Knock, Knock

Posted on Fri Jun 23rd, 2023 @ 5:35pm by Commodore Samantha York & Ensign Anli Targalia & Lieutenant Aenar Torek & Lieutenant Bela Swain

1,445 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Eye of the Storm
Location: Various
Timeline: 0800 hours

ON

At 0730 hours, Sam received a message from the captain of the USS Thunderbird. "Commodore York, we're in position. On your orders, we'll drop into the coordinates and wait for the Reman response."

"Thank you, Captain Donovan. I have Marines and fighters ready if needed. I hope they'll see reason. We've scanned the system and there's no strategic or monetary value in it. I'm hoping they simply made the most of the opportunity they were given." She and Captain Donovan had gone over the reports from the colony and the communications between the man who created the ion storm and the Reman. All information seemed to indicate the Reman were hired to help scare the colonists and chose to take over themselves. While there was no real value, the colony was far enough from trade routes that it would be a good place to build a secret military facility and stage any number of attacks on the nearby systems.

"Our people are ready if needed. I'm glad we could be of help for something," the other captain said, chuckling. "Donovan out."

When the call ended, Sam walked out of her ready room and took her place on the bridge.

====

It was now 0800 hours and the senior staff began to report to their stations in preparation for the initial contact with the Reman.

"All hands, report status."

Controlling the butterflies in his stomach, Aenar scanned his console. Nothing amiss. 'Science reports ready!' he confirmed from his console to the rear of the Bridge.

"Thank you," Sam replied.

Bela walked onto the bridge. In a battle, a counselor's position had no status other than to help support the captain and the troops' morale. She reported, "Counseling is ready. The crew is in good spirits."

Sam nodded. "Thank you." At least they were off to a good start.

Sam turned to the helm. "Head to the coordinates. We'll stop there and contact the Reman."

It only took a few minutes to go from behind the moon to the far side of the planet where they met the other starship. "Open a communication to the Thunderbird."

"Yes, ma'am," Anli said. A moment later Captain Donovan appeared on the viewscreen. "We're in position. This is your show. We'll hold back unless they attack, then we'll follow what we agreed on."

"Thank you, captain. Let's hope they'll decide taking on two starships is too risky."

"Agreed. Donovan out."

As soon as the screen went dark, Sam again asked for an open comm channel, this time to the Reman facility."

There was a crackle, then a voice spoke in Reman. "We demand that you leave our planet."

"I am Commodore Samantha York of the USS Calypso. This is a Federation colony and under Starfleet's protection. You can either leave peacefully or we can facilitate your departure. The choice is yours."

"We were given this planet by the leader of the colony."

"No. You were brought here to help a scientist take control of the colony. He knew nothing of your current plans. Therefore, I again offer you the opportunity to leave peacefully, of your own accord." Sam had read over all the communications and verified the data. The Reman were never given permission to colonize on this world, or even stay here after they'd completed what they were paid to do.

"One starship is no match for our forces." The speaker was male, but he had yet to show himself.

"Two starships, with more on the way now that the ion storm is over," Sam replied. The man should know as well as she did that, he had no grounds for his claims. She didn't want to attack, but she would if he refused to leave.

"We require two hours to discuss the matter."

"You have thirty minutes. York out." When the connection closed, she sent a quick text message to the Thunderbird. "Ops, keep an eye on the facility. Let me know if they take any hostile action. Science, I don't know if the Reman have anything to influence the ion storm, but keep an eye on it, just in case. They built the lunar facility, so it's possible they also were able to affect it from the ground."

Aenar shrugged and nodded. The Chief of Science ran his scans, concentrating on the planet and the ion storm. He frowned.

'That's ... odd,' he mumbled to himself. 'Very odd.' Adjusting the sensor bandwidths, Aenar frowned to himself, then called out across the Bridge, 'the ion storm is growing again!'

"We shut that down." Sam turned to look at the viewscreen. "NO, we shut down the one on the moon." Since the Reman were running the lunar facility, it made perfect sense that they would have a second one on the planet. She looked back to the science officer. "See if you can find another device in the Reman facility that's controlling the storm. I think that would make a nice target to prove we're serious."

Nodding, Aenar worked the console in front of him. The Galaxy-class vessel's powerful sensor suite went to work, probing the surface of the planet below. After a few moment, they returned their initial findings.

'There does seem to be an anomalous power source down there ... very similar to the one on the moon. If we could just - damn!'

"The facility just raised shields."

Sam turned to security. "Damion, take out their power," Sam ordered. That should take care of both the storm and the shields.

She turned back to science. "Aenar, as soon as the power is out, see if you can find where the storm generator is located."

With two starships, Sam didn't want to launch fighters as they would likely be in the way. However, they were on standby in case they were needed.

Both ships fired phaser canons, slowly burning a hole through the shields. Once they were down, the power followed.

"Aenar, can you still find that generator?" Sam asked. Then to communications she asked, "Hans, contact the Reman. Tell them if they surrender and agree to leave the planet, we'll stop our attack."

Bela observed the scene helplessly. There was nothing she could do. She certainly could not hug anyone while they were in the middle of a battle. All she could do is watch and hope for the best while trying to make certain that everyone was performing to their best capabilities.

Just then, two dozen fighters launched from the facility. "We've got them," Donovan said over the comms. You focus on the power."

"Tell the captain thank you," Sam said. "Now, let's finish this."

'Power source located - Tactical, aim at the grid coordinates I've transmitted to your console.' Aenar watched from his console as the phasers powered up, tracking the power re-distribution the Main Computer went through to balance out the system.

He imagined, more than felt, the slight vibration of the ship as phaser fire lanced out from the lower sensors, piercing the atmosphere and bisecting the exact coordinates he had indicated.

The Bajoran turned to his console once more, reading the information the ship relayed to him. 'Power source disabled, you should be clear to proceed Captain.'

Sam didn't want to kill all the Reman as most were just following orders. "Find the command center and transport everyone there to cargo bay four, then put up a forcefield. Maybe then we can get them to leave voluntarily."

Calypso responded quickly, pinpointing the lowest level of the Reman facility. The power running through the area indicated it as the most likely location for the command center. 'Ops has the coordinates,' Aenar called out as he transmitted them to the relevant officer.

"Thank you." Sam turned to Damion. "Fire when ready. I don't want anyone using that device again."

"We've got the Reman in Cargo Bay 4," Ops replied. "Force field is up."

"Excellent. Now, let's see if whoever is in charge will surrender."

====

It took two hours, but finally, the Reman surrendered. Those who were not locked away in a cargo bay filled what few ships they had. The rest were taken aboard the Thunderbird and Calypso to be dropped off at the nearest starbase. The Reman leaders and the man who created the ion storm would be turned over to security.

The ion storm was gone and a ship with supplies for the colonists was on its way. It was time to go home.

____
OFF

Commodore Samantha York
Commanding Officer
USS Calypso

Captain Donovan
Commanding Officer
USS Thunderbird

Lieutenant Aenar Torek
Chief Science Officer
USS Calypso

Lieutenant Bela Swain
Chief Counselor
USS Calypso

Ensign Anli Targalia
Communications
USS Calypso

 

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