Ritorian Intervention

Posted on Sun Nov 28th, 2010 @ 11:33am by Captain Liarra Von & Lieutenant Commander Nilani Prax & Lieutenant JG Jonathan Royce & Lieutenant Commander Morgan Kelly & Senior Chief Petty Officer Gilbert Bones [PNPC]

Mission: Ten Little Diplomats
Location: Ritorian/Federation Border
Timeline: MD03 - 1215

[ON]

As the Jackal hurtled towards the expansive territory of the Ritorian Confederacy, Lieutenant (JG) Morgan Kelly called up a star chart on his tactical console. No-one had ever successfully traversed Ritorian space without being forcibly turned back by the Confederacy and even civilian and merchant ships had trouble defining its borders. For all they knew it could go on for thousands of lightyears and be the biggest empire in the Quadrant.

They just had no idea. He looked over his left shoulder to the unfamiliar sight of Lieutenant (JG) Jonathan Royce at the helm. "How you coping, Royce?"

"Not unwell, sir." Royce replied lightly. "It's been a while since I've had the pleasure of driving a Defiant Class, but it's like riding a bike. She's quick, nimble, and responds like a woman whose been waiting for you to come home from your tour of duty." He said, making a slight course correction after passing through one of the many sub-space eddies that float aimlessly through the interstellar void; areas of instability not unlike turbulence experience during atmospheric flight. The crew only felt the most severe because the inertial dampeners compensated for the motion.

Liarra grinned. "Just like a woman, Lieutenant, if you don't treat her right, she's got enough firepower to ruin your day. Make sure our defenses are on stand-by, Kelly. If the Ritorians give us problems, I want to be read for them." The Lt. Commander was trying to let her nerves show to the crew. While the station patrol mission was her first command mission, this exercise was taking them beyond the protective cover of the station. For the first, and hopefully not the last, time, the Jackal was on her own under Liarra's command.

The now familiar voice of CPO Bones came over the bridge communication system. "Bridge, this is Engineering. I'm hoping to reduce power output by ten percent in order to run a couple of diagnostics on the intermix chamber. Will you be needing it before we reach Ritorian space?"

Liarra tapped her comm panel. "That shouldn't be a problem, Chief. Just make sure we can get engine and weapon power quickly if we need it."

"Fantastic. Can I borrow Lieutenant Prax as well? I could do with another set of eyes down here."

"Your's not good enough for you, Chief?" Nilani joked, smiling as she turned to look at Liarra for her silent nod of approval before locking her terminal down and standing to head off the bridge through the door to the rear-right of the command centre.

"Just get her back in one piece, Chief. I'm going to need my science officer when we get to Ritorian space."

"You got it, Commander." Bones said as he cut the communication line. "Simpson! Get the diagnostic set up on the intermix chamber, will you?"

The bridge fell silent as the Science officer left the bridge. There was very little movement and the only real sound was the blips and hums of the instruments and engines.

"We're receiving a hail, Captain." Lieutenant Kelly said, turning towards Von. "It's Starbase Three-Three-Two."

"Odd," she mused out loud. "We weren't expected to report in until tomorrow. Put them through, Lieutenant."

The face of Captain Gunning appeared on the screen. His expression was a number of notches beyond grave. "Commander Von, I'm sorry to cut your expedition short but I need you to return to base immediately and prepare for reassignment. I'm uploading a report of events on the base to you as we speak. Please read it on your way back."

"Aye, Captain. We're on our way."

The screen flickered off and returned the inky black of space to focus. He had given very little away with his communication but the message was clear. This was priority one.

The acting captain took a look around her bridge. "It looks like this is going to be a short trip. Mr. Royce, set a course for Starbase Three-Three-Two, maximum warp." She sat up straight in her chair. "Engage."

[OFF]