/||\ ---------------------------------------------
/ || \ UCIP Starfleet Command, Fifth Fleet
/ || \ U.S.S. Coronado, NCC-97901
.-/ || \-. Fleet Captain Tebrun Lora Kor, Commanding
./ || \. ---------------------------------------------
.-_-. || .-_-. Simulation Teaser
.-_ \||/ _-. -[ SD 240103.26 ]-
__________________________________________________________________________
/ Simulation Teaser |
/ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ
"OK, are we all here?" Commander John Zort asked as he entered U.S.S.
Stirling's Briefing Room. His voice was cheerful and he was in the process
of tying his long, slightly damp hair into a pony tail behind his back as he
entered. Zort, CO of U.S.S. Resolute, was a short, muscular human in his
late 20s.
"Now that you're here, yes John, we're all here... other than the old man
himself, of course," Captain Stuart Morgan responded, eyes twinkling from
behind the briefing board. U.S.S. Renegade's Commanding Officer, also human
but blonde, tall, and somewhat older, looked over at Zort, amused, waving
one hand toward Zort's hair. "But I'm glad that we're not delaying your
daily grooming."
Zort slapped the older man on the shoulder. "Easy for you to say, Stu --
your ship has showers. The Defiants barely have beds. I haven't had
anything but sonics since this thing started." He looked up as if to
indicate the entire massive bulk of the U.S.S. Stirling. "I wasn't about to
pass up the opportunity for a Hollywood shower." Morgan's retort was cut
off from across the room before he could get it out.
"If there's going to be a duel, I want to be Stuart's second," Fleet Captain
Tebrun Lora Kor said absently from where he was studying the tactical board.
Zort's voice turned sour. "Thanks a lot, Kor. I thought you were my
friend. Just like you Katana COs to stick together," Zort said.
"I'm just part of the Starfleet plot to make your life more difficult,
John," Lora Kor replied, voice amused. He still didn't look over from what
he was looking at.
Captain Jennifer Mitchell, the new CO of U.S.S. Fearless looked up from
where she was also studying the tactical display to look over at Commander
Jania Shiid of U.S.S. Schweitzer. The look quite obviously said "men!"
Lazily, she turned to look at Morgan and Zort. "If you gentlemen are done,
I think it's about time we went over the plan." Mitchell looked human, but
was actually a native of Palkao Est and reputed to be one of Starfleet's
up-and-coming tactical geniuses. Shiid was a Trill and despite being a ship
CO, still wore the blue of Starfleet Services to emphasize her medical
background; the Schweitzer was a medical frigate.
"Yes, past time," a new voice said. Vice Admiral Brian Aldur entered the
briefing room, two other men trailing him. The Admiral was an older human,
but carried himself lightly, as if ready to spring at a moment's notice.
Despite being the oldest man in the room, his build most closely resembled
Zort, the youngest. Indicating the two men behind him, Aldur said, "I
believe everyone knows Fleet Captain Narque, commanding Stirling, and
Captain Henes X, commanding U.S.S. Gryphon. Gryphon's a late addition to
our plans."
Both men nodded at the group. Narque was a Dekora, a race related to the
Vulcans and Rigellians. His green skin was in stark contrast to his white
hair. He looked relaxed enough to be almost sleepy. Henes was the unusual
member of the pair; he looked human but his eyes and the prosthetic in place
of his left arm hinted at his real nature. Henes was one of only two
android Captains in Starfleet.
Aldur was continuing, "We'll also have a couple of destroyers with us, but
they'll just be providing escort to Stirling. Their COs won't be joining us
for this. We'll also have a few of the new Yen Lo Wang patrol ships for
fighter defense of Gryphon," the Admiral said.
The assembled COs gathered around the tactical board in the Stirling's
briefing room. On display in full holographic glory were the initial stages
of the battle around Alpha Eridani, being relayed from Captain Salek's
flagship already in position and from the Coronado's LORASON sweeps of the
area. There were more than 1000 ships, Starfleet and Rihannsu, within a
light-year of the system; Coro's LORASON congregated them into groups to
make the display less cluttered.
"Gentlebeings, the battle for Alpha Eridani... Eternity," Aldur said. "I
know that many of you would rather be in on this in a direct way, and I
apologize for pulling you from your assignments..." Zort looked up but said
nothing. "...but this is going to be a very long war and we have to look at
the long term. The Federation has lost so much territory that we'll likely
be months or years getting it back and it's clear that the Rihannsu have the
technological edge on us in a couple of key areas. We have to balance that
out." This time it was Mitchell's turn to nod.
