OCV-07
Organized Stellar Crime in the Post-War Era
The end of the Great Colonial War signaled peace throughout Human settled space. But these celebrations, after six long years of total all out war across the breadth and width of Human space, was not without issue. The economic hardships of the succeeding decade and the proxy conflicts of the three major powers of Earth, Mars, and Sirius. Embroiled the settled systems in a new kind of Cold War. One such notable issue being the proliferation of interstellar crime syndicates and mafia organizations. Alongside religious fundamentalist and independence forces already emboldened by the existence of an independent Mars and Sirius.
Enter, the historically troublesome Lalande System. Site of not only genocide, but also some of the most brutal warfare of the Great Colonial War. Swiftly became a low intensity conflict zone on almost all settled planets and moons. Stations and habitats. The Moons of Baal, a string of planetoids stretching from the system's Goldilocks zone out into the coldness of outer asteroid belts, fields, and dust clouds. Became a hub of such activity. With the Terran Navy having to periodically sweep the region. However, such armed presence was problematic by the geo-political nature of Federation, Martian, and Sirian territories. For while the Moons of Baal were Federation territory, the Asteroid settlements were host to several Martian and Sirian mining and habitat installations. As a result the 'Armistice Line' roughly following an equi-distant course between Martian, Sirian, and Federation facilities provided a tense area of operation.
Federation Admiralty, seeking to focus more on the recent pacification operations on Lalande; and the Moons of Baal themselves; has delegated a new clean sweeping operation to the small Battlegroup 07. Battlegroup Valkyrie.
The Valkyrie and it's Battlegroup, comprising a squadron of destroyers, an older frigate, and a support ship. Would arrive in the system on January 2nd following two weeks shore leave and resupply on Taurus. The Valkyrie would begin its sweep of criminal elements without much incident as it made its way from Sunward (away from the system's twin suns). Yet, frequent shadowing and run ins with Sirian and Martian warships moving parallel on their side of the Armistice Line proved an all too unsettling reality for both veteran and rookie members of the Battlegroup.
Even now, as the Battlegroup moved in on its final station to sweep before breaking course for Lalande itself to await further tasking orders.
Epsilon Station could best be described as half-slum and resource extraction site. Host to a transient population of several thousand seasonal workers and contract skilled labor from private corporations based back on Lalande itself. The facility, through intelligence gathered before and during the Valkyrie's operations in the area, became known as a hotbed of criminal activity. Illegal weapons markets, narcotic shipments and even production within the stations agri-domes which helped provide niche foodstuff to the Moons of Baal, ran rampant. The facilities administration was, at least according to the Office of Naval Intelligence, heavily infiltrated by criminal elements. However, the pressing problem was the facilities location. For the large asteroid it inhabited, at seven hundred miles in diameter, sat so close to the Armistice Line that its errant orbit, distant from the Binary Stars of the system, yet within the barycenter of an small which traced a large slow orbit around the entire system, frequently brought it into Sirian space. It was not uncommon for Sirian Mercenaries hired by the private enterprises and administration that run the station to provide security to be reported in the open concerting with Sirian Marines and Naval personnel whenever the asteroid found itself on the Sirian side of the Armistice Line.
The Lalande System
January 25th, 2339 0815 Ship Time (ST)
System Rare Metal and Agri-Habitat 04 "Epsilon Station"
Stepping out of her quarters near the Command-in-Control center of the ship. Captain Victoria Starling fixed her cufflinks. A pair of passing crew, Petty Officers carrying a heavy cargo container, quickly laid it down to snap to attention. "At ease," said Starling while snapping both men a quick salute. The Marine off to the side, silent, stepped forward to close and secure the hatch to the Captain's Quarters before resuming his vigilance over the hallway. Heels striking heavy on the metal flooring of the ship. A result of her magnetic mechanisms on her naval issue footwear. Captain Starling made her way swiftly through the narrow corridors of the ship. Arriving a moment later in front of two Marines who like their Navy counterparts before snapped crisp salutes. Snapping her own return salute the Marines unlocked the hatch. Letting Victoria pass through and under a black lettered signage reading, "CIC."
