Fighter Patrols

Posted on Thu Oct 14th, 2010 @ 9:11am by Lieutenant JG Jonathan Royce & Commander Dietrich Reinhart & Captain Alexander Gunning

Mission: Welcome to Archa IV
Location: Fighter Wings - SB332 Perimeter Space
Timeline: MD01 - 1440

[ON]

The Captain of the massive station sat in his command chair taking stock of the huge number of ships displayed on the screen in front of him. He showed thirteen civilian ships in the proximity of the system with a further sixteen already in the Station's airspace.

All of these vessels needed to be scanned and their occupants tag-scanned to ensure that they didn't show up in any Starfleet criminal databases. Not a job that he could solely trust to the Jackal as they were also looking at a massive tactical patrol around the system perimeter meaning that their searches would be based on a random sequence decided by the computer.

That meant that he'd need his fighters to perform the scans of the vessels and search any that they found suspicious. To aid this, they would have three runabouts manned by security teams on hand to board the vessels. It seemed like a sound plan to the Captain as he was loathe to believe that Cardassians this deep in Federation territory would not invoke any kind of negative reaction.

"Dockmaster, give the fighter wings and Security Details clearance for launch."

"Aye, sir," the young woman said turning back to her console, "Pythons, Exocets and Sec One, Two and Three you are clear for launch."

"Hammer acknowledge. Taking her out."

"Control, this is Exocet Lead. Cleared for departure on course," the pilot called out. While in squadron formation, it is unnecessary for the rest of the twelve fighters to respond to the clearance. Only the lead was required to speak, and the rest took cue off of Funkhouser's impulse engines.

The twelve fighters, lined one after another, exited SB332's auxiliary craft door along the lower rotunda. "Exocet Lead, clear of the active departure lane."

"Affirmative. Dockmaster handing over operational control to C-A-G." The young dockmaster said. "Have a good flight."

"Roger. See you soon," Funkhouser said as he, and the rest of his squadron, switched communications frequencies to the Area's Controller, currently Commander Dietrich Reinhart. "Exocet Squadron to Archanis Control, checking in, on course for Rendezvous, eight kilometers from departure lane."

"Good morning, Exocets. Form up with the rest of Seventeen. Seventeen is fifty klicks from your current position, holding position."

"Affirmative, Control. Rendezvousing with the rest of Seventeen."

"Python squadron in position, Arc-Con, maintaining orbit until all elements have joined the flight."

"Control to Air Wing, continue to rendezvous point. Pythons take lead. Exocets: secure the security shuttles."

"Affirmative, Control," Funkhouser called, guiding his fighter and squadron into a defensive echelon around the three security shuttles."

"Hammer to Arc-Con, all units in formation. Proceeding to rendezvous point with the Cardassian."

Royce guided the contingent of fighters and shuttles five thousand kilometers from the station. He checked the clock on the HUD, and just as the hour turned a flash of light three hundred kilometers ahead a Keldon Class Destroyer and two Galor Class escorts jumped out of hyperspace.

"Right on the nose." Royce said on the ship-to-ship comm. "They're nothing if not punctual."

"Weapons and shields are powered down." Anvil said from behind him. "No sign of belligerency."

He switched over to hail the Cardassian Keldor ship. "Cardassian vessel, this is Lieutenant Royce, Federation Starbase 332. We've been assigned to escort you to the starbase. Once there please assume standard orbit two kilometers out."

"This is Gul Berryk on the Cardassian Warship 'Rake'. We were under the impression these were to be peaceful negotiations, yet we are surrounded by fighters."

"For your own protection, Gul Berryk. Please follow us in, three-quarter impulse."

Berryk acknowledged.

"Exocet lead, split up your squadron into four flights of three elements and take up positions around the Galors, two on each. Mongoose, take your half and head aft of the Rake. We'll take point."

Royce switched channels again. "Pythone One to Arc-Con. We are in position and en route Starbase 332. ETA is twelve minutes."

"Airwing, Control, affirmative. Traffic has been cleared. Change in plans, make their orbit twelve kilometers. We have work bees adjusting antennae array and hull plates."

Funkhouser's Exocets, flying formation around Cardassian cruisers. The remarkable thing was that Cardassian space was at least two weeks away at cruise velocity, yet the Federation chose to have their negotiations on the rim of the galaxy. Something funny is up here, he thought. Peter began to passively scan the cruiser he was escorting, looking for any signs of power flux or targeting radars.

As the convoy approached SB-332, Reinhart turned away from the Archanis System display and towards Gunning. "Captain, they are two minutes out. The Air Wing is escorting as planned. Orders?"

"All right, Commander. Dockmaster, set the Cardassians on a guidance waypoint into the priority berths. Commander Reinhart; alert General Rohan and Ambassador T'Laarin that the delegates have arrived." The Captain ordered before pressing the communicator. "This is the Captain. Welcoming party to designated airlock."

"Aye, Captain," the CAG/XO replied, confirming his duties. It was a quick dash of the console that brought up the Station's Personnel and VIP guests communication codes. The top two VIP's were the General and Ambassador, and within a minute, even before the Cardassian Squadron started entering the station. "Captain, they're notified. I'm docking the air wing."

"Good job, Commander. Deploy another couple of wings as escort to the Jackal." The Captain ordered.

"Archanis Control to Starbase Air-wing, once the Cardassian Cruisers are clear, R-T-B. Repeat, R-T-B", with an order to stand down and return to base, Royce and Funkhouser would be docking soon. The Commander tapped another command to inform the dock-master of the incoming fighter wing. Cardassians, two hundred fighters, six hundred small transports and civilian liners, Just another shift at the office.

"Roger that, Arc-Con." Hammer acknowledged.

He flipped turned the radio to make contact with the entire wing. "Hammer to all flight leaders, RTB, standard landing pattern, security escorts first, Exocet squad next, then Pythons, I'll bring up the rear. Debriefing in 45 minutes."

Each of the flight leaders acknowledged their ordered and formed up in preparation for landing in the bay. With all the traffic surrounding the monstrous structure Royce didn't envy the controllers. Civilian and non-Federation crews didn't always do what they were told and keeping track of so many vessels and ensuring there were no collisions kept the brain moving at warp speed. It was a tightly controlled chaos.

[OFF]

Captain Alex Gunning
Commanding Officer

Commander Dietrich Reinhart
Executive Officer/CAG

Lieutenant (JG) Jonathan Royce
Wing Commander - Pythons

Lieutenant Peter Funkhouser
Wing Commander - Exocets