Star Trek Hunter - Episode 2: The Colony of New Hope

[Robert Bruce Scott]

Star Trek Hunter
Episode 2: The Colony of New Hope
Scene 10: Rescue

2.10
Rescue​

2nd Lt. Gaia Gamor was piloting the tactical unit. Flight Specialist Winnifred Salazaar sat next to her, focusing pinpoint phaser fire on the dampening emitters throughout the prison complex. Dampening emitters were easy to identify - and therefore easy to destroy. The jamming equipment that was preventing communications and transporter lock would be much harder to find from up here.


Salazaar had a bit of a Puerto Rican accent - and a bit of New York. Part betazoid, he had a tendency to answer Lt. Gamor’s thoughts as often as anything she actually said. “Dewayne will be fine, sir.”

Gamor had long ago decided that this wasn’t creepy - at least intellectually. “How are you doing with those emitters?” She made a minor flight adjustment and checked the positions of the interceptors. Both were hovering below the tactical unit and had taken up stations to support the wagon while avoiding getting between the tactical unit and the courthouse/prison complex.

“I estimate four minutes until they are all down,” Salazaar responded.

Lt. Gamor unconsciously looked up when she called to the Hunter, “Hunter Ops, this is the Tactical Unit.”

“Tactical Unit go ahead,” came Lt. Tauk’s boyish voice from the Hunter platform in orbit, far above.

“We should have the dampening emitters down within four minutes. Requesting permission to send the interceptors down to provide ground support.”


There was a brief pause. Salazaar looked over at Gamor and raised his eyebrows.


“Verified on the emitters,” came the young ferengi’s voice. “Be advised to keep the tactical unit in the upper atmosphere. All units be advised - Flight Specialists Dih and Chin break and support the wagon. Shoot at anything that shoots at the wagon, but low power and pinpoint. Keep an eye on our ground team. No fatalities.” Tauk was clearly nervous.

Investigator Buttans’ voice suddenly broke through the clutter noise from the ground - “Emergency beamout! Emergency b…” the sounds of disruptor fire and cardassian band rifles cut out along with Buttans’ voice. Ensign Sun’s calm voice cut through.


“This is Ensign Sun. I have him. Retrieving the ground team now.”


Tauk was back on line. “Mr. Guth, get the wagon out of there. The dampening fields around the courthouse are almost down. Prepare to retarget. Buttans - report.”

Investigator Buttans came back into the conversation, “I located… and took… took down the jammer…” his voice was unstable.

Lt. T’Lok Smith’s voice cut through. “Buttans is wounded. Medical - prepare to receive him directly. Ensign Sun, please send him up now. Tauk - are you running this operation?”

“Under orders from Lieutenant Dolphin,” Tauk responded.

Lt. Smith was clearly excited and exhausted at the same time. She paced around the flight booth of the wagon. Ensign Sun Ho Hui had beamed her entire team directly into the operations staging area in the aft of the wagon. She had come forward to the flight booth to check on Buttans and ask Sun to beam Buttans directly to the medical bay in the Hunter platform in orbit. “Well done, Tauk. Continue to direct air support. Let me know when we can retrieve the command staff from the courthouse.”

Tauk’s voice was clearly relieved, “Thank you T’Lok - about three minutes - I’m really glad you’re back, boss.”

T’Lok Smith laughed lightly, then said, “You should spend less time around Investigator Shran. You’re picking up his bad habits…”

“Hey!” came Shran’s gravelly voice.

2.10 (of 16)​

After making a fortune as a very young business tycoon, Tauk made the mistake of publishing his economic theory, for which his fortune was confiscated and he was exiled for heresy by the Ferengi Commerce Authority. The book (consisting largely of math proofs) earned him an honorary doctorate in game theory from the University of Lower Trantor on Cun Ling, which qualified him to enter Star Fleet via Officer Candidate School.

 

[Robert Bruce Scott]

Star Trek Hunter
Episode 2: The Colony of New Hope
Scene 11: Indicted

2.11
Indicted​

Lt. Commander Mlady looked at her hands, willing the retracted skin of her fingers to relax and cover her claws. She really didn’t have much voluntary control over this - the skin would retract autonomically, exposing her powerful claws whenever her fight or flight response kicked in. Her breathing was returning to normal. She licked blood off her fangs and wiped it from her face with her sleeve. She hated having to fight literally tooth and nail - and not just because her fangs and claws could be damaged.

