[USS Chimera] SD 240910.01 || BRAVO || Senior Staff Emergency Meeting ||

[Main Conference Room - Deck One - USS Chimera NCC 96899-C]

"We need to act quickly." Rojac began as the last senior staff member took their seat along the long table at the aft of deck one. "We don't have much time to spare."

"Whats going on", Lieutenant Castillo asked anxiously.

Rojac turned to the screen along the wall behind him and ordered the computer to display a stilled image of the Eagle's last transmission with the Chimera. Ash filled uniforms lay crumbled throughout the interior of the undamaged room with blinking consoles and warnings. Rojac's
commentary was stoic, almost vulcan-like in the lack of emotion - but there was no time for emotion. "The Eagle has been compromised;  apparently hit by one of the Thalaron cruisers. I have initiated its remote destruction sequence to prevent her falling into enemy hands. But now this means we need to complete her part of the mission." The Captain said. "I need a team of six to accompany me on a shuttle craft to retrieve our Away Teams from the station. We need
Shao's data on he dimensional portal, and we can't leave our CSec stranded."

Walters had spent some time learning the cumbersome and bureaucratic rules of Starfleet so it was standard procedure that he would get the away team lead role.  "So when do I leave Captain?"

The Captain shook his head. "I need you on the Chimera, Major. I'll be heading up the Away team."

"Instant promotion...lucky day.  Care to explain leaving your ship to lead a rescue that other personnel who have far less access to classified information are capable of ?"  Walters asked dryly.

"The current state of the Chimera's port impulse drive leaves my usual tactics in the dark, Major." Rojac said. "I can't fight as well with a crippled wing. The Chimera's going to have to change tactics, and your experience as a fixed base commander will come more in handy. You are
better at coordinating air support and laying defensive artillery fire. As for you second point," Rojac continued, "I feel like going."

{I had an entire Planetary Defense Net at my disposal in that role and 3km of armour plating, rock and concrete above my head.}  Walters thought.  "We at least have the advantage if they are expecting your tactics again."  He could almost feel the eyes of Major Xerxes cynically evaluating his lack of actual use of air power, he was after all merely a lab technician in military uniform in her eyes.

Rojac turned to Levison. "Commander, can you calibrate the phasers for more tight-beam and long-range settings? We're going to have to fight from a distance."

"I'm sure that Commander Kilbain and I can sort something out for you Captain. We should be able to adjust the weapons to be about as efficient as a surgeon's scalpel, just at a lot greater range. I'll probably need a fair amount more in terms of power though, if Mister Vaughn can spare it," Levison nodded, stroking his chin in thought for a moment before glancing across at the Operations officer.

"I'll see what I can do." Vaughn said adding it to the list of things he needed to do. The problem wasn't getting the power to where it needed to go but finding it but he knew that he and his team would be able to do it.

"Should have it done within the hour then," Mike nodded again, offering a slight smile despite the grim circumstances.

"Good." Rojac nodded. "You and Major Walters will be in command. Major Xerxes, what type of defensive air support can you lend if any Romulans stray to close?"

"Torpedo intercept is all I can really guarantee.  Our information is practically zero on these new advanced Thelaron Cruisers so I can't even give an accurate estimate on how well our weapons will work against them or even if they will get in range.  It's going to be a tight finish to this race."  Anya replied.

"Vaughn, give the Major whatever support she needs. I want her squadrons fully stocked before we go operational." Rojac ordered.

"Yes sir." Ian said tapping on a PADD and sending a quick message to Sgt Drake to get a team ready to deal with ordnance and what ever else the Major needed. "Captain can I make a suggestion?" Ian asked.

"Feel free, Lieutenant." Rojac replied.

"I suggest that you take some operations personnel with you just in-case they or someone on the team needs a quick beam out." Ian said looking straight at the Captain.

"I'm planning for that, Lieutenant." Rojac said. "As for my team, I want Kroitzer, Fisher, and Castillo." Rojac said to the CEO, CMO and acting CSec. "Fisher, pick one subordinate to meet us in the shuttle bay in ten minutes for flight preparation. Mr. Vaughn, send Jones to meet us there as well. I want you on the bridge for the battle."

