Compiled by Calvin Capps ======================================================================================================================== Mission: The Enigma Factor Day: 1 Stardate: 2407.01.27 ======================================================================================================================== (QHL Sunda - Engineering - FO Lt Cmdr Calvin Capps - 2013) (USS Paladin - Deck 4, General Conference Room - CEO LT Steven Matrix - 2027) (USS Paladin - Deck 4, General Conference Room - Ensign JG Christopher Adams - 2028) (USS Paladin - Conference Room - FO Lt Cmdr Calvin Capps - 2029) (USS Paladin, Conference Room, CO Captain Eva Straton, 2030) (USS Paladin, Conference Room, CEO LT Steven Matrix, 2030) (USS Paladin - Deck 4, General Conference Room - Ensign JG Christopher Adams - 2031) (USS Paladin - Conference Room - ACTO Ensign(jg) Detron Trei - 20.32) (USS Paladin, General Conference Room - COPS/3O Ensign (sg) Michael Ian O'Connor - 2034) (USS Paladin – Conference Room – Ensign SG CMO Nissa Whetari – 2236) (USS Paladin - Deck 1, Conference Lounge - CSO Lieutenant (jg) Joran Matthew Brownlee - 20:37) ======================================================================================================================== (QHL Sunda - Engineering - FO Lt Cmdr Calvin Capps - 2013) Calvin was standing with the rest of the away team when Adams informed them that the repairs were complete. Before Huor could try to explain what was needed to be done next Ensign Adams had some important information to that he received from the Paladin. "Sir," Adams said aloud to the whole room. "We have a problem. We received a message from the Paladin twenty minutes ago, but I was too busy fixing the communication systems to notice. Apparently the Paladin and the other alien ship are going to pull us out of the rift any second. The problem is the warp core. If the warp core is on in any way while we are being pulled, it's just going to drag the rift along with it. We need to get the warp core shut down immediately." "I can we all help?" Calvin said hurriedly. He walked over to the core with Adams ready lend a hand in any way. As Christopher worked on one of the panels Calvin stood above him and monitored the screen. Seconds later sparks flew from it and the First Officer quickly stepped back. Popping noises filled the air, and then the room went dark. Calvin reached for his light, turned it on. "Here do you need this?" Ensign Adams pulled his own palm beacon out, and turned it on. "I guess not." Calvin looked up and noticed that the rest of the away mission lights were now on as well. "Everyone grab on to something. This is going to get bumpy." Calvin took his own advice and grabbed a hand rail and held on tight. The ship shook hard enough to force Calvin and a few other crew members to drop their beacons. More sparks flew from nearby panels, and loud screeches came from the sliding metal. A piece of metal from the panel flew into Calvin's left eye. It was hot, and he felt the pain immediately. His reactions almost made him let go of the hand rail, but he knew he couldn't. Shortly the ship stopped back to its peaceful float in space again. Calvin combadge beeped. =^=Commander,=^= came the voice of Captain Straton. =^=I expect you and your team, as well as all senior officers, in the Conference Room in 15 minuets for a Senior Officer's briefing. I'll also expect your full report then. Standby for transport.=^= "Aye sir!" (posted by Calvin) ======================================================================================================================== (USS Paladin - Deck 4, General Conference Room - CEO LT Steven Matrix - 2027) Matrix had been reviewing status reports when he noticed Ensign Adams approaching. Almost as a second thought, Matrix looked up from his PADD, smiled at the Ensign as he reached for the Ensign's PADD. "Here's my report on what happened on the alien vessel," Adams said offering the PADD to Matrix. "Thank you Ensign. Glad you're back aboard the Paladin." said Matrix The Ensign took the next seat as Matrix reviewed his report. A few moments passed and Matrix leaned over in the direction of the Ensign. "Ensign, good report. I'll review it in detail later, but I have to say I wish I was over there with you. From the sounds of things...from the rumor mill it was exciting." Matrix smiled at the Ensign. He was more impressed with how the Ensign carried himself especially just coming into the fleet. (reply Adams) "Be sure to include anything you feel pertinent to the mission no matter how small or insignificant you might find it. Encounters like this are a learning opportunity and often potentially dangerous to crew and the ship." Matrix sat back in his chair as he usually does, one elbow on the corner of the arm rest. Almost a Winston Churchill pose. (posted by Steve) ======================================================================================================================== (USS Paladin - Deck 4, General Conference Room - Ensign JG Christopher Adams - 2028) Ensign Christopher Adams sat next to his CO in the conference room while the senior staff and the members of the away team waited for the captain to arrive. Matrix looked over the ensign's report on the recent away mission and leaned close to comment, "Ensign, good report. I'll review it in detail later, but I have to say I wish I was over there with you. From the sounds of things...from the rumor mill it was exciting." Matrix smiled. "Exciting only scratches the surface," Adams replied. "When we engaged the engines and the rift grew bigger, I thought we were done for…but Ensign O'Connor allied a few of us and we explored down in engineering. That's what fascinated me the most. There I was standing in a bridge of a completely alien race. I couldn't read any of the panels because most of the crew was dead. It was a lot of hard work just to figure out what did what and I would say most of it was just blind luck. However, my dad always said, ' the better you are the luckier you are.'" "Be sure to include anything you feel pertinent to the mission no matter how small or insignificant you might find it," Matrix said leaning back in his chair. "Encounters like this are a learning opportunity and often potentially dangerous to crew and the ship." "Understood, sir," responded Adams. He