<snip>

Finn nodded at the counselor and turned his attention back to Captain Y’lar. “Hello there Captain, I’m Lieutenant Commander Grady, the XO of the Chimera. Captain Andreassen is elsewhere at the moment. Apologies for the interruption to your vaccination efforts but we’ve been dispatched on a pretty serious mission as well.”

He paused for a moment, considering how to navigate the situation. It was sometimes hard to tell if a Vulcan was actually irritated (or their version of that) versus asking a serious question in the most direct way possible.

“I assumed you would have been briefed on the situation in the Scallax system? Sounds like its quite the pressure cooker brewing there. I would guess potential for casualties could be high if it blows.”

“Negative, I have been told nothing. I received emergency recall orders by an encrypted tight beam communique from Star-Fleet Medical with orders to report at all possible speed to a rendezvous in the dead of night. This is most illogical, unorthodox and I want to know why.”

Lieutenant Commander Grady - XO

Hammond just stood his hands behind his back, it was clear that there were two different missions in play, he was going to have to play this carefull. He did not want to lie to the captain but he was under orders.

Colonel Jaxon ‘Hawk’ Hammond
Commander 7th Marine Expeditionary Unit “Iron Valkyries” (CAG)

Ensign Shau was manning the tactical station in CIC, doing his best to prepare for this mission in the Scallax System.

One of the most obvious concerns was the capabilities of these insurgents. He pulled up the available data for any ships they had on file for Scallax. He focused on combat craft… but also any ships that could potentially be modified with weapons or heavier shields. Even weak or unconventional weapons could be deadly if they caught the Chimera unprepared.

MJ sighed, realizing that he’d been avoiding something. Slowly, but purposefully, he forced himself to pull up the specifications for the Cinzano.

The last thing he wanted to do was fight other Starfleet personnel, but the Risian knew he wouldn’t be doing his job if he didn’t help prepare the ship for that eventuality.

OOC: Trying to get specifics on the Cinzano and any other ships/classes we might expect to find in Scallax.

Ensign MJ Shau - Security Officer - USS Chimera

The read out spat out the following information

USS Cinzano NCC-358910
Long Range Battlecruiser
Memorial Class

OOC:(Memorial Class)

– GM Amadeus
USS Chimera

OOC: This is either before or after the conversation with the medical ship’s captain.

The GM previously said:
The only thing left was to determine where in Scallax the ship wanted to drop out of warp.

I’m taking that as he needs some guidance from the players to set up the next part of the sim.

IC:
Well… that certainly complicates things. MJ thought as he leaned back at his console, staring at the Cinzano’s specs.

The Memorial-class was smaller than the Mjolnir-class… but somehow it was more powerful. It was like the design philosophy of the Defiant-class was somehow upscaled into a full-sized Battlecruiser.

And its sensor range was greater than the Chimera’s too.

Ensign Shau’s original plan was to recommend the ship drop in from warp at the edge of its sensor range, and take advantage of the fact that Starfleet systems generally outstripped those of most civillian craft. That was no longer viable.

“Sir… given the presence of the Cinzano in system, its sensors will likely pick up our arrival if we drop out warp within its high resolution range. Instead, I recommend we drop in from warp well outside of her range to get the lay of the land and proceed at impusle.”

It wasn’t ideal, but Ensign Shau wanted to make sure the XO had the best information available. “Commander, I suppose we could also try masking our presence with an astronomical anamoly of some sort… but we’d probabaly need to loop in the science department to see if there is anything suitable nearby.”

Finn nodded, “Great, get someone from science up here to help and let me know what you find.”

Warping directly into orbit above Scallax Prime seemed inadvisable… or anywhere in system for that matter. There were just too many unknowns in MJ’s mind… they needed to clear away some of the fog of war before they attempted direct contact.

Ensign MJ Shau - Security Officer - USS Chimera

---

Ensign Shepherd could have been considered one of the Chimera’s newest lower deckers, most of her time had been spent researching within those biology labs. Sometimes accompanied by Nytha’rae or on her own. This would mark the beginning as to work on a bridge console, targeting sensors to the unknown. The hybrid lowered that Petri dish which she had so desperately worked on for a few days, leaving it on the counter as her communication badge came online.

