"Simulated Reality"
[Previous post: "Executive Trials"]
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Setting: USS HATHOR, Bridge
As far as simulations went, this one had been as real as could be. So
far the HATHOR had engaged over half a dozen Orion pirates sending them
all into the hereafter on a blaze of fire. Although larger than the
HATHOR, the Orion ships had quickly found out that the small ship
packed quite a punch. Actually several punches if you wanted to be technical
about it.
"That last ship we fired upon was not Orion," Nico said from the
Tactical station.
"Explain," the CO demanded.
"Not sure, but it looks like they were using some sort of holographic
masking field to trick both our sensors and visual scans." The
Nausicaan said, growling under his breath at not having spotted the deception
earlier on in the battle.
"Great!" Uxtar chuckled, "we have computer with a sense of humor."
"How do you figure that?" Nico asked while still trying to make sense
of the jumbled sensor readings he was getting.
"Forget for a moment that this is only a simulation and think about it.
We are in a ship with a cloaking device and we end up going against a
ship that is using a holographic cloak," Uxtar said. "I think it's
ironic and funny."
"Well you might not think this is all that funny," Nico said having
figured out why the sensor readings had been so jumbled. "That Orion
ship is actually a Tholian cruiser and it's coming in for another pass
at us."
"Evasive maneuver Delta-3 Mr. Uxtar," the CO ordered, the idea of going
head-to-head with a Tholian ship not having been her idea of a smart
move.
"Maybe now would be a good time to engage the cloaking device," Nico
suggested. As powerful as the HATHOR was, and even if this had been
only a simulation, fighting against a Tholian cruiser had not been
wise.
"Not yet," the CO replied. "We have an ace up our sleeve and we need
to keep it until the very last moment. Ens. Uxtar, continue evasive
maneuvers. Keep that ship off our tail."
"I'll do what I can," the Hirogen hunter said, "but running away is not
my strong point."
"Set course 211 mark 46," Nico said from the tactical station. "There
is a plasma field which we might be able to use to our advantage."
"If we go in there and they open fire on us we will be vaporized!"
Uxtar argued, thinking that the Nausicaan had suddenly gone suicidal.
Having gone through more simulations and actual combat than the two
warriors combined, the CO quickly picked up on the plan suggested in
part by Nico. Had the Sec/Tac not been a Nausicaan, the Romulan/Terran
might have openly congratulated the Ensign for his ingenuity, but
instead she simply added to what Rostov had said. "Set course as
indicated and increase to maximum impulse speed. We want them to chase
us, or at least make them believe that they are chasing us."
It took a little while but Uxtar finally caught on. "We are going to
engage the cloaking device just as we hit the edge of that field making
the Tholians believe that we went in."
"So you are not as stupid as you are ugly," Nico laughed, glad to see
that the Hirogen had figured it all out, even if a little later than he
should have.
"38 seconds to edge of plasma field," Uxtar said ignoring the last
comment made by Nico, knowing that it had been meant to rattle him.
"Ens. Rostov, stand-by to engage cloaking device on my mark. Ens.
Uxtar, as soon as we are cloaked do an about-face and bring us at
point-blank range of that Tholian ship. Once we open fire I want there
to be nothing more than space dust."
Uxtar nodded his head and prepared for the maneuver, already
anticipating the breathtaking fireworks that would take place when the
HATHOR would be in place, beneath the belly of the Tholian crusier.
###
And
Flight Control Officer 2005 post #538
Stardate: 60330.0630
Mark Hutchings {h172mark16@fastmail.us}
Ensign Uxtar
VIPER Pilot
USS ANUBIS
USS HATHOR
