Carl Torek
Command Staff ..
Site Executive Officer Ranks Officer
Fleet Admiral
"UTRINQUE PARATUS"
Registered: Jun 17, 2006 22:34:35 GMT
Posts: 6,163
|
Post by Carl Torek on Nov 24, 2020 0:11:44 GMT
~ Mission 34: Explorations ~
~ Synopsis ~
oooOOOooo
Now the quarantine has been lifted around Starbase Forty-Seven, Starfleet Command feels it necessary to begin the exploration of their surrounding space Section Admiral Gheskori has therefore informed El Salvador and the Raven to make ready to leave the Starbase
With vast areas of unexplored space out beyond the borders of the Klingon Empire, the Raven has been deployed She will head towards the uncharted region of space were subspace radio signals were picked up by a long-range survey vessel over three years earlier
The newly refitted Raven will attempt to find the origin of those signals, in the hopes of encountering another previously unknown race of beings But there are others, in the depths of space, that are not so willing to become friends of the Federation
Can the Raven crew complete her assignment successfully, or will they be confronted with a situation beyond even their means to surmount ?
|
|
Carl Torek
Command Staff ..
Site Executive Officer Ranks Officer
Fleet Admiral
"UTRINQUE PARATUS"
Registered: Jun 17, 2006 22:34:35 GMT
Posts: 6,163
|
Post by Carl Torek on Nov 24, 2020 1:00:26 GMT
SD 2406.1123 .. 15:00 hrs ... Section Admiral Gheskori's Office Mezzanine Level Command Center :: "I was under the impression Command was still relaxing the quarantine, not that they had lifted it completely," Carl was saying as he accepted the cup of coffee. "That's what you get for taking time off... " Gheskori said with a grin as he took his own cup from his Aide, who then left the two alone, "... Actually, these orders came directly from Starfleet Command, with the full approval of the President. They were handed to me by the Vice President the day he arrived, it was the first thing Drake did when he got in here," "Really?" Carl replied, admittedly surprised. "The timing was left to my discretion, but he did stress that he would like the orders implemented sooner rather than later, and given our current Civilian issues, I agree with you that it is better not to have ships idle, so to speak," Gheskori used a keypad in his desk and pointed to the large viewscreen, a duplicate of the one in Torek's office: "Given our 'unique' location, I believe the Raven would be suited to a task I have in mind," he handed Carl a PADD already open. Torek skimmed through the information then put the PADD on the desk. "Subspace communication," he said, dubious. "You have been cleared by Doctor Roach, and Doctor Yalo is unconcerned there will be any issues with your prosthetic, but how do you feel within yourself Carl, I could always assign this to Savot if you prefer?" "I'm fine, better than fine in fact..." Carl said, standing, "... I'll be glad to get back out there, and I'm sure my Officers and crew feel the same, Sir. When would you like us to depart?" "Forty-Eight hours should be fine... You have personnel on the Station, no sense in dragging them away, and speaking of the crew, how is your new Engineer faring?" "Like every incoming Department Head, ha has his way of doing things..." Carl said, actually happy with Dyson's progress and work ethic thus far, "... He's ruffled a few feathers, but that's to be expected. He's getting a lot of support from Commander Milyanov. I think that once he is confident his staff know their jobs, and he isn't second-guessing every comment by his Engineers, he'll relax somewhat, I'm sure they will support him ...... Well that, or brick him up behind one of the bulkheads in frustration," Carl finished under his breath. "OK, then my friend, you have your orders, we will speak before you depart," Gheskori said. "We will... Goodnight Gheskori," Carl said, leaving the office ..... Once on the Mezzanine Level, he leaned on the railing overlooking the Command Center then tapped his Comm badge to ask Andae to join him on the Raven ..... Captains Ready Room USS Raven-C .. 16:30 hrs :: "I'm drinking 'wayyyyyy' too much coffee," Carl said as he placed a cup in front of his Exec' who was reading the orders. "Out beyond the Klingon border," Blakus commented. "Yes... We'll leave here and head out towards the Alpha Quadrant, then turn, we should be well out of the way of any wandering Klingon vessels," "I'll recall everyone," "No... Put the recall out for sixteen hundred hours tomorrow, that should give us plenty of time for final checks," Torek ordered. "Will do... Anything else?" "No, oh... Calli is coming round later to eat, why not join us?" "Yes, that would be good..." Andae said, rising before heading for the door, "... I'll get this recall out, see you later," Carl nodded, then looked at the seemingly ever-growing pile of PADD's on his desk. After a moments thought he leaned down to pick up the small waste bin beside his desk, then swept every PADD into it. Satisfied, he left his Ready Room and approached Commander Wedlerson, who was signing off the last of the work with a 'Base Technician. "Admiral," Wedlerson said, glancing at the PADD-laden bin. "Harry, look through these and see if any of them actually 'need' to be on my desk will you?" "Thank you, I'll be in my quarters if you need me," Carl said, heading for the turbolift ..........
|
|
Andae Blakus
Moderator ..
Commander 1C
Registered: Oct 17, 2007 22:48:27 GMT
Posts: 1,452
|
Post by Andae Blakus on Nov 26, 2020 21:22:54 GMT
OOC: duplicated from the SB47 thread
The Wheel
Blakus was on his second light synthehol at Milyanov's get-together in The Wheel, talking with Dyson while T'Seng and Burwell spoke about some incredibly obscure subject nearby.
Edging away from T'Seng and Burwell, Blakus looked where the engineer had indicated, Milyanov and the Tellarite lieutenant. "Ah, the lieutenant's been causing you trouble? Sometimes tardy, and unscrupulous. Only sometimes. I don't know him well, he was one of Milyanov's appointees after he took over."
He glanced at his synthehol after another sip and made a face, placing it on the sill of one of the mess's portals and reaching for a piece of cake, "Look, they're good officers. Trust Christina Taylor, she's been on my staff since I was Chief Engineer on the Vic. Nathan Tinsley's good as well. And Milyanov," they looked with amusement over at the Russian who was currently trying to dissuade the people around him from offering him a triple shot of vodka, "Well, he's good most of the time. You should know, he may grow tired of his teaching post. It's almost as difficult to keep him away from engineering as to keep myself away. He knows more about that warp core than me. Only for the Raven-C, though. The Raven-B?" Blakus laughed abruptly, "Don't be ridiculous."
Next day, Departure Lounge Delta, Starbase 47
"... already know that this Section cares nothing for you! They themselves feel abandoned by Starfleet, by the Federation from which they were unwillingly cast away, and now they feel that Federation has turned its back on them. As they have turned their backs on us!"
"That's right." "Down with Starfleet!" "Down with the SA!" Close to the makeshift podium the crowd cheered as one, but farther away the reaction was one of people disconcerted, unhappy, their cries far from in unison. A person towards the back watched the man on the podium, clearly pumped and puffed up by the response from the crowd; his name was Rene Szabo, and he was playing the demagogue,
"The Federation may wish to reincorporate this Section, it is true," Szabo had their attention, their near-silence again, "Ships may leave here without us, and for legitimate reasons, it is true. Oh yes, to carry on their noble missions, their work for the mighty Starfleet. Indeed, it is already happening, but who will be left behind in this crusade in the quest for perfect knowledge?! Who, I say?!"
"Us!"
"Yes, the lifeblood of this Starbase! What has kept this base operational during its time out in Cygnus! What has been responsible for waste management, manual work..."
The man at the back looked on in derision and puzzlement as Szabo reeled off a string of rhetorical questions, the crowd chanting back 'Us!' each time. He saw that fellow Kerlin and several heavies come to stand behind Szabo. The derisive listener prepared to leave, but paused as Rene changed tack again,
"All of you know that supply vessels arrived this morning... While Section 47 bemoans its lot, the Federation will carry on as if nothing has happened to disturb its utopian equilibrium, while we will be forgotten and left to rot here! Now, I beg you, take what's yours... We won't lie in the dust to be eaten up by rats, take what's yours. We won't stand idly by while our age-old spacefarers' ethics are ground to dust, take what's yours. Forward!"
The crowd of about 450 civs exploded as if in a spontaneous riot, heaving together before surging in a tide out of the lounge towards the main docking ring, screaming with raised balled fists and backing each other up.
The man at the back extricated himself and tapped his commbadge, =/\=Section Admiral's office, this is Burr. I hope Admiral Reynolds is aware of this. That problem on the docking ring just got more problematic.=/\=
Blakus had begun to return to the Raven with the meagre possessions he'd taken to his SB quarters after the return from the mission to the Shon'ni Empire. It was nearing 1600 hours, the official recall would go out in a moment. As he began to direct steps finally towards the Raven itself (now within about 300 metres of the vessel), he registered some disturbance behind him.
He turned casually - at first, then with alarm - to the source of the sound, to the vestibule that led into the troublesome Delta Lounge he'd reported on to Torek and Valente, the same corridor near which were the support struts he'd seen Horst Kerlin scanning three or four days ago. A veritable army of malcontents were charging through the gap towards him and the docking ring.
The pressurised sections of the dock were filled with the maddened cries of civilians flying towards the docking ports of the two cargo ships that'd arrived this morning. Blindly - before allowing his ingrained and instilled calm to take over - Andae sprinted ahead of the frantic crowd towards the Raven, boarding it after passing through a line of Raven and SB47 marines and security.
"Well, I'll be glad to leave. Let the base deal with it," he murmured to himself before silently taking it back as he exited the vestibule into a Raven corridor.
|
|
Matthew Dyson
Awaiting Assignment
Registered: Nov 11, 2020 11:14:56 GMT
Posts: 6
|
Post by Matthew Dyson on Nov 29, 2020 2:20:00 GMT
Matt's brow furrowed as he surveyed his almost empty quarters. 'Have I remembered everything?' he asked himself, looking around the room. His gaze was drawn to the face-down photo of him and Andrew. He started towards it, but stopped. His heart was racing. 'You've wasted too much time on him already Matt,' he thought, and as he gathered his bags, he took one last look around before heading out of the door.
___________________
USS Raven-C
Matt had battled through the crowds of civilians eager to get off Starbase 47. He couldn't blame them. With home seeming so close for many of them he might be in the same mind. He thought about Earth for a brief moment, before remembering that he had decided a long time ago that Earth had nothing to offer him anymore. He worked his way through the Raven's corridors, laden with bags, before finding his new quarters. As he approached the door, it didn't open. He tutted to himself, heaving his bags down. "Computer, open the door..."
"Access denied..."
"Computer, override, Dyson 59-Beta"
The door swung open and Matt was greeted by the sight of a man wearing only a towel. They both jumped, and Matt apologized profusely. "I... I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!" he said. Despite how mortified he was, Matt couldn't help notice that the man's body was like a work of art.
The man giggled. "Can I help you?"
"I er... these are my quarters..." Matt said, hastily producing a PADD and searching for his quarters assignment. "05-021... it says it here..." He held the PADD up.
"Er... this is 05-012 Ensign..." the man said, chuckling to himself.
Dyson blushed a bright crimson. 'Those double shifts in Engineering must be taking their toll,' he thought. "I'm so sorry," he repeated, before hastily rushing out of the room. He grabbed his bags as quickly as he could and rushed down the corridor. When he finally found his quarters he hurried inside and set down his bags. "Wow..." he said aloud. The quarters were at least twice the size of his accommodations on Starbase 47. He looked around, groaning internally as he saw the sonic shower. "Need to get that replaced..." he said, before replicating a coffee. He sat down, his cheeks still burning from his encounter in room 05-012...
___________________
Matt awoke with a start as the door to his quarters chimed. He sat bolt upright, having fallen asleep in the chair. His coffee stood untouched next to him. The door chimed again. He got up, straightening his uniform, and answered it. The man from earlier stood there in a Marine detachment uniform. "Oh hey..." Matt said.
"Hi," the man said. "We didn't get a chance to introduce ourselves before..."
"I'm so sorry, I was struggling with the bags, I must have read it wrong on the PADD... I..."
The man grinned. "It's okay... don't worry about it. At least I had a towel on right?"
Matt blushed. "Yeah... I guess. I'm Matt, Matt Dyson..." He offered his hand and the man shook it.
"Ah yeah, Ensign Dyson? The new Chief Engineer?"
"That's me..."
"Nice gig to have, it's a beautiful ship. I'm David, David Scott, I'm one of the Medics with the Marine Detachment..."
Matt smiled. "Nice to meet you David..."
"Well, I didn't come empty-handed, figured you could use this in your new home..." David handed Matt a small plant in a pot.
