To Snare Ones Prey

Posted on 19 Nov 2023 @ 9:40pm by Commander Amelia Fox & Captain Jonathan Reynolds & Lieutenant Cassandra Higgins-Stevens & Lieutenant Syvar MD & Lieutenant JG Ren Kannu & Lieutenant JG Cihl Theidi & Sugo Torel & Civilian Arjyn

Mission: Time changes everything
2523 words - 5 OF Standard Post Measure

Arjyn's Warship Nephthys

Arjyn had been prowling the bridge for some time, her vessel having arrived long before the Andromeda had even become a blip on the fringes of the star system. This had been ideal giving her chance to conceal her vessel in the debris, using the radiation from the dwarf planets' rings to mask their presence. All the Federation ship would read would be a large stella body such as a moon within the ring, an ideal location to sit in wait for her prey. She had found herself sitting at the edge of her seat, only able to hear the blood pumping through her veins as she waited for the right moment to launch their attack.

"Report... When will they be within our weapons range?"

"Pretty soon. They seem to have stopped and being bombarded by the same messages we were met with. They will likely go for the planetoid. That must be their mission to explore that," the underling theorised.

"Keep our energy emissions as low as possible... Let's wait until they get a little closer and then we will strike!" Arjyn spoke softly, a palpable joy in her tone at the prospect of the kill before her.

The underling nodded and bowed their head. They could see how excited their leader was and of course the crew followed. These "Federation" had foiled their plot on the star base. Several of them had died and some had been imprisoned. Now the USS Andromeda would pay.

A little later ….

"They are on the move again. Going for the planetoid as we theorised."

"Monitor them. When they are well within our weapons range we strike quickly and without warning."
She was in a heightened state of awareness. Every sensor ping coming from the science officer's console seemed like a crescendo of bells signally the coming of death. The gentle intake of breath from her bridge crew, like the whisper of the ghosts she saw coming. The gentle hum of her ship's engines like the purr of a Sekaran Razor Cat that was poised ready to pounce. The moment could not come quickly enough.

USS Andromeda - Main Bridge

As the ship rumbled from a hit close to their torpedo array Jon started reeling off orders. Clearly, they were trying to disable them.

"Damage reports. Scan that ship and get everything you can on it. Get us turned around so they do not have a direct hit to key systems and areas Lieutenant Kannu and be ready with evasive manoeuvres."

Then he said "Hail them," Diplomacy had to be explored first.

"This is Captain Reynolds of the Federation starship Andromeda. We are on a routine science mission. Who are you and why are you attacking our vessel?"

The ship rocked hard again and there was a loud explosion near the tactical console. When the smoke cleared the ensign who had been on duty was now lying on the floor. From the severe angle of his neck, Amelia could instantly tell he was dead.

She was quickly up and out of her chair, pivoting over the horseshoe and assumed the tactical position. She quickly scanned the console and reported.

"Shields are down to 70%. Hull damage to decks 1 through 6 and damage to the secondary hull deck 38. Computer targeting is offline, I'm going to have to target the phasers manually. Torpedo lock is still online.

"Initiating evasive pattern Omega." Ren called out from the Helm as his hand danced over the console as he tried his best to avoid enemy fire.

A static filled reply crackled to life over the communications array with an almost childlike and gleeful giggle could be heard. The line kept breaking, at times even amplifying to deranged laughter at the other end before it stopped suddenly and a soft voice rang out.

"Captain Reynolds... You don't know me...." static filled the line once more before it cleared "...Bu.... ou will do very soon. We are locked in a lover's embrace you an I, yes I kno....bout her leaving you and it fills me with joy. So much that I can't tell you in words just how much..." The line was silent for a moment as another broken girlish giggle sounded out. "So I will kill you instead".

The giggle made Jon’s blood run cold more than her words. “I’m not in the market for another lover right now and your second offer really doesn’t work for me. Reynolds out.”

“Bring us about, find a weakness and disable that Cetea ship,” he ordered. “Diplomacy’s a no-go.”

Arjyn's Warship Nephthys

"Tactical, redefine our targeting solution. Direct all of our weapons fire at their star drive section. Engineering divert all power from non-essential systems to the weapons... I want their shields down so we can bore through to their warp core".
Revenge would be hers. Revenge for the plans that Captain Reynolds had thwarted at Starbase 308. Revenge for the death of her brother Ru'afo at Starfleet's hands and revenge simply because she was enjoying this moment.

