Lady Luck

Posted on Wed Jul 1st, 2020 @ 11:41pm by Lieutenant Avir Yavan & Civilian Chomei & Lieutenant Sonden & Commander Nathan Hawkins & Secretary Jonathan Grayson of United Earth & High Commissioner Jasmine Haynes & Lieutenant Dylan Blake & Captain Ryan Walsh
Edited on on Sat Sep 12th, 2020 @ 3:52am

2,211 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: Exodus
Location: Bridge, Starfleet One
Timeline: 2430-01-09, 11:25

Lieutenant Avir Yavan sat at the darkened flight control panel of the Starship Spock trying to get a feel for what their status was. Several of the crew had moved on to try to work to get the ship's systems restored, but it was going slowly. Too slowly. It was making her sick to her stomach just to think about how hard things had become. She jabbed at the controls, quickly retreating back into the chair of the horseshoe shaped workstation. If she could she would've let herself be absorbed by it.

It hadn't been long since they had come under attack by the unknown enemy. Their support ships, the Kirk and Georgiou, were presumed destroyed in the onslaught. The enemy had known exactly where to hit them, quickly knocking out power to almost the entire ship. Strangely they never came in for the kill. She wondered why, but that didn't mean they wouldn't be coming.
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"I have no idea what is going on with this thing," she protested absently. "It's like the ship just had all of its batteries drained."

"Well, that's sort of true," Lieutenant Blake commented from the neighbouring terminal as he toyed with it wiring loop beneath. "Only they surged before going dead, hence why this is all burned and charred," he held up some pieces to show her. "We'll get through, its just a set back," he reassured her.

The young woman looked at the circuits, "It's the setbacks that are frightening me. Whomever attacked us could come back at any time. If that happens, in our current state, we may not be able to respond."

Blake glanced over his shoulder where Hawkins stabbed at a data pad mutely looking moody and agitated. "We're be alright," the Lieutenant twisted back toward Yavan. "The enemy could have been taken out by our support vessels before everything went dark. Once we've restored some systems we're have a better picture."

Sonden, who was across the room with his head in a panel, tools next to him added in his overly cheerful tone. “They could come back, sure, but if we worry about that we waste energy.” He dropped a burnt-out conduit next to him, reaching for a replacement next to his tool kit.

“The repairs will take the time they will take. We can’t rush that. Just the same we can’t control what others do.”

"If we hurry we run the risk making mistake that cost us later," Dylan added. "One step at a time no matter the pressures."

The Flight Controller nodded, "Flying blind is just not something I'm very good at." The Ardanan sighed as she went back into the guts of the workstation. She started to maneuver components around, addressing their Chief Engineer, "So, any ideas how they managed to knock out our power so adeptly?"

Before an answer could come Yavan looked through the small viewport built into the ceiling of the Spock and saw the slightest of specks moving toward them. It was travelling at high speed toward them, a light blue dot amongst the stars. It was too precise to be junk, it had to be intelligent.

"In Ardra's name? They're coming back!"

In two strides Hawkins was standing beside her to see what had stolen her attention looking as if he'd aged a decade since the Spock launched: "Sonden, Blake, what do we have?"

Blake swallowed heavily at the question he'd feared would come his way, he glanced at the Chief Engineer wishing desperately they had better news: "Nothing viable I'm afraid Captain," Blake couldn't look the senior member in the eye. They'd failed them, the crew, the VIP's and now they'd soon be flotsam.

The Captain stared hard at the incoming vessel which was still too far away to be identified by the naked eye weighing up his thin options. They couldn't flee, fight back or defend themselves or at least not in time before they came into weapons range of the unknown vessel. "Dammit," he hissed softly feeling frustrated at their hopeless predicament. He hoped they'd have more time, or they'd attackers had been destroyed by their support vessels, now it seemed they were only on borrowed time.

Jasmine and Jonathan made their way to the bridge. She walked over to Nathan. "The President wants an update, sir." Jasmine called out, as she looked around the room, and could tell that everyone seemed very tense, and under a lot of stress.

Hawkins resisted the urge to laugh at Jasmine's inquiry as her timing was impeccable: "Not good," he sighed turning to her.

Jonathan could see the stress on Hawkins's face. It was etched into every crease on his face, making him appear older than his years. Jonathan had no desire to add to the Captain's stress or worries but he had to ask. "Could you be more specific Captain?"

Hawkins' frustration flared again at the second question feeling they'll potential last moments could have been used better, he reminded himself neither Haynes or Grayson knew the whole picture. "We have an incoming vessel at speed, in our current state we have no way of identifying it or defending ourselves if they'll hostile. In laments term Secretary we're sitting ducks."

"How did we get to our current state, sir?" Jasmine asked, wondering why he did not start with a brief summary, on how they came to this point, and why this ship was a potential threat the Spock, and in a sense to the President of the Federation.

The Captain shook his head in near wonderment - granted they'd been below deck and concerned for the safety of the VIP's and had lacked tactical information but surely Haynes especially would have known the Spock had been critically damaged only a short time ago. The loss of power and violent thrashing about would have been key clues.
"We we're attacked by an unknown powerful vessel or vessels," Hawkins explained quickly returning his qaze to the streak above them in the stars. "It appears to have been a very calculated assault, as systematically hit us in key areas and destroyed our support vessels in the process. We have no power, sensors, communication, propulsion, or defences - our only slender hope is rescue following our distress signal."

