–
While Tabadi Lorri’s team was successful in obtaining useful intelligence on the specifications of the Sheliak ships, another group of the task force struggles with running interference on the incoming fleet due to the presence of an elite escort squadron known as the Bodyguards and requests assistance…
–
Shift Time: Sunday, Nov 8, Alpha -1
Audience: Klingon and allies
Event Type: Social/combat RP
Starting Point: Starship bridge
OOC point of contact: @anncarise
B’Atar@anncarise FX | On the bridge of the Thana, the commanding officers of the other ships call in as Nomen steps onto the bridge.
B’Atar@anncarise | Nomen: “So, I’ve run a search on our Ferengi friend. Only hit I got was some real estate broker. Smells like a cover identity, but I’ve got nothing on a real ID.”
[Local] Sadia@gulremal: [C] Is the data they provided valid?
B’Atar@anncarise | Nomen: “Whoever he is, he’s good at being invisible. And probably dangerous. So I advise not making any further deals with him. But…”
B’Atar@anncarise | Nomen looks to Sadia’s projection, “The good news is the intel is good. Verified it with multiple sources. Which makes him all the more dangerous, because not everyone can get their hands on specs like this, especially from the Sheliak.”
[Local] Hach’Qo@carebearcrusher: [C] “I do not fear honorless trolls like that one. If he wishes for a fight, he shall have one. Though I doubt he wishes it.”
[Local] Sadia@gulremal: [C] Well, I’m not surprised that the Ferengi Alliance have some of their own intelligence agents. In the end, information is a valuable commodity.
Egzo@HF_Mudd chuckles at Hach’Qo, then nods to Sadia.
B’Atar@anncarise | Nomen: “I’d recommend keeping an eye on House Dronurr, just in case. I have a feeling if he wants to act against us, it wouldn’t be directly.”
B’Atar@anncarise | Delbaj Naissas: “Tabadi, I’m getting a hail from the San’leth.”
[Local] Sadia@gulremal: [C] nods I have mobilized all our forces, reserves and tributary worlds.
B’Atar@anncarise FX | The other captains receive a same general hail to all task force ships in range.
[Local] Egzo@HF_Mudd: “Oh, they won’t… eh?”
[Local] Lorri@crystyll: “The San’leth? Let’s see what they want, put it up.”
[Local] Sadia@gulremal: [C] San’leth? Weren’t they on the harrying duty?
B’Atar@anncarise appears as a slightly flickering holoprojection, “Tabadi. Captains. I thought your group would be in range.”
[Local] B’Atar@anncarise: “How’s dealing with the Ferengi go? Task force bankrupt yet?”
[Local] Hach’Qo@carebearcrusher: [C] chuckles “In Fact they were quite reasonable after a few rounds of ‘negotiation’.”
B’Atar@anncarise laughs, “I can imagine! Unfortunately I don’t have as much success to report on my end.”
[Local] B’Atar@anncarise: [C] “The Sheliak’s got an escort squadron, nine ships in total. They’ve been driving off our strikes on their fleet.”
[Local] Sadia@gulremal: [C] Not unexpected. Did you get any scans on them?
[Local] B’Atar@anncarise: [C] "Aye, but we were busier keeping them off us. Can’t even get the shields of their light cruisers down before these escorts swoop in and start firing, and they hit /hard/. IKS Lesuqh is disabled -
[Local] B’Atar@anncarise: - and we’ve got two others with damage. San’leth’s the only one who can outmaneuver them. Got some hits in on one, but they’re built tougher than a raider too."
[Local] B’Atar@anncarise: [C] “I’m sending you everything we got on them.”
[Local] Sadia@gulremal: [C] We need to get rid of these guys. checks the info
Hach’Qo@carebearcrusher looks over the info, and cross-checks it with the data from the Ferengi.
[Local] Sadia@gulremal: [C] I guess we’ll have to draw them away from the fleet and destroy them quick with overwhelming force, then fall back before the main force catches up.
