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Post by Lieutenant JG Alerio Zhal on Jun 28, 2023 17:09:02 GMT -5
Zhal walked through the Citadel corridors towards his assigned room. He was exhausted. The last holodeck simulation had sent him flying across the bridge of a Galaxy Class Starship and slamming into a wall as the ship bucked hard to starboard under the strain of Species 8472’s weapons fire. Zhal had managed to get the old girl back under his control and take out Cheirax class biological warships, but those two weird pieces of shit hit like a shuttle to the face. While the safety protocols in the holodeck were online it was still a rough day.
When he entered his quarters he smiled at the fern that Lyssa had sent him from their room and took his uniform jacket off and walked towards the sonic shower. He stripped out of his clothes, showered, dressed in a simple shirt and sweats, and lay in his bed. He glanced at a photo on the nightstand of the Manta and smiled. “I don't know if I’ll be top gun, but I hope I am making you guys proud.” He let out a sigh and let his eyes close trying to rest.
He woke to a red alert being called out over the internship comm array. As his eyes snapped open and he jumped from his bed he realized that he was in his quarters onboard the Manta. When he didn't see Lyssa’s bed or effects he came to realize it must be another simulation, he quickly dressed into his uniform and went running down the familiar corridors. When he reached the bridge it was empty aside from “Prag” at the Tactical station. He took his seat at the helm and spoke. “I need a sitrep Prag.” He started looking over his display and saw that navigation was now offline.
“Three Romulan Warbirds, one D’deridex Class, two Mogai they are cloaking and striking in rotation. I have routed auxiliary power to shields, and they are holding for now at thirty-seven percent..” To anyone else, T’Nar would sound like your everyday Vulcan logical, concise dispassionate. But to Zhal who had learned to understand the Tactical officer he had been caught off guard by the sudden simulation and there was a stress crease in the man’s forehead. “Understood, I see I have to cold start the engines from two consoles today. Do what you can while I work to get us under… You have got to be fucking kidding me.” Zhal said as he moved between the Engineering console and Helm. “I do not believe that vulgar language is necessary, Lieutenant.” T’Nar’s chiding was set aside as Zhal looked out the viewport. “We are caught in the gravitation well of a class Y planet aren’t we?” Zhal's voice was filled with frustration. “That is correct Lieutenant, I advise you to act quickly.” There was a tone of concern in the Vulcan's voice.Without another word, Zhal ripped the lower access to the engineering console off and started working. The three minutes he was working felt like three days as he felt the ship shutter under the strain of Romulan disruptors. He knew that the weapons fire was forcing him down toward the planet like kids kicking a rock down the road.
There was a computer power-up sound and as he looked at his display it read that the engines were online but the problem was with the standard helm control.
Zhal leapt up and over to his console and switched to manual navigational control of the display and tapped several commands into the console and then gave it a kick for good measure. The display shifted and the Engines roared at his command.
“The Mogai are coming around for another pass.” Prag’s voice was once more strained. “Shields are holding.” The ship shook violently as another barrage of disruptor fire slammed into the hull.
Zhal reacted quickly to the incoming fire and Manta leapt forward like a bat out of hell but not at the angle T’Nar was expecting. “Lieutenant, are you…” “Hold on Prag we are going down. Check your sensors the makeup of the planet’s atmosphere should disperse the Disruptor fire as it rains down on us. It will give us some breathing room while I enact phase two of my plan with some creative flying.” As the Manta descended into the planet's atmosphere alarms began to scream out. “Lieutenant!” Prag’s voice raised in pitch. “I see it T’Nar.” There in the viewport hung a mountain, and Zhal pitched the ship to starboard missing impact on the port nacel by half a dozen meters.
The alarms began to ring out once more as Heavy Plasma Torpedoes fell into the atmosphere and exploded raining fire across the ground below it was clear the Romulans couldn’t see the Manta in the gaseous clouds she was gliding through. “Alright Lieutenant, they can not see us now what?” Prag crossed his arms displeased as he looked at Zhal.
The Trill turned with a smirk on his face. “Ah Prag, not having fun?” “We are trai-” Zhal lifted his hand and waved the comment off. “Yes, yes training I know, if they can’t see us, can we see them?” Zhal looked at his own sensors and began trying to filter out the interferences from the planet. “I will attempt to clear up the signal.” As they worked it took what felt like days as heavy plasma torpedoes continued to rain down and send reverberations through the ship with the shockwaves as they exploded in the atmosphere. “I have them, the sensor resolution is spotty but I have an approximate location on all three warbirds.” Prag taps his console and the sensor reading flashed onto Zhal’s. “I see it, great work Prag.” As Zhal evaluated the options he winced and began running the numbers in his head, weighting the variables, evaluating the percentages and then looked at Prag. “Oh, you are going to LOVE this.” His words were soaked with sarcasm and the Vulcan just tilted his brow.
The Romulan plasma fire continued as Manta flew fast and hard; she left the explosions in her wake and sneakily left the atmosphere and activated her cloaking device. With a burst from the impulse engines she shot forward until she glided exactly where Zhal intended her to be. “Are you ready Prag?” He turned in his chair to look at T’Nar and smiled.
The Vulcan gave a firm nod. “Affirmative Lieutenant.”
“On my mark drop the cloak and fire at the weapons control system, and her engines. If we are lucky we will get this in one hit and can move on.” Zhal made last second adjustments and then spoke. “Fire!” As Manta decloaked directly under the D’deridex Warbird and her phasers and photons lanced outwards shredding through the shields and disabling her engines, and destroying her weapons control system. Zhal let out a yell of celebration and Manta surged forward cloaking as the D’deridex listing to her starboard side.
As Manta phased back into cloak she roared towards the now turning Mogai Warbirds. Zhal knew to pull off the Thunderhead Charge he had to angle the Manta just right so that the incoming fire would be glancing at best while also affecting the maximum amount of damage to the target. “Prepare to drop the cloak and fire at the lead warbird on my mark.” Manta moved with speed and grace and Zhal rotated the ship to cut between the lead wardbird and its wing. “Drop the Cloak, Fire!” The ship cut hard across the aft of the lead ship phasers lancing out and cutting across the Mogai, but Manta all so took a direct hit from disruptor fire to the port nacel. Zhal pulled the Saber Class away but she was sluggish as the plasma from the disruptors started creeping up the hull towards the impulse engines. “Lieutenant, that volley brought the shields to twenty three percent.” T’Nar looked at Zhal concerned.
“What about the lead Mogai?" Zhal's voice cracked in frustration. "Damaged and slowing, but not out of the fight.” The Ship shook violently as she was hit with another barrage of disruptor fire. “Initiating Evasive Pattern Theta One, get the cloak online, we will try another tactic.” Zhal was sweating and his hands were shaking. He was running on no sleep, making risky calls, and bit down on his inner cheek to make himself focus. As Manta shimmered back into the cloak Zhal reoriented himself on his task. “I am going to bring us up behind them, target the lead warbird’s starboard wing.” Zhal brought the ship around and as Manta bore down on her target Zhal narrowed his eyes. “Now!” As Manta decloaked T’Nar fired at the designated target and as the phasers lanced through the shields the wing tore loose and slammed into the bow of the second vessel and bounced along it's dorsal hull.
