Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Kaylin Wilde (Ops/Helm Officer) in [OSFTSB] - Command Information Center (Tag Captain)

Posted by Cadet Deshara Toussaint (Scientist) in [OSFTSB] - Command Information Center (Tag Captain)

Posted by Captain Iphigenia Henao (Commanding Officer) in [OSFTSB] - Command Information Center (Tag Captain)
Posted by… suppressed (21) by the Post Ghost! 👻

[Snip]

Hazel under the Alias of Commander Holmes was silent for a moment before saying, “I would prepare damage control teams and medical teams.” She said simply as the object disappeared and reappeared again randomly at a different vector except this time now in visible range and gaining speed on the Leviathan.

Commander Hazel Loughty
Starfleet Temporal Agent
USS Leviathan

Iphigenia stared at Hazel for a moment.

Kaylin reacted as quickly as she could to the changes in the approaching ship’s trajectory. But she hadn’t seen anything like it before.

“Captain, its movements are too unpredictable,” she reported, her voice tinged with frustration, “Evasive maneuvers are… well they just aren’t working.”

|Lt., j.g. Wilde,
Ops/Helm Officer|

Iphigenia nodded at Lieutenant Wilde, gripping the edge of her command chair until her knuckles turned white. “I understand, Lieutenant. Keep our position steady. If we can’t outmaneuver them, then we will have to face them. Make sure those shields are at fully capacity” She paused then said, “Make sure Medical and Damage control are on standby.”
“On it for Medical,” Brad called, leaving the CIC for sickbay now that there were multiple senior officers at their posts.
“Thank you, Brad,” Iphigenia acknowledged. She knew the challenges ahead would test them all, but there was a strange comfort in the familiarity of her crew’s dedication.

“Commander Holmes,” she called, her voice sharper than intended. She forced herself to soften her tone. “You seem to have experience or know what we are dealing with here. Tell me, be straight what are we dealing with here? Can we predict their next move?”

Captain Henao
(Commanding Officer)

Abbey stood eyeing the Captain for a moment. Within her ear, the built-in AI receiver activated, providing a subtle yet firm reminder.

“Commander you’ve already stretched protocol significantly. It would be unwise to assist the crew any further than necessary,” the AI advised, its tone calm but insistent.

She didn’t give any indication that she was communicating with another lifeform, but she chose to ignore its advice. “The ship is jumping in and out of a temporal slipstream, shifting between different timelines and parallel universes. The Continuum Phase Engine, which enables this, was developed thanks to an ancient, unknown artifact whimsically dubbed the ‘Temporal Teapot.’” She rolled her eyes. “Don’t look at me, I didn’t discover it. We’re in the RTF, the organisation that deals with the insane. The Temporal Teapot has the peculiar ability to pour not just liquid but also glimpses of different timelines. Whoever found it managed to reverse-engineer its mechanics, leading to groundbreaking advancements in temporal navigation and the creation of the Continuum Phase Engine.”

Commander Hazel Loughty (Holmes)
Starfleet Temporal Agent
USS Leviathan

Iphigenia listened to Commander Holmes’s explanation. The ship’s erratic behavior, its jumps through timelines and parallel universes, was unlike anything she had encountered before. The very concept of a “Temporal Teapot” seemed absurd, yet the evidence was right before her eyes, causing her to question the fabric of their reality.
Iphigenia knew her duty was to protect her crew and ship, no matter how extraordinary the circumstances. The Temporal Teapot and its Continuum Phase Engine were clearly beyond conventional Starfleet knowledge, and the danger they posed was undeniable.
Taking a deep breath, Iphigenia scratched her forhead, then she addressed Commander Holmes, her voice measured but clearly filled with urgency. “Commander, if this Temporal Teapot is responsible for the ship’s movements, how can we predict its behavior or mitigate the threat? What do we need to do to stabilize our situation and ensure the safety of the Leviathan?”

As she spoke, her mind analyzed potential strategies. Temporal anomalies were notoriously unpredictable, and the thought of navigating through them was daunting. But Iphigenia had faced formidable challenges before, and she was determined to lead her crew through this one as well. After a moment she said, even though there was hesitation in her voice, “This… Temporal Teapot’s abilities are not entirely understood, I am sure even by those who reverse-engineered it. However, we know that it draws power from the ship’s systems, causing it to phase in and out of our timeline. If we can disrupt that power source or isolate it, we might stabilize the ship’s position long enough to take further action.”

Captain Henao
(Commanding Officer)

Hazel paused for a moment considering the plan of action, she had already altered the timeline past that of no return by allowing her presence be known. Everyone from now on was unknown to her. “That sounds like a good idea but I can not say for certain as it’s… never been done before.” She explained.

