Daniel Schirra
Captain
Registered: Apr 8, 2013 21:02:47 GMT
Posts: 468
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Post by Daniel Schirra on Aug 19, 2020 21:06:14 GMT
"It is clear that you have underestimated our conviction, Captain," VaS'inKir said as he entered the room, smiling amiably at Lana as she took their seven-year-old daughter from Daniel's arms, "You see, we cannot allow the Residuum to gain control of the Council, it would be a disaster for all concerned. Alas, they will not be content with their lot and have caused us to act out of character, if you will,"
"Why bring us into your little war!" Lana asked.
"Dear lady, it was not I ..... I am only doing what is necessary to ensure, well, let us say we 'like' where we are in the scheme of things. Allowing the Residuum to change the balance would be, unacceptable,"
"You have the Juno," Karka stated, from the side of the room.
"We do indeed and it will serve us well in our efforts to run down the perpetrators of these events, alas, that is more than can be said for your Excalibur..." VaS' said, shaking his head.
"Meaning?!" Carl asked, feeling the business end of a phaser preventing him from reaching the Xes'dnu Leader.
"Well, we thought it would be, amusing, to allow your insertion of our facility to search for and rescue your lovely family. We, of course, had other things in mind for your orbiting Starship... What is the saying you have, 'Two heads are better than one'? yes, that's it. Well in our case we decided that 'two' Starships would be better than one... Alas, your Engineer had other ideas,"
"He fought you off!" Psonoir said with a grin.
"In a sense, in fact, as we began to board he left orbit and warped out of the System. We are in pursuit of course, but it appears you somewhat enterprising crew managed to take back control of your ship after overpowering Naz'inhriss' thugs, given there were only eight of 'our' people on board when the ship left, we must assume they are also in custody,"
"I'll have to remember to put him up for a commendation," Daniel said.
"Or promotion," Karka sais with a wry grin.
"Or both!" Schirra replied.
"Humor ..... Yes, it is always good to have your 'sense of humor' to fall back on, unfortunately, we need the Excalibur to return and surrender to our vessels," VaS'inKir said, his smile fading.
"Let me get this straight..." Taka Yukigori said, frowning theatrically, "... The Excalibur gets taken by this Residuum, so they have superiority over your Trianguum. You in turn manage to take over our sister ship, the Juno, which has been ordered to stop us, presumably to allow you to attack the Excalibur 'before' she can be of use to this Nazin bloke, right so far?"
"Essentially," VeS'inKir conceded, so the Security Chief continued:
"Soooo, at some point, you realized that having 'two' Starships would not only help you but take away the only useful weapon the Residuum held over you, thus our ease of access into this hotel, so to speak?" again the Xes'dnu nodded, "... But the Excalibur, far from sitting on her proverbial hands, overpowered the Residuum people and took off before you could snatch her?" clearly enjoying his moment, Taka 'tut-tutted' but VeS'inKir had lost his patience now.
"You seem to forget, Mister Psonoir, that I still have you, your diligent Security Chief, oh, not to mention your Captain, his lovely wife, and daughter. So I believe I sill have the upper hand ...."
"Holding us won't help you VaS'inKir..." Daniel said defiantly, forcing himself not to look down at Lana and Kendal, "... The Excalibur will contact the Federation and they will come here to ensure you are held accountable!"
"You would willingly see the executions of your wife and child, I do not believe so..." he walked over and knelt beside Kendal, who glared her best seven-year-old glare at the man, "Headstrong indeed," he said, presumably referring to her recent comments on the food she was given.
"Call your ships off, hand over the Juno to her Officers, and I'll speak to the Federation regarding your, situation," Schirra said quietly.
"Ah, your Federation, no, I believe they would assess our situation, as you put it, as being an internal issue which should be resolved as such, which is what we are endeavoring to do... No, I have children of my own, who would grow up in abject poverty should the Residuum take control. No, I think a more 'persuasive' argument might be in order..." he nodded to one of his men who activated a viewscreen.
=^= Commander .. It appears our guests are reluctant to comply with my requests .. Is all in readiness? =^=
=^= The device is active Councillor =^=
=^= Then I think you should activate it now =^= VaS'inKir stood away from the screen so everyone had a clear view.
"That's the Erinholme," Yukigori said as the Miranda Class Starship came into view.
"A device has been secreted on that Starship, failure to comply with my 'request' will result in the device being detonated. It has the equivalent explosive yield as say, five hundred, of your torpedoes. Where there was once a gleaming Starship holding over three hundred men and women, there would be nothing more than a diminishing cloud of atoms ..... Please believe me, Captain, while I am somewhat reluctant to dispose of your family..." he smiled down at Lana and Kendal once again, "... I have no issues in destroying a Starship. Now, should we discuss our predicament further?" VeS'inKir asked sickeningly ..........
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Daniel Schirra
Captain
Registered: Apr 8, 2013 21:02:47 GMT
Posts: 468
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Post by Daniel Schirra on Aug 30, 2020 19:13:34 GMT
"..... there would be nothing more than a diminishing cloud of atoms ..... Please believe me, Captain, while I am somewhat reluctant to dispose of your family..." VaS'inKir smiled down at Lana and Kendal once again, "... I have no issues in destroying a Starship. Now, should we discuss our predicament further?"
Daniel looked from the Xes'dnu to his wife and eldest daughter, then at Karka, then burst out laughing!
"You find my threat, amusing?" it took Schirra a moment to regain his composure before replying:
"I find all this amusing ....." Daniel said, leaning to kiss Kendal on the forehead before winking at her, "..... I'm not sure who came up with the idea to kidnap a STarship Captains family or somehow secrete people on the Excalibur, and the very two ships sent out to bring us back it must have taken exceptional planning on your part,"
"The 'Residuum' are, creative, in their efforts,"
"But you're not part of the Residuum, are you, you are the very people they are trying to overthrow... But that has all changed now, hasn't it," Daniel said.
"We had no option but to 'fight fire with fire' as you say. Had there been any alternate actions open to us, we would, of course, taken it. Alas, their having a Federation Starship, made any actions we would have taken against them, inconsequential to say the least. We had to ensure we could level the ground, make them realize that they cannot win... Now, I believe we were discussing you assisting in having your ship return to us?"
"We're not bringing the Exca ....." Psonoir began but fell silent as a fist landed in his midriff, winding him.
"Just out of curiosity here, but doesn't Naz'inhriss hold the Excalibur?" Daniel asked as Lana helped Karka back to his feet.
"We managed to 'remove' his men from your vessel, but in doing so fell victim to your own personnel. The Excalibur has warped out of our system, no doubt intending to contact your Federation and ask for assistance. The Juno, under our control, is pursuing her as we speak, but given both are of the same design, we cannot overtake, thus, as previously insinuated, your help is required,"
"You can't believe for one second that the Federation is not going to sit on their proverbial hands and allow this to happen," Karka risked speaking, wary of the man who hit him eyeing him expectantly.
"Release control of the Juno, allow both our ships to re-enter the system, and I will contact the Federation to send a team here to help resolve your issues," Daniel said.
"You think I have not studied your regulations, Captain..." VaS'inKir spat, "Before our problems became 'unsolvable' shall we say, a delegation stood before your Council and asked for help, they listened, sympathized, then told us that they cannot become involved in the internal governance of a planet by taking one side or the other. We approached them in good faith, hoping to prevent further loss of life, but once the Residuum realized we had failed, they increased their efforts to remove us from our place of power, hoping no doubt to send us to the very mines they had crawled up from years earlier!" VaS'inKir fell silent, he knew he had said too much the second he mentioned the mines.
"The Residuum were nothing more than slave labour!?" Lana asked, glaring at the Xes'dnu in disgust.
"The Trianguum have always overseen the ruling of our planets, while the Residuum carried out the necessary work to ensure 'ALL' our citizens lived well, ate, enjoyed entertainment..."
"But the Trianuum benefitted more no doubt?" Lana said quietly.
"It is a matter of, perspective," VaS'inKir said through clenched teeth.
"Either way..." Daniel said, placing a hand on Lana's shoulder, hoping it was enough to make her aware he wanted her to fall silent, "... The Federation will not get involved, it is our Pri ....."
"Yes yes, your precious 'Prime Directive' the very regulation which allows you to pick and choose who to help, and who to watch fall into oblivion,"
"We won't help, and I will not order the Excalibur back here..." Daniel said as he felt Kendal take his hand. VaS'inKir walked around the room seemingly deep in thought, then he sat down opposite Schirra and his family, "... The Federation will send other ships out to retrieve, even destroy the three ships already here, if they have no other options but to do so. Then they will turn their attention to you, your people, your planets ..... We are explorers, but we will not be held to ransom, not for one family, one crew, or one thousand,"
"Then I will order the Juno to destroy the Excalibur, I will detonate the device onboard the Erinome, then, when the Juno returns, I will order the decimation of all area's known to contain the Residuum," VaS'inKir said, looking at Daniel's seven-year-old daughter with sympathy before standing.
"The Federation will wipe your species from existence!" Lana whispered.
"But they won't my dear, they won't... They will pontificate, protest, demand someone be brought to justice, they may even exclude us from any future aid, but they will not kill us off, it is not in your nature, unfortunately," the Xes'dnu said, shaking his head as he and his guards left the room leaving the Federation Officers almost dumb-struck.
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Daniel Schirra
Captain
Registered: Apr 8, 2013 21:02:47 GMT
Posts: 468
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Post by Daniel Schirra on Sept 21, 2020 1:04:35 GMT
Given the late hour, Daniel believed they would be left to mull over their situation ..... An hour later two men entered, one training a weapon not on the Officers, but on Lana and Kendal as the second activated a replicator built into the wall. With a sneer of contempt, both then left ..... Lana stood, moving to the replicator to request a meal for her and Kendal, she looked at Daniel hoping he knew she trusted his judgement and that he would do everything to keep them safe. Everyone ate, watching the Sun go down wondering what tomorrow would bring, alas, they would know before the Sun came up! The door opened suddenly, Daniel and Taka were already halfway to their feet as the room seemed filled with Xes'dnu. Daniel didn't have time to move as two of the guards reached forward picking his seven-year-old daughter from where she had been cradled in his arms. The butt of a phaser rifle slammed into his temple numbing everything as his Daughter was lifted away. Without a word they guards left, leaving Taka Yukigori bloodied after he'd attempted to prevent Kendal' being taken, Lana was screaming uncontrollably as Dan tried to comfort her assuring her Kendal wouldn't be harmed, all the while thinking that anyone ruthless enough to use a child would surely be capable of making that child the ultimate bargaining chip! ~~~~~~~~~~ Lana had finally drifted into a fitful sleep, more through complete exhaustion than anything else, Daniel and Taka had moved to the far corner of the room to quietly discuss options, or the lack thereof to be precise. They were eyeing the single window when the door opened and two guards, phasers ready, entered the room before stepping aside to allow VaS'inKir to enter. Schirra was about to demand his daughters' return but Lana had woke and shot to her feet in one motion. She had slammed into the nearest guard, who had clearly thought she was asleep and was trying to wrench the weapon away. VaS'inKir and the second guard seemed to be watching proceeding with amused interest until the attacked guard managed to slam the butt of his rifle into Lana's jaw. There was a sickening crack as she fell to the floor spewing blood. To his credit, VaSinKir, clearly annoyed, had taken the other guards' weapon and shot the first in the head before handing the phaser back. "I am sorry, that was, uncalled for," VeS' said apologetically, instructing a guard beyond the door to bring a Doctor immediately. "I'll kill you for this..." Daniel spat as he cradled his bleeding wife in his arms, "... Where is my daughter?" "Oh, she is safe, and well..." VeS'inKir, "... But it appears that the 'situation' in which you were to aid us has changed somewhat ..... We have reciaed reports from our scout vessels that they witnessed the USS Juno being destroyd. Alas, there were no survivors. It seems that the Juno Officers had decided to regain possession of their Starship, in the onsuing fighting, a device they had brought aboard purely as a threat, was... Activated," "You destroyed the Juno?!" Taka said from the floor. "Alas, a sacrifice we did not envision," VeS'inKir said. "Where is my daughter?" Lana gurgled through the blood oozing from her broken jaw. "It was felt that, given the change in circumstances, it was best to have a second avenue of, persuasion, shall we say..." the Xes'dnu said, "... It appears that after firing on the Excalibur, your crew attempted to take ba .... But I'm repeating myself, apologies, well, your Excalibur returned to the location of the destroyed Juno but found no survivors. Our scout vessel says it then went to warp on a heading directly for this Moon, thus our need for something that would make you more compliant to or needs," "You mean you don't want the Excalibur to level this Moon then your Homeworld?" Yukigori said almost pleased. "Iff youuu huuurttt my, dau ....." Lana began, but the Doctor sedated her to begin repairing the damage to her lower jaw. "Excalibur will enter our System in six hours at their present speed Captain, you have that time to decide if you are to tell them to establish orbit and await instructions, or suffer the, unfortunate consequences..." VaS'inKir said, moving to watch the Doctor before moving towards the door. He turned to look at Lana then Daniel, "... Six hours Captain. If you agree to aid us I give you my assurance that once we have consolidated power and taken the Residium Leadership into custody, we will allow you, your family, and the Excalibur, to leave peacefully," "How can you 'POSSIBLY' believe that the Federation wont take action against you for what you have done VeS'inKir?" Daniel asked. But the Xes'dun simply smiled as he moved out of sight ..........
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Daniel Schirra
Captain
Registered: Apr 8, 2013 21:02:47 GMT
Posts: 468
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Post by Daniel Schirra on Sept 26, 2020 23:24:28 GMT
Once again they had been left to think about what theXes'dnu had said ..... Daniel's mind was in turmoil, his wife had been beaten, his daughter taken from them again, but this time VaS'inKir had been almost apologetic about having been forced to take Kendal away it was something he clearly disagreed with!
Two hours past and a guard entered, presumably to check they hadn't managed some miraculous escape Schirra assumed. moments later VaS'inKir himself reappeared:
"It seems my 'associates' are less patient than myself..." he fell silent as one of the guards placed what appeared to be a communication console on the table against the wall, he made numerous setting changes as the leader of the Trianguum waited patiently. Once the guard nodded he told him to leave the room but wait at the open door, "... The communication equipment over there is set to transmit and receive to and from the Excalibur only. You will contact your vessel and instruct them to return control to my people, otherwi ...."