“Fire on the second warbird, photon torpedoes full spread!” Zhal kept the Manta at full pursuit speed towards the Mogai. “Firing.” T’Nar’s voice was cool, calm, and collected. As the torpedoes sailed through space and slammed into the second Mogai and the simulation froze.
“Program Complete, Score eighty seven percent success rate.” The Computer's Voice spoke in its informative tone Zhal slammed his fist on the console. “Damn it.” He leaned back on his chair and sighed. “Eighty Seven percent success rate is an adequate score for the scenario Lieutenant.” Prag was now beside him.
“Not for Specter, Prag I need it to be in the nineties. Otherwise what am I doing here? My Captain and my crew need their pilot. I am risking a lot by not being with them when they need me. Acceptable, and adequate. Frankly, they aren't good enough.” Zhal stood up and placed a hand on Prag’s shoulder. “You did great, you were right there with me. Your shots were perfect, I just couldn’t pull off my flight plan.” “The Thunderhead Run? Was an excellent maneuver, and would have worked had the Mogai not anticipated our maneuver as the program is designed to do.” It was clear T'Nar was trying to encourage him. Zhal chuckled. “Every time I try to do it I learn a little more. Next time it will work.” “With your skills as a pilot I am certain that it will, Specter.” T’Nar started walking with Zhal towards the exit of the holodeck. “Wait, T’Nar. I think that is the first time you have used my call sign.” The Trill started to laugh. “You never did tell me how you got that call sign Lieutenant.” The pair continued to walk towards the exit.
“Well you see I love to cook for my crew, and in my flight academy days I was in the kitchens and…” the two continued down the corridor back to their respective rooms.
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Post by Lieutenant JG Alerio Zhal on Jul 7, 2023 12:47:06 GMT -5
There was a shutter of the Valkyrie Class Shuttle as weapons fire slammed into the shields. The shuttle whined as her engines were pushed hard as she flew fast and then dove towards its intended target. Phasers lanced out and sliced through one of the three Chantry Holy Navy Fighters. The Valkyrie raced through the explosion and debris cloud and was hot on the tails of the other two fighters. “Nice shot Prag, fire at will.” Zhal watched as the starboard fighter took a phaser strike to its port engine and began to slow, smirked at Prag, and continued firing on it with the phasers until it was completely disabled.
“Retargeting.” Prag’s voice was ice cold, which was unusual for the Vulcan. As the phasers lanced out again the shots connected with the fighter and it exploded in a glorious fire.
Zhal brought the Valkyrie around and the two saw seven Chantry vessels, one Holy Navy Heavy Cruiser, two Holy Navy Destroyers, and four Holy Navy Subdimensional Attack Class ships; the Chantry fleet was engaged in a siege against an undesignated world on his navigational display. The Federation had intervened. “We have five photons so we will have to use them sparingly. How is the phaser power?” Zhal didn't look at T’Nar as he asked the question; he instead whirled the ship around to get the full view of the battle. “Phaser power is at ninety-three percent. The question becomes how are we going to get to our objective through all of that…” T’Nar was looking at the side of Zhal’s face as Trill was working out a plan in the head.
Zhal glanced at his target display to his left, showing the Chantry’s heavy cruiser as his target. The Valkyrie wing that was his simulated wingmen were all nearby dealing with their own Chantry Fighters and doing a hell of a job clearing the way for the Federation Carrier nearby to launch more supporting fighters and shuttlecraft.
He knew his plan was probably insane, like flying into the Ion Typhoon. This battle had a similar tempo to the ion storm. This was pure chaos. The Federation ships on the offensive were pushing the Chantry vessels hard and one of the Holy Navy Subdimensional Attack Class ships exploded. Which gave Zhal his opening he activated the engines and shot towards the fireball. “Valkyrie wing three form up, we are going in!” The simulated Valkyrie had finished their sweep of the Chantry fighters and matched his course and speed. The Valkyrie maneuvered into a diamond formation, with Zhal’s shuttle as the lead. “Stay tight, and stay fast we get one chance at this.” He heard the acknowledgment from the simulated pilots, and they shot forward like a torpedo. It was precision flying at its finest; they moved as one unit narrowly dodging friendly fire from the phaser array of one of the federation ships, he was not sure which and it didn’t matter right now.
Zhal’s sensors lit up with enemy fighters closing around them and target locks on his wing. Hologram’s voices came across the comm frequency with alarm and requesting instructions and Zhal had nanoseconds to respond. “Attack Pattern Epsilon One."The four Valkyrie that was his wing corkscrewed away from his shuttle and shot past the incoming fighter craft and then stopped on a dime their thrusters rotated them around putting them precisely behind the enemy combatants and then raced towards the incoming fighters. Zhal’s shuttle on the other hand maintained his course and speed towards the incoming fighters. His shuttles started firing on their targets, and T’Nar opened fire from his position in sequence at the six fighters that were after them from port to starboard. Zhal continued to push the engines and though incoming fire scrapped the shields Zhal blew past the enemy fighter craft and looked at his sensors as one by one his wings took out the enemy fighters and then regrouped and returned to diamond formation.
The squadron raced forward and tilted to pass between two attack ships and fired aimed towards one of the destroyers they raced along its port side and fired at its point defense systems and shield nodes until the Chantry Ship’s shields buckled and it took three quantum torpedoes across its hull and it exploded, but still, Zhal continued towards their ultimate objective. The Heavy Cruiser. “Time remaining?” Zhal’s voice was shaking in excitement. “We are well within the allotted time Lieutenant.” T’Nar’s voice held a note indicating he was impressed which made Zhal smirk slightly. “WARNING: Holodeck Safety Protocols have been disengaged.” The Computer’s voice chimed.
Zhal’s eyes focused on the objective once more and he sent the formation of shuttles screaming forward across the void of space. The shuttle's shields flared as it took glancing blows from Chantry fighters that were trying and failing to intercept the Valkyrie unit. Zhal was pushing the shuttle and his wingmen beyond the safety standards for the shuttles in combat.
There was a burst of discharged electrical energy from a nearby console as the shields took another hit and the shuttle shuttered in protest of the hit. “Hold on girl.” The diamond formation surged forward and Zhal saw his navigational sensors blink as a Federation ship bleeped out of existence and he winced but continued to surge forward. The Chantry Heavy Cruiser began to fill the shuttle’s viewport. He tapped a series of commands into the navigational controls that sent the diamond formation surging down towards the Heavy Cruiser. “Break formation, get inside the shield bubble, and fire at will, hold torpedoes until my signal.” Like a firecracker in the night sky, the five Valkyries broke away from each other targeting different areas of the Heavy Cruiser and their phasers lanced out cutting burns into the hull as they damaged or destroyed point defense weapons, burning away hull plating.
