With Blind Eyes II
Episode Name: With Blind Eyes II
Written By: Grey
Cast: Dane, Foster, Green, Grey, Laco, McTiernan, Milosevic and Shamash.
Produced By: Starfleet
Directed By: Grey
Aired On: Sun May 08 10:19:50 2005
Stardate: 54953.3
Time: Sat May 07 20:37:54 2005
Stardate: 54952.0
The Thomas Paine has been flying along at warp 9.2 for several days now, pushing hard towards the coordinates that Lieutenant Laco provided to helm as te beginning of the journey. Now the Paine is finally nearing the coordinates, cutting through space as the bridge crew has assembled. Laco is seated in the captain's chair, with Dane to his side. Green is manning tactical, Foster helm and McTiernan mission operations. Rounding out the crew is Shamash at science and Milosevic at engineering. Adding to the tension is the fact no one has been told the reason for the mission, or what the Paine is doing heading for coordinates just outside the sandstorm in the Mandel Sector.
Laco slouches in his seat, appearing to be bored out of his mind. 9.2 is well and good, but 9.9 is even better. "Status?" He inquires, for the hundredth time this mission.
Green drops her gaze from the viewscreen to her console, sweeping her eyes across it swiftly. "Weapons and shields on stand-by, Lieutenant. Green lights across the board."
Foster, if anything, appears to be even more bored than Laco, if possible. The only thing that is saving this mission for him is the chance to get behind the console, as it were. He just doesn't get much chance to fly anymore. "Reading all green at the helm," he responds, almost-but-not-quite laconically. "Entering long-range sensor range of target coordinates. ETA approximately ten minutes."
Milosevic looks down over his console and then pipes up his own 'all clear'. Milo seems energetic still, curious as to what this is all about and anxious to find out. "Engineering is green and good to go, sir."
"Just fine here, Sir" McT offers from Mission Operations for like the hundredth time this mission.
Dane sits back in the chair to the left of the captain, her eyes seems to be on the view screen watching all the pretty twinkly things pass the exsternal sensors. At Laco command she glances down at the little terminal in her chair and says softly. "Sickbay report all systems are green, casualties are zero, sir. "
. o O Green isn't bored. She's been greedily watching Foster and his actions over there at the helm as much as she could this journey. Absorbing technique.
Shamash sits down at Science.
Laco glances over at Dane. "One would hope so." Pushing himself into a more upright position, Laco clears his throat. "Mister Foster, prepare to take us out of warp at the target location. Mister Shamash, start conducting scans. You know what to look for. If there are more neutrinos out there than one would expect to occur naturally, let me know immediately. Mister Green, be ready to get on those phasers."
Green looks back over her shoulder toward Laco, arching a brow. Neutrinos? Hrm. "Aye, sir," she says in her neutral tone, turning back to pay attention to her board again.
<CONTEST> Shamash contests Shipboard Systems/Sensors vs Difficult and Fails.
. o O Green thinks, "/More/ neutrinos? Whaaaaat's going on here?"
Foster's fingers brush lightly over the flight controls, reassuring himself of system status. "Aye, aye, sir. Ready to drop out of warp at target location." If the idea of neutrinos bothers him, well, he doesn't show it. He'll have time to be curious later. Right now, he'll just do the flying.
. o O Foster thinks, "Neutrinos, huh? Wonder what's up."
Shamash sets up the scans to do a continuous loop, shifting frequencies on a pseudo random pattern and monitoring the output of the autonomous routines. "Understood", just a token acknowledgement to Lacos orders before he concentrates on the task again.
Dane smiles across at Laco. "Just doing my part. " The Trill turns back to the screen, watching as she's done most of this mission. She folds and unfold her legs, and shifts a little well at least when she's bored it's a good thing.
Laco waits for the ship to clear the last few hundred thousand kilometers. So far nobody has spoken up about foes swooping in, or nacelles blowing up, so the wait continues.
<CONTEST> and .
<CONTEST> Shamash contests Shipboard Systems/Sensors vs Challenging and Fails.
"Approximately six minutes to destination," Foster says, still sounding rather bored. Straightening, he begins to absently go through a systems check, just to be sure. Ever-ready, as they say.
Shamash continues to work the sensors, nothing to report yet, as it seems.
<CONTEST> Laco contests Shipboard Systems/sensors vs Moderate and Succeeds.
Laco fiddles with the controls built into his left armrest for a moment. "Steady as she goes, Mister Foster."
Dane shifts in her chair a little more eyes following the view on the screen, at the report of six minutes to ETA the woman's attention seems to force a little more. Perhaps ready for something, anything.
<CONTEST> Shamash contests Shipboard Systems/Sensors vs Challenging and Fails.
Green glances briefly toward Foster, and back to her board again, her demeanor more focused and sharp than it was several minutes ago.
"Aye, aye, sir," Foster says. "Four minutes to destination and closing."
McTiernan's small fingers fly over her console. Busy busy busy. The closer they get, the more she's on alert. Anytime now.
Milosevic plays over his own console, working out efficiency ratings for the power flows. Something to do and keep his mind on until the fit hits the shan later.
The deformed science officer stands. "Mister Foster, course change. Once we reach the target area, set course to twenty degrees off of our current heading, mark ten. In the direction of the Sandstorm. Operations, inform all decks that we will be entering the Sandstorm, and take us to yellow alert." He tucks his hands behind his back, and goes on, "Furthermore, from this point on, this mission did not occur. If asked, we went to the target area, ran some cartographic scans, and returned. This instruction includes your superiors, with the exclusion of the Captain and Commander."
