March 1-18, 2005 Mission: Exercise of Vital Powers Mission Day: 14 Stardate: 2406.10.27 (USS Paladin, Bridge, CO, Captain Straton, 12:34) "Sir, I would like to contact the Nautilus and Mithrandir under a secure line and then change our current frequency we are using for communications in case this unknown ship is listening to us," Lt. Capps said. Eva nodded. "Do it," She said, turning her attention back to her CSO and T'Vhor at tactical. "Captain," Joran said, "I know it may not exactly be standard procedure, but I believe that we should try hailing them." "That might be an option, but considering their current wish to remain undetected, I doubt that they would respond", said T`Vhor. "Absolutely not," Eva said, her voice going suddenly hard. "I will not tip my hand too soon and let them know we suspect their presence when we can't act upon it." "We could however, lay down a Tacyon detection grid in our wake sir", added T`Vhor, "the moment they pass through it, it would show up on their bridge that they had been discovered, they would then have no choice but to retreat from the area or openly confront us", said T`Vhor. Eva snapped her fingers and pointed at T'Vhor. "Good thinking Ensign," She said, "Get a hold of engineering and see to it, but do it as to keep them from knowing what we are doing. If we have to we can rearrange our support craft to widen the field." She looked back at Brownlee. "Contact Lt. Schofield and have him work with T'Vhor and engineering. I need you on the bridge." Then she turned back to T'Vhor. "Contact Lt Morgot and have him take over here on the bridge. Then I want you to work on that detection grid. Let's catch us a ship." She looked at Brownlee and T'Vhor and nodded. (Reply Brownlee and T'Vhor) Eva then turned toward Lt. Capps. "Have Colonel T'Vanek report to the bridge, immediately." Mission: Exercise of Vital Powers Mission Day: 14 Stardate: 2406.10.27 (USS Paladin - Bridge - Acting CSO Ensign Joran Matthew Brownlee - 12:34) "Sir, I would like to contact the Nautilus and Mithrandir under a secure line and then change our current frequency we are using for communications in case this unknown ship is listening to us," Lt. Capps said. The captain nodded. "Do it," She said, turning her attention back to Joran and T'Vhor at tactical. "Captain," Joran said, "I know it may not exactly be standard procedure, but I believe that we should try hailing them." "That might be an option, but considering their current wish to remain undetected, I doubt that they would respond", said T`Vhor. "Absolutely not," Straton said, her voice going suddenly hard. "I will not tip my hand too soon and let them know we suspect their presence when we can't act upon it." "We could however, lay down a Tacyon detection grid in our wake sir", added T`Vhor, "the moment they pass through it, it would show up on their bridge that they had been discovered, they would then have no choice but to retreat from the area or openly confront us", said T`Vhor. The captain snapped her fingers and pointed at T'Vhor. "Good thinking Ensign," She said, "Get a hold of engineering and see to it, but do it as to keep them from knowing what we are doing. If we have to we can rearrange our support craft to widen the field." She looked back at Joran. "Contact Lt. Schofield and have him work with T'Vhor and engineering. I need you on the bridge." Then she turned back to T'Vhor. "Contact Lt Morgot and have him take over here on the bridge. Then I want you to work on that detection grid. Let's catch us a ship." She looked at Brownlee and T'Vhor and nodded. Joran reponded, "Aye sir." He tapped a comlink on his panel. "Ensign Brownlee to Lt. Schofield." (Reply Schofield) "Please meet Ensign T'Vhor in Engineering immediately." He closed the comlink. ~Looks like this maay have just turned into a first contact mission.~ He thought to himself. Mission: Exercise of Vital Powers Mission Day: 14 Stardate: 2406.10.27 (USS Paladin - Bridge - TAC/ASC T`Vhor - 12:34) "Good thinking Ensign," said the Captain, "Get a hold of engineering and see to it, but do it so as to keep them from knowing what we are doing. If we have to we can rearrange our support craft to widen the field.", she added. She looked back at Brownlee. "Contact Lt. Schofield and have him work with T'Vhor and engineering. I need you on the bridge." Then she turned back to T'Vhor. "Contact Lt Morgot and have him take over here on the bridge. Then I want you to work on that detection grid. Let's catch us a ship." "On it now sir", said T`Vhor, imediately opening a channel to the Lt in security to bring him to the bridge as ordered. T`Vhor then left the bridge & headed for engineering. (USS Paladin - Engineering - TAC/ASC T`Vhor - 12:40) Ensign T`Vhor walked into engineering & imediately spotted Lt Schofield who it seemed was already expecting him. "Lt Schofield", said T`Vhor in acknowledgement. (Reply Schofield) "We will need to liase with our support vessels along with the Nautilus & the Mithrandir & position them at strategic points in order to fully utilise the Tachyon detection grid", said T`Vhor. (Reply Schofield, IYW) Ensign T`Vhor then pulled up the schematics on a nearby console to show the current locations of the mentioned vessels. "The Mithrandir is currently in a position that would make the grid unusable", said T`Vhor, "She needs to be...", added T`Vhor pausing now in order to work out her optimal placement. "Here", he said pointing to a set of coordinates on the screen. "The Nautilus & our support craft however would only require small location changes", he added. (Reply Schofield, IYW) Lt Schofield then quickly began working out the course change calculations required. Ensign T`Vhor then tapped his combadge to hail the Captain. =/\Ensign T`Vhor to Captain Straton=/\= (Reply CO) =/\=Sir, current course headings & ship placements show the Mithrandir as currently out of position. At her current location, she will need to come to a heading of zero one nine, mark two eighty & continue on this heading for four minutes at warp one. After realligning to our current heading she will then be in an optimal position without raising the suspicions of our friend out there=/\= (Reply CO) "Aye sir, we are working on the grid now", said T`Vhor as both he & Lt Schofield continued on. Mission: Exercise of Vital Powers Mission Day: 14 Stardate: 2406.10.27 (USS Paladin, Deck 58, Cargo Bay 3 - Fabrication Area, ACSO, Lt Shane Schofield, 1235) =/\= Ensign Brownlee to Lt. Schofield. =/\= =/\= Schofield here =/\= Shane responded looking up from the latest diagnostic of the ASPS systems that had been completed. =/\= Please meet Ensign T'Vhor in Engineering immediately. =/\= =/\= On my way =/\= Shane left the diagnostic running and wondered what the hell was going on now that he would be pulled off the project that needed to be a fully complete as possible when they reached the colonies. When he reached Engineering and found out what was actually happening he was quite happy that he had been involved. (USS Paladin, Engineering, ACSO, Lt Shane Schofield, 1240) "Lt Schofield", said T`Vhor in acknowledgment. "Good afternoon Ensign" "We will need to liaise with our support vessels along with the Nautilus & the Mithrandir & position them at strategic points in order to fully utilise the Tachyon detection grid", said T`Vhor. "I've just been looking at the force dispersal locations. How big a grid will we require?" Ensign T`Vhor then pulled up the schematics on a nearby console to show the current locations of the mentioned vessels. "The Mithrandir is currently in a position that would make the grid unusable", said T`Vhor, "She needs to be...", added T`Vhor pausing now in order to work out her optimal placement. "Here", he said pointing to a set of coordinates on the screen. "The Nautilus & our support craft however would only require small location changes", he added. Lt Schofield then quickly began working out the course change calculations required. Ensign T`Vhor then tapped his combadge to hail the Captain. =/\Ensign T`Vhor to Captain Straton=/\= (Reply CO) =/\=Sir, current course headings & ship placements show the Mithrandir as currently out of position. At her current location, she will need to come to a heading of zero one nine, mark two eighty & continue on this heading for four minutes at warp one. After realigning to our current heading she will then be in an optimal position without raising the suspicions of our friend out there=/\= (Reply CO) "Aye sir, we are working on the grid now", said T`Vhor as both he & Lt Schofield continued on. =/\= Captain. I would also recommend broadcasting in the clear to the rest of the fleet that we are going to run an exercise in fleet deployments before we arrive in system. That will guarantee that our comms will be monitored and that nothing will look out of the ordinary. =/\= Mission: Exercise of Vital Powers Mission Day: 14 Stardate: 2406.10.27 (USS Paladin - Bridge - 20/Chief Ops Lt. Calvin Capps - 1235) "Sir, I would like to contact the Nautilus and Mithrandir under a secure line and then change our current frequency we are using for communications in case this unknown ship is listening to us," Lt. Capps said. Eva nodded. "Do it," She said, turning her attention back to her CSO and T'Vhor at tactical. "Aye Sir." Calvin turned back around to his console and typed a few commands into the console and then a message explaining everything. Also in the message he gave the new wave the ships would be communicating together with and then secured it all. Lt. Capps sent the message and then heard another order for him. "Have Colonel T'Vanek report to the bridge, immediately." "Aye." Once again Lt. Capps turned to his trusty console and pushed a single button to open up his a com link. =/\=Colonel T'Vanek please report to the bridge immediately.