Gheskori
Command Staff ..
Commanding Officer Personnel Officer Trivia Officer
Section Admiral
USS Enzio
Registered: May 2, 2008 23:32:36 GMT
Posts: 1,538
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Post by Gheskori on Feb 2, 2019 11:53:53 GMT
Mission 10 - Year 3 - Entanglement *
On the way to locate rare elements for the repair of Starbase 47's ventral comm array, the USS Enzio encounters near a G-type star seven small craft carrying over a hundred people, travelling at sublight velocity towards said star. It emerges that the ships are escape pods, having broken away from a ship of limited warp capability which has suffered a serious malfunction.
Communication with the people aboard the pods ensues - they are pioneers who set off from a war-torn world aboard a colonising vessel, wishing to find a place for them and ultimately the rest of their species to perhaps someday start somewhere else anew. The G-type star is their home; the Enzio offers them transport.
Besides strife and natural disaster, a low level of technological advancement marks out this species and its world as being excluded from the possibility of contact with the Federation owing to the Prime Directive, however, the Enzio has already made contact, and everywhere they look on this world, they find injustice. * provisional title
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Simon Clark
Lt. Commander
Registered: Dec 1, 2016 22:21:10 GMT
Posts: 153
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Post by Simon Clark on Feb 3, 2019 23:18:32 GMT
Commanding Officers Ready Room, Deck One, USS Enzio (OOC: A joint post between Lt. Simon Clark and Adm. Gheskori. Also: this is my One Hundreth post! Hooray!)
"Captain's Personal Log, stardate 2405020.3. In the wake of the Betreka disaster, and the subsequent unrest on Starbase 47 that resulted in the destruction of the long range subspace antenna, Commander Gordon insists that the starbase is in need of certain rare elements to complete the restoration of its communication facilities in the coming months. I have assigned the USS Enzio to survey several local star systems for the presence of these minerals. It's advanced sensor array makes us an ideal candidate for such an activity, and I am looking forward to learning more about this area of space. We are midway en-route to an unnamed K7-type orange dwarf star 22 light years distant from Starbase 47, a seven and a half day journey at warp eight.
"Iโve had the pleasure to welcome aboard Lieutenant Thomas Tagert as my new helm officer. The officer was unfortunate to have been reassigned to Section 47 shortly before the Betreka Event. He is from what I remember from his previous time in the Section a skilled and commendable officer. I hope that the various refits made to minor ship systems during our layover will prove to have been of benefit, the engineering teams and their colleagues in Operations have worked tirelessly to ensure that all systems are in optimal -"
Gheskori was interrupted by the ping of his desk comm. He paused the recording, and answered.
"Gheskori."
=/\= Admiral, we are picking up a group of small objects in our flight path. Ensign Hurel believes they are not natural objects, and may be vessels. =/\= The executive officer said.
"Bring us to range, let's take a look."
=/\= Aye, sir. =/\=
Gheskori completed his log entry, and made his way out onto the bridge, where Ensign Hurel was describing the sensor readings from the science console.
"...seven objects, all identical ovoids, 18 metres in length, that's about twice as long as a type-9 shuttle. They are definitely vessels, though I'm not detecting anything that looks like a faster than light propulsion system; they are accelerating at sub-light."
The first officer relinquished the chair as Gheskori sat, "Bring us out of warp, and put the vessels on screen."
"They are strung out over a five hundred kilometer arc. There are life-signs, humanoid, 134 across the seven vessels; it'll be cramped conditions. The ion trail stretches back a tenth of a light year. One is under tow, see here - the cable connecting it to two of the others - and this one at the back appears to have fluctuations in it's power grid, it's emitting low frequency harmonics on the radio spectrum. Lieutenant Clark?"
"Aluminium construction, no real deflector system, no shields, no warp capability, no bussard collectors. The emissions are more likely consistent with an unshielded electrical power distribution network and an EM spectrum sensor array. The ion drives are thrusting with a mix of alpha particles, charged protons, and traces of lithium and tritium, suggesting a stage-two hydrogen fusion-based energy source without alpha particle fusion. It's a rudimentary design."
"Pre-warp?" Gheskori asked.
"Possibly," Simon replied, "I am detecting subspace communication technology; but I can't see how they got to here at impulse speeds with those drives, and with the limited fuel they are carrying: where they could be trying to get to. From the ion wake dispersion, it looks like it's taken them about nine and a half months to reach their current speed and position. Admiral, they are obviously space-faring, and they do appear to be struggling. Are there any star systems near here?"
"There's a G-type star three-point-four light years in the direction they are heading, and I am detecting a larger object at the origin point of the ion trail." Ensign Hurel said.
"Ah yes, so there is. That object has a configuration matching these, and what appear to be warp coils. No evidence of an antimatter reactor though, and the vessel is unpowered."
"Could these be escape pods, then?"
"Perhaps, ah yes, it seems likely, the ion trail for the larger vessel comes back this way. I wouldn't think it's capable of much more than warp one, though."
"Interesting. Open a channel, then. Let's say hello." Gheskori said.
"Channel open sir." Commander Paul Yarwood replied from Operations.
"This is Admiral Gheskori commanding the starship USS Enzio. We have encountered your seven vessels on our journey, and wish to make peaceful contact with you." The bridge held its breath.
"There's a massive increase in EM radio traffic between the vessels. I think we've attracted their attention," Ensign Hurel said, "The computer is analysing the messages for language content."
"Thomas, put us on a parallel course, and maintain a respectful distance."
<Tag Tagert>
"Lieutenant Clark, are you sure they are capable of replying?"
"They appear to have the requisite technology, sir."
"Let's give them a moment then. Set the message to repeat."
"They are responding, sir." Commander Yarwood replied.
"On screen."
A dark image of two humanoids took the main viewer, dressed in a technical-looking pale green spacesuit, fitted tightly against their limbs. It was shabby and stained, presumably from hard use. Their head was hairless, and their skin had an orange tone, and an unusual ridge running between the bridge of their nose, under their eyes, to the bottom of their ears. A metal ring at their neck suggested a helmet could be fitted to the spacesuit for an airtight seal. Behind them, the air was dusty, and similarly dressed people stood, sat, or lay - all watching the display.
"Oomibioeh, eemufituh em amofifah oofala a omeniweh ah'fheenoafim." Their language was soft, flowing and almost lyrical.
"Keep them talking, the universal translator needs some more context for the phoneme model."
"Greetings, I am Admiral Gheskori."
"Oomenibioeh, em oofala a ah'fheenoafim. Afifaleh em oomeninfooeh im oofeh uh amoeffellooiloo en'fefelefelenen."
"That's good, basic translation is ready, sir."
"We are explorers from another part of the galaxy and-"
"...how... in language our ears... our settlevessel... you another... language?"
"We have technology that helps us understand other languages. Our computer system is learning a translation as we converse."
"We... such technology... are alone the void?" The figures on the screen turned to each other and all spoke at once. There was some shouting from a distance, and a greater number of voices speaking than were present in the image.
Gheskori flicked his finger at Commander Yarwood to indicate a pause in the transmission.
"Thereโs a massive amount of EM traffic between the vessels, I think our transmission is being relayed to the other vessels," Ensign Hurel said, "The computer has translated some of it. They are discussing whether... I think they are saying that we are the first species alien to their world that they have seen. The language indicates surprise, revulsion, revelation, hope, and a whole mixture of other responses."
Commander Yarwood spoke next, "Sir, what happens to a society at this stage of development will be pivotal to what happens next in their history. Under normal circumstances, Starfleet would have a comprehensive profile of such a culture before initiating any first contact situation."
"These are unusual circumstances. Commander Yarwood, Ensign Hurel, monitor their communications, and inform me when they are in a position to resume a discussion. They do appear to be recently warp capable, so we are not entirely restricted by the non-interference principle of the Prime Directive," Gheskori addressed the bridge, "I want to offer assistance to them, should they want it. My assumption is that they want to return to the star system they are heading for; I want to achieve this while minimising contact with our vessel and crew. Your thoughts, everyone."
<Tag: All>
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Thomas Tagert
Lieutenant JG
Registered: Jan 19, 2019 8:46:37 GMT
Posts: 18
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Post by Thomas Tagert on Feb 5, 2019 21:31:14 GMT
The stars streaked past the edges of the view screen as the bridge crew manned their stations. It was shift change and Tom was doing his hand over with Ensign Rac'anne who was on third watch. She was a short woman, with olive skin and a black braided ponytail. "I blow down de RCS trusters less dan en ewwer ego." She said. "Good. So I won't have to hit it again till we reach the cource corection." Tom said. She smiled and nodded her head as the back of the chair and the arm rest pinched her hair. "SHOOT!" she yelped and rubbed the back of her head. Tom could tell that she was embarrassed so he made a joke to try and lighten her mood. "Right I'm always catching my armpit hair in the same spot." He said. "You jokes arnut efuny. But you are efuny man. Duenut rek de sheep an I'll see you tummero morning."
As Tom sat down he looked over at Hurel who was looking rather sleepy. "Morning." Tom said as Hurel, startled a bit,sat up a bit more and said, "Morning." Through the middle of a yawn. He wiped his eye and blinked rapidly trying to get the sleep from his eye.
Hurel and Tom were talking about Nassican wrestling when the notification tone on his console reminded them that they would need to drop from warp to make a course corection. He had already planed to take the ship into the system and travel arround the astroid belt and re enter warp at the appoge.
Just as they had reached the point where the system was clear enough to engage the warp drive Hurel said, "Hold on it. I think we need a second to look this over."
A few minutes later...
Tom glanced arround at the officers working arround him he was doing a level 4 diagnostic on the navigation array and he had noticed that his course would not be viable because it now intersected two planetary bodies. He thought to himself, 'maybe if we hang arround long enough they'll clear.' But he started working on a few different option putting in to account for time and drift.
"Thomas, put us on a parallel course, and maintain a respectful distance." The Admiral instructed. "Aye sir." The Enzio crept up to the tiny Winnebago shaped ships. There were three larger thrusters on the stern and four smaller on each of the port and starboard sides. The bow had a thick armor or skid plating on the nose, like it was made to take an impact.
After the UT started to decipher this brand new language that no one on the ship had ever heard before, the Admiral muted the comm and started asking for thoughts and options from the crew. Tom said, "We don't have room on the ship for them. I wouldn't suggest tractoring them unless we can confirm they have inertial dampers."
The last ship in the line started to spin out of control as a piece of the aft thruster fell off. As the damadged ship turned it made hard contact with the one being towed by two others. Every ship was hailing the Enzio, and from the scene playing out in the veiwscreen the two damaged ships would be void of atmosphere shortly.
Tag anyone
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Simon Clark
Lt. Commander
Registered: Dec 1, 2016 22:21:10 GMT
Posts: 153
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Post by Simon Clark on Feb 8, 2019 17:22:32 GMT
Main Bridge, Deck 1, USS Enzio, 18 light years from Starbase 47"We don't have room on the ship for them. I wouldn't suggest tractoring them unless we can confirm they have inertial dampeners." Tagart said. Simon checked the readings on his console. "I can't see any evidence that these vessels have inertial dampeners, though they do appear to have artificial gravity. The occupants will have been subject to sustained inertial forces of 0.31g for the last nine months to reach this position. We could make use of the tractor system if we apply it... gently." Simon turned to the center chair, "Admiral, I believe Lieutenant Tagart to be right, in that we cannot house all seven vessels aboard the Enzio while we are carrying a full complement of shuttles. The vessels are similar in size to the Argo shuttles, and about twice as long as a standard shuttle. There is a little extra capacity on the Enzio to allow for docking of several small vessels. We could accommodate three vessels in the shuttle bay, and a further four only if we remove eight of our ten shuttles." (OOC: See EnzioTechSpec)
"Eight shuttles?" Ensign Hurel asked. "What would we do with eight shuttles?" "Four of them could be stored temporarily within the cargo bays, the others could be set to autopilot to follow behind the Enzio at Warp 3, or we could use graviton clamps to attach them to the outer hull, though it will slightly reduce the warp field efficiency." Simon turned to the center seat, "Admiral, is your rationale for minimising contact to limit their access to technology for security reasons, or to avoid overwhelming them at first contact, or something else?" <Tag Gheskori> The last ship in the line started to spin out of control as a piece of aft thruster fell off. As the damaged ship turned, it made hard contact with the one being towed by two others.
"Both vessels are slowly leaking atmosphere," Ensign Hurel announced, "The damaged vessel's thrusters are still firing. She's moving away from the convoy, but unless the other engines are shut down, the inertia will rip it apart in minutes." "These vessels have no structural integrity field," Simon said. "Admiral, we are being hailed simultaneously by five of the seven vessels." Commander Yarwood announced. "On screen, lead vessel." Gheskori said. The two figures from the previous transmission appeared on the viewer, their stance significantly more focused and earnest than they had been during the previous communication. "Leader Gheskori... our safevessel damage... your technology... language, help us?" <Tag: All>
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Gheskori
Command Staff ..
Commanding Officer Personnel Officer Trivia Officer
Section Admiral
USS Enzio
Registered: May 2, 2008 23:32:36 GMT
Posts: 1,538
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Post by Gheskori on Feb 10, 2019 19:06:40 GMT
Gheskori listened as Clark, Tagert and Hurel passed information back and forth between them and kept him updated. He had to admit he had not considered the possible obstructions to their ability to offer immediate help - in the form of the lack of dampeners and the lack of space aboard the Enzio -, he had merely thought, rather foolishly, a show of outward benevolence would be enough to carry the day.
"... your rationale for minimising contact to limit their access to technology for security reasons, or to avoid overwhelming them at first contact, or something else?"
Amidst his musings, he gradually realised Clark was asking him a question. "Ah yes, the primary reason is rather to prevent their access to advanced technology that may unduly affect their natural process of development. However, if space can be made for them as you suggest, I don't see why we can't allow them aboard as long as we ensure they're placed away from sensitive systems or technology that is far beyond what they are capable of."
"We may even be able to locate them aboard a holodeck," V'Maz glanced around to see what might be made of this, "They needn't know they are in a simulation."
"I wouldn't be comfortable with deception no matter what its intent. No, we'll keep them in two or three cargo bays with the best care and attention that we can provide for them, for their ordinary needs and if they have any injured or sick. They will have limited access to our facilities, moving between the cargo bays and the facilities they may require access to along circumscribed routes; at no time will they be given to think they are under guard, therefore people escorting them will be unarmed and in civilian clothing or other off-duty wear when possible."
<Tag All, after events of below>
Ghes gave orders to prepare to launch the four shuttles that would follow behind on autopilot so as to provide space for the sizeable escape pods. As Yarwood began relaying to the LSO the necessary instructions, a slow ballet began on the viewscreen, a ship swung into another and set them both spiralling away from the convoy: the towed ship fell a certain way into the darkness but was prevented, its tow lines snapping taut and the hull rotating about rapidly, while the damaged vessel continued its recession.
After a flurry of reports contact was made, "Leader Gheskori... our safevessel damage... your technology... language, help us?"
"Yes, we will help you. Please listen, this is very important, do you have space in your vessels for the personnel in your two damaged craft?"
The two on the screen conversed rapidly, there was much furore behind them as others of their people shouted above one another, "Much little. We could spare some extra volume for emergencies, however we are already near capacity."
"This is such an emergency. Nevertheless, we will explore additional options." He turned to the bridge crew, "Can we transport aboard one crew into cargo bay 1?" There was nothing preventing this, cargo bay 1 was currently given over to surplus deuterium and tritium storage the tech for whose containment wouldn't be beyond reach of these people.
