ORIGINS: USS Hood Story Only Post Archives

Last Updated: 2260.175

2260

[ORIGINS] USS HOOD: And Then It All Went To Hell

by Mansur, Brian

Scene: Planet Monil IV, Capital City.
SD 2260.102

Lieutenant Commander Sean Merrick shifted uneasily in the limousine's shotgun
seat. He tried hard to ignore the loudmouth behind him and enjoy the view of
Monil IV's captial city. He sighed and turned to watch the capital's intricate
marble edifices blur by.

Merrick, about two dozen Starfleet crew, and several planetary officials were
convoying from their hotel up to the Grand Council Hall. Their job was
straightforward: negotiate for the Federation a treaty to mine the planet's
dilithium reserves.

Simple enough, Merrick thought. He rolled his eyes and wondered when the
councilman behind him would ever shut up about it. The chunky politician had
the XO, Commander Jack Steele, well and truly trapped in the rear cabin.

"I'm telling you that the Enric provincials won't like it!" Councilman Litro
argued. "They won't stand for it! Have you ever met one of them? In their
minds, it is the Prasaans' fault that the sun rises and that the sun sets."

Merrick harumphed. Hatfields and McCoys evidently had extended family on Monil.
As the chief engineer, Merrick had briefed the planetary council on which
dilithium deposits they wanted to tap first. It had gone over like a fart in
church. The majority of the mines lay in, of all places, the Prasaan province's
western border. It was land that the not so wealthy, but very irritable Enric
had historically disputed ownership of.

Litro carried on. "The Federation contracts will give the Prasaan overwhelming
economic and political power. Protests against these treaty talks have already
begun. Why, this morning, 5 people were hopitalized after a full out riot!"

"We're not about to tell you how to run your politics, councilman," Steele
calmly countered. "But the Federation considers that dilithium to be of the
utmost strategic importance. Disruption to its production won't be accepted. 
What will your government do to mitigate relations between the Prasaan and
Enric?"

"Perhaps you haven't been listening Commander Steele!" Litro scowled. "The
Enric don't do compromise. They won't ..."

Merrick yawned. It had been like this with the honorable Litro yesterday and
the day before. He was checking his communicator's chrono again...when it
happened.

All of the sudden it seemed like there were explosions everywhere. The lead car
erupted in a mushrooming fireball. Glass snapped across Merrick's face even as
he was thrown hard against his harness. In an instant, the whole convoy
crashed to a halt.

Shaking his head, he looked up in shock. He felt as if he had ear muffs on and
his vision was blurry. He glanced around. The Captain's limo, along with half
the HOOD's senior staff, was a blazing hulk. His own car's driver had slumped,
unconscious or dead. Merrick looked forward again. There was a line of smoke
leading right up to the first limo's burning wreckage. The image stirred
something in Merrick...an urgent little voice began to rise. "OH SH...!"

"Out! Out! Get out!" he yelled. "Rockets inbound!"

Then he noticed for the first time a frightful pinging sound. Whizzing and
ricocheting bullets filled the car. Panicked now, Merrick unhitched his belt
and dove for the slightly less exposed rear cabin. Wave after wave of shots
thudded around him. He heard a short, very small cry. He peered up and beheld
with gut wrenching horror the darling little asian officer from communications. 
She had taken two rounds to the chest. Her terror stricken eyes held his for a
moment, then lost their light forever.

Coming back to himself, Merrick realized that the intensity of the shots had
lessened. He saw commander Steele next to him laying on top of the councilman
and shouting vainly into a communicator.

"Jammed!" he spat. The fire seemed to have come from their right, so Steele
gestured left.

"Go! Go! Go!" Steele shouted as Merrick kicked the door out and they crawled
into the street. But as Steele dragged out the sobbing councilman, Merrick
realized that there was no real cover nearby. Their caravan had been hit in an
open field. The only nearby structure, a tiny convenience store he guessed, had
been taken out by a rocket that must have just missed their limo.

As shots started to patter close again, Litro began crying hysterically. 
"They're going to kill us! They're going to kill us!" Steele gave the
incontinent man a swift slap to the cheek.

"Control yourself councilman!" Steele ordered, even as a bullet tore a
respectable hole inches above his own head.

Merrick took heart at this spectacle and started thinking again. A glimmer of
hope made him creep forward. Their driver had been a security guard. His
pistol might not have much range, but it was better than nothing.

With some difficulty, he got the driver-side door open and pried the gun out of
its holster. No sooner did he have it in hand than Steele thumped him on the
shoulder.

"The car behind us is still in one piece. It will have one too," the commander
said urgently. "Cover me in three ... two ..."