=/\= (reply T'Vanek) Calvin checked and rechecked his console and noticed that the normal scan was running. He decided since the level of urgency was indeed their that it might be smart to run a level 3. He turned to the CO. "Sir, may I suggest a level 3 diagnostic sir. We may find some type of interference that the unknown ship has incurred to us if indeed it has been watching us for days." (reply CO) "Aye." Calvin tapped the com link button on his console and contacted the Chief Engineer. =/\=Lt. Capps to Lt. Matrix.=/\= (reply Matrix) =/\=I am running a level three diagnostic and I need the assistance of your engineering team. =/\= (reply Matrix) =/\=The systems are major and minor relays of communications and passive scans units including back up generators.=/\= (reply Matrix) =/\=Capps out=/\= Mission: Exercise of Vital Powers Mission Day: 14 Stardate: 2406.10.27 (USS Paladin, Bridge, CO, Captain Straton, 12:36) =/\=Ensign T`Vhor to Captain Straton=/\= "Go ahead Ensign," Eva said, now sitting in the command chair, looking over the sensor data. Considering options. =/\=Sir, current course headings & ship placements show the Mithrandir as currently out of position. At her current location, she will need to come to a heading of zero one nine, mark two eighty & continue on this heading for four minutes at warp one. After realigning to our current heading she will then be in an optimal position without raising the suspicions of our friend out there=/\= Eva looked at Lt. Capps and nodded. "Lt. Capps is passing that along to the Mithrandir now. Let me know when the net is ready." =/\=Aye sir, we are working on the grid now.=/\= Before the comm channel could close another voice came over, Eva recognized it as Lt. Schofield. =/\= Captain. I would also recommend broadcasting in the clear to the rest of the fleet that we are going to run an exercise in fleet deployments before we arrive in system. That will guarantee that our comms will be monitored and that nothing will look out of the ordinary.=/\= "Good idea, Lt," Eva replied. "I'll have Lt. Capps send a message as soon as you have the net ready." (Reply T'Vhor, Schofield) When the connection closed, Eva heard the turbo lift doors open and turned to see Colonel T'Vanek walk onto the bridge. She motioned him over to the tactical station, as she stood and headed that way her self. As T'Vanek walked over to her, she looked at Morgot, now manning tactical. "Gentleman," Eva said, quietly so that just the two of them could hear her. "We have detected a cloaked ship shadowing us. There are indications that it may be Romulan, but at this point we are not certain. Colonel, I want a team of marines ready to board and capture that vessel if we can draw them into the open. Morgot, keep your eyes on your sensors, if they trip through the detection grid, it is my bet they will attack. Be ready for it, but don't tip our hand too soon. Any questions?" Mission: Exercise of Vital Powers Mission Day: 14 Stardate: 2406.10.27 (USS Paladin - Engineering - TAC/ASC T`Vhor - 12:55) After working for 15 minutes on the grid setup, Ensign T`Vhor & Lt Schofield were finally ready to signal the Captain that all was ok & that the grid was now ready for deployment. The Tachyon emitters had checked out as ok & the grid power network was up to it`s maximum. Ensign T`Vhor tapped his badge once. =/\=Ensign T`Vhor to Captain Straton=/\= (Reply CO) =/\=The grid is ready for deployment sir, the console is showing that all ships are at optimal position & we are go for initialization=/\= (Reply CO) =/\=Aye sir, stsnding by=/\= Ensign T`Vhor then turned to Lt Schofield who was already manning a second console in readiness. "Time to stir the hornets nest", said T`Vhor with a raised eyebrow. "Would that not be an apt euphimism", he added allowing himself a smile. Mission: Exercise of Vital Powers Mission Day: 14 Stardate: 2406.10.27 (USS Paladin - Bridge - MCO T'Vanek - 12:40) "We have detected a cloaked ship shadowing us. There are indications that it may be Romulan, but at this point we are not certain. Colonel, I want a team of marines ready to board and capture that vessel if we can draw them into the open. Morgot, keep your eyes on your sensors, if they trip through the detection grid, it is my bet they will attack. Be ready for it, but don't tip our hand too soon. Any questions?" "We will be ready," The Vulcan said evenly. (reply: any) The Vulcan walked back into a turbolift, "Marine Staging Center." He said quietly. "T'Vanek to all the Marines of Pride and Passion, Level two emergency, all personnel suit up for battle. All Squad CO's muster for orders. All Company Commanders meet in my office in five minutes for briefing. T'Vanek out." Mission: Exercise of Vital Powers Mission Day: 14 Stardate: 2406.10.27 (USS Paladin - Bridge - 20/Chief Ops Lt. Calvin Capps -1238) Not long after Calvin had spoken with the Mithrandir and Nautilus Ensign T'Vhor's voice had came back through the intercom. =/\=Sir, current course headings & ship placements show the Mithrandir as currently out of position. At her current location, she will need to come to a heading of zero one nine, mark two eighty & continue on this heading for four minutes at warp one. After realigning to our current heading she will then be in an optimal position without raising the suspicions of our friend out there=/\= As Lt. Capps heard the coordinates, he punched them into his console so as to not to forget them. When T'Vhor was finishing speaking, Calvin sent a secure message over to the Mithrandir stating the orders and suggestions of Ensign T'Vhor. "Sir, the Mithrandir have responded, they understand." Calvin reported to the Captain. after a few seconds a second voice came over. =/\= Captain. I would also recommend broadcasting in the clear to the rest of the fleet that we are going to run an exercise in fleet deployments before we arrive in system. That will guarantee that our comms will be monitored and that nothing will look out of the ordinary.=/\= "Good idea, Lt," Eva replied. "I'll have Lt. Capps send a message as soon as you have the net ready." replied the Captain. Calvin went a head and set up a message to the rest of the fleet. He did not send it out yet, but he would when the net was finished. As the Captain went to talk with Colonel T'Vanek, Calvin was going over his level 3 diagnostics over the scan relays and comm pathways. The data appeared on his screen and he started to read through them. He passed over usual reading and nothing that seemed out of the ordinary. Lt. Capps was convinced that nothing has been tempered with. However a few more data pages down the data seemed to be getting larger than they were supposed to. The files has had something added to them. Calvin scanned the data for new programs and it found two. Calvin then tried to figure out how and who did this. After a few test, Lt. Capps believed he knew how and who. So he turned to Captain Straton. "Sir?" (reply CO) "I ran a level 3 diagnostic and I found two hidden programs by the unknown ship, in our comm pathways to the back up generator. I believe that the unknown ship was able to do this by scanning our ship, but disguising the scan as some type of disturbance. I believed they done this maybe 6 to 7 days ago." (reply CO) "I have not deleted the programs for I did not