Cpt. Karrod Niac - Off The Back Foot
12 views
Skip to first unread message
Karrod Niac
Aug 14, 2024, 2:01:01 AM8/14/24
to USS Ronin – StarBase 118 Star Trek PBEM RPG
((Bridge, Deck 3, USS Ronin, Outside the J-0922A System))
Karrod stalked towards the helm and leaned forward, demanding the viewscreen explain whatever it was that rankled his backbrain. The feeling of wrongness deepened.
Niac: No capital ships. Not a single dreadnought or leviathan. Even if we caught them by surprise we should see larger vessels mobilizing by now, trying to respond to us. Unless....
A crushing wave of dread crashed over Karrod and his mind spun. There was one horrifying possibility that would explain what they were seeing. He slapped his comm badge as he all but ran back to his chair.
Niac: =/\= Bridge to Stellar Cartography. Lt. Cmdr. Alieth, break off your observations on the target system and launch a new series of probes aft...are there any ion trails or other signs of vessels departing the system in the last day? =/\=
There was a long, terrible pause and everyone on the bridge seemed to lean towards him, their faces a mix of expectant horror and dawning dread.
Alieth: =/\= Confirmed, there are ion trails suggesting that at least a dozen large spacecraft departed the system approximately twenty hours ago. The trails are quite degraded, so I cannot be sure of the presence or not of smaller ships in the group. =/\=
His left eye twitched but the experienced, detached part of his mind kept plowing ahead with questions no matter how much he didn't want to know the answers.
Niac: =/\= Can you project their course? =/\=
Alieth: =/\= There is a 78.578% chance that the Flotilla is heading towards sector Alpha 113. =/\=
Somehow he'd known the answer before he'd even asked but hearing it punctured something deep inside him. They'd been so certain of the Alliance's tactics and overconfidence that they'd committed the very same sin. That mistake would cost them deeply but he forced himself to remained focused on the moment, unwilling to give over to despair.
Niac: =/\= Understood, Commander. Refine your projections as much as you can, try to give us an approximate force composition based on the size of the signature. Bridge out. =/\=
Karrod pressed a hand against his forehead and found a cold sweat there. His thoughts turned to the people in and around Deep Space Thirty Three. Colleagues. Crewmates. Friends. He glanced at the empty First Officers seat and imagined himself in Commander Raga's place. He shook off the thought and cleared his throat, trying to find his footing once more.
Niac: Mr. O'Connor, break off from the system and set a course for DS33. Commander Carpenter, I don't care if you have to shine a flashlight out a viewport, I need communications with Captain Shayne right now. Chief Tucker, have your teams prepare to conduct emergency repairs while the ship is at warp.
O'Connor: Laid in. Just need to break away from behind Khitomer and angle off before we go to warp.
Tucker: ::he hit the ship wide comm button:: =/\=Attention all repair teams, prepare to perform repairs at warp.=/\=
Carpenter: Captain Shayne, sir. Bringing him on screen.
The viewscreen crackled into life as a channel was finally punched through the interference and the Khitomer's CO stared back at him.
Niac: =/\= Captain Shayne...I believe we've been suckered. =/\=
His former CO looked harried and Karrod suspected they'd come to the same horrible conclusion.
Shayne: =/\= I know it! We need to get the hell outta here. =/\=
He glanced back towards the Engineering console where Chief Tucker was in quiet conference with several of his repair teams, routing people and equipment as everyone scrambled to mend the ship.
Niac: =/\= We're moving away from the system at maximum impulse but warp will be a few minutes, that detonation blew out half the ventral EPS grid. If you can, go, we'll catch up. =/\=
Shayne: =/\= They already have a lead on us; but if we push our engines too hard we might damage subspace more. =/\=
He almost snapped at the man but got his temper reigned back in at the very last second. His anger at himself was pressing up against his good judgment and even Niac was having trouble offering any calming influence.
