Star Trek: Crossed Swords

[Dark Silver]

Stardate: 58225.5
Earth Date: March 24, 2381

Taskforce Damocles Flagship - U.S.S. Alexander
In Orbit: Planet Delas, Firecracker Nebula


Commodore David Taylor sat in the big chair.

The thought brought a smile to his lips.

Commodore Taylor.

True, it wasn't Admiral, and he didn't know know the last time someone had been promoted to Commodore inside of Star Fleet, but he accepted the commission all the same. Even if it meant he was just a glorified Captain.

Glorified Captain perhaps, but he had a entire taskforce under his command, composed of some of the most lethal starships the Federation ever fielded. Even if some of the their Captains and crews were green and untested, those ships had on them some of themost powerful weapon systems in the Alpha Quadrant.

Weapon systems he had spent the past fifteen years helping to develop.

And soon the rest of his task force would arrive.

Already, they had large footsteps to follow behind.

Less than 12 hours ago, Task Force Glamdring, the "sister" battlegroup to his own Damocles, had a confrontation with the Borg over the planet Nova Praxus. A Borg attack fleet consisting of a single Cube, over fifteen Spheres, and twenty wedges fell to a well executed assault by the Federation ships - destroying even the Cube before it was all over.

Rising from his command chair, Taylor looked over the bridge of his Galaxy-class starship. The Alexander was technically, a new ship. Her spaceframe officially christened and given a registry only a month earlier, her systems reworked and completely new.

But she had been in his service for the past five years, off and on. Always as a testbed space frame, mounting the newest iterations of Star Fleet weapons technology. He never commanded her in a official capacity. But now, she was here, taking her place amoungst the rest of the Fleet, armed to the teeth, and full of venom. Ready to do what she was built to do.

"I'll be in my Ready Room Commander," Taylor said to his First Officer, "Alert me when the rest of the Task Force start to arrive."

[Agent Fisher]

Captain Thy'lek Shraf sat behind the desk of his ready room. A PADD in his hands. Orders, assigning the once more refitted USS Monitor.

Code: Select all

FROM: STARFLEET CINCFLEETOPS
TO: Thy'lek Shraf, USS MONITOR (NCC-61826), COMMANDING
CC: STARFLEET FLEET RECORDS
SUB: ORDERS

As of stardate:58225.5, Captain Shraf and USS MONITOR (NCC-61826), NEBULA CLASS(WP,DWR,BCR), are assigned to TASK FORCE DAMOCLES, and Commodore Taylor.  Further orders will be issued by TF DAMOCLES CO.

Shraf smiled. It had been quiet since the end of the Dominion War, and the Monitor, and he, had been reduced to patrolling along the Neutral Zone and through Cardassian Space, to help keep the peace. A task not worthy of such a fine ship and a fine crew. Now, they were back in it. Back in the fight.

The blue skinned Andorian smiled, standing and adjusting his uniform. Shraf moved around the desk and entered the bridge. Appropriately, the Ops Chief announced his presence.

"CAPTAIN ON THE BRIDGE!"

Shraf smiled and nodded to his crew. "As you were." He said, moving to the center chair. In front of him was the twin stations of Helm and Tactical, both officers in those stations seated and wearing their safety restraints. One of his rules, Helm, Tactical and Sensors were always to be seated and wearing the safety restraints. The three most important positions, the Andorian didn't want to risk them flying from their stations.

As he settled into the chair, he smiled. Until the Dominion War, he looked to be stuck as an XO or maybe getting Captaincy of a smaller ship. He, like most Andorians that had served in the Imperial Guard were seen as too aggressive to make a proper Starfleet captain. And then war began.

He looked over to Helm. "Helm, ETA?"

The helm officer tapped a few controls then looked back over his shoulder. "About a minute, sir." He said.

Shraf nodded. "Very well." And he fell silent, waiting.

As the stars reverted to normal and a planet appeared, he turned to Ops. "Ops, hail the Alexander and send standard greeting, as well as our readiness report to Commodore Taylor." With that said, he turned his chair mounted display to him, going over sensor data, seeing who else was in this task force.

[Comrade Tortoise]

(Hope you dont mind Shark bait, but some in game time has elapsed since the Ferengi Incident, so I will come out of warp with your ship)

The Thermopylae dropped out of warp, the USS San Juan not far behind them

"Sir" Said Lt. Trei "The Alexander and the Monitor are already here, and holding positions

"Hail them with the standard greeting, and readiness report, and put them on screen when they respond... And send..."

