The Mayday
Episode Name: The Mayday Written By: Fortunae Cast: Ashilav, Foster, Leah, P'Trell and Raijin. Produced By: Starfleet Directed By: Raijin Aired On: Sun Sep 15 22:23:29 2002 Stardate: 52636.1
Time: Sun Sep 15 20:21:10 2002
Stardate: 52635.9
Irdosia is a planet with a primitive pre-warp civilization located between Dulcais and Starbase 419. Sector Command has directed the crew of Starbase 419 to travel to the out rim of the Irdosia system and replace the old style Quarantine buoy with a modern border interdiction buoy. The reason for the immediate change is the escalating situation throughout the sector; considering the Dominion's philosophy they would not think twice about conquering the developing Irdosians, or even genetically resequencing them to be better slaves. Thus, an interdiction buoy that will report via subspace communications any vessels entering the system will keep Starfleet apprised of any Dominion attempts on these lines. You have been selected for this mission on the runabout Cape Fear and are half way to Irdosia when....
Leah is in the middle of some tactical scan, and has been very quiet so far on the trip out.
P'Trell sits at the command seat checking over some information on his PADD. "Foster," he says without looking up. "What's our ETA for Irdosian space?"
Foster taps a few commands into the pilot console, looking down as he checks their eta. "Estimated time of arrival.. ten minutes."
Ashilav taps away at her console, doing the usual engineering monitoring. "All systems normal, sir," she says.
"Sir, I'm getting a distress signal," Leah says rather abruptly, breaking off her tactical scans to try and narrow in on the source.
P'Trell says, "From where?"
Ashilav's antennae perk forward at the news, becoming more alert to what's going on.
Leah finds the source fairly quickly and responds, "It's coming from Irdosia, sir... the side currently facing Dulcais."
P'Trell srches a white eyebrow at that. "From the planet itself? Put it onscreen or at least to audio if you can.
Leah nods and clarifies, "It's from low-orbit, rather, sir..." then she tries to put it on speakers or onscreen.
"-Mayday kssshk this is SS City Kssshk of Gallup. We are a Kssshk Federation Merchant Mar-Ksssshk bound for Starbase Kssssssk out of Dulcaksssshk. Something is jamminKsssssk igational sensors. To any and all FedKsssssssssssssssssssssssssssk"
Ashilav frowns slightly, and looks to P'Trell for orders.
Foster listens to the call, and swivels in his chair to look at P'Trell. "Orders, Lieutenant?"
P'Trell says, "Comm inform 419 of our situation and plot in a course for the City of Gallup's location. Try to get a signal to the Gallup to let them know we've recieved their hail."
Foster swivels back around, focusing his eyes as his fingers run across the obsidian console before him. "Attempting long range sensor scan to pick up their location."
<CONTEST> Foster contests his Shipboard Systems (Sensors) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
"Sir," Ashilav says, a hint of concern in her voice. "May I make an observation?"
P'Trell says, "By all means Mr. Ashilav."
Foster works a bit more at the console, "Pinpointed the City. Course plotted."
Ashilav clears her throat softly, sounding like a small trill. "They mentioned something about jamming their navigational sensors, if my Andorian hearing is correct. I recommend yellow alert, and a wide scan."
Foster swivels back around in his chair. "I have to agree with Mr. Ashilav about the wide range scan. If something is jamming their navigational sensors, the same could happen to the Cape Fear."
P'Trell says, "Make it so. I don't want to take a runabout into an ambush but I also don't want a third incident of cultural contamination on Irdosia. Let's proceed but with caution."
P'Trell says, "Ashilav, start the scanner sweeps. Foster, I want you to plot us a quick escape out of here should this ship not be what it seems. Mr. Leah, I want you to see what you can do about maintaining contact with the City."
Leah remains quiet at her post, listening to the conversation. "Aye, sir..." She begins working at her console, trying to boost or clarify the signal.
