Eclipse had been cruising through space in her ship without a care in the world... or universe, as it were. And yet, something felt amiss. Eclipse checked over the systems, and it was only when she was done and satisfied that she realized that her unease was being caused by something external to the ship.

That shouldn't have been... possible?

How could something be wrong with the universe?

For a moment, there was a hiccup. The universe... blinked. And yet, Ancestor remained the same. It was still there, still intact, still functioning... even in that moment when the universe ceased to exist.

The sensors were slow to process the data. It wasn't that the universe had ceased, but that the ship had been momentarily shifted into a second universe!

Her first instinct was to flee, but she quickly realized that there was nowhere she could go.

It was a space-hole... and it was swallowing her up!

It was a hole in the universe. There had been speculation among the learned that it led to somewhere else in the universe. But, to another universe? Only the quacks and the fictions suggested that.

There was no gravity so the ship couldn't actually fall, yet that's what it felt like.

It took only a second... or perhaps a year squeezed into a second... maybe even a century. Or the other way around... a second stretched into a century.

And then the ship was in the new universe. Eclipse had a brief moment of sensors just enough to detect the different universal constant before the ship went dead. It took only a minute before the energy grid absorbed enough cosmic radiation to bring minimum sensors back online. The ship did not appear to be damaged, but its energy had been depleted. It would take a few hours for the ship to fully recharge.
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:32, Thu 10 Jan 2019.

Eclipse had been taking the night shift when the incident happened but was gratified when shortly after first Navorn the their children rapidly arrived on the bridge, and Eclipse turned to look at them as they floated near the door as the artificial gravity was offline due to the power loss.

"First we need to restore power to at least life support, Navorn you check main engineering see if you can't get the cores to fire up again, I'll go to secondary to see if I can't get that one to fire. Sebastian, keep  on eye on the sensors and warn us if anything strange comes up, the rest go through the rest of the major areas to see if anything is wrong."

Eclipse watched with a small bit of pride as they all took off, the children may have only been 11 years old but they where very mature when circumstances warranted it, but Navorn was a different story, shi was not even in hir original body yet in the time they had been together you would never be able to tell hir from a normal one of hir kind.

Eclipse quickly followed the others off the bridge and once again envied both Navorn and the children, Navorn just because hir race was meant for space and made Z-G movement easy and the children as they inherited that trait.

But Eclipse was hoping that the power loss was due to what ever pulled them to this other universe had effected the primary cores like a gravity bomb and had caused a forced shut down, which if that was the case they would be able to fire up the secondary core for power.

Sebastian

Sebastian had been in hir cabin reading a book when shi felt something odd right before power died, and with gravity gone aswell shi quickly let go of the book and at the door to hir cabin used the manual release and quickly headed for the bridge, and was happy to see the the rest of the family met hir their before going through the airlock to the bridge one at a time and when shi finally got on the bridge after letting the others go first and stood infront of Eclipse with the others.

Shi was kind of upset when Eclipse told hir to watch the sensors but understood as that was one of the things shi usually did when the whole family was on shift so quickly went to the sensor station and started doing what shi could with what power they had to get the best sensor picture possible with the Ancestors sensors.


Navorn

Navorn had been in the main cargo bay tinkering on hir old truck when suddenly power and gravity went out and quickly securing the tools and quickly headed to the bridge and waited outside till all the kids arrived before leading the way onto the bridge, after Eclipse gave out orders Navorn couldn't help but smile as shi headed for main engineering as shi couldn't help but enjoy maneuvering in zero gravity due to hir species, it was one of the few things that made hir miss hir old human body less.

Once Navorn got to main engineering shi quickly starts trying to find out what happened to cause the cores to shut down.

Secondary/back-up power came up right away but main power was going to take a bit longer. That was because the cores had to be recalibrated for this universe. That should only take about 10 minutes.

The sensors now indicated that some sort of subspace rupture had occurred. It's exact nature wasn't immediately determinable, since previously recorded ruptures hadn't throw a ship out of the universe.

That meant going back wasn't going to be easy.

Sensors were also detecting a heavy concentration of dark energy over a wide area. That may have been a contributing factor to the rupture.


And then sensors detected an approaching ship. The dark energy was interfering with sensors, but even so, the ship's design wasn't familiar.

And then a second ship was detected! It was coming from a different direction, but it's design wasn't familiar either.


Once the first ship got within range, it seemed to be trying to contact the Ancestor. At least, Eclipse assumed it was some sort of hailing frequency. It wasn't one she was familiar with. That would probably take more re-calibration.

Navorn

Navorn floated through the doors to main engineering and after going through the diagnostics started muttering under hir breath as shi immediately started trying to recalibrate the cores, and shi knew that is the secondary core needed to get recalibrated Eclipse would leave it as the main priority would be to get the main triple cores up and going first. Though Navorn couldn't help but smirk as shi started the recalibrating as shi knew there where very few people that could know a ships systems aswell as shi did with only 11 years of experience with any kind of advanced technology. Shi also opened a comm channel to Eclipse to let hir know what was going on.

"Eclipse it seems that all we need to do is recalibrate the cores for this universe which I'm in the process of doing right now and should take about 10 minutes."


Sebastian

Sebastian was fiddling with the sensors trying to overcome the effects of the dark matter and also logging any sensor info collected on the rupture as shi knew figured hir sire could compare them to the reading a global sensor system had logged when hir mother had first appeared on Earth 11 years ago, But the moment the sensors detected a vessel approaching Shi immediately opened an internal channel to hir father, Eclipse.

"We have an unknown vessel approaching us, and it's not of any design we've seen before, correction make that two unknown vessels though one does seem like it might have some slight design similarities to Star corp or Starfleet."


Dot

Dot was the first to get back to the bridge from checking over hir assigned sections of the ship and shi immediately went to the comms station and hearing Sebastian say there was an unknown vessel approaching immediately strapped hirself in.


Eclipse

Eclipse had still been trying to get to the secondary core when Navorn informaed hir of what shi had found with the primary cores and Eclipse decided to head back to the bridge and was halfway back when shi got the message from Sebastion and tried to move faster and just as shi got to the bridge Dot announced that they where receiving a signal of some kind and shi immediately started trying to recalibrate comms to try and get the message.

((OOC: You should have made a roll for it...))


Having already established that this was a different universe, although apparently a similar one, it didn't take long to reset the quantum signature of the comm system and eventually the ship... if you can't find a way back.

The problem with resetting the comm is that it might not work with the rest of the ship.

Once reset, the comm is making more sense of the transmission. It sounds like Klingon, but more like Klingon gibberish.

[Language unknown: =/\=Men we wa Wionch theaverut Notectrom! Aspa'foio ha der whi mo anfincne!=/\=]

((OOC: Sorry we never did set up skills or anything for Eclipse or hir family so I wasn't sure.))



Eclipse listened as Dot got the coms working and frowned at what shi heard as it was like no language shi had ever heard.

"Dot open a channel so we can respond and put us at yellow alert so your sibling know to either get here to the bridge or to the ships inner structure where they'll be better protected incase things go south, and try to see if you can't clean that up."


"Unknown vessel, I'm Commander Eclipse of the Stellar Federation, we are experiencing some problems with some of our equipment due to the nature of our unanticipated arrival here, and your last message we received seemed broken and incomplete."

Eclipse then indicated to Dot to cut the channel so shi could speak freely and once Dot confirmed the channel was closed Eclipse opened an internal channel to Navorn.

"Navorn Once you can get the cores fired up keep them at minimum levels until or unless we need more power, also just as an emergency precaution get armed, I'm unlocking the weapons locker here on the bridge and the others for the other kids to arms themselves in worst case."







21:52, Today: Eclipse rolled 7 using 1d20 with rolls of 7.  warp core recalibration.

21:47, Today: Eclipse rolled 18 using 1d20 with rolls of 18.  coms recalibrate continuing.

The warp core recalibration is done quickly. The communications is a bit trickier.

Another message comes from the other ship. It sounds almost the same as the previous one, but there is a tone of frustration and anger in it. You definitely get the impression that your own comm message was received but with as little comprehension as you had of theirs.


You detect another ship approaching fast. It, too, sends out a comm message. It has a vague hint of Federation common, but, again, may be getting distorted by the different universal wave length.


The first ship apparently decides not to wait for the other ship and opens fire on the Ancestor. It may be that the second ship is an enemy of the first ship or it may be that the first doesn't want to share in any bounty from defeating the Ancestor.

It also isn't clear if the first ship is firing a warning shot or if it is making a full attack.

Eclipse waits for a response to hir message when the rest of the children get back to the bridge and take their respectful places just as another message is received from both the first ship and a second ship before the first vessel fired on the Ancestor.

"Dot open a channel again but to both vessels."

then first in the Caitains language called Katang low tongue and that in the Raskani language shi spoke.

"hold your fire, we are not here to fight, are comms are not understanding your language and we have children aboard."



Sebastian

The moment the ship had gone to yellow alert shi had stopped hir inspections and had gone to the nearest arms locker and pulled out a phaser and holster before heading to the bridge and once there shi quickly took hir spot at the helm, but as the one vessel opened fire shi was glad that the Ancestors emergency power was enough for some limited evasive action using the thrusters and did what shi could to try to minimize damage until the main cores where brought online.


Dot

Dot continued to try and find some way of getting the Ancestors coms to understand these aliens even trying to run what they did have through the Miraki translator, but didn't have much hope in that despite it's near miraculous capabilities for language it still usually needed some kind of reference to start a translation.


Cali

Cali had also armed hirself on hir way to the bridge and took hir spot at weapons and when the alien vessel opened fire immediately set the ship from yellow to red alert and for the Ancestor there was only one stage left which was Battle alert but that was saved for when there was a high possibility of boarding as the entire ship except for the bridge and some of the crew quarters where vented to space and all artificial gravity was shut off.


Navorn

The moment the recalibration was done Navorn tried to fire up the cores, hoping that they would fire up quickly as shi didn't want to have to try any tricks to get them up to full power until more was known about what was going one, but shi did send the calibration to the systems for the secondary emergency core.






19:39, Today: Eclipse rolled 17 using 1d20 with rolls of 17.  raskani and caitian language test.

19:37, Today: Eclipse rolled 17 using 1d20 with rolls of 17.  coms calibtration continued.

19:24, Today: Eclipse rolled 18 using 1d20 with rolls of 18.  evasive maneuvers.

19:23, Today: Eclipse rolled 9 using 1d20 with rolls of 9.  firing up the triple cores.

19:22, Today: Eclipse rolled 1 using 1d20 with rolls of 1.  miraki universel translator.

((OOC: So, the Federation ship will be able to understand hir Caitian. Just give the other players a chance to respond before I post your message in the main thread.))

((OOC: Bleh week. What can the Mongoose sensors tell about the Ancestor? Will they be able to get an accurate reading of the number of life signs on board?))


It quickly became apparent that the ship's quantum signature could not be changed to match the quantum signature of this universe. There was no known way of doing that.

At the same time, there was also no way to recalibrate every system on the ship at the same time. Each system would have to be adjusted individually.

Comms were the first, but there was a problem still. It couldn't quite make sense of the language. The translator would find a single word, but couldn't make sense out of the structure.

It was only when the sensors were recalibrated that you were able to determine that you were in an area of space filled with dark energy. Once you recalibrated for the dark energy, things started making sense.

You detected that the second ship had fired on the first ship.

At the same time, you picked up the Klingon ship transporting something over to the Ancestor.

((OOC: The Ancestor is supposed to have a sensor reflective hull, but for now I'll say that they can detect life signs but not how many or exactly where their located but an estimate between 3 to 10 due to interference from the Ancestors hull. If allowed to successfully go through with the full battle alert, the other ships would be able to see the Ancestors atmosphere being vented to space and maybe even that the ship was no longer producing internal gravity
In the CU moving and doing things in Zero gravity for starwalkers is like walking and running for us, completely natural.))


Sebastian

Sebastian had finally managed to get the sensors working properly again and was slightly relieved when the second incoming vessel opened fire on the first one but that relief disappeared when shi saw that the first vessel was transporting something aboard.


"Captain first unknown has transported something aboard, trying to get internal sensors to get a reading on what it was. Also we seem to be in some kind of dark energy cloud."


Sebastian muttered under hir breath as the internal sensors initially gave wonky readings and immediately started trying to get them recalibrated like shi had the external sensors.

Eclipse

The moment Sebastion told hir that something had been beamed aboard shi called out to Cali.

"Go to Battle Alert, and make sure the others know we might have uninvited guests."


Eclipse hoped that the battle alert would at least respond like it should and vent most of the ship except for the bridge and certain airlocked chambers on the ship to space, while at the same time shutting down the ships entire artificial gravity system, which would give Navorn and the children the advantage with their Starwalker freedom and skill in Zero gravity, as even back home, a veteran space walker of twenty years had a hard time keeping up with a 1 year old Starwalker kit, and Navorn and the kids had 11 years experience aboard the Ancestor.


Yoda, Marble

Yoda and Marble had met up with each other at an arms locker and had kitted themselves out with both phasers and oxygen tanks and where on their way to engineering to meet up with Navorn when the ship went into Battle alert and they immediately ducked to one side of the corridor but continued their journey to engineering but in a much stealthier and cautious manner, they also closed their third eyelid giving them the appearance of having solid gold eye's but the eyelid would seal and protect their eye's from vacuum and the rest would happen automatically if they encountered vacuum.





21:41, Today: Eclipse rolled 13 using 1d20 with rolls of 13.  internal sensor recalibration.

21:27, Today: Eclipse rolled 1 using 1d20 with rolls of 1.  internal sensors.

21:22, Today: Eclipse rolled 11 using 1d20 with rolls of 11.  battle alert initiation.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:48, Mon 18 Feb 2019.

Recalibration went more quickly and more smoothly now that the dual problem was identified. Even the internal sensors had to deal with the dark energy. The Ancestor's hull didn't stop it from permeating the entire ship.

Normally, it wouldn't interfere with organic lifeforms... didn't affect health, vision, brain activity, etc. Oddly, this dark energy seemed to have a different quantum signature as well! So it was causing a slight problem with vision. Intermittent double vision, shadows where none should be.

It seemed to be a function of time--the longer you were in the dark energy, the worse it seemed to get, though you couldn't be sure if there was an upper end.

Internal sensor registered 12 intruders. Klingons.

Just then, Communications was finished being recalibrated.

Navorn

Navorn was still trying to get the main triple core system to fire up when the Battle alert tone sounded off and shi quickly sealed engineering and locked down the doors before making sure the room would stay pressurized while also making sure that the corridors outside where all vacuum still. this way if anyone tried to force their way in the explosive decompression would hurl everything out into the corridor instead of into engineering. Shi also double checked the hir phaser.


Yoda & Marble

As the continued on they felt the increasing vacuum as the atmosphere was vented and where thankful that they both had the Starwalker ability to survive in vacuum but they also reached out with their empathy to try and detect any intruders before they ended up getting within sight.


Sebastian

Sebastian finally got the internal sensors recalibrated and frowned.

"We have 12 intruders of an unknown race that were beamed aboard."

Sebastian quickly tried to get more indepth scans of the intruders but kept rapidly blinking and shaking hir head as hir vision seems to go odd now and then.


Eclipse

Eclipse frowned before quickly looking between Sebastian, Cali, and Dot.

"If you can, start recalibrating weapons, shields, and engines, but be ready incase they get to the bridge, I'm going to go find your other two siblings and then try to get these intruder off my ship."

with that Eclipse suddenly disappeared from the bridge only to reappear moments later in the Ancestors main armory were hir combat armor was and quickly engaging the manual override for the power system shi gets the armor on and also grabs a set of swords that shi attaches the hir lower body for ease of access before making sure the armors basic life support was on and stepping first into the airlock between the armory and the corridor and then into the corridor once the airlock had done it's job and shi quickly moved into an alcove in the corridor before reaching out empathicly to try and pinpoint not only the intruders but also Marble and Yoda.



Cali, Dot

The moment Eclipse had gone Cali started bring up the shield system at hir console and started working on recalibrating it. While Dot brought up the weapons system at hirs and started trying to get it recalibrated leaving the engines themselves to Sebastian.





Eclipse rolled 12 using 2d20 with rolls of 2,10.  engines recalibrate.

Eclipse rolled 26 using 2d20 with rolls of 20,6.  weapons recalibrate.

Eclipse rolled 25 using 2d20 with rolls of 7,18.  shield recalibrate.

Eclipse rolled 38 using 3d20 with rolls of 11,13,14.  empathy.

Eclipse rolled 6 using 2d20 with rolls of 2,4.  determination, teleport talent.

Eclipse rolled 38 using 2d20 with rolls of 19,19.  teleport.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:41, Wed 27 Feb 2019.

The recalibrated communications pick up a transmission from the second ship. It's in Caitian but clearly was being translated by a computer.

=/\="This is Captain Anther th'Valla of the United Federation Starship Mongoose. You were attacked by a species known as the Klingons. We've detected that they sent a boarding team onto your ship. Our sensors indicate that your power is down and you are venting atmosphere."

"We are sending a team over to assist you to repel the boarders and to assist in repairing your systems."=/\=

Sebastian

Sebastian listened to the incoming message and frowned, but shi knew they had no real choice right now and opened a channel to respond.

"Captain Anther th'Valla, I'm Chakat Sebastian daughter of Navorn and Eclipse. We appreciate the help, and I'm sure Commander Eclipse would aswell. If Shi was still on the bridge, but shi has left to deal with the intruders you identify as Klingons. Our venting atmosphere is intentional and part of a security protocol and only effects certain parts of the ship, I will endeavor to inform Commander Eclipse of your teams arrival but if shi is in hir battle armor shi may not be able to receive me, please inform your team of this potential problem."

the moment shi closed the channel shi immediately tried to send a message to Eclipse to inform hir of their incoming new guests.

