Above the planet

Posted on Thu Jul 25th, 2019 @ 9:12pm by Lieutenant Commander Jaeih t'Noramei-McKinley & Lieutenant JG Nerinath zh'Rhilror [Lalor] & Avalon [ADMIN NPC] & Commodore Evelyn Mountbatten [ADMIN NPC] & Lieutenant Sabrina Alexander & Lieutenant JG Gallia Norris & Riov S’Tokkr tr’Noramei

Mission: Episode 1: Hell is a four letter word
Location: Various
Timeline: MD 12 - Sometime while away teams work things out
3848 words - 7.7 OF Standard Post Measure

IC:

Avalon appeared as the bridge crew settled into wait. "All shuttles away. Lieutenant Vaiis wing is escorting."

"Thank you Avalon." Mountbatten said as she sat in the center chair.

In a corner of the bridge....

"Liorga, I think you should be here, I dinnae have your experience an..." Gallia protested, Liorga shaking her bald head to cut her off.

"No way, this is your chance to shine up here." Liorga said, "You go impress the hell out of the Commodore up here, once we have our orders me and Sami will handle business in the engine room."

"Yeah, come on, L.T." Sami smiled, "You'll do great on the bridge."

"If I wanted ta be on the bloody bridge I wouldnae became an engineer." Gallia sighed, but silenced the conversation before she got in earshot of the Commodore, taking a seat at the bridge engineering station as Acting Chief Engineer and wondering how the hell she ended up being the ranking engineer on a ship this big, Dad was right, God is English... she decided, because a situation like this literally dripped of English 'humor.' "Awaitin' orders, Commodore."

Percy watched expectantly. As far as he was concerned, they were skirting dangerously close to breaching the better part of protocol on this mission. He knew the stakes, and he knew the players, and he'd be damned before he let another Captain Maxwell situation arise.

Ensign Nerinath Sh'rhilror sat at helm. She scanned the readouts. "Lt. Vaii's team is on its way, strathing runs will commence shortly."

-/\-On Board The Havraha-/\-

Having arrived before the Elysium, Mishka Valdran had taken her vessel and keeping it cloaked placed it behind the planet. She used several old satellites to bounce signals off to track anything opposite her in front of the planet, thus when the Elysium began rescue operations she now made her move, "Target the Federation ship's engines and weapons array only, then watch for the response from their Romulan escort. Once we have the location of the vessel, fire a full spread at them". The bridge crew now stood up and answered as one, "As you Command Riov!!" Havraha moved with deadly purpose and lethal intent, her target the USS Elysium.

==Elysium==

Evelyn was tense. She stood, paced a bit, sat back down and did her best not to badger the crew at their stations.

She noted that it was junior officers at the stations.

Ensign Sh'rhilror at helm, Ensign Case at operations, were the junior most officers. Assistant chiefs filled out the other roles with the lone exception, the chief of Intelligence sitting in the intelligence blister like lord Varys from game of thrones gathering information and not giving much away.

"Anything from the planet?" She asked.

Comms shook their head "No. Strathing run has caused a lot of confusion down there. their comms are going off the chart. A few ships are launching from the far side of the planet a good couple of klicks from the prison. All away teams are down on the planet,"

==ENGINEERING===

You know that saying, walk, don't run? Of course the natural progression of Lieutenant Yona Carlin's career has been somewhat twirly-she was chief engineer on a glorified floating bathroom, but the price to pay for size turns out to be reduction. In certain ways, not in others. For instance, her team now is much larger than the whole engineering complement on the Marcus Aurelius ever was and she's learned to walk to her battle stations, not run. Resultingly she's collected and in-control, flitting between control systems and soothing what needs soothing, consulting a translucent PADD as she takes a brisk pace through the bowels of the Elysium. So far, so good. "Structural and environmental support is standing by," she taps her commbadge to provide a succinct status report.

