Mission Thread #1

[Col. C.E. Harper 0]

New year, new ideas. Several of you have requested that more information regarding the plots be made available. While a perfectly reasonable request, it does present us with a quandry -- we can't simply dump all available information on you, as it would spoil the plot ending. Furthermore, it might not even answer your questions, as you are all wonderfully creative people who throw us for a loop at least once a week. So, in the interests of finding a balance between 'want to know' and 'need to know', this is Improved Communication Experiment the First. We'll try it for a bit, and if it doesn't work out... well, we'll try something else.

 

This thread and any subsequent ones are for you to use for questions, comments, critiques, suggestions, speculation, side-plotting, and anything else that strikes your fancy. Have at it!

 

 

Recap: 03.15.06

 

After three weeks of blissfully routine missions, the Agincourt is dispatched on what looks to be more of the same: an assignment to repair a standard communications relay. So routine is this task that Davies is sent to represent the Federation at a nearby trade conference, leaving Harper and Robair in command on Agincourt.

 

For a time, all is normal. Doctors Levy and Contagion greet their new colleague Delphi. Rieve and Merril discuss field-testing an experimental antigrav armor unit. In Engineering, Kairi reports on the relay's condition to Prell and Murray. Plans for repair are made.

 

A few hours out from the relay, the ship suddenly rocks and both internal and external sensors go down. JoNs reports on an explosion in nearby space that registered briefly before the sensors went dark. As engineering scrambles to repair the sensors, Kroells pieces together a patchy image of a collision between a Romulan and a Klingon vessel. Robair orders further investigation.

 

As Harper reports to the bridge, life-signs are detected in the wreckage. The Agincourt immediately moves to render aid. Rescue efforts are improved by Kairi's suggestion to extend the crippled sensors through the use of a shuttlecraft. The survivors are beamed to sickbay, guarded by a security team headed by Spitfire, and the three doctors soon have a great deal of work on their hands.

 

Starfleet officially removes Agincourt from the relay repair mission. The Romulan and Klingon governments will be contacted to aid in the investigation.

[Kansas_Jones 0]

Alrighty, I'll plunge in.

 

For now, I'm pretty much coming in from the angle of - How do two well-crewed and capable starships end up ramming one another?

 

If you don't do your post well on both a Rihan or a Klingon ship, you are going to be demoted and/or, ah, killed. As a result, I'm pretty sure incompetence is out as the reasons why these ships rammed one another.

 

Unless both crews went stark raving looney...but again, how did both ships manage to end up close enough to collide. It's a big universe.

 

That leads to obvious question is - what were our esteemed allies doing in the same sector?

 

Woo. We have a mystery!

[STSF NDak 0]

The Klingons were likely lost.... :lol:

[Col. C.E. Harper 0]

Actually, you raise a point I personally wonder about...

 

How does one navigate around cloaked ships, anyway? The chances of attempting to occupy the same space as one are probably astronomical, given, well, the amount of space in space. And presumably they can avoid you, if you're not cloaked.

 

But can two cloaked Romulan ships 'see' each other? Two Klingon ships? And could a Romulan and a Klingon ship detect one another's cloak? The whole point is to baffle sensors, right?

 

(This has been random Trek geek musing, and should not be read as plot clues. Or lack thereof.)

[Kansas_Jones 0]

Actually, you raise a point I personally wonder about...

 

How does one navigate around cloaked ships, anyway?  The chances of attempting to occupy the same space as one are probably astronomical, given, well, the amount of space in space.   And presumably they can avoid you, if you're not cloaked.

 

But can two cloaked Romulan ships 'see' each other?  Two Klingon ships?  And could a Romulan and a Klingon ship detect one another's cloak?  The whole point is to baffle sensors, right?

 

(This has been random Trek geek musing, and should not be read as plot clues.  Or lack thereof.)

Heh heh. Here's a random Trek Geek musing back at you - lets assume cloaked ships, of the same make (meaning Klingon and Romulan), transmit a kind of code to fellow ships.

 

If Rihan Ship # 1 is in the same sector as Rihan Ship #2, the ships detect one another due to this code or sonar if you will.

 

If Federation Ship passes through the same sector, does not pick up this code, and of course "sees" nothing. Same with a Klingon ship.

 

In the old days, clipper ships and the like told one another apart, or proclaimed alliances, by the flags they flew. So in the Trek universe flags equal a shared code or sonar?

 

??

Edited March 23, 2006 by Kansas_Jones

[Col. C.E. Harper 0]

Interesting. Though, that would make detecting a cloaked ship as 'simple' as getting some good intel on their current codes.

[Travis Kroells 0]

Indeed. It does raise to ask about a ship that has been in deep cover (I.E. no communications) for an extended period of time. What would they do?

