Bushwacked! II

Posted on Mon Sep 7th, 2020 @ 3:26pm by Lieutenant JG Kevin Lance & Captain Mystery Ellis

Mission: Distress Call
Location: USS Independence
Timeline: Current

OOC: Splitting the JP into two new posts. I added everyone as authors so we all see what is going on. This post is for the crewmembers on USS Independence, currently Captain Ellis, LT Lance, ENS Billi, and Chef Jefferson.

::ON::

"Captain," the communication officer called out, "We are being hailed."

"On screen," Mystery ordered as she walked closer to the view screen.

The scene of space dissolved to reveal an alien humanoid, dressed in black on an alien ship. The alien's bald head had a high crown and a thick brow ridge above pupil-less black eyes. Its skin was mottled in a barely visible pattern. "Federation ship, we are prepared to discuss your surrender."

Mystery placed her hands on her hips "My surrender? Give me a good reason why you think I should surrender?"

One corner of the alien's mouth turned upward in a smirk. "We have crippled your ship and your away team are our hostages," the alien said, "Federation officers are notorious for the lengths they will go to save their charges. You have one chance to do so before we obliterated you all." He motioned to someone off screen.

Mystery turned to communications and signaled to mute it, getting the nod "Tactical can you get a lock on that ship? If so target the engines and fire."

"Fire control systems and starboard side weapons are still out of phase. We can't get a target lock but can fire manually. It will be area-effect which will do much less damage." Kevin then added, "Ensign T'Sol is departing the shuttle bay."

Signaling to have communications unmuted Mystery turned back to the screen "You underestimate me and my ship. I'm not as crippled as you think."

The alien's smirk grew bigger in response, "We survived assimilation by the Borg for centuries until the Voyager interfered. We are not afraid of you."

"Captain, I am detecting an energy surge from the anomaly!" Ensign Takach shouted.

Hearing that T'Sol was departing gave her an idea. Tapping her com-badge "Ensign T'Sol this is the captain. We're getting an energy surge from the anomaly out there. Targeting sensors are out. Get your shields up. Try to get a lock on that anomaly and when you do fire." Mystery turned to tactical "She manages to get a lock and is able to fire I want you to fire at any explosion out there. Ensign once you fire on that get clear of the ship and await my further orders. We don't have a lot of time."

“They are firing,” Kevin announced. The ship was rocked almost before he finished his sentence.

New reports scrolled on his damage control display. “Starboard shields have failed, damage to warp engines, phasers and torpedo launcher, hull breeches on decks 7 and 12,” Kevin recited.

"Returning fire," Lieutenant Maida called from T'Sol's shuttle.

The attack from the shuttle had no noticeable effect on the anomaly/alien ship that the ship's or probe's sensors could detect. Kevin fired the few weapons that were responding to computer commands in the direction of the anomaly. A scattershot of area effect weapons that he had little hope of doing damage but perhaps it would buy them a little more time for T'Sol to finish deploying the plasma to counter the displacement effects of the unknown radiation.

The alien ship fired another salvo at the Independence, "Damage to impulse engines, auxiliary control is off-line, additional hull breeches." One of the cargo transporters and the ship's tractor beam were also off-line but Kevin didn't feel that the secondary systems warranted mention.

"Get damage control on it! I want as much power as we can get. We're dead in the water," Mystery said wincing as she moved.

"O'Connell to Captain Ellis, we have neutralized the aliens and secured the Bridge. What are your orders Ma'am".

Kevin notified T'Sol to begin his pass to deploy the plasma from the warp nacelles and get back aboard as quickly as possible.

"Bring that captain over here, I out rank him and he has some explaining to do. Bring the ships logs over as well," Mystery said.