Atragon9

=/\= USS MANTICORE BRIEFING #860, STARDATE 51506.08 =/\= The Manticore was called to assist a convoy under attack from raiders. It turned out to be a trap and the main convoy ship fired on us and sent over a boarding party to capture the crew. The crew was corralled in the main cargo bay, except for Sickbay, which got locked in; and Xul and Brutus who escaped the collection of the crew. Soon after the crew awoke in the main cargo bay surrounded by guards, the senior officers (Lt. Cdr and above) were taken out of the cargo bay. Hours later, the Command Staff led the senior officers in freeing the crew with ... Extreme Prejudice. Now the crew is poised to retake the ship from the boarding party. =/\= END USS MANTICORE BRIEFING #860, STARDATE 51506.08 =/\= 150608.txt

=/\= USS MANTICORE BRIEFING #860, STARDATE 51506.08 =/\= The Manticore was called to assist a convoy under attack from raiders. It turned out to be a trap and the main convoy ship fired on us and sent over a boarding party to capture the crew. The crew was corralled in the main cargo bay, except for Sickbay, which got locked in; and Xul and Brutus who escaped the collection of the crew. Soon after the crew awoke in the main cargo bay surrounded by guards, the senior officers (Lt. Cdr and above) were taken out of the cargo bay. Hours later, the Command Staff led the senior officers in freeing the crew with ... Extreme Prejudice. Now the crew is poised to retake the ship from the boarding party. =/\= END USS MANTICORE BRIEFING #860, STARDATE 51506.08 =/\=

=/\= USS MANTICORE BRIEFING #859, STARDATE 51506.01 =/\= The Manticore was called to assist a convoy under attack from raiders. It turned out to be a trap and the main convoy ship fired on us and sent over a boarding party to capture the crew. The crew was corralled in the main cargo bay, except for Sickbay, which got locked in; and Xul and Brutus who escaped the collection of the crew. Soon after the crew awoke in the main cargo bay surrounded by guards, the senior officers (Lt. Cdr and above) were taken out of the cargo bay and no one has heard from them since. =/\= END USS MANTICORE BRIEFING #859, STARDATE 51506.01 =/\= 150601.txt

=/\= USS MANTICORE BRIEFING #859, STARDATE 51506.01 =/\= The Manticore was called to assist a convoy under attack from raiders. It turned out to be a trap and the main convoy ship fired on us and sent over a boarding party to capture the crew. The crew was corralled in the main cargo bay, except for Sickbay, which got locked in; and Xul and Brutus who escaped the collection of the crew. Soon after the crew awoke in the main cargo bay surrounded by guards, the senior officers (Lt. Cdr and above) were taken out of the cargo bay and no one has heard from them since. =/\= END USS MANTICORE BRIEFING #859, STARDATE 51506.01 =/\=

(This log contains the musings of Admiral Atragon-9 during the previous sim) I'm back on the ship, this is wonderful! I can go back in my memory, all too easily, to the time I was a prisoner of Charlie Thasus. First I gave up hope of a quick rescue, then I gave up hope of finding a way out of my prison by myself, then I gave up hope of seeing my friends, finally I gave up home of ever getting out of his clutches alive. It was only at that point that I gave up all hope of returning to Manticore. It is such a deeply rooted part of my psyche, it never occurred to me that I wouldn't return here until I was facing my own death. I cannot put into words the happiness (and inevitability) of returning to this ship. . . . I am so pleased that I am back on the Bridge. The overhaul gave her a "fresh coat of paint," and it suits her well. The Science team had a big enough slice of the upper deck that I could be out of the way, but still in the thick of it all, by just taking one of their seats. . . . I had been MIA for months, the fleet had to move on, especially when I was rescued and taken straight to the psych ward of SF Medical. Sovak is an excellent CO and Matt McFly is a surprising and surprisingly good choice for XO. The crew is in fine hands, the ship is in fine hands. I couldn't ask for more. . . . Okay, that's not strictly true, If I was really able to ask, I would ask for my command back. I'm back, the ship is back, what were they thinking. What ARE they thinking. Sovak and Matt are amazing people and amazing members of my crew, but it's *MY CREW* . . . Protecting a convoy from raiders, really? What is this, our first mission with a bunch of green recruits, this is more than just bogus! It's beneath us... well, I suppose it is beneath Them. What am I doing here? they gave me a seat on the Bridge, back, out of the way. Is this like the historical accounts of Earth corporations who used to take their own command staff, their own executives and bring in new executives, while shuffling the old ones to seats on the Board of Directors? What is my role on this ship? Am I the cautionary tale told to hot, young rising officers to make sure they didn't reach too high or to warn them away from any long-term plans of being in charge? . . . I am extraneous, I am unnecessary, I am just sitting here, watching the ship pick off these little raiding craft like picking low-hanging fruit. Am I doomed to reliving my "glory days," telling ensigns about how the Manticore used to make a difference in the quadrant. Telling stories of how we used to be a real fighting ship, not one that babysits convoys to keep away mosquitoes. So, now we escort this convoy? How silly, could it be more boring... ::the main convoy ship fires a spread of photon torpedoes as soon as the Manticore shields are down:: Oh Frak!!

