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Post by Captain Erys Murai on Apr 19, 2018 13:51:05 GMT -5
Definitely still a work in progress. I made a cardie today, and the female hair has no textures. It's just a colored blob on their head.
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Post by Captain Erys Murai on Apr 18, 2018 20:37:52 GMT -5
Talia nodded in agreement as she selected her glass. "I understand how you feel to be honest....Susan had herself released from Sickbay to oversee the search herself...against medical advice...she could not sit still either..."
"In point of fact...she and I discussed sending out Desty and the Gig, they are due to return to duty soon....my wings will be coordinating with her..."
She eyed Erys a moment "I could make a Valkyrie or Dragon available for you in the next rotation for the search...."
Erys smiled at the idea. "It would be nice to fly solo again. Of course, I could probably commandeer one of the Amalthea's Peregrines if I had the time and opportunity. Unfortunately, Command has other plans for me. They're recalling me back to Earth, probably to explain how I could lose one of the more powerful ships in Starfleet."
Shrugging, she took a sip of her drink. "I'm not scheduled to leave for another hour, which is why I'm here sharing a drink with you. I wanted to thank you for your help at Bajor. We wouldn't have made it without you. Hell, as it was we barely survived. So... thanks."
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Post by Captain Erys Murai on Apr 17, 2018 15:16:03 GMT -5
Anyone else think those Cardassian ear attachments look pasted-on instead of actually part of the person?
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Post by Captain Erys Murai on Apr 17, 2018 15:13:50 GMT -5
Erys frowned at the answer as she refilled both glasses. She set the bottle back on the desk and looked at Talia. "She's out there somewhere, and if anyone can engineer a way out of whatever they're stuck in, it's her. Even so, I wish I could help with the search myself.
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Post by Captain Erys Murai on Apr 17, 2018 9:59:47 GMT -5
Erys nodded at Talia's response, and answered without hesitation. "The Myrto. She didn't have the size or durability that the Orlando did, but she was fast and maneuverable. Up until Bajor, I managed to keep my crew mostly intact and just add more people as the ships got bigger, so the only real difference for me was the ship."
Turning to walk back toward the bottle, she knocked back what was left in her glass and sighed. "Any luck with finding the Admiral yet?"
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Post by Captain Erys Murai on Apr 16, 2018 13:37:29 GMT -5
Erys nodded and took a sip of the Andorian ale. After a few moments of silence, she walked over to the ship models on the wall. Glancing at the various configurations, she could identify all of them by class, if not by name. She glanced back toward Talia as she took another sip.
"Which one was your favorite?"
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Post by Captain Erys Murai on Apr 16, 2018 10:26:05 GMT -5
Erys eyed Talia's artificial arm for only a couple seconds before pulling the bottle from its brown paper housing. The liquid's blue tint gave away the contents even before she unsealed the bottle. Turning toward the display case, she picked up a glass and poured until it was about half full. She held out the first glass to Talia before repeating the same steps in a second glass for herself. She set the bottle down and looked up at Talia as she raised her glass.
"To the ships we've lost, and the crews who made them home."
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Post by Captain Erys Murai on Apr 15, 2018 12:45:47 GMT -5
Waiting until the doors parted, Erys stepped inside the ready room. She paused for a moment to look around, taking in the Andorian's choices in decoration. After a brief moment of observation, she looked toward Talia and walked the few steps to the desk. Keeping her package tightly secured in her left hand, she offered her right for a shake.
"Captain Talia, good to see you again. I trust you know why I'm here?"
The petite woman paused for a moment to add to the suspense, then held out the package she carried toward Talia. Wrapped in brown paper, the contents were obscured from visual inspection, but quiet sloshing could be heard as the bottle's orientation suddenly changed. Erys grinned mischievously at the anticipated response.
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Post by Captain Erys Murai on Apr 14, 2018 16:00:16 GMT -5
Erys nodded with a smile as she stepped out of the alcove and started toward the Ready Room. "Thanks, Chief." At the Ready Room door, she paused and hit the door chime, waiting patiently for her fellow captain to answer.