<CONTEST> Foster contests his Space Sciences (Astrogation) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Fails!
<CONTEST> Ashilav contests her Shipboard Systems (Sensors) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
Foster returns to facing the console. "Aye, sir." His finger dance along the console for a moment, and then he nods. "Return course plotted."
GAME: Leah spends a courage point.
Ashilav's console chirps almost musically as she performs the scan. "Sir, there appears to be another ship in close proximity to the City, although readings are inconclusive."
<CONTEST> Leah (claiming advantage) contests her Shipboard Systems skill vs a difficulty of Difficult and Fails!
Foster says, "Attempting to narrow the scan to within one hundred thousan kilometers of the city."
Leah looks up from her work, "Sir... I can't clear up the signal... We may lose contact."
Foster frowns, his eyebrows curved along with his lips, "Lieutenant, the ship has.. disappeared. It's as if it was never there."
Ashilav frowns suddenly. "I believe the mystery ship knows we are here, sir," she says, looking up and at P'Trell.
P'Trell says, "Ashilav, sweep the area where the second ship was. Look for any increase in tachyon activity. I want to know if this is a cloaked vessel or our sensors"
Foster raises his eyebrows, "Sir. I don't think it's just the ship. The City is gone as well."
"Aye, Lieutenant Prythra P'Trell," Ashilav says as she gets to work, breaking Starfleet formality with names as Andorians sometimes do.
P'Trell closes his eyes and thinks for a moment. "Is it possible that the City's orbit has deteriorated to the point that it is now within the planet's atmosphere?"
Foster shakes his head. "No, sir. We are nearing the last known location of the City. Our sensors do not pick up the ship at all."
Ashilav chimes in quickly. "Sir, there are no tachyons to detect. There is a faint ion trail that seems too weak to trace, but it indicates that there -was- a ship there."
P'Trell says, "Just one?"
Foster says, "Now at the location."
<CONTEST> Ashilav contests her Shipboard Systems (Sensors) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!
Leah looks to P'Trell, "Sir... This is a trap if I've ever seen one... Whoever was on that ship wanted us here."
Ashilav leans closer to her console, studying her readings as her fingers slide across the surface. She makes a chirping sound, which turns into a Standard, "Interesting. Dispersed radiation seems to be everywhere in the immediate vicinity, along with a previous undetected scattered field of debris. This is either a ruse, or we are too late, sir."
<CONTEST> Foster contests his Shipboard Systems (Sensors) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!
Foster creases his brow as he man the console, "Sir, results of scanning the debri return inconclusive."
P'Trell says, "Alright we're going to assume that the distress call came from out mystery ship. If we aren't picking up any debris on the planet's surface then we can assume in a wost case scenario, the Irdosians got a nifty shooting star display and no harm was done. Plot a course for the first bouy we're to replace. I want at least one of our upgraded sensors in the area keeping an eye out. Mr. Foster take us out of orbit and to our first objective. Varanya Ashilav I want the most thorough sensor sweeps you can give me of the area and Mr. Leah. I want you to work with Mr. Foster on putting us in a defendable/ escapable position once we get the bouy in place."
GAME: Ashilav spends a courage point.
GAME: Foster spends a courage point.
<CONTEST> Ashilav (claiming advantage) contests her Shipboard Systems (Tactical) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
Foster nods to the Lieutenant, and then runs his hands quickly over the console, "Breaking orbit, course plotted. Estimated arrival in fifteen minutes."
Ashilav is quiet for a long few moments, except for the sound of her console clicking and beeping. Soon, she offers up, "Sir, polaron discharge is evident on the scoring of some of the debris. Polaron means Dominion." She glances up from her console at P'Trell.
Foster offers, "Perhaps they are trying to profit off of Irdosia before we can get our bouys in place."
P'Trell says, "Since when can the Dominion cloak...alright, let's get the first bouy in place and get it online. Even if the Dominion are on the planet we aren't a big enough force to tangle with them directly. Mr. Leah, update 419 of our situation and plan of action and request further instructions. If we do get cought in a Dominion attack I don't want 419 blindsided by this."
