Jon Park
Commander 1C
Approved Grade Reduction
Red Alert
Registered: Oct 14, 2007 20:46:50 GMT
Posts: 811
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Post by Jon Park on May 26, 2013 22:38:13 GMT
Jon Woke in a dark room with no windows, It seamed that many days if not weeks had past. The last thing Park could recall was was. Jon didn't remember what happened after entering the Nevada turbolift on deck 10 heading back to the bridge.
Park felt the floor around him and it was cold and rough to the touch like stone or a slab, Park felt for his communicator but couldn't find it. His outfit also felt different. The a door opened and there stood a person who looked like no one he had seen before but the person next to him was from the dominion.
"I am Captain Jon Park of the Federation Starship....." A weapon he hadn't seen hit him in the gut. "Silence Federation scum." the voice came from the dominion person " You will do as we say from now on Commodore."
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Earth 2 weeks later
Jon Park beamed down from the station where no one questioned his status as an ambassador from the tal shier agent he had top level clearance to most of the starbase and the shipyards.
He looked like a common person from northa prime, he was of average build and some long black hair. His crew wouldn't know it was him unless they got a dna scan and that would be hard to do with his pet "vicroy" following him and making sure he didn't alert starfleet.
Park saw his First officer exit a turbolift from Ops and noticed the worry on his face, He would have loved to be a fly on the wall when he informed the Admiral he was kidnapped.
Turning to the turbolifts he ran into the Officer and turned "I am Sorry sir, I need to look where i am going and not run into people." Park patted his uniform near the cuff and planted an micro-dot that had his command codes and what happened to him.
Park knew he would need time and luck, entering the turbolift he said in his altered voice "Deck 14 Visitors Quarters
<Tag all>
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Seth Helacaan
Civilian 4
Registered: Feb 8, 2008 12:30:38 GMT
Posts: 467
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Post by Seth Helacaan on Jun 5, 2013 23:36:35 GMT
It was a mere instant, a stream of jet black hair flowing right by him as the turbolift doors peeled back. Seth exited the lift, turning back in time to see the man's face. The man, some sort of ambassador or other dignitary, apologised kindly before the doors slid closed to conceal him.
"Quite alright.." Helacaan muttered, and then got the feeling something else had occurred in that moment. His sleeve had been touched. He held it before his eyes, seeing that it'd been ruffled slightly. Frowning he straightened it, and moved on towards the promenade.
He looked back at the turbolift, now curious at the person he'd accidentally collided with? Who was he? He thought nothing of it and streamed headfirst into the sensorial overload of the promenade. He rarely came to these places, but still would usually be able to enjoy them more, if it wasn't for what'd taken place in the Admiral's office.
An hour earlier
The Admiral sat pensively, his fingers prodding each other in silence, doubt and worry. To one side of him on his desk was a stack of padds, and in his slight panic he knocked them over. Some of them went clattering to the plush-carpeted floor, and an aide went scrambling about clawing them up again. Seth regarded the aide with interest.
"This is a serious situation, Commander." The Admiral's voice thundered like the detonation of a distant nuke. Seth nodded. That much is obvious. "You've lost your CO, on your second assignment as first officer."
"I'm aware of this, sir. We have already begun a search, even though we were ordered to return to Starbase immediately."
"Commander Helacaan, your conduct has been reviewed numerous times in your career. Don't make us start further enquiries into the anomalies of your service record. Commodore Park was lost on your watch, correct? While he was below deck?"
"Affirmative, sir. I was on the bridge. I do not know how it happened. There was no warning." Seth stood his ground. He knew the Admiral was testing his resolve, trying to pry for any hidden knowledge and using him as a testbed to get a feel for what could've happened. But he was being very tough. Seth wondered if the Admiral fully trusted him.
Lt. Cmdr. Helacaan's temporary quarters, San Francisco
At his personal terminal, with white rays of light pervading his quarters through the french windows on the left, Seth rotated the image of his family between his thumb and forefinger. It was only a small sliver of a photograph: his sisters, his brother John and their mother. Father Arnon was absent; he'd been extracting defunct Naal machinery from Ridge lowlands at that time, if... very hazy memory served. Finally the connection with the Nevada was established, the Fed seal replaced with the Nevada's plaque and registry, and before long he was looking at the ship's Ops chief.
"Lieutenant," Seth nodded. "Run this through the computer, would you? A Northa Prime resident by the looks of him. Narrow features, light skin, long dark hair, in Sol's vicinity." He tapped at the console as Borthian took the information. "Formulate a list of possible candidates and tell me what you find."
<tag Park> <tag All>
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Seth Helacaan
Civilian 4
Registered: Feb 8, 2008 12:30:38 GMT
Posts: 467
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Post by Seth Helacaan on Jul 4, 2013 2:22:09 GMT
Seth remained in his quarters with its fine view across downtown San Francisco for another twenty minutes. At this point he decided to contact HQ. The dark-haired man he'd run into the turbolift had continued to play on his mind, the sequence repeating itself as an image in his mind's eye several times over those twenty minutes. Something strange had occurred, something he couldn't quite decipher.
He made his way across headquarters' grounds to the Operations division, located to the southeast of the Golden Gate Bridge. "Commander Larkor," he greeted, being admitted by the golden-collared officer through the sliding door into the division's lobby.
Here they had records of everyone who passed in and out of Starfleet's HQ in orbit, updated every half hour. Seth's curiosity had been piqued by the mysterious figure who's passed him by at that turbolift. Something hadn't seemed right about his behavior. He had seemed jumpy, too quick to dismiss himself from Seth's presence.
"What do you mean, no track?" Seth asked brusquely.
The Commander rose an eyebrow, "He's gone, Commander. No sign of him on the Spacedock, or any other facility in orbit, or on the planet."
"Your recordkeeping leaves much to be desired, Commander." Seth was pushing his luck. Larkor was a full commander, while Helacaan was one rank lower. But he was also first officer of a starship.
"We'll keep searching. But for the moment, it seems your mirage has dissolved into... nothingness, Mr Helacaan." Seth struck Larkor a strange glance. Yet another officer of mid-, or high-level status that had cast doubt on him this day. He wondered what the source of this sudden mistrust was.
But Helacaan brushed off the Commander's near-disdain and returned to his quarters in the bright-lit, high-rise residential suite, planning that he would soon return to the Nevada. There was the search for Commodore Park to continue, which of course remained the primary objective. But the thought in his mind remained, what veil had that mysterious dark-haired ambassador disappeared into?
<tag Park>
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Jon Park
Commander 1C
Approved Grade Reduction
Red Alert
Registered: Oct 14, 2007 20:46:50 GMT
Posts: 811
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Post by Jon Park on Jul 6, 2013 22:07:30 GMT
Jon moved room to room planting the explosives the unknown to his "Handlers" wouldn't destroy the newest ship star fleet had designed to assist in the fight not only for the borg but also for any defence that the Federation needed.
Park moved to the next room and planted the last and final explostive. Park knew this would be the only way star fleet would lock down the starbase. Park armed the device and then hit the command to beam back to the base.
==============================================
Park looked at the clock as he knew the count down was happening, He moved to the door and his escort appered "Yes sir." Park looked at him "We are done here lets go." Park moved to the turbolift and ordered "Section 4 alpha" He knew this took him closer to a secured area but also to the shuttles.
Park moved to the door and place his hand on the Padd and the door opend to the shuttle just as the ship in dock gamma exploded. the station shook and the alarms went to red alert, The door to the shuttle closed and the personal there moved to him "Sir please return to your room"
Park moved to the door and the officer grabbed him and said "Sir please return to your room or we will hold you in the brig." Park looked at the officer and said "I leave when i want" the officer looked at him and said "Sorry sir but your coming with me."
