1stLT Kansz JoNz - There Is No Cake
Kansz JoNz
1stLT Kansz JoNz - There Is No Cake
(( Flight Deck - USS Talents – Tlugani Nebula ))
The clock was no longer ticking on the operation; it had stopped and they needed to move quickly as an unknown vessel had entered play. JoNz was busy prepping the computer systems of the Talent’s for as quick a bug out as the internals could manage, but kept an eye on the tactical readout of the extraction team. In the moment, however, there was the question of who the attackers actually were and why attack the freighter as they did.
JoNz: That style of attack - the cloaking, the incognito boarding party - sounds like some of the more radical factions of the Black Kris; they’re a pirate syndicate that have ties across several of the sectors.
The Colonel wasted no time in tooling up the patrolling air wing on the new development, moving towards a comm with precise movements.
Greaves: =/\= Valkyire Lead, this is Talents. We’ve got reports of a potential cloaked attack ship in the area. Yellow alert. Activate a tachyon grid and begin sweep pattern Beta-Six. =/\=
Valkyrie 1: =/\= Understood Talents. Give us thirty seconds and we’ll have the grid up. =/\=
Greaves: =/\= Perfect. Also, be advised, there are reports the attacker employed a cloaked boarding party. Keep your shields up. =/\=
Valkyrie 1: =/\= Aye aye sir. =/\=
JoNz kept one eye on the tactical display with the fighters; if Valkyrie Lead reported that the unknown ship sneezed incorrectly, she had to be quick and get the Talents out of there.
Greaves: Cloaked ship and personal cloaking… that’s some pretty advanced tech. I haven’t heard any reports of the Black Kris operating all the way out here. Really could be anybody.
The Cait kept one ear on the conversation between the civilian and her commanding officer; otherwise, her primary concern was the cockpit and its controls. She was a blur of concentrated and precise movements; tapping in commands to the inset keyboard that controlled ships comm systems, paws flipping switches where needed on the overhead control console. JoNz was in the zone, man!
Greaves: Captain, if your attackers destroyed all your cargo, how do you want us to help transport it?
Luriaa: Fortunately, they missed a crate of the serum, so we have some intact. It needs to be delivered to the planet to begin treatment, and so more can be made.
JoNz: It’s unusual for any raiders to destroy medical cargo as anything medical brings a fair amount of credit chits on the black market.
Greaves: Means its even less likely that these were pirates. Mercenaries maybe. Enemies of the UDP possibly. Or enemies of Guranis. (Pause, turning back to Luriaa) How progressed is this disease on Guranis?
Luriaa: We need to get it to them quickly.
Greaves: Lieutenant, what’d you find?
With a quick tap, the Cait finished up a mapped course.
JoNz: ::looks to Greaves:: Colonel, once we get our team back on board, I can get us to that planet faster than a Tellerite checking out a buffet.
And...the joke fell flat. Well, the Cait was no comedian apparently.
Greaves: Captain Luriaa, I need to know more about Guranis. What’s their technology level? Are they friendly? Will we be well received? I’m not putting this task force at risk without some intel on what we’re heading to.
Luriaa: Response
Woolheater: =/\= Talents actual? We found another survivor. Inside a special crate. Its own backup power. =/\=
Greaves: What in the hells?
He turned back to Luriaa, voice flattening into something colder.
Greaves: You didn’t say your medical supplies were people!
Luriaa: Response
The felinoid took a moment from her ministrations to eyeball the freighter captain.
Greaves: That’s not good enough. Explain.
JoNz: ::slight tail lash::
Kansas did not know Luriaa and as such withheld any kind of judgement. But - possibly - smuggling people for medical exploitation? That was a job even JoNz hadn’t ever taken during her, ah, exploratory years.
Luriaa: Response?
