Brisco's Gambit
Posted on Thu May 28th, 2026 @ 7:33pm by Lieutenant Commander Robert Brant & Petty Officer 1st Class Celes Fara & Captain Adrian Kellan & Commander Colton Rogers & Commander Kara Sorenson & Lieutenant Commander Casey Virel & Lieutenant Rayven Mist PhD & Lieutenant Darla Kennings & Lieutenant JG Zaire Byrne-Solwick & Lieutenant JG Aurora Winters & Lieutenant JG Tyler Montgomery & Lieutenant JG Nathaniel Wolffe & Ensign Kalina Solwick & Mindy Mist & Eliana Kellan & Paislee Kellan & Lieutenant JG Sienna Brooks & Ensign Sebastian Roydon & Ensign Emily Bowman & Ensign Zoey Armstrong
3,277 words; about a 16 minute read
Mission:
Episode 1: Shadows of Diplomacy
Location: Various
Timeline: Following Nighthawk
Location: Nighthawk Bridge
The Nighthawk made another pass, firing as they went, knowing they hadn't made much progress.
"The Scharnhorst is coming around again," helm said. "They're keeping their starboard shields towards us."
"They keep trying to angle towards the planet," Brisco said, watching them. "Angle us away and get behind them, and keep firing."
"We're not making any dents in their shields," Tactical warned.
"We don't have to," Brisco said, understanding the situation. "They'll be dropping them soon enough. We just need to have the backup plan ready by then."
Location: Scharnhorst Deck ?, Near Captain's Quarters
The intruders who had left the computer core were making their way along the corridor, checking door labels. Their boss had a two-pronged attack in mind, and while others distracted in the cargo bay and Engineering, they had one of the real jobs: grab a new hostage. They knew the Captain had a daughter, and were on their way to 'escort' her off the ship. With luck, no one would pose too much of an opposition.
Eliana was in her quarters with her daughter Paislee. She was in her room, playing with her hamsters. Eliana tried to shelter her from knowing what was going on but Paislee was far smarter than most gave her credit for. She had a feeling she knew something was up.
The taller one of the pair held up a hand and stopped them. They'd reached a stretch of corridor without doors, which implied a large set of quarters. He raised his weapon, as did his companion, and they approached around the corridor curve slowly, seeing the lone door that appeared. He checked the nameplate and nodded to his associate.
He pressed his thumb to the chime and waited.
"Who is there?" Elian asked, not opening the door. Adrian had given her strict instructions to not let anyone in except him or the security chief.
"Security, Ma'am. Ensign Baker here. We've got intruders on board. Captain's asked us to stand guard inside."
"Secuirty." Eliana pressed her comm immediately. "I have someone outside the captains quarters claiming they were sent to stand guard inside for me and Paislee."
When the doors didn't open, the two men both swore under their breath. "Override the door lock," the taller one said, stepping aside and letting his partner get to work. The other man pulled a tool out of his pocket and pried off the door panel, accessing the circuitry underneath and beginning to work.
"They are attempting to gain entry." Elaina informed security. She grabbed a phaser and headed to Paislee's room. She would defend her daughter to her last breath.
As Paislee's door closed, the front door to the Kellan quarters opened. Through the door to Paislee's room could be heard the sound of two men trying to keep their footsteps light. "Hello?" one voice called out. "Security. Anyone here?"
Their footsteps stopped as the sound of the front door opening sounded again.. "Who the hell are you?" one voice said. What followed was a series of shouts, weapons fire and thuds against the bulkhead as the two men tried to defend themselves against something. Shouts of anger quickly turned to shouts of panic as they both agreed "screw this, run!" and the sound of their boots faded as they ran out the door and down the corridor.
The door to Paislee's room opened and a green, ocelot-sized alien feline stood there washing his paws with what could only be described as a self-satisfied look on his face.
Paislee's eyes widened as she looked at the alien. She skirted behind her mom and peaked around at him, but he didn't seem to want to hurt them. She was glad she had hid her hamsters in her closet, that was one less thing for him to worry about.
Granger padded into the room and turned his back on the two humans, staring at the door, standing guard.
Eliana assessed him for a moment and she realized that he appeared to be here to protect them, not to cause them harm. She held her phaser still and spoke. "Thank you for coming so quickly!"