"Engineering"

"Yes captain" responded M'rina

"How are the modifications to the prototype Valkyrie and Peregrine coming?"

"We are having some trouble wiring in the heat sinks to the shields, but the actual grafting worked well."

"Good. Do you have a written report"

'Of course captain"

"Excellent. Carry on, I will relay the designs and your report to the Alexander. And keep up the good work"

"Thank you captain"

" Lt. Trei, with the hail send the report I just mentioned and the designs from my Technology Log for the shield modifications to the Alexander, if I know the Commodore, he will be interested"

"Yes sir"

*The files were mentioned in my prelude, wiring a heat sink system into the shield grid that will use a significant portion of the energy the shields take, to power the cooling systems and increase power output of the emitters, in order to increase shield output and regeneration

[Dark Silver]

IT was nearly a hour before the first two hails came.

"Commander James to Commodore Taylor. We're being hailed."

Commander James was a lovely human woman, in her mid thirties. Her chestnut hair was tied into a bun, and her figure filled out the standard issue Star Fleet uniform nicely.

Taylor stepped out of the Ready Room not long after she said those words, "Report."

"Standard hails, Captain," replied the Comms officer, "The Thermopylae is including some technical schematics for review concerning modifications to the shields. The San Juan came in with the Thermopylae. The Monitor has sent a readiness report for your perusal also Commodore. "

"Upload the schematics to my terminal in the Ready Room, I'll look over it later. Inform the Captains there'll be a meeting onboard the Alexander at 1900 Hours. Standard Uniform, no need for the dress uniforms. Dinner will be served."

"Aye, Aye Commodore."

[General Havoc]

"Commander, I'm not trying to tell you how to do your job, but Lt. Borel's father is the Kai, and the Bajoran government wants to make it very clear that - "

Commander Kalpov sighed wearily. "General, I understand the Bajoran Government's concern, but Lt. Borel is also my tactical officer. What exactly does the Bajoran Government want me to do?"

"I've been told to request that you transfer him to another vessel," said the General, looking as though she took no pleasure in the request.

Ivan rubbed his temple, feeling a headache coming on. "Lt. Borel is a volunteer," he said, "as is the entire rest of my crew. He has an exemplary service record, and has been a member of this crew since the ship was first constructed. The nearest ship that is not about to engage the Borg is a week away at maximum warp, even if I could convince Starfleet to agree to a personnel transfer at this late a date. Moreover, the entire Federation is under threat from the Borg at this time, and as Lt. Borel is a Federation officer, whatever his heritage, I cannot possibly agree to this request."

The General said nothing, but did not look surprised, as though she sensed that Kalpov had something else to say.

He did.

"And besides all that, General," he said finally, sensing perhaps from what he'd heard of the General's career that she might be amenable to this sort of argument, "please be honest. If I were to call you, and ask you to relieve Deep Space Nine's tactical officer of his duties because he was the son of someone on the Federation Council, would you even give me the time of day?"

He knew he had won his point the instant that a small smirk appeared on General Kira's face. "No, Commander," she said. "I probably wouldn't."

Kalpov exhaled slowly. He was half-afraid that General Kira had the clout to order him back to starbase over this issue. Whether or not she did however, he knew that was not going to happen. "I'll pass your decision along to the Kai," she said, "with my recommendation that the matter be deferred until after the Borg incursion has been dealt with."

Kalpov nodded. "I appreciate that, sir."

"You're welcome," said General Kira. "And good luck, Commander."

"Thank you, I think we're going to need it. Trafalgar out."

The screen went dark, plunging the small ready room into darkness again. Kalpov sat back in his chair and closed his eyes for a few moments, before the doorchime sounded.

"Enter," he said.

The door slid open, and a pale-skinned Aenar walked in, her eyes milky white with the blindness that was her species' unique variation on the humanoid theme common across the galaxy. Despite that, she moved with the perfect assurance of vision, her antennae twitching ever so slightly. Kalpov had asked once how it was that Aenar could see, despite having no working eyes, but Ereshal had assured him that it was impossible for humans to understand, any more than she could envision seeing the way he did.

"Commander, we're approaching the Task Force marshal point," said Ereshal. "We should be there in less than fifteen minutes."

