Posted by Gamemaster WHITE TIGER (Gamemaster Trainee) in Main Sim: Anomaly Away Team (Sickbay)

Posted by Lieutenant Izak Waryn (Chief Engineer) in Main Sim: Anomaly Away Team (Sickbay)

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Soral T’Varan (Chief Diplomatic Officer) in Main Sim: Anomaly Away Team (Sickbay)
Posted by… suppressed (5) by the Post Ghost! 👻
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Posted by… suppressed (22) by the Post Ghost! 👻

OOC: This was posted in the other thread before our arrival.

IC:
=/\= “Waryn to Spenn and Blackford. We’ve been assigned to an away mission. Meet in Sickbay to receive medications and discuss the mission parameters.” =/\=

Izak exited the turbolift on Deck 12 and started walking to Sickbay 1 as if he were on autopilot.

He was lost in thought, mentally reviewing checklists and trying to account for various contingencies. There were too many unknowns to create any solid plans, though, and he found himself going in circles.

Thinking about the mission was only slightly less worrying than thinking about leading it. Lieutenant Waryn couldn’t help but feel strange being in charge of the mission when there were two Lieutenant Commanders on it… but he would follow orders. Starfleet officers were professionals, and he figured they would do their best despite the oddity of the situation.

He did worry about what he might need to do differently, however, and that was an unnecessary wrinkle he didn’t need. The Chief Engineer didn’t have an authoritarian leadership style, but one normally spoke differently when addressing senior officers. He figured that worry would be in the back of his mind throughout the entire mission.

Upon entering Sickbay, he looked around for Spenn or the others. Since the Chief Medical Officer’s office was in Sickbay 1, he figured the Vulcan doctor would already be there.

Lt Izak Waryn - Chief Engineer - U.S.S. Ark Angel

A couple of minutes later Soral arrived at sickbay in his usual composed Vulcan manner

“Lt”

He said greeting the Chief Engineer in his measured tone , complelty devoid of any emotion

Lt Cmdr Soral T’Varan
Chief Diplomatic Officer
USS Ark Angel

Before Izak could respond, Doctor Spenn appeared.

Spenn saw the two officers standing together. Seeing as neither seemed to need medical attention, he assumed they wished have a meeting. Using logic, he deduced that it would most likely be with him. And thus he approached.

“Lieutenants, to what do I owe this pleasure?” Spenn greeted.

Lieutenant Spenn
Chief Medical Officer

“Well, that’s three of us.” Lt. Waryn knew he had to address the elephant in the room, but wasn’t sure how. It might actually be easier to have the first part of this conversation before Wyatt arrives. He decided to rip off the Band-Aid.

“Commanders, we’ve been assigned to an away mission, and I’ve been placed in charge. I realize that is a little… unorthodox… but I have to trust the Captain and Executive Officer had their reasons. Regardless… they gave us forty minutes to get in and out, so I recommend we get down to business.”

He was trusting their professionalism here, knowing that the mission came first. He briefly considered leveraging their Vulcan natures, but he wasn’t very skilled at that sort of targeted influence… and he wasn’t entirely sure about the underlying logic of placing him in charge.

He looked over at the Doctor. “Commander Spenn, the XO should have sent instructions for some sort of chroniton prophylactic to the medical computers. We’re supposed to take the shot before taking the shuttle to the Pathfinder. We’ll also be in Class IV environmental suits that have been modified with temporal protection.”

Given the fact that the Pathfinder was stuck, it was entirely possible that the away team would be stuck as well, despite these precautions. They had been hastily developed, so the away team had no way to know how effective the suits would be.

“I see three main objectives: Find a way to get the Pathfinder or her crew out of the anomaly safely, defend ourselves and the crew of the Pathfinder from whatever biological entities are inside the bulkheads of their ship, and prevent the crew from learning how much time has passed since they’ve been trapped in the temporal displacement field.”

The XO had been adamant about that last one… and Izak was sure it would be quite a shock when the displaced Starfleet crew did learn the truth.

“Ensign Blackford is joining us… specifically to help address those potentially hostile entities within the ship.” He glanced from Soral to Spenn and back. “Are there any questions… or anything else we need to consider?”

Lt Izak Waryn - Chief Engineer - U.S.S. Ark Angel

“I trust the CO and XO had their reasons for putting you in charge, you can count on my skills for the mission ahead, there are lives at stake afterall”

Sorel said as a mattaer of fact and in no way trying to be condensending or anything.

