Season 2 Ep 1 Page 04

- Bridge -

She sees a change in status in the corner of her eyes, we are on Yellow Alert and I hear the sound of fighters launching. She moves to the medical station and starts checking the status of Sick Bay. They report ready for anything that may come their way. All medical teams report in saying they are in position in case of any injuries in their assigned area.

She does not know what is going on but she knows Sick Bay is ready and everyone is in position. She scans the Orion ships in a discreet manner to check for alien life signs without it being detected but at the same time she can check out her theory that the Orions was there collecting slaves. She makes sure it is as low power a scan as possible to prevent it from being detected by the Orion’s..

Maia got to the bridge fairly quickly. If Lt. Sheela was a double agent they were all in danger. Lt Tomlinson was the duty officer in charge and Maia quickly relieved her.

"Yellow Alert" Maia ordered.  "Scan for any ships in the area then put up Tactical".

Commander Sterling comes out and orders the ship to yellow alert. Cahill smiles, oO this is what I needed. Oo she thought then sends the scan to full power and start looking at the Orion ships. She began looking for any signs that the Orion's are taking prisoners to be sold as slaves. "I keep looking at full power and quickly due to it may be at any time they may resend the order allowing us to scan ships.

Dr Cahill responds, Aye Commander Sterling all medical sections are ready if needed.

Commander Sterling had the conn and had ordered a yellow alert, most stations including the medical bay had reported in their status already.

Maia scanned the tactical display before her an noted that the Cardassian's had already warped out of orbit and the Romulan's were powering up their engines preparing to leave. Maia was careful to log their course headings.

The Executive officer knew that Captain Somers would want a more thorough investigation of the site even though there were still explosions going on down on the planets surface. Strange that the Orion's didn't seem to have orbital coverage. Their tactics implied use of ground forces only.

oO Perhaps there was a ship underground or underwater Oo. Maia thought.

Maia looked over towards Science Officer Masada who was working on Science 2.

"Jose can you give me a scan of sector 2 grid 14"?

"Yes Ma'am there is an energy dampening field over grid 14, 15 and 16, sensor reading are sporadic at best". Lt Masada replied.

"Very well, can you scan the perimeter of the dampening field perhaps we can fins another way to defeat it". Maia said.

oO Only time will tell thought Maia Oo

- OSS Lady Luck - Bridge - Day 3 -

"Leader, we have intercepted a message from the Galen system". Tactical officer Crom reported.

Sarina turned to look at the hulking Orion who was actually much more intelligent than he looked.

"The Galen system I didn't think we had any pirate operations in that sector. What is the intercept, Crom"? Sarina asked.

"Its in a hybrid code leader, the message reads the conquest of Galen IV is complete. The government has been toppled and is under martial law. The Romulan and Cardassian delegates have retreated. Ready to initiate phase 2 of the operation". Crom advised.

"Advise fleet central and ask for instructions" Sarina ordered.

"Fleet command has no information on this development Leader, they order you to take second squadron and investigate".

"Crom advise the ship captains to set a course for the Galen system maximum warp"

In less than a minute all the ships in her squadron were at warp heading to Galen IV.

- Sheela’s Quarters – Infirmary -

She needed to make one stop before heading to the shuttle to the planet. The infirmary, to see Doctor Cahill about some sleep gas. Hoping she could produce it and place it in an aerosol dispensing canister.

Sheela entered her den and went through her equipment cases, putting together her mission expendables in a load bearing vest for such missions. She grabbed a Storage Data case with receiver to transmit data to once its been acquired, which be secured aboard the shuttle, that Barker would bring back to the Tomcat and turn over to Somers, if she didn’t make the return deadline.

Once her gear was sorted, she still took precautions of intrusion by this mysterious intruder on the ship, while allowing Somers to have access to her quarters and herself.

Then she took off to the Infirmary to see Doctor Cahill. She entered the facility and moved to where ever Cahill was at the moment. ”Doc! Iz need an aerosol dispensing canister of yooz most fast acting sleep gas. Can yooz make it?”

She smiles as Sheela enters, "Here you go Lt, be real careful with this." As she handed the three canisters to Sheela.

Sheela gave Cahill a smile and a soft "squeak," of thanks as she received the stuff from Cahill. Securing them in her pouch as she scampered out, heading to the shuttle bay.

- Captain's Ready Room - Bridge -

Once she finishes, she returns to the Bridge and checks her sensor readings, odd it appears there are more than Orion’s on the ships. Perhaps she was correct in her assumptions.

She turns, "LCMD Sterling perhaps you had better see this." As she approaches, "I took the liberty of doing some scans on the Orion ships in orbit. It appears they were using their superior force to take prisoners. I believe they are planning to sell them as slaves. It is just a hunch but it does make sense to the way they have done in the past."

"Interesting. On the planets surface they pretty much annihilated the government troops. The prisoners must be civilians".

Captain Somers returned to the bridge.

"Squeak," Sheela nodded, once more calmed down as her mind compartmentalized the latest on Lieutenant Serron and her shuttle to focus on the mission at paw. “Anything else yooz want mez to find out also while Iz down there?”

Sheela was all business like and already making a list of equipment to bring with her. She didn’t even wait for the signal of dismissal a she was already heading for the door of the Ready Room.

