[sb118-butler] Lieutenant. J.G. Alex Forsyth - A Warning Shot.

[Robert Forsyth]

(( Bridge, Deck 1, USS Octavia E. Butler. )) 

Forsyth: Ma’am, permission to ready weapons?

Katsim: Still on course toward us, though at an angle. 

Alex checked her screen to see the pirate ship heading in what she could only describe as an attack vector, which did not seem to be targeting any specific part of the Butler. It was still difficult to get a clear scan of them or what kind of firepower it was packing.

Rouiancet: I would rather not fire on them (beat) but we'll make it clear that we could. Lieutenant, arm weapons systems and target that vessel. Make the target lock very obvious. But don't fire unless they fire first.

She assumed it was a hit-and-run tactic, just enough to provoke them. They obviously never went up against a Sagan-class explorer before, or they would know it was a very bad idea.

oO no one told them never to poke the hornet nest… Oo

Katsim: Sir…I think they’re going to…

The Butler shook as the other vessel opened fire, making the bridge shudder like a branch in a gale. Alex watched as the pirates wooshed past, narrowly missing the port nacelle. They were reckless, that was for sure. She checked the damage report but found none, only a slight decrease in shield strength.

oO Looks like they forgot to upgrade their weapons, amateurs…. Oo

Alex knew it was only a warning shot, and the next run would be a lot more aggressive. It would only take a few more well-placed hits before the Black kites started weakening the shields, but that is if they let them.

Rouiancet: Return fire. Aim to incapacitate them, if you can.

Forsyth: Aye, ma’am.  :: Low Voice. :: now for the Hornets to strike back..

Katsim: They’re coming around again, Captain.  

The tactical officer brought phasers online and quickly targeted the pirate vessel, as it made its second attack run.

Forsyth: Weapons lock, firing!

She watched as the orange beam struck the pirate vessel, causing it to explode in one hit, engulfing the vessel in the explosion. Alex was caught off guard by it, and double-checked her phaser output to see if she had put it to the lowest setting.

Rouiancet: We didn't hit them that hard! Any life signs?

The Captain looked to Forsyth for confirmation, but Alex could only shake her head as she scanned for survivors. 

Forsyth: I….I’m not reading any life signs, cap’n. It shouldn’t have done that much damage, I-I swear! 

The Tactical officer had only meant to swat them away, make them think twice about attacking the Butler. She did not mean to kill them, just to scare them. 

Katsim: Responses

Rouiancet: Right, that should not have resulted in an engine collapse, even if we were firing on a shuttle. Something else was going on. (to Forsyth) That wasn't your fault.

But it was her fault; she should have double or even triple-checked for anything wrong with the pirate vessels before opening fire, even with the interference getting in the way.

Forsyth: I…

Katsim: Responses

Irari: Captain, the Sweet Charlotte just jumped to warp. Vector is indeterminate, but the new cone of probability includes the Argratha system.

Alex had not even noticed that Captain Ives's ship had left, and was still recovering from the shock of what had happened. She took a deep breath, reaching for her combadge for support. 

Rouiancet: Lay in a pursuit course that tracks them as directly as possible and engage at matching speed.

Irari: Aye, Captain

Forsyth: R-Right…. 

She needed to focus, as the crew was counting on her. Alex ran a quick diagnostic scan of the weapons system to check for any issues with the output, but she was sure they were set to a low level.  

The scan showed that everything was working as it should, and checking the logs showed that only she had done any real recalibrations to the phasers.   

Katsim: Responses

Forsyth: I'm alright, maybe…

Rouiancet/Katsim: Response

Forsyth: I’ll need to run a full system-wide diagnostic with engineering to check for any issues, but everything looks clear so far.

There was a chance that the pirate vessel was just poorly maintained, and Alex just landed a lucky shot. It still did not make her feel any better, but it was a start at least.

Rouiancet/Katsim: Response

Tag/TBC

_________________________________________________ 

Lieutenant. J.G. Alex Forsyth

Tactical

USS Octavia E. Butler

D239910AF1