Posted by Captain Sara Kiernan (Commanding Officer) in Main Sim - Welcome to Hell, We Have A Pool (Tag those going to the meeting, DH’s encouraged)

Posted by Gamemaster Alias Smith N. Jones, Esq. (Gamemaster) in Main Sim - Welcome to Hell, We Have A Pool (Tag those going to the meeting, DH’s encouraged)

Posted by Lieutenant Miranda Martel (Chief Engineer) in Main Sim - Welcome to Hell, We Have A Pool (Tag those going to the meeting, DH’s encouraged)
Posted by… suppressed (8) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)

Senek, who had thus far followed the group quietly, spoke now: “Perhaps we should focus on what exactly it is going to want us to do. Or say.” She really had no idea what to expect. The idea of a sentient station wasn’t completely absurd but it certainly wasn’t anything Senek had encounted before. “If it can ‘like’ and ‘dislike’ people, we should watch what we say around here.”

~ Lt Senek, CMO

The guard smiled at Senek and said “Oh, you can say whatever you want. It’s not like that at all. Its more like… it just has to get used to you. I’m sure the PM will explain it all to you guys. So follow me and stick close. Happy to answer questions on the way, though!” and he turned and took the lead. One guard inserted himself in the middle of the group, and the third guard took up position at the rear of the assembly. The began walking along the catwalk that seemed to be suspend in and by nothing… simply a metal structure hovering in the darkness.

They walked for almost ten minutes along the catwalk. Five minutes in, the Asimov and her lights could no longer be seen at all. “So this is the main hangar bay.” the lead guard began. “Near as we can tell, it should be about three hundred and sixty five to three hundred and seventy meters high, around five hundred meters across, and about 6 kilometers long. That’s judging off the outside of the station and the thickness of the walls. We can’t measure in here for some reason. Seriously weird part of this place. You can come in from the outside with two metal rulers cut to 50 centimeters, right? Outside the hangar you measure one against the other, and they are exactly the same length. In here? One could be 20 centimeters and the other a meter and a half. Go outside? 50 centimeters on the nose. Come back in? The 20 centimeter one is now 50 centimeters again and the other is 3 centimeters. The red light you see is given off by the station itself, but only where living beings are. Interesting side note, the nynats don’t cause the lights to come on. Thats why we always come in here armed. Anyway.... thats why we all call the Hangar of Weirdness. Scanning and exploration in here is done only in large groups, and we tie off to the rally points. Few years back four scientists went to the floor and tried to map the place. No idea what happened to them, they just up and vanished. We found all their gear… including their clothes. Only thing to vanish was their physical bodies. Down to the skin cells on the clothes. Just… poof. Ah, here we are.” he said as they approached a large silvery-metal door set into the black crystal wall. As they approached, the door irised open from the center. “Watch your step coming through. Tholians float, so they didn’t mind the door jambs.” and he stepped through and gestured for everyone to follow, reminding everyone to stay close as they came through.

Unlike the hangar, the passageway they stepped into was brightly lit and seemed to be made of the same silvery metal as the door. The passage was very wide, almost thirty meters across, and there was some kind of track system in the middle of the floor. “Ok, so here we are. Transit modules will be here momentarily. This place is huge, so don’t try and walk it. We actually have a yearly marathon in one section, and we never turn a corner. Straight shot passageway that runs about fifty kilometers.” As he spoke two large, white, flat oval cars arrived. There was seating for everyone between the two, and the guard motioned everyone in and to be seated. With one guard in the lead car and two in the trailing one, the lead guard pulled a small device from his belt and began talking… and everyone could hear him as clearly as if he were standing next to him.

“So… anyone have any questions? I’m no tour guide, but I’ve lived here quite a while. So hit me with what you got, and if I can answer I will.”

GM

Bethany had all kinds of questions about the station and it’s ‘personality’ but the guard said the PM would answer those questions. Bethany had to stop herself from asking if they ever went sky diving off the cat walk. He said they stayed tethered now if they went exploring. She wanted in on one of those groups. “What exactly is the station made of? I’ve never seen material like this,” Bethany asked.

Gadi, CoS

“As far as we can tell, is some kind of crystallized plasma. Yeah… don’t ask me how that works, we’re still trying to figure it out.”

“Does it connect into the computer system?”

Paddy found himself raising a hand to quickly follow up, “Also, how many different species do you welcome to the station on an average day?”

