Star Trek Online: Myriad Universes (transcripts)

darthhorvath

Star Trek Online: Myriad Universes - To Lose the Earth Part 1

[10:59][STOIC]Felenn@photi😐FX|` It’s seven years since the destruction of Earth at hands of Xindi. By the Human calendar it would be mid-2161. Vulcans, Andorians and several Humans arrived as mediator delegation to+
[11:01][STOIC]Felenn@photi:Coridan Prime. The Coridanites have asked for assistance in resolving months long friction between Tellarites and Rigelians, which seems to escalate into loss of life as of recent. The Capital City+
[11:02][STOIC]Felenn@photi:of Coridan Prime bathes in sun and nice weather, emphasizing the architecture of the civilisation.+
[11:02][STOIC]Felenn@photi:++At the shuttle arrival gate, a single Rigelian, Jarris Felenn, awaits the delegates to arrive
[11:04][STOIC]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128😐 The arrival of Representative Nina Reyes, of the Centaurian delegation would be delayed slightly, though details were scarce
[11:04][STOIC]L’aira@psducki:Representative L’aira of Vulcan arrives shortly
[11:04][Local]Felenn@photi:“Captain L’aira, I presume?”, he looks to the Vulcan
[11:05][Local]L’aira@psducki:"Yes, that is me.
[11:06][Local]Felenn@photi:“Peace and long life.”, he says without the usual hand gesture. "My apologies, the gesture remains complex to perform.
[11:06]Felenn@photi bows to L’aira
[11:07][Local]L’aira@psducki:"It can be hard for non-Vulcans, yes.
[11:08][Local]Felenn@photi:"I am Jarris Felenn, representative of our Coridan hosts. We are grateful of your arrival here.
[11:10][Local]L’aira@psducki:"And I am grateful to be here.
[11:11]Felenn@photi gestures towards the exit. "I heard that Centaurian delegation ran into some propulsion issues but they should be here as well. Meanwhile, I suppose I can brief on the current situation.
[11:12]L’aira@psducki nods to Felenn
[11:12]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 walks off the transporter pad with a slow, heavy step, looking at the tall Coridan buildings while she straightens her tunic and representative’s sash
[11:12][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:Sorry for being late, Representative L’aira, Ambassador Felenn. These old Republic ships need a lot of work to keep them moving
[11:13][Local]Felenn@photi:“Ah… Representative Reyes. We were just mentioning you. No need to apologise. The circumstances are dire across the quadrant. I was just going to brief Captain L’aira on the current situation.”
[11:15]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 nods slowly, looking between the two official with a tired, but sharp focu
[11:16][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:Th
[11:17][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:The Centaurian Republic is here to support any way we ca
[11:21][STOIC]Felenn@photi😐FX| As Felenn walks the representatives to the rendezvous point, he explains a bit of architectural history on certain Coridan buildings along their promenade. While Rigelian himself, he had lived+
[11:22][STOIC]Felenn@photi:Coridan for the past two (Human) decades with his Coridanite wife and children
[11:23][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:You have a beautiful home here, Ambassador. The Republic understands the value of a place worth protecting..
[11:24]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 walks slightly behind the Vulcan, keeping her eyes on the surrounding buildings as she listens to Felen
[11:24]L’aira@psducki listens to Felenn as well
[11:25][Local]Felenn@photi:“Your species have learned that a very hard way, Representatives Reyes.”, he nods respectfully. "Humanity’s own experience and Vulcans’ logic will, hopefully, prevail. The skirmishes between+
[11:26][Local]Felenn@photi:Tellarites and my people are becoming increasingly violent. There have been casualites as of late.
[11:26]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 slows her pace slightly. What humanity had been through was now well known by many, increasingly so, and Nina knew this could be of some use in diplomatic situations, should the Vulcans/Andorian
[11:27]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 | … allow her to assist as she was actually here to d
[11:28][Local]L’aira@psducki:"And those skirmishes are exactly what we are here to stop, yes?
[11:28][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:I am pleased you speak of your people Ambassador. While your history is impressive, and your city, I do think hearing the people’s views as paramount to understanding such conflicts. I can understan
[11:28][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:.. myself why they might grow concerned at the violence
[11:29][Local]Felenn@photi:"Stop and revert them to some kind of cease fire. I doubt the trade will continue as before. Before we meet the delegates, I wondered if you’d like to review all the gathered data in some quiet.
[11:30][Local]L’aira@psducki:"Yes, that would be a good idea.
[11:31]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 waited for the vulcan to speak first, as was their expectation in all things. But when she did reply, she thought to press the Ambassador a little..
[11:32][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:Yes, that would be most helpful. Especially since the Tellarites are so strongly disuputing the data, we need to be certain of every detail captured by your government before the formal meeting
[11:33]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 doesn’t look to L’aira, but she suspects the Vulcan may be doing their characteristic restrained eye roll around about now. In truth, she’d not worked directly with Representative L’aira before
[11:33]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 | .. so she did not exactly know the Vulcan’s… habits
[11:33][Local]Felenn@photi:"The Coridan investigators have compiled several reports which you may access from that console on the right side, along with the map of the area where the incidents have occurred.
[11:34]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 moves toward the console in the area set up for them to examine the data
[11:35]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 ’s eyes begin scanning the data with a focus that might indicate someone used to finding hidden truths
[11:36][Local]Felenn@photi:"I will leave you to the work. It would be considered favouring by the Tellarite delegation if I remain and this is something I wish to avoid.
[11:36]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 nodded at the Ambassador, glad his eyes wouldn’t remain fixed upon he
[11:36][Local]Felenn@photi:"Should you require refreshments, call for a service from that console at the end wall.
[11:36][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:Thank you Ambassador, until we talk again later
[11:37][STOIC]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:As the Ambassador moved away, Nina spoke softly as she knew L’aira would hear perfectly fine. "If the Tellarites claim this is a fraud, and were attacked unprovoked, we should check for an
[11:38][STOIC]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128😐 … signal masking or manipulation in the data captured by the Rigel authorities, yes?
[11:38][STOIC]Felenn@photi😐FX| The console is lit up already, with map on the wall, and listing of various documents that were submitted
[11:39]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 reads from their PADD
[11:40]L’aira@psducki looks through the documents, looking for anything that might help solve the conflict
[11:41]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 taps the other terminal, scrolling through the list of provided files to see exactly what the delegation have to work with
[11:43][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:Let us see what we have here. These look like hull analysis reports from the initial Rigelian mining convoy and sensor logs from both skirmish events. But, yes, there’s more. Data from both side
[11:43][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:And even interviews with third parties. Some of which… might not be reliable accounts, but are included
[11:43][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:It seems the Coridan Authorities are keen to do as much as they can to bring this dispute to an en
[11:44][STOIC]Felenn@photi😐FX| Database seems rich: Protest letters from Rigel and Tellar, individual investigations of skirmish sites by Coridan Navy, notes on rumors, and so on.
[11:45][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128😃o you… have a preferred place to begin Representative L’aira? I know where I’d begi
[11:46][Local]L’aira@psducki:"Where would that be?
[11:46][STOIC]Felenn@photi😐FX| If they begin chronologically, it would begin with the initial skirmish which Tellar Government disputes. Subsequent investigation of ship debris by Coridan authorities indeed confirm+
[11:46][STOIC]Felenn@photi:Tellarite particle weapons, though there seem to be some addendums from only few days ago
[11:47][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:Well… in a dispute like this, the official reports from both sides are going to be too sterile. Prepared, refined, produced… I want to see what people on both sides are whispering about
[11:47][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128😛eople who may have inadvertently caught wind of half the real truth and not realise it
[11:48][Local]L’aira@psducki:"That is a good idea.
[11:48]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 begins to filter the data to show the informal logs and notes. Focusing on those from freelance and contract merchants who interacted with crew on both sides of the disputes
[11:50][STOIC]Felenn@photi😐As Reyes filters the data and begins reading (or analyzing via computer), all merchants agree that the skirmishes appeared all too sudden. There was no indications from either major power that+
[11:51][STOIC]Felenn@photi:anything was boiling in economic relations between Tellar, Rigel and Coridan. There was political friction as each side wanted to gain greater boons for their peoples, but nothing out of ordinary.+
[11:53][STOIC]Felenn@photi:Even Tellarite “squabbling stance” was well within their culture. Trade was in fact increasing. Some merchants, however, have reported appearance of Tellarite ships stalking on Rigelians, but+
[11:53][STOIC]Felenn@photi:merchant ship sensors will only tell you so much.|
[11:54]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 narrows her eyes as she scans the sensor logs, notes and interviews
[11:54][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:It doesn’t quite make sense. If trade was increasing, and relations within ‘norms’, the Tellarites had no reason to risk it all with an unprovoked attack
[11:55][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:These merchantn sensors are weak, even by Republic standards… but they do show that the Tellarite ships were in the area, but they can’t be clear whether those ships were purposefully intending t
[11:56][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:attack the rigelian convo
[11:57][Local]L’aira@psducki:"I agree…that would be quite illogical.
[11:59][STOIC]Felenn@photi😐The reports from Tellarite Navy vessels indicate that they would occasionally intercept Rigelian merchant convoys or individual ships to perform inspection before Rigelian ships would enter+
[11:59][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:If we want to understand why a Pralim cruiser was even within weapons range of a civilian mining convoy, we should examine their official protest and flight logs
[12:00][STOIC]Felenn@photi:Tellar Union space, and Rigelians did the same, as if it were a mutual agreement. What does stand out in Tellarite reports is that inspections were done by vessels which were classes of escorts or+
[12:01][STOIC]Felenn@photi:smaller cruisers and not more capital ships like Pralim class. This fact served as a basis of a protest from Tellarite side.|

