Lt. (j.g) Ian O'Connor- Coming of the Cavalry

[rob mahardy]

((Main Conference Room, Deck 3, USS Ronin, Back At High Warp))

 

The few hours since the Ronin left the J-0922A had been among the longest in Karrod's life and, as he took in the faces of the officers who surrounded the conference table with him, he could see that same strain on each of them.  Chief Tucker's uniform was covered in a variety of multicolored substances, Doctor Beck's features had lost their normal affability and their helmsmans antenna were drooping badly.  Kirsty was perched in her chair, nursing several bruises from her run in with the changling infiltrator who currently was suspended in a stasis field under heavy guard.  Even the ship was showing the signs of strain as the conference table vibrated slightly, the remaining coffee in his cup rippling slightly as the overtaxed intertial dampeners struggled to keep up with their extreme speed and the stress it was putting on the hull.  Karrod cleared his throat and people set aside their various coffees and med packs for the moment.  

 

Ian stretched as the CO began.

Niac:  Before we get into it I'd like a status from each one of you.  Mr. O'Connor, what's our ETA to the station?

O'Connor:  We are still a couple hours out. I’ve tried a number of different ways but so far this is best course and as far as speed, we are certainly pushing beyond, well…, beyond pretty much anything recommended..

Karrod sighed, biting off several responses.  He knew they were already pushing the ship dangerously hard.  

Niac:  I know you're doing your best...we're going to make the trip back in nearly a third of the time it took us to get out to J-0922A.  Do whatever tuning you can on the impulse reactors while we're at warp...we won't have time to do any after we get there.  

O'Connor:  ;;nodding:: Aye Captain. We’ll be in as good of shape as we can be.

Nodding appreciatively Karrod turned to the comprehensively filthy officer who had pushed the ship well beyond the limits that the Corp of Engineers declared as law for this class of vessel.  

Niac:  Chief Tucker, how's the ship holding up?  Are we going to be in condition to fight once we get to DS33?  

Tucker:  Response

 

Ian took it in stride. He’d compensate any maneuvers to compensate if need be. Unfortionately that was more the norm as to how they’d been operating lately. He was beginning to wonder if he’d ever really fly a fully operational Ronin. That took nothing away from Tuck and the engineers as Ian highly respected what they were able to accomplish in pretty much any condition.

The captain nodded as he jotted down notes on a padd in front of him. Karrod moved quickly to the next department head.  

Niac:  Very well Chief, for what it's worth I've put a citation in the ships log for you and your whole team.  A cursory glance through the library computer suggests you've just set a new upper-speed record for this hull.  Well done.  If we survive I'm sure the folks at Utopia Planitia will have a few questions for you.  

Tucker:  Response

Karrod let out a grim chuckle and turned to their Chief of Security.  

Niac:  What's the status on our prisoner, Lt. Cmdr. Carpenter?  Did they say anything useful before you incapacitated them?  

Carpenter:  Response

The stress headache behind Karrod's eyes throbbed but he kept his expression as neutral as he could.  

Niac:  At least we know how we got played so badly...they've been feeding information to the Alliance.  They knew our exact time table, our deployment route...everything they needed to turn our plan to their advantage.  Any idea how long they've been creeping around?  

Carpenter:  Response

Karrod leaned back in his chair as he tried to soak in the ramifications of changling infiltrators once again plaguing the Federation.  On any other day the implications would've been enough to have him on a priority channel back to Starfleet Command as every starship in the fleet went to high alert.  He spared a thought for Flt. Admiral Washington and Vice Admiral Corcino, wondering if they too were caught up in whatever disaster was crashing like a tidal wave across the fleet.  He set the thought aside as one thing too many and turned back towards the immediate problems they were facing.  

Niac:  Thank you, Commander.  Before the day is over you'll have your chance to even up the score and that's a promise.  What's the status of our tactical systems?

Carpenter:  Response

There was a savage intensity in the woman's voice that Karrod understood entirely.  

Niac:  Thank you Commander...I want those torpedo bays loaded with our entire stockpile of tri-colbalt ordinance before we drop out of warp.  I want our arrival to draw as much attention off DS33 as possible and there's nothing more attention getting than a few hundred thousand isotons exploding in your face.  Doctor Beck, well done getting those innoculations distributed.  How's the crew?  

Beck:  Response

Shaking his head as Sencha roiled within, Karrod felt a wave of disgust wash across his consciousness.  

Niac:  Sencha's original research never predicted this....telepathic backlash that seems to have affected some of our people.  Apparently it completely disabled several officers on the Khitomer.  Have you had a chance to confer with their medical staff?  

Beck:  Response

He let out a resigned huff and tapped at the controls embedded in the table.  

Niac:  Understood Doctor, we've all had our hands full the last few hours.  It's part of why I wanted everyone here...we have a bit of time left to adjust our tactics and coordinate our offensive with the Khitomer.  

Karrod tapped another command in and the comm system came alive.  A few moments passed before the wall screen lit up with the image of a conference room very much like their own, filled with harried looking officers aboard the Khitomer and their deeply aggreived looking Captain.  Karrod wasted no time on pleasantries.  

Niac: =/\= Captain Shayne, what's your ETA to DS33?  =/\=

Shayne/Any Khitomer: =/\= Response =/\=

Niac:  =/\= Sounds like you'll get there a few minutes before we do.  Any chance you got an update on the Excalibur? =/\=

Shayne/Any Khitomer: =/\= Response =/\=

Karrod scowled at the screen and looked out the viewport, grinding his teeth.  Quantum slipstream was incredibly fast but it had one incredible disadvantage - there was no way to communicate with a vessel traveling inside a slipstream corridor.  Hidden in a deep layer of subspace, they were effectively cut out from the the outside universe.  In a situation as fluid as theirs, that level of disconnect was a huge problem...but it wasn't one they could do anything about today.  

Niac: =/\= With any luck she'll show up in time to help the evacuees from the station.  Until then it's on us, Captain.  I don't suppose that ship of yours has any surprises we can throw the Alliances way when we get there? =/\=

Shayne/Any Khitomer: =/\= Response =/\=

  The cavalry was coming  but Ian wondered if it would matter. If they’d be too late. He was frustrated that there wasn’t much else to do. He reviewed the area around DS33 for what seemed like the hundredth time hoping to get inspired with a new idea.

 

 

Tags/TBC

 

Lieutenant (j.g.) Ian O’Connor

HCO

USS Ronin NCC-34523

R240009IO4