Lieutenant JG Meris: Slalom Through the Storm
Meris/Brian
((Simulated Bridge of the Thor in the Simulated Badlands, Holosuite 1, Deck 5, USS Thor))
As Meris successfully evaded the first torpedo they allowed themself a brief moment of satisfaction, but it vanished almost immediately as the simulation reshaped the problem around them. The flash of light, the clock counting upward, and Promontory’s discovery of the radiological compound made it clear that their earlier solution had only revealed a deeper complication. While Kreshkova wrestled with the weight of command, Meris concentrated on the one factor still within their control... keeping the Thor intact long enough for the next decision to matter. When the first torpedo struck a plasma column and detonated in a storm of fire and ionized debris, the situation stopped being theoretical and became a simulated struggle for survival.
Promontory: We have turbulence incoming!
Kreshkova: I’d guess so.
At the helm Meris keyed the ship wide channel open.
Meris: =/\= All hands, brace for impact! =/\=
The warning had barely finished echoing through the ship before the turbulence struck. A violent shockwave rippled through the Badlands as the torpedo’s detonation ignited several nearby plasma columns, and the Thor lurched hard to starboard as consoles rattled and warning indicators flared across multiple stations. The shields absorbed the worst of the blast, but the ship still shuddered violently as Meris tightened their grip on the helm controls and fired a burst from the port thrusters to counter the spin brought on by the blast. Within seconds the pilot had compensated for the shockwave and leveled the vessel before the turbulence could tumble them deeper into the rolling storms.
Promontory: I’m reading another torpedo—no, not just one, a full spread!
Kreshkova: You’re doing an amazing job, Meris. I hate to ask more of you, but ve need everyzhing you’re capable of, right now.
The pilot exhaled slowly and leaned closer to the helm console as the tactical overlay filled with incoming threat vectors. Meris twisted the Thor sharply between two spiraling plasma vortices and then rolled the massive starship along its axis in a maneuver that would have been considered excessive under most circumstances. As Meris physically exerted themself at the helm, they bit out chunks of a sentence between their clenched teeth.
Meris: I feel compelled to warn you both... the odds of successfully evading a full spread of torpedoes... with evasive maneuvers alone... are exceedingly low.
The Thor slalomed between towering pillars of glowing plasma as Meris rode the chaotic gravitational currents like waves beneath a surf board. Two torpedoes streaked past the hull and slammed into nearby plasma storms, erupting into brilliant cascades of energy. Another torpedo veered wildly as Meris abruptly rolled the ship through a barrel maneuver, the projectiles targeting algorithms struggling to compensate for the sudden vector shift.
Promontory: Wait, telemetry updating, the torpedoes are turning, they’re heading back this way!
Kreshkova: Mr. Promontory. If you haf a lock on zhe fuel container vizh zhe radiological elements, transport it aboard a shuttle. Vonce you’ve done zhat, tell me vhich shuttle. Meris, please continue to vork your magic.
Magic. Meris considered the word briefly while redirecting the Thor through another violent current of plasma that lapped hungrily at her nacelles.
oO There is no such thing as magic. Only mathematics and a certain tolerance for chaos. Oo
For a fleeting moment another thought surfaced unbidden. Commander Veris, one of their instructors at the Academy, had once declared with confidence that the J'naii pilot lacked the instinct required to pilot a starship under pressure. The Thor rolled cleanly between two converging plasma spirals with only meters to spare.
oO Take that, Professor Veris. Oo
Their eye caught an indicator on their helm console of activity in the shuttlebay.
Meris: Captain, this may be an inopportune time to launch a shuttle.
Behind them Meris sensed Kreshkova leaving the center chair and moving to a nearby console. The pilot resisted the urge to turn around and ask what she intended, because every fraction of their attention was required to keep the Thor ahead of the torpedoes still hunting them.
Kreshkova: I’m going to remote pilot zhat shuttle out of zhe Zhor until ve can lock onto it vizh a tractor beam at a minimum safe distance.
Meris: A minimum safe distance for... what, exactly?
Promontory: Response
Kreshkova: Da. I’ve got it.
Meris’ eyes flicked to the flashing shuttlebay indicator on their console as the massive bay doors opened to the storm outside. At the same time three remaining torpedoes continued to track the Thor relentlessly like a first date incapable of taking no for an answer. Meris jerked the starship into a steep climb through a narrow corridor of plasma turbulence, forcing two of the torpedoes to overshoot momentarily before their guidance systems corrected and resumed pursuit.
Meris: I can't seem to shake these last three torpedoes... whatever you're planning, now's the time Captain.
Promontory: Response
Kreshkova: As soon as it’s out of zhe ship far enough to tractor it, Mr. Promontory, you’re in charge of keeping it vizh us.
Meris: With us?
The pilot allowed themself a brief glance toward Kreshkova before returning their attention to the storm.
oO Just what is she planning? Oo
Promontory: Response.
On the tactical display a small icon detached itself from the Thor as the shuttle cleared the shuttlebay doors and slipped into the violent turbulence of the Badlands. Against the massive storm the craft looked almost fragile, yet the moment it cleared the ship’s shadow its signal separated cleanly from the Thor on Meris’ sensors. Three torpedoes continued to hunt the larger vessel, but Meris could already see the geometry of the situation shifting.
Their hands moved swiftly across the helm console as they guided the Thor through another spiraling current of plasma while deliberately widening the gap between the starship and the newly launched shuttle.
Meris: Captain, if I might suggest, we can use the shuttle to intercept these last three torpedoes.
Kreshkova/Promonotory: Response.
Meris studied the tactical overlay while simultaneously slipping the Thor through another violent eddy. The torpedoes continued adjusting their vectors with mechanical persistence, but their targeting algorithms were already recalculating the new geometry of the battlefield.
oO Three incoming projectiles. One shuttle carrying a radiological hazard. Several million tons of turbulent plasma. The mathematics are inelegant but promising. Oo
Another torpedo screamed past the starboard side close enough that the hull plating hummed from the shockwave.
Meris: If we use the tractor beam to launch it into the path of the torpedoes and time it precisely, we may be able to both eliminate the radiological threat and the threat posed by the torpedoes.
Kreshkova/Promonotory: Response.
The shuttle icon accelerated across the tactical display, angling outward into the storm while the three torpedoes adjusted course once again. For a brief moment all four trajectories began to converge, and Meris leaned slightly closer to the console as the geometry tightened.
oO Either this will be an elegant solution... or an extremely educational failure. Oo
Kreshkova/Promonotory: Response.
((Tags/TBC))
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Lieutenant JG Meris
Helmsperson
USS Thor
A240207M14