Cat and Mouse

Posted on Tue Jan 4th, 2022 @ 11:26pm by Commander Lillian Carter & Lieutenant Commander Hiro Sommers-Yoshida & Commander Peter Horn & Lieutenant JG T'Sehn & Ensign L'johk Adams & Lieutenant JG Osil Haistro & Commander Merik tr'Sei

1,639 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Episode 4 - The Fires Of Hades
Location: Runabout Plutus - USS Cerberus
Timeline: Mission Day 14 @ 1010 Hours

Runabout Plutus

Peter leaned forward in his seat, eyes intense and focused as he stared out of the main window. "Any sign of them?" he asked, though he'd lost track of how often he had asked by now.

T'Sehn was pouring over the science readouts that the sensor grid had been feeding him but he was no science officer or sensor expert. Most of the data were simply above his head.
"I am uncertain Commander... I am not reading anything that would indicate their presence!"

"That's good enough for me!!" Said Teach as he punched up the shuttle's speed to the max sublight speed as he continued evasive maneuvers towards the asteroid field. We'll be there in thirty seconds and then we'll have a level playing field if they're so hellbent to pick a fight or we could get to the other side and go into warp before they emerge from the asteroid field and leave them eating our space dust. " he chuckled.

"As a famous communications chief once said, should that vessel not have a tailpipe?" Peter suggested, offering a quasi innocent look. "Ships still do have an exhaust, do they not?"

Kaylee just smiled quietly at Peter's remark, and got things ready for what might be needing to be done.

Romuland Warbird Khazara

Merik watched as the Federation Runabout class ship executed a series of maneuvers like a skittish animal. He wondered why the pilot of the Runabout was doing that since he considered it near to impossible that they knew the Khazara was following them. Or...they played it safe and just assumed they were being followed by something or someone.

"Don't let them escape. Keep our distance the same at all times." Merik said, looking in the direction of the Helm. "Extrapolate their most likely course and find out which Metreon gas pockets they will pass."

USS Cerberus

Lillian was drumming her fingers on her armrest impatiently. "Come on... Come on... Are we in range yet?"

"Almost sir!" Adams announced from the Helm

After a few more minutes the runabout appeared heading through an asteroid belt. The warbird the Cerberus had encountered was still following them, but at a discreet distance, probably wanting to know what they were up to.

Lillian was focused on the runabout presently. "Hail them!"

Anja complied, having had been silently watching and keeping an eye on things. "Runabout Plutus this is the USS Cerberus, please respond."

Runabout Plutus

"Commander! We're being hailed. It's the Cerberus!!" Called out Teach excitedly. "Channel open Sir, You're on."

"This is Commander Peter Horn on the runabout Plutus who is this?" Peter called out. "What are sensors telling us?" he asked of those around him.

"It is registering as a Federation signal, sir... USS Cerberus, authentication code bravo six three nine nine five delta!"
T'Sehn said from the sensors, still struggling to interpret most of what he was seeing.

USS Cerberus

"Commander Horn this is Commander Carter on the Cerberus. We've got you on sensors, we are also detecting a large navigational eddy following you. Try and avoid those metron gas pockets, if any weapons fire hit you while you're in one, the shields might not withstand the subsequent explosion.

Lillian was also aware of the warbird that was following the Cerberus. If a Federation Starship opened fire on a Romulan ship, that's all the excuse the other Warbird, if that's what it was, would need to return fire. She also noticed that they seemed to be ignoring their approach, focused solely on the runabout.

"Tactical, use the ramscoop to collect as much Metron gas as we can. We'll use it to create a cloud around that other ship, if that's what it is. That way if they fire on the runabout, the gas around them will ignite."

Osil nodded. "Readying ramscoop," he announced, only to add a few seconds later that the scoop was ready to collect some gas.

"Commander Horn, Standby. We're going to try and take some heat off your tail."

Runabout Plutus

"Appreciated Commander," Peter answered, "Teach prepare for evasive manoeuvres, we may need them." His tactical mind was already awhirl, even though this no longer was his job, but it was true what people sad... one could take the man out of tactical, but one could not take tactical out of the man. "Prepare to return fire, if fired upon. But only, if fired upon first, we do not want to give them any kind of incentive."

