USS Excalibur Sim Log - 06.17.18

[Cdr Miranda Hawthorne 0]

MISSION BRIEF: With the help of additional information uncovered by Will on the holoprojector, we have detected a small vortex at the heart of the system in the location where there should be a star. As we hit the ‘to be continued’ screen, Commander Hawthorne had a decision to make regarding if we should take the Lugh or the Yacht, or if we should go through the vortex at all.

 

Cptn Swain: BEGIN SIM

Cptn Swain: BEGIN SIM

Cptn Swain: BEGIN SIM

 

Hakran K'hal: :: relinquishes his brother's console and stands, facing Miranda, and waits while she chews on the quandary ::

Tandaris Admiran: ::in engineering, slowly coaxing the Lugh's stressed systems back into some semblance of semi-functioning order::

Cptn Swain: Arden> ::Makes his way over to what had once been the communications officer station::

Hakran K'hal: Rhan> :: takes back his console, but not before giving Hakran a whap with his tail ::

Cdr Miranda Hawthorne: ::Miranda only took a few moments to decide. She tapped on console.:: The Lugh is still a Federation ship and we're not going to abandon her. I think she's made of sterner stuff. Take us in.

William Chocox: Well then, I do believe that Commander Admiran and I are going to have some work to do.

Cptn Swain: Arden> ::Besides, he considered, if they were stranded on the other side of Vortex in god knows where, he certainly would rather it be on the Lugh than on the Yacht::

Maryse Dubois: # ::In the yacht, keeping an eye on the kittehs, with CBCO Irene.::

Hakran K'hal: Rhan> Let's just hope we hit it straight, or the part that misses is going to be staying here.

Cptn Swain: CardboardHunter> :Nods:: Aye ma'am. Moving us towards the aperture.

Hakran K'hal: :: glances at cardboard helm :: Yes, but no pressure.

Hakran K'hal: :: finds an empty seat and holds tight to it ::

Hakran K'hal: Rhan> +Shipwide+ All hands, brace for turbulence.

Cdr Miranda Hawthorne: ::She took hold of her seat with a wry glance at Chocox.:: Just keep us intact. We're going to need extra power to shields. Get on that.

Cptn Swain: ACTION> As the Lugh approaches, there is a brief shudder as they encounter a few gravimetric eddies. Finally, a vortex opens in front of them, it's rather pretty as I have a big budget for this season, and we haven't used a lot of visual effects.

William Chocox: Aye ma'am. ::takes a console and starts working on that::

Maryse Dubois: ::Sits down and straps in.:: You two behave now. Please don't claw me.

Hakran K'hal: Rhan> :: if he were in another universe, might say "I have a baaaad feeling about this," but thankfully he's not

Indaura Ryssan: :: Secures herself ::

Cptn Swain: (( Everyone give me a number 1-10 ))

Hakran K'hal: :: sends a color pattern to Maryse's tricorder that he hopes will tell the guest kitties to be alert, asks that she display it to them ::

Hakran K'hal: (( 9 ))

Hakran K'hal: Rhan> (( 1 ))

Maryse Dubois: ((4))

Indaura Ryssan: (3)

Tandaris Admiran: ((5))

Maryse Dubois: # ::Shows the display.::

Cptn Swain: (( That was, um, a most impressive dice roll ))

Hakran K'hal: :: tries to get the science console to stop showing the screensaver ::

Cptn Swain: CardboardHunter> Entering the vortex now. Hang on.

Cdr Miranda Hawthorne: # Kitties> ::Swiftly changing colors in alarm as the ship shudders, but the color shift seems to slow at Maryse's message. However, they both cloaked themselves, disappearing from visible view.::

William Chocox: (( 8 ))

Maryse Dubois: # Well ok then. ::Leans back in her chair.::

Cptn Swain: ACTION> The Lugh enters the vortex. It's a little bumpy as the Lugh's older IDF systems take a few milliseconds longer normal to adjust, but the video is pretty stunning as an array of colors warp around us until we exit the Vortex. The Lugh's computers are taking a few moments to reorient themselves, but we appear to be in normal space again in star system with a large blue giant and paired second star.

Tandaris Admiran: ::balancing power carefully::

William Chocox: Good job Mr. Matheson.

Hakran K'hal: :: looks over the info as the screensaver finally turns off :: Interesting.

Cdr Miranda Hawthorne: Well... that was... easier than expected. ::She let go of her chair.::

Maryse Dubois: # It feels like we made it through. ::Unstraps from the chair.::

Hakran K'hal: Rhan> +Shipwide+ Vortex transit complete. You may now once again move about the cabin.

Tandaris Admiran: ::attempts to reboot the sensor array that has gone on the fritz so they can pinpoint their position::

William Chocox: Need help Commander Admiran?

