Tactics

Posted on Tue Jun 30th, 2026 @ 10:14am by Captain Shran dh'Klar & Commander Jonathan Grayson & Lieutenant Imik S'Niohun & Lieutenant JG Kate Kono & Lieutenant JG James Phoenix

1,552 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Sins of the Empire
Location: USS Washington

As Jon and Ibarra exited the bridge, Shran and the others still had lots to deal with. "How long until the Romulans arrive?"

"At their current speed, 15 minutes" Deanna replied.

"Imik, get those preparations up and running. If they do have raptor class ships, I want those as the primary targets first. Those tricobalt torpedoes are far too dangerous to be allowed to be fired" Shran noted.

Imik had started to work on the shield enhancements and linking her systems with Deanna's readouts, it wasn't going to be easy to get the right ship at the right time. So she again linked the computer to the targeting system but adding the specs of the Raptor's as priority, this would allow her to concentrate on the other Romulan/Klingon vessels. She also noted that the damaged Bird of Prey appeared to be attempting to get into a firing position without being noticed, "Sinkahue, our damaged Bird is re-joining the action, I am taking a offensive response." Opening fire once again on the bird of Prey she hit it squarely on the engines, it erupted in a ball of light as it ceased to exist. "Threat neutralized." Was her only response.



***************

Going down the turbolift with Jon, Lt Ibarra checked her phaser, making sure it was set to stun. "Thank you for requesting me for this mission Commander. It wasn't expected. These sorts of missions are generally reserved for Cmdr Celes."

"You may not be thanking me by the time this mission is over and how are you ever going to gain experience if you stay aboard ship all the time?" Jon replied "But you are welcome."

Ibarra was quiet, unsure what the best response would be. Finally, she decided on something simple, "I appreciate your faith in me sir. And don't worry about me, I'm ready for the madness about to ensue."

"I'm not worried about you. I know you will do just fine." Jon replied honestly.

Viviana grabbed her medkit and a phaser. She didn't like carrying a weapon, but considering where they were going, it was a prudent action. She made her way to the transporter room.

Wyatt and Vienna stopped by the armory and picked up their phasers and Wyatt also got a phaser rifle before they headed to the transporter room to meet up with the rest of the away team.

A few minutes later Phoenix entered the transporter room having come from the armory as well. He was sporting his usual tactical getup, complete with his phaser and his phaser rifle, as ordered. He made sure to both of them to a decent stun setting. After that, he gave a polite nod to everyone already assembled.

Kate arrived in the transporter room still mid-argument, walking backwards through the door with one finger raised at the security lieutenant who was following her in with the reluctant energy of a man who had already realized he was losing.

"Those phasers are all supposed to be in the catalogued armory with the rest of the security equipment for inventory purposes, Kono!"

Kate stopped walking backwards and planted her feet.

The Lieutenant from Security pointed back at her.
"Well, you're no boy scout either! That's for sure!"

"Then why did they build the weapons locker in the intelligence office when they laid down the plans for this vessel? And I'm a girl! I'd show you but I think my boyfriend would be mad!"

There was a silence in the room that Kate did not immediately notice. The lieutenant noticed it. His eyes traveled slowly over her head to the assembled senior officers, every one of them watching with the careful stillness of people trying not to be the thing that sets off a motion sensor. Kate turned around, took in the room, and then turned back.

She reached out and removed the phaser rifle from the lieutenant's unresisting hands with the calm deliberateness of someone retrieving an umbrella from a lost and found.

"I believe that's my prop-er-tay."

She stepped onto the pad. The Security lieutenant stood very still next to the transporter officer, staring straight ahead at nothing in particular, visibly calculating how many years he had left until retirement.

*Ahem* Jon cleared his throat his eyes taking in both Kate and the security lieutenant. "Is there a problem I should be made aware of Lt. Kono?" His voice deceptively calm as he waited for an explanation.

Kate smiled as if nothing had happened at all and she waited patiently on the transporter pad.

Jon took his finger and moved it in in a 'come over here' motion as he waited for Kate.