"Otherwise 'WHAT' you coward!?..." Lana spluttered, "... You'll threaten to kill a seven-year-old? ..... How very noble of your race to use 'CHILDREN' to achieve your goals," Taka urged her to fall silent lest she aggravates her injury.
"I'm guessing that keeping hold of the Excalibur hasn't gone well then?" Daniel asked, a grin forming.
"Alas, no. It seems that following the destruction of your Juno, the crew managed to, retake control. My men managed to get a message out to us but we have heard nothing since, and can only assume, well ....." he shrugged.
"Not looking too good for you then, is it,"
"You must understand, Captain, I have no say in the safety of your child from this point, you will contact you vessel and instruct them to turn it over to us, or your daughter will die in front of you,"
"When the Excalibur arrives in orbit they will ask for our return, failing to do so will result in your annihilation!" Yukigori spat.
"You can't hope to win here VaS'inKir, you must know that by now... Bring my daughter back in here and let me speak to your superiors, you may still come out of this with your lives," Daniel said sympathetically.
"Four of our vessels have been sent to intercept the Excalibur. Unless it is in our hands upon their arrival, the ship will be destroyed,"
"Doesn't that defeat your objective VaS'inKir, you tried, and apparently failed, to gain control of 'TWO' Starships, one has been destroyed, while the other is on its way to wipe your race from the Universe!" Lana said.
"The transmission, Captain... Now, if you please," the Xes'dnu said, apparently ignoring Lana's comment completely.
A full minute passed with no-one moving, finally, VeS'inKir made the request again, but Daniel remained motionless. The Xes'dnu signed with an air of inevitability, then nodded to the guard in the doorway. The man moved from view, returning seconds later with Kendal, he was gripping her hand so tightly Daniel could see her tears from the pain. Her eyes widened as she saw her parents and she tried in vain to pull away from her captor. The man grinned as he roughly pulled Kendal back to his side before he slowly drew a phaser from his belt with the other. Lana screamed for them to release her child but to no avail. VeS'inKir stood patiently waiting for silence, clearly trying to hide his shame at the turn of events, but likely knowing that they needed the Excalibur, at any cost.
Daniel looked from his sobbing daughter back to the Xes'dnu, knowing with every fibre of his being that he couldn't hate anyone more than he did at this moment, he rose and began to approach the door but a second guard moved to block his way.
"Daddddyyyyyy, make himmm le .... et me g'go, Dadddyyy," his daughter sobbed through heaving breaths.
"OK," Daniel said, unable to hold out.
"CAPTAIN!" Taka said.
"Its OK sweetheart, the man will let you go in a moment then you can come in here to Mummy, okay?..." he said quietly, seeing Kendal's sobs lessen but not stop. he turned to VeS'inKir, "... Let her go,"
"Call your ship," the Xes'dnu replied.
"I'm going to kill you I'm going to come back here and kill you VeS'inKir," Daniel said through clenched teeth, but their captor simply smiled then pointed at the table. The guard activated the equipment then placed a phaser against Schirra's temple. Daniel looked at his wife then at Kendal before turning back:
=^= Captain Daniel Scirra to USS Excalibur .. .. USS Excalibur .. .. Are you receiving? =^= there was a pause then a reply.
=^= Excalibur to Schirra .. Commander Unwin .. Captain .. Are you OK? .. .. We had to fight off a grou .. .. =^=
=^= Commander .. I am aware of your situation .. Are you en-route to our location =^=
=^= Yes Captain .. We have been trying to contact Starfleet but all communications barring this one are being blocked =^=
=^= Listen carefully Commander .. You are to hand back control of the Excalibur to the insurgents aboard immediately .. Is that understood? =^=
=^= Sir? =^= Mark Unwin replied.
=^= Return control to the Xes'dnu aboard .. Immediately =^= Daniel said, already knowing what was coming.
=^= Captain .. The insurgents were killed in a fire-fight after they destroyed the Juno .. Sir =^= the room remained totally silent, Daniel dared not look around at his daughter in case he witnessed the unthinkable. He closed his eyes for a moment trying to think as Unwin tried to continue the conversation but VeS'inKir reached forward and shut off the Comm.
"I'll make them bring the ship here!..." Schirra said quickly, "... Let her go to her mother, please," VeS'inkir thought for a moment then nodded, he instructed the guard to release the child, who ran into her mother's arms. Daniel was fighting hard to keep a semblance of composure as he turned to the Xes'dnu and waited as the comm was re-established. Schirra looked at his family for a long long moment before resignedly speaking to his ship:
-^= Excalibur .. Schirra =^=
=^= Captain .. We thought .. .. .. =^=
=^= Mark .. Time to arrival? =^=
=^= Three hours eighteen minutes .. Captain .. We tho .. .. =^=
=^= You are aware of the Primary planet this moon orbits? .. .. You will bring the Excalibur here at once .. Do not attempt to contact Starfleet or any other vessels .. On arrival you will carry out general order twenty-fo .. .. =^= VeS'inKir pushed him away from the communication equipment as one of the guards approached Lana and Kendal.
=^= General order twen .. .. .. =^= Daniel began but was dragged away by one of the guards. Yukigori jumped up and ran across the room.
=^= General order 'TWENTY-FOUR' Commander is that underst .. .. =^= the Security Officer fell silent as the butt of a rifle slammed into his temple. VeS'inKir shut off the coom then dragged Schirra to his feet shaking him roughly:
"What is this general order twenty-four you have given .... WHAT IS IT?!" he shouted in frustration as he threw Daniel to the floor, repeating the question as Schirra pulled himself over to Lana and Kendal. He hugged them both before trying to reach the unconscious Yukigori. Again VeS'inKir asked the question, and finally, he got his answer. His eyes widened as Schirra explained what he had ordered the Excalibur to do.
"You would not do this ... You're family, millions of innocent men, women, CHILDREN!"
"A moment ago you had no qualms about killing a seven-year-old child VeS'inKir..." Daniel said quietly, "... Now you can watch as your planet becomes a barren rock," he couldn't hear the screaming Xes'dnu as he hugged his family ..........
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Karka Psonoir
Commander
Registered: Apr 9, 2013 19:55:13 GMT
Posts: 422
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Post by Karka Psonoir on Oct 3, 2020 15:44:12 GMT
While VaS'inKir had been conversing fatefully with Schirra and his family and Yukigori, Karka, Koni and Cernan and his marines were bundled out of the room by Xes'dnu guards and taken to another chamber. Shortly after, more guards would enter to take away Schirra's daughter, but Psonoir and co were unaware of this.
They were pushed into the room, the current occupant - a Xes'dnu civilian - turned out amid barking protests, and fastened into recliners. After a while, after a brief round of questioning, more guards entered; Karka heard the voice of VaS'inKir ordering them to take Senior Marine Thamkon away. Confused, the marine captain followed after them, hands in binds, leaving Karka, Koni and Cernan on their chairs with the four marine junior officers in the other section of the quarters.
Cernan sighed, "I wonder what's happening to my ship. Lappisker, he'll have it in hand... He'll know what to do." Little did the Juno captain (or Karka for that matter) know that his vessel had now been destroyed by a device detonated by its Triangulum boarders. Cernan had been busy fighting the Residuum hijackers, had beamed down with his men, and had left a doomed vessel behind to be taken by the Triangulum and then destroyed by the same.
"I think... I think I've found a way to loosen these binds..." Psonoir flexed his wrists, the more-than-human strength in his limbs returning and allowing him to push against and untie the deceptively strong light fabric.
"Good. I think..." Koni fell silent as the door to the quarters retracted and admitted the person they recognised as VaS'inKir's number two, a couple guards and Captain Thamkon.
"Captain, Captain..." the number two, TaZhiss, addressed Cernan, "You've let yourself down today. Your crew, abandoned; your ship, lost."
"What are you talking about?" Cernan barked. TaZhiss explained, Cernan's visage turning a pale grey. Eventually the number two and the guards departed and only Thamkon remained, curiously remaining unbound. "What is it, Thamkon, what did they tell you?"
"They told me about how I'd been making a terrible error, Captain..." Thamkon walked, almost sauntered round the three reclined couches, "Do you remember on Rigel VII... You left my marines for dead. A quarter of our ship's detachment, sacrificed to save that village from the Tholians. Do you regret that, Captain Cernan, do you regret that still?"
"Of course I regret it." Cernan's head snapped round as much as it was able with the bond securing his cranium, his voice made it clear how fed up he was, "What are you saying, Thamkon? They've talked you into betraying the Federation by having you remember some distant, unavoidable event?"
"No, not quite... But how does 12,000 bars of gold-pressed latinum sound? That should be enough to turn anyone in their loyalties, right? I'll be depositing the funds tomorrow once I'm free of this wretched system, and your wretched command."
"You... scoundrel!" Cernan managed as he seemed to begin to hyperventilate.
As the Juno CO spoke, Karka finally released the bonds constraining him and leapt up from the couch, fly-kicking the betraying marine and putting him on the deck. He hurriedly untied Cernan and T'Seng and indicated to them the door - no one seemed to be other side, such was the Triangulum's confidence that they had them secure. They hurried to the other constrained marines first, but these were then vapourised by guards pouring in another door. Karka, Koni and Cernan rushed out the first door but found the other side now packed with Triangulum members; they hurried back in, through a hatchway leading to maintenance shafts and interstitial access ways.
On hands and knees, they clattered along the tunnel's metal grate floor, realising that the guards led by Thamkon and VaS'inKir's assistant TaZhiss were following. The marine captain took aim with his restored phaser and disintegrated Cernan, the CO's body contorting and mouth opening in a rictus of pain as the energy surged through him before he was vapourised.
Psonoir and T'Seng rushed onward, finding a ladder heading downward that was secured from the rest of the passage by a lockable hatch; they made it through and secured the hatch, taking a brief breather.
"You heard that?" T'Seng asked as they started onto the ladder. There was a deep rumble from somewhere within the sprawling moon resort; a terror-inducing shaking began and ceased almost instantaneously. Five seconds passed and it happened again; they didn't know it, but the Triangulum had started firing on the resort from a shielded weapons platform situated just above the planet's troposphere, VaS'inKir was betrayed by his fellow councillors who'd learnt of the Excalibur captain's communication with his ship about General Order 24.
The resort was rapidly being decimated, all within it would be killed, while VaS'inKir's four vessels were facing off with the Excalibur preventing it from approaching closer to the star system.
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Daniel Schirra
Captain
Registered: Apr 8, 2013 21:02:47 GMT
Posts: 468
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Post by Daniel Schirra on Oct 16, 2020 10:36:18 GMT
USS Excalibur ... Following retaking of the ship ::
Mark Unwin was sat in the centre seat, a Medic tending to the large gash on the right side of his head ..... Following the destruction of the USS Juno with the loss of all life aboard, the Xes'dnu who had taken the Excalibur had panicked, this had given what Unwin thought to be their best opportunity to wrest control back. He had managed to get word to his Staff in Engineering, and on cue, they had taken the two Xes'dnu, who had perished. On the Bridge, the three remaining must have realised what was about to happen and had shot one of the Bridge Officers. During the ensuing fire-fight, the three Xes'dnu had lost their lives .....
Now, the Excalibur was en-route back to the Gliese 641 Star System to hopefully retrieve their missing crew.
"I'm fine Crewman," Mark said, waving the Marine Medic away. He reached up to feel the now hardly bleeding wound but the Medic insisted he should be allowed to complete his task.
=^= Captain Daniel Scirra to USS Excalibur .. .. USS Excalibur .. .. Are you receiving? =^= there was a pause then a reply.
=^= Excalibur to Schirra .. Commander Unwin .. Captain .. Are you OK? .. .. We had to fight off a grou .. .. =^=
Daniel was distracted by the guard squeezing his daughters' arm, seemingly enjoying her crying. He made a decision and spoke to the man currently in Command of the ship... Aboard the Excalibur, Commander Unwin heard Shirra's partial order and was about to ask for confirmation when the Tactical Officer repeated the order in full. The Bridge was deathly silent as they heard what could have only been a blow to Yukigori's head before the Comm closed.
"Clear the Bridge," Unwin ordered quietly then waited as all non-essential personnel exited. He knew full well that the order would be spreading throughout the ship soon enough, so he spoke to the Senior Officers:
"If anyone has anything to say, now would be the time to do so....." he waited a long moment before continuing, "..... Helm, set course for the Gliese 641 Star System ..... Tactical, please begin modifications to twenty photon torpedoes to high yield antimatter release on atmospheric detonation. The remaining torpedoes will be used once the population has, once we have cleared the plane ..... NOW!," he almost bit his lip as he gave the order.
Two Hours Later ... Seventy-Eight minutes to Xes'dnu System ::
"Sir, I'm picking up four vessels on an intercept course with us," Sarah Wentworth informed Unwin from Tactical.
"Xes'dnu?"
"Yes Sir... Combined their weapons systems are comparable to ours,"
"Any way we could avoid them?" Mark asked, knowing the answer all too well.
"Only by turning away," the Operations Officer said.
"Bring phasers on-line, slow to full impulse, let's see if they mean business," Mark ordered, knowing he didn't have time for an all-out battle, he was about to change his mind when the four Xes'dnu vessels dropped out of warp one million kilometres away. They were spread out, making it practically impossible for the Excalibur to bypass on either side. In Mark's mind, he could imagine their orders: 'Stop the Federation ship at ALL costs!' and he would be doing the same, for what was two, maybe three thousand lives against the loss of millions!
"Why are they just sitting there?" Lieutenant Reneus asked rhetorically.
"They don't know about the order ....." Jenni Gold said from Comms, "..... They might have been sent when the Xes'dnu found out about the loss of the Juno, otherwise they would have been firing by now, surely,"
Mark could only wonder as to their actions, or lack thereof. He had an order to carry out, so needed to pass the Xes'dnu ships, one way, or another ..........
