Attacking the Borg
Posted on Fri Sep 4th, 2015 @ 9:10am by Fleet Admiral Mike K`Wor Bremer & Commander Jonathan Roebuck IV & Lieutenant Nick Archer & Colonel Danny Lennox & Master Chief Petty Officer Mark Branson & First Ramata`tar & Admiral Deela T'Lar & Major General Thomas Jackson & Commodore Leon `Lee` Pike & Commodore Andrew Clifford & Commander Jonathan Coleman & Captain R'nard Lokran & Major Percival 'Percy' Morris & Lieutenant Saith i-Ki Baratan & Lieutenant Nuala Takabe & Commodore Alexandra Harrison & Lieutenant Zhao Quan & Lieutenant Ariel Gilmore & Master Warrant Officer Gaius Aquila & Sergeant Maal son of Torg & Lieutenant JG Frank Doyle & Gunnery Sergeant Marcus Ermey & Gunnery Sergeant Agtx & 1st Lieutenant Taz & Corporal Warner Schmidt
4,371 words; about a 22 minute read
Mission:
Episode 89 - Futility's Return
Location: Various, Task Force Ships
Timeline: MD2 1400hrs, Following 'A New Collective'
ON:
Pegasus, Bridge
With all ships standing by, personnel transferred where they needed to be, and everyone as ready as they could be, it was time to move out.
Mike tapped the comm button on his chair's arm. "Pegasus to all ships, form up. General Jackson, as soon as we arrive in system, have Phoenix launch her fighters. One flight will remain close to the attack force while the others are clear to engage their planetary targets. Once we clear the skies we'll begin to beam down and transport ground forces via Runabouts." He paused a minute, then added, "We all know our jobs, be confident in your abilities, your ship, and your crewmates, and we'll get home soon. End of speech, let's get to work." He closed the comm, took a breath, then gave out orders to his crew.
"Alex, deploy security personnel to all decks and vital areas. Lee, keep an eye on the task force, let's make sure no one gets overwhelmed. Nick, have all power to nonessential systems routed to the shields. Chief Branson, engage slipstream." Mike ordered.
Alex appreciated the speech but it didn't make her feel better about dealing with the Borg. Alex nodded, Yes sir. Captain Harrison to all security personnel..."
Lee nodded:"Aye sir will do" He looked down monitoring everything.
USS Essex Bridge
Everyone was back at their stations. The mood in the room was solemn. Deela could tell that they were a little upset about what happened earlier. She broke the silence on the bridge, "I can tell that you are not happy about our earlier performance...forget about it. It could have been a lot worse but you hung in there and did your jobs. I am proud of everyone here. I have nothing but the upmost confidence in your abilities."
When Bremer gave the go, everyone manned their stations, "You heard him, it is time." Deela looked over at her XO, Clifford, "I believe we have a score to settle."
Andrew nodded, "We certainly do, Admiral."
Solomon wholeheartedly agreed with her, "Most definitely."
Andrew tapped his comm badge, "All hands this is the first officer. All hands to carry small arms and security on full alert on all decks. I want double security on engineering, the bridge and auxiliary bridge. We know the Borg like to beam onto ships to take over them, lets make sure they get a warm welcome.
"And we will settle it." said R'nard.
Andrew looked over to R'nard and smiled, "You bet we will."
USS Saratoga Bridge
As Jackson looked around, he could see that the crew was mostly excited about the oncoming battle, at least the younger ones were. All the seasoned crew had mixed feelings, since they have tasted battle before. =/\=Colonel Sullivan, slight change in plan. You will launch as soon as we get to the destination. You will keep one flight with the starfleet attack group.=/\=
=/\=Jackson to Aquila, load your team up. Your shuttle will launch at my signal shortly after the fleet arrives.=/\=
=/\=Yes Sir=/\=
Jackson looked at Morris. "I will be below to suit up. I am sure you will do great up here, since you are my best senior officer for the job."