Mlady’s unique metabolism could sustain incredible bursts of speed, driving her much faster than possible for any other animal her size, allowing her to deploy the weapons of a panther with the blinding speed of a snake. But she paid a terrible price for sustaining this blinding speed. As her cells were starved of metabolized oxygen and vital proteins burned, her higher brain functions began to shut down until she was reduced to a ravenous beast, driven only by ferocious hunger and the most brutish of survival instincts. Her victims paid an even heavier price - death by exsanguination as she extracted desperately needed oxygen and proteins directly from their blood. In this condition she was as dangerous to friend as to foe - they were nothing more than prey to her.

Her consciousness came back to her in surprising rags and flashes - gradually reminding her that she was much more than just a hungry beast. As her breathing returned to normal, Mlady slowly realized, as though for the first time, that she was a Star Fleet officer, a skilled lawyer, and an accomplished scientist - a brilliant biologist whose sentience and intelligence had come at a far more terrible price still.


Justice Irons was sitting on one of the benches near the door, nursing her broken wrist, looking more old and tired than Mlady had ever seen her. Mlady cleared her throat - not liking the growling sound in her voice. She calmed and relaxed her voice to her normal, studied alto. “Your honor?” she asked, almost apologetically.

Irons straightened her neck, squared her shoulders, and regained her composure before looking up, smoothing years from her appearance almost as an act of will. “Are you okay, Lieutenant Commander?” Irons almost never addressed Mlady by name.

“I’m worried about Pep. They tried to kill us - I think they meant to kill all three of us.”

“David is fine,” Irons responded. “Here he is now…”

Governor Ivonovic walked reluctantly into the room, followed by the enormous Commander David Pepper.

Mlady leapt to her feet, clearing the ground like a gymnast, then landing lightly; “PEP!!”

Pep bowed - partly as a gallant gesture toward his second officer - but mostly because it was the only way he could fit through the doorway.


Justice Irons stood up - her right arm held up by her makeshift sling. “Planetary Governor Emory Ivonovic,” she said - her voice taking on a stentorian tone. “Given local conditions, I am delaying the hearing on local charges and focusing on the charge of conspiracy to defraud a charter Federation electoral system. On that charge how do you plead?”

Pep spoke up before the Governor could say anything, “Your honor - a moment with my client?”

Irons allowed herself a momentary look of exasperation. She waved with her left hand.

Pep draped an enormous hand over Ivonovic’s shoulder and drew him aside. His voice became very soft. “This is a far more serious charge than you may realize, Governor. I strongly recommend you take it seriously and think carefully about your response.”

“Election fraud?” Ivonovic’s voice was incredulous.

“Involving a charter Federation electoral system. The Colony of New Hope is one of the nineteen charter worlds,” Pep replied.

Ivonovic pulled away from the giant. The room stank of blood, but even that horrible reek didn’t overcome the unpleasant smell of the giant’s breath. He had no intention of getting close enough to the other abomination in this room to smell her breath. None of the corpses in the room appeared to have been partially eaten, but he could easily imagine it after seeing the little beast fight.


Ivonovic whirled imperiously, drew himself to full height and stated firmly, “Not guilty. No way. Never happened.”


Irons was steely in her response. “Governor Ivonovic, I am holding you over for trial at the Federation Tribunal. Once you are in custody, you may contact your special counsel at any time to assist with your defense. You are also entitled to legal representation before the Tribunal by lawyers of your own choosing, if you can afford them.”

“If I can afford…” the governor’s voice trailed off as the more important part of that sentence got through to him… “Federation Tribunal??”

Irons looked up at her first officer. “David…” she gestured with her head toward the governor, then turned and walked away.

“I told you it was serious. You have been accused and indicted for violation of Sections 2 and 29 of the Federation Charter. A charter world, once having established a democratic form of government, is protected by Section 29. Anyone attempting to defraud such an electoral system must answer to the Tribunal.”

“I’ve never heard of this!” Ivonovic said.

“You were given a printed copy of the Federation Charter when you took office, Governor,” Pep responded. “You should have read it.”


Ensign T’Lon’s tactical team chose that moment to bustle into the room, followed by the ensign herself. Her eyebrows registered surprise at the carnage. “Are you ready for beamout, your honor?”