Matt smiled. "Thanks... wow, I can barely keep myself alive, let alone a plant, but I'll try!"
David's brow furrowed for a moment, but then he laughed, realizing the joke. "Well I won't keep you - I hope to see you around..."
"You too..."
___________________
"Well Ensign, I think we'll be in capable hands," Milyanov said as he and Matt left the office. "They're all yours..."
Matt stood in the middle of Engineering, and after taking a deep breath, he called out: "Could everyone gather around please?"
The crew looked at him quizzically, but complied, if not completely enthusiastically. "Thank you," Matt said. "I just wanted to let you know that Commander Milyanov and I have just completed our handover. I want to thank him for his tireless work over the last few days, getting me up to speed, and it's been fantastic to meet you all. I know that my appointment here ruffled some feathers, and I'm sorry about that. However, I'm here now, and I want to promise you a couple of things. First, my door is always open. Anything you need, just let me know. Second, I will be open and honest with all of you. Information I can share, you'll have. Information I can't share, I'll be upfront about that as well. We're a team, and whatever I do from now on will be for the team... for all of you. I appreciate your support... now let's get back to work..."
Some nodded, some merely stomped off, but Matt was confident he had finally planted his flag in Engineering.
|
|
Carl Torek
Command Staff ..
Site Executive Officer Ranks Officer
Fleet Admiral
"UTRINQUE PARATUS"
Registered: Jun 17, 2006 22:34:35 GMT
Posts: 6,163
|
Post by Carl Torek on Dec 1, 2020 2:22:51 GMT
USS Raven-C Delta Docking Arm ... Twelve Hours to Departure :: Carl had finished his meeting with Gheskori, Nia Lemond, and Matthew Reynolds ..... It was clear to everyone that the troubles were just beginning ..... There were a lot of disgruntled people aboard Starbase Forty-Seven, most of which wanted nothing more than to return home to family, loved ones, and friends. But it simply wasn't as simple as piling everyone onto every available Starship to take them home: Most people understood this, alas, there was a small group of dissidents intent on getting home regardless of the cost, to anyone! ... He had initially offered to send the Raven out but keep it within the one light-year quarantine area, but Section Admiral Gheskori had refused the offer. It was clear that the presence of both the USS Raven and the Fleet Flagship, USS El Salvador, were causing more unrest than aid, the only viable remedy: Send them out. Stepping out of the turbo-lift, Carl, reluctantly accompanied by four of Reynolds Security Officers, made his way towards the umbilicus walkway and onto the Raven. Once there he thanked the Officers, who turned and left. "Stuart, how's the family?" he asked the Lieutenant piping him aboard. "They are good Admiral, thank you for asking. My daughter still has the pip you gave her, wears it on everything," Carl remembered how the young Lieutenants daughter had been injured, through no fault of her own, when a section of the bulkhead being repaired near her quarters had fallen on her and her mother. Despite being frightened, she had fought back the tears. Carl had been passing and had lifted the five-year-old into his arms while others had helped the Lieutenants wife. Neither had been injured, just a little shaken, but Carl had made a big thing about the little girl being so brave, and had subsequently invited them to the Conference Room, where he had rewarded her bravery with a certificate and a gift. Constance had been so pleased with her pip that apparently it had stayed with her ever since. "Good, I'll have to visit my young 'Acting Ensign' once we are underway," As was his way prior to departure he wanted to take a tour of the ship .... Nothing official, just one of his quirks .... He walked the corridors then entered a turbo-lift to Main Engineering .... Stepping out he could see a group of Engineers clearly in conference. He traversed the upper walkway, even now, thoroughly impressed with the warp core, which spanned fourteen dacks. He realised someone had seen him and waited as Ensign Dyson approached: "Admiral," the man said. "Chief... How are my engines?" Carl asked casually. "Purring like a kitten Admiral," "Good to hear... Let's hope they have a little roar in them should the need arise..." Carl commented as Commander Milyanov approached, "... Can I take it everything is ready for departure?" "Yes, Admiral," Dyson replied, still clearly fighting the urge to snap to attention every time they met. "Commander, please explain to my new Chief that if he puts his back out I'll demote him on the spot... Thank you, gentlemen, it's reassuring to know we're in good shape. Departure in eight hours," Carl said, turning away. He was stepping into the turbo-lift as Milyanov was coaching the Ensign, hopefully assuring him that 'strict' formalities were not something Torek demanded, as long as things were done. If all went as planned, they would be departing the Starbase around twenty-one hundred, eight hours from now. They would head directly toward the Alpha/Beta border before turning, still in the Beta Quadrant, to head away from the Sol System and into an area of as yet not fully explored space. Their assignment would be essentially mapping the region, the opportunity to take a look was something Starfleet couldn't overlook. Carl made his way through the ship, visiting every Department in turn until he reached the Bridge. "Admiral, they changed the carpet," Harry Wedlerson said as he stepped off the turbo-lift. Carl looked down, finally nodding. "It's lighter," "There was nothing wrong with the old carpet," Harry said as if he'd just unwillingly donated a lung. "Maybe they'll let you keep a piece, you know, for old'e time's sake?..." Carl suggested, trying and failing in his attempt not to laugh. Wedlerson grunted, "... Where are we on readiness?" "We are still kicking the last of the Technician's off the ship, otherwise we're all ready to go, carpet issues notwithstanding of course," Harry said with a wry grin. "Is Commander Blakus aboard?" "He was on Deck Six, signing off on the upgrade to the Primary Computer Core, want me to let him know you're here?" "No... I'll be in my quarters, might as well get one good meal in before we head out..." Carl said, "... Unless there are issues I don't see any reason for a delay to departure. Thank you Harry." he said, stepping into the turbo-lift before requesting Deck Two. Minutes later he entered his quarters ..........
|
|
Carl Torek
Command Staff ..
Site Executive Officer Ranks Officer
Fleet Admiral
"UTRINQUE PARATUS"
Registered: Jun 17, 2006 22:34:35 GMT
Posts: 6,163
|
Post by Carl Torek on Dec 1, 2020 16:38:28 GMT
USS Raven-C Delta Docking Arm ... Preparing to Depart :: Carl sat in the centre seat, on the viewscreen, the polarised windows of the Observation Lounge glowed a frosted silver... It was unusual, to say the least, that no one was watching the departure, but times had changed. "All Departments show ready Admiral," Harry said from Ops. "Right, release all umbilicus," Carl ordered. "Umbilicus and docking clamps released, the ship is now on internal power," the Chief Engineer confirmed. "Helm .... Port thrusters to one metre per second..." Torek ordered, watching the viewscreen as the massive Raven began to almost imperceptibly move away from the dock, "... For'ard thrusters to one metre per second," The Raven was now moving diagonally away from her berth, backing further into the dome whilst putting distance between herself and the Docking Arm protruding from the core of the Dome .... Marionette informed him that they were now six hundred meters from the Arm. This kind of manoeuvre wasn't normally possible in what would be a crowded Spacedock, but given the only other Starships currently within the Dome were Enzio and El Salvador, berthed on the opposite side of the Arm, they had plenty room. "Thrusters to station-keeping..." Carl ordered, waiting while the ship came to a complete stop, "... Bring us about to line up with the space doors Commander," The Raven rotated on her axis until it was facing the enormous space doors. He watched as the Dockmaster confirmed they were free to depart the Starbase, the doors seemingly gliding silently aside to reveal the stars beyond. It had been almost four months since the Raven had been in open space, in that time it had undergone countless upgrades to systems throughout the ship as well as having over ninety percent of the hull plating replaced, it was almost a completely new Starship. He became aware that everyone around him was waiting for his next order: "Commander, take us out, thrusters only..." he said almost self-consciously. The Raven passed through the doors and into open space, Carl ordered Aft view for a moment and the Bridge Officers watched as their home fell behind them, finally, he asked for the for'ard view, "... Set heading two six zero mark zero," "Coming to heading two six zero mark zero, Admiral," Marionette confirmed. "Warp eight ..... Now Commander," The Raven shot forwards, shifting into the nether-realm of faster than light velocities, Carl sat, watching the stars stream past on the new larger viewscreen. "Warp eight," the Gynoid confirmed. To avoid any unnecessary contact with vessels from the Klingon Empire, they would need to travel approximately sixty light-years on their present heading before turning once more. At warp eight they would travel for twenty days before commencing the turn which would eventually take them beyond the explored region of Federation space. During their transit, they would pass back into the Alpha Quadrant before returning over the border once clear of the Klingon Empire ..... For a second Carl frowned, looking down at the carpeted deck plates in front of his seat. Harry Wedlerson noticed his scrutiny: "Problem Admiral?" the Operations Chief asked" "Erm no, thank you, Harry... For a second there I thought I felt a vibration through the floor. Must have been my imagination, or the carpet," Torek said with a wry grin. "I'll have someone check your chair is bolted down once you go off duty if you like?" Wedlerson retorted. Carl looked over at his Executive Officer seated on his right, Blakus was clearly trying not to laugh, Alas, his Mission Advisor, to his left, had no such inhibitions as she laughed at the banter which had come to denote the USS Raven's exceptional crew. < OOC :: We can jump forward at any time to reach our destination in good time >
|
|
Calli Valente
Starfleet Intelligence
"Don't get in my way."
Registered: Aug 4, 2010 21:19:10 GMT
Posts: 534
|
Post by Calli Valente on Dec 2, 2020 15:10:46 GMT
Commander Calli Valente's Quarters USS Raven-C ... Before launch :: Three weeks earlier, Calli had left Vice Admiral Lemond deep in thought ..... Despite telling her boss that she was happy to remain in Intelligence, she was almost doubting her decision. Maybe it was her time on the USS Raven-C or the fact that she had been away from any active Intelligence duties for so long, almost ten years in fact, since being recruited by Admiral Sato Tetsutaro. She had become accustomed to being part of the Raven, part of what she considered more 'family' that colleagues of workmates. It was, of course, possible that she would be recalled at some point, and if or when that day arrived then she would have a decision almost forced upon her, the alternative is that she returns to Intelligence, or requests a permanent transfer to Starfleet itself before being put on the proverbial spot so to speak .....
She wondered if she should talk to Carl about her thoughts, but that might force her to give more reflection to her problem, wouldn't it?
USS Raven-C ... En Route to Unexplored Region of Federation Space :: They had been underway for almost three weeks now ..... Some days earlier they had passed briefly into the Alpha Quadrant before passing back over the border once again, this course was essential if they were to stay as far away from the Klingon Empires' outposts situated along their borders while losing minimal journey time. As usual, she had done her share of duty shifts, allowing the Senior Officers to relax more. This time around she was covering Beta Shift: Sixteen hundred hours to zero hundred. On the viewscreen, stars streamed by like so many diamonds on an endless black canvas ..... She had been spending her time reading up on the Bridge Officers Test, something she didn't actually 'need' given her Intelligence affiliation, but felt it would give her more security, more opportunities, should she make the decision to leave Intelligence at some point. "You going to ask if you take it?" Calli looked up from the PADD to see Lysia T'Seng stood beside her. "To be honest, I don't know, it's something that obviously wouldn't hurt my resumé would it," she said, rising before moving to one of the replicators. She requested a coffee and asked the Tactical Officer if she wanted a cup. Lysia looked over to her normal station seeing someone had already seated themself and was monitoring until the Tactical Officer returned, then nodded. "You've been on the Raven sometime now, have you ever thought of asking for a permanent assignment?" "Funny, I've been mulling that very question over for the last few weeks," Valente said as she sipped the hot beverage. "You and the Admiral... You're related aren't you?" "Well biologically, no, but both of us were kind of 'adopted' by the former Head of Starfleet Intelligence almost at the beginning of our careers. I've spent a lot of time with Carl's family, I've been on holiday with the family, and stayed at Admiral Tetsutaro's home in Geneva on occasion, I'm sort of an unofficial auntie to his Daughters... It seems there hasn't been a time when I wasn't a part of the family I suppose," "Must be nice," Lysia replied without a hint of envy. "It is..." Calli said, taking another sip, "... You've been here a good while too, and I know you, Andae, and Carl are pretty close," "We work well together, I think they value my opinion, which is always a good thing and to be honest, I couldn't see myself anywhere else, the Raven has been my home for so long," the turbolift doors opened while they were talking and the Gamma Shift Officers filed onto the Bridge. Calli and Lysia returned their cups to the replicator as Harry Wedlerson, this evenings' Duty Officer, approached for an update ..... Calli and Lysia left the Bridge together, both saying they would see the other next day ..... Calli entered her quarters and took off her tunic. As she walked into her bedroom she suddenly realised how tired she was, she sat on the edge of the bed, pulled off her boots and changed. She was asleep practically before her head hit the pillow ..........
|
|
Andae Blakus
Moderator ..
