BEGIN SIM

BEGIN SIM

BEGIN SIM

:: sitting on the bridge in the momentary quiet ::

:: sits at her station on the bridge, having returned from Sickbay ::

:: in the center seat, anxiously reading a PADD but not really, having read the same sentence four times ::

:: sits at her station on the bridge, stirs a thermos of Metriagan rooibos ::

:: has returned to duty after a visit to Jester's quarters, now sitting at the helm, having relieved T'Lira ::

:: looking over routine scans ::

:: is settled on the bridge, reading a PADD with her legs kicked up on the console, crossed at the ankles ::

:: looks again at her chair arm's displaying that's showing the incoming data from the surface, her brow furrowed with concern ::

:: rearranges the readouts to where he normally keeps them ::

:: suddenly sits up straighter and adjusts her earpiece :: CO: Captain, I'm picking up a distress call from a nearby system. :: pauses as she listens to it ::

:: turns her attention from the chair arm display to Lexy :: CSO: Put it on.

CO: It's a Vorrin cargo ship. They're under attack ... :: taps the console to play the distress call on the room speakers ::

The Tallial> :: over an emergency frequency :: Atlantis: To anyone who can hear, our engines are down and we’re being boarded. Please respond, anyone in range.

NAV: How quickly can we be there?

:: sends the origin coordinates over to the NAV console ::

:: puts the cap on her tea thermos and swings to face her console ::

:: enters the calculations into the slipstream computer, which comes back instantly :: CO: Five minutes, capitana.

:: immediately straightens, sliding the PADD into her chair's side-pocket, and pulling up the console with a serious expression ::

CTO: Yellow alert, configure shield geometry for slipstream flight!

NAV: Warp speed and enter slipstream when ready.

CO: 10-4! :: fingers fly to configure the shield, while also triggering the yellow alert ::

:: messages Sickbay to be ready for casualties ::

All: There is nothing we can do about the fighting down there, but we can at least help these people out.

CO: Systems optimal, Captain.

:: makes the usual slipstream warning announcement, thinking that she should just automate this ::

:: engages the warp drive and sets the slipstream computer's auto-sequence :: CO: Slipstream in one minute.

:: overheard Emily's message to sickbay so she doesn't give that order :: CEO: Thank you, lieutenant.

CO: Ten seconds to slipstream.

ACTION> The slipstream tunnel forms ahead of us, and Atlantis is smoothly pulled in.

CO: Slipstream flight achieved. Five minutes to arrival.

:: bringing up the file on the Vorrin ::

CTO: Stand by red alert, and have a counter-boarding party ready, if necessary.

CSO: What do we know about the Vorrin?

:: sensors show the Vorrin cargo ship Tallial, the source of the distress call. Scans confirm they are adrift and being boarded. Data on the ship is sparse, but there is a cultural file on the Vorrin, unaffiliated trade partners of nearby planets. ::

CO: The Vorrin are an unaffiliated race, known to have a contentious relationship with the Kascal.

CSO: The Kascal? Do we have any information on them?

:: there is even less data about the Kascal, the attackers, aside from that contentious relationship. They’ve been contacted by the Federation, but are openly hostile to most everyone. ::

:: pulls up the file on the Kascal and scans it quickly ::

CO: Very little, I'm afraid. They seem to be hostile to all known attempts to contact them.

CSO: Unfortunate.

:: monitors the short flight, an easy one for their systems ::

ACTION> We register on the attacker’s sensors, it seems, and a few moments later the attacking ship is pulling away as we get closer.

CO: Hopefully we are able to help the Vorrin and get more data on both of these species.

CO: Normal space in ten seconds.

:: nods :: CSO: Indeed. Perhaps it will be an opportunity.

:: keeps an eye on the scanners ::

NAV: Thank you, lieutenant.

ACTION> Atlantis pops out of slipstream.

ACTION> The Kascal ship jumps to warp just as we do.

CO: Normal space achieved. Drift is... juuuust under 200 light-seconds.

:: nods, impressed ::

CTO: Tactical situation?

ACTION> The Tallial is hailing us, adrift and dark and throwing sparks.

CO: The Vorrin are hailing us, Captain.

CO: The Kascal looks to have warped away just as we arrived, Captain.

:: nods to Grey, then turns back to Lexy :: CSO: Put them on.

:: stands to face the main viewer ::

:: tap taps and looks up at the screen expectantly, wondering about these people as no images were in their file ::

Captain Joibo> :: appears on the main viewer, looking more human than not with defining ridges under his cheekbones. He seems frantic :: CO: Thank you for coming!

