In reply to Lieutenant Juan Carlos Ramirez (msg # 96):

"I was concerned that the signal might be a fake," says Khendron. "Unfortunately, there is little way to know otherwise without looking.

"What is more concerning," Khendron muses, "is why they deployed a diversion. Did they detect our pursuit? If they did, their sensors are far superior to what we thought. Better than ours, apparently, since we did not detect them. Or perhaps they were warned, in which case there is an informer in our midst!"

Khendron continues, "It will be prudent to do another jump as soon as the silver ball is ready, if we can determine a likely destination. Our quarry might not yet know of our jump capability, but if there is an informer they soon will! We should use the advantage while we can."

Khendron does another sensor scan. If the Armida IV is at emergency speed—not to mention that they probably just recently left the area—their trail should be easier to pick up.

"We've managed to get the regeneration time on the device down to thirty-three minutes," advises Smith. "We're presently at twenty-five and counting..."

Thoma asks, "What about the Montgomery? We can't just leave de Laroche hanging out to dry. Shall I ask the Commodore to weigh in?"

Meanwhile, in the Flag Ready Room:

The door chime sounds. Krya says "Dad, can I come in? What just happened? Is this that secret device that everyone is so careful not to talk about? Are the pirates getting away?

"I've been reading up on this Calista character. Most of what's out there on the dataweb is pretty lurid. Seems she really does think she's possessed by some demon named Verlegg. Claims he's repossessing her one body part at a time. That's why she has an artificial hand and the eyepatch—she sacrificed them to her patron demon in exchange for mystical powers. They say she's over half a century old, but has eternal youth, that she's half-Orion and half-Human and that no man can resist her allure. Maybe Spax can help—he's supposed to be some super-hero out of the twenty-first century after all."

Clearly Kyra follows in her father's footsteps. Brad's not sure that's a good thing. At any rate she's plugged into the ship's scuttlebutt pretty well for only a touch over a week.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:50, Wed 27 May 2020.

In reply to Kyra McCurrvey (msg # 99):

Sorry guys to have been off for so long.  Things have been...interesting.

“Come”

McCurrvey turns off his screen as the door opens.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:56, Wed 27 May 2020.

Kyra enters at Brad's answer and gives the speech detailed above. She hands him a PADD with all the information she's been able to gather on Calista, and piracy in the Triangle in general. She points out that in the past few years, pirates have been fleeing their known haunts in the Federation for destinations unknown. The planet Tortuge in the Twilight Nebula has been abandoned, according to a story by Federation News Service correspondent Leslie Fielding. Brad has met Fielding and respects her work. She's fair-handed and knowledgeable. She's worked for FNS for almost as long as Kyra has been alive and won several awards for investigative journalism, including a few Pulitzer Awards on Earth.

Brad is concerned that Thelev has used the Silver Ball, though he knows the captain wouldn't do such a thing without cause.

A second chime sounds at the door. "Ensign Julio Jimenez with a message from Dr. Smith," announced the speaker. Brad has not yet met the ensign, but he sounds young and somewhat trepidatious at being sent to speak to a flag officer, possibly for the first time in his career.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:42, Thu 28 May 2020.

In reply to Kyra McCurrvey (msg # 101):

"Hmm Thelev thinks to himself.  Briefing notes, yes he is sure they never mentioned the Silver ball to Laroche, oh well that is Brad's problem to explain now, he grins to himself."

He turns to his wife and say "Commander inform the Montgomery on a secure channel that we jumped in pursuit of the Arminda who we thought had engaged another ship, tell them they tricked us, ask him to see if he can locate any sensor buoy in their current area.  Also let him, they knew we were following them. Hopefully he is a smart captain and understands the possibilities. If they ask for clarification tell them we will update them when we meet up.  Tell them we are going to the Hoth system. "

"Mercer, find their signal and tell me how long to the Hoth system for them at their maximum warp. Smith, get us the silver ball recharged as quickly as possible, let me know when it's ready. We need to beat them there. "

He starts walking over to the engineering station on the bridge and say "DeMarais, Saavik, Warp 14 follow them, lets hope our W14 lasts a lot longer than there W15 and they don't get too far in front of us. "

Thelev is going to see what extra can be coaxed out of the engines.

