Clear and Present

[Crash Calestorm 0]

Tifa Kvar -> ::Listening in on local comm traffic while half paying attention to the crew banter.::

Tifa Kvar -> Hmm... ::Tunes in.:: Four ships. ::Double checks.::

STSF_Scooter -> ::swivels::

Tifa Kvar -> ::Notices she's being looked at.:: Four ships incoming. Bozeman, Roarke's Drift, Plum Creek, and.....looks like Constellation.

- 06.09.14 Comanche Creek Sim

 

The F-35 zipped out of the hanger bay on the assigned launch course…but not before a brief side trip to perform what had become a usual maneuver. The pilot altered course slightly and appeared above the saucer section. The inverted starfighter hovered for a few moments above the main bridge and slowly departed in a lazy arc away from the Kelvin-class destroyer, applying the maneuvering thrusters to realign into the proper upright position.

 

Moving further out from the orbital docks and the colony planet, Calestorm was mindful of civilian and New Vulcan traffic, her own God-given senses as well as fighter scanners and tracking programs pinging with information. The colony was slowly building into an impressive hub and trade station, hosting both Starfleet and non-Starfleet personnel and ships.

 

She also made a mental note when asked “what paint would you like Sir?” not to respond to the knuckle draggers “I’m up for anything.”

 

The hanger deck chief had gone all Earth historical and gotten creative on her. As a non-combat pilot the colors were acceptable and Calestorm had nothing against her new paint job. But German “autumn flecktarn” could be considered…colorful? Very…German-ish?

 

The Lighting was a sweet fighter and she was pleased with its performance on her recon and thinking runs. She’d gotten away from the ship a couple of times previous to think on matters. The situation in the Outer Rim territories had a very “clear and present danger” aspect, so much so that it almost read like a strategic and tactical text book open and shut scenario that was taught in the Fleet academy.

 

Tavington was using his Dragoon pirates to harass both legitimate civilian operators and illegitimate mercenary and traders. It was a hell of a situation when you had both scallywag pirates and innocent civilians complaining about the same dang offender. Add that to his previous attacks on the Harrington sectors, the battle with the ‘Creek, and a blundering attack using the captured Olympic Carrier by a now very dead Dragoon second in command - or so Fleet Intelligence had discovered from agents - that had wanted to seize power from his pirate chieftain.

 

Former Starfleet Intelligence Officer Tavington was on the proverbial Starfleet hit list, no question about it. The Brass in San Francisco was near mad as hell that he’d managed to keep this secret life from his superiors and colleagues for what amounted to almost fifteen years of service. Ol’ Tavvy, aka “The Wraith”, had had other plans and agendas…for damn sure. Starfleet would be sending ships in response and it would happen very soon.

 

Reaching the immediate edge of the inner system perimeter, Crash spotted the incoming ships at a distance.

 

The fighter tracker programs pinged with recognition signatures, and New Vulcan communications contacted her at the same moment that Lieutenant Kvar contacted her from Comanche Creek communications. She acknowledged all with a quick and cordial verbal message with instructions to Sparky to send her regards to Commodore Decker on the Constellation and FTR vessels Roarke’s Drift, Plum Creek and Bozeman commanders, respectively. She had already extended an invitation that the Captains and the Commodore join her for dinner on board the USS Comanche Creek upon arrival.

 

Increasing thrust on the F-35, she broadcast her own transponder signature to be received by the Starfleet ships and transmitted on the assigned channels. “Good morning ladies and gentleman and other, this is Captain Calestorm of the USS Comanche Creek. Welcome to New Vulcan space. Request permission for flyby?”

 

The communications officer for the Constellation responded with, “Greeting received and thank you Captain. Negative Phantom Rider, the pattern is full.”

 

The Roarke, Plum and Bozeman merely sent transmitted greetings and didn’t fall for the request for permission routine.

 

Crash just smiled and did a low thrust flyby towards the Constellation’s bridge module, dipping her wings in greeting as she flew past in the glory of German flecktarn.