Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Janna Kingston (Counsellor) in Main Sim - Away Team

Posted by Gamemaster Fossa (Gamemaster) in Main Sim - Away Team

Posted by Lieutenant Owen “The Hunter” Ducante (Chief of Security) in Main Sim - Away Team
Posted by… suppressed (49) by the Post Ghost! 👻
As the away team gathered in the shuttlebay, the air was slightly nervous. They were heading into an unknown. NE Pilot Ch’Zacharr was trying and doing poorly sat hiding his nerves.

-GM

OOC: I don’t know anything about this away mission. I was assigned to the vessel not long ago and don’t know what I’m supposed to do.

Lieutenant Syvak
Chief Tactical Officer
USS Athena

OOC: I did know this was happening because of the announcement, but i do need to be briefed a bit on the mission but i guess that will happen at the start. I am excited to get into a main sim again.

IC: Jordy walked over to NE Pilot Ch’Zacharr.

‘I know you will do a great job, everything will be fine this mission.’ Jordy said, also nervous because this is his first mission in over a year but he wants to support his crewmate.

Jordy decided to walk back to the group.

Ensign Jordy Kleine
Security Officer USS Athena

OOC: I’m tagged here. Are you sure you want Khabal involved?

• Jud

OOC: Jud, I wouldn’t worry. I’m not sure he’ll be asked to go on something like this. As for the rest, our XO and CE at the bare minimum will be arriving in this thread shortly to brief you all. There may be others to follow.

-Tony

OOC: o7 - Jud

The door to the shuttlebay slid open and in walked the hulking form of the Chief Engineer. Daggum Hammor was large, even for an Orion, but he carried himself with a demeanor of approachability and openess. Seeing the first few members of the Away Team, he smiled and said “Well, okay… who’s excited to walk into lion’s den, eh?” and he chuckled.

Hammor, CE

Lieutenant had just gotten off of the turbolift from the bridge and walked into the room as well. He looked around and noticed there is very few of them there. “Hmm. I wonder where everyone else is at?” He said with a straight face.

Lieutenant Syvak
Chief Tactical Officer
USS Athena

Bump

Lieutenant Syvak
Chief Tactical Officer
USS Athena

((Apologies for the delay folks.))

The redhead XO was already present having arrived with the first batch. At Syvak’s comment she looked over at him. Standard compliment for an away party was usually a leader, someone in charge, which was her. A security or tactical officer, and whatever mission specialist or specialists would be required. For diplomacy it was usually enough for two or three people. For an investigation it could e more, but usually no more than five or six. While she’d never been in combat with Daggum, she was willing to bet he was worth at least two officers. And if Syvak was any indicator, Vulcans were capable of a great deal too.

Janna was a wildcard as well. Too much bigger though and they might spook the locals.

“Apologies, Lieutenant. To get you to speed, we’ve had a few Federation ships go missing in this region of space. All hands lost. This tramp station seems like our est bet at getting a line on where those ships are. So far the interaction with whatever their leadership seems to e is nearly hostile. Now that could just be because they don’t like us, or they have something to hide. So we’re gonna go for a walk and poke our noses around and see what we find.”

She glanced between them all. “I don’t have to tell you to be courteous, be polite, but be ready. Eyes open. Head on a swivel.” This last she said, slipping a type 1 phaser into her pocket, followed by putting on a duty belt with type II phaser and tricorder.

She looked to Jordy and Syvak. “I know I said it on the lift but you weren’t there. Trust your gut. If you feel something’s off, don’t keep it to yourself. It’s better to be cautious and safe, rather than sorry. Let’s all make it back in one piece.”

Lt. Cmdr. Stone, Executive Officer

The shuttle pilot got into his craft and settled in his seat. Once the away team was aboard, the shuttle took off. Initially, they seemed to be navigating into an asteroid. To a degree that might have been unnerving. They ducked into a cavern that turned into a tunnel. And then in another space was a 3D collage of ship fragments and shuttles making up their destination. They were directed to what appeared to be the shuttle bay of a passenger carrier, a cruise ship.