"Helm, keep us below them and rain bloody hells fire down on them" she again started to laugh, a twisted mirthful sound that was out of place beyond recognition during a battle.

USS Andromeda - Main Bridge

Ren manoeuvred the Galaxy Class vessel like it was a shuttlecraft as he tried to avoid enemy fire. "Sorry for the sharp turns, needs must if we don't want to...you know...go boom."

"Damn! I can't get a clear shot." Amelia called from tactical. "Can we get closer? A lot closer? It will make it difficult for computer targeting." The ships rocked hard again.

Amelia now returned fire blindly, with several shots hitting their target but several others missing. "Their shields are down to 90% We took a direct hit to the port nacelle, it's developed a plasma leak. Containment generator 3 is damaged. Bridge to engineering, can you bypass? We need warp drive."

Having returned to Engineering, Lieutenant Cihl Theidi's voice came through the comm system. "I'm already working on it, Captain, but it's going to take a little bit of time. Right now I'm trying to avoid a coolant leak."

"You want me to get closer to the ship that's kicking our ass?! Alrighty then." Ren replied, half joking half sarcastic tone. "Is this close enough?" He asked as he flew the Galaxy Class vessel straight towards their attacker.

No matter what movement Andromeda made, the Nephthys kept pace and continually below or behind the Galaxy Class vessel. All of her weapons focused on pulverising the Starfleet Vessel.

"You can try to run and hide but I taste blood in the water" A cheerful chuckle followed before a poem or rhyme similar to that of a child's sounded out through the speakers.

"Your muscles hurt, so tired, out of breath
Don’t stop, they're catching up, keep up the pace
Ignore away those pains, there’s no time for death
No time, this is a never-ending race".

"Cut her off," Jon stated. He was beginning to wonder if his life was a sole adventure of women turning out to either be crazy, leave him or both. He had heard of Klingons singing during battle but this was well just bat shit crazy.

"In fact, I will do it myself," Jon said assuming control. "Fox focus on weapons. What's this?" he said suddenly as they were fired on again and thrown to the one side.

It might be a trap but there was a communication come in for him. However, when he tried to work out where it had come from it was rerouted through so many places he had no clue.

He opened it. It was marked urgent. He then smiled. "Fox it's our lucky day." He forwarded the files to her station. "Look those over fast."

Amelia studied the technical schematics that were scrolling. "Wow, they really know how to build their ships. Wait... wait a minute." She stopped the display and focused on one area. "We might be able to punch through their shields there. It could be enough."

"Engineering, how are we holding up?"

The sound of a hyperspanner could be heard in the background of the comm line as dozens of personnel shouted back and forth. The Chief Engineer's voice broke through, "We're still trying to lock things down. We've stabilized the coolant system at least, but we're still in the process of trying to bypass."

"Lieutenant Ren full power and 180 roll to starboard, Fox are you seeing what I'm seeing?"

"Got it! It's an awfully small target but not impossible. I'll need a better angle." Fox replied as she ship rocked hard again. "Being closer is helping but we're still taking a pounding Captain. Shields down to 40%!"

Jon pressed the button to do a shipside announcement.

"Everyone this is the captain. We are about to do some complex evasive manoeuvres. Inertial dampers are on manual they may not fully compensate. So brace yourselves. Reynolds out."

"Counselor you might want to strap in, Ren now another 180 and keep our bow on her stern, as close as you can risk it. Fox needs a clean shot,"

Cassie remained silent, not wanting to confuse the situation more than it already was. Instead, she stumbled around into the command pit and quickly found her seat to the left of the Captain.

"Sickbay, status report. You might be getting some traffic soon," Jon stated.

"Soon is already too late captain," the CMO's voice answered tightly. "What in blazes is going on up there, my staff is being thrown around like rag dolls. Keep this up and there is no medical staff to treat people!"

"Bridge," the Engineer's voice filtered through, "the entire Damage Control complement is on assignment. Try not to give us too many bumps and I may have the bypass completed in the next four point seven minutes."

The Andromeda, despite its size, pulled off a set of very tight turns, practically hugging the hull of the attacking ship.