want to alert the unknown ship." Calvin heard the beeping noise on his console. He looked down at it, and it was the results from he final test. Lt. Capps read it and a daze _expression came over his face. "Sir, my last test just came back to me. I ran the type of programs types to the computer's database. The result state that the unknown ship 87 percent chance of Romulan. Mission: Exercise of Vital Powers Mission Day: 14 Stardate: 2406.10.27 (USS Paladin - Bridge - CONN Lt. Max - 1240) Lt. Max was always a serious person while on duty. He believed that there was a fine line between work and play. This hard dedication of work almost got him into the Marines, but Max decided to back out only days before he was supposed to start his training. Max knew what he really wanted, and he was only trying to be true to himself when he made that last minute decision. He wanted to be in Starfleet and fly. He also knew he could fly with the Marines and the flight squadrons, but for him it just was not the same. He enojoyed an adreniline rush and he got this feeling the most behind the console of a starship. He always thought this because a starship was so much bigger than just another small fighter. Max always tried to explain to tactical officers how flying a starship such as the Paladin or the Cochrane could be more exzilerating than their post. One person, just one person controlling the movement of an entire ship. Hundreds of people depending on that CONN officer to get them their was Max biggest argument. Besides flying a starship he was really happy when he was behind a racer. After all these years of flying; a person might think a racer would be used to it, but Max never gave it up. He loved to race. The excitement of him alone with other racers flying through difficult obsticals at unsafe velocities was just a hobby to him. However the best type of adreneline rush for Max had to be fear. Right now was the type of times Max liked. Their was a possible Romulan ship following them. Max did not tighten his body, nether did he twitch. He was more focused in what he was doing more than ever now. There was determination in his eyes and he was ready for any movement even if it ment his flying circles around the Romulan ship to attack. Mission: Exercise of Vital Powers Mission Day: 14 Stardate: 2406.10.27 (USS Paladin - Helldeck - MXO Drew Dewalt - 12:40) "PUT YOUR D*MN BACKS INTO IT, PEOPLE!" Andrew yelled as the marines of Pride and Passion's Beta Platoon worked their way through a swarm of Kazon. "COME ON!" He said, and hacked one of them down with the butt of his rifle, whilst simultaneously swinging round and knifing another in the back with a duranium-tipped sabre. He paused as the colonel's voice issued over the comm. =/\=T'Vanek to all the Marines of Pride and Passion, Level two emergency, all personnel suit up for battle. All Squad CO's muster for orders. All Company Commanders meet in my office in five minutes for briefing. T'Vanek out.=/\= Andrew dropped the dead carcass from his sabre and turned, slightly flustered, to his men. ~Lucky we'd only just started,~ he thought. All of Beta platoon were still fresh. "YOU HEARD THE COLONEL! MOVE!" Andrew ordered, and Beta platoon started shifting. "I WANT ALL MARINES IN FULL BDU, FIVE MINUTES AGO!" Andrew yelled, as all the marines shifted to switch from combat training slacks to their Armour. About a minute later, Drew hit his badge. "Dewalt to Pride and Passion Squad COs, stand by in my office and await further instructions," he said, before hitting his badge twice. "Dewalt to T'Vanek, Pride and Passion is at full combat readiness, I will be at your office momentarily," Drew said. In a phenominally fast speed, he towelled off, changed to full BDU and set off. (USS Paladin - Outside MCO's office - MXO Dewalt - 1245) Andrew saw the other company commanders on the way and went in with them. "Lt Dewalt, reporting as ordered," he said, saluting and standing to attention. Mission: Exercise of Vital Powers Mission Day: 14 Stardate: 2406.10.27 (USS Paladin, Bridge, CO, Captain Straton, 12:39) "I have not deleted the programs for I did not want to alert the unknown ship. "Sir, my last test just came back to me. I ran the type of programs types to the computer's database. The result state that the unknown ship 87 percent chance of Romulan." Eva's eyes narrowed, she did not like what she had just been told. "Transfer those programs to science and to Main Engineering," Eva said sternly, "I want to know what they are meant to do and when, and I want to know yesterday." She then spun toward Morgot at the tactical station. She marched up to him and leaned down so that only he could hear her. "When this is over, you will completely over haul our computer security protocols. I want to know how they managed to get those programs uploaded to our computer and you will make sure that nothing similar will ever happen again. Understood?" (Reply Capps, Morgot) Eva turned and moved back to her chair and sat down, punching open a comm-channel. "Straton to Main Engineering. Lt. Matrix, prepare the ship for combat maneuvers." (Reply Matrix) "Lt. Max," Eva said next, "I want you to have some evasive maneuvers plotted and laid in, just in case we need them in a hurry." (Reply Max) "Lt. Capps, once the grid is ready and you broadcast the false message that we are doing fleet battle drills, launch another half squadron of fighters. That will give us a full squadron ready to engage any hostile's." She turned in her seat toward Morgot. "You will target weapons and engines only. I want them disabled, not destroyed." (Reply Capps, Morgot) Eva then settled back in her chair and waited, her eyes on the main view screen. Several minuets latter her comm-badge chirped. =/\=Ensign T`Vhor to Captain Straton=/\= "Straton here go ahead," Eva said, tapping her badge lightly to respond. =/\=The grid is ready for deployment sir, the console is showing that all ships are at optimal position & we are go for initialization=/\= "Good. Standby," Eva said. =/\=Aye sir, standing by=/\= The connection closed and Eva quickly double tapped her badge. "Straton to Colonel T'Vanek. Are the marines ready?" Eva asked. (Reply T'Vanek) "Good," Eva said, hearing that the marines were ready, "Stand by." Eva closed the connection and nodded at Lt. Capps giving him the go ahead. "Initialize grid and broadcast the bait." (Reply Capps) Eva leaned back in her chair and waited once more as Capps worked his console. The minuets ticked by slowly as nothing immediately happened. ~Are they still out there?~ Eva thought as the minuets started to mount. "Contact!" Lt. Capps said suddenly, his hands flying over his console. "We got them! POWER SURGE!" On the main viewer a Romulan war bird came into view as it decloaked. "SHIELDS! Evasive maneuvers now!" Eva yelled, knowing what that meant. The words had barely left her mouth when the ship rocked suddenly as the War Bird opened fire relentlessly firing at the Paladin. The ship shook again and again. "Morgot," Eva said, her voice suddenly cold, "Open fire, all batteries. Bring that bird down. All ships open fire." "They are trying to pull past us," Capps said, still working his station. "They are accelerating." Eva knew the Paladin couldn't keep up with a War Bird at high warp for long. She had to do something fast or they would get away. "Mithrandir, and Nautilus, emergency warp ahead of them. Cut them off." Eva ordered, then pressed a button on the arm of her chair. "Bridge to Main Engineering. Lt. Matrix, I need emergency warp power, and I need it now." (Reply Matrix) "CONN," Eva said turning toward Lt. Max. "Warp 9 now!" On the view screen the War Bird was quickly pulling away. The Mithrandir and the Nautilus were no match for a War Bird, but the Paladin was. They only had to slow it down briefly. As Max pushed the warp engines to their maximum, the Paladin once more closed into optimum firing range. Morgot didn't even wait, he opened fire immediately phasers and quantum torpedoes flew from the Paladin and slammed into the War Birds shields. "Their shields are failing," Capps reported. "Once their shields are down, send in the marines," Eva ordered, standing now, watching the main viewer as several fighters swooped in and fired at the almost defenseless War Bird. The War Bird fired at several of the fighters and the Mithrandir trying to punch a hole through them to get away, but it was too late. "Their shields are down. Their weapons and engines are failing. Beaming marines now," Capps reported, never looking up from his console, all