Commander 1C
Registered: Oct 17, 2007 22:48:27 GMT
Posts: 1,452
|
Post by Andae Blakus on Dec 2, 2020 17:19:18 GMT
Three weeks earlier, just before undocking
"... and the central processor can now perform nearly a hundred times the tasks it was capable of before. While it may run at higher temperatures compared to the computer you're used to, the new coolant regulators I believe my colleagues have installed will easily remedy this problem... Now, let's see..." the tech read off a PADD, "4.2 petaquads of data storage, an additional set of gel packs and -"
"Ok, that will do, Specialist. You can't blind me with these new specifications, I know what she can do."
The core and its mass of componentry was pleasing to Blakus, however, and he was interested in finding his way round the direct master interface for a while, though he stepped - physically - back; there was a new Chief Engineer aboard, he wasn't going to start stepping on the officer's toes like he'd done with Milyanov when the Russian had first taken over these sorts of duties.
The tech nodded at Blakus's response and started turning, blundering into an enlisted Raven crewmember who was approaching; the Raven enlisted barked in dissatisfaction as a PADD went flying. Andae stared at the SB tech, "I think you've outstayed your welcome, don't you?"
"Yes," the Specialist replied, "Departing immediately, Commander." He nodded and strode from the computer core section.
A week later, around the time the ship was moving from Beta to Alpha quadrant and back again, he'd received a call from the Starbase; it was Dacian Peractio, his cousin, doubtless about the inheritance again. They'd made progress in their discussions on the Starbase; Dacian had agreed to take half the substance of their family - with the self-removal of their mutual uncle from the line and after the death of that uncle's son a couple years ago, who otherwise would've inherited. Andae though had thus far refused the remaining half, insisting Dacian's mother should have it. Surprisingly, Dacian was calling about a different if related matter,
"Well, Andae, you were right on what you said about deck 1490. There is an odd group of people down there, cowled with rope waistbands, carrying old binds of dusty books around, in heated discussions about this or that." Of course Blakus knew he was right, he'd seen them himself. "There was one man who stood out, in ordinary civilian clothes, fairly tall."
Yes, he'd been the one tracking my movements, Blakus thought. "That sounds familiar, Dacian. I think they're indirectly responsible for my sight-hearing mismatch. Ok, keep me posted on the talks with your mother." They closed with three sharp nods, something common to their family, an ancient tradition recognised only by their clan and a few other families from the Italian peninsula. He shut down the comm on his terminal.
The present
Sitting perched in the first officer's chair - as it reached 0800 hours and the Alpha shift officially started - he was on hand as the Raven began to detect the subspace transmission that Starbase 47 had been assigned to investigate, which the Raven had been delegated to pursue. They were still quite a way off the putative coordinates of the originally detected transmission (which lay in the midst of the mainly unexplored gulf within Fed space), though the signal was evidently much stronger here than it had been for the nearest Starfleet listening posts and arrays.
"Let's see if we can start to unpick the nature of this thing," Andae said, trying to work with the stronger transmission. "Lieutenant Svensson, and Operations," he alerted Wedlerson's deputy, "Begin analysing that signal and see if we can deduce a species or faction origin, who may be sending it, or may have sent it."
They were still some thirty lightyears from the start of the uncharted gulf, it would be useful though to get the jump on any potential risks or issues.
<Tag All>
|
|
Carl Torek
Command Staff ..
Site Executive Officer Ranks Officer
Fleet Admiral
"UTRINQUE PARATUS"
Registered: Jun 17, 2006 22:34:35 GMT
Posts: 6,163
|
Post by Carl Torek on Dec 8, 2020 14:26:15 GMT
Approaching Unexplored Region :: It had taken five full days, yet they still had no real information on the signal they were tracking ..... "Sir, I'm picking up an object, dead ahead," Lysia said from Tactical. "Range?" Calli asked. "Six hundred thirty-one million kilometres," "Slow to impulse..." T'Seng ordered, tapping her comm-badge: =^= Admiral Torek Commander Blakus to the Bridge =^= "It's travelling at a little under two metres per second and could have been doing so for who knows how long," Lysia confirmed. "Match velocity and heading," The Raven dropped from warp and approached the object, it was large, three hundred meters in diameter, one hundred in height, it was adrift and tilted at thirteen degrees off horizontal ... As they approached, Carl, stepping off the turbolift with Andae, ordered they slow to one-quarter impulse to get a good look at the structure before making any decisions. "It's old ..... Very old, hundreds, maybe thousands of years maybe" Jor Svensson informed them, "...I'm hardly reading any power signature, and what I am doesn't fill me with confidence... Whoever built that certainly weren't warp-capable," "Oh?" Calli asked, looking at the structure as Commander Blakus instructed the Helm to hold position one thousand kilometres away. "Lieutenant?" Carl queried of the Science Officer. "If my readings are correct, that thing was powered by nuclear fusion!" "Really?" Valente said, walking forward and thus closer to the viewscreen as if the few metres would give her more insight into what they were looking at, alas, it didn't. "Helm, long-range scans, is there anyone or anything else in this region besides us?" Torek asked. "No Admiral, we are, alone," the Gynoid replied. "Can we remotely activate any of the systems over there?" Blakus asked. "No Sir, if they had any means to do so it is either off-line or completely powered down..." T'Seng answered, checking her panel again, "... It's possible that someone could at least bring reserve power up manually, once that's done it shouldn't be too difficult to configure a remote access terminal and link with the ship," "Are we in any immediate danger from the radiation?" Torek asked. "No, it's minimal, I'll administer Hyronalin, to be on the safe side," Doctor Roach said, tapping her comm-badge to instruct one of her team to ready a hypospray. "We're going over there then?" Andae asked. "Well, you are..." Carl replied with a wry grin, "... Calli, Lysia, Mister Dyson... You will be joining them too, we may well need your expertise over there... Helm, bring us to one thousand metres and hold position... Someone will need to suit-up and enter the structure, once inside find a way to bring the power on-line ....." The four began to make their way off the Bridge. Carl eyed the derelict structure again, wondering vaguely who had put it out here, and why, but more importantly, where were they now! Type Nine Shuttlecraft - Temeraire :: The four Officers climbed aboard the shuttle, all now in 'EVA' suits, T'Seng took Conn and waited while the shuttle-bay door slid out of sight. They were given clearance to depart and she raised the shuttle off the deck. She applied thrust and the Temeraire passed through the blue curtain of the forcefield and into open space between Raven's massive nacelles ..... Dropping behind the ship. Lysia then turned and began their approach. They moved along the length of the Sovereign Class Starship and eventually passed her. Calli had been scanning the structure for signs of a docking port or cargo bay by which they could make the initial ingress: "There?" Andae suggested, pointing to a large circular section, approximately ten metres in diameter and set back from the surrounding outer hull. "That's as good as anywhere," Lysia said with a nod, manoeuvring the shuttle until it was a mere ten meters from the portal ..... Blakus and Dyson donned their helmets and picked up a tool case each, then positioned themselves beneath the transporter module built into the ceiling. Calli activated the transporter and the two vanished from sight ..... A second later they materialised between the shuttle and the structure: =^= Once inside we'll find a means of opening the portal to allow the shuttle inside .. Then work on the power issue =^= Blakus informed everyone over the Comm. Then, using the miniature thrusters built into his 'EVA' suit he to begin moving towards the hull, Matthew Dyson, two metres behind him followed suit. Aboard the shuttle, Calli and Lysia watched their progress ready to beam them back should the need arise .......... < Tag : Away Team Members >
|
|
Andae Blakus
Moderator ..
Commander 1C
Registered: Oct 17, 2007 22:48:27 GMT
Posts: 1,452
|
Post by Andae Blakus on Dec 16, 2020 20:30:30 GMT
Andae looked out the forward window before moving towards the aft compartment. The Raven hovered a kilometre off the position of the abandoned station, just visible out the forward starboard portal, having found it impossible to identify internal spaces with any sure resolution, let alone learn the atmospheric constituents inside the structure. It was possible also the transporter would be interfered with by unspecified systems they were unable to scan.
He was dematerialised into the yawning infinite gap between shuttle and station, directing thrusters towards the 10 metre portal. Positioning himself to the left of the circular door, Dyson taking the right, he began to scan the antiquated manual mechanisms.
He lifted his inbuilt wrist-mounted tricorder, squinting at the display that was obscured by nearby flickering lighting on the hull. This tech did seem to be at least a thousand years old, going by the degradation of the duranium-tritanium alloy being deployed, in line with Svensson's thoughts.
"Ah, carbon..." he commed to the three team members, and ran an analysis, "Carbon dating indicates year 1221, plus or minus 5 years."
"Confirmed," Dyson commed from across the portal.
"Ok, I think I've identified a manual release. Stand by..." Blakus propelled himself towards the upper left quadrant of the portal and worked the smashed interface situated there; the Chief Engineer figured out what he was doing and made for the lower right quadrant, using the equivalent panel. The portal began moving aside into a slot within the hull.
Andae put his hand against the obsidian black duranium and the sound of the portal's opening propagated dully through his body; a deep, distant thundering, ancient mechanical systems whirring and clanking, working their way into the audial assault, a muted cacophony seeming to rise through him not from his hand but from his feet. The door was fully retracted, except for the final metre where it seemed to have jammed.
Anything they tried would not work, the shuttle would have to attempt entrance in spite of the narrowed gap. "I think there's just enough room," Blakus commed, and moved well aside.
The shuttle moved through, Blakus and Dyson following at a distance. Blakus misjudged the amount of thrust; just beginning to arrest his momentum, it was too late before he slammed headfirst into the left-side of the internal space beyond. "Damn it to hell," he barked as he was sent spinning for a few seconds before being able to correct his motion.
Blakus, Dyson and the shuttle were in a small internal docking space, three separate airlocks in the far wall, the right wall and the ceiling respectively. It seemed perhaps the outer (now ajar) portal was some sort of blast shield, protecting and securing the structure from some external threat, whether that was active hostiles or simply the debatable ravages of centuries of traversing the vacuum.
Only one of the airlocks remained operational: the shuttle came in and made an awkward docking with the right hand dock, the various mechanisms with difficulty establishing the necessary links.
Shortly after, T'Seng and Calli were inside the structure's pressurised space beyond the airlock, reporting that the atmosphere was at the moment almost pure methane, EVA suits very much necessary.
"Acknowledged," Andae replied, floating in the docking space, "Remotely evacuating shuttle atmosphere," he worked his wrist device, atmosphere now slowly passing from the shuttle's interior into its matter buffers, "We'll enter the shuttle and join you through the docking port shortly." He introduced a slight bit of lateral momentum towards the shuttle with an instantaneous burst of his thrusters.
"Wait a moment, sir," Dyson alerted him, the Chief Engineer positioned near the space's ceiling; he had open a maintenance port, having detached a scratched and almost wholly carbonised panel; scarlet and teal blinking lights were shown beyond, Dyson's silhouette eclipsing most of them, "I think I've found a way to access the structure's equivalent of an EPS grid... I may be able to activate reserve power from here."
"Go ahead," Blakus raised a thumb to the Chief as he continued slowly towards the shuttle.
Might there be a remote access system that reserve power would activate automatically? Hopefully they wouldn't need to traipse through the inhospitable environment of the structure to try to restore power, to generally explore, or to find a remote access panel. Then again, perhaps reserve power would restore a basic functioning life support system, giving them oxygen in place of methane, assuming the original occupants had breathed oxygen...
"Reserve power restored!" Dyson called triumphantly, now rotating to propel himself towards the shuttle.
Blakus nodded to himself, "Raven, this is away team..." he waited a moment for the structure to begin to restore to its resever power level, various sub-relays and junctions shunting renewed energy through the network, "The structure is now on reserve power. Are you detecting any sort of remote access mechanism now?"
<Tag Raven>
|
|
Carl Torek
Command Staff ..
