Lt. JG T’Fearne - Impending Flashpoint
Teayl Thorn
((Bridge, Deck 3, USS Ronin))
T’Fearne straightened, unconsciously rising onto her toes again.
T'Fearne: If they value the base or its research, they won’t risk destroying it outright. They would have to send a force to the surface to eliminate or capture our people and secure any projects or data. ::highlighting an area above the base one the screen:: If we position ourselves tactically between their ship and the moon base, they may hesitate to fire on us for caution of hitting the moon base.
The highlighted region brushed dangerously close to the radiation plume venting from The Lid. Even on the display it made her youthful skin prickle, a phantom echo of what that radiation had already done to her.
Kel settled back into the command seat.
Kel: Move us to 100km above the habitat module. Keep us clear of the radiation stream coming from the lid.
Wren: We’re almost in position, sir.
The Ronin shifted, descending into the moon’s thin atmosphere in a careful, deliberate arc to above the habitat base. The deck hummed faintly beneath T’Fearne’s boots. She steadied herself with fingertips against the console.
Nicolau: Response
Before they could resume contact with the Alliance vessel, the ship's internal comm snapped to life.
tr’Kharis: ::clipped, cool tone, almost matter-of-fact:: =/\= This is Administrator tr’Kharis to this vessel's security! You are about to have a Tholian intruder onboard at my present location. Reinforcements would be… prudent. =/\=
V'Len's eyes went wide and he hurried to tap his combadge.
Kel: =/\= Security! Intruder alert in the transporter room ::glancing at his data screen:: Deck 6. =/\=
T’Fearne was already moving. She took half a step toward the turbolift before she caught herself. Her boot scraped lightly against the deck as she stopped, forced a breath, and turned back to her station.
For a split second the memory of her final tactical simulation at the Academy flared sharp and uncomfortable.The moment the training ship had reported boarders and the surge of protective instinct she had felt that pulled her from her tactical position to join the hunt for intruders. She had almost failed that evaluation, not for lack of courage but for lack of discipline in leaving her station. This was that lesson repeating itself. Other security officers would handle the internal threat, she had to keep her eyes and her phasers pointed at the larger threat, the Alliance ship.
T'Fearne: oO Keep your focus, Fea. If you ever want to move into Tactical, don’t mess this up. Oo ::gripping the console to lock herself in place:: Internal sensors confirm unauthorized transport signature. I’m remotely sealing the Transporter room now until armed security teams can arrive.
Nicolau: Response
Kel: Ensign Wren any new information from our probe?
Wren: I’m not- ::noticing a change:: Yes, they’ve activated their transporter, we might want to tell our team on the ground to expect visitors soon.
Morrow: =/\= You called me Cap… =/\=
T’Fearne tapped her console.
T’Fearne: =/\= Lieutenant Morrow, stand by. =/\=
Nicolau: Response
Kel: Ok. Let's open a channel. ::waiting:: =/\= Alliance vessel. As this is unclaimed territory, I require an additional 20 minutes to determine our legal requirements in this situation. Please stand by. =/\=
Wren: Sir, regarding that data…. I actually do have a copy of it. It’s a little incomplete, but I downloaded a copy of it while we were on the surface. I can upload it to our ship’s computer so that we have a more permanent copy.
Morrow: =/\= Captain, I suggest, having them one, produce the proper paddwork, and two show you a deed or something that ties them to the station below. Usually, they have those papers on demand, but I’m betting they’ll have to take time to dig them up; they're not here for a parlay. Might not be much time, but every little bit counts. =/\=
Kel: Good thinking Mr. Marrow. Ensign Wren, check the data from the outpost down there. If there are any items of Federation technology make a note. T'Fearne let the surface know they may have more company soon.
T’Fearne’s fingers moved quickly over her panel and then she spoke on an open channel to all creatures on the surface. Her young voice was oddly solemn.
T'Fearne: =/\= Ronin to all landfall teams. Be advised. Transport signatures detected from hostile vessel in orbit. Prepare for possible Lattice Alliance incursion. Ronin is standing by to assist. =/\=
Any/Landfall Team (Optional): Response
Nicolau: Response
Wren: Of course, I can do that now ::starts making a copy::. It’s surprisingly informative considering the state of the base when we found it, but-
She froze.
Wren: ::quickly:: They’ve powered their weapons back down, but the probe is destroyed. We’re close enough now that normal communication is possible, but we’ve lost any ability to see what’s going on inside the other ship. ::allows herself a small moment of sadness for the loss of the probe, before continuing her work::
Morrow: =/\= Well, at least we know they mean business. Do you need me to come up there? =/\=
Kel: Affirmative Mr. Marrow. Bring you biggest law padds.
