Andae Blakus
Moderator ..
Commander 1C
Registered: Oct 17, 2007 22:48:27 GMT
Posts: 1,452
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Post by Andae Blakus on Dec 6, 2013 21:55:33 GMT
Andae rose from his resting place, soon realising the magnitude of the headache besieging his temples. He wandered about his quarters, a sense of dread rising within him as he recalled various memories. Some intuition prompted him to check his replicator rations and he found that, true enough, they were half of what they'd been the start of the night before. He frowned and shut the screen down with a contemptuous stab of the finger, almost snarling.
With uncommon haste he donned his uniform, did his best to sort out his unkempt hair and shave the shadow of his beard. Milyanov better have taken care of that inconsistency... Andae had determined that the Raven would enter dock with its warp core in perfect working condition. He didn't want the Earth Spacedock maintenance staff filling engineering, innocent faces pretending to know everything.
Something to do with the ten of spades... He scratched his chin anxiously, perching himself on the edge of the bed. And those replicator rations, thrown away in a fit of arrogance, so sure of victory when it came to the river. This is what happened when one gambled on a head full of drink.
=^= Torek to Blakus =^=
Andae was surprised and broke into a small coughing fit, recovering quickly enough so that it didn't seem unusual. =^= Commander Blakus Sir =^=
=^= Andae .. If you are not too busy could you join me in Ten Forward please ? =^=
* * *
He stirred his coffee, only Calli, Spacedock and the Earth for company. The ship seemed to rotate around the globe in too perfect a circle - towards the Spacedock, tilted off its axis - the Raven's appointed door already starting to retract into the interior wall of the docking bay.
It had been long since he'd occupied the executive officer's chair on an official basis. He'd left that post, moved briefly to Operations before taking up his longtime abode in engineering, his preferred location on a starship. It had been and continued to be home for him, although sometimes things seemed not quite right. There was a different atmosphere to the Victory-C, where he'd started his career as a chief engineer. He sometimes liked to imagine that he'd never quite got used to it.
Spacedock expanded in the window until the bay door with its number 7 crawled out of sight ahead of them. "I'd be perfectly willing to accept the position if you're turning it down," Andae said. He believed as Carl believed that Alex would still return to them. He contemplated the absent officer's location, wondering what realm he might now lie in if he still existed. If he was with the Gandai still, then he would be returned to them soon surely. He shrugged to himself, looking down at his coffee and then the Earth.
"I'd still take it if you decided not to put yourself forward," he clarified for Calli. The metal behemoth loomed before them. Calli asked why he was eager all of a sudden. "Because we've only got a few seconds." Spacedock enveloped them, its pulsing mass gaining mastery of every aspect of the Raven's propulsive system down to its absolute depths. "I'll take it."
"Tinsley to Blakus. Sir... Maintenance staff are requesting our details on the current state of repairs." Blakus's ears perked up with interest but he was unsurprised to hear the tedium in his officer's voice. "Also, Lieutenant Taylor has returned to engineering."
"If you'll excuse me, Commander," Blakus said, finishing his coffee and rising from the chair. He left Ten Forward, looking back once at the inner mechanics of the docking bay that was the whole sight beyond the portals.
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Calli Valente
Starfleet Intelligence
"Don't get in my way."
Registered: Aug 4, 2010 21:19:10 GMT
Posts: 534
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Post by Calli Valente on Dec 7, 2013 3:01:36 GMT
"Why so eager all of a sudden ?" Calli asked, a wry grin on her face.
"Because we only have a few seconds ..." Andae said as the Earth rotated effortlessly beneath them, then seemed to come to a decision, "I'll take it." he said as his Comm badge chirped to life.
Calli watched the Space Station looming nearer as Andae spoke to one of his Engineers:
"If you'll excuse me, Commander." he said getting up and leaving Calli alone.
Later:
With over a thousand Men, Women, and Children on the ship, both Star Fleet and Civilians, Shore leave rota's were a nightmare ... Department Heads had been told they could grant shore leave to all non-essential personnel immediately. The Civilian personnel could also go onto the Space Station, or down to Earth if they so chose. Calli had, in her words, 'had enough time on the planet to last' so she had chosen to remain aboard for the duration .....
Within the hour, a steady stream of people were traversing the walk-ways connected to the ship, and the ship was emptying quickly. At the same time, people clad in coveralls were entering the ship and dispersing throughout her. Everything from the upgrade of the warp engines, to new shower heads, where required, would be carried out by these people. Under the direct supervision of Department Heads of their Deputies of course.
As she entered the Bridge, she was surprised to find two men dismantling the three seats in the Command area ... She drew out a seat from one of the upper level stations and watched with amusement. She wondered vaguely if there was some obscure Star Fleet regulation, that the Command seats had to be changed after 'x' hours of being sat in, who knew. She had been watching for a few moments when she became aware of someone watching her. She turned to face the man at the Science Station:
"Can I help you with something crewman ?"
"No ... Sorry Ma'am, I was, sorry ....." he said, turning away and continuing his assigned task, but his unwarranted attention had made her wary suddenly. She stood and approached the man, leaning over him to see what he was doing, "Ma'am ?" the man said, turning and putting himself between her and the modifications he was making. Calli leaned around him and took one of the Isolinear chips:
"We're increasing the memory back-up interface systems to store short-term buffer information within the station itself, Ma'am." the man quickly, holding out a hand for the chip, which Calli kept hold of, making the man continue his explanation, "It will allow almost instantaneous retrieval of data without interfering with computer core interface matrices."
"Which is why it is slightly longer ?"
