As the Independence hurtled towards the battered world of Chaktir to affect an evacuation... in case their mission failed... the crew of the shuttlecraft Sacajawea guided the small craft towards the planet-sized looming base that orbited the awe-inspiring force of the black hole... their mission: gain access, and alter the rotation of the black hole.  Somehow.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:14, Thu 24 Oct 2019.

ch’Pertha sat aboard the Sacajawea quietly, checking his gear.
He’d brought both sidearm phaser and rifle, as well as medkit and a pouch of additional supplies.

Glancing over at Decker, he remembered the quick medical skill that the Science Officer had brought to the incident when the former captain had been hurt.
The soldier casually said, “Back in the academy, we were...”, he paused, then shrugged, “involved in a training excersise that ... went wrong”.  It was as though he was talking to himself, but aloud, so that those nearby could hear him.

“We were trapped for some time.
Someone died; someone lost a leg.   Because none of us knew how to ....

That’s when I realised that Security wasn’t just about guns and fist; wasn’t about being the toughest in the room, or the first through the door.
Sometimes it meant keeping people alive ... until the cavalry comes, or you can get them to med facilities”.

Checking his gear had consisted more of checking the medkit and supplies he was carrying, than the weapons, those nearby might have noticed.
And that kit, those supplies, were almost entirely first aid and trauma wound equipment.   There was little but the basics in there for diagnosis, ongoing treatment, or taking samples.   It was just packed out with what might be needed to keep someone alive, until ...
This message was last edited by the player at 03:18, Sat 26 Oct 2019.

The ancient alien structure that orbited the spinning singularity drew ever nearer.  In her seat in the shuttle, LT Lyn Nipay fidgeted and looked at her monitor.

"Still no comm signals in or out," she said, her dark eyes reflecting the data as it lit up her screen. She glanced up at ch'Pertha, then a quick check to see who else was listening.  Aboard the shuttle, Decker, T'Lara, Jav'Ker, and others... including McCreeg, who was piloting.

Gravimetric shear increased as they grew nearer.


This message was last edited by the player at 05:02, Sat 27 June 2020.

Mcreeg's head cocked a bit as he listens to what's being said, most of his focus on thanks screen and his readouts, shuttles not needing much beyond the occasional adjustments, yet still he feels his heart racing in that wonderful way it does right before things are about to get busy.

"Always better to plan for the worst, to have contingencies to contingencies, prepare for what can't happen" his voice is soft, speaking aloud as much to himself as a response to his superior, looking at his left hand and flexing it, mind wandering for a moment before refocusing on his job.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:54, Sat 27 June 2020.

T'Lara eyebrows furrowed with concern as the Sacajawea tilted from the effects of the gravitational distortion.  She was eager to join Starfleet not that long ago in search for adventure, but now it dawned upon her that such adventures could be dangerous, and unexpectedly short.

Not wanting to disrupt Mcreeg who now held all their lives in his hand, she kept silent, trying to recall the details on their mission, and think on what a ship counselor could possibly do to help.

As the massive alien facility... roughly the size of Earth... looms larger, more details of its neutronium surface can be seen.  The team recalled the brief conversation with Dr. T'Lah, the Federation lead scientist and commander of Abyss Station (which also orbits the spinning black hole)...

Aboard the Sacajawea, LT Harada sat on one of the inboard-facing seats, waiting for something to happen. Glancing at the Vulcan counselor, she met eyes for a moment, then nodded.

"I'm glad you're along," she said.  "If any of the station's landing party are still alive... they may need you."

Abyss station had, after all, sent a team of scientists and engineers over... and apparently triggered something that set the black hole to spinning...
This message was last edited by the player at 05:53, Sun 28 June 2020.

Mcreeg's focus becoming stronger the closer they get, more things to go wrong, more random things to come at them, to go wrong, fingers working his station like the musicians he grew up with, making adjustments so minute only he and the shuttle know they've been made..

23:13, Today: LT JG Xanatos Mcreeg rolled 29 using 2d20 with rolls of 14,15.  control (11) + con (4).Helm Operations Focus
This message was last edited by the player at 06:15, Sun 28 June 2020.

“Ltn Commander Decker.    I’m led to believe that our scans cannot penetrate the skin of that beast.
But we’re under the assumption that the Abyss shuttle landed on its surface.
Regardless of its condition, maybe our sensors can locate it?”
If they could, it would at least give the Landing Party a starting point to begin their search.

Decker shook himself out of the light meditative trance he had habitually dropped into while preparing for the mission ahead.
"Of course, Commander. Sorry. I was just thinking about ... well, any first contact with an alien technology is a particular challenge."
He accessed the shuttle's computer with quick expert movements and began running a sensor sweep across the artifact's surface.


23:48, Today: LCDR Christopher Decker rolled 17 using 1d20 with rolls of 17.  Sensor sweep: Reason+Science (17) - second die.
23:48, Today: LCDR Christopher Decker rolled 17 using 1d20 with rolls of 17.  Sensor sweep: Reason+Science (17).
Dunno if the shuttle's sensors have enough oomph to help out, but that's two successes - barely.

Decker's face was lit blue by the wash of readings from his sensor screen.  The young Starfleet legacy officer saw details scroll across his view.  The engineering feat it would take to build such a structure was far beyond ANYTHING the Federation had.  Only a race like the Fabrini or the Preservers... and maybe not even them.  The object was roughly the size of Earth, but had a skin of neutronium, the densest material known to science.

08:53, Today: Starfleet Command, for the NPC Sajawea, rolled 13 using 1d20 with rolls of 13.  Sensors assist.

It was completely impenetrable.  But Decker knew that going in.  Looking for the station's shuttle, though, didn't pan out... it wasn't there.  However, he did locate some scaffolds and construction on the surface... Starfleet equipment.  It appeared to be the source of a small antigravity field... what Dr. T'Lah had mentioned they'd rigged to allow scientists to walk on the surface without becoming mint jam down there.

Obviously, scanning an object the size of Earth for an object the size of a small bus could take some time... at least one complete orbit.  Time was at a premium... and the Sacajawea was just now drawing into a far orbit.

And as it did so, near the scaffolding and antigravity field... a small portal irised open.

Large enough, in fact, to admit a shuttlecraft...
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:00, Sun 28 June 2020.

Decker arched an eyebrow as he read the results. He could see where this was going, but it was his duty to report the results to the XO and trust him to make the right call...

"No sign of the shuttlecraft, Sir, but I do have the location. Starfleet construction, and the anti-grav field that Dr. T'Lah mentioned. And while I was scanning, a portal opened in the surface."

He looked up. "It appears to be large enough to take the shuttle in."

"I just hope they're alright"
T'Lara smiled softly at the young lieutenant.
The new revelation about a portal opening on the surface of the planet was intriguing.  Was someone excepting them? She was willing to gamble it wasn't a trap - whomever constructed this mega-structure was light-years more advanced that the Federation.  So if they wanted to do them harm, they could have blasted them from a distance, rather than invite them in.

"Do we fly in?"
This message was last edited by the player at 20:19, Sun 28 June 2020.

“No”, ch’Pertha replied, contemplatively.   “The Abyss Shuttle must have landed on the surface.   They’d need to have constructed that Anti-Grav equipment from the exterior, and then still been outside when they search for, and found, the panels they accessed.
If they took the shuttle in, they must have done so after that”.

He assumed that the pilot had access to all the data that was coming through from the scans,
“Ltn Mcreeg, can you find way to park us within the Anti-Grav area, but beside the portal?”

ch’Pertha had no intent on flying straight into the proverbial Lion’s Mouth.  Not yet, anyway.
“Ltn Commander Decker, if there is a portal open, that breaches the hull.  See if you can get some scans into the bay within as we approach, please”

"If it's there, I'll find it, Sir"

He says, turning enough to show to whom he is speaking without full losing attention to his screen and boards, yet another challenge willing and happily accepted.

Turning back and focusing all his attention his eyes scanning all the data at his disposal, looking for the slightest hint, a hint of a hint even.


20:15, Today: LT JG Xanatos Mcreeg rolled 17 using 2d20 with rolls of 3,14.  control (11) + con (4). diff 2.  18:25, Today: LT JG Xanatos Mcreeg rolled 1 using 1d20 with rolls of 1.  control (11) + con (4). diff 2.

I hope you  can make heads or tails of it
This message was last edited by the player at 03:17, Mon 29 June 2020.

"I'll do my best, Sir, but that's a pretty small target until we're on top of it."

Decker started scanning for power readings first, reasoning that he should be able to detect the shuttle's systems at a greater distance. One the shuttle was closer, he started scanning for lifeforms instead.

GM, what do you want from me? :)
This message was last edited by the player at 00:08, Mon 29 June 2020.

OOC: Mcreeg an make a Control + Conn roll, assisted by the shuttle's Engines + Conn (total of 9 for the shuttle, roll a third and separate die for that one) for his approach.  Difficulty is 2.

Decker will make a Reason + Science check, assisted by the shuttle's Computers + Science (8 total for that one). Difficulty is 2, with any extra successes being able to be spent as an immediate spend for more info.

As a reminder, we've got 3 Momentum in the pool, should anyone want to buy more dice. ;)

Difficulty was 2.  Mcreeg's two dice got him 2 successes, while the shuttle's die was a critical (1 is two successes; as is a roll equal to your Discipline IF you have a focus that applies).

So, that's two Momentum in the pool for you all!

I'll wait on Decker's roll before I narrate.  Anyone else is free to chime in. 
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:22, Mon 29 June 2020.

22:04, Today: LCDR Christopher Decker rolled 45 using 4d20 with rolls of 19,18,5,3.  Sensor sweep: Reason+Science (17) (3 dice - Testing a Theory) with Computers+Science (8).

22:06, Today: LCDR Christopher Decker rolled 14 using 1d20 with rolls of 14.  Re-roll of the 19 using the Technical Expertise talent (target 17).

Oof. Still, 3 successes. As I'm a Studious Science Officer, I get two questions from a free bonus momentum, so you can bank one of those.

Two questions, hm?  Any trace of the shuttle's energy signature?  And how about those precious little lifeforms?

Landing the shuttle was the opposite of flying into a downspout.  Gravity fields fluctuated wildly at the edge, with gravity in the center tolerable, and gravity on the rest of the sphere, well... crushing.  But Mcreeg handled it well, spiraling in and then settling towards the ring of normal gravity with aplomb.

Decker's scans were likewise hindered by the common problem: the neutronium.  But the open iris gave him a window, albeit a narrow one, into the Earth-sized station...

OOC: One more momentum to the pool.  It's now full, at 6.  You guys are going in hot! ;)
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:02, Mon 29 June 2020.

Decker nodded with approval as he coaxed the computer through filtering out the noise and distortion and processing the limited data passing through the opening.

"Their shuttle definitely passed through the opening. The ion trail seems smooth, which suggests that they went voluntarily. I'm detecting traces of the shuttle's hull, but no energy readings. I'm also not seeing any signs of life, but the sensors can't read much past the doorway itself. I wonder why they chose to bring the shuttle inside, though..."

He looked up, "I agree with landing outside. I also recommend that we keep at least part of our party outside. Someone who can open the portal and have them re-open it periodically under the assumption that we may not be able to do so from the inside. There should also be someone who can fly the shuttle back to the ship if we do not return. They can shelter inside the shuttle in the meantime."

"Well, I could stay behind here and relay comms," Nipay said, lacking any enthusiasm at the prospect.  "But then I wouldn't be along to help decipher any alien language you encounter."

Mcreeg smiles, not so much impressed at his own skills per sey, but at the way he and the shuttle seemed to work as one, as partners in one of those dances his people are so fond of, and he can't help it, he gives the instruments one last check, making sure things are as safe as can be.

Turning to look at the Lieutenant Commander, making sure to show respect and that he still knows his place, something he sometimes forgets.."where would you like me, sir? I want to be of as useful as I can"

If he wants to be honest with himself, he wants to be where the action is..and yet part of him doesn't like the idea of being outside the shuttle..

To give an idea of the shuttle's interior...


This message was last edited by the GM at 16:08, Mon 06 July 2020.

"I'd stay here, if you're keen on going" Lyn's lack of enthusiasm about the prospect of staying behind was hard to miss.  Only there was a slight problem with T'Lara volunteering herself "but I'm not sure I could pilot this shuttle, if it comes to that.  Good chance I'll end up crashing it even if I never manage to get it off the ground"

OOC: I assume Mcreeg is asking the XO (Commander) and not Decker? Decker was just making suggestions and takes no responsibility whatsoever.

OOC: exactly, my bad for being unclear, thanks..

"First things first, folks.    We secure this external site.

Mcreeg and Decker, I want as many scans as you can get.  On Anything.  Everything.
And broadcast back to the ship as you do so.
Also, see if you can figure out what caused this portal to open upon our approach.   Is it actively sensing?
And Mcreeg, I want a launch pattern loaded into quick-auto, for a swift exit if we need it.

Jav'Ker and Harada, we need to know that the Anti-Grav facility is sound.  I need a full structural and diagnostic check.

Nipay, I'd like you to attempt to find a way to get Comms through that portal.  Try to make contact with the shuttle within ... and if you can make contact with any of our personnel, I'm buying you dinner tonight.

T'lara and Preston, you are with me.  We'll do a preliminary scout of the site, and throw eyeballs through the portal.

Everyone in full environmental suits, with mag-grav boots ... just in case.
NO weapons fire unless I give the word".

And with that, ch'Pertha will supervise the exit from the shuttle.

"Yes sir," Harada replied, glancing to her superior, Jav'Ker.  "We'll make sure the jury-rig they've put together will hold up."

"Yes sir"

An environmental suit made perfect sense; the crust of the 'planet' was made of the super dense Neutronium, so they wouldn't be able to get very far without the mag-grav boots.  But more importantly - no atmosphere meant no breathable air.

She took her time suiting up - it has been a while, and she wanted to be meticulous about it and make sure every strap was properly secured.  Once she was done, she smiled faintly at Naryss through the fixed visor, her voice carrying over the built-in communicator:

"Ready, Commander"

Jav'Ker gave a grunt of assent to his subordinate, and moved the opposite direction. Methodically examining the structures around him to get a sense on the engineering that had gone into him.

Considering the faint lean towards form over over function a needless compromise. Satisfied in his curosity, he turned his fill attention to the task at hand.

The Science Officer opened up a subspace channel back to the ship. He linked it to a new database that the shuttle's sensors and team's tricorders would all update on a continuous basis.

"Done. Anything we see will go straight back to Independence."

With that, he began scanning for any unusual energy patterns that might not have been detected from a longer distance.

"AYE"

Mcreeg feels the jazz already starting, the focus coming to him as he starts setting up scans, looking for things hidden within things, scans coming from the target that could have masked by the background levels and radiations, trying to set up a scan to detect oddness coming from the black hole itself, ways it could have been used as a trigger, using his studies of Quantum Mechanics to show him what differences would appear between what should be and what is, whispering under his breath as is his nature, as if talking to the equipment, almost trying to will it to do as he wants..

21:22, Today: LT JG Xanatos Mcreeg rolled 34 using 3d20 with rolls of 14,3,17.  insight =9, conn =4 focus is quantim mechanics +1 die from navcomp target is 3.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:23, Sat 04 July 2020.

OK, here goes!

Everyone can suit up with no problems.  You're Starfleet Officers.

I would like a Reason + Engineering check from Jav'Ker, who can be assisted by Harada.  Difficulty is 3.

McReeg can make an Insight or Reason + Conn check to successfully plot a quick blast-off route for the shuttle.  Focus in small craft, gravity wells, or quantum mechanics applies. Difficulty is likewise 3. He can be assisted (1 die) by the shuttle's navcomputer.

Decker to make a Reason + Science scan, Difficulty is 2. Focus on Astrophysics will apply.

Am I right in understanding only ch'Pertha, T'Lara and Preston are leaving the shuttle at this time?

Decker narrows his eyes as he turns back to the sensor readout, but in a moment he realizes his body's reaction to the stress of the situation and takes a moment to relax and bring his full focus calmly on his work. There's a lot of energy, exotic and otherwise, saturating the space surrounding the shuttle, and he begins sorting through and classifying it methodically as he has done countless times before.

