Comm keeps sending the numeric sequence, and Tsolo has a screen show the returning pattern for the two Comm personnel with him to help analyze.

Asking Dr. Verghese to start labeling the image with his thoughts as to what was what, Dr. Layne attempted to reach the Captain with the communicator.

Once he gets thru, he shares his theory and concerns.

"Captain, Dr. Verghese has made some observations that seem to ring true. We believe that not only is there organic portions to the ship, but it may in fact be a living being, a space faring race, origins unknown."


He glanced again at his sensor display, noting the changes in the creatures response.

"Given the unusual nature of the local Oort cloud, I think we should examine it's contents, I am concerned that within the cloud might be offspring or eggs of the creature. Any attempt to go through could easily be taken as a threat! Even if this isn't true, it seems to consider the Oort cloud important in some way."

He has batting dead zero on his attempts to understand this situation, but he had no choice but to continue to share his thoughts. If he did not, and he had been right, he would be responsible for untold mayhem.

D’rala gave T’Lara a smile, born of appreciation. “Glad to have you along.” There was a comfort to the presence of a woman who she had, if briefly, worked side by side with before, and whom she knew was valiant and trustworthy.

She greeted the two men Zogoyaj and Trainor, and then let them alone to check their equipment.

When the full group was assembled, D’rala spoke again: “I know this is our first away mission together, but I can assure you all that your safety and this mission’s success are my two top priorities, in that order. We’re all going to be out of our depth when we’re over there, so if you think you’re seeing something I’m missing, don’t be afraid to speak up. I selected each of you because I want your thoughts and expertise. If you have any thoughts or concerns before we launch, I’m here to receive them.” She punctuated  her short speech with a nod.

If no one has any comments, she would board the shuttle.

The good doctor pipes up again, with a strange question...

"Also, curious, can the ships main phasers be set to stun? If that thing is as much a living being as Dr. Verghese thinks, that might be a worthwhile thing to know."

  Clearly the XO gets along well with the ship’s counsellor.  A tick in her favour, from Azami’s point of view; anyone who didn’t get along with T’Lara should likely be viewed with deep suspicion.  Granted, Azami herself might be biased, the petty officer considers, but still.

Commander Vex then gives a short address, first stressing safety then success; another point on the positive side to Azami.  The speech continues along a sober and sensible vein – caution appears to be the watchword, rather than the glory of Starfleet.  Better and better still.  It ends with a notation of conviction in differing abilities of the team and a request for either input or queries.  The single small inaccuracy Azami can see is that the XO hadn’t actually chosen her, personally…which, she admits, would be appalling nit-picking as the XO had requested the CMO choose someone qualified, wisely deferring to the CMO’s knowledge of their own staff.

In all, it’s likely the best possible speech Azami could have expected from a team leader, a heartening fact.

As for the request for questions or comments, at present the petty officer has none of either.  For her, there simply isn’t enough information.  No doubt she will later, when they have a better idea of what actually transpires with the colony; does it have something to do with the alien, potentially alive vessel?  It would be stretching coincidence to think not…but there is as yet no factual support for that possibility.

So for now, Petty Officer Amamiya remains silent.

Upon hearing Dr Layne's observations and suspicions, ch'Pertha called Helm to "Bring the ship to a full stop".
Relaying the conversation to Decker, ch'Pertha asked, "Can you work with Dr Layne, to ascertain the possibility of this, please".

"Are we getting any form of response from the entity", ch'Pertha asked Saghallie, as he moved over to towards the Lieutenant.

"Ltn E'Detra, work with engineering to modify main phasors for non-lethal strikes against a ship-sized space-faring entity.
When you achieve this, modify only 1/3 of our main phasers this way ... for the moment".

Hearing Ltn Decker's warning, ch'Pertha ordered for "Shields up, and prepare for evasive retreat"

OOC: That took longer than expected, but here we go.

On the bridge, the captain gave a series of orders that his crew scrambled to carry out.  Nyshuri brought the ship to a full stop (relative to its position).  E'Detra quickly began recalibrating 33% of the Independence's phasers for nonlethal fire.

Tsolo's comms kept repeating, but as Decker focused his scans, the repetition in return ceased.

Decker focused his sensors on the vents. They appeared to be multi-purpose, possibly used for maneuver and definitely used as a means of defense... and offense.

A burst of blazing crimson light preluded a burning scarlet star that scathed across the distance between them at incredible speed. Decker had only a heartbeat to discern that the alien weapons are highly ionized plasma-based projectiles that have a devastating energy
dampening effect that will deplete shields quickly... an energy draining effect.