When they disembarked from their shuttle, they were greeted by a Bajoran. “Greeted” might have been too strong a term, but she stood there, watching them exit the shuttle.
-GM

Janna let others step out first, but she joined them in short order. However, Janna moved more slowly, taking in the scene around here: both people and location. While it was laughable to say she could control her abilities, she let her mind be open in the sense that she actively told herself she was open to impressions. She’d get them anyway, but it never hurt to prepare her mind.

~Janna Kingston, CNS

Hammor stepped next to her and looked down. “If you need anything, you come to me. Okay?” he said softly. Janna was his friend, and he would be damned if he let anything happen to her.

Kingston nodded. “I will,” she said even as her mind was drawn in a particular direction.

Janna felt a dozen or so suspicious minds surrounding the landing party. There wasn’t direct hostility, just suspicion and mistrust. Hostility radiated however, off of the Bajoran waiting for them.

-GM

OOC: I have no idea how to continue from here.

Lieutenant Syvak
Chief Tactical Officer
USS Athena

Jordy joined the group as well standing next to Hammor

Hammor had spent his entire formative years in an environment where learning to read individuals was as important to his survival as was learning to fight. So it wasn’t hard to pick up on the animosity coming from the Bajoran. He looked at her and smiled. “Hello. I’m Lieutenant Commander Hammor, Chief Engineer. Thanks for letting us drop on like this, and sorry to intrude. If you could show us to the shuttle, I may be able to get this over and done with super quick.”

Hammor, CE

Jordy is analysing the room and the people in it. He is standing ready to intervene if necessary, not trusting the situation.

Ensign Jordy Kleine
Security Officer USS Athena

“So what are we doing sitting around? What’s this mission about?” Syvak questioned.

Lieutenant Syvak
Chief Tactical Officer
USS Athena

((🤦🏻))

Janna drew up beside Syvak and leaned in, speaking quietly. “Commander Stone just explained it before we left the ship. For now, keep a watchful eye and be prepared for anything. This is a delicate situation and requires care.”

~Janna Kingston, CNS

“Of course counselor.” Syvak acknowledged her.

Lieutenant Syvak
Chief Tactical Officer
USS Athena

Serena grimaced at the side chatter behind her, but let it slide for now as Janna seemed to have the matter in hand. Standing next to Hammor she regarded what amounted to their welcome wagon. Offering the woman a nod. “Lieutenant Commander Serena Stone, First Officer of the U.S.S. Athena,” she added. “We’d like to make this as painless as possible.”

Lt. Cmdr. Stone, Executive Officer

((Bump))

Lt. Cmdr. Stone, Executive Officer

He looked at Lt. Cmdr. Stone and nodded. He finally understood what was bound to happen.

Lieutenant Syvak
Chief Tactical Officer
USS Athena

The woman sent to greet them returned Serena’s nod. “Azriah. I would like to make this as quick as possible. What areas are you looking to inspect?” Her blatant dislike for Starfleet was similar to that of the man who had spoken to Orvos on the bridge.

-GM

Bump

Lieutenant Syvak
Chief Tactical Officer
USS Athena

Serena nodded. “Pleasure. Our scanners detected a shuttle registered to our Starfleet assigned to Outpost 42. It’s a long way from home. We’d like to inspect it, and if possible retrieve it. See if we can’t figure out how it got out here.”

Her mind flickered back, now that she thought about it. The station had seen some interesting times when Gamma Tiltium IV had started emitting a metaphasic radiation that seemed to regenerate tissues for anyone in range. It hadn’t lasted forever. During that time there had been many elements taking interest. At least one operative, a Suliban, and stolen a vessel to make an escape when the local security team had caught on to him. She would have to go check the records, but suddenly she wondered if they weren’t one and the same. Could the matter really be related?

Lt. Cmdr. Stone, Executive Officer

Azriah nodded and asked “Do you have the location of the shuttle you’re concerned about?” She was not seeming to be inclined to be any help.

-GM

The redhead nodded. “I believe Commander Hammor has them, don’t you?”

Lt. Cmdr. Stone, Executive Officer

“Oh, absolutely.” He took out a micro-PaDD and pulled up an generalized location for the shuttle. It didn’t show the exact location, nor did the image detail everything they had gleaned from their scans. It simply showed a n outline of the habitat and a indication of where in theat outline they wanted to go.

