USS Rosenante Compile Sensory Overload 11 ==================== Mission: Sensory Overload Day 6-8 Stardate: 2414.11.06 to 2414.11.08 ==================== (Starbase 989, Signos, Day 6, 0000) (Starbase 989, C'Nell, Day 6, 0002) (Starbase 989, Signos, Day 6, 0459) (Starbase 989, C'Nell, Day 6, 0500) (Starbase 989, Signos, Day 6, 0505) (Starbase 989, Sanok & S'yes, Day 6, 1000) (Starbase 989, Sanok, Day 6, 1100) (Starbase 989, Signos, Day 6, 1107) (Starbase 989, C'Nell, Day 6, 1109) (Starbase 989, Sanok, Day 6, 1110) (Starbase 989, C'Nell, Day 6, 1112) (Starbase 989, Signos, Day 6, 1114) (Starbase 989, Gunn, Day 6, 1132) (Titanic, CO Office, Zyahn, Day 7, 0830) (Titanic, Docking Hatch, Day 7, 0900) (SB Geneva, Jackson, Day 8, 2230) ==================== Mission: Aura Day 1 Stardate: 2414.11.01 ==================== (Oxus Star System, Unknown Planet, Szlacht, Day 1, 0515) (AIS Aura, Bridge, Commander Jevik, 1, 0519) (AIS Aura, Dining Room, Jevik, 1, 0557) (AIS Aura, Deck 7 Southern Corridor, Jevik, 1, 0616) (AIS Aura, Deck 7 Main Engineering, Szlacht Sizaris, Day 1, 0619) (Wraith, Bridge, Unknown, Day 1, 0625) ==================== (Starbase 989, Signos, Day 6, 0000) It has been said that in the darknessn of night we find ourselves. We find the best and worst of your life laid before us, but we can also find what it is we have forgot. Happiness and pain that have slipped long past the point of remembrance. Darkness consumed her, she called out for light. And learned her voice was not her own but that of a younger Jessica from long ago. She waited but in the consuming darkness there was no answer from a computer and no light forth coming. She screamed for help, knowing none would come. She drew her breath to yell a third time but hunger gripped her stomic has the empty pain tore though her. How long since her last meal, how long as it been since she saw light. She groped the floor and walls in an vain search for an exit, an escape from the conditions she found herself in. Another hit from felt like days with out nourishment sent her balled to the floor. Curled up in the corner of an empty room she was left with darknessnand hunger her only company. Time passed no one really knows how long exactly, but the doors opened to a blinding light. Has three large men entered the room and carried her out, blindflolded. When the blind fold was removed she was in a well lit room a girl bound to a chair before her to her side an bountiful harvest of food from all around the quadrant. A man stepped up beside her whispering into her ear. "Have you decided, to do as you are ordered to. You've been withnout food and minimal water for close to four days now. Just do has we ask and your torment will be over." He placed something in her hand. She looked down at the phaser in hand then back to the girl, she was no more than seven to eight years of age. Only a few year younger than Jessica. "Her family is a threat to S31 and to the Federation. Her family are traitors and need to be dealt with. You will not eat, you will suffer the longer that girl lives." The man yelled at Jessica. She hesitated no being able to commit to the act, she let the phaser fall to the floor. She was grabbed ba hypo spray was forced to her neck. She felt the needle inject something into her body. Of course she had no ideal what it was. Her musing was broken by the searing heat and pain of the lash that crossed her back it tore though her clothes and ripped open her flesh. She screamed, and tears flowed with each new would that was laid upon her person. She crawled to esape the pain, but the stikes continued. She reached the phaser and took it again in her hand. The lashings stopped, she regained her feet. Turning to find her attacker, but the room was empty. Only her and the girl remained. 'How did everything change, what happened?' Questions that filled her mind. Where pushed aside, as she remembered how long this chain of torturous events had continued this was the sixth time she was brought before this girl. She looked into her eye's long and hard. Jessica knew then that there was no escape for either of them. She saw only acceptance pity in the girls eyes. In that moment Jessica hated her, hated her because her pain would end and Jessica's 'conditioning' as they called it would continue. She drew up the phaser and fired, what other choice did she have. The girl slumped in her chair the life fading from her eyes. Has Jessica fell to the floor, her mind and body exhausted. She looked at the girl again but her body was changed, now it was Jessica herself that lied slumped over lifeless. Jessica screamed waking from the terrible dream, she knew who was holding the phaser at the end... Lily. She understood far later that eveything was a trick of a holosuite and injected nanites that were programed to make what she saw feel real. ~ I'm sorry Lily spoke softly into her mind, the more we merge the more these repressed memories will emerge. Before I could be inserted into your psyche you had to be mentally broken, and willing to accept me. Like you said we never had a choice. ~ She folded herself over on her bed and cried. Chanting to herself "She wasn't real... She wasn't real..." (Reply C'nell iyw) (Posted by Matthew Locke) ----- (Starbase 989, C'Nell, Day 6, 0002) The screaming woke him, and he held Jess close gently running his hands through her hair. What happened to her wasn't her fault. He hadn't had a big part in the war for him it was a distant thing he was only ever on the outskirts. Sanok placed too much importance on peoples war loyalty. He didn't understand how people who worked for a common goal could suddenly and dramatically change into hated enemies. He was more human than his superior due to his upbringing, but on that point Sanok was completely illogical Jess fell gently back asleep with him. (Reply none) )posted by Nathan) ----- (Starbase 989, Signos, Day 6, 0459) It took some time for her to return to sleep after the resurfacing memories woke her. Thomas held her till she quited and soon found his way off to sleep, but for her it was a restless night. When she finally decided that sleep was a lost cause. She woke her mind was filled with the choices, and issues a goodly deal had to do with her and Thomas. She walked into the restroom deciding that maybe a good sonic shower could help clear her mind. She entered stripped of her night gown and entered the shower she enjoyed the feeling of the sonic pulses pushing the dirt and grim off her body. To bad it could not push her concerns from her mind. She knew what she needed to do but it was still something she rather would not. She knew Thomas needed her, while he went to find himself. Jessica was left when she needed Eian the most and the side effects had almost killed her. She was determined that she was not gonna have Thomas feel that she had abandoned him when he needed her. She was sure that after his self discovery, he would be a better person and he would be sharper in his abilities. But there was always the chance that he would change not for the better. After she was clean she spent some tie rubbing exotic oils made she made from flowers