[OOC: This is a comprehensive summary of the current situation, beginning with an overview and proceeding to direct quotes.]

During the combat with the Romulan insurgents, a Charon class warpshuttle (runabout) is shot down and crashes in the built-up area around one of the Portals. First contact is made with a group of Chirpers, a diminutive winged humanoid species apparently from the Grandfather's home universe. Lt Dovan, a Deltan medic disappears, leaving behind his burnt-out tricorder with what turn out to be traces of Borg nanoprobes and a small piece of alloy is seen moving along the ground. It turns out to be monotanium, an alloy from the Delta quadrant, not known for its unusual mobility. They also find the empty shell of Dovan's commbadge and sensors are able to detect traces of degraded Deltan pheromones.

An alert is put out for a Deltan lieutenant possibly in the company of a Chirper. This Chirper had been a patient under the care of Dr. Dovan. The team is issued Type III Compression Phaser Rifles, Lt Tony Gazzo's Tech Assessment Kit, Lt Pierce's Field Medical Kit, Anti-Gravity Boots, Tricorders, an Exocomp which Tony has dubbed Shemp. Dovan is also believed to be accmpanied by Unit QXVR135, a Borg-infested exocomp dubbed Larry. Searching a building while following Dovan, the team comes under attack and returns fire, stunning the Chirper, which is partially assimilated and was the vector by which Dovan was infected by Borg nanoprobes. It is beamed up to the Thames and placed in stasis.

The team, which now consists of LCdr Kat Carson (NPC), Lt Zedric Sloane (Steve, in the Thames), Lt(jg) Jon Clare (Dave), Lt Nathan Pierce MD (PC) [OOC: Player Character, not a Personal Computer], Lt(jg) Talja Groen (NPC, also in the Thames), Lt(jg) Tony Gazzo (NPC), Lt(jg) Billy Xelox (NPG) and Jedi Knight Lt(jg, provisional) Dhalkhino (NPC) determines that Dovan has taken a subterranean subshuttle. They are able to contact the Sphere Avatar, to which they have been  accorded Researcher Access Level theta. While the Avatar cannot directly track Dovan's subshuttle but can monitor conditions in the tunnel and thus maintain a rough fix - until it disappears from the location. The team's subshuttle proceeds, going through a junction which teleports them halfway across the Sphere; and the Avatar gets a fix on Dovan's subshuttle approaching a station 250km ahead. Samson informs them, "The Bras d'Or is within range and we'll have them beam you there... Wait, they're reporting on a preliminary scan of the area. High chroniton readings and an area which seems somehow shielded..."

USS Bras d'Or beams the team to the station, where they are joined by LCdr Kat Carson, XO and Science Officer of the Bras d'Or. She has been revealed to be one of the Lintilla clones who has been trapped in this universe for several years and has joined Starfleet. She has a captured Romulan engineering tricorder with a cloaking maintenance software package. She is accompanied by Lt Buran, a Bolian (PC) [OOC: Still not a Personal Computer or even a MacIntosh] computer specialist. Buran prefers to use a Type II Phaser to a Type III. Shemp scans the area ahead and gets a lock on Larry who is moving fast and showing increased power consumption. Tony deduces that Dovan is riding Larry like a grav bike.

Buran taps icons on his own tricorder. He is able to detect the boridium power signature that Tony mentioned. He's able to piggyback the tricorder's remote sensors to the signal and hack into Larry's CPU. The resulting decoded signals are Borg encoding, tailored for the limited AI routines in the exocomp's computer. There are several sideband signals, but the main ones are what appear to be a set of coordinates. Buran's task is made somewhat easier by the fact that the Borg are using a translation matrix to communicate with Larry's Federation standard equipment and this gives him the foothold in the Borg encryption he needs to figure out that the coordinates are actually in a format of Romulan origin. This confirms the hasty briefing Buran was given that the Borg infestation seems to be related to the Romulan attack the night before. Buran's natural species-based ability to multitask allows him to perform the complex calculations while travelling at 70km/h. Dovan fires a Phaser at the team.

Dahlakino shouts, "That was Dovan! I'm able to sense him more clearly. He's shooting to kill." Tony reports, "He's using a Type II, maximum range 100 metres. He can't realistically hit us." Shemp hoots and whistles. The commbadges translate this as "Incoming message from Unit QXVR135, designation Larry. 'Resistance is futile'." Lt Pierce says to Shemp, "Send back a message to the QXVR135 Unit 'Resistance is fun and we are going to use the fun to disable you'." Shemp replies, "Message sent. No reply. Query: Message makes no sense. What is the purpose of the message?" Tony comments, "Ah, the James T. Kirk school of computer programming. A classic. Don't worry, li'l buddyI'll explain later." Billy replies, "Don't think even Kirk could bullshit the Borg, but it's worth a try."

Jon, Tony, and Shemp peel off to the right, while everybody else goes left. They all manoeuvre into effective range, being careful to keep under cover as much as possible. "Carson, Tony and I will take some shots to draw his fire," says Jon over the comms. "While he is focussing on us, you should be able to get a good clear shot! Everyone ready?" Jon, peeking out from the cover of some trees, aims his rifle and fires.

Clare's commbadge chirps, "Jon, this is Zed, I'm calling in a couple of runabouts with fire suppression foam. Capt Samson ordered them put on standby after we shot down the Rom runabout." A second hail cuts in, "Bras d'Or to all units, we've detected indications of a six-pointed star-shaped installation 25 kliks northeast of your position. Tactical evaluates it as a Type 2 Romulan Observation post... The tachyon net is still up and is interfering with its cloaking field." "Shit!" exclaims Jon, as the flames and smoke obscure his shot at Dovan. "Carson, I don't have a shot anymore! How does it looks from your side?" Jon takes out his tricorder to see if he can pinpoint Dovan's position through the haze. "This works both ways, of course," says Jon to Tony. "Can we use all this to sneak up closer to him?"

Sloane is listening in on your comms chatter, "I've switched us to a secure frequency courtesy of our Security chief, so Dovan can't listen in. Your tactics are sound, but I'm having Talja beam breathing masks to all your commbadge locators. We don't know what toxins may be in the local grass, and breathing smoke isn't recommended for your health anyway. Sorry, Nathan, but I don't want to give you more work treating smoke inhalation. The Bras d'Or has detected Dovan's presumed destination. We don't want to lose Dovan or I'd beam you there site-to-site. Capt Talliaferro is beaming down a Security team to observe the installation 'til you can get there. Zed out."

Nathan estimates that he has sufficient burn gel, spray bandage and a fully charged dermal regenerator, all courtesy of the mission to treat the Chirpers, to treat any exposure to the grass fire. Buran notes that Larry's boridium power signature is accelerating in the direction of the installation's coordinates, at a velocity of 75km/h. Dovan is almost certainly not riding him, as this is half again as fast as Larry was able to maintain carrying an adult humanoid. Seconds later, a breathing mask appears at everybody's location. This covers the mouth and nose, and has a compressed breathing capsule. It is accompanied by a pair of auto-polarising goggles, which Dahlakino discards in favour of the goggles attached to her headgear. At Jon's command, the team rises a few metres in the air. Entering the smoke, the eyegear resolves their view as if the smoke were not there, and negates the glare from the flames.

At the mention of a secure communication channel, Buran taps his badge to report his latest findings. "It appears that Dovan is no longer riding on Larry, but hopped off somewhere between the Romulan Observation post and where he started the fire. If we proceed in, we need to be cautious.  Larry is moving quickly towards the observation post, so have the security team be on the look out for him." At the hum of the transporter, Buran quickly dons the new gear. As he rises into the air, he taps a few buttons into his tricorder to try to isolate any unique materials that would be in the phaser that Dovan was carrying, on the off chance that Dovan could mask his own energy readings, but might not think to mask the gear he was carrying. He moves cautiously into the smoky area, hoping to move down the closest edge of the fire towards the observation post. The most obvious distinguishing element in the phaser is the sarium krellide power cell. Even though Buran can detect the power cell in the weapons of all the others, there is no trace of Dovan's phaser.