The doors to Sickbay opened, and Lieutenant Dr. Mark Callous stepped through with the deliberate, unhurried stride that had become familiar to those who had served alongside him. At six feet ten inches and over three hundred pounds, his presence was difficult to overlook, but Callous paid little attention to the attention it sometimes drew. His medical kit was secured at his side, his uniform immaculate, and his expression carried the same quiet concentration he brought to every emergency.

His eyes settled on Lieutenant Commander Spenn, and Callous approached the Chief Medical Officer without wasting time on unnecessary pleasantries. He came to a stop a respectful distance away and gave the Vulcan officer a brief nod.

“Commander Spenn.”

There was no uncertainty in his voice, only the calm professionalism of a physician who had already received his orders and was prepared to carry them out.

“I’ve been directed by Captain T’Nara to take your place on the away team to the Pathfinder. You are to remain aboard the Ark Angel.”

Callous glanced briefly toward the others assembled in Sickbay before returning his attention to Spenn.

“I understand Lieutenant Waryn has been designated mission lead. I’ll assume the medical responsibilities for the team, including administration of the required chroniton prophylactic, field triage, trauma stabilization, and any medical contingencies encountered aboard the Pathfinder.”

He paused, allowing the statement to settle before continuing.

“I’ve reviewed the preliminary mission parameters. Forty minutes inside the vessel, temporal protection protocols, unknown biological hazards, and a crew that cannot yet be permitted to understand the extent of their temporal displacement.”

His expression remained composed.

“That is sufficient. I’m ready to deploy.”

Callous then secured his medical kit and looked toward Lieutenant Waryn.

“Lieutenant Waryn, when you are ready, I am prepared to receive the prophylactic and proceed with the team.”

There was no attempt to challenge the change in personnel or question why the Chief Medical Officer had been replaced. Orders had been given, and Callous had always regarded preparation as the proper response to uncertainty.

“Let’s make certain we bring them home.”

MARK CALLOUS, M.D.
Lieutenant (O-3)
Starfleet Medical Corps
USS ArkAngel NCC-98729
Medical Operations Division

“It would be logical to inquire as to why I was randomly replaced so suddenly.” Spenn asked, showing his surprise for a brief moment.

Lieutenant Spenn
Chief Medical Officer

Lt Cmdr Soral T’Varan
Chief Diplomatic Officer
USS Ark Angel

” Commander Spenn my replacing you is due to the fact you are the Chief Medical Officer aboard this ship.” He replied

MARK CALLOUS, M.D.
Lieutenant (O-3)
Starfleet Medical Corps
USS ArkAngel NCC-98729
Medical Operations Division

The change in away team personnel was sudden. The only thing that Izak new about Lt Callous was that he was a direct comission after serving on the frontiers. Maybe the Captain and XO feel his unique skillset is a better fit for the mission?

“Doctors, please have your medical personnel prepare the prophylactic injections so we can depart as soon as possible.” If the sudden change of Doctors caused any friction, they could deal with it later.

The Chief Engineer turned to Soral once they had a modicum of privacy. The Vulcan’s earlier words were reassuring, and mitigated at least one of his concerns about the mission. “Thank you Commander. I do feel it best if you take the lead on communicating with Captain Hayes. She is bound to have questions, and your training and experience make you the best candidate.”

That might cause some confusion when Lieutenant Commander T’Varan conferred with him on big decisions. Maybe we can pass that off as consulting with the experts on the team?

Lt Izak Waryn - Chief Engineer - U.S.S. Ark Angel

“As you wish”

Sorel said giving Izak a respectful nod

“This will be your first decision as leader of the mission then?”

Lt Cmdr Soral T’Varan
Chief Diplomatic Officer
USS Ark Angel

“It’s going to have to be.” Izak replied honestly. “With a four person team we’ll all need to play to our strengths. I’ll need to work whatever engineering solution we come up with… which means somebody has to manage Captain Hayes. And thats not accounting for the life forms in the bulkheads. I hope Dr. Callous has enough exobiology experience to help postulate theories and work with Wyatt on a defensive strategy.”

Lt Izak Waryn - Chief Engineer - U.S.S. Ark Angel

Soral listened without interruption, considering Izak’s explanation before giving a slow, measured nod.

