A Ceremony of Losses - Part One

Posted on Sun Oct 31st, 2021 @ 3:40am by Aiden Torel & 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 & Master Chief Petty Officer Horus Yamaguchi & Fleet Captain Marie Yamaguchi & Command Master Chief Petty Officer Tom "Guardian" Carter & Lieutenant Raeven & Brigadier General Krann, Son of Magh'tor & Commander Zheng Jet

Mission: Mission 110: Blue on Blue
Location: Various Locations - USS Warspite / USS Stalingrad / IKS Korinar
Timeline: 1300Hrs - October 25th, 2393

On the bridge of the IKS Korinar, the Klingon crew had spent the last several hours making repairs to their battle damage and they had chased the Queen Mary across the sector as she headed back into the Taurus Reach and away from Klingon space. Krann would not be deterred as his family, his youngest four siblings and many of his people were in the less than exemplary care of the crew of the USS Queen Mary. The Klingons had left the Stalingrad far behind as they sought to secure their damaged prize. Krann was more interested in dealing with Aiden Torel who's name had become almost a curse over the last few days.,

"Gunner, whats our missile status?" Krann asked of his Gunner, he wanted results.

"All of our missiles are being loaded now, we have sixty-eight missiles ready for flight and another twenty will be ready in a second salvo, after that, we will need to switch fully over to the disruptors." the Klingon reported as if reading from the news service, before he turned, with a rather wide grin on his face. "We will make them suffer for their crimes." the First officer commented evenly.

"We shall indeed do so," Krann responded. "Stalingrad will be along soon... They are allowing us the honor of the kill..."

"Maybe these Federation weaklings have honor after all." the first officer responded, in a rather dismissive tone of voice.

Krann shifted his attention to his first officer in silence before asking. "Why do you think so little of the Federation?"

"They withhold the areas they took from us during the last war..." the man answered. "They also refuse to return the colonies and worlds they took. Some of those worlds have been ours for centuries..."

Krann simply shrugged, he had no real interest in discussing what he considered ancient history. "The Empire's glory days are long behind us... Its time we adapted, rather than carry on as before," he explained.

The first officer knew in his heart that the Admiral was right. "We are Klingons... We need-" the man started but Krann cut him off. "Nobody but ourselves." Krann sighed. "Those days are past. We will need to establish relations with our neighbors and find other ways of doing things... If you can't accept that then tell me now." Krann added as he snapped at the Executive officer. After a moment of silence went by. Krann sighed "Very well then... Keep silent." he turned his attention to the viewscreen. "How far are we behind our target?"

The answer was quick. "About four minutes at present, we are slowly gaining on them, however... We should be able to catch them shortly." the helmsman explained with a nod of his head.

Krann narrowed his eyes. "They are vulnerable and they know it..." he commented. "Stay sharp everyone..." he added quietly.

Meanwhile. Over on the USS Queen Mary. Captain Aidel Torel looked around. "Options people...?"

"We cannot outrun them." came the answer from the helm. Our warp drive is damaged and the slipstream drive is slagged." came the response from the Conn officer as he turned his head. "Captain, this running gains us nothing."

Torel nodded, admitting the truth. "Options?"

"We have to make a stand... Drive her off..."

"Where is the Stalingrad?" Torel asked. "Any signs of her on long-range sensors?"

"Negative... But there is a small dark matter Nebula along heading one-four-six, mark three two sir." came the voice of the tactical officer. "She could be hiding from us inside."

Torel paused a moment. "Drop us out of warp... Load all missiles and fire at the Klingons as they pass..." he commented

The USS Queen Mary's warp field collapsed as she rapidly slowed to impulse, yet Krann was not fooled for a moment as he ordered his helm to cloak and then begin an evasive maneuver, with several dozen missiles all going wild.

Krann grinned as he watched the tactical display. "Wait... wait..." he paused. "Now... drop cloak and make em weep." as the Korinar emerged from behind her cloak and began launching off her missiles, all of which crashed into the Queen Mary, when suddenly her shields went down and four errant missiles smashed into Queen Mary's port nacelle, disabling her warp drive.

Torel shouted. "Get us into the Nebula!"

"Sir, there is a ship emerging from the nebula...Its the Stalingrad!."

Torel knew the game was up. "Wait, she's not moving to engage..." and that was when he realized what was going on. "Focus all weapons on the Klingons..." as the ship groaned under the effects of the weapons fire. "Status?"

"Shields are out, warp drive is offline... No boarding operations yet though..." came the unexpected response.

"So.. Krann wants to kill us then..." Torel answered. "Evasive maneuvers and get us into that nebula, but keep us out of Stalingrad's weapons solution," Torel ordered.

Meanwhile, on the bridge of the Stalingrad, Marie Yamaguchi regarded the tactical display, with a rather saucy grin. "Very nice flying helm." she commented with a soft purr in her voice. "Mmmm... Very nice..."

Lieutenant Kell Stoneheart nodded his head. "I am but a leaf on the wind skipper."

"You ready Hesutu?" Yamaguchi asked with a wide grin on her face.

"As soon as it becomes needed sir, I am ready to intervene..." the Caitian commented.

"Let's give the Klingons the chance first, leave them to it," Yamaguchi answered, her smile losing no potency as they watched as the Klingons finished the Queen Mary's defenses before snaring her in a tractor beam to stop her headlong flight.

"Now, lets move in and assist... The Klingons have good cause to be pissed, let them lead..." Yamaguchi commented.