| USS Explorer 11:03 SET 2185 �We can�t go groundside,� Lieutenant Commander Ames was saying as he was sitting at one of the empty chairs on the bridge. �The number of people he�d have to have to sufficiently guard all those hostages far outweighs my whole security team. We�ll have to do it from up here.� �But Marauder�s on the surface,� Commander Vaughn pointed out. �If we want to prevent a scenario like this from happening again, it�s best that we stop it at the source.� �Agreed,� said Mansel with a nod. �We have to. find a way to get down to the surface and get Marauder.� Since the incident out in the Corcian space, the Explorer had moved a system over, so as not to pose as a sitting duck for whomever Marauder decided to send to polish off what the first two ships had done. �Does Admiral Blackbird want him dead or alive?� Lieutenant Hardy asked. �Alive, at all costs, it seems. Even though he�s done some pretty atrocious things to UNSF, he is to be tried by judge and jury like every other interstellar criminal.� �We might could use a diversion up here to distract Marauder down there,� Ames offered, swiveling in his seat from Vaughn to Mansel. �While he�s distracted...we nab �em.� �What kind of diversion can one ship make?� Lieutenant Talaj asked him. �All we could be is a thorn in their side, not enough to do any real damage.� �This is a perfect example of bad distribution of resources,� Mansel muttered. �One ship can�t do this. We need to enlist the help of some other people.� �Do you have anyone in particular in mind?� Commander Vaughn asked the captain. Mansel nodded. �Yes, I do, actually. The Titan. Lieutenant Hardy, track down the Titan and tell Captain Andreyavich that we wish to ask for his aid one more time.� �It might take a while, sir,� she remarked before getting underway, looking for the carrier ship. �Anyone else that we know to lend us aid?� Vaughn asked while Mansel pondered over his next step. �Besides the Stealthlon, no,� the captain asked, shaking his head. The Titan and Stealthlon are the only two ships we�ve come in contact with since we�ve been out here.� He paused, tugging at his bottom lip. "If we could get another carrier, though, we might have a fighting chance.� "Ten ships against three?� Lamb asked. �That�s three-to-one odds...we could barely handle two.� �But carriers have fighters,� Mansel argued. �Those fighters could help us out greatly.� �I still don�t think it�ll be enough.� Commander Vaughn sighed and shook his head. �As much as I�d hate to do it, I have to agree with Lamb,� he said, glancing from the Security Chief to Mansel. �At least two more ships...at least.� �We need a small fleet,� Lamb mumbled to himself, but Mansel ignored him. �What about the Foch-C?� offered Lieutenant Talaj. �It�s a carrier ship. As to its current whereabouts I am uncertain.� �Is it in 4th Fleet?� Mansel asked from his chair. The Science Officer brushed a strand of hair from in front of her eye. �Every other ship to hold the name Foch has been in 4th Fleet, so it is a safe assumption that the Foch-C is also in 4th Fleet.� �How far is the nearest space station?� Vaughn asked Broadaway, who turned to his console to pull up the information. �The farthest one is seven light years from here, sir,� he replied. |