USS Excalibur Sim Log - 07.30.17

[Cdr Miranda Hawthorne 0]

MISSION BRIEF: The Romulan cruise has unlocked ahead of us, and now we find ourselves at an impasse.

 

Cptn Swain: BEGIN SIM

Cptn Swain: BEGIN SIM

Cptn Swain: BEGIN SIM

 

Rhan K'hal: :: still at Sci2, thinking this could be going better, but then it could always be worse too, so will just take what he can get ::

Cptn Swain: Stand by weapons. Helm, bring us about.

Hunter Matheson: ::he is at helm (I think), entering evasive maneuvers and escape vectors, just in case::

Hunter Matheson: Coming about, aye.

Tandaris Admiran: Romulan Commander> ::awaiting a response to his comms::

Hunter Matheson: Attack position, Captain?

Maryse Dubois: ::In Sickbay. She went to a console to get an update.::

Cdr Miranda Hawthorne: ::On the bridge, Miranda sat in her chair, waiting pensively.::

William Chocox: ::still working on his project in Engineering::

Hakran K'hal: :: quietly signals his brother next to him to go back to doing his own job - he's got the sciencey bits taken care of now that they've flushed the Romulan out of cloak ::

Cptn Swain: ::Considers:: No... keep us in a defense posture. If our people are on that vessel, then I'd rather not blow them up.

Tandaris Admiran: RomCom> Have you located the prisoners yet?

Hunter Matheson: Aye, Captain, Defense posture.

Cptn Swain: Open a channel.

Rhan K'hal: :: pokes a colored rounded rectangle :: Open, sir.

Indaura Ryssan: What is happening Doctor? :: to Dubois ::

Hunter Matheson: ::takes the ship into defense position and holds, his fingers poised for other maneuvers:::

Cdr Miranda Hawthorne: (( Atos, since you're security, take the TAC station on the bridge. ))

Maryse Dubois: It looks like we are in a standoff with Romulans.

Tandaris Admiran: RomCom> Next time, a "no" would suffice. Save your qualifiers for politicians. ::to another bridge officer:: Cut power to the transporters. Now that we've decloaked they may try to leave the ship that way.

Hakran K'hal: :: running life sign scans to look for a Harper, but in the intergalactically approved polite way - for now ::

Cptn Swain: +Romulan ship+ This is Captain Asher Swain of the USS Excalibur. Romulan vessel, you are in direct violation of the Neutral Zone treaty.

Atos Ch'kivar: ::seated at the tactical station on the bridge::

William Chocox: Where is that part? Would he have it in his office?

Indaura Ryssan: Romulans... great.

Rhan K'hal: :: has transporter room 1 standing by, otherwise concentrating on making sure the comm stays stable with the solar interference causing havoc locally ::

Tandaris Admiran: RomCom> +Excalibur+ How do you humans put it? Ah yes. Oh, "goodie." Much better to be in direct violation of something than indirect, wouldn't you say. I would hate to live up to the stereotype.

Maryse Dubois: ::Sighs.:: Indeed. I'm sure they probably have our people too. Hopefully both sides can come to an agreement.

Hakran K'hal: :: quirks an ear at the comment ::

William Chocox: ::decides to chance going into Admiran's office:: It's probably in some random pile of parts.

Rhan K'hal: :: quirks an ear at the comment ::\

Indaura Ryssan: Perhaps we can offer them something

Rhan K'hal: :: also frowns, as he's supposed to be the sarcastic quip type in this neighborhood ::

Hunter Matheson: ::blink:::

Cptn Swain: ::Lifts a brow:: +Romulans+ Lower your shields and submit to a full scan of your vessel and we will escort you back to the Neutral Zone.

Atos Ch'kivar: ::double checks that all systems are ready::

Rhan K'hal: :: expects a no ::

Tandaris Admiran: RomCom> That's not going to happen. You are interfering with a lawful salvage operation, USS Excalibur.

Hakran K'hal: :: makes sure all active sensors are ready in the unlikely event of a yes ::

William Chocox: ::starts searching around the office::

Cptn Swain: +Romulans+ ::Coughs:: You want to run that by me again.

