Chapter 46: Chapter 46
Alliances
Chapter 46 : Secure
As the alarm sounded, Kal, knowing he did not know where to go or what to do aboard the Normandy, brought his omnitool up to contact Tali and ask for guidance. Just before hitting 'connect' he paused. She was the Chief Engineer and had enough to worry about so shutting off the omnitool he did something that would have surprised even himself not more than a day ago. He looked at the holopad and asked an AI for instruction. "Edie, who or where do I report to for battle stations?" He had understood the 'battle stations' announcement but had not been given an assigned station.
Replying, EDI said "Currently you have no duty station assignment, for now I would suggest going to the mess decks and joining the crewmen assembled there as the damage control party. After this is over you will need to report to
Lt. Taylor in the armory for your assignments."
That made sense to Kal, they had similar groups on every ship in the flotilla. "Thank you Edie." he said as he secured the storage locker he had just finished filling. Moving quickly past the controls console, he had to wait as the elevator took its time to reach the cargo hold.
…
Dr. Chakwas entered the sickbay with a strong but unhurried stride and looking at Judy said "You're relieved, get to your station." It was a shame she didn't have a permanent staff aboard the Normandy but here, almost everyone held a dual roll. Judy's primary function aboard the ship was in weapons fire control and tracking, her nursing duties were secondary to that and she needed to get to her station.
Checking on Lana first she moved to the bed and reaching under it pulled out a neatly bundled package with a red tab. "Lana," she said looking at her, "this is an emergency suit. It is not designed to do anything but lie still in but if there is a hull breach you will put this on. I'll help so don't worry." Seeing Lana nod in understanding Dr. Chakwas then checks her vitals once more before moving to her station and reporting "Medical manned."
"Doctor Chakwas, do you know why they called battle stations? I was under the belief the ship was in a space dock." Lana asked as she held the package close to her, had she thought it would be okay she would have already put it on. It gave her comfort though just being in her hands, to be without a suit in a battle scared her almost as much as losing Kal did.
Hearing the worry in her voice Dr. Chakwas knew the best remedy for the situation. Standing she said "I don't know what happening just yet but let's not waste the time." Moving to the bed she continues "Let's work on that leg some more shall we?" Uncovering Lana's damaged leg she placed a hand under the knee and the other at Lana's foot. Gently she began raising the knee slightly, trying to work the muscle, just enough to cause the damaged muscle to flex.
Lana's mind focused on the leg, on trying to make her muscle respond to her will. There was pain but not too great and as they worked on it the pain lessened. This was important to her so she tried to force her leg to do more than it could. If she could not walk, she could not be a marine and that would mean losing Kal. So she laid there, letting Dr. Chakwas help in moving her leg. As she clutched the emergency suit to her chest she prayed to the ancestors to keep Kal and the ship safe.
…
"Shepard, the parts have just arrived. Do we wait or leave them?" Miranda called up from her station in CIC. "Their already halfway to the cargo hold and we really do need them."
"Get that forward companionway removed and have someone from damage control meet them at the cargo door but do it fast!" Shepard said as he watched the Thanatos nearing the planet.
"Kal'Reegar is still in the hold, I am having him get the replacement parts." stated EDI.
"Shepard, the Thanatos was used for some experimental weapons testing a few years back. I do not know her current weapons capacity but with our missing armor I do not recommend a prolonged firefight with it." stated Miranda and seeing the indicator on her console added "Forward hatch is secured and free. Companionway retracting."
Shepard was getting ready to ask on the status of manning the ship when the elevator opened again disgorging more crewmen. He watched as they moved at fast walks to their assigned stations and he mentally checked off the compartments that had already reported. Only CIC and Forward Battery had failed to report yet. "Come on Garrus." he said almost to himself.
Kelly had been in the last group up to CIC and as she brought her system online she heard Shepard's comment. She knew Garrus wouldn't let the Comm.. the Captain down no matter what happened. Tali and Garrus were the two he would always go to, always trust to get the job done. She had never seen 3 closer friends. Nodding to Miranda she assumed her duties as the CIC Talker, the only person the rest of the crew could talk to. A go between to keep the command staff free of chatter during any emergency. "Forward Batteries manned and charged." Garrus stated and Kelly noted it in the logs. "Captain, CIC and Weapons report manned." she said.
"Thank you Kelly." he said to her then to no one specific he added "Come on Reegar, move it."