B’Atar@anncarise | The scans reveal a ship surprisingly similar to Starfleet’s Defiant-class, though the hull-shape is distinctly Sheliak and much more aggressive, with four forward-protruding spike-like -
[Local] B’Atar@anncarise: - attachments, each being the point of a powerful beam. It has a single rotating 360 degree torpedo launcher at the top, and a single rotating phaser turret on the bottom
[Local] Hach’Qo@carebearcrusher: [C] The Ferengi failed to mention there escorts, and we have no data on them aside from these scans.
Egzo@HF_Mudd observes, “Looks like a targ.”
B’Atar@anncarise | Nomen: “I wouldn’t be surprised if the Sheliak made them just for you. Doesn’t look particularly in line with the other schematics we /do/ have, and it’s no secret that the Empire likes its raiders. Probably not a standard Sheliak design.”
B’Atar@anncarise chuckles, “It does look like a targ, and it can hit just as hard as a charging one.”
[Local] Sadia@gulremal: [C] B’atar, how good are sheliak at detecting cloaked ships?
[Local] B’Atar@anncarise: [C] “Their fleet is running tachyon sweeps, rotating them between ships. We can sneak up close, but not close enough to shoot at them before they see us coming.”
[Local] Hach’Qo@carebearcrusher: [C] do they pursue when you break off your attacks?
[Local] B’Atar@anncarise: [C] “I think they want to chase us down, do as much damage as they can. They’re aggressive, but they know their job is to protect their fleet and won’t venture too far away.”
Egzo@HF_Mudd shakes his head. [C] “Tough, smart, /and/ disciplined. I /hate/ guys like that.”
[Local] Hach’Qo@carebearcrusher: [C] My suggestion would be to lay a trap, then. Have the Raiders make another sweep, and bring the escorts back to the fleet, which will be waiting cloaked. We may be able to disable them before their fleet can turn to support.
[Local] Sadia@gulremal: [C] Sound idea, we should have some measures to reduce their mobility - tractor beams, gravity wells, cloaked minefields.
[Local] Sadia@gulremal: [C] Fighter squadrons should also be able to do some damage. High mobility and damage output usually means weak shields and armor.
[Local] Hach’Qo@carebearcrusher: [C] it may be extreme, but we could also lay some tricobalt devices in between the fleet and the escorts, hopefully disrupting subspace enough to slow their reinforcements down.
Egzo@HF_Mudd gives Hach’Qo a look much like when the latter pulled a knife on the Ferengi.
[Team] B’Atar@anncarise: Hehe
[Team] Egzo@HF_Mudd: (Roughly, “huh, this cutter doesn’t **** around.”)
[Team] Hach’Qo@carebearcrusher: lol
[Local] B’Atar@anncarise: [C] “Sounds like a good plan. And trust me, there’s no overkill on them.”
[Local] Sadia@gulremal: [C] Let’s keep that as a last resort. I doubt we’ll just get away with some paperwork for breaking the Khitomer accords.
Hach’Qo@carebearcrusher nods [C] “I will prepare my warriors, we shall load the bird of prey with the tricobalt weapons, and have them maintain cloak until it is necessary.”
[Local] Sadia@gulremal: [C] I’ll work with my tech team to boost tractor beam system. Catching them in multiple tractor beams and then blowing them up with the Daramar’s main weapons should do the trick.
[Local] B’Atar@anncarise: [C] “San’leth, Girak and Nomh can lure them out. They know us already from the previous raids.”
[Local] Sadia@gulremal: [C] to Lorri Tabadi, you think Thana can do that gravity well trick when we fought Scryer’s base?
Lorri@crystyll nods, “I don’t see why not.”
[Local] Sadia@gulremal: [C] to B’atar Just try to keep them occupied enough so they themselves don’t try tachyon scans. If you have a spot where you plan to lure them, we can set up a small cloaked photon minefield.
[Local] Sadia@gulremal: [C] I picked up some from the wajpuH tul when I coordinated the mobilisation.
Egzo@HF_Mudd mutters, just loud enough to be picked up, [C] “Nice.”