Rhan K'hal: :: is not a space lawyer, but is pretty sure the salvage clause doesn't include armed Romulan vessels crossing the neutral zone into Federation territory ::

Cptn Swain: ::Makes a motion to mute the outgoing comm::

Rhan K'hal: :: mutes :: Muted, sir.

Cptn Swain: I assume he's trying to delay for some reason.

Indaura Ryssan: Perhaps they have some injured

Rhan K'hal: :: double checks on that clause just to be sure ::

Hunter Matheson: ::wonders what they're salvaging, since there's nothing there:::

Tandaris Admiran: RomCom> +Excalibur+ Come now, Captain Swain. We are both intelligent enough to have risen in the ranks. Let's not play games. ::as he continues to play games:: I know you know about the Romulan installation below the surface of this planet.

Cptn Swain: Miranda, Tandaris see if you can find a way to disrupt their shields.

Hakran K'hal: From what I can tell using passive scanning techniques, they are scrambling around a bit in there, Captain. Though I can't get resolution on all areas of the ship.

Hunter Matheson: ::at least, nothing registering at helm that, if they hit, will do damage:::

Cdr Miranda Hawthorne: ::She grunted.:: You don't ask for much, do you?

Cptn Swain: I try not to, I'll keep our friend talking.

Tandaris Admiran: RomCom> +Excalibur+ That installation was not authorized by our government, I assure you. Five days ago, we detected it and investigated. We are now in the process of removing it or were, before you interrupted us.

Rhan K'hal: :: rolls eyes ::

Cptn Swain: +Romulans+ I am.

Hunter Matheson: ::check, check... nothing in the area... not even small things floating:::

Rhan K'hal: :: unmutes comm ::

Cdr Miranda Hawthorne: +Chocox+ I've got your next assignment for you, and I need it, stat.

Cptn Swain: +Romulans+ Well then, now that your installation has been removed, you can lower your shields and prepare to be scanned.

William Chocox: +Hawthorne+ ::crash as he stands up too quickly next to a pile of parts:: Um...yes?

Hakran K'hal: :: continues to map the echoes, and makes note most specifically of the holes as areas to be first in line to hit with an active scan once he has the authority to use them ::

Tandaris Admiran: RomCom> +Excalibur+ No.

Cdr Miranda Hawthorne: +Chocox+ We need a way to disrupt the Romulan shields. Sending you scans now.

William Chocox: Ok ma'am. Give me one moment.

Maryse Dubois: ::Looks to Indaura.:: This may not go well.

Cdr Miranda Hawthorne: ::She looked back to the TAC station.:: Ch... Ch'kivar, wasn't it?

William Chocox: ::leaves the office and heads back to his console, hoping he doesn't knock over any more parts::

Indaura Ryssan: Extra preparations? Trama?

Atos Ch'kivar: ::turns in chair to Cdr Hawthorne:: Yes, ma'am. Ch'kivar.

Maryse Dubois: ::Shakes head.:: It shouldn't get that far, I hope, but keep everyone on their toes for now.

Rhan K'hal: :: texts down to sickbay with an urgent beep :: May require your assistance in picking out N'Dak's lifesign out of a haystack of other Romulan lifesigns - patching the bio-scanner feed down to you. If you match it, mark it.

Rhan K'hal: :: continues :: "Though with passive scanning only at the moment they probably are about as easy to distinguish as one jello mold from another."

William Chocox: +Hawthorne+ You said you needed what now?

Cdr Miranda Hawthorne: Ch'kivar, keep an eye on long range sensors. We may need backup. I need to know where are closest ships are.

Maryse Dubois: ::Checks her message, and replies an acknowledgement. Checks the feed.::

Cdr Miranda Hawthorne: +Chocox+ We need a way to disrupt the Romulan shields so we can transport out our crewmen.

Atos Ch'kivar: ::nods and swivels back around::

Hakran K'hal: :: with the assistance of the ailing star, is getting much more detailed passive scan data than he would normally get through the EM spectrum, as well as gravitic oscillations and slight subspace variations - of course all this data is freely available to Chocox ::

William Chocox: +Hawthorne+ Ok... ::looks at the project he was working on:: I'm about a third of the way there I think, just need to take a detour.

