"Going On The Offensive"
Previous Post: "High Price"
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Stardate: 60298.1534
Setting: USS ANUBIS, Sickbay
There were times when being the CO of a starship was a rewarding adventure laced with honour and a privileges beyond anyone's imagination. This was not one of those times.
James entered Sick Bay and talked in hushed tones with the CMO and received a summary of the casualties of the Marines under his command. Four dead, several injured, and general battle fatigue. According to Lt. Pravat, the Marines had been in several pitched battles during their diversion away from the ANUBIS and on the surface of TALOR IV.
"They all fought well. However, we were surprised by the Jem'Hadar," the CMO told his CO. "We would have been all killed if they didn't retreat from a 2nd attack."
"That was the Hirogen's," James answered. "How would you like a chance to go after them?"
Pravat's jaw tightened. "Say the word, sir," he answered.
"I'm not talking about revenge, Pravat," James cautioned. "I'm talking about going on the offensive. Find 7 troops plus yourself that you trust to know the difference. Prepare for ship boarding. Understood?"
"Yes, sir," Pravat answered with enthusiasm as he met his CO's gaze with a standard military salute. "You will be where?"
"On the bridge," James answered dryly. "Dismissed."
The Marine officer turned and left Sick Bay to gather a portion of the remaining troops and prepare for the CO's next orders. The Captain of the ANUBIS took one long last look at the broken bodies that had been brought into Sick Bay and then left for the Bridge keeping his thoughts and feelings to himself.
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Stardate: 10298.1536
Setting: Bridge
"Status of all ships in the area," James shouted as he entered the Bridge taking the CSciO completely off guard, the Shillian having been completely immersed in some scientific research at her station.
=/\=Hirogen ship is standard stationary orbit over the ruins and communicating with troops on the surface,=/\= Enaii's hologram reported from the IGC. =/\=The Jem'Hadar are doing something similar, but from the sound of things their troops are in trouble.=/\=
"Put up a tactical display showing the planet and all ships," James ordered as he stepped towards the front of the bridge.
"Holographic display as requested," Lt. Seth said from Tactical.
The lights on the bridge dimmed so everyone could see the information. James walked down to the display and looked at the orbits of the Hirogens and that of the ANUBIS from every conceivable angle. "Display expected range of short range sensors of both the Hirogen ship in orbit and our best guess as to the base of operation of the Jem'Hadars on the planet since there are no other ships in orbit," James said.
"The range will be added as light blue spheres," Serenna answered from Ops. "I will account for interference from the planet as best I can since Lt. Maya is still trying to figure out its exact cause."
The display changed to show the blue area that was surrounding the Hirogen Tracker fully and a half sphere that estimated a base of operation that included a large part of the ruins Enaii and Pravat had visited in their own way. James moved in behind Major Tam at the FCO position and stopped.
"Major, can we make a weapons pass at the Hirogen ship that would not be detected by a base of operation on the surface?" the CO asked.
"Probably, but the attack would have to swift, performed at a very close range and most important be accurately lethal," the Oriental FCO answered. "We would have to stay cloaked until the last second and the re-cloak after the first volley of fire to avoid as much as possible to be detected by anyone. There would be no second chance."
"Plot the course on the tactical display and the projected window of weapons fire," James ordered.
The Major pressed some controls on his console and the course was plotted with a line with a red section near the sphere that extended upward from what had been guessed as the Jem'Hadar's base of operation.
"That is a tight window," Lt. Seth said from Tactical.
"Here is the plan," James said. "We have followed our lead to this planet. We have recovered something from the surface. That will take time to analyze. Meanwhile, we have no idea where Ensign Summers is or even if she is alive. While coming to this planet, we have encountered several races. Two are still here. We are going to find out what they know and why they are here." James paused to gather his thoughts and then continued.
"Step one is to disable with overwhelming force the Hirogen ship. The Jem'Hadar are not to know this is happening. After disabling the Hirogens, we will re-cloak and then use a similar tactic to disable the Jem'Hadar ship. One volley of weapons fire designed to completely disable but not destroy the ship. After the ship and base are disabled, we will board and gather any information we can from survivors and their computers. Between Tam, Serenna, and Seth I want a game plan in 2 minutes. Understood?"
"Aye, aye, Captain," the three officers said in unison.
James nodded and then moved to stand beside Maya at the Science station. As the officers conferred on the attack plan, James lowered his voice and addressed his Science officer. "Maya, find that cloaked ship. Jem'Hadar don't operate this far away from Dominion space without a Vorta to supervise. I suspect the phantom 'cloaked ship' you saw for a brief period is were the Vorta is operating from. If you find it, it will allow us to more accurately determine the range of their sensors and likely given us more room to disable the Hirogens. It will also go a long way for us to get more survivors from our second attack since we will actually have a target instead of a wide area guess."
"Yes, Captain," the CSciO said with a loud gulp, the task demanded of her not having been an easy one by any measures.
James went to the tactical station and opened a channel to the IGC while looking at his ExO who had returned to her station on the Bridge. "Enaii and Sabrina. After we disable the ships, you will lead separate boarding parties to get any information that is available. Lt. Pravat is forming his part of the boarding parties. You will take an engineering officer and 4 security folks each. Understood?"
=/\=Acknowledged,=/\= Enaii answered from the ICG while the redheaded woman did the same with a movement of her head.
**Time to go on offensive,** James thought to himself as he glanced back at the holographic tactical display that had been made to appear directly in front of the main view screen.
/\/\/\
Michael Reed
doriengard@aol.com
Captain James T. Simmons
Commanding Officer
USS ANUBIS
With a minor assist from the back row by…
==========
Sabrina Jones {sabrina_sweet@hotmail.com}
Commander Sabrina Rikar
Executive Officer
USS ANUBIS, NCC-18501
As well as…
Lieutenant Kittianna
Intel Coordinator
NEW ALEXANDRIA
"We are Grey, we stand between the Candle and the Star, between the Darkness and the Light"
-Entilza Delenn, Babylon 5
