<<OOC: May this day, Halloween of 2008, live in infamy as the day the Chimera-B fell from the heavens. +rojac>>
[Bridge - Deck 1 - USS Chimera-B]
Dexter wiped the sweat from his face. He had a salty taste in his mouth and his face was somewhat black-ish … result
from the little smoke on the bridge. Since shields were down… with little to no energy left to reinforce them, Martin joined the common effort of other OPS officers on the bridge of trying to assign and relocate the resources needed throughout the ship. He was quite surprised when his console announced that the shields were suddenly online … with 20% strength … and rising. "Captain", he called, "we have shields again. 20% strength and the power came from the holographic cloak systems … "
from the little smoke on the bridge. Since shields were down… with little to no energy left to reinforce them, Martin joined the common effort of other OPS officers on the bridge of trying to assign and relocate the resources needed throughout the ship. He was quite surprised when his console announced that the shields were suddenly online … with 20% strength … and rising. "Captain", he called, "we have shields again. 20% strength and the power came from the holographic cloak systems … "
"Are there enemies in the cloak control room?" Rojac asked, although espionage was not the biggest worry on his mind. Dexter tapped his console and replied: "No as far I can tell, but internal sensors are off line in various section of that deck."
"Reboot the shields again," Natalia ordered. "It might increase the efficiency." It was a wild shot, but worth trying if it mean the shields could be reinforced.
"Shields restored to 50% although I don't know how much longer we can maintain them at that. Internal power is spiking all over the place." Anya reported from her post.
The science officer filling in for Commander Terek chimed in. "Sir, Erassian fighters have engaged the romulan squadrons. They are forcing them into a retreat."
But just as Rojac was about to thank the gods for small miracles, the door to the bridge exploded. The two marines stationed at the door were propelled to the floor onto their backs from the concussion. Two more stationed at the turbolift quickly pulled their rifles to their shoulders and aimed at the smoky opening. Rojac had pulled his own phaser and fired at the first dark figure to wade in through the
haze, catching the armored romulan in the top right shoulder. The marines followed suit.
haze, catching the armored romulan in the top right shoulder. The marines followed suit.
"Computer, activate Level 10 security force field around the bridge!" the XO shouted as she pulled the phaser pistol from her belt. But she had barely time to get up from her seat when she was thrown unceremoniously to the ground.
The bridge shook violently as a plasma torpedo struck the rear shields. "Another Warbird on our tail!" Anya shouted as she tried to
return fire on the pursuing Warbirds with the rapidly failing rear weaponry.
Being no hero, Dexter ducked behind his console. He let the marines to do their job … and he did his. A flashing red light announced a new problem. "I read an energy spike in the impulse engines" he announced, "system overload imminent!"
On Deck 18 a small group of engineers valiantly battled to control the power flow to the impulse reactor core. One of them widened his eyes as he saw a massive power surge flood towards the core. He didn't even have time to shout out a warning as the core burned brightly and overloaded detonating like a mini atom bomb.
Rojac picked himself back up from his knees and wiped the trickles of crimson blood from his forehead. "Report!" He called out, hoping to hear more that painful groans for an answer. The billows of churning black smoke filled his lungs and made it hard for him to see.
As Natalia got back on her seat she kept coughing, trying to clear the smoke from her lungs. "The impulse reactor has breached," she
reported, her voice scratchy as she read the unbelievable information that was coming through on her console. "Major damage on decks 15-21! Shuttlebay 2 is gone, Cargo bays 5, 6 & 7, Aft ventral RCS thrusters! Life support has gone critical and parts of Deck 15 are missing... that's Sickbay." Natalia looked at Rojac, for the first time feeling almost helpless.
Rojac looked around defeated at the shambles of what had only an hour before been his proud Bridge, his domain. This
had always been HIS ship, since his days as a tactical cadet, to his days as its Chief Tactical Officer. He did a few jobs away from her while he was a lieutenant commander, but destiny called him back. But why? Was it for this painful moment? For this lone decision in protection of the Federation and its ideals? If it was, then so be it.
"Xerxes, engage tactical program 'Immolation'." Rojac ordered.
"Sir I've never heard of of that programme, though if Starfleet uses a name like that it can't be good." Anya replied.
"It's classified, Lieutenant. Type it in, you'll find it." Rojac replied.
{Huh} Dexter thought, {immolation?} he asked himself. Knowing the ways of Starfleet, he feared that the requested program will do little good to the ship …
"Sir..." Natalia said almost quietly, surprised that Rojac would resort to such an extreme. Immolation was a classified program only CO's and XO's were informed about, the specifics of which varied from ship-to-ship. Suffice to say there would be nothing left of the ship
afterwards. But if Rojac was going to do this, she would back him 100%. He was her captain after all, and she trusted him. "Are you sure we should do this?"
