Crisis at the Edge

Posted on Thu May 2nd, 2024 @ 11:44am by Lieutenant Cassia Cavendish & Lieutenant Sapphire Morgan [Lalor] & Lieutenant JG Nerinath zh'Rhilror [Lalor] & Commodore Phoenix Lalor-Richardson & Captain Gary Taylor & Commander Kyle Reece & Commander Sthilg & Lieutenant Colonel Azhul Naxea & Lieutenant Commander S'hib & Lieutenant Commander Alicia Kelea-Salik & Lieutenant Thor Magnus & Consul Andrinn Orin & Lieutenant JG Damien Blackford & Lieutenant JG Rowena "Rena" Campbell & Lieutenant JG Maxine Mckull & Lieutenant JG Toshiro Yamaguchi

Mission: Season 6: Episode 4: Memory Lane
Location: Bridge and Various
Timeline: MD 9 15h30
3669 words - 7.3 OF Standard Post Measure

The tension on the bridge of the USS Elysium was palpable as the crew awaited the next move in their high-stakes game of cat and mouse. Cloaked from prying eyes, their vessel drifted among the stars, its scanners focused intently on the surrounding ships, searching for any sign of their quarry.

Lieutenant Sapphire Morgan, Acting Chief of Operations, kept a watchful eye on the sensor readings, her fingers poised over the controls, ready to react at a moment's notice.

Commodore Phoenix Lalor-Richardson, the ship's commanding officer, stood stoically at the center of the bridge, her gaze fixed on the viewscreen as if willing their elusive target to reveal itself.

Commander Kyle Reece, Chief of Tactical, exchanged a knowing glance with Lieutenant Commander S'hib, the ship's Chief of Security. They both understood the gravity of the situation, the delicate balance between stealth and confrontation.

Ensign Maxine Mckull, Assistant Chief of Flight Control, monitored the ship's systems with unwavering focus.

Suddenly, the tranquillity of the bridge was shattered by the blaring klaxons of the red alert. Sensors registered an explosion emanating from the space station at the edge of their scanner range, a stark reminder of the dangers lurking in the void.

Without hesitation, Commodore Lalor-Richardson sprang into action, her voice cutting through the chaos as she issued orders to her crew. "Red alert! All hands to battle stations! Ensign Mckull, prepare for immediate warp jump. Commander Reece, ready the starfighter crews for launch. We're going in. Keep us cloaked!"

At his station, Kyle's hands flew over his controls. "I've got both fore and aft launchers loaded and ready for action, Ma'am!" He then relayed an indicator from his console. "Starfighters are ready for launch on your order!"

At her station, Max nodded quickly. As soon as her name was called, she suspected what she'd be asked to do, and she was already priming the engines for a high warp jump. "Powering engines, ma'am," her translator droned flatly.

Alicia had arrived on the bridge just prior to the explosion, sitting in her seat all she could do for now was wait and see whether she’d be needed for anything. For the time being she’d keep her senses alert.

S'hib frowned at his console, trying to quell the panic in his heart as his thoughts drifted onto Naxea and Miraj.

"Security and Medical teams," He croaked as he hit his comm badge. "Report to shuttle bay one and await the arrival of the away team."

Damien was down in the Armoury, checking his equipment when he heard the order coming from S'hib. Checking his phaser was strapped to his waist, he grabbed his Phaser Rifle, giving it one final check over before heading out the Armoury, quickly making his way to the shuttle bay.

Down in the Counseling office, Rena heard the call for Medical. Her head was already hurting; the others' nerves and fear about what was about to happen was a bit overwhelming for the Betazoid. She tapped her Comms. =/\=Commander Sthlig. Who do you want to go?=/\=
Her temporal abilities would be helpful in BOTH places so if she wanted more senior folks to go, Rena didn't mind.

With a flash of light, the Elysium leaped to warp, hurtling towards the heart of danger in a race against time. For aboard the station, the fate of their away team hung in the balance, and only they could tip the scales in their favor.