Kalpov leaned back in his chair and took a deep breath. "Very well."

Ereshal cracked a small smile. "Good news?"

"Bajor," he said. "Kai Borel wants his son off the ship."

Ereshal's antennae twitched. "Lt. Borel's father is the Kai?"

"So it would appear. I suppose that explains why he wouldn't talk about it."

Ereshal shook her head. "So I guess I owe you that bottle of Tholian Brandy?"

"What?"

"Remember, back when we were putting the crew manifest together? I bet you a bottle of Tholian Brandy that the reason Borel wouldn't tell us about his background was because he was a wanted criminal."

Kalpov smiled despite himself. "I remember you had to talk me into letting him on the crew."

"Well," said Ereshal with a smile, "this just goes to show that you should listen to me more often, pink-skin."

Kalpov laughed. "That's Commander Pink-Skin," he said. "And you're right. If I'd listened to you back at the academy, I wouldn't be on this bucket getting lectured by a bug-eyed monster."

"It's Lt. Commander Bug-eyed Monster," said Ereshal, but she was grinning too. Some people found it odd when talking to an Aenar that their eyes never followed the person they were speaking to the way a human would, but Kalpov was long-since used to it by now. Ereshal had been his closest friend at the academy, and he had pulled every string he had available to him to get her as his first officer, over the objects of both the Aenar High Council and the protests of Starfleet Command, who wanted to assign a more "seasoned" officer to assist a very young Commander.

Thank goodness for small victories.

"Well, sir," said Ereshal, returning to seriousness once more. "I'll go prepare us for arrival. And I'll inform Lt. Borel that his father is... inquiring after him."

"Thanks," said Kalpov. "Be sure he knows that if he's trying to run away from his home planet, there are more convenient places to do it besides this ship."

"I'll mention it," said Ereshal, and she turned and walked to the door. Before she got there however, Kalpov stopped her.

"Ereshal?"

She stopped short of the door and turned her head.

"... I doubt he's the only one doing it."

A simple flicker of her antennae told Kalpov all he needed to know about her wordless answer, and he nodded softly as she made her way back to the bridge.

[rhoenix]

"Computer, location of Captain Augustus," said Commander Sindous in a measured, and slightly amused voice. She was currently seated in the Captain's chair on the Bridge. The tactical hologram near the chair made their approach to the USS Alexander, and the rest of Task Force Damocles obvious, though the navigator had already made their approach known - they only were half an hour away at their current speed of warp 9.2.

The computer spoke up after an acknowledging tone. "Captain Augustus is currently in his quarters."

Shaking her head, she smirked. If she knew her friend, he would likely feel as if he were neglecting his martial arts practices, what with all the additional duties he'd undertaken recently. As she felt how he currently felt, she nodded slightly in confirmation - he was feeling focused, calm, and determined. She was about to tap her communicator to contact him when he walked out of the turbolift. She smiled slightly as she stood at attention. "Captain on the bridge!"

He waved his crew down with a slight smile. "As you were. So Commander," he said as he sat in his seat, with her directly to his right, "we've tested what this good ship can do a few times. Do you think we're ready to hunt Borg?"

Smiling a bit more broadly, Commander Sindous appeared thoughtful for a moment before answering. "More than ready - long overdue."

"Well," he said, "then let it begin."

Thirty minutes later, the Firelance exited Warp travel near the rest of Task Force Damocles. Slowing to a complete stop 500 kilometers off the starboard bow of the USS Alexander, at a 130 degree up angle, a hail was sent as it did so. "USS Firelance to USS Alexander - we have arrived, and we are reporting for duty to Task Force Damocles."

(EDIT: removed flashy maneuver)

[Comrade Tortoise]

"Captain, the hail has been acknowledged, and you are informed of a meeting, with dinner, at 1900 hours. Standard uniform"

"Thank you Lt Commander, and I see on my sensor display that the firelance has entered the system. Excellent. If you could be so kind as to hail them and send them the same technical readouts that we sent the Alexander. They will definitely find them interesting"

"Of course sir"

Captain Belkin got up, and headed for the tubolift doors.

"I am going to my quarters to get ready for dinner and assimilate crew reports, among other things. Commander T'lon you have the bridge"

"Yes captain" the vulcan replied and moved to sit in the command chair.

