Orions

Posted on Sat Mar 15th, 2025 @ 2:17pm by Captain Xavier Carey & Ensign Sherri Element (Carey) & Commander Antonia 'Tony" Stoffels & Lieutenant Commander Rutherford (RJ) Milton & Ensign Gregory Turner

Mission: Those who are left behind
Location: bridge
Timeline: slight backpost

Xavier sat in the centre seat, Toni was back on duty, with her ordeal over on the Wellington, he didn't feel ready sending her on another, with him promising to stay off any more away teams that left him here. He still had to think about the asylum request from the Cardassian. That wasn't going to be an easy task, as it fell on him to decide the Cardassians fate.

Toni walked in. She still felt so bad about getting hurt on duty, she was sleeping badly and even though she knew her throat was ok now, it felt like it was still on fire from where the enemy had tried to choke her to death. She nodded at the captain and took a seat.

"Feeling better?"

"Much. Throat is nearly back to normal." She said with a little white lie.

Ensign Gregory Turner entered the bridge. At this point, his status with assignments was in limbo, thus was instructed to just report on duty on the Resolution until told otherwise. Taking his place at the tactical station, he made it a point to stay quiet and observe.

Watching the ensign take his place, Xavier turned back to the screen. "I tell you Commander... this... I have been Commanding officer for alomst a year and a half... and I still don't like sitting down on the job."

Toni smiled. "My job always involved sitting down, so it is not so bad for me."

Watching the screen, "If only we all had jobs like that."

Milton came onto the bridge; looking a little haggard but no worst for the wear, striding to the third seat he sat and let out a breath. Pix was riding on his right shoulder leaning into him; and bit of pink to her tinge.

Certain colors become more 'pronounced' with Pix's mood, the obvious is the red tinge when angry, but the pink was more subtle and someone who knows Pix might realize the 'concern' part of her aura. She still had a grin on her face and lightly waved to her BFF Toni.

"How you all doing so far?" Milton greet with a question. "Triage is not over whelmed but we are not bored at the same time. Good to have the others ships to help you know." He chuckled. "Just checking if you still need me to stand my Watch or do you want me as full time Doc for now Captain?"

Toni waved back at Pix. She was starting to learn to read Pix's moods and she hoped the little Pixie was not worried about her. She had been staying out of the doc's way since her injury as she did not want them to feel worried about her on top of all the work in sickbay.

Looking over at pix, he smiled, and nodded. Then turn to the Doctor. "As second officer, you do have your bridge duty. A good leader knows when to take a step back and let their people do their own thing. Which is apparently something I am still learning as well. Its good to know your faith in your people is strong."

"Just part of what comes with the job." Milton chuckled. "Triage is what they do when needed; I have good people that are well trained." He touched the itch on the back of his neck. "Wish I were so confidant in my command skills, but this operation is kind of my gig so I think I'll be fine to stand watch.

Pix has a slight increase in her glow, she looked side eyed at Milton. Pointing to him unseen by Milton she made a gesture of folding her hands then use them like a pillow and again pointing to Milton.

"What about sleep Doc, have you gotten any since we arrived?" Xavier asked, noticing Pix's gestures.

Ensign Turner squinted his eyes as he noticed Pix sitting on the doctors shoulders. Never in his young life had he seen anything like this happening. The Academy certainly didn't prepare them for what he was seeing on the bridge. But the Resolution did seem more of a relaxing atmosphere.

"I have caught a few Catnaps." Milton tried to cover. "Research on the 'White' did take some over-time to learn we are missing a key element and no way right now to make it. Frustrating for a Doctor but part of the job." Pix showed a larger tinge of pink. "I take my scheduled breaks."

Toni wasn't so sure and she tried to mentally tell Pix that she and the good doctor would be having a little chat after this meeting.

Noticing Pix's gestures, and gaining an understanding... if you can call it that. "Doc we got this for the next..."

"I apologize Captain... but sensors show something on long range sensors... not getting a confirmation... but it may be dominion reinforcements." Ensign Element responded from her console.

Xavier paused a moment. Without confirmation, of what actually was on long range sensors, there was no good reason to stop the away team. "Pop quiz Dr." He turned to the doctor. "Long range sensors have picked up something, with no confirmation of what or who it is, whats the right course of action."

=^= CAP patrol to Resolution. "I have inbound craft, you want us to take a quick pass?=^= The Flight leader call in from their sector of the six directional patrol pattern assigned by Troilin upon arrival.

"Take a quick pass, determine friend or foe." Xavier responded

=^= Confirm, changing for intercept and Look over.=^= The Leader called. =^= CAP wing all changing to intercept, I have lead.=^=

The Flight Leader and his Wing man adjusted trajectory, the screen was a relay of the forward scan. Full impulse is impressive, a fighter can quite easily seem to dart around the floating obstacles easily towards open space to get a glimpse of the threat potential.

The sensory 'Blips' steadily grew as the twin fighters closed distance; small dots were now growing and taking shape; one long range signal split into three images close together.

=^= Confirming that we have two trailers to the initial Bogey. =^= The Flight Leader said. =^= Launch Ready fighters to intercept for defense.=^= The order was relayed.