"Yes, Ma'am." the man said, smiling as if a child had just understood the simplest thing he could have said ... Calli handed the 'chip back and feigned ignorance of all things 'technical' explaining she left these sort of things to 'those in the know' but she was studying for her Bridge Officer test, and wanted to be ready in case the Admiral threw in a trick question. The man seemed to sympathize, but was unwilling to help her, she promised to leave him alone to continue his work ...
'Sit your [word deleted] down Calli' she thought, chastising herself for her tendency to be suspicious of anyone with a pulse, and some that didn't. But something about the man, maybe it was his constantly referring to her as Ma'am that annoyed her ?
To pass the time she decided to check on the repair and refit manifest to see what else, in their wisdom, Command had decided to change. But she had the distinct feeling that the man was now watching her intently. She watched his reflection in the black plexi-glass of the stations' display wall. His finished his work and packed away his equipment. She noticed that he spoke to none of his fellow engineers as he left the Bridge ... She did notice though, that he gave her a long look as he passed ..... She turned to the station and spoke quietly:
"Computer .. Isolate the bio-signature of the male in turbo-lift one .. Lock onto that signature and track in real time .. Display in the Admiral's ready room .. Authorization: Valenti-Alpha-Zero-Two-Omega-Upsilon." she said, getting up and heading off the Bridge as the computer confirmed her request.
As she sat down she turned the screen to face her and activated it ... The plot of the man's whereabouts was displayed instantly. The 'lift dropped the full length of the shaft, stopping on level forty two.
"Now 'why' would you be going down to Anti-matter storage ?" she asked no-one.
"Computer .. Establish a transporter lock on individual and keep tracking his movements." She tapped her Comm badge:
=^= Valenti to Blakus =^=
=^= Blakus .. Go ahead Commander =^=
Calli told Andae what had occurred on the Bridge, and her concern as to the crewman's validity. She admittedly didn't know everything there was to know regarding the workings of a Star Ship, but it struck her as 'unusual' that someone would be making a simple memory upgrade, then go directly to Antimatter storage.
=^= Maybe I'm just reading things that simply aren't there Andae .. After all, we 'have' gone through some rough things in the last couple of years =^= she finished.
=^= Well .. You know these Space-dock Engineers .. In .. Fix .. and Out .. It's their nature .. But if you are that worried I could send someone down there to check ? =^=
=^= It may be nothing Andae =^= she said, not doubting her instinct for a micro-second.
=^= Sit tight .. I'll get back to you =^= Blakus said, closing the Comm. Calli sat back, watching the track of the crewman as he moved around the most secure part of the Galaxy Class ship after the Computer cores ..........
< tag : Andae / All >
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Sato Tetsutaro
Starfleet Intelligence
[Deceased]
Registered: Nov 30, 2013 2:01:59 GMT
Posts: 538
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Post by Sato Tetsutaro on Dec 9, 2013 23:59:43 GMT
Zero two twenty nine hours:
Sato was woken by his Adjutant, Captain Richmond ...
"Admiral ..... Admiral ..... My apologies for waking you." the captain said, stepping back to allow Sato to sit up, "In light of recent events, I thought it best to bring this to you immediately Sir."
"What is it ?" Tetsutaro asked, taking the offered PADD.
"A report from the USS Songacha .... After departing their escort duties with the Raven, they found something ....." Richmond said, nodding to the PADD. Sato played the report in silence:
To: Admiral Carl Torek USS Raven-B From: Captain Mark Thompson USS Songacha
CONFIDENTIAL
Admiral, I need to inform you that following our escort duty, two crewmen have been found dead. Our Chief Medical Officer confirms both deaths were caused by knife wounds. We have made a thorough search of the ship. we were unable to ascertain the culprit, or the weapon used, which seems to be a long thin blade of unknown origin. All other personnel are accounted for. It is my conclusion that, given time of death, the murderer could have transferred to the Raven during our exchange periods.
If the assailant is aboard the Raven, he may attempt to reach the surface and escape via one of the transporter facilities. Though it is possible he could remain aboard until you are docked and make his escape then.
We plan to rendezvous with the USS Ty-Mawr within the hour to transfer medical supplies. Should you require our assistance please don't hesitate.
Good hunting Admiral.
Cptn Mark Richmond. Commanding.
MESSAGE ENDS ....... "Has Admiral Torek reported this to Command ?"
"Not as yet Sir. He may have only received it moments before it was picked up here." Richmond said, watching Tetsutaro dress quickly, "I could contact the Raven on your behalf Admiral ?"
"Yes, do it from here. I wish to speak to Admiral Torek immediately." he said, moving to the bathroom for freshen up ... When he entered the living room, Helena was stood beside the Comm screen, she stood off to one side as Tetsutraro spoke:
=^= What do we know Carl ? =^=
=^= I have just reached the Bridge .. Commander Valenti was concerned about one of the maintenance personnel on the Bridge .. He seemed a little 'too' quiet in her opinion .. The man is currently on Deck Forty Two approaching the antimatter storage area .. He has been scanned and is carrying no explosive components so we're leaving him alone to see what he's up to down there =^=
=^= You are sure he cannot do any damage down there ? =^=
=^= He can't physically break into the storage repositories .. Commander Blakus was informed immediately and is currently heading toward the man along with a second Engineer and two Security Officers .. He will have re-routed all essential systems from Engineering =^=
=^= This man has killed twice that we are aware of Carl .. Caution should be taken =^=
=^= Understood Admiral .. I have ordered all transporters taken off-line and the access walk-ways sealed .. He's not getting off the Raven =^=
=^= Very well .. Keep me informed =^= Sato said, closing the Comm. He stood, wondering who the murderer could be. He did not want to contemplate the ramification should it be found he was in the employ of the Cordovin government ... He turned to his Adjutant:
"Contact the Space Station ... We are beaming up Immediately." ..........
