NationStates Jolt Archive

The pioneer class Starship 'bright star' was tumbling in space and in a bad way.

A group of humanoid hostiles had tried to board it and had been repulsed without having to self destruct the ship. They had been space pirates but wouldn't be pirating anymore in this life. The pirate ship was just so much space dust and debris now and a lone prisoner was in the brig.

Captain Jun Nakamura sheathed her straight sword after flicking of the the red blood from the blade and with her warp engines needing major repair and with 1/2 impulse power, no shields and minimal life support they needed help badly.
10 of her crew had died during the action and she would remember their souls later on.

Her comms officer was dead and she closed the young womans eyes moving her small light body of the chair and onto the deck. So she sent out an SOS to an allied vessel asking for immediate assistance.

Allies being The Federal Union or a Terror Incognito vessel for now. These would be prefered given the shape the ship was in.

It was a long shift. A loooooong shift.
Well, ok, it was a standard 4 hours, but when you're the comms op of a ship passing through apparently empty space, 4 hours is a very, very long time.

The Incognitian Naval Ship Ifni's Laugh was a middling sized destroyer on show-the-flag and commerce protection duties, currently swinging a short-cut between two more populated regions.
The main trade routes went around, but as a result some of the bolder merchants passed straight through, and pirates frequently based themselves in the area.
Incognitia's ever expanding trade was moving into the region, and so the Navy was dealing ever more frequently with the pirates. Mostly operating converted freighters, the criminals already had a healthy respect for Incognitian naval firepower. The challenge was destroying them.

In any case, Risha Maurice, duty Comms Officer of Starboard 3 watch, was bored and sleepy.
However, when her screen started flashing with an incoming message, she sat up.
Maybe this shift wouldn't be so boring after all...and she hadn't been in enough combat, yet, to know that boring was the best possible option.

"Skipper, incoming transmission: we've got a Neo-Kirisuban vessel in the area, has been attacked by pirates. They've beaten them off but are heavily damaged and in need of assistance."
The Commander of Ifni's Laugh, James Sturgeon, needed to hear no more.
"Navs, give us a fix on the Kirisuban vessel. Comms, send a transmission to the Kirisubans, tell them we're on our way. Helm, follow Navs' instructions, use full standard power for course corrections."
His only response a chorus of "Aye sir", he moved to considering the next step.
Seconds later, the announcement came over the Tannoy.
Emergency Repair Quarters. All Emergency Repair crew to report to the Shuttle Bay Immediately. Say Again: All Emergency Repair crew to Shuttle Bay. Medbay Clear For Action.

This is the Incognitian Naval Ship Ifni's Laugh. We have recieved your transmission and are making all speed to reach you. We have prepared damage control and repair crews, and are clearing our Medbay.
ETA your current location is 2 hours.
Inform us of anything else you need.
Commander Sturgeon, out.

Jun heard this and responded by voice. The visual comms were fried and bodies of her crew and the pirates still littered the bridge. Only two of the bodies were here crew mates. The other eight were pirates they had killed at close range with phasers, swords and daggers.

"Commander Sturgeon, this is Captain Jun Nakamura of the NKS Bright Star. We have 10 crew dead and another 10 seriously injured and under care in our sick bay.

We will try and restore gravity before your arrival and thank you for coming to our aid..."

Then the panel blew up in her face cutting of the transmission as another ships system gave out. She wasn't dead but still badly injured.

"Transmission cut off."
"The ship is still there, right?"
"Yes, it's probable that with casualty levels that high the damage is still spreading, comms could have gone down."
"They'll just have to hang on until we can get there."

***

When they got within half an hour they launched two shuttles. At that range they could out-accelerate their carrier, and they could do 5 minutes work before the Ifni's Smile herself arrived.
On arrival they found the main lock inoperable - tightly sealed by an automated system to prevent decompression, they guessed.
There was however a service lock, which they were able to persuade to open on only the second attempt, at which point a round dozen damage control techs, all at least passable in first aid, poured onto the Bright Star.
Four of them had a first task of triage; splitting the Kirisubans into groups of dead, going to survive without medical attention, and the crucial middle section. Depending on the number grievously wounded, the other shuttle might link up to off-load more med techs.
Seven of the remainder had the task of identifying the most critical systems and bringing the damage under control to ensure life support was maintained.
The twelfth was leader of the party, Lieutenant Thomas Macneal, and his immediate task was to find the Kirisuban who could update him best on the situation on board.
To help them in their task, the shuttle crew planted a resonator on the hull, then sent the vibrations of an audible message throughout the entirety of the Kirisuban vessel.
"This is Shuttle 1 from the Ifni's Smile. We have landed a damage control and medical party. They are now looking for someone to brief them on where their efforts can best be used. They entered through the aft service lock.
Say again, a damage control and medical party has entered your ship from the aft service lock. They need briefing on where to act. Shuttle out."

