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<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><FONT face=Verdana>// Challenger Bridge \\</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV align=left><FONT color=#000000 size=2 face=Verdana>The Coalition fleet followed closely behind the apparently fleeing Romulans. Sasha leaned forward, but hung on tight to the arms of the captain's chair: incoming fire from the Romulan vessels ahead plus evasive maneuvers equaled some "shifting sands" as far as footing went. Suddenly, a strike came in from broadsides, glancing off the Flaxlatrox Cha where it led the flying V formation. "What ... where did /that/ come from?!" Sasha shouted, frowning. </FONT></DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2 face=Verdana><BR></FONT>
<DIV align=left><FONT color=#000000 size=2 face=Verdana>The impact rattled the bridge, causing T'Lara and other officers to hold on to maintain their equilibrium. Immediately, at the captain's words, the Vulcan began scanning the immediate vicinity, which included the planet Cheron and its moons.</FONT></DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2 face=Verdana><BR></FONT>
<DIV align=left><FONT color=#000000 size=2 face=Verdana>Her eyes moved over the data as it streamed back to her, reading it nearly as fast as the computer could. The first thing she noticed was the abnormally rapid orbit of the largest moon. A few seconds later, more readings came across her panel. "Interesting," she intoned. "The largest moon is orbiting its primary in an unusually rapid orbit, approximately 10.887 hours for complete orbit." </FONT></DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2 face=Verdana><BR></FONT>
<DIV align=left><FONT color=#000000 size=2 face=Verdana>She fine tuned the scans and her brows rose incrementally, her fingers rapidly dancing over the surface of the console. Glancing upwards, she spoke to the bridge in general. "There is a small outpost on the surface of the largest moon, near which lies a weapons battery emplacement. I'm reading lifesigns...Romulan, and an unidentified species, perhaps a species subjugated within the Romulan Empire, in servitude." Turning her attention towards the helm, she added, "The moon will be entering our present vector within eight point two two seven minutes. I advise compensating accordingly."</FONT></DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2 face=Verdana><BR></FONT>
<DIV align=left><FONT color=#000000 size=2 face=Verdana>"Also," the scientist continued, "readings indicate the the Romulan vessels currently fleeing are taking a heading that will lead them through a particularly dense portion of the gasses nearby, rather than back towards the Empire in a direct route. It would be logical to presume that they are attempting a deception and retaliation."</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV align=left><FONT face=Verdana>"Thank you, T'Lara," Sasha said, frowning at the orbital projection and making up her mind in an instant. "Chris, get me Lieutenant Commander Cole on COMMs," Sasha said quietly, her eyes glued to the main viewscreen. The moons of Cheron, hung like jewels against the starry sky, continued their fast orbit of the planet. T'Lara's finding of a Romulan outpost on the largest moon was unsettling. Whatever they were doing there, they could only be up to no good.<BR> <BR>"Yes, ma'am," Chris replied, his hand to his earpiece. He spoke quietly into the COMMs, directing the call down to the Armory. "Bridge to LtCmdr Cole." <BR> <BR>"Cole here, What can I do for you?" Corad asked looking over at the MACO's who seemed to be waiting patiently.<BR> <BR>"Commander ... we have need of your team. Prep for launch using shuttle pod Alpha. Full battle gear, zero atmosphere, low gravity. Assemble and await orders for launch." Sasha was brief and to the point. <BR> <BR>"You got it Captain! Don't want their first op to be too easy. I'll radio you from the shuttle pod. Cole out." Corad said with a smile. "Alright team your heard the Lady, Full battle gear, Zero atmo with low garv. Lets move!<BR><BR>The MACO's and Corad geared up fast considering the cumbersomeness of the armored space suits. They each grabbed pulse rifles and phase pistols with a few grenades and made they way to the Shuttle bay.<BR> <BR>When she received word that the team was assembled and ready to go, Sasha gave orders to Hannah, who was now at the Helm. St. John had been severely wounded during one of the more violent hits the Challenger had taken from a Bird of Prey, and was currently on his way to Sickbay. "Hannah ... veer out of formation and get us near that moon on its next pass."<BR> <BR>"Aye, Captain," the young woman replied. She was stressed to the max, but her performance was flawless.<BR> <BR>"Shuttle pod to Bridge. My team and I are on board and awaiting further orders."<BR> <BR>"Corad ... get ready to launch. Full details of the mission have been sent to the pod's data systems, but in essence: we've discovered a small outpost on the largest moon of Cheron. There appears to be some kind of civilian component, so we can't just blast it from space. Infiltrate, isolate the Romulans, and, well ... handle it." Sasha was leaving it up to Corad. If he handled it with extreme prejudice, more the better. <BR> <BR>"Acknowledged, reviewing the data now." After a brief second or two Corad spoke, "Got it ... minimize civilian contact and handle it by any means necessary." <BR> <BR>"We're at minimum safe distance, Captain," Hannah said from the helm.<BR> <BR>"Thank you," Sasha said, grunting slightly as she was thrown to the side when the ship took a glancing blow from a disruptor. She pressed the button to connect her with the shuttlepod. "Corad ... you are go to launch! And do me a favor ... make it quick!"<BR> <BR>Corad felt the ship rock for a moment just before Sasha gave the order to launch. with out hesitation or taking the time to acknowledge the order the pushed the controls of the shuttle to full thrusters and made his way to the coordinates. "Hang on team this could get interesting."<BR><BR>Sasha watched from the Bridge as the small shuttlepod rocketed away from the Challenger and quickly dodged its way through the mass of Coalition vessels. It looked like they'd easily rendezvous with the rapidly orbiting moon. Good. They didn't need any more trouble coming from there.</FONT></DIV></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><BR><BR><FONT face=Verdana>====================<BR>Lt Cmdr Corad Cole<BR>Armory Officer<BR>FCL-04 Challenger<BR></FONT></DIV></DIV>
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<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><FONT face=Verdana>Captain Sasha Spearling</FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><FONT face=Verdana>Commanding Officer</FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><FONT face=Verdana>FCL-04 Challenger</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><FONT face=Verdana>Ensign T'Lara</FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><FONT face=Verdana>Chief Science Officer</FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><FONT face=Verdana>FCL-04 Challenger</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><FONT face=Verdana><NPCs apb Anna></FONT></DIV></DIV> </div></body>
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