[Galaxy] [New-Darwin] 05 Sep 2161 :: Space :: Capt Kurisawa, Cmdr Galan, Cmdr Knight

[Kate Nicholson]

[ Gamma Sagittarii system, closing on the second planet ]

"Warp engines are powering down," the engineer called over the intercom. 
"Impulse control to Helm."

Captain Kurisawa rose from his seat and stepped forward, "Tactical Alert. 
All combat systems at the ready."  He leaned over his helmsman's shoulder. 
"Nice and easy, Lieutenant," he said quietly and calmly. "Like a coiled
snake."

"Debris, Sir," called the science officer from her scope.  "Expected, given
the report of the destroyed Klingon ships, but I'm detecting some residual
energy off the planet's ionosphere."  She turned to the viewscreen.  "It
seems we were warned not long after the fight actually happened.  It's still
fresh."

"Then they're still close," offered the tactical officer.

Kurisawa straightened and looked to the comms station.  "Marx, hail the
Aurora."  He turned back and keyed the intercom on the arm of his captain's
chair.  "Bridge, to Mason."

=Yessir.=

"It looks hotter than we would have liked, Major.  Prep for the assault,
we're letting you boys off the chain first chance we get."

=Roger that, Sir.  A-Team is ready at the transporter.  B-Team is loading in
the shuttlepods.  We're good to go."

"Very good," Kurisawa acknowledged, and turned his attention back to the
viewscreen...


[ Romulan Evader Decimus]

Men were scurrying through the ship as fast as they could, almost totally
silent in their padded boot coverings.  The ship had been designed from the
outset as a stealthy vessel, as opposed to older models that had been
retrofitted with cloaking devices.  With her ambient electronic signals
attenuated, these were the quietest warships in the Praetor's fleet, and
Decimus already had two kills in her foray into human space, even though
they had dispatched Klingon interlopers. Now, a human vessel had arrived,
and on the bridge, Galan paced behind his crew as they maneuvered the ship
to deal with this latest threat.

"Commander," the tactical officer whispered to his leader.  "They call
another ship.  Another human must be nearby."

Galan knew they had not detected a human vessel since they arrived. "Scan
the surface.  Could it be on the ground?"

"Negative power signatures from our current position," the tactical officer
reported.  "Could the Klingons have destroyed it?"

Peering through the viewing portal into the space surrounding his ship,
Galan contemplated their next move.


[ ESS Constitution, Bridge ]

"No answer from the Aurora," called Marx from the comms station. "Repeating
hail on different frequencies."

"Could any of that debris be from her?" Kurisawa asked aloud. "Maybe the
battlesite is fresh because it's new."


"Negative, Sir," replied the Science Officer, still intent on her scope. 
"It's all Klingon.  And I'm not picking up any signatures that may be
cloaked vessels.  The Romulans have either tweaked their equipment, or
they're not here."

Kurisawa squinted in suspicion as he stood in front of his chair and watched
the viewscreen.  "Helm," he said almost quietly, "ease us into orbit.  Give
me geosinc over the colony."

"Geosinc orbit, Aye Captain."

Kurisawa turned and keyed his intercom controls again.  "Bridge to Ibarra."

=Ibarra here, Captain.=

"No signs of Romulans or the Aurora.  We're entering geosinc.  Prepare to
contact the colony via the Youngblood protocol.  And be advised we'll be
launching the assault teams as soon as we're able."

=Aye, Captain.  Initiating comm codes, and awaiting confirmation of
geosinc.  Ready to act as Mission Ops as soon as the MACOs are dirtside.=

Kurisawa nodded slowly as he considered his options, and returned his
attention to the viewscreen...


[Bridge, ESS Aurora, Ionosphere of GS-V]

Hidden within the ionosphere of GS-V, the Aurora continued its slow, silent
orbit. Waiting for the moment where she would be joined. The communications
department had worked solidly on making Lt. Shepards plan a reality: to send
a warning about the Romulans through Aurora¹s network of sensor probes as
soon as Constitution dropped out of warp. Now the necessary preparations
were complete, although naturally a test had not been possible.

³Something just dropped out of warp...close to GS-II.² Came an informative
voice from the science station.

³Constitution?² Knight asked, knowing that the officer wouldn¹t have left
out a vital piece of information like that if she had known.

Richardson at communications commented next. ³Their hailing us...broadband
message...it¹s Constitutions ID.²

³Sensors confirm.² Reassured science.

³Ok...² he paused to consider their plan again. Had it failed? Surely they
wouldn¹t risk direct communication if they knew. He didn¹t like the idea of
giving away Aurora¹s position, but at this point it didn¹t look like he had
much of a choice. ³Open a channel.² Richardson nodded in confirmation. ³This
is Commander Knight. ESS Constitution, be advised, we believe that there are
Romulans in the vicinity. Repeat, we believe there are Romulans in the
vicinity.²


[ Romulan Evader Decimus]

"There are two, commander," the tactical whispered over his shoulder. "They
are hailing each other."