[Local] Sadia@gulremal: [C] I can transfer them to you to set the field up before you spring the attack.
B’Atar@anncarise nods, “We’ll keep them occupied. There’s not a lot of systems on the fleet’s path right now, so we’ll probably have to settle for a spot in deep space along their route.”
[Local] Sadia@gulremal: [C] Also less gravity wells to mess up with emergency warp-out, if the main fleet catches up with us.
[Local] Sadia@gulremal: [C] Any other ideas?
[Local] B’Atar@anncarise: [C] “We’ll pick the ambush point and give you the coordinates. See you there, Captain.”
[Local] Sadia@gulremal: [C] Good luck, commander.
Egzo@HF_Mudd salutes B’Atar, fist to chest.
[Emotes] B’Atar@anncarise: Qapla’!
B’Atar@anncarise performs a traditional Klingon salute!
[Local] Hach’Qo@carebearcrusher: [C] Qapla’!
Hach’Qo@carebearcrusher returns the salute
[Local] Sadia@gulremal: [FX] Daramar’s OPS coordinates transfer of cloaked mines to San’leth.
[Local] Sadia@gulremal: [C] Well, I’m going to get my techs to squeeze as much auxiliary power into the tractor beams. I’ll let the rest of you do your own preps. See you at the ambush spot.
B’Atar@anncarise FX | Several hours pass as the ships move to the ambush position and begin setting up the field. As they do…
[Team] B’Atar@anncarise: Roll everyone!
[Emotes] Lorri@crystyll: rolls 40 (1-100)
[Local] Sadia@gulremal: [C] Remember - immobilize or slow them down them first if you can, they shove all the firepower you have down their throats.
[Emotes] Sadia@gulremal: rolls 54 (1-100)
[Emotes] Hach’Qo@carebearcrusher: rolls 96 (1-100)
[Emotes] Egzo@HF_Mudd: rolls 26 (1-100)
[Team] Hach’Qo@carebearcrusher: dont know what it was for but that roll though
[Team] Egzo@HF_Mudd: looks like it’s my turn to be unlucky today
[Team] B’Atar@anncarise: Nah it’s not a very important roll! hehe
[Team] Hach’Qo@carebearcrusher: see thatd be a lot more believable without the hehe
[Team] Hach’Qo@carebearcrusher: lol
[Local] Hach’Qo@carebearcrusher: [C] my sensors are picking up 5 unidentified ships approaching the Sheliak fleet
[Local] Sadia@gulremal: [C] Can confirm that.
[Local] B’Atar@anncarise: [C] “They’re definitely not part of the fleet. Can’t get a read on who they are yet but we’ve never seen Sheliak fly in that formation.”
[Local] Sadia@gulremal: [C] Could be mercs, we did post a bounty on Sheliaks… or maybe cardassians.
[Local] Sadia@gulremal: [C] B’atar, can you move closer and try to get a better reading?
B’Atar@anncarise nods, “Aye Captain. Moving in now.”
Hach’Qo@carebearcrusher attempts to use the LI’taH’s communications array to try to intercept any comm traffic between the sheliak and the newcomers.
B’Atar@anncarise | Meanwhile, San’leth moves off to investigate…
[Emotes] Hach’Qo@carebearcrusher: rolls 42 (1-100)
[Emotes] B’Atar@anncarise: rolls 81 (1-100)
[Local] B’Atar@anncarise: [C] "San’leth is getting more detailed readings now.
Egzo@HF_Mudd watches the sensor feed closely on his own screen
[Local] B’Atar@anncarise: [C] “An old Cardassian Galor in the lead, three Nausicaan destroyers and…looks like a Dominion War period Jem’Hadar attack ship, but it’s mostly rebuilt with Nausicaan tech.”
[Local] Hach’Qo@carebearcrusher: [C] “Pirates?”
[Local] B’Atar@anncarise: [C] “Probably mercs and pirates, depending on circumstance. I’m guessing that bounty on the Sheliak was too appealing to turn down.”