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Marionette
Commander
Dr. Soong's penchant for whimsical names seems to have no end.
Registered: Mar 2, 2012 3:26:33 GMT
Posts: 285
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Post by Marionette on Dec 12, 2013 21:57:27 GMT
Marionette's shift at helm had ended, and she was in her quarters, experimenting with ultrahigh and ultralow frequencies on her synthesizer, when she flipped a switch - and the lights on the whole deck winked out. At first, she thought that it was just her room, but then walking out of her quarters, looking left, and looking right, she saw that all of the illumination had been turned off, and that it was coincidental. Going back to her synthesizer and flipping the switch back, the lights came back on. Lofting a brow, she flipped the switch, and the lights on the entire deck switched off as well..... "Fascinating." she said, and then began checking to see what was connecting the synthesizer to any outward sources. Nothing. There should have been no interaction between her archaic synthesizers, and the rest of the ship. Flipping the switch back on, she unplugged a jackport out of the synthesizer, and when she grasped the metal part, it transferred a sensation to her. Marionette's positronic brain processed the sensation as...... Something she had no reference for. After the new sensory input was over with, she began drafting up a new upgrade for herself - analog processing. Technologically, it was a very large backstep, but in her quest to become more human, she concluded that a non-binary based variety of sensations would be better than her thusfar digitally processed senses of vision, hearing, and a crude sense of touch. = - = (hours pass ?) = - = She had become so intellectually enthralled by this breakthrough, that her battery power levels had nearly run dry. Sixty seconds remained ! 00:00:58 In the span of a blink, she got up from the table station in her quarters. Marionette then leap-flew across the room to her bed, tuck-roll-flipped up to a standing position, and snatched up the powercord attached to the wall. 00:00:42 She swiftly took off her uniform jacket and top, letting it fall out of her hands. She then deftly popped open a shoulder-platelet on her left arm. 00:00:04 Inserting the recharge plug into her power socket, she had just enough time to secure a connection, before she went off-line, and stiffly collapsed into her bed. Naturally, everything else was left as it was - A Mess. Half-finished prototype upgrade ideas on PADD's and computer screens, the synthesizers a mess of half-plugged cords, her shirt and jacket crumpled and half-off the bed.
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Andae Blakus
Moderator ..
Commander 1C
Registered: Oct 17, 2007 22:48:27 GMT
Posts: 1,452
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Post by Andae Blakus on Dec 13, 2013 11:08:27 GMT
"On my way there now, Commander," Blakus said, tapping his commbadge with vigour to close the channel. "Darwin, you're with me. Put in a request with Commander Peers to acquire use of two of his security officers. Order them to meet us on deck 42, aft turbolift."
Perhaps this would answer a few of his questions. Something told him that the ambulance shuttle Piper was involved in this. Had their suspected culprit come aboard the Raven from the station, or via the shuttle? It would answer this dark sense of foreboding if it was the latter. A morbid image of coming face to face with the nexus of his fears unravelled rapidly before him.
The aft turbolift door slid back. They exited cautiously; nothing seemed out of the ordinary at first glance. They waited five minutes for the requested security to arrive, thankful now that they had some arms. They'd been told the suspected intruder had no explosives or otherwise, but it was reassuring to have the ranged weaponry security, literally.
They weaved through the containment units. Most of the antimatter containers were secured beyond shielded bulkheads, the extensive machinery arrayed about those sealed-off chambers generating magnetic fields to suspend and nullify the effects of the lethal anti-particles. There were some that lay in isolated containers with their own built-in generators, stacked almost haphazardly down the corridor's length.
"I should really visit this place more often," Andae commented to the others. The security picked their way through the containers ahead of them, being far too careful not to touch them. "They won't explode at a brush of your sleeve, Lieutenant."
The man looked around, "No, sir." Andae laughed abruptly and surveyed the containers about them. The security guard turned back to his tricorder, "I'm reading the lifesign some twenty metres ahead, in the corridor parallel to this one."
"None of the containers here look as if they've been tampered with," Darwin said, studying his own tricorder.
"Ok," Blakus said. "Let's take the next left, proceeding cautiously. Hopefully we will catch him at unawares. If it turns out he's not guilty, then we can pretend we didn't know he was here." They advanced slowly, the man coming inexorably into sight - a silhouette against harsh lights not designed for constant exposure to ship personnel. Unfortunately he saw them early.
A blinding moment, in the instant of the sudden sensory deprivation contained within a blink, a flash of silver with reflected light sliding off surfaces. Andae got a heart-rending sense of deja vu. He and the others ducked among the canisters, but the blue-collared Starfleet maintenance tech dived straight through their section.
Andae looked back in surprise. Obviously the tech had different priorities. He gasped as a jolt of pain shot up his arm; he looked down, realising he'd been cut. The cloth of his arm was torn and blood dripped to the floor. =/\= Commander Blakus to Admiral Torek, Commander Valenti... The 'intruder' has attacked us. =/\= He cradled his arm for a few moments.
=/\= Are you alright, Commander? Casualties?" =/\=
"Negative. I have a minor forearm wound but that's all. You said he wasn't armed with a range weapon but you didn't mention the long knife!" He sighed, "Pursuing now, sir."
There was no way that could've come from the Piper. He, Calli and Marionette would've known of any stowaway like that. From the Starbase then. And if he was right and this was a Cordovin assassin, then there were a number of possibilities. He could be after a member of the crew, or Andae theorised, El-Kamat, to execute him without due process. But then why would he join the ship from the Spacedock? Unless he didn't realise Kamat had already been transported to the Spacedock to await lawful extradition.