He was informed the stresses applied to the damaged vessel were increasing much faster than expected - the hull was buckling. He nodded, "Beam the personnel of the damaged pod into cargo bay 1 immediately, and transfer the crew of the ship under tow into the five undamaged pods, look for spacious areas. Which are inhabitable, incidentally. Prepare to take avoiding action should any of the vessel be pitched our way upon its explosion."
<Tag Clark, Tagert>
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Gheskori
Command Staff ..
Commanding Officer Personnel Officer Trivia Officer
Section Admiral
USS Enzio
Registered: May 2, 2008 23:32:36 GMT
Posts: 1,538
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Post by Gheskori on Feb 27, 2019 18:13:22 GMT
The Enzio rolled and pitched to the left to avoid the oncoming wreckage of the exploded pod/ship, its seams bursting apart as the drive went critical, the starships' viewscreen dimmed in tandem with the white light that erupted from its critical components. Fortunately, the crew/escapees of the craft had just been transported into the ship's cargo bay 1. And now these bewildered newcomers found themselves having to brace against pylons, secured containers, whatever they could use, as the dampeners lagged in their adjusting to the momentary irregular attitude.
"Bring us about," Ghes ordered, making his stance wide so that he didn't topple as V'Maz had done, off his seat, beside him, "Fall in alongside the lead ship in the convoy." There was more than one pod/ship that'd been evacuated. "Did we get everyone off the ship under tow, and onto the other five craft?"
"Aye, sir, all lifesigns registered on the disabled vessel under tow are now showing as aboard the others. We've tried to spread them evenly and in places of lesser biosignature density."
"Regardless of that," Comms reported, "There has been an increase in comm traffic between the five ships, from how the universal translator is reading their language it seems they are asking each other about free space that may be available. They sound disgruntled, but nevertheless grateful... They may not remain that way, however," the officer finished after a pause of listening to the traffic.
Ghes nodded, "Then let us begin Simon's suggested process of bringing aboard their craft." While also making room by launching the shuttles, he thought, nodding to Yarwood who was enquiring whether he could resume that task. He reflected that they all knew their duties, what they really needed was for him to step back and allow them to do their work, to be absent from the bridge so that they did not feel obliged to ask his permission to commence the ship's notable operations.
* * *
In the following hours, they edged their way a good deal closer to the G-type star to which this unfortunate crew of the experimental warp 1 flight had been returning. Before long they were two thirds of the way to this species' home; Ghes was in his ready room; the door chimed and he answered, it was Colonel Tavik.
"Ah, Colonel, how is your soldier?" During the avoidance manoeuvre at the time of the explosion of the damaged pod/ship, a corporal of the marine first officer's had been climbing a vertical Jeffries' Tube. He'd lost grip of the ladder and had plummeted 15 metres through 2.5 decks, landing heavily at the entrance to a maintenance junction and knocking flying a gurney on which had been carried stacks of medical equipment. Having suffered a broken leg and shoulder blade, the corporal had been recuperating in sickbay.
<Tag Aeryn>
As Tavik answered Lieutenant Commander Clark happened by with a requested status report. Ghes nodded and took the report, then gestured to both officers, "This is convenient. Please, sit."
While they did so he took a PADD off the stack at his left hand side and passed it across, "Operations and Science have been studying the limited capacity databanks aboard the pod-ships and the portable memory devices carried by their crews. We received their permission. Apparently their world is a borderline M class, one of two rocky planets in their system. They were warp capable about 3 years ago, ostensibly," he referred to their failed warp flight. "Their world has long been wartorn and remains so. They have many additional problems, natural disaster, failing resources, starvation..." he sighed and considered the problem, "I wouldn't wish to interfere in a planet's natural course of development unduly, but we have already made contact... And we've helped them, upon their own request. When we reach the planet..." He asked them whether they believed or did not believe that the Prime Directive permitted them to do everything they could to, for instance, end the planetwide conflict. "Perhaps we should learn of the grievances of the party to which these people belong to? Do they represent an international organise or just one faction...?" This wasn't clear. "Should we rather stand off and mediate, arbitrate between them?"
<Tag Aeryn, Simon>
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Simon Clark
Lt. Commander
Registered: Dec 1, 2016 22:21:10 GMT
Posts: 153
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Post by Simon Clark on Mar 1, 2019 12:05:07 GMT
Main Bridge, Deck 1, USS Enzio
"We can allow them aboard as long as we ensure they're placed away from sensitive systems or technology that may unduly affect their natural process of development. We'll keep them in two or three cargo bays with limited access to our facilities along circumscribed routes; at no time will they be given to think they are under guard, therefore people escorting them will be unarmed and in civilian clothing." Gheskori said.
"Understood, sir. In that case, I suggest Cargo Bays 1 and 2, as they are adjacent to the shuttle bay." Simon said, "Though, I cannot imagine that this people will necessarily know the difference between our civilian wear and our uniforms."
The crews of the damaged pods were transported to cargo bay one. Simon coordinated with Tagart and Yarwood to relocate two of their shuttles to Cargo Bays 3 and 4 on Deck 9, and to make space for the five intact pods to be brought aboard. Tagart would like to have flown them down himself, he told Simon, but someone had to drive the starship. He had Rory and Brexon oversee the move of Deuterium and Tritium tanks from Cargo Bay 1 down to Cargo Bay 3 to make room for their guests, they were both level headed and friendly, and probably wouldn't cause anything political should they encounter the alien crews. With the pods aboard, and their occupants being attended to by the medical teams, the Enzio jumped back to warp heading for the alien's home-world, leaving four of their shuttles to trail behind and catch up with the Enzio later.
+++ Gheskori's Ready Room, Deck 1, USS Enzio
In the last few hours, Rory and Brexon had gone over the pod design and structure with their guests. Rory had been amazed that they would even have attempted to try to cross such an expanse of space in them, and he did not believe that the vessels would have made it before the vessel's energy reserves had been depleted. Brexon said they had been solely reliant on the construction of a relief vessel from their world to come to their aid, and the crews had mixed beliefs as to whether their leaders would fund such an expedition to rescue these 134 survivors. She said most had bleak hope. It was worth discussing with the Admiral, and so he had tapped the ready room door chime.
"This is convenient. Please, sit." Gheskori said, gesturing to the seat alongside Lieutenant Colonel Tavik.
Simon sat, and Gheskori passed a PADD across to him, "Operations and Science have been studying the limited capacity databanks aboard the pod-ships and the portable memory devices carried by their crews. We received their permission. Apparently their world is a borderline M class, one of two rocky planets in their system. They were warp capable about 3 years ago, ostensibly," he referred to their failed warp flight. "Their world has long been war-torn and remains so. They have many additional problems, natural disaster, failing resources, starvation..." he sighed, "I wouldn't wish to interfere in a planet's natural course of development unduly, but we have already made contact... And we've helped them, upon their own request. When we reach the planet..." he paused, considering briefly his next words "...we have to make an interpretation of how the Prime Directive will permit us to act in this instance, if, for example, we might do everything we can do to end the planet-wide conflict, and I would like to know your interpretation."
Although Simon was surprised to have his diplomatic view sought by the Admiral, he had, in fact, been mulling over that very question in his mind. He flipped to another page on his PADD, and read out loud. "The Prime Directive is a Starfleet principle prohibiting its members from interfering with the internal and natural development of alien civilisations, and applies particularly to civilisations which are below a certain threshold of technological, scientific and cultural development." He pulled the Admiral's PADD closer, "While this species appears to meet the technological and scientific thresholds, the data they have been able to provide us with does not suggest either way that their cultural development reaches that threshold. It is a borderline case."
The Admiral nodded, "Perhaps we should learn of the grievances of the party to which these people belong to? Do they represent an international organise or just one faction...? Should we rather stand off and mediate, arbitrate between them? What do you think, Aeryn?"
<Tag Tavik, Gheskori>
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Thomas Tagert
Lieutenant JG
Registered: Jan 19, 2019 8:46:37 GMT
Posts: 18
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Post by Thomas Tagert on Mar 5, 2019 13:06:02 GMT
OOC* I got the night off for white out conditions but I'll be back at it tonight.
The Glecks may have been known for their superior skills in deception and innate administrative abilities, and although they were the ones the Starfleet had made their first talks with, these were not the fat, hairy, slow Glecks that the invaders had spoke with...
Cargo bay one was full of the chosen ones, superior in strength speed and in grit. They wore helmets that covered the back of their craniums with dished openings front and back near their ears to help improve their already delicate hearing. And the only hair on them was a trimmed tufft the kept displayed in a space their armor didn't cover on their chests and a long grown out tousled portion that started at the bottom of their neck and hung down the back over their chest plates. Two finger like bumps, split like a hoof on each hand with a stub of something like a thumb, at the bottom of the palm below and between the fingers.
When the first security officer, came through the doors to meet the new arrivals in cargo bay one, she didn't stand a chance. The Arbazan security guard was sprayed in the face with blood as her head rolled to the floor separated from her body by the sharp edge of the armor that covered the leg of the aggressor. โMy God!โ He said as he recoiled landing his back against the adjacent wall of the corridor. โComputer seal off cargo bay one.โ He had successfully trapped the rest of the ships complement but one had made it through. His yellow skin bathed in red blood. He licked at the edges of his mouth with a purple tongue, thinking to himself that the blood tasted much sweeter than did any race from his home world. The Arbazan fired his phaser and the armor, that was not much stronger than iron, super heated and melted to his chest. The warrior thrust forward and crushed the Arbazans spine but was taken over by the loss of so much of the tissue on his chest. He coughed though his wrinkled snout at the smell of his own burnt flesh and hair, as he went into shock and fell unconscious to the floor.
Inside the cargo bay the Ensigns headless body was hung from a storage shelf by wads of sticky mucus the creatures had spit into their palms. A traditional trophy hung where all who enter could not bypass the viewing. Of the seven races these were the ones who had been the reason for segregated housing on the colony ship. It had been debated whether they should even come at all. But to deny the DakTu would have ment the whole mission might not have seen a launch date.
Dak-TolRa was Prime, his first charge was Dak-SuGrawl and all others had a charge as well but Dak-SuGrawl was the only one to return charge to him. She was taller than he but Dak-TolRa was eldest. They were all DakTu and his kinsmen. Dak-TolRa wasn't sure how this would play out now that they had been taken captive, but he was sure of one thing, his family's history would not end here. They had not eaten in a few weeks and the youngers were whining, so he gave the signal to feast and an arm was tossed his way before any other ripped flesh from bone.
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Gheskori
Command Staff ..
Commanding Officer Personnel Officer Trivia Officer
Section Admiral
USS Enzio
Registered: May 2, 2008 23:32:36 GMT
Posts: 1,538
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Post by Gheskori on Mar 8, 2019 2:28:09 GMT
"While this species appears to meet the technological and scientific thresholds, the data they have been able to provide us with does not suggest either way that their cultural development reaches that threshold. It is a borderline case."
Ghes pursed his lips and nodded, leaning back in his chair, "Then we can only get closer to the planet - we should be there soon..." he put in a call to the bridge; indeed, only 30 minutes remained before they'd be in what they surmised would be the comm receiving range of these peoples' planet.
"When we can make contact with the planet's governments, we can ascertain from that and from their apparent culture, art, science, etc, what level of development they may be at. It shouldn't take too long and thus - if we decide we cannot cooperate with them - we won't be 'hanging about' in orbit for too long. Simon, I was wondering if Lieutenant Marin had had a chance to meet Mwv'mci? She enquired after him the other evening. "She wished to visit the mess hall. Now, far be it from me to prevent my wife from enjoying the company of fine young gentlemen - "
<Tag Simon for any of above before bridge's interruption>
=/\=Admiral Gheskori, this is the bridge.=/\= It was Lieutenant Miak. He requested a report so that Miak wouldn't volunteer any information out of turn. =/\=Sir, we have a security alert, nay an emergency, at cargo bay 1. A security enlisted was found incapacitated outside the bay doors 10 minutes ago, his spine broken, sir... And one of our guests, dead - it seems he was shot at by the guard.=/\=
=/\=Thank you, Lieutenant, you have people in the area?=/\= Ghes shot a glance of consternation at Tavik and Clark while Miak responded affirmative. The Admiral stood, gesturing brusquely at Tavik and Clark to join him and striding out onto the bridge towards the turbolift, "Commander V'Maz, you have the conn, I'm heading for cargo bay 1."
En route they learnt that a security ensign and an enlisted had entered the bay, as per schedule, to see to the immediate needs of the fugitives and outline to them what the Enzio had planned for them in the coming hours. What'd transpired in the bay since that time was a mystery. Ghes, Tavik and Clark arrived to meet the CTSO's deputy, some medics and a whole host of security. The scene round the door was an unhappy sight: both bodies had been removed, but there was a scorched patch on the floor from the Arbazan guard's phaser discharge and the impact it'd apparently made on his quarry, and a smear of scarlet across the bulkhead (from the Arbazan, now irreparably comatic according to the Acting CMO).
"What happened? Did it involve... an altercation in the bay itself?" Ghes asked. "Or is this an isolated incident, nothing to do with either security guard entering the room?"
The deputy CTSO replied, "We can make some educated guesses. All surveillance devices and internal comms - audial and visual - within the bay have been taken offline. Also Ensign Anna Pirter is missing. We believe she may still be inside; her commbadge transponder suggests she is, but conversely we're detecting no human lifesigns in there. The Arbazan sealed the door, we've now erected a level 10 forcefield either side of it."
"There's no way to communicate with those inside? And no way to see what's going on in there?" Tavik asked. Miak's deputy affirmed this.
Ghes didn't want to face the awful reality but it appeared the crew of one of the pods- that which had nearly been destroyed and whose crew the Enzio had saved at the last moment - had shut themselves up in the bay and had perhaps killed Ensign Pirter.
"Colonel, Ensign," he nodded at Aeryn and Miak's deputy, "Remain here. If there is any change either from inside the bay or out here notify the bridge immediately, no matter how trifling it may seem. Lieutenant Commander," he spoke to Clark, "If such a call is made to the bridge, open the external doors to cargo bay 1 but leave the forcefield in place. If those inside are trying anything, that should arrest the potential for any malfeasance on their part."
<Tag Aeryn & CTSO deputy; Simon; Thomas for any DakTu response?>
Ghes and Simon returned to the bridge. It'd become clear from the Enzio's readings of the databanks of these peoples that the expedition had been represented by seven distinct subspecies or perhaps just factions. Could one (Denobula forbid more!) of those be hostile? Were these the most agreeable seven on the planet; were there more factions who weren't part of this space-venturing 'confederacy', if it could be called that?
When they reached the G-type star (in 10 minutes) Ghes would have the Enzio evaluate as quickly as possible which group on the planet might conceivably take these people sequestered in cargo bay 1. He'd prefer sending them to a neutral faction; he wouldn't want to put them with their own, not yet, but then would that be pursuing the path of mediation too early? Regardless, the Enzio's position was now becoming intractable, inextricably bound up with their destination planet.