---

= Engineering =

Lt. Athena Magnus at the Engineering console messaged her husband Lieutenant Thor Magnus who was working in Engineering reported, “Thor, it is about to get hot up here as in all stations working non stop. Please make sure the Communications Engineers are managing the relays between each console.”

“I have tripled the staff in that section of Engineering,” Thor responded quickly, ”We will not let what happened on the USS Izar happen here.”



=Diplomatic Corp=

Consul Andrinn Orin, the Elysium's Chief Diplomatic Officer, had been down in his office on Deck Two when the ship lurched forward and almost knocked him off of his feet. He sat down at his desk and punched a few commands into his console, bringing up information about what was going on. He realized after a few moments that the red alert klaxon was going off. Tapping his combadge, Orin said, "Orin to all Diplomats and DPT, prepare for incoming fire. DPT, make sure the diplomats are okay and help out where needed. Orin out."

Mattias head the call and replied via commbadge. =/\=Understood, Ambassador. My team is already mobilizing to cover each of their charges. I will be to your location momentarily. Richardson out.=/\=

=MEDICAL=
In the Counseling office, Dr. Rena Campbell was doing grunt work. She didn't mind-she was a junior officer, and she had to earn her way up. But still. Paperwork stunk. She was putting files in order by last name for the races who used such naming conventions. The rest went into a pile on the floor next to her to be filed next. She'd need to figure out a system. Perhaps numerically. She'd figure it out. A nearly imperceptible change-as the ship went to warp-piqued her interest for a moment. As an empath, she could tell the minor shifts in atmospheric pressure that things like that caused. She decided it was prudent to be on alert, but not to worry.

Sthilg was passing backwards and forwards. This was always the most gut-wrenching part of his job. The calm just before the storm where everything was about to go to hell. Everything was prepared and all his staff were waiting for the alert of incoming casualties.

Rena tossed the files she was working on. "OWWW!" The Betazoid was picking up more. She grabbed her temple, and stood up to head to the staff room. Water usually helped-a break from her work would, as well.

=Starfighter Wing=

Captain Addison 'Rico' Leyton performed her preflight checklist in unison with her Weapons Officer 1st Lieutenant A'dara 'Thumper', calling out each status check. Her Gryphon Attack fighter moved into the secondary launch cycle behind the Valkyries. Valkyries excelled in escort and anti fighter tactics but the Gryphons were a starship's worst nightmare with their torpedo loadout. All systems were green. Now all they had to do was wait for the command to launch.

Over her helmet's comm unit, George's voice could be heard. As he was still on the grounded list, he wouldn't be able to assist in any actual flying. However, he would aid his fellow pilots in every other way possible. For now, he was in Flight Ops, overseeing the action there. "Alright pilots, you know what you have to do out there. Valkyries, you keep watch over the Gryphons. They have the task of getting those decoy probes launched. Gryphons, stick with with your wingman, get those probes deployed, then provide cover for Ely. As soon as the the top gives the recall order, I'll relay it to you. I expect to see each of you after this mission is over!"

"Aww, I think you actually care," Leyton replied with a grin behind her full face helmet.

"Well yeah I care," George replied, humor clear in his tone as he continued. "You still owe me those three slips of latinum."

"You know cheaters don't get paid," Leyton teased, causing a laugh from Thumper.

George guffawed in response. "Just because you lost, doesn't mean I cheated. Not my fault you can't play spades to save your life."

Rico chuckled, thankful that the jesting was calming her nerves as she looked out to the side of the cockpit viewport. All deck crew had evacuated the launch deck. The launch order would be given any minute now. She turned to look back, letting out a breath as she flexed her hands that hovered over the flight stick and the throttle. "Yeah, well, I say you still cheated."

"Well then, you'd better get your ass back here in one piece so I can beat you again to prove my innocence." If Rico could see George's face, she'd know he was being brave for her, for all of them. In his core, he knew that someone wasn't coming back from his mission.