[Shark Bait]

As the San Juan dropped out of warp they hailed the rest of the fleet and surveyed the ships in the system. Captain carpenter remained on the bridge as the technical information poured in and the commodore's invitation to dinner. The captain thumbed through the information and then transfered it to his ready room before leaving the bridge he instructed engineering to install a series of safety restraints similar to those found on the Thermopylae.
"You have the bridge until 1900 hrs" Jonathan instructed Zaphod.

Jonathan returned to his ready room and began reviewing the technical readouts while he calmly prepared for dinner.

[Comrade Tortoise]

Captain Belkin had finished shaving and got out of the shower in his quarters. Then he heard a beep at his door

"Hold on a moment, not dressed" he said, as he climbed into his uniform and put his communicator back on

"come"

Mr. T'lon entered his quarters, a flat look on his face, common to all vulcan.

"It is 1845 captain, are you read to go over to the Alexander?"

"As of this moment? Yes"

"Good, they are expecting you in transporter room 2"

"very well Mr. T'lon. Contact the Alexander and make sure I am not coming by completely unannounced"

"Yes sir"

...

Captain Belkin shimmered into existence in a blue light in transporter room 1 of the Alexander

"Ensign"

"Yes captain?"

"Could you please be so kind as to escort me to the bridge?"

"Of course sir" she said and gestured him to follow her

As they walked through the ship, matthew noticed a distinct lack of families and non starfleet personell oin board, which the galaxies were known for.

"What do you use the extra space that isnt being taken up by civilians for?"

"Weapon storage, holding cells, computer systems, astrometrics"


I see. My ship has a more compact design, the systems are highly integrated, I am glad to see the space is being used"

As the turbolift came to a stop, the doors opened and there was the bridge of the Alexander

'Captain on the bridge" said the first officer

"As you were, no need to stop what you were doing on my account... though I do notice the lack of safety restraints. I would recommend that be fixed"

[rhoenix]

"Our hail to the Alexander has been responded, sir. We are also receiving hails from the other ships present - the Thermopylae and the San Juan. Also...we are receiving technical specifications attached to the greeting from the Thermopylae," Ensign Mila reported.

"How interesting. I'll return the hails to both personally. Relay the technical specifications to Commander T'pele - I'm sure she'd find them fascinating," said Captain Augustus thoughtfully, before opening a comm-link to the other ships.

Forty-five minutes later, Commander T'pele herself emerged from the turbolift on the bridge, PADD in hand. She began without preamble - something Captain Augustus had begun to expect, and even appreciate. "Captain, I have finished reviewing the specifications sent by the Thermopylae's captain, and these 'seatbelts' are a restraint system for bridge officers I feel is long overdue. With your permission, I request that these 'seatbelts' be installed on all bridge crew stations and on all operations crew stations. I further request permission to test possible improvements on the idea."

Captain Augustus couldn't help but raise an eyebrow and smile slightly. "Improvements, you say? Of what kind?"

Looking self-satisfied in only the particular way a Vulcan can, T'pele continued. "A seating system could be designed so that it was filled with liquid, such as water, and could restrain the occupant more effectively and comfortably than with 'seatbelts,' and still not restrict the occupant's view or console use. Additionally, this design would make the occupant much more resistant to gravity forces and ship motion. Lastly captain, attached were suggestions to tie the heat sinks into the shield systems more tightly, thereby greatly extending shield strength and resilience in combat. This I feel should be implemented immediately, along with these 'seatbelts'."

Though silent for a few moments, Captain Augustus was nevertheless thinking. He was interrupted by Commander Sindous. "Additionally Captain, I'd like to suggest we return the favor by sending the specifications of the systems aboard this ship that are...improvements over standard Starfleet design. As all the new chip classes and refits appear to be testbeds for new designs and technologies anyway, helping all of them improve would streamline the process Starfleet is currently using."

"Well," said Captain Augustus, "you do have a point. Commander T'pele, you have my permission to relay schematics and design specifications for the heat sinks, and the targeting system. And yes, you've my full permission to get both the seatbelts and the heat sink shield upgrade. With the other ships here, I imagine we can field-test them effectively."

"Understood Captain. May I also send the specifications for the new photonic relays within the ship that replaced the old plasma conduit technology and the computer consoles? It is logical to assume they'd like to keep internal explosions to a minimum, particularly for ships designed for war."