Jasmine looks at the departing and with a sigh "Dismissed" She said, then notified Barker to get a shuttle ready and she would meet him down there and then signed off and initiated a site to site transport to the flight deck. She appeared right in front of Barker scaring the hell out of him.

- Flight Deck – USS Tomcat -

Jasmine looks at the departing and with a sigh "Dismissed" She said, then notified Barker to get a shuttle ready and she would meet him down there and then signed off and initiated a site to site transport to the flight deck. She appeared right in front of Barker scaring the hell out of him.

Barker was walking at a clip when he came to a sudden stop under his own power "Blimey Captain, don't do that!" He said shocked.

"Sorry Ensign” Jasmine said.

Looking at her with suspicion "Why is Captain Jelan not doing this?" Barker asked.

"He is coping well at helm, I need someone who Lieutenant Sheela does not see as a threat, c'mon lets get onto the shuttle I have some equipment to give you and I need to brief you.

- Bridge -

Jasmine returns to the bridge after leaving the flight deck, as she arrives on the bridge Sterling vacates the center seat as Jasmine takes over.

"What has been happening, any news on those Orion Slavers? Jasmine asked.

"It has jut come to my attention that the slavers are living up to their names. They have begin rounding up the population probably to be sold as slaves" Maia replied.

"Interesting, how is the CAP going, any problems?" She asked.

"Nothing reported as yet" Sterling answered dutifully.

Sighing heavily as she looked at Sterling "I have sent Lieutenant Sheela back down on a fact finding mission, she is sneaky enough to complete her task. Ensign Barker is piloting the shuttle" As if to emphasize this shuttle left the safety of the Tomcat and shot planet ward.

"Yes Ma'am the shuttle cleared the bay moments ago with Sheela's IDC. I assumed you instructed her to do exactly that its what would have done too. She is sneaky enough to evade capture. There are now 14 slaver ships in orbit Captain. There is something odd about how they are manoeuvring, but I haven't put my finger on it yet".

Looking from Sterling to the viewscreen in surprise "What of our allies here? what are they doing about this event?" She asked.

"I would say they are licking there wounds, except the Klingon’s they want to reform and attack. However where do we attack; there is nothing left to protect. There are seemingly civilians on the Orion Attack cruisers, but we are outnumbered 20 to one. The Romulan's are assessing however I would hardly call them allies. We are in wait and see mode as Sheela is on the planets surface but has not reported in yet".

"I see, get me the Klingon Captain, and recall the CAP" She said and sat in her now vacant seat. "Red Alert all hands to battle stations, have the fighters ready to launch on my order, keep Raider Squadron in reserve after they return from the CAP" She ordered and the ship went from Yellow Alert to Red.

"Aye Captain, Red Alert, All hands to battle stations"! Maia ordered.

Maia watched as everyone hurried to their assigned battle stations when the COMM officer nodded to her.

"Captain I have Captain Krol on, He is requesting visual". Lt Simms replied.

“Onscreen” Jasmine said and looked as the star field was replaced by a gruff Klingon “Captain Krol, what is your ships status?” Jasmine asked.

“We are battle ready” he said then a little ashamed “they caught us with… what is that human expression?!” He paused as he thought and when he had the saying looked up “our pants down, you have a plan?” He asked.

“Yes, hope you are at Red alert, the other ship Captain’s have problems with their engines, so what say we go on the offensive target shields, weapons and engines only on those slave ships, all other ships it is a wild Targ hunt” She said.

The Klingon smiled “I will form up on you Krol and Qapla out” He responded and closed the line with a smile.

Maia recalled the CAP. "Captain Fighters are launched assuming defensive patters bravo".

“Launch all remaining fighters Commander have them form up on us and Captain Korg, they are to target any Orion fighters that attack” She said.

"Fighters launched Captain, they are taking up a spearhead in front of us, and however there are no attacking fighters the Orion ships are on the other side of the planet using it as a shield against us. Something else seems to have their attention, however readings are sporadic".

“Keep me updated Commander; I do not want to be caught off guard again” Somers said.

"Aye Captain" Maia replied.

Maia then bent over her sensors scanning. The Tomcat was accelerating towards that enemy fleet. they were in orbit of the planet on the opposite side however the Tomcat was quickly gaining.

"Captain we nearing the equatorial horizon, the enemy fleet will be on the view screen in less than 20 seconds. Distance 40,00o kilometres. Ten of the ships have broken orbit and are manoeuvring to intercept us the other twenty are maintain orbit". Maia reported.

"Okay if any of our Squadrons are still on the deck get them in the air, then charge weapons and reinforce SIF and shields, but let them fire first. Jasmine said

Maia then detected what could only be a subspace eddy behind the approaching fleet.

"Captain I'm getting anomalous readings from the sensors, could be a subspace eddy, its behind the approaching fleet and seems to moving towards them..... Its gone now...Could have been cloaked ships coming out of warp.. I'm not detecting anything now, except the approaching fleet....They are assuming an offensive posture. Shields and weapons hot. Maia reported.

"Keep ours ready and hot Commander, but do not fire, let Captain Krol know this, if he complains tell him there is higher moral ground in not firing first, what of the Romulan's and Cardassian ships and the Orion traders, what are they doing exactly?" she asked.

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