The display zoomed in on the key points of the Alpha Eridani battle: the
area close in around the planet. Several minefields were indicated, as well
as several squadrons of Starfleet attack fighters already in battle with
Rihannsu bombers. The bombers were attempting to clear the minefields but
were finding the job difficult while being swarmed by Stanton and Spectre
class fighters. "We expect the primary Rihannsu thrust to come here," Aldur
was saying. "Rihannsu Ranger transports and destroyers will likely move
into this hole that their bombers are trying to create, under support by
their bigger ships. Their Rangers will then begin transport to the planet."
"Admiral, between Coro and Renegade, we have more than 500 SFMC," Morgan
said. "My initial orders were to put them on Eternity to stop those
Rangers. Their Rangers don't have a lot of respect for our Marines, and my
boys were looking to change all that. Now I'm being told to keep them
aboard. What *is* the mission, Admiral?" Aldur looked over at Lora Kor,
who spoke up.
"We expect those destroyers to either provide fire support for the Ranger
landings or otherwise cause general havoc in the area, Stu," Lora Kor said.
He paused. "While they're doing it, we're going to capture one." Several
of the assembled COs blinked. "With one of their most advanced ships in our
hands," Lora Kor said, continuing, "we can close the technology gap in one
move: cloaks and engines particularly."
"That's impossible," Captain Mitchell interjected, voice flat. "Romulans
always self-destruct ships that are in danger of capture and those Rangers
are the most fanatical about it of all."
"We've determined a way to prevent it," Admiral Aldur said, then explained
the purpose to the Wraith Liberator and their computer-based weapon. The
looks around the table went from disbelief to frank admiration. Someone --
maybe Morgan, maybe Zort -- muttered something that sounded like "'bout
damned time." "The Wraiths can handle the primary mission on their own, and
we've got ships waiting to collect the destroyer. We're all here to put on
a great show of razzle-dazzle to keep the local Romulan commander from
realizing that the ship that disappears from his screen is captured rather
than destroyed."
"Admiral," Captain Mitchell said slowly, "once they realize the ship is
merely missing, they're probably going to come looking for it."
Aldur nodded. "That's why all of you are assigned to me for the next
several weeks. We'll be delivering the destroyer to Starfleet R&D for
reverse engineering." Zort growled something about "babysitting job" but
was silenced by looks from several of the COs. Waiting several moments for
silence, Aldur continued, handing out PADDs.
"Here are your detailed briefing packets, but I'll take you over the basic
plan now. We don't expect their Ranger destroyers to make an appearance for
several days. We'll have that time to practice the basic plan and several
contingency versions," he said. "Our attack will be coordinated with one of
Captain Salek's general attacks in the area." The Admiral paused and looked
at each face. "The important thing to remember, however, is that what we're
doing is a distraction, not a general attack. Nobody is to lose their ship:
I need you for escort duty back to Starfleet R&D. I want all of you back
here for the debriefing at the resupply point. Understood?"
The assembled COs, men and women, humans and aliens, nodded as one.
----------------
Basic tactical plan, operation "Black Raptor." All times in H:MM:SS.
T-1:00:00 Gryphon/Coronado/Renegade launch Spectres. Spectres will use
holographic defenses to disguise themselves as debris (it is
assumed there will be no lack of that in the area), engage
strict EMCON, and glide at minimal speed into the target area
over approximately the next hour.
T-0:11:00 Gryphon arrives at firing area, approximately two million
kilometers from Alpha Eridani. Gryphon rigs for long-distance
bombardment with torpedoes. Renegade and Coronado escort.
Resolute/patrol ships provide anti-fighter defense.
T-0:10:00 Spectres begin reaching final positions, continue drifting.
T-0:09:30 Gryphon begins long-range bombardment with cluster torpedoes.
Coronado begins high-energy LORASON sweeps of target area.
It is assumed that the RSR can jam LORASON sensor sweeps
given enough time to do so. Renegade begins tachyon sweeps.
T-0:09:15 Wraiths begin their approach to target area.
T-0:08:30 Primary target selection. Secondary target selection.
T-0:08:00 Wraiths arrive near target position and close at drift speed
to transporter range over the next eight minutes.
