USS Excalibur Sim Log - 06.04.17

[Cdr Miranda Hawthorne 0]

MISSION BRIEF:  Exploration of Irassa IV has already produced some interesting results. Medical has been dealing with a high number of adverse reactions among the crew to the planet's flora and fauna. They have been tasked with collecting samples to compare to previous scans that were taken decades earlier. While exploring, they have inadvertently crossed the path of several predators on the hunt. Other teams have explored a planetary launch site that was apparently used to fire probes toward the system's primary star. Weather on the planet's surface has also turned to be unpredictable, with several violet storm systems suddenly forming and dissipating without warning. Below the planet's surface, the crew has discovered a large storage area with intact crates, though they are currently unable to translate the markings. On the surface, the Science team has discovered a strange obelisk in the center of the ruined city that appears to newer in construction -- though the purpose of the structure currently remains a mystery.

 

Cdr Miranda Hawthorne: BEGIN SIM

Cdr Miranda Hawthorne: BEGIN SIM

Cdr Miranda Hawthorne: BEGIN SIM

 

Maryse Dubois: # ::Is staring down a rather large feline, her phaser drawn and set to heavy stun.::

Maryse Dubois: # ::She has a tree to her back.::

Hakran K'hal: #Rhan> :: as the scan data comes up on his tricorder, remembers these beasties being generically profiled by one of the first exploration teams as likely nocturnal predators and not from a forested environment ::

Indaura Ryssan: # :: Had fallen, but putting her hand up ::

Cdr Miranda Hawthorne: @ ::Down in storage, she looked to Tandaris and Will.:: What did you find at the launch site?

Hakran K'hal: #Rhan> :: light-bulb moment, literally ::

William Chocox: @ They launched a probe of some kind, and the weather is weird.

Tandaris Admiran: @ No sign of whether the probe caused the current situation or was a failed attempt to fix it.

William Chocox: @ Also true.

Hakran K'hal: #Rhan> :: with his own back to a tree, feverishly works to alter his phaser :: Come on come on come on

Hunter Matheson: @ ::listening::

Cdr Miranda Hawthorne: # ACTION> The scaled kitties had apparently forgotten their former prey in exchange for something easier. They spread out, looking to flank the team. Their scales stood up on edge, like raised hairs and they moved quietly, except for low growls.

Maryse Dubois: # Good kitty... ::Keeps the phaser steady.:: Don't make me use this.

Cdr Miranda Hawthorne: @ Weird weather, how?

Tandaris Admiran: @ Sudden storm activity appearing, then dissipating just as fast.

Hunter Matheson: @ ::checks out the crates, wondering if they should open them even if they can't read the markings:::

William Chocox: @ One second it's strong enough to fling a cow, next it's gone.

Indaura Ryssan: @ :: Slowly gets up ::

Tandaris Admiran: @ We'd need Excalibur to perform more detailed analyses of the magnetosphere, but I'd guess that the sun's abnormal rotation is flinging more than your average amount of ions in the planet's direction. That and flare activity, well doesn't have to trillsplain.

Hakran K'hal: #Rhan> :: aims his phaser, shuts his eyes, and hopes his modifications, which instead of a stun blast is now the world's strongest flashlight, will deter the scaly felines as he fires ::

Indaura Ryssan: # Every cat remain calm :: looking in eyes ::

Cdr Miranda Hawthorne: @ That's very odd. Reports from previous surveys didn't mention strange weather. ::She turned to the storage crates.:: We need to get these open. Could be something to do with the weather system operation above.

Hunter Matheson: @ :::trillsplain?:::

Hunter Matheson: @ ::goes back to using the tric to decipher the code/lang:::

Tandaris Admiran: @ ::regards the crates:: Have we tried using the magic word?

William Chocox: @ What's Excalibur doing now?

Hakran K'hal: @ :: blinks :: Well, watching it unfold live on the monitoring screens, I can definitely say they were very focused on good data.

William Chocox: @ "Open says me"

Hakran K'hal: @ Still studying the sun itself as far as I know, as of Captain Swain's last update from Astrometrics.

Cdr Miranda Hawthorne: # ACTION> One of the cats launched itself at Indaura and was hit by Rhan's modified phaser beam. The light blinded it momentarily, causing it to stop mid-charge and change direction --t his time heading for Rhan.

Hunter Matheson: @ ::looks at Admiran::

Hunter Matheson: @ ::serious:: There's a magic word, sir?

Maryse Dubois: # ::Aims and fires at the feet of her cat, hoping to scare it off.::

Hakran K'hal: #Rhan> Well, that's better than nothing, but you're not the only kitty here fella. :: climbs the tree he'd been hugging, swinging out onto a branch and firing more directly at its eyes this time ::

William Chocox: @ Hunter...

