikaia! I am also going to swing the Indy in front of them. =/\=
Wong: =/\= Be careful, Reade. They’re a slippery bunch! I’m having a hard time keeping up with them! =/\=
Carter: Robin, prepare a tractor beam. If we have to we'll lock on and slow them down the hard way.
Hopper: ::Nervous half-smile:: Haaahhh… You got it!
If she hadn’t just completed her time serving as Acting First Officer of the Jemison she might have struggled to manage so many bridge operations simultaneously. As it was, she’d been drilling maneuvers like this only recently, and the movements were still fresh in her mind and muscle memory. Despite this, though, Ikaia’s words were proving true. They were “a slippery bunch”...
Hopper: Attempting to get a tractor lock, but they’re not using any of the standard evasive maneuvers… We’re having a hard time getting a lock at this distance.
Reade: Hold on, guys. I am going to attempt a falling leaf to land next to Ikaia.
Robin looked up from her console for a moment, a befuddled expression on her face.
oO A what? Oo
Carter: Allright, set it up. Robin, open a channel to Commander Ukinix.
Explanations would have to wait.
Hopper: ::Tapping comms:: Channel open…
Reade: =/\= Commander Ukinix, I may have a way to kill their ship dead in the air. When doing the upgrades a while back, me and Nathan had inserted a secure backdoor into the systems for testing; since the shuttles are in maintenance mode, I may be able to hack into it. With your permission. =/\=
In theory, that sounded like an excellent idea – exactly what they were looking for… But hacking into a shuttle while it was mid-flight through an asteroid field was not without its own risks. They may be able to safely bring it to a standstill… But during the moments between the other crew losing control and Reade gaining control, a lot could go wrong.
Ukinix: =/\= Acknowledged, Lieutenant, put option that on standby, we need as many options as we can. =/\=
Wong: =/\=Whatever option we’re taking, it had better be soon. I don’t think we can hold them off forever!=/\=
Iovianus: =/\= Response? =/\=
Reade: =/\= Understood, I will have that option ready if needed. =/\=
Ukinix: =/\= Remember there’s two Starfleet officers on board, at the very least we need their safe return. =/\=
Robin chewed her lip absent-mindedly as she pondered the option… If they could ensure it was done safely…
Wong: =/\=So that makes it three things - stopping the shuttle, rescuing our people and sending these other siders back to their home universe.=/\=
Hopper: =/\= Make that four, Ikaia… Considering that’s where they’re heading, I think we’ll be escorting them back there personally if we want to find the Targhee… =/\=
Iovianus: =/\= Response? =/\=
Reade: =/\= Hopefully, it does not come to that. =/\=
Wong: =/\= I’m hoping for a positive outcome myself… =/\=
Iovianus: =/\= Response =/\=
Carter: =/\= Roger that, Commander...=/\=
Ukinix: =/\= Righto, sounds like a plan. Ukinix out. =/\=
As she closed the commline once again, Robin hardly felt better about things. It seemed like each time a possible resolution was introduced, some new complication wrinkled itself into existence. A beeping sound from her console confirmed her suspicion… another complication was wrinkling at that very moment.
Hopper: Aaannnd it looks like they’re preparing to go to warp. ::Shaking her head:: They’re desperate. Trying to warp towards the singularity could tear them to pieces…
Carter: How long before they jump to warp?
Hopper: Any second now.
Carter: Range to target?
Reade: Response
Now they were getting desperate too. John gave the only order that made any sense to Robin. The Indy, half-prepared as it was, still stood a better chance at surviving a warp-speed tumble into the quantum singularity than the Miombo did.
Carter: STAY WITH THEM!
Reade: Response
She watched in consternation as the Miombo jumped to warp – but blinked away her dismayed feelings in an instant when she saw that they’d changed course… away from the singularity.
Sighing aloud, she verbalized what they were probably all thinking.
Hopper: Oh thank god.
And a moment later, the Independence leapt to warp speed in pursuit, with the Yosemite just a hair ahead of them. The Indy’s warp engines were more powerful, but the Talons had a momentary head-start. They’d catch up to them in just a moment.
Reade/Carter: Response
They were now within close enough range to see, on their viewscreen, the warp bubbles of the Miombo and Yosemite begin to converge as the two shuttles inched closer and closer at maximum warp – it was hardly standard procedure. Robin’s mouth hung open for a moment as she watched their maneuver, before breaking the momentary silence.
Hopper: Holy crap… are you both seeing this?
Reade/Carter: Response
A second later, and the Yosemite fired on the Miombo’s nacelles, both ships wavering and then tumbling out of warp. The Indy, in hot pursuit, barely avoided plowing directly into them both before dropping out of warp itself, in a far more controlled manner.
Robin immediately searched her sensors for sign of both shuttles, hoping beyond hope that two transponders were still visible. Sure enough, she spotted them… The Miombo was already turning on the Yosemite and firing.
oO These people don’t know when to quit! Oo
Hopper: Scotty – they’re no longer at warp. Recommend implementing your hack now.
Reade/Carter: Response
It didn’t take long for Scotty’s ‘back door’ to do the trick. She watched with relief on her monitor as the ship slowed to a stop, its shields dropping.
Hopper: I’ve got a transporter lock on all five lifesigns, Commander. Permission to beam our fugitives to the brig and our own people to sickbay?
Carter: Response
Hopper: ::Tapping:: Energizing…
Ukinix: =/\= Ukinix to Independence. You have them? =/\=
Robin practically slapped the communications line open.
Hopper: =/\= YES! ::Clearing her throat:: Ahem, uhh, yes. Yes, we’ve got them. All five. =/\=
Ukinix: =/\= Nice work. Prepare to beam over Cassian in a tick. =/\=
Carter: =/\= Response =/\=
As she readied to transport over the Chief of Security, Robin felt the tension that was keeping her upright begin to fade. It was if she’d been a balloon filled with adrenaline and now, as it all drained away, she began to slump in relief.
Hopper: ::Sighing:: I’ve got a lock on Commander Iovianus, Commander. You might want to meet him in the brig.
Carter: Response
Hopper: I need to attend to their hostages, now in sickbay. I’ve activated the EMH, but I don’t trust that Mark VII goofball… They’re your people after all… Unless you need him with you in the Brig, Commander?
Reade/Carter: Response
Robin nodded, then stood from her console and began heading for the Indy’s sickbay. She tapped her combadge as she walked, not waiting to see if Scotty was on her heels or not.
Hopper: =/\= Hopper to Wong… We’ve got injured in sickbay over here. I’m on my way now. If the Yosemite can spare you, I’d appreciate the CMO’s help. =/\=
Wong: =/\= Response? =/\=
Reade/Carter/Wong/Ukinix: Responses?
((OOC – I think this brings us to a reasonable close on Act 1 for these folks, leading to a time-jump into Act 2. That said, if anyone wants to continue to sim a little more here, just keep tagging me and I’ll pick them up.))
END Act 1 for Hopper
