When the away teams find the runabout, there is a problem

Honoka didn't need her tricorder to tell her that the runabout would most likely never see space again, the large hole in the bow was telling enough. The rest of the spaceframe was, according to the tricorder, in good order with minor damage from the less then graceful landing by the auto-pilot.

"No traps or anything. Nico thinks the Romulans just wrote it off. That hole, "she pointed at the opening, "is enough to make it useless." Nico said to the rest of the teams that had been awaiting an all clear to approach.

"What do we do now?" asked Hanayo.

Eli took out her tricorder and scanned the area, pressing a few controls on the device.

"Lieutenant Kosaka," Eli addressed Honoka, pointing at the runabout, "can you fly it?"

Honoka looked at her, scowling slightly.

"Of course I can… but, Commander, if you didn't notice, there is a big hole in the bow. Even if the force fields are working, we can't break atmosphere."

"We might not need to. I hypothesize that with enough altitude the effect of the dampening field will dissipate enough for us to be able to transport through."

"Nico thinks that hypothesis has holes the planet could pass through." Nico muttered sceptically.

"What about the pattern enhancers?" Maki asked.

The pattern enhancers, of course, Eli had almost completely forgotten about them.

"Not strong enough to get through the field at this elevation." Eli said, "That is why we need to gain altitude."

Honoka turned her eyes back to the runabout.

If I can make it fly…

###

Kotori steadied Honoka as she hobbled around the runabout.

"Power systems are okay and, apart from the hole, the Norikura is good to go." Honoka said, lowering herself into the pilot seat.

Yazawa walked into the cockpit.

"Nico has reconfigured the shields to put up a small field over the hole. It is not enough for space travel, but it should make it less windy after lift-off. You can buy Nico a drink when we're back on the ship."
"Thank you." Honoka said, "I'm still surprised the Romulans didn't take it. Do they know why, Kotori?"

"Huh?" Kotori looked confused for a moment, "No. I guess they've had the plans for the runabout for a while if they have spies at Utopia."
"True. The modifications are not official, so they wouldn't know." Honoka nodded.

Eli walked in.

"I put up a sensor net and hooked our communications into the ship's reactor. So, we'll have some warning while we conduct repairs. Report?"

"Spaceframe is sound, but the damage prevents any space operation." Honoka reported.
"Shields are not strong enough to compensate. Several emitters have been damaged. Nico will do what she can." Nico added.

"I see."

Eli was missing looking into those green eyes, calming her… no… no emotions. Focus .

"Do what is possible. We need to be able to leave as soon as possible."
"Yes, ma'am." Honoka and Nico said.

###

Repairs were quickly completed, most of the damage being either superficial or too deep to repair without stripping the craft down. In the aft section, Eli had gathered the teams.

"Report."

"Navigation and power ok. Theoretically we have warp, but without going into space we can't use it. But the power is nice. Thrusters and impulse reactor are locked to atmospheric flight. Transporter os gone though." Honoka said.

"So we have to hope the ship can pull us through." Eli stated.

"Nico was able to get partial shields. No battles please. Deflector is working well enough for atmosphere. Phaser coils are melted. Nico tossed them out." Nico pointed at the window behind her with her thumb."

"Won't they be found?" Kotori asked.
"Romulans have most likely had the design for years, it's standard issue, not a prototype. Nico knows."

"Communications?" Eli asked.

"I patched in your transmitter to the power systems. The computer can't use it, but we have manual control." Hanayo said, "Whoever cobbled it together knew what they were doing. Quite impressive build."

"Our Chief Engineer." Honoka said, "I hope you like cats."
"Huh? I do. Why?" Hanayo looked puzzled.
"You'll notice." Honoka replied with a smile.

"Our friends?" Eli asked.
"They are safe for now I think." Kotori said, "I haven't received any messages for a while though."
"I see." Eli looked thoughtful.

"Commander?" Honoka said.

"We launch. The longer we are on the surface, the more danger we are in, at least this way we can make things a bit easier. Miss Koizumi, please raise the Helicon, they need to know we're airborne."
"Yes, Commander."

Honoka felt the thrill return when she punched in the start-up sequence for the runabout. Soon they would be in her element.

The open sky.

###

The ground shuddered slightly as the reactional thrusters began to establish their lift until the impulse engines took over. The Norikura rose steadily and began her ascent. Hanayo keyed the makeshift transmitter.

"This… this is Koizumi Hanayo to USS Helicon. Come in please."

Whatever response came was lost to the sound of misaligned scramblers and static. Hanayo adjusted the transmission parameters and tried again.

"This is Koizumi Hanayo to USS Helicon. Come in."

"… Helicon… who… you… adjust…key…"

More came through the static, Hanayo did her best to adjust as the message repeated.

"This is ... Helicon. Who is this? You need to adjust the tertiary key in the encryption stack."
"This is Koizumi Hanayo to USS Helicon. Do you read me?"

There was a moment of silence.

"You have a nice voice, nya! This is Chief Engineer Hoshizora Rin. What is your current position? I read rapid movement."

"We're airborne but can't make space."
"Say againyan?"
"We can't go into space. We have a big hole in the ship."

"' A big hole … you're not Starfleet?"
"Diplomatic Corps."
"Ahh, nya! Ok, Kayo-chin, get me the Commander."
" Kayo-chin ?"
"I like your voice. We'll be good friends, I just know it, nya!"

Hanayo looked perplexed. Who was this person? She called Eli.

"Commander, I have raised the Helicon, but… it's weird. There is lots of odd words."

Eli sighed. Hoshizora would be something she would have to handle.

"I'll take it." She sat by the transmitter.
"Lieutenant, we need to have that talk when I get back aboard. We are ascending in order to lessen the influence of a local dampening field that prevents main sub-space communications and transporters. I venture you noticed that as we beamed down. The cycle was longer than I expected."
"Ay, Commander. With the pattern enhancers and enough height, we should be able to punch through the field. But both the Helicon and Norikura need to be relatively stationary, and we need to adjust the shield harmonics and phase variance so we can keep shields up."

"Won't that make the cycle even longer?"
"Nine point seven seconds is my estimate. And we have to live through it."

"Explain."

"This is the Captain." The voice of Umi broke in, "We have a Romulan D7 on approach under cloak. We don't believe they've seen us, but that will change. Probably soon."
"Sir, we have transporters down and only partial shields. Lieutenant Hoshizora plan will probably work, but you are putting the ship at risk by remaining stationary in a battle situation. Logic dictates…"
"The Lieutenant briefed the bridge earlier and we know what it means, but we are not leaving you behind."

"But Captain…"
"Set up the enhancers and coordinate with engineering. I believe that Miss Koizumi is ideally suited to handle the adjustments."
"Sir?"

"That's an order, Commander."
"Ay!" Discipline snapped Eli back, "Miss Koizumi, coordinate with Lieutenant Hoshizora."

"Me?"
"Yes."
"Kayo-chiiiiin…" Rin's voice chimed happily.