Merrick quickly fumbled off the safety and chambered a round. He heard Steele
count "one" and popped his head over the hood of the limo. Luck was on his
side. A band of six or seven was hoofing it across the open field towards them.
He opened fire.

The shots caught the attackers completely by surprise. He nailed one Monillian
dissident in the leg and two others hit the dirt. Immediately a volley of
projectiles whizzed centimeters from his bare skull. Ducking back, he glanced
left in time to see three figures outflanking his absurdly exposed position. He
squeezed off six rapid shots that miraculously downed two. The third braced
against a street pole, and then made the spectacularly bad mistake of trying to
look around it for a target. Merrick all but cheered as his slug splattered the
man's brains across the pavement.

He heard shouts and more fire behind him. Steele had made it to the other car's
weapon and was now pumping a danger close assailant full of bullets. Sirens in
the distance became audible. More shouts followed and a whistle call went up.

By the time Merrick had pulled another clip from his dead driver's belt, the
attackers were retreating. He watched them run full tilt towards a couple of
air vans off in the distance.

Bastards!" he screamed. "Get back here you bastards!" He let off a few more
rounds. He wanted to run after them and make them pay for this unmitigated
atrocity.

But his training overrode that instinct. Some of the attackers he and Steele
had downed might still have fight in them. Grimly, he moved toward the nearest
and kicked him in the head for good measure.

NRPG: Welcome Aboard the HOOD! This part of a prelaunch series Andy and I have
been creating to get things fired up. He'll have a few follow-ons to post
shortly after mine. Feel free to add on to them! Just reiterating what Andy's
already said in his e-mails, we want to make posting aboard the HOOD as fun as
possible. If you don't have time for a few pages, a 5-10 paragraph postlet
would be just fine. If you're looking for ideas to get the creative juices
flowing, just drop us a message. I always return e-mails within 48 hours and
usually within 24. I'm always eager to JP, edit drafts, or just talk if you
need.

Respectfully Submitted,
Brian V. Mansur
LCDR Sean Merrick
FO, USS HOOD NCC-1703

[ORIGINS] USS HOOD: Captain Down ...... Andy Catterick

Scene: Planet Monil IV, Capital City. 
SD 2260.102

            Damn! Damn! Damn! Steele cursed as he ran a zig zag course 
towards the relative cover of a partial wall which moments before had been 
some sort of store.  Had been until the rocket that had been meant for his 
car had missed and taken it out.  He had told the captain that, given the 
tensions and the recent skirmishes between the factions that this had been 
a BAD idea.  Captain Sinclair had known it too, but it was a calculated risk.  
The government of Montil were aware of the Federation’s technical 
superiority but wanted to be treated as equals..equals that had something 
the Federation needed.  Badly.  So the decision was made to accept their 
security assurances.  And Steele had grudgingly accepted the logic.  He 
should have pushed harder.

            He flipped open his communicator as his hand groped for the 
phaser that wasn’t there.  Another concession to Montil’s sensibilities.  
“Steele to HOOD.”

            [HOOD here.  Its good to hear you commander! Sensors are picking 
up explosions and weapons fire near your location.  We can’t raise the 
captain.]  There was mild panic in the comm officer’s voice as if he knew 
the answer to the unasked question.

            “The captain is dead along with the majority of the caravan.”  
Steele replied flatly.  “We have multiple hostilies inbound and I don’t 
think there are enough of the security forces left to hold them off.  Set 
ship’s phasers to stun and target a 2 block radius.  Fire when ready.”  

            The order given he spun around to find Merrick.  He saw by one 
of the transports frantically administering CPR to someone in a blue tunic.  
The doctor?  He couldn’t tell with all the smoke.  “Merrick!  Sean!”  The 
engineer looked up in anguish in time to see Steele point towards the 
heavens.  “Incoming!”  They both dove to the ground as the wail of the 
phasers surrounded them.

<<<NRPG>>>
As Brian said, some brief backstory that we started.  My next two posts 
will bring us to the 'present'

Respectfully,
Andy
CDR Jack Steele
Acting CO 
USS HOOD NCC 1703
ASR ORIGINS

[ORIGINS] USS HOOD: Called on the Carpet ...... Andy Catterick

SD 2260.111

Scene: Briefing Room, Starbase 27

Commander Jack Steele stood at attention and fought the almost overwhelming urge to tell Admiral Palmer and her two lackeys to go and screw themselves. USS HOOD had slid into orbit 8 days ago and Steele had found himself spending the majority of that time standing in front of a variety of admiralty boards and hearings answering no end of stupid, idiotic questions.

Breathe, he told himself. It would all be over soon.

His captain was dead along with a number of good officers. As one of the few surviving senior officers the responsibility was his and his alone. He just wished they would finish nitpicking every unimportant detail and cashier him. As he deserved. He could feel the disgusted stares of his ancestors all about him.