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Post by Captain Erys Murai on Apr 10, 2018 19:46:59 GMT -5
Stop downloading so much po-- I mean cat videos.
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Post by Captain Erys Murai on Apr 9, 2018 9:54:03 GMT -5
The hum of the transporter faded, leaving Erys free to step down from the transporter pad. Holding a oblong-shaped package with one hand, the petite woman looked at the operator as she stepped down and took the few short steps to his station.
"Ensign, where can I find Captain Talia? I have an urgent message to deliver, her eyes only."
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Post by Captain Erys Murai on Apr 3, 2018 19:42:03 GMT -5
(Recovered from Escape pod NCC-93280-02)
Stardate 91585.98
The defense of Bajor from the Tzenkethi was successful, but not without assistance from the 22nd. Their arrival was well-timed to turn the tide of battle, but far too many ships were lost during the battle. The real twist came after the cease-fire, however, when the real reason for the Tzenkethi's extreme tactics became clear. In what I can only describe as something akin to a locust swarm, the Hur'q revealed themselves to have been, I don't know, hibernating? In minutes, they completely disabled DS9 and destroyed almost the entire battlegroup. The Orlando held out to the very end, but we weren't able to stop them completely. At this moment, I don't know if the remaining fleet was able to stop them, but the swarm has left our escape pods alone for now.
The sensors on this pod aren't the best, but I've been able to make out several dozen escape pods from the Orlando. At least a few hundred made it off before the ship was destroyed, but I'm worried that more didn't. There's no way for me to know until I've landed. Current trajectory places me landing about a hundred miles from Hathon, so we should be close enough for them to find us at least.
In case I don't make it, I just want it on record that it has been an honor serving with the entire crew of the Orlando.
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Post by Captain Erys Murai on Apr 1, 2018 22:22:19 GMT -5
The swarm was relentless. The Amalthea and her escorts fired nonstop, and even as each shot destroyed one or more of the Hur'q ships, more took their place. Within seconds, every ship was surrounded and battered by the small, agile ships. The Discovery, already wounded from combat with the Tzenkethi, was unable to maneuver its large mass against such nimble adversaries, and they latched onto its rear, lightly-armed aft section. It took only a few minutes before Discovery's shields failed completely, and the massive ship all but crumbled beneath the onslaught. The detonation of the Odyssey class warp core took out more than a hundred Hur'q ships, but still they kept coming.
On board the Orlando, the situation was quickly dissolving from triumph into near-panic. Like Discovery, the ship was already damaged from the long combat. Their fighter complement was quickly overrun, the more nimble fighters unable to handle the overwhelming force of the swarm. Within minutes, the Orlando's shields had also failed, but Erys was determined that they would take as many as they could. Unlike Disocvery, Orlando was equipped with ablative armor, and thus was able to stay in the fight for another couple minutes. Even so, the petite captain knew that the ship was doomed.
"All hands, this is the Captain. Abandon ship. I repeat, abandon ship. Once in your escape pods, set course for Bajor. Do not attempt to engage any hostile ships or rondevous with the fleet. I repeat, abandon ship and set course for Bajor only." She cut the comm and looked around the bridge. "That includes all of you, and don't give me any crap about loyalty. Just leave one pod for me, and get the hell out of here."
"Sir, I think I spea---"
"I said go, or I swear I'll kill you all myself!"
The crew continued to hesitate or outright ignore their captain's orders, until she drew her sidearm and fired into an area of the deck she knew contained no vital circuitry. At that point, they finally relented and filed off the bridge. Erys slid under the tactical railing and used what remained of the ship's weapons to carve a path for the escape pods. The path wouldn't last long, but with any luck the Hur'q would focus on ships actively attacking them.
"Computer, target all Hur'q ships in the area, and fire continuously until all ships are destroyed. Identify any lifesigns still aboard the Orlando."
"One lifesign, Captain Erys Murai."
