Kick the Tires and Light the Fires

Posted on Monday 15 April 2019 @ 20:21 by Captain Melody Jones & Captain John "Apollo" Barstow, M.D.

Mission: The New Collective
Location: Valkyrie Mark II fighter "Ghostrider"
Timeline: Current
893 words - 1.8 OF Standard Post Measure

ON:

John stepped out of the locker room dressed in his flight suit with his helmet in his hand and gloves inside. He stopped and took a breath as the adrenaline rush started to remind him of all the times he'd done this in the past. It had been a while, but, one never forgot that feeling of stepping on the flightier deck ready for a combat mission. The CO grinned and started forward, walking confidently toward the Valkyrie Mark II that was brought aboard at the research station. As he did he saw the ground crew snap to attention and offer a salute, "Good hunting, Captain, we've got your six," Lieutenant Fields, the wings interim commander, said.

Barstow smiled and nodded to the young man, "Appreciated Iceman," he replied and returned the salute then looked back for Melody.

Melody followed Barstow from the locker room making final adjustments to her flight suit. She was following him over to the fighter when the door to the fighterbay opened and Sansa ran in. She called out to her "Mom!" catching up to Melody just as she reached the Captain.

Melody turned round, seeing a concerned look in her daughters eyes. "What's up Sweetie?"

Sansa threw her arms around her "Just take care OK? I've got a bad feeling about this."

"We'll be fine." Melody reassured her "Won't we Captain?"

John paused and took a breath, "we should be, just a quick flight," he replied.

Sansa looked at Barstow with almost pleading eyes. "Keep her safe, please."

"I will," he said and motioned to the new Griffin Fighter/bomber, "That fighter has most of the systems I designed, so, you can bet she'll be safe," he added and put a fatherly hand on the girls shoulder before turning and walking towards the Griffin.

Melody smiled at her "We'll be back before you know it." Sansa stepped back as she watched her mother boarded the fighter. Checking the readout, she reported "We've got a green board Sir. Ready for launch."

Apollo pulled his helmet on as he tapped a side panel to close the canopy, "copy, Apollo to flight ops, put us in the tube," he called.

The fighter jerked forward as it was moved to the launch tube and pushed in. Barstow did one last diagnostic before looking left and giving a thumbs up and a salute, "here we go," he said into the helmet comm and looked back at melody in the mirror, grinning ear to ear under his helmet as the fighter shot forward, pressing both officers deep into their seats.

In a few seconds the fighter cleared the ship, "Ghostrider to flight ops, we're out, setting course for bogie, eta five mins." he called before banking the fighter right, "Mel, keep all offensive systems ready to spool up, but do not bring them online just yet. At one klick I'm going to cut engines and coast in so we can plant the tracker."

Melody acknowledged “Copy that. Weapons are on standby. Keeping the shields down too to minimize our power signature. Also recommend we keep comm chatter to a minimum. I’ve got the target on sensors bearing 003 mark 015, speed half impulse. Looks like there not in a hurry to get anywhere.”

As they got closest Melody could see the high imposing outline of the Borg cube. It sent a cold shiver running down her spine.

“The transponder tag is loaded in tube one and is ready for launch.” She studied the tactical readout “If they’ve seen us there not doing anything about it. Let’s hope it stays that way.”

"Aye," Apollo said simply as his eyes fixed on the Borg cube growing larger in the HUD as it hung in space, the dark gray hull making it almost look like a black hole sucking in everything around it, "I have a bad feeling about this," he said to himself more than to Melody as he cut the engines and used quick bursts from the RCS thrusters to keep their momentum going, "one mic, fire once you have a shot."


"Copy that. Target locked. Engines are on standby. I've got a feeling The Borg might not take too kindly to this and we're going to need a speedy departure."

Melody held her breath as the target came into range. "Firing in 3.....2......1...... Now." The moment the tracker left the ship, it was rocked hard as a tractor beam suddenly locked onto them.

Trying to remain calm Melody reported "The Borg ship have locked onto us with a tractor beam! I can't raise shields and engines are not responding!"

As the green beam engulfed the fighter John jabbed his finger into the comm =/\= Apollo to Merlin, launch alert fives and and start attack run! =/\= he called, "Melody, start rotating shield modulation using Data six through fifty."

Melody was working the controls. "I've rotated thought the entire spectrum, shields are useless. Oh......" Melody felt a Borg transporter kick in as she was suddenly beamed from her seat.

=/\= Well, at least we'll see where they're goi-=/\= Barstow said, getting picked up by the comm and getting cut off as the Borg transporter ripped him from the pilots seat.

*********

To be continued...........


OFF:

Captain John "Apollo" Barstow
Commanding Officer
USS Merlin
Task Group Commander
Task Group 47-A

Commander Melody Jones
CSTO / Second Officer
USS Merlin