Attacking the Hub
Posted on Sun Oct 18th, 2015 @ 10:30am by Admiral Phelan Ward & Captain Ryan Greenwood & Colonel Jack Pike & Captain Paul MacLeod & Lieutenant Commander Mutara Romaine & Lieutenant K`Wor
4,279 words; about a 21 minute read
Mission:
Episode 89 - Futility's Return
Location: Various Task Force Ships, enroute to Bra'val Badlands
Timeline: MD2 2100, Present
Tags: Ward
ON:
It had been nearly two hours since the mission briefing aboard the USS Sentinel. The ships in the task force were at Slipstream and closing in on the edge of the Bra'val Badlands.
USS New Hampshire, Bridge
On the Bridge of the New Hampshire, Mac sat in the XO's chair and was looking over the data...what little of it there was...of their target and the Bra'val Badlands themselves. It was an ideal hiding place for a Borg Transwarp Hub or any other kind of facility, there really was no easy way in.
USS Sentinel
It is an age old custom for a commander to walk through his vessel in the eve of battle, especially a desperate one. Phelan Ward was no exception to this tradition. It has been a long time since he sailed on Sentinel, especially in battle. He was her very first commanding officer, and he hoped that he would not be the last. Despite Krazzle, Borg, Breen, renegade Jem'Hadar, Gorn, Tholian, Orian, and the like, nothing ever prevented Sentinel from bringing Ward home. He prayed to himself that Sentinel would keep up that particular tradition as well.
Avenger, Bridge
"Captain" K'Wor spoke up from Tactical, "we've just received a message from Starbase 400. The Pegasus's task force was able to destroy the Borg facility. They also recovered several survivors from the USS Houston and have already returned to Starbase 400. Full details are being routed to your panel as well as to all ship Captains in our task force."
"Thank you Cadet."
Ryan looked over the incoming data. There were quite a few casualties, but the objective was complete. He knew this would be expected of any engagement of the Borg.
"I am surprised that that there were so many survivors who made it back to the Starbase."
K'Wor smirked, "Yes sir, seems they hitched a ride behind a Liberated Borg Sphere and used its transwarp drive to get back to the station." His smile faded away, "They report moderate casualties, mostly to the Marines. General Jackson was one of them, he's recovering on the station now."
"Transfer all the reports to my ready room. I will have plenty of time to review them once we get back."
USS Cairo
Marcus was sitting on the bridge of the USS Cairo while they were at slipstream heading with the rest of the Task Force to where the Hub was located. The ship remained at yellow alert and everyone was at there stations ready for what laid ahead.
He could sense the tension of his crew, he to was a bit tense. This was going to be a hard task and would make sure the USS Cairo would come out alive.
Everyone seemed to stay quiet, seem to be lost in though or just thinking about what lies ahead once they drop out of slipstream.
New Hampshire, Bridge
Jack exited his ready room and stepped onto the bridge. "Report" He said as he headed for his command chair.
Grax was the first to speak up. “Colonel we’ve reached the edge of the Bra'val Badlands, all ships are dropping out of slipstream.”
“Red alert.” Mac order, “Commander Mya, Borg protocols are in effect, auto modulation of our phasers and shields. Grax, let’s form up with our wingman.” He tapped his commbadge, Bridge to Major Strek, deploy your Marines in all vital areas and patrols across all desks.” Mac ordered as he stood from the XO’s chair and looked over at Pike as he approached.
“Now’s when we earn our pay.” Mac added with a smirk.
Jack looked at Mac then gave a nod "True there Commander, this is where we do" He stood in front of his command chair turning to face the view screen.
Mya tapped a few consoles and Borg protocol went in effect. "Done sir," Mya stated looking at him.
USS Sentinel
Phelan sat in his ready room, going over all the possibilities. The age old rule of war is that the plan is destroyed at the first shots of battle. Where the Borg is concerned, the possibilities are endless. He train of thought was interrupted.
=/\=Castle to Ward, approaching target area.=/\=
Ward rubbed his eyes before stepping into the Bridge.
=/\=Ward to Fleet, approaching target area. Prepare to disengage slipstream. Red Alert!=/\=
Avenger, Bridge
K’Wor typed commands into the Tactical console as the bridge lighting dimmed and the ship went to red alert. “Shields are up and weapons online Captain. All Borg protocols are active and we have Security teams patrolling all decks.
"Good, Commander Stark are all systems prepared for damage control?"
The reply came over the ship’s innercomm, “As good as they’re going to get Captain. I’ve boosted power to the shields by ten percent pulling power from non-vital areas.”