=============================================
Brig section 47
Park looked at the star fleet Ensign near the secuirty station, even though his command codes were disabled after Seth reported him missing he knew a few codes would work. "Ensign may we speck?" the officer looked at him "I am sorry sir but unless you need medical attention please be quiet"
Park looked at the officer "Ensign Code 4 gamma 9 theta." Park sat down with that and said nothing else. The officer blinked and moved to the secuirty terminal "Ensign Marcos to Nevada please send Commander Helacaan to the station brig."
<Tag seth>
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Seth Helacaan
Civilian 4
Registered: Feb 8, 2008 12:30:38 GMT
Posts: 467
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Post by Seth Helacaan on Jul 17, 2013 18:01:24 GMT
Seth returned from the market downtown to his quarters in the hi-rise residential suite. He was enjoying this sojourn a little too much, a small part of his mind told him. He did his best to ignore that. An even smaller part told him he was betraying all he knew and believed in. A Helacaan, on Earth, soaking up its pleasures like any idle citizen of the great Federation. Father Arnon would be disappointed, maybe even enraged, this doubt-wracked part of his mind said.
He did his best to ignore such things. His console beeped just as he lay on his bed. Right when he thought he had some time to relax. He went to the console and pressed the accept button, sliding in to the seat before the screen. "Borthian? What do you want now?"
"Pardon me, sir. We've had a call from an Ensign Marcos from Spacedock in orbit. He wants to see you at your earliest convenience. Sending the coordinates now, sir."
Seth thanked Ops chief Borthian and made his way to the nearby transporter station. Borthian also told him that the Nevada had a new Chief of Navigations. Seth would look forward to meeting the officer but first he had this to attend to. He was beamed up to the grandiose spacedock and was directed towards the coordinates as he had written on his padd. To his surprise, he found he was being directed to the brig.
"Ensign Marcos?" He asked, peeping in. The Ensign appeared, his eyes cold, creeping past Seth out of the brig. With a thumb over his shoulder he pointed towards the nearest cell.
Now extremely bemused, Seth approached cell. "This better be good - " He cut off abruptly. Well would you look at that... He steeled himself, aware that this couldn't be a coincidence. He nodded, "You're the man I bumped into by the turbolift. What's the meaning of this? What have you done and why did you ask for me?"
<tag Park>
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Jon Park
Commander 1C
Approved Grade Reduction
Red Alert
Registered: Oct 14, 2007 20:46:50 GMT
Posts: 811
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Post by Jon Park on Jul 21, 2013 16:57:31 GMT
"You're the man I bumped into by the turbolift. What's the meaning of this? What have you done and why did you ask for me?"
Park looked across the force field and smiled "There is much we must discuss, for one i know where your Commanding officer is." Park knew the cell was bugged and had to be careful. "I will tell you, but i think you want to take over the case here in spacedock with the attack on the newest ship starfleet has built."
Tag Seth
Jon now looked at the officer who had threatened him and replied "Commander Code Beta 3 Gamma" Park hoped he understood the code for flag officer in distress and would let him know at the same time that there was an undercover operation in progress.
Tag Seth
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Seth Helacaan
Civilian 4
Registered: Feb 8, 2008 12:30:38 GMT
Posts: 467
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Post by Seth Helacaan on Jul 21, 2013 22:25:17 GMT
"I will tell you, but i think you want to take over the case here in spacedock with the attack on the newest ship starfleet has built."
Seth closed his eyes as he heard that the rumours were true. There had been whispers on Earth and again on the Spacedock when he had arrived ten minutes ago, but he hadn't known what they were talking about. He had to head straight here, and now it turned out to have been a good decision. His eyes shot open, "Why would I take over the case?"
The man said nothing at first, merely sat there unperturbed. Seth shook his head in distaste. Even though the man had promised he knew where Park was, the XO couldn't stay here forever. Besides if someone had the right connections, they could find out things about starships, like if a Commanding Officer was accounted for or not. Helacaan turned to leave but then he heard the man say, "Commander Code Beta 3 Gamma."
Seth paused, understanding seeping into him like ink in tissue. He didnt look back, just strode from the room slowly. Listening devices, as was standard, were installed everywhere within the brig. Keeping the secrecy was the most prudent action.
He took to the promenade, hoping to hear news of the destroyed starship. He didn't want to ask the authorities. The news of an undercover operation was forcing him to question any and all authority. The main question impinging on him now was did Park need to be freed? Was his distress tied to the fact that he was locked up in the brig?
Seth garnered some news from passers-by, some of them in a bad way. It was clear a few had witnessed the ship's explosion. The most advanced starship in this sector, one of a new batch of vessels. And it was now destroyed. He thought it high time to return to the Nevada, to explore this catastrophe among people he could trust. Or could he? Admiral Burton had already made it clear he didn't trust Seth. Perhaps the Admiral suspected some undercover goings on?
This was ridiculous. He stopped at somewhere quiet, where he was confident bugs would be at a minimum. "Ensign Marcos, this is Commander Helacaan. I suggest you get that man in your brig released."
<tag Park>
USS Nevada
There was one thing Seth needed to attend to before getting started with the starship case. He and Lieutenant Borthian were standing before the LSO's panel outside the Nevada's shuttlebay. Borthian was feeling a moment's deja vu. It hadn't been long since he'd been coordinating their last helm officer's arrival aboard the ship into this very shuttlebay. This time Commander Cohen hadn't stuck around very long, so they had needed a replacement once again.
"Force-field deactivated. Vacuum confirmed. You're free to land on pad beta Shuttle Xerxes." Borthian comed Ensign Meshers aboard the Xerxes. He nodded to Seth who made his way down to the shuttlebay as the craft passed the boundary. The welcoming party trio waited as the shuttlecraft's rear ramp descended. Muted sirens signified the shuttle's opening and a red-collared officer stepped down.
"Welcome to the Nevada Ensign Meshers. I'm Lieutenant Commander Seth Helacaan, acting first officer." He fell in alongside the CNO as they made their way from the bay, the two security officers that accompanied him falling in behind.
<tag Meshers>
"Obviously we're still docked to the Starbase. At present we don't know when we're due to head out. You see, our Captain is currently MIA. That puts me temporarily in charge." And I'm only just about handling it, Seth thought with a grimace.
<tag Meshers>
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Jon Park
Commander 1C
Approved Grade Reduction
Red Alert
Registered: Oct 14, 2007 20:46:50 GMT
Posts: 811
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Post by Jon Park on Jul 21, 2013 23:55:55 GMT
Park watched as seth left the brig after telling the brig security office to get h released. Being a diplomat he was going to be returned to his "handler", he needed to get away in during the transfer.
Park moved to the screen as he heard the man who looked after him said " your free sir, we should leave now" as they headed for the turbolift he saw people mulling around and talking about the ship in dock that was destroyed.
The trip to the ship was uneventful and they left the station. Park knew he needed to take the ship and return asap.
----------------------------------------------------
One month later Senate tower Romulas
Jon stood in front of the pretor of the romulan people, he was now in working unknown to the federation as an undercover for star fleet and the tal shier. The new pretor was planing the destruction of the federation and a bold officer had come to the federation for help. Jon was pick and his cover was perfect for the plan.
Park knew by now Seth was given command of the Nevada and he was still declared mia or worse. Funny years after his father Michael park was found after years of being mia, he was now in the same postion as his dad.
