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Post by Deleted on Jun 5, 2004 11:08:21 GMT
Alex and the rest of the Science staff were putting the finishing touches onto the presentation that Alex would be giving to the senior staff. He thought that they had done an excellent job of using their limited evidence to show that the vegetation on the planet was sentient.
Alex was just putting his hand onto his comm badge to inform the captain that he was ready when the red alert klaxon sounded. Alex looked around and said, "Get to your alert stations!"and his staff quickly started scrambling out of the lab to get to their posts.
Alex followed them out , headed for the nearest turbolift and hopped aboard. He was about to say Bridge but hesitated and decided to go to Deck 4 instead.
The turbolift doors opend and Alex rushed to his quarters. Once there, he grabbed his standard issue phaser, hesitated, and then picked up his smaller hand phaser and the holster that allowed him to carry it hidden on his left wrist. His secret phaser had come in handy several times aboard the Hepta, and he had been ignoring his promise to himself to keep it with him at all times. Alex left his quarters while strapping the holster onto his wrist.
Alex finally arrived at the bridge and manned his station. The captain was sitting in his chair, with Majeski in the First Officers seat. Isildur was on the bridge as well.
Alex saw that a large ship had somehow managed to close in on them and Alex quickly initiated several scans. They indicated that its' shields were up and weapons charged and ready. The ship wasmuch larger and more powerful than the Raven, but didn't have the advanced weaponry that the Raven did. Alex didn't know enough about their new ships capabilities to know if the Raven was a match for the unknown vessel.
"Mr. Dixon, we have less than four minutes to vacate the area or be destroyed, according to our friend over there" the Captain said, gesturing at the view screen. "Any thoughts?"
"Why would they want to destroy us? This is Federation space. We haven't done anything! was Alex's surprised reply.
"The captain of that ship is an old enemy of my family" Isildur said in thought speak. "He says that they created the sentient life on Vorona 2 and that it is one of their homes."
Alex was confused by this. He had done the research on the system and had never seen that anyone had laid claim to this planet. "I think that I need some more information, sir" he said.
"Yes" the captain agreed. "Open a hailing frequency."
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weill
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Post by weill on Jun 6, 2004 8:24:57 GMT
Weill: " This is Captain Gus Weill of the Federation Starship, USS Raven, we mean no harm, however we do require information"
The enemy Captains face turned up on the screen, a very odd looking man, or at least he thought the alien was a man, he than felt guilty for not being able to tell the difference, the Captain than spoke
Vaslsador: " I am Captain of this vessel and you will leave now, or give explanation for reason here"
Weill: " One of our officers was attacked by a plan and the plan is maniesting its'self and we need to stop it but we need data from the planet to do that"
Vaslsador: " Ok, we give you 2 hours than you will leave, if you havnt we shall attack you"
Weill: " Understood, thankyou for the 2 hours"
The viewscreen closed
Weill: " Now, Dixon, get as much infomation as you can, we are against the clock now, and Commander Majeski, keep us at stations ready for the worst"
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Post by Deleted on Jun 7, 2004 19:15:49 GMT
" Now, Dixon, get as much infomation as you can, we are against the clock now, and Commander Majeski, keep us at stations ready for the worst"
Alex acknowledged his captain's order with a crisp "Yes sir" and hurried off of the bridge, on his way to Deck 6.
Alex tapped his comm badge. "I need a two man Security team to wait for me in Transporter Room 1. Report in full EVA suits. I will be there in a few minutes." Alex ignored the response as he stepped off of the turbolift and entered the Planetary Science lab. There were only 2 people in the room, as the rest were at their battle stations and they barely looked up when Alex entered the room, so busy were they examining data from the planet.
Alex didn't have time to indulge his staff in their scientific exploits right now though. "Gentlemen, I have orders for you right now. Hamar, put together whatever data we have regarding the encounter where Ramerez was hurt and download it to two tricorders. Altic, get the data from Landers 2, 5, 7 and 8 and find out exactly which plants they sampled before they were destroyed and download it into the tricorders Hamar is repairing." The two men stared at Alex as they hadn't heard him be so commanding and authoritative before. Alex frowned slightly and said "Now please" and the two immediately returned to their consoles to find the required information.
Alex went to his office and pulled up the service records of the two men he had just spoken to. He needed someone to come to the surface with him besides Security. After a brief read, he decided that Hamar was better suited to go down to the planet. He had some experience with planetary survey.
Just as he had made his decision, Hamar and Altic entered his office with the two tricorders. "Information downloaded sir" Hamar said in a rush.
"Excellent. Hamar, you're coming down to the planet with me. Altic, you'll have another chance soon" Alex said as the unchosen scientist looked a little unhappy. Alex looked back at Hamar. "Get your EVA suit and a sidearm and report to Transporter Room 1."
Hamar nodded and rushed out of the room. Alex picked up the two tricorders and left for the transporter room.
He arrived there quickly, to find two security people armed with phaser rifles and in EVA suits already present. Hamar arrived just after Alex with his EVA suit and phaser in his arms. He and Alex quickly donned the suits and joined Security on the pad. Before everyone sealed their helmet, Alex turned to the away team and said "Keep your eyes open. Don't step on anything that looks even remotely alive,and no one fires a weapon without my order. Understood?" The other three nodded solemnly and everyone sealed their helmets.
