A Better Idea?

[Joy 0]

"Can you cup up with a better idea, Joy?"

 

Joy blinked, considering. Two sets of ideas, perhaps.

 

"The target is a bubble fort. Dome force field. Weapons systems around the perimeter of the dome. This is a small asteroid, with no atmosphere. If we come in low, just over the horizon, we will be able to use our full weapons array, while the fort will only be able to use its near side weapons. We will be able to rotate ship, exposing fresh shield areas, giving depleted shields a chance to recover. We can concentrate fire on one segment of their shields, and one set of weapons, creating a weak spot in their perimeter. We will be able to duck beneath the horizon if our shields start giving out.

 

"In principle, ships can't over power forts. Ships are limited in size, where forts are not. However, I did not detect a warp core in this fort. There were only fusion reactors, powerful, but not absurdly so. This station was small and covert. We have a reasonable chance at a brute force approach.

 

"The fort is also somewhat dated, and we did win the war. We might have captured similar sites. I will do some research, and see if I can find likely shield frequencies and sequences. If we can match frequencies, this would amplify the effects of our phasers.

 

"I would warn that a brute force approach requires a complete neutralization of their offensive systems. We have to take down our own shields to beam out the AT. There is also the risk of taking the shields down too hard. Any excessive energy could blow back into the physical dome, vent atmosphere, or worse."

 

Joy paused, shifting gears to a different approach, entirely.

 

"The alternative is political. Someone thinks they 'own' these soldiers, and has the correct security IDs to have them stand down. How might we contact these people and make a deal? Is there any reason for anyone to fight a small war here? Will said small war necessarily stay small?

 

"We anticipate a maintenance ship might come shortly. With the fort fully powered up, I suspect it has reported out. We might see more than just a repair ship. We might see something sooner, rather than later. We don't know who is maintaining this base, but the most likely candidates are the planet we just visited, that didn't much like us, and the next planet we are due to visit, of which we know little.

 

"We can find out by waiting to see who shows up, by hailing said planets, or by hailing the fort.

 

"We also have to consider what Rian and Will are apt to do. I suspect they will soon be outnumbered and outgunned, which may not matter to Commander Robinson. I myself would recommend negotiation, but 'we come in peace' might not be the right line to use if our AT decides to fight it out.

 

"The basic choices, though, seem to be to start hailing, start shooting, or wait to see who shows up. My recommendation would be to hail the base first, then reconsider options depending on the response.

 

"We might also consider our mission orders. I believe we are to survey the region and try to make friendly contacts. I do not believe the mission is search and destroy."