Niac: =/\= At this point I don't give a damn about subspace. I'd rip it apart with my bare hands if it would get us back to the station any faster. =/\=
The familiar voice of Chief Dewitt joined the channel and much like the Ronins Chief Engineer, the man sounded stressed and very very busy.
Dewitt =/\= Our warp core suffered major damage. I suspect the Sencha waves. We won’t have Quantum slipstream. I’m trying to get a hold of the situation. =/\=
Niac: =/\= Understood. Soon as we can we'll be jumping to warp. I'll provide updates on our overall status once we're underway. I'm also sending over some shield modifications our science team came up with...they'll give us minimal protection from another s-wave detonation. =/\=
Shayne: =/\= Response =/\=
Dewitt: =/\= ::nodding:: Let’s keep this channel open! =/\=
Karrod nodded and the image of the Khitomer's bridge vanished, leaving Karrod to tend to the more immediate problems the ship was now facing. The scattered remains of the 'defense force' behind them seemed entirely content to sit and wait for them to stumble in and Karrod glared at the viewscreen, furious to leave any enemy force unchallenged behind him. He leaned back in the chair with one hand rubbing at his temples as he considered their next move.
Alieth: =/\= Alieth to Captain Niac. I have a proposition to make before the Ronin leave the system. =/\=
Karrod had worked with Lt. Cmdr. Alieth long enough to intuitively dislike absolutely everything about that sentence. Her tone, always firm and unyielding, had a new note of expectation to it that set his spots to itching. Whatever she was proposing Karrod knew he'd dislike it.
Niac: =/\= Go ahead Commander but make it fast. We're leaving as soon as Engineering finishes some emergency repairs. =/\=
Alieth: =/\= Leave me and my team behind, with a small runabout. The Rhine for example can fly undetected for longer than any larger vessel and will allow us to gather enough intel to learn more about Alliance technology, the science behind their weapons and how to combat them. The rest of our department can collaborate with the Khitomer science team to design a diffuser for Sencha weapons with what we have already shared with them, so our presence will only be of advantage to this mission. =/\=
Years ago Karrod had known a young Andorian lieutenant with more guts than brains who, after a particularly intoxicating night of shoreleave revelry, confidentially challenged a Gorn to an arm-wrestling contest. It had ended with the man howling on the ground, his arm snapped and twisted into a nauseating pretzel, being carried to a nearby aid station by Starfleet medics. The idea of arm wrestling a creature three times the mans size was by far the dumbest and most outright crazy thing he'd ever heard.
Until just now. His temper flared again and this time nothing could hold it back.
Niac: =/\= Are you out of your Vulcan mind?! A runabout could get shot to pieces before it even gets inside the interference barrier and even if you do, one more S-wave detonation even near you could have you crippled. Or were you planning on taking a medical team with you on this fools errand? =/\=
Alieth: =/\= Ensign Syrex, in fact, volunteered herself. That will cover any problems that might arise. =/\= :: Without letting the captain retort:: =/\= We will be able to relay the information to the Ronin before you reach Deep Space Thirty-Three and then hide until it becomes safe to return. =/\=
Karrod took a breath to calm himself. When that didn't work he took three more. When that didn't work he decided calm simply wasn't on the menu for the day, gritted his teeth and bit out a response.
Niac: =/\= Standby Commander. I'll take your proposal under advisement. =/\=
Tucker: I swear, if they so much as put a scratch on that ship, they’ll be the ones doing the repairing. I mean she’s all but brand new for Cripe's sake.
Carpenter: Sir, I have to strongly, strongly advise against the away action...
Karrod could hear the pleading note in Kirsty's voice and felt it resonate with something in his soul. Leaving them here in a runabout was a risk of simply breathtaking proportions and he had to seriously consider the fact that anyone who volunteered for that mission would almost certainly face a swift and violent end. But as he considered their situation and the hopeless fight they were soon to be charging towards he realized the Ronin was hardly a safe harbor at the moment.