Decker buys a third die using one point of banked momentum.
20:59, Today: LCDR Christopher Decker rolled 34 using 3d20 with rolls of 14,14,6.  Sensor sweep: Reason+Science (17) with focus Astrophysics/Science (5).
That's three successes. He'll send the third back to the bank. Science officer + Studious gives him two free Obtain Information questions.
"Is there anything dangerous to the shuttle or crew?"
"Is there anything scanning us - something that would have reacted to our approach to trigger the entryway?"

Yeah, unless the Engineers need to physically examine the Anti-Grav structures ... or any of them feel they need to leave the shuttle to perform said duties.

When T'Lara and Preston were ready, ch'Pertha lead the exit from the shuttle.  Even if other staff needed to exit the craft, they were directed to wait until ch'Pertha's team had done a cursory recon of the area within the Anti-Grav facility.
Using Security+Insight during recon, to detect any threats ...
- rolled 25 using 3d20 with rolls of 4,3,18.  Insight 10 + Security 5 + 1 Momentum.
Sorry folks, I think I just wasted one of our Momentum, but I figured that finding threats was an important task.
- Constantly Watching:   When you attempt a Task to detect danger or hidden enemies, reduce the
          Difficulty by 1.

Inviting T'Lara and Preston to make their own rolls, also.

Unless something was identified as needing an immediate response, ch'Pertha's team would end their recon at the Portal ... looking to both identify the control panel that the Abyss team had used to access it,   and getting a direct, personal view into the Portal.

20:22, Today: LCDR Gullak JavKer rolled 12 using 2d20 with rolls of 3,9.  Reason 8, Engineering 5 - Roll to ensure antigrav systems are intact.

McCreeg struggled to plot a quick blast off vector for the shuttle.  There were multiple problems.  One, the gravity well of the station itself, with its neutronium skin.  Two, the antigrav field that make a 'light spot' on the surface.  And three, the rotation of the looming black hole the station orbited, the massive radiation jets on its poles spewing deadly radiation out into space.

In the end, he simply didn't feel confident in his calculations... the gravity fields were in flux, and any calculations he made now would be meaningless in an hour.  And he knew it.

That didn't mean someone couldn't pilot the shuttle out of here.  But it would be harder, and have to be done on the fly.

Decker, meanwhile, studied his scanners.  The situation outside was potentially dangerous for the shuttle or crew... if the antigrav fields failed, they'd likely become jelly on the surface of the station's neutronium skin.  But as long as it held up, the shuttle was well-shielded enough to block the high radiation levels from the black hole, as were their environmental suits (for a shorter time).  Nobody would want to set up lawn chairs out there, but they could move around.

The portal itself remained open.  He couldn't detect any active scanners around it, or anywhere nearby.  But he did identify several passive sensors that could likely have been triggered by the shuttle's own scanning beams, in the same way a spider can sense its prey by the vibrations of its web... oh wait, maybe that's a bad analogy...

Ch'Pertha, T'Lara and Preston all suited up and exited the shuttle via the airlock.  The small ring of antigravity devices that formed a landing zone near the hatchway seemed miniscule in scope compared to the massive Earth-sized structure.  The curvature of its surface acted much like a planet, giving it a visible horizon.  Looming and vast.  The surface wasn't perfectly smooth, but the details were minor and easily disappeared in the distance.

What wasn't distant, though, was the beckoning portal, light shining out from within.

While he was vigilant and careful, this was beyond ch'Pertha's knowledge set.  What he did know was basic security protocols and common sense.  It was an open door.  That could mean an invitation... or a trap.  His tricorder and MK II eyeballs (and antennae) could discern no suggestion of a trap.  The path looked clear.

Moving up to the portal, the squad could feel the immense gravity of the station, looming just outside the antigrav field... but it thinned as they reached the portal.  The portal itself was large enough to easily accommodate a shuttle.  The interior was well-lit.  It was obviously a landing bay of some kind, designed for humanoid use.  One of Abyss Station's shuttlecraft sat within, powered down and dark.  It was an older craft, a Type-F.  Not all stations had gotten the new Type-5 craft the Independence carried.

There were no obvious controls on the exterior of the portal.  Within the lit bay, the walls had some markings and features, but nothing identifiable from here.  T'Lara can make an Insight + Science check with her Focus of Art to gain possible insight into the designers' culture.

As ch'Pertha's team scouted, Jav'Ker and Harada worked on ensuring the antigrav field would stay functional.

08:37, Today: LT Kimiko Harada rolled 3 using 1d20 with rolls of 3.  Assist Engineering. Jav'Ker got 2 successes, Harada 1, giving a total of 3... the needed amount.


Conferring together, the two engineers mapped out the wiring and conduits that the Abyss Station crew had put together.  It was good work, and looked solid.  There were no signs of power failure or instability. Of course, the web itself was made of several independent parts.  If any of them failed, or took damage, the web could begin to shrink or even collapse...
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:22, Mon 06 July 2020.

Even as serious as everything is, he has to quietly chuckle, Mcreeg noticing, and not for the first time, that planning and preparing ahead aren't going to work out, that it's going to be last minute fly by the seat of your pants, to use an idiom from the past he read or heard somewhere, that is going to be called for..

Giving his instruments a quick scan, seeing if anything has changed or needs adjusting, he lets his eyes wander to the black hole, seeing in it a kind of beauty, a simpleness that is beyond compare, even the art of it in a way..and Mcreeg wonders what his people back home would do with such a sight..

Decker switched the shuttle's sensors to standby and opened up a communication channel to Ch'Pertha, "XO, Decker here. Other than the crushing gravity and the lethal radiation, this location is perfectly safe. I'd stress that we really shouldn't spend anymore time on the surface outside of the shuttle than necessary."

"I'm not picking up any active sensor beams coming from the structure. There are what appear to be passive sensor arrays, however. My best guess is that the portal opened in response to our scans. It's possible we can keep the portal open by having the computer monitor it, and run an active scan on the area if it closes."

"Perhaps."

"Are you ready for me to join you?"

Walking on the face of the planet-size structure was surreal; there were no trees, mountains, or buildings on top of it – nothing but am (almost) smooth expanse stretching in all directions.  At least the shuttle was there, and the freshly-opened portal, to provide some orientation.

As she followed Ch’Pertha toward the portal she couldn’t avoid thinking of how dangerous this entire expedition was.  If even one of the anti-gravity devices set up around the perimeter fails, their bodies will serve as a landmark on the surface of an otherwise barren ‘planet’.
Looking for something to distract her from these morbid thoughts, she settled on the strange marking decorating the walls of the portal.

OOC:
22:25, Yesterday: LCDR T'Lara rolled 17 using 3d20 with rolls of 7,7,3.  insight+art.
That's 4 successes, and I used up one momentum (will give it back to the pool if I exceeded the difficulty)

Nipay glanced up from checking her COMMS board, the relay system Decker had set in place synching.

"What's so funny?" she asked, arching a brow at Mcreeg.

Mcreeg looks over, pulled from his musings, not having realized he's been as loud as it seems he was, and he blushes..

"Just the irony that as advanced as we are, so much is still guess work and hoping for the best.."

"Bite your tongue," Harada said mirthfully.  "The chief doesn't guess, he knows.  Just ask him, he'll tell you." She nodded in Jav'ker's direction.

But then her expression drew more serious.  "From what we're scanning, the gravity net is good work, and looks solid.  No signs of power failure or instability. Of course, the web itself is made of several independent parts.  If any of them failed, or took damage, the web could begin to shrink or even collapse... which would be bad."

"Very bad."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:55, Sun 12 July 2020.

"The markings on the walls of the portal resemble the ones  Dr. T'Lah team observed on Chaktir, only these ones here are much more sophisticated and elaborate.  The Ithink, and whomever built this station, are definitely connected somehow"
She pretty much guessed it, as she assumed everyone else, but still; it was evidence.
" - and something about this portal gives off a bad vibe.  The dark colors, sharp lines.  Like this station has an ominous purpose.  Or maybe it just reflects on the mentality of the ones who designed it. "

ch'Pertha stood on the edge of the portal with T'Lara and Preston.
He considered the scene in front of him, and what Ltn Commander T'Lara was telling him.

Then, comm'ing with the shuttle, "Mcreeg, Nipay, is it possible to remotely connect with that shuttle inside, and fly it out?" he asked.   It'd be his preference, but maybe someone would need to go in there and at least awaken it.

If not, they were going to have to do this the hard way.

"T'Lara, please return to the shuttle, and work with Decker to begin deciphering that text.  If we can begin working out some foundations to that language, it'll be a huge boon for us</b>".

Then, via comms again, "JavKer and Harada, see if you can reinforce this structure around us.  Even old school.
And please keep a constant eye on its health".
This message was last edited by the player at 08:55, Tue 14 July 2020.

"It is still not certain that the markings constitute a language, Commander, but we will give it a try.  The station personnel did compile enough of the Ithik language to program the universal translator, so we can make a quick comparison and hopefully decipher the new script"

She quickly scanned the symbols with her tricorder, then turned around and started heading back toward the shuttle.  She didn't spend much time outside, but getting out of the bulky environmental suit would still be a welcomed relief.

Already feeling the rush of a new challenge as soon as the question comes thru the comm system, Mcreeg responds..

"Anything is possible, Sir, it just needs to be figured out..we'll get right on it"

Glancing over, he waits for Nipay to respond, assuming nothing but knowing that it will take them both to figure it out, with all the variables and such..
This message was last edited by the player at 23:46, Tue 14 July 2020.

"We cant do any more from here. We can link the power for each field together for redundancy"

Nipay frowned and punched a few buttons on her console.  Then she twisted a dial and flipped a switch.  Whatever results showed up on her monitor did not please her.

"I'm sorry, sir," she replied.  "In theory, yes we could, and I'm sure Mcreeg could handle it; but I'm not getting anything from the station's shuttle.  It's completely non-responsive.  Dead."

T'Lara can make an Insight + Science check, with her Focus of Linguistics applying.  She can be assisted by LCDR Decker, who can roll a single die to help, using his Reason + Science, with his focus of Computers applying (since he's using the shuttle's computer to assist).

More dice can be bought with Momentum and/or Threat as per usual!
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:08, Wed 15 July 2020.

In preparation for T'Lara's return, Decker initialized the Universal Translator interface on the shuttle's computer and loaded the Ithik database.


21:20, Today: LCDR Christopher Decker rolled 21 using 2d20 with rolls of 9,12.  Assisting T'Lara's translation (spending one momentum) - Reason(12) + Science(5).

Using Technical Expertise I'll re-roll the 12

21:22, Today: LCDR Christopher Decker rolled 2 using 1d20 with rolls of 2.  Re-roll of the 12 using the Technical Expertise talent (target 17).

That's a total of 3 successes

Edging closer to the portal, Preston peered inside, his hand on his phaser.

After peeling away the environmental suit T'Lara sat down next to Christopher, and got cracking.  Deciphering the script would have been a difficult (if not impossible) task without the insight they've gained from the Ithik's own language; T'Lara herself could barely make sense of it, and would have been completely lost otherwise.

OOC:
Only a single success.  Lucky we got the assistance from Christopher!
11:00, Yesterday: LCDR T'Lara rolled 28 using 2d20 with rolls of 19,9.  Translate new language: insight+science .

T'Lara pours over the inscriptions whilst safely in the shuttle. It's an uphill struggle.  If not for the help of Decker and the Sacajawea's computer, this would take her weeks. Her knowledge of the Ithik language is a great help, however...

"Alright then, Preston" says ch'Pertha, "Lets return to the shuttle".


Within, ch'Pertha didn't disrobe the suit, instead just removing the helmet.
"Hanara, I want you to continue linking the power for each field together for redundancy, as Ltn Comander JavKer suggested.

T'Lara and Decker, please continue working to interpret those symbols.  They are there for a reason; this place looks to 'efficient' for it just to be art, or graffiti.

Preston, stay with the shuttle for the moment.

Mcreeg and JavKer, we three will try to jump start that shuttle, and get it out of there".
ch'Pertha seemed to be working to a plan here, even if it was only in his head.

"Nipay I want you to do everything in your power to ensure that our comm's stay open to this shuttle ... and the scans from this one continue to keep that damned portal open.
We need to record everything we, and our suits, see and hear in there".

A moment's thought, then:  "Now is the moment for thoughts, questions and criticisms" he offered.

The Science Officer glanced up from the console for a moment. The translation seemed to be running even more smoothly than he had anticipated. He may not have a strong background in linguistics, but he knew computers, and the translation matrix used by the UT was based off of standard models. This one had been a bit of a mess. Usually they weren't optimized until they were considered complete, but since Federation understanding was still a work in progress...well, he'd done a quick clean up job while waiting for T'Lara to return, as they were asking a lot of the shuttle's computer. He really should do a quick write up of the result once he got back to the ship.

"If I might ask, sir, why are we expending time and effort powering up and retrieving the other shuttle? Shouldn't our main priorities be undoing the effect the artifact has or had on the black hole and then recovering any surviving crew? I do not see how a second shuttle aids us in either endeavor. What is your plan of action?"

OOC: Reminder to the GM, in addition to the 4 successes, we get 2 free Obtain Information actions.

ch'Pertha nodded, it was a good question:  "Because I want, if we can, two shuttles out here.
For projecting 'stay open, you bastard' scans,  and as transport out of this place if something goes wrong with one of them.

If we can get it out and operational, we'll put one in geosynchronous orbit above us, to support the scan network ... and as backup if we cannot get the other one off the surface here for any reason", he replied.

"The Ithik's language is a simpler derivative of the one spoken by 'the builders'; whose language is more sophisticated, and nuanced"
She said after a moment of thought
"As for the symbols; it looks like those are for the controls of the airlock, and the shuttle bay.  Some proper names as well which I can't decipher without context"

She lifted her head from the computer screen as the conversation turned toward what to do next:

"I'd normally advise caution, particularly when dealing with the technology of such an advanced race.  But we are short of time; the Ithik home-world will be destroyed if we don't act fast"

Starfleet Command, do these shuttles have teleporters?

And when ch’Pertha pulls up the files for a Nipay, Preston and Hanada, which of them has the best:
1/ pilot skills
2/ teleporter training (IF we have teleporters)

Please

Jav'Ker rattled off the order of potential mechanical faults in order of probability.

Starting with the obvious, that shuttles power reserves were depleted. Given the megastructure and forces it play. There was a potential for thier own shuttle to befall the same fate

In reply to CDR Naryss ch'Pertha (msg # 56):

Preston nodded and followed ch'Pertha back to the shuttle.  Like his superior officer, he took his helmet off but stayed suited up.

Harada quickly went to work to link the gravity net's power feed together for redundancy, as ordered.

Nipay pursed her lips in thought and replied, "Of course, sir.  I'm on it."

OOC: Shuttlecraft of this era lack transporters, warp drives and tractor beams, sadly.

Of the crew roster mentioned, all are qualified for basic shuttle operations.  None are rated as experts.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:14, Sat 18 July 2020.

Listening, and taking 'onboard', the concerns of his crew, ch'Pertha altered his plan a little.

Stepping over to a nearby console, he proceeded to bring up some files.  After a quick consideration, he said,
"OK, everyone suit up, except Nipay and Hanada ... you two stay with this shuttle, please.  Continue scans, both to keep those bay doors open, and to gather any information you can.  And be prepared to pilot this wagon out of here at a moment's notice.

Everyone else, we'll move as a group into the hanger bay.  We'll attempt to get that other wagon awake.
If we can, Preston takes it into geo-synchronous orbit, and provides a second wave of scans, as backup to the first.  And remains prepared to rescue us all, if things don't go well.

T'Lara and Decker, I feel it is imperative that we understand that alien language as best we can, as fast as we can, so please keep working on that".


Once everyone was ready to go, ch'Pertha led the way; with Preston as rear-guard ... into the dragon's den, the proverbial 'lions mouth'.

Harada looked stone-faced for a moment, masking her emotions as well as a Vulcan.  Then she nodded sharply and replied, "Hei!"

She rose and moved to the back of the shuttle for a moment before returning with a rather large and heavy-looking wrench, struggling a bit despite herself to maneuver it.

"Sir. If I may," she said, facing ch'Pertha and Jav'Ker.

"Jam this in the doorway.  Even if the door shuts, it would have to exert a force of 500,000 Newtons to crush this Rhodinium fusion core wrench.  It should hold the door well enough to get a comm signal through, if nothing else."

