Cpt. Karrod Niac - All Warfare Is Based On Deception
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Karrod Niac
Aug 9, 2024, 8:04:52 PM8/9/24
to USS Ronin – StarBase 118 Star Trek PBEM RPG
((Bridge, Deck 3, USS Ronin, Outside the J-0922A System))
Niac: Damage Report!
Tucker: We’ve got fires on decks seven, ten, and eleven caused by EPS conduit damage. The structural integrity is down to sixty-five percent. Aft shield emitters are offline, and shields, though holding at sixty percent, are online. We have several reports of crew injuries, but nothing life-threatening.
Carpenter: Shields holding at 63%. Beam weapons operational still, but we've lost 2 launch tubes. One fore, one aft. Because the universe loves symmetry, I guess...
O'Connor: Helm, still responsive.
Karrod let the reports wash over him as he focused on the viewscreen and its static filled tactical projections. The S-Wave detonation had made an absolute mess of their sensor picture and the computer was still trying to make sense of it.
Niac: What's the Khitomer's status? They still in one piece?
Tucker: ::smirking:: Scans indicate that we took more of the brunt of the shockwave. The Khitomer will need a few dents pounded out in that shiny new hull of theirs.
Carpenter: Still on our six, Captain, but it looks like general comms are down.
Niac: Very well, advise me when you can raise them on subspace. We need to link up before we make our run into the system. Mr. O'Connor, reciprocal course, bring us into formation with the Khitomer. How bad's the damage Mr. Tucker?
Wiping the blood from his brow Karrod braced himself for the worst. In a small way their mission was already proving vital - they'd already gathered invaluable intelligence about the Alliance and the fact they were beginning to deploy s-wave weaponry on smaller vessels. True to everything they'd seen about the Alliance so far it seemed the were willing to cut corners on safety to achieve greater lethality. In doing so they'd turned their own vessels into weapons that would be nearly as dangerous for their crews as they were for their potential victims.
Tucker: There is nothing we can’t handle on the way. The big one is the aft shield emitters. They’re offline, and I don’t want to send a crew out in EVA suits while we’re still on red alert. For now, I can compensate for the rear by expanding the rest of the shields to cover the aft, though it’ll be a thin layer of protection. The fires are all but out; they’re having trouble with the fire on deck ten.
Carpenter: Aye, sir. I'll keep on it.
O'Connor: Aye, sir. Already circling back around.
Things were certainly tense but Karrod felt a real measure of relief as his crew snapped off their reports, each man and woman focused and calm even after getting tossed around the bridge by the shockwave.
Niac: Understood Chief, make what repairs you can.
The viewscreen continued to clear as the radiation dispersed and Karrod got his first good look at the Khitomer since the explosion. The New Orleans class had always been a bit of an odd duck for the fleet, built out of scaled down Galaxy class components in a time when the Fleet truly believed the days of serious stellar conflict were behind it. It was squat and oddly angular, with bulbous sensor pods protruding from the saucer and the engineering section like lampreys attached to some larger aquatic creature. In that moment, with phaser fire lancing out from its dorsal and ventral arrays to give the Ronin cover, it was one of the most beautiful ships Karrod had ever seen.
Tucker: Mister O’Conner, I’d suggest that you keep our tail away from the fight when we engage at deep space thirty-three. With the way I'm covering the aft, it can’t take but a few direct hits before it fails.
O'Connor: ::turning toward Tuck:: Can do. We’ll just have to go nose to nose if anything else comes along.
Carpenter: Y'all didn't see that? The S-Wave it...it broke against something out there. Chief's probes are picking up something too. The profile of a mobile deployment platform. Or maybe, hell, maybe a whole station.
O’Connor: I see it and something else. Actually something elses. It’s splitting apart. Or launching
An alert chimed on Karrod's display a moment later, a warning from the team in Stellar Cartography that something lurked within the cloaking barrier that was still shrouded from their sight.
Niac: Stellar Cartography has picked up your ghost, Commander Carpenter. They're trying to make sense of it now but I want that right at the top of your priority targets list. If they're that worried about hiding it I'm absolutely sure I want it gone. Mr. O'Connor, evasive pattern Detmer Bravo and go to full impulse.
