ALPHA ISLES — The USS Khitomer has returned following an unsanctioned raid against the Lattice Alliance, with the USS Arrow now feared lost.
After successfully recapturing the stolen USS Arrow and confronting former Captain Shondra Carpenter, Captain Shayne and his crew encountered a new threat: a near-complete dreadnought warship. It was revealed that Carpenter had stolen the Arrow to facilitate the launch of this warship.
Captain Shayne and his senior staff deliberated on their next steps, considering whether to strike and how to execute the attack. Amidst internal dissent, immediate and extensive repairs were made to both ships to restore their combat functionality. The thieves who had stolen the Arrow were pressed into service to assist with the repairs. Despite the use of the ship’s industrial replicator suite, the Arrow could not be fully restored in the field due to extensive damage from a crash landing on a large asteroid.
“Highly irregular,” security chief Lt. Zenno summarized the plan to use the thieves as supplemental crew.
With limited time before the dreadnought became operational, and the potential increase in the Lattice Alliance’s power over the Alpha Isles, the Khitomer and Arrow dropped out of slipstream and engaged the enemy. Initially met by small craft, the battle progressed well until the dreadnought powered up and inflicted heavy damage on both ships. With weapons failing, Captain Hobart ordered the Arrow on a collision course with the dreadnought and instructed the crew to abandon ship. Due to sensor interference, confirmation is pending, but it is believed that both the Arrow and Carpenter were lost.
This battle is the latest in a series of conflicts escalating tensions in the region since the Lattice Alliance declared a territorial claim over much of the Alpha Isles. Peace advocates, who have criticized the declaration as incompatible with coexistence, are unlikely to welcome news of this strike. Many suspect that the Federation is on the path to war, and this action could be seen as a significant step in that direction.
Written by: Nolen Hobart