-Lieutenant Patrick McMillan: Counsellor-

The guard looked at the Counselor as if he had grown a secondary head on his shoulders for a moment. “Um… what? We don’t welcome anyone here. This… this place is so classified all of us here are listed as dead, Lieutenant. We don’t leave… and we get maybe a ship in here once every, oh… year and a half? Two years? And thats to bring in new personnel. Naw… this ain’t a place you come ‘visit’. Aside from you all, everybody that has come here before has been assigned here. And we don’t leave. Only folks that come and go are two Admirals and one automated shuttle. Thats it. Im pretty sure you all are going to have some serious Nondisclosure orders coming at you before the day is over.” and he laughed.

GM

“That makes sense.” Sara commented idly. A station this hidden, with secret codes to get to it… they’d never tell of anything that happened on this mission. Only Special Projects would know. “How many people are assigned here? Approximately.” She had a feeling it was more than just a skeleton crew, but that was just a hunch.

-Captain Sara Kiernan, CO

“We have four hundred and sixty eight people currently assigned. Shortest rotation is five years. After, you retire. New name, new background, no ties to your previous life. Most of us do longer stints, and with the right approvals you can re-up to stay after your contract is up. Most do… the work is really exciting and there is nowhere else you are going to get this kind of lab to do experiments and research in.” the guard replied excited ly as they moved very quickly through the station.

GM

Bethany smiled over his enthusiasm, “You guys hiring?” Maybe after this mission was over. Of course as exciting as the work might be, she couldn’t imagine never seeing her parents or uncles again. Then again if Intel kept it up there was a good likelyhood she wouldn’t make it home anyway. “What type of research are you conducting?”

Gadi, CoS

It was hard to explain what was and wasn’t going through her brain and Shara would likely have to process this all a bit later. In her line of work, quiet observance often got you more information than a bombardment of questions, so she was happy to let her shipmates pepper their hosts with questions while she took in their surroundings and made notes of what questions they did and didn’t answer. And while there were others whose sense of adventure might make them intrigued with the idea of staying here, Shara’s impulse was to run away (and for good reason). She was here, yes, but it was ever so slightly grudingly.

Commander Calloway, CIO

The guard laughed at Gadi. “Hiring? Always. But if you have to ask, you don’t get the job. Here, you are recruited. As for research? All kinds. Me, I’m a high-energy physicist. Oh, name’s Morgan, by the way. Sorry. Been a while since I greeted new arrivals. Anyways, we do surveys of the nebula, the station, quantum research… you name it and we probably have someone researching it. The station itself takes up a lot of our time, what with it’s… oddities and such. But the PM will give a better rundown. I actually don’t know what I can tell you and what I can past the norm.”

“Your work is probably classified beyond all belief, but I was an astrophysicist for years, I’d be interested in seeing what you do if I can.” Sara said.

The next thirty minutes passed with Morgan answering what questions he could as they sped through the seemingly deserted station… until they came upon a section brightly lit and seemingly teeming with people after so long with nothing and no one. As the pods slowed to a stop, Morgan said “Welcome to Hell. That’s literally what we call this area. Bit of tongue in cheek poke at the outside.” and he laughed.

Stepping off the pod, a Cardassian woman stepped forward smiling and waving. “Helloooo!” she said as she waved a hand over her head excitedly. “Hi! Hello! So nice to see you all!” and she moved up and patted Morgan on the shoulder. “I was going to wait for you in the conference room, but I was just too excited! Im PM Val’tre. I run this little circus of scientific side-show attractions.” and he she laughed. “Please… follow me. Stay together! Remember… it’ll take a few days for the station to get used to you.” and she turned and led the group out of the massive passageway and into a smaller one more akin to the ones on a starship.

She led them down the passageway for about a minute before stepping through another iris-opening door and into a large room. There was a single large table in the middle. Twenty-one chairs, ten perside and one at the head, sat waiting. “Come come… let’s sit and talk, shall we?” Val’tre said, flopping into the single seat at the end. “I’m sure you all have a ton of questions, but if you don’t mind… I’d like to ask one first.” and her eyes fixed on Captain Kiernan.

“What the hell are you all doing here of all places?”

GM

Paddy spoke up, “Captain if I may? We’re here to help, however we can.”

-Lieutenant Patrick McMillan: Counsellor-

“Ah, yes, thank you counselor.” Sara paused. “We’re here for a bit of an odd refit. We’re on a mission that requires that we appear as though our ship has gone rogue. Special Projects has assigned us to a rescue mission that requires we not appear as a Starfleet ship on a Starfleet mission. I’m sure you understand the need for serious cover. So we’d like to get our ship and crew redone to look like they’ve been through a mutiny.” She tried not to say too much in specific, but enough for Val’tre to get the idea.

