What Is Going On - Part Two

Posted on Sun Feb 23rd, 2020 @ 8:13pm by Fleet Captain Torilla Yamaguchi

Mission: Mission 3: Quantum of Solace
Location: Various Locations - USS Saratoga
Timeline: 0930Hrs - July 30th, 2388

Without missing a beat, Col. Hurd said, please take us to red alert, and launch the combat and rescue teams"

Yamaguchi nodded. "Yessir. Lieutenant, contact the hanger bay and tell them what we need." she turned to the massive Bajoran at the Security station. "Moose... I want two fireteams of your best... They're going hunting."

The massive Bajoran man nodded. "Aye Commander," he responded evenly as he turned to the display behind him as Torilla paused. "Lieutenant, can you show me a topographical map of the area.... ?"

"Yeah. Consider it shown to you." the Shen responded at Ops as the map that Torilla requested appeared, a smile appeared on her face. "Captain.. would you be offended if I asked for your thoughts on deployment?" Torilla had little experience on the ground. "I'd like to avoid the two choke points leading in and out the southeast and the north sides.."

Col. Hurd studied the readout, and said, '' I like your line of reasoning, Commander.'' ''Have you considered hitting them from the flanks?

"Come in from the flanks... They would expect that.... because I would be expecting that... we lack good intell on the layout of the enemy as well as the disposition of the same."

Running his hand across his head, the Col. replied, ''Yes commander we are, as is more often than not the case with the Gorn''.

Yamaguchi raised an eyebrow. "Wait a minute... we're going about this all wrong, matching force with force." she shook her head. "It won't work... So let's try something else..." she turned her head. "Moose... can you give me a phaser strike across that entire area... strong enough to stun everything and disable that jamming field in one shot?"

Moose who blinked as he regarded the breathtaking woman before him. "Yeah... I can...it'll be tricky.. but I can do it."

"Sir?" Yamaguchi was not in command and everyone knew it. She hated being hamstrung like this as she had to bed, borrow and barter to be able to do her job.

''You have my direct permission to fire''.

"Aye, sir... setting it up.... and firing."

Yamaguchi paused a moment. "Effect?"

"Sucess...The jamming field is down... reading Eighteen Federation and twenty ..." he paused. "Commander these are human life signs, all are stunned."

"Excellent shooting Moose.." Yamaguchi paused, she had been expecting Gorn and not human life signs.

''Very good shooting'', the Colonel said. ''Now beam the prisoners to the brig, and the wounded to sickbay.''

sh'McEkoor nodded. "Yessir. Beaming them up to Ward Two and sending the...prisoners to the Brig." she smiled. "and... we got them all sir..."

Showing a rare smile Col. Hurd said, ''That is very good news indeed, now Commander, please take us to our next target, Warp 3.''

Yamaguchi nodded, he was the commander of the ship and she was not, thus his word was law and she knew it. "Yessir. helm, take us to top the second habitable moon in the system."

A short time later, the USS Saratoga entered into orbit of the second moon which was orbiting one of the smaller gas giants in the system, this moon was kept warm by volcanic outgassing which allowed an atmosphere to exist and permitted something of a habitual environment but it wasn't the warmest or the best air to breathe but what it lacked in habitability, it made up for in a place to hide.

Yamaguchi meanwhile was sitting in the Exec's chair which for her, was something she was used to doing for years now and this chair was a little softer then she preferred.

Looking at the Commander, who was adjusting her chair, Col. Hurd said, ''Is there a problem Commander?''

"No. I'm fine, then you sir.," she responded softly with her voice barely above a whisper.

"Well you sound like you have a lot to say..." The Colonel said quietly.

"I served through the Dominion War, first shot to last... I saw a lot of combat and a lot of people I cared about get hurt and killed all around me... yet I came through without a single scratch on me... I had two ships destroyed out from under me.." she sighed softly. "I've spent years since trying to find myself again..." it was clear that she dealt with something more than just the case of having a bad day, every single day.

His voice getting gentler, Hurd replied, ''Commander I fought in the Dominion War, and saw a lot of the similar things you did.'' ''People die in war commander, and I just want to say, do not feel guilty about that, do not feel guilty that you survived.''

"No... but I do feel guilty about it... I Lived sir." she responded softly.

The voice from Operations interrupted their private conversation as the Shen reported sighting a Federation Ion trail which lead here and that it dissipated as soon as it hit the upper atmosphere. "A little too obvious... " she turned her head. "Captain, with your approval?"

Hurd replied, ''Permission granted but procced withy caution''.

"Helm... take us around to the far side of the planet and then open a general hail.. words... " Yamaguchi paused as a smile appeared on her face. "Oly Oly Oxen Free.."

Stifling laughter, Hurd said to Yamaguchi, quietly, ''That was a good one Commander''

"Well... let's hope they can tell us where they are so we can collect them."

"Sir. that won't be necessary..." the Andorian Shen interrupted. "I'm reading a Federation shuttle approaching. "They are hailing us."

Hurd replied, ''Open a channel''.

On the screen, a weathered-looking Lieutenant who was in his mid-twenties appeared. "Captain... Lieutenant Helmsley, Chief Ops of the USS Buraq... I have Eleven people in here with me...I got wounded... request permission to land..."

Col. Hurd stood, and said, ''Permission granted, and welcome aboard the Saratoga.''

Torilla turned as she nodded to Moose, he would know what she wanted as she smiled at him, then she turned back to watch the exchange between Hurd and the Lieutenant as she watched the man nod. "Comming in now sir.... we're all that's left.."

Torilla raised an eyebrow. "Not quite..." she said slowly. "We were able to find a few more who cheated death Lieutenant... you'll all be taken to medical to make sure you stay that way," she added as she looked at the Ops officer. "Lieutenant, did we miss anyone?"

"No sir... only another place is Cestus III itself," she responded.

"Alright... I guess that's it then sir." Yamaguchi responded quietly.

With a somber look on his face, Col. Hurd said, ''I guess so.'' Commander, secure the Hangar Bay, and make ready to head back to Starbase 400''

"Yessir." she paused as she went over to the secondary engineering station which at the moment was unmanned, she then monitored the shuttles approach then landing. "Captain, Hanger bay reports secure.."

Col. Hurd replied, a low, quiet voice, Understood.'' Pausing for a moment, he continued, ''Helm, set a course for Starbase 400, Warp 7.''

The Thai woman at the conn nodded. "Course plotted and laid in sir..."

Sitting back down in his chair, Col. Hurd said ''Engage!''