Buran is just about to give up scanning when the phaser's sarium krellide power cell appears on his scan, abbruptly moving about 10 metres in a ballistic arc, as if thrown and just as abruptly stopping and moving a metre and a half downwards. The signal then gives off the distinctive reading of a ruptured power cell and shuts off. He's able to locate the position of the now-inert phaser on the ground. Dahlakino signals that the machine intelligence has ceased communication with Dovan. Nathan is suddenly able to sense Dovan—the suppression of his psionics seems to have suddenly ceased. Dovan is unconscious and in great pain and both he and Buran can suddenly locate Dovan's life signs.

Moving out of the pall of smoke, the team finds Dovan lying crumpled in the wooded area. A number of the pseudo-gazelles have stampeded through the area and overrun Dovan's position. At least one of them has gored and trampled him and he lies in a pool of blood. Nathan drops to the ground and begins assessing Dovan's condition. Tony yells, "Watch out! He may still be dangerous!" Buran notes the location of the phaser lying at the foot of a tree. There is a gouge in the bark of the tree and the casing of the phaser is quite obviously cracked from the impact. Buran scans the area with his tricorder, trying to determine if any more of the gazelle-like animals were heading this direction.  Buran taps his combadge, "We have found Dovan, who appears to have been ran over by some native fauna. Dr. Pierce is examining him, but his life signs indicate he is unconscious." Buran taps his combadge again. "Someone should stay here with Dr. Pierce, while the rest of us continue after Larry. Who knows what mischief he could be causing at the Romulan Observation Post."

Jon does a quick scan of the broken phaser, to ensure that it is not unstable. "Let's beam Dr. Pierce and Dovan out of here, and continue the pursuit," Jon says. "Thames, did you copy that? And does somebody have a pinpoint on Larry's current position?" Buran still has a lock on Larry, which agrees with Talja's scans. Larry is about 10 klicks away, heading at top speed for an exocomp directly towards the suspected position of the Romulan installation.

Zed beams Nathan and Dovan up to the Thames. Arriving on the Runabout, Nathan continues his scan of Dovan. He's suffering a puncture wound in his chest from the serrated spiral horn of the beast, with a deflated left lung. Nathan hurriedly seals the lung puncture with a dermal regenerator and reinflates the lung itself. Next he continues his inspection, There are a number of more-or-less superficial injuries and a compound skull fracture with attendant subdural hæmatoma. Pending more medical resources, Nathan places the Deltan doctor in a medical stasis tube.

Meanwhile, back on the ground, Kat's commbadge chirps. "Carson, we've got a lock on Unit QXVR135. We're preparing to beam it up into a stasis chamber. Our Security team observing the Romulan installation confirms it and notes that the cloaking field is unstable and flickering. From the few good scans they've been able to get of the interior, the internal conditions seem to be a temperature of 39.1 °C (102.38 °F), 92% relative humidity, an atmospheric pressure of approximately 102 kPa, and trace amounts of tetryon particles. Typical of the Enterprise's recorded readings of a Borg envoronment.Transporter room indicates your exocomp is in stasis. How do you wish to proceed?"

Kat looks to Jon. "Clare, you're mission commander. Your decision." "Our orders were to retrieve Dovan and and the exocomp," says Jon "Which we have accomplished, thanks to some good luck and African wildlife!" Jon shrugs noncommittally. "I'd like to do something about that Borgified Romulan base," he says. "But we are going to need more intel. Thames, Bras d'Or! Any readings, or educated guesstimates about how many Borg drones may be in that base?" Jon thinks for moment, and then adds "And is there any reason why we don't just bombard it from space?"

Lt. Pierce has been doing his job, waiting behind. When Dovan became injured he took over to make sure the man survived. Once he place the Deltan doctor in a medical stasis tube their was little he could do for him now. "Nathan to Clare. Dovan's major wounds have been deal with so that he is stable. I've put him in status until be get back to a bigger medical facility to carry out further healing process. There's little more I can do for him now. Do you want me to beam back and join the group?" Jon responds to Nathan "No, don't beam directly to us. Let's all beam closer. Bras d'Or, is there a secluded spot closer to the outpost that we can all beam to? Also, what are our objective now? Do you want us to recon the base, or somehow destroy it?"

In response to Jon's comment about bombarding the outpost, Kat says, "I don't think that would be a good idea. The only method of bombardment we have is photorps. One of the side-products of an antimatter explosion is hard gamma radiation. The "space" within the Sphere isn't actually outer space. We don't know what the ramifications would be. Besides, the shell of the Sphere isn't true neutronium, but a form of collapsium known as carbon-neutronium. We have no idea what its reaction to antimatter would be. It may actually fracture the structure of the Sphere. What say we don't test that hypothesis, eh? As for Borg drones, we have no idea how many Romulans were in the installation. If there were any, the probability they've been assimilated is... well, it's pretty certain." Tony chimes in, "Ain't that a cheery thought? Pointy-eared murder-cyborgs on the loose!"

In reply to Jon's question to the Bras d'Or, Capt Taliaferro replies, "Well, we could beam you down to join our reconnaissance party. They're about a klick from the clearing around the installation. Lt Churchill can brief you on the situation there." Nathan and Talja beam down. Talja is wearing full security armour and carrying an isomagnetic disintegrator. "Sounds like you may have need a bigger gun," she quips. Tony says, "Hey, isn't that overkill?" She smiles and retorts, "Wasn't it Napoleon that said, 'God is on the side with the best artillery?" Lt Pierce adds in, "Unless it rains overnight.  Then you have to wait for the day to dry out. Problem's them Prussians are always on the way." Then he adds, "I think that's right." Talja laughs, "Luckily, I'm Bayerische, not Prussian. Besides, we're not getting involved in a land war in Asia." She hefts the Bazooka-like weapon on her shoulder.

Kat's commbadge reports, "Talliaferro here; Samson agrees that we've got to nip this in the bud. We're prepared to beam you directly to the site." She looks around and says, "Energise." The transporter effect envelopes the away team and they find themselves in a more densely wooded area. They are on the edge of a cleared space. A group of Starfleet personnel are concealed in the bush around them. One approaches Carson. "Lieutenant Manuel Espinosa, ma'am. I've got a 6-man recce team. As you can see..." he gestures, "...the installation's cloak seems to be failing." Indeed, a large, low angular building fades into visibility then turns vaguely transparent then disappears again. "It's a bog-standard Romulan type B surveillance installation. As reported, the internal environment is Borg standard. We can't get any life-signs, but that's to be expected."

"Don't we have some Romulan prisoners?" Jon asks the Bras d'Or. "Ask them how many people were in this base!"  "Yep. Couple dozen. Half of them are wounded and the other half aren't talking. Stubborn people, the Romulans. Comes from being related to the Vulcans," replies Taliaferro.

Jon greets Lt. Espinosa, and then asks "Have any ground-level entrances been identified? And are cloak failures becomes more frequent and longer? I can't say I like the idea of sneaking up on something we can't see!" Espinosa pulls out a PADD. "I pulled up the intel on the place. It's a standard modular construct. We've interpolated all our scans and worked out a model based on them, so we're pretty certain where the access points are, here, here and here." He points out the locations on the PADD and points out the team's location at the centre-left edge of the hex-map.

"I wonder if this has been connected in any way to the sphere's underground network," Jon says, musing out loud. "Perhaps not, or Dovan and Larry would have come straight here!"