she had collected over time. One particular was the Lun'ette blossom from the plant she kept. When she exited the shower she saw Thomas awake and entering the main living area of his quarter. "Thomas, I've decided to go with you, when you go to Vulcan. I know how hard it can be to find yourself, I will not let you go though that alone like I had to." (Reply C'Nell) (Posted by Matthew Locke) ----- (Starbase 989, C'Nell, Day 6, 0500) C'Nell let her words hit him for a moment. She would go with him-he wanted that, he liked that despite the illogical nature of it. Though he knew there would come a point on this journey when she couldn't follow. He was wearing a Vulcan gown ironically it was bought by his mother, he had been doing 3D Chess problems when she left the shower, now he was understandably distracted be her form. He was a terrible Vulcan, Sanok looked at him often questioningly. "We shall be in search of logic together, the needs of the one and all that" he said smiling and invited her into his arms C'Nell thought, and realised he needed to talk it out with someone who knew what it was like. Sanok was the only Vulcan, and with their differences he wondered what the captain would think. "What shall we do today?" (Reply Signos iyw) (posted by Nathan) ----- (Starbase 989, Signos, Day 6, 0505) What shall we do today? The question echoed though her mind. They could explore the station, there was a theater maybe go watch a play or maybe just go enjoy each others company. "I really don't care, as long as I'm with you" She answered softly. "I know a lot of people took the last mission hard, I would just relax maybe just wonder the station and see what happens." She went to dry off and get dressed she knew it would take longer for her to get ready letting her hair dry and such. Starting the process she choice her outfit for the day nothing to special a pair of pants and t-shirt. Jessica rather decided to spend the extra time on her hair pulling it up into a long braid placing a Lun'ette blossom in her hair every few inches. Once she was ready she entered the main are of the quarters to see Thomas waiting on her. "Ready to go, Breakfast first?" She said smiling (Reply C'Nell) (Posted by Matthew Locke) ----- (Starbase 989, Sanok & S'yes, Day 6, 1000) Sanok had one last senior officer to meet, his new chief of operations and second officer. Oddly, this was one position on the senior staff Sanok was not permitted to choose for himself. He still wanted Jackson, but at least for now, that was not possible. His new officer, Lieutenant S'yes, was a Caitian. Sanok had never served with a member from that race, so he had done some research on their customs before meeting with him. S'yes stood outside the Captains quarters. He straightened his uniform and sounded the entry chime. "Enter," said Sanok. S'yes entered and stood himself in front of the Vulcan captain and reported in. "Lt. S'yes reporting Sir" he said. S'yes had researched Vulcan customs and made the traditional sign of greeting. Sanok returned the gesture. "Thank you for coming, Lieutenant. Please be seated." After taking a seat offered by the captain, S'yes broke the ice. "How can I assist you Sir?" "I have been informed by the admiral, that you have been assigned to the Starfire as my second officer and chief of operations. We are launching tomorrow at 1500 hours, so I wanted to meet you first. I have never served with a Caitian. Please tell me about yourself." S’yes thought for a moment before replying. "I was born on the Caitian home world – we call it and the Federation names it. I was littered on the largest continent called Larrrtov. It was a large grassy savanna much like equatorial Africa on Earth. "My pre-academy days were fairly traditional by humanoid standards. At the academy I found at aptitude for Operations and varying puzzles it presented. I was mentored by a senior cadet named Tom Jackson. I think he’s still serving in the fleet. "My litter mate is working in Communications on SB Geneva. Lastly, my name, in Federation standard, means ‘Curious’. That’s about it Captain” S ‘yes replied. "S'yes told Sanok things from his personnel file, things Sanok already knew. He was looking for more than that, though he could understand why S'yes would be reluctant to give more. Sanok disliked speaking about himself, so perhaps S'yes was the same. In any case, they would be working together on their new ship, and the admiral would not have assigned S'yes if he were not competent. There would be time to get to know one another. "Since we are leaving tomorrow, I wanted to meet you first. There is still much to do, so that will be all. Thank you for coming. I will see you on board." (reply none) (posted by Bob & Bill) ----- (Starbase 989, Sanok, Day 6, 1100) Sanok had been walking throughout the promenade, reflecting on the memories from his time on the base. While Captain Salid was still the CO, working with Ben, they had solved the murder of the previous base commander, and exposed corruption involving several key officers from the base senior staff. There was a martial arts tournament, and Ben had entered, but it was discovered there was corruption there as well. They had also endured an infestation vexarak spoilers. Not all was bad on SB 989. Sanok had met and befriended Rupert and Jack, co-owners on RJs. He had been able to use Rupert's connections to find out what had happened to Marah after she was kidnapped from Ben's family home on Earth. Tom and Dahlia Jackson had gotten married on the base. Unaware he was interfering in a sacred tradition, Sanok had intercepted the bridal bouquet, catching it unintentionally as it whizzed past him. Sanok had very agreeable memories of this place. Continuing to roam aimlessly, Sanok spotted Ensigns Signos and C'Nell together. He had not spoken with them yet about their new assignment, so he decided to do that now. Weaving through the crowd, he approached them from the front. "Good morning, Ensigns. I see that you are enjoying the time off." He moved them away from the main traffic and near a bench next to a fountain. "I do not wish to keep you, but I have something important to tell you. Because of the damage done to the Rose in the fight with the Romulans, we are going to be assigned to a new ship." Sanok noted their reactions. "Our new ship is the USS Starfire, a Defiant class. It is in dry dock now. We are scheduled to leave tomorrow at 1500 hours. I will expect to see you both there." (reply Signos, C'Nell) (posted by Bob B.) ----- (Starbase 989, Signos, Day 6, 1107) She saw Sanok a good deal away darting though the crowd heading there way. "Good morning, Ensigns. I see that you are enjoying the time off." He spoke to them moved them away from the main traffic and a to bench next to a fountain. Jessica wqatched the cascading water hs the captain spoke. "I do not wish to keep you, but I have something important to tell you. Because of the damage done to the Rose in the fight with the Romulans, we are going to be assigned to a new ship." Sanok noted their reactions. "Our new ship is the USS Starfire, a Defiant class. It is in dry dock now. We are scheduled to