This Was Only a Test,
Posted on Fri Oct 25th, 2024 @ 1:28am by Captain Remy Johansen & Commander Maxun Spello & Lieutenant Commander Nash Winters & Major Clay McEntyre III & Lieutenant Chrysanthe Capulet & Lieutenant JG Xalanth
1,566 words; about a 8 minute read
Mission:
Training Exercises
Location: Astrea / Holana (Simulation Exercise)
Timeline: (After Ataran Mission) , After Part 1
< < From Part 1 < < <
Captain Johansen stood on the Battle Bridge in the stardrive section with the crew members designated to participate in defending the ship in the training exercise. "Okay, I'll obviously have to call some shots when we have disagreements about what to do next, but this is a Tactical and Security Exercise, and is a test of their procedures as well as a team-building exercise, so Department Heads and their assistants will mostly be calling the shots. Your colleagues who are assigned to challenge you, are skilled, several with a lot of experience outside of Starfleet. They are going to try to win, so they may try to succeed by not thinking like Starfleet. Just keep in mind who you're dealing with. Have fun, don't get kidnapped, and don't let them steal my ship."
"Commander McEntyre, Lieutenant Cyn?" Remy asked giving them an opportunity to take the floor.
Clay stood, geared up, armored with his phaser in a leg holster and a rifle on his back.
"I want teams posted at each major entry point to the ship, airlocks, shuttle decks, pod launches. I also want the bridge locked down and all major areas including engineering to have one security detail stationed at all time on a rotating basis. Full weapons and armor loadout."
Clay stated, before turning to Cyn. "Anything else I should add, L.T?"
"Let's start by checking sensor scans of the area," Cyn said from her position on the bridge. "Are there any unusual activities out there?"
"Good call, Lieutenant. I've known Kas a long time. He'll be looking for anything like that to manipulate to try to slip through sensors. Lieutenant Mercer, lets get a full sweep of the area before we begin, and keep monitoring for any changes until we start. Don't put it past them to bend the rules," Johansen said.
Once the runabout was in position, Maxun opened hailing frequencies. "Astrea, this Potomac, do you read?"
From the battle bridge Remy responded. "Loud and clear Potomac."
The image on the main viewer switched from an exterior view of the runabout, to show Maxun's face. "Well, Captain, here is where we part ways. Good luck on trying to stay alive. You have my word, my team will try to keep your casualties to a minimum." He gave her a confident grin as he spoke.
"As is the Starfleet way, we'll take the upper hand and us nonlethal force as we escort you all to the brig, Commander. Astrea out."
Once the comm channel closed, Maxun addressed Kas. "Mister Razka, if you would? Get us out of Astrea's sensor range."
Remy addressed her Bridge crew for the exercise, "Okay everyone, we're less than ten minutes out from any potential attack. Lieutenant Andersen, are your people all in position?"
Eirly was standing at her console on the Bridge when she turned around to face Remy and nodded, "Yes, ma'am, we've covered what we confirm to be the obvious points of entry. I don't think they'll be able to get through unseen."
"Major McEntyre, what do we have for coverage on non-obvious points of entry?" the Captain asked.
"I've stationed units at all airlocks, docking ports and transporter rooms. I also have roving patrols of fire teams across all decks. As for non obvious points of entry, i have the sensors running continuous sweeps across the hull and along a 5,000 kilometer radius of the ship," the Major responded.
"We also need to keep in mind that Lieutenant Capulet is one of the most skilled computer hackers in the fleet. We should just assume she will be in without us knowing about," the Captain mentioned. "We can't rely too heavily on the computer for anything."
"Have we got manual override on the weapons?" Xalanth enquired from behind the tactical station. He liked the battle bridge at least the tactical station here had a seat.
"That's not a bad idea. Go ahead and engage the manual override if that's your preference," Remy responded.
As the runabout moved away, Maxun activated a holo of the Astrea for them all to see. He then looked around and resumed the discussion. "Chrys?" He asked, seeing her thoughtful expression
Chrys watched and then pointed to a section. "Want me to trigger the internal forcefields?" she asked. "Or lower the gravity?"
