[Admiral's Bridge - EAS Hermes]
The Erassian navy was a highly efficient bunch. Of that fact, Captain Tedros Chisulo was certain. General Viktor Ivanov had planned the assault on R'Veras V down to the last detail, dotting all the i's and crossing all t's.
The Starfleet Tactical Advisor was impressed that a man with a marine background had such a vast operating knowledge of fleet movements and fighter unit tactics, but then the General had a highly competent staff underneath him as well. Chisulo didn't count against Viktor that he was a Starfleet Marine - he was one himself once - but Chisulo hadn't received this level of planning training until after he graduated from the academy and moved up the command track.
Chisulo monitored the movements of the Z-105 squadron as they bared down on their targets. He glanced up at the chronometer that was counting down.
"Deploy engines make ready for warp jump to target" General Ivanov ordered from Chisulo's left.
On the platform below, the Hermes' bridge crew busily prepared for the rapid transit. "Engines Approved. Jump to Predetermined Warp in five... four... three... two... one...
jump!"Chisulo felt the lurch as the ship entered warp, but kept his eyes on the readouts on his screen. The sensor read-outs from the Z's targets detected large explosions consistent with the munitions he knew to be present on phantom missiles - though he wasn't allowed to know much.
"The cores are destroyed, General." Chisulo reported, glancing up at Viktor. "Ghost flight is successful." The Starfleet Captain moved over to another screen just as the Hermes and her escorts dropped out of warp. Almost immediately afterward, sensors detected a large explosion where the first Romulan Defense Station was supposed to be. Moments later, the ship rocked slightly as the inertial dampeners kicked in to counter the blast.
The General was quick with his next orders, "Second wave launch." And within moments, the staff aboard the Admiral's flagship had signaled the calvary for rendezvous.
Chisulo walked behind a tactical display where visual scanners monitored one of the Hermes' escorts as it laid artillery fire into the next defense station. He walked up to a tactical readout and watches as a few warbirds on the far side of the planet maneuvered to regroup and coordinate a counter-attack. Ivanov's strategy had surprised them, and it had done considerable damage - but it looked as if the Romulans were about to attempt to retaliate.
"Three D'deridex class warbirds are regrouping in section three." Chisulo reported. He studied the progression of their formation and quickly traced a finger along flight path as he recognized the movement from an intelligence report on Romulan fleet tactics. "They are running a feint on the Artemis - their true target is the Hermes."
[End Log]
Captain Tedros Chisulo
Tactical Advisor
SSF First Taskforce
