| Author | Message | ||
     William Daren |
The new bridge, located deeper inside the ship on Deck 9, was quiet. Commander Daren sat in the Center Command chair reading over a PADD and sipping a mug of warm coffee. "Kelaka has departed with USS Resolute and the others via Slipstream...", Lieutenant Marcy reported from Tactical. Daren nodded, "Inform CW Crystal Palace we're ready to depart as soon as Renegade and her party get underway" He looked to Wilk, "Lay in your course for the Artemis system and prepare to engage on my command." Out in space, Renegade intiated the slipstream conduit and took off as MRF Pearl and USS Odyssey followed under their own power. At the Tactical station, Marcy kept a close watch. "Renegade and company are away..." Daren made a silent motion to Wilk who was looking to the Commander. She responded, "Aye Sir", her hands danced across the helm console as Coronado began generating a slipstream conduit of her own and proceeded inside, "And we're away..." The enourmous Camelynian Worldship entered the conduit behind Coronado and soon they were proceeding at slipstream velocity to the Artemis system. "ETA to Artemis Lieutenant?" Wilk took a short glance at her panel, "Six minutes and counting, sir" At the Science station, Lieutenant Ma'aru closely monitored the LORASON sensor array looking out for the slightest sign of Pfhor activity. Spotting the Pfhor on this mission was unlikely, but not impossible. The next six minutes seemed to pass slowly. Escort duty was not exactly the most exciting mission one could draw, esspecially when many of the engineering crew and a few of Coro's senior staff including Captain Lora Kor had gone back to Reorsa to assist in the launching of Destiny's Intrepid-class skeleton. Coronado and Crystal Palace exit the slipstream conduit only a few lightyears from Artemis and recieved a nearly immediate hail as soon as they emerge, "Coronado, from Stirling. Welcome to Artemis. Please hold position for a few minutes to confirm placement of Crystal Palace, then you're welcome to return for the next batch. Renegade will remain here during your next transit." Daren nodded, "Acknowledged Stirling", the channel closed and he turned to Wilk, "Get ready to head back for the next bunch. The sooner we get this 'shuttle service' over with the better" Wilk smiled and did as requested. Marcy reported, "Commander, Crystal Palace is reporting successful placement in the system." "Alright, thats our cue...take us back to Pitstop", the slipstream core engaged once more as Coronado took off to the Pitstop system. "Marcy, remind we what the convoy includes..." He read over his console, "We're to pick up an Atlas class and Camelynian destroyer..." Daren once again took the center seat with his PADD and mug of coffee when Colonel Ironside stepped out of the turbolift and walked over. "Ah Colonel, something I can help you with? Not much going on around here I'm afraid." Ironside didn't look himself today. Ironside seemed to nearly whisper to make certain none of the other bridge crew members could hear, "Commander, do you recall having a feeling of being watched several months ago after we entered M64?" Daren responded quietly, "Watched? No I don't believe I recall such a feeling..." "You may wish to...", Ironside began to respond just as a shockwave rocked through the ship. A few seconds ahead of Coronado's course, a massive explosion had 'torn' the slipstream conduit. Ironside was the first to notice the rupture on the screen and didn't finish his statement but rather instinctivly issued an order, "...Drop to impulse!" The PADD Daren had been reading and the mug of warm coffee tumble to the deck. "What the-? Report!" Wilk brings the ship out of slipstream just before the rupture and from the Tactical station Marcy has suddenly gotten quite busy, "I don't understand, that shouldn't have happened..." "Go to Yellow Alert, raise shields until we know just what the devil is going on here." Mere seconds before Marcy is able to raise the shield the automatic Intruder alert sounds. Transporter columns light up all over the ship and three Hunters materialize at the fore section of the bridge. Ironside draws his PPP from its holster and fires. "Red Alert! We are being boarded!" Marcy's phaser joins the PPP burst in killing the few Hunters in the immediate area. "Seal off the bridge! Intiate Intruder Protocols!", Daren stepped closer to the Science station. "Can we get a look outside?" Ironside quickly takes off to a Jeffreys Tube Access hatch and calls out to the Marines. He turns to the bridge crew, "Everyone stay here..." Daren steps to a ships comm panel and initiates an All Hands, All Decks communication, "Bridge to All Hands! We have a situation! Arm yourselves and attempt to get to a secure location immediatly!" Daren looks to the access hatch Ironside disappaears into as it seals itslef behind him. "Good Luck Colonel, we'll coordinate things from here.", He turns back to Ma'aru and recieves some bad news... "There is very little response from the Coro's computer. I can't get any kind of respose from the sensors..or anything else for that matter" Ma'aru frowns. Wilk echoes that sentiment, "It must be the virus...all computer activity has slowed to a virtual crawl." Daren pounds his fist against a console and peers at Marcy, "Send out a distress signal to Pitstop and Artemis...let them know we're under attack and have been boarded...request immediate assitance!" "Commander, I have something..." It's Ma'aru at the Sciene Station "...on visual." The Holotank blinks on to reveal the grim situation. Three Pfhor destroyers are making their way to the ship. Their is a Reorsan patrol craft nearby, apparently captured. And to round out the bad news, Coronado has become encased in a tractor beam making propulsion and maneuvering impossible. Marcy reports, "Sir the bridge on Deck 1 is under siege! Casualty reports coming in..." Daren nods grimly, "No doubt the Pfhor expected us to be on Deck 1. The Hunters that materialized here were most likely just part of the invasion force...Marcy, begin internal scans and track as much of the Hunter and Hound movement as you can and relay that information to the Marines..." The Holotank begins experiencing difficulty in maintianing a clear image but manages to provide those on the bridge with a sketchy view of the surronding area. Ma'aru's voice calls out from the sciene station, "Commander those destroyers are approaching fast..." Daren looked over the display over Ma'arus head. "Lieutenant, if I'm reading this correctly the Pfhor tractor beam is holding our aft quarter. We should still be able to use the forward torpedo launchers." Ma'aru nodded in agreement. Stepping to the center of the bridge once again, Daren looks to Tactical, "Marcy, bring the False matter torpedoes online!" With a heavy swallow Marcy does as ordered. The new False Matter torpedo launchers had just recently been installed and while numerous computer simulations had been conducted the weapons still had not been completely field tested from a Starship platform. "False Matter Launcher online..." "Plot a firing solution on the lead destroyer." The seconds as the computer began working on targeting the lead ship seemed to pass with physical pain. Skirmishes were erupting all over the ship and there was virtually no way of telling how many Hunters and Hounds were present. Marcy's console lets out a chirp as it completes its targeting cycle, "Target locked, Commander." With pause Daren looks to the lead Pfhor destroyer on the Holotank, "Fire One Marcy!" The torpedo leaves Coronado and begins streaking towards its target, making a few minor heading shifts in its approach. The torpedo impacts the destroyer and seems to fizzle out. "Weapon had no effect, sir!" Daren's expression becomes very grave as he cannot understand how their most powerful weapon had no effect whatsoever, until the Holotank gives them good news for once. A very large chunk of the Pfhor ship breaks off trailing sparks and flame moments before an intense explosion rips through the upper aft section. The remaining portion of the ship slows and becomes dead in space. Daren's spirits perk up, "I'd call that a successful test...." ------------------ Commander William Daren Executive Officer USS Coronado NCC-97901 Transmitted: SD 240202.1 |