Alex looked at the Transporter Chief and nodded. The room dissolved and Alex found himself once again looking at the tranquil surface of Vorona 2, exactly where Ramerez had been attacked.
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weill
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Post by weill on Jun 8, 2004 17:34:12 GMT
Weill was pleased that the suvery was moving on, he had thought that this shakedown cruise had moved onto a science mission. He wasnt sure if this was good, but he had got some good news from Star Fleet Command and the Science Council as the sentiant plans were seen as a big brake, and more than that a record.
Weill: " Director Martin, i assure you this isnt a hoax, we have found sentiant plantlife"
Martin: " Thats impossible, "
Weill:" I thought i would never hear anything like that, i dont say anything is impossible as it usually isnt, there is a way"
Martin: " You are not a proffestional scientist like me"
Weill: " I have spent my adult life looking and searching the unusual and impossible, i will let my Chief Science Officer send you the details to review"
Martin: " Could you also bring a sample?"
Weill: " Of course not if they are sentiant, we can do that sort of thing, i am sure you know"
Martin: " Hmmmmmmmm, but they are plants"
Weill: " SENTIANT plants Director Martins"
Martin: " Ok, i will laise with Starfleet Command, Martins out"
Weill saw the Directors face vanish, he was quite relieved, he couldnt believe the talk of a so called scientist.
He thought that someone like that would be more undertsanding and have morals in level with their job.
He walked onto the bridge
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Post by Deleted on Jun 8, 2004 18:06:09 GMT
Alex looked around the small clearing. The ground was completely broken up from when the roots had burst through the surface, but things seemed much the same. He did note that the vegetation that had been damaged during the last away mission wasn't anywhere to be seen. Several of the local plants opened their vents and released spurts of gas. Alex nodded. It was the hypothesis of the Science Department that this was how the plants communicated with one another, that they released clouds of gas that were encoded with a message that could be understood by the others. A form of communication born by necessity.
Unfortunately, the universal translator was useless. It was designed only for spoken language. Alex would have a better chance of translating Voronian with a a periodic table and a spray bottle. Alex's eyes widened. A spray bottle was a great idea!!
Tapping his communicator, Alex contacted the Raven and ordered that a replicator with a high capacity data link to the Raven's main computer be beamed to the surface as soon as possible. Then Alex turned to Hamar and said "Hamar, if you see any plant emitting gas, get a sample immediately and note exactly what the plant is doing as you sample." Hamar nodded and started waving his tricorder around. Alex accessed the files regarding the first away mission and found the small, moving plant that he and Majeski had assessed. That plant had seemed alright with the presence of the humans, and had emitted something that might indicate that to the other inhabitants of Vorona 2.
While he was working, a replicator appeared in the middle of the clearing. Alex had the two security personel move it toward the edge, approximately where the source of the plant that had injured Ramerez was located. As the team approached, a large, cactus shaped plant emitted a cloud of chemical gas. Alex quickly dumped entered a chemical configuration into the replicator and activated it. A cloud of gas erupted from the device and settled onto the plant, which swayed back and forth gently.
"Hello to you too" Alex said quietly.
Together, Alex, Hamar and the two security men set about learning how to speak Voronian.
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weill
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Post by weill on Jun 9, 2004 9:31:13 GMT
Weill was walking onto the bridge and he noticed a slight tenseness in the air, soemthing that wasnt hostile or worried like it was before combat, but more like the period before an exciting discovery would be, or at least hoped there would be such a discovery. He made him feel good that the impulses of starfleet officers hadnt gone away.
Weill: "Commander Majeski, any news from the surface?"
Majeski: "Commander Dixon has used the replicator and is talking to a Vorianan.
Weill: " Well i hope it goes well, this is one of the biggest finds of this century, i still think so, even after i had to grapple with a callas vulgarian Director"
Majeski: " What did he say?"
Weill: " He one didnt believe us, that this wasnt true, despite the reports, than he said if it was true he wanted us to take a specimen to his laboratory"
Majeski: " Thats against regulatons and general morals"
Weill: " It is indeed, i said i wont do that, he said he will apeak to command, i doubt if he does that he will be in their good books"
The ship continued to orbit the planet,
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Post by Deleted on Jun 9, 2004 14:55:14 GMT
"Commander Dixon, I need a report" Captain Weill's voice reverberated through the EVA suit.
Alex looked up from the replicator and tricorder and saw that it had been just over an hour and a half since the alien ship had given it's deadline. Alex shook his head and tapped his communicator. It wasn't going well.
"Sorry sir, but I don't have much progress to report. I'm having difficulty translating this language. We have successfully figured out such things as ground, sun, rain, rock and the like, but the plant beings don't seem to have any technology. They don't understand what space is, or ships or anything that we might relate to. Ensign Hamar has been attempting to figure out if the plants were a creation, but again there is no progress. If someone created them, they aren't telling. I can say that the plants don't seem to understand where we might have come from. That would say to me that no one from another planet has ever visited Vorona 2."
There was silence over the comm channel for a moment. "What about whatever it was that attacked Ramerez?" the captain asked.
Alex looked over. "We have isolated which plant we think it was and Hamar has scanned it. We can send that up, which might help Dr. Lise."
"I will be beaming you up in about a minute, Commander. Time is ticking, and I can't afford to leave you on the planet, in case hostilities break out. Standby to transport. Out." The Captain closed the channel to forestall the inevitable argument.
