(Excuse me, sir. Please turn that down...)
The already-erect posture of the Caitian in the center chair visibly straightened even more. Her head swiveled with feline curiosity as the meaning of Commander Williams' sunk in.
Getting our attention? she thought to herself.
Why?"Comput-ah. Analyze fi-ah taken frrrom the Victorrria. What components took damage?" Rrahng asked into the air.
The computer replied immediately and accurately. "No damage was taken from the U. S. S. Victoria."
"Whe-ah did the Victorrria's shots hit?" the follow-up question came as the dorsal section of the fighting vessel rocked with another salvo from the ventral half of the ship.
"Electronic emitter relays one, two and three were hit. All three emitters still online." the computer responded, unfazed by the sparks and smoke starting to filter into the bridge.
"What do they emit?" Rrahng continued her investigation as the ship rocked back and forth again.
"Current operations," the computer announced, "require silent running. All communications have been masked and scrambled for all ships in the immediate area."
Scrambled and masked? Jammed."Comput-ah," the command sprang with force from Rrahng. "The tactical situation has changed. Stop sending the mask signal. Also, prrriorrrity one on weapons. As the electrrronic emitt-ahs on the ventrrral section come into ah shooting arrrc, auto tah-get and fi-ah. This command supah-cedes any oth-ah tah-get, whenev-ah the emitt-ahs come under any phas-ah on this section. Confirrrm."
With a hesitation of a fraction of a second, the computer returned. "Order confirmed by voice print. ID current commanding officer, Lieutenant Rrahng."
The Caitian's attention returned to the battle. She watched the ventral section on the cloned tactical display. She considered what the other vessel was about to do. She also wondered if that ship could be disabled before she disabled this one and the Victoria.
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Lt Rrahng, XO, USS Victoria
Lt Erasmus Gue, CEO, DS-168
Joe McCauley
gryphonpoet@gmail.com
