Being The Ambusher

Posted on Wed Oct 12th, 2022 @ 5:45am by Captain Calypso Skyie & Captain Natalya Markova & Bexley Kinsley

Mission: Pirates! (Or Yo Ho Ho And A Bottle Of Yum)
Location: Listrell System

The black ship floated in space, random lights visible on the hull only because a black mass obscuring stars would have made her too obvious to the alert viewer. Certainly no casual observer would be able to see her with the naked eye or visual scanner as much of her power was on low, standby levels. The stealth coating on her hull prevented easy detection from ship sensors that weren't already focused or in close proximity, the best Damien Penweather could do without an actual cloaking device. With this cargo, even that wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility.

He leaned back in his command chair on the sparsely populated bridge of the Akira-class USS Oracle, a ship that once bore the proud name of USS Perseus, whose builder's plaque still hung in the hallway, albeit heat warped from the fight that left her a wreck in space.

"Contact coming in-system!" The officer sitting at the sensor station suddenly announced and Damien sat forward in his own chair in a jerky motion as his interest was snapped into focus on the main screen, which obediently flicked over to the incoming starship. 'Good, that one had learned from the LAST hesitation well.' He thought to himself as a modified Luna-class starship appeared, almost immediately followed by a quartet of freighters.

It was ugly, that was the first thought that ran through his head as he observed the ship that flew the transponder 'USS Aegean Sea'. He couldn't respect a ship's Captain that would allow someone to attach cargo containers to the hull of their ship just to maximize cargo haulage. But, if Natalya Markova was correct, and he had no reason to disbelieve her, it was all just a ploy. "Ping the bouy, I want to relay all comms through Vanguard."

As his comms officer got busy, he turned to where both Bexley and Natalya were and smiled brightly, "Eleven minutes off schedule, well within shipping regulation error. It appears you are indeed correct, Natalya."

Nat offered a small nod, accepting the man's comment. It was for a number of reasons that she felt uncomfortable being on the bridge, watching the drama unfold. She had given information over to the enemy. Information that was going to be used against her ship. She had to somehow find a way to sabotage this man's objectives. She had to try and not get killed in the process. "Yes, sir." Her smile was fixed, and forced, still unskilled at hiding her nervousness, and anxiety.

Bex watched Nat carefully for a moment. She had a sinking feeling that this was not going to go according to plan. At least, not a plan that any of them had already come up with. Nat was too easy to break, that she already knew. If she didn't keep it together now Pennweather would kill her. She inhaled, covering it with a grin as she sashayed across the bridge, leaning forward onto the back of his chair, fingers of one hand playing with the hair above his neck. "How are you going to break the bitch?" she asked, her voice almost seductive. "Dagger through the heart and take her right down, or torment her slowly and make her suffer?"

“Suffer.” Damien, stated after only a moment, “Then when she can’t take any more, we’ll put use to that dagger.” He reached up and snagged her hand, bringing it to his lips to brush a kiss onto it, “Now, if you’ll allow me?”

Bex leaned forward, her arms around his neck and kissed the side of his neck before returning to where Nat was still standing.

“Open the channel through Vanguard.” He commanded, then sat up in his chair, “Welcome to the Listrell System, Chimera, this is Commodore Damien Penweather. You are surrounded and outnumbered and I hereby demand your surrender.”

As the channel was opened, Bex linked her arm under Nat's and slid her hand around the other woman's waist, squeezing gently. "There's a small green mark on the viewscreen, lower mid section. Focus on that and hold my hand," she murmured softly enough that no one else could hear.

“What is this?” Alexander asked. “Surrender?” He sounded confused. These appeared to be Starfleet ships, after all. “What?”

“Sir, the transmission is coming from the Intrepid, dead ahead,” advised Ops that came over the comm. “Orders?”

“I…I don’t know.” The Starfleet officer sounded confused, nervous. Good.

"Ah, you must be Commander Espersen." Damien's smooth and halfway seductive voice pronounced as it appeared to glance around the bridge, "I'm sure you're a competent teacher, Commander, but not a combat officer. Perhaps you could do me the favor of telling me where Captain Skyie is? I'm sure she's listening in right now, hoping to lure me into a false sense of security about her absence."

“I’m afraid I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Alexander said, from Penweather's experience it was obvious he was trying to bluff, but knew he wasn’t likely to succeed. Damien watched as Alexander paced, then as he walked over to the Operations console and the screen went blank.

It was partially surprise that caused the pause from Damien before he shrugged, "Well, that didn't go as expected." He turned with a smile to Natalya and Bexley, "Ladies, you are free to leave the bridge, just please, don't get in the way of the crew. Bexley, my dear, please keep the Pearl out of the line of fire, I don't know what I'd do without you."

Nat rose from her chair, a fixed smile on her face. Her arm linked with Bex's.

Bex nodded and allowed Nat to lead her off the bridge and into the turbolift.

As the two women left, Commodore Damien Penweather looked back forward, "Orders to Vanguard, Bosley, Jasper and Nautilus: Engage Chimera." He smiled slightly, "Shoot to disable. Helm, I want us in position to fire in one minute from now, make it so."

"I'm going to my quarters and then to the shuttle bay," Bexley said as the turbolift doors closed, a pained expression on her face as Pennweather was removed from her view.