Act 2: In The Thick Of Things

Posted on Saturday March 28th, 2026 @ 5:02am by Commodore Toby Carlsson & Lieutenant Commander Shawn Hall & Lieutenant JG Elsa Burke & Lieutenant JG Layla Goodman & Lieutenant JG Kyle Goodman & Lieutenant JG Rachel Young & Lieutenant JG Chris Forbes & Lieutenant JG Logan Miller & Ensign Talon Vanora & Ensign Meghan Richards
Edited on on Saturday March 28th, 2026 @ 5:03am

2,703 words; about a 14 minute read

Mission: VFY S6, E1: It Has Begun
Location: USS Tianlong, Various

“Commodore, we're receiving hail from the USS Napoli. Message reads the USS Tianlong and the Gorn Fleet have vanished Into a vortex.” Hannah called out from operations.

Laura looked to Tenora, who Hannah was speaking to with a surprised look. She was concerned that the USS Tianlong appeared to be missing. She waited for Tenora to speak.

“Commander, attempt to hail Tianlong.” Tenora called out,with a tone of concern in her voice.

“Yes Commodore.” Laura hailed the Tianlong several times with no response. “They are not responding.” Her voice held concern. How could the Tianlong just disappear without a trace.”

“Are they detecting any residual traces from the substrate vortex?” Tenora asked. Her attention needed to be focused on the Klingons that were attacking the archanis system. But for the moment she was also concerned about the crew of the USS Tianlong.

“There is nothing.” Laura shook her head. “It is as if they were never even here.” Which they all knew was not true. What could have happened? Even if they had been destroyed, which she did not even want to contemplate, there should be something.

“Maybe if we were closer, our sensors could detect something. What do you think of Mr Salazar?” Tenora asked her chief science officer.

“I believe we would.” Ramiro spoke up. “There should be something there, even if it is so minute that it would be difficult to see, I will find it.” He was as concerned as the rest of them were. He wanted to find theTianlong.

“We need to address the Klingon threat first, right now how the Napoli with the rest of the battle group hold position.” Tenora said to Laura. She wanted to look for the Tianlong but right now wasn't a good time.

“Yes Commodore.” Laura replied. “I concur with your orders. It is best to handle the threat in front of us, we can search for them later.” It did not sit well but it was what they needed to do.

“So send a message to the Napoli.” Tenora said, has she repeated her original request to her first officer. She had a feeling that the Tianlong would need their assistance, when they returned. She expected the Gorn to be right on their six.

“Contacting them now.” Laura said. She should have followed her orders to contact the Napoli first. “I sent the message, Commodore and they have acknowledged it.” She replied after a moment. She needed to concentrate on the current situation and not the Tianlong.

“Advise him to keep us updated on any developments, then end the channel.” Tenora said as she looked over to Laura. Her eyes basically said she had no idea what was going on but right now they had to focus on one target at a time.

“Informing them now.” Laura acknowledged. Her eyes showed a reply that she understood their focus at the moment. She finished the communication and then ended the channel. “The Klingons appear to be testing us at the moment.”

“Go on Commander.” Tenora said she wondered what Laura was seeing that she wasn't from her station.

“It feels like they are not putting one hundred percent into this battle.” Laura explained. “It is like they are waiting for us to arrive. Taking their time not using their usual battle style.”

“Wars aren't often fought in the linear progression, there could be many elements that we're not seeing right now that gives me part of an overall plan.” Tenora suggested to her first officer. She knew the Klingons are very cunning.

“Good point, Commodore.” Laura said with a serious look. “I may be overlooking. I just want to be prepared for the unlikely as well.”

“Order the second battle group into the archanis system, they have full permission to engage the klingons.” Tenora ordered, as the USS Valkyrie jumped into the system.

“Yes ma’am.” Laura returned and sent them their orders. She watched as the second ballet group followed orders. “They will engage in on arrival.”

“Let's hope the colony's defenses can hold till we get there, what's our ETA?” Tenora asked, hoping that would be soon, she had a feeling that they were almost there.

“Less than five minutes and we should be there.” Laura replied immediately. She was standing next to the flight officer.

Tenora kept on the intercom next to her command share. “All hands, this is the Commodore, we are 5 minutes out from engaging the enemy, all hands remain at battle stations. Remember your training, it will get through this.” Tenora simply said that she looked around the bridge and then ended the call.

Laura braced herself for the coming battle. She was moved back over by Tenora. “Our crew is ready.” She informed her as she looked around. “We will get through this.” She didn’t have to say it but she wanted the Commodore to know she was confident in them.