Nipay pursed her lips and frowned, but nodded.

"We'll keep in constant contact, sir," she promised.

Preston merely rose and donned his helmet.  Once sealed, he ran through a quick suit-check before drawing his phaser pistol with one hand and proferring a thumb's up with the other.

Decker updated both his tricorder and T'Lara's with the latest UT database then began suiting up. When he was secure, and had checked and been checked by another crew member, he checked out a phaser from the shuttle's locker along with a few extra power packs, and presented himself to the XO, "Ready to go, sir."

Then, as an aside to Lieutenant Nipay, "Do you have any questions about running the scans? The computer is already set up to target the general area where I identified what appears to be the artifact's local passive receptors."

In reply to LT Kimiko Harada (msg # 64):

Jav'ker paused.
'Yes.' Training and instinct for complaint were in conflict.
'An adequete precaution'

Now back in her suit, T'Lara was ready to join the rest of the away-team

"- Will do, Commander.  And I think we got just enough to operate the shuttle bay doors, though it'll have to be done manually"

"Great", ch'Pertha replied to T'Lara; but his bemused attention seem locked on the Rhodinium fusion core wrench that Harada had presented them, a slight smirk upon his face.  After all, it might just work ... if anything would.


When everyone was suited up and ready, ch'Pertha led the exit from the shuttle, and the journey into the Lion's proverbial.
                             lets get this party started

"No sir, I think I'm up to speed on what to do," Nipay replied to Decker as the team suited up and prepared to disembark into the unknown.

Leaving Harada and Nipay behind in the shuttle, the stalwart landing party trudges across the neutronium skin of the alien sphere, shielded by the gravity net of Abyss Station's making, as well as (somewhat) their own gravity boots.

In short order, they reach the doors of the bay, open and shining from within with pale light.

The interior of the station seems to be designed for humanoid beings to operate. The hallways can comfortably accommodate a being up to three meters tall and bears an oxygen atmosphere. Inside it is brightly lit, with white and gray walls.

The old Class-F shuttlecraft from Abyss station sits on the landing bay deck, powered down and unmoving.


This message was last edited by the GM at 05:59, Thu 23 July 2020.

Decker activated his tricorder and ran a series of quick scans.

First he'll scan the shuttle for life-forms, and if that's negative he'll scan the general vicinity. Lastly, if he's found no sign of life, he'll run a general energy scan.

Decker's scans quickly revealed no signs of life in the shuttle, or the bay itself.  The shuttle was completely powered down... fusion core deactivated, batteries dead.  However, he was detecting power readings off the scale coming from deeper within the base.

So that means ... shuttle no go?

As his team began making their scans, and preparing for this imminent task, ch'Pertha led the way into the artificial planetoid's shuttle bay.
"I want Mcreeg on that shuttle.  Even if its out of juice, we need to examine it.  If there is any way to get it going, please get started on that.

T'Lara, Decker and Javker, please work on getting those doors open".  He was surprised that there was an oxygen atmosphere within this bay: while they hadn't detected any means at the threshold for maintaining it from the vacuum outside.

"Preston, class 7 wide sweep, recording everything"

Decker smiled wryly at McReeg and nodded in the direction of the old shuttle, "Good luck, Lieutenant. That thing is totally inert."

He then headed towards the doors that the XO had indicated and prepped his tricorder to translate whatever visible markings were on the controls.

Removing the helmet of the environmental suit was tempting, once they determined the air was breathable.  She wasn't too sure about the radiation though, or artificial gravity.  Best to wait until they completed their scans.
In the meantime there was a more pressing concern; opening the shuttle-bay doors.

Jav'Ker visually scanned for control panel or access hatch without success.

Mcreeg headed over to the shuttle, his usual youthful determination showing as he wrapped his head around how to get the old girl started again.

Meanwhile, Jav'Ker, T'Lara and Decker found that - between the three of them, and the translation efforts they'd already begun - the inner doors were easy enough to open.  Beyond them was a small chamber... with another set of doors.  An airlock?

The big shuttle bay doors remained opened, with a heavy cast-rhodinium wrench braced nearby in case they tried to close.  But the air remained inside, held by what Decker calculated to be advanced gravity field generators.

Preston nodded, drew a tricorder from his belt, and headed off to scan and document the entire bay.

Decker paused and scratched his chin as the inner door was revealed, "Perhaps we should take this in stages. Have one person move ahead to open the next passage and then come back if they can. If they don't return promptly, the others can follow to try and open the way back for them so we don't all become trapped. That may be what happened to the last team."

He paused again and glanced between T'Lara and Jav'Ker, "I, uh, suppose it makes as much sense for me to go in first as anyone. Unless one of you would prefer to."

"I agree," replied ch'Pertha to Decker, "but not with out chief Scientist on point".

Turning to summon Preston over, ch'Pertha ran him down on the plan, "If you get locked in, just hold.  We'll be working to get you out".

With that, Preston was sent 'one stepping stone ahead'.

Since he was still not a speaking part, Preston nodded, and moved to position, taking the lead.  He had his tricorder out, but now... drew his phaser as well.  Looking in his own mind like a 20th century commando, he advanced...

T'Lara nodded silently.  She was actually quite eager to get on with it, but the Commander was right; the other away team was gone and they had no way to know what happened to them.  They don't want to find themselves in the same predicament.

Mcreeg had disappeared inside the old shuttle.  From within, sparks and banging could be heard.

The inner doors hissed open.  Still in his EV suit, phaser drawn, Preston ducked his head in, looking both ways before ducking back out.

Then, unlimbering his tricorder, satisfied their were no immediate hostiles, he advanced into the corridor beyond...

"LT Nipay, checking in," came the voice of the ship's COMMS officer over the line.  "Still have a good comm lock on you.  Independence is inbound on Chaktir.  Subspace and gravitic distortions from the hypermass and the artifact are making comms difficult," she said.

To anyone within ear shot, it would sound like singing, but for Mcreeg, it was a form of swearing without swearing, learned from a roving band of artisans back home, everything he tried seeming to mock him, every wire he crossed, every junction he re-routed seeming to go out of it's way to not work, and suddenly he takes a different approach, truly singing to the shuttle and to himself, trying to change the energies, to reach a new harmony between the craft and himself, his tools and scanners as caressing fingers..

what do I need to roll to get something good to happen :)
This message was last edited by the player at 09:43, Mon 03 Aug 2020.

In reply to LT JG Xanatos Mcreeg (msg # 88):

Mcreeg can make a Daring + Conn check to hotwire the shuttle using his phaser as a power source.  His focus in phasers will apply.  Difficulty is 4.  He can buy 1 extra die (+1 Momentum) or 2 extra dice (+3 Momentum total). 

He feels it in his bones in spite of all that he's doing, all that he's trying, that growing frustration that makes him close down, and so he takes a moment, closing his eyes, controlling his breathing, making the decision to go back to square one, Which for Mcreeg is taking stock of what he has, what is there, what he can use, his eyes darting over his equipment, then to himself, and he forces himself not to smack his forehead with his palm, even laughing to himself..

"It can't be that simple, can it?"

Mcreeg's words whispered to himself and he pulls his phaser free, looking at it for a moment, analyzing it, picturing things in his mind until they take the right shape, then getting back to work, pulling new wires free and adjusting them, trimming and clipping, working the phaser as well, baring what he thinks he needs, this time working silently, all his focus on what he's doing..

03:05, Today: LT JG Xanatos Mcreeg rolled 29 using 4d20 with rolls of 9,6,3,11.  daring (11) +conn (4) phasers focus, diff is 4 with 2 extra dice (+3 momentum total).   I think I did it right :)
This message was last edited by the player at 10:06, Tue 04 Aug 2020.

ch'Pertha's voice came over the comms, "Mcreeg, we're ready to intrude beyond the loading bay.
How goes your task?  If your about done, and feel we can launch the shuttle, we will wait for you.
If you feel its going to take much longer, then we abandon that part of my plan, and you join us now".

Decker nodded silently to the XO, doing his best to mask his relief. He activated his tricorder and locked it on to the sacrifical redshirt Preston as he moved into the next corridor.

Jab'Ker followed his companions. Marvelling at the engineering. Almost immediately bringing thoughts of home and a pang of homesickness

Mccreeg's gambit to drain his phaser to jumpstart the shuttle pays off.  The lights inside the craft flicker, she turns over like an old Edsall, growling and cranking, but finally powers up, her own capacitor taking hold now it had just the tiniest charge.  The old Type-F shuttle came to life.

(OOC: Success, and 1 Momentum back to the pool!)
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:55, Thu 06 Aug 2020.

Taking the lead, Preston advanced into the corridors beyond.

The interior of the station seems to be designed for humanoid beings to operate. The hallways can comfortably accommodate a being up to three meters tall and bears an oxygen atmosphere. Inside it is brightly lit, with white and gray walls.

Moving in the classic 'advance, cover, scan' pattern, Preston encountered no difficulties.

Yet.

He smiles, silently cheering her on, feeling like an expectant father in a way as she starts up, coming to life, finding herself, so proud of her, urging her on..

Mcreeg keys Comms, unable to keep the happiness and pride from his voice.."She's alive and ready to work, Sir"

ch'Pertha smiled broadly as the shuttle behind them woke from its long sleep.
"Awesome work, Mr Mcreeg.  You've earned yourself pole position for our next shore leave.

Mr Preston, you have a new duty, sir.  I want you in this shuttle, in geosynchronous orbit above this loading bay.  Work  collaboratively with the Sacajawea to ensure those loading bay doors stay open, and that we have a second option for escape from his place if something happens to the Sacajawea.
Or put the Sacajawea into orbit, and all ride that ... leaving the Abyss Shuttle on the ground.  Its up to you guys, but do make sure that both are projecting the scans that will keep those doors open".


Once Preston has changed places with Mcreeg, ch'Pertha took point,  leading the team deeper into the Artefact World ... in the same 'advance, cover, scan' pattern that they'd already set in place.


"Decker, are you able to locate and lock on to any residual energies from Federation Tech?  We may be a able to track the Abyss Team that way.
T'Lara, I need you working on that Alien Language.  If we figured it our, they  may have also ... and that might provide helpful clues in the directions they chose".

ch'Pertha himself was going to focus, on point as he was, on the more traditional tracking methods:
- were there any footprints or scuff marks?
- if control panels were used, is there any signs such as smears or disturbed dust?
etc



Ok, pesky NPC's out of the way ... lets go be the big damn heroes we all know we are!
This message was last edited by the player at 21:54, Thu 06 Aug 2020.

The Science Officer looked skeptical as he reconfigured his tricorder and began scanning the area ahead,
"There's a lot of energy being thrown around in here. It's going to be difficult to detect point sources such as a tricorder or communicator or even a phaser power pack at any kind of range."

What kind of roll am I making, Mr. GM Sir?

Preston frowned and looked reluctant.  He opened his mouth as if to protest... then settled his shoulders and nodded crisply, an invisible implied salute almost palpable.

"Aye sir," he said simply.

He moved back to relieve Mcreeg at the shuttle, leaving his team to explore the unknown without him...

OOC: Hey, if you guys wanna send away all your ablative armor, it's fine with me! ^_^

Considering the scope and environment in which he's attempting this, the difficulty will be 5.

Decker would roll Reason + Science.  I don't see any Focuses you have that seem to apply...

Jav'Ker or T'Lara could assist.  You can buy extra dice with Momentum... there is currently 4 in the pool.

Decker frowned as he bent over his tricorder. He hadn't been exaggerating the difficulty of the task. Whatever was powering the artifact was filling local space with a veritable storm of energies. The intensity was low enough to be safe, but it covered the entire spectrum which made it extremely difficult to discern between the background noise and any other source more than a few meters away.

Just as he began to despair of making any progress, he heard another tricorder switch on next to him. He glanced up at the other officer, and smiled, "Of course. Even with a fairly small baseline, using a pair of tricorders in tandem should significantly improve their ability to discriminate point sources in this environment." He grinned, "There's a reason they put a few hundred of us on a starship."

He quickly linked the two devices together and began a fresh sweep. Within a few moments, working in parallel, the two officers began to identify patterns in the noise and assemble a filter that allowed them to scan much more clearly. Once again, Starfleet's emphasis on teamwork would prove to be one of its greatest strengths.

I'm going to invoke the value "Strength in numbers" and spend his point of Determination to add a die roll of 1. He'll also spend a point of momentum to buy an additional die.

Today: LCDR Christopher Decker rolled 14 using 3d20 with rolls of 4,9,1.  Tricorder scan to locate Federation technology - Reason (12) + Science (5).

That's a total of 6 (!) successes plus the result from the mystery officer who assisted.

T'Lara nodded at Christopher.  She had a good scientific foundation; good enough, at least, so she could understand and follow his instructions to use her tricorder as a noise-filter.

OOC:  I'm the mystery officer! :D

07:49, Today: LCDR T'Lara rolled 6 using 1d20 with rolls of 6.  Reason+Science (assisting Decker) .

Mcreeg moves out of the way, letting Preston replace him, still feeling the triumph of having gotten the shuttle started, of being creative and doing what for most might be impossible..and then he waits, not sure what to do next, wanting to keep contributing bit not having a way again..yet, stills smiling as he remembers to key the comm...

"sounds perfect, Sir"

The task was difficult... no.  Incredible, impossible even.  But Decker pulled together everything he'd learned, keyed in on T'Lara's scans, and sent scanning beams outward, while pulling back passive data inward.  Their scan was specific... looking for remnants or signals of Federation tech.

The first, obvious, and quickly-ignored ping was the Type-F shuttle behind them.

Then the real work began.

After some time, he was able to pin down three distinct Federation power signatures.  Even with his result, he couldn't detect something as subtle as a Starfleet uniform at 10 miles distant.  But he did find the working source of a pair of tricorders and a pair of communicators.  None were together, and ranged in distance from 1 to 10 miles away.  But all were in a general direction that he could track.

For his own part, ch'Pertha found something interesting.

There was no dust.

Simply no dust on the ground that would leave tell-tale footprints or signs of passage.

That implied some level of active life-support and filtration, if not outright maintenance.

However, there were a few black scuff marks on the white floors that could have been made by a Starfleet boot.  For what it was worth, they lead in the general direction of Decker's scans...

Preston passed Mcreeg as they swapped places in the old shuttle.  The taciturn security man nodded and gave Mcreeg a thumb's up before taking his spot in the rustbucket.

The last view Mcreeg had of Preston was through the shuttle's viewport as it lifted up and banked around to head out of the bay.  Preston smiled and nodded, his lips mouthing the words, Good Luck.

And then he was gone.

Decker muttered under his breath, "Gotcha.", then nodded absently in C'Pertha's direction, "We have a lock, sir. Looks like a pair of communicators and a pair of tricorders. They aren't together and they aren't close, but assuming the layout of this facility isn't too maze-like, I should be able to direct you there."

He pointed in the initial direction. "The first is about a mile in that direction."

He can't help himself, seeing a bit of the man in himself as well, returning his thumbs up, having to smile when he reads the man's lips, mouthing his own response "Thanks, We're going to need it"

The moment shared and past Mcreeg sets about to join the others, hoping there's as much to do for him coming up as there was on the shuttle, quiet time not his favorite times, even in the middle of missions..

Silently wishing he had a useable phase alread weighing on his mind..

Jav Ker fell in behind Dekker as the folloeed the signal traces.

'Ventilating this space would require significant equipment.' He mused aloud as if to justify his place on the away team. 'It us nearly as clean as my engineering section.' He added with a self satisfied snort

ch'Pertha smiled, warmly, as he watched his crew in action.
They were all performing, individually and as a team, like a well oiled chabathnak; and he was very proud of them.

"Right then, lets push on", he said.
They would continue the same 'advance, cover, scan' movement patterns that had been established; ensuring that if ch'Pertha became trapped in a forward position, his team could reopen the way back.

They'd use the triangulation that Decker and T'Lara were working on to guide their movements, with JavKer and Mcreeg scanning and observing their surrounds for any clues to the other teams movements/presence ... and any threats that might have gone otherwise unnoticed.

It quickly becomes apparent that the corridor layout of this massive station isn't exactly a grid.  In fact, it's something of a maze.  It keeps everyone glued to the tricorders, except those using their mark II eyeballs to catch more immediate threats.