Irons turned to look at the young vulcan. “Yes, Ensign. Have your team clean up this mess.”

“Aye, Captain,” T’Lon responded. Belo Cantys, Belo Rys and Belo Garr were each carrying pattern enhancers slung on their backs. They placed these in a triangle and ushered the command staff into the area before engaging the devices. Jarrong, whose cardassian features were much stronger than her half-bajoran cousins, was headed toward the judge's chambers as the transporter engaged, removing the command staff and their prisoner up to the Hunter platform in orbit.

2.11 (of 16)​

Emory Ivonovic is of Serbian descent - his name is pronounced IVON-noh-vitch (literally, son of Ivan - essentially Johnson). He is a series regular for STH.

 

[Gibraltar]

Review:
Episode 2: The Colony of New Hope
Scene 9: Fly By

And here we see more examples of Hunter's crew taking chances in order to rescue their comrades. It's clear the expectation aboard this ship is unity and support of one another, most especially in extreme circumstances.

This crew is part JAG legal-eagles, and part Special Forces. I'd never conceived of such a combination, but it works so damn well!

 

[Gibraltar]

Review:
Episode 2: The Colony of New Hope
Scene 10: Rescue

Well, that extraction went better than I anticipated, given how frenetic the action on the surface was. Thankfully, the layered tactical air/space response was on top of things.

I appreciate how professional these folks are, given that the judge/captain is unaccounted for along with two other senior officers down in the prison complex. The rescue teams are going about this by the numbers, no panic, no reckless attempts to get into the prison before they've whittled away the various dampening fields and scramblers.

Oh, and I love that little blurb about Tauk's backstory! Another brilliant outcast recruited by Irons.

 

[Gibraltar]

Review:
Episode 2: The Colony of New Hope
Scene 11: Indicted

Despite the governor's attempt to murder her and her senior officers, Irons remains ice-cold and mindful of her position and her duty. Nothing personal, just the job.

This idiot is $&^(*@, though that fact has barely begun to register with him.

In comes the rescue team, evidently not surprised to see the situation in the prison well in hand with Irons, Pepper and Mlady clearly in control of the situation.

For most crews, dominating this chaotic scenario would be a medal-worthy accomplishment. It appears that for the crew of Hunter, this is merely... Tuesday.

 

[Robert Bruce Scott]

Review: This crew is part JAG legal-eagles, and part Special Forces. I'd never conceived of such a combination, but it works so damn well!

Glad you're enjoying them! Irons' ability to build crews of this quality is why Star Fleet keeps calling her back out of retirement - despite her destructive and embarrassingly deadly tendencies...

Review:Oh, and I love that little blurb about Tauk's backstory! Another brilliant outcast recruited by Irons.

Part of the fun of reposting - I'm taking the opportunity to tell a little more of the characters' backstories. Every character has one, but there just isn't narrative room for all of them without hopelessly bogging the story down.

Review:This idiot is $&^(*@, though that fact has barely begun to register with him...

Ivonovic is quite a bit smarter than he lets on... That said, there are rough times ahead for him...

Thanks for the reviews! rbs

 

[Robert Bruce Scott]

Star Trek Hunter
Episode 2: The Colony of New Hope
Scene 12: The Wounded

2.12
The Wounded​

2nd Lt. Tauk was concerned about Investigator Buttans, who had just been beamed to the medical bay with unspecified wounds. He checked his readout. “All staff are retrieved and the birds are returning to the nest. The tactical unit has cleared the atmosphere.”

Lt. Dolphin responded without turning away from the viewer, “I’ll see to putting things away, Lieutenant. Go check on your man.” He waved vaguely with the back of his hand at the young officer standing behind him.

Tauk nearly ran from the bridge.


The Medical Bay was one of the largest sections of the boat since it also encompassed the brig. The Hunter was cramped compared to most Star Fleet vessels, but the brig was a large complex - designed to hold up to twenty-six prisoners in very small, individual cells. All of these cells opened onto a large operating chamber that could accommodate eight surgeries simultaneously. This area was generally used for forensic examinations and another surgical bay with two beds adjoined that could not be viewed from the brig. Both surgeries contained forensic workstations. Medical offices were located fore of and to the right of the smaller surgery.