-/\-On Board The Havraha-/\-

As the ship slowly rose from behind the planet, Mishka could see the multitude of shuttles and other craft swarming about. The Federation vessel looked like a Queen bee among her workers, the Havraha now moved towards that Queen. "Weapons lock on to the Federation vessel, remember engines and weapons only. Op's remain alert, as soon as the traitors show themselves relay their position to weapons control. I want them dead", Mishka made sure her orders were plain and simple as she wanted no mistakes. Her Op's Officer looked at her, "Riov, the amount of traffic around the Federation vessel makes targeting her difficult". Mishka glared back at him, "Are you incapable of following orders? Do I need a new Op's Officer?" The man paled and shook his head, "No Riov, as you Command". The Havraha now moved like a cat pouncing on it's prey, "OCALA!!!!" Havraha's weapons opened fire on the Elysium, hitting both the engines and weapons array's. Quickly the Op's Officer waited for the Romulan escort to make it's move, another quick shot at the Elysium made sure she was going nowhere and was no threat to the Havraha.

==ENGINEERING===

"What the hell was that?!" Yona's communicator blares once the dust clears. "Shut off that EPS tap, reroute tertiary power to bulkheads and let's start sending out repair teams as quickly as possible," Yona's saying as fast as she can get back on her feet, catching a hyperspanner mid-air. "Rafi, is that you? Just stay where you are, we'll come to you. All right," she spreads out a large holographic data sheet using wide gestures. "OK, we're looking at breaches throughout decks 12, 13 and 14 so let's focus on evacuation and restoration, got it?" she addresses her gathered team after doing a cursory check to ensure they're not injured.

Liorga had already gotten into her EVA suit, barking orders to the other enlisted to do the same, they were going to have to work in zero gravity, zero atmosphere conditions. Tapping her commbadge, she called the bridge, =A= Lt. Norris, we need you in engineering now, sir.=A=

=A=On ma way, Chief.=A= Gallia replied, turning over bridge engineering to Chief de Falco, and running to the lift, Kara will kill me if I dinnae keep her ship in one piece...


=Bridge=

Evelyn picked herself up off the deck. "Report!" She snapped out.

-/\-On Board The Havraha-/\-

Mishka noted that the Federation fighters had started to close in on her ship, this she didn't need. "Helm, place us above the Federation vessel and as close to it as possible", the helmsman looked back at Mishka. "Riov?" He asked, his mind wondering just what his Captain had in mind. Smiling Valdran continued, "By being above the Federation vessel and close to it, attacking our underside is impossible. Also straffing us from above will prove difficult, any ship so inclined will have to close the range to ensure they hit us. Giving our weapons an easier target, that also includes attacks from our flanks the front and rear". The Op's Officer still hadn't located the cloaked Romulan vessel, "Riov, the traitors remain hidden. They wait to see what we do next, being above the Federation vessel should force them to decloak to attack us".


*Alpha wing*

"El-tee, what are they doing." One of the Alpha wing pilots noted. Jessica had returned to orbit once the Warbird opened fire on the Ely.

Jess spoke. "Dammit.. Talk about taking a hostage in a knife fight. If we fire on the romulans, we might hit the Ely if we miss. If we get too close. They'll pick us off one by one, and if we hit them critically, they will take the saucer section up with them."

"Damn romulan cowards." One of her pilots noted.

Suddenly what appeared to be a Romulan vulture medium fighter engaged Jessica. She began to perform several fast and hard evasive maneuvers. She wasn't fighting just any Reman pilot. Whoever this pilot was, he was good.

"Jessica Vaii...." A transmission was sent to the fighter from the vulture.

"You have me at a disadvantage." Jessica noted as she performed a split-s maneuver.

-/\-On Board The Havraha-/\-

Mishka noted her main target still hadn't shown it's self, "Op's, do you have any information on our targets yet?" The Op's Officer shook his head, "They remain cloaked Riov, the cowards refuse to face us". Slamming her fist down Mishka cursed, "Areinnye(hell)". Scanning the viewer she noted how the Federation fighters where now gathering to strike all at the same time, hoping to simply swamp the Havraha's defences. "Weapons Officer, prepare for a mass attack. Destroy the lead ships using torpedo's, perhaps the debris will slow the others down and give the disruptors time to lock on".

