Star Trek: Shackleton (Inactive)

Game Master Reckless

The Atocha alters course and the science officer makes an attempt to scan both the signal and the ship.

Can I get an Insight+Science from JT please?

"Command Ojo, I trust you have a set of security protocols for responding to distress signals that may be... suspect?"

"Sir," Ojo acknowledges the question. "Because reasons for the distress call can be varied -- including being used as bait -- Federtation protocols are... vague, emphasizing being ready for anything. The scans will hopefully tell use more as we get near."

The Andoran does not look up from where he is trying to absorb all the information he can from the ships scans as well as ensure the ship's combat readiness.

Commander Worghrun wrote:

"Command Ojo, I trust you have a set of security protocols for responding to distress signals that may be... suspect?"

"Sir," Ojo acknowledges the question. "Because reasons for the distress call can be varied -- including being used as bait -- Federtation protocols are... vague, emphasizing being ready for anything. The scans will hopefully tell use more as we get near."

The Andoran does not look up from where he is trying to absorb all the information he can from the ships scans as well as ensure the ship's combat readiness.

"No argument Mister Ojo, do your utmost in this. Velocity is at your command: Commander Vrek, if Lieutenant Ojo's scans produce concern regarding our rate of engagement you will immediately reduce speed at his discretion and ask Commander Worghrun to review the data. The safety of our crew is a significantly higher priority than an Orion distress call."

Komin turns to his XO, "I need to call Narendra on this, and I would like to ask you a favor; if there were anyone you could reach on Qo'noS, or even personally, we need all the intel we can get. Anyone could be ahead of us out here, but the Orions weren't what I was expecting. Also: could you point Brevik in the right direction to review crew records for Orion affinity? Could be that we don't have anyone familiar, but it could be that we do. I want to know as soon as possible."

Kalos turns and heads into his Ready Room, "and reel in Engineering too. Ask Sunshine for an evaluation of Medical's capacity to handle complex alien casualties."

Please forgive me for not waiting to receive the order, but the next couple days are going to be busy, and then I'll be offline over the weekend so wanted to post while I had a moment

Once she receives the order from the XO, she will both peruse the ship's records on its medical machinery as well as consult with the crew in Sickbay about both their expertise and confidence in the technology they have available.

Guessing at dice to roll, feel free to roll something else if this isn't appropriate

Research/Tech Assessment, Reason 9 + Engineering 5: 1d20 ⇒ 14

I believe that's a success on the nose

Consultation with medical crew, Presence 8 + Medical 2: 1d20 ⇒ 11

And I think that's a failure by 1, unless I picked the wrong attribute to roll (if it should have been Insight that would have been a 9). Otherwise likely she asked in a rather blunt way that offended the crew. ;)

"No argument Mister Ojo, do your utmost in this. Velocity is at your command: Commander Vrek, if Lieutenant Ojo's scans produce concern regarding our rate of engagement you will immediately reduce speed at his discretion and ask Commander Worghrun to review the data. The safety of our crew is a significantly higher priority than an Orion distress call."

Vrek looks tempted to say something, but nods, "Aye, Captain."

d

Komin turns to his XO, "I need to call Narendra on this, and I would like to ask you a favor; if there were anyone you could reach on Qo'noS, or even personally, we need all the intel we can get. Anyone could be ahead of us out here, but the Orions weren't what I was expecting. Also: could you point Brevik in the right direction to review crew records for Orion affinity? Could be that we don't have anyone familiar, but it could be that we do. I want to know as soon as possible."

Kalos turns and heads into his Ready Room, "and reel in Engineering too. Ask Sunshine for an evaluation of Medical's capacity to handle complex alien casualties."

"Aye, sir," Worghrun replies. Though his brow seems to furrow when the captain mentions "Sunshine", he offers no words of protest.

"Yeoman Brevik," The klingon flags down the vulcan and begins giving orders. "I would like you to survey our current crew roster and identify any personnel that a record of being caught with contraband or displaying a gambling affliction." He pauses for a moment then adds, "You should also include any with a history of service along any of the Galadoran trade routes... Just in case."

