This week with Arlene and Jeff:
...The lights went out, and the red emergency lighting activated throughout the ship. The First Officer had already instructed the AI to maintain power to the frigate's weaponry and the Bridge's sensors. He wasn't worried about sounds in space - there were none - but he was worried that the onboard electronics and sensors would be detectable.
"Sir, the unknown ship has gone to active scanning."
"Steady as she goes, Helm. Continue to maintain your position on the opposite side of the asteroid from the unknown vessel, but continue to use as little thrust as you can manage while doing it, and make the thruster pulses as random as possible."
"Maintain opposite side of the asteroid. Minimal thrust and random pulses," Helm responded, his voice all business and devoid of emotion.
The Navigator dropped something with a clatter, and everyone jumped before looking sheepish - all except the First Officer and the Captain that is - both of whom did not flinch or react.
"Well done, Helm," First complimented a few moments later as the Helmsman kept their ship directly opposite the mystery ship as it passed by, now only three and a half light seconds away. "They are obviously scanning the asteroid, but their course has not altered. Their scanner operators may just be bored and curious, so they decided to check out the largest boulder around."
"Sir?" Science said. "According to my database, that is a Dhisoi ship, Elois Class, equivalent to our Fulton Class destroyer. She is seventy-five meters longer than our frigate, has the latest armor and an extra thickness of it if the database is correct. Also, she has six more weapon arrays than we do. Sir, no wonder none of the Alliance ships could stand against the pirates."...
Have a goodun;
Roust