JP: LtCmdr Tam, Lt Kreshkova, Lt Naledi, LtJg. Kol, Ens. Merris, Saa, Sullivan, Trini - Space Race - Part II
Karen Morris
((Shuttle Hanger, Tyrian City, New Bajor))
One of the lone shuttles was the backdrop for Locx as he spoke to the audience both in the hangar and over the airwaves.
Locx: Here we are! Our six crafts are at the starting line. The race will be a simple lap around the New Bajor system. Location buoys have been placed at the inner parameter of the race lane. Anyone trying to cut off across any part of the route will be disqualified.
((Thunderbolt, Orbit around New Bajor))
Sasch sat in the first cockpit seat in the Thunderbolt. She looked over her shoulder at Divya.
Kreshkova: How are you doing back zhere?
Divya had looked up the controls of these shuttles last night but thought it was worth going through every control in person. She wanted to get a feel where everything was so she did not have to think about too long when they took off.
Tam: I’m getting the hang of it.
Kreshkova: I’d like to zhink ve haf a chance at it. Vhat about you?
Tam: I’m not a bad pilot and I’ve heard stories about you. I’d say they’d be lucky to see our backsides at the finish line.
Sasch held her hand up backwards for Tam to high five her.
Divya slipped Sasch’s palm in the Earth tradition.
Kreshkova: Damn straight!
Divya giggled with excitement.
Tam: Ready when you are.
((Stormchaser, Orbit around New Bajor))
Meris sat in the pilot’s seat. The craft was exactly as the holo simulations they had run said it would be. The corner of their mouth twitched happily as they thought about the hours they’d put in over the last few days to prepare for this race. They hadn’t had much time, but they felt they’d put it to good use. It also helped that they had flown a Valkyrie probably more recently than any of the other Asgardian pilots. Afterall, Valkyrie’s were common fare at the Academy.
Meris: Naledi, are you okay back there?
Naledi looked forward to where the ensign wawsa sitting. Why would they be sitting there if it was sub-optimal?
Naledi: Crick Pop Snap… It is adequate
Meris: Not too cramped?
Naledi’s antenna twitched. If they were cramped, they would have said. More space was an unaffordable luxury.
The J’naii pilot ran their hands over the console in front of them, checking the gauges and wrapping their fingers around the flight stick. They twisted it left and right and both felt and saw the RCS thrusters fire.
Meris: Remember, it’s your job to optimize the ship’s systems and maximize power draw to the impulse engines. With all of us flying the same type of craft, it’s going to come down to ‘they who have the most optimized setup will win’.
Naledi: Crick Pop Pew… We will win
(( Skyhowl, Orbit around New Bajor ))
Dazra’s hands flew across the console before her.
It was just like old times.
Each check was ingrained into her memory, and with that familiarity she had bred efficiency and smooth execution. Now all she had to do was incorporate her co-pilot into things.
Kol: Our biggest issue is gonna be keeping an eye on everyone else. There’s a lot of blindspots both on the shuttle and the course itself. How are you feeling back there? You ready?
Velaan had settled into his seat. It felt different then his old girl, the chair wasn’t as well worn and comfortable, but that was a pretty minor complaint. Considering how long he’d been stuck a cell as someone's prize collection piece, this was cozy, this was the good life and he was living it. Finishing a few checks, he spoke without looking up.
Saa: Finishing up the pre-flight checks back here then we’ll be good to go. ::He looks up at her:: And you bet, it’s been awhile I’ve done this outside combat so sorry for some rough bumps.
Dazra smirked.
Kol: We’ll be fine. You’re a betazoid anyway, right? Half the battle of communication is cut out of the equation. Have a little faith, friend. She’s gonna fly just fine, and you’re gonna help her fly even better.
Saa: Guilty as charged, just think it and I can react. ::Grins:: Gonna be hard for them to beat that, unless another team has a Betazoid hidden on board… bet they’d make a killing charging for that service.