The ships of the task force slowly moved into the Bra'val Badlands
“Captain, sensor range has been cut by a third because of the plasma discharges and radiation within the badlands.
*of course* Ryan thought to himself.
"Can you clear up any of the interference?"
“Working on it, but the further into the badlands we go the better it’ll get as the radiation isn’t as intense closer to the center we get. The force of the nova that created this region of space is still pushing the debris and their radiation outward.” K’Wor replied.
USS Cairo
"We have reached the coordinates," Tirra replied looking at Marcus. "Red Alert, raise shields and have weapons online." Marcus ordered as the Red Alert Claxon went off and the red lights started blinking.
"All Borg protocols are online and active, all security teams are patrolling all decks sir." Lok replied, "Drop out of slipstream." Marcus then ordered, as they dropped out and slowed with the rest of the Task Force.
New Hampshire, Bridge
Mac stood behind the Flight Control Officer and watched the viewer. "Grax, nice to steady."
What seemed like days finally passed as the Federation ships neared the middle of the Bra'val Badlands. Sensor resolution started to improve a little and on the screen appeared the massive Borg Transwarp Hub. It was still offline, but appeared to be nearly complete.
"Commander Mya, how many Borg vessels?" Mac asked.
She tapped a few consoles to look, "I am only picking up on two Borg Probes, One Sphere and one Tactical Cube." Leah stated looking at Mac.
Avenger, Bridge
"Captain, I'm picking up two Borg Probes, one Sphere, and one Tactical Cube!" K'Wor didn't mean to sound so...excited at the end, but he knew the dangers of a Borg Tactical Cube.
"This is just the appetizer Cadet. There will be more." Ryan knew that even though there was a tactical cube that reinforcements were probably hiding.
USS Sentinel Bridge
Ward was looking at the same data as the other ships. It was good that there were only a few Borg ships out there, but it was bad that one was a Tactical Cube.
=/\=Ward to Fleet, Sentinel and New Hampshire and their wingmates will start off with the Tactical Cube. Cairo and your partner can engage the other Borg ships. Avenger, I need you and your partner to start hitting that hub before it becomes operationa...=/\=
WE ARE THE BORG. LOWER YOUR SHIELDS AND SURRENDER YOUR SHIPS. YOUR BIOLOGICAL AND TECHNICAL DISTINCTIVENESS WILL ADDED TO OUR OWN YOUR CULTURE WILL ADAPT TO SERVICE US. RESISTANCE IS FUTILE.
=/\=Ward to Fleet, attack, attack, attack=/\=
Avenger, Bridge
While Ward was calling over the comms for all vessels to attack, Stark arrived on the Bridge and took a seat at the Bridge Engineering station. “How many Tricobalt Devices do we have aboard?”
K’Wor replied, “We have a standard compliment of ten Commander.” He then anticipated Stark’s next question, “The Shogun also has ten aboard.”
Stark smirked, he was starting to like that kid. “I suggest we use Tricobalt Devices and set their yield at a maximium 22,000 TeraCochranes. That Hub isn’t shielded, and if we target these locations,“ he quickly typed in coordinates and sent them to Greenwood and K’Wor, “it should destabilize the Hub’s hull integrity and tear it apart.”
“At 22,000 TeraCochranes, that could also create a tear in subspace.” K’Wor added.
Stark looked over with a smile, then looked back at his Engineering Monitors.
Ryan almost immediately agreed it was the best decision but knew as well the risk of causing a massive disaster.
"Let's keep that as a last resort. Other options Commander?"
“That’s the only option Captain.” Stark replied coldly. “We need our torpedoes if we hope to defend ourselves from the Borg ships, using them against the Hub would limit our chances at surviving which are already low enough. Our phasers just aren’t going to cut it against that Hub. Even the Type-XX Phaser Cannons of the New Hampshire, Sentinel, and Shogun won’t do as much damage as our Tri Cobolt devises will.”
"Well then. Prep the warheads but we will not fire unless the order is given."
Stark nodded, then sent his idea to the Sentinel for Admiral Ward to sign off and give the order.
"Warheads ready Captain." K'Wor replied.
Shogun
Captain Th'rosiik made sure that the Shogun maintained formation with the Avenger. The larger ship opened fire with its phaser cannon, hitting the Hub close to a power relay junction but causing little damage.
New Hampshire, Bridge
“Grax you heard the Admiral. Commander Mya target the Tactical Cube with Quantum Torpedoes as well as all Phasers and fire when ready.” Mac ordered as he took a seat in the XO’s chair. “We’ll coordinate our attack on the Tactical Cube with the Odin.”