Tucker: Fire crews are confirming that the fire on deck ten is out. It took two fire teams to put it out.
Karrod imagined the intensity of the blaze and was suddenly back on Grus Beta Three in the drivers seat of an argo, his face being singed by the heat of the firewall rushing up to consume them. His recollection was broken by the sound of doors parting at the rear of the bridge and the sight of their Acting CMO rushing to the injured crewmen on the bridge.
Niac: Good to see you Doctor...I recommend you hold on to something, we're still in the thick of it.
Carpenter: RESPONSE
O’Connor: I see dozen or so small craft. Can’t confirm exact number as they are overlapping, and sensors are not anywhere near optimal.
Karrod opened his mouth to reply as Doctor Beck stepped wordlessly to his side and began running a dermal regenerator across his scalp while clutching a tricorder in his artificial hand. Some part of Rostil suddenly perked up in his mind and, upon seeing the Doctor's metalic appendage, gave him the impression of a Chef clacking together a set of tongs in the kitchen. Karrod stifled an entirely inappropriate laugh and poked his abdomen while a hypo hissed against his neck. The relief was deep and immediate and he briefly wondered if he'd been injured a bit more seriously than he realized.
Niac: Thank you Doctor. I appreciate you making a house call considering how...short handed your team is right now.
They were in the middle of a tense battle. The ship and crew were in danger. The fate of the sector could be decided in the coming clash. Karrod still smirked to himself before Doctor Beck silently walked off to his next patient and he refocused on the viewscreen.
Niac: Commander Carpenter, fire phasers at will. I want to save our torpedo ordinance for bigger targets. Chief Tucker, divert reserve power to the shields, we can't take too much damage this early into our strike.
Tucker/Carpenter: RESPONSE
O’Connor: They’re approaching fast and maneuvering in behind. They’re going right for our weak spot.
The ship thrummed under the strain of the engines as phaser fire reached out towards the dangerous fireflies darting towards them. By themselves they represented little threat but, as a group, the plasma torpedoes aboard Tholian interceptors could do significant damage. In the past they'd had the screen of Major Singh's fighter wing to protect them against just such a threat but now with their air wing defending the station it was up to the Ronin and Khitomer to defend themselves.
Niac: Understood, shift your heading to two one three...::The ship rocked as the fighters made a close pass and scored a few glancing hits on their shields:: Correction, one three four mark five and concentrate phaser fire on the leading element.
The ship rocked again but it cost the Tholian defenders dearly as two were speared by phaser fire and detonated into glittering clouds of debris.
Niac: How're our shields looking Chief?
Tucker/Carpenter: RESPONSE
Karrod could feel the tension from the helm as the remaining swarm of fighters danced and darted around them. He could see O'Connor's hands dancing across the controls but the nimble fighter craft were simply too quick and agile for the Ronin to truly avoid.
O’Connor: Captain. Got an idea. Gonna drop us in backwards right behind Khitomer. Tush to tush.
Karrod snorted at the unconventional suggestion but nodded in agreement.
Niac: Very well Mr. O'Connor but you're on the hook to send the Khitomer flowers and chocolates tomorrow. Maneuver at your discretion. Chief Tucker, use the cover we get from the Khitomer to redeploy your repair teams. Commander Carpenter, load torpedo bays and set for proximity detonation, fire across the fighters flight path. If we shake them up badly enough you should be able to score a hit with the phasers.
Tucker/Carpenter: RESPONSE
He could feel the intensity of the battle waning as the remaining fighters began to scatter and run back to the forces still lurking within their target system. It gave the bridge a moment to catch their breath so Karrod turned his attention to the crew.
Niac: Doctor Beck, what's the status of our people?
Doctor Beck turned and tucked away their tricorder as he glanced around the bridge.
Beck: Inoculations are underway as we speak. We've split the medical team into groups and they're going deck by deck to get everyone.
Nodding, Karrod leaned towards the viewscreen and pointed a finger towards the remaining defense forces arrayed against them.
Niac: Well done Doctor. Advise your people to work fast, I'm certain the Alliance has more to throw at us. Mr. O'Connor, while Commander Carpenter picks off the stragglers from that fighter wing I want you to bring us into formation with the Khitomer and standby to make a highspeed run into the system. Chief Tucker, we need those aft shields re-enforced or we could end getting the ships aft shot off...
