Decker's Due II
Episode Name: Decker's Due II
Written By: Eidolon
Cast: Caeli, Dakin, Eidolon, Krylow, Leres, Nilee and Suslov.
Produced By: Starfleet
Directed By: Eidolon
Aired On: Sat Jan 22 01:42:46 2005
Stardate: 54698.2
Time: Fri Jan 21 20:25:56 2005
Stardate: 54697.6
In the transporter room, Zipok Caeli and Ivan Suslov put the last touches on the equipment that everyone needs -- environmental suits, phasers, tricorders, portable sensors, and various other things that the scientists decided that they need.
Caeli goes over a case of spare power cells, testing each one before settling it into the cushioning foam. "Are we going along to escort them, or are we turning them loose with Type IIs?" he queries of the other Security type.
Suslov lifts an eyebrow at the other gun monkey. "You w..would turn s..sci..scientists loose with phasers?" he asks, just a hint of humor in his voice.
Caeli waggles a finger Suslov's way. "I never said it'd be a good idea, I just asked if those were the orders."
. o O Fitzel thinks, "Okay, maybe this isn't an adventure, but it certainly is /neat/!"
"We're escorting," Vanya murmurs as he starts tugging on his environmental suit.
. o O Annova feels dread and worry.
Caeli seals up the case and moves towards an appropriately sized suit, himself. "Good. I'd hate to miss all the fun."
Suslov nods in agreement as he seals his helmet. "Even if it's j..j..just babysitting."
Caeli shimmies into the decidedly uncomfortable garment. "Even so. There's a chance we might be babysitting something important."
Suslov checks his Type II before he slings it into the suit's holster and clicks on his external speaker. "M..Maybe," he allows.
Caeli selects as a matter of personal preference a Type III, and slings it over one suited shoulder. He has to extend the sling. The helmet is left off for now; Caeli prefers to savor his fresh air while he can. "Now we wait, I guess."
Suslov nods in agreement as he eyes the equipment. "At least we're pre...pre..prepared."
. o O Foster radiates nothing but a cold calmness that is all too common when he is in a duty situation. Ice.
. o O Krylow thinks, "Impressive. Beautiful. Whatever. Why are we out here, Commander? You could at least give us something to do, instead of standing around waiting. I hate having my hands tied."
Three civilian types -- a Tellarite, a Grazerite, and a Benzite -- appear from the lift. Bartuc (the Tellarite) snuffles as he approaches. "Is our equipment prepared?" he asks Caeli, in that 'hello, insignificant being' tone of voice.
. o O Annova thinks, "They're going to beam -over- to it? The Four!"
Caeli, in response, smiles brightly and lays it on thick. "Certainly! We've triple checked all of the equipment and supplies, and as soon as permission comes down from on high you're ready to go. Are you excited?"
Suslov offers a nod to the others from behind his helmet, remaining silent.
"Of course," Bartuc grumbles as he starts to squeeze into his size XXXL suit. "This is an opportunity unparalleled in Federation science."
"Yes!" the Grazerite adds, smiling brightly.
"As am I!" the Benzite chimes in. "How... fascinating this will be."
"Phenomenal. Are you all coming from the bridge? We haven't heard anything in a while," Caeli asks of the scientists, shifting his helmet to the other arm.
Suslov rocks back and forth on his heels, looking vaguely uncomfortable.
Bartuc offers a toothy Tellarite grin. "I think your Commander Dakin is coming. At least, I hope he is."
Caeli smiles. "Splendid. I take it you two got on well?"
The Grazerite speaks. "-Hardly.-"
Caeli cants his head off to one side. "Then... er... why would you want him to come?"
Bartuc begins attaching his helmet. "Your Starfleet Command insisted."
"But you said you hoped... ah, never mind." Caeli finally begins attaching his own helmet, as well.
Suslov just shakes his head wryly.
The turbolift doors slide open with a hiss.
Dakin steps out of the turbolift.
Dakin has arrived.
Leres steps out of the turbolift.
Leres has arrived.
Krylow steps out of the turbolift.
Krylow has arrived.
Nilee steps out of the turbolift.
Nilee has arrived.