((Boltbreaker, Orbit around New Bajor))
Ekko sat back in her seat, making a few last minute adjustments and checks.
Ekko: You saw the crew giving you a look, right?
Sullivan: People admire a person with a lot of confidence. That’s a look of admiration.
Grabbing his seat, she peered around the chair to address him directly.
Ekko: Not that kind of look. ::She cringed:: The look like you’ve been running your mouth again and have a target on your back.
Sullivan: Look it’s either gonna be one thing or another. If you don’t project confidence people are going to run all over you, if you do, then for some reason you’re a jerk. I know we god some good pilots we’re facing in Starfleet, and I really don’t think the locals will be too much of a problem.
Ekko: Listen, New Bajor is where I grew up racing, these home town teams aren’t people to underestimate, we might think the Thor crew are the best, but… ::She leans forward:: Those champs, they’re kids to Maquis rebels and they fly like it, we’re the badge and uniform that has to play a certain way to not get in trouble off duty… they aren’t.
Sullivan: Look, I've been flying in small craft ever since I was small, and I’ve faced off in other quadrants and have never been surprised with anything other than myself. If they were worth anything, i’da heard of them. We’ll teach them what Starfleet is made of.
Ekko: Yeah, well… sometimes you learn a life lesson the hard way.
Sometimes? Try all the time. It felt like the only lessons anyone, including her own father chose to give her, and so she developed the personality that responded in kind.
((Shuttle Hanger, Tyrian City, New Bajor))
Locx: It looks like we have a green light from each of the teams. So, on your marks…Get set. ::dramatic pause:: Go!!
((Thunderbolt, Orbit around New Bajor))
Sasch loved the elegance of a fighter’s systems under the touch of her fingers. As soon as she heard, “Go!” She hit the propulsion - not with everything they had, but she understood the right balance.
Kreshkova: Let me know if you see anyzhing. Even if I should be seeing it. Shoot me any suggestions.
Tam: Got it.
Most of the ships had taken off like wildfire sprinting across the prairie. Sasch - while not in last place - held back just a fraction. Much of flying was knowing what moves to make when. And letting others be their own worst enemy suited her just fine.
Kreshkova: I figure if ve let zhem jockey for position, at zhe right moment ve can sneak zhrough and best zhem all.
Divya could see this type of race getting dangerous in the right venue. That was unlikely here but she never knew what she might find in a new place.
Tam: Will everyone be going by Starfleet rules or local rules?
Kreshkova: I’m going to guess local rules, since this isn’t a Fleeter race.
Tam: Got it. A few are fighting it out in the middle. There might be an opening at the top left of the field. ::pointing the screen:: Do you see it?
Kreshkova: See it and on it! Hold on!
Sasch barrel-rolled their Valkyrie over the next fighter and slipped past into the opening that Tam had spotted.
But as she did, the engine coughed up clouds of thick black smoke and cut to half.
Kreshkova: I can’t … manuever the Vaklyrie properly. Our engine is smoking.
Kreshkova: =/\= Kreshkova to ground control. Ve haf to pull out of zhe race. Our engine is smoking. Ve vill need to be retrieved. =/\=
Sasch cut the engines completely and pounded once on the hood of the cockpit with an exasperated growl.
((Stormchaser, Orbit around New Bajor))
Unlike the crew of the Thunderbolt, Meris hadn’t held back. The second they heard the order to “go” they pegged the throttle controls and their Valkyrie took off like a bullet out of a gun. It was enough to make the corner of their mouth twitch happily as the other fighters fell back and they took an early lead. The J’naii helmsperson couldn’t help the triumphant shout that slipped from their lips.
Meris: Ha hah!
It was short-lived though as a warning light flared on their console. They reached out, tapping at it as the corner of their mouth dipped downward.
Meris: What is that Naledi?
Naledi: Crick Pew Snap Crick… We need lubricant. Snap Pop… Stress on engines. Snap… Calm down
(( Skyhowl, Orbit around New Bajor ))
Dazra made sure to warm the propulsors as the countdown was beginning, and as soon as the start was given, she threw the shuttle forward with finesse and skill. She didn’t need to slam all the power in right away, the shuttle could only go so fast at first, and she was toeing that line as it rocketed higher.
