All eyes are on McCurrvey. Suddenly, he feels more responsible than he ever had as captain. His orders are to cross the border with the Triangle and proceed to the Baker's Dozen capital, Baker's World. Thelev's question is a mere formality, as McCurrvey has heard Lt Perkins' report to Cdr DesMarais that the course has been laid in. Brad searches his mind for a suitably momentous phrase to begin the mission.


This message was last edited by the GM at 22:56, Thu 19 Mar 2020.

In reply to Odyssey GM (msg # 1):

OOC: FYI Owen, Bruce needed to go to Montreal.  His mom had taken a turn for the worst, fortunately he has told use she is stabilized, but his focus is elsewhere.

[OOC: Well as I've always said, real life trumps gaming, so I'll simply put the NPC light on on his forehead.]

McCurrvey thinks for a moment and quotes Shakespeare, an all purpose tradition, “Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more” [Henry V act 3 scene 1]

Saavik nudges the controls and the great ship slides majestically out of drydock. Shuttles and workbees scurry to clear the way for the Odyssey.

A yeoman enters the bridge and approaches Thelev. "Latest intelligence estimates, sir. The IKS is still snooping around the Baker's Dozen border. One K'el Ri'anda and two K't'Inga's spotted in the area, maintaining their distance but actively patrolling."

The Imperial Klingon States are a breakaway faction from the Klingon Empire consisting of smooth headed so-called fusion Klingons who refused the cure to the Augment virus when it was discovered twenty years ago. They continued the traditional hostility against the UFP and flirted occasionally with the Romulan Star Empire. It's been speculated that the would like to absorb the Human-dominated Baker's Dozen but Starfleet has a long tradition of running interference. The K'el Ri'anda is the IKS's largest and more powerful battleship. The name translates to 'Dangerous Fat Man' so it's known to the Federation as the Fat Man or by its less formal sobriquet the Turtle for its hulking outline.


This message was last edited by the GM at 22:43, Fri 20 Mar 2020.

In reply to Odyssey GM (msg # 3):

After reading his pad he turns to Mercer and asks to anyone willing to answer " As you all know we are heading in the Baker's World which is in the Baker's Dozen. And reports say the IKS is in that area, specially with a K'el Ri'anda and two K't'Inga. What intel do we have on the K'el Ri'anda, max cruising speed, max emergency speed, cloak type, weapon types, weapons range.  I don't want to be surprised by them if they engage us, I want to know where we have the advantage. "

While waiting for someone to pull up the info Thelev turns back to helm and navigation, " What is our ETA to reach the border with the Triangle? "

Collette replies, "Forty hours, thirty-three point six minutes, sir."

The yeoman types in a query and hands the PADD back to Thelev. The display reads:
K'el Ri'anda class (Dangerous Fat Man)
Affiliation: Imperial Klingon States Defense Force
Type: battleship
Service period: 2280-present
Dimensions:
Length: 244 meters
Width: 147 meters
Height: 110 meters
Specifications
Crew: 1062 crew, 420 troops
Maximum speed: warp 8
Cruising speed: warp 7
Armaments: 11 disruptors, 4 photon torpedo tubes
Defenses: deflector shields
Auxiliary craft: 16 shuttles
This message was last edited by the player at 12:21, Sun 22 Mar 2020.

In reply to Commander Collette DesMarais (msg # 5):

"These turtles," Khendron says to the Thelev, "are not known for impressive manoeuvrability or performance. Though this looks to be a more recent model. Let's not underestimate it. It could also have a cloaking device. Our intel here doesn't mention one, but I'd be happier if it stated that it didn't have one!"

In reply to Captain Khendron Mercer (msg # 6):

" Mercer, once we are in long range sensor distance start having your team scanning the triangle, lets hope they don't know we are coming and we have a long range sensor advantage.  We might have to get them before they turtle. " Thelev replies to Kendron and pun intended.  " Plus their two K't'Inga likely have been fitted with cloaks. " he adds.

Turning back to the main screen he say " Remember our intent is to avoid engaging them on the way to Baker's World, and if we know where they are that will be a lot easier. My gut is they will only engage us if they think they can surprise us, so if we don't let that happen we should be good. "

LCdr Bowman, sitting to Mercer's right, reports, "Scans laid in. Long-range sensors detect nothing as yet, other than local commercial traffic. Of course, at this distance we wouldn't expect to see even a ship as large as a Turtle."


The bridge crew settles into normal operations, glad to be out of Starbase 31's immediate control. Thelev imagines that sailors for millennia have felt the same exhilaration on leaving port.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:41, Sun 22 Mar 2020.