Commander Oliver Loughty
Executive Officer
USS Leviathan

Lieutenant Bradley Maxwell
Chief Medical Officer

“Never been done before,” she repeated softly, more to herself than anyone else, letting the words hang in the air. The challenge was unprecedented, but Iphigenia had always believed in the strength and resilience of her crew.
“We’re not going to let some teapot dictate our fate,” she muttered under her breath. She activated the ship-wide intercom. “All hands, this is Captain Henao. We are about to encounter a ship who has the ability to create temporal disturbances. Maintain your posts and follow protocols for emergency situations. Damage control teams, be prepared for immediate deployment.”
With the announcements made, she cut the intercom and turned back to Holmes. “Commander, I know there is not much we can do now, but wait, however if…after we survive this encounter we will need to prepare as much as we can for the next attack, can you assist our engineering team in understanding the temporal teapot’s mechanisms?”

Captain Henao
(Commanding Officer)

Hazel nodded, “I will do what I can but Captain I think we should have a private meeting and maybe bring your intelligence officer and XO along aswell once we have the ship under control.” She said, “I will make my way to engineering.”

Commander Hazel Loughty
Starfleet Temporal Agent
USS Leviathan

Iphigenia watched Hazel leave the bridge with a thoughtful expression. The temporal agent’s expertise was invaluable, but the situation weighed heavily on her shoulders. Turning to her Communications Officer, she said, “Jhene, I need you to coordinate with Hazel and the engineering team. We must understand the Temporal Teapot’s mechanics as quickly as possible. Our survival depends on it.”

Captain Henao
(Commanding Officer)

bump

Whilst the crew worked the ship and the subsequent teapot disappeared again, this time not preparing immediately. The wouldn’t have long to act.

One Step forward, Two Steps Back
PRISM
USS Leviathan

Kaylin’s eyes grew wide, having an idea,

“Captain,” she announced,

“If the object’s motion temporal in nature, perhaps we can disrupt it’s path with another object with temporal properties… It could buy us some more time, relatively speaking.”

She typed in a few commands into the navigation console,

“How close is too close to a black hole, according to regulations?”

|Lt., j.g. Wilde,
Ops/Helm Officer|

The Lieutenants query into the ships computer displayed this standing order:

Starfleet Standing Order 1287: Proximity Protocol for Black Hole Vicinity

Purpose:
To ensure the safety and operational integrity of all Starfleet vessels when operating in the proximity of black holes.

Scope:
This standing order applies to all Starfleet vessels, including but not limited to starships, space stations, and auxiliary craft.

Directive:

1. Minimum Safe Distance:
   - All Starfleet vessels must maintain a minimum distance of 100 million kilometers from the event horizon of any black hole. This distance is established to prevent the ship from being subjected to extreme gravitational forces and time dilation effects.

2. Surveillance and Data Collection:
   - Scientific missions involving black hole study must use unmanned probes or drones for data collection within the 100 million kilometer boundary. Manned missions are strictly prohibited within this range.

3. Emergency Protocols:
   - In the event of a critical system failure or navigational error that brings a vessel within 50 million kilometers of a black hole, the ship’s emergency warp jump procedures must be initiated immediately to escape the gravitational pull.

4. Crew Safety Training:
   - All Starfleet personnel assigned to vessels operating in regions with known black holes must undergo specialized training on black hole physics, emergency procedures, and the operational use of proximity alert systems.

5. Proximity Alert Systems:
   - All Starfleet vessels must be equipped with advanced proximity alert systems capable of detecting black holes and automatically calculating safe navigation routes to avoid accidental proximity breaches.

6. Reporting Incidents:
   - Any vessel encountering unforeseen gravitational anomalies suspected to be black holes must report the incident to Starfleet Command immediately and follow the guidance provided by the Starfleet Science and Exploration Division.

7. Exception Protocol:
   - A Starfleet vessel may approach closer than the 100 million kilometer minimum safe distance, but only at the discretion of the Captain and one other senior officer (such as the First Officer or Chief Science Officer). This exception can only be invoked if the mission’s success critically depends on it, and all potential risks must be thoroughly evaluated. A detailed log of the decision and justification must be submitted to Starfleet Command within 24 hours of the event.

Enforcement and Compliance:
Failure to adhere to these protocols will result in an immediate review by the Starfleet Safety and Operations Committee, with potential disciplinary actions including but not limited to reassignment, demotion, or court-martial depending on the severity of the breach.

Issued by:
Admiral Nyota Uhura
Chief of Starfleet Operations

Date of Issuance:
Stardate 56234.7

Review Cycle:
This standing order will be reviewed and updated as necessary every five standard Earth years or upon the discovery of significant new scientific data regarding black holes.