[12:06]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 looked at the data for a while, not speaking. She was not a military tactician, but she could see that it was out of the ordinary for a capital ship to engage in such ‘inspection’. Something consi
[12:07]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 | .. consistent for both sides in the dispute. And yet…. "L’aira, look at the ship classes here. Stndard inspections are handled routinely by lower class vessels, and yet the Rigelians allege
[12:08][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:.. capital ship was specifically used against their conveoy
[12:09][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:Either there was a massive and sudden change in Tellarite policy or that ship involved wasn’t there…. or..
[12:09]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 felt uncertain about saying what else she thought aloud
[12:10][Local]L’aira@psducki:"Wasting a capital ship on something like that…how illogical.
[12:11][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:But why would the Rigellians claim it so, if it wasn’t true? It’s so outlandish
[12:11][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:My current theory is that we simply have an unknown element not shown in the data to hand. If the ship was indeed a Pralim cruiser, then it either acted outside routine orders, and it’s being covere
[12:12][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:up… or it wasn’t there, and someone is making it look like the Tellarites initiates this, and were careless in doing so by using a capital ship
[12:12][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:.. or by faking it’s readings for Rigellian sensor systems
[12:13]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 goes to call up the weapons signature data which Felenn had spoken of… to check how truly ‘unequivical’ it wa
[12:13][STOIC]Felenn@photi😐Tellarite Civilian Shipwright Authority has delivered logs to Coridan investigators on presence of Pralim ships. Two capital ships were on patrol near Coridan space in time range of initial skirmish
[12:14][STOIC]Felenn@photi😮ne Pralim was on the far side, the other was about five light years away from the location of the incident.|
[12:15][STOIC]Felenn@photi😐At Reyes request, the computer system offers three document bundles about the weapons signature - initial sensor logs of the Rigelian convoy, Tellarite comparative analysis of those sensor readings+
[12:16][STOIC]Felenn@photi:standard Pralim signature output and reports from independent Coridan military experts.
[12:18][STOIC]Felenn@photi😐On general level, Rigelian sensors and Tellarite comparative analysis do indicate Pralim weapons involvement, at least by intensity of weapons residual traces on the hull, decay of those traces and+
[12:19][STOIC]Felenn@photi:so forth. Spectroscopy is a b!tch and will recognise fingerprints as they are. Reyes would notice that some Coridan reports, however, have several addendums to this generally agreed picture.
[12:20]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 seemed unsatisfied that the host of reports generally agreed with the view that Tellarite weapons signatures were found. However, she was curious about the addendums made by the Coridan investigat
[12:21]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 | -ors, and accessed these additional files
[12:23][STOIC]Felenn@photi😐Coridan Addendums agree that weapons which fired upon Rigelians were particle weapons consistent with Tellarite technology, but they went a bit further. Coridan military experts compared hulls of+
[12:24][STOIC]Felenn@photi:all the convoy vessels between themselves, not just to a Tellarite and Rigelian official references. What they found was that, while particle traces were generally the same, it seemed as if weapon+
[12:25][STOIC]Felenn@photi:modulation changed. Each convoy ship hull had a slightly different energy signature. As if particle weapon which assualted them was unstable between the shots delivered.
[12:25][Local]L’aira@psducki:“Hmmm…an unstable particle weapon?”
[12:26]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 had just been reading the addendum when L’aira had spoken aloud the relevant conclusion. "hmm, well how about that
[12:27][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:A Pralim-class cruiser strikes me as a masterpiece of Tellarite military engineering. Their weapons would surely not be so unstable
[12:27][STOIC]Felenn@photi😐Instability could have been caused from a number of things, but given Tellarite precision engineering, rivaled by that of Vulcans, it would like someone was rather sloppy with production of those+
[12:27][STOIC]Felenn@photi:specific weapons.
[12:28][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:Could this support reasonable doubt over whether the ship class was even used? Does it suggests an effort to .. mimic their signature data
[12:30]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 taps the console, highlighting the sections of the addendu
[12:31][STOIC]Felenn@photi😐Words and sentences like “modulation change”, “modification”, and “compared beyond known references” are highlighted in this particular document set.
[12:32]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 still didn’t seem pleased, "Why wasn’t this conclusion given more weight, instead of being hidden away like this?
[12:32][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128😛erhaps the Ambassador could help shine a light on it
[12:33][Local]L’aira@psducki:"Mayhap the person that hid it wanted it to stay hidden…like they were responsible?
[12:34][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:But before we do, let me quickly check whether the second skirmish has the same modulation abnormalities to it, or if those signatures, for both sides resulting in those destroyed ships are entirel
[12:34][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:consistent..
[12:34][Local]L’aira@psducki:“That is a good idea.”
[12:37][STOIC]Felenn@photi😐The investigation of the third, and so far the bloodiest, incident is still underway and there is no a lot of data gathered thus far, especially in light of the event and increased+
[12:39][STOIC]Felenn@photi:political friction on both sides. Tellar and Rigel both accuse one another of “opening fire” first in this latest incident. The area is under lockdown as both parties barely agreed that Coridan leads
[12:40][STOIC]Felenn@photi:the main portion of the investigation this time. The agreement was, interestingly enough, reached through Felenn as he nudged Rigelians to put more trust into their Coridan trade partners.
[12:41][STOIC]Felenn@photi😐Initial reports claim that standard weaponry was used but ship-to-ship analysis has not been conducted yet.|
[12:43]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 straightens from the terminal, rubbing her chin as she looks at the incomplete data from the most recent and bloodiest encounte
[12:43][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:These logs are inconclusive at best, but the pattern of … friction is unmistakable, don’t you think L’air
[12:44][Local]L’aira@psducki:"Yes.
[12:44][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:If this keeps up, Coridan will be forced to pick a side I think, and right now.. all the “evidence” is pushing them straight into the arms of the Rigelians. Look how those addendums were practicall
[12:44][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:Hidden away
[12:44][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:I have to wonder who actually gains from this
[12:45][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:If Tellar and Rigel bleed each other dry and Coridan is made choose a side, it destabilises the entire sector, but in who’s favour
[12:46][Local]L’aira@psducki:“Likely whoever Coridan chooses…”
[12:46][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:I don’t think we can be conclusive about anything, but perhaps we should shine a light on there being enough ambiguity to suggest … someone could be working hard to make sure things look maligned t
[12:46][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:the Tellarite
[12:47][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:And… who will guide who Coridan chooses…. Already, the Coridan authorities have been thrust centre in the latest investigations due to the support of the Rigellians
[12:47][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:Brokered by the Ambassador..
[12:49][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:I think the Ambassador’s … answers could be interesting for all thi
[12:50][Local]L’aira@psducki:"I agree.
[12:50]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 catches the attention of an aid who had been standing at the door, and she signalled for them to summon the Ambassador
[12:52][STOIC]Felenn@photi😐A few minutes later, visibly disturbed Jarris Felenn enters the office and greets the representatives with quiet nod.
[12:52][Local]Felenn@photi:"Forgive me, but we just finished another… impolite session of mediation between Tellarite and Rigelian representatives from their respective Ministries of Commerce and Defence.
[12:53][Local]Felenn@photi:"Humans use to say that a fresh pair of eyes makes finding a solution easier.
[12:54]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 keeps her expression professional and composed, and her tone is conversational. "A difficult and trying time for all sides. Clearly there is a shared sense of senselessness to the ongoing dispute.
[12:54][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:Yes, we still do say that Ambassador
[12:55]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 turns back to the console to call up data on the larger screen. "I was hoping you might clarify certain questions for us, should you be willing
[12:55][Local]Felenn@photi:"If it gets us a step closer to solution, then yes… Yes I am.
[12:55][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:We have been reviewing the naval deployment logs. It seems highly out of the ordinary for a Pralim class capital ship to be used for a routine merchant inspection at the best of times
[12:56][Local]Felenn@photi:"Yes, that is the main proposition from Tellar Government.
[12:56][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:Even the tellarites seem.. baffled by the allegations of that class being used, and of course their data indicates that neither one of the two deployed capital ships in the area were presen
[12:57][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:Tell us, what do the Rigellians think about this… ambiguity
[12:59]Felenn@photi clasps his hands behind his back and sighs. “How to say this without sounding biased…”, he pauses. "Rigelian hardliners think that Tellarites wanted to play power games and demonstrate+
[1:00][Local]Felenn@photi:++that power rather vividly. The more reasonable members of legislation believe that Tellarite government begins to lose their grip over their military and the first incident was, in fact, an act of+
[1:01][Local]Felenn@photi:dissidents. It is this belief that has, thus far, prevented the Rigelian legislation to declare war on Tellarites."
[1:03][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:That seems a bit of a reach for the legislature, Ambassador. Given the stable relations both powers have shared via Coridan’s economic partnership for years, it is difficult to see what
[1:03][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:.. the Tellarites have to gain by starting a war with the Rigellians only to immediately feign their innocence of such actions. It would be .. uncharacteristic as my Vulcan colleagues might describe
[1:03][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:i
[1:04][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:Tellar is not a culture known for being… hesitant about a fight. If they intended to strike, they would usually be quite loud about their reasons, one might imagine
[1:04][Local]Felenn@photi:"Rather braggy about poking you with a stick before actually poking you.
[1:05]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 pauses for a moment, her gaze drifting back to the console calling up the weapon modulation conclusions. "And this… there seems to be a level of ambiguity discovered by independent reviewers..
[1:05][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:… though these conclusions have been deprioritized in the overall findings. Do you know much about them?
[1:07][Local]Felenn@photi:“I do.”, he states without a hesitation. "I was the one who financed the independent reviewers, Representative Reyes. Like you, I refused to believe that Tellarites would drop a proverbial duranium+
[1:07][Local]Felenn@photi:brick on their own feet.
[1:08]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 nods, again professional respect softening her gaz
[1:08][Local]L’aira@psducki:"And why would they? It makes no sense.
[1:09][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:Then you’re familiar with the addendums and the conclusions that the weapon signatures are hardly concrete when it comes to the preceision we might expect from Tellarite engineering. It suggests
[1:10][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:.. a deliberate imitation..
[1:10][Local]Felenn@photi:“I was made aware of discrepancies in weapon signatures, but deliberate imitation did not cross my mind.”, he admits
[1:10][Local]L’aira@psducki:"Precisely.
[1:11][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:Has the Rigellian leadership acknowledges that there is enough uncertainty in the findings you.. funded, to warrant consideration of a suspension of hostilities while further investigations are done
[1:11]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 raises an eyebrow, but lowers it. She was spending far too much time around Vulcan
[1:12][Local]Felenn@photi:"It is not that simple, Representatives. While Rigellian negotiators are aware of the addendums, they are limited from… legal point of view. If a state agency, say state military experts in this+
[1:13][Local]Felenn@photi:case, say “weapons are Tellarite”, then our negotiators must take that statement as obligatory.
[1:14]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 sighs, a flicker of frustration crossing her face at the mention of such red tape and bureaucratic interpretation of data. She’d thought it was isolated to the Human-Vulcan relationship, but appar
[1:14][Local]Felenn@photi:"They are obligated to follow reports from military as if it were rule of law.
[1:14]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 .. apparently not
[1:15][Local]Felenn@photi:"But… what is your thought on deliberate imitation?
[1:15][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:The negotiators are bound by their own state experts even if the data is indicating potentially flawed conclusions. hmm, A political stalement disguised as a legal one.
[1:16][Local]Felenn@photi:"Concisely put, yes.
[1:16]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 taps the console, showing the modulation data. "Think about it. The signatures are Tellarite, but on deeper inspection they couldn’t be from a Pralim class. Two such ships were deployed
[1:17][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:… one is now destroyed. Once that data is in, it will show whether there is any variation in the modulation. If the surviving ship’s weapons systems might be assessed directly too, we coul
[1:18][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:.. eliminate any doubt on whether the weaponms fire originated from either ship
[1:18][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128😮ne of them surely HAS to match the data
[1:18][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:… or not
[1:19][Local]Felenn@photi:"If those are your suggestions, then there is only one way - head for the location of the most recent incident.
[1:20][Local]L’aira@psducki:“Good idea.”
[1:20][Local]Nina Reyes@ⲛⲩⲛⲓⲕ#4128:The Republic would certainly be willing
[1:20][Local]Nina Reyes@ⲛⲩⲛⲓⲕ#4128:But Ambassador, if Coridan called for a ceasefire until the weapon systems are directly verified, both sides might actually listen.
[1:22][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:Rigel and Tellar are both economically reliant on Coridan’s trade. If the buyer demands a pause to ensure they aren’t funding a framed conflict, it carries more weight than any legal argument
[1:23][Local]Felenn@photi:"Somehow, Coridan seems to be at the centre of all this.
[1:23]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 studies the expression on the Rigellian’s face closely. She was a good reader of people, but admitedly, these were mostly human, and the ocassional Vulcan or Andorian
[1:23][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:Not to mention… you too Ambassado
[1:24][Local]Felenn@photi:“Me?!”, he raises his eyebrows as his eyes widen, but he keeps the usual stern face of Jelna Rigelian
