The Pursuit and the Pursuers II
Posted on Tue Aug 15th, 2023 @ 6:54am by Lieutenant Sarah Wilson & Senior Chief Petty Officer Ronson Mitchell & Commander Dean House & Lieutenant JG S’Ers-a Kelek t’LyrZor, Maa t'Lyr'Zor & 1st Lieutenant Kate Score & Lieutenant Thomas Haldeman & Lieutenant Commander Bonnie "Bon-Bon" Durnell
Mission:
Repairs and Retribution
Location: Space
" Sir, The Cardassians appear to be chasing something, and I'm getting a faint warp signature now from another vessel" Ronson announced as the Cardassian ship veered off its previous course and accelerated like a dog that had found a scent of something juicy.
"Keep track of them both. We can't break this opportunity at this point while they are distracted. Hopefully that's not Remal and Patin. Continue with the new plan." Dean nodded with a bit of a sigh. Also considering calling, ass the crew more likes to call her, the Dragonlady, up there to explain what was really going on. That is, if, she didn't already know and was just seeing how they would handle it by themselves.
"Aye Sir, resuming finding a good hiding place. There's a gaseous nebula nearby that will fool their sensors as well as ours" Ronson advised, switching the image on the viewscreen to show said nebula.
"I was thinking a moon, but that's even better. Take us to it and in, Chief."
Kate started thinking, If I wanted to Hide, Where would she hide from an Akira Class starship...
" Aye Sir, sending the co-ordinates to the helm. The Cardassian's have hit the brakes, looks like they may have found something - or someone. I can't get a decent reading" The jack of all trades continued.
"Do I need to get a Away team Together?" Kate Asked, not knowing if they were wanting to Take the Vessel or What not.
Dean shook his head, "That that I'm aware of at the moment, Lieutenant Score. We'll check out what the Cardassians have their interest on suddenly if we have time and it doesn't take us out of our way to the Mining planet."
"Copy that" Score replied
A few minutes later the Sunfire entered the nebula, the perfect hiding place where they could regroup and put their plan into motion. Ronson kept an eye on the Cardassian ship, seeing it follow a small craft, engage it in battle then continue on its way towards the Kunar sector.
The crew gathered in the briefing room the next morning. "Sir the Cardassians have engaged and defeated a small craft, I can't detect any life signs but we'll need to get closer to get a proper scan. It's hard as this seems to be the proverbial superhighway of Cardassian ships." Ronson stated as the crew assembled.
"It's on the way, and we have a duty to those that may need help also. We can afford to to get close enough to check it." Dean looked around the room, "Do we have anything else to report on things at the moment?"
Bonnie, who was there on behalf of Engineering because Thriss had his hands full, reported, "Commander Kla'ren is working hard to solve the power fluctuation situation. Early reports indicate someone added more spark induction into the newly install consoles. This happens often with cheaply made consoles and tends to create power failures and spark showers more frequently." While simply reporting on what she had been told, it had never occurred to her someone could have been pulling her leg.
"The Cardassian ship following us left a few hours ago, the small craft they engaged is drifting over near this system" Ronson rose and pulled up a star chart, the small icon blinking indicating the vessel.
Bonnie immediately grew worried for the safety of her friend Remal. Her eyes fell upon Dean for clarification.
"We have a clue as to where Captain Kaylen and the others may being held by the Cardassians." Tom added.
All conversation stopped and everyone looked towards Tom.
"That spoonhead of a captain, He was mentioning the systems. Playing coy with Commander House but He mentioned the Kunar system by name. Don't you see? He couldn't resist gloating. Hold their superiority over us. Captain Kaylen and the others are in that system." Tom explained.
"But how do we get there and bust her and the others out without getting our arses served to us on a platter by the Cardassians?" Ronson mused to the group. "And we still have the drifting vessel nearby to deal with."
"Are, are they alive?" Bonnie asked Ronson quietly?
" We're not gonna know" Ronson replied, wondering if Bonnie was referring to the small vessel the Cardassians had attacked, or the missing senior officers. Either way - they didn't know. "Either way we've got to do what we can to help"
"If you're trying to get a rise out of me, it's not going to work." Dean just glared a moment. "I know what the system name is. Your attempts at being a smartass are not helping anything."