[Local] Sadia@gulremal: [C] Depends, are they on the attack run or just approaching?
[Local] Hach’Qo@carebearcrusher: [C] they’re at Warp 8, and im not picking up any communications between the two, I think we should maintain cloak and observe.
[Local] Sadia@gulremal: [C] Sheliak will not talk with them. But those guys won’t last long against their escort group. We can start our own attack and give them chance to score some hits.
Hach’Qo@carebearcrusher nods, and begins launching cloaked fighters and the two birds of prey armed with tricobalt warheads.
[Local] B’Atar@anncarise: [C] “Sounds like a good idea. Their ships aren’t impressive, but if they’re mercs here for the bounty, they’ll do as a nice distraction if nothing else.”
[Local] Sadia@gulremal: [C] Up to you, commander. Start your attack when you feel is the best time. We stand ready.
[Local] B’Atar@anncarise: [C] “Aye. Kor Squadron, move into attack range!”
[Local] Hach’Qo@carebearcrusher: [C] klingon war chants can be heard over the open comm line
B’Atar@anncarise | On everyone’s tactical maps, San’leth, Girak and Nomh advance towards the Sheliak fleet under cloak, with the merc ships coming in from another angle.
[Local] B’Atar@anncarise: [C] “Prepare for attack run on my mark…now!”
B’Atar@anncarise | The raptor and two birds of prey decloak, dashing for the nearest light cruiser and unloading all their weapons. Before long, the Sheliak escorts appear…but only three of them.
B’Atar@anncarise | On the tactical map, the other six swing around, engaging the mercenaries as they hit the fleet from their angle.
[Local] Sadia@gulremal: [C] can be heard over the comms Tractor beams ready? Load the torpedo tubes with quantums, set to spread in case beams don’t immobilise them. Indirect hits with such yield should still do the trick.
[Local] B’Atar@anncarise: [C] “Captain, looks like we’ve only drawn three of them! Should we continue with the plan and lure them to the ambush site?”
[Local] Sadia@gulremal: [C] Three is better than none. Even if the mercs would listen to us and break off, enemy will suspect foul play.
[Local] Sadia@gulremal: [C] Besides, let’s see what caliber of mercenaries can the cardassian sector provide.
[Local] B’Atar@anncarise: [C] “Heading back to the ambush point now!”
[Emotes] B’Atar@anncarise: rolls 19 (1-100)
[Local] Sadia@gulremal: [C] If they can’t deal with them 1 on 1, they are not worth hiring anyway.
B’Atar@anncarise [C] “Nomh and Girak are taking heavy fire, but we’re almost at the ambush site! Stand ready to spring the trap!”
[Local] Sadia@gulremal: [C] That’s it folks! Decloak and fire as soon as they’re at the minefield!
Egzo@HF_Mudd nods grimly, watching the tactical plot closely.
B’Atar@anncarise - AMBUSH ROUND -
[Emotes] B’Atar@anncarise: rolls 99 (1-100)
[Team] B’Atar@anncarise: I was not expecting that
[Team] B’Atar@anncarise: hahaha
Hach’Qo@carebearcrusher prepares a full spread of quantum torpedoes and disruptors planning to target the engines
B’Atar@anncarise | Too engaged in chasing Kor Squadron, the Sheliak ships don’t notice the mines which slam right into them, taking down the shields of all three ships!
B’Atar@anncarise - SADIA’S TURN -
[Team] B’Atar@anncarise: Yeah these 3 are doomed now
[Team] B’Atar@anncarise: hehe
[Team] Hach’Qo@carebearcrusher: welp lol
[Local] Sadia@gulremal: [C] Decloak, tractor beams on lead vessel, main weapons follow up!
[Local] Sadia@gulremal: [FX] Daramar decloaks, rising shields and projecting tractor beams at the incoming vessels, following up with the torpedo spread and forward weapon fire.
