Bowman calls out, "Got something on sensors! Looks like a small vessel—no life signs, no power. Scans reveal it to be a Sub Pro JS-77B Interstellar Shuttle, a model used on Colil V. Reading energy weapons damage. Thoma, call the Science Officer, please."

At the sight of the wrecked shuttle, Thoma toggles the red alert and says "XO to the bridge, please."

Matt calls up an image on the main screen.

It is a boxy little craft with a cargo door on the port side. The cargo door is open to space and several standard 1m³ cargo boxes drift nearby. The boxes are open and small items and packing material drift nearby. A single humanoid in an unhelmeted space suit floats among the flotsam and jetsam.

Khendron arrives and relieves Matt at the science station.

In reply to Lt. Commander Matt Bowman (msg # 47):

Before being called to the bridge, Khendron forwards the results of the readings on Spaxter's implant and gauntlet to Trask in security, attaching a note that while he doesn't anticipate any trouble from Spaxter, an "tactical" analysis of his physical and combat capabilities would be prudent.

Upon hearing the red alert, Khendron rushes to the bridge and take over the science station. He runs some more scans on the drifting vessel, trying to determine when the energy weapon damage occurred. He also scans the drifting huminoid figure for life signs, on the off chance that, contrary to all visual indications, the person is only mostly dead.

The humanoid figure is most certainly dead [not just merely dead, but most sincerely dead], its head surrounded by a halo of frozen blood crystals from a nosebleed and punctured eardrums. Unlike in the holodramas, peoples' heads don't explode when exposed to hard vacuum.

The blast marks and carbon scoring indicate an attack using generic disruptor fire some time in the last 24 hours. A query to the Monty reveals that the shuttle is four hours late for its rendezvous.

Major Bilgebottom asks, "Permission to send a boarding party over to investigate and recover the body, sir!" The marine commandant, despite massing a quarter of a tonne, walks so silently that Kendron had not heard his approach.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:55, Thu 09 Apr 2020.

Lieutenant (jg) Andrew York, the duty tactical officer announces, "No ships within sensor range. Deck plan for the JS-77B shuttle on the screen."

"The shuttle has a nominal crew complement of two, helm and flight engineer; and bunks for two passengers. Current crew listed as PO3^rdclass Susan Lawson, helmsman, Starfleet; and Crewman 1^stclass Jack Drayton, AFOFW Navy. No passengers on the manifest. Scans indicate the body in free fall is a male Human, most likely crewman Drayton. I have a transporter lock on the body."
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:17, Sat 11 Apr 2020.

In reply to Odyssey GM (msg # 50):

" Drop shields and beam the body aboard and get it to sick bay. We need to confirm cause of death was actually decompression. As soon as we have it get the shields back-up"

" Major coordinate with the Montgomery and send over a party to locate the second crew member and the shuttles logs, they should be able to give you any codes needed to get the logs quickly, share everything you find out with them, it is their shuttle we are here to help.  Need to know what happened to it. When ready to go let us know so we can drop shields for as short of time as needed. " Thelev orders.

Turning to Khendron he says " Full scan of the area, make sure there is nothing out there, no mines, no cloaked ships, no surprises. "

" Commander Thoma, get me the Montgomery. "

The Montgomery's communications officer puts Captain de Laroche on the line. "Yes, Captain Thelev, what are your results?"

Meanwhile, Dr. Driveon reports, "Body received in sickbay. Preliminary examination indicates the cause of death to be explosive decompression. No signs of weapons use against the deceased. I'll keep you advised."

"Aye, aye, sir!" With that, Bilgebottom leaves the bridge to head to the transporter room.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:19, Fri 10 Apr 2020.

Several minutes later, Bilgebottom contacts the Odyssey from the JS-77B shuttle, "Captain, we're aboard. The entire shuttle is decompressed. Petty Officer Lawson is dead. She sustained plasma burns from an exploding console in the cockpit. Debris floating in the cockpit indicates someone opened up a trauma kit to treat her, but there are indications of a close-range disruptor bolt to the back of her head. The shuttle has been ransacked. There are two standard helmets in their racks, so it would seem that neither Lawson nor Drayton had a chance to don them. No other bodies are aboard. The cargo bay is empty aside from floating debris from ransacked cargo containers."

In reply to Major Korran Bilgebottom (msg # 53):

Khendron has thoroughly scanned the are, looking for close-by danger and also for long range traces of any ships that might have been the attacker.

"Sounds like pirates!" says Khendron when he hears Bilgebottom's report. "But why would somebody shoot her in the back of the head and then decompress? Maybe the pirates beamed on board, killed the petty officer, and somehow ended up in a firefight with the other crewman. So they blew the hatch just to rush things long."

