Shakedown #115"
By: Jonathan Wright, Executive Officer, [PC]
Jeff Westfall, Tactical Officer, [PST]
Riaan, Operations Manager, [PST]
Charles Atwood, Chief Intelligence Officer, [PST]
Ian Hunter, Commanding Officer, [PC]

Stardate: 58202.28 1330

=Bridge=

The Captain and XO entered the bridge. They were followed by En Forrester.The three of them were talking quietly as they entered the bridge.

Ensign Riaan,Sarik, Westfall, join us in the conference room please.

Hunter looked around, "Atwood, please report to the observation lounge please."

Hunter looked over at Forrester, "Ensign, you have the bridge."

As Riaan approached the Captain, he leaned and said, "since this happened on your watch, I want your input." =TAG Riaan=

Hunter waited until the staff were all present.

"Before we get started," said Hunter, you should all know who we're up against. Jenkings was the XO when I served on the Renegade. He taught me a great deal of things...he was my mentor. He took it personally that I defected. Unfortunately, this is somewhat personal. But he is a dangerous man. "

Sarik and Atwood located this message in an escape pod, Hunter replayed the message.

"I'm looking for options people. Do we think the Zion is combat ready, can we go up against his galor class ship? Hunter looked around. "Tactical analysis Westfall?"

"Tactical analysis would be inconclusive at best Sir, they seem to have some new systems previously unknown to our databases." Said Westfall.

"Your thoughts Mr. Atwood?"

"Sir I think we could use the Tactical advantage we gain by putting the containment field by tracking the source of the homing beacon and I would like to lead an Away team to rescue the kidnapped crew and also leave a surprise gift to them...If you take a look of the squemathics here you'll see what surprise gift I'm talking about" Charles continued talking while a smart electromagnetic bomb appeared on the screen, he added "This bomb will knock out any ship computer for at least 30 min giving us the window we need to rescue our crew"

Hunter studied the plan. "Interesting contingency. Of course we would have to locate them and eliminate their shields."

Hunter looked at Sarik and asked for his recommendations.

"Well captain, I could be brief on the matter. We have thoroughly scanned the pod and found nothing but the message mr Atwood has come to decipher. My

analysis is that logically this was the work of a federation captain operating from a cardassian ship who has the intention of bringing as much harm to us as possible. His motivation is yet unclear. Unfortunately his intentions are not stroking with those generally accepted by humans which makes him an unknown factor. Captain my analysis would be to avoid this man if possible. Yet we have to deal with our crew, i believe that we can try and search for them, but caution is needed."

Riaan, Operations report?

According to reports we have plenty of supplies on hand I am still awaiting confirmation from sickbay as to what we have on hand. I am not sure if you have read the report to the inventory of what we have onboard as of yet but according to the database we are more then well equipped and ready as far as I can tell, sir replied Riaan to the Captain. Also Engineering still are having some minor problems but stated that they will be fixed shortly regarding drainage of power on certain parts of the ship but should not hurt overall operations and are on top of things. In general from what I have learned we are basically at peek operations and should be at full peek in a couple of days once engineering has resolved the issue as to why we are having a loss of power on certain parts of the ship but they feel it should not interfere with any of our sensors nor our weaponry.

Hunter turned to Wright at last and said, "Your thoughts on the matter Number One?"

"Sir, it would appear to me that this is an obvious trap. We have a hostile message made my your former mentor and suddenly we are able to track him right to his location? I think we would be foolish to play by his game plan and follow that homing beacon." Wright paused, "We have an untested ship and a very new crew. This is a dangerous game Jenkins wants us to play. I urge utmost caution. I have not heard any plans so far that I am confortable with."

Hunter sat back and rubbed his eyes. He was hoping for more options. After a moment he leaned forward and asked Sarik to display the stellar cartography data. When it was up he studied it for several minutes. The course of the homing device would take the ship through an area where a dense asteroid belts lay on all sides. "I'm certain this is where he has set the trap. " said Hunter.

Flight control, Please come to the observation deck."

"Yes sir

A few minutes later Brittany entered the conference area.

"Please, have a seat." said Hunter.

"Ok. What do you want to talk about?"

Hunter displayed the course of the homing device. "Lt Lindsey, you are the most experienced pilot on this ship. Can you navigate this asteroid field in a cloaked Runabout? Push some small asteroids around, make it look like we're trying to get a sovereign class ship through it? Create a little diversion?"

"The field is roughly 4 million Kilometers will take about 20 hours to navigate at quarter to half impulse. It's on a heading of 090 mark 2, distance to the field: 1.2 light years and we'd be well within his sensor range. But I believe I can try.

"Ok people, here's what we'll do," said Hunter. "We'll move directly along the path of the homing signal, jettison the forged pod and cloak 1 light year from this field. We'll change heading to 091 mark 3. At the edge of the field Lt. Lindsey and and a volunteer will pilot the runabout Osirus through the field to create a diversion. The Zion will slip into the unobstructed space and attempt to locate the Cardassian ship. With luck we'll be able to get our crew back safely"

Any Questions?" Hunter looked around. No one responded, "Very good," said Hunter "Let's go get them."