"Aye sir, and thank you." Morris cocked his head. "Not to doubt your abilities, sir, but shouldn't one of the unit commanders go in your stead?"
"They are going. But I can't lead them from up here. There will be other parties for you to dance in Percy."
Morris smirked a bit. "Of course, sir. Pop some for me then, and good luck."
"Try to keep her in one piece until I give the order to move in.", Jackson said with a slight hint of laughter. "Good luck my friend."
USS Saratoga Shuttlebay 2
After all of these years, Giaus was still not used to his Atmospheric Jump Suit. But he would need it today, since his team was going to be jumping at the edge of the planet's atmosphere. He watched his team as they gave each other last minute equipment checks before loading onto the shuttle. He was the last one to step in. Securing his weapon, he strapped himself down on his seat. No pep talk was given. These Operators knew the mission, as well as their jobs.
USS Saratoga Near Shuttlebay 1
Maal was standing there with the other Marines having put his gear on and getting ready for battle.
Jackson walked in in full gear. Looking around, he marveled at the sight of his Marines prepping for action.
Forty-five minutes later, in Space
The forty-five minute trip at slipstream seemed to take forever, yet was over before anyone was ready. As the Federation ships streaked into the system and slowed to impulse, they were greeted by an all too familiar communication. “We are the Borg. Lower your shields and surrender your ships. We will add you biological and technological distinctiveness to our own. Your culture will adapt to service us. Resistance is futile.”
Pegasus, Bridge
“Pegasus to Saratoga, launch fighters. Essex and Venator take the left, Pegasus and Yorktown will take the right, Saratoga will hold the middle.” Bremer ordered over the comm.
In space, several Borg ships started to approached the Federation ships, no less than eight Spheres and a handful of Probes. They moved forward in a very orderly pattern, typical of the Borg.
“Alex, target the lead Sphere and fire.” Bremer ordered. “Nuala, see if you can isolate any non-assimilated personnel on the surface or the Houston’s computer core.”
Nuala went over the sensor display. "Sir, I'm picking up a few clusters of non-Borg scattered across the planet and a small non-Borg footprint in the computer core." Nuala reported. "They are very few in number."
"Get that info to the Saratoga, the Marines needs to rescue those people and that core." Bremer replied.
"Aye Sir." Nuala replied and opened a Channel to the Saratoga. "Pegasus to Saratoga, sensors have picked up several pockets of survivors. Transmitting coordinates to your database."
Yorktown, Bridge
“Saith, let’s coordinate our attack with the Pegasus, our weapons in concert with theirs might help us take down these Spheres a little faster.” K’Temoc said. “Fire when ready.”
"Aye sir" Saith replied. With a few touches of her fingers her boards indicated a synchronistic pattern. She fired, "firing now." She tried to follow the Pegasus' cue, doubling the affect of the weapons. "It appears to be working, but" her attention was drawn to the computer boards momentarily. "They are quickly learning counter measures." Saith said, "I don't know if we can do enough damage before we are cut off or not. I will work on our next option."
“Holly, allocate any additional power we can to the shields, focus it on the grid facing the closest Borg vessel.” K’Temoc added.
USS Venator, Bridge
With the Borg approaching, the Venator formed up on the Essex.
“Mister Quan, boost power to the shields. First Ramata’tar, target the lead Borg ship and fire when ready.” Roebuck ordered as he sat on the edge of the seat.
"Understood, Captain." Quan was already busy routing power to the various parts of the ship.
“Commander, there is another Borg vessel on my sensors, it’s in orbit of the planet but appears to be powered down, possibly not finished construction yet.” Ramata’tar reported as he opened fire on an approaching Borg Probe.
Roebuck stood and walked back to the Tactical Station and looked over the readings. “That’s a Borg Tactical Cube.”
He walked back to the Captain’s chair and tapped the comm, “Venator to all ships, there’s a Tactical Cube in orbit of the planet. It’s currently offline, possibly not finished construction yet.”