Site Executive Officer Ranks Officer
Fleet Admiral
"UTRINQUE PARATUS"
Registered: Jun 17, 2006 22:34:35 GMT
Posts: 6,163
|
Post by Carl Torek on Dec 17, 2020 14:36:37 GMT
With the Raven angled directly at the shuttle, and the EVA crew beyond, Carl watched his Officers intently, hoping there would be no need for emergency action on their part ..... "They've got the airlock open," Harry Wedlerson informed the Bridge needlessly, given everyone was watching proceedings. After a few moments, they saw the Shuttlecraft Temeraire begin to inch forwards, almost imperceptibly it approached the opening, reduced due to the doors malfunction, Carl assumed. There was less than a metre clearance on both sides as the small craft passed beyond the threshold and into darkness, the only visible clue to their whereabouts being the shuttles navigation lights ..... They had been listening in to the Comms chatter, Harry grinned when Blakus seemingly collided with something within what may be an internal docking-bay. "Sir, I'm picking up power fluctuations within the structure," the duty Tactical Officer reported. =^= Reserve power restored .. .. =^= they heard Dyson say, with an ill-disguised yelp of self-congratulation. "Keep an eye on those fluctuations, Lieutenant," Torek said as light, dimmed at first, then increasing, began to flood the bay the shuttle had entered. =^= Raven .. This is away team .. .. The structure is now on reserve power .. Are you detecting any sort of remote access mechanism now? =^= Blakus asked. =^= Confirmed Commander .. We are registering power increase throughout the structure .. We are also detecting an oxygen atmosphere forming .. .. The structure appears to have detected our proximity =^= Carl paused as Wedlerson turned to him with a concerned look on his face: "Sir, I'm picking up a power spike directed at the Raven, I'd guess some form of passive scan," =^= Andae .. Are you picking up anything over there? =^= Torek asked. =^= Only the power levels rising .. We can confirm the methane atmosphere in the immediate area beyond our location 'is' being replaced by breathable air =^= the Exec' confirmed. "Admiral, I'm seeing a zero point three eight percent drop in power throughout the ship," Milyanov reported from the Engineering Station. Carl looked across at the former Chief Engineer then back at the structure on the viewscreen. "Any ideas?" "Could be some sort of automated scan, it's so far behind anything we have, clearly pre-warp technology. The power drain isn't anything serious at this point, but I'd prefer whatever is causing it to be shut down before we have to take more serious action, maybe the away team can find the source and deactivate it," =^= Away team .. Did you hear all that? =^= Torek asked. =^= We'll make it a priority Admiral =^= Dyson confirmed. Carl sat back, the Comm remaining open until they could confirm the away team were in no immediate danger. "Sir, that power drain has increased slightly, now at zero point eight two percent..." Milyanov said, still seemingly unconcerned but wary nonetheless, "... I suggest we put a little distance between us and the structure to monitor," "Helm, move us back a further thousand kilometres," Torek ordered immediately. "Well, whatever is scanning us is persistent I'll say that..." the Engineer muttered, checking his readings before continuing, "... Power drain holding at one point two percent Admiral, we're coping," "Is it possible the structure is using our power to bring itself online?" Carl asked with a frown, but Milyanov could only shrug: "It could be... We 'could' try raising shields, see if that has any effect?" "Let's allow the drain, at least for the time being, that thing has been dormant for possibly hundreds of years..." Carl said, pointing to the structure hanging two thousand kilometres away, "... Maybe it needs an external source before it can bring main systems online, but if the drain increases beyond two percent we'll need to do something. I'm all for getting that thing up and running so we can better investigate, but not at our expense. Has there been any indication of communications coming online over there?" "Nothing we can detect Admiral," the Comms Officer confirmed. Again he leaned back, eyes on the structure, which now seemed brighter than before, clearly the usage of Raven's vast stores of energy were helping, or so it appeared ..........
|
|
Andae Blakus
Moderator ..
Commander 1C
Registered: Oct 17, 2007 22:48:27 GMT
Posts: 1,452
|
Post by Andae Blakus on Dec 27, 2020 11:12:39 GMT
Blakus had loped in his EVA suit through the Temeraire and out its other hatch where the craft had made port with the structure's docking mechanism. He emerged in a narrow corridor, Dyson following behind and cycling the inner airlock to closed; it was left without its absolute lock, in case they needed to get out quickly.
The two other away team members were positioned down the corridor to the left, just now removing their helmets as the air in the surrounding passages cleared itself of its poisonous constituents.
The comm with Torek concluded, Andae thought on their two paramount, immediate objectives: they first had to discover when and how within the power-up of the structure - from reserve power through to main - communications would be brought online, when the Raven may be able to access the structure's systems remotely; secondly, perhaps more importantly, they'd to deduce the source of the slight power drain on the Raven's systems.
"Ok, let's keep to two teams," he said without aid of the suit comm as he unlocked his own helmet and took a deep breathful of newly recycling air; there was an odd tang to it, not staleness of course, but as if the mechanisms operating the environmental systems weren't working all that efficiently - nearly 1200 years of 'service' would do that...
"Calli, Lysia, see if you can track down some sort of comm interface; you might be looking for an operational or command centre, or if we're more fortunate a junction point in these chaotic passageways," he said, looking round bewilderedly at the place's internal layout, "Actually, a command centre could be useful. Ok, go; as the structure's power is restored, remote access via comm from the Raven to this thing's computer core may become possible."
<Tag Valente>
"Dyson, you're with me, we're going to hunt down the fusion reactor. I think we know roughly where the power centre is... -"
"Atmospheric constitutents are still 78% methane in those parts, Commander," Lysia said, reading off her tricorder, "It's clearing rapidly, but don't rush over there."
Andae acknowledged somewhat sardonically and began searching for an access-way, something vertical, when Dyson called him over - he'd found a turbolift of sorts. A panel on the inside showed a miniature schematic of the whole structure; they took a couple seconds, Dyson then pointing to a particular spot - Andae nodded, the power core.
"Umm, power core," he called out to whatever onboard computer there might be. Predictably, nothing happened; Dyson, having the better idea, tapped the panel in the location it displayed the core. Whirring and clanking in its antiquated manner, the lift took them unsteadily down five levels.
They circled the chamber. Maroon and scarlet shades - a thousand variations - spiralling and looping out from the central core device periodically illuminated the officers' faces. This was the main fusion drive. Not too dissimilar in appearance to a Fed warp core, with every moment it was glowing brighter, spinning faster, as relays in the reserve power system continued to shunt energy into the main manifolds.
Where was that energy coming from? Reserve power had been restored to almost nominal levels; it couldn't indefinitely feed energy into the main system, unless it was relying on some mysterious power source beyond the Raven's - indeed all of Federation science's - ability to detect.
"No fuel tanks," Dyson said in disbelief as he studied a display, musing, "Now wait, I guess there would've been ships hanging around this thing in the distant past..."
"Well, I have a theory..." Blakus said, crouching beside a low panel and an extremely antiquated control interface at the edge of the room, while Dyson worked round the central drive; about to speak to the engineer, Blakus paused and tapped his commbadge (now the other team as well as the Raven would be able to hear), =/\=Valente, and Raven, Blakus here. The Raven informs us of a power drain on her systems, source unknown, possibly this structure. I have something that corroborates that theory.=/\=
=/\=Go ahead, Commander,=/\= Torek's voice came.
=/\=I'm at the console for what appears to be a matter transporter, in the room with the fusion core,=/\= he clarified for those not on the away team, =/\=The system the console operates has been functioning automatically. According to these dials and gauges, I'd suggest instruments on the reserve power system have been beaming deuterium from the Raven's supply, and... replacing it with inert pseudo-deuterium, transported into the Raven's own tanks, so the crew wouldn't notice the difference and find only an unexplained power drain.=/\=
=/\=Transporting fuel on and off the Raven, Andae?=/\= Lysia T'Seng was incredulous.
=/\=Yes, Commander. This is how the structure's got main power back online; it's acquired new fuel for its fusion generator. The structure must be programmed so upon any sort of activation, it searches for nearby deuterium sources, brings up main power, then keeps its energy topped up by the same siphoning process.=/\=
=/\=Could this pose a threat to the Raven, Andae? How much more deuterium are we liable to lose in this manner?=/\=
=/\=All of it, that's how this fusion drive operates. It has no deuterium storage tanks of its own.=/\= Then they had to shut it down, Carl and Calli informed him almost simultaneously, or withdraw to a safe distance, Carl added. Andae nodded, =/\=Ok, regardless of which we choose, I'd like to try reducing the core's reaction rate, ease the drain on the Raven.=/\=
After some investigative work, he found the appropriate station; putting his hands to the controls, an electric discharge shot in stroboscopic blinding light, from the console into and through his hands and body; he was flung back into the far wall. Dyson rushed across, but found the XO unresponsive.
<Tag Dyson, other team, Raven>
|
|
Calli Valente
Starfleet Intelligence
"Don't get in my way."
Registered: Aug 4, 2010 21:19:10 GMT
Posts: 534
|
Post by Calli Valente on Dec 28, 2020 14:32:17 GMT
Confirming they now had breathable air, the away team tentatively removed their helmets ..... "Ok, let's keep to two teams," Blakus ordered without the aid of the suit comm as he unlocked his own helmet and took a deep breath of newly recycling air, "Calli, Lysia, see if you can track down some sort of comm interface; you might be looking for an operational or command centre, or if we're more fortunate a junction point in these chaotic passageways ... Actually, a command centre could be useful. Ok, go; as the structure's power is restored, remote access via comm from the Raven to this thing's computer core may become possible." Calli and Lysia took out tricorders and looked along the corridor, looking back they could see Blakus and Dyson following the same corridor in the opposite direction ..... Turning, the two began to head down the passage: the corridors' illumination increasing as they walked. Apparently, the facility was programmed to supply lighting wherever someone was present, energy-saving if useless given the form of their supposed power generation. Lysia stopped at a door and scanned, but the tricorder could tell her nothing. She looked at the plaque beside the door: အရန်သိုလှောင်မှု Lysia was still frowning as Calli approached. "The power seems to be off apart from lighting..." Calli was saying, noticing Lysia's expression, "... Problem?" "Is it just me, or does that writing look, familiar?" the Tactical Officer said, pointing to the plaque. Calli looked at it and shook her head. "Send it to the Raven, they may be able to decipher it," Calli said, noticing a small panel built into the bulkhead. Leaving T'Seng at the door, she approached the panel and pulled it open ..... Inside there appeared to be a series of relay's or switches, the same script was stencilled beneath of the relays, most of the indicators were dark, one, a set of five thin bars was flashing at the third bar, she assumed this could be the lighting indicator, but had no way of confirming it, so cautiously she placed a finger on the flashing light and moved it to the left, immediately the lighting in the corridor dimmed until they were in complete darkness. Quickly she reinstated the third level and grinned sheepishly at the startled T'Seng. Just to confirm her findings she moved the slide up to five and the corridor was flooded in light, again she moved it to three then looked at the other relays. "Any chance you could stop blindly touching things?" Lysia said from the door. Nodding Calli began to remove her hand then took another risk, she tapped one of the inert relays and heard a click. "This plaque just lit up," T'Seng said, taking a step away from the door. "Try it?..." Calli mused. Lysia approached the door with no effect, she reached out and touched the plaque and the door slid aside, the ship immediately rising the light level in the room beyond. It looked like a storeroom of sorts, cases were piled against each wall and several larger ones stood in the centre of the room, "... Well, at least we know how to open the doors," Calli said, relaying the information to Blakus and Dyson, who had also been stood near a door. The two left the room and continued on, opening doors as they reached them. Some were storage, but then they reached what was clearly crew quarters, two bunks to a room, uniforms hung in small alcoves, all covered in a fine layer of dust. ကုန်တင် "OK, looks like a turbolift, of sorts," Lysia said as she opened a door at the end of the corridor. Glancing at Calli, who could only shrug, the two stepped into the cubicle. Immediately it began to move, but not how they expected, rather than moving vertically, it seemed to be moving on an angle, much like the old-style escalators ..... Finally, the door slid aside and they hurriedly stepped out. They were in another corridor, this one coloured differently than the first. "We moved 'up' so maybe we're getting closer to whatever they use as a Bridge?" Calli speculated, she looked for and found another panel, this one like the first, the same illumination indicator, less tentatively she tapped the first relay and heard the 'click' presumably locking systems deactivating. They moved along the corridor opening doors in turn. "Bingo," Lysia said with a pleased cheer. Calli walked over and looked into the room, it was clearly something official, several consoles lay dormant. Calli moved back to the panel and tapped the second and third relays, she heard Lysia shout and returned, now the consoles were lit up, albeit covered in the same layer of fine dust. Slowly Talia wiped the dust from the nearest console, seeing a series of indicators. The Raven contacted her at that moment: =^= Raven to Away Team .. .. Ships library cannot decipher the text Commander .. The closest comparable language is .. .. Old Earth .. Burmese .. To be specific .. .. =^= Calli and Lysia looked at each other in disbelief. =^= That can't be possible Raven =^= they heard Blakus reply. =^= We said the closest comparison Andae .. It's clearly 'not' Burmese =^= =^= Not unless someone dropped in on Earth possibly thousands of years before the Wright Brothers took their first flight and transported Humans off the planet! =^= Calli commented. =^= Suggest you continue your assignment .. Records are trying to formulate a translation matrix which could help over there .. .. Raven out =^= Calli and no doubt the others on the away team were surprised at the abrupt cut-off of the Comm, but given no other options they continued their search as before. Calli moved to a second console and scanned it, while the tricorder couldn't give them specific information, it did indicate there were communication elements. "This could be their Comms," Valente said, wiping the remainder of the dust away, which thankfully was being recycled by the ships' environmental systems. She placed the tricorder on the panel and stood back, letting it scan more thoroughly. finally, it confirmed a frequency that would be compatible with the Raven's systems. She contacted the ship and was told to wait ... Again she looked at Lysia. "What the hell is going on over there?" she asked, again contacting Blakus and Dyson to apprise them of their progress, Andae too seemed concerned with the Raven's somewhat 'curt' replies. Their commbadges chirped simultaneously: =^= Raven to Away Team .. .. =^= =^= Blakus =^= Calli heard Andae reply for them. =^= Away Team .. We have isolated a communications panel .. We are receiving the data now .. Standby .. .. .. =^= A second later Torek's voice could be heard through the facilities communications system. =^= We're hearing you Raven =^= Blakus confirmed. =^= Away Team .. We are having difficulty establishing a link to the structures' computer systems .. We're working on it .. In the meantime continue your search =^= =^= Underst ...... =^= Blakus began to reply before the comm again snapped off mid-comment. Calli shook her head, she tapped her commbadge: =^= Valente to Blakus =^= =^= Go ahead Calli =^= =^= Andae .. I think we should regroup and discuss options =^= she said, glancing at Lysia, who nodded in agreement. =^= Agreed .. Lock in on our location .. We appear to be close to Engineering .. In some sort of transporter facility .. .. =^= They listened intently to Andae as he explained what they had found regarding the deuterium transfer and the effects on the Raven, all the while following the indicators on Lysia's tricorder. Ten minutes later the two women entered the room where Blakus and Dyson were waiting ..........