OOC: 7 successes means Decker banks 4 Determination, minus the 1 spent, adds 3 to the pool. The pool caps out at 6, so you'll lose 1 unless you use it for an immediate spend.

E'Detra shifted her focus to raising the shields, turning from the phasers, but too late!

OOC: Spending 1 Threat to add a die to my pool...

15:43, Today: Starfleet Command rolled 47 using 3d20 with rolls of 18,13,16.  Plasma Strike.

Nyshuri's deft manuevering dodged the plasma strike, the sphere blazing past the ship and missing it by mere meters. Inertial dampeners struggled to compensate for the erratic maneuvering, as crew everywhere were tossed in their seats. Decker could already read dozens more of the ports powering up.

OOC: Actions?  We alternate at this point, PC, alien, PC, etc... so who's up? :)

This message was last edited by the GM at 22:50, Sun 15 Aug 2021.

Thrown from his chair, Dr. Ranse manages to avoid hitting the floor, but just barely.

"Are you alright Dr. Verghese?"

If Azami's replacement had arrived, he will check on that person as well.

In reply to Starfleet Command (msg # 121):

OOC: Well, you did already answer most of the questions I'd have. Spending the about to expire momentum gives me 3 questions. So.

1. How quickly do the projectiles lose cohesion? i.e., what is their range?
2 and 3. Can the shields be tuned to more effective resist the damage and drain?

"Captain!" Decker didn't exactly sound panicked, but there was a tone of alarm in his voice that those who had worked with him since he had come aboard had not heard from him before. "I read several more...dozens...of those emitters powering up. That discharge was a form of ionized plasma that will eat through our shields - they will not offer us substantial protection. I'm trying to get a read on their range, but I recommend immediate withdrawal!"

ch'Pertha hit the Red Alert button, as he directed the helm for a "Evasive retreat, Nyshuri ... Katharint maneauver".

The Katharent maneauver was a rarely used, but well documented tactic.  It was, by definition, a retreat/withdrawal ... by initially flying at the enemy in an spinning, tumbling manner, before passing them ... swiftly and with deftly performed maneauvers that made the ship particularly hard to target.
It was a daring maneauver, but had the advantage that most enemy didn't expect such a reckless(?) act, AND it gave the performing ship some idea of how quickly the enemy was able to track and re-target their weapons.

Even as that was happening, he said to Saghalie, "Screech them, hard".


Please, maybe we already asked this ...  how big is the entity ship, compared to the Indie?

The ship surges, violently, shifting and tilting despite the inertia dampners.

Unexpected, it no doubt sends crewmembers lurching, staggering, or even flying in some areas of the ship, and the bay is no exception.  Taken off-guard, Azami reels, taking three steps before shifting her center of balance beneath herself, her body automatically hunting for and adjusting to the ship’s movement.  Uncontrolled movement becomes a guided search for something to hang onto – preferably a wall.  She needs a wall; it not only grants more stability, but gives two surfaces from which she can push herself off.  That might be necessary, as this is a bay rather than an empty hallway; should anything break loose, there could be a heavy weight tumbling in her direction at any moment.  Including, potentially, the shuttle, and Azami would rather have the chance to at least try to hurl herself out of way.

Then the red-alert siren – belatedly – begins to howl*, informing them that the situation has now officially gone south.  As if, the petty officer grimly considers, they hadn’t known that already from the wildly bucking deck.  Assuming she manages to gain some kind of stability, Azami’s eyes snap from person to person on the away team, hunting for any injured and, in truth, searching for her friend.

* OOC - based on the Captain’s post!
This message was last edited by the player at 01:17, Tue 17 Aug 2021.

D'rala falls sideways for a surprising moment before grabbing hold of a small metal rail divider. Holding fast, she swayed on her feet for a few more seconds, before the ship had apparently adjusted to whatever had just occurred.

"Everyone alright?" she asked the assembled team.

"Aye Commander," the Gorn who went by Daniel replied. "5 by 5."

Braced against the wall, continuing to assess the status of the group - those she can see, in any case - Azami raises her voice.  "Yes, commander."  For the moment, the ship appears to have stabilized, but that might not last - glancing around, she checks for the nearest safety area, where securing themselves might be a possibility.

It could, in truth, be best to be aboard the shuttle.

"Should we board and strap in, commander?" the medtech calls out.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:11, Tue 24 Aug 2021.

Tsol and his shift create and beam ll kinds of communications signals at teh menacing vessel with wildly varying frequencies up and down the spectrum.

Thrown to the deck, Verghese looked dazed, then scrambled to his feet with the spryness of youth.  "Did we get hit?" he asked, clinging to the desk.

Behind him, enlisted medics and techs righted themselves and prepared for casualties.