Leah nods to P'trell, "Aye sir..." She starts to work at some tactical defense plans when Ashilav speaks of polaron weapons. As she opens her mouth to suggest getting out of there, something blips on her console and she says, "I've got another signal, sir... it's on the surface of the planet."
Foster looks at his console, "Sir, we'll be at the first bouy transfer location in ten minutes. Orders?"
P'Trell says, "Get it deployed and online ASAP and then take an initial scan of the system with it if possible."
Foster says, "Aye, sir."
Ashilav grows quiet, looking back down at her console, eyebrows creased slightly with worry.
Leah tries to determine more about the signal on the planet.
P'Trell says, "What's troubling you Varanya Ashilav?"
<CONTEST> Leah contests her Shipboard Systems (Communications) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Fails!
Ashilav glances up quickly. "I am simply... anxious, sir. That is all."
P'Trell says, "Were you able to get anything about the signal from the planet Mr. Leah?"
"Sir... That signal coming from the planet..." Leah starts, trying to get P'Trell's attention. "I think it's a Federation signal, but it's very weak."
Foster stands from his console, swiveling out and moving over to Leah's station. He leans over, and works at the console with one hand. "I'll try and boost the iso-tronic auxillary transmitter, see if we can't strengthen the communications relay."
P'Trell says, "Make it so."
<CONTEST> Foster (claiming advantage) contests his Shipboard Systems (Commun) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
Foster dances along the console with the fingers of his right hand, and then nods, standing up and straightening out his uniform. "Lieutenant, I've isolated the signal. Audio only."
P'Trell says, "Let's hear it."
Foster nods, turning to the console again. "Aye, sir." He plays it.
The signal hesitates long enough to for the universal translator to kick in. "Great Sky Gods I beseech you as I beseech you every day as your great house of fire rises above the mountains and shines your blessings upon us, your people. We beg your forgiveness for or foolish attack upon you. But we did not understand your true nature! Please sky gods, forgive us, your loyal people and call back the Star Devils! Since the Star Devils have come we have had nothing but sorrow and the preach of false gods trying to fool us! But we will not be fooled! Forgive us Sky Gods we beseech you!" The signal cuts out as if a combadge had been tapped.
Foster crinkles his brow, and turns to the Lieutenant. "Sir, further analysis of the signal reveals that it did indeed come from a combadge."
P'Trell says, "Normally I would consider this to be the time for a loud and violent explitive. It looks like the Dominion are on the planet's surface already. Let's get the bouy in place. Scan for any non-irdosian life forms on the planet. Specifically Vorta, Cardassian and Jem'hadar."
Foster nods to Leah, "I'll leave that to you, Mr. Leah." He returns to his pilots console, and works on getting that bouy in place.
P'Trell says, "No, Ashilav I want you to do the scan,"
P'Trell says, "Mr. Leah. Have you had any luck hailing 419?"
<CONTEST> Ashilav (claiming advantage) contests her Shipboard Systems (Sensors) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Succeeds!
Leah nods to P'Trell, "Yes, sir. They know what's happening out here."
"Aye, sir," Ashilav says, and sets to work. Soon after, she says, "Definitely Jem'hadar on the surface, from what I can read, sir. No Cardassians or Vorta present; only Irdosians otherwise."
Foster says, "We're at the old bouy, sir. Beginning the replacement."
P'Trell says, "Get the bouy in place, Mr. Foster. Mr. Leah, does 419 have any additional instructions for us? Mr. Ashilav, see if you can get us a rough esitmate of the Jem'hadar strength on the planet."
<CONTEST> Ashilav (claiming advantage) contests her Shipboard Systems (Sensors) skill vs a difficulty of Difficult and Fails!
<CONTEST> Foster (claiming advantage) contests his Shipboard Systems (Mission Ops) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!