"Commander you feel you should be allowed to enter the federation in a cloaked ship and attack the federation" the pretor looked at the others there and then asked "how can you attack them with just a ship?" Park had more then he knew but answered "Pretor i am sure you heard i was the one who destroyed star fleets newest starship right as she was being lunched a month ago." The pretor smiled and said " permission granted"
R.R.W J'olan
Park took the bridge no longer having an handler and said his first order, "cloak the ship and set a course to earth and the federation." As Park watched romulas fade from his sight he had to convince his former first officer and all of star fleet he was not compromised better said then done.
The officers in the tal shier promised him that starfleet was going to be informed he was alive but he had no way to know, " i want a secure channel set up in my ready room." A young officer responded and moved to do it.
"Computer secure channel to grid 134 mark 324 scan for federation starships." The computer responded starship found id USS Nevada. Park replied "open secure channel to the commanding officer. Security code omega.
Tag seth
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Post by Lennard Meshers on Jul 24, 2013 17:25:35 GMT
The Starfleet shuttle's sublight generators hummed softly as the sleek craft manouevred in to land on the smooth grey landing pad. Ensign Lennard 'Lenny' Meshers looked eagerly out of the shuttle's front viewing port, seeing red-uniformed personnel cris-crossing the large, airy shuttle bay on the USS Nevada-B. As Shuttle Xerxes' power was cut, following the descent of the ramp, Lenny stood up, shouldered his blue-coloured standard issue kit bag and took long strides out of the shuttle. He glanced around, bright-eyed, and there saw a man in the uniform of a Lieutenant Commander, looking at him expectantly. This must be his contact. Behind him he saw the Commander was flanked by two security officers.
"Welcome to the Nevada Ensign Meshers. I'm Lieutenant Commander Seth Helacaan, acting first officer."
Lenny smiled and held out his hand as he walked away from Shuttle Xerxes alongside his new superior. "A pleasure to meet you, sir" he said, finding - to his relief - that his voice was level and controlled. "And I look forward to meeting the rest of the crew."
"Obviously we're still docked to the Starbase. At present we don't know when we're due to head out. You see, our Captain is currently MIA. That puts me temporarily in charge."
"MIA?!" Well, Lenny, you certainly wanted action on your first assignment he thought to himself with a wry smile. But this seemed almost absurd. He waited for the Lieutenant Commander to respond.
<tag Helacaan>
* * * * *
Ever since Lenny had found out he would be posted to the Nevada three weeks ago, he had been steeling himself to be wary of his prospective place on the ship's bridge. The previous helm officer, Commander James Cohen, had not stayed around for long and Lenny had wondered why this was, and if whatever it was would also affect him in the position he was assured was all but his.
But he found himself ready. He had already told himself to be as deferential as possible. Truth be told, he had been made naturally wary by the stories he had heard about the ship's senior crew. He had heard a number of different things about Commodore Jon Park, but most suggested he was a very stubborn, domineering character. It was also true that Lenny had a natural apprehension when it came to authority, but this was his first big position with Starfleet, and he felt determined to take as small but measured and assured steps as possible during his tenure on the Nevada.
* * * * *
After being escorted to drop off his personal belongings in his new quarters, Lenny was shown into the bridge by one of the security officers. He approached and then took his seat at the helm, if a little nervously. He raised his hands over the smooth black console, the almost neon buttons of the interface facing up at him. One was flashing red, as if greeting the chair's new occupant with a kind of silent electronic glee.
Lenny smiled, despite the strange situation he currently found himself in, and turned back to face Commander Helacaan.
"Is there anything I can do on the bridge for the moment, sir?" he asked.
<tag Helacaan>
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Seth Helacaan
Civilian 4
Registered: Feb 8, 2008 12:30:38 GMT
Posts: 467
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Post by Seth Helacaan on Jul 30, 2013 22:32:48 GMT
In his quarters, Seth was making a preliminary study of the new starship' destruction. It was confusing as it was maddening. If it had been deliberately destroyed by explosives, as was initially suspected, then that person had done a very good job of covering their trail. Usually terrorists that struck at such facilities left figurative fingerprints everywhere, but this was as clean as anything. Considering what he thought he'd found out about Park's location, he began to think the unthinkable.
Later on the bridge he was shaken from his reverie. "Is there anything I can do on the bridge for the moment, sir?"
Seth smiled at the new CNO, the expression forced. There was so much on his mind. "You can pretend to fly the ship if you want, Ensign Meshers. Run simulations on impulse drive power up, monitor and report anomalies to engineering and ops."
Seth let the man do the work. There was much to be learnt by doing, as opposed to listening, and anyway Helacaan had never been much of a talker. On the viewscreen in front of Meshers the visual feed was switching between the different areas of the docking bay. The last shot in the sequence showed the blue marble of the Earth. Seth regarded it with a habitual cynicism, long ago learnt from his home colony. "Are you an Earthborn man, Mr Meshers?"
A month later
The Nevada's port fore quarter was still smarting from the stresses put under it around the Arishikon nebula. Into the deep chasm that opened up over the cliff of the Hart cluster, the Nevada had pursued a strong lead. They had rounded the nebula, slingshotting into open space but had come under attack. Dark ships with an unusual form of cloak, they had suspected Romulans, because that race would be at the cutting edge of cloaking technology.
Seth limped on to the bridge, his mechanized crutch by his side. The leg break had been too severe to be mended in one go. The bone needed to fill itself out again before the doctor could complete the operation. He never thought he would need to use one again after leaving home.
"It's waiting in your ready room, sir," Borthian said, passing Seth with a nod. The acting CO regarded Borthian darkly, resisting the urge to berate him. It wasn't his ready room, it was Commodore Park's and would remain as such.
The communication bandwidth was broken with static, the image of the man jolting and pixellating periodically. In the moments of resolution, Helacaan, alone in the ready room got an awful feeling of familiarity. This was their man!
"It's been a while," he found himself saying. He supposed he better get it out of the way. Out here in the dark, he had expended much energy and thought on the man in the chain above him. "You're using the secure channel. Are you Commodore Park?"
<tag Park>
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Jon Park
Commander 1C
Approved Grade Reduction
Red Alert
Registered: Oct 14, 2007 20:46:50 GMT
Posts: 811
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Post by Jon Park on Aug 1, 2013 20:59:10 GMT
"You're using the secure channel. Are you Commodore Park?" Jon Knew the room was bugged so he nodded to his officer on the channel. He was tapping commands into the console sending his details on the ships mission.
Jon sent his orders with the security code to prove it was him, Park knew the secrets on this ship were something star fleet wanted and he knew it was his duty as a star fleet officer to get it to them.
Park send coordinates to meet the Nevada inside Federations space. Park knew crossing into Federation space with out orders from the senate would look odd to the officers on the bridge but Park had a plan for this.
"Commander this is all you need to know, come near our space and you will be destroyed." Park sent the warning and he knew what he just sent to his XO would be ignored and the plan would be in place.
<Tag Seth>
Park returned to the bridge and said, "Change course 258 mark 24. Warp 7, Activate the cloak." The Second officer looked at the XO and then back at Park. "I said change course now, that's an order."
The officer tapped in the command and the ship turned and headed to the Federation under cloak. Park sat back and hoped that the course change didn't raise to much notice to most of the crew.
<Tag All>
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Seth Helacaan
Civilian 4
Registered: Feb 8, 2008 12:30:38 GMT
Posts: 467
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Post by Seth Helacaan on Aug 3, 2013 13:49:31 GMT
Seth breathed a small sigh of relief when it became clear that Park had not, in fact, defected. Information on Romulan strategies, latest ship schematics and other interesting material came through on his terminal. If this was Park, and that was as good as a 100% certainty now, then the question was how had he come into the Romulans' possession?
Either way, the Nevada needed to rendezvous with the vessel immediately. This was confirmed a moment later with Park's hidden command.