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Simon Clark
Lt. Commander
Registered: Dec 1, 2016 22:21:10 GMT
Posts: 153
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Post by Simon Clark on Mar 17, 2019 5:41:17 GMT
Gheskori's Ready Room, Deck 1, USS Enzio "When we can make contact with the planet's governments, we can ascertain from that and from their apparent culture, art, science, etc, what level of development they may be at. It shouldn't take too long and thus - if we decide we cannot cooperate with them - we won't be 'hanging about' in orbit for too long." "That does make sense. We can have Ensign Hurel build a profile as our data coverage increases." "Simon, I was wondering if Lieutenant Marin had had a chance to meet Mwv'mci? She enquired after him the other evening. She wished to visit the mess hall. Now, far be it from me to prevent my wife from enjoying the company of fine young gentlemen - "
Simon sat back in his chair. Almir had still not quite recovered from their adventure on the holodeck, and Simon knew that he had been taking significant steps to avoid interacting Gheskori's youngest wife, but there was no way he would want her to know that. "I shall... mention it to him, sir." +++ Outside Cargo Bay One, Deck 7, USS Enzio "...The Arbazan sealed the door, we've now erected a level 10 forcefield either side of it." Deputy Chief of Security, Ensign Ryan Peck told them. "What about the Shuttle Bay entrance?" Simon asked, both of the deck seven cargo bays had large hanger doors from the back of the shuttle bay to allow easy loading to and from docked craft. "It's also sealed. As a precaution, we've also closed off Cargo Bay Two, and any aliens who aren't being treated in there by the EMH have returned to their vessels, apart from that group from the pod that was damaged - they're over there in the corner of the shuttlebay. There was no argument from any of them once they heard what happened, their behaviour changed like that," Crewman Peck snapped his fingers for effect, "It seems like this is completely normal for that group." "Lieutenant Commander," he spoke to Clark, "If such a call is made to the bridge, open the external doors to cargo bay 1 but leave the forcefield in place. If those inside are trying anything, that should arrest the potential for any malfeasance on their part."
"Understood, sir. I'll have Ensign Heath control the process from here. He and Brexon are looking over the pods in the shuttle bay. I will speak to them before I return to the bridge." +++ Shuttle Bay, Deck 7, USS Enzio
"... yes, I can do that, though I'd rather not, especially as we can't see inside the cargo bay to see what's going on," Heath said. "It's a precaution, Rory. I don't think we'll actually blast them into space, but we want to be able to make it a visible threat. See if you and Brexon can restore the surveillance equipment, we need to see what's going on in there." Simon told him. "Sure, we can do that. Simon, you should have a look at these pods, they're quite something. Rudimentary spacefaring, it's incredible!" "Later, I want to speak to the EMH. Can I get through to Cargo Bay Two by the cargo doors?" "No, you'll need to use the corridor entrance. But the EMH is in the pod nearest the shuttle bay doors with a couple of security, he's looking over one of the Oomen tribe who is too ill to move." "Oomen Tribe?" Simon asked. "Aye, that this colony ship was made up of representatives from each nation on their homeworld - Uafin - they all look slightly different, and are all keeping separate, and don't seem to trust each other, and yet, somehow came together for this mission. Amazing!" Rory gave him a wide grin. Simon didn't return it, the situation was too serious for that. Once Rory knew what had happened, Simon doubted he would be smiling about it. "I want you to write down anything you've learned about these people and forward a link to the Ops station on the bridge as you write." "What? Now?" "Yes, now. It could be important. While you are pulling someone else in to stand ready with the cargo bay door controls, and fixing the camera links. Has Brexon been here with you?" "Yes, we've been here a couple of hours. Why?" "Get her to document the same. The situation is quite serious, and we don't know enough about the people we are dealing with. Anything could help." Simon said. He left Rory, and grabbed one of the security enlisted at the doors to escort him to the pod with the EMH. It was odd, having rank, and having people jump to when he needed things done. The five alien escape pods had absorbed most of the space in the shuttle bay. From a distance they had looked smooth and sleek, but up close, the flat hexagonal and pentagonal aluminium plates from which they were constructed were angular. The underside of each pod was black, resembling a heat shield for a semi-controlled atmospheric entry. As Rory said, the technology was rudimentary. Inside the pod, he recognised the alien who had spoken to the bridge during the first contact. "Doctor Reynolds?" Simon asked, stepping through the door after the security crewman. "Your capture of our language is striking." One of the Aliens said. "Our Universal Translator technology has had a lot of practice. I am Simon, Chief Engineer." Simon replied, excluding his title for simplicity. "Simon. First Engineer." The alien repeated, rolling the translated words across his vocabulary, "I am Vlahos, First Leader. Your technology of language... having such between nations, leads to peace?" "Often, yes. Our people desire peace." "Such it is not with the DakTu Detholiad. Such regret have the Ooman Negara for the actions of the DakTu." The alien shook out his hand in the air in front of him, palms down. Simon was sure that this gesture was meaningful, but the Universal Translator sometimes struggled with body language until it had build up a good dataset. "What is Ooman Negara?" Simon asked. "Ooman are this people," he said, pointing around the room. In language, Negara is home, our land." "Country?" Simon suggested. "Negara, yes, that is right. And DakTu Negara, Detholiad. In their language, it means Detholiad, Selected, Extracted Ones. Ooman did not select! Choice not our control. You understand?" "The DakTu are another country on your world? How many countries are there on your world?" "Seven Negara. Ooman Negara are First in Council. Gleck Synedrio are second in Council. DakTu Detholiad are Third in Council. DakTu know much war. Our world had much war. Five years ago, we were at war. Now, we are a Council. We want peace. Our world - Uafin - it is heating. Our people hunger, our cities flood, our harvests die. Our Settle-vessel was to protect our people on a new world. It has failed. We have failed. Eight hundred and Sixty Uafis have died, and we remain." "What happened?" Simon asked. The alien looked at him, and then glanced behind him at the others who were watching the exchange. Simon saw one of the aliens had a taller build, different facial colour, and a different uniform, and this one was staring intently at Vlahos. Vlahos looked back at Simon. "Your health-bringer. He is helping my first-child." Vlahos said. It was a reasonably obvious dodge of the question, but Simon wasn't going to push him to answer it. He too wanted to speak to the Doctor, and was conscious of the vacant engineering station on the bridge as we drew closer to the planet. He had learned a lot in the last five minutes, and he needed to get it into the computer for analysis. Vlahos stepped past him, into a rear compartment of the pod. Simon followed. Inside, there were four pairs of bunks, half against each side of the hull. Two security guards stood to the rear with their backs to the bulkhead separating the living area from what was presumably the location of the engineering section. The living conditions were extremely cramped for so long a journey. "Doctor Reynolds?" Simon asked. "Lieutenant Commander Simon Clark. How's your arm?" The doctor asked, turning away from a deflated female form on the nearest lower bunk. "My arm?" Simon asked. "Never mind, I am just making conversation. I'm afraid I don't get out much. Our last conversation was on the topic of you having a broken arm. Two years ago, on the bridge. As I recall, I advised you to go to sickbay," the EMH said. "My memory of that is a little fuzzy, doctor. Do you have a minute?" Simon asked. The doctor nodded. "Vlahos, as far as I can tell, your daughter is suffering from nutrient deficiency, dehydration, and muscle atrophy. Increase her dietary intake, and she should recover within a few days." "We have limited food," Vlahos replied, "Enough only for part of the journey home. It must last." "Our vessel is on final approach to your home planet." Simon said, "We will be in orbit in less than three hours." Vlahos's eyes widened, "You speak truth?" "Yes," Simon nodded. "I must confer," Vlahos said, disappearing back into the main compartment. "Well, that'll give him something to distract him," The doctor said, "what did you need me for?" "I assume you have spent some significant time over the last few hours among these people?" "The Uafis. Yes. Interesting bunch, aren't they? Seven distinct subspecies, almost biologically identical and compatible, with barest subtleties in genetics giving remarkably different appearances." "I don't yet know. I need you to document what you've learned of them into the computer and send it to the operations station on the bridge." Simon said. "I think I can manage that," The EMH closed his eyes, paused for a moment, as if in thought, and then opened them again, "Okay, done. Anything else?" Simon marvelled briefly at the efficiency of the Mark II hologram. "If you could keep that file updated with anything and everything you learn about these people, that would be helpful." "I will keep the file updated." "Thank you, Doctor Reynolds." "No problem. Call me Sam, if you like. No one has used that name for me in a few years, it'd be nice to hear it once in a while." "Sam, then. I'll see you later." +++ Bridge, Deck 1, USS Enzio
By the time Simon returned to his station and relieved the technician who had sat in for him while he was away, Lieutenant Tagert had announced that the Enzio was just a few minutes away from dropping out of warp. "I've analysed the detailed telemetry on the planetary bodies in the system, if you want to see it." Ensign Hurel said. "On screen." Simon looked up at the display, now showing the orbital configuration, as Ensign Hurel described the detail. "There are three planetary bodies in the system, and four asteroid belts. An unstable asteroid belt close-in to the star is slowly breaking up under the solar wind. The first planet is the alien homeworld, a warm M-class planet, known as Uafin according to the computer. Then there are two separate orbital rings of asteroids showing high concentrations of dilithum ore. A T-class gas ultragiant with a gravitational pull that has prevented the formation of other planets, save for a D-class rocky planet at extreme orbit, and another asteroid belt with several dwarf planetoids, classes D and K." "Uafin has an 80% coverage of liquid water, and seven major continents, all with population centres. Atmosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere are all showing the effects of extensive industrial and radiogenic pollution, global warming, extreme weather events, and sea level rise from ice caps that have completely melted in recent years. The sea level rise is indicated by the blue line surrounding the continents. The planet has a slight tilt, significantly less than Earth, so the arctic circles are much closer to the poles, and the tropics much closer to the equator. Seasons are much less distinctive than Earth's, and are more consistent throughout their 312 day year. The planet rotates once every 26.9 hours, and has one rocky moon with an unusually high aluminium content." "All right. Thank you Ensign. Bring us out of warp. Let's open a communications channel." <Tag all>
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Gheskori
Command Staff ..
Commanding Officer Personnel Officer Trivia Officer
Section Admiral
USS Enzio
Registered: May 2, 2008 23:32:36 GMT
Posts: 1,538
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Post by Gheskori on Mar 19, 2019 10:05:42 GMT
Gheskori sat in the centre seat, satisfied with the Enzio's progress over the last hour. The DakTu in cargo bay 1 had been contained, and while it was great cause for alarm to have the members of that subspecies encamped in a virtual enclave on the Enzio, at least the situation was for the moment under control. They may soon have a potentially difficult diplomatic matter to contend with, considering a continent of DakTu Uafi would likely be expecting the return of their compatriots, whom as far as the Enzio crew could tell had killed Ensign Pirter. This latter fact was confirmed shortly after they entered orbit of the world Uafin, courtesy of the restored internal sensors and visual equipment in the cargo bay.
The other members of the species seemed placid enough, although these being representatives of an international effort concerned with exploration of space, it shouldn't be a surprise to find them imbued with the spirit of cooperation, etc.
"Seven sets of coordinates on the planet's surface are accepting our hail, sir," comms reported.
Ghes debated with himself, turned to V'Maz - Tavik being down by the door of cargo bay 1 engaged in the rather thankless task he'd inadvertently set for her. What should he do, the first people he contacted may well establish who - in the view of the Uafi - were considered their favourites, their most ready partners in whatever they had planned here. It was notable there was no eighth set of coordinates, no separate place from which the global Council or perhaps the space authority were able to receive their comm - that would've been the obvious choice for the Enzio.
"The Ooman have proved the most friendly and welcoming of the various groups," V'Maz said, "I do not think it would be unreasonable to contact them first."
"So it shall be," Ghes nodded, and a channel was opened. "I am Admiral Gheskori of the United Federation of Planets. We bring good news to you and your people." The translator worked up to a high standard of comprehension rapidly now.
"Who is this... You speak our language. This is extraordinary..." the voice trailed off as the Ooman seemed to move away from whatever comm equipment she was using, the transmission was audio-only.
"We represent a community of worlds known as the Federation. The signature you will be detecting is that of the warp drive of one of our many exploratory vessels. We bring good news... The crew of your settler ship which suffered its malfunction have been recovered by us, we bring them home safely."
"... There's been an accident? Do you have Vlahos?!" the Ooman responded eventually, coming back to the comm station apparently, "You yourselves have warp drive? Surely it must've taken you a long time to reach here."
"Oh, a few hours," Ghes said with self-knowing nonchalance, he smiled as V'Maz seemed to subtly roll his eyes. "We have Vlahos, the Ooman leader, yes. Do you represent the international authority responsible for sending the experimental warp ship?" No, the Ooman responded, and went to find someone who did; it took almost an hour before Ghes was able to speak to someone appropriate, in which time he suspected the Ooman and most or all of the rest of the world's population were, as humans used to say, 'running around like headless chickens', whatever a 'chicken' was.
"I am Iaunis of the Uafi Interstellar Programme," another voice came on suddenly, sounding faint and reedy, "Representing the Gleck Synedrio on its Council. The news you bear is pleasing and horrifying, Federation officer... You bring our people home, but there has been an accident?"
Ghes didn't pick up on it immediately but he then realised the Gleck must be speaking the Ooman language. "Indeed there has, you did not know?" Ghes heaved, "We will return your people, but know that a group of the surviving crew - the DakTu personnel - have killed one of my officers."
"I'm very sorry to hear that." Ghes believed he could detect a slight hint of sarcasm in the Gleck's voice, but mostly weariness and sorrow. "If it's acceptable, we'll arrange return of our peoples now, each to their own continent, including the DakTu to the Detholiad where, I hope, but am not confident, they will be punished and you will be given satisfaction."
Ghes made to tread carefully, "I recognise the fairness of your response and thank you. We have our own procedure for handling cases of homicide that relate to our own personnel, therefore we will hold them a while longer, unless... there is a place on the surface where they can be held away from all seven of your peoples...?"
"You would require the grounds of the Council in the international zone, but there is none such currently, the functioning of the Council has been suspended due to the -"
"Admiral, I am reading extensive weapons fire on the planet's surface," Yarwood reported, "Across three of the continents, those nearest the equator. There is also large scale airborne conflict in those regions."
Ghes suspended the comm and held his hands to his head, then glanced round sharply, taking in V'Maz, Yarwood and Clark. He understood from the information sent by the EMH and Ensign Heath conflict had recently abated. "The war... Or a war has restarted since the settler vessel launched." He shook his head, despairing of the futility of intraplanetary conflict amongst members of a species, could they not have at least waited 'til the end of their ship's mission? "Suggestions, do we return all of them to their own continents, do we hold the DakTu, do we help to solve the species' problem."
<Tag All>
"Let us at least learn which of them are at war, and make enquiries of those peoples," someone stated.
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Simon Clark
Lt. Commander
Registered: Dec 1, 2016 22:21:10 GMT
Posts: 153
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Post by Simon Clark on Mar 21, 2019 13:31:24 GMT
Bridge, Deck 1, USS Enzio
Admiral Gheskori glanced round sharply, to V'Maz, Yarwood and Clark. "The war... Or a war has restarted since the settler vessel launched. Suggestions, do we return all of them to their own continents, do we hold the DakTu, do we help to solve the species' problem."
"I'm not comfortable with the idea of returning people to what is now a warzone." Simon said.
"Let us at least learn which of them are at war, and make enquiries of those peoples," Commander Paul Yarwood suggested.
"I do not believe we have the resource to mount an effective trial; Section 47 has extremely limited judicial resources. There is no surveillance record, physical evidence has been compromised, and the witness incapacitated. We would only have the word of the DakTu for their actions."
"So, you would let them get away with it?" Ensign Paulo Hurel asked. Simon knew that Paulo had been friends with Anna, and her death had deeply unsettled him. Simon knew her in passing; it hurt everyone on board to lose one of their own.
