Shattered shell

Posted on Thu Oct 29th, 2026 @ 1:41am by Commander David Wallace & Lieutenant Commander Isabelle Veran-Dallas

Mission: CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT 09/26
Location: USS Cascade - Nyberrite Corridor
Timeline: one hour later

On:

The trip through the corridor was uneventful, the first navigational challenge came as the Cascade approached the Orgainian Exclusion zone, the solar system was absolutely off limits as part of the infamous Treaty of Orgainia. David looked at the main viewer, "Damn..." he said in a low voice, "That flight path we got from the Mizar traffic control puts them ultra close too the Hydran border." he said to no one specifically.

“Are you thinking that maybe they came too close to the automated defences?” Isabelle asked as she looked towards David. “If they did the question is why were they that close?”

"We're on the mission line of travel now, I'm willing to bet they underestimated their distance too the effective range of the defense platforms." David said looking at the approximate flight plan, "Yellow alert, shields up."

The low chime of yellow alert rang out, the yellow status lights came one, Helmsman Alex Bear made a course adjustment according to his plan, he looked to the hazard display to his lefthand, "I'm getting some kind of targeting scan at extreme range, it looks like an automated scan." he shifted his gaze to tactical.

Lydia still looking at a similar readout spoke next "Confirmed, it looks like a targeting sweep of some kind, on screen."

On the main display overlaid with the navigation plots and other data was the approximate representation of sensor sweeps taking place, David looked to Isabelle, "thoughts?"

“If we’re being targeted from this distance, and they got closer I’d say they’ve been fired upon.” Isabelle added. “Question is what damage did they sustain?”

"Good point, like all weapons there's an effective range versus the maximum range could the Roswell have gone to investigate instead of backing off, any warp reactor radiations?" David asked

"I'm detecting some weak impulse engine wake, consistent with an Intrepid class." Ensign Powell said

"Put us on a slow course in the general direction of the wake." David looked to Isabelle “If the targeting sweep becomes a target lock we cloak."

Isabelle nodded. “If the ship is damaged it could have drifted way off course, we won’t be able to cloak if we’re in the middle of a rescue.”

"What about using one of the drones as a decoy?" Hannah said

“That’s a good idea.” Isabelle nodded and smiled. “Perhaps multiple drones might give us better odds, once we know for sure what’s happened.”

David looked at the command display, "We have three, program them to send out signals like a Nebula class and two shuttles are searching for the Roswell."

"Aye sir!" Alex called out setting to work,

"Hannah, good call on that." David said

“Agreed” Isabelle nodded and smiled. “A very good call.”

Hannah smiled then paused, holding her ear piece close "I'm getting something on the damage control subspace channels..." he paused focused on the sounds "It's weak and at extreme range, it might be the Roswell."

“Put it on speakers please Hannah” Isabelle asked. “Let us hear it.”

=="This is ...... we have been attacked by automated defences..... numerous systems down.... some.... life support on minimum power."== the static filled message filled the bridge

David looked to Isabelle, then spoke "Lock onto the signal, launch drones, take us in." he caught himself thinking "Lydia be ready to extend shields, Red Alert!"

Isabelle couldn’t help but feel nervous, this was her first time as XO, but she wasn’t going to let David down, she caught his thought as he accidentally broadcast it. “Go to red alert, we need to be ready for those defences if they lock onto us. Prepare to extend our shields around the Roswell.” She gave him a smile.

=="Shuttle bay to Captain"== a voice called in =="Drone launch in progress."==

"I've programed a simulated drop out of warp into the drones, also sir I've got a federation signal on the navigational sensors coming in at transwarp speeds, estimated arrival six minutes." Alex said

"Confirmed captain." Elisa said "Unknown configuration."

"Project Dawnstar has arrived, any signs of the Lamprey ships?" David called out

"Forty minutes out." Elisa replied "They're just in sensor range now, USS Marauder and Mirage."

