"Taking Risks"
Previous Post: "Second Gathering"
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Stardate: 60325.1215
Setting: USS ANUBIS, Turbolift
Following their conversation with the CEO and CSciO, the three women returned to the bridge using the travel time to work out some of the more delicate details of the plan that had taken shape. With less than half an hour to their arrival tot he SURIAL System, time was of the essence.
Trying to look as confident as she could, the CO looked at the ILO, the memory of their little disagreement back in their quarters still fresh in her mind. "Have you come up with a way to deliver this virus?"
Appearing as she always did in public, as an unemotional operative who was in control of whatever situation she found herself in, Enaii nodded ever so subtlety. "Everything is ready. Lt. Fairborn helped."
Grinning at the idea of the passive Oltharian helping the likes of the ILO, the Romulan/Terran hybrid could only hope that Enaii had not been too hard on the man who seemed to be driven by a single desire: to help others. "Why use Lt. Fairborn? He is not an official member of the ANUBIS' Engineering staff."
Guessing that her reasoning was right, the CO answered the question for her wife. "Enaii and Elan have worked together before, so they are used to each other's unique and greatly opposing ways. Also, David and the rest of his staff were up to their eyeballs with keeping the ship in one piece, so it made sense."
Looking at the CO as if to suggest that she could have answered the question herself the ILO said nothing and waited for the turbolift to come to a stop. Enaii stepped out of the turbolift first as soon as the doors opened onto the ANUBIS' command deck, not giving the other two passengers a second glance.
Wanting to be brought up to speed as to the plan that they would soon be implementing, the XO approached the large Oltharian who had returned to his position as FCO. "I have been informed by Lt. Cmdr. Enaii to you two have worked out a way to deliver the computer virus Lt. Cmdr. Maya and Ens. Summers had been working on."
Turning to face the standing XO, Elan showed his respect by giving the Romulan/Terran hybrid as deep of a bow as his sitting posture allowed him to. "Actually it was a team effort, Ens. Doratheva was also involved and mostly responsible for our accomplishment."
Finding the Oltharian's modesty refreshing in many ways, the Romulan/Terran hybrid turned to look at the tactical station and the officer standing behind it, but before the XO could inquire once again as to the specifics of this delivery system the Sec/Tac officer spoke. "With all due respect sir, I only did what I was asked, it was Lt. Cmdr. Enaii that suggested a way we could transmit the viral infection."
Looking at Eva, the Romulan/Terran hybrid could see reflecting in the woman's face something that made it clear that the ILO had done more than simply 'suggested' a delivery method. Since it was become clear that no one involved in this part of the plan had been willing to speak, the XO turned her attention once again to Enaii who had taken her place at the Intel station. "I truly hate to interrupt this flurry of mutual admiration, but I would like to know what this delivery system is all about."
Seeing the CO looking at the ILO indicated to the Romulan/Teran hybrid that she had not been the only one curious about what Enaii, Elan and Eva had come up with. Whatever it was, the XO suspected that neither the Captain nor she would like what they would be told.
After having glared at the FCO and Sec/Tac for a brief moment, the ILO saw no other option but to reveal their plan, not that Enaii had actually wanted to keep this a secret from her fellow shipmates. "The primary phasers were modified to transmit a low energy stream that would be able to accurately carry the signal while being invisible to sensors."
Looking a little confused at to why the explanation had sounded so gloomy, the CO narrowed her eyes and stared at the ILO for a few moments. "That doesn't sound so bad, or did I miss something?"
Suspecting that the modifications mentioned by the ILO had been extensive and using her Tactical knowledge and experience to imagine how this could have been accomplished, the Romulan/Terran hybrid soon understood the apprehension that she had encountered by the other officers. "We do not have phaser capability, do we?"
Having remained perfectly calm during all of this, the ILO simply shook her head and shot a quick look across the bridge at the Oltharian who immediately perceived this as a signal for him to explain what had been done.
Not appearing to be ready to challenge the ILO's demands in any shape, way or form, Lt. Fairborn turned his chair around to face the inside of the bridge and the two women he needed to give the detailed explanation to. "The modifications to the primary phaser array were extensive and required that the entire assembly be taken offline so as to insure that no excess power inadvertently would find its way into the energy stream. If the power rating of this stream is off by even a single kilohertz, the data it carries would be rendered useless and greatly increase the odds of the beam and us being detected by one or more of the orbital platforms."
Not wanting the Oltharian to bare the sole responsibility of having been the announcer of bad news, Ens. Doratheva spoke, adding a reasoning to the technical aspect reported upon by the FCO. "It took me a few seconds to agree with the idea, but when Lt. Cmdr. Enaii pointed out that we were so heavily outgunned by the hundred or so weapons platforms out there, the lose of our phasers did not seem to be that important if it gave us the ability to avoid a conflict and disable the entire orbital defence net."
Although looking unimpressed by the announcement that the ANUBIS no longer possessed the ability to fire any phasers, the CO met the eyes of the XO for a brief moment before returning her eyes onto the ILO. "Taking chances seems to be the point of order of this mission, but I guess it's the *Intel* thing to do. Let me guess, we are going to have only one shot at disabling those satellites?"
Nodding her agreement, the ILO said nothing and continued to work at her station as if the entire conversation had never happened.
Returning her gaze to the front of the bridge, the CO motioned for the Romulan/Terran hybrid to take her post. "Well, since we'll have only one shot at this we'd better make it count. Ens. Doratheva, please have all other weapon systems on stand-by, just in case. Even without phasers, I suspect that we can make quite a dent in that orbital defence field if things get bad. Bridge to Lt. Pravat."
The MCO replied to the CO's call almost immediately, as if the marine had been expecting it. =/\= Go ahead Captain. =/\=
Looking back at the Intel station and the woman operating it, the captain gave out her instructions. "Have your men report to the SPHINX and ready for deployment. Lt. Cmdr. Serenna will meet you there and Lt. Cmdr. Enaii will provide you with a VIPER escort down to the planet's surface."
Sounding anxious to get back into action, the MCO acknowledged the orders received. =/\= We'll be ready sir. Pravat out. =/\=
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Serena Switt {serena1141@yahoo.com.au}
Lieutenant Commander Serenna 2005 post #340
Executive Officer
USS ANUBIS