GAME: Shamash spends a courage point.
<CONTEST> Shamash contests Shipboard Systems/Sensors+A vs Challenging and Succeeds.
Green watches Laco, her brow slowly furrowing as she listens. She shifts a little in her stance at the tactical board, then subsides.
McTiernan perks a brow but says nothing though she does nod in understanding. "Computer, yellow alert" she states in a nice neutral tone. "All decks, brace for possible impact, we're entering the Sandstorm."
The computer buzzes twice. "Permission denied," it states in the cool, feminine voice.
. o O Green is very much uneasy, and more than a bit wary all of a sudden. She doesn't /like/ being wary of fellow officers and their goals.
. o O Green thinks, "I got a baaaaaaaaad feeling about this."
Shamash has found something on Sensors, however as Laco mentions the course change, Shamash looks at the screen once again and a lopsided smile forms on his face. No, nothing out of the norm to report yet.
Milosevic blinks and then just nods his head. Hands fly over the panel as he regulates the power flow before they hit the sandstorm.
Dane turns towards the Laco and nods her head. "Aye, aye sir. " Mir says to Laco. "Would you like sickbay on standby sir?" She asks hands pauses over her combadge.
"Aye, aye, sir," Foster says, without even batting an eyelash. Apparently, keeping things secret and using cover stories doesn't bother him. Gee, it's almost like it's something he's used to doing! "Altering course twenty mark one zero degrees. Five minutes to the Sandstorm at Warp 9.2. Ready to drop out of warp before entering new target area."
Laco waits out the remainder of the trip.
<CONTEST> Shamash contests Shipboard Systems/Sensors+A vs Challenging and Fails.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, the Sandstorm," Foster says, brushing over a few more controls and bringing the Thomas Paine out of warp. The cloud of interstellar dust takes up most of the viewscreen, with bright flashes of irregular light coruscating throughout, like approaching a nasty thunderstorm from above. "Reducing speed to one-quarter-impulse."
. o O Foster thinks, "In our timeline, sensors are practically useless inside the Sandstorm. Better to be safe than sorry here."
"Cool." Milo offers without thinking about it. He blushes slightly and looks back down at his console quickly. "Sorry, sir."
McTiernan's gaze shifts from her console to the viewscreen, her eyes widening as she sees what they are so very close too. Rut ruh! Milo's comment earns him a grimace in his direction before she looks back at the viewport and offers to Laco. "All decks answering ready, Sir."
Indeed the Sandstorm does loom ahead of the Paine, a cloud of instellar dust that overlaps fours sectors. Inside the Sandstorm you can see the plasma storms that brew and roll through it, a danger to any ship entering. A moment later the looming storm is gone, and the view screen shows the murk only meters in front of the Paine as it enters the storm itself.
Laco nods, and goes to sit back down. "Maintain this course. Lieutenant Shamash, we're following a trail. If it diverges in any direction, let us know."
Green lets her gaze rise to the viewscreen without actually lifting her head. She studies the Sandstorm for a moment, then drops her field of vision to her board again, concentrating her attention there. One hand grips the edge of her console for steadying purposes.
GAME: Foster spends a courage point.
GAME: Foster spends a courage point.
. o O Green thinks, "Following a trail? I guess he found his neutrinos."
<CONTEST> Foster contests Shipboard Systems/Sensors+A vs Routine and Succeeds.
<CONTEST> Foster contests Shipboard Systems/Flight Control+A vs Moderate and Succeeds.
<CONTEST> Shamash contests Shipboard Systems/Sensors+A vs Challenging and Succeeds.
GAME: McTiernan spends a courage point.
<CONTEST> Milosevic contests Systems Engineering/shield vs Moderate and Succeeds.
<CONTEST> McTiernan contests Shipboard Systems/Sensors+A vs Challenging and Fails.
Shamash hangs over the science console "It is steady for now, I'll keep you posted."
Foster straightens up from his previous laconic position and pulls forward the flight systems sensors. "Hope everyone's buckled in," he jokes, splitting his concentration, seemingly, between his sensors and the viewscreen. He's not even looking at the controls as he's operating them, his fingers seeking them almost of their own volition. The Thomas Paine begins its dance. Find a plasma storm, avoid a plasma storm. Rinse. Repeat. Rinse. Repeat.
"Moving power to forward shields, Lieutenant. Snuck a little away from some non-essentials. Let me know if you need more, sir." Milo finishes a complicated routine of hand gestures and finger stabbing at his console, nodding at he looks to the Big Chair.
McTiernan gets nothing on sensors. NOTHING. How can that be? With a muttered sigh, she keeps working at it.
<CONTEST> Shamash contests Shipboard Systems/Sensors+A vs Difficult and Fails.
<CONTEST> McTiernan contests Shipboard Systems/Sensors+A vs Challenging and Succeeds.
"Anybody ever been here before?" The ex-science officer in red inquires. "If so, any input would be appreciated." Laco glances down at one of his arm consoles. "It is my understanding that our people have been here quite a few times."
<CONTEST> Foster contests Shipboard Systems/Sensors+A vs Routine and Succeeds.
<CONTEST> Foster contests Shipboard Systems/Flight Control+A vs Moderate and Succeeds.
Green's gaze shifts to Foster, watching him waltz the Paine. Or is it a tango? "Not me, sir," she murmurs in response to Laco's question.
Milosevic looks up and shrugs his shoulders, grinning slightly as he works the panel. "Still figuring out sand in space, sir."
Shamash does not seem to find anything noteworthy to report, however he starts to pull up the details of the sandstorm and navigational data.
