Star Trek Hunter Episode 22: Sacrifice

Discussion in 'Fan Fiction' started by Robert Bruce Scott, Mar 14, 2023.

  1. Robert Bruce Scott

    Robert Bruce Scott Commodore Commodore

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2021
    [​IMG]
    Star Trek Hunter
    Episode 22: Sacrifice
    Scene 11: Buzz Conference


    22.11
    Buzz Conference


    Commander Kenneth Dolphin tried very hard not to stare at the new captain of the U.S.S. Intrepid. He had been looking forward to and dreading the moment he would see Captain Red again. She had cut her long hair short - it now sported a wild curly, spiky appearance. She was the kind of woman who was aggressively beautiful regardless of her hairstyle, but this one seemed to capture her fiery, temperamental nature.


    The small conference room on the U.S.S. Milky Way was called the Buzz Aldrin Room and a select group currently occupied it. Along with Commander Dolphin and Captain Red were Captain Sagittarius Hunter of the U.S.S. Prowler, Captain Elaine Nichols of the U.S.S. Pierre, Captain Suparman Saldana Budi of the U.S.S. Milky Way and Rear Admiral Serge Mykel Chekov.


    Chekov was the first to speak: “Commandant Barrett th’Zoarhi has tasked us with developing effective countermeasures to a potential takeover of the Weythan colony by romulan forces. That would be reasonably easy to do if we had another 15 or so Milky Way class starships, but at the moment there are only five under construction and they will not be ready for another few months. What we do have is not enough Escort class, fewer still of the Intrepid class and a whole lot of Prowler class starships. But these are scattered on missions throughout the Federation. We can’t just let them sit anywhere. Ideas?”

    Chekov looked around the room, not bothering to hide the impatience in his face.

    “And we have nearly 2,000 long range interceptors,” said Captain Red.

    “Pissants!” Chekov exploded.

    “As my father used to say,” said Dolphin, “Enough pissants will eat an elephant.”

    “What is this cornpone wisdom?” scoffed Chekov. “I thought you were from Rhode Island, not the Appalachians.”

    “Actually, I think Captain Hunter is from West Virginia,” said Dolphin testily.


    “Harper’s Ferry, the midpoint of the Appalachian Trail…” Captain Sagittarius Hunter started.

    “I don’t care whether you’re from the south end of a northbound mule…” Chekov groused.


    “Interceptors have a vital role to play if we want to keep the romulans from taking over Weythan,” said Dolphin. “It would be a good idea to station about 400 pilots there and keep at least 100 interceptors in low-energy orbit. Keep them manned at all times.”

    “In space, the romulans have a huge advantage – those big honking ships,” Dolphin continued. “But the real fight for control of the colony won’t be in space. It will be on the ground. The romulans have some landing craft, some mining craft and even some in-atmosphere fighters, but nothing that can operate effectively in atmosphere that has a warp engine. Star Fleet interceptors are not as brawny as what the andorians have been building, or the orions. But what they lack in shields and firepower, they more than make up for in speed, maneuverability and most importantly, inertial dampening, meaning our pilots can pull stunts that no one else can match. And there is a squadron of pilots who are very motivated not to give another inch of vulcan ground to the romulans…”


    “The vulcans,” said Red.


    “Don’t think for a second that vulcans don’t have emotions that you can appeal to,” Dolphin continued. “I’m living proof they do. I’ve had more than a half-dozen of them rooting around in my brain – spent nearly two whole weeks enmeshed in a mind-meld with one. Those vulcan interceptor pilots that Admiral Senvol betrayed – they may look cool on the surface, but deep down I’d wager they are itching for some serious payback.”

    “Okay, blondie,” said Chekov. “I’m listening. What else do you have for me?”

    “A little over a year ago,” said Dolphin, “I was in a meeting with Commandant th’Zoarhi, Council Leaders Ushi Irons and Chelna Yaalleiysei and Councilmember Emory Ivonovic. The Commandant originally asked for an initial build of 88 Prowler class starships, which, with the Hunter and the Prowler would have given us 90 of them. As it was, they only approved an initial build of 44.”

    “Useless,” said Chekov. “Those little pissants don’t have enough power in their phasers to even tickle a romulan warbird. And how did you get into a meeting with that crowd? What are you doing, dropping names?”

    “At the time, I was Emory’s lawyer,” said Dolphin. “And remember, the U.S.S. Hunter has gone up against those warbirds and survived. But that’s not my point. At that meeting, Ushi asked the Commandant what the Council’s blind spot was and she said it was speed…”

    “You’re just dropping names now,” said Chekov, impatiently. “Don’t tell me you’re on a first name basis with both Councilmember Ivonovic and Council Leader Irons, Commander…” Chekov emphasized Dolphin’s rank.