Satisfied with the initial breadth of inquiry, Worghrun next ponders potential contacts on Qo'noS.
Insight 9 + Command 5: 2d20 ⇒ (17, 19) = 36

However, his thoughts drift away from his knowledge of contacts on the klingon homeworld and, instead, toward the klingon in engineering. Collecting himself, he taps his comm badge, "Bridge to Engineering. The Captain has requested that you provide an evaluation of Medical's capacity to handle complex alien casualties. I suggest that you both peruse the ship's records on its medical machinery as well as consult with the crew in Sickbay about both their expertise and confidence in the technology they have available."

Botting JT

Insight+Science with Sensors focus 15(5) 2d20 ⇒ (16, 13) = 29 One success.

JT turns to the commander. "It's definitely an Orion vessel, sir, and it appears to have sustained heavy structural damage. There is a debris field around it, and indications of a destroyed vessel."

Research/Tech Assessment, Reason 9 + Engineering 5

Consultation with medical crew, Presence 8 + Medical 2

All rolls except assist are always at least 2d20, so each of those should have another die, rolling those here for expedience.

1d20 ⇒ 18

1d20 ⇒ 4

So one success on both.

Medbay is well suited for dealing with a wide variety of lifeforms- humanoid ones being almost mundane compared to the wonders of Starfleet's medical technology.

As to whether the medical crew is up to snuff, Sunshine inquires and finds out that only one of the medical staff has prior experience with treating Orions, Nurse Batt Nahino, a Bolian Ensign.

The Captain reaches out to Narendra Station, raising the Admiral.

"Captain Komin. How may I assist?" The Admiral asks with an air of professional assurance.

The Captain reaches out to Narendra Station, raising the Admiral.

"Captain Komin. How may I assist?" The Admiral asks with an air of professional assurance.

"Greetings Admiral Herbert, a pleasure; in our briefing we discussed heightened independant activity in the region, we did not however, specifically mention Orions. I am responding to a distress signal from an Orion vessal and wanted to request whatever additional information Starfleet Intelligence might have, including whatever they may have withheld as they do. I want to know what we might be stepping in ..."

"Ah, yes, the Orions...." she takes a sip of a hot beverage.

"Officially, the Orion Trade Union supplies many needs within the Expanse, running supply routes through a number of systems, as well as some Federation and Klingon Outposts. They seem to have a knack for knowing what is needed most and supplying it at only slightly above-average costs."

She draws another draught, switching over to a more secure channel.
"Unofficially, of course, we are highly suspicious of several reported acts of piracy, and, naturally, any indication of criminal activity from the Orion Syndicate or independent criminal operatives."

" We've been investigating theories that they are working either with the Cardasians or Romulans, maybe even both. If you want the most complete details of their activities to date, you should contact Colonel Ch’rill of Klingon Intelligence. He has been the lead officer on joint operations exploring the Orion activity in the Expanse."

"Ah, yes, the Orions...." she takes a sip of a hot beverage.

"Officially, the Orion Trade Union supplies many needs within the Expanse, running supply routes through a number of systems, as well as some Federation and Klingon Outposts. They seem to have a knack for knowing what is needed most and supplying it at only slightly above-average costs."

She draws another draught, switching over to a more secure channel.
"Unofficially, of course, we are highly suspicious of several reported acts of piracy, and, naturally, any indication of criminal activity from the Orion Syndicate or independent criminal operatives."

" We've been investigating theories that they are working either with the Cardasians or Romulans, maybe even both. If you want the most complete details of their activities to date, you should contact Colonel Ch’rill of Klingon Intelligence. He has been the lead officer on joint operations exploring the Orion activity in the Expanse."

"Direct, practical, succinct; Admiral, I look forward to our work. Commander Woghrun & I will contact Klingon Intelligence at once. Komin out."

"Yeoman, would you ask Commander Woghrun to join me in my Ready Room?"

When the yeoman approaches with the Captain's request, Commander Woghrun simply nods in response before heading to the Ready Room.