Alex was about to contact the ship to try to convince the captain that the away team should stay, but stopped. There really wasn't anything that they could do in a half hour, and if something happened, the away team would be trapped on the surface.
Straightening, Alex keyed a final chemical process into the replicator, which emitted the message. As close as he could tell, the message that he had just sent was good bye. The cloud settled onto several plants, and they emitted their chemicals in return.
Then the transporter kicked in and Alex found himself back on the Raven.
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weill
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Post by weill on Jun 9, 2004 17:05:40 GMT
Weill was pleased he had all his crew back on his ship, but, he wasnt sure what route to take, one race saying they made another sentiant and if so did that given them right to control them, Weill thought it didnt but than this was a very human view and perhaps this would be breaking the prime directive, soemthing he isnt at liberty to do.
Weill: " Welcome back Mr Dixon,"
Dixon: " Thankyou sir, we will have all details to you ASAP"
Weill thought that he must find out what the plants feel, if they asked for help than he would be at liberty to do something which would make him feel far better than the nothing he was being forced to endure now.
Weill: " Mr Dixon, do you have any idea what the lants feel, weather they know wheather they want to stay on the planet or have assistance against the Counsellors family enemy.
Dixon: " No idea, sorry sir, thought we might be able to find out"
Weill: " How, and dont forget this must be done soon"
Dixon: " Well we go down and use the langauage of Isildurs old enermys they might understand that more than the way we talk, as the differences may be larger"
Weill: " Ok, Mr Zimsky and Dixon make the changes the the universal transaltor and you Mr Dion go down with the Counsellor than we can find out, i want you to ask them how they feel, do they need assistance or do they want to stay there, any informatio would be useful, but remember you only have a few minutes"
Dixon: " On my way sir, Dixon to Counsellor, please meet me in Transporter room 2"
Isildur: " On my way"
A few minutes later Dixon and Zimsky were standing the transporter room, they were tampering with a small translator.
Zimsky: " There we go, should be ready, i hope it works.
Dixon: " Not nearly as much as i do, you wont get the old man breathing down your neck haha"
Zimsky: "Thats true"
The Counsellor walked in and walked onto the padd, Zimsky turned and walked to the transporter panel, than Dixon joined Isildur on the trasnporter deck.
Zimsky, tranpsorted them, after the 1 second delay They fizzled
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bema
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Post by bema on Jun 9, 2004 17:20:05 GMT
Isildur quickly demorphed after he was called to the transporter room. He had been sitting in his quarters contemplating his family's history with the Yeerks. The Visser's family had murdered several members of his family including his father and brother. If the opritunity presented itself he would avenge the deaths of his father Elessar and brother Elindiel. He moved through the ship swiftly until he came to the transporter room. <Hello commander,> Isildur said to Dixon as he stepped on the transporter pad. "Energize," Dixon said in a forcefull voice to the transporter chief. The world started to dissapate and the next thing the andalite knew he was on a dense jungle planet. OOC: Sorry for my lack of posting I have been offline for a few days. I will post as much as I can.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 9, 2004 19:07:25 GMT
Alex and Isildur materialized on the surface of Vorona 2, in the same clearing that Alex had become familiar with. Beside them was the replicator and a universal translator. Alex quickly walked over to them and began the process of hooking them together. It was also necessary to wire a tricorder into the matrix, as it contained the chemical compounds emitted by the plants, and the translations derived by Alex, Hamar and the two security personel from the last away mission.
Isildur walked around the clearing, familiarizing himself with the area. A little worried, Alex called out "Isildur, make sure that you don't step on any of the native plants." Isildur nodded absently, and Alex assumed that the counsellor was trying to communicate with the plants with thoughtspeak.
Alex finally managed to cross connect everything, and stood over the universal translator as it attempted to come up with a translation matrix for the plant language. Because of the complexity and subtlety of the plant language, where an alteration of one chemical change could possibly mean a radical difference in meaning, Alex wasn't holding out much hope that it would be able to come up with anything quickly. His best guess was that it could take days to weeks to have a reliable universal translator.
He had more hope for Isilur's thoughtspeak, but had no idea if the plants were capable of responding to it. They were completely different than any sentient species that Alex had seen or heard of.
Alex continued to watch Isildur as the Andalite attempted to contact the inhabitants of Vorona 2.
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bema
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Post by bema on Jun 9, 2004 21:19:16 GMT
A flood of thoughts came from the vegetation. Mostly questions such as what kind of creature is this. The plants were very currious. Isildur turned his thoughts toward Alex. <I have sucessfully made contact with the creatures,> Isildur said in thoughtspeak mainly to Commander Dixon. "Good news find out the information we need and please hurry we only have ten minutes left," the CScO said in a loud voice. Isildur was quick to comply. He quickly asked the questions and even answered some toward him. <I have the information. We can now leave. I will write up a PADD when we get back to the ship,> Isildur said directly to Dixon. The science chief nodded and tapped his commbadge. The small group gathered into a line and Isildur once again dissapeared. Once on the Raven the two quickly made their way to the bridge. When they arived on the bridge they saw the Yeerk Blade Ship came about. "Sir they are powering up their weapons," Lieutenant Robert Collins said. "Raise sheilds. Looks like you two are one minute too late," Weill said in reply while quickly looking at the human and Andalite. The other ship fired the Dracon Beams but the shields were not effected. The yerrk weapons were no match for the Intrepid Class sheilds. "Sir even though we are lees powerfull than a Sovereign Class ship I think we are more powerfull than them," Collins said in a confident voice. Weill nodded and turned to the andalite. "Lieutenant what is the weapons capacity on that ship?" Weill asked sounding pleased. <Their weapons power output capacity is in only about three hundred joules. Its shield capacity power output is only in the gigajoules range,> Isildur replied while addressing the thought to the whole bridge. A grin spread on Weill's face as he turned to the viewscreen which showed a ship coming around for another pass. OOC:Tag Captain.
