Second Star - Ak/Nine

[Captain Seato]

______ Pride of Providence and Seato’s Challenge ______

Lieutenant Earl's report indicates violent unrest on Akritedes. Mass protests have been viciously put down.

---------------------------------------------------------------

Pride of Providence's CAP reports a small transport ship from Akritedes is enroute.

On all channels, they declare themselves to be refugees seeking asylum.

[=][=Nine Breaker=][=]

Captain McGinty rubbed his chin in thought as the CAP reported a ‘refugee’ ship moving from Akritedes. There was obviously something wrong with the whole situation, but how to deal with it when it involved the Inquisition made the situation much more complex. He couldn’t just blow the ship into dust just yet...

“Helm, burn retros and slow us down! Lieutenant Gnarls, inform Commanders Harley and Gregory that I want all attack craft ready to deploy at a moments notice.”

The bridge buzzed around McGinty’s command pulpit as the first orders went out. By now his heart was racing at the prospect of some kind of activity.

“Commissar Argo, please assemble an assault team and see that a boarding shuttle is ready to launch. We may need use of you shortly.”

The giant of a Commissar silently walked off with strides that a smaller man would have been hard pressed to keep up with at a run.

“Comms, hail both the Seato’s Challange and the Inquisition and notify them of the current situation... Get in touch with these ‘refugees’ that they are to shut down all but their backup life-support systems and stand down immediately. Make them understand that, should they fail to comply, they will be fired upon.”

[Captain Seato]

Pride of Providence's vox operators report that the refugee ship is continuing to transmit their request for asylum.

Sensor report they've shut down engines, but are drifting towards McGinty's ship. Collission is possible, but at their rate of drift, not an immediate threat.

Commanders Harley and Gregory report that they and their crews are ready for launch. Gregory's unit will be flying at reduced strength, since some of his men will be providing crews for the Assault Boats.

--------------------------------

Launched at long range, the Sword of Terra's gunners easily destroy the first salvo of torpedoes from the Repulsive, at a comfortable distance.

"Conn, Sensors," comes the call. "Another salvo of torpedoes, sir."

"Rate of fire indicates a well-trained crew," Buckner's first officer observes.

"Contact positively identified as the Grand Cruiser Cherubim, captain."

[Brother-Librarian Akritedes]

Scowling viciously at the icon representing the "Refugee" ship, Sergei thinks dark thoughts about whatever malign power that had chosen his ship and this time to place such an issue upon. Still, he reminded himself. All that happens is by the Emperor's will and design, and if he wills this, who am I to question his divine wisdom?

That didn't mean, however, that precautions should not be taken. "Communications, route all hails from the unknown ship to my headset. Gunnery Officer, maintain a firing solution on the hailing vessel and update continuously. And Mister Earl, acknowledge the communication from Pride of Providence and inform them that we are aware of the situation."

Leaning back into his throne, Sergei curls in on himself and dons his headset, covering the boom mike with his hands as he hails the drifting ship. "This is Captain Sergei Ivanovich of His Imperial Navy. State your name and purpose, and, if you would be so kind, explain to me what possessed you to flee a world under Inquisitorial blockade."

[Captain Seato]

Uneasy murmurs drift to Captain Ivanovich's ears, cut off by the headset.

++This is Captain Benedict, of the merchant vessel Estuary. I am carrying the women and children of the ruling families of Akritedes Prime. I was commissioned by their men to remove them from the planet and deliver them to sanctuary.

Captain, I ask that I may dock with your ship and transfer them aboard. Please!++

While he listens to the transmission, several of the bridge crew huddle together, whisper, break apart and form new huddles and whisper soome more. At least once, the door to the bridge opens and closes.

[Brother-Librarian Akritedes]

Noticing the officers departing the bridge, Sergei cut the vox-link with Estuary abruptly and slashed a hand through the air. "Belay that! No man is leaving his station until this incident is concluded, am I understood?"

Turning his attention back to the small, flickering marker representing the fleeing merchanman, the Captain opens the link to the Estuary again. "Captain Benedict, I think you fail to understand the situation. You and everyone aboard your vessel have violated an Inquisitorial Edict, an act punishable by death at the least. Again, why should I not destroy you and your pesky ship?"

[Captain Seato]

++By the Golden Throne, man! We're carrying women and children! They bear no part in this inquiry! Akritedeans are dying in the streets as we speak!++

There is discontented mutterings among the younger bridge officers. One of the older midshipmen straightens and declares:

"Shift change, captain. Our relief is waiting to take their posts."

[Brother-Librarian Akritedes]

Cutting the vox-link for a second time, Sergei turns to the upstart and replies. "Denied, Midshipman. I repeat, no crewman will leave his post for the duration of this incident. To do so would be blatently irresponsible and smacks of cowardice."