You and me together, Blu - mixed nuts!

=/\= USS MANTICORE BRIEFING #859, STARDATE 51505.25 =/\= The Manticore was called to assist a convoy under attack from raiders. It turned out to be a trap and the main convoy ship fired on us and sent over a boarding party to capture the crew. The crew was corralled in the main cargo bay, except for Sickbay, which got locked in; and Xul and Brutus who escaped the collection of the crew. Soon after the crew awoke in the main cargo bay surrounded by guards, the senior officers (Lt. Cdr and above) were taken out of the cargo bay and no one has heard from them since. =/\= END USS MANTICORE BRIEFING #859, STARDATE 51505.25 =/\=

=/\= USS MANTICORE BRIEFING #858, STARDATE 51505.18 =/\= The Manticore was called to assist a convoy under attack from raiders. It turned out to be a trap and the main convoy ship fired on us and sent over a boarding party. Before we could stop them, they cut to atmo to the entire ship, except Sickbay, who just got locked in. Xul and Brutus are also safe, as they had respirators on when the atmo was shut down. The crew awoke in the main cargo bay, guarded by two dozen thugs with phaser rifles. Within an hour, the guards get a message from some unseen boss and start stunning anyone Lt. Commander or higher rank. That can't be good (except for promotion opportunities.) =/\= END USS MANTICORE BRIEFING #858, STARDATE 51505.18 =/\= 150518.txt

=/\= USS MANTICORE BRIEFING #858, STARDATE 51505.18 =/\= The Manticore was called to assist a convoy under attack from raiders. It turned out to be a trap and the main convoy ship fired on us and sent over a boarding party. Before we could stop them, they cut to atmo to the entire ship, except Sickbay, who just got locked in. Xul and Brutus are also safe, as they had respirators on when the atmo was shut down. The crew awoke in the main cargo bay, guarded by two dozen thugs with phaser rifles. Within an hour, the guards get a message from some unseen boss and start stunning anyone Lt.Commander or higher rank. That can't be good (except for promotion opportunities.) =/\= END USS MANTICORE BRIEFING #858, STARDATE 51505.18 =/\=

=/\= USS MANTICORE BRIEFING #857, STARDATE 51505.11 =/\= The Manticore was called to assist a convoy under attack from raiders. It turned out to be a trap and the main convoy ship fired on us and sent over a boarding party. Before we could stop them, they cut to atmo to the entire ship, except Sickbay, who just got locked in. Xul and Brutus are also safe, as they had respirators on when the atmo was shut down. An hour has passed and the crew who had passed out are just waking up in the two main cargo bays, with no cargo containers, no weapons, no tricorders, and some wicked headaches. =/\= END USS MANTICORE BRIEFING #857, STARDATE 51505.11 =/\ 150511.txt

=/\= USS MANTICORE BRIEFING #857, STARDATE 51505.11 =/\= The Manticore was called to assist a convoy under attack from raiders. It turned out to be a trap and the main convoy ship fired on us and sent over a boarding party. Before we could stop them, they cut to atmo to the entire ship, except Sickbay, who just got locked in. Xul and Brutus are also safe, as they had respirators on when the atmo was shut down. An hour has passed and the crew who had passed out are just waking up in the two main cargo bays, with no cargo containers, no weapons, no tricorders, and some wicked headaches. =/\= END USS MANTICORE BRIEFING #857, STARDATE 51505.11 =/\=

=/\= USS MANTICORE BRIEFING #856, STARDATE 51505.04 =/\= The Manticore has completed an overhaul and a shakedown cruise and was sent to protect a convoy from raiders. After scaring the raiding craft away, Manticore approached the convoy to see if assistance was needed. Right after we lowered our shields, the main convoy ship fired on us, photon torpedo spread, point blank range with our shields down. So much for that new paint job. =/\= END USS MANTICORE BRIEFING #856, STARDATE 51505.04 =/\= 150504.txt

"Captain, I always wanted you to look at my legs. LOOK AT MY LEGS!" Heartbreaking

