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Joined: 5/26/2007 Status: offline
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Stardate 2236. Bridge 0807 hours. During the early morning hours, Aurora broke warp, and is now on a parabolic glide approaching the innermost planet of Serpens. Captain Rana's philosophy is to have everyone but the off shift up and alert when investigating the unknown, and he had given instructions to plot a course that arrived at the planet very close to 0800 hours ship time. Currently, Aurora was nearing standard orbit about an obviously huge planet. It displayed a distinctly greenish cloud cover, with a rather picturesque set of rings, backlit by Serpen's parent sun. All was quiet and still in the early morning hours, until Chief Otophryne barked out, "Two objects, 0240 degrees, closing fast." The view on main screen forward winked out, replaced by the appearance of two rather tall cylindrical metallic objects. Each looked like up-ended starships, and were obviously self powered. Their change of course to track that of Aurora also tipped off the information that the pair were well aware of the Amphibian starship. "These clearly belong to the artificial sentry class, likely some kind of drone," noted Rana. He ordered a slight course change and watched as the strange objects adjusted their approach accordingly. "If they are unmanned sentries, then they betray a level of sophistication that we have not yet encountered," said Rana. "Chief, open outer doors and prepare a set of rockets." "Doors are open, sir. I have a bead on the port side one," replied Otophryne. "Fire rockets," ordered Rana. A brace of rockets raced away from Aurora, and the Chief's aim was true. On both of the sentries, there were explosions, and metallic pieces could be seen flying off into space. All too soon, however, both objects emerged from the glow, looking relatively unscathed, now way too close to Aurora. "Chief, report." "We hit them, sir, but without much effect. I'm reading that maybe there is 10-20% damage on each. Am reloading now," replied Otophryne. Suddenly, from the top of both drones, a bright light issued forth, and Aurora shuddered. As everyone's ears popped from the loss of pressure, Lt. Alytes looked up from his scanner just as the turbo lift doors opened. Smoke poured out from inside, along with the upper torso of an amphibian. It's burning yellow clad uniform told him that it was a member of his own team. The body lay partly blocking the entrance of the lift, and the doors kept softly opening and closing with little hisses. Unconsciousness and death had come swiftly to the amphibian from the huge blood loss. Alytes jammed a claw at the emergency button to take the lift off line, and then noticed a second yellow clad amphibian slumped in the corner. Even as he yelled into his comm badge, "Medic to the bridge," he knew it was too late. Although Aurora was billeted for a medical officer, only a corpsman was on board, and even he was part of Alyte's science team. No one on Aurora had the skills to deal with catastrophic injuries. "Reports," roared Rana. "Nuclear generator hit, 10% damage." "Optical computer 1 hit, 9% damage." "Optical computer 2 hit, 50% damage." "Port rocket drive 1 hit, 24% damage." "Starboard rocket drive 2 hit, 10% damage." "Weapons hit, 10% damage." Rana's decision making processes were shaped by years of combat against the Keracks, and it was instantly clear to him that this was not a situation the ship could run from. Aurora had been drilled like a set of nails pounded through a ball of cheese. In turning and running, the ship would likely take on damge faster than the time it would require to charge up the warp drive. "Chief, I need those rockets, Now!" ordered Rana. A second set of rockets spit out from the starship. Chief Otophryne was a center of calmness, the eye in the middle of the storm, and again, both drones were hit. "Drone damage at 45% and 40%," he reported. "Reloading again." The drone to starboard was still spinning as it emerged from the rocket blast, and its return bolt veered crazily off into space. The port drone came out of the blast a little more intact, and its bolt slashed a glancing blow at Aurora, ripping out a few holes in the outer hull forward. Aurora shook, just as the chief was firing. His first rocket sped true and splatted up against the hull of the nearest drone. The second rocket missed badly. "Drone damage 65%," Otophryne reported. "Not enough," thought Rana, "We have to buy time. Helm, course 013. Chief continue firing until the targets are destroyed." Both drones glowed, and two new bolts headed for the starship. Aurora's change in course threw off their aim, and a pair of bolts criss-crossed in the starship's wake. "Something is wrong with the portside rocket tube," sensed Otophryne, and he concentrated his effort into getting one good hit on the most damaged drone. The distance between the twisting combatants became reduced to only a few hull lengths, and Otophryn's rocked excavated a mighty chunk of molten metal from the starboard side drone. Just as he yells out, "Drone damage 85%," a bolt from the other drone fries Aurora. Lights flicker violently. The starship jumps at the contact, and briefly veers out of control. Another damage report pours in on Rana, "Nuclear generator hit, 20% damage." "Could have been worse," he thinks. "If we can knock out one drone, there is a chance that we can survive this." The nose of Aurora had been slammed to starboard by the last hit, and rather than wait for a course adjustment, Otophryne aimed his next rocket at the better off of the two drones. The resulting flash of the hit eerily lit up the darkened, smoke filled bridge, and Otophryne noted that the drone had suddenly acquired 70% damage. In the turbolift, Alytes elevated the head of the dying amphibian. With every bubbling breath, blood pumped out over Alytes, and both amphibians slid about on the slick deck as the starship careened from side to side. Again, the starboard drone blasted away, it's bolt narrowing missing the starship by just a few feet, vaporizing some metal chunks shed earlier by its partner drone on the opposite side. Like punch drunk boxers, each loading up to land haymakers, the ships circled each other. Again, the starboard drone fires, and Aurora staggers. "Optical computer 1 hit, damage 67%." "Starboard rocket drive 2 hit, damage 15%." Although the starship is still quivering, Otophryne is now at point blank range and cannot miss the port side drone. He watches on the scope as the rocket actually enters a blasted out hole in the side, and expodes somewhere deep inside the drone. Like a straw squeezed in its middle, both ends of the drone emit red glowing slag, parts, and shredded metal plating. The drone is gone. While Otophryne reloads, the remaining drone fires twice, but either its main fire control station has been damaged, or Rana's constant course shifting from forward to reverse throws its aim off, for both bolts miss. Otophryne aims a rocket at the heart of the drone. Somehow, out of the glow and splatter, the drone emerges, badly hurt but still moving as if alive. Otophryne fires again, and the battle is over.
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