In reply to Odyssey GM (msg # 8):

" Bowman keep regular scans going and keep DesMarias informed of any ships between here and Baker's World.  Let me know if you detect any of the three IKS ships. DesMarias set a common but less than regular course to Baker's World. Ramirez prepare plans to engage just the Turtle, and the Turtle and its two friends, and once done give me your suggestions. " Thelev commands as he looks around the bridge.

He turns towards McCurrvey and asks " Commodore anything we need to know about our mission that may interest the IKS in us. "

In reply to Captain Thelev (msg # 9):

I need a mission background.  I provide the appropriate response and politely retire to my office.  I imagine that my quarters are separated into quarters and an office.  I want to fully understand the mission and resources available (starships and bases in the area).  I begin to prepare a briefing package.  Resources I want to check are starfleet intelligence reports on the latest models of Fat Men and K’tinga classes.  I also want to understand what a troop carrier could be doing in the area.  What is my tactical assessment of an Excelsior versus the three amigos?

Actually, the Odyssey has a Flag Ready Room adjacent to the Bridge, opposite the Captain's Ready Room. This is similar to Picard's Ready Room in TNG, a comfortable office with a daybed and washroom. Here, McCurrvey has his own Library Computer that allows him to access any of this data.

The Odyssey is based out of Starbase 31 in the Candace System, Sector 595 Alpha. Starbase 31 is commanded by Commodore Antonia Marie Niccomachi, an acquaintance of Brad's about 10 years older than him.

Right now, the mission is a simply showing of the flag to the UFP's most valuable ally in the Triangle. Formally known as the Affiliation of Outer Free Worlds, the Baker's Dozen is a relatively tight alliance based on common interests and mutual defence. Baker's World was founded by Starfleet Lt. David Lawrence Baker after the disastrous Four Years War in the 2250's. The alliance known as the Affiliation of Outer Free Worlds quickly grew up around Baker's World, gaining the nickname Baker's Dozen.

The IKS is a very rigid collection of five planets inhabited by Klingons who fled what they call the Great Plague in the late 2260's. This refers to the cure to the Augment Virus, which they saw as undesirable. In effect, they are TOS smooth-headed Klingons. They reject any contact with the Klingon Empire, considering them unclean, and worship the oldest Klingon gods.

Just to zenith of Sector 595 Alpha is a large area of mostly-unexplored space known as the Kellinan Reach. The Reach is home to four Federation colonies in the Bright Stars Cluster: Emerson's World (Epsilon Zeta II), Alpha Kallick III,  Sanctum (Beta Kallick V), a Free Thinkers' religious colony and Prospero Colony (Beta Kallick IXa), on the moon of a class J gas giant. In the Bloodfield Nebula, in the Sheila System, the Federation R-class station Deep Space 6 Alpha stationed there to monitor the asteroid Bridgetown, site of an alien installation run by a shady figure known only as "Sam".

Deeper into the Triangle is the so-called Planet of Galactic Peace, site of the USS Enterpise-A's first mission.

The Fat Man, or Turtle, is largely considered a borderline ship by the Klingon Empire. It unclear just how many the IKS has, and what versions they are. There are 3 versions, the A, C and D models (the B was adismal failure and never entered service. It's not exactly a troop carrier, since all Klingon ships carry some troops. It's classed as a Battleship. While it can't even come close to the Excelsior's speed, it armoured and armed up the proverbial wazoo. Many of them have cloaks, and since the IKS maintains to old alliance with the Romulan Star Empire, Starfleet Intelligence believes there's a high probability that these do as well. The three K't'Ingas are most likely standard models each of which is almost a match for a Constitution class Heavy Cruiser. The Odyssey can easily handle one K't'Inga, probably two, but three are a definite problem.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:54, Wed 25 Mar 2020.

In reply to Odyssey GM (msg # 11):

I invite Thelev and Mercer into the Ready Room for a discussion about the mission.  “As we’re to show the flag, my intent is to drop to Warp 2 on entering the Triangle and extend every possible welcoming action we can.  We need to show benevolence and that this is not an armed invasion.  While I’m concerned about the Klingons, we are strong enough to survive any surprises and get away.  Let’s not go in ‘looking for a fight’.  Opinions?”

[OOC] I think there may be some misunderstanding here. The Triangle isn't a stellar nation, it's just an area of (mostly lawless) space. The closest analogy would be leaving US territorial waters and entering the Pacific Ocean. What I think may be closer to what you're talking about is crossing the border and entering the Affiliation of Outer Free Worlds, a.k.a. the Baker's Dozen. Any IKS ships you may encounter technically have every right to be there as it's figuratively speaking the "high seas". The thing is, the IKS ships may be conducting surveillance or harassing shipping. Unfortunately a lot of the shipping in the Triangle is illicit - smugglers and pirates. The IKS may well be preying on trade traffic or may be legitimately pursuing pirates and other criminal shipping.]

