Defending the Station

[Kevin Anderson 0]

"Defending the Station"

Stardate 0703.30

A joint log by Ltn. Cdr. Arthur Dent, Ltn. Ronin Shephard and Mid. Kevin Anderson

 

 

Ronin Shephard had summoned Arthur Dent and Kevin Anderson to the conference room to discuss the design of the new Defense Grid for the rebuilt station. Shephard and Anderson were waiting for Dent, Anderson with a faint trace of reluctance in his manner, when Dent stumbled into the room and announced: "Sorry I'm late. We picked up a distress signal from an inbound ship."

 

Anderson looked up and nodded and before he got the chance to ask whether someone was sent Shephard said: "So that's why the Chief had to run," and Dent added that Commander Hawke was also participating in this away mission.

 

After this little hold up they moved on to the matter at hand. What kind of Defense Grid would they need and how would they achieve that.

 

Shephard made it clear what he had in mind: "So my first thoughts would be an Early Defense Warning System. Something to send our sensors beyond normal, in short, something to tell us if a ship is coming and where it's coming from. We might be able to add other little gizmos like ETA to station and other ideas. I was thinking along the lines of a series of stationary probes set up around the system."

 

Upon this Anderson gave his opinion from a scientific point of view, glad he was able to contribute something after all: "The use of probes would also give us the chance to set up a Tachyon Detection Grid. The probes would have to be modified to relay a Tachyon beam between them. This would give us the chance to eliminate the threat of cloaked ships."

 

The old station's Defense Grid had already incorporated a Tachyon detection Grid but as the new Defense Grid was to have a scaled-back range their hopes of simply using the old grid's specifications didn't hold up. So they concentrated on designing a grid which would be as small as possible but not so small that they would be easily taken by surprise.

 

Shephard in the fashion of a true Security Officer made it clear that he'd want to be able to monitor as much space as possible: "What about the other side of Cardassia? Someone could mass a force there right in our blind spot."

 

So after a short discussion they all agreed that a grid which encompassed the area of Cardassia Prime which would cover all sides of the station would be practicable.

 

Dent: "Well, since the station is in orbit, anything around us will have to also maintain orbit; it wouldn't be difficult to construct the grid such that it can monitor all around Cardassia."

 

Having established the perimeter of the grid the discussion then moved on to the details. Dent asked Shephard what kind of weaponry he had in mind.

 

To that Shephard said: "Phasers at the very least, if we build enough in our small grid they might be able to take enemy ships out or disable them. And/or some sort of jammer." It was clear from the way he said it that if he'd get the chance he'd add a few more features.

 

Throughout the conversation Dent had been taking notes. While still writing he went on: "We'll have to consult with engineering on platform design specifications. The last platforms are probably a good starting point."

 

Shephard looked at Anderson as he said: " If science could work on some gizmos to add to our platforms and probes that would be useful."

 

Anderson considered this for a moment as he picked up a PADD that was lying in front of him which showed the specs of a Tachyon Detection Grid, and then nodded as he replied: "I would need someone from engineering to assist me, though."

 

Dent stopped taking notes and looked up, nodding: "By incorporating aspects such as the detection grid from the beginning it should be much more efficient than if we were to add it on later."

 

Anderson leaned back and spoke his thoughts out loud: "We can modify the probes and have them also scanning for other things that might be useful."

 

Shephard eagerly picked up on that idea "Things like weapons, shields and whose ships they are. Also, another thought would be to have some sort of code so the probes know whether or not to blow them up."

 

While Dent kept taking notes on the ideas they came up with Anderson voiced his concern about this feature: "I don't know, we should probably make sure the probes are as inconspicuous as possible. Otherwise they become easy targets. Send one ship in to take some probes out and have more follow undetected."

 

Dent looked at Anderson " Well, the idea is that the defense grid- at least the primary part of it, will be close enough to Aegis that we would notice any ship taking pot shots at it."

 

Anderson still couldn't agree with this and argued: "It's just that if we incorporate everything into one system that it will become the primary target for the first wave. If we have a couple of systems they'll have more problems taking everything out."

 

At this Dent nodded and leaned forward slightly: "Redundancy is good."

 

Anderson had made his point and he knew it was a good one, so he went on "So that means I take care of the probes and Mr Shephard of the weapons?"

 

Dent nodded again and added "I will coordinate supply requisition as well as the actual placement of the grid. We don't want it to interfere with the shipping lanes around Cardassia."

 

Shephard in his duty as Security Officer addressed the matter of weaponry again: "Well, if that's set up, another thing would be weapons outside the station. I know we have a supply ship bringing in some Star Laser C 12 Q's and if we can get them set up in a pattern or something to help with protection."

 

Dent suggested: "On the defence grid platforms?" Which was generally agreed to be done.

 

All of these features would make up their basic grid which they saw as their priority to get it up and running and any more features the grid was to have, such as the use of CQ 82 Scanner Droids which were to come in with the Star Lasers on a supply ship in 2 days time, would be discussed in a later meeting.

 

Dent feeling a little hungry by now, going through his notes, summed the meeting up saying: "We're looking at a multi-tier redundant defence grid that primarily covers the area around Cardassia, with a Tachyon Detection Grid as well as sensor and weapons pallets."

 

When that was agreed upon the group broke up. Planning to meet again, once the basic grid was up and running, to discuss further features.