    It was Dolphin’s turn to look exasperated, then he let it go and just shrugged, made an amused noise. “Well, my captain is Ushi’s mother. He and I argued a bit last week and I’ve heard he only bothers to argue with people he likes. He just left us to go to Pern with Dewayne – Ambassador Guth. I think they were going fishing.”

    Chekov snorted. “I keep forgetting who you rub shoulders with, Goldilocks. Okay, so what was so important about this meeting?”

    “It was what the Commandant said – the secret is speed. Captain Hunter, have your tests of the Alstars solution worked?”

    “Call me Sage,” said Captain Hunter. “The tests were successful and we have now gotten the entire Prowler class into recursive warp – safely if the readings are to be believed.”

    “Just make sure if you have any math geniuses onboard that they aren’t studying the progenitors’ math proofs and you should be safe,” said Dolphin. “Here’s the point,” he added quickly, catching Chekov’s impatience. “Even though we only have 46 Prowler class ships…”


    “I thought you said they only approved an initial build of 44,” said Captain Suparman Saldana Budi.

    “That plus the Hunter and the Prowler,” Dolphin rejoined. “We have 46. But that speed is a force multiplier. If the romulans come from two different directions, we can deal with one fleet, then pivot to another.”

    “With the weaponry you carry, you might as well be throwing rocks at them,” said Chekov.

    “Actually, that’s precisely what we’re going to do,” said Dolphin. “I asked Geoff Alstars to provide a new calculation for a Prowler class to enter recursive warp while dragging an asteroid weighing four kilotons. This will be tricky, as you will have to fly stick at warp speed to get close enough to drop the rock just as you come out of warp, passing within 500 meters.”


    “You’re seriously going to throw rocks at them???” asked Captain Elaine Nichols.


    “Rocks,” Dolphin confirmed. “At warp 13.75. E equals MC to the 13th power… We hit them hard. We hit them fast. We leave the Intrepid and Escort class ships to mop up the debris while the Prowler class ships regroup and hit the second wave.”

    “Okay you fearful little name dropper,” said Chekov with a wicked cat-caught-the-mouse grin, “Tell me how you are on first name basis with Sir Geoffrey Alstars.”

    Dolphin shrugged. “He works in my engine room…”


    - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * -​


    A few hours later, Dolphin was in Red’s quarters.

    “Okay, flyboy, tell me why you got so weird in that meeting. Who were you trying to impress, Chekov or me?” Red was dressed provocatively - tight leathers and lace. “It’s a good thing I like you already.”

    “Chekov doesn’t bother me,” said Dolphin. “You, on the other hand… well… I was recently reminded that lingering stares are more creepy than romantic…”

    “You’ve been talking with Holly Nash,” said Red. She watched Dolphin’s face closely. Then: “And you screwed her!”

    “How many telepaths are there in Star Fleet? Are you part betazoid or something?” Dolphin asked.

    Captain Red laughed. “It doesn’t take a telepath to read that face. That and I was recently at Starbase 11. Holly’s an old friend. Now, the word that gets you out of trouble is ‘blue’. Make certain you don’t say it… You’re the only person who has ever taken a whip to my ass and I have been plotting delicious payback for some time…”


    Dolphin rolled his eyes. “It was your shoulder… and it was only one pop…”


    Red was straightening a length of silk rope. “The word is ‘blue’. See if you can avoid using it…”


    22.11 (of 15)​
     
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  2. Bynar0110

    Bynar0110 Captain Captain

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    Bynar0110-Ohio Valley, USA
    Excellcent Chapter RBS. I enjoyed it very much.

    Sagittarius Hunter. USS Hunter namesake, or just a corendence?
     
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  3. Will The Serious

    Will The Serious Captain Captain

    Joined:
    Nov 5, 2022
    Nicely constructed episode. The characters are doing a great job of distinguishing themselves. It seems like Dolphin's celebrity is grating on Chekov, just a little.

    Very colorful chapter, red, orange, yellow, green, purple. Notice what color I didn't say. :devil:

    -Will
     
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  4. Robert Bruce Scott

    Robert Bruce Scott Commodore Commodore

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2021
    Total coincidence that the captain of the U.S.S. Hunter's sister ship, the U.S.S. Prowler, is Captain Sagittarius (Sage) Hunter. He remarked on the irony when he was first introduced in 12.6.

    Thanks for the kind words! The blue storyline started with a buggy whip Malloriah Uhr gifted to Mlady in 11.9, which Mlady encouraged Dolphin to use on (then) Commander Red in 12.8... Leading to widespread rumors that Dolphin had horsewhipped a superior officer... (a rumor that Red, herself, was responsible for spreading.) No wonder Chekov is irritated at Dolphin's growing celebrity within Star Fleet...

