Maj. Didrik Stennes — Holy Miriam Margolyes
Yogan Yalu
(( Bridge, Deck 1, CIC Desdemona ))
Dakora's shuttlepod, awkwardly named Don Pedro, had ignored Didrik’s threatening over the comm. The mock rebels’ silence implied their refusal to surrender. It was all for show, but it worked. The Shint warcruiser approached just as they expected it would. It was time to steal a prismagon or die trying, girl.
MacKenzie: All hands to battle stations.
Adea: And whilst you’re at it, it might be worth putting your head between your legs…
Olivera: May I ask why Colonel?
Didrik chewed on his lip. When it came to Genkos Adea, it was always better not to ask why he said the things he said. Didrik and the lieutenant colonel didn’t have much in common except for a smoldering, low-key dislike of Didrik.
MacKenzie / Kader: response
Adea: ::softly:: And kissing your arse goodbye.
Stennes: Yup.
As Desdemona got into position, there was little they could do but wait. The barely operational viewscreen was an unreliable narrator if there ever was one. Didrik came to rely on the beeps and boops of the bridge’s various control panels instead. Proximity alarms made a high-pitched trill, while weapons launchers made a lower, more resounding boop. After a quarter century in the business, his ears had become just as sharply attuned to the status of a space battle as his eyes.
Olivera: I have them. Permission to open fire.
Kader: response
Didrik raised an eyebrow, impressed and surprised in equal measures at Olivera’s asking for permission before firing. Didrik had never known a Commonwealth Interstellar Cruiser that wasn’t constantly on the verge of being Shinted out of the sky. The trappings of protocol and the chain of command were often more unexpected than de rigeur. Of course, Olivera’s request was almost certainly a formality. Didrik glanced over at MacKenzie in time for her to respond.
MacKenzie: response
Adea: May your aim be true. But not too true.
Yellir: Just please don’t hit the nacelles.
Didrik’s eyes locked on Vik’s hands as they moved across the tactical controls. There were few officers left in the Commonwealth Fleet who had Vik’s expertise with a ship’s offensive systems. There was no question he would hit the target.
Olivera: Direct hit.
Adea: Nicely done.
It wasn’t over yet. The next phase of their plan still had to go off without a hitch. Another set of alarms went off and Didrik’s gaze snapped across the bridge, from Vik’s handiwork to the engineering stations.
Yellir: Detecting multiple power signatures— ::looking to Kuva:: can you confirm?
Kuva: Indeed, Captain—it is the Shint; A lone cruiser, though they seem to be scrambling fighters. Rerouting sen-sor readouts to Captain Olivera now.
Stennes: If Don Pedro’s prismic shields are working, the Shint should read them as dead.
If. Didrik trusted that Romeo would put everything in motion at just the right time. But he just didn’t trust that Edo mediator. She'd just as likely mediate her own release in exchange for a ship full of Commonwealth officers.
MacKenzie / Kader: response
Olivera: Confirmed, three Shint fighters on an intercept course to the Don Pedro.
Crumbs. Desdemona had to intervene. They couldn’t allow the Shint to get to Don Pedro first.
Adea: Do we shoot them down, or just lay down some suppressing fire?
Yellir: Wait wait— let's see how they react first, are they taking the bait?
Kuva: If we wait too long, the Shint will realize something is amiss.
MacKenzie / Olivera / Kader: response
Adea: They’re just suggestions - I’m a doctor, not a laser…firing…guy.
MacKenzie / Olivera / Kader: response
Stennes: What do you think, Captain Yellir? Is it too risky?
Yellir: Meeting them with our own fighters is probably a better idea— I’m worried we might hit the shuttle
Yellir’s idea was sound, and Didrik knew just the right people for the job. He was halfway to the bridge doors before Yellir had even finished speaking.
Kuva: And the Shint cruiser is in range of our point defense cannons. My sen-sors are picking up a massive spike in energy, so they must be preparing an attack of their own.
Stennes: Adea, Kader, you’re with me. Let’s level the playing field and match fighters with fighters. ::to Yellir:: Tell the air group to get ready, Captain. We’ll be down in the fighter bays in 30 seconds.
Adea / MacKenzie / Olivera / Kader: response
Yellir: Confirmed, preparing fighter bays for launch.
Kuva: Broadside cannons ready to fire. Missile tubes 1, 2, 6 and 8 loaded and also ready to fire. Shint energy continues to spike rapidly.
Adea / MacKenzie / Olivera / Kader: Response
(( Fighter Craft Nurse, Space — a few moments later ))
Didrik grunted at the G-forces acting on his body as Nurse spun obliquely toward their Shint counterparts. He’d barely had time to strap in when the be depressurized and the fighters launched, but the disorientation
Stennes: ::to Adea:: Can’t say you’re not a laser firing guy anymore, doctor. ::tap tap:: Target acquired. Locking on.
Adea / Kader: response
Didrik struggled with the locking relay and left it in a state of perpetual float, reducing its lag time at the expense of accuracy. In the meantime, the hull rumbled and shook as Nurse barely dodged some Shint cannon fire.
Stennes: We can’t let the Shint get to Don Pedro. Major Dakora’s team has to get aboard the warcruiser, whatever it takes.
Adea / Kader: response
Stennes: Fire!
Adea / Kader: response
Tag / TBC
Major Didrik Stennes
Acting Executive Officer
CIC Desdemona RNS-601
D238804DS0