AAR: Which Way Did They Go (Parts 1-3)

Subspace Network Reports
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1
Stardate:
99955.7
Filed By:
CAPT Vel, L
Clearance:

LOCATION Narcada Moon (Mining Colony) Gamma Quadrant, Near Bajoran Worm Hole

MISSION Response to strange Borg Attack (Ongoing mission from Admiralty)

OUTCOME Colony attacked by two Borg Cubes. Midway counter attacked. Midway severely crippled

KEY PERSONNEL

  • Captain Vel, Lunya
  • Commander Akaela, Tala
  • Commander Nathes (Romulan Republic Observer)
  • Lieutenant Commander Flynn, Matthew
  • Lieutenant Commander zh’Vhenda, Kora
  • Lieutenant Drush, Lalaa
  • Lieutenant Junior Grade Thyzee (Observer)
  • USS Dragon + Personnel

NARRATIVE On above referenced Stardate, under standing orders from 38th Fleet Admiralty, USS Midway responded to the Narcada Mining Colony, on the Narcada Moon in the Gamma Quadrant. Response was due to reports of an unusual Borg attack, with two cubes that used never before seen drive technology.

Upon arrival to the area, Midway immediately sent down an away team led by Captain Vel, as well as engineering and medical teams to assist the recently attacked colony. An initial investigation determined that the primary dilithium mine had been completely removed from the surrounding environment, an act that none of the survivors were able to fully explain. The most common witness statement was that the two Borg Cubes had arrived from what had appeared to be two “rips in space”, suggesting a possible subspace method of travel (more on this in recommendations).

At this time, engineering teams led by LCDR Flynn were able to restore the colony’s power generation systems, restoring power to the remaining settlement structures, to include the hospital.

While further ground side estimations and evaluations were made, LCDR zh’Vhenda reported from the Midway that the two cubes had returned and that the away team would be immediately beamed back aboard ship.

Once back aboard, and all crews at appropriate stations, screening Valkyrie fighters were ordered to engage the furthest cube, while Midway proceeded to engage the nearest. Attack orders were given in an effort to buy the colony time to continue evacuation procedures with any spacecraft that could go to warp.

During the initial engagement, LTJG Thyzee suggested a maneuver that would take the Midway (with fighters using the ship’s shields for protection) to make a fast traverse of the moon’s equator and come out on the other side of the Borg Cubes. It was approximately at this time that CMDR Nathes requested, and was granted command of a back up Valkyrie and proceeded to join the fighter screen.

The order was given to attempt the “traverse” maneuver, and the Midway made a quick rotation across the equator and moved to engage the two Borg Cubes at a new attack angle. During these initial new attacks, Midway was making progress in damaging the cube closest to the colony moon, when she was struck by two kinetic cutting beams. The beams were not stopped by shielding and the ship took the full brunt of their impacts, which resulted in the port side nacelle being completely sheered off from the ship.

Numerous injuries and fatalities were reported at this time. Ordering power systems to focus on shields, impulse engines and weapons, Captain Vel sent out a distress signal in regards to the severity of the current attack and damage to the ship. At this time, torpedoes were ordered to be randomized using the new auto loading system to prepare for a last stand attack. Captain Vel ordered an attack on a single point on the nearest Borg cube (to also be attacked by Midway’s five remaining active fighters), with plans of ejecting the warp core to use the tractor beam and launch it at the second cube, while ramming the first. At this time, evacuation orders were given, with the crew to use all available shuttles, the runabout and escape pods.

For reasons unknown at this time, LTJG Thyzee began to attempt to argue and even possibly countermand this order (more in Recommendations).

Prior to completion of evacuation, arriving via Transwarp aperture, USS Dragon responded to USS Midway’s distress call, its arrival bisecting the nearest cube in half, and destroying the halves with weapons fire. Also responding to the distress call was the USS Essex from the Sixth Fleet which was on deep space patrol.