    The blue storyline will show up again in this episode and again at the end of episode 24.

    Thanks!! rbs
     
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  5. Robert Bruce Scott

    Robert Bruce Scott Commodore Commodore

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2021
    [​IMG]
    Star Trek Hunter
    Episode 22: Sacrifice
    Scene 12: Justice


    22.12
    Justice


    Supreme Commander Sela attended the trial but did not play a formal role. Next to her on her right side was Senate Proconsul Vruncleel, who had negotiated the Gagarin Treaty with Justice Minerva Irons. To Sela’s left, Flight Specialist Jennifer Hopper was sitting. The courtroom was laid out like an amphitheater and was located on the top floor of the Imperial Romulan Administration Building on the edge of the Regar Sea on Vulcan. Unlike Federation courtrooms, in which the observers faced the judges, in a romulan court the observers were seated behind the three judges, seeing the accused from their perspective. A transparent wall behind the accused Justice Irons allowed a vast panoramic view of the Regar Sea swiftly darkening following a dull sunset. Lines of small lights defined the shoreline.

    The three justices served different purposes. Only one was a professional judge - a vulcan named Soel who was part of a small vulcan population within the Romulan Star Empire. His job was to be the impartial judge and ensure the letter of the law was followed during the trial. Admiral Ekot was to serve as Justice Irons’ advocate - representative for the accused. The job of the prosecutor - representative for the romulan people - was assigned to Commander Hundeeth, who was, at the moment, asking the questions.


    “Tell us, Justice Minerva Irons, how you came to invade the Romulan Star Empire and who ordered you to do it. Tell us how you came to destroy the planet Gamorlan, killing nearly ten thousand romulan citizens as well as destroying all life on the planet. How you came to damage the I.R.W. Fero, in an act of war against the empire. Tell us how, in a second incident of terrorism, you caused the borg to attack the I.R.W. Bestia, leading to the death of nearly a thousand more citizens of the Romulan Star Empire and how you then betrayed your own allies, leading to a death toll among them in the millions if not higher.”


    “First of all, I want to thank you for that clear summation of events, Commander Hundeeth,” Irons replied. “And please forgive me for not standing. I am now 160 years old and this will be a somewhat long story. Recently, we have become aware of an illness that affects vulcans and is passed from one to another by mind-meld.”

    “I must ask the accused to keep her remarks germane to the crimes with which she is charged,” Hundeeth interrupted.

    “Oh, but the crimes with which I am charged are a small part of much larger crimes in which I am involved,” Irons responded. “I think this court may want to officially record crimes that the highest authorities within the Federation have concealed not only from their enemies and their allies, but even from their own people. But if the court prefers not to indulge in this larger context, I will restrict my remarks as instructed.”


    There was enough of a silence that the sound of a few hundred romulans, vulcans and various vulcan/human hybrids drawing a sudden breath could be heard. Jennifer Hopper glanced at Sela and saw that her eyebrows were almost at her hairline and she was using all of her self-discipline to keep from smiling.


    The three judges conferred quietly, then Admiral Ekot said, “This court will indulge the accused. You have raised our expectations, Justice Irons. We allow this indulgence in hopes you will meet those expectations.”

    “Thank you, Admiral,” Irons said. “Two attempted genocides within the Federation have been carefully concealed from the public. The first of these was against trill/human hybrids and was accomplished by a powerfully telepathic serial killer. When my crew attempted to capture her, she forced us to kill her. At first, I thought this was because she desperately wanted to be free from the compulsion to kill. Only recently I have become aware of the actual reason. She was half vulcan, half betazoid. It was her father, a powerful member of the Federation Tribunal, who had laid that compulsion on her via repeated mind-melds. This is the illness I was referring to. Not only was she programmed by her father, she was specifically bred by him and genetically altered to become the perfect killer.”

    “But she was not his only victim. Some of you might have become aware that Fleet Admiral Scumuk, the late Executive Director of Star Fleet Medical Services, died under suspicious circumstances. He actually died from the application of a drug that has terrible effects on vulcans and is usually fatal – quadropseudoprozadiazomine. This drug was designed specifically to counter the effects of repeated vulcan mind-melds and is only used on vulcans in case of emergencies. We used this drug on Fleet Admiral Scumuk in a desperate attempt to find a counter-agent to a virus he developed that threatened to exterminate the bolian people. In his death throes, Fleet Admiral Scumuk told me that I must go to the library.”


