Convoy of heartaches

Posted on Sun Jun 30th, 2019 @ 6:29am by
Edited on on Sun Jun 30th, 2019 @ 6:38am

Mission: MISSION 0 - History Speaks
Location: Romulan Vessel Havraha
Timeline: Dominion War
1401 words - 2.8 OF Standard Post Measure

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The Havraha is a Valdore class vessel, and so is pure Romulan. So a picture from Earth would appear out of place on board, but that is in fact what sits at the rear of the Havraha's bridge. It is a painting from Earths early twentieth century, and shows a Golden Eagle sat on a rock with a Scottish Glen in the background. The lower right corner shows wear, and yet if anyone were to remove the picture the crew would react badly towards them. Now why is it here, and what is it to this Romulan crew?

During the War with the Founders, the Havraha fought along side Federation forces. Her present Captain was ships XO, and became the Captain when the picture first came on board. The story of how it arrived is one worth telling, so sit and I will tell all.

Early in 2374 a convoy of ships prepared to leave Earth to assist in holding Pacifica, this fleet consisted of three Star Fleet vessels and five freighters. Leading this convoy was the Akira class USS Thunderchild NCC 63549, and two Nebula class USS Anne Bolyne and the USS Nevada. Their first target to reach was star base 82 then via the Mutara Nebula and the Pleadies Cluster head for the Gorn Hegemon. The goal was to pick up a forth ship, a Varanus class from the Gorn. They would then dash quickly for Pacifica and drop the much needed supplies, but this plan quickly fell apart.

The convoy consisting of eight ships left Earth as planed, and turned towards star base 82. It had barely cleared sector 001 when the first Jem'Hadar attack damaged the Thunderchild, but all eight ships managed to continue onwards. The convoy's speed had dropped because the Thunderchild was making running repairs, this didn't help the convoy in the slightest. A second attack by the Jem'Hadar put the Thunderchild out of action, forcing her to return to Earth. The Dominion had achieved its first victory against the convoy, it had forced the most powerful vessel of the three escorts to leave and so diminish the protection left for the five freighters. Captain Eric Bahlsan of the Nevada now took charge of what was left of the convoy, his close friend Captain George Simpson of the Anne Bolyne and owner of the picture now closed up on each side of the freighters. The only positive was an increase in speed, but not by much. The convoy was left alone for around eight or nine hours, then the Jem'Hadar began fast raiding the convoy. They would send a single ship at high speed towards one of the Escorts forcing it to turn and face the attacker, while another would appear from behind the first and fire on a freighter. It was as if they were pecking the ships apart, minor damage was being taken by both Escorts and Freighters but with the constant attacks no time was left to conduct repairs.

By the time the little convoy reached star base 82, they had lost one of the freighters. And every other vessel had major damage, the Escorts had faired worst of all. But work parties both from all the ships and the base personnel repaired the damage and got the convoy ready to continue, but casualties in crew of all vessels were more difficult to address. So setting forth again somewhat undermanned, the convoy headed for the Mutara Nebula and Pleadies Cluster. Within hours the Jem'Hadar attacked, more damage more casualties. But still they carried on, and then a glimmer of hope. A Varanus Class ship arrived, it took the lead but the two original Escorts could do little to assist in repelling the continued Jem'Hadar attacks. This is where the Havraha met this bedraggled group, at first the Gorn did not trust the Romulan vessel but when the Jem'Hadar attacked they proved their true intent. The USS Nevada came under a heavy attack, and so the Havraha's Captain turned his ship towards the attackers. It proved to be a turning point, the Jem'Hadar now suffered casualties and defeat. Not expecting a Romulan ship to join the defenders, they chose to ignore it. That was a fatal error on their part, one which the Havraha took full advantage of.

The attacks seemed to fade slightly once the Gorn and Romulan vessels had joined the rag tag convoy, but soon the Jem'Hadar once again attacked in strength. This time they focused on the two new Escorts, hitting the Gorn vessel hard causing much damage. But it never waivered, remaining in the lead spot taking on the waves of attackers. The Havraha also took damage, but in one heavy attack she took a hit that was to prove fatal for a number of the crew. This included her Captain, and it nearly became the end of the ship its self. A Jem'Hadar force of five ships attacked the Havraha, and at first she held them off destroying one and damaging two others. But this did not last, as one of the damaged Jem'Hadar ships now made a suicide run at the Romulan vessel. The XO, Erei Riov Valdran, had been sent to engineering to check on damage and casualties. This was when the Jem'Hadar suicide ship hit the bridge, killing the Captain and several of the bridge crew. The ship rocked under the collision, and she quickly lost control of her heading with no pilot at the helm. Just how this Jem'Hadar vessel had got through the defences was unknown, but its destruction of the bridge was a possible death blow for the Havraha. Mishka now took control of the situation, she set up a jury rigged bridge in engineering. Taking the ship out of line and placing it on its own, she now raced to ensure if the other three enemy vessels attacked her they would met a ship capable of defending its self. The crew fought both fear and time, as they sought to redirect command lines and systems into Mishka's jury rigged bridge. A view screen was set up allowing forward vision, and sensors slowly came back on line.

During this time, one of the original Escorts decided to assist the Havraha, Eric Bahlsan placed the Nevada along side the Havraha and beamed Federation engineers onto the Romulan vessel. They to now assisted in repairing the Havraha, while the Nevada protected the Romulan vessel from further attack. The convoy its self remained under attack, but the focus had shifted to the two new Escorts. The Jem'Hadar appeared to want then destroyed first, so they could attack the convoy without further interference or casualties. In a fashion this strategy worked in the convoys favor, as it allowed the freighters to conduct running repairs and so aide their own defence. It was assistance freely given by the Nevada that saved the Havraha, and also when Riov Valdran finally took command of the now damaged but battle ready Havraha. Bahlsan now sent his own XO onto the Romulan ship with a gift for the new Riov, a picture of a Golden Eagle. It was to symbolise the Havraha's spirit in battle, and the determination of her crew to keep her fighting. It was not lost on the ships crew, and the new Riov placed the gift on the rear wall of the Engineering department behind her command spot. She decreed once the bridge was fully repaired and operational, the picture was to be place behind the Riovs position so all would see it. And so with her ship now ready to face the enemy once again, Mishka placed the Havraha back into position to defend the convoy. Further Jem'Hadar attacks occurred and further damage was taken by every ship in the convoy, but two of these ships now had a bond.

And that my curious friend is why there is a picture from Earth showing a Golden Eagle, in pride of place on a Romulan vessel. Are you surprised? Many are, but very few know the story behind that picture. Nor why a Romulan crew would touch the lower right corner of that picture, every time they enter the bridge. And despite her hatred of the Federation, Riov Mishka Valdran will not allow anyone to remove that picture. How strange is our universe, that enemies can become friends of in this case. Leave a memory that binds them, for eternity.

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