The turbolift doors slide closed.
Caeli, Suslov, and the Three Stooges stand in a pile of boxes amongst the transporter pad, already secured into environmental suits.
Dakin steps in to the transporter room and heads immediately for the EVA suit lockers. He looks over to the PADD as he hauls a suit out. "'Evening, Zip. Mr. Suslov."
Caeli's voice comes out tinny through the external speakers. "Evening, Rann. Everything's all ready to go, equipment-wise."
Suslov nods in agreement with Caeli. "Coordinates are s..set."
. o O Annova thinks, "A man jumped off a building and at each window bar, fifty stories going down, he cried, no problme so far."
Nilee follows Dakin into the transporter room, and then right over to the EVA suit lockers, with few words, he shoots a glance at the other scientists briefly, giving them a tilt of his head. Professional courtesy and all.
Leres follows after Dakin and heads for the EVA lockers as well. She's done the suits before so has little trouble as she begins to put on the equipment. As she prepares she gives a nod to Caeli and Suslov. "Hello everyone." She's cheerful. She's one of -those- types.
Krylow glances to Leres as they enter. "Let's get suited and I'll double check your EVA and you can double check mine?" he asks, though he heads for the EVA locker regardless. As he starts pulling out his equipment he looks to Dakin. "Permission to carry my munitions kit, Commander?" he asks. Yeah, you've TRT's official 'make things go boom' guy along for the ride.
"We are prepared," Bartuc tells Dakin, folding his arms over his chest as he eyes the Bajoran through his faceplate.
Dakin locks down his helmet and grabs an EVA-rated phaser rifle out of the locker before locking it shut. "I can bring this, you can bring that. Let's get it done, people." He makes his way over to the transporter pad, finding himself a spare bit of space in the alcove.
Caeli adjusts his own rifle on its shoulder sling, tethered as it is to his person. "Right right," he answers perkily, stepping onto the pad with a smile behind his faceplate.
Suslov clears his throat, placing his hand on his Type II as he waits to be beamed over.
Nilee pulls an EVA suit and goes about suiting up. He seems pretty natural with it, probably having done it a few times for away missions. He heads on over to the transporter pad with his helmet under his arm. Still not saying much.
Leres doesn't grab a weapon, instead she grabs tools and the various instruments of her trade. Once she's ready, she heads over to the pad as well, taking her place with the others.
Krylow settles into his EVA, double checking his demolitions kit, his Type II sidearm, the EVA rifle and last, but not least, his engineering gear. Loaded for bear without a doubt. Once done he moves onto the pad with the others, rifle in hand.
The transporter room of the Paine fades into the blue of the transporter effect, and then is replaced by darkness.
Complete and total darkness.
The scientists, of course, immediately turn on their flashlights, revealing a layout not dissimilar to a Federation starship exactly -- the chairs were made for something that maybe isn't quite humanoid, but it's got three forward consoles, a bank of aft consoles, a command throne, and a viewscreen.
It's rather peaceful for the first three seconds, and then the room's lights flicker on with an unnerving squeal of a noise. They're a harsh electric blue in color, but at least nothing jumps out of the walls.
Dakin frowns as he sees the command center spring to life upon their arrival. "Welcome to the bridge, ladies and gentlemen," he says idly, lowering the hand he'd intended to switch on his helmet-lights. "Tricorder scans, everyone."
. o O Fitzel thinks, "It was more than interesting. They were... well, kinda rude to Commander Dakin. Talked down to him, even. You'd they they- Eh?"
Caeli's rifle is up and his helmet beacon on as soon as the transporter disgorges him, doing a quick 360 to examine the room cursorily. Not for any scientific discoveries, but rather for threats. "Somebody knows we're here," he muses through the speaker, leaving his helmet light on just for safety's sake. Lowering his rifle, he flips open a tricorder and scans - again, not for interesting scientific tidbits, but for things that might kill other things.
Suslov slowly tugs out his tricorder, hunching his shoulders as the room squeals.
GAME: Nilee spends a courage point.
<CONTEST> Nilee (claiming advantage) contests his Personal Equipment (Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Impossible and Fails!