The CIC was as usual humming with activity. The Officer of the Watch, Shivam Kuljari, monitoring systems and SIDAR. The 24th Century equivalent to the RADAR and LIDAR systems older Terran ships used when navies were present only on that worlds oceans. Spatial Infrared Directional Analytic Range. Capable of Passive and Focused or 'Active' modes. It was the eyes of the warship as it cruised through the silent, cold, void of space. As Starling arrived in the center of the CIC she cast her eyes up at the monitors hanging from ceiling mountings. Reporting all contacts and recorded contacts in the ships immediate vicinity or system wide. Granted the system wide display was often out of date given the time it took for ping backs to register.
The CIC itself was arranged around a central command table allowing plotting and tactical planning. With a bank for the helmsmen crew, communications, and so forth. Arriving in her usual place with her back to the helmsmen crew, the Officer of the Watch, jumped out of his seat and approached with a small stack of papers. Snapping a salute Shivam handed them over quickly, "Communications from the past four hours since leaving Habitat 03, Gamma, the Courageous still reports a faulty engine booster. Will likely have to have it repaired once we're back Sunward." TNV Courageous, DDG-342. An older Roosevelt-Class Destroyer like the also present TNV Honorable ,DDG-345, nearing fifty years in service each. Old workhorse picket ships.
"Thank you, Mister Kuljari, inform Commander Jiang that he can take up rear position in the destroyer picket formation on approach to Epsilon Station." It was common on smaller ships that a Commander could be posted in place of a full Navy Captain to command the ship. Especially, given the much smaller crew compliments of a destroyer or even Frigate.
"Yes, Ma'am," responded Kuljari with a nod. Leaving Captain Starling to begin leafing through the communications dispatches. Mostly idle traffic among the Battlegroup as it held a simple three line formation on approach to Habitat. The older destroyers Courageous and Honorable off the starboard side. While the newer destroyers of the Mineichi-Class, built in the 2320s, TNV Scimitar (DDG-448) and TNV Halberd (DDG-442) cruised off to portside. The Battlegroup's frigate, TNV Marvin G. Shields (FFG-1066), from the venerable Ernest King-Class, cruised parallel and below the Valkyrie. While the TNFR Bounty FRSS-067, a civilian bulk hauler and staffed Navy Reserve Corps sailors, fulfilled the role as battlegroup support ship.
"Habitat 04, Epsilon Station, is transmitting codes for final approach vector," announced the communications officer, a short broad shouldered woman with light brown hair and eyes named Theresa Wingate. Spindly fingers punching keys and rolling dial switches as she sent affirmation checks.
"Signal Epsilon Station that we are beginning final approach vector and boarding operations will be commencing shortly. All civilians are to stay away from...," Starling pulled up schematics of the station on the central table and pointed to an airlock allowing swift access to the stations control room, "...Airlock 19. All workers are to submit identification and permits to Marines when asked as per Terran Civil Space Code. Confirmation?"
"Message transcribed. Sent. Confirmation of Receipt with Acknowledgement," responded Officer Wingate.
Starling turned to her helms crew, a man and a woman in green fatigues, "Begin bleeding off speed. Bring us in parallel to Airlock 19, distance five hundred kilometers." The Helmsmen repeated the directions as they conducted the action with a confirmation of the orders execution. Though the crew of the Valkyrie could not feel it. The warship had begun to decelerate through the firing of RCV thrusters while its engine block put out less thrust. Its bulk adjusting in course to bring itself parallel at approximately five hundred kilometers out from the station proper.
"Launch CAP, and lets get our Marines aboard." Stated Starling as the crew of the CIC moved to fulfill her orders.
