COMPILE_TERMINAL_VIEW
USS Paladin
Piercing the Iron Curtain 2025-04-17
Compiled by Calvin Capps ====================================================================================================================== Mission: Piercing the Iron Curtain Mission Day: 2 Stardate: 2407.01.11 ====================================================================================================================== (USS Paladin - Ready Room - Cmdr Jennifer 'Jenna' Rulestaad - 16:49) (USS Paladin, Ready Room, CO, Captain Eva Straton, 16:51) (USS Paladin, Ready Room, CO, Captain Eva Straton, 16:53) (USS Paladin - Ready Room - Commander Rulestaad - 16:53) (USS Paladin - Security Chiefs Office - TAC/SC Kerge - 16:54) (USS Paladin - Deck 7, CSO's Office - Lieutenant (jg) Joran Matthew Brownlee - 16:55) (USS Paladin - Strategic Operations - Commander Rulestaad - 16:55) (USS Paladin - Security Chiefs Office - TAC/SC Kerge - 16:56) (USS Paladin - StratOps Centre - TAC/SC Kerge - 17:00) (USS Paladin - Strategic Operations, StratOps Command Center - Commander Rulestaad - 17:01) (USS Paladin - Strategic Operations - StratOps Command Center - TAC/SC Kerge - 17:02) (USS Paladin - Strategic Operations - StratOps Command Center - Cmdr Jenna Rulestaad - 17:04) (USS Paladin - Strategic Operations - StratOps Command Center - TAC/SC Kerge - 17:05) (USS Paladin - Strategic Operations - StratOps Command Center - Cmdr Rulestaad - 17:05) (USS Paladin - Outside FO's Office - CSO/2O Lieutenant (jg) Joran Matthew Brownlee - 17:58) (USS Paladin - FO Office - FO Lt Cmdr Capps - 1800) ======================================================================================================================= (USS Paladin - Ready Room - Cmdr Jennifer 'Jenna' Rulestaad - 16:49) Jenna closed her eyes as the command officers of the ship, those who were supposed to be solid and dependable, volunteered for possible suicide duty with as much excitement as if they were volunteering to step into a Deltan whore house. She took a deep breath as the Captain told them to hold their horses, which was so much the better in her opinion. The First Officer stood in reply and said, "Aye sir. Thank you Captain." Lt. Cmdr then turned to Lt. Brownlee. "Meet me in my office at 1800 hrs." "Aye sir," the man said before turning to walk out. Jenna, still sitting, was the next target. "We may need your help, I am hoping we will be able to call on you," "Of course, Commander." Was her only reply. The First Officer and Second Officer exchanged a couple questions, leaving Jenna to watch the Captain... just in time to see her motion to stay behind. Jenna nodded ever so slightly and waited until both other officers had left the room. "I want all fleet codes and ciphers changed," Eva said, "One minute after they leave the Paladin. I will not risk compromising the security of the entire fleet in case they are captured. We will also need a fall back plan in case they fail. Suggestions?" She made a note on her PADD about the codes before looking up at the Captain. "Order two body bags." She said clearly. "They won't survive unless escorted by some tactical officers with more experience and more temper on their enthusiasm. This is war, not a carnival." Her job was to be analytical, not enthusiastic. She measured every factor as closely as she could and gave as non-biased opinion as she could. She never would have said those words to them personally, not unless ordered, but she wasn't here to please the Captain. (posted by Trout) ======================================================================================================================== (USS Paladin, Ready Room, CO, Captain Eva Straton, 16:51) Eva watched as Capps and Brownlee turned to leave. She motioned for Rulestaad to remain. She waited till Capps and Brownlee had left and the Ready Room doors had fully close before turning her attention to Rulestaad. "I want all fleet codes and ciphers changed," Eva said, "One minuet after they leave the Paladin. I will not risk compromising the security of the entire fleet in case they are captured. We will also need a fall back plan in case they fail. Suggestions?" (posted by Wes) ======================================================================================================================== (USS Paladin, Ready Room, CO, Captain Eva Straton, 16:53) "Order two body bags." Rulestaad said clearly. "They won't survive unless escorted by some tactical officers with more experience and more temper on their enthusiasm. This is war, not a carnival." Eva allowed herself a small smile before replying. "And I haven't authorized the mission yet either," She said, "They will sober up once the magnitude of what they are attempting to do sets in, and I will see to it that they have the experienced crew they need. *IF* they convince me they have a chance of pulling it off. That won't be easy, I assure you. Still, I'm not eliminating the option till it's been thoroughly investigated. While still keeping my mind open to other alternatives as well. That's where you come in Commander. I'm tasking you with coming up with those alternatives. Tap any member of the crew whose expertise you require, but I want alternatives to bypassing