"I've trained in flying here, of course," Foster says, without looking away from his sensors. "A flight hazard this close to the station, it'd make sense to train for." And considering how he keeps avoiding those storms, rolling and shifting the movement of the Thomas Paine seemingly at a moment's notice, he's had plenty of practice. "But I have not actually been called on for a mission here before." He seems amused at Milosevic's comment, and says, "What, you've never heard space called 'the deep black sea' before? Where there's a sea, there's sand."
. o O Green groans. "That was bad, Caleb."
McTiernan blinks.. what was she /just/ saying about sensors? Holy... spirits. "Sir.. " she begins, reading the data as she gets it. "I just caught a Romulan warbird coming /out/ of a comet at course -17 degrees, marl -3. Following her is going to be touchy in this mess but it /definitely/ came out of that comet. Looks to be a .. De'Deridex class."
. o O Milosevic thinks, "Wow, I knew pilots were arrogant, but damn..this guy takes the cake. Kait must have the patience of a saint..."
"All stop!" Laco bellows. This is about as bad as Laco thought it would get. "I want all stations on all decks to do everything they can to reduce our sensor cross-section. Passive scans only. Power down everything that might give off a signal without impeding our ability to defend ourselves." A pause. "Do they seem to have noticed us?"
Green hastily diverts her attention back to her board, wrestling with it to find a nice little-no-power-but-still-defensible compromise.
<CONTEST> Milosevic contests Systems Engineering/engineering vs Moderate and Succeeds.
Dane hangs onto the arms of her chair as she watches the screen, as to Laco's question the woman shakes her head. "No sir, this is my first time off the station. " She says quietly, so as not to disturb anyone, her eyes are consently looking at her terminal in her chair arm...Well her hands aren't gripping it. "sickbay reporting all clear sir. " she adds.
. o O Green thinks, "He was expecting this. I'd like to know how they pulled that comet trick though. Phasing cloak? Hmmm. Phasing... Now why does that ring a bell?"
<CONTEST> McTiernan contests Shipboard Systems/Sensors+A vs Challenging and Succeeds.
With furious tapping and a little stressed look on Milo's face, he lets out a sigh and looks up at Laco. "All systems down to minumum needs. Engines are warm, not hot, but ready for anything, sir. I've killed all I can on the back end to make us look dark."
<CONTEST> Foster contests Shipboard Systems/Sensors+A vs Routine and Succeeds.
<CONTEST> Foster contests Shipboard Systems/Flight Control+A vs Moderate and Succeeds.
<CONTEST> Shamash contests Shipboard Systems/Sensors+A vs Challenging and Succeeds.
Foster presses a single key and the Thomas Paine comes to an abrupt halt. Foster continues to watch through his sensors, though. "Helm reading all stop." Wait, he didn't even look! Then again, he IS hanging on the sensors. "Sir, I can probably use a plasma storm to reduce our sensor profile, but I don't necessarily recommend it. It means getting close enough for such a storm to interfere with sensors crossing our path, and with us at all-stop and running on minimal power, well, let's just say that it might be more dangerous than taking on a D'deridex inside the Sandstorm. Maybe. Even odds, either way."
. o O Milosevic thinks, "Well, maybe he has some reason for the arrogance after all, but...Piper flies damn well and she doesn't need to wave her privates around to prove it to everyone."
McTiernan frowns, chewing on her lower lip as she works to tweak the sensors a bit more. "I'm reading an installation on the surface of the comet with is about 250 meters at it's widest point.. but that last is a guess with the interference of the storm. However, I can tell you the warbird was moving away when I caught it on sensors the first time. it was coming from that surface area so I don't think they caught us, Sir."
. o O Green thinks, "Wait a minute. Why are we hiding? We're the good guys. This is Federation space. Shouldn't we be waving and saying 'hello, what the heck are you doing here and why do you have a base on that comet'?"
. o O Milosevic thinks, "Romulans. Base. Romulan Base? Hmmm....Piper...Piper is much better of a thought. Wait, she's with me. If we die..I never get to...Life, you have a cruel sense of humor indeed!"
"Correction. The Warbird has been /near/ the comet. There is no indication the vessel shrunk in size in the proximity of the comet, so it is unlikely that it originated on the surface.", Shamash clarifies. "However, the other data is confirmed."
Laco nods. "Yeah, that wouldn't be a good idea Mister Foster. Lets just wait here for a moment, and see what develops. Lieutenant Foster, take a look at the charts, and try to determine if we're within Romulan territory. Shamash, find out what you can about that installation."
. o O Foster thinks, "Ifni, I missed this, being behind the console again. And flying in the middle of the Sandstorm gives just a bit of the rush I've ALSO been missing."
Dane leans forwards a little bit more interested in what's going on, her eyes and ears miss nothing as they dart from each person as they report. she doesn't say anything more content to listen.
. o O Dane thinks, "Oh great that's all we need...Them!"
<CONTEST> Shamash contests Shipboard Systems/Sensors+A vs Challenging and Succeeds.
"The entirety of the Sandstorm is in Federation space, sir, barring anything... strange... having happened." Foster replies. "There should definitely not be any Romulan activity here. Particularly in an area which cannot be effectively scanned."
Shamash, after a moment of analysing more scans, mentions to Laco: "The installation is fairly small, about 64 thousand cubic meters of the total volume of the comet. Interferrence makes it impossible to find out more at this distance and with passive scanning techniques."
Laco smiles to himself. "Well then, lets move in for a closer look. Helm, make it so. Tactical, get ready just in case. Hopefully, by this point, the Warbird is far enough away for the storm to jam it's comms."
