"Tactical Obstacle"
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Setting: USS HATHOR, Bridge
Looking at the star-field whizzing past them, the
Romulan/Terran hybrid thought about the two *IMPs*
that the HATHOR and its crew would soon be going
head-to-head with. Giving the probes the acronym
that created a vision of something small and cute had
not pleased the hybrid having long believed that the
perception of an adversary played a large role in how
someone dealt with them. Going against 'mischievous
folkloric creatures' had not accurately portrayed the
Imperians and the threat they represented to the rest
of the galaxy.
Interrupting the silence that had invaded the bridge
of the HATHOR, the Hirogen Sec/Tac Officer reported on
the status of their high-speed rush to intercept the
*IMPs*. "Sensors are still unable to get a positive
lock on the two crafts, but the energy trail places
them less than 5 minutes ahead of us."
Turning to her XO, the Romulan/terran hybrid inquired
with nothing more than a look as to the status of the
deflector and revised energy pulse meant to weaken if
not disable the probes before they would get the
chance to display their full combat potential.
Glancing at his instruments, the XO/CEO confirmed that
the deflector had been charged and read, nodding his
head back to the CO in replay to her wordless
question.
Returning her attention to the front of the Bridge,
the CO rose from her chair and approached the FCO,
Ens. Stormwind. Having displayed a knack for
unorthodox piloting methods, the Romulan/Terran hybrid
had actually hoped that his less than standard
manoeuvres would come in handy should things not
happen as they had all hoped they would. "Helm, be
ready for a rapid drop out of warp and some fancy
moves, we may not get more than a second or two
warning."
Nodding with confidence Ens. Stormwind readied
himself, his fingers hovering only a few hairs' width
off from the controls as he waited for a signal from
anyone on the Bridge. Having learned to keep the
battle between his two sides out of sight of those
around him, the FCO inwardly smiled as his Human half
anxiously waited for the action to start and his
Vulcan side pointed out the logic in being prepared.
Adding his report to that of the Hirogen, the COO
brought everyone to the edge of their seats in a
matter measurable only in heartbeats, "Getting a
sensor echo directly ahead."
Confirming that the echo had been what they had
expected it to be would have been, under normal
circumstances, the right thing to do so as to avoid
engaging a friendly craft or something that had in no
way posed any sort of threat to anyone, but this had
not been normal circumstances. Quickly returning to
her seat, the Romulan/Terran hybrid gave a rapid
sequence of orders to everyone on the bridge. "Helm,
now! Deflector and weapons, stand-by!"
Looking intensely at the main view screen which had
been set to maximum magnification so as to give the
crew as much time as possible to react, the crew
scanned the image for any signs of what they had been
searching for. Being the closest one, it had made
sense for Ens. Stromwind to be the first to spot them
small silver-coloured crafts, "There! Directly ahead.
Changing course to avoid head-on collision."
Glancing over to her XO, the Romulan/Terran hybrid
saw that Dawson had already been well on his way to
fire the energy pulse, waiting for the perfect timing
so as to avoid the HATHOR from falling victim to its
own weapon. Watching the probes rapidly vanish at the
bottom of the main view screen, the XO/CEO reported on
his action. "Firing energy pulse, NOW!"
Following with the plan as it had been set, the
HATHOR was made to do a sharp 180 degree turn after
having flown past the two crafts so as to bring the
ship's primary weapon systems to bare on the two IMPs.
Having returned to the ship's proximity the senior
staff of the ship were all surprised to see the IMPs
*dead* in space.
Scanning his console, the COO reported on what the
HATHOR's instruments had been able to pick up,
"Sensors can barely confirm that those things are
right there. I can't tell you if the modified energy
pulse worked or if they are just bating us."
Not at all willing to take a chance, the
Romulan/Terran hybrid turned to the HATHOR's Sec/Tac
Officer and nodded only once, giving the Hirogen the
signal that he had been waiting for since the
beginning.
Grinning from ear-to-ear, which for a member of his
race was a very uncommon sight, Ens. Uxtar unleashed
the full offensive power of the HATHOR against the two
IMPs. Watching with great interest, the crew saw the
probes being pushed back like pebbles on ice, the
energy of the pulse canons deflecting off the
reflective surface.
Not accepting this, the Hirogen opened fire again,
pushing the two *IMPs* further away while still not
showing any signs of either craft suffering any damage
from the high-power attack that had been unleashed on
them.
Disbelieving what he had just witnessed, the XO/CEO
slammed the corner of his workstation with his fist,
displaying to all his frustration at their lack of
actual progress. Looking at the rest of the bridge's
staff, the XO sighed, "Now what?"
Scanning his station, the Hirogen shook his head.
"The energy pulse might have worked, but in order to
actually *destroy* the IMPS, it looks like we would
have to find a way to open them, thus allowing us to
get pass their reflective shielding."
Glaring playfully at his friend, the FCO's Human
side once again took full control as he commented.
"No problem, I'll just borrow a a set of tools from
our XO and snap the thing open."
Although not appreciating the *joke*, the
Romulan/Terran hybrid kept any comments to herself
mainly because as crazy as the suggestion had been,
it had been the only one they currently had available.
/\/\/\
Lieutenant Commander Serenna 2006 post #067
Stardate: 60341.1345
Serena Switt {serena1141@yahoo.com.au}
Commanding Officer
USS HATHOR