Closing in the images seemed to focus sharper as the fighters head forward. The basic shapes blur through over lay images until a recognized profile displayed on the side of the screen. Three Civilian craft; the delta wedge wings were for planetary movement. The vessels were obviously Privateer Craft; most likely of a Orion design and the power of their shielding bore witness's to similar Orion Piracy reports logged in the Data Base. Civilian types; two smaller ones acted like 'Q-Ships' in that while looking civilian are also known to have deployable weapons and more hearty shields compared to standard civilian ctafr.

The center ship was three to four times larger; she had a purpose; massive salvage scow; the retractable arms and cargo capacity on screen verified this ship was meant to carry cargo after scavenged by smaller shuttle inside the Cargo Ship.

=^= Two fighters are no match for this; suggest ready craft hustle to our position at least.=^= He reported. =^= Any other strategic matters are yours to order support Captain, we have three raiding ship on intercept.=^=

"Just what we need, scavengers." Xavier pondered, "We have better things to do than to drive them away. But anything they take... Let the away team know we are going to have to deal with this... the Evolution will be around if they need assistance."

Ensign Turner was still new to all of this, but admittedly was in shock. "Kind of bold for anyone to still be out knowing that Starfleet is in the middle of salvaging and recovering."

"There are always vultures willing to be the first, even if the dead aren't fully dead yet." Xavier replied

"What action do you want to take, sir?" Toni asked.

"Ensign Turner, get on the coms and contact the Evolution... tell them to be ready the moment the away team needs back from their mission, or needs transferring to other ships. We have guests to meet." Xavier replied looking over to the ensign.

"Aye Sir," Turner replied as he quickly got on the com.

"The teams are a priority." Milton mentioned. "Get the other fighters and such ready to cover retreats might be a thought Sir"

"Wise choice Commander." Xavier replied as he leaned back, "Contact the fighters, have them ready for retreat just in case. Send a message to those orion ships... as much as we shouldn't allow it. Let them proceed, with caution, and only on the dominion, and the cardassian ships..."

=^= This is Lead, I would suggest we keep tabs on those Orions. They do not play by Normal rules, maybe a couple of Wingmen to keep monitoring=^= The Lead pilot suggested. =^= No involvement, just know if they try to get out of line?"=^=

"Good idea, make it so." Xavier replied as he settled into his position. "Keep me apprised if they flinch notify me."

"=^= Confirmed; if they get out of line you are first I tell.=^= The Flight Leader acknowledged.

Xavier paused before sitting back. "This is harder than it seems." He told himself, as he looked down at the pads he was holding. The updates from the other ships, the salvage the casualties... the overall situation going on.

"I think we should restrict well what they can salvage, who knows if they have Dominion tech they might sell it back to the enemy?" Milton postulated.

"Good thinking." Toni agreed.

Never let valuable ordinance and tech be lost and all that." Milton added.

With the Resolution waiting on the teams to do their thing He turned to the screen, the other ships were doing theirs as well. Salvaging mostly. The Resolution was the biggest ship there was, the Evolution was a close second being a nebula class star ship. Even though its pod was outfitted for the salvage operations, the weapons should they be needed would be almost as formidable as the Resolution. "We can split the Evolutions current tasks, between ourselves and the other remaining ships, and send the Evolution to deter the Orions." He looked at the screen. There was something off about him slightly today. His mind preoccupied.

"That is an effective Watch Dog." Milton admitted. "Might send a couple fighters as probe between here and the Orion territory in case they call for... help?"

"Keep the fighters out there... we still need them. Make sure they are noticed... thing about orions, they are almost like ferengi... They don't like sharing in the spoils, even with other orions." Xavier replied as he turned. "Sure you haven't done bridge duty before Commander? You seem like a natural..." Smiling he turned back towards the screen.

"I have always been a good study." Milton commented.

Smiling, "Well when the time comes, I am sure you will make an excellent first officer for Toni here."

"I hope you are not planning on leaving any time soon." Toni said with a smile.

"There comes a time when we must take that step forward. No one knows when or how that may be." Xavier replied with a smile. "But currently, Im at where I desire to be."

"Time of Possible War is not prime for a career or rank change Sir." Milton mentioned as he flicked his hand and snapped causing a flash. "Bad Magic..."

"I fully agree." Toni chimed in.

"I think thats wise advice doc." Xavier replied

"Captain, receiving word from the away team, Orions have boarded their ship, however showing no signs of hostilities, as of yet." Sherri replied, "They are claiming salvage rights."

Xavier paused a moment, "Well this is a new development. We could fight over it, stop them from taking anything, which could lead to more death, injuries, and problems. Or do we play nice. and share."

Milton perked up.

"We are making search and rescue operations so the area is technically not yet abandon, We have checked enemy ships for survivors thus making the whole scene suspect and not open to the 'Public' in a manner of speaking." Milton pointed out. "They are jumping the gun in an intergalactic law sense."

"Jumping the gun, I agree, federation orion relations are delicate to say the least. If we work this wrong, we may have another problem." Xavier replied as he thought about the next steps. Looking at both Milton and Toni. "Ready room please." He stood. "Let us know if anything changes."