At this time, all escape pods and shuttles were recovered, and Midway was taken under tow by USS Dragon to return to DS 13 via DS 9. Due to their actions in trying to argue an evacuation order, LTJG Thyzee was restricted to guest quarters for the trip back to DS 13

Casualty Figures: Wounded- 51 Deceased- 20 Valkyries lost- 7 Runabouts lost- 1

RECOMMENDATION Continued research into what was being research at initial RnD station that the Borg attacked, to include declassifying needed materials. Review possible disciplinary action in regards to LTJG Thyzee with officer’s CO.
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RECOGNITION Recognition to entire Midway bridge crew for bravery in extreme circumstances, and the ability to save the ship long enough for arrival of reinforcements. Of major recognition would be the extreme skill and tactical acumen of the USS Dragon, her captain and crew, for a brilliant tactical maneuver to turn the tide of battle.

OOC This is a continuation of the Borg Arc. Stay tuned for more to come!
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Stardate:
99955.7
Filed By:
CAPT Tungsten, D.
Clearance:

ADDENDUM USS Dragon had completed its patrol loop, and was in the vicinity of DS13 when the distress call from USS Midway was made known.

In order to respond across the vast distance, the transwarp gate was deemed a better option than slipstream, and also of further tactical use. With the telemetry provided by Midway in their distress call, it was determined after some calculations by the Dragon’s crew that we could set the transwarp aperture to open within the cube, and of larger size than the cube, in order to use our very arrival as a weapon to remove the tactical advantage that two Borg cubes would have over us, even with reinforcements expected to arrive shortly after.

It was also determined that we would be able to utilize a combination of the phaser-lance and main deflector to either push our way through, make a hole within the selected Borg cube, or both, such that we would survive the maneuver, though some damage to structural integrity and the inertial dampeners was expected, and did indeed prove to occur, but within acceptable and repairable levels.

This maneuver did work as expected, and we were able to then attack both halves of this Borg cube from the inside further with weapons, it having already suffered catastrophic damage being split in half and not as well protected from the inside, and destroy it.

LT Wind-People had moved from the tactical station to take command of USS Shenlong, which was also launched from the Dragon, after initiating the attack, with LT Fra’seer assuming the tactical station aboard Dragon.

As Dragon emerged from the wreckage of the first Borg cube, the Dragon’s Valkyrie fighters were also deployed, beginning in “wings” formation, and then moving to attack patterns, USS Shenlong also maneuvering for attack. At this time, the Monitor Class USS Essex arrived onto the scene to deploy its larger fighter complement, and its own weapons to assist with destroying the remains of the first Borg cube.

After brief communication with USS Midway, Dragon and Essex, with Essex taking command of Midway’s remaining fighters for the operation, did engage the remaining Borg cube over the colony, and manage to destroy it with overwhelming phaser and torpedo barrages at random frequencies per anti-Borg protocols.

RECOMMENDATIONThe maneuver of using a transwarp aperture against an enemy vessel was extremely successful, but it is recommended that this not be used if other options exist again against the Borg, if only for a fear that they may have now adapted somehow. Pushing through would also likely cause much more damage to a smaller ship, especially one lacking a phaser-lance cannon. It may continue to prove effective against non-Borg enemy vessels, however, if they also deign to stand still as the Borg often do.

RECOGNITION The Captain and crew of the USS Midway deserve special recognition for defending the colony, and managing to hold out as long as they did, in the face of overwhelming enemy strength. Their actions have no doubt saved many lives. I would also like to recognize the crew of USS Dragon for executing a dangerous and difficult maneuver to save our fellow Starfleet personnel aboard the Midway, and the colony. They did so with extreme precision and professionalism, keeping the Dragon safe to complete its mission. Special recognition is given to Lieutenant Wind-People for performance at the tactical station, plus taking command of USS Shenlong in difficult circumstances, and performing admirably. Compliments are also given to the Captain and crew of USS Essex for also diverting to answer the distress call, and capably aiding with the operation.

OOC Many thanks to @LunyaVel for actually liking my silly idea enough to give the Dragon a guest appearance in this event, and for making a good one to begin with!
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