that mine field as quickly as possible. I will expect them at the meeting tomorrow. Dismissed." (posted by Wes) ========================================================================================================================== (USS Paladin - Ready Room - Commander Rulestaad - 16:53) "Order two body bags." Rulestaad said clearly. "They won't survive unless escorted by some tactical officers with more experience and more temper on their enthusiasm. This is war, not a carnival." She put the PADD under her arm as the Captain gave her a ghost of a smile. "And I haven't authorized the mission yet either," She said, "They will sober up once the magnitude of what they are attempting to do sets in, and I will see to it that they have the experienced crew they need. *IF* they convince me they have a chance of pulling it off. That won't be easy, I assure you. Still, I'm not eliminating the option till it's been thoroughly investigated. While still keeping my mind open to other alternatives as well. That's where you come in Commander. I'm tasking you with coming up with those alternatives. Tap any member of the crew whose expertise you require, but I want alternatives to bypassing that mine field as quickly as possible. I will expect them at the meeting tomorrow. Dismissed." Rulestaad nodded and stood, "Aye aye." She had expected nothing less. She stepped outside and quickly made way for one of the site-to-site transporters. After a brief stopover and a couple minutes more walking, she found herself deep within Strategic Operations. "Alright, wake the staff!" she bellowed in the control room, "It's time to start thinking again." She tapped her badge, "Rulestaad to the Chief of Security, the Chief of Engineering and the Chief of Science, when are you three free for a technical conference?" (posted by Trout) ======================================================================================================================== (USS Paladin - Security Chiefs Office - TAC/SC Kerge - 16:54) Kerge was in a somewhat agitated mood as he sat in his chair listening to a recording of a prominant Klingon opera that he had always enjoyed. In times such as these when they were poised on the verge of battle but doing nothing actively, Klingons invariably grew restless & Kerge was no different. He was primed now for combat, his body ached for it & the opera roused his spirits appreciatedly as he listened to it. Then, just at the point where the hero was about to vanquish his foe in a triumphant act of aggression, Kerge`s communicator chirped into life. =/\=Rulestaad to the Chief of Security, the Chief of Engineering and the Chief of Science, when are you three free for a technical conference?=/\= Kerge stopped in mid breath & furrowed up his brow in responce to the intrusion, his brow ridges deepening if indeed it were even possible for them to become any more ridged than they already were... ~Conference....Conference!!!~ The intrusion had clearly broken what was to be the peak of the operatic performance, Kerge raged inside as he lowered the volume on the musical composition, then he closed his eyes & breathed deeply in an attempt to calm the inner storm raging now within him. Then he reached up & tapped somewhat forcibly at his communicator. "I am ready to speak with you whenever you may require...sir", he said in a slightly agrieved but controlled manner. (Reply Rulestaad) "Aye sir", said Kerge as he reached to his console to pause the operatic performance in an instance. (posted by Alan) ======================================================================================================================== (USS Paladin - Deck 7, CSO's Office - Lieutenant (jg) Joran Matthew Brownlee - 16:55) =/\=Rulestaad to the Chief of Security, the Chief of Engineering and the Chief of Science, when are you three free for a technical conference?=/\= Joran had just returned to his office when his combadge beeped. He tapped it and said as a reply, "The first moment I'm free is first thing tomorrow morning, sir." (posted by Spencer) ======================================================================================================================= (USS Paladin - Strategic Operations - Commander Rulestaad - 16:55) Rulestaad listened to the messages as they came in, and finally made a decision. "Chief of Security to Strategic Operations, and all three of you will be here at 0700 tomorrow morning, no exceptions. Rulestaad out." (posted by Trout) ========================================================================================================================= (USS Paladin - Security Chiefs Office - TAC/SC Kerge - 16:56) The evocative Klingon opera would have to wait it would seem, Rulestaad was requesting the Security chiefs presence yesterday.... Kerge took a deep breath & responded in the affirmative as he reluctantly switched off the music. "On my way sir", he said & headed off out the door with the thought of a vanquished enemy covered in blood lying at the foot of his Klingon victor. (posted by Alan) ======================================================================================================================= (USS Paladin - StratOps Centre - TAC/SC