Tauk found Dr. Tali Shae in the office. This was not surprising - although the large, curvy andorian woman was the chief medical officer, she left most surgeries on the living to her second - Dr. Jazz Sam Sinder. Dr. Tali Shae’s specialty was forensic investigation.

“How is he?” Tauk asked.

Dr. Shae looked at Tauk quizzically. Her antennae focused briefly on the small ferengi - then appeared to go back to wandering aimlessly. “If Ngumbo were in any danger, I wouldn’t be sitting here, would I?” Dr. Shae was a little older than middle age and her manner often seemed impatient to younger people. “He blew up a jamming generator and ended up dropping half a building on himself. That earned him a few broken bones and some nasty lacerations and bruises. Dr. Jazz is sewing him up now. We’ve already mended the bones.”

Dr. Shae suddenly stood up, her antennae focusing on the door behind Lt. Tauk.

Tauk turned to see Justice Irons walking into the office, her right arm in a makeshift sling.

“Oh, let me have a look at that, Minerva,” Dr. Shae said - concern evident in her voice.

“Broken wrist. I got into a fist fight,” Irons responded.

“And the other guy?”

“Last I saw him, he was unconscious and in manacles.”

Tali Shae laughed. Her antennae twitched. “You knocked him out?”

“With a gavel… Them - there were two of them..” Justice Irons maintained a steady gaze.

Dr. Tali Shae laughed harder. “Okay - let’s have a look…”

Irons turned her attention to 2nd Lt. Tauk. “I heard you ran the air support operation, Lieutenant. I want a detailed report while the doctor tends to my wrist. Tell me everything. Leave nothing out.”

2.12 (of 16)​

In the midst of reposting this Episode, I decided to split one of the scenes into two parts as it was telling two different stories.

 

[Robert Bruce Scott]

Star Trek Hunter
Episode 2: The Colony of New Hope
Scene 13: First Command

2.13
First Command​

2nd Lt. Gaia Gamor secured the tactical unit, then came down the hatch into the bridge, followed by Flight Specialist Salazaar at almost the same moment that Commander Pepper and Lt. Commander Mlady entered from the rear of the bridge. Lt. Dolphin stood up and turned. Pep’s deep voice filled the bridge. “Kenny Dolphin…” The giant first officer smiled broadly. “You are not relieved, not yet. As you were.”


Dolphin turned back to the viewer and resumed his seat in the captain’s chair. “Flight Specialists Dih and Chin - report any damage.”

“None sir,” came Dih’s voice, followed by Chin, “Interceptor secured, no damage, sir.”

“You are both dismissed to your duty stations. Dock check your birds and prepare full reports. Ensign Sun, Chief Guth - please remain with the wagon. I will meet you up there in a few minutes.”

“Make that 20 minutes,” came Justice Irons’ voice from the back of the room.

Dolphin stood up again, but continued to face forward. Irons walked to the front of the bridge, stopped at the pilot station. “Ensign Phillips.”

Ensign Ethan Phillips looked up, “Your honor?”

Irons laid her left hand on the console. Her right arm was in a proper sling with a splint on her hand and wrist. “As you were,” she said quietly, looking down at the ensign, then turned her gaze to Lt. Dolphin.

“Ethan Phillips at the pilot station. Sun and Guth in the wagon. Gamor in the tactical unit. Mr. Dolphin, you know the reason I wanted you on this boat is because you are the best pilot in Star Fleet. But when I needed air support you weren’t at any pilot console - not even this one.” She lightly tapped the pilot console with a fingernail. “You didn’t even run the air support operation - you delegated that to a second lieutenant with no tactical flight or command experience. A ground operations officer who has never logged any flight hours.”

Dolphin met Irons’ steady gaze. He had been told she preferred eye contact. “Aye, Captain.” Behind him, Commander Pepper cleared his throat.

“I also heard about your conversation with Lieutenant Mitchell. You pulled rank on a fellow first lieutenant using the “black uniform” gag - is that correct, Lieutenant Dolphin?”

“Aye, Captain.” Dolphin maintained eye contact. Irons was an intimidating woman - as intimidating as anyone he had ever met. But Dolphin had faced down hostile audiences - he had spent years as the most reviled man in the Federation. He heard the giant commander clear his throat again - and catch his breathing. Dolphin’s curiosity was aroused. Irons had a reputation as a disciplinarian, but she was no fool and he had followed procedure to the letter. There was a curious glint in her eye.

