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."