    Irons paused to take a drink. “Of course Star Fleet kept these attempts at genocide, first against human/trill hybrids, then the bolian people a secret – what little they knew about it. At this point I should point out that my command is unique – my command is not under Star Fleet Operations, but under the Federation Tribunal. And it was one of the Chief Justices of the Tribunal who set these events in motion. And he was the one who arranged for our first incursion into romulan space.”

    “I do not know if our first passage through romulan space was noted, but we did not encounter any romulan vessels. Our telemetry from that invasion revealed a galaxy that has produced waves of gamma radiation that are currently sterilizing the Romulan Star Empire and will leave the empire entirely lifeless within 500 years.”


    “Shut these proceedings down!” ordered one of Sela’s admirals.

    Justice Minerva Irons sat back in her chair and had another drink of water.

    Sela stood up, staring at the admiral who had given the order. Judge Soel was standing and staring at her as well.


    “Admiral Himela,” said Judge Soel, “this is my courtroom. You do not have authority to give such orders. Only I or the supreme commander have the authority to stop these proceedings. And I do not intend to stop these proceedings unless so ordered by the supreme commander. If you cannot control your emotions, I invite you to leave my courtroom.”

    Sela watched Admiral Himela until she sat down. Only then did the supreme commander resume her seat.

    “Justice Minerva Irons, I entreat you to be careful with the charges you level against the Romulan Star Empire,” Judge Soel continued.

    Irons took another drink, then said. “I have made no charges against the empire. The empire did not create this threat. And while the gamma radiation will eventually sterilize the Klingon Empire, the Federation, the Cardassian Union and will, within 4,000 years leave the Alpha Quadrant entirely lifeless, there is nothing in the Babel Treaties, the Khitomer Accords or the Gagarin Treaty that requires the Romulan Star Empire to inform its neighbors of this impending doom that hangs over us all.”


    Irons paused, watching her audience slowly digest this information. “It was this, my first incursion into romulan space that led directly to the second incursion, during which some of the events narrated by Commander Hundeeth happened as he stated them. The remainder happened during our third incursion into romulan space.”


    Commander Hundeeth interrupted. “So you are claiming that you invaded romulan space not once, but three times and evaded capture all three times?”


    “I have submitted into evidence a few sections of telemetry that is date/time encoded,” said Irons. “I have arranged for this telemetry to be broadcast at this time. The viewer behind me is programmed to receive this broadcast. I am aware this trial is being broadcast. Everyone who receives the broadcast of this trial will also receive the telemetry to which I refer, so I recommend this telemetry be added to the official record at this time.”


    “The accused will not take control of my courtroom,” said Judge Soel.

    The three judges conferred quietly for a few moments. Then Admiral Ekot spoke. “In the interest of learning more about the methods and technologies employed against the Empire and to further the jurisprudence of this case, we have decided to allow the telemetry for now.”

    Justice Minerva Irons stood up. “Judge Soel, please accept my apologies for what may appear to be an attempt to take over your courtroom. I can only offer you the consolation that all of my plans have been similarly overridden.” She walked carefully to a very large viewer behind her. The viewer displayed a spiral galaxy.

    “On our first incursion into romulan space, just over one Federation Standard Year ago, we were searching for a natural phenomenon that could explain the sterilized expanse known as the Dead Zone on the other side of the Romulan Star Empire from here. And we found it – one of my navigators dubbed it the ‘Gamma Gun Galaxy’ – a small spiral galaxy with a cluster of black holes at its core that went into a gamma emission stage about 2.5 billion years ago. These gamma waves are traveling at warp 1, so instead of losing energy according to Coulomb's Law, the packets gain energy according to the Davis-May Projection - only releasing that energy when they encounter solid matter.”


    The image on the viewscreen shifted to an image of the vast debris field the U.S.S. Hunter had traveled through. “Before we reached the Dead Zone, about 800 Federation Standard Light Years below the galactic plane, we encountered a great machine that Fleet Admiral Scumuk referred to as ‘the Hulk’. We had no idea what it was or how it got there, at first. Then we detected a massive gamma burst less than 40 minutes away from us, moving at the speed of light. We knew the intensity of the burst was more than 400 times what our shields could protect us from. We were going to get cooked. Even our circuitry could not have handled that intensity of radiation. The three artificial lifeforms aboard would not have survived either…”


    Justice Irons was a good story teller and her audience was in rapt attention at this point. The three judges were just listening. Sela was relaxed back in her seat high above in the audience. Jennifer Hopper was on the edge of her seat, no longer casting side-long glances at the supreme commander.


