Calm Before the Storm

Posted on 19 Mar 2019 @ 10:53pm 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 Deeli Kosu (Dec-Jan 2389 - TRNSFR After Gorn War) & Lieutenant Harry Stevens & Lieutenant Jinn Tevran (Jan 2389 - TRNSFR After Gorn War) & Lieutenant Junior Grade Anyi Nila
Edited on on 19 Mar 2019 @ 10:54pm

Mission: Ka Hakaka Maikaʻi - The Good Fight
Location: Bridge - Deck 1
Timeline: 0900, 13 Feb 2389

[ON]

[Xavier Fleet yards - Briefing Room 9]

It had been 27 days since the Second Battle of XFY. The Journey to Canterra was surprisingly uneventful, although Starfleet Strategic Plans indicated that the Gorn would be suicidal to attempt a battle with two Battle Groups. Akio wasn't convinced that was the case.

Why fight in open space when you could create a fortress at one of the planets?

In about two and a half days, the Battle Group would arrive in the Canterra System and split off. 15 Starfleet vessels. Was that enough? Akio wondered.

An Operations Lieutenant Commander aboard the Hercules was briefing both Battle Groups with the plans and formations. On the screen was a galactic map.

"At T minus 17 hours, we will initiate long range scans to determine the current configuration of the Gorn Fleet at Canterra. We do expect a fairly large Armada. We have combined intelligence from previous battles, so please ensure your shield frequencies are updated to dissipate the effects of Gorn torpedoes," the Commander noted.

The screen changed to a map of the Canterra system as icons of the ships were overlaid.

"Battle Group Devonshire will split off to Canterra III while Battle Group Hawaii splits off to Canterra IV..." the Commander continued to briefly explained the plan for Canterra III.

"As for Canterra IV, it is imperative that the USS Adelaide survives the space conflict as she is carrying the basing materials to establish ground operations. During the space battles, marine infantry regiments will be deployed via shuttles simultaneously to selected sites. We will have a higher fidelity for those sites at T minus 16 hours based on scans. Are there any questions?"

Akio looked around the bridge at his crew. The screen was still on mute. A general unease could be felt around the room. There was not a lot of intelligence and the plan was sound-- if it worked.

"Intelligence falls in a grey area, Captain," Jinn spoke up. "Where do you want Lieutenant Cortez and myself?"

"Wherever you find the most use to perform your duties," Akio answered neutrally, still unsure of the new officer in grey. "I am sure that your expertise will be useful once we ascertain the scans and have to make assessments that will guide our operations."

Akio looked to West who was sizing up the new intelligence officer himself.

"Wonderful," Jinn replied, smiling. "We'll consider ourselves free agents then. Anyone who wants us may speak up, otherwise we'll just insert ourselves somewhere useful."

He felt the Major's intent upon him and turned to find the man looking at him. He gave West a small nod, continuing to smile. The Marine clearly didn't trust him yet and he could sense that rolling off the man in waves.

"Lieutenant, I am sure we'll have a meeting around T minus 15 hours, after you've analyzed the pretty pictures," West said coolly.

"I'll be sure that all the pretty pictures are text-free when we meet, so you don't have to strain too much trying to read," Jinn quipped back. "That way you can just focus on going pew pew and bang bang without wasting any brainpower."

Cassidy had to give a diplomatic cough to stop himself from snorting. Irritating Marines didn't help one's life expectancy.

Before West destroyed the new Lieutenant, Akio warned, "Gentlemen."

"Sir, you may remember that Lieutenant Cortez is still under house arrest," replied Harry as he looked back at the new Officer, He continued, " so wherever she goes I go,"

"I do not recall you accompanying Lieutenant Cortez on the boarding team to the Gorn Cruiser, Mister Stevens..." Tolkath commented dryly "Where she accounted for herself perfectly adequately."

"And as her department head, I must insist that I need to be able to deploy my people without them being weighed down," Jinn stated in agreement to the CSO.