An alert from his console drew his attention and Karrod found himself smiling.
Niac: Belay that...looks like Lt. Alieth's team has a little present for us. Take a look at the shield modulations she's sending up and get them implemented as soon as you can. I'll take any measure of protection against another s-wave attack that I can get. Commander Carpenter, any luck raising the Khitomer?
Tucker/Carpenter/O'Connor/Beck: RESPONSE
Karrod shook his head and within Niac, Sencha winced. The exotic radiation that bore her name had been meant as an incredible, potentially inexhaustible power source...and now her work had been so badly corrupted it was damaging subspace. Communications barely functioned across the few thousand kilometers that separated the two ships and long range communication was almost completely out.
Niac: Keep trying. If you can get a data channel open to them send across the modifications Lt. Cmdr. Alieth's team has come up with. The Khitomer is going to need that protection.
Carpenter/Tucker/O'Connor/Beck: RESPONSE
Karrod nodded as the sensor readings from the team in Stellar Cartography began filling in the picture of what was beyond the boundary of the J-0922A. The readings from their long range sensors, coupled with the probes they'd been able to sneak in, was still incomplete...but something about it caused his spots to itch. He spoke aloud, his concern deepening as the seconds passed.
Niac: Where the hell are they? They've had months to reinforce this system and their defenses are nothing compared to what we saw in the Olidra system.
Carpenter/Tucker/O'Connor/Beck: RESPONSE
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? =/\=
Alieth: =/\= Response =/\=
Karrod could hear a ringing in his ears as a cold, certain horror gripped his heart.
Niac: =/\= Can you project their course? =/\=
Alieth: =/\= Response =/\=
Every single one of Niac's past hosts released a simultaneous string of horrified expletives. It took shocking effort to keep from vocalizing them all as the bridge remained deathly silent.
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 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.
Carpenter/Tucker/O'Connor/Beck: RESPONSE
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. =/\=
Shayne: =/\= Response =/\=
Tags/TBC
===============================
Captain Karrod Niac
Commanding Officer
USS Ronin - NCC-34523
V239509GT0
Niac: Damage Report!
Tucker: We’ve got fires on decks seven, ten, and eleven caused by EPS conduit damage. The structural integrity is down to sixty-five percent. Aft shield emitters are offline, and shields, though holding at sixty percent, are online. We have several reports of crew injuries, but nothing life-threatening.
Carpenter: Shields holding at 63%. Beam weapons operational still, but we've lost 2 launch tubes. One fore, one aft. Because the universe loves symmetry, I guess...
O'Connor: Helm, still responsive.
Karrod let the reports wash over him as he focused on the viewscreen and its static filled tactical projections. The S-Wave detonation had made an absolute mess of their sensor picture and the computer was still trying to make sense of it.
Niac: What's the Khitomer's status? They still in one piece?
Tucker: ::smirking:: Scans indicate that we took more of the brunt of the shockwave. The Khitomer will need a few dents pounded out in that shiny new hull of theirs.
Carpenter: Still on our six, Captain, but it looks like general comms are down.
Niac: Very well, advise me when you can raise them on subspace. We need to link up before we make our run into the system. Mr. O'Connor, reciprocal course, bring us into formation with the Khitomer. How bad's the damage Mr. Tucker?
Wiping the blood from his brow Karrod braced himself for the worst. In a small way their mission was already proving vital - they'd already gathered invaluable intelligence about the Alliance and the fact they were beginning to deploy s-wave weaponry on smaller vessels. True to everything they'd seen about the Alliance so far it seemed the were willing to cut corners on safety to achieve greater lethality. In doing so they'd turned their own vessels into weapons that would be nearly as dangerous for their crews as they were for their potential victims.
Tucker: There is nothing we can’t handle on the way. The big one is the aft shield emitters. They’re offline, and I don’t want to send a crew out in EVA suits while we’re still on red alert. For now, I can compensate for the rear by expanding the rest of the shields to cover the aft, though it’ll be a thin layer of protection. The fires are all but out; they’re having trouble with the fire on deck ten.