USS Essex Bridge
Deela turned to R'nard, "I do not want a repeat performance. Protect all vital areas of the ship and I want all available power diverted to the shields. Give them everything we got."
The Essex had also seen the Tactical Cube and came to the same conclusion. They answered back, "We see it too."
Andrew looked over at the helm officer, "Are we set for micro warp jumps? Admiral, I'm thinking we should micro warp jump in there and attack that cube while the Borg are occupied with the main fleet. We may be able to get the jump on the Borg if we can."
The helm officer looked back at Andrew, "You bet, Sir. Picard Maneuver?"
"That's what I have in mind Lt", Andrew was staring at the screen watching the other ships attacking the Borg sphere.
It was the dreaded encounter, one with a cube. They had to get it before it activated. "Shields up to maximum." said R'nard. " "Ready to fire on it."
Pegasus, Bridge
“Acknowledged Venator.” Bremer replied over the comm. “Lee, scan that Tactical Cube, see how much time we have before that thing is online.”
"Aye sir" Lee tapped a few buttons at his console, reading the info as it came in. He then looked up:"Scan complete Admiral, the Cube will be online in about 4 hours from now.
Mike let out a breath, four hours was a long time, he hoped this battle would be over long before then. "Advise the rest of the fleet."
As the Federation ships engaged the Borg, General Korok’s liberated Borg ships arrived in system and joined the fight. Korok’s Sphere formed up with the Pegasus and Yorktown, another formed up with the Saratoga along with three Probes, the third formed up on the Essex and Venator. The liberated Borg ships quickly opened fire on the approaching enemy Borg ships.
Korok’s ship opened fire on the Sphere the Pegasus and Yorktown were already targeting.
Korok’s Sphere
“Remodulate our weapons to match their shields and target the same point as the Pegasus’s weapons.” He ordered of his liberated crew.
His Sphere fired a plasma beam, then fired several torpedoes at the attacking Sphere.
Pegasus, Bridge
“Alex, let’s raise our voice a little. Phaser cannon, beam mode, let’s cut through their hull!” Bremer said with a smirk. “Chief, attack pattern Gamma-Three, let’s keep our distance for now.”
As the Pegasus moved forward Korok’s Sphere formed up beside the Galaxy Refit, and both started to take fire from the Sphere they were attacked as well as a Probe.
Yorktown, Bridge
“Attack pattern Omega, full impulse! “Saith, let’s take some heat of the big boys, target the approaching Probe with phasers and photon torpedoes and fire!” K’Temoc ordered.
"Targeted." Saith said as the cross-hairs indicated green,"firing." She looked to the screen to see what damage had been done."
K’Temoc felt the Yorktown leap forward as she streaked in, passing the larger Pegasus and Korok’s Sphere. She bore in close and opened fire close to the attacking Probe, but took a hit of her own too.
“Gillo, alert damage control teams, have them standing by.” The Yorktown shook from another hit. “And reroute power to the port shields.” K’Temoc ordered.
"Returning fire," Saith said rather unnecessarily as the streaking weapons made their presence known. A flash of yellow caught her eye, she sighed, "Engineering, phaser bank five has . . . I don't know, lost power?!" she wasn't quite sure that was right but assumed they would figure it out. "Continuing fire," she informed K'Temoc as the remaining weapons pelted out a new volley.
USS Essex Bridge
Deela watched the screen as the liberated Borg ship and the USS Venator fired upon the enemy Borg ship. They seemed to be holding their own.
Before Deela replied to her crew, a message came in as to when the Tactical cube was going active. "Four hours." She paused, "Proceed." It was still a Borg ship that would eventually activate.
Andrew nodded then tapped his com badge, "Clifford to Transporter Room 1. Prepare 4 Hellfire torpedoes for beaming, straight into the heart of that Borg Cube, on my mark." He looked around the bridge, "Helm, plot us a course for a micro warp jump to a point 20km away from the Cube. R'nard, on my mark, hit is with everything we've got and keep hitting it."
"Aye, sirr." said R'nard.