Akio looked at Tolkath and then the Intelligence Officer. To be honest, he wasn't sure who he was more frightened by intellectually.

"All good points. I do want to clarify that house arrest means at any point Ms. Cortez is not on duty; however, as our Chief Tactical and Security Officer, I would expect you to coordinate with Intelligence closely for the upcoming battle, Ensign," Akio replied to the trio's concerns.

"After all, we can trust Cortez to handle and analyse sensitive up-to-the-second strategic data for a whole battle group, but who knows what trouble she'll find if she goes to the Lounge for a hot drink unattended," Cassidy drawled, but his voice was light, casual; intended as a jest to dispel tension, not attack anyone.

"Fair enough Captain," replied Harry as he glared back at Cassidy, he continued, "her house arrest Lieutenant was a better solution than being in the brig," as he knew that Cortez didn't like it but at least she was not in a small cell.

Trying to get her composure in the meeting, Deeli felt awkward and out of place, noticing she was watching Akio from afar. She kept remembering their interaction and she tried with a deep breath as she closed her eyes “Hawaii is fully repaired and ready to get damaged again.” Smirking at that again as she opened her eyes again

Akio could not say anything for fear of smiling or even laughing. They always warned about battle fatigue in command school. Was the crew ready to fight again? Akio wondered.

Cassidy waggled his PADD to get attention before he piped up. "Preparing for the worst, and all that, I'm going to have navigation officers monitoring the most up-to-the-second data for our escape route once we arrive. Where their holes are, where we can slip away. Holonovels taught me to never start trouble without the getaway driver ready. But I'd welcome any help from Intel if they come across any bright ideas as they go through the data."

"Once we've received the long-range scans, Intel's first priority will be to analyze them and provide notes for every pertinent department," Jinn replied."

"CONN, I appreciate your tactics, yet I want to make it clear that we will not leave our Battle Group behind if this battle goes poorly," Akio said, still feeling the pangs of guilt when they retreated from the Battle of Canterra while the Wyoming rammed the Gorn Cruiser.

"Course not," said Cassidy easily. "Which means we need all the navigational data to hand and up to date if we're going to pull a disappearing act or an effective fighting withdrawal. Getting in with not much seeing us coming or getting out with not much on our tails might make all the difference."

Nila stood inside the turbolift, she felt uneasy about her recent transfer and hoped this Captain Tachibana would overlook her record and give herself a chance. The doors open and she steps forward handing a PaDD over to the Captain. "Ensign Anyi reporting."

Akio looked at the new Ensign and was a bit taken aback. A new Chief Operations Officer at this juncture? Yes, they needed one, yet this could also prove disastrous.

Akio glanced at Zamora and handed him the PADD before turning his attention back to the new arrival. "Ensign, welcome. Your timing could have been better, yet we are just going over the mission details of our insertion to the Canterra system. Please take your station and feel free to peruse the details."

Nila took her position but keep quiet, interrupting a big meeting was bad enough but she would still need to meet with Captain Tachibana, hopefully explaining her record to him if he by chance hadn't seen it.

Looking at the interaction, Deeli felt a surge of anger coming over to her, she looked away at the screen and took a deep breath. 'keep it together Kosu, it's nothing...right? Damn what is wrong with me' She shrugged and looked at the console "Whatever we are going to do, think before you act. I can't guarantee to patch up this vessel up again with minimum supplies." Deeli said a bit annoyed.

"Noted, Lieutenant. Yet a battle is to be expected," Akio said, unsure if he enjoyed combat or not, yet battle was the way to achieve honor.

[OFF]

Akio Tachibana, CAPT, SF
CO

Tolkath, CDR, SF
2XO/CSO

Rafe Cassidy, LT, SF
CONN

Deeli Kosu, LT, SF
CHENG

Harry Stevens, LTJG, SF
CSEC/TAC

Jinn Tevran, LTJG, SF
INT

Anyi Nila, ENS, SF
OPS

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