Hammor, CE

Serena nodded. “Thank you, Commander.” With that she turned her attention back to their …host? Chaperone?

Lt. Cmdr. Stone, Executive Officer

Azriah took the microwave-PaDD and looked it over for a moment. She quirked an eyebrow as she saw the location. “Very well. This is a vague location, but I can take you to the area.” She motioned for the crew to follow and started walking toward a lift.

-GM

The Lieutenant followed Azriahin a bit of a puzzling look not sure what to expect. He just stayed quiet and just followed along.

Lieutenant Syvak
Chief Tactical Officer
USS Athena

Hammor fell in behind their ‘guide’ and looked around as they traveled to their destination. “You know, it’s pretty ingenious how you have built this place. I mean, I’m seeing totally incompatible tech working off each other in ways I never even thought of. Would it be possible to to take a few vids? Not of everything, of course… I respect your privacy… but there are a few things I’ve seen Id like a record of. Only if you approve.” He gave Azriahin a friendly smile and then. pretended to look at a power junction as they walked past.

Hammor, CE

Janna followed the group, walking next to Syvak. She was not the one you wanted taking up the rear , but from this vantage point she could pay attention to their hosts and the environment inconspicuously. Janna took in the details of the setting as well as keep her mind honed in on not just the emotions of the locals but also the away team- a touch point, if you will.

For now she didn’t add to the conversation, since not everyone reacted well to learning a psychologist had joined the party and these people were already wary. She didn’t need to provoke their ire.

~Janna Kingston, CNS

Serena was content to stay in the middle. It was the most protected position, and Janna probably should have been there instead as the least combat-oriented person on the team. But as the XO… It was a trade off. Stormy eyes scanned the area as they moved, checking the shadows, overhead, noting the positions of people, noting their hands, their expressions and body language, looking for violence indicators. Anyone who was paying them too close attention. Anyone who was also pretending not to notice them at all. Were there children around, or did they play and carouse openly in the area? Head counts, weapon counts. All running almost subconsciously, built over a career into reflex.

Noting Syvak just bumbling along she whispered just loud enough to reach his Vulcan hearing. “Eyes up. Head on a swivel.”

Lt. Cmdr. Stone, Executive Officer

He heard Commander Stone from a distance and kept his eyes up. But hearing head on a swivel. He thought What does that mean?

Lieutenant Syvak
Chief Tactical Officer
USS Athena

Azriah addressed Hammor. “No images. These are homes and businesses. They’re not here for you to gawk at.” Stone and Syvak would be able to observe that people were being kept indoors, seen only peeking through windows. It was as if the people had been warned something terrifying was coming.

-GM

“Of course, of course. No offense intended.” Hammor said with a smile. “Like I said… just impressed with the work-arounds you all have come up with.”

Why do I feel like I just walked onto main street in a western and there’s about to be a showdown or a gunfight? Serena couldn’t put the sense of unease to rest. The area was seemingly abandoned but it felt like everyone was watching from the shadows. Do they think we’re the boogeyman? Half turning, she glanced back to Janna as if to silently ask if she felt the same, and what did she make of it.

Lt. Cmdr. Stone, Executive Officer

As they walked along, Hammor made no attempt to hide he was looking at things. “Absolutely fantastic ..” he mumbled a few times as they passed some kind of jury-rigged tech. But he didn’t take any images. Instead, he simply asked Azriah “So where is everybody? I mean, I see them looking out windows and such. Surely they don’t just hang out inside all time?”

Hammor, CE

Syvak had thought to himself as he kept his eyes open and alert and said out loud accidentally, “Fascinating.” He said loudly.

Lieutenant Syvak
Chief Tactical Officer
USS Athena

It was like a thick blanket of fear being wrapped around her and Janna had to force herself to breathe. She met Serena’s gaze and her grass green eyes reflected the far around her. There was anger too, but without the context, she had a hard time reconciling the two in tandem.

~Janna Kingston, CNS

“Civilians were asked to stay inside while your team was here. For their own safety.” Azriah explained to Hammor.

-GM

“Why would you be afraid of us?” Janna asked curiously from the back of the group, radiating calmness.