"Captain," Khendron days to Thelev, "We should ask the Montgomery if the MO here matches any recent incident in the area. Also, should we take the ship in tow, or see if can proceed under its own power?"

Lawson's file comes up on Khendron's display. She's a 37-year-old Human Starfleet Petty Officer 3^rd class assigned to the Colil V project as a shuttle pilot.

Bilgebottom's video reveals that she had received some first aid for her plasma burns before her murder.

Ensign Marc Goldberg, the RN accompanying the boarding party reports, "I've got the tricorder from the shuttle's medkit. It records that twelve hours ago she was diagnosed with moderate to severe plasma burns to her face and upper chest. A sedative was administered by hypospray. At some later point—Dr. Driveon should be able to narrow it down—she was shot at close range by a disruptor set to kill."

Bilgebottom replies to Khendron, "Pirates would be my bet, too. Preserver artifacts are a lucrative commodity on the black market." He pauses and then continues, "The computer records indicate that the shuttle's atmosphere was flushed about ten hours ago. The bunkrooms show signs of having been searched—slashed mattresses and ransacked effects lockers. No signs of any firefight, though. Just the one shot to the helmsman at close range. The cargo hold was apparently rifled and unwanted items discarded before the shuttle was evacuated of atmosphere. Looks like they opened the cargo door on their way out, spacing Drayton. Nasty way to go. I want these bastards."

Once Bilgebottom and his team have gone over the shuttle and recorded everything, the shuttle is tractored into the large hangar bay and all jetsam and flotsam transported to a lab for exhamination.

After his autopsy of Drayton, Dr. Driveon is able to confirm that he'd been stunned, but had recovered consciousness before being spaced. Khendron is able to detect Impulse residue characteristic of an Orion Lightning class blockade runner, a favourite with pirates in the triangle. The viciousness of the attack is unusual for most known pirates.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:21, Sun 15 Nov 2020.

The Monty's captain agrees that the violence seems both unusual and unnecessary. The only pirate active in the area who would fit this MO would be a half-Orion known as Calista the Damned, a particularly evil psychopath. Her First Mate, an Andorian zhen going by the name Jasmine seems to really enjoy spacing her victims, but the shot to the head is characteristic of Calista. Further, they are known to fly a Lightning class named the Armida IV.


McCurrvey, Thelev and Mercer all recall Calista and Jasmine from several reports of pirate activity years ago in the Federation. Rumours abounded when she went off the radar that she'd headed for the Triangle.

Calista earned her sobriquet from reports that she believes she's possessed by a supernatural entity named Verlegg. She has lost an eye and at least one limb during her career, and has a glossy black, silver-chased prosthetic hand.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:48, Sat 05 June 2021.

In reply to Captain Henri de Laroche (msg # 56):

Thelev relays the intel to the Montgomery and turns to Mercer, “ Can you pick up the trail of the Armida IV. “

“ Thoma, get me de Laroche. I want to know if he is okay with us, pursuing and capture the crew of the Armida IV “

“ Commodore, I feel we need to go after the Armida IV while the trail is fresh.  They did attack a Federation ship. “ Thelev states to McCurrvey.

[OOC: Just to correct a couple of misunderstandings...

I. The Baker's Dozen (AoOFW) is an independent stellar nation, so IKS ships are not permitted to operate in the sector without official recognition. Outside of the AoOFW space, but within the Triangle, is on the "high seas", or interstellar non-aligned space. The Federation is formally allied with the AoOFW, and is empowered under normal circumstances to assist AoOFW ships to repel intruders and pirates.

II. The JS-77B is not a Federation shuttle, but rather an AoOFW craft assigned to Colil V, a protected treaty area with a Preserver ruin. It is manned by both AoOFW and Starfleet personnel, which is whey a Starfleet PO was manning the helm. However, under the UFP/AoOFW alliance, Starfleet does extend its protection to such shuttles. Therefore, both the Montgomery and the Odyssey are empowered to enforce AoOFW laws.]

In reply to Odyssey GM (msg # 58):

Khendron works with the Montgomery to gather any information available about the Armida IV. Knowing what to look for, he starts scanning the area to try and pick up a trail.

