The USS da Vinci had made rapid progress to join in the rescue of her fellow Starfleet vessel. The Ambassador-class USS Soval, which currently found itself trapped by seven as yet unidentified objects; each of which had created their own micro singularity, yet linked with one another to form a web around the ship. No one had yet established the exact purpose of this trap: whether its aim was to destroy any vessel they captured, or simply wait until those that had constructed the devices arrived.
It was hoped that when the da Vinci arrived, the RRW Ganelax, would have been able to gather plenty of data on the situation if not formulated a workable plan. The last message from them had sounded optimistic, but had also mentioned the tragedy.
Commander Anacostia-Bolling leaned forward in her Captains chair; as if the very act of doing so would make the da Vinci arrive at its destination any sooner. However, she didn’t have all that long to wait.
“Approaching the co-ordinates now.” Ensign Isaacs announced.
“Very good.” The Commander replied. “Drop us out of warp and bring us in parallel to the Ganelax, but no closer than she is relative to the Soval.”
“Aye Captain, exiting warp in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 and zero.” The Chief Helm Officer called out. “Maneuvering into position at one half impulse.”
“Number one, Lieutenant Beriev, start a full sensor sweep of the Soval and the area of space immediately surrounding her.” The two officers at the rear of the Bridge acknowledged the request and leaned over their monitoring screens.
“Captain, we’re being hailed.” Ensign Phillanie announced.
“On screen.”
The image of a traditional looking Romulan woman appeared on screen. She wore a gray, checkered fabric similar to old uniforms. Figure-hiding shoulder pads and the bulk that accompanied them had been replaced by tight, form-fitting clothing. Emerald irises peered out from a heart-shaped face framed by short brown hair.
“This is Commander Vanren of Republic Warbird Ganelax. We are prepared to approach the Soval in an attempt to initiate rescue. Have you read our reports and briefs on the situation?”
The Ganelax had briefed the da Vinci about the seven singularities and sent detailed information. This included notes on the frequencies and energy ratios of the singularities and energy network. They sent notes of their plan to use chroniton particles to adjust the way the singularities rotated. They planned to target the nodes located between each singularity and the streams of energy that connected to adjust the way they interacted. If the frequencies even fell out of rhythm, reports showed they might lose cohesion. At best, the nodes could force the energy currents to repel the singularities.
Newer reports from the second day were forwarded from the USS Hurricane. They showed how Valkyrie fighters could emit a cloud of thoron radiation to obscure any tracking instruments. Unfortunately, those fighters were too far away to be used now. Deeper scans showed an enclosed technology array between the singularities and the connection nodes where energy released into luminous bands.
“Yes, I’ve been fully appraised of what they plan to do. My First Officer and I both spoke to Lieutenant Commander T’Naagi.” The da Vinci’s Captain confirmed. “My science team can’t see any floors in their thinking.”
“The Hurricane still appears to be about six hours away”, Commander Vanren said almost woefully. “This is up to us. What has your ship been working on? What’s your plan? We’re going to try to decloak far enough away to get a shot on the Soval’s cage. The second net will chase us though.”
“We are planning to launch a probe in an attempt to gather data at close range whilst monitoring how the devices react to another object approaching them.” Commander Anacostia-Bolling, informed the Romulan Commander. “We suggest you hold off your attack until we see what happens.”
“Updated probe data will definitely prove useful”, said Commander Vanren. She turned to Sub-Centurion Fethraie at the systems station. “Monitor the probe’s path.”
The younger Romulan nodded to her commander as her fingers prepared the warbird’s sensors for a deep scan.
With communications ended, Commander Anacostia-Bolling turned her attention to that task. “Number one prepare a Class 2 Probe for launch.”
“Lieutenant Beriev here has already begun preparations” Lieutenant-Commander Alara Ley informed the captain.
A few moments passed with everyone waiting with silent anticipation. “Probe set and is being loaded into the forward torpedo launcher.” The Saurian science office announced.
“Confirm, tube one is loaded.” Lieutenant Grav added. “We have a green light, ready to launch on your command.”
“Launch.” The Commander signaled her Tellarite Chief Tactical Officer.
Grav tapped the fire button on his consul. “Probe away and on course”
“Confirmed, probe on track and sending full telemetry.” Beriev sounded reasonable pleased,
The class 2 probe streaked off, closing the gap between itself and the trapped vessel. At first the seven objects holding the USS Soval prisoner seemed to ignore the approaching probe; either not seeing it as a threat or worth their while dealing with it.
