Once the prototype was loaded, Vanna flew the shuttle to the designated test site deeper into the Jouret system where the derelict freighter sat.  Affixing the prototype to the hull required an EVA suit by everyone.  Bart was able to attached the prototype to the hull without trouble, but Thani's efforts to properly synchronize the sensors required extra time.  Jason would stand guard, but as Thani finished, Jason noticed something in the distance.  It was as if the stars where he looked seemed to waver.  Stars didn't waver.

Jason wasn't watching the group as they attached the torpedo to the derelict, well except for the part of watching the hull for signs of movement. He just happened to glance out at the stars and saw them wavering like the heat warping the air in the summer when he was younger and that brought a frown. And then a terrifying thought.

"Walker to Mihoshi? Do you register anything on the sensors off the port bow? Because I am seeing indications of a possible cloaked ship heading towards you. Cmdr Geary, we are rather exposed out here," he added with concern as he turned to the team.

"Ok Bart, Thani. Stop what you are doing, you're done. Get in the shuttle now," he ordered, not taking a chance and the only things he knew that did that was not friendly.

"Lt Keyes, get the shuttle ready to run. Unknown cloaked ship possibly heading to the Mihoshi. Which means we might be cut off." He had reservations about this because of Brenn's behavior... but this, this wasn't part of those low expectations.


(OOC:Did they have both prototypes on board or just the one?)
This message was last edited by the player at 05:03, Mon 13 Apr 2020.

Luckily Thani had just finished with the sensor sync up. "What? Cloaked vessel?" Several races had cloak technology, Romulans and Klingons both the most well-known.

The job was finished, though she did note the new Ensign was using familiar terms with both of them. Was that a sign of human stress? Being confined to this suit made her uncomfortable, without her Antennae reading the others as easily.

Thani heads towards the shuttle as indicated. Not certain if she could do anything else to help.

Upon hearing the term 'cloaked' , Deckar double checked his sensors.  "Do we have a beacon, a radioactive patch or something we can attach to the torpedo to track it in case that is their target?"

Bart responded thought his EVAC suit, "Commander we don't have anything in the shuttle for tracking, but I should be able to convert a phaser that can be tracked."  Coming back into the shuttle, Lt. Blatt disassembled a phaser and then rearranging some of the components put it back together again, Doing a quick test of the device, he was satisfied with the result. "That should work."  Putting his EVAC back on, he attached the device to the torpedo. "All secure." he stated as he reentered the shuttle.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:57, Mon 13 Apr 2020.

Vanna heads in and sits at the pilot station and begins to open an encrypted channel to the Mihoshi. "This is Lt Keyes to the USS Mihoshi, we've got a possible sighting of a cloaked vessel en route to your position, over?"

Jason waited at the door till everyone was on board and he was the last one to enter. His eyes remained on the warped star field getting closer to the Mihoshi, frown deepening, till finally Bart exited and reentered the shuttle and then he was the last one on, letting the door close as he kept his eyes on what appeared to be a cloaked ship.

When the air cycled, he finally quickly removed the helmet and suit. "All accounted for sir," he told Geary as he headed up to where Vanna was, peering out again towards where he had seen that tell-tail sign.

Deckar nodded, "Very good Ensign.  Lt. Keyes, please make haste to the Mihoshi."
Checking the controls, he locks the sensors on the torpedo.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:35, Tue 14 Apr 2020.

Vanna does as told and takes off slightly against regulations to hasten the trip.  Speeding toward the ship at max speed and trying to see if they can't get a profile of the cloaked vessel against the stars or planet along the way for better identification.

Jason's eyes widened and he lifted his head, looking at Geary then Vanna. "Unn, sir? The cloaked ship is heading in the same direction we are. Are you sure we should be heading back?" That seemed counter to survival in his mind.

"Say again, Miyazaki?"

"Captain!  B'Rel-class Bird-of-Prey de-cloaking off port bow!  A second!  Port-Aft!  A third!  Aft!"

"Red Alert!  Shields up!"

"They're targeting the shield generator!"