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weill
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Post by weill on Jun 10, 2004 7:32:59 GMT
The new intrepid refit certainly altered the vessel, due to its small size size in compariosn to a Soverign it had almsot as stronger a shields as they didnt have to cover such a large suface area, the shileds were only down by 2 percent
Weill: " Fire a warning shot across their bow"
They saw the striking yellow beam , go past the enermy ship, it jerked out of the way
The Raven was than hit by another beam
Weill: " Target their weapons................. fire"
The enermy ship seemed to have ripples of explosians along its forward area, that one phaser blast had set off a chain reaction along the weapon systems, the ship was turning to move away, but than the ship released a large container it drifted towards the Raven
Weill: "Scan that object"
Dixon: " Sir its............. torpedoes sir"
Weill: "Tactical...... forget that, we need the enermy to think we are damaged, or better destroyed or they will never go away............. how long have we got until that impacts on us?"
Dixon: " 1 minute 11 seconds"
Weill: " Ok set course behind the carbonaite moon as we should have daamged their sensors, Tactical i want you to fire a torpedo at the casket when i say mark and than CONN you engage"
Dixon: " 10 seconds"
Dixon: 5 Seconds"
Weill: " Mark"
The torpedo was released, Weill said mark again, he waited for the ship to go to warp but it didnt, the torpedo expoloded and the Raven jerked heavily to the side, Weill fell to the right,
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Post by Deleted on Jun 10, 2004 14:07:46 GMT
Alex barely kept his station as the Raven tilted heavily to starboard in response to the large explosion. He scanned his board. Most of the starboard sensors had been overloaded but were slowly coming back online. Through the interference, Alex could barely detect the enemy ship closing in and firing at their exposed flank. Sensors indicated that shields on that side of the ship were down to 60%.
"What the hell was that?" Weill growled as he struggled back to his chair. Alex looked up from his instruments. Majeski was sitting at the helm, while the helm officer was on the floor, wincing in pain with Isildur in attendance. The helm officer looked to have severe burns on his hands as a result of a helm overload. Majeski was trying to get the ship under control and the other bridge officers were re-establishing control of their systems. Majeski turned to the captain and said "Warp engines offline."
Weill turned to the tactical officer. "Get them off of us, now. Zimsky, where are my warp engines?"
"Working on it, Captain!" came the rushed reply from the Engineering station.
The Lieutenant at tactical looked up. "Yes, sir. Weapons lock not functional, switching to manual."
Alex watched the sensors as the Raven fired phasers. Several missed, but a few struck the enemy ship and it's forward shields collapsed, allowing the Raven to rake it's primary hull with phaser fire. "Enemy ship moving off, Captain. Our starboard shields are down to 45%" the tactical officer said.
Alex was still having problems with the sensors. Alex analyzed the area surrounding the Raven and came up with some odd results.
"Sir, I'm reading heavy concentrations of Gamma radiation around the ship. I think that they had some powerful nuclear devices in the container along with torpedoes, which multiplied the strength of the blast" Alex reported.
"Interesting tactic" replied the Captain. "Majeski, stay with the Blade ship. Keep our port shields to them."
"Yes, sir" Majeski said, grinning away and programming in a new course.
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weill
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Post by weill on Jun 13, 2004 5:06:43 GMT
The Raven swayed so her strongest shields were towards the Balde vessel, luckily the blade vessels weapons on the aft section of her hull had lost power,
Lise: <"Lise to Bridge">
Weill: <" Weill here">
Lise: <" Sir we are noticing a change, the gamma radiation is causing damage to cells of plant life in sickbay">
Weill: <" And this could be affecting us to">
Lise: <" Yes i believe so">
Weill: <" Well i will hurry this up">
Weill: "Well lets get this over with, divert auxliary power to the torpedo launchers and to the impulse engines"
Zimsky: "Yes sir................. done"
Weill: " Lock torpedoes where they are most vunerable, we want to make them inopproble"
Majeski: " We have a lock"
Weill: " How far are we from the vessel?"
Majeski: " 1000 metres..........900.............800..............700...........600"
Weill: " Ready torpedoes, i want to pull this ship up as soon as i say mark, the same time we fire the topedoes, so be quick off the mark Mr Majeski"
Majeski: " 400.........300.......200"
Weill: " fire......... pull up"
The quantum torpedoes bounded out of the Raven and than she lifted upjust missing the ship, but in time to see gradual ripperlings of explosians on her hull
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weill
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Post by weill on Jun 13, 2004 16:03:25 GMT
Suddenly as the firing stopped, the enermy ship hailed the Raven
Blade Captain: " We need assistance, our ship is about to be destroyed we ask for assistance"
Weill: "Transporter rooms prepare to beam the crew of the blade ship to the Brig"
Before long the crew were in the brig
Weill: " Extra security teams to the brig, secure the area, Mr Zimsky, start repairs on the ship please, i want us ready to go back to starbase after we have finsihed our enquireys on the planet"
Zimsky: "Yes sir"
Majeski: " Sir routine message has been sent, it has got the crew lists that we will have once we dock at Assiaialnt."