Foster looks down at the console, running his hands up and across, and then looks out the main window as the bouy ejects into place. "Bouy in place, sir."
The new buoy arcs out gracefully and sits quietly in space, currently inactive.
The Andorian engineer's console chirps negatively. "I cannot determine numbers, sir, nor can I detect a ship," Ashilav declares. "There are, obviously, ground forces."
P'Trell says, "Mr. Ashilav if you'd be so kind as to switch it on?"
<CONTEST> Foster (claiming advantage) contests his Shipboard Systems (Sensors) skill vs a difficulty of Difficult and Dramatically Fails!
Foster shakes his head, swiveling again to face the Lieutenant. "I can't pick up anything eiter, sir.." He's quiet for a moment. "Sir. It appears our sensor sweeps have alerted a Jem'Hadar Fast Attack Fighter. It'll be on us in.. five minutes."
<CONTEST> Ashilav (claiming advantage) contests her Shipboard Systems skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!
P'Trell says, "Alright, prepare to go to warp as soon as the bouy is online."
The buoy blinks in to life and starts to slowly spin.
"Bouy online, sir," Ashilav reports at the same time.
Foster says, "Engaging engines along return course."
P'Trell says, "Engage."
<CONTEST> Foster (claiming advantage) contests his Space Sciences (Astrogation) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!
Foster frowns at his console. "Sir, the fighter is closing in. Recommend we pass through the oort cloud, maybe we can lose the fighter that way."
P'Trell says, "Make it so Mr. Foster. Mr. Leah, arm weapons, if we don't lose them in the cloud their shields will be compromised and we can hopefully get off a shot at their sensors and blind them long enough to escape. Mr. Ashilav, try to keep a bead on the sensor signal of the bouy. I want to know if the Jem'hadar attempt to destroy it."
Foster says, "Aye, sir."
Leah nods and arms the weapons, "We're armed, sir... Attempting a lock."
Foster runs his hands along the console, moving the ship towards and into the nebula.
The Cape Fear passes in through the oort cloud with the fighter closing in. It's still out of attack range but closing fast.
P'Trell says, "If you get a lock try to pop them the minute they're within weapons range. Mr. Foster, do what you can to outrun or out maneuver them."
Foster nods, focusing intently on piloting the runabout. "Aye."
"Prythra P'Trell, I am not ready to die today, so I have another option," Ashilav says. "Some electronic countermeasures, combined with a detonated torpedo could, in essence, help mask our retreat."
GAME: Foster spends a courage point.
P'Trell says, "Nor am I Varanya Ashilav. What do you have in mind?"
<CONTEST> Foster (claiming advantage) contests his Vehicle Operations (Shuttlecraft) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Fails!
Foster shakes his head as the nebula surrounded them, the window full of it's colors. "Can't shake them, Lieutenant."
Ashilav smirks slightly. "Detonating a mini-torpedo behind us, as well as creative use of the deflector dish, could generate havoc with their sensors and prevent them from keeping a bead on us. Shall I? I'll need Mr. Leah's assistance, as well as Mr. Foster's piloting skills."
P'Trell's brow furrows in thought for a second before he responds. If he's sweating bullets as he must be, he's hiding it well. "Make it so Mr. Ashilav. In addition to the torpedo, vent some plasma off of the shuttle in the wake of the explosion. That should buy us some more time before they can get their sensors readjusted."
GAME: Ashilav spends a courage point.
GAME: Foster spends a courage point.
GAME: Leah spends a courage point.
<CONTEST> Foster (claiming advantage) contests his Vehicle Operations (Shuttlecraft) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Succeeds!
P'Trell says, "I'll fire the torpedo, Leah we'll need your tactical skills to work the electronic countermeasures, Ashilav you vent the plasma and Foster, keep doing what you're doing."
GAME: P'Trell spends a courage point.