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Daniel Schirra
Captain
Registered: Apr 8, 2013 21:02:47 GMT
Posts: 468
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Post by Daniel Schirra on Oct 16, 2020 11:59:15 GMT
Daniel had been left alone with his wife and daughter for some time ..... He wasn't sure if Lana knew what 'General Order Twenty Four' was, but he had a distinct feeling that she knew their time was short, despite this, she concentrated her attention of their Seven-year-old, Kendal. Still unable to stop herself shaking, caused by the sadistic Xes'dnu guard, she had also needed to be helped to the bathroom by her Mother after an understandable accident. Part of Schira was almost happy that the guard and all Xes'dnu would soon meet their fate. he hadn't given the order on a whim, nor to get one back for their treatment of his family. He knew now what the Xesdnu were capable of, and he couldn't allow them to continue. They could feel the structure straining under bombardment but this only confused Schirra more, he frowned, trying to think: "How long?" Lana asked as she cradled a sleeping Kendal, but Daniel could only shake his head. Whoever was firing on the resort, it wasn't the Excalibur, they were still on their way Suddenly he heard something outside the door, somewhat surprised to see Karka Psonoir dive into the room followed by the others. "Are you OK?" he asked, Daniel nodded, rising to his feet half expecting the room to be filled with guards in the next few seconds. "Someone's coming," Koni whispered, moving to the side of the doorway hoping to get a jump on whoever appeared ..... VaS'inKir, the Trianguum Council Member shouted Schirra's name before he stepped into the open. He and two guards, thankfully not the one who had hurt Kendal, came into the room quickly: "I have spoken with several Council members along with representatives of the Raeiduum Resistance..." Ves'inKir said, clearly fearing for his life, "... We know the order you gave your vessel. We wish to come to an agreement with you as representative of your Federation: Both sides will stand down, the Council members and the leaders of the Resistance will hand themselves over to you immediately," he said, his eyes darting to the ceiling as a small section gave way before dropping to the carpeted floor ..... Do you accept our surrender, Captain?" "Who is firing on the resort?" Daniel asked calmly. "Who is ..... THAT is of no matter, we wer ....." the Trianuum Council member began, but Schirra interrupted him mid-sentence: "Who is firing on this facility?" VeS'inKir looked as if he were about to vomit as he eyed the guards then turned to the Federation Officers. "A, small, number of the Council, have decided to take control, they intend to rid us of the Residuum, then purge the Council of what they refer to as a 'cowardly element' not fit to rule. There are, several orbital platforms, normally used for defence, but as you can see, one has been tasked to destroy this resort. It is only the shielding that is protecting us, but that will fail very quickly under constant bombardment from the platform ..... Captain, you have very little time ..... If the Council gain control of the vessels I sent out to stop your ship, they will surely destroy it, and us!" "Why the sudden change of heart?" Schirra persisted. "When I returned to the Council Chamber to inform them of what you had ordered, there was immediate uproar... The Council was divided, firing ensued... Finally, they decided that if they were to perish, then they would have the satisfaction of watching you witness your daughters' beheading in the main square before being executed yourself. This decision finally swayed my uncertainty over our recent actions. Having spoken to the Residuum, we decided surrender was our only option if we wished to live. The Residuum attacked the Council Chamber while the men loyal only to me came here and killed the guards sent to take you to the square," "You would do such a thing, to a child?" Lana spat through clenched teeth. "Madam, please, believe me, there has not been a beheading for over a century. The Council wished to humiliate you as much as possible, and in their eyes, it seemed a fitting demise .... Now, Captain, you must contact your vessel, if the Council hasn't spoken to our vessels, they will do shortly. You must turn away from our System immediately," "..... And how do you propose we achieve that?" Karka asked, eyeing the guards. "All our platforms have long-range communications, we will transport you to one still inactive, from there you can speak to your ship," VeS'inKir said, almost sighing with relief. Daniel looked at the man for several moments, then instructed Karka and Taka to take the sidearms from the guards, they resisted until VeS' order them to comply. Schirra was shocked to discover that a transporter room was only meters away, not that they would have had anywhere to go if they had known, but it still irked him nonetheless .... They covered the crumbling corridor left and right as VeS'inKir used his Council access to activate the platform and set the coordinates. Everyone climbed onto the platform as one of the guards began firing, he shouted to them to go and Daniel's last vision of the man was him vaporising in the doorway as they dematerialised ..... The room was in complete darkness for a second, before sensors detected their presence. Quickly, Ves' activated the weapons platform and targeted the sister platform almost twenty thousand kilometres away, he then activated the communication console. The platform shook as it was hit by phaser-fire and they could hear their own weapons systems returning fire. VeS'inKir pulled Schirra across the room: "You must contact your vessel now Captain ... NOW!" Daniel looked at Karka, who nodded, then he looked at his wife and child. If their surrender was a hoax, the Xes'dnu were going to a hell of a lot of trouble to convince him, and for what, should it be a deception, the Excalibur would carry out his last order, so the Xes'dnu would perish either way ... Finally, he approached the console: =^= Schirra to Excalibur .. .. Schira to USS Excalibur .. .. =^= a moment passed then: =^= Excalibur .. Commander Unwin .. Captain? =^= =^= Commander .. Status =^= =^= We are currently facing off with four Xes'dnu vessels .. They appear to be waiting and have made no attempt to approach of fire on us =^= =^= That could be about to change Commander =^= =^= Oh?.. .. .. =^= The Excalibur's Chief engineer replied. =^= Commander .. I am placing a ninety-minute hold on my previous order .. Should you hear nothing from me prior to the time elapsing .. You will continue as ordered then return to federation space and report =^= =^= You wish a ninety-minute delay to carrying out your order .. Is that correct Captain? =^= There was a long silence, undoubtedly due to Mark Unwin using everything at his disposal to verify that the man speaking was, in fact, Captain Daniel Schirra, and not someone, or something, else, the Comm sprang to life once more: =^= Captain .. Please repeat your order .. For identification conformation =^= =^= Commander Unwin .. I am placing a ninety-minute hold on my previous order .. If you hear nothing from me before the time elapses .. You will continue as ordered then return to federation space and report =^= There was another delay, then Unwin spoke again: =^= 'Violence is the last...'.. .. .. =^= VeS'inKir almost screamed with impatience as he glared at Schirra. Daniel glanced at Karka, the only other person on the Excalibur to understand the significance of Unwin's comment. Finally, the Exec nodded. =^= 'Violence is the last...' .. .. .. Captain .. I remind you .. Failure to supply the correct response will immediately terminate this communication .. .. =^= =^= 'Refuge of the incompitant...' =^= Daniel replied. =^= Thank you .. Captain .. We will move to the edge of the System and await your next communication .. Excalibur .. Out =^= the comm closed and Schirra turned to the Trianguum Council Member: "You have ninety minutes to get us away from here..." Daniel said with an outward calmness he wasn't feeling inside as the platform shook violently once again, "... Ninety minutes," ..........
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Karka Psonoir
Commander
Registered: Apr 9, 2013 19:55:13 GMT
Posts: 422
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Post by Karka Psonoir on Oct 22, 2020 15:43:40 GMT
Karka had run through the corridors of the Bacheun Suite with Schirra and VaS'inKir's security, ducking falling sections of wall and ceiling as the resort began to buckle under the bombardment of the tropospheric orbital platform. They reached the transporter room adjacent to the large room Karka had managed to return to with T'Seng, and soon realised the whole resort may soon collapse. "Hurry," he nodded to a guard, who ran back and brought T'Seng, Yukigori and Schirra's wife and child with him; T'Seng had already realised the urgency, rushing past the man to climb onto the platform - they dematerialised...
"There it goes," Karka said, gazing up through one of the dark portals of the orbital weapons station at the moon. He saw there a small string of explosions, the resort on the tidally-locked satellite's near-side crumpling and disintegrating under the bombardment.
"You have ninety minutes to get us away from here..." Daniel said with an outward calmness he wasn't feeling inside as the platform shook violently from the other platform's attack once again, "... Ninety minutes,"
Karka glanced at VaS'inKir, who waved his arms, "If only it were that simple, Captain. Do you expect to waltz out of the system that easily? Whatever craft I can commandeer for you - and there is one, a small vessel about the size of a Starfleet shuttlecraft - we'll have to dodge Triangulum detector arrays and patrol craft throughout the system."
"It's even worse than you think, VaS'inKir," Psonoir interrupted, "Your four craft are in the system, too, and blocking the Excalibur's route into the inner system and your home planet."
"For you, you mean," VaS'inKir retorted, "Worse for you."
Karka conceded this, though it was preferable to think of it as being better for the Xes'dnu: if the Excalibur couldn't get through the four-ship blockade, it didn't matter how many minutes Schirra had given Unwin until the CO could make his escape, there was no way the Fed vessel could carry out General Order 24.
T'Seng sighed as she finished seeing to Lana and Kendal; she approached the CO, XO and the forsaken Triangulum councillor, wiping her brow, "Right, you said you had a ship you could get us to?"
VaS'inKir nodded, "We must try, regardless of the difficulty." He pointed the way to the one habitable level beneath this one - a small escort ship waited, a craft normally used for maintenance of the platform. Just as they descended the lowering duranium walkway, Karka heard a console beeping; he looked over his shoulder - the Triangulum must've issued new orders to the quartet defending against the Excal's approach, as sensors showed those four ships had opened fire on her. He calculated the possibilities, the Excalibur would have to pass those ships and at least attain high planetary orbit to execute GO 24, in about 85 minutes, if it was needed.
<Tag Excalibur>
They found their way through the two short passages and approached the airlock that would lead the seven of them (VaS'inKir included) into the escort craft. With his sensitive hearing, Psonoir heard a distant rumble, an atmosphere-assisted sound shockwave that otherwise would've been neutralised by vacuum. VaS'inKir noticed his reaction, "This station must've destroyed the other weapons platform, Commander. Aboard, now!" he barked frantically as the inner airlock door slid aside. Karka glowered briefly and ducked through the access-way.
Meanwhile, TaZhiss and the Juno's Senior Marine, Thamkon, finally scraped their way to orbit aboard a Xes'dnu Army assault craft, escaping the wreck of the moon resort. They scanned the vicinity of the planet beneath them, zeroing in on the destination of VaS'inKir's beam-out. They set a course of pursuit of VaS'inKir and the Starfleet officers' ship escaping from the weapons platform.
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Daniel Schirra
Captain
Registered: Apr 8, 2013 21:02:47 GMT
Posts: 468
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Post by Daniel Schirra on Oct 25, 2020 12:17:53 GMT
USS Excalibur ... The outer edge of Gliese 641 Star System :: Following the confirmation from Captain Schirra, Mark Unwin, currently in command of the Excalibur, turned the ship away before heading for their new waiting point, alas, the four Xes'dnu vessels followed them! ..... "Come about then come to a complete stop. Let's see what their intentions are..." The Excalibur made a lazy turn to Port until it was once again aiming back into the system and the Xes'dnu Homeworld, "... Bring phasers and photon torpedoes online, o point in giving them a free go at us," Unwin ordered. They sat watching the viewscreen as the four Xes'dnu vessels approached, each putting distance between itself and its neighbour, adopting a classic attack posture. Mark waited, he wasn't going to be the first to open fire, but he would damn-well respond if the oncoming vessels attacked! ..... For five minutes they appeared to be in a 'Mexican Standoff' scenario, neither side wishing to make the first move, then the first ship fired, the bolt from its phasers slamming into the Excaliburs' shields, shaking the ship momentarily. Mark shook his head, having hoped they would return into the system without conflict: "Lock onto that ships drive systems and fire," he ordered. The Excalibur returned fire just as the other three released their first torpedoes. The ship hit began to roll as the direct hit took out their power and inertial dampeners. Mark resisted the urge to cheer as the ship was hit numerous times in succession. Port shields were struggling at less than sixty percent so he ordered the ship turn to present her starboard side to the closest of the Xes'dnu vessels. He ordered Tactical to open fire on the three remaining attackers, moving the ship away trying to coax one or more to follow. Two, then three Xes'dnu began the chase, it was all Unwin needed .... "Come about one eighty degrees, fire all weapons!" The Excalibur rotated while still moving forward simultaneously firing all phasers and a full volley of torpedoes ..... It was clear the Xes'dnu didn't expect the attack as all three suffered damage before breaking formation in an attempt to surround the Excalibur, but the Federation Officers were in no mood to be captured. Again they fired, photon torpedoes slamming into two of the three Xes'dnu while phaser-fire racked the third. It was clear they were inexperienced and Mark was confident he could disable or destroy all three without suffering too much damage. Once again the Xes'dnu broke from their attack, seemingly moving away, but Mark wasn't taken in, he knew what was coming and readied the weapons ..... The two lesser damaged vessels turned, coming at the Excalibur head-on! For a brief moment, Mark was almost convinced they were on a suicide run, but at the last minute, they separated, firing on the Excalibur as they passed Port and Starboard. The ship shook under the onslaught, people lost their footing and were thrown to the deck. Lighting flickered, forcing emergency lighting to activate on the Bridge. It was then Mark realised he had lost sight of the third Xes'dnu vessel ..... He ordered tactical view and realised what they had in mind! "HARD TO PORT!" he ordered as the third ship, having dropped well below the Excalibur, had turned and was coming at them from below. The Excalibur rolled over as the thrusters pushed the ship hard over, phaser-fire smashed into the underside of the engineering section and into the Saucer as the Xes'dnu attempted to disable the Federation vessel. A second later they gasped as the Xes'dnu vessel climbed past the Saucer with meters to spare! ..... Mark realised how lucky they had been, had he given the order a fraction of a second later, the Xes'dnu would have torn through the saucer section of the Excalibur! Still turning away, he ordered all weapons open fire on the three attackers. He had hoped to incapacitate them, but now it was clear they were intent on destroying the Excalibur. He needed to act before that could happen. The ship intent on colliding with them was now turning to attack, the Excalibur fired a volley of photon torpedoes, the first two destroyed their shields, the second group slammed into the unprotected hull which exploded in spectacular fashion. He quickly turned his attention to the remaining two: Both had regrouped and were heading back into the fray, which suited Unwin down to the proverbial ground. "Lock torpedoes on both and fire!" he ordered. Eight photon torpedoes lanced from the Excalibur - Four heading to rach of the oncoming Xes'dnu ships. All four hit their targets and Unwin ordered phasers to fire. The ships couldn't withstand the onslaught and the first exploded as the phasers cut into it, the second again tried to turn away, but this time Unwin wasn't going to let it crawl away to recover... Turning he followed the crippled Xes'dun vessel until it lost what remaining power it had to fight. "Sir, they are trying to call for help," the Comms Officer informed him. "Sir?" Lieutenant Gold repeated when Unwin didn't answer as he watched the damaged ship began a slow tumble end over end. "Tactical, do they have life support?" he asked. "Yes, Sir," the Duty Tactical Officer confirmed. "What about internal gravity?" "Hard to tell, but I think so," the man replied. "OK... Cancel 'Red Alert' and take us back to our original waiting point," he ordered. The Bridge was silent as the Excalibur turned away from the crippled Xes'dnu vessel. Mark looked at the chronometer above the 'Window' ..... The battle had taken all of eleven minutes from start to finish ....... Orbital Weapons Platform :: The group had climbed down unhindered and were approaching the small craft: "Is this thing even warp-capable?" T'Seng asked. "It is not..." Ves'inKir replied reluctantly, "... But given your Mister Psonoir just informed us, the other platform has been destroyed, I fear the Trianguum will concentrate any weaponry available on this facility, I believe moving away from here, at whatever velocity, would be preferable to our remaining, would it not?" the man finished with a look of an adult chastising their child. Koni took a few steps forward until she was less than a meter from the Xes'dnu: "Given your somewhat 'precarious' position in our little band, I would be wary of annoying any of us. Is that understood?" she whispered dangerously. Daniel could only shrug as the Xes'dnu looked to him for the support. They clambered into the escort craft, the rear lock closing behind them. Schirra pushed Ves'inKir into the right seat as Karka took the left. The Xes'dnu was told to cooperate or face the consequences ..... After a brief recap of controls, the craft lifted off the deck, holding a meter away from the bay doors. VeS' tapped a code into the console and the door began to slide downwards giving them a view of space beyond. Without waiting Karka nudged the small escort craft forward and out of the weapons platform. Once clear VeS'inKir needlessly closed the bay door, turning away as the Excalibur Officer eyed him. "OK... Where to?" Karka asked. "The second Moon has facilities where we can dock and make arrangements to get help," the Xes'dnu said quietly. From just behind him, Koni frowned. "What sort of, facilities?" she asked. "It is unlikely we will make the transit undiscovered, be wary of our being scanned," VeS'inKir said rather than reply to the Excaliburs' Tactical Officer .... Unbeknownst to them, TaZhiss and the Juno's Senior Marine, Thamkon had survived and were climbing into space already having located the fleeing Trianguum defector and the Federation Officers!, but they had also witnessed the battle between the Xes'dnu vessels and the Excalibur, making it more imperative that the small escort craft and its occupants be destroyed before the Federation vessel could come to their rescue! ..........