<Tag Carl, Calli> <All>
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Carl Torek
Command Staff ..
Site Executive Officer Ranks Officer
Fleet Admiral
"UTRINQUE PARATUS"
Registered: Jun 17, 2006 22:34:35 GMT
Posts: 6,164
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Post by Carl Torek on Dec 13, 2013 19:43:55 GMT
Carl was on his way down through the ship ...
"Computer. Seal off decks forty one and forty two. Erect level five force-fields at all access and egress locations. Authorization: Torek-Alpha-Two-Two-Gamma-Epsilon."
"Decks sealed."
The turbo-lift no halted at deck forty, Carl stepped out. He was met by a Security Officer who had been assigned to the 'lift. The woman updated him on the situation ... Commander Blakus and his team were on deck forty two. There was no access to the lower two decks and no-one had attempted to pass through the force-fields.
"Has deck forty one been cleared of personnel ?"
"Yes Sir." the woman confirmed.
"Computer. Seal deck forty one. Re-allocate force-fields to compensate."
"Confirmed." the ship said, as Carl tapped his Comm badge:
=^= Torek to Commander Blakus =^=
=^= Blakus Sir =^=
=^= Commander .. What is your location ? =^=
=^= We're in forward storage .. The intruder is ahead of us somewhere .. He can't get off this deck and can't pass us .. We're sealing bulkheads as we pass =^=
=^= Good .. Be aware .. I am ordering life support removed from all sections behind your position .. The computer will follow your progress removing life support from each section as you clear it =^=
=^= Understood .. Blakus out =^=
Carl nodded to the Security Officer who stood off to one side and passed the instructions to the ships' computer. She pulled up a schematic of deck forty two on the nearest view-screen ... Sections began to turn red as the life-giving oxygen was pumped out, leaving a vacuum behind. The red began a steady crawl across the screen until it reached a section that contained life-form readings .....
"Sir ... Admiral Tetsutaro is aboard the station and is requesting an update of the situation." the Security Officer said. Carl told her to bring the Admiral up to speed as he watched the screen ... Blakus and his team were in the last but one section now, the only other life-sign was the intruder, who was seemingly holed-up in the final section. He 'must' know he had nowhere to go, so why was he waiting for his pursuers to come to him ? .......
< tag : Andae / Marionette >
Twenty minutes later:
Carl grinned as Andae walked off the turbo-lift after re-instating life support to the deck below:
"Computer. Cancel alert and return the ship to nominal status."
"Confirmed." the ship said as the sound of bulkheads sliding into recesses rang through the deck.
"You think we might just call this mission done now ? ... Because frankly, I'd be happy to get back to Star Base Forty Seven, pick up our new crew assignments, and get the 'hell' out of here and on to something that maybe doesn't involve the destruction of the universe as we know it." Carl asked, a wry grin forming ..........
< tag : All >
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Calli Valente
Starfleet Intelligence
"Don't get in my way."
Registered: Aug 4, 2010 21:19:10 GMT
Posts: 534
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Post by Calli Valente on Dec 16, 2013 19:16:09 GMT
Sat in the upper lounge, overlooking the dock, Call and Sato watched as 'worker-bee' shuttles flitted around the Galaxy Class Star Ship. Her new hull plating was almost complete, maybe another twenty four hours and the saucer section would be completed. The Engineering section still needed work, but again, they were only looking at maybe thirty hours there ...
"She's looking good." Calli said, taking a sip of the sake the Admiral had ordered, Hard to believe how much that ship has gone through over the last couple of years."
"Indeed." Tetsutaro said, allowing the steward to refill his ochoko, a small cylindrical cup decorated with chrysanthemums, "I have always been fond of the Galaxy Class. The youngsters all want small, fast, sleek vessels now, but the Galaxy still turns heads when she enters a system ... So to speak." he said, a smile forming.
"What's going to happen to El-Kamat, has any decision been made ?
"Alas, no, he is being held at a secure location by Star Fleet Intelligence and the Judge Advocate Generals Office. I assume he will be offered something for his vast knowledge, but at this point it is all 'hush hush' ..... Are you happy to remain aboard the Raven, I am sure I could assign you elsewhere ?"
"No ... Thank you, but I kinda like being on there ..." she said, looking out of the plexi-glass windows at the gleaming white hull beyond cringing as she tasted the sake again before putting the small cup on the table and waving a steward over, "Whisky, double, neat, and 'NON' of that synthesized stuff you peddle, get me one from that bottle you keep hidden." she said, winking at the man as if they had shared a secret.
"Rice wine is not to your taste my child ?" Sato asked feigning hurt.
"You know it isn't, you've been trying to get me drinking it for as long as I can remember, without success I might add."
"I am leaving for Earth shortly. I am going to the house on lake Geneva for a few days, You could come, if you would like to join me ?" Sato said.
"Well ....." she said, accepting the drink the steward was holding, "There's not much I can do on the Raven, and now we're rid of the intruder, I think most people will be pushing to get the ship ready to leave. I may just get under their feet ..... You know, I think I will come down to the surface. I could really enjoy swimming in the lake and relaxing a little." she said, finishing her drink. She tapped her Comm badge and informed Admiral Torek that she would be going down to Earth for a day or so unless he needed her on board. He was happy for her to have a break and said he may join them tomorrow if the repair schedule allowed it. She thanked him then closed the Comm.
"Whenever your ready." she said, grinning ..........
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Andae Blakus
Moderator ..