"We do not know which of the DakTu committed the crime," V'Maz said, "Starfleet penalties for capital crimes stop at lifetime imprisonment, which Section 47 does not have the resources for. Returning the individuals to Starbase 47 for imprisonment would be a security risk, and would not act as deterrent to further killings. We should release the DakTu back to their world."
"But her death should mean something! It should have some impact on this world. There must be something positive that can come out of this! If they want to be an interstellar species, we have to tell them: this is not acceptable to us."
"What would you suggest?" Simon asked.
Paulo pointed such a look at him for a second, that Simon thought he was about to be on the receiving end of a tirade. Then, he sat back in his chair. "We can tell them what being a warp-capable interstellar species means, explain what the benefits are of agreeing to a cooperative code of conduct, we can outline all of those benefits, and then... take them away, because they have already broken the rules."
"Such knowledge could interfere with the progress of this species development." V'Maz told him.
"Could." Paulo said, "Weโre not in Federation space now, weโre on our own. We have to compromise somewhere. We have no fallback position, no reserves to call on. No support. And look at these Scans โ the dilithium in those asteroids is dense, and high quality. Thereโs enough there to keep Starbase 47 powered and running for decades. This sort of resource density is extremely rare, and we have a significant shortage. We need that dilithium, and if we can help them, then we can set up a trade agreement."
"We cannot compromise on our principles, just because we are short on resource. The Prime Directive is extremely clear. Although we have jurisdiction here on the ship, we cannot interfere with the progress of this species development." V'Maz said.
Gheskori held up his hand. "So... we have jurisdiction on the ship, for the resolution of this crime?"
"Yes, Admiral." V'Maz told him.
"Thatโs our lever, then." Paulo said, "We keep them all here. We try the DakTu, and make a jury from the representatives of their world, and those on the ship. We force them to work together for the duration of the trial. Only when the trial is complete, do we release any of them back to the planet. Meanwhile, we learn about them, their legal systems, their colonisation mission, their planet. Look here:" Paulo pulled an image up on the display "The computer projects the global warming on this planet is accelerating. Sea levels have already risen, but water vapour in the atmosphere is also increasing, massively increasing the cloud coverage. In a few decades, the cloud coverage will accelerate the warming such that it will be non-reversible with the technology they have available to them, and theyโll cease to exist as a species anyway. I think we can make a good trade. A little terraforming technology in exchange for a little dilithium."
"They don't meet the minimum societal criteria for the non-interference clause." V'Maz said.
"But what if they had already met the minimum criteria? Their international council, the international cooperation required to launch the colony mission? What if theyโve just, you know, slipped back a bit?" Paulo said.
"We don't have that knowledge," V'Maz said.
"Ah. Actually, we do," Simon interjected, "I set up a routine to monitoring the communication channels from the surface. This conflict has escalated only in the last few weeks, and there is significant distaste for it across the populations of the continents, both those involved, and those who are not. The international zone is located on the DakTu continent, that's the one that is largely desert on the equator. That's why the council has been suspended. There are conflicting reports on how this conflict started; various minor disagreements and lots of hearsay. In official transmissions, the DakTu claim to be defending their own territory from attack, while the two adjacent nations claim to have been attacked by the DakTu. Multiple news media reports protests against the governments involved in all of the major cities on those three continents. The last four years on this world have seen unprecedented levels of peace and international cooperation, sufficient to launch a warp capable colony vessel to another world. The recent Uafi Council policy moved the world to peace, and they had all started working together to try to reduce the warming effect on their planet, initiated and driven largely by the DakTu. A DakTu politician is the current elected leader of the council, and appears to be well respected by all of the nations. He continues to call for unity, as does his own government, which is counter to our own experience of the DakTu on board the Enzio. I'll need more time to analyse the data."
"That doesn't sound simple," Paul said.
"So, they're still a borderline case?" Paulo asked.
"V'Maz?" asked Gheskori.
"I believe further analysis is required." V'Maz replied.
"Right. So, we hold a murder trial, which is already within our jurisdiction. We find out whatโs going on, and make an assessment as to whether this people are sufficiently socially and politically advanced enough to come to a planet-wide political agreement that meets the threshold of the prime directiveโs non-interference clause. Then we can either trade with them and help them to avoid environmental catastrophe, or we return the Uafi to the surface and leave without doing anything. That's my suggestion. What do you think?" Paulo said.
<Tag All>
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Gheskori
Command Staff ..
Commanding Officer Personnel Officer Trivia Officer
Section Admiral
USS Enzio
Registered: May 2, 2008 23:32:36 GMT
Posts: 1,538
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Post by Gheskori on Mar 21, 2019 22:16:42 GMT
"V'Maz, when Vulcan made first contact with the people of Earth, could that not conceivably have been considered a borderline case? I think it was! at least in retrospect, amongst some of your own people."
"It's true, the human species had recently emerged from the most destructive war in its history. In addition to the depopulation and large-scale loss of infrastructure and so on, social and economic development had regressed significantly in the post-war years. I know your line of thought, Admiral, you will say, 'And yet the Vulcan science vessel responsible for first contact conducted that mission despite the above 'borderline' factors and, more to the point, in the absence of any international organisation.' But the difference, Admiral, is that was merely a first contact, while this is now -"
"The work of building and flying the warp-capable Phoenix was solely the work of Zephram Cochrane and his associates," Hurel nodded slowly, remembering the details, "There, you see? When have borderline cases ever prevented Federation core worlds from making first contact, and showing their technology, etc, when it's been for the benefit of both parties?!"
"It's final then," Ghes said, tapping his armrest and standing, "Let's make contact with the planet and request of them that we wish an individual from each of their countries to sit on a jury, for the purposes of trying the DakTu onboard for the murder of Ensign Pirter."
This request was transmitted to the surface, and surprisingly all nations responded in the affirmative: they very much wished to attend the trial, and, what was more surprising, the DakTu Detholiad returned the message first... But it'd been rather hasty, Ghes felt. Was the Detholiad eager to clear its compatriots' names (or whichever one of them had carried out the murder)?
Three hours went by; the Enzio was learning more all the time of the planet and its several countries (courtesy of Clark and Yarwood's data analysis and the EMH's contact with the podship survivors). They'd even begun to follow the step-by-step progress of the three-way war being conducted in the equatorial zone - it was something to which Ghes hoped they could put a stop by virtue of this trial, those proceedings which would give justice to Pirter (he trusted) and with good fortune bring together those of the world who'd decide the case (whatever verdict they reached).
"I am not best pleased with this course of action, sir," V'Maz cast about it, almost seeming to refuse to take his appointed bridge seat until Ghes acquiesced.
"Is this mutiny?" the Denobulan quipped, "You know, it does seem reasonable, V'Maz... Very well, the jury won't be confined to the ship for the duration of the trial." He was aware of the Second Officer's qualms regarding the entire enterprise; while it wasn't logical to concede something to him merely to make him feel better, Ghes too felt that sequestering the jurors here for the whole trial was too much like imprisonment.
Another three hours later, four of the seven jurors had arrived (from the countries of the Ooman, the Malkosians, the DakTu, the Xiaafs), transported by the Enzio from their own capital cities, or whatever other settlement at which they may happen to have been located. Ghes received the news in his ready room and hit the intercom, =/\=Commander Yarwood, and Ensign Hurel, see to the needs of the new arrivals and learn what you can. Hurel, assign Hernandez to research Uafin planetary climatics in your stead.=/\= They acknowledged. Ghes hoped Hurel would be professional in meeting the DakTu juror.
=/\=Admiral Gheskori, bridge. We have a problem, sir. The juror from the Gleck Synedrio is refusing to use our transporter. He wants physical transport, by that he'll mean a shuttle, sir.=/\=
Unbelievable, Ghes thought, and replied, =/\=Very well. Lieutenant Tagert, would you please take the shuttle Hesperus down to the Glecks' continent and return with their representative to the jury.=/\=
<Tag Tagert>
He then had Clark and his team start coming up with a way to potentially neutralise the combat, air and ground, in the fighting zones, using whatever means feasible, whether it involved some sort of EM pulse to render inert the machinery used by the combatants, or anything else that might neatly and non-lethally end the conflict. V'Maz made it clear that the use of such a measure should be, well, not quite a last resort, but something to be used if the Enzio was drawn ever more into the sociopolitics of this planet and if other factors were such as to make it viable.
<Tag Clark>
He moved away from the engineering station and tapped his commbadge, =/\=Colonel Tavik, any changes that you can discern in cargo bay 1 regarding the DakTu? We're not seeing anything out of the ordinary on surveillance?=/\=
<Tag Tavik, Tagert (DakTu)>
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Gheskori
Command Staff ..
Commanding Officer Personnel Officer Trivia Officer
Section Admiral
USS Enzio
Registered: May 2, 2008 23:32:36 GMT
Posts: 1,538
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Post by Gheskori on Mar 31, 2019 0:31:39 GMT
With the shuttle Hesperus piloted by Lieutenant Tagert away to the surface to collect the astrophobic Gleck juror, and Ghes awaiting results from Clark's efforts to discover a way to render inert the war machines of the Uafi currently engaged in conflict, it was with pleasure he heard the news of the arrival by transporter of the final two jurors (aside from the Gleck Synedrio representative). He dispatched Yarwood and a trio of unarmed security guards to transporter room 3 to receive the guests, while he himself took the centre seat and cast about at the Enzio bridge.
Things were progressing smoothly, since the initial fraught circumstances of their contact with this people - the exploding pod/ship, the near-destruction of another, the sequestering into cargo bay 1 of a group of DakTu known as the Chosen Ones and their murder of Ensign Pirter... ha! he thought, well one could be forgiven for believing the list to be endless - the process they'd decided upon had unfolded rapidly and with as few hitches and errors as might be reasonably expected.
"Admiral Gheskori, the Mission Ops console is receiving a call..."
"Oh no," Ghes murmured, remaining in his seat and not turning to look at the Mission Ops controller who stood diffidently on the upper deck. He suspected this was a message from the surface: all plans off, jurors to be recalled, war to be restarted, mass carnage to ensue, his career as Commanding Officer of the Enzio - if not of the Section, such would be absurd - curtailed... 'honourably'.
"... from your quarters. Your wife, Mwv'mci, sir -"
"What, why didn't she call me directly? Or wait 'til I was in my ready room, she knows my habits whilst on the bridge. Or better yet when I'd returned and was off-duty?"
The officer coughed, not sure how he might frame a response; of course, such things applied to him not at all. "She states, uh, sir, that Phrixa has gone missing and that on requesting information of the computer it informed Mwv'mci that your second wife is in the holodeck." He paused; Ghes could barely discern Mwv'mci's mousy but alluring voice emanating from the Mission Ops station, "... She also says - "
"Oh, I'll take it in my ready room!" Ghes bolted out of his seat and made off across the bridge in a set of absurd strides, arms swinging wildly and not a little melodramatically. Muttering unfortunate sentiments regarding his third wife, he entered the ready room and took his seat, soon opening an intraship comm to Mwv'mci via his terminal, "Is she alone?" he asked after the long-winded, digressive explanation.
"No, apparently she took along a security ensign. Concerns for her safety."
Understandable, Ghes thought; normally he would berate Phrixa for such consciousness but considering the recent murder and associated unfortunate events aboard the Enzio he appreciated, indeed was supremely thankful for, her caution in this matter. "Well, thank you for the update, dearest," he nearly ended the comm, "Ah, yes, you were going to meet Lieutenant Almir Marin tonight; were you not?"
"I'm still waiting for him to return my call," she replied and smiled. Ghes nodded and returned the smile to her delightful gaze and closed the channel. While he awaited the return of the shuttle Hesperus from the surface, he arranged another away team, to consist of V'Maz, the EMH, Ensign Rivers of Operations, Lieutenant Kempton the deputy CEO and Lieutenant Miak the Security chief. They were to accompany Vlahos and other Ooman, and a select group from members of other subspecies amongst the pod survivors, to the capital of Ooman Negara. There they would learn more of the world and its customs, and Vlahos would be able to meet his wife, who as it turned out had been the person to first receive the Enzio's hail upon its entering orbit. Meanwhile, Yarwood and Ghes himself would arrange the room designated for the trial of the DakTu Chosen Ones.
<Tag people to RP away team> <Tag All>
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Simon Clark
Lt. Commander
Registered: Dec 1, 2016 22:21:10 GMT
Posts: 153
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Post by Simon Clark on Apr 12, 2019 12:29:43 GMT
Alpha Engineering, Deck 8, USS Enzio
"What about an electromagnetic pulse?" Rory asked, "Their systems will be susceptible to it, based on what we've seen of these transport pods."
Max ran one of his broad hands through his dark hair as he considered this. "While it will work on their electrical systems, and will disable the larger vehicles we can detect, we don't know the sorts of weapons they are using on the ground. EMP won't do anything to a mechanical projectile weapon, or a hand held blade."
"You think they'll be using blades against tanks?" Rory asked.
"I'm making broad assumptions about the DakTu based on my experience of other warrior cultures." Max said.
"Like Klingons?" Simon asked.
Max nodded.
"Let's not make any assumptions, here." Simon replied, "The risk with EMP is knocking out the aircraft systems in mid-flight. We don't know that they will be able to control their decent, and I don't want to kill anyone. The admiral specifically specified non-lethal."
"So we... we..." Almir seemed unable to prevent himself breaking into a long yawn, "... we need something more... er...?"
"Late night, Lieutenant Marin?" Simon asked, "Your log says you've been working extra the last couple of weeks."
"Yes, er, there's a lot... er... on." Almir said.
"There is?" Rory asked, genuinely surprised, "No more than usual? What are you working on, Al?"
"What? Oh... nothing, in par... par..." he yawned again, "...ticular."
"Go on, go and get some rest. You've certainly earned it." Simon told him.
"What? No, I'd rather stay,"
"Don't make me order it of you. Your focus is way off."
Almir looked like he would protest, and then nodded. "Aye, you're right. I'll turn in. I'll see you later."
Almir gathered his PADDs, and made his way out.
"What's up with him?" Rory asked.
"I have my suspicions. I'll talk to him later." Simon told him, hoping in a tone of voice that said that further questions were not required. "So, not EMP. Unless we can do something about the aircraft first?"
"Wide-beam tractor beams?" Rory suggested.
"Might be tough on the pilots if they don't have inertial dampeners. The pods don't." Max said to Simon, "Can we adjust their computer systems somehow? You're pretty good with that sort of thing."
"It's a reasonable idea. but we don't know the systems in the aircraft. We could make some assumptions based on the pods, but we'd have as much chance of triggering a self destruct system as disabling a weapon. Do we have more data on how their technology works?"
"I'll ask Ensign Hurel." Rory replied, moving to a station near by.
"What we really need is detailed scans, of their machines, and aircraft, and computer technology." Max said.
"You're right, there." Simon told him.
Rory walked back to them. "There's a few external images from the news feeds, but nothing really technical on how the things are put together."
"The Admiral's planning an away mission, Max, I'd like you on it. A shuttle's sensors should get some scans of the military equipment if we take a suitable flight path. And on the surface, you can get some close up scans of their computer technology. I'll work on an interface, and Rory; we need some way to transmit access. At this distance, the Enzio's not going to have the bandwidth to interact with so many targets at one time."
"When's the schedule?"
"A couple of hours time, I think. Check it, and be there."
"Aye, sir, that sounds like my sort of mission."
"I thought it might."