"Yes sir." Vaughn said he would inform Jones of this once he gets back onto the bridge he was also formulating operation teams to work on some quick diagnostics and to adjust power flow to systems that need it and try and get things balanced.

Scott merely nodded and said, "Yes Sir." quickly deciding on his choice of Collins, the AMO most likely to be suitable for this mission.

Charly almost spoke up, the thought of questioning why he should be tagging along on this mission had crossed his mind, but seeing as how determined the Captain had been in issuing his orders he didn't think it would do much good. Captain Rojac reminded Charly of a rather angry William Riker anyways and he'd rather not be on his bad side.

Anya scowled at the monitor.  Thelaron Cruisers like the Scimitar Class were huge.  With the difference in size between the Scimitar class and these new ships there should be a substantial power gap within the weapons capability but there wasn't, if anything they were equal.  Even given time for further development and help from the Muhareem, the Romulans still shouldn't have this level of technical advantage.  Between that and the advanced level of the Scorpion II's her squadron had faced on the last mission there seemed an aspect of time to this as well.  The yellow tree was tall and strong, the blue tree was stunted and dying.

"Any questions?" Rojac asked.

"Sir, if I may?" Levison piped up, waiting for Rojac's nod before continuing, "Captain, are we certain that the Eagle was destroyed by its destruct protocol? I simply feel it might be worth checking, just to be on the safe side."

"Take whatever precautions you deem necessary, Commander." Rojac replied. "But keep her out of enemy hands, at all costs." He looked around the table, "Anything else?" He looked across at the room of faces, "Then you are dismissed. AT departs in ten minutes, all others to battle stations."

The group stood from their places and leaving the table, began to make their way back towards the door, each thinking of the preparations they needed to make. Scott, as did most of the  thers, glanced at the image still displayed on the screen. It was a chilling scene.

Vaughn followed everyone out of the conference room he had heard of what that Romulan weapon could do but to see it actually doing it terrified Vaughn.

Walters too looked at the screen but he wasn't afraid, this was merely something to overcome.  With the Thelaron beam and Chimera's current state, the enemy had the advantage in weapons range, firepower, numbers and maneuverability.  To face them head on would be suicide. For this he was going to require tactics and he had an idea formulating...

[End Log]

Captain Cropa Rojac

Commanding Officer

(E)Major Scott Walters

Executive Officer

Commander Mike Levison

Chief Tactical Officer

Major Anya Xerxes

Wing Commander

Lieutenant Ian Vaughn

Acting Chief Operations Officer

USS Chimera NCC 96899-C

[USS Chimera] SD 240910.01 SB Unity. RAdm. Guzman / Cmdr Summers

rangi.summers@mojwap.sk wrote to chimera@ucip.org:

*** 1st Task Force Commanders Office ***

Rangi had not bothered to request a meeting with Shane. She
knew, even as she made her hurried way towards his office,
that it was taking a risk for he could be in a meeting or
engaged in some work that couldn't be interrupted but she
wanted to see him and speak to him face to face so took the
chance.

Pakosii was seated at his desk when she eventually
was allowed to enter the outer office but got to his feet
with an expression of mild surprise on his face for he had
not expected to see her.

"I'm sorry if it's not convenient." Rangi said without
waiting for a polite greeting "...but I have to talk to the
Admiral at once. It's very important."

She glanced quickly to one side where two armed guards
stared impassively at the far wall, both watching her
without a trace of doing so. She looked back at Pakosii. "Is
he free?" she asked.

"He's busy at the moment, I fear" Pakosii said, but seeing
the expression on the mother of Admiral's son, he added:
"But I ask him none-the-less, please take a seat Commander".

"Thank you."

With barely concealed impatience, Rangi stepped towards the
little row of four chairs set against the wall and sat down
on the first one. She glanced at the guards standing either
side of the door and caught one looking at her.