. o O Foster thinks, "Though, truthfully, I can't say I'm surprised. This IS an area we can't scan, so it makes perfect sense for it to be a place for the Romulans to hide. It is, after all, a place where the Borg and the Lithians were, and we wouldn't have known about that without just happening upon them."
Green eyes Laco as she responds immediately, "Aye, sir."
. o O Green is a trifle insulted. "I'm /always/ ready."
Foster, having not moved from the sensors, brings the engines back online, and the dance resumes after a Brief Intermission. Find a storm, avoid a storm, edge closer to a comet with a Secret Romulan Base on it. Rinse. Repeat. "Aye, sir," is all he says.
<CONTEST> Foster contests Shipboard Systems/Sensors+A vs Routine and Succeeds.
<CONTEST> Foster contests Shipboard Systems/Flight Control+A vs Moderate and Fails.
. o O Milosevic thinks, "Hah! So Foster is fallible! Fate, laugh with me!"
<CONTEST> Shamash contests Shipboard Systems/Sensors+A vs Challenging and Fails.
Shamash returns to monitor his console, preparing himself for more data input once the Paine moves closer to the comet.
Milosevic checks his panels carefully, hands glinging easily and skillfully. "Engines seem fine for now."
<CONTEST> Romulan Base contests his Shipboard Systems (Tactical) skill vs Foster's Shipboard Systems (Flight Control) skill and Fails!
<CONTEST> Romulan Base contests his Shipboard Systems (Tactical) skill vs Foster's Shipboard Systems (Flight Control) skill and Fails!
<CONTEST> Romulan Base contests his Shipboard Systems (Tactical) skill vs Foster's Shipboard Systems (Flight Control) skill and Fails!
<CONTEST> and .
<CONTEST> Green contests Coordination/reaction vs Moderate and Marginally Succeeds.
<CONTEST> Shamash contests Coordination/reaction vs Moderate and Marginally Succeeds.
<CONTEST> Laco contests Coordination/reaction vs Moderate and Marginally Fails.
<CONTEST> McTiernan contests Coordination/Reaction vs Moderate and Marginally Fails.
<CONTEST> Milosevic contests Coordination/reaction vs Moderate and Succeeds.
<CONTEST> Dane contests Coordination/reaction vs Moderate and Fails.
<CONTEST> Foster contests Coordination/Reaction vs Moderate and Fails.
<CONTEST> Laco contests Fitness/vitality vs Routine and Succeeds.
<CONTEST> Dane contests Fitness/vitality vs Moderate and Succeeds.
<CONTEST> Foster contests Fitness/Vitality vs Moderate and Succeeds.
<CONTEST> McTiernan contests Fitness/Vitality vs Routine and Succeeds.
As the Paine'e engines power up and she begins to move again, the ship banks towards the nearby comet. The edge of a plasma storm catches the Paine, and suddenly the Paine shudders and shakes hard. The bridge crew is tossed about, but they are able to recover with only bumps and bruises. Thankfully no one was sitting at mission operations, where the panel blasts off and fire shoots out for a moment before the fire suppresion fields kick in and control it. No sooner does Foster recover at his station than three phaser blasts come arcing out at the Paine. Foster is able to force the injured ship to respond enough so that the blasts simply glance off the shields.
Laco is tossed by the collision, and knocked to his knees. Fortunately, nimble crystal-beast that he is, he rolls with it and merely ends up between Ops and Conn. His face reddens as he turns towards Foster. His voice is chock-full of emotion, perhaps even lived, "Well, excellent work Mister Foster! I see all that training has paid off! Maybe we can go ram that warbird too!" Well, there we go. Somebody went and made Laco mad. This mission is, most likely, going to grow exceedingly unpleasant for the Starfleet crew. Laco stands up, and dusts his jumpsuit, "Engineering, damage assessment. Tactical, take out whatever fired at us. Shoot to disable if you can. If not.... Sciences, keep an eye out for that Warbird."
<CONTEST> Shamash contests Shipboard Systems/Sensors+A vs Challenging and Marginally Fails.
GAME: Milosevic spends a courage point.
<CONTEST> Milosevic contests Systems Engineering/engineering vs Challenging and Fails.
"You know," Foster remarks. "I really *am* going to suggest to Starfleet that they install seatbelts on these seats, one of these days." Still, his hands move over the controls, switching the dance from the casual one to the, as Green put it, tango. All he needs is a rose between his teeth. At the glancing blows, and Laco's comment, Foster blinks, "Again, sir? The VME at the time wasn't real happy with me last time we did that." What, he's rammed a Warbird before? Well, yes, actually he has. In this ship. When he was surrounded by eight D'deridex-class ships. It was fun!
<CONTEST> Milosevic contests Systems Engineering/engineering+A vs Challenging and Succeeds.
. o O Green thinks distractedly, with more than a bit of disgust at Laco's reaction, "If that's what Command training turns people into, maybe I don't want to follow that path after all."
Dane rocks in her chair a little, she almost slips off her bum comes off the seat but her hands are still gripping the arms so she neatly slides back into it. Without missing a beat she gets herself a little more secure, well wasn't that exciting, she could well imagin the funny looks if she ended up on her backside. "Sickbay reporting light casualties sir, but nothing major. One split head and a few bruises. " she says glancing around the bridge to make sure everyone is still in the upright and locked positions.
Shamash holds tightly to his console as the ship rocks, only barely able to keep his footing. "on it" He taps out a different scan pattern but before he can fully analyze it, he gets moved in a different direction. Back on solid footing, he is at least able to provide targting support for tactical by piping them the source of the disruptor beams.
