Rendezvous - Part V - The Witch from Orion

Posted on Sat Feb 1st, 2025 @ 12:27am by Captain Robert Burke & Commander Vincent 'Vin' Salvatore & Lieutenant Commander Dr. Jeremiah "James" McEntyre, Jr M.D. & Lieutenant Commander Lachlan Lamont & Lieutenant Marques Hunt & Lieutenant Ryssa Dari

1,066 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: EPISODE 1: SHAKEDOWN
Location: Archanis System - USS Cato - USS Hecate
Timeline: MD029 1340 hours

::ON::

[The Continuation ...]

"Lovely Gal. Too bad she's a witch with a capital B. Looks like we don't have time to waste." Vincent nodded his head and made his way to the Communications Officer's console. "I think I have an ace up my sleeve I have been saving for a rainy day." He said in his old Brooklyn accent as he approached the officer. "Give me the ear piece and stand aside, Junior. It's time for some old fashion cloak and dagger."

"Sir?" The Comm's Officer replied with a slightly confused look on his face.

"Move, Kid." Vincent said firmly, holding out his hand.

The Comm's Officer got up, handing the Commander the ear piece. As he stepped aside he watched as the man sat down and tucked the ear piece in his ear. He saw his hands jump from button to nob and dial, adjusting the signal and frequency and he did so. The Comm's Officer saw it done before, but not like this.

"What are you doing, Sir?"

"I'm doing what your Captain asked, Lieutenant, but throwing in some Salvatore Swagger." He replied with a smile. "You see, just like the Captain ordered I am tightening up the beam, but I am also masking it by the long range sensors. To the outside observe it would register as a simple scan, allowing the beams to travel undeterred." Vincent said as he turned to look at the Lieutenant. "Think of it like a needle in a haystack, but the haystack is pushing the pin towards one end while you start you search on the other." He tapped the back of his hand on the Comm Officers chest. "One day... I'll teach it to you, Kid."

The Lieutenant nodded and then smiled.

Vincent turned away, making one more adjustment to the Comms device before raising a brow. "Let's see if they hear us. Hecate to Cato. This is Commander Salvatore requesting a report on your status. Please be advised we are intercepting four Orion Syndicate ships that have entered the area. Please respond."

Lachlan Lamont shook his head taking in a deep breath, easing it out slowly. His deep raspy voice reported "Thrusters only, minimal shields. Significant casualties in Sickbay. She's dead in the water" reported Lachlan.

"Well... She ain't going anywhere fast and I doubt she'll survive another go around." Vincent replied as he stood up from the comm console and walked over to the Tactical station. He looked to Lamont, giving him a quick nod, before looking down to the tactical console. "Looks like, if the Cato is gonna survive, she's gonna need our shields. Best we plant ourselves between the Orions and the Cato to give he as much time as she needs, Captain." He let out a sigh, looking back to the Comm Station. "Best keep trying to get them on the horn or else they'll have a world more problems on their hands." He said before walking back tot he comm console.

'Helm, bring us alongside the transport vessels - try and keep the Hecate between them and our comrades.' Burke took his place in the center chair, gripping the armrests lightly as Hunt nodded his understanding of the order, and brought the ship about at a quarter impulse placing the Hecate directly in harm's way.

'Operations, strengthen shields on the side closest the Orions, Tactical, full spread of phaser fire. Try and keep the Orions from advancing,' Burke dictated his orders as calmly as he could, willing his voice not to quaver, lest it be interpreted as fear. He opened the comm on his armrest, hailing the Sickbay and instructing Setek to prepare for casualties.

"Aye aye Captain," Ensign Trev, the young operations duty officer responded as he followed the Captain's orders and reallocated shield power to favor the side facing the Orion vessels.

Realising that Salvatore was still jabbering on the horn to the Cato, Burke had a momentary realisation. 'Commander Salvatore, I'm in need of an Executive aboard, mine being on the Cato. Care to step in?'

Jessica Mayberry at tactical was ready to carry out the orders. "Aye Sir," she responded promptly. "I'll do what I can to keep distance between them and the Orions" she stated confidently.

Vincent looked up from the comm station and removed the ear piece from his ear. He gave a sly smile before standing up and tossing it to a nearby Ops officer. "Here, Kid. See if you can get a hold of the Cato." He quickly walked over to the Captain with a nod. "I'll be your huckleberry." He said as he approached before placing his hands behind his back.

That was Ryssa's cue to go back to science. She quietly stood and made her way back to her console in deference to the new XO.

As the Hecate unleashed her fury on the Orion ships, they began to break formation, two of the smaller raiders breaking and diving down below the Hecate in an attempt to get to the flotilla of frigates behind the Hecate that way. The third raider stuck close to the Orion's main ship, the hulking form of it turning ponderously as it charged its weapons. Quickly reading some of the Main Computer's prompts about the ship - information that had been provided by Salvatore - Burke realised they were forming up for a powerful broadside. Or they're distracting us, Burke thought, racing to assess his options.

Of the four frigates, only the Cato's engines were non-functional according to a reading next to the Main Viewer. That makes things a little easier.

'Comms, order the functional frigates to break for Archanis IV, maximum impulse!' The Hiawathas were slow, but could take a beating, and they stood a better chance if the Hecate stood in the way of the looming cruiser. 'Tell them to set their shields to the rear, and hold on for a hell of a beating.'

'Helm, bring us above the Cato - get as close to that frigate as you dare. Shove our ass in the Orion's face.'


[To Be Continued ...]

::OFF::

Captain Robert Burke
USS Hecate
Commanding Officer

Lt. Marques Hunt
USS Hecate
Chief Flight Control Officer

Lieutenant Ryssa Dari
USS Hecate
Chief Science Officer

Lieutenant Commander Dr. James McEntyre, M.D.
USS Hecate
Ship Surgeon

 

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