+++ Engineering Store 3, Deck 9, USS Enzio
"Whoa!" Max dropped the tricorder he had taken out of the cabinet. "Hell, Almir, you made me jump, what are you doing here? I thought you were turning in?"
"I'm just putting a few things away. Hey, I hear you're on the away team down to the surface... do you want to swap?"
"With you?" Max asked, "It's only in an hour, and you look exhausted, Al. Besides, it's weapons technology we're looking for, and that's my expertise."
"Please? I'd really...lly..." Almir tried supress another yawn, but failed, "...appreciate it."
"Why?" Max asked. "This isn't like you, Al, you're a keen sleeper. What's your angle?"
"No angle... I mean... it sounds like an interesting mission... I want to... visit the planet."
"I'd rather not swap, I think I'm a better fit for it." Max still thought something wasn't right. Perhaps it was something to do with Max having been made Deputy CEO over Almir. Almir had been acting the role for a while, and always said he didn't want to manage people. Almir knew where his strengths were. Well, normally he did. "Speak to Clark, if you don't agree, eh? Maybe after you've had some kip."
Almir's shoulders slumped a little, and he moved toward the door, "Sure, Max. Have a good mission. I'll... see you later."
There must be something up, Max thought, and Almir was not talking about it. Clark had Almir lined up for a chat, later. He was glad he could let Clark handle that particular issue. He resumed gathering the items he wanted to take down with him in the shuttle.
+++ (OOC: I'll write for Kempton and the EMH for the away mission)
Forward Compartment, Shuttle Hesperus, en-route to the surface.
It had not occurred to Max that there might be Uafi on board the shuttle as they descended through the atmosphere. As what they were effectively doing was spying on the Uafi warzones to gather information on the weapons and equipment that were involved, they could not discuss while Vlahos, his colleagues, and his daughter were within earshot. It would be politically unsound to do so, and the Enzio needed as much goodwill with the people of this planet as they could muster. What that meant was Max sitting at the sensor station while the shuttle descended, keying silent comments with Lieutenant Miak through his console.
"There, that is Ooman Negara. Many of us hoped for a chance that we would see it again. I also hoped..." Vlahos trailed off while talking to the EMH.
"It looks like a beautiful country." Doctor Reynolds said, "What did you hope for?"
"I hoped for peace on my world. I hoped this colony vessel would inspire international cooperation. I hoped we could work together to save our world, our people. I hoped that war was a issue of the past." Vlahos said, taking his daughters hand.
"These are good hopes, Vlahos. They are shared by many people on many worlds across the galaxy, and by many on your own world. Look how far you have come!"
"Far? We are back where we started! The council is not standing, and Uafi are dying."
"There are many histories of civilisations who have overcome these challenges. You must know that the road to peace is long, and it is hard. but, it is worth it. Though your world may be at war today, many years of peace preceded it, and as the protests in your major cities are evident, the people have that peace in their near term memory. This war is not popular, your world is on the very brink of peace, I think, and it is your own hopes that will bring it."
"Your words have wisdom, health-bringer."
"Alas, they are mostly not mine! one of the advantages of being a holographic simulation is having immediate access to computerised texts. I can always find something relevant to say! These words were spoken by a Federation diplomat, sixty three years ago. He subsequently wrote a book on the peace that he brokered between the Menthars and Promellian peoples on a contested colony world. Would you like a copy?"
"It sounds relevant, but I fear it would take a long time to learn to read your language."
"Well, it wasn't written in English, the source is Argolian, but the computer can translate it into your own language, if you would prefer."
"Such technology! If only such easy communication was possible on our own world!"
"I'm sure you'll get there. Most societies do, Vlahos."
"I hope your prediction has confidence. Tell me, Sam, did you say 'being of holographic simulation'? I am not sure I understand."
At this, Max looked around at the EMH, to see how he would answer, and how Vlahos would react. The doctor noticed the movement, and briefly made eye contact with him. He winked.
"And you thought that translation technology was good... I am an EMH, an Emergency Medical Hologram, a programmed computer simulation of a amiable medical professional with a database of the combined experience of several thousand medical records. Though I may look it, I am not human, as Lieutenant Kempton is behind you, nor am I Vulcan, as Commander V'Maz over there. I am instead, projected into this space as holographic light onto a coherent force-field matrix."
Vlahos gaped at him, "...but... Kartika... my daughter... you treated..." Kartika winced as he gripped her hand more tightly than Max thought was comfortable for her, "... you're so real. This is some humour, is it not? I can't know that what you speak is truth, so it cannot be."
The doctor looked slightly discredited at this, "Perhaps a demonstration?" Max suggested.
The EMH looked over at him, not entirely convinced, "Yes? Go on?"
"Computer, deactivate EMH." Max instructed, thinking that maybe Vlahos and his daughter might have had enough of the doctor's chattering.
The doctor vanished. The PADD he was holding clattered onto the deck. Vlahos jumped back. Kartika gave a low, loud, bleating cry, and gripped Vlahos closely. Max laughed, the look on their faces was priceless.
"Lieutenant Kempton." V'Maz said, "You are out of order, it is poor etiquette to control, without cause, the deactivation of a hologram who is serving as a member of the crew, and to cause alarm to our guests."
Vlahos took the cue, but his answer was shaky. "It is no matter. We were surprised, that is all. I am quite sure-"
The EMH rematerialized. Kartika's bleating cry had an unexpected intensity. Several Ooman Uafi appeared in the doorway to the rear compartment. Max winced under the volume, now regretting his joke. Kartika put her father between her and the doctor. If she had been human, Max would estimate her to be around nine years old from her height and demeanour.
Vlahos knelt, bringing his head level with hers. "Kartika, shining one, be calm. There is nothing to fear."
"Well, that was unexpected. Lieutenant, that was rude of you." The doctor softened his tone, and sat down on the floor. "Kartika, my apologies to you. I had no wish to cause you distress."
+++
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Gheskori
Command Staff ..
Commanding Officer Personnel Officer Trivia Officer
Section Admiral
USS Enzio
Registered: May 2, 2008 23:32:36 GMT
Posts: 1,538
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Post by Gheskori on Apr 15, 2019 16:32:37 GMT
OOC: Assuming the Gleck representative has arrived on shuttle, feel free to back post IC: Ghes sat in the anteroom to the court chamber readied for the trial of the DakTu Chosen Ones, sorting through PADDs that detailed information on each of the seven jurors. An unanimous decision of the jury would be needed; he wondered with slight apprehension whether the DakTu Detholiad representative would approve the probable decision of his counterparts - he had to trust the DakTu had enough about him of strict justice not to let tribal allegiance weight his decision. Yarwood entered through the suddenly opening translucent doors, Ghes glanced up, "There are problems, Admiral. Two of the three warring nations' reps are refusing to sit with one another. The Malkosian and the DakTu," the Ops officer confirmed Ghes's fears. "Well, we can't exactly have them sit at opposite sides of the room..." He sighed, reflected, to begin with would it be wise to acquiesce to such a pithy request should it be made, or should he force them to sit alongside one another? This after all was what cooperation was all about, no, he would have them sit by each other and would only reevaluate if there was a further issue. He still hoped for a ceasefire or the success of Clark's team in neutralising the conflict below, that would help matters here. He knew the Ooman and the Xiaafs were apprehensive about two of the three nations in conflict (including the DakTu) in reasonably close proximity to the continents of the former two, the four together forming a sort of diamond in the western hemisphere (extending westwards into the eastern hemisphere in the case of the Detholiad, otherwise the most 'westerly' of the four). He gave his orders concerning his wish for the placing together of the seven jurors, Yarwood nodded and Ghes returned it, "Then we're ready to begin?" "Yes, Admiral." Ghes hoped the holographic judge was up to the task: it'd been picked from the LCARS database in the hopes it'd prove the equal of its real-life counterpart, dead at 33 in 2315, one of the most renowned law officers in Federation history, whose meteoric rise had stunned the legal profession, an Alexander the Great of his era, Talvas Hamaklar. He also hoped the Uafi jurors present wouldn't guess that Hamaklar was simply a combination of projected light waves. "Ensign Peck of Security has posted unarmed guards outside the chamber and its set of anterooms," Yarwood said, and paused looking discomfited. Ghes knew this time it had little to do with Yarwood's partner lost in the original Betreka explosion, who Yarwood had in fact mentioned offhand last week in the mess hall and gave Ghes and company the impression this partner was still very much on the Ops officer's mind, despite his attempt to make the reference casual. "Ah, and about your concerns over the escalating situation in the western hemisphere..." Yarwood said. "Yes..." Ghes murmured. Apparently the last set of skirmishes had passed near the great road-bridge that connected the Xiaaf and Ooman continents: damage had been sustained to the bridge; Xiaaf explorers-turned-vigilantes had returned fire on the group of Malkosian airborne craft that'd inadvertently hit the structure, sending two of them spiralling into the ocean. "The Xiaafs are now concerned for their underwater habitats lining the Xiaaf Athlas southeastern coastal region." Ghes knew of the settlements, they spread out fractal-like either side of the road-bridge, some quite near the ocean surface and within range of recently-projected radiation fallout from the conflict in the diamond-shaped ocean. "Transmit a message to all nations on the planet urging they remain calm and level-headed. That we don't wish to interfere in their politics, that in fact we'd prefer to think our arrival here has not been the cause of any escalation in the conflict, and considering this that they should seek to de-escalate and perhaps attempt dialogue with each other." <Tag Away Team & All>
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Gheskori
Command Staff ..
Commanding Officer Personnel Officer Trivia Officer
Section Admiral
USS Enzio
Registered: May 2, 2008 23:32:36 GMT
Posts: 1,538
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Post by Gheskori on May 17, 2019 14:41:35 GMT
"Knight to BB3," Gheskori murmured, the holographic piece shifting automatically as he sat virtually immobile in his chair; having hurt his back playing the quaint Earth game of squash, he'd swapped the court for the games room and another type of personage in relation to courts, namely a judge or rather a holographic equivalent.
"Queen to BB4," Judge Hamaklar replied and tilted his head.
Gheskori nodded, now he was in trouble, "Your photonic projection lacks none of the original's sharpness of mind and general character," he said evenly. "Tell me, did the first sitting of the court go as you envisaged? The DakTu representative I noticed was surprisingly well behaved, but you didn't seem entirely satisfied."
"It's the cast of my features. I must remain neutral, of course, and you know that," the hologram of the famous law officer looked up at him briefly, his forehead emerging from the shadows cast by the high positioning of the pseudo-braziers along the games room's walls, "I concede that you know that," Hamaklar said mysteriously, "But to present an image of neutrality, to be the incarnation of impartial justice and an instrument of law... I consider this of the utmost importance. On this I devote more time than to my own collection of lizards, and on that -"
"Yes, interesting," Ghes half-interrupted him and raised an eyebrow, coughed and excused himself - Hamaklar rising slightly and bowing - from the table, evaluating for himself if the Enzio crew had been wise in its choice of judge considering his evident eccentricities. Personality aside, however, Hamaklar's professional record was flawless, fewer appeals and general complaints resulting from his verdicts and about him personally had been made of him than of any other judge in Federation history - Ghes trusted Commander Yarwood had made the correct decision.
OOC: I'll write from V'Maz's perspective on the shuttle / planet shortly
=/\=Admiral Gheskori, this is the bridge. Sir, we're receiving a priority one message from Starbase 47. Unable to raise us immediately, they've recorded something for us, sir.=/\=
Priority one... Well, at least base comms are fully back online, Ghes thought initially. =/\=On my way; please redirect to my ready room.=/\=
He reached his ready room and heard the news of the death of Admiral Tetsutaro. In the darkness of the room, he sat brooding a long time until eventually, slightly importunately but not through a fault of their own - for they could not know what'd happened - the officer whose shift it was commed him to ask whether he should send an acknowledging response. He looked at the chronometer - it'd been almost three quarters of an hour, the bridge had done well to wait this long. =/\=I'm considering the matter, Lieutenant. Thank you,=/\= he responded, and returned to his brooding. The stars were his only company but their light was paltry, non-existent. Eventually he issued a reply to the Starbase that he would be contributing to the memorial service via subspace.
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Gheskori
Command Staff ..
Commanding Officer Personnel Officer Trivia Officer
Section Admiral
USS Enzio
Registered: May 2, 2008 23:32:36 GMT
Posts: 1,538
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Post by Gheskori on May 23, 2019 15:55:46 GMT
The shuttle Hesperus approached Ooman Negara's capital, circling above the sandstone city and zeroing in on the governmental headquarters and spaceport (consisting of four landing pads sized for craft such as shuttles) alongside. Commander V'Maz requested everyone take their seats, trusting Kempton would rein himself in now. His knowledge was much to be valued, he had simply to put it to the right use.
"My apologies, Doctor," V'Maz said as he sat beside the EMH.
"That's quite alright, perhaps my being toyed with will demonstrate to the Uafi what they could achieve as a species..."
A causeway separated the pads from the main dome of the HQ, across which the away team would walk to meet some governmental officials or others of that ilk. They stepped out into the oppressive heat and Vlahos instructed them in the appropriate etiquette, V'Maz nodded and the Ooman chief took the lead with his daughter and two of his friends, the Enzio officers traversed the causeway in the centre and the rest of the Ooman Uafi brought up the rear.
As they neared the entrance to the dome, a figure appeared and V'Maz recognised the Ooman female with whom the Enzio had been in communication. She waved, Vlahos - her husband - waved back. The Enzio's acting first officer was walking just behind Vlahos's two friends, thus he was in an excellent position to see their being stunned by particle weapon beams from either side of the causeway. Before he could take action, shadows leapt from the gaps in the walls either side and snatched away three of the five Starfleet officers; the Ooman at the rear of the group were shot down; Vlahos and Kartika attempted to escape towards the HQ but found themselves having to jump clear of the road as scarlet particle beams followed after them, Ensign Rivers retreated down a side alley and encountered the two half a block away.
V'Maz fell into the dust, obscuring himself - he hoped - behind a fallen Ooman, avoiding detection by the maroon-robed Uafi attackers who now cast about the causeway from their position on its left side (as the Enzio officer looked towards the HQ). They believed they were missing one person from the group of Starfleet officers they'd expected to capture in its entirety, and they were right (they had also failed to capture Rivers but were at least aware of her existence). The leader of the group shook himself violently and in a clipped accent barked commands at his compatriots; they complied and dragged Kempton, Miak and the EMH - all bound, the latter in photonic binds, they had known what and whom to expect - away into the side alley immediately behind.
V'Maz squinted in the harsh light, trying to track their movements for as long as his perspective on the surrounding urban grid would allow him. He began to move but felt pain in his left shin and realised it'd been broken, almost certainly during his fall; he exhaled sharply and dropped his head as the kidnappers moved away. The particle beams... how had the Uafi obtained such weaponry?
"Admiral, I am detecting weapons fire in the vicinity of the shuttle's landing site," Ops reported on the Enzio bridge.
"We're being hailed by the Ooman," another reported. Ghes grimaced, before answering the comm he tried to ascertain exactly what was happening: it appeared their away team or the Uafi with them had been fired upon, perhaps kidnapped.
"Open a channel," he commanded; the Ooman governmental officials told the Enzio bridge crew what they already knew, additionally that those responsible were believed to be citizens allied to the cause of the Malkosians (in the war in which the Ooman themselves weren't involved), that they may be holding the Enzio's officers to ransom and that Ooman units were attempting to track them. Ghes asked them how it was possible that the Uafi species had acquired beam weaponry, the Ooman magistrates were bewildered, they did not know.