GAME: Green spends a courage point.
Milosevic barely noticed the hard jostle of the ship, holding firm to his station as he begins to work on damage control and repairing what can be repaired. "Shields dropped to 65 percent. I've got them back up to 83 percent and holding. Will keep working on them. Lost a few EPS conduits and a couple relays that will need repair back at the staion, but nothing to keep up out of the fight, sir!"
<CONTEST> Green contests Shipboard Systems/tactical+A vs Moderate and Succeeds.
<CONTEST> McTiernan contests Shipboard Systems/Engineering vs Moderate and Fails.
<CONTEST> Foster contests Shipboard Systems/Sensors+A vs Routine and Succeeds.
<CONTEST> Foster contests Shipboard Systems/Flight Control+A vs Moderate and Marginally Fails.
McTiernan almost ends up fully on her back side, a grunt of pain coming from her as she bumps painfully into her console. Ow. it takes her a second to right herself and jump on sensors. "We've got some shield damage but I can't tell yet how much" she calls out.
Green gets a bit jostled, but stays on her feet, even as her fingers fly over her board. Tight-beam phasers arc, just once, from the Paine, "Firing phasers, sir." And a few seconds later, she reports flatly, "The base's disruptor array has been destroyed, Lieutenant. Base is otherwise intact." One shot, one kill.
. o O Laco thinks, "Now *that* is the kind of precision I'd expect from Timefleet."
<CONTEST> Foster contests Coordination/Reaction vs Routine and Succeeds.
<CONTEST> Laco contests Coordination/reaction vs Routine and Fails.
<CONTEST> Milosevic contests Coordination/reaction vs Routine and Succeeds.
<CONTEST> Laco contests Fitness/vitality vs Moderate and Succeeds.
<CONTEST> Dane contests Coordination/reaction vs Routine and Marginally Fails.
<CONTEST> Dane contests Fitness/vital vs Routine and Succeeds.
Foster can dodge disruptors, but not plasma storms it would appear. Again the Paine is clipped by the edge of the same plasma storm, though not nearly so bad as last time. There are no exploding panels this time.
While making his way back to his seat, Laco is sent skidding another foot across the deck. "Lieutenant, *stop that*." Quickly making his way back to his seat before Foster can throw him anywhere else, he glances at the Operations officer. "McTiernan, open a channel. Audio only, and don't state our identity. In fact, turn off the transponder and IFF beacon. It may be too late, but given the fact that *someone* keeps ramming us into plasma storms, it might not be too late to hide those little tidbits."
. o O Laco thinks, "They're in our space. That means that I can do pretty much whatever the hell I want to them, unless they want this little installation made public. If I only had a competant crew, this would be a good day."
GAME: McTiernan spends a courage point.
<CONTEST> McTiernan contests Shipboard Systems/Communications+A vs Moderate and Succeeds.
<CONTEST> McTiernan contests Shipboard Systems/Communications+A vs Routine and Succeeds.
McTiernan nods, "Aye, Sir" she calls out, her voice level and calm. "IFF and Transponder are disabled and audio channel is now open."
. o O Green thinks, "Lieutenant Laco, sir, you've got about as much charm and leadership skills as an elephant's puckered butt."
Laco clears his throat loudly, and begins. "Romulan installation. I cannot help but notice that I am, well, noticing you. As we are well within the borders of the Federation, this causes me quite a bit of consternation. I'm afraid I must insist that you explain."
Green finally gets the chance to send a quick nod of thanks toward the Science station, then she's tightly focused once more on the goings-on at hand.
<CONTEST> Foster contests Shipboard Systems/Sensors+A vs Routine and Succeeds.
<CONTEST> Foster contests Shipboard Systems/Flight Control+A vs Moderate and Marginally Fails.
<CONTEST> Shamash contests Shipboard Systems/Sensors+A vs Challenging and Fails.
. o O McTiernan thinks, "Spirits! I feel like a shake and bake! I though this guy was supposed to be the best of the best. Hello? Fly. Don't kill. Good grief Charlie Brown!"
. o O Milosevic thinks, "I take it back...Foster is arrogant for /no/ good reason. Note to self: explain to Kait Lanie how to break down a pilot's ego before they botch a top sekrit mission in the middle of nowhere."
<CONTEST> Milosevic contests Systems Engineering/engineering+A vs Challenging and Succeeds.
<CONTEST> McTiernan contests Shipboard Systems/Sensors+A vs Challenging and Fails.
Fingers flying like a prize pianist, Milo works the console to his liking and smiles. "Yes! That's it. Shields dropped to 55..I have them back up to 75, sir! Holding steadier than the ship itself at any rate, sir."
Dane is yet again thrown around in her seat, weeeeeeee better then the bumber cars on the fair gound it would seem.This time she's thrown across towards the command seat, she rightens herself glad that Laco is standing it would seem. Oh well, it was in the heat of battle. Yes seatbelts charming idea. "A few more reports from Sickbay sir, a few broken bones but still nothing fatal. " She says as the commander sits down once again, she dust herself off a little and trys to place her tight curls back into the slides each side of her head.
. o O Foster thinks, "What is with this system? Something... something is wrong. Something just doesn't *feel* right. No... wait, I know what it is..."
"I think we might have picked up something," Foster says. "The helm isn't answering the way it should. Hang on -- it's going to get a little bumpy while I clear the area of this storm." And bumpy it does get, but at least this time Foster remains in his seat. "Here's hoping I can shear off without finding another one." Then, in an undertone. "C'mon, Tommy. You can do this." His fingers dance over the controls. "You know what Tara would say to you after this kind of thing, after all."
