Rumpleteazer's Rescue, part two
Posted on Sun Sep 11th, 2022 @ 11:01am by Lieutenant JG Alia Fitzgerald & Lieutenant Commander Rayek trLhoell & Lieutenant JG S'Lace
Edited on on Mon Sep 12th, 2022 @ 4:26am
1,196 words; about a 6 minute read
Mission: Into The Void
That there was in fact a cloaked ship in the vicinity was more than a tad alarming to the Romulan. Not for a moment did he believe that it was the ship he might have come from.
When the vessel decloaked, the Romulan studied the ship design carefully. It took only a moment for the information about the ship specs to come to mind. At least he recalled that much. "That's a B'rel class Klingon Bird-of-Prey. Maximum cruising speed of warp 8. Fore and aft torpedo launchers, and 2 disruptor cannons. The Klingons are supposed to be in alliance with the Federation... maybe they've come in response to the escape pods emergency beacon?" Though he was the one to suggest it as a possibility, even he didn't think it all that likely.
"What armaments does this shuttle have?" he questioned his tone serious, even as he leaned past the two chairs to look at their consoles to determine the answer to his question himself.
"It's a scout ship... we might tickle their navigational deflector if we try REALLY hard." She nodded to R'elle. "Keep the same heading. If they open fire, we'll see how good our shields are." Alia thought of the refractive shielding she had been told about. She didn't know what the process was, but it was supposed to be automatic. Either it would work... or it wouldn't.
The Romulan raised a single eyebrow skeptically at the Acting Commander's answer. In his estimation, she had no clue how to properly use the weaponry the scout ship did have. While he couldn't see what the payload was, the shuttle did have torpedoes and phasers both. A ship this maneuverable could easily be used to strategically target weaker spots on the larger ship and then run. Of course, that was a strategy best used partnered with a larger ship taking the focus off the shuttle - but it was still possible and would do far more damage that a mere 'tickle'.
The Commander's order to keep the same heading and not even attempt any form of evasive, struck the Romulan as odd. There was nothing to prevent the Klingon ship from targeting and firing on the shuttle - to his knowledge. Her willingness to test Federation shielding against Klingon fire-power was quite risky.
"Commander, I recommend at least initiating an evasive pattern. One clear shot by a Klingon disruptor cannon and there would be no shuttle left. Let's not give them that clear shot."
"Mr. Romulan... can they detect our scans? Do they know we know they know we are here?"
The addressed Romulan’s frown grew a bit more at the Acting Commander’s name for him. While he understood her reasons for such, he hated that it was necessary. For his people names were very important; to be called ‘Mr. Romulan’ was almost more painful than his wound earlier.
Moving past the slight insult, he answered her rather ridiculous question. “Does it matter? Our scans may not be detectable but our shuttle is.” (Or so he thought) He commented in exasperation.
"Then keep our course, Lieutenant. If they make any sign they are going to fire, decloaking, locking on, powering their weapons, then take all evasive actions immediately. No need for my command." She gave a bitter smile, "As long as they are going to pretend they aren't there, we're going to go along with the charade."
Her orders to the Vulcan were completely baffling to the Romulan, and his sense of self preservation had him wondering if it might have been better to have just been found by the Klingons. For a brief second her pondered, taking out the two Starfleet officers and then contacting the Klingon ship to make a trade; his life for the two women. But just as quick as it had popped into his thoughts the notion was cast aside as unworthy of him. He was better than that! Again there was that feeling that someone dear to him expected far more from him.
“I hope we all won’t regret your naivety.” The Romulan remarked as he took a seat behind the pilot. Then added “If there is anyway I can be assistance, let me know.”
The Vulcan smiled slightly and said to her patient, "Our apologies if our casual attitude regarding the enemy vessel perplexes you. We would explain it but our captain might not be pleased. However you will notice the vessel has not fired upon us. I assure you it is not out of fear that they hesitate," she glanced back at the screen, "Ah, I wonder how displeased the captain will be at that."
'That' was the B'Rel class beaming the escape pod up. S'Lace grimaced, "I hope there was nothing of importance in that pod."
The Lieutenant’s comments did nothing to alleviate the Romulan’s concerns, but rather added more questions - like why wasn’t the Klingon ship on comms making boisterous demands and laying claim to the escape pod? And why wasn’t the ship attempting to intercept the shuttle’s escape?
The answer seemed obvious - because the Klingon ship didn’t know anyone was around. But how? Was it a malfunction of the Klingon ship or some feature of this shuttle?
The Vulcan’s comment suggested it was the latter. Interesting.
His attention was drawn towards viewscreen at the the Lieutenant’s quip regarding his pod. “As do I.”
While he’d been trapped within, he hadn’t noticed anything beyond the standard trappings of a Federation escape pod. How he knew what was typical of a Federation design he still had know clue.
“Barring any interruption from our Klingon ‘friends’, how long will it take us to reach your ship?” he asked.
S'Lace spared Fitzgerald a glance before replying, "Not very long, in cosmic terms."
And with that she plotted a course for Lionheart. As she did so the Klingon vessel cloaked once more. Sensors determined that it was headed off...in the direction of Gabriel Station and Lionheart!
From behind the pilot, the Romulan leaned out a bit to get a clearer view of the shuttle's display screens. Thanks to his adjustments, the Klingon vessel was still detectable to their sensors - at least for a little while. For a moment, it seemed as if the cloaked ship was chasing down the shuttle, catching up quickly. But then the ship overtook them and continued on at near max cruising speed.
"It would seem that our 'friends' are headed the same way as us. Maybe it's to meet up with your ship.." the Romulan commented drily, watching for reaction from either of the two women.
S'Lace glanced at Fitzgerald.
"Orders?" she inquired mildly.
"We follow at best possible speed," Fitzgerald said after a moment's thought, "And when it looks like we are in a position to contact Lionheart without giving away our position we will." She knew their weapons wouldn't affect any possible battle but their duty lay on their ship and certainly, once aboard, they could assist.
She ramped up the warp drive and Rumpleteazer leaped forward at nearly warp eight to keep pace with the Klingon vessel...
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