“And how long have you worn the black uniform, Lieutenant?”

“I put it on about 20 minutes before transporting over from the Enterprise.” Dolphin knew Irons was well aware of this. Behind him, he heard the giant commander catch his breath again, almost a sob.

“And exactly when were you promoted to First Lieutenant?”

“This morning, your honor. The second full pip came with the uniform.”


Pep simply couldn’t hold it any longer. He nearly came unglued with repressed laughter.


Irons broke into a smile as well, then chuckled quietly. She stepped forward and put her left hand on Dolphin’s chest. “Very fine first command, Lieutenant. You and Lieutenant Tauk are the bright spots in what has been a disastrous day.” She tapped his chest with a finger. “Don’t be too hard on Ensign Sun - he belongs to Lieutenant Carrera’s department. But I suppose I don’t need to tell you that, do I?” Irons stepped back, then turned toward her office. “Commander, set up an after action review for tomorrow. Lieutenant, get us to Starbase Eleven,” she said as she walked into her office.

Pep turned to Lt. Dolphin. “Kenny, you’re in command through the end of this shift.” Pep and Mlady left the bridge - Mlady giving Dolphin a long and rather strange look before exiting.

Dolphin remained standing next to the captain’s chair. He turned back to face the pilot’s station. “Ensign Phillips - get some sack time, you’re next in this chair.” He patted the arm of the captain’s chair. “Lieutenant Gamor,”

Gamor had almost welded herself to the most remote corner of the bridge while Dolphin was being grilled.

“Yes sir?”

“You have the con, Lieutenant. Best speed to Starbase Eleven. I will be in the shuttle bay.” Dolphin heard Gamor ordering Salazaar to the pilot station. He left the bridge with Ensign Phillips.

2.13 (of 16)​

Being in command does not mean Lt. Dolphin has to remain on the bridge. He is the command officer on duty for this shift wherever he is on the ship. The U.S.S. Hunter uses a 3-shift rotation.

Ensign Ethan Phillips is scheduled to command the next shift. (I did not consciously name him after the actor - Phillips is part vulcan. His human ancestry is African American. I did name the majority of the STH admirals after series actors...)

 

[Gibraltar]

Great after-action interactions, especially Irons taking the piss with Dolphin. Again, top-notch professionalism on display here as they treat their wounded and debrief the mission.

 

[Robert Bruce Scott]

Great after-action interactions, especially Irons taking the piss with Dolphin.

The situation is classic Irons - she knew her entire Ground Operations Dept. had walked into a trap. She then deliberately walked herself and her exec staff into another trap and left orders for a freshly promoted 1st Lieutenant - that she and her crew had never met - to take charge of the rescue mission the moment he set foot on her boat.

Pep's losing it because Dolphin pulled rank on another 1st Lt. less than an hour after being promoted to 1st Lt. himself.

Thanks for the kind words!! rbs

 

[Robert Bruce Scott]

Star Trek Hunter
Episode 2: The Colony of New Hope
Scene 14: The Director of Ground Operations

2.14
The Director of Ground Operations​

Pep and Mlady had already vanished from the hallway behind the bridge, which shared deck 8 with a large conference room, the captain’s office, captain’s stateroom and, at the back of the hall, flanked by turbo-lifts, the ground operations center. Lt. T’Lok Smith and Ensign T’Lon emerged from one of the lifts as Lt. Dolphin and Ensign Phillips neared the back of the hallway. Under their feet they could feel a familiar vibration as the Hunter jumped to warp speed.

“Well, look at the pretty new pilot,” T’Lok said lightly. “The scenery just keeps improving on this boat.” The two young vulcans were walking with arms linked. If it weren’t for the vulcan features and the black Star Fleet JAG uniforms, they might have been teenage surf goddesses - tall, slim, athletic, both with long, straight auburn hair and skin bronzed by a lifetime in the sun. T’Lon’s expression, while composed, almost conveyed a sense of long-suffering, while T’Lok’s lighthearted smile just looked strange on a vulcan.

“Hello Ethan, Director Dolphin,” T’Lok continued.

“Director Smith, Ensign T’Lon” Lt. Dolphin replied, evenly.