T’Fearne allowed the smallest nod of approval and continued monitoring the hostile vessel.
Nicolau: Response
Wren: I’ve almost finished downloading the information to our main memory system. No response from the other ship thus far. I think that was more of a warning shot than anything else oO And a passive-aggressive one at that Oo.
Morrow: =/\= All right, I’ll be up in a minute, let me grab a couple of things.=/\=
Kel: Alright, now we wait for our legal department.
The bridge fell quieter.
T’Fearne rested her small palms against the edge of the tactical console. The red alert lighting painted her hands in crimson.
Jack Morrow had once helped secure the Vulcazoid’s dual citizenship when her Starfleet application appeared at risk. She trusted his work ethic and his ability to weaponize legalese. In this situation they might need all the weapons at their disposal. She would not have recommended him if she didn’t trust him.
T'Fearne: ::quietly:: I suspect they’re watching to see whether we panic.
Nicolau/Wren: Response
The bridge settled into tense stillness. Red alert lighting pulsed harshly over the waiting officers. Above the moon’s surface, the Ronin drifted between radiation and the Lattice Alliance vessel.
((Not five minutes later—Bridge, USS Ronin, In orbit above Moon Sigma Base, Ross 580 System))
The turbolift doors parted and Jack Morrow joined them on the bridge as T’Fearne was still focused on the hostile vessel. Her ears itched at the thought of a Tholian running rampage in the bowels of the ship.
Morrow: You order a lawyer?
Kel: ::chuckling:: Apparently. ::indicating the chair next to him:: Thankfully not for medical malpractice.
She spared Jack a casual nod of greeting.
T'Fearne: Not yet. Though if this escalates, I would very much prefer it if you can help prevent orbital bombardment.
Nicolau/Wren: Response
A trill of computer tones cut through any casual humour and Kel nodded for the call on screen. The image resolved into the cloaked figure.
B’hab: =/\= Speak carefully, or your own words may doom you, Commander Kel…. =/\=
The temperature on the bridge seemed to drop. T’Fearne felt a ripple of unease along her empathic senses at the revelation of how much their unknown adversary knew, but once again Kel recovered smoothly.
Kel: =/\= I'm afraid you have me at a loss Commander. I think perhaps formal introductions are in order. =/\=
The cloaked creature ignored the bid for pleasantries.
B’hab: =/\= ::he waved a cloaked hand dismissively:: I simply do not care for your excuses, Commander. =/\=
Kel: ::giving marrow an uncertain look. =/\= I'm afraid they are not excuses. We are accounting for Federation items on the surface. If there is any patent infringement we are required to rais those issues.=/\=
T’Fearne rose subtly onto her toes again, fingers hovering lightly over weapons.
T'Fearne: =/\= As the installation below contains equipment of disputed origin, Romulan Free State, we must verify ownership before relinquishing jurisdiction.
Marrow/Wren/Nicolau: Response
The channel fell silent. On the main display, the Alliance vessel shifted position.
Kel: T'Fearne what's our shield status? =/\= I object to your rushing my work here. The more you interfere the longer this will take. Now could we see the documents confirming your claim to this system. ::beat:: I'll need that in triplicate of course. =/\=
T'Fearne: Shields at full integrity, Captain. No active targeting solutions detected yet. Just scans. ::slight narrowing of eyes:: They may be attempting to intimidate... ::quietly, off comms:: They are lined up nicely with our rear torpedo launchers.
Marrow/Wren/Nicolau: Response
The crystalline voice returned, colder.
B’hab: =/\= You’re lucky we’re not boarding you right now, Captain. From what I can tell is you have an internal problem; it must be my Tholian counterparts. =/\=
A subtle vibration hummed through the deck plates, something happening with the intruder on deck six. Kel waved dismissively in reply.
Kel: =/\= I have people to deal with that and let me assure you any damage done will be considered an infarction. =/\=
The Captain shot a quick glance at Morrow.
The sensor readings on her console began changing in the hostile ship in an ominous way.
T'Fearne: ::quietly:: Sir—They’re shifting power from auxiliary to tactical. They’ve powered weapons back to standby. Not fully charged yet, but I'm detecting a buildup in Sencha radiation. No targeting lock on us yet. ::dark eyes fixed on the threat:: Permission matches their tactical level?
Marrow/Wren/Nicolau: Response
B'hab: Response
Her pulse thudded in her pointed ears.
T'Fearne: Energy spike at their forward weapons array. It’s not clear where they are targeting.
Marrow/Wren/Nicolau/Kel: Response
B'hab: Response
[Tags / TBC]
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Security Officer
USS Ronin - NCC-34523
R240107T14