Atos Ch'kivar: ::checks long range sensors for nearby vessels::

Tandaris Admiran: RomCom> +Excalibur+ I'm finding this conversation delightful, really, I am. However, time is pressing, for both of us, I’m sure. If there is nothing else, Captain Swain, we will be on our way and back across the Neutral Zone before you know it.

William Chocox: ::gets back to work, using any data he needs::

Rhan K'hal: :: pops away from Sci2 and over to the multifunction console opposite the first officer's chair ::

Cptn Swain: +Romulans+ If you attempt to leave the system before we have had a chance to scan your vessel, to assure that no illicit information or materials from our expedition, I will be force to interdict you.

Hakran K'hal: :: considers a moment ::

Tandaris Admiran: ::paying attention to Hawthorne conversing with Chocox but assumes Chocox will connect all the dots and do what needs to be done without his interference::

Indaura Ryssan: It's the waiting..

Cptn Swain: +Romulans+ I am sure you're also aware that we considerably outgun you.

William Chocox: +Hawthorne+ Is Commander Admiran with you?

Hunter Matheson: ::oookay.... checks probably retreat courses, and plots pursuit courses to match:::

Hunter Matheson: ::and paints the Romulan vessel while he's at it:::

Cptn Swain: ::Off mic:: Launch fighters. Have them stay in defensive positions. I want them to know I am serious.

Hakran K'hal: +Swain+ :: via text :: "I can aim a graviton beam at the star, I believe that will cause some relatively severe gravitic oscillations through the sector... that will make going to warp quite unwise."

Maryse Dubois: ::Going through the sensor information, hoping to catch the slightest hint.:: Keep them talking... ::Talking quietly to herself.::

Tandaris Admiran: RomCom> +Excalibur+ And will you lower *your* shields and submit to a scan of your vessel, to assure that you have not taken any information or materials from our expedition?

Hunter Matheson: ::chokecough at that:::

Hunter Matheson: ::then continues working:::

Cptn Swain: +Romulan+ No, because that's now how this works. You're on my side of the neutral zone.

Cptn Swain: ::Notices the text, but shakes his head -- typing back 'that means for us too'::

Hakran K'hal: :: slight nod, continues with his work with the sensors ::

William Chocox: +Admiran+ Sir, do you happen to know where I can find a neutron heavy flux capacitor down here?

Tandaris Admiran: RomCom> +Excalibur+ Perhaps you could tell us what, exactly, you might be scanning for, and we could just have a look around here for you.

Cptn Swain: +Romulans+ I think you know exactly what I am looking for, Commander.

Tandaris Admiran: RomCom> ::has, all this time, been gesturing and whispering into the ear of a subordinate, as if plotting something::

Rhan K'hal: :: from his new position, passes along the fighter launch and parameters to Cdr d'Aubigne ::

Cptn Swain: ACTION> Excalibur's fighter squadron launches, taking up defensive positions on either side of the Excalibur.

Maryse Dubois: ::Turns to Indaura.:: You have sickbay. It'll be best if I were on the bridge for this task. ::Gets up from the console and exits.::

Hakran K'hal: :: after all this time, is starting to get a pretty good feel for the Romulan shields, starts making notes for William's benefit of particularly juicy areas to target with whatever the heck he comes up with ::

Hunter Matheson: ::he notes the positions of the squadron, with an eye to maneuver in tandem if needed:::

William Chocox: +Admiran+ Sir, did you get my last message?

Maryse Dubois: ::Short TL ride later, she enters the bridge and grabs an unused console. Bringing up the bio scanner, she resumes her search.::

Atos Ch'kivar: ::over his shoulder:: I'm pick up a few ships - the USS Polaris, Expedient, and Aurania. The Aurania is closest, but would still take an hour to reach at max warp.

Tandaris Admiran: +Chocox+ I think I put it under E for "emergencies"

William Chocox: Thank you sir.

