Red Alert, Part IV: Objects in Space
Posted on Tue Jun 30th, 2026 @ 12:38pm by Lieutenant Jean-Baptiste Dorsainvil & Lieutenant JG Jezra Siv MD & Captain Remy Johansen & Lieutenant Commander Xalanth & Commander Maxun Spello & Sub-Commander (erei'Riov) Minatha ir'Ra'tleihfi i'Liorae-sihaer
Edited on on Tue Jun 30th, 2026 @ 12:49pm
2,214 words; about a 11 minute read
Mission:
Peril at the Unification Accords
Location: Various
Timeline: MD011, 1435 Hours
* * * Romulan Warbird Vindex * * *
On Minatha's orders, the Warbird fired at Astrea, aiming at its deflector array.
She felt a surge of energy vibrate through the bulkheads of the old ship as the Vindex' weapons built charge before firing. Minatha's eyes stayed on the viewscreen; watching the projectiles fly through the empty void.
The final volley followed the trajectory of its predecessors before diving at the last second only to collide directly with Astrea's main deflector.
Jopal leaned in from the operation station.
"Direct hit."
A stream of data began rolling in on the main viewscreen.
"Deflector output has fallen below operational threshold. Long-range targeting resolution degrading. Sensor field modulation disrupted." Uvael didn't even look up from his read-out.
* * * USS Astrea Bridge * * *
"Captain," T'lenn's naturally sharp voice cut through the the chatter. "We believe there may be a telepathic weapon on board the Warbird. It will be difficult to adjust our shielding to prevent it from being used again."
"Let's find a way to scan for it, then" the Captain ordered. "Someone open a channel, I want to talk to that ship"
Jean-Baptiste saw it on his screen first: a three-hundred-and-twelve percent increase in energy output to the Romulan vessel's weapons systems. It was so shocking that he came to his feet with such force that his backless chair tumbled over.
"The warbird is charging its disruptor array!"
Dante cleared his throat behind the command well. "Sirs; if I might recommend Evasive Pattern Theta Charlie 7; it is one that I helped develop many years ago."
Before Dante could finish his suggestion, there was a slight rumble on the Bridge as the first set of torpedoes penetrated Astrea's defensive grid.
"Evasive Pattern Theta Charlie 7," Remy ordered, "Let's not let that happen again. Keep trying until we get that channel open."
Another low rumble vibrated under the crew's feet as another round hit.
"Status report," Remy ordered.
"Direct hit to the deflector. Shields down fifteen percent and holding. I am redirecting power to compensate. Captain, I believe they stated that their ship was below operational levels. Yet they managed this attack." Ral reported from her station. Everything here sounded weird. There was definitely something going on here.
Captain Philippe Auvray remained seated next to Remy and Maxun, but his brow was furrowed as he braced himself for each shudder and shake felt throughout the bridge. He had bitten his tongue for the last few minutes but could no longer maintain his silence.
"Captain Johansen," he piped-up, "Do you plan to return fire or is Astrea's new devoir to be a meekly moving target?"
Upon hearing that the deflector dish had been hit, Maxun asked the question aloud. "Casualties from the deflector strike?!"
"We took some damage, Sir," the tactical officer replied.
"It's affecting our sensors," T'lenn added. "They may be preparing to cloak again," she added, "A logical reason for targeting our Deflector array, it will make detecting them under cloak nearly impossible."
"Target their weapons array, and shields," Remy ordered. "Fire at will."
Remy kept her eyes glued to the viewscreen as she stepped forward until she was standing between the operations and helm stations. "Ral, figure out the designation of that ship. I want to know who it's Commander is, affiliation, anything," the Captain spoke directly to her Operations Chief, though loudly enough for the rest of the Bridge to hear.
"Dorsainvil, feed whatever Ral finds through intelligence channels, get me everything,"
Xalanth bright yellow eyes stared unblinking at the screen as he did his best to track the warbird. That energy spike was that a.... "Captain, I think the warbird fired on something out there. Looking for an escape pod or shuttle." He said his hands already working.