It was only a second later that an energized form appeared in the center of the bridge of the Starship Spock. Within a wink of an eye the empty space had been replaced by a Rigelian woman who looked wise beyond her years, but those years were one's of struggle.

The sound of the new arrival rippled fear around the bridge: Hawkins snapped his head around wishing he was armed with a weapon to defend them - this derailment had been his fault, the crew his responsibility and he was floundering like a fish out of water. Teagarden would more than just skin him if they somehow lived through this, hell the Captain may even voluntarily turn in his uniform.

Blake, still sitting on the deck on the far side armed himself with tool kit and quickly scampered behind the console he'd been repairing.

Ryan stayed off to the side, watching as things unfolded. His hand was on his weapon but he wasn’t going to react without first hearing what their uninvited guest had to say.

"Sorry to startle everyone," she said with outstretched arms in a friendship greetings. "I'm Chomei of the transport Lady Luck. We'd been trying to reach you, but no one answered."

Hawkins sagged with relief and stepped forward to greet her: "Commander Nathan Hawkins," he introduced himself. "This is my First Officer Jasmine Haynes," he half turned. "Thank you for coming to our aid."

The Rigelian nodded, "Always happy to provide assistance, Captain." She had used the title knowing that the man was in charge of the vessel. "I must admit to surprise seeing your vessel in such a state here in Federation held space. Your damage appears severe," she looked around the room, "and repairs in progress. I may be put a simple merchant, but I would be more than happy to render whatever aid you may need that I am able to provide."

"Thank you Chomei," Hawkins smiled weakly. "My first concern is that we're unable to locate our attacker, they could still be closely and may return at any moment. We'd need your assistance to leave this area, would your freighter have the power to tow us?"

"Oh Lady Luck may be small, but she's more than capable a vessel. We can help you get to wherever you're going... albeit a bit slower than you may be accustomed," the civilian Captain answered. "You were attacked recently? That explains the debris we passed."

"We had a convey including two other similar class vessels the Georgiou and Kirk," he responded lowly. "Did you scan the debris for survivors?" he asked knowing full well it was unlikely their brother and sisters in arms were able to escape the sudden onslaught.

The Captain of the Lady Luck had a grim look, "I'm sorry but we detected no evidence of life-signs in the debris we encountered. It was a larger ship though, we know that much, but it could've been two."

Nathan nodded soberly having already suspected that would be her answer, it was distressing all the same.

Jasmine remained silent for the moment. She still did not like that title, acting first officer of the USS Spock, the first officer, was back on the USS Enterprise doing her old job. She could not figure out, why the Admiral, made her acting first officer, and kept Patton on USS Enterprise. Jasmine could tell, his body language and tone, not to mention the fact, that the President was on aboard. It was a good tactical move. They had no way of knowing the true intentions of Chomei. For all she knew. Chomei could have ordered the attack.

Completely oblivious to the new visitor or even the previous request, Sonden pulled himself out of the panel section he was working in, with a loud exclamation. "Haaaloo! Maneuvering thruster control is now functioning! Just need to see if the lower decks are connect-" He stopped suddenly, having just noticed the new person, Chomei. Sonden drops the look of joy on his face for a quick stand at attention.

Blake had hoped they'd prescience would remain undetected until he was sure it was safe to retreat from his hiding space. Sadly Sondoen had been so engrossed in his work he'd failed to notice the tense atmosphere or the arrival of the civilian Captain and had drawn the attention of the bridge toward them. He sighed and clambered to his feet to address the two Captains: "Sir, Ma'am," he stepped tentatively closer. "We don't yet have a clear picture of the state of the Spock, the tractor beam towing us to safety could put too much strain on the damaged hull. We my have to reconsider."

The Captain nodded mutely at the point raised; they'd have to abandon the Spock and travel with the transporter until they'd reached the nearest starbase which would present a headache for security. He turned to Haynes: "How are our guests?"

"Doing well." Jasmine said, not wanting to let it slip to their would be rescuers, that the Federation President was onboard the USS Spock. She knew he could be a valuable target, so best keep him a secret. Well until their guests disembarked the ship.

"I would be more than happy to allow a party from your vessel to visit mine, Captain, in order to do a visual inspection of your vessel." She paused, "I have not scanned your vessel - only visually - due to Federation Law prohibiting civilian vessels from scanning military ones. If you were to come aboard I would allow you to do any scans you needed under military guidance."

"Thank you Chomei, that will be most helpful," Hawkins addressed his officers: "Blake and Haynes, head over to the transporter, gather the scans we need and access any additional requirements should we have to abandon ship." He hoped the XO knew he was referring to the safety of the President.

The Lieutenant was surprised to hear his name being called having expected Sonden to head over, then again the engineer would be far more useful on the Spock than on the civilian ship. Blake looked to Haynes for direction and other subsequent orders.

Jasmine looked over to Captain, she gave him a look. With her eyes, she was telling him, to go back to the President, and fill him in. She did not like leaving the President on the ship, undefended. "Yes Captain." Jasmine said, trying to keep her thoughts focused, on the mission at hand.

Walsh hoped they didn't have to abandon but Hawkins was correct in planning for it. He would more than likely end up going to sit with the President and others as added protection if need be.

"We can return to my ship when you're ready," the Rigelian offered. "Your vessel is tough, Captain, I am certain she will make the journey."

"I'd like to think so too," Hawkins replied hiding a weary sigh having received Haynes heated gaze.

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