"Thelev is also thinking to himself that if this decoy was positioned to prevent a double jump before the Arminda can get to Hoth, that the Arminda has intel on the Odyssey's capabilties."
This message was last edited by the player at 02:37, Thu 28 May 2020.

In reply to Captain Thelev (msg # 102):

[OOC: I presume you mean the "Hoot" system]

"Captain, give me 30 seconds to determine their course before we get underway," says Khendron as he scans for the Armida's warp signature trail. "If the Armida was onto us from the beginning, it is probable that their initial course to the Hoot system was a diversion."

Thoma hails the Montgomery on the secure channel, "Captain de Laroche, we're using a classified drive system. Commodore McCurrvey will brief you personally when we return. Odyssey, out."

Kendron gets a good reading on the Armida's emissions and feeds the information to Collette, who confirms, "Course laid in, ready for Warp!"

Beside her Saavik replies, "Aye, ready for Warp 14 on your command, Captain." Her hand hovers over the control sliders.

At Thelev's indication, Saavik slides the controls forward. The ship leaps forward at full emergency speed, the stars visibly lengthening into warp streaks on the viewscreen.

In the Flag Ready Room, Brad feels the strain in the decksole as Kyra says, "Wow, we must be going at real high warp speed. I've never felt a vibration like that!" Brad notes that it generally takes first timers several trips before they can tell the difference in the feek of the ship this way. Should she choose to follow him into Starfleet she has the makings of a fine officer. She's got at least a year before she's eligible to enter the Academy even with his and Collette's permission, though. Kyra says, "Maybe they'll need you on the Bridge, Dad. I'll get out of your hair."
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:07, Mon 01 June 2020.

“Get back to our quarters and we’ll talk about how you’re ‘hearing things’ onboard already.  And send the Ensign in” McCurrvey says with a smile.

McCurrvey is itching to go to the bridge but he realizes that he’s better off staying out of their way.  However, HIGH WARP??  He tries to act cordial to the Ensign and put him at ease.

“Welcome Ensign.  What can I do for you?”

De Laroche says, "Bon voyage mes amis. Au revoir!" as the Odyssey leaps to warp.

The Odyssey surges ahead, surfing through subspace. "Leaving the Bakers Dozen," announces Collette.

Saavik notes "Their velocity is 3375c whereas ours is only 2744c. We can maintain Warp 14 for 12 hours. We can only estimate their range at Warp 15. Klingon graf engines are extremely hardy, but Orions typically remove all governors and safeties on their equipment in the name of speed. I calculate the probability of overtaking them to be..."

"Saavik, not now! Pay attention to your piloting," snaps Collette. "You're not your step-brother!"

Excuse me, Commander," says Saavik. "I was merely..." Her voice trails off as she notices Collette's grin. "Ah, Human humour. It is still a difficult concept. I shall never become accustomed to it."

Jimenez steps into the Flag Ready Room, narrowly avoiding colliding with Kyra. "Dr. Smith's compliments sir," he says nervously. Brad can't help noticing the lingering look Kyra gives the young officer.


"Dr. Smith presumes you've noticed that we just jumped, sir. We detected a distress call indicating an attack by an Orion Lightning. The Captain ordered an emergency jump, but we only detected a small decoy broadcast... er,  buoy? The target has accelerated to emergency velocity directly to zenith. Sir!"
This message was last edited by the player at 04:27, Sun 15 Nov 2020.

Ensign Jimenez continues, "If you would, sir, Dr. Smith would like to see you at his station on the Bridge."

