Commander Serala: Cry Havoc And Let Loose the Dogs of War
Serala
(( Bridge, Deck 3 - Primary Hull, USS Chin’toka ))
Serala stepped out of the Ready Room, the others close behind. It was eerie how quiet the bridge was with no one on board and the stations all dark. She moved to her seat in the center and stood facing the darkened viewscreen.
Serala: Computer. Release emergency lockout procedures on the bridge. Authorized access limited to myself, First Officer Lieutenant Commander Aine Sherlock, Tactical Officer Daniel McGillian, and Helm Officer Lieutenant Neshala. No other access is authorized to command functions from any station throughout the ship. However, retain engineering functions for Lieutenant Xiron, Ensign Is’Kah, and Lieutenant Commander Ilsam in Engineering. Secure all turbolifts and deactivate all transporters.
The computer beeped after each order and the bridge came to life, the panels lighting up and the routine sounds resuming.
Serala: Alright, we have our work cut out for us. Let’s get to it.
Sherlock: Looks like our power availability hasn't changed much. We'll see if they can get us more.
Neshala had already moved to the helm and was accessing the controls. Serala could feel her work as the ship finally righted itself. On the viewscreen, she could see the battle against Earth Spacedock. It was not going well, but there appeared to be a few ships still resisting, along with the Titan. Among those, she was able to pick out the Astraeus which seemed to be attempting to assist the Starbase. The Titan was continuing its attacks against the fleet, and nearby the Kitty Hawk and the Artemis seemed to be facing off. Serala could only assume that one of them had been assimilated while the other was still resisting.
Serala: Neshala, set course for Spacedock. Let’s try and draw some fire from them to help the Astraeus with the evacuation. McGillian, target enemy vessels. Shoot to disable only. These are still Starfleet vessels and I hope Admiral Picard can find a way to save them eventually. We just need to buy them some time. Sherlock, find me that signal.
Sherlock: On it. ::tapping her combadge:: =/\= Sherlock to Engineering. I'm scanning for a signal from the Borg. We're going to need you to work some magic down there. =/\=
While the First Officer was talking to Engineering, Serala focused on the battle. McGillian made a report from behind her and she turned to face him.
McGillian: Captain, we have 3 crewmen and a Chief in the Mission Pod. ::Looks up and Smiles:: They've secured the Mission Pod and are loading torpedoes.
Neshala: Aye, Captain. Setting course for Earth Spacedock. Shields are raised and fully functioning at this time.
Any Engineering: =/\= Responses =/\=
Serala: =/\= Good work on the engines. But we’re out of time. Spacedock has less than ten minutes left. I need to get this ship back from the Borg, so let’s find that signal and alter the shield frequencies to block it. =/\=
Any Engineering: =/\= Responses =/\=
McGillian: All phaser banks online, torpedoes loading in the Mission Pod.
Sherlock: =/\= Tai, I've found a signal. Sending the frequency to you now. See if you can adjust the shields to resonate at that frequency. =/\=
Sherlock: =/\= We need you to hurry down there. =/\=
McGillian fired their weapons and she watched as several phasers streaked out to tear down the shields of a nearby Constellation-class starship. As soon as the shields went down, McGillian fired a single photon torpedo, striking the ship’s starboard nacelle and disabling the ship.
Serala: Well done, Ensign. But remember to conserve our limited supply of torpedoes. There’s a whole fleet out there.
Ilsam(engineering): =/\= Response =/\=
McGillian: We’ve got their attention, multiple weapons locking onto us! Rerouting phasers to target incoming proton torpedoes.
Sherlock: =/\= Pull power from non-essential areas! We need to keep power to the shields! =/\=
Ilsam(engineering): =/\= Response =/\=
McGillian: Captain, if we can manage to do micro jumps into and out of warp between our attack runs, we might be able to disrupt their targeting!
Before she could reply, several red flashes from nearby starships indicated torpedo launch, and the torpedoes all began to streak toward them.
Serala: Neshala, evasive maneuvers, Delta Five. Engage.
Neshala: Delta Five, aye, Captain.
Sherlock: Brace for impact!
Neshala managed to turn the ship just enough to ensure that they took a glancing blow on their shields, but the amount of hits still managed to do a number on them, and some of the impact caused a nearby power conduit to rupture, sending a shower of sparks into the bridge.
Serala: Good job, Lieutenant. But turn faster, next time. We can’t take too many more of those.
Neshala: Understood, Captain.
Sherlock: =/\= Engineering! Crank up the core, I don't care if it's safe or not, we don't have time to wait! =/\=
Ilsam/Is'Kah/Xiron (one or all): =/\= Response =/\=
Sherlock: It's going to be close, Captain. Neshala, keep us moving, we can't afford to take much more. If we lose the shields this will be all for nought.
Neshala: Yes, yes, Commanders. I’m on it.
Despite the gravity of the situation, and the apparent snippy response from the normally cordial Orion, Serala was able to see what appeared to be a massive grin on the woman’s face.
oO I’m glad someone’s having fun! Pfft, come on. If you weren’t the Captain right now, you’d be having fun too. Admit it. Oo
Serala: Get those shields back up. McGillian, prepare another volley. Neshala, bring us around for another target.
McGillian: Response
Sherlock: =/\= Status on blocking that frequency! =/\=
Ilsam/Is'Kah/Xiron (one or all): =/\= Response =/\=
Brodie: =/\= Brodie to Bridge. It looks like Stapledon and Doucet have freed themselves from sickbay…so I think we can rule out the effectiveness of…::cough::…Anesthezine gas. =/\=
Serala: =/\= Understood, Counselor. How are Doctor Kel and Nurse Rox?=/\=
Brodie: =/\= Those two are bunkered in the science labs for now…::cough::…and hopefully working on something positive. I’m packing some medical kits so we have some more options but it’s a mess down here… =/\=
Serala: =/\= We’re short handed at the moment, Counselor, but I could send some security people down there to assist them. =/\=
Brodie: =/\= Sickbay is, let’s be honest, of little tactical importance given the levels of aggression we’re encountering. Speaking of which…what was that bang and shudder earlier? =/\=
Serala: =/\= The Borg that were on the bridge, and that we beamed to the brig, somehow detonated an explosive device and managed to escape. We suspect injuries, possibly worse. And given the situation, we need medical. See what you can do to secure medical. Also, our deflector array also seems to be out of order and you’re very close. Can you go down and make an assessment, possibly get it back online? =/\=
Brodie: =/\= I mean…I’m not an engineer…but I understand we can’t unsecure sections or we’ll lose what we have. I’ll take a look and report back. =/\=
Serala: =/\= Very good, Counselor. I don’t have any security personnel to assist you, so be careful. Serala out. =/\=
Brodie: =/\= Okay…understood. Brodie out. =/\=
Serala had gotten off the comms with the Counselor, but she’d been paying attention to the battle at the same time. Between McGillian and Neshala, they were doing a surprisingly good job and hit-and-run tactics, and the ship had only taken a couple more minor hits to the shields. It wasn’t going to last, but she was going to take whatever she could.
Neshala: Captain, I am receiving a transmission from the Astraeus. It’s Captain Delano, ma’am.
Serala smiled like the Cheshire Cat and sat upright - well, more upright than her already ramrod straight posture - and nodded.