===== Bridge, USS Chimera ===== It was about two minutes since the four runabouts starterd their joint attack on the Chimera when the COMM Channel went alive and the (still a bit) unfamiliar voice of Commander Palmer announced: +taps+ Cmdr Palmer to bridge. +taps+ Go ahead Cmdr +taps+ Detection probes being readied for deployment, estimate two minutes to launch ready. +taps+ Finally some good news Mrs. Palmer, Guzman out. Shane sighed but his spirit began to rise slowly. Finally there will be a way how to detect those annoying shuttles soon. It was always fascinting how the Chimera crew could cooperate that effectively. Science and Engineering, two quite different departments with different staff and still ... they've managed to come up with a solution. {Very well!} The ship shook slightly again and C'el said aloud: "Sir, all runabouts are retreating but head directly at the damaged shuttle. They are targeting the shuttle sir!" The Chimera was too heavy and slow to outrun the shuttles and the distance between the shuttles and the damaged one was rapidely decreasing. Shane knew what fate awaited the poor souls on the damaged shuttle in the next few moments. He slammed his comm pannel and barked: "Chief beam those guys on board ... now!" There has been a reply from the good chief in the backgound ... something about <censored> transporter tech, but besides that nothing. The civilians were still on the damaged runabout. Shane watched the scene where the four other Marduk runabouts were heading directly at the damaged one ... they will be soon in weapon range ... and Shane was unable to avoid the unevitable. The civilians will die ... C'el did her best to hit and slow the Mardus runabouts, she was firing from all phaser banks, more by feeling then accurate aiming, but blinking in and out ... the runabouts were more then a hard target. Torpedoes were here of little use ... the runabouts were fast and very maneuver-able ... so C'el used phasers only. Big effort ... but little gain ... the runabouts just entered weapon range and Shane could almost feel how the Marduk were aiming the helpless shuttle and the four civilians on its board. There are many dreadfull things in the life of an starfleet officer ... and having no means to save innocent lifes and watching civilians to die counts among them. Then ... a bright line of energy from the leading shuttle striked the helpless shuttle ... and in a short moment the shuttle exploded. They have failed. Suddenly Foster looked up from his console and said in more joyfull voice then usually: "We have them sir ... Transporter room one reports four civilans safe on board!" They havent failed! Having saved the civilans ... Shane could turn his attention to the runabouts. For a moment after they have managed to destroy the helpless shuttle, the Marduk seemed not to be certain what to do next. Only when C'el managed to place two direct hit on the nearest shuttle and reducing its shields down to 20% ... all the four runabouts used evasive maneuvers to get away from the Chimera and instantly cloacked. The space was now empty ... almost peacefull. But everyone of the bridge knew that the enemy was still there ... waiting ... lurking ... Shane thought about the probes Palmet spoke about. Taking tehy will work ... they will detect the cloacked shuttles and allow the Chimera to target her weapons on them. But well, there were four shuttles and those were fast things piloted by skilled pilots ... it still will be a hell of a work to destroy them all. Suddenly Shane remebered the three AR-02 assault runabouts that were ready in the shuttle bay. They have never used them ... in fact never ever even tested them in real space ... but theoretically being stuffed with Three Type VII Phaser Banks and 59,300 TeraJoules shields ... those AR-02 should be more then a match for the Marduk runabouts. Chimera as heavy artillery and those AR-02 as cavalery ... the battle with the Marduk shuttles should be soon over. Trouble was that there were no dedicated shuttle pilots on board the Chimera, even less dedicated fighter pilots. Shane turned to Foster and said: "Lieutenant, please find me six crew with the most experience with fighter and shuttle piloting and send them to the shuttle bay ... we will try our AR-02s. Have them launch as soon as Science will launch the probes. Foster noded and tapped his console to skimm through the crew bios. Turning to C'el he asked: "Cadet, any news about the two Jem'hadar on board?" C'el shook her head: "No, nothing since the report the one was spotted in teh sickbay and about the second is nothing known. ODA teams are sweeping the whole ship and search for them". Shane noded and thought: {Geeez ... lets hope they wont cause any trouble ...} ===== End of log ====== <<OOC ... for those interested to pilot the AR-02 assault runabouts, give me a tell and be my guests! >> Cmdr. Shane Guzman CO USS Chimera