<CONTEST> Leres contests her Personal Equipment (Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!
Even before he turns on his torch, Galen's got his tricorder out and online. Only once he's started scans does he turn the torch on. He grimaces as he observes the read outs, "I can't locate the power source, Sir. It looks like there's a dampening field coming on line. It's going to hamper any scans and communication beyond this room."
Leres brings her tricorder out even as the lights are still coming up. She gives a look about nodding her head. "There's no structural damage, we should be okay on that score. I don't detect any instabilities. No damage at all in fact. You'd almost never know that a ship had blown up in here."
Krylow doesn't move to touch his tricorder, not yet. Before the transport begun he had shouldered his rifle and once done he raises it and, like Caeli, does a sweep of the area. He also moves closer to the nearest wall, a safer tactical position. Cover your back with something. Again like Caeli he leaves his helmet lights on while drawing his tricorder with his spare hand, rifle still ready.
There's a barely perceptible shudder through the deck, and then another -- like the Paine's warp core coming online.
Bartuc, for his part, looks delighted. "I had thought it would be damaged beyond repair!" he exults. "That it is still functional is a -marvel-!" Yes, he's actually happy that it's still alive.
. o O Krylow thinks, "A marvel. Right. Let's hope this marvel doesn't, oh, try and eat us. Or the nearest planet."
Dakin says in response to Nilee, "A moratorium on splitting up then..." He frowns once he hears the all-too familiar sound. "That sound like a warp-core start-up to anyone else?" Not waiting for an answer, he shoulders his rifle and keys it to maximum stun. "Find me an exit to this room, someone."
"Here's hoping /we/ stay functional," mutters Caeli, flipping shut the tricorder and hefting his rifle once again. He moves along the curve of the room, checking for any doorways or access panels, as per Dakin's orders.
<CONTEST> Nilee (claiming advantage) contests his Personal Equipment (Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
Suslov steps forward, hefting his Type II and frowning as he looks around.
<CONTEST> Suslov (claiming advantage) contests his Search skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
Nilee glances around and then narrows in on an impression on the aft wall. He takes a few steps towards it, keeping his tricorder level, "Although it may not look it, this here is an exit. Functional too, and unlocked. Your guess is as good as mine though, as to where it leads." He glances over his shoulder towards Dakin, "We should be able to activate it without any trouble."
<CONTEST> Leres contests her Personal Equipment (Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
Once Nilee points out the exit, Leres uses a bit of engineering magic. One, two, three, presto change-o, the door, she opens. The Trill smiles, "There's your exit, sir."
Krylow mirrors Caeli's actions along the port wall. He never finished pulling out his tricorder so he slides it away and moves along the wall. After a moment he pauses, looking at something. "Commander, there's a depression here that appears to be a door of sorts. It appears to be something similar to the depression on the aft wall Lieutenant Nilee noted."
Caeli pokes along the starboard bulkhead, finding a similar indentation and calling over to Dakin, "There's a door here, too, Rann. Same as the other two. Not sure if it works, though." He plays his helmet lights over it, pursing his lips.
The door aft slides open, revealing a long, dark hallway. The Machine, however, perhaps doesn't like its doors being opened. Green lights start flashing, and what can only be an alarm klaxon sounds.
The three scientists, meanwhile, head toward the forward consoles to inspect them. "How very intriging..." the Grazerite whispers, reaching out to touch the command throne -- which gives him a hearty zap and tosses him back against the wall with a sickening, wet crackle over the comms that announces a broken spine. His eyes go vacant immediately -- he's dead.
Dakin's head snaps around to see the display. "Leres, whatever you did, undo it!" The Bajoran bounds over to the body and checks the onboard medical readout as if he even needed to. "Nobody touch ANYTHING!"
GAME: Leres spends a courage point.
. o O Krylow thinks, "Thanks Commander Obvious. You didn't need to tell me that."
Caeli spins at the sound of the Grazerite hitting the wall, pointing his rifle first at the noise and then turning around again to scan for new arrivals. None. This is, however, getting far too creepy for Caeli's enjoyment. "Rann, recommend we return to the Paine. This thing seems to have a bit of an issue with houseguests."
