Starfleet's Advanced Bestiary

Posted on Sun Oct 27th, 2019 @ 5:54pm by Captain Remas McDonald & The Narrator & Lieutenant Commander Shadi Zatra

2,756 words; about a 14 minute read

Mission: S1.5:1:A Time To Heal
Location: Arrow Class Runabout 'Zheng-he', Carpathia Near Space
Timeline: MD13 12.45

The Zheng-he's sleek aerodynamic profile made its flight from within the cerulean blue depths of Canopus Station's docking space look like a sleek ocean predator jumping from the ocean. Beyond the comforting embrace of the station, the wide expanse of stars unfurled, crowded in on one side by the yellow dusty sphere of Carpathia, and the candy cane extravagance of Tangerine Dream.

Lieutenant Deitrick von Kenner stepped back from the pilot's station after overseeing their departure and stepped back into the passenger compartment where his guests were seated.

"Captain Remas, Chief Engineer Zatra and Chief Flight Controller Kohnar, thank you all for agreeing to join me in witnessing the training exercises of the 82nd ADS. As I promised you Lieutenant Kohnar, you will be witnessing something very new today that I feel is better seen first hand than by some technical hologram," the Flight Leader explained. He gestured to the wide observation window running along the hull. Whilst, not a glass pane revealing space through means transparent, the view was holographically generated.

To that end, the window pane's image was able to zoom in and focus on a handful of dust motes refecting the sun, which as the image grew clearer revealed the sleek predatory outlines of Gryphon starfighters. They were flying in close formation, a rough sphere of flight craft surrounding two larger craft within. Work Bee's perhaps towing some sort of cargo barge? It was hard to make out.

Confused by Lieutenant Deitrick's statement, Shadi scratched her chin in wonder. "Wait, isn't thisss a holographic imager we're looking at?"

Jolani looked at the formation and said, "Not bad for formation. Could use some tightening up," she told Kenner critically. "Though, I am curious, what's the larger ships have there?"

"To answer your questions as they arrived, Commander Zatra the fighters in our training flight today are currently five thousand meters away from us. You would have hard time seeing them in any real detail without some form of image enhancement. But this is all in real-time from the Runabout's sensor feed," Kenner said in a brisk, no-nonsense way that was endemic to citizens of New Berlin. He nodded at Khonar, and then made a summoning gesture with one hand. A holographic bauble appeared in his hand, the three dee interface for the comm's system of the runabout.

"Wyvern Flight 2: preform first manoeuvre," he commanded.

The flight of Gryhpn's broke away from the two larger vessels hidden in their midsts, revealing them in their entirety. At first glance, you would be mistaken for thinking it was another Gryphon, but one that had suffered a horrible collision with the drive section of a Danube class runabout. But as the image zoomed in on the two bulky craft, the clear design intent of the pairing was made clear. The Gryphon fighter was mated perfectly to a larger propulsion section that connected to its upper and lower hull. A pair of larger warp nacelle's were in evidence, along with looked an extensive array of impulse boosters at the rear.

A booster system that lit up, kicking the two frankenfighter's off a roaring drive cone of thrust.

"Given the unique force projection requirements of Messier 4, the 82nd ADS was granted access to Starfleet's latest brainchild for the Starfighter Crop. It is a module that can be fitted to any Mk3 Gryphon starfighter, and in doing so increase its warp factor up to 8.9 for an extended period of time, as well as increasing speed over distance. It does lose a great deal in manoeuvrability, but the Boost Rig is not just an engine but a fully functioning weapons system as well. Starfleet was designing them during the Dominion War, to turn flights of starfighters into true battleship killers. In this way we are able to store a squadron of space superiority fighters, alongside the ability to turn them into heavy torpedo bombers should the Traveller run into an enemy it cannot best," Kenner said with a note of pride in his tone. "I had thought in this configuration, they be called Manticores instead of Gryphons. But I am just a pilot. And to that end we have scavenged some wreckage from the Battle of Canopus Station, larger fragments of the Reka carrier craft, so you might see a live-fire demonstration of the Manticores in action, as well as witness another feature of the Boost Rig."

Admiration shone in the formation's reflection from Shadi's big, dark eyes. "It's... it's just so tasty!" She folded her claws together and scrunched her neck to one side. "Blood Goddess be praised!"

Jolani's reaction was quite opposite that of Shadi's. "It is a bloody whale. No maneuverability. Frankenstein's monster would look better. So, it has some extended warp. So it is a good weapon. However, if you can't maneuver it, you can't deliver it. Any saavy opponent could take these out before they could have a real effect. You would think that Starfleet would have some better minds."

