Checkmate

Posted on Sun Nov 24th, 2024 @ 1:01am by Captain Shran dh'Klar & Commander Jonathan Grayson & Lieutenant Imik S'Niohun & Lieutenant JG James Phoenix

Mission: The Gambit
Location: USS Washington

Jon, Deanna, Imik, and the Andorian stood on the transporter pad with Ayana and a full contingent of security holding phasers on them as they materialized. "Apologies for this greeting Commander. We weren't sure who all was beaming up." The security kept phasers trained on the Andorian. "I'm afraid we have a situation. This is the second Shran to beam aboard the ship in the last 20 minutes."

"No apologies are necessary Ayana." Jon replied as he stepped off the transporter pad. "Imik, you should go to Sickbay and get your arm treated unless you want to see how this plays out." Returning his attention to Ayana, he asked, "What is our current situation? And where is the other Shran?"

"We dealt with the Romulan and Cardassian threats. The only one of them not in a thousand pieces is the flagship, a Valdore class Romulan warbird which was rendered fairly unpowered by the other Shran before he came over here. I left Ibarra in charge on the bridge with Callie, and the other Shran is where I suggest we take this one as well, the brig" Ayana replied.

"Everyone seems to have gotten delusions of grandeur and the idea of promotion in my absence" Shran quipped.

Jon nodded as Ayana, gave him a situation report. "Well done, Ayana. As for your suggestion, I could not agree more. He looked at 'Shran' "You heard the lady; your next destination is the brig."

Holding her arm close to her side, Imik simply nodded. "Have you considered the possibility that our Sinkahue may have been cloned in some way?" Turning to Shran she bowed, "Sachzny has told of your adoption of her when she was condemned, and for that I thank you. Humor takes many forms; I have not been exposed to the Human type. Perhaps when this incident is over, you will instruct me in it." Imik turned back to Jon, "I will indeed report to sickbay, but if required I will report." She then headed to the sickbay.

"Ayana, get him to the brig, then report back to the bridge. The Commander and I will head up there and see what the situation looks like at this point" Deanna said as she looked at her friend.

=^= Ibarra to transporter room. I need a senior officer up here immediately. =^=

Deanna hit her comm badge, =^= On our way lieutenant. =^=

Jon looked at the Shran who transported up with them. "We will speak again." He said curtly. As he looked at Deanna, "Let's go and see what Ibarra is dealing with."

* Bridge *

The ship shook as the turbolift doors opened and Jon and Deanna stepped out. Without even looking at the viewscreen Deanna quipped to Jon, "Seems we are in the middle of another fight."

Ibarra turned looked to the back of the bridge and saw the two senior officers. "Gracias a Dios" she said softly. "Nobody told me that I was dealing with the Kobayashi Maru scenario, Commander."

"It's fine Ibarra. You did fine." Jon told the young officer as he settled into the center seat.

"We have 15 Romulan vessels that decloaked. They left us with only one avenue which I directed us to, but it was a trap, and 5 Cardassian vessels decloaked and began firing at us as well" Ibarra explained as the ship continued to rock. "If it wasn't for the fact that we had this armor activated, we'd be dead. We got the shields up now as well, and I have Phoenix firing defensively to at least intercept torpedoes, but a dozen more Romulan vessels have decloaked and entered the system. Even if we use the remainder of the complement of those transphasic torpedoes, that would only be 15 enemies eliminated and leave us with 17 still." The young lieutenant was obviously a bit panicked at her first tactical command, albeit short.

"Back to your station" Deanna directed, as the ship rocked again. She looked to Jon, "She isn't wrong Jon. This is quite the situation we find ourselves in."

Jon was silent for a moment as he was studying the situation. After a moment, he spoke to Deanna. "Oh, it's a tight spot but I'm hoping Admiral Carroll, and the cavalry show up. In the meantime, let's get some breathing room. Turn us toward the Cardassian ships. They are the weak link. We blast a hole through them. Gives us some breathing room and we can catch the Romulans following us into a trap of our own." He looked at her, "Opinion Deanna?"