<CONTEST> Leres (claiming advantage) contests her Personal Equipment (Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Succeeds!
The yellow alert lights flash throughout the ship.
Suslov gestures port and starboard. "There's... something behind the doors," he murmurs, peering at the one to port. "Like... a tube? It's hard to see through all the subspace junk." The stutter is gone.
<CONTEST> Nilee (claiming advantage) contests his Personal Equipment (Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Impossible and Succeeds!
Nilee is still concentrating on something when the Grazerite gets flung across the room, Galen looks up and grimaces at the sound as he watches the other scientist slump against the far wall. He looks back to his tricorder and then reports, "Commander Dakin? I've managed to isolate the main computer. I've been completely passive in my search, but I think I could access it. It's just going to take some time with a universal tricorder."
Leres has turned to check out the Grazerite's demise as she hears him hit. She uses her tricorder, but she doesn't get close enough to -touch- anything. "Sir, the console is wired with what seems like EPS taps. It would seem that he touched one of them." She quiets a bit at that. "I'll get that door closed right now, sir."
Krylow looks to the downed scientist and his expression hardens a little. While everyone's looking there he looks back around the room, watching and waiting.
"Oh. Oh my." Bartuc straightens up. "Commander, we should leave at once." A little bit of death put some fright into the fellow, it seems. His Benzite companion looks like he'd like to throw up.
The Machine suddenly tilts slightly to starboard. It's turning.
Everything said to Dakin gets immediately shut out upon feeling the motion of the interior of the vessel. "That's it, pack it up, folks!" He tabs his suit's comlink. "Dakin to Thomas Paine, requesting immediate emergency evac! Everyone stand by for transport!"
Caeli couldn't be happier. In fact, he even smirks a bit as he waits for the transporter beam to claim him, rifle still at the ready.
Suslov continues frowning as he stares at the starboard compartment, then shakes his head. "I c..can't see it," he murmurs, dejectedly.
. o O Fitzel thinks, "This is so Not Good. What the heck did they do over ther... The scientists. Oh man. Who /are/ they?"
Nilee glances over at Dakin, "
Nilee glances over in Dakin's direction, "Commander, as I stated before, we've got a dampening field over us. They're not going to hear us, and I doubt it's much of a leap of logic to assume they can't beam us out either. We're stuck here for the moment." The Trill answers rather dryly, not rudely, but apparently he's not very happy that his earlier report was so easily forgotten.
Leres nods to Nilee's comment. "With a dampening field in place. We're pretty much stuck here until we can shut it down." SHe pauses. "Still want me to close that door, sir?" She adds, "It might be out only way out of here."
Krylow remains pretty much motionless and quiet for now. He's just watching the room and the hallway, EVA rifle ready.
The door to port suddenly pops open, revealing a human male in a Starfleet uniform locked in some form of stasis tube. The stripes on his sleeves indicate he's a Commodore, and his face is contorted in a look of absolute, heart-rending terror.
The Benzite faints dead away at this, and Bartuc falls back against the opposite bulkhead.
The Thomas Paine, meanwhile, doesn't answer.
. o O Nilee thinks, "Why is it I always seem drawn to the away missions that involve weapons of mass destruction? First the Menagerie now this..."
Dakin snaps his over towards the port door as it opens, revealing the stasis tube. "Mr. Nilee, scan for life signs. And I *did* hear you, Lieutenant. No harm in being optimistic. Suslov, Krylow, take guard positions at the exit. Leres, get access to this thing's computer system, see if we can get command protocols, a ship's log, *something* we can use to make this thing inert all over again." He looks over to Zip, then back to the tube. "Starfleet uniform, mid-23rd century, right?"
Caeli scowls, now. He doesn't want to be on this ship, evidently. After seeing what protrudes from the port door, Caeli steps quickly away from the starboard one, and mutters darkly, "That door doesn't go very far, very fast, Ensign." At Dakin's query, Caeli narrows his eyes, and nods. "It's definitely pre-Excelsior class. Pre-Miranda, too, I'd bet." He looks towards the closed starboard door. "Bet you this one's not empty."
<CONTEST> Suslov (claiming advantage) contests his Search skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!