The Birds-of-Prey moved in coordination, all striking in sequence.  Lances of green from their disruptor cannons struck the Mihoshi's shields, iridescent color flowing around them as they tried to ward off the attack.  The ship could have held against one, two, but three volleys at the same point were too much and punched through, lighting up the Mihoshi in fire and light.

"Damage report!"

"Shields at 75%!"

"Auxiliary power to shields!  Return fire!"

"Hit on lead bird!"

"Another volley!  Port nacelle targeted!"

"Warp systems offline!"

"A bird is breaking away and heading for the shuttle!"

"Miyazaki!  Incoming!"
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:00, Wed 15 Apr 2020.

"Chief, if we were to grab the photon torpedo and arm it, could you launch it at one of those vessels?" Testing was one thing, but why not use it in a live demonstration? After all, it appeared their life expectancy was soon to be much shorter. She had few regrets, but if they were to be mercilessly slaughtered, then at least they'd go out in the name of science!

Odd, thought Alex, why red alert? Extra precautions for the testing? Then he felt the ship get hit. Well, crap! That wasn't a good sign. He looks at Nurse Lockhart, "I guess the testing is postponed." Looking at the console to get a quick situation report (Injuries).
This message was last edited by the player at 00:03, Thu 16 Apr 2020.

Seeing the Birds of Prey de-cloak and noticing one heading their way,Deckar's voice is more urgent sounding than normal, "Lt. Keyes, head back towards the freighter, but at Half speed. oh, and serpintine."  Thoughts were calculating in his mind. "Blatt. sh'Elliaph, can we detonate the torpedo remotely? And how far do we need to be from that thing to not be killed? ANd if you can, send the blast radius to the navigation computer." Looking at the sensors, scanning the area, "Ensign, do you see any objects that might shield us from the blast nearby?"
This message was last edited by the player at 02:43, Thu 16 Apr 2020.

"A good idea, Cmdr. but I don't think we have time to get our of the shuttle, and aim it."  Checking his equipment and padd, "Yes Comander, I should be able to detonate it from here.  I have all the specs with me."

This message was last edited by the player at 05:51, Wed 15 Apr 2020.

Jason gripped the seat that Vanna sat in tightly as the bird(s) of prey uncloaked and fired on the Mihoshi. He was about to say something when the third uncloaked ship started heading towards them.

"It's coming around," he pointed out unnecessarily.

His shoulders slumped a little when Geary suggested what he did, in total agreement, and he settled down on the bench, fingers twitching a little with nerves. The poor guy could handle things face to face but this situation was well out of his experience.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:57, Wed 15 Apr 2020.

Looking at the situation for what it was, his planned formed.  One way or another, they would be remembered for what he was about to attempt with an unknown explosive device. "Since we are no match for those bastards out there, this is what we are going to do."  He paused for a moment, going over the plan in his head one last time. "Chief Blatt, get ready to detonate the torpedo.  Lt. Keyes, I need you to fly into the blast radius, about mid-range, when the Chief gives the word, you need to warp us out of here at the same time he detonates the torpedo.  If the calculations are correct, that burst of speed should clear us of the blast radius, catching that Bird of Prey off guard in the blast radius." Turing to the security officer,  "Ensign Walker, do you know any older encrypt ions that have been broken, that may not look strange for us using to send a message?  We need something to keep that ship there interested in us long enough to follow us." Looking at the small crew. "Any questions?"
This message was last edited by the player at 10:18, Thu 16 Apr 2020.

Vanna about faces the shuttle and begins to head back toward the freighter her eyes glued to the sensors as she tenses up.  The idea of a warship chasing her shuttle not exactly reassuring to the young woman. "Understood sir" here goes nothing she thought to herself.

In reply to Decker Geary (msg # 17):

Jason looked up at Geary a moment, clenching his hands. It took a moment for him to consider the question. "I think so sir. Is there anything specific you want for that or just open a channel?"

He pushed up from the bench and went over to one of the consoles till he found the right one then started to set up one of the more recently broken ones he had played with. With a few touches he leaned back. "It's set sir."