Teach smiled and acknowledged. "Aye Sir. Avoiding Metron gases. Will only fire if fired upon and new evasive course towards the Cerberus and away from the asteroid field. Coming about Sir. "

"As long as you are ready to fire, when you need to," Peter reminded him. "We are ready to move on your mark Cerberus."

"I will be ready to fire and leave the flying to Teach," Kaylee replied, finally speaking up. She was more concentrated on what was happening, and hadn't spoken up until now.

Teach grinned at Kaylee. " Thanks, Kaylee, That makes my task a lot easier. Just be ready to give them a good punch in the nose if it comes to that lassie. "

Romulan Warbird Ormarr

Admiral Senclar followed after the Cerebus noting that there was another ship that was captained by Commander Tr'Sei. He smiled as it looked like a game of tag was commencing. Now there were two Federation vessels, one smaller than the other. He recognized the smaller one as a runabout.

With the Metreon gasses that were here, things were going to be just a bit tricky if there was going to be an altercation.

Right now, Narribe was going to be just an observer, just to see what Merick was going to do.

USS Cerberus

Lillian sat up straight in her chair. "Ok, now we're going to move around that navigational eddy, emptying the ramscoop at the same time, then place us between it and the runabout. Shield at maximum, keep the weapons on standby for now. I don't want to provoke the Romulans if that is indeed who it is."

"Shields at maximum, sir and weapons at the ready." Kaylee stated, feeling her heart beating rapidly at this endeavour.

Adams was already inputting the manoeuvre into the helm as he responded with a simple and clipped "Aye sir", his fingers dancing like a practised pianist, plying his trade. It had been some time since he had been a helmsman but thankfully it was all coming back to him, it also helped how the Cerberus was so intuitive and could almost fly itself.

"Depleting the scoops as we go," Osil reported, "ready to light it up when needed."

"Open the main shuttlebay doors and hail the Runabout on a secure channel." Lillian ordered. It would be easier to remove the runabout from the field of engagement and protect them at the same time if they were on board."

"Hailing frequencies open," the Betazoid reported.

"Cerberus to Runabout Plutus. I'd feel a lot happier when you're in our shuttlebay. The doors are open, but make it quick!"

Runabout Plutus

Kaylee heard those words and turned to Peter, "Sounds like a good plan Sir, as us little chicks need to get under the protecting wings of the Cerberus." Kaylee giving a bit of a smile.

" Nobody got to tell me what's needed to be done here! " Responded Teach to the last statement. " Permission Commander to get us into the Cerberus as quick as possible. "

"Make it so," the chief counselor ordered without pause.

Teach pushed forward on the controls and the runabout leapt forward as the speed increased, they slightly passed the Cerberus and banked hard to bring it in behind the Cerberus with it's open shuttle bay door. " Cerberus, Your fish is on the line! Reel us in so you can close those bloody shuttle bay doors!! "

Tag Cerberus

Romulan Warbird Khazara

"Commander, a Prometheus class ship named the USS Cerberus is on an intercept course. They are being followed by the Warbird Ormarr." The Centurion looked back at Merick. "Orders, sir?"

"Hm.. That is unfortunate." Merick frowned. The phrase The more, the merrier. didn't apply in this situation. That and he couldn't afford to make a mistake in front of Admiral Senclar. "It appears we have to wait until next time to finish our little game." He stood from the centre chair. "Abort our pursuit and join the Ormarr on a parallel course."

"Aye sir." came the response as the Romulan Warbird Khazara moved towards it.

USS Cerberus

Lillian watched as the disturbance changed course and headed for the Warbird that had been following them.

Though they weren't out of the woods yet, it looked like the Romulans were not in the mood for a fight. "Once the Runabout is secure, lay in a course back for the station. Keep us at Yellow alert for now."

Anja spoke up, "The Plutus is now safely inside the shuttle bay. We are ready to get out of here sir!"

Lillian let out a small sigh of relief. “Then by all means, get us back to the station. Half impulse. Engage.”

Helm is engaged, as the ship moved towards the station.

Runabout Plutus

Teach check the sensor readings for the shuttle bay. " Commander Horn, The bay doors are sealed shall we check in with the Cerberus command staff sir? Or should we head to the bridge? "

"I'd say we will be met up by someone." Kaylee responded. "Either way we are now headed back for home."

RSS Feed