Suslov takes up a position flanking the aft door, his phaser out as he peers out into the dark. "I h..hate subspace interference," he murmurs.
Nilee glances up as the port 'door' slides open revealing the stasis-ized Commodore. He grimaces briefly, but returns to his tricorder, "The dampening field is hampering any scans of life signs outside of this room, Commander. I'm still working on the vessel's computer system. I'm fairly certain that it's a base-100 mathematics system... if I can have a few more moments I should be able to get some more headway... if I can get access to some of the passive systems, I think I may be able to use the internal sensors."
Krylow is the guy standing closest to the port door. When it starts to open he snaps around to face it, rifle leading the way. He pauses for a moment to look at the officer, and then at Dakin's order moves towards the aft foor, rifle aimed down the hallway.
GAME: Leres spends a courage point.
. o O Annova thinks, "Eep!"
<CONTEST> Leres (claiming advantage) contests her Personal Equipment (Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Impossible and Fails!
Leres nods to Dakin's command and gets to work. "Come on you..." She shakes her head. "Not quite. I'll keep working on it. See what I can do to make this go a little faster." She looks grumpier now. "Now...we're going to have a talk computer." She's talking to the computer. From the result, it seems like it isn't listening.
A loud cry echoes from down the hall, like someone just met a very painful and rather untimely demise.
The stasis tube, meanwhile, slides open, and the man inside starts to scream. "OH MAKE IT STOP MAKEITSTOPMAKEITSTOPOHGODMAKEITSTOP!"
Bartuc the Tellarite takes this opportunity to faint.
Dakin's comlink crackles. "Away...Paine. Repeat...status...over?" It sounds like Annova, but then the feed cuts into silence again.
Dakin's eyes widen as the tube opens, prompting him to rush over to the now-released officer. "Nilee! Check atmosphere, make sure he can breathe!" To the old-school Starfleeter, "It's all right! Calm down! We're Starfleet!"
At this point Caeli, his combat medic training making him the closest the team has to medical attention, leaves his place along the wall and kneels down by the Commodore, slinging his rifle in lieu of the tricorder he flips open once again, trying to get some sort of a reading on the man's vital signs. "Sir! Please try to calm down. We're Starfleet, we're here to help you. Try and stay still."
. o O Caeli idly wonders if the man has ever seen a Bolian before. 2280s... 2322... nope. He hasn't.
<CONTEST> Leres (claiming advantage) contests her Personal Equipment (Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Impossible and Fails!
GAME: Suslov spends a courage point.
<CONTEST> Suslov (claiming advantage) contests his Dodge skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Succeeds!
GAME: Suslov spends a courage point.
<CONTEST> Suslov (claiming advantage) contests his Energy Weapon (Phaser) skill vs a difficulty of Difficult and Fails!
<CONTEST> Eidolon contests Krylow's (claiming advantage) Dodge skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Fails!
<CONTEST> Eidolon contests Krylow's (claiming advantage) Fitness (Vitality) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!
Twin beams of pink energy zip out from the darkened hallway. Suslov ducks away just in time to have the beam sizzle over his head. Krylow, on the other hand, gets nailed in the shoulder and falls backward, unconscious.
Without any further ado, Vanya fires a few shots into the dark. "Under attack, sir!" he calls.
Nilee glances up from his work on his tricorder at the scream and then the falling Commodore, grimacing, he doesn't let the events distract him for too long. The others have got it under control at the moment, and Galen's not about to get caught on this ship when things start to REALLY go bad. Yes, he's a little bit of a pessimist. He glances over at Leres, "Ensign, I've got access to the basic operating system. I think I can access most of the basic functions now without setting off any alarms because of fumbling with the syntax." Just as he says this, a firefight start, and the Trill almost instinctively heads for cover, crouching down behind one of the fore consoles.
Leres nods to Nilee, "I hear you sir." That said she makes the same move that he does, trying to find cover. She tries to do it without touching anything though.
The Machine starts to shimmy about a bit, as if manuevering. The leftmost console comes online, displaying textblock after textblock of gibberish (to their eyes, at least), but a very clear image of the Thomas Paine. The green triangle which locks onto its saucer can't be anything else than a target lock, and so the obvious translates this previously unknown seat into the tactical station.
