Weapons of Mass Distraction

Posted on Fri Nov 29th, 2019 @ 10:27pm by Commodore Wilkan Targaryen & Lieutenant (J.G.) Rrawran & Commander Zephryn Kaldiran & Commander Nathan Hawkins & Commander Ash Randall & Patton O'Sullivan
Edited on on Thu Jan 2nd, 2020 @ 5:08pm

2,502 words; about a 13 minute read

Mission: Atlantis
Location: Military Threat Assessment Center, Starfleet One
Timeline: 2429-12-03, 22:00

Lieutenant Rrawran walked on all fours into the Military Threat Assessment Center of Starfleet One. It was unusual for many to see a quadrapedal crewmember, but, in this instance, Rrawran knew that it allowed him to move faster. They were running low on time and the Preserver Juggernaut was still out there - a threat to all of them.

The Military Threat Assessment Center was located on Deck One of Starfleet One and was a holdover from its previous mission as Flagship of the Federation and the 16th Fleet. Admiral Teagarden had had the room installed as a command center for when the Enterprise led a fleet in large scale tactical engagements. It wasn't a large room, the Admiral's Ready Room was larger, but ever square meter of space was either filled with a workstation or monitor providing them with real-time date.

Entering from the aft wall, Rrawran first saw the massive viewscreen displaying a tactical scan of the Preserver ship. The situation table was located in the center of the room and a holographic model of the Preserver ship also appeared there with several officers studying it. Both side walls had data on the space immediately surrounding the ship and the list of the nearest ships to them should they need reinforcements. Each of the consoles was static filled despite their recent patch and the hologram was far more ghostly than before.

Rising to his hindlegs, Rrawran joined his superiors at the table, "Sorry I'm late."

“We were just getting started,” Patton replied. “Looking at our options.” It was weighing on him that they might have to go with a last resort weapon.

"Indeed," Hawkins moved closer to the pale hologram hoovering at the work station. He felt drained from the days events, the sense of danger the Preserver ship was crushing and the loss of their key attribute Glatea had been devastating. Without her their own vessel was in peril therefore they couldn't afford to delay, he hoped the strong coffee he'd finished would kick in soon.

"These are the scans collected by Commander Randell and away party earlier," the Commander tapped the table top bringing up the data that overlay the holo. "Her drones were very effective in mapping large sections of the ships internal structure allowing us more data than external scans could. With our limited processing power it's unlikely we're be able to collect any more information unless Bishop can retrieve anything new, however by then it may too late."

Nathan glanced to O'Sullivan: "Can you find any more the data banks regarding previous encounters with a Juggernaut?"

“We have collected more on it than anyone else ever has,” Patton informed them. “We are going to have to do the best we can with what we know here.”

"Rrawran," Hawkins continued. "You saw the ship first hand, what were your thoughts about it?"

"That I was glad to come home," the alien answered from near the table. "The Preserver ship is unlike any other that I've encountered. It looks more like a living organism than a starship, its components truly alien. It's hard to describe." The universal translator struggled to keep up.

He pressed at the controls, "The structure resembles bone and makes a natural armor. We still haven't figured out their weapons and defenses."

“We need to be able to penetrate that armor,” Patton spoke up. “What can we compare it to?”

Rrawran brought up a sensor scan, "It's a lot similar to monotanium alloy, one of the strongest armors encountered. It's very difficult to penetrate with conventional methods, fortunately we have some unconventional options."

"We have standard Photons and Quantum Torpedoes available," he brought up the weapon loadout, "Polaron and Tachyon Torpedoes are also available in addition to our Phasers."

“Let’s build this weapon,” Patton said to them. “We don’t know how much time we have. I am as leery as you both are but we may not have a choice.”

The alien Tactical Officer looked at the schematics on the holotable, pointing to sections of interest. "This ship is like a giant horseshoe. If we could find the right structural pressure point we could maybe bring the whole system down."

“I will run some deeper scans,” Patton said. “I’m looking for an area where if we hit it, it would be rendered useless, correct?”

Rrawran paused, carefully considering if he wanted to progress further with the suggestion he was about to make. He looked at Patton then at Nathan. "As much as we all care for Galatea... should we make destroying her a priority?"

