On Patrol

Posted on 05 Apr 2018 @ 8:04pm by Captain Akio Tachibana & Commander Juan Zamora (Dec [CDO]-Jan 2389 - TRSNFR to Gorn Dip.) & Commander S’chqenr T’Jedf Tolkath (Jan 2389 - TRNSFR After Gorn War) & Lieutenant Commander Rafe Cassidy (Jan 2389 - TRNSFR After Gorn War) & Lieutenant Nicholas Hunter (Jan 2389 - WIA-TRNSFR to XFY Medical) & Lieutenant Jake Winchester (Jan 2389 - TRNSFR, XFY)

Mission: Ne Me'e Laua Na Paio - Heroes & Villains
Location: Bridge - Deck 1
Timeline: 0700, 3 Jan 2389

ON:

[Bridge]

Akio entered the bridge. He enjoyed the sound of a smoothly functioning vessel. The Hawaii was set to arrive in the Canterra Sector today and he wanted to see the latest reports, if there were any. Reporting across the quadrant was scant, yet if you read between the lines, sometimes you could glean some information.

"XO, you have the bridge," Akio said as he entered the ready room.

"I have the bridge, aye, sir," Marian replied as he took the center chair. "Steady as she goes, helm. Position report?"

"On course, arrival at Canterra Sector imminent." Hunter brought up the system charts and splayed them across the surface of his console. "No hostiles detected, so far."

"Aye, Commander, steady as she goes, still at Warp 8," Cassidy confirmed, hands ready on the controls.

"Tactical reporting, sir, all weapons systems and shields are at 110 percent of readiness, as the ablative amour, although, with your permission I'm going to switch off this console and re-route the controls to Tactical 2 so i can switch this one out as it is half dead and not accepting my inputs, sir." Winchester announced.

Marian wasn't sure what 110% readiness meant yet it sounded good.

"Granted, Lieutenant," Marian replied as he pulled up the power levels on his console to verify nothing was about to imminently explode. He also put in a note to Engineering to fix the console.

[CIC - Deck 2]

The CIC Watch Officer was standing and staring at the screen.

"Still no response from the bridge?" The Lieutenant Junior Grade asked.

"No, sir. I messaged the OPS Station a full five minutes ago," replied the Ensign. She didn't like this one bit.

Their first foray to the front and already a bridge tactical station was down and now the OPS Chief was unresponsive to CIC Messages.

"Send a message to the Science station. They have to be seeing what we are," ordered the Lieutenant.

[Bridge]

Tolkath was sitting at the science terminal, quietly monitoring their progress along the planned route. So far they were skirting along the edge of a region of dense gamma radiation clouds to their starboard. They were inside the cloud's boundaries enough for the interference to mask some of their warp signature without too detrimental an effect on their own sensors.

There was a weak signal return on the long range sensors which appeared once, then quickly faded. A few seconds later it came back and stayed.

A few seconds after that his panel beeped as he received an alert from the CIC confirming the signal.

"I suggest alacrity Mister Winchester" Tolkath called over to the Security Chief working on his new panel. "We have a contact."

Looking at the display, there was no denying what was coming at them. It indeed was a definite contact. Looking at Tolkath, Winchester said as he ran back to his console, "I agree with your assessment, sir".

Tolkath nodded to Winchester, then reported to the XO "Commander, I am reading an incoming contact, bearing is zero-two-zero. CIC Confirms. Unable to identify at this time." Tolkath said "Recommend a course change to One-One-Zero to take us further into the radiation cloud."

The bridge immediately went into motion.

"RED ALERT!" Marian ordered. "Commander, are you suggesting we turn into the contact? I know you want us to get to cover, yet I'm more inclined to keep our distance," Marian discussed openly with Tolkath.

"Negative Commander" Tolkath replied "I was suggesting a vector of ninety degrees starboard of the incoming course. That moves us further into the cloud, provides separation and enables us to keep track of the contact with the lateral sensors.

"We should fade from their sensors as we go deeper in. If the contact is a Gorn vessel and changes course to intercept, we will be able to determine that their sensors are superior to our own."

Akio emerged from the ready room almost immediately. "Report!"

"Sir, single unidentified contact, bearing 0-2-0 half a parsec and closing," Marian reported. "Yet wouldn't our own sensors be inhibited at that point?" Marian asked Tolkath, trying to get the best information possible to make the best decision.

Cassidy swallowed before he spoke, not looking away from the helm controls. "I can keep us a distance from them in the radiation cloud, use the interference to stay out of their targeting range, sir. Buys us a little time. And if their sensors are worse than ours, they're a sitting duck and we can dance 'round them." He didn't venture the alternative, yet.

"There will be degradation in our sensor efficiency" Tolkath confirmed "But l am unable to predict the amount at this time. It will depend on the density of the radiation as we move in to the cloud.