Entering the Bridge, they are greeted by Smith. "Ah, Commodore. I take pleasure in reporting that the Silver Ball performed exactly according to our best-case scenario. We did a jump of one parsec and exited jump a mere five light-seconds from our target. However, it seems we were decoyed here. I can only surmise that this Calista is leading us on the proverbial wild goose chase."

Collette announces from the Navigation station. "If they continue on this heading they will exit the Triangle and enter a region known as the Kellinan Reach."

At a touch from Khendron's finger, the Federation database on the Kellinan Reach pops up on his screen:
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:13, Fri 05 June 2020.

In reply to Odyssey GM (msg # 109):

"Commodore, once the Silver Ball regens I'm thinking to jump in front of them on their current path.  The regen time is quicker on this upgraded version than previously so we likely only have one chance to surprise them. Of course that is assuming they have intel on the old version and don't on this version. Your thoughts?" Thelev asks Bradron.

" I'm thinking they are going to try to set a decoy or trap where they think we are going to jump to.  If we jump earlier we may catch them setting it up and unprepared. " he adds,

In reply to Odyssey GM (msg # 109):

“Captain Thlev, SITREP please.”

Thelev brings Brad up to speed on the last few hours' events. The Odyssey presses on for several hours, and the tension on the bridge is palpable. Khendron, Thelev and Thoma particularly are feeling the heat, despite the Ops officer's assurance that the ambient temperature is only 18° Celsius. Saavik, of course, is as cool as the proverbial cucumber. Thelev can feel the ship beginning to strain when Khendron alerts him to an anomalous sensor reading. A reading consistent with some form of subspace explosion has shown up on sensors.

Saavik suddenly cries out in pain and crumples to the decksole. Collette immediately slaves the helm to her navigation console and snaps into the intercom, "Dr. Driveon to the bridge—medical emergency! Commander Saavik has collapsed. Jimenez, take the helm!"

The young navigation specialist slips into Saavik's chair and secures the helm. "Captain, I'm dropping us down to Warp twelve."

Within a few minutes, Lieutenant Purrn arrives and takes over the helm controls from Jimenez. Hard on her heels is Doctor Driveon accompanied by Head Nurse Parducci. They run their tricorder peripherals over Saavik's supine form and Parducci says to the doctor, "Sir, she's bleeding from the left ear and her pupils are dilated and non-responsive. She appears to have suffered some sort of psionic shock!"

Driveon says, "Get her to sickbay, stat! Transporter room, we need a site-to-site transport!" The three of them disappear in a sparkle of transporter energy, leaving behind a small pool of sticky olive green liquid.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:50, Sat 13 June 2020.

After a few minutes, the intercom blares, "Sickbay to the Bridge. Code White! Commander Saavik has become violent and has attacked the medi—uhn..." His voice cuts off and there is the noise of a falling body. A bone-chilling laugh fills the channel and the call ends.

Thoma reports, "Loss of connection to the sickbay... Security to the Sickbay—possible intruder, injured personnel! Backup Medical staff, medical emergency—coordinate with Security!"

This message was last edited by the player at 08:40, Tue 16 June 2020.

In reply to LCdr Winston Driveon, MD (msg # 113):
McCurrvey grabs a phaser and heads to the turbo lift.  Captain, investigate that anomalous reading and I’ll oversee the security detail.  McCurrvey enters the turbolift and uses the commlink inside to contact the security detail.  Security, this is the Commodore.  Meet me outside of Sickbay and we’ll enter together.
This will be good.  I was feeling like a fifth wheel on the bridge.  Gives me something to do.  Hope I can still go toe to toe with a young vulcanoid.

Trask is waiting with a security team outside sickbay, armed with phasers. A medical team stands nearby, waiting for the all-clear from Security.

Trask looks up to see McCurrvey approaching. "Sir, our tricorders are reading pure gibberish. We can't detect anything even resembling lifesigns, but something is moving around in there—" A low rumble penetrates the door. "—growling. We can smell burning sulphur but it doesn't show up on our scans!"