"You may, Commander T'pele, with my blessing. I have a feeling that Task Force Damocles will be pioneering some field upgrades."

With her usual crispness, Commander T'pele nodded once, saluted, and marched right back into the Turbolift.

Commander Sindous chuckled. "I've a feeling you might be right, Captain. These...seatbelts, if nothing else, seem like one of those brilliantly simple things you wonder why nobody thought of before."

(EDIT: typos are breeding, I've stepped on them)
(EDIT 2: Forgot CT also mentioned the 'fun with heat sinks and shields' idea - edited and added response.)

[Comrade Tortoise]

(RETCON!)

Several hours prior to boarding the Alexander

....

Beeboot

"Yes?" asked captain Belkin as he poured over a display of Lt Commander M'rina's progress

"We just got a reply from the Firelance, they are sending over technical readouts of their heat sink systems, targeting systems, and their photonic relays, which should keep internal explosions to a minimum"

"OOH!" responded the captain ungracefully "Oh er... thank you Mr. Trei. I will look over these. I get the feeling we will get along with them rather well, and pioneer upgrades for the entire federation fleet, send them to my quarters"

he tapped his communicator after looking over the readouts

"Lt commander M'Rina"

"Yes captain"

"How long will it take to get the upgrades I am sending to you done?"

"The targeting system I can have done by the time you are done with dinner, the rest is going to take significantly longer, the photonic relays would require essentially rewiring the ship, the heat sinks... there are some differences here that explain the integration problem. The official schematics probably had a few errors to avoid replication by spies. These are more accurate. I will have my teams go over the prototype"


"Thank you"

"Yes captain. M'rena out"

[Agent Fisher]

Shraf exited his ready room into the hall way to the turbolift. He nodded to the Security crew member, phaser rifle held in front of him, posted next to the door and headed down to the transporter room.

The Andorian took a rather long way there, making a few stops before going over, first visiting some of the various departments, before making a stop at the galley. He spoke for a few minutes with the chefs, a human female from one of the outlying Colonies and an Andorian male. While he ran a tight ship, he knew the crew always appreciated fresh food. The chefs handed him a small cases, containing two bottles. Shraf smiled, thanking them and finished his trip to the transporter room.

As the Andorian was standing on the pad, his first officer stepped in. "Ah, good, caught you before you left, Captain." Said Commander James McAllister, a human male that had started his career as a Starfleet Marine before transferring to Fleet. The two had been friends for a number of years.

"What did you need, James?" Shraf asked, shifting the case to under one arm, antennae twitching slowly.

"Just an autograph for a few orders." He said, handing over PADD and a stylus. The Andorian signed and handed it back.

"Ship's yours while I'm gone, don't do anything crazy." Shraf said before nodding to the transporter officer, beaming to the Alexander.

[General Havoc]

"Take us out of warp, Ensign."

Trafalgar slowed to a stop before the impulse engines engaged. The sensor operator checked his readouts for a few moments before responding.

"Multiple Federation vessels dead ahead, Commander."

"On screen."

The visual screen came up with a handful of Federation ships, all iconic classes, instantly recognizable to even a child.

"The Thermopylae, the San Juan, the Firelance, the Monitor..." read off the sensor operator as they approached the small Federation force. "And that Galaxy-class in the middle there is the Alexander."

"Odd name for a Galaxy," remarked Kalpov. "They usually give people's names to the Akiras."

"There's no hard rule," said Ereshal. "The Zhukov's a Galaxy-class."

"Ensign, hail the Alexander. Tell them that I'm on my way. You have the ship, Commander Ereshal. Please try to make sure it's still here when I return."

"No promises."

Kalpov stood up, took a deep breath, and walked off the bridge. The Borg were one thing, but this was about to be truly terrifying.

*--------------------------------------*

Five minutes later, Kalpov materialized aboard the USS Alexander. The invitation had indicated no need for dress uniforms, fortunately, but that still left him the lowest ranking officer in the bunch, no doubt. He hadn't had time to determine who was the captain of all the ships in question here, but he seriously doubted that a Brevet Commander was going to be in command of any of them, not after the fight Starfleet Command had put up.

A crewman directed him towards the room that the other captains would be assembling in.

[rhoenix]

"Ready to go?" Commander Sindous stood before the transporter pad, looking at the occupant of the forward pad.