It didn't take Pakosii long to look up from his console
and beam a smile on Rangi. "Commander Summers, you can see
the Admiral now, please proceed"

Rangi needed no second bidding and with a nod of thanks
towards Pakosii she made straight for the door to Shane's
office which was opened for her by a guard when she was two
steps away.
He sealed it shut once she had passed inside.

Shane stood up from his chair and walked towards Rangi as
she entered the room. He knew that she would not request his
immediate attention wouldn't it be serious. The fact that
she did not use comm. system to contact him suggested that
it isn't duty related.

"Hello Rangi, how can I help you?" he asked with concern in
his voice.

She walked to meet him and looked up into his face. "There's
been an intruder in our quarters." she said. "She was trying
to kill us...all of us. Shane, she came so near to
succeeding."

"WHAT?!" Shane cried in astonishment.

"I'm sorry." she said "It was such a shock and then thinking
about it well...." She sat down as he had asked and began at
the beginning.

"I was in the kitchen making something for tonight when I
heard the door open. It was the housekeeper. I didn't think
anything of it because its her day to come but she was
surprised to see me there I think."

She gave a small shrug
and met Shane's worried eyes although he didn't interrupt
her.
"She said she would just change the bedding...she had
all the linen in a pack with her...then suddenly she sort
of...stumbled and fell. I didn't know if she'd tripped or
something but then a man materialized holding a knife to her
throat."

"WHAT?!" Shane asked again. "Materialized? What kind of man?
A murderer?" he hissed with anger.

Rangi shook her head. "No, he's a bodyguard for Ambassador
Alecto. The woman had tried the same thing in her quarters.
The sheets are coated in Batrachotoxin. It's absorbed
through the skin and will stop nerve impulses. "
She paused
and then, her eyes filling with tears added

" We could have put Martin to bed and..and he would have
died within
minutes."

Shane slammed with his find on the desk. He did not mind the
bloody scratch on his knuckles, most probably not even
noticed it.
"Is he all right?" he asked, "Are YOU all right?"

"Yes." Rangi replied, which was not the whole truth, for
having spoken
of the incident, she began to feel more shaken now then when
it had happened.

"What happened to the woman and sheets?" was another of
Shane's question. His face was becoming dangerously white,
his temper just about exploding.

Rangi laid her hand on Shanes arm. " She's in custody..in
the Brig. A security team arrived and took control of
everything. The sheets are there too, safely
sealed.Ryunosuke, thats the body guard, went with them to
make a statement."
She looked at Shanes expression of concern and barely
contained anger.

He tapped his badge and barked: +TAPS+ Security! +TAPS+

+TAPS+ Security here +TAPS+

+TAPS+ This is Admiral Guzman. I want all Task Force living
area scanned and searched for poisons and every other
dangerous substances. Fleet level area is from now on
Security alert. Everyone entering the area not belonging to
security will be scanned and cleared. I mean everyone, from
the last waste disposal technician, up to an Admiral!
Understood? +

The response came just a moment later. +TAPS+ Yes, sir
+TAPS+ Just within a few seconds, a single flashing light on
one of the wall consoles in Shane's quarters announced a
security alarm being activated.

She stepped to him and seeing some colour returning to his
face, stepped into the circle of his arm.

"What shall we do, Rangi?" Shane asked suddenly tired.

"You've done everything you can." she replied "...they will
see that and give up."

Even as she said it the words sounded hollow to her ears.
She leaned her head against Shanes chest.
"Its just that
they came right into our home...into the beds. It's just the
shock." she added sounding more definate and looked up to
him. " Do you think we can put a call through to the
preschool? They would have let us know if there was a
problem....but I'd like to be sure."

Shane nodded: "Of course we can". He tapped a few buttons on
his desk console.
Rangi stood beside him and waited as the link to the
preschool was made.

The screens display changed again, this time to reveal the
face of Sonia Woods, Martins teacher. Behind her was a wall
decorated with brighly coloured letters and numbers. Sounds
of children playing could be heard.