Valkyrie five on Zhal’s sensors was targeting the heavy cruiser’s deflector dish and with the signal from T’Nar, Five unleashed the entire complement of photon torpedoes, and the vital deflector was destroyed. There was a cheer over the comm as Valkyrie Five moved on focusing on firing its phasers and tearing into the hull of the heavy cruiser.
Zhal guided his vessel towards the bow of the Heavy Cruiser and T’Nar fired indiscriminately with the phasers burning away hull plating and destroying the ship’s torpedo tubes with a flurry of phaser fire that was terrifyingly precise and wrathful. The Trill Pilot guided the shuttle across the section of the ship where he believed the bridge of the ship was and brought the engines to full to ‘buzz’ the bridge as T’Nar fired.
That was when Zhal and T’Nar heard the maday. “Mayday, mayday, mayday. This is Valkyrie Two we are under attack by Chantry fighters, weapons are offline, the objective was not completed, and we need assistance.” It was a race against time. They had to get to Valkyrie Two before it was to late otherwise the mission failed. Zhal looked at his navigational sensors Valkyrie Three, Four, and he was the closest, Three and Four had also signaled that their objectives were completed. “Valkyrie Three and Four move to intercept, Valkyrie Two we are on our way.”
“T’Nar calculate the new information into the plan are we still within the time frame?” Zhal pushed the shuttle's engines to full and as they raced along the hull of the Chantry Heavy Cruiser, T’Nar fired indiscriminately at the hull of the ship. “We will fail the objective if Valkyrie Two’s objective is not destroyed, and we fail to complete our objective. But if you come up with a plan to solve this we are still within the time frame.” T’Nar was watching his targeting sensors. “I have a plan, it’s crazy but I have a plan. Can you align the shields to Valkyrie Two? So that we are within the same shield bubble?” Zhal smirked as T’Nar’s brow furrowed.
“It is extremely dangerous in our current situation, but yes.” “Good, start working on it. We will destroy the engines for Valkyrie Two, and then fly together and transport Valkyrie Two’s torpedo complement to our tubes so that we can still complete the objective.” Zhal’s focus intensified as he spoke the plan allowed. He knew it sounded completely mental but he was hell-bent on completing this assignment with style and in the top percent of the class. “I will start the work.” There was a note in T’Nar’s voice that he found the plan fascinating and impressive as Zhal flew fast and hard he watched the sensors as Valkyrie Three, and Four moved into position. “Valkyrie Three and Four attack pattern Theta One, fire at will.” Zhal watched as the two shuttles engaged the Chantry fighters and as his own shuttle blew past the hull of the ship he rotated the shuttle ass over end and T’Nar will extreme focus and precision fired the full spread of five photon torpedoes at the exposed engines and lanced out with the phasers and the engines exploded. Zhal let out a whoop of excitement as the Chantry Heavy Cruiser began to list to starboard.
Flipping the shuttle back around. T’Nar started firing at the Chantry fighters that Valkyrie Three and Four had engaged. Zhal could also see Valkyrie Five racing towards the group with the indicator that their objectives were also complete.
As the Chantry Fighters were either disabled or destroyed. Zhal began the insane maneuver he had planned aligning the two shuttles at the exact same velocity towards his objective. T’Nar had successfully merged their shields. They were now racing against time and flying merely a meter apart from each other. If either pilot twitched it was over. Zhal could feel his stomach knot up and twist, the sweat that was pouring from his brow in those few minutes that dragged on like an eternity, and if someone shot at them in the next few minutes. There was nothing he could do to save his shuttle and Valkyrie Two. 'Come on, come on, hurry the fuck up!' his mind was racing trying to anticipate everything but knowing he couldn't do it all.“Transport in progress.” T’Nar would never admit but Zhal was fairly certain the Vulcan was concerned for their success. “Transport complete, we have all five photons.” “Holy shit we may pull this off.” Zhal smirked and then tapped his comm panel. “Valkyrie Three and Five cover me, two and four get back to safety.” As Zhal and Valkyrie broke away from each other their corkscrewed away and Two tipped his wing to Zhal in thanks.
Zhal nodded at the acknowledgment and as the three shuttles flew in formation together. He clamped down on his excitement and focused on the task at hand. “Start the Scan Prag.” The Vulcan didn't say a word as he started the scans within seconds T’Nar gave a nod. “Lock on and beam them out.” T’Nar quietly worked and the holographic simulation of three bodies prone materialized from the transporter behind them. “See to them I’ll finish this, Valkyrie Three, and Five divert all available power to phasers." Zhal smirked as he watched their weapon output on sensors rise and he did the same to his own shuttle.
T’Nar went to the side of the three holograms and worked on triaging their injuries. Zhal brought the shuttle around and locked on to the ship’s core of the Chantry Heavy Cruiser. “FIRE!.” The Three Valkyries fired phasers, and Zhal’s torpedoes launched the fire from all three shuttles was precises as it tore into the Chantry Heavy Cruiser. He could almost hear the breach of the hull, the alarms, and the yield of the hull as it was torn through to reach the warp core, and as Zhal and the two Valkyries finished their work they turned and raced away as the Heavy Cruiser exploded in a radiant fire.
The simulation froze. “Objective Complete, scores to be tallied.” The Computer voice chimed. Zhal leaned back in the chair and felt the cool sweat on his back soaking into his uniform shirt. “Holy fucking shit… we pulled that off…” T’Nar placed his and on Zhal’s shoulder. “Indeed Lieutenant. Well done.”
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Post by Lieutenant JG Alerio Zhal on Jul 21, 2023 11:08:12 GMT -5
Zhal was running down the corridors of the Citadel half dressed in his uniform as he worked his way down the hall he slipped his jacket on and slapped his com badge to its place just above his heart. Prag, Tenor, Shaller, Jinxer, Shoes, Sternz, Rodeo, Wall, Ryder, and Zhal were all converging on the simulation room. Zhal had a sinking feeling something big was coming.
As each pilot and tactical officer crossed the threshold to the simulation room they were beamed away and as he crossed the threshold with Prag beside him. They were transported away and reappeared on the bridge of a Sovereign Class Starship, and as Zhal approached the helm station he saw four other ships on the navigational display. A New Orleans Recon Destroyer the U.S.S. Natchez with Jinxer and Tenor, a Tactical Star Cruiser the U.S.S. Endeavor with Shoes and Shaller, a Sagan Command Cruiser the U.S.S. Helios with Rodeo and Sternz, and Luna Class Starship the U.S.S. Aquarius with Ryder and Wall, and Zhal piloting the Sovereign Class the U.S.S. Interceptor. Looking up at the view screen he saw their briefing and frowned. “Teams, a research station has sent out a distress call that they are under attack by Borg ships; the current report is three spheres, and five probes are in the area. Your mission is to reach the system and destroy the Borg attackers and evacuate the station. The screen scrolls eastward to a violet-colored nebula. The U.S.S. Okeanos, an Esquiline Class, is currently drawing the five probes into the nearby Class Nine Nebula. However, the Okeanos is severely damaged and we do not believe she will be able to keep their attention for much longer. You have three minutes to come up with a plan. Your objectives, safely evacuate the station and destroy the Borg, and rescue the Okeanos, or her crew. You may begin the planning session. Three-minute countdown will begin. Good luck.” As the transmission cut off the debate began.