. o O Foster thinks, "Hey, just because *I* know she's dead doesn't mean *he* knows she is."
McTiernan tries sensors but can't seem to get a lock on anything. Grrr. She keeps trying it though.
<CONTEST> Shamash contests Coordination/reaction vs Routine and Marginally Fails.
<CONTEST> McTiernan contests Coordination/Reaction vs Routine and Succeeds.
<CONTEST> Green contests Coordination/reaction vs Routine and Fails.
<CONTEST> Shamash contests Fitness/vitality vs Routine and Marginally Succeeds.
<CONTEST> Green contests Fitness/vitality vs Moderate and Succeeds.
The Paine banks and cuts and banks but Foster can not clear the danger area as the Paine slides into the edge of another storm, her hull shuddering again. The comet and base are so very close, if Foster could just parrellel park a capital ship. As for that open channel? Silence. Not even a peep.
"Oh? Nothing to say? Or nobody home? Well then, I suppose we'd better just eliminate this illegal installation." Laco says lightheartedly, but his expression changes, and he barks into the comm. "If you are merely laying low, and betting on the Federation's customary unwillingness to create casualties, you are in for quite a surprise. I am hardly the typical example of a Starfleet officer, and my patience grows *very* short. You have thirty seconds to respond, before I do something that you will sincerely regret."
<CONTEST> Foster contests Shipboard Systems/Sensors+A vs Routine and Succeeds.
<CONTEST> Foster contests Shipboard Systems/Flight Control+A vs Moderate and Succeeds.
<CONTEST> Shamash contests Shipboard Systems/Sensors+A vs Challenging and Succeeds.
<CONTEST> McTiernan contests Shipboard Systems/Sensors+A vs Challenging and Fails.
Green was, apparently, paying /too/ much attention to the goings-on, and not enough to her sense of balance. Another plasma storm bump, and she loses her footing, tumbling back to roll on the floor a few feet. "Caleb," she mutters as she rises and makes her way back to her panel, "About those flying lessons I asked for..." She doesn't finish that statement, instead glancing toward Laco, and she pitches her voice below the pickup. "I conjecture they're working on eliminating that base themselves right now. Probably in one big kaboom."
Ah, how much easier a sensor scan is when the vessel does not rock left or right. Without having to compensate for sudden gear forces, Shamash manages a clean scan of the installation. He can not help to let his mouth twitch a bit. "Lieutenant Laco, scans indicate no lifesign within the facility." yes, they stay ...very... low.
<CONTEST> Milosevic contests Systems Engineering/engineering+A vs Challenging and Fails.
. o O Green thinks, "Or I could be wrong..."
Dane glances at Laco a little bit, surprised at him words but then again the few times she's ran into him he's been ususal why not on the bridge. She stays quiet though, still gripping onto the chair arms just in case the ship decides to play rock the crew again.
Milosevic looks up at Laco and sighs. "Shields seem to be holding, but the panel's not exactly acting correctly with all the fancy flying, sir."
"There we go, Tommy. I knew you could do it," Foster says, sounding pleased. Maybe having a kid is going to his head, because he's treating the Thomas Paine like the ship were a small child. His hands brush over the controls quickly and efficiently, ducking that dastardly storm and flying under another to close the distance between ship and comet. A few more controls pressed and then. "We're steady roughly fifteen meters out. Mostly green. Survivable, anyway."
. o O Foster thinks, "'Parking' a ship is not fancy flying, Mister Milosevic. Perhaps you're just not as good as you thought you were, hm?"
Laco glances at Green. "Hmm...an excellent theory. You've impressed me once with your targetting. Do the same by disabling their power systems so they can't do that, and buy owe you a dri.." And then he hears Shamash. "Oh. Well. That definately takes the fun out of that. Alright, I suppose we should go over and take a look. Get replacements up here, and arrange for some phaser rifles to be waiting for us in the transporter room."
Green starts to nod to Laco, her fingers moving... and then halting as she slowly turns her head to lift an eyebrow, looking at Shamash. Her eyes gleam, though, the second she hears the words 'phaser rifles', and she rapidly keys for a replacement at Tactical as well as making arrangements for the toys. Er, weapons. Ahem. "That Warbird's definitely not hovering in the area, right?"
. o O Green thinks, "I take it back. I love you, Lieutenant Laco."
Shamash waits for a non descript officer to take his station at sciences. As he raises from his seat and turns to file out with the rest of the bridge crew, he mentions to Green with a nod "Right. At least not according to the last sensor sweep."
McTiernan glances up, "Sir?" she begins, "I'll be happy to remain behind with the Paine and monitor from here. I can shuttle as well if needs be. Monitor the area and the like?"
"And the shields aren't at maximum, so be careful," Foster says to his replacement as he begins to sign off to the other. "If necessary, use the comet to shield the ship. Try not to move to far away - I wouldn't want to have to transport very large distances in this kind of turbulence." It'd be almost as bad as flipping universes.
Dane stands up a little uncertain of her place on the mission, well they'll need a doctor. She bends down at tells sickbay she's going off ship. She then heads towards the lift looking a little nervous.
Milosevic gets up from his station and looks at Laco. "You want me along as well, sir? I can always work on repairs if it would be more helpful?" Milo waits as he leans on his console, watching the others file for the lift.
Laco shakes his head, "All of us, ladies and gentlemen. Lets go, double time. No telling when that warbird will get back."
Green nods at Shamash's answer, and at her arriving replacement, and scoots for the lift.
Milosevic nods to Laco and slips over to lift, not looking excited about going to the base, but work is work. Not really his area, but it pays to see the universe and all the noosk and crannies.