business. Eva nodded. "Cease Fire," Eva ordered, "Maintain position. Time for the Marines to do their job. " Mission: Exercise of Vital Powers Mission Day: 14 Stardate: 2406.10.27 (USS Paladin, Bridge, Ensign Greg Dunn, 12:41) Greg looked at the immobile war bird with wide eyes. This is the first time he had seen one of these monsters and seeing one disabled with relative ease made him feel a bit safer aboard the Paladin. He got back to his console and gave it a glance over, nothing had appeared as yet but knowing the Romulans they would be sneaky and some how manage to get aboard so his constant attention was needed. Mission: Exercise of Vital Powers >Mission Day: 14 >Stardate: 2406.10.27 > >(USS Paladin- Bridge- LT Morgot,TAC/SC, 12:38) Morgot was on the bridge (and it felt good to be back). The news of another ship, and a “Romulan ship” at that shadowing them made him a little uneasy, it brought back memories of years past on the B’Lent and the problems with that ships weapons systems. ~Not again~ he thought ~Not again~. The Captain telling him to keep an eye on the sensors was wasted on him, his eyes weren’t going anywhere else. The matter of his disgrace was not listed as secret and was available to any who choose to inquire but he wondered who on the bridge might be there watching for the same thing to happen again. He closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath, cracked his knuckles and leaned into the Tacticle station. “Aye Sir, “ he replied simply. Mission: Exercise of Vital Powers Day: 3 Stardate: 2406.10.16 (USS Paladin - Auxilliary Generator - Ensign Alura Rathyn - 0811) A Romulan Warbird? The Paladin could handle one such ship, but if one enemy ship could sneak up and shadow them... But there was another question to ponder. Why are the Romulans in this zone of space in the first place? If exploring, why take notice of the Paladin? The simplest answer would be that the Romulans are as paranoid about the Federation as the Federation is about them. If the captain of the Paladin had detected the Warbird first, she would've exerted great effort to check them out. The spying game goes both ways. That was the simplest answer. But where interstellar cloak and dagger was at work, "simple" usually didn't appear in the equation. Alura directed her attention back to the engines when she heard the captain's voice over the comm ordering emergency warp. Her fingers worked the controls as Lt. Matrix gave his answer. "Emergency warp ready, Chief," Alura called to her CEO. (Reply: Matrix) Alura moved her eyes across the board quickly absorbing streams of data from the main computer. The power flow spiked sharply as the ship was suddenly thrust to warp 9. Matter/anti-matter mix ratios stayed in good balance. Temperatures in the intermix chamber rose swiftly of course, but that would stay in the safe zone for some time. Mission: Exercise of Vital Powers Mission Day: 14 Stardate: 2406.10.27 (USS Paladin-Bridge-LT Morgot-TAC/SC, 12:40) The Captain walked over and leaned down close where only Morgot and Capps could hear her and with a voice that carried the treat of unspeakable things to come informed them that when this encounter was over, they would be spending a considerable amount of time overhauling the ships computer security protocols. They would find out how this had happened and would prevent it from happening again. “Aye Sir. Understood”. He replied through clenched teeth. ~The gods help the next Romulan I come across~ he thought Completely forgetting that there were one or two already serving on board the ship at that very moment. Eva Straton began giving orders to the various departments on the bridge regaurding fighter deployment and evasive maneuvers. Morgot was only paying partial attention though as he maintain a close watch on the sensors. “MR. Morgot” The Captain called to him. "You will target weapons and engines only. I want them disabled, not destroyed." “Yes Sir, Disabled, not destroyed, I understand.” From the way she had emphasized “not destroyed” she had made it clear she had read his file and could guess what he had been thinking. Morgot thought to himself ~I wonder how far you can “disable” a ship before it is considered “destroyed”~? But with a glance back at Straton decided this was not a good time to push that thought. Mission: Exercise of Vital Powers Mission Day: 14 Stardate: 2406.10.27 (USS Paladin-Bridge-LT Morgot-TAC/SC- 12:42) “Contact” We got them Capps said as Morgot saw his sensors paint the war bird as it decloaked. “SHIELDS!” Evasive Maneuvers NOW!! Yelled the Captain. Morgot had already brought the shields up to full strength and had the weapons on line. His _expression showed a sharp, jagged toothed grin as his Klingon blood raced with the upcoming battle. The ship rocked once, twice three times as the war bird pounded them with destructive energy. “Morgot,” The Captain said with a suddenly icy voice “open fire with all batteries. Bring that bird down”. This was the moment he had been waiting for. His fingers dancing on the firing board as he unleashed the power of the Paladins phaser batteries. Streak after steak of awesome destructive force hammered back at the smaller ship until its shields started to glow from the energies it was forced to turn aside. The bird started to veer off plainly having tired of the game. Knowing the Paladin would not be able to keep pace with the Romulan vessel Straton ordered the Mithrander and Nautilus to speed ahead and cut it off, the two ships darted ahead, their own phasers taking a toll on the now battered war bird. The Paladin herself now at warp 9 began to close the distance, seeing that the shields were starting to weaken but not wanting to chance it getting away Morgot maintained the barrage of phaser burst with one hand and slammed salvo after salvo of Quantum Torpedoes into the Romulan. Morgot noted with almost childlike glee that the shields had started to collapse on the smaller ship. With a last salvo of torpedoes the shields went down. Knowing that any more torpedoes would destroy the Romulan Morgot discontinued them and concentrated on the Paladins phasers. Without shields to block the power of the Paladins weaponry it was a matter of moments to disable the other ships engines. One nacelle disabled, the other blown completely from the ship the bird had had its wings clipped. The other two Federation ships had taken out the weapons. Mission: Exercise of Vital Powers Mission Day: 14 Stardate: 2406.10.27 (USS Paladin - Sickbay - CMO Keller - 12:43) The alert meant nothing but trouble, Jared put out a call to all available medical personnel to get to sickbay fast, those that had gotten off Delta shift were on call with fifteen minutes notice. After he had been notified marines were beamed aboard the Romulan ship his face got grim, he looked around at those assembled who were not busy with patients. "All right everyone this is a shakeout call, get ready for wounded. When they start coming back I want everyone ready for anything." The thought of burned, disfigured and horribly mutilated bodies and faces was unnerving but it came with the job. He slapped his hands together. "No need for the cargo bay yet, just keep your wits about you and do it right." Mission: Exercise of Vital Powers Mission Day: 14 Stardate: 2406.10.27 NRPG: Sorry, delay that last post, heres the correct one. (USS Paladin - Engineering - TAC/ASC T`Vhor - 12:42) Down in Main Engineering, Ensign T`Vhor & Lt Schofield watched as the monitors turned red upon the Warbirds encroachment into the now active grid. All of a sudden, the ship was rocked by weopons fire as the Paladin took two disrupter blasts to her port nacelle. "Looks like we have them on the run", said T`Vhor. Lt Schofield nodded in agreeance. (Reply Schofield, IYW) Within a few seconds, two more impacts shook the Paladin throwing the two men to the ground as a result. Both however were unhurt & quickly rose to their feet to monitor power levels & the other ships positions. Imediately the Paladins warp engines opened up to show a rapid escalation of visible blue photonic discharge as she increased her speed to chase the now fleeing warbird. Power levels however remained at a safe level as the ensuing fight progressed onwards. Ensign T`Vhor watched the monitors before him as the Mithrandir & the Nautilus engaged the now slowing warbird. Then as quickly as it had begun, the Warbird came to a sudden halt directly ahead as the Paladin likewise, slowed to a stop. Mission: Exercise of Vital Powers Mission Day: 14 Stardate: 2406.10.27 (USS