“Your assessment is logical, Lieutenant. Four personnel leave little room for specialization to remain isolated. Each of us will necessarily have to compensate where circumstances require it.”

His attention shifted briefly toward the information on the nearby display.

“As for Captain Hayes, I will establish communication with her when we reach the Pathfinder. Her initial transmission suggested that she is under considerable stress, and her unfamiliarity with our vessel and its registry will likely make her cautious. I will provide her with what information we can safely disclose while determining precisely what assistance she requires.”

Soral paused.

“I will, however, defer operational decisions to you. You have been designated as the mission leader, and my function is to provide diplomatic and scientific expertise where it is required. There is no contradiction in consulting with one another before significant decisions are made.”

His expression remained composed as he considered Izak’s final concern.

“The life signs within the bulkheads are the more significant unknown. Until we can determine whether they represent displaced organisms, a temporal phenomenon, or something else entirely, I would advise against assuming hostile intent.”

He inclined his head slightly.

“Observation should precede action whenever circumstances permit. If circumstances do not permit it, we will adapt accordingly.”

Soral glanced toward the direction of Sickbay.

“Once the prophylactic preparations are complete, I will be ready to depart.”

Lt Cmdr Soral T’Varan
Chief Diplomatic Officer
USS Ark Angel

Izak nodded as Soral spoke. The Chief Diplomatic Officer was already focused on the mission, which allowed the Chief Engineer to relax a little and do the same.

=^= “Away Team Beta, this is Commander Kelley. Prepare for immediate deployment. Check all equipment, environmental protection, communications, transporter support, and emergency medical supplies. You are to be ready to move the moment the bridge authorizes deployment. Do not enter the anomaly or establish contact with the Pathfinder without further orders.” =^=

Lt. Waryn glanced around. “Dr. Callous, please have your team conduct the injections so the away team can continue preparing for the mission.”

They were still on a tight timeline, and as the XO had indicated, there was still a lot to get done.

Lt Izak Waryn - Chief Engineer - U.S.S. Ark Angel

” The injections are ready Lieutenant ” replied Callous

MARK CALLOUS, M.D.
Lieutenant (O-3)
Starfleet Medical Corps
USS ArkAngel NCC-98729
Medical Operations Division

The final preparations in Sickbay continued beneath the quiet efficiency of Starfleet medical procedure. The chroniton prophylactic was ready, the environmental suits had completed their initial diagnostics, and the away team had been given its deployment orders. For a few moments, everything appeared routine. Then the medical sensors registered a brief fluctuation across the temporal signatures of the personnel who had received the prophylactic. The reading lasted less than two seconds before disappearing, but its waveform was unmistakably similar to the repeating pulse being generated by PX-941. The Sickbay computer classified the event as non-critical, though the notation TEMPORAL SYNCHRONIZATION DETECTED remained on the display.

At almost the same moment, Engineering transmitted the final environmental-suit diagnostics. Life support, communications, and environmental isolation were functioning within acceptable parameters, but the temporal shielding was behaving differently. Rather than remaining completely stable, the shielding field was fluctuating at the same interval already observed from the anomaly: three minutes and fourteen seconds. The modification appeared to be functioning, but exactly how well it would protect personnel once they entered the temporal distortion remained unknown. That uncertainty was compounded when another sensor report appeared on the Sickbay display. Unidentified biological readings had been detected aboard the Pathfinder. They were moving through portions of the vessel that should have contained solid structural material, disappearing from sensors before reappearing elsewhere within the ship. No known Pathfinder crew member matched the readings.

Before the information could be fully analyzed, an incoming transmission was routed through the Ark Angel’s communications system. Captain Hayes’ voice came through, strained but controlled. “Ark Angel, this is Captain Hayes. I don’t understand what is happening. Your people keep refusing to answer a very simple question. What year is it? And why does your ship’s registry indicate that it shouldn’t exist yet?” The transmission terminated before a response could be established.

Then PX-941 changed.

The temporal distortion surrounding the Pathfinder briefly collapsed, and for approximately twelve seconds the missing Intrepid-class vessel appeared clearly on the Ark Angel’s sensors. During that brief window, another transmission was detected. It did not originate from the Pathfinder’s bridge or from any recognized communications array. The signal appeared to originate somewhere deep inside the vessel, near Engineering, although the precise coordinates shifted repeatedly as the Ark Angel’s computer attempted to establish a source. The transmission itself contained only two words.

