Posted by Gamemaster CockRoach (Gamemaster) in Main Sim - Bridge - A Day From K-5
[snip]

Captain Glen instantly recognized that design configuration of the frigate. How could he not recognize it, when it frequently appeared in his most lucid nightmares. Once again, he was haunted by the memory of that Destiny Temporal Paradox mission, and of the worm that wrapped itself tight around his brain and forced him to act against his own will and best interests.

Life scans of the craft showed it was as expected a partly organic living ship, but unlike previous records showing a crew of 10-12 this one had only a signal Ancient life sign showing up. As this was taken in a hail came in directly calling for Captain Glen by name.

If he only could, Captain Glen have would have erased all knowledge and memory of the ancients. He couldn’t, and another part of his brain was curious; sufficiently curious enough not to order the immediate destruction of the craft.

Instead, but with some reluctance and a heavy heart, Captain Glen instructed Tinga, “Open a communications channel.”

Tinga had taken the barrel roll in style due to her antennae and superior balance but she was glad to have the ship righted again.

Glancing up from collecting damage reports, she saw the ship and heard the Captain’s command.

“Channel open sir.”

=/\= USS Merrimack. I am Shalon Da Fran, I have crossed vast treks of time and space to deliver to you a gift of life. My time here is short though and I must complete my transfer before it is up. Please stand by for a package to your cargo bay. =/\= The female like voice stated.

Glen turned to Kord, who always stood behind him, “I’m not sure that I can bring myself to speak to it, Kord. Could you please? It is an Ancient though, right? It’s not a Harvester. So, it’s come forward in time and from Andromeda. Quite a long journey just to bring us a present! I also don’t think we can turn it down. They had some way of bypassing our shields before.”

Kord had been surprised by the appearance of the ship as well. That it came out accidentally at the location of the Merri was highly improbable.

Kord stepped up beside Glen.

“It is indeed an Ancient craft. I will field this call. Do you wish to retire from the bridge first?” Kord asked.

“No, I’ll remain. I’m Captain of this ship. I must summon up the courage to overcome my memories and face them once again. We did defeat them before,” replied Glen. “I fought it before from inside my head, I just need a moment to come to terms with this return.”

Glen turned to Tinga. He was about to ask her to dispatch a subspace message to deep space K-5, saying something like they ‘had engaged the Ancients,’ but this enemy was still classified. No one had ever heard of them. So, he guessed they were going to be on their own here. No ships from the future to rescue them this time. No NX Memorial or USS Dresden to help out. Just the USS Merrimack alone. “Never mind!” Glen told her, “Kord will speak to Shalon Da Fran on my behalf. Otherwise, keep a radio silence until we know what they are up to.”

=/\= Security to Cargo Bays 1 and 2. Prepare for an immediate beam in of… something! A package! Hal, I don’t know what is getting delivered but it’s most likely to be dangerous and probably lethal. =/\=

-Glen, CO

Tia had been on the bridge updating the engineering logs with the current schedule when the ‘top over tea kettle’ maneuver sent her to her backside on the floor. Like everyone else, she ‘oomphed’ and rubbed the offending spot as well as helped others recover as she found her own footing once more. A quick glance assured her Kord and the CO were all right, and she helped an ensign into the turbo lift who appeared to have sprained her wrist in her fall. With the rest seeming all right and capable of assuming their posts once more, it sent an additional shudder thru her as the voice came on and brought back a wave of her own nightmarish memories of the past… or was it the future?

She bit her lip and closed her eyes, grateful to have to back to the view screen. But when Kord stepped up to respond, her own courage was bolstered and she turned halfway in her seat to watch the exchange. At the announcement of the arrival of a package, she clenched the console. As the room went silent a moment, she steeled her resolve and stood up. “I’m going to the bay as well. If it’s something mechanical or even just deadly, I think I should be there. Maybe science as well, since we have no idea what it will be.” She sighed and shook her head. “And maybe medical. The being said ‘the gift of life’. I just hope we haven’t suddenly become parents.”

She paused just long enough to catch Kord’s eyes and make sure she wasn’t going to be kept on the bridge.

Just as she was waiting for Kord’s nod of approval, her comm badge chimed with a hail from engineering about an issue and an immediate request for her presence. She growled under her breath and responded, then nodded to Kord and the Captain before heading for the lift. “I’ll go there as soon as I make sure we are righted, Sirs… promise.” She winked with a sly grin and disappeared into the lift.

Tiastri

Kord turned to the screen.

=^=Shalon Da Fran, excuse us for our cold reception but we do have reason to be suspicious. Can you tell us the nature of this gift before transport?=^=

• Kord, XO

=/\= Your reasons are valid ones. It seems your translator is not properly conducting my words to your speech pattern. The gift of life is unknown word/meaning..=/\= She stated but the end result was the UT just didn’t have a point of reference in the limited vocabulary it had built up of the Ancient language/culture. =/\= My time grows short, I am initiating transport now. =/\= She stated then.

Then even with the Merrimack’s shields up a energy signature similar to a transporter beam in was picked up in in cargo bay 1 on deck 11. =/\= Transport has been complete. I must take my leave to elsewhere and when, Captain Glen. I shall unknown word/meaning that your reunion is a productive and peaceful one. Farewell =/\= Shalon Da Fran said ending the comm call.

On the screen the frigate came about and another gravitational eddy this one much smaller and barely effecting the Merrimack opened and the frigate was engulfed and vanished from site and sensors.

Cargo bay 1 then reported in =/\= NE Fraz to the Captain. We got a uh.....big honking crystal down here, which seems to be pulsing in a manner consistent which our tricorders say is life.....I think? I’m not sure but it seems humaniod, though I’m not sure how given we got this big honking crystal..=/\= He said.

GM CockRoach

William arrived on the bridge after the jolt hit the ship. He just missed the XO leaving and went straight to his console. He exchanged a few whispered words with his NE who informed him of the situation. William sat down and took a look at his console.

CSO