Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Hercules Kahuna (Weapons Officer) in Main Sim - Bridge - Arrival at Ardan V
[snip]

“Cara,” he instructed, “Please determine if the XO is well or not?”

He walked around and sat in the Captain’s chair.

Not having communications was a huge problem. For all Hercules knew, the Captain could have already discovered the problem on the planet surface and was waiting to be beamed back up, or the engineers could soon have the Warp Engine back online. But he couldn’t know any of that and couldn’t think of a way to find out. He had to concentrate on the here and now.

“Dariusz,” he said, “Firstly, please calculate the course changes necessary to take up into a standard higher orbit. I want an orbit that will take us the furthest away from the planet surface but still within effective range of transporters and weapons. It doesn’t need to be geosynchronous. Then secondly, check what the power consumption that would require and whether it is possible with our present reserves, and if, as assume not, then what can we shut down that would make it possible. As quick as you can please!”

While Cara went to check on the condition of the XO, Dariusz ran the calculations to determine the power remaining and the power consumption required to change orbit.

Pokorski’s calculations showed the ship had full power actually, the problem was not the lack of power but the lack of anything running due to They would have sufficient power to change orbit once the warp core was running.

“Sir, we have enough power to change orbit,” Pokorski replied. “In fact, the warp core appears to be running again. The problem is the lack of anything else running because of the signal interruption between anything that required signals to run. Shall I make the course changes?”

“Yes, indeed crewman,” instructed Kahuna. “Make the course corrections!”

Dariusz laid in the course corrections that would lift the Merrimack into a higher orbit. “Impulse engines online, Sir!”

Cara was still busy investigating the condition of the XO.

Whatever Gods seem to have given the Merrimack this burst of power seemed to be holding and the ship began to move. The new position was achieved and there instant chirps around the bridge as equipment came back online. Main power restored the lights, communications, and other such systems all over the ship. There was no communication to the planet though, it was almost as if there was a bubble surrounding the planet of which the ship was now outside of.

“Well done, Pokorski!” said Kahuna. “Now that conditions are no longer critical, we can get the ship back to normal and investigate what is causing this unusual phenomena.”

With the XO still indisposed, Kahuna addressed the whole ship =/\= This is the Bridge. Lieutenant Kahuna speaking. We have taken the Merrimack further away from the Ardan V colony and out of it’s zone of influence. As the Warp Engine power is restored, you should find that systems will return - lights, communications and other systems. Please make damage reports and we can begin to make necessary repairs. Science department will continue to investigate the source of the problem. kahuna out! =/\=

Cross had something on her mind =/\= Lt Kahuna have you by any chance checked if there is some other ship in the vicinity, since we do know that the Klingon’s have been on the planet ..has anyone checked with the comm system maybe someone will pick it up and respond ? =/\= the CMO asked.

=/\= We’re a bit short-handed and only just got the comm system back up again, but we’ll do that immediately. =/\= Kahuna replied.

“Cara,” Kahuna said, “Leave the XO to rest now and take over at Communications. Open hailing frequencies and transmit a contact signal every five minutes. Daiusz, please scan for other vessels as deep as possible.”

Cara and Dariusz both set about following those orders.

The contact signal went out as planned and the scans for any ships in the vicinity proceeded. Time went by when there was finally a contact made.
A Klingon merchant vessel was moving through the system.

Cara said, “I’m picking up a Klingon merchant vessel passing through the system. I’m not sure if we really want help from Klingon merchants… if they’d even help that is! Shall I attempt to and send them a hail on the hailing frequencies? If I can remember how to work this thing again.”

Kahuna had the Conn and was nominally in charge of the Merrimack, but he was only a junior Lieutenant. The Captain was out of radio contact, but Kahuna was well aware of the Captain’s views about Klingons. The XO was somehow indisposed right now. Dr. Cross was the senior officer aboard the ship, but he didn’t want to show his indecision to her by asking her permission… the same indecision that he was clearly having right now! His recent bridge officer training had provided for such situations, not least there was the no-win Kobayashi Maru simulation in which ‘the best you can do’ is the only answer to your problem, unless you could rewrite the rules that is! What was the worst that could happen in this situation - the Klingon freighter would come and they’d all have a good laugh at them before leaving again - however, the Captain had been unable to discover why the Klingons had left the planet, and maybe these merchants might know something useful…

After racking his brains Kahuna came to a decision, “Yes Cara, send hailing frequencies!” He’d made a decision on his own. Now he’d either be lauded for it or damned for it, such was the price of strong leadership.

“Aye, Sir!” Cara replied. “Trying to open hailing frequencies!”

• Cara, Science

=/\= Bridge from sickbay …have you manage to make any kind of contact ? =/\= Cross asked ,she knew the Klingon’s had been on the planet but left ,if only they where still around and would give them some feedback .

Obviously the CMO was worried about the landing party and unable to communicate with them was troubling not knowing what the situation on the planet was .True the Klingon’s weren’t their best friends but in the past they had manage to meet and lo and behold had a small Olympic games .Cross had won a trophy by cheating , as had the other trophy gone to a cheating Klingon....but at least they hadn’t killed each other.

Cross CMO.

There was no one left on the Merrimack to remember, but the ship had only ever had two Captains. The first Captain had been murdered by Klingon assassins.

=/\= Kahuna here. We have located a ship and are attempting to contact them right now. They are a Klingon merchant vessel. =/\=

Cara continued sending out hails on hailing frequencies, including those the Klingons were known to use.

• Kahuna, Weapons

Finally their comm was answered but with no picture included on it.
^=^Yessss?^= Came a very gravelly voice, more then likely Klingon given the accented Federation standard he answered in.

GM Nosferatu
Your Darkest Nightmare