She then looked over at Shadi and asked, "Don't you have an egg to watch?"

The look Shadi gave Jolani was one of bewilderment. Did she know nothing about incubation? Granted, Shadi had to read a pamphlet herself, so she gave a dismissive shrug and turned back to the demonstration.

"You are correct that the Manticore is a much less agile space frame, but in this configuration it an ideal force multiplier," Kenner continued. Ahead of the two Manticore bombers, checkered boxes flashed around a collection of jagged armour fragments. The glossy ice-like shards of Reka carrier hull glittered in the weak starlight, but they tumbled slowly and stately as only hundred meter long shards of starship could. Kenner brought the commlink back to his mouth. "Manticore A, commence your run on the range."

The drive section of the Manticore lit up, and it jumped forward on a rapidly accelerating vector towards the target range. As it approached it began to jump and dance, the powerful reaction control thrusters on the Boost Rig kicking the bomber around wildly avoiding simulated point defence fire. then panels on its side and topmost hull pulled back, revealing the seeker heads of scores of micro torpedoes. With a flurry of light, the small munitions leapt free of their parent craft, a flock of angry swallows riding antimatter rockets into the stars. The flock swept out, and then arrowed in on the larget hull fragments, impacting them with ferocious destructive power that shattered and atomised it.

"New swarm logic micro torpedoes. They share a unique and unbreakable quantum connection to one another, and for the brief time they are active are able to time share the computing power needed for advanced seek and destroy algorithms. The larger the salvo, the more effective it is," Kenner commented. "Manticore A that was a good run, return to your wingmate to await the second part of the trial."

Still a tough critic, Jolani looked at the destruction and said, "So, it packs a punch. Still, you can't hit what you can't catch or out maneuver."

Shadi recalled her stunning tactical method of launching all the torpedoes at once. "If you fill the entire space with ordnance, then outrunning and outmaneuvering would be impossible."

"The Manticore's are bombers, designed to complement and enhance the firepower the Wayfarer class Battlecruiser can project," Kenner began to say before seeing blank expressions on Jolani and Shadi's face. Though with Shadi the big eyes tended to have a glassy look to them most of the time. He looked to Remas with a raised eyebrow.

"I was going to mention it at the launch, but Starfleet saw fit due to the Travellers refitting to mark her as a new class of Starship. The Wayfarer class is a battlecruiser in tonnage, but an advanced explorer in my eyes. She has the thick skin and sharp teeth to fend for herself far from support, which I think after our half-year of Hell is a welcomed addition. Starfleet is rolling out an upgrade program for the other mothballed Ronin's to turn them into Wayfarers, with then plan to be to dispatch a squadron of them to Messier 4 to act as the base for a Fleet presence in the cluster."

That made Shadi's head snap like a rattlesnake. "What?! They're reclassssiying my ship! Now I have to change all the root directories..."

"What's the difference, Shadi? it is still the same ship. Classification matters not. Regardless, I think your definition of impossible is not mine." Her lips slightly turned upward; her pilot bravado, showing prominently.

Shadi made a hissing snort. "Remind me to never let you near an EPS conduit or a network relay. You'd blow usss all to pieces, like I did to the Reka carrier by--" Her talon struck the air in a pantomime of her performance at the tactical station. "--FIRING ALL TORPEDOES!"

"I believe there is more to the demonstration Mr Kenner?" Remas asked a note in his voice suggesting they were veering ever so slightly off course.

"Yes..." Kenner said slowly, eyes narrowing as he looked at Shadi with sudden terrifying clarity. He shook his head, clearing away the devil's share of his newfound existential dread. "Yes of course Sir. If you would both look to your starboard, you will see the true implication of Manticore booster rig. Not only does it provide significantly more firepower to a given engagement, but it also increases the range by which a traditional Gryphon starfighter can achieve. A flight of Manticores can triple the search radius a traditional squadron can cover. But of course, being so far from base, and being slow and not so nimble, the Manticores can change. Manticore A & B, perform undocking manoeuvre."

The bulky fighters took on a steady heading for a moment, wherein the large clamps holding onto either of the Gryphon starfighter's unlatched. With a burst of corrective thrust both bomber's split in two, freeing the much more agile and manoeuvrable Gryphons from the bulky warp sled. With a full impulse burn, the two Gryphons shot off into the night, arcing away.

"It is a mean's of increasing our range of operation, whilst also providing firepower where it counts. The 82nd ADS can perform the role of forward scouts, fire support and local space superiority with only minimal need for extraneous assistance. Wyvern 5 & 6, proceed to Boost Rig's Alpha and Beta and preform link up manoeuvre," Kenner instructed. This time another pair of Gryphons flew alongside the Runabout, edging past the Manticore boost rigs before slotting into a position just ahead of them. Mooring tractors latched on from the Boost Rig, and guided the first fighter into its docking collar. "Excellent work Wyvern 5. That was a most satisfactory docking manoeuvre. I do not think I have seen one so smooth from the outside of a simulator."

