Preparations

Posted on Mon May 30th, 2022 @ 8:16pm by Captain Temperance Harding

Mission: Mission 2: Chasing Shadows
Location: Pirate Stronghold

ON

The sensor display had shown the same image for the last while. It seemed that while they had been scared out of the Nebula, they hadn't been scared 'away'. Good. He preferred it that way. He wanted a challenge.

"How far away are they?" He asked, tilting his head slightly, though not quite taking his eyes off the screen.

"They seem.to be holding position five minutes' away at full impulse." Came the female reply. "Their fighter craft tangled with one of our Scuttle probes, and they pulled back to a station-keeping distance."

He merely grunted as a response. "How goes the loading?"

The primary Cargo deck far below was a bustle of activity, and while it couldn't be heard through so many decks, he could imagine it. The sound of people, crates being moved, cargo prepped.

"We're now filling the last of the bays. We should be ready shortly."

He nodded, his tactical mind assessing the situation. "Their fighter craft are a problem. Even at low Warp, they can follow long enough to pinpoint our likely course. We will need a distraction."

"The 'Ducthman'?" She asked, pausing in her work. It was a closely held secret, and she wasn't sure if he wanted to let Starfleet know about it yet.

"I like the idea..." He said cautiously. "How is the new weapons system?"

"The twins say it's operational. Tests on a Runabout indicate it should shred through their shields."

"Forcing the fighters to stay close, protecting the ship." He nodded, seeing some wisdom in it. "We will want their attention on us, not the freighter. Launch a Comms relay. I wanna poke the bear, she what she does "

"Is that wise?"

"My dear, there is wise, and then there is fun. Launch the relay. Prepare a team for the Dutchman."


=+=+=+=


The door hissed open onto the Bridge. His little secret. His weapon. Painted pure black, with the ancient Jolly Roger on the underside, it was unlike anything Starfleet had. From the outside.

As the team of eight came onto the Bridge, lights started to come up, illuminate the open-plan room. The small, raised platform for the Captain's swivel-mounted chair was dead centre.

He let his fingers glide over the surface. Feeling the smooth finish. He had always liked this class. It had power, and a sleekness to it. It was made to punch things, and it looked so damn good doing it.

"Status?" He called out, settling into the seat of power, and leaning back, feeling the exhilaration at knowing he was about to teach yet another Captain the error of facing him.

"Warp Core coming online. Main power is up. Systems coming online." The dis[play board showed the ststus of each primary system.

"Bridge to Engineering. Tell me this new weapon will do what you claim?"

A pair of identical voices came back over the comm.

"Yup! You bet it will."
"If it doesn't, you can flog us."
"Well now. Not a bad idea."

He just sighed and shook his head. "Is the comms relay in place?"

"Just about, sir."

He paused for the briefest of moments, enjoying the feel of what he was about to do. "Hail them."