Trekfire turn 64 pt2 - The Charge of the Light Brigade


Sorry its taken so long for this installment, having kids in hospital does 
that...

the rest of the turn should be coming through shortly..



*		 *		 *		 *		 *		 *

The Indigo system, USS Albuquerque

“USS Albuquerque, this is Indigo Prime. We acknowledge your response and 
accept gratefully any aid you can give. Following this transmission is a 
download received from our Corsair Squadron. We are setting up a relay for 
direct communication to then on frequency Theta seven. Indigo Prime over.”

“Comms, pipe that download to the briefing room. All senior officers to 
report there in two minutes,” Lassiter said rising from the command chair.  
His first officer, the big Proximan female known as Tigger rose from her 
station at the aft of the bridge, as did weapons chief M’benga. M’benga’s 
post was taken over by an ensign as all three headed towards the turbolift.

By the time they arrived at the conference room, the other officers, 
engineering, medical, security and sciences were already present.

Taking their seats at the conference table, attention was turned to the 
triangular pedestal that held a data screen on each of its three faces. 
Pressing a button at the base, Tigg activated the viewers and started the 
data screen that had been relayed from the Indigo fleet.

Seven larger vessels, approximately the same size as the Albuquerque were 
holding formation along with three smaller ships, more than likely frigates. 
All bore the unmistakable flying hunting bird marking of the Romulan Star 
Empire. At the centre of the formation were four blockier craft. As big as 
the cruisers, they were non the less of a completely different design even 
though they wore the same colours as the warships.

The screen changed to a tactical layout. Icons representing the Romulan 
fleet showed them in a defensive formation. Two cruisers held point, then 
the rest of the cruisers and frigates lay line abreast between them and the 
four dissimilar vessels. Facing off with them at a range of five and a half 
light seconds were ten symbols depicting the Indigo interceptor fleet; the 
Corsair Wing. The Indigo had threatened their rear, and the Romulans had 
turned at bay to warn them off.

Finally the view shifted once more into a system view depicting the relative 
positions of the planetary bodies, warp points and positions of the fleets. 
The Albuquerque was present on this plot, twice the distance and on the far 
side of the systems main inhabited planet of Indigo Prime.

“Alright you blokes, good news and bad news. Wha’d’ya reckon?” Lassiter 
threw it out to the whole table.

De’Sault, the French engineer gave his view first. “We are barely combat 
worthy. Shields are operational, but much of the hull is already 
compromised. As soon as these shields collapse we will be taking heavy 
damage. Are there no other units in the area?”

Lassiter shook his head. “Epsilon Indi or Domwaltz. One jump for’ard or 
backward. Any idea of intercept times yet?”

Tigg growled to clear her throat then started supplying figures. “Ourrr time 
to interrrcept assuming the Rrromulans trravel at prrreviously noted speed 
and do not change courrse will be six days, eleven hourrrs fifteen minutes. 
Assuming that the fleet in Domwaltz is still guarrrding the warrrp point, 
the fastest unit could theorrretically interrrcept the Rrrromulans in 
nineteen days eight hourrrs.” The Proximan paused for a moment. 
“Unforrrtunately if we assume that they arrre headed forrr Indigo Prrrime, 
they will rrreach orrrbital bombarrrdment rrrrange in just overrr nineteen 
days and two hourrrrs.”

“Bugger”, whispered Lassiter, almost to himself.

M’benga was the next to speak. “I myself am interested in the makeup of the 
Romulan fleet. Three of the ship types are known to me, but two are new. How 
will this affect our tactics?”

De’Sault reached forward to rewind the display. “I also have noticed this. 
These ones, similar to what we know as Warbirds, yet there are differences 
around the nacelles and support pylons, non? I am thinking that the pylons 
have been strengthened, maybe to accommodate a more powerful engine in the 
nacelle? The rest of the hull looks unchanged, but I am thinking that these 
ones will be faster than those we have come across before.”

“And the others?” inquired Lassiter.

The Frenchman shrugged. “I can give you nothing definite. The markings 
indicate they are Romulan, oui. However the hull is completely different to 
all other classes. The engines are small and week, so they will have similar 
tactical speed and maneuvering compared to the others. The hull also shows 
streamlining, so I would say that these could enter atmosphere. No weapon 
ports I can see. Perhaps a cargo train or colliers?”

“That would go along with theirrr positioning in the fleet,” interjected 
Tigger. “But the design seems familiarrr. I think this is similairrr to a 
design we Prrroximans have supplied to Starrrfleet. Multiple man sized 
entrrry porrrts, morrre than is needed for a lightly crrrewed 
frrrreighterrr. Few bulk carrrgo sized doorrrs.” The slitted eyes scanned 
the assembly. “These are planetarrry trrroopships. The Rrrromulans arrre 
planning a planetarrry subjugation.”