looked back towards the door awaiting the arrival of Captain Straton. (posted by Jason) ======================================================================================================================== (USS Paladin - Conference Room - FO Lt Cmdr Calvin Capps - 2029) Calvin was running late for the meeting in the conference room. It was not like the First Officer to be late, but there were those days when it happened. On his way to the conference room, from the transporters he stopped by a public bath. He attempted to wash out what ever it was that had gotten in his eye. After many attempts in 10 minutes he still had not gotten it out. So he quit and headed to the conference room. Lt Cmdr Capps entered the room rubbing his eye. It now had to be bright red from irritation. He sat down in his usual seat in the room. Promptly a minute later Captain Straton began. "Before I start," She said, her voice all business. "Lets hear what the Away Team encountered on board the Sunda. Commander Capps?" Eva sat as she looked toward the Commander and nodding that the floor was his. Calvin spoke immediately after the Captain stopped. "Once we arrived on the Sunda most of the power was off. We found bodies laying around the bridge. Some were still alive, others were not. We began by getting power up, but we made a mistake in starting the engines which had a negative effect. It moved the ship further into the rift. We shut the engines down. At this time we were too far in the rift to have communications." Calvin paused to rub his eye. "I apologize. A few of the crew moved to the engineering system of the ship. We then met Huor. One of the aliens awoke, and we attempted to speak with him. We were unable to because the translation matrix was inoperable. I moved the team back together in Engineering. There we were able to send out a single message to the Paladin." Calvin's eye stung with a little pain. His eye lid twitched. "Huor then instructed us with difficulty to fix a small clear box. Which Ensign Adams was able to do. That was when Ensign Adams also saw the message that had came back from the Paladin. The ship went black and then began to move. We were then beamed over to the Paladin. Calvin was then sure that the rest of the away team had more specific reports to give for their respected departments. (posted by Calvin) ======================================================================================================================== (USS Paladin, Conference Room, CO Captain Eva Straton, 2030) Eva walked into the room right at 2030, and headed straight to the head of the table. She placed her PADD down on the table and then looked at her assembled officers without sitting down. "Before I start," She said, her voice all business. "Let hear what the Away Team encountered on board the Sunda. Commander Capps?" Eva sat as she looked toward the Commander and nodding that the floor was his. After each member of the Away Team had given their report and all questions answered, Eva stood again and looked at everyone once more before speaking. "We will be assisting teams from the Aiglos in investigating what went wrong on the Sunda and how best to proceed on closing the subspace rift," She said, watching everyone's response. "We have more experience with subspace rifts than they do, so we will lend what ever aid we can. Ensign Adams, you will lead the Engineering teams on board the Sunda. You will be working with the Aiglos engineers in determining what went wrong with the drive system and try to determine a cause for the rift. Ensign O'Connor, you will over see the Operations teams to see if there is any clues within the Sunda computer on what happened leading up to the accident. Ensign K'ran, you will head the Security teams investigating any potential foul play or sabotage. Ensign Trei, you will lead the Security teams responsible for the safety of our crew on board the Sunda and to make sure everyone minds their manners. The Commander of the Aiglos is extremely xenophobic and is afraid we will attempt to steal technology. I have assured him that my crew are NOT thieves. You and your teams presence will serve as a reminder to everyone keep their work professional and confidential. Lt. Brownlee, I want you to head the science teams working with the engineering teams on the rift and how best to close it. You will all need to liaison with the other teams as needed and will all report directly to Commander Capps. Lt. Kotal, as our resident expert on xeno-Psychology and given the Kirim's apparent xeno-phobic leanings, I'd like you and your staff to help smoothing over any ruffled feathers and helping build a better understanding between them and us. Lt. Matrix, I'd like you to look at the Sunda's structural integrity and make sure she is still space worthy. Work with the engineers from the Aiglos, but I think your expertise would prove helpful, if there is anything we could do to assist in repairs let Commander Capps know. Any questions so far?" (posted by Wes) ======================================================================================================================== (USS Paladin, Conference Room, CEO LT Steven Matrix, 2030) Matrix stated to stand, but the Captain made it to the head of the table before everyone could stand up. It was a slightly awkward moment for many, but the Captain was all business. She asked the away team for their report and after a long while got to the department officers... "Lt. Matrix, I'dlike you to look at the Sunda's structural integrity and make sure she is still space worthy. Work with the engineers from the Aiglos, but I think your expertise would prove helpful, if there is anything we could do to assist in repairs let Commander Capps know. Any questions so far?" Matrix intently listened to the Captain's instructions and chimed in where appropriate. "Aye Captain." Matrix looked directly at the Captain, "I and my team have already processed the majority of the initial scan data and are working on prioritizing energy reserves and structural plans. I'll keep the Commander informed." (posted by Steve) ======================================================================================================================== (USS Paladin - Deck 4, General Conference Room - Ensign JG Christopher Adams - 2031) Ensign Christopher Adams watched the