1Lt Arturo Maxwell - Shield Shimmy
Iain Turnbull
(( Bridge, Deck 1, USS Octavia E. Butler ))
The last of the visiting ships had decided to charge towards them at a frankly alarming speed. It wasn't quite on a collision course, but it was close enough to be unnerving. Watching the distance shrink rapidly, Max kept one eye on the OEB's weapons and shield controls.
Arlill: Message is on it’s way.
Maxwell: No change tae speed or course.
Promontory: Some people just can’t take a hint. Let’s move out of his flight path, but don’t over do it. I’m curious to see what they do next.
Focusing on this tiny vessel, they weren't looking where they ought to be. And Max didn't need to voice his concerns, as the Intel officer in the big chair was clearly thinking the same thing.
Promontory: Have we heard back from the away team yet?
Arlil proceeded to slide the ship sideways, with no visible adjustment feom the other vessel.
Arlill: The situation down there is looking less than amicable. (beat) I’m trying to raise them on comms, no response yet, but we are receiving receipt confirmations.
Max raised an eyebrow, before opening a small panel on his console and retreiving an earbud. He placed it into his right ear.
Arlill: =/\= OEB to away team, please respond. (beat) OEB to away team, please provide an update on your status.=/\=
Pressing a finger against the earbud, Max focused on the comm-channel.
Maxwell: Nothing, sir. No even getting a return signal.
Promontory: Keep trying, I don’t want to raise shields if we need to beam down a marine troop.
Arlill: =/\= Approaching vessel, please stop your advancement, please confirm receipt. =/\=
Promontory: Max, get ready to raise shields.
Maxwell: Shields standing by, captain.
Arlill: If we do we lose the option to deploy the SARs team.
Promontory: We’re on one of the most advanced ships of the fleet, surely we can support our CO and avoid whatever is going on with this unknown vessel.
Arlill: I agree captain, it’s a tenable situation, but what options do we have with the information we’re facing? (beat) Can we really repel a potential threat while also attempting a rescue?
Maxwell: I can alter the displacement ae the shields. Its tricky, but if we keep the other ship tae our port side I can “flare” the starboard shields long enough tae have Ops beam the SARS crew away. ::He turned slightly in his seat.:: Or we've got the Type-17's?
Promontory: Yes, that’s the ticket. Send the Marines down in the Fledgling, one of the Type-17’s. As soon as they’re clear, we’ll engage with this… distraction.
Arlill: I’m ordering the Kindred to warm up in shuttlebay 1. (beat) It does look like there’s a storm brewing, might make for a rocky ride, but should mask their approach. I’ve got our best pilot assigned.
A few keystrokes later and Max spoke up.
Maxwell: SARS Team One en route tae the shuttle bay. ETA for assembly is three minutes.
Promontory: Great. Have them send us a report when they get to the surface. Meanwhile, raise shields and turn about to face that ‘wean.’
Key.
Maxwell: Shields, aye.
Arlill: Shuttle has orders to depart as soon as the SAR contingent is on board.
Maxwell: All weapons online, sir.
Promontory: Standby on weapons, we don’t want this to escalate, but we’re a big boat, just, y’know… look intimidating.
Max supposed they could always send a still-shot of his scarred face with an angry expression. It always seemed to work with junior Marines when they got a little too boisterous.
Maxwell: Aye, captain. Running the Type-10's at fifteen percent power. ::He cast a sly grin at Arlil.:: A direct hit will knock them about a wee bit, but willnae cause any serious damage.
Arlill: Repositioning the OEB to face the vessel.
As the OEB turned nose-on to the other vessel, Max shunted a small portion of power from other areas of the shield coverage to the bow. It was a little trick he'd picked up aboard the Narendra, essentially initiating a false power surge through the required shield emitters.
At almost the same instant as Max aqcuired his weapons lock, the OEB's external lights flared on in a blinding glare that illuminated the tiny vessel facing them. A comparitavely enormous ship slowly turning to face, followed by a target warning and the glare of those lights in rapid succession had Max imagining the air on the other ships bridge becoming rather unpleasant very quickly.
Maxwell: Adjusting shields.
Promontory: Response
Arlill: It appears the vessel has stopped it’s advance and is holding position.
Maxwell: Looks like somebody can take a wee hint after all. ::Beat.:: SARS Team stacked and ready. Shuttle standing by.
Promontory: Response
Maxwell: Flaring aft shields.
Arlill: All stations reporting in, ready for potential defense operations. (beat) Aaaaand it looks like the shuttle is away.
Maxwell: Aft shields steady. Sensors confirm shuttle is away.
Both eyes on the sensor readouts he watched as the shuttle heeled over sharply before “diving” towards the planet rapidly. For a moment Max felt a pang of regret that he wasn't on the away team.
But duty meant he was needed on the bridge, and there were plenty of other Marines more than capable of deploying.
Promontory/Arlil: Response
Maxwell: Shuttle has broken atmosphere, sir.
Promontory/Arlil: Response
Maxwell: Aye, she's no hanging about.
He had a good idea who was at the controls, and knew they would fly like the hounds of hell were on their tail. But having said that, the SARS Team would hit the ground in record time to support those already down.
Promontory/Arlil: Response
--
1st Lieutenant Arturo Maxwell.
Marine Officer, 4/73 Marines.
USS Octavia E Butler: NCC-82850.
O239311AM0