12-28-2024, 12:43 AM
(This post was last modified: 12-28-2024, 01:02 AM by Hallowette Maxas-Darl.)
"This is the USS Artemis. We were conducting a routine patrol when we noticed your vessel within the nebula. We wanted to make sure y'all weren't lost or suffering from navigational issues that we might be able to assist with."
Hallowette's bright teal eyes centered on the Klingon Vessel hanging partially obscured on the viewscreen, the slightest hint of a smile creeping at the corners of her mouth as the Captain began "the game".
A few years earlier, as a member of the Youth Diplomacy Corp, the young Midshipman had been given the opportunity to observe and learn from some of the finest Ambassadors, Attaches, Legates, and Chargé d'affaires in the Federation. One in particular, an ancient Aenar called "Keh'lan" had taken a shine to her, and it was at Keh'lan that Hally had seen the real politic that took place behind the scenes; the deals, the considerations, and the often cut throat social interaction that sometimes drove the business of running a Starfaring government.
One of the most poignant lessons imparted by her Aenar friend was to always give your opponent the chance to save face. Give them an out. When you hold the cards, allow them to dictate where the negotiation began - begin soft, but be prepared to go hard - in other words, give them enough rope to hang themselves with.
Apparently the Captain subscribed to a similar strategy.
So it was with a noticeable wince that Hally suffered her first enemy fire. Simulations, drills, tests - all was well and good when you know the stakes are only so dangerous. Glowing shields and the slightest nudge of the ship absorbing the blow before dampeners compensated, ever so very slight...
Ho! Shit, they actually fired on us....!
The hybrid curly haired redhead immediately straightened in her seat and began going to work. Hours and hours of simulations, theorycrafting scenarios, and academy preparations went to work. The result of over four years of her life culminated in the here and now - her very first shift as the ship's helmsman. While her emotions attempted to override her training, thoughts of freezing, panicking or the desire to look to Grant for guidance were suppressed as her CO responded to the attack.
"Oh! That's the game you want to play. Okay, *******. Game on. Take us to Red Alert," said Crawford, her tone almost sassy.
The underlying playfulness in the Captain's voice served to set Hally's mind on a course of action. Where she had struggled to allow her training to kick in, Tyra's words cut through the emotion, calming her, reassuring her, and setting the tone on the Bridge.
In the back of the green young officer's mind, a quiet part of her was thankful that Crawford was her first CO. That she was part of the Artemis' crew. While the enormity of the situation (in reality, likely a very small blip on the radar of an experienced crew's logbook) threatened to undermine her actions, Hally knew she was where she was supposed to be - where she WANTED to be.
Then the Captain spoke something that the Trill/Bajoran would remember forever...
""Midshipman, here's your chance to show me what you've got. Hunt 'em down,"
Hally allowed a predatory grin of her own cross her freckled features. She looked down to the console and quickly finished the last of the calculations on the helm before her.
"Aye Captain... Pursuit course laid in."
==GM: Hally intends to intercept the Klingon ship in a fashion that allows the ship's weapons and tractor to function with consideration to the nebula, but gives a bit of a cushion for evasives etc. In other words she's attempting to fly aggressively, but not overtly recklessly. Maybe her mistake is already helping teach her....or maybe not
==
Hallowette's bright teal eyes centered on the Klingon Vessel hanging partially obscured on the viewscreen, the slightest hint of a smile creeping at the corners of her mouth as the Captain began "the game".
A few years earlier, as a member of the Youth Diplomacy Corp, the young Midshipman had been given the opportunity to observe and learn from some of the finest Ambassadors, Attaches, Legates, and Chargé d'affaires in the Federation. One in particular, an ancient Aenar called "Keh'lan" had taken a shine to her, and it was at Keh'lan that Hally had seen the real politic that took place behind the scenes; the deals, the considerations, and the often cut throat social interaction that sometimes drove the business of running a Starfaring government.
One of the most poignant lessons imparted by her Aenar friend was to always give your opponent the chance to save face. Give them an out. When you hold the cards, allow them to dictate where the negotiation began - begin soft, but be prepared to go hard - in other words, give them enough rope to hang themselves with.
Apparently the Captain subscribed to a similar strategy.
So it was with a noticeable wince that Hally suffered her first enemy fire. Simulations, drills, tests - all was well and good when you know the stakes are only so dangerous. Glowing shields and the slightest nudge of the ship absorbing the blow before dampeners compensated, ever so very slight...
Ho! Shit, they actually fired on us....!
The hybrid curly haired redhead immediately straightened in her seat and began going to work. Hours and hours of simulations, theorycrafting scenarios, and academy preparations went to work. The result of over four years of her life culminated in the here and now - her very first shift as the ship's helmsman. While her emotions attempted to override her training, thoughts of freezing, panicking or the desire to look to Grant for guidance were suppressed as her CO responded to the attack.
"Oh! That's the game you want to play. Okay, *******. Game on. Take us to Red Alert," said Crawford, her tone almost sassy.
The underlying playfulness in the Captain's voice served to set Hally's mind on a course of action. Where she had struggled to allow her training to kick in, Tyra's words cut through the emotion, calming her, reassuring her, and setting the tone on the Bridge.
In the back of the green young officer's mind, a quiet part of her was thankful that Crawford was her first CO. That she was part of the Artemis' crew. While the enormity of the situation (in reality, likely a very small blip on the radar of an experienced crew's logbook) threatened to undermine her actions, Hally knew she was where she was supposed to be - where she WANTED to be.
Then the Captain spoke something that the Trill/Bajoran would remember forever...
""Midshipman, here's your chance to show me what you've got. Hunt 'em down,"
Hally allowed a predatory grin of her own cross her freckled features. She looked down to the console and quickly finished the last of the calculations on the helm before her.
"Aye Captain... Pursuit course laid in."
==GM: Hally intends to intercept the Klingon ship in a fashion that allows the ship's weapons and tractor to function with consideration to the nebula, but gives a bit of a cushion for evasives etc. In other words she's attempting to fly aggressively, but not overtly recklessly. Maybe her mistake is already helping teach her....or maybe not
==