Flashes of Fire - Hermes: The O-Town Firestorm

Posted on Tue Mar 10th, 2020 @ 3:57am by Captain Astrid "Alex" Yamaguchi & Commander Yuri Denisov & Commander William Hague & Commander Victoria "Vicki" Cameron & Commander Sasha Behl & Lieutenant Commander Candace DeCoste & Lieutenant Commander Michael Jankowski & Lieutenant Commander James De Poix & Major Matthew "Monkman" Gideon & Lieutenant Commander Don Henson & Commodore Korelii MacRae & Command Master Chief Petty Officer Laurel Takashima & Lieutenant Colonel Charles Mitchell & Lieutenant Colonel Michael Pallara & Colonel Miranda 'Coop' Cooper

Mission: Mission 79: Sound Trumpets! Let Our bloody Colors Wave
Location: Various Locations - Zol'Maz System
Timeline: 1830Hrs - April 15th, 2392

Captain Korelli McKnight's eyes opened wide as she watched the battle devolve into a furball of truly epic proportions as the battlespace seemed to ignite as dozens and then hundreds of ships on both sides seemed to wither and die under the brutal fire from the ships of the other side in this battle.

Denison watched in mute shock as several Klingon ships fell quickly before a Federation Guardian class starship's shields collapsed, she started taking a lot of impacts from Klingons warheads but fortunately none of them penetrated into her armored citadel as the USS Shield of Brazil only fought on, rather than attempt to flee the battle as multiple explosions raged over the shops hull.

Meanwhile out among the explosions was Coop, still in her starfighter as she had about two-thirds of her force remaining, most were dogfighting it out with Klingon starfighters as both sides became more and more entrenched against the opposing forces. Coop snap-rolled back to the fight as she tried to shake off three Klingon fighters but she knew in her heart that her luck of over three dozen kills and most if not all of her ordinance expended that she was well and truly screwed this time.

"Uhh, guys... anyone... A little help?" the fortyish female inquired, a little desperation in her tone of voice as Coop sought a way out of her predicament.

"Come to heading one one five." came an unexpected response.

Coop paused before she snapped her stick hard to the left, as several hundred Gorn starfighters swept into the battlespace, swatting Klingon starfighters aside as if they were a nuisance and little else. Coop had never seen such coordination before as several thousand Klingon starfighters suddenly exploded in rapid succession. The Federation starfighters meanwhile were surprised with the sudden appearance of the Gorn.

"All starfighters, regroup." Coop commented. "Those who need it. go land and rearm," she commented before she turned her starfighter, she couldn't believe her eyes as a massive Gorn fleet appeared behind the small Federation force that seemed to be on the verge of destruction. As one, the Gorn swiftly opened fire with relentless fury upon the Klingons.

A voice came over the Com system, clearly broadcast in the clear. "This is Fleet Commander Thartur Axehowl. Kill these Klingon fools. Show no mercy!." as the Gorn quickly began demolishing Klingon ships all over the battlespace. The Klingons however simply tried to close with the Gorn fleet which using their warhead armament, simply kept the Klingons away at range.

"Attention Federation forces, we will screen your withdrawal..." Axehowl's voice came over the com system.

"Negative Fleet Commander, we came this far. We will fight alongside you in this battle." came the voice of Captain Bolvar Fordragon.

Coop added. "All Federation starfighters.. return to your command ships... Refuel and rearm. Then we come back... and we finish this battle.." the small female ordered as she turned her starfighter about, before making her way back to the Hermes.

Her first sight of the Hermes was that her home career was intact and still able to fight the war, however, she noticed that several other ships had been utterly destroyed and some of them would be seeing the inside of shipyards and spacedocks for a very long time to come.

"I'm sorry Shield of Brazil." Coop whispered, her emotions clouding as she saw the state of the main escort for the Hermes, the ship had numerous holes in her superstructure and she looked like she should be scrapped but Coop keyed for a short range scan and found while her shields had been depleted and her armor was wrecked, the ship itself was in decent shape, all things considering.

Coop sighed as she turned her attention back to the landing ahead of her. "Hermes tower. this is Coop, requesting permission to land."

"Confirmed. Join the pattern... Say state and souls?" Flight Commander Michael Pallara inquired of her.

"All ordinance expended, one soul aboard." Coop responded automatically as the forty-year-old woman fought to control her emotions.

"Copy. Clearance granted..." Pallara responded quietly. "Welcome back.."

Coop remained in formation with the hundreds of other pilots under her command, she knew that many would be suffering some issues because of this battle as none had been expecting to be ambushed but what didn't help was that she noticed that she was several hundred short.

Meanwhile on the bridge of the USS Hermes. Captain Korelii McKnight growled as she pulled the display off of the console she was assisting at. "Engineering. Talk to me Goose?"

"Yeah... It's about as I expected skipper. We're gonna be seeing the inside of a body and fender shop." Commander Victoria Cameron responded over the comm system as she turned, toolkit in hand. "Blasted Klingons. I just got this ship to how I like it." the tall blonde human female snarled angrily. "They will suffer for this... Oh how they will suffer," she added in a very angry tone of voice.

McKight sighed, she couldn't exactly argue the point. "Copy that... What's the actual damage report?"

"We have sixteen hull breaches, twenty minor ones, we have three power couplings down all over the ship and the Emergency power grid is completely out," Cameron explained. "We also only have short range sensors and life support is having issues." Cameron paused before she added. "I'll get back to you with estimates... Sorry skipper. I need to see the damage before I can give you any hard figures."

"Get back to me as soon as you can... We will need to help the Gorn helping us to win this battle." McKnight answered as she quickly adjusted the sensor resolution on the console she was working on. "Bridge out.." as she quickly tapped her combadge, affixed to her chest, just above her left breast. "Okay try it now?" she said to the engineer next to her.

"Nadda..." came the response before Korelii adjusted something before she got zapped three times by electricity. The middle-aged female shrieked in agony while she jumped, feeling the electricity arc through her, into her boots and into the deck plating before she dropped to the deck, twitching.

"Shit!" Denisov came over to her, medkit in hand as he began to treat his downed Captain's wounds. "Why do you always do this shit?"

"Because... I'm the skipper... I have to set an example.." McKnight responded.

Lieutenant Don Henson was driving the massive carrier away from the battle as he snickered softly. Yes, the skipper did indeed know how to lead her troops into battle. "Well... It's not an example we really wanna be following skipper."

Denisov nodded. "He's not wrong you know."

"Yeah yeah... Help me up.." McKnight sighed softly as her Exec gently grasped her hand before he unceremoniously hauled her back to her feet. "Have a seat.." and with that, he helped her back to the Captain's chair. "Bridge to Sickbay. Report... I might have another casualty for you."

Hague's voice came over the com system. "It's a right mess down here skipper. I have over three hundred wounded but we've not lost anyone yet... Fortunately." before a loud knocking sound could be heard. "Knock on wood...This isn't over just yet... Is it?"

"No Doctor. I wish it were but the Gorn intervened and saved us from our own ignorance." Denisov explained.

Commander Sasha Behl turned. "Commander... I'm reading another several hundred Federation ships approaching... " then she smiled "It's the Seventh Fleet!"