"You're sounding more like the captain. He must've rubbed off on you. He has a tendency to enhance people's tactical skills, as well as make them crazy and a touch reckless" Deanna replied. Deanna looked back to tactical, "Ready the phasers and load quantum torpedoes Mr. Phoenix. We're going to pick a fight with the spoonheads."

Jon gave a tight grin. "I think you're right Deanna," He spoke to Ibarra, "When we punch our hole through the Cardassians. Punch it to maximum warp. Mr. Phoenix. fire two volleys quantum torpedoes from our aft launchers, have the first volley target pursuing enemy ships. Have the second volley explode in front of them in hope it will overload their sensors for a few seconds and get us in better position. Hopefully we can take out a few more ships get the odds trimmed down."

"Phasers ready. Firing torpedoes" James reported as he configured the separate volleys before firing them.

The torpedoes streaked towards their targets. Moments later they struck the targets, and everyone could view the carnage for themselves. Despite that, Ibarra gave the update, "Three Cardassian vessels destroyed, two additional vessels severely damaged. We have a crease we can maneuver through, but it won't get us out of the fight."

"Who said anything about us getting out of the fight?" Deanna asked.

"Right. Sorry. Blaze of glory and all of that. Better to burn out than fade away" Ibarra mumbled softly from Ops.

"We have our opening, let's make the best of it and Deanna is right this is just the opening move of the fight." Jon replied. "Mr. Phoenix, once we clear the Cardassian ships fire the volleys from our aft launcher" Jon told the tactical officer.

Deanna looked at the tactical display. "Jon, look at this" she said as she pointed at something in the tactical display. "I think our reinforcements are arriving. That is a massive gravimetric wavefront, and it isn't coming from any local celestial bodies or known phenomena. Perhaps we should set things up for them" she offered with a wry grin.

Jon looked at what Deanna was pointing at. "Why Deanna, I do believe you are right. Let's set this up. We'll lead them in and put them on a platter for Admiral Carroll and his task force can slam the door shut on our Romulan and Cardassian friends. What do you think?"

Deanna grinned. "Helm, set course 187.72, full impulse. Drop shields for the recharge cycle. The armor can handle disruptor hits for 90 seconds. Phoenix, defensive phaser fire. Focus on intercepting torpedoes but use our torpedoes as a long-range screen."

"Aye Commander" James dropped the shields to recharge them, leaving the armor as the only defensive measure. "Shields dropped, firing phasers and torpedoes" he said while making all of his phaser targets the enemy torpedoes, and firing the torpedoes towards the enemy as a screen like he was ordered.

The Washington took hits as it pushed into the hornets' nest like an angry honey badger. Between Phoenix using the phasers like a marksman and L'Rissa evading like an expert boxer giving a rope-a-dope, the Washington was pulling attention and drawing the enemy in without much fanfare.

"We are being hailed sir, unknown location, but it is Admiral Carroll. He is signaling for us to come to a halt" Ibarra announced.

Jon nodded, "Comply with the order L'Rissa bring us to a complete stop. Mr. Phoenix, keep shields up and continue firing at the Romulan ships."

"Aye sir" James had already brought the shields back up and he continued firing at the Romulans.

As the Washington continued to fire and be fired upon it came to a stop. They were surrounded as the Romulan vessels continued hitting them with disruptor blasts. "We are being hailed by Romulan flagship" Ibarra announced.

"This ought to be good" Deanna said deadpan. "Put it on screen."

The viewscreen came to life and Lovok appeared, and it was like looking at twins. Two Lovoks. "Valiant effort commander, but this encounter is mine. If you surrender, I am willing to allow your ship to leave. Surely the life of your crew is important enough to you to see reason."

Jon sat impassively in the center seat. "Very generous Admiral but I'm going to have to decline your offer for I don't believe you anymore here than I did on the planet's surface. As for my crew, if the cause is just and honorable they are prepared to die."

