Jez had been listening carefully, her attention fixed on the tactical implications rather than the emotional weight of what had just happened. As Chief of Security, she had to consider both. The destruction of the Zephyr-class vessel had demonstrated just how much firepower the Cardassians possessed, and Jez had no intention of committing the Aquila to a battle it could not win.
She studied the tactical display for several seconds.
"If the bots can penetrate their shields, then we don't necessarily need to defeat the ship," Jez said. "We only need to create an opening large enough for them to get inside."
She looked toward the tactical display, considering the weapons available to them.
Jez spoke up, her tone loud but respectful, "What happens if we increase the yield of a photon torpedo, but use it strictly as a shield-disruption weapon? Not enough to destroy the vessel. Just enough to overload a section of their shields for a few seconds. Just enough to allow the bots to slip in undetected."
Jez paused.
She then turned to The Captain and Alex, "The timing would have to be precise. We hit the shields, and the moment they fluctuate, we launch the probe, or we load the Bots into the torpedo. The torpedo gives the bots the opening they need, and the bots do the rest."
Her expression remained serious.
"And if the Cardassians have redundant shield systems, we don't keep hammering away at the same location. We look for the weakest point and exploit it."
Jez glanced toward the tactical display again.
"We're not trying to win a firefight. We're trying to make their defenses fail for just long enough to get something through them."
She folded her arms, thinking through the security implications.
"If the bots can get aboard, their mission should remain limited. Disable weapons. Disrupt propulsion if possible. Compromise their sensors and communications. Anything that prevents them from continuing to engage us."
A moment passed before she added, more cautiously,
"And if they encounter personnel, the bots should avoid lethal force unless there is no other option. We don't need to turn this into a boarding action."
Jez looked back toward the others.
"Commander Talion is right about one thing. This is the long game. The Cardassians will learn from whatever we do here."
She allowed herself a faint, humorless smile.
"So let's make sure the first lesson they learn is that we don't have to destroy their ship to make it harmless."
== Tag All. ==
She studied the tactical display for several seconds.
"If the bots can penetrate their shields, then we don't necessarily need to defeat the ship," Jez said. "We only need to create an opening large enough for them to get inside."
She looked toward the tactical display, considering the weapons available to them.
Jez spoke up, her tone loud but respectful, "What happens if we increase the yield of a photon torpedo, but use it strictly as a shield-disruption weapon? Not enough to destroy the vessel. Just enough to overload a section of their shields for a few seconds. Just enough to allow the bots to slip in undetected."
Jez paused.
She then turned to The Captain and Alex, "The timing would have to be precise. We hit the shields, and the moment they fluctuate, we launch the probe, or we load the Bots into the torpedo. The torpedo gives the bots the opening they need, and the bots do the rest."
Her expression remained serious.
"And if the Cardassians have redundant shield systems, we don't keep hammering away at the same location. We look for the weakest point and exploit it."
Jez glanced toward the tactical display again.
"We're not trying to win a firefight. We're trying to make their defenses fail for just long enough to get something through them."
She folded her arms, thinking through the security implications.
"If the bots can get aboard, their mission should remain limited. Disable weapons. Disrupt propulsion if possible. Compromise their sensors and communications. Anything that prevents them from continuing to engage us."
A moment passed before she added, more cautiously,
"And if they encounter personnel, the bots should avoid lethal force unless there is no other option. We don't need to turn this into a boarding action."
Jez looked back toward the others.
"Commander Talion is right about one thing. This is the long game. The Cardassians will learn from whatever we do here."
She allowed herself a faint, humorless smile.
"So let's make sure the first lesson they learn is that we don't have to destroy their ship to make it harmless."
== Tag All. ==