Once the doors slide open, the klingon enters. Seeing the Captain, he remains standing, as if at attention.

"Lieutenant Commander Thorinson has confirmed the source of the distress signal to be an Orion vessel--or, at least, the wreckage of one. Scans have detected the presence of a debris field." The klingon reports. He then pauses, as if catching himself, before pondering aloud. "Although, you could have obtained a report over comms. Therefore, I...suspect... that there is another reason that you have requested my presence."

"Engineering to Commander Woghrun: our ship's sickbay is well capable of handling diverse xenobiology, technologically speaking. While checking on your inquiry, I learned only Ensign Batt Nahino is experienced in dealing with Orions, however. As a sickbay nurse, she is capable of using the technology available. Sunshine out." She does not presume to tell the Commander what to do with such information.

She does make some notes on a PADD about incorporating xenobiological ease into the DMH project the captain asked her to work on. She also says to her crew, "I've been asked about the ship's capacity to assist injured. I expect this means we're answering a distress call. Stay on the alert. We may either need to assist others with repairs--or move the ship out of harm's way if whatever's caused someone problems causes us problems as well." She gives some more specific orders beyond that to the chiefs at various stations relevant to the situation she perceives.

When the yeoman approaches with the Captain's request, Commander Woghrun simply nods in response before heading to the Ready Room.

Once the doors slide open, the klingon enters. Seeing the Captain, he remains standing, as if at attention.

"Lieutenant Commander Thorinson has confirmed the source of the distress signal to be an Orion vessel--or, at least, the wreckage of one. Scans have detected the presence of a debris field." The klingon reports. He then pauses, as if catching himself, before pondering aloud. "Although, you could have obtained a report over comms. Therefore, I...suspect... that there is another reason that you have requested my presence."

"You are correct Commander, and I appreciate the forward thinking in these matters. Admiral Herbert echoed my concern about the Orions. She also indicated that if we wanted the most complete details of their activities to date, we should contact Colonel Ch’rill of Klingon Intelligence; he has been the lead officer on joint operations exploring the Orion activity in the Expanse."

Komin looks his XO in the eye, "I would like you to make contact with me. I would like you to conduct the call in Klingon; the computer will NOT translate the call, or transcribe it. No UT tech will be used here either. Our portrayal of trust and respect for each other, and the Empire, is as important to convey to Klingon Intelligence as our need for information regrding the Orions. I want to make sure that High Chancellor Gauron hears that this is a successful partnership. Please work with Ensign Tahlenna to ensure that the sub-carrier which KI will piggyback onto their subspace transmission is allowed to arrive unchallenged in my office, but is restricted from travelling beyond it. Let me know when we are ready."

Worghrun meets gaze of the Captain. The klingon begins trying to assess his superior's words. He responds with caution.

"What you have proposed, Captain, is highly...," The XO pauses. Beneath his ridged brow, his mind quickly considers a strategic response. His gaze never leaves that of the captain. "...irregular."

Kalos Komin has been serving at captain aboard the Atocha for only a short time. Yet, already he seeks to make the commander complicit in active designs to avoid official, diplomatic channels to circumvent Starfleet's standard operating protocols.

Why such lengths for secrecy? What are this man's intentions? The klingon ponders to himself. Surely, the Captain knows of my history. Is this a test of some kind? If so, to what end? A test of loyalty? Or one of trust? Does the captain have concerns about an infiltration by some conspiracy within Starfleet? It would not be first.

"If I am asked by the crew the reasons for such restrictions, what is it that you wish for me to tell them?"

"A great question: we should tell them that Starfleet expects us to make and leverage allies of all types for this mission to succeed. We should tell them that I am not Klingon ... we should tell them that you ARE Klingon ... and we should tell them that every member of this crew will do their utmost to ensure our success."

"If I didn't trust you my friend, you would not be here, and I certainly would not use this strategy. But I do trust you. A great deal more than I trust Section 31 or Klingon Intelligence, that is for sure. Like I said a moment ago, our portrayal of that trust needs to send a message: that you & I work well together and that we are prepared to use every resource at our disposal. Please remember, Klingons are Klingons, and I am not Klingon; I am NOT a reknowned Federation warrior either, I am a doctor from a telepathic culture that KI can't help but hold suspect."