“They’re awake.”

The signal vanished.

So did the twelve-second window.

The Pathfinder disappeared once more behind the distortion of PX-941, leaving only the familiar temporal readings on the Ark Angel’s sensors. For several seconds, there was nothing else. Then Sickbay’s internal sensors registered an additional biological signature inside the room. The reading existed for barely a second before disappearing completely. No transporter activation had been detected. No door had opened. No movement had been recorded by the internal security sensors. The computer simply registered the contact as an unidentified biological presence before returning the Sickbay environment to normal.

Commander Kelley’s voice followed over the communications system. “Away Team Beta, this is Commander Kelley. The anomaly is beginning another stabilization cycle. Your deployment window is approaching. Complete your final preparations and report to Transporter Room Three. Do not enter the anomaly until the bridge authorizes deployment. Your primary objectives remain the recovery of the Pathfinder crew and the establishment of a safe extraction method.”

The channel closed, leaving the away team with the equipment, information, and unanswered questions now before them. Somewhere beyond the Ark Angel’s hull, the temporal distortion continued its relentless cycle, and deep within it waited the missing USS Pathfinder. Whatever had transmitted those two words had not identified itself, and the Ark Angel’s sensors had found no explanation for the additional biological reading in Sickbay. The next stabilization window was already approaching.

WHITE TIGER
GM • USS ARKANGEL
NCC-98729
“Where Legends Begin”

“Dr. Callous, please administer the prophylactic, then we’ll move immediately to the shuttle bay and depart,” Lt. Waryn stated in what he hoped was a calm voice.

Then he turned to the CMO, concerned about the anomalous sensor blip indicating a new life sign in Sickbay. “Commander Spenn, let Lt. L’Essa know if you need any Engineering support. It’s probably just a sensor malfunction, but the timing of that erroneous life sign has me on edge.”

That wasn’t his mission, though, and Izak already had enough to worry about. Plus, the Vulcan has been running his department since before I was commissioned. Spenn is more than capable of dealing with bizarre circumstances.

As soon as possible, he left Sickbay and headed to the shuttle bay to start prepping the auxiliary craft. He approached the shuttle’s pilot seat, but then paused and looked back at the away team.

“I just got certified as a Class 3 pilot. If anybody else has more experience, you’re more than welcome to take the helm.”

Lt Izak Waryn - Chief Engineer - U.S.S. Ark Angel

“I’m class 4 Lt, however i don’t think that will be needed, I’m more than happy to let you take the pilot’s seat , besides someone needs to man the science station as we near the target although I imagine the Ark Angel will relay anything we need to know”

He said as a matter of fact rather than arrogance.

Lt Cmdr Soral T’Varan
Chief Diplomatic Officer
USS Ark Angel

Dr. Callous gave a brief nod as he prepared the prescribed prophylactic, his expression remaining calm despite the unusual circumstances developing around Sickbay. “Understood, Lieutenant.” He administered the prophylactic as directed, then secured the medical equipment and glanced toward the sensor display that had registered the anomalous life sign.

His attention lingered on the reading for a moment longer than necessary. “Commander Spenn, I’ll leave the investigation in your capable hands. If that sensor reading proves to be more than a malfunction, I suspect we’ll have considerably more to discuss when we return.”

As Izak departed for the shuttle bay, Callous followed with the rest of the away team. His eyebrows rose slightly when the Engineer admitted that he had only recently qualified as a Class Three pilot.

“Only recently?” Callous asked, a faint hint of amusement entering his voice. “In that case, Lieutenant, I believe I’ll allow someone with a few more hours in the pilot’s seat to take the helm. I have enough confidence in your Engineering abilities without adding ‘experimental shuttle pilot’ to the list.”

He stepped aboard the shuttle and moved toward one of the passenger stations, securing himself before looking back toward the cockpit.

“Besides, I have a feeling this mission is going to provide us with quite enough excitement without us manufacturing any before we even leave the bay.”

MARK CALLOUS, M.D.
Lieutenant (O-3)
Starfleet Medical Corps
USS ArkAngel NCC-98729
Medical Operations Division

With Soral deferring the pilot’s seat to him in favor of operating the sensors, Lt. Waryn sat down and completed an abbreviated pre-flight check list to ensure everything was operational.