[Kansas_Jones 0]

Interesting. Though, that would make detecting a cloaked ship as 'simple' as getting some good intel on their current codes.

Good one! The codes are rotated regularly?

 

In all the Trek series, you heard one person every few episodes going on about "finding the right frequency" for that episodes current problem, wether it be detecting something or cracking a problem.

 

So this cloaking code is rotated, with new codes being sent out to the ships regularly from central command?

[Eruc Contagion 0]

Thank you - this kind of thread is a really good primer before simming! Definitely a helpful re-cap!

[Col. C.E. Harper 0]

(opinion please -- new recap, new thread? or one plotline, one thread?)

 

Recap 03.22.06

 

The Agincourt continues to hold station near the wreckage of the Romulan and Klingon ships. All survivors have been beamed aboard; the worst-off are in sickbay, where Delphi and Contagion have just finished dealing with the critical cases and are finally getting an opportunity to take stock of the situation. Rieve and her squad stand guard over sickbay, while other teams of security and marines watch decks 7 and 8, where the non-critical cases are housed.

 

Kairi has finally been recalled from shuttle duty, as the sensors edge their way back to full operation. She coordinates from Engineering while Murray works the last bugs out of the forward array. Prell directs operations from the bridge, where jumbled reports need an expert eye.

 

While Robair works with Kroells on tracking down a strange sensor ghost, Harper takes a call from the USS Merlin, which took over the relay repair job. The Merlin reports that there is evidence of deliberate sabotage on the relay.

 

The bridge crew theorize about the ramifications of this new evidence, from JoNs's suggestion that both ships were on a covert assignment, to Prell's theory that the relay may not be an isolated incident of tampering. In the midst of this, contact with Engineering is suddenly lost, with Kairi and Murray trapped inside.

 

Scrambling to restore communications, the bridge crew are chilled to discover that the elusive sensor ghost was in fact a transporter signal, beaming a party of Romulans aboard. The intruder alert is sounded, and Rieve takes her team to track them down, but not before a call comes in from a security officer on deck seven, reporting that the Romulans there are armed. The single command "Hna'h" echoes over the intraship comms...

[WxMurray 0]

I'd say one thread for each plotline. :lol:

[Travis Kroells 0]

I have a question:

 

Just internal sensors are down at the moment, correct? Not communicatons or anything else? Unless those green bloods can work fast in Pi seconds :lol:

[Col. C.E. Harper 0]

Internal sensors are down, and main engineering has been isolated. That happened as part of the takeover. Communications with the rest of the ship are unaffected.

[Kansas_Jones 0]

Alrighty, so we have unwanted boarders, and this is Not a Good Thing.

 

My tactical self is concerned - if they control engineering, can the Rihan boarders initiate the MVAM? Yep, isn't that an "oh dear" thought. :lol:

[Col. C.E. Harper 0]

Alrighty, so we have unwanted boarders, and this is Not a Good Thing.

 

My tactical self is concerned - if they control engineering, can the Rihan boarders initiate the MVAM? Yep, isn't that an "oh dear" thought. :lol:

Potentially? Yup.

 

 

Oh, dear.

[Spitfire 0]

Are we cotinuing the plot?If so where am I going to be?

[Col. C.E. Harper 0]

Are we cotinuing the plot?If so where am I going to be?

Naturally we're continuing it. As for where you'll be, likely with one of the security teams.

[WxMurray 0]

Is just ME cut off, or the entirety of deck 5? Because I was under the impression that the entirety of deck five was cut off.

 

As for the Romulans initiating MVAM from ME: it would depend on a few things. If ME is cut off, then I would think that the bridge would sever all remaining connections (if any - power connections, specifically) and transfer everything to one of the other two engineerings.

 

If the bridge crew is slacking off, though, the Romulans could hack into the computer, get the ship's command codes, and cut the bridge off from ME, and subsequently have control of the entire ship.

[Col. C.E. Harper 0]

I believe just ME. As for the rest... well, we'll have to see, now won't we? ::mysterious, slightly evil smile::

[Javin_Prell 0]

Is just ME cut off, or the entirety of deck 5? Because I was under the impression that the entirety of deck five was cut off.

 

As for the Romulans initiating MVAM from ME: it would depend on a few things. If ME is cut off, then I would think that the bridge would sever all remaining connections (if any - power connections, specifically) and transfer everything to one of the other two engineerings.

 

If the bridge crew is slacking off, though, the Romulans could hack into the computer, get the ship's command codes, and cut the bridge off from ME, and subsequently have control of the entire ship.

Slacking off? Me? Nonsense.

