“Lt. Taissud to Commander Zai”

=/= “Good evening, Zhay-la,” the commanders disembodied voice rang out in the mostly empty armoury “What can we do for you?” =/=

“Do you think the Captain will approve a mining expedition?” 

Zhay-la detected a hint of hesitation from the trill; =/= “I’m afraid that’s difficult to say for sure, Lieutenant. The Captain and myself aren’t exactly seeing eye to eye, at the moment. What did you have in mind?” =/=

“I’m meeting with our chief engineer shortly, I’m happy to throw myself at the mercy of the Captain once I’ve run it by Kennedy, science and of course you.” Zhay-la replied. She tapped a few buttons on her padd, sending her files to the commander “Please let me know if you see any obvious faults in my proposal so far.”

Stardate 2365.05.16 15:50 - Impact minus 49:45

If we can’t avoid the impact, can we at least make it less devastating, reduce the mass of the asteroid using a combination of phaser ablation and torpedoes? Break it to pieces so most of it burns up, the resulting fragments will still likely kill millions and cloak the planet in dust that’ll kill millions more as they freeze to death or starve. But with some luck the Callicans could bounce back.

Zhay-la rubbed her eyes with the back of her hands, dry from strain, she'd be sitting in her office, lights lowered for close to 4 hours at this point,focused at the display in front of her, she’d poured over torpedo yield calculations and simulation results for the umpteenth time. At least this was a problem that tapped into her strengths, a problem she could throw herself at rather than feeling useless on the bridge.

She’d long since lost track of the number of simulations she and Lt. Reid had run, in every single one they had come up short. DN17 as she’d taken to referring to it after a while was simply too dense in addition to being too massive to be easily broken up without alerting the Callicans of their presence.

"This is a physics problem, not a tactical problem" she thought as she rubbed her temples in frustration just as a realization hit her. As if she was possessed, she tapped her combadge, perhaps a little too hard and she winced.

=/= Taissud to Commander Kennedy, if you’re able to meet, I have an idea I want to run by you. I need an engineer. =/=

((occ: assuming a response to the affirmative.))

Zhay-la pulled up the material analysis data gathered by the science team, maybe they couldn’t vaporize it, but maybe they could use it as fuel. If we could get that fuel moving in the right direction, we might be able to nudge it into a large elliptical orbit. As the rock's chemical compostion scrolled down the screen, she absentmindedly traced the line of a scar on her hand. If this was going to work, they would need to work fast.

=/= Lt. Taissud to Commander Zai, do you think the Captain will approve a mining expidition? =/=

((occ: I'll leave things there and see what comes of this.))

Hey, I haven't been around in ages, lots has happened. I see that your last recruitement post was a small eternity ago. If you're still at it I'd love to join in. 

Hey folks, my 2 cents have been added. It's nice to be wraping things up a bit.

Stardate 2365.02.11
USS Peregrine, Main Bridge - 11:12

Berk felt himself settle on his feet as the inertial dampeners adjusted to the Peregrine's sudden acceleration as its impulse engines roared to life. The small frigate raced towards the Coronado.  Berk watched the gap rapidly close and the computer constantly recalculate the Peregrines firing solution. Making an attack run is probably a career ender, even if you aren’t found guilty by at your court martial. Mathias kept these thoughts to himself and quietly focused on his work. Despite the fact that they were racing to engage the Coronado Captain Jacobs seemed hell bent on his goal.

Lt. Lasad broke the tense silence on the bridge.

"Captain, the Coronado has locked on to a Kuldar vessel and is closing to optimal firing range."  The tension in his voice was palpable. Mathias could see it as well, they had locked their weapons on the Kuldar starship, they hadn’t charged their Phasers yet but it was only a matter of time.

"Lieutenant Berk, lock our phasers on the Coronado.  Are those calculations complete?"

The TAC officer paled and swallowed before answering.  "Aye, Captain.  Phasers are locked on.  Calculations are complete." The computer chirped at him, acknowledging the target lock, and his finger tensed over the button that spelled the potential end of the careers and possibly many lives, including their own. At this moment Mathias had only one thought. It’s now or never, here’s hoping they don’t call our bluff.

"Captain," Lasad interjected, his voice several notes higher than before, "the Coronado is charging her phasers!"

Time seemed to stand still for a moment but the Captian’s voice cut through the air like a knife.

"Mister Berk, fire!"

Acting on instinct Mathias’s finger pressed into the console much harder than necessary and
 after what felt like an eternity an orange-red beam leapt from the Peregrine, their impacts dancing across the Coronado’s shields, the Computer confirmed that the Peregrine’s other phaser array’s were charged and ready and Mathias loosed off two more shots in close succession. The older Miranda class vessel's deflectors put up a fight but they were not up to the task of defending against such an onslaught. Mathias kept firing, sweeping through every firing arc as they came available, sending every joule of energy the computer would let him towards the Coronado’s shields and then suddenly, they failed and she pitched on her side, her inertial dampeners unable to compensate.  All Mathias could think about was the pain he just caused and rather robotically he reported.

"Target shields are down, Captain, minor hull damage inflicted."

"We are being hailed from the Coronado," Lasad spoke.  After a nod from Drake, the viewscreen shifted to the bridge of the other Federation vessel.