OOC: lol.

While unofficial, I read that most graduates of the Academy were Class 2 or Class 3 pilots. Izak had some issues in his later years and had to back off of pilot training to focus on his engineering courses. He was a Class 2 until recently. (Thanks Jax!)

This stems from a DS9 episode where Jadzia had a level 3 pilot’s certificate and Arjin had a class 5 (expert) pilot’s certificate.

Lt Izak Waryn - Chief Engineer - U.S.S. Ark Angel

=^= Lieutenant Hegush to Lieutenant Waryn: the team up on bridge have managed to pull the Pathfinder out of the anomaly. Commander Kelley has instructed that I make sure you guys get aboard the shuttle and over to the Pathfinder. I’ve already made it very clear to my team in Shuttle Bay to have that shuttle temporal ready in case there is any temporal particale residue around the Pathfinder. Captain Hayes has just hailed us on the open channel with all the obvious questions I imagine one might have when they’ve been through temporal anomaly might ask. Hegush out.=^=

Lt. Hegush Chief of Operations

Hearing that the Pathfinder was out of the anomaly, at least partially, was a huge relief. The mission still carried risks, and Izak wasn’t sure how much of that relief he could afford, however. The _Pathfinder is still trapped, and we’re about to fly directly into whatever trapped her._

=/\=”Copy all, Lieutenant. Our pre-flight is complete, and we’re departing now.”=/\=

The Chief Engineer glanced back at the rest of the team to make sure everybody was ready before taking the controls and exiting the shuttle bay. The doors opened, revealing the Pathfinder hanging against the stars beyond. For a moment, Izak simply stared at her. Then he pushed the throttle forward and guided the shuttle toward the trapped vessel.

OOC: I’m just assuming Wyatt is with us and he can jump in whenever the player pops back in.

Lt Izak Waryn - Chief Engineer - U.S.S. Ark Angel

Soral remained composed as he listened to the transmission from Lieutenant Hegush, his attention shifting briefly toward the sensor display as the Pathfinder came into view.

The sight of the Intrepid-class vessel hanging against the stars was striking. Four years of uncertainty had apparently reduced itself to this moment.

He checked the diplomatic and communications equipment he had brought aboard the shuttle, ensuring everything remained operational before looking toward Lieutenant Waryn.

“Understood, Lieutenant.”

Soral paused for a moment.

“Captain Hayes will undoubtedly have questions. Given the circumstances, I believe it would be prudent to allow her to establish her understanding of events before we provide conclusions of our own.”

His expression remained neutral, though his eyes remained fixed upon the Pathfinder.

“She may not yet be aware of the extent of her displacement. We should therefore avoid presenting assumptions as established fact.”

Izak nodded, thinking through the problem as he piloted the shuttle. “Captain Hayes was pushing for answers before… so she might be just as adamant when we get onboard. You could always try referencing the Temporal Prime Directive to hold her off, not that it existed back in 2298. If there’s a chance we can send them back to their time, then we have to be careful about what information from the future—their future—we share.”

“Our immediate objective should be to establish communication, determine the condition of her crew, and understand what they believe has occurred. Once we have established those facts, we can determine how best to proceed.”

Soral settled back, ready for the approach.

“I will speak with Captain Hayes when we establish contact.”

Lt Cmdr Soral T’Varan
Chief Diplomatic Officer
USS Ark Angel

“Fair enough, Commander,” he replied easily. Soral was better trained to handle such arguments, so it made sense for the man to take the lead. The Chief Engineer was more concerned with repairing or modifying the ship to ensure everyone’s safety. And dealing with the entities inhabiting the ship’s hull, should they prove violent.

He glanced once more at the vessel.

The auxiliary shuttlecraft from the USS Ark Angel smoothly crossed the atmospheric containment threshold of the USS Pathfinder’s main shuttle bay, settling onto the deck plating with a heavy mechanical resonance that echoed throughout the cavernous and dimly lit chamber. As the landing ramp extended and the away team disembarked from their vessel, they were immediately met by the unsettling ambiance of a starship operating under extreme distress and strict emergency power protocols, where flickering overhead illumination cast long shadows across bulkheads visibly scarred by recent, unexplained structural strains. Waiting for them in the gloom was the remaining contingent of the Pathfinder’s security detail, a visibly exhausted but heavily armed group of officers maintaining a tight defensive perimeter against whatever unseen threats lurked within the very framework of their own vessel.