This message was last edited by the GM at 20:24, Mon 02 May 2022.

In reply to Relic GM (msg # 1):

Jon points to the access point that can be approached with the best cover. "Let's head towards this entrance," he says. "If the cloak is bouncing up and down like that, they still may be actively assimilating the base, and won't pay attention to us unless we are an active threat."

"Of course, an active threat is exactly what we want to be!" continued Jon. "Any suggestions on that front? The only ideas I have revolve around overloading the base's power supply."

Lt Churchill, head of the recce team, trots over and passes Jon his PADD. "See there, on the closest triangle? According to specs, there are several roof hatches for shuttles and a runabout—what they call a warpshuttle. And on each of the two triangles on each side, there's an airlock at the outer end." The data PADD shows a hexagonal core building with six triangular structures surrounding it. Sure enough the airlocks and roof hatches are marked.

Churchill continues, "We're a touch over two kliks. We could do a stealthy advance and try to break in."

Tony nudges Billy and grins wide. "Feel up to a little B&E?" he asks his fellow Iotian.

In reply to Relic GM (msg # 3):

"I am all for a stealthy advance," says Jon, "but how are we going to get onto the roof? Is there a convenient ladder, or do you have some climbing gear?"

[OOC: Who is in charge of our little group? Does the recce team have a ranking officer?]
This message was last edited by the player at 14:15, Sat 30 Apr 2022.

Lt. Nathan looks over the group and sighs.

"Well running or crawling up to things and hitting them is not really my thing.
I am going to hang back and deal with anything bad that happen to anybody.  Once the place is safe then you can call me if you need help with the computers and finding any useful information out."

[Note, I've updated the list of those present in the synopsis above. They are LCdr Kat Carson (NPC), Lt Zedric Sloane (Steve, in the Thames), Lt(jg) Jon Clare (Dave), Lt Nathan Pierce MD (PC), Lt(jg) Talja Groen (NPC), Lt(jg) Tony Gazzo (NPC), Lt(jg) Billy Xelox (NPC), Jedi Knight Lt(jg, provisional) Dhalkhino (NPC) and newly arriving Lt Buran (NPC). Buran does not know the rest of the team and is technically subordinate to Zed.]

Yes, the team from the Thames II and LCdr Carson all have grav boots. Currently, Lt(jg) Jon Clare is in charge, LCdr Carson having deferred to him as mission commander (though if Zed beams down, he would be in command). Lt Churchill is in command of the recce team, though as a member of Bras D'Or's crew, Carson is higher in the chain of command.

The roof hatches will likely require breaking in using phasers, but the four personnel airlocks (or even the walls) would be easier to breach using Dhalkino's lightsabre. If the action takes place on the ground, Nathan will be more easily ably to render medical aid.
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:02, Tue 03 May 2022.

In reply to Relic GM (msg # 6):

[OOC: Odd. I posted some days ago, but it didn't show up]

"OK, let's do a ground level break in," says Jon. "But we will move forward in stages. Gazzo, Dhalkhino, Carson, you're with me. We'll make the breach, while the rest of you hang back at the tree line, watch for incoming, and provide cover if necessary. Once we are in you can move forward and follow us."

"Sounds good in theory, Lieutenant, but incomplete. How many groups? We've also got Lt. Churchill's recce team - six additional personnel with security training; Churchill, Espinoza, Rabinowitz, Goodman, Clarke and Chalke." admonishes Carson. "Use all your resources wisely. For a break-in you might need Talja's isomagnetic disintegrator."
This message was last edited by the player at 20:23, Tue 10 May 2022.

In reply to LCdr. Katrina Carson (msg # 8):

[OOC: totally forgot about the recce team :P]

"Good points, LCdr," says Jon. "How about you switch with Talja, and take charge of the group that is hanging back and providing cover."

"Lt. Churchill," Jon continues. "I get the feeling you favour the roof entrances. Let's do simultaneous break-ins, with your team taking the upper route. Also, can I take one of your team to add to mine? We could use a security specialist."

"Sounds like an idea, Lt Clare," replies Kat. "Lt Gröen, looks like you're up."

"Lieutenant, I'll second Goodman and Rabinowitz to you. Crewman Rabinowitz is familiar with Romulan systems and PO Goodman is one of our Borg specialists," says Churchill. "I have no preference as to my infiltration route but if you take a ground entry, I'll gladly take the roof." He turns to the rest of his recce team, "All right, boys and girls, saddle up!"

Goodman is a tall, rail-thin black man, while Rabinowitz is a short, stocky woman with a prominent nose.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:31, Sun 15 May 2022.

[OOC: Will get caught up on the weekend and start posting.] 

In reply to Lt Zedrick Sloane (msg # 11):

"Let's go!" says Jon, and heads off towards the base, keeping under cover as much as possible. Jon is feeling nervous as all get out—having Carson correct him has dashed his confidence. He worries if there is anything else he had missed.

At the edge of the last group of trees, the group pauses and Jon indicates for Goodman to do a scan to ensure nothing unexpected lies between them and the base.

Lt. Nathan Pierce listen to what being said.  He studied the basic of combat statics.  Mostly to know when to act to help and heal others.  Also when to withdraw and not make himself a easy target.  Clearly most of the others here where far more experience at combat side of this.
I ready.  Call if you need my help.

In reply to Lt. Nathan Pierce MD (msg # 13):

Zed replies "Ready"

Zed starts following close behind Lt. Clare scanning as he goes. Being very conscious from the reports he has read that Borg typically will not engage if they are not threatened so making sure he doesn't do anything that would make them fell threatened.

[OOC: Is Zed following with sensors from the runabout, or has he beamed down?]

Jon leads his team about one hundred and twenty five metres before stopping at a large clump of trees. Goodman pulls out his tricorder and starts a scan. "Sir, it's mostly clear veldt from here on in. There are some terrain irregularities and minor shrubberies," he reports. "No sign of Borg activity."

Churchill reports from his new position at the other end of the copse, about 50 metres away, "All clear from our vantage point. I can see a ladder going up to the rooftop. Ready to move on your signal."

In reply to Relic GM (msg # 15):

[OOC: sorry miss read.  I am scanning from the runabout.]

In reply to Lt Zedrick Sloane (msg # 16):

"OK, let's move out!" says Jon. "Carson, keep an eye out and keep scanning for Borg activity."

Jon also signals back to Zed. "Keep a transporter lock on us just in case we need an emergency beam out. Coordinate with the Bras d'Or, since there are more than the runabout can handle."

Jon and Churchill's groups head out simultaneously, Churchill heading for the ladder, and Jon heading for the nearest ground-level hatchway.

Carson replies, "Roger, Lieutenant, I'll maintain my position and scan from here." There is a chirp as she taps her commbadge, then she continues, "Zed, this is Carson. I'm setting my tricorder to link to the Thames to share my scans for correlation."

As Jon and Churchill's teams head out through the waist-high grass. As expected, the ground is uneven (being the grazing grounds for the antelopes), so they are restricted to a brisk walk of about 4km/h. It take about a minute to cover the distance. Jon can almost feel the Borg watching him and a trickle of sweat runs down his spine, even though he knows that the Borg usually ignore small groups on foot. Tony keeps pace with Talja, while Dahlakino flanks Jon. Goodman and Rabinowitz cover them from behind. About a hundred metres to the right, Jon can see Churchill and his recce team, while Carson and Buran continue scanning and Dr. Pierce stands by to provide medical aid and Xelox covers them.

Jon reaches the first of the ground entrances. Tony has Shemp scan the locking mechanism. Shemp reports, "The hatchway is a standard Romulan airlock door."