leave tomorrow at 1500 hours. I will expect to see you both there." She nodded the Defiant was a warship plain and simple if the federation felt the need for such a ship in these areas it was do to a rise in hostile actions against the federation. The last few missions of the Rose had been evident of this. But the Rose a superior vessel in its proper element it was designed for spying plan and simple. But Jessica could feel a certain kinship with the smaller ship. Both She and the defiant were small build and breed for war, it was a ship she could relate to. "I would only assume then that our primary mission is also about to change, also do to the defiance class smaller size they are normally assigned to operate out of a starbase for resupply reasons. Will that be the same for the Starfire as well, and if so which starbase will we primary work out of." (Reply Sanok, C'Nell) (Posted by Matthew Locke) ----- (Starbase 989, C'Nell, Day 6, 1109) "I would only assume then that our primary mission is also about to change, also do to the defiance class smaller size they are normally assigned to operate out of a starbase for resupply reasons. Will that be the same for the Starfire as well, and if so which starbase will we primary work out of." Signos answered the captain before C'Nell could speak but afterwards he was quick to add his voice "Its a warship, that will be odd; I am not a warrior" but with a stare matching his new ship class, a passerby would be forgiven for think he had seen war. The truth was in that respect he was different to his other officers, he didn't know much of the civil war. A new generation (Reply Signos iyw and Sanok) (posted by Nathan) ----- (Starbase 989, Sanok, Day 6, 1110) Signos said, "I would only assume then, that our primary mission is also about to change? Also, due to the Defiant class smaller size, they are normally assigned to operate out of a starbase for resupply reasons. Will that be the same for the Starfire as well, and if so, which starbase will we primary work out of?" "It's a warship," said C'Nell. "That will be odd; I am not a warrior." "There is an old military saying from Earth, Mister C'Nell," said Sanok. "Everyone is a rifleman first." Sanok agreed in principle with what C'Nell said; he did not look at himself as a warrior either, but there were times when being one was the only option. Not everyone in the galaxy agreed with the ideals of the Federation. "Yes, our primary mission will be different, though we will still be involved in exploration and science. Once we are out of space dock, there will be a briefing." Sanok paused and looked at C'Nell. "Ensign C'Nell, because we will be on a new ship, with a new crew, I will need a new chief of science. The position is yours, if you want it." After C'Nell's response, Sanok spoke again. "There is much to do before we leave. I will see you on board tomorrow morning." (reply Signos, C'Nell iyw) (posted by Bob B.) ----- (Starbase 989, C'Nell, Day 6, 1112) C'Nell was taken aback; he could only accept the offer of Chief of Science. He had thought though that Sanok would find a new officer over take him; after recent events. He barely heard what Sanok said as he zoned out; it seemed too early to have achieved such a position. He noticied Sanok turning to leave; "Sir, when we are aboard I'd like to discuss something private with you; Vulcan to Vulcan". C'Nell hugged Jessica tight after he left; and kissed her. "Fancy that, we should celebrate" (Reply Sanok and Signos iyw) (Posted by Nathan) ----- (Starbase 989, Signos, Day 6, 1114) The words that the Captain spoke were like music to C'Nell's ears and Jessica knew it. She also knew that Sanok would not offer him the possition if he did not think C'Nell capable of the job. She was happy for C'Nell, and she gripped his arm tighter a smile on her face. It was no surprise that C'Nell accepted the promotion. The conversation continued for only a few more moments before Sanok turned and left the two. C'Nell turned to Jessica hugging her tight after he left; and kissed her. "Fancy that, we should celebrate" "Yes we should." She kissed him lightly as they interlinked arms and walked off deeper into the station. (Reply None) (Posted by Matthew Locke) ----- (Starbase 989, Gunn, Day 6, 1132) Ensign jg James Gunn was smiling. Today was his last duty shift on Starbase 989, and he couldn't have been happier. James had graduated from Starfleet Academy five months ago, and had been assigned to the base as a security officer. He had wanted a starship assignment, pretty much everyone did, so there had been some disappointment when he had been stationed on a starbase. He must have done something right during his time on the base, as the captain of the new Defiant class ship in space dock had chosen him to be one of his security personnel. From what he understood, there were only about fifty or so crew on a Defiant, and only about six or seven officers, so he could be in a position of authority at some point on the ship. He was both thrilled about that, as well as nervous. Either way, he was getting a starship assignment. When word got around that Gunn had been chosen for the new Defiant, the USS Starfire, there was some resentment from some in the security department. There were officers that had served for years that never got a ship assignment. Why was some rookie with less than a half a year of experience, getting such a good assignment? What had he done to warrant that? James had to admit there was a valid point behind asking why a new guy like himself was being transferred to the Starfire. He had done a good job since arriving on the base, but he hadn't actually applied for the Starfire, figuring he didn't have a chance of getting the job. Whatever happened, and whatever the reason was, he was glad for the opportunity. James was patrolling the main promenade are one last time. He had made it a point to get to know as many of the merchants as he could. Having a familiarity with the people, was a way to help. If you built a relationship with the people, you could build trust. One of his favorites was Jenna Carson, a pretty woman that ran a jewelry kiosk. "Hey, James." Jenna's smile always made him flutter inside. Some of the other guys had told him she was interested in him, but she was ten years older than he, and James had always felt he wasn't in her league. A beautiful woman like Jenna could have her pick of any man. Why would she want to go out with him? Now that he was leaving, James was regretting that he never asked her. "Morning. How's business?" James always asked her that when he stopped to chat. "Can't complain." Jenna paused for a moment. "So, this is your last day." James had told Jenna already that he was being transferred, so he wasn't sure what she meant by that. She knew he was heading out the next day. "Yeah, and I can't wait." James noticed that Jenna looked down at the counter and wiped it, though there wasn't anything there. Was she disappointed that he'd be gone? "Still, I'm going to miss this place." "We'll miss you, too," said Jenna. James chuckled. "Thanks." James and Jenna talked for a while, saying their