    “Alone, on a secret mission on the other side of the Romulan Star Empire, far from home, about to be boiled alive… We were about to join hundreds of romulan and klingon crews missing in action in the Dead Zone…”


    22.12 (of 15)
    Author's Note: This scene (along with the 2nd half of the trial) is my version of what in television would be called a "clip show" - a device TV shows use to lower cost (by re-using snippets from previous episodes) and also useful for reminding audiences of plot points that will be carried into the next season.
     
    Last edited: Apr 7, 2023
  6. Will The Serious

    Will The Serious Captain Captain

    Joined:
    Nov 5, 2022
    ...And?
    [​IMG]
    Edge of your seat stuff. :wtf:

    -Will
     
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  7. Bynar0110

    Bynar0110 Captain Captain

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    Bynar0110-Ohio Valley, USA
    Justice Irons causing a circus.

    Clip shows are good for those who didn't start watching the show until later on.
     
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  8. Robert Bruce Scott

    Robert Bruce Scott Commodore Commodore

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2021
    She did promise Sela a memorable trial... And you ain't seen nothing yet...

    Thanks!! rbs
     
  9. Robert Bruce Scott

    Robert Bruce Scott Commodore Commodore

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2021
    [​IMG]
    Star Trek Hunter
    Episode 22: Sacrifice
    Scene 13: David and Goliath


    22.13
    David and Goliath


    Rear Admiral Serge Mykel Chekov beamed over to the U.S.S. Hunter along with the ship’s acting commanding officer, Commander Kenneth Dolphin. The two men barely stepped off the transporter pad when Transporter Engineer Dragomut began moaning loudly and leaned over the transporter control panel. The shell-like skin on the imoginette engineer’s long forehead was pulsing with a kaleidoscope of brilliant colors – most of them pastel. Dragomut slumped over the control panel, spasming helplessly. Dolphin started to move forward to help, but Chekov grabbed his arm.


    “Stand back, Commander,” Chekov ordered. “Get help – this crewmember needs to go to Medical.”

    “Midshipman Datsun,” said Dolphin, “Please report to Transporter Room One immediately and help Dragomut to Medical. Napoleon, where are you?”

    “Aye Sir,” Datsun replied. The transporter chief walked in seconds later. “Dragomut, can you stand?”

    “I am on the bridge,” came Lt. Cmdr. Napoleon Boles’ voice.

    “Report to Medical to assist Transporter Specialist Dragomut,” Dolphin said as Dragomut, still spasming and colors still swirling across the imoginette’s long forehead, leaning heavily on Carlos Datsun’s shoulder, hobbled out of the transporter room. “Notify me whom you leave in command. Dolphin out.”

    “Aye sir,” came the response from Boles over the comm system. “I am leaving 2nd Lieutenant Tolon in command.”


    “So I take it you had a really wild time with Captain Red,” said Chekov with a bit of a wicked smile. “That’s why you were so weird in that meeting…”

    Dolphin blushed violently. “How did you know?”

    Chekov made an amused noise. “I wasn’t born yesterday. I was sitting between the two of you and if I hadn’t been, we would probably have had to pry you off of each other before the meeting was over. But the confirmation was just now – the reaction of your imoginette crew member.”

    “You know what that was all about?” Dolphin asked.

    “A delegation of them attended a diplomatic conference my wife and I were at a few years back,” Chekov responded. “They’re empaths, but what they really key in on is sex. We had to call in security to keep the reception from turning into an orgy and several of the security officers got caught up in it. We were just really fortunate to have a large number of vulcans working security that night. Of course the imoginettes had no idea about the attitudes of other species toward open sexual expression. To them, a formal soiree hasn’t really begun until everyone has their clothes off…”

    Dolphin’s eyes widened. “So all that moaning and spasming just now… Dragomut was…”


    “Orgasming. Hard,” Chekov responded. “She must have picked up on your experience with Captain Red. Or he? I’m never sure what pronoun to use with these people… it?”


    “Don’t use ‘it’,” Dolphin replied. “They see that pronoun as denuding them of sexuality entirely. It’s a terrible insult. I have recommended my crew simply avoid using pronouns altogether.”

    “That sounds exhausting,” Chekov observed. “In any case, you should keep as much distance between yourself and your imoginette transporter engineer as possible. At least for the next 48 hours. And be prepared for some aberrant behavior from your crew. What… Dragomut is the name?”

    Dolphin nodded.

    “What Dragomut just took in from you,” continued Chekov, “will get projected back through other crew members.” The admiral took a deep breath, then looked up again. “Well, let’s go down to Engineering and meet your team.”


    “One moment please, Admiral,” said Dolphin. “Hunter?”

    The elderly looking ship’s avatar appeared in the transporter room. “How can I help you, Commander?”