Zhal went quiet as the other pilots began formulating a plan. He sat at his station and began typing like a madman running different scenarios, and watching them play out on his display he began eliminating ones that failed or had a below-the-threshold success rate. As the first minute passed he could hear the discussion getting heated but still kept his mouth shut and focused on his work. He looked to Prag, who gave him approval, and Zhal keyed into the comm channel. “We have about a minute and twenty seconds so hear me out.” Zhal started tapping his control panel and forwarding his plan to the other ships.
“Let’s hear it, Specter.” The voice was Jinxer and it made Zhal smirk.
Zhal knew that the other ships would see his plan formulated on their view screens and so he just started talking. “Endeavor and Interceptor will exit warp at maximum impulse and race towards the station. We will fire on the Spheres and try and draw them away attempting to make them chase us as he heads for the Okeanos. Ryder will station Helios on overwatch of the station and start the evacuation once Aquarius and Natchez secure the zone around the station and protect the Helios.”
“Okeanos is in a class nine nebula so once in we will have intermittent sensor reliability, we head off in different directions, circle the Borg, and fire on them. The Nebula will also decrease our shield output and we know the Borg will be equally affected. If they do not chase us in, we get to the Okeanos, send repair crews over, and clear her of the Borg Threat. If we time it right, Helios should have the Station Crew evacuated, and Ryder can warp out, Aquarius and Natchez can join us in getting the Okeanos out of the Nebula and deal with the Borg once Helios is safely away.” The others agreed rather quickly to the plan though Jinxer grumbled about being put on guard duty. “Keep your shields primed, and watch for the torpedoes if the Borg gets through our shields the mission is screwed. Stick together and we will get through this and get our people out.” “We are with you, Specter.” Shoes’s voice came over the comm followed by Jinxer. “Rather be on your wing but Natchez is the best fit for defense, just save some Borg for me! you.” Jixer’s laugh filled the comm. A southern twang came over the comm. “Helios has your back, We’ll get that station cleared Specter.” Rodeo’s accent was thick and Zhal imagined the man in a cowboy hat on a ranch rather than a pilot.
“Aquarius is on station, we are with you Specter.” Ryder’s voice was smooth as silk and she was also fun to look at.
“All ships for up we have fifteen seconds to warp. Stay focused, we got this.” Zhal looked at Prag and the Vulcan gave another nod of approval.
As the countdown timer for their launch hit zero the ships shot into warp. The Interceptor and Endeavor exited warp seconds ahead of the Natchez, Helios, and Aquarius. The two ships were moving fast at Red Alert, shields and weapons fully powered, and as they closed on the three Borg Spheres harassing the research station the Interceptor cut between the lead sphere and the station taking the Borg Weapons fire and unleashing a barrage of her own. Zhal twisted the ship to port allowing the phaser array on the saucer section of the ship to fire on the second Borg Sphere as it sailed past and raced towards the Okeanos and the Nebula.
Endeavor hot on Interceptor nacelles unleashed a barrage of torpedoes and phaser fire on the third Sphere and it cut towards the Nebula. Two of the Spheres gave chase to their attackers. Endeavor’s target however remained behind as it lost to Endeavor’s port damaged by the weapons fire. “Go, we got the straggler.” Jinxer’s voice came over the comm and Zhal simply signaled an acknowledgement. Watching his display he saw Aquarius and Natchez circling the third sphere and laying down savage weapons fire.
The two Borg Spheres hounded their prey during the chase Endeavor was caught in the middle while Interceptor was out front. “Prag! We have to pull the heat off Endeavor.” Zhal watched the view screen as Endeavor was hit by two torpedoes and high-power disruptor fire. T’Nar fired the phasers and torpedoes from the aft of Interceptor and the Borg Sphere between the two federation ships shook violently under the fire and began to target Interceptor. “Shoes, how are you doing back there?” Zhal’s voice started to shake as he was losing confidence in their plan when suddenly Endeavor launched a single quantum torpedo at her chasing Sphere and then shot it with the phasers and watched as the sphere was launched further behind the Endeavor and as the hull that took the blast was ripped to pieces and the Sphere died. “Specter… you should know us better than that. Let’s deal with this last Sphere and then get into that Nebula.” Zhal smirked and gave a sigh of relief when the ship shuttered under Borg disruptor fire.
“Fuck, forgot they were back there…” Zhal quickly reengaged the helm. “Well, now we have kicked the hive.” Shoes’s voice cracked. T’Nar began a coordinated firing solution with Shaller and the second Borg Sphere was ripped apart until it went inactive under their fire. “Great work T’Nar, Shaller. Now Shoes. Let’s get in there and get the Okeanos.” Zhal angled the ship in towards the Nebula. “I’m with you Specter, let's do this.” Endeavor took position on the Interceptors wing and the two ships moved towards the Nebula. “Specter, this is Jinxer. Evac is underway, but the Borg may have gotten a signal out to the rest of the hive. We are pushing the sensors to the maximum for possible warning. Ryder and I agree we are going to make a small warp jump to place long rage probes. To best defend the station.” Jinxer’s voice had resolved. He wasn’t asking permission, he was telling Zhal what he was going to do. Zhal considered it for a long moment knowing he was about to be in the dark in the nebula. “Agreed, be quick but we need that advanced warning. We kicked the Hive and they will show up given how much force we use. We are going in, clear skies Jinxer.” “May the solar winds be at your back, Specter.” The comm crackled with static as the Endeavor and Interceptor crossed into the Nebula, their sensors began to flicker in and out...
As Interceptor and Endeavor advanced through the gasses of the violet nebula it was Prag who called out the first contacts.
“Two Borg Probes thirty thousand kilometers off the port bow.” His voice held the tension of a tactical officer focused on the coming combat. Alerio shifted the Interceptor’s course to come up behind the Borg Probes and Prag laid down phaser fire and launched a full spread of torpedoes which landed a direct hit and carved into the hull burning away the ships hell and caused decompressions across the ship’s many decks. As the Interceptor began to pull away so that the Endeavor could unleash her salvo, Zhal saw it. A third Borg Probe on a direct intercept course and firing its disruptors at the Interceptor’s body. The ship shook violently as Zhal continued to pull the Interceptor away. “Prag!” Zhal yelled as the ship shook violently once more and he felt her try and tear away from his control. “Shields at seventy-three percent, I am returning fire.” The Vulcan kept his cool, but it was clear it the Borg had taken them unaware.