Commander 1C
Registered: Oct 17, 2007 22:48:27 GMT
Posts: 1,452
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Post by Andae Blakus on Dec 18, 2013 12:36:35 GMT
"We have him cornered, sir," Blakus informed the Admiral and gazed ahead. In the relatively small space that was deck 42 the intruder - and likely assassin - had been confined to an area approximately twenty metres square, towards the prow. There was one corridor ahead - running perpendicular to the one Blakus was in - off which lay three ante-rooms and storage units. Regardless of which one the intruder was in, he would have to pass through Blakus's position to escape.
He and Darwin hung back, content to let the guards do the work. Blakus was no slouch in combat, given all his experience and his remarkable tendency to end up in a fist fight at least once a mission, but he was no match for trained security officers - this is what they were meant for after all.
The engineers heard phaser shots up ahead, followed by the shout of Ensign Perkins. The man sounded in pain. Blakus rushed around the corner Ensign Darwin. The assassin was there, leering over Perkins who was clutching his leg where he'd been slashed by the knife. The glinting assassin's blade rotated and tipped in Blakus's direction, the dark eyes of the Cordovin meeting with the CEO's. This was a face Blakus did not recognise, however he was clearly from the same caste as the assassin he'd fought against before.
He glanced at Darwin again and both opened up with their phasers; the assassin dived through the nearby doorway before the beams reached him. An object scythed through the air towards the Starfleeters, something small and metallic. It nestled itself in Ensign Quentin with a wet thud and the guard collapsed to the floor, his head partially severed.
"God.. damn...!" Blakus ducked for cover, flattening himself to the wall outside the room. "Computer, erect forcefield around storage unit 42-alpha zeta. Now!" he added unnecessarily. The field was in place. He nodded at Darwin and they came before the open doorway, the assassin crouching inside.
"Now, if you wouldn't mind talking - " Darwin began.
"Quiet," Blakus commanded, "Spacedock security can deal with him. It's clear what his purpose was here." The assassin regarded them with interest, a mocking look discernible in his eyes. "He was here to recapture El-Kamat, or perhaps even rescue him."
"You do me a discourtesy, sir," the blue-collared Starfleet impostor replied, the blade waving to and fro threateningly, although he was safely contained behind the forcefield. "Won't you address me directly? I suppose I'm an animal in a cage, here only for your amusement."
Blakus stepped right up to the forcefield. "Did your government send you? What's the situation on Cordovin Prime?"
The assassin laughed and sat on the floor. "The answer to your first question is yes. As for the second... I assume you want to know whether I was sent on behalf of a restored government, free from corruption in order to capture Tahl El-Kamat? Or, if I've been sent on behalf of a Kamat proxy-controlled administration, under Jorvin?"
"I don't know who that is." Blakus stepped back again. "In fact you fail of your effect. You're no animal and you don't amuse me. We've fought a long campaign: nearly two years, to stop El-Kamat... Did you honestly think you could undo our work in half an hour?" He turned to Perkins, who was still hurting but back on his feet. "Clear it with the Admiral to contact base security and have this man beamed to the detention centre."
After contacting sickbay about the tragedy of Ensign Quentin, Blakus left the scene, rubbing his temples and then pausing at a junction. His hands were shaking, his head fuzzy, light. Another brush with death; it never got any easier.
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Andae Blakus
Moderator ..
Commander 1C
Registered: Oct 17, 2007 22:48:27 GMT
Posts: 1,452
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Post by Andae Blakus on Dec 20, 2013 13:36:20 GMT
"... and get the 'hell' out of here and on to something that maybe doesn't involve the destruction of the universe as we know it." Carl grinned.
Andae returned the smile, "That sounds like as good an idea as any. If you'll permit it, Admiral, I'd like to take short shore leave on the surface. I have some old friends, family in fact, I'd like to visit." He stood to attention, receiving the nod from Carl and heading towards the turbolift to go up to his quarters.
Just about an hour later he was in a shuttlecraft en route to Italy's national spaceport. The craft slipped the bonds of Spacedock and glued itself to a retarding orbital trajectory bound for the Earth's atmosphere. It sped through atmospheric layers, disrupting high-lying clouds and lighting them up with the particle exhaust from the craft's atmospheric engine.
All across Rome its populace heard the twin supersonic booms. None were alarmed. It was the mere clarion call - demanding the attention of Rome spaceport's landing controllers - of another transorbital craft entering Earth's atmosphere above Italian civic airspace.
The Blakus abode lay on the outskirts of the city, in the suburb created in the recent expansion sixty years ago. The family had a virtual mansion built for themselves, with a look decidedly reflecting the antiquity of ancient Rome. Andae strode across the wide boulevard with his satchel slung over his shoulder. Despite the informality of his visit he'd stayed in uniform; he wondered if on sight of his uniform the family might think something was amiss.
"Andae! This is a surprise," a voice came from up the wide imitation-marble white steps that led to the pillared entrance of the homestead. "We saw the shuttle coming in. Had a sneaking suspicion it might be you." Blakus dropped the satchel at the foot of the steps.
There was a laugh, "What is it? There can't be that many Starfleet officers with family in Rome. Call it an educated guess." Blakus saw a figure dart across the entrance, from behind one white pillar to another. He laughed again.
"I don't have time for games, Elias," Blakus declared. He sighed and lifted his satchel, trudging up the steps. There was the scuttle of footsteps; Elias retreating around the corner of the building, laughing again as he took to the well maintained lawns about the home. Andae sighed and stepped through the entrance, searching for Lucian.
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Carl Torek
Command Staff ..