"Good, I can pop it using the tric," replies Tony. He presses a few icons on the tricorder and it beeps. There is a soft click and a hiss of air pressure releasing as the door opens. A puff of hot, humid air escapes. "Everyone take a drink of water to stay hydrated," say Tony as he reaches for a ration pouch of water. "It's almost forty degrees in there!"

[OOC: I'm assuming that Zed is maintaining station-keeping above the Romulan outpost a few kliks up to provide cover. Since the Atlantic class runabouts have enough transporter capacity to beam up half a dozen or so persons, Bras d'Or has agreed to beam up Churchill's team while the Thames handles Jon's team and Carson's base team.]
This message was last edited by the player at 06:17, Tue 24 May 2022.

In reply to LCdr. Katrina Carson (msg # 18):

"Tony, let's hope not to be in there long enough to get thirsty!" Jon says, and he slips inside. He looks around at what he assumes is a run-of-the-mill airlock chamber, with another door at the far end. If it all looks clear, he motions for the rest of the team to follow him inside.

It is indeed a standard Romulan airlock. The environmental controls have obviously been set to Borg standard conditions. Luckily the breathing capsule in the masks the team have been equipped with dehumidifies and cools the air they are breathing. Shemp's on-board replicator is able to provide all the water they need. Since the outpost is a standard humanoid living space there are containers aplenty, including sealable containers. There are also standard Romulan EVA suits in lockers in the next chamber. Jon leads his team inside. It remains oppressively hot and humid and their uniforms are immediately soaked through.

In reply to Relic GM (msg # 20):

Jon tries the controls to open the inner airlock door. If they don't work, he motions for Tony to work his magic.

He gives a status update to Kat and Zed "We are in the airlock and opening the inner door."

Carson replies, "Roger that. Jack Churchill reports he's just reached the roof and his team will be up in a few moments. Take care, Jon."

Jon steps up to the door in front of him. Crewman Shelly Rabinowitz taps him on the shoulder, "Sir, that door will take you back outside." She points to the right where, at the end of the chamber is another door. "That the door to the suiting-up room."
This message was last edited by the player at 13:22, Fri 27 May 2022.

In reply to LCdr. Katrina Carson (msg # 22):

"Thanks, Rabinowitz!" say Jon. He had forgotten that the base was star shaped, and that they were in one of the points. Jon closes his eyes for moment, and takes a deep breath to try to recenter himself. What else has he forgotten?

"Tony, get that door open!" he says. "Let's see what we can find."

"Right, Boss!" says Gazzo and hustles the three metres to the inner airlock door. As they follow, they can see an equipment bay in the right wall which has been stripped of parts. Tony reaches the door and scans it. "Hey, Jon! It's not even sealed." He nudges the door and it swings open. The room beyond is dimly lit with a few green telltale lights.

Rabinowitz says in a growl, "That shouldn't happen. The Rommies keep a firm eye on atmospheric integrity." She aims her wrist light at the locking mechanism. "Look. They've cannibalised the lock!"

Jon's commbadge chirps. Churchill reports, "The roof hatches for launching the Rommie shuttles are welded shut! I'm not going to try cutting into the roof, as even the Borg will take notice of that. Relocating to the airlock opposite you, Lt Clare."

In reply to Lt (jg) 'Fast Tony' Gazzo (msg # 24):

"Understood, Churchill," Jon acknowledges. "We are heading in through the inner door."

Jon slips through the open door into the corridor. He looks around and listens intently for a few seconds, and then gestures for the others to follow.

Tony steps into the room after Jon, Rabinowitz standing in the open doorway. "Looks like a suit locker. Doesn't look like they've disturbed anything. The Rommie EVA suits should be intact and operational," he says.

Rabinowitz is dripping with sweat, her curly hair plastered to her scalp. "Good. I'm qualified on Romulan space suits. Each locker should contain two suits and support packs. The helmets are integral to the support packs."
This message was last edited by the player at 20:09, Thu 23 June 2022.

In reply to Lt (jg) 'Fast Tony' Gazzo (msg # 26):

"You're qualified," says Jon to Rabinowitz. "What about the rest of us? Can we use these to get out of the heat?"

"Oh, sure, as long as you've got basic qualification in Starfleet EVA suits. You'd need an orientation lecture if we were going space-side, but but using them as support suits is no problem. If anyone gets into trouble I can make adjustments. In the worst case you'd just need to take the suit off... Like us, they make them pretty foolproof," says Rabinowitz. "In fact, we can leave the faceplates open and just use 'em as cooling suits. I mean, it's not as if we need to worry about long-term maintenance!"

In reply to Crewman 1c Shelly Rabinowitz (msg # 28):

"OK, let's suit up!" says Jon. Despite Rabinowitz assurances, Jon does an extra scan of his suit to ensure there are no traces of Borg tech. While they are donning the suits, Jon checks in with Churchill to get their status.

"Rabinowitz," says Jon when they are ready to go. "We need a direction. Any ideas where the main power source would be? If we can get there and cause an overload, we could blow this place off the face of the sphere!"

"In a standard Romulan installation, the main power core is in the central structure. I assume the Borg would do the same." replies Rabinowitz.

Goodman interjects, "Pretty much true, save that they tend to use distributed systems, except for a single central control node called a vinculum which traditionally is located near the geometric centre of the cube, or in this context, star! That's their big weak point. Gröen, keep your isomagnetic disintegrator in reserve - we don't want them to adjust to counter it until the last possible second!"

Talja asks the Borg expert, "So you think this Wunderwaffe [wonder weapon] will do the trick?"

"Should, but we've got enough demolition charges to back it up, short of an antimatter bomb." admits Goodman. "If it comes to that, the Bras d'Or has enough photon torpedoes to complete the job, pending authorisation from Starfleet Command... 'Course, we may not survive such a scenario!"
This message was last edited by the player at 17:22, Mon 11 July 2022.

In reply to Crewman 1c Shelly Rabinowitz (msg # 30):

"I'm pretty sure firing photon torpedoes at the interior of the sphere is frowned upon," says Jon. "Let's concentrate on finding the central control node, and decide from there."

Jon also checks in with Zed. "Are you still receiving us? And do you still have a transporter lock?"

Zed has reads you 5x5 and does indeed have a transporter lock.

In reply to Relic GM (msg # 32):

"OK, let's move out!" orders Jon. "Rabinowitz, you're our guide. Nobody touch or interact with anything, and do not engage any Borg. Tony, eyes behind to see if we end up with Borg following us."

"Goodman," Jon asks the PO, "how close do you think we can get to the central control node without the Borg taking any action against us?"

Goodman indicates, "Ah figger we'uns can get about twenny metres from the vinculum 'fore the drones see us'uns as a threat. The vinculum is sort'a the CPU for the hive mind. It's normally 'bout the middle of the Borg hive so Ah figger it'll be in the central complex. From the plans Shelley showed me, the mos' likely place'll be around the transporter. Main power grid'll be hooked up thar 'n' it'll have access to the main 'puter core as well."

Jon has a little difficulty understanding Goodman's mush-mouth "Suth'n" accent. In his mind all Eddie Goodman needs is a stalk of grass projecting from his lips but there is in fact no grass there. Goodman is a two-metre-tall beanpole with jug-handle ears and a shock of straw-blond hair but he shows every evidence of knowing his stuff. The only EVA suit the group could find to fit him is in fact a Reman model, built to the same standards as the standard Romulan suits. Goodman is equipped with an Intelligence model tricorder.

In reply to PO 1c Eddie Goodman (msg # 34):

"Maybe we can take a shortcut..." muses Jon and he calls up Zed. "Any possibility of dropping us on this base's transporter pad? We think the Borg's control centre will be close to that location."

[OOC: Jon, I've eMailed Zed about your question.]

