"First Step"
Previous Post: "Operational Hazards Are Part Of The Job"
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Stardate: 60298.1520
Setting: USS ANUBIS, Bridge
Approaching TOLAR IV under the protection of its cloaking armor had not saved the crew of the USS ANUBIS from avoiding the effects of the stress they had been under since pretty much the start of this mission. To say that all hell had broken loose would have been a severe understatement and every member of the crew could not wait for this crisis to be placed behind them once and for all, and the Romulan/Terran hybrid had not been an exception to this.
Supervising the operational needs of a ship the size of the ANUBIS would have been demanding under the best of conditions but amidst countless repairs, battles and trying to remain hidden from not one but two other ships in orbit of the planet they were heading for had not made things any easier. Yet despite all of the headaches, trouble and unexpected events the crew and ship had performed better than most could have expected, a fact that the COO could not avoid noticing not that she had wanted to. Once this mission would be completed they would all deserve some extended R&R which the Romulan/Terran hybrid doubted that they would get to enjoy because of the nature of their work as a ship attached to the secret Intel based known as NEW ALEXANDRIA.
Using every trick at their disposal the CO of the ANUBIS guided the ship closer to its target with the hopes that they would be able to get there in time to aid if not rescue those members of the crew currently on the planet surface. The announcement made by the Se/Tac officer was received by all as a mix blessing as it made their job easier while at the same time greatly reducing their window of opportunity. "The Cardassian Galor-Class ship is breaking orbit, it looks like they have lost their courage and will not be challenging the Hirogens.
Leaning back in his chair the CO nodded in understanding, had he been in the Gul's position Capt. Simmons would have likely done the same. Not only had the Galor-Class destroyer been an out-of-date model with out-of-date offensive and defensive systems but if what the ANUBIS' sensors had reported about the number of people on board the ship was accurate, a confrontation with the Hirogens would have meant certain death to the Cardassians, so a strategic retreat had been the only possible course of action. "Lt. Seth, keep an eye on the Cardassians, I doubt that they are going to abandon their claim for the Mind Stone but I suspect that they won't make any aggressive move against the Hirogens unless they are certain of coming up on top. Helm, move us in as close as possible to the planet but keep an escape route plotted just in case. Lt. Serenna, lock in on those two life forms that we detected and stand-by to beam them up. Number One, how does it look from up there?"
The XO took a few seconds to give her report as per the request of the Captain, her holographic image reflecting her looking around the IGC which had been restored to full operating status thanks to the dedicated work of the CEO and his people. =/\=No change from the Cardassians, looks like they have decided to become spectators to this little show, at least for the time being. The Hirogens are performing an extensive scan of the planet's surface so my guess is that they will be sending an away team down very shortly. Aside from those two life signs which we suspect to be Enaii and Nikita we are unable to get anything else, the sensors are unable to lock onto Pravat and his men probably because of something inside the ruins and the thickness of snow and ice that is on top of it. We'll have to either wait for them to come out or we will have to go down ourselves. Maybe the VIPERS could be used to offer both a diversion and air support.=/\=
Nodding once again the CO took in all of the information being given, allowing him to begin making a plan of action that they would follow in order to not only come out of this with everyone, but also with the artefact they had been sent to get. "Have the VIPERS prepped for launch, just in case."
Smiling through the holographic image present on the bridge, the XO seemed quite pleased with herself. =/\=Vipers already on stand-by captain.=/\=
Glaring over his shoulder at the image of his first officer, Capt. Simmons appeared both upset and amused all at the same time as he spoke, "Number One I would greatly appreciate you letting me give out the order before actually doing it. I could have very well refused your suggestion and asked you to prep the SPHINX for a land assault."
Taking the words spoken by the CO as they had been meant, a way to break the tension that had taken hold of the bridge and its crew, the XO never stopped smiling as she explained herself, =/\=The SPHINX is also prepped for launch, just in case. I also took the liberty of having the BARRACUDA verified and warmed up in the eventuality that the ice on TOLAR IV would suddenly melt and turn the planet into a gigantic ocean.=/\=
Smiling back at his XO, Capt. Simmons could hardly be angry at Rikar for having been as ready as she could be given the circumstances. Like David, Maya, and the other members of the ANUBIS' senior staff it was their dedications to their work that made the ship work beyond anyone's expectations making the impossible possible.
Returning his attention to the forward screen, the CO glanced at the shape of the Cardassian destroyer as the cloaked Intel ship slid past it undetected. Either the sensors of the Galor-class ship had been trained solely on the surface of TOLAR IV or the Hirogens, or there had been so few officers manning the stations of the Cardassian destroyer that they had not noticed the darkened mass pass near them. As strange as it might have been the CO had not been about to dismiss this good fortune and instead made sure that they would take full advantage of it while they could. "Do we still have those two life forms on sensors?"
Scanning her instruments the Romulan/Terran hybrid confirmed that the two life signs they had located on the planet surface had still been locked in by their sensors. "Both are still there and slowly moving away from the ruins, still no sign of Lt. Pravat and his men though."
Looking over at the Sec/Tac officer, the CO took the first step in what he hoped would be the final act of this mission. "Lt. Seth, please have security stand-by in Transporter Room 2, just in case. Lt. Serenna, lock on those two life signs and beam them to Transporter Room 2 as soon as security is in place. One way or the other I intend to get answers to the growing number of questions that I have."
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Serena Switt {serena1141@yahoo.com.au}
Lieutenant Serenna
Chief of Operations / Second Officer
USS ANUBIS