=/\= USS MANTICORE BRIEFING #856, STARDATE 51505.04 =/\= The Manticore has completed an overhaul and a shakedown cruise and was sent to protect a convoy from raiders. After scaring the raiding craft away, Manticore approached the convoy to see if assistance was needed. Right after we lowered our shields, the main convoy ship fired on us, photon torpedo spread, point blank range with our shields down. So much for that new paint job. =/\= END USS MANTICORE BRIEFING #856, STARDATE 51505.04 =/\=

=/\= USS MANTICORE BRIEFING #855, STARDATE 51504.27 =/\= *** HAPPY 17th Anniversary to Manticore *** The Manticore has completed an overhaul and a shakedown cruise and is ready to resume the mission it was built for: saving the Universe from perils no one knew existed, in ways that no one will understand, for reasons no one can support. =/\= END USS MANTICORE BRIEFING #855, STARDATE 51504.27 =/\= 150427.txt

=/\= USS MANTICORE BRIEFING #855, STARDATE 51504.27 =/\= *** HAPPY 17th Anniversary to Manticore *** The Manticore has completed an overhaul and a shakedown cruise and is ready to resume the mission it was built for: saving the Universe from perils no one knew existed, in ways that no one will understand, for reasons no one can support. =/\= END USS MANTICORE BRIEFING #855, STARDATE 51504.27 =/\=

{{Tomorrow night's sim will mark the 17th anniversary of the Manticore's first sim, April 27, 1998, as I look back on 17 years, I get... sentimental}} ======================= ~The crew of the Manticore is back together, the ship is intact, the mission is unknown, but we will all face it together~ These random, wondrous thoughts are the kind that keep flowing through A9's mind. He supposes he never really knew how messed up he was until he was kidnapped, tortured and presumed lost forever. Starfleet Medical has always performed miracles, medically speaking, and Atragon realized they did so with him, even though he never thought he needed one. He was so messed up, he didn't have the strength or will or desire to cut short the therapy, the repairs they performed on him - with him. He didn't realize it, at the time, but between the state of his mind / body and the fact that Manticore was gone for a year and not a "distraction" for him, it was the perfect equation to get him to his current state. Happiness. That may be too simplified, as it was also contentment, renewal of his desire for "the mission," the sharpening of his skills, the sharpening of his mind, the clarity of focus, the quiet calm and deep internal resource pool. He was at the right place in his life, at the right place in the fleet. While the crew took a month off to get their own lives back in order, he took his time exploring and re-discovering the Manticore. He thought back to when he fought the Council to get Manticore commissioned, to give him the mission, his utter and total conviction of doing the right thing for All The Right Reasons. It has been years, with a lot of ups and downs, but he never felt more in line with his core, his psyche, the needs of the fleet and his ability to deliver. Of course, he wasn't the CO or XO of the ship anymore but, hey, technicalities, eh?

=/\= USS MANTICORE BRIEFING #854, STARDATE 51504.20 =/\= The Manticore escaped a temporal distortion field that kept everyone onboard looping across the same six days, except Chief Engineer Jaenke for a full year. After a quick debriefing (it HAD only been six days), the ship was overhauled in drydock and the crew was given a month's leave to try and explain their one year absence to their families (without actually explaining it - we LOVE black ops.) Fun time is over, the crew is back onboard and ready to resume their mission. =/\= END USS MANTICORE BRIEFING #854, STARDATE 51504.20 =/\= 150420.txt

=/\= USS MANTICORE BRIEFING #854, STARDATE 51504.20 =/\= The Manticore escaped a temporal distortion field that kept everyone onboard looping across the same six days, except Chief Engineer Jaenke for a full year. After a quick debriefing (it HAD only been six days), the ship was overhauled in drydock and the crew was given a month's leave to try and explain their one year absence to their families (without actually explaining it - we LOVE black ops.) Fun time is over, the crew is back onboard and ready to resume their mission. =/\= END USS MANTICORE BRIEFING #854, STARDATE 51504.20 =/\=

=/\= USS MANTICORE BRIEFING #853, STARDATE 51504.13 =/\= The Manticore has finally escaped a temporal distortion field that kept everyone looping across the same six days, except Chief Engineer Jaenke and EVERYONE off the ship who continued on, living for a full year. As soon as the ship exited the loop, a year's worth of messages came flooding in and the Pensacola and Carthage arrived to meet Manticore with a cured and rested (and restive) A9 onboard. =/\= END USS MANTICORE BRIEFING #853, STARDATE 51504.13 =/\= 150413.txt

=/\= USS MANTICORE BRIEFING #853, STARDATE 51504.13 =/\= The Manticore has finally escaped a temporal distortion field that kept everyone looping across the same six days, except Chief Engineer Jaenke and EVERYONE off the ship who continued on, living for a full year. As soon as the ship exited the loop, a year's worth of messages came flooding in and the Pensacola and Carthage arrived to meet Manticore with a cured and rested (and restive) A9 onboard. =/\= END USS MANTICORE BRIEFING #853, STARDATE 51504.13 =/\=