:: slowly closes on the stricken ship, since la capitana gave him no orders to pursue the aggressor ::

:: makes note of the vector and velocity of the attacking ship's retreat ::

+Joibo+ Of course. I am Commodore Harper of the Federation Starship Atlantis. Do you — :: is interrupted ::

Joibo> CO: Yes, thank you! But there is no time! They made off with our important passenger, and the relic he was carrying! You must make chase!

:: raises her eyebrows slightly at this development ::

:: suppresses a frown :: +Joibo+ Who is this passenger and what is this relic? And do you have casualties that need medical attention?

:: glances to the other bridge crew, eyebrow raised in curiousity at this fact ::

Joibo> :: ducks as his smoky bridge throws sparks at him :: CO: We do have casualties, and lots of damage. But Vorrin is a holy man, a.. a saint, you would call him. The Seven Chimes are a holy relic, and he was ensuring their safe transport. Losing either of them is very, very bad. The council will have my head!

+Joibo+ Regardless, would you not say that lives are more important? We can take your wounded aboard and then give chase.

Joibo> :: seems anxious, but acquiesces :: CO: Alright, alright. I care about my crew above all, of course. But we must move quickly!

ACTION> What little shields the Tallial had left, they lower.

:: gets up and crosses to the turbolift to head down to Sickbay ::

CO: There are 56 life signs aboard, 14 wounded, 3 critically.

:: hears this as the turbolift doors are closing on her, and takes a deep breath ::

:: nods, glad that lives do seem to take precedence to them over relics :: +Joibo+ We will begin transport of your most critical cases immediately, then track down this Vorrin for you.

:: nods to Lexy :: Begin transport of those seventeen to sickbay.

Joibo> :: bows his head and presses his hands together :: CO: Vorrin-ay.

CO: Aye, Captain. :: locks on to the wounded lifesigns and begins transporting them to Sickbay in order of greatest need ::

:: returns the gesture ::

+Joibo+ While we do, tell me more of Vorrin and the Seven Chimes.

:: arrives in Sickbay shortly, and begins helping as patients start to appear ::

Joibo> +CO+ Well, we keep to ourselves. Our religion is very important to us. The Seven Chimes were played by the first Vorrin, to calm wild snakes and bring peace to the continent. Um… :: he shrugs, then flinches as his bridge throws sparks again :: What do you want to know?

+Joibo+ Who has taken Vorrin?

Joibo> +CO+ The Kascal! :: he slams his fist on his console :: Thieves of culture and history!

:: scans the Vorrin ship, sees significant structural damage, irregular spikes in the power output ::

:: nods as the Kascal are confirmed as being involved :: +Joibo+ Why would they do this?

Joibo> :: shakes his head solemnly :: +CO+ The Chimes? I do not know what use they have for them. But if they kill Vorrin, the line will be broken. Our current Vorrin has no sons. I cannot imagine how our people would react.

:: nods, gaining some measure of understanding, and looks to Lexy :: CSO: Status of the transports?

:: is scrubbing into surgery to take care of the worst patient ::

CO: Transports are complete, Captain.

CO/+Joibo+: I'm reading substantial structural damage and overloads in their ship's power and deflector systems. I can have Engineering teams beam aboard to assist with repairs.

:: nods to her wife, then looks back to the main viewer after taking in D'bryn's message :: +Joibo+ Can we beam an engineering team aboard to assist with your repairs?

Joibo> :: still seems a bit antsy :: +CO+ If… if you can, that would be great. But please, you must make chase before they are too far away!

:: turns to D'bryn :: CEO: Send a team, on the double.

:: stands up, grabs her rooibos thermos :: Bridge/+Joibo+: My team and I will be over momentarily. :: half-jogs to the turbolift ::

+Joibo+ We will see what we can do.

Joibo> :: once again presses his hands together and bows his head, repeating the phrase twice this time :: +CO+ Vorrin-ay, Vorrin-ay.

CTO: Have a security escort meet the engineers in the transporter room.

:: returns the gesture once more ::

:: nods, comming down to the marine wing, to get the security team ready ::

:: gets in TL :: TL: Deck 6. +Davis+ D'bryn to Davis. Davis> +CEO+ Davis here. Davis: +Davis+ Grab Byrne, Iesius, and Trin, meet me in transporter room one. Davis> +CEO+ See you there.

ACTION> The Kascal ship is reaching the edge of our long range sensors.

CSO: Is the Kascal ship still on sensors?

:: meets up with Davis et al in TR 1, steps up on the pad, beams over to the Vorrin ship with the team ::

CO: They're at the very edge of our sensor range, Captain.

