From alton.reich@snet.net Sun Jun 7 12:04:32 1998 Date: Wed, 27 May 1998 06:09:15 -0400 From: Alton and Elizabeth Reich To: distribution:@snet.net; (see end of body) Subject: USS YAMATO: Discretion iMight Have Been the Better Part of Valor Newsgroups: alt.starfleet.rpg SD: 100527.0600 [Scene Captain's Ready Room FMD: 7.1630-ish] > As the Ready Room doors closed behind the departing officer, Stern > looked at the current acting Medical Chief. "You say that like he is > Lisa's chosen parcipiant." > > "He is." the Aussie replied evenly. > > Stern half-choked on his sip of coffee. He hadn't realized that. > > "Commander Connor knew that, and has enough knowledge about Shaytonian > physiology to know that Lisa's in danger. However--damn their > respective senses of duty--he is just as reluctant to neglect his > duties, just as she is, for *any* length of time." > > "And what happens if the doctor cannot perform this 'emotional > clensing?'" Stern asked. > > "Her emotions will remain off balance, shes'll emit rough emotion to > those around her, her poison ducts will continue to pool until overflow, > and--in the most extremes of prolonged conditions--neural degredation, > paralysis of extremities and even death." > > "How long before she reaches that point?" > > "A while. Not sure exactally, Captain. Three, maybe four weeks." "So I'll have to give CMDR Connor some on ship liberty within that time frame," Isaac said. "Yes, Sir, and the sooner the better." "Why?" "The longer she waits, the more difficult the clensing will be. If she waits too long, there's a chance CMDR Connor will not survive," Jules replied. "Dr. Mara would kill him?" "Not intentionally, of course, but she needs certain biological compounds and she is going to take them from CMDR Connor. His supply is constant and her demands are going to grow." Isaac shook his head, "I can't spare him right now. The trip back to OMEGA will take just over a day, though." ""Excellent idea, CAPT. I would suggest providing CMDR Connor with a bottle of white wine. I've always found that it helps to set the right mood." "So noted, Dr. MacDonald. I'll be sure to supply a corkscrew as well. There's nothing worse than a bottle of wine without a way to pull the cork," Isaac sighed, "Keep me posted on Dr. Mara's condition. I'll free up CMDR Connor as soon as I can." "Aye, Sir." *** [Insert Kris' post here.] *** [FMD: 7.1700 RDN Cruiser HMS BROADSWORD- CDOR Borak Thornton's office] "Comodore," the communications officer said, "I regret to inform you that another of the picket ships has been destroyed. In addition, the FALCON reports that they detected a tritanium alloy used in Federation torpedo casings in the debris from the LYNX." "So the Federation is still interested in Burrakis," the Comodore said, "Has the Federation ship been detected?" "No, Sir. We have been unable to detect it." "They may be using cloaking technology. Stolen from the Romulans, no doubt. Put the fleet on alert. Double up the picket ships at the edge of the system. Let's see if they have the spine to attack two ships at once." "Aye, Sir. Shall I recall the COUGAR?" CDOR Thornton considered for a moment. The COUGAR had been recalled by fleet command to participate in the attack on the Federation starbase, did he really need her to defend Burrakis? "No," he said finally, "we will deal with this threat without her." "Yes, Sir." *** [FMD: 7.1730 Bridge - Science Station] Isaac Stern and Alex Connor stood looking at the holo-display between the SCI and TAC ststions with LT Cassandra Stephens. "I've attempted to work out an optimal attack vector," she said, "I think this will put us in a good position to fire." The simulation in the holodisplay began to move forward showing the YAMATO moving toward the Dalriadan ship and firing her torpedoes at a hyperspace jump engine before recloaking. Isaac shook his head, "It leaves us in the firing arc of their broad side battery for the entire target acquisition period." "What if we run down the length of the Dalriadan ship from aft?" Alex asked. "I ran that simulation, CMDR, and it makes the timing for firing torpedoes difficult," Cassandra responded, "The torpedoes fired from the weapons pod have to arc around the primary hull and so they need to be fired 5 seconds before the torpedoes from the main launcher. When we fire we would need to be in the firing arc of their aft weapons array." "Sir," LT D'artgnan said from the lower portion of the bridge, "what if we were to attack them from the