Nodded to Walker, "Alright Mr. Walker please send the following, 'Commander Geary to Captaian Dunsel of the Mihosh.  We have re-secured the device and are transporting it to a safe location.  We will notify you of our location once we have determined we are secure.  Geary out.' Hopefully that will keep them from firing upon us, or at least they will not want to destroy us in the next minute or so."
This message was last edited by the player at 04:08, Fri 17 Apr 2020.

Jason nodded and he set up the message on the encrypted channel to go towards the Mihoshi. With one final tap, he sent it. "Message sent sir. Hope they get it loud and clear," he said as he straightened up and looked at the display that showed where the other ship was.

If this worked, one bird down and two more to go. "Not sure what we can do about the other two ships though. Not unless we can board one of them. If its the Klingons they might have a bare bones crew. If not them, then who?" Of course if they could actually get the luck to do so and had no complications in the form of unexpected.

In reply to Jason Walker (msg # 21):

Taking in a deep breath, Making the connection to the torpedo or useing the remote detonation control was not an issue.  It would be the timing, setting the torpedo off before they warped out and they might be destroied.  Setting it off too late and they might be too far away to detonate it.  If he had more time, he would set up a remote timer and throw it our of the shuttle, but he doubted the Bird of Prey would give them the extra time. Instead he took a deep, nervous breath before saying, "Lt. Keyes, Let me know when you are ready to change course and fly us out of here.  Then I will start a countdown, going three, two, one, and when I say go, we go."

"Ready when Cmdr Geary is ready sir." Vanna replies as she preps the systems for warp and sets course into a high orbit around the sun, hoping the radiation will mask their presence and not be high enough to breach the shields.

In reply to Vanna Marie Keyes (msg # 23):

He waited to get a bit closer to the torpedo,”NOW!”
This message was last edited by the player at 21:44, Fri 17 Apr 2020.

Geary's bluffed worked, perhaps too well.  For as the Miyazaki approached the point where Bart would trigger the device, the shuttle found itself held fast as a tractor beam gripped it and began drawing it in.  Detonating it now would surely mean the Miyazaki remained in the blast radius!

OOC:  Breaking free of the tractor beam requires:

Modulating the Shields:
Control + Security from Bart (who has the highest with 12 + 3)
with assist by Jason's Control + Security ( 9 + 4 )
with assist by Miyazaki's Structure + Engineering ( 7 + 1 )

OR

Punching to Warp
Vanna's Daring + Conn (12 + 4 ) with Focus on Small Craft
with assist by Miyazaki's Engines + Conn ( 7 + 2 )

This message was last edited by the GM at 04:43, Sat 18 Apr 2020.

Just as he said the words, he felt the sudden shudder of the shuttle, "Fuck! Belay that order!  They have us in a tractor beam."  Looking at the screens to see the ship closer up,  "OK folks, ANy ideas on getting us out of here? What do we know about these Warbirds?"
This message was last edited by the player at 17:41, Sat 18 Apr 2020.

"They appear to be standard B'Rel class warbirds sir, scout ships effectively.  Mass of 46,300 Metric tons, Length 107 meters, width 162 meters when in combat position as they currently are, height 27 meters in the main body, and an additional 40 meters on the wings when in combat position.  Standard armaments are 2 disrupter cannons and a photon torpedo launcher, a standard crew of twelve, not counting any additional personnel for combat purposes. Depending upon when it was built it has a cruising speed of either warp 6 or 7, and a maximum warp of either 8 or 9.6.  The Klingon empire has begun equipping its B'Rel with gravimetric mines as well as the standard armaments. Sir." Vanna rattled off with little thought.

In reply to Decker Geary (msg # 26):

Jason frowned at the readings and glanced over at Bart. "Shields? We might be able to use that to break free. You think?"

He glanced over at Geary. "Bart and I might be able to mess with the shields enough to break free, if he thinks we can do that." He arched a brow at Bart a moment with a brief grin.

Dropping the formality, "OK, Walker and Blatt, see if you can use the shields to break us free."  Turning to the women, "sh'Elliaph, Get ready to detonate the torpedo when we break away.  Keyes, get ready to warp out."  then as an after thought, "OH, it would be good if you two coordinate your timing.

"Aye commander!" Turning to the controls, starts to modulate the shields, "Walker, what can yu tell me about their shields and power systems?"
This message was last edited by the player at 03:10, Sun 19 Apr 2020.