Turning a corner, they are greeted with a  long hallway, littered with fallen beams.  Continuing in this direction will require moving them.  The normally bright lighting is flickering like an old neon sign here.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:17, Mon 10 Aug 2020.

Jav Ker quickly knelt to inspect the nearest of the beams. Looking for signs of corrosion, fatigue. Or if raw force had dislodged them

OOC: No roll required here, given the difficulty and skill ratings involved.

PM to JavKer:

'Wait' Jav Ker cautioned. 'These have been ripped from the structure. There are no blast or mechanical failure apparent. Perhaps the gravity well is less stable than first anticipated.'

"Anyway to know for sure?"
She was a bit worried at first; if the gravity well was unstable, than the other team might be in danger.  But the signal they were tracking was still a bit far.

"Sure", ch'Pertha smiled, as he reached into his pocket and pulled out something small*.
Turning to watch, it tossed it into the area to see if it reacted to gravity as they would expect it to under normal conditions.



* perhaps a small tool, or writing implement

Mcreeg's eyes drift to his mechanical arm for a moment and he can't help but shiver as he always does when he truly focuses on it, things coming to mind..

"Could they have been brought down by someone..or something? perhaps in some kind of exo- suit, maybe to aid in deterring anyone from following?"

OOC: sorry if it's not the right tech for Trek

The small electronic stylus tossed by CDR ch'Pertha pinged off a girder and skittered along the floor, just as you'd expect it should under normal conditions.

OCC: Is it possible to make a different scan without losing the lock-on to the Federation tech?

Sure, I’d say.   Just borrow someone else’s tricorder, and do both.
If you wish, simply post Decker asking for ch’Pertha’s ... and then what you do with it when ch’Pertha passes it over. .

OOC: ch'Pertha has the right of it.  You could also have T'Lara's tricorder keep a lock on the targets, since she assisted you in finding them.  Either way.

Decker looked over the wreckage for a moment, then cleared his throat, "T'Lara, please keep a lock-on to that equipment. I want to take a gravitational scan of this area."

ch’Pertha seemed happy with ‘the flying stylus’ test, and was about to move forward when Decker indicated that he was going to take another scan ... so ch’Pertha stalled a moment to see how that turned out.

Decker's scan revealed that the gravitic field in the hallway appeared normal... appeared stable.  At least as far as the tricorder could tell.

Whatever happened here, may have happened a LONG time ago.

The girders still present an obstacle, however.

The Science Officer ran his scan, frowned, ran it again, and shrugged. "It appears safe, Commander. I'd say whatever happened here happened a long while ago. The gravitational fields are normal, in any case."

"If the Engineer can confirm that those aren't load bearing, or at least find some that aren't, perhaps we can use phasers to clear a path?"

ch'Pertha nodded, and turned to LCDR Gullak JavKer, "What are your recommendations, Chief?", he asked.
This was an engineering matter now, as Decker had suggested.
It was now JavKer's moment to shine.

Your assessment is correct. But we needny cut through recklessly. A cyt at the right spot will settle these beams in such a way that we can safely pass.

Inspecting the nearest jumble of beams and scrap and applied the phaser on full strength where two beams crossed one another. The intende heat robbed the metal of it strength and the jumble slid downwards into a flatter, passable mound.

Jav'Ker's work is quick and efficient, and within a short period, the hallway has a clear passage - even if it requires a bit of ducking to navigate.

Decker's tricorder, synched with T'Lara's, still has a lock on the Federation signals that lie further within.

Once past the blocked hallway and its flickering lights, the environment quickly returns to the brightly-lit, pristine white hallways.  They were drawing closer to the first source, which Decker's tricorder said was a communicator.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:53, Wed 19 Aug 2020.

"Good Work, Ltn Commanders", ch'Pertha congratulated.  Then, "Ok, as before, I'll take point, and we move in a staggered fashion.
We're following Decker's directions, but I'll be out front.


Anyone with questions or suggestions before we continue?"

Mcreeg feels stupid, like a cadet at the Academy having to admit he forgot a disc, even tho this isn't his fault..

"Is there a spare phaser to be had? I emptied mine powering up the shuttle"

The obstacle was quickly taken care of, and Decker's scan indicated nothing was wrong with the gravitational fields.  She was still concerned however about what could have caused the structural collapse to begin with.  It wasn't like an artificial planet had tectonic-shifts-induced earthquakes...

"You can use mine" she piped up once Mcreeg joined up with them "I'm not much good with it anyhow"
This message was last edited by the player at 10:22, Fri 21 Aug 2020.

Decker pulled out one of the phaser power packs he had brought from the shuttle, "Here you go, Lieutenant. I grabbed a few of these in case we needed a source of external power, but I'd rather that the Counselor be able to cover my back."

Almost before it's in his hand, Mcreeg is returning the borrowed phaser to the Counselor with a smile and grasping the power pack and making the change, feeling better than he had a moment ago, not just that he as battle ready again but that no one was left unarmed..

"Thank you, Sir and I'd rather that as well, the more hands the better at times like this"

Pressing on, the Landing Party* moved through what felt like miles of brightly lit, white corridors.  Occasional side rooms were either dark or empty or both.  But homing in on the nearest communicator, Decker led them to a larger room.

Brightly lit, as usual, this room was adorned in symbols and glyphs all along the walls and over several obelisk-like structures, still glowing dimly from within as if phosphorescent.  The writing was of the kind that Decker and T'Lara had, just barely, managed to translate.

And in the center of the room was a body.  He was humanoid, and wore a standard Starfleet uniform.  The undershirt and trim colors identified it as a security officer.

On the floor next to the body, still brushed by its fingertips, was a communicator, the grille flipped open.

Of his head, there was no sign.


This message was last edited by the GM at 04:31, Sat 22 Aug 2020.

Decker freezes.

He stares at the security officer, then glances at the walls, then his tricorder...back to the grisly sight of the decapitated officer...and finally looks to ch'Pertha.

ch'Pertha, of course, had everyone hold at the doorway ... further back, if possible.

He scanned there room for both immediate threats and any other clues about what happened here.

- rolled 2d20 with rolls of 3,19.  Insight + Security (15).
Note:
- Constantly Watching:   When you attempt a Task to detect danger or hidden enemies, reduce the Difficulty by 1.
- unfortunately, I'm not sure any of my Focus work to double that success.

"Decker, scan for Life Signs.
JavKer, for structural indications of traps.

Mcreeg, watch our tail", it was unlikely that there was an ambush, but ch'Pertha didn't want to take any chances.

"Aye, Sir" Mcreeg responds, walking almost sideways now, head on a swivel, keeping an eye on the others, and on where they've come from, glad he has a fully charged phaser at hand..

Decker nodded sharply. He glanced over to T'Lara to make sure she still had a lock-on to the other Federation artifacts, and then switched his tricorder over and began scanning for any signs of nearby life, "Scanning..."

Testing a Theory should add an additional die.
Spending 1 Momentum to buy a 4th die.
Rolling Reason + Science...
09:42, Today: LCDR Christopher Decker rolled 30 using 4d20 with rolls of 11,8,9,2.  Scanning for life forms: Reason (12) + Science (5).
Sadly, no applicable focuses. Just 4 successes. :P

T'Lara's reflexively raised her hand to cover her mouth, before remembering she was still wearing the helmet of her environmental suit.

"Oh no..." she shook her head with disbelief as she slowly stepped closer to the body.  Medicine in the 23rd century could do a lot of amazing things, but even it had its limit, and growing a new head was one of them.  She averted her gaze as she slowly crouched by the body and reached out to pick up the deceased officer's communicator.

Once she did, she quickly stood up again, turned her back at the grisly sight and started tapping on the device, searching for the last thing the man has seen, or looked for, before he was killed

ch'Pertha looked around signaling a hold at the door.  His keen instincts were primed for danger... but he could detect nothing.  No threats, at least nothing he could perceive.

(OOC: 1 success, which is enough.  There are no threats that ch'Pertha can/could detect in this room.)

Mcreeg swiveled and looked back the way they'd come, covering their tail.  Thanks to Decker, he had a fully charged phaser pistol.  But then, so had that security guard... at some point.  The hallway seemed longer somehow, and the bright light, rather than being comforting, gave the young officer a feeling of being exposed, out in the open, with nowhere to hide...

Decker scanned the room with his trusty tricorder.  But the result was not surprising.  There was nothing living within.  Expanding the scan to the adjacent hallway and the one that lay beyond, he still detected... nothing.  No signs of life.

At least, life as he knew it...

T'Lara, however, decided to enter the room, moving to examine the body and retrieve the communicator.  As she crossed the threshold... nothing happened.

Yet.

Picking up the communicator and turning her back to the body (and most of the ominously-glowing alien text), she had to wipe some blood off to read the display.  Communicators of this era were subspace tranceivers and capable of amazing range.  But they had no visual display.  There were a few settings that could be triggered, however; and this poor guard had done so.  The 'emergency alert' had been triggered... and yet the signal was dead now, the communicator's battery pathetically low.  However, the last message sent was still in the loop.

It crackled to life at her touch.  The man's voice sounded young, alarmed... desperate.

"ccRRRKKk... they're coming out of the... cccSsssshhHKkkk... walls... can't..."

As she examined the comm, she noticed something else... and ch'Pertha caught it too.

The body was facing the doorway they'd come in through.  As if he'd been heading back, towards the landing bay.  Perhaps in a hurry...

(OOC: Is everyone still in their full suits, despite the oxygen/nitrogen atmosphere?)
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:25, Mon 24 Aug 2020.

Decker turned slowly on the spot as he scanned, not moving any further into the room if he didn't have to. "....and I'm not detecting any life signs other than us, of course, within my admittedly limited range. But..."  His voice drifted off as the communicator began its playback.

As the voice drifted off, he looked up sharply at the nearest wall, then quickly reset his tricorder and began scanning again. He was looking for any kind of exotic energy patterns that could represent life within the wall itself, "Well, that's just great..."

OCC: Of *course* he's still wearing his suit. Space is disease and danger wrapped in darkness and silence...

Scanning for weird alien life. Reason + Science, focus of Xenobiology? Spend a point of momentum for an extra die.

15:27, Today: LCDR Christopher Decker rolled 59 using 3d20 with rolls of 19,20,20.  "They're in the goddamned walls!"  Reason(12)+Science(5), Xenobiology.

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...

Even safely in his suit, Mcreeg would swear he feels a chill, feels the hairs on the back of his neck standing up, the light seeing to shine brighter, to be watching him, the hallway to be mocking him, each step he takes seeming to leave him feeling farther behind and he has to concentrate to control his breathing, the phaser growing sweaty in his hand, paranoia hitting hm hard...yet what if there IS something watching them..ready to attack..

"Something took that guy's head" running far too loudly thru his mind as he tries to cover everywhere at once with his weapon..
This message was last edited by the player at 03:08, Tue 25 Aug 2020.

ch'Pertha, now concerned for the cremate who'd walked into the room against his wishes, felt the need for some damage control.
"Ltn Commander T'Lara, please retreat from the room until we can ascertain its safety".

His attention was split between T'Lara (ready to charge in to protect her if necessary) and the room itself: its strange walls and that be-glyphed pedestal in the centre.

"Yes sir, sorry sir" she mumbled, still visibly shaken from the sight of the headless body, and the message the poor man recorded on his communicator just before he died.
Her head slightly lowered, she rejoined the others at the entrance to the room, taking her place at the very back.

ch’Pertha then moved into the room, but only just.  He skirted the room, along the wall-line, trying to identify any other exit from the room* ... and to get a look behind those obelisks for any threat or person lurking there.

* currently, the description includes nothing about any other doors or such from this room

Jav'Ker studiously had his head buried in his tricorder, scanning for structural indications of traps.  There was a single doorway opposite the one the landing party peered in through, although at the moment it was closed. Never one to be rushed, the ChENG made a thorough scan... his tricorder finding nothing to indicate structural traps in the room.

T'Lara took the dead man's communicator and left the room, while ch'Pertha skirted its perimeter, searching for hidden threats.  There were none that he could see... it was eerily silent, the only sound that reached him through his helmet was the warbling whine of the tricorders in action, the footfalls of the party, and his own breathing.

Decker, meanwhile, directed his scans at the glyph-covered walls upon hearing the staticky recording of the dead security guard's last transmission.  But when he directed his scans past the glyphs, there was a rippling flare in their glow.  Then, a blue corona blazed, and the same flickering light ran along the team, going from head to toe in an eyeblink, whether they were in the room or not. Nobody felt anything, but everyone could see the blue line pan down from everyone's helmet to boots.

And with a sparkling pop, Decker's tricorder shorted out in his hands!

OOC: One complication: Decker's tricorder gains the trait 'shorted out' until repaired.  T'Lara, who's moved out with Mcreeg, can make a Reason+Science check to maintain the lock on the Federation tech through the resulting feedback from their linked tricorders. Difficulty is 2.

The other complication was the blue light, whose nature shall be revealed in due time. >:)

Actions?

Please.  Are there any exits from this room, beyond the one we came in?

T'Lara was fast enough to reconfigure her tricorder just before they lost their lock. Barely so.

She held off giving the good news for a moment though, not wanting to break the silence after being scanned like that in what she felt was an ominous manner.

OOC: managed to keep the lock.  Used momentum but also rolled three successes, so pool should remain the same (what is it, btw?)

19:42, Today: LCDR T'Lara rolled 18 using 3d20 with rolls of 4,8,6.  Reason+Science (+Momentum): maintain lock
 

In reply to CDR Naryss ch'Pertha (msg # 146):

In reply to LCDR T'Lara (msg # 147):

I have a Notice thread with the current Threat & Momentum here: link to a message in this game

Decker sighed and poked a couple of controls on his tricorder, verifying that it was dead, "... and that's not good, either." He slowly backed out into the corridor, then popped the access port on the back of the tricorder open to see if it was truly as dead as that security officer.

I'm guessing a Reason + Engineering. We'll throw in a third die with momentum

11:46, Today: LCDR Christopher Decker rolled 15 using 3d20 with rolls of 5,8,2.  Diagnose/repair tricorder: Reason(12) + Engineering(2) (+1 momentum die).

That's 3 successes. Or 4, if Computers counts as a focus.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:45, Fri 28 Aug 2020.

The scan painless, at least physically, Mcreeg feels his grip on his phaser tighten, looking around even more, the feeling of being watched like ice down his back even more so now, the sound when the tricorder goes almost making him jump, part of him wanting to yell, to challenge, but that would make things worse..

Forcing himself to take calming breaths, In..Out..an old family lullaby going thru his head, something he uses to calm himself, his mind racing, seeking answers, possibilities for action even as he awaits orders from his Superior Officers..

ch’Pertha, comfortable that the room was clear of immediate, recognisable threats, moved over to stand to one side of the single doorway opposite the one the landing party peered in through.   He wanted to be able to immediately react to anything that came through that door.

Once in position, he said, “Ok, come on in, and do what you each do so well.
 T’Lara and Decker,” he said, carefully tossing his own tricorder to Decker, “I’d like you to please identify that body as best you can, and the nature of his death, with as much detail as you can”.

Decker backed out into the corridor and opened up his tricorder.  A puff of smoke emitted as the access port came loose.  It was indeed fried.  But Decker was a proficient science officer, and the tricorder was his main tool.  There were bypasses he could run, and parts he could rewire.  He had to kneel in his environmental suit in the hallway and put the parts on the floor to do the job, but he was confident he could do it. Just take a minute...

T'Lara, meanwhile, had managed to keep the lock from Decker's tricorder that they'd shared, and the next FedTech^(tm) signal was still in the queue.  She'd backed up and was right near Mcreeg, who she noticed was sweating beneath his helmet.  The young lieutenant looked nervous.  His pupils were almost dialated.

ch'Pertha tossed Decker his working tricorder, having secured the room.

Can I get an Insight + Medicine roll from T'Lara? Difficulty 2. Her focus of Psychology will apply.

And an Control + Security roll from Decker, to catch the Tricorder?  Difficulty 2 due to his cumbersome spacesuit. A focus in catch-the-tricorder would apply, if he had one. Failure means more hilarity ensues...

Mcreeg can make an Insight + Security check, difficulty 2 also.
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:23, Mon 31 Aug 2020.