But then from behind the Romulan attacker, the escort decloaked and opened fire. They had been moving into position to make sure they had a clear shot.

-/\-On Board The Havraha-/\-

Rocking as she was hit on her shields, the Havraha now started to manoeuvre away from the Elysium. "Helm, engage impulse drive one quarter ahead. Op's watch those fighters, target the escort with torpedo's and disruptor fire. Their shields can't be up yet, OCALA!!!" Firing as she turned, Havraha hit the escort several times in quick succession. Gaining strikes on both bridge and lower hull, at the same time Havraha also fired a string of torpedo's at the waiting fighters keeping them at bay.

==ELYSIUM BRIDGE==

Evelyn barked out orders. "Fire on that vessel, rotate shield modulations, Ms Sh'rhilror, evasive maneuvers! Ops get Engineering onto those hull breaches."

A chorus of AYES came from around the Bridge.

Neri's fingers danced across the console as the Elysium went to full impulse and began to dance with its attackers.

Sabrina had managed to make her way to the bridge, the ship's shaking notwithstanding. Her eyes quickly took in the bridge, noting who was there and who wasn't. They then tracked to the view screen which showed the battle being waged around them. She knew the stakes, and she knew what it was going to cost them. Prepared was a state she always tried to be in, but there was only so much she could do to prepare for what would be left when the figurative, and literal, dust settled after something like this.

Around her, she could sense the emotional states of those on the bridge. They ranged from nervous to intense and determined. She moved to stand near the back of the bridge where she would not be in the way but could watch everything, both physically and mentally.

Evelyn spotted the counselor and waved her to the command well. "Sit Counselor." She said as she turned back to the battle.

Sabrina nodded to the commodore, moving silently across the bridge and taking the seat next to the other woman. "Any way I can help?" she asked very softly. This was battle; she was not a soldier. But if there was something, even something small, she could do to help, she would.

The Commodore shook her head and gave a small smile.

==OUTSIDE THE ELYSIUM==

Jess watched the Romulan ship hugging the Elysium's dorsal hull. "Squadron I got an idea." She noted. "Delta is still in the bay, but if they launch, they'll get hammered by that warbird. I want alpha, beta, and gamma to do a high speed run on the warbird, but we're going to link our firing computers to delta wing. Delta will the n fire their torpedoes out of the bay.. Our tac computers will then guide the torpedoes into the target.

"El-tee, if the ship explodes, the Elysium will be in the middle of it."

"We'll bloody their nose real good, Mountbatten will order the ship to pull away, then we take them down, but we need to keep the Romulan Tac officer from looking under his nose."

-/\-On Board The Havraha-/\-

Mishka now moved her vessel away from the Elysium, "Get me clear space to maneuver in, continue firing on the escort". The Op's Officer now replied, "Riov, the Federation vessel has managed to get some weapons repaired, they are now active". Shaking her head Mishka answered, "Then take them out, are you incapable of that thought? Helm continue evasive maneuvers, and get me a clear shot on the traitors". Havraha now began to bank and clear the melee Valdran gave more orders, "Half impulse engage, but do not attempt to close on those fighters. Deploy close proximity mines in our wake, that will deter any fool who want's to claim glory". Noticing the Elysium was moving Mishka calmly gave the Weapons Officer an order, "Fire on the Federation vessel's engines again, and keep hitting them until they stop moving. Then hit their weapons arrays again, I want that ship immobile". She glanced at the readouts on her Romulan opponent, "Our first strikes caused damage, target their warp core destroy them".

The Romulan Ally, however had a trick up its sleeve. Out of Warp, behind the Elysium came two more Sleek and brand new VALDOUR Class warbirds. The odds had changed. They moved to flank the Dhivael and aimed their weapons at the Rogue Romulan Vessel.


==ELYSIUM BRIDGE==

With all the chaos already going on, Justin figured it wouldn't be a good idea to add any of his own. So far, the battle was going well and he kept busy rerouting power around damaged sections to make sure the weapons and shields would remain operational. Shouldn't be too hard to kick the butt of outdated warbirds with Starfleet's best and most powerful battleship, even if the thin neck section with the gaping hole inside made it more difficult for him to find ways to keep command and control functions working between the main hull and the stardrive section.