In reply to Bartolomy Blatt (msg # 30):

Jason didn't look at Bart when he asked that. "She's a standard B'Rel.  Nothing fancy.  We can't out-power her, but if we modulate the shield frequencies enough, might make ourselves slippery enough to get free." He was following the console as Bart worked and pointed. "There, that looks promising Bart. Can you adjust it to fluctuate every millisecond?" He doubted the tractor beam could keep up with that since the B'rels didn't have that sort of flexibility.

Thani wasn't going to question orders, but detonating things was outside her area of expertise. "Aye sir." She gets preps and is ready to push the preset Bart had already setup when Cmdr. Geary had belayed the order.

Bart and Jason quickly began their work, shifting the shuttle's shield modulation until they found the one.  Suddenly the shuttle lurched free of the tractor beam and Thani would flip the switch just as Vanna rolled the shuttle out of the way.

Something didn't happen.  Then something did.

An explosion rocked the shuttle and it took all of Vanna's skill to keep it from tumbling off out of control.  She stabilized the craft in time to bring the fireball of the exploding freighter into view.  No Bird of Prey could be seen.
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:23, Tue 21 Apr 2020.

03:33, Today: Vanna Marie Keyes rolled 17 using 2d20 with rolls of 8,9.  Conn + Daring DC 16.


Vanna rolled against the tumble and reoriented the ship to cancel out the pitch, yaw, and spin.  Placing them on a return course toward the Mihoshi.  "Well, that was exciting." She said as she glanced over the structural integrity and shield statuses on her display.

"Sir, the makeshift tracker is not sending a signal, and the sensors picked up the presence of disruptor canon fire. Also, I do not detect any of the expected signs the photon torpedo detonated, at least based upon the simulated data from Dr. Brenn." Thani says rapidly as she processes the information from the scanners.

"DAMN IT!"  Geary exclaimed with frustration. "That means they have blocked our signal."  He contemplated briefly, "Correct me if I'm wrong, but they can not have their shields up when cloaked, right?  So is it possible to send the detonation signal out as background noise on all known channels? Perhaps though their communication devices?"  He was about to say something else, "System diagnosis, particularly Communications.  See if we are receiving any transmissions."



OOC: 12:27, Today: Decker Geary rolled 8 using 2d20, unique dice with rolls of 1,7.  Reason 10, Conn 5,Talent Starship Expert.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:08, Tue 21 Apr 2020.

Jason shakes his head. "No sir, its either shields or cloak but they are hard to find cloaked. I was lucky to see the waver before." He paused a moment in thought. "Can we track it perhaps by emissions? Chiefs?" He looked at Bart and Thani for that answer.

"Mihoshi to Miyazaki," the familiar voice of Farah came over their communications.  "Are you alright?  The two Birds-of-Prey attacking us have cloaked and retreated, but they roughed us up a bit.  What is your status?"
This message was last edited by the player at 21:51, Tue 21 Apr 2020.

Of good, they were not the ones being blocked.  With a bit of urgency in his voice, "Captain we are fine, but the Torpedo has been stolen.  We are unable to detonate it.  I suggest sending out the detonation code out on all channels.  If they are blocking the signal perhaps we can get the detonation sequence sent through personal communication devices and detonate the device."

"Acknowledged, but Chief Blatt needs to get back here," Farah replied.  "The Birds pulled out shortly after the freighter blew, but warp drive is off-"

"Captain!" a crewman called to Farah, the comm picking up the officer.  "I'm getting report of an explosion at the station!  It's the section occupied by the development team!"

"What?!  Full impulse to the station!" Farah ordered over Brenn yelling something unintelligible. "Belay coming to us.  Rendezvous with the Mihoshi at the station, Geary.  Now."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:22, Wed 22 Apr 2020.

"Greene to Dr. Dupont," Farah called to MedBay. "We've got reports of an explosion back at the station with multiple casualties.  We're heading back there now, but get ready to beam over and assist."

In reply to Jason Walker (msg # 37):

"No, the sensors on the shuttle are not strong enough. Over on the Mihoshi maybe." Thani replied instinctively.