|
|
Andae Blakus
Moderator ..
Commander 1C
Registered: Oct 17, 2007 22:48:27 GMT
Posts: 1,452
|
Post by Andae Blakus on Jan 5, 2021 15:17:23 GMT
Andae emerged from the shadows of forced unconsciousness, fighting his way clear of constricting nightmares and what normally might be considered fever-induced apparitions. What had happened? Had he been attacked? Had the console...?
"They're here, Commander, the rest of the away team."
"Who?" he choked, suddenly conscious of his shoulder blades against the uncarpeted metallic deck of the fusion generator room. He pulled himself up onto his elbows and squinted as he noticed the white rectangle of the open door to the room. Light poured in, competing in intensity with the colourful strands thrown off by the reactor.
"Commander Blakus," he heard a muffled voice, followed by rapid footsteps. "What happened?" he heard Valente ask Dyson as the light was eclipsed.
"The console shot an electric discharge at him. He was trying to reduce the core's reaction rate to limit the drain on the Raven's systems."
And I doubt very much that it was an accident, Blakus thought his first clear thought as he struggled back to full awareness. "And I doubt very much that it was -" he began but clearly they hadn't heard him. He also doubted that he was making any sound at all.
"I think we need to discuss the next move," Valente had started saying, "I'm concerned by the Raven's recent communications. Have either of you considered them unusual?" Dyson nodded but Blakus just made indistinct noises and rattled his head blearily, although in his own mind he'd said something perfectly cogent. "Well, in that case, Mr Dyson, on their next comm we should be ready to question their thinking. If they request something of you, ask them to explain basic reasoning, keep it discreet and any problems refer it to me or Commander T'Seng."
Blakus nodded, "Sounds good to me," he gurgled. He started speaking, talking nonsense, until he sensed that those around him were starting to absorb what he was saying as constituting actual words, their facial expressions softening, at which point he seemed to be speaking slightly less nonsense,
"... think the deuterium that is being transported from the Raven to here is part of this thing's normal operation," he said. "It siphons deuterium from any source it encounters, having no other means to generate power. Perhaps long ago it had actual deuterium fuel tanks, which have perhaps been repurposed."
"The language deployed on certain ship controls is related to Burmese. But this must surely be accidental," Lysia observed.
Blakus nodded, "The carbon-dating of hull components indicates the ship's current hull was fabricated circa the year 1221. So any connection with Burma of old Earth is ruled out." He hoped.
=/\=Away team, this is Raven. We are into the computer core. Acknowledge... Away team, acknowledge.=/\=
The four of them looked at one another concernedly, not wanting to be the first to reply. "Hmmm, I believe the..." Blakus didn't answer the comm and drew himself to his feet, looking guardedly and with annoyance at the console that'd given him the considerable jolt, "... subspace beacon of this thing, was meant to draw deuterium sources - that is, ships - towards it. This is what it does, crawls between the stars, draining/beaming off fuel to conserve itself. This time, it found itself too far from the nearest stationary deuterium sources - stars, for instance - and its main power gave out in deep interstellar space."
=/\=Acknowledge, away team!=/\=
|
|
Calli Valente
Starfleet Intelligence
"Don't get in my way."
Registered: Aug 4, 2010 21:19:10 GMT
Posts: 534
|
Post by Calli Valente on Jan 22, 2021 19:07:50 GMT
=^= Away team .. This is Raven .. We are into the computer core .. Acknowledge .. .. Away team .. .. Acknowledge! =^=
Everyone looked at each other for a long moment.
=^= Acknowledge .. Away team =^=
=^= Commander Valente to Raven .. Acknowledging .. .. .. =^= she looked at the still stunned Exec' while listening to the Raven's reply
=^= Reason for the delay Commander? =^= they heard Torek query.
=^= Commander Blakus received a moderate shock from a panel he was investigating .. We were ensuring he was in no immediate danger Admiral .. .. You confirmed you have computer core access Sir? =^= she asked.
=^= Yes .. We have begun deciphering the information .. We have found a set of star charts .. Primitive and with little detail but they do appear to show the location of the builders of the facility =^=
=^= You want us back on the Raven Admiral? =^= she asked, everyone noticed the extended pause before Torek replied:
=^= do you believe the facility is stable Commander? =^= the Admiral replied. Calli looked at the others who remained silent as Blakus managed to climb to his feet.
=^= There is still a large area unexplored Admiral .. .. But we believe so =^= Andae informed Torek.
=^= I'm going to send a Science team over there to continue investigations .. We will follow the charts as best we can .. Astrometrics is trying to match up the maps we have from the facility to those received from the automated deep-range probe scans made almost thirty years ago .. With luck we'll at least have a general heading =^=
=^= I think either Commander Valente or myself should remain aboard the facility to oversee progress .. .. I'm hap .. .. .. =^= Blakus was saying as Torek interrupted:
=^= That won't be necessary .. Commander .. Once the Science team arrive give them an update then contact us when you are ready to return .. Raven out =^= the Comm snapped off, leaving everyone momentarily perplexed.
"Is it me, or does the Admiral sound, annoyed?" T'Seng asked.
"We're hardly in immediate danger," Dyson commented.
"Right, let's get everything we can on-line..." Andae ordered, shuffling over to a panel while giving the one that put him flat on his back a wide berth, "... And be careful, let's not have a second episode of what just happened," They moved around the room activating each panel in turn, the unfathomable script illuminating various switches and readouts. While no-one commented on their earlier thoughts, it was clear they believed something was amiss on the Raven. Maybe it was simply nerves, paranoia, stress, none of which should be affecting the performance of Starfleet Officers. It seemed they had no option but to follow orders ..........
|
|
Andae Blakus
Moderator ..
Commander 1C
Registered: Oct 17, 2007 22:48:27 GMT
Posts: 1,452
|
Post by Andae Blakus on Jan 25, 2021 15:14:17 GMT
Andae checked over the last of the consoles the team had been able to find in this section, not only those in the fusion generator room but the deuterium transporter alcoves and what appeared to be two antiquated UV-ray emitting spaces, sort of walk-in 'solariums' as they'd been called a few hundred years ago.
He tapped his commbadge, =/\=Away team, Blakus. Ok, all panels up and running in this section. Returning to generator room where we'll hand over to our vaunted science team and beam back to the Raven.=/\= They confirmed.
When he'd started speaking he hadn't meant to be sarcastic; it only worried him what may be taking place on the Raven. An image of phasers pointed to the heads of the bridge officers floated into his mind's eye, and he laughed off the suggestion; but a deep nagging uncertainty developed once silence had fallen. He shrugged this off and started making his way back to the fusion generator complex.
Seven beams of coruscating light took form to the side of the room, and once fully materialised Lieutenant Svensson stepped forward and greeted them, his team - including one engineer to replace the Chief who would be beaming back, Ensign Bainbridge - lowering their equipment and checking with each other what each had.
"You seem well," Andae nodded guardedly to Svensson, who frowned. "We have most of the systems online; main power has been restored, and for now it's ceased drawing from the Raven's own supply," he looked around, "There's still a lot to explore here... The sections we've labelled Alpha through Delta are still isolated with no atmosphere; Epsilon through Iota are online; Kappa is offline and Lambda's power is slowly returning - still too much methane in the atmosphere down there. She's all yours, Lieutenant."
"Aye, sir," Svensson returned to his team and divided it into three groups of two; just before he moved off with one duo, Blakus and Valente took him aside, with T'Seng and Dyson awaiting transport in the place the science team had materialised. "Just what's going on over there, Jor?"
It was as if a switch was flipped in Svensson - his expression hardened immediately and his eyes blazed, "I don't know what you're talking about!" He tried to move away.
"No, you don't..." Blakus gripped the science officer by the upper arm, and he was obliged to return, "The CO's calls have been terse, almost angry. Why are we being taken off this thing, really, has he told any of you, or anybod- ?"
The fury in Jor's eyes had morphed into puzzlement, "They must have filtered the comms through the hull... Altered the form of what the Admiral said while preserving the sense. They have told us of this. We... I didn't think it would come true. While the machines said -"
"Now you're speaking in riddles," Calli said. "And who are 'they'?"
Andae had begun to wonder if the Raven hadn't been assigned some secret intelligence mission, having either expected to find this station out here, or under strict orders to secure whatever they found and keep the senior officers - other than Svensson as chief scientist - ignorant, as far as possible, of the implications of its discovery. Under this interpretation, perhaps only Torek was privy to knowledge of the covert mission, Svensson merely someone who could be relied on not to ask questions. That was until the science officer had mentioned the 'machines'.
"They being the builders of this," Jor answered Calli. The aggression had returned to his voice, his body language, "We're under way, don't you know? The Raven has this thing under tractor and we're making for its point of origin."
That would be the approximate point of origin, Blakus remembered, the antique star charts in the station's computer having been downloaded to the Raven... Was it possible something else - related to the builders of the facility - had also been downloaded and accessed by the Raven's computer? Given Svensson's behaviour, he wasn't willing to leave the science team here unattended; Dyson and T'Seng would remain, despite Svensson's likely protestations, and he and Valente would transport back. They had to have some more definite answers from their starship itself.
"Only two of you," the transporter chief observed as they materialised in transporter room 1. He tapped his commbadge, =/\=Jones to bridge. Commander Blakus has refused to follow orders, sir.=/\=
|
|
Carl Torek
Command Staff ..
