Chapter Three
Aboard the USS Skelly NCC-69362
Hlova system
Three light years from Starbase 390
D-15 days
The bridge of the USS Skelly was active yet quiet—just how Commander Stanley Boone liked it. The captain of the Omega class assault ship preferred his crew to keep communication between stations professional and job-related, all the better to avoid missed messages and critical mistakes. No chit-chat and chatter or banter, but only the beep of computer consoles and the murmur of communications.
The Skelly, a wedge-shaped vessel bearing a superficial resemblance to the Defiant class escort but about 60 percent bigger, was engaged in a complicated exercise and Boone was concentrating making sure it went off correctly.
"Captain, the Manassas, Belleau Wood, and Volga are now formed up and ready to execute maneuver delta-3," said the first officer from her position at his side. The four sister ships were practicing an orbital insertion to a planetary surface against opposition, preparing for the upcoming operation. Boone and his fellow ship captains hadn't yet been told exactly which planet they would be attacking, but based on the numbers of ships and soldiers, it was going to be one of the biggest orbital assaults so far in the war.
"Execute delta-3," Boone said. The helmsman entered the commands into his console and the ship began a turn in toward the planet, making a high-speed run for the surface. Eight Evader Class assault runabouts accompanied the four orbital assault ships as did the scout USS Broadsword. The ships were practicing the insertion of the initial elements of a planetary assault, one of the most dangerous of all assault maneuvers. The four Omega Class starships, each carrying up to 200 troops, and the Evaders, carrying 25 each, would snake their way through enemy defenses, land their troops, and get out. If they failed, transport inhibitors and shields wouldn't come down and the landing couldn't take place. In that case, they'd have to either bombard the planet, causing immense collateral damage and giving enemy reinforcements time to show up, or they'd have to land a huge distance from the target, delaying the operation and again opening up a window of opportunity for the defenders.
"Commander, tell me…" Boone began. Every bridge officer's head came up in surprise at the captain's conversational tone. What was the old man doing breaking his own rule? "How many times have we practiced this particular maneuver?" he continued. The first officer stuttered a second in surprise, but then recovered. "Uh, well… um, I believe we've done this fourteen times in the last five days, sir."
"That's what I thought," he said. "Based on the exercises we've practiced in the past five days, what do you think our objective will be?"
"Considering we've practiced covert insertion and full-scale assault here on Halvos IV, plus the presence of a Majesty Class troop transport, I think we're preparing for a full-scale divisional assault on a planet," she replied. The Majesty Class ship USS Nobility was an immense vessel, easily one of the biggest in the fleet, and could carry 12,000 soldiers to any battlefield for orbital assault. The relatively lightly armed vessel was one of just a few built for the purpose and represented a fat target for enemy ships. But she was better armed than most of the civilian ships that Starfleet had fallen back on to transport troops, and she could move a lot of soldiers in a short time, transporting a full division to a planet's surface in 4.5 hours under optimal conditions. But the path needed to be blazed by ships like the Skelly, which would prepare the landing zones for those soldiers.
"Very good, lieutenant commander. I agree," Boone said, rising from his seat, watching all the while as his ship continued to plunge through the atmosphere, heat from friction against the air causing the ship's shields to glow red. "This could be our biggest contribution of the war." Commander Boone was medium height with a medium build, unremarkable in most ways. He was cautious and methodical and didn't do much to distinguish himself from his fellow ship captains, although he was competent and imaginative at times. If he couldn't do the job, he wouldn't have been allowed to sit in the center chair.
Boone moved behind the helmsman, watching his maneuvers against the simulated ground defenses. The tactical officer called out for the captain, "Shields holding against simulated attack. Computer referee says we are down to 80 percent."
"Understood. Ready phasers and torpedoes to attack air defenses as they become available," Boone said in an even tone. Returning to addressing his exec, he said, "XO, I want to step up independent crew drills in anticipation of that scenario, concentrating on damage control and egress of troops."
Sitting down again as the Skelly approached her landing zone in the company of the rest of the assault force, Boone added, "When the 8th Division arrives tomorrow, I expect we'll be getting our allotment of marines. Integrate them into the drills." He turned to look her directly in the face, "I want to be sure that this ship and her crew make it out of this operation in one piece with a distinguished record, understood?"