"Could we trigger a series of forcefields and then use them to corral them, like sweep them in a direction so it moves and we're on the other side? That way at least for a short time it'll tact as a barrier and we can move in and execute what we need to" Nevan said aloud.
Maxun considered the options. "Let's try a little bit of both. Everyone, get your EVA suits on. While they will be disoriented by the loss of gravity, we will move around with mag boots on. Then...." he had a thought, "See if we can trigger a lifesupport failure alarm, maybe even thin the air just slightly enough that it makes things seem that much more real for them, forcing them to move where we want them." He looked over at Chrys and Nevan. "Can you do it?"
Once everyone was in their EVA suits, Maxun moved back to his command position. They had reached the start point twenty seconds before. The clock was now running. "Alright people, let's go get ourselves a starship. Activate sensor jammer, raise shields, bring us about and get us back to the Astrea. When we get back, Mister Razka, bring us up under the saucer, port side aft, near the personal maintenance hatch Four-Beta. You will stay with the shuttle while the rest of the team infiltrates the ship." He took a breath.
"Once we are on the hull of Astrea, you are to move away and start flying around, giving them false images. Chrys, Nevan, set up some programs that he can activate on the fly to aid him. Nash, once we are on the hull, I want you to activate a simulated warp core breach. It should drive everyone to the saucer section. Once they are there, Neven, Chrys, implement your zero-gee and forcefield ideas. That's when we go in. Any questions so far?"
“No problem, Commander. I can reprogram the tricorder to transmit a false signal. That’ll definitely get their attention. Hopefully, the Captain won’t just brush it off. I have a little surprise planned in case she does,” Nash responded.
Chrys shook her head. "Once we are inside if you can get me to a jefferies Tube, I can start a feedback loop in the system as well."
The Betazoid added "I have a couple passive listening programs that'll transmit any unencrypted comms I'll inject. They're unobtrusive so they won't trip any alarms."
Maxun nodded to both officers. When it seemed that there was nothing more to discuss, he gave the order. "Take us in!"
When the Holana reentered Astrea's sensor range they had already sent ahead of them a number of false images and triggers meant to throw Remy and her team off. Since the point of the exercise was to test security against an incursion, shields were down giving Spello's team of pirates a few avenues for boarding once the Holana slipped through undetected.
Looking through the front viewport, Maxun looked upon the graceful and powerful lines of Astrea. He had seen multiple starships in his time, however, Astrea seemed to be in a class above all on her own. "Bring us under the maintenance access on the port ventral side of the neck, under where the docking clamps for locking onto the saucer are located." He tapped a few controls and illuminated where he wanted Kas to bring them. "Bring us to within ten meters." He then addressed everyone. "Activate your EVA suits life support now. Put on your helmets." He finished speaking, then donned his own helmet, locking it in place and activating his suits life support system. He then straightened up and moved towards the port hatch. "Final suit checks once everyone is ready."
Nash clicked his helmet into place and checked his onboard display. He gave Spello a thumbs up, acknowledging all systems were operating perfectly and suit integrity was within normal parameters.
Chrys stepped up her suit sealed and ready. She had a bag over her shoulder and she was flicking her fingers as if she was nervous but her face was claim and set.
Maxun paused briefly to make eye contact with Chrys, the corners of his mouth ticking up just slight enough that she could notice. He then checked over her suit for any issues. Finding none, he nodded. "You're good to go. Next!"
"Bridge to Captain Johansen," Ensign th'Kaasnik's voice interrupted the training exercise as it was just about to get good.
Remy glanced at her team indicating to pause for a moment as she responded, "Go ahead, Ensign."
"I'm sorry for the interruption. There is a Priority One message for you and Commander Spello from Starfleet Command," th'Kaasnik replied.
"No need to apologize Ensign. We'll be right there. Please contact the Holana and arrange for the Commander to be transported over. I'll be right up. Johansen out."
She turned to the crew. "Sorry guys. We'll have to reschedule."
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