good-byes. After leaving her kiosk, James made it a point to say good-bye to the others. He was excited to begin the next part of his life, but there would always be a place inside him for where he had begun his Starfleet career. (reply none) (posted by Bob B.) ----- (Titanic, CO Office, Zyahn, Day 7, 0830) All her personal belongings had been moved to the USS Starfire. All that was left to do was to say her farewell to the crew. She took the hour to have a last look at what was her home for the last year. The real first home she got since a long time. The ship and crew would miss her. Her last stop before leaving was the bridge. She had to pay a last visit to the CO and FO. "Enter Ayehla" said the Captain. Sheila was there too. "Hello Ayehla." she said. Her visage was sad and she seemed almost ready to cry. "I forbid you! How will I look to my new crew" she joked. A tear fell on Sheila's cheek. Ayehla was able to hold her feelings. Having been a man several times certainly helped. "I can't believe I'm leaving. I will miss you so much. We have only known each other for a year, still, you feel like family and home." Ayehla said, not without feeling deeply her departure. "You will miss us too Ayehla. It won't be the same without you. I'm happy to know the USS Starfire will have one of the finest officer as first officer. You really deserved that promotion and not only will you do find. I'm sure you will feel like home there too, like you felt here." said the CO. As for Sheila, she was spending so much energy trying not to cry, she wasn't able to say anything. Seeing Sheila, Ayehla hugged her. "I will miss you so much" Sheila faintly whispered. "I will miss you too" Ayehla replied. It lasted for a good twenty second before they finally let go. "We will see each other often on the Starbase. I'll make sure the USS Starfire stays on longer so that we can see each other. A Defiant-class need frequent refits" Ayehla joked. "You are the one cheering us up now?" teased the Captain. Ayehla smiled. (posted by Nick) ----- (Titanic, Docking Hatch, Day 7, 0900) After a brief but emotional farewell with her CO and FO, Ayehla was about to leave the ship. As she anticipated, most of the senior officers and department members were waiting for her at the docking hatch to say their last farewell. Leading them were of course the CO and FO. "We can't let you go" said the CO. "You are the one try to convincing me to stay now?" joked Ayehla, using the kind of intention of words her CO was used to say. One by one Ayehla said her farewell. They all wished her good luck. It was nice farewells. "I thank you all for the great time spent with you. For the last year, you have been my home and family. I have several lifespans, yet this one year was one of the most remarkable any of my host has ever lived. You are an amazing crew I am very proud to have been part of. The USS Titanic will forever be a legacy that I will carry everywhere. Thank you so much." Ayehla said as her last farewell to the crew. (Reply none) (Posted by Nick) ----- (SB Geneva, Jackson, Day 8, 2230) Tom and Dahlia had gotten settled in and the kids were fast asleep. The day had been busy. Checking in, getting quarters assigned and meeting his boss - it had been a packed day. Tom was looking out the portal that was the center if their living area. He was in civilian clothes and that was a rarity. Dahlia walked up behind him and put her arms on his shoulders. Her man was slowly adjusting to the turn their lives had taken. Tom reached up with one hand and clasped hers. He that'd thought of his former free mars and wondered how they were. His transfer to the SB had come as a shock. He wondered ~ will this persecution ever end?~ Tom's folks -,Pez and Chris were delighted the kids were closer. Tom and his stepdad hadn't spoken much. Chris explained Pez's interest in Tom's career had most likely costchom a command of his own . Pez wanted to atone for his meddling bit didn't know how . Tom and Dahlia were being quiet and reflective . (Reply: None) (Posted by ; Bill W.) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ (Oxus Star System, Unknown Planet, Szlacht, Day 1, 0515) He thought he was dead for sure this time. He was even looking forward to it. A final end. No more pain, for once he would know peace. But the death would not have him. Heavily wounded, he barely scrapped himself from underneath the rocks. He was trapped inside, with no obvious way of escape. There he roamed inside for months, feeding on the creatures he would not dare to touch before. He knew no light, and no comfort. But he survived. Eventually, in his misery, he started talking with these strange beasts. Finding a fresh water supply early on meant he could continue living here for the rest of his life. But, somehow, that prospect left him a shallow shell of his former self. Then one day, a silent, boring day, just like all the others, something happened - the cave started falling apart, and although he did not know what is the reason, he found himself afraid... afraid of loosing what little he had there. He found himself struggling for his own life... He tried desperately to avoid the falling rocks, moving about the cave, but with each passing quake, a fraction of his life would fall apart. The way to water was closed, and he knew his hour was coming. For several days, he was cut off from the rest of the cave. He had nothing to eat, and he had nothing to drink. Then again, as if he couldn't pass in peace, the quakes started. He could hear the rocks above him started shaking, he did not move... and when the fell down, they fell at his side, almost hitting him, but what they revealed was magnificent. He had to pull both of his hands over his eyes, he could not see at how beautiful it was... one of the stars brightly smiled upon his face. Beaten up, scarred, afraid of the dawn, he climbed up and out of the cave. Everything around him was snow white, but slowly the snow was melting away. The temperature was rising, and he felt his willpower getting stronger by the second. He looked around, and there he found it - the enormous ship above the mountains, the whole mountain would tremble in the rhythm of their engines. He was looking at his doom... or perhaps... his salvation. (Reply: None) (Posted by: Lani) ----- (AIS Aura, Bridge, Commander Jevik, 1, 0519) AIS Aura was a last example of great Advents' shipbuilding. A ship lost in time, it was now serving as a mining ship, for the species that served the Advents. The Advents destroyed themselves, being fiercefully territorial, developing missiles capable of devastating cities, both of their planets destroyed one another. A sad ending of a race with great history. Halcyon class was Advents' last try of building a ship that was much a warship as much as a science and mining ship. Aura was one of the two vessels created before the Great Apocalypse. The idea was to release a ship capable of surviving on it's own deep into unknown territory, never needing resupplying, built with a hull permanently fused with the heavy armor, thus pushing the ship's hull life to several hundreds of conventional years. At their prime