Kerge - 17:00) Upon his entrance into the StratOps centre, Kerge espied Rulestaad as she stood over a console overseeing some of the fleet movements & positions being relayed upon the tactical display. In seconds, he was at her side, she in turn turning to face him as he appeared beside her. "You wanted to see me sir", said Kerge. (posted by Alan) ======================================================================================================================== (USS Paladin - Strategic Operations, StratOps Command Center - Commander Rulestaad - 17:01) "You wanted to see me sir" Jenna didn't look up from her map in the center of Stratops, well above the heads of everyone else, until she'd finished tracing one possible route. "Yes, Chief." She said as she stood up slowly. She consulted the great 2-story situation monitor on the far wall and found it exactly as she wanted it, so she turned. "Welcome to the heart of Stratops." She gestured off to one side to her office, which sat in the exact center of the entire Stratops area. If Stratops was a kingdom (and it was), then she was the granted Sovereign. She took a seat behind her desk, which was only covered in a few padds, and gestured to her seat. "We have a problem Chief, and it's one you will come to appreciate very well. Our target has been mined, we will have to bust ourselves through a full mine-field before we can even come close to our target Starbase." She steepled his fingers. "So, I want some ideas from you on how you would proceed, as a Tactical Officer. We need to get through the mine field, or destroy it, keep that in mind." (posted by Trout) ========================================================================================================================== (USS Paladin - Strategic Operations - StratOps Command Center - TAC/SC Kerge - 17:02) "You wanted to see me sir", said Kerge standing to Rulestaads imediate right. "Yes, Chief.", said Rulestaad standing now to confront him. "Welcome to the heart of Stratops.", she added & then led the Security chief off to an office elsewhere in within the vast theatre that was StratOps. One in her office, she bade the Klingon sit, taking a deep breath as she did so, then she began appraising him of their current situation. "We have a problem Chief, and it's one you will come to appreciate very well", said Rulestaad. "Our target has been mined, we will have to bust ourselves through a full mine-field before we can even come close to our target Starbase.", she added. "So, I want some ideas from you on how you would proceed, as a Tactical Officer. We need to get through the mine field, or destroy it, keep that in mind.", said Rulestaad siting back into her seat now awaiting his reply. "Mines", said Kerge with just a hint of disgust. "Mines are the tools of the cowardly, those who would rather avoid direct confrontaion", said Kerge. "It would be unwise to destroy any of them however, to do so would compromise us", said Kerge thinking on the problem. "We have two options remaining, the mines are probably standard starfleet proximity mines backed up with vectoring thrusters set at a distance too close for a vessel the size of the Paladin to traverse safely", said the Klingon. "We could send out one small fighter to attempt to deactivate enough of the mines to allow us safe passage, Science could rig up a suitable code access device, the drawback to this though would be one of time, it would take more time than I would like to deactivate each mine", said Kerge. (Reply Rulestaad) "The second option would be to run a fighter as a decoy, it would be nimble & agile enough to be able to avoid the mines as their vectoring thrusters fired, it would however pull enough of them aside for us to pass through, but it would be close tolerence & timing would be of the essence", said Kerge. (Reply Rulestaad) "We have little choice though, we can`t go around them, we can`t go over them or under them....", said Kerge pausing on the problem once again. "I would recommend deactivation, it might take a little longer but it would be the safest route", said Kerge. "After that I would like a little time with whoever it was that was responsible for placing such devices there in the first place", said Kerge acidically. (posted by Alan) ========================================================================================================================= (USS Paladin - Strategic Operations - StratOps Command Center - Cmdr Jenna Rulestaad - 17:04) "Mines", replied the Klingon with a curl of his lip. Jenna's pencil-line eyebrow quirked exactly an eighth of an inch as he continued with, "Mines are the tools of the cowardly, those who would rather avoid direct confrontation. It would be unwise to destroy any of them however, to do so would compromise us", said Kerge thinking on the problem. "We have two options remaining, the mines are probably standard starfleet proximity mines backed up with vectoring thrusters set at a distance too close for a vessel the size of the Paladin to traverse safely", said the Klingon. "We could send out one small fighter to attempt to deactivate enough of the mines to allow us safe passage, Science could rig up a suitable code access