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Karka Psonoir
Commander
Registered: Apr 9, 2013 19:55:13 GMT
Posts: 422
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Post by Karka Psonoir on Oct 25, 2020 14:43:36 GMT
The craft shot towards the second moon situated about a third of the way round the homeworld's orbit, thankfully not having to cross any of the zones of major recon activity, listening posts and the like, though VaS'inKir still thought they'd been detected. Hopefully though the authorities would believe it was just a standard maintenance run, and didn't know the Starfleet officers they searched for were aboard.
Karka was at the controls of the escort, surveying the central news reports from the Xes'dnu state: apparently the forces of the rump of the Triangulum Council were advancing on Residuum positions, where those latter had dug in since their cells were brought into the open. With the Residuum were many of VaS'inKir's Triangulum loyalists, now treated the same as the rebels. Some of the Residuum leaders had already been defeated, taken into custody at rural estates from which it was unlikely they'd be able to return to lead their bands of malcontents.
"What will we find at these facilities?" Karka asked, and as before, in reply to T'Seng, VaS'inKir gave an oblique answer.
The Xes'dnu directed their attention to Schirra's countdown, "My people can't afford for you to be distracted. The sooner we get ourselves to work in preparation for arrival, the less time we will waste. Deuterium fuel is low, one thing we can do is top up."
They came into land, very much on guard from both VaS'inKir and what they were dropping themselves into. Karka raised the craft's rudimentary shields; they drew sidearms as they landed, one phaser pointed at VaS'inKir, the rest at the craft's aft hatch which would soon be lowering. The CO made sure wife and daughter were ensconced away in another compartment, until the group were sure what was outside the craft.
The ship was opened and they saw a group of Xes'dnu standing in the middle of the bay. Their leader came over, "VaS'inKir! Ah, VaS'inKir, I was afraid you'd been killed." Karka lowered the ship's shields hesitantly. The unnamed Xes'dnu shook the former councillor's hand warmly and beckoned the Starfleeters down the ramp. "Please, another ship - warp-capable - is waiting. We scanned you as you came in, we know your situation."
As VaS'inKir's apparent friend led them from the bay into a wide passage, the structure came under attack. TaZhiss had redirected his assault craft to the second moon, tracking VaS'inKir, and now opened fire in a strafing run on the facility. Karka froze and doubled back - the bay the unnamed Xes'dnu had been leading them towards disappeared in a sudden storm of smoke and flame.
Psonoir was sent careening by the shockwave of the impact. All the world spun, he stood and spun it faster. Dizzied, he found himself looking further down the passage. Over the roar of the flames, the blaring of claxons and the gale of depressurising compartments, Karka could hear voices.
"Trust me! Trust me!" the unnamed Xes'dnu was screaming at T'Seng and Yukigori who looked at him dubiously; the Xes'dnu was pointing down another passage, "We haven't, and wouldn't, intentionally endanger you, or Captain Schirra's family. We know that to do so would mean the destruction of our homeworld by your own vessel. Now, please -"
Loping semi-consciously to his left, Karka located VaS'inKir and Schirra, the former bloodied, the latter seeming only dazed. Managing to dispel the effects of his concussion, Karka nodded to them and looked towards the bay from which they'd come. Several tons of debris completely blocked the entrance.
VaS'inKir used a wall-panel, "The inside of the bay is intact. I think there's another way in." They knew full well Schirra's wife and daughter were still in the escort craft; perhaps the Xes'dnu attackers didn't.
Karka could hear faintly overhead - propagated through the moon's tenuous atmosphere - the screeching of the ship of their attacker, the assault craft with TaZhiss and Thamkon aboard. It was making another pass; its directed energy weapons pierced the facility yet again, devastating another part of it, before it faded off Doppler-like and came round yet again.
"Follow my associate," VaS'inKir directed; he'd suffered from the second attack, his leg now broken.
"We only have forty minutes until GO 24," Karka said aimlessly, as the rest of the group continued picking themselves up at various points down the passage.
VaS'inKir nodded, "If you can get the ship refuelled, you could make it to the outer system in thirty. I advise you have the Excalibur begin moving towards you to shorten the time."
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Daniel Schirra
Captain
Registered: Apr 8, 2013 21:02:47 GMT
Posts: 468
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Post by Daniel Schirra on Nov 3, 2020 13:26:45 GMT
Second Moon: They had almost reached the hanger containing the warp-capable vessel when the entrance disintegrated in a shower of rubble and metal ..... Daniel climbed gingerly to his feet, feeling all the while he would pass out in seconds, he could see Vas'inKir, his leg clearly broken, jutting out from a section of the wall at a disturbing angle. Schirra could hear urgent voices, but the concussion caused by the explosion had almost deafened him. He could see through the settling dust, Karka, Yukigori, and Koni T'Seng as they helped him to his feet, Karka and Taka lifted then dragged the masonry off VeS'inKir, the semiconscious Xes'dnu screaming in pain. "That's not good," Yukigori said as he eyed the almost severed leg. "You must leave me, there is ano .... th, entrance, the ship may still be intact, my associate will help you," VeS'inKir said, reaching up to access a panel set in the wall, his leg hanging like some already dead appendage. "Taka, bind that as best you can, we'll carry him..." Daniel said, "... I'm going for my family, I'll meet you at the other entrance," he began to turn but Koni grasped his arm: "I'll go with you, Captain," she said, making it clear it wasn't a request to accompany him but a statement of fact. Nodding, they set out at a run, Daniel having to steady himself every few steps. ~~~~~ At the escort craft, Daniel opened the panel, behind which he had secreted his wife and daughter, Kendal jumped into his arms, Lana hugging him to her tightly. "We need to go, Captain," the Xes'dnu helping them pointed out nervously. Nodding, Daniel headed for the door, Kendal still in his arms, he was still feeling the effects of the earlier blast but didn't want to put her down in case she panicked. They raced through several corridors, once running headlong into several Xes'dnu, Koni was already raising her phaser when the group turned down another corridor and out of sight, clearing their path without a word, they clearly valued their own lives over the capture of the Federation Officers ..... Ten minutes of running and Daniel couldn't hold onto Kendal any longer, he had noticed blood on his sleeve, believing it to be from the injured Ves'inKir, but now his arm was numb and dizziness was returning. Koni took Kendal, handing her to Lana before turning back to Schirra, she took his hand, raising it slightly before wincing: "There's a small bar beneath your armpit Captain..." she said, eyeing the metal, "... Sir, I can't risk pulling it out, we have no way of knowing if it has ruptured a vital artery," "I'll manage, you can get a better look when we're off this Moon," Schirra said, forcing a smile to reassure his wife and daughter. They continued on, Kendal now able to run while grasping her mothers' hand tightly as the structure was hit again and again ..... Finally, they rounded a corner to see Taka Yukigori and the crippled Xes'dnu outside a set of doors. "Captain, our friend here isn't going to last long, he's lost a 'lot of blood," the Security Chief whispered. "There is no need for secrecy, I know my fate only too well," VeS'inKir said as if his mouth were filled with fluid. "Is the ship through there?" Daniel asked as he knelt beside the injured Xes'dnu, VeS'inKir could only nod as he spat blood before pointing to a small panel. Taka and Koni readied their phasers as Yukigori reached ut to activate the panel ..... The doors slid silently aside revealing a large hanger-like area, three ships were inside, one had clearly suffered from falling masonry and was unsalvagable, Ves' indicated the one over to their right, then pointed towards the fueling equipment. Quickly checking the hanger, the Xes'dnu Aide lifted VeS'inKir, his bound leg hanging limp, almost lifeless due to the loss of blood, then carried him to the ship. Koni ran to the open airlock, climbing aboard the ship and disappearing out of sight as Schirra moved his family close then beneath the extended walkway. "Connect to the external port, Deuterium fueling should begin automatically..." VeS'inKir said, seeing Schirra eyeing him, "... This vessel, it matters not, just fuel and we can depart," Taka did as instructed and the refuelling began, it took only moments then he detached the umbilicus. With one final look, Schirra ordered everyone aboard. Taka quickly found a small medical bay, instructing the Aide to lower Ves' onto the bed. Daniel had been heading for the Bridge when he met Koni coming the other way down the corridor. "The ship is deserted Captain, we should have no trouble getting off the ground," "OK, let's go before we're bombarded into rubble..." Schirra ordered, but both Lana and Koni took hold of him, Koni insisted he go to the medical bay where she could scan his injury, and hopefully, remove the fragment of metal bar from under his arm, "... SIR, Yuki can prep' the ship, I need to make sure you're not going to die on us if that's alright?" "Please Daniel," Lana whispered, as she tightened her grip on his arm a fraction, Schirra nodded, allowing T'Seng to lead him back along the corridor, Lana and Kendal close behind ..........
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Karka Psonoir
Commander
Registered: Apr 9, 2013 19:55:13 GMT
Posts: 422
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Post by Karka Psonoir on Nov 6, 2020 14:25:17 GMT
Karka had found his way to the bridge of the small vessel, or what passed for a bridge, it being little larger than a particularly spacious cupboard. There was just enough room for four people - a central seat, forward helm and two aft-facing panels for standing personnel. With the CO in the medical bay below, Karka took control with Yukigori at the aft section, VaS'inKir's aide - returned from the medbay - taking the helm. "Plotting a course for the vicinity of your starship... there," the aide said. "Now, powering vertical take-off thrusters."
"Is there some way we can signal the Excalibur to move closer?" Psonoir asked as the small ship began rising out of the burning hangar, making for orbit.
"Negative, sir, unless we want it detected," Yukigori said, surveying controls. "It would reveal our location. I'd say the Excal will move towards us anyway once we enter a certain range."
Karka acknowledged as he learnt that a ship - likely the same that'd attacked the station below - was pursuing them. The Starfleeters' craft edged its way into orbit of the moon, now preparing to fire the rudimentary impulse engines to push its way clear of the body's gravity well, prior to making a low warp jump (all it was capable of being warp 3.5) out to the Excal's vicinity. He would try to see to their escape to find that speck of a starship in infinite vacuum, not for himself but for the crew.
Their pursuer came diving in behind them, their transport craft much more agile, and began attempting to fix weapons. "They're hailing," VaS'inKir's associate called from the helm. Karka nodded, "On screen," and turned to the small viewer to his left. There on the similarly cramped bridge (though it was of different layout) of the Army transport were TaZhiss - VaS'inKir's lieutenant and now presumable enemy - and Thamkon, the Juno's marine, who'd pursued Karka, Koni and Juno CO Cernan.
"Well, you are alive," the marine recognised Karka, "I was wondering who we'd been chasing. A mystery, except TaZhiss here informed me VaS'inKir was amongst you. I assume he's gone?"
Karka said nothing at first, before realising it may be wise to buy some time, distract the Army transport's crew as long as possible, hopefully to prevent them gaining a beam-weapon lock. "That's correct - VaS'inKir was killed on the surface of the second moon base," he lied, "I assume thanks to you." Either way, it was likely VaS'inKir in the medbay below would not survive. Hopefully though, this would help their pursuer lose interest.
"Well, that's most excellent," TaZhiss murmured, taking inordinate pleasure in the supposed news.
"Senior Marine Thamkon... You've deeply disgraced yourself, with respect to your uniform, to the Federation, and to..." Karka rambled on indignantly and cast a glance at Yukigori, then the helm, silently asking for the time 'til they were able to jump to warp 3.5.
"Just over two minutes. Keep them talking," the aide signalled quietly.
Karka searched for an intercom, "Medbay, this is the... 'bridge'. Koni, are you there? Is Captain Schirra ready to return? We've made contact with the attackers of the second moon. They are chasing."
He returned attention to the viewer showing TaZhiss and Thamkon, the latter having declined to answer Karka's challenge, merely smirking, he and TaZhiss were breaking into laughter. "What's amusing? How goes the battle on the home planet?" Karka asked, using up more time. One day, he knew, the Xes'dnu would join the Federation, but it wouldn't be this day.
