Victory (Part 2 of 2)

Posted on 16 Sep 2020 @ 1:07pm by Rear Admiral Lirha Saalm & Commander Scarlet Blake & Commander Marisa Wyatt & Ensign Mimi & Lieutenant JG Sofie Ullswater & Commander Andreus Kohl & Chief Warrant Officer 2 Oliver Sylver & Cadet Senior Grade Jemima de la Coeur
Edited on on 16 Sep 2020 @ 1:09pm

3,052 words; about a 15 minute read

Mission: Episode 17 - Crystal of Life
Location: Latari System - Transit
Timeline: MD 04, 2340 hrs

Previously, on Victory (Part 1)...

In space at the far edge of the planetary system, the lingering Tholian frigate suddenly came about and charged its warp engine. Three blue nacelles on the silicon dart's hull illuminated then pulsed, leaving behind a thin dust trail along the path of their warp vector punctuated by a faint flash in the far distance.

"The last Tholian vessel is leaving the system. No local signatures detected. Stand by."

And Now, the Continuation...

[ON]

USS Galileo

Aboard the Nova-class refit, Captain Rasmussen's new orders echoed from the overhead speakers across all decks and compartments; an ever-gentle reminder of the magnitude of their current task. The auxiliary bridge console chirped and drew attention followed by a second notification of an incoming tactical report.

"The remaining Tholian ship's warped away," Diego reported. "Incoming ordinance transport to the main cargo bay."

Perched on the Captain's chair, Andreus Kohl cast a brief glance to the overhead. The sound of Rasmussen's voice could still cause a shiver of ancient PTSD to trail down Kohl's spine. In Kohl's heart, his service to the Lagrange's command team had become all mixed up with childhood feelings of inadequacy to his over-achiever adopted parents. Failing Rasmussen would feel, to Kohl, like a fate worse than death. "Make arrangements for the tricobalt warheads to be loaded in the torpedo launcher, Diego," ordered Kohl. To the tactical offer, Kohl added, "Do we know enough about Tholian warp systems to estimate their direction of travel?"

"Checking." The known physics of the universe fortunately lended themselves to the solution. Regardless of the means to achieve warp travel, the technology's end result remained the same. A warp signature was still a warp signature and therefore could be tracked. Diego worked his console for several seconds then shared the requested tactical data on the bridge's main viewscreen.

"They're headed on a reciprocal course from us out of the solar system at low warp." There was a momentary silence while Diego expanded the LCARS display, "At their current trajectory, they'll pass close to the Latari B system then leave the star system for good."

"Of course they are," Kohl replied wryly. Sitting forward in his chair, Kohl steepled his hands together in a nervous gesture. He took the moment to press his hands closer, stretching out stiff muscles in his forearms -- stiff from all that white-knuckle gripping of the armrests. "Sylver, lay in a course to the Latari B system," Kohl ordered. "Prepare to leave in one minute."

"Yes Sir," Sylver said, taking a deeper breath as he got the coordinates up, inputting them, but not engaging. For now, the numbers were just sitting there, waiting for the press of light fingers that would send them in the queue, which would take milliseconds once the order had been given to the computer. "Course laid, ready on your command."

"de la Coeur," Kohl said, as he angled his head towards the science station where the Cadet was posted. "Before we engage, I want short and long range sensors sweating from exertion. The moment we reach Latari B, I want to know if there's a single particle of anything that even smells Tholian or Genesis wave-like."

"Yes, sir." Jemima hoped they'd find nothing amiss. She was feeling lightheaded and nauseous at what she'd seen so far. Blowing up planets and destroying star systems was not what she signed up for.


USS Kali

Navrin had watched the final Tholian signal leave their sensor display for good. It was a moment of relief but as the orders came through from Lagrange she couldn't help but sigh. "We're never done are we?" She said to nobody in particular before responding to Rasmussen's message "This is Kali, acknowledged." Turning then to the internal comms again she took a moment to compose herself. The crew needed time to recover - a significant hull breach on Deck 5, dozens reported missing, and the impulse drives complaining with every step. This felt like no time to be going back to red alert, warping into the relative unknown. How many Tholians might be hiding behind some moon?