"So until something extraordinary happens, like a human being named Arbitor of Succession, I cannot simply place calls to Klingon Intelligence and expect any kind of real cooperation: you can."

The backchannel is quickly established, and the Commander and Captain move to the Captain's office to see the grizzled, wary face of Colonel Ch’rill of Klingon Intelligence staring over the communication line. The Colonel greets them with a poker face, but his tone is one of impatience. "Captain, Commander. What do you need?"

Worghrun responds tersely to the Ch'rill in his native tongue. "jIyInmoHmeH jIyInmoHQo', qaH. Heghpu' ramjep, reH 'angpu' Hoch tlha' wIDIlqu'. QI'yaH, 'IHwI''e'. 'oy'law' vIHar. qeylIS HoD. Doch qechvam'e'."

"Orions!" scoffs the Colonel. "To use a Human expression I heard once on Earth, it would appear that the Orions are as pervasive in the Shackleton Expanse as water is on concrete: they find every crack they can and sink their way in."

"The Orions have long frustrated the Empire with their dual ability to provide worthy and much-needed trade while also being honorless dogs and striking when our attention turns elsewhere. We have lost three freighters and one bird-of-prey near the Expanse so far under mysterious circumstances stemming from attacks by pirates, and the Orions claim ignorance about these attacks."

"The Orion Trade Union has successfully labored to keep their trade franchises open throughout the quadrant despite the misgivings of the Klingon High Council. Their ships bring essential goods to Narendra Station such as quadrotriticale and antimatter to the trade outposts established here."

"Although I would enjoy nothing more than stopping every Orion vessel and having my warriors complete a thorough search of their holds, doing so is time consuming and they have managed to get the Federation, the Ferengi, the Tholians, and more to their side over their 'right to engage in free and unrestricted trade.' I personally have overseen the seizure of an Orion ship that came to the Expanse, deposited its cargo, and then engaged in piracy before trying to return home."

"When it comes to navigating the Expanse, we believe the Orions may have detailed maps of the electromagnetic and gravimetric disturbances that make travel through the Expanse so hazardous. When it comes to avoiding these phenomena, the pirates seem to not only know where they are located, but the best stellar coordinates to lie in wait for a passing ship before striking. It appears their preferred tactic is to use ships equipped with tractor beam-based rams to force a vessel into these eddies to damage it and then strike before the ship can bring its systems back online. It is a tactic as clever as it is gutless, as they allow for the natural forces of the universe to do the bulk of the fighting for them."

"In addition to the Orion pirates, we also have to deal with the Orion Syndicate. The Syndicate is like a tribble infestation: once you think you’ve eliminated them at their source, they always somehow return. The Orion Syndicate here does what the Syndicate does elsewhere, which is to say they have a keen way of blending professional, legitimate business dealings with their criminal enterprises. The fact that they can offer cold, hard latinum to those who need it means that anyone at any time can come under their thumb."

"There is one incident in particular that shows how resourceful the Syndicate is. One of my operatives on Narendra posing as a Klingon food peddler observed a Bolian pottery merchant on the Galleria repeatedly getting into arguments with passing Orions over the quality of the pottery. The Orions would return the pottery they purchased, claiming they were poorly-replicated forgeries and then the Bolian would return their credits. Although it appeared the Bolian was always accepting returns from the Orions, he was wealthy enough to purchase his own private ship."

"After 'intercepting' one of these pots we learned that the Bolian was encrypting the deployment of Federation and Klingon vessels into the pottery itself! The returned pottery contained the Bolian’s cut of the goods stolen from other vessels. The General demanded the Bolian be returned to the Empire to stand trial, but he employed his rights as a Federation citizen and was sent back to Bolarus IX for trial. It appears the Bolian died in his sleep not long after leaving the station, which leaves us once again without a key witness into the Syndicate’s dealings."