T’Lok smiled more broadly. “I wanted to thank you for assigning the air support operation to Tauk,”

“It seemed the logical thing to do,” Dolphin answered.

T’Lok rewarded the comment with a slight giggle and a dazzling smile. But it was Ensign T’Lon who responded: “Except for his lack of command experience.”

Dolphin turned his attention toward T’Lon. “How else is he to obtain such experience?”

Ensign T’Lon raised an eyebrow, then gave a slight nod.

Lt. T’Lok Smith made an amused noise, then added, “Well he seems quite taken with you, but he belongs to my department. You can’t have him.”

“I wasn’t planning to appropriate your assistant director, Lieutenant,” Dolphin responded.

“See that you don’t,” T’Lok responded with a look of mock seriousness, then smiled again, “Good evening gentlemen.” She and T’Lon turned to enter the ground operations center.

Ethan Phillips managed to mumble something that sounded almost like “good evening.”


T’Lok released T’Lon’s arm and turned back just as T’Lon entered the ground ops center. “Oh, Mr. Dolphin, if you would like a drink after duty, I will be in the directors lounge.”

“That would be agreeable,” Dolphin heard himself say, and vaguely wondered why he was talking like a vulcan. With a mixture of amusement, admiration and chagrin he realized T’Lok had provoked him into flirting with her - a half-vulcan less than half his age - probably not much older than his oldest daughter.

“She must be one hell of an interrogator,” Dolphin mumbled to himself and was surprised to hear “Yes, she is,” in answer. He had completely forgotten that Ensign Phillips was still standing next to him.

“I have to go to the shuttle bay - up?” he asked, more to cover his momentary confusion than out of need for direction.

Ethan Phillips gestured to the nearest turbo lift. “Yes sir. I’ll take the other one - I’m going down to my quarters.”

“Thank you. Good night Mr. Phillips.”

“Good night, sir.”

2.14 (of 16)​

T'Lok and T'Lon are lifelong friends who grew up together in Hawaii. Lt. T'Lok Smith's father, Dr. George Smith, a native Hawaiian, is a retired music professor with a hereditary estate on Kawaii Island. Her mother, Ev'Lon Smith, a vulcan, is a biologist involved in preserving Hawaiian ecology, as are T'Lok's two older brothers, Vuk Smith and Surrol Smith, who are also body builders and expert surfers. Ensign T'Lon's parents are also vulcan biologists living and working on Kawaii Island.

Lt. Kenneth Dolphin is divorced with two estranged adult daughters, both living in New York City: River Dolphin and Starlight Dolphin. Ethan Phillips' family lives in Vulcana Regar, the largest city on Vulcan.

 

[Robert Bruce Scott]

Star Trek Hunter
Episode 2: The Colony of New Hope
Scene 15: Grounded

2.15
Grounded​

Chief Guth was not happy. He had completed the post-flight check and maintenance on the wagon and was ready to return to his quarters - this was not his regular shift. Ensign Sun Ho Hui was neither anxious nor bored. As long as he was in the shuttle bay, he might as well check out all of the consoles to ensure they were working properly. Justice Irons had told them to expect Lt. Dolphin in twenty minutes. It actually took only thirteen.

Guth came to attention as Dolphin entered the shuttle bay. Sun was not as certain of the lieutenant’s expectations, but took his cue from the chief flight specialist - he locked the console he had been working on and came to attention. He knew how to respond to Dr. Carrera, but Dr. Dolphin was famous for not liking hybrids. Sun wasn’t really certain why.


“Ensign Sun, did you follow recommended protocol while providing air support today?”

“Yes, sir?” Sun answered, not knowing where this was going.

Chief Guth had a good idea where Dolphin was going and did not like it. He had done some fine flying and was not feeling apologetic about it. “Sir…” he started

“As you were, Chief, my issue is with Ensign Sun.” Dolphin had a warm sound to his voice, but there was a steely sound underneath. Guth really didn’t want to get off to a bad start with the new director of his department.

“Ensign, you do recall that I assigned command of the wagon to you,” Dolphin continued.

“Yes sir,” Sun answered, still not really following.

“As mission commander, were you responsible for all activities onboard from beginning to end of mission?”

“Yes sir…” Sun was beginning to understand what the issue was.

“And during the mission, was the internal inertial dampener manually adjusted?”