USS Saratoga- Shuttlebay 2
The alert klaxton told everyone that they have reached their destination. Then the order came over the intercom, "Launch Fighters!".
As the rumbles of fighter launching from the other shuttlebays could be heard, the intercom sounded off once again, "MARSOC launch!"
USS Saratoga-Cargobay 3
At this time, one battalion was standing by at the modified cargo transporters, ready for orders to start their combat transport.
"Lennox to Bridge, we're ready sir, permission to beam down."
"Jackson to Lennox, wait for the order which will come when we get into range."
"Standing by General!" Lennox replied.
USS Saratoga Shuttlebay 1
The other units were now boarding their shuttles, waiting for orders to commence their landing.
T'Lyn and her team were ready and waiting for word for launch. This was going to be a tough mission but her and her team were ready.
The armored crewmen loaded up their tanks after the infantry. This way, they would the first out and onto the planet. The tankers wouldn't have to worry about running over any infantry and would be more protected from fire compared to the dismounts.
Jackson observed the equipment and troops loading into the large and medium shuttles, and stood by the two commanders. He looked around to see if the Engineer Team started loading.
Coleman walked off one of the Runabouts and walked over to one of the Commanders of the Runabouts. He gave a nod to the General and continued loading up his engineering equipment. He knew how important this mission would be and how much it meant to get the computer core.
It didn't take him and his crews long to get everything loaded up on the runabouts. It just seemed like time was dragging on. Being El-Aurian, he saw his planet destroyed over a century earlier by the Borg and when they were absorbed by the Caelier, he thought it was finally over and that he would be able to rest. But, then again, he knew how vengeful the Borg Queen could truly be.
Once the runabouts were loaded up, he nodded to the General and gave him the go ahead for whenever he wanted to launch.
T'Lyn waited, which seemed like it took forever but she waited patiently none the less.
The MARSOC shuttle seemed to exit the shuttlebay before the intercom was finished speaking the launch order. The fighters could be seen leaving the adjacent bays. Flashes from the view ports indicated that a fight was already in progress. The pilots were in pressure suits for this mission. One of them spoke, "Chief Aquila, are you ready for a mini Pichard?" Giaus was used to this maneuver. "Do it!" The pilot smiled, "Execute program Mini Pichard 1." The shuttle, now cleared from the Saratoga, went into warp for what could be timed in milliseconds. The shuttle now appeared at the edge of the planet's atmosphere and over the Landing Zone. A red light went on in the rear compartment, prompting the two MARSOC Sections to stand up, and prepare for their jump. The shuttle was unnoticed due to the intense combat Starfleet was engaging them with. Giaus then spoke by the numbers. "Equipment check." The Raiders checked their gear one last time as the cabin depressurized. One by one, they indicated "Ready". The large cargo hatchway then opened, revealing an ominous view of the planet. The pilot yelled "Happy Hunting Marines!" as he changed the light from red to green. The Raiders literally ran out of the shuttle into space. They may have been a group of Marines, but in a jump suit, they all felt alone, hearing nothing but their computers and their own breaths. The shuttle performed another Mini Pichard to leave the area, undetected.
Giaus could feel some of the heat as his suit dragged through the atmosphere. He felt some relief as the friction subsided. He looked around, and observed what he hoped were all of his people in a controlled free fall. What only took minutes felt like hours. Finally, the familiar tone from his computer prompted him to activate his parachute, which opened flawlessly for the average 4 seconds it would take. He could see other chutes opening around him. Another computer tone signaled him to drop his rucksack, which now dangled on a tether beneath him. Looking down, he used his HUD to assure the LZ was clear. He steered his chute to what he hoped was a good spot. His "landing" was textbook perfect. Retracting and dropping his chute and helmet, he donned his ruck, and sprinted to the rally point, as the other did as well. He performed a quick head count, and was satisfied that all the team members made it. Using hand signals only, the team members paired up, and ran to designated areas around the LZ. Once Giaus arrived to his assigned point, he did a quick visual scan to assure that his field of view was cleared.