NAV: Pursuit course, maximum warp.

+Joibo+ We are on our way and will return soon. Atlantis out.

CO: Sí, capitana. :: plots the course ::

CSO: Did our team transport aboard?

:: checks the transporter logs :: CO: Yes, just now.

NAV: Engage.

:: hits the big Go button ::

ACTION> Atlantis warps away into the black.

CO: Warp 9.95, capitana. 9.99 is available if necessary.

ACTION> Two other Kascal ships appear on sensors, coming from different directions. The ship we were following and the other two ships meet up, they get close enough to exchange goods, then the three split off and run in different directions. None are fast enough to outrun us forever, but we must pick one.

:: sits down as they give chase ::

:: whips out tricorder, starts gathering up-close data on the damage to the ship ::

Davis: There's a power conduit down that corridor with some major fluctuations. Good place to start. I'm gonna try to find someone on the ship to, uh... coordinate with.

Kamina> :: rounds a corner and finds D’bryn, looking at her tool kit :: CEO: Are you the engineer?

Kamina: Yeah, hey. Lieutenant D'bryn.

Kamina> :: has the same defining cheek-ridge as the ship captain, and a tool kit of her own. She bows her head in greeting :: CEO: Vorrin-ay. I am the Head Engineer, Kamina.

Kamina: :: returns a head-bow :: Good to meet ya. I've already noticed a badly-fluctuating power conduit down this corridor, and I got some guys already heading that way. Where's your power distribution hub?

CO: Two more Kascal ships coming from different directions just rendezvoused briefly and scattered.

Kamina> :: bobs her head for D’bryn to follow :: CEO: This way. We’ve gone some replacement conduits going in already, but there’s so many overloads.

Kamina: Tends to happen. :: follows :: When are starships going design a power manifold that doesn't wig out when the shields get overloaded? Am I right?

Hm. CSO: Scan the warp trails as we pass their meeting point.

NAV: Stick on the first ship until we are close enough to scan them.

CO: Aye aye.

CO: Aye. :: readies a scan as they approach the rendezvous point ::

Kamina> :: laughs :: CEO: As soon as they stop adding spark cannons to consoles.

Kamina: What is that? Why does everything erupt in sparks like it's New Year's Eve?

:: stays locked in to the pursuit course on the original ship ::

Kamina> :: leads D’bryn to engineering, and shows her around she tilts her head :: CEO: New Year’s Eve? :: thinks, then dismisses it :: Here we are. I was going to start with the engine.

ACTION> The ship we’re chasing zigs and zags, trying to lose us.

:: smirks at the attempt to evade :: No, I don't think so...

:: makes a few adjustments to their course that should maximize their closing speed based on the probable outcome of the evasives ::

Kamina: Good place to start. :: looks at pinging thingy on her tricorder :: The plasma conduits around your warp manifold are hanging on by a thread. Let's get those tackled while my team takes some heat off this section. +Davis+ Hey Davis, see what you can do about choking the power flow into engineering.

CSO: As soon as we are in range, scan for a Vorrin lifeform aboard, assuming they are biologically distinct from the Kascal.

:: nods, watching the rangefinder like a hawk ::

Kamina> CEO: Yeah, those were a little ragged before the shooting started. You’d think they’d be considerate and let us replace them first, but. :: she shrugs, chuckling ::

:: watches the zig-zagging ship repeatedly and quickly move in and out of range and tries to get a scan off in between ::

Kamina: How are you on spare parts? A couple of these conduits look FUBAR.

CO: No Vorrin lifesigns aboard this vessel!

Kamina> CEO: FUBAR? :: she blinks :: We’re low on spare parts, but we do have an industrial fabricator.

CSO: Well done. NAV: Alter course, pick up the second of the three. Warp 9.99.

CO: Yes ma'am! :: turns hard to port and inclined "up" twenty degrees, then increases to warp 9.99 ::

Kamina: 'Fucked up beyond all repair.' :: grins :: Pardon my French. :: pauses :: Country on Earth. :: pauses :: Don't worry about it. Is your fabricator operational?

Kamina> :: is briefly baffled, but shrugs it off and seems to find D’bryn amusing :: CEO: Got it. And yes, I think. I haven’t checked on it yet, let’s go see. :: she leads the way ::

:: can actually feel the warp engines through her chair at this speed, and loves it ::

:: follows Kamina ::

Kamina> :: enters the industrial fabricator room and knocks on a flickering panel :: CEO: Oh, controls are a bit wonky, but it should still work. :: she begins using the menu to find parts ::

:: makes constant adjustments to their course to compensate for the target's attempts to lose them ::

:: tries to get a scanner lock as they close the gap ::

Self: Almost... almost...