William Chocox: ::runs over and starts looking for it::

William Chocox: +Admiran+*

Tandaris Admiran: RomCom> +Excalibur+ Now that you mention it, we did come across something rather odd in our investigation. ::notices the fighter launch but does not react visibly:: We found two people, apparently stranded on the planet, and so we rescued them.

Atos Ch'kivar: ::adds on:: All fighters are ready in position.

Cdr Miranda Hawthorne: ::She nodded at Atos information.:: Send a message to them, subspace band, quietly. Inform them of the situation.

William Chocox: Ok...we have this...and then...just put this together... ::is putting parts together::

Cptn Swain: +Romulans+ ::Frowns:: Return them to us, and I will, in the interest of fostering amity, allow you to return to the Neutral Zone without additional scans.

Rhan K'hal: :: hearing the comm to Tandaris, makes a note to assign a yeoman to Tandaris - someone else down there needs to learn his filing system ::

William Chocox: +Hawthorne & Admiran+ I have...something...

Tandaris Admiran: ((Yeomans are under "Y"))

Maryse Dubois: ::Thinks she may have something for a moment, but there was too much interference.::

William Chocox: +Hawthorne & Admiran+ And it's probably only going to work once.

Tandaris Admiran: ((For "yummy"))

Atos Ch'kivar: ::sends general subspace message to all fighters regarding the current situation::

Cdr Miranda Hawthorne: +Chocox+ Well, it's that or nothing. Keep it readied.

Hakran K'hal: :: swivels one ear to listen to Swain, the other to listen to the incoming from Will to the Cdrs ::

Rhan K'hal: :: swivels one ear to listen to Swain, the other to listen to the incoming from Will to the Cdrs ::

William Chocox: +Hawthorne+ Aye ma'am.

Tandaris Admiran: RomCom> +Excalibur+ Believe me, Captain, I would like nothing more. Unfortunately, they did us both a disservice and rudely tried to escape. As a result, I had to confine them. So you see ::thin smile:: it's not quite as simple as releasing them to you.

Rhan K'hal: :: thinking of the Romulan Commander "I wish I could claw the smug off his face." ::

Maryse Dubois: ::Looks to Rhan.:: What is our Assistant Engineer up to this time?

William Chocox: +Hawthorne & Admiran+ One last thing, I'd recommend bracing when it's used, I'm not entirely sure what it'll do to us.

Rhan K'hal: Probably something that's going to leave scorch marks. :: hears Will over the comm, makes a "see?" gesture ::

Hunter Matheson: ::oh... great:::

Cptn Swain: +Romulan+ I wonder why they thought they needed to escape, Commander? Perhaps if you lowered your shields, we would be able to scan and transport them over.

Maryse Dubois: ::Smirks.:: That's reassuring.

Cdr Miranda Hawthorne: ::She threw a glance back at Tandaris and just shook her head.:: Trained him well, did you?

Tandaris Admiran: ::looks at them all:: It's almost as if what you're asking us to do isn't what the equipment is designed for

Rhan K'hal: :: readies the general "brace for impact" alert, looks at Miranda and nods ::

Atos Ch'kivar: ::looks over shoulder to Hawthorne:: The fighters are readied. Should we request assistance from the Aurania?

Tandaris Admiran: Show me a standard-issue Starfleet shield-disabler and I'll requisition it.

Hunter Matheson: ::swivels toward the Cdr:: Commander Admiran, sir. Anything I should know about before we do this?

Tandaris Admiran: ((Swain, did you see my PM?))

Hakran K'hal: :: figures he might not have all the time he'd like with scanning with this "soution" of Chocox's, so targets his scan points carefully and dials the active sensor level up to "probably will feel a slight tickle" intensity ::

Tandaris Admiran: ::Hunter:: Probably, but I don't know what that would be.

Cptn Swain: ::Makes a motion to mute the outgoing signal::

Hakran K'hal: :: now waits ::

Hunter Matheson: ::deep breath into a slow exhale::: Aye, sir.

Rhan K'hal: :: mutes :: Muted, sir.

Tandaris Admiran: RomCom> ::also mutes his comm:: What do you mean "a minor firefight"? What makes it "minor"?