"However, we will be scanning outwards, towards less dense areas, whereas the incoming vessel will have the opposite conditions.

"The distance and radiation should work in our favor and enable us to identify the contact. It could be the USS Wyoming."

"Why haven't they identified themselves then?" Marian wondered aloud. "I'm inclined to agree with Mister Tolkath at this time, sir."

"You still have the bridge, XO," Akio nodded. He always hated when Commanders immediately took over in the middle of a maneuver. Such an action was quite dangerous and Akio had just arrived, not sure everything that was being discussed.

"Helm, make for 1-1-0. Science, monitor sensors. I want to hide, yet keep our sensors somewhat operational," Marian ordered.

"If it is the Wyoming" Tolkath offered "They may be unsure as to who we are, if they can even see us on their sensors. Re-tuning our sensors to maximum gain and attempting to scan the incoming vessel."

The Vulcon looked over to the helm "I trust Mister Cassidy's dance-moves will enable us to identify the vessel before they can locate us themselves."

"Hey, an important part of dancing is knowing if you found the right partner or if they're going to try to blow you up," Cassidy protested, even as his hands flew across the controls. There was the faintest rumbling of the deck as he manoeuvred, a whir of momentum meeting inertial dampeners as forces that should have flattened them caused nothing more than a shudder. "Adjusting course, 1-1-0, into the cloud. Good news is I know exactly where to put us so she can't see us if she's the Wyoming. Bad news is we have to use Commander Tolkath's guess on their sensor capabilities if it's Gorn and they don't like this song. I'll put us in as dense a pocket as we can still peek out of."

"I have the bridge now," Akio said as Marian moved over. "Hailing frequencies?" Akio asked.

"None, sir, yet sensors return known Gorn signatures!" Hunter shouted.

As the Hawaii altered course to the incoming ship Tolkath began to focus the lateral sensors on the contact. He adjusted the controls attempting to filter out the interference which increased as they penetrated further into the radiation clouds.

"Vessel is not emitting known Federation warp field signatures" He announced "Attempting to categorize'". He adjusted the sensor readouts again and began comparing the results to other known types, the most likely being Gorn but he checked several others to be certain.

With no other likely candidates he re-ran the comparison and came to a conclusion. His panel beeped with confirmation from the CIC.

"Science and the CIC confirm. Sensors are detecting Gorn energy signatures from the contact. Current analysis is a smaller Scout or Destroyer class vessel.

"Mr. Winchester, lock phasers and ready tubes 1-4," Akio ordered.

"Aye sir", Winchester said. A few moments later he replied back, "All phasers locked, tubes 1 and 2 loaded with photon torpedoes, 3 and 4 loaded with quantum, all tubes ready to fire on your order sir".

"If possible we should try to disable the vessel, Captain" Tolkath requested "It would be a valuable opportunity tostudy the design and interrogate prisoners. The ship it is likely to be fast and maneuverable. Our fighters may be able to interdict it for Mister Winchester to disable."

"I would agree", Winchester said. "If not, i can always knock them out myself, but i await the order to fire".

Cassidy glanced back from the helm. "If we disable them and take time crawling over the ship and interrogating prisoners, that's us stuck here and not conducting our own recon towards Canterra. It affects our chance to keep moving, let alone find the Wyoming." Despite his words, he sounded rather neutral, like he was pointing this out instead of objecting, and kept his hands poised on the helm controls.

Tolkath nodded. "Lieutenant Cassidy is correct, if we are successful in disabling the vessel there would be a delay while we evaluate it's capabilities. However, it would be illogical to pass up an opportunity to gain valuable intelligence information on our enemy. To my knowledge Starfleet has never captured a Gorn ship.

"This vessel could have tactical information on Gorn activity in this sector that would greatly assist us in our own reconnaissance efforts.

"There is a compromise. We disable the ship, make an initial search, retain some of the crew for interrogation. Then if possible effect repairs assign a small crew and send the ship to Providence shipyard for more detailed examination, while we continue with our mission. It is what I believe was called taking a prize ship in ancient Earth naval parlance." Tolkath concluded.

"While I agree with Mr. Cassidy, I am a student of history. Weapons free, Mr. Winchester. Fire to disable, focus---"

"SIR!" Hunter exclaimed, interrupting Akio who was surprised and felt his temper rise.

"What is it, Lieutenant?" Akio tried to control his anger.

"Belay your last, sir, and excuse me for interrupting. It's the Wyoming!" Hunter spoke rapidly.

"Weapons hold, Tactical. What was that, Hunter?" Akio asked to confirm.

"Sir, it's the Wyoming!" Hunter repeatedly slowly while tapping a button.

"Hawaii Hawaii, this is the USS Wyoming. Weapons hold. I say again, this is Captain Carson of the Federation starship USS Wyoming, weapons hold," the audio played through.