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Daniel Schirra
Captain
Registered: Apr 8, 2013 21:02:47 GMT
Posts: 468
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Post by Daniel Schirra on Nov 14, 2020 16:39:49 GMT
Daniel silently stewed as Koni tended to his injury ... He almost jumped off the treatment bed when the Comm came from Karka: =^= Medbay .. This is the .. 'Bridge' .. Koni, are you there? .. .. Is Captain Schirra ready to return? .. We've made contact with the attackers of the second moon .. They are chasing =^= =^= I'm on my way =^= Schirra said, already swinging his legs off the bed. =^= He'll be there in 'FIVE' minutes Commander .. Unless he wants to bleed to death before he reaches you! =^= Koni closed the Comm' and glared at her Commanding Officer, he, in turn, resigned himself to receive the treatment he needed with no further argument. Three minutes later the Tactical Officer stood back, feigning self-criticism of her work. Daniel jumped off the bed, this time with no argument from Koni and both headed for'ard. ~~~~~ "How long before we can jump to warp?" Schirra asked without preamble. "Doing so now," Psonoir said, nodding to the Aide to comply ..... The small craft leapt away, leaving their pursuers behind, at least for the moment. Schirra knew it wouldn't take them long to get a fix on their heading and come after them. Unfortunately, he had only just finished the thought when they were hit astern! "What the hell!" Psonoir exclaimed as his head made contact with the control panel. "They must have fired before we went to warp, the torpedo must have got caught in our warp field," the Aide said unconvincingly. "They are in a Military vessel, can they fire at warp?!..." Schirra asked, but both VaS'inKir and his Aide remained silent blank expressions on their faces, "... WELL!" "No ..... At least, not that we are aware of," the Aide replied after seemingly receiving unspoken permission from his employer as their ship pitched forward, rolling to Starboard. The sudden movement strained the inertial dampers and Daniel heard his daughter vomiting to the rear. "Whatever they did, it destabilised the warp field, we're dropping to sunlight!" Karka informed them as the Aide tried to level the craft. Ten thousand metres behind them, the chasing ship dropped from warp. "Evasive..." Schirra ordered, but the Aide turned to him as if he'd just been asked to dance a jig on the head of a pin! "... NOW MISTER," Galvanised into action, the Aide did the best he could, but it was clear the pursuing ship was toying with them as it moved around them easily, locking weapons before moving back, closing the distance before locking on once more. Daniel looked back at his family, Kendal was smothered in her mothers' arms, he wanted to comfort them but had to ensure their escape first. 'There would be time later' he thought. "Can we get warp drive back online?..." he asked, both his Exec' and the Aide replying 'negative' "...... OK, prepare to dump the core, Karka, can you lock onto it the moment it leaves?" "I can," the Aide said. "Let them get in behind us again, dump the core on my mark ....." Schirra said, watching one of the small screens to pick the right moment. "Ready," Karka confirmed. "..... Eject the core ..... Now!..." Schirra said, feeling the 'thud' as the matter/antimatter pile left the small ship, "... Fire," A beam of almost pure energy lanced from the small craft, Daniel could see that their pursuer had realised what was happening and had begun to turn away, but the phaser fire slammed into the core a fraction of a second before TaZhiss and Thamkon could react. The chasing craft was hit by almost the full force of the explosion and was flung off to Port, tumbling end over end. "Sir, their lift support is out, as is their drive systems, they're dead in space," "That's their problem!..." Schirra said defiantly, "... Come to our previous heading and engage at maximum velocity," "My Lord, if we come about we can reach our Homeworld within a week," the Aide notified VeS'inKir. "We're not going back," Schirra said quietly. "So where 'ARE' we going, may I ask?" the former Trianguum Council Member asked. "We're going to the Excalibur," "And how do you propose we achieve that?" "We are heading their way, they will find us," Daniel said, leaving everyone to their inner thoughts as he went back and took his daughter from Lana's arms. He sat beside them feeling Kendal's sobs on his chest ..........
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Karka Psonoir
Commander
Registered: Apr 9, 2013 19:55:13 GMT
Posts: 422
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Post by Karka Psonoir on Nov 30, 2020 22:10:29 GMT
Chief Engineer's log, stardate 2406.1130. Captain Schirra, Commander Psonoir and Lieutenant Yukigori remain off the ship. It is my belief they are no longer on the orbital weapons platform over the Xes'dnu homeworld, and are endeavouring to head towards us... I wish they would hurry, as they are putting me in an impossible position. What should be easy has proven difficult...
20 minutes have gone by since the end of Captain Schirra's countdown. 20 minutes ago I should have taken the Excalibur towards orbit of the homeworld and executed General Order 24, the complete annihiliation of all life on the surface of a world.
Such a terrible action wouldn't have been contemplated let alone ordered unless for very good reason, and here am I... thus far refraining from carrying it out. How much longer can I put off my duty, in the hope that the away team, Captain Schirra's family and our tactical officer remain out there somewhere, making for our location, rendering unnecessary our ultimate and fateful arbitration?
The bridge staff continue to search for any sign of the away team, and I continue to hope that I shan't put myself in the position of destroying the Xes'dnu homeworld's ability to support life, that I shan't give the order to fire torpedoes at the surface until our arsenal is virtually exhausted. I don't know how much longer I can hold out...
Adrift warp-capable transport
"Auxiliary power is failing, Commander," Yukigori reported, "We're going to have to transfer what remains of it to the batteries and run life support and other basic functions off them. Impulse engines, internal and running lights, communications, weapons and shields, external sensors - all are going to have to go offline with the loss of main power.
"If it's absolutely necessary, then go ahead," Karka replied, turning to Schirra who sat in the passenger couches with his wife and daughter (just off the bridge to port and aft). The CO had heard the exchange and signalled his assent to the measure. Karka nodded grimly and returned to forward as the lighting went out and weak magenta lighting (Xes'dnu for emergency, he assumed) winked on. "We still have environmental systems, internal sensors and structural integrity field, confirm?" he asked.
"Confirmed," T'Seng said from the second aft wall-console.
Karka settled back as their mostly inert ship drifted sightlessly through vacuum, at least still heading roughly towards the Excal's last known coordinates.
Hopefully the Constitution class would've detected the warp core explosion and would head here before any Triangulum ships did. Perhaps the Residuum would've detected it, too, and Psonoir found himself wondering vaguely whether that latter group of rebels would want to try to help them, considering the Triangulum disaffectee VaS'inKir was on board.
"Comms went offline with main power," he said suddenly, "Can we power them up just for a moment on the batteries - even if it drains very rapidly all other systems we have remaining - to send a message to the Excalibur?"
Yukigori nodded, "Jamming is still in effect, but we can try. Ah, hold on, just before external short-range sensors went offline, they detected movement from the Excalibur. I believe the ship's heading towards the Xes'dnu homeworld."
Karka exchanged a look of worry with Yukigori, as Schirra returned to the small bridge from the couches. Clearly the Excalibur was, somewhat belatedly, heading to the Xes'dnu planet to carry out General Order 24 as per the CO's order, the away team having not returned. "Ok. Now comms are essential," Schirra said.
"We have about 72 hours of life support remaining on batteries. With comms usage over say, 30 seconds, that will take us down to about 4 hours of remaining life support," Psonoir said, doing the mental arithmetic. Schirra took a moment before saying they'd best proceed. Karka nodded, "Agreed, Captain."
"Bringing comms online now and attempting to hail the Excalibur. Let's hope we can get through the Triangulum's jamming signal, and before the torpedoes fly," Yukigori said. They would've asked VaS'inKir or his aide how to break the jamming, but it was known the new Triangulum authorities had already changed their frequencies to prevent VaS'inKir from making use of his knowledge.
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Daniel Schirra
Captain
Registered: Apr 8, 2013 21:02:47 GMT
Posts: 468
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Post by Daniel Schirra on Dec 1, 2020 0:35:44 GMT
"..... Daniel ..... Are we going to be alright?" Lana whispered over the sleeping Kendal, still held in Schirra's arms. Daniel nodded, he was about to reassure her when he received an update on their situation. He lowered his daughter to the couch and joined the others in the small Bridge area:
"Make it quick Karka," he said, then waited while his Exec' identified himself then gave out rough coordinates before closing the Comms down.
"Six hours fourteen minutes power remaining," Yukigori confirmed with a sigh. Daniel looked back at his wife and daughter, silently hoping that the Excalibur had picked up the all too brief transmission. USS Excalibur ... Edge of Gliese 641 Star System ::No one spoke as they watched Mark Unwin pacing the Bridge ..... Everyone knew the order Schirra had issued, and each of them couldn't begin to imagine the thoughts going through the Chief Engineers mind as he inwardly wrestled with orders, conscience, duty, and undoubtedly a myriad of other emotions. "Anything?..." Unwin asked for what seemed the thousandth time in the last fifteen minutes. Jenni Gold could only shake her head. Finally, Unwin had to make a decision, "... Helm, set course for the Xes'dnu Homeworld, full impulse," "Sir?" Lieutenant Reneus queried. "Full impulse please John," Unwin repeated in almost a whisper. "Aye, Sir," the Navigation Officer confirmed. Everyone on the Bridge watched the stars as the ship turned before moving forward. Mark looked at the chronometer above the 'window' realising he was already over an hour behind the time he was given to carry out his orders. No doubt there would be a Courts Martial' at the end of this mission, but he needed time, time to hopefully locate his Senior Officers and have this burden lifted off his shoulders. "Sir, you realise that it will tak ......" Reneus began, but Mark interrupted: "I'm well aware Lieutenant, thank you," so for two hours the Bridge remained completely silent, no one wishing to risk saying the wrong thing. "SIR!..." Gold said suddenly from Comms, "... "For a second I ....." "What Lieutenant?" Mark asked, trying not to leap out of the centre seat. "For a second I thought I picked up a transmission, very faint, it only lasted twenty-one seconds... I'm trying to clean it up..." Jenni Gold said, feverishly working at her console, ".... SIR, I'm almost positive it was Commander Psonoir, he gave a set of coordinates, but the transmission broke up before he could complete it. I've tried replying but they are not receiving," "Helm! ..... Alter course to intercept the transmission, warp four!" Unwin said, inwardly breathing a sigh of relief. "Sir, at that speed we could fly right pat whoever sent that transmission," Lieutenant Gold warned. "Understood ..... Tactical, alight all sensors ahead, I want the location of that transmission," Mark sat down, closing his eyes for a long moment as the Excalibur jumped to warp. He couldn't look at the chronometer, didn't want to know how many long minutes were passing as they tried to locate the proverbial 'needle-in-a-haystack' before the Xes'dnu sent more ships out to intercept them. Finally, the Tactical Officer spoke: "Sir, I think I have them," "Come to full impulse!" Unwin ordered. "Sir, it's a small craft, adrift, no power signature, I'm not picking up any life support," "Lifesigns?!" "Eight, all weak, one critical. Commander, one is a child," the Tactical Officer replied. "Bring us around behind them. Match course and speed, hold us at five hundred meters..." he tapped a Comm on the arm of his seat, "... Transporter room, stand by to ......" "Commander, I wouldn't advise transporting any of them, in their condition, there's no telling what effect it could have," Doctor Wundt warned. Unwin thought for a second then stood: "Lieutenant Reneus, I'll take it from here..." he stood waiting for the Chief Navigation Office to vacate his seat, then sat at the Helm, after a moment he looked up at the bemused Officer, "... No reflection on your abilities John, but if this goes wrong I don't want it on anyone else's conscience, OK ... Ops, Tactical view Aft," Unwin ordered. He increased their speed to pass the small craft, then moved into position one thousand metres directly ahead. Superimposed on the 'window' he could see a representation of the Aft section of the Excalibur, along with the small craft, now intermittently flashing. Very slowly, using for'ard thrusters only, he decreased the Excalibur's forward velocity. Instantly the small craft astern began to close the distance between them. He was more than aware that should this go disastrously wrong, he could kill those aboard the smaller craft, worst case, he could destroy the Excalibur herself! ... The Duty Tactical Officer was calling out the distance as it grew ever smaller, Unwin ordered the Shuttle-bay doors opened, then asked for the Aft view. Now, he was seeing the small craft as it grew closer and closer to the Excalibur ..... He made minute adjustments using thrusters to keep the massive Starship in line with the oncoming shuttle. "Three hundred metres..." the Tactical Officer informed him. "Two hundred metres..." "One hundred fifty metres... Drifting slightly to Port Commander..." "I see it," Unwin replied in almost a whisper as he adjusted the Excalibur's heading. "Seventy metres... On line... Five metres above shuttle..." once again Mark changed their heading, "Thirty...""Twenty...""Ten... Increase velocity by ten meters per second..." the Tactical Officer instructed. "Three...""Craft is passing over Shuttle-bay threshold... Forcefield activated ... ... ... CAPTURE!" the Tactical Officer confirmed. Mark could only close his eyes as the Doctor ran from the Bridge ..........
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Karka Psonoir
Commander
Registered: Apr 9, 2013 19:55:13 GMT
Posts: 422
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Post by Karka Psonoir on Dec 8, 2020 23:52:03 GMT
The hours had passed and eventually even the emergency lighting had begun to give out.
"Air's getting harder to come by these days," Koni said as she slid down to the floor at the aft of the bridge section, panting in large lungfuls of low density atmosphere.
Karka signalled agreement, not making a sound, wishing to conserve his own breathing. Though he was biologically human, his Hybrudean instincts and neural modifications allowed him to control his respiratory system, or at least its centre in the brain; he was able to regulate his breathing and conserve as much oxygen as possible, as well as use less of it than 'proper' humans required.
They'd kept themselves occupied, VaS'inKir being returned to the medbay to see to his broken leg and other injuries - deep lesions and the like - sustained in the bombing of the second moon. While no mains-power medical equipment functioned, they could still use portable scanners and knitters found here and there. Administering field medicine, Karka wasn't present to witness the sudden arrival of the Excalibur from towards the Xes'dnu homeworld.
Meanwhile on that very planet, a new phase in the civil war had started. A temporary truce, effected with what the combatants had believed to be VaS'inKir's death, had now ended. They still thought the former councillor dead, but a new group vaguely linked to the Residuum had risen, led by a former Residuum commander who'd escaped custody of members of the Triangulum old guard loyal to VaS'inKir. Possibly they'd assisted him. The former commander had found sufficient motive to resume the war, and taking up what remained of the smashed Residuum forces had already struck supply lines in the north of the main continent.
The Excal approached and passed behind. The craft's occupants watched the small screens helplessly as Yukigori began falling unconscious and then, shockingly, into a coma, the security officer's biomechanical lung - a substitute organ introduced some years ago - unable to keep up with the remaining original lung and the brain beginning to become starved of oxygen. While Schirra assisted Yukigori, Karka began returning to the bridge with the further mended VaS'inKir.
Tense moments passed as they wondered whether the Excal would transport them off, or attempt to draw the craft into a shuttlebay. The Constitution class passed ahead of the Xes'dnu vessel and the doors at the aft of the stardrive began opening. "The risky method," Psonoir nodded. He knew Lieutenant Reneus was a good helmsman; he'll guide us in, he thought, unaware of Unwin's decision to take the responsibility.