The USS Valkyrie entered the system, and as expected a couple of vertebrates started to attack her. The Second Battle group started taking HD enemies but maintained the Tactical formation.

“Take evasive action.” Laura called their flight officer. “Keep firing at them, don’t let them get too close to us.”

“Ever play fighters protect their starboard side. Two of their destroyers are getting awfully close.” Tenora called out as she looked over to Laura to send the signal.

Laura sent the signal and watched as the scenario and their fighters came forward, driving the Klingons back. “They are pushing them back!” She informed the commodore.

“We need to Target their command ship, if we do, maybe we can convince them to back off.” Tenora was hopeful.

“Good tactical plan.” Lieutenant Tate.” Laura looked over to Calum. “Fire on their command ship at will.” She watched the screen as Tenora did. “Do you want our battle groups to as well?”

“Yes ma’am.” Calum replied and started firing on their command ship.

“Let's attempt to disable them first.” Tenora ordered, do you know if they destroyed the ship the rest of the fleet would fight to honor their fallen ship.

“Understood.” Laura nodded. She felt the same way she just wanted to make certain she followed orders correctly.

The Second Battle group Swift in and did some serious damage to the command shift of the klingons, however they weren't retreating.

“Do they want to die?” Nicole asked with frustration in her voice. Where was the logic in this she wondered, and she wasn't even invoking but this made no sense to her.

“From a Klingon perspective, there's nothing more honorable than death.” Odan explained as he walked over to the Tactical station.

“They would rather die than go home defeated.” Lieutenant Bentley spoke up, agreeing with him. “It would be a great personal blow to them.”

“I'm not going to blow up a Klingon ship just so they can get the honor that they deserve, that's not the Federation way.” Tenora suggested to her crew. If they wanted to die by combat she would honor it but she wasn't going to purposely Target them to destroy them.

“Let’s disable them:” Laura agreed with the Commodore. “They will fear survival more.” Klingons did not want to be captured.

“Yes sir, moving on to secondary Target.” Matthew said as he started at Target the ship to the port side. As soon as he did the damaged bird of prey started to make a suicide run on the Valkyrie. “The Klingon vessel is making a suicide run.” he called out desperately.

“Evasive maneuvers, target the ship, we need to deflect it away.” Tenora called out with a plea of desperation.

“Targeting them.” Tate called out. “He fired nonstop and didn’t quit until their ship lost power and drifted away. “They won’t be bothering anyone, Commodore.”

The Klingon ship was badly damaged, there are Battle scars throughout the whole entire ship they were fired on board. Tenora had hoped that they would make it to the escape pods. However she didn't see any escape pods on the ship so she wasn't sure how they were going to escape anyways. But they had forced her to destroy their ship, and she stopped just short of destroying it. She thought maybe they could salvage their ship and restore their honor and continue to live in the Empire.

“Mr Tate, keep an eye on them, continue targeting the next cruiser to the starboard side. We need to end this bloodshed now.” Tenora ordered if she looked over to Amber, her first officer, her eyes basically said that she was feeling a little sad that they had to do that. It would be more merciful to destroy the shift instead of forcing them to salvage a badly damaged ship.

“Yes Commodore.” Tate said as he moved to the next one. The damaged Klingon ship was still drifting but they appeared to be trying to get their systems up. “I believe they think they can give us one last run but it isn't successful.”

“I hope you're right Mr tate, concentrate all the fire on that ship. Have our support fighters Target their secondary ships, encourage them not to make another strafing run.” Tenora ordered, as she looked over to the main viewer and saw that their weapons fire was locking on to the main ship, and she was hoping to see the fighters start pulling away soon.

“Yes Commodore.” Tate said as he followed her orders, laying heavy fire onto the ship. He would never understand the feeling of honor in death.

“We are succeeding.” Laura replied as she watched the view screen. “I am watching the drifting warbird, it blinked several times but has gone dark now.”

Tenora could see the Klingon ship was flickering its power signature, she wondered though if this was a trap. Make them believe that the ship was damaged. “Alter our course to avoid that ship.” she had a sneaky suspicion this was a trap.

“Alter course, Lieutenant Stanley.” Laura gave the orders. “Stay clear of the ship that is badly damaged.”

“Hey Commander altering course now coming to course 417 Mark 318.” Nicole said, as she started to maneuver the Valkyrie away from the Klingon cruiser. She was a little anxious for this battle to get over, she was grateful that they weren't badly damaged.

