01-11-2025, 01:10 AM
The number of Security officers present in Transporter Room 2 started to grow. 6 arrived under Ens Darnell Trevathan, and then after a couple of minutes there were 6 more with LtJG Nathalie Okehampton in charge.
The next arrival, seconds after that, was Mara Calleja herself. She’d ordered Okehampton’s team to the transporter room whilst en route. Dark eyes looked around the room and nodded in acknowledgment to the section leaders, Dr Östberg and of course Ju.
Well that makes it interestin’... Anyone who gets Ju stabbed will be first out the airlock when we get back.
Okehampton approached Calleja and handed her a long sheathed weapon.
“You wanted Danny,” the brunette said. Nat’s normal duty was armourer but she wasn’t opposed to the idea of getting out and about for once. “Why do you call that Danny anyway?”
Mara drew the blade.
“Really? Danny Trejo? Machete?” she said, checking the weapon. The blade was about 2 feet long, made from darkened Bandaran steel and with a longer handle than most so that she could grip it two handed if needs be. She looked up at Nat and saw the blank expression. “Heathen,” she said with a grin.
“I don’t even want to know what you wanted that for,” the armourer said.
“Even I can’t fight a bat’leth with a knife,” Mara replied with a shrug. “This though? Different story.” She sheathed the machete, buckled it to her belt and then powered on the briefing screen.
“Alright, listen in,” Calleja called. “You too please,” she added to the transporter operator. Suddenly the Security Chief was all business as her voice cut across the assorted conversations. With a few tapped commands she pulled up the schematics of the Klingon freighter on the screen.
“That is the Klingon vessel qoH. It’s a cargo transport that’s tryin' to run and was actually dumb enough to fire on us,” Mara began. “You can imagine how pleased that made Captain Crawford. We’re to be ready for a boardin' action likely to start the moment Artemis brings their shields down, which I expect to be any moment now.”
She pressed a command and the last set of lifesign readings flashed up on the screen.
“Crew of 12, all Klingon. 6 split between the bridge and the engine room, the rest in the cargo bay. We don’t know if they’re armed but we have to assume they are. If you haven’t fought Klingons before, they’re tough bastards and they like to fight. If it gets hostile, it will not be easy. That’s why we’re goin' in mob-handed and in full tactical gear. I want numerical and tactical superiority from the moment we step aboard. If we have to engage, take ‘em out. Heavy stun and then secure ‘em. Don’t turn your back on anyone unless you’re certain they pose no danger.”
Mara gave it a second to let everyone take that in.
“Each team has an assigned objective. Svenson, your team is on bridge duty. We’re bein' joined by Cap’n Givens and I want her with you as you’re vastly more diplomatic than I am. Take our doctor with you too so he can respond to any other team.”
Dark eyes moved to Okehampton.
“Okehampton, you’ve got the engine room. You’re the armourer so you’re the closest thing we have to an engineer. Ensign Han will be goin’ with you. I have a sneaky suspicion that there’s more goin’ on on that ship than meets the eye, so I want you to check for anythin’ out of the ordinary. Extra power cables. Surplus generators. Unusual readin’s. You know the drill.”
Calleja’s attention moved to Trevathan.
“Trev, you drew the short straw. Your team is with me and we’re securin’ the cargo. We don’t know exactly what we’re goin’ into so I wanna be there personally to respond. Be ready for IEDs or surprises.”
Again, she paused for a second to allow her words to sink in.
“I want all section leaders maintainin’ an open channel to me and keepin’ me informed. With any luck, the Klingons do what Cap’n Givens tells ‘em to do and they don’t give us a fight. But I think we all know, that’s not how our luck works, so be ready. Everyone is goin’ in armed and armoured so if you need gear, speak up and we will sort you. Doc and Han, no playin’ the hero. If the shootin’ starts get behind the nearest Security officer and stay there please.”
She made and held eye contact with Kent and Ju both.
“Any questions?” she asked, looking around expectantly. Despite her fearsome reputation she was known for being as open as she could be with those under her leadership. She would rather be asked a stupid question in the transporter room at the planning stage than have someone go into action unsure about something. So if anyone wanted to check any details or offer suggestions, they had the floor.