[1:27]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 doesn’t look away, holding Felenn’s gaze. "That is not an accusation… it is <she looks to her Vulcan colleague> and observation
[1:28][Local]L’aira@psducki:"Precisely. I do not mean to accuse, just observe.
[1:28][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:If Coridan is the centre of the conflict, then you will naturally be put under the spotlight. You hold much influence in how the next steps will play out, and we… I urge you to bring this matter
[1:29][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:.. before the negotiators, and impress upon them that Coridan will suspend all trading with both unless they agree to an immediate ceasefire while these anomalies are confirmed. That the Tellarite
[1:29][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:are to make available their surviving Pralim battlecruiser in the sector for a joint-inspectio
[1:30][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:And perhaps that could occur at the scene of the latest incident also, so we can determine on-site, the signature of the destroyed sister ship to
[1:30][Local]Felenn@photi:"I will not hide I am afraid of war between my people and Tellarites. And finding Coridan, the home of my wife and our children, caught in between.
[1:31][Local]Felenn@photi:"Convincing them to cease fire in light of what you discovered as invited mediators was what I needed. The inspection of Tellarite sistership, however, might be a bit more difficult.
[1:32][Local]Felenn@photi:"But I suggest we head for the inspection site as soon as possible.
[1:32][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128😛erhaps position it to the Tellarite delegation as them potentially losing a fight with whoever may be framing them. It could get them to engage positively in supporting the effort
[1:33]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 nodded her head, pleased the Ambassador seemed to be onboard with the idea… even if she wasn’t entirely convinced of his… motives
[1:33][Local]Felenn@photi:“I will pass on your suggestion to Coridan mediators.”

nynik

Some time later…

Diplomatic Meeting Rooms, Government Complex, Coridan

Janet Crawford: dips her head as she enters. “Ambassador. Colonel Janet Crawford.” Hands purse behind her back in a standard military at-ease pose.
Nina Reyes: steps away from the console, straightening her posture as the MACO officer makes her entrance. She offers a polite, respectful nod. +
Nina Reyes: Colonel Crawford. I am Representative Reyes, not the Ambassador. They couldn’t attend on short notice, so I was drafted in. It is good to have you here.
Nina Reyes: The security situation in this sector has proven far more complex than anticipated.
Sahla: steps in soon after the MACO officer, taking a moment to look around the room, her posture, while still formal, appears at least relaxed enough to not tense up.
Janet Crawford: “Hence my presence, I imagine.” She nodded.
Nina Reyes: notices the entryway is occupied by a soldier of the Andorian delegation. “Welcome also…” Reyes seems to await a name from the arriving Andorian
Sahla: starts up, “Representatiiiiiive!” The Andorian says, as though greeting an old friend, then she adopts a far more neutral tone. “The representative sends their regards.”
Janet Crawford: gave a glance to her left, sizing the Andorian up.
Nina Reyes: offers a polite, receptive nod to the Andorian
Sahla: the andorian is, of course, armed, with both pistol and rifle, she glances at her MACO counterpart briefly, then back to the representative.
Sahla: “Commander Sahla sh’Telok.”
Nina Reyes: It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Representative Nina Reyes. I assume you are the lead for the Imperial Guard’s attachment to the delegation?
Nina Reyes: Your timing is helpful Commander. At the request of both the Vulcan and Andorian principal diplomats I have been following up on our findings over the last few days.
Sahla: “I am, you come to me if they cause you a problem.”
Nina Reyes: And I would like to bring you both up to speed on matters, as the situation is quickly evolving.
Janet Crawford: offered Reyes a nod.
Sahla: “Aaah.. The vulcans… Notably absent I see. Probably listening in anyone I would suppose.”
Sahla: anyway*))
Nina Reyes: doesn’t say anything but her expression is somewhat less… stonefaced at the remark.
Nina Reyes: nods towards the main display nearby, adjusting it to show data for both the Colonel and the Commander to see.
Janet Crawford: remained silent as well, not feeling a mention of P’Jem to be situation-appropriate.
Nina Reyes: You have both been asked here for one purpose. The Coridan mediators and the delegations have reached a stalemate that only a direct, tactical investigation can break.
Nina Reyes: Representative L’aira (Vulcan: T’ylla) and I have identified a pattern of deliberate imitation in the weapon signatures in the available data; well hidden mind you.
Nina Reyes: Though she has fallen short of classifying it strictly as such, I feel the evidence is already clear.
Janet Crawford: (brb)
Nina Reyes: There has been an attempt to pit the Tellarites against the Rigelians, and in doing so I believe there’s been an effort to show Tellar is behind the unprovked attacks.
Nina Reyes: However, the formal evidence is entirely uncharacteristic of Tellarite precision engineering when it comes to the weapons fire. Perhaps giving enough reason to get both sides to agree a ceasefire
Nina Reyes: Ambassador Felenn, of Coridan, though Rigelian himself, is currently broaching the ceasefire with both sides, and with the Vulcan and Andorian delegations naturally.
Nina Reyes: Leaving us… with some… space… to talk frankly about next steps.
Sahla: “Well i’ll certainly say it’s unlike them, they don’t pick fights, they pick arguments, picking fights is what we do.”
Nina Reyes: I agree… uh.. well, I mean, when they do pick fights, they usually stick with them. Here, they are claiming innocence. It’s again unusual.
Nina Reyes: Ambassador Felenn is the reason we have this contradictory data analysis on the weapons fire patterns; he commissioned independent assessors. But we’re not going to truly know what happened unless we+
Nina Reyes: visit the incident site and inspect both the remains directly… AND… the surviving Pralim cruiser in the sector
Janet Crawford: crossed her arms. “If they claim ignorance, i’d be inclined to believe them, as it’s an atypical claim for a Tellarite to make indeed.” She nodded. "Then, we will need to look at the debris for->
Janet Crawford: |> sure. Secondhand information can only get us so far. Is there a pattern to these attacks? Locations in common?"
Nina Reyes: reads from their PADD.
Nina Reyes: taps the console, bringing up the map of the sector where the three incidents occurred.
Nina Reyes: There is a clear pattern. The attacks are focused on Rigelian mining convoys within Coridan space +
Nina Reyes: My proposal for a tactical inspection is simple. We need to jump to the latest site before the debris field is contaminated or cleared by “state experts” on either side. +
Nina Reyes: We will also board the surviving Pralim as well so we can inspect it for the same weapons signature variance. If that signature is missing, which we believe it should be, then we know for certain
Nina Reyes: the data was faked.
Nina Reyes: At least that’s the theory. And I’m not sure we’ll get full support from our Vulcan… colleagues
Nina Reyes: Until the evidence is plain to see
Janet Crawford: “Perhaps.” She nodded. “All the more reason to find it.”
Nina Reyes: turns specifically to the Colonel, pauses, and says openly +
Nina Reyes: Colonel, I don’t need to explain how important it is for Centauri to do what it can in this situation. We need to show our Vulcan and Andorian allies <she glances to Sahla> +
Nina Reyes: that we are contributors to solving galactic problems. That’s why we need someone with your expertise on that team.
Nina Reyes: shifts her focus to the Andorian, “I also acknowledge the Guard’s reputation for direct action Commander. Your people know this sector and the Tellarites better than anyone, even the Vulcans.”
Janet Crawford: nodded. “We may have lost Earth, but we’re far from out of the equation. We’ll see it done.”
Sahla: "We’ll try to be nice pinkskins, though I wouldn’t count on the vulcan’s help. But anyway, it might not hurt to inspect the damage itself, it might not prove anything but it might be more evidence <C>
Nina Reyes: We need to know if we are looking at Tellarite incompetence, some rogue element, or a very calculated piece of theatre designed to start a war.
Sahla: “…Someone is trying to start a fight where there doesn’t need to be.”
Nina Reyes: offers the Colonel a brief, firm nod, a flicker of understanding passing between them at the mention of Earth.
Sahla: “Tellarite incompetence, I doubt it. And truthfully, if they were the ones to get a fight started, they’d admit it.”
Nina Reyes: If the Tellarites are being framed, they are being framed by someone who knows how to manipulate the local political landscape. We’re only just getting back on our feet but this could be +
Nina Reyes: a real chance for humans to play our part.
Nina Reyes: Commander, could the Imperial guard help us identify who actually stands to gain if the Rigelians and Tellarites tear each other apart?
Sahla: “Oh certainly, if I know tellarites, they’re stubborn and prideful, like us.”
Janet Crawford: “But slightly less attractive. That’s beside the point though.” A soft smirk.
Nina Reyes: Colonel, I need to know what kind of team you can have ready for this. We will be conducting a high-stakes forensic extraction at the incident site, and the security of the investigators could be
Nina Reyes: challenged.
Janet Crawford: "Lieutenant Fia Giorno for one. She’s the former security chief for Epsilon Haridi Site Two. She’s investigated murders. Between her and my combat engineer, Eve Ikambi… They’ll handle the initial >
Nina Reyes: was calling up the personnel service records on her PADD as the Colonel set out their team
Janet Crawford: |> scene, gathering all the data we need. I’ll then have it reported to the science team on the Artemis, who are some of the best Alpha Centauri has to offer. NX-09 is more than capable of handling|>
Janet Crawford: |> the job."
Nina Reyes: reads from their PADD.
Nina Reyes: Epsilon Haridi… yes, that was a tough situation. If Giorno can maintain a chain of custody under those conditions, she is exactly who we need for a forensic sweep of this sensitivity.
Nina Reyes: The Artemis and NX-09 provide a solid foundation, but we must be careful not to overplay our hand with the ship deployments
Nina Reyes: The Vulcans are particularly wary of bringing more vessels into the sector during an active crisis.
Nina Reyes: Though I think there are grounds for us to push for Centauri ships as a go-between solution
Nina Reyes: I’m unsure of the Andorian position on this, Commander?
Nina Reyes: The Vulcans see a heavy fleet presence by the neutral parties, ourselves, as being a prelude to escalation rather than solution.. at least that’s what I think they meant when talking around the point
Nina Reyes: But I should be able to make the case with L’aira
Janet Crawford: “It is already in the sector, as I arrived on it yesterday.” A smirk. “I would permit an Andorian liaison team aboard Artemis.”
Nina Reyes: turned to the Commander, eager to hear what they might be able to clarify regarding Andorian fleet presence attached to the mission
Nina Reyes: watches the colonel’s smirk with a faint, appreciative curve of her own lips
Sahla: “I wouldn’t bring the full guard detail, after all, someone needs to keep the delegates safe. That said, I think we’ve proven we have something of a nose for duplicity, this should be no different.”
Nina Reyes: Commander, how would you feel about that arrangement? If we are to board a Pralim-class cruiser, having your tactical specialists +
Nina Reyes: …. standing shoulder-to-shoulder with our MACOs would send a very specific message to the Tellarites!
Janet Crawford: “…And to anyone else involved.”
Nina Reyes: An andorian team on a centauri ship would certainly complicate any Vulcan claims of unilateral escalation by “the humans”. <Nina grins>
Sahla: “Well, when you put it like that, now I have to get involved. Besides, why wouldn’t our supposed interlopers also do the same between the two of us?”
Sahla: “At least this way we can watch someone try to make it happen.”
Nina Reyes: This is exactly the message we need to send. If this is a third party pulling strings, they are counting on us all staying in our respective corners, bickering over protocol while they light +
Nina Reyes: .. the fuse
Janet Crawford: nodded, smirking. “And if the goal is to turn us against each other, we will only unite.”
Nina Reyes: I am uneasy about the potential for a frame-up of the Tellarites as much as others plainly think it is just their doing. Someone knows a lot about imitating their weapons systems, and creating sensor+
Nina Reyes: … logs which ‘show’ their ships attacking civilian vessels.
Nina Reyes: Precisely Colonel. Those who think we are a spent force because of Earth’s fate have miscalculated.
Janet Crawford: “Gravely.”
Nina Reyes: If it is revealed that a third party is acting here, then a unified front will certainly go against their wishes. We may struggle to get the Rigelians and the Tellarites on side until we do confirm
Nina Reyes: more is at play possibly.
Janet Crawford: nodded.
Nina Reyes: checks the console for the time, “The investigator team is about to depart for the coordinates. We need to get ready to escort them.”
Janet Crawford: “I’ll return to Artemis and make the arrangements.”
Nina Reyes: And to be clear. I am not sitting this one out. I will be joining the investigators, and I imagine Ambassador Felenn and even Representative L’aira may as well.
Sahla: “It might be a good idea to invite a handful of the Rigelians and Tellarites if we can, or at least those who are more skeptical about their government’s official narrative.”
Janet Crawford: “I’ll have the first officer’s quarters on Artemis made ready for you if you’d like, Ms. Reyes.”
Nina Reyes: Thank you, Colonel. I will look for your signal once the Artemis is in position.
Nina Reyes: turns to Sahla. “That is a good idea, Commander. If we can find even a few open minds within their ranks to witness this firsthand, it could be exactly what we need. Or it could backfire terribly”
Sahla: “That would be more in the area of your and my own charge’s expertise I believe, representative?”
Sahla: “As I said, skeptics.”
Nina Reyes: You are right, of course. Navigating those egos is precisely what they pay me for.
Nina Reyes: I’ll see which of the two the Andorian Representative wishes to tackle, and I’ll take the other.
Sahla: “And I doubt skeptics will be open about the fact they are skeptics in light of this.”
Nina Reyes: ’s communicator chimes… a signal from Ambassador Felenn. She checks the display. “That is my cue. The Ambassador is requesting my presence in the main discussion.”
Nina Reyes: Colonel, you have your orders; I expect you will exercise them with haste.
Nina Reyes: Commander Sahla, while I cannot command the Imperial Guard, I hope you see the wisdom in our joint venture.
Nina Reyes: I look forward to seeing your specialists alongside our MACOs
Janet Crawford: looked to the Commander. “How many rooms shall i prepare on Artemis?”
Sahla: “Between eight and fourteen, depending on how secure the delegates here are.”
Nina Reyes: offers a final conspiratorial glance between the two soldiers. <low voice> “One last thing…” ++
Janet Crawford: “…That would prove some significant rearrangement. Best i can do is four. If you want your eight officers to double up… they are welcome to.”
Sahla: “Four it is then.”
Nina Reyes: … within the confines of your duties, it’s best we don’t broadcast the specifics of this “joint venture” too much with our Vulcan colleagues just yet. +
Nina Reyes: … they have a habit of sticking a spoke in the wheel when things aren’t done by their particular book. Leave representative L’aira to me. She seems to be more.. open-minded than her fellow Vulc
Nina Reyes: Vulcans
Janet Crawford: nodded. “Of course, as you wish.”
Nina Reyes: It might have been indirectly solved with the transporter’s increasing use (bio-filtering etc)
Sahla: “I don’t like keeping a secret representative, but very well, assuming they’re not listening in already.”
Nina Reyes: I will ensure they receive the complete facts Commander… but perhaps not until the Artemis is well on its way
Sahla: “Ah but of course.”
Nina Reyes: gives a final, sharp nod of dismissal to the Colonel, then offers a respectful, more open gesture of acknowledgement to Sahla before turning toward the exit.
Sahla:"Well, if that’s all, I have some people to round up.
Janet Crawford: smirked at Sahla. "I will see you aboard Artemis, then?
Sahla:"You will, I hope your rations are better than ours if this stretches to a few days… Mm, maybe we’ll pack a few just in case, we can see who has it worse.
Janet Crawford:“Then i’ll look forward to some ration exchanges. Never had Andorian MREs. Can’t wait.” She turned to head out.