Weill: " Thankyou Commander.................................... oh there is someone you may find interesting, a Lt Commander Strife Cavit"
Majeski: " Oh............."
Weill: " Is that good or bad?"
Majeski: "lets say it wil be interesting"
Weill: " Well you know her recod far more than I, her last post was under the Squadron Commander of another vessel under Commodore Loskene"
Majeski: "Do you know whwy she is a CNO again?"
Weill: " It appears she likes to get back to proper level again as she calls it, being with the action.......... which i think is good"
Majeski: " Yes sir. well i will be pleased to have her back with me, she is a fine pilot."
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Post by Deleted on Jun 14, 2004 12:15:44 GMT
Alex did a quick survey of the Science departments using his console. They all reported in as being in good shape after the brief combat with the Blade ship, leaving Alex free to return to the planet.
Alex turned to Isildur, who was escorting the wounded helmsman to Sickbay. "Isildur, I'm going back to the planet soon to converse with the plants some more. Would you like to join me?"
"Yes, Mr. Dixon, I will come. Allow me to escort Mr. Jensen here to Sickbay, and I will join you in Transporter Room 1." Isildur replied.
Alex nodded. "All right, Transporter Room 1 in ten minutes."
Captain Weill was listening in on the conversation and interjected. "Gentlemen, we are out of range of transporters from vorona 2 right now, and need to stay neer the Blade ship in case Mr. Zimsky needs help. You will have to take a shuttle back to the planet, along with a 2 man security team, in case of trouble."
Isildur and Alex replied "Yes sir, and left the bridge. Dixon could hear Weill ordering Commander Majeski to take charge of repair efforts aboard the Blade ship as the door closed behind him.
15 minutes later, Alex and Isildur were flying towards Vorona 2 aboard a type 6 shuttlecraft named the USS Mauna Loa. Flying the craft was Crewman 1st Class Dreyer, while Petty Officer Craydan was in charge of Security, leaving Alex in overall charge of the away team.
The shuttle quickly found it's way back to Vorona 2 and landed near the clearing where most of the research to date had taken place. Great care was required to find a landing place that wouldn't crush any of the locals. However, Crewman Dreyer found a suitable landing area.
The occupants of the shuttle grabbed all of the necessary gear, donned their EVA suits and made their way back to the clearing where the local plants were already blowing clouds of chemicals into the air in anticipation of the conversation to come.
Alex had already loaded the results of Isildur's previous conversation into the Unversal Translator/replicator device he was using to translate the Voronian language. With this information, the computer had managed to build up a better translation matrix, so talking to the plants became easier and easier.
Isildur carried on his own conversation with the plants with thoughtspeak, while Alex used the replicator. He found the plants seemed to have little in the way of lying or evasion. They also had no concept of technology, space or other beings. He was never able to figure out if they had any religion, but they held the sun in great reverence and seemed to understand that their actions could affect the environment of the planet.
There was also no evidence that they had developed writing, and seemed to carry their history through their very long memories. Alex heard several stories about "Death from the sky" but was unable to figure out exactly what they were referring to, just that the inhabitants died and the reason was from above. Alex put that to two possibilities. One was that they were being attacked for some reason from space, or that radiation from the twin stars in the system caused mass deaths among the inhabitants.
Alex could find no evidence that the plants had been created artificially, disputing the claim from the captain of the Blade vessel.
After several hours, the translation matrix seemed to be working very well. Alex turned to Isildur, who hadn't spoken in some time and said "Well, I guess that I'm ready to go. How about you?"
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bema
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Post by bema on Jun 14, 2004 12:41:23 GMT
Isildur nodded absently as he finished his conversation with the plant life. His mind kept going back to the other andalite who was now on the Raven. It seemed every Visser since the first Visser Three had an andalite controler. This creature was dangerous and they needed everything they had to keep him in check. Isildur started packing his instruments up but he could not shake his bad feeling.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 15, 2004 12:02:47 GMT
Alex took a look at Commander Isilidur and decided that it was time to get back to the ship. Isildur was obviously distracted, and they had all the readings and information that they needed. With the data stored on the ships computer, anyone could come here and establish a dialog with the plants.
Bidding his goodbyes, Alex packed up the last of the gear and the four of them trooped back to the Mauna Loa.
They quickly boarded and started the preflight sequence. Alex tapped his communicator. "Mauna Loa to Raven. We have completed our research and are preparing to leave the planet. We will be docking in Bay 1 in about 20 minutes."
Captain Weill answered. "Raven to Mauna Loa. Confirmed, docking in 20 minutes. Out..."
Alex sat back and surreptitiously watched Isildur out of the corner of his eye. Alex didn't know the Andalite very well, but he seemed to be a little out of synch with what was going on around him, his attention turned inward and back into the past.
Alex looked forward. Dreyer and Craydan were occupied with piloting the shuttle back to the Raven. Alex leaned over and said quietly "Isildur..."
The Andalite came out of his reverie and looked over at the Science officer. "Yes?" he replied.
"You seem a little distracted. What's the problem?" Alex asked with some concern.