*		 *		 *		 *		 *		 *

Indigo system outer fringes, Indigo Corsair Squadron, aboard Corsair 3.

Gr’alk listened intently to the vox system, the message from the Starfleet 
vessel having been relayed to the squadron from control on Indigo Prime. It 
had come in over the secondary squadron channel, simulcast to all vessels in 
the intercept group.

The voice was that of the Starfleet captain known as Lassiter.

“Corsair Squadron, this is Captain Robert Lassiter of the USS Albuquerque. 
We have analyzed the data you have supplied and it is our opinion that you 
are currently trailing a planetary invasion force, course vector probably 
indicating that Indigo Prime is their target. ETA to target we make at just 
over nineteen standard days. The aggressors have been confirmed as warships 
of the Romulan Star Empire. While we will be in a position to give direct 
aid in just under 6.5 standard days, we must advise that the Albuquerque has 
already sustained damage and is less than a hundred percent combat worthy. 
Even added to your own forces, we do not believe we will be able to cause 
enough damage for the Romulans to call off the attack.”

“We have, however already sent a request for aid from the closest Starfleet 
vessels. As long as we can do enough to buy some time, delay them in some 
way for at least 7 hours or more, we should be able to muster enough force 
to keep them away from the civilian population.”

“I therefore respectfully suggest that you hold off on any aggressive moves 
until we can rendezvous with your fleet, then we can use our combined forces 
to harry the intruders and buy enough time for the rest of the fleet to 
arrive. Lassiter out.”

Static emanated form the vox speaker for a short while then was replaced by 
another more familiar voice. “Captain Lassiter, this is Squadron Leader 
D’rin’th of the Corsair Wing. We thank you for your offer of aid, and accept 
the tactical evaluation you have made. However as you have pointed out, it 
will take at least a third of the time we have available for you to get into 
position, and time is a commodity that is in rare supply. I have studied the 
way in which these… Romulans.. maneuver, and we will be making an attempt to 
intercept at the earliest possibility. While they are still a long way away 
from my people. D’rin’th out.”

It would of course take a fair while, even at light speed for the message to 
reach the Starfleet ship; longer for them to reply.

Gr’alk turned to his bridge officers. On the cramped interceptors of Corsair 
Wing, there were only four bridge positions. Pilot, gunner, engineer and his 
own command station slightly above and to the rear. It was evident in their 
expressions that they understood that an attack was now imminent. The first 
time ever that the Indigo had fired a shot in anger.

The vox crackled into life once more. “Corsair Wing, make battle ready. I do 
not think the enemy will stay here forever. We will begin our attack run as 
soon as the fleet turns away.”

Across the squadron, the interceptor crews made the final preparations to go 
into combat. Gr’alk plugged the cord of his pressure suit into its jack 
point and felt the fluidics compensate by swirling around the musculature of 
his body, then flicked the switch that lowered his command chair into the 
reclined battle position. Noting that his officers were also now reclined, 
he cut the bridge lighting.

A derivative of the Stargazer exploration vessels used by the Epsilon Indi 
before they joined the Federation, The SGI (StarGazer Interceptor) ships had 
been heavily modified for combat duty. Gone were the computer and sensor 
arrays, gutted to make way for the mass of a larger armour belt. Gone too 
was the missile system, replaced by laser emitters which while far shorter 
ranged gave a far more effective punch in combat.

However other compromises had to made, for the lasers were far more power 
hungry on a ship this size. Hence the need for pressure suits,  as power 
would be leached from the inertial dampening system and a certain amount of 
G-force would be evident through the weakened field. Gravity, lighting, heat 
and all other non-essential systems would be either turned off or set to 
minimum power usage. Non combatant personnel would be restricted to 
insulated acceleration webs for the duration of the fight.

Across the squadron ships started to report their readiness states.

“Corsair Seven standing by.”

“Corsair Two standing by”

“Corsair Four standing by”

Checking the telltales that showed all systems at combat power settings and 
that all crew were strapped in, Gr’alk made his signal.

“Corsair Three standing by.”

All other ships in the flight checked in, the last being the inexperienced 
crews of Corsairs eight, nine and ten whose ships were still undergoing 
their shakedown period.

“This is Corsair Leader. All ships make ready for an attack run on my mark.”

Minutes passed, then the furthest elements of the Romulan fleet began a 
slow, ponderous turn away, resuming their heading for Indigo Prime.

