Rules of Engagement

Posted on Mon Sep 30, 2019 @ 3:19pm by Lieutenant Martha Cusack & Lieutenant JG Logan Hunter

Mission: The Nanjing
Location: Pilots' Main Briefing Auditorium
Timeline: MD1; 09:15

Rows and rows of starfighter pilots and tactical systems officer sat with PADDs in hand or resting on laps to take notes about the upcoming air operations. Some faces looked eager for the chance to engage the Borg, others looked scared, most of the faces were somewhere in between. All heads turned to the door as it opened to allow Logan and Martha entry into the auditorium.

Logan stepped through the threshold of the door.

Martha had been studying the Borg in great detail recently and agreed to help brief the Triumphant's CAG about the tactics they employed. At the same time as Logan she passed through the doorway into the auditorium and looked at the pilots who were gathered in front of them.

The nearest person to the door jumped to his feet and called out. "CAG and See Tee Oh on deck!" Almost as one, the entire gathering came to their feet.

Logan started down to the podium at the front of the auditorium as he called out. "As you were." The pilots and TSOs returned to their seats.

Martha looked at Logan and then looked at the pilots and TSOs. She had a PADD in her hand which contained the tactical information she'd gathered to present to those gathered in front of her. Dealing with the Borg was a totally different ball game to any other opposition so preparation was key.

"I'm here to talk to you about the Borg and tactics which can be employed to counter their own. Before we begin does anyone have any questions?" Martha asked.

People looked from one to another for a few moments. Martha had just confirmed the rumors going around that they were going to engage the Borg. There were a few murmurs but nobody made any initial inquiries.

Logan stepped up next to Martha. He could understand the aura or apprehension that had settled over the room. There was a mission to execute though. "All right, pipe down. We will do are best to answer any questions you have after the briefing." He turned to Martha. "Lieutenant?"

Martha nodded. "The Borg are not a 'normal' opponent. They use much more devastating weaponry which can drain a starship's shields in seconds and cut it in half in minutes. Their shields can adapt to weapons fire and render it useless extremely quickly - however today I'm going to explain to you various methods we can use to counteract the Borg and give you a fighting chance of coming out of it alive"

Eager and apprehensive pilots and tactical systems officers prepared their PADDs to take notes. Logan pulled his PADD out to take notes as well. He had his orders for the air wing to not directly engage the Borg, but oft times plans went awry once contact with the enemy occured.

"In combat the Borg use a variety of techniques to overcome and assimilate their enemies. The most common weapons which they employ are tractor beams and cutting beams - the former is used to hold an opponent in place and drain their shields until they collapse. Once the shields have collapsed one of a number of things can happen" Martha said.

She paused for a moment before continuing.

Martha concluded. "Cutting beams are...well...cutting beams. They can cut sections from a large starship within minutes - smaller craft like your own...seconds. Sometimes the Borg will tow enemy vessels into their hangar bays for assimilation although in your case I would say that's very unlikely as it's only usually larger vessels which tend to be assimilated. The Borg also use energy weapons - which can change modulation to suit different opponents - and torpedoes. However...today we're going to go over methods to counter these tactics"

A pilot in the front row piped up with a question. "Sir, Borg tactical systems have been known to defeat Starfleet vessels in a matter of minutes. Our fighters have nowhere near the defensive capablities of a capital ship. How are we supposed to be combat effective against a Borg cube?"

Martha replied. "Please...call me Lieutenant. I have been working on a device which will link all of your craft together and will give you a chance of being combat effective. Let me show you how it works"

Martha opened a case which contained a number of these devices and a small holographic projector. She placed the projector on a pile of crates next to her and activated it - with the projector showing the assembled staff a simulation of how the devices worked.

"These devices will link all of your craft together in what I suppose you could call a 'net'. What the net will do is automatically change the shield and phaser modulations of each fighter the instant the Borg adapt to them. One thing I would like to clarify to you all is that I have had this concept tested in reality and it does work. Any questions?" Martha concluded.

Logan took that moment to break into the briefing. He stepped up next to Martha and looked out at the sea of faces. He took a deep breath as he collected his thoughts. "One thing I must tell you all at this time is our mission, the air wings mission, is reconnaissance. None of you will engage the Borg without the Commodore's or my...express order. Our fighters do not have tactical upgrades that would allow us to survive more than a few seconds against a Borg vessel. If we do engage it will be with standoff torpedoes."

Martha nodded. "Indeed. This 'net' I have designed is merely a precautionary measure in the event you need to engage the Borg"

One pilot in the front row set his PADD down for a moment. "Wait, we're here learning new tactics to combat the Borg should we encounter them, but our orders are to not engage the Borg...if we encounter them."

Logan nodded at the pilot, a headstrong young man that he'd gone through flight school with. He knew the man to be a risk taker, often times an unnecessary risk taker. "You have your orders ladies and gentlemen. Locate the Borg, keep a safe distance and communicate with the Triumphant ASAP. Is that clear?"

Heads nodded, some reluctantly.

Logan looked out at the pilots for a heartbeat before nodding one final time. "Dismissed." He stood next to Martha as he watched the pilots file out of the briefing room. He turned to Martha as the last pilot exited. "I got a bad feeling about this mission."

Martha nodded. "You and me both Lieutenant. You and me both"