"Yes, as I'll ever be," said Captain Augustus, buttoning the last button on his dress uniform again. Finishing, he frowned, took a deep breath, and stood tall, with his back straight and his chin up. "Energize."

Both Commander Sindous and the transport technician watched their Captain depart for the USS Alexander, for the meeting with all the Captains.

"Odd name, that," remarked Commander Sindous. "To give a Galaxy-class the name of a Terran conqueror - somehow fitting."

Now aboard the Alexander, Captain Augustus met the ensign, and followed her to the room with the other Captains.

"Here we go," he thought to himself, as he walked with purpose. "This great gambit is about to begin."

[Shark Bait]

Jonathan stepped out of his cabin and met his first officer at the turbo lift to the transporter room “Has engineering completed the modifications to bridge?â€

[Dark Silver]

U.S.S. Alexander
Deck 2 Forward Section, Meeting Hall
1815 hours

Commodore Taylor surveyed the meeting room. In the normal operations of the Galaxy-class starship, this room was a secondary meeting hall for the command crew, used primarily when diplomatic delegations required it.

In his ship, outfitted and gilded for War, no such diplomatic functions would be undertaken. As such, he used the space for a informal meeting hall for his officers, and in times like this, a meeting for other Captains. It would allow him to conduct Task Force business, while enjoying a modicum of comfort.

He already knew what needed to be said, and with the room prepared, he left for his own quarters. A sonic shower, a fresh uniform, and he was on a turbo lift to the Bridge.

"Lt Maddox, please have the visiting Captains escorted to the Officer's Club as they beam on board. Standard security checks on all of them."

With the acknowledgment of his orders, Taylor disappeared into his Ready Room. He would let the Captains gather before making his entrance.

[Comrade Tortoise]

As Captain Belkin inspected the bridge, an ensign walked up to him

"Captain?"

"Yes ensign"

"I have been ordered to escort you to the officer's lounge for the briefing and dinner"

"By all means Ensign, show me the way. I only wish I could look at this bridge some more. This entire ship is a marvel. If I dont get the chance, please relay that to Engineering. I will be sending a letter of congratulation to the design staff"

"I will be happy to sir"

"Thank you"

Captain Belkin was the first to arrive in the lounge, and found a seat that appeared comfortable, sitting back in it with an audible sigh.

"If you dont need anything sir, I have other duties to attend to"

" I am fine here, you are dismissed ensign"

"Thank you sir"

The young man exited the room, and Captain Belkin waited, looking at the ship models on the walls, and glancing out the viewport at the small forms of the nearby ships

[rhoenix]

Entering the room, Captain Augustus saw another captain already there, looking out the viewport at the nearby ships, all dwarfed by the size of the Galaxy-class they currently stood within. The Ensign accompanying Captain Augustus turned to face his charge. "Would you like any refreshments while you wait, Captain Augustus?"

Looking thoughful for a moment, Captain Augustus then nodded. "Yes, Ensign. A large cup of Rooibos tea, please."

Nodding with respect, the Ensign replied. "Very good sir," walking to the Replicator, and relaying specific commands. He returned shortly with a large cup, filled with steaming reddish-clear tea. Captain Augustus took the cup with his thanks, and inhaled the aroma, smiling as he did. Taking an unhurried sip, he nodded. "Perfect, Ensign. That will be all."

Nodding in respect, the Ensign left the room, leaving the two Captains looking out the viewports.

"You must be Captain Belkin, of the Thermopylae," said Captain Augustus, turning to face the other captain. "Thank you again for your message. Those shielding upgrades should prove very interesting."

[Agent Fisher]

The blue skinned captain stepped off the transporter pad, smiling. As he stepped down, one of the security officers inquired about the case. Shraf opened it and gave a conspiratorial wink before closing and following the officer to meeting room.

Shraf stepped inside, moving to the table and setting the small case on the table. He looked to the window, smiling at the sight of the Monitor as it drifted by, getting a good view of the weapons pod.