[OOC: I've not received a reply from Zed. His NPC light is now on.]

Commander Carson breaks in, "Attention all personnel. Switch to frequency-hopping protocols now!" There is a momentary break while the comms system resets. "Wait one, Zed. Churchill reports the Borg are approaching his location in active mode. Bras d'Or, stand by to beam all personnel to the ship. Zed, bring the Thames to station-keeping off the starboard bow. Energise!"

Seconds later, the team, less Zed, shimmer into existence in the Bras d'Or's transporter room. The wall screen lights up and Cdr. Tom Taliaferro snaps, "What's up, Kat?", then sudden looks on in horror as Jack Churchill begins sprouting small Borg implants and raises his Assault Phaser.

In reply to LCdr. Katrina Carson (msg # 37):

Jon barks "Beam Churchill out now, and hold him in the pattern buffer!"

At the same time he raises his phaser and takes a shot. Since they are all on the transporter pad it should be point blank range, so he aims not directly at Churchill but at his assault phaser. He is hoping to just disable Churchill's ability to fire.

Churchill's hand spasms and his Assault Phaser drops to the floor.

Kat yells at the Transporter Chief, "Chief Kylie, do it NOW!" Churchill vanishes in a column of sparkling light.

Talja says, "Is there anything Nathan can do to help? He just treated Dovan, who was semi-assimilated!"

Zed reports, "Thames II in position, ready for transport."

Kat replies, "Thames, this is the Bras d'Or Exec. Our transporter is unavailable. Use your transporter to beam to my coordinates. I say again you will initiate transport to my coordinates."

Zed appears in a column of sparkling light. "OK, I'll bite. What's wrong with your transporters, XO?"

Kat answers, "Churchill got tagged by Borg nanoprobes. Jon caught on in time and dumped him in the holding buffer." She turns to Kylie and snaps, "I want a stasis tube in here, stat! Nathan, stand by!"

Kylie orders a stasis tube to be deployed to the duty transporter room. Kat continues, "That was officer thinking, Clare. I'm putting you in for a commendation. You might have saved us all."

Kat.  I standing by ready.  Lt Nathan answer Kat.

In reply to Lt. Nathan Pierce MD (msg # 41):

"Thanks LCdr!" says Jon to Carson with a lopsided grin. "Though my first thought was to potentially save Churchill. Saving us also was a happy coincidence."

Addressing the transporter room in general, Jon says "To be on the safe side, we should all get a medical scan before leaving this room. Can we get a medical team here stat?!"

To the remainder of Churchill's team, Jon asks "So, what happened? In our sector of the base, there was not much activity."

Carson says, "Jon, there's nobody here more qualified than your own Dr. Pierce." She looks to the ceiling and says, "XO to sickbay. We have a newly assimilated Borg in the transporter buffer awaiting materialisation. We also have a physician with recent experience treating neonate Borg, as well as another Borg assimilatee in stasis aboard the runabout Thames.

"Lower the shields so Lt. Sloane can beam aboard and arrange transfer of the stasis chamber to our Sickbay." She taps her commbadge and says, "Zed, we're ready to receive you, and we're sending a team over to the Thames to bring Dr. Dovan's stasis tube over."

She turns to Chief Kylie. "Cynthia, beam Jack into the stasis tube. Nathan, secure the tube as soon as Jack's in it."

Zed beams into the transporter room, the sound merging with the Bras d'Or's as Churchill fades in to view in the tube. Nathan engages the stasis field just as he had for Dovan. A medical team arrives to perform the physicals and another to escort Nathan and the stasis tube to Sickbay.

The Medical team leader says, "XO, they're all clear. Seems Lt Churchill was the only one the Borg tagged!"
This message was last edited by the player at 12:14, Sun 21 Aug 2022.

In reply to LCdr. Katrina Carson (msg # 43):

"We still have a Romulan base full of Borg to deal with!" say Jon. "I gather that torpedos are out of the question. How about a blast from Bras d'Or's phasers?"

Kat taps her commbadge and passes Jon's suggestion on to the Captain. There is a wait of about five minutes and the viewscreen lights up. The screen is split between Cdr Taliaferro, captain of the Bras d'Or, and Captain Samson.

Taliaferro looks dubious, but Samson's face is an unreadable blank. "Let me get this straight, Lt Clare," she says through clenched teeth, "You want to use ship's phasers against a Romulan outpost and without first being fired upon and without warning?"

Taliaferro glances to one side as the Red Alert begins flashing, accompanied by the automated announcement and the Tactical Officers shout of "Shields up, incoming fire!"
Samson snaps, "Authorised!" and the ship shudders as the weapons fire hits the unprotected hull.

The lights flicker and Samson's half of the screen goes black. Sirens accompany the announcement "Hull breach, starboard decks three through five. Starboard impulse deck out. Starboard shields inoperative."

Seconds later, the whine of phasers at full power fills the air in the Transporter room. Kat yells, "Kylie, beam Zed's crew over to the Thames. Zed, get some space between you and us. Counterattack at will, but save your crew!"

Zed, Jon and the rest suddenly find themselves on the Thames, nausea clawing at their guts from the crash transport. Zed, Jon, Talja and Tony are on the upper deck, while Billy, Nathan, Buran and Dahlakino are on the lower deck, along with Shemp. Two Engineering techs have just disconnected Dovan's stasis tube and are standing beside it.

One of them looks at Nathan and immediately reports, "Doctor, we just got orders to hook this back up and place ourselves at your disposal."

In reply to Cdr. Tom Taliaferro (msg # 45):

Jon stumbles into the runabout cockpit.

"Red alert, and shields up if they are not up already!" barks Jon to whoever is at the controls. "What just fired at the Bras d'Or?"

Talja throws herself into the Ops station. "Seems it came from the Romulanische outpost. All our intell says the outpost is itself unarmed. However, the configuration of this outpost has a number of small craft including a Charon class runabout and up to five Theta class shuttlecraft, all of which are armed with light disruptors, and a pair of torp launchers on the Charon."

Buran climbs the ladder and enters the cockpit. "Lt Sloane," he says, "I was with Lt Churchill when he the breeched hangar door. I was scanning at the time. Lt Gröen, if you will..." He hands Talja his tricorder.

Talja plugs the device into a port under the Ops panel and accesses the last file recorded. The viewscreen shows a shot of a glowing-edged hole in the roof hatch. Within the green-lit interior, several Borg drones can be seen dismantling the Charon and three Thetas. One of the drones, standing on the upper hull of the Charon, raises its arm and fires a small projectile which strikes Churchill just as the screen fills with the sparkling energies of the transporter. "Scheisse!" she yelps.

By this time, Zed has secured the runabout and engages high Impulse, moving away from the stricken Bras d'Or. A large hole can be seen in the starboard wing of the starship and a cloud of escaping atmo, along with other gasses, can be seen as a fog inside the shield bubble. The starboard Impulse deck is obviously a wreck but the Warp nacelle appears intact and operative. A few humanoid bodies can be seen floating in the shield bubble. The ship's phasers can be seen firing at the outpost, much of their effect blunted by Borg shielding. Suddenly a large chunk of debris spins across the Thames's flight path and slams into the runabout's nose knocking everyone off balance. Zed, fingers dancing over the Flight Control console, is flung face-first into the forward transparency and bounces limply back into the pilot's chair, blood spewing from a broken nose and smeared across the transparent aluminum window.

Talja lets out a scream. She switches the Ops panel to Flight Control config and mutters in German under her breath. Buran does a swift assessment and says to Jon, "Clare, I'm the new kid on the block, so I'm delegating command to you as the officer with the best understanding of the ship and crew—look at it as an article 14 situation. The ship is yours, acting Captain!"
This message was last edited by the player at 04:07, Sun 18 Sept 2022.