Efficiency was going to be their saviour today, and she knew that fuel would be just as big an issue as speed.
Kol: oO Keep an eye on our left! Oo
Saa: ~Got it.~
Dazra glanced at the consoles, confirming a proximity alarm.
Kol: Brace, left turn!
Velaan didn’t verbally respond and simply tensed where he needed to without resisting too much. He didn’t need to be sore from trying to fight natural space bumps the entire race.
Saa: Champs are up, ahead, and they’re weaving.
He focused on visuals, but something alerted him, something he didn’t like and immediately shared the feeling with Kol.
Saa: Pull up, they’re guiding us right at something!
((Boltbreaker, Orbit around New Bajor))
Sullivan: Look, we can pull ahead. Take advantage of this little hitch.
Sullivan pushed forward on the controls. He was gripping on the controls tight, but was making precise movements. Sweat dripped a little from his brow onto the controls, but he remained steady.
Ekko: Zento and Night are closing in on us.
Sullivan: Where did they come from!?
How were they able to close so fast?
Ekko: We should be- ::stopping mid sentence:: wait a minute, Carter, somethings not right… we’re running way too hot
Environmental controls were reading fine, but It didn’t feel that way. Carter thought it was just his own nerves. But Ekko was right, something wasn’t right he had felt it awhile back but had chosen to ignore it
Sullivan: I think I can adjust, it’s just going to get a little hotter in here for just a bit.
Ekko: No! Drop speed, we’re going to burn out if we don’t…
It was too late.
Sullivan: I can’t. The controls aren’t responding effectively enough. My instruments… were lying!?
All at once, she felt the stall, the power flicker setting them off course. She did her best to compensate for the failing systems, but she couldn’t keep them from crashing. That would require Carter’s skills.
Ekko: @#$!#*&
((Stormchaser, Orbit around New Bajor))
Tearing through the course, leaving a trail of stardust behind, the Skyhowl had managed to pull ahead after recovering from the feint at the hands of team Micho and Revet. The last vessel standing as Thunderbolt Boltbreaker, and Stormchaser had all suffered at unexplained mechanical errors. The Valkyrie wove expertly through a field of debris, trying to shake the other two teams off their tail, playing the same game both had dished out early on in the race.
Yet just as they narrowed in on victory, heading to cross the designated finish, the Valkyrie stuttered and rattled for all spectators to see. As the team worked to adjust, about to pull off a miracle, the team of Night and Zento dove under them and nearly clipped the front end of the Valkyrie in a deadly game of chicken. Boltbreaker struggled to recover, and as Revet and Micho passed them, Boltbreaker went dead, floating lifelessly.
The Olympus Mons champions surged past Night and Zento as if reinvigorated by the death of Boltbreaker and crossed the finish line to take first. A streak of colored smoke would unleash from their vessel in celebration, adding insult to injury as the smoke consumed the stagnant Valkyrie.
They had lost, but none of it felt right.
LtCmdr Divya Tam
Chief of Operations
USS Thor
A240104DT4
Lt Sasch Kreshkova
Mission Specialist
USS Thor
O240103SK2
Lt Naledi
Intelligence Officer
USS Thor
R240107AS3
Lt JG Dazra Kol
Security Officer
USS Thor, NCC-85852
A240105KF3
Ens Merris
Helmsperson
USS Thor
A240207M14
Ekko Trini
PNPC of
Lieutenant Commander Sevantha Saa
Counselor | Head of Health | Second Officer
USS Thor
A240105SS2
Carter Sullivan
PNPC of
Lieutenant Morro Caras
Chief of Engineering
USS Thor
O240106MC1
Lt Velaan Saa
PNPC of
Lieutenant Commander Sevantha Saa
Counselor | Head of Health | Second Officer
USS Thor
A240105SS2