Zhal checked his navigational display and saw that Endeavor had finished off one of the probes, but the other was now running deeper into the Nebula, while Interceptor’s attacker was focused on harassing Zhal and keeping the ship on the defensive. “Shoes, chase it down if you see the Okeanos render aid. I’ll be right behind you.” He cleared the comm line before the Endeavor pilot could respond. “As soon as we take out these assholes…”
There was another rumble through the frame of the ship and it just pissed Zhal off. “Prag, I am going to bring us around can you throw a few quantum torpedoes down their cybernetic fucking throats?” “That would be agreeable Lieutenant.” T’Nar had more ice in his voice than Zhal was used to and as the Interceptor was guided increased its elevation above the Borg Sphere and then rotated back down towards and aligning the torpedo tubes perfectly as the Trill worked his craft he flew Intrepid through a part of the nebulous cloud giving the illusion of disappearing and as the torpedoes were loosed.
Interceptor reappeared as the probe was obliterated by the torpedoes and a phaser sweep for good measure and Zhal angled her in on a pursuit course after the Endeavor and the Okeanos.
“You are living up to your namesake.” T’Nar’s voice held approval as they moved further into the nebula.
As the Interceptor passed through a large gas cloud the viewscreen revealed the Endeavor and the Okeanos, as well as the three Borg Probes, one was venting plasma and disabled the other two were harassing the Okeanos.
“Glad you could join the fun Specter, but Okeanos’s shields are about to collapse we need to get in there and take the Borg out an hour ago.” Shoes’s voice lifted in pitch she was worried.
Interceptor didn’t wait for Endeavor, Zhal angled the ship to pass through another cloud of gas and maneuvered to come under the Borg probe and T’Nar fired and pushed the Borg Probe off of its assault on the Okeanos and forcing it to run. Endeavor came in phases blazing and got a few potshots on its target and the Borg responded in kind but not on Endeavor, instead the Borg was firing on the Interceptor. “Fuck off... They see the hits we took and want to take us out. We got to move fast T’Nar.” Zhal lifted the ship onto her port and began to push the ship to a higher elevation to give T’Nar two separate target locks once it was achieved the Vulcan laid down fire on both but Interceptor took half a dozen hits varying in severity.
Consoles blew out behind Zhal and a support beam raced down from the ceiling as one of the torpedoes managed to slip through the shields. “Lieutenant!” T’Nar’s voice rang out and Zhal waved him off.
“I’m fine T’Nar keep firing!” Even if he was lying. When the support beam had come down it had clipped his face as it swung and he had a nice cut on his cheek. It just pissed Zhal off even more.
The Interceptor was hustling and as the Borg Probe she was chasing exploded under sustained fire from the Interceptor Zhal angled the ship through the explosion because he had no other choice he heard the bangs and clangs as the bits of Borg slid across the hull. Zhal angeled Interceptor up and into another gas cloud trying to throw the pursuing Borg off his tail.
While Endeavor kept up its fire on the remaining Borg Probe, the Interceptor reappeared at a terrifying speed diving towards the Probe and the concentrated fire from both Endeavor and Interceptor cracked the Probe in half. With the threat now gone they focused on their objective the Okeanos.
The Endeavor, Interceptor, and Okeanos all emerged from the Nebula cloud and saw the Helios at the research station getting ready to depart, while the Aquarius and Natchez were approaching the Nebula.
“Well, it’s about time you two showed up with the Okeanos, thought I was going to have to come in and save the day.” Jinxer’s voice was on the comm which made Zhal smile. “Not today Jinxer, let’s just get the hell out of dodge.” Zhal’s response held a levity he had not felt to this point. As the ships formed up to depart and end the simulation. There was a proximity alert. “Fuck… what now? Prag!” Zhal’s voice cut the levity he had just felt when he looked at the Vulcan. “Tactical Cube, three minutes out.” T’Nar’s look told Zhal all he needed to know. They were out of time.
“Helios?” Zhal’s voice sounded calm but the Trill was shaking, thankfully only T’Nar could see him.
“We have the station evacuated, and are ready to depart.” Rodeo was not looking forward to engaging the Borg. “Aquarius, Natchez, go on overwatch get Helios and Okeanos out of here, Shoes, you and I will try and stall the Borg.” “Specter, Interceptor is damaged pretty badly, you should leave and Natchez can stick with Endeavor.” Zhal knew that Jinxer wanted into the fight, but the Trill couldn’t take the chance.
“No. If the Tactical cube comes after Helios and Okeanos, you’ll need all the power you can get. The Interceptor should remain behind it is the best tactic to ensure success. Endeavor will jump to Warp soon. Go, that’s an Order.” Zhal knew that the last part was a risk, he only had the authority because Interceptor was the tactically superior vessel and he knew the risk was going to cost him when he heard Jinxer choke on a protest. “Wha- I… Understood Interceptor, we are on our way out.” Zhal watched as the four ships jumped to warp, and then turned to T’Nar. “Shoes, Prag is coming to you, make a few passes, and unload all you can then get out of here at maximum warp.” He heard the hesitation in her voice and saw the look T’Nar gave him. “What?”"You heard me Shoes, this is the play. Interceptor is the sacrifice, she is damaged, and the weaker opponent the Borg will want to assimilate her. I’ll make a few passes then self-destruct, better you all get the hell out before that happens.” Zhal looked at T’Nar who crossed his arms in defiance. “Specter you cant-” “Those are my orders Shoes. Zhal out.” He cut the comm and stared at T’Nar and sighed. “It’s a sim T’Nar, but it’s also the play I would make in this situation. You are the more valuable officer as a Tactical officer in a time of war. I’m a pilot, you can find ten of me in any bar on the Citadel.” The Vulcan shook his head. “There is only one Specter, I will follow your orders give the Borg hell Lieutenant,” Zhal smirked and gave T’Nar a nod as he left the bridge.
The computer alerted him that T’Nar had left the ship and transferred to the Endeavor. That was when the Borg Tactical Cube appeared and the fight was on.
Zhal knew that the Borg had probably assimilated some of his tactics in the scenario so far but that was fine. Endeavor and Interceptor played off of each other. Interceptor went starboard and Endeavor went port. As the two ships intercepted they should share shield strength. The Interceptor was still taking hits from the Tactical Cube but the Borg were focused on the Endeavor just as he thought they would, they did not see Interceptor as the bigger threat but they did see her as prey.
Zhal angled the ship up and let the computer coordinate the firing pattern with T’Nar and Shaller on the Endeavor and the plan in his head was working. The Borg ship’s shields and power systems were faltering, and as he could he began laying inert torpedoes in his flight path. Interceptor was flying close a bit too close as she peppered the Tactical cube with phaser fire.
“Specter, what are you doing?” It was T’Nar’s voice that came over the commline.