"Will do. Rico out," she replied simply as she turned her focus on the mission.

=Battle bridge=

Inside the battle bridge, Malakai sat in the centre seat and Scott Gregory manned the Ops station. "Keep a close eye on the power flow Scott. Don't know what we're headed for but the simple fact we're at Red Alert means trouble."

"Aye sir," Scott replied. "Power is even and steady across the board. So far, so good."

Zac stood at the tactical console. There wasn't much to do other than monitor the readiness of the weapons. "Board is green all across he relayed to Malakai. "Good to know and hear Zac. Let's hope it stays that way." Mal replied from the center seat.

=MAIN BRIDGE=

The lines of warp were stark to Phoenix’s eyes as she stared almost transfixed at the viewer. In her mind she was going over different courses of action. She knew remaining cloaked was both an advantage and disadvantage but she also knew that they were no where near ready to take on the Thaih’ea and needed every advantage they had. She turned to Tactical. “Bring all phaser banks on line and I want the away team’s shuttle tagged as friendly and Scanners to full.” She turned to Operations.

Kyle nodded as he entered a few commands on his console. "All weapons are primed and ready, shield emitters are charged and standing by to activate the second the cloak is dropped. I have a transporter timing program ready to run as well, which will lower the central shields just long enough for the transporters to bring people aboard, then re-engage between transport cycles."

Phoenix nodded.

“Sapphire, I want every alien lifesign scanned. Any that are from our galaxy you are to get a lock on. Open up all transporter rooms, and let medical know to prepare for incoming.”

“Aye” came the reply from Operations.

Alicia would normally be in medical ready to lend a hand but right now she was staying on the bridge, she was studying to take her bridge officer’s test so the situation was one hell of a learning opportunity.

==

The Elysium came out of Warp, well beyond the outside defenses of the Thaih'ea. Still cloaked they crused into chaos. Ships were fighting the Thaih'ea ships, others were dodging the firefight. The arena space station was in clear view, and their away team shuttle was docking with it.

"Commodore, we have a lock on the away team shuttle" Operations called out. "They are docking. Shall we hail them?"

"Negative, move us to cover them, and on my mark we will drop the cloak and launch protective measures."

Though they were still cloaked, Kyle started to work his controls, using the passive sensors to identify any and all threats to the Elysium and the away team's shuttle.

Damn. Max looked at her console with a slight frown. To say this area was crowded was a surprising understatement. But that crowd made for a good distraction. One she planned to take advantage of. She maneuvered the Elysium as careful as she could at impulse. She knew that once they had the away team back onboard, the Commodore would want to be gone like that.

"Commodore we have several ships heading to something on the far side of the planet."

"On Screen" Phoenix ordered.

The readings were off the chart. The power output was massive. Operations sent the information to the science station. "We are getting massive information. Its... a gate."

Even as the operations finished speaking, the fleet of ships crashed into the device. The various explosions were just the begining.

"Ma'am.. that.. its overloading. Thaih'ea are heading to try and contain it as well as taking on the other combatants."

"Drop the cloak!" Phoenix called out.

“Cloak is dropped” Athena replies. “Gloves are off or is it gloves are on. “

The cloak was dropped revealing the ship to all.

"Mr Reece, protect our away team shuttle and Mr S'hib, please get people to Transporters to assist with those we are going to be beaming on board."

"Aye, Ma'am!" Kyke replied, bringing the full power of Elysium's arsenal to bear on the alien vessels that were turning to face them. A couple started to fire, but their weapons were no match for Elysium's powerful shields. Using his weapons like a surgeon uses a scalpel. One of the ships exploded outright, the other had its engines knocked out.

S'hib watched his console in between glancing at the viewscreen after sending out more orders, he wanted to be doing more, doing something other than just standing here!

Still, he had a job to do. "Security and medical teams are reporting they're in position, Commodore."

"Ma'am, two ships are targeting the Station."

