Meshweavers were not large capital ships, but a more intermediate sized vessel, roughly equivalent to a very large runabout or a very small destroyer/frigate. They were well armoured and well armed for ships of their size and were more then a match for the unarmed and lightly shield frieghter.

((Blythe Bridge))

“Its a Federation ship sir, the Phallo, registered out of Risa….the Tholians are pursuing and have entered Federation space. They’re firing on the frieghter…” Reported Ingram.

Wong, having had the conversation with Tyler about ‘taking the lead’ during tactical situations, immediately began calling out orders.

“Red alert, all hands to battle stations, this is not a drill. Arm all weapons. Lasalle set course for that freighter maximum warp… Ingram start hailing that Tholian and warn them they have entered Federation space and any further acts of aggression will be treated as an act of war.”

Tyler, remembering the same conversation with Wong, knew that they had agreed to have Tyler be responsible for internal and intership communication during any combat situation. Wong would be responsible for ‘conning’ the vessel itself during the actual fighting.

“When you’re done Mr. Ingram please hail the CC, inform them that we are moving to intercept the freighter and meshweaver and request their support.” Tyler said after consulting his armchair console and noting that at maximum warp the CC would arrive about 1.5 minutes after them.

((Culver City, Bridge))

Culver City had just confirmed the receipt and stowage of the supply transfer from Blythe when multiple consoles alerted.  “I’m picking up a Tholian vessel firing on a Federation-flagged freighter, the Phallo,” Ensign sh’Livo said from tactical.  “Incoming message from the Blythe, sir,” Chief Bong added.  “They’re moving to intercept, and are requesting assistance.”

Lieutenant K’lev swallowed hard.  “Well, let’s go help.  Chief, tell Ensigns Pelix and Tiza to hold off on making and staging more buoys for now; we may need some of those supplies.  Ari, intercept course, best speed.  Tyrisa,” he paused for a moment, “take us to red alert.  Raise shields and power the weapons.”

Red lights began flashing throughout Culver City as the California-class ship closed her shuttlebay doors and bore around towards her sister.  Her nacelles flared with light as she went to warp.

((Blythe Bridge))

They dropped out of warp just ahead of the Federation freighter. Constant attempts to warn the Tholian ships off had gone unanswered, the Blythe had prepared itself for battle on the run in to the area. The freighters shield were nearly gone when the Blythe swooped in and unleashed a phaser barrage and a few torpedoes. One torpedo and a phaser beam landed hits on the centre mass of the Tholian.

Tyler said “Ingram hail the freighter again, have them keep our saucer section in-between them and the Tholians.”

“Aye sir”

“Lasalle match speed with the freighter and adjust our attitude to best cover them… Ingram, fire phasers at will.” Wong said from the XOs chair. The crew was quickly becoming used to hearing orders from both Tyler and Wong by now.

((Culver City Bridge))

Just over a minute later, Culver City dropped out of warp.  In his command chair, K’lev glanced back at Ensign Lotharys for a moment, receiving a scared-yet-reassuring nod in return; the two young officers, both survivors of Palix Bravo thrust into battle once more, drawing confidence and comfort from each other.  The Orion lieutenant’s eyes flicked around the rest of the bridge crew; all – save Chief Bong – were scared, but gamely holding to their stations and awaiting orders.  He then took a steadying breath and started speaking.

“Ari, take us in, at full impulse; let’s try to get to the Phallo and get her out.  Tyrisa, target the Tholian ship, and fire at will.  Chief, if we can get close enough to Phallo please extend our shields around her.”

The crew began moving as one as Culver City arced in, phaser fire lancing out from her forward arrays and launching torpedoes when the ranges allowed.  Of her initial salvo, she recorded no phaser strikes and only one torpedo impact, though she quickly followed that up with a pair of phaser hits in the second salvo.  As she closed the battle area and came within reach of the Phallo, Culver City’s shields extended to envelop the damaged freighter, to try and offer it some additional protection as it attempted to escape.

“Tholians are shifting fire to the Blythe Captain, the Blythe is turning to engage them.” Bong reported.

As the CC came onto the scene, the Tholian vessel shifted its fire to the Blythe and Wong had ordered the ship to come about and open fire with all weapons. The Tholian vessel was clearly hostile and nothing they said over subspace was likely to change that at this point.

The meshweaver darted around the Blythe and then took off back towards the borders. The Blythe gave chase and after a few more volleys Ingram had dialed in the targeting sensors to allow him to hit the engine of the nimble vessel. Another beam from the ventral phaser array saw the Tholian vessel exploded in an orange debris strewn cloud.

K’lev nodded in reply to Bong.  “Send a security team to transporter room 1, then hail the Phallo please, Chief.  The Tholians chased her across the border, which means she had to cross it once already.”

A few moments later, the captain appeared onscreen.  However, K’lev spoke first, raising a hand to forestall objection.  “Phallo, this is Captain Varyn K’lev of the Culver City.  Stand by to be beamed aboard; I’m afraid that I’ll have to take you in, on charges of unlawful transit across interstellar borders.”

The captain’s jaw opened and closed several times before the line closed like a landed fish.  However, the freighter was in no position to disobey K’lev’s orders; in only a few minutes, the captain had beamed aboard and been placed into the ship’s brig.

Chief Bong spoke after cutting the comm lines. “Sir, that freighter has some tell take signs of being a smuggling vessel, possibly illegal hyper rare metal miners. I suggest beaming over an additional away team with a security detail to ensure the vessels returns to SB420 pending an investigation. Otherwise that crew of smugglers might just forsake their former Captain and disappear into the ether again. With what just happened we can’t waste another 2-day round trip towing the ship back to 420.”

K’lev nodded, grateful to the veteran chief for his observation.  “An excellent suggestion, chief; go ahead and send the team, then let’s get the rest of our buoys deployed.”

Chief Bong sent a message through his console, and within several moments a security team had beamed to the Phallo and started her on her way to Starbase 420.  With that matter settled, Culver City returned to her buoy string and continued with her and Blythe’s primary mission.