The Xes'dnu craft was brought aboard; the ramp beneath the vessel - with its landing struts lifting it some three metres off the deck - descended.
Only three of the eight occupants were able to stand, so weak were they. Karka, Daniel and VaS'inKir's aide shuffled with very little strength down the ramp, the comatical Yukigori lifted between them, as five Excal medical personnel and security streamed through the bay's internal door and headed out across the space at a jog to the craft, med equipment carted along.
Still in the craft, on the floor, barely conscious and breathing unsteadily though with increasing vigour as the air of the shuttlebay flooded through the opened aperture in the ventral surface, were Schirra's wife and child, T'Seng and VaS'inKir.
Unwin followed some metres behind Dr Wundt and her team into the shuttlebay, wishing to greet the team and present himself to his CO to hand back command. He expected at least a reprimand for disobeying the order to carry out General Order 24. Or at least massively delay it, he thought worriedly.
As soon as he saw the half of the craft's occupants beneath the craft, though, one unhappily utterly immobile, and another having dropped to the deck with exhaustion, he knew it wasn't the time to be making his report; he stood back on the periphery, let Wundt take care of them first.
Under the ship, Karka lifted up the exhausted Xes'dnu aide, while Wundt saw to Yukigori, and Schirra shrugged off medical assistants and started making back up the ramp into the craft to help bring out Koni, Lana, Kendal and VaS'inKir.
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Daniel Schirra
Captain
Registered: Apr 8, 2013 21:02:47 GMT
Posts: 468
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Post by Daniel Schirra on Dec 16, 2020 16:10:34 GMT
USS Excalibur ... Two Hours Later :: "Can I get back to the Bridge, Doctor?" Shirra asked for the umpteenth time. "Fine... Leave... But don't come running to me when you keel over... You are still suffering from oxygen deprivation and 'need' to allow your body to adj ....." "I'll be fine doctor, thank you," Daniel said, dropping off the bio-bed before the woman could change her mind. He walked over to where Lana and his daughter were sleeping. With a silent 'thank you' that they were both safe and well, he turned away. Mark Unwin was stood in the doorway watching proceedings and followed the Captain out into the corridor. "Captain, I'd like a word, if possible?" the Chief Engineer said. "You are worried about the consequences of your disobeying my order Mark..." Daniel said as the two entered the turbolift, "... It's an issue, yes, but under the circumstances," "I didn't carry out a direct order, the ramifications are ....." Unwin began, but as the two entered Schirra's ready room Daniel told him to sit. Going around his desk, Schirra sat in silence for a long moment then replied: "Sitting in that chair comes with its own responsibilities, one of those is having to make decisions at that moment in time. I'm not going to pretend it didn't happen, I can't Mark, but given the situation, and the fact that you were aware we were somewhere out there heading your way, you made took the decision to hold off until any option to retrieve us was gone. In effect, all it did was possibly delay the inevitable, but that delay might well be all that was needed to make the Xes'dnu face the fact that they are in serious trouble..." Unwin could only nod as his Commanding Officer seemed to mull over his next words. "I gave the order as the very last resort when I felt there was no alternative. The Xes'dnu took my family, I in response defied orders from Starfleet Command and took the Excalibur... I think in the long run it will be me facing the proverbial music once we return home..." Daniel continued, "... The Xes'dnu are presumably unaware that we managed to reach the Excalibur. I have my family back safe and well, and they have a planet to live on providing they pay for their actions," He was about to continue by allowing Unwin to return to duty when the ship shook violently! ..... Both men jumped to their feet and headed for the Bridge. "Report," Schirra demanded. "Sir, we've been hit!" Sarah Wentworth informed him as he took the centre seat. The Bridge was filled with damage and casualty reports as his Staff tried to make sense of what had happened. "Portside breach ..... Something slammed into us, from Port and below us!" the Operations Officer confirmed in disbelief. "All engines off-line, we're losing inertial dampeners, the ship is beginning to roll over," "I'm trying to re-route control..." Unwin shouted over the din, "... Bringing back-up's online, artificial gravity fluctuating on decks four through seven, trying to compensate!" "Lieutenant, get damage control to the sections damaged," Schirra ordered. "On their way Captain, as is Medical help ..... Commander Psonoir is en-route to the damaged section from Sickbay," "Tactical, long-range scans, I want to know if there are any other vessels coming at us!" Daniel said as the ship once again shook violently from the impact, there was clearly structural damage to the ship. "Sir, the damage control Officer says something smashed through the hull, he's waiting on Commander Psonoir's arrival, but it looks like a small craft hit us," Wentworth informed Schirra. "Casualties?" "There were seventeen people working in that section when the craft hit, all but two bodies are unaccounted for at this point," the Duty Tactical Officer said, stepping quickly aside as Koni T'Seng entered the Bridge. "Do we have engines?" "Manoeuvring thrusters only, I'm trying to re-route impulse engine control but I'll need to get down to Engineering to do that," "Go..." Schirra ordered quickly, he suddenly felt vomit rising in his throat as gravity momentarily gave out, he looked at the stars, now slowly rotating clockwise. Were the Xes'dnu so set on destroying the Excalibur after their failed attempt to force him into attacking their own people, and the realisation that Schirra had ordered their complete annihilation, that they would ask someone to make a suicide run against them, it seemed the only logical conclusion! But now they were essentially dead in space, vulnerable to attack by anyone who chose to take advantage. The other problem was getting help ..... The only vessel in range was the USS Erinome, a ship Daniel had no way of knowing who was in Command of ..... If VeS'inKir's had carried out his threat that he would send instructions for the Erinome to be destroyed, it left them helpless. Alas, the Xes'dun was unconscious and not expected to survive the damage caused by the lack of air he had suffered. Even when they restored communications, contacting the Erinome would be dangerous, if indeed it was held by the Xes'dnu, then they would surely attempt to finish the task the suicide attacked had begun ..........
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Daniel Schirra
Captain
Registered: Apr 8, 2013 21:02:47 GMT
Posts: 468
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Post by Daniel Schirra on Dec 16, 2020 17:45:44 GMT
The area around where the Xes'dnu craft had ruptured the hull causing devastation had been automatically sealed off against the vacuum of space by forcefields and emergency bulkheads ..... Within minutes, Medical Staff, alongside damage control personnel were trying to fight their way into the damaged sections. Daniel had left the Bridge and was making his way through the ship. He arrived on Deck Fourteen, passing the enormous doors which now sealed off Main Engineering while making his way to the section closed off by the emergency bulkheads. As Medics worked on the injured, others moved the deceased. He could only look on in silence at the carnage, hull plating twisted almost beyond recognition, deck plating buckled into grotesque shapes. He began to help clear the debris when the ship was rocked with a second explosion! ..... Regaining his feet he felt blood running down the side of his face as he smacked a hand on the Commlink on the bulkhead: =^= What's happening?! =^= =^= Sir .. We have been hit by a torpedo .. There is nothing within range .. We assume it had been fired by the vessel that impacted us .. .. =^= =^= Damage? =^= Schirra replied. =^= Sir .. .. It passed through the hull on the underside of the Saucer Section .. It passed through Cargo-bay Six before travelling upwards .. Captain .. It exploded in the .. .. .. =^= Sarah Wentworth fell silent, choking back her emotions. =^= Where Lieutenant? =^= =^= Sir .. .. It detonated beneath Sickbay .. .. .. =^= Daniel felt his world collapsing before he ran for the turbolift, dread filling every fibre of his being ..... He ran along the corridor but was intercepted by Doctor Roach, and Head Nurse Ellie Sim, both bloodied and filthy from their rescue efforts. He tried to push past them but hardly had the strength to remain standing as he looked at the Doctor. "The torpedo passed through several decks, Commander T'Seng believes it was meant to impact in the same location when we began rescue efforts, but with the ships reorientation, the detonation was probably delayed by its passing through the empty cargo-bay..." she explained while the Nurse placed a hypospray against his arm before injecting him with a stimulant, "... It detonated beneath main Sickbay, there was nothing we could have done," "Lana ..... Kendal?" he asked, his voice breaking as tears began. Helen Roach could only shake her head. Daniel felt himself falling before succumbing to unconsciousness ..........
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Daniel Schirra
Captain
Registered: Apr 8, 2013 21:02:47 GMT
Posts: 468
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Post by Daniel Schirra on Dec 22, 2020 12:59:46 GMT
USS Excalibur ... Adrift on edge of Gliese 641 Star System 48 Hours after Attack ::
<<< Chief Engineering Officer's Preliminary Damage Report >>>
Impact One: The ship sustained severe damage when it was impacted twice in quick succession ..... The first impact: thought to have been caused by a small craft at high sub lightspeed impacted with the Engineering Section of the ship. While damage was extensive, the warp core remains intact but off-line. All efforts thus far to regain warp power have failed and repairs are ongoing. Most of the repairs to the Engineering Section will be temporary and extended Spacedock time will be needed before the ship can be fully spaceworthy once more. Initial reports state we have lost many crew members along with two Civilians (number of losses TBC) .....
Impact Two: The second impact was caused by a torpedo thought to have been fired by the craft that hit Engineering ..... Unfortunately, due to the ship's loss of power, it had begun to roll to Starboard and the torpedo assumed to be intended to impact the same area of the ship as the first impact, presumably to kill or injure many others attempting to save those already hurt, instead, it impacted beneath the Saucer Section of the Excalibur. Passing through Auxiliary Cargo Bay Four and up through several decks before detonating directly beneath Main Sickbay! ..... Several decks suffered extensive damage including the main area of Sickbay, which was completely destroyed with the loss of lives.
<<< End Report >>>
<<< Chief Medical Officer's Preliminary Report >>>
Temporary Sickbay -- Officers Lounge -- Deck Four: Following the disaster suffered by the USS Excalibur, the loss of life is now thirty-eight personnel, while some of the fatalities were in the Engineering Section, the majority were sustained when the presumed torpedo travelled through several decks, including crew quarters, before detonating on Deck Six, directly beneath Main Sickbay! ..... It is with the deepest regret that I must note the loss of two members of Captain Schirra's family: His wife Lana, and seven-year-old daughter, Kendal, both of which were being treated in Isolation following oxygen deprivation ..... Captain Schirra himself continues to improve following his collapse on hearing the sad news about his family. He is suffering from shock and complete exhaustion. Commander Psonoir is currently in Command of the ship. A further seventeen crew members are unaccounted for and it is possible they were incinerated due to proximity to both impacts and subsequent explosions. Note: Captain Schirra's surviving daughter, Nellie, five years old, Is currently staying with Commander Koni T'Seng, and while she is aware her family are injured, she has yet to be informed of the extent of the loss.
<<< End Report >>> Deep within the realms of unconsciousness, Daniel dreamed. He was on the lower slopes of a snow-covered mountain, his wife and children beside him. They had taken the holiday shortly after the Excalibur had returned to Earth for scheduled updates and refit following her previous mission. Despite the snow, the Sun was warm on his face as he heard his children goading him into getting moving. Alas, skiing wasn't something he had ever tried before, though Lana, Kendal, and even five-year-old Nellie had all skied before. He was wary of allowing the skis to move, given the fact that the last three times he'd tried had resulted in his landing on his backside, much to the amusement of his family.
Kendal, clearly trying not to laugh, deftly moved around Daniel and leaned forward, before he could react she had taken hold of the tips of his skis and was turning him towards the gentle slope, so shallow was the gradient that Lana had to gently 'push' Daniel to get him moving ... For five, then six metres, he remained upright, arms and legs locked as if in the throes of rigurmortis. Kendal and Nellie began cheering and he made the mistake of turning his head, immediately he began to lose balance and Nellie shouted, pointing past him, he turned in time to see a young girl, her back to him. Before he could warn her he collided in a bizarre slow-motion impact. It was so slow that the girl kept her balance, stepping deftly aside, while he once again fell in a crumpled, snow-covered heap.
He turned to where his family were almost in hysterics at his predicament when he noticed the flames!
The flames grew, fast, until they encompassed both Lana and Kendal, Nellie, seemingly unaware of what was happening, continued to laugh and point, dropping onto her bum as she giggled uncontrollably. He tried to shield his face from the searing heat but couldn't move his arms, the screams of Lana and Kendal filled every fibre of his body until he couldn't take any more. He tried and tried to close his eyes, to not see what was happening, but his body refused to react until he finally fell into the depths of dark insanity!In the temporary Sickbay, one of the Marine Medic's noticed slight movements and could see Schirra's eyes moving rapidly behind the lids. He informed Doctor Roach, who placed a hypospray against his neck and injected more sedative ..........
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Karka Psonoir
Commander
Registered: Apr 9, 2013 19:55:13 GMT
Posts: 422
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Post by Karka Psonoir on Jan 9, 2021 0:23:51 GMT
OOC: See the below about Yukigori, this way it may add to the disaster aspect of things but can change if needed
Karka reclined in his quarters in a posture that for his species amounted almost to prayer. The Hybrudeans had given up religion a long time ago - if distance in time could be said to operate for a people that spent so much 'time' time-travelling - but then events of the last three days had inspired in him something of the old way of thinking. He lifted himself up from the Hybrudean sacred posture and tried to focus his mind - adjusted duty shifts and repair rosters were the only things that allowed him to do so.
With the rescue and extraction - with all its delaying events and unexpected difficulties - having ended in tragedy for two of the rescuees and the man closest to them, the only thing preventing the Excal officers from wallowing in despair were the myriad repairs required to at least keep the stranded ship inhabitable.
Psonoir entered the bridge, seeing the officers hard at work. Amelioration of the damage done to the ship had continued apace over the last day since Unwin had made his preliminary report of the causes and results of the suicide attack and its delayed torpedo strike. "Are we ready for a test of subspace comms?"
"Aye, Commander," Wentworth replied, "Test to be conducted, communication with nearest Starbase to ascertain comm viability. Plan also to request emergency assistance."
"And the automated distress beacon?"
Wentworth nodded, "That should become operational as well, eschewing test status in order to start broadcasting immediately." It would not be sent out omnidirectionally, Karka knew, but rather would be focussed into the main volume of Federation space, omitting the wide arc where the beacon would be otherwise immediately detected by the Xes'dnu (it would avoid them therefore, unless they also controlled the Miranda class Erinome, which presumably was somewhere out towards main Fed territory). Hopefully - if the Erinome couldn't help them - the Federation would send a ship to tow them back, and in the meantime they'd hope no more kamikaze craft and attendant torpedoes were drifting out there, waiting to bring down the final curtain.
