Star Trek: Perdition's Flames (Inactive)

Game Master tumbler

It's been here a while.

Jalla walks cautiously to the shuttle, then, tucked against the side of the ship raps the back of her knuckles on the door. After an Andorian-quick heartbeat, she throws the door open.

The door of the shuttle hisses as long unused mechanisms activate. The interior is dark, obviously in some sort of power saving mode. The front of the shuttle is a standard, if old fashioned, configuration, two seats at pilot and co-pilot stations. The rear has been configured into a lab of some sort, with a work table and a black stasis pod.

By work table, I mean something like a smaller version of the "pool table" from TNG engineering.

Gareb goes over to the stasis pod to see if it is in use and if so who is inside.

Gareb approaches carefully. The stasis pod is in use. It is an older unit that th'Chiaqis is unfamiliar with, but it appears to have been in use for an extended period of time. Decades, at least. Gareb keys a series of commands, on an actual set of keys, not an LCARS display. A portion of the shell becomes transparent. th'Chiaquis sees within a Vulcan female in a copper colored tunic...

Jalla spends time looking for any kind of physical black box or logs, but also asks, "Computer? Please restore power."

"This stasis pod has been in use for decades. Vulcan female inside." Gareb comments before trying to figure out the Vulcan woman's physical state, if she can be revived and if there is a log containing details on when the woman was entered into it.

Copper tunic as in Wrath of Khan Starfleet uniform or civilian?

Dell smiles some, and says while the others explore the shuttle, "We can do that, if you have records of Zachra we can re-create it for you, but we will need our minds to be clear. As I said, your song interferes with our biology. It keeps us from resting, which leads to us making mistakes, and eventually to insanity and then death."

This is a little tricky, because the clothes don't exist in canon. I'm thinking something like this. But updated to be from the Wrath of Khan era. It isn't a Starfleet uniform, for sure. Maybe something from the Vulcan Science Council.

The computer responds in the voice of a computer 100 years old. Stilted and hollow to your ears. "Restoring power." The lights in the cabin switch to a standard light level, and the ancient controls (with actual buttons!) light up.

The lights on the stasis pod flicker and change as power is restored to all systems.

============

To Dell: "We do not need for your death. We believe that this method of communication should be universal to intelligent species. You are saying this is not so, that we are destructive to your biology..."

"I don't recognise the exact uniform but it shares some design choices with older Star Fleet uniforms, perhaps something a Vulcan organisation came up with during the period... a few centuries older and we'd be dealing with a very paranoid Vulcan."

Hitting his comm badge he hails Captain Dell to keep him apprised. <Th'Chiaqis to Captain Dell. We've found a Vulcan female that's been in stasis in the shuttle, if I can do so safely I'm going to wake her up. She may provide vital insight.>

Dell nods, and says, "Our bodies require rest, during which our brains devote their energy to processing memories and other subconscious activities. Without that rest, we first lose the ability to think clearly, then go insane - often violently — and finally die. Your song — beautiful though it may be — keeps our brains from entering that subconscious state."

After the message from Gareb, he taps his calm badge to reply, "Very good, keep me up-to-date."

"We do not mean for your death, but this is our life, our means of propagation."

So you need to find a way to access all of this information and translate that into something that a Holodeck could read. It is way too much information for your ship's computers, but the massive storage of Hephaestus station could handle it. At this point you need a better interface as well. Also, there is the matter of the Sleeping Vulcan.

Dell nods again, and says, "Then let us both hope that our technology can give you your world back, and help both of us to live in peace."

Dell wants to keep close to the doctor while she's under the influence of the Zachra, so it's cool with me if we focus on the others until were all back together. :-) Then we can discuss the rest in-character.

I think that means shift to Jalla and Gareb and awakening the Vulcan.

Are we waiting for me or waiting for Jalla and Gareb?

I can trust him to do this, at least.

Jalla nods an unasked-for assent at Gareb's plan to revivify the Vulcan, and begins to comb through the computer's logs.

"What happened to them..."

Reason+Conn: 2d20 ⇒ (17, 18) = 35

Is this... encrypted?

engineers log stardate 8411.2

T'Karra out.

"The best way to find out is to ask, she might have pertinent information." Gareb begins the process of removing the Vulcan woman from stasis.

It takes several moments for the stasis tube to revivify it's inhabitant, but eventually, the Vulcan's eyes flutter open. She stares into Gareb's face and then reaches out to key the tube to open.

Go for it.