“Acknowledged.” Laura returned. She looked to Tate. “Update, Lieutenant Calum.”

“We’re making headway.” Tate called out his concentration on firing. “They aren’t making things easy with their death wish.”

“I think that’s the point, Mister Tate.” Odan said, as he decided to chime in. So far his fighters were holding his own, and he was still on the ship. Half of the squadron was still on the ship. They had not launched the reserves just yet.

“If they are dead.” Tate asked. “What good will they be? Do they think we are going to let them crash into us?”

“Have you ever met a Klingon that is willing to let himself be captured?” Odan asked, knowing if he knew Klingons, he knew they would never allow it.

“I have not.” Tate agreed. “I just think it is pointless to die for nothing.”

“It is their way.” Laura spoke up. “”They believe we are crazy for our ways of life.” She looked through the view screen. “Let’s concentrate on this battle everyone.”

Tina noticed that the second wave of ships heading their way were altering course. “Commodore, the second battle group is heading over to the Vilmor II Star System.” Tina called out. She assumed they were investigating what happened to their fleet.

“Mister Tate, status on the Klingon Fleet attacking us?” Tenora called out, wondering if they were going to break away to investigate as well. Or if they would continue to stay and die on the sword?

“They are leaving as well.” Tate called out. “With the exception of the badly damaged ship.” He looked over to the Commodore. “They have not moved for quite a while.” His eyes immediately went back to his console.

“That's not let our guard down yet, maintain a Red alert, but do not pursue them.” Tenora called out as she was wondering if this is the trap?

“Keeping my eyes on them, Commodore.” Tate spoke up. “And weapons ready should they try anything.” He was not taking any chances.

A few minutes had passed and the Klingons were now out of weapons range, Tenora still wanted to take it easy instead of being regular for a few more minutes. “Take us from Red alert, let's go to yellow alert for the time being if I want to keep a tactical walk on the ships as long as they're in tactical range.” She called out with a tone of seriousness, the crew was her first priority.

Tate dropped them to yellow alert, keeping his concentration on his console. His weapons were still charged, he wasn’t taking any chances.

“What about the damaged Klingon ship?” Laura asked Tenora. “Once they are gone, should we come to their aid?” The instinct was to let them suffer their own fate but that wasn’t the Federation way.

“Right now we need to figure out what happened to Tianlong. The Klingons appear to be limping home, if they get into any serious trouble will render assistance.” Tenora called out.

“Of course.” Laura replied. “Salazar and Young, see what you can find out about the Tianlong. Callum, you keep your eyes on the Klingons.”

“Aye Commander.” Hannah simply said. She immediately started to scan for the USS Tianlong. If you do that some kind of rift or anomaly drag them into it, she was hoping to figure out where that was.

“Yes, Ma’am.” Ramiro went to work as well. He hoped they would come across something that would lead them on a path to find their fellow officers. There had to be an answer and they would find it.

Tate just kept his eyes on the Klingons as they continued to crawl away. He wondered what kidn of greeting they would get when they arrived home. He doubted it would be good, considering they only felt honor in death.

“They have to be there somewhere.” Laura said to Tenora. “Or at the very least some kind of signature pattern to give us a trail.”

“There's only so much I can do to increase the sensors, the closer we were the better our sensors would be.” Hannah suggested if she waited to see what Tenora and Laura had to say.

“All right, have him alter our course for the last known position of the USS Tianlong, maximum warp.” Tenora ordered. Something didn't feel right and she wanted answers, and listened to her operations officer saying they couldn't extend the sensors any further. Was all the justification she needed to abandon her sector of space. It was clear that Klingons were retreating, but were they heading towards the first battle group or are they heading back to Klingon's space, that remained to be seen.

“Once we get there.” Ramiro spoke up. “We should be able to pick up something.” He believed there were always answers, you just needed to find the clue. Sometimes it was easy and others, like now, more difficult.

“Lieutenant Stanley, how long till we arrive at the last known coordinates?” Temora asked as the ship jumped to warp.

“Four hours.” Nicole said that she engaged me and his, he was now to the fleet to get there in time. It wasn't quite clear if the Klingons were working with the Gorn, but it sure seemed to be the indication.

Laura thought four hours was too long but they were going top warp. “Let me know if you pick up anything, no matter how insignificant it might seem.”

“In the meantime, let's begin repairs on any systems that were affected by the last engagement, I want the Valkyrie in tip top shape in case we have to fight the going or the Klingons.” Tenora ordered as the scene started to fade away.

Laura gave out the order to engineering and had all the bridge crew checking out their systems.

 

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