“Try not to draw attention to it T’Nar, they haven’t noticed yet.” Zhal banked the ship hard to port as a Torpedo slammed into the Interceptor and the computer wailed out with alarms. “Hull breach deck fifteen."“Shit… Engineering…” Zhal saw his system diagnostic and his warp drive was offline and his engines were failing. “Endeavor time to go.” “I am not leaving you, Specter…” Shoes’s voice held resolve but she sighed when she heard T’Nar. “We must go, look at what he did.” The navigational and tactical display showed the Tactical Cube had a dozen 'dead' torpedos around her and one shot on any of them would cause a chain reaction that would either cripple or destroy the cube once detonated. “You are crazy you know that?” Shoes’ tone was impressed but frustrated. Zhal chuckled and then watched as Endeavor blinked away and then turned his attention to the Tactical Cube. He angled the ship straight at her. “Computer activate self destruct count down one minute. Prepare to fire a full phaser at the designated targets. On my mark.” The Interceptor shook violently as the Tactical cube motionless sent volley after volley of disruptors and torpedoes at the Interceptor. As she closed on the cube Zhal smirked. “Fire!” The phasers shot out as Interceptor crossed the threshold line and the torpedo mines exploded all around the Tactical cube tearing it to pieces and the simulation froze as Interceptor reached the cube. "Simulation complete, all pilots and tactical officers report to TOP GUN Class Room."T’Nar was behind him and placed his hand on Zhal’s shoulder. “It was a bold plan.” “Yeah, but let’s be honest I probably failed, at least I got the others out,” Zhal smiled at his friend.
“We shall see, sometimes we must accept the no-win scenario, and do what we can to mitigate the losses.” T’Nar gave another nod of approval.
Zhal rose to his feet and the two walked out of the simulation and towards the classroom. "I need sex and alcohol."
"You always need sex and alcohol Specter." T'Nar's dry logical comment made Zhal laugh as the two exited the simulation room.
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Post by Lieutenant JG Alerio Zhal on Aug 7, 2023 20:01:05 GMT -5
The Manta rumbled and bucked out of Zhal’s control as the computer once again began to rattle off the protocol.
“Shields at seventeen percent, hull breach deck four, weapons systems at eighteen percent power output, helm control failing.” The Computer’s voice intoned.
It was a shit show and Zhal was not entirely sure how he and Manta had reached this point. He had unstable manual control of the ship's helm but was struggling to maintain control. He had taken a solid blow to the head, cracked it open, and had a lovely fountain of blood near his temple that was flowing down his face and staining his uniform and the carpet. “Sorry Zhal, while we all graduate only one can be the Top Gun.” The voice was Jinxers and Zhal winced as he felt and heard the target lock and sighed as he prepared to take the parting shot from Jinxer and the Montevideo.
FIVE HOURS EARLIER
Zhal smirked as he read V’Tira’s letter and had his head laying on the muscular chest of a Romulan he had met after his last drill on the Citadel Promenade food court. He had already responded to V’Tira’s letter and now here he was doing the very thing she had warned him to be careful about.
He let out a sigh and heard the voice of his companion. “Disappointed with my performance?” He heard the silky words with the hint of a life in the joke and Zhal smiled and then lifted his head and moved himself up the bed placing his leg between his companion’s legs and kissing the Romulan’s neck.
“Not at all, just rereading a letter from a friend.” Zhal buried his in the pillow and muscular neck of his companion.
“Warning you about complications?” The Romulan's fingertips trailed Zhal’s spine sending a shiver through him.
Zhal chuckled as he shivered. “Something like that, but I needed the distraction.” The Trill slid out of the bed and made his way to the shower and glanced back at his companion still on the bed and then entered the shower. When he re-entered the room Zhal wore his navy blue shirt with the Starfleet deltas and ‘MANTA’ on the chest and some thin black sweatpants and saw his companion dressed and standing at the replicator making food. He stepped forward as the Replicator finished its work and wrapped his arms around his companion’s waist and smirked at the food. “Hlai and waffles?” “I just thought you might have something within the same theme as your earlier order at the Food Court.” The Romulan placed the two plates on the table and then finished getting dressed.
Zhal’s eyes couldn’t help but follow the Romulan as he sat next to him. Zhal lifted his hand and fixed a stray wet hair. The pair smiled and blushed at each other and then ate their meal. “Do you have dinner plans?” The bright green eyes of the Romulan were piercing as he asked the question. “No I -'' He was cut off by the sound of his combadge. Zhal set his fork down and walked to his uniform jacket and clicked the badge. “Lieutenant Zhal, we are to report to TOP GUN for our final simulation.” It was Prag’s voice calm, logical, and irritatingly informative.
“Understood T’Nar, I’ll be there soon.” Zhal lowered his head and sighed.
“Hot date?” There was a soft chuckle from behind him. “Sort of, but if I can complete my assignment and isn't to late for dinner can I call you?” Zhal gave his best look of pity and desire. The Romulan smirked and gave a nod. “I’ll leave my calling card and clean up breakfast.” Zhal smiled brightly and started getting dressed in his uniform and was out the door headed towards the Top Gun Classroom.
As Zhal entered the class he could feel the rising tension, all the pilots and tactical officers were feeling the stress and fatigue. He saw T’Nar standing off to the side, his eyes closed. Zhal had learned enough about the man to know that he was getting himself ready for whatever was coming. Zhal walked over to him and stood next to him.
“Unlike the others, you are relaxed. You also smell freshly showered. Someone had a good afternoon.” The way Prag delivered his statements made Zhal laugh. “Stop, we are not talking about this.” His laughter made a few of the other pilots look at him but when he stopped they turned back to their conversations. “You should not be embarrassed, you got what you needed.” T’Nar gave a nod of approval. “Possibly more.” Zhal leaned against the wall and tilted his head back against the wall. “Depending on how this assignment goes I may have a date tonight.” “Good, but stay focused on the task at hand. The rumor mill is churning and word is this will be the hardest of our assignments and is our final assignment before we graduate the program.” T’Nar opened his eyes and looked at Zhal. “Well, we all know Thunder God is about to” Right as he said it he and the rest of the class were beamed away. As he rematerialized he saw the bridge of the Manta. “Strike… and we are back on the Manta?” “It would seem so.” T’Nar’s voice was still that same stoic calm and he steps towards the tactical station. The view screen flashes on and suddenly the words ‘Dog Fight’ appear beneath the words ‘Free for All’.
There were a dozen other ships around the battle grid that appeared that showed a gaseous nebula, asteroids, and a planet with seven moons.
Zhal saw a dozen possible strategies but knew if he saw them the others saw them as well. He could work against his instincts and try something crazy but it would be what a few of the more eccentric pilots would attempt similar strategies. One of the benefits of Manta is she was small, quick, and powerful.
Zhal watched the countdown begin and the pressure in his head raised as he listened to the automated voice of the computer. He knew the Senior Staff of the actual Manta would probably watch the recordings of this battle simulation if they were not watching presently.
As the numbers flashed on the screen the countdown reached 3… 2…1… and as the siren blared. Zhal surged the Manta vertically attempting to get above the fray and towards his destination the edge of the asteroid field and the nebula. As Manta hit its peak and surged forward with Razor, and Virgil hot on her nacelles. Zhal glanced at the nav console and saw Jinxer and Photon duking it out until the indicator for Photon went red indicating the Jinxer had obtained the first kill, while Shoes, Blink, and Acrobat were fighting it out in a three-ship melee.
There was a rumble in the ship as a shockwave from a quantum torpedo exploded from behind Manta as Prag used the phasers to block the incoming shots. “Prag?” Zhal’s voice was shaking from the nerves and stress he was feeling.