The ship is a day and a half out of Starbase 31. Collette reports, "Captain, we're leaving Federation Space and are now in uncontrolled interstellar space. Your orders?"

Thelev cocks an eye toward McCurrvey. He looks at the latest updates on his PADD.

He notes that the K't'Ingas are capable of cruising at WF7, with WF8.8 for 12 hours, while the K'el Ri'anda can only do WF7 or WF8.0 for 12 hours. The Odyssey, however can cruise at WF12, or WF14 for 12 hours. The K't'Inga can match the Odyssey at Impulse speeds, while the K'el Ri'anda is sluggish at best. The Odyssey is a match for two K't'Ingas but would have trouble with all three. The K'el Ri'anda would tip the scales decisively in the Klingons' favour if it's supporting the battlecruisers.
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:03, Sat 28 Mar 2020.

In reply to Odyssey GM (msg # 13):

" Helm as per Commodore McCurrvey slow to warp factor 2 until we can assess the current climate in the region. Bowman keep scanning for any ships, if the IKS ships are dedicated be sure to info myself, the Commodore and tactical. "

He turns to Thoma and says " If any one hails us, identify ourselves and tell them we are on a peaceful mission on behalf of the Federation. "

" DesMarias, maintain course to Baker's World but keep us clear of all ships until we are able to establish communication with them and know their intent. " Thelev says.

"DesMarias and Saavik, if we are engaged by the IKS be ready to go to WF10 on a moments notice. If we find ourselves one on one or even two on one we will likely stay and discuss matters with them, any more I would like to give ourselves some distance to talk. "

He them taps the button on his chair to open ship wide communication " Attention all crew and civilians, we are leaving Federation Space and will be entering the area know as The Triangle.  For some of you this will be your first time outside of Federation Space. We are here representing the Federation in support of an ally in this region. We are not expecting any trouble, but I asking everyone to be ready on a moments notice. Your Captain out. " after closing the channel he swips his glance around the bridge with a slight smile and giving a slight nod to anyone who had turned to look at him.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:59, Sat 28 Mar 2020.

In reply to Captain Thelev (msg # 14):

The goal is to proceed to Baker’s World without seeming to be running away, responding to an emergency (at Baker’s World) or otherwise.  I want people to see us, be able to identify us, ask for assistance, etc.  We can also take the time to run drills and learn to act as a team.  We don’t want to give the impression that there are bullies in the Triangle that we want to avoid.  The message is:  “Hello, we’re your new neighbour, we don’t want trouble but don’t push us.  Would you like to borrow a cup of sugar?”

In reply to Commodore Bradron McCurrvey (msg # 15):

Khendron is thinking to himself "Neighours? Sugar? I know this is McCurvey, but he is sounding extra loopy!"

"We are not going to be an effective presence," snaps Khendron aloud, "if we get jumped by bullies at the first encounter! ... sir."

In reply to Captain Khendron Mercer (msg # 16):

" As McCurrvey mentioned we want to be the friendly new neighbour, and are here to help if you want it. "

As he turns to Mercer he adds " But you are correct, we don't want to be jumped by bullies, that is why we are scanning, and if by chance we are jumped we need to be ready.  So Khendron put the crew through some drills to make sure we are not just a good team but a great team. "

In reply to Captain Thelev (msg # 17):

I dismiss the command team and go about learning as much as I can about the Baker’s Dozen and the recent movements of the IKS Trio.  I want to look for patterns and possible motivations.  If I have contacts in the Triangle, I want to give them a call to see what I can find out.

In reply to Commodore Bradron McCurrvey (msg # 18):

Khendron starts running the crew through some tactical drills involving various simulated scenarios, including both violent and non-violent (don't want to be too trigger happy) encounters with the Klingon vessels.

In reply to Captain Khendron Mercer (msg # 19):

" Captain Mercer, how are the drills going?  Any concerns, any places you believe we have a big advantage. " he ask Khendron.

He turns to science and asks " Bowman, do the scans still look good? "

It's been nearly a week, and the Odyssey is nearing the border with the Affiliation of Outer Free Worlds, as the Baker's Dozen is formally known. Mercer's been drilling the crew non-stop and their efficiency rating for the combat drills has gone up by five percent. Not bad for a crew busy integrating a lot of new personnel and getting used to a new command structure.

Bowman turns to Thelev. "Yessir. The USS Pathfinder has been in contact. They're one of the two Oberths watching over the joint patrol area surrounding Colil V and its Preserver ruins. All's going well there..." He breaks off as an a alarm sounds.
"Intruder Alert. Intruder Alert. Security to Crew Lounge deck five. Security to Crew Lounge deck five. Intruder Alert. Intruder Alert."

The alert silences itself as Thelev draws a finger across his throat, a habit he'd picked up from Captain Tobi Perrini.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:38, Mon 30 Mar 2020.