 

I agree with Saf, they can't initiate MVAM without command personnel codes, and the engineering code. (which resides in my brain :lol: )

 

Question is: Would the Romulans start shooting the crew in ME if we elect to cut all power to it?

[Spitfire 0]

I know this is a really late post, but where are all the security teams?

[Col. C.E. Harper 0]

Recap 03.29.06

 

The Romulans take steps to completely secure Main Engineering, and it turns out that at least some of the Klingons are helping them. Decks 7 and 8 play host to firefights as various security teams, including one led by Spitfire, attempt to restore order. On the bridge, JoNs tracks and directs the teams' efforts.

 

Sickbay remains secure despite the activity elsewhere on deck, leaving the doctors, including Delphi, free to continue their work.

 

In an effort to contain the damange, Prell and Kroells go to secure the battle bridge, picking up Prospera along the way. The trio works on selectively damaging key systems to prevent the invaders from initiating Multi-Vector Assault Mode.

 

The Marines are busy too. Rieve leads a team towards Main Engineering, encountering Murray along the way. Together they plan an assault on Engineering, but casualties among the hostages are expected to be high.

 

One of those hostages is Kairi, who is forced to relay the invaders demands to Harper. The Agincourt is ordered to proceed to 114 mark 18 at maximum warp, or the hostages will be killed and, in the last resort, the warp core detonated. The only nearby item of note along that course is a small Romulan outpost.

 

However, the Romulans and Klingons are not idle during all this. To secure their position, they cut gravity everywhere on deck 5 except in Main Engineering. It seems they don't quite have a grasp on the finer details of Starfleet engineering, however, as the gravity loss spreads to decks 4 and 6 as well. Meanwhile, Murray it trying to cut power to Main Engineering -- no small feat, considering that all power on the ship is generated in Main Engineering -- and has succeeded in turning the lights out on the deck, leaving a assault brewing in the weightless dark.

[Kansas_Jones 0]

Well, things are getting more and more interesting. The arrival of the RES Fireshadow and said ships commander, T'Pohlin (name?)...oh you just know they are going to be a pain in the rear.

 

Good stuff, anticipating the next adventure. :lol:

[Col. C.E. Harper 0]

(Sorry it's so late -- I've had A Week)

 

Recap 04.05.06

 

Things are quiet in Sickbay, where Levy, Contagion, and Delphi work to stabilize those few remaining true patients. Fortunate doctors -- nowhere else on the ship seems to be peaceful.

 

Prell, Kroells, and Prospera have secured the battle bridge, and are wreaking 'gentle' damage on some of the command systems in order to ensure they cannot be rerouted to Engineering. The auxiliary bridge is in the hands of Day, Merril, and their squads.

 

On the main bridge, Pilot drops the ship in orbit of the Romulan colony. Harper has to deal with a new set of Romulans -- the RES Fireshadow drops out of warp off the Agincourt's starboard. The commander, t'Pahren, appears to know something about the boarders. Meanwhile JoNs coordinates for the Security and Marine teams engaged in restoring order throughout the ship.

 

Order is severely lacking in Main Engineering. Although Rieve, Spitfire, and their teams, assisted by Murray's engineering wizardry, engage the enemy, the firefight is cut short by a threat to blow the core. A leader emerges among the Romulans in Main Engineering; he calls himself tr'Tonil. Tonil and Rieve attempt negotiations, although they seem to be at an impasse. While they talk, however, Kairi uses the guards' distraction to make a break for freedom.

[Col. C.E. Harper 0]

Just to finish off the thread --

 

Recap 04.12.06

 

Things take a turn for the worse in Main Engineering when tr'Tonil decides to execute a hostage in order to make his point. Harper attempts to stall him, or talk him out of destroying the outpost, with little success.

 

Meanwhile on the bridge, Robair and JoNs discuss the possibility of releasing anesthezine gas in Main Engineering. Pilot reports a communication from Kairi, who has made it safely to Prell's office, and is working on a plan to give the bridge a better view into Engineering.

 

Spitfire and Murray wait tensely outside Main Engineering while negotiations continue.

 

Elsewhere, a great many people are involved in trying a complex and dangerous plan. While Levy, Contagion, and Delphi attempt to replicate tr'Tonil's brainwave patterns, Merril prepares a shuttlecraft for a bit of tricky transport.

 

Kroells, Prell, and Prospera discuss possibilities for a last-ditch MVAM separation, to minimize damage should the warp core blow.

 

Davies is informed of the predicament Agincourt finds itself in.

 

At last, tr'Tonil is convinced to give up on the outpost. Instead, he orders a course set for Earth. Starfleet scrambles ships to intercept the Agincourt -- and the five other ships in similar condition.