Hilo & Flight 801's Wild Ride

Posted on 06 Sep 2018 @ 11:27pm by Captain Akio Tachibana & Major Terrance West & Commander S’chqenr T’Jedf Tolkath (Jan 2389 - TRNSFR After Gorn War) & Lieutenant Commander Rafe Cassidy (Jan 2389 - TRNSFR After Gorn War) & Lieutenant Junior Grade Eira Cortez & Ensign Kevin Kilbane (Jan 2389 - TRNSFR After Second Battle of XFY) & Ensign Bryan "Cowboy" Davies (Jan 2389 - WIA-TRNSFR to XFY Medical) & First Lieutenant Eleanor Hargreaves (Dec-Jan 2389 - TRNSFR After Gorn War) & Lieutenant Junior Grade Geneviève "Jenny" Lassonde (Dec-Jan 2389 - TRNSFR After Gorn War) & Ensign Rora Tai & Ensign Spencer Griffith-Bailey

Mission: Ka Hakaka Maikaʻi - The Good Fight
Location: Arrow Runabout Hilo
Timeline: Following "A Recipe for Gorn"

[ON]

[Hawaii Bridge]

One of the helm console's lights flickered on, and Cassidy checked a reading. "Skipper, Control is running the final pre-flight checks then the Hilo's ready to launch." He looked back at Akio; the final go for a mission of this magnitude was something he wanted coming from someone with more pips on their collar.

"Copy. Launch Hilo once we are within phaser range. Direct the fighters to escort and punch a hole in the shields as planned. Tactical, be ready to back them up," Akio directed.


[Arrow Runabout Hilo]

After the briefing the two teams had quickly moved to the shuttle bay and boarded the Hilo.

With the Runabout in Marine Transport Configuration, able to hold up to fifty, there was ample room for the thirty four aboard.

Due to the difficulty of the flight, Tai had brought another pilot along to run the shields and weapons systems. She and another Ensign were forward at the controls

Rora went over the flight check as she glanced at Spencer, "You're not mad I asked for your help on this are you?" She asked quietly, before she turned her eyes back to her side of the console.

"Nah, not at all." Spencer replied with a grin on his face. In reality, he was actually stoked to be there flying and trying his hardest with Tai to not get everyone including themselves killed. "This is gonna be fun."

The Runabout cleared the shuttle bay and turned onto its course towards the incoming Gorn Cruiser.

"Everyone secure back there? This is going to be a bit bumpy!" Rora said wishing she was joking but she wasn't: there was a crap-tonne of debris, asteroids, ship yard chunks and the other ships. It was on par with the hardest gauntlet run scenario, which most pilots hated, there was a lot to watch for a lot of movement to track and avoid.

Rora gave Spencer a wry grin, "When we get back you can regal me with stories of your fun." She just hoped they would be bringing back everyone they were trying to drop off.

On the port side Tolkath sat impassively in his seat, harness pulled tight to counter the bucking and heaving as Tai found a course through the debris. He had the Marine combat vest on and the helmet securely fastened. He'd allowed Corporal Hudson to check him over and had received the Marine's approval. The additional space for his ears made the helmet comfortable to wear.

Cortez was next to him and beyond her, Hargreaves and her team.

It had been a while since she had been in a shuttle and Cortez was not exactly thrilled about it. Putting her not-exactly-a-phobia of flying to the side, she double checked everything she was wearing to make sure it was on properly, mainly because there were other lives at stake besides hers and she didn’t want to become a casualty.

Hargreaves had performed a double-check of her team before they set off. It was more fussy than she normally liked to be, but she didn't yet know the unit and they didn't know her. In time, she'd know them well enough to watch them, to see them check each other, to make sure watching each others' backs was a bonding exercise.

There was no such thing as a perfect mission, but this threatened to be the furthest thing from it with minimal intel and high uncertainty factor. If the stakes hadn't been higher, if this weren't an enemy ship threatening Xavier - if they'd had even the suggestion of more time - she'd have pressed to delay.

But instead it was crunch time. Hargreaves was used to crunch time. It just usually included a body-count. Her gaze drifted, impassive, down to the thirteen other members of her team, Marines she only knew by name and specialisation, soldiers she'd barely bonded with.

It was going to be a rough mission.

Opposite on the starboard side was Bolingbroke, his 2D MSOT, Kosu and Kilbane.

Bolingbroke looked along the line, confirming everyone was strapped in and ready. The Security Ensign had refused the offered helmet and vest. Bolingbroke hoped the man wouldn't come to regret the extra protection when the disrupter fire started coming in. He had his combat tricorder out and looked over the ship plan the Second Officer had provided. There were too many gaps for his liking, too many unknowns and potential traps. He hoped they could locate one of the launchers or the magazine quickly, without having to go searching for it while being chased around by angry Gorn.