"What about a... a lance or a spear attachment?" Shadi suggested. "That way, when they get a good burst of speed, they can pierce the flank or rear of an enemy fighter!" She jutted out her arm for emphasis. "Really slide it between the ribs of the chasssssis and maybe even slice the pilot!"

"A....lance?" Kenner said with a frown.

"It is not so far fetched a concept as you might think. I once knew a madcap engineer who figured out a way to make a starship box," Remas commented.

Jolani shook her head at all the militarization. Flying was for pilots. War was for those who had a death wish. On the other hand, Jolani could care less whether she lived or died. She merely existed. "Well, I must admit that is a bit more impressive."

"And given the threats we've seen so far, it's a timely addition to our company," Remas said. He stood from his chair, looking back at Jolani and Shadi. "What we know of the Myriad and their cronies is not a lot. But what we know speaks volumes to their motives. Needless aggression, unscrupulous greed, unchecked hate. To have the images incessantly thrust at you, hour after hour of briefings, coupled with the sheer scope of Messier 4...you normalize to it. They want you to go numb, become indifferent or lose your self in distractions, for it to feel like the evil we face and all its machinations are too big to challenge. That loss of control leads to despair."

Remas sighed.

"When my wife designed the Phase Space Accelerator that brought us all out here to Messier 4, she shared with me her hopes for it. A new high frontier for us to explore, for the United Federation of Planets and all peoples and races of the Milky Way to step pout of the petty politics and squabbles that have held us back. But upon getting out here, and seeing what we've all seen...I would be the first to say that inviting warriors and weapons onto my ship goes against everything I stand for. As a Starfleet officer and a Rish," Remas said, impassioned. "But to stand aside whilst the Myriad pillage the future of who knows how many races here in Messier 4, it is not something I can abide. And so we'll fight it, with every tool we have at hand, until one day a lasting peace can be found and then maybe...who knows what that peace can achieve?"

"So, we will impose our version of peace?" Jolani countered with an apologetic shrug. She then continued in her flat voice. "I do not dispute that the Myriad are not desirable or their methods are deplorable. However, we do not have the ability to replenish ourselves out here. You could be sending us into an early death, not that some of us would object."

Shadi snorted with contempt at all such talk. "You milk-drinking fools are all ssssoft. If something needs killing, then you kill it, plain and simple. Just like something gets broke. You fixxx it." She clawed the air to her left, then her right. "Sometimes you kill. Sometimes you fix. Either way you eat good. That's life."

"Which makes our next mission all the more important. Jolani makes a valid point, our evidence of the Myriad is circumstantial. So we have been asked by Starfleet to venture out into Messier 4, and verify those claims. Call it a fact-finding mission. Our first destination will be Mazarians homeworld, and then onward to a system called Chadria. The home of the pilot Kella who we rescued from Abboarx's ship. Mazarian's people might be a powerful alley out here, and Kella's world according to her in the process of getting a visit from the Myriad when her warp ship was destroyed. We can garner evidence, and proof, and all on the same outbound arc."

Practically, Jolani asked, "How strong of allies will they be if the Myriad sliced through them like a hot knife through butter? Not to mention that they had much of their world destroyed and their tech destroyed, if I recall. It sounds to me that they need more aid than being able to assist us as allies. If I recall, the Myriad make sure that nobody can challenge them in that way, as well as making worlds reliant on them. How do you plan to change that, Captain?"

"Mazarian's people apparently have been preparing for an arrival of an advanced star-faring culture like the Federation for some time. According to him his people were able to hide a lot of their technological development before the Myriad arrived, presenting to them a far more primitive technology than they have. Mazarian was sent out, along with others like him, to secure allies and resources so that they could act against the Myriad," Remas said. "As for Kella's people, the Chadrians, it does seem as though we'll be digging them out of a pit. But they are in trouble, and a member of their race has asked us for help. I'm not one for turning away those in-"

The holographic displays along the fuselage of the cabin flickered and died, and the running light along the ceiling flashed red. The deck lurched underfoot as the pilot put the Runabout into a hurried vertical climb, the intertial compensators sluggishly catching up to tuck away the unrestrained Gee's.

"Pilot to the crew compartment, buckle up back there we have multiple hostile contacts approaching the test range," the disembodied voice of the crewman in the cockpit said over the comm. "Signatures match Reka fighters."

 

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