[Emotes] Sadia@gulremal: rolls 99 (1-100)
[Team] B’Atar@anncarise: Wow
[Team] B’Atar@anncarise: What is with the 99s today
[Team] Egzo@HF_Mudd: leave some for the rest of us, boss. XD
[Team] Sadia@gulremal: well, this will draw more ships and make daramar a juicy target
[Team] Egzo@HF_Mudd: so… between those two, I think the current group is just obliterated, and we get to go fight the others? :)
[Team] Sadia@gulremal: they might detach part of the fleet, or divert escorts to Daramar :p
minute
B’Atar@anncarise | Daramar snares the lead vessel and pummels it with torpedoes, completely vapourizing it. The others take a few torpedoes and are left damaged but marginally operational.
B’Atar@anncarise - EGZO’S TURN -
[Local] Egzo@HF_Mudd: [FX] Hag’lhr ripples into visibility and opens up on one of the damaged ships, attempting to finish it.
[Emotes] Egzo@HF_Mudd: rolls 18 (1-100)
[Team] Egzo@HF_Mudd: (reroll)
[Emotes] Egzo@HF_Mudd: rolls 52 (1-100)
B’Atar@anncarise | Egzo appears beside one of the damaged ships and finishes it off before it can do anything else!
B’Atar@anncarise - LORRI’S TURN -
Lorri@crystyll | Thana launches its interceptors and attacks the highest threat target in range
[Emotes] Lorri@crystyll: rolls 39 (1-100)
B’Atar@anncarise | Thana’s interceptors swarm the remaining escort, disabling it completely!
[Emotes] B’Atar@anncarise: rolls 90 (1-100)
B’Atar@anncarise | Meanwhile, the mercs don’t fare anywhere near as well. The remaining six escorts of the Sheliak squadron take cover behind one of their heavy cruisers, which begins turning in their -
[Local] B’Atar@anncarise: - direction and taking most of the incoming fire. The escorts emerge over and under the heavy cruiser, swiftly picking off the four smaller ships and taking potshots at the Galor.
B’Atar@anncarise | By the time it gets the idea to retreat, it is already too late as the fully turned heavy cruiser unleashes its firepower, obliterating the Galor.
[Local] Sadia@gulremal: [C] looks at her tactical screen as merc dots blink out of existence Disappointing. to Hac’Qo Captain, stay in cloak and move into flanking position, I think we can expect the next wave.
B’Atar@anncarise | A second heavy cruiser begins turning as the fleet spots what Daramar did to the three escorts. It waits briefly on the edge of the fleet as the six escorts converge behind the two heavies.
[Local] Hach’Qo@carebearcrusher: [C] “Aye.”
[Local] B’Atar@anncarise: [C] “Yeah, this is going to be a lot tougher than the first group. And a lot more fun!”
[Local] Hach’Qo@carebearcrusher: [C] “We may not win against their whole fleet, but it is a good day to die!”
[Local] Sadia@gulremal: [C] As you can see, they are taking us more seriously. shouts aside Emergency power to shields. Commander, are Nomh and Girak in condition to fight?
[Local] B’Atar@anncarise: [C] “Girak and Nomh can only restore their shields close to half. They can try to keep the escorts dancing, but it’ll be risky.”
[Local] Sadia@gulremal: [C] Keep them outta cruisers’ firing arcs, if they drop shields they should fall back behind Daramar and Thana. shouts aside Charge the main autocannon. to Lorri We’ll need that gravity well when the escorts rush us.
[Local] B’Atar@anncarise: [C] “Aye Captain. We’ll keep the escorts busy while the big ships deal with the heavies.”
[Local] Sadia@gulremal: Gunners should keep eyes peeled on areas above and below the cruisers, that’s where the escorts will pop up from. Daramar will draw the cruisers’ fire as long as possible.
[Local] Sadia@gulremal: [C] to Hach’Qo Once cruisers are commited, flank them with everything you’ve got.
B’Atar@anncarise | Meanwhile on the tactical map, the Sheliak formation of two heavy cruisers and six escorts move towards them…
B’Atar@anncarise - TO BE CONTINUED -