"Dad we have more company coming from the second ship but their coming to assist us."


(OOC: Shi is pronounced Shay, Hir is pronounced either Hare, or Heer)
This message was last edited by the player at 01:54, Mon 25 Feb 2019.

========== For Eclipse and her crew ==========

Not knowing if the Klingons in this universe are like the Klingons in hirs, or possibly worse, having assistance from someone in this universe who should know what they are like is probably a good thing.

For that matter, shi doesn't really know what this Federation is like. So far, though, the indications are positive. Although, they could have fired on the Klingon ship to drive away a potential claimant to this ship. Ditto for their boarding part.

Shi also didn't know how many were being transported over (or, for that matter, if they were being transported over) or how they were armed or armored.



========== For the Mongoose Away Team ==========

There are only six of you, since you are expecting help from the crew of this ship. If it gets down to bat'leth combat, you might be in trouble, but in a firefight, the captain has confidence that you'll prevail.

Zaxim Asida, Dieter Lumper, Dypec, Jillian Svensson and two other Security Officers.

sparkle effect :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

You materialize in a corridor. Hopefully, you aren't too far away from the Klingons, but the beaming couldn't be very accurate because of this ship's hull.

Another communication from the second ship comes in:

=/\="Acknowledged, Chakat Sebastian. I will attempt to inform my away team of the situation."=/\=


========== For Away Team Two ==========

=/\="Captain th'Valla to Away Team Two. If you can read me, there may be a heavily armored ally attempting to deal with the Klingons. Repeat: armored ally."=/\=

Now that everyone is compensating for quantum difference, Away Team Two can receive the message.

============= For Mongoose away team ==============

The corridor the away team finds themselves in looks more like a hallway in an old house, with wood paneling on the walls, those that know about house interiors might recognize it as knotty pine boards, a tasteful carpet covering the deck, and what appeared to be a plastered ceiling, and the doors along the hall while obviously meant to slide into the walls where also designed to appear to be wooden doors rather then conventional ship doors.

Shortly after the team arrives there movement at one end of the corridor which turns out to be what almost appears to be a mechanical feline taur form followed by a smaller feline taur form that seems to be living but with the corridor fully vacuum the smaller taur form has only a shirt on hir upper torso, but shi also has solid gold eye's



Super

Super had gotten hir phaser from hir quarters and had just left it and was heading for the bridge when shi saw hir mother going the opposite direction and followed hir, hir phaser on one of it's higher settings. Though all shi was wearing was hir uniform top. Super stops as they come around a corner to see a group and people and starts bringing hir phaser up but stops when shi notices that hir mother has not aimed yet.



Eclipse

Eclipse was glad to have Super with hir as shi continued to head for the Klingons but stopped when shi suddenly felt another group and hopping that these where allies moved to them and rounded a corner and saw the group and cautiously approached with hir rifle held at the ready but not aimed.

Zaxim had his phaser at the ready; he was nervous to go against the Klingons, but at the same time the team seemed to consist of the best Star Fleet had to offer. Speaking in hush tones, "I hope that these were the ones the Captain spoke about."

Being both Bolian and just the way Zaxim was; he stepped forward from the group slightly. "Hello, I am Zaxim Adisa of the USS Mongoose. I think we have the same goal of handling the Klingon borders. And, you are?"

Zaxim could not help but to smile at the two feline humanoids.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:51, Sun 03 Mar 2019.

"They do not look like Klingons," Dypec replies to Zaxim over the radio since they are in survival suits and there is no atmosphere.

"Logically, they must be the crew of this ship."

He waits to see if these quadruped being respond to Zaxim's broadcast.

Eclipse looked at the new arrivals before hir armors com unit received a message from one of them that had stepped forward and shi replies so that they could all hear.


"I'm Commander Chakat Eclipse daughter of Goldmane and Starstreak of house blackpaw, also Captain of the Ancestor, I assume from your nonhostile emotions and behavior that your from the other vessel that did not attack us. Also this is one of my children Super, there are two more of my children behind the Klingons as you call them, once they get to Navorn they will all suit up and come up from behind the Klingons as long as we can hold them to one location, preferably this corridor, as while it is closer to the bridge then I would like a hostile force to ever be, once in this corridor we can trap them with us in front and Navorn, Yoda, and Marble from behind."

"It seems like a solid plan to me, but I am not the boss. But, a question why did they attack your ship, and I hope the answer is more than because they are Klingons." Zaxim should let the ranking officer lead, but his Bolian nature to talk was hard to suppress. Captain Lincoln had been working with him before he retires.

The Klingon's split up into two groups. One heads for engineering and the other heads for the bridge.

The are in survival suits and armed with disruptors as well as carrying bat'leths on their backs.

This message was deleted by the player at 04:58, Sat 16 Mar 2019.

Petty Officer First Class Pacomio Starbird blows against the inside of the face plate of his environmental suit and nods appreciatively as he waits for orders.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:06, Sat 16 Mar 2019.

Jillian's first instinct upon materializing was to lift her tricorder from her hip and begin taking scans of the ship, understanding its atmosphere, the location of life forms, power systems, potential threats.

Petty Officer Starbird visually scans the room they are in and attempts to identify any immediate threats.

Jillian can get a reading from the creatures in front of her, even through the armor, but she's not picking up anything else throughout the ship. Either the material of the ship is blocking her tricorder or the fact that the ship has a different universal constant is making the tricorder unable to register it.


Just then, half a dozen of the Klingons round a corner. As soon as they spot anyone, they start firing their disruptors.

Bugeyes immediately returns fire with his phaser rifle (set for stun).  (May I add an area effect before firing, or do I have time?)

His control + security = 12.

Focus, “If somebody messes with me, I’m gonna mess with him!”

01:28, Today: Pacomio 'Bugeyes' Starbird rolled 14 using 2d20 with rolls of 10,4.  Fire phaser rifle.

01:35, Today: Pacomio 'Bugeyes' Starbird rolled 33 using 8d6 with rolls of 5,2,5,6,2,4,3,6.  Damage.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:36, Sat 30 Mar 2019.

Eclipse had been about to respond when shi felt the Klingon party split and one part of it came around the corner and opened fire causing hir to duck before bringing hir phaser up and returning fire as shi moved to the closest door and knowing that is was one of the rooms that had also been vented opens the door and ducks around the corner as shi opens a comm channel to the others.

"every other door way after this one is vacuum, you can use them to get out off teh corridor, btu don't open the others, they still have atmosphere so you open the door you get explosive decompression of the room on the other side."



Super

As the Klingons came around the corner super jumped up and using zero gravity to hir advantage did a controlled bounce off the ceiling before going through the door Eclipse opened as shi also fired on the Klingons from a higher vantage point by the ceiling.



17:06, Today: Eclipse rolled 22 using 2d20 with rolls of 16,6.  fire hand phaser.
Eclipse rolled 36 using 2d20 with rolls of 20,16.  Supre return fire.

Without gravity, there really wasn't a floor or ceiling any more, something the Klingons had apparently been trained for.

Just as super used the 'ceiling' as a launch platform, so to do the Klingons in the rear 'walk' up the walls to get a clear shot.

Pacomio gets off a shot and does 8 damage to the lead Klingon which is reduced by 2 for the better Resistance the Klingon's environment suit provides. His roll produced 3 Effects that he can invoke.

The first two Klingons shoot at Eclipse:
17:15, Today: StarMaster rolled 15,17,14,11 using 1d20,1d20,1d20,1d20 ((15,17,14,11)).

With a TN of 14 and requiring 2 successes, the first one misses, but the second one hits.
17:22, Today: StarMaster rolled 7d6 ((6,4,6,2,1,6,2)) for 11 damage minus any Resistances Eclipse has.

The next two Klingons shoot at the Mongoose away team:
17:15, Today: StarMaster rolled 10,12,10,1 using 1d20,1d20,1d20,1d20 ((10,12,10,1)).

Both of them hit.
17:41, Today: StarMaster rolled 7d6 ((5,3,4,1,2,6,4)) for 7 damage to Pacomio (at least -1 Resistance for the environment suit he's wearing).

17:42, Today: StarMaster rolled 7d6 ((5,1,2,5,1,4,6)) for 10 damage to Dieter (at least -1 Resistance for the environment suit he's wearing).


The last two Klingons shoot at Super who fired at them.
17:16, Today: StarMaster rolled 19,8,16,6 using 1d20,1d20,1d20,1d20 ((19,8,16,6)).

Both of them miss.

This message was deleted by the player at 22:27, Sat 06 Apr 2019.

OOC: I want to avoid an injury.  Can I pay two momentum to do that, or must I suffer a complication?

Because the 6 damage (7 - 1 Resistance) is greater than 5, Pacomio would take 1 injury besides the 6 stress. This means you'd be incapacitated.

To Avoid an Injury, it costs 2 Immediate Momentum, but, since there isn't any Momentum yet, Immediate Momentum can be paid for by adding to Threat.

Alternatively, you can Avoid an Injury by suffering a Complication, which represents a minor injury, or some other consequence of the attack such as a bystander hit, damage to machinery nearby, etc.

Which option do you want to use?

I’ll take the complication, preferably to the nearby machinery.

Jillian took cover activated her combadge, "Mongoose this Dr. Svensson. We have encountered at least six Klingon warriors who are firing on us. We have two wounded."

OOC I would say more about the wounded but I don't have any ranks or anything to describe them with

Pacomio just barely manages to duck under the Klingon fire, but the shot, rather than doing any damage to the wall or any machinery behind it, just ricochets off of it, almost hitting Dypec.

In fact, the energy bolt continues to bounce off of several walls before it comes back and hits Pacomio in the back! However, the energy has been mostly depleted by the ricochets, and Pacomio only feels a slight impact.


Both sides continue to fire, but as Eclipse pointed out, some of the doors will open to provide cover.

Eclipse herself provides sufficient cover by way of her armor suit which is proof against the Klingon disruptors... unless two or more of them manage to hit her at the same time in the same spot. She keeps moving, though, to prevent that.


Dieter takes the hit, temporarily taking him out of the fight.


Although Pacomio was hit by the disruptor on rebuild, Jillian quickly realizes that he hasn't been injured yet. Her first concern is to make sure Dieter's suit it sealed, and then pulls him into one of the rooms without atmosphere.

Once out of the line of fire, Jillian can put a containment sleeve over Dieter's wound and then use her dermal regenerator to keep the wound from further bleeding. Only then can she use her medical tricorder to scan Dieter. As expected, there was no internal damage; the EVA suit had distorted the energy enough to keep the shot from being lethal. Dieter will be awake and functional again shortly; of course, the fight may be over by then.


Dypec, though an engineer and a Vulcan, still has basic Starfleet training on how to fire a phaser. Though not intentional, he stands shoulder to shoulder with Zaxim and fires back at the Klingons.

Both of them manage to hit a Klingon, and while the phasers aren't as powerful (or dangerous) as disruptors, they still manage to get through the tougher Klingon EVA suits, stunning both of them.


Only 3 Klingons left.

Pacomio returns fire faster than a hood can throw dice against the wall of an alley.

04:00, Today: Pacomio 'Bugeyes' Starbird rolled 18 using 2d20 with rolls of 8,10.  Fire phaser rifle.

04:02, Today: Pacomio 'Bugeyes' Starbird rolled 39 using 8d6 with rolls of 5,6,3,4,6,5,4,6.  Damage.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:03, Sun 21 Apr 2019.

Super had gotten into the room and returned fire at the Klingons while keeping most of hir body inside the room protected by the wall and door frame but shi stayed near the top of the doorway.


Eclipse continued to move, never stopping though shi knew that it threw off hir aim especially with the effects of the dark energy but shi continued to shoot hoping that hir armor would hold up but ready to jump into a room if needed.



Eclipse rolled 12 using 2d20 with rolls of 8,4.  super return fire from cover.

Eclipse rolled 34 using 2d20 with rolls of 20,14.  fire hand phaser.

Super has no trouble hitting the Klingons, but Eclipse seems to be having trouble with the alternate universe. It's possible her phaser needs recalibrated.

Dypec hits another Klingon that seems to stun him.

Zaxim also hits the same Klingon.

Pacomio also hits a Klingon and stuns him.


That eliminates the last three Klingons here.

Pacomio contacts the ship, and asks if they want to beam the fallen klingons back as prisoners.

=/\= "Make contact with the crew of the ship and see what they want to do with the intruders, short of killing them. If they wish, since the Klingons came off of the Klingon supply ship, we'd just do a site-to-site transport to put them on the Klingon facility." =/\= comes the Captain's reply.

He tells Eclipse about the Captain’s orders, and waits for someone ranked higher than himself (this would be just about anybody) to start bossing him around.

(in space)

The Ancestor suddenly comes to life, her shields snapping up to full power, along with her weapons coming online and being armed along with her engines coming online. The ship slowly maneuvered closer to the mongoose but always with it's main firing arcs aimed away from the ship before coming to a rest relatively near but still far enough away to allow for emergency maneuvering, and the Ancestor was facing the opposite direction of the Mongoose, (kind of like two fighters standing back to back).


(inside the Ancestor)

Eclipse listened to Pacomio before turning to Super and giving hir a series of hand gestures to which the child quickly nodded and with a quick wave to the Starfleet officers took off towards the bridge at a nearly breakneck speed. Once Super was gone Eclipse turned back to the others.

"For your assistance, I won't treat these individuals as pirates for their actions, which in my universe would be bringing them up on either a death sentence or mind wipe. So I will let you and your captain have these pirates. But if he turns them over to their own authorities please have him inform them that next time they attack me, my ship or my crew, I will kill them. But there is still another group heading for engineering, my mate and two of our children are already down there getting ready to defend it, and I sent Super to have Dot get to meet us down there to take care of the rest of these, Klingons."


Eclipse then moves past the dead or unconscious Klingons, resisting the temptation to cause the unconscious ones a bit more bodily harm and waited for the others to get the Klingons transported off, and to group up behind hir so that shi could guide them to engineering.

Petty Officer Starbird prepares to follow Eclipse to engineering, eager to put some muscle behind this muscle.

"USS Mongoose to Away team, please report your status" Comes over the away team's badges.

“Petty Officer Starbird here., bwoss.  We greased some Klingons all the way to dream street and now we’re looking to get the jump on some more of ‘em.  It’s gonna be beaudiful.”
This message was last edited by the player at 20:15, Sat 25 May 2019.

=/\= Shran here returning. }-/\=

=/\= "This is Lieutenant Commander Skig. We have 6 unconscious Klingons to be beamed up to security and then to be beamed down to the research facility." =/\= Skig replied to the Mongoose.

(Super)
Super quickly made hir way through the corridors back to the bridge and used hir security code to activate the bridge airlock and once on the bridge started breathing deeply before going over to hir normal station and starting to set up the Ancestors sensors for full spectrum high detail scans, including every trick they used for finding hidden pirates while on patrol, once shi had hir breath back shi turned to Dot.


"Mom wants you to get suited up and head for Engineering as quickly as possible, but take breathing equipment for yourself."

Dot nodded hir head as shi stood up from hir station and went to a locker at the back of the bridge and putting in hir security code opened it to reveal a solid black full body suit that shi quickly got into. Though at first the suit seemed a bit large for hir shi pushed a hidden button in the collar and the suit suddenly shrank down becoming form fitting, then Dot removed to phaser pistols from the locker, along with a short blade, before heading for a vent panel and easily lifting it on special hinges quickly gets in and disappears moving quickly through the vent to a special airlock set up that only shi could use anymore due to hir smaller nature then the rest of hir siblings.



(Eclipse)

Eclipse led the away team through multiple corridors though the home like appearance had just suddenly ended as they apparently left the living quarters area of the ship and now the corridors looked more like what would be expected of a space ship, though shi suddenly stopped by a vent grill next to the floor and a couple of seconds later it swung up on hinges as another small felitaur in a black full body suit came out of the vent, though the childs face was mostly unprotected except by a small breathing mask.

Eclipse turned to the away team and activated hir come to talk to them.
"This is another one of my children Dot, don't be alarmed when shi disappears, after all, shi's a ninja."

Eclipse then turns and continues to lead the way towards engineering keeping hir senses especially hir empathy trained on the feelings of the Klingon invaders so shi knew where they where and how soon they would encounter them.


Eclipse rolled 15 using 2d20 with rolls of 6,9.  super, full sensor scan + antipirate protocol.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:54, Tue 28 May 2019.

"Fascinating," Dypec comments at Eclipse's comment about hir daughter being a ninja. "While there were such people historically, most of their abilities are the result of legend and fiction. What they were able to accomplish was more about a lack of knowledge on the part of the storytellers."

He follows Eclipse through the ship, making a mental note of all that he sees but not scanning any of it. He is more interested in these beings, but he will not use his medical scanner on any of them without permission unless they become injured.

Petty Officer Starbird follows obediently, waiting to be ordered to whack some more Klingons, or at least break their legs.  He understands he's not here to shoot craps and eat cannoli.

The team follows Eclipse through the ship to engineering, noting along the way that there is a distinct transition from what are clearly living quarters and what are more functional and technical areas of the ship.

In the living quarters, it was almost like you were moving through someone's house.

Now, however, you are obviously in a spaceship or, at the very least, a space station. The design is not familiar. Federation officers are familiar with if not versed in Klingon, Romulan, Ferengi, Orion, Cardassian, and, of course, Federation designs--this not like any of those. Sure, there are certain design elements common to all of them which is a practical application of basic geometry and physics, so it's nice to know those things aren't radically different in the other universe.

Corridors are adequately sized for two or three people to move through them, doors are similarly sized, and there is clearly a floor and a ceiling, though not as much difference between the two as one would expect.

It's the details that are different. Readout screens are odd-shaped, or more vertical. Controls seems to be arrayed around the screens rather than centralized. Indicators go in many directions at once. It pretty much says that the people who built this ship had different thought processes.