The XO knew what was on the captain's mind. This was the biggest moment of the war for this ship and the most dangerous. They would need to be at their peak to survive it.
USS Skelly entering the atmosphere of Hlova during manuevers. Image courtesy of Andrew Hodges.
Aboard the USS Skelly
Orbiting Starbase 390
D-11 days
"Sir, the Brellix is ready for us to begin transport," the communications officer said to Commander Boone. The Skelly was picking up its complement of marines that it would carry into the upcoming operation, waiting in line with the other ships of the assault force to beam the soldiers off the vessels that had carried them to the Halvos system.
"Very well, Ensign, begin transport," Boone replied. Rising from his chair, he turned to his first officer, saying, "I'm going to greet our guests. You have the conn."
Boone arrived in the transporter room just as the third transport was complete. He quickly found the officer in charge of the arriving marines. "Lt. Martinez, I presume," he said to the ranking officer.
"Yes sir," the lieutenant said, shaking the captain's hand. "Glad to be aboard." Martinez had been on other Omega Class assault ships, during training and exercises, but this was the first time he had met Boone. He would have liked to extend the pleasantries, but he had spent a tiring nine days on the Brellix and just wanted to get his men settled in their new quarters. It seemed Boone was just as efficient.
"Why don't I show you where you and your company will be staying?" he said, leading the way out of the transporter room. Martinez signaled to Nik that he was leaving and then followed along. They passed down a few corridors of the small ship, staying on the same deck.
"What do you know of this operation, lieutenant?" Boone asked as they walked. The ship's captain didn't seem to be in a hurry, ambling along with his hands clasped behind his back.
"Not much, sir. Just that we are moving toward the front for a major operation and the whole division is going. My guess is something big." He paused. "Do you know more?"
"I haven't been given an official briefing yet, but we've been practicing clandestine insertions, full-scale assaults, and fleet maneuvers. From the formations and tactics we've been using, I don't think it's a major Dominion world, but something like a garrison planet, maybe with a small native population."
Tony raised his eyebrows at that. That was quite some speculation. Boone must have had a lot of experience with marine operations to be able to make such a guess from a few exercises.
"Of course, we'll know more later. There is a command-level operation briefing scheduled for tomorrow aboard the Charleston. Afterward, I'll come back and brief you on the details." They had finally arrived at the troop barracks on the ship.
The Skelly was an unusual ship for Starfleet. She didn't explore uncharted systems, catalog spatial anomalies, or mediate interstellar disputes. Instead, her job was to carry a company of Marines to the surface of a planet or the inside of a space station against hostile opposition and then get them out again. Although lightly armed, the Skelly had strong armor and shields to protect her in the midst of an attack, but was often escorted on her missions. The ship, a little larger than a Defiant Class starship, carried a crew of 65 and up to 200 passengers to places that transporters or shuttles couldn't.
Those 200 passengers, usually combat-loaded troops, were housed in three dormitory-style barracks on Deck 4, the second lowest level of the ship. That gave them quick access to the three hatches on Deck 5 that would allow them to make a quick egress during an assault. Of course, Tony's recon company only included 144 soldiers so they would have plenty of room to spare. And, as commander of the unit, Tony would have his own private quarters nearby.
"These are the quarters for your company," said Boone, as the door to a large room filled with double bunks opened before them. "The second barracks is across the corridor, and the third is down the corridor at the cross junction. And your quarters are here." Boone showed Tony to a door in the midst of the three barracks and ushered him into the small room. It had a bed, a chair, a small desk, and a computer terminal. It was a far cry from the quarters he had shared with Ens. "Jelly" Jelasco back on the Norton, a New Orleans Class frigate, back when they were newly minted officers on their first assignment, but about the same size as those on most small starships.
"These will do fine, thank you sir," he said to Boone. "I'll just see to my Marines and we should be fine."
"Of course, lieutenant. I'd like you to join me and my first officer for dinner tonight in the forward mess hall. We'll discuss protocol and procedures and get acquainted. How about 1800?"
"That will be just fine, captain," Tony answered. Boone excused himself and walked away, leaving Tony to retrace his steps to the transporter room. He found his company filling the corridor. He was unsuccessfully looking for Nik when Lt. J.g. Bezsh, a blue-skinned Andorian, pulled him aside.