Translated from Klingon.

Worghrun takes a moment to inform the Captain of the Colonel's response.

He then asks the Colonel, "valbogh mu'tlheghvam Dabej'a'?"

"Qatlh pe'vIl SuvwI' mu'mey legh." he scoffs. "QomwI'ropvaD 'umqu' latlh qo'vam."

He turns his gaze fully on Worghrun "Jup, jupwI', jaw. SaghuHmo' jIH 'arqon net pum 'arQo' je, pagh, jIHvaD puqloD, SQubbe' 'ach jIHvaD puqloD, pung Daghajmo' jIH 'ach jIHvaD puqloD, puqbe'lI' je tlhIHmo'."

Kalos smiles, a smile that kills small things: "QoraQvaD ghel "chay' mavanglaH?" nguvmoHtaHvIS tlhIngan. qaS ghov vISov. Qapla'!

Commander Worghrun nods. "rIntaH. Qapla'!"

Commander Worghrun nods. "rIntaH. Qapla'!"

** spoiler omitted **

"Best speed to the distress call Commander; let's see what's afoot!"

"Aye, sir." Commander Worghrun nods.

Exiting the Ready Room, he gives the order. "Helm, maintain course to the coordinates of the distress call. Maximum warp."

He turns to the Science Officer. "And calibrate our long-range scanners to detect any dangerous electromagnetic or gravimetric disturbances. I suspect you will find one within close proximity of our present course."

"Maximum warp, Aye." Vrek says and 'makes it so'. While others have been having private conferences for the higher officers and the like, he's been dutifully at his station getting to know others.

He feels pretty good, as during one of his breaks, he won big on a Dom Jot match against a botanist in the science department who now owes him some non replicated liquor.

The ship increases it's warp factor and arrives in the area of the distress Orion ship within a few minutes.

As suspected, there is an area of geomagnetic storms caused by a highly charged, dense, ferrous asteroid field close a nearby k class red dwarf star. These storms would react poorly with shields, draining them quickly.

The Orion ship appears badly damaged, its hull scorched with torpedo blasts and phaser burns.

A debris field, remnants of another vessel perhaps, hangs in relative space to the Orion vessel.

Down in Engineering, Sunshine reviews data coming from the ship's sensors. "We may be approaching geomagnetic interference. Bolson, keep an eye on the plasma manifolds and compensate for surges. Wafula, I want you to stay by the deuterium injectors and be ready to oscillate activation cycles."

Don't mind me, just technobabbling

"Security on alert," Commander Worghrun sharply orders.

"Scan the debris field," The klingon next issues instructions to the Chief Science Officer. "Check for any indications of active vessels. A warp signature, an impulse wake, lifeforms, anything that would tell us whether we have arrived at an ambush."

"We need to be prepared for anything." The commander releases a slight huff as he ponders to himself. I do not like having to rely on this one, but it would seem I have little choice at present.

He then speaks, though with an obvious hesistation. "Bridge to Engineering. I require options for securing the Orion vessel in distress. Given the condition of the vessel and the present geomagnetic storms, would it be viable to extricate the vessel by using a tractor beam without further compromise to the vessel's integrity? Alternatively, I need to know that the Atocha's shields will hold should we approach the vessel amidst the storms and that its hull will maintain its integrity should the shields be momentarily lowered to allow the use of transporters."

"Security on alert," Commander Worghrun sharply orders.

With the Captain's and Commander's return to the bridge, Ojo stops playing solitaire. I'm kidding.

During the entire approach, the Atocha security officer has been monitoring the ship's weapons and shield status, as well as keeping tabs on the proximity sensors.

"Scan the debris field,"

"Scanning."

Ojo directs the ship's sensors to try and detect any order out of the chaotic debris field.

Commander Worghrun wrote:

"Security on alert," Commander Worghrun sharply orders.

With the Captain's and Commander's return to the bridge, Ojo stops playing solitaire. I'm kidding.

During the entire approach, the Atocha security officer has been monitoring the ship's weapons and shield status, as well as keeping tabs on the proximity sensors.