Jack stood there motionless for a minute in front of his chair then turned and sat down, he blew out a breath "Just when you think that you are done with the Borg, they come back to bite you in the arse."
Before Mac could reply, a Vulcan sitting at Science Two replied, “Colonel, Borg do not bite, but they could assimilate you through your...arse.”
Mac couldn’t help but smile, but it soon faded away as the New Hampshire shook from a hit.
Odin
The same sentiment was going through the minds of Captain Bauer's crew, as the huge mass of the Odin moved gracefully with the New Hampshire and Sentinel.
USS Sentinel Bridge
"Tactical Cube coming into weapons range." said Castle. Ward typed in numbers into his console. =/\=Pike and Th'rosiik, let’s concentrate fire on these coordinates for starters. Make it a quick pass.=/\=
New Hampshire
Jack looked at his console "Mr. Grax head for the Cube, passing run."
Serron "Aye sir" He said as his hands flew over the controls sending the New Hampshire towards the Borg ship.
"Commander Mya fire Quantum torpedoes as we pass by the Borg Cube." Jack said
"On it," Mya added as she pressed a few buttons and started firing Quantum Torpedoes at the Borg Cube.
Mac walked over behind Ops, “Monitor our auto-modulation of our phasers, don’t let the Borg adapt.” He knew Mya would have her hands full and if she didn’t have minor thing to worry about, the better.
USS Sentinel Bridge
The Sentinel went into full impulse as she headed right to the Tactical Cube. "Quantum Torpedoes, fire!" Three of the beautifully deadly torpedoes launched out of the Sentinel's turret. "Phaser Cannon, Fire!" Unlike the phasers Ward was used to, a single extra thick red beam lanced out from the front of the ship. The torpedoes found their mark, exploding with shards of metal and green plasma from the cube leaving a satisfying grin on Ward's face. "Conn, hard to port, 5 degrees." The Sentinel just turned enough so that she started passing the cube.
USS Cairo
Marcus stood up and started barking orders, "Fire Quantum Torpedoes as well as rotate phasers so they can't adapt. Fire at will!" Marcus ordered as he stood there as the USS Cairo began to open fire at the Borg Cube along with the USS Hades as they seem to alternate between Torpedoes and phasers, mixing them up so they don't adapt to them.
They were taking hits as well, "Shields are down to 90%." Nicole stated as the ship rocketed. "Keep firing, moving as well." Marcus ordered as the ship moved and fired hitting key areas on the Borg Cube.
USS Sentinel Bridge
As the Sentinel completed its pass, it was struck by a few Borg plasma torpedoes, but the shields held.
"Conn, swing her around for another pass. Tactical, same target." Ward ordered.
New Hampshire
Mac was back in the XO’s chair and was keeping an eye on his panel as well. “Colonel, the Sentinel is turning to make another run.”
Jack nodded:"Mr. Grax get ready to make another run alongside the Sentinel."
“The Odin is turning with us, but the Borg seem to be concentrating their fire on her.” Mac added. The Ronin class USS Odin moved in just above and behind the New Hampshire. She fired several photon and quantum torpedoes along with her phaser arrays and twin phaser cannons. As she brought the pain to the Borg Tactical Cube, she received some in return taking several hits from Borg torpedoes and plasma beams.
“Colonel, the Odin is taking heavy damage, shields are down to forty percent and she has hull breaches on several decks.” Mac reported.
Jack looked at Mac then turned back forward:"Correction Mr. Grax, head us towards the Odin and let's give her some help."
"Aye sir" Serron said as he piloted the New Hampshire towards the Odin.
"Commander Maya unleash a phaser and torpedo barrage at the Borg Cube."
As the New Hampshire opened fire, she took several hits and sparks fly across the Bridge. The explosion sent the Officer sitting at the Intel position flying backwards.
"Bridge to Sick Bay, medical emergency on the Bridge!" Mac called over the ship's inner-comm.
Dr. Romaine wasn't surprised, "On my way." Dr. Romaine walked quickly to the lift and was on her way.
Avenger, Bridge
While the Avenger approached the Hub, two Probes came from behind and opened fire.
The Avenger shook from several quick hits. "Borg Probes astern Captain, they're targeting our warp nacelles." K'Wor replied.
"Evasive maneuvers. Target the lead probe and fire at will."
"Aye sir, returning fire." He tapped in commands and fired several photon torpedoes as well as phasers at the Probes. The Shogun altered her coursed and provided covering fire. A moment later one of the Probes exploded.
"One enemy target destroyed Sir." K'Wor reported
Over at Engineering, Stark sat back down and calmly said, "We're ready Captain."
