Ant V. Boot
Posted on Mon Feb 28th, 2022 @ 4:09am by Lieutenant JG Rrawran & Galatea & Captain Ryan Walsh & Captain Nathan Bishop
947 words; about a 5 minute read
Mission:
749148
Location: USS Galileo
Timeline: 2430-09-09, 12:15
The Somerville Class Starship was a small vessel that was intended to replace the California Class as the backbone of Starfleet's secondary assignments. As such it was equipped for exploration and scientific missions; however, she was a combat capable vessel with powerful defensive shielding and a full compliment of weaponry. As Lieutenant Rrawran crossed through the small, cramped Bridge he could not escape the reality that this ship could end up being his tomb in space.
The Bridge of the vessel was not dissimilar to that of the standard Defiant Class escort ship. The Captain's Chair was centralized with the Helm/Ops workstation directly ahead of it. Four workstations lined the bulkheads (two on each side), but unlike the Defiant there was a single Tactical workstation and the Galileo sported two science stations in their place. The Admiral had made a point of ensuring that the vessel that served as their garrison ship was prepared for any exploratory missions that would find it; however, the ship had other secrets. With Enterprise serving as Starfleet One, Galileo remained essentially a lifeboat for the President should he need to escape quickly. It had to be able to survive.
Sitting at the Flight Controls, the Rorworr Lieutenant's white furred hand adjusted the controls. "Departure is ready at your command, Captain. Transponder frequencies are available to mask our signature." That was one of the benefits that the Galileo had and others did not. While the Treaty of Algernon strictly forbid the Federation from using Cloaking Technologies, Masking Circuits were another story entirely. Developed by an alien species in the Delta Quadrant known as the Kazon, Masking Circuits were among the Voyager Technologies. While they did not make a ship invisible, it served as a form of camouflage and helped hide the ship among the ether of the galaxy. They could still be seen by the naked eye though, but sensors had trouble locking on.
“I am ready as well.” Ryan spoke up. They needed to head out but it was Bishops call.
"Enterprise to Galileo," the voice of the temporary Captain interrupted. "Sensors are detecting the alien vessel landing troops on the surface. You need to deploy now."
Bishop listened to the message, gave a short nod and announced, "Let's get moving. Take us out. Mr.Rrawran."
After departing the Enterprise it didn't take long for the Somerville Class Starship USS Galileo to penetrate the border into the quarantined Talosian zone and for Lieutenant Rrawran every moment of this had been an exercise in preparing for the worst. Most in Starfleet had been told that the computer of the ship was programmed to automatically detonate the ship if you passed the quarantine line. So far though there was no evidence that the ship was at risk. Actually, if anything, it was performing better than usually.
They'd need every advantage.
Adjusting the course slightly they found it. On the far sensor feed the unidentified ship was looming, hovering over the planet like a Talarian Hook Spider wrapping its legs around its prey. They were still too far out to get an accurate tactical analysis, but readouts showed the ship was firing on the surface. The white furred alien raced his claws hands over the interface to confirm, devastated by what he saw, "They're under attack."
"We need to move quickly." Ryan called out. "Or our mission will be for naught."
"I have a preliminary tactical scan of the vessel," the wolf-like alien explained from the Helm. "Sensors are detecting phaser banks comparable to those of Starfleet One, plasma torpedo banks, and I am reading an indeterminant energy emitter that could be a weapon." He typed quickly, "They are no longer in motion, Captain, and are in parking orbit over the Talosian compound."
“This would be the perfect time to target them.” Ryan spoke up. “When they aren’t expecting us.”
Rrawran typed at the controls on the Flight console, "I'm not too certain if a fight would be in our best interests at this point. That ship is heavily armed, more so than we are, I'm not sure how long we'd last in a direct confrontation." The computer panel he was working started to violently chirp in alert. The alien Lieutenant typed on the panel, studying the readouts carefully, "They've spotted us and are en route. ETA 47 seconds. They're locking weapons!"
“Perhaps we should play hide and seek.” Ryan said. “Keep them occupied for a bit.”
"Anything would be better than getting directly attacked by whoever they are," he typed on the Helm quickly. "Their weapons are pretty formidable according to these scans. We won't be able to shake off too many hits."
"Then let's go for it." Ryan replied. "If we can stay ahead of them and keep dodging them that will buy us some time."
"Enterprise to Galileo."
"Go ahead Emterprise." Bishop answered pulling his attention away from Ryan and Rrawran.
"We are on approach to your location and will attempt to screen you from enemy fire. Your objective is to recover the away team as quickly as possible. We only have a few minutes available before Starfleet is made aware of Enterprise having crossed the border. I am going to have to disable our communications so we will be unable to communicate further."
"Understood Enterprise." Bishop answered as he closed the com. He looked at Ryan and Rrawran. "Enterprise is going to try and shield us from enemy fire. Our mission is simple. We get the away team and we get out as fast as we can." He looked round the bridge "Battle stations. "Mr. Rrawran, lets get the away team. Shields and weapons online. Let's do this."
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