Posted by Lieutenant Commander Magnús Pétursson (First Officer) in Main Sim Tour of the Military Instillation

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Thomas McGregor (COS) in Main Sim Tour of the Military Instillation

Posted by Gamemaster GM Kate (GMT) in Main Sim Tour of the Military Instillation
Posted by… suppressed (12) by the Post Ghost! 👻
As the Genesis officers sat in the shuttle en route to the military installation several things might catch their attention. The first was the design of the ship taking them there. It was not like the boxy-shaped shuttles of the Federation. The lines were sleek and smooth resembling a ripple of water on a pond with the nose and tail tapering to points around the bulbous-shaped crew area. There were no outward markings, indications, or indentations on the craft minus the slim lines where the entry hatch resided and the area around the viewport. This ship resembled more of a stealthy fighter craft than a transport. It did not take too much imagination to guess the ship was designed to evade detection. The question was from whom. The obvious answer was the Gorn but sometimes the obvious wasn’t the right answer.

‘Nice,’ Thomas thought to himself upon seeing the sleek shuttle. It looked to him a little like a blown glass bauble one might hang from a Christmas tree.

Inside the ship the control panel displayed the familiar readings one would expect on a shuttle with time, distance, and vector. All of this was easily visible to anyone on the shuttle. Two other displays might pique one’s interest if noticed. The first was that there appeared to be only three points of civilization on the topographical display. One was the massive capital city they had just left. The second was a city close to the same size as the Captial in the northern area of the continent. The last was a city, again the same size at the other two, but sprawled along the coast. This was the city they seemed to be headed to. From a tactical standpoint, it lacked the things most military facilities tended to use such as cover. It was lying out in the open avoiding any use of hills or mountainous terrain that lay above it and below it. It was almost as if the base was placed their to avoid such geographical landmarks.

Thomas took note of this as well, but immediately thought it was more a decoy location, with the actual base most likely substantially built below-ground and possibly well away from the top-side facility. It was how he would have done it, especially if he was expecting an attack at any moment.

The second display was far more curious. It displayed Beltran’s moon along with what appeared to be a countdown. The clock below it showed that whatever they were monitoring on the moon would occur in the next twelve hours.

GM Kate

Magnus looked at the display “If I may ask, is the location for your Military installation a strategic or Cultural choice?” He asked not really expecting an answer.

XO

“We only occupy this continent on Beltran. The other side of the planet has not seen colonization due to the atmospheric storms you encountered coming dirtside,” the pilot stated over his shoulder. “The base has been there for a few millennia in different states. In our early history, it was a shipping port. It supplies the smaller cities up and down the coast.” From where the security people sat, the viewport switched to a new screen suddenly showing many more points where there was a population of civilians. All along the coast and throughout the interior of the continent , the screen showed that the barren space was not devoid of life but filled with cities. The cities were separated by considerable distances as if they were intended to be isolated. So to answer your question it is both. The site is historical but now it is strategic.” Using his finger he created a triangle showing how the military base, science facility, and capital created a pyramid with 90% of the cities encased in the space. “Our shields create an illusion that there is nothing between the three areas. It is helpful living this close to the Gorn.”

Magnus listened with great interest, it was the most the Staff Officer had spoken at once “Clever use of available space and misdirection. Adapting to one’s environment is crucial” His tone showed that he was truly impressed with their ingenuity.

Thomas pointed to the moon display. “And may I ask what you’re expecting to happen to or with the moon later today?”

COS

“The moon will be in Ang pag-aani. Translated that means the harvesting. In the past, our planet was attacked by enemy forces when the moon was in this celestial position. It’s one of our more revered time for celebrating our survival and mourning those that have been lost.”

Beltran Military Pilot

Magnus mouthed the word, testing the phrase and memorizing it “Will it be acceptable for us to partake or observe the celebration or is it preferable for strangers to abstain?” He asked as he considered the tragedy of an entire species having holidays dedicated to alien incursions, there were too many who suffered such fates, Earth had been fortunate that Vulcan was one of the closest systems.

XO

“It is a celebration for those living. You also can not abstain. Our moon will create a total eclipse bathing the world in darkness for hours on end. The only way you can not partake in it is to hide under a rock.” In his mind General Trell Lago silently added or under a shield. There were only two places one could escape it.

‘Hours?’ Thomas thought to himself, wishing he’d paid more attention to the cosmological layout of the system on the way in. On Earth, lunar eclipses only lasted minutes along a very narrow path of totality.

Hearing that, the hairs on the back of Thomas’ neck stood up. For it to have become an observed celebration, it had to have happened more than once already, what was to say it wasn’t about to happen again?

Especially, as the attache said, living so close to the Gorn…

COS

A loud thud rocked the ship as the craft descended on the landing strip. Getting up from his seat the General moved to the hatch on the ship. This arrival was very different than the one the Genesis crew had when landing at the Captial. The place was set up as if ready to engage in a military combat situation. Troops ran about stacking crates and passing out supplies. There was little merriment or singing like when the crew arrived at the Spaceport. The troops were well trained and moved with precision honed by drill upon drill.