"The chief went to our cargo bay to see that our gear was secured," the junior officer commanding 2nd platoon said. "Did you find our quarters, Tony?"
"Yes, they're down the corridor and to the left. Take second platoon to the first barracks on the right. Find Kilolo and Kaftaro and have them take the other two barracks. Have them to settle in and get some rest. I have a feeling. If this division is the hammer, we're nearing the anvil soon."
Briefing room
USS Charleston, NCC-42285, Excelsior Class Cruiser
Orbiting Starbase 390
D-10 days
Admiral Sevflk leaned over to Captain van Antwerp and asked, "Are all the captains and first officers here?" Receiving an affirmative answer, the admiral rose from his seat and walked to the podium.
Seated before him were the captains and first officers of the almost three dozen ships of this operation, including the officers from the five Klingon ships. There were also 15 senior officers from the Marine division.
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome. For those of you who may not know me, I am Admiral Sevflk. As you know by now, this meeting will brief you on a major operation involving the 8th Marine Division and the ships of these two task forces. You may also have guessed by now, based on the exercises and maneuvers you've been engaged in, that this will involve a planetary assault. Now we can tell you the rest of the story. Captain van Antwerp will now explain Operation Pell-dor." Sevflk stepped aside from the podium as his chief of staff approached and stood in front of the now activated display screen on the wall.
"Thank you, Admiral." He faced the assembled officers and began without preamble. "This operation is called ‘Pell-dor'. It is a Chiska word analogous to ‘homerun'. In 10 days this task force will attack the Dominion-held world of Callessus III, in sector 21504, with the goal of destroying the sensor installation there. This sensor outpost has allowed the Dominion to scan fleet movements in four adjoining sectors and has been responsible for at least three, and perhaps more, Dominion victories in the area. We are going to change that."
Gesturing at Sevflk, he said, "Admiral Sevflk is in overall command of this operation." Motioning to an admiral sitting in the front row, he said, "Admiral Sri Ganudi will command the planetary assault, while Captain Marta Nogier of the Charleston will command Task Force 175 and the escort and cover operation." A strong-looking woman of hefty build in the front row nodded as her name was mentioned.
Van Antwerp then went into detail of the plan of attack, how and when the ships would enter the system, how they would lure away or distract the defending ships while the orbital assault landed troops on the planet, and the expected strength of the enemy forces.
As he finished, van Antwerp asked for questions. The captain of the Zhukov spoke up. "If the enemy can see us coming, how will we get into the system without being engaged by a superior force brought up in reinforcement?"
"Good question," van Antwerp said. A schematic of the Callessus system popped up on the display over his shoulder, with blinking graphics portraying the locations of the outpost's sensor platforms spread throughout the system. "The two task forces of this operation, 172 and 175, will leave the starbase tomorrow, along this heading." A line appeared on a secondary display of the region showing the ships' courses away from the starbase in the direction of Callessus, but not directly. "Two days from now, the Klingon Bird of Prey Dutarg will enter the Callessus system under cloak, attack these four sensor platforms in orbit around the star"—he pointed to the four blinking icons— "and then get out. We know from a previous reconnaissance that it takes the Dominion two days to get replacements in orbit.
"So by D-6 days, the fleet will have moved into the sensor shadow caused by the gap in the coverage. Only two of the four sensors are vital to creating the appropriate sensor shadow, but the Dutarg will attack others to cover its intent. As the Dominion replaces the destroyed sensors on D-4, the Klingons will attack again.
"But by then, the fleet will have entered the spatial anomaly at PX2339, where you will be obscured from all but direct scanning from Callessus."
After van Antwerp finished, other officers asked questions and received answers. Then the mundane details of the operation were discussed, such as supply issues, communications protocols, and all the other minutiae involved in taking 14,000 troops and three dozen starships into combat. Finally, Admiral Sevflk rose again to the podium.
"Operation Return was the first major victory for the Alliance in this war against the Dominion and the first time we have caused them to retreat. I want this operation to qualify as our second major victory of the war. I have confidence that you won't let me—or the Federation and Empire—be disappointed. Dismissed."