When you reach engineering, there is a firefight going on. The Klingons haven't managed to take engineering yet and one of them is down, but there's not as much fire coming from engineering.

(Navorn)

Navorn had been glad that shi had piled some objects up infront of the doors as when the Klingons forced them open they got the items literally in their faces as engineering explosively decompressed through the door into the corridor. Sadly the items had mainly just been for distraction but it was enough where while they where recovering Navron was able to get off a good shot taking out one of the intruders before shi started moving and bouncing around engineering like a living billiard ball, but always keeping the door in sight and shooting at anyone who showed anything in the doorway.



(Yoda, Marble)

Yoda and Marble hated just sitting and doing nothing but they knew the best time would be once Eclipse and the others got to engineering as the corridor continued on after engineering, so with Navorn drawing their attention and fire, Eclipse and the away team on one side and Yoda and Marble on the other they would essentially have the Klingons surrounded.

When Yoda and Marble saw shots being fired from the other side of the Klingon Group they immediately imitated what super had been doing by bouncing off the walls, ceiling, and floor while firing at the Klingons.


(Dot)
Dot had stayed by Eclipses side the entire trip to engineering but as they came within sight shi activated hir suit and quickly faded from view before launching hirself towards the ceiling where shi ricochet off at a different angle and continued to ricochet around the corridor before shi suddenly opened fire on the Klingons at the same time Eclipse opened fire behind hir.


(Eclipse)

Eclipse knew Dot was being shy again and sighed to hirself before they encountered the Klingons still trying to take engineering and shi let Dot get into position before shi opened fire immediately followed by Dot and then shortly after saw shots coming at the Klingons from the other side, as shi once again kept hirself moving while trying to keep out of the way of the away team.



 Eclipse rolled 22 using 2d20 with rolls of 19,3.  Marble fire phaser.

Eclipse rolled 19 using 2d20 with rolls of 2,17.  Yoda fire phaser.

Eclipse rolled 19 using 2d20 with rolls of 5,14.  Navorn fire phaser rifle.

 Eclipse rolled 36 using 2d20 with rolls of 16,20.  Dot fire phaser.

 Eclipse rolled 29 using 2d20 with rolls of 12,17.  Eclipse fire phaser.

Petty Officer Starbird approaches cautiously, hugging the wall as he advances until he spots a Klingon target.  Then he fires.

19:45, Today: Pacomio 'Bugeyes' Starbird rolled 13 using 2d20 with rolls of 4,9.  Fire phaser rifle.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:46, Mon 03 June 2019.

It takes 2 success to hit (TN 12), so Marble, Yoda, Navorn, Dot and Eclipse all miss.

Having learned from the previous battle, phasers have been increased to a higher setting, so when Pacomio hits, the damage is enough to take out that Klingon. Not dead, just unconscious for the duration.


18:31, Today: Dypec rolled 19 using 2d20 ((15,4)).

18:32, Today: Skig jav Krer rolled 21 using 2d20 ((19,2)).

18:33, Today: Dieter Lumper rolled 13 using 2d20 ((6,7)).

Dypec misses and Skig misses, but Dieter is able to hit one of the Klingons and take it out.


18:37, Today: StarMaster rolled 25 using 2d20 ((6,19)).

18:38, Today: StarMaster rolled 28 using 2d20 ((12,16)).

18:39, Today: StarMaster rolled 33 using 2d20 ((19,14)).

18:39, Today: StarMaster rolled 22 using 2d20 ((16,6)).

18:40, Today: StarMaster rolled 20 using 2d20 ((8,12)).

Three of the Klingons keep firing at engineering but two of them turn to attack the Mongoose crew. However, only one of them manages to hit before Dieter hits them. That was probably because both of them stepped out to get a better shot and targeted each other.

The Klingon drops and Dieter is wounded.

"Jillian! Tend to Dieter!" Dypec calls out to their medical officer as he sees Dieter fall to the floor (or float if there's no gravity here).

Dot, Marble, Yoda, Navorn, and Eclipse continue to move around in the zero gravity while returning fire at the Klingons.


Eclipse rolled 25 using 2d20 with rolls of 5,20.  yoda.

Eclipse rolled 38 using 2d20 with rolls of 18,20.  Eclipse fire phaser.

Eclipse rolled 24 using 2d20 with rolls of 20,4.  Navorn fire phaser rifle.

Eclipse rolled 15 using 2d20 with rolls of 9,6.  Dot fire phaser.

Eclipse rolled 21 using 2d20 with rolls of 18,3.  marble fire phaser.

Super isn't having any luck with the Ancestor's sensors finding the cloaked Klingon ship... the one that the intruders came from.

((OOC: It normally takes 2 successes with a sensor check to find a cloaked ship... one that you know is there. It's reasonable to assume that it is still within range so that it can transport the Klingon boarding party back aboard.))

The different quantum signature of this universe makes most readings suspect as it distorts size and distance and even fundamental properties. Thus, a 'positive' reading could be a cloaked ship or a flea on the viewscreen. Increases the Difficulty by 1.

Then there's the dark energy. Dark energy is still a mystery though you know it exists and can even detect it, but no one knows exactly what it is, where it comes from or how it works. Thus, the 'flea on the viewscreen' could be a flicker of dark energy. This increases the Difficulty by 1 as well, thereby requiring 4 successes on a Sensor scan.



Down in Engineering, Dot is the only one that hits in the next round. The Chakat weapons are more effective than the Federation weapons, though, and one hit easily gets through the Klingon armor. Thus, another Klingon goes down.


The Klingons fire back, having better luck this time.
09:23, Today: StarMaster rolled 4,15,3 using 2d20,2d20,2d20 ((2,2,10,5,1,2)).

That's three hits! Two to the Chakats in Engineering and one to the Federation team. It hits Dypec this time. The Vulcan, however, does not go down; he's made of sterner stuff!

(Super)
Super muttered under hir breath as the sensors continued to give odd wonky readings, but didn't give up and continued to try and overcome the effects of the different quantum signature and the dark energy.

Eclipse rolled 11 using 2d20 with rolls of 9,2.  sensors


(Eclipse)
Eclipse hit the wall oddly as right as shi hit shi took a direct hit to an already weakened part of hir armor which allowed some of the energy of the shot to pass through though thankfully the integrity of the armor had not been compromised but shi already knew shi was going to have a burn where shi got hit. Shi quickly recovered and trying to ignore the pain went back to hir continuous movement as shi again fired on the remaining Klingon.

Eclipse rolled 28 using 2d20 with rolls of 9,19.  fire phaser Eclipse


(Dot)

Dot winced as shi also took a hit but as the shot hit hir for just a split second there was a glow around hir as shi winced, as hir suits energy dispersel net absorbed and harmlessly dispersed the absorbed energy, but apparently the weapons the Klingons where using where different enough to cause the system some problems and shi had felt a great deal of heat where shi had been hit and already figured that the area would be at least highly sensitive if not have a minor burn.



Eclipse rolled 29 using 2d20 with rolls of 17,12.  fire phaser marble.

Eclipse rolled 27 using 2d20 with rolls of 12,15.  fire phaser yoda.

Eclipse rolled 34 using 2d20 with rolls of 16,18.  fire phaser Navorn.

Eclipse rolled 21 using 2d20 with rolls of 16,5.  fire phaser dot.

Pacomio says something about getting a piece of him, then fires on the Klingons again.

21:34, Today: Pacomio 'Bugeyes' Starbird rolled 27 using 2d20 with rolls of 14,13.  Fire phaser rifle.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:34, Sun 16 June 2019.

This message was deleted by the player at 17:07, Sun 16 June 2019.

They hadn't anticipated that the Klingons would be in heavy armor, though, in retrospect, it made sense.

Without the aliens support, the Mongoose Away Team would not succeed. The aliens let them use the structure of the ship to their advantage; that barely compensated for the Klingon's armor.

13:23, Today: _Dypec rolled 19 using 2d20 ((3,16)).

It was a close shot but did not hit any of the remaining Klingons.

It was not a good round for the Mongoose crew nor for the Chakats, as everyone misses.

When the remaining Klingons also miss, it becomes clear that the battle has become a stalemate.

Skig realizes that it won't stay that way for long--Klingons have little patience for long, drawn-out battles. They'll no doubt charge in the next minute or two.

He decides to 'seize the initiative', as it were, and jumps out from cover just after the Klingons fire, tumbles forward to the left and then over to the right before he comes up shooting. His maneuver puts him in sight of the Klingon on the left, and, hopefully, will pull the other Klingons out into the line of fire as they try to shoot him.

He spends 1 point of Determination to help ensure that his tactic is successful; he'll even increase the threat if necessary.

17:24, Today: StarMaster rolled 32 using 3d20 ((14,11,7)).

That's the two successes he needs to hit, and with the phaser set to heavy stun, it gets through the Klingon's armor and drops him.

with the empathic bond the family shared with each other they all knew when both Eclipse and Dot got hit as they could feel what they felt in a reduced manner, but it galvanized them and they all broke cover and attacked the remaining Klingons in a more daring manner then they had before but they had waited to attack till after Skig initiated his attack and the Klingons retaliated.


(added threat for them to get an additional die plus going with their current tactic they would also draw more attention anyway.)


Eclipse rolled 29 using 3d20 with rolls of 2,15,12.  +threat Marble phaser attack.

Eclipse rolled 38 using 3d20 with rolls of 7,18,13.  +threat Yoda phaser attack.

Eclipse rolled 46 using 3d20 with rolls of 18,19,9.  +threat Navorn phaser attack.

Eclipse rolled 36 using 3d20 with rolls of 2,16,18.  +threat Dot hand phaser attack.

Eclipse rolled 28 using 3d20 with rolls of 19,3,6.  +threat Eclipse hand phaser attack.

(Sorry... how many klingons are still standing?)

(should be two if I kept track of things right, so I think Eclipses crew has had three members succeed with their shots, so one Klingon might be getting hit twice if I'm right)

Yes, there were only two Klingons remaining during this last round.

Skig hits one and Marble and Eclipse hit the other one.

That eliminates all the remaining Klingons.

=/\="Skig to Mongoose. We've stopped the remaining Klingons... so, six more to be beamed to the Mongoose. No casualties... on either side. Will now establish contact with the occupants of this ship."=/\=

After he contacts the Mongoose, he turns his attention to the creatures/people of this ship. He doesn't quite know how to 'identify' them, even though his Starfleet training has taught him to treat other beings as 'people'. These 'people' probably are people in the broadest sense, but they seem a bit too alien for him to say for certain.

"Greetings!" he says to the Chakats. "I am Skig jav Krer, Third Officer of the Federation starship Mongoose. I apologize for the intrusion, but we had an issue with these Klingons and we were not sure you would be able to deal with them."

"Again, I apologize if our assistance was unwarranted or unwanted."

once all the Klingons are down Eclipse turns to the team from teh other vessel and nods as one introduces himself. Eclipse caught sight of Yoda and Marble taking off, knowing that they where going to retrace the boarding parties path to make sure they hadn't left behind any 'presents', and like usual when there where non family around Dot had already disappeared, most likely back to the bridge.

"I'm Chakat Eclipse child of Goldmane and Starstreak of house blackpaw. now as I know you've probably never incountered my kind before, Chakat is the name of my species. I'm captain of the Stellar federation starship Ancestor currently serving in the Star Fleet branch of the stellar services, and as I seem to for some reason have problems with these klingons of yours as well, the assistance is appreciated, though I have no idea why cowards like these would have an issue with someone who has been dragged here against their will and with no idea how."

Eclipse turns and starts heading back towards the Ancestors bridge motioning for the away team to follow.

"Navorn can handle damage control if any is needed in engineering, and Yoda and Marble are checking to make sure our uninvited guests didn't leave behind any surprises, so if you want you can follow me back to the bridge, or return to your vessel though we would have to drop our shields as we havn't yet gotten our matter transporter recalibrated."

“Sure thing, boss.”  Starbird follows Eclipse to the bridge while secretly hoping it has an alley he can shoot craps in.

"Pleased to make your acquaintance, Eclipse," Skig replies as he follows hir to the bridge.

"We've been so busy fighting the Klingons that we haven't had a moment to really think about it. Now, however, it does seem kind of odd for the Klingons to have beamed over to your ship."

"It's always possible, of course, that they just wanted to capture your ship for the Klingon Empire. The distribution of their forces would support that. But, it could also mean that they wanted to find something... or perhaps destroy the ship so that we didn't find something."

"It might be something physical, but it might also be something intangible... some secret that this ship holds."

"Could their secret experiment have been meant to penetrate to your universe?"

"Is there anything on this ship that would reveal that?"

Eclipse leads the away team back the way they had come and then beyond to what appears to be an airlock with a panel next to it which shi starts entering a complicated code into.

"Commander Skig, this vessel is a 40 year old prototype, most of her systems are still considered top of the line or experimental, as to secrets, again there are many aboard this ship, as back home she's considered one of if not the most secure 'facility' in the Federation. Though I know of one system in particular if put in the wrong hands could easily devastate whole worlds, if not entire solar systems as long as enough power can be supplied to the device itself."

The door opens and Eclipse steps in and motions for the others to follow and the chamber is large enough for Eclipse and the away team to fight though it is a bit tight.

"All I know about how I got here is that one second I was at warp, then something felt wrong and next thing we're here, if these Klingons did somehow specifically target me I would dearly love to know how they had even found out me and my ship existed."

Once the whole team was in the airlock the door closed and cycled pumping in proper breathable atmosphere before the other door opened onto the Ancestors bridge.


The Ancestors bridge looks fairly normal for a vessel of it's size, but with a central console and chair, but the real biggest oddity are the seats, all of them appear to be designed for a Taur form like Eclipse to be able to essentially lay their lower torso down on and still be able to comfortably work the console with a swing away backrest.

As Eclipse steps onto the bridge shi reaches up behind hir helmet and releases a discrete catch and with hiss the back of hir helmet splits and folds outward allowing hir to easily remove it, revealing hir black furred panther like head with black human like hair which shi pulls out and lets drape down hir back as shi heads to the central chair and once there puts a code into one of the arm rest pads and the other unoccupied chairs on the bridge suddenly shift folding and altering until they look to be perfect for bipeds to use, even if they have a tail as testament to a hole in the lower portion of the back rest. though if the tema looks around there are four other Chakats on the bridge already, Super, who the team had already met, surprisingly Dot, with a bandage wrapped around hir lower torso now, but then two others that the team had not seen yet, one with what humans would call a tortoiseshell fur pattern, with the last being the largest of the children the team has seen so far.

"If you want to can take a seat. The only thing that could reveal anything if we don't have their records of the situation would be the Ancestors sensor logs at the time before, during and right after our arrival before our power died."


Eclipse turned to the tortoiseshell patterned child. "Cali open a Channel to the Mongoose please." Eclipse then turns to Dot.  "Dot keep an eye out for these Klingons, with sensors but also with the normal optics." Then shi turns to the largest one. "Sebastian keep working with the sensors to try and find them before they can get the jump on us." Eclipse finally looks at Super. "Monitor the shields and get everything ready incase we need to do some true high speed maneuvering."


Eclipse then turned to the main forward display as shi stepped infront of the central console infront of the central chair on the bridge as Cali opened a channel to the Mongoose.


"Commander Eclipse to Mongoose, the Klingons have been taken care of thanks to the help of the team you sent over, but the dark energy seems to be effecting me and my crew and I was hoping that we could move to a location where it will not be a problem, that might also help find our little pest before it causes more problems."

Annihilate whole solar systems?  Fuhgeddaboudit! Pacomio thinks.  When he signed up with the Federation’s crew he knew things would get interesting, but this was freaking fascinatin’.  What could you do with a heater that could blow away a whole star?  You could knock over a bank the size of the Milky Way!

When his head clears, something occurs.

“Say... you don’t think maybe the Klingos knew where you were because you was ratted out, do yas?  I mean, maybe you have a stoolie?”

"Not an unreasonable idea, Paco," Skig responds.

"However, if what you say is accurate, Eclipse, then it seems unlikely that anyone on your ship could be the culprit. It also means that the Klingons have had prior contact with your universe."

"The question remains, though: did they specifically target your ship? If so, that supports Paco's suggestion."

"Based on what I've been told of the situation, I don't think that's what happened."

"Yes, your ship was brought here from your universe by the device on the secret installation. I don't think it was intentional."

=/\= "Greetings, Commander Eclipse. This is Captain th'Valla."

"My engineers are currently studying the problem of the device that may have brought your ship into this universe. First, we need to make sure that's what happened."

"Second, we must figure out a way to safely return you."

"Third, we must determine if this dark energy or location has something to do with it."

"Therefore, leaving this area which we call the Shackleton Expanse is not immediately advisable."

"Fourth, as intriguing as it is to meet a new species from another universe, I do not believe that justifies altering the Mongoose's mission, which is to explore the Expanse."

"I can have my engineers assist you in adjusting your ship to compensate for the dark energy and the different universal constant."

"However, I am open to suggestions. Would it be advisable for us to meet and discussion options?" =/\=

Eclipse listened to Pac and Skig before replying while waiting for the response from the Mongoose.
“I personally would rather believe that this is just coincide……”
Eclipse trails off and hir eye’s widen slightly as something suddenly occurs to hir.

“Here’s a theory, maybe these Klingons just saw an unkown vessel and decided to take it in the hopes that it would have something better then what they have. And the only reason it was my vessel might be because of a shared resonance? Navorn, my mate, was not born in my universe, infact hir current body is not the body shi was born with either. But when shi first arrived in my universe shi was driving hir truck and had a number of personal belongings with hir. I have hir truck in the cargo bay, along with all hir old personal belongings, perhaps because of those items being from a different universe it was enough to pull us here.”