darthhorvath

Star Trek Online: Myriad Universes - To Lose the Earth Part 2

Arrival

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[10:42][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<STO-MU-Intro> Last time on Myriad Universes, representatives from Republic of Alpha Centauri and Confederacy of Vulcan arrived on Coridan to mediate in ongoing diplomatic tensions between Tellarites
[10:43][STOIC]Zeev@photi:+and Rigelians on the matter of skirmish between the two. A diplomatic mediation turned into a third-party investigation after Representatives Reyes and L’Aira discovered implications that someone
[10:44][STOIC]Zeev@photi:+other than conflicted parties is involved into furthering the tensions. Now, through contacts of Coridan Ambassador Felenn, Humans of Alpha Centauri, and their Vulcan and Andorian allies are on site
[10:45][STOIC]Zeev@photi:of the latest skirmish between Rigelians and Tellarites which led to considerable loss of life
[10:47][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<Present time> An NX-class USS Artemis of Republic of Alpha Centauri, carrying Reyes, her MACO escorts and Andorian representatives, and with Vulcans in tow have reached the skirmish site.+
[10:48][STOIC]Zeev@photi:++One Tellarite Pralim cruiser and four Rigelian escorts mutually wrecked themselves, or so it seems. The site is safeguarded by quickly assembled Coridan flotilla. While outgunned, Coridanites+
[10:49][STOIC]Zeev@photi:take a risk of playing on the card of good relations with two conflicted sides, hoping that no one will dare to tamper with the site or fire upon it. Further away, another Pralim cruiser awaits in+
[10:50][STOIC]Zeev@photi:silence and on the far side of it, its Rigelian counterpart and two escorts await, as tension mounts.
[10:53][STOIC]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128😐 Nina Reyes, aboard the Artemis can feel the low, familiar hum of the NX-class warp reactor vibrating through the deck plates. She is making her way to its bridge
[10:54][STOIC]Janet Crawford@fenixxx3:in the command chair, Colonel Janet Crawford of Alpha Centauri’s Military Assault Command Operations rubbed at her chin. "Status on the Tellarite vessel, Mr. Beckley?
[10:56][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<Coridan-Alpha> “Artemis, S’kar. This is Coridan Navy. You cleared to approach the skirmish site. Be mindful of Tellarites and Rigelians. There was no comms exchange between them.”
[10:57][STOIC]Janet Crawford@fenixxx3:Crawford nodded, pressing a button on her chair arm to patch herself into the comm. "Thank you, S’kar. How goes the tense silence, so far?
[10:58][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<Beckley> "Colonel, that Tellarite vessel has their systems powered down, weapons and shields cold. The one in skirmish field is beyond repair but… there seem to be some sections still with+
[10:58][STOIC]L’aira@psducki:"Understood, Coridan. The silence is…illogical.
[10:58][STOIC]Zeev@photi:++breathable atmosphere.
[10:59][STOIC]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:Reyes stops before the sealed doors of the main bridge. She takes a brief moment to straighten her tunic before tapping the wall-mounted comm panel. "-C- Reyes requesting permission to enter
[11:01][STOIC]Janet Crawford@fenixxx3:Janet pressed another button to open the bridge door. “Evans… Get Sahla up here.” She nodded to her comms officer.
[11:03][STOIC]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:Reyes nods to Crawford as she enters the bridge. She remains silent as she crosses to the rear bridge vantage point, where she can see the main viewer’s tactical display of the incident sit
[11:04][STOIC]Sahla@datguyyoulik:Eventually the Andorian commander comes up to the bridge. "I would hope that you didn’t call me up here for diplomatic advice, Colonel. What are we looking at?
[11:05][STOIC]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:Reyes acknowledges Sahla’s arrival with a thin smile. "Hardly, Commander. We are looking at a massacre that was meant to be a spark for a much larger fire…. one which could still take hold
[11:06][STOIC]Janet Crawford@fenixxx3:"Debris. As part of the investigation team, i wanted you present before we performed any scans. Jacobson, take us in towards the debris. Approach to minimum safe distance… and do your scanny shit.
[11:06][STOIC]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:Reyes began walking around the bridge, not minding that the question was intended for Crawford, she began to assess some of the console readings for what was on sensors
[11:07][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<FX> The active Pralim vessel emits their equivalent of IFF, identifying itself TSC Alaar. The signal is directed towards the newly arrived third parties in this matter
[11:08][STOIC]L’aira@psducki:"Science team, scan the emitting vessel. I want to know exactly what we’re dealing with.
[11:09][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<Jacobson> "Colonel, there isn’t much to say. It’s what we got from Coridan… one Tellarite vessel and four Rigelian. Seems like they whacked each other up. Ships haven’t been pulverized, but a lot+
[11:09][STOIC]Zeev@photi:of inner volume is exposed to open space on each of the vessels.
[11:09][STOIC]Janet Crawford@fenixxx3:"The breathable pockets… how large?
[11:09][STOIC]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:Reyes points to the active Pralim on the tactical display. "That is the Alaar, Colonel. Commanded by Than bim Zeev. The one we discussed.
[11:10][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<Sci-Vulcan> "Representative L’Aira, the vessel is emitting identification signal. TSC Alaar. Standard configuration for Pralim class.
[11:10][STOIC]L’aira@psducki:"Understood.
[11:11][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<Jacobson> "Deeper inside the hull, breathable enough. And surpisingly stable. Seems like ship parts could be compartmentalised, at least on Tellarite vessel. Like Titanic on old Earth.
[11:12][STOIC]L’aira@psducki:“A sound design.”
[11:12][STOIC]L’aira@psducki:"A sound design.
[11:13][STOIC]Janet Crawford@fenixxx3:"What are our odds of accessing it by shuttlepod? Will we have to risk the transporter?
[11:14][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<Jacobson> "Possible, but it will be like squeezing through a keyhole. Ships emit no energy so even beaming in is possible, if we put our inherent risks aside.
[11:14][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<C-Alaar> sends out a general hail to Artemis and S’Kar. "This is Than bim Zeev, commanding Alaar. I wish to address the representatives.
[11:15][STOIC]L’aira@psducki:"Representative L’aira here.
[11:15][STOIC]Janet Crawford@fenixxx3:“….You think you can fly it?” She smirked. When the comm came onscreen, she remained in her chair, but silent
[11:15][STOIC]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:Reyes thinks of the transporter with unease. "I would prefer the shuttlepod, but it is your call of course Colonel.
[11:16][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<Jacobson> "I’d give a try.
[11:16][STOIC]L’aira@psducki:"I, on the other hand, can use the transporter.
[11:16][STOIC]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"While they’re doing that, I assume you are confident enough in your transporter’s ability to beam up a small piece of debris, looking it over might give us something to do in the meantime.
[11:16][STOIC]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:Moving slowly Reyes assumes a position to the left of the colonel on the bridge, awaiting confirmation of open channel to reply to the Tellarites
[11:17][STOIC]L’aira@psducki:"Affirmative.
[11:17][STOIC]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"Unless of course you want to just go down there now, save time.
[11:17][STOIC]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:"We can’t rely on teleportation of evidence Commander. It’ll need to be assessed on-site, but I’d rather not scramble my molecules getting there and back in the process
[11:18][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<C-Zeev> "Hmph. Representative L’aira. Vulcan Confederacy dropping their pointy ears in this mess, aren’ they? So are your antenna friends and those… what’s their name…? Ah yes, Humans.
[11:18][STOIC]Janet Crawford@fenixxx3:Janet held up a hand. Her annoyed expression made it clear: Operational details would wait until after the call.
[11:20][STOIC]Janet Crawford@fenixxx3:"It is a pleasure to meet you, Captain Zeev. I am Colonel Janet Crawford of Alpha Centauri’s Military Assault Command Operations, and commander of Artemis. This is Representative Nina Reyes, who
[11:22][STOIC]Janet Crawford@fenixxx3😐> speaks for us in diplomatic matters, and Commander Sahla of the Andorian Imperial Guard. We are here because we suspect someone trying to turn us against each other, and we hope that-
[11:22][STOIC]Janet Crawford@fenixxx3😐> us investigating this matter as neutral third parties can lead us all to a more united Quadrant.
[11:25][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<C-Zeev> "Military… diplomatic… united Quadrant. All in the same introduction, by the salty muds of Horgius. Hmph, whatever. I’ll be blunt. I want to prove Tellarites did not cause all this mess.
[11:26][STOIC]Zeev@photi:+In a sign of… sweet muds, I can hardly believe I am saying this… in a sign of GOOD faith… I offered my vessel so that you can compare its systems and weapon signatures with whatever mess there
[11:27][STOIC]Zeev@photi:is here.", he gestures at the screen to no one in particular. “In exchange, I request to board the other Pralim. I am willing to come on my own and unarmed.”
[11:28][STOIC]Janet Crawford@fenixxx3:Janet looked to Reyes, giving a small nod
[11:29][STOIC]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:"A generous offer, Commander, and a necessary one if we are to discover the truth of this tragedy.
[11:30][STOIC]Janet Crawford@fenixxx3:"I will have Shuttlebay One ready to recieve you shortly.
[11:30][STOIC]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:Reyes glances at Crawford, then back to the Tellarite. "But we must ensure the Rigelian delegation views your presence as a gesture of transparency, not a boarding action to obscure the truth
[11:31][STOIC]L’aira@psducki:"Meanwhile, S’kar will keep watch,
[11:32][STOIC]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:"As you are willing to provide ther Alaar’s systems for comparison, we will ensure the Rigelians understand you have indeed made an act of good faith.
[11:32][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<C-Zeev> “Bah, those braid-headed…”, he goes silent then takes a deep breath. "I will board one of my own pods, the Adamant class, arrive on your vessel and then come to damaged Pralim. But as for+
[11:33][STOIC]Zeev@photi:systems comparison, I must insist you arrive here. I am unwilling to send the data over any channel with Rigelians nearby. S’Kar, your position is understood.", he nods to L’aira.
[11:35][STOIC]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:Reyes looks to Crawford, and the comm is temporarily muted."His caution is understandable, Colonel. If we want the raw data, we play by his rules, thoughts?
[11:36][STOIC]Sahla@datguyyoulik:The Andorian Commander paces the bridge, hand rubbing her chin. "The Rigelians might just invite themselves along.
[11:37][STOIC]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:"If they do, we’ll have a powder keg in there. We must secure Zeev’s cooperation first, it’ll be advantageous should the Rigellians make a move either way
[11:38][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<FX> On screen, Zeev impatiently taps his fingers against armrest. He probably realised he has been muted
[11:40][STOIC]Janet Crawford@fenixxx3:"I can take a team over there after we visit the asteroid. I wouldn’t risk anyone but MACO, and he has to understand… we are never unarmed.
[11:42][STOIC]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:Reyes signals for the channel to be unmuted once more. "Commander, our Colonel will lead a specialist team to your vessel afterwards. Their standard practice is to be armed in all cases,
[11:43][STOIC]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:"… which I’m sure a soldier such as yourself can appreciate and work around. We accept your terms for the data exchange and look forward to your assistance shortly.
[11:43][STOIC]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"I suppose that leaves my own team out?
[11:44][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<C-Zeev> “Hmph. Typical.”, he mutters. "I will have to insist that this team be kept to a minimum. Not more than three individuals.
[11:44][STOIC]Janet Crawford@fenixxx3:“I said I would lead a team. Never said it would be entirely humans.” A side smirk. "Myself, Commander Sahla, and my combat engineer.
[11:45][STOIC]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"Hah.
[11:45][STOIC]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"I do love exact wording.
[11:46][STOIC]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:"Consider it our a joint effort, Zeev. Our combined expertise ensures the truth will out. It is the only way to end this stand-off.
[11:47][STOIC]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:Reyes studied the look on the Tellarite’s face to see if she may have used the right phrasing to resonate with his reputatio
[11:48][STOIC]L’aira@psducki:Meanwhile, S’kar continues to keep an eye on the situation
[11:49][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<C-Zeev> “I will pray to Atalar you are right, Representative Reyes. I shall arrive within several moments. I am forwarding the recognition signal for my pod.”
[11:53][STOIC]Janet Crawford@fenixxx3:Janet would meet Zeev in Shuttlebay One, and from there they would proceed directly to Shuttlebay Two where the pod was waiting to take them to the Tellarite ship. Shuttlepod two would launch directl
[11:53][STOIC]L’aira@psducki:L’aira is beaming over instead of using a shuttl
[11:55][STOIC]Janet Crawford@fenixxx3:that’s okay, once she’s aboard we can plunder the S’kar for our fledgeling republic navy