They desperately needed an edge...some way to balance out the endless list of advantages the Alliance seemed to have over them. This might be their only chance to do so. It very well could be their last. The pieces in Karrod's mind slotted together neatly but he hated the picture they formed.
Niac: Your objection is noted, Commander Carpenter...but I don't believe we have the luxury of holding anything back at this point. Doctor Beck, can you spare Ensign Syrex for this...away mission?
Beck: RESPONSE
A succession of chirps and warbles from the Engineer console interrupted any further response and Karrod turned towards their Chief Engineer.
Tucker: Repair teams are underway, and they’re still having problems with the aft shields, has to do with the generator in the mission pod; my crews are spread pretty thin as it is. But I’ve redirected specialist repair groups to the mission pod. So the inertial dampers might be a bit iffy, as I pulled them off that project. There was a phase fluctuation in the dampers I was trying to stamp out before it became an issue; we’ll just be tossed around a bit if it gets dicey.
Carpenter: Yes, sir, risen now to 80% and holding thanks to Mister Tucker's teams, but sir, again, I gotta caution-
Karrod turned his attention towards her and lowered his voice.
Niac: I don't like it either, Kirsty. But you know better than anyone how much of a disadvantage we're at...if there's a chance they can get us some actionable intelligence...anything we could use in the upcoming battle...we have to take it. Whatever happens...it's my decision.
Karrod took a deep breath, closed his eyes for a moment and begged the universe for a small measure of kindness on behalf of his people.
Niac: =/\= Niac to Alieth. Away mission...approved. Get your team into the Rhine and launch in the next....six minutes or you're coming with us. =/\=
Alieth: =/\= Response =/\=
Niac: =/\= Commander, it may not be possible for you to link back up with the Ronin even if your mission is a success. =/\=
He managed to avoid saying 'even if you survive' by a very narrow margin. The Ronin's survival was equally...improbable...but neither of them needed that spelled out plainly.
Niac: =/\= With that in mind I'm ordering a copy of the ships logs and sensor records transferred to the Rhine's computers. In the event...in the event we cannot rendezvous, you are ordered to proceed at best speed to Cait Spacedock. Flt. Admiral Washington will know what to do. Good fortune, Commander. =/\=
Alieth: =/\= Response =/\=
The commline closed and Karrod allowed himself to wonder for a moment if that was the last time he'd hear Lt. Cmdr. Alieth's voice and the grave tone that always seemed to cloak an impish sense of mirth. The bridge felt small around him as he tapped at a control on the chairs arm, scrolling through damage reports as quickly as he could absorb them.
Syrex: =/\= Ensign Syrex to the bridge, intruder Alert, Deck 10. =/\=
Karrod's eyes widened as he looked back towards Kirsty in shock. The horror of their day was rapidly approaching levels of surrealism.
Niac: =/\= Niac to Syrex, say again? =/\=
Carpenter: One of yours?
Beck: RESPONSE
Syrex: =/\= Young, human, male, ::Catching breath:: Gold uniform, wait… no that’s not right. Sir, I am picking up two distinct lifeforms in a single entity, one human, one… changeling =/\=
Karrod growled a curse at the name changling, a phantom menace that had been a boogeyman to the Federation for years after the Dominion War. He hoped against hope that somehow the young woman was simply wrong, perhaps rattled by her first combat experience, but he couldn't take any chances.
Niac: =/\= Standby Ensign but do not engage. =/\=
She felt his steely gaze on her once more.
Carpenter: Security patrol responding. I can join them with your leave, Captain, just...::she takes an uncharacteristically hitching breath:: God, please don't let them go over there, sir.
Niac: Go Commander, we can do without you up here for a few minutes. Don't take any chances...we've had enough surprises for one day. Mr. O'Connor, what's our best estimate to get back to DS33? Chief Tucker, whatever that estimate is I want it cut in half...I don't care how many hullplates we shed along the way. Doctor Beck, I'd recommend you get yourself back down to Sickbay...I'm sure you're needed there.