Evelyn bit back a curse. "Hope they are on our side."

Sabrina felt the tension go up several notches, and that was just the commodore. Around her, everyone was waiting, uneasily to see which side these Romulans were on. She looked to the commodore and nodded. "I think you speak for all of us on that." she said very softly.

-/\-On Board The Havraha-/\-

As Mishka watched expecting the wounded enemy Warbird to explode, a pair of very familiar shapes formed either side of it. The Havraha now faced two of her sisters, from one on one it was now four on one. "Vah 'Areinnye??? (What the hell???) Helm course 121.26, maximum warp engage!" Mishka turned to her Op's Officer, "On my command, detonate those mines we ejected". She then returned to the helmsman, "Once the mines explode, turn to heading 263.63 and engage the cloak". "As you command Riov", came his reply. This was one battle Mishka knew she couldn't win now, but she wasn't about to allow her ship to fall in useless combat fighting a loosing battle. As the mines were set off Mishka gave her final battle order, "Weapons Officer, target the Federation vessel with our last torpedo. Aim for the saucer section, OCALA!!", a parting gift to remember her by. The Havraha now bolted, leaving chaos and confusion behind her.

Tactical called out "We have incoming from the enemy vessel!"

"Shields to full!" Evelyn yelled back. "HELM EVASIVE maneuvers!"

"AYE." The andorian at Helm called back. "Sir, our trajectory will take us into the upper atmosphere."

"Do it!" Evelyn called. She hit the ship wide comm. "ALL HANDS BRACE FOR IMPACT!"

In engineering Gallia heard the order to brace for impact, they were really going to take the ship into the upper atmosphere... That'll destroy the bloody ship! A quick scan of tactical showed they were taking evasive action to avoid a torpedo headed for the saucer section, either impact would be disastrous and, for many people and possibly the ship, fatal. An idea struck quickly, "Everybody brace for impact!" Gallia ordered, dashing to the comm panel, =A=Norris to Commodore Mountbatten, I've got another of my heatseekin' torpedoes in the chute, we can shoot the Romulan torpedo outta the bloody sky with it!=A=

[["DO IT LIEUTENANT!"]] Came the commodore's reply.

=A=Aye, sir.=A= Gallia replied, switching the firing triggers to the tube carrying her heatseeker and sending the signal to tactical, =A=Blast that damn thing now!=A= She instructed whoever was at tactical...

Milla braced for impact, hoping Gallia's plan worked, otherwise they were probably going to die in the seconds ahead...

At the order, Sabrina gripped the arms of the chair. Her eyes took in the crew, while her telepathy brushed over them, assessing the surface thoughts, or rather the surface emotions. The action on the view screen was noted but more in the sense of how it would impact the crew. She readied, though, for the physical impact and waited...

=== MEDICAL===

Maddy had been in medical, offering services to the wounded when she saw Faith, who worked in the nursery, stumble in with a concussion, holding a beautiful Andorian baby. It only took her one look to realize that Faith was about to drop said baby, causing Maddy to hustle over and take her, "It's okay, Faith, I've got her..." She said, guiding her friend to the nearest diagnostic bed.

"This is Lt. Norris' baby...." Faith gasped, "She's going to kill me if something..."

"Shh, shh, save your strength." Maddy instructed, taking Tayalas as a corpsman came to take over Faith's care. She'd read the file, this poor kid and her mom had been through Hell, "Okay, Tayalas, we're safe here." It was a little weird that the baby wasn't freaking out and bawling, the cadet feeling like she was about to at any second.

The new woman smelled good, plus she had hair like mama's, that made Tayalas feel safe. She laid her head against the new woman's chest and placed a hand in her hair, saying, "Su-- safe."

"That's right, Taya." Maddy smiled, "And no matter what I'm going to keep you that way." She looked for a place to brace them, strapping both herself and the baby into an impact chair, a kind of wall mounted chair with safety belts that had become standard in recent years, "Always safe."