…
"Kal, there are needed parts being delivered at the port cargo lock right now. We need you to get them aboard as fast as possible." stated EDI.
Glancing to his right he could see a salarian pushing a cart down the companionway and sprinting towards him calls out "I see them Edie, on my way."
Covering over 2/3rds of the length of the gangway Kal ran up to the dock worker saying "I've got it now, better get out while you can." Moving behind the cart he begins pushing it towards the ship.
"But, but this is not right! You must sign for those parts, you can't just take them!" the salarian called after Kal.
Still pushing the heavy cart as quickly as he could he called back over his shoulder "You're about to be breathing space, now move it!" Not even looking to see if the salarian understood he passed into the Normandy's cargo hold, the cart bouncing over the mismatched deck lip. Almost losing control of the teetering cart he called out "Edie, the parts are aboard. Seal the hatch." as he finally stopped the cart and breathing hard watched as the cargo door closed.
"Thank you Kal." she replied.
…
"The replacement parts are aboard, cargo doors sealed and the cargo companionway is being removed Captain." EDI said.
Kelly logged the entry and reported to both Shepard and Miranda "The
Normandy reports manned and ready for battle stations."
"You heard her Miranda, get us free to maneuver." stated Shepard.
Signaling the Dock, Miranda waits until her console registers the commands. "Docking clamps released." Miranda said then added "Docks doors are opening." Had she been able to she would have had the doors already open but the dock was adamant about that regulation. Clamps on, doors shut.
…
"Captain Giovanni, our sensors just picked up the Normandy's IFF transponder." stated Mr. Ouyang, the comms officer.
"We have also confirmed that Brevaert is opening it's lock doors Captain." added Santiago at tactical.
"Damn it, their making their run for it already. Mr. Ouyang, reset our transponder please. Time to show them they can't get away. Helm, get this ship to that dock and I don't care what regulations you break doing it." said Captain Giovanni.
"Aye aye Captain." called the helm as the ship increased to full military thrust. The Space Dock grew rapidly in their forwards ports as the Thanatos closed quickly on it.
"Weapons, I want constant updates on the Normandy's position and our firing solutions." said Giovanni. Well, surprise is out of the question so now a show of strength.
"Aye sir. No lock yet but as soon as we see her we will have her." stated Santiago.
Your move Shepard. Please don't play the hero today, you've lost and you know it. Giovanni thought to himself as he watched the dock drawing nearer.
"Captain, I've lost the Normandy!" called out Santiago as he quickly rechecked his systems. "It just disappeared."
"Damn it Santiago, recheck your panels and find that fault. I want tracking up now!" shouted Giovanni. He was too damn close to lose this prey!
"I already checked them sir. Can they use that stealth system inside a dock?" Santiago asked as he watched the Captain look at him in anger.
"Helm, lateral thrust now! Bring us to course 127 relative. Get me in front of that dock. If it's stealthed it can still be seen and what's seen can be killed." Damn Shepard, going to make me fire on you. Well, I'll give you one more chance. "Comms, I want a channel opened to the Normandy."
…
"Captain Shepard, the Thanatos just shifted to their Cerberus transponder signal and have altered speed and vector. They will be here in 14 minutes at their current velocity." stated EDI.
"Shepard, the doors won't be fully open by then." Miranda said as she checked the readings again. "They will have a clear shot at us as we try to exit and we don't have enough time to build any speed up for maneuvering."
"Then we use the doors to hide behind until they are open far enough to let us out." he said then "Joker, I want you to try and keep us hidden from that ship as long as you can. Don't even let them see the vertical stabilizers. EDI, activate the stealth system now."
"Stealth system engaged Captain." EDI responded.
"Shepard, I'll do what I can but those damned vertical stabilizers are huge!" replied Joker over the comms unit. Deftly he used the attitude jets to turn the ship 90 degrees and slowly brought the Normandy's belly closer and closer to the docks internal walls.
Inside the dock itself the office workers watched as the huge engine assemblies of the Normandy drifted closer to their windows. They had all heard the announcement of the impending departure of the ship, possibly as it was being fired upon, but they had been told to stay at their workstations. At less than 10 meters away a few left, heading towards the outer sections. As the engines came to rest only 2 meters from the large windows only the monitoring camera was left to witness the skill of the ships helmsman.
"The Normandy's as close as I care to get her Shepard." stated Joker.