The shuttle had taken damage from the initial interface and scan the computers unable to diagnose or handle the alien technology forcing an emergency landing. Then the alien technology began attacking her mind much like previously. She had come up with a solution until something could be done. Now she awakes and immediately knows the issue has not been solved or stopped and she smoothes her uniform out after opening the tube and sits up gingerly looking at the two inside the shuttle.

logically with the alien technology still functioning I deduct that you are also in distress and have woke me under duress?

"Indeed, I am Commander th'Chiaqis, this is Lieutenant Junior Grade zh'Qjaqir. We're from the USS Bastion. We've encountered a memetic telepathic virus that is preventing out rest. From what we have deduced it is caused by an attempt of an extinct race to resurrect themselves but I suspect you were already aware of many of the details, likely having discern a few pieces of information we haven't."

Gareb proceeds to succinctly bring the Vulcan woman up to date on the finer details of what they have discovered so far.

commander of the Bastion? I do not recognize your uniform nor insignia. A starship computer, however, may be able to process the data a shuttle could not. Alternately a starship could create modulated ultrasonic strong enough to disrupt the alien signal. Tkarra states as she stands up and straightens herself out.

Jalla keys her communicator, "We have a new, or rather, an old guest, Captain. She has some thoughts on how the signal could be disrupted. Are you having any success with more diplomatic methods now that Doctor Hagen is serving as an interlocutor?"

"We're members of Starfleet. Your theory is intriguing, we will let the Captain know. Hopefully other options can be considered for a more permanent solution."

In the past commander have been a starship chief engineer and may be able to lend some technical assistance to accomplish this mission. I will have to report to Starfleet so I will require assistance in leaving this planet to do so. Permission to come aboard the Bastion? T'Karra says

Taking a step back, Dell taps his communicator, "Yes, at least I believe so. I'll need Commander th'Chiaqis and engineering to run the numbers to be sure it's possible, but I believe we can use holo-technology and the data core on the planet to re-create their world for them, and holographic bodies for them to inhabit."

I think, based on what you guys are saying that you need to somehow get the planet to transmit its data to the Hephaestus station. I can think of a few ways to accomplish that, but what do you guys want to do? I plan to burn some threat to bring the Orions back in to cause some trouble.

engineering: 2d20 ⇒ (5, 8) = 13 3 successes

in theory if one had such technology one could transfer the civilization to a starbase. I am unsure of the computing power or the technology which you speak casually of, so I presume you have it. Will the computers you have hold up and the other systems?

You guys have everything you need here. You just need to narrate your way into the solution.

"Captain I think it would be best if we didn't try too much too soon. A small group of these ancient aliens... an away team of sorts could be more easily handled by our ships data storage systems. Once we have proof of concept we can be more able to tackle the larger group. Longer term set up a few subspace relays. It might not be the world they know initially but we can use any number of locations loaded into the program already to use as a back drop."

"The ship is an older design but it has been going under retrofits after being mothballed for an extended periods."

"Agreed." Dell turns back to the doctor, and says to the alien possessing her, "Would that be acceptable to you? Setting up a small trial run to make sure our idea is possible?"

"It will be difficult for us to constrain ourselves to a series of small steps, but it appears to be our only option. We did not mean to damage you with our transmissions."

This will present an interesting problem. You have a capable engineer now, but she has been asleep for much of the development of holodecks. A great opportunity for the rest of you to flex your engineering skills.

Feel free to continue to spin this out.

"Alright T'Karra you know this transmission but it's time to give you a crash course on holodeck technology. The good news is it involves replicator, projection and forcefield technology, it's used for recreational and training purposes."

"We need to find a way to transfer the data. I used a cargo bay's transporter buffer to store the data before. Using the main transporters is a good next step as they are more robust. The data about their physical bodies is the easy part, it's transferring their minds that's going to be more challenging."

that is very interesting Sir. Perhaps if I might be so bold. Could one bring a containing device planet size to bring each person into a holodeck here and then transport them up to the holodeck on the ship? I am unsure of transporting an incorporal being into a replicator projecting a forcefield, at least to begin with.. T'Karra says tapping her fingers in thought.

"We've been retrofitting the holodeck onto our ship... but usually we're doing a whole simulation. A single individual would require far less projectors." Gareb snaps his fingers.

"I read some technical read outs for a new holoprojector for something similar to facilitate diplomacy on a bridge that have been installed into some newer ships. Far too low on our list of priorities to even think about one on the ship... but someone's made the design already which would make it more viable."

I rewatched the D29 episode with Eddington where they installed one on the bridge of the defiant.

let us try this solution. It seems the most logical approach to endanger the least amount of their people. They will have to select someone to try the procedure. T'Karra says

"I understand," Dell says to the being inhabiting his doctor, "And it's our hope that, by testing small and then expanding, that we can avoid harming you either."