"Starfleet?" the screaming man asks softly, suddenly seeming lucid. "Did Jim... Jim Kirk send you? Bob Wesley?" He glances around, wrapping his arms around himself as the shooting starts. "They're coming. They're coming for us."
<CONTEST> Nilee (claiming advantage) contests his Personal Equipment (Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Impossible and Dramatically Succeeds!
Dakin ignores the man's rambling for the moment and looks up towards the console screen. "Not good! Nilee, this thing's targeting our ride! If you've got access to the system, power down the weapons!" He then looks to Caeli, "Watch him, Zip." He then rises to his feet and shoulders his rifle before heading over near Suslov and taking cover before sending a few bursts of support fire down the corridor. "Leres, get this door shut!"
GAME: Krylow spends a courage point.
GAME: Krylow spends a courage point.
GAME: Dakin spends a courage point.
<CONTEST> Krylow (claiming advantage) contests his Fitness (Vitality) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Dakin (claiming advantage) contests his Energy Weapon (Phaser Rifle) skill vs a difficulty of Difficult and Succeeds!
Caeli watches the man's vital signs calm down somewhat as he realizes he's at least among friends, and shifts the tricorder to his off-hand. "Just stay down, sir. Try not to touch anything." Type II raised and keyed to heavy stun, he keeps it trained on the door, glancing down every few moments to the Commodore. "Sir, do you remember what you were doing before you were here? What happened?" And so Caeli plays detective.
<CONTEST> Suslov (claiming advantage) contests his Energy Weapon (Phaser) skill vs a difficulty of Difficult and Succeeds!
Suslov fires off another few rounds, earning the sound of arcing electricity and metal... something... collapsing, while Dakin's shots do the same thing. "I can't see anything down there," he notes with a grumble.
Nilee has got his back propped up against the fore station that he's using for cover, busily working with his tricorder, ignoring the weapons fire around him, "Working on it!" He shouts to the Commander and then a few seconds blurts out, "I broke the encryption protocol! Full access: Tactical! Command! Engineering! Shutting down weapon power, hold together, Paine!" All of this is said with a rush of emotion, he's clearly excited, very excited.
Leres nods to Dakin from her position. "Aye, sir. Shutting the door now." As she says that her hands are moving. Within seconds, the door shuts with a nice swoosh sound. "Door is shut, sir." She cheers at Nilee. "Way to go, Lieutenant!"
Krylow groans from his spot on the ground and rolls onto his side. Before standing again though he checks his phaser rifle first and then his other equipment. Only then does he move to push himself back to his fet.
The motions of the Machine suddenly halt, and the Commodore's eyes go wide. "They're not going to like that," he whispers. "They don't like that at all."
He's either psychic, or knows whomever built this all too well, because then the starboard door pops open -- and out emerges something that looks like a giant, hundred-tentacled squid which roars a long string of something. It might be pink, but it's still imposing.
The red alert klaxon sounds throughout the ship.
Dakin growls a Bajoran curse and trains his rifle on the big squid. "Maximum stun! LIGHT IT UP!!" If he squeezed the trigger any harder, he'd be breaking the handle.
<CONTEST> Nilee (claiming advantage) contests his Personal Equipment (Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Dakin (claiming advantage) contests his Energy Weapon (Phaser Rifle) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
. o O Foster thinks, "Not that I want it!"
Caeli was about to answer the Commodore. Then the door he had been standing by not five minutes before disgorged a squid - and accordingly, the Bolian keys his drawn Type II up to its highest stun, and fires on the... giant space squid. Who'd have thunk it.
<CONTEST> Caeli contests his Energy Weapon (Phaser) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Leres (claiming advantage) contests her Personal Equipment (Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Fails!
<CONTEST> Suslov (claiming advantage) contests his Energy Weapon (Phaser) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
GAME: Krylow spends a courage point.
<CONTEST> Krylow (claiming advantage) contests his Energy Weapon (Phaser Rifle) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Dramatically Succeeds!