=/\= USS MANTICORE BRIEFING #852, STARDATE 51504.06 =/\= We have now flashed back six days in time, for the 50th time. Erich was able to convince the senior staff (well, maybe not ALL of the senior staff) that the ship must not accept any of the Lantasian materials (i.e. Erich's future PADD or future dead body), as they contained chroniton particles and were causing a temporal loop. He convinced them by displaying a frighteningly intimate knowledge of the crew's habits and upcoming short-term plans. Now they needed to convince the Utah to also get rid of all materials collected from the planet. This was proving much more difficult and time was running out. With just one day left before the loop restarted, Sovak approved a Security squad to beam over to the Utah to vaporize all Lantas materials. Led by Kansas, there's no chance of any accidental violence - it will all be deliberate. =/\= END USS MANTICORE BRIEFING #852, STARDATE 51504.06 =/\= 150406.txt

=/\= USS MANTICORE BRIEFING #852, STARDATE 51504.06 =/\= We have now flashed back six days in time, for the 50th time. Erich was able to convince the senior staff (well, maybe not ALL of the senior staff) that the ship must not accept any of the Lantasian materials (i.e. Erich's future PADD or future dead body), as they contained chroniton particles and were causing a temporal loop. He convinced them by displaying a frighteningly intimate knowledge of the crew's habits and upcoming short-term plans. Now they needed to convince the Utah to also get rid of all materials collected from the planet. This was proving much more difficult and time was running out. With just one day left before the loop restarted, Sovak approved a Security squad to beam over to the Utah to vaporize all Lantas materials. Led by Kansas, there's no chance of any accidental violence - it will all be deliberate. =/\= END USS MANTICORE BRIEFING #852, STARDATE 51504.06 =/\=

A9 was sitting in the conference room of the Pensacola, trying to piece together all of the parts of the puzzle they have wandered into. It has been 45 days since they arrived at Rylos-IX, with backup from the Carthage arriving a week after they did. They are parked outside of a massive temporal distortion that seems to start here and has been mapped all the way back to a small, unremarkable, unmapped and unknown planetoid called Lantas-IV. It had been classified by long range telescope, but no one had visited... they think. This is where a new player in the puzzle game enters the field. There is a missing science vessel, the Utah, that has been missing for as long as the Manticore. Fleet Science Directorate is used to their long-range ships going MIA for months at a time, due to a variety of spatial anomalies they get investigated. It was only as the Carthage was tracing the far edge of this distortion field, and reporting back to the Fed Council that someone high up in SF Science realized that it was the last known location of the Utah AND they had not reported in for 11 months. The Council assured SF SCI that Special Ops would search for the Utah, just so we wouldn't have to deal with a boat full of Squints ((nod of acknowledgement to KK for that term)) possibly muddying up the investigation. Speaking of investigating, those chroniton spikes have normalized in their schedule. In fact, the spikes are extr aordinarily regular, reoccurring every six days, right down to the same minute, each time. We are not sure what would happen to any ships or people caught in the field during the chroniton spikes, but looking back at the last reports of the Utah and the Manticore, it is possible that the two ships have gone through over 50 of these spikes, maybe more. A9 has been in communication with the Consul General and pleaded his case to allow the Pensacola to enter the field to search for participants/survivors/wreckage. For more than a month, he has been turned down. At the same time, he has been working on Captain Bek to see if the Pensacola might be convinced to enter the temporal field even without Fed Council approval. Of the two fronts, the only one that seems to be weakening is the one here, on the Pensacola so, once again, he is on the verge of taking a Special Ops crew into a situation that is against the regulations of even Black Ops. And they wonder why he had spent months in the SF Medical looney bin, hmm? To be fair, he truly had no plan once he could get himself into the temporal field, especially if it affected him and this ship the same way it must be affecting the others already "caught." One quagmire at a time (giggity)

=/\= USS MANTICORE BRIEFING #851, STARDATE 51503.30 =/\= We have now flashed back six days in time, for the 50th time. The Manticore received a comm from the Utah, investigating Lantas IV, that diverted us from Rylos-IX. The senior staff has decided, more than once, to avoid our collective fate and leave Lantas IV for our original mission on Rylos-IX. None of this is out of place or suspicious to any of the crew, except Erich Jaenke. Finding that the loop occurs even when they are away from the Utah, Erich asks Science to examine the away team results. It turns out that the Lantas soil contains a huge quantity of chroniton particles. Finally, he found the answer, but nooooo... the rest of the crew forgets the findings as the loop restarts. =/\= END USS MANTICORE BRIEFING #851, STARDATE 51503.30 =/\= 150330.txt