Carrier Operations (Part 3)

Posted on Mon Dec 16th, 2024 @ 8:35pm by Captain Maho Takahashi & Captain Koko Kaga & Lieutenant JG Jane Sinclair & Lieutenant Karen Kujo 'Union Jane' & Lieutenant Alisha Reno & Lieutenant JG Mia ‘Banshee’ Amaro
Edited on on Mon Dec 16th, 2024 @ 8:36pm

1,044 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Captains and Contraband
Timeline: After 'Carrier Operations (Part 2)'

Previously, on Star Trek: Myogi:

Satisfied that the issue appeared to be resolved, Koko turned to address the rest of the gathered pilots.

"Everyone else should maintain combat readiness:" She said. "I will ensure that you all will receive an update on the postponed joint training exercise. Dismissed."

And now, the continuation:

The next stop on the tour route was (naturally) the Kaga's flight deck. It was here that the Kaga's fighters launched and returned; and already upon arrival, the deck was swarming with activity: Ground crew scurried about as the fighters of the pilots Williams and Meadows were wheeled out to be prepped for flight.

"Captain on deck!" A member of the deck crew called out as Koko strode through the doors and into the large hanger-type space.

"This is our flight deck:" Koko explained. "It's home to our catapults, which are what bring our fighters up to flight speed from a standstill. Safe to say, you do not want to be standing here when there's a fighter taking off, or heaven forbid, one crash landing."

"Luxury indeed," Alisha remarked, hands clasped behind her as she observed the large area, "We are stuck in Myogi's hanger, no real launch assist. Standard procedure is to turn the ship into the direction of the opponent to give the fighters a clear launch path aft. Gives them a chance to get to maneuvering speed and clear from the ship without being targeted. It doesn't stop Karen or Mia from making high-speed approaches before slamming on the retros."

Koko perked a brow.

"Interesting, I thought I saw a work order for some sort of catapult system to be installed on Myogi." She noted. "Was the work not completed? Maybe because the class was never designed to handle fighter craft."

"No catapult system so far as we're aware of," Karen confirmed. "Banshee and I have pretty much deployed from the Myogi manually."

"I've said it before, and I'll say it again; the New Orleans class shouldn't be carrying fighters to begin with." Koko grumbled, motioning towards two waiting Valkyrie starfighters sitting on the deck. "The loaner fighters you'll be using are over there. They've already been prepped for flight by our deck crew."

"Excellent!" Mia rubbed her hands together, "I've been waitin' to get my hands on one of them, simulators just aren't the same as flyin' the real thing!"

"Just remember; you damage them, I'm billing Captain Takahashi for replacements." Koko warned. "Then she'll definitely ensure you spend the rest of your careers working on a garbage scow."

"It's almost like you don't trust us..." Karen pouted.

"Anyhow," Koko remarked once it was just her and Alisha, indicating the room suspended from the ceiling, accessible only via catwalks from the deck above. "We'll be up there when the fighters launch: That's called our Tactical Information Center, or TIC. It doubles as our battle bridge if the main bridge is knocked out."

It took another minute or two for Koko and Alisha to walk from the flight deck to the nearest turbolift to take up to the next deck before back tracking to the suspended scaffolding above the flight deck; the only method of TIC access, given its location.

"Captain on deck:" The air boss called out as Koko and Alisha entered the suspended room.

While Koko headed over to the windows to observe the fighters' physical launch, she noticed that her guest from Myogi was attracted to the 'air hockey table' in the middle of the room:

"Is it a full-holo display, ma'am?" Alisha asked with a slightly raised eyebrow, "Though that actually may be less effective for fighter combat than it would be for starship tracking." She'd mused even before getting a response, "It may be a 3-Dimensional combat environment, being in a fighter, but keeping track of it from a C-I-C or in this case a T-I-C would actually be easier to handle with relative elevation markers instead." Inside she sighed heavily, though she didn't show it outwardly: You could take the Intelligence Officer to another section, but the thought process was always there.

"The tracking table has full holographic capabilities, if our Air Boss and other TIC staff require it." Koko explained. "Ultimately, it depends on who's on duty when we launch fighters."

"May I?" Alisha gestured to the console and received a grudging nod before she tapped a few buttons to bring up the display, making several selections from the menu options to expand it out into the full 3D display with Myogi and Kaga in formation, the star system represented in hazy relief for their locations in relation. With amusement, she enhanced the area around the two ships, "Ease of use is very high indeed."

"Yes, most Federation member species have no trouble utilizing the full holographic display: Like most LCARS systems, it adapts to the user's preferences." Koko explained. "However, the manual options are still available for species who are unfamiliar with or have cultural reasons not to use the technology."

Koko's attention then focused back to the view out the windows down to the flight deck below, where Meadows' and Williams' fighters were joining the two loaner fighters for the Myogi pilots.

---

Having been instructed by the captain to get their fighters prepped, Dakota had called ahead to the ground crew to prep her fighter. Thanks to the efficiency of the ground crew, Dakota's fighter had been brought up from the hangar and was now sitting on the flight deck, joined by Pippa's as Dakota made her pre-flight checks.

"It's a beautiful day to fly, isn't it, Williams?" Dakota raised her colleague over the comms.

When no response came from her colleague, Dakota raised Pippa on comms again:

"This is Sodak calling Chaser:" She said. "One two, one two, can I get a radio check, please?"

“Sodak, Chaser,” came the voice over come. “Sorry luv, had a yellow on my transmitter, needing a reset. All green now. Can confirm, lovely day for it!” Pippa’s fighter craft systems were coming online. “How’re our guests doing?”

"We're about to find out;" Dakota said. "Sodak raising Union Jane and Banshee on comms; how am I coming through over there?"

To be continued...

 

RSS Feed