Shards and Smoke - Part Three

Posted on Fri Jan 1st, 2021 @ 1:49pm by Captain Kayden Nell & Captain Sarah Horner & Captain Ariel Gilmore & Commander Tressa Brislan-Antilles & Commander Victoria 'Enyo' Yamaguchi & Fleet Captain Heather Walking Bear & Commander Alyssa Temetti & Commander Kolar, Son of Magh'tor & Commander Morae Stormstout & Commander Ethan "Hardcase" Duval & Commander Jackson Antilles & Commander Shaalari Zh'Terran & Lieutenant Commander Meslina Amakawa & Lieutenant Sapata M'Herris & Lieutenant Commander Ouros Yamaguchi & Commodore T'Shaamet 'Runt' Antilles & Command Master Chief Petty Officer Elizabeth Smithson & Colonel James "Gryphon" McTaggert

Mission: Mission 105: The Mirror, Shattered
Location: Various Locations - USS Charal
Timeline: 0900Hrs - September 30th, 2393

Captain Ariel Gilmore had spent the last two days with her ship, preparing them for the realities of facing their own kind, wearing other nation-states and other universes flags so, she had gotten together with Commanders Yamaguchi and Duval, she had then run a series of battle drills, over a dozen in all so iron out any issues that could and might arise. She was tired but she was also decently rested, she had also made it a standing order that all of her crew without any exceptions get at least seven hours of sleep per day. She had even demanded it of the marines as well. Some had complained but all had grudgingly followed the order.

She had known that Captain T'Shaamet had been doing the same on her own ship for the same reasons. The two of them made an odd couple but Gilmore was determined to make this assignment work.

Gilmore regarded Chegwidden. "Time till arrival?"

"We're just over a minute out skipper." the younger woman commented in a flat, even tone of voice.

"Good. Any signs that we're going to face company?" Gilmore inquired.

Lt Commander Eknir Zh'Shraaliin turned her head. "No signs of any ships in range skipper, at the gateway or anywhere else either, it looks clear." the Andorian Zhen smiled, she was wearing the same female alternate uniform as everyone else except hers had no sleeves, also it was cut in a tanktop style and not a shirt style.

"Very well. Science, what about the local spacial topography?" Gilmore wanted to know if the Gateway could handle the Infinity going through, she even said as much in her question. "Can the Infinity handle going through?"

"Yes, skipper. I've been running simulations for the last while, the mass of the vessel and the like, we are smaller in size and lighter in tonnage than the Akurian battlecruiser that went through two years ago. However, the passage of time might have affected the gateway in ways I can't anticipate." the Boslic female explained in an even tone of voice.

"Will it collapse?" Duval inquired of the small Boslic female at the back of the bridge.

"No, sir," she answered. "Its spacial matrix is extremely stable." the Boslic added with a smile.

"Alright then," Gilmore answered quietly, Chegwidden turned her head. "We're coming up on the gateway." as the starlines reverted back to stars, the Charal and the Infinity both emerged from warp before a small circle of stars and space that looked almost identical to the skies around the two Federation ships.

"Helm, hold position here, signal Infinity, tell them good luck and we got their backs if they need us," Gilmore commented softly.

Meanwhile, seated on her bridge, was a small Vulcan woman with a child-like stature. "Helm, take in and through," T'Shaamet commented.

The USS Infinity slowly progressed through the gateway as a series of electrical-looking discharges moved across the hull as Walking Bear turned. "We're through and free to navigate," she reported.

Yamaguchi paused. "Skipper, Whiteout station was completely destroyed during the attack. I know there is a backup site located at Starbase Sixty Two," she explained as she handed T'Shaamet a PADD. "These are the coordinates."

"Alright," T'Shaamet answered as she rose to her feet and handed the PADD over to Meslina Amakawa at operations. "Find out what's at that site," she commented before the older female returned to her seat. "I don't think us just barging in is going to work," she commented. "I also don't think a commando team will work either." she paused. "Will it Commander?" she asked of Duval.

"Neither will... So we'll need an approach of both." Duval commented evenly.

"I assume you have a plan Commander?" T'Shaamet inquired of him.

"I do," Duval answered. "In two days, a massive ion storm will affect the area around Starbase Sixty Two. If we're in position before the Ion storm hits, we can hack into the base computer system, then trigger a mass evacuation, we can then walk in, take whatever we wish, and depart in the chaos."

Enyo smiled. "That's not very subtle... But it will work," she commented evenly. "If we time it, right skipper, we can also ensure maximum confusion in the process... Also, the commander of the base is none other than Anthony Raynor. A right little bastard who deserves to fall a few steps on the ladder." she commented with a rather unsettling smile on her lips.

T'Shaamet raised an eyebrow as Duval nodded his head. "Ahh, This will be even better than," he explained before he turned to T'Shaamet. "Commodore Raynor is a right little space-nazi. He believes in human purity which means he will likely have an extremely strong opinion of you Captain. All bad." he added.

"Because of the fact that I am Vulcan and have Vulcan blood in my veins," she answered in a quiet tone of voice.

"Indeed so," Duval answered in the same tone as T'Shaamet, he knew she would have concerns and issues with all of this and the mission did need to go ahead.

"Very well. Helm, set a course for Starbase Sixty Two and I want to be there in two days, say thirty minutes before that ion storm hits." T'Shaamet explained her orders. "Engage when ready Heather."

"Course plotted and laid in skipper," Walking Bear answered from the Conn station, she had calculated that a speed of warp nine point three would be needed to get there on time. "and... engaging at warp nine point three..."