Site Executive Officer Ranks Officer
Fleet Admiral
"UTRINQUE PARATUS"
Registered: Jun 17, 2006 22:34:35 GMT
Posts: 6,164
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Post by Carl Torek on Dec 21, 2013 2:34:13 GMT
Carl was sat in the observation lounge ...... He had instructed the computer to reduce the window opacity to ten percent, and to reduce room lighting to five percent ...... He could see vague lighting through the glass while the room was in almost darkness. He took the ornate bottle, over four hundred years old, one of only six remaining in existence, and poured two glasses of the vintage cognac. Lifting one glass, he raised it to where his Executive Officer would normally sit during briefings: "Get back to us Alex." he said, sipping the warm golden liquid appreciatively. He sat in contemplation, thinking back to when they ceased to exist ! The Vezi, trying to produce power from dying stars, 'Q' once again meddling in Humanity, the Raven and her crew being thrust into something that should have been well above their comprehension. But they had battled, worked hard, and overcome. Andae, Aeryn, Will Jamison, Scott, Marionette, to name but a few ... He lifted his glass once again, this time to toast friends, old, new, lost, but not one would be forgotten ...... He thought about his life. For a long long time he had only Star Fleet, and his hunger to advance, to become the Commanding Officer of a star ship. But then he had met someone. Someone he had fell in love with, and was to marry. But she was taken from him ... Not wholly, for she had left him a daughter, Bethan, and he had poured his love on the little girl unconditionally. Vanessa was here too, Scott McLean's daughter, he had adopted her three years ago, but that too may come to an end, a happy and sad end, with Scott's emergence from his coma. There was also Chloe ... He had finally been able to admit his feelings for her too, much to the delight of the children ...... He put his empty glass down and picked up the other one: "Shame to waste it." he said, a wry grin forming, "Unless you want to suddenly 'appear' to claim it ?" he said, looking around the lounge expectantly, before shaking his head and drinking from the glass. He hadn't held out that much hope that Alex would appear on queue, and the cognac was much too precious to let stand. Andae and Calli were both on Earth now. Each taking time away from the Raven, and both wholeheartedly deserving of the break in his opinion. He would have gone to the house in Geneva, but decided to let Calli spend the time with their unofficial, adoptive Father alone. He would spend time with the girls. The Raven was almost ready to leave the confines of the space station. Just two more days, almost, and then she would be on her way to Star Base Forty Seven to pick up the remainder of the crew transfers, before heading out on her next assignment. Even the long, curved table had not escaped attention, the outer edges now furnished in a deep mahogany wood, replacing the teak-like wood from earlier. The chairs seemed 'plusher' though that could be his imagination, he decided, helping himself to yet another refill. "You'll be a bloody alcoholic at this rate !" he chastised himself with a shrug .......... Feel free to post any shore leave activity before we return to SB47 Where we will begin our next exciting and hopefully enjoyable outing
I hope to get the new mission underway over Xmas / New Year so we can start posting in earnest by 2014
Steve
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Marionette
Commander
Dr. Soong's penchant for whimsical names seems to have no end.
Registered: Mar 2, 2012 3:26:33 GMT
Posts: 285
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Post by Marionette on Dec 21, 2013 3:55:24 GMT
Marionette had 'slept in', as the human phrase goes. After her morning routine of bathing with steriwipes (because sonic showers were bad for her thusfar), the gynoid elected to continue her research that was the intellectual obsession last night.
Leaving her quarters with her very long hair in a simple ponytail and her duty jacket open, exposing a gray rectangle, (a clear sign that she was off-duty for now)
(Marionette spent the duration of her shore leave trying to track down atleast one already-dead borg, to facilitate her now-more-possible upgrades.....Unfortunately, to no avail. )
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Calli Valente
Starfleet Intelligence
"Don't get in my way."
Registered: Aug 4, 2010 21:19:10 GMT
Posts: 534
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Post by Calli Valente on Dec 22, 2013 19:08:50 GMT
Tetsutaro residence - Geneva:
From the villa at Parc Mon Repos, Calli sat watching the jet d'Eau across the bay. The fountain had been upgraded on numerous occasions, and now reached almost four hundred meters into the clear sky of the bay. She had enjoyed her two days away from officialdom, and the chance to spend time with her adoptive Father Sato. They had walked in the parks, visited the fountain, and had rode the cable-car to the summit of Mont-Salève, with it's breathtaking view of the bay far below ... She found herself thinking for a moment about what her life would be if she were to resign her commission as a Star Fleet Officer, and remain here running the vineyard and winery that was owned by the family. But it was a fleeting thought, and one she knew she would never act upon.
"You seem troubled." Sato said as he watched his Daughter.
Calli smiled ... The man she had known as her Father since she was a child always seemed to 'know' before she did that something was on her mind. She had never quite worked out how he did it, and his explanation that it was some form of mystic Japanese inner-self thing didn't work as far as she was concerned, though she admittedly loved the stories of ancient ghosts visiting the living and passing on information, even now. Sato could still send a chill down her spine when he began one of the stories late at night, with only the light of the fire for illumination. 'It helps that I have usually drank several glasses of the family wine beforehand' she thought, almost laughing out loud.
"No ...... Not troubled." she said, watching the city below, "I, I was just thinking abo ....."
"About staying here." Sato finished her reply for her, giving one of his 'mystic' looks for effect.
"Yes." she said.
"...... If my failing memory serves my child, you think about staying here every time you visit, but each time you return to your assigned duties ... I believe you know that this is your home, and that you can return whenever you wish to do so. It is, and always will be, the stable point in you life I think." Sato said, watching the wakes of vessels crossing the lake far below them, "Your place is in Star Fleet my child. But you have a home here, and a place to be someone other than a, Officer. But this conversation is moot I feel. You're fondness, and sentimentality for the villa will always be out-weighed by your need to serve Star Fleet ... At least for the present."
