Episode 40. The Rodriguez Maneuver
Context
- Coordinated Universal Time
- Wednesday, July 24, 2024 - 19:21
- Location
-
- Space
- Earth Orbit
- USS Enterprise
- Bridge
- Timeline
- Unknown Timeline
- Previously
-
The Enterprise has taken part in its first official mission: escorting the Nauvoo-class vessels tasked with retaking control of Earth's satellites. But the operation turned tragic with the sudden destruction of the USS Washington, pulverized by invisible fire. The sensors revealed the presence of the enemy already seen over Brussels: a mysterious extraterrestrial vessel. The Enterprise prepares for confrontation.
Characters
| Name | Affiliation / Branch | Title / Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Agnes V. Rodriguez | NATO / Special Fleet | Captain |
| Angie Chen | NATO / Special Fleet | Commander |
| Eric Corda | NATO / Special Fleet | Lieutenant Commander |
| Emilie Flores | NATO / Special Fleet | Ensign |
| Charlene Savea | NATO / Special Fleet | Lieutenant |
| Eros Vitos | NATO / Special Fleet | Ensign |
| Alien Vessel | Unknown | N/A |
Manifest
| USS Enterprise | |
|---|---|
| Affiliation | NATO |
| Location | Earth Orbit |
| Captain | Agnes V. Rodriguez |
| First Officer | Angie Chen |
| Pilot | Eric Corda |
| Communications | Emilie Flores |
| Operations | Charlene Savea |
| Tactical | Eric Corda Charlene Savea |
| Science | N/A |
| Advanced Weapons | Eros Vitos |
| Infirmary | Victor S. Calpel |
| Counselor/Consultant | Manu |
| Custodian | Manu |
TL;DR
The duel erupts between the Enterprise and the extraterrestrial vessel. Torpedoes and mines struggle to pierce its shield, but thanks to a bold plan involving Vitos's DXS, a breach is created and exploited from the inside. The enemy vessel is severely damaged before fleeing toward Earth's atmosphere. Victorious, the crew records this tactic under the name Rodriguez Maneuver-001.
Story
As my crew prepares for the duel, the other vessels of the fleet move away from the area to get to safety.
The Enterprise and the Aragthonian vessel face each other, motionless, ready to fight it out.
Lt. Charlene Savea (Operations)
Captain, a strong energy signature is emanating from the enemy vessel.
It is preparing to open fire.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Mr. Corda, evasive maneuver!
A sharp impact strikes our shields.
The indicators immediately turn red.
Lt. Cmdr. Eric Corda (Pilot)
Too late, Captain...
We have been hit!
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Savea, shield status?
Lt. Charlene Savea (Operations)
After that first shot, they are at ninety-two percent, Captain.
The regenerators are operating at full capacity.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Perfect.
Number One, launch the first torpedo.
Reload the tube immediately.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
Torpedo launched, Captain.
The torpedo streaks straight ahead, tracing a golden line through the void.
Its glow refracts for an instant on the Washington's debris field, then it strikes the enemy shield head-on.
A bluish wave unfolds, absorbs the impact...
Then disappears.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Savea.
Result?
Lt. Charlene Savea (Operations)
No effect, Captain.
The torpedo did not penetrate their energy field.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Number One, return fire with phasers.
The fight is engaged.
Energy beams streak in every direction.
Corda maneuvers skillfully, dodging enemy fire, but our heaviness can be felt: their vessel is clearly more maneuverable than ours.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Mr. Corda, zigzag through the USS Washington's debris.
The hull vibrates as we plunge into the field of still-incandescent wreckage.
Fragments of alloy strike our shields like a rain of sparks.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Number One, drop the mines.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
Mines deployed, Captain.
The enemy vessel is heading straight for them.
A series of flashes briefly lights up the metallic haze of the debris.
The sensors saturate for an instant.
Then everything turns black again.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Result, Savea?
Lt. Charlene Savea (Operations)
No effect, Captain.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Corda, maneuver so we are facing it again.
Number One, when that happens, you throw all our torpedoes at it.
Then reload.
Corda strings together a series of high-gravity turns, breaking our velocity vectors and placing the Enterprise on a return trajectory.
The lateral thrusters correct attitude while Savea calibrates the ballistic transits.
In a few coordinated maneuvers, we find ourselves facing the enemy vessel again.
Lt. Cmdr. Eric Corda (Pilot)
We are in position, Captain.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
Five torpedoes launched.
Reloading in progress, Captain.
The torpedoes leave the tubes one by one in an orange burst, racing toward the target.
