Making an Entrance

Posted on Mon Mar 22nd, 2021 @ 12:25am by Administrator LordeEmp

Mission: Heroes of the Hov'hurgh
Location: Eta Eridani Sector near the Donatu system
Timeline: 901432.2

“HoD!,” came a hurried report from the new acting Engineering Chief, having just been ordered into the position rather unceremoniously by the Captain. He answered more out of training than any real intimate knowledge of the new systems, “Main engines offline, backup power only! Estimated wait time for cold restart at least thirty minutes! Chroniton radiation building up to critical levels! If we do not vent the radiation, containment will fail in four point two-two minutes.”

Glancing to her Science Chief, VaQ’taj barked sarcastically, “That fancy time traveling intermix system was supposed to circumvent the need for a cold start! I do NOT approve of being a unmoving, unarmed, unshielded target!”

Major Daj’Ral turned from his station to address VaQ’taj. “HoD, the systems are capable of quick restart, but under present circumstances that would be unwise. The chronitons already infusing the area will interact with a fresh chroniton burst, leading to unpredictable results--including a possible uncontrolled time jump or another wormhole.”

Not having time to debate the next, the Colonel ordered, “Shunt the radiation into the primary energy weapons array and fire! Then get that drive system started!” Luckily, she had planned for just such a contingency. Though, it was not exactly a weapon that most factions would approve of.

Just as the bubble burst, a blinding streak of radiation lanced outwards, hitting the B’rel that had strayed too close with its full force. There was no hope for those aboard as the overload struck the vessel. For a brief moment, the ship stopped dead in the void, hanging there as though nothing more than a derelict hulk, a hole torn in one wing that also struck the main hull.

The disabled war vessel began unravelling from the battle scar, plate by plate, deck by deck; fading away as rings of electricity sparked in its wake. Within seconds another blinding flash of light broke the darkness, only to be swallowed into itself, leaving nothing but empty space with no trace of craft or crew.

The behemoth of a ship that had fired off the shot, then fell silent in space. The shields were not raised and the weapons systems were no longer powered up. It was as if the beast passively awaited an answer to her violent opening challenge, though the truth was nothing so grand.

“Containment levels returning to normal. Power for communications available, short range scanners online. We will have power to shields and weapons systems in two minutes, fifteen seconds... mark!” Shouted the frazzled engineer knowing that, in a fight, two minutes could prove to be fatal. Sure they had enough armor to build a few of those B’rels from scratch, but their Neutronium alloy modular hull plating would only hold up for so long against any kind of powerful weaponry.

“Transmit a general hail,” VaQ’taj growled. The colonel hoped that maybe she could turn that accidental show of force into a delaying tactic long enough to get systems back online and possibly distract them from the station. Klingons attacking TengchaH Yay had already pushed the red-braided commander beyond furious and she was expecting some pretty good answers from them... at least for two minutes.

Keeping an eye on the countdown on her heads up display, she transmitted, her voice filled with the demanding tone of command that she had developed over her twenty bloody years of service, “This is Colonel VaQ’taj, commanding the I.K.S. Hov’HurgH! Why are you attacking TengchaH Yay?!?”

On another ship the familiar voice of Tr’yu interrupted Tenas. ~Incoming comm signal. Sh’n’dr’, you want to take this.~

Tenas drew his attention back from attacking the Negh’var. He knew better than to question his bondship’s judgment. He handed the reins to his combat sliver and turned his attention to the message. After a moment his face split with a brilliant grin. His joy fell a moment later as the reality of the moment settled on him. He stared at his clawed hand for a long, silent moment before clenching a fist. Tr’yu sensed his need and opened an audio channel only. Tenas silently thanked his companion and flashed a real smile.

Not turning from her station, SoS reported, “HoD VaQ’taj, incoming hail, audio only. It appears to be coming from our own systems...” The ‘day’ had already been draining enough on the older woman, now she found herself chasing down communications echoes as well.

“Play audio,” the Colonel said shortly, her jaw clenched with pent up frustration. When she heard the familiar voice over the channel, she shook her head and a grin broke her grim expression. For her, it hadn’t been that long ago that she’d spoken to Tenas Tecorin, though she imagined that it might be a bit of a shock for him to hear her voice after twenty six years.

“Hail, VaQ’taj, you always know how to make an entrance!”

“I never was one to do things small, Brat,” VaQ’taj answered with a dark chuckle, “I assume that the odds are against you and the situation is grim?” The last that she had known, her adopted Kolari brother had been seventeen years old and on the other side of the quadrant fighting the Syndicate.

“Isn’t it always?” He gasped as the Negh’var fired a torpedo spread too close for comfort. “My weapons aren’t strong enough to dent this stringy old targ’s skull. They’ll slaughter everyone on the station unless they're stopped. If you could drop their shields that would be nice.”

“We might be able to pull that off. Stand by.” The Colonel then looked to her mate and ordered, “Emergency manual launch...”

Her order was interrupted by the communications officer, “The Negh’var is answering your hail, Captain. The B’rel has gone to cloak and is maintaining silence.”

Bristling once again, VaQ’taj barked, “I want a resolution on that B’rel, now! Communication on screen.”

The battle on the starfield was replaced by an image that actually forced the furious, small statured Klingon woman to blink a bit rapidly for a moment. The battle hued bridge was alive with activity as they gave chase to her friend. The scarred, fat Klingon sitting in the command chair was red-faced and his own ire danced in his eyes.

But that wasn't what had startled the captain of the Hov’HurgH. What caught her attention was the officer standing in the First’s position. Next to him, though slightly behind, was a tall, thin Romulan woman, her coal black eyes as cold as a winter storm. They had been allied with the Romulans for a time, though VaQ’taj could never truly bring herself to trust them. And very few had ever opted to serve on Klingon vessels.

“You fire on Batlh TIq, the Heart of Honor, in service to the Klingon Empire! Answer for your crime before I destroy you!” The aging warrior spluttered, causing the red-haired Colonel to draw her eyes back to the Klingon male.

“You question me, when you are attacking a far inferior foe? Tell me, where is the honor in destroying a lightly defended outpost?” VaQ’taj shot back, her head lowering slightly as she eyed the man. From what their scans were telling them, it was barely still kept in operation, much less posing any kind of threat.

“My honor is service to the Empire which is more than I can say for you. Who are you to attack fellow warriors of the Empire and what is that ship?” The commanding officer, Lord Rolq sat forward with a grunt of effort, his belly straining against his armor, “Answer me! This is Klingon space and we have no record of a ship like yours operating in this sector.”

“Are you losing your hearing old man? I am Colonel VaQ’taj, this ship is the Hov’HurgH. And if you have no record of us, then you do not have the proper clearance,” she snapped, her temper starting to get the better of her. She had never been able to stand cowardice and the man that she was staring down reeked of it, even across the void of space.

The Romulan female’s face remained as still as stone as she leaned and whispered to the captain. She was wearing a uniform that was entirely unfamiliar, with blacks and grays that were atypical of the normal Romulan design. He nodded brusquely and peered suspiciously at VaQ’taj.

“I suggest you reconsider our clearance level before we finish these toDSaH. This battle group is authorized by the High Council to patrol the front line and this station is a confirmed enemy staging point. If you defend them, clearance or not I will blow your pretty ship to atoms!” He grinned with rotting teeth. “Your shields are down. You have no engines, no power. You growl like a toothless old Grishnar cat. Stay out of our way if you want to live.”

TBC