time, Halcyon class Battleships were the most powerful ships in Advents' part of the gamma quadrant, this was before the Founders managed to control so much of the quadrant. By modern Federation standards, the ships are nothing too special, they are obsolete, but their enormous size allows many many weapons on it's hull, and the ship is defended with a heavy armor. The long hull with an segmented armor parts was capable of planetary landing despite it's size, and housed many tools that could be equally used for mining as well as weapons. Driven away by other major powers in the gamma quadrant, the remnants of the race that served the Advents somehow managed to keep at least one of these ships... and going a long way from home, they mostly used the ship for mining - selling the valuable resources to the lesser powers of the area where they operated in. Since the ship had all the necessary tools needed to transform raw materials into usable fuel by it's own reactor, the resources were never too hard to get. "Status!" said the man sitting on the chair on a plateau in the middle of the bridge. "The magneto-pulses revealed a large cluster of dilithium on the southern hillside." "Can we transport it directly to our bays?" "Negative, Commander. It is fused with other compound materials native to the planet. We would risk of igniting some of them and loosing the dilithium." "Very well... get us in closer above it... release the cutters." A large and long hook-like structures emerged from the ship's dorsal openings, six of them together, with the two being larger and four made for more delicate cutting. Each housed a large cutting weapon and an grappling hook on the end. "Estimated time needed?" "Thirty-two koronas, it should be done before the dinner, Commander." "Let's just hope these ugly dwarves will pay this time. I'm sick of being promised fortune for every large shipment of dilithium we do, and then being said the next time will get it." "I hear you, Commander. Good thing we always keep a portion of the stuff we dig out." "Hah, yes. If they don't pay this time, we might have fun with one of their smaller moons." he said, putting up a grin on his face. (Reply: None) (Posted by: Lani) ----- Mission: Aura Day 1 Stardate: 2414.11.01 (AIS Aura, Dining Room, Jevik, 1, 0557) Jevik was having a hard-deserved meal - a mixture of some kinds of vegetable, no doubt, cultivated on the ship - judging from his sour face expression, they weren't all that tasty either - and some kind of meat that perhaps only he knew what was. His first-in-command came in the room with a heavy walking pace, barely breathing. Jevik turned his gaze upon the man that just entered and found the situation rather amusing. "What is it now, Haren? Your wife again giving you troubles?" "Your daughter, sir" said the man keeping his right hand above his heart, looking like he was trying to contain it inside from bursting "What about my daughter, what did Jana do again?" he frowned, that girl was nothing but trouble. "She's missing sir, in the green district, we lost contact with several patrols there, and we lost visual feed from the cams as well." "Great, just... great. This job keeps getting better by the minute." he grabbed his head "What will we do?" the man asked in panic. "We first need to asses the situation. You said we lost visual feed... what about internal scanners?" "We lost most of them, only basic movement scanners are on." "Great, we have at least something." "But Jana... she's in there..." "I taught her to fend for herself, she's fully capable of dealing with the situation. I find it hard to believe most of the internal sensors decided to go out on us, tampering is obvious. Close down green district." "It already is closed down, sir" "Good, okay, assemble two teams, I want to lead one myself, five-man teams, I want two bursters, a sharpshooter and a mech in each. Since there are only two ducts leading to and from the green district, we will go in on both, at the same time, and hopefully flush out anything that's in from either side to the center. It's easy to contain whatever it is in the engineering room. Let's just hope it's not yet another Grim infestation, we almost lost half of our crew last time..." "Yes, sir." "In the meantime, be sure all the ducts are closed, we don't want getting swarmed all over the ship, keep it contained, whatever it is. For now, retract the cutters and keep us above at the steady altitude at 10 k, pick a two-man team and deploy them through the vents leading to the power room, bellow the main engineering deck, tell them to reroute main battery to magneto-generators, last thing we want is to blow our generators and crash on this ugly piece of rock. Close all the hatches after them." "But doesn't that mean..." "Our two strike teams will get to them when we eliminate the threat." "I still fear for your daughter, Commander." "I don't... she's worse then her mother was." NRPG: Continuation probably tomorrow. (Reply: None) (Posted by: Lani) ----- (AIS Aura, Deck 7 Southern Corridor, Jevik, 1, 0616) "Haren, second team, report in." =/\= We're currently near the apex, nothing on basic motions sensors yet, although my men keep on hearing something above us. =/\= "Nonsense, we closed down the hatches. Might be an echo." =/\= The mech isn't really helping, this piece of metal is so loud, it can probably be heard from across the system.. =/\= "That was the main idea. We scare the living hell out of that thing and capture it." one of the Jevik's men turned to him, showing with his hand there is something infront of them. "Wait, Haren, we're picking up something in front of us, it's large, hurry through and get into engineering and close down your side after you." =/\= Er Sir, we're picking the same thing, but above us, something large, but not really close. I think it's just an echo. =/\= "And we lost it here, what the hell, this thing can't be so fast... wait." he said, finding something on the ground, when he got close to it, he took the device and started inspecting it, when one of his men close to him started yelling "It's onto us, it's right between us.", Jevik first looked into his officer, and then back at device in his hand, getting green-faced, he immediately opened the channel back to Haren. "Those are sensor decoys, get out of there! Go back!" [Static noise] "Damnit. Atleast we know it's on the other side, and that it's not another Grim infestation... you two, take point, I want you to fire on anything remotely reminding of a living creature. No more capture." The two bursters in front nodded, and started slowly walking forward, checking their arms-computers. Eventually, slowly and very carefully, they made their way into main engineering, but upon hearing weapons fire, they broke formation to get a better firing point behind covers. It was Jana, firing against something that was hiding behind one of the large bulkheads. In full sprint, Jevik jumped over several consoles, and jumped right down near his daughter, hiding and putting his back at the cover she was using. "You okay, Jana?" "I have the thing right here, it's wounded." "What is it? Did you get