           “Stand easy commander.”  She made the rank sound like a 

curse. Palmer frowned as she accepted a folder from Commodore LaPaz and scanned its contents. She conferred with LaPaz and then turned her attention aback to Steele. “So Mr. Steele let me see if I have everything here. HOOD was ordered to Montil IV to secure dilithium mining rights and possibly extend Protectorate status to the Montil government. Instead you involve yourselves in what could have turned into a civil war, you threw caution to the wind and actually sided with one of the factions and in the process not only killed almost two dozen of your crew but your captain.”

           Steele bit his tongue.  They hadn’t involved themselves 

they had defended themselves. A lot of good people died. But in doing so they had saved hundreds of innocent bystanders. But that didn’t matter. Starfleet wasn’t interested in intentions only in results. They should have found a way

“And just to make it a grand slam.” Palmer droned on. “I have received no less then four communiqués from Montil this morning. Three are from some minor functionaries protesting your heavy handedness, your brutality and complete lack of understanding of the political situation. A situation in which you thrust yourself and by extension the Federation into. I believe you know one of the gentlemen, Councilman Litro?” She looked up until he acknowledge the question with a curt nod. “Yes, well, it seems that the councilman formally requests your arrest and extradition to Montil to stand trial for assaulting him.”

Steele could feel his cheeks redden partially from embarrassment but mostly from anger. He had lost control with that whimpering excuse for a sentient being. But assault? It was hardly that.

“Finally, this last message is from Prime Minister Travil himself. Having reestablished control of the planetary government and with the support of his Parliament he has agreed to a long term contract with the Federation guaranteeing mineral rights. Apparently he feels you were instrumental in swaying him towards a relationship with the Federation and he would like you to sign the treaty on our behalf. In short,” She stared coldly, “he saved your ass.” A long silent pause settled on the room as Steele tried to wrap his mind around the new reality. He had walked into the room knowing his career was over. There had been no other possible outcome.

“Based on the findings of this board I hereby declare that all charges against Commander Jack Steele are dropped. Further, he is to return to duty immediately. This Board is adjourned.” She picked up the small gavel and tapped the bell six times. Silently Commodore LaPaz and Captain Reynolds rose and left the room.

“I know you don’t believe it Commander but you did a good job. A damn good job. But regardless of any successes there is the matter of Captain Sinclair. Not to sound overly crass but a dead captain demands serious consequences. Had Captain Sinclair told you about DAUNTLESS?”

“DAUNTLESS? No sir.”

“I thought not. He wanted to save it for a surprise. The orders weren’t official yet and you know the stickler he could be. He wanted to be the one to tell you that you had been given command of her.”

• Had been* The words rang out clearly. As in, until you screwed

things up and got your CO killed.

“I’m sorry to disappoint both of you. But given what I have seen in your record and in large part due to your action and the decisions you made when you found yourself in command I think I have found a more appropriate position for you.”

I’m going to resign Steele thought determinedly. I failed to protect my captain and now they’re going to exile me to some interplanetary shuttle run.

“The paperwork will probably take a day or two to take affect but you can begin your duties immediately on my authority. Lord knows you’ll have enough to do. Effective immediately I am promoting you to the rank of captain and assigning you HOOD.” She said matter-of-factly.

“I’m afraid I don’t understand Admiral.” He wasn’t sure how long he had stood silently before he managed to get that out.

Palmer sighed. “The orders are pretty straight forward captain. If you can’t follow simple direction perhaps I’ve made the wrong decision.” And then she smiled. Steele wouldn’t have thought it had been possible. “Captain Sinclair screwed up. Its very clear from the events and though you don’t come out and say it in your report you know it as well. Caution is an important commodity for a good commander to have. But so is the ability to take action and you clearly demonstrated you had that ability when you found yourself in the position you did. Captain, the CONSTITUTION ships are a rare breed and we need commanders who are just as rare. You will quite often find yourself cut off from authority and making decisions that will affect the quadrant. You will be the law, the peace maker, the explorer and when it hits the fan the fist. I am confident that you are the best person for the job.”

“Thank you admiral, I won’t let you down.”

“Don’t let yourself or your crew down and I’m sure you’ll come out on top. Now at the risk of ruining my reputation as cold automaton I am further authorizing HOOD to remain in orbit for an additional 14 days. Use that time to get her supplied and make any repairs necessary. Report back here at 08:00 on day 15 with your first officer and I will give you your orders.”

“My first officer sir?”

“You’ve got two weeks captain more then enough time to find yourself a good one. Dismissed.”

Respectfully, Andy CDR Jack Steele Acting CO USS HOOD NCC 1703 ASR ORIGINS