Aboard damaged Pralim-class vessel “Koonaar”

Click to reveal Click to hide

[12:00][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<FX> The most unusual group of humanoids board (or fancy beam in) into one of the air-pocketed sections of wrecked Pralim for which Zeev explained it would lead to Main Engineering and main computer+
[12:01][STOIC]Zeev@photi:core, deep inside the vessel. This air tastes rather dry, as if all humidity had been sucked out, and it’s a bit colder below comfort but Sahla would probably say "This is high summer.
[12:02][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<FX> As promised, Zeev is unarmed but wears a thicker coat
[12:02][STOIC]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:Reyes steps off the shuttlepod into the Pralim wreck just behind the others, who seemed to be clearing it for some threat. As if they were not all equally aboard a nearly destroyed shi
[12:03][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<FX> As they stepped out, they would see ocassional unfortunate Tellarite who was unable to evacuate
[12:03]Janet Crawford@fenixxx3 gave a look to Sahla, and a gesture from herself and to the right, then from Sahla to the left. She’d then wait for confirmation on the O2 readings, before stepping inside, rifle first
[12:04]L’aira@psducki beams in near the shuttle landing point
[12:04][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<Scan> shows that atmosphere is breathable, but not comfortably. It would be lower density, like climbing high tops of mountains
[12:05][STOIC]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:Reyes pulls her excursion jacket’s collar tight against the chilled air and inhales with a little effort, as the air was thinned. She wasn’t quite young any more, but there was no such thing
[12:05][STOIC]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:as retirement these days on alpha centaur
[12:05]Janet Crawford@fenixxx3 was wearing a breathing mask anyway. MACO didn’t take risks. So long as the pressure still held..
[12:05][Local]Zeev@photi:“Son of a Horgius.”, he curses. "This was the third ship I supervised. And those braid-haired devils punched it to its death, grrrr.
[12:06]Sahla@datguyyoulik took a position to cover the right, also turning her rifle to the door on their left, seeing as she’d be the first thing they’d see
[12:06]L’aira@psducki is also holding her rifle, just to be safe
[12:06]Zeev@photi steps slightly forward and scans
[12:07][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"I doubt tellarites would panic and fire upon us, Colonel. I’ve ever known them too.
[12:07]Zeev@photi scans the environment with a tricorder
[12:07]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 | The sight of the fallen Tellarite crew catches Reyes for a moment. She kneels down to check them, knowing already their fate is unchangable
[12:08][Local]Zeev@photi:"Atmospheric conditions are tolerable. No lifesigns. Most of crew was able to escape, but the bridge was pulverised. Witnesses claim that Rigelians fired first. Follow me.
[12:08]Sahla@datguyyoulik glances at Crawford
[12:08][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"Well, maybe you look like a Rigelian if you squint.
[12:09][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"Commander I don’t suppose you know anything about the former Captain of this ship?
[12:09][Local]Janet Crawford@fenixxx3:"And here i thought starting arguments was a tellarite’s job.
[12:10][Local]Zeev@photi:"Captain Fareem glasch Tov. Fresh commander, promoted only few daily rotations before this happened. He was, as you Humans like to say, trigger happy.
[12:11][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"Hm, I don’t think we know anything about the Rigelian captains as well?
[12:12]Zeev@photi looks to Sahla. "They are even more stubborn than we are, Andorian.
[12:12][Local]Janet Crawford@fenixxx3:"We will speak to them once we have the evidence.
[12:12]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 pulls a sleek, well-worn datapad from an inner pocket of the excursion jacket, bringing up the specific weapons variance reports that Felenn’s analysts uncovered. "Let’s get to where we’re going
[12:13][Local]Janet Crawford@fenixxx3:"Agreed.
[12:13]Zeev@photi approaches the console and taps into it, causing the door to open with a big SQUEAK. But they do open
[12:14][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:The Coridanite analysts noted a slight weapon signature variance. If Captain Tov was as trigger-happy as you say, we need to know if that signature was a malfunction or a modification.
[12:15][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:Engineering should have any logs
[12:15][Local]Janet Crawford@fenixxx3:“This it?” She looks to the tellarite
[12:16][Local]Zeev@photi:"Ah yes. The weapon modification claim. I was not made privy to details but Ambassador Felenn assurred me this is a major point that might clear my people of wrongdoing. And to have malfunctioning+
[12:16][Local]Zeev@photi:++weapons…“; he taps into yet another console. ”… would be a disgrace to any decent Tellarite engineer.
[12:17]Zeev@photi looks to Janet. "This is main computer core. Give me a moment to open this blasted door.
[12:17][Local]Janet Crawford@fenixxx3:“Or any Andorian… or MACO.” She nodded
[12:17][Emotes]Zeev@photi:rolls 34 (1-100
[12:17][Local]L’aira@psducki:Then we should find out. Whether the weapons are modified or malfunctioning, either way would be a problem. But the modifications…that would be worse
[12:17][Local]Zeev@photi:“Cursed salty muds!!!”, he says and hits the bulkhead with his fist. "It is stuck.
[12:18][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"Electronics, or mechanics?
[12:18][Local]Zeev@photi:"Mechanics, it seems. Probably a bent bulkhead or something. Console reports that doors should be opening.
[12:19]Janet Crawford@fenixxx3 lowers her rifle. "What’s the structural integrity of the room beyond?
[12:20]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 moves to L’aira’s side and in a low voice asks, "L’aira… we’ve not had much chance to speak since Coridan. Let me ask you… this data via Felenn seems credible to me, but what of Felenn himself
[12:20]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 continues, "Do you have any reason to think he may be… part of all of this?
[12:20]Zeev@photi scans the environment with a tricorder
[12:20][Local]Zeev@photi:“Stubbornly solid.”, he tells Janet
[12:21][Local]Janet Crawford@fenixxx3:“Just what a girl loves to hear.” She stepped forward, removing a breaching charge from her pack. She affixes it to the door, and takes a few seconds to program in variables
[12:22]Sahla@datguyyoulik turns her head towards the two behind her
[12:22][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"I’d stop standing in front of the door.
[12:23]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 moved aside with L’aira as those tending to the door did their work. While moving, she struggled to ascertain any reaction from the stoic vulcan
[12:24][Local]L’aira@psducki:I don’t know much of him, as I’ve only seen him once
[12:24]Janet Crawford@fenixxx3 chuckles, stepping to the left
[12:25][Local]Zeev@photi:“I am going to pull someone’s hairs out for this engineering fault.”, he curses
[12:25]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 smiles at the reply. "A fair response. I had thought you’d have told me to focus on the facts currently known and not those yet to be known, if ever….
[12:25][Local]L’aira@psducki:"I was getting to that part.
[12:26][Local]L’aira@psducki:"But yes, focus on the known, not the unknown.
[12:26]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 continued to speak lowly as it looked like the team was planning to breach the door open. "He’s a politician after all… and a rigellian one at that
[12:26][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"Might I suggest you not stand there?
[12:27]Janet Crawford@fenixxx3 grins softly, and waits. It isn’t long before the device begins to whine….. and a plunger emerged from the center of the circular device. Rather than return violently inside, the plunger began t
[12:28]Janet Crawford@fenixxx3 |> spin, and a directed energy beam arced out from the center in a perfect oval. No explosive decompression to worry about, no loss of integrity. The hole in the door simply falls inwards with a
[12:28]Janet Crawford@fenixxx3 |> loud CLANK
[12:28][Local]Janet Crawford@fenixxx3:“Open says me.” She grins
[12:28][Local]Zeev@photi:“My doors. Ruined.”, he growls.
[12:29][Local]Janet Crawford@fenixxx3:"…I thought you’d appreciate me not blowing it up.
[12:29][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128😃oors can be rebuilt, Commander, but reputations can’t. If the proof we find in there clears Tellar, you’ll be thanking the Colonel for that hole. Let’s see what we can find
[12:29][Local]Zeev@photi:“They are still ruined.”, he says as he goes through the gap
[12:29][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"As opposed to the rest of the ship?
[12:30][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<FX> As they enter, the room is set up as seen, except maybe little more ICly nice-ish. Not so brown and dull. There are several consoles throughout the room and the bottom of it is..
[12:31]Zeev@photi points forward. "This is a computer core. And from its pulsation, it is at its last breaths so I suggest we use the time given to us to investigate.
[12:31][Local]Janet Crawford@fenixxx3:“One for your folks, once for mine?” She nodded to Sahla
[12:32][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"Works for me.
[12:32][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:I have to hand it to you, Zeev. This is impressive. For the ship to be in pieces and the core to remain intact… it’s a testament to Tellarite engineering
[12:32][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<FX> To the left, in the corner, there is another Tellarite body
[12:32]Janet Crawford@fenixxx3 accompanied her combat engineer to the console
[12:33]L’aira@psducki moves to the body, examining it for any signs of cause of death
[12:33]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 | Nina has been recording the trek through the surviving section of the Pralim since their arrival and adjusts her camera lens to ensure complete view of the operation
[12:33][Local]Zeev@photi:“It is the essence of the ship. The memory, the functions…”, he says as he begins to type, attempting to access
[12:34]Sahla@datguyyoulik sets her rifle aside, examining the console
[12:35][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<FX> Janet’s console would cover infrastructure systems like life support, power control and distribution, artificial gravity (which still works i forgot xD), and other stuf
[12:36][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<FX> Sahla’s would be one towards ship’s capabilities for outer space. Sensors, weapons, shields and the like
[12:37]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 moves to one of the consoles and proceeds to decipher the Tellar interface as the Coridanite experts instructed her t
[12:37][Emotes]L’aira@psducki:rolls 78 (1-100

[12:38][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:Look at the pre-fire sequence. If Felenn’s analysts were right, we should find a power shunt anomaly if the weapons signatures match. We’re hoping they won’t
[12:39]Janet Crawford@fenixxx3 starts combing through the logs, the groundpounder happy to leave the higher brain functions to the…. Higher brain functions
[12:40][Local]L’aira@psducki:"Something’s wrong…
[12:40][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"Oh?
[12:40]Sahla@datguyyoulik looks to vulcan for a moment, then back to the console
[12:41][Local]L’aira@psducki:"I’m seeing some kind of plastomeric compound instead of skin…
[12:42]Sahla@datguyyoulik looks over the weapons, first and foremost, an engineer she is not, bue she knows weapons
[12:42][Local]Janet Crawford@fenixxx3:“All yours.” She gestured Nina forward, going to join the Vulcan
[12:43]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 was inputting the Vulcan’s terminology into her datapad, trying to call up a translation in effect
[12:43]Zeev@photi taps into console, quickly going through the data. "I was able to unlock basic data on weapon logs and shields. But core memory seems to have been damaged.
[12:44][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:“Really now? Just from the battle damage?”
[12:44][Local]Zeev@photi:"Hmph. Yes, curious, I will admit I agree… with an Andorian.
[12:45][Local]Janet Crawford@fenixxx3:"The plastomeric compound…. it covers the whole body? Or just parts?
[12:46][Local]L’aira@psducki:"The whole body…I can’t get a reading as to what’s under it.
[12:46][Local]Janet Crawford@fenixxx3:"We could find out… But it’s likely better to bring the body back with us and have a professional do it.
[12:47][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"Oh i’m very agreeable, unlike the vulcan over there. Besides, we’re being ‘nice’ now.
[12:48][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:Zeev, the Coridanite specialists pre-empted this possibility. They said a deep-cycle reboot might help defragment remaining files held in partial buffer before the ship’s destructio
[12:48][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128😃o you want to try it
[12:48][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:It may need your access codes to .. accept the inputs
[12:49][Local]Zeev@photi:"Well… I am uncertain if there is enough energy left for such a drastic approach. Reboot consumes a lot of power initially.
[12:49][Local]Janet Crawford@fenixxx3:"….That sounds like it could also lose everything. Download a copy before we try.