T-0:06:00 Gryphon secures from deploying microtorpedoes, begins
deploying jacketed graviton shells from all torpedo bays.
Coronado and Renegade begin deploying the same. Shells will
be programmed to seek out and disrupt RSR shield emissions
beginning at T-0:03:00.
T-0:04:00 Gryphon to engage maximum warp, random heading. It is assumed
that tachyon saturation will reach maximum levels and begin
diminishing at about this time, if the RSR is not actively
maintaining tachyon levels themselves.
T-0:03:00 Jacketed graviton shells and microtorps begin seeking targets.
Captain Salek's fleet begins attack at about this time.
T-0:00:30 Resolute begins distraction attacks on secondary target.
T+0:00:00 Stirling initiates broadband subspace jamming of the AE area.
It is assumed that the RSR fleet can "burn through" this
jamming in fairly short order. Its only real purpose is to
signal the Wraiths that transport may begin.
T+0:00:01 Wraiths initiate transport of first four platoons of SFMC.
T+0:00:02 Wraiths initiate their White Lightning cores.
T+0:00:04 SFMC platoons A-D begin materializing aboard target.
T+0:00:06 SFMC platoons A-D complete materialization aboard target.
T+0:00:14 Wraiths initate transport of second four platoons of SFMC.
T+0:00:17 SFMC platoons E-H begin materializing aboard target.
T+0:00:19 SFMC platoons E-H complete materialization aboard target.
By roughly this time, it is assumed that the target will be
thick with Marines. Platoon L will be brought out of
transporter stasis. Platoons I-L are held in reserve in case
existing platoons require backup/assistance.
T+0:00:30 Coronado secures LORASON, if it has not already been jammed
into uselessness by this time.
T+0:00:45 Target to be secured by this time. Wraiths initiate transport
of RSR tech specialists. The mission of these personnel is to
do whatever initial "cracking" of the target computer is
required to get one of the target's cloaks on line.
T+0:00:55 Target self-destruct secured. Specialists begin work.
T+0:01:00 Wraiths shut down their White Lightning cores.
T+0:01:02 Fearless initiates MVAM.
T+0:01:10 Wraiths rig for sublight towing.
T+0:01:12 Fearless completes MVAM initiation.
Coronado/Renegade/Fearless move to attack positions.
T+0:01:30 RSR will likely "burn through" Stirling jamming by this time.
Resolute disengages, cloaks, and falls back to Stirling.
Coronado/Renegade/Fearless begin distraction attacks on
secondary target.
T+0:03:25 Target to engage cloak before this time. Wraiths complete
rigging for sublight towing, link to target hull.
T+0:03:30 Wraiths begin towing target toward fall-back position.
T+0:04:00 Any RSR ship which appears to investigate primary target
disappearance will be rammed by Spectres by squad. Pilots
of ramming Spectres will engage their emergency evac
transporters for AE surface.
T+0:04:15 Coronado/Renegade/Fearless surround secondary target.
T+0:04:30 Stirling/Artemis/Thonus move forward to attack position.
T+0:05:00 If any ramming attacks have occurred, RSR will be assumed to
realize by this time that debris may hide further Spectres.
Remaining Spectres will drop holographic defenses and begin
distraction attacks on secondary target.
T+0:07:15 Coronado/Renegade/Fearless begin falling back to Stirling.
T+0:07:30 Spectres begin falling back by squad toward Stirling.
T+0:07:45 Any RSR ship which appears to be pursuing Coronado/Renegade/
Fearless too closely will be rammed by Spectres by squad.
Pilots of ramming Spectres will engage their emergency evac
transporters for AE surface.
T+0:08:30 Coronado/Renegade/Fearless rendezvous with Stirling/Athena/
Thonus/Resolute at secondary position. Primary objective
here to disable shields on or ram with Spectres any RSR ship
that pursues this far. Renegade falls back behind other
TG5.4 ships.
T+0:08:45 All remaining Spectres choose ramming targets and engage
emergency evac transporters for Rengade shuttlebay.
T+0:09:00 Selection of tertiary target. Renegade closes to transporter
range of tertiary target, escorted by Athena/Thonus/Resolute.
Teritary target defined as the RSR ship that loses shield
integrity and sustains significant crew casualties first.
T+0:09:30 Renegade initiates transport of six platoons of SFMC to tertiary
target. Coronado closes to transporter range of tertiary target.
T+0:09:35 Wraiths to have towed target to fall-back position by this time.