Hakran K'hal: We are in normal space, using the yacht sensor system to try to orient us.

Cdr Miranda Hawthorne: # Kitties> ::Reappear as the ship settles down, but their ears have flattened in the universal feline gesture of displeasure.::

Hakran K'hal: Rhan> :: frowns :: I'm going to have to relink us with the yacht once the engineers get our own systems up, the jury rigging is on its last legs with all the bouncing around we've done.

Tandaris Admiran: ::Chocox:: Yes. Just jump on anything you can, please.

Indaura Ryssan: That was unpleasant

William Chocox: ::Admiran:: Aye sir. ::proceeds to put out fires as best as he can::

Maryse Dubois: # ::Holds a hand out.:: It's alright. Just a little turbulence.

Hakran K'hal: Binary system... and that's about the best I can do right now. It's like trying to read War and Peace while having it projected through a pinhole camera.

Hakran K'hal: Rhan> Why would you want to read War and Peace even if it was being projected onto the Moon?

Hakran K'hal: :: huffs out a sigh, mutters :: This is why I stay in my lab on the Excalibur.

Cptn Swain: Arden> I am not getting anything on subspace channels, so it's a good guess there's not anyone here.

Hakran K'hal: Rhan> Since we don't appear to be in immediate peril, or have anyone to talk to :: nods to Arden :: I'm gonna go work on that link. :: pops out of his seat, heads toward the lift ::

Tandaris Admiran: Sensors should be back online… now.

Tandaris Admiran: Warp drive will be a bit longer, but we have impulse.

Hakran K'hal: :: looks over the influx of new data ::

Cdr Miranda Hawthorne: # Kitties> ::Both climb into Maryse's lap (no claws) for some reassurance. Their color shifting had calmed down.::

Hakran K'hal: # Rhan> :: makes his way into the bay and over to the yacht :: Knock knock. :: lets himself in ::

Cdr Miranda Hawthorne: # Kitties> ::Perk up at the appearance of the larger kitty.::

Maryse Dubois: # :;Petting the two. Looks up at Rhan.:: Come to check in?

Tandaris Admiran: Hmm ... looks like the trip through the vortex pushed the magnetic constrictors past their safety tolerances. ::shrugs:: Oh well. ::silences the alarm.

Cptn Swain: ACTION> Sensors come back on line, giving us a clearer picture of the system. There appears to be several planets, including a large gas giant. According to the navigational charts it appears we've emerged somewhere in the Large Magellanic Cloud.

Tandaris Admiran: ::writes a program to bypass several safety protocols::

Hakran K'hal: # Rhan> Hey Doc! Hello CardboardEnsign, and our honored guests. :: perky ::

Cptn Swain: ACTION> Sensors also seem to indicate some sort of structure in the upper atmosphere of one of the gas giants.

Hakran K'hal: Oh my.

Hakran K'hal: Oh boy.

Hakran K'hal: Oh dear.

William Chocox: I'm working on getting the warp core back up an running.

Hakran K'hal: :: clears his throat a few times ::

William Chocox: ((We're how far away from home?))

Cptn Swain: (( About twice what Voyager was. ))

Hakran K'hal: Well. Ah. We've found something. And we're ah... hmm.

Hakran K'hal: We're in the ah... LMC. That is the Large Magellanic Cloud.

Cdr Miranda Hawthorne: What's the problem? ::Blinks.:: We are.... where?

Tandaris Admiran: Oh, I hear it's nice this time of year.

Cptn Swain: (( Actually a bit more. Roughly, give or take, something like 200k LY ))

Cptn Swain: Arden> The where.

Tandaris Admiran: ::coughs, points to a blinking light on Chocox's console:: You'll want to override that intermix waveguide regulator.

Hakran K'hal: # Rhan>:: gives the kitties enthusiastic rubbings :: We managed to transit that vortex like it was the underground in London.

Tandaris Admiran: When it warns you this could lead to an explosion, just click "I agree"

Cdr Miranda Hawthorne: # Kitty1> ::Jumps down off Maryse's lap to greet Rhan and rub against his legs.::

William Chocox: Thank you Commander.

Hakran K'hal: Uh, yeah. We're in the LMC. Um. Somewhere in the vicinity of 200,000 LY from Sector 001.

William Chocox: That seems suboptimal.

Hakran K'hal: #Rhan> Everyone happy down here?

Hakran K'hal: Ah, the 3rd gas giant from the primary star seems to have some sort of structure in it.

Cptn Swain: Arden> A stable vortex to the LMC, that's interesting.

Maryse Dubois: # ::Still petting Kitty #2.:: So far. Thankfully no claw marks. ::Smiles.:: Nice to see you getting away from the bridge for a while.

Hakran K'hal: So at least we came a long way for something.