“Yes sir…” Sun’s features registered a dawning understanding.

“Please answer my first question again, Mr. Sun.”

“Sir, I believe I failed to follow protocol during this mission. I allowed the inertial dampener to be adjusted and the fly-by to be conducted manually.”

“Thank you, Mr. Sun. Lieutenant Tauk brought your oversight to my attention from the flight telemetry. I am not entering a reprimand for you at this time. But as Director of Flight Operations, I am grounding you from flight missions on the wagon, the interceptors, the tactical unit and the main bridge until you complete the written recertification exams for all these vehicles including the Hunter itself. We’ll forgo the practical exams - I know you can fly. What I need to be certain of is your grasp of protocol. Complete them on your own time - and do so soon. I would like you to be requalified before your next shift on bridge duty, which I believe is in four days. I prefer not to enter this on your record.”

“Understood, sir.”

“Dismissed, Ensign.”


Dolphin turned to his pilot. “Chief.. Flight.. Specialist.. Dewayne.. Guth..” He pronounced each word slowly, with pauses for emphasis - then looked surreptitiously over his shoulder to verify that Ensign Sun had left the shuttle bay. “Give me a tour of the wagon, Chief.”

Guth, braced for a reprimand, was taken off guard. “Sir?”

“I haven’t actually flown one of these - except in simulation.”

Guth walked Lt. Dolphin around the uparmored shuttle, then inside, “Two brig units port midship, three starboard, open passage between them connecting the rear operations staging area to the flight operations booth in the fore,” he said as they walked inside the craft.

“Pop the stick for me, Guth,” said Dolphin as they reached the flight ops booth.

Guth sat in the pilot seat, touched a control and reached under the console to pull the flight operation stick out and rotated it 90 degrees into the upright, operating position.

“When are you to use manual flight control?” Dolphin asked.

“During any operation in which tolerances are beyond computer control or when the computer is non-functional,” Guth responded.

“And was the computer functional when you dropped altitude for your fly-by?”

“Yes, sir…”

Dolphin kept his voice quiet and friendly, “Please explain exactly how the fly-by operation was outside of computer control tolerances.”


Guth thought for only a second. Dolphin was a test pilot as well. For Guth, honesty had always been the best policy anyway - especially when talking to a fellow pilot. “I wanted to get closer to the buildings than the computer would allow.”

“How close?”

“A meter. The computer would not allow less than five meters.”

Dolphin deliberately spoke very quietly and calmly. “Eighty eight centimeters, Mr. Guth. You came within eighty eight centimeters of a building at 412 kph with the inertial dampeners reduced. If you had hit that building you would have turned yourself and Ensign Sun into jelly. Furthermore, although you did not know this, Investigator Buttans was inside that building. You would have dropped that building on top of him before he could deactivate the jamming device - in the basement of that building - and as well as destroying the wagon, killing Buttans, Sun and yourself, you would have made it impossible to rescue the ground operations team and the command staff. You wanted to pass by 100 centimeters at 400 kph - correct?”

Guth’s eyes had widened as he realized just how badly things could have gone. “Yes sir,” he responded.

“So you were out of your personal tolerances by more than five percent. If you had set the computer for a fly-by at five meters, at 300 kph, what would the tolerance be?”

“Less than one-thousandth of one percent,” Guth responded.

“Chief, you’ve been a Star Fleet pilot for nearly fifteen years. You reached the top of the non-comm grades years ago. Have you ever considered going to OCS?”

“Not really, sir. I never really wanted to be an officer. I just want to fly.”

“I came in as a civilian test pilot,” Dolphin replied. “I had to go through 6 months of Officer Candidate School to obtain clearance to fly the most experimental birds - stuff I can’t even tell you about. But you would love them - there are some amazing new birds coming out of Utopia Planitia. Chief, you’re my top pilot. I have to rely on you to set the example for the rest of the department. I can’t let this go. I am entering a reprimand on your record and grounding you from operating the wagon until you recertify - both written and practical. I know interceptor pilots prefer to fly stick - and they have that option during combat. But this wagon is not an interceptor.”

“Understood, sir.” Guth felt oddly relieved. He had also heard stories about Dolphin’s dislike for hybrids - Guth was evidently part trill - he shaved his head to reveal the spots - which created a subtle effect against his dark skin - an inheritance from his African-American ancestors. Lt. Dolphin actually seemed to care about his people and after a lifetime of encountering prejudice from both humans and trills, Guth did not detect any hint of prejudice from his new department director.