Z-axis?" "What do you mean, LT?" Cassandra asked. Bregnan stood up from the OPS station and walked to the back of the bridge, "I mean you have to think like helmsman. Most people think of flying space craft like they think of the world around them, with 2 horizontal directions, and a vertical direction. In space those concepts become meaningless. Up is the direction above your head, but it also doesn't have to match anyone else's up. Understand?" "I think so, LT," Isaac said, "What would you suggest?" "When we attack, we point the ship at the location we want to hit and we go straight for it," his hands moved over the controls for the holotank and the simulation reset, except this time the YAMATO was pointed downward, directly above the Dalriadan cruiser. When the simulation began moving forward the YAMATO began moving downward and the torpedoes were launched toward their target at the same time. "We'll have to make a course correction after launch to avoid getting caught in the hyperspatial field forming around the Dalriadan ship, but that shouldn't be a problem." "What do you think, CMDR?" Isaac asked Alex. "A vector approach from that angle keeps us out of their major weapons arrays, but is most likely going to bring us dangerously close to their engine wash when we pass by. A two dimentional approach may be safer, but it does sound like a reasonable plan, Captain. My big concern, however, is that there's no guarantee that this ship is leaving the central region of the system to do anything but patrol." "I have a gut feeling CMDR. LT D'artgnan work with LT Stephens to work out an optimal location to shadow the Dalriadan ship from." "Aye, Sir." *** [FMD: 7.1800 HMS COUGAR - Captain's Office] CAPT Igor Vetman looked out his office window at the sun of the Burrakis system shrinking in the distance. Soon they would reach the jump point and join the fleet for the attack on the Federation base. The door chime rang, and he turned and called out, "Come in." The door slid open and his first officer walked in, "Sir, the ship is at alert status," he reported. "Very well, CMDR. How far are we from the jump point?" "Ten minutes, Sir," he paused for a moment, "Sir, I have heard that the system is under attack by a cloaked SOLAR class cruiser." CAPT Vetman looked at him for a moment and said, "I have heard nothing of the sort, CMDR. Even if we are, I relish the opportunity to take on any Federation vessel. Understood?" "Yes, Sir." "Good. I'll be on the bridge in a moment." *** [FMD: 7.1810 Bridge - YAMATO] They had been in position for more than 30 minutes, following the Dalriadan ship at a velocity of 0.5c when LT M'gan announced, "CAPT, the Dalriadan ship is slowing down, Sir." "Are they preparing to go to hyperspace?" Isaac asked. "It's too early to tell, Sir," LT D'artgnan replied. "LT M'gan, match speed," Isaac ordered. "Aye, matching speed." "Their power profile is changing, CAPT," LT Stephens said, "They are powering up their hyperspac jump engines." "LT Trisx confirm target lock and arm flux torpedoes." "Aye, Sir." "LT Stephens, we will commence the attack on your mark." "Aye... Mark!" Cassandra called. "LT M'gan, begin attack run. LT D'artgnan stand-by to decloak the ship." "Standing by," Bregnan replied while next to him LT M'gan's hands flew over the controls. The YAMATO rotated so that hew bow was pointing toward the top of the Dalriadan ship and she accelerated slightly toward her target. "The hyperspatial bubble is beginning to form," Cassandra reported. "Decloak the ship, establish target lock and fire when ready." *** [FMD:7.1810 HMS COUGAR - Bridge] CAPT Vetman looked around his bridge and could not help thinking about the upcoming battle at the Federation Starbase. He and his crew had trained hard and he was dissapointed with their posting at Burrakis. He had no desire to watch over miners when there was a war to fight. Orders to join the attacking fleet had come as a welcome surprise and crew morale had improved in that instant. Now the moment had come to leave Burrakis behind and join the fleet. "Helm, engage the hyper drive," Vetman said calmly. "Yes, Sir, engaging drive," the reply was crisp. The proximity alarm began to sound and Vetman spun toward the weapons station, "Identify target." "A single Federation ship is decloaking, light cruiser displacement. They have a weapons lock and are firing." Vetman hesitated, if he were to disengage the hyperdrive, they could tar the Federation ship to shreads. If he didn't the Federation