This was okay. He could fix this. He knew the tricorder like the back of his hand, and it was obvious that if he just cross-circuited to B, then...

...he caught sight of ch'Pertha's tricorder coming at him out of the corner of his eye. He never had much interest in sports, but he did have excellent hand/eye coordination. He reached out one hand and...

Buying an extra die with 1 momentum, you bastard GM.
00:27, Today: LCDR Christopher Decker rolled 36 using 3d20 with rolls of 16,13,7.  Catching the tricorder (or trying): Control (11) + Security (2).

...catches the device neatly, if not gracefully. "You want to be careful with these, sir. We really can't afford to run out in here." He offered it to T'Lara, "Can you please take a preliminary scan with this one. It'll just take me a minute, but I think I can get mine working again. I don't want to risk losing those other signals."

Without saying a word T'Lara placed a gloved hand over Mcreeg's arm and forced a thin smile to her lips; part to reassure him, and part to try to calm her own nerves.
She was about to say something too, but when Decker handed her his tricorder she nodded silently and left the young man and stepped back into the room to carry out her duties

OOC: 4 successes for the psychology roll, with one momentum.  But with difficulty 2 that should be a net gain of one

22:26, Today: LCDR T'Lara rolled 10 using 1d20 with rolls of 10.  rerolling 19 (cautious medicine, one die this time) .
22:25, Today: LCDR T'Lara rolled 25 using 3d20 with rolls of 5,4,16.  rerolling 19 (cautious medicine) .
22:24, Today: LCDR T'Lara rolled 30 using 3d20 with rolls of 9,2,19.  Insight+Medicine+Momentum .

Mcreeg feels the touch on his arm and looks to see who it is, heart hammering even more in fear at what it could be, what it could mean, a small sense of relief when he sees it's T'Lara, but still his mind is going in a thousand directions as he tries to find something to soothe it, to calm it, or to at least keep it busy..

23:55, Today: LT JG Xanatos Mcreeg rolled 3 using 2d20 with rolls of 2,1.  insight (9) + security (3) difficulty = 2. my bad if that should have been just one roll
This message was last edited by the player at 06:59, Tue 01 Sept 2020.

For a moment ch'Pertha regretted tossing the tricorder, as Decker's catch wasn't stellar.  But, it didn't hit the deck and so all was well.

With his keen instincts, security training and general paranoia, the doors sliding open next to him - the doors opposite the ones the party had entered through - did not catch him entirely off-guard.

But what was behind them did.  Five figures clad in Starfleet spacesuits that matched theirs...

Meanwhile, Decker caught the tricorder well enough, and had already rewired his own.

T'Lara saw the building panic in Mcreeg's eyes and, using her psychological training, realized the young man was not handling the stress well. But her reassuring smile and grip was enough to steady him.

But then she saw his eyes widen even as she began to turn away to do her scans.  And, keenly perceptive, she caught the reflection on Mcreeg's visor...

Which Mcreeg also saw.  Down the long hallway they'd come, out from around a corner some 20 meters away, a lone figure stepped out, dressed in a Starfleet uniform with a field jacket.  He was human, male, and headed their way.

OOC: ch'Pertha, you have the first action.  Then we will go to an NPC action, and then a PC action, and so on.  You first.

ch'Pertha hasn't seen the lone, running figure, has he?
Just the five Starfleet personnel?

Correct.  ch'Pertha is in the room, and the lone figure is down the hall you came from, out of view.  The only two who have noticed the lone figure (he's not running, more like advancing at a fast march) are T'Lara and Mcreeg.

Decker has noticed his tricorder, at this point.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:48, Wed 02 Sept 2020.

ch'Pertha turned, phaser ready, when the door next to him opened ... but he paused when he realised those on the other side were five figures clad in Starfleet spacesuits that matched his own.

Looking at whichever was closer, he attempted to gauge whether they were, indeed, the lost and confused people his team were here to find, or some kind of threat.
- rolled 2d20 with rolls of 3,5.  Insight + Security (15).
- Constantly Watching:   When you attempt a Task to detect danger or hidden enemies, reduce the Difficulty by 1.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:26, Wed 02 Sept 2020.

This counts as a minor action, still leaving an attack or action for ch'Pertha on his turn if he chooses.

Looking at the helmets, the face ch'Pertha sees is his own, crazed with Andorian ice-rage.  And his mirror image reached for his phaser.

ch'Pertha recognised the threat level immediately ... even if recognising the face on it was unusual.
But he knew that this first in the pack of five needed to be dealt with, fast ... and hopefully in a way that would inconvenience the others in its pack.

With a mean right hook, using all his years of Hand to Hand Combat training, he swung a huge right hook up into that very attractive (if angry) race, hoping to put the Andorian 'down' fast and hard ... and sending him stumbling/sprawling backwards into those behind him.

- rolled 3d20 with rolls of 3,1,10.  Security+Fitness(16) using 1 Momentum.
using 'Hand to Hand Combat' focus
and his Talent of 'Mean Right Hook'.

I think that gives me 5 successes?  Any successes beyond what I need, please put them into inconveniencing the other four people behind him. 

Nice shot!

Now it's your turn to roll Action Dice.  I think that's a first for the game. :)

Your Difficulty was 1.  You got 5 successes, so you have 4 Momentum extra, which can help adjust the effect of the punch.

To start with, you roll 6d6.  Action Dice are special.  Make sure you "record each die".  1s = 1, 2s = 2, 3 & 4 = 0, 5 or 6 = 1+Effect.

Since you have Vicious 1 on your HTH combat, You do +1 damage for each Effect rolled...

- rolled 6d6 with rolls of 5,3,1,2,5,6.

Reminder that ch’Pertha is hoping to inconvenience those behind that lead figure.
If he can knock the aggressive down, and (like skittles) send him sprawling into those behind him in a way that entangles them also, that would be optimal

That's 5 damage plus 3 effects.  Nice punch!

The three effects trigger 'Vicious 1' - +1 damage per effect - and 'Knockdown', which sends him sprawling.  Spending the 4 extra Momentum you generated lets the attack hit two more targets for half damage.  So that's 8 to 'ch'Pertha' and 4 to two of the others.

Narritively:

ch'Pertha's haymaker smashed into the helmet of his doppelganger, starring and cracking the helmet and sending the carbon-copy flying back into the copies of Mcreeg and Decker.  While the blow was nowhere near as devastating for them, they sprawled over like bowling pins, knocked down!

And now we switch to an NPC for action.

Outside, in the hallway, striding towards Decker, T'Lara, Jav'Ker and Mcreeg, the man in the Starfleet field jacket drew his phaser and fired at Jav'Ker!

09:27, Today: Starfleet Command rolled 25 using 2d20 with rolls of 16,9.  Phaser shot.

The blast came close enough that the engineer could feel the heat through his suit, but just barely missed... probably due to the longer range.

And now we go back to a PC for action.  First one to post gets it; then we alternate, until all have acted!

I was giving someone else a chance to go first, but let's keep things moving...

Decker spun around quickly on his knee, abandoning his tricorder, as the phaser blast shot past the group. His hand instinctively went to his own phaser. He quickly sized up his target, dropping into the habits drilled into him. Starfleet? Perhaps, but there were many possible explanations. Logic dictated that it was safer to stun first and ask questions later.

He quickly drew his weapon and fired a snap shot at the oncoming figure. There was no time to take careful aim, but knelt down he was in a good position for a stable shot.

Free minor action to draw his phaser. I'll spend one momentum to buy a third die (as opposed to taking the aim action, which I think is better under the circumstances.

14:10, Today: LCDR Christopher Decker rolled 39 using 3d20 with rolls of 9,14,16.  Phaser shot at the figure in the Field Jacket. Control (11) + Security (2). Spending 1 momentum.

1 success (lousy hasty shot)....but that should hit?
Nevermind, ranged shots are difficulty 2. A miss.

His jaw clenched slightly as the shot went wide. Control. He needed to focus and act deliberately. Reckless action was wasted action...hopefully his crew mates would not pay the price.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:17, Sat 05 Sept 2020.

Jav'Ker's doppelganger had sidestepped the bowling pins ch'Pertha had set in motion. His Tellarite tusks showing in anger beneath his visor, the piggish eyes ablaze with red, he drew his phaser (minor action) and tried to shoot the Andorian before him!

19:00, Today: Starfleet Command rolled 5 using 2d20 with rolls of 4,1.  Phaser shot.
That's 3 successes, which is a hit (difficulty 2).  1 Threat banked...

19:01, Today: Starfleet Command rolled 17 using 6d6 with rolls of 3,3,1,3,1,6.  Phaser damage.

That's pretty shitty.  3s = 0, two 1s = 2, the 6 = 1 + effect.  I'll spend that Threat generated to reroll the three 1s.

19:03, Today: Starfleet Command rolled 12 using 3d6 with rolls of 5,5,2.  reroll 3 dice, phaser damage.

That's better (for the bad guys!).  Total damage is 6, with 3 effects.  However, the doppelganger of Jav'Ker didn't use a minor action to Prepare (set the phaser) to anything but Stun, so the effects are ignored.

That's 6 damage to ch'Pertha.  He has 18 Stress, but any hit of 5 or more causes an Injury.

You can spend 1 Momentum to Avoid an Injury (Normally 2, but your Tough talent redues it to 1).  This means you still take the Stress, but aren't KO'd.  However, your more vulnerable should you be hit again before performing the Recover task.

In any case, it's up to ch'Pertha!  And we're on to the next player (who has not yet acted this turn).  Any questions, let me know.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:11, Sun 06 Sept 2020.

Spend that 1 Momentum, thank you.
Without wanting to sound like I'm blowing any trumpets, I think we NEED ch'Pertha up and at it right now.

Ooc: sounds like plan

T'Lara didn't think.  If she started contemplating the situation, she would have panicked.  And had she really thought things through, she wouldn't be in this mess to begin with, but safely in her office back on the Independence.
Letting her instincts guide her, she pulled out her phaser and took a quick shot at the lone figure down the hall who opened fire at them:

22:29, Today: LCDR T'Lara rolled 10 using 4d6 with rolls of 3,3,1,3.  phaser damage.
22:25, Today: LCDR T'Lara rolled 8 using 2d20 with rolls of 4,4.  aim+fire at lone figure .

A hit, but only one damage :(

The striding figure took a glancing blow in the shoulder that jerked his torso in a twist for a moment, but it didn't slow his pace.

Meanwhile, back in the room... ch'Pertha's duplicate was down, KO'd from his original's punch.*  Decker and Mcreeg's clones had been bowled over and bruised, but weren't down.  Jav'Ker's copy had just shot the real ch'Pertha, and T'Lara's copy decided to follow up with a phaser shot of her own...

17:19, Today: Starfleet Command rolled 19 using 2d20 with rolls of 18,1.  Phaser shot.
17:19, Today: Starfleet Command rolled 15 using 4d6 with rolls of 4,4,2,5.  Phaser damage.That's 2 damage, 2 more Stress to ch'Pertha.

...but her luck was little better than her original's.  The phaser shot skimmed ch'Pertha's off arm, sending pins and needles through it but doing little to actually stop him.

*And his GM forgetting to spend Threat to have him Ignore an Injury. Ah well. :)

Over to the players!  Jav'Ker and Mcreeg have yet to act!

"Surely you three can deal with one man," JavKer said, drawing his phaser.  "I'll help the Commander."

Ducking through the doorway, the surly Tellarite summed up the situation.

"There can be only one," he announced, and then promptly shot himself... or rather, his duplicate.

20:37, Today:  LCDR Gullak JavKer rolled 27 using 2d20 with rolls of 15,12.  Phaser shot.

The shot barely missed, and the duplicate leered at JavKer in contempt.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:39, Tue 08 Sept 2020.

Decker's duplicate rolled out from under the fallen copy of ch'Pertha.  Still prone, he drew his phaser, but that was all he could manage.

OOC: Over to Mcreeg.

OK, since Mcreeg hasn't logged on in a week, I'll post for him.  Hopefully he returns soon.

Rattled, stressed and over his head, the young helmsman nodded at JavKer and snapped off a shot with his phaser at the lone advancing 'Starfleet' security man.

21:09, Today: Starfleet Command, on behalf of LT JG Xanatos Mcreeg, rolled 26 using 2d20 with rolls of 7,19.  Phaser shot.

But his nerves got the better of him, and his shot missed.

Back in the room of glyphs, Mcreeg's duplicate crawled out from under the fallen ch'Pertha duplicate and drew his phaser.

OOC: NEW ROUND!

PC up first.  No set order, but there's some logic to letting your combat monster go first.  Whoever posts first, goes first! :)

Moving swiftly, confident in the thick of combat as he was, ch'Pertha stepped over the fallen false Andorian, and kicked the fake Mcreeg in the head, hoping to remove that one from the equation.
- rolled 3d20 with rolls of 5,4,12.  Security+Fitness(16) +1Momentum.
Again, looking to distribute this damage as best I can, to lay waste to as many of the enemy as possible ... or inconvenience them so that they have trouble participating in this brawl.
- Security aptitude of 5
- Hand to Hand  focus
     = 5 successes
- Mean Right Hook

So I suspect that I am again rolling 6d6, as before:
- rolled 20 using 6d6 with rolls of 4,1,2,5,5,3.

Learning as we go... or at least remembering... melee combat is an opposed test, with a Difficulty of 1.  So, Mcreeg2 gets to make a roll.

13:43, Today: Starfleet Command, on behalf of Mcreeg, rolled 36 using 2d20 with rolls of 17,19.  Melee.

And that's nothing.

So that's 5 successes netting you +4.

Your roll does 5 damage, plus two effects.  So that's 7 damage since you have Mean Right Hook.

You can immediate spend the 4 to affect two other targets with half damage.  So...

BOOT TO THE HEAD!

The kick was brutal, shattering Mcreeg 2.0's visor.  Blood flew from his nose and mouth, and he went smashing back into both Decker and T'Lara's clones.  Somehow, though, he kept conscious, snarling savagely through the blood. Though he seemed barely awake.

OOC: Spending 1 Threat to have Mcreeg2 Avoid Injury.  Decker2 is battered and falls again, and T'Lara sprawls over as well.  Decker2 seems badly rattled, and T'Lara2 is merely knocked down.

Striding Terminator-like down the hallway towards them, the supposed Starfleet Security Officer adjusted his weapon and fired his phaser again, this time targeting Mcreeg!

OOC: Spending 1 Threat to buy an extra die. Uses minor action to use Charge setting to create 'Vicious 1' on the shot.

13:52, Today: Starfleet Command rolled 29 using 3d20 with rolls of 6,15,8.  Phaser shot.
13:54, Today: Starfleet Command rolled 19 using 5d6 with rolls of 3,3,6,5,2.  That's 3 damage plus 2 effects.  Since the phaser was set to Vicious 1, that's +2 damage, or 5 Stress.  Which is the magic number...

The young helmsman was caught squarely in the chest and went flying back, his spacesuit bouncing off the wall as he collapsed to the deck, unmoving!

OOC: And over to one of you guys! Mcreeg is Stunned (Injury, Nonlethal).

Decker narrows his eyes and aims very carefully this time. Things were getting out of hand and he couldn't afford to waste another shot.

Free minor action to set phaser to Vicious 1.
Spending a momentum to aim.
Spend another momentum to buy a third die.
14:47, Today: LCDR Christopher Decker rolled 32 using 3d20 with rolls of 20,8,4.  Phaser shot at the figure in the Field Jacket. Control (11) + Security (2). Bought a third die.
14:48, Today: LCDR Christopher Decker rolled 8 using 1d20 with rolls of 8.  Re-roll of the 20 using the Aim function. Control (11) + Security (2).
That's three successes, for a hit. We'll spend the extra success momentum to buy another effect die.
14:51, Today: LCDR Christopher Decker rolled 16 using 6d6 with rolls of 2,3,1,3,6,1.  Damage from (vicious) phaser hit.
5 damage plus 1 effect for a total of 6 damage?

The phaser shot struck true and the oddly affect-less man is certainly effected, quite effectively.  He went down.

Back in the room, JavKer 2.0 decided - as his predecessor had said - there can be only one!  And he shot himself. But the original was no sitting duck.  He dodged.

19:37, Today: Starfleet Command rolled 29 using 2d20 with rolls of 12,17.  Phaser shot.

Over to a PC!