V'Maz crawled away from the scene of the attack, attempting to reach a place where he believed it safe to attempt to stand and make a run for the HQ building. Contingency personnel were already flooding towards his position from the entrance way in which the female Ooman had been standing, crying out to each other as they hurried along the causeway. Before V'Maz could call out, a pair of booted feet appeared before him, he heard a youthful voice, a sharp kick was aimed at his face and he knew no more.
He was brought to and found himself under the same scorched pale orange sky, he understood it varied from place to place on the globe. The owner of the voice made himself known, appearing from an alley into the surrounding space - a picturesque stone garden with works of sculpture and a fountain and surrounded by high sandstone walls. V'Maz recognised the same boots one of which had knocked him unconscious. The man explained that he was the pupil of a bounty hunter who had been commissioned by certain Malkosian sympathisers to assist in the capture of Starfleet officers - they'd succeeded in taking three of the five, this pupil - a half Ooman-half Malkosian - was to take a fourth (V'Maz) to his bounty hunter mentor's employers.
"I will say immediately they don't wish to kill you, nor anyone outside of the war in which the Malkosians are engaged," the youth said; V'Maz surmised he couldn't be more than 15 standard years old. He didn't fully believe the boy, but it may explain why most of them had only been stunned unconscious in the attack.
<Tag Clark, All>
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Simon Clark
Lt. Commander
Registered: Dec 1, 2016 22:21:10 GMT
Posts: 153
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Post by Simon Clark on May 24, 2019 18:51:52 GMT
Unknown Location, Ooman Negara, Planet Uafin
Kempton was bound, and handled roughly into the back of some kind of stiflingly hot transport. His tricorder was taken, and he saw Miak relieved of his phaser as he was thrown in beside him. Somehow they had also bound the doctor's hands. Two Uafi took positions across from them, both carrying weapons.
"Who are you?" Miak asked.
"No speaking," one answered, a professional calm in his demeanour.
"Where are you taking us?" Miak asked again.
The Uafi crossed the small space, and kicked Miak hard in the chest. "No speaking," he repeated.
"Lieutenant, my power cell is fluctuating." The doctor said. The Uafi moved to kick the doctor, and stopped short as his holomatrix stuttered. Several times. The Uafi backed away at speed, his serenity replaced by something that might have been fear. It certainly wasn't professional. Max looked back at the doctor, who winked at him, and then flickered, and vanished.
He's feigning, Max thought.
Both Uafi reacted to this. The first was extremely unsettled, and the second raised his weapon, and trained it on the location where the doctor had been.
"Where is he?" the second Uafi asked, "Where has the blue one gone?"
A tense second passed while neither of them said anything.
"Answer, human!" the first Uafi said.
"He is a hologram. He is still there, within the device." Max said.
The Uafi's eyes flicked to the mobile emitted on the floor of the van, and back to Max. "What do you mean?"
"The device is a computer, and a projection system. He said the power cell was fluctuating."
"What's wrong with it?" asked the first.
"I don't know. It's a prototype, it's never been tested in such a hot environment, it might have overheated. Do you want me to look at it?"
The two passed a glance between them. "No," said the first, "No speaking."
They threw a large bag on top of the mobile emitter, and moved to the far end of the vehicle. The second kept his weapon trained on the bag. Max looked at the binds that had been used on the doctor, laying now on the floor next to the bag. It shouldn't have been possible to bind the hands of the hologram if the doctor hadn't wished it. Vlahos had been ignorant of holographic technology, surprised at discovering that the EMH was artificial, and yet somehow they had manipulated force fields and light. The sophisticating of this was inconsistent with the level of technology that he had observed so far, and the reactions of the adult Uafi to the hologram was more on a par with Karika's bleating cry than it was with Vlahos's shaky acknowledgment.
The rear door was closed, and the vehicle started to move. The route was rough, and Max could not find a position where he was not jostled against the hot metallic floor of the stuffy hold.
<Tag: (someone to role play Lt. Miak)>
+++ Landing Pad, Kota Pertama, Ooman Negara, Planet Uafin
When the attack had come, Alison moved back along the causeway, and ducked into a side alley. She was not carrying a phaser, they'd had a full itinerary, and hadn't expected any untrustworthy activity. She glanced back toward the landing pad where the shuttle stood, now surrounded by Uafi in long maroon jackets with hoods to conceal their faces. They'd fired on the Ooman as well, which suggested this was not orchestrated by the local authorities they'd come to talk to. Her best course of action was to circle around, and approach the governmental building from another access. The Uafi were coming closer. She moved down the alley at pace, conscious that her star fleet uniform would stand out in any Uafi crowd like a sore thumb. At the end of the valley was a wider thoroughfare, with people and vehicles crowding along it in two directions. She dropped back, and tried to get her breath. It was hot, and dusty. The shade of the alley was slightly cooler, but the air smelled of stagnant water, with an unpleasant metallic tang. She wasn't carrying a tricorder, she had only her PADD with the itinerary for their meetings. Pulling it up, she found she was at the very edge of range of the shuttle's systems, and downloaded a larger area map from the sensor archives. It was low resolution, and had several missing sections where buildings and rock formations had obscured more accurate sensor readings, but it would serve. Glancing left and right to see if anyone was watching, she tried her comm-badge.
=/\= Rivers to Enzio =/\=
There was no response. She tried again, a little louder.
"Ensign Rivers" said a familiar voice behind her.
Vlahos and Kartika were stood a few metres back along the alleyway. Kartika was clinging to her father, and appeared stressed.
"Vlahos, what's happening?" she asked.
"I do not know. We were shot at, with laser weapons. Such things did not exist when I left this world. I must find my Kemala! We are going to the Administration building, will you come with us?"
"I would be glad to, I do not know the way, and I cannot contact my ship."
"I will try to guide us. This isn't a part of Kota Pertama that I know."
"I have a map." she said, offering him the PADD, "Is Kota Pertama the name of the city?"
Vlahos nodded as he looked at the map. "This will help. We will stay on the small ways."
A short time later, they were standing behind an archway overlooking a square space before the administration building. A set of wide steps led up to ovoidal glass entrances. Uafi people were moving around the square, going about their business, and using the doors to move in and out of the buildings.
"It looks ordinary. Yet I am wary of crossing the piazza."
"Ayah Papa, look," Kartika said, pointing to a group of six figures moving toward the steps.
"Kemala!"
"Is that your wife?" Alison asked.
"And mother of my daughter."
Kemala appeared to be in charge of the group, and she was storming toward the administration building, flanked by two Uafi from the shuttle, and two others. The sixth figure was wearing a long maroon jacket, and being pushed along by the others. His hood was down, and he was clearly being pushed along against his will, one arm held behind his back by one of the Uafi.
"Ibu! Mama!" Kartika shouted, and ran out into the square.
"Shining one!" Vlahos said, running after her.
Alison stayed where she was, unsure of how to proceed. Kemala had orchestrated their visit to the surface, and she had spoken to her twice while coordinating the landing coordinates and the schedule, and yet, she did not know who to trust. On the other hand, between the Ooman and those who had attacked them at the shuttle, she would much rather trust those who hadn't shot at them. Kartika reached her mother, and they embraced. Vlahos did the same, and then pointed back to where Alison was, beckoning her forward. There was only one way to find out, and that was to engage with them, learn, and hope. She walked across the plaza to the group, was briefly introduced, and they were led up the steps. Kartika was animated in her discussion with Kemala, and all three were smiling more than she had ever seen from the Uafi. I'll see how I go, she thought. Inside, the building was significantly cooler. The hooded Uafi was taken away, and Kemala led them to a small room with table and chairs. Glasses of water stood upon the table. Kartika immediately drank one, and offered them around.
"Our sincerest regret following the events that happened here. We have several teams looking for the your companions."
Alison nodded. "I would like to contact my ship, please."
"Of course. This console is connected to the communication satellites. Our regrets, we have had some interference today, the link is mostly stable. Should we leave?"
"No, please stay." Alison did not want to garner any mistrust.
"Very well."
The image of the Enzio's bridge appeared on the screen, Admiral Gheskori in the centre seat.
"Admiral, Ensign Rivers reporting." she said, formally.
=/\= Ensign, I am pleased to see you. Report please. =/\=
She explained what had happened since the shuttle landed.
<Tag: Gheskori, Tagart>
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Gheskori
Command Staff ..
Commanding Officer Personnel Officer Trivia Officer
Section Admiral
USS Enzio
Registered: May 2, 2008 23:32:36 GMT
Posts: 1,538
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Post by Gheskori on May 26, 2019 12:11:26 GMT
Gheskori nodded, he was aghast to learn of the apparent separation - in the team members who were missing - between three who'd been bundled away and a fourth - possibly Commander V'Maz - who had been unseen by all the assailants and whose whereabouts were unknown. "Stay put for now, Ensign, and work with Vlahos, find out why a group in the continent might want to do this and what's the specific cause of their demanding ransom, apart from the notion we have that it regards the war."
It was time to return their people to the ship - despite their initial difficulties, it was not long before sensor locks were acquired on all four of the missing biosigns. As regarded relations with this people, it perhaps wasn't entirely appropriate to transport Enzio crew from their midst, but Ghes couldn't let members of his crew languish on the surface in risk of their lives. It certainly wasn't a simple fix, if they wished to help the Uafi they would have to remain longer and learn of the problem that'd led to a group of discontented Uafi citizens kidnapping offworlders.
"Prepare for transport," Ghes instructed the relevant bridge officers.
They had scanned the areas around the biosigns - sensor resolution improving all the time as the atmospheric interference, localised above the Ooman continent recently, continued to clear - and had found no sign of any particle beam weaponry in the immediate vicinity. That removed the risk of his team being shot at as soon as the captors realised a beam-out was in progress. "Execute," he commanded.
A few negative-sounding beeps later, "Sir, there's a problem... Some sort of jamming field array seems to be in place at each location of our team's biosigns. They're mobile, probably attached to the kidnappers or perhaps the captives."
"Jamming fields?" What more did these people have, acquired extraordinarily quickly since Vlahos and the experimental warp ship had left? It could be said that 'war and warp' allowed quick progress - had the Uafi made a series of further breakthroughs in the last three to five years?
"Sir..." the stand-in Ops officer (with Yarwood overseeing the DakTu Chosen Ones' trial) began, "I'm detecting the signature of a warp activation in the outer system, near a possible orbit of the outermost planet. These things take a while to find, from the state of decay of the signature I'd say whatever it was warped out approximately 20 hours ago."
"Continue to investigate. We'll head there if we must." He turned again to Rivers who had witnessed the exchange on the bridge, "Ensign, stay put for now, we'll trust the Ooman security forces to find our people but will contribute security of our own if we have to break orbit to investigate the warp signature." He very much didn't wish to beam down armed security to assist in the search, but missing crewmen left him with little choice if the Enzio had to break orbit.
* * *
CTSO Miak
Bundled out of the vehicle with Kempton and the doctor's bag, Miak had time enough before he was blindfolded and gagged to see they were being directed into a warehouse-type structure. Forced forward, he tripped intentionally on the dusty ground that led between two angles of buildings jutting in from either side; knowing this was a chokepoint, he hoped to use it to fight one Uafi at a time - essential considering he was effectively blind. He fell on his front.
"Oh, no you don't," he recognised the voice of the second Uafi who had spoken to the captives. As he was lifted up he attempted a backwards kick aiming at the captor's midriff but missed and - he believed - kicked Kempton in the shin. The assistant CEO gave a cry, the group continued pushing them along towards the warehouse.
"My apologies, Lieutenant," Miak said. Kempton somewhat resentfully told him not to worry about it. "No speaking," the first captor said once more. Their entering the warehouse was noticeable by the sudden reduction in light and a musty smell invading Gavril's senses. He felt himself sat on a chair and his hands pushed around the back, still bound; the blindfold was torn off: one of the long-cloaked Uafi was running up a set of metallic stairs to a small office overlooking the warehouse, Kempton sat on another chair, the doctor's bag was secured by masking tape to a third.
From an old-style amplification system, the Uafi on the upper level addressed them, the voice crackling from old speakers round the warehouse's interior, "Regretfully, we tell you we will remove one tooth an hour, until we receive satisfaction from the USS Enzio."
Acting XO V'Maz
V'Maz was led along the paths of the garden and out a small wooden side entrance set into a sandstone wall. The boy cordially gave him right of way and - at gunpoint - he was directed along a route that ran next to a burbling stream of turquoise water; looking ahead, V'Maz could see the river led up into a creek of glowing green and magenta. This place would appear beautiful to him if it hadn't been that he'd been kidnapped and was suffering terrible pain on account of a broken leg.
He recalled all the boy had said, "What do your employers truly want from us? We do not have the facility to pay you ransom money. Any currency we might create would be illegitimate and any we would have your government create would generate monetary inflation. We wish to help your world, not ruin it economically, if such a science applies in your case."
"You do a lot of talking. You'll meet my mentor." The bounty hunter, V'Maz recalled. "If you must know, the Malkosians and the sympathisers to their cause want your exclusive help in the war. You see, the DakTu war party - their vanguard led by the Chosen Ones; not all of their nation is at war - has come into possession of weaponry with which the Malkosians cannot cope. This gun, the other types of laser, our jamming tech and everything else, all stolen in raids on the DakTu. It is not fair on the Malkosians. Do not be furious."
"I do not experience fury. But I am... disappointed, young one. Where did the DakTu find this weaponry, or did they develop the technology?"
"I don't know." Near the beginnings of the creek and amidst undergrowth, off to the left of the path and over a bridge, was the bounty hunter's HQ, a veritable treehouse. V'Maz was led in, the bounty hunter looked around at the entrance briefly, currently cleaning a projectile-based weapon, "My name is Malfi Celus. I work with the Malkosians and their Ooman adherents."
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Gheskori
Command Staff ..
Commanding Officer Personnel Officer Trivia Officer
Section Admiral
USS Enzio
Registered: May 2, 2008 23:32:36 GMT
Posts: 1,538
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Post by Gheskori on Jun 28, 2019 20:22:56 GMT
V'Maz nodded, "May I sit?" he asked. Celus gestured that he could do so and had the youth pull over a wooden table for him. "Lay the table," he instructed, and shortly V'Maz was presented with a plate of roasted fowl of a turquoise-blue colour. "I don't consume animals," V'Maz pushed the plate back politely.
"Then you'll have gruel," Celus announced, lowering his now clean projectile weapon and dusting off his hands. He nodded to the youth who brought the obligatory bowl over to the table, "Commander, you must be a senior officer of the ship Enzio. We knew you were coming, and who would be with your landing party."
"You must recognise my rank pips," V'Maz said.
Celus nodded and took another chair that the youth brought up, "You'll be taken to the Gifforan this evening. Understand that we and the Malkosians mean no harm in what we've done. As soon as the Malkosians receive the waepons they need to fight the DakTu, you are free to go, or so I've been given to believe." V'Maz raised an eyebrow. "No, you don't understand. I will be paid a fee, their war is not my fight; my nonchalance is due to this, not to any lack of belief in the Malkosians' good word."
"How do you intend to take me to the Malkosian Gifforan?" V'Maz said simply. Celus turned to the boy who got himself out of his hammock and went to the far wall; he pulled back a curtain to reveal a small alcove containing a matter transporter. V'Maz raised both eyebrows, "Where did you get that?"