"Commander this is all you need to know, come near our space and you will be destroyed."
Seth acknowledged and closed the channel. It was obvious the Nevada Commodore was merely tempering the suspicions of his Romulan crew. He meant for Seth to do exactly the opposite. Well. Seth hoped. "Sir, the tactical officer grabbed his attention as he re-entered the bridge. "Those unknown ships - ones we think are Romulan - are maintaining a distance of 50 million km behind us."
Despite promotion to the ship's XO position, Seth still felt partially responsible for Ops duties and liaising with the tactical officer. Responsibility, and willingness to engage with his work more enthusiastically had become prevalent during his service on the Nevada. He had gained trust of the Federation, understood that their neglect of Ascension - his homeworld - hadn't been on purpose. He felt more in control, less prone to insubordination, which previous he had only been able to temper through excessive formality. He had considered resigning his commission at one point, but he felt now he was approaching at least some plateaux of stability.
"Let's see the technical readouts from those ships, Lt, or at least what we've been able to gather."
"Aye, sir. They look destroyer size to me, but it's hard to tell because of their cloaks. Sometimes they're visible, sometimes not. It depends on the properties of the region of space they're travelling through. I'd say they are a very advanced design."
Seth leant against the tactical console, patting the Lt on the shoulder. He headed back down to the command chair, limping with his mechanized crutch. He had been in the port quarter of the Nevada when it had taken the blast a couple weeks ago. Shrapnel had gone flying into his thigh, immobilizing him and nearly causing him to have his leg amputated and fitted with a - admittedly fully-functional - prosthetic.
"Ensign Meshers," Seth said, walking down to the front. He signalled the CNO to follow him to the ready room. "How have you been settling in Ensign? I must apologize, I've not had the opportunity to speak to you fully. You're aware of the situation? We're on the hunt for Commodore Park... Set a course, 258, mark 24."
<tag Park> <tag Meshers>
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Post by Lennard Meshers on Aug 4, 2013 13:21:28 GMT
"You can pretend to fly the ship if you want, Ensign Meshers. Run simulations on impulse drive power up, monitor and report anomalies to engineering and ops."
Lenny nodded, "Yes, sir", and set to work at his station. He noticed that the acting ship commander was looking thoughtful, no doubt pained by the current situation facing the vessel and her crew. He wondered when they would be embarking, hoping that it wouldn't be too long before he could really get a feel of what this ship was about.
Whilst in the midst of his workings, he realised that Commander Helacaan was speaking to him.
"Are you an Earthborn man, Mr Meshers?"
Lenny turned half-way in his seat. "Yes, sir, born and raised in Chicago. I haven't seen much of home in a long while though. I've spent the last five years living and working in San Fran following my graduation from the Academy."
The conversation that followed took a normal, predictable course, as the two chatted briefly about each other's histories. Lenny was impressed by the change in Helacaan, as he spoke of his homeworld, Ascension. If this talk was merely to take the weight off his mind lent by the absence of Commodore Park, the Commander's tone and body language didn't show it. He was hopeful that the rest of the senior crew would be of a similar outwardly calm and assured nature. It would definitely help in settling him in to the ship.
But for now, Lenny had things to do to take his own mind off his own inner tribulations. He turned fully back to his console and resumed his monitoring activities.
* * * * *
One Month Later...
Lenny was re-calling his fingers working furiously at the helm, as the Nevada had come round in a steep arc from the bright, swirling nebula. Those ships, what were they? Nothing had prepared him for that. The consensual view was that they were Romulan, but they were of a design Lenny had not seen before.
During his month on board the Akira Class vessel, Lenny had not, up to that point, seen a great amount of action. This all-too-close encounter had shaken him slightly, but he had cleared his head and remained cool. Nothing could have prepared him for what would follow a short time afterward, however.
The ship swam in the depths of space, coming toward the source that Commander Helacaan had ordered him towards. He had been strangely cryptic in his clues when queried by the other senior crew, and Lenny had known better than to tempt a definitive answer out of him.
"Sir, those unknown ships - ones we think are Romulan - are maintaining a distance of 50 million km behind us."
The words had come from the tactical officer as the Commander entered the bridge, limping on his unfortunately-acquired new crutch from the ready room. And these things had summoned Lenny's memory. His grip tightened on the key pads in front of him, hoping against a repeat performance. As long as the distance was being maintained...
Lenny was suddenly surprised as the Commander summoned him to the ready room. He took a seat behind the desk, and sat there rather awkwardly, opposite his superior who grunted as he removed his crutch before taking his chair.
"How have you been settling in Ensign? I must apologize, I've not had the opportunity to speak to you fully. You're aware of the situation? We're on the hunt for Commodore Park."
"Oh, fine, sir" Lenny replied. "I'm finally falling into the routine of it now" he chuckled dryly, before realising the weight of the Commander's final words.
"I suspected you were, sir, if I may be so bold" he added, straightening up in his seat. "And these coordinates you set, you suspect that this is where we'll find him?"
<tag Helacaan>
Lenny exited the ready room, and resumed his place at the console. He was made aware of the situation, which had changed somewhat.
"Sir" the tactical officer was saying, "The ships are moving on a course towards us. I'm reading a build up of power in the lead vessel. What are your orders?"
<tag All>
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Seth Helacaan
Civilian 4
Registered: Feb 8, 2008 12:30:38 GMT
Posts: 467
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Post by Seth Helacaan on Aug 6, 2013 21:09:02 GMT
"I suspected you were, sir, if I may be so bold" he added, straightening up in his seat. "And these coordinates you set, you suspect that this is where we'll find him?"
Staring off to the side at the ready room fishbowl, that Park hadn't removed since the days of Nack's captaincy, Seth had become distracted. He spun back and forth in his seat, his dark stare fixed penetrating the small aquarium. The stars were reflected in its convex surface, contorted out of proportion so their pinpricks were smeared across virtual lightyears. Basically he had not heard Meshers's question, but he answered with a grunt in the affirmative. "Oh. Let's say I have a strong lead," he said without emotion. He could feel the disillusionment creeping upon him again.
"You're not letting much on sir. Who've you been in contact with?" A surprising voice tinted with French answered from apparently nowhere. Seth cast about the ready room before seeing Petty Officer Bovois standing at the door. "We've got a problem. Those ships are powering up, on an intercept course."
"Time to get back to the bridge Ensign. Show me how good a pilot you are." Seth swung out of his chair, letting Meshers out first and halting before Bovois, saying stolidly, "Insubordination is a hobby of yours isn't it? I'll deal with you later."
"Sir" the tactical officer was saying, "The ships are moving on a course towards us. I'm reading a build up of power in the lead vessel. What are your orders?"
"Raise shields," Seth said simply. "Power phasers and aft torpedo launchers." The Akira class was equipped with a heavy load of 15 photon torpedo launchers. In the last ten years, with upgrades to the ship to keep her current, 5 of those launchers had been refitted to take quantum torpedoes, and 3 of those faced aft.
"It doesn't seem to be a build up of offensive weaponry sir," the officer reported back after a few moments. "There's an overcharge in their engine core. It's difficult to read..." the officer frowned at his display. "The ships are phasing in an out of realspace. It's their cloaks again."
"Are they trying to catch up?" Seth said, settling into the first officer's seat. He wasn't going to take the command chair; not because he didn't have authorization, but because both seats were central and had access to the same middle console. He studied the display to his right. The ships were barely there on sensors, darker than even the space behind them and the accompanying background radiation. "Mr Meshers, start an evasive pattern."
"Their engines are not what are causing them to catch up sir. The lead ship's drive is overloading!"