“All right, Mr. Guth - get some sack time. I will leave it to you to explain your error to the other pilots - so they are never tempted to do the same.” Dolphin stood up and walked to the back of the wagon, paused and turned before walking off the rear plank:


“That was some pretty fancy flying, down there, Guth.”


Guth smiled, “Thank you, sir”


“Don’t ever do it again.”

2.15 (of 16)​

 

[Robert Bruce Scott]

Star Trek Hunter
Episode 2: The Colony of New Hope
Scene 16: Ivonovic Trapped

2.16
Ivonovic Trapped​

Emory Ivonovic paced in his very cramped brig cell like an impatient silver fox. The cell was designed to meet the needs of a single occupant - barely. He did not know whether the transponder embedded in his hip bone could be read from the middle of this Federation brig. At least the transponder had not been removed. An occasional, mildly painful pulse let him know it was still active.

This day had been a disaster and in no small part thanks to the failure of his legal team. He had no idea why they had allowed that little Star Fleet hellion to slip in a charge under the Federation Charter, but he was determined they would pay for that error. His plans had been set back by years, if not scuttled entirely.


This tiny brig cell had barely room for Ivonovic to turn around. The waste receptacle was a rather rude contraption that pulled down like a seat from the wall. For some reason, the back wall appeared to be padded. On a hunch, Ivonovic backed into it and the brig’s gravity system, reading his movement, shifted the gravity so that he was now laying on it and looking up, out of the translucent door of his cell - not a force field. This brig was designed for very short-term transport. He doubted Star Fleet regulations would allow him to be held in this chamber for more than a few days at most. Unless they were taking him somewhere within a few days’ journey, they would have to let him out - at least for exercise.


There was no way for Ivonovic to be certain of a rescue at this moment. But his captors would need to move him through a starbase or take him to Earth to face the Tribunal. There would be opportunities. Given his connections and deep knowledge of the consortium and the leverage he was holding over them, he was fairly confident his dangerous, if somewhat unpredictable associates would want him alive and not in the hands of the Federation justice system. At least, not yet. These black-uniformed Star Fleet freaks had no idea what they were up against.

2 - The Colony of New Hope​

This is the final scene for Episode 2.

The story continues in Episode 3 - Breakfast Serial

 

[Gibraltar]

Oooh, Ivonovic has plans within plans. The man isn't as stupid as I'd first assumed. He'd better hope for his sake that it isn't simply easier for his co-conspirators to have him killed than rescued.

Nice to see Dolphin making a good impression with his subordinates, even if he's forced to crack down on their dangerous rescue-related flying stunts. Dolphin's firm but fair, and it seems he may finally have found his niche in JAG after so many other abortive careers.

Great story, with lots of action, fascinating characters and outstanding interplay between them. I will most certainly be reading their further adventures!

 

[Robert Bruce Scott]

Emory Ivonovic is a very capable and ambitious man. And a strange journey awaits him that no one could predict...
Kenny Dolphin might finally have found a home...
And for Justice Minerva Irons... a far, far stranger fate awaits...
Even Chief Flight Specialist Dewayne Guth has an amazing future ahead. Make that Ambassador Guth...

Glad you're enjoying STH! I plan to post the teaser scene for Episode 3 this weekend - Thanks!! rbs

 

[Hawku]

I'm a few chapters in so far and I'm enjoying the judge angle. Legal stuff goes over my head usually, so hopefully I learn something about it in the Hunterverse.

 

[Robert Bruce Scott]

...hopefully I learn something about it in the Hunterverse.

I tried to present 1 courtroom drama, 1 detective story, 1 political/spy story and 1 medical drama for each of the 3 years of the story. That plan got buffaloed by an overarching environmental story that ended up taking over everything. But there are still 3 courtroom dramas ahead...

Glad you're enjoying - Thanks!! rbs

 

[Hawku]

I tried to present 1 courtroom drama, 1 detective story, 1 political/spy story and 1 medical drama for each of the 3 years of the story. That plan got buffaloed by an overarching environmental story that ended up taking over everything.

That makes sense for a series to evolve into a wider, all-encompassing thing. The environment contains all therein.