Through the forward bay, their trails stretch into the void like spears of fire.
The impact briefly illuminates the enemy energy field...
Before dissolving into a bluish wave.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Report, Savea.
Lt. Charlene Savea (Operations)
The enemy intercepted the first two torpedoes.
Torpedoes three, four, and five crashed into its energy field.
But the last one created a breach for a few seconds.
If we had had a sixth torpedo, we would have hit it, Captain.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Keep evading, Mr. Corda.
We are going to attempt the same maneuver, with Vitos's assistance.
Flores, put him on the line.
Ens. Emilie Flores (Communications)
Ensign Eros Vitos is already on the line, Captain.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Vitos.
Are you following our actions?
Ens. Eros Vitos (Weapons Engineer)
Yes, Captain.
My two DXS are positioned behind the alien vessel and the Enterprise, but I do not have enough speed to stay in contact.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
That is not a problem, Vitos.
We have a plan.
Wait until the Enterprise is facing the enemy again before acting.
Ens. Eros Vitos (Weapons Engineer)
What is your plan, Captain?
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
You are going to create a diversion by deploying the ten mini-DXS from the first DXS.
Meanwhile, we will hammer it with our torpedoes.
As soon as a breach appears in its shield, you will send the second DXS inside the energy field.
Once inside, deploy all the mini-DXS and concentrate fire on the point Savea indicates to you.
Do you understand, Vitos?
Ens. Eros Vitos (Weapons Engineer)
Yes, Captain.
Crystal clear.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Corda.
Savea.
Number One.
Execute!
After a tense chase, our pilot manages to reposition the Enterprise facing the opponent.
The plan goes into motion.
Vitos creates the diversion while Angie launches a volley of five torpedoes.
They strike the target and open a breach in the enemy defenses.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Vitos, it is your move.
Ens. Eros Vitos (Weapons Engineer)
The second DXS has passed inside the alien vessel's shield, Captain.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Good, Vitos.
Stay focused and continue the plan.
Ens. Eros Vitos (Weapons Engineer)
Deployment of the ten mini-DXS in progress, Captain.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Number One, distract our little playmate.
Send it a few phaser shots.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
With pleasure, Captain.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Where are you, Vitos?
Ens. Eros Vitos (Weapons Engineer)
The target has just been locked, Captain.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Fire at will, Vitos!
A dull pulse crosses the tactical screen.
No explosion. Just a brief flare in the infrared spectrum.
The sensors saturate for an instant...
Then everything freezes.
The foreign vessel remains intact, but its emissions suddenly drop.
Its shield contracts.
Its weapons go dark, as if someone has just cut its power.
On the bridge, a tense silence settles in.
No one speaks.
Then breaths loosen, almost incredulous.
Lt. Cmdr. Eric Corda (Pilot)
And... that is it?
There was not even an explosion.
Ens. Eros Vitos (Weapons Engineer)
Captain, I confirm that the enemy's weapons and defenses are neutralized.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Excellent work, Vitos.
Flores, try to communicate with that vessel.
Ens. Emilie Flores (Communications)
Aye, Captain.
Emilie adjusts the frequency and opens the link.
Immediately, violent static invades the bridge.
Ens. Emilie Flores (Communications)
Wait... I have a response... it is—
Alien Vessel
...Skrrkk chlkkk tsssk zzzip sssschk...
The sounds rise in intensity, distorted, oscillating between the shriek of metal and the resonance of a crystal being shattered.
Ens. Emilie Flores (Communications)
Aaaaaah!!!
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
What is happening, Flores?
Ens. Emilie Flores (Communications)
It is their transmission, Captain...
Some kind of vibrational language, inaudible.
I am picking up pulses at precise intervals, but... impossible to decode.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Cut the transmission immediately, Flores.
Lt. Cmdr. Eric Corda (Pilot)
Captain! Captain!
Look!
The vessel is restarting and diving into Earth's atmosphere.
Should I pursue it?
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Negative, Corda.
We have already severely damaged it.
No need to get ourselves trapped in Earth's radioactive clouds.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
In any case, the plan was effective.
We should add it to the tactical protocols, in case we have to face this enemy again.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Good idea, Number One.
Record it.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
Charlene, log the Rodriguez Maneuver-001 in the protocols.
Lt. Charlene Savea (Operations)
Aye, Commander.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
The Rodriguez Maneuver-001?
Do you not have a slightly more explicit name than that, Angie?
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
Well, no.
There is nothing more explicit than Rodriguez, Captain.
Lt. Charlene Savea (Operations)
I think it sounds pretty good for a combat protocol.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Myeah...