Thomas trained his eyes on the troops, looking specifically for what kind of supplies were being handed out. Were they eyewear to reduce the impact of the eclipse, or were they weapons to deal with anything that may come during the darkness?

Stepping out of the shuttle, Lago led the security teams over to an area that was out of the way but let them all observe the movements of the troops. “You will not be here when the moon achieves full eclipse. We will have you safely back in the palace and out of harm’s way but I wanted to assure you so that you can assure your Captain that the Genesis crew is safe here during the celestial event.”

GM Kate

For his part, Thomas wasn’t so sure that the palace counted as ‘out of harm’s way’ in the event of an invasion, but also figured that this place would be equally vulnerable in that event, so maybe it was a wash.

COS

Upon further inspection, the scene occuring around the military base was an enigma. The men appeared to be reading for a true combat scenario. The weapons were strategically being stockpiled at key points on the base and yet the troops appeared to lack the rush that normally occurred with such an event. The General might have tried to make it appear it was just ceremonial but the troops were not preparing as if it was just a ceremonial display

GM Kate

Magnus eyed the troops as they went around their business “Impressive display General, do you always prepare so thoroughly?” He asked in the most diplomatic way, asking without accusing.

XO

No sooner did the words leave the XO’s mouth, the mood of the base abruptly changed. Klaxons rang out and people began to run instead of walk. Being the XO, no one needed to tell him that the troops were acting as if there was an attack coming and this was not a drill. General Lago grabbed a man running past him and ordered an explanation.

“General, the Volians are on the move.” The young officers tone conveyed confusion and fear.

“Secure the base and get me the science facility,” General Lago stated seemingly forgetting the tour he was giving as he began to march to what the Genesis officers could reasonably assume was the command center.

GM Kate

Magnus gave the Security Chief a look, his usual grin replaced with a grim expression. He nodded and half jogged to keep up with the General “Volians?” He asked

XO

Thomas followed, his expression equally grim.

The ground suddenly began to shake as an earth tremor rocked the ground below them. It was not enough to throw anyone to the ground but enough that one would have to work to maintain their balance. It lasted for about 10 seconds before subsiding.

Thomas, caught mid-stride when the first tremor happened, managed to wobble into a stack of crates.

“An Indigenous predator on the planet,” the General snapped back entering what could reasonably be assumed to be the command center. He did not barr the crew of the Genesis from following. “Get me the science facility now,” the General snapped with a crisp tone.

A few seconds later the connection was made.

=/\= Scion Dharma I warned you that your tests against the Volians should have stopped. Now they appear to be waking up two months before their cyclical routine.=/\= General Lago was angry and directed his wrath at the scientist.

=/\=Wiping them out once and for all should be something you aspire to and just like the military, science has to take calculated risks. City shielding is up and your forces should be able to maintain the protective domes.=/\= Dharma snapped back. =/\=The King is safe and so are the visitors. This is just a minor inconvenience and inappropriate timing.=/\

“So, sounds like big bugs,” Thomas said sotto voce to Magnus. “Damn big, if their tunneling can cause earthquakes.”

Magnus nodded “It’s always something” His smile had turned grim

As the General and Scientists spoke, the Genesis away teams receive their own comm call through their badges.

=/\=Gen…sis away tea.....Lot of interfere....We can’t get signal past....attle platforms.....or atmos turbulence=/\= The comms stated. The message was broken and static-filled but it could be possible to infere that the orbiting ship was having issues with communications between the battle platforms and the turbulence in the atmosphere the shuttles had experienced.

=/\=Sensors pick…siesmic tremor and prev....undect…life forms.....low the surface. Gen…sis…unab…to send help or shuttles....round…batt…plat…form.=/\=

GM Kate

“Oh goody, just how I like my diplomatic excursions: with a side of being stranded and attacked by alien cicadas,” Thomas muttered.

Magnus’s grim smile turned lopsided at McGregor’s comment “Glad to see you sharing my excitement” He seemed genuinely excited.

“Any chance we could borrow a rifle or at least a sidearm?” he asked the General at full voice. “We didn’t think it was polite to bring phasers to dinner, you see.”

COS

The Genny’s first officer looked askanse at the Security chief but made no comment, he understood the desire to have a weapon but it was not likely that small arms would do much against creatures that threatened city-level shielding.

XO

General Lago spared the men a half glance before signalling one of his troops over. They handed the crew of the Genesis each a weapon and a uniform like the troops were wearing when they arrived. “The shielding will be of far more use to those weapons but I know what it feels like to be without a weapon in war.”

“It is your choice to wear our uniform instead of your own but,” Lago touched a button on the cuff of his sleeve, “stealth can be more powerful than a weapon.” Once he depressed the button on his cuff, everything except Lago’s hands and head were visible. It was visually disturbing, reminding one of the old-fashioned seances where a head was floating with nobody present. Lago pressed the button on his cuff deactivating the suit and returning back so that his body was visible. “Our shielding is incorporated into the suits. Now if you need further babysitting I can assign you to one of our other officers or you can stand quietly and watch while I do my job.” Lago turned back to the monitors and began to assess what was needed to defend the three cities.

General Lago