"I know what you mean," Hawkins sighed at Rrawran's question. "Unless Bishop can convince her I'm not sure we have much other choice. The Juggernaut presents an unprecedented danger especially should it stir, with Galatea on board and some what compromised she may now possess the power to do just that."

“If she will not listen,” O’Sullivan added. “Then she is the enemy. I hate saying that but we have everyone on board to think of.”

The Commander returned his gaze to the holo images. "These areas here," he pointed to the curves in the horseshoe shape. "Would be traditionally the weakest point in a ordinarily horseshoe bent by the farrier. I think we should target these areas."

Patton looked over the images and nodded in agreement. “Once we hit them, we will need to be prepared for an unknown surprise or two.” It always paid to have backup, just in case thing don’t go as they should.

"I would recommend that we reroute all available power to the ablative hull armor generators," the Rorworr suggested. He typed on the workstation panel, "That way we have the added benefit of the additional protection. Scans suggest that that ship may have antiproton weaponry at its disposal. If it does we would be at a significant disadvantage."

He typed on the workstation and began to run a simulation of the plan. The computer flickered and lagged, but the program began to execute. On the screen a wireframe replica of the Preserver ship began to maneuver as, first, Photon Torpedoes slammed into the vessel's structure. A simulated explosion appeared as the Torpedoes detonated, but the structure remained solid. The simulation repeated with Quantum Torpedoes. The blue torpedoes impacted the hull of the enemy vessel and created a large scale explosion. The hull appeared to break in places, but the vessel was not significantly damaged. The purple Polaron Torpedoes did a similar amount of damage as the crimson Photons. The emerald Tachyon Torpedoes caused superficial damage to the hull structure as the energies struck through the vessel to disable it.

Rrawran let out a slight yip of frustration, "None of the Torpedoes alone were able to destroy the vessel."

“Can we add something to our torpedos to give us a possible game changer,” Patton suggested. “Something that could cause a larger explosion or might affect their hull.”

Watching the simulation flicker as it played Nathan rubbed his tired eyes. "Would an internal explosion have a greater result?"

"It could," Rrawran pecked at the console. "The Polaron Torpedoes are designed to penetrate shielding, but aren't much stronger than an old Spatial Torpedo destruction wise. Do we think Galatea would be crazy enough to just let us beam one aboard?"

"No, not likely," Hawkins shook his head thoughtfully. "Tachyon torpedoes could disable or disrupt her systems to give us a longer attack window."

More simulations followed as the team looked for the correct ratio. Each of the simulations had the same results, but one was proving more effective than the rest.

The doors slid open, "What do we have?" The Admiral was flanked by the Ops Manager and Engineer.

Commander Randall moved into the MTAC along with the Admiral and peered at what was on the, static plagued, displays and nodded to herself. It was just like with their last encounter. The Juggernaut could shrug off their conventional inventory and then would rip them apart. "Same issues as before, it seems." Ash observed, indicating the tactical simulations.

“One seems like it could be on the right track,” Patton spoke up. “But we haven’t found anything definitive.”

William looked around at the collection of personnel. He crossed his arms as he stood at the table, looking at the holographic replica of the Preserver ship as it hovered above the panels. "How can something that looks so benign, so friendly, be harboring such dangerous secrets aboard?" He smiled a moment as he said it, thinking of the history of this very ship and her encounters over the years. To him Starfleet One was one of the most beautiful vessels that he had ever seen. It was amazing how alike both vessels were in that regard. It was probably also why Galatea was so attached to the Preserver ship.

"So then tell me what we have that isn't definitive?" He continued politely.

"We're still experimenting with different scenarios," Hawkins moved toward the Admiral and his team. "As Ash said our standard firepower isn't enough to destroy the vessel out right. Considering previous encounters with the Perseveres we need to neutralise them swiftly, ideally with one or two assaults before it can retaliate."

Commander Randall took up station, out of the way, and waited to hear what wasn't definitive. She knew, ultimately, what the problem was going to boil down to. There were ways to boost the yield of a quantum torpedo to levels that could destroy the Juggernaut, outright. However, a high enough yield to destroy the Juggernaut, outright, was going to have a 'shockwave' associated with it that would cripple or destroy Starfleet One and the floating city they were orbiting above. They needed a shape charge, or the equivalent, or some way to maximize the destructive effect of the 50 or so Isotons of explosive force. She had some ideas on how to accomplish this but was going to wait and see what Hawkins and company has come up with.