“Ensign Shepherd, over.”

Her voice was careful as to not be disrespectful to a head of department or even an officer in a higher rank. Being the daughter to an ambassador and Starfleet officer, she had been taught to value Federation citizenship. Everyone could come from different planets, but that didn’t change their value as individuals, necessary to keep the ship up and running.

Letting recycled air fill her lungs, Skye immediately began walking backwards until her spine met the cold bulwark. This seemed to ground her in the moment instead of just focusing in biological samples which the Vaelari had asked for. This had been one of the first few shifts spent on her own, waiting for Zephram to be boarding as soon as the U.S.S. New Jersey could spare a shuttle of their own for transport. She was no stellar cartographer to understand the many questions which the universe had offered for them to discover, but at least the 23 year old Ensign was willing to try.

Ensign Skye Shepherd
Science Officer
U.S.S. Chimera - 98730 (Mjolnir Class)

=/\=”Shepard, this is Shau at the Tactical station. We could use some scientific expertise up in CIC. It’s time sensitive, and the roster implied you were off shift and not doing anything.” MJ winced as he implied off duty activities weren’t important… but didn’t address it verbally over the comlink.

Ensign Shau was already pulling up likely celestial bodies in the Scallax system and surrounding areas, but he knew there was a lot of work to be done. More hands… and expertise… could be useful.

He tapped his comlink again. =/\=”Shau to Shaw… we need your help looking for a weakness or blind spot in the sensor suite of a Memorial-class starship. If you think you’re up for it, can you come to CIC?”

Ensign MJ Shau - Security Officer - USS Chimera

---

The Petri dish hit that granite counter with much more force than the ensign had intended. It had been audible through her comm-badge, which almost made Skye flinch. While this was part of her spare time, being interrupted from research to something much more dire. Abandoning the lab, heading towards the Combat Information Center might’ve been worth gaining experience.

=/\= I’m on my way. =/\= She answered, hurriedly walking past two engineering officers before running towards the nearest turbolift. Her heart racing towards the Risian’s urgency. It wasn’t a red alert. At least, not yet from what had been said.

With those doors closed, Shepherd leaned against one of the walls and took a breath. This would be her first time in action after two years on extended leave. Part of a mission. Something much greater than herself. For a second, there was a glance down at the tricorder strapped around her leg. If they were looking for answers, she would provide them with answers.

Ensign Skye Shepherd
Science Officer
U.S.S. Chimera - 98730 (Mjolnir Class)

Ensign Snowden stepped closer to Shau’s station, looking over the projected system map and highlighted celestial bodies.
He studied it quietly for a few moments before speaking.
“If we’re trying to avoid broadcasting our arrival, we may not need to beat their sensors outright.”
He pointed toward the outer portions of the system display.
“We just need to make them sort through noise.”
A finger traced between several larger bodies and anomaly markers.
“Gas giants, ionized rings, plasma activity, dense asteroid fields… anything that naturally interferes with sensors.”
He glanced toward Shau.
“If the Cinzano has the sensor advantage, then maybe we stop thinking about hiding from it and start thinking about forcing it to work harder.”
A slight pause.
“Even if they eventually find us, delayed detection still gives Command more time to get a clearer picture.”
He looked up toward the science stations.
“Ensign Shepherd might be able to help us identify anything in-system that creates enough interference to use as cover.”
Snowden leaned back slightly.
“Right now we’re walking into a room blind. I’d rather crack the door before we walk through it.” Snowden said with a quiet smile.
Ensign Derek Snowden
Security Officer
USS Chimera NCC-98730

Finn kept a smile firmly planted on his face as he stared at the Vulcan commanding officer across the viewscreen. He wasn’t sure if this was the best way to go about letting them know what the mission was but time was of the essence.

“Captain, I hate to be the bearer of bad news… there has been a separatist event in the Scallax system. The colony appears to be under separatist control and we’ve lost contact with a starship there. We are going in to see if we can keep bad from going to worse. Obviously, the hope is diplomacy but there’s also a lot of Federation technology in that system that needs to be accounted for. You’re coming along in case there’s some medical assistance to be offered… or in case the bad to worse thing happens.”

Lieutenant Commander Grady - XO