Into the fire

Posted on 03/12/2012 @ 7:44am by Captain Kheren
Edited on 03/13/2012 @ 3:34am

Captain's log

Stardate: 87171.3

We have been ordered to cover one quadrant of the Azimuth Horizon in the operation planned to corral it in subspace. The USS Alsea has been assigned to the same coordinates, as they are the most likely to be targeted by an expected Romulan attempt to destroy the anomaly with methods that could instead spell doom for the pocket universe inside... as well as our own.

While the Alsea, the most powerful warship in the fleet, will be the sword to oppose the Romulan attack, be it from one dreadnought or a task force of warbirds, or both, the Artemis is tasked to be the shield, for both the Alsea and the anomaly. With her sheer mass, power output, maneuverability, armor and shields, not discounting its vast array of phasers and torpedo rate of fire to offer cover or intercept any Romulan plasma warhead midflight, she is best suited for that role. But it clearly means facing head-on high levels of damage and casualties.

On my order, all nonessential personnel were removed after the ship was brought to full readiness. With fifteen percent of our crew on board, this Ambassad0r class refit can still operate at peak efficiency while dramatically reducing casualty risks; this multiplies our power reserve, all around tactical efficiency, survivability under fire and our support capability to the rest of the fleet... even give ourselves the most extreme options available, like self-destruct or ramming, without jeopardizing crew safety.

The Romulans are in for many surprises if they think this old lady is fragile and weak. With a full week of training and preparation from every department and crewmember, to be rounded up during our thirteen hours of travel to our rendez-vous with destiny, this ship is now as ready and able to face what lays ahead as any would ever be.

I commend all crewmembers who showed faith in this ship and a true sense of duty and discipline; not only those called to directly risk themselves in this endeavor, but also those who wisely stayed behind, at my request, to serve on the starbase a critical, useful role no cannon fodder on board the ship ever would. These Starfleet officers truly know what duty and heroism means; their help and cooperation ensure that this ship, her crew, will prevail and come back home.

On the starship Artemis, there will be no dead heroes; only living saviors of the galaxy.