"Multiple Surprises"
Previous Post: "Life, Death, Life, Things of That Nature"
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Setting: USS HATHOR, Bridge
Scanning the surface of SURIAL III along with its ionic atmosphere had revealed several interesting facts, none of which had helped to make their immediate situation any better. According to what they had discovered on the surface several Cardassian ships had been made to crash and break apart into small pieces letting the crew of the HATHOR only guess as to the possible involvement of the Imperians. Discovering one such crash might have been a coincidence but the finding of multiple had left little doubts in the minds of the Romulan/Terran hybrid.
Having joined the others on the Bridge, Doctor Summers and Ens. Mei had sided with the XO to help search the atmosphere for any traces of their missing ILO. Using all of the available information at their disposal the three officers had been reluctant to point out that the electromagnetic readings they had so far observed seemed to be much lower than anticipated. Looking at the Romulan/Terran hybrid from the science station where the three officers had gathered, the CMO tried to give a possible explanation. "Our sensors might just not be calibrated to the right frequency. The sensors of the ANUBIS are much more accurate than those of the HATHOR."
Knowing that what they had failed to find in the atmosphere could not be entirely accounted to the differences between the two ship's equipment, the XO/CEO pointed out the more likely alternative. "We could be too late."
Wanting to agree with her XO, the Romulan/Terran hybrid remained silent being very aware that hope had been the one thing that had brought them this far and that confront the ANUBIS' CO with this unsavoury possibility would be worse than going against an Imperian assault party.
Changing the focus on the conversation, not that he had been given any choice in the matter, the HATHOR FCO reported on what his instruments had picked up and what his eyes had confirmed immediately after. "Commander, we might have a problem! The orbital defence platforms have been activated."
Triggering a wave of surprise throughout those present on the bridge, the announcement sent each and every officer rushing to their battle stations since no message had been received from the ANUBIS informing them of the reactivation of the armed satellites.
Having performed a quick tactical evaluation of the situation, the Hirogen Sec/Tac brought everyone's mind at ease by reporting the apparent target of the orbital defence platforms. "The satellites did a thorough sensors sweep of the planet's surrounding before turning to the planet itself and its atmosphere. According to this, a subspace link has been established between all of the satellites and the ANUBIS so my guess is that they have taken control of them."
Sounding a little miffed the XO/CEO glared at the
Romulan/Terran hybrid as he voiced his displeasure.
"Might have been nice for them to let us know they
were about to do that instead of not saying anything
and scaring the daylights out of us."
Grinning at the large engineer, the CMO nudged him on
the shoulder and made full use of this unique
opportunity which she ahd hoped would help to lift
some of the stress that had all of a sudden been
dropped over their heads. "David, I didn't realised
you scared so easily."
Looking at the blonde woman standing right next to
him with an expression of unappreciative disbelief the
XO/CEO could see that the CMO had been as terrified as
the rest of them had been when the FCO had made his
announcement. Possessing enough firepower to destroy
a ship ten times their size, there had been ample
reasons to fear the unexpected reactivation of the
orbital defence platforms that had been set around
SURIAL III.
Figuring that their presence in the planet's upper
atmosphere might be a cause for problems, the
Romulan/Terran hybrid calmly eased herself back into
her seat and gave a new set of instructions to Ens.
Stormwind. "Helm, move us away from the planet. It
looks like our immediate role in this mission has been
moved from helping with the search to insuring that
everything goes well."
Complying with the new instructions the half Vulcan
FCO carefully manoeuvred the HATHOR into a position
from where they would be able to keep an eye on the
ANUBIS, SURIAL III and the entire system in case
whatever had destroyed those Cardassian ships decided
to pay them a return visit.
Using their sensors to the best of their limited
capabilities, at least when compared to those of the
ANUBIS, the crew of the HATHOR remained vigilant and
watchful knowing that the Imperians had a bad habit of
remaining undetected until the very last moment.
Listening to the stillness that had taken hold of her
bridge, the Romulan/Terran hybrid could only hope that
the next sound she would hear would be a communication
from the ANUBIS informing them of the success of their
search.
Breaking the silence with an entirely different new,
the Hirogen announced the result of his latest sensor
sweep of the planetary system of which SIRUAL III was
a part of. "Commander, sensors are picking up a large
mass heading our way. Actually the sensors are
picking up a sensor *void* which is moving towards the
planet."
Thinking that the void could have been another way
for the Imperians to hide their ships from other
races' sensors, the XO/CEO tried to shed some light on
this latest surprise to befall them. "It's not a
natural phenomenon, the edges of that *void* are too
smooth."
Anticipating what she considered to be the worst
possible scenario, the Romulan/Terran hybrid offered a
possible cause for this so far unexplained hole in
their sensor field. "Could is be another IMP?"
Appearing less than thrilled with what had been made
to appear on his tactical instruments, the Sec/Tac
refuted the idea with a simple yet very terrifying
fact. "Unless the Imperian inside that probe is at
least 50 feet tall, I don't think we are dealing with
an IMP. The sensor void seems to be originating from
a single large source, one that will be in orbit of
SURIAL III in less than 20 minutes."
Having little other choice in the matter, the
Romulan/Terran hybrid gave another set of
instructions, these one aimed to everyone on the ship.
"Helm, set an intercept course for that void. Number
One, try an get us some additional information on it
before we get too close. Tactical, bring the ship to
battle stations."
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Lieutenant Commander Serenna 2006 post #107
Stardate: 60342.0900
Serena Switt {serena1141@yahoo.com.au}
Commanding Officer
USS HATHOR
