"Executive Deployment"
Previous Post: "Things Are Heating Up"
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Stardate: 60325.1330
Setting: SPHINX, Command Section
Looking at the SPHINX's speedometer the Romulan/Terran hybrid grinned inwardly while thinking about the pros and cons created by the surface conditions of SURIAL III. Being a desert world with little to no winds, an actually moderate heat level and a generally flat landscape, the planet had been as close as could be to what the CMO had described it as: a giant sandbox. Not having to fight the terrain meant that the SPHINX and its crew would reach the last known coordinates of the probe in little time, but moving as fast as they were also meant that they would not be able to sneak up on what had been agreed was the compound they had been looking for.
Closing in on the coordinates that had been relayed to Lt. Cmdr. Enaii onboard VIPER 1, the SPHINX was breaking every speed records letting the XO believe that from far away the land vehicle probably looked like a missile rushing towards its target, an analogy that was not all that far away from the truth.
Breaking into the 5 mile-radius range of the area where the probe had detected the heat signatures, Lt. Pravat confirmed with the sensors what the XO and the SPHINX's co-pilot had visually noticed. "I am not sure why, but VIPER 1 seems to have engaged the position that we are heading for."
Stretching her neck to look around the heads of the XO and CMO and through the forward windows of the SPHINX's command section, the CNS saw a stream of energy bolts shooting both from and to the horizon. Looking carefully Ens. Mei could see the interceptor swoop down unleashing its fury before rapidly pulling back up, miraculously avoiding everything that was being sent up at them. Knowing the ILO as she did, which was not all that much, the CNS commented on the scene that she had struggled to witness. "Whatever it was had to be pretty big to get her to commit the VIPER to this sort of attack. Granted she has the air advantage, but by the looks of things she is outnumbered 20-to-1."
Looking down at the readout of the SPHINX's speed once again and estimating the distance they still had to travel using the apparent centre of the conflict between VIPER 1 and its adversaries, the Romulan/Terran hybrid quickly devised a plan of action. "Lt. Pravat, get your men ready. We will take you in as close as possible but since the SPHINX's weapons are more then limited it will be up to you to provide Lt. Cmdr. Enaii with the additional firepower she needs to overtake the external defences of that compound."
Jumping out of his seat and heading to the section where the rest of the Marines were located, the Marine 1st Lieutenant bounced into action and started giving out instructions to his men even before he had left the command section of the SPHINX. Following the departure of the MCO, the CMO offered an additional course of action that actually took the Romulan/Terran hybrid by surprise. "We should recall all of the probes that were sent out and have them converge on that location. They are not armed but their presence and numbers would provide Lt. Pravat with additional cover."
Looking at Ens. Summers with a raised eyebrow, the XO could not contain the surprise that she felt causing her to actually smile if only for a moment. "Doctor, that is a great idea, one that I have to admit I am sorry I did not think of myself. Maybe you should be thinking about a secondary position as tactician."
Appearing as if the Romulan/Terran hybrid had insulted her with that comment, Ens. Summers huffed and glanced towards the passageway leading to where the Marines were preparing. "Sorry to get your hopes up Commander, but my suggestion has nothing to do with giving Lt. Pravat and his men a tactical advantage, my only concern was to insure that I have as few of them as possible to treat for injuries."
Not at all looking surprised by the CMO's admission, the Romulan/Terran hybrid nodded. "Doctor, you would might be surprised to learn that warfare tactics are not only meant to give one side an advantage over the other, most of the time they are meant to simply help our side a little more, which your suggestion will very nicely do. Ens. Mei, since Lt. Pravat is currently occupied, please take care of getting the probes back and having them converge on the area up ahead."
Acknowledging the order given with a quick 'aye sir' Ens. Mei returned to her station and sent out the recall signal to the probes as well as the new instructions. Having confirmed that the signal had been sent and received by every probe except for the one that had been shut down, the CNS had been ready to report on her progress when a loud explosion, followed by several others caused her to hold on for dear life instead.
Scanning her instruments, Ens. Summers quickly reported on what had happened. "I'm picking up ground level defence batteries 300 feet left and right of us. We are caught in a cross fire and if we try to get any further I suspect that we may not be in any shape to do anything."
Analysing the situation as fast as she could and using her experience as former S/Tac officer, the Romulan/Terran hybrid went with the only option available to them. "Lt. Pravat, this is as far as we can take you. Take out the defence parameter system then move in on the compound. We will try to give you as much cover as we can."
By the time the XO had finished giving out the order the side doors on either side of the SPHINX had already been opened and the Marines had begun to deploy, firing their hand-held weapons the moment their feet hit the planet's sandy terrain.
Still holding on to her chair while the SPHINX received shot after shot, the CNS made an observation that was immediately agreed upon by the two remaining officers onboard. "Guess we figured out why Lt. Cmdr. Enaii engaged the enemy. She probably saw what the probes had missed."
Trying to see how the Marines were doing, the Romulan/Terran hybrid hid her concerns from the others and chose to comment on the actions of the ANUBIS' ILO and of the VIPER which she could see continuing the engagement up ahead. "We may end up owing her for that one. Judging by the locations of the batteries, we would have likely been caught in a 4 or maybe even 6-way cross fire if the defence parameters had not been already activated. Now let's just hope that we will get the chance to thank her once this is all over."
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Serena Switt {serena1141@yahoo.com.au}
Lieutenant Commander Serenna 2005 post #347
Executive Officer
USS ANUBIS