ship would likely get away while the COUGAR joined the fleet. He felt rather than heard the torpedoes hit his ship far aft of the main bridge. He shook his head, the chioce was obvious, and fleet command would understand his tardiness. "Disengage hyper drive and prepare to return fire." *** [FMD 7.1810 Bridge - USS YAMATO] "Torpedoes away," LT Trisx announced. "LT M'gan execute the escape course correction," Alex ordered. "LT D'artgnan stand by to recloak the ship," Isaac added. "Standing by." The 24 torpedoes launched by the YAMATO formed a tight cluster of blue streaks as they sped toward the COUGAR. The flux torpedoes slammed into a 10 square meter area of the Dalriadan gravity wedge and seared through it with an intense burst of energy. The energy pulse turned the hull of the cruiser to molten plasma that streaked inward into the ship. The ball of plasma tore hyperspace jump drive node 6A in to two large and several smaller pieces. Even as CAPT Vetman gave the order to disengage the hyperdrive, the forces within the hyperspatial field began to tear at his ship. Hull structural integrity alarms on the bridge began to scream as the COUGAR began to unzip. The next node forward was destroyed an instant later which accelerated the unzipping effect. The aft fusion reactor exploded in a ball of white hot plasma. "CAPT," LT Stephens shouted, "hyperspatial compression wave impact in 2 seconds." The YAMATO was overtaken by the wave of intense energy and thrown like a toy. The ship was accelerated away from the burning hulk of the COUGAR at just under the speed of light and left behind as the wave dissapated. On the bridge only the emergency lights remained lit, and Isaac heard Bregnan mutter, "Bloody hell," as he pushed himself back into a sitting position from leaning on his panel. "Status report," Isaac said as calmly as he could manage. "Main power is off line," Bregnan reported, "sensors show 4 Dalriadan ships headed our way." "ETA?" Alex asked. "About 30 minutes at high impulse. We were thrown quite a distance, Sir." "I'm afraid I underestimated the magnitude of the shock wave that would result from destroying a ship transitioning into hyperspace," LT Stephens said from aft. "I think you did, LT," Isaac replied. He punched the comm button on his chair, "Stern to engineering." [Wolfe here, Sir.] "LT, I need either warp power or the cloaking device in 20 minutes or we're going to be nothing more than names on a list of casualties. Understood?" [Aye, Sir. I'll see if I've got a spare miricle here somewhere.] "Good. We need it. Stern out." Timeline: FMD: 7.1630-ish Discussion about Lisa in the ready room. Alton FMD: 7.1700 HMS BROADSWORD- CDOR Borak Thornton gets news of Federation attack. Alton FMD: 7.1730 Discussion about tactics at science station Alton FMD: 7.1800 HMS COUGAR CAPT Vetman reassures his XO. Alton FMD: 7.1810 The YAMATO attacks and destroys the COUGAR, but is damaged by the hyperspatial compression wave. Alton NRPG: I want to apologize for taking so long with this post. It's alergy season here in the northeastern US, and I'm about half dead. I know it isn't good when I leave for work in the morning and there is a coating of yellow dust on my car thick enough to write my name in. This attack is the last big event in the Burrakis system. We need some miricles from engineering and then the YAMATO will be heading back to OMEGA for the big dance. As I said in my last NRPG, Les, have fun. Karen: there will no doubt be some injuries for sickbay to deal with. Kris: Sorry about picking on Cassandra like that, she was an easy target. Josh: Bregnan can help with damage control if that tickles your fancy. Jeff J: I'm expecting Isaac to contact OMEGA in my next post (or maybe the one after that). He'll report on the action around Burrakis. If you have anything specific you want ADM Brooks to say, just let me know. I think that's it. Respectfully submitted, CAPT Isaac Stern CO - USS YAMATO (NCC-1705-E) Alton Reich -- Alton & Elizabeth Reich alton.reich@snet.net "Dreams are sometimes catching / Desire goes to my head / Love responds to your invitation / Love responds to imagination / Respond, Vibrate, Feed Back, Resonate" -- Rush, Chain Lightning %%% overflow headers %%% To: Josh Young , jyoung@nqks.com, Pat Schumacher , Gabrielle Blair , Jeff Uribe , Les Chappelle , Janis Hill , Vicke Denniston , vicden1@yahoo.com, Kristine Berg , Karen Fainges , Alexs Thompson , Jeffrey Jenkins , Dana Loeblich , George Harmon %%% end overflow headers %%%