Commodore Kalianna Nicholotti - Standoff

[Marissa Jeffrey]

((Bridge, USS Excalibur - A))

The Excalibur was already late and Kali knew it without having to be told. As soon as the runabout had been stowed in the shuttle bay, the ship had launched at high warp towards DS33 with a great number of questions as to what they were going to find when they arrived. Kali kept her face stoic and devoid of emotions even with the turmoil running around the inside of her skull like a stormy sea. Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst; one of her former captains had often said that and she found it to be the best approach more often than not. 

Still, she wasn't quite one to believe that things were without hope. More often than not, hope became the last string that any of them had to hold on to, and sometimes it was the one thing that managed to get them through. Sitting back in the center chair she waited for the report that she knew was coming. How it came she hadn't been exactly expecting, 

Alieth: Commodore, Commander Alieth reporting for duty. :: She raised her right hand in the traditional ta'al :: We are here to serve.

The Vulcan officer had walked out onto the bridge and directly to her like she owned the place - or like there was no time to waste, which there was not. Kali returned the gesture.

Nicholotti: Welcome aboard Commander.  It is my hope that your duty aboard will be temporary.

Raedai: Response

The Vulcan nodded firmly and seemed to understand the sentiment of Kali's statement. She would not believe the Ronin or Khitomer lost, at least not until it was seen with her own eyes. And if she knew anything about the two captains out there, she figured they would strap bits of their ships to themselves and shoot hand phasers at the LA ships before giving up.

Alieth: Indeed, we belong to the crew of the USS Ronin, the last time we were on board they were heading at maximum warp towards Deep Space 33 to avoid an assault by the Lattice Alliance, as the intelligence we had was false. We have not known about their activities for a while now.

That was upsetting. Intelligence coming from the other side of the border had been scarce. More operatives than she cared to count had gone missing, all attempts to communicate had been ignored, and now there were outright assaults both here in the Isles, and back along the border.

Nicholotti: We have some limited information, but nothing to say what they knew heading back there, or what they may have found. ::She paused a moment.:: My question is why would they leave behind a tiny runabut and a few crew?

Raedai: Response

The Vulcan woman seemed to collect what she was going to say next, folding her hands behind her back.

Alieth: Our team remained behind to obtain intelligence from one of the LA stations, where we have obtained key data on how to shield our ships from the Sencha Radiation, the Lieutenant can brief you on the technicalities of it.

There was the briefest of pauses while the woman took a breath and then met her eyes dead on.

Alieth: We also rescued a captive Federation citizen that the Alliance has held captive for decades, if you will excuse me for a moment while Lieutenant Raedai gives his report, I will give you more information on their current status.

Nicholotti: Very well. Let's hear it - it is my intention to not have much time before arrival.

After all, she had ordered the engineering department to push them well past the approved speeds. Much like with the slipstream, not much would matter if they didn't get there in time.

Raedai: Response

While the Vulcan commander stepped away, Kali's crystalline eyes fell on the Romulan officer instead as he began to speak. She followed pretty easily, but her own understanding of the intricate details was less important than the question she was going to ask next.

Nicholotti: So, what can we do to implement these protections? And do we have any offense?

Raedai: Response?

Nearby, her first officer was listening in. When the Romulan was finished speaking, she nodded towards him. About that time, the Vulcan commander rejoined them.

Nicholotti: Make it happen. :: beat.:: Commander?

Alieth: Response?

Kali listened about the symbiont and what they were doing with it. If anyone could be of assistance, it would be the medical team aboard. As a doctor herself, she knew she had a top notch team trained originally by Genkos Adea himself. There was little else one could ask for really. 

Nicholotti: They will be well cared for and hopefully restored to their full selves soon. In the meantime...we're working on implementing possible shielding based on some of this information.

She gestured towards the Romulan officer.

Alieth/Raedai: Responses?

Nicholotti: And we don't have long, so let's do what we can do.

Alieth/Raedai: Responses?

((Timeskip, Bridge, USS Excalibur - A))

The countdown was growing close, but it was still taking far too long. The situation had to be dire; not a single attempt at communicating with the station or either of the ships had come to any successful end and the pit in her stomach was trying to tell her that they simply were not there anymore. It was something that she refused to believe.

Standing just in front of her chair and joined by the Vulcan commander from the Ronin and her Romulan sidekick, Kali silently counted down with the clock. Reports started to come in as they approached go time.

S'yok: Fighters are standing by, ready to launch as soon as we drop. Ground teams are prepped and ready in transporter rooms.

Kali nodded. The marines were ready and the Excalibur Marines were not a group to be trifled with. Hopefully they would not be too late to help the teams defending the station.

Nicholotti: Very well. Quick scans as soon as we arrive to find the best places for them to transport into. Pay attention to where the inhibitors are.

Acknowledgement came with a firm nod as she looked to the officer.

Smith: Weapons stand ready. All tubes are loaded and primed to fire. We've made a few adjustments based on the data the Ronin team brought aboard and hopefully they will be a little more effective.

Kali smiled at that. This little edge might be all that they needed to regain control if it had indeed been lost.

Nicholotti: Fire all LA targets as soon as we arrive, prioritize those actively attacking our assets, and the biggest targets.

Another brief nod of acknowledgement. Those Leviathans and Dreadnaughts were nothing to be toyed with. They would need to be taken out as fast as they could.

Faar: Medical teams standing by, sickbay is prepped and set for incoming casualties and injuries.

The clock ticked down. 

Nicholotti: Anything you'd add, commander?

Alieth: Response?

Raedai: Response?

With a nod, she took their words into account as the last minutes ticked by. And then, far sooner than she felt normal, but not soon enough, the stars stopped streaking by and space resolved into the trainwreck that was Deep Space 33 and the space around it. The burned out hulk of a huge ship drifted, debris was everywhere, and the darkened hulls of the Khitomer and Ronin seemed to drift nearby. Slowly, the Ronin seemed like it was gaining life, it's nose pointed at a Leviathan that seemed to be primed to make an attack run. Kali gestured to the screen.

Nicholotti: Prioritize that one. Take it out. And put us between them and the Ronin and Khitomer.

Waiting to watch the attack on the unsuspecting ship which had clearly been injured already, Kali stood fast only long enough to see it erupt in flames and list downwards before she turned to her chair and sat, leveling her crystalline eyes on the Vulcan commander.

Nicholotti: You're welcome to watch from here, if you wish, or you can join one of our teams beaming over.

Alieth/Raedai: Response?

With a nod, Kali gave her blessing and then looked to the officers in front of her.

Nicholotti: Open a channel on an open frequency.

She waited until the chirp from the computer told her it had been done. Only then did she speak.

Nicholotti: =/\= To all Lattice Alliance ships and forces; you have picked the wrong day and the wrong people to bring this fight to. You have ten minutes to withdraw, or I will take care of that for you. Your time starts now. =/\=

Waving a hand she offered the signal that would cut the line and trigger the transport of troops to the station, medical officers to the drifting ships, and the launch of the marine fighters before shields were raised and they headed in. The hand was now dealt; it was time to see what was coming next. Did her signal carry? Had the friendly forces heard her? Would the Alliance oblige? 

Time was not a friend, but it would be the only one to tell, but she had one ear listening for incoming hails anyways.

TAG/TBC

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Commodore Kalianna Nicholotti

Commanding Officer

USS Excalibur - A

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