But this was Kali one of Starfleet's most fearsome warships with its most resilient crew. Navrin knew she could trust them to pull through this but as Galileo's first officer exited the ready room her doubts about this diverse bridge crew began to gnaw at her. "This is the captain," she broadcast throughout the ship "We have word from Lagrange that our work is not yet done. Prepare for warp, we are moving back to red alert. We may yet have another chance to show that we are Starfleet's finest crew. Navrin out."

As the red alert tone began to sound out once again Navrin got back to her feet - there was work to be done. "Mosette, bring us to follow Lagrange, keep formation." She then turned to Blake, just back from the ready room and asked with a tone of intense seriousness "Is there anything you need to tell me Commander?"

Blake nodded as she moved in close to her, hands behind her back as she met her eyes. "It was Wyatt from Galileo," she said softly. "He said that the Tholian ship was holding steady just outside of weapon's range," she shook her head lightly, glancing across the bridge to the mixed crew. "We don't know why, but I don't think it's safe to dismiss them completely yet."

Navrin gave a grunt of acknowledgement. She didn't know this commander well but from the way that she spoke Navrin didn't suspect she was hiding anything. "It seems Captain Rasmussen agrees, we're back to red alert. Also we're warping to Latari B in just a moment." With a wave of her hand she pulled up the astrometric data on Latari B and its orbiting objects and pointed to Latari B III "You were there. If you have any insight as to what we'll see when we get there I would very much appreciate it."

Blake nodded, looking across the bridge to get Sandoval's attention, motioning her over with a flick of her hand. "Survivors, a lot of them, over a thousand," she said quickly, shaking her head. "But they don't have long left. Their landscape has become catastrophic, my scientific crew only estimates a few days before they face devastation from volcanic winter."

"That will complicate things," Navrin shook her head, if Rasmussen had known this then she hadn't been briefed properly. "Given the damage she's sustained Kali isn't going to be of too much use in an emergency evacuation but we'd still have some capacity." The Tellarite rubbed her forehead - evacuating over a thousand people while potentially under enemy fire? This was going to be madness. "We'll need to inform Lagrange and Galileo. I wish we still had the data you collected."

"But I do," Marisa said. "I've been paranoid that I'd lose them." She pulled back a tear in her pant leg to show several sample packs strapped to her leg. "I also have my PADD and tricorder with the data." She removed those as well. "We can't leave those colonists behind. We promised to get them off. In fact, if they hadn't repaired the Waverider, we would still be with them."

Blake nodded with both approval and agreement, letting out a soft but tight breath. She hoped that Duke had reconsidered his stance. He'd seemed determined not to abandon the colony, but there really was no other option at this point. It seemed with everything they'd missed...a lot, of which, she had the sense she hadn't been entirely filled in on yet...they couldn't afford the time to both persuade them to leave and get them out of there. "Sandoval managed to get data on both the environment and first contact with a silicon based creature that is connected with the changes down there."

Slightly taken aback by the unorthodox on-the-leg nature of data transportation Galileo's science officer had employed Navrin turned in the direction of Pärt sharing a glance that communicated something along the lines of Impressive, eh? "This data will be of vital importance to understanding what is going on here. Offload all you can into our computer." Evry said addressing the science officer. "We'll need to have it in a usable state and sent over to both Galileo and Lagrange as soon as possible." Before any more could be said she barked an order in the direction operations and positioned herself in the centre of the room "Hail Lagrange and Galileo, tell them its urgent, bring it up on-screen."

"Aye, aye." Marisa was pleased to finally be able to use the data she'd guarded. Especially if it would make them see sense. She didn't know all the details, but the feeling she was getting from the senior officers wasn't good. "I'll need a science lab for the specimens, but I'll get it together as quickly as I can."


