A New Mission
Posted on Wed May 22nd, 2013 @ 10:51pm by Admiral Deela T'Lar & Commodore Alexandra Harrison & Fleet Admiral Mike K`Wor Bremer & Captain Ryan Greenwood & Commodore Andrew Clifford & Commodore Leon `Lee` Pike & Commander Jonathan Coleman & Brigadier General David Hurd Sr & Captain Torilla Yamaguchi & Commander Tressa Brislan & Lieutenant Anandra Delair & Lieutenant Saith i-Ki Baratan & Ensign David Brody & Commander Jonathan Roebuck IV & Colonel Danny Lennox & Lieutenant JG Aidan Murphy & Sergeant Maal son of Torg & Lieutenant K`Wor & Major T'Lana & First Ramata`tar & Lieutenant Nick Archer & Lieutenant Zhao Quan & Lieutenant Catherine Mclintock & Chief Warrant Officer Xelonul Blackthorne & Master Chief Petty Officer Mark Branson & Gunnery Sergeant Marcus Ermey & Gunnery Sergeant Agtx
Edited on on Tue May 28th, 2013 @ 5:48pm
3,034 words; about a 15 minute read
Mission:
Mission 83 - Recovery
Location: Starbase 400
Timeline: Four Days After 'New Marine XO'
ON:
Deep inside Romulan Space
“How far along are we?” A voice called out from the darkness.
“We’ll begin primary matrix testing tomorrow, however we’re still awaiting for the rest of the materials to complete construction and integration into
the vessel.” Another voice said in reply.
Out of the shadows, two Romulans approached an Uhlan and a Colonel. “The General wants an update.”
“The Tal Shiar will have its new toy soon enough.” The first voice replied as the Reman stepped forward.
The Tal Shiar officers stared down the Reman for a moment, “It better be.”
Then they slowly turned and walked away.
The second Reman in the room walked over to the elder, “They’re getting suspicious.”
“Did you make contact?” The older of the two asked.
“Yes. They said they will try to get us out.” Vrek replied.
The older of the two, Erurax, let out a breath, “They better hurry.”
Starbase 400, Ops
It was 0500 hours. Most of the Senior Staff was still asleep and Gamma Shift was still on duty in Ops. However, Mike was already up and walking
through Ops to start the day. He’d planned to meet with Admiral Sevlek early in the morning, then check out the progress being made aboard the
Pegasus, before getting to his daily ‘paper work’.
“Admiral, there’s a Priority One message coming in for you from Starfleet Command.” Roebuck said as he glanced at his console.
Mike looked back at Roebuck, “Must be important. I’ll take it in my Office.”
Mike walked into his Office and sealed the doors before tapping a button on his desktop display to open the channel.
“Admiral Nakamura, a little early in the morning isn’t it?” Mike said with a smirk.
Nakamura kept a serious face, “This can’t wait. I’m sending you encrypted orders, for your eyes only. You can inform your Command Staff on a need to
know basis. This is top priority and supersedes everything else at this time.”
Mike nodded, “Understood.” He paused a moment, “Orders received.”
“Good luck Admiral, Starfleet out.” The channel closed and the screen went dark.
Mike downloaded the orders to a PADD, then leaned back in his chair as he read over them.
A few minutes later he walked back into Ops, tapping his comm-badge as he walked. “Bremer to Senior Staff, assemble in Tactical Operations in ten minutes.”
Mike looked back at Roebuck, “Have the standby crews aboard the Lexington and Vanguard ready the ships for departure.”
Tactical Operations
Several minutes later, the Senior Staff had gathered and were looking up at the large display screen. Because he had been up most of the night working on the Princeton, Andrew Clifford was one of the last to arrive and had to make do with a back row view of the screen.
“Good morning.” Mike started. “This is a priority mission straight from Starfleet Command. We’re sending two ships deep into Romulan space, covertly. Vice Admiral T’Lar will personally command the Vanguard and I’ll command the Lexington.” The large screen came to life with a map of Romulan space.
He looked around a moment before continuing, “The Vanguard will proceed to the Algorab system to extract a Starfleet Intelligence Officer. I’m sending General Jones, Colonel Hurd, and Major T'Lyn with a full Marine Platoon, however this is NOT a kick the door in with weapons firing extraction. Get in and out as quietly as possible. We don’t want the Romulans to know we’re there, and you’ll be too far away to receive any support. Gather additional intel if you can, but not at the expense of the mission.”