The paired up members took off a mix of transporter enhancers, and landing transponders from their rucks, and proceeded to place them in designated areas. The Landing Zone was now secured for the time being, and marked. Using a long range subspace device, he sent an encrypted commo burst to the task force above. The beacons and enhancers would only be activated when the Saratoga was ordered to offload the Brigade. The Marines then took turns shedding their jump suits as they maintained vigilance.
USS Saratoga Bridge
The Marine at Ops looked down at his console. "Major Morris, the MARSOC task is complete." The Marine sighed, thinking about the wait from Fleet for the signal the start of landing operations.
Morris nodded. "Thank you. Ready all phasers and torpedo banks, prepare emergency power to shields, and secure communications with the MARSOC and other units, as well as with the rest of the fleet."
"Yes Sir." The Ops Officer tapped in the commands into his console.
Morris piped up. "Move us into transporter range, helm. Saratoga to Aquila, please enable the transporter enhancers and signal Mr. Lennox when you're ready for beaming."
It did not take long for the Saratoga to moved into range, and in position to start its operations. For now, she was being ignored by the Borg.
On the ground, Aquila responded, "Stand By". Giaus gave the order to his team members, and they activated both the transponders, and transport enhancers that were in place. They then expended their perimeter 50 meters beyond the transponders, assuming security in the widened area. "Aquila to Lennox, ready for your beam in."
"Acknowledged." Lennox replied over the comm, then looked at the Transporter Operator, "Energize."
Moments later, Lennox and his team were on the planet, each with their phaser rifles already raised and sweeping the area. After double checking that it was clear, Lennox walked over to Aquila.
"We need to hold this position, this is the Alamo. Let's get our armor down here." He looked around, then back to Aquila. "Once we start making noise in there, the Borg will come, be ready to modify our weapons quickly when the Borg adapt."
"Yes Sir!" Aquila's men maintained their positions as the rest of the Second Battalion of the 327th Marines continued beaming in. A scan of the perimeter, which ended in a southern direction, confirmed for now that the area was still cleared. "All quiet for now, especially on the southern front." He emphasized that direction because that was where the Borg Base was, 20 kilometers away.
Lennox nodded. "Sergent Taz, you've got point. Agtx, back him up. First Platoon get ready to move. Second and third be ready. Ermey, take charge of Second Platoon point."
Saratoga, Bridge
Percy breathed in deeply and sighed, acknowledging the marines on the surface, and pushing a button on his chair arm to send a ready signal to the fleet. It would be waiting game, although judging by initial reports it wouldn't be long before the Saratoga was needed.
Pegasus, Bridge
The Pegasus shook from a hit from one of the Collective's Spheres. A moment later, one of their Liberated Borg allies, a Probe, exploded.
"Bremer to Korok, that's three Probes we've lost now. Can your crews adapt their shields?"
"They are trying to K'Wor, but our adaption abilities aren't as fast as those of the Collective" Korok replied as he ship took a hit too, "however we were able to beam off the crew of the last Probe to the Qu'Val before it was destroyed."
Once the comm closed, Archer spoke up from Ops, "Admiral that last hit over loaded one of our port shield generators, shields in that area are down to fifty-four percent."
"Send damage control teams. Chief Branson, keep those shields away from the Borg." Bremer ordered.
The Pegasus and Korok's Sphere, the Qu'Val, continued to fire on the first Sphere they engaged and finally the vessel exploded.
Yorktown, Bridge
K'Temoc smirked when he saw the first enemy Sphere explode. "One down, more to go."
He stood up and walked over to Tactical Two and looked over the shoulder of the Officer there before walked back to the Captain's Chief. "Change course to keep us close to the Pegasus. Saith, target any vessel the Pegasus fires on and engage them too."
As he took a set, the Yorktown shook from several hits to her tail. "Report!"
