There is no Shakedown Pt 3

Posted on Wed Mar 29th, 2023 @ 2:39am by Commander Rosa Coy & Lieutenant Leo Da'Cinci & Captain Kaylia Strenvale & Commander Jennifer Westlake & Lieutenant Commander Allen Yankovic & Major Damon Griffith & Lieutenant Commander Brianna "Raven" Davies & Lieutenant Jocelyn Logan & Lieutenant JG Kell Asaa Dr & Ensign Harry Stevens & Ensign Kesar & Ensign Theo Cauthon & Ensign Pashi zh'Vhohlehr & Ensign Alexandra "Alex" Fontana Tosto & Thomas Mathews

Mission: New Horizons
Location: USS Liberty
Timeline: Current

Kaylia gave a look around a moment, "Lets start with initial questions before I finish."

Kell half-raised her hand but put the brakes on and lowered it back down. "Medical needs? Racial, species, or combat expected?"

Pashi raised her hand “Dangers that the Genesis wave has not completely abated. Scientific probes indicated that there where short burst of what appear to be signatures of a wave form coming from the former Mutara Nebula and ‘Genesis’ Planet region. Also has any one verified or been to the second phase of the project on the planetoid, Regula i?” as Pashi said this she realized she was revealing that she had a very high level security clearance.

"Unfortunately, I can't answer the specifics about that, Ms. Asaa. The reason being we don't have it and won't know until we get there. Just because the Federation put that ban on the location, it doesn't mean others abide by it. As for your question, or mention Pashi. No one has been back there in our terms. We do know that if it hasn't been touched by us. The station my be compromised. As well as given that the cave on the planetoid for the second phase should still be intact. That one's matrix was not altered to cheat and make it work like the torpedo was by Doctor Marcus. It is entirely possible that matrix in the underground is something sought after to try and recreate the project, torpedo."

Kell nodded at the captain's reply and subtly tapped in notes as the conversation went back and forth. Her team would have a heads-up on some basics and she'd get into more depth with them depending on how much she was allowed to tell them up front. In any case, she knew the medical branch would be ready to respond!

Kesar had just transported aboard when the call for all officers to report to the Bridge. He dropped to all fours and ran through the hallways; making it to the Bridge just in time to hear the Captain explain the mission. 'Sounds like I get thrown into the fire my first assignment after graduation.' He thought to himself. Kesar climbed up on his stilts and logged into his console to familiarize himself with the ship and her tactical systems; making sure he would be ready no matter what happened.

“Captain should I prepare a Class-8 probe and launch it to gather further information on Mutara sector, I can also modify it to see if we can capture some of the signals being reported.” Inquired Pashi. She wanted to know as much as possible about the signals and the Mutara sector, this was most likely going to be her one and only chance to scientifically explore the sector.

"Given the fact that we are authorized to go there...obviously. You may go ahead with the probe Ensign. In fact, set up and launch two of them. One to where the nebula use to be and one at Regula itself. We need all information we can get. Given that we're going in blind. Other than the information I've already given."

Kaylia took a breath, "I am aware, this is highly unusual. Also, this is my first real command as a ships Captain. We all need to trust each other, we, you, you, you, I, etc. Would not be here if we were not thought to be ready for this venture. I look forward to adding all of you to being considered my family. For now, lets still keep on task. Any other questions, observations. Someone point something out I've not already thought of. For example, has already happened. We're going to have to check out the station and stage two. Thank you for pointing that idea out."

Ensign Pashi blushed a deep blue purple and began feeding information into the system alerting the science and tactical crewmembers to prepare two Class-8 probes and the instrument packages she would require. She received a confirmation and information that the two probes would be ready in five minutes for launch, given the specified adjustments and instrument packages. "The probes will be ready in five minutes Captain, need to make a few adjustments and install a couple of instrument packages before launch. Tactical will be advised when ready for launch." replied Pashi.

Westlake watched quietly from her position in the second command chair, allowing the Captain to command the room without any other interference. Until she was needed or could provide further information she would watch, and wait to see what would happen.

Kesar kept an eye on his controls ready to launch the probes when requested. He didn't have any questions, though he did pull up a brief summary of the Mutara Sector having only minor passing familiarity with it from the Academy. Looking at the information he thought to himself 'This could be a great adventure, could also be dangerous. Definitely better than going into politics like my brother and grandfather.'

Damon continued to remain quiet. The Mutara Sector? He'd heard rumors about things that Kirk dealt with regarding that place but nothing was ever confirmed. Even though he was a senior officer on the Liberty and even though he held the rank of Major, much of the things regarding the Mutara sector were 'above his pay-grade' as the saying went. In other words, most reports if any wuld be classified even for him.

Pashi's console lit up with confirmation that the two probes were ready. She quickly feed the coordinates to both probes and to the tactical console and Ensign Kesar. "Sir, probes are ready for launch on your command." stated Pashi. "Information has been feed to the tactical console."

Kaylia's tail was definitely moving back and forth. Be that because of anticipation, anxiety, excitement, would have to ask her. It was however, either way. "Fire the probes. Keep a lock on them. Everyone to your stations. We're moving in. Head for Regula one. For the record. The Genesis Planet is still intact. Mostly, and the explosion from the Genesis torpedo did not destabilize the nebula. There's no point in keeping everything hidden since our orders are to go where we are. I want you all to know everything we have. It's better to go in eyes wide open and have to turn tail than go in eyes closed and die."