[12:51][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"Consistent, it doesn’t appear that modifications have been made.
[12:52][Local]Zeev@photi:"Let’s access weapon’s fire logs.
[12:54][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<FX> As weapon logs come up, they show what Sahla initially concluded. No modifications or changes on weapons occurred, not even between fired shots
[12:54]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 leans in closer as Zeev initiates the log retrieval
[12:54][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"That’s already a discrepency, but we sort of already knew that. It’s good to have it on hand though.
[12:55][Local]L’aira@psducki:"This is very odd. Not just the ‘skin’, but also his height. Makes me wonder whether there’s a disguise at play here.
[12:55]Zeev@photi turns to L’aira. "Disguise?!
[12:56][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"Hm, funny..
[12:56][Local]L’aira@psducki:“It is the logical conclusion.”
[12:56][Local]Janet Crawford@fenixxx3:"…I was about to fill you in. The dead body seems to be altered. Further evidence of third-party interference. Recommend we take it back for a full autopsy.
[12:56][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"The shield, the hull, the shield frequency changed repeatedly.
[12:57][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"I cannot see why though.
[12:57]Zeev@photi looks to Janet, squinting at her suspiciously. "Tellar Council will have my nose for this but… granted.
[12:57][Emotes]Sahla@datguyyoulik:rolls 91 (1-100
[12:58][STOIC]Zeev@photi:damn youre good :
[12:58][STOIC]Zeev@photi:m
[12:59][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<FX> Sahla’s sifting through logs would show a pattern. There was a shield penetration, strike at the hull, then shield rotation frequency, then sveral shots at the shields, until another shield+
[12:59][STOIC]Zeev@photi:penetration at the hull, then another shield rotation. As if someone who fired was able to poke through shield defenses right at the hull
[1:00]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 was ensuring she was recording as much as she could via her recording equipment, but also making direct notes
[1:00][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"Why.. Here we are..
[1:01][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"Hit, rotation, hit, rotation..
[1:01][Local]Janet Crawford@fenixxx3:"Calculated.
[1:01][Local]Zeev@photi:“Mimicking weapons, mimicking bodies…”, he says unusually calm. "That is, I can swear on my beard… very UN-Tellarite.
[1:02][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"No matter what frequency the shield was at, whoever was firing could always always poke a hole through the shields.
[1:02][Local]Zeev@photi:"What?! Impossible. Our computers calculate the weapons modulation to compensate at least partially.
[1:03][Local]Janet Crawford@fenixxx3:"Someone must have been down here actively un-compensating.
[1:04][Local]L’aira@psducki:"I have to agree.
[1:04][Emotes]L’aira@psducki:rolls 88 (1-100
[1:04][Emotes]Janet Crawford@fenixxx3:rolls 37 (1-100
[1:05][Emotes]Sahla@datguyyoulik:rolls 60 (1-100
[1:05][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:Agree on what… what are we saying here? That there was some sort of choreographed effort to destroy the ship from within
[1:05][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<C-S’Kar> "S’Kar to L’aira. Delegate, we have been scanning the vessels and there is something unusual about Pralim you have boarded. It has same weapon signature difference on its hull… down to+
[1:05][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:To ensure it ‘lost’ to the Rigellians
[1:06][STOIC]Zeev@photi:fifht decimal point, just like Rigelian vessels nearby.
[1:06][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"Four Rigelian vessels to one tellerite vessel. Who ended up walking away from the fight?
[1:07][Local]L’aira@psducki:“This only furthers my hypothesis…”
[1:07][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:Which is
[1:07][Local]Zeev@photi:"But Pralim has shields strong enough to withstand four Rigelian escorts.
[1:08][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"Was it just the five vessels that were part of this fight?
[1:09][Local]L’aira@psducki:"Someone is trying to deceive us. Not just us, but anyone else inspecting this situation.
[1:09]Janet Crawford@fenixxx3 went back over to the other console, trying to access the sensor logs of the battle
[[1:10][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"I’m wondering who got the first word out about all of this…
[1:11][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"Five vessels indeed, and all of them are destroyed, yet somehow both hold this belief that the other has fired the first shot.. And now that i’m looking here..
[1:13][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"There seems something in the background of the sensors logs, the pattern seems random until… Yeah, I thought so. Every single one shows up the same time the hull registered a hit.
[1:13][Local]Zeev@photi:"The distress call was recieved by our merchant convoy. They were the ones who helped evacuate crew.
[1:14][Emotes]Janet Crawford@fenixxx3:rolls 57 (1-100
[1:17]Janet Crawford@fenixxx3 patted her engineer’s shoulder. “Good work, Fia.” She grinned. "Fia found a sensor anomaly outside of the ship that moved around regularly during the course of the battle.
[1:18][Local]Zeev@photi:“A sixth vessel?!”, he looks between Sahla and Janet as they both implied it
[1:19][Local]Janet Crawford@fenixxx3:"Very likely.
[1:19][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"It seems that way.
[1:20][Local]Zeev@photi:“So… if it wasn’t Tellarites and it wasn’t Rigelians…”, he asks to no one in particular, then his gaze falls on the corpse near L’aira. "Who in the name of salty muds was it?
[1:21][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:I can’t remember noting any ambiguity in the interviews or merchant ship sensor data on such a vessel, but perhaps it was stealth enabled
[1:22][Local]Zeev@photi:“Or a very good imitation to allow hiding in plain sight.”, he says as he turns on his heel to face Reyes
[1:23][Local]Janet Crawford@fenixxx3:"Enterprise had an encounter with such a vessel.
[1:24][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"You don’t suppose it’s the Xindi again do you?
[1:24][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:It would clearly need to have been familiar with Tellarite technology, including military grade intrusio
[1:24]Sahla@datguyyoulik picks her rifle back up, holding it at rest
[1:24][Local]L’aira@psducki:I hope it isn’t..
[1:24][Local]Janet Crawford@fenixxx3:“No. not Tellarites. Romulans.” She points down at the corpse. "Your ‘engineer’ was plenty familiar with your ship.
[1:25][Local]Zeev@photi:"Well… present day Pralims are adoption of Arkonian vessel. And they did sell similar ship framework to one of Xindi clients.
[1:26]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 seems uneasy at the mention of both the Xindi and of the missing enterpris
[1:27]Zeev@photi scratches his bald forehead nervously, then gazes across all present. "I think, right now, as much as it irritates me to admit… but this requires another talk between Tellarite and Rigelian+
[1:28][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:The Insectoids and Reptilians paid the ultimate price for their actions. Relations since have been… agreeable with the remaining Xindi races. I would be surprised if they sought more conflic
[1:28][Local]Zeev@photi:++delegation. Even if this is set up by someone outside, re-establishing good relations between our peoples is a priority.
[1:29][Local]Janet Crawford@fenixxx3:"We need to take this data back to our ships. Conduct an autopsy on the ‘engineer’ and determine his race.
[1:29][Local]L’aira@psducki:"Agreed.
[1:29]Zeev@photi nods firmly
[1:30][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:I believe we have sufficient evidence to cast solid doubt on this. It is a manipulation of both sides. Ambassador Felenn will have what he needs to seek a ceasefire while we determine the rest
[1:30]Janet Crawford@fenixxx3 nodded
[1:30][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"Assuming our third party doesn’t try mucking it up again.
[1:31][Local]Janet Crawford@fenixxx3:"They can fuck around, and find out.
[1:31][Local]Zeev@photi:“And I will return to Alaar and…”, he snorts heavily. "I will provide data to Rigelians about Alaar and this ship.
[1:31][Local]Zeev@photi:"But at once, I must return to Tellar Prime and knock a few heads about our discoveries here.
[1:31][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:Something like this happens because of information kept quiet. I will petition Felenn to have this released to the public of all sides at the earliest. We must be mindful of yet more false-flag
[1:32][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:efforts otherwise.
[1:32][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"And interview the survivors, just in case.
[1:32][Local]Zeev@photi:"Indeed.
[1:32][Local]Janet Crawford@fenixxx3:"And petition for the release of anything anyone here knows about the Romulans… unless you don’t think we have enough evidence to land that. Any evidence we find against the romulans is useless-
[1:33][Local]Janet Crawford@fenixxx3😐> without facts to compare it to.
[1:33][Local]Zeev@photi:"I would wait on these… Romulans a little. We haven’t had contact with them.
[1:34][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"And we’ve been a little preoccupied with the Tellarites, prior.
[1:34][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"Then the vulcans.
[1:34][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:“And ourselves a little.”

darthhorvath

Star Trek Online Myriad Universes - To Lose the Earth, Part 2.5

Autopsy

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[9:07][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<INTRO> Inspection of skirmish site completed, tactical and defense data analyzed by MACO and AIG jointly points clearly to one certainty - Tellarites have been framed. Why and by whom remains+
[9:08][STOIC]Zeev@photi:++a mystery. The only other clue left behind is the strange Tellarite, who was just a bit too tall and a bit too fit to be a Tellarite, and covered in some kind of plastomer “skin”, as discovered by+
[9:08][STOIC]Zeev@photi:T’Laira. With body now aboard VSS S’Kar, the delegation moves onward with figuring what is going
[9:10][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<FX> The corpse, well preserved, lies in seperate part of Sickbay, the morgue. Carefully laid down, with all the medical equipment that Vulcans can offer
[9:11]Sahla@datguyyoulik had taken no time at all in preparing for the autopsy, she had borrowed sanitary clothing just to speed things along
[9:12][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"I didn’t think you would want to see what most would see as a grisly sight, representative, but this saves me the trouble of having to tell you second hand later.
[9:12]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 stands in the observation area, noting the careful and clinical work of the vulcan doctors. She is no stranger to dead bodies, but autopsies were a different thing
[9:13][Local]Janet Crawford@fenixxx3:"If you require a second set of hands, I have basic responder training.
[9:13][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"That’s fine, I’ve got more than enough hands here, even if they’re vulcan.
[9:14]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 looks carefully as Commander Sahla works in tandem with the Vulcans. Seemingly not the first time she’s done this type of grim work
[9:15][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:First hand experience is my preferred method, when possible. Just find us the truth beneath that skin
[9:15][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<FX> Per T’Laira’s instructions, two of Vulcan medical staff are ready to assist Sahla.
[9:18][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"For now you two can work on examining the muscle tissue in the arms and legs on your side of the bed, our friend may have had them modified to make him shorter….<C
[9:18]Sahla@datguyyoulik gestures to the vulcan surgeons, and to the tellarite’s limbs
[9:19]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 looks down at her datapad, updating her personal logs with the latest findings while the doctors began the first incisions. She had a file open on showing ‘typical’ Tellarite anatomy; supplied
[9:19][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"..I can start with his chest so we can examine his organs closely, i’ll probably need your hlpe once you’re done..
[9:19]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 | .. by the Vulcans naturally. She hadn’t met too many Tellarites, and she didn’t want to meet more of them like this
[9:21][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<FX> Vulcan assistants nod quietly and proceed to take medical devices, not limited to medical tricorder, laser scalpel, tweezers and some Petri dish-like glassware to store samples
[9:23][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:If he… it… there were shortened, could the skeletal density reflect a surgical compression or some sort of bio-engineering? It could tell us more about this entity
[9:23]Sahla@datguyyoulik had begun with a laser scalpel down ’tellarite’s chest, making an incision large enough to provide an opening to pry open with a set of retractors and gain access to the internal organs
[9:24][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"That would be the general idea representative, along with muscle tissue.. I’ve almost forgotten, we’ll want to see if hemerythrins are found in the blood, like a tellarite should.
[9:27]Janet Crawford@fenixxx3 flipped open her comm. “Crawford.” She raised it to her ear, having a hushed conversation back and forth. “Be right there.” She finally sighed. "I’m needed back on Artemis.
[9:27][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:hmm, based on what I understand of Vulcan ship systems at least… little though it is, whether the Tellarites might also have what is known as ‘internal sensors’.. a means to detect the biology
[9:27][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:.. of lifeforms present aboard ship. If they do, then perhaps we may discover more on how that might have been masked from those sensors
[9:28][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<FX> As Sahla begins to “open up” the corpse, she would notice something peculiar - the “skin” is not so easy to cut through as normal skin would. It would also be noticeable, that once opened,+
[9:28][STOIC]Zeev@photi:artificial skin would show what is hiding - something rather… scaly.
[9:31]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 leans forward, her eyes narrowing as the scaly texture is revealed beneath the synthetic layer
[9:31][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"There’s already something.. Off. I’ve known tellarites to at least be sturdy, but i’ve never known their skin to be this ‘durable.’.. I’m going to be peeling back a layer.
[9:31][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:That… is certainly not Tellarite, and I’m no expert. It looks almost Reptilian
[9:32][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"Something’s already off representive.
[9:33]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 glances at the Vulcans, to see whether they react in any way. She’d become used to them not reacting… in different degrees, though she was often proved wrong in reading their true intents
[9:33]Sahla@datguyyoulik peels back the artifical skin layer of the ‘tellarite’, then slightly pulls onto the layer of scales, cutting away a tiny section of scale and putting it into a sample container
[9:34][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<FX> One of Vulcan assistant surgeons offers two sample containers, one for each skin type, then looks to Sahla. "Doctor, shall I run pigmentation analysis on these both?
[9:35][STOIC]Zeev@photi🙁Dermal analysis
[9:35][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"You should, there’s no telling what kind of modifications we’re looking at.
[9:36][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<Vulcan surgeon-1> takes the sample containers and nods to Sahla, then leaves to the neighbouring room where the dermal scanner is
[9:36]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 taps her datapad, attempting to cross-reference keywords for reptillian or scaly type dermal properties with the Vulcan ship’s xenobiology database, however restricted her access might be.
[9:37][Emotes]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:rolls 75 (1-100
[9:39]Sahla@datguyyoulik having packed some skin samples, pulls back a few layers of tissue until she is able to access the ’tellarite’s’ internals, heart, one of the more important
[9:41][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<COMPUTER> would list several species known to Vulcan database to be reptilian: Saurian, Gorn, Xindi-Reptilians, Malurians, Chelon (one of Rigelian species)
[9:42][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<CORPSE> is opened up and, no matter how inexperienced Sahla may be, from the basics of Grey’s Anatomy or whatever Andorian counterpart is+
[9:43][STOIC]Zeev@photi:++humanoid on the table is not Tellarite. She can confirm it is humanoid: it has heart, valves, liver and other counterparts
[9:43]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 feels a cold knot tighten in her stomach as her eyes lock onto the species on the datapad. Most are just names to her, and bear no recognition, but one carries the weight of billion of souls
[9:46][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"Do you remember what I said about Hemerythrin? That’s what carries oxygen throughout the blood in a tellarite’s body. It turns it purple, sea creatures are known to have it. Now, i’m not going <C
[9:46][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:…To demand that you look, so take my word for it that our friend’s blood isn’t purple, and I doubt tellarites would turn a random tellarite crewman into a science experiment about whether or not <c>
[9:47][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:…They can survive Hemerythrin. Point is, I strongly doubt this is a tellarite. All I can say conclusively is that they are a humanoid.
[9:47][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"Oh, and had scales.
[9:49]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 taps her datapad. “Damn”. The files were restricted. She adjusts to link directly into the Artemis’ auxiliary database
[9:50][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<Vulcan surgeon-1> returns with a med-PADD and hands it over to Sahla. "Doctor, the scales do not correspond to either M’Tezirans. That is, Saurians. Nor is Chelon. For other candidates, we never+
[9:50][STOIC]Zeev@photi:acquired biopsy samples, unfortunately.
[9:52]Sahla@datguyyoulik visually runs through a few thoughts through her head
[9:52][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:The Republic has biological records for at least one of those species… the Xindi-Reptilian. It’s not something..shared with the Vulcan High Command. I’m syncing with the Artemis’ archives now
[9:52][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<ARTEMIS-DB> would also mention Saurians, Xindi-Reptilians and Chelon, but other species haven’t been encountered before. Though there was some suspicion if Suliban were reptilian in nature
[9:53]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 enters a high-level override sequence, using her mentor, Ambassador Kelson’s private access key to access the Republic’s top secret files
[9:53][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"Perhaps we should look at the eyes next? Reptilian eyes I notice often times vary a lot, just with things like pupils.
[9:54][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"Serpentide, or just any standard reptilian.
[9:54][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<COMPUTER> displays runs comparative analysis of acquired skin and show a result: Xindi-Reptilian NEGATIVE
[9:54]Sahla@datguyyoulik looks up at the computer
[9:54][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:“Well they’re not a Xindi-Reptilian.”
[9:54]Sahla@datguyyoulik moves a little down the head of the bed, taking a look at the being’s eyes
[9:55]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 lets out a long, shaky breath, the tension in her shoulders finally dropping as the words echo in the air
[9:56][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"I suppose there was that unspoken fear wasn’t there?
[9:56][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:Much of what happened has been lost
[9:56][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"I’m going to be collecting tissue from the sclera, iris, and retina, now.
[9:56][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:We can’t afford to be complacent
[9:57][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<Vulcan surgeon-1> speaks up. "Doctor, Representative. The analysis of artificial skin also came with interesting results. The layer is interwoven with carbon-conducting nanotubes which seem to have+
[9:57][STOIC]Zeev@photi:++an ability to emit short wavelength EM pulses of some sort.
[9:58][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:hmm, perhaps some sort of photo-electric imaging technology
[9:59][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<Vulcan surgeon-1> turns to Reyes. "Perhaps, but I considered another possibility. That this skin emits bioelectric field which mimics the… Tellarite heat footprint.
[9:59][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:If… if it is not the Xindi-Reptilians, what about the G.. Gorn? Your database (meaning Vulcan) listed them as reptilian. Might this be one? Could it have infiltrated the Pralim
[10:00][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"That, and or disrupting any attempts at properly scanning them. Though mimicing a tellarite’s heat seems the most likely.
[10:00][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"I’m sure the vulcans have more info on the gorn than I do, though i’ve known them to be territorial than connieving. A simple people really.
[10:01]Sahla@datguyyoulik had been busy cutting away thin tissue simples away from the eyes, loading them into a sample container of their own
[10:01][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<Vulcan surgeon-1> "The Gorn are quite massive, Representative. And large skeletal structure and bone density. This individual here, at least by mere optical inspection, does not seem to conform to+
[10:02][STOIC]Zeev@photi:what we little know of Gorn.
[10:02][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<FX> Just like with skin, it seems that eyes too have an upper layer that would mimic a Tellarite. Though layer below would have a different biology
[10:03][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"Unless he were a runt, but even then he doesn’t quite have the muscle.
[10:03]Sahla@datguyyoulik passes the sample container to one of vulcans
[10:03][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"Eye samples, both from what uppers to be an upper layer and what I assume are his actual eyes.
[10:04][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:If they are none of those in the databse, then we are looking at something entirely outside current classification. hmm.
[10:06][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<COMPUTER> would STILL list several species known to Vulcan database to be reptilian: Saurian, Gorn, Xindi-Reptilians, Malurians, Chelon… as if reminding Reyes
[10:06][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<Vulcan surgeon-1> proceeds with two new samples and goes back to neighbouring lab
[10:07][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"Representative didn’t you have that incident involving the klingons and the… Who else?..
[10:07][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:“It started with an S.”
[10:08]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 studies the database and realises one species had not been mentioned openly. She thought it couldn’t hurt to ask on it, while the analysis of the samples was still to be determined. "What are.
[10:08][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:.. malurians?
[10:09][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<Vulcan surgeon-2> looks to Sahla. "You mean the Suliban, Doctor?
[10:09][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"I’ve never heard of Malurians.
[10:09][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"Right, Suliban, that was it.
[10:11][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"I’ve only met them once, and, shockingly, while they were alive, they didn’t want me to peel back their skin to see how their body worked. So my working knowledge of them is.. Lacking.
[10:11][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"But then, what we have so far doesn’t seem to match any record.
[10:12][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<VS2> "As to Malurians, we have encountered them in the past, but rarely. The last occurrence was in what would by Human calendar go in 2151, on the planet Akaali.
[10:13][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<VS2> rubs his temple with a free hand. "As I recall, however, they infiltrated among Akaali natives to pursue mining of veridium.
[10:13]Sahla@datguyyoulik looks to Reyes
[10:13][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"And your current year right now is?…
[10:14][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<VS2> "Seven of Earth’s years ago. And I believe it was your own Captain Johnathan Archer who advised us on this.
[10:15][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:2161 <she says quietly>
[10:17][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"It doesn’t make sense for me for the Malurians to have altered someone for, what, defraud some mines? Then move onto attempting to drive a wedge in the galaxy.
[10:17][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"That kind of escalation is too abrupt, especially after a decade of nothing.
[10:18]Sahla@datguyyoulik looks at the alien’s head
[10:18][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"We still need to look at the brain.
[10:19]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 had been processing possibilities all the way through this examination. The discoveries deeply unsettled her but she was adament that they would reach some conclusions
[10:19][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<VS2> "Shall I prepare removal of the scalp, Doctor?
[10:19][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"Do so, and what have we learned about the eyes?
[10:21][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128😮ur files from that time are… fragmented, but from what we understand… several species were being manipulated towards conflict by parties not fully known <Reyes didn’t elaborate further
[10:21][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<VS1> returns just as Sahla asks. "Similar to skins beforehand, Doctor. One is artificial layer to fool retina scans, another is what you would find in reptilian humanoids. For all purposes, this+
[10:21][STOIC]Zeev@photi:individual here is most certainly in that category.
[10:21][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:Can… can you check for “chroniton radiation” or any cellular decay that… seems abnormal while you’re at it
[10:22][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<VS2> takes a tricorder to scan the scalp when device bleep-bleeps, causing him to pause
[10:22][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<VS1> "Vulcan Science Academy proved that time travel is impossible, Representative Reyes.
[10:23][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<VS1> "However, I will take all the samples to Science Laboratory, unless you need me further, Doctor.
[10:25][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"I believe we just need to look at the brain and internal organs, I presume you’d have no issue with the lungs and heart while I handle the brain?
[10:25]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 stiffened at the vulcan’s dismissal. She had heard that line before, but the Republic’s history was written in the scars of events the High Command preferred to ignore. Even to this day
[10:26][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<VS1> "Doctor, the medical tricorder is detecting a very low-intensity heat signature on the back of this individual’s head. The emission pattern is very… structured.
[10:28][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"Do you believe we’re at risk of triggering something? There’s no reason we can’t continue later with more caution, after all we already have more than enough information <c
[10:28][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:…That someone was trying to provoke a fight between the Rigelians and Tellarites, the only question is who.
[10:28][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"And the last thing I believe any of us want is the body disintergrating or exploding, potentially.
[10:30][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<VS1> "I would surmise, Doctor, that whatever is creating this emission is serves as mark.
[10:30][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:The Tellarites will demand blood for this frame-up. I’m just not sure it’ll put the Rigellians in the clear as yet. We must ensure our proof is absolute. Is that heat signature the last piece o
[10:30][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:the puzzle
[10:31][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<VS1> looks to Reyes with a glimpse of patronizing. “What Humans would say… as if branding cattle.”
[10:31][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"Odd then that we’re picking it up now then.
[10:32]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 narrows her eyes at the Vulcans remark, her jaw tightening at the implication. "If it is a ‘brand’, we need to know who made that mark.
[10:32][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"We should be able to just store it into the tricorder and have an engineer look into it. I’m not an engineer.
[10:32][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128😛erhaps it’s designed to active when the body receives a certain amount of… damage… a few less organs for instance
[10:33][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<VS1> “I shall perform the removal of organic tissue on the back of this individual’s head.”, he says and rolls the not-Tellarite on side and takes necessary tools
[10:33][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<VS1> "But I think tricorder has enough data to reconstruct the source of this heat emission.
[10:35][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"That works for me… And, what, perhaps some kind of warning signal that… What’s the human saying.. ‘The jig is up’?
[10:37][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<VS1> inputs the data from his medical tricorder into the computer and has it do analysis. The Vulcans’ computer and database are quick to find a pattern and display it. (Check Discord
[10:39][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"..Where have I seen that symbol before?
[10:39][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<COMPUTER> As soon as sign is displayed, the Vulcan computer systems, efficient as ever, label the marking as security issue. Display spells out two words: "Three Sisters.
[10:40][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<FX> Both Reyes, Sahla (and Janet and L’Aira, even though not present) are well informed enough to know that “Three Sisters” refer to three actual female siblings, highly positioned in Orion Syndicate
[10:42]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 stares at the glowing symbol. "This is a bold move, even for them
[10:43][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"Orions… If it were them I suppose it would make sense.
[10:43][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"But then, our friend here doesn’t seem to be orion.
[10:43][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"Ah, but then it’s not always just orions.
[10:44][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<VS1> "Marking implies this individual was owned by Orions.
[10:44][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"Debt slave? That sounds like them.
[10:45][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:Who knows from what test tube laboratory this … entity… was created or adapted in. The fact remains we have a solid lead
[10:46][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"We have enough information to disprove that the Rigelians were responsible, and to point at the Orions instead.
[10:46][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"I’m not 100% sure on what our friend here is though.
[10:48][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<VS2> “I would surmise that, if what Captain Johnathan Archer reported about Akaali incident is correct, in regards to Malurians being masters of disguise…”, he pauses. "Orions bought at least one+
[10:49][STOIC]Zeev@photi:Malurian to pass off as Tellarite and assist in escalation of Tellarite-Rigelian tensions.
[10:50][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:“Have we had a positive ID on the rest of the bodies being Tellarite?”
[10:51][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<VS2> "Those few you encountered about the derelict, the Koonar, it would seem so. Much of personnel, according to Captain Zeev, was able to evacuate.
[10:52][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<VS2> "Which may, unfortunately, include impostors as well.
[10:52][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:And in the process, obscure the orion’s as the antagonists in all of this. Well, we’ll see how that pans out for them
[10:52][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"Well, something for the Colonel to handle hmm? I assume interrogation would be within her capabilities?
[10:52][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:We’ll need to let bim Zeev know
[10:53][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:“Then I believe we’ve learned everything we could from the corpse here?”
[10:54][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:Could this EM technology, after analysis, also help pinpoint a supply source in orion territory? Presumably it was either manufactured there or otherwise traded. It could us some information o
[10:55][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:where the three sisters might be locate
[10:55][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:Ambassador Felenn would likely have contacts through Coridon’s extensive mercantile relationships to assist too
[10:56][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"Well that isn’t going to be something we learn on a medical bed.
[10:56][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"Leave it to a science officer, or an engineer.
[10:56][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<VS2> "Given how low emission this… seal, for the lack of better description… this seal has, I doubt we could detect it by ship sensors. This seal is a slave identifier. Something to be detected+
[10:56][STOIC]Zeev@photi:in very close proximity.
[10:56]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 nodded in agreement.
[10:58][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:“Hm, since we know what we’re looking for we might be able to compare it with survivors, provided we could track them all down.”