Primary target handed off to two cloaked Atlas class tugs and
rigged for warp towing. Wraiths disengage and fall back by units
to resupply point.
T+0:09:40 It is assumed that tertiary target will attempt to initiate self-
destruct. If so, platoons will be beamed off tertiary target by
Renegade and Coronado acting in concert. The Marines may
actually succeed in capturing the target; in this unlikely event,
Athena and Thonus will take tertiary target into tow.
T+0:09:45 It is assumed by this time that RSR will realize that primary
objective is capture of RSR ship and will order either more
ships forward to deal with the threat or will order its
existing ships to fall back.
T+0:10:00 Whatever action is ordered by the local RSR commander will be
assumed to have been communicated by this time. Whether the
result is more RSR ships approaching or existing ones falling
back, remaining Marines are beamed off tertiary target and all
TG5.4 ships begin falling back to tertiary position.
T+0:10:59 Fearless begins reconnection sequence.
T+0:11:00 All TG5.4 ships to have regrouped by this time. In the unlikely
event that Renegade Marines successfully captured tertiary
target, tertiary target will be towed by Atlas and Thonus, who
will each beam two tri-cobalt explosives aboard, set for maximum
subspace disruption. If not, all TG5.4 ships will deploy one
tri-cobalt explosive each, set for maximum subspace disruption.
T+0:11:05 If local RSR commander has ordered ships forward to deal with
TG5.4, they will be assumed to begin arriving by this time.
T+0:11:10 Coronado and Renegade to engage slipstream, random heading.
T+0:11:15 Athena and Thonus to engage maximum warp, random heading.
T+0:11:18 Resolute to engage slipstream, random heading.
T+0:11:19 Fearless completes reconnection sequence.
T+0:11:20 Detonation of tri-cobalt explosives, if necessary in concert
with fire from the arriving RSR ships. Tertiary target, if
captured, should further enhance detonation.
T+0:11:21 Stirling and Fearless to engage maximum warp, random heading.
T+0:11:35 Atlas tugs get under way by this time toward resupply point.
T+8:00:00 All ships to regroup at resupply point by this time.
Injured transferred to Schweitzer. Damaged ships docked at
Pearl. Primary target transferred to Stirling control. Wraiths
dock and resupply from Coronado. All SFMC personnel returned to
home ships for debriefing.
The plan more or less presents what the RSR expects to see once they realize
that the objective is to capture an RSR ship: an attempted capture (on the
tertiary target) that very nearly succeeds but is disrupted at the last
second. In truth, everything that happens after T+0:01:00 has but one
purpose: to distract the RSR from the fact that one of their ships -- the
primary target -- is missing. This is assuming they notice; with all the
confusion of the battle in the area, they might not. If they do, the
objective is to put on a great show of razzle-dazzle that denies them the
time or focus to mount a serious search for it, especially during Captain
Salek's assault.
Details follow.
\__________________________________________________________________________
\ End Simulation Teaser |
ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ
Crew Roster:
Commanding Officer: FCapt. Tebrun Lora Kor (Jester)
Executive Officer: Cmdr. Jarod Bentall (Alffred)
Marine Commandant: LCol. Jeremy Ironside (Fraser)
Command Liaison Interface: Savant (Savant)
Chief of the Boat: MCPO Olme Tlaloco (Tlaloco)
Chief Tactical: LCdr. William Daren (Daren)
Intelligence Officer: Cdt. Kariasa Ma'Aru (Kari)
Squadron Leader: LMaj. Thomas Wayne (Masters)
Chief Flight Operations: Cmdr. Fornan Dejat (McC)
Chief Engineer: Lt. Zunite Oswald (Sonya)
Assistant Engineer: Lt. (JG) Aramis Skylooker (Skylooker)
Assistant Engineer: Lt. (JG) Jack C. Farley (CCC)
Chief Science Officer: Lt. Kathryn Janeway (Kath)
Assistant Medical: Ens. Ungtae Brie (Aggie)
On Extended Leave of Absense:
Chief Medical Officer: LCdr. Dalton (Heiwa)
Assistant Tactical: Lt. (JG) Norton Cavanaugh (Trooman)
Positions Available:
Company Commander
Squadron Leader
----------
Ross Glenn aka Jester
Fleet Captain Tebrun Lora Kor, U.S.S. Coronado, NCC-97901
http://www.jestertrek.com/coro2400/