The map shank and moved to the left side of the screen. On the right, pictures of Commander Marcus Horman appeared, pre and post operation to look Romulan, with information below including his Romulan identity as 'Sub-Commander Vanik', a member of Admiral Sela's Staff. “Commander Hormas is high value. He believes his cover has been blown and he can’t be allowed to fall into Romulan hands.”
Mike paused a moment, then went on, “Meanwhile, the Lexington is heading for the Gamma Crateris system. Starfleet Intelligence believes the Romulans are trying to build a new Thalaron weapon there. Two days ago, a Reman scientist named Erurax and his assistant Vrek contacted Commander Hormas and requested they be taken to Federation space where they plan to defect, but we're not sure how the Remans knew Hormas is a Starfleet Operative. Erurax and his people are trying to slow the Thalaron project, but the Romulans are growing ever more suspicious. Like the Vanguard’s extraction, this will be a covert mission, get in and out quietly. Commander Lokran will lead a Security Team in to pick up the Remans while Captain K’Temoc will lead a small team in to sabotage the ship and weapon system they are building for the weapon. Again, gather additional intel if you can, but not at the expense of the mission.”
K’Temoc spoke up, “Is it another Scimitar class?”
“No, Intelligence believes it to be something new. No further information is available at this time.” Mike replied.
Mike looked around the room one more time, then tapped a button on the display to show the ship assignments.
USS Vanguard - Sovereign Class
Vice Admiral T’Lar
Brigadier General Andrew Jones
Captain Clifford
Lieutenant Colonel David Hurd
Lieutenant Commander Yamaguchi
Major T'Lyn
Dr. Brislan
Major T'Lana (former Tal Shiar agent)
Lieutenant Gillo
Lieutenant Quan
Lieutenant Gilmore
Lieutenant JG James
Staff Warrant Officer Blackthorne
Captain Lennox
Master Sergeant Duval
Gunnery Sergeant Ermey
Gunnery Sergeant Agtx
Sergeant Maal
Corporal Schmidt
USS Lexington-D – Sovereign Class
Admiral Bremer
Captain K’Temoc
Captain Harrison
Captain Pike
Captain Greenwood
Commander Lokran
Commander Coleman
Counselor Delair
Lieutenant JG Murphy
Ensign Brody
Lieutenant Commander Roebuck
First Ramata’tar
Acting-Ensign K’Wor
Ensign Baratan
Ensign Kingston
Lieutenant JG Lee
Ensign La Baron
Dr. Thomas
Warrent Officer Talan
Starbase 400 –
Captain Dow
Lieutenant Archer
Sogh M`Kota
Ensign Vortek
Sogh Varn
Ensign Vega
Dr. Mclintock
Nurse Ashley
Sergeant Taz
Corporal Nas
Private T’ork
Lieutenant JG Shrok
Ensign Lovan
Lieutenant JG Heron
Lieutenant JG Maxwell
Lieutenant JG Clayton
Chief Petty Officer Branson
Admiral Sevlek
Lieutenant Commander Slade Matthews
Commander Daniel Zanducky
“Questions?”
As Andy read the Assignments he was happy to be under T'Lar's Command Again he nodded and said "No Questions here sir", and then he turned to T'Lar and said I'll make the Vanguard ready For departure ASAP Ma'am"
Deela nodded in response, "Very good. Thank you."
Tressa read the mission specs, and the two words that stood out sent a chill up her spine; thalaron radiation. If the Romulans had successfully developed thalaron then there was no telling how much havoc they could wreak. Death on a massive unknowable scale. This cannot be good.
As Vice Admiral T'Lar read the ship assignments, for a moment, she couldn't help but smile inwardly. Her ship, the Essex was originally a Sovereign class, one that she had commanded for many years so to command a Sovereign class again , she was ecstatic.
Ensign Brody surveyed the room and attempted to take the staff's proverbial temperature. Some seemed hesitant while others looked excited. The Marines mostly fell into the latter class. He thought about the mission at hand and decided to speak. "Admiral, there are those who think an open conflict with the Romulans is inevitable. Is there any chance our mission could only serve to expedite all out war?"