Eclipse looks up and listens as the reply from the Mongoose is received. And just as shi’s about to respond the airlock door to the bridge opens admitting a different taur form species. This one is as big as Eclipse and also shares Eclipses solid black fur, but while Eclipse is feline in appearance this new taur is foxlike in appearance and shi quickly goes to one of the rear consoles and as gravity is still off floats infront of the console.

“Captain Th’valla, I do not think it would be inadvisable for us to meet face to face to discuss the current situation, though I just thought of a possible theory that might make getting us back home more complicated if it’s true. Would you like to come aboard my vessel or me aboard yours? If you want me aboard yours I would be bringing my Mate Navorn along aswell as a sample of something that might help prove or disprove my theory on why it was my ship that got pulled here. And we would appreciate any assistance you are willing to give us, but please if you send anyone else over to help, warn them to not get curious and snoop through the Ancestors systems more than they have to.”

(Navorn)
At hir Name Navorn looked up at Eclipse, shi had been double checking some settings, and now seemed to notice the away team members and turned to face them letting hir shirt be seen which had a cats head on the front wearing sunglasses with tie-dyed lenses a wide brimmed hat on top of the cats head that had a center badge the read supertroopers and below the cats head in bold white lettering “Not so funny Moew”

“I’m sorry I didn’t notice you there when I came in, I’m Navorn, Eclipses mate and engineer of this vessel.”

"Pleased to meet you, Navorn," Skig responds. "I am Skig jav Krer, Third Officer on the Mongoose."

He then introduces the rest of the Away Team.

"I daresay our xenobiologists would love to meet all of you. I'm sure you'd fascinate them all for days if not months. That's only because we've never seen any species like yours before. And because we're a curious species. Our ongoing mission is to seek out new life and new civilizations."

(Navorn)

Navorn smiles slightly but makes sure none of hir teeth show knowing that doing so can make those not used to morphs uneasy.

"I know all about humans and curiosity, after all, I used to be one. In fact Chakats and Stellar foxtaurs, of which I represent one of the seven subspecies of, where bioengineered by humans. Also Chakats are if anything even more curious then any other race and back home are at the forefront of almost every scientific field of study. Though Chakats are the older race they actually adopted the names of the two humans the led the team that created the first cubs, Charles and Kathrine, taking the first three letters from both names, they where also created right after the Gene wars to help rebuild, the Stellar Foxtaurs on the other hand where created to help with colonization. But we have all the research notes and medical files for both along with all the morph species that where created. But some of the research notes if not all will probably be deemed off limits. Just because of the Gene Wars back in Eclipses universe, it was after that war that genetic engineering became highly regulated, and the two unregulated works while one has survived and thrived the other was sadly unable to live without causing problems, though there are a very few examples of the Chakamils most had to be killed due to sudden and violent outbursts, and even the few survivors live in fear of having an outburst."

Starbird chuckles as he recalls some of the ‘curious species’ he’s met.  There were quite a few of those back on his homeworld.

“I’m curious: why haven’t you paid me?”

"For what would they pay you, Petty Officer?" Skig asks Pacomio.

"For that matter, what would they pay you with? We don't use money... 'coin of the realm' as they used to say, in the Federation any more."

He then turns back to Eclipse and Navorn.

"I suppose it'll be up to you and our Captain as to what to do next."

“Not necessarily me.  Anyone who’s either a boss, or shylocking.  You know the Man always gets paid first.  It don’t matter if your house just got hit by a Romulan plasma bolt.  You either pay... or you pay.  Capiche?”

He grins, thinking fondly of his homeworld.

After a bit of a pause, Captain th'Valla's response to Eclipse comes over the comms.

=/\= "I just received a report from my Chief Science officer. She says that this particular location should have no significance to what brought you here or how to send you back."

"If it had something to do with the dark matter or dark energy, then leaving the Expanse could be an issue. Since we still know so little about either phenomena, it's impossible to say how they may have interacted with the research facility's experiment. In any case, we have a complete record of that event, which will help if we need to recreate it to send you back."

"And, while I would enjoy a visit to your ship, I believe we'd be better served if you were to visit my ship for now. That way, our scientists and engineers could ask you about anything they don't understand as they try to solve the problem."

"You and your mate are welcome aboard. Do you use transporters, or would a shuttle be more appropriate?" =/\=

"Oh, come on, Pacomio!" Skig replies. "You've been through the Academy. You know how things work."

"I always found that one of the oddities of the Ferengi and their Rules of Acquisition. It isn't that other races didn't have such rules, it's just that only the Ferengi collected and consolidated all of them into a codex."

"Take Earth, for instance. There's 'caveat emptor--let the buyer beware', the customer is always right, and a penny saved is a penny earned. The Ferengi could have gotten along with the Federation a lot better and made a lot of gold-pressed latinum if they'd bothered looking into that."

"The Federation is the same way... just in a different way. You get paid by getting a good feeling for doing something that helps others. Sometimes, you get paid by those others doing something for you."

"Earthers have another saying: what goes around comes around. Usually that means if you do something bad, something bad will come back to bite you in the ass. Optimists put a different spin on it as 'pay it forward'."

(Navorn)

Navorn had been listening to both Skig and the message coming back from the Mongoose and spoke up when Skig finished.

"Which pretty much means to help someone else, so that then that person will help someone else, and so forth. The best time to usually see that in action is around Christmas time. Though theres a part of a religious doctrine that many believe in but few actually follow, "Treat they neighbor as thyself." or treat others how you want to be treated."

Navorn then moved into the airlock chamber and came back carrying a bag with what looked like burnt wires and rubber, though one chunk of the rubber that was still fairly intact showed some kind of aggressive tread pattern.

"I already grabbed a bag Eclipse so we can head over whenever."



(Eclipse)


Eclipse had been listening to the others but had remained silent until the message back from the Mongoose.

"Captain th'Valla, we have transporters, but not sure if they will link up to yours, no Shuttle, but I do have another means of transport if you could send me a visual of a location we could safely arrive at that would be all I would need for this alternative method."

=M= "Certainly. You might as well use our transporter room, as it's designed for that sort of... arrival." =M=

An image of the Mongoose's transporter room accompanied the message.

Starbird shrugs.  “Yeah, I know the Federation ain’t like bein’ in the Family.  I’m still learnin’.  One day I’ll get it.”

"If you need or would like any of us to remain on your ship, Captain Eclipse," Skig addresses the Chakat that appears to be in command, "we'd be glad to stay. Otherwise, we'll get out of your hair."

(Eclipse)

Eclipse studies the picture of the Mongooses transporter room making sure shi has a good mental image of it before turning to Skig and the away team.

"If you want to go back I can take you with me and Navorn, save some time unless you wish to wait, I think, if my kids can't get any system calibrated and online that we would need experts to help. So those wanting to head over now come over and make sure your touching me or Navorn and we will be on your ship momentarily."

Eclipse looks over to Sebastian as Navorn moves and puts a hand on Eclipses shoulder.

"Sebastian I'm leaving you in charge, get the rest of the Ancestors systems up and keep an eye out for those cowards, right now fire first and ask questions later unless I say otherwise."


Eclipse then waits for any of the away team to touch hir or Navorn before them and those touching them just suddenly disappear.

>>To Mongoose transporter room >>

“Should I stay and keep a look-out, boss?” He is a bit confused, uncertain about his orders.

"No, we'll all return to the Mongoose," Skig replies.

"Remaining here would be like spying on them. Once we've established a more diplomatic relationship with them, perhaps some of us will be invited back."

“Are you sure you don’t want me to keep an eye on ‘em, boss?  I could tell ‘em I’m not happy with the Family, and that I’m a button man for hire... nevermind, I can see you don’t like the idea.”

"Oh, it's not that I don't agree with you, Pacomio," Skig answers as they suddenly vanish from the alien ship and reappear on the Mongoose, "but, as I said, there's a higher protocol in effect for the moment."

I wish there was a higher alcohol in effect at the moment, he thinks.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 20:23, Wed 21 Aug 2019.

The Mongoose had sent some people over to help get the Ancestors systems recalibrated as they where following them further into the region. The next day the Mongooses crew where all back aboard their ship and with Navorn back, and Eclipse back to help recalibrate some of the Ancestors more sensitive systems before shi went back to the Mongoose the Ancestor was once again operating at 100 percent.


(Navorn)

Navorn was, for now, taking command of the Ancestor whenever Eclipse was not aboard and was curious about the regions lights as they started to see them as shi had not heard of anything like them in space back home, but then the Ancestor had not been meant to be an explorer. Not that her sensors where not up to the task, but the Ancestor was more of a highly specialized generalist, good at a lot of things, but not always as good as a vessel built and designed specifically for a task. Though the Ancestors sensors had a lot in common with the ships warp cores in their design as they took the best from all fields and all races and did what they could to intrigate them all into one cohesive system. Including some overly ambitious failures, such as one company that had thought about collecting space dust to then process for the trace minerals and ores, they had spent trillions developing a sensor system that could actually analyze the space dust that most normal sensors either can't detect, or are programed to ignore. This actually allows the Ancestor to find ships hiding just by the space dust being displaced.

[Navorn]

Navorn and the children watched as they approached the odd sight of the Viking style longship in space and their curiosity went into overdrive and Yoda who was manning science, immediately started as many indepth scans as the Ancestors sensors would allow while Cali at the helm kept the Ancestor near the Mongoose even as the Mongoose suddenly changed course to put itself between the longship and the creature that was being attacked.

Eclipse rolled 28 using 2d20 with rolls of 13,15.  sensors scan.

Starbird nodded appreciatively at the sight of the Viking longship in space.  You had to have an impressive pair of onions indeed to travel through space without nothing more than a helmet, a sword and a wine skin.  He pitied the poor monastery that was next on their itinerary.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:50, Sun 05 Jan 2020.

The first thing the sensor scans revealed was the presence of a force field. It was similar to those used to keep the air in a shuttle bay when the shuttle doors were opened for a shuttle to depart. It was also, however, a polyphasic shield. The sensors didn't quite break it down any better than that other than to tell you that it did 'more than one thing'.

It was clearly keeping the atmosphere around the ship so that the people could breathe.

The second thing revealed by the scan was that the people were humanoid to 9 decimal places.

The third thing that came up on the scans was that the hull of the ship was impenetrable to the scans.

The fourth piece of data was the weapons the humanoids were wielding. Although it was heavily shielded, it was clearly some sort of projective plasma weapon.

“Maybe we should raise shields?  I know this ain’t a democracy, but that’s what I’d vote for, if yoos don’t mind my sayin’ so.”

[Dot]

Dot looked away from the front view screen from hir position at the only person left behind from the Mongooses away team  with a slightly disdainful look.

"You really think we would have been flying through an area with a possible hidden enemy waiting to strike, and with other unknown hazards without shields up? they've been up the whole time we've been traveling with your ship. We've even been keeping our weapons ready but not armed for more rapid response incase of an ambush. Though here I think the Viking ships crewman just got startled and reacted without thinking."


[Sebastion]

Sebastion looked over from helm controls

"Dot be nice, he knowns nothing about us or how we do things."

Shi then turned to look at Pacomio.

"Please realize that back home with father we have been crewing this ship since we where old enough to understand what we where doing, and the Ancestors primary mission back home has always been hunting pirates or dealing with pirate nests. So we tend to know what all of us need to do in most situations without orders being given. Also despite having a Star Fleet registration this is actually a personal vessel so formalities tend to get tossed out the airlock very frequently around here. Also we have more subtle ways of communicating with each other that most others would find impossible to understand or even hear."

Sebastion was of course referring to the empathic link the entire family shared among other talents. As shi turned back to hir console shi brought the Ancestor up above the Mongoose hoping though that all they had done was interfere with a regular hunt and not something more culturaly important. Also the Ancestor being a lot smaller than the Mongoose could get closer to the longship with fewer difficulties, but her design might also make her more intimidating once the Vikings saw her.

“So Starfleet Academy started for you when you was born.  That’s a lotta trainin’.  Probably makes you better at this than most people ever get at anythin’.  Kind of makes me ashamed, because when I was that age, my old man had me heisting cigarette trucks.  Not exactly the ideal preparation for life in the service, although it did put hair on my chest.  And I got free smokes!”
This message was last edited by the player at 11:51, Sat 11 Jan 2020.

[Navorn]

Navorn smirked as shi looked over at Pacomio.

"You have no reason to be ashamed of things you had no control over. But you misunderstood the children, they have received no education off this ship, they have essentially been home schooled."

Navorn turns the Sebastion.

"Bring us around so the bow is directly facing the longship and put is in full red alert and charge the forward cannon emitters. I think I'll go take a short walk."

Navorn gets up from the special taur seat and going to a cabinet by one wall removes some fur covered boots that shi put over hir paws which with the fur made it look like shi wasn't wearing them at all before turning and leaving the bridge.


[Sebastion]

Sebastion smiled as shi maneuvered the Ancestor into the desired position knowing that hir siblings would be taking care of their parts but shi also split the main view screen to show the top of the Ancestor and showed ontop of the diamond section an airlock seemingly blowing open as a cloud of atmosphere suddenly escapes out into space before Navorn casually floats up before bringing hir paws into contact with the Ancestors hull and casually walking to where shi could easily be seen by those on the longship.

{outside the Ancestor}


As the Ancestor came around the Mongoose and lined up with the longship all the Ancestors external lights went out leaving the black ship even more difficult to see until a red glow grew where the Ancestors bridge was, the glow became a brighter before it dimming and then repeated, almost like a heartbeat, until an airlock ontop of the ancestors bow popped open releasing the atmosphere that had been in the airlock before Navorn casually came out.

The oddest thing about Navorn standing on the Ancestors hull, was that shi was wearing nothing but hir normal uniform top and had nothing with hir to allow hir to breath and any scans would also say that there was nothing there for hir to breath.


Eclipse rolled 24 using 2d20 with rolls of 11,13.  Ancestors manuvering
This message was last edited by the player at 01:09, Tue 21 Jan 2020.

Starbird watches in amazement, unable to understand how Navorn can survive in a vacuum without a suit.  But he minds his own business and doesn’t say anything.

Where he comes from, it isn’t healthy to ask too many questions, especially about things that don’t concern you.

>> from adventure #4 super systems>>

Eclipse and the others suddenly appear at the back of the Ancestors bridge, and suddenly they start to float as apparently as Eclipse had joked about the ship artificial gravity was currently off, but Navorn, who was sitting in the Captains chair suddenly smirked before calling out to the children that where at their stations.

"Sorry kids we got company, gravity back on, but bring it up gently."

everyone would suddenly feel gravity slowly and gently coming back up to normal as Navorn turned smiling and gave Eclipse a Salute.

"everything's ready, shields are up and I have the emergency core already primed and ready to fire if we need the extra power."

Eclipse smirked as shi returned the salute and took the captains chair before turning forward.

"Ok we got the hotzone of the system we're going to be looking at so lets get going. Sebastian set a course for the inner most planet of the hot zone, shields on full, and top speed."

Lt. Commander Keth complied with the Chakat Commander's order,  wondering why such a request was made but nonetheless quick to obey.

Oh, that's why... Logan blinked his eyes rapidly in shock and let out the breath he had unconsciously held. He wasn't sure exactly what he expected from his first visit to the Ancestor but he was pretty sure artificial gravity was at the top of the list. Relieved to feel familiar tug of gravity assert itself, the disconcerted helmsman landed gently on the floor and tugged at the hem of his uniform shirt to reestablish a sense of decorum.
.
He leaned toward Ensign Val and whispered, "Does shi always travel like that?" He suspected he knew the answer.

Logan smiled. He needn't have worried, this was definitely going to be a fun trip...

"Probably. I don't know her all that well," Koram replies. "Remember, we only encountered her ship here in the Expanse just a few days ago. We're still not sure how it happened, but we think it had something to do with the Klingon research station. They were trying to create a forced singularity as a power source. Something went wrong and they accidentally created a portal to another dimension."

"We rescued them, and then found Eclipse and her ship. Stranger place to find an ally I can't imagine. We promised to help her find a way back to  your own universe."

As the pulling force gradually takes hold, Starbird bops his head while holding his phaser rifle to his chest and humming James Brown’s ‘Gravity’.

Eclipse smirked as shi heard Logan and Korams whispered conversation, and once shi saw that they where underway turned to the others.

"A bit of advice, whispering on the bridge can be heard by all of us. But in answer to your question, No I don't normally travel that way, in fact back home the only people that know I have that ability is my family. The government has been trying to figure out how teleporters do what we do for over 60 years, and I don't feel like dealing with the hassle of them trying to recruit me for the research program."

"Now, Cali has already arranged quarters for you all if needed, please don't go into the kids room, they will make sure you regret it. In the event we are in combat, either stay in your assigned quarters, in an escape pod, or if you are here on the bridge, keep your hands to yourself or I'll get out the duck tape to make sure you don't mess anything up. As the Ancestor can perform a controlled partial formation of it's warp fields, for extreme and drastic speed and direction changes, and I don't want any of you accidently messing it up. if we do end up aboard the ship for a prolonged period of time, and you want to keep your skills from getting rusty, I'm certain the kids would be happy to have a training bout with you on the holodeck. Any questions?"

“Is it okay if I go get settled in now, boss?  I’d like to get used to my quarters, in case we hafta go to the mattresses.  Later on, I’ll be happy to do that holy deck thing with the kids.”

Logan shot a quick glace at Koram out if the corner of his eye and straightened unconsciously.  "Aye, Captain", he acknowledged hir orders and advice feeling more than a bit chastened.

No whispering, check. Don't touch anything, check.

But how was he going to learn anything about the ship? He couldn't possibly let an opportunity to learn the flight capabilities of the Ancestor slip through his fingers.

"If it pleases the Captain, I would like to remain on the bridge. I realize that this is not a training mission but, nevertheless, I may learn enough to be of assistance and if you believe that there is time for some training." He shrugged and smiled as he let his words trail off, obviously hoping for just that scenario.