Sitting tensely in her chair as the helmet looked ridiculous on her and the armor felt too heavy. Feeling this uncomfortable was quite a long time ago, she understood the whole dramatic safety thingy. She had her hair in a tail and her engineering kit between her legs. Deeli was playing with her hair a bit 'Why do I still think about that kiss...it was an accident, yes nothing but an accident. I bet Akio...already forgot about it' Deeli thought as she shrugs feeling her cheeks blush '...But why does my chest feel so, feeling dizzy thinking about that moment' She lowers her head and placed both of her hands on her head.

Kevin sat, staring into nothingness, his mind trying to concentrate on the combat training he'd received and the drills he'd been taught. He checked his weapons for the umpteenth time. He looked down at 'Walter', and for moment his breath came in short gasps and right hand tremorred as the USS Frannery memories came flooding back. He placed his left hand over his right, taking the pistol and placing it on his lap. Once again he placed his left hand over his right and massaged it till the tremorring subsided. Unclasping his hands, he began opening and closing his right hand to stop it from cramping up. Finally he placed both hands back in his lap and closed his eyes and began listening to his breathing.

Before the doors closed, West appeared at the rear loading hatch. "Take care of each other and remember, slow is fast, fast is slow."

As the Major disappeared out of sight, one of the privates looked like he had seen a ghost.

"Easy," came Hargreaves' voice, not warm but firm. "This is exactly what you've trained for. The unknown factors just mean we're already on our toes. Trust the soldiers next to you and we'll all be home breaking out the moonshine before you know it. Gorn might be big; that makes them really easy to hit."

Bolingbroke heard the nervous laughter in response to Hargreaves's joke. It had an edge to it, but the veteran's remark had relieved some of the tension and he added his own quip. "That's good, 'cos I can't hit the side of a barn!'

His team chuckled along and visibly began to relax a bit. Bolingbroke looked over at Hargreaves and gave her a nod.

"Yeah, but I've been on four drops under the Major's command before and he's never done that," the private said worriedly.

"Done what?" Hargreaves asked with quirked eyebrow. She didn't much feel like indulging this line of thinking, but she needed to know what was on the private's mind before she could dispel it.

"He's never come to personally talk to us before a drop," the private said nervously.

[801st Flight Fighters]

The combined fighters were forming up on the edge of the cloud, readying for their next move. Jenny scanned the horizon as the remnants of her flight formed up, somewhat the worse for wear. a glance over the craft, and her focus returned to the communications panel as he waited to hear of her missing flyer.

Bryan sat in his dying fighter and fought with the panel beside him. He yanked and pulled as hard as he could. In the distance he could see the capital ships pushing through to the Gorn ship. His was still tumbling out of control.

"Well that could have went better." He muttered as he finally got the panel removed.

"Power systems at 15 Percent and falling." His on board computer called out.

"Yeah, I know!" He barked as he pulled an power transfer line free and decoupled it . He needed to find a way to get some kind of power back. The power plant was still there and mostly undamaged. It was the connections that had gotten fried.

He pulled another line out and coupled it to the one he had just removed. The power flicked on for a moment and then snapped off again.

"Damn it!" He yelled and kicked the console in front of him. The power flipped back on and his comm fired to life again. Static but it was indicating broadcast only so far.

"Well ok, I'll take it." He began flipping controls and inputting commands. He stopped his fighters uncontrolled tumble and toggled his comm system on. It was weak and not 100 percent but he was broadcasting.

"Knight Two broadcasting in the blind....anyone there? " He waited a moment

"Knight Two broadcasting in the blind.....Boss you read me?" He sat back and waited for a response.

"I read you Cowboy" Jenny answered with relief. "What's your Status?"


[Near Space]

Ahead of the Runabout and fighter wing the Gorn Cruiser settled into it's attack vector, lining up on the shipyard. A fireball bloomed around the bow of the vessel as it began to drive it's way through the rocks and debris before it.

A moment later there was massive blast from its disruptors, the frontal salvo smashed a clearing in the debris field, which, seconds later, was filled with nine torpedoes!

Their motors ignited and they screamed off on attack vectors.


[Arrow Runabout Hilo]

Rora hissed out a breath as she saw the wide beam clear a path through the debris then the nine torpedoes, engaged engines and took off in separate directions. "Well that's fun, here comes the party crashing!"

“Shall we dance?” Spencer responded with another grin as his hands flicked a couple of switches and he brought up a display for her to see.