Granger kept his eyes on the door, but gave a satisfied purr in response.
Paisley let out a loud sigh. She didn't know who he was, but he had just become her hero. She wondered if maybe he might want to be her friend. It was lonely sometimes and she could tell he was one of the good ones.
Location: Scharnhorst Bridge
"I need a status update." Adrian called out as he looked over to Zoey. He wanted to know how contained the intruders were. He didn't like the fact that they had Invaders on their ship.
"Our security teams are still fighting them, captain they're outside of your quarters, security is intercepting them now." Zoey called out but the concern like on her face.
"Please tell me force fields are coming back online. We need to contain their parties or I'll even settle for transporters at this point." Adrian said is he looked over to Sebastian.
"They knew where to hit us captain, transporters and emergency force fields are offline along with several secondary systems not essential systems for ship functions but crucial to ship defense.* Sebastian called out, trying to focus on his duties and not at the unpleasant interaction that he had earlier with Zoey and Emily and the mess hall at lunch time.
"Bridge to Commander Virel, how long till we get secondary systems fully restored?" Adrian called out, classy heard his operations officer was heading to computer control.
Casey Virel heard a voice, one that was familiar but seemed far away. It was like throwing a glass of ice water on his face. The Ops chief bolted upright, taking exactly four seconds to remember his whereabouts. Computer core control room. The security lockout. The intruders. Although still somewhat wobbly, Casey managed to stand and brace himself against the console. His fingers danced across the control interface in a practiced ballet, a symphony of muted electronic tones.
“Bridge,” said Virel, barely catching his breath. “System lockouts are being released as we speak. Secondary systems are coming back online.”
"Thank you Commander, appreciate your assistance." Adrian called out.
Location: Shuttlecraft Cooper
Rayven had a feeling something was wrong. Tyler had made several comments about Eddie and that terrified her. The man was ruthless and had only one thing on his mind and that was Mindy. He'd stop at nothing to get her. Mindy didn't know her father and Rayven intended to keep it that way, Getting up from her seat she walked to the cockpit and looked out the forward window, Flashes of lights were seen which indicated there was some sort of a fight. Glancing back to check on her daughter. Mindy was still sound asleep. The little girl had been through so much in the past few days. Looking back out the window. "Tyler what's going on? Is the ship under attack?"
"Yes, the Scharnhorst crew, is working on it." Tyler said, are they try to keep up with the relevant information going back and forth between the cockpit and the back area where Mindy and Rayven were located.
"Eddie, that slimy worm," Rayven fumed. "Here I was looking forward to getting back on a ship and now because of me and my ex-boyfriend I've put the captain and the entire ship in danger, How will he ever trust me? I swear I didn't know he was in the area. Eddie wants my daughter."
Tyler did not want to correct her, but it was actually their child that she had physical and legal custody over. The thing that wasn't clear to him is why was he so obsessed with his daughter. Tyler wasn't a family man he was a single man, he didn't understand the dynamic so what a father would do for their child and he was young well he wasn't too young but he was young enough. But he couldn't say that to her and he didn't want to he was trying to be supportive. "We're almost to safety, let's focus on that."
"He's right," Robert said, his eyes on his sensors, staring so hard he risked burning a hole into the screen. "Right now our goal is to get on board. Then focus on kicking that guy's ass." He let out a growl of frustration as they dodged a stray phaser blast from the other ship. So far they'd kept their distance from the fight, and Robert was doing his best to keep them in position to fly to the Scharnhorst at a moment's notice, but there was one problem.
"Open a channel to the Scharnhorst," he said, looking at Tyler.
Tyler smiled at Rayven and Mindy and then walked over to the station. It only took him seconds to open up a secure com channel. "Channel open."
Robert looked up as the Captain's image appeared on the screen. "Captain, I have your lost luggage, but we're going to need the shields down to get on board."
"Understood; we're going to have to be quick about this. My concern in dropping the shields is once we do he'll try to get a transporter lock. Will you be able to jam his signal will help on our end too?" Adrian asked, he nearly would be risky to signal jam the runabout on final approach. "Can you fly the runabout in on manual without any guidance from the Scharnhorst computer?" In essence what he was asking Robert to do was to fly as they set up a scattering field to prevent transporter lock, but it was also going to blind the runabout. They would have to do a visual approach without any guidance systems. But Adrian didn't feel like they had much of a choice.