Once they landed in the stranded ship’s shuttle bay, Lt. Waryn couldn’t help but take note of how scared the Pathfinder’s crew was. They weren’t simply battling the temporal anomaly they were trapped in, but the ship itself. Or at least the entities that existed within the bulkheads of the cruiser.

At the forefront of the security detachment stood Lieutenant Nira zh’Thalis, the vessel’s Chief of Security, whose distinct physical features registered on the away team’s environmental suit sensors under a highly unusual classified or estimated species profile, though her rigid tactical posture was unmistakably born of rigorous Starfleet discipline. Without waiting for formal introductions to drag on within the exposed vulnerability of the open bay, she offered the newly arrived officers a sharp, scrutinizing nod that acknowledged their specialized temporal gear before immediately gesturing toward the primary corridor access doors. Speaking with a gravelly tone that carried the heavy burden of prolonged uncertainty and relentless vigilance, she curtly welcomed the team aboard and insisted they move continuously toward the bridge, citing the deeply erratic energy fluctuations currently traveling through the ship’s inner bulkheads.

It was interesting that zh’Thalis only referenced “energy fluctuations” moving through the bulkheads when one of the earlier transmissions had already stated that there were creatures within the ship’s frame. On a whim, Izak decided to ask the question and see how she reacted.

“Energy fluctuations, Lieutenant? I… can understand how that is concerning, but why does that require phasers?” He shifted gears at the last minute. Just because one of the distress calls mentioned the creatures, and the Ark Angel had confirmed the additional life signs with its sensors, didn’t mean that information had been shared with the entire Pathfinder crew. Given all the stress they were already under, he didn’t want to add another unknown variable.

The journey through the echoing corridors was a tense and silent affair, punctuated only by the distant, rhythmic hum of temporal interference and the sight of damage control teams working desperately to reinforce critical junctions along the primary EPS network. Upon finally reaching the command deck, the away team was ushered past the hushed and frantic activity of the bridge crew directly toward the portside doors of the Captain’s Ready Room, where the heavy portals slid open to reveal a starkly illuminated office. Standing behind her desk with a posture defined by tightly coiled tension and an expression demanding immediate clarity, Captain Amelia Hayes waited for the Ark Angel officers to step inside, fully prepared to finally extract the truth about her vessel’s seemingly impossible situation.

WHITE TIGER
GM • USS ARKANGEL
NCC-98729
“Where Legends Begin”

Arriving in the ready room let them see that Captain Hayes still very much wanted answers. Answers we can’t really give her.

He was sure Soral could convince the woman of the importance of saving her ship and crew… he just didn’t know how long it would take. Izak needed information to complete his mission, and he doubted the Captain would be willing to provide it before her own questions were answered.

Before Captain Hayes or Lt. Commander T’Varan could speak, their communicators activated.

= /\= This is Lt. Commander Charlotte Kelley for Lt. Wryn by order of Starfleet Command you have 1 hrs to Evac yourselves and the Crew of the Pathfinder back to The AA

CMD. CHARLOTTE KELLEY, M.D.
EXECUTIVE OFFICER

USS ARK ANGEL
NCC-98729

COMMAND DIVISION
MEDICAL OFFICER CORPS
STARFLEET

Well… that saves us part of the trouble of explaining things to Captain Hayes. The Chief Engineer didn’t know what had changed… but it must have been big if Captain T’Nara was no longer trying rescue the entire ship, and only focusing on the crew.

“Away Team Two acknowledges, Commander.”

Izak reached down and set the chronometer on his suit to start counting down to their deadline, and afforded Soral the opportunity to open discussions.

Lt Izak Waryn - Chief Engineer - U.S.S. Ark Angel

Soral remained standing a respectful distance from Captain Hayes, his expression calm and attentive as he studied the woman before him.

There was little value in overwhelming her with information before they understood precisely what she knew.

“Captain Hayes,” he said, giving a slight inclination of his head. “I am Lieutenant Commander Soral T’Varan, Chief Diplomatic Officer of the USS Ark Angel.”

He allowed the introduction to settle before continuing.

“We received your transmission and have come aboard to assist you and your crew. Lieutenant Waryn is leading our away team, while I have been asked to handle our communications with you.”