William Chocox: Has anyone figured out if we can go home?

Hakran K'hal: #Rhan> Ugh, yes. It still smells like 23rd Century up there.

Cdr Miranda Hawthorne: #Kitty1> ::Bats at Rhan's leg.::

Hakran K'hal: One mind-crushing thing at a time, Will.

Cptn Swain: Arden> Miight as well go have a look. ::Glances to Miranda::

Maryse Dubois: # ::Points,:: At least we have a working replicator down here.

Cdr Miranda Hawthorne: So long as it *is* stable and we can use it to get back. ::Her brows drew together with worry. She stood up.:: Take us closer. I want to see what that structure is.

Hakran K'hal: #Rhan> :: looks down :: I bet you're itching to stretch your legs yourself. :: looks over to Maryse :: I can lock the doors coming into the bay, give them a chance to run around and pounce on old cargo crates.

Cptn Swain: Arden> It will still be a few days before Asher and Kai could theoretically find the final coordinate and then get to the other side of the Vortex.

Maryse Dubois: # That sounds like a good idea. They may be with us for a long time.

Hakran K'hal: I hope you're right, sir. :: Arden ::

Cptn Swain: CardboardHunter> Putting us on course to the gas giant.

Hakran K'hal: :: in general :: I'd recommend a cautious approach, we don't know if the facility might be cautious itself. Considering some of the other places we've been on this ... quest.

Cptn Swain: Arden> ::tips head thoughtfully:: Do we have any class III probes?

Hakran K'hal: #Rhan> :: uses the yacht's panel to lock the way into the bay, and opens the outer door of the yacht again :: Okay fellas, the bay's all yours.

Cdr Miranda Hawthorne: #Kitties> ::As if they could understand what Rhan had said, they both trotted to the door of the yacht, looking back at the officers. As soon as the door opened, they shot out with obvious glee and began to chase one another around the bay.::

Tandaris Admiran: We have a class II probe I could stick some extra sensors onto.

Indaura Ryssan: :: getting a drink ::

Cptn Swain: Arden> We could send it back through the vortex and have it work as a sentry for us, telling us if anyone else enters the system or approaches the Vortex.

Maryse Dubois: # ::Gets up, stepping towards the door to watch the fun.::

Cptn Swain: Arden> A class II I think should be up to the task.

Hakran K'hal: :: nods :: Might want to program it with a "oh bee-tee-dubya, we're in the LMC if you haven't heard from us in a while."

Cptn Swain: Arden> Seems like a good idea..

Hakran K'hal: #Rhan> :: smiles :: If *I* have cabin fever, imagine what they've had.

Cdr Miranda Hawthorne: ::She nodded in agreement.:: Yes, make it happen, Mr. Admiran.

Cptn Swain: ACTION> As they approach the gas giant, we get a better look at the "object" in orbit. It appears to be a small moon, but with a sort of golden metal super structure attached. There appears to be obvious evidence that the moon was once inhabited.

William Chocox: ::keeps working on the ship::

Hakran K'hal: That's no moon, it's a... actually it *is* a moon, just with a technological hickey.

Hakran K'hal: Advanced alloys, huge.

Cdr Miranda Hawthorne: # Kitties> ::Their color shift was mesmerizing. Occasionally, one would cloak and hide, waiting for the other to pass before pouncing. Then they'd streak around the bay, doing circles around the yacht, shifting colors once again.::

Cdr Miranda Hawthorne: See if we can get any detailed scans of the surface. Lifesigns?

Tandaris Admiran: ::begins preparing the probe::

Hakran K'hal: #Rhan> Hak seems to be getting somewhere with their color-coded empathy signals. Though he's even more civilized than I am so he sorta forgets his inner kitten and it's inhibiting his understanding a bit.

Hakran K'hal: Well, there we go. That alloy matches what we've seen twice before, at the temple and the vault doors on Tellar Minor. At least we have some consistency.

Maryse Dubois: # :;Smiles as she watches, but then glances over at Rhan.:: You know, this may be as good as it gets for them. At least for a long while. We can't just drop them off anywhere. It would be bad for them and the ecosystem.

William Chocox: That's good.

William Chocox: I'm all for consistency.

Hakran K'hal: #Rhan> :: nods :: Yeah, we'll have to turn them over to one of the exobiology preserves where they can have a custom-made habitat. That's going to be a while though.

Hakran K'hal: #Rhan> I just hope the female doesn't plan on having kittens before we get there though.

Cptn Swain: ...and...

Maryse Dubois: # ::Nods.:: Not wanting to be a god parent just yet? ::grins.::

Indaura Ryssan: :: getting a headache ::

 

Cptn Swain: PAUSE SIM

Cptn Swain: PAUSE SIM

Cptn Swain: PAUSE SIM