Cdr Miranda Hawthorne: @ I thought some good old-fashioned elbow grease would do the trick. ::She pulled one of the crates from the rack. While the locking mechanism was a mystery, there was a clear seam where the create would open.::

Indaura Ryssan: # :: Rolls away :: Oof!

Hunter Matheson: @ ::turns:: Sir?

Hakran K'hal: @ :: cocks an ear, the Caitian equivalent to the Vulcan eyebrow raise ::

Cdr Miranda Hawthorne: # ACTION> Maryse's beam caused the cat to skitter and change direction. Instead of attacking Maryse, it charged a nearby security officer. The redshirt went down screaming as the cat ripped out his throat.

Tandaris Admiran: @ ::uncharacteristic note of caution in his voice:: Are you sure that's a good idea? What if they're booby-trapped?

Indaura Ryssan: # :: Gasped ::

Cdr Miranda Hawthorne: @ ::She looked at Tandaris in surprise and laughed.:: Really? You're the voice of reason now? Why don't you scan it and see.

Maryse Dubois: # ::Fires on the cat once more. This time aiming square at it.::

Tandaris Admiran: @ Setting tricorder to "suspicion". ::begins scanning::

Hunter Matheson: @ ::steps back:::

William Chocox: Who are you and what have you done with Commander Admiran?

Cdr Miranda Hawthorne: #ACTION> The cat after Rhan growled again as it was blinded. Eyes narrowed and ears flat, it reached Rhan's tree and started to climb, though was too heavy and had trouble moving more than a few feet up.

Hakran K'hal: #Rhan> :: winces as the security officer turns into lunch, but has his own to worry about still - watches the cat have trouble climbing :: Sorry fella, but my brains are just going to have to beat your brawn. :: reverts his modifications and fires on heavy stun at it ::

Cdr Miranda Hawthorne: #ACTION> Cat #3 was circling Indaura and crouched, ready to pounce. Cat# 2 was hit by Maryse's phaser, which bounced off its scales. It staggered to one side, but only seemed stunned, rather than truly injured. Growling, it went back to its meal, disemboweling the dead security officer.

Hunter Matheson: (called away)

Hakran K'hal: @ :: dryly :: It's really telling the kind of missions this ship gets assigned if opening boxes is considered a level 1 security hazard.

Maryse Dubois: # Heavy stun doesn't seem to work well. You have permission to use higher settings. ::Taps, setting hers to kill.::

Tandaris Admiran: @ I'm not detecting anything.

Tandaris Admiran: @::Chocox:: OK, pony up the goods.

Hakran K'hal: #Rhan> :: notes stun and the scales don't seem to go well together, from his point of view anyway - then hears Maryse give the authorization to up setting and does so, firing again ::

Cdr Miranda Hawthorne: @ ::She crossed her arms, waiting.::

Maryse Dubois: # ::Fires at the one stalking Indaura.::

William Chocox: @ ::opens it::

Hunter Matheson: (back)

Indaura Ryssan: # ::gets her phaser::

Hakran K'hal: @ :: lets the engineers enjoy their unboxing, turns back to the monitoring screens to see where any potential "exotic" weather patterns are cropping up ::

Indaura Ryssan: # :: Fires a stun ::

Tandaris Admiran: @::peers inside the crate, cautiously, not wanting to go all face-melty::

Hunter Matheson: @ ::watching, curious::

Cdr Miranda Hawthorne: #ACTION> Rhan's stun didn't make a dent, though the cat did fall back to the ground. Setting phasers to kill, surprisingly didn't do much more. It hit the cats a bit harder and seemed to stun them a bit longer, but they shook off the attack. Their scales seemed to deflect most of the phaser attack. However, the multiple attacks, coming from different directions, did seem to make them pause. They retreated and regrouped, circling in preparation for another attack.

Cdr Miranda Hawthorne: #ACTION> During the attack, the wind had begun to whip through the trees as a sudden storm system formed in the distance.

William Chocox: @ It's not the Ark of the Covenant Commander.

Tandaris Admiran: @::Chocox:: The what?

William Chocox: Ancient Earth reference.

Hakran K'hal: #Rhan> For the love of llamas, what are these things made of? Okay, trying something else. This'll probably hurt me just as bad as it hurts them. :: uses his padd to emit a very loud, piercing sound in the frequency range that large cats, including himself, shouldn't be too fond of ::

Indaura Ryssan: # :: Checks her weapon, charges it ::

Maryse Dubois: # ::Takes the opportunity to get to the buggy. Hitting a button in center console which brought up a phaser turret from its resting place.::

Cdr Miranda Hawthorne: @ACTION> Opening the crate without getting blasted with acid or face-melting ghosts, the team discovered that the one they'd cracked was full of survival gear. Hazard suits, gloves, breathers, etc.