T'Lara first impulse was to rush over to the side of the fallen helmsman and check his vitals.  She quickly rethought the idea; her teammates on the very next room were still fighting for their lives, and if she didn't join up more of them might end up being hurt, or worse.
She peaked behind the corner of the wall to make a quick assessment of the situation before aiming her phaser at the only clone still up on its feet.  She wasn't a good shot, but she hoped she could at least distract him and give ch'Pertha to bring him down

OOC: a hit, and 1 damage with effect:

23:13, Yesterday: LCDR T'Lara rolled 16 using 4d6 with rolls of 6,3,4,3.  phaser damage .
23:13, Yesterday: LCDR T'Lara rolled 20 using 1d20 with rolls of 20.  phaser shot, rerolling (17).
23:13, Yesterday: LCDR T'Lara rolled 18 using 2d20 with rolls of 1,17.  phaser shot (+aim). 

T'Lara's snap shot around the door frame nicked the looming JavKer 2.0, but only grazed him; the burly Tellarite snarled and grunted and staggered a step back, but that was it.

Along the walls, the glyphs rippled a different shade of blue. (OOC: Banking 2 Threat for T'Lara's Complication).

T'Lara's own duplicate, lying prone, adjusted her phaser, pointed it at JavKer 1.0 and snapped off a shot. However inarticulate these copies were, they certainly knew how to use a phaser.

08:43, Today: Starfleet Command rolled 14 using 2d20 with rolls of 3,11.  Phaser shot.
08:44, Today: Starfleet Command rolled 13 using 4d6 with rolls of 2,5,1,5.  Phaser damage.

But this T'Lara was no more the combat monster than her original.  The shot hit, but barely.

"HEY!" snarled JavKer.  "That hurt!"  He shook his off-hand vigorously, trying to shake of the numbness.

"Later for you, Missy!" he threatened.  "First, I have an argument to win!"

And with that, he set his phaser and fired at himself.

08:47, Today: Starfleet Command rolled 26 using 2d20 with rolls of 13,13.  Phaser shot.
08:48, Today: Starfleet Command rolled 23 using 6d6 with rolls of 6,2,2,4,4,5.  Phaser damage. 4 damage + 2 effects w/Vicious 1 = 6 damage.

JavKer 2.0's piggish eyes widened in surprise as he was nailed solidly by the stun blast and went down with a heavy thud!

"I KNEW I was the One!" JavKer grinned.  Then, aside and somewhat kindly to T'Lara, he added, "You softened him up for me."


Of the opposition, only Decker, T'Lara and Mcreeg's copies were still up, and the latter looked barely conscious.  But, as one, Decker and Mcreeg's copies shifted focus on the triumphant JavKer. Both fired from the prone position, still on the deck.

Mcreeg-2 takes a Minor Action to set his phaser to Vicious 1.
08:52, Today: Starfleet Command rolled 23 using 2d20 with rolls of 14,9.  Phaser shot.
08:54, Today: Starfleet Command rolled 21 using 5d6 with rolls of 6,3,5,1,6.  Phaser damage. 3 damage with 2 effects - 5 damage.

Decker-2 takes a Minor Action to set his phaser to Vicious 1.
08:55, Today: Starfleet Command rolled 2 using 2d20 with rolls of 1,1.  Phaser shot. 4 successes = +2 Threat.
08:56, Today: Starfleet Command rolled 10 using 5d6 with rolls of 1,1,2,5,1.  Phaser damage. 4 damage.  I'll spend 1 of those Threat as an Immediate Spend to reroll the 5.
08:57, Today: Starfleet Command rolled 2 using 1d6 with rolls of 2.  reroll 1 die phaser damage.

That's 5 damage, and both shots are Injuries.

JavKer's triumph is short lived as twin phaser beams slam into the CHief ENGineer and send the CHENG hurtling into a nearby wall.  Sparks fly, and the chief slams heavily to the deck... unconscious, or worse.

That concludes the round.  We start Round 3, with a PC up first.  ch'Pertha doesn't HAVE to be the first, although in tactical situations he is the most proficient.  Still, one of you guys go.  :)
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:03, Fri 11 Sept 2020.

In among the unwashed enemy, ch’Pertha continued his fisticuff assault.
This time, turning his attention to T’Lara2 ... laying the proverbial boot into the prone woman.

- rolled 3d20 with rolls of 8,15,10.  Using 1 Momentum.

I dunno how many d6’s that gives me,  it here’s a bunch ... use what you need.
- rolled 5d6 with rolls of 2,1,5,4,3.

- If there is any carry over Damage I can share, please have it land upon Mcreeg2
This message was last edited by the player at 16:56, Fri 11 Sept 2020.

Your Unarmed Strike does 6d6, so I rolled an extra die for you:
22:35, Today: Starfleet Command, on behalf of CDR Naryss ch'Pertha, rolled 1 using 1d6 with rolls of 1.  additional damage die.

Total of 4 damage + 1 effect.  Since you've got Vicious 1 on your UA Strike, that's 5 damage + Knockdown.

22:37, Today: Starfleet Command rolled 24 using 2d20 with rolls of 8,16.  Opposed Melee. 1 success... not enough. You can spend the extra Momentum to bank T'Lara into Mcreeg for half damage, thusly...

Moving in with deadly precision, the Andorian kicked T'Lara-2 in the helmet, sending her rebounding into Mcreeg-2 with a resounding BONG.  The pair collapsed to the deck, unmoving.

That left Decker 2.0 alone in the face of his enemies.

If only he could talk, Decker 2.0 would tell ch'Pertha that he doesn't recognize his authority to kick him in the head.  But as it is, he snarled, set his phaser, and shot ch'Pertha square in the chest.

22:41, Today: Starfleet Command rolled 26 using 2d20 with rolls of 14,12.  Phaser shot.
22:42, Today: Starfleet Command rolled 17 using 5d6 with rolls of 4,5,6,1,1.  phaser damage.
That's 4 damage plus 2 effects with Vicious 1... 6 total, including an Injury.

The Commander went sprawling.

Over to a PC.  Actually, both of you, since Decker 2.0 is the only 'villain' left conscious.

OCC: He hit with those rolls? Decker 2.0 is a better shot than real Decker? Damn! He really is an upgrade!

Decker winced as ch'Pertha took a second phaser hit and dropped. "I hope you know that's a court martial offense." He (re)set his phaser to heavy stun, took careful aim, and fired at his duplicate.

Free minor action to aim; spending one momentum to buy a third die; spending one momentum to set phaser to vicious.
23:13, Today: LCDR Christopher Decker rolled 40 using 3d20 with rolls of 14,11,15.  Phaser shot at Decker 2.0 (buying third die). Control (11) + Security (2).
23:14, Today: LCDR Christopher Decker rolled 17 using 1d20 with rolls of 17.  Phaser shot at Decker 2.0 - re-rolling the 15 with aim. Control (11) + Security (2).
A miss.

Perhaps it was the specter of firing at himself, but as precise as he was, the shot went wide.

Crying out in anger, T'Lara turned her phaser toward the Decker clone.  She didn't bother setting for stun, but went for a (she hoped) lethal beam that would take the 'man' down before  he would have the chance to turn his attention at her

OOC: that's a hit, and three damage. I hope it'll be enough...

10:36, Today: LCDR T'Lara rolled 8 using 4d6 with rolls of 4,1,2,1.  phaser damage .
10:36, Today: LCDR T'Lara rolled 9 using 1d20 with rolls of 9.  rerolling 17 (aim).
10:36, Today: LCDR T'Lara rolled 25 using 2d20 with rolls of 8,17.  phaser shot (+aim).

This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 11:35, Sat 12 Sept 2020.

T'Lara's phaser beam lashed out at Decker.  The duplicate had time to scream.



Decker 2.0's death scream echoed eerily in the chamber for a moment, and then it was quiet.

OOC: Combat is over!  I'm adding a point of Threat to the pool for the lethal attack. ;)
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:45, Sat 12 Sept 2020.

The Science Officer grabbed his tricorder, stood up, and moved quickly to ch'Pertha's body to examine him. He called back to T'Lara, "Good shot, Counselor. I'll admit that was a bit disturbing, but good shot."

A quick check showed ch'Pertha was alive, but in a deep unconscious state.  Jav'Ker was in a similar state.  Mcreeg was less heavily stunned, and was already rousing, outside in the hall.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:16, Sun 13 Sept 2020.

T'Lara nodded meekly in response, and as the Science Officer knelt down to check ch'Pertha, she did likewise to assess how Jav'Ker was doing, and if he was still breathing
"What do we do now? I don't think we can handle another attack like this, and the station could probably clone a million of us if it feels like it"

Decker took the medkit from the stunned XO, drew out a hypospray and selected an ampule, "Perhaps. In any case, I'm sure it could deal with us neatly if it wanted to. We'll need to figure out what we did to trigger that attack and....not do it again." He glanced up at T'Lara, "Why don't you make sure those things aren't getting back up anytime soon and maybe take a preliminary scan. I really want to know WHAT they are. In the meanwhile, we need to get these two back up on their feet."

He gave ch'Pertha a carefully measured dose of an appropriate stimulant and monitored his readings closely for a minute.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:46, Mon 14 Sept 2020.

Phaser in hand, T'Lara approached the knocked out clones to take a closer look.  She kicked their own phasers out of the way, just to be on the safe side, but was not confident enough to start scanning them and risk being jumped while distracted

A quick shot of stimulant and the commander begins to come around, his eyes snapping open.


Meanwhile, T'Lara finds the bodies are... not made of natural tissue.  More like replicated matter, but no known Federation technology can replicate living tissue...
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:55, Mon 14 Sept 2020.

Decker patted his arm, "Easy there, Commander. You'll be alright in a minute. You took a couple of solid shots from what I saw." He then moved over to Jav'Ker, switched to a drug more suitable for Tellarites, and again applied the hypospray. "You both did, in fact. I think Mcreeg is in better shape, but I'll check on him in a minute."

ch'Pertha looked up into the eyes and face of the man who'd just shot him.
Adrenaline was still running, and his Andorian passions also.

A huge fist swung up towards the face of the Lieutenant Commander ... just as the man moved away towards Jav'Ker, and so it missed connecting.
But the Commander sat up swiftly, attempting to analyse the situation; ready to keep fighting, and to protect his friends.

As Decker's words sank in, and ch'Pertha realised that he was no longer in combat, a gigantic breath of air was sucked, and his eyes glazed a moment as he relaxed himself.  he was nodding slightly, in acknowledgement of what the scientist was telling, then.

It was a bit creepy looking at her own face like that, and she couldn't help but wonder how precise a copy the other T'Lara was.  The clone did attack them without provocation, so she assumed the facsimile was only skin deep.  Still, it would be interesting to find out.

"What do you think we should do with them?" she asked once she noticed ch'Pertha starting to recover, and Mcreeg joining up from the corridor

The glyphs on the wall flickered ominously, but no new threat appeared.  Yet.

Nearby, JavKer lay completely immobile, his space suit's faceplate touching the floor.

The unconscious (?) bodies of the replicants of the party - save Decker's, who'd been vaporized - did not move, either.

I'd like to think that Decker at least rolled him over before trying to revive him. :P

He did, he was face up before. ;P

JavKer coughed and sputtered and slowly came awake, clutching his chest in pain.  Decker had, of course, rolled him over before giving him the cordrazine.

"What happened?" he demanded.  "The last thing I remember was shooting a really good looking clone."
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:45, Thu 17 Sept 2020.

Decker smiled slightly and patted his arm, "Indeed. You decisively won the argument with him, but I'm afraid a couple of the others jumped in with rebuttals. Very poor debating style. You'll be alright, though. Take a minute, but I think we need to get moving."

He stood back up and started a *passive* scan of glyphs on the walls, "Mcreeg, how are you feeling? Are you able to function?"

10:57, Today: LCDR Christopher Decker rolled 21 using 3d20 with rolls of 15,5,1.  Passive tricorder scan of the glyphs Insight(10) or Reason(12) + Science (5) - w/ extra momentum die.
Even using Insight, that's 4 successes - or 5 successes if a focus applies.

ch'Pertha gave himself a moment, before regaining his feet.

Realising that the rest of the team were either on the ground being tended to, or doing the tending, he took an overwatch position by course of habit.
But he was thinking things through.

"This doesn't make any sense," he replied aimlessly to T'Lara, "With the level of technology around us, why didn't it attack us in a much more efficient way.
I mean, sending equal force when you could easily muster much more ..."

It seemed more of a test, than a challenge.
Which suggested that 'this test' was done ...  and that next there would be something else.

"We take a moment to catch our proverbials, then we move", he directed, "But I still want a genetic scan of the decapitated officer ... so we can identify him when we return to base".

"I've got no idea either.  Maybe it is studying us" 'or toying with us', she thought silently.
"I still got the oficer's comm, if it helps.  Let me see if I can find out who he is" she stopped and corrected herself, her voice faltering " - who he was"
This message was lightly edited by the player at 18:14, Sun 20 Sept 2020.

JavKer nods at T'Lara's reasoning.  "Or maybe the lights are on, but no one's home.  So to speak."

Decker nodded in response to the XO's order, "I'll take a genetic scan of him in a moment. I'm just trying to determine if those...", he gestured in the direction of the walls, "...are actively posing a threat to us. Passive scan only, this time, of course."

He frowned, "JavKer, are those phasers they were carrying actual phasers?"

Decker's scan was passive, reading emanations from the glyphs and walls for signs of a clue. There wasn't much.  Without using active scanning beams to read through the walls - if they could - all he could glean was what was being emitted.  Some light, some electromagnetic waves... nothing that would explain what had happened.  He was certain, however, that it was steady, with an almost rhythmic pulse that betrayed no danger or active threat.

(OOC: 2 Momentum to the pool, unless you'd like to do an Immediate Spend?)


T'Lara, meantime, was able to pull up the ID on the communicator she'd rescued.  ENS Daniel Morgan, Starfleet, assigned to Abyss Station.

Javker ambled over and took a scan of one of the phasers from the fallen clones.

"Nope," he concluded helpfully.  "Just hollow boxes.  No reason they should do anything."

The Science Officer nodded absently to Javker as he thought about the station's actions. Giving up on trying to read through the walls, he instead quickly scanned in the glyph patterns and tried running them through the UT database.

Bank 1, spend 1.

Running the glyphs through the universal translator that he and T'Lara had cracked for the Ithik language back on Chaktir.  At first, it provides a string of gibberish.  That then congeals into what can only be proper names... something the translator has no context for.  But the way they're arranged... and the column-like fashion... leads Decker to conclude this is a list.

A memorial.

For the dead...
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:02, Tue 22 Sept 2020.

ch’Pertha rubbed his chest where the phaser shot had hit him squarely,  “Empty box, that can’t do anything, huh?” he mused, as much to himself as anyone else.

“Good work, team”, he said, “Let’s make our investigation here swift.  I don’t like the idea of staying in this one spot too long.
Do we still have a lock on those other Starfleet comms?”


Sorry folks, on holidays with the family. Posts may be short and sparse for the following week or so

Decker snaps out of his brief distracted state and shakes his head, "Of course, sir. Let me just take that scan and check on Mcreeg. By the way, all of this...", he waves a hand around vaguely, "...appears to be some kind of memorial. These glyphs are all proper names."

He shrugged and knelt down next to the decapitated form to take a genetic scan/sample.

Mcreeg's breathing goes from shallow to deep, not having changed speed, just the amount of air being moved, his head clearing as well as the rest of him, even as he shakes his head, having had the weirdest dreams in the brief time he was out, even as he realizes that's what he was, the feeling like hangovers he's had after drinking "hey, give this a try" back at parties at the Academy.

Taking a moment to do a test of each body part, making sure everything works and is there, his eyes darting to his arm, even as he flexes it, his mind fully coming back to the here and now and he forces himself to his feet, looking around,fearing another encounter, not truly relieved when he sees he's alone..well, almost alone, averting his eyes from what is around him, his ears picking up voices, friendly ones at that, and he let's a bit of a smile cross his lips as he tries to follow them, to join them, a familiar though running thru his head..