    “For the next 48 hours I want you to restrict crew member access to rope, handcuffs, whips and any other items generally associated with, um… sexual bondage and related sexual games. Don’t allow the crew to replicate them. Don’t let them obtain holographic versions and if there are any of those things actually laying around, secure them for the next 48 hours.”

    “Understood, Commander,” Hunter replied evenly. “Should we refer to this as operation bondage restriction?”

    “Um….,” said Dolphin, “….No...”

    “Very well, Commander," said the avatar. "Rear Admiral Chekov, welcome to me.” The elderly looking, pudgy avatar vanished.

    “I had forgotten this ship is artificially intelligent,” said Chekov. “That hologram is designed after Professor Jose Crumar?”

    “With all of his knowledge and scientific acumen as well as, apparently, his sense of humor,” said Dolphin as he ushered the admiral out of the transporter room to the lifts at the rear of deck 7. “Main Engineering,” Dolphin said as the lift doors closed.


    “So are we going to be able to literally throw rocks at those giant romulan ships?” Rear Admiral Chekov asked.

    “Um….,” said Dolphin, “….No...”

    “I thought it sounded rather far-fetched.” said Chekov.

    “Well, the physics and the math work out,” Dolphin mused. “But the ability of pilots to deliver the fine control needed to avoid disastrous consequences – well… My people tell me it would be irresponsible to pursue this method further. But it seems they have another idea."

    "Anything that will make these little ships effective against a romulan warbird. So what is it?" Chekov asked as they stepped off the lift onto the main engineering deck.

    "Not a clue," Dolphin replied.


    Dr. Moon stepped up. "Welcome, Rear Admiral," she said and waved toward the engineering conference room.

    Chekov paused for a moment – in an open space between the warp core and the port wall were a number of clearboards covered with arcane equations written using a black marker. In the midst of these, a tall, elderly ensign stomped back and forth. There was only enough room for him to take one or two short steps, then turn around. He grumbled under his breath the entire time.

    Dr. Moon turned at the entrance to the conference room and said, "Come on Geoff, Hui.” She took a sip from the coffee cup in her hand, then: “Yolanda, why don't you join us as well? This started as your idea…”


    Chief Flight Engineer Yolanda Thomas was a short, full figured African American woman with evidence of vulcan ancestry and a strong Oklahoma drawl. "I got the idea from reading the logs of Jonathan Archer," she said. "In their initial configuration, the original NX series Enterprise's phaser cannon were too weak to be of any use. They almost accidentally discovered that running them through the main EPS system and accessing power from the warp core made the phasers ten times stronger and phaser cannon have been configured that way ever since."

    "Now the Hunter’s recursive warp engine isn't more powerful than any other Star Fleet power plant. But it is by far the most efficient," Thomas continued. "So I wondered if we could borrow the recursive power generation and run that in passive mode through the phaser cannon."

    "Our initial modeling showed us that this would only serve to cut our phaser power to almost nothing and the phasers can’t be easily reconfigured," said 2nd Lt. Sun Ho Hui as Ensign Alstars finally ambled into the conference room and closed the door. “But Geoff spotted something in the equations and ran a model test of the configuration against a standard shield configuration..."

    "Like the shields just aren't even there," said Alstars "but at that point we're essentially trying to cut through their hull with a laser pointer. Even at full power, our phasers would take several seconds of sustained cutting to get through one of those romulan hulls. The romulans aren't kidding around with those things. The hull is made from layers of aluminum and plastic well over nine meters thick. These phasers were designed for popping open pirate schooners, not for cutting through a major war ship.”


    "So what good is all this?" Chekov asked.


    2nd Lt. Sun Ho Hui rapped the table twice with his knuckle and said, "Hunter, display Thomas/Alstars solution model 47."

    A highly detailed holographic model of a romulan warbird suddenly appeared hovering about three feet above the conference table – the model was about the size of the table. A scale model of the U.S.S. Hunter, just above the table top, underneath the warbird was about the size of a large man’s fist by comparison. The tactical unit was about the size of a thumb when it separated from the Hunter’s platform.

    "Geoff and Yolanda were about to give up on this idea," said Lt. Sun. "But I wanted to know what would happen if we were to target the shield emitter. As you know, romulan warbirds use two separate networks of shield emitters. It turns out that each network has a separate primary emitter on the underside of the warbird. Hunter, run simulation."

    The tiny phaser beams from the simulation of the Hunter were fine as spider silk. They sparked harmlessly along the hull of the warbird until they intersected with one of the shield emitters. With an instant flash, the warbird's primary shield network went down. When the simulated Hunter's modified phaser hit the secondary shield emitter, that shield array went down in an instant as well. It took Chekov a moment to realize that the simulated Hunter was operating in divided configuration – with the platform targeting one deflector network and the tactical unit targeting the secondary network. When both were hit at the same time with the deflectors already down, a series of secondary explosions caused damage to the hull around the deflector emitter arrays.

