Valhalla Rising

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Chapter 3 - Classified Mission 432

Juneau Shipyard briefing room - Classified mission briefing 432 -

The senior staff sat around a large oak table, as the Admiral walked in. "Good morning, we have a long briefing for you all today, so best get comfortable.
The scientists here need you folks to acquire some Nomad samples for them" He gestured towards an elderly man with grey hair and a white lab coat.

The scientist took a step forward "In particular, we need some Nomad brains, of all varieties, we figure we can slave one of these brains to a ship's computer core, increasing processing power, and decreasing reaction times. If we are successful our ships could almost fly themselves"


*an hour of lengthy and boring explanations pass*

"Commander Porter, you are to take the Yellowstone along with a small skeleton crew deep into Nomad space, to harvest what the scientists need, the Yellowstone is currently being refitted to quarantine and store the brains without risking exposure. Doctor Valdores, I want you on board to oversee the storage of the samples. The rest of the crew choice is up to Commander Porter, you all leave tomorrow morning, so best you get some rest" With that the Admiral and the scientist left the room, and everyone turned to Jessica.

"I'll have the Yellowstone's engines running at peak performance, just in case you need to make a speedy exit" the Chief said without emotion.

"Thank you Chief, John I'll need you at tactical, I will pilot the Yellowstone, and we'll carry a detachment of marines, I want to put as few people as possible at risk" Jessica spoke softly, while still reading over some reports.


As the briefing ended and the crew moved off, Sharon stayed back and approached Jessica.
"Jess, are you sure this is a good idea? You know as well as I do how dangerous those Nomads can be, should we really be plugging one right into our computer?"
"I don't like it either, but orders are orders for now we will collect the samples, and when it comes time to test the new computers, I'll fight having it installed on our ship"

The two women walked out of the briefing room together, continuing their conversation as they walked...



Juneau Shipyard, Command Deck


Captain Decker nervously paced back and forth in front of the main view screen "They should have been back by now, its been too long"

"Give her some time, I'm sure Commander Porter is more then capable of completing the mission". Admiral Garner reassured the Captain.

"This is no ordinary mission, I bet even those LSF types wouldn't go on such a mission, I should have been in command"

"No, I chose the Commander for a reason, besides you are too valuable to risk on a mission like this"

The comms officer turned around "Sirs, we are picking up a distress call on all Navy frequencies"

"Put it through" ordered Garner

*static* The voice of Sharon Valdores, the CMO of the Yellowstone came through behind thick static

"This is the LNX Yellowstone, requesting immediate assistance, our engines are dead and we require immediate assistance" *Static* "We've been boarded by Nomads and have taken heavy casualties, repeat, heavy casualties, the Commander is hurt bad and Lieutenant Bertrand is leading the assault team to repel boarders" *static* "Please somebody help us.... * static and the signal dies off, you can hear gunfire getting closer*

"What ships do we have in the area?" Captain Decker demanded
"None, the Yellowstone is still far out, I'll see what I can redirect towards them..." Garner said while looking over ship deployment charts
"They better hurry, it sounds bad, we should have granted the Commander's request for additional marines"
"Whatever ship is sent, will have to maintain quarantine procedures, there's no way to know if anyone has been infested until we get them back to Juneau... ensign, get me high command" Garner replied.


Classified Mission Debriefing 432 - Norfolk shipyards- *8 hours later*

Through a window Captain Decker studied the damage on the Yellowstone, the outer hull was covered in weapons blasts, in the rear a compartment hatch was blown out and scorch marks cover the ship. The inside was much of the same, bullet holes could be seen in the walls from the bridge all the way to the rear section, there were also scorch marks from flame throwers. The engine room itself was completely destroyed and would require extensive repairs.

Decker turned around to face Lieutenant Bertrand and Sharon Valdores "What happened out there?"

"We managed to collect the samples without issue, containment was holding, so we started to head back to Juneau," Started Sharon
John Bertrand continued "Before we could make it back we were attacked by a Nomad battleship and several gunboats, they knocked out our engines and boarded us, Commander Porter lead the assault team to repel the boarders and was injured in the attack, along with several marines"
"We lost 5 good men out there Captain and all for something we couldn't use"
"Can't use? Explain" Decker queried.