"Still alive and kicking..a small victory but an important one"

"Ensign Daniel Morgan" T'Lara closed the comm she picked up from the dead officer  with a snap "Assigned to the Abyss station"  she still kept her eyes averted from the headless corpse, the sight of which made her visibly uncomfortable

"I hope the rest of his team are fine.  I can't understand why they decided to push through rather than going back, or calling for help, after losing one of their team members"

Decker's scan reads the body as human, and cross-references with his Starfleet file to confirm T'Lara's findings - Daniel Morgan, assigned to Abyss Station as a security officer. Young, about the same age as Mcreeg, on his first deep space assignment.

He and T'Lara had, of course, managed to keep the lock on the other Starfleet signals despite all the chaos.

Mcreeg saunters in at that point, still in his suit as you all are, looking none the worse for wear.

"Who knows, maybe they did," Javker grumbled.  "Who's to say he was killed on the way in?  Maybe he was trying to get back to the shuttle."

"Maybe" she wasn't entirely convinced.  Else why were they tracing the starfleet signals deeper inside the station?   But maybe it was true, and the rest of the away team was captured, or worse.  She tried pushing those thoughts out of her mind.  It wasn't helpful in the least

His heart finally again beating at a normal rate as Mcreeg rejoins the others with a slight wave, having alot of questions, even more as he catches the tail end of what was being said, for once staying quiet and just listening then venturing a comment, something coming to mind this question probably one of great importance..

"Excuse me, but does someone have the phaser I dropped?"
This message was last edited by the player at 21:56, Thu 24 Sept 2020.

"Well, he definitely was who his communicator says he was - Ensign Daniel Morgan." Decker paused, looking thoughtful, "Of course, his head could be alive and doing fine. The station's technology appears to be advanced enough, and I've seen stranger things before. Well, maybe not *stranger*...." he trailed off and shrugged.

With a focusing breath, ch'Pertha made his choice,
"Alright then, we move on.   But before we do, JavKer*, does this 'memorial' list of names include 'Daniel Morgan'?"

Speaking of strange, the Andorian was wondering if this was a memorial to those 'gladiators' that had entered this 'game', but fallen within it?  It would be pretty unnerving, but would also be revealing.

Either way, once the team was ready, ch'Pertha (as always) led the way through that second doorway, and further into their mission.

Decker paused for a moment, glancing between the XO and Engineer, and looking a little confused, "Well, I only scanned and translated a fraction of the glyphs. They're all clearly proper names, but not names that match any cultures we know. I supposed it's possible that they translated our peoples' names into glyphs and added them to the walls, but I'd have to scan and translate them all to be sure. That would take approximately 10 minutes."

Oh, it was Decker who did that.  I thought it was JavKer.  Sorry man

ch'Pertha nodded in acknowledgement, "Ten minutes we don't have.
Lets get moving".

Andorians are weird - I try not to make assumptions.

Decker nodded and reset his tricorder back to tracking the remaining Federation signals.
 Then he switched it over to his left hand and drew his phaser. "Ready."

Feeling more foolish than he would ever let on, hoping to one notices what he's doing, Mcreeg runs back to where he had just been, to where things had gone south and he's been zapped, finding his weapon and picking it up, actually rolling his eyes at himself before hauling butt back to re-join the others, falling into place, phaser at the ready, thankful his rapid heartbeat can't be felt, or his goosebumps seen..

Something had been nagging at him like his parents when they were trying to convince him to stay home, like a puzzle without all it's pieces and he decides to risk being thought stupid, something he hates, but this time it might be important.

"Back where I woke up, the name on the jacket was Morgan, I saw it again when I went back just now, and you're discussing Daniel Morgan, does that help us in anyway?" He's asking everyone since he wasn't totally back to himself when he first walked in and didn't truly notice who had been speaking..
This message was last edited by the player at 20:13, Fri 25 Sept 2020.

OOC: I realized, belatedly, that I dropped a dangling clue just as the party was about to move on.

Rather than waste time with it, let me summarize your findings:

The fallen clone of the Starfleet officer is, in fact, the 'copy' of the headless man in the room of glyphs... Daniel Morgan.  He's no more 'alive' than the other clones.

And now we will move on to the next scene... dropping 1 Momentum for the scene shift as usual!

Following the tricorder signal to the next blip of Federation technology, the team presses deeper into the station.  The walls and floors remain as always, but, on rounding a corner, the team is confronted by an unusual sight.

In the brightly lit hallway, there were swirls of debris spinning in the air.  Like a 'dust devil' or a pile of swirling leaves in the wind.  But there's no wind.

The debris appears to consist of scraps of paper, small plastic debris, a few items like a stylus, and a small plastic cup.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:03, Sat 26 Sept 2020.

Decker sighed, "Assuming we survive this, it's going to take me at least a month to write just the initial reports on everything we've seen here today."

He reset the tricorder and began scanning the hallway ahead, first for gravitational fields, and then more exotic energies if he doesn't find anything unusual.

20:36, Today: LCDR Christopher Decker rolled 48 using 4d20 with rolls of 11,18,16,3.  Scanning for gravitic/weird energy. Reason(12) + Science(5) (Testing a Theory plus 1 Momentum).
3 successes unless a focus applies, in which case it would be 4.
Free instant spend:  What kind of energy, and what is generating it?

Decker's tricorder reveals that the energies in flux are gravitic, coming from the wall and floor plates.  The very plates that generate a livable gravity well here in the hallway were fluctuating, and causing the debris to swirl in the air.

"That's being caused by the station's gravity control system. They're strong enough to injure, but I believe I can plot a pathway through safely. Assuming the station doesn't alter them, of course. But the next signal is just up ahead." He looks at ch'Pertha and shrugs. "So...forward?"

"Give me all the directions you can, Ltn Commander", ch'Pertha nodded to Decker.
Then, he led the way down the hallway, ready to react swiftly if Decker gave any warnings or advice.

T'Lara found the floating pieces of debris to be even stranger than the gravitational fluctuation that caused it to twirl around.  Where did these objects come from? (she hasn't seen paper in ages).  Yet another mystery to add to their list...

Decker nodded, "Aye, sir.", and began following closely behind the XO with his eyes glued to the tricorder display. He gave ch'Pertha sharp concise verbal cues to direct him around the eddies.

Using his sharp eye for self-preservation, Decker leads the group through the invisible maze of gravimetric distortions.  There is some ducking involved.  But the party makes it through, and turns the corner...

To find the source of the next Federation signal.

There's a body smashed against the ceiling and turned into bones and jelly.  Visually disgusting and disorienting, but it's as if the body fell from a great height... hit the ceiling... and stuck.

And, next to the corpse, a smashed Federation tricorder still has its functioning subspace transponder.  Also stuck to the ceiling.

Gravity is obviously not normal around the corner, either.

"The distortions are stronger here...obviously." He scanned the corridor ahead for a safe path. "There's clearly some kind of intelligence at work here, Sir, either living or artificial. I surmise it's the latter. As T'Lara pointed out earlier, it seems like it could easily overwhelm us if it wanted to. Perhaps we should attempt to contact it?"

ch'Pertha nodded.   He agreed with this assumption.
"It seems to be a series of tests, doesn't it", he 'asked' rhetorically.

He was certainly not going to risk his team to recover someone most certainly dead.
But Decker's comment held merit.
"Agreed.   Suggestions then, from anyone"

"I left my Oujji Board in my other space suit," JavKer commented helpfully.

The poor man whose head has been cleanly removed was bad enough, but she had been able to stomach it, somehow.  But looking at the man-paste smeared against the ceiling got her physically ill, and she had to stop and close her eyes for a moment to avoid throwing up inside her environmental suit.

"It's.." she shook her head, and took a deep breath
"We could try talking to it, I guess, in its language" there was uncertainty in her voice; whatever was controlling the station appeared to be particularly malicious

Decker shrugged, "I agree. It seems unlikely to me that an attempt at communication could make things worse. Commander, if you open a channel on your communicator I'll link it to my tricorder, run it through the UT, and broadcast it across the spectrum. For all the electronic noise in here, I have to assume that It is listening." He shrugged again, "And if not, well, no harm?"

He paused.

"Probably."

"Or, it could anger the aforementioned sentience, and turns its opinion of us from test subjects into intruders or enemies ...", ch'Pertha said.
But with a nod, he said, "Its worth a try, though" as handed his communicator to Decker, to do with as he felt necessary.

"Anyone here with specific training in diplomacy or first contact?  Especially with regards to Advanced Civilisation Artificial Intelligences?"
He doubted it, and couldn't remember any such thing in any of their files ... but otherwise, it would seem to fall to him to make any initial interactions.

T'Lara shook her head 'no'

"I did study many alien cultures as part of my training, but this is different than anything I have experience with"

In an uncharacteristically kind move, JavKer patted T'Lara's space suit awkwardly with his suit's heavy glove.  He could tell the Counselor was disturbed by the gore on the ceiling that had once been one of them.

"I can monitor for gravitic or energy spikes with my tricorder while you two are doing your thing," he offered, nodding to Decker and T'Lara.

Decker linked the communicator's rudimentary UT to his tricorder's and loaded up the Ithik translation database. When he finished, he looked up at the XO, weighing the communicator in his hand - it suddenly seemed a lot heavier, "I haven't had any more formal training than the rest of you, but I have been present for a few First Contact situations. And on the Exeter, I played a pretty substantial role in our First Contact with the Wirrin. They were pretty alien....but not nearly so aggressive."

He smiled a rather strained smile, "Still, it sounds like maybe I'm our best bet. Shall I?"

ch'Pertha reached out and put a hand on Decker's shoulder.
"Ltn Commander, I have a lot of faith in you.   Stop for a moment, and think this through.  About what you want to say, and how you want to say it.
If you need any moral support, just look at the faces around you.   We've got your back on this", he said.


- rolled 2d20 with rolls of 4,19.  Presence+Command (12).
If my 'Inspiration' focus counts, then that makes two successes ... towards aiding Decker in this endeavour, or for him to use however he needs to in performing this task
This message was last edited by the player at 06:47, Tue 06 Oct 2020.

Decker nodded in acknowledgement. He flipped open the communicator, took a few carefully measured breaths to center himself, and opened a channel that was broadcast as widely as the little device could.

"To the entity or entities in charge of this facility. My name is Christopher Decker. I am the Chief Science Officer of the Federation starship Independence. It is urgent that I speak to you about our presence aboard and the events taking place in this star system. Please respond."

OOC: We'll call that an Inspire action and add 2 to the Momentum Pool.

There's a crackle of static from Decker's communicator as he sends a multi-spectrum hail out into the massive object.  With a neutronium hull, and being roughly the size of Earth... well it could take a while.

OOC: Decker's player to please make a Control + Engineering check, Difficulty of 2. One player may assist.

The Science Officer fiddled with the tiny controls on the communicator. He always found the devices reliable enough, but frustratingly limited.

Buying a third die with momentum.
17:12, Today: LCDR Christopher Decker rolled 26 using 3d20 with rolls of 11,7,8.  Broadcasting his intro message to the Artifact - Control (11) + Engineering (2) - 1 extra die.
3 successes!

Still, the little sub-space transceiver's technology was very similar to the sensors that he used on a daily basis...
This message was last edited by the player at 00:39, Fri 09 Oct 2020.

OOC: 1 Momentum back to the pool, which breaks us even.

There is a long moment of static, like an old 20th century radio.  Then there's a chirp, a beep, and a string of chirps.  It was some kind of language.  But while they'd translated the written form, this was the first time hearing it directly.

T'Lara please make an Insight + Science check, with her focus of Linguistics applying, Difficulty of 2.

Decker please make a Reason + Engineering check, with a Difficulty of 2.

T'Lara shook her head as she looked down at her communicator
"Sorry; can't make sense of this.  We might need a larger sample size if we're to program the universal translator again"

OOC:
spent momentum, and not a single success :(

LCDR T'Lara rolled 50 using 3d20 with rolls of 16,16,18.  insight+ science+ momentum (decipher chirps and beeps).

Decker frowns, tapping first at the communicator, then the tricorder. "Come on...."

Spending one momentum...
13:29, Today: LCDR Christopher Decker rolled 30 using 3d20 with rolls of 12,4,14.  Doing...something...wrt the translation...Reason(12) + Engineering(2) w/ 1 Momentum.
3 successes, for what it's worth.

Having listened to T'Lara, ch'Pertha returned his attention to Decker, "Then we need to keep them talking, even as we move on.  Stay on it, Ltn Commander".

Turning to JavKer, he said, "Can you help Decker monitor the gravitational fluctuations, so we can keep moving.
He seems to be having problems with his device ... perhaps do to our proximity to said fluctuations", and perhaps the Engineer could help sort that out.

"Mcreeg, maintain rear observation.  We don't need any more surprises from behind.
T'Lara, you're with me at front ... as another set of eyes up here".

And ch'Pertha seemed ready to forge on, continuing their journey into the place.
He was going to leave the dead crewman on the ceiling, and their comm, where they were.

Not having to be told twice and silently wishing he had a second phaser, tho in a way glad he doesn't, still not trusting his replacement arm given where they are and what's going on, Mcreeg nods, even as he responds..

"Aye, Sir..nothing's getting past me from this way"

He wishes he felt as confident as he tried to sound, sweating more than he'd like inside his suit, his eyes and head on swivels as he does his best to stay in step with the others..

He even notes that he's more rattled than he can remember being as there are so many things that he'd love to look into, so many studies he'd like to do and tests he's like to take, especially of the odd gravitics they've encountered, but they'd take focus from his assignment..and from his being ready to take out the enemy this time..vowing to himself that what happened before will NOT happen again..
This message was last edited by the player at 08:33, Wed 14 Oct 2020.

LCDR T'Lara's efforts at a translation were frustrating.  This was some kind of code, not simple language.  She might be able to decipher this in time.  But while an adept counselor and proficient in linguistics, she wasn't a COMMS specialist and code wasn't her forte.

Decker, meanwhile, was able to narrow down the direction and bearing of the signal.  It's localized source, or at least a repeater station from which it was bouncing.  The artifact was roughly the size of Earth, after all.  Perhaps not coincidentally, it lay in the same direction as the next Federation tech signal.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:42, Fri 16 Oct 2020.

"Sure, I'll keep on it," the Tellarite grumbled, scanning for gravity fluctuations with his tricorder as they went.

Decker nodded to ch'Pertha, "Aye, sir. For what it's worth, the source of those signals appears to be proximate to the next and last location of Federation technology that we've been tracking. If Lieutenant Commander T'Lara will lead us to the latter, we may learn more about the former as well."

With that, he raised the communicator back up and began transmitting again, "To the entity or entities in charge of this facility. My name is Christopher Decker of the Federation starship Independence. We have received your signals, but are unable to interpret your response. If you can transmit a lexical primer of your language, perhaps...." He continued speaking as the party moved on, monitoring the return signals for a substantial response.

"I will lead the way," ch'Pertha quickly interjected, "With Ltn Commander T'Lara's guidance.
I want everyone a good distance behind me, but in visual range".
If anything triggered or changed, the Andorian wanted to be the first to have to encounter it.

The landing party continues through the winding, maze like corridoers, with ch'Pertha in the lead and Mcreeg bringing up the rear.  Decker and T'Lara continued their communication and tracking efforts even as Javker kept a scan on the walls.

Rounding a corner, they came across a scene of devastation.  Parts of the wall seem to have exploded inwards and part of the ceiling had collapsed.  The way wasn't totally blocked, but it would be difficult to wind through the debris and superstructure.

But this... this was the source of the next Federation signal!  With his keen Andorian senses and practiced security skills, ch'Pertha spotted one... no, two!... bodies tangled and pinned in the wreckage.  Both wore Starfleet uniforms with field jackets.

"I'm not sure, but I think something's wrong with the walls," Javker announced drily.

"...We have received your signals, but are unable to interpret your response. If you can..." Decker's rote dialog drifted off as JavKer's comment caused him to look up and notice the devastation.

He closed the communicator and examined the wreckage. "Huh. This message is clear enough. It seems like the response they sent us was rather subtle in comparison."

He attempted to refocus his tricorder to lock down the source of the "response" signal.

ch'Pertha, upon coming upon the scene, stopped moving, but motioned the others up to his location.

After the general banter in reaction to the scene ended, he said,
"Decker, continue attempting to communicate* with the structure.   It's important that we continue doing so, and the more response we can get recorded, the sooner we might decipher their comms linguistics.

Nobody moves past me, yet.