Khendron calls up the available info on the Lightning class Blockade Runner. Little is available specifically on the Armida IV, but the closest to a "standard" Lightning comes up as: The Blockade Runner is an example of an Orion pirate ship, though not a true ship class as Orions have no standard classes. It was designed for high speed but little defense; instead, speed is its defense. It has six Klingon-designed disruptors, with two forward, one starboard, one port, and two aft. It has a standard range of six years at LYV. Despite its small size, it is quite sturdy, as the superstructure is reinforced throughout. It masses 20,000 tonnes empty.  Based on previous encounters, Armida IV is capable of cruising at WF10 and has an estimated emergency speed of WF15 for six hours. It has six Klingon Type VII disruptors but no photon torpedoes, and its deflectors are estimated at 36/50. It is a tough little ship, capable of giving the Odyssey a run for its money. Known crew members are Captain Calista the Damned, a Klingon named Morgue (real name Morgh) as First Mate and Security Chief Jasmine d'Arque. Other crew come and go, but those are the core, though reports vary as to the positions held by Morgue and Jasmine. At its largest, the crew numbers only about a dozen, currently including a pair of Nausicaan brothers and a Gorn engineer.

Capt Thelev, you have my full backing.  Let’s get these bastards.  I speak to Capt DeLaroche to formally ask permission to deviate our mission.  We should be able to take a bit of time and still make our rendezvous.

I also try to contact Baker’s World to tell them of our deviation.

"I agree with your decision, mon ami. However, even with your formidable ship, the Calista is a dangerous enemy. In truth there does seem to be something supernatural about her. Even with such a tiny ship she seems to always come out ahead." De Laroche seems uneasy. "But yes, I also think we should seek the advice of President Baker, just to, as one would say, cover our derrieres, n'est-ce pas?

Thoma reports, "I have the Presidential Office on Baker's World on hailing frequencies." She says to the AoOFW communications officer, "Go ahead, sir."

The AoOFW officer appears on screen against a background of the Office of the AoOFW President. He relies, "USS Odyssey, we read you. President Baker is on the horn with Captain de Laroche. I'll patch you through."

The screen splits into two, showing de Laroche and a middle-aged, flashily dressed Human with gray hair and a thin moustache.

Baker looks at McCurrvey's image onscreen and straightens in his chair. "Why, good day Commodore! Captain de Laroche has just been briefing me on your proposal as regards the notorious pirate queen Calista the Damned," he drawls in a Southern accent.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:25, Sun 15 Nov 2020.

President Baker!  My greeting to you from the United Federation of Planets and Starfleet.  The recent incident we uncovered has left me concerned with the safety of Starfleet personnel in the area.  I am sure you are equally concerned with the safety of your citizens.  With your permission, we would like to attempt to bring this pirate to justice.  As we are within your sovereign borders, any action we take will be communicated to you and any subsequent judicial procedures will be done in conjunction with your government.  Do we have your permission to pursue this matter?  Please be assured that we intend to use the least possible force possible.  However, we will defend this ship and her crew.

[OOC: Sorry for the delay. Real life interrupts...]

Before we continue: Due to a brain fart, I neglected to post the guidelines for formatting posts...

Format for posts: Action will be described in the third person in the present tense, as in: Jim walks onto the bridge and crosses to his seat. Dialogue will be in quotation marks and bold-faced with italics for emphasis, as in: He snaps,"Scotty, I need Warp nine now!" Thoughts are to be in quotes and italics with bold for emphasis, as in: Scotty thinks to himself "Hold yer bluidy horses, Sair!" Telepathic communications will be in angled brackets marks and bolded, as in: Spock begins the meld - <My mind to your mind... Our minds are one..> Ship names are to italicised with the registration number in plain text: USS Odyssey NCC-2001.
[OOC comments should be on a separate line in red boldface and prefaced OOC:]

Anyway, onward!

Baker steeples his fingers and purses his lips. He's obviously a long-time politician and is aware of his every moove and expression—not in a smarmy way, but in the sense that constant practice leads to habit. "Ah understand that a Federation pilot and one of our crewmen were killed with some measure of brutality. Ah expect justice to be swift, but Ah want these pirates alive. We in the AOFW do not have the death penalty, but we do have very secure prisons and prisoners are not pandered to, if you catch mah meanin'..."

Once the subspace conference is over, Bilgebottom comes into Brad's Ready Room. "Well, sir," he rumbles, "We've got the shuttle aboard in the lower hangar deck. It's a bit of a mess, and the bastards have slagged the computer, but we've received a copy of the manifest from the Colil V installation. We've also retrieved all the flotsam and are going over it with a fine toothed comb, cross-checking it with the manifest. However, there is one teensy little thing missing... The shuttle was carrying a passenger—a female reseacher on loan from the Daystrom Institute—one Carol Marcus. I think you're familiar with her, being the ex-wife of James Kirk and all. We've isolated some DNA from the toiletries and hairbrush. No signs of her other than that."