"Good. Initiate command lockout, Authorization Erys-Bravo-Six-Four." With that, she looked around the bridge one more time before jogging the short distance to the escape pods. Two pods remained, and she jumped into the closest one. Closing the hatch, she triggered the escape sequence. Explosive bolts fired, followed by the crushing acceleration of the pod being jettisoned. Erys quickly selected Bajor as the landing target, then looked through the tiny viewport at the battle that continued all around them.
Even in its death throes, the Orlando continued to fire at Hur'q ships left and right. The ship had already suffered catastrophic damage, with all three nacelles crushed or missing entirely, and gaping holes across the primary hull. Without warning, the ship imploded, taking a hundred or so Hur'q along with it. The escape pods, for their part, seemed to be ignored outright as they sailed toward Bajor. The battle raged on, but for the crew of the Orlando, the fight was over.
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Post by Captain Erys Murai on Apr 1, 2018 17:22:55 GMT -5
Despite having taken the brunt of the initial invasion, the remaining ships of the Amalthea Carrier Battlegroup rallied at the arrival of the 22nd's most famous ships. The sight of all of these ships was rare, especially the presence of lesser-known ships like the Lipumira. There was little time to consider the sight, however, as the Tzenkethi had not decided to surrender immediately. As the 22nd's ships scattered and began their own attacks on the two largest targets, the Orlando shook again as two cruisers slid into weapons range.
"Captain, shields are at fifteen percent, and we've got hull breaches on decks eight and fifteen!"
"Seal off those sections, and get rid of these cruisers already. Engineering, now would be a great time for one of those miracles!"
The comm crackled slightly with static as the chief engineer responded. "We're doing what we can, but I'd really like a few minutes without getting shot."
"You get us through this battle, and you can have as many minutes as you want. Helm, try to get us behind them. Contact the Maverick and see if they can distract them long enough for us to get a shot in."
"Sir, the Maverick is already engaged with three frigates, along with the Stalwart. We're on our own for the moment."
"Then let's make these lizards pay for what they were trying to do!"
A short battlecry erupted on the bridge, underscored by the dull thrum of phasers firing. There were no torpedoes, since the Orlando and her fighters had depleted their stock several minutes ago. The battle would be a fierce one, to say the least. All around the area, Alliance and Tzenkethi ships fought for dominance and destruction, both sides losing ships by the second. It was a fierce battle that seemed to be heading straight for mutual annihilation. Then, without warning, every ship in the Tzenkethi fleet suddenly veered away and stopped firing. Simultaneously, a fleet-wide comm signaled from General Martok. "All ships, cease fire. The Tzenkethi have surrendered."
The bridge crew breathed a collective sigh of relief, but it was only momentary. The tactical officer jumped in surprise as his console began beeping, and he groaned out loud as he saw what the display showed. "Sir, I'm reading hundreds, no thousands of ships rising from the surface of Bajor."
"Identify them."
"They don't match any record in our database, but they remind me of those Hur'q ruins the Enterprise found in the 2360's."
"Move us back into formation with the Amalthea. Engineering, you've got two minutes to do whatever you can. We just found out why the Tzenkethi were here."
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Post by Captain Erys Murai on Mar 27, 2018 12:49:42 GMT -5
The first ships of the Tzenkethi fleet dropped out of warp on all sides. Every Alliance ship in the system moved to engage immediately, and those first few ships were destroyed in a matter of seconds. The second wave contained almost twice as many ships, and they fared somewhat better than the first. The Alliance began to take losses as well, including two Klingon birds of prey and a Romulan Mogai. The third wave was where the real action began, and the battle began in earnest. The Orlando, Ramsey, and Marfa were all on the same side of DS9, with the rest of the fleet either on the opposite side or out in front engaging the bulk of the Tzenkethi fleet.