His gaze remained steady.

“I appreciate that you have questions. Given the circumstances, I believe it would be most productive if you first tell us what has occurred from your perspective.”

There was a brief pause.

“Your crew has endured considerable stress, Captain. Our immediate concern is their safety. We intend to assist you in evacuating your personnel, but before we begin, I would like to understand the condition of the ship and any immediate dangers your crew is facing.”

Soral deliberately kept his wording precise. There was no mention of the temporal displacement, no suggestion that the Pathfinder belonged to another point in history, and no attempt to correct Captain Hayes’s understanding of events.

For now, he would listen.

That would tell him considerably more than an explanation offered too soon.

Lt Cmdr Soral T’Varan
Chief Diplomatic Officer
USS Ark Angel

Captain Amelia Hayes remained behind her desk, studying the three officers in silence for several moments after Commander T’Varan finished speaking. The tension that had been evident since their arrival had not disappeared, but the captain appeared to be weighing his words carefully. Her eyes eventually settled on T’Varan.

“Commander, I appreciate the diplomatic approach, but we’ve been asking questions for a very long time. Your people arrive aboard my ship with technology and a registry we don’t recognize, tell us you’re here to help, and then refuse to explain why none of this makes sense.”

She stepped toward the Pathfinder’s main schematic, bringing the ship’s internal layout onto the display. “From our perspective, the Pathfinder entered the anomaly, became trapped, and has been fighting to survive ever since. We’ve lost people, we’ve lost sections of the ship, and whatever is moving through the hull has made matters considerably worse.” Hayes looked toward Waryn. “If you have one hour to evacuate my crew, then you need access to the ship’s personnel manifests, internal security routes, and transporter systems. My officers can provide that information.”

Her expression hardened slightly. “But I want one answer before we begin. You keep avoiding the question about the year. I’m not asking for classified information, Commander. I’m asking you to tell me what year you believe it is.” She paused, then added, “After that, Lieutenant Waryn can tell me exactly what you need from my engineering department to get my people off this ship.”

WHITE TIGER
GM • USS ARKANGEL
NCC-98729
“Where Legends Begin”

Soral held Captain Hayes’s gaze for several seconds. Her question was direct, and attempting to evade it further would likely accomplish little. More importantly, she had not asked what had happened to them—only what year he believed it to be.

His expression remained composed.

“Captain Hayes, I understand why you are asking.”

He allowed a brief pause before continuing.

“I believe the current year to be 2406.”

Soral did not elaborate. He had deliberately phrased it as what he believed, rather than presenting the Pathfinder crew with the fact of their displacement.

“Our intention is not to withhold information from you unnecessarily. There are circumstances surrounding your situation that we do not yet fully understand ourselves. I would therefore prefer not to provide an explanation based upon assumptions.”

His attention shifted briefly to the Pathfinder schematic.

“You have my assurance that we will do everything within our capability to evacuate your crew safely. Lieutenant Waryn can identify the specific engineering requirements. I will remain available to address any further questions you have regarding our involvement.”

Soral inclined his head slightly.

“Your priority is your crew. Ours is the same.”

Lt Cmdr Soral T’Varan
Chief Diplomatic Officer
USS Ark Angel

Izak schooled his face and did his best not to react as Soral did one of the exact things the XO told them not to do.

They had just talked about the importance of getting Captain Hayes’ understanding of the situation before saying anything and of the need to avoid sharing the extent of the time displacement. Maybe the Chief Diplomatic Officer has reasons for doing the exact opposite of that, but they had better be damned good reasons.

He didn’t say anything though… the damage was already done and any reaction hebhad would only derail whatever Soral was attempting.

Lt Izak Waryn - Chief Engineer - U.S.S. Ark Angel

Ooc: the current year is 2402 they think it’s still 2398

IC- Captain Hayes: Lieutenant Commander your telling me that it has been 104 years not four hours and if I heard your Lieutenant’s communications device they said we have an Hour to evac my ship by order of command is that correct Lieutenant Commander.

WHITE TIGER
GM • USS ARKANGEL
NCC-98729
“Where Legends Begin”

OOC: They think its still 2298, 104 years ago. Even if Soral said the wrong year, telling Captain Hayes that its 100+ years later seems like a big concern.

Lt Izak Waryn - Chief Engineer - U.S.S. Ark Angel