Suslov whirls as the door clangs closed, hitting the squid with his own phaser blast.
Nilee taps at his tricorder, biting his upper lips in anticipation, "That's it. Weapon systems offline. Working on securing this room now." He reports, though with the din of weapons fire, it's unlikely he's heard by any but perhaps Leres. "Ensign," he says to Leres, glancing at her very briefly to get her attention, "Cross-reference with my tricorder's records, see if you can use internal sensors to see if we're going to have any more unexpected visitors on their way."
Leres nods to Nilee and gets to work. "I'm getting some interference here. One moment. I'm going to change a setting. See if that helps." She works at getting access as well so that she can cross-check Nilee's findings. "I can't say for sure just yet, sir."
Shot. Knocked down. Stumbling to his feet. What next? Tentacle monster. Evil space squids. Krylow turns to raise his EVA rifle and squeeze off an energy blast, looking to earn a little revenge.
<CONTEST> Eidolon contests Kelvan's Fitness (Vitality) skill vs a difficulty of Difficult and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Eidolon contests Kelvan's Fitness (Vitality) skill vs a difficulty of Difficult and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Eidolon contests Kelvan's Fitness (Vitality) skill vs a difficulty of Difficult and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Eidolon contests Kelvan's Fitness (Vitality) skill vs a difficulty of Impossible and Fails!
The giant squid just roars as it's shot repeatedly, staggering but not falling until Krylow hits it in approximately the head, and it slowly drops to the deck.
Nilee's tricorder suddenly comes to life, speaking. "You are not Husnock. How have you come to be here? Do you come in peace?" It pauses for a moment. "We are pleased to greet you in the name of peace." Another pause. "Remainder without translation." The last bit is in the Federation computer voice.
The Commodore shakes his head, burying his head in his hands. "Oh, please, don't let it get me," he whimpers.
Everyone's comlinks come to life. "Away Team. What is your status? Please respond."
Dakin looks to Nilee, then to the Commodore, then back to Nilee. "Lieutenant, I have a bad feeling I know your answer, but what was that string of text from?" At the sound of comm chatter, Dakin keys his suit's comlink. "Thomas Paine, this is Commander Dakin. One of the scientists is dead due to an accident. We're on the bridge and have taken fire from automated defense systems, and we've encountered a pair of lifeforms on board. One a squid-like creature... one human. Acknowledge please."
Caeli keeps his weapon up, training it on the fallen calamari. "You're going to be alright, sir. We're going to get you out of here and back to the station." At least, it certainly seems that way, now. "Nothing's going to get you. You're back with the Fleet." He sets one EVA-suit-gloved hand on the Commodore's shoulder, and smiles reassuringly through the faceplate.
<CONTEST> Leres (claiming advantage) contests her Personal Equipment (Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
Suslov slowly steps to the side, keeping his phaser on the giant pink thing. "Is it dead?" he asks.
<CONTEST> Nilee (claiming advantage) contests his Personal Equipment (Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Succeeds!
Nilee pops up from behind the fore console he was using as cover, pausing for a second as he sees the squid for the first time, he looks to Dakin with a grimace, "If you're thinking we just really botched a first contact situation, then you are right, sir. That thing... the Kelvan is what they call themselves, mistook us for their enemy, the Husnock. It realized we were probably peaceful, but we shot it." The Trill shakes his head, "We need to find a way to recover this situation, and quickly. I've begun a transfer of all records and logs from this vessel to the Paine. I have full command access to this vessel as well. Let's just hope our friend still thinks we're peaceful when it wakes up, assuming it's alive." He takes a deep breath after his little speech.
Leres looks to Nilee, "I'm not getting any other living creatures aboard. I'm finding remains of similar creatures to this one. But I'm not finding anything living at all." She hrms. "That doesn't mean that there aren't others however. It just means that they aren't at home right now."
Krylow eyes the doorway and then looks to Dakin. "Sir, it appears there's just a stasis chamber in there. The room appears clear. I can help with any engineering tasks, if you'd like?" he asks, though he hasn't really lowered his weapon.
The Kelvan makes a very weak roaring sound, which Nilee's tricorder dutifully translates as: "You are invaders. Enemies. Usurpers."