"The Thanatos is now positioned directly in front of the Space Dock, as soon as the doors open far enough they will have a clear shot at us." stated Miranda.
"Captain, we have an incoming signal from the Thanatos. On speakers." stated EDI.
"Normandy, this is Captain Giovanni of the Cerberus Frigate Thanatos. You are ordered to stand down and prepare for boarding. We will not accept anything other than your complete surrender. Any attempt at escape and your ship will be destroyed."
"This is Captain Shepard of the Normandy. Reverse course now Captain, I do not wish to kill you or your crew." Shepard stated, his voice cold.
"Captain?" Giovanni laughed, "is that what alien lovers and traitors to the human race call themselves now? I gave you fair warning traitor, now let's see if there is any human left in you that knows how to fight."
"No Giovanni, that's what people call someone they have trust in." Shepard responded and then to EDI he added "Close communications. Disengage the stealth system. Let's let him see his death rising."
"Disengaged Captain." EDI replied.
"Well, now it's time to act. Better give me ships comms Kelly." Shepard said.
"Aye Captain, comms open." she replied then actually activated the icon.
On the ships intercom Shepard says "All hands, this is the Captain. There is an incoming Cerberus frigate and it has threatened to kill or capture all of us if we don't surrender. I, we will not let that happen! I know this isn't how we planned to end our shore leave but we were not given much choice. They tried to take our ship as we slept, now they try to take it by sneaking in under an asari banner."
Continuing he added "The moment has come when we show them that it's time to stop hiding in the shadows, time to stop plotting in the dark, and take action against anyone and everyone who try to take our freedoms away whether they are Reapers or Cerberus! Joker, vertical thrust now!"
At the command Joker applied maximum thrust to the attitude jets, blowing out a few windows as the Normandy rose quickly back to the center of the dock.
…
"Captain, their stealth systems are down! Tracking them now." stated Santiago.
"Not so great a ship is it Shepard. Can't even keep your systems online. As soon as there is a firing solution I want to know about it." responded Giovanni. Imbecile, taking on this ship with one that can't even maintain it's defenses. He's expecting a standard frigate, our upgraded weapons will make short work of him and his ship.
"The door is still blocking a shot Captain, should we maneuver more to get a better angle?" asked Donovan.
"No, no reason to speed up their deaths. I want to savor this time. Right now they are running around trying to get their systems back online and watching as the door slowly opens, exposing them to our weapons." replied Giovanni. The smile on his face would have turned even an elcor away in disgust.
"There Captain, I can see the Normandy's vertical stabilizer. Won't be long now." said Donovan as he watched the enhanced display on his terminal. Seeing the sudden movement as the Normandy came fully into view he calls out "Captain!"
Giovanni had been reaching for his cup of coffee as Donovan called out. Turning back to the display he saw most of the Normandy was now visible, more importantly he could see her main weapons already deployed. "Fire! Fire the damn guns!" he cried out as his coffee splashed across the XO's terminal.
...
As soon as the Normandy's weapons systems had a clear line of fire Shepard called "Give em hell EDI, FIRE!"
…
Both ships fired almost simultaneously but on board them, their captains behaved quiet differently in the 2.6 seconds it took for the weapons to strike their targets.
Aboard the Normandy, Captain Shepard had time to stand and place his hands behind his back in a classic military parade rest position.
Aboard the Thanatos, Captain Giovanni had enough time yell "Evasive maneuvers! Hard to port!"
In space the 8 kilogram slug fired from the Thanatos's main gun passed through the 15 kilograms of molten hell as it rushed headlong into the Thanatos's shields obliterating them as it continued on its path. The molten metal then chewed it's way almost through the length of the ship before it was finally stop, its rage spent gutting the vessel. The explosions and fire caused by it's passage quickly and silently died away in the void of space.
The 1.6 kilogram fragment of the Thanatos's shot that had survived it's passage through the vaporizing heat was deflected by the Normandy's shields and bounced within the dock until lodging itself in the cushioned seat of an empty workstation.
"Joker, take us out of here fast. Head to the relay." he said and turning to Miranda stated calmly "Secure from battle stations."
A/N: It's a FRIGATE! It's not a shuttle or a fighter but an actual warship and it is not commanded by a space jockey! I never liked the fact that in all the cut scenes it was Joker doing his thing and Shepard just staring glassy eyed out the portals. Yes, I have Navy in my background and as such this ship WILL be run accordingly Mister! :)