Meeting Felenn

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[11:26][Local]Felenn@photi:<INTRO> Several days have passed and the multi-species investigative delegation has returned to Coridan, to settle out another multi-species issue. <INTRO ENDS.
[11:27]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 enters Ambassador Felenn’s office, clutching her datapad. The harsh Coridan sunlight casted long shadows across the room
[11:27][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:Ambassador, it is good to see you again in person. (pausing
[11:27][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:he
[11:31]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 slows her pace, noting that T’Yel was already present. She gives a courteous nod to the Vulcan, but her eyes quickly return to Felen
[11:32][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:You’ve seen the reports, yes
[11:32]Sahla@datguyyoulik trails behind Reyes, armed as typical, it seems she’s pulling guard duty for her the time being now
[11:32][Local]T’Yel@Sbutler37:gave the slightest of upward raise of her left eyebrow
[11:32][Local]Felenn@photi:<INTRO> With Earth destroyed by Xindi, Humanity has fallen back to Alpha Centauri. Almost seven years later, Humans, Vulcans and Andorians are invited by Coridan to settle a dispute between+
[11:33][Local]Felenn@photi:Tellarites and Rigelians, dispute turned almost into war. After thorough investigation, the joint delegation returns to Coridan to report to Ambassador Felenn what they have found
[11:34]Felenn@photi looks up to Reyes, Sahla and T’Yel and nods to each of them. "My mediators. Welcome back. I haven’t had the time to read them through, Representative Reyes, but I heard that implications are of+
[11:34][Local]Felenn@photi:great concern, not just for Coridan, but perhaps the entire region."
[11:35][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:They are indeed, Ambassador. We have confirmed the body was a Malurian surgical duplicate, branded with the mark of the Orion Syndicate’s Three Sisters
[11:37][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:This seems to now be clearly a calculated effort to infiltrate and ignite a war between the Tellarites and the Rigelians
[11:37]Felenn@photi blinks in confusion, putting his reading PADD aside. “Three Sisters?! Orion Syndicate.”, he shakes his head. "Any idea why?
[11:38][Local]T’Yel@Sbutler37:"Any instability in the region would further the Orion Syndicate’s goals, in whatever form it took.
[11:38][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"Yes what would the syndicate have to gain with an ununified galaxy?
[11:38]Felenn@photi ponders the situation
[11:39][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:Agreed. Beyond the obvious profit from arms and their despicable slave trade, the Syndicate thrives in the gaps left by broken alliances. And while the relationship here is economic through Cori
[11:39][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:.. Coridan, it is an alliance nonetheless in all but name
[11:39][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:Something the Orions clearly wish to dismantl
[11:40][Local]T’Yel@Sbutler37:"Indeed. As an alliance fractures, the Syndicate may position itself to provide economic and logistical support to either side- at a ‘modest’ fee.
[11:40][Local]Felenn@photi:“Divide and conquer.”
[11:42][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:We spoke with Captain Zeev before his departure. He’s en route to Tellar to dig into how their ship was infiltrated, but the threat may not be passed yet. There could be more infiltrators on bot
[11:42][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:side
[11:42][Local]Felenn@photi:"They hadn’t expected invovlement of your three respective species.
[11:42][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:Ambassador, we cannot keep this in the dark. The longer we remain silent, the more effective their false flag attempts become
[11:43]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 leans forward, her expression urgent. "YOU must make these findings public immediately
[11:44][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"For certain, though this would let them know that we’re onto them, and cause whoever is still alive to go underground and cover their tracks.
[11:45][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"The who being remaining infiltrators.
[11:46][Local]Felenn@photi:"As you present it, we have two options. Bringing findings to light of day, causing infiltrators to dig in and wait for another chance some time in the future+
[11:46][Local]Felenn@photi:or keeping them in the dark we know."
[11:47][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:Typical military thinking… <glances at Sahla>
[11:48][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:If we wait to flush out every single mole, we’re essentially letting the Syndicate hold the entire sector hostag
[11:48][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"That IS why you bring people like me in, representative. Myself and my guardsmen along with Crawford and her MACO could at the very least monitor as best we could, and see who errs upon the <C
[11:48][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:…Announcement. But that is assuming they err.
[11:49][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128😛ublicly exposing the Sisters’ actions turns their embedded assets into liabilities. All sides will be on alert
[11:49][Local]Felenn@photi:"Commander Sahla, your autopsy concluded there may be way to track this people due to their enhancements if my quick browsing was correct?
[11:49]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 noted the Ambassador’s adept change of topi
[11:50][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"Ah yes. There was a print on their necks that gave off a remarkably consistent signal, the problem is we need to be close range.
[11:50][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:“And, potentially, dead. Though we know what to look for now so that might not be a factor.”
[11:51][Local]Felenn@photi:"Representativ T’Yel, your thoughts?
[11:51][Local]T’Yel@Sbutler37:"The Vulcan government condones no course of action, and will continue to monitor the situation. Logic is the basis of our civilization by which we have ascended. Not such…rash, impulsive action.
[11:52][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"Well we can’t do -nothing.-
[11:52][Local]Felenn@photi:"Hmm… then we shall do both. We shall expose The Three Sisters, make their assests, as you call them, expendable… and we shall try to flush out the remaining infiltrators. I will stand before the
[11:54][Local]Felenn@photi:+delegates myself, but I would like you all to be there as well. And in my capacity as an Ambassador, I will ask that you assist Republic of Coridan should this exposing lead to armed conflict.
[11:54]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 lets out a sharp, audible huff, rolling her eyes toward the ceiling at T’Yel’s typically detached Vulcan response, "If ‘monitoring the situation’ was enough to stop a war, Earth would still be here
[11:55]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 leans in to them all, "Don’t you see, this is a prime opportunity to stand together. Sharing this intelligence proves the Syndicate cannot divide us and lays a foundation for a unified front tha
[11:56][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:…can protect this entire sector. I know Zeev would advocate similarly with the Tellarites, if he had our support
[11:57]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 seemed somewhat pleased with the Ambassador’s remark
[11:57][Local]Felenn@photi:"He has been proponent of multi-species vanguard task group ever since Earth was destroyed by Xindi. I believe this current crisis would count as well.
[11:58][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"Speaking of him, I may send a guardsman or two to Zeev, he seems like a prime target during this with his skepticism.
[11:58][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:This crisis is just one of many to follow, time and again there will be those who seek to drive division for their own ends. Earth should have been a wake-up call for all our peoples…
[11:58][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:… not just for humans <glares at the Vulcan mostly
[11:59][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:Good call, Commander. Our short meeting with Zeev showed me that he is the kind of individual the Syndicate hates most
[12:00][Local]Felenn@photi:“That is a wise precaution, Commander.”, nods to Sahla. "Assuming we can get Tellarite and Rigelian delegates agree on your findings, that would make… six species against Orion Syndicate. Or+
[12:00][Local]Felenn@photi:at least a part of Syndicate and their lackeys.
[12:00][Local]T’Yel@Sbutler37:appared not to notice in the slightest. "You imply that my people adopt a share of risk where none exists. I understand that this is a matter of great concern for you, however. I believe your people
[12:01][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:That’s where it can begin…
[12:01][Local]T’Yel@Sbutler37:possess a phrase in common parlance which I shall paraphrase. An emergency on your part does not constitute an emergency on ours.
[12:01][Local]T’Yel@Sbutler37:"Until such time as a credible threat to the Vulcan people is identified, our position remains unchanged.
[12:02]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 calms her rising temper. Her mentor, Ambassador Kelson had more direct experience dealing with the Vulcans, but being unable to travel, she had come in his stead. She regretted that multiple time
[12:03]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 looks to T’Yel. "That kind of isolationism is exactly what the Syndicate is counting on. Remember that there is at least one vessel which eluded sensors to partake in the downfall of the Pralim
[12:03][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"Oh yes, I’m sure sitting around as the others around you have incursions and infiltrations bringing them down will work wonders in the long run.
[12:04][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:.. battle cruiser (?). That is a threat to Vulcan security as much as every other power in this sector. By the time you decide it is a Vulcan emergency, representative, you might find you have no
[12:04][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:.. allies left to help you manage it.
[12:04][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"Who will help you when it’s your turn to be in the crosshairs, Vulcan?
[12:06][Local]T’Yel@Sbutler37:gave the slightest of nods toward her. "Your concern is noted- as is your impulsiveness. I’m certain you believe they will serve you well.
[12:07][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"Oh yes i’m sure sticking your head in the sand will work wonders. Have you visited Earth recently?
[12:08]Sahla@datguyyoulik sighs as a ringing comes from her pocket
[12:08]Sahla@datguyyoulik looks at her communicator, squinting
[12:08][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"Distress signal from the Alaar, that would be Zeev’s vessel if you’re not aware, along with coordinates.
[12:09]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 looks to her own communicator which was relaying signal from the Artemis.
[12:11][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:Commander, you called it. The Syndicate isn’t waiting for us to start their next move
[12:11]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 quickly whips out her communicator, syncing the coordinates from the Artemis to the office’s displays. "They’re trying to silence Zeev before he can reach Tellar
[12:12][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"I hate being right.
[12:13][Local]Felenn@photi:"Then I suggest you make haste and rescue him. I will deliver your findings to delegates. This will clear their heads.
[12:13][Local]T’Yel@Sbutler37:briefly monitors a communication from her own vessel, her expression unconcerned at best
[12:13]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 turns sharply to T’Yel, her frustration is replaced by a desperate expression. “Only a Vulcan ship can reach those coordinates in time. Sure, the rest of us can follow. But it may be too late”
[12:14][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"I think a peaceful galaxy benefits all involved.
[12:14][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:I am imploring you, T’yel… intervene. This isn’t a hypothetical risk anymore. Your action or inaction could make the difference
[12:15]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 knew this wouldn’t work, but she was going to try it anyway. "Logic dictates you protect the assets required for your own future stability - Zeev is integral to the stability of this sector.
[12:15]Felenn@photi approaches the console. On screen, everyone present would see he is beginning to compile reports and presentation for Coridan, Rigelian and Tellarite delegates
[12:16][Local]T’Yel@Sbutler37:em barely gave her a glance. "In this you are correct- only the Vulcan navy possesses the capability to perform such an action. We will assist in recognition of the respect that exists between our
[12:17][Local]T’Yel@Sbutler37:peoples. Yet I will caution you to learn from our example- such impulsiveness as humanity is known for, if restrained may prevent you from requiring such assistance in the future. The next time, we
[12:17][Local]T’Yel@Sbutler37:may not be available."
[12:17][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"Lessons can come after we’ve saved Zeev, hmm?
[12:18][Local]Felenn@photi😮h crap the finale is going to be hard x
[12:18][Local]Felenn@photi:m
[12:19]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 bit her tongue. Literally. And then, slowly, "Your assistance is appreciated, T’Yel. We shall make for the coordinates immediately to support your vessel.
[12:19]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 turned to speak lowly into her communicator to what was presumed to be Colonel Crawford aboard the Artemis
[12:19][Local]T’Yel@Sbutler37:"Then let us proceed.
[12:19][Local]Felenn@photi:“Astral Winds may be at your backs. Or warp nacelles.”