"Yes." Rojac replied quietly, his usual resolve seemed distant. Natalia could sense the remorse in his voice; the defeat.
[Attention. Auto-destruct Overload Prototype Program requires CO and XO authorization.] The computer said, in its cold tonality.
Dexter wanted to shout … to stop the Captain from making such a capital mistake … but he couldn't. Deep in his heart her knew that the battle is lost and the Chimera just a wreck .. beyond any hope for salvage …
"Authorization Rojac-Theta-Omicron-Five." Rojac said, then he looked to Natalia.
"Authorisation Trzetrzelewska-Omega-Kappa-Nine," Natalia answered, speaking clearly.
"Computer set timer for five minutes on my mark." He took a deep breath. "Mark."
Natalia looked around the bridge and tried to remember what it looked like before it was half-destroyed, but for some reason she couldn't. In the back of her head she was glad she didn't spend all that much time redecorating her XO quarters, since it would all be going to hell now. What was bothering her most were all the innocent lives that would be sacrificed, and that already were sacrificed. There was no telling if all the crew would be able to make it to the escape pods
Rojac sat back in his chair as the lights flashed through the caustic smoke. He pressed the ship-wide comm button. "All hands..." A shudder shook the ship violently, no doubt bringing the shields close to zero and hammering the nail further into the coffin of the Chimera-B. "Abandon ship." He released the button, and quickly looked over to Xerxes at tactical. "Xerxes find their capital ship and target it. Give the coordinates to helm."
"Rojac..." Natalia said, suddenly alarmed. "It will take the crew time to get off the ship. If you–"
"Trust me." Rojac said, without looking at her. "Pazla, set a course for the target and program the Chimera to engage warp at the last second of the countdown. We're going to bring the party to them."
"Aye, sir," Pazla replied, tapping in the order. The Chimera was a sitting duck in space. Impulse was blown to bits and thrusters were
practically gone. Surprisingly they still had warp and she had a feeling she knew where Rojac was going with his place. "Done. Engines
set to engage at Warp 4 just before the conclusion of countdown to specified coordinates."
It was the second time that Dexter had to abandon a ship called Chimera … first on the lost planet and now again. During the entire battle he hoped for some miracle … he hoped that someone would come up wit some genius pla … like they did always. Some super manoeuvre that would turn the bitter defeat to a glorious victory. It was a shame that nothing like that happened.
"Captain?" Natalia asked when she noticed that Rojac wasn't following when she started up the ramp to the emergency exit.
"This fight is not over." Rojac said, the usual calm assuredness had somehow returned to his demeanor. "This is but one sacrifice we will have to make. Find your way to an escape pod and make it to Aeran III to regroup a resitance." He opened a weapons locker and slung a rifle over his shoulder.
"Where are you going?" she asked, concerned that he wasn't coming with.
"To the Captain's Yacht." Rojac said. "I'm not going down quite yet."
"Captain." Anya threw Cropa a padd that she pulled from her pocket. "On that is the design specs for the new fighter I've been developing for Starfleet. Ensure that it reaches the correct people. The tactical systems have been locked to automatically provide covering fire for the escape pods." At the querying look that he sent her she replied "I'm an Erassian and a pilot. If it's my time to die then I'll do so along side my brothers and sisters in arms in the cockpit of a fighter where I belong." She snapped a final salute "It has been an honour to serve with you Sir, those who are about to die salute you." Her figure disappeared in the haze of a site to site transport which took her to the Main Shuttle Bay where Ambassador Ayanami was waiting on her with her Hybrid Bowfighter primed and ready for launch.
"Figured you'd show up Anya, care to try flying this in combat?" Alecto said with a grin.
[End Log]
Commander Cropa Rojac
Commanding Officer
LtCommander Natalia Trzetrzelewska
Executive Officer
First Lieutenant Anya Xerxes
Tactical Officer
Lieutenant JG Martin Dexter
Operations Officer
USS CHIMERA NX 96899-B
<<OOC: Important things to remember in your logs: (1) The impulse engine caused a HUGE explosion, (2) Parts of SICKBAY were breached, and so were one of the converted cargo bays, (3) The order for abandon ship was given so make your way to an escape pod, shuttle or other device. If you think you can make it to the Captain's yacht and want to help in those operations send me a note and I'll se what I can do. Make it off the ship safely everyone. +rojac>>
