" Take 2 "
(Previous Post was Julian's "The Sound of Inevitability")
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Setting: USS ANUBIS, Bridge
Stardate: 60324.1900
The young woman sat in the central chair, a sight that actually took
many by surprise as the redheaded woman had gained a reputation that bordered
on fearing the seat that she was currently resting in. To say that the CO
had been resting though would have been complete inaccuracy as Rikar's
attention bounced from the PADD she held in the hand, the one that rested on the armrest of her chair and the main view screen which displayed the
tactical readout of their destination.
"Looks good… by the time we get back home I might have to send all of this to the Academy to that they can add it to their training scenarios." The young woman joked, knowing all too well that the knowledge of the events that had and would transpire here would not go any further than the desk of the NEW ALEXANDRIA's CO.
"Engineering reports that the installation of the holographic emitters on all 3 VIPER-Class Interceptors has been completed." Annie reported from the front section of the bridge, the Avatar having taking back her initial role as the ship's FCO as well as that of Ops officer for the time being. David had required that all available crewmembers report to him to help with the work that needed to be done despite that background in Engineering. Time was of the essence and each extra set of hand reduced the amount of time the ANUBIS would require before being fully ready to once again attempt to find out what had happened to the MERCURY's crew. Luckily for the CEO, the CO had not qualified to be part of the extra help due to her other responsibilities, something that Rikar was certain Dawson had been very thankful for.
"Alright… As soon as I have this all figured out I'll head to Deck A-3 and get ready to fly the lead VIPER." The CO announced immediately attracting the attention of the ExO who had also been busy with the preparations.
"Captain… with all due respect, you cannot take the lead of the VIPERs." The half Human, half Romulan woman said with authority and determination. Normally such a conversation would have been taken away from the main deck and brought into a more secluded area such as the Conference Lounge of the CO's Ready Room, but since there had only been 3 people on the bridge, 1 of them being an android, the redheaded woman saw no need to move to another local.
"I know that the place of a CO is on board their ship… but it is not like we have that many other options. There were only 3 people qualified to fly the VIPERs on this crew, and 1 of them is now comfortably sitting behind a desk. Enaii and I are the only 2 left and it is going to take everything we have to make sure that whoever is sitting in that third cockpit doesn't go flying off to who-knows-where." The young woman quickly countered with having pointed the exact same thing many times to the ANUBIS' former CO. Rikar could not help but grin at the irony of the situation where she was on the receiving end of the argument that she had so often made a point to point out to James.
"I have reviewed the schematics of the VIPER-Class Interceptors… and I have come up with an alternate possibility that will not only make the flying of the *3* ships easier but will also allow you to remain here on the ANUBIS." The ExO promptly offered as she made her way around her station and towards the central chair where the CO had been sitting.
"You are not going to tell me that you have learned how to fly a VIPER in just a few minutes?" Rikar queried, not entirely convinced that the feat she had specified had not been within the reach of the ANUBIS' new First Officer.
"I have not…" Serenna reassured as she handed a PADD to her CO who quickly took it and began to read the information contained on it out of sheer curiosity.
"You are kidding… right?" The young woman gasped as she read the plan described on the handheld device.
"I am not… with the use of the Pharaoh Helm, I am certain that Lt. Cmdr. Enaii would be able to pilot all 3 VIPERs simultaneously. This would enable all 3 ships to act and react as 1 insuring that the holo-matrix remains stable and that the image of our *twin* remains intact for the duration of this plan." The hybrid explained, obviously having already done her research in the matter if not having mentioned the possibility to the ILO herself.
"It would likely take several engineers a few hours to interlink the flight systems of all 3 VIPERs… and we simply don't have that kind of time or manpower to spare." The CO offered as she shook her head, not at all willing to place such a burden on anyone despite of their track record or of their untapped and unmentioned abilities.
"The modifications would require no more than 2 engineers and would take only 15 to 20 minutes to accomplish." The ExO clarified, torpedoing the redheaded woman's argument as if it had never been said.
"I can tell that winning any sort of argument with you as First Officer is going to be a challenge." The young woman sighed having accepted that the situation offered by her ExO had been far better than the 1 the CO had earlier embraced.
"I would not be a good First Officer if I made things too easy for you… Captain." The half Human, half Romulan woman said in such a way that the redheaded woman wondered for a moment if the words had been meant as a joke or had been spoken out of absolute seriousness.
"Very well… inform Lt. Dawson and his staff that they have yet another task to accomplish." The young woman ordered thinking to herself afterwards that at least this new task had not been her fault.
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Setting: USS ANUBIS, Array Section, Deck 3, VIPER Launch Corridor 2
Stardate: 60324.1930
The ILO sat in the cockpit of the lead VIPER, Lt. JG Hallina
Xahitio-Marris having been asked to take on the role of co-pilot for this particular mission. Because of the unique abilities of the Imorrian, Enaii and Serenna had both come to a quick agreement that Hallina had been the best
choice for the position despite her having no knowledge of the Interceptor class ship.
While they prepared for launch, Enaii took a moment to glance out of the cockpit and towards the two launch corridors located on either side of her present location. There she could see the other 2 VIPERs also ready to launch but with 1 drastic exception… no pilots or co-pilots could be seen at their controls.
"VIPER interlink confirmed… systems across all 3 ships are reading nominal. We are ready to go." The Imorrian announced from the back seat of the lead VIPER making the ILO look down at the special helm designed to bridge the gap between pilot and craft before placing it onto her head.
"VIPER 1 to bridge… we are ready." Enaii announced with the calmness and coldness that had been hers to command.
=/\= Bridge… Rikar here… is everything alright? =/\= The CO inquired, allowing herself a short moment to react as a wife instead of a ship's CO.
"We'll be fine… Launching!" Enaii unemotionally countered with as she gave the 'go' signal making 3 lights rapidly rush down the launch corridor towards the VIPER she was in. When the lights reached the ship, the automated boosters triggered which propelled all 3 ships through the launch corridor at such a velocity that despite her training the ILO had been unable to resist being shoved back against her seat.
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Setting: USS ANUBIS, Bridge
Stardate: 60324.1940
"All VIPERS are moving into position." The half Edo, half Betazoid
woman in charge of Security onboard the ANUBIS reported, she and the rest of the senior officers having returned to the bridge and their stations.
"Looks like the interlink is working perfectly… all 3 are moving as 1." The CEO added, not ready to assign any part of this success to the sole pilot who had taken on the daunting task of flying not 1 but 3 Interceptors simultaneously.
"Alright people… if everyone is ready… lets get this show on the road." The young woman announced doing her best to camouflage whatever reservations she might have had about the possible outcome of their plan. There had been so many things that could happen that the CO had decided to instead focus on their objective, knowing that the crew of the ANUBIS was more than capable of taking care of anything that would get in their way.
"Here goes nothing…" David nervously offered as he diverted all available power to the shield generators in order to have them perform the additional task that the CSciO and acting FCO had envisioned for them.
"Shield modifications are coming online… harmonics frequency rotating at a rate of 10 MHZ per second. If all of the information we have about those nightmarish creatures is accurate, this should be more than enough to slow down any attempt of boarding the ship." The Shillian reported making the CO check on the readiness of the other half of their internal defence systems.
"Bridge to Lt. Pravat… report."
=/\= I have teams set-up in every critical location… if those things show their faces, we'll be ready to send them back where they came from in a hurry. =/\= The Marine CO replied with a level of confidence that the young woman found endearing.
"VIPER holographic projection appears to be stable and working within expected parameters. Sensor distortion field also working as expected… as far as those Cardassian are concerned they are going to think that there are *2* SCARAB-Class ships heading their way… and neither 1 of them is happy." The CEO reported, happy to see that another of the countless rushed jobs that had been given to him and his staff had been successfully accomplished.
"Ens. Doratheva… sound general quarters… Lets have as few bodies getting in the way. Helm, set course back to the last known coordinates of the MERCURY and take us in at full impulse." The CO ordered, the time having come to put an end to whatever the Cardassians had been doing in that region of space.
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Setting: USS ANUBIS, Sickbay
Stardate: 60324.1945
The CMO and Cns stood in the middle of the room as they looked at the
empty biobeds all around them before their eyes met with nervous anxiety.
"Here we go again." Susan sighed, having opted to be in the well lit Sickbay along with Lea and Pravat instead of alone in her office or underfoot on the bridge.
"Don't worry… I won't let anything happen to any of you." The Marine reassured as he charged his weapon to full power, leading the rest of his team present in the room to do the same.
"This feels like a bad sequel…" Lea mumbled, expecting that at any moment another sub-space aperture would open inside her department and that another of those multi-legged beasts would invade the ship once again confirming that this was not a dream, but rather a true to life nightmare.
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Sabrina Jones {sabrina_sweet@hotmail.com}
Captain Sabrina Rikar
Commanding Officer
USS ANUBIS, NCC-18501
"We are Grey, we stand between the Candle and the Star, between the
Darkness and the Light" 2005 post #301
-Entilza Delenn, Babylon 5