Tolkath saw the events on the Runabout's viewscreen and the glow of the salvo lit up the forward windows. He unbuckled his strap and went forward and dropped to one knee behind the pilots.

"What happened?" He asked calmly

"Nine torpedoes got launched from that monstrosity, so far none are locked onto us." Rora said after glancing at the console,to be double sure.

"Where are they heading, the Hawaii?" Tolkath asked

“Not 100% sure, sir...” The grin died from Spencer’s face, “Ah crap: they look like they’re headed for the station...” Now he didn’t know what to do except look to the Commander for instructions.

"Then they are not our concern Ensign" Tolkath replied, he pointed out of the forward window. The Gorn cruiser was still advancing, it had crossed the open space cleared by its opening salvo and was ploughing into the debris again, driving it aside in huge wakes eaither side of it's heavily armoured dual-saucer prows. "That is our mission objective. Get us within transporter range as quickly as you can."

Rora nodded, "Yes Sir." She gave a side grin to Spencer as she tapped the controls, "Let's sneak up on the lizards and give them a howdy do."

[801st Flight Fighters]

Bryan looked at all the systems coming up disabled or crippled in his HUD.
"Well Boss it ain't great." He grabbed his flight yoke.

"I've got attitude control and my primary drive system is dead. Back up looks to be margina....." He broke off as he saw the Gorn ship launch a salvo of torpedoes!

"Boss! That big ugly ship just launched! Nine torpedoes!" He flipped his fighter around and began tracking them. "I'm close; I could get a few of them." He activated his phasers and pulled the trigger.....Nothing happened.

"Damn! " He switched to his one remaining torp pod that hadn't been sheared off in the collision. He was out of range.

"Computer reroute power to drive system back up. How long a thrust can you give me?"

The computer worked the problem and spat out eleven seconds.

"It'll have to do." He wiped the soot from his visor and activated his engines and the crippled fighter went soaring off towards the inbound torpedoes. he was slammed back into his seat the inertial dampeners almost useless. He was going to make it but the capital ship would be able to get a bead on him as soon as he fired.

=/\=Those torps are aimed at the station!=/\= Caesar exclaimed.

=/\= "Eagles, maximum power to shields! Prepare to intercept!" =/\= He commanded his squadron, diving headlong into the cloud, engines flaring to maximum output. The glow from his impulse exhaust growing into a tail of red light behind him. A heartbeat later the rest of Eagle Squadron followed him.

"Watch out Cowboy, and try not to get yourself into any more trouble, we're arranging a pickup for you." Jenny replied to her wing man, Hawaii's CIC waiting on the other line.

Bryan was on the verge of blacking out as his fighter sped towards the torpedoes. His eyes never left his HUD and his hand remained on the fire controls. The computer counted down the remaining time of acceleration.

"Just......hold on ya idjit." He groaned to himself as he saw his targeting reticle focus on two of the closest torpedoes. The buzz rang in his ears as he had reached optimal targeting range. He pressed the fire command as the ship stopped accelerating suddenly.

He glanced up and watched as his last remaining torpedoes flew off towards the enemy weapons. His computer barked about being locked on by the gorn ship. "Computer emergency beam out!" He braced himself as the transporter matter stream captured him. In the seconds after it did so his fighter was turned to vapor by a gorn phaser shot.

He rematerialized a half kilometer away and watched as his ship was destroyed and two of the gorn torpedoes were taken out. He passed out floating in the darkness of space as the other fighters screamed after the remaining torpedoes and the chaos of space warfare lit up the darkness beyond him.

An alert sounded informing Jenny that Cowboy had activated his eject system, and a light flashed on her readout, indicating his fighter had stopped transmitting. "Cowboy, tell me your status" she found herself asking again. "Cowboy?" She called out when the line stayed silent...


[OFF]

Akio Tachibana, CAPT, SF
CO

Tolkath, CDR, SF
2XO/CSO

Rafe Cassidy, LT, SF
CONN

Rora Tai, ENS, SF
FCO

Spencer Griffith-Bailey, ENS, SF
FCO

Kevin Kilbane, ENS, SF
ATACSEC

Eira Cortez, LTJG, SF
INT

Terrance "Terry" West, Maj, SFMC
CO, 3d MRBN

Edward Bolingbroke, 1st Lt, SFMC
2d MSOT/TL

Eleanor Hargreaves, 1stLt, SFMC
Team Leader, 4th MSOT

Geneviève "Jenny" Lassonde, LTJG SF
CO, Flight 801

Bryan "Cowboy" Davies, Ens, SF
XO, Flight 801