"Probes away and tracking." Kesar said as he glanced up to see the probes arcing away from the ship on the main screen. He kept his eyes on his console and listened as the Captain explained more about the nebula that contradicted what little was taught in the Academy.

"Aye Captain, course set and ready. ETA, 10 minutes." Coy replied while mulling over this new tidbit of information. She was never one to question early information in the advent of danger, but it did take the mystery out of discovery. She could only hope this wasn't going to be the norm but rather the exception.

"That you Coy. Everyone keep your eyes open." Kaylia moved to sit down. "I know this is the complete opposite of what you've been told. That's why it's off limits."

The probes at the moment are confirming readings of exactly what the Captain said. All of it, mostly. There were some variances in radiation levels the closer the probes got to the center of the system.

Pashi was monitoring the data coming from the probes; everything appeared to be what was expected, but the variances in radiation began to get more out of normal, she then saw a wave form that was not normal. She quickly ran a diagnostic, it was a protomatter wave. “Captain I am picking up an unusual protomatter wave emanating from the coordinates of the Genesis planet.” Pashi reported as she tried to narrow down another anomaly the probe was picking up, a ship, and if the data was correct it conformed to a Federation Miranda-class. “Captain are there any other Starfleet vessels in this sector, specifically a Miranda-class?” inquired Pashi as she tried to make sense of the data the probe was relaying to her science station.

"A what? There shouldn't be any, unless that's a ghost image from the USS Reliant. Given the device was on her when it went off. Keep scanning that and helm move us toward Regula I." Kaylia looked at the arm of her chair a moment at the readings. She was afraid of that. Why did Starfleet leave that information out.

Alex watched the people around her. She didn't like it any more than the others that they were going in blind. She crossed her fingers and hoped that this wouldn't be a one-way trip.

"The Reliant was destroyed in 2285 in an explosion that very nearly took out the Enterprise if memory serves. Any Miranda class ship out here would have to be of that vintage" Commander Westlake mused from the XO's position. Things just were getting weirder and weirder.

"I believe that's what I just said, Commander. Either way. It was totally obliterated, the Enterprise was destroyed and landed in pieces. The planet was suppose to have self-destructed. If that didn't actually happened, then we're getting one of two things. A ghost shadow, or this is why no one is allowed here. There's a rift in time." Kaylia sighed. "Continue to Regula I for now. Keep an eye on the probe, and send another one, Pashi."

Pashi acknowledged the command “Aye, Sir.” As she began sending the request to have another probe prepared for launch. She was scanning the data coming through and the readings were getting more paradoxical. There were Chroniton particles flowing out then reversing and flowing into Regula I. What was even stranger there were Antichroniton particles in the same vicinity doing the same, pulsing out, then reversing course and pulsing back. She checked and the probe seemed to be operating within normal parameters. “Captain, the probe is indicating an extremely….” Suddenly the probe and all data seemed to disappear. She frantically began running diagnostics and tried to find the probe. Suddenly there appeared to be an oncoming torpedo at the USS Liberty towards the aft of the ship. She analyzed the data from the ships sensors and as she was doing this, she began receiving data from the lost probe, revealing the USS Liberty forward of it. “Captain the probe is behind us some how and accelerating. It disappeared for just a second and then reappeared. Before disappearing I was getting contradictory data. I advise altering course, we have two minutes before the probe hits the aft of the ship.”

Ensign Theo Cauthon was sat taking it all in, not at real time but he was attempting to process it. He looked to the captain, it felt like he hadn't been present but he had, he had been so engrossed in trying to get operations set up that he had missed most of what was said "Orders for operations captain?" he said with a smile.

"Take your station, Ensign." Kaylia took a long breath and stepped back a little so she could sit down, crossing a leg over her knee. "Mark that location and we are not going to approach it as of yet. Pashi. Stop that second probe, six thousand kilometers from where that supposed rift opened. Keep it feeding data to your station. Helm, continue on our course to Regula."

Pashi acknowledged the order "Aye, Captain." She then began inputting the commands to the second probe. The probe sent back data that it was 'on station' at six thousand kilometers. "Probe is on station, six thousand kilometers. Data stream is still transmitting."

Not sure what to make of the sensor readings of the Miranda class ship; Kesar was ready to engage shields and weapons in an instant if that was what the Captain ordered. He kept an eye on the sensor readings to see if the Miranda class changed course or powered weapons.

Damon had a puzzled look on his face. Could this Miranda be the Reliant? Or another Miranda class out of sheer coincidence? He looked towards tactical from his own station. "Is there an ID on the Miranda?"

"If that's the Reliant, the original one, I'll do gamma shift for a month" Westlake retorted as she tried to get a better look on the ghost ship.

Despite Coy's panache she had to snigger at the whole of the situation but more importantly Westlake's makeshift bet. Not to be outdone, Coy offered, "I'll take that bet." She punched in an adjustment for the coordinates. "Gravimetric spikes are causing navigation to be all squirrelly. I'm having to make minor course corrections as we go Captain. Regula I should be on sensors," she paused, "now."

TBC