“We are fine Lieutenant, but they are trying to drive us forward.” T’Nar’s voice showed held absolute certainty.
Zhal looked at his course and saw the maw two other ships piloted by call signs Amber and Redstar. The four ships two behind and ahead out classed Manta in firepower and speed. Zhal was in serious trouble and T’Nar knew it.
His mind was racing with possibilities when he saw the mistake the foursome had made. Redstar had positioned herself too close to the asteroid and nebula mix. Where he had originally planned to plant Manta. The gas mixture in the nebula had a highly charged and explosive capacity if a Ship’s nacelles ran too hot while in the gas mixture and Redstar had her engines running hot for a pursuit. “T’Nar I am going to angle us for an attack run, fire on the Lexington with a quantum torpedo spread on the port nacelle on my mark.” “Are you… ah, I see. Understood.” Zhal couldn’t help but smirk at T’Nar’s statement.
“After that, we are going to cut tight across her bow and hit Amber and the Oceiana with everything you can throw at her.” Zhal angeled Manta for his attack run and then activated the cloaking device and forwarded the ship to full impulse. Zhal knew that Razor and Virgil would start firing indiscriminately now that he was cloaked and shields were offline but he hand cleverly shunted emergency power to the engines to increase his speed even further. Within seconds Manta was in firing range and out of range of both Razor and Virgil. As Manta shimmered back into existence T’Nar let loose the quantum torpedoes and as Redstar and Amber reacted Zhal anticipated their tactics and evaded the return fire and circled Redstar as the Ship’s nacelle exploded and reacted with the nebulas gasses which caused a cascade reaction that ripped across the Nebula Class Starship and tore her hull to pieces and took Redstar out of the fight. Prag then followed up by unleashing a sequenced barrage of phaser fire that pulled Amber’s shields apart and disabled her from continuing but the threat had not passed because now Razor and Virgil were on the Manta and firing.
Zhal managed to evade the first salvos of torpedoes by ducking into the asteroid field at an extreme velocity Zhal began to weave the Manta through the asteroids so quickly that as Razor and Virgil entered the field Manta was well hidden.
As both Razor and Virgil moved through the field Zhal waited patiently and as Razor passed by he gave a nod to T’Nar suddenly Manta appeared behind Razor and lit the vessel up taking it out of the fight and as Virgil turned to engage he was met by a large asteroid that slammed into the ship from Manta’s tractor beam.
As Manta continued on his planned course Zhal watched the navigational sensors when as if out of nowhere Shoes was on them firing down at Manta and shredding through their shields and getting a decent shot in that cause a support pylon above him drop-down and slam into the Trill sending him sprawling back from his console and smacking his head against the step were Marcus would sit in his command chair. “Son of a bitch! Prag return fire and get those shields back!”
Zhal scrambled back to his console and saw that the screen was shattered and he moved to the Captain’s chair and sat down. “This is weird… Computer, activate manual navigational control at the Captain’s Char.” The Computer trilled and the Captain’s chair activated and he had manual flight control. “Prag?” “I am warding off most of the fire from Shoes and shields are online for the moment but we need to deal with this and quickly.” The Vulcan was being pushed Shoes and her Tactical officer were on them and pushing T’Nar to his highest level of performance as a tactical officer onboard a starship.
Manta groaned and rumbled as another torpedo impacted against the shields. Shoes was flying hard to keep up with Zhal but as the Trill analyzed his situation he found one thing he could do to trip her up. “T’Nar, how many tricobalt torpedoes do we have?” “The present payload is ten.” The Vulcan’s hands were flying across the console as he worked to hold off the incoming fire.
“Prepare all ten to be dropped like one big mine.” Zhal began making adjustments to his speed and looked at the power output of the engines and began tinkering with the settings on his display knowing full well if he tried this on the real Manta. Bore would kill him. “Are you certain?” T’Nar did not even look up from the console when he asked the question.
“It’s the option I see in front of me, Shoes is trying to run us down and into the hands of Jinxer but I can take her out here and then we can deal with Jinxer and maybe win this thing.” Zhal evaded another shot but still Shoes stayed right on them. “I am ready Lieutenant.” “Acknowledged, on my mark.” Zhal began to implement his plan. Suddenly the ship violently slowed and jerked to her starboard side. “Now T’Nar!” T’Nar dropped the mine directly in the path of Shoes and then Manta shot forward at full impulse. The engines screamed in protest and the ship shuttered violently at the insanity of his tactic as Manta peeled away a fireball ripped through subspace and the hull of Shoes command and she was out.
Manta limped to the edge of the field and Zhal watched the navigational display and glanced at the heads-up display on the view screen and saw that the other pilots except for Jinxer were out and of course Jinxer was nowhere to be found.
“Activating cloak.” As the Manta began to shimmer into the cloak and proceed on the hunt her shields dropped and she was hit by a shock wave from a photon torpedo blast and forced out of her cloak. Prag was thrown from his station and slammed into the wall. He was out cold and Manta shook violently.
“Computer Shields, up and give me a damage report!” The Manta rumbled and bucked out of Zhal’s control as the computer once again began to rattle off the protocol. “Shields at seventeen percent, hull breach deck four, weapons systems at eighteen percent power output, helm control failing.” The Computer’s voice intoned.
It was a shit show and Zhal was not entirely sure how he and Manta had reached this point. He had unstable manual control of the ship's helm but was struggling to maintain control. He had taken a solid blow to the head, cracked it open, and had a lovely fountain of blood near his temple that was flowing down his face and staining his uniform and the carpet. “Sorry Zhal, while we all graduate only one can be the Top Gun.” The voice was Jinxers and Zhal winced as he felt and heard the target lock and sighed as he prepared to take the parting shot from Jinxer and the Montevideo.
“Computer divert emergency power reserves to shields!” Zhal put everything he could into getting the Manta moving and as she moved away the shot from the Montevideo missed. Still, Jinxer stayed on him. “Come on Specter stay still…” Jinxer’s voice was irritated and Zhal knew enough about the man to know if he was angry that he began to fly sloppy. So Zhal pitched the Manta vertical to get greater elevation on the Montevideo and as Manta climbed the Simulation began to change. “Computer fire three photon torpedoes at the Montevideo and then use phasers to fire on them before the torpedoes impact with the Montevideo’s shields. “Order confirmed, target locked.” The Computer's voice made Zhal smile as he made his move utilizing a full-axis rotation to starboard. “Fire!” As the ship spun through the void the torpedoes dropped and the phasers fired and the resulting explosion temporarily left Jinxer blind. Zhal fully rotated the ship out of its rotation and then brought her around in a summersault maneuver that had the two ships facing off nose to nose and racing towards each other but Jinxer was still blind to him. “Computer fire phasers, and launch a full spread of quantum torpedoes, target all critical systems.” Zhal clenched his jaw as he saw the ion maelstrom beneath Montevideo forming. The threat from the storm was massive and it could easily suck both ships in. “Target locked.” T’Nar’s voice was back but Zhal did not turn to look at the Vulcan.