In reply to Lt (jg) Talja Groen (msg # 47):

"Fly an evasive pattern, and return fire at will. Try to draw fire away from the Bras d'Or," Jon commands [OOC: Is Swann aboard? She is the backup conn officer, I believe]

Jon also calls out "Doctor! The captain needs medical attention stat!"

"Tony!" Jon continues. "I need an engineering opinion. The base itself is shielded. If we fired at the 'ground' beyond their shields, could we undermine their foundation? At least get them to stop firing?"

[OOC: No, Swann is not aboard. She remains undercover in BortaS City, rooting out Romulan infiltrators. Talja replaced her as backup Flight Control Officer and has switched her Ops console to CONN configuration.]

Tony replies, "You bet, Boss! Da Rommie station is just that—a space station landed on da ground. In fact, it has manœuvering thrusters so theoretically it could take off like a ship, tho' I don't know if da Borg've had time to completely assimilate flight control yet!"

In reply to Lt (jg) 'Fast Tony' Gazzo (msg # 49):

"Well then, let's rock their world!" says Jon. "Direct fire at the ground, just at the edge of their shields!"

[OOC: How thick is the sphere at this location? I am presuming it is very thick and their is little danger of puncturing it with a phaser blast. If that is incorrect, then Jon would know this and *not* be ordering this course of action.]

Buran is at the Tactical station. He answers Jon's unspoken question. "The hull is the better part of a kilometre thick and the outer shell is composed of carbon-neutronium. Even the Enterprise's Type X Phasers couldn't penetrate it! Firing now, Pattern Alpha 1!"

His fingers dance over the Tactical board and a series of blasts from all six Type VI Phaser emitters, inscribing a circle just outside the Outpost's shield perimetre. plumes of vapourised soil and alloy spew into the air. The Borg shields glitter in the air but are ineffective as the Outpost sinks two metres deep on one side. The Borg return fire, narrowly missing the Thames.

Talja throws the Thames into an evasive manœuvre and the inertial damper struggle to keep everyone on the deck. Nathan pops up through the 'tween-decks hatch and secures Zed. He whips out the peripheral sensor to his tricorder and runs it over Zed's upper body.

In reply to Lt Buran (msg # 51):

Although he is concerned about Zed, Jon keeps his focus on the ongoing battle.

"Come around and hit it again on the low side," orders Jon. "Let's try to tip the bastards over! That should at least keep them from shooting back!"

Job also glances at the tactical display to determine the whereabouts and well being of the Bras d'Or.

Talja brings the Thames around to get the best angle and Buran fires again, but the Borg extend the shields to cover the underside of the outpost and the phasers reflect off the shields. The modified disruptors fire at the Atlantic class runabout, hitting it at a glancing angle. The ship shudders and slews to one side.

Buran yells, "Shields at 48 percent! We've lost forward phasers!"

The Romulan base pulls free from the surface and slowly rises into the air, trailing clumps of soil. It fires again and Talja throws the Thames into a dive, impacting the atmosphere. A rosy glow suffuses all the viewports from the friction. A volley of phaser fire from the Bras d'Or strikes one of the points of the star shape, blowing it off. The outpost screams upwards, ignoring the Thames to concentrate on the Bras d'Or.

In reply to Lt Buran (msg # 53):

"Tony! Get those forward phasers back online!" orders Jon.

"Amazing flying, Talja!", Jon continues. "Can you bring us around so we can get a shot with our remaining phasers? I don't think the Bras d'Or can handle this on its own! Buran, target the damaged point!"

[OOC: I believe Atlantic class runabouts have just 2 phaser arrays. Is this correct? Also, are there any other ship in the area?]

[OOC: Actually, according to the illustrations of the New Atlantic class runabout by Mark Rademaker, it has two Type X phaser strips on the main hull, with two more on the side sponsons, as well as two light pulse phasers, also on the sponsons. I had, just out of laziness, looked at the old Danube class runabout... (I've never liked the name "New" Atlantic, so I just dropped the "New" when I adopted it for the game.) I guess the guys who wrote the page were just as lazy!]


The Atlantic has six Type X heavy phaser strips and two light pulse phasers. Standard procedure is to have the ship was flying inverted to allow the primary sensor grid to train on the surface, so the Borg took out the forward phaser array. The sponsons can rotate 360° to allow the port and starboard strips and pulse phasers to fire in any arc.


This message was last edited by the GM at 19:40, Fri 23 Sept 2022.

In reply to Relic GM (msg # 55):

[OOC: I see on the rendering a "torpedo module". Is that for probes only, or do we actually have some photon torpedos?" Jon would want to use those instead, if he thinks there is a shot at the damaged part of the outpost.]

[OOC: The Torpedo module can fire small probes or 13.3cm microtorps from its twin launchers Under current rules of engagement, use of photon torpedoes, even the microtorps, is restricted to space-borne targets. You'd have to draw them away from the surface, preferably by a couple hundred kilometres...]


This message was last edited by the GM at 04:33, Mon 26 Sept 2022.

Talja dives the Thames II into the atmosphere enveloping the little ship in a cone of plasma as the heat from the shields strips electrons from the atmospheric atoms. Jon seats himself in Zed's Conn chair and watches the instruments as the ship descends in a spiral fight path. The Romulan outpost fires several times at the Thames, the energy of the disruptors dissipating as it hits the plasma cone. This, of course causes the interior temperature to rise, and Jon's instincts kick in and he adjusts the life support to compensate. Talja brings the runabout under the star-shaped outpost and Jon notices the Borg self-repair mechanisms coming into play, conduits writhing like snakes as they slither across the gaping rent in the hull where the triangular hangar bay module once was. The displays show a fluctuation in the Romulan/Borg shields.

Jon realises that his base skill in Shipboard Systems is rated at level three and realises that he's more skilled than Buran, who is an Operations specialist. Zed's console is set up for a single pilot, therefore there is a tactical selection on the board...
This message was last edited by the player at 23:40, Wed 28 Sept 2022.

In reply to Lt (jg) Talja Groen (msg # 58):

"Hold on, Buran," says Jon. "I'm taking a shot!"

Jon fires a volley of phasers, targeting the already damaged portion of the outpost.

Talja dips the nose to bring the aft phaser strip to bear and rotates the sponsons to train the port and starboard strips and the pulse phasers to bear as well. Jon notes the targeting crosshairs confirming a targeting solution and the telltale turns green, letting him know Buran has relinquished control. Jon hits the fire icons and three bright blue beams, flanked by a pair of red dashed lines converge on the open end of the hangar bay of the outpost. The beams are blocked by the prismatic Borg shields, but the red bolts of the pulse phasers flicker as they partially penetrate the shields. Each pulse is on a rotating frequency with 35% penetration.

Buran snaps, "Clare, I've got an algorithm to slave the phaser strips to the pulse phasers. Setting it up NOW!" The icons for the phaser strips flash green and Jon hits fire.

This time the port and starboard beams are blocked but the pulse phasers and the aft strip penetrate. There is an explosion in the Romulan Hangar Bay.

Tony yells from the aft compartment, "Jon, Buran, got power rerouted to the forward phaser strip!"

No sooner does Jon's console note power coming on line to the forward array than the Romulan/Borg outpost exits the atmosphere, the Bras d'Or's main phasers strike the star-shaped outpost's hull. Some of the beams are blocked by the prismatic shields, but three penetrate, blowing gaping holes in the hull.

Captain Taliaferro yells, "Thames, get some microtorps into that gash!" Jon taps in a firing sequence and the outpost disappears in a blinding flash. Shards of hull-metal strike both ships' shields with a series of hissing noises like hot metal being quenched in a blacksmith's forge.

