Posted by Captain Calvin Marius (Captain) in Nothing good happens after 2am

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Thomas McGregor (COS) in Nothing good happens after 2am

Posted by Captain Calvin Marius (Captain) in Nothing good happens after 2am
Posted by… suppressed (3) by the Post Ghost! 👻
<snip>
The ship shimmered in space for a moment and 8 images returned. “What the…” the tactical officer murmured. “There hasn’t been an energy change, the ship either divided into eight ships with 12% the power of the first, or they are just images.”

“The ship appears to have a much more significant hardpoint that is several orders of magnitude denser than the light projector. The ‘rainbow projector is analogous to our sensor system’ with the other hardpoint more likely being a beam weapon system.” her brow furrowed slightly. “Their weapon systems, remain dormant and uncharged, and they are maintaining a constant position.”

“Commander, I have been working on a theoretical application of their ‘rainbow’ beam, by modulating the emitter across the entire visible and electromagnetic spectrum. While it wouldn’t penetrate the shield fully, it might allow the alien vessel to identify irregularities or our specific shield modulation.”

“Explain irregularities,” Vanessa said in a far more rhetorical sentence then information seeking sentence.

“Well, It would be like staining a piece of wood. The stain would seep into the seams of the wood and show where the grain is. Once you know where the strengths and weaknesses are, you can use that to your advantage.”

On the main viewscreen, a shimmering, multicolored light pulsed from the bogie’s or bogies array, playing across the Genesis’ shields. The energy field reacted, swirling and flickering under the bombardment of disparate frequencies.

“I have a momentary flux, Captain!” Ensign Valerius announced. “Duration estimated at 0.25 seconds. “

Marius

“And how are we stopping any flux,” Vanessa stated. The bridge crew was peppered with senior officers but this felt on some level more of training drill especially since Calvin had not cleared the way. While it might be something no one spoke of in Starfleet, a large part of Vanessa’s training was with ex-Starfleet vets and civilians. What she knew about that was people got testy when you started poking at their vehicles. She had seen more Saturday night fights after the bar over someone bothering a vehicle over a prospective partner. If Calvin was standing in the back still, he did not have too grave of concern for his lady. The second his Genny was in trouble, Calvin would probably be barking out orders. It was just a human thing with people and their vehicles.

Vanessa Slade CNS

“Helm, get us behind them,” Thomas ordered tensely. “Or at least out of the arc of that emitter.”

COS

“Coming to course, 036 mark 322… full impulse, parabolic course.” the helmsman reported. The Genesis wasn’t a fighter but she burst into motion so sharply the crew could feel the movement irrespective of the inertia dampeners.

“Commander, the bogie, bogies, are increasing speed, .3 c. Dead ahead. She’s running at impulse.”

Marius

“Convergent course?” Thomas asked. If all eight were looking to ram…

COS

OOC: Sorry that wasn’t clear, as the Genesis moved behind them the went to .3 c. So you are looking at the aft of the eight ships as they are ‘running away.’ It is not a ramming course. I probably should have set that up better.

“Negative sir, I think they are, well or it is trying to run.”

0.3 c is a pretty impressive speed, although running at warp would be more effective. “They aren’t going to get away at sub-light.”

Marius

“Not making any moves to become one ship again?” Thomas asked, curious. “What are their vectors?”

COS

“No sir, they are moving in union. Same course, heading, speed, and maintaining relative distance Its just eight exact ships doing the same exact thing.”

“Bearing 002, mark 358. Out to deep space, nothing out there but nothing.”

Marius

Thomas paused. “What’s that in relation to their entry vector?” Were they straight up retreating, having split into 8 ships, or was this something else?

COS

The helmsofficer shrugged. “I don’t think it has any connection. It was directly away from the position we were trying to take on its, or their aft.” The ship was moving in a steady direction, but slowly accelerating, as if they were trying to increase the distance, but not trying to lose the Genesis.

Marius

Thomas paused. “It smells like a lure,” he said, narrowing his eyes. “Are we within tractor beam range of any of the eight?”

COS

“Not right now.” The helms officer responded. “I can get us closer, but given its size, the fact that it has shields. I don’t know if the tractor beam would even grab on to it.”

As he spoke the ship(s) slowed and pivoted about. No longer running away but turning and facing the Genny.

“Her weapons are going hot Sir.”

Marius

“Maintain your course and speed,” Thomas said. “Put us right in the middle of them.”

Hopefully they could tank enough shots from whatever weapons those ships had to close the distance.

COS

“In the middle of them,” Vanessa repeated Thomas’ command. It was clear she was surprised at the course of action but she slowly began to realize what the command entailed. Leaning over to speak to Calvin she whispered, “Sir if we get zapped by either of those ships are we like,” she made a gestured indicating they would not make it along with a choking like sound.

Vanessa Slade CNS

Marius raised his eyebrow. It was a simulation so boldness was pretty much without risk, but you were supposed to practice, the way you play. So this was telling him something about hi chief of security.

“Aye, sir.. going for the hole in the donut.” The helmsman drove the Genesis pretty much dead ahead into the circle of the opposing starships.