Foster nods as his hands fly at high velocity across his obsidian flight console, his eyes dancing from the console to the main viewer as he pilots the runabout, "Aye, sir."
Ashilav takes a deep breath, exhaling it in a musical Andorian trilling sound. "Umarin, guide our hands," she murmurs, and then sets to work. "Venting plasma, aye."
<CONTEST> P'Trell (claiming advantage) contests his Shipboard Systems skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Ashilav (claiming advantage) contests her Systems Engineering (Engineering) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!
"Aye, sir," Leah says, then says, "Let's see if we can work some magic...." Then she tries for the countermeasures.
<CONTEST> Leah (claiming advantage) contests her Shipboard Systems (Tactical) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
The fighter flies through the cloud of ignited plasma after the Cape Fear. As it maintains it's course, the runabout alters her course within the oort cloud. Apparently the defensive measures were sufficient, as the fighter continues along it's now incorrect heading. The Cape Fear weaves through the cloud of frozen gases and rocks using the oort cloud to help mask its departure from the Irdosia system. That something is going on down on the planet is clear, but it is also clear that whatever it is is likely more than a match for a simple runabout, despite the valor of its crew. Thoughts of the loss of the City of Gallup work back into your thoughts, and it is clear that the Irdosia system would make an excellent base of operations for raids upon supply shipping between the upper sector and Station 419. Glancing around you can see that similar thoughts trouble your crewmates, even as the oort cloud is cleared and the runabout lips to it's maximum sustainable warp, taking you home and leaving the mystery behind you.
P'Trell says, "Well done everybody. You all handled yourself impressively under fire."
"Showed them didn't we?" Leah says with a big smile, then a little more soberly says, "But we've left whoever it was down there on their own... we ignored a distress call."
Foster guides the Cape Fear into dock at the station, and shuts down the console. "I concur with Mr. Leah, Lieutenant."
P'Trell says, "There was no evidence that the distress call was legitimate or if it was that there were any survivors. There was nothing we could have done with that many Jem'Hadar on the planet and we need to get this information back to Starfleet. The needs of the many Mr. Leah."
Ashilav sits back in her seat, head tilted back as if she were looking at the ceiling, but her eyes are closed. She does not comment on the conversation, but her mouth is moving silently, apparently in prayer.
Leah nods and lowers her gaze to look at the console. "But... feasibly, we're not sacrificing one life. Who knows what the Dominion is doing to those people?"
Foster moves over to Ashilav, and puts his hand on her shoulder. "Hey, look a bit more lively, Ensign. Without your ingenuity, we may not be having the chance to do so right now."
Time passes as the runabout begins to near S419.
P'Trell says, "The same thing they'd be doing to us had we been captured. The sooner we get back, the sooner a task force can be sent to Irdosia to liberate it."
Ashilav starts quickly at Foster's touch, but does not shy away from it. She blinks twice, and smiles at him sheepishly. "I am not down, Lieutenant. I was simply... thanking the universe. And hoping that those people do not suffer. I am sure Starfleet will order us back to Irdosia, properly equipped to deal with the situation." She glances over towards P'Trell, almost mirroring his words, and she says something to him in Andorian.
P'Trell says, "For what it's worth Mr. Leah. I sympathize with your position entirely."
Ashilav says something in a language you do not understand.
Leah gives P'Trell a slow nod, then looks contemplatively at the tactical sensors.
Spect's voice echos across the channel, "Four One Nine to USS Cape Fear, I have been monitoring your mission. Running preliminary test on the buoy now. It looks good."
P'Trell makes a soft, trilling sigh through his antennae before replying.
P'Trell says something in a language you do not understand.
Foster relaxes a bit more as the runabout nears closer to Four-One-Nine.
P'Trell says, "Mr. Spect. Please inform Commander Balin or Commander Edwards that I need to speak with one or both of them as soon as possible after we land."
"Copy That Cape Fear! Anything else?"
P'Trell says, "No, 419 Cape Fear out."