With the first officer dead, the bridge cut off and nobody knowing if the Captain was alive or not the duty of command fell on Lt Commander Fujiko Takahara.

She was the chief engineer and leaving her women to work on she headed to where the Incognition Shuttles had docked.

She looked a mess with a nasty phaser burn on her right shoulder but that hadn't stopped her working. Her engineers had fought the pirates tooth and nail driving them out of engineering and killing them in the corridor they were bottled up in.

Not bad for a 21 year old woman.

"I'm Lt Commander Fujiko Takahara, Chief Engineer. The XO is dead and we don't know about our Captain yet. She was on the bridge when it sealed itself and the comms blew out" she told her rescuers and Lt Macneal.

OOC: O.o sorry...I've spent enough time on my comp, no idea why I've not replied to this yet.

IC: "Very well Ma'am. If you could swiftly send my engineers where they can do most good, and give me a run-down on the situation, we can see about getting you treated."

Lieutenant Macneal had heard all the stories. That Kirisubo only sent beautiful women to war; that these warrior Amazons were as fearsome as any man; and that they were always young.
He himself was a young Lieutenant, second most junior on Ifni's Smile, thus traditionally responsible for damage control. But the Lieutenant Commander was younger yet...why, she couldn't have been much more than 21, barely out of Officer Training for an Incognitian naval officer.
He'd never really believed it though; Incognitia's armed forces had been integrated for centuries; they still encountered many, many nations whose forces were all male; but an all female Navy was unheard of. And the tales of beauty were surely over-rated? An old-hand's tale to gullible ratings, since the Kirisubans had dwindled so much they were rarely encountered by Incognitians.
He doubted no longer. Fujiko Takahara was young, she was beautiful, and from the look in her eyes and the wound in her shoulder, she was clearly a warrior.

While they discussed the situation, and the use of his engineers, the second shuttle docked, doubling his party. Immediately the medics began loading the most severely wounded aboard.

By the time it launched, Engineering seemed to be largely under control, and Macneal and a small party were heading for the Bridge, to find the Captain, along with anyone else up there.
They had to cut through substantial amounts of wreckage, but were now only one blast-door short of their goal.
"Light 'er up, Chief."
"Aye sir."
The CPO, Damage Control, adeptly played his cutting torch's blade of plasma along the edge of the blast door, then attached a suction cup to it, and lifted it into the gangway, revealing the bridge...

Lt Macneal would find the stories were all true as Fujiko Takahara was all business ordering the Kirisuban security, science crew and engineers and with help life support and power was fully restored.

They still needed to cut through the bridge blast door and the scene they found was to say the least messy. Eight pirates had met their end here and two bridge officers.

The Captain was badly hurt but unconcious when Fujiko checked her over closing the eyes of the dead bridge officers.

"Macneal san the Captain is still alive" she said looking over each station on the bridge. Helm and tactial still worked and she got to work on activating the computer again assisted by a fellow engineer that was only 17 years old.

"We also have a prisoner in the brig whose alive but won't be for long. The pirate ship is only so much space wreckage right now since our XO led a boarding party to sabotage their engines.

They beamed back before the charges blew and the XO was killed in a firefight afterwards along with two security personel" she added from under the console as she continued to work.

She was still all business but had a cute smile for the officer leading the rescue party. She wasn't sure if he'd heard the old spacers story about the way Neo Kirisuban's viewed sex or not. They were mostly bi-sexual but they had this easy going attitude to it seeing it as natural and very necessary otherwise one would feel restricted. The art of pillowing as they called it was one they were all learned about.

"Right. In that case...is your transporter functional to beam her onto Ifni's Smile? Or will she have to wait for the next shuttle?"

Macneal had heard many stories, some casting Kirisubans as having more in common with Sirens than humans...so he was just fine with matters staying all business. Not as if there wasn't enough of THAT to go round.

"As to the prisoner...well, it isn't entirely ethical, but we have a scanner in the sickbay which could scan his brain, effectively interrogating him, anything up to 2 hours after death.
If you want any information, that is.
The Skipper would have to okay it, but he probably would if requested."