"Are we ready?" he said, rotating in his chair at the science console to take regard of Wentworth and the duty bridge engineer. They nodded as one, Karka returned it, "Execute." Seconds passed by as consoles beeped and burbled, switches and dials being thrown and adjusted sequentially as each system came online.
"Frequency is holding constant, range-finding... Confirmed. Distress beacon now broadcasting, sir. We are also attempting contact with the nearest Starfleet installation..."
"Inform me when or if we have contact," Karka acknowledged and returned to the science scope.
While peering into the diffuse cerulean, he allowed himself to contemplate the last three days once more, and given what his mind fixated upon, it shot forward in almost compulsive planning: a funeral and memorial service for the deceased 38 and presumed lost (missing) 17 officers, NCOs and civilians.
Captain Schirra was still under sedation, in the makeshift sickbay carved out of the officer's lounge, still in psychological turmoil, while a further four dozen personnel were also yet to fully recover, tended to with varying states of medical aptitude depending on the meagre facilities each had access to. T'Seng continued to tend to Kenzi/Nellie, who before long would have to learn that her mother and sister were not coming back.
The Excal had lost in the destruction wrought in sickbay (along with the two Schirra family members) five medical personnel as well as VaS'inKir, his aide, and Lieutenant Yukigori, who'd been rendered comatical from oxygen deprivation and at the time of the torpedo's detonation had been undergoing treatment at the main biobed. Psonoir wouldn't allow himself to reflect on how fortunate he'd been. He could well have joined in the abyss the five from the Xes'dnu craft who'd been killed in sickbay, if he hadn't left that room minutes before, to sprint to the scene of the collision on deck 14.
"Receiving a response from nearest Starfleet installation, Commander. Audio only," Gold informed.
=/\=This is Commodore Bleekley, how may I render assistance?=/\= a distracted, listless voice came.
=/\=This is a test communication. Starfleet protocol 57 - 41 alpha pi omicron.=/\= A buzzing sound followed by a vocal acknowledgement came, and Karka went on, =/\=Commodore, this is Commander Karka Psonoir, first officer, USS Excalibur; location, Xes'dnu star system. We are dead in the water, requesting assistance. Have been kamikazed by a Xes'dnu vessel of unknown allegiance,=/\= he trusted Bleekley would know of the Xes'dnu civil war, =/\=Emergency repairs effected but in need of drydock facilities. No engines besides attitude control thrusters, limited warp core functionality, most weapons offline. Requesting a towing.=/\=
=/\=We acknowledge, Commander. Stand by, we will send a ship your way. Where is your Commanding Off- ?=/\=
Karka waited and took a moment to realise the comm had been cut off. He looked round him, concealing his chagrin as he deduced the subspace test had failed after a couple minutes. Next time, they could hope to have it functioning indefinitely.
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Daniel Schirra
Captain
Registered: Apr 8, 2013 21:02:47 GMT
Posts: 468
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Post by Daniel Schirra on Jan 19, 2021 2:29:03 GMT
USS Excalibur Nineteen days after the attack Under Sub-warp Tow by Starfleet Towing Vessel ...
* Four Days from Earth ::
The damage to the USS Excalibur was so severe that towing at warp was impossible. The ships logs, transferred to the Towing Vessel, had been sent to Earth, relatives had been informed, and Lana's parents too would be waiting in San Francisco when the Excalibur arrived ..... Ships had been dispatched to locate the USS Erinome, still missing, and steps were being taken to ensure that the Xes'dnu pay for their crimes against the Excalibur, and the Federation ..... Memorial services had been held for the crew members that had lost their lives when the Excalibur attacked, none of which Daniel had been allowed to attend. Doctor Wundt had kept him confined following demands that he be allowed to return to duty. Mackenzie, his daughter, had been staying with Lieutenant Commander T'Seng, Daniel had been allowed visits from his surviving child during his recovery, but despite her constantly asking for her mother and sister, Daniel had not been able to bring himself to tell her the truth.
After more attempts to leave the makeshift Sick-bay, Commander Psonoir had had no option but to station Security to ensure he complied with the Doctors instructions ..... Now, Doctor Wundt had finally said he could leave Sickbay, but a return to duty would depend on a psychological examination on their arrival oat Earth. Realising he had no option, he reluctantly agreed: Daniel was sat on the bio-bed when Koni brought his daughter to see him, he had been told he could return to his quarters but Wundt needed to be sure both of them would be able to cope with their loss while still far from home. Mackenzie ran across the room and jumped into Daniel's arms, burying her face deep into his shoulder before the sobbing began to wrack her small fragile body. It was then he realised she knew as through her sobs she asked the question he was dreading: "Has mummy and Kendal gone to Heaven now?Schirra looked across the room at Wundt and T'Seng, tears rolling freely down his cheeks, Koni walked forward, pulling a curtain across the section of the room to give him some privacy. Stroking Mackenzie's hair, he fought to keep some semblance of control as he stole himself for what was to come. "Yes, sweetheart, they have gone to Heaven," he whispered, unsure if his five-year-old had heard him. "Can we go home now Daddy?"
"Yes, we can go home now," he said, with more conviction than he felt. He knew he would be held accountable for his taking the Excalibur, he knew he was responsible for the loss of life resulting from his actions, his only thought was that he would be allowed his liberty to care for and raise his remaining daughter, the alternative didn't bear thinking about in his mind. Finally believing he could trust his legs, he climbed off the bio-bed, Nelli still clinging to him as if her own life depended on it. He pulled the curtain aside and walked out of the temporary sick-bay towards the nearest turbolift. Crew members he approached, moved aside as he passed, some lowering their heads, some nodding, silently sharing Schirra's grief. Stepping from the 'lift he walked to their quarters. It struck him as almost absurd that given the damage suffered by the Excalibur, his rooms were almost immaculate. There were flowers on the table, the beds had been changed, no doubt Koni's doing. He couldn't have said how long stood in the middle of the room, but he realised that Mackenzie had fallen asleep in his arms. He took her to the room she and Kendal shared, then changed his mind. Taking her into his bedroom he lay her down, pulling a blanket up to her shoulders, then he knelt beside the bed, unable, unwilling, to take his eyes off the sleeping little girl for fear she to would disappear from his life ..... Over the next days, he spent the majority of his time with his daughter, almost unwilling to allow her out of his sight for a second. They had visitors, Doctor Wundt seemed everpresent, although she only actually visited twice to check on her patients. He had sat through reports from Karka, who for the most part had taken the burden of Command off Daniel, he would visit, play games with Mackenzie, ask how he was, surreptitiously dropping the odd report into their conversations. Koni too, visited, making sure that when he prepared meals for Mackenzie, he was feeding himself as well. Despite asking, threatening, demanding, he could get nothing from anyone as to the fate of the Xes'dnu ... Yes, they would be held accountable he was told, but as to the method? .... He, apparently, was not privy! Construction Cradle One hundred kilometres from Starbase :: Daniel was sat with his daughter looking out onto the Pacific Ocean, far below, somewhere down there was his home, on Marina Boulevard in San Francisco, from their garden they could see the Golden Gate Bridge, the Yacht Club, the long stretch of beach where they would picnic and swim when he was on shore leave. Last night was the first night Mackenzie had slept in her own bed, and within minutes of his leaving her room, he had heard her moving around. Waiting to see if she would emerge, he was worried when she hadn't, so he had gone to the open door ..... Mackenzie was asleep, her arms around a teddy bear Lana and he had bought for Kendal when she was born ..... The door chime sounded and Daniel left his daughter on the sofa and approached the door. Koni was waiting, along with the Head of Starfleet Operations, Admiral Osani, he stepped aside to allow them to enter, Mackenzie's eyes flickered open, seeing Koni, she sprang off the settee and ran to her, excitedly dragging her to the window. "How are you, Daniel?" Nagano Osani asked sympathetically ..........
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Karka Psonoir
Commander
Registered: Apr 9, 2013 19:55:13 GMT
Posts: 422
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Post by Karka Psonoir on Jan 20, 2021 20:28:14 GMT
The spacedock pirouetted silently about the home of humanity, the installation and the world whose protective girdle it was still seeming completely out of reach for Commander Unwin.
Karka glanced over at the engineer, not moved in the same way as he could clearly see Mark was but understanding his emotion. Yes, he understood, and not merely because of the obvious feelings engendered when seeing one's home planet again, but because he'd experienced something of similar profundity in recent days.
He'd seen the Captain with his daughter a number of times in the last four days before the Excal had been returned to Earth (arriving early yesterday at 0230 hours Starfleet HQ time). On one occasion, he'd had to call Schirra away from his daughter and out of the CO's quarters to discuss with him official business. At that time, standing in the quarters' entrance and waiting for his CO, he'd watched as the man had knelt before his bereft daughter - seemingly in tears at the thought her father would be away from her again - and caressed her cheek. Karka had bowed his head and turned away slightly - the sight had moved him. He nodded as Schirra approached and gave him right of way, following his captain down the corridor to the turbolift and ward room.
He'd headed with Schirra and Dr Wundt to the makeshift sickbay, Koni and Kenzi/Nelli on hand to greet them. After Wundt had evaluated father and daughter together and then headed to her temporary office, Karka had found himself reflecting on how the three of them (himself, Daniel and Koni), here, in the presence of this girl, were the only three survivors from the group of eight who'd been on that Xes'dnu craft commandeered from the barren moon. They'd attempted - and at first had seemed - to escape wholly unharmed from TaZhiss, the marine Captain Thamkon and what'd felt like all the Triangulum's forces bearing down on them.
In all his experience across numerous centuries (those not sampled in sequential order of course), he'd encountered great tragedy, been involved in a few of them personally, had helplessly borne witness to terrible events - plagues, genocides, star system-shattering natural catastrophes - and had seen parents grieving for lost children and children for lost parents... but something about all his time on the Excalibur and the particular nature of this loss had struck him in a different way. A five year old girl, in circumstances whose significance she could grasp only vaguely, left instantaneously without sister or mother.
They may as well have been obliterated, lost from time and space, such was the palpable absence they'd created for the CO and his daughter. Karka had had his fair share of self-disappearances from the space-time continuum. But his sudden, mysterious departures had almost always been by design, and he'd always come back, into a new century, a new world, a new life.
He was brought back from his reflections and was again aware of looking out at Earth spacedock and Unwin sitting beside him doing the same. They were peering out the forward portal of a shuttlepod which Karka was tentatively piloting (still shaky on his navigators' skills).
The craft was following the course of a line drawn on an imaginary toroidal surface enringing the Excal; with every half 'orbit' of the Excal, the shuttle rotated 180 degrees such that on reaching the other side of the vessel the two occupants were viewing their ship upside down, making of the craft's course a sort of moebius strip; the course took them elliptically across the toroid, pitch Z+ and Z-; additionally, the toroidal surface in its horizontal plane rotated 5 degrees, effectively, with every continuously pitch-adjusted orbit the shuttle made of the Excal - this configuration would give full coverage in an examination of a Constitution class with repair-work pending or ongoing.
His thoughts turned to the Federation's proceedings against the Xes'dnu for the twin incidents of the kidnapping of Schirra's family and the suicide ramming from - what'd proven to be - a Triangulum-aligned assault craft...
The situation was difficult; one for the lawyers, as Unwin kept saying. There were, Karka understood, many elements in Starfleet who wanted some or all the post-VaS'inKir Triangulum leadership extradited, after which they'd face charges for the kamikaze and torpedo strike that'd killed Schirra's wife and daughter, Lieutenant Yukigori, and not a few others (about 60 now). Others thought it better to pursue the original perpetrators - the Residuum agents responsible for the initial kidnapping - as it was thought they were easier to reach.
"Ok... we've completed the seventh circuit," Unwin said, tapping controls, suddenly seeming upbeat.
"Good. Let's head back in..." Karka said, half to himself as he began to turn the shuttle off its moebius loop back towards the Excal's aft hangar. He paused, "Thrusters unresponsive," he blurted, and in a flurry spun about in his chair throwing switches, uncharacteristically flustered. An alarmed Unwin shot a glance his way, before Psonoir took a breath, pinched his nose and blinked, shaking his head. "They're... they're working now, Mr Unwin," he cleared his throat. More simulator time needed.
Thankfully the shuttle made a soft landing and the duo outlined plans to continue the hull inspection at 0800 tomorrow. Psonoir returned to the bridge, received reports, then headed for the vestibule leading to the drydock's habitation section. He understood the CO had already had a number of meetings with Osami, on the drydock as well as planetside in Frisco - exoneration for stealing the Excalibur wasn't forthcoming as yet, and of course it wouldn't be for Karka either, having been his CO's full collaborator.
There was one thing Karka was sure of, however: the Xes'dnu had been prospective Federation members before this incident; their application was sure to be terminated immediately with no possibility of future enrolment (or it at least ruled out for an indefinite period). This would happen regardless of the eventual winner of the Triangulum-Residuum war, as both sides had committed aggression against the UFP. Sure to be terminated... wasn't it?
An official Starfleet Operations' Federation-wide communique was resounding through the drydock's lounge/hall; Karka's eyes turned to the audiovisual display on the 40 metres distant wall, "... and as a preliminary measure the Federation Council will be banning Xes'dnu citizens from Federation member worlds and their respective territories for a period of..."
Psonoir spotted Schirra, his daughter, T'Seng and Jenni Gold across the far side of the lounge. He waved and jogged to join them.
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Daniel Schirra
Captain
Registered: Apr 8, 2013 21:02:47 GMT
Posts: 468
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Post by Daniel Schirra on Jan 24, 2021 14:27:11 GMT
A month had passed since the Excalibur had been towed home to Earth ... The repairs were going better than anyone could have expected, likely due to the tensions building between the Xes'dnu and the Federation ... Schirra was recovering, albeit slowly, his only form of comfort or solace was his daughter Mackenzie ..... Practically since she could crawl, she had been nicknamed 'Nelli' after the stories of a pink baby unicorn named 'Nelli Noo' lost in a forest, and her adventures while searching for her parents, but Daniel couldn't bring himself to use the sobriquet any longer. She, in turn, had suffered the loss of her mother and sister and wouldn't leave his side. Lana's parents had come aboard the Starbase and the four had returned to Schirra's home in San Francisco, where had begun the painful task of moving items from their home .....