Beck/Tucker/O'Connor: RESPONSE
Carpenter: Y'all saw the footage from those pirate vessels. Captain, you know better'n anyone what those RoLFs can do. ::she points toward the semi-cloaked platform:: How can we be sure that ain't another trap?
Karrod glanced towards the viewscreen and the recording of their sensor contacts, that mysterious space station just within the cloaking barrier and the second, obscured region just adjacent to it.
Niac: We can't be, Commander. We'll just have to hope that whatever is out there our people can handle it. Now go...and make sure Lt. Cmdr. Alieth's team makes it to the shuttlebay unchallenged.
Carpenter/Beck/Tucker/O'Connor: RESPONSE
Niac: Mr. O'Connor, standby to broadcast a wideband subspace message back towards Federation territory. I know it's a long shot but there's still a chance we can warn them about what's coming. As soon as I'm done I want you to go to maximum warp.
O'Connor: Response
Karrod stood and addressed the viewscreen, wondering who, if anyone, would be alive to hear this message when it reached DS33. He took a long breath and stepped forward.
Niac: =/\= Ronin to All Federation Outposts and Installations in sector A113. We have reason to believe a large Lattice Alliance strike force is heading towards Deep Space Thirty Three. It is unlikely we will be able to engage them before they reach your position. =/\= He paused, thinking of all the people on that lightly defended space station and the truly defenseless ones on the colony worlds and installations that lay beyond. If the Alliance won the day they'd all be at risk of extermination or worse. With them in mind his expression hardened and he spoke towards the viewscreen with renewed steel in his voice. =/\= We are coming. We will not abandon you. For your tomorrows...we give our todays. Ronin Out. =/\=
Beck/Tucker/O'Connor: RESPONSE
The starfield stretched and the Ronin vaulted away from the J-0922A system at high warp, leaving behind only a few blasted hull fragments and a tiny, nearly invisible runabout trailing in their wake.
Tags/End Act 1 for Niac!
===============================
Captain Karrod Niac
Commanding Officer
USS Ronin - NCC-34523
V239509GT0
Karrod stalked towards the helm and leaned forward, demanding the viewscreen explain whatever it was that rankled his backbrain. The feeling of wrongness deepened.
Niac: No capital ships. Not a single dreadnought or leviathan. Even if we caught them by surprise we should see larger vessels mobilizing by now, trying to respond to us. Unless....
A crushing wave of dread crashed over Karrod and his mind spun. There was one horrifying possibility that would explain what they were seeing. He slapped his comm badge as he all but ran back to his chair.
Niac: =/\= Bridge to Stellar Cartography. Lt. Cmdr. Alieth, break off your observations on the target system and launch a new series of probes aft...are there any ion trails or other signs of vessels departing the system in the last day? =/\=
There was a long, terrible pause and everyone on the bridge seemed to lean towards him, their faces a mix of expectant horror and dawning dread.
Alieth: =/\= Confirmed, there are ion trails suggesting that at least a dozen large spacecraft departed the system approximately twenty hours ago. The trails are quite degraded, so I cannot be sure of the presence or not of smaller ships in the group. =/\=
His left eye twitched but the experienced, detached part of his mind kept plowing ahead with questions no matter how much he didn't want to know the answers.
Niac: =/\= Can you project their course? =/\=
Alieth: =/\= There is a 78.578% chance that the Flotilla is heading towards sector Alpha 113. =/\=
Somehow he'd known the answer before he'd even asked but hearing it punctured something deep inside him. They'd been so certain of the Alliance's tactics and overconfidence that they'd committed the very same sin. That mistake would cost them deeply but he forced himself to remained focused on the moment, unwilling to give over to despair.