The bridge reports ready to engage War Drive, and Brad can feel the familiar vibrations in the decksole. Thoma's voice comes over the tannoy, "The ship is at battle stations. This is not a drill."
This message was last edited by the player at 07:08, Sun 15 Nov 2020.

In reply to President Willis J.F. Baker (msg # 66):

As Thelev hurries on to the bridge, " Tactical put what we have on the main viewer. Shields to maximum. For now strictly a defense posture. Can you tell me what we have? "

He turns to Thoma and says " Open a channel to whatever ship is out there. "

Thoma replies, "Aye, Captain, hailing frequency open."

Lieutenant Ramirez reports, "Tactical on screen. Shields up. Weapons on standby. Suspect ship is an Orion Lightning class Blockade Runner, highly customised of course. Details copied to your PADD, sir."

Glancing at his PADD, Thelev sees the tactical estimate on the Armida IV, based on old records from Starfleet cross-referenced with the AOFW's records and the "standard" Lightning class. Many details are rated unreliable or conjectural, but it's the best information available.

This message was last edited by the player at 17:05, Tue 21 Apr 2020.

In reply to Commander Thoma (msg # 68):

" Unidentified Orion ship, this is the United Federation of Planet ship USS Odyssey working with AOFW to investigate a situation in this region. Please stand-down at once. " Thelev says before closing his channel to instruct his crew.

" Remember we need to first confirm this is the ship that attacked the shuttle and if Dr. Marcus is still on board.  If she is, we need to determine how to get her off that ship safely. Also remember President Baker has told us that the AOFW does not have the death penalty so we must do everything within reason to take their crew alive. " he tells his crew.

Turning to Ramirez he adds " Ramirez they are quicker than us at maximum warp so if they try to run we need to prevent them from jumping to warp. "

Turning to Thoma " Commander can you confirm if they received our signal, and is there any response. "
This message was last edited by the player at 16:46, Tue 21 Apr 2020.

[OOC: Sorry, Steve, I was updating my reply when you answered. Nothing in the update changes what you posted. Just FYI, the screen are highly a modified screen capture from the old Star Trek Starship Tactical Combat Simulator computer game. Amazing what Google images can find that you can twist and distort for your own purposes.Here's the original image:

]
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:12, Tue 21 Apr 2020.

Thoma says, "I'm pretty certain they heard us, but there's no reply. Like, as I suspect, you expected. Pirates are so uncooperative. Calista the damned—is that the one who claims she's possessed by a demon? There's a real piece of work, a real cast duranium bitch if there ever was one."

Thelev can tell his wife is taking this one seriously. She's normally rather taciturn on duty, but the wanton brutality of the murder of PO Lawson has gotten under her skin. Why blow a wounded, probably unconscious woman's brains all over the cockpit? Just for the hell of it?

Thoma pauses and answers a hail. "I've got a secure call for the commodore. Putting it through to the Flag Ready Room."

McCurrvey is engaged in some of what is still in the 23rd century is called by the anachronistic term paperwork even though it's almost all electronic, and even the odd printout is on disposable polymer; when Thoma puts the call through.

"Secure call for Commodore McCurrvey, Bradron NMI. Identify for retina scan."

Brad looks into the viewer and a laser scans the inner surface of his eyeball.

The screen remains blank, showing only the Federation flag. A familiar voice comes over the commlink, "Hey, Brad, how's your mission going? It just came across my desk that you've had a piracy incident. Just between you and me, we've got a cooperating venture in your area. You remember a Cdore Ch'Dalvi? Andorian—resigned a few years back?"

Brad does recall Ch'Dalvi, a gregarious Andorian officer who was enraged by the demotion of Kirk and publicly resigned his commission on the floor of the Federation Council.

Boren continues, "At any rate, he got a job from one of his cousins—or whatever, you know how convoluted Andorian clan relationships are—a group called Rover Security. Doing antipiracy patrols. His boss has a real hate for pirates, especially Orions. Bit of a bigot that way—thinks all Orions are in some way pirates themselves. Anyway, Ch'Dalvi is in command of one of Rover Security's ships, Red Rover—you know, like the old kids' game—and he and his companion ship Blue Rover are in the Dozen. They're a pair of up-gunned Solar class cutters. Normally he's a kind of take-no-prisoners type of chan, but he'll play by the rules and try to capture them.

"At any rate, this is a need-to-know mission, so only your most trusted officers should know any details."
This message was last edited by the player at 07:06, Sun 15 Nov 2020.