Stardate 17.11.2018.9am:

It has come to the CSHC’s attention that Klingons, a mortal enemy of the Terran, have overtaken the Federation’s Voyager Staging Facility in the Peterborough Sector. To regain control, CSHC Strike Team M5 has been assembled to neutralise the threat.

Intel reports from Commander Caddy show that Romulans have occupied the Neutral Zone at wormhole A14. South’s Starships the USS Steed, USS Marshman, and USS Barton, plan an arc around the blockade via Wormhole Papworth, thanks to some innovative planning via Google’s Stellar Cartography from Captain Rob, Starting at Starbase Long Road, in orbit around the Terran home pitch. Unfortunately, with a team of only twelve, Critical Crewman Sean Gardiner was nowhere to be found, which delayed departure of the USS Steed - Captain Howard commanding, who had to eventually leave a man behind due to time constraints as he had to also rendezvous with Ensign Shahzad en route, as his shuttle-craft, the DIY Ali, had blown a Clutch Capacitor, meaning it was no longer capable of Warp Drive, - only impulse speed. Luckily, the USS Barton came to the rescue thanks to its Trans Warp Drive capability, being able to rendezvous with Ensign Shahzad at a remote McDonalds outpost, and give the USS Steed a precious few extra minutes.

Stardate 17.11.2018.11am:

Captain Rob and Ensign Shahzad are stunned to see crewman Sean Gardiner at the Voyager Staging Facility readying for battle against the dreaded Klingons – apparently, he beamed himself over earlier but his messages had got lost in WhatsApp subspace.

Strike Team M5 (ST-V) assembled, used the precious few remaining minutes to warm up their weapons systems, and hence commenced the epic battle.

ST-V put the Peterborough Klingons under immense pressure for the first twenty minutes.

There were some great chances to strike into the heart of the Klingon Defence, thanks to some brilliant manoeuvring and pinpoint phaser fire from Lieutenant Phil of the USS Harvey and Lieutenant Stephen of the USS Browne.

ST-V were particularly effective down the left wing of the battlefield, with Commander Martin of the USS Grove extending its shields around the entire ST-V defence fleet whenever needed, a strategy which would eventually win him the Medal of Medalry (MoM).

Unfortunately, on one such occasion twenty minutes into the battle, a lone Klingon bird of prey suddenly decloaked and broke through the side, firing a Photon Torpedo towards its own ship hovering in front of the heavily armoured Dreadnaught, the USS Gillingham, being protected by Ensign Shahzad’s ship. The Klingon ship put maximum power to its deflectors to deflect the torpedo past Dreadnought Gillingham, into the heart of ST-V, destroying one of Ensign Shahzad’s warp nail-celles in the process, and resulting in the ship not being able to hold the structural integrity of its Phaser Banks, nor its Photon Torpedo Bays. 0-1 to the Klingons, and Ensign Shahzad’s ship is out of action for the remainder of the battle, leaking plasma.

On another such occasion, the Klingon attack cruisers break through the ST-V defence, overwhelm the Dreadnought, the USS Gillingham, and strike a Quantum Torpedo into the heart of ST-V. 0-2.

Stardate 17.11.2018.11.40am:

After thirty-five minutes, two Q entities appeared, declaring a temporary ceasefire while each side regrouped.

ST-V decided to swap the roles of the Strike Attack craft, the USS Browne, Commanded by Crewman Stephen, and the midway destroyer, USS Yu, commanded by Crewman James.

It was also decided to have Commander Martin of the USS Grove, and Crewman Sean Gardiner play a more offensive role in the onslaught.

With the two sides fully Energised, the offence commenced once again. The strategic change made a positive impact in the battle, which showed as ST-V having many more forays, deep into the enemy’s rear defence territory.

At 65 minutes after the battle commenced, Crewman Sean fires a torpedo towards the USS Yu, James Commanding, who uses the ship’s deflector dish to swing the torpedo into the Klingon heart; but the torpedo is, alas, partly blocked - but still alive. The USS Barton quickly engages its tractor beam to roll the torpedo into the Klingon heart with a slower but very satisfying detonation. 1-2.

Through the battle, the Q entities felt it necessary to award ST-V a number of Advantage Openings as a penalty against the Klingons for being dastardly dishonourable. Two of the more successful attacks included a shot from the USS Barton narrowly being deflected off the Klingon defensive dreadnought's bow, and another scraping the dreadnought's port side shield – these could very easily have been spectacular detonations.

The battle finished with a final enemy photon torpedo detonating behind Dreadnought Gillingham, bringing the final tally to 1-3.

A tough but encouraging battle against a well-trained, superior-in-numbers foe.

Stardate 17.11.2018.1pm:

The Ferengi arrived just in time to add insult to injury with their infamous LoM (Loser of Money) de-merit awards – an award for Commander David of the main Bridge, who left to shower his sorrows away in the Ladies bathroom. An award for Crewman James commanding the USS Yu, for getting lost on its way back. An award for semi-retired Captain Ky for not coming to the game. 3 awards to Ensign Shahzad for getting in the way of a Photon Torpedo, leaving him damaged, adrift, and unable to fight. And finally, an award to the Dreadnought Gillingham for nominating Ensign Shahzad to fabricate the battle report with only one functioning warp nail-celle (which he did).

Next week, ST-V Strikes Back defending Starbase Long Road, as they face the Phantom St Ives Menace… A New Hope?