OOC: The range is comparable to a photon torpedo as a quick estimate.
Tuning the shields is theoretically possible, but would require more sampling, i.e., more projectiles to scan.

Under the Captain's direction, Nyshuri aimed the Independence right at the enemy, then wove an evasive winding pattern towards - and ultimately past - the looming alien craft.

ACTION: Evasive Maneuvers by Nyshuri. Conn + Daring, assisted by Indy's Structure + Conn. 09:42, Today: ENS Nyshuri rolled 21 using 2d20 with rolls of 4,17.  Evasive Manuevers.
09:43, Today: ENS Nyshuri rolled 19 using 1d20 with rolls of 19.  Structure + Conn.

As bad as that looks, it's a success.  This gives a Difficulty penalty of 1 to the alien's attacks.

As the Independence wove past the alien ship - which, despite its appearance, wasn't much bigger than her - it unleashed another plasma blast, a miniature blazing fireball that looped out at the ship.

09:46, Today: Starfleet Command rolled 24 using 3d20 with rolls of 11,6,7.  Plasma Strike.
That's 2 successes.  Just missed, thanks to Evasive Manuevers. 1 Threat was spent to buy the alien an extra die.

As the ship flew past, Tsolo hit it with a broad-band COMMs screech, varying frequencies, up and down the scale!

OOC: To save time, I'll roll for Tsolo.  It's CONTROL + ENGINEERING on 2d20.  Buying a 3rd d20 for 1 Momentum!

10:00, Today: Starfleet Command, on behalf of LT Tsolo Kloshe Saghalie, rolled 22 using 3d20 with rolls of 2,9,11.  COMMS jamming.

That's 2 successes!  1 extra Momentum, which goes back in the pool.

The lights and glows on the alien ship flickered in response, almost the equivalent of... rapid blinking.

And then the Independence was past.

OOC: Tsolo's screech cost the alien an action, which would have been (wait for it) another Plasma Strike. ;)

OOC: Assuming the ship keeps going, you guys are free and clear to post.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:08, Sat 28 Aug 2021.

"Yes, everyone, aboard the shuttle," D'rala replied. She stood by the door to ensure each of the crewmembers boarded safely before stepping on herself. "Everyone strap in, just in case."

ch'Pertha held firm to the command chair, as the inertial dampeners attempted to make the Evasive Maneuvering comfortable.
The plasm ball that looped out at the Independence as it careened past the living entity showed the speed and agility with which that ship could retarget ... and gave the combat savvy Andorian an appreciation for what they were up against in this situation.
The fireball also, having travelled on into empty space, showed the Independence the range of that attack, before the plasma ball dissipated harmlessly.

So, it hits on a 7 or better; and normally fires with 2 die.   Please, <b>How many die do we use?  and what is our regular 'to hit' number?


As the Independence made safe range, ch'Pertha said, "Well done, all.
Helm, bring us around into a defensive perimeter, outside the range of those fireballs.  Take us to the opposite side of the system from the Entity's position and plot us a swift retreat path should it become necessary.
Continue scanning the entity device for movement or reaction
Science, continue scanning Oort Cloud for any signs of the entities offspring".

To confirm:   the planet is within the Oort Cloud.    The Entity is outside the Oort Cloud ... with us, hopefully, on the counter side.
Please, at full, SAFE movement into the Cloud towards the planet, how long would it take us to get there?


"Commander Vex, prepare your team for an intrusive insertion into the system.  We may need to 'kick you out the passenger side door' as we fly by".

Heading into the shuttle, Daniel quickly finds the seat furthest from the door that hasn't been taken, and straps in.

  The petty officer gives a quick nod to the commander's orders.  Without hesitation, she moves toward the shuttle door.  The deck continues to shift and move beneath her, but without its previous violence; whatever the situation, the ship's systems now seem to be able to keep up with it.  Bag in-hand, Azami hurries into the shuttle - should anyone require assistance, she stands ready to help.  Should they not, she boards and, much like Petty Officer Zogoyah, chooses the seat the furthest from the door not already taken.

Once there, she swiftly straps herself into place, then secures her bag of supplies to the same straps, keeping it at hand. "Is anyone injured?" the medtech calls out when the boarding is complete.

Priorities, priorities.

Once that particular question has been answered, or not, her gaze seeks out T'Lara; the medtech offers a rueful half-smile and a shrug to the counselor.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:06, Sun 29 Aug 2021.

Decker redirects the ship's main scanners back to the Oort cloud, while tasking the passive sensors only to keep track of the artifact. Without turning away from the readouts, he calls out to the Captain, "Sir, do you want me here, or do you want me to join Commander Vex's team? I can send someone else in my place."