The Commodore coughs suddenly, sounding weary. "You came to our space and destroyed -our- worlds."
The alien is silent for a few moments, then replies even more softly. Nilee's tricorder digests it, then translates. "Mistake. We do not know you."
"Commander Dakin, Lt Avery here. The machine powered up and started to move after setting up a dampening field. It has stopped and looks like it is powering down. Do you want us to beam you back?" This from the comlinks again.
"Negative on that just yet, Lieutenant. Stand by. Dakin out." Clicking off the comm channel to the Paine and ignoring the words of the Commodore, the Bajoran takes a step forward. "Nilee, translate my words. The mistake is ours. We were attacked by this ship and assumed you to be doing the same. The effects of our weapons are non-lethal and will fade. We apologize for attacking you." He traces his index finger over the perimeter of the bridge. "A long time ago, this ship destroyed many worlds, ended many lives. It was stopped. We came here now to study it, not to attack you. We are explorers, not raiders. Again, my apologies for our actions."
Caeli flips open his tricorder, glances at it quickly. "Rann, we should probably get the Commodore back to the Paine."
Suslov keeps his weapon trained on the squid, just in case.
<CONTEST> Nilee (claiming advantage) contests his Personal Equipment (Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
Nilee nods to the Commander, "The channel of communication should be open, Commander, communication will translate automatically back and forth." The Trill reports, and then adds, "I've deactivated the dampening field, we can beam out the wounded on your command."
Leres watches the Kelvan and shakes her head. "Is there anything we can do to help it? Treat it? That way maybe if we do it'll see that we don't mean it harm? That we don't wish ill. It might go a long way towards re-establishing ourselves as explorers and not as raiders."
Krylow just remains in place as Dakin doesn't respond. He glances to Leres and smirks a little. "Maybe if we had a medic or even a medkit we could try. Otherwise, we just need to wait until the stun setting wears off."
. o O Krylow thinks, "First they want to shoot it, not we need to heal it. Doesn't anyone remember it was trying to eat us?"
"This weapon was designed to destroy our enemies," The Kelvan's voice starts to pick up strength. "Only our enemies. To end a war. We are far from home, we did not mean to attack you."
The Commodore slumps back against the bulkhead, falling silent.
Dakin looks to Caeli. "Agreed. Collect our scientist friends and stand by to transport back to the Paine." He looks back to the Kelvan. "We understand. Are there any others of you on board? We stand ready to lend aid if necessary."
Caeli sets about tracking down the three fainted civilians and tagging them for transport.
Two fainted, one dead. Right.
Nilee steps around the fore console, finally, towards Dakin and the injured Kelvan, "Commander, if I could?" He looks towards Dakin questioningly, but proceeds, "We could offer..." he hesitates on the pronoun, "h-- the Kelvan, safe harbor? We know it has been in stasis for at least a century, maybe longer. There is much we could learn from each other."
The Kelvan shakes three of its tentacles up and down before it pushes itself back toward its stasis chamber. "There are not. We, and our weapon, will be retrieved by our people. Our apologies." It vanishes back into the door it came from, and the door slides shut once again.
Approximately a minute after that, the lights go out again.
Dakin sighs. "Looks like we won't get that opportunity, Lieutenant." And maybe rightfully so, he thinks. He then looks to Caeli, then the Commodore, then keys his commlink. "Dakin to Thomas Paine. We're standing ready for transport. One additional human bio-sign in addition to original beam-in count. Energize when ready."
Nilee raises a hand and attempts to interject as the Kelvan leaves, "But--" his protest goes unheard as the door closes behind the Kelvan and the Trill lets out a disappointed sigh, turning to Dakin and nodding, standing for transport, and taking one last look around the bridge of this vessel.
Krylow still hasn't fully lowered his weapon, since he didn't have anything else to do. He just stands patiently while waiting.
The cool wash of the transporter claims the away team at that point, along with the scientists, the Commodore, and the cargo, leaving the Doomsday Machine as lifeless as it was before -- the last remnant of a long forgotten war.
Eidolon has arrived.
GAME: Eidolon is joining this location.