Kate stepped off the transporter circle and tilted her head toward him with the practiced patience of someone who had been receiving secret messages her whole life. Her dark Asian eyes, the particular brown-black of a couple of buttons, blinked once, slowly, waiting.

Jon looked down at the diminutive Intel chief. "I asked a question Kate. I want an answer not a smile like you give Lt. Dalton. What's going on?"

“It’s Starfleet regulation that the Intelligence Officer’s armory may hold a limited number of phaser rifles and hand phasers. That locker is separate from Security’s stores. One regulation says I, as Intelligence Chief, can authorize its contents. Another, from Starfleet Security, forbids weapons lockers altogether. Both are valid! Even though they directly contradict each other—”

Before Kate could finish, the Security lieutenant cut in, leaning against the console. “And I’m a Lieutenant in the department charged with ship security and safety. I outrank you.”

Kate straightened and leaned forward, fingers half-curled behind her back as she braced herself. “I may be a Lieutenant Junior Grade, but I head a division with its own weapons locker and a direct order to keep it armed!” She exhaled, softening her stance. “I get that your orders conflict with mine. Both sets are officially on the books. But after everything we’ve faced these past weeks, I want that locker stocked.”

“Starfleet Security Regulation 72, Part 14 of the Armament Code, paragraph 12 explicitly—” the lieutenant began, reciting his citation.

Kate stepped back toward the transporter pad, cutting him off. “Special Intelligence Commission Guidelines 56, Clandestine Operations Support Clause: I can fill my locker with anything except explosives, dammit!”

The lieutenant sneered, “And we all know what you like to do when you with overloaded phasers, Junior-Grade Kate!”

“I’ve never once blown up a rifle! Phasers can be stored in any compartment. You’re worrying about rifles. My only overload-kills have been with phasers! A device that has to be stored on all decks!” she shot back.

He opened his mouth to retort, then caught the look in Jon’s eyes. It wasn’t accusation; it was a plea for peace. They’d hit a classic Starfleet impasse of conflicting procedures, and the unease in the room could be cut with a bat'leth.

Jon suppressed a sigh. He looked at Kate and then the security lieutenant. "And I outrank both of you." he stated calmly. "So here's how it is going to be.. Lt. Kono is a department head and Intel is allowed to keep its weapons locker with a limited number of phasers and phaser rifles. If Lt. S'Niohun wishes to talk to me about it she may." He looked at the security lieutenant again. "My advice Lieutenant is to drop it and drop it it now."

"Understood, sir. If it pleases you, I'd like to request permission to back J.G. Kono up on the infiltration." He said it the way a man says anything when he is just doing his job, and Kate heard it that way too.

Kate glanced at Jon and gave a small shrug, which was all she needed to say. She turned to the Security Lieutenant.

"You know this mission is super-dangerous right?" Kate had to make sure.

"Welcome to the party Lieutenant. Glad to have you along. Grab a phaser or rifle and we'll be ready to hit the road."

The Lieutenant grabbed a phaser rifle and took the pad circle next to Kates. Kate turned to the Lieutenant with a suspicious gaze.

"You know I'm taken, right?" Kate had to make sure.

The red-headed security officer just shook his head and smiled back at her while activating his rifle.

"Glad someone took one for the team," he quipped.

Kate grinned wide as the Lieutenant chuckled softly.

Viviana entered and looked at the kerfuffle that appeared before her. "Um, I thought I was going on an away mission, not dealing with a medical emergency aboard ship."

Ibarra offered a chuckle. "Lt Kono seems built to create controversy."

"So it would seem" Viviana noted as she got up on the transporter pad. "Perhaps we should beam down before things get any wilder. Dealing with Klingons seems preferable."

James had watched the entire exchanged with amusement. He turned to Ibarra. "This is nothing" he shot a tease towards Kate, before stepped onto the pad and returning to a more professional stance.

Jon looked over the group as he stepped onto a transporter pad. "Time to go to work." He said quietly.

"I have orders to beam you down now" the transporter chief stated, almost afraid to interrupt. "Target zone is locked, good luck Commander."

 

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