Tandaris Admiran: @ Ah. I'm just nervous, because one of my past hosts was on an archaeological expedition and other members of the team opened something they shouldn't have. It caused an exothermic reaction across 50% of their bodies.

William Chocox: @ Oh damn.

Hunter Matheson: @ ::steps waaaay back:::

Maryse Dubois: # ::Standing up in the back of the vehicle, she manned the turret.:: Might want to get in. ::Looks up noting the wind picking up.::

Hunter Matheson: @ ::then he sees the contents::: Huh...

Cdr Miranda Hawthorne: #ACTION> High-pitched noises didn't make the cats too happy. They covered their heads and pawed at their ears, snarling and growling, but not advancing.

Hunter Matheson: @ ::checks the writing on the boxes, comparing it to the contents:::

Hunter Matheson: @ ::slips it into the tric, set to UT:::

Hakran K'hal: #Rhan> :: with his ears covered and his padd still emitting the sound from it's holster on his hip, makes his way to the buggy ::

Tandaris Admiran: @ So they were expanding their existing subterranean infrastructure. Preparing for the onset of a nuclear winter or similarly inhospitable environment.

Tandaris Admiran: @ But they never finished.

Cdr Miranda Hawthorne: #ACTION> The storm neared the team and the wind was getting worse. Trees were whipping about dangerously. Those on the ground found themselves having to lean into the wind to keep their feet.

Hakran K'hal: @ From what I've heard topside, every one of those things is pretty well needed as it currently stands.

Cdr Miranda Hawthorne: @ Hmm... crack open another. Matheson, can you find one that has different markings?

Hunter Matheson: @ ::then he moves to the other crates and compares the writing:::

Indaura Ryssan: ## geets in

Hakran K'hal: #Rhan> :: collapses into the ATV and scrambles to turn the bloody noise off before he faints ::

Maryse Dubois: # Rhan...::Looking at the dead security.:: Grab his badge. We'll have to leave the rest... ::frowns.::

Hunter Matheson: @ Well, ma'am... a few words are similar, but the endings are different....

Hunter Matheson: @ So... three boxes are HAZMAT...

Hakran K'hal: #Rhan> What?! :: shouts ::

Hunter Matheson: @ The next three here are different. :

Hunter Matheson: @ ::checks them out:: I'm guessing different survival gear.

Cdr Miranda Hawthorne: # ACTION> Though no longer blasted by the noise, the cats fled from the storm. The ATVS were now being pushed by the wind, which threatened to topple them.

Maryse Dubois: # ::Points to her badge on her chest, then to the dead crewman.::

Indaura Ryssan: # :: Riding with them :: Ugh....

Cdr Miranda Hawthorne: @ Pull one down and let engineering have a crack at it.

Maryse Dubois: # ::Sits down and straps in.::

Hunter Matheson: @ :: crowbar, shifts it, then gets a few sec to hand it down:::

Hunter Matheson: @ ::plunk:::

Hakran K'hal: #Rhan> :: sees what Maryse is on about, but is more worried about the effects of the storm on the ATV - hops into the driver's seat and turns it into the wind ::

Hunter Matheson: @ :::steps back:::

Indaura Ryssan: # :: Frowns :: Not a great first contact...

Hakran K'hal: #Rhan> :: shouts, because he can't hear himself or anything much else and because he assumes the storm is loud :: We'll have to leave him or we'll be joining him.

Cdr Miranda Hawthorne: @ACTION> The next crate contains a crap-ton of data tapes.

Maryse Dubois: # ::Slips into the back seat, strapping in.:: ((Ignore my previous.)) Can we make it back to base in this?

Hakran K'hal: #Rhan> :: looks over the map, decides they're better off going to the ruins from here than back to the base camp, heads off carefully trying to keep the ATVs stable by tacking with the wind ::

Indaura Ryssan: # :: looks at the storm :: Let's go

William Chocox: @ Ooh, are those Betamax?

Hunter Matheson: @ ::absently:: Huh... like they were preserving the contents of whatever system they were using.

Tandaris Admiran: I'm not familiar with that protocol. Is it duotronic?

Cdr Miranda Hawthorne: #ACTION> And suddenly the storm is upon them. First came the hail. The ATV was rocked and buffeted dangerously by the wind. (Are these ATVs open air? I hope not.)

Hunter Matheson: @ ::Chocox::: Betamax?

Hakran K'hal: #Rhan> :: sees the mouths moving, guesses at the content, shouts :: Ruins are closer!