Valkyrie 1: =/\= Talents, this is Valkyrie lead. Valk 4 got a ping in the grid. Ship movement bearing 120, mark 040. At this range, and with this nebula interference we’re not getting it on sensors. Could be cloaked, or could just be the nebula. It’s heading toward your position. =/\=
Greaves: =/\= Good copy Lead. Close in on the Talents, close protection formation. We’re gonna expedite here. Keep that detection grid functional though. We can’t lose sight if they’re cloaked. =/\=
Valkyrie 1: =/\= Understood. Lead out. =/\=
Greaves: Lieutenant, let the boarding party know we’ve got inbound and get us ready to shove off.
JoNz: Aye Sir. =/\= Extract Team ::purring trill of concern in voice:: it’s time to move, we’ve got an unknown visitor in the area and I don’t think they’re bringing us a welcome to the neighborhood cake! =/\=
Woolheater: =/\= Understood. We are on our way! =/\= ::to himself:: I'd like to see how 'Mama Cee' computes THIS variable!
Luriaa: Response
Greaves: Care to explain more about this child Luriaa? I’m not helping you traffic people.
Luriaa: Response
JoNz: =/\= Acknowledged, Woolheater! =/\=
Luriaa: Response
JoNz: ::controlled tone/to Bridge:: Prepping to disengage the docking clamps; that incoming bogey is still a factor, Valkyries going steady..
Greaves: We’re much more ready for a fight than your freighter was, but I’d prefer to not go toe to toe with a technologically advanced invisible ship of unknown capability.
Ragh: ::angrily interrupting:: What is the meaning of the sick child we found aboard your ship?
Luriaa: Response
The marine pilot twitched an ear back at the angry outburst and made a mental note of the reason *why*, but did not spare a glance toward the commotion.
oO Not her circus, not her sehlats, not in command. Oo
Woolheater: Response
Greaves: Ensign Ragh-
Ragh: How did you not know? This child was being kept sick and barely breathing to produce the very serum you are delivering. On your ship!
Luriaa: Response
Greaves: Ragh, you’ve got three seconds to contain yourself or I’ll do it for you. Get back to your patients.
The Caitian dropped the Talents slightly to the left away from the crippled United Dominion of Planets freighter and Luriaa’s former command.
Luriaa/Woolheater: Response
Ragh: That is.. plausible. ::to Greaves:: Understood, Sir. I will be in the medbay.
Greaves: Sam, go with him and make sure he calms the hell down. JoNz, get us clear of this damn ship and get us back into the nebula to hide, shields up.
JoNz: ::out loud/Bridge area:: Aye Colonel, clearing off from the freighter. Permanent docking seal is unsuctioned, docking clamps pulling back in.
It was unnecessary for the Cait to repeat the order out loud, but that was how working operations kept control; JoNz manned the main communications node, ensuring the channels were open and secure and relaying or repeating requests where needed.
The secondary data feed on the bridge tactical scanner showcased the Valkyrie wing heading to guard their flank, effectively putting themselves between it and their homeship.
Woolheater: Response
Luriaa: Response
Greaves: We’ll talk it over en route. JoNz, get us moving toward Guranis as stealthily as possible. Luriaa, I need to know the full story on this disease and this child. Now.
Luriaa: Response
JoNz: ::open communications:: =/\= Hello all, this is your pilot speaking. We are currently underway and moving away from the freighter towards a new destination. Please hold onto your arses as I will be boo-yah-ing this craft out into the Black in an attempt to avoid an incoming bogey. Thank you for your time. = /\ =
Greaves/Ragh/Luriaa/Woolheater: Response
The Talent’s dropped down further and then executed a half-side dart maneuver, the thrusters straining to compensate for a move that was less for a runabout and more fighter craft. Fighter craft, cargo ship, runabout configuration? It didn’t matter to Kansz; she handled them all with a brazen skill that left no room for compromise. It was conversely both a problem - such as when she buzzed the tower at the I-Kiyo Ring - and a valuable skill set such as right now.
Greaves/Ragh/Luriaa/Woolheater: Response
(Tags/TBC! )
“You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you." - Ray Bradbury