Fire All Weapons - Part Two

Posted on Mon Feb 24th, 2020 @ 12:58am by Division Admiral Thomas Lasky & Fleet Captain Torilla Yamaguchi & Commodore Siaxx "Bluemoon" Dvald-Vaxx MD

Mission: Mission 8: Hope Found and then Lost
Location: Various Locations - USS Yorktown
Timeline: 1045Hrs - April 18th, 2389

"Operation Obliteration of the Space Hulk commencing." Natia said as she fired both phasers and soon followed up by torpedo's in full spread, which so far hasnt shown any problems with the systems. Meanwhile on the view screen, phasers streaked across space striking the space hulk as it began breaking up even more they it began to suffer minor explosions as it broke up, then the added impact of a full barrage of quantum torpedo's impacted and vaporized the rest in five direct hits on the larger chunks, causing a cascade of explosions which obliterated the rest.

Yamaguchi watched in silence as the remnants of the former USS Ingram slowly drifted out of the center of the explosions from the weapons fire from the USS Yorktown. "Farewell brave soul." Torilla commented softly.

K’Temoc smiled, “Now that’s what I’m talking about.” He looked back at his left panel, then sat up a little taller in his seat. “Commander, take us over to range Two-Sierra. Let’s see how the Yorktown does firing at a moving target.”

Yamaguchi nodded her head as she checked her distance to everything around her, before laying in a course to range Two Sierra. "Aye Captain, we're on our way." she smiled.

K’Temoc looked over at Nechayev, “This next test, the Yorktown will be sitting still, firing on a moving target. We not only need to make sure we can hit a moving target, but also keep the time it takes to lock weapons on to a minimum.”

Yamaguchi raised an eyebrow. "Time to arrival. two minutes, eight seconds."

"Yes sir, I shall attempt to blow something up while its moving which im sure I can do reasonablly well, Wish me to use my best skills to determine which weapon we use or what?" Natia asked for clarification.

K’Temoc nodded, “Go ahead, but we do need to test both phaser and torpedo accuracy.”

Yamaguchi monitored her approach to the range. "Approaching destination." she explained.

"Once we're on the firing line, signal the Range Master we're ready to proceed." K'Temoc said to his XO.

Yamaguchi nodded as she brought the small but heavily armed ship into position as she killed the engines, then she opened a com line to the Range Master. "Yorktown to Range Two Sierra Range Master."

"Go Ahead Yorktown." the response was prompt.

"We're in position and ready to start." Yamaguchi reported, all business.

"Understood. here they come... happy hunting, Range master out." and with that the com went silent as she smiled. "Let the games begin."

Instead of the planned one ship, two started moving into sensor range. An old Miranda class ship that was making course changes to simulate 'zig-zagging' evasive action and Yeager Class ship that was moving slower, simulating a freighter or larger vessel.

"Ensign, target the escorting Miranda's impulse engines and weapons...let's see if we can not only hit a moving vessel, but hit vital systems. Once she's taken care of we'll handle the slower Yeager."

"Yes sir." Natia said as she calculated the angle and realized that any number of locations the ship could go, 'hmmmm' she thought to herself as she set the phasers up wide beam dispersal, 'a hand phaser can do it, why not a ships phaser' she continued to think to herself as she opened fire and blanked the area in several bursts of wide beam dispersal and then followed up with a full barrage of quantum torpedo's to add to the blanket affect.

K’Temoc wasn’t happy, not with the efforts of his Tactical Officer but with the ship’s targeting systems. Why wouldn’t they lock on targets? Even though the Miranda took hits, and even the Yeager took a hit, the weapons fire would have been ineffective in real combat.

K’Temoc tapped the intercom, “Chief Branson to the Bridge.” He then looked over at Yamaguchi, “Commander, take Tactical Two, work with Gillo and run diagnostics of the targeting systems, look for any variance then manually realign them. I want the next test to go smoother. Holly, also make sure proper power is flowing to the targeting sensors, that could also affect their resolution. Ensign Nechayev, continue manual targeting and finish off those two vessels. Ms. Takabe, run a diagnostic on the ODN systems between the Tactical Stations and Weapons Control, as well as between Tactical and the Sensors...lts make sure there’s no issue with those systems talking to each other.”