The two sat in silence for long moments. They always did when they came up here. But eventually one had to speak ... This time it was Sato:
"I think the Raven is almost ready to depart. Let us enjoy the day, and tonight we shall have a meal with friends .... Tomorrow, I think we shall both return to our duties." he said, kissing her on the forehead affectionately .......
USS Raven-B:
"How was Geneva ?"
"Nice." Calli said, falling into step with Carl, "I thought you were going to come down for a day, anything happen here you could have involved me in ?"
Carl updated her on the intruder, and how Andae had handled it. He brought her up to speed regarding the upgrades and refurbishments the ship had undergone. The crew assignments were complete, so once the final checks were completed, they could set off to Star Base Forty Seven to pick up crew, then they would be assigned a new mission.
"Great. Do i have time to take the kids down to the surface. They have added anti-grav section to the Polercoaster in Florida, you actually free-fall and rise over two hundred feet during the drop. I think the girls will love it !"
"The carriage does you mean ?"
"Oh no .... There's no carriage." Calli said, grinning at the look on Carl's face ..........
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Carl Torek
Command Staff ..
Site Executive Officer Ranks Officer
Fleet Admiral
"UTRINQUE PARATUS"
Registered: Jun 17, 2006 22:34:35 GMT
Posts: 6,164
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Post by Carl Torek on Dec 23, 2013 20:12:50 GMT
USS Raven Bridge - Two Days Later:
Carl sat quietly watching his crew work. The base engineers and contractors had departed the ship hours ago, and the newly assigned crew were all on board ...
"Sir. Dock-master says we're free to power up when ready." Marionette informed him. Moments later, Commander Blakus confirmed the warp core was on-line and they had optimal power throughout ships' systems.
Even though Blakus had taken on the temporary role of Executive Officer, he had chosen to oversee Engineering during departure from the Star Base ... Calli, sat in Commander Watson's seat, could feel the ship coming to life.
"Contact the dock-master and inform him we will be ready to leave shortly." Carl ordered, "Mister Wedlerson, Drop umbilici, and have the dock withdraw the walkways."
"Sir, we're free to navigate." Lieutenant Marionette confirmed.
"Back us away from the Dock and prepare to rotate orientation please." Torek said, watching the ship slide smoothly away from the massive structure. He could see 'worker-bee' shuttles moving around the ship, checking on work carried out on the outer hull, before flashing their navigation lights to signify all well, "Helm, rotate ship for space doors."
The gleaming white ship began a slow rotation to port, until she was facing the enormous doors that would allow them access to open space.
"Command confirms our destination as Star Base Forty Seven. We are free to depart Sir." the Comms Officer said.
"Mister Wedlerson, thank the dock-master and his personnel on a job well done and request departure." Carl said, watching the view-screen. A moment later the doors began to move aside and Carl nodded to Marionette.
< tag : Marionette >
The Star Base fell far behind them, but Carl kept the ship under impulse power only, wanting to savor the sight of Earth falling away, a delicate blue green jewel against the star-studded blackness of space. Finally, he gave the order ...
"Helm. Set course for Star Base Forty Seven ... Warp six ... Engage."
The Galaxy Class vessel slipped seamlessly into warp and vanished from sight ..........
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Andae Blakus
Moderator ..
Commander 1C
Registered: Oct 17, 2007 22:48:27 GMT
Posts: 1,452
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Post by Andae Blakus on Dec 23, 2013 22:50:09 GMT
OOC: This has become a slight backpost with our jump to warp back out to Starbase 47. I'll catch up over the next few days.
He reclined in the comfort chair, faced at an angle to the window in which passed a filtered, paltry light. While the regal light outside the mansion was of an apollonian illumination, those high-placed rectangular portals into the clandestine halls of the Blakus homestead dimmed the antique majesty of it to a heady sepia.
A wealth of books, parchments - real paper - racked the right-hand wall, mostly untouched in the fifty years the timeframe in which the house had existed. Only a few manuscripts showed signs of use, occupying a half-full shelf within reach of the man in the chair. The rest; tired, dusty lines of literature - written and/or read - lay dormant and uncared for: Abandoned projects, unfinished 'masterpieces' and vignettes stroked to the page in instants of inspiration.
His most recent projects had conjured the muse from his depleted spirit, to a degree. Half were already failing; the others dashes of promise contained within quasi-magical prose that he knew would soon fade.
Footsteps in the doorway, boots on marble flooring. The man's eyes darted in the direction of the sound. His visitor's forearm materialised before him.
"Lucian?" the newcomer asked.
The man in the chair laughed, "Yes, it's me, brother. Who else could it be?" The manuscript crackled in his lap; already old, already gone. A sigh freed itself from his gullet, evacuating his lips in wisps that petrified the air.
"Still drilled into your books, I see... " Blakus said, casting about.
"In a manner of speaking." Lucian dropped his stylus, gazing out the window through the sawdust-yellow haze. "It's good to see you again, Andae," he said smiling. The man's face turned to Blakus's for the first time and Andae was surprised at his brother's appearance. Dark-rimmed eyes, hair the same colour as Andae's but ruffled, even greying, and scratches about his cheeks, running dried rivers, caked streams of blood down lines of his neck.
"Wh- " Andae began, but held his tongue before the hint of vocalisation could be detected. He pulled over a chair from the cluttered desk on the room's opposite side and sat adjacent to his sibling, looking him in the eye and settling back in the surprisingly comforting recliner.
"How've you been, Lucian? What've you been up to these years?"
