Patrol

Posted on Wed Nov 3rd, 2010 @ 9:41am by Senior Chief Petty Officer Gilbert Bones [PNPC] & Captain Liarra Von & Chief Warrant Officer Daniel Maddux & Lieutenant Commander Morgan Kelly & Lieutenant Commander Nilani Prax

Mission: Ten Little Diplomats
Location: USS Jackal - SB332 Perimeter Space
Timeline: MD01 - 1500

[ON]

Bones checked the flow regulator carefully. He would be damned if he was going to have another plasma leak in a jefferies tube on this flight. Still, at least they wouldn't have far to go if something did go wrong.

With Lieutenant Mara's focus being on the Starbase's systems he had been left as something of an acting chief engineer aboard the Jackal and he wanted to make sure and impress Lieutenant Commander Von who would be commanding their perimeter patrol mission.

Liarra took her seat on the bridge before setting out. Although they were only leaving to patrol the SB332 perimeter, she was still a bit nervous. Even though they were only a stones throw away from the station, it was still her first real command. She looked around the bridge stations surrounding her. Everyone seemed to be ready to set out. She looked over at the intelligence officer, making sure he was settled in. "Is there anything we should know before heading out, Chief?"

Maddux turned and met Liarra's eyes. "Don't crash the ship."

Liarra offered the chief warrant officer a little glare in return.

"In all seriousness, Commander," sighed the Intel chief, "I'm more concerned with lone assassins or infiltration teams than any kind of overt space-born attack. There is a bloody history surrounding diplomatic meetings between Feds and Cardassians. Just watch out for any ships that aren't supposed to be here right now. I'll do the rest."

"Sounds good, Chief. Lieutenant Kelly, keep an eye out on anything suspicious. I want weapons and shields on stand-by." Liarra didn't want to be surprised by anything if she could avoid it.

Morgan tapped a few controls on his tactical console. "Aye, Commander. If I see anything, you'll be the first to know."

"Excellent. Ensign Y'Laais," Liarra continued, turning towards the new chief helm officer. "Clear our departure with dock control and take us out, thrusters only until we clear the space dock."

"Aye, sir. Dock control signals our departure is clear. Clearing moorings and docking clamps." A low rumble could be heard on the bridge as the clamps let go of the tiny ship. "We are clear, Commander. Setting course to leave spacedock." The Jackal thrusters fired, pushing the ship away from her berth. The reaction control system engages, yawing and rolling the vessel towards the exit doors of the massive mushroom shaped station. Aft thrusters power up, pushing the ship forward out through the giant spacedock doors. "We have cleared the station, Commander."

"Thank you, Ensign," the strategic operations officer answered. They were underway, and the ship was under her command now. "Set a course for our patrol zone, full impulse."

Kelly perked up at the tactical console. "Commander, I have a personnel vessel on sensors. It's not registered with a docking tag for the Starbase."

"Can you identify the vessel, Lieutenant?"

"Negative, Commander." He replied. "I've got about twenty different signatures registering from different parts of the vessel's hull. I assume it's a salvaged composite but we'd better go and check it out. Can you get anything Lieutenant Prax?"

"Nothing decent," the Trill replied, squinting at her console almost as though it would allow her to see new information through what it presently told her. "The hull is composed of too many different components at this range - I don't think that any two parts are even from the same class of ship. Best chance of getting any sort of identification on it is if we go close-up."

Liarra nodded. "Agreed. Ensign Y'Laais, adjust our course to intercept. Lieutenant, is there anything else worth noting about that ship? Are they showing any sort of hostile stance?"

"No hostile stance but they are keeping up a constant speed at full impulse. Most ships will drop to around half when they reach the station's vicinity," Kelly reported, "suggest we drop the Jackal right in their path. If they're planning to make some kind of run on the station then at least we'd be able to put a spanner in the works."

"We are coming up on intercept, Commander," Y'Laais reported from the helm. He maneuvered the Jackal around in front of the vessel, creating an imposing site for the other pilot. The small ship cut its engines, thrusters firing to keep her from hitting the starship.

"Mr. Kelly, hail them."

"Channel open, Commander."

"Unidentified vessel. This is Lt. Commander Liarra Von, acting captain of the USS Jackal. Please identify yourself."

The comm fizzed and crackled as the viewscreen finally flickered into life displaying three grubby-faced Haliians. The middle one, who was clearly in some position of authority motioned to the others and they disappeared out of shot. "Hello, Lieutenant Commander Liarra Von. I'm Haraaq, commander of the Siigella. What can I do for you?"

"We detected your ship operating outside of Starbase 332 protocol. You are on approach with no docking tag and excess speed. For the time being, we are operating under heightened security, and your protocol violations grabbed our attention. Could you explain the nature of your visit to Starbase 332?"

"Starbase three-three-ohhhh! You mean that thing?" Haraaq said clearly pointing out a viewing port on his vessel. "We're not visiting it. We're just passing through the area on our way to Gharrana VI. Is that a problem?"

Nilani tapped in a few commands on her console, and got the computer to make calculations based off the Siigella's speed, trajectory, and any local traffic lanes it may be looking to join or mirror. "Their current trajectory matches with a destination of the Gharrana system," she said quietly, so as not to interrupt the comm. line conversation too much. "Though they're four degrees off course if they plan to head directly to Gharrana VI."

"No, that's not a problem. We just ask that you could reduce speed when approaching a large object like the station. If possible, it would be even better that you adjust your course to take you well around it."

"Acknowledged, Jackal. Our apologies."

[OFF]

Lieutenant Commander Liarra Von
Acting Commanding Officer

Lieutenant Nilani Prax
Chief Science Officer

Chief Warrant Officer Daniel Maddux
Chief Intelligence Officer