"Well, after our distress call was answered by the LNS Niagara..." John began before Decker cut him off

"That ship is part of the 106th, I've heard of them"

John continued "After the Niagara approached and her boarding parties managed to bring the survivors on board and destroy the Nomad intruders, they towed us back to Juneau, however we still weren't safe and the Nomad battleship returned, then fled, then returned, as if looking for something. We decided it was the samples it wanted and jettisoned them into space, the Niagara them escorted us back to Norfolk"

"Juneau shipyards confirms that the Nomads did stop their attack after you jettisoned the samples... now how did the crew of the Niagara kill the Nomad intruders?" Decker asked

"Rather ingenious actually, they blew the engineering hatch then turned their own ship so that its engine thrust burnt the little critters to death... they then cleared the rest of the ship with flame throwers"

"Good, and you were all cleared by Juneau so I see no reason to keep you from your duties any longer, John I'd like you to supervise the weapon system installation on the Thunderbay, oh while you were gone the politicians renamed the ship again... and Dr Valdores, please take the next shuttle to Manhattan and see how the Commander is, we need her back on her feet as soon as possible. As for me, I need to go calm the Admiral down, and explain what happened, he's not too happy that’s for sure... Chief how long will repairs take on the Yellowstone?"

The Chief looked up, he had been busy reading engineering reports throughout the entire debriefing "huh, oh yes, I'd say 3 weeks is the best we can do"

"Three weeks? You have only one; I want a miracle on this one..."

"Aye Sir we'll do our best"

"Alright you are all dismissed" The Captain motioned for the door and headed off to make his report to the Admiral.

Code:

LNX Thunderbay Construction Report

Outer hull - 100%
Inner hull - 75%

Power Core - 100% operational
Engine Core - 50%
Jump drive - 0%
Scanners - 50% operational with limited range
Communications - 100% fully operational
Computer - 50%

Weapons - 25% non operational
Shields - 0% non operational

Life support - Operational in 75% of ship


Overall Ship completion 75%
Estimated time to completion: 2 weeks


*OPEN LOG*
*ID VERIFIED* Captain James Decker
*LOG START

After the disaster of mission 342 and the recent charges being brought up by the Captain of a battle cruiser, this project could sure use some good news, and that news is here.

Chief Mc.   Duff informed me this morning that the LNX Thunderbay is nearly complete, the only systems left to be completed are the engines and weapons.   Once complete, the commissioning ceremony can take place and we can take her for her first tour of Liberty, a tradition I am more than pleased with.    What Captain wouldn't want to show off their new command?

Doctor Valdores reports that Commander Porter will be back on her feet in time for the commissioning.    I intend to allow her to be on duty for this event, if the Navy wishes her to go before a committee regarding Mr.   Gafwmn’s charges, she won't be far, besides we'll need her on the bridge.

*LOG ENDED

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*On board the LNX Thunderbay, the dry dock at Norfolk*

John casually walked down the now quiet hallways of the ship. Most of the workers had left and the crew hadn't been fully transferred over yet... it was eerily peaceful. The installation of the weapons was a success, and he had the chance to test them out unexpectedly.

At 1400 hours, an Outcast dreadnought and destroyer attacked Norfolk shipyards. Thankfully, the Missouri and the Thunderbay were on hand along with numerous fighter squadrons, and the enemy ships were dispatched. The Thunderbay couldn't leave drydock, so she had taken damage, but nothing that couldn't be repaired.

Now why did these two Outcast capital ships suddenly attack when the Thunderbay was so close to being completed and launched? The Navy had lost several prototypes in the past, the Osiris, the Spyglass... could the Outcasts have been trying to steal the Thunderbay? There were certainly plenty of technology on board they'd want to get their hands on, but their attack seemed almost suicidal...

He stopped in front of a closed doorway and knocked

"Come in!"

He opened the hatch and stepped into the room, it was the quarters of Commander Porter, who had been transferred from Manhattan medical.

"So, you are still lazily lying around while the rest of us work?" John teased.

"They won't let me go on duty, I guess I should just be thankful the Captain arranged to have me transferred here... say, how about you spring me from here?" Jessica replied

"Hey, orders are orders"

"I seem to recall Sharon and me rescuing you from the hospital when you broke a leg and they wouldn't release you..."

"That was different, besides I was told to come here and order you to be on the bridge for tomorrow mornings shift"


Jessica raised and eyebrow and asked "What is going on tomorrow morning?"

John grinned, amused that he knew something Jessica didn't for once "Ah guess they didn't tell you, the Thunderbay is going to be launched tomorrow, all the major work is done"

"What? I better get to the bridge now, there’s a lot to get ready!"

"No, you stay here and rest up, we can handle the preparations without you watching over our shoulders" he turned and stepped out the hatch "See you tomorrow morning"

He closed the hatch and waved a pair of security officers over "Stand watch here, the Commander is not to leave her quarters till tomorrow morning"

He walked towards the bridge, thinking of how angry Jessica would be next time she saw him, but he knew she'd try and sneak out, and it was best for her to rest tonight.

Tomorrow would be a busy day, once launched there was a series of tests scheduled along with the customary tour of liberty space.