Paladin - Bridge - 20/Cheif Ops Lt. Calvin Capps - 12:40) "I have not deleted the programs for I did not want to alert the unknown ship." Calvin informed the Captain. "Sir, my last test just came back to me. I ran the type of programs types to the computer's database. The result state that the unknown ship 87 percent chance of Romulan." Eva's eyes narrowed, she did not like what she had just been told. "Transfer those programs to science and to Main Engineering," Eva said sternly, "I want to know what they are meant to do and when, and I want to know yesterday." She then spun toward Morgot at the tactical station. She marched up to him and leaned down so that only he could hear her. "When this is over, you will completely over haul our computer security protocols. I want to know how they managed to get those programs uploaded to our computer and you will make sure that nothing similar will ever happen again. Understood?" "Aye sir," was the only thing Lt. Capps to say to the Captain. He saw in her eyes that she wasn't happy about the programs. Calvin ran his fingers across his board to send a copy of the program files to Science and Main Engineering. Calvin knew that he had to go around the programs as to not alert the Romulan ship. He opened the program folder and inserted another command. This program Lt. Capps entered would allow the computer to think that the Romulan programs were functionally normally, while Calvin transferred the real programs. The Captain then returned to her seat and kept giving commands to protect the ship, and to catch the Romulan ship. After a few moments, for it took several second for Calvin to re-write an entire program. Thanks for the LCARS computers and 24th century, he was able to do it with mild ease. "Lt. Capps, once the grid is ready and you broadcast the false message that we are doing fleet battle drills, launch another half squadron of fighters. That will give us a full squadron ready to engage any hostiles." She turned in her seat toward Morgot. "You will target weapons and engines only. I want them disabled, not destroyed." "Aye sir, contacting MXO now." Lt. Capps contacted the MXO once again to get him to prepare to launch the rest of the squadron. Eva then settled back in her chair and waited, her eyes on the main view screen. Several minuets latter her comm-badge chirped. =/\=Ensign T`Vhor to Captain Straton=/\= "Straton here go ahead," Eva said, tapping her badge lightly to respond. =/\=The grid is ready for deployment sir, the console is showing that all ships are at optimal position & we are go for initialization=/\= "Good. Standby," Eva said. =/\=Aye sir, standing by=/\= The connection closed and Eva quickly double tapped her badge. "Straton to Colonel T'Vanek. Are the marines ready?" Eva asked. (Reply T'Vanek) "Good," Eva said, hearing that the marines were ready, "Stand by." Eva closed the connection and nodded at Lt. Capps giving him the go ahead. "Initialize grid and broadcast the bait." Calvin looked down at his console and released the bait. "Battle Drills are Green." Simultaneously he started the grid as well. He then ordered the second half of the squadron out of the Paladin to start their drills as well. With out turning Calvin gave the Captain an update. "Grid is in full function, the bait has been set, and the second half of the squadrons have been launched." Eva leaned back in her chair and waited once more as Capps worked his console. The minuets ticked by slowly as nothing immediately happened. ~Are they still out there?~ Eva thought as the minuets started to mount. Calvin's eyes started to go narrow as he watched his console and the grid constantly. His eyes watered a little so he would look at the view screen to readjust. As he looked back down at his console he received a surprise. "Contact!" Lt. Capps said suddenly, his hands flying over his console. "We got them! POWER SURGE!" On the main viewer a Romulan war bird came into view as it decloaked. "SHIELDS! Evasive maneuvers now!" Eva yelled, knowing what that meant. The words had barely left her mouth when the ship rocked suddenly as the War Bird opened fire relentlessly firing at the Paladin. The ship shook again and again. "Morgot," Eva said, her voice suddenly cold, "Open fire, all batteries. Bring that bird down. All ships open fire." "They are trying to pull past us," Capps said, still working his station. "They are accelerating." Eva knew the Paladin couldn't keep up with a War Bird at high warp for long. She had to do something fast or they would get away. "Mithrandir, and Nautilus, emergency warp ahead of them. Cut them off." Eva ordered, then pressed a button on the arm of her chair. "Bridge to Main Engineering. Lt. Matrix, I need emergency warp power, and I need it now." (Reply Matrix) "CONN," Eva said turning toward Lt. Max. "Warp 9 now!" On the view screen the War Bird was quickly pulling away. The Mithrandir and the Nautilus were no match for a War Bird, but the Paladin was. They only had to slow it down briefly. As Max pushed the warp engines to their maximum, the Paladin once more closed into optimum firing range. Morgot didn't even wait, he opened fire immediately phasers and quantum torpedoes flew from the Paladin and slammed into the War Birds shields. "Their shields are failing," Capps reported. "Once their shields are down, send in the marines," Eva ordered,standing now, watching the main viewer as several fighters swooped in and fired at the almost defenseless War Bird. The War Bird fired at several of the fighters and the Mithrandir trying to punch a hole through them to get away, but it was too late. "Their shields are down. Their weapons and engines are failing. Beaming marines now," Capps reported, never looking up from his console, all business. Eva nodded. "Cease Fire," Eva ordered, "Maintain position. Time for the Marines to do their job. " When the tactical officer had done his job, Lt. Capps then set the Marines free. After the calmness had settled down a little, Capps gave a report. "Sir, shields holding at 28 percent. The Marines have been sent. Port dorsal has had one direct hit. I have dispatched an engineering crew. Sickbay has been alerted. No significant injuries reported in yet sir." Mission: Exercise of Vital Powers Mission Day: 14 Stardate: 2406.10.27 (USS Paladin - Bridge - CONN Lt. Max - 1245) "Lt. Max," Eva said next, "I want you to have some evasive maneuvers plotted and laid in, just in case we need them in a hurry." Max looked at his screen and took in account thier current positon. He took the best possible locations he thought and set them accordingly. "Aye, Captain." ~This is more like it,~ Max thought. He was ready for some action. After several minutes of waiting, Max just flew the ship normally and acting as if he was putting the ship into a battle drill with out getting out of the grid lines. "Contact!" Lt. Capps said suddenly, his hands flying over his console. "We got them! POWER SURGE!" On the main viewer a Romulan war bird came into view as it decloaked. "SHIELDS! Evasive maneuvers now!" Eva yelled, knowing what that meant. The words had barely left her mouth when the ship rocked suddenly as the War Bird opened fire relentlessly firing at the Paladin. The ship shook again and again. Max hit his predetermined buttons to set the ship into different patters that would lead into other areas of patterns. He was trying as hard as he could to keep from being hit from the torpedos from the Romulan ship. After several moments of firing, the Romulan Warbird tried to runaway. "CONN," Eva said turning toward Lt. Max. "Warp 9 now!" Max punched in a few more commandsinto his console. "Emergency Warp acitvated sir." The ship pushed hard and Max's body swished back into his chair. He looked out at the view screen and could barely see the Warbird. After several more shots the Romulan Warbird slowed down and the Mariens were sent over. Mission: Exercise of Vital Powers Mission Day: 14 Stardate: 2406.10.27 (USS Paladin, Main Engineering, CEO, Lt. JG Steven Matrix, 12:39) Matrix was at the weapons station in engineering preparing some surprises... "Straton to Main Engineering. Lt. Matrix, prepare the ship for combat maneuvers." "Matrix here Captain, we're ready down here." - Matrix grinded and he punched up TAC1 on his console. It poised the Paladin for battle. Systems throughout the ship readied for combat. "Lt. Max," Eva said next, "I want you to have some evasive maneuvers plotted and laid in, just in case we need them in a hurry." (Reply Max) "Lt. Capps, once the grid is ready and you broadcast the false message that we are doing fleet battle drills, launch another half squadron of fighters. That will give us a full squadron ready to engage any hostile's." She turned in her seat toward Morgot. "You will target weapons and engines only. I want them disabled, not destroyed." (Reply Capps, Morgot) Eva then settled back in her chair and waited, her eyes on the main view screen. Several minuets latter her comm-badge chirped. =/\=Ensign T`Vhor to Captain Straton=/\= "Straton here go ahead," Eva said, tapping her badge lightly to respond. =/\=The grid is ready for deployment sir, the console is showing that all ships are at optimal position & we are go for initialization=/\= "Good. Standby," Eva said. =/\=Aye sir, standing by=/\= The connection closed and Eva quickly double tapped her badge. "Straton to Colonel T'Vanek. Are the marines ready?" Eva asked. (Reply T'Vanek) "Good," Eva said, hearing that the marines were ready, "Stand by." Eva closed the connection and nodded at Lt. Capps giving him the go ahead. "Initialize grid and broadcast the bait." (Reply Capps) Eva leaned back in her chair and waited once more as Capps worked his console. The minuets ticked by slowly as nothing immediately happened. ~Are they still out there?