Carpenter: Aye, sir. I'll keep on it.
O'Connor: Aye, sir. Already circling back around.
Things were certainly tense but Karrod felt a real measure of relief as his crew snapped off their reports, each man and woman focused and calm even after getting tossed around the bridge by the shockwave.
Niac: Understood Chief, make what repairs you can.
The viewscreen continued to clear as the radiation dispersed and Karrod got his first good look at the Khitomer since the explosion. The New Orleans class had always been a bit of an odd duck for the fleet, built out of scaled down Galaxy class components in a time when the Fleet truly believed the days of serious stellar conflict were behind it. It was squat and oddly angular, with bulbous sensor pods protruding from the saucer and the engineering section like lampreys attached to some larger aquatic creature. In that moment, with phaser fire lancing out from its dorsal and ventral arrays to give the Ronin cover, it was one of the most beautiful ships Karrod had ever seen.
Tucker: Mister O’Conner, I’d suggest that you keep our tail away from the fight when we engage at deep space thirty-three. With the way I'm covering the aft, it can’t take but a few direct hits before it fails.
O'Connor: ::turning toward Tuck:: Can do. We’ll just have to go nose to nose if anything else comes along.
Carpenter: Y'all didn't see that? The S-Wave it...it broke against something out there. Chief's probes are picking up something too. The profile of a mobile deployment platform. Or maybe, hell, maybe a whole station.
O’Connor: I see it and something else. Actually something elses. It’s splitting apart. Or launching
An alert chimed on Karrod's display a moment later, a warning from the team in Stellar Cartography that something lurked within the cloaking barrier that was still shrouded from their sight.
Niac: Stellar Cartography has picked up your ghost, Commander Carpenter. They're trying to make sense of it now but I want that right at the top of your priority targets list. If they're that worried about hiding it I'm absolutely sure I want it gone. Mr. O'Connor, evasive pattern Detmer Bravo and go to full impulse.
Tucker: Fire crews are confirming that the fire on deck ten is out. It took two fire teams to put it out.
Karrod imagined the intensity of the blaze and was suddenly back on Grus Beta Three in the drivers seat of an argo, his face being singed by the heat of the firewall rushing up to consume them. His recollection was broken by the sound of doors parting at the rear of the bridge and the sight of their Acting CMO rushing to the injured crewmen on the bridge.
Niac: Good to see you Doctor...I recommend you hold on to something, we're still in the thick of it.
Carpenter: RESPONSE
O’Connor: I see dozen or so small craft. Can’t confirm exact number as they are overlapping, and sensors are not anywhere near optimal.
Karrod opened his mouth to reply as Doctor Beck stepped wordlessly to his side and began running a dermal regenerator across his scalp while clutching a tricorder in his artificial hand. Some part of Rostil suddenly perked up in his mind and, upon seeing the Doctor's metalic appendage, gave him the impression of a Chef clacking together a set of tongs in the kitchen. Karrod stifled an entirely inappropriate laugh and poked his abdomen while a hypo hissed against his neck. The relief was deep and immediate and he briefly wondered if he'd been injured a bit more seriously than he realized.
Niac: Thank you Doctor. I appreciate you making a house call considering how...short handed your team is right now.
They were in the middle of a tense battle. The ship and crew were in danger. The fate of the sector could be decided in the coming clash. Karrod still smirked to himself before Doctor Beck silently walked off to his next patient and he refocused on the viewscreen.
Niac: Commander Carpenter, fire phasers at will. I want to save our torpedo ordinance for bigger targets. Chief Tucker, divert reserve power to the shields, we can't take too much damage this early into our strike.
Tucker/Carpenter: RESPONSE
O’Connor: They’re approaching fast and maneuvering in behind. They’re going right for our weak spot.
The ship thrummed under the strain of the engines as phaser fire reached out towards the dangerous fireflies darting towards them. By themselves they represented little threat but, as a group, the plasma torpedoes aboard Tholian interceptors could do significant damage. In the past they'd had the screen of Major Singh's fighter wing to protect them against just such a threat but now with their air wing defending the station it was up to the Ronin and Khitomer to defend themselves.