“Fire.” Zhal watched and began to count down in his head as the phasers lanced outwards and the quantum torpedoes sailed through the void. He knew that Jinxer’s sensors would be back online within seconds and if they had not timed this right it was going to go poorly.
Zhal watched as the phaser beams slammed into Montevideo’s shields and saw them dissipate giving the torpedoes a clear opening to hit the ship. As the torpedoes arched into position Montevideo returned fire and managed to evade the torpedoes but her shots went wide of Manta as both ships were now being pulled into the maelstrom.
Montevideo was on the far side of the Ion Maelstrom and Jinxer had managed just as Zhal had to stabilize the flight of the ships as they held their position in the mid sections as the maelstrom began to expand outward. The two ships were pot-shoting each other with their phasers neither getting a good hit either way. “The stress on the hull is reaching extremes beyond critical hull integrity Lieutenant we have to get out of this before we are destroyed.” T’Nar’s voice was strained and Zhal turned to look at him and saw the green blood sliding down his face and smiled. “We have to ride her out, this isn’t about pride T’Nar, the gravitational forces in the maelstrom will rip us to shreds if we move too quickly. We ride her around in a chase and try and take down the Montevideo, and then we get out. Trust me.” Zhal watched the navigational sensors go straight to static and smirked. “So that’s how it's going to be Manta… the old fashioned way…”
As the storm spun Zhal flipped to flying by feel and instinct taking the ship down into the lower layers of the maelstrom where the ship began to increase in its speed. “Can you get a target lock?” “Our sensors are scrambled, we will have to do this by sight. If you can get me a line of sight I may be able to fire but I can not make any guarantees we will able to hit him." Zhal felt the pull of Manta as he lurched towards the depths and the crush point of the maelstrom. “Computer switch viewscreen to live view of what is ahead of the ship.”
As the view screen switched there was a strike of charged ions that bounced off the shields and caused the ship to shutter violently and consoles blew out all around the bridge. “Hold together Manta…”
“There Lieutenant!” T’Nar’s voice became a shout over the screams of the alarms and the thunder they could hear from all around them in the maelstrom. Zhal simply nodded in response as he saw Montevideo trying to escape the maelstrom.
“Prepare to fire, and lock a tractor beam on her.” Zhal’s eyes narrowed as the Manta started its climb slowly toward Montevideo.
“Computer route remaining power from nonessential systems to the engines, weapons, shields, and the tractor beam. Divert power from life support as well. Authorization. Zhal one seven three Omega.” Zhal could feel the look from T’Nar but no protest came. “Authorization confirmed, power transferred. Warning: Life Support is now offline there are twenty minutes of life-supporting conditions remaining aboard the U.S.S. Manta.” “Understood.” Zhal was focused on a singular task slowly working his way toward the Montevideo. As the Manta slowly began her climb more consoles sparked and the alarms roared but Zhal kept his focus and slowed his breathing. “Come on Manta…” The ship continued its assent as she rumbled and groaned in protest.
“T’Nar do you have the shot?” Zhal's voice shook with both fear and excitement.
“I have it.” T’Nar seemed impressed as they closed the gap.
“Wait until we are above her, then fire on my command.” As they continued toward the Montevideo. Zhal expected a shot from their weapons but nothing came.
“Their sensors are offline, Jinxer has diverted power to the engines in a desperate gamble to escape, but -”
“But he is trying a direct assent instead of riding the currents of the Maelstrom like we are… and it’s going to cost him.” Zhal managed to guide Manta above the Montevideo. “T’Nar, fire.” And as T’Nar fired Montevideo was slammed until her lights on the engines and ship itself went dark and she started to slide back into the Maelstrom. “Lock the Tractor!” “Acknowledged.” As the tractor beam connected with Montevideo, she started to pull on the Manta dragging her with the Jinxer and his ship. “Lieutenant! We have to release her or we will be pulled in.” “Computer, divert weapons power to the tractor beam, divert all remaining power to the engines.” “Acknowledged, power transferred.” The strength on the Tractor increased to an extreme as the engines roared and Montevideo began her slow ascent back up the maelstrom. Zhal kept the engines running and pushed them hard as Manta drug Montevideo back up the Maelstrom.
“The simulation should have ended.” T’Nar was confused. “They want to see if I’ll let him go… I won't, end of the day this may be a sim, but I won't let another pilot go down in one of these things.” Manta began to scream as the stress on the hull grew even more fierce. “Computer take shields to ten percent, and divert shield power to engines and tractor beam.” “Warning, structural integrity field failing. Critical hull failure in three minutes.” The Computer’s voice warbled as its processor started to fail from all of the power distribution. “T’Nar start a timer! I am not letting her go until I can’t afford to anymore.” “Acknowledged.” Manta surged as power was pumped to the engines and the tractor beam slowly but surely the Manta pulled out of the Maelstrom but now it had to pull the Montevideo out. As the ship continued to pull Zhal heard the fracturing of the hull plating around him as Manta was tearing itself apart to keep the tractor beam locked. “We can do this girl… you and me.” Zhal watched the sensor view lock on to Montevideo as the bow came over the edge of the maelstrom then her body and time stood still as the Montevideo was being pulled from the stern back towards the maelstrom the stress on her hull was enough to sheer her in half. Still Specter wouldn't let her go. T'Nar's voice drowned on with the count down and they were now down to the wire with mere seconds before either Montevideo succumbed to gravitational sheering or broke free of the maelstrom. "Five... Four... Three... Two..." and suddenly Zhal watched as Montevideo broke free from the Maelstrom and was out. To his great surprise, Manta had drug Jinxer and the Montevideo out of danger and was pulling her alongside and clear of the storm once clear Zhal disengaged the tractor beam once they were both a safe distance away and then stationed Manta above the Montevideo ensuring that Jinxer had no more tricks up his sleeve when Jinxer signaled his surrender and the simulation froze. “Specter and Prag report to medical for treatment. Then rest.” Zhal was not entirely certain who the voice belonged to but when the doors opened he saw Jinxer’s face and his stupid smile.
“You saved my ass Specter.” and he clasped a hand on the Trill’s shoulder.
“It is a nice ass.” He walked past and saw the others, all of whom were either smiling or patting him on the back as he walked by.
Zhal reported to medical and once the treatment was done he sat quietly in the corridor. He let out a long sigh and felt his body tighten from the day's assignment. He sat quietly for a moment then looked up and saw his Romulan Companion.
“Long day?” the man walked over and sat next to him.
“You could say that.” Zhal was so tired he just leaned back against the wall that his bench was against. “Well, let me buy you dinner and we can talk about it.” The Romulan smiled and Zhal found himself smiling back.
“That sounds nice, but you may have to carry me because I do not think my legs will work.” Zhal chuckled and then slowly stood with his companion’s help. “Thank you H’Drian.” The Romulan smiled at Zhal using his name and the two walked down the corridor. “I can not believe that was my last assignment before we find out who the top gun is…” Zhal’s voice trailed off as they rounded the corner and head towards the food court of the promenade.
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