a better look of it?" "I don't know, it's big and green and ugly." "We lost Haren and..." "They're unconscious, the thing just ran over them I guess but didn't finish them off." He sighed in disbelief, a shred of good news. "Okay, we have him pinned down, it's time we go in and take him out." "No! Let's capture it, we have him where we want to, it wouldn't be hard capturing it." Jevik took a long stare to his daughter, he was surprised what she was saying, usually she reminded him of her own mother, a mercenary who captured him and tried retaking Aura. Eventually, they fell in love or that's atleast what Jevik thought, and she was with a child, Jana. In due time, however, she once again tried retaking Aura, this time Jevik was ready and banished her off the ship. He never saw her again, but the daughter always wanted to be like her mother, mother she never knew. She began turning into a ruthless, heartless person and in her spite towards he father, put Jevik into difficult decisions many times. It was thanks to her, that Aura was blacklisted in so many sectors. So he again gave her a look, surprised of what he's hearing ~Perhaps... there's hope for you yet.~ He punched his arm-computer, "Okay, we have it pinned down at the north of the reactor, lock down on that part, at the next movement, I want the sensors locking and putting a heavy field over it." "Okay, time to go in." he added, dropping out of cover, running towards the cover their enemy was using - a flurry of green disruptor bolts flew next to him, but the creature was firing blindly behind a cover, so there was no accuracy in it's shots. A quick snap from Jevik's own rifle, and it was the attacker's weapon that was destroyed, with heavy burns on the hands, the creature yelled out in pain, and fell on the floor. As it did, the ship turned on energy field around it, basically capturing it. Jevik now, pompous of his victory, took his time walking towards the creature in front. "Aren't you an ugly thing?" "Well, he definitely doesn't look like Grim to me." Jevik said, pointing his rifle towards the creature. "No! Don't shoot it, we have it captured, he's no threat to us." "Jana, it was it that attacked our ship, attacked our crew." "Still, he's no good to us dead." Jana added taking a pity to the creature in front of them. "'He' isn't good to us at all, it's just a beast." "A beast... that I want to interrogate." "Sigh, fine, have it your way." "Looks like luck smiles on you today, whatever the hell you are. It probably might be best for both of us if I put you down, but my daughter has other plans for you. Just... don't ever attack my crew again." =/\= Sir, I'm sorry if it's not the right time but, our sensors picked up unusual energy readings at our starboard bow, about 4k away. =/\= "The attacker has been captured, the ship is in no risk anymore. What kind of unusual energy did the sensors picked up?" =/\= It was there just for a second on the sensors, a spike in secondary tetryon emissions, but it's gone now =/\= "Is it something native to the planet?" =/\= Negative, Commander. =/\= "Sigh, bring us out of the atmosphere, put us into sync orbit with the planet until we figure out more about this planet... and about this thing we captured." =/\= Yes, Commander. =/\= In the meantime, while Jevik was issuing orders, Jana already started the questioning. "Why did you attacked us?" The creature was silent. "Who are you?" The creature was silent again. "We don't even know if it can understand you, Jana. We should have our doctor check it out." "Look at his eyes, he understands us, I'm sure of it. Look at his wounds, they seem to be getting better." "Perhaps we should restrain it and put it into stronger field." "Anyway," he started again, punching his arm-computer again "Set course to Kari IV, tell them we have half of the dilithium promised but a strong slave that will be perfect work force, and that the price is fifteen thousand relics, but that it is negotiable. Get us into warp 7." =/\= Yes, Commander. =/\= Jevik stood in front of the creature, that was still on the floor, trying to grab a breath, slowly, the burns on the hands regenerated. "Interesting thing we have here, did you stole the technology you used? Who taught you to use it? Who was your owner before?" =/\= Uh, Commander. =/\= "What is it again?" he was already annoyed, without Haren, the bridge crew were annoyingly inexperienced. =/\= There it is, the spike in tetryons again. =/\= "Check the sensors, then double-check them, it's obviously a glitch, we're in warp." =/\= Here it is again, with a different subspace variance... =/\= the young officer started again Jevik was surprised to see Haren up, he looked badly beaten, but he was alright. "It's the lateral sensors, they started malfunctioning a week ago, ever since the skirmish above the EX273. Running diagnostics won't help, it's gonna report everything is alright with them. Just ignore it." Haren finished, and Jevik was happy to have his first one back. The creature, by the time the trio looked each other, stood up, looked directly to Jevik, with it's claws started touching the energy field, only to get lightly burned. "Who said you can stand up?" Jevik said half-jokingly towards the creature. "I assume you are the commanding officer of this ship." The creature broke silence, with a deep, guttural, sibilance-heavy voice. "You can speak... good, it is time you answer our questions in that case." "You do not understand. We need to go. Your ship is in danger." "No, this is where you're wrong, you're captured, you're not going anywhere. When we arrive on Kari IV, you will be sold, I will forgive you for attacking my ship and my crew, and we will never see each other again." "If you don't get your ship to your fastest speed, we will never get to that planet." creature explained in the calm manner. "What are you talking about?" Jevik smiled, he didn't really get the creature in front of him very serious, but he was curious nontheless what the creature was talking about. "You are experiencing secondary and tertiary spikes in tetryon emissions, specifically with the subspace variance of 0.23, is that correct?" Jana opened her mouths looking towards the green creature and Haren was obviously puzzled by the creature's knowledge. "We have faulty sensors. The ship you tried stealing from us is an pretty old ship, you'd be surprised just how old. Our equipment is old, errors happen." "I am Szlacht, I was stranded on the planet and your ship was the only way I could get off that planet." "And you expect us to believe that you never meant us any harm? You are a silly creature as well." "I do not expect anything from you. I am a Gorn, your race is unfamiliar. However, I simply want to survive. If you don't change your speed, we will be destroyed." "What are you talking about, Gorn?" "In the last couple of years, we had Gorn ships reporting the same sensor glitches, and the ships would never be found later. All of these ships were slow, and eventually I have come to conclusion they fell victim to an attack. All of the ships couldn't get past warp 9.5. I suggest you speed up your ship and get us to