Regrouping

Posted on Tue Dec 24th, 2019 @ 9:40pm by Commodore Jacob Kane & Lieutenant Dessame Sar

Mission: Shakedown
Location: Aquilon
Timeline: MD-03
1485 words - 3 OF Standard Post Measure

Kane and Mortigar approached the runabout, apparently still undisturbed from their landing earlier. The sun was starting to set in the sky, meaning night was on the way. Kane wasn't sure whether that was going to help them or hinder them at this point, but it definitely meant they wouldn't be able to see if they were being followed particularly easily.

Once through the door, Kane motioned for Mortigar to get to work on the data they'd acquired, while Kane kept an eye out for their two colleagues.

The Evoran sat at the starboard facing console and the first thing that he did was upload the files to the main computer. Doing so would make sifting through the data a little easier. He swivelled in his chair until he was facing the Commander. "Sir, it may take some time to find... anything." Had they come to Aquilon aboard the Athena, he could have used the ship's computers but that currently wasn't an option.

"Do your best, Lieutenant. But we're a little short on options until we know what's going on," Kane noted.

Dessame returned to the shuttle a little out of breath, the Doctor in tow of course and he was a little more flustered than she. On their trip back to the shuttle they had ran into a few Orions, hot on the tail of Starfleet as it happens. Obviously what the Captain had done left an impression.

They were attacked on the way to the shuttle, Dessame dispatched most and the Doctor got a good shot in. Dessame fought one hand to hand and in the foray green blood had splashed on her face a little.

Boarding the runabout she looked to Kane. "Sorry we are a little late sir, we got... held up."

Kane nodded at his security chief. He wasn't particularly happy that they were about to get shot-up by thugs, but he was relieved the two of them weren't injured. "Lieutenant Mortigar is decoding their security footage at the moment. Assuming they're on to us, we should probably make ourselves scarce - get the runabout into orbit where we know we can manoeuvre."

"Sounds like a plan to me." Dessame replied wiping a little blood from the side of her mouth. "Take your seats please gentlemen." She added as she hopped onto her seat, closing the runabout door behind her. Starting a quiet take off her hands glided across the panel. Hopefully they would be able to lift off without much surprise.

Kane kept looking at Mortigar, feverishly working away at his console, as the runabout started to ascend.

"Given the hornets nest is sufficiently stirred-up, we need to know what we're up against, Lieutenant."

Mortigar was somewhat startled when he became aware that he was being spoken to. He'd been so transfixed in his work that nothing else mattered. He cleared his throat so that he could reveal his findings thus far to the others. "I have yet to isolate the footage of the missing Ensigns. However, I have observed several instances of Orions courting tourists and then escorting them away," he explained.

"That explains why they weren't impressed with us poking our noses into their business," Kane remarked. "If they think we're on to their operations they'll cut and run at the first opportunity. Assuming they haven't blown us out of the sky..."

"Um...Commander?" Doctor Melendez piped-up. "According to these readings there's another ship in orbit."

Kane moved to take the surgeon's place in the seat next to Dessame. "Not just one ship. Two Theta-class raiders already in orbit." The tiny runabout was likely no match for even one of those ships. "And they're jamming communications." He looked over at Sar. "Evasive action until we can clear orbit and make a break for it."

"Aye sir. I don't plan on giving these monsters the satisfaction of getting a shot on target." she said as the ship shuddered. They had locked on to them and were firing but Dessame was doing her best to dodge their attacks and ascend at the same time. It was tricky but slowly they were rising.

"Nice flying, Lieutenant," Kane nodded. He cringed slightly as a plasma bolt whizzed past the runabout's nose. "Mortigar, do you think you can break through this jamming so we can send communications?"

Having returned to scanning through the contents of the data they retrieved from the Orions, Morty had to scramble to get up to speed on what was going on. He brought up the runabout's communications systems and studied what he was dealing with. "I will try, Sir," he finally responded to Kane. The Evoran first tried changing the frequencies to punch through the interference but that had little effect. He more or less expected that to be the case. For this to work, Morty was going to have to be creative.

He turned towards Kane. "I have an idea but I require access to that panel," he said, pointing to a panel that was a bit beyond his reach on the ceiling of the small craft.

Kane blinked at the diminutive officer, then he looked over at Melendez, who was clearly a spare part in this situation. "Doctor. Give him a boost." The surgeon's shoulders sank, but he followed orders, dropping down to a knee and giving Mortigar the leg up.

Before climbing up, the Lieutenant grabbed a tool kit from a nearby compartment and he removed a long, cylindrical object from it. With the hyperspanner in hand, Mortigar got to work. Despite the boost from Melendez, the shorter alien still had to reach up, but it was enough for him to do what he needed to. It took a few minutes for the science officer to reconfigure the communications array but once he was done, Morty was hopeful that they would be able to get a message out.

Mortigar replaced the panel above him and stepped down from the Doctor's hold. "Thank you for the boost," he commented with a nod before turning to his commander. "You may attempt to transmit a message, Sir. It may still be quite garbled, but you should be able to get something out."

Kane turned back to his console, punching in a command.

"This is Commander Kane to the unknown ships in orbit of Aquilon. This is a Federation world and therefore under the protection of Starfleet. Cease your attack immediately or we will respond with force." Something of a bluff, but the regulations indicated he had to at least attempt communication.

After a few seconds, he was surprised to see the elongated headpiece of a Breen cryosuit appear on the small screen. A garbled sound came through, the universal translator taking a few moments to decipher it as something along the lines of 'Run like the cowards you are'. The translation wasn't particularly helpful.

"Lieutenant, see if you can get a message out to the Athena. I think we're going to need some help here."

First Orions. Now the Breen. Who were they going to run into next? The Gorn? Morty certainly hoped not. Their chances of escape were lessening with each passing minute. Of course, they wouldn't get to safety if the Lieutenant didn't get through to the ship. Mortigar worked the controls at his station and attempted to send a message out. Whether or not the Athena got it, was another matter altogether. They would know soon enough.

"I have sent out a message, but I have no way of knowing whether or not it was received due to the Breen's interfering countermeasures," he informed the Commander.

"Will have to hope it got through," Kane noted, holding on to the console to steady himself as Sar pulled-off a series of evasive maneuvers.

He didn't have to wait long.

The majestic sight of a Federation starship dropping out of warp was welcome relief to all four of the runabout's occupants. That it bore the markings of the USS Athena was even more welcome.

"Remind me to thank whoever is in command for their timing," Kane noted, watching out of the viewing port as his pride and joy tore a hole in one of the two marauders. The second started to peel away, only to suffer a similar fate. Within a few moments, the fusion core detonated and lit up the space around it. Kane, having realised he was holding in a breath, exhaled.

"Anyone else want to go home now?" he asked.

Lieutenant Mortigar nodded enthusiastically. He'd feel much better about the situation they were in once he was aboard a starship that was tactically stronger than a pea shooter.


:: OFF ::


Commander Jacob Kane
Commanding Officer
USS Athena

Dr Melendez
Surgeon
USS Athena

Lieutenant Mortigar
Chief Science Officer
USS Athena

Lieutenant Dessame Sar
Chief Security Officer
USS Athena