    The tiny parts of the Hunter then targeted these emitters with photon torpedoes, which buried themselves deep into the broken emitter arrays, causing a cascade of secondary explosions, severely damaging the underside of the warbird and potentially crippling it.


    Both Commander Dolphin and Rear Admiral Chekov were evidently impressed. "Goliath, meet David," said Dolphin. "David, Goliath."


    "Of course, there's an obvious problem with this simulation," said Dr. Alstars, in his bristly, precise Oxford accent. "The romulans will be shooting back. Which will make targeting those emitter arrays far more problematic."


    "How long until you have a working solution?" asked Chekov.

    "I have most of the math worked out," Alstars replied. "Actual tests with modifications to the phaser array - probably tomorrow or the next day. But Commander Dolphin will need to develop the flight doctrine and pilot training program. Making this happen will be one-tenth science and engineering and 99% manual flight doctrine and training."

    Chekov turned toward Dolphin. "What do you think, Kenny? You're supposed to be the hot dog pilot in the fleet."

    Dolphin smiled, then said, "I would like to work with Captain Sagittarius Hunter and his Flight Operations Department on this. After my group, they have the most experience flying this class of ship and the U.S.S. Prowler is really more representative of the class than the Hunter is."

    Chekov nodded sagely. "Sage is a really grounded fellow. I think you'll like him – if you can get past that city-boy – country-boy thing. Sage says he's from Harper's Ferry, but he actually grew up on a farm, along with his half-dozen zodiac-monikered siblings."


    22.13 (of 15)​
     
  10. Will The Serious

    Will The Serious Captain Captain

    Joined:
    Nov 5, 2022
    Your scenario made me think of how tiny organisms in nature can be more devastating on much much larger organisms then other large organisms. Penetrate the shell and the host is there for the taking from the inside. The smaller organism can even take its energy and replicating substance from the host.

    -Will
     
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  11. Bynar0110

    Bynar0110 Captain Captain

    Joined:
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    Location:
    Bynar0110-Ohio Valley, USA
    Excellent Chapter RBS.

    I'm starling to like Serge Chevkov more than Pavel Chevkov. I'm just wondering if Serge shares any physical resemblance to Pavel?
     
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  12. Robert Bruce Scott

    Robert Bruce Scott Commodore Commodore

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2021
    Bugs.

    Very little resemblance to his famous grandfather. Here are a few descriptions of Serge Mykel:

    Captain Chekov appeared on the screen – a balding man in his 60’s with a hard round belly, an unflattering comb-over, a pock-marked face and heavy lidded eyes. (16.2)

    Rear Admiral Serge Chekov was not a tall man. Short, potbellied, mostly bald with an unflattering comb-over, his ruddy face pockmarked. But there was a restless energy and a relentless cheerfulness to the man that seemed to make him larger than life in spite of his looks. The moment he entered a room, his presence filled it. His mouth didn’t smile, but his eyes did. (19.14)


    Thanks!! rbs
     
    Last edited: Apr 10, 2023
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  13. Robert Bruce Scott

    Robert Bruce Scott Commodore Commodore

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2021
    [​IMG]
    Star Trek Hunter
    Episode 22: Sacrifice
    Scene 12: One Single Vote


    22.14
    One Single Vote


    Ushi Irons had called in every favor, leveraged every secret, twisted every arm... Not in person as he had spent a day on Cun Ling, then another day in transit back to Earth. But he had many, many children who had long done his vote wrangling for him. With 31 children, all devoted to politics, Ushi had long ago divided the task of vote wrangling among his children and a few of his older grandchildren. Each had between ten and fifteen of the 360 Federation Council members and knew everything about them, how to convince them to vote in their own self-interest and at this moment, the moment of greatest need, the dirty personal secrets that would compel them to vote against everything they believed in.

    The resolution to cede the Al Donovos and Al Jenova star systems to the Romulan Star Empire and to assist in transplanting Saketh from deep inside the empire into those star systems, using Star Fleet's most advanced ship, passed by a single vote. When deeply unpopular resolutions were passed this way, it was almost inevitable that councilmembers casting the deciding vote would lose their seat on the Federation Council. Ushi Irons cast the deciding vote.


    - * - * - * - * - * - * - * -​


    "They have done it again. And I tried, I fought hard to stop it. But I could not prevent it. As a Federation Councilmember, I have only one vote in 360. And by a single vote – one single vote – Federation space has been handed over to the romulans... again. The Al Donovos and Al Jenova star systems, located on the Federation side of the Neutral Zone, are to be ceded to the Romulan Star Empire. You must be asking yourselves why.

