Remember Stalingrad

Posted on Thu Mar 12th, 2020 @ 4:42am by Commander Ken Noros & Commander Sohnaxx Dvald & Commander Ryan Saunders & Lieutenant Commander Hesutu M'kresst & Major Harry Stamper & Lieutenant Commander Jerzy Wojcik & Lieutenant Commander Katrina Sisko & Lieutenant Kira Stormrage & Lieutenant Kell Stormrage & Commander Zheng Jet & Master Chief Petty Officer Horus Yamaguchi & Fleet Captain Marie Yamaguchi & Command Master Chief Petty Officer Tom "Guardian" Carter & Lieutenant Raeven

Mission: Mission 85: My Soul's in Arms, and Eager for the Fray
Location: USS Stalingrad - Near the Federation / Klingon Border.
Timeline: 0900Hrs - May 26th, 2392

Captain Marie Yamaguchi was standing next to the freestanding master system display as she was deep in thought, suddenly she lifted her head as she turned to the chief tactical officer who was standing nearby. "Whats our ordinance stocks look like?"

Lt Commander Hesutu M'kresst peered over at her. "We have about ninety percent of our stocks Captain," he responded. "We are ready to make these dogs bleed."

Marie snapped out of her reverie with a blink of her dark eyes. "You sound like you have more issues with the Klingons than I do," she commented quietly. "It's not like I blame you. Or anyone else either, for that matter." she paused. "Commander, have we been assigned our target yet?"

"Yessir." Commander Ken Noros responded evenly. "We've been assigned to hit the Klingon base in sector Five six twenty-four," he commented.

"That's not far from Archanis," Yamaguchi responded. "It been a long time since I hit that base." the middle aged human woman suddenly smiled. "Is our information updated for that base or is it still twenty years old?"

"No. The information is current, less than two months." Noros explained. "Why do you ask?"

"Because twenty years ago. The base did have one blind spot in its sensor grid, the planets main moon which had been designated as 'Blackmoon.'" Yamaguchi explained. "When was the last time you used a hammer and anvil tactic against anyone?"

"Now that's an old tactic. Klingons will never fall for this one."

"Oh yes. They will fall for it." Yamaguchi suddenly grinned before she moved over to the large holotable located near the back of the bridge. Yamaguchi quickly pulled up the information she wanted. "Ahh yes.. the orbital base is still as I remember it." Yamaguchi shifted her attention to Noros. "Contact our group. Have them pop up here.." as she pointed to a location roughly halfway between the base and the moon. "About a minute or so later. We'll pop up here, behind the moon except we'll have powered down almost everything and with a little luck, we'll appear as a sensor ghost. Since the battle will already be joined, the Klingons will be too busy shooting at our guys to pay as much attention.."

Noros regarded his skipper. "That plan is insane. The Klingons will never fall for it, they think we're stupid and have no stomach for battle."

"Exactly" Yamaguchi grinned. "You recall what the last Klingon we killed said to me before he died?"

"Something about being a stupid soccer-mom who has no place in command of a battleship and that you deserved only to be violated or something to that effect?" Noros responded, in a very dry tone. "I'm glad he's dead. It would go poorly for me if I was to allow him to carry out that particular threat. Marie."

"My husband, my honor and I thank you for your candor Ken," Yamaguchi responded in a light tone. "Of course, on some level, I was flattered to think that a Klingon wanted to bed me but I am also very happily spoken for. So. He was really outta luck." Yamaguchi didn't mention what happened to her sibling the previous year but she knew she didn't need to do so.

Noros looked around. "Questions, comments. Anyone?"

Master Chief Petty Officer Tom Carter regarded the display. "How many Klingon ships are defending the base?"

"According to our best intelligence guesses." Lieutenant Jerzy Wojcik answered. "Six to sixteen." he sighed. "I'm Sorry skipper.. I need more time to get the information for you."

"Lovely" Carter commented. "Our guys can't handle sixteen. That's just too much. We have two Heavy Cruisers and two Light Cruisers in addition to a half dozen destroyers, all of various types."

Yamaguchi nodded. "Their objective isn't to win, they are just there to prevent the enemy from interfering with us. We will destroy the base." she turned to M'kresst. "Which is why I want every single last missile we have armed and ready for flight."

"It'll be done, skipper. Everything we have and a few we don't. All will be prepped and ready for war." He suddenly smiled. "Ever heard of the covert shroud gambit?" he inquired.

Yamaguchi raised an eyebrow. "No.. Enlighten me please?" Marie knew that what followed was going to be good, considering how he said his statement.

"Well, I have asked my family back on Cait to donate their largest freighter for this effort. It will arrive in about an hour. Once on station, myself and several dozen engineers will convert this freighter into one of the largest warheads I've ever had the pleasure of donating to the cause. Killing the Klingons." the Caitian then gave her a rather evil grin.

Noros regarded M'kresst. "Hell, I like this plan... I dunno why though. It just appeals to me on an extremely primal level." he paused. "But tell me something, what would you have done had the skipper-". he indicated Marie as he spoke. "-had said no to this insane plan?"

"Then I would have found another use for this old and beat up flying scrap heap, I mean freighter."

Yamaguchi paused. "No. We'll use this freighter," she responded. "If you are willing to donate it, then I'm going to use it," she added. "Let's go to work.. the original plan can still work but we'll have to delay the battle until the freighter arrives and is prepared for its last flight." Yamaguchi smiled. "Alright, I don't think anyone will complain for the extra time off. Let's go to work."