THE OLD GUARD
STARDATE 02.18.22
SECTOR 50
In an isolated room aboard the Old Guard, Captain Severick sits across from William Schuler, his young Tactical Officer. Before them both, a computer projector displays moving images on the wall showing the Old Guard’s most recent battle. There is a certain tension in the air, so thick you could cut it with a knife. The Tactical Officer is nervous.
“Mr. Schuler, your analysis of our recent engagement with the Two Babylon P3A Battlecruisers?”
Mr. Schuler was quiet for a few moments as he gathered his thoughts. “The whole battle was based on luck, sir. The Old Guard was simply lucky. But one day, our luck will run out.”
“Lucky?” Captain Severick asked with curiosity. “Why would you claim something like that, Mr. Schuler?”
This time the young Tactical Officer was quick to answer. “Because we won only because the Babylon Battlecruisers were not aware of our Drone Refit. If they had known, the engagement would have ended quite differently.”
Captain Severick rubbed his chin. He stared at Mr. Schuler with intense eyes. “And what exactly would have happened, Mr. Schuler?”
“The Two Babylon Battlecruisers would have been prepared for our Scatterpack. They probably would have had Wild Weasels prepared, possibly two each. They may have countered our Drones with Tractor Beams, although that wouldn’t have stopped the assault. But combined with Phaser Fire, they would have minimized the damage from our Scatterpack.”
A slight smile formed on Captain Severick’s rough face. “If they had employed Wild Weasels, what would have been the disadvantage?”
“Speed, sir. They would have had to slow to a crawl. That would have given us the advantage of initiative. However, there were two of them. The other Battlecruiser could have covered the Battlecruiser that slowed down to deploy the Wild Weasel.”
“Correct, Mr. Schuler. In the latter part of the engagement, we had the second Babylon Battlecruiser in a Tractor Beam. How important was that?”
“Critical, sir. Without the Tractor Beam, our Suicide Shuttle and Drone would not have been guaranteed to impact.”
“And how would they have countered our Tractor Beam?”
“With greater power diverted to their Tractor Beam. Again, the Old Guard was lucky that the Tractored Battlecruiser did not have available power to boost their Counter-Tractor Beam. Their Captain failed to plan ahead appropriately.”
“What else, Mr. Schuler?”
“The Old Guard boosted our Tractor Beam with Reserve Power. If that Reserve Power was used for some other prior function, we would have lost the Tractor Beam on the Second Babylon Battlecruiser.”
“Your thoughts on the Babylon Battlecruiser in general?”
“The Babylon Battlecruiser is a swift vessel, more maneuverable than the Old Guard, but with key weaknesses. Notably, their Offensive Phasers are weaker than the Old Guard’s. Their Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Shields are weak. Those Shields are prime targets for an Alpha Strike from the Old Guard. Babylon Battlecruisers possess slightly more overall Power than a Europa Heavy Cruiser, but we have the same amount of Reserve Power. We both have the same amount of Administrate Shuttles, which can be converted during battle into Suicide Shuttles and Wild Weasels. Their Disruptor Bolts fire more frequently, but are less effective than our Photon Torpedoes.”
“Very good, Mr. Schuler. Always study and know your opponent. It could mean the difference between life and death for you and your Crewmates. Never forget that.”
“Yes, sir.”
“How essential is it that the Crew perform at the top of their abilities during the engagement?”
“Critical, sir. When we need to fire, when we need to launch Drones, when we need additional speed, when we need Reserve Power, when we need to reinforce Shields…these things must happen immediately upon command. There can be no delay. The Crew must perform at the height of their abilities throughout the entire conflict.”
“And if they don’t?” Captain Severick asked with one eyebrow raised.
“People die. People we know. People we work with side by side everyday. People we call friends. People we call family.”
“Correct, Mr. Schuler. That is the price of failure. Never forget that.”
“Yes, sir.”
“During the engagement, the Old Guard performed a High Energy Turn after taking a blow to her Fifth Shield. How important was that?”
“Again, sir, critical. If the Old Guard had not performed a High Energy Turn at that moment, she would not have been able to bring her Photon Torpedoes and Phasers to bear on the second Babylon Battlecruiser.”
“But isn’t it true that the Suicide Shuttle and Drone did not require the Old Guard to be facing the second Babylon Battlecruiser?”
“Yes, sir. But right after we hit her with the Suicide Shuttle and Drone, the second Babylon Battlecruiser was vulnerable due to the Down Shield and Internal Damage. That is the point in the engagement where you demanded their surrender. Without our Photon Torpedoes and Phasers pointed at the enemy vessel, we would not have had that card to play.”
“Excellent, Mr. Schuler. Any last thoughts on our engagement with the two Babylon Battlecruisers?”
Mr. Schuler went quiet. In his head, he struggled with whether he should say what was on his mind or not.
“Mr. Schuler?”
“I mean no disrespect, sir. You are the Captain and I am the Tactical Officer. But in my opinion, the Old Guard should never have engaged those two Babylon Battlecruisers.”
Again, Captain Severick formed a slight smile on his worn face. “Oh? And what should we have done, Mr. Schuler?”
“We were overmatched, sir. The smart play would have been to retreat and seek reinforcements. Both Cruisers, the Colosseum and the Parthenon, were four hours away at maximum warp. Our Dreadnought, Stonehenge, was six hours away but in an opposite direction. The point is, sir, that there were other options for the Old Guard. We did not have engage two Babylon Battlecruisers by ourselves.”
Captain Severick’s eyes met Mr. Schuler’s eyes without blinking. Both men saw what was deep inside the other’s Soul.
“Well said, Mr. Schuler. Excellent analysis of our battle. My respect grows for you every day. Always remember, becoming tactically brilliant requires knowledge, wisdom, foresight, analysis, planning, perfect execution, timing, coordination, study, and constant review. It won’t happen overnight. But one day, Mr. Schuler, you will be unbeatable on the battlefield. Of this, I have no doubt.”
“Yes, sir, I will. I will make you proud of me.”
Captain Severick stared intently at Mr. Schuler. Ah, the naivete of youth. It must be smashed into pieces immediately.
“NEVER FOR ME, MR. SCHULER. IS THAT UNDERSTOOD? DO IT FOR YOURSELF. AND FOR THE CREW. ALWAYS.”
