NX-03 Challenger
En route to Sirius III (Alpha Canus Majoris)
"Captain's Log: May 3rd 2156.
"With no Romulan contact for over a week, and Alpha Centauri's defenses shored up by two more Intrepids and a Daedalus class, the Challenger has been given a new assignment.
"Contact was lost as of three days ago with a joint Human/Andorian science outpost on Sirius III. With the proximity between Earth and Sirius it's a matter of some concern. Intel suggests Romulan involvement.
"My own concern is for the ship. In two of three cases, the Challenger has engaged with Romulan frigates that were already heavily compromised. The third case, in orbit around Alpha Centauri's moon, was the only fair fight so far. The fight went well for the Challenger but another seems near at hand. It is very likely that a Romulan ship of some class will be present on site when we reach Sirius.
"If a frigate awaits us, I'm confident we can take it. A Bird of Prey or, God forbid, a Warbird, may be biting off more than we can chew. It remains to be seen what cards we're dealt but I can at least rely on an excellent performance from the crew."
Well known, but not often used, was a vast viewing port behind the viewscreen on the bridge. Here Captain Tucker stood, hands tucked at the small of his back, a habit he'd picked up from T'Pol. He stared at the stars as they passed on by.
What awaited them at Sirius should be of his greatest concern at the moment, but he couldn't take his mind off the laughing Vulcan that shot him.
The laughing Vulcan.
It was crazy…or rather the Vulcan was crazy…and it really stuck in his craw. He'd had some interaction with V'tosh ka'tur, the Vulcans without logic, but even they didn't seem the kind to laugh out loud. It really bothered him, not knowing for certain where the crazy Vulcan had come from, and how their insanity hadn't stopped her from sneaking aboard the ship and initiating a warp core breach.
Even taking a MACO sergeant by surprise and taking her hostage. That couldn't have been easy.
T'Pol appeared from around the corner. That could only mean they were within range, and she had detected something. Trip put aside his musings and moved quickly to the other side of the viewscreen.
"Go ahead, T'Pol." He said, when she followed him.
"I have detected two Birds of Prey." She reported. "Both seem to be attached to a superstructure of some sort. Either a small space station or a large docking port."
"Helm, ETA?" Trip asked.
"ETA one minute, six seconds." P'Trell answered.
"Push the engines. I want to get there before one minute."
The hum of the engines immediately became audible on the bridge.
"Warp six, Captain. ETA ten seconds."
"Good work. Leave them no time to respond." Trip said. "Science, any sign that they spotted us yet?
"Unlikely." T'Pol said. "Their sensor systems are not as advanced as ours."
"Okay. Here's hoping they're both under repairs or something."
In a moment the hum of the engines was gone.
"We've arrived, Captain." P;Trell reported
"Onscreen." Trip responded. "Let's see what they're up to."
At one hundred thousand kay, the optimal range of torpedoes and more so of phasers, one Bird of Prey could be seen breaking away from what appeared to be a crude docking station.
"Tactical," Trip said. "Lock on target, weapons free."
"Acknowledging weapons free." Feral responded. "Phasers fired. Torpedoes away."
Onscreen twin lances of energy cut across the bow of the Bird of Prey, followed by two golden torpedoes that took advantage of the momentary weakness in forward shields. Both exploded directly against the hall, seriously degrading the shield system, and casting debris and fire from the point of impact.
The Bird of Prey was already smoking, speeding ahead, trying desperately to achieve short range, the optimal range of their weapons.
"Maintain one hundred thousand kay." Trip said.
"Torpedoes away." Feral reported. "Firing. No penetration by either weapon."
The Challenger turned away from the incoming Bird of Prey, trying to keep out of range of its weapons.
"Firing." Feral reported. "Direct hit. Shield strength damaged, hull penetration."
Onscreen the damage could be seen unfolding. Phasers raked across the Bird of Prey's hull, followed by twin explosions from torpedoes, crashing into and through the forward hull.
Still the Bird of Prey kept coming, unable to gain much ground on the Challenger.
"Target status?" Trip inquired.
"Hull 15%, shields 45%" Feral said. "Firing. Torpedoes away."
Two lances of energy reached and brushed the last of the shields away, followed by torpedoes striking something very sensitive. The Bird of Prey exploded in a ball of fire.
"Target destroyed." Feral said.
"Outstanding work Feral." Trip said. "You, too, P'trell. Now let's take care of that other ship before they're ready for a fight."
"Captain." Said T'Pol." I believe the large mass located to the rear of the vessel is its artificial quantum singularity reactor. One hit while it is unprotected should cause it to explode with enough force to destroy anything within twenty thousand kilometers."
"Helm, get us to fifty kay." Trip said. "Feral, can you make that shot?"
"With my eyes closed, Captain."
It took only a single torpedo to pierce the reactor's shell and cause a violent eruption, leaving nothing behind of the ship and dock but cosmic dust.
The crew cheered, but Trip didn't let them savor the victory.
"Alright, settle down." He ordered. "We got lucky. Had the commander of that vessel been using his head, he'd have utilized their cloak to get within optimal range. They could pop out and surprise us anytime they wanted, as many times as they wanted. Even if we detected them under cloak, we'd be throwing darts at an invisible dartboard.
"Be prepared for the next commander not to panic and use his head instead."
The leaders of the away team stood around the monitor in the situation room. Plus T'Pol, as she'd be keeping the ship. This included Benjamin Ross, the beta shift science officer, Lou Chang for comms, Captain Tucker and Major Coleman, for the MACO's.
"I'll take Ingles, our medic." Coleman said. "And Serra, our sniper."
"Why not PFC's Freeman or Brown?" Trip asked.
"We don't want to bring a whole gaggle of life signs." Coleman said. "And besides, someone's got to monitor the engine room."
"Well, Chang," Trip said. "I'm taking you in case we need a translator. Ross, your majors are life and geo sciences. You're a no brainer for an alien planet."
Trip gestured to the monitor.
"The outpost is here, and it looks in rough shape. No life signs around there, but I'm betting there are some survivors nearby, hiding out. Regardless, we have to investigate the outpost anyway."
He touched the controls and moved the map northward, until the Romulan camp was shown.
"Here we have about twenty Romulan soldiers, dug in and well-armed. We have five tents and two mid-sized, modular buildings. I'm guessing any captives are being held in either one or both of them.
"We'll be using the transporter to get there and back, since the Romulans can't detect it and will be waiting for a shuttle they can track.
"T'Pol, are you up for keeping the ship with a mix of alpha and beta officers?"
"It should not prove problematic." T'Pol responded. "Both shifts have shown themselves more than capable."
"I expect nothing less.". Trip said "Coleman, call your people and have them meet us in the transporter room. We leave immediately.".