If the others are still in the shuttle, he taps his communicator — otherwise just turning to them — and says, "We should return to the ship and get to work."

[b]"As you say, Captain. It's a mercy we were able to find a suitable solution."

I feel like this has gone completely sideways, especially because it is a very involved medical and engineering problem and we have lost our original doctor and engineer. I'm going to go ahead and lay out a series of Tasks for you to deal with in hopes of coming to a satisfying conclusion. Remember that T'Karra has a Task Difficulty modifier of +2 when it comes to engineering tasks due to being a woman out of time.

The away team triggers their communicators, the familiar shimmer of the transporter returning them to the Valiant.

Once aboard the ship, you need to accomplish the following Tasks: Transmit the complete version of the Aria plague the Players’ have assembled ship wide. This is a Control + Engineering Task with a Difficulty of 2. This will instantly quell the violent tendencies of the outbreak victims aboard the ship.

Get the holoprojectors up to speed on the ship: Reason + Engineering Task with a Difficulty 2.

Reason+Engineering. I've got a Theory +1 Dice. 15 or Under: 3d20 ⇒ (20, 16, 5) = 41 Complication! Yay...

Gareb sets to work trying to get the holoprojectors working but quickly finds the computer simulations shows the load is too much for the ships older systems to be used in such a fashion... he'll need to get very creative to resolve this issue.

"This is going to be a lot more difficult than I imagined and what I imagined wasn't easy." Gareb's voice can be heard from underneath a console.

Dell, rather than sitting in his chair, moves to one of the consoles, says to Jalla, "Lieutenant, help me override the communications quarantine so we can transmit this."

Control + Engineering 13, spending a momentum: 3d20 ⇒ (1, 8, 5) = 14

Wow, that's nice for a change!

TKarra enters the transporter room of the ship noting the technical changes and then remembers the conversation on a projection of a forcefield through a replicator and a transporter and she attempts to assist the commander.

control+engine 17-2: 2d20 ⇒ (10, 20) = 30

Immediately she crosses one of the inducers with a plasma coil and almost causes a catastrophic melt down and says I will need to review all changes in technology since my time sir.

Everyone has beamed back to the ship at this point.

You are having no problems receiving the transmissions. At this point, you understand what they are trying to communicate, and can configure the communications systems to receive them.

Patching modern holodeck technology into the Valiant's systems, however, was always a dicey porposition. Using it to simulate a ski run, hockey rink, or fishing creek is one thing. Using it to channel the collective knowlege of an advanced culture is wreaking havok with the abilty of older duotronic circuits.

Sparks fly and the holographic image wavers and collapses into scattered electrons.

At the same time, Jalla's security panel begins to flash, displaying an incoming ship with weapons armed.

This is the Orion ship that you have previously encountered, the Safe Bet. She is coming in on an orbital path with shields up and weapons armed.

She's just not designed for this kind of thing. Gareb hits his comm badge before heading to a nearby turbo lift. "It's going to take time to set this up Captain, it's not going well. For now I think I should head to the bridge, this wont get any easier if this leads to a combat situation."

"Raising the shields, Captain. Do you wish to open a hailing frequency?"

As Jalla raises the shields, she receives an incoming transmission form the Orion ship, "Federation vessel, this is the Orion ship Safe Bet. You are tresspassing in Orion space. You seem to be appropriating resources. Under spacefaring law, surely you will agree that we were here first, as you observed us in orbit when you arrived. Whatever you have acquired on the surface rightly belongs to us. Please lower your shields and surrender your vessel. You will not be harmed. We will escort you safely to Federation Space..."

TKarra says to the commander as he leaves for the bridge perhaps we should allow their ship to have the full unfiltered connection to the alien race. It would diaable them completely Sir

"There is a certain poetic justice to it."

With Captain Dell's Task above, you could do that if you want. How that interacts with Starfleet codes I'll leave to you to decide.

What do we want to do, here?

"zh'Qjaqir contact the locals and tell them about your plan I'll buy us some time."

Gareb takes a breath to ease any nerves before putting on his most rakish smile and nodding to signal putting him on. This would be a high stakes and fast paced game of damjat. "I am Commander th'Chiaqis the USS Bastion's First Officer as well as science officer. We are engaging in First Contact with an unknown species and have previously informed your government of our presence. Additionally a federation vessel has been here for some time prior to your or our vessels arrival. However we're scientists and explorers and since this world exists in Orion Space we'd be happy to provide you with our data and facilitate contact between your ship amd the locals."

Gareb straightens his uniform. "I'd recommend letting us complete our current investigation and leave the honour to your government but if you insist then we'll accomodate that. Boarding however is out of the question. No local materials have been removed"