For some reason thought, that suddenly changed, Lieutenant-Commander Alara Ley watched the figures change on her screen and announced to the rest of the Bridge. “We’re picking up an energy spike on the two objects nearest the probes flight trajectory.”
“Output rising by 37%.” Lieutenant Beriev.
“I do not like the sound of that, one bit.” Commander Anacostia-Bolling spoke, her eyes focus on the small dot on the view screen, which was the probe, almost lost against the much large vessel and the vastness of space beyond.
There was no tell-tale flash, no arrow straight beam of energy or ball of super-heated plasma to mark the fact either of the hostile devices had fired; the probe didn’t even explode. It was simply and near instantaneously crushed out of existence.
Only the gentle hums and beeps from the various workstations dotted around the Bridge filled the lingering silence as they tried to process what they had just witnessed.
“Oh, crap” Lieutenant Grav muttered under his breath.
For a moment, the silence also lingered on the bridge of the Ganelax. It appeared their plan had come screeching to an end…
That was until a voice broke through the stillness smothered richly in military bearing. “Threat detection distance. Calculated. Time from defensive system charge to moment of fire. Calculated.”
Another voice called out from the front of the ship. “I can uncloak us just outside of that point to fire the pulse.” Long-haired Lieutenant Kortt’s voice was less formal from the helm. It caried the same selfless, reckless abandon.
Sub-Commander Mrian now stood bent over Fethraie’s sensor readouts. “And with the amount of time that anomaly just took to charge, we should be able to cloak and reposition before it fires on us.”
“Those singularity nets are meant to ensnare starships, not destroy them”, Centurion Xaxxas said aggressively from the weapons station. “If they just spent three days slowly smothering the Soval, I doubt they would just zap our warbird away.”
Commander Vanren listened to her crew proudly. “Tests from the Hurricane showed those systems were likely too advanced to be fooled by probes.” She paused as her eyes returned to Commander Anacostia-Boiling. “Now we have the latest data on their defence systems. We shall proceed with the plan, with or without thorons.”
“This is the da Vinci to Ganelax.” Anacostia-Bolling’s voice cut into their conversation. “After what we just witnessed you’d better be sure your shielding is up to this?”
“Commander, every choice we make is for the greater goal of unifying our people with our Vulcan kin. There are some, high in the annals of the Republic, who believe we must still prove our equality before reunification can occur. They believe we are not yet fit to unify.”
Her expression was emotionless. Hollow. She was ready for any outcome, even if it meant her demise.
“Let the willingness of our order-clan to sacrifice ourselves stand as testament to the illustriousness of the Romulan people.” There was half a moment’s pause before she added. “Unfortunately, there’s no time to find a better way. We have already waited longer than we should have.”
A little frustration crept into her voice in the last sentence. The reality was that no solution could be cobbled up instantly. The Ganelax had spent days formulating a plan and then modifying their ship to prepare for this moment. It was now or never.
“Wait here, for now. We will try to force an opening into the singularity net large enough for you to force a tractor beam through and pull them out.” Vanren’s eyes looked deep into those of the Starfleet commander. “I know you are being asked to trust Romulan projections. Just give our data a chance.”
The Commander of the da Vinci wasn’t about to tell them how the last mission involving the Romulans had gone, so she merely wished them luck, and went to Red Alert.
The channel closed abruptly.
“Helm, cloak and set a course for the Soval. Weapons, be prepared to fire disruptor two before we sheath and move. Commander Vanren and Sub-Commander Mrian met at the center of the bridge along a raised set of rails. Both officers exchanged a look of understanding as they pressed forward at half impulse.
((RRW Malem, Bridge))
The vessel had finished its patrol mission, and was still a relatively short distance away from the Site of the Sovals distress call. The Commander, having studied the reports and historical information on the region in question, had ordered the ship to head that way.
“Viran, please inform the 3 other vessels involved that were are now en route to the area under cloak.” The veteran Reman said to the Vulcan exchange officer beside him.
“Yes sir. With your permission I will also be canvassing them for reports on the current situation.”
The Commander simply turned his head and nodded in the affirmative. He had noted in his studies, that the area of space was not too far away from the territory of a hostile species that the old Romulan Empire had skirmishes with during its last expansionist phase before the Hobus disaster.
