Arrival. A new chapter.
Posted on Mon Mar 6th, 2023 @ 5:14pm by Commodore Finchley Kerr
894 words; about a 4 minute read
Mission:
Investigate the Chintoka Shipyard Buildup
Location: USS Blackeagle
Timeline: Current
Lieutenant Commander Shoniara T’ghann-Dex and her Sehlat respectively stepped, and bounded off the transporter into their new lives. Not one to be unappreciative Shon looked at her surroundings and smiled. The Ensign at the transporter control console appraised his new XO and then his eyes slid to the rather soft and cuddly looking big yellow cat sitting at his feet looking up at him. “Don’t suppose you have any treats, or lumps of fresh meat on your person Ensign?” Shon asked. The young man swallowed nervously and shook his head. “Pity…then don’t move until he lies down, that way you will not become the fresh meat.” She offered quietly. Shon moved her fingers and the cat lay down. “Only kidding Ensign, he’s a pussy cat really, now, please have us shown to our quarters so I can get him settled and make myself know to the Captain?”
As if by design a tall female member of the security team entered and made herself known. “Welcome aboard Lieutenant Commander, follow me please.” Shouldering her bag Shon followed the attractive woman along the corridor and into the turbolift. “Nice …. Cat!” She said looking at the now yawning Sehlat. is he friendly?” Shon looked at her. “Why don’t you stop by later with a piece of raw chicken and he will be your friend for life.” ….. Shon looked at her name badge “Officer Lodel.” The security officer smiled but did not say anything. The lift stopped and they stepped and loped out. A little while later having found their quarters followed by an exhortation that the Captain did not like to be kept waiting Shon and Puss found themselves alone in a fairly large room with a large replicated heavy duty cat tree. Puss jumped up climbed to the top and began to purr. Shon put her bag down, splashed some water on her face, straightened her uniform and left for the bridge. Approaching the Captains ready room she took a deep breath and pressed the chime.
"Come!" Finchley called out as the chime sounded.
The doors opened and without hesitating, and wasting no time on small talk, he said "Ah Commander Dex, tell me, what's your take on the Chintoka shipyard then, do we go in all guns blazing or do we 'creep in' like a Ninja and then kick the shit out of them?"
Shon was a little taken aback but she was, if nothing inventive and, over the years she had survived many first overtures. “Captain I am always a fan of guns blazing but this, this should be done with stealth. We go in, we investigate, then we blaze the guns if we need to.” She smiled at him.
"Good call Commander, that's exactly what I said to my old Captain" Finchley replied "coming in from the smaller moon orbiting the nearby planet to mask our approach, It'll give Engineering more than enough time to check the cloak's one hundred percent in working order. Once we're cloaked, we can approach the ship yard at high velocity and take them by surprise. We will have to de-cloak to fire, but by the time they realise we're there, we'll be on top of them and that gives us the advantage. I have to add that the cloaking device we have is...temperamental...kind of hit and miss, 'but', our Engineering department have said they're placing odds at better than fifty-fifty it 'should work'. Personally, I think their closing their eyes, crossing their fingers, hanging onto their lucky rabbits foot whilst rubbing a four leaf clover and hoping for the best. Hey ho though, you've got to admire their optimism don't you" he laughed.
Shon nodded “yes sir although I prefer certainty to optimism. Are we expecting a lot of shipyard activity Sir?”
"Well, again, I was thinking at an educated guess, two heavy cruisers, a couple of freighters and some small fighters at most. They'll also be concentrating on rebuilding the yard, and I believe that's where their focus will be, not on another Federation attack so soon" Finchley replied "What are your thoughts?" he asked.
I think we need to ensure there are no cloaked ships waiting in ambush Sir and we should concentrate on the infrastructure of the rebuilding, then if we can take out the heavy cruisers if we can. May I ask Captain why we are the only ship involved in this?”
"Three ships were recently sent in, none of them made it" Finchley replied "However, it was a stupid plan, sending them in the front door, no reconnaissance, what were they thinking! Anyway, we're doing it differently, the way it ought to have been done in the first place."
She smiled, “I heard an old Earth saying once. ‘Softly softly catchee monkey’ whatever one of those is but I think the saying is rather appropriate Sir.”
"Indeed" Finchley replied "I want you to contact Starfleet Operations, get us what ever tactical information the first three ships sent back before they were attacked. See if there's anything useful, scans, communications etc."
“Yes Sir, I will get on it immediately.”
"Right, bring your findings to the briefing later, we can discuss it there with everyone, dismissed Commander" Finchley replied.
----------------------------
Captain Finchley Kerr
Commanding Officer
USS Blackeagle
&
Lieutenant Commander Shoniara T’ghann-Dex
Executive Officer
USS Blackeagle.
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