Now where was that duct tape...

As the Ancestor reaches the system and heads deeper into it to the innermost Hot Zone, more details about the planets become available.

There are 15 planets in the Inner Hot Zone. The first 7 are small airless worlds in tight fast orbits around the red giant sun. They are like Mercury, but, given the size, might be dwarf planets at best, and may be captured asteroids or escaped moons.

Planet 9 is like Venus: hot and cloud-shrouded. Nothing of interest is detected from it.

Planet 10-15 are more like Mars than Mercury, but are still hot and airless. Planet 14 does have a single small moon.

Only Planet 8 has potential interest, as it's a Class B planet... marginally habitable. It has an atmosphere, but it is hot and gets a bit too much solar radiation. Normally, in order for a planet to be habitable, it has to have a strong magnetic field derived from an iron core and rapid rotation.

As the ship approaches the planet designated as Verdi, sensors register three things.

1. The sun appears to be more stable than it should normally be.

2. An energy beam lances out from the planet and strikes Planet 5. It lasts only  seconds.

3. There is some sort of underground facility/network on the planet. It is definitely high tech. It was detected even before the energy beam activated.

<cali>

As Pacomio spoke up Cali got up from the console shi was at and walked over to him and the others.

"I'm Chakat Cali, daughter of Navorn and Eclipse. If you will follow me I will take you to the quarters you've been assigned during your time aboard, though they are all next to each other, so if the others wish to remain on the bridge you could show the others later."

After hir little speech Cali turns to the door to the bridge and guides Pacomio off the bridge and down to the crew quarters area which is obvious when they arrive as the corridors go from something normally seen on a space going vessel to lined with wood paneling, carpeting on the deck, and apparently plastered ceilings, name lates could also be made out next to some of the doors, and Cali stopped next to one that had Pacomio's full name next to it with the names of the other two on each side.

"Here's your quarters, you have a functional replicator, and limited access to the ships information archive for reading or entertainment."

After saying this Cali quickly turns and heads back to the bridge.



<Eclipse>

Eclipse smiled at Logan as he asked about remaining on the bridge and punched in a command on hir armrest console and two of the seats at rear of the bridge suddenly shift so that a human could comfortably sit in them and the console by one suddenly activated and displayed the helm controls and what was going on at the main helm controls.

"I'm willing to let you try to learn, the console that just activated is mirroring what Sebastion is doing at the helm, though I would not recommend doing the Ancestor sub warp maneuvering with the Mongoose unless it is a last resort, the Ancestors warp engines have been heavily modified, and are also overpowered for her size."




when they finally approached the planets for the zone they where to investigate Eclipse had all the children on the bridge at their stations with Navorn in engineering ready to fire up the emergency core if needed.

When Eclipse saw the energy beam shoot from the 8th planet and stike the 5th shi was about to tell Sebastion to decrease their speed when shi saw shi already was and turned to Marble who was at tactical.

"Transfer all power to the shields, arm weapons but keep them powered down for now but ready in case we need them."

shi then activated the internal comms to engineering.

"Navorn, better fire up the emergency core just incase, our habitable planet just fired an energy beam at the 5th planet."


anyone watching the power readouts at a console would see them suddenly jump as the Ancestors main triple core system went to full output, and then the ships emergency core was brought online and up to full power, giving the ship a power output and vessels much larger then it was.

Koram had followed Cali and Pacomio to the quarters section of the ship, spent a few minutes settling in, and even tested the replicator with a cup of coffee.

He was about to take a sip when a new thought occurred to him. What if the coffee had the universal signature of Eclipse's universe? How would that affect him? Would it even? Or, in other words, was the replicator making substances with a different signature or had it all been 'converted' to this universe?

His engineering tricorder wouldn't be able to tell the difference.

He eyed the cup of coffee speculatively, and then went ahead and took a sip.

Starbird settles in a little, trying out his own replicator.  He makes himself some cheap wine with it and has a nice long sip.  But he soon feels uncomfortable, knowing that there's action happening on the bridge and he isn't currently a part of it.

He considers signaling the bridge first, but ultimately decides to just head back on up.  It's probably okay, and now he knows how to get to his quarters (and show others how to get down here).

Once he arrives back on the bridge, he asks for permission to stay a while.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:00, Sat 26 June 2021.

After testing out his quarters and the replicator, he headed back to the Bridge to observe the continued approach to the Hot Zone of the system.

He was primarily an Engineer, but scientific aspects still interested him.

When he saw the readings about the energy beam, though, his engineering instincts kicked in to overdrive.

"Did you get any detailed readings on that beam?" he asked. "Were you able to determine a point of origin? Or are we still too far away?"

"Can you detect any change to that other planet?"

Just before Eclipse raised the Ancestor's shields, a comm from the Mongoose was received.

"One more to beam over, Captain Eclipse," a petty officer announced from the transporter room.

A moment later, one more crewmen appeared on the Ancestor.

He quickly identified himsel as Lieutenant Commander Alexander Hawk.


There were answers to Koram's questions, though. The energy beam was a 'gravity' beam, somewhat analogous to a standard tractor beam. It took a few minutes for the sensors to be analyzed to figure out just what had happened, but the planet's orbit and revolution has been... 'adjusted' by .78%--its orbit was pushed outward by 1,298 feet while its period of revolution had been increased by 1.62 days.

The point of origin of the beam hadn't been determined exactly because that side of the planet wasn't yet visible, but trigonometric calculations gave a coordinate with only a 3% chance of error.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:02, Fri 02 July 2021.

"A beam that strong could probably crush us like we're a tin can.  I wonder if shields would even be any use against it."

Who cares what you think? he asks himself.  You're just a silly goomba.

After identifying himself, out of habit, he takes a quick assessment of the room--people and layout in particular.

Reverting to an old tradition, he looks to the senior person in the room, "Reporting as ordered. Apologies for the last minute transport, there was some confusion on who was assigned.""

He straightens his uniform tunic as a nervous gesture, and reverts to an old tradition he was taught some time ago, "Permission to come aboard.""
This message was last edited by the player at 15:00, Wed 24 Nov 2021.

Eclipse turned in hir chair as a person was beamed over and smiled when he asked for permission to come aboard.

"As I don't really have a nice and friendly way of denying permission, permission granted."

Shi then turned to Pacomio and hir smile faded.

"While the Ancestor has a lot of tricks up her sleeves, the best case scenario we have if we get targeted by that beam is that it just pushes us with some major but not catastrophic damage, after all the Ancestor was designed for ramming, but I'm hoping that something that powerful has a long cooldown and recharge. Otherwise we'll have to rely on the Ancestors speed and maneuverability."


Eclipse turns to look over at Super who was currently at the communications station.

"Send a message drone to the Mongoose with everything we have so far on what's happened and add that we may use the Ancestors active stealth system, but will try to send regular drones."


As Super records the info to a drone and then ejects it causing it to fly off to find the Mongoose, Eclipse turns to look at all the others on the bridge after looking at a quick report sent to a small side screen on the arm of hir chair.

"We have a couple choices, we've already detected advanced underground facilities, now I don't know much about your first contact procedures, but we can go in bold and obvious with shields up and hope things go well, or we can take a chance and use the Ancestors active stealth system to try and sneak in closer and hope that whatever sensor technology they have is not advanced enough to detect us until or unless we land to investigate the underground facilities, as theres no way I'm allowing the Ancestor to sit in orbit with that kind of possible weapon able to target it. Also for that option we would have to hope that any systems they have, have not already detected us and that was a warning, rather then possibly showing us how this system is maintained. We also know the general location of the beams origin with about a 3% margin of error."

“Sneakin’ in sounds like a far better plan to me.  If we go in loud, they’d probably just swat us.  I mean, I think they got the muscle, judgin’ by what we seen so far.  I hope I ain’t talkin’ outta turn, bwoss.”

"Normally, of course, we'd hail the civilization we were trying to make contact with," Koram offers.

"We'd only do that if we had evidence that they were technologically advanced and were aware of other spacefaring species. While the technology is clearly there, I've yet to see any signs of the second criterion."

"That being the case, I'd opt for a stealth approach."

With the decision made to make a stealthy approach to the planet, Eclipse had the Ancestor slip into a high orbit while it scanned the planet below.

In the area where the gravity beam seemed to have originated from, an underground facility was detected. It wasn't very far underground, but it was rather extensive and full of unidentifiable high-tech equipment.

There were several 'voids' detected, indicating open spaces.

After a bit of deliberation, it was decided to teleport down to one of these void areas... one farthest away from the gravity beam generator.

A few moments later the team appeared in a small room.

There was no light in the room, but flashlights quickly revealed that it appeared to be some sort of storeroom. Shelves lined both walls and there were a dozen plastic boxes on the shelves. There was a door at one end.

Eclipse looked around quickly and extended hir empathy to feel if there where any living being other then themselves nearby while holding hir phaser rifle in a relaxed position, once shi was sure there was noting living nearby and no sign that they had triggered anything shi let the rifle hang at hir side.


"I think we should get scans of the storage containers here before we leave the room to see what they have here, I'll watch the door."


As shi spoke shi pulled hir phaser pistol out of it's holster as shi went to stand near the door with hir other hand resting on the hilt of an antique revolver which was chambered in .50cal, and crossing hir upper back at an angle was a sword. Making it obvious that shi didn't rely on modern technology, also at hir waist was what appeared to be a large belt but was actually a personal shield generator.

“That’s some chopper, boss,” Starbird says, admiring the sword.  “I’d hate to be the mortadella sandwich that gets cut up by that thing.’

"I guess that's my cue," Koram said as he began using his tricorder to scan the crates.

"Maybe it's just me, but I'm getting the distinct impression that this facility isn't occupied any more. I don't see any dust on the shelves or crates, and there do not appear to be any spiderwebs in the corners, but that could be a sophisticated air circulation system or automated cleaning robots."

00:59, Today: Koram Val rolled 2d20 ((8,14)). Using Reason + Engineering = 15.

That's two successes. Probably will get a reading on the crates unless they are heavily shielded.

Logan smiled at the straightforward firepower exhibited by Eclipse. He too respects the direct approach albeit from a slightly more subtle perspective. Somehow his phaser didn't look quite as intimidating after the sword and pistol Eclipse carried. It will have to do, Logan decided with a shrug.

After verifying his phaser was armed, he scanned the room while Eclipse watched the door.

"Ensign, any idea what those crates carry?" He asked Koram. The Lt. Commander grew more apprehensive as he waited. He was not the spec forces type and the facility was far too quiet for his taste.

Why is it deserted? Why did they leave all their supplies behind? Where did they go? He thought in rapid succession. He hoped Koram study of the crates would provides some clue.

Koram can only get a partial reading on what is in the crates. While the material of the crates does not completely block the tricorder, it does interfere with it slightly.

What is in the crates are... parts... components. Apparently this is where they kept the spare parts to replace worn out ones.

"Parts, I think," Koram replies to Logan. "What kind and for what I don't know. Not sure I'd be able to tell even if we open the crates. The technology seems to be a bit more advanced than anything I've seen before."

He then moves over to the door and uses his tricorder to scan the other side.

"Seems to be the same breathable atmosphere that's in here."

"So far, this place appears to be abandoned, yet it's still running... as if the people were coming back soon."

More advanced?! Logan thinks with barely contained excitement. He imagines the possible technological advances such a discovery could catalyze. It is all he can do to keep himself from ripping the crates open to start the investigation. With a deep breath, he focuses on the task at hand.

While the exciting revelation of possible advanced tech nearly distracts him from Koram's last statement, he reels in before its gone. "Yes, either coming back soon...or never." He concurs, thinking out loud. "Maybe they left everything due to an emergency evac? I don't think I would leave all this with absolutely no security unless I had a really good reason." Like the threat is still here. He added to himself.

Atmosphere's good and no known threats, he mutely considers the options. Satisfied with his conclusion and anxious to search the facility, he moves toward the door. "Unless anyone has any objections, why don't we open this place up and take a look?" Logan asks with a good-natured smile.

Pfui. I thought I wrote this post a week ago!


As Logan approaches the door, it actually slides open on its own. It's not that surprising, since this facility certainly seems to have a LOT of power.

Beyond the door, a light comes on as they door slides aside, indicating it was in darkness before that. Thus revealed is a large circular room about 50 feet in diameter. Even the ceiling shows the curve of a dome. Although there are no lines delineating panels in the ceiling, the light comes from a dozen rectangular sections of the ceiling.

There is another door against the opposite wall. Workbenches circle the rest of the walls, and there are two 30-foot long worktables down the middle of the room.

You can't help noticing that the side workbenches are apparently divided into sections by color--there's a sort of backsplash at the back of each bench in different pastel colors: lavender, yellow and rose on the left and blue, peach and mint on the right.

Two of these sections have apparatus on it.

There is one section of the center worktables that have something on it; it looks like crystals.

All of the benches and tables have drawers, shelves and cabinets underneath the counter.

Eclipse smirks at the comment about no security before speaking up.

"I don't know about your Federation, but in mine it's not unheard of for some facilities to be left fully automated with just robots to perform routine maintenance and repairs, aswell as security. Though it is a rare situation back home and usually left for out of the way remote locations. One of the War Groups hidden repair facilities is a prime example. So far there has only been one time that pirates found that facility, and of the entire ships crew the automated security systems didn't leave any survivors, which is sadly the problem with automation, so it is possible that this place might have something similar, so never let down your guard."


As Logan approached the door closer and it automaticly opened Eclipse brought hir gun up but relaxed slightly when there was no obvious threat before walking into the new room always being aware of the door on the other side of the room.

Starbird also enters the room with his phaser rifle at the ready, in case the boss needs back-up.  He visually scans the room for threats.

"It kind of depends on the level of automation," Koram offers. "Probably the level of technology as well."

"Can you move a planet, Eclipse, with a gravity beam? We can't, so this technology is far ahead of ours."

"That may also mean that the security here is greater, though it let you teleport us in here. Perhaps that is an edge that the builders of this facility... indeed, of this entire star system... are unaware."


He walks into the next room and looks at the items on the table, but doesn't touch anything just yet. Of course, that's assuming nothing keeps him from entering the next room.

Logan's gaze immediately fastens upon the worktables and he instinctively head over to the crystals. He examines the crystals first and then the closest apparatus in an attempt to determine if the latter's relationship to the former.

He is momentarily distracted by the varying sections. What could the colors mean? he wonders as his eyes sweep the room. The possibilities were overwhelming and he took a deep breath to reign in his excitement. He refocuses on crystal and apparatus, intending to determine their purpose.

One has to start somewhere...

Eclipse looked at Koram at his comment about moving a planet with a gravity beam.

"No, I've never needed to, and as far as I know there has not been any evidence discovered of a civilization that advanced back home. Though I do have the tech to destroy a planet, but that would require me to sacrifice the Ancestor, so that won't be happening, but I have messed with the Ancestors tractor beams, but only to allow them to rapidly oscillate between push and pull, rattled one pirate fighter too pieces the first time I tried it, before the emitter overloaded."

"Back home the LNAW is almost on par with the federation for technology, but they don't have transporters, but they are sadly far more advanced in genetic engineering, to the extent that they can encode subservience in the morphs they create as slaves. So they may know it existed but never figured out how to guard or detect it in use despite their advanced tech."


Eclipse suddenly got a thoughtful look and paused for a moment before shi spoke up again.

"Or could it be something like the Rakshani before they adopted unified federation tech, as when first encountered their warp cores where the largest and one of the most powerful and nearly unstoppable, to the point where it was said you could blast a hole in one and it would keep on working as if nothing happened. But all they had ever done was just enlarge and beef up the components from their smaller cores for the larger ones, but it allowed their cores to also put out a lot more power then most other races for the same size core, so maybe all they have done take what was a ship system but enlarged everything and made it more capable of handling higher energy loads."

Nothing prevents Koram and the others from entering the next room.


As Koram looks over some of the items, he spots some symbols on a few of them. They are rather complex symbols and kind of look familiar. They look like a language.



Logan observes the crystals, noting size, color and shape, and then looks at the nearby  devices. He doesn't spot any place on them where any of the crystals could be inserted, but then again, there could be internal compartments to hold them.

There's a vague familiarity to a few of the devices, but he can't quite figure out what they do, not by just looking at them.

“I wonder how much we could pawn those crystals for,” Starbird throws in, trying to be helpful and not quite making it.  “I’m not talking about doing nothin’ on the sly, mind you… we’d give the Federation its tribute.  After all, we have to keep up appearances.”
This message was last edited by the player at 22:30, Wed 01 Sept 2021.

"I don't think the Federation puts as much value on gems as you do, Bugeyes," Koram said. "Now, if they were dilithium crystals, that might be a different story."

He wracks his brain to remember what the symbols are. 11 (Reason) + 4 (Science) = 15.

12:36, Today: Koram Val rolled 6 and 18 using 2d20 ((6,18)).

The GM said the Difficulty was 2, so he only has one success. Spending
Momentum, adding to Threat, or using Determination don't seem appropriate under the present situation, but he can invoke Val's previous host, Lanar, as a Focus to give him two successes.

Lanar had been on one of the committees that studied a group of languages--Dewan, Dinasian, Icobar, and Iconian. These symbols are Iconian.

Starbird blushes with shame as he realizes that Ensign Val is right, and that he’s been letting his big mouth embarrass him again.  You ain’t back home.  Gotta remember that.

He looks around, pretending to keep an eye on things.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:06, Tue 07 Sept 2021.

"Got it! I think these are Iconian!" Koram informs the others.

"I suppose that's consistent with the technology. I wonder why they made this system... perhaps simply because they could."

"We need to be careful about what we touch. We could accidentally activate some defense system before we realize what it is."