Front and center was the visage of Captain Jacobs, whose skin was mottled purple with rage.  The man had been angry before, but now he was truly apoplectic.  "You filthy piece of dog s***!" He spat.  "You treacherous bastard!"  Spittle dripped from the lips of the Coronado CO's lips as he ranted.  "When this is over, I will hang you myself!"

Lasad spoke up.  "Captain, the Coronado is changing course, she's coming around."

Mathias joined Lasad’s chorus as the computer alerted him to an external target lock "Captain, they have locked phasers on us... they are firing!"

An instant later, the deck pitched from the force of the blow.  "Direct hit, sir!  Shields are holding." Lasad reported.  "No physical damage, shields at ninety-two percent."

Steeling himself,  Mathias stated as flatly as possible. "Captain, the Coronado is charging for another shot..."

Drake's voice cut through the chaos.  "Captain Jacobs, stop this madness at once," he ordered in a commanding tone.  "This has gone far enough!"

The deck pitched again.  "Another direct hit, sir," the OPS chief reported.  "Shields are holding, down to eighty-three percent."

While the Coronado was old it was still a capable ship, and while their shields were holding, Mathias was fighting to keep the Peregrine’s shield generators from overloading. He surreptitiously routed additional coolant to several generators in the hopes that it would buy them some extra time, his efforts were all for not however.

On the viewscreen, Jacobs sneered.  "What a surprise.  The coward is not prepared to deal with the repercussions of his actions.  Did you honestly think that I would be bullied by the likes of you, mister Drake?"

Once again, the deck pitched.  "Captain!" The Risan OPS chief exclaimed.  "Sir, one of the shield generators has failed!  Backup coming online, overall shield capacity down to fifty-nine percent!"

"Lieutenant Berk," The Captain was calm, "lock phasers on the Coronado.  Target their phaser bank.  On my mark, remove their offensive capabilities, please."

"Phasers locked on, sir," Berk reported.

A phaser impact on an unshielded target would be devastating and at this range Mathias was more likely to hit his target than not.

  If I fire it’s going to be a bloodbath over there.

 "Captain, you do know that with no defector shields, even localized phaser damage will likely cause loss of life aboard the Coronado."



The Captain didn’t respond to the comment, he just spoke calmly, without anger, without malice.  "Captain Joshua Jacobs, as lawful commander of this battle group, I hereby find you unfit for duty.  You are relieved of command of the USS Coronado, effective immediately.  Commander Bethany Farr will now assume command of your vessel.  My phasers are locked onto your own; if you do not comply, I will render your weapons useless.  If that is not sufficient incentive to ensure your acquiescence, I will move on from there to cripple your engines."

Mathias had predicted this and already locked multiple targets, one hand hovered over the Phaser controls, his other poised ready to load a salvo of torpedoes should the need arise.

Captain Jacobs’ face turned an even deeper shade of purple.  "You wouldn't dare!" he shouted spittle flying from his lips.  "Even your treason does not run this deep!  Our shields are down, thanks to you!  If you fire on this vessel, you will surely kill Starfleet personnel!" 

The Captain nodded, almost imperceptibly.  "You are correct, Captain... and I will regret each and every one of their deaths for the short remainder of my own life.  But you leave me no choice.  I cannot allow you to harm my own personnel, nor can I allow you to kill innocent Kuldarians."  The Captain’s voice was a razor sharp, but still calm and collected. "You have ten seconds to comply."

Jacobs sputtered in ineffectual rage.  "I... I will do no such thing!  You are bluffing!  You will lose your commission, your freedom, your life!  For what?  Some ignorant, backwater sentients too stupid to take advantage of the dilithium under their noses?  Why, I will…"

Silas raised his hand.  "Your time is up.  Mister Berk, fire on the Coronado pha..."

"STOP!" rang a feminine voice from the bridge of the Coronado.  "Captain Jacobs, I relieve you.  Please leave the bridge at once."  Commander Farr entered the frame, standing rigidly next to her commanding officer.

"Not now, Farr!" Jacobs roared.  "I don't have time for your nonsense right now, I..."

Commander Farr interrupted.  "Captain, I must insist.  She gestured to her left, and a gold-suited officer appeared with phaser drawn and leveled at the Captain.  "Ensign Phillips will escort you to your quarters, sir.  Please do not force us to stun you." 

Jacobs gaped, opened and closed his mouth twice as if to speak, but no sound came out.  For the briefest of moments, his muscles tensed, and it looked as if he might attack the security officer.  But the moment passed, and the now former CO of the Coronado deflated.  His shoulders slumped, and the Captain allowed himself to be led towards the turbolift.  For a brief moment, he paused and looked back over his shoulder at the viewscreen.  "You will burn for this," he spat.  "The both of you."  The ensign then placed a hand none too gently on Jacobs' shoulder, and the two disappeared into the lift.

As she settled into the command chair, a fairly pale Farr barked orders.  "Phasers off line, Lewis.  Helm, all stop."  She then turned her focus to the viewscreen.  "What are your orders, Captain Drake?"

Silas allowed the breath he had not realized he was holding to escape.  "Hold position for now.  Let's see if we can still salvage this thing.  Drake out."

Mathias hand’s trembled, the Captain had headed off one crisis at the pass, but things could still end in tragedy. Mathias looked down at his hand and willed them to stop, and went back to work scanning the area for a hot shot Kuldarian or Rytain Captain who decided to make a name for themselves and take advantage of the short brawl the two Federation ships had just engaged in.