captain's reactions as Commander Capps recited his overall report. When he finished, Adams continued, "Everything happed very fast at the end. I was so busy fixing the equipment that Huor had pointed out, we didn't notice that the Paladin had relayed a message back to us. However, we were able to shut down their engine before we were pulled out of the rift. "The adverse effects on the rift when we fully engaged the engines and the presence of rift fragments near the engine core, gave me a clue that the engine's quantum singularity drive had something to do with the cause of the rift," continued Adams. "I remember a class back at the Academy where we studied singularities and their effects on sub-space, but I've never heard of a rift of this type opening up. I know they can stop a warp field from forming if a Federation ship were to engage their engines, but I have no experience with quantum singularity drives. I wonder if the Romulans have any experience in this type of event since their ships also implore this type of engine." (reply any) "Speaking of the Romulans," Adams interjected. "Internally, the ship reminded me of a Romulan ship. The layout of the bridge and engineering were octagon in shape. There was a single piece of equipment in the middle of each room and stations around the outer edges. Do we know anything about these people? Where they come from? Everything sounds very suspicious." (posted by Jason) ======================================================================================================================== (USS Paladin - Conference Room - ACTO Ensign(jg) Detron Trei - 20.32) Giving Commander Capps a chance to speak, Detron followed with his report. "It was a very interesting experience Captain. The stronger gravity proved to be a small problem. I personally found the gravity to slow me down and drain energy fast. Some had more difficulty. My team and I encountered little trouble with the aliens aboard the Sundra. The language gap proved to be quite cumbersome. Other than that Captain we worked very well together. I refer to Whetari for her report." ~Wow. My first real debriefing conference. I expected some kind of evaluation of our performance. Maybe that will be later.~ (posted by Edward) ======================================================================================================================== (USS Paladin, General Conference Room - COPS/3O Ensign (sg) Michael Ian O'Connor - 2034) Michael waited until the doctor was finished before he gave his report. "Without their computer operations and without a commline open to our computer deciphering their systems was slow going and basically a no go for anything outside of ships systems. When we go back we should be able to get more answers as to what they were up to prior to this rift opening," Michael said looking over his PADD. "However, Sir, I have an issue with this rift opening. There are two possibilities, either they managed to cross the exact location of a proto-rift, or somehow their drives malfunctioned in a way which basically burrowed itself into sub-space, causing a rift to form. I find the first option highly unlikely, and would highly recommend we not let the Science ship go to warp before their systems have been given a complete look through, if they tried to warp out of here with the rift still open, I can't say what would happen, but I highly doubt it would be pretty." Michael said sitting back. He would include his recommendations that the Doctor and Ensign Adams get commendations in his written report. (posted by Patrick) ======================================================================================================================== (USS Paladin – Conference Room – Ensign SG CMO Nissa Whetari – 2236) As Commander Capps gave his report, Nissa noticed that he seemed to be favoring one of his eyes. The muscles around his eye were tensed up and he stopped to rub the eye as he spoke. She made a mental note to speak with him after the meeting about it. Once he was finished reporting to the Captain, Nissa waited for Ensign Adams to speak, listening to his suspicions regarding the Romulans. ~He is certainly correct about the layout,~ she thought to herself, making another note to examine the genetic makeup of each of the patients currently in Sickbay. After some of the other officers discussed his thoughts, Nissa gave her report. “When we arrived on the alien vessel, we found at six survivors on the Bridge. They were all in at least serious condition, with two being in critical condition. Upon evaluation and initial treatment, several of these patients were transported over to the Paladin for follow-up. We discovered two more survivors in Engineering, both with extensive injuries. Between their Bridge and Engineering, we discovered over 18 dead. With any new encounter or first contact, it is standard procedure for the CMO to make a report regarding all traits, physical, genetic or otherwise, based upon whatever we have discovered or exchanged during the mission. Regarding Ensign Adams concerns, it would be useful and wise for me to evaluate the genetic makeup of our patients in Sickbay, if for no other reason than to ensure that I am coming up with the best treatments.” Nissa explained, not wanted to seem too conspiratorial. “Honestly, though, if nothing else, it is always beneficial to learn as much as we can during these events. I will also speak to the patients, as best I can, and see if they have made contact with the Romulans.” (posted by Sarah) ======================================================================================================================== (USS Paladin - Deck 1, Conference Lounge - CSO Lieutenant (jg) Joran Matthew Brownlee - 20:37) "Lt. Brownlee, I want you to head the science teams working with the engineering teams on the rift and how best to close it. You will all need to liaison with the other teams as needed and will all report directly to Commander Capps." "Yes, captain," Joran said. When the meeting was over, Joran went over to Lt. Matrix. "Sir," he said, "I have some ideas on how we could repair the rift. When would be a good time to meet to discuss them with you?" (posted by Spencer) ======================================================================================================================== Hope you enjoyed!