Despite still recovering, Schirra had sat for five full days of questioning on his actions by the Federation Council, The Xes'dnu had been thorough, removing all trace of their activity on Earth even before the Excalibur had returned. The Council, while clearly sympathising with Schirra, still wouldn't make any definitive decision on his future. Technically, both he and Karka could face long imprisonment for taking the Excalibur, yet both had not been removed from their respective positions. Karka seemingly spending most of his time overseeing the repairs to the ship, while Daniel could hardly bring himself to step into the garden overlooking the bay unless Mackenzie was beside him. He had only been back to the Excalibur a handful of times over the last month, each deck plate, bulkhead, console, all a reminder of his loss. Truth be told and despite the therapist assigned to oversee his 'mental' recovery assuring him that while the feelings wouldn't disappear, nor should they, they would ease as he learned to deal with his loss, he wasn't sure if he could bring himself to take the ship into space ever again .....
Last night was the first night he had managed to persuade Mackenzie to sleep in her room, even then he had to lay on Kendal's bed until her eyes had finally succumbed to sleep. Lana's parents had assured him that Mackenzie would be staying with them once he returned to duty, whatever or where ever that duty be, but again he could only think of the abject terror running through him at the thought of being apart ..... Closed Meeting ... Starfleet Command Headquarters San Francisco Earth ::"They need to be made to pay, Admiral!" Daniel said, unable to stop his fist slamming into the desktop hard. "The Xes'dnu situation is not at debate here Captain, and even if it was, your participation henceforth is highly dubious at best," one of the panel members commented. "Then decommission me, kick me out of Starfleet, I'll find a way to deal with those 'MURDERERS' myself!" Schirra said, rising to his feet in anger, sensing rather than seeing the two Security personnel taking a step closer to him. "Please, Captain, take your seat..." Admiral Osani said quietly, waiting patiently while Schirra fought his anger and retook his seat, "... You know we have to investigate every aspect of the events leading up to and including the terrible damage and loss of life on the Excalibur, You yourself have stated numerous times that someone needs to pay, and they will, in due course," "Sanctions won't hurt the Xes'dnu, they didn't need us before and certainly don't need us now," Daniel said, resigned to the fact. "According to your latest psych' evaluation report, you are still having trouble sleeping?" Admiral Albett commented. "My daughter is having trouble sleeping, I'm having trouble watching her every moment of the day and night," Schirra replied. "Maybe sedatives could be prescri ...." Commodore Fremont began but Schirra spun on the man: "Maybe I should 'BLOW UP' half of your family, see how you cope..." he spat, instantly regretting his outburst, after a long moment of silence he continued, "... I apologise, Commodore, that wasn't called for," "Think nothing more of it, Captain, I was clearly a little insensitive," Fremont replied with a reassuring smile. "I think it best if we adjourn for the day, it is getting late and I am sure the Captain is eager to get home to his daughter," Osani said, tapping the gavel on the decorative bell to signify the meeting was over. Schirra got up and turned without acknowledging the Committee and left the room, fifteen minutes later he arrived home, Mackenzie was on the lawn and ran to him as he approached, throwing herself into his arms. Lana's mother was stood in the doorway, stepping aside to allow Daniel to enter the house. It was already past seven in the evening, and as usual, Kenzie had refused to eat until he got home. He thanked Barbara for looking after Kenzie then headed for the kitchen. "Commander Psonoir came by, they finished earlier today. He said to tell you not to worry about the ship, repairs were going well and they expected to begin testing the warp engines in a few days time," "Thank you..." Daniel said, opening the fridge, "... You're welcome to stay," "No, Terrance will be waiting for his supper, I'll see you in the morning," his mother-in-law said, kissing Kenzie on her forehead before leaving. For a second he couldn't bring himself to turn as tears welled in his eyes. "It's OK to cry Daddy," he heard his five-year-old say as she put her small arms around his legs ..........
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Karka Psonoir
Commander
Registered: Apr 9, 2013 19:55:13 GMT
Posts: 422
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Post by Karka Psonoir on Jan 31, 2021 14:51:38 GMT
SF HQ, San Francisco, Earth
With the conclusion of most of the repairs to the Excal - and Unwin's notice warp repairs were continuing apace, likely to be virtually completed in the next 48 hours (discounting any teething issues that may arise in due course) - Karka had been summoned to Starfleet Command in San Francisco. He knew Schirra had just concluded his meeting with the 'big wigs', as Lirwa would occasionally remind his friend they'd been known in centuries past on Earth. Perhaps it was his own turn before the brass.
Entering the wide, marblesque concourse of Command, peering out the four metre thick windows at the Gate Bridge and the lower slopes of the Presidio before it, then gazing into the far reaches of the atrium extending above him into the HQ's heights, he was nearly involved in a collision,
"I... beg your pardon," he began, securing his small duffel bag more securely round his shoulder; it held 3 PADDs, detailing reports and explanatory notes he considered sufficient to exculpate himself from the matter of the stealing of the Excal, and relatedly the Constitution class starship's planned enactment of General Order 24 against the Xes'dnu as a species (in the case of the latter, the hopefully resultant absolution went for all the crew, despite the perhaps questionable circumstances which led to Captain Schirra's issuance of the GO24 order).
"It's of no matter, Commander Psonoir," the woman replied and stood to attention, "I'm from the Office of Admiral Osani. Lieutenant Commander Roskov, at your service. I've been appointed to see to the needs of you and your co-defendant, and - ..."
Karka hadn't failed to recognise her slip. We're on trial already? he thought, half-way between gallows humour and genuine bemusement. "I'm a defendant?" he said, "No question, a matter-of-fact?"
"No. And apologies, Commander," Roskov said unconvincingly, "It's common parlance amongst us administrators, at least in my former department - in the past, I dealt with non-Starfleet civil and criminal cases, facilitating trials of those accused of serious crimes. Such I believe is not the case with you and your captain."
Roskov took a moment and drew herself up, "Now, Commander Psonoir, to the board of inquiry; your CO's interview has just finished and we don't wish to keep the Admirals waiting. The admirals themselves are most patient, but there are others -" she declined to give their names though Karka sensed she'd wanted to, "- ... whose interest in this case may be characterised as somewhat... inquisitorial. Have no fear; they're good people and are only doing their jobs."
* * * * *
Karka was part way through his own closed meeting. The room was almost empty and had been throughout; a long oblong table with only three or four occupants, dimmed lighting.
The presiding officer, Admiral Albett rather than Osani - presumably as the lower-ranked Excal officer I'm to be judged by a correspondingly lesser authority, the Excal officer thought - resumed from his monologue and asked him bitingly, "Your Commanding Officer thinks sanctions against the Xes'dnu are insufficient, Commander."
What happened to confidentiality in these closed sessions? the Hybrudean thought, and as if by telepathy Roskov passed him a PADD; he scanned the page quickly, realisation rearing its ugly head, Ohhh...
Albett continued, "Granted, the Xes'dnu's membership in the Federation hasn't been ruled out in the longue duree, but they're no longer able to travel within Fed space and will be under tight surveillance in the eventuality we come into contact with any of their ships on the putative Federation-Xes'dnu border; none of them will get through. Further measures to be taken against the Xes'dnu - Triangulum and Residuum - are currently in planning, of that you have my assurance. We're not shrugging off this incident, Commander."
An unnamed officer of captain-rank spoke near the far end of the table, "It may be added - in addition to Admiral Albett's remarks and contrary to your own CO's - that before the initial kidnapping the Triangulum did indeed wish for engagement with us." Karka had no choice but to nod, diffidently. But then why shred that arrangement by kidnapping the family of a Starfleet captain? he thought bemusedly.
"While our measures have been characterised as sanctions," the unnamed captain spoke again, "They're absolutely nothing of the sort, nothing so weak. And if we wanted to, we could take many more draconian measures against the new Triangulum Council, or perhaps against the Residuum.
"And I'll add, Commander Psonoir, there are many 'hawkish' elements within both Starfleet and other quasi-military arms of the UFP advocating just so - elements whose voices have far from gone unheard; not a few in our organisation may sympathise with them, may even take action of their own volition to, as it were, punish the new Triangulum government."
"Indeed... Please understand the matter of Trianguluum and/or Residuum extraditions," Admiral Albett said, "Is being considered, depending on our diplomatic reach. And before we take any... drastic measures - and to me these almost seem drastic enough..." Karka had already got the sense of Albett as something of a kindlier flag officer, "... We should fmake contact, consult with, refine our potential strategies, evaluate the status of these various dissatisfied elements within Starfleet who want immediate extradition, and then, if these options have been exhausted, we could look to take firmer action, through legal or military means."
Karka was soon asked to take his leave. "You're not out of the woods yet yourself, Commander," the unnamed captain rose with and said to him in a low voice, before returning to the table.
He frowned at this upon exit and walked sedately down the passageway. That anonymous captain's word: hawkish... Antiquated, part of the arsenal of the warmongers, particularly on Earth in centuries past... Who could that've been in there...? His fellow species member dropped off the tip of his tongue: Lirwa...?
He cast about to the closed, windowless door of the Command-level closed meeting room; ah no, please not once more, he virtually begged: Lirwa, inserting his consciousness into yet another 23rd century body, this time of a Starfleet captain based at SF HQ (yes, his antiquarian interest in Earth kept driving him back here); what was he up to now, the erratic vigilante?
He turned back to SF Command's panoramic windows, seeing the pearlescent, milky haziness reverberating through Frisco Bay and its surrounds.
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Daniel Schirra
Captain
Registered: Apr 8, 2013 21:02:47 GMT
Posts: 468
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Post by Daniel Schirra on Jan 31, 2021 16:17:28 GMT
The funeral was yesterday ..... The coffins, both white ..... Daniel didn't want to think about what was actually in the coffins, given his wife and daughter's remains could only be identified by their DNA ..... Had been on stands, the white reflecting the noonday Sun, They had been laid to rest in a quiet garden under overhanging trees, Lana loved this part of the cemetery. He had been in a daze throughout the service at the church, and on the short walk as he and Mackenzie followed the coffins in silence to their final resting place. At some point, he had spoken a few words, then fought to fight back the tears as the caskets were slowly lowered into the ground, Kenzie holding his hand so tightly. They had returned to the house overlooking the yacht club, masts rocking gently in the breeze. Lana's parents and sister were there, all grieving but able to give support, as were friends, members of Starfleet, members of the Excalibur crew, and his longtime friend Karka. He had stood in the garden as the Sun had begun to set, remembering the times they had gone down to the beach with a picnic, wine, juice for the girls, enjoying the warmth of the setting Sun. He had fought to turn to look at the house, everything in and around it was Lana, the flowers, the colour scheme, the furniture, everything reminded him of what had been taken from him. Finally, people respectfully made their excuses and began to leave. Barbara and Terrence had offered to take Mckenzie to their house for the night, but he couldn't let her go, not that night. Then, with the house empty, he sat on the grass, Mackenzie asleep in his arms as the stars shone brighter than he had ever noticed before ....... ********** The next morning he had helped Mackenzie dress and they had eaten, albeit sparingly. Kenzie had asked if they could go down to the beach and he couldn't find a reason to say no ..... He prepared a basket, making sure to put a towel, shorts and a top in case she went into the water. Mackenzie had taken his hand and led him along the path to the gap giving them access to the beach near to the ice cream parlour where they always sat. He unfolded a towel and draped it on the warm sand, he told Kenzie to keep the wide-brimmed hat on for the time being as he didn't want her to burn in the morning Sun. Finally, though, he had relented, and she threw it down beside him. "Come in the water with me Daddy," He looked at his daughter for a long moment, then finally clambered to his feet, she pulled him to the waters' edge, the gentle waves lapping around his sandalled feet. Kenzie took a few steps into the water then stopped, she was looking down and Daniel was suddenly worried that everything had caught up with the five-year-old once again. Tentatively he had taken a couple of steps, trying to look over her shoulder and was almost brought to tears by what she was holding: It was a small patch of cloth, only a few centimetres square, embroidered with their names. She kissed the sampler and he could see her small shoulders heaving as she silently sobbed. Then, she knelt in the water and tenderly placed the small patch on the tide, watching for a moment as it moved slowly into the bay. "I love you, Mummy and Kendal, you will always be here when we visit now..." she whispered as Daniel took a step back to give her her own moment of privacy to say goodbye. Finally, she turned and stepped forward, allowing him to pick her up and walk back to where they had put the towel. For what seemed an eternity, Mackenzie remained in his arms before finally wiping away the tears, "... We can go home if you want Daddy," "Let's stay here a while," he said, seeing her nod. Then she got up and opened the basket, selecting two small packages, she handed one to him. "Turkey," she said with a smile, her eyes going back to where the small sampler was still bobbing meters away. ********** Once they had eaten, Kenzie got up and headed back to the water, a moment later she was almost up to her waist, she still couldn't swim too well but had been learning, and he watched as she began to bob up and down, finally allowing her legs to bend she dipped beneath the water for a fraction of a second before raising arms in the air. "I DID IT, DADDY... I DID IT!" she exclaimed triumphantly. Daniel clapped enthusiastically, she had been trying to buck up the courage to get her head underwater for so long, and now something had given her the strength to try it all on her own. It was then he knew that she would be able to cope with her loss, not as he would, but in her own little way. "Captain....." he turned at the voice, to see Koni T'Seng stood over him. "Koni..." he replied, motioning for her to sit. Technically he was on leave, so was under no obligation to carry a communicator, "... Problem?" "No Sir, I just thought I would call around to see if you needed any help," she said, waving at the now constantly bobbing Mackenzie. "Hardly mourning etiquette..." he said, almost embarrassed, "... But she wanted to come down here," "No apologies necessary Captain, each learn the grieving process on their own level, each learns their loss and remembers loved ones in their own way," "Any news on the ship?" he asked, offering her a sandwich. "Commander Unwin is set to test the warp drive later today," she answered, opening the wrapping. "Good," he said distractedly as he watched his daughter. "We're all thinking of you and Mackenzie Captain," Koni said. "Daniel Koni, I've told you before," he said. "OK, I'd better go, I just thou ....." "Stay, I'm assuming you're off duty?" "I am," "Then, feel free to go over there and stop Kenzie bobbing up and down before she swallows half the bay will you," he said with a grin. Koni nodded then got up and ran to the five-year-old, he could hear her excitedly telling Koni about her new trick before demonstrating yet again. Koni, seemingly oblivious to the fact she was getting soaked, had knelt beside Mackenzie and was copying her, ducking her head beneath the water too, both giggling as drops fell from their hair ..........
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