that planet, while we're still in one piece." "Our fastest speed is warp 9.2" Jana explained, despite Jevik obviously not liking it. "Then we are doomed." said Szlacht. "I still don't believe you, Gorn. In fact, if something wanted to attack us, it already would. Our ship, Aura, is a large, fully war capable ship. So if another local power wants to attack us, let them. We will simply crush them and pick up the remains of their ship and use for our own resources. So, I suggest you get used to being a slave and following orders." (Reply: None) (Posted by: Lani) ----- (AIS Aura, Deck 7 Main Engineering, Szlacht Sizaris, Day 1, 0619) The ship fell out of warp, unexpectedly, Jevik naturally looked to his first, trying to find answer to what just happened, but it didn't seem anyone knew, except perhaps Szlacht. He pushed his comm unit on his hand so fierce he almost tore it out. "Why did we dropped out of warp?" =/\= It would seem one of our nacelles has been damaged, sir, and we're unable to keep up the warp field around the ship. =/\= "Damaged? How? How long until we repair it?" =/\= We would have to send a team out to do it, probably no longer than one tarn, the damage seems light, but we're leaking plasma. The computer cannot tell us how this damage happened.=/\= "Send a team to start repairs immediately. Until we get it done we're sitting ducks here." =/\= Yes, Commander. =/\= "I think I'm finally starting to understand what happens to those ships." Szlacht calmly stated. Somehow, his grin was saying at some level, even a little bit, he was enjoying the moment. "Did you do it? Did you somehow planted explosives on our nacelles? Are your buddies out there waiting to steal the ship from us?" "I did not do such thing. I was merely trying to get on your ship so I can escape the harsh planet." "You will need to tell me more, if you ever expect me to believe you." "We are being hunted by an unknown force, a predator that likes to play dirty, uses every trick in it's sleeves to overcome another ship... with reasons never found out yet. I recommend we move at fastest sublight speed, and a sweep through all weapon arcs available on your ship." "Why are you telling me how to run my own ship?" "Since you're obviously not affiliated with any known great military organization. I do no recognize this ship, but it is old, and judging by your decisions of the last half an hour, you are not comfortable in commanding role, specially under stress." Jevik chuckled, to hide the fact he was afraid the creature in front of him was actually right "You know, it wasn't me who got wounded and backed to a corner by a woman." "Interesting, your species puts preconcepted value into one gender's ability to fight more so then in the other." "Dad... I have something to tell you..." Jana broke the talks "What is it, Jana?" "I didn't really got him... he didn't want to attack me, I've fired first and wounded him but he offered very little resistance." Jevik looked back and forth between Jana and Szlacht to figure out if she was lying, trying to, for who knows what reason, protect Szlacht. As the ship didn't really move, what Jevik feared the most finally came to be. They were sitting ducks, very inviting prey, parked in the vastness of cold space, with only distant stars reflecting on the rusty ship's surface - that is - until something lit the space around the Aura with a burst of blue-colored bolts going straight for the sensor module of the ship. The room quickly became a mess, as the ship shook wildly from the damage it was sustaining without it's shields, the hits seemingly damaged the systems for inertial dampenings and artificial gravity. Seconds later, a very loud continuous siren broke through the long old corridors and rooms of the ship, and Szlacht assumed this is to be red alert. The ship finally had shields brought up - by whoever was on the bridge, but by now it was already too late. A well-placed hit tore out most of the sensor systems, and while the actual sensors were placed all over the ship, without the center of the system they were blind as a duck in the dense fog. To Jevik's horror, the field around Szlacht lost some of it's power, and the creature quickly pushed through, but instead of escaping, he grabbed Jana. At first, the seconds Jevik followed Szlacht with his eyes, even before he could order anything, he thought he was taking his one and only daughter away... but then a huge bulkhead fell, right at the place where she was standing. And finally the ship stopped shaking. Szlacht put heavily-breathing Jana to the floor, who promptly picked herself up, the others around Jevik bringing their weapons to bear on the Gorn, but Jevik raised his arm. "Do not shoot." he said. "I do not know if you understand what you just did... but you earned the right to survive, for now." he turned around, walked couple of steps further, then pressed the comm unit. "WHAT just happened?" As Jevik was finishing this sentence, his first one was already marching towards the bridge. =/\= The gravity plates on most of the decks went heywire, pushing living water-based beings and attracting everything with heavy metals on it and... =/\= "The ship, idiot, what hit us?" =/\= Unknown, we raised the shields and boosted structural integrity fields but we lost the comm and sensor module, sir. Long range communications are out and we only have the most basic sensors... =/\= Jevik closed down the channel before the man finished. He was furious. "I don't know what you are really, if you're telling the truth and if I should be even talking with you here... but if you help me with this, you will earn your freedom and I promise I will let you return to your home." "I have no home." Szlacht answered with a dreary look on his face. "Then I'll find you one. Walk with me to the bridge, and tell me everything you know." As the duo went to walk toward the first elevator leading to the bridge deck, Szlacht told all the basic things he knew of the attacks, how he thought they are not being attack at the moment because the attacker waits for them to do the next step and is lying in wait for them, how silently and without trace the ships disappears, and one thing probably in connection to all of the disappeareances - they were all ships mining or extracting high-value resources from the remote places. As they went in the bridge, most of the crew gave a surprised look when they saw Szlacht, without any constraints too, walking freely. "He's with us. Status." "Lono went out, says the damage was created by high-damage concentrated weapons fire. We were attacked by an unknown force, and we can't scan for them at the moment." "But we still have view all around the ship, try to find anything visually. In the meantime, tell Lono to scan the point of impact. We need to know what kind of weapon we're dealing with here." "Commander, he says he's picking high concentration of polaron particles, with traces of tetryons as well." "What do you make of this, Gorn?" "Nothing for now. I've never seen a mixture of these two at one spot, it is an technology unknown to me." "What do you think they're waiting for now?" "I do not