Celus turned to him and smiled wistfully, "Stolen from the DakTu - by me, yes. They've come into possession of some most unusual technology. Such a piece I understand to be commonplace for you. Look, the DakTu are winning the war. Given four more years, the Malkosians will be defeated - my employers need to defend themselves."
He went on to tell the acting XO that he believed the transporter hadn't been fabricated on Uafin, but that it may have been stolen or perhaps received (as an ostensible gift) from another set of offworlders who'd been rumoured to have been in the star system a few short years ago.
Gheskori was glad to learn that the trial of the DakTu Chosen Ones (tried in absentia, still in the cargo bay under lockdown from without and within) had concluded, and the verdict was guilty. They'd been tried according to Uafi international law where such procedures were available, but those responsible for the court proceedings had 'winged it' a good deal, as the humans liked to say, considering the planet was still constituted of seven independent nations with their own judiciaries and legal procedures.
There was now an issue with the sentencing and the location of imprisonment or interment depending upon said sentence. The DakTu wished those responsible returned to their own nation for capital punishment, but - and Ghes was relieved on account of an understandable dislike of executions, though he was supposed to be impartial - the Gleck Synedrio representative to the jury insisted that the law of his nation should be adhered to as the Enzio was over the Synedrio continent at the time of the murder of Ensign Pirter; he recommended a sentence of ten years hard labour in the Synedrio. The controversy would continue, but the relations between the nations were mending - at least it seemed in the short term.
Commander Yarwood had returned to the bridge and now signalled to Ghes, "We've completed analysis of the fading warp signature, sir. It seems to indicate the ship - around the outer planet - warped out 25 hours ago. That's around the time we arrived..." he looked up as if in thought before looking back down at his console, "It suggests a configuration similar to that used by the Sheliak - a coincidence, I'd say. Likely displacement of vessel suggests a scout, possibly a research vessel. Additionally, the ion distribution suggests that several warp jumps - in and out of the outer system - have taken place over the last five weeks."
"The Uafi haven't had any contact with offworlders, not before we arrived," Ghes said needlessly. "Unless the Uafi were unaware of the visit, or perhaps only a few of them were aware of it." He thought of the relatively advanced technology that the kidnappers were using.
He acknowledged Yarwood's report and the ship was moved from orbit; they headed towards the outermost of the three planets and before long arrived in orbit of the D-class world. Analysing the pattern of ion particles further, they concluded that the warp jumps followed a pattern of the ship having entered the system on opposite sides of this outermost planet alternately, therefore Ghes ordered the Enzio positioned the opposite side of the world to where they predicted the ship would next appear; he wished to remain hidden to the returning vessel (if it did return, which it could do in the next hours or days) so as not to frighten it off immediately. Once it warped in, he would follow at a distance using the outer asteroid field for cover; by the time the Enzio would likely be detected, it would be mere kilometres from the possible scout or research ship.
<Tag All> [OOC: sorry to hurry everyone up, but we'll move well on into the second half of the mission now]
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Simon Clark
Lt. Commander
Registered: Dec 1, 2016 22:21:10 GMT
Posts: 153
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Post by Simon Clark on Jul 14, 2019 1:27:47 GMT
"Regretfully, we tell you we will remove one tooth an hour, until we receive satisfaction from the USS Enzio."
"What?" Kempton asked the voice from the tinny speaker, a note of fear passing across his midsection. He could not believe he had heard that right.
"No talking." one of the Uafi said, casually slapping Kempton hard across the face. Max squirmed in the chair, straining against the ties that secured his legs and arms. He channelled his fear into anger, something he had spent the last few months trying to control.
"What satisfaction? What could you possibly want from the Enzio?" he shouted.
The Uafi soldier slapped him again, harder this time, and Max could feel the sting keenly across his skin. "No talking," he said.
"You want to talk to the Enzio? What are your demands? Do they even know you have them? Let me talk to my ship, and we can resolve this."
The soldier brought his head level with Kempton's, and looked straight into his eyes. "No talking." Max got the distinct impression that he was referring to any communication with the Enzio. "This one first." The soldier said, pointing at Max.
Two others brought forward a small black cylindrical device on a tripod, with a large lens as it's aperture. and set it up in front of Max, pointing directly at his head.
"A Camera?" asked Miak from the other chair. The Uafi didn't respond, and Max struggled against the bonds that secured him to the chair and could not release himself.
"We regret what we are forced to take," the tinny speaker announced from above, "We must immediately halt the situation of the DakTu, we must have action from the USS Enzio. Know that no bad thinking exists between us, you are a small component of the politic game, and the catalyst of our success."
Two more Uafi approached Kempton's chair. One was carrying what looked like a pair of mechanical pliars. Max shrunk back as he could in the chair, trying to think of anything that would get him out of this. In one corner of his vision, he saw Miak attempt to close the distance betwene them, his chair toppling onto the hard floor. One of the Uafi pulled his head back. "Hey! Stop! Let us talk about this! Just tell us what you want! We can talk!"
The Uafi with the pliars pulled down his chin, and forced a brace into his mouth to keep his mouth open. Bound. His head held firm. He could no longer form words. Max screamed his rage and fear as the Uafi brought up the tools toward his open mouth.
And then a lance of bright orange light beamed across his vision, well above their heads. Phaser fire! The Uafi released his head, and he looked round. The EMH was standing with a phaser in his hand.
"Kindly step away from Mr. Kempton." he said.
The Uafi backed away, fast, pulling their own weapons. There were a series of bangs as projectiles were fired toward the doctor. He ignored them, and moved toward Miak.
"It's a projection! Destroy it!" two more Uafi entered the large room, one carrying a sophisticated looking energy weapon, completely out of context with rest of the Uafi's technology. The doctor cut Miak's bonds. The weapon whined, the pitch rising fast. Miak grabbed the phaser from the doctor's hands. He fired. The whine peaked and a wave of energy diffracted the light in the air, discharged through the doctor. The holomatrix of the EMH shimmered, and the doctor stumbled as he regained his coherence. The weapon fizzed as the phaser struck it.
"It does not work!" one Uafi shouted.
"Get the others!"
Gunshots fired. Miak and the doctor crowded around Max's chair, low to the floor. The doctor stood to the front, his holoemitter now on one arm, held out in front of him. Bullets pinged from a small force field that it rendered. An energy weapon missed them.
"I won't last long like this," the doctor said. Miak stunned one of the Uafi, and he fell where he stood. the energy weapon clattering on the ground.
"Untie me, we need cover," Max said. He felt helpless and exposed tied to the chair. Miak ducked behind him, and then his hands were free. Max untied his own feet, and they together moved back, through a doorway and into a small room with a wooden desk, a chair, and a small glassless window at head height. Bright hazy sunlight streamed a glowing rectangle onto the surface of the table.
Max tipped the desk on its end, creating a space they could take cover in. Chips of wall came away as bullets impacted onto rough masonry.
"What now?" the doctor asked, as the gunshots faded to relative quiet.
"I see six Uafi, armed with projectile weapons. Maybe more outside, or in upstairs office. We have one phaser. We are outnumbered, we are trapped in small room, no safe exit, no food, no communication. We are a not good situation. What's your status?" Miak asked the doctor, "You pulled big stunt with that shield." Max could see and feel the pressure Miak was under. English wasn't his first language, and his speech was significantly shorter than normal, his Hungarian accent more pronounced.
"Use of the holo projectors' force field as a shield was in brainstorming notes; the feature was unfinished due to the power drain. Given the situation, I used it anyway. My power cell is at twelve percent, down from sixty three."
"You read the manual?" Max asked.
"Wouldn't you, if your existence depended on the continued function of a single device?" the doctor asked him.
Max had never read the manual for an environmental suit, and felt slightly embarrassed, "I've always relied on the automatic functions to provide the necessary information."
"I, the automated function, have read the manual," the doctor said.
A gunshot pinged from the doorframe in a puff of splinters. Miak returned a shot. "Where's other phaser?"
"In the bag they carried me in, on that chair, with the tricorders."
"Max; window. Get a lookout."
Max pulled the chair and climbed up, so the top of the window was about level with his head. "I see the front of a truck to the left, and a whole lot of dust. No Uafi. Window has wooden bars, and it's old," he pushed hard, and the window frame scraped against the stone surround, and disappeared outside.
"Aliens! You are trapped. Come out. Do not cause us to injure you," A voice shouted.
"We'll keep our teeth, and take our chances." Max shouted back.
"Understand our cause. Your Enzio must support our situation. We must have communication."
"Then talk, Uafi!" Max shouted toward the doorless doorway, "Tell us what you want! Ask for our help! Do not threaten us with torture!"
Several gunshots struck stonework. Max felt debris against his uniform. "They come!" Miak said. The phaser fired twice, and two Uafi came through. Miak stunned one. The other trained his weapon on Max. The doctor lifted the Uafi's arm. The weapon fired and hit the wall above Max's head. Max jumped down from the chair toward the upturned table as a third Uafi stepped through. He kept his momentum, passed Miak who was pressed against the edge of the doorframe, and pushed the table forward, pinning the Uafi against the wall. He was exposed in the doorway. Weapons fired. He stumbled back. He was relieved not to have been hit. The third Uafi was not so lucky, and now bled from a bullet wound in his side.
Max glanced left, to where the doctor was standing, holding the second Uafi's weapon arm above his head. "Hi there, I'm Sam, I'm a doctor. I will do you no harm. Please do not hurt my friends, and I will help yours."
The Uafi tried to kick the doctor's legs out from under him. The EMH allowed the strike to pass right through him, tipping the Uafi off balance. His eyes turned to fear. He dropped his weapon. He roared his distress, and tried to pull back to the doorway. The doctor released him. The Uafi fled, knocking a fourth Uafi to the ground outside the room. A fifth Uafi was stunned by Miak's phaser as he stepped through, tripping a sixth Uafi, who fired his weapon into the floor, rolled, and was stunned by Miak, just as the weapon was raised for another shot.
"Stop this!" Max shouted. "We can talk!"
Gunfire was the reply. Max picked up the fallen weapons, holstering one, and putting two others in his hands.
"We need to go. Out the window. Doctor, you first." Max said.
"I must treat this man." The EMH replied.
"Our presence here will only cause more wounded, probably us. Let them treat their own. We must leave."
The doctor did not look happy with this, but seemed to see the sense of it. He took the holo emitter from his shoulder, and passed it to Max, without taking his eyes off of the Uafi. "Drop me outside," he said. He vanished.
Max climbed up and dropped the device out. The doctor reappeared before it hit the floor, "You next," he said. Max pulled himself up, and the doctor helped him not to land headfirst in the dirt. It was not a graceful exit. Miak followed, and they helped him down.
Miak fired two more shots through the window, and motioned towards the truck. They saw no movement, and the cab door was open. As they rounded the corned of the building, two Uafi saw them. Max and Lieutenant Miak stepped back. the doctor did not, and allowed the bullets to pass through him. One struck his emitter, and his matrix flickered briefly.
"Projection!" one Uafi shouted. The both turned and ran, discarding their weapons as they went.
Confused, Max climbed into the cab, and tried to make sense of the controls using the age old process of pressing buttons and pulling levers at random. The engine kicked into life, and the other two boarded beside him. A likely looking pedal by his foot had the vehicle move forward, with a lever in front he could steer. Miak pulled the door closed.
"Where are we going?" the doctor asked.
"Away from here." Max replied. "Anyone following?"
"Turn right," Miak replied.
Max did so, bringing a view of the covered barn into view, and the truck parked in front of it. "Several Uafi, climbing into other truck. Stop here."
"Stop?"
"Yes. Stop." He raised the phaser, and adjusted the setting.
Max released the pedal, and the vehicle slowed. Through the right hand window, he could see the other vehicle start to move.
Miak opened the door, pointed the phaser, and fired. A soft whoomph accompanied the view of one of the the front wheels of the other truck being vaporised, and the truck coming to an abrupt stop. "Drive, now." He said.
Max did so, picking what seemed to be the flattest path through a world of heat and dust. "These people seem to have a thing about holograms." He said to the EMH. "I thought it was just Vlahos acting oddly around you, but we've seen several Uafi call 'projection', discard weapons, and flee in apparent fear."
"I do not know. Perhaps my reputation proceeds me?"
"Ha." Max replied. "We'll see. it's still odd though."
"I agree, Lieutenant."
Ten minutes later, his commbadge crackled. He tapped it. "Kempton here."
=/\= ... Rivers... adminis-... where... =/\=
"Repeat, please, there's some interference."
=/\= This is Rivers. I'm at the Ooman central administration building. Where are you? =/\=
"We are in a truck, I'm afraid I don't know where, we have lost our tricorders."
=/\= One moment... you are thirty kilometres outside of the city, on the edge of a communication black zone, and moving out of it. Keep going the way you are, Vlahos is tracking you from here, and an official will come to meet you. =/\=
"What's the status of the Enzio?"
=/\= Investigating an ion trail in the solar system. They'll be a few hours =/\=
"Alright, thanks Alison. Kempton out."
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Simon Clark
Lt. Commander
Registered: Dec 1, 2016 22:21:10 GMT
Posts: 153
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Post by Simon Clark on Jul 19, 2019 19:17:52 GMT
Main Bridge, Deck 1, USS Enzio
"We are in position," Tagart said from the helm, "We're just peeking around the planet to the ion trail."
Gheskori nodded in acknowledgement.
"Now we wait," Simon said. With Max on the away mission, the engineering function had lost a little of it's momentum. He and Max disagreed on a lot of things, and though he grated on some personalities, Max did get things done.
"Not for very long, it seems." Yarwood replied, "Three ships have appeared on sensors. Analysis, Ensign Hurel."
"The signature of the ion trail we detected matches the smallest vessel, that of a large deep space scout, similar in size to a Federation Saber; it's two hundred meters long. The two other vessels are identical medium cruisers, two and a half times larger in displacent than the scout, half the mass of the Enzio, and two thirds the length."
"Capabilities?" Yarwood asked, pointing the question at Clark.
"At this range, with the interference of the planet, and using only passive sensors, I can only speculate," Clark said, "Visually, there are openings and hatches that could house weapons. The engine configurations are looks well developed, the warp field is clean, and the ion trail is consistant with efficient antimatter consumption. I would guess the ships are capable of cruising at warp seven or eight. All three ships are designed for atmospheric flight, and there is evidence on the hull that this is well used."
There was some further speculation of the alien ship configurations.
"I'd be interested to know if the Uafi delegates have any knowledge of these vessels. Do you think it is worth bringing them up to the briefing room and showing them what we are seeing?" Simon asked.
<Tag Gheskori/Tagart/Tavik>
"They have engaged impulse engines and are moving toward Uafin. If they have detected us, they are not reacting to our presence," Ensign Hurel said.
"Proceed with the course of actions we earlier planned, and follow the vessels." Admiral Gheskori said.
"Now entering reduced signature mode." Simon said. This involved turning off all external lights, any internal lights with windows that couldn't be blacked out, and minimising the thermal output of the engines and other ship systems. it was not a stealth mode, but it did make the ship slightly harder to spot with standard sensors. As a visual cue, all of the internal lights had been dimmed slightly.
As the three ships reached the asteroid field, the Enzio executed a quick change in position and arrived within another part of the asteroid belt ten minutes later.
"No reaction from the alien vessels." Yarwood said.
"I'm not sure." Paulo replied, "They are reducing speed."
"Maintain distance."
"Aye, sir." Tagart replied, slowing their approach to match the change in speed.
"The scout vessel is coming about... no... all three are changing course. They are heading toward our position, give or take twenty degrees."