Niac: Understood, shift your heading to two one three...::The ship rocked as the fighters made a close pass and scored a few glancing hits on their shields:: Correction, one three four mark five and concentrate phaser fire on the leading element.
The ship rocked again but it cost the Tholian defenders dearly as two were speared by phaser fire and detonated into glittering clouds of debris.
Niac: How're our shields looking Chief?
Tucker/Carpenter: RESPONSE
Karrod could feel the tension from the helm as the remaining swarm of fighters danced and darted around them. He could see O'Connor's hands dancing across the controls but the nimble fighter craft were simply too quick and agile for the Ronin to truly avoid.
O’Connor: Captain. Got an idea. Gonna drop us in backwards right behind Khitomer. Tush to tush.
Karrod snorted at the unconventional suggestion but nodded in agreement.
Niac: Very well Mr. O'Connor but you're on the hook to send the Khitomer flowers and chocolates tomorrow. Maneuver at your discretion. Chief Tucker, use the cover we get from the Khitomer to redeploy your repair teams. Commander Carpenter, load torpedo bays and set for proximity detonation, fire across the fighters flight path. If we shake them up badly enough you should be able to score a hit with the phasers.
Tucker/Carpenter: RESPONSE
He could feel the intensity of the battle waning as the remaining fighters began to scatter and run back to the forces still lurking within their target system. It gave the bridge a moment to catch their breath so Karrod turned his attention to the crew.
Niac: Doctor Beck, what's the status of our people?
Doctor Beck turned and tucked away their tricorder as he glanced around the bridge.
Beck: Inoculations are underway as we speak. We've split the medical team into groups and they're going deck by deck to get everyone.
Nodding, Karrod leaned towards the viewscreen and pointed a finger towards the remaining defense forces arrayed against them.
Niac: Well done Doctor. Advise your people to work fast, I'm certain the Alliance has more to throw at us. Mr. O'Connor, while Commander Carpenter picks off the stragglers from that fighter wing I want you to bring us into formation with the Khitomer and standby to make a highspeed run into the system. Chief Tucker, we need those aft shields re-enforced or we could end getting the ships aft shot off...
An alert from his console drew his attention and Karrod found himself smiling.
Niac: Belay that...looks like Lt. Alieth's team has a little present for us. Take a look at the shield modulations she's sending up and get them implemented as soon as you can. I'll take any measure of protection against another s-wave attack that I can get. Commander Carpenter, any luck raising the Khitomer?
Tucker/Carpenter/O'Connor/Beck: RESPONSE
Karrod shook his head and within Niac, Sencha winced. The exotic radiation that bore her name had been meant as an incredible, potentially inexhaustible power source...and now her work had been so badly corrupted it was damaging subspace. Communications barely functioned across the few thousand kilometers that separated the two ships and long range communication was almost completely out.
Niac: Keep trying. If you can get a data channel open to them send across the modifications Lt. Cmdr. Alieth's team has come up with. The Khitomer is going to need that protection.
Carpenter/Tucker/O'Connor/Beck: RESPONSE
Karrod nodded as the sensor readings from the team in Stellar Cartography began filling in the picture of what was beyond the boundary of the J-0922A. The readings from their long range sensors, coupled with the probes they'd been able to sneak in, was still incomplete...but something about it caused his spots to itch. He spoke aloud, his concern deepening as the seconds passed.
Niac: Where the hell are they? They've had months to reinforce this system and their defenses are nothing compared to what we saw in the Olidra system.
Carpenter/Tucker/O'Connor/Beck: RESPONSE
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? =/\=
Alieth: =/\= Response =/\=
Karrod could hear a ringing in his ears as a cold, certain horror gripped his heart.
Niac: =/\= Can you project their course? =/\=
Alieth: =/\= Response =/\=
Every single one of Niac's past hosts released a simultaneous string of horrified expletives. It took shocking effort to keep from vocalizing them all as the bridge remained deathly silent.
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 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.
Carpenter/Tucker/O'Connor/Beck: RESPONSE
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. =/\=
Shayne: =/\= Response =/\=
Tags/TBC
===============================
Captain Karrod Niac
Commanding Officer
USS Ronin - NCC-34523
V239509GT0
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