"Excuse me sir, that was targeting manually. I noticed the targeting sensors were whacky but thought I would fix them later so I was targeting manually and using my eyes to find things. But sensors to keep an eye on everything else. For this last assault I wasnt using the targeting system at all." Natia said admittingly. "Wanted to show some initiative that I could do something besides aim and shoot and could actually repair something as well, put some of my academy training to work shall we say." Natia told the Captain as she looked down at her chair slightly ashamed.

"You did the right thing, I'm just concerned as to why the targeting systems are malfunctioning. Not being aligned is one thing, not working properly is another." K'Temoc replied, flashing a reassuring smile.

Yamaguchi knew exactly what the Ensign was trying to prove as she had been in her shoes twenty years earlier during her first assignment on the USS Halfgan, an Akira class ship which she sometimes thought about. "Ensign. Stay frosty." she said quietly as she felt a tap on her shoulder.

She nodded to Branson who had arrived to relieve her, she rose out of the Chief as she tapped the display once.

"Thanks Chief." she didn't know him personally but she made it her business to get along with everyone who wore the uniform, she then moved over to tactical two where she sat down as she started her series of diagnostics, a routine she had long ago nicknamed 'Old Cuss'an'Whack'.

"Ensign. you start realigning the Phaser's. I'll handle the Torpedoes, then you check my work while I check yours." she turned to Holly Gillo who was seated nearby. "Lieutenant, What the Captain said." she said to the other two women she was now working with. "Lets do this folks." and with that she turned and went to work.

"Yes sir." Natia said as she accessed phaser control.

"Mmm..."

"Engineering to Bridge." Fives voice came over the com system. "Captain. I couldn't help but monitor and I found some issues in the targeting systems themselves... mostly yard goofs from the looks of them, I'm swapping out the software now and you'll be ready to roll in two minutes."

Yamaguchi raised an eyebrow. "Fives... and here I was thinking you had nothing better to do." she commented.

There was a soft chuckle over the com. "Well what can I say?" he inquired. "I'm working on it from my end, stand by."

Yamaguchi smiled as she thought about the Lieutenant in Engineering, he knew he carried a torch for someone on the Starbase, she hoped it would go well but she didn't know how it would end really. "Mmm... it looks like a short in the computer core." she commented. "Attempting to bypass... and Nope. its not letting me have it." she sighed but she knew that hitting the console would serve no purpose.

Nuala intensely studied the data on her station. "Captain, all systems are functioning." she reported. "As a matter of fact, the systems look as if they have been fine tuned. The tech who installed them at the shipyard must have been very talented or have a lot of time on his hands."

Yamaguchi listened to what the Orion woman was saying as she paused.
"Fives.. Tom, check every system on the ship and all the linkages.." she then added. "then document what you find and cure whats needed, no need to contact us when you find things okay?"

"Right Commander, Engineering out." and the com was cut with a soft tone as Yamaguchi turned back to her console. "No way its that easy... the easy way is always a trap." she muttered to herself.

"Done realigning the emitters sir." Natia pipped up.

Yamaguchi looked at the Quantum torpedo launchers with a critical eye as she took her time doing it before after a lengthy pause, she turned to K'Temoc as she nodded her head, clearly the launchers met with her approval.

"Fire." K'Temoc ordered, and with that, several salvos of blue Quantum Torpedoes were launched. They tracked toward the ill fated target ships, and ripped them apart.

K'Temoc smiled, and even though the torpedoes seemed to track a little inconsistently, they still did the job...however the next test would be tougher.

"Gillo, go over all Tactical systems while we're moving to the next range, make sure there's no additional issues. Commander, take us to the next range, one quarter impulse."