There was a pause that hung in the air for a heavy moment before the eight ships dipped down and to the left. It was natural for races that lived in gravity based worlds to ‘dive’ to gain speed and distance faster, it had no impact in space, but that didn’t impact ‘humanoid’ instinct.

What the maneuver revealed was three of the ‘high’ ships lost form and power and wavered out of existence for a good 30 seconds before reappearing. The opposition ships maintained a weapon lock on the Genesis and even with several good opportuanities they/it never fired.

marius

‘Interesting,’ Thomas thought. The implication was the ‘illusion’ or whatever it was needed a certain amount of power to maintain, which they couldn’t sustain under high maneuvering.

“Steady as she goes, Helm,” Thomas said.

COS

The crew of the Genesis watched through the targeting as all eight alien vessels locked their weapons on their hull they continued to maneuver into a firing position although such things were also less relevant in modern star-ship combat as most vessel have weapons that fired into many arcs and things like forward, behind, flanks often meant nothing.

The mysterious ship’s shields flared bright and their sensors could read the ships plasma conduits hummed under strain, yet not a single bolt was fired. Despite perfect firing solutions and multiple opportunities to strike, the opposing ships moved wildly and aggressively, but still didn’t fire.

Marius

Thomas frowned.

“Is it possible that this is a weird form of communication?” he asked. “I’m not complaining that they’re not shooting at us, but at the same time, why aren’t they shooting at us?”

COS

“Never,” Vanessa said in a slightly bemused tone only it was more sarcasm than true humor, “ever question why someone isn’t shoot at us.”

The helm officer just shrugged. “I would suppose they are saying the same thing about us. We made a number of maneuvers that could be called hostile and we’ve had more than a couple of opportunities to fire on them. Well that’s if we tried lock the weapons.” Which they hadn’t.

The question hung in the air, but then a change occurred. The eight vessels disappeared just leaving the one original ship which slowed to a dead stop. “They are hailing us, finally.”

Marius

“Finally,” Thomas echoed. “Put it on screen.”

He looked over to Marius, giving him a questioning look and asking-without-asking ‘Do you want to step in now?’

COS

Calvin just shook his head. “Dance with you brung ya.”

Thomas shrugged and tried to remember his few Academy diplomacy courses.

Static shimmer resolves into a dark, angular chamber. A figure stands silhouetted against a pulsing blue lattice. No discernible facial features. Voice modulation is deep, resonant, and slightly asynchronous.

“Federation vessel Genesis. You have observed our formations. You have withheld fire. You have interpreted our silence. This is acceptable.”

“We are the Korrari. We do not speak until the field is proven. You have not fled. You have not struck. You have not broken formation. You are now acknowledged.”

“Your vessel is marked. Your crew is recorded. Your restraint is noted. We will proceed.”

“Acknowledge.”

“Acknowledged,” Thomas managed to say without a stammer. “If I may ask, proceed to where?”

marius

We will proceed? Great just great. This is not going to be over anytime soon. Do you actually realize it is 2 am Calvin, Vanessa thought to herself as she made her way to an empty seat on the bridge. The counselor did not always sit on the bridge but there were times a counselor’s presence was needed. Since she didn’t get the Hey we are going to have a red alert drill for everyone but Vanessa you are excused memo, she knew she was at least sitting here for the long haul. Part of her wanted to yell out acknowledge but this drill was not for her. So she waited patiently.

Vanessa Slade CNS

COS

“With introductions.” He countered. “We have identified ourselves and our intentions.” The shape shimmered the returned to the dark form. Perhaps the shimmer was another form of communication or maybe it was a trick of the lights, or lack thereof on the other ship.

Others

“Well, I’ll concede the first, and I’m pleased to meet you. The second I could dispute, since it seems to me that you only identify what you’re doing after you’ve gone and done it,” Thomas replied. “But in the interest of communication, though you say you’ve already marked our vessel and recorded our crew, I’d like to properly identify myself. Lieutenant Commander Thomas McGregor, senior officer in command.”

Slightly obfuscutory, but none of the officers more senior to him were officially present…

COS

“We also use a hierarchical system for our exploration vessels. My rank is 315, which is my overall position of command within our exploration team. A single value decreases confusion. You have stated that you are an exploration vessel on a mission of peace. How is this done?”

315

‘A single value might decrease confusion, but only if you understand the system,’ Thomas thought with a scowl.

He also didn’t recall saying anything about their mission, but that might have been part of the standard hail. He couldn’t remember, so decided to roll with it.

“For a ship of this class, it’s generally following up on items of interest observed by the Federation’s telescopes, long-range probes or smaller ships,” Thomas said.

COS

OOC: You did not, nor was it part of the standard hail that you delivered.

OOC: Oh good, it’s just part of their preliminary espionage and I’m not crazy XD

IC: There was a pause. “We are past that point and before it as well. We can move onto items of mutual interest. We wish to exchange missionaries. I believe your Federation calls them diplomats. Additionally, I will cash in that diplomat status for 11,153. I believe you are to acknowledge that status.”

315

IC: Thomas blinked. “So you already have sent somebody over?” he asked, attempting to clarify. And a considerably lower-ranking member of his crew/species, if he was in the triple digits and this “ambassador” was nearly 10-thousand ranks lower.

It was 0245. It was too early for this…

COS