Seth's eyes lit up, Wezean fury visible beyond the pupils. If he was right and those were Romulan ships, they would have quantum singularities powering their engines. It was unwise to be within range of one when it went up. "Warp 9 Mr Meshers!"
<tag Meshers>
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Seth Helacaan
Civilian 4
Registered: Feb 8, 2008 12:30:38 GMT
Posts: 467
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Post by Seth Helacaan on Aug 7, 2013 23:21:06 GMT
(I am moving us forward a little bit from the maybe Romulan ship explosion.)
Seth operated his terminal in the FO's office. He had barely got used to the room, and now he was supposed to be commanding the Nevada, albeit on an extremely temporary basis. He even still wore the gold of an operations division crewmember. Logistics in the Section were really sluggish these days. So, the prototype ship explosion. There were only four others like her in the whole of Starfleet, and all had now been placed under heavy guard wherever they were in the Federation.
Seth moved on to the surveillance footage situated in and around the prototype vessel shortly before its explosion. Unsurprisingly, all of them had been disrupted prior to the event. The person or persons who did this were professionals and wouldn't make that kind of mistake. He wound it forward to after the explosion; there was a brief blip as all the inactive visual feeds were saturated by electronic feedback, then they died away again, except one. Seth leant forward abruptly.
This one showed the starboard vestibule port. It was only active - somehow having remained intact - for slightly over a second, but it was enough to see the dark haired man slipping round the corner from the vestibule on to the docking ring and making a small signal. Seth's eyes widened. He was... yes, he was sure. The dark haired man - the same as in the brig, the same that had given him the Starfleet emergency code, the same that was Commodore Park - had given a signal to the one surveillance camera he knew would still be active. It was Park that had destroyed the ship then, after all.
"But why?!?!" he growled. He swung in his seat and stood against the wall, releasing a long sigh of pent up frustration. It was times like these when he wished Lucy Grey was still aboard. The good Doctor knew how to improve the morale of the crew, as well as provide excellent dental advice. Commander Dunowin and his engineering expertise might have been useful too.
He would get to the bottom of this mystery, without Dr Grey or Chief Dunowin's help.
=/\=Lieutenants Borthian and Kroft. Report to the FO's office=/\= Seth said, tapping his commbadge. The young Ops chief and Chief Engineer entered the room ten minutes later. "I want you to get to work analyzing that explosion. I want to know the exact type of explosive used to destroy that ship, Lieutenants.'" The two men nodded and made a rapid exit.
As Seth stood to return to his quarters, something went skittering across his desk. Frowning he picked it up between thumb and forefinger. It glinted in the light. "A microdot...?"
<tag Park>
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Seth Helacaan
Civilian 4
Registered: Feb 8, 2008 12:30:38 GMT
Posts: 467
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Post by Seth Helacaan on Aug 13, 2013 4:09:35 GMT
Seth had Borthian and his assistants analyze the microdot, with assistance from specialist engineering teams. Microdots of the complexity of the one he had found on his wrist weren't easily deciphered.
Information however was returned quickly. The rendezvous with who they supposed was Park was some way off, but it was approaching faster than Seth would like. He needed to get this situation clear in his mind before he met the Commodore. On the other hand, he was having to do his best to keep the details of the search from the crew, but did not know how long he could keep it going.
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Obviously they all knew they were searching for the Commodore, but the crew except Seth didn't know that their CO had disguised himself as an anonymous foreign diplomat and destroyed a prototype Federation vessel - one soon to be put into full-time production - and was possibly now working with the Romulans. And now they were being pursued by possible Romulan ships, thus Seth had to think of a reason to give the crew why these dark glibs of uncertain dimension were pursuing them through the silence of space.
"It's possible they're not Romulan," he said to the science officer, not really having any back-up to his claim, a claim which was contrary to what most of the crew now believed/understood.
The science officer seemed exasperated, "Yes, it's possible sir. But the evidence points I would say, rather conclusively to Romulan engine signatures, at least when we're able to pick them out. They also leave other ejecta consistent with Romulan ships encountered historically."
"So what do we have, Borthian?" Seth said, turning up to the Ops chief.
The officer returned an unreadable stare. "Sir, perhaps it's best we discuss this in the ready room." Borthian signaled to the hardly used room. Seth nodded, offering the fellow colonist lead the way.
"Report," Seth said simply, grunting as he took the seat. The leg was still causing him pain. Thoughts shot homewards, to the arid flatlands, and the pains of his family in their current turmoil, as he understood the situation. "How are repairs to the port fore quarter?"
"Good, sir." Borthian paused, "They're definitely Romulan weapons signatures. Modified somewhat, more advanced perhaps, but definitely Romulan." Seth was impassive, leaning back in the ready room chair. "And the result from the microdot study?"
Borthian sighed, taking his seat. "As a member of the senior staff, sir, no matter how inexperienced you think I am, I have the right to know what's going on. The microdot revealed quite a substantive quantity of information, including a comprehensive account of what happened to Commodore Park." Again, Seth was impassive.
"How the hell did you acquire it sir? It gave a personal account on how the CO was captured and who he's now working for. It seems he's with the Romulans. But it also made clear he's acting fully in the interests of the Federation. There are signs of something else, in the background, something pervading the records..."
"You're going to have to be more specific than that," Seth offered bluntly.
"I can't, sir. Just something doesn't quite add up. But if the Romulans are pursuing us, then it's fair to say they're trying to stop us from reaching the Commodore? If Commodore Park's working or pretending to work for the Romulans, he'll be wanting the Romulans to keep him off his back. What better way than to use ships that can barely be seen against the cosmic microwave - "
"Borthian." Seth held a hand up. "Shut up. I know we're both fellow human colonists, and we like to figure things out for ourselves when we're out there, but inside the Federation we have procedures to follow. Return to your station. I'll call you again when I have need of you. Call Meshers in for me." Ha, it was almost becoming like home; the ease of conversation, hadn't felt it for moths, years.
Borthian on the other hand, left the room in confusion, beginning to wonder if Admiral Warner was right about Seth.
"Ensign," Seth greeted as Meshers entered, "I want you to make a small course correction. Accelerate to max warp speed, bring us in a loop around the other side of the rendezvous point. Yes I'm aware it adds hours to our journey, but it will put the rendezvous ship between us and our pursuing Romulan ships if it works out."
<tag Meshers> <tag Park - I'm wondering what the plans are on rendezvous?>
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Post by Lennard Meshers on Aug 30, 2013 20:24:25 GMT
Lenny's mind had been plagued with worries and fears in the wake of the Nevada's flight from the Romulan ships. Assuming they actually were Romulan, he often reflected. But the thought that they were being tracked by the mysterious vessels was enough to put him ill at ease. In the following days he began to piece together what might be going on, not daring to ask Commander Helacaan about the situation, and it quickly became apparent that pretty much everyone else was as much in the dark over the facts as he was.
"So, you know nothing about it either, about where the Commodore might be, what he might be doing?" he asked Ensign Bickell, a frequent visitor to the lounge and mess hall area with whom he had developed a rapport of sorts. "I'm not the only one then..."
Bickell shrugged from behind the bar, downing his beverage from the silver-grey tankard before casting a glance around the mostly deserted chamber. "I know nothing" he replied, with a grunt. "You actually think they let our poor underclass of folks down at engineering know about what goes on. Kroft is a natural-born slave-driver, I'm telling you."
"Alright" Lenny said, grinning broadly. "So you aren't in the know either. I just thought you might have heard something via inter-deck gossip, I know how it is sometimes..."
"I don't know what you're talking about" Bickell replied, his voice perfectly humourless as he jumped to his feet. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm due back on duty in fifteen minutes."