[Comrade Tortoise]

"Hah! If you can get to a shipyard to refit your shield emitters, or have a compliment of fighters to upgrade. Have been an engineer for almost two decades, top of my class in the academy, I cant help but monkey with the ships. And unless the Ensign was intentionally pulling my chain, you must be captain Augustus." He walked over and shook the man's hand

"And between M'Rina and myself, we should be able to get your targeting software to work with real time data. It will be a bit more limited in what it can accomplish, but can also be disgustingly useful for exploiting the... peculiarities of Borg shielding and power systems... and it seems we have a new arrival." he said, motioning toward Shraf

[rhoenix]

"Hah!" Captain Belkin exclaimed. "If you can get to a shipyard to refit your shield emitters, or have a compliment of fighters to upgrade. Have been an engineer for almost two decades, top of my class in the academy, I cant help but monkey with the ships. And unless the Ensign was intentionally pulling my chain, you must be Captain Augustus." He walked over and shook the man's hand.

Shaking the other man's hand warmly, Captain Augustus smiled. "Indeed I am. I'm glad to meet you." Walking to the window, he looked out at his ship, looking vaguely like a fist with its armored nacelles viewed from this angle. "I'm looking forward to this assignment. We have a good variety of good firepower amongst the hulls out there. Now that we have the means to take on the Borg that we do now, this is an excellent time to show them what a few years' worth of independent collaboration and free thought can do."

Captain Belkin continued. "And between M'Rina and myself, we should be able to get your targeting software to work with real time data. It will be a bit more limited in what it can accomplish, but can also be disgustingly useful for exploiting the... peculiarities of Borg shielding and power systems... and it seems we have a new arrival." he said, motioning toward Shraf.

"Indeed it does," Captain Augustus said, with a small smile. "Greetings, Captain...?"

(edited CT's post in for continuity of post)

[Shark Bait]

Jonathan materialized on the Alexander and was escorted to the meeting room as he stepped in the door he looked around the room making note of his surroundings, out the window he could see a portion of the fleet against the back drop of the stars. Three other captains were already in the room “Captain Belkin, good to see you again.â€

[Haizu]

"Sir, 2 minutes until we exit warp." announced the intercom. "Roger that, on my way to the bridge." Harbek straightened his uniform as he stood up from his desk where he had been reading the files on all the ships that would be in the Damocles task force. "Quite the group of heavy hitters." he muttered to himself. "CAPTAIN ON THE BRIDGE!" "Carry on. Navigation, status report." Harbek said as he sat down at his post. "Exiting warp in 30 seconds Captain." replied Ensign Howell. "Bring it on screen. Comms, hail the Alexander as soon as we arrive with the proper greetings and callsigns, make sure to let them know why we were delayed." "Aye, aye Captain." "Exiting warp in 5...4...3...2...1." Dropping into normal space in a flash of light, the Rheinlands' impulse engines kicked in with a soft glow and rushed them on towards the waiting group of ships. "Communique' established. The Commodore is expecting you. There is a council meeting going on, normal dress, dinner is being served." "Thank you Ensign Drake. Let them know I'm on my way."

[Jason_Firewalker]

"Sir, incoming message from Starfleet, we are to proceed to the rendevous point for Task Force Damocles. ETA at warp Seven is three hours." The comm officer, an Ensign Daniels broke the silence of the bridge. Captain Latier did not like a bustling command center and he was going to definately keep it that way.

"Conn, make the course corrections and bring us about, warp eight point five. Engage." Captain Jacob Latier looked around, every last one of his crew was a veteran of the Dominion Wars and with the Borg wars starting again, he was not to keen on letting things fall into a place of a placid feel of things. "Tactical, run drills for the next hour, I want the crew in tip top shape before we get there. Tell Lt. Commander Yoshin that I want his marines posted cross ship in 8 hour details. Activate internal defense networks at the first sign of Borg activity."

*------*
Two Hours later
*------*

"Sir we are almost at Task Force Damocles." Conn officer Lt Disher spoke up.

"Bring us out of warp and into orbit. I want every other hour status reports to my tricorder. Inform the Commodore I will beam over as soon as possiable." Latier was standing in the center of the bridge with his first officer, Commander Thom Bulr, a Betazoid. "Commander, you have the bridge till my return. Re-continue combat drills for the next two hours and then feed me a readiness report."

Captain Latier proceeded to the transporter room. Beaming over Captain Latier was directed to the meeting room.

[Comrade Tortoise]

[quote="Shark Bait"]Jonathan materialized on the Alexander and was escorted to the meeting room as he stepped in the door he looked around the room making note of his surroundings, out the window he could see a portion of the fleet against the back drop of the stars. Three other captains were already in the room “Captain Belkin, good to see you again.â€