Commander Oliver Loughty
Executive Officer
USS Leviathan

“So it’s your call Captain,” Kaylin said, turning to Captain Henao in anticipation of a response,

“We may only need a few minutes closer to the event horizon, I think the Levi could handle it.”

|Lt., j.g. Wilde,
Ops/Helm Officer|

Iphigenia considered Lieutenant Wilde’s suggestion carefully as she paced back and forth across the CIC floor. The idea of using a black hole’s gravitational forces to disrupt the temporal teapot’s path was risky, but potentially their best chance. She knew the regulations well and approaching a black hole was not taken lightly, even under dire circumstances. Iphigenia wasn’t sure if the crew was ready for this type of mission.
After a moment of weighing the options, Iphigenia nodded decisively before setting in her chair. Saoir or Commander Loughty were not onboard and she knew either of them would be able to tell her if this was a reasonable feat, “Lieutenant Wilde, set a course that brings us to the edge of the safe distance, from the event horizon. Maintain that distance precisely. We’ll use the gravitational pull as a strategic advantage.”
She glanced around the bridge, meeting the eyes of her officers. “Prepare the ship for potential time dilation effects.” She activated her comm =^=Engineering, be ready to adjust power distribution on my mark.=^=

Captain Henao
(Commanding Officer)

The ship lights dimmed and the ship went into yellow alert to notify the crew to secure stations.

Commander Oliver Loughty
Executive Officer
USS Leviathan

“Charting course,” Kaylin responded, typing in navigation to find a nearby minor black hole to suite their needs,

“Target location is two minutes away at Warp 7. We’ll be parking the Levi in orbit at the 100 million kilometer threshold.”

|Lt., j.g. Wilde,
Ops/Helm Officer|

As the ship moved into position, Iphigenia couldn’t help but recall her academy days, where the theoretical discussions about black holes seemed so far removed from practical application. Now, she was about to face one head-on.

“Lieutenant Wilde, ensure all non-essential systems are powered down. We need to conserve energy for potential emergency maneuvers,” she instructed, her voice steady dispite the nervousnessin it. She glanced at the viewscreen, where the swirling vortex of the black hole grew larger.

Iphigenia activated the comm system again. =^=All hands, this is Captain Henao. We are approaching a black hole. Follow all protocols, ensure anomalies are secured, and prepare for …the unknowable. Henao out.=^=

She turned to her Science Officer, Deshara, who had been quietly observing the preparations. “Cadet Toussaint, I need you to monitor the temporal readings closely. Any unusual fluctuations, and I want to know immediately.”

Captain Henao
(Commanding Officer)

Deshara nodded, her fingers moving quickly over console. “Aye, Captain. Scanners are calibrated for maximum sensitivity.”

The tension on the bridge was visible as the Leviathan edged closer to the event horizon. Iphigenia could feel the slight hum of the engines straining to maintain their precise distance.

Cadet Toussaint
(Scientist)

Adam joined the Captain, he’d considered following the stranger Holmes to engineering but with the situation as it was he felt he was of more use on the CIC rather than stalking the woman “Captain I suggest dropping out of warp a further distance away from the Black Hole than planned, I’m assuming that Holmes has something in mind and the gravimetric disturbances caused by a singularity could disrupt any potential plans. Time dilution effects of a black hole are relative and I’m assuming that” He paused “The S.S. Teapot is working outside relative temporal effects” He said in a low voice for her ears only.

CIO

Adam’s suggestion echoed in her mind as she focused on the task at hand. She nodded slowly, considering his point.
“Understood, Lieutenant Commander Magnusson,” she said. “We’ll adjust our approach. Let’s drop out of warp at least 500,000 kilometers further than initially planned. We’ll need to account for any unexpected gravitational distortions.”
Iphigenia took a deep breath, the air filling her lungs. She glanced at the temporal readings on Deshara’s console, the flickering numbers a testament to the strange reality they were about to enter. “Cadet Toussaint, how are the readings?”

Captain Henao
(Commanding Officer)

“No significant fluctuations yet, Captain. Everything is stable....for now.”

Cadet Toussaint
(Scientist)

“Yes ma’am,” Kaylin replied, sounding slightly disappointed by the change in plan.

|Lt., j.g. Wilde,
Ops/Helm Officer|

Hazel burst onto the bridge just in time to see the ship approach the black hole. Even with the adjusted plan, her eyes widened—this was not part of the history she knew. Had she calculated wrong? “Capta…”

Before she could finish, the ship was impacted by the oddly named S.S. Teapot. The combined temporal effects of the black hole and the Teapot caused the Leviathan to act as a sort of magnet for two different generations of tachyons. They swirled around the ship, the light-distorting effect of the black hole making them visible to the human eye. Anyone looking at the viewscreen would see the ship spinning on its axis. Shadows of the ship rippled through space-time, creating a disorienting effect as every movement appeared blurry, like watching oneself in multiple layers of mirrors all moving at different speeds.

“CAUTION: BLACK HOLE EVENT HORIZON PROXIMITY OUTSIDE OPERATING PROCEDURES. CAUTION: BLACK HOLE EVENT HHHOOOORRRRIIIZZOOOOOON…” The computer’s voice sounded and repeated, though the audio started to become distorted, the words being drawn out as the black hole’s temporal effects took hold. The ship slowly, quickly, and repeatedly spun towards the event horizon, with the S.S. Teapot jammed into the forward decks like a wedge, causing a rip in the fabric of space.

Commander Hazel Loughty
Starfleet Temporal Agent
USS Leviathan