"In the mean-time I've been instructed to remain on board and assist in any way possible with your ship.
Our assessment is that you should be able to limp to port under your own power, but you obviously know your own ship better, and we'll be escorting you anyway, as with all the damage you've taken you'd have little hope against another bunch of pirates. What were they doing trying it on with a military vessel anyways?"

"Its Bushido Macneal san. Our warrior code tells us those who are captured in battle are dishonoured people. We'll be doing him a favour so you can take that sorry excuse for a pirate back to your ship and I'll send my security chief over with him" Fujiko replied before tapping her comm badge and asking a question in Kirisuban. She also ordered her security people to remove the rubbish in her own language as well meaning the dead pirates.

"Our transporter is operational so my Captain can be transported to your sick bay. My colleague can take you there while I'll remain here. We'll have to follow you back anyway since we only have warp 1 for now and have just gotten the shields back online.

We'll be needing the facilities of a space station anyway" she added before saying "I have no idea why they tried to attack us. Those 'baka' should have heard of our reputation by now.

They paid for their foolishness anyway.

I appreciate you staying on board as well. We'll need to continue repairs on major systems so we can even limp into port anyway."

Fujiko left it at sounding a bit scary at the logical way she explained this as if it was normal. It was to her although.

The Captain, and the prisoner, were soon transferred to Ifni's Smile. Both were promptly committed to the medi-bay, where the Captain was soon stabilised, but the prisoner unfortunately died.
Reluctantly, Commander Sturgeon authorised putting his cadaver through the scanner.
While details were hazy due to limitations of the technology, it was clear that these pirates were part of a larger band, based somewhere in the vicinity. This particular crew had been proving themselves as part of the group, thus trying to capture such a tough target as Bright Star. Normally they'd avoid a military vessel, to pass unnoticed, and not hazard themselves against something which could fight.
From the few details which could be extracted about the pirates, they were the largest band that Incognitia was currently aware of.
As such they were clearly a threat to the stability of the sector....Admiralty would have to be told.
In the meantime, Bright Star must be escorted to the nearest trustworthy repair station, a journey expected to last a couple of days.

Macneal's curiosity overcame him, so he had to inquire
"What were you doing in this area anyway? It's primarily charted, and yet also lawless...so exploration vessels tend to go for less developed areas, and prospectors and traders for more developed ones. What led you here?"

"Macneal san theres always something new to find even in a charted system. We also knew about the potential risks but normally a cloaking device can get you out of trouble. That was the taken out just before the warp drive was although" Fujiko gently replied.

By now they'd moved of the bridge which was being cleaned up and her engineers trying to get the ships cloaking device and computers partially working. Her shoulder wound had also been treated by the Bright Star's CMO and she'd gotten a quick shower and change prior to arriving here.

So Fujiko had taken Lt Macneal to the dining hall of the ship instead. They could talk freely here and it was one of the least damaged areas of the ships.

She heading to the food replicator and wearing an undamaged uniform jacket she asked "do you want anything from the replicator?"

bump

"That much is true I guess - it was only a few years ago our Exploration Service found remnants of an iron-age civilisation in a 'charted' system. I seem to remember it had the archeologists hopping mad."
"Unfortunate that you got jumped though. We're going to have to send word to Admiralty, if there are pirates capable of attempting to jump a military vessel out here.
It probably is about time we moved in say half a Station and flushed them all out of this sector at once."
"I'm fine, actually. I'd just eaten before we got your distress call."
"So what will you do when your ship is repaired? Return to exploring the same area?"

Fujiko asked for a bowl of noodles and cubed cooked fish and this appeared on a tray.

She took a set of chop sticks form a table near the food replicator and a she ate her dinner she explained a few things.

"We'll probally be given new orders anyway and If the Captain dosen't make it or recover that will leave me in command. Not something I want since I'd rather stick to keeping the ship running and enjoy my downtime.

We sent a warning to the pirates today. They got a message of before their engines imploded along with the ship so the others know about us now."

"So there are others, then? Intelligence mentioned before we came out here that there might be bands of pirates, but they didn't have anything specific to go on, we're short of both sensors and human sources out here.
If they do, it'd probably be worth our trying to scope them out with Ifni's Smile...then we can either sort them out, or send to Squadron Command for more ships to do the job.
Our stealthing should be good enough to try it, at least."

He mused for a moment.

"Would you excuse me for a minute, ma'am? I should comm Commander Sturgeon and tell him."