"Aye, Captain," Robert said. "Have Engineering set up the jamming field, and try to keep the ship steady. Don't try to adjust position for me, I'll adjust for you. Suggest you lay down some heavy cover fire and make Brisco's ship back off so you buy some time while the shields are down."
"Good Luck, Cooper, see you on the other side," Adrain called out, as he looked to over Zoey, Sebastian, Kalina. "You all heard the plan, lets make it happen." Adrian said, as no words were needed, and everyone instantly got to work.
"All right, everyone," Robert called behind him, as they closed the channel "hang on tight. We're going in."
Rayven picked up a sleeping Mindy and held her. The landing was going to be bumpy. "We're ready!" Rayven called out.
Location: Shuttlebay
Celes had managed to climb onto one of the shuttles, and had rained down revenge on her attackers from there, as had a few others. They didn't have much to work with other than their tools, but a few well-aimed throws had discouraged the invaders from trying to get out in the open for a good shot.
Celes had been about to drop down and grab another tool kit and reload when she heard one of them call for a retreat. She watched as they regrouped, dodged the last few projectiles and ran for the door. Her eyes narrowed and she watched them go. It wasn't scattered, it was organized. They'd been told to leave and were prepared for it. "Fara to bridge," she said. "The intruders are retreating from the shuttlebay. Not sure why, but we'll have the place secured shortly."
Kalina observed the unique flight path profile of Lieutenant Brandt. She was honestly impressed. "The shuttlecraft Cooper is approaching." She called out and she kept navigating the ship away from potential weapons fire.
Zoey continued to scan the area notice other ships were moving out of the way. "Captain several ships are breaking off, it looks like they don't want to be part of this conflict." She said watching the other ship uncensored trying to get away she can only imagine what it would look like in person. She just helped all the pilots on those ships were coordinating enough not to smack into each other as they tried to flee the area.
"Understood for the moment I want you to focus on our internal sensors. I need to know if all the intruders are quarantined?" Adrian called out as he looked over to Colton.
"I want you to get those bay doors open, work with Celes on getting that accomplished." Adrian ordered. "I want to move quickly on this I want the shields down there's minimal as possible." He ordered.
Colton called the shuttle Bay and when he was finished he turned to the captain. "The Intruders have retreated from the shuttle Bay, Captain."
As the channel closed, Celes jumped down from the high ground. "Clear the bay! Incoming hot!" She shouted, causing a mad scramble as everyone rushed to get the entrance cleaned and cleared for the incoming shuttle.
Location: Main Engineering
The lead invader checked his chronometer on his wrist and fired another half-hearted shot at the security officers who were pinning them down. "Cover fire!" he shouted. His people immediately began rapid-firing in groups at the Starfleeters, pinning them back and creating a moment of only friendly fire. They used that to leave their hiding positions and run for the door, leaving Engineering and heading for the rendezvous point.
"Secure engineering!" Zaira called out and turned to a console. "We need to get that jamming field in operation so that we can get our people back on board." He worked quickly.
Location: USS Scharnhorst, Bridge
Once Zaire was prepared, he pressed his comm and contacted the bridge. "Jamming field is ready. Just say the word, Captain."
He always hated saying that line, but here he was about ready to say it. "The word is given, get that Jamming field operational." Adrian ordered.
"Yes Captain!" Zaire replied and a few moments later. "Jamming field is engaged, Captain!" This was the moment of truth, they needed to get their people on board.
Location: Nighthawk Bridge
"Sir," the person on sensors said, "they're establishing a jamming field. We're losing sensor locks on the ships."
Brisco nodded. "Right on time. Our people should be back on the dart shortly. Can you tell if the Scharnhorst's shields are still up?"
The woman at sensors nodded. "They are. Sir, they're coming around for an attack pass. Firing phasers."
"Hold our fire. Evade their phasers, but keep our aft relatively to them," Brisco said. "Let them think they're controlling the moment."
"Aye, Sir," the helm station said, although somewhat confused as they twisted and dodged. Scharnhorst was more powerful, but Nighthawk was more maneuverable. They couldn't last forever that way, but it was buying them time.