Saith nodded and searched for her first target. She hated being the follower and not the lead in the fight but knew they made a difference. As soon as she saw the weapons trace from the Pegasus she matched their path. She looked down and smiled, thinking to herself, 'and her long fingers gracefully doled out death.'
"More Probes. Evasive maneuvers."
USS Essex Bridge
Andrew nodded then tapped his com badge, "Clifford to Transporter Room 1. Prepare 4 Hellfire torpedoes for beaming, straight into the heart of that Borg Cube, on my mark." He looked around the bridge, "Helm, plot us a course for a micro warp jump to a point 20km away from the Cube. R'nard, on my mark, hit it with everything we've got and keep hitting it."
The transporter room acknowledged his orders as did R'nard.
With one last look at the Admiral, who nodded silently, he issued the orders. "Helm Engage!" From there the whole operation became a blur of activity.
The view screen changed and suddenly the Borg Tactical Cube was filling the screen, "R'nard everything we have got. NOW!"
R'nard didn't need to be asked twice. He leapt over the Tactical station, hitting the Borg tactical cube with everything he had.
The Phasers and Quantum Torpedoes leapt from the ship, lashing into the unshielded Tactical Cube, wrecking enormous damage to the outer hull. Andrew tapped his comm badge, "Transporter room NOW! Immediate detonation on beaming."
While the transporter room sent the hellfires deep inside the Cube, the Essex continued to pound it with Phasers and Quantum Torpedoes.
"Transporter room acknowledged. "Torpedoes delivered, Sir. Detonating now".
On the screen the Tactical Cube rocked with the force of the internal explosions. It was not destroyed, but it was very badly damaged.
"Helm micro warp get us out of here, then form up again on the Venator."
The screen changed again as the Essex shot away from the Cube. On the tactical screen they all saw the Borg Spheres turn away from the other ships to head back to the Tactical Cube, but it was too late. The damage had been done and a series of internal explosions continued to rock the massive cube.
Venator, Bridge
“...and heavy damage to its internal systems. That Cube will not oppose us.” Ramata’tar reported from Tactical as he scanned the damage the Essex caused.
“Roebuck stood. Looks like the rest of the Borg vessels are falling back to either cover the Cube or they’re beaming drones over to attempt to repair it.” He watching the screen and saw the Pegasus, Yorktown, and Korok’s remaining vessels moving in to attack the remaining Borg vessels. “First, target the trailing Sphere.”
Ramata’tar nodded and as the Venator moved in he fired phasers.
“Phasers are ineffective, the Borg have adapted.” Ramata’tar reported.
“Remodulate the phasers again First. Mister Quan, try to boost power to the phasers” Roebuck reported as he looked over the Flight Control and Ops stations.”
Quan was already looking for areas where he could pull power from to increase the output of the phasers and shields, "I'm running out of options here, Sir. Every none essential source is now diverted to shields and weapons." He looked around towards Roebuck, "That's it, Sir. the onyl thing left now is lifesupport".
“Auto remodulation also ineffective.” Ramata’tar reported.
Roebuck took a seat, “Engage Multi-Vector Assault Mode."
Ramata'tar nodded and tapped in the commands. The Bridge lighting dimmed slightly as an alert sounded, "Decoupling sequence activated. Auto separation in ten seconds" A moment later, the Prometheus class ship started to separate into three.
"Attack pattern Gamma-Twelve." Roebuck added.
"Specify target" the computer replied.
"The Borg Sphere bearing 037 mark 215." Ramata'tar replied.
The three sections of the Venator moved into formation and fired together on the enemy Borg Sphere. Phasers still seemed to have very little punch to them with the Borg having adapted to them, but the photon and quantum torpedoes were still causing damage.
A moment later, an alert sounded on the Tactical and Engineering consoles.
“The Mid section is taking heavy fire from three Borg Probes and a Sphere, its shields are down to twelve percent.” Ramata’tar reported. A second later the middle section of the Prometheus class vessel exploded from the heavy Borg fire.
“Evasive maneuvers!” Roebuck ordered.
tbc....
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