"Change course," Galan whispered back.  "Move off.  We are at a
disadvantage, move closer to the inner moon.  We will use its magnetic
signature to disguise our cloak."

This changed much, the Romulan captain thought to himself.  There would be
no way they could remain near the planet.  If they de-cloaked to attack one
ship, the other could quickly turn and destroy them.  The new vessel was
much larger than their relatively small ship, and probably had sufficient
armaments to dispatch them quickly.

However, there might be one opportunity for them to even the odds.

"Belay that order.  Inform the shuttle bay to prepare the mines."


[ ESS Constitution, Bridge ]

"I have the Aurora, Sir.  Putting them on screen."

The forward starfield changed to Knight.  "Repeat, we believe there are
Romulans in the vicinity."  There was some obvious wear and tear on the man,
but he maintained the bearing of a starship CO.

Kurisawa nodded.  "We're aware, Commander.  Word was relayed several times
before finding us, but we got it.  I appreciate the warning from your probe
network, though.  My comms officer was actually rather impressed that you
got that together so quickly.  But we've had some time to plan, and my intel
analysts suggested a bold approach to throw them off balance, which is why
we're headed straight in to drop off the assault teams while trying to get
a-hold of you.  Now we get to see how the Romulans react, and gauge who
we're dealing with.  I suppose that sounds reckless, but we've had some
success with such gambits in the past."  There was a slight smile.  The last
time such a gambit worked was just a week ago, and the result was the
location of a medical outpost they were headed to check out before being
diverted here.

=Understood Captain.=  It may have been premature but Kurisawa¹s calm handle
on the situation brought Knight great relief. In addition, even if they were
going with a some-what audacious plan at least it would get the Klingons out
of his home at lot faster. =Aurora is in fighting condition, we can provide
assistance, as er...you see necessary.=

"As /you/ see necessary," Kurisawa corrected.  "When this is over the
Constitution be on track to leave for another mission, but this is /your/
home.  Us, Romulans, Klingons... we're all in /your/ backyard, so it would
be a disservice for me to tell you how to defend it.  I would /suggest/ that
Constitution continue on course to unleash the assault teams, then /we/ can
see about flushing out these Romulans.  Sound like a plan?"

Knight appreciated the professional courtesy. ³I agree. The assault teams
need to be the priority.² Reports from the planet were sketchy, and the
situation in parts of the colony was almost completely unknown. There was
still the possibility that people were dying and that had to be stopped
immediately no matter the risk that the Romulans potentially possessed. ³I
think that it would be best if Aurora rendezvous with you. We¹ve had a
shuttle on stand-by since we heard about the invasion... our people can
contribute to a ground operation if needed.²

"Good," Kurisawa nodded.  "I have an advance team ready to transport to the
surface.  If you can have someone ready on your pad, we'll pull them along
and get the ball rolling.  Then we can coordinate the shuttle teams'
deployment."

=Aye Sir. I'll have someone on the pad by the time we reach transporter
range.= Knight nodded to his tactical officer who promptly relieved herself.
They'd discussed various contingencies; he trusted that she knew who to
collect in /this/ scenario.


[ Romulan Evader Decimus]


Several environmental suit-clad crewmen slowly pushed a tall cylindrical
object towards a portal at the far end of the shuttle bay.  No powered
mechanism was in operation.  Brute force was required for this particular
task.  Another group was copying them farther inside the bay, as was
another.  Three mines were being prepared for departure...their mission was
to add to the Decimus' glory that had been plentiful this day.

On the bridge, a careful plan was being formulated and briefed to the bridge
crew by their captain.  It was obvious now that their sister ship would not
arrive in time to assist them in securing the space above the human outpost,
if she had not been destroyed or diverted in route to the system.  Only
Galan knew that forces were massing not too far away, and that if this
offensive failed, the war could be lost.  Even though they had not been
tasked, they were still accomplishing a vital mission for the Empire, and
with the arrival of this large warship, they had fulfilled their role in
diverting human ships away from where they could stop the fleet.  He had
earlier sent a message to the crew that had left proud smiles on the faces
of all of them.

"We will need to drop these mines in the path of the human ships, without
leaving them an opportunity to avoid them.  With a lack of natural
obstacles, we are forced to ensure they fly into the minefield."  Galan
paused for a moment, but the bridge crew knew what he meant.  "We will be
required to release them at point blank range."

They fought the urge to look into the faces of their comrades, and remained
still.

-----
Capt Togusa Kurisawa
Commanding Officer
ESS Constitution

Commander Galan
Captain
Romulan Evader Decimus

Cmdr Anthony Knight
Captain, ESS Aurora
Assigned to the New Darwin Colony



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