Talja shouts "Die verdammten Schilde sind unten! [The damned shields are down!] Transport incoming!"

There is a shout from below-decks, "Help! Borg!" followed by the sound of a phaser on full cycle. Suddenly, all power on the runabout fails and the grew is left in zero-gee!

[OOC Note: If anybody has an alternate order to give for their character (Jon, Nathan, this means either of you) please post a message to that end!]
This message was last edited by the player at 19:14, Wed 02 Nov 2022.

In reply to Lt (jg) Talja Groen (msg # 60):

"Tony, where the hell is our power!" yells Jon. "Talja, use you personal communicator to raise the Bras d'Or. Tell them we may need emergency beam out! Buran, follow me!"

Jon unstraps from his chair and pushes off towards wall closest to the lower deck hatch. Are there still phaser sounds coming from below decks?

Tony yells, punctuated by a hacking cough, "Koff, koff! Sorry Boss, they've blown our main deflector bus koffkoffkoff! It's shot! recommend every Koff, KOFF! goes koff on oxygen."

Luckily, Tony, Talja, Jon and Dahlakino are still wearing their Romulan EVA suits, and everyone has a breathing mask.

Jon hears several more phaser shots and the distinctive hum of Dahlakino's light sabre. He and Buran drop through the two hatches two and a half metres to the lower deck. Nathan is crouching over Zed's limp form holding his phaser in the ready position, while Dahlakino is lying on her back holding her light sabre in one hand while holding he free hand rigidly at full extension with her fingers spread. A Borg hovers directly over her, apparently pressed against the overhead bulkhead, thrashing uselessly. The two techs and Billy are firing at two other Borg who stand behind glittering prismatic shields.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:31, Tue 11 Oct 2022.

In reply to Lt (jg) 'Fast Tony' Gazzo (msg # 62):

"Everybody!" Jon yells. "Through the hatch to the upper level! Now!"

Jon looks at what Dahlakino appears to be doing, and realizes she must be using her mystical Jedi powers on the Borg. "Dahlakino!" He barks, "Amazing! Can you do that to the other 2 Borg?"

Sweat beading on her face, Dahlakino replies through gritted teeth, "N-no, can't. Not 'nuff strength..."

One of the Bras d'Or techs replies, "Sorry sir, don't think the Doc can get the Lieutenant up the ladder. Plus, if they get the stasis tube open, we'll have one more to deal with!"

Buran gets a shot off with his phaser and penetrates one of the Borgs' shields, dropping the drone to the deck. Billy pulls a switchblade out of his waist-band, flicks it open and throws it at the other Borg. It penetrates the Borg's natural eye and deep into the brain. It too drops to the deck.

The two techs stop firing but keep their phasers trained on the prone Borg. Dahlakino struggles to her feet, all the while maintaining "Force" pressure on the Borg.

"What is it you cyborgs are always saying?" she says, panting. "Resistance is futile? Don't think so!" The Borg reaches out, assimilation tubules shooting out a Dahlakino's face. Her light sabre flicks upward and severs to tubules, which fall to the deck.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:52, Tue 11 Oct 2022.

In reply to Dahlakino (msg # 64):

"Everybody fire on the remaining Borg," orders Jon as he raises his phaser and fires.

Phaser beams converge on the Borg, whose prismatic shields pop up in response. However, under the assault by half a dozen phaser beams on heavy disrupt rotating frequencies, the shields collapse and the Borg collapses in a pile of melted metal components and a bubbling pool of protoplasm.

Dahlakino mutters under her breath, "What an incredible smell we've discovered!" adjusting her mask.

The ceiling chirps and LCdr. Karson's voice says, "Thames, this is the Bras d'Or, Carson speaking. Sitrep [situation report] please!"
This message was last updated by the player at 02:22, Sat 15 Oct 2022.

In reply to Dahlakino (msg # 67):
"Bras d'Or, Clare here. Nice to hear from you! Please stand by..", Jon answers the call and then pauses to do a quick survey of the personnel of the Thames, to ensure that nobody is seriously injured, before continuing.

"We had an incursion of 3 Borg on the Thames. All have been disabled. We have no serious injuries, but have no power and our atmosphere is contaminated. Request immediate beam out of all crew and taking the Thames in tow until we can get some more engineers on board to fix her up."

Jon's combadge chirps and Carson's voice repeats, "Thames, this is the Bras d'Or, Carson speaking. Your reply was unintelligible—I say again, Sitrep please!"

[OOC: Just to speed things along, I'll assume Jon repeats his earlier message.]
"We had an incursion of 3 Borg on the Thames. All have been disabled. We have no serious injuries, but have no power and our atmosphere is contaminated. Request immediate beam out of all crew and taking the Thames in tow until we can get some more engineers on board to fix her up."

The air around the Thames crew shimmers and the crew materialises in the same transporter room they'd left mere minutes ago. Kat Carson stands in the centre of the room, her face smudged with smoke. She has a bruise on her left cheek and a trickle of blood running down her chin from a bitten lip. She sees Nathan frantically treating Zed and snaps, "Kylie, beam Lieutenants Sloane and Pierce to Sickbay 3. Now!"

They beam out and the speaker sounds, "XO, Ops here. We've taken the Thames into tow and are opening their aft hatch so we can tractor the retrieval crew and the stasis tube into the hangar bay. We're preparing to programme in a autopilot course to Dyson Station."

Nathan and Zed materialise in Sickbay 3. A Bolian doctor introduces himself, "LCdr Zofgen, Doctor. What's the patient's status?"

A pair of nurses begin to cut Zed's uniform away. He had a broken nose and a concussion that Nathan can see, and they handle him carefully in case of cervical or spinal trauma. Nathan and Zofgren study the life-size 3-D diagnostic image on the wall screen to diagnose further problems.

The doors to the corridor swish open and the two Techs who'd been securing the Thames hustle in, towing Dovan's stasis tube in on antigrav. Swiftly, they plug the stasis tube into the ship's power supply and secure it.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:32, Mon 07 Nov 2022.

In reply to Relic GM (msg # 70):

Back in the transporter room, Jon takes a tally of his remaining crew. Once he is satisfied that all are safe and accounted for, he turns to Carson.

"Thanks for the rescue, Commander! What's the status of the Bras d'Or? Have the Borg been completely neutralized?" he asks.

"Well, we have good news and bad news. On the one hand, we think we're Borg free. We'll know more once we've done a full sensor sweep. On the other hand, we've lost the starboard Impulse Drive and our shields on that side are intermittent to say the best."

She puffs her breath upwards, blowing at her bangs. "Capt Taliaferro is going to take the Bras d'Or back to Starbase 21 for repairs. They'll take several months. Capt Samson has requested that my secondment to Dyson Base be extended in order to deal with my clone-sisters.

And the really, really bad news is that Zed will be out of action for at least a month, so Bras d'Or will be ferrying him to the starbase for intensive care."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:01, Fri 11 Nov 2022.

In reply to LCdr. Katrina Carson (msg # 72):

"Damn!" says Jon. "I am going to have to apologize to Zed. I thought he had just bashed his nose!"

Jon ponders for a moment. "What about the Thames, and her crew?" he asks. "With the Thames in pieces, I'd better check in with Samson myself—unless there's something you haven't mentioned yet." Jon is torn between wanting to accompany Zed to Starbase 21, and staying in Dyson Base and helping to get the Thames back together (and also getting to know the Lintillas better).

"Your crew's fine, Jon. Tony has some minor burns and irritation of his bronchial tubes, but Talja's doing enough worrying for both of you. The Thames is reasonably intact and en route to Dyson Station for repairs. A few blown conduits in engineering, a complete decontamination and some TLC for the phaser array and everything will be hoopy." She grips his shoulder and gives a reassuring squeeze. "You did fine, Lieutenant."

