Ambush Preparation

Captain Taybar and Lieutenant Logan McQueen walked into the Command Marines office to find it empty. Just as they turned to leave, Floten arrived.

"Captain, Lieutenant. Please take a seat." Zeth suggested, walking around the desk and taking his own seat. The Captain and Logan both sat down.

The office was very sparsely decorated, Floten's desk was clear and tidy, there were only a couple of Padds on the desk, placed side by side.

"What can I do for you Captain ?" Floten enquired.

"It's time for your Marines to earn their pay." Aki replied. "We're about to travel to Mirisam V, where we think the Jem'Hadar will strike in the next three days. We're going to attempt to evacuate the colony there before they arrive."

"And you'd like my help organising the colonies." Floten replied, jumping the gun.

"Actually no." Aki said calmly. "We want you and your Marines to set-up an ambush if possible. Our intelligence is that the Jem'Hadar will attack within three to four days, it's going to take us nearly three days at maximum warp to reach Mirisam V, so we may not have much time."

"I'd need to see the information on the planet and the colony before we start." Floten stated. "But if you can get us there, we'll get you your ambush."

Aki was quite for a moment, something had just occurred to her. "Lieutenant, how long would you need to prepare your Marines to leave ?"

"Leave ?" Floten asked. "I'd say about an hour, but where are we going ?"

"To Mirisam V." Aki replied. "Get your men together and have them report to the shuttlebay in an hour."

"The Hellcat." Logan suddenly announced, realising what the Captain was thinking.

"Exactly. I'm sure the Commander won't mind being a little late getting back to Jupiter Station." Aki replied. "The Hellcat could reach Mirisam V in half the time we can, the Lieutenant could prepare the colonists for the evacuation and set-up their ambush at the same time."

"I'd need more men to do both." Floten announced.

"I'll go with them Captain." Logan announced. "And I've been checking through the crew records and I know of about half a dozen who would probably be willing to volunteer. Ensign Ellison already has volunteered his services."

"Get on it." Aki suggested. "Have them report to the Hellcat as soon as they are ready."

"Yes Ma'am." Logan replied, rising from his chair and heading out of the room.

"I'd better get going as well." Floten suggested. "If there's nothing else !"

"I'll see you in an hour." Aki replied, rising and leaving the room.

"Taybar to Bridge." She announced as she walked down the corridor.

[J'ross here Captain. Is there a problem ?] The XO enquired.

"No. But we will be delaying our departure for about an hour." Aki answered. "We're going to send the Hellcat on ahead with the Marines and a few volunteers. By the time we reach Mirisam V, they should have prepared the colonists for the evacuation and set-up their ambush."

[Understood.] J'ross announced. [Will you be returning to the Bridge.]

"I'm going to be down with the Hellcat for about half an hour, then I'll return to the Bridge." Aki replied. "Taybar out."

The link closed and Aki set off for the shuttlebay and the Hellcat.

Half an hour later, Aki stepped onto the Bridge and looked around at the crew. Many of them were junior officers, including the helm officer and Ensign Lana Logan, who was manning the security console in place of her brother. M'eko was currently checking with Engineering and Rachel Luwall, the two of them discussing ways to increase the efficiency of the transwarp drive.

*Ensign Luwall is turning out to be a good engineer.* Aki though to herself. *She might just get the Chief's job permanently.*

"Lieutenant !" Aki announced as she stepped down to the lower deck. "What's our status ?"

"All ships systems are fully operational." M'eko announced. "Ensign Luwall has reported that the transwarp drive will be ready within fifteen minutes. Weapons and shields are at one hundred percent. We're ready to go as soon as the Hellcat has left."

Aki noticed a hint of regret when she mentioned the Hellcat. Aki knew that her XO was fascinated by the shuttle and had spent nearly an hour that morning looking over the Hellcat's systems, especially the micro-slipstream drive.

"Would you like to go with the away team to Mirisam V ?" Aki enquired. "I'm sure Commander Barker would be happy to have an Engineer along, maybe you can see the slipstream in action and check that there are no problems during the flight."

M''eko's eyes almost popped out of their sockets at the Captain's suggestion. Trying to maintain her composure, she replied. "Are you sure you can spare me ?"

"You've already said that all the systems are fully operational." Aki replied. "You've done a good job overseeing the repairs. But if you'd rather stay here I'll understand."

"Permission to join the away team." M'eko requested formally.

"Permission granted." Aki said, smiling.

"Then I better get some things together." M'eko replied. "And Captain….. Thank you."

M'eko left the Bridge as fast as she could without losing her composure or poise and headed for her quarters. She quickly packed some clothes and picked up her custom-made anti-phaser vest. She then headed for the shuttlebay and met up with Lieutenant McQueen.