"I want whoever is on that shuttle, if our tractor beam is out, bring us closer and take out their shields, and be prepared to activate transporters, NOW," Remy ordered.
"Bringing us in," announced the young brunette Bajoran at the helm. "Maintaining evasive maneuvers."
* * * Romulan Warbird Vindex * * *
"How long until the cloak is ready?" Toval demanded, his eyes narrowed on the operations officer.
Sublieutenant Jopal turned from his station to face the First Officer.
"Engineering reports any moment, Major."
"Open a internal comms channel to Engineering. I want that cloak active in the next 45 seconds. We need to get out of here." She looked to Toval. "Is the preceptor's shuttle within safe targeting range yet?"
Toval glanced toward the secondary tactical display where a single icon had just begun to separate itself from the larger of the Vindex.
"The Preceptor's shuttle has cleared the launch envelope," he replied. "It is accelerating away from our position and remains within safe targeting range."
His tone suggested no opinion on the matter, though privately he would have preferred Aetan much farther away before any shooting were to commence.
Around the same time, Joreel entered the bridge and quietly lingered near the back of the room. His orders were to report, not to speak.
At the operations station, Sublieutenant Jopal's bushy eyebrows were furrowed in concentration. He tapped his console and a soft tone sounded across the bridge.
"Channel open, Subcommander. Direct line to Engineering."
Minatha's voice cut through the noise on the other end of the line. "If my cloak is not functional in the next..." she paused as she consulted one of the screens in the arm of the chair "...35 seconds the top three in command down there are going to find themselves en route to Astrea. Without an EVA suit. Get it fixed, Starfleet's sensors will not stay down long."
Her next words were devoid of the sharpness and were cold and severe. "Major, acquire a firing solution on the preceptor's shuttle. Fire when you deem it appropriate and ensure that a command code is transmitted to the shuttle to override its sensors and shields."
Toval inclined his head.
"As you wish, Subcommander."
The words had come easily enough. A lifetime of service had taught him that obedience required very little effort. Understanding was, of course, another matter.
Beside him Uvael shifted to make room at the tactical console. The younger officer's hands hovered over the controls while Toval punched-in a series of authorization strings from memory. The codes flowed across the display in tight columns of Romulan script.
The shuttle accepted each code string easily. It almost seemed fitting.
Aetan trusted machines far more than people.
"Override acknowledged," Uvael reported.
Toval continued reading. The shuttle's systems were shutting down one by one: sensors, navigational controls, shields, and finally weapons. He found his eyes lingering on the shuttle's icon for a few extra seconds. Preceptor Aetan was dangerous. The evidence for that had accumulated steadily since the beginning of the mission. The scientist possessed the sort of mind that was capable of unlocking forbidden doors like no other. Men like him were rare and capable of changing history.
Sometimes for the better. Sometimes not.
Toval had spent enough years serving in the Tal Shiar to know that dangerous people were seldom removed because they were simply 'dangerous'. They were often removed because somebody either feared them or deemed them inconvenient. This was a distinction that mattered.
He folded his hands behind his back and looked toward Minatha. He was just about to open his mouth to speak when a voice cut through the audio to the bridge:
[Subcommander, the cloak is back online.]
Minatha nodded to Toval. "Take care of it; helm full impulse as soon as the shots are fired. I want the cloak up as soon as we start moving. Heading 190 Mark 70. Take us around the back side of the mining stations in the belt and hide us amongst the debris and radiation."
The First Officer nodded once and turned back to the station to find young Uvael's ever-alert eyes on him. Perhaps the Centurion wondered if Toval might pass the down to him to fire on the shuttle. Toval could not tell and instinctively snapped out of his train of thought and found himself keying-in the drifting shuttle's coordinates to the firing system.
