"What do you think he wants to see us about?" Fred asked.
"I don't know. Maybe he has an assignment for us," John said. They all entered Captain McDonald's office.
"So where is he?"
"He'll be here," John told him. "He told us to report here." At that moment, the captain walked in.
"Hello," he said.
"Good afternoon, sir," John replied.
"There have been some complications in a mission that Starfleet had given to a group of ships. There is a sensor grid that must be disabled, destroyed if possible, before these ships may complete their mission successfully. The grid is sensitive enough to detect even one ship if it got close enough to fire. Your mission will be to do as much damage as possible to this grid, but you must disable it enough to allow the ships to enter the area undetected. Nova squadron will also go along on the mission and will be launched if needed. It should be an easy mission, but be advised that we have absolutely no idea as to how well defended the grid is. Some parts may be more defended than others. The grid may be operated from a central location, but it would not be a good idea to attack this unless you find that it has little or no defenses. We have identified key sections of the grid that, if destroyed, will allow the ships to enter the area safely. These should be your primary targets."
"How will we know when the grid has been adequately disabled?" John asked.
"Destroying these key targets should be enough, but be ready to attack any additional targets that the task force may give you."
"Got it."
"Good. The Saturn and the Enterprise should be here by now. The Enterprise is the lead ship of this task force, and your fighters will be carried aboard. Nova will be carried aboard the Saturn."
"Any other questions?"
"No, sir."
"Alright. Then report to your fighters and join up with Enterprise."
"Yes, sir."
"Dismissed."
* * *
Upon entering the sector where the grid was located, Alpha squadron was launched. They left the group of ships and proceed to the target, which was located on a class-M planet that was 80% jungles. Somewhere deep inside these jungles was sensor transceiver that must be destroyed. As they approached the planet, they began to worry about merely finding it, much less destroying it. They entered the atmosphere of the planet right above the point where the target was supposed to be.
"So where is it?" Fred asked. "All I see are humongous trees. How accurate is the location Starfleet gave us?"
"Accurate to about a hundred kilometers," John said. "It was the best they could do. Any better and the ship that gathered that information would have been discovered."
"So what do we do?"
"We find it." The group began searching the surrounding area for the target, hoping that it wouldn't, or hadn't already detected them. Many of the details of its operation were still unknown, so they had very little to go on.
"Enterprise to Alpha lead." Picard had decided to check on their progress. "How are doing?"
"Well, sir," John answered," we are having trouble finding the target. It wasn't at the location we were given. Is there any way you can help us out?"
"I'm afraid not," Picard said. "Not at this range. We can afford to wait a short time, but don't let that slow you down."
"Understood, sir," John said.
The group continued its search for the so far elusive sensor transceiver.
"Why don't we try that dense stand of trees about 17 kilometers away," Sylvia suggested. "Seems like a good place to hide something to me."
The rest of the group agreed with her, and so they changed course to investigate this new location. The air was became increasingly filled with mist. On the ground a river flowed over a cliff, forming a tall waterfall.
"Yeah, it's here alright," Fred said. "The energy readings here are far too high to be naturally occurring."
"Good, I guess we found it," John said. "But where is exactly is, though?"
"Any ideas, Cil? You've been doing good so far," Fred said.
"I think we have something else to worry about for now. Check your sensors. I'm showing energy signatures approaching, through the air. We found it alright, and it's found us too."
"Fighters," John said. "Enterprise, this is Alpha lead. We show fighters inbound on our position."
"Sit tight, Alpha lead," Riker responded. "We're sending Nova squadron to help." Picard then told Azalea to launch her fighters.
"Thanks."
"They'll never get here in time," Fred pointed out. "Do we hurry up and go for the target, or engage the fighters."
"They'll be engaging us soon," John said. "Let's try and pretend we don't now quite where it is." The group followed their course towards the target a short while longer, then turned away from it. The fighters moved in and attacked Alpha squadron.
They managed to destroy a few of the enemy fighter, but it wasn't enough, and Nova squadron had still not arrived yet. Sylvia's Egret took one too many torpedo hits and an explosion erupted from it. It plummeted towards the ground.
"John! John, Cil's hit! We gotta help her!" Fred yelled, even though it had limited effect over the comm system.
"What can we do," John told him. "We have to get the target. Then the ships can come in and rescue her."
Fred became quite angry. "Do realize what you're saying? She's been your friend all through the academy. Don't you care about her at all?" Fred was coming close to tears.
"She'll be alright. Now we gotta kill this sensor grid. There. I can see it on that plateau thing. Let's go. Now, Fred!" The two remaining Egrets proceeded to the target, although one of them was very reluctant about it. Both fighters fired photon torpedoes at the target. It began to burn and collapse. The rest of the enemy's closed on them.
"Alpha lead, this Nova. We are arriving at the planet. Standby."
"Let's get outta here," John said, as the target suddenly exploded, sending bits of metal and debris flying.