== Tags all! ==
The next arrival, seconds after that, was Mara Calleja herself. She’d ordered Okehampton’s team to the transporter room whilst en route. Dark eyes looked around the room and nodded in acknowledgment to the section leaders, Dr Östberg and of course Ju.
Well that makes it interestin’... Anyone who gets Ju stabbed will be first out the airlock when we get back.
Okehampton approached Calleja and handed her a long sheathed weapon.
“You wanted Danny,” the brunette said. Nat’s normal duty was armourer but she wasn’t opposed to the idea of getting out and about for once. “Why do you call that Danny anyway?”
Mara drew the blade.
“Really? Danny Trejo? Machete?” she said, checking the weapon. The blade was about 2 feet long, made from darkened Bandaran steel and with a longer handle than most so that she could grip it two handed if needs be. She looked up at Nat and saw the blank expression. “Heathen,” she said with a grin.
“I don’t even want to know what you wanted that for,” the armourer said.
“Even I can’t fight a bat’leth with a knife,” Mara replied with a shrug. “This though? Different story.” She sheathed the machete, buckled it to her belt and then powered on the briefing screen.
“Alright, listen in,” Calleja called. “You too please,” she added to the transporter operator. Suddenly the Security Chief was all business as her voice cut across the assorted conversations. With a few tapped commands she pulled up the schematics of the Klingon freighter on the screen.
“That is the Klingon vessel qoH. It’s a cargo transport that’s tryin' to run and was actually dumb enough to fire on us,” Mara began. “You can imagine how pleased that made Captain Crawford. We’re to be ready for a boardin' action likely to start the moment Artemis brings their shields down, which I expect to be any moment now.”
She pressed a command and the last set of lifesign readings flashed up on the screen.
“Crew of 12, all Klingon. 6 split between the bridge and the engine room, the rest in the cargo bay. We don’t know if they’re armed but we have to assume they are. If you haven’t fought Klingons before, they’re tough bastards and they like to fight. If it gets hostile, it will not be easy. That’s why we’re goin' in mob-handed and in full tactical gear. I want numerical and tactical superiority from the moment we step aboard. If we have to engage, take ‘em out. Heavy stun and then secure ‘em. Don’t turn your back on anyone unless you’re certain they pose no danger.”
Mara gave it a second to let everyone take that in.
“Each team has an assigned objective. Svenson, your team is on bridge duty. We’re bein' joined by Cap’n Givens and I want her with you as you’re vastly more diplomatic than I am. Take our doctor with you too so he can respond to any other team.”
Dark eyes moved to Okehampton.
“Okehampton, you’ve got the engine room. You’re the armourer so you’re the closest thing we have to an engineer. Ensign Han will be goin’ with you. I have a sneaky suspicion that there’s more goin’ on on that ship than meets the eye, so I want you to check for anythin’ out of the ordinary. Extra power cables. Surplus generators. Unusual readin’s. You know the drill.”
Calleja’s attention moved to Trevathan.
“Trev, you drew the short straw. Your team is with me and we’re securin’ the cargo. We don’t know exactly what we’re goin’ into so I wanna be there personally to respond. Be ready for IEDs or surprises.”
Again, she paused for a second to allow her words to sink in.
“I want all section leaders maintainin’ an open channel to me and keepin’ me informed. With any luck, the Klingons do what Cap’n Givens tells ‘em to do and they don’t give us a fight. But I think we all know, that’s not how our luck works, so be ready. Everyone is goin’ in armed and armoured so if you need gear, speak up and we will sort you. Doc and Han, no playin’ the hero. If the shootin’ starts get behind the nearest Security officer and stay there please.”
She made and held eye contact with Kent and Ju both.
“Any questions?” she asked, looking around expectantly. Despite her fearsome reputation she was known for being as open as she could be with those under her leadership. She would rather be asked a stupid question in the transporter room at the planning stage than have someone go into action unsure about something. So if anyone wanted to check any details or offer suggestions, they had the floor.
== Tags all! ==