Niac: =/\= Understood, Commander. Refine your projections as much as you can, try to give us an approximate force composition based on the size of the signature. Bridge out. =/\=
Karrod pressed a hand against his forehead and found a cold sweat there. His thoughts turned to the people in and around Deep Space Thirty Three. Colleagues. Crewmates. Friends. He glanced at the empty First Officers seat and imagined himself in Commander Raga's place. He shook off the thought and cleared his throat, trying to find his footing once more.
Niac: Mr. O'Connor, break off from the system and set a course for DS33. Commander Carpenter, I don't care if you have to shine a flashlight out a viewport, I need communications with Captain Shayne right now. Chief Tucker, have your teams prepare to conduct emergency repairs while the ship is at warp.
O'Connor: Laid in. Just need to break away from behind Khitomer and angle off before we go to warp.
Tucker: ::he hit the ship wide comm button:: =/\=Attention all repair teams, prepare to perform repairs at warp.=/\=
Carpenter: Captain Shayne, sir. Bringing him on screen.
The viewscreen crackled into life as a channel was finally punched through the interference and the Khitomer's CO stared back at him.
Niac: =/\= Captain Shayne...I believe we've been suckered. =/\=
His former CO looked harried and Karrod suspected they'd come to the same horrible conclusion.
Shayne: =/\= I know it! We need to get the hell outta here. =/\=
He glanced back towards the Engineering console where Chief Tucker was in quiet conference with several of his repair teams, routing people and equipment as everyone scrambled to mend the ship.
Niac: =/\= We're moving away from the system at maximum impulse but warp will be a few minutes, that detonation blew out half the ventral EPS grid. If you can, go, we'll catch up. =/\=
Shayne: =/\= They already have a lead on us; but if we push our engines too hard we might damage subspace more. =/\=
He almost snapped at the man but got his temper reigned back in at the very last second. His anger at himself was pressing up against his good judgment and even Niac was having trouble offering any calming influence.
Niac: =/\= At this point I don't give a damn about subspace. I'd rip it apart with my bare hands if it would get us back to the station any faster. =/\=
The familiar voice of Chief Dewitt joined the channel and much like the Ronins Chief Engineer, the man sounded stressed and very very busy.
Dewitt =/\= Our warp core suffered major damage. I suspect the Sencha waves. We won’t have Quantum slipstream. I’m trying to get a hold of the situation. =/\=
Niac: =/\= Understood. Soon as we can we'll be jumping to warp. I'll provide updates on our overall status once we're underway. I'm also sending over some shield modifications our science team came up with...they'll give us minimal protection from another s-wave detonation. =/\=
Shayne: =/\= Response =/\=
Dewitt: =/\= ::nodding:: Let’s keep this channel open! =/\=
Karrod nodded and the image of the Khitomer's bridge vanished, leaving Karrod to tend to the more immediate problems the ship was now facing. The scattered remains of the 'defense force' behind them seemed entirely content to sit and wait for them to stumble in and Karrod glared at the viewscreen, furious to leave any enemy force unchallenged behind him. He leaned back in the chair with one hand rubbing at his temples as he considered their next move.
Alieth: =/\= Alieth to Captain Niac. I have a proposition to make before the Ronin leave the system. =/\=
Karrod had worked with Lt. Cmdr. Alieth long enough to intuitively dislike absolutely everything about that sentence. Her tone, always firm and unyielding, had a new note of expectation to it that set his spots to itching. Whatever she was proposing Karrod knew he'd dislike it.
Niac: =/\= Go ahead Commander but make it fast. We're leaving as soon as Engineering finishes some emergency repairs. =/\=
Alieth: =/\= Leave me and my team behind, with a small runabout. The Rhine for example can fly undetected for longer than any larger vessel and will allow us to gather enough intel to learn more about Alliance technology, the science behind their weapons and how to combat them. The rest of our department can collaborate with the Khitomer science team to design a diffuser for Sencha weapons with what we have already shared with them, so our presence will only be of advantage to this mission. =/\=
Years ago Karrod had known a young Andorian lieutenant with more guts than brains who, after a particularly intoxicating night of shoreleave revelry, confidentially challenged a Gorn to an arm-wrestling contest. It had ended with the man howling on the ground, his arm snapped and twisted into a nauseating pretzel, being carried to a nearby aid station by Starfleet medics. The idea of arm wrestling a creature three times the mans size was by far the dumbest and most outright crazy thing he'd ever heard.