USS Galileo

Within the small bridge, internal reports from various departments continued to roll in as the time to departure quickly ticked down. The bridge officers in the red-strobed command center mostly remained silent while they tended to incoming sitreps and updated system statuses.

The fleet comm channel came alive once again with a squelch. "Twenty seconds to warp," came the call from Lagrange's helm officer who began the countdown.

"Tricobalt warheads secure and loaded," reported Diego. "All weapon systems online, shields at eighty percent and still charging."

Leaning back in his chair, Kohl crossed his left ankle over his right knee. Pivoting his head from side to side, he took in the breadth of the bridge. As his eyes met Diego's, Kohl offered a nod of appreciation. Then to them all, Kohl remarked, "Prepare for warp jump."

As the countdown got lower and lower Mimi was caught up in hoping that the ship would actually make it into warp given the damage she'd taken that when her console flashed a signal she was a little surprised. "Message coming in from the Kali Sir." She called out.

"Thank you, Mimi," Kohl said softly. After clearing his throat, he ordered, "Put it on screen," and he waved a hand in the direction of the forward viewscreen.

"Captain Rasmussen, Commander Kohl." Navrin, Kali's Tellarite captain, appeared on the view screen nodding a greeting to both of the other starships' captains respectively "We need to immediately reconsider our current course of action." She spoke with some urgency obvious in her voice "The Vincenzo away team have reported that a group of over a thousand Federation citizens are on Latari B III and will need to be evacuated as a priority."

The plump task group commanding officer appeared on the screen sweaty and visibly agitated. Rasmussen quickly shook his head in a stern reply. "Negative, captain. We're already committed." Now was not the time for last-second jitters or new unsubstantiated intel, his traditional mind decided. The only thing which truly mattered was executing the Genesis Directive and destroying the protomatter signatures. His bridge was abuzz with activity in the background and Lagrange's helm officer gave the final countdown.

"Ten seconds."

On the Galileo bridge, Commander Kohl was leaned back in his seat, but his posture was tense. "Captain," Kohl said. He spoke softly, through gritted teeth. "Respectfully," Kohl said, trying not to overly-emote, trying not to even move. "A thousand lives." No matter how much he tried, the words came out curt and guttural.

Captain Navrin didn't really know either the commander nor Rasmussen all that well but it didn't take a moment for her to realise there was clearly something more here. Rasmussen's response had been so quick it was like he hadn't even considered the news or like he had been expecting it. Her face darkened as realisation hit: this hadn't changed his plan at all. Evry's voice turned to a low accusatory growl "You knew. You already knew there were survivors." She threw a glance at Kohl "Both of you?" there was a pause "Did you know how many?"

Across the viewscreen, Rasmussen adjusted his uniform by tugging at the bottom of the chest material. A nervous gesture perhaps, but also a reinforcement of his authority. "There was always the possibility of leaving colonists behind," he coldly revealed. "We all share this burden of the Genesis Directive. Now, focus on your orders and prepare for warp. The needs of the many depend on us."

"Five seconds," called the helmsman.

From the second display on the viewscreen, Kohl reported, "My science team have reached no discoveries." His eyes were on the down; he still spoke softly. "No methods to contain a Genesis wave, nor to render Genesis particles inert."

"I..." Kali's captain was at a loss for words, her voice betraying a good deal of turmoil "I understand."

Situated in formation alongside Galileo and Kali, USS Lagrange's large nacelles started to glow with increasing intensity as the MacPherson-class prepared to enter low warp.

Perched on the Captain's Chair of the USS Galileo, Commander Andreus Kohl stared at the viewscreen behind glassy eyes. "CONN, on my mark," he said without any inflection. He raised a hand and he used it to gesture onward. His voice took on the gravity of the doomed, when Kohl gave the order to "Engage."