“Corsair Leader to all ships. We charge as soon as their last ships have 
turned through one hundred twenty degrees. Steady now.”

In 3 waves the Romulans turned and made headway. Waiting for a gap of one 
light second, the last two Warbirds of the final wave began their turn, 
moving faster than practically all the other ships. Twin engines flared into 
life as they strove to make up the distance.

“NOW!!!”

Gr’alk glanced down at his pilot, then felt the surge and compensating fluid 
movement of his suit as the pilot threw forward the power regulators on all 
three engines.

*		 *		 *		 *		 *		 *

The Indigo system, USS Albuquerque


“What the bloody hell is that nong doing!!?” roared Lassiter.

The return message from the Indigo fleet had arrived and the associated plot 
data was on the main bridge viewer. Already the first two portions of the 
Romulan fleet were seen to be under way, and the last two Warbirds, the 
unknown upgraded vessels were beginning their turn.

“As we expected Sir, the newer Warbirds are showing greater acceleration 
than the previous class,” noted M’benga, studying his own panel for vector 
breakdowns of the fleet rather than the main plot.



As one, the Indigo Corsairs surged forward, rapidly closing on the Romulans 
at a speed close to eight times greater than the leading vessels.

“Strewth! They’ll never make it!… will they?” demanded Lassiter.

“They may well reach the Romulan fleet captain, however I doubt they will 
survive once they get there, stated M’benga.

“Verrry brrrave,” noted the first officer. “An almost human rrresponse to 
overrrwhelming odds. They should fit in with the Federrration well… if their 
rrrace surrrvives this,” she growled.

Lassiter shot a questioning glance.

“I have been studying yourrr historrry captain, especially the eighteenth 
and nineteenth centurrry you are so fond of. The Crrrimea I believe the 
place is, at the Battle of Balaclava. Brrrave, noble and  verrry verrry 
stupid.”

The recorded audio transmission called their gaze back to the main viewer.



By now the bulk of the Romulans had completed their turns, half to port and 
the others to starboard. Bereft of the blind spot left by the engine wake, 
the Indigo had nowhere to run that would not bring them under fire.

“Density of missile fire indicates that the Romulans are employing ordinance 
racks. I have updated the tactical database,” M’benga calmly stated.





Two of the Indigo icons started flashing, signifying heavy damage.





“Jesus, this blokes a nutter! They can’t even return fire yet, they’re not 
in range!”

By now the trailing Warbirds had closed to the rear if their brethren, 
turning and crossing paths so that the ship the Indigo had been trailing 
were now under the guns of the other.



The icon representing Corsair Eight winked out.



Representation of beam and missile fire played between the two fleets. The 
range was extreme for the Indigo but a few strikes came into contact with 
the target Warbird. Shields rippled as the Indigo lasers pieced them and 
armour started superheating to boil away into space. Corsair Two became an 
expanding ball of gas, while Corsair Seven was slowed to a crawl.

“The Indigo have achieved the dead zone in the wake of approximately half 
the Romulan fleet, however in just over sixty seconds they will have come 
about to form a complete circle defense that the Indigo will not be able to 
breach,” M’benga called out. “Also the half of the fleet that is capable of 
firing on them have flushed their racks.”

“And their chances?” demanded Lassiter.

M’benga shook his head in reply. “The Romulan beam weapons are too powerful. 
By the time the Indigo have achieved optimal laser range, they will be 
taking enough damage from a single strike to cripple one of their 
interceptors. Two strikes will more than likely destroy them. Couple that 
with what appears to be a armour shield ratio far in excess of what the 
Federation employ, the Indigo fire will be less than effective.”



The Icon for the lead ship, that of Squadron Leader D’rin’th vanished.


“Sanity!” declared Lassiter.

The remaining ships of the Corsair wing fired a parting shot into the stern 
of the Romulan cruiser then the formation shattered in all directions. 
Finally the Romulan was showing a number of hull breaches, but the cost had 
been great.

Corsair Four and Five took damage as they jinked madly to evade, ripping 
away armour and shields and damaging their engines. Corsair Six was caught 
mid range between the enemy fleet and safety, and was immolated as it tried 
to turn away. Far closer and with no way of escape, Corsair Seven ignored 
the escape orders and opened their throttles wide, making a last valiant 
attack run directly at the damaged Romulan. Beams speared them at 
three-quarters of a light second short of their target, and the ship was no 
more.

Finally out of range, the survivors coasted around to form up once more at a 
safe distance in the wake of the Romulan fleet.




*		 *		 *		 *		 *		 *

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