Kamina: I can do wonky controls. :: monitors the systems in the fabricator, making sure they're working alright amidst the damage elsewhere ::

:: makes a few more adjustments to try to help Alexis get a scan ::

Kamina> :: fabricates a few parts, piling them onto a floating handcart :: CEO: Anything else?

:: grins, it being rare that he gets to fly Atlantis at warp 9.99! ::

Kamina: No, that's great. That should do it. :: heads back to the engine room ::

:: manages to get the scan :: CO: One Vorrin lifesign!

Kamina> :: follows behind D’bryn with the cart, bringing up the thing she couldn’t let go :: CEO: So… why do your exploding consoles remind you of ‘New Year’s Eve’?

:: nods emphatically :: CSO: Well done. Hail them. NAV: Continue to close and make it obvious how much faster we are.

:: Hails the fleeing vessel ::

CTO: Stand by weapons; get a passive targeting solution on their engines.

ACTION> The fleeing Kascal ship continues to attempt evasive maneuvers, and does not respond to the hail.

:: shifts the weapons into standby, setting the passive targeting on the fleeing ship's engines with a quiet hum ::

Kamina: Oh, on Earth they celebrate the New Year by lighting little sticks covered in a combustible material, and they just spark for minute.

CO: No response, Captain.

:: bears down on the fleeing vessel, flexing Atlantis's muscles as he counters their evasives ::

Kamina> :: seems to understand :: CEO: I see. That sounds fun.

Kamina: They do it on Bajor too (I'm half), but for other occasions. And by other means. Little bright lights whenever we're feeling joyous.

CSO: Again, and if they do not answer, put me on broadcast.

:: hails again, not really expecting a response ::

Kamina> :: seems intrigued :: CEO: Half from two planets? Wow. I think we have something like that, we call them kurokai.

:: gets to warp core, disengages plasma conduit for replacement :: Kamina: Kurokai. What's the etymology there?

Kamina> CEO: Kuro, light. Kai, stick. It’s a stick that spits sparks out the top, usually put on a table like candles.

CO: Still nothing, Captain. Ready to open broadcast channels.

Kamina: :: laughs :: I'm sorry for misunderstanding; I thought kurokai was your name for someone who's half from two planets.

:: sighs and nods :: CSO: Do it.

:: does it ::

Kamina> :: laughs :: CEO: Oh, no! Sorry. I meant your spark sticks. We don’t have a name for people from two planets. Perhaps we should.

Kamina: I've never met any Vorrin before. Do your people span a lot of worlds? :: installs new power conduit, moves onto the next one ::

+Comm+ Kascal vessel, this is Commodore Kathryn Harper of the Federation Starship Atlantis. We have been asked by the Vorrin to retrieve a person abducted from one of their ships following an attack, and have detected such a lifesign aboard your ship. We do not wish to harm you. Please drop out of warp and prepare to transport the Vorrin to us.

Kamina> :: works on replacing another conduit as she answers :: CEO: No. we have out home planet and one colony world, but that is all.

:: waits for an answer ::

:: really hopes that they didn't also have a decoy Vorrin ::

Kamina: So pretty relatively new to the space party, huh? Exciting times!

ACTION: The Kascal vessel answers by stopping, turning, and opening fire.

Kamina> CEO: What about you? How many worlds are your people on?

CTO: Return fire, targeting engines and weapons only!

NAV: Evasives!

:: fingers fly over the keys, targeting the engines and weapons squarely between return fire ::

:: really, really wishes they hadn't done that, but kind of saw it coming ::

:: does the best he can at such high warp, but the speeds slow as the two ships start shooting ::

:: shakes her head as she buckles her seatbelt ::

Kamina: Ten or so on the Bajoran side, and I forget how many Earth has by this point. Those are official colonies though. Earthians, at least, are spread all over the place.

:: also belatedly buckles her seatbelt ::

Kamina: Er, Terrans. Earthlings? My girlf—someone I know calls them Earthians. That's not the official term.

ACTION> The Kascal ship is no match for us. Atlantis scores a hit on their weapons, and they stop firing. They attempt to run again, but a second hit on their engines prevents them from jumping back to warp.

:: shakes her head again; they had to know they were no match before they started firing ::

CSO: Hail them again, and keep an eye on that Vorrin lifesign.

:: seriously?, shakes her head in slight embarrassment for them ::

CTO: Status of their shields?

:: hails them again, with an eye on that Vorrin lifesign ::

PAUSE SIM

PAUSE SIM

PAUSE SIM