Phoenix hit the comms. "Elysium to Away Team, move your arses, that station is now under attack!"

"We're moving, Commodore. We've taken on some extra baggage," came Naxea's voice as she made her way back into her seat aboard the shuttle.

"Ma'am," Kyle spoke up. "I have both enemy vessels locked on, ready to fire."

“Make them go away Commander, and launch the fighters, tell them to stay close” She replied. She looked at Maxine. “Ensign, keep our warp coils prepared for a hasty departure!”

Kyle nodded, then worked his weapons controls like a master pianist. As he did so, he opened the comms to Captain George Charles. "Commander Reece to Captain Charles. Launch your fighters now!"

=/\=Charles here, Sir. Understood! Launching now!=/\=

Outside, the Elysium's powerful weapons came to life, as ruby beams of phaser energy lanced out at the approaching enemy vessels. As the massive amounts of phased energy burned away the shields that encircled the enemy vessels, nearly a dozen separate quantum torpedos were launched, each one slamming its way home into the enemy hulls, exploding instantly. In less than twenty seconds, it was over. Both enemy vessels had been reduced to molten flag.

"We will be ready, Commodore," Max replied flatly, her expression calm.

Alicia got up from her seat, she’d sat observing long enough. If she was to take the bridge officer’s test she needed to get stuck in to help. One of her strongest subjects at the Academy had been Ops so she made her way around to see what she could do to help, nodding to the Ops Officer on duty. “I can help, better than doing nothing.”

Sapphire glanced at her. “I need the comms for the fighters monitored.” She replied.

“That I can do” Alicia nodded. She’d barely touched Ops since the Academy but she she soon got into the swing of what she needed to do.



=Diplomatic Corps=

Andrinn was pacing around his office as he wanted to know what was going on. But, he knew that if he wasn't escorted by one of the members of the DPT, Captain Richardson would have his butt and Andrinn didn't want to get on his bad side...ever.

However, it wasn't more than a moment later, the door to the Main Diplomatic Complex opened and in came Captain Richardson. He was wearing his combat armor and heavily armed.

Walking over to meet the other man, Andrinn let out a sigh and a bit of relief before he said, "God, am I glad to see you. What's going on out there? Have we uncloaked?"

After ensuring his charge was safe and secure, Mattias replied to Andrinn's questions. "Apparently, there was an explosion on the station that the away team is currently located. All hell is breaking loose out there right now. There are dozens of various alien and Thaih'ea ships flying about, trying to clear the area. Apparently, a few of the Thaih'ea ships tried to engage us, but the Commodore made quick work of them."

Andrinn scratched his chin before walking over to his desk and taking a seat at it before reaching for something underneath it. He pulled out a phaser and looked at Captain Richardson, saying, "Need an extra one? I don't know what's going on, but just in case we get boarded, I don't want to take it with my hands tied behind my back. Lets just hope that whatever is going on isn't too bad."

Mattias grinned, revealing just how well armed he was. "Thanks, Sir, but I'm good. You keep it." He then looked around the compartment again. "I should get you down to the emergency shelter, Sir."

"Save the space for the people more deserving than I, dear Captain. Mind escorting a dear old diplomat to the bridge, just in case a diplomat is needed? Plus, there's some old Starfleet tricks I know, just in case we need to get out of a scrape," Andrinn asked as he walked over to Mattias, phaser in hand and ready for whatever might come their way.

Mattias sighed, clearly not happy, yet, it wasn't his job to force the Ambassador to do anything. His job, was to protect the man, from himself if need be. "Alright," he said finally. "Stick close. When I say it's time to go, no arguments, agreed?"

"I promise you can throw me personally down there if it gets too hairy. I'm just tired of feeling like a burden other than anything else. But, when you say jump, I'll ask how high," Andrinn replied as they headed out of the door and quickly made their way towards the Bridge.


==Engineering==

Thor quickly say, “Toshiro and Francine. Keep your eyes on the teleporter. No overload please.”

Both replied yes sir.


