Commander Ash MacKenna - One Pebble Becomes Many

[Marissa Jeffrey]

((Ops, Deck One, Central Module, Deep Space Thirty Three))

Stergis:  You can link in there, Commanders.  ::She gestured towards the panoramic viewscreen which dominated one wall up to the peak of the arched ceiling.::  We're also getting a real time tactical updates from Major Singh's defense screen.  You'll have a front row seat to our sensor readings as they come in.  

Ash nodded in appreciation and moved to the mentioned station. Setting up in her particular manner, she half sat, half stood with one foot on the floor and her other tucked up under her on the chair as she logged in. It took longer than a typical log in, but once the networked intel systems recognized her, the data began to flow.

MacKenna: Thank you commander.

She genuinely meant it, particularly given their history. Still, she was going to be a bit gun-shy bringing up any of the inevitably lacking defenses. That was, unless the ambassador had changed his stance since her last visit.

Raga: The docking ports are the easiest egresses to the station as long as the shields hold, so I plan to reinforce those areas and focus most of our defense there while keeping enough smaller teams on hand that can remain mobile and react to any threats as needed. Especially critical areas. But we’ll go wherever you need us most.

Falling quiet, she watched what was scrolling across her screen with one eye and kept the other, proverbially, on the giant screen.

Stergis:  Your preparations look good, Commander Raga, for what it's worth...I'm still not convinced the Alliance would bother with a boarding action.  My people are focusing on evacuating what civilians we can while others have decided to stay and shelter in place.  ::She shifted her attention and crossed her arms::  Commander MacKenna, explain to me again why you don't think the Alliance will just blow us out of space?  

Without turning or looking at either of the other commanders in the room, Ash shrugged slightly, only then glancing back at the first officer from the Ronin. 

MacKenna: They may, but we should be prepared for anything.

That didn't seem to be quite the answer any of them were looking for, but it was an answer nonetheless. Ash seemed to have a knack for giving Stergis the answers she wasn't wanting or seeking.

Raga: Very well, we’ll handle the defenses while you handle the evacuation. My crew has unfortunately had to repel boarders a lot recently so they’ll be up to the task of holding our ground as long as needs be. ::To both women:: We’ve got your backs, so do what you need to do.

Stergis:  I appreciate that, Commander.  Commanders.  I'm just not confident about this stations ability to withstand a full blown assault.  If your ships aren't careful out there they could draw more trouble on us then we can handle.  

Raga: You make it sound like the station doesn’t have its own defenses? ::His voice ladened with concern::

This was what Ash already knew and had been concerned about. She had made mention of it early on, which was apparently a sore spot for the commander of the station given the way the ambassador had all but tied her hands behind her back and blindfolded her while putting the safety of the station on her shoulders.

MacKenna: Not what it should.

Even without looking, Ash could almost feel the woman tense up. It was clear that this was still just as much a point of contention as it had always been.

Stergis:  The Ambassador felt that defensive systems of any kind aboard this station would be a barrier to his mission.  He wanted to prove that we could all just sit down and talk it out and that phasers and shields simply got in the way.  So he has fought tooth and nail to keep this station's defensive systems to an absolute minimum.  Our shields are standard for a station this size but we've got minimal phaser coverage and less than a hundred torpedoes...total.  If the Alliance shows up here in force....

But at this point, what could they do?

Raga: An admirable if foolish effort considering we’re at the far edge of Federation space where many aren’t as noble. We’ll make due. We have a considerable number of our runabouts, fighters and shuttles from the Ronin. It’s not the best screen we can muster but it will have to do.

MacKenna: And I've got some information that can help us use those things more strategically.

The work the fleet had been doing on the Tholian border, and the run ins the Ronin had already had with LA ships garnered some good intel, even if some of it was yet unconfirmed. In cases like this, something was better than nothing.

Stergis: Response?

Raga: To your point then Commander Stergis, I doubt this station will be able to hold against an assault without the Ronin and Khitomer. But we’ll hold as long as we need for an evac and should the worst case scenario occur, we scuttle the station. Better to deny them the foothold, which is likely the only reason they’d make a boarding attempt in my estimation. The Alliance doesn’t take prisoners.

The redheaded intelligence officer did her best not to let her mind run off with her, but silently she sent her love into the void after the captain she knew was chasing the very ships they were trying to fortify against.

MacKenna: This is just another resource for them. 

Stergis: Response?

Raga: We’ll make them work for every meter. To that end I’ve had my people placing independent sensors and transporter inhibitors in the tubes and other places close to the most likely targets for sabotage, including near the Command Center and our FOP in Warrior Sports. Just in case the shields fail and they can beam in, hopefully it will buy us time to respond before they can do any severe damage.

At this point, Ash turned slightly.

MacKenna: I've got some tactical notes from the Tholian border as well that I am feeding to your tactical station and the pilot in command outside.

Stergis: Response?

Still turned slightly, she moved to offer the first officer of the Ronin a rare, but well-deserved look.

MacKenna: Good luck commander. 

Before he could step away, however, there was another voice that joined the fray.

Valo: Commander Raga?

Raga: Response

The man dropped his bag, and though Ash did not turn to look, she could almost feel him standing at attention.

Valo: Aye. Ensign Cecil Valo, reporting for duty.

Ash spoke under her breath.

MacKenna: Heck of a time...

Raga/Stergis: Response

The others had offered him far more important information.

Valo: Sounds like someone better issue me a weapon then.

Raga/Stergis: Response

A chirp from her station alerted her to an incoming encrypted packet, apparently from the Khitomer. While not networked to anything, the intel computer aboard was able to send messages when radio silence wasn't demanded. This was such a case. Ash took a deep breath. 

MacKenna: The Ronin and Khitomer have engaged the Lattice Alliance. The avalanche has begun.

Raga/Stergis: Responses?

And now it was far too late for the pebbles to vote.

TAG/TBC

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Commander Ash MacKenna

Chief Intelligence Officer

USS Khitomer

R238605KN0