know, but it reminds me of the ways Gorn hunt, by observing the prey, we can learn it's habits, that is the easiest way we learn our youngs to gain hunting experience. Every prey reacts differently when it's backed to a corner or induced into high-stress situation." "Sir, I see something at the aft, it's gaining shape, it's oh no it's firing!" Once again Aura screamed from the hit, as her armor buckled under the heavy hits. "Sir, the hits went straight through the shields and landed on the hull. Oh no..." "What?" "Our main power pipeline to sublight engines has been severed. We only have limited sublight speeds." "You weren't moving anyway." Szlacht explained, "I'd be more concerned with your shields and what exactly happened to them in the last hit." "I don't know, we never fought anyone this powerful." Szlacht thought a little about the Jevik's last sentence. "I believe our enemy is much less powerful then it appears to be, otherwise we wouldn't be standing here anymore. I believe we were being thoroughly scanned over and over again, until our weaknesses could be all accounted for. We haven't yet seen it openly attacking, and what the helms officer saw, and I with him from this position, was a smudged lines of a smaller class warship. After firing, it promptly cloaked again. Now it all makes sense why ever after arriving seconds after the destruction of our cargo ships, we never found anything. It was right under our noses." He turned towards Jevik. "Remodulate the frequency of the shields. If it need be, put an officer or two to do it manually over and over again. Get us moving, roll the ship, so our systems are harder to hit, cycle through all the firing arcs and open fire when you see it decloaking again." "Our weapons need a second or two to power up before the shots." Jevik added, ordering the rest to his officer, he agreed with everything Szlacht said. "It's a small ship. I believe we might be too big for it at the moment." "You think we're safe?" "No, I think it's buying time until more of it's kind arrive. We somehow need a way to call in other ships." "We could... in fact, I know just a way. We beam out our dilithium we mined and cleared, and we fire it up with our weapons, our plasma cannons on their high settings should fire it up. The explosion will release tremendeous energy, I'm sure those scoundrel on Kari IV will go crazy about it and will sent ships our way, if for not anything else, for dilithium." "Can you transport the dilithium without turning the shields off?" "Not on this ship... We will be vulnerably for few seconds, but if we do the timing right, I don't see anyone living, being so precise to take the advantage of it." "You know your ship, Commander. I like your idea, let's bring the tables around." "You heard him, men, get ready to beam all our valuable cargo and start preloading the cannons for the highest damage." Jevik said with the grin, feeling accomplished. (Reply: None) (Posted by: Lani) ----- (Wraith, Bridge, Unknown, Day 1, 0625) The bridge of the craft on the other side was heavily rusty-deep bronze tainted, with obvious lights for a red alert - or an equivalent. On the front, two creatures were sitting, at each side there was one and at the back there was another two. At the dead center of the bridge was elevated platform, and on it, another creature in some kind of capsule that was partly transparent. The viewscreen, while rather humble and small, clearly showed Aura on the targeting reticule. Random bits of information flew below and above the reticule, on a complex hieroglyph-kind of letters. The creatures were wearing black suits, that were shielding them completely - including their identity. On their faces, only masks could be seen, and on the mask, it was only a small "V" visible, no doubt, a hole where they would see. The bridge had limited life support capabilities online, this was partly due to the fact the inhabitants were shielded in their exo suits. The creature on the platform ordered something to his men, yelling. "Overlord, they are transporting something from their cargo bays." "Maintain distance, prepare for the cloaking particle renewal at the end of the parsec." "Overlord, it's pure dilithium crystals." "Transport them, quickly." the creature turned off the half-transparent capsule, that went overhead, and vanished completely. He then stood up. He was standing at more then 7 feet, noticably larger then the others. "We have them, they tried shooting it." "Contact gunships Scourge, Slave and Spectre, instruct the Lords to meet us at the coordinates of the planned attack. We must continue our assault, we must find how much they know about the planet and make them forget, forever." "Overlord, their shields are weakened but their ship is covered in heavy armor. Our cannons seem less effective." "Overtake them, do a slide run, switch our cannons from pulse to burst. Redirect power from the shields, take them down completely. I want them crippled." "I would advise against burst firing, we didn't have a cooldown per...." "Do not tell me what to do on my ship, Tyrant. You will overtake them and fire those cannons even if they melt and take down our reactor with them. How soon until our wing arrives?" "Minutes, Overlord." "Good. Be prepared to coordinate the attack priorities with the other three ships when they arrive." "Overlord, they just polarized their hull and rerouted the shields to the side we were attacking. They sustained medium damage, but they are still moving. We blew several dozen of plasma nodes, estimations show fifteen minutes until they are completely replaced, until then, firing is heavily unadvisible." "As if they knew from which side we will be attacking. We need to find more about this ship, and the beings on it." when he finished the sentence, he slightly grinned, his reinforcements just arrived, four gunships, the target ship was way out of the league now, there is simply no ship that could survive the might of four of these magnificent war ships. "Overlord Mordamar is contacting us." "I see you find yourself a bigger fish this time, too big to swallow." "Stop gloating, we need to stop them relaying information about us." "You could have destroyed them using the subspace weapons you carried, you know that yourself. Why keep them alive for so long? I never thought you were so vain." "Our database does not recognize the ship configuration. It appears to be old... old enough to be from the time of our fathers." Overlord on the other side of the viewscreen sat deeper in his chair. "This is turning to be an interesting chase after all. We will disable the ship and board it. Victory to the Zorah." The Commanding Officer of the vessel punched something on his personal computer on the lower side of his left arm, then grabbed the chair handles as if he was getting dizzy. He was sweaty inside his suit, the bridge felt closer to an inferno by every minute. "Wraith." he called his ship. "Yes, Overlord?" "What is the current level of radiation?" "Still within acceptable limits, but temperature is rising exponentially. We will need to recloak and cooldown very soon." (Reply None) (Posted by Lani)