Meanwhile Kali's bridge was solemn. Evry was doing her best to avoid eye contact with the Vincenzo crew. "Mosette." She called out in, recovering slightly her air of authority. The lieutenant turned around to look at the captain as if unsure what to do. Evry just nodded her head "Take us to warp."

In space, the three silver-hulled Starfleet vessels synchronized their alignment towards the Latari B system then sequentially elongated and snapped into Warp 1. Distant engine flares flashed in the near cosmos then faded, leaving the destroyed world of Latari A III behind to an unknown fate.


USS Galileo

The Nova-class' holographic main viewscreen displayed the familiar rush of streaking stars along the sides of their flight path. The warp jump was only momentary across such a short distance yet each second felt like minutes. The bridge remained dark and illuminated by silent red strobes which bathed the various LCARS consoles in crimson hues. Then, through the darkness, came another alert from the rear of the command center, its distinctive computer tone indicating a tactical update.

Lieutenant Diego's LCARS panel was suddenly alive with multiple new intermittent short-range contacts closing quickly on the Starfleet task group's warp vector. "Captain I'm detecting new warp signatures..."

The conn terminal was now also blinking with new sensor alerts and nav data.

Sylver frowned as he looked at the incoming warp signatures, his mouth suddenly dry. "Confirm, sir! We have three warp signatures on intercept course to the task group at Lataria B III," he called out, shaking his head. Another three contacts...t was not a good sign.

The overhead fleet comms from Lagrange sounded the countdown back to impulse speed. "Four seconds."

"These warp signatures, Diego," asked Commander Kohl, his voice steady but his left leg was jittery, "are they coming with transponder signals or subspace markers?"

There was a painfully long silence while the security officer tried to discern the identity of the new incoming vessels. There were no IFF transmissions from any of the contacts. The ship's computer ran complex algorithms within its database to compare the warp wakes against known technologies, but no direct matches were found - including anything which could be considered Starfleet.

"Negative," Diego answered to the captain, looking up from his console back to Kohl with tense eyes. "I don't think they're friendly."


Latari B III, High Orbit

Halfway across the star system near another sun, the Class-M world Latari B III came into view in its blue and green glory. The Earth-like planet glowed softly amid the blackness of the stars and could easily be considered paradise by any standard. Large oceans and major continents were situated in harmony surrounded by small island chains. Puffy cloud formations littered the atmosphere, diverse and robust. But suddenly the majestic tranquility of the exoplanet was torn away by the presence of a massive, molten geological event taking place on the far side of the surface. As Latari B III slowly rotated, what appeared to be a circular crater of volcanic destruction revealed itself to be expanding in all directions - destroying all life in its path.

Three bright flashes appeared in space above the planet, bursting then disappearing in consecutive sequence. The Starfleet task group arrived and decelerated to low impulse above the world, but were suddenly joined by another unknown presence.

Multiple spacial blurs in the distance rapidly approached and closed in on the Federation starships. Within seconds, three more incoming warp signatures merged on their position and burst into close proximity as they also slowed to sublight speed.

Three new Tholian vessels pierced the warp barrier into impulse right on top of Lagrange, Kali and Galileo. Gray-hulled and six-sided-geometric in appearance, they were massive in size compared to the smaller silicon frigates encountered earlier. Their unmistakable forward polygonal cones maneuvered to face their enemy with intimidating pointed features.

The rest of the Tholian task group had arrived.

To Be Continued...

[OFF]

--

All Crew, USS Galileo-A

Lieutenant Diego
Security Officer
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC Saalm]

ENS Sofie Ullswater
Science Officer
USS Kali

All Crew, USS Kali
[NPCs Ullswater]

CMDR Scarlet Blake
First Officer
USS Galileo-A

LT Marisa Sandoval
Chief Science Officer
USS Galileo-A

Captain Rasmussen
Commanding Officer
USS Lagrange
[NPC Saalm]

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