"Aye captain. Five injuries on board, two are serious patients. I'll be ready when we arrive." With both nurse and Alex working, they were furiously working through the serious cases as quickly as possible.

"Computer, set alarm for proximity to the station." He would not leave the nurses swamped with patients till it was just about time to beam over. Then Dr. Dupont would grab his medical backpack and head over to the transporter room.

Jason frowned a little bit. "If the other warhead detonated... there wern't 'nough security." He glanced over then back. "We can't track the ships either. They got what they came for. Sir? We have our EVA suits, it might be best to have Chief Blatt dropped off on the Mihoshi and the rest. Let me gather a detail with EVA suits and have the Lt get us as close to the blast and see if we can...," he trailed off and grimaced. "Doubt there would be anyone alive and I don't know if we can find any clues."

"Captain, Understood, we will make our way to the station and rendezvous with you at the station. Geary out." regaining composure, "Lt. set course to the station on Jouret IV."
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:41, Wed 22 Apr 2020.

Vanna speaks up quickly as she pilots the shuttle toward the Mihoshi. "We might be able to track them by their fuel emissions, that's how the Enterprise was able to track a cloaked B'Rel class during negotiations for peace a few decades ago.  Assuming they haven't fixed that flaw with these B'Rel."
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 18:41, Wed 22 Apr 2020.

Jason froze at Vanna's words, something tickling in the back of his mind and he tried to pull up the sensor logs. Something about what she said nagged at him. He pulled up the logs, got a warning and then started cursing under his breath. "Sir, the sensor logs are corrupted. Maybe the explosion glitched them?" He frowned and shook his head, not sure of what he was looking for.

Looking up at the commander, "Both good suggestions, but I can only do one of them, sir."  Looking over at the andorian, noticing her cute nose for the first time, "What about you Tha..uh Commander sh'Elliaph?"
This message was last edited by the player at 23:02, Wed 22 Apr 2020.

Thani looks at the garbled logs, and just shakes her head, "Not sure I can do much with this."




22:31, Today: Thani sh'Elliaph rolled 34 using 2d20 ((18,16)).

Since he wanted to hit the console for not providing answers, he forcefully shoved himself away, giving a glare to the corrupted logs. They had some time before they met back with the Mihoshi so he sat down across from Thani and stared down at this hands in thought. "Sensors should pick up emissions from the fuel or warp right, Lieutenant Commander sh'Elliaph? I mean on the Mihoshi, their logs...?" As Vanna mentioned, he wanted to know if that was a thing and there was still something about this all eluding him. Its there on the tip of his tongue but just not coming to the forefront of his mind.

Thani looks at Jason, "While you can't track a cloaked ship, the Mihoshi's sensor logs could reveal general heading, yes."

looking out the window as they traveled back to the Mihoshi, "Very well, Commander sh'Elliaph and Ensign Walker you two work together to see if you can detect any emissions from that Cloaked Bird of Prey while Lt. Blatt and I see if we can find out what scrambled the sensor readings. Lt. Keyes please keep us apprised if you notice anything unususal on our way back to the ship."

OOC:
23:58, Today: Decker Geary rolled 18 using 1d20, unique dice with rolls of 18.  Assisting with Reason (10) and Science (2). 0 successes and Geary is no help.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:59, Fri 24 Apr 2020.

Bart tensed up as Commander Geary sat next to him, "Ok sir, we will start about fifteen minutes before we get the bad sensor readings."  He stopped breathing a bit watching Geary go back to the previous hour, "That's's Good sir, um I mean if we just advance it a bit, um no, more like, um,  There, that is a good starting place."  It was a bit earlier than intended but something he could work with.

00:07, Today: Bartolomy Blatt rolled 15 using 2d20, unique dice with rolls of 4,11.  Reason 10, Science 4. Focus Computer Programming

After about 10 minutes, he received his answer, "Sir, it was the blast that scrambled the sensors.  Attempting to repair hem while we travel to the ship."


19:34, Today: Bartolomy Blatt rolled 15 using 2d20 with rolls of 7,8.  Control 12, Science 4.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:36, Sat 25 Apr 2020.