"Target the Hub and fire at will!"
He tapped in a few commands. "Phasers are ineffective against the Hub sir." K'Wor reported.
A moment later the Shogun was hit several times by the Borg Sphere as it streaked back toward the Hub trying to protect it.
"The Shogun has taken damage, impulse engines and sensors, but she's still with us." K'Wor reported.
"Damn!" Ryan didn't want to give the order but things were not looking well.
"Prepare to fire the Tricobalt devices." He knew that the shockwave would cause more damage to the already weakened Shogun.
"Divert all available power to the shields and structural integrity. Commander, how far could we extend the shields to say around the Shogun?"
"If we can get within fifty meters we are wrap our shields around them." Stark replied, then he tapped in a few more commands. "Captain if we match our shield frequency and modulation with the Shogun's shields and both ships extend them to encircle the other it should protect both vessels...a double layer of shields."
"Signal the Shogun of the plan."
Ryan look over at Cadet K'wor. "I need you to place us between the Shogun and the Hub."
K'Wor tapped in a few commands and looked over the firing arches of both ships. "Lieutenant" K'Wor called down to the Flight Control Officer, "one hundred and eighty degree rotation to starboard, ease us back one hundred seventy-five meters, then z-minus twenty-two point seven meters."
The Avenger made a half barrel roll, slowed just enough to get even with the center-line of the larger Shogun, then nuzzled up close to the bigger ship. The maneuver allowed for over ninety percent of the both ships' weapons to be usable. A moment later the Cairo moved in and fired on the Borg Sphere.
"It's now or never Captain." Stark added after the tense maneuver.
"Fire!"
"Aye sir, firing Tricobalt torpedoes. The Shogun is firing as well." K'Wor reported.
Cairo
The USS Cairo was taking damage, Marcus was unconscious from an explosion of a nearby console in there last hit. "Colonel!" Nicole stated as she checked his pulse, "Medical Emergency on the Bridge," Nicole yelled as she then took Command.
"Evasive maneuvers, take out there systems." Nicole yelled as the ship turned for another shot as well as the the USS Hades who was taking on damage to. They seemed to aim for the same spot at random intervals.
"Sir, don't know how much more we can take. Our shields are down to 46%," the operations officer replied. "Re-route non-essential systems to the shields and keep firing." Nicole ordered.
"Aye sir," the operations officer replied and did what he was told.
USS Sentinel Bridge
The Sentinel made her attack run, firing her phaser cannon, followed up by another volley of quantum torpedoes. This time, the weapons were damaging the tactical cube. She took very few hits from the Borg ship. As Ward ordered, the ship broke off, and prepared for another run.
The damage to the Odin did not go unnoticed by the Admiral. "Odin, break off now!" Captain Bauer had his ship break off, but not before losing the back half of her starboard nacelle.
"Admiral, losing power, but we can still get in the clear."
"Just get clear of the battle, and tend to your damage. You are on your own until this fight is over."
"Understood, and sorry Sir."
New Hampshire
Once Romaine arrived. She bent down and took medical readings of the unconscious officer. "Dr. Romaine to Sickbay, I have an unconscious crewman. Beam him directly to Sickbay."
Mac glanced over at Tara and gave a concerned, yet reassuring look.
The New Hampshire moved up and stood between the heavily damaged Odin and the Tactical Cube, while firing her Phaser Cannon and Quantum Torpedoes.
Several panel started beeping across the Bridge. Mac glanced at his small panel, then rushed over to the damaged Intel position and checked over its two working displays. “Colonel, there’s a subspace tear forming near the Hub...right on top of it! Looks like the Avenger and Shogun used Tricobolt torpedoes at maximum yields.”
Mac then looked over the rest of the Borg ships. “The Hub’s structural integrity is failing, it’s being pulled into the subspace tear. The damaged Probe is also being pulled in. The Cairo is still firing on the Sphere and it too is damaged.” The ship shook from another hit. “Our shield are weakening, down to forty-five percent.”
Jack tapped the button on his chair:"Engineering more power to the shields"
Avenger, Bridge
“We did it Sir!” K’Wor’s voice cracked with excitement. “The Hub’s structural integrity has completely failed, it’s breaking up and being pulled into the tear.”
“We’re not out of the woods yet.” Stark replied. “Captain if we can damage that Tactical Cube’s systems enough to prevent them from out running that subspace tear...” He looked over at Greenwood knowing he didn’t have to say more.
"K'Wor, I want pinpoint targeting. We dont have much time or we will be pulled in. Target the power nodes here and here." Ryan tapped on his console and sent the locations to K'Wor.