T'Lara, begin life scans.  I want to know if either of those people are alive ... and how many bodies are in there.
JavKer, tell me about the structural integrity of this place, and any other circumstances; such as gravitation.

Mcreeg," Sorry friend, but for now, its the same boring, yet essential, shit for you, "watch our rear.  This would be a bad time to be ambushed" ... motioned back to the corridor corner the team had just come around.


As the various scans were enacted, ch'Pertha looked over the sight with his Constantly Watchful gaze for signs of danger or enemies.
- rolled 19,11.  Insight+Security(15).
-Constantly Watching:   When you attempt a Task to detect danger or hidden enemies, reduce the Difficulty by 1.

Decker nodded, "Uh, yes sir. I was just trying to get a lock on the source of these signals. From a distance they appeared to be coming from right around here, somewhere..."

*tricorder whirring noise*

"Aye, Commander" Mcreeg he sends as he nods, almost welcoming the mundaneness of his job, agreeing with his superior, savoring the way the phaser feels in his gloved hand, eyes never stopping, head turning this way and that, making a promise to himself that he won't be caught unawares again, even as his mind is running thru the weird things they've encountered, trying to figure them out on his own, to solve things like the odd gravitic activties..

T'Lara breathed heavily at the sight of the new carnage.   Her first impulse was to rush over to check if there were any survivors, but she wasn't going to defy the orders of her Commander a second time.  The fact that the walls imploded in the most unnatural way also weighed in on her decision; there might be residual gravitational fluctuation that could still be dangerous

"Yes, sir, I'm on it" she said even as she reached for her tricorder and scanned for life signs

It took D'rala Vex a moment to realize what she was hearing, absorbed as she was in slowly attempting to wriggle, slide, and maneuver her way out of her predicament. She'd made it, slowly and uncomfortably, into a half sitting position amidst the twisted metal and now-cold wiring. A beam still lay  over one of her legs. She wasn't sure if it was seriously injured, but she couldn't seem to pull it free past the boot.

D'rala had been in the midst of attempting to lever the beam when she registered the voices. Shock and relief rushed through her. She couldn't see the people who'd emerged into the hall, but it didn't sound like anyone she knew from the station. Rescue was rescue, though.

"Hello!?" she called out, voice strained with desperation. "We're here!"

Ch'Pertha surveyed the situation even as he directed his crew.  There were too many avenues of hidden danger for him to feel comfortable... but he didn't sense anything immediately threatening.

With his scans, Decker was able to ascertain the source of the Comm signals was beyond this juncture, but close.  Less than 500 meters.

Mcreeg fiddled with his communicator as he played rearguard, frowning...

T'Lara's scans quickly detected two life signs.  One human, one Orion. They were half-buried and tangled up in that rubble and debris, but alive with strong life signs.

And that was when D'rala's voice called out from the wreckage.

Doing his best to fine tune it, coming just short of smacking it, his communicator giving him problems deliberately, Mcreeg does his best to figure out what could be wrong, checking the most obvious and working backwards in way, a challenge to be met, even if it turns out to be something simple..but he dare not think that way...or truly let his guard down..

01:09, Today: LT JG Xanatos Mcreeg rolled 18 using 2d20 with rolls of 15,3.  insight (9) + engineering (4) difficulty = 2.

ch'Pertha responded immediately to the voice that emanated from the wreckage, "This is Commander ch'Pertha of the Federation ship USS Independence.
We're scanning for your location now, and evaluating the situation to best plan for your extraction", he called out, as he looked towards T'Lara and Javker for confirmation that their scans were compiling this necessary information.

"Are you crew from the Abyss Station? or someone else?" hoping that they would reveal more of their identities ... and allow him better figure out where they were in the mess before him, "How many of you are there?"

D'rala exhaled in relief at hearing the man's voice--Commander ch'Pertha apparently--call back to her. She knew Starfleet wouldn't simply abandon them, but had not been anywhere near as certain that they'd ever be found. This place they were in was something strange and unique, and D'rala had been sure that she would need to find a way to extract them herself if she and her one remaining squamate were going to emerge alive; and yet, here was rescue.

D'rala took a steadying breath, trying to banish the shake and panic from her voice.

"Yes, this is Lieutenant Commander D'rala Vex of Abyss Station!" she called back. "There are only two of us left, as far as I know. I think our injuries are minor."

Decker somewhat reluctantly (but dutifully) re-opened his communicator and began transmitting again. He had his tricorder focused on the direction of the receiver in hopes of receiving a clear reply.

"This is Science Officer Christopher Decker of the United Federation of Planets. We are here on an urgent mission of peace. We mean you no harm. We're going to aid our companions - those who came before us, who likewise meant no harm. Please respond so that we can open a dialog and work out any misunderstandings."

Mcreeg's helmet communicator let a steady wash of static from its speaker. (OOC: Remember, the Independence team is all in space suits, while the Abyss Station crew is not.)

Decker continues his frustrating attempts to communicate with whomever or whatever runs this immense artifact.  He's narrowed down the source... or at least repeater... of the transmission to beyond the wreckage, about 500 meters, around a corner.  The same computer noises replied to his entreaties, enigmatic as before.

"Walls seem fine now," JavKer grunted, eyes glued to his tricorder.  "No signs of gravity fluctuations or energy spikes."

"Are...are you sure?"
She herself was positive that the walls, or was it the room, were very much in motion.
Almost losing her balance, T'Lara leaned against one of the walls for support, the faint echo calling for help from underneath the debris barely registering with her.

On hearing the transmission, Tsolo retrieved his phaser. He heard D'rala's transmission and said I'm going to rap on the ceiling with the butt: Three short intervals, three long, three short...the good old Earth call for help...save our souls if you like. When you hear a transmission. I'll stop until and unless continuing the knocking will help them zero in on us. He starts doing so.

OOC: I think they were just yelling aloud, not sending transmissions

knocking's still a good idea though! :)

"Besides the distant chatter, my tricorder's detecting someone playing woodpecker," JavKer said.  "That way." He pointed.

Then he glanced aside.

"Hey.  Counselor.  You okay?" he asked, seeing T'Lara teeter.
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:16, Wed 28 Oct 2020.

ch'Pertha was taking it all in.  he almost seemed zoned out, as he considered 'the big picture' going on around him.

"JavKer, warn me if any of that stability changes.
Decker, keep that comm open, but check on T'Lara.

Mcreeg, you're with me".  There didn't seem to be any threats upon them for now, but at least two people needed extraction from the rubble ahead.   Mcreeg was as good a body as anyone to assist ch'Pertha in getting them out.

So, with that, ch'Pertha joined Mcreeg ... headed into the collapsed section of the corridor ... looking for D'rala and her companion.
They were the first of the Abyss crew that his team had found alive, and ch'Pertha didn't intend to let that change.

...---... ...---... ...---... ...---... ...---... ...---... ...---... ...---...

(three relatively softs, three loud three iteratively softs)

"It's - T'Lara closed her eyes as she tried to shake off her queasiness  "I don't know what's wrong with me; it's like I had one too many glasses of wine" She opened her eyes again and tried to focus on JavKer
"Go help the others - the ones trapped under the rubble.  I'll be fine"

Decker paused his attempt to communicate with the structure and reset his tricorder for biological functions. "I'm sure you'll be fine, Counselor, but this is a dangerous situation, so let's be sure."

*tricorder whirring noises*

12:26, Today: LCDR Christopher Decker rolled 27 using 3d20 with rolls of 2,9,16.  Medical scan of T'Lara - Reason (12) + Medicine (4) w/1 momentum die.
Field Medicine talent, so there should be no penalty for not using a medical tricorder.
Three successes, unless an infection disease is involved (then it would be four).

Mcreeg doesn't want to believe what he hears, actually shaking his head in his helmet, his heart racing, adrenalin kicking in and flooding his system as he tries to decide what to do, keying his comm unit, yelling, not for the first time forgetting about Protocol..

"Preston!! It's MCREEG!!! CA YOU HEAR ME! SAY SOMETHING..ANYTHING!"

That too recently familiar feeling of helplessness washing over him again, he tries to connect to anyone and everyone..

"Did anyone else hear that..is anyone getting anything..someone, tell me that's not what I heard!"

JavKer looked up from his tricorder.  "The only thing unstable in this hallway is our officers," he snarked, indicating the frenetic Mcreeg and disoriented T'Lara.

"Hey.  Is that something tapping?" he mused, hearing Tsolo's morse code.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:37, Mon 02 Nov 2020.

Decker's scan of T'Lara takes only a moment.  While not a specialist in Vulcan physiology, he is able to ascertain she has no infectious disease.  Her heart rate and respiration are elevated, and there's some evidence of increased hypothalamic hormones in her left cerebrum.

OOC: 3 successes nets you 1 Momentum, which you can use on an Obtain Information if you wish, or return to the pool.

T'Lara's dizziness seems to pass, at least for now.

Before Mcreeg's outburst, ch'Pertha had made it far enough to spot a pair of green eyes glancing at him from beneath a lattice of collapsed girders... and D'rala spots the space-suited Andorian as well.

No one else had been monitoring the comm frequencies to their rear, and only Mcreeg had heard the signal.  In response to his desperate entreaty, there is only a wash of static.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:39, Mon 02 Nov 2020.

I bank that momentum. As Science Officer, whenever I succeed with a task using a ship's computer or sensors, or a tricorder, I get a bonus momentum which may only be used on an Obtain Information spend. And Studious turns that into two questions. So:

1. What's wrong with her?
2. No, really, what's wrong with her?
2b. Okay, more seriously, is there something environmental causing it.

...---... ...---... ...---... ...---... ...---... ...---... ...---... ...---...

(three relatively softs, three loud three iteratively softs)

Before Mcreeg's outburst, ch'Pertha had made it far enough to spot a pair of green eyes glancing at him from beneath a lattice of collapsed girders ...
but now his attention was distracted, and had to be shared between those ahead of him buried in the rubble, and behind to his excited officer.
"Mcreeg, I heard nothing.  REPORT!"   The order was given, not harshly, but forcefully: ch'Pertha feeling that such assertion might help Mcreeg focus.
     rolled a Presence + Command to generally facilitate such.
       - rolled 10,18.  Presence+Command (12).

And then, to the green eyes, "Hold on, we're coming" ... carefully continuing to proceed as he listened to Macreeg report.

When the Andorian in a command uniform comes into view--assumedly the Commander ch'Pertha who'd spoken previously--D'rala lights up with even more relief at finally laying eyes on one of their rescuers. She sits up as much as she can with her leg trapped.

"Commander ch'Pertha?"

Back in officer mode, she points to a couple girders that she thinks could be shifted without disaster, and calls out, "Commander, if you have enough manpower with you, I think these could be tipped without collapsing the rest. My leg's caught by a beam, though. I think the metal's thicker by my foot which is why I can't pull it free." She hopes she's right, aware that her adrenaline could easily be hiding a serious injury from her. "We'll have to lever it up a bit before I can crawl out."

He does his best to gather himself, to get his voice, and his mind back in control, to act as he was trained since at the moment he's not doing anything to help anyone..

Taking a breath and letting it out slowly, Mcreeg begins to formulate the best report he can..

"Commander, it was Security Officer Preston on the shuttle craft..Something that couldn't be anticipated has struck the craft, the Sacajawea  is apparently fine..but the shuttle was hit by something that took out the gravity net..the last I got was they were losing something, I'm betting it was power and lifesupport"

PM

"Tapping's definitely coming from this way," JavKer grumbled, trundling along in his spacesuit towards where Tsolo lay buried.  "No idea what the code is, though. I didn't major in 'obsolete' in the Academy," he snarked.

...---... ...---... ...---... ...---... ...---... ...---... ...---... ...---...

(three relatively softs, three loud three iteratively softs)

...---... ...---... ...---... ...---... ...---... ...---... ...---... ...---...

(three relatively softs, three loud three iteratively softs)
...---... ...---... ...---... ...---... ...---... ...---... ...---... ...---...

(three relatively softs, three loud three iteratively softs)

T'Lara stood silently as Decker scanned her.  She was starting to feel better, but was interested nonetheless in knowing what exactly happened to her.

Decker's eyes widened a bit as he tapped at the tricorder's controls, "Fascinating. It's almost like..." He paused for a moment and glanced over at the rest of the crew. A lot seemed to be happening all at once and there wasn't time to waste. "Lieutenant Commander, even in here we're absorbing some trace leakage from the black hole. It's not enough to be dangerous to us in the conventional sense, but it appears to be causing a slight shift in your brain chemistry. The tricorder has actually matched the effect to one caused by some very rare minerals found....well, nowhere near here. The point is, you may be experiencing..." he lowered his voice out of respect, "You may be experiencing a certain amount of loss of control over your emotions. It's actually a kind of progressive neurological damage. I'm sure we can repair it back on the ship. I'll check to see if anything we have with us will help, but for the time being you may just need to be mindful of the effect."

He put the tricorder on standby, fished out the medkit he'd swiped from ch'Pertha earlier, and checked the contents to see if there was anything that might provide relief.

"neurological ... damage?" T'Lara repeated after him, trying her bestest not to panic, which was just the thing he said she would start having greater difficulties with.  Overhearing Mcreeg saying something about losing their shuttle didn't help much in the way of helping her relax.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:09, Fri 06 Nov 2020.

Decker selected an ampule and loaded it into the hypospray.

"Minor damage. Definitely serious, but we will have plenty of time to correct it when we get back to the ship. In the meanwhile, this..." he injected the drug into her upper arm, "... should help mitigate the, ah, symptoms. You will need to be mindful of the effect, however."

ch'Pertha froze a moment to process everything that was going on ... especially focusing between the need to rescue the trapped Starfleet personnel and what Mcreeg had reported.

'Dammit', ch'Pertha thought to himself.
"We are going to have trust that Preston, Nipay and Nyshuri* can handle whatever is going on out there," he replied ... because he couldn't see any way of assisting them right now, from here ... "and we'll get back to them as soon as we are done here".
After all, these were (correct me if I am wrong, SFComm) the last member of the Abyss team that had entered this station.


Then, forging forward, he began to assist D'rala in freeing herself.
"Mcreeg and Decker, get to that tapping sound, and report.   If there is someone trapped, begin finding a way to release them.
JavKer over here with me, lets get this surviver free.  T'Lara, you over here also", he said.

That would give two of the onsite medical team ready to respond to the Orion's wounds ... and Decker closing in on whoever was tapping out for help, to aid there.
It also meant that he, himself, could flit between the two rescue teams as necessary to aid as need dictated.


Is there some rolls that will help with unwrapping the trapped?
This message was last edited by the player at 09:11, Mon 09 Nov 2020.

T'Lara smiled faintly at Decker as he pulled out the hypospray, then remembered something:
"Thank you, but would that work through the environmental suit? I'd rather not compromise it and make things even worse"

He nodded back, "The suits and hypospray are designed to work together. By definition, any time we're wearing environmental suits we are in hazardous conditions." With a slight smile, "Starfleet Medical would never allow us to spend this much time in a situation where they could not provide basic aid."

After giving the injection, "You're good to go. And I believe the XO requires our attention elsewhere." With another respectful nod, he headed off to join Mcreeg in the direction of the percussive noise, putting the medkit away and resetting his tricorder for a short range detailed scan.

These were indeed the last unaccounted-for members of the original Landing Party from Abyss Station.  Of course, there still remained the problem of the rotating Black Hole... and what within this station had caused it, perhaps something set off by the original party.  If not halted, the radiation jet from the singularity's pole would fry the orbiting planet Chaktir and all remaining on it.  It was extremely unlikely the Independence could evacuate more than a percentage handful of the population in time.

Mcreeg and Decker are able to isolate the tapping sounds to a pile of girders and debris that completely obscure whomever is trapped there.  How would they like to approach this problem?

JavKer and T'Lara can likewise see the pinned Orion officer.  She's trapped by her ankle, and a bit banged up, but otherwise unharmed that you can see.  T'Lara can make an Insight + Medicine roll, difficulty 2, to assess D'rala's injuries and see if there's a way to get her free without further injuring her.

Ch'Pertha should make an Insight + Security roll with a Difficulty of 2. His talent of Constantly Watching will apply.

Reminder: The Independence crew are in space suits, while the Abyss Station crew are in uniforms with field jackets.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:41, Sun 08 Nov 2020.