"Good morning, Mrs. Woods. I am sorry to interrupt you, but
can we please see what Martin is doing at the moment?" he
asked.

" Good morning Sir," she said politely, probably wondering
why the Admiral would want to monitor his son but she would
not ask why.

" Martin has enjoyed a happy morning. We've been talking
about rain and sunshine today and how they make things
grow.At the moment we are having playtime but we're about to
end the session and have our snacks and storytime. Later we
plan a vist to the Arboretum. "
She smiled then looked away.
" If you want to see him..." she said and began scanning the
room. She frowned
"Now...where is he?" she asked then
smiled and turned back " On the trampoline" she said, leaned
forward and pressed an unseen button.

Once again there was a change on the screen and this time
Martin was in view, bouncing up and down with two little
friends on a low trampoline. They were laughing and falling
over now and then which only added to their fun.

Both of them sighed in relief. Martin was fine and there was
no danger lurking around him … for the moment. But Shane
was not willing to try his luck again and therefore he said:

"Mrs. Woods, there has been a security accident just a while
ago. For a temporal time period, I'd like to station
security guards at the pre-school facility. It's for safety
of all children … including Martin."

The teachers polite smile vanished. " Guards?...at the
school?
Admiral...with respectI really don't..." but her reply was
interrupted.

Shane shook his head: "I am sorry, Mrs. Woods. I really hate
to step on your toes, but we must ensure security of the
children. I don't want to offer the enemy a target like
the pre-school unguarded. A security team will arrive within
5 minutes. None will enter your facility, they will stay
outside, but everyone entering or leaving will be cleared"

Mrs Woods looked far from happy and replied somewhat
stiffly. " As you wish ofcourse Admiral."

"Thank you for your cooperation, Mrs. Woods" Shane said and
closed the channel. He looked at Rangi and said: "Damn a
world where children need bodyguards. I was a fool thinking
that Martin will be safe here …"

"We'll make it safe for him." Rangi said and squeezed Shanes
hands.
" I think I'll go down there...explain a little more why
this is necessary. It could be that some of the other
parents wont take kindly to it."
Shane nodded and Rangi stretched up on tiptoes to share a
gentle kiss.

Once back into the outer office, she thanked Pakosii and
went out into the corridor.
She had walked towards the turbolift, thinking what she
would say to Mrs Woods but as she neared the doors, a tall
and strongly built man stepped forward.

"Commander Summers?" he asked
"Yes." Rangi replied, coming to a halt.

" Ma'am, I'm Lieutenant Holland...you're body guard."

They looked at each other in silence for a few seconds then
Rangi spoke:
"I'm going to the school." she said and he reached back to
the turbo lift and opened the doors for her.

*** End Log ***

RAdm. Shane Guzman
CO, 1st TF, SSF Command
CO, SB 234: UNITY
&
Cmdr Rangi Summers
Med Adv 1st TF
CMO
SB Unity

Mrs Woods / Lt Holland
(npcs) Rangi

[USS Chimera] SD 240909.29 || Duty Log || Captain Cropa Rojac ||

[Ready Room - Deck One - USS Chimera NCC 96899-C]

Captain Cropa Rojac crossed the threshold to his Ready Room somewhat relieved the Chimera had survived their recent confrontation. He let out a long breath that he felt he had been holding for the past hour. It was exasperating.

Behind his desk the master systems display showed blinking red areas on the ship's layout where damage had been reported. The whole area surrounding the port impulse drive was a splash of crimson, reminiscent of the vital wound the romulan torpedoes had dealt to the ship. Any further confrontations would necessitate a change in tactics for ROjac and his crew; tactics that Rojac was not as fond of.

As a tactician, Rojac had always preferred unexpected, close-quarters starship combat of a more swashbuckling fashion. His instructors at the Academy and Special Forces training schools often  accused him of trying to dogfight with a capital ship. They may have disapproved ideologically, but they had to hand it to him when he aced each and every simulation they threw at him. This history was part of the reason he held Major Xerxes as a tactical officer for so long - her strategies were heavily influenced by her time as a fighter pilot, and they were familiar to Rojac's own. But when she wished to return to her first love - piloting - he coul dnot hold her back.