On the bridge of the Orlando, the situation seemed to have an odd calmness about it even as the ship lunged into battle for the fourth time today. The tactical officer called out numbers every so often, but the bridge was otherwise silent save for the alarms and the occasional order from its captain. The large ship sailed through the battle with weapons blazing, the effort of dodging debris and simultaneously trying to line up the heavy weapons proving to be a challenge even for the skilled pilot at the helm. For every ship they destroyed, it seemed like two more had dropped out of warp to replace it.
In a sudden change of attitude, the tactical officer yelled out with a hint of panic, "Captain, large mass detected on long-range sensors!"
Erys responded without turning, "Can you identify it?"
"There's a lot of interference, but it's definitely Tzenkethi. I estimate it's at least ten kilometers in diameter."
"Keep an eye on it, but maintain targeting the ships on our flank."
"Aye, sir."
The bridge fell silent once more, for a few seconds at least. The tactical officer called out once more. "Sir, the Marfa just lost its port nacelle, and the Fordring has been destroyed. Discovery is calling for backup."
"Helm, divert us to take up the Fordring's position, and see if we can't drag a few of these guys with us. Are there any escape pods from the Fordring?"
"Checking... there's a lot of debris, but I think there are a few pods."
"See if we can pick them up along the way, but maintain focus on the Tzenkethi."
"Aye sir. Shields are at 57 percent and holding."
As the Orlando moved toward its new position, three of the Tzenkethi ships followed. Four more broke off from the main task force in an obvious attempt to intercept. Unfortunately for them, two of those four lined up perfectly in front of the Orlando, and the phaser lance quickly reduced both ships into a rapidly expanding cloud of dust. The remaining ships scattered and came at the dreadnought from all sides.
"Good work, keep it up! Helm, bring us around. Let's see if we can clear these lizards out!"
At that moment, the massive Tzenkethi station dropped out of warp. Three Alliance ships were directly in its path as it slowed to a stop, and all three disappeared in a flash against its shields. The harried voice of the Admiral aboard the Amalthea crackled in the comm. "All ships within immediate range, target that station!" The Orlando, only a dozen kilometers from the station, immediately moved to engage even with three ships still pounding away at its dwindling shields.
"Captain, shields are at forty-two percent and falling. We're down to twenty-five torpedoes, and all fighters are reporting their stores are depleted."
"Understood. Keep firing with everything we've got, including the lance."
"Aye sir. The lance is still recharging, but it'll be ready in twenty seconds."
The battlestation proved to be deserving of the name as it effortlessly swatted away at the Alliance ships. To an untrained eye, it would have appeared as if the station's shields remained impenetrable, but the Orlando's sensors showed that the shields were dropping at a steady rate. Even so, the Alliance was losing ships far too quickly now. A Vor'cha flew past the Orlando's viewscreen, just in time to be severed almost in half by a powerful blast from the station. The pieces continued along their original path out away from Bajor.
The harried voice of the Admiral called out once more. "All units, fall back to secondary coordinates. Orlando, Discovery, and Myrto, cover their retreat." The three ships redoubled their attack, with the former launching its remaining torpedoes in a blatant attempt to force attention away from the retreating ships. As the massive weapons turned onto those three ships, the Myrto flashed by as it split into its three sections, only now engaging its multivector assault mode. All three sections swerved around the Tzenkethi battlestation in a spectacular display as both the Orlando and the Odyssey-class Discovery began their own retreats.
The station's weapons seemed to have trouble locking on, but one lucky shot caught the Myrto's tertiary section and sheered off the rear half the the ship, nacelles and all. The entire section tumbled into the station, erupting in a large explosion. The other two sections lasted several more seconds before they too were destroyed. Silence reigned for several seconds as the Orlando crew stared in shock. The remaining Tzenkethi ships continued swarming around the Orlando and the other ships, pounding away at their shields and hulls. Just as the situation began to seem hopeless, the tactical officer called out once more.
Shields at twenty-three... sir! multiple slipstream signals!"
"Who are they?"
"It's the Twenty-second, sir. They're finally here!"
"About time. Get rid of these Tzenkethi ships, will you?'
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