"Why did they not transmit earlier?" Marian asked.

"I am unsure, sir. This came through a secured channel just now," Hunter confirmed.

Tolkath rechecked his sensor results. He simultaneously sent a message to the CIC for them to do the same and confirm their identification of the incoming contact.

"Captain, I am rechecking the sensor data. But it is an established Gorn tactic to attempt to pass themselves off as friendly vessel by using false messages" Tolkath commented.

The Vulcan's panel beeped "CIC Confirms, craft is emitting Gorn energy signatures, inconsistent with a Steamrunner profile." He reported. "Captain, based on current data indication is craft is still hostile."

"I am inclined to agree, Mr. Tolkath," Akio replied grimly. "CONN, take us deeper into the clouds. It is time for a game of cat and mouse. TAC, be prepared to fire."

Cassidy blew out his cheeks before nodding and running his hands over the helm controls. There was the slightest shift of the deck, a near-imperceptible sense of the ship's manoeuvres as they carried deeper into the clouds. "If it is the Wyoming," he mused, "they shouldn't be able to keep up with us that easy. But if the Gorn have got our secure channels and codes..." His voice trailed off, hands steady at the controls even if his tone belied some smattering of nerves. The thought was left unfinished, the question of the Wyoming's fate hanging in the air.

Winchester did not like this at all. Something about this whole situation was off, he could feel it. Raising an eyebrow he said, "Ready to fire on your orders sir, but i would be remiss in my duties if i failed to inform you you i have serious concerns about this contact".

On the viewscreen beyond the radiated clouds, a Federation ship could be seen through the haze. It was small, with the profile of a Steamrunner.

"Weapons hold!" Akio ordered, legitimately surprised. "Get on the comm now and figure out what the hell is going on, Mr. Hunter."

"On it, sir," Hunter replied.

After a few beats, Hunter reported: "Sir, it is the Wyoming and they are reporting the Captain and command staff are coming aboard."

"Fine time for them to show up like this," Marian quietly said.

"I would agree, Mr. Marian. I would say they have a lot of explaining," Akio nodded knowing none of this was good.

Tolkath stood quietly, one eyebrow arched as he checked over the sensor data. The readouts did not appear to leave much to doubt, the ship was giving off Gorn style energy signatures. Both his own analysis and that of the CIC crew concurred. Yet the image on the viewscreen appeared to be the Wyoming. There was not currently an explanation for the contradiction. He continued to ponder the matter, reviewing possibilities...

"Maybe this is how they've hidden from the Gorn," Cassidy wondered aloud. "Disguising their energy profile to look like theirs?"

The young pilot may have a viable concept Tolkath thought, that form of energy-masking camouflage had been used before, although not with a Gorn ship he believed. It was option worth further consideration.

Under his breath, and in a very, very low tone Winchester said to himself, "This is a damn trap, I can feel it, there is something seriously wrong here."

"Well, let's go meet the Wyoming. No time for dress uniform. Report to Main Shuttlebay in five minutes after you brief your relief," Akio said as he headed for the turbolift. "Mister Zamora, you have the bridge."

"Yes Sir." Juan responded solemnly as he crossed over to the command chair and sat down.

Tolkath handed over to the duty science officer and passed Winchester on the way to the turbo lift. "Might I suggest a security detail be ready at the shuttlebay Mister Winchester. All may still not be as it seems" He said quietly.

Tapping a button on his console, he opened a channel to Security and said, "This Is Winchester, send a team to the shuttlebay, I'll meet you there". Turning to the Captain, he said, "With your permission, sir?"

"As long as your station is staffed, of course," Akio replied, "also send a message to the marines."

Cassidy glanced over his shoulder at the command team, his relief not yet present - professionally or emotionally. "Skipper, maybe we keep our fighter pilots in their cockpits 'til we confirm proper? Or even launch them in case of foul play, offer their shuttle an "escort."'

"Good thinking, Mr. Cassidy. Launch the fighters and keep them out there. I don't like the look of this situation even if it is the Wyoming," Akio cautioned.

"Right you are, Skipper." Cassidy nodded, then turned back to his controls to pipe the commands down to the flight deck. A flight to escort the shuttle and the rest of the squadron in the air on standby in case of something going wrong would, at least, make him feel better.


[OFF]

Akio Tachibana, CDR, SF
CO, USS Hawaii

Darren Marian, LCDR, SF
XO, USS Hawaii

Juan "JJ" Zamora, LCDR, SF
2XO/CDO, USS Hawaii

Tolkath, LCDR, SF
CSO, USS Hawaii

Nicholas Hunter, LT, SF
OPS, USS Hawaii

Rafe Cassidy, LT, SF
CONN, USS Hawaii

Jake Winchester, LTJG, SF
TACSEC, USS Hawaii