McCurrvey can smell the odour of burnt sulphur, too. Suddenly, there is a loud impact on the other side of the door and a large dent appears at shoulder height. The door's seals hold but it looks to Brad's practiced eye as though another hit will rupture the seal.

Ensign Goldberg, one of the ship's nurses, says, "Sir, from what we know Dr. Driveon, Nurse Parducci and Commander Saavik were alone in there. A couple of orderlies were in an adjacent compartment but managed to get out after Saavik went crazy and assaulted the nurse. Then something just—appeared and backhanded the doctor— it was humanoid but its head was on fire! We had to treat both of them for shock."
This message was last edited by the player at 04:13, Sun 15 Nov 2020.

Suddenly, with a shriek of tearing metal, the seals on the door part and shredded alloy fills the corridor like shrapnel. The security personnel are closest to the door and suffer lacerations on parts of their bodies unprotected by armour. Trask takes a shard of metal to the forehead and blood flows down his face. He wipes it out of his eyes and snaps, "Keep your phasers on heavy stun! We don't want any friendly casualties."

The smell of brimstone fills the air and the lights dim, a lambent flickering chasing over the bulkheads and decksole. Brad feels a sting on his ear and when he touches it there is blood on his fingers. The air seems to thicken and the temperature climbs as sweat dampens all their uniforms. A figure steps out of the shattered door—humanoid, about 2 metres tall in black leather robes and its head wreathed in flames.

The decks shake under their feet and the lights go out, to be replaced with red emergency illumination. The shriek of the red alert siren fills the air.

On the bridge, there is a violet-blue flare not unlike an opening wormhole and ship shudders. Several crewmen on bridge duty tumble to their feet. None appear injured and they resume their stations. The lights dim and are replaced by red emergency illumination.


Lt Rutherford at the engineering console snaps, ""We've dropped out of Warp! We're on impulse power; the mains are out. Trying to restore power!""

Thoma announces, "Attention all hands. We have lost power to artificial gravity. Gravity will slowly decrease to 0.8G over the next hour. Zero gravity in 239 minutes 45 seconds... Mark!"

On the main screen, the wormhole is exited by a small, slim, high-nacelled starship, pewter in colour. Purrn calls out, "Orion Lightning closing to battle range. Shields up, arming all weapons!"
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:25, Tue 23 June 2020.

Stand down or we will be forced to retaliate!McCurrvey aims at centre of mass.  He doesn’t really expect an answer but feels he needs to go through the niceties.  He tenses to be ready to dodge.  He silently counts to two and fires.

The demonic figure looks down at its chest as a Human might look at a drip of water. Trask and the other two security men fire as one. The three beams hit the same spot that Brad's had. The entity merely laughs as they open a hole right through it, even on heavy stun. For a second Brad can see into the sickbay through the hole, which quickly shrinks and vanishes. It steps forward and gestures with a skeletal hand. "Dost thou know who I am?" comes a grating voice. "I am Verlegg. Fear me."


Verlegg sweeps its hand horizontally across its chest and Brad's phaser as well as those of the security detail fly across the corridor, denting the wall panels and dropping to the deck, smoking. Verlegg steps forward.

As soon as Verlegg has cleared the door, Ens Goldberg and the med team slip into the sickbay. Verlegg strides forward and stops in front of the Commodore. "How art thou called, mortal?" it grates.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:48, Tue 23 June 2020.

Commodore Bradron McCurrvey of Starfleet.  Why have you assaulted my crew?  What do you want?  McCurrvey scans the creature  for any clues to his (her?) origins.  He also scans his knowledge of horror movies for any references.  Impressive but I’ve got to keep him talking so that they can clear the casualties.

[OOC: To be continued in the thread "...Where No One Has Gone Before"]
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:49, Fri 26 June 2020.