Foster waits until his replacement is in place, then heads in the direction of the lift with everyone else.
. o O McTiernan thinks, "What. An. Ass."
McTiernan slowly rises to her feet and moves to stand over by the lift, her face blank. Behind her, a junior mission ops slips into her spot.
. o O Milosevic thinks, "That's a great idea...let's send my pregnant girlfriend on a dangerous away mission. I see why he doesn;t run these missions often..."
The team files down to the transporter room where non coms are gathering the supplies. EVA suits for all, phaser rifles and sidearms, a medical kit and an engineering kit, plus spare tricorders and PADDs for those who want them and don't have them. The team takes a few minutes to get suited, and then files onto the transporter pad. A moment later they are inside the Romulan base. Its clear the gear has been stripped from the walls and consoles, leaving the room they appeared in mostly bare. Then there are the bats. They are dead, with over fifity corpses littering the room. There is one very distinctive feature, the calcified 'third eye' on their forehead.
Laco plucks his tricorder off of his belt as soon as the confinement beam releases him, and begins running a scan of the area. "Fan out. Find the computer core. Something guided their disruptors earlier. Stay in pairs."
Green peers at the bats for a moment, her brow furrowing. She takes a few steps closer to one, pondering. Hearing Laco, she says, "Aye, sir," and gives Foster an inquiring look, lifting two crossed fingers.
. o O Green thinks, "What was that Orion saying about bats... ? I'll have to ask Caeli."
Milosevic gravitates towards Piper, picking his buddy for the Buddy System. "We'll go find the computer core. Between us we should be able to handle it, sir." He heads out along the corridor, waving to Piper to follow him.
Shamash falls in line with standard protocols and flips out his own personal tricorder to get a few scans done, doing the general half circle motion with the device.
Foster appears to be totally and completely at-ease in an environmental suit and wielding a phaser rifle. At Laco's order, he nods, turning to look at Green... just as she's turning to look at him. He just nods, flipping out his own tricorder. It looks pretty much the same as everyone else's, but it's not. He smiles and gestures an 'after you' in her direction.
<CONTEST> Green contests Intellect/perception vs Moderate and Fails.
McTiernan grimaces as she looks around. Oh. This is fun. She too pulls free her tricorder and trots off after Milo.
<CONTEST> Foster contests Intellect/Perception vs Moderate and Succeeds.
The teams begin to spread out, but there is no where really to go. It seems the first room was the holding pen for the bats, and there is the main room which is a mix between a living space, science lab and engineering room. The main room is fairly large. Otherwise there is a sleeping area and that's it. The main room has science lab gear spread over the table including two half dissected bat, an apparently working power generator, and the computer systems. Some are torched. Then there is the bomb... The ticking bomb... 17:09 left. Its rather large too, wired directly into the computer system and sitting a meter tall.
Laco raises his eyebrows, as if anybody would be able to see that through his helmet. "Well. Anybody feel confident about defusing that? Mister Green? Mister Shamash?"
Green's eyes twinkle briefly. It's the old team back in tandem again- Foster with the tricorder, Tay with her phaser rifle at the ready as she sets out. Ah, this is the life! That bomb sure deflates the whole sense of fun though. She stares at it. "Goddamn. I was right." Clearing her throat, she shakes her head. "Sorry, sir, never touched anything like that in my life."
. o O Green thinks, "Oh man, Alek, I wish you were here right now!"
Milosevic raises his hand in the EVA suit, his facial features hidden behind the mask. "I can do it, sir. I take things apart and put them back together every day. Just another component to pull apart, regardless of what effect it has in the end."
"Bugger," Foster remarks when they come along the bomb. "Where's Alek or Hiroshi when we need 'em, huh? No, sir. Demolitions was never my area. I left that to our Combat Engineer. And, granted, I'm curious about the Valine Tether Bats, but not curious enough to be blown to 'kingdom come' as they say." A pause. "We might be able to get the computer systems out in time, though, if we can find a way to power them up and copy them."
"Trying to access a computer, yes.", Shamash responds to Laco, "working with demo charges? Not bloody well likely" yet he steps towards the bomb, giving it - and its connections to the comp core - a thorough scan.
<CONTEST> and .
<CONTEST> Shamash contests Personal Equipment/Tricorder vs Moderate and Fails.
GAME: Milosevic spends a courage point.
<CONTEST> McTiernan contests Personal Equipment/Tricorder vs Moderate and Marginally Fails.
<CONTEST> Milosevic contests Demolitions/Bomb Disposal+A vs Difficult and Fails.
<CONTEST> Foster contests Personal Equipment/Temporal Tricorder vs Moderate and Succeeds.
Milosevic looks over the bomb carefully, trying to get a feel for the mechanics of it but just shakes his head. "It's a bit complex for me. I recommend getting the computer up and beaming out in under...16 minutes?"
McTiernan blinks between her tricorder and the bomb. "Ok.. well.. it's ticking /down/ and I'm seeing that it uses Tekasite.. and that's like a /highly/ unstable cyrstalline substance so umm.. I'd suggest not touching it if you don't know what you're doing..."
The bomb continues to tick. The Romulan numerals translated by PADDs or tricorders to 15:58.
<CONTEST> Foster contests Personal Equipment/Temporal Tricorder vs Moderate and Succeeds.
Laco steps up to the explosive device. "Work on getting any data out. YOu have fifteen minutes, it would seem." Laco starts to fiddle, and explore. Oh Laco...no Laco, no....
GAME: Laco spends a courage point.