Taking a breath a moment. "Some of you also didn't listen to a single word I said. That we're going to go and check on that vessel since it's on our way. It's our duty to do so. If we can help, we can. If it's a loss, we'll leave a beacon. Continue our way on to Kunar." Dean drew out a path, which took them as he said, then right into the shipping and transport lanes. "Since the Gil will no doubt double back for us, we can slip right past with the transponder modifications. We have supplies on board to suggest it's a drop to the mines. We use that as a trojan horse. It's up to what we find out when we get close enough as how we get on the ground."
Ronson had the decency to blush and avert his eyes, ashamed at his unprofessional behavior. "Aye Sir" he said sheepishly.
Kate stood and waited for her next orders. Not knowing what was going to happen next.
Back on the bridge a few hours later Ronson turned to the Acting Captain. "Sir, transponder modifications are complete, we're ready to go when you give the order"
Dean leaned back in the main chair, looking over a few things on the arm of said chair a moment and then back up. "Take use out. Let's check that spot and then onward to get our people back. One way or another."
"Aye Sir, sending coordinates to the helm" Ronson replied as the mighty Sunfire drifted out of her hiding place and back into full view of whoever was waiting for them. Thankfully no-one was there to greet them.
"ETA to the drifting vessel is 15 minutes" he cast an eye towards Bonnie, nervous as to what they may uncover.
Scanning forward, her focus on her screen, Bonnie tried everything in her power to see further in front of the ship than was possible. She worried for Remal and Patin knowing she helped them into this mess. "There is a debris field ahead roughly the size of a small personal craft. We are still too far away to register life signs." She offered to the bridge crew.
Ronson's gut clenched as the sensors cleaned up the image as they neared. It didn't look good for any survivors, but the Chief could tell from Bonnie's face that this was the shuttle Patin and Remal had been on. Which either meant they were dead, or in the hands of the Cardassians.
"5 minutes, boosting sensors to maximum. Checking for life signs and Cardassians nearby."
"Which means it was probably them." Dean sighed a little bit. His gut seemed to feel it was alright however. Remal wouldn't let something like a Cardassian ship stop them, and Patin was just as stubborn as he was. "Check for escape pods also. It may be on minimal power mode to not be seen."
"Checking for escape pods, recalibrating the sensors" Ronson replied, secretly adjusting said sensors to detect Bajoran life signs first. 'please please please' he whispered to himself as the Sunfire cruised alongside what was left of the small craft.
The computer beeped and displayed it's finding.
"Sir, one pod and one Bajoran life sign, life support systems at critical, they have a few minutes left at best" he said urgently.
"Emergency transport to Sickbay. Destroy that pod once 'they' are on board. Haldeman you have the Bridge." The two Haldeman's can figure out which he meant. Dean stood up and started for the Turbolift. "Continue course as we were," he stepped in and called for Sickbay.
Bonnie stepped in right before the doors shut and gave a worried smile. She was not certain if it was Remal or Patin but she was prepared to hit either one for causing her to worry as they did. Moreover, they had caused her to act out of her nature, forcing her to lie and deceive the crew. Full of regret, she was hating every minute of the experience. "Do you think they will be okay?"
Yeah they did, and Dean didn't particularly like it either. That wasn't something to discuss at that moment however. "We're about to find out." Giving Bonnie a side glance a moment, letting out a silent sigh.
Tom spoke first. "Ayes sir." Acknowledging the order then moved to the center seat. "Continuing on our current course." He finished as he slid into the center seat, rubbed his hands on the seat's arms and felt like he was returning home.
Ronson followed the instruction to destroy the pod and double checked the helm was heading in their original direction again. Hopefully whoever it was in sickbay would have some more answers to the large quantity of questions they had.
Sera stepped off the turbolift and looked around; this was not exactly how she wanted to come aboard a starship.
“Greetings. I am trying to locate the Captain or the XO...”
In the center seat, Tom turned in the direction of the lift and looked at the new officer. *Vulcan female* He noted silently to himself. "Commander House is in Sickbay, Lieutenant. He is who you need to speak with.
Ronson was about to speak but decided better against it, the officer was new and obviously wasn't aware of the rather precarious predicament they were all in at the moment.
TBC
