SD: 22650705

USS PATHFINDER: “Formulating A Plan”

MD: 1.1230
Scene: Main Bridge, USS PATHFINDER

"Belay that ensign. ... I'll take over.”

Capt. Jonathan Hunter turned at the sound of the voice and watched as
his still somewhat injured security chief crossed the bridge and headed
towards his station.

Adrian passed the Marine Commander in route, noting the man who had
filled in for him while he was incapacitated.

“Thank you Major,” he said. “My security crews should be out hunting
pirates, contact Lt Williams to coordinate with your marines i will see
about what I can find from here."

Pleased to have his best people where he needed them, the captain turned
his attention toward something hovering just out of sight in the back of
his mind.

What was his missing?

"Capt., shields still down … attempting to get them back up,” Adrian
reported. “Targeting also still offline will target manually.

Sorry I'm late,” he continued, “ran into one our party guests on the way
back up here."

“That's alright, lieutenant, as long as you made them feel welcome ...”

Hunter broke off what he was saying at the sound of a scuffle beyond the
doors to the bridge.

He rose from his chair, pulling free his honor blade and activating the
sword in one swift motion.

He held the blade at the ready for several seconds until it became
obvious the enemy had most likely met Maj. Daniel Lee and been silenced
in that meeting.

Keeping the blade in a low ready, he turned his head to scan the bridge
and as his eyes passed from console to console, he realized the
something he had been missing.

Retracting the blade with the depression of a single finger, he motioned
for Cyn to join him at the science console where sat Sunam.

The Vulcan science officer looked up to his captain expectantly but
Jonathan remained quiet until the first officer joined them.

When he spoke, it was barely more than a whisper.

He looked first to the Vulcan.

“Mister Sunam, access the command library and find me the U.S.S.
Albion's command codes,” he ordered. “You should find them buried within
the encrypted data packet transmitted to us from Hatteras before our
departure.”

<<Rick?>>

Hunter turned to Cyn, still keeping his voice a whisper.

“Reconfigure science two to serve as a makeshift command and control
console for when we establish the link,” he ordered.

<<Kevin?>>

Another thought occurred to the captain, causing him to look Sunam to
Cyn and back again.

“Do you think you two could put your heads together and reconfigure
their command codes once we've gained control?” he asked. “I'd like to
lock them out and keep them out if at all possible.”

<<Rick? Kevin?>>

Leaving the pair to their work, Jonathan crossed back to the centerseat.

Upon his arrival, he found himself having to grip the back of the chair
to maintain his feet as his stomach seemed to be anywhere but where it
was suppose to be.

The most unknown quantity on his bridge at the moment lay in the form of
the Vulcan helmsman, but Ens. Sturrn could pull a move like what he just
witnessed, Hunter had high hopes for him.

Even though the deck remained stacked against the Pathfinder, the North
Carolina born ship's captain began to get that feeling as he had in many
battles before.

The feeling that it was time to do the unexpected, aiming for the
impossible.

Standing beside his chair, he was halfway towards reaching the comm
button on the unit when he realized it would do no good as engineering
was currently trying to patch shield control network through
communications meaning they were limited to using handhelds.

Crossing towards an equipment locker hidden at the back of the bridge,
he retrieved items and began tossing phasers and communicators to
everyone present not already armed and equipped.

With that done, he flipped open his own communicator.

“Captain to Major Lee,” he said, for some reason in a low voice.

“I want to retake Albion,” he continued. “How long to put together
boarding parties?”

[“Captain, boarding parties already assembled ...”]

<<Rob? … Want to elaborate??? :)>>

Even as Jonathan listened, he heard the wine of a transporter and
dropped his communicator.

Both his hands slipped into motion in the same instant – one retrieving
the phaser at his belt and the other the honor blade.

The Orions seemed already in full motion even before the transporter
effect faded.

Somehow, the enemy had found a gap in the auxiliary dampening shield
that normally prevented direct beaming to and from the bridge.

With one hand, Jonathan fired the phaser at one attacker while his other
hand raised the extended sword in time to block the killing stroke of an
ax meant to cleave his scalp.

Someone wanted his head and ship, but Jonathan was determined not to
give it to them either.

Respectfully,

Capt. Jonathan Hunter
Commanding Officer
U.S.S. Pathfinder, NCC-1774

aka.
--Mike Tripp

-----NRPG-----

All: I've been thinking about the current situation and thinking about
how Hunter … a veteran of the recent war … would truly respond.

One of the things that has marked his successes is doing the unexpected.

He can be cautious, but he has also learned that often to win a battle,
you have to take leaps of faith and do what may well be least expected.

Rob: I left the opening for you to do what you were thinking about, and
as you can see … the Captain is of the same mindset.

Richard: I have no problem with the plan and story arc you pitched to
Kevin and I earlier, so you have a green light for it.

Those on the Bridge: This post gives us all things to do.

Ken: I figure you character can help the Captain and Security Chief with
defending the bridge.