"Destroy them" the second Lovok said, obviously impatient and more prone to violence.

The other Lovok glance disdainfully at his counterpart before returning his gaze to Jon. "Killing StarFleet personnel is not an issue for me Commander, but I'd rather not start a war with the Federation at this point."

"Considering you are in Federation territory and firing on a StarFleet vessel, you have already gone past the point of simple diplomatic overtures" Deanna interjected.

"Tough talk from a Betazoid" the aggressive Lovok replied.

"Betazoids tend to be bold. We know things that others don't. I know something you don't" Deanna replied.

"Commander, is this Betazoid really the person you want talking for you at this juncture?" Lovok asked.

Deanna looked to Jon and sent him a short telepathic message, the admiral is signaling.

Jon gave a nod meant for Deanna but hoping Lovok would think it was for him. "Why not? She makes a valid point." Whith that, Jon muted the signal.

Deanna smiled as the new signal was patched into the current conversation. The image of Admiral Carroll appeared, the admiral looking stern, "Lovok, I've waited a long time for this. You can surrender or be destroyed; those are your options."

"Idle threats again. I have a small fleet of vessels, and you are not even in the same system. If you wish to sacrifice your people, I'm willing to oblige" Lovok responded.

"So, you choose death. So be it" the Admiral responded. He left the conversation, as did Lovok.

The viewscreen returned to the image of the Romulan vessels surrounding them. Suddenly a visible distortion was visible in the image. "Something is decloaking" Ibarra said, baffled at what it could be considering its size.

"I believe the admiral has arrived" Deanna said with a smirk. "It would seem he finally completed his project."

Jon shifted his eyes on the viewscreen as the image continued to decloak. "I believe you are right Deanna. Let's see what he brought to the party."

"It is definitely a Federation vessel. Reading it as USS Imperial. Registry NCC 72781. The ship is massive. It is nearly half the size of a Borg cube" Ibarra remarked in awe.

Deanna giggled. "I believe the term is battleship, or perhaps a dreadnought."

"That's no battleship Deanna." Jon said as the image solidified. That is a dreadnought. A super dreadnought to be more specific. That's some project."

"No one ever accused the admiral of being subtle" Deanna said with a smile as they watched as the massive vessel opened fire on the Romulans, starting with Lovok's vessel and continuing with the others as those on the fringe attempted to withdraw. I was the sort of carnage not seen since the war, and considering it was being done by a single vessel, not seen since Wolf 359. "I don't generally condone this sort of thing, and it is completely against regulations, but eliminating dangerous enemies, I think I'll forget about this. File it away in my mind as just another bit of classified information that never happened as it were. We have that Shran situation to still deal with. I'm sure the admiral would want the fake one for intelligence gathering purposes."

Jon watched with Deanna as the imperial fired on Lovok's ship and then systematically took out the rest of the Romulan fleet with ease. It was truly a sight to behold. As he watched the destruction of the Romulan fleet, Jon commented, "I think that is a very good idea, Deanna. I know I'm not telling anyone what we just witnessed. I don't think the Imperial even worked up a sweat and yes, we still have two Shrans and you can bet that Admiral Carroll will want to get his hands on him and wring every secret out of him."

"I'm sure our Shran would very much like to be out of the brig as well. He'll be upset that he missed out on the action, but it's his own fault, running off on clandestine missions without telling anyone and all. He should expect things like this to happen" Deanna replied with a Cheshire smile. "Ibarra, you have the bridge. When the admiral signals, tell him we have something over here he'll want to see for himself."

Ibarra looked like she had just seen something from the psych eval. "Um, right. Yes ma'am" she replied, her voice trembling. The images from outside were something Ibarra had obviously never seen the like of. It was Wolf 359, only worse, and thankfully, all the destroyed ships were Romulan.

Deanna called at, "Callie, you should come with us. You can help me with the dilemma in the brig."