darthhorvath

Star Trek Online: Myriad Universes - To Lose the Earth Finale

[10:11][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<Intro> Last time on Star Trek Myriad Universes: To Lose the Earth… What began as an attempt to resolve a sharp diplomatic dispute between Tellarites and Rigelians on borderline skirmishes near the
[10:12][STOIC]Zeev@photi:+ Coridan system, eventually evolved into a deep investigation on a conspiratorial actions aimed at plunging the entire region into a war. After Commander Sahla’s medical autopsy on fake Tellarite,
[10:13][STOIC]Zeev@photi:+ who turned out to be a Malurian spy working for Orion Syndicate’s Three Sisters, the Tellarite and Rigelian delegations on Coridan agreed to a cease fire. However, Captain Than bim Zeev, carrying
[10:14][STOIC]Zeev@photi:this evidence back to Tellar Prime sent out a distress call from his vessel TSC Alaar. Centaurian Ambassador Nina Reyes convinced the Vulcan part of mediation delegates to send their ships to aid the
[10:15][STOIC]Zeev@photi:+ Alaar, with Reyes and Sahla themselves aboard Artemis, Alpha Centauri’s newest NX flagship, under Colonel Janet Crawford. The Vulcan veseel has arrived but has equally reported to be under attack
[10:16][STOIC]Zeev@photi:by combined strikeforce of Malurian and Orion interceptors. As Colonel Crawford prepares an away team to board Zeev’s vessel and save the crew, Sahla and Reyes are left in command of Artemis as it
[10:17][STOIC]Zeev@photi:warps into the heat of battle. On the main screen, they can see Vulcan vessel engaged with Malurian and Orion interceptors, while TSC Alaar is under attack by its own Adamant speeders.
[10:17][STOIC]Zeev@photi:+The clock is ticking..
[10:19][Local]Zeev@photi:<Artemis-Tactical> Commander, Ambassador… both S’Har and Alaar are taking quite a hits. S’Har reports their warp ring is badly damaged. I am also receiving Andorian vessel Vo’Rala, but they will be
[10:20][Local]Zeev@photi:+arriving in 30 standard minutes
[10:21]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 grips the railing that encircled the bridge. Her eyes were fixed upon the tactical display. "Major, we can’t just hang back and slog it out with the rest of them. Let them buy us the time we need
[10:22]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 “… to get in close and some heat off the S’Kar from those Orions!” Nina was pushing even though she knew the Major would have their own tactical view
[10:23][Local]Zeev@photi:<Artemis-Tac> The combined Rigelian-Coridan task force will be here in 15 minutes
[10:23][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"We do not have to win, all we have to do is get them off their backs.
[10:23][Tell]ToNina Reyes@nynikal#4128:want me to play Major then
[10:24][Tell]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:I can do it if it helps, but yeah, it might be useful for you to do so no
[10:24][Tell]ToNina Reyes@nynikal#4128:Alrigh
[10:25]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 notes the bridge officer vocalise that backup would arrive in 15 minutes. ‘This could be all over in 15 minutes’ she thinks to herself
[10:26][Local]Zeev@photi:<Artemis-Major> swings in her chair and looks between Sahla and Reyes. "Colonel was quite clear about boarding the Alaar, Ambassador. You know very well this is our chance to prove what Humanity can+
[10:27][Local]Zeev@photi:++contribute.", she says sternly and swings back at the main viewer, grinning. "But I think punching our way through will be a welcoming change for our Vulcan friends as well, right? Arm phasers and+
[10:28][Local]Zeev@photi:++forward photonic launchers, target the nearest Orion interceptor.
[10:29][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:Agreed. Let’s make them regret choosing this battlefield
[10:29][Local]Zeev@photi:<Artemis-Major> "Commander Sahla, these are brand new phasers provided by Your people. Would you honour us with opening fire?
[10:30]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 holds firmly to the railing. It had been quite some time since she’d been aboard a bridge during a combat situation. Not since the ill-fated defence of Earth..
[10:33][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"Pick a target. Or did I hear ‘at your leisure’ baked in there?
[10:34]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 watches the Andorian with curiosity. She had noted over recent days the Commander’s tenacity, and shared their determination to get to the bottom of this building conflict… by working together
[10:35][Local]Zeev@photi:<Artemis-Major> As an old Earth saying goes - whatever flows your ship, Commander
[10:36]Sahla@datguyyoulik cracks her knuckles, running her hands over the console
[10:36][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:The Vulcan’s are taking a battering but they can weather it longer. I’d say to get those gnats off the Alaar as best you can Commander
[10:37][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"Targetting their warp core, see how they enjoy a hit from a weapon with more ‘oopmh’ as it were.
[10:37][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<FX> And indeed, the S’Kar, while having difficult time at precisely aiming the agile Orion interceptors, seems to be holding on for a while. Alaar, on the other hand, has visible cracks in the hull
[10:38][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:Major, what’s the status of the Colonel’s team? Are we able to get their shuttlepods free of us with enough cover
[10:39]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 didn’t like the odds of the MACOs taking shuttlepods to the Alaar through a fleet firefight, but equally, transporting was known to be tricky. Even if ships didn’t have ‘shielding’ many races had
[10:40][Local]Zeev@photi:<Major> looks to auxiliary screen. "Shuttle pods are ready, but I want to get closer otherwise they’ll get caught in a crossfire. Hence I want to get off some burden from Vulcans. We need their help.
[10:40]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 … energised membranes or bulkheads which could play havoc with transport technology - at least, the rather new transporter
[10:42][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:Acknowledged
[10:44][Local]Zeev@photi:<Artemis-Tactical> "Coridanite ETA, 7 minutes. Centaurian vessels reporting. They have rendezvoused with Vo’Rala and will be here in 23 minutes.
[10:45][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128😃amn. The Alaar won’t survive much longer. Major we need to get Crawford’s team aboard now. Zeev must be extracte
[10:47][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<FX> With a grace of a piano player and a determination of a true, hot-blooded Andorian, Commander Sahla taps on the tactical console guiding the targeting scanners. After all they were of Andorian+
[10:48][STOIC]Zeev@photi:origin, just like light-blue phasers that now fire through the emptiness of space, ever growing smaller, between Artemis and S’Kar. The phasers strike at the impulse engines of the targeted Orion+
[10:49][STOIC]Zeev@photi:interceptor, followed by streak of three photonic torpedoes. The Orion interceptor, naturally, is pulverised
[10:51][Local]Zeev@photi:<Major> “Nice shooting, Commander.”, she grins at Sahla. "Helm, proceed to Alaar, coordinate support fire to Vulcans, you heard the Ambassdor.
[10:51][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128😃irect hit! That’s one less bastard on them. Stay on them Commander. Every one we destroy buys the Colonel a chance to get aboard and Zeeve another chance to live
[10:52][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"Ah a shame they’re so brittle, targetting another.
[10:55][STOIC]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128😐 The S’Kar quickly builds on the taking out of one interceptor with a strike of its own, with ruthless Vulcan precision. It releases an emerald coloured volley that tears through a Malurian
[10:56][STOIC]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128😐 … crippling it, and sending it spiralling towards the remaining Orion interceptor, which was coming back around for a run on the Alaar
[10:56]Sahla@datguyyoulik targets another orion interceptor, running a beam across it to split it in twain, hitting the cockpit and unfortunate pilot
[10:59][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<FX> With only one Malurian harrassing the Vulcans, S’Kar sends tactical coordination to Artemis with a brief “thank you”. The remaining Malurian vessel now charges at Alaar, joining the Adamant+
[10:59][STOIC]Zeev@photi:fighters, when four new contacts warp in..
[10:59][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"Oh wonderful, I was just warming up.
[11:00][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:The Vulcans certainly know how to make a point. Remind me to thank their Captain for their aim
[11:00][Local]Zeev@photi:<Tactical> "The Coridanites have arrived, three vessels, but… I am detecting large contact on the far, opposite end. It’s Orion alright, but… it’s big.
[11:02]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 could see the look upon the bridge crew’s faces as the tactical display lit up, particularly with one large contact. ‘Had they committed a capital ship?’ she wondered
[11:02][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"All for us? I’m touched.
[11:03]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 was still trying to think through the implications of the Orion’s backup. "They must have had this in reserve. It’s gone beyond just killing Zeev now. It’s about making sure nobody is left alive
[11:05][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"Well it would do them no favors if people knew they were infiltrating other powers.
[11:05][Local]Zeev@photi:<Major> looks on her aux-tactical screen. "That big one is what Orions call a slaveship. Heavily armed and heavily armored. Shuttlepods are ready to depart. Coridanites have engaged the Adamant+
[11:05][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"Years of hostile buildup and then you turn out the biggest warhawks were someone entirely uninvolved, that puts much into question doesn’t it?
[11:05][Local]Zeev@photi:++fighters. This is our chance.
[11:06]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 looked at the Major and then to the tactical display, noting the shuttlepods were now en route a relatively short but dangerous distance to the Tellarite
[11:07][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:Godspeed, Colonel..
[11:08][Tell]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:I might suggest we take a hit and the conn is opened up? I can slot Nina in there as an emergency measure
[11:08][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<FX> Somewhat smaller than Artemis, yet as agile as Orion interceptors, Coridan vessels engage the Adamant fighters, giving the window of opportunity to MACO shuttlepods. But then Artemis is hit.+
[11:09][STOIC]Zeev@photi:++The entire bridge shakes, causing the conn officer to bump his head against the console and he falls unconcious aside
[11:10][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:If we can try to disable that slaveship instead of destroying it Major, then we do. Who knows how many innocent souls they’re holding aboard it
[11:11]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 drops to one knee beside the fallen conn officer, checking for a pulse quickly before bracing herself against the console
[11:12][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"That will be tricky, but I will do my best.
[11:12][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:They’re alive, but we won’t be. I’ll take the conn
[11:12][Local]Zeev@photi:<Major> used to combat, holds onto the central chair nodding to Nina. "Shuttlepods are off. Coridan is definitely putting up the fight, but against that capital Orion vessel… on the other hand,+
[11:13][Local]Zeev@photi:++disabling them might give us more clues into WHY are Orions going this far. Inform S’Kar to keep track of our away teams, we are going to engage the slaveship.
[11:13]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 pulls herself up against the console and plants herself into the vacant helm seat. She spreads her fingers out across the console. It had been a long time… but hopefully not too long a time.
[11:14]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 begins to move her hands over the controls. "I’m going to turn us about, and see if I can’t get you a better angle Commander
[11:15][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"That ship is going to move like cattle, mind that.
[11:15][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<FX> Within minutes, MACO shuttlepods report back on successfully boarding, but now it’s all on Crawford and her team to get the Alaar clear
[11:15]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 guides the Artemis, somewhat sluggishly at first, but soon quicker, into a hard banking turn. Old instincts returning from her time aboard her own ship long ago
[11:16][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:There we … go…. come on…
[11:19][STOIC]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128😐 The Artemis rolls sharply beneath a volley of enemy fire. Her thrusters flare brightly as Nina swings her around. In one smooth motion the NX manages to zig and zag into position
[11:20][STOIC]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128😐 … behind the Orion slavership, making its stern and aft engines more exposed to Commander Sahla’s targeting efforts
[11:20][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"Remind me, this ship has ablative armor correct?
[11:20]Sahla@datguyyoulik taps on the console, aiming for the weapons..
[11:21][Local]Zeev@photi:<Major> "The Orions? Yes. It’s not up to theoretical maximum, but they bought it from someone with superior engineering.
[11:22][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<FX> Artemis lands her opening strike against the sluggish Orion slaveship, but it makes a scratch in their shielding
[11:23][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<C-Open Comms-audio-only> "Well, well. Pitiful Humans. You lost Earth and now you think you claim excellence elsewhere.
[11:23][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"No effect, all we’ve done is tap on their shields.
[11:23][Local]Zeev@photi:<Major> "Damn. Never mind. Helm, bring us about.
[11:25]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 throws the Artemis into a sweeping turn, firing the thrusters in controlled bursts to execute a very tight turn and sweeping maneuver to make it harder for the slavership to lock the
[11:25][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:Coming about! Hold on
[11:25][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<FX> Six more contacts appear. Three Centaurian vessels and IGS Vo’Rala, but the other two make Tactical officer go instantly pale..
[11:26][Local]Zeev@photi:<Artemis-Tac> "Oh, no… no them!
[11:26]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 hadn’t flown an NX-class before, even during the Xindi War, as she had occupied the captain’s chair instead. The Artemis answered every touch with power. Crawford had managed to keep this ship in
[11:26]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 … tip top condition
[11:28][Local]Zeev@photi:<Major> puts it on main viewer - two Xindi reptilian vessels warp and open fire on Centaurian reinforcements
[11:28][Tell]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:So the damaged NV might be the obvious candidate to destroy here, but I wonder whether we might be unkind instead to the two NP clas
[11:28][Tell]ToNina Reyes@nynikal#4128:That will entirely depend on you, but lemme announce first
[11:32]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 ’s hands freeze on the helm for the briefest instant. Relief at the sight of the Centaurian reinforcements vanishes from her face, replaced by suprise then anger at the sight of Xindi
[11:33]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 | … reptillian signatures. “That’s… impossible” All colour has drained from her face
[11:34][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<FX> What appears to be a cat and mouse game between Orion slaveship and Artemis, both exchange fire. Orions, sluggish as they are, can’t keep track of Artemis. In turn the NX barely makes another+
[11:34][STOIC]Zeev@photi:++dent in their shielding. But this is where IGS Vo’Rala (Andorian name for Enterprise btw) comes into fray, striking at the same spot and tearing off one of disruptor cannons
[11:37][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<FX> The Centaurian reinforcements are not that lucky with Xindi Reptilians. First Reptilian vessel strikes at damaged NV vessel, punching through its saucer section. The second reptilian unleashes+
[11:37][STOIC]Zeev@photi:volley of torpedoes, turning it to dust
[11:37]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 stares at the display, though she presses on to maneuver the ship as best she can. Her teeth are clenched shut. “The Xindi…” she hisses
[11:38][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<C-Open Comms> "Yes, the Xindi, indeed. Perhaps they’ll do their job properly this time.
[11:39]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 continues (just before the hits land on the Centauri ships).. "This wasn’t the Syndicate or the Malurian’s game after all. They were just the knives.. our old enemy has been holding the handle al
[11:39]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 … along
[11:39][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"What exactlty did you pinkskins do to earn so many enemies who want you all gone? Ah we can answer that after this.
[11:40][Local]Zeev@photi:<Major> slams her armrest. "Those bloody lizards… everyone keep your focus on the Orions!
[11:41][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<C-S’Kar> "Artemis, Alaar has been secured externally. All hostile vessels disabled or destroyed. We are moving in to engage the Xindi vessels. Coridanites will aid you with the Orions.
[11:42]Sahla@datguyyoulik targets the orion slave vessel’s engines.
[11:43]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 flinches as the display shows the NV-class’ icon winking out of existance. She looks to the live feed and there is a brilliant flash of fire that quickly burns itself out in the vacuum of space
[11:44][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:At least forty souls gone. Gone in seconds. Major, are we receiving anything from the Alaar, from the Colonel
[11:45][Local]Zeev@photi:<Major> looks to Reyes. "Only that they are advancing quickly. They secured the bridge and Vulcans beamed in few support teams. They are going towards the engine room.
[11:46]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 cut short her query to the Major as the Vulcans came over the comms with their update
[11:48][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"Saves us trouble.
[11:48][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<FX> Artemis and Vo’Rala jointly open fire against the Orion slaveship, but even with their combined fire at their engines, it seems to have little effect on the ship. The Orions return fire at+
[11:49][STOIC]Zeev@photi:Vo’Rala, likely leaving Human prey to their Xindi Reptilian allies. Vo’Rala, like Artemis, is top notch. The return fire from Orions collapses their shields and front weapons
[11:52][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<FX> Xindi and NPs put quite a fight against one another as one NP scores direct hit against Xindi Reptilian ship, negating its high roll attack. The second NP delivers the final blow, avenging the
[11:53]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 wrestles with the conn controls and guides the Artemis through another violent turn about, lining her up for a strafing run to join their sister ships against the Xind
[11:53][STOIC]Zeev@photi:lost NV vessel, but it gets disabled by the second Reptilian. S’Kar fires against the second Xindi vessel, but with no significant effect
[11:54]Sahla@datguyyoulik prepares the ship’s phasers for another strike..
[11:54][Local]Zeev@photi:<Tactical> Major, Commander, Ambassodor, the joint Tellarite-Rigelian fleet has entered the fray with… all 9 ships of delegations
[11:55][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<C-Open Comms-Orions> "Hmmm, party breakers are entering the fray. Perhaps it is time to go. But make no mistake, Humans, you’ve interferred for the last time.
[11:56]Sahla@datguyyoulik stifles a laugh
[11:56][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"Interfere?
[11:56]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 doesn’t hesitate or request permission to open a channel to the allied fleet. "All allied ships, this is Ambassador Reyes aboard the Artemis. Forget old grudges and half whispered conspiracies.
[11:56][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"This many ships can we chase them down?
[11:57][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:.. See for yourselves the Xindi reptillians as the architects of this conflict. Concentrate all available fire on their ships and let’s stop them together before they continue to destabilise us all
[11:58][Local]Zeev@photi:<Tactical> "I think THEY can, Commander, but WE… are pretty banged up. Vo’Rala is disabled, S’Kar has damaged warp ring and we exerted extra warp power on just getting here in time. Our Centaurian+
[11:58][Local]Zeev@photi:reinforcements are down to one ship.
[12:00][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<FX> The Orions open fire from everything but it is clear this is their cover tactic as the vessel slowly turns around. Their remaining support vessel, one Xindi Reptilian goes straight on forArtemis
[12:02]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 ’s last bit of restraint finally snaps. Eyes locked on the charging Xindi warship, she slams the helm forward. The Artemis surges onto an intercept course. Intent on forcing the Xindi to flinch..
[12:02]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 | … or collide. Nina seemed locked in on what she would choose
[12:03][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"hahahahahah, Getting bold? I like it.
[12:05]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 doesn’t even hear the Andorian from behind. Grief and fury have overwhelmed her. Unresolved trauma now drives the Artemis forward straight at the enemy of old. Every instinct of her
[12:06]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 |.. as Alpha Centauri’s Ambassador to the stars is drowned out by memories of Earth burning
[12:07][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<FX> Whatever Sahla did to the phasers must have drained the systems across Artemis as the frontal phaser cannons open overpowered fire and photonic torpedoes smash against the Xindi Reptilian.+
[12:08][STOIC]Zeev@photi:The crew of functioning NP vessel must have felt the same way as Reyes has. They threw everything they got at already burning Xindi vessel. Surprisingly, a deflector beam was fired from Alaar,+
[12:09][STOIC]Zeev@photi:collapsing last of the Xindi shields, turning it into dust instantly, through which Artemis now flew, their shields slightly drained from remaining plasma
[12:10][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<FX> The Orion capital ship is gone from sensors, leaving a residual signal similar to one left behind by Suliban cloaking devices
[12:11][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<C-Felenn> "This is Ambassador Felenn, leading the joint fleet. We will continue the search for Orion vessel.
[12:11]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 blinks, finally seeming to return to herself as the burning Xindi vessel erupts just ahead of the Artemis. What had she done. She had no right. “I…” her breath was ragged as they passed through
[12:11][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"Ah but of course they ran. Is there any point at it at this point? It’s rather clear now that the orions are trouble makers who need a good series of kicking.
[12:12]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 | .. the cloud of debris. “I nearly got us all killed”. She quickly places the ship in an automated flight pattern that would bring it about and into formation with the remaining NP-class ship.
[12:12][Local]Zeev@photi:<Major> approaches the conn and places comforting hand on Reyes’ shoulder. “It’s alright, Ambassador. We’ve all been there. But it’s over now.”, then turns to Sahla. "I wholeheartedly agree, Commande
[12:13]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 | .. and steps away from the conn. It is quickly assumed by a crewman who had just arrived to relieve the injured original helmsperson
[12:14][Local]Zeev@photi:<Tactical> "Major, Commander. MACO are returning, and… they are bringing Captain Zeev aboard at his insistience. Ambassador Felenn and the joint Rigelian-Tellarite flotilla are continuing pursuit.
[12:15][Local]Zeev@photi:<Tactical> "Two NPs, one disabled, one functioning. Vo’Rala disabled but operational. S’Kar in similar shape and Alaar is coming back online.
[12:15][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"Aaaah problem solved. Now we have the newer problem. See how we’ll solve that one. With plasma and phasers I imagine.
[12:15]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 bows her head after slightly recoiling from the Major’s touch. She was unable to meet their eyes. "It’s not good enough
[12:15][Local]Zeev@photi:<Tactical> “Coridan vessels are fine.”, he finishes his report
[12:16][Local]Zeev@photi:<Major> nods to Reyes. "It will have to be for now, Ambassador. But I think we have proven our point. Humans still matter. And we can still build alliances.
[12:17][Local]Zeev@photi:<Major> turns to Sahla. "I am looking forward to this plasma and phaser solution, Commander.
[12:17][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:Ambassador Felenn. Our ships have taken a severe beating or are destroyed. Zeev remains our mission. We should regrooup, escort him and the Alaar survivors safely to Tellar Prime at once. And
[12:18][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:.. ensure today’s bloodshed to preserve and capture new evidence reaches every government across our worlds
[12:18][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"Time to put this alliance to the test hm?
[12:19][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:.. Today was not an attack on a Tellarite ship. But on Coridan, Vulcan, Andoria and Alpha Centauri all. Divided, they will pick us off one by one or set us against one another to do that for them
[12:19][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:Together, we have shown them that they won’t succeed
[12:20]Zeev@photi steps through the slide door as they open. "I couldn’t have said it better myself, Ambassador. And thanks for stopping by and saving my Tellarite behind.
[12:21][STOIC]Zeev@photi:<C-Felenn> "Acknowledged, Artemis. Setting course for Tellar Prime once we aid your vessels.
[12:21][STOIC]Zeev@photi:“Felenn out.”
[12:21]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 allows herself the faintest smile at the sight of the little Tellarite Admiral. "We’d have crossed the quadrant to save any ally Admiral. That is what we all must realise today.
[12:22][Local]Zeev@photi:“Still just a Captain, Ambassador, but I will accept field promotion.”, he laughs and turns to Sahla. "Andorian saving a Tellarite’s behind. And here I thought I saw it all.
[12:23][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"Oh don’t you worry, I hate orions much more now. Besides, I also saved my own skin as well. Saving you was a side effect.
[12:23]Sahla@datguyyoulik smirks
[12:24][Local]Zeev@photi:“I’ll drink that blue toxin of yours for that. That ale, you call it.”, he grins
[12:24]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 laughed, “You’ll be an Admiral by the time we reach Tellar Zeev.” She paused and watched the exchanges among those present. For a moment there, she had spoken with the kind of words her
[12:25][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"I’ve been running low, should still have enough for a few toasts though.
[12:25]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 + predecessor Ambassador Kelson would often use. About survival, about…. unity, with others. He had believed that she could carry humanity forward. Today, this moment. She finally began to belie
[12:25]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 .. believe it too
[12:27][Local]Zeev@photi:“Colonel Crawford was able to arrest the green-ass leading the boarding party. And she found a very interesting optical rod.”, he says and marches to Major who inserts into reading unit
[12:27][Local]Zeev@photi:<FX> On main viewer, Mercator alike cartography projection of Coridan is shown, depicting what seems to be tectonic map of the planet. Tectonic plates are shown in blue, but there are also purple+
[12:28][Local]Zeev@photi:lines following them closely but not overlapping them.
[12:30]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 steps closer to the display. She studies the line
[12:30][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"Geology isn’t my strongsuit.
[12:31][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:… what exactly are we looking at? Why would the Orions be carrying such a survey of Coridan I wonder
[12:31][Local]Zeev@photi:"The purple lines are dilithium veins. Coridan is a floating rock of dilithium in amounts vaster than anything known thus far. This is what they’ve been hiding, even from their trading partners, like
[12:31][Local]Zeev@photi:Tellarites or Rigelians.
[12:33][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:So that was the endgame… isolate Coridan by turning Tellar and Rigel against one another. Cut off its trade, leave it standing alone, then seize the richest dilithium reserve currently known with n
[12:33][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:hope of mounting a united response
[12:33][Local]Zeev@photi:“And they almost succeeded.”
[12:34][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"I don’t see any reason why we shouldn’t take fleets and questions to them.
[12:34]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 studies the display in silence. A troubling thought crosses her mind. Such detailed surveys should have been among Coridan’s closest secrets. She can’t help but wonder who gave the orions acces
[12:35][Local]Zeev@photi:"Considering they have Malurians and Xindi at their disposal, I wouldn’t be surprised if they bought some of Coridanites themselves.
[12:35][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:We may yet have to Commander. But if we answer every provocation with fleets alone, we’ll always be one step behind those pulling the strings
[12:36]Zeev@photi turns to Sahla. "So we should start cleaning here, BEFORE we take questions to them.
[12:36][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:Today we exposed them. Tomorrow after we lick our wounds and pull together in unity, we make certain the entire quandrant knows their game
[12:37][Local]Zeev@photi:"Ambassador Felenn briefly contacted me and… he will propose to Coridan government to allow mining rights to Rigelians, Tellarites, Vulcans, Andorians and Humans.
[12:37]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 meets Zeev’s gaze for a moment. He’d voiced what she had just concluded silently. "If the Orions possessed such secrets this sensitive, then I agree. Someone on Coridan has betrayed their own
[12:37][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:“Nothing stops us from doing both. I’m not exactly a diplomatic, nor is the plasma pistol decorative.”
[12:38][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"Changing one of their own to resemble a tellarite and infiltrate them is already far beyond normal.
[12:39]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 inclines her head politely to Zeev as he speaks, but her expression seems hard. Felenn always seemed to emerge from each crisis with exactly the outcome he wanted
[12:39][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:Is that… s
[12:39][Local]Zeev@photi:“At least we know what to look at based on the autopsy Commander Sahla conducted.”
[12:41][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:hmm. I admit, if they could replace one of your crew then they could as easily have done so in one of Coridan’s ministries. They could do so in all of our governments
[12:41][Local]Zeev@photi:"I also think that the idea of joint Vanguard Fleet is a necessity. The fall of Earth was bad enough, but this… this conspiratorial scheming is far reaching just the same.
[12:41][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"You suspect Felenn?
[12:42][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"I could easily check. Making Felenn agree is another.
[12:43]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 pauses for a fraction, too long, and it would be clear to any that she is caught off guard by the question Sahla raises aloud. Could the andorian read her so easily?
[12:44][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:I.. suspect nothing. We don’t have enough information to doubt anyone, or accuse anyone. Not until evidence demands it Commander. Looking at any, Felenn included, may be what our enemy wants of us
[12:44][Local]Zeev@photi:"Hmm… he is Rigelian, married to a Coridan woman. He might have been coerced by either government. Or the Orions.
[12:44][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:We have to build more than just a vanguard Zeev. We must build a foundation of unity. A federation of wills. A united federation of all of our planets in opposition of forces which would seek to brin
[12:44][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:us down
[12:45][Local]Sahla@datguyyoulik:"No I suspect us requiring that we trust one another while being plagued by suspicion would be self defeating.
[12:46][Local]Zeev@photi:"I will voice my support this before the Tellarite government, believe me. After these past few days… I have to agree. And Tellarites do NOT agree that easily.
[12:46][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:Ambassador Felenn has long been an aid to our investigations, and I intend to treat him as an ally. But trust is no substitute for vigilance. If this conspiracy has taught us anything, it is that none
[12:47][Local]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128:… of us can afford to stop asking the difficult questions
[12:48]Zeev@photi exhales heavily, looking between Reyes, Sahla and Artemis crew. "Then I suggest we begin even today. We don’t have to wait to reach Tellar Prime.
[12:50]Nina Reyes@nynikal#4128 steps forward towards the Tellarite, “Agreed”