From tmeush1@umbc.edu Wed May 27 08:17:22 1998 Date: Mon, 18 May 1998 14:45:21 -0600 From: "Timothy A. Meushaw" To: INDIGO FLEET List Serve Subject: [INDIGO] USS NOVA "Aut Pax Aut Bellum" ---OFFICIAL INDIGO FLEET TRANSMISSION--- Date: Mon, 18 May 1998 16:46:22 -0400 (EDT) From: "Timothy A. Meushaw" Subject: [INDIGO] USS NOVA "Aut Pax Aut Bellum" SD: 100518.2040 GMT FMD: 6.1236 Location: Main Bridge, USS NOVA Captain John Robert Brooks, junior, stepped back onto the bridge from the ready room. He carried a PADD and handed it to Mark Weston as the NOVA's executive officer stood up from the central seat. Upon reading it, the officer was struck speachless. "Don't seem so surprised, commander. You knew that I wouldn't be gone forever. Now have someone bring me a uniform. I'll change in the briefing room so that I do not distrurb Captain Villiers." Weston just stood in the middle of the bridge staring at the PADD blankly. "The proper response would be, 'Aye aye, sir,' Mark." That snapped the first officer back to the present. "Aye aye, sir," replied the commander and then added, "Captain." Brooks sat in the central command chair and keyed the ship-wide channel. "All hands, this is Captain John Robert Brooks. By order of Star Fleet Command, I am assuming command of this vessel as of this date. That is all." Commander Mark Weston, Executive Officer of the NOVA, carried out his, er, Captain's order in a near state of shock. Despite his usual nature, he couldn't help but stare as the young Captain of NOVA, transferred from command after the death of his wife a year previous, sat once again in the center chair. Minutes later, a new uniform arrived for Brooks, who took it from the yeoman and headed off towards the briefing room. "Keep us on course, Mark, and alert me immediately if any more Dalridia enter our energy level," Brooks said as he walked by. Weston continued to stare at the man now in command of NOVA, but responded with an "Yes, sir" this time. Finally Mark woke up. "It's good to have you back, Captain." Brooks grinned before stepping through the doors leading to the observation lounge. FMD: 6.1641 Location: Battle Bridge, USS NOVA The NOVA stood with her Starfleet cousins, a row of starships, waiting for the first volley of fire from the Dalriadan fleet. They didn't have long to wait. "Missiles away, Commander," Lieutenant(jg) Tenok reported from the Tactical position to Commander Weston in the central chair of the Battle Bridge, performing the necessary role of "be away from the Bridge during battle." Usually, NOVA tended not to follow that rule, leaving Weston on the Main Bridge during conflicts. Usually, there wasn't a great risk that the NOVA would be destroyed. This, alas, was not a "usual" situation. Accompanying Weston on the Battle Bridge was the standard backup Bridge crew, the assistant heads from each department at their respective stations. The communications system was set to listen to everything going on on the Main Bridge, should the Battle Bridge be required to take over. As Tenok had reported, the Tactical display on the main viewscreen had highlighted a number of new threats, all heading towards the Federation forces now guarding the Terebellum system. Almost all of the weapons had a reddish field around them, showing their "probable" location. A scant few, without jamming capabilities and not being covered by neighbors, were left visible as solid points on the Tactical screen. [Aim torps onto those missiles, set to detonate at the middle of the probability area] the crew of the Battle Bridge heard Brooks order. For some reason, a lot of people were more confident about the Federation's victory with J. Robert Brooks once again in command of the Flagship of INDIGO fleet. [The fields are constantly changing, Captain, we can't get a lock] Borodin reported. [I didn't ask for a lock, Lieutenant, I asked for you to aim them], Brooks replied, silencing the new head of the Tactical department. "Tenok, Borodin will have his hands full with the torpedoes; target pulse phasers on any that get close enough," Weston ordered, his voice in turn projecting onto the Main Bridge. "Yes, Commander," Tenok acknowledged, as the two Tactical stations operated in tandem to get their respective weapons systems adjusted. A short time passed before the next signal came. [Missiles now at 4,000,000 kilometers and closing], Borodin reported. [Fire flux torpedoes] Brooks calmly ordered. The torpedoes streaked away from NOVA, timed to intercept the incoming missiles at 3,500,000 km from the Federation fleet, the outermost range of flux torpedoes. With over two hundred Dalriadan missiles coming in, there was no way torpedoes would stop them all. Hopefully, however, it would be enough. Respectfully Submitted, Commander Mark J. Weston, M.D. Executive Officer, USS NOVA (NCC-1776-A) NRPG: Sure has been quiet for the beginning of a war.... BTW, could someone resend me a message from a while back that described the varying strengths of the Federation and Dalriadan ships? It looked like a role-playing game strengths chart, but alas, I cannot find it. Also, is there a web site for this war? I thought I had seen a post archive once, but I can't find the URL for that, either. Thanks a bunch! FMD: 6.1236 Weston is still in shock TimM. 6.1641 NOVA encounters Dalridia warships TimM. Timothy A. Meushaw tmeush1@umbc.edu http://www.gl.umbc.edu/~tmeush1/ ***This message sent by an official member of Indigo Fleet*** Are you also posting your message to the newsgroup?!!! ---END TRANSMISSION---