Zeph had followed Will and Ash in discreetly, looking over the simulations. He now added his own knowledge. "The Preserver ship is organic. Therefore, Thalaron radiation will affect and destroy it. If you add in Zeta and Zoranic blocking psisonic radiations, you can corrupt and disintegrate the hull cellular level and isolate the hull dynamics that would be directly affected by starship weaponry. Would the team desire a Thaloran generation Isotope and a Mesonaic Brainwave radiation dynamics that would include Zeta and Zoranic radiations?"

Rrawran's jaw dropped at the recommendation. "That would kill everyone and possibly us too!"

William grinned, "There are no wrong answers, but I think we'll call that Plan B, Commander. Thalaron Radiation and its usage is banned in the Federation and neighboring powers by the Khitomer Accords." He swiped at the hologram, making it spin amidst the flickering. "So, the simulations that we've run so far I take it didn't go too well?"

“They didn’t,” Patton shook his head. “We aren’t giving up though."

"That's why I like you, Commander," William answered quickly as he stood next to the table. "So, you've run simulations with the torpedoes. You've done a mix of different types. What's worked so far? What hasn't? What do you think we could try that we haven't so far?"

Ash looked around the MTAC for a couple of seconds while she considered what she could and couldn't propose as options by order of the very person who was asking for options. "You know my philosophy, Admiral. Nothing is impossible, but, is it a good idea?" The Engineer, said, quietly. "With our existing inventory we can fashion a weapon that will cripple or destroy the Juggernaut without destroying the colony or ourselves." She stated. "WE just need to turn a quantum torpedo into the 25th century equivalent of a 21st century, depleted uranium, anti-tank round." She announced. "Turn it into a 250 megaton shape charge using a rodinium core. Ten or twelve kilo of molten rodinium should cut the Juggernaut it in half." Ash finished.

William looked at the Security Officers, "Could that be accomplished?"

“We believe it can,” Patton said with confidence. “We should, at this point it is our only option.”

"I agree," Hawkins nodded. "Increasing the weapon yield without causing harm to ourselves and the planet was to be the next stage in our simulations. Your knowledge of how this could be done surpasses mine Ash so I'd leave that delicate part in your care."

Zeph stated an equation of understanding, "If you put a crystalline aligned molybdenum alloy with a quartz aligned atomic molecule into the rodinium, that would create a psi-wave disruptor to handle the psionics and subconscious theta waves. This weapon would give us the best chance of cutting the persevor ship in half and disrupting all interference with living and matrix AI simulations. And, the output would create a psi umbrella of protection for those in the ships about, including us."

Hawkins breifly glanced at Zeph and Ash hoping they were on the same wavelength about that. Given how tired Nathan felt Zeph's entire thought chain had escaped him. He shook himself back into focus; "We've had had increased success with Tachyon Torpedoes as well ," he continued demonstrating this on holo.

Commander Randall watched the holo and then looked to Zeph. "Good call." Was all she said, not wanting to get into the specific reason the modification was so important. Basically, the Preserver ship would, probably, issue a psychic scream that would melt all their brains and the mod to the rodinium core would provide a temporary shield from that effect. "Hopefully it will hold long enough to save us." She added.

William may've started his career in the Engineering Division, but he was far from an expert. He looked at Commander Hawkins as he was in charge of this plan, "Your decision, Commander?"

Nathan sighed wearily as Teagarden pressed him for an answer. He wished there was more time to explore options before giving his decision. Truthfully they may not even need to fire upon the vessel at all, Bishop may have come to a peaceful conclusion, though if he failed they'd be forced to destroy Galatea also. "We need both," he spoke at length. "Tachyon Torpedoes to disrupt their systems from responding or countering and the upgraded Quantum to break the hull."

Ash looked to Admiral Teagarden. "Admiral Riker confiscated my static field generator for 'study' after the incident that nearly destroyed this ship a few years ago. He never said I couldn't make another one." She noted, offering up the option of using one as a last resort.

"True, Commander, but I feel Commander Hawkins has the best plan for the time we have," he looked at the former CO of the Vigilance, "Execute his plan. The away team will proceed over in an hour. Let's be ready to go then."

"Let's hope it won't be required, but we'll be ready if needed." Hawkins nodded.

 

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