    "If you have not yet learned of it, you will soon learn of something called the Dead Zone on the far side of the Romulan Star Empire from here. The information I am about to impart to you has only just been declassified by the Federation Council Security Committee and Federation President Maria Rodriguez. This is very complicated, so I must ask you to listen closely and return to this segment of this program and listen to it again.

    "The Dead Zone is an area in the Beta Quadrant that has been sterilized by massive bursts of gamma radiation. This deadly gamma radiation comes from a cluster of black holes in the heart of another galaxy. These bursts of radiation have been traveling toward the Milky Way for nearly two billion years.

    "We have recently learned that the Dead Zone is moving and over the next 300 years will engulf much of the Romulan Star Empire, exterminating all life in its path. In the face of this disaster, the Federation Council has offered the Al Donovos and Al Jenova star systems as a refuge for the Romulan Star Empire.

    “Following the destruction of Romulus, the most productive planet in the Romulan Star Empire is a planet called Saketh. In less than 300 years, this world will be completely sterilized.

    "While the Al Donovos and Al Jenova star systems have no habitable worlds, Al D 3, Al D 4 and Al J 4 are all good candidates for transplantation of the Saketh biosphere. Star Fleet has designed and built a ship, the U.S.S. Ark, for this specific purpose.”


    "I will admit, there is a certain amount of nobility to this effort, to save an enemy from a natural disaster that is beyond their ability to adapt to. But this noble act puts the Federation at extreme strategic risk – dare I say existential risk. Until this risk is adequately managed, the Federation must protect itself not only from the threat of open romulan aggression, but more dangerously, from covert attempts by the romulans to divide the Federation, removing one homeworld from our coalition after another – first to seek independence. But more critically to invite romulan operatives in to ‘restore order’.

    "With the offer now in place and on its way to the Supreme Commander of the Romulan Star Empire, we must harden our internal procedures to make our worlds safe from this kind of encroachment. We must protect Federation homeworlds – Federation soil.”


    "With that end in mind, I have laid out a series of reforms, based on the Federation Charter. And to ensure that these reforms are correctly administered and that they are only temporary, I am announcing my candidacy for President of the United Federation of Planets at the end of President Maria Rodriguez's term.

    "As you well know, the Federation President is elected by your representatives on the Federation Council. But you can have a tremendous impact on their vote. I am asking you to contact your representative on the council and advocate for the reforms that I propose and, if you feel that I am the man to see these reforms through, to advocate for me in my bid to succeed President Rodriguez.

    "I am Federation Councilmember Emory Ivonovic from the Colony of New Hope and I want to bring a new hope to the Federation. Our future is threatened by events that seem outside our control. But we are stronger than we realize. As desperate as this challenge is, we have the ability to rise to meet it. And in rising to meet this challenge, we will not only give ourselves hope for a future, but for a better future. In rising to meet this new challenge, we will build a better world. Better worlds. For all our peoples.

    "This is Subspace Radio Ivonovic, your voice, the voice of all of nature’s children and the new hope for all patriotic citizens of the Federation and for our honorable allies. You will see my face again. You will hear my voice again. In these troubled times I will not leave you.”


    22.14 (of 15)


     
  14. Bynar0110

    Bynar0110 Captain Captain

    Joined:
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    Does he have his grandfather accent, or knack of saying wessel?
     
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  15. Robert Bruce Scott

    Robert Bruce Scott Commodore Commodore

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2021
    From 16.2:

    “Are you ready for our little game of wounded bird, Sully?” Chekov had only a hint of his grandfather’s famously thick Russian accent.

    Thanks!! rbs
     
  16. Bynar0110

    Bynar0110 Captain Captain

    Joined:
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    Wow the Federation is having it's own pre clone wars moment.
     
  17. Will The Serious

    Will The Serious Captain Captain

    Joined:
    Nov 5, 2022
    Nice audience grab here. Stay tuned, same Trek time (nebulous), same Trek Channel (parallel or alternate or streaming continuum). :bolian:

    -Will
     
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  18. Bynar0110

    Bynar0110 Captain Captain

    Joined:
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    60s Batman FTW.
     
  19. Will The Serious

    Will The Serious Captain Captain

    Joined:
    Nov 5, 2022
    What can I say? I'm a child of the 60s.

    -Will
     
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  20. Bynar0110

    Bynar0110 Captain Captain

    Joined:
    Sep 25, 2022
    Location:
    Bynar0110-Ohio Valley, USA
    I was a huge fan of the reruns that aired in the late 80s and 90s.
     
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