Lucian regarded his brother, sallow skin only made to look so by the pallid sulphurous light. "My last three publishing proposals have been rejected," he waved a hand towards the half-full recently revised manuscripts. Andae's eyes squinted, calculating rushedly. "Yes, brother, that makes it seven years." Lucian rose suddenly.
"Odd is it not. A promising career - at least in my mind - cauterised before it had a chance to alight."
Andae leant towards his brother, "This rumination won't do, Lucian. It doesn't suit you." He clasped his brother by the arm, "Come on, let's ride to the forum." He rose. "You used to be so full of fire."
The ashen papers on the desk fluttered at the sigh of the draught as Blakus left the study, "And what are those scratch marks on your cheeks?"
"Thorn bush lacerations," Lucian replied as he followed.
Land controllers at Starfleet Command's starport observed the SS Vienna striking the boundary of the troposphere and ascending into the higher atmospheric layers. All systems were functioning normally, a constant and standard stream of telemetry being broadcast back to all relevant transceiver stations.
Unbeknownst to the landing operators or indeed the SS Vienna's crew, a demon had claimed dominion of its engine apparatus.
The Vienna was an eighty metre long survey vessel with secondary freight-carrying capabilities, nominally under the operation of Starfleet but not in fact answerable to that authority - rather to the wider auxiliary fleet of the Federation itself. Her Captain was a lieutenant - recently promoted to that position - and formerly a science officer aboard the Indefatigable. He knew little of his vessel's engine's capabilities.
The demon entrenched itself in the interface between the fusion reactors and the warp core (which provided power to the coils in the solitary warp nacelle). It possessed no malice, no evil intent, no conniving subversion, only the voidlike construct of the heartless logic engine. It began its task.
Particles seared by the kinetic fury imbued in them during their nucleonic birth were transmuted, diverted, ordered - at least as far as the demon was able.
Some it admitted, some it refused. Some it transformed irreversibly into particles of wholly different microscopic properties. Order; those fusion byproducts, highly energetic, their undeniable surge towards the state of eternal chaos was slowed, but not to the point of physical deceleration.
Maxwell's Demon was at work.
"Funny, sir. Reading an anomaly in Vienna's engine complex."
"Elaborate," the flight controller requested, looking up from his desk.
"The ship is experiencing a series of mild power fluctuations." She paused, "Will keep you informed of further developments, sir."
"Thank you, Petty Officer. Contact Lieutenant Varin of the Vienna and request a report on the issue. They're due to leave Spacedock for Sector 47 within five hours... I'd like to clear up any hiccups under my watch rather than report it to Tetsutaro, or Drew at 47."
The atmosphere in the starport became cooler as the issue fell into the general backlog of daily issues dealt with by landing control.
Commander Blakus walked around the Starfleet Command complex, experiencing the serene environment. He walked to the waterfront overlooking the bay with its view of the magnificent ancient bridge. He acknowledged fellow officers - some he knew, nodding acquaintances - as the crystalline pacific air caressed his face. To the west, the tailend of violet evening was dissipating, and in the sky, the heavens, a solitary star was rising, finding the brighter stationary star upon its nightly pedestal.
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Carl Torek
Command Staff ..
Site Executive Officer Ranks Officer
Fleet Admiral
"UTRINQUE PARATUS"
Registered: Jun 17, 2006 22:34:35 GMT
Posts: 6,164
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Post by Carl Torek on Dec 25, 2013 23:01:57 GMT
The Raven would take three days to reach Star Base Forty Seven ... Carl wasn't in any hurry, the ship was running at her optimal performance, Commander Blakus and the Engineering team from Earth had worked hard. Carl was spending time with the children, knowing at some point in time Vanessa may well return to her Father Scott McLean, who had been recovering well after coming out of his coma. He had been swimming when a crewman approached: "Admiral. There is a priority communication from Star Fleet Command. Admiral Tetsutaro." "Thank you crewman, I'll take it in my quarters." Torek said, leaving the girls in the holo-suite .... Carl sat down and toweled the water from his hair as he opened the Comm: =^= Carl .. Sorry to interrupt your recreation but there is a situation =^= Sato went on to inform Carl of the loss of contact of two Star Ships, and the Council's concern. As the Raven was closest, they had been tasked with investigating the issue. =^= We'll alter course immediately .. I have replacement crew waiting on the Star Base =^= =^= I have ordered the USS Guan'Ti to rendezvous with you .. She is en-route now .. Once you have your crew you are to proceed =^= Carl thanked Sato and closed the Comm. He went to his bedroom and showered. Then, dressed and ready, he contacted Chloe to inform her he was going on duty and not to worry ... Moments later he entered the Bridge: "Helm, you should have received a set of co-ordinates ?" he waited while Marionette checked and confirmed, "Change course, we are to make a rendezvous with the Guan'Ti. Increase speed to warp seven. Inform the Senior Staff I will want a meeting in thirty minutes in the observation lounge. I'll be in my ready room if needed. You have the Bridge Lieutenant Marionette." Carl left the Bridge and opened the orders sent by Admiral Tetsutaro ... He began to read .......... *** OOC ***
OK, this is the conclusion to our current mission and brings to an end our four mission arc
There have been a massive 514 posts made during this epic and I would like to thank everyone involved for an exceptional effort one which I can't see being surpassed
My heartfelt congratulations to everyone who has taken part
ooo000ooo
Our next outing entitled
~~~ 'Masque of Reality' ~~~
will begin shortly, please feel free to conclude any thread you were running on 'Absolution' at the beginning of the new mission
I hope we can continue to go from strength to strength setting an example to all who read our work
Thank you sincerely
Steve
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