Lt. Cmdr. Ian O'Connor- Happily Back at the Helm
rob mahardy
((Bridge, Deck 3, USS Ronin, in orbit of Gas Giant A, Ross 580 System))
With combat ensuing, the rest of Ian’s conversation with T’Fearne would have to wait. He slid over near Kel’s side offering a smile and slightly awkward salute.
O’Connor: Sorry I’m late to the party, boss… but you know how us teenagers like to sleep in late. How can I help?
Ian’s thought process was working overtime. He was certain that he’d erred in coming up to the bridge. Would Kel send him back to sick bay or to his quarters? He wanted to help but now felt extremely self-conscious and unsure.
Kel: Still able to helm an Akira-Class Starship?
Then again, that was certainly something he knew he could do.
O’Connor: Absolutely, Captain.
Ian was relieved his voice didn’t crack and V'Len nodded at the helm. Ian almost literally bounded the few steps over there then stopped awkwardly at Madalain’s shoulder.
Wren: If a firefight breaks out, it might be possible to get high enough to utilize a gravity assist in order to break away from the planet and radiation as quickly as possible in order to get to a safe distance to engage warp.
Kel: ::nodding to Wren:: Lt. Nicolau please allow Commander O'Connor to take the helm.
Ian tried to give her a look that said sorry, thanks, and it’s nothing you did wrong all at once.
Kel: Take one of the auxiliary stations just in case Mr. O'Connor develops an extreme case of acne or angst.
Ian laughed but still his hand went to the sore spot of a pimple that was forming on his cheek.
O’Connor: You're better at navigational charting than me anyway. Can you get us a couple of back-door courses out of here?... just in case. Also see if you can find some asteroids or anything like that that could hamper their maneuverability even more. It’s our main advantage, let’s press it if we need to.
Nicolau: Response
They transitioned seamlessly as they’d done dozens of times during shift changes and practice drills. With Ian sliding in on one side and Nicalau sliding out the other leaving the seat no time to cool down. Madalain had also brought up Ian’s customized control panel so he was ready to maneuver instantly.
Wren: Based on what I understand, Sheliak ships are built more for durability than maneuverability. They’re large and dense, which wouldn’t serve them well in close quarters. We could easily outpace them if we need to make a break for it.
oO True, but a skilled pilot and better tactics could make up that gap. Oo
T’Fearne: The hostile vessel is heavier and less maneuverable than we are. If they attempt to pursue us through the gravity well their targeting solutions will lag behind ours, but that could bring them between us and the moon. If I miss, my targeting solutions would be dangerous to any personnel left on the surface.
O’Connor: You won’t miss.
Yet an alert went off and V'Len glanced at Nicolau.
Nicolau/Wren: Response
Kel: Finally some good news.
V'Len allowed a smile to slowly creep across his face. Finally. He tapped rapidly on his own armrest console to confirm what the Lieutenant had told him. Indeed, the reactor power was decreasing. Tucker and his team had done it, they'd reactivated the cooling system. The reactor would not run out of control. He only hoped that the team was still alive to get back to the ship.
T’Fearne: Who else is left on the surface?
Kel: A team under Commander Tucker and a team under Lieutenant Shortrith. Lt. T'Fearne signal them both to get back to the Ronin.
Nicolau/Wren: Response
T’Fearne: ::worried:: We need to get them back aboard. I can’t risk firing at Hostile One if it’s got our teams on the moon behind it.
While they talked Ian had slowly, almost imperceptively been inching the Ronin in a wide z-axis arc that if he kept it up would eventually change the firing angles so the moon would no longer be directly behind the Sheliak vessel.
Kel: =/\= Kel to Esot. It looks like the cooling system is working. Crank it as high as possible, maybe we can extinguish the reaction all together. =/\=
Esot: =/\= Response =/\=
Nicolau/Wren: Response
V'Len now glanced at his monitor once more.
Kel: The amount of radiation escaping the lid is diminishing. Ensign Wren can we get a lock on our people?
Ian dialed in at the ready an evasive maneuver for when shields dropped and another for when immediately after their people were aboard.
T'Fearne/Nicolau/Wren: Response
Kel: Lt. Nicolau what's the status of the black hole?
T'Fearne/Nicolau/Wren: Response
O’Connor: So I don’t think it’ll be an issue for us. In fact we might be able to use it to our advantage against that slower ship if need be.
That too was something like good news. V'Len was just feeling satisfied when the Ronin rocked violently. As they were hit, Ian couldn’t help smile to himself as his hands flew across the helm controls.
Kel: Let me guess, our Sheliak friends?
The Ronin tumbled away from the impact but it wasn’t from the Sheliak force.
((OOC: just trying to reconcile where Kel had us being impacted and Tuck’s B’hab post as not having fired…yet)
O’Connor: Actually no, it was some sort of aftershock of radiation from the facility. As it shut down it must have built up in the atmosphere then released as one last burst. Shields drained to 37% though.
T'Fearne/Nicolau/Wren: Response
O’Connor: No, it was actually a good thing. I just used the momentum of that blast to move us farther. T’Fearne should have a clear line of fire now.
Damn, it felt good to be back at the helm. Despite the size and bulk of the Sheliak vessel Ian felt invincible, there was no way…
oO Holy crap that’s such a teenage mentality Oo
He took a deep breath and grounded himself trying to settle the adrenaline rush he was having.
Just then the comms alerted.
O’Connor: Incoming message…from the Sheliak vessel.
Kel: Response
O’Connor: Aye, on screen
B’hab: Was it something I said, Captain?
Kel: Response
Ian’s panel alerted that long range sensors had picked up a Ferengi vessel inbound.
Ian’s head turned back toward Kel and the look showed that the CO had noticed this as well. On the screen their hailed paused for a brief side conversation with his own helm officer.
((OOC: not sure if they muted, if so delete the next couple lines))
B’hab: =/\= How long before they reach us? =/\=
Helm Manager: =/\= They are just minutes out.=/\=
Their Administer turned back at the screen
B’hab:=/\= Well, well, well Captian, what do we have here? I’m guessing it was someone smarter than you to got the Fregengi involved. I had no clue your ship came with a lawyer. This could backfire, you know.
Kel: Response
The next voice was Sheliak or Human, but Ferengi. Ian patched it through split screen.
Ferengi: =/\= This is Liquidator Brac, and I’m escorting an Arbitor as requested by Judge Advocate General Representative Lieutenant Junior Grade Jack Morrow of the USS Ronin =/\=
B’hab: =/\= This is none of your business, Ferengi; this is between the Alliance and the Ronin, you have no claim to this system. =/\=
Brac: =/\= You are correct, or were correct. As of this Stardate, the Ferengi Alliance has put in a sizable bid on this system. Which would include whatever is left of the station on the moon. You’re both to remove yourselves within the next hour, or face the consequences. I’m willing to parlay if that is your choice; hostilities will not be tolerated. =/\=
The transmission ended from the Ferengi side.
Kel: =/\= Response =/\=
B’hab shook where he stood. Ian could see that this one wouldn’t go quietly. Their weapons had already been readied
B’hab: =/\= You heard the tube grub, what will it be. =/\=
Kel: Response
Ian looked around the bridge at the rest of the crew and awaited Kel’s orders.
((OOC: I didn’t want to advance this to let Kel respond))
Tags/TBC
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Lieutenant Commander Ian O’Connor
HCO
USS Ronin NCC-34523
R240009IO4