==STARFIGHTERS==

[[“LAUNCH FIGHTERS, STAY CLOSE TO MOTHERBIRD”]]

After what seemed to be an excruciating long time, the order for launch was given. Addison 'Rico' Leyton watched as the Valkyries launched. Next the Gryphons moved into primary launch position. A moment later, Addison and the rest of her squadron received the launch order. Addison pushed the throttle forward to quarter impulse as the Gryphon responded instantly, the interior of the shuttle bay disappearing in a blur before being replaced by the vastness of space, illuminated by flashes of light from weapons fire. "Alright Gryphon Squadron, you know what to do. Split into pairs and cover each other as you launch decoys!"

The Gryphons acknowledged the order as they split in various directions. Addison pushed her fighter to full impulse. "Thumper, ready that decoy!"

"Decoy ready!" Thumper replied as a warning klaxon blared.

"Shit!" Addison cursed as she recognized the alert that an enemy has targeted her craft. She immediately juked, as energy pulses narrowly missed her. "Mars! Protect my ass, dammit!" She cursed her wingman as she pulled into a right turn. A moment later, Thumper fired off the decoy.

=/\=On it!=/\= Second Lieutenant Harrison "Mars" McGregor replied as he fought to get in position. =/\=It's like a nest of voles out here!=/\= Suddenly, the enemy starfighter that had been chasing Rico down, exploded in a cloud of vapor, as the Gryphon that Mars was piloting eliminated the opponent easily. =/\=Woo-hoo! There ya go, Ri...=/\= He never got a chance finish his statement, as his starfighter suddenly exploded from weapon fire that originated on a Thaih'ea corvette.

The sudden explosion out of Rico's peripheral told her the story as she pulled into a hard turn, aiming her Gryphon at the Corvette. "Thumper, ready torps. We're going in! Target their bridge!" She slammed her throttle to full impulse, closing the gap quickly, pouring the remaining energy reserves into her forward shields as her weapons officer armed the torpedoes and worked to get a weapons lock onto the bridge of the enemy ship. Alarms sounded again as the Corvette opened fire, narrowly missing Thumper. However, a second salvo struck Rico's fighter, causing multiple alarms to cry out as systems were fried or destroyed. The shields had done their job.

Rico heard a grunting sound from Thumper's comm. "Thumper! Are you still with me?"

"Y--yeah...target in range...firing," Thumper said through strained breaths, a blue blood covered hand pressing the launch button as several micro torpedoes streaked towards the Corvette's bridge, striking home in an impressive explosion that ripped open the ship's bridge, displacing several bodies into the void of space as Rico pulled off.

"Good job, Thumper!" Rico cheered but it was short lived as she took in the damage report the fighter was giving. There was a hull fracture in the rear compartment --Thumper. "Thumper, how bad is it?"

"Shrapnel in my side. Emergency shielding is in place.... I'm good,". Thumper replied.

Rico could hear it in her voice. Thumper was anything but ok. "Hold on, we're returning to the ship!"

==BRIDGE==

“Open the shuttlebay and clear the shuttle to return” Phoenix ordered. “Recall all birds!”

“Aye!” came the call from the crew.

“Ensign once all ships are aboard, warp 4, resume cloak and get us out of here”

Max nodded her silent acknowledgement of the orders and checked her console. She watched and waited for the recall signal, checking and double checking the engines to make sure they hadn't suffered any damage. "Warp engines are ready, Commodore," she confirmed. "We are go once the squadrons return.

As Maxine spoke, Kyle sent out the recall signal. Looking at his board, he felt gut-punched, seeing how much they had been hurt. In the short span of time, their starfighter compliment had dropped to nearly half. They lost three Valkyries and two Gryphons, plus each of their flight crew's. As much as they had berm hurting before, this made things worse.

As the last fighter was confirmed aboard as well as two rescued pilots, and the away team was confirmed aboard, the Elysium jumped to warp and cloaked.

OFF

 

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