David keyed in a code the two Dawnstar ships appeared on the overlay still only identified as X-1 and X-2 "Keep any eye on those defences." David said

Isabelle was feeling somewhat out of her depth, she was more used to being in the position of Counsellor, giving advice. “Do we have a report on the Roswell yet? Are sensors picking up the true extent of damage?”

"Ionization near the ship makes readings difficult, but I'm getting no signs of engine output, limited power, the only communications is on the damage control channels, looks like main comms are out, life support looks to be on minimum, no weapons, shields and deflectors are on a low operation level." Lydia called out as a wireframe image appeared on the main viewer.

“Dead in the water, with no way to shield themselves.” Isabelle shook her head. “Looks like we’re going to need every bit of space we have to bring the crew onboard, unless we can tow her out.”

=="Engineering to Bridge!"== the Chief engineer called

"go!" David said

=="I'm looking at some of the data feeds and listening into the Damage control comms, the XO's call is right, they're dead in the water, the drones could help us pull the ship to safety, but they're gonna need a shipyard to get underway, looks like whatever took them out burned out several control systems for the engines, I'm also getting overlap from medical for some reason, Lots of casualties, three fatalities."== He said

"Start running the numbers on the tow, Wallace out." David turned to Isabelle "The Dawnstar ships are still four minutes out, the Lamprey ships are further, soon as we can get the ship out to safety we'll take the serious casualties to the station."

Isabelle nodded. “Understood. The sooner we get them off the ship the better off they’ll be.”

"Roswell in sensor range..." Ensign Bear Called out

"On Screen!" David called out

On the screen the smashed hull of an Intrepid class ship filled the screen, the hull was scarred with what looked like massive electrical burns littered the hull, the lighting was barely visible in the view ports, "Sensors!"

"No hull breaches" Lydia called out right away, "Life support is operating at forty percent, engines are dead, impulse drive is struggling to keep them stable, no phasers, torpedo launchers are inoperable, I'm not even getting a computer uplink control."

"I've got someone on one of the Damage control channels." Hannah called out

"Roswell this is Cascade ..we are here to help" David spoke

=="This is Commander Haskin we're in rough shape here, Captain Ardeno is dead from a console explosion, we have three critical, about a dozen including our chief engineer in rough shape, if there's a positive we're out of range of those weapons."== the voice said

"We have two support ships in bound for casualties and we are about to deploy drones to help tow you to safety." David said

=="Thank you Captain, my engineers are telling me that we're at critical for life support can we send you a few of the wounded"==

"I'll alert sickbay, after we get your casualties we can take any non-essential crew as well." David said looking to Isabelle

=="Our transporter is toast so you'll have to do site to site for us."==

"No Problem" David replied

=="We'll get organized Roswell out."==

David shifted his gaze to Isabelle "Let the galley know we're gonna have evacuees, we'll use the marine barracks and unused crew quarters, the two Lamprey class ships can take the rest of the crew."

"Sir they're here!" Lydia called out

On the main viewer appeared two ships, both to the untrained eye might pass for a Defiant class, that's were the similarities ended, David smiled slightly, "This will make the job easier."

Isabelle did as instructed, preparing for the arrivals from the Roswell. “I’ll head down to the transporter room to help with organising those coming onboard.”

"Alright I'll talk to our friends." David said.

Isabelle nodded and headed on her way. Hopefully they’d have the situation sorted and soon be out of danger’s way.

Hannah immediately broke the silence, "She should be part of this..."

David raised his hand "After we get out of here, now get X one on subspace encrypted one."

=="Well if it isn't the prodigal son! what's the situation."==

"Roswell got pounded by Hydran automated defences, looks like hellbore cannons." David said to the X-one's Captain

=="We'll fly cover when you're ready, from our scans we're just outside the firing range of those defences, The VanZandt and Asia are too far out, and those Lamprey ships might be able to take a dozen each."==

"What about you guys?" David asked

=="Push comes to it maybe twenty each."==

"That leaves the rest on us." David cursed mentally "Soon as we can assess we'll let you know."

The communication ended, "Hannah help the commander, this is gonna get crazy."

"Aye sir." Hannah stood to try and catch up too the commander.

End