device, the drawback to this though would be one of time, it would take more time than I would like to deactivate each mine" "More then that," she said. "By the time we're close enough to deactivate them, we're already within sensor range. So it really doesn't matter if we destroy them or not...." she waved a hand, "Continue." "The second option would be to run a fighter as a decoy, it would be nimble & agile enough to be able to avoid the mines as their vectoring thrusters fired, it would however pull enough of them aside for us to pass through, but it would be close tolerance & timing would be of the essence" She mused on this for a moment, then waved for him to continue. "We have little choice though, we can't go around them, we can't go over them or under them....", said Kerge pausing on the problem once again. "I would recommend deactivation, it might take a little longer but it would be the safest route. After that I would like a little time with whoever it was that was responsible for placing such devices there in the first place", "You will have more then enough time with the authors," she said dryly. "I'm not so sure about deactivation though, we will already be moving the battle-group in at impulse speeds and under their sensors the whole time; speed is completely of the essence." She mused for a few moments, "So how would you take the whole field out?" (posted by Trout) ======================================================================================================================== (USS Paladin - Strategic Operations - StratOps Command Center - TAC/SC Kerge - 17:05) "You will have more then enough time with the authors," said Rulestaad, "I'm not so sure about deactivation though, we will already be moving the battle-group in at impulse speeds and under their sensors the whole time; speed is completely of the essence." "So how would you take the whole field out?", said the StratOps. "To take the entire field in one swoop will undoubtably alert the base", said Kerge, "however, considering that once we pass the minefield we will be engaging starbase 234 imediately that wouldn`t matter at all", he added pausing for further thought. "Perhaps a modified EM Pulse directed at the minefield then, we would need to know the trigger frequency of course but that wouldn`t be too difficult to find out", said Kerge. (Reply Rulestaad) "Partial disablement would not be an option, detonation would have to occur right across the field since the proximity mines employ touch contact fuses as a backup in case the proximity fuse is disabled in any way", said Kerge. (Reply Rulestaad) "I will see to it imediately", said Kerge. (posted by Alan) ========================================================================================================================== (USS Paladin - Strategic Operations - StratOps Command Center - Cmdr Rulestaad - 17:05) "Perhaps a modified EM Pulse directed at the minefield then, we would need to know the trigger frequency of course but that wouldn`t be too difficult to find out", said Kerge. "And the chances of taking it down just where we want to travel?" she asked. "Partial disablement would not be an option, detonation would have to occur right across the field since the proximity mines employ touch contact fuses as a backup in case the proximity fuse is disabled in any way", said Kerge. "Mm, very well." She sat forward in her chair, "Put together a list of options, how much time they would take and what they would require. Bring it with for the mass meeting tomorrow." "I will see to it immediately", She nodded, "Very well, dismissed." (posted by Trout) ========================================================================================================================== (USS Paladin - Outside FO's Office - CSO/2O Lieutenant (jg) Joran Matthew Brownlee - 17:58) Joran walked down the hall towards Capps' office, a bit anxious. This wasn't the first away team he had led, but this team was handpicked. He wanted to be sure that he was making the best desicions. He came to the door, took a deep breath, and pushed the doorchime. (posted by Spencer) ========================================================================================================================= (USS Paladin - FO Office - FO Lt Cmdr Capps - 1800) Calvin heard the chime at exactly at 1800 hrs. He could only guess it was Lt Brownlee. "Come in," he said giving the second officer permission to enter. He watched Joran walk to the desk that was positioned directly in front of the door. "Your timing is perfect Mister Brownlee," Calvin joked. But then continued, "I am glad your here. I haven't been able to get to far yet, and the computer assures me that there is less than a 33 percent chance this will be successful." Calvin stood and motioned his hand toward the chair. "Have a seat, and get comfortable because we might be here a while." Calvin moved over to the replicator. He liked to work with a drink near by. "Would you like anything?" Calvin's question directed to Joran. (posted by Calvin) ========================================================================================================================= END OF COMPILE I hope you enjoyed!