MSNPC Assistant Manager Tarlzoc - Outfoxed
Laria Herren
((Command Center - Level 1, LAS Prenskeel))
As the first few phaser hits and a photon torpedo struck the Prenskeel. The cruiser shook. But Tarlzoc remained on their base rather than falling over, only slightly readjusting the grip on the tactical controls. Their ship was far outmatched by the Starfleet opponent and would not last long in an open firefight. Thankfully, the ship was much more agile than the enemy and could hopefully avoid some of the fire.
Nelspur: Helm, evasive maneuvers pattern Lisk.
A high-pitched whine came from the console as a second signature appeared. Another Galaxy-class.
Tarlzoc: Wait, there is a second Galaxy-class on sensors.
Nelspur: I see it. How did our sensors miss it until now?
Tarlzoc hypothesized potential explanations. Their leading theory was some kind of trickery, a sensor ghost of some kind. A pinpoint warp jump in a fraction of a second leaving a beacon in their place could explain the duplicate ship. Sensor intrusion was a possibility, but Tarlzoc dismissed the possibility that the carbon-based lifeforms could fool their sensors. And there was no sign of any intrusive interference with their systems.
They had to make a split-second decision. Which ship to attack. Sure, they could wait for confirmation of which was which. But Tarlzoc was not keen to sit there and wait for one of the two sensor blips to fire at them. Tholians and Sheliak were to be on the offensive. And the ship moving in to flank them seemed like the real thing with the sensor ghost in the original position being there in hopes that they would not adjust their aim to the new target.
Tarlzoc: One is approaching off of our starboard flank. It could be a pinpoint warp jump and a sensor shadow in their previous position. They’re coming around to attack position! We should fly in close and make a strafing attack run as we disengage.
Even if it was the decoy, such an approach would still give them the opportunity to leverage their superior speed to avoid the enemy. And they would find out if it was more than a sensor ghost soon enough.
Nelspur: Do it. Helm, fly us in.
Tarlzoc: Targets ready.
Nelspur: Fire at will.
Tarlzoc fired, aiming a large spread of torpedoes and tetryon array beams at the Galaxy-class starship that was closing in. Not that they needed to do much. The sensors did most of the work in picking out targets. But after they fired, something was wrong. No detonations from the torpedoes showed up on the display. Something was wrong. The Starfleet ship rammed them, with a large section of the sensor image overlapping the Prenskeel. But nothing happened. It wasn’t real. Which meant.
Tarlzoc: Brace for impact!
A shuttle’s warp core breaching in close proximity was extremely dangerous. Tarlzoc was glad that their shields kept them from being entirely torn apart by the force of the explosion.
Nelspur: Hmph. It was a shuttle. What are our shields at Tarlzoc?
Tarlzoc: One fifth total output. We have suffered extensive damage.
Curse those Starfleet and their deceitful ingenuity.
Nelspur: =/\= Flight One, update. =/\=
Flight One: =/\= Web at 30.43% complete. =/\=
The Tholian web was beginning to form. However, the tactical calculus had changed. Tarlzoc doubted that, if things continued as they were going, they would be destroyed long before the web was complete and they could attack the Starfleet vessel.
Nelspur: ::to Tarlzoc:: How much longer can we hold out for against the Constitution in our current state?
Tarlzoc looked across the tactical display to give a concise and accurate summary of their state.
Tarlzoc: Primary weapon array is down. Torpedo inventory is limited. I estimate our probability of destruction at 87.4% if we continue to engage.
Nelspur: Response
Tarlzoc: Commander, primary mission has been accomplished. The station has suffered heavy damage and will require weeks or months to bring back to full capacity.
Hermes Station had seen its communication arrays and sensor platforms mostly destroyed or severely damaged. And their latest gambit had likely killed many of its crew. Starfleet would be much less knowledgeable about movements in the region for some time. They’d accomplished what they set out to do, even if the base was still partially intact.
Nelspur: Response
Tarlzoc: With our systems as compromised as they are, the Constitution is a formidable opponent. I would recommend all ships makes for friendly territory at best speed. I calculate a 96% probability that the Starfleet ship will not give chase.
Already, they didn’t fancy Flight Two’s chances of getting away. But it was quite clear that Starfleet would stop to save their destroyed station rather than chase them down.
Nelspur: Response
Tarlzoc: This is only the beginning. There will be time enough at a later date when we no longer must operate in the guise of pirates.
Tarlzoc knew the correction was coming. But they couldn’t help it. Precision of language was important and they felt little need to fully embrace the cover when they were on their own aboard the Prenskeel.
Nelspur: Response
Assistant Manager Tarlzoc
Tactical Chief
LAS Prenskeel
===as simmed by===
Lieutenant Commander Laria Herren
Mission Specialist/Second Officer
USS Constitution-B
A239402AG0