A Curve Ball

Posted on 20 Mar 2026 @ 12:06pm by Captain Jasmine Somers FCapt & Lieutenant Commander Remington Dodd & Lieutenant Commander Leland Hawksley & Lieutenant Paul Winchester & Lieutenant JG Faith Benson & Ensign Alexi Michelle Brevet & Chief Warrant Officer Glenn Stone Mr & Lieutenant Christine Childers

1,524 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: S04 Episode 02 The Hackers Backdoor (Main)
Location: Various/Galen System
Timeline: MD: 07

[ON]

The trip to the Galen System and Galen IV went smoothly; the ship dropped from warp, and a communication came in. The Captain looked at Michelle, who was at communications.

Alexi had been monitoring the coms channels during their trip to the Galen system. Now that they had arrived, they were immediately hailed. She turned slightly, "Incoming hail, Captain. Shall I put it on the viewscreen?"

"Chief Stone has Winchester launch the CAP," Somers said to Glenn Stone.

Stone looked over his panel. He had set up his auxiliary screen to monitor the flights or fighters that had been launched. Bring up the screen, then tap the panel in front of him. "Aye, ma'am, fighters are launched and getting into position. The cap is green. " Two on the ready launch and recovery shuttle on stand by," replied Stone, letting not only the Captain but the bridge crew know.

With a nod, she turned to Michelle.

"Hold, who is it, Ensign?" the Captain asked, puzzled.

Alexi listened, "As far as I can make out, it's a distress call from a species called the Kelnar. They claim their computer systems are being used to hold them hostage."

Looking puzzled, "Kelnar, never heard of them, but it sounds like they are calling for help, Ensign Michelle, in the capacity of your Deputy Security Chief duties, I need more information on what is happening, as I do not wish for the Tomcat to suffer the same problem as the Kelnar", the Captain said.

She turned back to her console and pulled up what information she could find on both the Kelnar and the manner in which the Orion Syndicate is holding them hostage. "As near as I can tell, the Kelnar race is not as technologically advanced as we are, and it would appear the Orion Syndicate has a history of using this method to force such races to serve them. The very fact that the Kelnar are reaching out is significant in that the Syndicate appears not to have total control at this time." She looked up to Somers, "I believe that our safeguards are sufficient to prevent the same thing from happening to the Tomcat."

"Thank you, Ensign", she said, then opened the internal communications =/\= Bridge to CAG, Lieutenant Wnchester, why is the CAP not in space yet? =/\= Somers asked.

=/\= Sir, we are having difficulty with the repair shuttle lift. I will be launching shortly with Raiders 2 & 3=/\= replied Paul, giving his report as he sat in his cockpit. He continued =/\= Raiders 4 & 5 will act as escort for the shuttle once we have it out in the void,=/\=

=/\= Acknowledged, Lieutenant, just get the CAP in the air. Despite its location, the Galen system is not without its problems, and one lone ship still in space is prey. Somers out =/\= she closed the link and sat back as she looked over to her XO, "well now we wait" she said cryptically.

"Ma'am, I am not familiar with the Kelnar. I feel I have read something about them, but not sure." Dodd replied, but I am certain we need to be fully alert that the Orion Syndicate is not using them as bait for us. It seems like something they would try."

"Take a look at the Files Number One, there is not much on them so you will know as much as the rest of us" Somers responded.

"Ma'am, I will review the files once more, but I have a suspicion there is more to the Kelnar that we must discover before it is too late," Dodd replied as he picked up his PADD and started to review the data.

Looking at Michelle, "Keep monitoring Ensign, we will get there as soon as we can," the Captain said.

"Yes sir," she replied, "I will keep you advised of any further information from the Kelnar." Alexi turned back to her console and gave it her full attention.

Just then, a communication text came through, so she put it through to the auxiliary communications station, where a young Ensign put the message into actual communication and onscreen.

Jasmine looked at the viewscreen as a Grizzled Klingon appeared =/\= Ambassador Gr'Ak, it is good to see you. Have you our target buoys ready? =/\= she asked.

The Klingon was down on Galen IV. It was to be a weapons test =/\= they are =/\= the Klingon answered.

=/\= Good, prepare the first eight static targets for Phaser fire =/\= Somers said the Klingon nodded and paused the comms a moment.

"Chief Stone, adjust our orientation and heading to face out of the system if you will!" She said.

"Aye, Captain", Stone responded and adjusted the ship's direction and orientation.

As this was going on, the Captain opened a communication to the CAP =/\= Tomcat to CAP =/\=

=/\= Raider 1 to big Cat, go ahead =/\= replied Paul as he made sure that his fighter was working ok


=/\= Lieutenant, keep the patrol up, but keep your flight out of the Tomcats' firing solution; we are about to do a weapons test. Acknowledged? =/\= the Captain asked.

=/\= Copy that, Big cat, Gunslinger out,=/\= replied Paul, closing the channel. He opened another comm Channel. As he said =/\= to all fighters, this is Gunslinger, Big Cat is about to sharpen her claws, so be careful.=/\=

=/\= Copy that Gunslinger.=/\= replied Christine as she made sure that she had heard the order and made a note of it.


With that, she looks at Benson, "okay Lieutenant, prepare all weapons for test firing, starting with the Phasers" Somers said.

Faith gave a glance up and nodded, "Weapons charged. Torpedo bays fully loaded."

Nodding, she tapped her Commbadge as the ship stopped facing a new direction =/\= Bridge to Engineering, Commander Hawksley =/\

Leland from Engineering, along with Thex and Todd, was listening around the Tomcat’s pool table. They were overseeing the schematics for the manoeuvre the Tomcat was preparing to fire its aft phasers and torpedoes to test, or this was the start of the procedure.

Leland gazed from the warp core, its iridescent blue fluxes counting down a never-ending cycle of propulsion. =/\= Engineering here, Captain Somers. What can we do for you? =/\= Hawksley asked, gazing at Thex and Todd for their orders.

=/\= Commander we are going to be doing a firing test first of the Phasers at half then full strength and second the torpedoes, from what I saw in the specs, the new ones the Tomcat has more powerful Phasers installed, so you will need to keep an eye on any fluctuations in ships power and perhaps increase the SIF so it matches the weaponbs recoil =/\= the Captain said.


=/\= Got it, Captain. Half-power phasers first, then cranking to full. Those new Type-X banks are gonna suck juice like a drunk at last call." Hawksley shook his head. "We'll watch the grid for any hiccups, and I'll slam the SIF up a couple points to keep the hull from flexing like it's got a bad back when the recoil hits. Torpedoes after that... Same deal on the EPS feed and dampeners. If anything starts grinding the gears, you'll hear about it before the smoke clears! Engineering out. =/\=

Leland killed the comm link and turned to the other two, already wiping grease off his hands onto his uniform pants like it mattered.

- Engineering -

“Todd, park your ass at the EPS panel and babysit those forward conduits. I want flux core readings screaming in your ear every half-second when she fires... Thex the SIF sliders hot and ready to goose em the second we see power draw spike. Don't wait for me to yell. Let's not let this overpowered bitch tear her own guts out on the first real pull.” He smacked the master console with his palm to wake the diagnostic feeds, muttering, “New toys, my ass—hope they don't blow the goddamn breakers again.” Leland was loving it.

- Bridge -

Dodd then excused himself from his seat next to the captain and moved to the engineering console on the bridge so he could watch the stats of the ship's power for himself. He missed his days in engineering but loved serving the Tomcat in his new role.

"Oh...it's going to throw the breakers," Faith grinned.

[OFF]

 

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