"Don't even talk to me," Fred shot back at him. Nova squadron covered John and Fred as the returned to the Enterprise, destroying two more fighters in the process. Sylvia used the Egret's emergency transporter to escape from it as soon as she realized that she could no longer control it. When she materialized, she saw her Egret streak through the air and smash into the ground in a somewhat large explosion. She wondered how long it would be until she was rescued. This though brought new fears to her mind. What if the Romulans found here? She took a quick look around. There were trees everywhere, but she could see the water fall in the distance. She took off her red Starfleet uniform in an attempt to be less noticeable, but the white shirt she wore underneath it was not much better. She doubted that there was anything left of her Egret after that explosion, but she headed toward anyway just to see. She didn't even know if Fred and John had succeeded, though she hoped they had or she may be on this planet for some time. That is, unless the Romulans found her first.
When she reached the remains of the Egret, she found a portion of the emergency supplies normally carried on an Egret. There was a phaser, which she was very glad to find, as well as enough rations to last for a few days. Not much else, unfortunately. There homing signal was probably destroyed. While that may prevent the Romulans from finding her, or the Egret for that matter, it would have the same effect on the Enterprise crew. She collected the phaser and container of emergency rations and headed into the jungle in the hopes of finding better cover. The Romulans would no doubt be searching the area. She hoped they would think she died in the crash.
The rest of Alpha squadron returned to the Enterprise as Nova went back to the Saturn. Picard met John and Fred in the corridor outside shuttle bay one.
"We did it, sir. This section of the grid no longer exists."
"Good work. I will inform Starfleet of your success. We will rescue your friend before proceeding with the mission, so you need not worry too much about her."
"Thank you, Captain," John said. Picard walked away down the corridor, and John and Fred went the other way back to their quarters. "You could have said something," John said to Fred.
"Shut up, you son of a bitch."
"Excuse me?!"
"That's right, you heard me. You know, I used to have a lot of respect for you. Until now. How could leave her out there? And what if the Romulans find her? What then?"
"How dare you! I am your…"
"Only when we're in those fighters on an official mission you are. That wouldn't be now." Fred was quiet for a few seconds. "Just leave me the hell alone." He then walked quickly away and returned to his quarters, wishing they were further from John's than just down the hall. He didn't sleep at all that night. He could stop worrying about Sylvia. She was alone in enemy territory and there was nothing he could do about it. He though about stealing a shuttle and going after her, but he realized that he'd never get off the ship. He tried to put it out of his mind, but he couldn't. The thought of the Romulans finding her scared him more than anything else he had ever experienced. His eyes again filled with tears, and he wondered if he would ever see her again.
"I don't know. Maybe he has an assignment for us," John said. They all entered Captain McDonald's office.
"So where is he?"
"He'll be here," John told him. "He told us to report here." At that moment, the captain walked in.
"Hello," he said.
"Good afternoon, sir," John replied.
"There have been some complications in a mission that Starfleet had given to a group of ships. There is a sensor grid that must be disabled, destroyed if possible, before these ships may complete their mission successfully. The grid is sensitive enough to detect even one ship if it got close enough to fire. Your mission will be to do as much damage as possible to this grid, but you must disable it enough to allow the ships to enter the area undetected. Nova squadron will also go along on the mission and will be launched if needed. It should be an easy mission, but be advised that we have absolutely no idea as to how well defended the grid is. Some parts may be more defended than others. The grid may be operated from a central location, but it would not be a good idea to attack this unless you find that it has little or no defenses. We have identified key sections of the grid that, if destroyed, will allow the ships to enter the area safely. These should be your primary targets."
"How will we know when the grid has been adequately disabled?" John asked.
"Destroying these key targets should be enough, but be ready to attack any additional targets that the task force may give you."
"Got it."
"Good. The Saturn and the Enterprise should be here by now. The Enterprise is the lead ship of this task force, and your fighters will be carried aboard. Nova will be carried aboard the Saturn."
"Any other questions?"
"No, sir."
"Alright. Then report to your fighters and join up with Enterprise."
"Yes, sir."
"Dismissed."
* * *
Upon entering the sector where the grid was located, Alpha squadron was launched. They left the group of ships and proceed to the target, which was located on a class-M planet that was 80% jungles. Somewhere deep inside these jungles was sensor transceiver that must be destroyed. As they approached the planet, they began to worry about merely finding it, much less destroying it. They entered the atmosphere of the planet right above the point where the target was supposed to be.
"So where is it?" Fred asked. "All I see are humongous trees. How accurate is the location Starfleet gave us?"
"Accurate to about a hundred kilometers," John said. "It was the best they could do. Any better and the ship that gathered that information would have been discovered."
"So what do we do?"
"We find it." The group began searching the surrounding area for the target, hoping that it wouldn't, or hadn't already detected them. Many of the details of its operation were still unknown, so they had very little to go on.
"Enterprise to Alpha lead." Picard had decided to check on their progress. "How are doing?"
"Well, sir," John answered," we are having trouble finding the target. It wasn't at the location we were given. Is there any way you can help us out?"