"The captain of the vessel that we just fought is a Yeerk. His family and mine have been enemies for many years. Members of his family killed my father and brother" Isildur said in a monotone.
Alex hid his surprise as the Andalite continued to speak about his family. It was obvious that Isildur was deeply affected by the presence of this Yeerk aboard the Raven. What wasn't clear was what action if any that he would take.
Alex knew next to nothing about Andalites, but knew how the loss of a family member could change one's life. Alex had lost his parents in a house fire many years ago, and that event had led inexorably to his position here in Starfleet. If it had never happened, he might still be on Caldos 4, never knowing what he was missing.
Alex resolved to speak to the captain once they were back aboard. He didn't want Isildur's Starfleet career ruined by a rash act now.
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weill
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Registered: Apr 25, 2024 20:34:50 GMT
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Post by weill on Jun 15, 2004 16:01:59 GMT
The away team arrived back on the Raven, Weill was on the bridge studying the informatmation he had recieved and also details that the Yeerk captain had given him, he found it to be interesting reading when suddently he saw Commander Dixon walk onto the bridge, he seemed brisk, even more than usual.
Dixon: " Sir may i speak to you?"
Weill: "Of course in my ready room"
They walked in and Weill stood around from the door
Weill: " How can i help you Commander"
Dixon: "Its about Isildur sir"
Weill: " I thought this was coming"
Dixon: " Well she is being greatly distracted by current events and i am uncertain as to her state of mind"
Weill: " The fact she is an Andalite and a Counsellor doesnt help, makes it much harder for us to look at their state of mind"
Dixon: "Yes sir. she was getting distracted and seemed to be very emotional about the current guests we have on board"
Weill: "Ok, thakyou for bringing this to my attention, i would like you to keep an eye on the situation for me, i will have a word with her, but keep her underobservation or at least hader for her to get to the prisoners"
Dixon: "Yes sir"
The young Commander walked out and the Captain breathed out and thought about what he shoud do, he thought there was nothing better than talking, how else could he find out how the situation was and if the Science Officer was right
Weill: < Counsellor Isildur report to my ready room"
A while later the Counsellor rung the door and walked in, she looked slightly restless, distracted was the best description
Weill: " Counsellor please sir down, would you like a drink"
Isildur: "No thankyou sir...... may i say soemthing sir"
Weill: "Go on"
Isildur: "There is nothing wrong with me sir, i know Commander Dixon was doing his job and i expected him to but i assure you nothing is worng"
Weill: "By you saying that i know something is"
Isildur: "I assure you sir"
Weill: "Dont interupt Ensign.............. now i know thses guests of ours were a rival to your family but i assure you will gain nothing by harboruing a gruge"
Isildur: "Andalaites dont bear grudges sir its not in our nature"
Weill: " You like to think not............. now i know you hold a grudge and i know why, i can let you know that to have held grudges and the human race has done so....... but where does it get us"
Isildur: " Thats different...not as serious as this"
Weill: "Calm down, you dont know, now i am not here to debate how serious grudges are, i am telling you that you will have to get through this and while you are under my command you will NOT do anything outside the guidelines of the ship, i hope i made myself clear."
Isildur: "Yes sir.........."
Weill: " If you need to talk please come and see me as you dont have a Councillor"
Isildur: "Thankyou sir"
Weill: "And we dont have to worry, come what may we hand over thoses prisoners to the Starfleet security at starbase, it is their job now, we go back for a new assignment"
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bema
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Registered: Apr 25, 2024 20:34:50 GMT
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Post by bema on Jun 16, 2004 12:39:59 GMT
<Understood sir,> Isildur said in a calm voice. He understood where the captain was coming from but he still had this uneasy feeling. He knew that Visser Three was an andalite controller. He also knew this Visser had been all over the universe collecting morphs. If the time came the lieutenant was wondering if he would be able to help. No sooner had he arrived on the bridge an alarm sounded. "One of the pirsonors has escaped," the acting security chief exclaimed. Captain Weill spun his head around. "Which one ensign?" Weill asked but he already knew. "The captain of the yeerk ship," the ensign replied. Isildur sent a thought speak message only to Weill. <Sir I am the only one who can stop this creature. You know this and I really don't think you want a wild andalite running around the starbase. If need be I must contain Visser Three,> Isildur said in a sincere tone. Weill knew there was truth in the thought. Only Isildur could retrieve the Yeerk. That is exactally what worried the Captain.
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Deleted
Registered: Apr 25, 2024 20:34:50 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 16, 2004 16:27:55 GMT
Alex left the Captain's Ready Room and nodded to Isildur as she walked by. As soon as the ready room door closed, he walked over the the Tactical Officers station.
"Lieutenant, are the ships internal sensors capable of tracking individual members of the crew if they are not wearing their commbadges and warning you if they enter particular areas?" Alex asked.
"Yes, sir" the lieutenant replied. "Just tell me who it is you want tracked."
"The captain has asked me to monitor whether or not Counsellor Isildur goes near the captives in the brig. If she does, please inform me immediately" Alex ordered.
"Aye sir" the Tactical officer. "Sir, there's just one problem. Commander Isildur has a higher security clearance than I do. She could easily over ride the trace if she wanted using her security authorization."
Alex hadn't thought of that. He considered the problem for a moment. "We could enter both of our security codes into the trace. That way, both of us would be informed if anyone tried to remove it.