Until just now. His temper flared again and this time nothing could hold it back.
Niac: =/\= Are you out of your Vulcan mind?! A runabout could get shot to pieces before it even gets inside the interference barrier and even if you do, one more S-wave detonation even near you could have you crippled. Or were you planning on taking a medical team with you on this fools errand? =/\=
Alieth: =/\= Ensign Syrex, in fact, volunteered herself. That will cover any problems that might arise. =/\= :: Without letting the captain retort:: =/\= We will be able to relay the information to the Ronin before you reach Deep Space Thirty-Three and then hide until it becomes safe to return. =/\=
Karrod took a breath to calm himself. When that didn't work he took three more. When that didn't work he decided calm simply wasn't on the menu for the day, gritted his teeth and bit out a response.
Niac: =/\= Standby Commander. I'll take your proposal under advisement. =/\=
Tucker: I swear, if they so much as put a scratch on that ship, they’ll be the ones doing the repairing. I mean she’s all but brand new for Cripe's sake.
Carpenter: Sir, I have to strongly, strongly advise against the away action...
Karrod could hear the pleading note in Kirsty's voice and felt it resonate with something in his soul. Leaving them here in a runabout was a risk of simply breathtaking proportions and he had to seriously consider the fact that anyone who volunteered for that mission would almost certainly face a swift and violent end. But as he considered their situation and the hopeless fight they were soon to be charging towards he realized the Ronin was hardly a safe harbor at the moment.
They desperately needed an edge...some way to balance out the endless list of advantages the Alliance seemed to have over them. This might be their only chance to do so. It very well could be their last. The pieces in Karrod's mind slotted together neatly but he hated the picture they formed.
Niac: Your objection is noted, Commander Carpenter...but I don't believe we have the luxury of holding anything back at this point. Doctor Beck, can you spare Ensign Syrex for this...away mission?
Beck: RESPONSE
A succession of chirps and warbles from the Engineer console interrupted any further response and Karrod turned towards their Chief Engineer.
Tucker: Repair teams are underway, and they’re still having problems with the aft shields, has to do with the generator in the mission pod; my crews are spread pretty thin as it is. But I’ve redirected specialist repair groups to the mission pod. So the inertial dampers might be a bit iffy, as I pulled them off that project. There was a phase fluctuation in the dampers I was trying to stamp out before it became an issue; we’ll just be tossed around a bit if it gets dicey.
Carpenter: Yes, sir, risen now to 80% and holding thanks to Mister Tucker's teams, but sir, again, I gotta caution-
Karrod turned his attention towards her and lowered his voice.
Niac: I don't like it either, Kirsty. But you know better than anyone how much of a disadvantage we're at...if there's a chance they can get us some actionable intelligence...anything we could use in the upcoming battle...we have to take it. Whatever happens...it's my decision.
Karrod took a deep breath, closed his eyes for a moment and begged the universe for a small measure of kindness on behalf of his people.
Niac: =/\= Niac to Alieth. Away mission...approved. Get your team into the Rhine and launch in the next....six minutes or you're coming with us. =/\=
Alieth: =/\= Response =/\=
Niac: =/\= Commander, it may not be possible for you to link back up with the Ronin even if your mission is a success. =/\=
He managed to avoid saying 'even if you survive' by a very narrow margin. The Ronin's survival was equally...improbable...but neither of them needed that spelled out plainly.