"So, what do you think? Was this room some sort of lab?"

The Lt. Commander pauses for a moment at Koram's words. While the Ensign speaks truly, Logan cannot make any headway regarding the purpose of the lab with his current strategy. As he continues to consider the problem, the temptation to determine the technology's use becomes too great.

As a result, Logan eschews caution for curiosity and begins to scrutinize the apparatus and crystals in earnest. He examines the apparatus closely, probing the device with his hands in search of hidden access ports or cavities. He works from the assumption that the crystals and apparatus are related and tries to find an interface for the crystals that would verify his belief. If he could do that then he could study the crystals for suitability.

Starbird tries to think of something intelligent to say, but all he can think of is craps games and pasta.  Neither of those seem applicable to the current situation.

Eclipse glances over at Koram as shi slowly circles the room looking at some of the objects hirself to see if there was anything similar to anything back home, though shi doubted it as the only crystal used back home was for focusing lasers if that.

"What are these iconians you mentions, back home there's no known race with that name, and the only crystals used in technology are usually just for focusing lasers and nothing else really."

While it's a Human concept that 'form follows function', Logan can't really say if that holds true for Iconian devices. On the other hand, the Iconians were at least humanoid if not wholly Human. Anyway, it's a starting point.

He picks up one device and starts assessing it from that perspective. There are no seams whatsoever on it, but he's not quite sure what that means or how it could even have been formed, since it does not seem to weigh as much as it would if it was a solid lump of metal. Then again, he doesn't really know what metal it is made of. It's a silvery metal, such as aluminum or steel, but he doesn't think it weighs enough--even it is hollow--to be steel.

It finally occurs to him that this could be a flashlight, i.e. an 'electric torch' or a lantern. It has that vague sort of shape, but how would you hold it? And where does the light come from?

Wondering if the crystals have something to do with that, perhaps like a magnetic lock where the magnet has to be near the lock for it to work, he begins touching a red crystal to the various surfaces. Suddenly, when he touches it to what he thought of as the top, the crystal sinks into the metal about an inch or so, since he's still holding the crystal.

"Really? No Iconians in your universe?" Koram said. "That could explain a lot about the differences between the two universes, though whether they are the cause or the effect would be hard to determine."

"Anyway... the Iconians were an advanced civilization that existed around 200,000 years ago. Their enemies called them the 'Demons of Air and Darkness' because they had some sort of teleportation technology that allowed them to appear instantly on distant worlds."

"Apparently, their homeworld and colonies were destroyed by orbital bombardment from their enemies. Current theory thinks that some may have escaped through their gates since the languages of Dewan, Dinasian and Icobar are related to Iconian."

"This could very well be one of those gateways. And who knows what other technology they developed."

Logan's hand jerks slightly as the crystal he is holding starts to sink in to the device. After an involuntary and almost imperceptible delay, he releases his hold to see what the device does with it. Presupposing a promising result, he is already imagining the different uses that each of the other crystals may offer.

When he lets go of the crystal, because it's on the 'top', it sinks into the device until it completely disappears from sight.

About one second later, an area closer to the edge lights up, showing that the metal is thin enough where the symbols are for the light to shine through.

It's apparently a control panel for the device, but, not surprisingly, the symbols are Iconian.

Starbird continues to keep an eye out for intruders, as he has little to offer when it comes to assessing the alien technology.

But that was okay.  Someone had to be the button man.

In reply to Koram Val (msg # 146):

Eclipse listened as Koram explained about Iconians.

"That is very interesting and for me a bit worrying with the fact that this whole system is has more then likely been built by this race so there is no way of really knowing what surprises they might have left behind, though the closest we probably have back home would be the Deities, their the race that originally evolved on a planet called Raksha which is currently home to a younger felinoid race called Rashkani, but the Deities evolved beyond their physical forms, in fact the deity Bast who's following me and the Ancestor is The Bast from ancient Egypt."

Eclipse suddenly jerks around as shi see's something out the corner of hir eye and frowns as shi see's that Logan has at least partially activated one of the devices.

"I hope that you know how to read that language before you start messing with anything that might be a weapon."

In reply to Eclipse (msg # 150):

Well, that wouldn't be any fun, he thinks, prudently keeping his joke private. Aloud he responds, "Aye, Commander. I will restrain myself from further investigation until someone can translate these symbols." With an apologetic half-smile, he clears his throat and asks, "Umm is there, in fact, someone available to translate the symbols on this device for me?"

He pointedly avoids Eclipse's gaze if at all possible, attempting to avoid further chastisement, however warranted.

“So those Deities were like, hey, I’m a made man now… you can keep this planet and keep heisting cigarettes and all that, but I’m moving on to extortion.” He grins, pleased at learning that opportunity exists in more than one universe.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:39, Wed 06 Oct 2021.

"Not sure reading their language would tell us how to operate the devices anyway," Koram responded.

"We have designated symbols for things, such as a Power On button, but there are no words or even letters that correspond to that."

"Apparently with the Iconian written language, such as it is, position was also relevant in relation to itself rather than to the external device. So, four symbols arranged in a square was significant, as was the position of each symbol. We were never able to determine if this was some sort of abbreviation or strictly symbolic."

"We also think the language wasn't strictly linear, like our alphabet. Symbols could also represent complete words or phrases."

Hawk had been gobsmacked first at the teleportation and then at the alien facility. His eyes widened in astonishment at the revelation that this was an Iconian base.

Up till now, he hadn't had anything to say. He would have spoken up if he had, but his Starfleet training had taught him to keep quiet until he did have something to say.

All this time, he'd been processing what was happening.

"So... this 'super-system' was put together by the Iconians?" he asked for confirmation.

"Is it possible some other species created it and the Iconians just became the caretakers? I'm just speculating. Given the known Iconian technology, it does seem more likely that they created the system."

"But, to what purpose? I mean, why go to so much trouble to create gravity generators to keep all the planets in stable orbits?"

"Anyway, this is a workroom, right? That's what we're thinking? Are we going to explore the rest of this facility?" With that last question, he points to the door on the other side of the room.

Since, for the moment, it was better to get a sense of this place than to explore just one room, Eclipse led the group to the next room.

This was a larger circular room than the workroom, almost twice as wide. In the center, there was a 10-foot diameter raised platform, though it was only about 6 inches higher than the surrounding floor.

The walls of the circular room were a featureless nondescript pale gray, but there were three other exits/doorways out of the room, one at each of the cardinal points, relative to the doorway where they were. North, south, east and west were probably relative to the planet anyway, but since they'd teleported into the facility which had no windows to the outside, there was no way to know their exact orientation.

Reluctantly, the Lt. Commander discontinued his experimentation with the alien device in favor of further exploration. Although he did not leave the table before pocketing one of the device's crystals for further evaluation.

As he followed Eclipse into the circular chamber he considered the chamber's exits adorning its nondescript walls as well as it's obvious focal point. It was toward the latter that he was drawn. He approached the platform and knelt to examine it from the side without stepping on the raised flooring itself. He suspected that it may be a pressure plate and tried to discern its function from a careful distance.

He could only hope he was more successful in this endeavor than his last

“Hey… if yooz guyz want me to step on it first, I’m game.  No need for you to risk your necks.  I know I’m just a button man.”
This message was last edited by the player at 15:09, Mon 01 Nov 2021.

"While it isn't know whether the Iconians could activate equipment with just a thought," Koram offers, "I'm pretty sure that this is one of their gateways and it is clearly not active at the moment. So that means there's a control panel around here somewhere. Unless... they had some sort of remote device."

"I wouldn't put it past them to leave a booby-trapped gateway, though. So, don't step on it until we understand it a bit better."

He cautiously began circling the room, examining the walls as he went.

"We should explore these other doors first as well."

after leading the team to the next room and doing a quick look around Eclipsed answered Pacomio's first question.

"The deities where more like "we're made men now we'll level everything and see what pops up." As the Rakshani evolved assumedly with some minor help from the deities but they had to develop all the technology they have they have."


Eclipse then turned to Alexander.

"It could be as simple as an intergalactic zoo used to demonstrate their technological power to anyone or thing contemplating going against them"


Eclipse then takes out hir own tricorder and while doing broad scans, pretty much scanning for anything abnormal slowly makes a tour around the room ending by the platform in the middle of the room.

As always, Starbird keeps his eyes peeled for threats.  It’s how he earns his bread, butter, and veal scallopini.

Koram does find what is probably a control panel hidden behind a door that blends in with the wall near the door on the right.

Eclipse, on the other hand, gets some strange readings on her scanner. The first thing she finds odd is that she detects no electrical circuitry in the walls or floor or ceiling. It isn't until she rules all that out that she thinks to scan for broadcast power. THAT she finds! There's some sort of etheric power grid the pervades the entire facility. Presumably, all the systems here are powered through it.

When it comes to the platform, though, she detects a very strong power source coming from beneath it. She doesn't think that the gateway, if that's what it really is, is powered by the grid, but neither is it the grid itself. The power requirement for it must be huge, whereas the grid is only intended for low-level power requirements.

However, though she doesn't understand  how, her scan of the gateway seems to have activated it! A series of rectangular planes of force-light-mirrors come into existence over the platform. They float above the floor about a foot, they spin in place as well as rotate around in a circle, and every time a mirror faces you, you can see a picture of some distant place in it. Oddly, the procession of force mirrors is accompanied by a sound like the tinkling of glass.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:22, Sun 21 Nov 2021.

"...eport to the Bridge.  They may... have..."

The slim, petite form of the Vulcan medical officer stepped through one of the panes of 'glass', lab coat swirling behind her over her black-and-grey duty uniform.  She had been speaking over her shoulder as she walked, and trailed off as she realized her predicament. Her yellowish features seemed to pale for a moment, and she glanced around in calm assessment.

"Fascinating," she concluded.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:46, Sat 20 Nov 2021.

The images didn't seem to last long, almost as if this was some sort of preview of places you could go. He was glancing back and forth between the panel in the wall and the rotating force-mirrors.

He was first to notice that one of the mirrors (windows?) flashed a glimpse of the Mongoose's Medical Bay. He just barely caught the newly promoted CMO as she turned into one of the mirrors and out on to the platform here in the Iconian facility.

As if it had been waiting for just such an occurrence, the mirrors spun one last time and vanished.

With one last glance at the control panel, he stepped forward towards Seleya.

"Lieutenant!" he called out to get her attention.

"Koram Val. You've just stepped through an Iconian gateway to appear here on the facility we're exploring. I don't know if we can activate it again, but Eclipse can bring you to her ship."

Logan was entranced by the "mirrors" and their possible significance. Portals for instantaneous travel? Other planes of existence? Unlimited quantum realities spun through his imagination as he watched. Suddenly they were gone. He snapped out of his involuntary reverie and considered their options.

Koram had a good point. "Ensign, let's see about reactivating those portals." He started searching the room for anything that may be interpreted as a possible activation point for the spinning mirrors.

“That’s some transporter,” Starbird says simply.  “I’ll bet the Federation would love to get its hands on it.  So would the Klingons, the Romulans, the Gorn, the Tholians…”

Eclipse was intrigued by what hir scanner was revealing though as the gateway started to activate shi muttered under hir breath as shi dropped the scanner letting the shoulder strap keep it from hitting the ground as shi put hir hand on one of hir pistols as the mirrors formed.

When Logan mentioned reactivating the gateway shi did speak up.

"Whats the risk of activating it again and it connecting to completely different places then it did this time, you've admitted to barely understanding their language let alone their technology, and just scanning the gateway caused it to active..."

Eclipse paused for a moment looking like shi had just thought of something.

"Unless, someone or something is playing games. Whats the possibility of this system having been preprogrammed to activate if someone gets curious and scans it, or we have a visitor of some kind that knows the systems and is playing games with us, as I know if Bast followed us it could be something she is pulling and if we try to reactivate it, we might not get the results we want."

"Yes, we know so little about the Iconians that it's impossible to say what they would do, or even what they could do," Koram agreed.

"In engineering, we often use Occam's razor as a referent point. While it is not beyond the possibility that someone is manipulating events, it seems far more serendipitous. It's like a program that was waiting for some input... it just sits there are waits... and waits... and waits. You're scan is probably the input. Whether it was the right input is irrelevant--it was 'input', and that was enough to cause the program to resume."

"Upon direct observation, I can't say if all those panes were a selection of options of recent or nearby destinations that could be sorted by the control panel--if that's what this is, or whether the Iconians had the ability to see all of them simultaneously and could then select the one that they wanted."

"The last time that the Federation encountered an Iconian gateway, that I know of, it self-destructed when the engineers and scientists tried to take it apart to learn how it worked. Given the Iconians' reputation, that seems like an obvious precaution."

"If this is the control panel, I might be able to figure it out... in time. Or, I could get lucky and stumble upon the correct sequence."

"Since there's no pressing need at the moment to do so, I still suggest we leave that to last."

While Alex had been practically mesmerized by the flash of force-panes, the instant Seleya stepped through and they disappeared, he'd quickly got back into the swing of things.

At Koram's suggestion, he moved over to the door opposite the one that they'd come in.

Even as he approached the door, it slid open, split diagonally down the middle so that one half slid to the left and the other half slid to the right.

"That's interesting," he said to the others. He didn't need to shout across the 100-foot diameter room because he'd already discovered that it had great acoustical qualities--he'd clearly heard every word that others had said.

"Double thickness... and each half is thicker. Suggests some sort of security blast door, doesn't it? Neither of the other two were like this."

Curious, Starbird examines the ‘blast door.’  He wonders why the banks back home didn’t use these to guard their cheddar.

"Doctor," she replied automatically in response to being called Lieutenant, her rank. "Doctor Seleya.  What... what is tranpsiring?"

She looked around, her dark eyes darting from the familiar Starfleet figures to the unfamiliar, alien surroundings.  She moved towards Koram Val.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:27, Fri 26 Nov 2021.

Perhaps the doctor had been disoriented still or hadn't yet become aware of new surroundings, so Koram explained things again to her.

"The Mongoose is exploring this super-system that we found here in the Shackleton Expanse," he began, laying the foundation for additional information so that she wouldn't have to piece other information together.

"Captain Eclipse--the Chakat over there--had offered to use hir ship, the Ancestor to take an away team to explore and investigate the inner habitable zone. We're that Away Team."

"As we approached the M-Class planet, we detected a powerful tractor beam shoot out from the planet at another planet and alter that planet's orbital path and speed."

"We approached closer and detected a facility of some sort on the planet. There were empty spaces, so we beamed into one of them. We quickly discovered that the facility appeared to be of Iconian origin."

"We were in a storeroom, proceeded through some sort of workspace, and wound up here in what we thought might be an Iconian gateway room. Eclipse's scan of the central platform seems to have triggered the gateway, one aspect of it was the medical bay on the Mongoose. Before anyone realized what was happening, you stepped through the gateway. And now here you are."

"The gateway shut down, though, and until we either figure out how to operate it or we return via Eclipse's ship, you are probably stuck here with us."

He didn't bother mentioning that Eclipse had used hir psionic teleportation power to actually get from the hir ship down to the planet. He had no idea what kind of range hir teleportation had, so couldn't say if it was interplanetary and could thus send Seleya back to the Mongoose
This message was last edited by the player at 04:53, Thu 02 Dec 2021.

"Yes, my apologies.  I was leaving sickbay... I was not expecting to arrive here in this manner," Seleya replied.

"How may I assist?" she asked.

Eclipse figured that an extra medical person on the team wouldn't be a bad thing so kept to hirself that shi probably could have returned hir to the Mongoose with hir ability.

"If you really need to get back to the Mongoose I can have the Ancestor relay you there, otherwise I don't mind having extra medical around, it just provides more insurance."


Eclipse then moved over by the doors and sat down closing hir eye's.

"I'll try to use my astral projection to see which room beyond this seems to be the most interesting, or see if there might be anything we should be concerned about."


Eclipse then tries to use hir astral projection to look on the other side of the doors looking to see if there where any potential threats, or anything of greater curiosity.

There are two ramps downward in the main portal room that are against the curve of the wall on opposite sides of the room.

Eclipse's astral projection doesn't seem to have any problem penetrating the walls of this facility. Shi first looks in the room on the left. It's another circular room that seems to be same size as the lab room. It has three small round tables in it with two chairs at each table and two device on the outside wall with a door between them. That leads to a small storeroom which gives hir the information she needs to identify the purpose. The stores in here appear to be food of some sort and the other room is probably the equivalent of the galley and mess hall.

The door on the right of the main room turns out to be some sort of living quarters. There are what appear to be daybeds along the walls, sofas in the middle with a central round 'coffee' table.

The door on the wall opposite where you came in is clearly a control room of some sort. There are 4-foot high panels of buttons, switches, lights, and gauges circling the room. There are no chairs or stools, but there is what is probably a robot floating in the center of the room.

Eclipse slowly opened hir eye's and stood up and turned to the others.

"Well to one side we apparently have a mess hall, the otherside has what appears to be living quarters, while opposite of where we came in seams to be a control room, but ther also seems to be a robot of some kind in there aswell. So do we go straight for the control room and hope that if it is a robot in there that it can be reasoned with and not turn violent or see if anything was left behind in the living quarters that we could understand."

"We've got security, but I wouldn't guarantee that they could handle the robot if that is also security," Koram replies. "Better we check out the other rooms before we tackle a potential problem. That would be my approach."
This message was lightly edited by the player at 20:28, Sun 09 Jan 2022.

“Yoos want me to go in there and show that robot who’s boss?” He pats the butt of his phaser rifle.

Bugeyes' comment causes Koram to laugh.

"Ha-ha-ha! If only it was that simple!" Koram responds to Pacomio.

"Then again..."

"If it is, indeed, a security robot of some kind, I expect it will take more than one of us to defeat it. Then there's the problem of it self-destructing if we do."