As the days passed, Lenny began to wonder if this strange kind of stalemate would ever break. They were seemingly chasing shadows, the long warp journey ahead of them stretching out in an interminable chasm of confusion. But one afternoon, having heard whisperings that a curious something that the Commander had found in his office was being looked over by ship specialists, Lenny found himself surprisingly summoned by Lieutenant Borthian to the ship's ready room.
"Commander Helacaan wishes to speak with you" he said, nodding at Lenny.
"Really?" Lenny quickly fought to regain his composure and was happy that his tone of voice didn't sound too full of surprise. "Yes, sir." He entered the ready room after getting up from his station on the bridge.
The soft 'whoosh' of the door opening coincided with a slight jolt in Lenny's stomach as the anticipation of what Commander Helacaan might say to him hit home. He looked in front of him and there saw the Commander, sitting behind the desk. He didn't waste any time with extended greetings, speaking straight away.
"Ensign...I want you to make a small course correction. Accelerate to max warp speed, bring us in a loop around the other side of the rendezvous point. Yes I'm aware it adds hours to our journey, but it will put the rendezvous ship between us and our pursuing Romulan ships if it works out."
Lenny suppressed a smile. Now this is more like it, he thought. "Yes, sir" he said swiftly. But then he frowned, and ventured a question. "Is there something you know about the rendezvous ship, sir? Do you think Commodore Park is on board?"
<tag Helacaan>
Lenny left the bridge, and began to enter a new course at his console. He gazed at the navigation node, filling in the relevant data, and plotting a subtle route between a total of seventeen major systems where little hostile activity had been picked up by Federation monitors in the past eighteen months. The whole process took just over half an hour, but he liked to be thorough, despite the urgency of the mission suggested by the Commander's manner.
"Course laid in sir" Lenny said, as the Commander entered the bridge from his ready room.
The order to engage was given. Lenny complied, feeling a cold thrill at the prospect. Maximum warp.
<tag Helacaan> <tag Park>
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Seth Helacaan
Civilian 4
Registered: Feb 8, 2008 12:30:38 GMT
Posts: 467
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Post by Seth Helacaan on Sept 4, 2013 12:44:52 GMT
"Yes, sir," he said swiftly. But then he frowned, and ventured a question. "Is there something you know about the rendezvous ship, sir? Do you think Commodore Park is on board?"
"I'm not at liberty to discuss mission events with you at this stage Mr Meshers." Seth tapped his hands against the edge of the table, unsure even as he spoke how much he should disclose. "Please return to your station and plot the course."
Meshers acknowledged and exited the ready room, Borthian reentering with raised eyebrows as he watched Meshers's departure. "You're laying down the law sir. I hadn't heard this about you." Seth sat back in the ready room chair, taken aback a little at the Ops officer's mood. He hadn't expected such forthrightness in the officer. He realized he knew little of Borthian, as he knew little of Meshers. It was a relatively new crew, thrown together partly by circumstances, and would take a while for them to work each other out as would this conundrum regarding their absent CO.
He thought about his new authoratative manner. He had always run the Ops department with a relaxed hand, allowing his officers a degree of freedom not just because he was easygoing but because he had a lack of interest in engaging with and understanding their work. An awful attitude to have, he realized now as he looked back. He had learnt some responsibility during his tenure on the ship, and now he surmised he was feeling more at ease to impart on his work some of the tough-edged leadership he had been known for on Ascension.
"How about dinner Lieutenant Borthian? Myself, you and your wife at 1900 tonight."
Borthian seemed only a little surprised. "It would be an honor Commander."
The two returned to the bridge. "Course laid in sir" Lenny said. A relatively green officer in Meshers was what Seth would have to watch for. A degree of secrecy still needed to be maintained, even though they were about to rendezvous with Park's ship, and he didn't need officers being over inquisitive, not even members of the senior staff. Seth nodded and took his seat.
Hours later
"Any sign of those maybe Romulan ships?" the XO asked.
"None sir. It appears they maintained course when we changed heading. They are still on course for intercept with the rendezvous vessel." Seth was about to reply but the officer continued, "Wait... The rendezvous ship itself is Romulan! Unmistakeable, this one is definitely a vessel of the Star Empire."
"Raise shields," Seth requested quietly. The Nevada approached Park's ship and held steady at a distance of a million kilometers. The dark half-cloaked ships on the other side of Park's ship were still about a light minute away, but approaching all too fast. Helacaan grew uncertain about what exactly was going to unfold here. Were the dark cold craft after Park or after the Nevada? A three way face off may ensue, and it was reaching the time when Seth might have to tell the crew who exactly they had before them, and why the Nevada was dicing with the Romulans.
"Hail the Romulan vessel, standard greeting."
<tag Park>
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Seth Helacaan
Civilian 4
Registered: Feb 8, 2008 12:30:38 GMT
Posts: 467
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Post by Seth Helacaan on Sept 6, 2013 21:48:58 GMT
The dusty corridors provided gave little further solitude for Helacaan's empty mind. Rooms to either side were stacked with the trash of shards of torn books and hastily drawnupon parchments, electronic data files - archives shattered - tired documents of politik and strategy. All of it accumulated over many ever lengthening, ever forgotten years, soaked in blood and torment, and bitter accusations against the Helacaan family and its questionable roots.
Since the collapse of the Bersoc sect, John Helacaan had been doing his best to reestablish his family's standing amongst the colony's political elite. Ascension, while having a feudal structure in its outlying communities, possessed a central authority at a yet contentiously labelled world capital. The highest authority was the colonial council, and each prominent family held a certain number of seats determined by votes garnered from the primary provinces, north and, increasingly these days, south.
That was the theory at least. Ascension had from the start been a feudal-based society, thus that mode of 'politics' was ingrained in the process of government from the outset. Houses vied with each other for ascendancy within the often autocratic aura surrounding the capital. Assassinations, while rare, were not greeted with surprise upon occurrence. And ritual killings - while barbaric for a Federation-established colony - had been carried out in the past.
The Helacaans currently held just two seats - an historic low for one of Ascension's oldest and most prestigious, although one of its most controversial hierarchies - in the colonial council. The Letoki-Yrjhka familial alliance had won ascendancy in last month's vote, the result of which had been hotly-debated in an emergency council meeting yesterday. Compared to many of the other families, the Letoki-Yrjhkas were young upstarts, pushing policies of reform that apparently Ascension's population were willing to listen to.
Arnon Helacaan, father of John and Karmelo, held one of the family's seats. The other was held by the Helacaan sons' second cousin Talmai, who actually lived outside of acknowledged Helacaan territory, closer to the world capital.
John entered the front room and was witness again to its horrific clash of interior and exterior design. The room had been rebuilt several years ago, after dissenters had attacked the house and partially ruined it during one of Seth's visits. His brother had returned in an attempt to repel a renewed effort by the Naal Conglomerate to annex several nearby territories, starting with the Ridge.
The older Helacaan brother went to the study at the far end, his eyes briefly straying to the modern subspace communication array squared in the corner. It was quite out of place. It had been a gift from his brother Seth, not just so the two brethren might communicate across the many lightyears, countless stars, but as John suspected, as an open hand of friendship, of mutual trust and understanding on behalf of those on Earth and the other member worlds. The Federation was here to stay. John Helacaan only hoped the family were following the right course, and moreover that those who were voicing unease within the hierarchy would stay true to the family's course.