Site Executive Officer Ranks Officer
Fleet Admiral
"UTRINQUE PARATUS"
Registered: Jun 17, 2006 22:34:35 GMT
Posts: 6,163
|
Post by Carl Torek on Jan 27, 2021 12:56:56 GMT
USS Raven-C Ten Thousand Kilometers from Facility :: Carl turned to the Duty Tactical Officer then back at the viewscreen, for over a minute he had been trying to figure out why the woman had snapped at his request for information. Over the last hour reports had come in from all over the Raven: Arguments, disagreements, even two physical altercations. He had asked Doctor Roach and her Staff to investigate. "Sir, I'm still not picking anything up on sensors," the Tactical Officer repeated. "Where are we on the mapping information?" Torek asked, seemingly ignoring the young woman. "Astrometrics have confirmed they have a general heading, but given the time the facility has been adrift they cannot give us anything definitive," the Gynoid said from the Helm. Carl sat in silence for a moment then made a decision. "Helm... Move us within tractor range, prepare to bring the facility under tow," he ordered. The Bridge was completely silent as Marionette turned to face him: "Admiral... The facility is approximately two thirds our mass but fragile, extremely fragile. Moving it anywhere would prove, problematic at best," Carl eyed the woman for a long moment then spoke: "I wasn't aware I had asked for a maths lesson, Commander," "Yes... Admiral," Marionette replied, turning her chair to face the viewscreen ..... The Raven slowly approached the facility, Marionette turned the ship to Port to pass on the left of the massive structure, before resuming her original course. Slowing then stopping the ship, she confirmed the facility was directly astern of them at five hundred meters. Again she attempted to warn her Commanding Office of the problems that could result from his actions, but Torek just glared at the Gynoid and pointed toward the viewscreen, which Marionette took as a silent order to face forward. "Engage tractors, bring us 'slowly' up to one-quarter impulse," For two full seconds neither the Sovereign Class Starship, nor the decrepit facility moved, then Marionette confirmed they were moving ahead at ten meters per second and increasing. Despite warnings from Tractor control, Torek steadfastly refused to rescind his order, watching the viewscreen as if hypnotised as the Raven and the facility continued to slowly increase velocity. Damage to the ship wasn't a real issue, but not so for the facility, whose superstructure was taking a pounding as the tractors tried to maintain a solid hold ..... In Transporter Room One, Blakus and Valente materialised. "Only the two of you?" the Transporter Chief commented. As the two Senior Officers left with no explanation forthcoming, he tapped his commbadge: =^= Jones to bridge .. Commander Blakus has refused to follow orders .. Sir =^= Carl was stood glaring at the turbolift doors as they opened to allow Blakus and Valente to step onto the Bridge. "I gave you an order, Commander," Carl said without preamble. "Sir... There is something amiss here, I allowed the remainder of the team to stay along with Lieutenant Svensson. I believ ....." "You disobeyed an order," Torek interrupted, gaze flicking between the two as Doctor Roach stepped off the turbolift and approached. "Admiral, I need to speak with you, urgently..." she began as Torek was waving at the Security Officer stationed nearby, "... Now... Admiral!" Roach insisted. Reluctantly Torek waved the clearly relieved Security Officer back, with another withering look at Andae and Calli, he turned his attention to the Doctor. "What?" "Sir, I think I have an explanation for the bouts of erratic behaviour throughout the ship," "Erratic behaviour?" Torek repeated. "Yes... I believe that while we have been retrieving data from the facilities' computer cores, we have been inadvertently affected by radiation poisoning," "Really?" Carl asked. His expression one of someone clearly unwilling to believe what he was being told. "Yes... Really!..." Roach said, more sternly than intended, "... It looks like some form of mutated theta radiation, causing acute radiation syndrome in those affected. It was likely a byproduct of insufficient shielding of the systems supplying atomic power to the facility, but over the years it has somehow, transmuted into something our sensors didn't pick up on arrival," Still, Torek refused to accept what he was being told. "Admiral... I need to begin immunisations of everyone aboard the Raven immediately!" "You're sure of your findings Doctor?" Carl asked, angering Roach even more. She took a hypospray from her pack and reached forward, but Torek took a step back. "What do you think you are doing Doctor?" he asked darkly. "You need the immunisation Admiral," Roach said, inoculating Valente and Blakus in turn, but again Torek took a step back, eyes flicking to the Security Officer ..........
|
|
Andae Blakus
Moderator ..
Commander 1C
Registered: Oct 17, 2007 22:48:27 GMT
Posts: 1,452
|
Post by Andae Blakus on Feb 3, 2021 14:13:38 GMT
OOC: I thought the facility was only about half the size of the Raven! All good though, it does work better this way given events of the previous post
IC: Blakus felt the cold press of the hypospray against his neck, not sure whether to feel relieved or a little disconcerted. Roach wasn't exactly her normal self either; in the worst case scenario: who knew what she could've injected him with?
Also the idea of theta radiation being responsible didn't seem to tally with what he and Calli had discovered from Svensson (unhinged as the science officer had admittedly been), so perhaps she'd inadvertently made up the theta theory, too.
Or possibly, Blakus thought, Svensson's theta exposure had driven him into insane delusions about... builders, machines, or what have you, infiltrating the Raven's computer.
He had no more time to think on these matters as the hesitant security officer had moved across the bridge's upper level and interposed himself between Roach and the CO; Roach smiled diffidently (there seemed to be something of a mad glint in her eye, Blakus noticed) and simply inoculated the security officer instead. If the theta rad antidote is so effective, why hasn't Roach taken it herself already? was Andae's sudden thought; unless she had, and theta radiation wasn't the problem affecting the crew.
"Doctor!" Torek barked, and shoved the inoculated security man aside; he backed Dr Roach into the corner of the port-aft quarter of the bridge, having the deputy tactical officer train a phaser - set to stun - on her to prevent her from moving about the bridge inoculating everybody else. By this point Marionette had turned in her chair; she now stood and approached the scene of the developing fracasse.
Blakus now took steps forward, "Admiral... I can't say for certain what's going on over here, but it's been most evident to me, and to Calli, since our coming back aboard, that something has changed, for the worse. We heard it - while we were still on the station- in your comms to us, too."
Torek raised his eyes to heaven and sighed deeply, shaking his head, "Well... As per usual, you weren't getting a move on, Commander," he snapped, "And not only were you tardy in your return from the station, you left half your number over there! I needed Svensson and his team over there, and them alone... -"
"Yes... Svensson..." Blakus murmured, "Sir..." he entreated his CO, "... Carl, Lieutenant Svensson was telling us something about... machines, in my view perhaps artefacts left in the facility's computers, inadvertently downloaded to the Raven's memory banks along with the old starcharts. These machines, or whatever it is that's found its way into our computer, could be... I don't know, controlling the crew somehow, by telepathy, suggestion, ship-wide brainwashing... by mind control..."
"Perhaps you need another hypospray injection, Commander," Torek said ironically.
"Search within yourself, Carl," Calli said, "Your behaviour, your threatening of the CMO, the order to tractor the facility. Is this you?" Blakus signalled agreement with the mission advisor, still rubbing his neck where the hypospray had made its subcutaneous entry.
Carl ignored them and rounded the port-side, forward-facing console to take to the command chair; he tapped at his armrest, =/\=Security. Six personnel to the bridge immediately. Escort Commanders Blakus and Valente, and Dr Roach, to the brig.=/\=
=/\=Sir? Did I hear you right?=/\= came the voice of the third-most senior security officer. Yes, he heard him, Andae thought tiredly. =/\=Ah... Ah yes, of course. Right away, Admiral.=/\=
The security arrived; Blakus and Valente had no choice but to follow them back below-deck. Meanwhile, Dyson and Lysia T'Seng were growing more and more impatient as their hails of the Raven kept going unanswered, and as the Raven itself continued its moderately slow progress - with the facility under tractor - towards the 1,200 year-old station's presumed point of origin.
|
|
Calli Valente
Starfleet Intelligence
"Don't get in my way."
Registered: Aug 4, 2010 21:19:10 GMT
Posts: 534
|
Post by Calli Valente on Feb 13, 2021 15:11:15 GMT
Calli, Andae, and Doctor Roach entered the turbolift, three of the six Security personnel close behind ..... "Deck twenty... Brig," one of them said, clearly uncomfortable with his assigned task. The turbolift slowed to a halt and the doors opened, Calli could feel the business end of one of the phasers in the small of her back and stepped forward into the corridor. Moments later they entered the brightly-lit Brig. The Duty Officer gave a second look as he approached one of the detention cells: Erm, Lieutenant?" he queried the Security Officer. "If you would please, Commanders," the man said, ignoring the Duty Officer as he motioned to one of the cells. The three 'prisoners' stepped over the threshold and the forcefield snapped into being behind them. Calli could see the man was clearly unnerved by recent events but despite his misgivings had rightly carried out his orders, with a last look at the two he and his men departed. She smiled at the Duty Officer who looked as if he were about to pass out as he returned to his desk and studiously began to study the blank screen before him. "Hmmm... That went well," Andae muttered. "Carl's not himself, that's obvious..." Calli said, hoping the Duty Officer couldn't hear their conversation, "... It all started after the initial data transfer," "We didn't transfer anything 'physical' from the facility," Roach commented. "Has it occurred to anyone to question 'why' that facility was apparently abandoned so long ago?" Valente mused. "You think something affected their computer programming?" the Doctor asked, out of her element somewhat. "Possibly something they took aboard, alien, or alien to them anyway..." Calli said, standing to pace across the length of the cell before turning to retrace her steps, "... "If was had access to a terminal we could ask the computer to search for similar occurrences throughout Starfleet history, but I'm sure I read about something like this happening before," "What about something airborne, released into the environmental systems?" Roach speculated. "No... Others would be reacting like Carl by now, possibly everyone aboard..." Andae replied, eyeing the young Security Officer, "... and we would have been affected too, surely," "Then something that required direct contact with a console, maybe it's been able to transfer directly into Carl's cerebral cortex, frontal lobe maybe?" Roach added. "If that's so, then our first priority is to get Carl off the Bridge before he does something stupid!..." Calli said decisively, "... and we're not going to do that from in here, and if he even suspects we're trying to remove him we have no way of knowing what he, or it, would do to ensure he... It... Remained in control of the Raven," On the Bridge, Carl sat in the center seat, a satisfied look on his face. Commander Marionette had witnessed the scene as it had played out and was convinced something was amiss. She checked the chronometer over the viewscreen calculating she had one hour fourteen minutes of her shift remaining, she turned to face the screen glancing at her console to check their status once again ..........
|
|
Andae Blakus
Moderator ..
Commander 1C
Registered: Oct 17, 2007 22:48:27 GMT
Posts: 1,452
|
Post by Andae Blakus on Feb 18, 2021 23:39:20 GMT
Engineering, USS Raven
Considering it a mixed blessing to have engineering back under his control, as once more his domain while Chief Dyson was on the towed station, Milyanov directed the work about the warp core.
The CO had ordered some unusual modifications, but nothing beyond what could be reasonably demanded of Milyanov or his staff. These mods would allow easier access to subspace, the creation of a particular form of energy that would be used by the computer core to engage some admittedly peculiar new functions... etc.
They would soon be at their proximate destination: the origin point of the station that'd transmitted the subspace beacon out in this gulf, thus their assignment as given by the Starbase seemed to be progressing very well, and yet... Something gave him pause as he sat with three fingers of his left hand splayed across a console surface.
And yet, the news from the bridge that Andae, Calli and the doctor had been consigned to the brig put a slight dampener on the otherwise positive mood. Things raced through his mind, and the conclusions he reached - and implications of those conclusions - screamed to him of his own unsound judgement, of his insubordination, even mutiny. Still, he felt gripped by these ideas, and sprang out of his seat.
Andae and the other two had had little choice but to wait things out, perhaps until the presence - if such there was - in the CO decided on a whim it was time to take them out of detention, hopefully for some end that would give them reason for optimism and not its opposite...
Dr Roach with her back turned to him continued picking at a surface of the cell's interior near the forcefield, thinking bizarrely she could access something in behind it to allow an override from within the cell; knowing such a thing was impossible, Blakus laid back on the bench with arms behind his head, trying to remain calm, impassive, and await their opportunity. He didn't entirely trust Roach - he could still remember the mad look in her eyes as she'd spoken of the theta radiation and brandished her hypospray on the bridge. Had the machines - if he could call them that, those things which Svensson had alerted them to - or perhaps the builders, or something else from the computer got into Roach as well? If so, then perhaps the machine/builder/thing didn't act entirely with one goal, directive or even mind, as if it were rather a plurality.
A gold-collared officer entered the brig - Blakus assuming it was relief for the current officer on duty - and called the last-mentioned's attention to his left hand, before pressing a hypospray to the same brig officer's neck with his right.
It was Milyanov who'd come, Andae realised, sitting up, before seeing in the engineer's eye the same crazy spark as he thought he'd seen in Roach's, and as he was sure he'd have seen in the CO's. "20 ccs melorazine," Milyanov nodded to them, "He'll be out for 12 hours, at least."
"Commander, we commend you... But don't you think -?" Calli began.
"What did the CO think he was doing?" Milyanov cut the mission advisor off as he deactivated the forcefield for them. "Placing three senior officers in a cell and gallivanting across the gulf to a maybe-planet?"
"As essentially correct as you may be, you're taking some risk here, Milyanov," Andae said slowly, almost wearily, "You're completely unaware of the contingent circumstances. For all you know, we may well be in here with good reason. Why the sudden...?"