On his tiny display, the shuttle appeared to have lost attitude control. Toval imagined Aetan to also be floating in the cockpit of the shuttle considering all systems were now rendered inoperable. It was a fitting end to a dangerous individual.
Toval prepped one last command into his console and then with one final stroke, activated the disruptors. The icon on his screen disappeared almost immediately.
"The shuttle has been destroyed," Toval reported over his shuttle to Minatha.
The helm officer spoke. "Heading is confirmed: one-ninety mark seventy. Impulse engines engaged."
Across the well of the bridge, Sublieutenant Jopal reacted by activated the warbird's cloak.
"Cloak engaged," he reported, a little too loudly.
"Excellent. I will be in my office. Don't disturb me unless it is of vital importance. Toval; You have the con."
Toval saluted with fist to chest, though it seemed gentler than her subordinates. The bridge felt quieter now that Minatha had stepped away--or maybe it was just the reassurance of having the cloak back online and engaged.
For a long moment, Toval remained standing beside the recently-vacated command chair. Then he sat.
"Centurion Uvael," he said. "Transmit command package seven-two. All remaining drone elements are to assume defensive posture and move away from our intended course."
The young officer acknowledged immediately and began entering instructions. Across his display, dozens of drone signatures shifted formation, drawing inward and establishing overlapping fields of observation around the warbird's projected route.
It was a cautious arrangement but a necessary one.
Toval rested one elbow against the arm of the chair.
"Jopal."
The operations officer turned.
"I want continuous tracking of Astrea. The moment they alter course toward our position, I want to know."
"Understood, Major."
The Tal Shiar major pondered the Federation vessel's crew--where they capable? A determined crew would already be looking for revenge. However, he considered the Federation to be soft; vengeance did not often show itself. Regardless, he suspected Astrea might possess both.
At the helm the pilot adjusted course by a fraction of a degree but it was felt.
"Maintain heading one-nine-zero mark seven-zero," Toval said. "Steady impulse. Follow the Subcommander's instructions precisely. I want the mining stations between us and any likely sensor sweeps."
"Your will," the young Romulan responded without taking his eyes off his controls.
The field drifted around them slowly. It was ancient stone and ancient metals. They were the fragments of worlds that had failed long before either the Federation of Romulan Empire had existed. The Petrus Cluster possessed a strange quality when viewed through sensor telemetry.
Toval found himself wondering if the remnants of Preceptor Aetan would also join the slow procession of rocks wandering without purpose.
Joreel slowly released a breath through his nose as he watched the scientist's shuttle scatter. Maybe it was worth believing in a higher power, since someone or something definitely answered the silent requests to jettison the pain in the rear. The breath was relief that his assignment was complete. For now. His eyes drifted to Minatha's door as he wondered how else he'd have to prove himself.
~tbc~
Captain Remira Johansen
Commanding Officer
USS Astrea
Commander Maxun Spello
First Officer
USS Astrea
Lt. Commander Xalanth
Chief Security Officer
USS Astrea
Lieutenant Jean-Baptiste Dorsainvil
Assistant Chief Security Officer
USS Astrea
Lieutenant JG T'lenn
Science Officer
USS Astrea
(NPC of Remy Johansen)
Captain Philippe Auvray
Senior Starfleet Security Liaison
Starfleet Security
(NPC of JB Dorsainvil)
Lt. Commander Dante Ambrogio
Officer
USS Astrea
(NPC of Alexandra Blackstone)
Sub-Commander Minatha ir'Ra'tleihfi i'Liorae-sihaer
Commander Officer
PWB Vindex
Tal Shiar
(NPC of Alexandra Blackstone)
Major Toval
Executive Officer
PWB Vindex
Tal Shiar
(NPC of JB Dorsainvil)
Sub-Lieutenant Joreel tr'Rehni
Tal Shiar Officer
PWB Vindex
Tal Shiar
(NPC of Jezra Siv)
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