~ Eva thought as the minuets started to mount. "Contact!" Lt. Capps said suddenly, his hands flying over his console. "We got them! POWER SURGE!" On the main viewer a Romulan war bird came into view as it decloaked. "SHIELDS! Evasive maneuvers now!" Eva yelled, knowing what that meant. The words had barely left her mouth when the ship rocked suddenly as the War Bird opened fire relentlessly firing at the Paladin. The ship shook again and again. "Morgot," Eva said, her voice suddenly cold, "Open fire, all batteries. Bring that bird down. All ships open fire." "They are trying to pull past us," Capps said, still working his station. "They are accelerating." Eva knew the Paladin couldn't keep up with a War Bird at high warp for long. She had to do something fast or they would get away. "Mithrandir, and Nautilus, emergency warp ahead of them. Cut them off." Eva ordered, then pressed a button on the arm of her chair. "Bridge to Main Engineering. Lt. Matrix, I need emergency warp power, and I need it now." "Ready Captain, we have and additional point 5 warp at your command." "CONN," Eva said turning toward Lt. Max. "Warp 9 now!" On the view screen the War Bird was quickly pulling away. The Mithrandir and the Nautilus were no match for a War Bird, but the Paladin was. They only had to slow it down briefly. As Max pushed the warp engines to their maximum, the Paladin once more closed into optimum firing range. Morgot didn't even wait, he opened fire immediately phasers and quantum torpedoes flew from the Paladin and slammed into the War Birds shields. "Their shields are failing," Capps reported. "Once their shields are down, send in the marines," Eva ordered, standing now, watching the main viewer as several fighters swooped in and fired at the almost defenseless War Bird. The War Bird fired at several of the fighters and the Mithrandir trying to punch a hole through them to get away, but it was too late. "Their shields are down. Their weapons and engines are failing. Beaming marines now," Capps reported, never looking up from his console, all business. Eva nodded. "Cease Fire," Eva ordered, "Maintain position. Time for the Marines to do their job. " Mission: Exercise of Vital Powers Mission Day: 14 Stardate: 2406.10.27 (USS Paladin - Main Engineering - ACEO Ensign Tristen - 1200) Zack was sitting in a small chair that stayed up by 5 legs with wheels attached to each of them. He looked at the first readings of the MTBF and change-out schedules. The first data stream that appeared was the gulium fluoride inner liner for the impulse reaction chamber. Zack studied the small video in the top right hand corner as he inspected the IRC. There was not significant erosion nor fracturing effects. It has had a total of nearly 9,000 hours so Ensign Tristen was going to put in a change out order for it. Since it would only take an hour to change, he could have it done by the time the mission started. After Zack pushed a few buttons on the console he forced the chair to swivel to his right and stood up. He walked over to the CEO and waited for him to turn. "Lt. Matrix I have finished the MTBF on the IRC's and there is one that I think needs to be changed out sir." (reply Matrix) "Aye sir." When Ensign Tristen was walking back to grab his gear for the change out he heard the Captain over the intercom. =/\=Lt. Matrix, I need emergency warp power, and I need it now.=/\= ~I guess that change out will have to wait.~ Zack and Ensign Rathyn went to their respected stations, and Ensign Tristen started diverging power that he could to the warp field where Ensign Rathyn was reading all the data streams to check the systems out. "Ready Sir." Zack reported to Lt. Matrix Lt. Matrix then responded back to the Captain. "Ready Captain, we have and additional point 5 warp at your command." Zack suddenly felt the ship move a little faster that no doubtful that is what Lt. Max wanted the ship to do. Mission: Exercise of Vital Powers Mission Day: 14 Stardate: 2406.10.27 (USS Paladin - Tango Fighter - Norman Groom - 1245) Norman was flying with other fighters in a nice defensive formation. They recently heard the transmission from Lt. Capps stating that tactical practice has started. Norman checked over all his systems and then heard another transmission from his squadron leader. =/=All fighters start formation one and two.=/= Norman pushed his flight stick to the left and glided with perfect unison with his companions. As his wings were facing downwrard and his fighter was flying back to the rear of the ship something started forming, as if de-cloaking. Norman acted fast and spoke over his comm. "Contact, the Romulan Warbird dead ahead." =/=Hold Fire, fly position 9=/= Norman got back into another position and remembered what position 9 was. It was second nature for Norman now. He flew around the Warbird with one of his team mates behind him while the other two went to the opposite side where they would meet in the back of the Romulan Warbird. After several seconds later the Romulan War Bird started to fire. "Open fire, all batteries. Bring that bird down. All ships open fire," Captain Straton ordered. Norman turned his ships toward the Romulan Warbird and releashed his Wrath. Multiple shots fired from his guns at the Warbird. Norman watched as the phasers from the Paladin hit the Warbird as well. Normal sat in his chair and watched the Warbird be defeated by the fighters and the other ships. It was no match for all of the Starfleet teams. After several moments the Romulan Warbird went to Emergeny warp and Norman wathed the Paladin, Mithrandir, Nautilus go after the Warbird. Norman heard one more com from his Leader. =/=Get into Tango position and and we will wait until futher orders. Good job out their=/= Mission: Exercise of Vital Powers Mission Day: 14 Stardate: 2406.10.27 (USS Paladin - Main Engineering - CEO Lt JG. Steven Matrix - 1200) Zack was sitting in a small chair that stayed up by 5 legs with wheels attached to each of them. He looked at the first readings of the MTBF and change-out schedules. The first data stream that appeared was the gulium fluoride inner liner for the impulse reaction chamber. Zack studied the small video in the top right hand corner as he inspected the IRC. There was not significant erosion nor fracturing effects. It has had a total of nearly 9,000 hours so Ensign Tristen was going to put in a change out order for it. Since it would only take an hour to change, he could have it done by the time the mission started. After Zack pushed a few buttons on the console he forced the chair to swivel to his right and stood up. He walked over to the CEO and waited for him to turn. "Lt. Matrix I have finished the MTBF on the IRC's and there is one that I think needs to be changed out sir." Matrix looked up from his console…he was reviewing the scanner results. “Ah…yes Ensign, very well….I’m sure you did a cross check to see if its nothing more than a sensor problem? ” Matrix knew the Ensign meticulous. “Carry on Ensign.” "Aye sir." When Ensign Tristen was walking back to grab his gear for the change out he heard the Captain over the intercom. =/\=Lt. Matrix, I need emergency warp power, and I need it now.=/\= ~I guess that change out will have to wait.