[snip]

A second later Drudoc’s original wide band hail got a response, =/\= USS Volgograd to USS Ark Angel. Good to hear from you all again. We figured our descent into the comet might cause comms problems. I guess that....=/\= There was a pause in the reply.

=/\= There’s a what? =/\= The Captain’s voice said obviously hearing a few seconds later Demil’s reply. =/\= Red Alert! Battle Stations! =/\= Came the CO’s cry.

On screen they could see the phase shifted Volgograd raise shields. And quickly make to move out of the comet and away from the fast closing giant two headed snake like creature. As they watched they saw phaser strikes lance out followed by a burst of torpedoes. They seemed to be connecting to the giant snake creature but only did little damage clearly ticking it off. Inside the J17 system a delay of about 10 seconds was recorded where it seems the energy bursts from the fight had reached the early space flight Forseth. Signs of primitive scans were already shown looking that way and the three possibly warp capable ships in orbit already powered up showed signs of moving out of their docking berths at low impulse speeds to investigate it seems. Whether they had any weapons or defenses seemed unclear.

Drudoc shook her head, conflicted. “..Helm, warp 8, bring is within range of the Volgograd, but hold us off station by 500,000km..” She said, nodding the helm officer did so the Ark Angel’s ETA now was 3 minutes to arrival. Hitting a ship wide comms she said, =/\= All hands red alert, man battle stations! =/\= She said.

Turning quickly she looked to Anders, “..Lieutenant, it seems possible we’re dealing with an unknown type of anomaly dimensionally shifted and/or temporally. Quickly, in the databanks under Angel Defense-1 you should find a file for temporal shielding adjustments. Bring them online at my order..” she said. “..We used them in the past few years for different temporal events like this, they may again be useful here..”

Turning back on the screen the quickly closing Ark Angel could see that the Volgograd had moved further out from the system, the giant twin headed snake in hot pursuit. Once in a while a lashing tail would whip around from behind as it would turn itself broadside trying to get a grapple on the Federation ship. The tail split showing sharp razor like hooks on either end, probably what it would use to grapple such ‘food’ if caught. On screen another lancing of phaser fire and torpedoes struck the creature along its flanks and head, the left head looked singed but fine, while the right one that had taken the blow of torpedoes oozed a greenish ichor probably some kind of blood.

“Look, they managed to maim on of the creature’s heads. If we can just take out the other, the Vologradcould have a chance to escape!”

With a hum the Ark Angel dropped from warp, about 500,000km away from the fight. The Forseth ships, the giant snake creature, and Volograd were all now clearly seen as being out of phase with the Ark Angel and the rest of the J17 system ahead, from there view the wrecked Federation ship was in evidence as were the several Forseth ships. =/\= Ark Angel! This creature just is not giving up, shields are down to 72% and we’re also picking up three Forseth ships closing, ETA 2 minutes. Our scans are showing you out of temporal phase with us! Can you assist?=/\= The CO’s voice inquired.

=/\= Commodore Andone here, we read you Captain, we’re moving to assist now. However, our own scans seem to show you, the Forseth, and the snake creature are the ones out of phase. Attempting to interdict now! =/\= She said. “..Lieutenant, target phasers on the creature, full spread on all arrays. We need to see what we can do and right quick! ” she said.

GM CockRoach / Drudoc Andone CO

“Commodore, do you think the Forseth ships are friend or foe?” Sifeda asked.

Itri, XO

”..Hard to say at this point Commander, I would surmise that they are neither till shown otherwise. They probably are detecting the energy emissions from the phaser and torpedo fire from the Volgograd, and their local defense agency wants these three ships to investigate. Unfortunately we can not yet tell if they have armaments of any kind..” She said.

“Full spread aye,” Anders responded, “This’ll bruise.”

-Lieutenant Kyle Anders: Chief of Security-

As the phaser beams lanced out they would be seen to pass through the snake creature to no effect, seems their being out of phase meant they could not harm the creature. Drudoc was quick to reply to the Volograd’s captain as a result. =/\= Negative Captain, we can not harm the creature due to not being on the same phased plain as you are. We suspect if you can disabled the other head though it could disabled the creature..=/\= She said

Mar shifted in her seat as the comments flew back and forth. When the question of friend or foe came up, she shook her head. “Let’s not assume foe. It’s definitely the wrong attitude. I would suggest a hail to them and perhaps a quick comment on what is transpiring. With any luck, they will aid or stand aside at least. The other option is, an actual call for aide. And see how they respond.” She had already put the creature’s known info, the documents of the torn apart ships and the temporal anomaly info showing their own in ability to cross the threshold line or risk time differentials for themselves.

Mar CNS

=/\= Understood Commodore! We’re—=/\= The Captain began but then on screen another attempt by the two headed snake to bring itself broadside to lash out at the the evasive maneuvering Volgograd happened, this time the tail hit the ship harder then before in a full blow. The result sent the Federation ship tumbling out of control. The creature tried to move to grapple as before with this but seems luck was on the combative ship’s side as someone got control enough to dive the ship back out of the way.

Drudoc took the pause in communications to reply to Mar, “..At this stage I am in agreement, open a wide band hail see if we can get contact to the Forseth, identify that we are friendly in intentions, and are currently dealing with an ally of ours near there system being attacked by a giant space faring snake..” She said leaving the CNS to attend to this.

=/\= Urgh, damn that smarts! Helm bring us about and put the comet between us and the creature! Ark Angel shields down to 43% We got several structural damages across much of the ship from that blow, my engineering team reports we couldn’t get to warp now even if we wanted..=/\= She said.

=/\= Understood Captain. We’re trying to find a solution to the phasing problem now. Given the creature seems to turn broad side to attack, suggest you use higher mobility and other means to lessen its chance to do so like with the comet and other stellar debris. Also three Forseth ships in the system are on an intercept course, ETA 4 minutes to your location. We are attempting a general hail to ascertain their intentions and warn them of the creature’s hostile intent..=/\= Drudoc said.

=/\= Understood! =/\= She said.

Drudoc Andone CO / GM CockRoach