~Janna Kingston, CNS

“Starfleet travels in the name of science and always with phasers drawn. You are a danger to anyone and everyone here. So as soon as you find or don’t find whatever the hell you want, you need to leave so the lives of our people can resume.”

-GM

Serena tightened her jaw, resisting the urge to roll her eyes and scoff. And she was careful not to grind her teeth. Still her mouth drew into a thin line of tension, but then it seemed to drain away. “I grew up in a colony not all that dissimilar from this one. Sure we weren’t space-based, but the type is still very much the same.” She shook her head. “It’s not the Federation I ever feared, or had reason to. It was the Dominion. And the slavers. And the pirates. It’s not the Federation that shoots first. Or at all if we can help it.”

Lt. Cmdr. Stone, Executive Officer

((Bump. .... come on guys.))

Lt. Cmdr. Stone, Executive Officer

Lt. Ducante, taking everything in and being cautious through the whole event, had purposely been keeping to himself and observant. He had seen how hostile they were with the transmission on the bridge, so he was concerned this away mission would not be smooth. He could cut the tension of the “guides” attitude toward the away team with a knife, so he felt it best that Lt. Syvak, Jordy and himself be vigilant and ready for anything to happen. Starfleet isn’t the ones who come in phasers blasting, but they won’t just stand around and get shot at willingly, either. “When I was growing up, on the cargo ship, we never had issues with Starfleet firing first. If they were firing, it was because someone started firing at them first, or they were defending something that couldn’t defend itself.” He stated openly.
Lt. Ducante, Chief of Security

“Lucky you.” Their guide said, without looking back. After a few minutes they arrived at a place that was a patchwork of parts from different ships and shuttles from different times and places. “Here you go.” Their guide said. Checking their tricorders would verify that they were where they had asked to be taken.

-GM

Serena studied their escort. Part of her wanted to dig into the woman’s problem. Part of her wanted to tell her to file a complaint. Part of her wanted to tell her if she hated the Federation so much she could go kick rocks and hump it with the Jem’hadar, and the rest of the Dominion, fractured as it had become after the war. But in the end, it wasn’t her circuis, not her monkeys. And it just didn’t matter. They weren’t going to be here that long. “Mister Hammor?”

At the same time she gestured for Syvak to take up an overwatch position nearby. She brushed close to him. “Stay relaxed but ready. Massing, military aged males, violence indicators, anybody giving us undue attention,” she murmured low enough to reach only his Vulcan ears. That she had to tell him even that much… She made a mental note to reach out to his proctors at the academy and find out how someone so green had made it onto her ship.

She moved past and over to Janna. “Getting anything sharp or distinct or is it all … a fuzzy mess,” she asked, her eyes sweeping around. Normally she wouldn’t care, but between their guide’s hostile attitude.. and how deserted the streets, it felt like being in a killbox. She would have felt better if there was foot traffic , people minding their business. this felt like a setup. An ambush waiting to happen. The shuttle was bait.

Lt. Cmdr. Stone, Executive Officer

She held up her index giner to Serena. Unlike other empaths and telepaths, Janna didn’t yet know how to turn ‘on’ or ‘off’ her abilities, if she even could. Yes, mental discipline could help but they still knew so little about how it all worked. Still, Janna focused on being aware, of looking for details, and letting herself sense the feelings around her.

~Janna Kingston, CNS

Mostly being in earshot of Lt. Cmdr. Stone, Lt. Ducante heard and then slightly nodded his head in acknowledgement of what she told Lt. Syvak. He would do the same from where he was positioned.
Lt. Ducante, Chief of Security

Janna picked up… nothing. Other than the group that she had walked here with, there was no one, no sense of anybody in the area. Back where they had come from, there were still hostile people around.

It was hard to locate specifically the shuttle they had come for, but the beacon read as specifically in that area.

-GM

“We’re alone here,” she said softly to Serena, keeping herself open for the time being. “But still can feel the hostility behind us. It’s all a little eerie.”

~Janna Kingston, CNS

Lt. Ducante looked around the perimeter of the area where he was. As Quiet as it was, he was starting to believe this guide was walking them into some sort of trap, and he wanted to make sure his team was ready for it, if it happened. “I don’t like this. Something about this is, off.” He whispered mostly to himself.
Lt. Ducante, Chief of Security