Rojac turned from the MSD and approached his desk. He tapped on it's surface and, after internal sensors confirmed his biometrics, its internal systems sprung to life with data to show an active LCARS display. As promised, LtCmdr Montesque had a link ready to communicate with the Eagle.  Rojac took a seat, and typed in his codes.

"Captain Rojac to the USS Eagle." He declared.

His hail sat in the air for several minutes until the young captain raised a questioning eyebrow. "Rojac to Eagle. Do you read me?"

Again, his call came unanswered.

"Well this is hardly the time for a techinical malfunction." He declared to the empty room. Frustrated he tapped his combadge. "Rojac to Montesque. Commander, why am I not getting through to the Eagle? Are we on the right encryption?"

The communiations officer was quick in his reply. +Yes sir. The communications encryption is matched to those agreed upon before commencement of the operation. I'm running a diagnostic.+

Rojac crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair.

+Sir, you are connected to the Eagle's communications system, but no one is answering on the other line.+

A look of concern crept over the Captain's face.

+Shall I keep trying sir?+

"Yes." Rojac said, leaning forward now. "Try and get a hold of your counterpart aboard. Notify me of any changes. Rojac out."

He ended the transmission and stared as the spining emblem of the Katana-B class USS Eagle. It depicted a magestic bird of prey clutching a bundle of arrows in one of its talons, and an olive branch in the other. It symbolized the vessels mission of fighting for the purpose of peace; a hard battle to win to say the least. Expecting the worst Rojac declared his next orders to the ships computer.

"Computer, Command override of communications acceptance protocols. Authorization Rojac-Alpha-Seven."

[Command codes accepted.]

"Computer, open a visual channel to the bridge, USS Eagle."

The computer immediately complied, and showed the horrific image without compassion. The bridge looked pristine, undisturbed and fully functional; the only thing disturbing the sanctity of the room wre the puddles of ash and cloth of the officers that once commanded the valiant vessel. Rojac gaped in surprise at the scence and covered his open mouth at the sight of the distrubing image. His eyes caught a blinking red light on the auxiliary security station at the rear of the bridge: it was an intruder alert.

"Computer, set remote self-detonation protocols on the USS Eagle. Authorization Rojac-Alpha-Seven. Silent countdown, thirty seconds."

[Order acknowledged. The USS Eagle will self-destruct in thirty seconds, there will be no further auditory warnings.]

Rojac stood abruptly and headed for the door, leaving the communication lines open - knowing that the ships computer would save any records of the transmission. His entrance onto the bridge was abrupt, and his list of orders stormed from his mouth.

"Vaughn, have your people get a shuttle prepped for departure in shuttlebay one, stat." He ordered the Operations Chief, walking past Major Walters he said, "Major, I need all senior staff in the conference room five minutes ago."

"What's going on?" Walters asked, concerned.

"The Eagle's been compromised. We need to get our Teams off now." The Captain replied, not erring in his determined stride. He called back as his back exited through the closing rear entry, "Conference Room, now!"

[End Log]

Captain Cropa Rojac
Commandign Officer
USS Chimera NCC 96899-C

[USS Chimera] SD 240909.29 || BRAVO || Bridge Log || USS Chimera NCC 96899-C ||

[Bridge - Deck One - USS Chimera NCC 96899-C]

"Captain, sensors are picking up a pair scouts that have tailed us,"
Carpenter piped up from the science station.

Cropa Rojac was not particularly thrilled to hear the science
officer's report. Dior was busy compensating for he damage to the port
impulse engine and the abrupt, high-speed entry into a stellar
nursery's nebula. Suffice to say, the inertial dampeners were a little
overwhelmed and the pitching a rolling was much more noticeable. He
spared a glance at her as she busied herself at her console, but said
nothing in reply.

The young captain gripped his armrests and issued his orders. "Vaughn,
boost power to the starboard impulse engines. Dior, fire them at
maximum for five seconds to spin us around. At that time, Levison, do
you think you can give our friends a nasty surprise?"