Niac: =/\= With that in mind I'm ordering a copy of the ships logs and sensor records transferred to the Rhine's computers. In the event...in the event we cannot rendezvous, you are ordered to proceed at best speed to Cait Spacedock. Flt. Admiral Washington will know what to do. Good fortune, Commander. =/\=
Alieth: =/\= Response =/\=
The commline closed and Karrod allowed himself to wonder for a moment if that was the last time he'd hear Lt. Cmdr. Alieth's voice and the grave tone that always seemed to cloak an impish sense of mirth. The bridge felt small around him as he tapped at a control on the chairs arm, scrolling through damage reports as quickly as he could absorb them.
Syrex: =/\= Ensign Syrex to the bridge, intruder Alert, Deck 10. =/\=
Karrod's eyes widened as he looked back towards Kirsty in shock. The horror of their day was rapidly approaching levels of surrealism.
Niac: =/\= Niac to Syrex, say again? =/\=
Carpenter: One of yours?
Beck: RESPONSE
Syrex: =/\= Young, human, male, ::Catching breath:: Gold uniform, wait… no that’s not right. Sir, I am picking up two distinct lifeforms in a single entity, one human, one… changeling =/\=
Karrod growled a curse at the name changling, a phantom menace that had been a boogeyman to the Federation for years after the Dominion War. He hoped against hope that somehow the young woman was simply wrong, perhaps rattled by her first combat experience, but he couldn't take any chances.
Niac: =/\= Standby Ensign but do not engage. =/\=
She felt his steely gaze on her once more.
Carpenter: Security patrol responding. I can join them with your leave, Captain, just...::she takes an uncharacteristically hitching breath:: God, please don't let them go over there, sir.
Niac: Go Commander, we can do without you up here for a few minutes. Don't take any chances...we've had enough surprises for one day. Mr. O'Connor, what's our best estimate to get back to DS33? Chief Tucker, whatever that estimate is I want it cut in half...I don't care how many hullplates we shed along the way. Doctor Beck, I'd recommend you get yourself back down to Sickbay...I'm sure you're needed there.
Beck/Tucker/O'Connor: RESPONSE
Carpenter: Y'all saw the footage from those pirate vessels. Captain, you know better'n anyone what those RoLFs can do. ::she points toward the semi-cloaked platform:: How can we be sure that ain't another trap?
Karrod glanced towards the viewscreen and the recording of their sensor contacts, that mysterious space station just within the cloaking barrier and the second, obscured region just adjacent to it.
Niac: We can't be, Commander. We'll just have to hope that whatever is out there our people can handle it. Now go...and make sure Lt. Cmdr. Alieth's team makes it to the shuttlebay unchallenged.
Carpenter/Beck/Tucker/O'Connor: RESPONSE
Niac: Mr. O'Connor, standby to broadcast a wideband subspace message back towards Federation territory. I know it's a long shot but there's still a chance we can warn them about what's coming. As soon as I'm done I want you to go to maximum warp.
O'Connor: Response
Karrod stood and addressed the viewscreen, wondering who, if anyone, would be alive to hear this message when it reached DS33. He took a long breath and stepped forward.
Niac: =/\= Ronin to All Federation Outposts and Installations in sector A113. We have reason to believe a large Lattice Alliance strike force is heading towards Deep Space Thirty Three. It is unlikely we will be able to engage them before they reach your position. =/\= He paused, thinking of all the people on that lightly defended space station and the truly defenseless ones on the colony worlds and installations that lay beyond. If the Alliance won the day they'd all be at risk of extermination or worse. With them in mind his expression hardened and he spoke towards the viewscreen with renewed steel in his voice. =/\= We are coming. We will not abandon you. For your tomorrows...we give our todays. Ronin Out. =/\=
Beck/Tucker/O'Connor: RESPONSE
The starfield stretched and the Ronin vaulted away from the J-0922A system at high warp, leaving behind only a few blasted hull fragments and a tiny, nearly invisible runabout trailing in their wake.
Tags/End Act 1 for Niac!
===============================
Captain Karrod Niac
Commanding Officer
USS Ronin - NCC-34523
V239509GT0
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages