"Tactical Update"
Previous Post: "Gathering"
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Stardate: 60325.1100
Setting: USS ANUBIS, Conference Lounge
Following the discovery of the defensive system in place around SURIAL III, the CO had been quick to call for a meeting of the senior staff to discuss ways of circumventing the orbital platforms without having to engage them straight on. Without knowing the exact weapons capability of these invisible artificial satellites, and keeping in mind that the ANUBIS had not been working at full defensive levels, the idea punching a hole through the planetary defences had never even brought to the table.
Being less than an hour away from SURIAL III, the CO had started the meeting of all senior officers with the only question that needed to be answered, "How do we get passed those cloaked orbital defence platforms?"
Having already dismissed the possibility of using the ship's transporter system to reach the planet's surface thanks to the data provided by the CSciO, everyone had been obliged to think of more direct means of reaching the planet and the crew of the MERCURY.
Taking the lead in offering a possible solution, the ANUBIS' CEO was the first to answer the simple question which did not possess a simple solution. "We could modulate a beam from the main deflector that would disrupt the sensors allowing us to get the SPHINX and a VIPER escort through to the planet."
Dismissing the idea of Lt. Dawson, Lt. Cmdr. Enaii spoke in her usual way not allowing any emotions to be present in her words. "That won't work."
Jumping to Enaii's defence, not that the ILO had needed it, the CSciO gave the explanation as to why the CEO's suggested would not have succeeded. "We are unsure as to how many of those things are in orbit, but what we can say with a certain level of certainty is that there are a lot of them, and the erratic course of their orbit around the planet makes it impossible to predict where any of them will be at any given time. The odds are that we would never be able to create an opening wide enough to insure the safety of the SPHINX and VIPERS."
Searching for another way, the ANUBIS' Sec/Tac presented the senior officers with another option, one that suited her and her department better than the first. "We could detonate several quantum torpedoes in the planet's high orbit. At best we would destroy some of those cloaked satellites and at worst we would disrupt the protection net, hopefully long enough for our landing team to make it through."
Founding her opinion on what little she knew about the cloaked satellites and the way the ILO had clearly appeared to be against this newest suggestion, the XO stepped up to the proverbial plate. "The explosions would likely alert the rest of the platforms of a problem causing them to respond accordingly, effectively closing the opening that we had hoped to create. In addition, any visible attempt to disable the defensive network will inform whoever is on the planet of our presence placing the lives of the MERCURY's crew in grave danger."
Looking annoyed by their inability to come up with a solution to rescue the crew of the MERCURY, the CMO let her frustrations out, regretting her words the moment that they had been spoken. "If we can't punch a hole in that orbital net, what are we expected to do? We can't just leave."
Reassuring Ens. Summers that the ANUBIS and its crew were not abandoning their mission the CO stepped in. "We are not going anywhere. This crew is the best in the fleet that is why we were all chosen to be here. We have encountered a door, now all we need is to figure out the key to open it."
Appearing as if an idea on the issue had begun to form in the back of her head, Ens. Mei gazed out of the large windows lining the back of the Conference Lounge. "Maybe we are going about this the wrong way."
Having peeked the curiosity of many present around the table, it was the XO who encouraged the CNS to elaborate on what she had said. "How so?"
Taking a moment to meet the eyes of all those present, Ens. Mei took a moment to think of a clean and simple way to explain what she had thought of, translating her vision into words not having been as simple as it might have seemed. "In counselling it is sometimes required to start with a broader approach and remedy until the specifics are discovered."
Looking at the other officers to get an idea of whether or not her explanation had made any sort of sense, the CNS saw a glimmer of understanding dawning on the face of the MCO. Nodding his head, Prav clarified what Susan had said. "If we cannot disable part of the defence net, disable *all* of it."
Announcing his scepticism at the idea, the CEO pointed out a few obvious problems with the latest suggestion that had been made. "We don't even know how many of those things are out there, so how do you plan of knocking them *all* out of commission, even if only for a few minutes?"
Looking as if she had suddenly been given the answer to all of her questions, the CSciO began to bounce in her chair warning everyone around her of the impendent explanation that was about to come. "Those orbital platforms have to be communicating with one another on some level or they would run the chance of colliding into one another, this means that the entire defensive net is somehow interconnected. If we could introduce an external agent that would be carried over the network we could, in theory of course, disable the entire net without alerting those on the surface of our presence. If they are monitoring the orbital net, they would think that some sort of broadband malfunction had taken place and begin to effect repairs giving us the time we need to get through. Of course there is the possibility that the platforms are able to self-repair, but even then we should have enough time to get out people down there and take care of business."
Appearing a little suspicious as to the specifics of the plan suggested by the CSciO, the CO tried to clarify the idea in more simplistic and direct terms. "You are suggesting that we *infect* the orbital platforms with some sort of computer virus?"
The CSciO frantically nodded her head showing that this was exactly what she had envisioned making everyone else feel a varying amount of relief in that she had not said anything more.
Looking pleased with the way the meeting had turned out, the CO moved the gathered officers onto the next phase of the job. "Alright, we now have the *what*, we have less than an hour to figure out the *how*. Let's get to work people."
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Serena Switt {serena1141@yahoo.com.au}
Lieutenant Commander Serenna 2005 post #335
Executive Officer
USS ANUBIS