~ Zack and Ensign Rathyn went to their respected stations, and Ensign Tristen started diverging power that he could to the warp field where Ensign Rathyn was reading all the data streams to check the systems out. "Ready Sir." Zack reported to Lt. Matrix Lt. Matrix then responded back to the Captain. "Ready Captain, we have and additional point 5 warp at your command." Zack suddenly felt the ship move a little faster that no doubtful that is what Lt. Max wanted the ship to do. Mission: Exercise of Vital Powers Mission Day: 14 Stardate: 2406.10.27 (USS Paladin - Main Engineering - CEO Lt JG. Steven Matrix - 1235 ) Matrix punched up the propultion summary on the main engineering command station. "That didn't feel like a point 5 increase....let see what...." Matrix rubbed his eyes and looked at the console again, punched up a cross check and did some quick calculations. "That was an increase of warp two..." =^= Lt. Matrix to the bridge. =^= NRPG: As Jeremy is still indisposed, I'm moving ahead here. Adam you can post your characters aspect of the battle if you want, just don't blow the durn ship up alright? : P Mission: Exercise of Vital Powers Mission Day: 14 Stardate: 2406.10.27 (USS Paladin, Bridge, CO, Captain Straton, 12:42) =^= Lt. Matrix to the bridge. =^= Eva, once more seated in the command chair, tapped a key on her chairs arm terminal opening a com-channel. "Bridge here," She said, "Go ahead." (Reply Matrix) (NRPG: Leaving room here for more) Closing the connection to engineering, Eva turned her eyes back to the main view screen and the War Bird hanging dead in space before them. Fighters still flew around the crippled ship. Eva turned her attention for Ensign Dunn at the secondary Tactical station. "Ensign," She said, getting his attention, "Prepare one of the cargo bays to receive any prisoners. Command level prisoners will be confined individually in the brig, all others I want held in the converted cargo bay. Liaison with engineering to make any necessary adjustments you need to make the cargo bay secure for holding prisoners." (Reply Dunn) With Dunn on his way to turn a cargo bay into a jail cell, Eva turned her attention to what to do with the war bird once it was captured. She slapped her comm-badge a few seconds latter. "Ensigns T'Vhor, Rathyn, and Lt. Schofield report to the Bridge immediately." Eva leaned back in her chair and waited for the officers to arrive. She looked at Capps at OPS. "have a second company of Marines ready to transport over incase the Colonel needs reinforcements, and make arrangements for all wounded to be transported to sickbay." She then turned to Morgot. "Increase security in sickbay, as I'm sure some of the wounded will be Romulan." (Reply T'Vhor, Rathyn, Schofield, Capps, Morgot) Once all three officers had arrived on the bridge, Eva turned to face them. "I want an away team ready to transport aboard the war bird once the marines have declared it secure," Eva said, getting right to the point, "Ensign T'Vhor you will lead the security detail, coordinate with Lt. Morgot on personnel and liaison with Colonel T'Vanek on making sure the ship is secure. Ensign Rathyn, you will lead the engineering team, coordinate with Lt. Matrix on who you will be taking. Lt. Schofield, you will be leading the science team. See if you can get any useful information from their computer." Eva then looked over at Commander Mackenzie. "Commander Mackenzie will be in over all command of the away team. Let her know when your respective teams are ready. Question?" Mission: Exercise of Vital Powers Mission Day: 14 Stardate: 2406.10.27 (USS Paladin, Science Lab, ACSO, Lt Shane Schofield, 1243) Shane had been watching in proud amazement as the ASPS-enhanced tachyon grid around the fleet managed to detect the cloaked vessel that was shadowing them. Because of this information they had been able to plan their response to the intruder accordingly. Currently Shane was remote piloting the ASP that they had used to enhance the grid back into the cargo bay where it would be shut down and put through a series of diagnostic tests to evaluate its performance and flight data. =/\=Ensigns T'Vhor, Rathyn, and Lt. Schofield report to the Bridge immediately.=/\= =/\= On my way Captain. =/\= Shane just had time to dock the ASP and order the diagnostics before running to the STS pad further down the corridor on the deck and beamed directly to the bridge. (USS Paladin, Bridge, ACSO, Lt Shane Schofield, 1245) "I want an away team ready to transport aboard the war bird once the marines have declared it secure," the Captain announced to the assembled officers. "Ensign T'Vhor you will lead the security detail, coordinate with Lt.Morgot on personnel and liaison with Colonel T'Vanek on making sure the ship is secure. Ensign Rathyn, you will lead the engineering team, coordinate with Lt. Matrix on who you will be taking. Lt. Schofield, you will be leading the science team. See if you can get any useful information from their computer." Eva then looked over at Commander Mackenzie. "Commander Mackenzie will be in over all command of the away team. Let her know when your respective teams are ready. Question?" "No ma'am." Shane said, already compiling a list in his head of the equipment he might need aboard the Warbird. As soon as Commander Mackenzie dismissed them Shane practically ran to the Science labs and started packing tricorders, padds and any other data collection tool he could readily lay his hands on. Then he went to the armoury and drew a phaser. When everything was ready he went straight to the transporter room where the Away Team was assembling and readied himself for the transport. Mission: Exercise of Vital Powers Mission Day: 14 Stardate: 2406.10.27 (USS Paladin - Engineering - TAC/ASC T`Vhor - 12:42) Ensign T`Vhor was just finishing off in engineering when the Captain`s voice sounded throughout the room. "Ensigns T'Vhor, Rathyn, and Lt. Schofield report to the Bridge immediately." Ensign T`Vhor stopped what he was doing & then he looked to Lt Schofield, who in turn stood also to heed the Captains orders as the two men then made for the door & the coridoor beyond. (USS Paladin - Bridge - TAC/ASC T`Vhor - 12:47) When the turbolift doors slid aside, Ensign T`Vhor was greeted with the sight of a bridge alive with action. In the viewscreen ahead, the ominous, but now silenced warbird sat motionless with the starfleet fighters swarming all around it like angry wasps checking out an invader. Various crewmembers on the bridge were busy at consoles & the CO was reeling off orders to those tasked with imediate duties in regard their captured prey. She then turned to T`Vhor who`s eyes for the moment anyway, remained fixed on the Warbird taking centre stage in the viewscreen. It seemed strange to him to see it like that, after so long of seeing it as a sporadic unidentified contact on a sensor readout, it was now almost palpable in the sence that he felt he could almost reach out of the screen & touch her. "I want an away team ready to transport aboard the warbird once the marines have declared it secure," said the Captain, getting right to the point now & instantly breaking the Ensign from his gaze. "Ensign T'Vhor you will lead the security detail, coordinate with Lt. Morgot on personnel and liaison with Colonel T'Vanek on making sure the ship is secure.", she said. Ensign T`Vhor heeded the order instantly. "I`m on it sir", he said as he imediately set off for Lt Morgot at the Tactical station. Mission: Exercise of Vital Powers Mission Day: 14 Stardate: 2406.10.27 (USS Paladin - Transporter room 1 - TAC/ASC T`Vhor - 13:10) In the transporter room, an assembled team of six were now standing on the pads awaiting transport to the Warbird. Col T`Vanek had just signalled that his Marine contingent had secured the ship & Ensign T`Vhor, along with five handpicked security officers were now ready to go. "Ok, remember where we are going", said T`Vhor addressing his team now. "The Warbird has been secured but we may still find small pockets of resistance from Romulan crew that may have evaded the Marines", said T`Vhor. "Do not take anything for granted & remain focused", he added thinking back to his early training as a Bajoran resistance fighter once again. "Any questions?", said T`Vhor. A single voice then answered in comical fashion. "Can we take a little time to raid their drinks bar sir", said the lone security officer, "I`ve been dying to get my hands on some of that famous ale they go on about for ages", he added. T`Vhor simply stared, he then raised an eyebrow quizically. "I would not recommend drinking on this particular job Mr Reeves", said the straight