"Yes sir, I believe that would be enough." The officer programmed the computer to warn the two of them if Isildur should try to enter the brig area. Then, they both entered their security codes and ran the program.
Alex nodded at the lieutenant and returned to his station on the bridge, just as Isildur left the captain's ready room and took her chair beside the captains'. She still seemed rather worried, although Alex didn't really know why.
The captain came out a few minutes later and said "Raven to Blade, report."
Commander Majeski answered. "Yes sir. The ship is almost ready to move. We have impulse and warp engines back online, but the main deflector was damaged by our attack. It will be functional in about an hour, but will only protect us if we keep our speed below Warp 3 even after we get it online. We don't have the replacement parts or time to get it to 100%. Forward shields are still out, along with Life Support below Deck 20. Aft shields at 40%. Weapons systems non-functional."
"Warp 3? I'd like to be able to go faster than that. Can we take the Blade ship in tow?" Weill asked.
"Probably not, the ship's structural integrity is down to 55%. I doubt the frame could take the stress of being towed at warp speed" Majeski reported.
Weill nodded. "All right Commander. Our Science officer and Counsellor have completed their research on vorona 2, so we can leave as soon as your ship is ready and finish up our shakedown cruise."
"Yes, sir. I'll contact you when the repairs are complete. Majeski out."
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weill
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Registered: Apr 25, 2024 20:34:50 GMT
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Post by weill on Jun 17, 2004 9:30:15 GMT
Weill was walking out of the turbolift of engeneering when he saw Ensign Zimsky and Commander Majeski, they were leaning over a console.
Weill: " How are the repairs going?"
Zimsky: "Well sir, we should be ready within the hour"
Weill: " Sorry to hear that you will be going, a short posting but none the less, i hope it has been useful and it has helped us on this ship"
Zimsky: " Yes sir........... how did you know i was going"
Weill: "We commanding officers know everything............ When we are ready let the bridge know than we can get back to starbase for a short term of Shore leave and than we can give in reports etc, as this was a shakedown cruise we must have detailed records for the shipyards office..... beuracracy in the 24th centry"
Weill walked out than walked around through the busy corridors to sickbay, he wanted to talk to Doctor Lise, he walked in and she was treating someone with a slight burn
Weill: "What happened"
Lise: " Careless with electronics"
Weill: " Oh i see, can you keep an eye on the Counsellor"
Lise: "Yes i have heard and i can guess what about, the aliens?"
Weill: " Yes you are right and as you have the next best training for dealing with things like this and the fact you know her than perhaps we can support her without making her feel clostrophobic"
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bema
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Registered: Apr 25, 2024 20:34:50 GMT
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Post by bema on Jun 17, 2004 13:57:46 GMT
Isildur sat in his quarters. He had wanted to be alone. He could not stop thinking about Elessar and Elindiel his father and brother. This man is dangerous. I am the only one who can stop him. Why won't anyone listen to me? Isildur thought to himself biterly. His door chime brought him out of thought. <Come in,> the andalite said in thought speak. The door opened to reavel Doctor Lise. <Is there anything I can do for you Doctor,> Isildur thought non-chalantly. "Actually counsellour. I am here to see if I can help you," she said calmly. Isildur probed her mind for the answer to why she was there. He found the answer out in the open in her mind. <The captain is worried I might do something rash to avenge my family name,> Isildur said without even trying to cover the fact he read her mind. "He is concerned you are going to throw away youe Starfleet carrer over a blood feud," she said in a concerned voice. <This is well beyond a blood feud. That man and his family have murdered members of my family for more than five hundred years. He himself killed my father and brother. I am now the only one who can rule the andalite homeworld. If I turn a blind eye I will have betrayed my father,> Isildur said letting his bitterness show. "I did not realize the history. I will ask you one thing though. If you have to fight him do not kill him. Yu should not deal out death and judgement," the doctor said as she turned and left. The andalite saw he had a point he also remembered what happened to another officer who took a personal oath of vengence. He sat in deep medatation trying to solve his problem.
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Deleted
Registered: Apr 25, 2024 20:34:50 GMT
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jun 17, 2004 14:42:38 GMT
Captain Weill looked over at the Science Station. "Mr. Dixon, are you still on duty?"
"Yes, sir. There are some things that need my attention" Alex replied.
"Commander, by my reckoning, you have been directing the Science mission to Vorona 2, at your station here on the bridge, and on two away teams during the majority of the last two duty shifts. I think that you have done enough for now. You have appointed Lt. Quarel your Assistant Science Officer. I will have him report to the bridge. Please find something else to do with your time. Dismissed." Weill turned away from Alex, tapped his comm badge and ordered Quarel to the bridge.
The Ferengi stepped off of the turbolift a few minutes later, and Alex left the bridge. He stood on the lift for a few seconds as he had no idea where he should go, until he thought that he could probably go to his quarters. "Deck 4" he muttered and the lift started to move.
Alex was in his quarters a few minutes later and he took a quick walk around. Nothing had been damaged during the short battle with the Blade ship, but he noticed that his console was flashing. Activating it, he discovered that there were over 30 messages waiting. Alex took a look at the authors, mostly vegetation biologists and xenobiologists from all over the quadrant. Apparently, the news about the sentient plants had travelled fast. This was an aspect of being Chief Science Officer that Alex hadn't considered.
