Lt. JG T’Fearne - Tactical Child's Play (Part 1)
Teayl Thorn
((Bridge, Deck 3, USS Ronin))
The channel fell silent. On the main display, the Alliance vessel shifted position, sliding through space until it began angling behind them. T’Fearne felt a drop in her stomach as she saw it on the tactical display. They were being stalked out in the open by a predator..
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 eighty percent 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.
Her hands felt particularly small, but still quick and competent on the glowing tactical controls, though a slight tremor would occasionally run through them. T’Fearne focused on controlling her emotions and taking slow, steadying breaths.
Wren: ::to Kel:: While the records never outright state that the cannibalized Andorian ship was used to construct the Lid, they do appear to have a significant time jump of two weeks in their records, and seem to have somehow found an ‘answer’ to a previous problem. It’s more than likely they used the Andorian parts to complete the project.
Nicolau: Shear is increasing sir, that pocket was class six. If we'd hit it straight on, they'd be picking up plates in the mess hall for the next week.
Marrow: It seems like he’s toying with us…
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 to the unknown hostiles comment.
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 coming to T’Fearnes console from the hostile ship began changing 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?
Nicolau: We're not in a good position to engage here sir, we don't have enough space to maneuver effectively. Uh...maybe...well...if we could...somehow convince them to get a little closer...they might have an even harder time navigating then we are. Might give us a little extra breathing room if they were...otherwise busy trying to keep their hull attached.
Morrow: I’ve got a couple of ideas working, give me a minute.
B'hab: =/\= I’m starting to lose patience, Captain. =/\=
Her pulse thudded in her pointed ears as sensors detected another change.
T'Fearne: Energy spike at their forward weapons array. It’s not clear where they are targeting.
Nicolau: I don't see a targeting lock anywhere sir! Request permission to take evasive action?
Morrow: They even think about firing on us; we’ve got them in a legal noose. I’ve just about got all the paperwork compiled. I’m working on the fine print; this “B’hab” won’t know what hit him. Because what I’ve found is this is technically a ‘disputed’ system, between the Lattice Alliance and the Breen.
Kel: Granted! Move us off.
Wren: They’re firing weapons!
T’Fearne stabilized herself against the tactical console as Nicolau took evasive actions and searched the data for the weapons fire, but she couldn’t see it. It looked more like a ration between the radiation and the emissions Wren was venting for their ruse might have combusted. Or perhaps it was a sensor glitch but either way she couldn’t become distracted. The Sheliak might fire at any moment.
Nicolau: Sorry sorry sorry! Getting us back onto our original heading but space out there is getting...really, really weird...sir.
Kel: What is the enemy vessel doing?
Morrow: Whatever it is, it’s a violation. I need to get back to my office and file the injunction properly; the Sheliak are pretty efficient with legal frameworks and forms.
T'Fearne: Hold on, ::studying the display:: There is something odd about that burst.
B'hab: =/= All this moving around isn’t going to help, Captain. One push of a button and the Ronin turns into a scrap heap, if there’s anything left.
Wren: They’ve figured out we aren’t damaged, they’re preparing to fire again.
Nicolau: Sorry sorry....it's like...trying to ride rapids, sir...and it just keeps getting worse. I think whatever is happening on the moon is getting critical sir. It's distorting all our sensor readings, I can barely see five hundred meters ahead at this point.
Kel: ::kindly:: Stop apologizing, lieutenant, we're all doing the best we can.
He reached down to activate the comm channel once more
Kel: =/\= Administrator, I am doing my best to comply with your request, but I need more time. =/\=
Morrow: ::just so Kel can hear:: I think I found something. Hold on.
T'Fearne: I’m not sure it's them firing, not yet at least. An energetic burst originated from radiation interacting with debris coming from us exploded off our aft, not a warning shot from a hostile one. I agree with cutting the emissions for our wounded bird ruse. ::nodding to Wren:: If they didn’t realise it before, they will now.
The ship rocked again and the acting Captain pushed himself to a standing position.
Nicolau: Sir I'm not sure how much longer I can keep us in position!
Wren: Engineering is reporting that we’re experiencing some hull degradation due to the radiation levels. Nothing near the warp core yet, but I don’t think we can stay here for long.
Something about the radiation was prickling in the back of her mind, something she had forgotten. She blinked as her focus slipped for a moment and refocused, but a thread of pain she had been ignoring was growing at her temples.
T'Fearne: I’m rotating shield frequency to strengthen against Sencha radiation and increasing shields and internal forcefields to the damaged hull zones. But if they fire a Sencha weapon this close to the planet it would interact with the temporal distortion fields…it could destabilize local space ::slow calming breath:: That would endanger their vessel as well as ours and likely kill the people below.
The deadly dance and wordplay of negotiation continued and T’Fearne was deeply relieved that she was not the one to shoulder that burden.
Morrow: ::whispering to Kel:: Treaty of Armens, Paragraph 653, subparagraph 9…
Kel: =/\= I'll kindly remind you Administrator, that Paragraph 653, subparagraph 9 of the Treaty of Armens does not stipulate that consultations end based on one party alone. Kindly don't make me invoke Paragraph 1209.
B’hab: ::frustrated:: =/=Yes, yes, Armen. I’m having one of my managers check the validity of your claim. But doesn’t that mean it shouldn't stop you from removing yourself from the system? We are well aware that you still have teams on the moon, and I’m sorry. My orders are clear: destroy the installation. It’s no longer of use to us.
Kel and Morrow seemed to have momentarily flustered the piece of coprolite they were facing. Jack approached the screen, his attitude casual despite their precarious circumstances.
Morrow: Administrator, my name is Lieutenant Jack Morrow, JAG. Not only are you in violation of the Treaty, but in violation of several Starfleet laws of engagement. Do I need to file an injunction? And if I do, I’ll ask for a Ferengi Arbiter. You really don’t want that, do you?
B'hab:::irritated:: =/= There’s no need to get nasty, Mister JAG. =/=
Kel: =/\= My colleague brings up an excellent point, I'd like to get the Ferengi to arbitrate. =/\=
Morrow: ::mouthing the words:: I’m going to file that injunction in a Ferengi court.
[No Tags / TBC in Part 2]
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Security Officer
USS Ronin - NCC-34523
R240107T14