Turning for a third time away from the crew, Sergei re-activates the vox-link again and responds to the merchant captain. "Women and children that are in violation of an Inquisitorial Edict, Kaptain! Unless you can offer some reason that you should be exempt from the orders of the Holy Offices of His Imperial Inquisition, my course of action is clear! Personal feelings have no bearing on the execution of my duty, Kaptain Benedict!"

[Captain Seato]

The bridge crewmen mutter and return to their posts.

++You heartless bastard!++

"Captain, I'm registering an energy build-up," one of the sensor operators reports. "Very faint signature, sir."

"They could either be making ready to raise shields or powering up one of their secondary systems."

"Couldn't be weapons, captain," the first officer states. "their defense weaponry is no match for us and their shields couldn't take on one of our broadsides."

"They also can't be powering up engines, they'd never outrun us, nor build up the power necessary for Warp travel before we board them."

[=][=Nine Breaker=][=]

McGinty was sick of waiting, and it was painfully obvious. Though the bridge was busy, nobody talked as they awaited their Captain's next orders. Patience certainly had never been his strong point, and he itched to swing into action.

"Sir, sensors are registering a slight energy build-up from the refugee ship." A voice from the sensor station broke the awkward quiet. "Could be secondary systems."

"What in the Warp?! Lieutenant Gnarls! Get in touch with the bloody Inquisition. Inform them of the situation and figure out a course of action."

Captain McGinty nearly lept from his command pulpit and strode straight to the comms station.

"Comms. Send a warning to the refugee ship that we are sending a security detail which will be taking control of their bridge. They will cease any and all current actions and cooperate with the boarding team or else they risk bringing down the wrath of the Emperor's Imperial Navy.

Hail the Seato's Challange and inform them that we are boarding the refugee ship. They are not to fire on it at this time."

Maximilien then grabbed a nearby ensign and literally pulled him from his seat.

"You, go down to the launch bay and deliver a message to Commissar Argo. Tell him to take his team, board the refugee ship and take control of the bridge, and do it five minutes ago."

[Captain Seato]

"Waiting for reciept of transmission, sir," Lieutenant Gnarls says.

"Captain," the vox officer reports. "No response from Estuary."

"Commissar Argo's Assault Boat is enroute, sir," flight operations calls out. What he doesn't tell Captain McGinty is that it was impossible for the Commissar to be enroute so soon after launch, unless he had left the ship as soon as he reached the Launch Bay.

"Still no response," the vox officer updates.

"Estuary's energy levels remain at low level, captain," sensors reports. "Her defensive weapons are not powered, I repeat, they have not powered up weapons."

[Brother-Librarian Akritedes]

"What are they trying to do..."

Puzzled by the apparent compliance and non-compliance of the merchant ship, Sergei looked at his readouts thoughtfully, idly twisting bottom his uniform jacket. The merchant wouldn't want to endanger his living cargo, but he seemed committed to escaping nonetheless...although turning back was now a death sentance for him. Still, the situation seemed well in hand with McGinty's boarders. Noting the estimated time until the shuttle reached the merchantman, Sergei ran a few short calculations and grinned. "Mister Earl, inform the Pride of Providence that we have recieved her message and intend to put a warning shot across the enemies bow. Gunnery, firing solution across the Estuary's bow, account for blast wave and compensate to prevent undue damage to our...guest. Fire when ready."

[=][=Nine Breaker=][=]

"Estuary's energy levels remain at low level, captain," sensors reports. "Her defensive weapons are not powered, I repeat, they have not powered up weapons."

"Good, good...Helm, bring us in alongside the Estuary. Gunnery, lock onto the ship, but hold your fire."

Captain McGinty glanced over at the communications station, anxious to get the answers he was looking for.

[Captain Seato]

"Captain Mcginty, Estuary is launching lifeboats," the sensor officer reports.

On the bridge viewscreen, they can see the pod-like lifeboats exiting the ship.

* * *

"Full complement of lifeboats deployed, Captain Ivanovich."

"This makes no sense," the first officer comments. "He knows those lifeboats have negigible propulsion and limited supplies."

"He gains nothing for his cause by doing this."

[Brother-Librarian Akritedes]

"No...but he does force a choice. Do we pick up the lifeboats and allow whoever is inside aboard our ships, or do we leave them to drift and die in the void?"

Sergei sighs contemplatively. Shock and awe was no longer an option, not with that many possible pieces of collateral damage. "Lieutenant Wiermacht, abort firing sequence. Kommunications, hail the Providence and request that they return the lifeboats and their passengers to the Estuary. And inform Kaptain Benedict that any such further action will be viewed as hostile and dealt with as such. He is to comply with previous instructions immediately."