faced Vulcan hybrid as he then turned to the transporter chief without even breaking into a smile. "Energize", said T`Vhor & their molecules were imediatlely disassembled & duly beamed forthwith onto the Warbird. (Unknown Warbird - Transporter room - TAC/ASC T`Vhor - 13:12) When the security team arrived on the warbird, Ensign T`Vhor imediately walked to one of the two marines that were now standing guard over twelve Romulan officers sitting huddled on the deckplates against the wall of the room. "Where is Col T`Vanek?", said T`Vhor as he turned momentarilly to survey the Romulan crewmen upon speaking to the Marine guarding them. "The Colonel is on the Warbirds bridge directing Marine operations sir", said the Marine, "These are ready to go when the Paladin is ready for them", he added gesturing to the Romulan prisoners as he spoke. "There are more to come of course", he added, just as Lt Schofield & other Paladin crewmen suddenly arrived on the transport pads to imediately set off on the various missions assigned to them by Captain Stratton. Ensign T`Vhor looked towards the Romulans once again with a somewhat puzzled look upon his face. ~This is most strange~ he thought. ~Something is not quite right here~ What was odd about the scenario displayed was that seven of their number were wearing the uniform of the Tal`Shiar, the others wore standard Romulan uniform. Warbirds frequently included Tal shiar operatives on board during missions, this was accepted as the norm of course, but seven of them!. T`Vhor walked towards them as they each looked up at him in turn. "You are Tal`Shiar", said T`Vhor addressing them collectively, "Why are there so many of you on this vessel?", he added. The Romulans of course gave nothing away & remained stoicly silent. T`Vhor turned his attention to the Marine once again & then he asked him to raise the Colonel as he sent the remaining members of the security team to check the rest of the ship for anything the Marines might have missed. The Marine imediately responded to T`Vhors request & tapped his dedicated Marine frequency comms badge to signal his superior. "Sir, the security team have arrived from the Paladin to take the prisoners", he said. (Reply T`Vanek) "Yes Sir", said the Marine. T`Vhor then walked towards a table to the side of the room to look over the various items that had been removed from the prisoners beforehand. One particular item had caught his eye, a disruptor pistol, but this was no ordinary disruptor, this was a Varon-T Disruptor! Banned by the Federation & every other civilised world, only five known to exist & yet here it was staring him in the face. T`Vhor picked up the device from the table & then he turned to look at the Romulans. Each of them appeared to become a little more anxious than they had been beforehand as he held the disruptor aloft. "To whom does this belong", said T`Vhor. "why would any of you be in possesion of a Varon-T Disruptor", he added. The Romulans of course remained silent. T`Vhor expected that much anyway, they would be questioned more fully when they had been taken to the Paladin of course. Ensign T`Vhor returned the pistol gently to the table & then he checked in with the rest of his team in order to check on their progress. Mission: Exercise of Vital Powers Day: 14 Stardate: 2406.10.27 (USS Paladin - Engineering - Ensign Alura Rathyn - 1243) "This one is almost as stubborn as I am," Ensign Rathyn, murmured more to herself than the crewman assisting her inside the Jeffries tube. Both were assigned to resetting the starboard impulse relay switches, and Ensign Raythyn had come upon one that had to be replaced and didn't want to come loose. She pulled on the resilient relay pack and felt it move slightly in its tight emplacement." "There's always ONE in any job," said the young man working with her. "It's some kind cosmic rule. No job will ever be one hundred percent easy." Rathyn smiled. "Are you referring to me or the relay packs." The young human turned a shade of pink and was about to reply when he was cut short. "Ensigns T'Vhor, Rathyn, and Lt. Schofield report to the Bridge immediately," the captain's voice came over the comm. "Ensign Rathyn acknowledging," she replied and laid her tools aside. She looked to her working companion. "I'll leave it with you for now. I think this one is about to give it up. I felt it move slightly." "I'll take care of it," came the reply. As Alura crawled toward the nearest corridor opening. (USS Paladin - Bridge - Ensign Alura Rathyn - 1247) T'vhor and Schofield were already on the bridge when she arrived. "I want an away team ready to transport aboard the war bird once the marines have declared it secure," the captain said, getting right to the point, "Ensign T'Vhor you will lead the security detail, coordinate with Lt. Morgot on personnel and liaison with Colonel T'Vanek on making sure the ship is secure. "I`m on it sir", he said as he imediately set off for Lt Morgot at the Tactical station. "Ensign Rathyn, you will lead the engineering team, coordinate with Lt. Matrix on who you will be taking." "I'll get it done captain," Alura said keeping her face impassive. Inside she was elated at this opportunity to crawl through, even for a little while, a Romulan Warbird. Unfortunately, time was not in their favor, but would love to take a few months to discover the Romulan's most intimate technological secrets. She felt like an explorer granted permission to travel through once-forbidden lands. "Lt. Schofield, you will be leading the science team. See if you can get any useful information from their computer." Eva then looked over at Commander Mackenzie. "Commander Mackenzie will be in over all command of the away team. Let her know when your respective teams are ready. Question?" "No ma'am." Schofield replied. "Captain," Alura spoke up. "Do want the Warbird's systems locked down until our present mission is completed or should we move it to another location." Mission: Exercise of Vital Powers Mission Day: 14 Stardate: 2406.10.27 (USS Paladin, Main Engineering, CEO LT JG Steven Matrix 12:42) =^= Lt. Matrix to the bridge. =^= Eva, once more seated in the command chair, tapped a key on her chairs arm terminal opening a com-channel. "Bridge here," She said, "Go ahead." "Bridge...you should see a substantial increase in warp capabilty...I'm showing at least a point 5 increase in max speed. We're all green lights down here. Matrix out." Mission: Exercise of Vital Powers Mission Day: 14 Stardate: 2406.10.27 (USS Paladin, Bridge, Ensign Greg Dunn, 12:43) Greg watched Straton turn and look at him. “Ensign," She said, gaining his attention, "Prepare one of the Cargo bays to receive any prisoners. Command level prisoners will be Confined individually in the brig, all others I want held in the converted cargo bay. Liaison with engineering to make any necessary adjustments you need to make the cargo bay secure for holding prisoners." “Yes Ma’am” Greg replied. Greg checked which cargo bay was empty, then he backed away from the tactical console and entered the turbolift. Greg watched the turbo lift doors hiss closed and then he gave the turbo lift its instructions. “Deck 19.” He commanded the turbolift. (USS Paladin, Cargo Bay 1, Ensign Greg Dunn, 12:45) The turbolift doors hissed open and Greg stepped out onto the deck and walked purposefully into the cargo bay and looked around at the immense space. It was rather a lot like a warehouse. “Computer place force fields on all exits.” Greg commanded the computer. There was a buzz then a humming noise the force fields were in place. Greg now walked around the top level of the cargo bay and tested each force field by touching it. It took him ten minutes to test all the force fields before he got on the service lift and went down to the lower section. ~I don’t have to poke every force field. ~ The lift stopped and Greg stepped off. He pulled out his tricorder and scanned around him, all the force fields were in place and working. He closed the tricorder and placed it in his pocket. The containers were going to be a problem, they were empty but they could be used to escape. “Computer lock all containers and lower all force fields.” The hum of the force fields died and there was a loud click as all the containers in the bay were locked. Greg rubbed his hands, as he was getting slightly cold. ~OK now we need a surveillance system and a few cages. ~ Greg gave his comm badge and light tap. =^= Lieutenant Matrix is it possible for a surveillance system to be installed into cargo bay 1 as well as some cages? =^= END