Saith was very conflicted. She had been in Federation space for a while, but she was still acutely aware of her Rihan-ness. She was Romulan, and this mission felt a little traitorous to her ancestors. She reached over and took a hold of Maal’s hand under the table. When Ensign Brody spoke up Saith felt her anger rise, her face flushed and she squeezed Maal’s hand hard, but she held her tongue.
Mike took a step forward. "Our inaction could facilitate a war more so than our actions. If we allow the Remans to finish their project, not only will they have readied WMDs, but the trust the Remans have shown in us to bring them out will be lost and they may fall into line with the Romulans. Not to mention, any sensitive information that Commander Horman is privy to need not fall into Romulan hands." He paused a moment, then added, "We can't fail in this Recovery."
“Allow?” Saith’s voice gave away her temper. Admiral Bremer’s word cut to the quick of her most immediate problem with the UFP, they had the attitude that they could dictate to everyone. Fortunately, most everyone was focused on the Admiral and only a few people heard her comment. She looked at Maal unsure what was written on her face. She swung her chair around intending to get up and leave, but a look and hand squeeze from Maal kept her in her chair. She looked down and listened to Coleman’s comments.
Coleman waited for Ensign Brody to finish what he was saying. After he was done, Coleman piped in and said, "Also, if there is an armed conflict and Starbase 400 being so close to the border, would we be prepared with several of the ships being down due to repair? The Pegasus, Yorktown, and others are still a little ways off from being completed, so they might not be able to fight right away. So, would we be able to fight in a pinch?"
"Mike nodded, that's a valid point. In the coming days, Starfleet will be sending several additional ships into our operational area. While some of our ships are undergoing work, they will help with border patrol and other tasks." Mike couldn't tell them those vessels were to ship and escort aid to the C'Hakilians, but the end result could be the same since the Typhon Pact was aiding the Krazzle.
Commander Yamaguchi took a moment to examine the intell displayed for her in all its glory as a smile appeared on her face, she had never met a Romulan she had liked, it was something she would need to watch carefully on this assignment. "If I may Admiral?" she inquired.
"Yes Commander?" Mike replied.
"Sir. We do have Twenty Runabouts along with the One Eighty First Wing and we do have the other ships present in the spacedocks, not to mention the reserve ships currently docked here." she explained. "Plus there are several Federation starships nearby on other assignments. Last time I checked was last night but we have six Federation ships within a days travel of here.."
"That's correct." Mike replied. "While we're away, Captain Dow will be in command of the Station and he has standing orders to maintain patrols, as well as an active Combat Air Patrol within the Kaleb system. Each Commander in the area will be given a patrol area while we're away, but they are to remain within Federation space." That also meant 'no assistance' while the Lexington and Vanguard were in Romulan space.
"Admiral," Col. Hurd said, " may i assume this is a simple asset recovery, and that there may be a potential for moderate to heavy combat?
"As I said before, this is a covert mission. I want to avoid a fight if at all possible. Let's get in, recover our targets, and get out. The Romulans can't know we were there." Mike replied in a serious tone.
Col. Hurd then spoke again, " Sir, i am again bound by duty and oath to
inquire about our Rules Of Engagement"
"I understand your concern. Away Teams will be minimal personnel, disguised
as Romulans, using Romulan equipment. Commander Tamarith, our Romulan
Liaison Officer, is providing us with Romulan uniforms, disruptors and tricorders."
Mike knew what the next question would be, "IRV Rakal however is still
undergoing repairs and overhaul from the Ion Storm they were caught in two
weeks ago." It was good to have Tamarith on the Station, one of the few
Romulans Mike actually trusted, however since her and her crew's defection
to the Federation after the Hobas Event, they weren't able to provide the intel
that was needed in this situation.
Captain Harrison couldn't help but wonder what she would look like as a
Romulan. She chuckled to herself at the thought. She caught herself smiling
and snapped herself out of it. Her attention converted back to those asking
questions. She didn't have any question of her own.
T'Lyn just sat their and listened to what was being said, she agreed with
the Colonel. She just listened to everyone and didn't have any questions.