Cptn Swain: I assume you have a plan? ::glances over to the engineers::

Hunter Matheson: ::turns back to the console:::

Cdr Miranda Hawthorne: ::She nodded to Ch'kivar.:: Yes, inform them. Better now than later. If we don't need them, we can send another message.

Tandaris Admiran: Before you requested that we disable their shields, Captain, I asked Chocox to find a way to disable their cloak. He has since adapted that device to their shields, since the systems are related.

Cptn Swain: How efficient.

Tandaris Admiran: Given the power requirements, the device will probably overload after the first use. It won't damage us, but we won't get a second chance.

Hunter Matheson: ::okay, so that gives him a little understanding of what might happen...and he hopes it doesn't:::

Cptn Swain: Then it had better work.

Tandaris Admiran: And the Romulans will be able to work around it fairly quickly. I'd say we'll have thirty, maybe forty seconds if they're slow.

Atos Ch'kivar: ::sends message to USS Aurania for immediate assistance:: They should be on their way momentarily, Captain.

Cptn Swain: I'll give them one last chance to comply, then do it. I want a transport lock on our people and out before then.

Hunter Matheson: ::mental note... 30 to 40 seconds:::

Cptn Swain: ::Nods to tactical:: Good.

Maryse Dubois: Plenty of time... ::Stand by on the bio scanners.::

Tandaris Admiran: RomCom> ::still muted:: Well, herd them towards the cargo bay. ::turns to another officer:: Is the device ready? What do you mean, "overload"?

Hunter Matheson: ::Ch'kivar:: Sending you entered escape vectors to relay to the fighters, sir.

Hunter Matheson: :::sends alpha through kilo:::

Tandaris Admiran: RomCom> Then it had better work. On my signal.

William Chocox: +Hawthorne & Admiran+ So...do you want me to fire this device or is Tac doing it?

Cptn Swain: ::Motions to unmute the comm:: +Romulan+ Commander, I have additional ships on the way. I would just assume not involve them and allow you to return to your space without further incident. I will say again, lower your shields and allow us to scan for our crewman -- or return them to us unharmed.

Rhan K'hal: :: re-activates, then hovers one finger of the mute button and another over the brace alert button ::

Hakran K'hal: :: finger hovering over the initiate active scan button ::

Maryse Dubois: Something tells me Mr. Chocox really wants to activate it.

Cdr Miranda Hawthorne: +Chocox+ Standby to activate on the Captain's order.

Atos Ch'kivar: ::Hunter:: Rogers that ::forwards escape vectors on to the fighters::

Tandaris Admiran: RomCom> +Excalibur+ Captain, I cannot presently return them to you, and you know that I cannot lower this ship's shields.

Cptn Swain: +Romulan+ Well then, we seem to be at an impasse.

Cptn Swain: ::Nods to Miranda::

Tandaris Admiran: RomCom> ::cuts comm:: Activate!

Cdr Miranda Hawthorne: +Chocox+ Activate!

Hunter Matheson: ::hands poised:::

Rhan K'hal: +ALL HANDS+ :: BRACE ALERT, ABBREVIATED ::

William Chocox: ::presses the big button::

Indaura Ryssan: :: braces ::

Hakran K'hal: :: braces, eyes fixed to the screen waiting to see the Romulan shields go down ::

Cptn Swain: ACTION> A bright red pulse streaks out from the Excalibur's deflector dish towards the Romulan vessel, hitting it with a brilliant effect, and also causing a minor fireworks show in the engineering room.

William Chocox: ::ducks::

Tandaris Admiran: ACTION> A bright BLUE pulse streaks out from the Romulan ship in all directions. Excalibur sensors detect that the Romulan shields go down. That's the last thing they detect, as whatever the Romulans did interacts with the solar radiation to render all sensors useless.

Hakran K'hal: :: initiates the full power, targeted, multi-frequency, multi-particle active scan, but... :: WHAT THE HELL?!

 

Cptn Swain: PAUSE SIM

Cptn Swain: PAUSE SIM

Cptn Swain: PAUSE SIM