He quickly scanned through a half dozen messages. The first one was from Dr. Charles Martin, Director of the Federation Science Council. It was pretty grim. He didn't seem to feel that it was possible for plants to evolve their own intelligence and proceeded through a series of arguments disproving Alex's hypothesis. Pretty impressive considering the Director hadn't seen a single scrap of proof yet.
The rest were pretty evenly divided. The biologists were all ecstatic about the discovery, the xenobiologists sceptical. Alex could understand. The xenobiologists would have spent their time dealing with standard life forms. The discovery would be something completely outside their research. He could feel that there was a big scientific fight brewing, and Vorona 2 was going to be right in the middle.
Alex didn't really feel like dealing with it right now. He shut down his console and walked over to the window. He could see the Blade ship nearby, and past it Vorona 2 was a bright disc, refecting the light from the two stars in this system.
Alex realized that he needed some time to unwind, and tried to figure out what he should do. His gaze fell onto the picture of Patricia's Planet, the tiny planetoid he had discovered with the help of Commander Penfold aboard the Hepta. He had been pretty busy aboard the Hepta, but had found time to get to the holodeck. He also remembered that he had promised himself that he would take lessons with the broadsword, a weapon that he had used briefly with Commander Marcell and Luke Dunsmore.
Shrugging, he put on some appropriate workout clothes and went to Holodeck 1. It was unoccupied and Alex said "Computer, begin broadsword training program, with suitable beginning instructor." A figure in a Starfleet uniform appeared, armed with two broadswords. Giving Alex one, the hologram proceeded to show Alex the basics of sword play.
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Deleted
Registered: Apr 25, 2024 20:34:50 GMT
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jun 17, 2004 15:27:43 GMT
It was interesting at first, but Alex became bored with the holodeck quickly. "Computer, change surroundings to Terran Scottish Highlands, circa 1300." The holodeck walls were replaced with a cold, windswept vista. In the distance, there was a stone castle. Looking over, the holo instructor was still in his Starfleet uniform. "Computer, change instructor to something appropriate to the time."
The neatly dressed Starfleet instructor was replaced with a huge redhaired shaggy giant and Alex had to crane his head back a fair bit to look him in the eye. He was wearing a tartan kilt and tattered shirt.
"Och, lad. Me name be Angus, and ye'er da' tol me ta teach ya the sword. Hope ye'er payin attention!" Angus hefted his sword and swung it hard at Alex's head. Surprised, Alex blocked the swing with his broadsword, but the strength of Angus' blow drove him to his knees. Angus quickly raised his foot and planted it solidly in Alex's chest, driving him to the purple heather. When Alex opened his eyes, the point of the broadsword was about an inch from his eyes.
"Och, lad. That was too easy! Were ye expectin me to blow ya kisses? Hard it be ta fight when ye'er lyin on the ground!" Angus drew his sword back and stabbed it violently towards Alex, and the prone science officer rolled out of the way and leaped to his feet.
Angus looked over as Alex got to his feet. "At least ye be quick as a hare. Yer da' would'a been mad at me if I'd'a killed ya with ye'er first time oot" Angus said, laughing loudly. Angus tried to swing his sword, but almost two feet of it's length was buried in the turf. Angus pulled it back out and turned towards Alex.
Alex readied himself as the hairy savage came towards him, swinging his weapon. The two swords crashed together loudly several times, until Alex's sword was knocked out of his numb fingers.
"Now what ye be doin', me boyo? Can't fight at all wi' nae sword." Angus swung his sword at Alex, but the Science officer stepped under the violent swing, grasped Angus' wrist and attempted a martial arts throw that Commander Akleth had taught him.
Unfortunately, Angus was also very fast, and straightened the arm Alex had grabbed, lifting the small Commander right off of the ground and throwing him several feet back to the turf.
"Well, ye hae some spunk, laddie. Most would hae given up wi'out a sword. Tho most dinnae have to as they can hang onto their weapon. Perhaps I should get my granny to teach ye."
"I wouldn't want to interupt your lessons with her, Angus" Alex said, trying to buy some time while he figured out how to get his sword back. It seemed to be a long way off.
Angus chuckled loudly. "A fine sally, me boyo. Too bad ye cannae figure out a way to get to ye'er sword. Perhaps ye can get me to laugh mesel to death, so you dinnae have ta." Keeping his sword pointed at Alex, Angus walked over to Alex's sword, tossed it over and then ran directly at Alex.
Alex caught the blade by the grip and tried faking to the left, then moving right. Angus would have none of that and bulled directly into the Science officer, knocking him across the ground. Alex managed to keep his feet this time, but just barely. Angus kept at him with the broadsword, offering a constant expert critique as their swords crashed away.
"Keep ye'er point up...mind ye'er feet and stay balanced...ye must use care, ye're not as strong as am I...dodge, don't block..." Finally, Alex's arms got tired and Angus' sword crashed through his defence. The teacher quickly changed the angle of his sword, so it hit Alex on the flat side rather than the edge. The blow struck Alex on the left side of his chest and was stunning. When he could breathe again, Alex found himself lying on the heather with Angus leaning over him.
"Are ye alright there, boyo? Ye'er da will hae me head if I killed ya." Alex lay there for a minute.
"I'm alright Angus. Your head is safe. What would he do with it anyway. It's probably only good to be a doorstop" Alex started to struggle to his feet, and Angus helped him up.
"C'mon lad. Let's hie on o'er to the pub. I'll gi ye some advice on yer swordplay on the way."
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