"I would suggest, however, that you keep an eye on that door. Our activities out here might trigger it anyway."

Logan's disappointment at the decision (a correct one, he admits to himself) to leave the gateways alone for the time being is replaced by his surprise upon the Doctor's entrance only to be surpassed by his excitement upon hearing about the contents of the adjacent rooms. "A robot, eh?" He murmurs as he strokes his chin in thought, unaware that he had spoken aloud.

He smiles at Pacomio's offer as he adds his two cents. "I agree with the Ensign, we should probably stay together. At least until we know the purpose of the automaton. " Koram's second suggestion is equally valid, and Logan resolves to keep one eye on that door while continuing to scan the room, watching the backs of his more scientifically-minded crewmates.

Sometimes, he admits to himself, his pilot mindset encourages him to 'rush in where angels fear to tread'. While that often serves him well at the conn, it gets him into trouble when he applies it to areas of expertise that are more suited to others. Still, he grins subconsciously as his eyes sweep the room, it is often more fun that way.

"I should caution you all not to make assumptions about the 'robot'," Alex says then.

"It may look like a robot, but it could be an actual alien life form. Remember, the Medusans use a containment vessel to move about among organic life forms so as not to drive the rest of us insane."

He moves over to the next door that ISN'T where the robot is, and waits for Security to open it.

Starbird smiles as the Lt. Commander accidentally refers to him as an ensign.  He doesn’t bother to correct him, either.

The last door out of this room opens just as easily as the others. Exactly what the room beyond was intended for isn't immediately clear, but it is circular, and has a curved counter and cabinets against the back wall.

After a moment, it appears that this is the kitchen/galley. Exactly where the devices are is uncertain, but presumably in the cabinets.

He wasn't sure if it was Security's 'problem' to open the other door, but other than stepping in front of it or pushing a button, he couldn't see how Pacomio was going to open it. Shoot it? Might work, but Koram wasn't holding out much hope of that. Besides, that might trigger the robot to attack... responding with violence to violence.

"Okay, let's see what this other door holds," he said, walking over to the door that wasn't hiding the robot.

He ran his tricorder around the perimeter, noting where there was circuitry, surprised that he actually found any. It looked like a capacitance plate... just touching it should open the door. It wasn't visible... at least to visual senses and sensors. Well, he didn't scan it on UV or IR frequencies. It was always possible that the Iconians had some sort of other sense, like sharks had an electrical sense.

"Okay. Here goes." He presses the plate.

Starbird gets ready for anything, even if it means fighting a sudden rush of 20 goombas with heaters and bad gambling debts.

The door slides open like the others, and you see what Eclipse had already described.

The back wall has the appearance of a replicator and there are three tables with chairs between the door and the replicator.

The room is otherwise empty and featureless.


Before anyone can enter the room, however, the central platform comes alive again by the appearance of the shimmering planes of light and images.

As everyone looks at it, an image of strange but familiar people appear. They seem to point to the Federation members in the room, and then several of them move towards you and step out of the images into the room. They are clearly Romulans!

OOC: Are they pointing their fingers, or hand disruptors?  Do they seem hostile?

They were just pointing fingers at first, but as they step out of the 'glass' panes, they are drawing disruptors from their belts.

Koram was carrying a phaser just like all of the away team, but it wasn't the first thing he thought to reach for. It was his tricorder. He wanted to get a new reading on the Iconian gate.

He was also ready to duck into the next room if the Romulans started shooting, which he was expecting to happen because he was pretty sure Pacomio would shoot first!

Starbird quickly checks to make sure his phaser rifle is set to stun, and then opens fire on the nearest romulan.

02:28, Today: Pacomio 'Bugeyes' Starbird rolled 28 using 2d20 with rolls of 15,13.  Phaser rifle on stun.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:29, Tue 03 May 2022.

Pacomio's TN is Control (8) + Security (4) = 12, no successes, so he misses.

The Romulan shoots back. His TN is Control (11) + Security (2) = 13.
22:40, Today: StarMaster rolled 4,18 using 1d20,1d20 ((4,18)).

The Romulan only manages 1 success, so he, too, misses.

The startled redshirt quickly glances around, looking for cover.  He doesn’t bother warning his companions, since the weapons fire has most likely alerted them.

The only cover is the galley/mess hall where Koram went, as well as Hawk, Keth and Seleya.

Eclipse, on the other hand, has leaped across the room and attacked the first Romulan to step off the platform, meaning they've been transported to this site.

As soon as Eclipse realized that the Romulans were being transported from wherever they were to this site via the Iconian portal, shi realized shi needed to keep them from coming through!

Shi leaped halfway across the room to attack the Romulan in hand-to-hand combat. If shi was successful, shi was hoping shi could push him back through the portal and maybe the portal would change.

Daring 7 + Security 4 = 11 TN.
Hir Unarmed Combat Focus increases the TN by 1, to 12.

Although shi only needs 1 Success, hir attack is opposed by the Romulan's Successes, so shi uses Determination from Martial Arts Talent to give hir 2 Successes for that.

21:58, Today: Eclipse rolled 15,6 using 1d20,1d20 ((15,6)).

Not satisfied with only three successes, shi's going to use 3 Momentum to increase hir dice pool by 2 dice.

22:07, Today: Eclipse rolled 12,10 using 1d20,1d20 ((12,10)).

That gives hir a total of 5 successes. Shi'll use any Momentum to drive the Romulan back through the portal while doing 4 damage (2 for Challenge Dice roll + 1 for Martial Arts + 1 for hir claws).

23:39, Today: Eclipse rolled 2 using 1d6 ((2)).

The Romulan's Daring 9 + Security 3 gives him a TN of 12.

00:01, Today: StarMaster rolled 20,11 using 1d20,1d20 ((20,11)).

That's only one success against Eclipse's 5, hir Unarmed Attack when successful results in Knockdown, so it only takes one Momentum to drive him back through the portal.

The other Romulans had halted momentarily when the phaser fire started, and as their comrade tumbles back to the floor at their feet, a female Starfleet Science Officer suddenly steps through another shimmering plane and pulls up short as she realizes she's amid the Romulans.

For a moment after stepping through the invisible gateway, Dr Hanson is absorbed in her tricorder readings, but as soon as she glances forward to see where she is walking, she notices that she is suddenly in the middle of a group of armed Romulans in a strange room.

"Woah!" Her tricorder clatters to the floor as she takes up a Suus Mahna fighting stance, then lunges to attack the nearest Romulan.

16:56, Today: Maribel Hanson rolled 12,14,1,3,1,2 using 1d20,1d20,1d6,1d6,1d6,1d6 with rolls of 12,14,1,3,1,2.  Unarmed Attack against the nearest Romulan. Daring 11 + Security 3 = 14. 2 Successes, 4 damage if hit.

Starbird resists the chivalrist urge to rush in and physically protect the lady in jeopardy, and instead fires another stunning beam at the nearest Romulan.

17:36, Today: Pacomio 'Bugeyes' Starbird rolled 2 using 2d20 with rolls of 1,1.  Phaser rifle to hit.

OOC: Snake eyes.  Yikes!
This message was last edited by the player at 21:36, Mon 09 May 2022.

It only takes 1 Success for Maribel to hit the Romulan, though he has his own defense.

21:04, Today: StarMaster rolled 12,10 using 1d20,1d20 ((12,10)).

He gets one Success, which counters one of Maribels Successes, but she still has one Success, so that's enough to hit him. His uniform has 1 Resistance, so he takes three damage and her unarmed attack knocks him to the floor.


Pacomio rolled two 1s (low is good in this game), and since he wasn't using a Focus, each of those generates 2 Successes for a total of 4. Normally, he only needs 2 to hit the Romulan, but he was choosing to try and stun him, which isn't normally a function of the phaser rifle, so that raises the Difficulty by 1, so he still hits. That gives him 1 Momentum.

21:14, Today: StarMaster, on behalf of Pacomio 'Bugeyes' Starbird, rolled 8d6 ((4,3,5,3,1,6,2,2)).

The 1 is 1 Damage, both 2s are 2 Damage each, the 5 and 6 are each 1 Damage plus an Effect. That's a total of 7 Damage + 2 Effects. The Romulans uniform has a Resistance of 1, reducing the Damage to 6, but that's greater than 4 so he receives an injury. Pacomio has to spend his Momentum to cause an Effect of Stun. The Romulan is stunned.

That's 3 of the 4 Romulans down, though 2 can get up easily enough.

For a moment, Eclipse got a glimpse of the Mongoose through the Iconian portal, just as they'd done when Seleya had stepped through. Shi was now convinced that there was some factor in play that triggered the portal to the ship... maybe it was just the fact that there were people at those locations, though there were also power sources... more apt to register on sensors.

Shi didn't think the StarFleet Away Team was ready for dealing with the Romulans from wherever they were, especially not going to that location. Shi took a step forward, grabbed Maribel, and yanked her 'through' the portal to the Iconian facility.

As shi was hoping, the moment shi stepped off the platform, the portal(s) disappeared again.

She mentally contacted Sebastian on the Ancestor to contact the Mongoose and inform them about the Iconian portal and that Seleya and Maribel had now been transported to the planet via the portal.

After successfully knocking the Romulan over, she steps back away from him, draws her type 1 phaser from it's tiny pocket on her belt, and tries to stun him.


21:57, Today: Maribel Hanson rolled 17,11 using 1d20,1d20 with rolls of 17,11.  Control+Security=13. Phaser shot to stun the prone Romulan.

OOC: I think I need 2 successes for a hit on a ranged attack, so that's probably a miss. If not, it should have 5 damage dice. Assuming, of course, I can take another turn; if the Romulans get a turn first, ignore this post.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:07, Tue 10 May 2022.

The combination of Eclipse's attack, Maribel's attack and Pacomio's phaser shot was a bit of a shock to the Romulans. They might not have surrendered, but they recognized a superior foe when they encountered it, so the two downed Romulans weren't in any hurry to get up (unless it was to flee) and the 4th one decided to step back away from the 'angry' Human and ferocious cat creature.

Eclipse grabbed Maribel and pulled her through the portal and then the shimmering panes of whatever disappeared as Eclipse stepped off the platform.

Maribel is now in the Iconian facility with the Away Team.

After ducking into the other room for cover, Koram then directed his tricorder at the portal to see what kind of readings he could get. Then he noticed that the control panel he'd uncovered earlier was flickering with lights so he turned his tricorder on that. He might get some sort of reading he could decipher.

"I hope that's not a sign," he commented to Alex as the portal once again vanished. "Two people from the Mongoose get sucked through the portal already. We need to figure out to shut off the portal before any more get pulled through."

With the Romulans pacified, Dr Hanson relaxes a little and walks back to where she appeared to pick up the tricorder she dropped. With her phaser in her left hand and her tricorder in her right hand, she takes a good look around the room.

"Hey guys. If y'all are here, I must be on one of the planets. What is this place, and how did I get here? I was just leaving Engineering, then suddenly Romulans." She looks at the defeated Romulans on the floor. "What's the deal with these guys? They clearly don't belong here any more than I do."

“Watch out for ‘em, boss,” Starbird says to no one in particular as he keeps the phaser rifled trained on the downed Romulans.  “These cafones are strong.”

When no one answers her, Dr Hanson starts scanning the room to find some answers herself. She passes around the room slowly, scanning with her tricorder along the way. When she gets back to the platform she appeared on, she stops, looking intently at the tricorder, "Wait a minute, these readings look familiar."

She turns to the group, clearly excited, "Is this an Iconian facility!? I remember seeing tricorder readings like these in the reports about the Iconian gateway facility the Enterprise found. Did I accidentally walk through an Iconian gateway!?"

The Romulans aren't in this room or even in this facility. Only one had come through, and Eclipse had driven that one back through the portal.

Maribel had stepped through the portal to wherever it was that the Romulans were, but then Eclipse had pulled her through the portal to the Iconian facility before it shut down again. She managed to grab her tricorder as that was happening.

"A bit disorienting, isn't it?" Seleya says to Maribel.

"Happened to me, too. I was on the Mongoose one minute, took a step, and here I was."

"It's not a problem if you are expecting it. And, yes, this is an Iconian facility. Apparently just like we use transporters, the Iconians used these portals or gateways or whatever you want to call them. As near as we've been able to tell, if you don't have a set coordinate put into their computer, it activates randomly."

"You saw all those flickering planes that looked like windows? Each one isn't a window to another location but a doorway. Presumably, you can stabilize it if you find one that's a location you want to go to."

"It looked like the Romulans were as surprised as we were. They may have thought we were responsible for the portals and, in their inimitable fashion, tried to take control of it."

"Anyway, somewhere in this facility is one of the gravity beam generators that keep the planets in stable orbits. We've been trying to find it."

"What she said," Alex added.

"I'm Alexander Xavier Hawk, but everyone just calls me Alex. Except the Captain, of course."

"Oh jeez, I forgot to introduce myself!" She bows slightly as she speaks, "I'm Lieutenant Maribel Hanson, Doctor of Astrophysics and Quantum Mechanics, Head of the Mongoose's Physics Department, for those here unfamiliar with me. It's a pleasure to meet you all."

"Now then, this 'gravity beam' sounds very interesting. I would very much like to study it. This gateway too! I've always wondered how the Iconians made these things work." She draws her datapad from it's pocket and talks quietly as she writes, "Set, reminder. Ask, the captain, how, long, we are, staying, in the system, to study, this, facility." She replaces the datapad for her phaser and tricorder again and stands there scanning the gateway platform until the group starts to move on.

"Hi, Maribel," Koram says to the Science Officer. "We've met before."

Science and Engineering worked together a lot--Science theorized and Engineering built the devices to make it so.

"In theory, the Captain is probably planning on staying here in this system until he's uncovered all of its... secrets. I'm sure that's going to be a lot--there's 101 planets!"

"Like this one. It's not a habitable world, and there were certainly no signs of habitation on the surface. The only reason we're here is that our sensors detected the gravity beam as it altered the course of one of the nearby planets. So, yes, I'd like to examine that device as well."

"Any device that can emit a beam of gravity that can push or pull a planet out of orbit over millions of miles is something I want to get a hold of!"

"As for the portal... I got some decent readings this last time off the control panel over there so I might be able to figure something out. The power level suggests that the portal may only work within this super system... rather than be interstellar in range."

"Oh, and Eclipse detected some sort of robot behind that fourth door over there. We haven't opened it yet."

Although technically, as Captain of her own ship, Eclipse out-ranked Logan, but as far as the Away Team was concerned, he was in charge. But he'd no more ignore Eclipse's advice than he would fail to ask for it.

"Okay, Maribel, now that you're here, please assist Koram in figuring out the portal,
he directs. "I'd rather not have any more surprise visits from them. On the other hand, if Koram's estimate of the power level is accurate, that means the Romulans are somewhere else in this system. It's possible that the Mongoose couldn't detect a Romulan ship if it was cloaked--for that matter, can the portals work through a cloak? That'd be great--but why are the Romulans here? They wouldn't have visited this world if they never detected the gravity beam."

"Pacomio and Alex, you're with me. Eclipse, would you mind helping us explore this last room?"

"Seleya... just keep an eye on the portal... and the rest of us. If that robot behind the door is aggressive, we may need your medical assistance real soon."

With that, he heads over to the last door.

"Yes sir!" Lt Hanson turns to Ensign Val as she begins to circle the platform, scanning with her tricorder as she goes. "Let's see if we can't find some sort of interface with this thing, like an access panel or control terminal or something."

OOC: What kind of roll would we have to make to find an access point to the gateway? Should Koram and Maribel make separate rolls, or should Koram roll with Maribel's help? Maribel has Collaboration (Science), Science 5, and focuses in Astrophysics and Quantum Mechanics.

“Sure thing, bwoss,” Starbird replies, following Lt. Commander Keth.  “Er, I mean… yes, sir.”

You ain’t home, He reminds himself for the ten billionth time.

"I found a control panel over here on the wall," Koram says as he leads the way over to the 'side' door.

"Eclipse teleported us to a store room back through there which led to what we think was a work room." He indicated the door in the middle of the wall to the left of where they were standing. The door in front of them was in the middle of the side wall. The panel was on the wall just outside the door.

"This is where I got the reading this last time the portal activated. There's clearly a pattern to it, but I haven't had a chance to analyze it yet."

"I haven't seen any other way to access the machinery. The platform appears to be seamless. If they can create these kinds of portals, though, it occurs to me that they might have tools that do the same thing on a smaller scale that would let them open a portal in the side of the platform to make repairs."

Maribel continues looking at the platform while she replies to Koram. "Maybe, but it seems impractical to me." She looks up at the control panel Koram pointed out, let looks over to him, "Let's take a look at this control panel then, see if we can't figure out what it controls."

She walks across to the panel and begins scanning it with her tricorder. "So did y'all find anything interesting in the other rooms?"

18:41, Today: Maribel Hanson rolled 13,15 using 1d20,1d20 with rolls of 13,15.  Scan the control panel. Reason+Engineering=14.
OOC: That looks like 1 success to me, assuming I'm rolling against the correct stats.

OOC: Those look like the correct stats to me! I'm rolling the same, though I don't necessarily have to, to assist Maribel. I only get to roll one die, though.

Reason 4 + Engineering 11 = 15: 11:49, Today: Koram Val rolled 9 using 1d20 ((9)).

I doubt if two successes is going to be enough, so we might want to consider using Momentum or Threat. I was leaning towards Threat to invoke the 'security robot' behind the other door, since our own security wants something to shoot at.


Koram watches Maribel as she analyzes the readings he took, making a suggestion here and there.

"Look here at the side bars," he says. "That looks like it could be a power indicator. The right one could be the amount of power available while the left one might be the power that was being used... or maybe that was needed?"

"There's no way of knowing where the Romulans were, but my guess is that they were somewhere else in this system. There's no indication that the Iconian gates could span thousands of light years. Hundreds, yes. And it would make sense that they'd want to go between the various worlds in this system."

