[Galaxy] [Challenger] 2161.10.24 - JL - LtCmdr Cole and Cmdr Sulek

Tue Oct 25 13:25:38 PDT 2011

<Forwarded for my AO>

~~ Challenger Shuttlepod One ~~ 

<Snip>
<+>"Fleet -- disperse! Bearing 180 mark 06, go to warp as soon as clear! You have three minutes!"<+> Sasha's voice came over the Fleet channel.
<Snip>

Corad reached for the comm panel, "Acknowledged working on getting there!" Corad shouted while trying to maintain control over the shuttle. As he did the comm panel started to spark. "Oh great not like I was trying to hitch a ride or anything." Corad said with sarcasm as he punched the panel. He glanced back at the MACO's. "Hold on tight we in for a heck of a lot of turbulence."

[Heart of the Forge, Vulcan Suurok-class Vessel]

"Keep the planet between us and the Romulan forces as we return to the nebula," the CO calmly ordered.  "SubCommander T'Pren advised that the battle is not yet over, and in that case, it is wise to assume that the battle is not yet lost."

"Yes, Commander," T'Liel replied from the helm.

"Commander ... picking up a small craft along our heading.  Scanning ... it appears to be an Earth small personnel transport vessel, what they term a 'shuttlepod'.  Damaged, making best speed along bearing 180 mark 06."  This was Ston, from the tactical control panel.

"Speed?"

"Not quite full impulse, Commander.  78%, to be exact."

"COMMs -- put me through to the Earth vessel."

"Yes, Commander."  A few buttons pushed.  "I have them.  Proceed."

=+  "This is Commander Sulek aboard the Heart of the Forge.  Commander, Earth transport, respond."  +=

~~ Challenger Shuttlepod One ~~

Corad quickly hit the comm panel again, "This is Lieutenant Commander Cole of the Challenger. It's good to hear your voice Commander." Corad glanced back the the MACO's who all looked a bit green from Corad's 'creative' flying.

=+  "We note that you appear to be in some difficulty, and that the countdown -- when it completes -- will likely find your vessel still out in the open.  Is this an accurate assessment?"  +=  Sulek knew it was, but in dealing with Humans, it was better to state the obvious rather than take the chance at beign misunderstood.

"As you can tell we're experiencing some ... mechanical difficulties attempting to get back to our ship." Corad paused for a sec thinking of how to ask, "Commander, mind if we hitch a ride?" Corad asked while still maintaining his course.

=+  "Indeed.  However, time does not allow for a vast array of choices.  Is your vessel a 'lost cause'? If it is, we can beam you aboard.  This would be the quickest alternative."  +=

"No that is not a viable option, we still have most systems, I want to preserve this shuttlepod." Corad said back quickly.

=+  "Agreed.  It is always best to attempt recovery of usable materiel.  In that case, since time is of the essence ... hold on, Commander."  +=

Corad looked back at the MACO's, "Hold on tight we're hitching a ride." 'this is going to be close' Corad thought to himself.

The escape pods had been launched, the countdown would soon begin.  But here on the leeward side of Cheron, a huge Vulcan ship was making her way as quickly as possible, to the small Earth shuttlepod.  

[Heart of the Forge]

"We are almost at minimum safe distance, Commander.  Three.  Two.  One.  Human shuttlecraft in range.  Tractor beam ready."

"Agreeable."  The Commander had barely finished this word when the countdown began over the battle channel.

"Faster would be better, I don't think any of us want to glow in the dark!" Corad said over the comm.

=+  "This may not be as gentle as we would like.  Time does not allow."  Then the occupants of the shuttlepod could hear the Vulcan commander give the order.  "Apply the beam.  Once the vessel is held, full impulse behind the planet and on course for the Coalsack nebula."  +=

The Vulcan tractor beam was not energy in the visible spectrum.  Unseen, it latched onto the small craft, giving it a shake in the process.  

"Oh Crap we're getting hit by the blast." Gannon shouted. The two women looked at him while Boone smacked him in the back of the head. "Compose your self Private." Boone looked back to Corad and said "pansy." Under his breath.

Corad tried not to laugh since they weren't out of the fire yet, "Nice catch Commander, Get us out of here!" Corad shouted over the comm.

"Full impulse," T'Liel said from the helm.  "We will have Cheron between us and the Romulan fleet in 5 seconds." 

But the countdown was ahead of them.  They could all hear it on the battle channel as the Meridian counted it off.  <+>  "Three.  Two.  One.  Detonation."  <+>

White light from aft.  "Nuclear devices detonating in and amongst the Romulan fleet," said Ston, one eyebrow raised. 

=+  "WOO HOO HOO!" Corad shouted as the shuttlepod was accelerated from the combination of the blast and Vulcan tractor beam.  +=

On the Heart of the Forge, the Tactical officer, Ston, said, "Commander, it sounds as if the shuttlecraft has been damaged ...."

"Belay that," Commander Sulek said calmly.  "That is not the voice of a Human in distress."  Sulek pushed the button to give him shipwide and ship-to-ship COMMs.  =+  "All hands ... brace."  +=  He let the button go.  "Ston, divert more power to the tractor beam.  Do not lose the shuttle craft or they will be destroyed."

"Yes, Commander.  Diverting power to the tractor beam."  The shockwave hit, shaking the huge Vulcan ship and its tiny companion at the end of the tractor beam.  

The shuttle bucked quite a bit from the shockwave, but it felt like the tractor beam was holding strong. "Told you guys this was gonna be interesting." Corad said as they continued forward.

On the Heart of the Forge, Commander Sulek watched as the tractor beam's grip wobbled, then steadied, then wobbled again.

"Approaching the planet's shadow," Ston said from TAC.  "Commander, I have a doubt concerning the viability of the beam once we are in the shadow but the shuttle craft is not."

"Understood.  Helm, rotate the ship 130 degrees, keep the shuttle craft in /our/ shadow as we enter Cheron's shadow."  Sulek kept his eyes on the tractor beam's readouts.

"Yes, Commander.  Ship rotated as ordered, shuttle craft in place."

Corad watched out that forward window and watched as the Vulcan's maneuvered their ship to shield the shuttlepod form the majority of the turbulence. He grabbed his forehead as he noticed things got blurry for a moment. After a moment of rubbing his eyes his vision returned to normal. Corad hoped the Vulcan's knew how to treat humans for radiation poisoning.

Once behind the planet's bulk, all turbulence ceased.  Commander Sulek stood up.  "Ston, bring the craft onboard.  Relay orders to the shuttle bay.  Have the vessel de-radiated and send down medical personnel to treat the Humans for radiation poisoning."

Ston looked at the Commander, then back down at his console.  "Yes ... radiation sickness.  I had not thought to check on the thickness of the ship's hull."  He relayed the orders as the tractor beam began drawing in the other ship.

"That, Ensign Ston, is why I am the commanding officer, and you are not."

Ston nodded.  He could not refute that logic.

The shuttlepod was starting to rise toward the Heart of the Forge. As it did Corad turned to his MACO's alright once we're docked we're going to need scoped out by their medical team. I'm pretty sure the shuttles weren't built to be a fallout shelter." Corad said as he relaxed into the pilots chair.
====================
Lt Cmdr Corad Cole
Armory Officer
FCL-04 Challenger
&
Commander Sulek
Commanding Officer
VSS Heart of the Forge
<apb Anna>

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