In reply to LCdr. Katrina Carson (msg # 74):

Jon gives a visible shudder as a lot of pent up stress leaves his body. He feels he should exhausted but is too wired to rest.

"There are 3 things I need to do," says Jon to Kat. "Check in on Tony—if his throat is sore enough maybe I can get some words in edgewise. Make sure Talja has things well in hand. And ask you to join me for a drink. Which should do first?"

Kat smiles at Jon. "Well, I'd say you better see to your crew first. Meet me in the O-Club in an hour. Shower first, though—it's been a long, stressful day." She nudges him toward the doorway.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:08, Sat 03 Dec 2022.

In reply to LCdr. Katrina Carson (msg # 76):

Jon head off towards sick bay, to see Tony. While on the way, he contacts Talja.

"Talja! Carson says you've been worrying over the Thames! How is she looking?"

"What the hell are you talking about?" She replies. "The damned ship will be fine with a few repairs and some decontamination! It's Zed you should be worrying about!"

Jon arrives at the sickbay and the doors swoosh open just as she delivers the last sentence. The comm system detects the feedback and squelches his commbadge. She's sitting by Tony's bedside holding his hand. Tony's face looks red, and not from blushing. A mask and airhose obscure the lower half of his face. Tony begins to laugh at the look on Jon's face, causing him to cough into the mask. Talja, on the other hand, does blush a matching red.
This message was lightly edited by the player at 03:28, Tue 13 Dec 2022.

In reply to Lt (jg) Talja Groen (msg # 78):

"Glad to see you both in one piece, " says Jon to the two of them. "Tony, you seem to be in good hands!" He then waggles his finger at the coughing patient. "But no laughing until you are completely healed!"

Jon flags down the closest passing doctor or nurse. "Zed, I mean Lt Sloane. How is he? Can I see him?"

Zed is laid up on a bed in the sickbay with his head and shoulders in a restraint system, sipping orange juice through a straw. He looks like he's wearing a domino mask from the bruising around his eyes, and he has a plastic shield over his broken nose. "Seems I got a crushed disc when my head hit the viewport. Guess it's not as hard as transparent aluminum after all. Take care of the ship, Jon."

In reply to Lt Zedrick Sloane (msg # 80):

"We'll keep her spic and span until you get back to her!" promises Jon.

Assured that Zen and Tony are stable or improving, Jon heads off to find a shower and a change of clothes. Afterwards, if he has time before meeting Kat at the O-club, he checks in on the Thames. He wants to at least see with his own eyes that she is in one piece. He is still on an adrenaline high, and beginning to wonder how long it will last.

Jon beams aboard the Thames where he encounters an engineering team doing a decontamination of the runabout. Another engineer is replacing a conduit in the engineering room. He looks up and says, "Good day, Lieutenant. Just another couple of hours and she'll be good as new... Say, I noticed an EPS junction that was on its last legs and replaced it. Good thing it didn't blow during combat or it would'a been a lot worse for your engineer. Plasma burns instead of just mild chemical exposure. Doesn't bear thinking about."

As Jon is walking to Dyson Station's O Club, his commbadge chirps. "Samson to Clare. Please stop by my ready room on your way to your date."

The Captain's Ready Room is on Deck 15, the large array of discs beneath the main hangar hub of the station, as is the main Sick Bay. The O Club is on Deck 17 in the circular "greenhouse" above the external tanks.

Jon taps the door chime and Samson responds, "Come!" The door swooshes open and the Captain is seated, with Buran in a side chair. "Jon, please have a seat," she says, pointing to the seat beside Buran's, separated by a triangular coffee table.

"I've been reviewing your actions today with Lt. Buran and LCdr. Carson. They both agree that you acted in the finest tradition of Starfleet under extreme pressure. Therefore, I'd like you to have this." She tosses him a tiny white pasteboard box, about a 2.5 cm cube. Opening it, he finds a single gold pip. "To go with the one you've got. Please turn in the hollow one, full Lieutenant Clare. The Thames is yours until Dr. Adonidas lets Zed out of physio.

"Now shoo! Tell Kat the first round's on me."
This message was last edited by the player at 04:13, Thu 22 Dec 2022.

In reply to Capt. Delilah Samson (msg # 83):

Jon exchanges his hollow pip for the gold one. He leaves Samson's ready room feeling like he is 10 feet tall. He's a got a promotion, a ship, a good crew, and a date. He enters the O Club and looks around for Kat.

All four Lintillas, including LCdr Carson, are waiting at a table under the greenhouse dome overlooking the Northern Portal into the Sphere. Kat, the one in uniform, raises a glass, "To Lieutenant Jon Clare!" The others raise their glasses and say, "Hear, hear!"

Jon feels his cheeks blazing red as he fumbles for his seat and picks up his glass.

In reply to LCdr. Katrina Carson (msg # 85):

Whereas before Jon felt like he was 10 feet tall, he now feels like he has shrunk to half his size. Spending time with all four Lintillas would usually be like a dream for Jon, but he was really looking forward to some quiet time with just Kat.

"Thank you!" he stammers, he words embarrassingly coming out like a squeak. Jon then squares his shoulders and sits up straight. He's just been promoted. This is his day. He should be having a party!

"Thank you all!" he says again, sounding calmer this time around and breaks out in a big grin. "I'd say something humble like it's no big deal, or I don't really deserve it, but I'd be lying. It is great to see you all!"

"So," Jon continues. "I know what Kat has been doing lately. What about the rest of you?"

One of the Lintillas (Jon can't tell them apart except Kat, who's in uniform) says with a sigh, "Well, nothing much at all." "We've been confined to unclassified areas..." says the next. "...of the station. Professor Lake is going nuts!" finishes the third.

Jon had forgotten the Lintillas habit of continuing and finishing each others' sentences.

"Anyway," says one, "We'll all..." "Toddle off and leave you two..." picks up the next. "...alone. See you later!" finishes a third. Jon's not certain they spoke in the same order.

"Byeee, gals!" says Kat, "So, Jon, whatever shall we do this fine evening?"

In reply to Lintilla (msg # 87):

"I can tell you what I don't want to do," says Jon. "And that is talk about anything related to ship repairs, Borg, and space battles. Nothing work related, random congratulations about my promotion excepted!"

"Normally for a first date I'd invite a gal surfing," continues Jon with a grin. "But seeing as waves will probably be hard to find around here, I am open to suggestions. What do you like to do when you are not on duty?"

"Surfing?" asks Kat, raising an eyebrow. "Well, I am the XO of the Bras d'Or, and rank hath its privilege. I can always requisition a shuttlepod for two and we can hit Freeman's Island. That is your assigned post, isn't it? And I seem to remember there are some rather nice beaches there..."

In reply to LCdr. Katrina Carson (msg # 89):

"Yep, surfing!" Jon says brightly. "Though, if you have a holodeck here I could show you the beaches of Tofino, on Earth, where I grew up. Actually, a walk on the beach may be better. Last time I took people surfing on Freeman's Island, somebody ended up in sick bay." Jon grimaces at the memory.

"Well, Dyson Station doesn't have a holodeck, but if I recall, Freeman's Island does," she replies. "That way we can do it for real, or you can take the safe way out," she continues coyly. "And, of course, your quarters are there for later."
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:53, Thu 26 Jan 2023.

In reply to Relic GM (msg # 91):

Jon blushes, and then on impulse he says "And, of course, we have quarters we could go to right now!" He quickly leans in and gives Kat a kiss, and then leans back, looking her in the eyes to gauge her reaction.

...Well, he tries to lean back, but her hand snakes around the back of his head and she leans into the kiss... Fade to black.

To be continued in the thread Much Ado About, Well, Nearly Everything!