"Aye sir, I think we can do that," Mike said with a sly half-smile,
"If Engineering can spare a couple of anti-matter canisters to drop
five seconds ago, I think we can send them back from whence they came.
A few extra torpedoes in the mix and we should be good."

"Good." Rojac smirked and turned back around. "Execute the maneuver
when they are five seconds out. That should minimize their chance to
react."

"Aye sir." Dior replied. "Science can you give the go?"

"Aye." Carpenter responded, squinting discriminatory at her read-outs. "Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five!"

"Firing!" Dior reported as she brought the engines to full power. The
ship rumbled, shuddered and spun to port to face down the incoming
scouts. She fired the port RCS thrusters at full to stop their
momentum. She whispered a greeting as he smirked up at the viewscreen,
"well, hello there."

"Hang on to your socks, people," Levison said to no-one in particular
before hammering the firing controls on his console yet again. Rather
than wasting Quantum Torpedoes, Mike launched a spread of Photons
instead this time, the fiery red orbs flitting towards their

predetermined detonation points and exploding into glorious bursts of

energy. Three torpedoes each were directed at the two scouts whilst
the final one passed them to strike the anti-matter canister behind
them. The resultant explosion sent a vast shockwave into the aft
sections of the two scoutships, blasting them off their pursuit course
of the Chimera. "They won't be bothering us for a while sir, they're
retreating, for now."

Rojac slammed a fist into the armrest. He wished he could issue a
pursuit order, but with port impulse down their pursuit would be
fruitless. The scouts would fly rings around them. They needed impulse
online ASAP, and he was sure Lieutenant Kroitzer was busy trying to
make that happen.

Lieutenant Carpenter looked up suddenly from her sensor readouts. "Lancer squadron is in range."

"Lancer One to Chimera.  Reinforcements have arrived we're standing by
with 4 ASM's at our disposal...problem is our sensors don't pack
enough punch through this soup.  Care to give us something to shoot
at?" Anya asked flying her squadron in near blindly on the path
Chimera had taken.

"Major Xerxes, I'm opening a datalink with your squadron giving you
real time information from our sensors.  When they show on our
sensors, show them the way to the afterlife."  Major Walters said as
he tapped in the authorizations into the panel on his armrest.

"Rodger that Chimera though I don't know if the Romulan Pantheon of  Gods has a version of hell, we'll make 'em nice and krispy soon  enough...getting a read on the first one now. LANCER ONE, FOX TWO!" 

The last bit was shouted as she detached the missile and got the hell 

out of it's way within the three seconds before it went to warp.
There was a flash as the missile went to warp and was followed by a
massive explosion where it impacted on the Romulan Scout.  The
explosion didn't completely destroy the ship but it drifted lifelessly
the only animation coming from the burning areas on the hull.

Rojac watched the glorious image on the viewscreen. It was to bad that the weapons creator was neck deep in work in the port impulse drive - he would have enjoyed the view.

"Mr. Levison," the captain said, "weapons free on target two."

The Chief Tactical Officer unleashed one more volley of phaser turret fire on the escaping warbird, heavily burdening their dorsal shields. Two of Xerxes' fighter swooped in for support and finished the craft off with volleys from their microtorpedo launchers. The vivd display illuminated the Bridge in a pristine orange glow.

Rojac stood from his chair and pulled down on the edges of his jacket, watching the drifting debris float across the viewscreen. "Major," he said to his XO, You have the conn. Get the squadrons back aboard and assemble the senior staff for an emergency meeting in the conference room."

The major nodded and Rojac turned to the communications officer, LtCommander Kresh Montesque. "Open a line to the Eagle in my Ready Room, Commander."

"Aye sir." Rojac heard before he disappeared behind the doors.

[End Log]

Captain Cropa Rojac
Commanding Officer

Major Scott Walters
Executive Officer

Major Anya Xerxes
Squadron Commander

Commander Mike Levison
Chief Tactical Officer

USS Chimera NCC 96899-C