Quote:

"Scan the debris field,"

"Scanning."

Ojo directs the ship's sensors to try and detect any order out of the chaotic debris field.

OJO

Ha ha, Galaga would be more appropriate for a security officer, true.

Ha ha, Galaga would be more appropriate for a security officer, true.

JT aids Ojo in the scanning.

adds 2 successes to your roll. Ojo please roll Insight + Science with a Difficulty of 4 (minus JT's 2 successes) and a complication range of 2 (19-20)

Nice! My weakest Attribute and my weakest discipline!

Target 9: 2d20 ⇒ (6, 2) = 8

That's two success, plus JT's two, which meets the Difficulty, I believe.

Lt. Ojo doesn't concern himself with the science behind how the sensors work. He trusts that the engineers who designed and built a Federation starship's equipment to be more than capable. He merely observes the output the ship's scan gives him, and he instead devotes his brainpower to being prepared to act quickly should anything be detected.

As he reviews the data, Ojo's shoulders square up and he leans forward, his posture becoming increasingly more aggressive.

"Sirs, there are... numerous anomalies. The radiation levels are off. A destroyed or severely damage vessel would emit more radiation than what the scans are indicating. The same goes for other energy signatures as well.

"The Orion ship itself is displaying damage, but all of it's major systems seem undamaged. I'm not sure what sort of vessel it is, but it does have reinforced hull plating. And..."

Ojo pauses briefly to adjust the scans focus

"...the debris is made up of components of at least three different ships, and what's there is probably not enough to make a whole ship."

He looks up at his Commander and Captain. "And this ship sitting is right in the middle of it."

The security officer looks back down at his console, pauses to shake his head at the audacity of the trap before them. Almost as an afterthought, he adds that, "The geomagnectic storms would probably drain a ship's shield reserves in under 60 seconds."

"As expected, it is a trap," concludes Worghrun. "We need to remove this petaQ from the spacelanes."

The klingon does not bat as much as an eye when the universal translator inexplicably fails to translate the insult into Federation standard.

"See if you can acquire a lock for the Atocha's tractor beam," he orders. "As well as for its battery of photon torpedoes."

A toothy grin forms on the commander's other stern face. "After all, it is good to provide the Captain with... options."

"Mmph, the Syndicate always did like things sneaky."

"I am reading an increase in power on the Orio Ship, Captain." JT reports.

"Yellow Alert, shields at maximum, weapons hot, tractor beam at the ready please."

"The Orions are hailing us, sir." JT reports.

"The Orions are hailing us, sir." JT reports.

"Signal the Orion ship that our Chambers Coil is overloading our comm system ... and we'll be 'right' with them."

"Aye, sir."

The Orion ship begins to turn towards the Atocha, and then its engines go dark.

"Sir, the vessel's power just .... shut off. I don't think they even have life support." JT reports after a few readings. "And, uh, our sensors just picked up a small vessel in the geomagnetic storms. It's as small as a shuttlecraft and of unknown origins."

Lt. Ojo tries to determine which direction the shuttle is heading. If he can do so, he'll announce its heading. If he can't, he'll ask for it aloud.

If the Atocha is heading towards the Orion ship, Ojo will recommend, "Sir, we shouldn't get too close to the ship until we are certain they haven't... 'rigged' it."

"Helm, all stop! JT I need to know what caused the power fall off, and what the status is of the ship in the storm. Engineering - can we enter the storm to attempt rescue operations?"

"Aye, sir." The tellarite says complying with each command as it comes, "Riding through a geomagnetic storm would be a new experience, that's for sure."

Sunshine responds through her communicator: "Can? Yes. Should? Well, that's your call, sir. Severe risk of power loss or fluctuations. If we go on... so beyond key essentials, if we have to rout power somewhere, do you want propulsion or shields?"

She already begins plugging in priming instructions for the engines and to protect the warp core and prepares to shout a lot.

Engineering, managing power systems once the ship enters the storm, Control 11 + Engineering 5: 2d20 ⇒ (3, 11) = 14

Two successes