Portside Flight Pod
0820
Second Lieutenant Tisza jogged into the hangar bay. Flight helmet in hand. As her and the three other Apollo pilots assigned to run CAP for this sweep moved to their craft. Deck Crew in their bright orange and yellow fatigues and helmets, almost exactly in aesthetic to the maritime navy deck crews of old, readied their deadly strike craft. Moving onto the short latter leading up to the cockpit, Tisza plopped down into the cramped setting of a P-17 Apollo D-Class Superiority Fighter.
A Deck hand gave a thumbs up as the ladder was led away. The nose of the plane being wheeled around by a hydraulic pulley. Dragging the bird of war to rest squarely in a marked square. Hangar Elevator. The massive hydraulic systems engaging as the warplane lowered down into a narrow launch tube. An automated magnetic catapult moving forward to grip the planes landing gear. Fixing her helmet and making sure all systems were green. Tisza cast her bright green eyes over to the crew member which held up three fingers. A red light coming alive before her craft. Tisza began to breath in and out. The lurch of launch was not something everyone took lightly. The feeling of being forcefully pressed back into your seat as the plane was slung from the ship. At least she never felt sick enough that she might puke. She held up a gloved hand to give the 'OK' sign.
The light went yellow and she knew the crewmember now had only two fingers raised. Then one as it flashed once. Green. The lurch happened and the walls of the tube rocketed past her. The powerful magnetic catapult flinging her small strike craft from the imposing bulk of the Valkyrie like a fly launching from the side of an elephant. Walls then white spotted blackness. Gripping the stick she angled her Apollo to the right, engaging her engines by opening up the throttle, she took up position with the other three members of the CAP. Led by Aerospace Force Captain Marcus "Frogman" Lapierre.
This is Frogman to Artemis, Darius, and Racetrack, we're doing a fly by of the station. Raven's should be out to establish a further recon perimeter soon.
Sending an acknowledging communication click the quartet of Apollos swerved towards the station. The imposing asteroid it sat upon, and tunneled deep within, was truly an ugly conglomeration of bunker like structures. Small windows speckled with yellow interior lighting for galleries and some older habitat units. In truth only 30% of the station was visible from space. The rest including the bulk of worker apartments, restaurant and entertainment, mining, processing, and hydroponic facilities were within the asteroid itself.
Swinging into within fifteen kilometers of the station the Apollos flew by rather slowly. The guttural voice of Darius came over the radio, Looks kind of dead. No cargo ships or freighters?
Parking tickets. Wanted to skip town before the cops rolled up. Racetrack, the other female pilot in the CAP, earned a series of small chuckles with that joke.
Valkyrie CIC
0826 ST
Victoria went over the mission in her mind once more. The mission for Epsilon's sweep called four six Raven's to be launched and strung along the Armistice Line. To monitor for Sirian and Martian vessels. Easier said than done given the dust clouds and other asteroids in the vicinity. The rest of Valkyrie's Red and Green Squadrons of Apollos would remain on alert, ready to sally out if needed. While, two Lockheed-Grumman's piloted Captain Yurievich's Attack Squadron would be loaded with Marines to perform the actual sweep of the station. Their mission was like all the previous ones in this sweep of the region. Obtain and destroy drug paraphernalia deemed illicit such as Black Tar-Fentenyl, DMT4-Methamphetamines, S Krok or Super Krokodile, and of course the classics like heroin. Illicit firearms and individuals without proper work permits were also to be retrieved. The former for destruction while the latter would be deported. Any criminal elements would be arranged to be retrieved and imprisoned by a dedicated Navy ship that would jump in to take them for processing on Lalande. The Valkyrie's Chief Investigative Officer for Military Code Enforcement, John Israel al-Numan, and their resident Office of Naval Intelligence officer, Cornelia Victor, would be accompanying the Marines. To better deal with ongoing search, seizure, and destruction of any contraband or illegal persons they found.