With no immediate questions of her own, Anandra watched with piqued interest
as everyone took turns speaking their concerns. This was quite a gathering
of personalities, and as a counselor and an El-Aurian she took a great
interest in simply observing and listening as the meeting unfolded before
her.
To her left, LT JG Aidan Murphy looked positively bored, his chin cradled in
his palm as the fingers of his free hand silently tapped a rhythm on the
surface of the table as if he were fingering the invisible keys of a piano.
He may not look like it, but Aidan was rearing to go, and hoping that
somewhere along the way this new mission will grant him the opportunity to
do some fancy flying - although just the prospect of getting to sit at the
helm of a Sovereign class like the Lexington was tantalizing enough on it's
own.
Andrew looked at the ship allocations. The two ships were well balanced, but
that meant a lot of key personnel would be away from the starbase if
anything happened locally. He had no doubt the Admiral had considered all
this when making his choices, so didn't mention it. Instead he started to
mentally work out the details of getting a sovereign class battleship into
romulan space without being seen. The first thing they needed to do was
modify the warp signature to more closely resemble a romulan vessel. It
would reduce performance marginally, but it would be less suspicious than
the characteristic warp signature of the sovereign class. As soon as they
were aboard he would need to speak to Lt Quan about it.
Mike looked around, "Anyone else?"
Ryan looked over the assignments. This would be his first mission not
commanding the Avenger since he took command over 3 years ago. There was one
question that he had to ask...
"Admiral, how are we going to get into Romulan space without being detected?
Federation warp signatures would stick out like a sore thumb."
Mike nodded, “Our Engineering, Operations, and Science personnel will need to look into ways to disguise our signatures to appear more Romulan. In concert with the cloaks, we should be able to keep detection to a minimal. If we are detected, or believe we’re being followed” He paused, then added, “Admiral T’Lar and I will have to play it by ear...’
Lee just stood there listening to everyone, then shook his head:"Thralon
Radiation can't be good. Am wondering which Romulan now came up with that
hair brain idea."
Col. Hurd just sat there, taking in everyone's questions and the awnsers
they recived. At the mention of Thralon Radiation, he put one hand over his
eyes, and said, quietly, ''Oh God not again''
“We’re not sure who or why the Romulans are playing with Thalaron Radiation again, we were assured by the Romulan Government they wouldn’t pursue that technology again after the Shinzon Incident, however with the loss of Romulus and Remus, that may have changed.” Mike replied.
Though he seemed to be spacing out, Aidan had been tuned in to the conversation all along, finding his thoughts lingering on the riddle regarding how to get into Romulan space. "Sir, if I may.." Aidan wasn't usually one to interrupt and volunteer ideas, but this one seemed crazy enough. "Instead of trying to mask the ion trails, maybe there's another, easier way into Romulan space." He exchanged glances with his friend Ensign Brody from across the table, hoping he might be able to chime in with a tactical viewpoint to back him up. "Maybe we can disguise a few of ourselves - a bridge crew - and pose as Romulan agents who've commandeered the Lexington? We get right to the edge of Romulan space and convince them we're bringing it in for..you know, for them to gather Starfleet technologies and intelligence from. It might buy us enough time to get over the border and do our thing..or at least get to where we need to be in order to do it."
Mike listened to the idea. The only down sides were Starfleet didn't want the Romulans aware of the incursion and he knew the Romulans that responded would want to board the ship at once.
"Let's reserve that idea in case the Lexington or Vanguard is discovered." He replied. Mike already had an idea of how the cross the border, and he needed to speak with Admiral Sevlek once the briefing wrapped up.
When no one else spoke up, Bremer adjourned the meeting with a simple "Both ships will depart in an hour, dismissed."
Bremer left Tactical Operations and headed for Deck Four, he needed to ask a favor of Admiral Sevlek...
When the meeting was over Saith practically fled the conference room. She was unhappy about the mission, she was unhappy Maal would be on the other ship. She wondered if Captain Lee would be enough to keep her from losing her temper on this mission. Probably not, she decided as she kicked the crap out of the computer generated fighters in her path. She was already upset that Counselor Dallas had been reassigned and she would have to start all over with counseling. Now this. "You're never going to be any better Saith," she said to herself, "maybe you should just give in." She broke her holo-competitors neck as her tears and sweat made their way down her face.
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