He trailed off, seeing his former direct subordinate had been taken under the influence of whatever had been downloaded into the computer core, a kernel of which may have remained after it'd took over Torek's (and perhaps those of not a few others') cortex. Likely the machines' attack on Milyanov had been via a control interface with direct links to the computer; many personnel all over the ship could or would've used such consoles since the starchart download from the station.
Within the main brig space, he turned to Calli and drew her off to the brig console as Milyanov and Roach engaged in an animated and seemingly irrevelant discussion.
"Commander, I don't believe we can fully trust our CMO and Assistant Chief Engineer," he told Valente and used the console to access external sensor read-outs; no real-time data, but this was sufficient, "See, no evidence of theta radiation as per Roach's claims from the station over the last 48 hours. And Milyanov, how did he discover that we'd really done no wrong? why is he on this crusade...? I think whatever got into the computer and then into Admiral Torek, remains in the Raven's mainframe."
The vessel's immense frame vibrated about them, propagating through the deck and into their bodies. Shipborne weapons' fire. =/\=All hands to battle-stations. Repeat, all-hands to battle-stat- ...=/\=
The voice wasn't Carl's, Andae recognised, no, that'd been the deputy tactical officer (Lysia still in a sense keeping watch on Svensson aboard the tractored station), and the deputy's voice had been cut off. Did Torek not want the crew to know they were under attack??
"I can't get real time sensor data from this station," Andae declared, and nodding to Valente with a wary look towards Milyanov and Roach, "Let's go. Keep together until we can reach a transporter room. Milyanov. Dr Roach. You'll beam to the towed station; myself and Calli will head to engineering." They may be able to analyse, perhaps 'usurp' more control of the ship from there, to allay whatever the Torek presence had planned -
Unless... Andae considered, unless these mutinous actions within himself were a sign he too had fallen prey to the corrupted computer's influence...
"It's I who should be in engineering!" the Russian protested, throwing his arms up.
"I know. But circumstances demand it, Commander." Andae grimaced, trying to clear his mind, as another weak shock came from apparent weapons' fire directed at the Sovereign class.
They soon made it to transporter room 2 and a bewildered Milyanov and Roach were beamed away - hopefully the number over there now wasn't becoming more than T'Seng and Dyson could handle... Now, engineering and access to bridge systems... Blakus and Valente's way was unhindered, most of the crew still not knowing of their recent imprisonment it seemed. Who or what'd attacked the Raven, as paltry as their assault had so far been?
|
|
Calli Valente
Starfleet Intelligence
"Don't get in my way."
Registered: Aug 4, 2010 21:19:10 GMT
Posts: 534
|
Post by Calli Valente on Feb 25, 2021 21:51:23 GMT
USS Raven-C ... Towing at Sub-light En-route into uncharted region of Federation Space :: They had been in the Brig for five days, five days where no-one had given them any explanation as to what was happening beyond their confines! The Duty Brig Officer dropped unconscious as the melorazine acted on his nervous system ..... They were still discussing the situation when the 'Red Alert' had been called. "Let's go!... Keep together until we can reach a transporter room. Milyanov. Dr Roach. You'll beam to the towed station; Calli and I will head to engineering." They may be able to analyse, perhaps 'usurp' more control of the ship from there, to allay whatever the Torek presence had planned. Unless... Andae considered unless these mutinous actions within himself were a sign he too had fallen prey to the corrupted computer's influence... "It's I who should be in engineering!" the Russian protested, throwing his arms up "I know. But circumstances demand it, Commander." Blakus replied, effectively shutting off any further objections as another weak shock came from apparent weapons' fire directed at the Sovereign Class. Within minutes Blakus and Valente were on Deck Eleven, outside Upper Main Engineering ..... Andae was about to step forward and therefore activate the door mechanism when Calli grabbed his arm, she asked him to wait a moment as she quickly moved to one of the numerous weapons lockers situated on each deck. Retrieving two phasers she returned, handing one to Blakus: "Better safe than sorry... We have no way of knowing who's been affected," Andae begrudgingly nodded. Securing the phaser at his side the two stepped forward, the doors parting. At first glance Engineering appeared to be operating as normal, Officers manning stations, carrying out assigned tasks, in fact, their arrival went almost unnoticed until one of the Junior Officers turned: "Commanders?" she said, eyes flicking between Blakus, then Valente, and back to the Exec' clearly puzzled at their arrival. "As you were Lieutenant," Andae said with his usual air of casual authority as the two strode towards the Chief Engineers' office. "Pardon Commander, but we were not told Commander Milyanov was leaving the ship," Calli instantly raised her guard, how had this Junior Officer known Mylianov was not aboard the Raven!?: "I wasn't aware I was expected to relay Command Decisions for your approval or otherwise, Lieutenant?" she said, eyes locked onto the woman. "Ma'am, erm ....." the young Officer spluttered. "Now... If there's nothing else, 'Lieutenant' ..... The Executive Officer and I are somewhat busy?" her unblinking gaze seemed to wither the Lieutenant, shaking her head she turned away. Blakus and Valente entered the Chief's office, but as Calli looked into Main Engineering she could see the woman speaking with another Officer, the second glancing towards the office for the briefest moment before the two walked away. "We'll need to access external sensors!..." Blakus said as he decided on which station he was going to work, "... You'll have to keep an eye one our colleagues. They left the office and moved to one of the main Engineering stations, he would have liked to have used the Central 'Pool Table' but that was out of the question, or was it? ..... Quickly changing his mind the two headed for the aforementioned 'table' and he began to access sensor readings. Calli, who was watching him while making furtive glances around Engineering suddenly felt something in the small of her back: "Commander, I believe you were under detention?" it was the young Lieutenant from earlier, Blakus looked around and fired simultaneously, dropping the woman unconscious to the deck. The man she had been speaking too was hit less than a second later. Both spun, phasers ready, half expecting to see others aiming or in the process of firing, but they were fortuitously alone on this Deck. The ship shuddered violently! "The tractor," Blakus said by way of explanation. "You think someone on the facility is firing at us?" Calli asked. "Someone's firing," Andae said with a shrug before turning his attention back to the 'Table' ... A second later the shuddering ceased and he looked over at Valente: "You've disabled the tractors, so whoever is in control on the Bridge will need to come about to reacquire the facility. I have the feeling Torek want's it for some reason known only to him, so he's not going to sit back." Blakus said. Calli could already see that the Raven was matching the inertial drift of the aged facility, but surprisingly wasn't attempting to re-establish a tractor lock, she wondered what the hell was going on on the Bridge ..........
|
|
Carl Torek
Command Staff ..
Site Executive Officer Ranks Officer
Fleet Admiral
"UTRINQUE PARATUS"
Registered: Jun 17, 2006 22:34:35 GMT
Posts: 6,163
|
Post by Carl Torek on Feb 26, 2021 11:11:34 GMT
USS Raven-C :: Over the last five days, Torek, much to the dismay of the Bridge Officers still on duty, had made several inexplicable course changes. Nothing too drastic as to destabilise the tractors towing the facility, five degrees Port, seven degrees Starboard, three degrees Starboard, five degrees to Port, and after each set of changes the Raven would return to its original heading... "Marionette, the ships' Gynoid Navigation Officer, clearly not bound by the premise that the Captain is always correct, had questioned the minor course changes only to be relieved of duty herself ..... Now, no-one on the Bridge dared speak, other than to confirm instructions, however nonsensical they may seem! "Helm, come to course three zero-zero mark ten," Torek ordered as the ship was hit yet again by the unidentified attacker. "Three zero-zero mark ten... Aye, Captain," the Duty Helm Officer, Lieutenant Fields confirmed. Once more, and for the umpteenth time that duty shift, the Raven alter course by a few degrees. "Admiral..." "Admiral..." Before Colonel Burwell could repeat yet again, Torek turned to face the Senior Marine: "Mister Burwell?" "Sir, I'm getting a little concerned about the course changes, they are placing excessive stress on the tractors and the facility itself, we should release the facility and deal with this supposed attacker," "... Is that so, Colonel?" Torek replied obscurely. "Sir, I think if we are to ensure the safety of the Officers we still have aboard the structure, we should do as I suggest immediately," "You do?...Hmmm..." Carl replied, eyeing the Marine. Everyone on the Bridge could hear the exchange and wondered how long it would be before their Chief Engineer was confined to quarters, "... Forgive me, Colonel, but I wasn't made aware that you had a degree in Engineering or indeed structural mechanics... Or for that matter, had qualified as a Command Officer... Just goes to show I suppose," he finished with a dangerous smile. "I haven't Admiral, but I feel my concerns are relevant either way," Burwell said, clearly not as intimidated as the others on the Bridge. Burwell was a seasoned Marine Officer, and didn't take stupidity lightly, from anyone! "Well, Colonel..." Torek said, leaning closer, "... I'm sure that once you have the pleasure to sit where I sit, you will feel differently... Indeed, now that you are here, I do believe that you Marines are behind in their training, perhaps you could schedule a series of drills for you men and produce a report on their fitness?" "Sir?!" was all Burwell could reply. "You heard me, Colonel... Unless of course, you would prefer your Exec' Captain Brown I believe, to carry out my 'request' on your behalf?" the air was thick with tension, finally, Burwell nodded and said he would carry out the drills as ordered. Torek asked for his report by end of the shift, Burwell could only confirm the order before turning to leave the Bridge. Once in the turbo-lift, he stood motionless, fighting the urge to question the Admirals' mental competence. "Deck twenty..." he ordered, wondering if Torek had finally lost his senses. He had no option but to speak to Blakus, Valente, and Doctor Roach, who were still unbelievably languishing in the Brig! ..... As the doors slid aside he was surprised to be confronted by Blakus, Valente, Roach, and Commander Milyanov, all stood in the centre of the room. Glancing to his right he could see the unconscious Security Officer. "Going somewhere?" he asked as Milyanov raised a phaser, aiming it at the Marines chest. "Something is very wrong here Colonel, something we need to address before anyone else becomes, involved," Calli said, holding off saying they were of the opinion that something was affecting the Admiral, and likely more of the Raven Officers, something they had to stop before it was too late. "Oh I find myself in total agreement with your analysis, Commander Valente, I am indeed..." the Senior Marine confirmed before graciously stepping aside to allow the group to leave the Brig, "... So..... Am I to assume you have a plan of action?" The small group looked at each other, then at Blakus ..........
|
|
Carl Torek
Command Staff ..
Site Executive Officer Ranks Officer
Fleet Admiral
"UTRINQUE PARATUS"
Registered: Jun 17, 2006 22:34:35 GMT
Posts: 6,163
|
Post by Carl Torek on Mar 2, 2021 16:29:58 GMT
Vessel Type: | * | Vessel designation: | * | Crew: | * | Position: | ------------------------ | * | --------------------- | * | -------------------- | * | ------------------- | Humatani Long-range Commerce Vessel | * | Trade Vessel N27P3R | * | CO: Gno'th XO: Znl'th 16 Crewmen | * | Senior Controller Junior Trader Pilots / Crew |
They had been traversing the great divide for over a month when their sensors picked up an unknown vessel ..... For twenty days they approached the unknown vessel at their maximum velocity of warp one point four ..... The Humatani were a Humanoid race, known for their trading acumen, dealing with several of the races occupying the divide. Trade law frowned upon cargo being held back, for whatever reason. But having contacted the Trade Council, they had been given permission to divert to investigate the alien vessel that had recently entered the divide.
Gno'th, the Senior Controller, and Commander of the Trade Vessel N27P3R, sat watching the image on the screen, frowning with annoyance when all they could see was a blur. Five hours passed before the image was clear enough to identify that there was not one, but two vessels. Beside him, his Deputy, Trader Znl'th gasped!
"This cannot be!" he said, subconsciously taking a step back from the screen, the three Pilot Officers also gasped as they saw what was approaching them.
"It is the cursed vessel..." Znl'th said, fear rising in every fibre of his being, "... We cannot approach, it is forbidden, Controller!"
"We must withdraw!" one of the Pilots said, the fear clear in his voice.
"Slow us to manoeuvring velocity, adjust our transit to match that of the unknown vessel..." Gno'th ordered, rising to his feet when his order was met with inaction, "... SLOW THE SHIP ... NOW!" he screamed.
"Why would these interlopers bring the forbidden back into our space?!" Znl'th asked, wanting to flee the ship and return home.