Nighthawk twirled and spun as it dodged the phaser fire, but it kept its aft in position. Brisco smiled as he heard his sensor officer shout, "Sir, their shields are dropping!"
"Return fire?" his weapons officer said.
"Absolutely not. Keep evading their shots and prepare to drop our own shields," Brisco said.
"Captain...." the weapons officer said, his trigger finger itching beyond tolerance.
Brisco stood up and pointed his phaser at the man's head. "You fire a shot, it'll be your last," he said.
The weapons officer slowly pulled his hands back from his board. "Yes, Captain," he said.
Brisco looked at him a moment longer, then holstered his weapon. "Can we see the shuttles?"
"Their shuttle is lost in the jamming field," sensors said. "But....I'm reading the dart! It's on return!"
"Shields down once it approaches, and get it in the bay," Brisco said, smiling in satisfaction. One little shuttle had nestled inside the Scharnhorst's shields just in time, and their boarding parties had hopefully completed their mission of distraction and abduction. All he had to do was wait for their shuttle to return, and the Scharnhorst dropped their own shields for him. Idiots. With a little luck, this battle was about to end.
"Sir," the woman at sensors said, swallowing hard. "Shuttlebay reports the dart has arrived."
"Why do you sound like that's a bad thing?" Brisco said, now on alert.
"They were not able to secure their package," she said.
Brisco sighed. The battle was about to end after all. "Fire all phasers, and prepare to to go warp."
The tactical officer couldn't hit the fire button fast enough.
Location: Scharnhorst shuttlebay
The bay had been cleared of the thrown tools and all shuttles had just been moved as the Cooper came flying in. With both ships constantly jockeying for position, Robert had his work cut out for him to avoid crashing into the hull. Everyone was strapped in as he swung port, then starboard, then dipped down, trying to keep them aligned with the bay doors, attempting to thread the needle. The shields were down and he passed through, and as they rose back behind them, the ship stopped moving for just a moment, and Robert drove forward, passing into the bay. He immediately hit the brakes, so to speak, and Celes activated the emergency tractors, forcing the ship to a stop as everyone lurched towards the front.
As they landed back in their seats, Robert brought them down to the deck and cut the engines, letting out a breath. "Cooper to bridge...we're on board, everyone accounted for," he said.
He unstrapped himself and shut down the shuttle, leaving it for Celes to handle. "I'll be on the birdge," he said.
"Excellent flying, let's hope we never have to do that again." Tyler said, as he unfastened his harness and prepared to power down the systems. He wanted to see how Rayven and Mindy were doing but he knew he had duties up right now they he had to complete.
"All right, you two: Sickbay. Let's go," Darla said, pointing to Rayven and Mindy.
"I'd like to get settled in my quarters first and drop off Mindy's dog," Rayven said. "It's been hard on her,"
Darla sighed. "All right, but no dilly-dallying." She walked them off the shuttle, then headed to Sickbay.
Location: Scharnhorst Bridge
Robert jumped out of the turbolift a moment later as the ship shook from the phaser fire from the Nighthawk. He moved down to the helm and tapped Kalina on the shoulder, indicating he wanted to switch in.
"I kept her mostly intact for you, they kept targeting our Port thruster so I had to get a little creative with some of our flying patterns." Kalina called out, and she stood up to be relieved by him.
"They want us off axis," Robert said, half to himself. He slipped into the helm chair and immediately dipped them down on the z-axis, letting their ship punch back with an uppercut to the Nighthawk.
They watched the Nighthawk bump upwards from the impact and briefly list to one side before it righted itself and immediately turned tail and leaped into warp towards the Galactic South.
"I've got their heading," Robert said.
"Lay in a pursuit course and engage." Adrian called out, was he walked over to the home station. "Nice flying back there." He said with the warm smile on his face, as he felt his ship jump to warp.
"Aye, Sir!" Robert said, swinging them around and pushing to their maximum sustainable speed. Unfortunately, the other ship was just as swift, and without some luck, overtaking them would be difficult. The phaser barrage had somewhat masked their warp trail, but Robert was relatively sure they'd pick it up in time and course correct any deviation.
End
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