"Almost there...... A little bit more...... Firing!" Fox reported as she let loose a full spread of photon torpedoes and concentrated phaser fire. The first couple of torpedoes impacted the shields but the trailing ones made it through, slamming into the the hull.

Fox slammed her hand on the console "Yes! Direct hit! Their weapons are down, main power and auxiliary failing. their life support is failing.."

The ships rocked hard suddenly and everyone struggled to stay on their feet. " Damn! An EPS conduit on deck 39 ruptured. We've got power failures all over the ship. The magnetic interlocks have been ruptured. Power output from the warp core is rising rapidly! Core temperature is passing the Red line!"

"Engineering to bridge! We've got a coolant leak in the warp core! I can't shut it down. I estimate 5 minutes till a warp core breach!"

Amelia turned and looked at the bridge engineering station. "Confirmed Captain" Core breach in 5 minutes. Ejection system is off-line!"

Well, Jon thought, that went south incredibly quickly to say they had been forwarded full schematics of their foe's ship. Now they were both as injured as each other.

He took a breath and issued a command he never wanted to issue.

Pressing the ship-wide comms. Button again, “This is the Captain. Evacuate everyone to the saucer section. The warp core is going to breach. Prepare to separate the ship.”

“Mr Ren once we are separated get us clear of the explosion. Full impulse. Number one and senior staff tactical analysis,” he ordered.

Arjyn's Warship Nephthys

An enraged scream tore from Arjyn's lips, anguish that her plan had come to a full stop, violent anger towards the man and ship that had once again put pause on her objective.

"Engineer, do we have anything left? Weapons, engines... Anything?"

"Not much. A few more minutes and we will be sitting ducks. They knew exactly where too ...... the operative you gave the ship data to. He must have passed it. He set both parties up and has foiled our revenge ...." she was just as angry.

Once more a primal scream of hatred and anger tore from her lips as she pulled her disruptor from her belt, its setting at maximum as she fired it almost point-blank at the Tarlac engineer.

"THAT IS NOT NEWS I WANTED TO HEAR" she roared as his body began to vaporise in a shower of green energy. "Direct what we have left to engines. I want to ram that ship and kill every living thing on it."

"Powering everything we have," another engineer stepped forward nervously following the order.

USS Andromeda - Main Bridge

Jon looked at the view screen as everyone was scrambling to get into the saucer section in amazement.

"Fox/Ren I do believe they are attempting to play chicken with us or intend to ram us. We need to hurry this up everyone,"

"My guess would be ram!" Ren called out. "May I suggest we use the stardrive section like a mine? Let them follow us and then separate let them ram the stardrive section just after we split?"

Fos was monitoring the evacuation from the tactical station. She was also keeping an eye on the other ship and the planet that still loomed close by.

"We're cutting this very close Captain. The evacuation is almost complete but the core breach is accelerating."

Precious seconds ticked by, and then finally Amelia let out a sigh of relief. "That's it. I'm reading the stardrive section as clear. All bulkheads are sealed. Initiating separation sequence."

A crack appeared in the neck of the starship as docking latches retracted and the saucer section separated from the heavily damaged stardrive section.

Fox's relief was short-lived though. "Separation complete.... The warp core is going critical! All hands brace of impact!"

Ren called out from the helm. "Engaging impulse engines!"

The Stardrive section of the Andromeda suddenly exploded in a massive fireball.

The Saucer section was barely clear when the shockwave hit sending everyone flying. Amelia picked herself up from the deck struggling to hold on to the tactical station seeing the viewscreen was now filled with the planet that they were rushing towards at breakneck speed.

Her face fell.

"Oh..... shit!"

John braced himself in his chair. "All hands assume crash positions. Helm see if you can level our decent and try and aim for somewhere flat!"

"I'm trying sir. Manoeuvring thrusters are responding but slowly."

From tactical, Amelia called out. "I've got a potential contact and slide point. It's not ideal but it's the flattest terrain available. I'm sending coordinates to the helm.

"Confirmed." Ren replied from the conn. "We're passing through the atmosphere. Hull temperature rising. I've got the landing zone.... Impact in 18 seconds."

"All hands brace from impact!" John called out.

The ground was rushing up with terrifying speed. Amelia held on tight to the tactical station right up until the saucer section made contact with the ground.

She was thrown forward

Then....

Blackness.