"Aye sir...firing Hellfire torpedoes!" He realized he still sounded exited and took a deep breath.
Suddenly the Avenger shifted hard to port. Ryan braced himself against the chair. * Looks like the Cube isn't going to go down without a fight.*
"Commander Stark, redirect power from the fusion generators to the shields. If those go down the Cadet here wont have a chance to fire."
"Rerouting...but we have three damaged flow regulators and a damaged power coupling on Deck Five. We have a power bleed, damage control teams in route." Stark replied.
USS Sentinel Bridge
The ship shook again from multiple impacts of plasma torpedoes. "Shields at 40 percent!", yelled the Tactical Officer.
"Prepare for another run." Ward ordered.
Castle was looking at his panel, and noticed the doomed hub, and the subspace fissure. "Admiral, if memory serves, that subspace tear should be jamming up that cube's link to the main collective, if they are out there, right?"
Ward stood out of his chair with anticipation. "Tactical, load 1 Transphasic Torpedo."
"Aye Sir!"
Castle pressed the comm button on his console, "New Hampshire and Odin, I would get some distance between you and that tactical cube immediately!"
New Hampshire
Jack pressed the comm button "Will do" He looked up "Mr.Grax get us away from the cube."
Serron "Aye sir" His hands flew over the controls as the New Hampshire moved away.
USS Sentinel Bridge
"Engineering, we need everything you have for the impulse engines and rear shields. "
"Understood Sir"
"Conn, flank speed, as soon as we fire, hard to starboard and get us some distance."
"Aye Sir"
The Sentinel moved quickly and gracefully towards the tactical cube, taking more hits on her weak forward shields.
"20,000 kilometers", Castle said.
"Wait for it", replied Ward.
"15, 000"
"Not yet"
"10, 000"
Ward shook his head. A plasma torpedo ripped a hole in front of the Sentinel's saucer section as she pressed on.
"5000"
"Fire!"
The brilliantly amber torpedo left the main turret...
"Hard to starboard!"
The Sentinel swung right just when the torpedo made its impact, turning the tactical cube into a brilliant yellow/green fireball. The shockwave struck the Sentinel as the ship moved away.
"Rear shields at 5 percent"
Ward smiled, "She'll hold," He looked around the Bridge, "You hear that, hold."
"Target destroyed."
"Ward to Fleet, get away from that subspace tear", Ward looked at the Conn Officer, "That means us too."
USS Cairo
The USS Cairo heard the call and quickly moved away from it as well as the USS Hades. Well as quickly as they could due to there damage, when Marcus came to and looked up he could see the tear.
Avenger
“Captain that tear is still growing.” He looked at his panel and thought to himself ‘It should have closed, why didn’t it close’. “The warp cores aboard the task force’s ships are pulling it along behind us. Someone needs to eject their core and detonate it to stop the tear.”
“I have another idea.” K’Wor spoke up. He tapped a button on his panel and the viewer changed to show the damaged Borg Sphere trying to move away from the subspace tear as well. “Their shields are down. We could beam out their warp core and detonate it with a torpedo.”
"How close would we need to get Cadet to beam the core out? I don't want to be near it when it goes."
"It's still in range, but barely with our damaged power systems." K'Wor replied. He tapped a few commands on his panel and took the initiative, and beamed the Borg Sphere's core into space and a few hundred meters in front of the tear. He then fired a salvo of torpedoes at the Borg Sphere and a single photon at the core. The torpedoes fired at the Sphere weren't meant to destroy it, but only to keep it from beaming it's core back. A second later the lone photon hit the floating core. It exploded in a massive fireball, sealing the subspace tear, but the shock wave impacted against the fleeing Federation ships, shoving them forward and causing additional damage to each...but they were still operational.
K'Wor finally looked up at Captain Greenwood, not knowing if he'd thanked for acting or put on report for it.
It took hours for the battered fleet to both get out of the disturbed space, and for all the ships to get their warp drives online, except for the Odin. That Excalibur Class starship would be tractored all the way to a starbase, which made for a longer trip home. Crew losses were high on the Odin, and moderate on the other ships. The very fact that all the ships survived a raid on the Borg was amazing in itself. This battle would be required study at the academy years later as "The Battle Of The Hub". The other Captains went on to do their part in saving the universe. Captain Frank Castle realized how missed the regular part of Star Fleet, and with Ward's help, became Captain of the now Active USS Sentinel. Phelan Ward would return to his remaining term as a Governor, but made it a point to Mike Bremer that he would help him out from time to time. For now, his status would read "Star Feet Reserve, Admiral". Remember, statuses are all subject to change.
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