[Just background story, probably to be unrelated, on Seth's homeworld a human colony
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Seth Helacaan
Civilian 4
Registered: Feb 8, 2008 12:30:38 GMT
Posts: 467
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Post by Seth Helacaan on Sept 16, 2013 1:09:24 GMT
The face before him was not the one he expected to see. He had not expected to see Commodore Park, of course, at least not as Park normally appeared. He had envisioned being the long haired diplomat Park was masquerading as. What the Commodore's intentions were were still unclear. On the face of it he seemed in direct violation of the Federation-Romulan treaty, but that he had also requested a rendezvous with the Nevada meant there was more to it. Whether he intended to 'defect' from the Romulans back to the Federation, or reveal other things yet to unfold...
But this threw Seth for a loop. "Where is your commander? I was told I would be speaking to him." The Wezean leant forward in the command chair, hand on one knee injecting as much enthusiasm as he could - almost but not quite like distant Delta Majoris.
"The Commander is indisposed at the current time. I'm Subcommander Vleran. You will deal with me."
"Well Subcommander, I urge you also to give consideration to dealing with the three half cloaked vessels. On fast approach, behind you."
Vleran cast a dirty look off screen, possibly conferring with a junior controller. "We read nothing Comander Helacaan."
Seth stopped himself from smiling. In that they had revealed something: that they did not know of the presence of other Romulan ships. Surely the dark cloaked ships weren't friendlies now. Seth said, "We can hardly detect them ourselves. They are near indistinguishable from vacuum, so cold are their cloaks. The cloaks work by refrigeration, rather than phasing out of space they camouflage the ships against space itself. My chief engineer would be happy to elaborate..."
"We're dealing with it Nevada," Vleran spat and slammed the channel closed, his face having managed - oddly for a Romulan - to go pinky-red.
Thirty minutes went by in which time Seth checked by his quarters as well as sickbay. Nothing more was notified beside the need to replace part of his spine and several ribs with fresh prosthetics, and in some cases wholly new prosthetics to replace original rotting and dying bone tissue. Wonderful. He waited absent-mindedly for a comm from Ascension, or command or anywhere. It was days since he had heard the news on that latest happening. He sat back, space's perpetual darkness lowering his mood. Before he had found it spellbinding; now he strangely found himself missing San Francisco, with its many and bewildering ancient towers.
"Sir. Update from the Romulan vessel."
"Go ahead Lieutenant," he replied. Once he heard the news he made as fast as his crutch-reliant frame allowed for the bridge.
The officers activity was still frenetic since they had received the news. "How many will Subcommander Vleran permit aboard?" Seth asked, taking the central seat - the XO's seat - again.
"Just three sir," Borthian growled. "Yourself, and two officers of relatively low experience. Recommend, even if it takes force, that you take security too. I'll come. I've only just started in this job." Borthian reached under the station, as if he were about to pull out a tricorder or worse.
"Borthian. You're senior and I know I needn't remind you Ops. You should take command in my absence. I'll take Ensigns Meshers and Lowe with me. They need some exercise. First away mission, Mr Meshers. Transporter room 2, twenty minutes." As if an afterthought, "Lightly armed."
<tag Meshers>
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Post by Lennard Meshers on Sept 25, 2013 21:07:12 GMT
"Borthian. You're senior and I know I needn't remind you Ops. You should take command in my absence. I'll take Ensigns Meshers and Lowe with me. They need some exercise. First away mission, Mr Meshers. Transporter room 2, twenty minutes." As if an afterthought, "Lightly armed."
Lenny stood up and straightened the front of his uniform, "Yes, sir, I'll be ready in ten."
Twenty minutes later, Lenny was waiting in the transporter room. He looked at Ensign Lowe and nodded. Commander Helacaan had not yet arrived but Lenny didn't want to break the silence, feeling that any comment he might venture to make would unsettle both of them ahead of what he anticipated to be a vitally important mission.
The transporter chief looked at them and smiled mischievously. "You two feeling ready?" he said. "Once the Commander decides to show up, perhaps your nerves will be settled."
Lenny saw the Chief's grin fade as he muttered the last sentence as well as looking down at his console. Lenny guessed that the Chief was one of the crew members who felt uncomfortable with the changes that Commander Helacaan had brought in the last few weeks. He knew however that he wasn't qualified to speak on such matters.
A minute later the Commander arrived. He hobbled on to the transporter pad, waving his hand at Lenny's motion to help him on in dismissal. "Are you alright, sir?" Lenny asked.
<Tag Helacaan>
A few moments later, Lenny felt a tingling sensation as the transporter pad was activated. He closed his eyes, his usual ritual when being transported, and felt the wash of dematerialisation consume him. His eyes opened. He found himself standing by his two shipmates in a low-ceilinged, darkly-lit room. He suddenly felt a lot more oppressed by his surroundings, which didn't really surprise him; they had just arrived on a ship with which their last contact had been via a few inflared, bitter words.
There was a small welcoming party; three Romulans stood before them. The lead of these had his arms down by his side, a steely glint in his eyes. The two either side of him both had their hands on their holsters, Lenny catching a glimpse of curiously carved, green-tinged weapons which they had hanging there. He saw the lead Romulan's lip curl, as his eyes alighted on the Commander.
"Welcome aboard. So, Commander, what is it that you hope to achieve by showing your face here? I see you've brought the infantry." He cast withering eyes over Lenny and Lowe, and the navigator fought hard to match the intensity of his gaze.
<Tag Helacaan>
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Seth Helacaan
Civilian 4
Registered: Feb 8, 2008 12:30:38 GMT
Posts: 467
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Post by Seth Helacaan on Oct 4, 2013 13:08:49 GMT
"Fine Mr Meshers. Take your place on the pad." Seth was irked that first of all the helmsman had asked him about his injury, and secondly and mostly that he had allowed his condition to become obvious to the crew. That said, it wasn't so much he didn't want to demoralize the crew or make them lose trust in him by showing his weakness, but that he didn't want to draw attention, didn't want to be made a fuss of. Sometimes he wanted to be left alone, but as an Acting CO that could prove to be extremely difficult.
"Reading three bio signatures in their transporter room sir," the chief informed, "They have just lowered their shields."
"Check phasers," he said gruffly, withdrawing his weapon and ensuring light stun was selected. If it did come to a firefight, he wanted to no more than lightly injure the Romulans. Setting 2: barely enough to render an enemy unconscious, and considering the typical Romulan constitution, their speech might still be intelligible if the away team needed to obtain any intelligence.
Vleran was one of the Romulans on hand to greet them in the transporter room. He had two security guards with him, armed with curiously shaped daggers but no visible beam weaponry or otherwise. Seth cleared his throat. It was the first time he had been responsible this, face to face contact with an alien ship's crew "Subcommander," Seth nodded, "May I acquaint you with two of my officers. Junior as requested..."
"Ensign Meshers, senior navigations officer. And Ensign Lowe, assistant tactical officer. And your subordinates, or your CO, Subcommander...?"
Vleran led them into the ship's corridor. It was a typical example of Romulan interior design: beiges, greens and grays painted over polygonal passageways and intersections of an angular utilitarian quality. "You needn't know the identity of my own men. And I told you," Vleran's face was like thunder. "Our Commander is indisposed. He is not to be disturbed, in reverence of his preparations for Rihannsu Sor'daz."
A noise of comprehension emitted from Ensign Lowe's direction. Seth glared over his shoulder at the tactical officer. "Forgive me sir. Sor'daz is the Romulan ceremony for marriage. Subcommander Vleran?"
Vlearn ignored the Ensign. "Your crewmember is correct Commander Helacaan. For periods of two hours a day the Commander is not to be disturbed while he prepares for his bondage to his chosen mate."
