Decisions Under Fire

[C.T. Caine 0]

((This log is set during last week's sim.))

 

One of Caine's instructors in three-dimensional strategy and tactics at the Academy had once described the gunner's position in combat thus:

"You'll fight, and you'll fight, and you'll fight, and you'll suddenly realize that you're damn glad you're not an engineer."

 

With the Agincourt's usual hum taking on a strange groaning undercurrent and her thrusters dragging sluggishly on the starboard side, Caine couldn't help thinking that he had been absolutely right. The ship had taken a pounding; this crew's home was being shot out from under them and there was a certain amount of satisfaction to be taken in thinking that she would at least not be required to clean up the mess.

 

Then again, given the plan that was currently being concocted over the spotty inter-ship comms, it was quite possible that none of them would survive to reach that cleanup anyway.

 

"We have navigation, even if it's limited." That was Commander Condacin from the main bridge. Caine had not directly spoken to the Xenexian CSCI much prior to this, but with Colonel Harper out of commission, she was the current ranking officer up on the main deck. She, along with Caine on the tertiary bridge and Commander Kassem in engineering, had been doing their best to formulate some kind of plan. "We've seen that tag-teaming these grozing ships can make them explode fairly easily. I say...keep those Defiants on us to balance the shields if we lose them, and bring us back in mirroring the attacks of the nearest large-scale ship."

 

Caine glanced at the tactical readouts, picking out the two support ships Condacin indicated, her mind flashing through various tactical stratagems. She was of the Xenexian's mind, completely -- she had no particular interest in turning about and fleeing the scene. Caine did not leave jobs unfinished, it was not in her nature, and now that some control over the tactical situation had passed in her direction, she was back in her element after the seemingly interminable waiting period with Slick Hefner in the locked-down Gamma command center. However, Murray in engineering had indicated that perhaps a temporary retreat might be recommended, and Caine was waiting for the final word on the feasibility of any attack run whatsoever.

 

"Perhaps..." she responded, with a nod that Condacin could not see anyway. "I'll pull us out and around and put us in position for an attack run at a greater distance."

"Good. Get us on the line with... whoever's close and not off licking their wounds."

 

Caine nodded absently, then muttered an oath as the ship's banking maneuver lurched somewhat to starboard; the damaged nacelle was causing her real problems in the power flow to that side of the ship -- not to mention that she wasn't usually a pilot of more than support craft, but when you'd reached the point when you were navigating from Gamma Bridge, you'd reached the point where you took what you could get. No matter...it would only have to hold long enough for one burst, assuming they even had that capability. Bringing them back into a stable turn again, she hastily tapped the comm again, switching to the engineering channel to address Kassem.

 

"How quick can you get us shields that'll hold long enough to make a run?" she asked crisply, hoping Kassem wasn't the indecisive sort -- they didn't have time.

 

There was a short pause and then a response almost muffled by a burst of static. "As quick as it takes me to tap on my console."

 

Good. She was confident; she felt they would hold. That settled it. They would not run away. Caine's breath caught with an abrupt rush of adrenaline and despite the severity of the situation, she almost grinned. At least the waiting was over.

 

Grunting an acknowledgment, she tapped the line closed just in time to pull the ship back to port again.

"Starboard nacelle may be sluggish, Ma'am - strut's weak," Hefner said from behind her a moment later.

"Aye...bit of a drain all over..." Caine muttered without looking back at him, but her mind was moving now. Kassem had confirmed they were alright to push forward; if they were going to do it, they had to do it now.

 

"This is Lieutenant Caine on the Agincourt," she barked into the external comms, putting all the authority she could muster into her voice. There were times when being in your forties had its advantages. "We're coming about for an attack run on the ship at...oh-four-five-mark-four-one, can you cover our flank?"

 

"Copy, Agincourt, we have you."

 

Her grey eyes scanned the helm board, and then she glanced over her shoulder at Hefner, who had been sitting more or less silently at the tactical console. "In position for attack run, Defiants confirm support positions. Here we go," she said, partly to him, partly to Condacin and Kassem still in contact over the commlines.

 

"Go for it," Kassem replied.

 

The closest thing to a blessing any of them were likely to get.

 

Caine slammed her hands against the controls and let out a low whoop as the the huge Prometheus-class surged forward, no less intimidating for the beating she had taken. The two Defiant-class ships swooped in to flank them on either side, covering the vulnerable areas in the Agincourt's weakened defense grid as she boomed back into the fray, locking onto its target of choice and homing in for the kill.

 

"Come on, boys..." Caine murmured, her grey eyes focusing down until it seemed that all she could see was the helm readouts before her. "Let's have another round."