"I'm afraid not," Picard said. "Not at this range. We can afford to wait a short time, but don't let that slow you down."
"Understood, sir," John said.
The group continued its search for the so far elusive sensor transceiver.
"Why don't we try that dense stand of trees about 17 kilometers away," Sylvia suggested. "Seems like a good place to hide something to me."
The rest of the group agreed with her, and so they changed course to investigate this new location. The air was became increasingly filled with mist. On the ground a river flowed over a cliff, forming a tall waterfall.
"Yeah, it's here alright," Fred said. "The energy readings here are far too high to be naturally occurring."
"Good, I guess we found it," John said. "But where is exactly is, though?"
"Any ideas, Cil? You've been doing good so far," Fred said.
"I think we have something else to worry about for now. Check your sensors. I'm showing energy signatures approaching, through the air. We found it alright, and it's found us too."
"Fighters," John said. "Enterprise, this is Alpha lead. We show fighters inbound on our position."
"Sit tight, Alpha lead," Riker responded. "We're sending Nova squadron to help." Picard then told Azalea to launch her fighters.
"Thanks."
"They'll never get here in time," Fred pointed out. "Do we hurry up and go for the target, or engage the fighters."
"They'll be engaging us soon," John said. "Let's try and pretend we don't now quite where it is." The group followed their course towards the target a short while longer, then turned away from it. The fighters moved in and attacked Alpha squadron.
They managed to destroy a few of the enemy fighter, but it wasn't enough, and Nova squadron had still not arrived yet. Sylvia's Egret took one too many torpedo hits and an explosion erupted from it. It plummeted towards the ground.
"John! John, Cil's hit! We gotta help her!" Fred yelled, even though it had limited effect over the comm system.
"What can we do," John told him. "We have to get the target. Then the ships can come in and rescue her."
Fred became quite angry. "Do realize what you're saying? She's been your friend all through the academy. Don't you care about her at all?" Fred was coming close to tears.
"She'll be alright. Now we gotta kill this sensor grid. There. I can see it on that plateau thing. Let's go. Now, Fred!" The two remaining Egrets proceeded to the target, although one of them was very reluctant about it. Both fighters fired photon torpedoes at the target. It began to burn and collapse. The rest of the enemy's closed on them.
"Alpha lead, this Nova. We are arriving at the planet. Standby."
"Let's get outta here," John said, as the target suddenly exploded, sending bits of metal and debris flying.
"Don't even talk to me," Fred shot back at him. Nova squadron covered John and Fred as the returned to the Enterprise, destroying two more fighters in the process. Sylvia used the Egret's emergency transporter to escape from it as soon as she realized that she could no longer control it. When she materialized, she saw her Egret streak through the air and smash into the ground in a somewhat large explosion. She wondered how long it would be until she was rescued. This though brought new fears to her mind. What if the Romulans found here? She took a quick look around. There were trees everywhere, but she could see the water fall in the distance. She took off her red Starfleet uniform in an attempt to be less noticeable, but the white shirt she wore underneath it was not much better. She doubted that there was anything left of her Egret after that explosion, but she headed toward anyway just to see. She didn't even know if Fred and John had succeeded, though she hoped they had or she may be on this planet for some time. That is, unless the Romulans found her first.
When she reached the remains of the Egret, she found a portion of the emergency supplies normally carried on an Egret. There was a phaser, which she was very glad to find, as well as enough rations to last for a few days. Not much else, unfortunately. There homing signal was probably destroyed. While that may prevent the Romulans from finding her, or the Egret for that matter, it would have the same effect on the Enterprise crew. She collected the phaser and container of emergency rations and headed into the jungle in the hopes of finding better cover. The Romulans would no doubt be searching the area. She hoped they would think she died in the crash.
The rest of Alpha squadron returned to the Enterprise as Nova went back to the Saturn. Picard met John and Fred in the corridor outside shuttle bay one.
"We did it, sir. This section of the grid no longer exists."
"Good work. I will inform Starfleet of your success. We will rescue your friend before proceeding with the mission, so you need not worry too much about her."
"Thank you, Captain," John said. Picard walked away down the corridor, and John and Fred went the other way back to their quarters. "You could have said something," John said to Fred.
"Shut up, you son of a bitch."
"Excuse me?!"
"That's right, you heard me. You know, I used to have a lot of respect for you. Until now. How could leave her out there? And what if the Romulans find her? What then?"
"How dare you! I am your…"
"Only when we're in those fighters on an official mission you are. That wouldn't be now." Fred was quiet for a few seconds. "Just leave me the hell alone." He then walked quickly away and returned to his quarters, wishing they were further from John's than just down the hall. He didn't sleep at all that night. He could stop worrying about Sylvia. She was alone in enemy territory and there was nothing he could do about it. He though about stealing a shuttle and going after her, but he realized that he'd never get off the ship. He tried to put it out of his mind, but he couldn't. The thought of the Romulans finding her scared him more than anything else he had ever experienced. His eyes again filled with tears, and he wondered if he would ever see her again.