"Lieutenant Tagart, these asteroids have a high concentration of dilithium," Simon said, "if we keep one between us and them, and stay close, they shouldn't be able to detect us."
"That'll interfere with our own scanners, though." Ensign Hurel replied, "It's an idea."
"Is it feasible?" Simon asked.
<Tag Tagart/Gheskori/Tavik>
"Vessels are still closing. I think they know we are here." Ensign Hurel said.
"They are certainly giving that impression." Simon replied, "They are close enough to see us from a window. Do you think they are friendly?"
A particle beam glowing green and white passed close by the Enzio.
"I think not." Paulo replied, with more tension.
"Red Alert. Hail them." Gheskori said.
The subdued claxon sounded, the hue of the lights slid into the warmer part of the spectrum, and Simon began assigning actions to his engineering teams. They had tested overnight that running the ship in a reduced signature mode wouldn't have any effect on the Enzio's readiness. "Shields at full strength. Torpedo systems online. Phasers charging. Eight seconds to first arc." That was another idea Max had come up with. The Enzio could power up all twelve phaser arrays from cold in under a minute. While this was an impressive feat on it's own, for situations like this, Max and Gavril Miak had designed a method to charge the arrays sequentially, boosting power to the arcs to reduce the time to the first shot. There was a small risk of an overload, and they'd agreed that it was worth it for the readiness.
"No response." Yarwood said.
"The lead ship is firing a torpedo," Paulo said, "Each ship is rounding on us from a different vector."
"Evasive manouvers," Gheskori ordered. "Continue hails."
<Tag Tagart: for evasive manoevers - bearing in mind lots of asteroids!>
"No response."
The gamma shift crewman standing in at tactical for Lieutenant Miak wasn't one that Simon knew, but he knew that Paulo knew him well, and they seemed to be working well together. Paulo finding the targets, and the tactical station was pinning them down. That said, Simon would have been much more comfortable with Gavril in the trigger seat.
"Torpedo destroyed," he announced, as a brief shot from the aft ventral array on the port side lanced through it.
"Scout is coming about, watch for-" The lights blinked as the viewscreen showed a lance of green with a white strike down the centre rip through several layers of the port-side shield from the second vessel.
"Disruptor beam," Simon said, "Laced with... something else."
"Polarons! It's a polaron beam, focused in an unstable pulsed strike down the centre of the disruptor!" Paulo said, "Two weapons in one, like a cross between something Romulan and Jem Hadar."
"That will be effective against our shields. Clark to Engineering. We need a defence against high energy polaron disruptor beam strikes."
=/\= On it, Chief. Heath out. =/\=
As they'd agreed in advance, their strategy had been to play the combat defensively, learning the capabilities of whom they were dealing with, and giving the alien vessels plenty of opportunity to cease fire. After Simon confirmed phaser arrays fully charged, and the excess power fed to the impulse engines, thrusters and shields: they danced between torpedoes or picked them off with phasers, parrying away from engagement positions. Dispite Tagart's excellent manoevering, the alien ships had scored some rents in the outer layers of their shielding, and maintained a well spread position around the Enzio, attacking in swooping turns.
"Orders Admiral?" Yarwood asked, "I don't believe we can sustain this defense indefinitely. Three against one is uneven odds."
<Tag Gheskori>
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Gheskori
Command Staff ..
Commanding Officer Personnel Officer Trivia Officer
Section Admiral
USS Enzio
Registered: May 2, 2008 23:32:36 GMT
Posts: 1,538
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Post by Gheskori on Jul 20, 2019 23:01:09 GMT
There was some further speculation of the alien ship configurations.
"I'd be interested to know if the Uafi delegates have any knowledge of these vessels. Do you think it is worth bringing them up to the briefing room and showing them what we are seeing?" Simon asked.
Ghes considered this for a moment, "Yes, that seems a good idea, though I would keep the DakTu and possibly the Gleck representative out of such a meeting, they did not get on well during the talks." He didn't want to compromise the renewed cooperation between the nations, now that they'd come to a mostly equitable conclusion in the trial of the Chosen Ones.
Once they'd dealt with the current attack, they would hold those talks.
To Ghes's discomfort, the three ships started coming about as they all entered the asteroid field; despite the near-silent running, they'd been detected... Simon suggested the Enzio obscure itself behind one of the dilithium-rich asteroids; Ghes concurred, but particle beam weapons and torpedoes were still incoming, the three craft converging on the Enzio from wildly different but coordinated approach vectors.
"Hostiles..." he murmured - as Tagert began banking the ship to port and starboard to evade the incoming fire - and decidedly more advanced than he'd at first expected may be the case: he'd hoped initially the visitors were simply traders, frequenting only the outer system to mine its extensive dilithium ore deposits, but the configuration of the ships, their confident and aggressive intent and their apparent ability to detect a state-of-the-art Prometheus class (the newest model available to the class) in quasi-silent-running mode had dashed those quixotic theories.
"Orders Admiral?" Yarwood asked, "I don't believe we can sustain this defense indefinitely. Three against one is uneven odds."
Ghes nodded and stood, "Target the cruiser on our port-side," where our shields are weakest, he thought, "Aim for her torpedo launcher and impulse drive. Phasers... 80% of maximum output."
Momentarily he'd thought about warping out of the system, as according to the bridge crew's reports, the Enzio could outstrip these vessels for speed; in case they then detected the ships approaching the inner system, he would've had the Prometheus class complete an arc back into the system and intercept the trio before they could reach the first planet, but eventually he'd decided there was too much risk involved. Now, he'd wished to maintain a defensive posture, show these newcomers the Enzio had no hostile intent. He merely wanted to learn how such an advanced species could've visited the Uafi's system yet not visit the planet itself...
The Gamma shift crewman complied and the unknown cruiser was disabled; it drifted on its last programmed trajectory, out of the asteroid field in the general direction of the system's distant star. The two remaining ships disengaged and moved to hold station close to the orbit of the D-class outer planet - it seemed they were preparing for a warp jump. "Tactical, fire a warning shot across the nearest ship's stern, now hail them."
"Channel open, sir." The ships had ceased preparations for their respective warp jumps. On the screen, the sight of a bridge illuminated by irregularly-placed green and scarlet lights filtered out of the surrounding gloom; on a panel towards the aft of the bridge sat three vaguely humanoid people. They stared impassively, strangely lifeless, in fact; they were grey-skinned and had red crests lining their craniums, not dissimilar from the old Earth mohican style.
"I'm Admiral Gheskori of the Federation starship Enzio. To whom do I have the pleasure of speaking." He was aware of the tension about the Enzio bridge, as well as a subtle amusement that he'd foregone mentioning the recent skirmish.
"We are not at liberty, nor are we inclined, to answer your questions," the figure on the left (the Enzio bridge crew's right) said. The person in the centre turned slightly to she who'd spoken and shook his head, his face showing a modicum of sorrow, "On the contrary, we're happy to divulge something of what we're doing here, rather what we have been doing here.
The information related in the next 20 minutes shocked the Enzio crew. These people - apparently photonic lifeforms, going by the lack of biosign readings detected by Yarwood since they'd entered dialogue - had been observing in secret the Uafi species for the past five years. Two years later, the Uafi had launched their pioneering colonisation vessel. The scientific observers were satisfied, watching with pleasure from their cloaked orbital craft and surface facilities the nations of the planet Uafin reaching their first apex of creativity, technological development and international cooperation. Two years after that, however (about one year ago from the present Federation stardate), a mistake had been made by a researcher named Yoma IO204; he'd revealed his presence and subsequently - due to an unfortunate sequence of events - that of the rest of his species engaged in observation of the Uafi's world.
The further details were lamentable, and were in violation of the Prime Directive, something these photonic beings of course knew nothing about but which - upon being informed of by Ghes, Yarwood and Clark - they agreed was a prudent measure. Yoma IO204 had acted alone: he'd supplied medicinal tech (which the natives found could be weaponised) to one side in a factional contest within the DakTu Detholiad; once the photonics had discovered what Yoma had done, they'd felt they'd had no choice but to level the playing field, and supplied the other faction with similar technology. A tendency to micromanage, to balance out the effects of their interference, led to influence on a global scale, and yet, Ghes learnt, only select elements of three nations (the DakTu, the Xiaaf Athlas and possibly the Malkosians who'd heard rumours) knew of this offworld interaction (no governmental officials were certain of any offworld involvement, the photonics told the Enzio crew).
Thanking the photonic beings - who agreed to remain in the system for another 3.1954 hours - and closing the channel, Ghes called, "Conference." The first question he posed to the staff was whether they thought the photonic species could be trusted. "Commander Clark, it may be too soon to ask, but has there been any progress in finding a defence from the polaron weaponry?" Next he called in the jury delegates from Uafin (including the DakTu representative after all, considering his nation had ostensibly been the first recipients of offworlder tech).
<Tag Staff in briefing>
CTSO Miak, east of the Ooman city
After the fraught escape from the warehouse and their seizure of the wheeled vehicle, the three Enzio crew crossed 20 minutes later into the city. Soon they were hailed from the roadside by an Ooman wearing what Gavril recognised as a governmental uniform; he stood under a banner alongside an array of communications equipment. "Decelerate truck," he instructed, his speech still clipped.
The Ooman told them how the XO was still missing, and mentioned in passing - as with him they boarded a more efficient transport back towards the city and governmental centre - that the war between the DakTu, Malkosians and the third nation still raged, in fact had intensified since the Enzio had entered orbit. The sorrow Miak felt at this was compounded by his realisation that - given the recent revelations as to the advanced tech, of comparable level to Starfleet's, that at least some of the Uafi seemed to possess - the Enzio's efforts to end the war by remote (part of their original objective in heading down here, which was concealed from Vlahos and Kartika) could prove a great challenge.
They arrived at the administrative complex and met with Rivers; she and the Ooman security and communications officials were trying to coordinate with the other planetary governments to form an international response to the recent kidnappings; news of the kidnapping had spread, and apparently half the world's population were now terrified of a reprisal from the Starfleet ship.
"Lieutenant Miak," the Operations Ensign called him over in the main comms and satellite surveillance centre, "Despite the antiquated systems, you recognise these readings?" Of course he did: transporter signals, people were being beamed from east of the Ooman city into the Malkosian Gifforan. Additionally, a group of privately chartered sub-atmospheric craft had lifted off from an airstrip near the northern tip of the Negara and were also making for the Gifforan.
<Tag Kempton, Rivers>
Acting XO V'Maz, in the Malkosian Gifforan
V'Maz had arrived via transporter in the midst of a jungle city. Celus left him by the pad with the youth; before V'Maz could decide on a course of action (escape, or anything else), Malkosian security in green and khaki camouflage fatigues surrounded him. He was grabbed by either arm and marched up a winding set of stairs set into a gigantic tree that seemed to be at least partially artificial. Interestingly, the entire city seemed to consist of a fusion of organic and inorganic matter; the Malkosians - in the harsh, humid conditions of the Gifforan - had learnt to adapt to this difficult environment and had built a relatively advanced civilisation.
He understood the mercenary Celus was arguing his case with the Malkosian regional high command. This authority had more pressing concerns - namely the war, which had been going better in the last few Uafin days - but an offworlder prisoner (yet another!) with ransom possibilities gave them an opportunity to press their current short-term advantage. Despite the help of the mercenary (whom V'Maz didn't trust anyway), Celus of course was ultimately interested only in his fee.
"I'm sure you'll understand," the mercenary later told V'Maz in the latter's well-appointed quarters/cell high in the part-organic jungle skyscraper with fine views north across the Gifforan. Soldiers stood on guard outside the room. "The Malkosian Regent Uirnac demands you mediate between himself and your ship Enzio," Celus said, "He wants Starfleet war materiel, transported to these coordinates within the next 9.1348 hours; until he receives the weaponry, you remain in this city."
The Uafi shrugged and sat in a wicker chair as V'Maz asked how he might contact the Enzio.
"Communications equipment can be accessed from the hallway. Uirnac's guards will keep watch on you."
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Simon Clark
Lt. Commander
Registered: Dec 1, 2016 22:21:10 GMT
Posts: 153
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Post by Simon Clark on Jul 23, 2019 20:30:13 GMT
Main Conference Room, Deck 1, USS Enzio
The Admiral had asked whether they thought the photonic species could be trusted, and the discussion was ongoing.
"Trust is earned, Admiral." Commander Paul Yarwood tapped his fingers impatiently on the conference table. "So far we've seen of them: an unprovoked attack with hails refused; followed by an attempt to flee; then the admission of ongoing interference in the technological development of another world."
"They said it was a mistake, Commander, and they've been trying to correct it." Ensign Hurel said.
"That's true. I would like to trust them. I really would. We can't sustainably exist in this quadrant if we assume everyone is always going to want to blow us up. For now, I withhold my judgement. Until we've seen further interaction with them, I couldn't say either way."
"Commander Clark?" Gheskori asked.
"I am similarly minded to Paul," he said, "we don't have enough experience to draw any real conclusions. I say we trust them until they give us cause not to, and reassess at that time. Their species is interesting though. If they are photonic beings, do they have a biological component, are they purely artificial, or some kind of extra-dimensional or non-corporeal being with a technological projection into normal space-time? There are so few species of these types that we have any real understanding of."
"Perhaps we will have the opportunity to find out."
"I hope so." Simon said.
"Has there been any progress in finding a defence from the polaron weaponry?"
"Some, Sir. Heath has a much better grip on this branch of quantum physics than I do. The modifications introduced during the dominion war reinforced the graviton stability against the destabilising effect of concentrated polarons. The concurrent presence of a concentrated positron flow from the disruptor appears to hit a cyclotron resonance in the shield spectrum that exactly matches the interplay between the disruptor and polaron beams. Heath has a few ideas how we can adjust for it. For one, we can electrostatically charge the shield grid, which will increase the shield strength by around ten percent against the disruptor and the polaron beam, but will reduce the overall strength against other types of impact, such as phasers or projectiles, by around fifteen percent. It would also increase the power draw of the shield generators somewhat. Alternatively, we could construct... er..." Simon pulled his PADD closer, "colossal magnetoresistive perovskite emitters and pair them into the shield generators graviton array to increase the shield matrix's ability to disperse both electrostatic and positronic charges more quickly." Simon looked up from the PADD, and around the table. There were a few blank looks, and Paulo was leaning forward with an interested gleam in his eye.
"...and maybe dynamically control the cyclotron resonance of the condensed quasiparticles. That's clever. But the materials required for a CMR based perovskite emitter can't be easily replicated." Ensign Hurel said.
"I was coming to that," Simon said, pleased that at least one other person at the table had some idea what he was talking about, "The performance increase is also not known. It might be marginal, or it might be significant, and it would be effective only against polarons."
"Do we have the materials?" Paul asked.
"No, Sir. Not in high enough quantities. We could strip some other non essential ship systems, and we might have enough for one emitter, on one shield generator. Industrial replication on the starbase might be able to manufacture the components, but here, we would basically be assembling a research level prototype piece by piece."
"That's not really a feasible solution for something we might need later today." Paul said.
"True. But we could be set up to electrostatically charge the shield grid within the next couple of hours, and we might be able to rig it so we can toggle the effect on and off over fifteen to twenty minutes with the shields up, or maybe five minutes with the shields down. In general, I don't think it would add much to our defensive capability. The additional power draw would have to come from weapon or propulsion systems, and we'd be more vulnerable to weapons that were not disruptor based."
"I'll say that's our best option though, and we keep the emitters as a project for later."
<Tag Conference>
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