<CONTEST> Laco contests Demolitions/Bomb disposal+A vs Difficult and Marginally Fails.
Foster nods, looking over his tricorder. "Aye. It's hooked into the computer core too closely to beam either the bomb or the computer out without destroying both and probably us in the process. Only choice is to download the computer core or to take a shot at disarming the bomb. I've seen Alek do it a couple of times - I could take a shot at it, but no guarantees." He steps over to the computer system and, guided by the tricorder, powers it up. "I'm reading a self-replicating virus, so... I think we'll be better off pulling in what files are available."
Shamash, after a last glance at the bomb, gives up on that thing and steps over to the 'puter. "Now lets see how to access this system."
Green steps well back from the bomb, moving toward Foster to see if she can give him a hand. She pretends not to notice Laco's fiddling (while Romulus burns?) because if she does acknowledge it, she'll probably end up with very week knees. Virus? "That might explain why they left so much time on the bomb. That did seem odd."
GAME: Shamash spends a courage point.
<CONTEST> Shamash contests Systems Engineering/testingonetwo+A vs Challenging and Succeeds.
Foster squints at the computer, and mutters, "Damned Romulan machines. I can't read a word this thing is saying.
<CONTEST> McTiernan contests Personal Equipment/Tricorder vs Routine and Fails.
Foster steps aside to let Shamash do his thing.
McTiernan runs a tricorder sweep over the area but isn't picking up much. She licks her lips nervously as she eyes the bomb. So.. She shifts her gaze to their fearless leader.
Milosevic walks away from the bomb in disgust and over to Shamash. "What are you working on here? Maybe I can help more with it and leave the bomb to someone else?"
The bomb continues to tick, counting down to 12:32.
Laco gestures at one of the computer screens. "Mister Green, start bringing up files, and I'll read them. I have a...good memory. Everybody else, try to get in there and download them."
"We are in.", Shamash announces, as he then starts to fiddle with his tricorder and immediately requests a spare one from one of the officers around him. "We will display the data files on the terminals, access is granted, and record the data on the Tricorders as the data scrolls past. Mr. Milosevic, you can assist by modifying your Tricorder similarly and tap a console of your own."
<CONTEST> McTiernan contests Personal Equipment/Tricorder vs Routine and Succeeds.
<CONTEST> Shamash contests Personal Equipment/Tricorder vs Routine and Succeeds.
Green starts to point at Foster's tricorder, but she moves swiftly to the screen Laco indicates. She starts to bend over it to tap, then glances toward Shamash and continues anyhow. Same basic plan, just with mechanical backup for Laco's memory.
"You can use mine if you want, Tay," Foster says. Otherwise, he remains back, out of the way. He'll try to record what he can - more tricorders can only speed up the process.
. o O Green thinks, "When did Shamash become the commander of this mission anyhow?"
"Well," Piper begins, "The good news is that we're along in here. The bad news is three little bats there that cling to life, aren't going to make it much longer."
<CONTEST> Milosevic contests Personal Equipment/padd vs Routine and Succeeds.
Milosevic rugs up his tricorder as well and starts sending information into it at a console just a ways down from Shamash. "Got this side going as well. Someone toss me another tricorder?"
The bomb is down to 10:02 left.
Laco reads as the screens as fast as he possibly can. "I really don't care about the blasted bats, Lieutenant. Stop wasting your time with them, and help download this data."
Green shakes her head at Foster's offer, keeping the screens scrolling as fast as possible. "I was going to say... " There's pauses in her speech as she concentrates, "That you could use it to translate the Romulan script, Caleb. Moot point now."
Shamash skimms over the data as he proceeds with the download, or more the physical copy of the data. At Pipers piping in he mutters to himself, "Lifesigns to faint for the Paine's sensors to pick up.. got to recalibrate those sensors, they must have lost efficiency"
McTiernan sends a look Laco's way and shakes her head. She turns away from the man to approach Milo. "Here, take mine. This part I can do on my own."
<CONTEST> Milosevic contests Personal Equipment/padd vs Routine and Succeeds.
Milosevic reconfigures Piper's tricorder as well, working into a chain of data retrieval. "How much we got left to get out of here and how much time is left?" Milo looks over at Shamash, then to Laco.
It would seem a moment after Milosevic asks his question the answer is given by the computer. The files they've accessed are it. There is nothing more view. As for the bomb, its down to 8:22.
Laco shakes his head, as if to clear it. "Alright, everybody, back to the ship."
Green straightens so quickly her back joints crack, and she slings her rifle on its strap over her shoulder. Stepping to join the boss in standard beamout arrangement, she comments, "Eight minutes. Time enough to beam up the bats too if you want to, sir."
Shamash steps away from the computer console to make ready for beam out. Curious sod he is, he continues to skim over the data he has gathered.
Milosevic grabs both tricorders and heads to the beam out spot, slinging that rifle over his shoulder. "Time to go. I think this qualifies as emergency beam out, eh?"
. o O McTiernan thinks, "Yea, you know. Those bats we didn't know where still alive?"
"Let's make sure that we can get back up first," Foster says. "'cause there are no guarantees of that." He adds, under his breath, "Then again, there are no guarantees of *anything*, eh?"
Depsite Foster's rather negative comments beam out is indeed possible. Within moments the crew is back onto the Thomas Paine followed shortly after by the corpses of a couple of the bats. According to orders from Laco the Paine immediately cuts bait and runs, so to speak. The pilot jostles the ship some as he pushes her through the storm and away from the comet. Thankfully they are close to the edge of the storm and a few minutes later the ride smooths out as the Paine begins the long journey back to Station 419-Upsilon.