"When's the big day?" Lowe asked under his breath. They entered a turbolift, Vleran ordering to be taken to the ship's ward room where presumably they were to hold conference. Seth was beginning to tense up. Where was Park. He must be aboard somewhere. En route to the turbolift he had kept expecting to run into Park in the gangway, dressed in his undercover clothing that only Helacaan would have recognized. When the moment came, Seth would need to be ready to balance his recognition of Park with withholding the knowledge of Park's operation from the Nevada crew. He almost began to doubt that Park was aboard at all.
The ward room was dark and overly warm. "Speaking of your own captain Commander Seth Helacaan..." Vleran rounded the table, "Where is he or she? In my experience Federation commanding officers of ships the size of yours are not led by men of Commander rank."
Seth's hands were clammy, leaving wet prints over the immaculate conference table. He was about to respond when the door from the bridge slid open. Vleran's face lit up in embarrassment. "Commander. What are you doing here? I thought you were observing vigil in the build up to Sor'daz?"
"You dare to question me Subcommander?" a voice Seth very much recognized said. He had his back to the door, that Vleran's dark eyes had become fixed upon. He gradually turned and saw standing there the Commander of the Romulan vessel. It was Park, in his undercover disguise.
"But, he's not a Romulan..." Lowe muttered.
<tag Meshers, Park>
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Seth Helacaan
Civilian 4
Registered: Feb 8, 2008 12:30:38 GMT
Posts: 467
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Post by Seth Helacaan on Oct 31, 2013 1:23:33 GMT
'Speaking of his own captain', indeed, Seth thought grimly. Well, here Jon Park was, but apparently in command of both ships. The Nevada - but by extended LOA/MIA, it didn't even matter anymore - and also the Romulan destroyer in the beshadowed ward room of which they currently brooded in.
The Romulan intelligence officer-attired - and cosmetically altered - officer better known to Seth as Park or so he still believed, rounded the table and took its empty head. "Vleran. Place these infiltrator scum under arrest," he barked suddenly.
Seth began protest but before he, Meshers and Lowe could react six guards - one grasping each arm - lifted them off their chairs and dragged them towards the exit. Seth's clammy hands left prints on the table as they slid off the reflective black surface and hung limp above his arms bonded by prehensile Romulan fingers. He transfixed the destroyer's commander with piercing eyes, hard as Wezean rough diamonds, and saw the truth of the man's identity there.
It definitely was Park. Not in Romulan guise, not human either... In fact he hardly recognized the species, vaguely recalling he may have seen an entry on the race in the Federation member database. They came from a distant world, little known; for the purposes of recon he would have been hardly conspicuous on installations as sprawling as Earth Spacedock or Starfleet HQ.
"We've done nothing. This is against interstellar law and the signing of the... Algeron Treaty!" Seth rasped as he was dragged away. He yelped in pain as he fell on his bad leg. The Romulans stooped to collect him - Meshers and Lowe already out of the room into a nearby gangway - but Seth lashed out with his good leg, summoning not unappreciable strength as was common to native Wezeans and cracked several of the guard's ribs.
He wheeled as he came to his feet, half in a daze, feeling rivers of pain coursing up his bad leg. He stumbled into view of Vleran, the Romulan first officer, and butted the man instinctually. He felt blood rushing to his head and nose and a palpable crack, but Vleran was on the deck, green fluid gushing from parts of his face. Suns! that hurt. Romulan brow ridges were harder than he'd expected.
"Meshers, Lowe...? Respond," he said activated his commbadge as he now sprinted (or painfully loped) down the corridor, leaping over the downed Vleran. Disruptor shots rang out around him followed by the harsh sound of Park's modified voice demanding the Romulans cease fire.
"Send for battlestations!" he heard Park call. "Activate shields. On my order..."
Seth realized, in a shared moment of understanding between the two officers what Park was doing. He was giving Seth time.
"Damn you, Commander!" He tapped his badge, "Transporter room 2, this is Helacaan. Lock on to the away team and energize! As soon as it is complete, I want us out of here at high warp. Have helm set a course away from both this destroyer and the black-cloaked Romulan ships." Seth was lost in the cerulean blue, the understanding almost sad expression in Park's eyes the last thing he saw.
"Heading, sir?" Meshers asked in exasperation as they entered the bridge minutes later.
"Anywhere. General direction, Federation core worlds..." He looked at the microdot, still held in his hand. He had perhaps foolishly taken it on the away mission. "No. Take us along the Romulan border, leftwards until we reach the end of the neutral zone then continue." That led them, as they all knew, towards the Cardassian demilitarized zone. Again the bridge crew were left to wonder what Helacaan was plotting.
<tag Meshers>
"Brig to bridge,"
"Go ahead," Seth said, limping his way to the upper deck. A visit to sickbay might be wise now.
"We've got two... quite enraged Romulans down here who are demanding to see the Nevada's captain. They want to know what's going on. They keep talking about a 'foul trick'..."
"I'll be there shortly. Borthian, two security, with me. Lieutenant Hasak you have the bridge." This was an unfortunate consequence of having to beam out quickly. When the energization came, Meshers and Lowe were pinned down by two Romulan guards. Those Romulans had been beamed to the Nevada along with the two green officers.
Seth took a final glance towards the viewscreen before entering the clinically quiet turbolift. The Romulan destroyer was powering up engines, falling away from the Nevada in a course that neither went closer nor further from the Federation. It seemed like they were enacting evasive against the cloaked ships just arrived in the area. "I hope you know what you're doing, Commodore..."
<tag All>
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Post by Lennard Meshers on Nov 15, 2013 16:42:27 GMT
Lenny remembered little of the Romulan ship. It all became a blur of green and grey colours, distraught shouts, frantic footsteps, hand-to-hand combat and the sounds of people groaning in pain. His main memory was of the Romulan Commander, the face he had not recognised at first, and then slowly, an inkling of comprehension took form.
He had studied the crew profiles on board the Nevada with some interest since his joining the ship, and the face of their missing captain, Jon Park, became stuck in his head during those weeks they had been without him. Had they finally found him? If so, his suspicions were correct all along.
"Take us along the Romulan border, leftwards until we reach the end of the neutral zone then continue..."
"Yes, sir."
The modified order had intrigued Lenny, but he had not questioned it, keeping his head down and plotting the course that he was sure the whole crew knew veered close to the Cardassian demilitarized zone. He was finding most of Commander Helacaan's orders impossible to predict, and was wondering what Commodore Park would think of his first officer's performance as the ship's default captain.
The next day, they encountered a small vessel, close to the edge of the neutral zone. It appeared up out of the vacuum, like a stone washed up on a beach; small, insignificant in appearance and slowly drifting in their line of vision.
It was a Federation vessel, a small Galileo-type shuttlepod. "Lifesigns?" queried Lieutenant Borthian, frowning. Attempts at hailing them had already proved fruitless.
Lenny ran some scans as he heard the tactical officer call out: "Two people. They've lost main power, they're re-routing everything to the life support but that will fail in a matter of minutes."
Lenny looked back towards the senior officer on the bridge, with Commander Helacaan currently in what he plainly termed 'discussions' with the Romulans transported aboard accidentally the day before. The Ensign was confident in what he had found after running his scans.
"They're drifting towards us, I recommend we move course otherwise there'll be a pretty nasty collision."
Borthian nodded. "Do it. And beam them aboard now. I'm sure our Commander will understand."
The order was relayed to Transporter room 1. In moments Borthian had it confirmed that the two occupants of the drifting shuttlepod had been safely beamed over.
"Ensign Meshers, Ensign James, follow me. We'll find out what they have to say, assuming they're in a fit state for questioning."
Lenny nodded and followed the other two out, leaving Lieutenant Hasak to take command of the bridge.
<tag Helacaan>
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