"I don't know what the power levels indicate, but we might be able to extrapolate them from what it would take to move a world with a tractor beam. It's bound to be a dedicated system. I don't know if the Mongoose has the power to do that, but its power is distributed over dozens of systems. We can reroute power, of course, but I'm pretty sure there's no way to reroute all of it into, say, our tractor beam. I don't think the tractor beam could be made that powerful anyway without a major modification."

Logan and Pacomio move down to the other door and stand to one side while Eclipse and Alex stand to the other side of the door. The other doors opened just as you approached it, so everyone stays to the side until Logan steps in front of it and then quickly steps aside as it starts to slide open.

No one is in an immediate line of sight to see what's in the room, but a moment later, a robot floats out. It's a gleaming metal cylinder with a domed top floating about a foot off the ground. The dome clearly has a sensor area but the cylinder is featureless other than the lines of access (?) panels.

The dome rotates to the left toward Logan and Pacomio. An unseen speaker issues sounds that you readily recognize as a language but it's incomprehensible.


Meanwhile, Koram and Maribel are trying to figure out the control panel. Based off of just the one-time scan, the Difficulty is 4. You can roll 2 more dice for the Threat. You can also roll up to 3 more dice if you want to use Momentum.

Pacomio keeps his phaser rifle trained on the thing’s dome, ready to blast it should the need arise.

Maribel stares at the panel for a minute or so, watching the lights softly change every few seconds. "Maybe...     no, that doesn't make sense. Aaaaa..." She runs her hand through her bright red hair in obvious frustration. "Come on, Mari, it's a control panel, it has to do something. How do we tell what?" She paces back and forth for a moment before stopping mid-stride and raising her head. "Duh! Occam's Razor you goober!"

She steps back to the panel, her finger hovering above one of the buttons as she decides which one to press...

OOC: May I use a point of determination to invoke my Value "Every question has an answer, I just need to find it" to get another die that has rolled a 1, for 2 extra successes? I would like to use Momentum then, to roll two extra dice for the 4th success.

Yes, that'll work. However, you've already got 2 Successes... one from Maribel and one from Koram who's assisting. Determination will give you 4 so no Momentum needs to be spent.


There could have been any number of other things that the readouts were displaying, including the physical status of the current location or the potential destination. There's nothing showing on the panel at the moment--you've been examining the sensor recording that Koram made, which included a visual image.

Considering that the physical parameters would need to include gravity, air content and pressure, temperature, probably a micro-organism indicator, and who knows what else the Iconians might have considered important, there doesn't look like there's enough lights to display all that, but there could be a secondary screen for those things.

No, the most logical explanation is that these are coordinates being displayed. What system they are using isn't clear, of course, but if those are buttons on the console that can be pushed, then you think you can probably call up that location again.

You can also identify the activation button. As near as you can tell, the system seems to be set to scan the entire super-system for... something. There's no indication what, but perhaps life forms, though there must be a secondary condition it scans for.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:49, Sun 22 May 2022.

Logan didn't understand what the robot was saying as the universal translator wasn't working. Well, to be honest, it was on the Mongoose and as long as the ship was in communication range, then the comm badges could access it. So, either the ship was out of range, or this facility was blocking the signal somehow.

"Greetings. I am Lieutenant Commander Logan Keth of the United Federation of Planets," he replied to the robot hoping it could do its own translation. "We are peaceful explorers."

He decided to leave it at that to see if it could understand him first.

Dr Hanson looks at what she believes is probably the activation button for a few moments, pondering whether she should touch it or not. "Hey Koram, what exactly was happening when you took this scan? I think these glyphs might be coordinates of some sort, and this looks like it might activate the system. I kinda want to touch it, but I don't want to open a gateway to the Romulans again."

She glances over to the robot and her hand slips down to hover over the pocket where she keeps her phaser, but she doesn't grab it yet.

She looks back to Koram, "My gut tells me that this system may be scanning the system looking for something. I'm not 100% sure why I think that. If I'm right, though, it's probably worth finding. I mean, if the Iconians were looking for it, it's gotta be interesting, right?"

"You definitely don't want to push the 'activation' button if that's what it is," Koram cautions. "Though if there's no coordinates set, I doubt if it would do anything... unless, as you guessed, it randomly opens a portal to somewhere else in this system."

"We should try to figure what kind of coordinate system they use, though it's probably some sort of standard judging by these readings. Three pair of coordinates to pinpoint the destination, maybe a distance or range, though if the coordinates are that exact, that would be automatic."

"It could have something to do with the allocation of power."

"If it's scanning the system, it's looking for life forms is my guess. That's how Seleya got here, you got here, and the Romulans got here. Although, now that you mention it, I think I saw a similar platform at that Romulan site. That would mean they've got an Iconian gate there, too. Which makes sense--it's how the Iconians got around the system, rather relying on starships."

"Yeah, that's probably a good idea." She withdraws her hand.

"Now we're in a bit of a pickle then, huh? We can't safely open any portals without understanding their coordinate system, but we can't decipher their coordinates without enough data, and to get data we would need to open multiple portals to record which coordinates go where."

She holds her chin and absent-mindedly taps on her jaw as she thinks for a few moments. "Would the Mongoose's database have any info on the Iconian writing system and language? Is the Mongoose even within comms range?"

Dr Hanson taps her commbadge. "Lieutenant Hanson to USS Mongoose, do you read?

Pacomio muses on the possibility that the machine is scanning for joints that could be knocked off.  They’d love a machine like that back home.

At Logan's words, the robot emits some sort of ray at him. Half expecting it, Logan manages to dodge out of the way. Nothing seems to happen to the wall where the ray strikes, though.

"One of my previous hosts studied Iconian and some of the related languages," Koram replies. "It doesn't make me an expert, though."

"Woah! What was that?" he reacted to the robot's ray. He trained his tricorder in that direction. The ray itself was already gone, but he hoped he'd detect some residual energy or some signal from the robot itself.

"Woah!" Maribel steps back in surprise, drawing her phaser and turning to aim it at the robot.

"Was that an attack? I was paying attention to the panel."

Confused, Pacomio also trains his phaser rifle on the robot, ready to make it sleep with the fishes.

"I don't think that was a sensor scan!" Logan says as he fires his phaser back at the robot.

He's pretty sure that's probably a bad idea, both because it probably won't be successful and because there could be repercussions.

Control 12 + Security 1 = TN 13

16:50, Today: Logan Keth rolled 11,7 using 1d20,1d20 ((11,7)).

That should be 2 Successes, which is all that is needed for a ranged attack. Whether it has any effect or not remains to be seen.

17:03, Today: Logan Keth rolled 4d6 ((3,4,1,2)).

Damn. That's only 3 damage. He's going to burn 3 Momentum to add 3 damage. He probably wouldn't need them for a Klingon or a Romulan, but against an Iconian security robot...

Pacomio does as the Romans do, also firing on the robot.

10:26, Today: Pacomio 'Bugeyes' Starbird rolled 15 using 2d20 with rolls of 11,4.  Phaser rifle to hit.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:27, Mon 13 June 2022.

Pacomio's TN is 12 (Control 8 + Security 4), so that's two successes, which is all that's needed for a ranged weapon attack.

Damage is a number of Challenge Dice equal to 4 + Security Discipline, so 8 for Pacomio's Phaser Rifle.

14:25, Today: StarMaster, on behalf of Pacomio 'Bugeyes' Starbird, rolled 8d6 ((1,1,3,1,5,2,1,6)).

That's 8 damage plus two Effects.

Added to Logan's 6 damage overloads the robots defensive shield (4 points) letting 10 points get through. The robot explodes! No one is close enough to be damaged by the explosion.

"Let's hope that actually was an attack, or else we may have just murdered somebody." Dr Hanson says as she gestures to the smoking shell that used to be a robot. "Koram and I can stay here to watch the gateway while you guys secure the rest of the facility. If our robot friend over there had any friends, we probably want to know about them before they know about this."

Pacomio stops himself just before making and embarrassing remark about how the robot should have been full of loose change.

"There's no known instance of the Iconians having ever developed artificial intelligence," Koram responds.

"It should certainly be possible given their level of technology, but it could have been one of their blind spots. Either that, or they might have had a philosophical reason for not creating them."

"Unless you mean that there might have been some type of lifeform inside the robot. We didn't pick up anything on our sensors, and I don't think it could have survived this long anyway."

He continues working on the Iconian symbols for the gate.

"Even if we figure out what the symbols mean, we may never work out their coordinate system. I'm not seeing any indication that the source code is part of the equation. If we knew where those Romulans were, we might be able to translate our coordinate system into the Iconian system."

"I think the best we can do for now is attempt to activate it randomly. We'll need to make sure we know how to shut it down instantly, though, in case it creates a portal into open space."

"On the other hand, there's probably some sort of failsafe to keep that from happening, but it can probably be over-ridden. In any case, activate the portal to see where it goes, then shut it down instantly while we analyze what we see."

"Yeah, I guess. The line between robot and android tends to get blurry sometimes, so I usually play it safe and just assume they're all people." She pauses while Koram continues.

"Do we know how to deactivate it? Because you just told me not to just turn it on to see what happens. If not, maybe we should leave this for later and help the others secure the facility, then come back with some more technicians and gear and give this a proper analysis in safer conditions." Dr Hanson pauses for a moment. "But I'm not in command here, so that's not my decision. What's your call Lt. Commander?"

OOC: I don't actually remember, do we know how to deactivate the gateway?

Yes, the 'off' button was identified. That's what was used to shut it down after Eclipse kicked the Romulan back through, grabbed Maribel and dragged her back to this side.

Now that the robot was destroyed however undesirable that outcome might have been, Eclipse ventured to look into the room where it had waited. She still didn't venture into, but merely attempted to discern its function just from observation.

"This looks like the engineering section," she informs the others after her observation. "It does follow that it is the one that would be guarded. On the other hand, the robot may have just been a maintenance robot, and it was attempting to ascertain who we were. Or possibly communicate with us."

"I'm no engineer, but that's what it looks like to me, too," Logan responded as he stepped forward.

"Pacomio, keep an eye on the ceiling and upper walls in case there's some sort of defensive system built into it."

Once into the room, he starts moving around the perimeter looking at the various equipment and whatever is displayed on them.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:16, Sun 19 June 2022.

"Not sure we're ever going to get a better team down here than us," Koram quips a bit sardonically. "Even if the Federation returns to this super-system, I doubt if any other scientists will fare any better than us."

"After all, this isn't the first Iconian base that we've encountered. We still didn't learn anything from those. Or was it only one?"

"Although, now that I consider it, that portal may have had a much greater range with an even more advanced coordinate system. I don't know if this one has a limit... assuming there is such a thing... but it would make sense that it would be built intentionally for this system."

"I wonder how old this facility is?"

“Sure thing, bwoss.  I mean… yes, sir.” Pacomio eyes the ceiling, making sure it doesn’t get out of line.

"Fair enough, I guess. We should at least take defensive positions before testing this, in case we accidentally open the gate to the Romulans again."

Dr Hanson draws her phaser from it's holster again. "Which of us is worst at shooting people? Because that should be the person to activate the gate, so that everyone else is free to defend if we do open the Romulan gate again. I have Level 3 security training and I do actually keep up with doing my phaser drills. My Suus Mahna is a bit rusty, though."

"We're not going to activate the portal unless we know where it's going to go," Logan states rather emphatically.

"That's not why we're here... well, not primarily. First we see what else is here. Then, if either of you can give me assurances that you can control where the portal will go, maybe we'll give it a shot."

While the panels in the other room are interesting to Logan, he has no idea what any of them mean. It occurs to him as he glances over them that even if one of them is Life Support, he has no idea what the Iconians would have made it look like.


Pacomio doesn't see any panels in the ceiling or the upper half of the walls that he thinks a weapon could pop out of it. In fact, the floor, walls and ceiling all appear to be seamless.

Every room has been circular and the same height... about 10 feet.

Oddly, there are no light fixtures--the entire ceiling glows with a soft light.

Koram pretty much agreed with Logan's statement that they weren't going to activate the portal. As he'd already surmised, he doubted it would open into someplace hostile, like open space, since there didn't seem to be any sort of barrier within the portal.

"We were sent here to investigate the super-tractor beam that moved one of the planets," he informs Maribel.

"I'm not one hundred percent certain yet that this is an Iconian facility, but other than the Dyson Sphere builders, we haven't run across any other species that had this level of technological expertise."

"Don't exactly know why they created this system... other than to show off. In theory, a system this large should be impossible... incredibly unstable. So that stability is being forced... or maybe 'maintained' is a better word... artificially."

"I don't think we're going to work out any of their technology while we're here, but we still might learn something."

He follows Logan into the engineering room. It looks like that to him as well.

"Oh, here's an afterthought--Eclipse, are you capable of teleporting us to where the Romulans are? Or do you need to know where they are first?"

"It might be possible," Eclipse responds. "I did see the place where they were, though I don't have any idea how far away or in what direction it was. It's about focusing. I think I can focus on the Romulan I kicked and teleport to him. It's one of the idiosyncracies of teleporting. Otherwise, I have to know distance and direction I want to teleport if it's an otherwise unknown destination."

"For example, I could decide I wanted to teleport 100 feet to the east, or 20 feet upward."

Starbird continues to watch the ceiling, all the while willing it to start dropping free money.  (If only he were a Vulcan...)

"Between the three of you," he gestures to Eclipse, Koram and Maribel, "I have every expectation that you can figure out some of this equipment."

"One must be power, of course. Another has to be life support. A third has to be some sort of sensor station, since the facility needs to know when to make an adjustment."

"Another console has to be the tractor beam and another the portal generator. And a computer... or whatever the Iconians used. I suppose, for all intents and purposes, whatever the device is or how it works, its function would still be that of a computer. Right?"

"Oh, and here's another thought: what keeps this planet stable in its orbit? If it's generating a tractor beam over interplanetary distances to keep the other planets stable, what's to keep it from being rendered unstable while it does that?"

"Have you seen ANY indication that this may not be an Iconian facility?"

"Oh, that's a good point. Basic Newtonian physics say that any method of using this planet to move another would apply equal force to both planets. A tractor beam goes a bit beyond Newtonian physics, but either way there has to be something anchoring this planet if it's moving the others. Unless it's not anchored and the facility accounts for that push from the tractor beam to keep itself in a stable orbit around this star, but that would require a monster of a computer to calculate. But if anyone could do that, it's the Iconians."

Dr Hanson enters the room the robot came from. "Either way, we won't know for sure until we identify these systems. We'll figure out what does what Lt Commander." With that, she begins scanning everything of note in the room, being careful to get a full 3D scan with her tricorder so that others can investigate via holodeck at a later date. With enough time, she will try to document every room in the facility in this way.

"Wouldn't tractoring a bunch of other planets help keep it in place, like it was building a web around itself?" His eyes do not deviate from the ceiling.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:34, Thu 07 July 2022.

"I guess it's possible that they could be using the gravitational pull of the other planets to anchor this one in place for the long term, but they still would have had to contend with the counterpush from the tractor beam to get them in the right arrangement in the first place. When starships use tractor beams, they counteract that counterpush by momentarily firing thrusters in the opposite direction to cancel it out.¹" In like fashion to Pacomio, Dr Hanson talks while still focusing on what she's doing.

¹I just made the bit about the thrusters up, so if that conflicts with the lore, let me know and we can retcon it or something.

"Good point, Maribel. Of course, it's not like the Mongoose has ever tried to tractor a planet," Koram adds.

"Even another ship is usually smaller, but if it was bigger, it'd pull the Mongoose along with it."

"Also a good point, Pacomio. I could see multiple tractor beams being set out at the same time to other planets to act as an anchor for this one. That would require very complex calculations."

"It may also be that this planet balances its own orbit when it corrects one of the others. It's a significant point to note that there would appear to be a limit on the range of the tractor beams. I think that was an estimation of the amount of energy it took to affect just the one planet. So, in a system this large, there has to be more than one tractor beam planet."

"It also means that it can only make corrections when the two planets are closest."

"Anyway, back to the problem at hand. I'm thinking we should try to identify the life support controls first, as those are the ones we'd be most likely to recognize. I'm hoping we'll find that they used a similar system to as we do to indicate atmospheric pressure. In particular, a comparison between internal pressure and external pressure should be fairly obvious. If we find that, that should give us a foundation to decypher other systems."

"Is it just me?" Logan says, "But did that robot seem to get taken out a bit too easily? I thought Iconian stuff was supposed to be tougher than that."

"Even if it was just a maintenance robot."

"You guys making any progress on those controls?"

"I suppose, meanwhile, we should try to figure out what our next move is. Do we want to chase after the Romulans? Or just get back to the Ancestor?"

"It's not like we're intending to destroy this base. We're just here on a fact-gathering mission. Oh, damn! I hope disabling the robot didn't affect this facility's ability to keep making corrections!"

"After all, this place has been running for hundreds of years already. Leave it to us Humans to just show up and fubar the whole thing without even trying!"

As Koram had suggested, looking for an indicator of atmospheric pressure turned out to be the only reasonable one. Form follows function was a reasonable hypothesis, and you soon found the section of control console that had such an indicator.

It wasn't a Rosetta stone, but it was a starting point for trying to decipher the Iconian writing. It also helped that Koram's previous host had studied Iconian.

Having an idea of what the outside atmosphere was like meant you could compare it to the inside condition so you just had to note which was the lower--inside.

It was part of a bar graph representation that contained 5 pairs of indicators. One was clearly the atmospheric pressure, another was temperature. Those two gave you starting numbers to work with, and the labels under them were a clue to the language.

“Leave it to us to drop the cannoli,” Pacomio mutters, agreeing with Logan.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:53, Fri 12 Aug 2022.