Maryse Dubois: # :;Sitting behind Rhan, she reaches up and begins to rub his ears, trying to ease his pain.::

Maryse Dubois: ((The back part that I was previously in was, but I moved inside. ))

William Chocox: @ Old data storage method.

Hakran K'hal: #Rhan> :: good thing he's not Ferengi, he'd drive them into the ditch with that ::

Cdr Miranda Hawthorne: @ We need to convert one of these to see what it contains. ::She looked to Hunter.:: Any other crates with different markings?

Hunter Matheson: @ ::checks:: Yes, ma'am.

Tandaris Admiran: @ Right, if there are tapes, there must be a reader.

Hakran K'hal: @ Looks like a major storm brewing up near the nearby forest.

Hunter Matheson: @ ::walks down the line:: Looks like every three are.. .except this one. There's only one. And two of the next crates.

Hakran K'hal: @ :: checks with base camp to see if there is anyone in that area ::

Hunter Matheson: @ I'll scratch numbers into them. These first three will be 1, next three will be 2, and on down the line.

Maryse Dubois: # ::Stops a moment to send a comm to home base alerting them to the storm and our detour. Then contacts the ruins team.:: +Miranda+ Commander, this is Dr. Dubois, can you read us? ::Lots of noise on her end from the storm.::

Hunter Matheson: @ ::hears the alert, but still thinking there could be something in the boxes that will give a hint as to what the hell happened and what's going on topside:::

Hakran K'hal: #Rhan> :: bouncing around in the driver's seat as he tries like mad to keep them moving - lowers their ride height to keep as little air from getting underneath as possible, and well, if they get stuck in the mud they'll at least avoid doing a Dorothy ::

Hakran K'hal: @ :: frowns, hearing Maryse's comm :: Well that answers my question. It really looks like Security Provided by The Weather the way it whips these things up around our people.

Hunter Matheson: @ ::walking along, checking the wording and marking similar boxes:::

Cdr Miranda Hawthorne: #ACTION> Hail beat down on the ATVs, but ceased after a few minutes. The rain started after, hissing against the ATV's external structure. Strangely, it seemed to be pitting the windshield, eating away at it.

Cdr Miranda Hawthorne: @ +Mayrse+ We can hear you, but barely. What's going on?

Hunter Matheson: (raining acid - talk about air pollution)

Tandaris Admiran: @ ::opens more boxes:: Here we go!

Hakran K'hal: #Rhan> :: wonders why the wipers aren't doing a damn bit of good, then realizes what's happening :: Umm... this isn't good.

Tandaris Admiran: @::digs out a device that looks like it could be a tape reader:: Let's see if we can hook this up to the monitors there, get it some power.

Maryse Dubois: # +Miranda+ I'll fill in details when we arrive, but we are caught in a real nasty storm and are on our way to your location. ::Notices the windshield. Possible cursing heard.::

Hunter Matheson: @ ::end of the line, he turns and begins deciphering as much as he can:::

Hakran K'hal: #Rhan> :: head whips around, trying to find the least little bit of something that could be considered shelter as the map shows them far too far away from the Ruins for his liking ::

William Chocox: @ Sounds like a good plan Commander.

Hakran K'hal: @ :: frowns over the screens, trying to figure out what this new symbology over the storm could indicate ::

Cdr Miranda Hawthorne: TWO MINUTE WARNING

Hunter Matheson: @ ::mutters:: Huh...

Cdr Miranda Hawthorne: @ ::Looks to Hunter.:: What?

Hunter Matheson: @ ::checks again, then looks up to tap the box:: This might be medical supplies.

Hakran K'hal: @ Damnit, I hate arbitrary symbols. :: scratches head ::

William Chocox: @ Hm

Hunter Matheson: @ ::moves to the next:: This one, too.

Hakran K'hal: #Rhan> Hmm... I may have to just gun it and take our chances. If that gets through the windshield, I'd hate to think what it would do to us.

Hunter Matheson: @ If I could remember Greek 101, I might be able to read it. Or maybe it was Latin. ::headscratch:::

Cdr Miranda Hawthorne: #ACTION> A herd of animals suddenly stampeded in front of the ATVs, running in panic as they were being devoured by acidic rain.

Indaura Ryssan: # :: nods ::

Cdr Miranda Hawthorne: And...

Maryse Dubois: # Apparently that... ::Noticing the animals.::

Hakran K'hal: #Rhan> Or not! :: does a nifty drift turn... growing up in Cali does have its benefits ::

 

Cdr Miranda Hawthorne: END SIM

Cdr Miranda Hawthorne: END SIM

Cdr Miranda Hawthorne: END SIM