"Off course Lt Macneal" Fujiko replied as she continued to eat. She hadn't had a good meal since the attack and chaos that followed.

The ship was still a mess but they had crucial systems running and weapons were next on the agenda but these would probally have to wait until they made port.

She tapped her comm badge and asked for a progress report.

Holodecks and phasers were still down but they had the photon torpedo tubes repaired. The shields and cloaking device were working along with the transporters so that at least was something along with warp 1 speed.

"We were aware of this, Lieutenant, from scanning the prisoner - he died soon after being transferred. However, it's good to have confirmation.

With the engine repairs progressing well, we should be into Quarter-Way House in another day, we can send a packet to command and start scouting for these pirates."

He turned to the Lieutenant-Commander, putting his comm down.

"Seems we're going straight to Quarter-Way House, it's the closest yard we trust our ships to which is capable of decent work. Commander Sturgeon expects to get there tomorrow.
Seems I'm expected to stay on board here for liaison, if that's acceptable."

"That's acceptable Lt Macneal" she softly replied wondering just how he'd deal with being a man on an all female ship.

"I'll make sure you have quarters while you are with us but the good news is that we have our shields and cloaking device restored. We should be safe from attack even with most of our weapons systems fried."

Fujiko continued to eat her rice and fish as they continued at warp one, having previously given an order to match the 'Infi's Laugh' heading. This was being followed.

For now it looked like most of the drama was over and they would reach port safely.

OOC: Work overload :(
Kick me if I've not been back by Wednesday, k?

* kick :) *

Lt Macneal managed to settle in successfully. It was perhaps a little odd, being on an all-female vessel...but not much stranger than an all-male ship. Well, apart from the plumbing.
He retired early, aiming to start early on the day of arrival at Quarter-Way House.
Rising early the station could be seen on the long-range scanners; a typical independent space station, with somewhat chaotic set-up, having grown by accretion rather than anything else.
They tended to treat warships well, more from fear than anything else.
Ifni's Smile had notified the station authorities of her arrival, and would be remaining until repairs to Bright Star had commenced.

As the 'Bright Star' limped in at warp 1 she cut her engines and coasted in on thrusters.

Shore leave was granted to most of the crew but the engineering team and some of security would have to remain aboard. Fujiko would be staying anyway as a commander should.

It might have escaped Bright Star's damaged sensors, but Ifni's Smile spotted it....
A trace of a ship leaving the station hurriedly and jumping into hyperspace as the two warships arrived.
"I wonder what they're up to," Commander Sturgeon mused to himself.
"Probably just some smugglers who'd rather not have us figuring out who they are, so jumped port to just be an odd sensor trace, not a face and a name."
"You're probably right. Just get us into port and get the men on shore leave."

***

Meanwhile, in a nearby asteroid cluster, a casual observer would have seen nothing.
Military grade sensor platforms, on the other hand, would swiftly have spotted the presence of multiple armed vessels, and habs in some of the larger asteroids.
"Snivelling creature...what did you see?"
"Admiral, sir, it was that ship the Nightfang was sent after, heavily damaged she was, and another warship; frigate of some form."
"Very well. Get out. My people will find you if I decide you are worth rewarding."
Admiral Satai Jenssen was a pirate. A damned good one, in his own somewhat biased opinion.
For all that his situation had become somewhat more complicated lately, his instincts were still all pirate, and to a pirate more than one warship together was trouble with a capital T, even if one was damaged...they would always get off a message, and then you received a beating, and possibly capture followed by execution, for your pains.
But things had changed.
You must capture them Satai. More ships are needed. They will be most useful.
"But..."
But nothing Satai. This for beginning to question me...
He screamed. Loud, and long. Fortunate that his chambers were well sound-proofed, or his guards would have long since begun to raise questions.
Now get the fleet under way. Immediately.
"...yes...master."
It would be some hours later before they arrived, but that time would pass...it would pass oh so swiftly.

Lt Commander Fujiko Takahara was now sitting in her Captains chair as they docked with the station.

Most of the crew could now disembark for their 24 hour pass. The one's remaining would get a 24 hour pass later.

With 29 female crew members being let loose in the station who knew what could happen but they'd try and behave themselves since they didn't want to bring disgrace to their family names.

bump

Sorry man....I'm going to have to give up on this...I've been really distracted, as you've probably noticed, and when I have sat down to write a post, I've not felt inspired.
I still want to get an RP going with you, I'm just not sure now is the time, or that this was the RP.

ooc: thats ok I'll still be around.