Carpathia IV: Episode 75 - The Plan
Space, NCCS Shadowdancer
Aire stood between the helm console and the rest of the bridge with his hands behind his back. Before him, all bridge crew and senior officers were present awaiting the briefing with rapt attention.
Aire: Joust, Sorchae, Nalma, Amenaru, and Teek will be on the rescue mission. They have received their orders and deck plans of the Savea pirate ship at the 0800 briefing. This briefing is for the rest of you, to give an overview of their mission and your tasks to support the rescue team.
Aire stepped aside and brought a tablet from behind his back. With one tap, he activated a deck plan of the Savea pirate ship on the main screen.
Aire: According to Nalma, his people have had an operative, Reylen Elai, on board the Savea ship for the past year and he has been feeding his clan information on the Saveas, including these deck plans and movements of the Saveas in and out. We have been communicating with Nalma's people via encrypted signals to find out more. Our five rescue team members will take three skiffs and dock them just inside this access port where Reylen will be waiting.
Aire swiped his tablet and enlarged the side of the Savea ship, highlighting the access port.
Aire: Communication with Reylen can be spotty. We have managed to get a message through to Reylen, via Nalma's people, that we are coming and we have confirmed Kit's arrival on the Savea ship. However, we aren't sure where Kit is being kept right now. The consensus is that Kit is in one of the holding cells deep within the ship.
Aire swiped at his tablet again and zoomed in on several little rooms buried within the ship with a jagged line depicting the route from the access port to the holding cell area.
Aire: We have contingency plans in case Kit is not in that area. We'll only know for sure once we board the ship. Details of the main plan and contingencies are now in your files. The mission has two critical components. One, get Kit, and two, avoid detection. Sneak in, get Kit, and sneak out. Any questions before we discuss the roles for the rest of you?
Right away, Ramei's hand shot up.
Ramei: Captain, we're getting awfully close to their position. Shouldn't they have detected us by now?
Aire: Nalma would be the best one to answer this.
Nalma: This particular ship is unregistered, scavenged and pieced together from junkyard parts. It's still very much a work in progress. Most of the systems don't function well and half of them don't function at all. It would take more money than even the Saveas have to fully restore it, but that's not why they have it. Rhalma uses it as a sort of secret base way out on the edges of tokki space.
Minnie: And what of the thousands of tokki on board?
Nalma: A normal tokki ship of this type holds 3500. This one has a skeleton crew for general maintenance only, about 250.
Aire: That will make things easier, but there are many things that could go wrong. Through the information Reylen acquired over the last year, we know that doors stick, keypads function sporadically, and all the ship's systems are littered with bugs. If we are successful, I'm told that the Rhalma will be so humiliated that he'll never speak of it. Worst case scenario, if one of our team is captured, Rhalma will think nothing of parading that person in front of anyone who will look and boast of his victory over the evil Carpathians. Above all, do not get captured. Stun them and run if you have to. Signal us so that we can take Shadowdancer close and collect your skiffs quickly.
Nalma: He's very proud like that.
Aire directed his attention to the specific crew not on the rescue mission.
Aire: Minnie, as we approach, we will put the ship in dark status. Their sensors may be terrible, but I'm not taking any chances. Make the arrangements.
Minnie: Understood, Captain. I will arrange to shut off all non-essential systems and run the rest on minimal power.
Aire: Ramei, you'll have the helm. The Savea ship is parked near an asteroid field. We will land on one of the big ones and use the grapplers to hold us in position.
Ramei: A complicated maneuver, Captain. I'll need assistance from tactical.
Aire nodded and turned to Teren.
Aire: Teren, you'll take tactical. Assist with the landing and keep a close watch on the Savea ship.
Teren: Understood, Captain.
Aire: Phobos, you will monitor the rescue team's location signals and vital data.
Phobos: Will do, Captain.
Aire: Quenya, you'll have communications.
Quenya: Yes, Captain.
Aire: Tamati, you'll have sick bay ready. We don't know what sorts of injuries he may have.
Tamati: Sick bay will be ready, Captain.
Aire: And Ryuu. I spoke with him privately and he has agreed to be the backup in case anything goes wrong. He'll hold position in a skiff near the engines of the Savea ship so he can jump in if needed.
Ryuu: Of course. I want Kit back as much as everyone else. Just don't tell the other dragons. I'm supposed to advise, not participate.
Aire: Indeed. Ryuu won't be participating. He'll be observing and if something does go wrong, he certainly can't just stand by and do nothing.
Joust: Sometimes you have to bend the rules if you want to win the game.
Aire: Indeed. So, those are your roles. Any more questions?
From the back of the bridge, all heard a sneeze as Tayet meekly raised his hand.
Tayet: Captain, isn't there...
Tayet held his arm to his face and sneezed again.
Tayet: ...anything for me?
And, for good measure, one more sneeze after he finished.
Aire: Tayet, we all appreciate your enthusiasm, but it seems you're not well enough to take part in a mission like this. If you can help out wherever you...
Tayet: I'm fine, Captain! I only have a little sniffle! Nothing to be worr... Nothing to be... Nothing...
Tayet couldn't finish his sentence, involuntarily sucking in little gasps of breath. A big one was coming.
Tayet: ACHOO!
What happened next was a combination of the sounds of tearing fabric and a pair of umbrellas opening up.
For several seconds, Tayet did not budge from his sneeze position. Nobody on the bridge spoke during the same period, instead just gaping at him with their mouths hanging open.
Sorchae: Well, now we know what that giant jumble of skin and bones in your back was all about.
Ryuu grinned heartily and threw his paws into the air.
Ryuu: You have wings! Zet will be so happy!
Tayet paid no attention, turning his head this way and that and even spinning around, trying, and failing, at catching a glimpse of his own wings.
Tayet: Does anyone have a mirror?
Both Sorchae and Tamati approached Tayet, ready to guide him down to sick bay.
Sorchae: Let's have a few scans. In the meantime, Aire, he'll need his uniforms altered.
Aire: I'll get someone on that.
Everyone watched as Sorchae and Tamati lead Tayet into the lift while Ryuu followed, trotting gaily along behind them. Aire clapped his hands twice to regain everyone's attention.
Aire: Any other questions?
Commissioned art in this episode from:
AvareonArt
Zelbunnii
Thatwildmary
Colourbrand
