"Tactical Observations"
Previous Post: "A Little Peace And Quiet"
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Setting: USS HATHOR, Bridge
Being limited to visual scans only, the Romulan/Terran hybrid and the rest of the HATHOR's senior staff stationed on the bridge could only watch and guess as to the horror unfolding onboard the Cardassian freighter. Shifting their focus onto the ship that the HATHOR had only barely avoided a collision with the Imperians' IMPs had turned and assaulted the second ship with an unimaginable vengeance.
Glancing over to the S/TAC the Romulan/Terran hybrid had almost been thankful that their sensors had not been able to penetrate the interference field which the sphere had generated. Depriving the HATHOR of being able to use its sensors to navigate had always shielded the ship and its crew from having a front row seat to the carnage that had more than likely been taking place onboard the freighter.
Not enjoying the role that his CO had relinquished them to, the Hirogen hunter remained at the tactical station offering a soft growl each and every time something could be seen on the HATHOR's main view screen. Being a prey had not been Uxtar's idea of what a hunter such as himself should be doing, but simply sitting there waiting had proven to be an even less palatable activity.
Interrupting the eerie silence that had invaded the command deck of the HATHOR, Ens. Stormwind asked a simple question as he watched something slowly drifting away from the Cardassian freighter. Despite squinting in an effort to bring the fuzzy image into focus the FCO had not been able to identify the small oddly shaped object, "What is that?"
Moving to the edge of her seat as if the few inches she had gained would have made any difference in her ability to discern the object in question, the Romulan/Terran hybrid tried her best to answer the question based on the way the object tumbled through the emptiness of space. Seeing the uneven outline of the unidentified *thing* the HATHOR's CO quickly began to dismiss potential answers leaving her with a few possibilities. "It could be part of a deck plate or a piece of the outer hull which was knocked loose during combat."
Possessing eyesight far more acute than that of the FCO or CO, the Hirogen S/TAC pointed out something that the others had missed and which would send them all searching along an entirely different path. "It can't be either; I can tell that the object is changing shape as it's spinning into space. It would have to be a very soft and malleable piece of metal to be able to do this or it would have to be…"
Cutting the Hirogen off with a gasp of terror the CMO made her presence on the bridge known to all indicating that the XO/CEO had escorted the two women back onto the command deck to show them what he had explained to them earlier. "That's a body! Are you telling me that the Imperians are jettisoning people out into space?"
Trying to meet the CMO's outrage with some basic reasoning and what little facts they had at their disposal the Romulan/Terran hybrid turned to face Lt. Summers. "Without sensors we are unable to know exactly what happened. For all we know the body could have been a casualty of the Imperians' initial assault on the freighter and that subsequent damage to the ship has just allowed the lifeless form to slip free through one of the opening punched into the outer hull by the IMPs."
Stepping up next to her friend the CNS appeared to share the disgust of the HATHOR's CMO and sided with the Doctor in voicing her emotions at the sight being displayed on the main view screen. "Either way, it was a horrible way to die."
Chiming in with a *logical* comment, the FCO turned away from the new arrivals and watched with unpassionate eyes the body continue to tumble through the vacuum of space. "There are no *good* way to die despite what Klingons might believe."
Casting a new veil of silence over the bridge, the last comment made by Ens. Stormwind appeared to have hit a nerve with everyone sending them into deep philosophical debates which no one seemed willing or ready to voice out loud.
Wanting to see herself and those onboard the HATHOR to be as far away from the threat the Imperians posed, the CMO went to speak but the hands of the CNS which had reached out to grab her arm made the Doctor reconsider her course of action. Looking into the eyes of her friend Lea could see that their presence here had been needed, if only to observe the Imperians at their worst and to insure that once all had been done they would not resume their course for SURIAL III. Appearing maybe overly cold and unfeeling to the plight of the Cardassians Susan reminded her friend that their primary objective had been to offer support to the ANUBIS as it strived to rescue the ILO.
Looking at the unfolding drama, or at least the small part of which they could see, the senior staff of the HATHOR waited as best they could to see if they would have to deal with the Imperians once again or if they would move in to render assistance once the Imperians would have claimed victory over the Cardassian freighter.
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Lieutenant Commander Serenna 2006 post #123
Stardate: 60342.1045
Serena Switt {serena1141@yahoo.com.au}
Commanding Officer
USS HATHOR