"We have no way of knowing... But we must stop them before it is once again too late for all," Gnl'th said, inwardly feeling fear .....USS Raven-C :: "Lock phasers!" Torek ordered, his eyes on the vessel barely in range. "Sir?" the Duty Tactical Officer asked. "LOCK PHASERS... LOCK PHASERS!" Torek repeated as he flung himself from the centre seat and crossed to the Tactical Station. Before the Lieutenant could comply he reached forward and snatched her tunic, pulling her physically from her seat. Eyes darting across the controls he locked phasers and photon torpedoes on the small craft. "Move away from that station, Admiral," Torek turned eyes widening as he saw Doctor Roach stood beside the Port Aft turbolift doors with Colonel Burwell. For a long moment, he couldn't believe his eyes. "Who released you ..... Who 'DARED' disobey my order?" he said, glaring at the other Bridge Officers in turn. "Admiral, you are not yourself, please move away from Tactical..." the Doctor asked again, her voice unusually calm given the circumstances, "... I believe you are suffering from an alien influence, one that we need to purge," "Return to the Bri..." Torek began, the realisation dawning that if she was free, then so were the others! "Admiral, please....." he spun as he was addressed from the Starboard turbolift. Calli Valente and Andae Blakus were stood watching him closely, Blakus was holding a phaser half-raised. The dawning that he had been betrayed slammed into his mind, he turned back to Tactical to reset the weapons locks, he was reaching for the activator pad when the phaser beam hit him in his lower back, he spun, to see the Senior Marine Officer holding a phaser aimed at him, he took a step forward, the second beam lanced across the Bridge from Burwell's weapon and hit Torek in the chest, eyes wide, hatred emanating from every fibre of his being, he dropped to the deck unconscious! Blakus quickly moved to the Tactical Station and deactivated the weapons. The Bridge Officers who had witnessed what was tantamount to mutiny remained motionless and Roach checked Torek. "You are all aware of the Admiral's behaviour, despite requests from the Doctor, he refused to concede he was unwell..." Calli explained as Blakus checked the ship's systems and scanned the facility, "... Had we not intervened he would surely have destroyed the oncoming vessel. Commander Marionette, please request Medics to the Bridge to take the Admiral to Sickbay, thank you," she said, grateful her voice hadn't broken during her speech. Moments later, two Medics stepped from the turbolift one holding a meg-lev gurney. They hoisted Torek and set restraining straps, then, with a nod from Roach began to leave the Bridge. Shockingly, a second after Torek fell to the deck, one of the Bridge Officers screamed and ran at Valente, Burwell spun and fired, dropping the man mid-leap. It was the only viable option Commander," Burwell said. Andae glanced at the Marine, wondering if they had done the right thing in incapacitating Torek in the manner they had, but it was too late now, the deed was done. "Open a Comm to that vessel," Blakus ordered unable or unwilling to reply to the Marine ..........
|
|
Andae Blakus
Moderator ..
Commander 1C
Registered: Oct 17, 2007 22:48:27 GMT
Posts: 1,452
|
Post by Andae Blakus on Mar 6, 2021 3:47:44 GMT
Andae and Calli had made their way warily to the bridge, Blakus still rightfully untrusting of the officers whom he and the mission advisor encountered on their way to what seemed to be an increasingly irrationally administered bridge.
He fixed them with a glare as they passed by: if they looked away and seemed in other ways suspicious - or if he could interpret that behaviour as such, though he didn't entirely trust his own mind's judgement given this invasion of the ship's systems - then the individual was almost certainly one of the 'infectees'; if they met his gaze pleasantly, the opposite.
Why those who weren't quite themselves didn't immediately assault the two of them, or reach fo commbadge, he had no idea - perhaps it was tied to the plans of Torek, the possible new nerve centre of this almost mystical operation.
The bridge lift doors slid aside, "Return to the Bri..." Torek was saying, the realisation apparently dawning that if the medical officer was free, then so were the others!
"Admiral, please....." Andae spoke, noticing he and Valente, Burwell and the deputy CMO had Torek in a pincer movement; before any of the 'mutineers' could react however, Torek spun for the tactical console to try to eliminate the incoming vessel. Blakus had been briefed in an isolated comm between himself and the others attempting to circumvent the Admiral that long-range sensors had detected an unidentified ship, closing slowly, and that the Raven had been ordered to comprehensively destroy it!
The stand-off was over in an instant; Burwell had incapacitated the CO before he could use the console, medics had been called to the bridge, a strapped-down Torek had been borne away to sickbay (and Burwell had phasered in mid-flight a maddened officer who'd leapt reaching for Valente's throat). Perhaps Roach's capable deputy - the CMO still being on the facility along with Milyanov, amongst those Blakus et al had decided they couldn't trust - would be able to investigate, possibly even withdraw the computer core-originating presence from Torek's mind.
"Having trouble establishing contact on any frequency, Commander," the deputy tactical officer informed, eyes narrowing as she surveyed her display.
Andae walked over, his already thinning patience - having been confined to a brig cell for five days - about to evaporate. "Why, what's the problem?"
"I can get a lock on it, read lifesigns," she nodded to Wedlerson at Ops, "and it appears to be a type of merchant vessel. but... It's possible whatever means of communication they're using is not compatible with our own..."
Or is perhaps not as advanced... Blakus considered, "Look, everyone uses EM bands of some sort, stretching back centuries in the Federation, why can't we contact even this ship on one of them?" This time he answered his own question, What if they don't wish to talk to outsiders? What if the comm equipment they do possess they only use for contact with trusted individuals, peoples, business associates?
For the moment there was a status quo, the Raven and its formerly-towed facility allowing their inertia to carry them gently forward to the crawling, unknown merchant craft. As the three vehicles drew closer, the merchant - still completely out of contact - swung in alongside the Raven and took up a parallel course, albeit some 200 million km off her port bow.
"Commander, new information," Wedlerson called out, "Extreme magnification and computer reconstruction, translation and transliteration have discerned ID markers and legible characters on the hull. The markings read...: TV N27P3R (Humatani)," he sat back and frowned.
"Humatani?" Valente commented, "Sounds slightly familiar." Others looked at her strangely. Perhaps, Blakus thought, she'd let her imagination run away with her, but then... -
In an abrupt turn of events, they were being hailed. Blakus nodded to confirm and turned his dark grey eyes to the viewscreen. After a somewhat infuriating few minutes waiting for the screen to clear and N27P3R's narrow bridge to be revealed to them a harsh crackling emanated from the Raven's bridge speakers - his opposite number's voice being channelled, apparently unavoidably, through a comm system only.
"Why have you penetrated the Great Divide and brought the Accursed back with you?! Why have you elected to bring death on all of us, all us Humatani...?!" the unexplained tirade continued; they'd have to clear up what the man, presumably the trade ship's CO, was referring to later (though Blakus already had a vague idea) because the following facility had broken formation to starboard and was accelerating away.
Fusion-engine power now as good as fully restored, Svensson and his team, and perhaps Milyanov, had taken matters into their own hands and propelled the station out of the vicinity. It did seem these had been infiltrated by the tech now ensconced in the Raven's computer core, thus their actions, though equally the station could be on automatic pilot, hightailing it towards...
Now wishing he'd put back in place the tractor beam he and Valente had released, Blakus requested the station's trajectory be plotted.
Meanwhile, there were ongoing sighs of relief - a dry crackle through the bridge speakers - from the Humatani bridge crew. At least, Andae thought the station wasn't going straight for the Humatani.
"Disable its engines," Valente suggested; Blakus agreed.
Several seconds later, with beeps of alarm and blaring alerts from the tactical console, T'Seng's deputy reported, "Phasers, torpedoes won't fire, sir. All offensive weaonry is offline."
"How the...?" Sabotage within the computer core courtesy of the appalling presence inhabiting the mainframe, or the same via the unfortunates of the Raven crew who'd splayed fingers across core-access consoles?
|
|
Calli Valente
Starfleet Intelligence
"Don't get in my way."
Registered: Aug 4, 2010 21:19:10 GMT
Posts: 534
|
Post by Calli Valente on Mar 11, 2021 18:30:36 GMT
There simply wasn't time to mull over the possible ramifications of what they had just done, the Raven, only days ago in complete control of her destiny, was now in turmoil !!! The approaching vessel, far from being co-operative, had demanded an explanation, one which the Raven was unable to supply as system after system began to fail throughout the Sovereign Class Starship ..... Meanwhile, there were ongoing sighs of relief - a dry crackle through the bridge speakers - from the Humatani bridge crew. At least, Andae thought the station wasn't going straight for the Humatani. "Disable its engines," Valente suggested, Blakus nodded his agreement, once again to be thwarted: "Phasers, torpedoes won't fire, sir. All offensive weaponry is offline." T'Seng's Deputy informed them. "How the...?" Blakus mouthed thinking it could be further sabotage within the computer core courtesy of the appalling presence inhabiting the mainframe as the image on the screen began to slowly rotate clockwise: "Sir... We have lost inertial dampers," the Gynoid Navigator informed Blakus. "Commander, perhaps we should get a probe after the facility in case we lose long-range sensors completely?" Lieutenant Svensson suggested. "Agreed, launch a 'Type Three' probe now," Blakus confirmed. Calli watched as the Science Officer began inputting instructions, interrupting his actions to change the type of probe: "No, make it a 'Type Five' ... Longer range, better sensors, better safe than sorry," Andae nodded as the ship approaching them now appeared to be inverted. He watched as the rotation completed its first three-sixty. moments later it was out of sight alongside them, albeit at some considerable distance. Finally, Andae had had enough of the triade of what may or may not have contained a great deal of abuse and ordered the comm cut off. It was then he was informed that the Humatani Vessel was closing the distance between them. Two loud 'thuds' were heard on the Bridge and the Raven began to slow its rotation until finally, it was presumably level. On the viewscreen, the Humatani Vessel moved out ahead and above them, Calli along with everyone else on the Bridge were shocked to see two cables extending from beneath the newcomer and out of sight at the top of the screen. "Cables?" Wedlerson stated needlessly. They watched as the vessel now 'towing' them began a slow turn to Port before resuming level flight. Calli suggested they reopen comms, Blakus nodded, vaguely wondering if there were any painkillers secreted about the Bridge. Finally, the Humatan Captain continued audio only: =^= .. .. .. atable terror before we were able to vanquish the accursed from our space =^= Andae looked at Calli, clearly, the man had been ranting on without realising he was talking to himself, Calli nodded towards the screen, shaking his head, Andae waited for a respite in the tirade then replied: =^= This is the Federation Starshi .. .. .. =^= =^= You have brought the final closure to us once again .. Why are you attempting to return the structure to us? =^= 'Final closure?' Andae mouthed. Calli ran a finger across her throat, maybe they described 'death' as this final closure, but couldn't be one hundred percent sure obviously. =^= Please allow me to explain .. .. We are explorers .. We came upon the abandoned facility and decided to investigate =^= even to him the explanation sounded feeble. =^= You 'MUST' destroy it before it can infect any further? =^= It clearly wasn't a request =^= We do not have the capability to pursue the accursed .. Should it reach any of our Worlds it will devour all! =^= "They don't know we have been affected," Calli whispered. =^= We are having trouble with our dri .. .. .. =^= Andae began, but the comm suddenly snapped off, as did the tethers connecting the two ships. As the watched, the Humatani vessel began a slow turn until it was facing the Raven, then fired ..... A single projectile exited the ship on a direct course for the Raven. Had the circumstances been different, Calli might have laughed as the Duty Tactical Officer spoke: "Sir, if my limited sensors are correct, that is a solid-fuel rocket," "It might as well be a jagged stone given we have no shields," Wedlerson commented. "Regardless. If it is indeed carrying any reasonable payload it could cause damage," Marionette said from the Helm as the small projectile powered its way across the void. It vanished from sight then the impact could be felt as the Bridge shuddered. Blakus asked for damage reports and instructed the Tactical Officer to get weapons back online five minutes ago! "There's a one-meter diameter hull breach on Deck Three, emergency force-fields are in place," Wedlerson reported. "Here's another one," Calli said, everyone, again turned to the viewscreen to see a second trail heading their way. But this time, a beam of almost pure energy lanced from the Saucer Section, missing the projectile by mere metres. A second beam followed the first though clearly less powerful. This one thankfully slammed into the rocket, destroying it instantly. Andae and Calli looked over to the Duty Tactical Officer. "I temporarily re-routed power from Environmental Control..." the woman said blushing, "... I ran a firing diagnostic to varify phase calibration. Targeting scanners were out so it was a erm, lucky shot, unfortunately, we can't repeat the firing," "They can't know that though," Harry said ..........
|
|