===Bridge===

On the Bridge, Evelyn moved to grasp the helm chair. "Skim us along the line Ensign"

"Aye sir." Neri's fingers danced. "Lieutenant Norris, give me the vector you need the ship on." She said hitting the comm to Engineering.

[[Gimme ten pant two degrees hard ta part!]] Gallia replied, [[Then break arbit as quick as ya can, we dinnae have time ta play with it.]]

Neri did as ordered. The Elysium moved along the trajectory specified.

The torpedo impacted against the incoming Romulan warhead, setting off a cascade of explosions amongst the mines, the impact rocking the Elysium but not penetrating the shields. In engineering Gallia's fingers flew across the console, diverting power from front to aft and flank shields and impulse power, [[Go to full impulse, run five seconds an' we can reenter arbit on the other side. We'll start on gettin' power back ta narmal here, Norris out.]]

-/\-On Board The Havraha-/\-

Now out of range of any chasing ships, the Havraha suddenly got an incoming message. Mishka nodded to her Comm's Officer and the screen came to life with a Star fleet Admiral facing her, "Admiral Green, I fear our joint mission has failed. Gray Wolf still lives, and we didn't gain any additional information". Edward Clifford Green, Star Fleets counter intelligence head simply smiled. "Quite the reverse Riov Valdran, you shook the tree rather well. The Federation informants on Romulus have been captured, and Gray Wolfs organisation exposed it's self to us". He shifted in his seat, "I take it the prison is now under attack?" Mishka nodded, "We have taken casualties, I have lost my Erei Riov". Green showed no emotion, "I see, so what's the plan now?" Mishka simply smiled, "Attach ourselves to the Orion Syndicate, as we arranged. They have our supplies, what is your next move?" Green nodded, "Take out Gray Wolf and the rest of that bunch, after that who knows. Possibly go after Section 31, I believe your people want them as well". Mishka just looked at Green, "We will contact you if we require information, Valdran out!" She cut the connection and turned to her bridge crew, "This is still a Romulan Star Empire vessel, you will conduct yourselves as such".

As the Havraha fled the scene, the remaining Romulan vessels hesitated but did not pursue. Instead they turned to the planet and began assisting with liberating the prisoners.

==/\==Elysium ==/\==

"Commodore, news from the surface. The power generator is down. Team 2 have also liberated several prisoners and are requesting assistance with beam out. Commander Hertz recommends emergency Medical be set up in a cargo bay to assist..."

"Make it so." Evelyn ordered. "And the others?"

"Away team 1 report they have hit a number of enemy weapons and mines but are close to the location required. Should have a reply shortly. Team 3, is deep within the prison, no update as yet."

"With those generators down, begin scans for our people and commence beam out of prisoners as per away team 2's discretion. And get Engineering onto the repairs and such. I need us to be able to go to warp as soon as possible."

"Aye Sir!"

And it was over, just like that. Sabrina sat still for now. First, medical needed to see these people, then her team could do their part. For now, though, she would only be in the way of the medical staff, so she waited and listened to the emotions around her, assessing which needed the most immediate attention when it was her people's turn to act.

Evelyn paused "Recall Lieutenant Vaii and her wing please as well" she ordered.

"Recall the fighters, aye aye, skipper", Justin responded and sent out the order, speaking softly into his communicator. "Elysium to Vaii, fighter screen is recalled to base. Hangar is awaiting your return." And at that point, he pushed the button that informed the hangar personnel to indeed be ready.

Jessica spoke. "Understood. Alright everyone, back to the barn. Damn. I wish we could've bagged that Rommie before she escaped. Next time I'm going to get her good."

In engineering Gallia, in what she hoped were going to be her last few hours as acting Chief Engineer, turned to her gathered colleagues, "All right, time to start repairin' things and we dinnae have a second to spare. Chief Liorga will assign veteran crew to repair teams, get every engineerin' cadet that can walk an' put 'em on teams, too. They're gonna get some a' that hands on experience they cannae teach 'em in the academy."

Liorga turned to the others, "Okay, you heard the lady, assholes and elbows, let's move it!" She turned and nodded to Gallia, silently telling her how proud she was of her in her time as Chief.

OFF