-Captain Sara Kiernan, CO

Val’tre’s eyes lit up and she grinned broadly. “A mutiny, you say? Oh my my my… that is indeed an intriguing task. Do tell… if you can, that is.”

Blue cleared his through and he looked at Pikelsimer, who simply shrugged and nodded once. “Director… we have to appear not only as a ship that has been absconded with… but have a crew whose appearance matches that as well. In addition to altering the Asimov, we will be altering the crew as well. Records will be changed, some will be listed as Killed In Action. Some will be listed as mutineers and murderers. Additionally, for the ones who have been listed as killed, we will have to alter their appearance. To that chore, we will be relying on your medical department to assist in the reconstruction and plastic surgery aspects. We have a roster of people who will need a complete makeover, as different from their original as possible. Agent Pikelsimer here will then upload forged personal records for each one we change. Will that be an issue for your staff at all?”

GM

Adrian Sorel sat forward suddenly and after a moment of glancing at his mother and then the Director, who gave him a nod he added.”I have taken the existing facial constructions and simply added or subtract subdermal mass at a ratio of P < 0.05 , then the time for sculpting is decreased 15.3% and recovery is exponentially quicker.”

Adrian Sorel
Med Intern

An older human man with short cut salt and pepper colored hair and a noticeable metal prosthetic arm looked at Sorel, his eyes narrowing and small smile spreading across his face.

Senek was not one for a thousand pointless questions, and so she had been silent while they were being led through the station. “Whatever you require of the Azimov’s medical team, I am quite sure can be accomplished,” she confirmed, glancing at Blue and the med intern, Sorel.

~ Lt Senek, CMO

“Alright, so even with 15.3% lees time for sculpting, doing this to the entire crew, or the appropriate proportion will take approximately how long?” Sara asked. She couldn’t decide if she wanted their stay to be shorter or longer. Neither seemed like entirely the right answer.

-CO

Pikelsimer, FedSec

Adrian Sorel arched an eyebrow, “That would be totally dependant on the number of qualified staff and the number of your personnel.”

Adrian Sorel
Med Intern

Sara leaned forward, elbows on the table, fingers steepled. “Our crew complement is 70, 12 of those are medical staff who could would be able to perform those operations.”

-CO

Paddy chimed in at this as well, “I am also well trained to deal with any patients who may require psychiatric help.”

-Lieutenant Patrick McMillan: Counsellor-

Adrian Sorel nodded as he considered,”In that case I would estimate it would take 5.8 days if all the named crew were altered.”

“I concur with these figures,” Senek added her own input, after running the numbers in her head.

Blue nodded and said “And its not even that many. First, we are going to see who stays onboard for the operation.” and he looked at the Project Director. “Unlike most missions, the crew is being given a choice as to whether or not they participate. Anyone choosing not to will remain here after our departure. We will pick them up when we return. Only those remaining and who will be listed as deceased will be changed in that fashion.”

GM

“ ‘Sides… it’s not like we are on a schedule. We got all the time we need to get this done and done right.” the older human man said. “So what we need from you, Director, is some quarters, some food, some engineering and medical support… and no questions from your staff. That work for you?”

Pikelsimer, FedSec

Val’tre nodded slowly as she listened and then more emphatically as Pikelsimer finished. “Of course… one thing we have an abundance of here is secrecy.” and she chuckled. “Very well… let us get your crew settled and everyone put where they need to be. Engineers will be ready to help with your refit tomorrow morning. Medical…” and she glanced at Sorel. “… Medical will be coordinated by Mister Sorel. Think you can handle that liaison, Ensign?”

GM

“Yes, Ma’am.” Adrian Sorel said simply as he picked up his padd and typed in some notes into it.

Adrian Sorel
Medical Intern

“If it won’t be the entire crew, it’ll take even less time. But extra time to prepare is never a bad thing,” Senek said.

~ Lt Senek, CMO

Normally, Shara would be quiet right until the end and she would then ask a particularly insightful question. But with this, she had nothing. She was focused right now on just sitting in this room, listening to the plans unfold and realizing that she was either dead or about to become someone else. It was, as they say, business as usual. And while she let her gaze drift around the room here and there, she didn’t focus on anyone for too long, certainly not her husband. What had he and Blue decided was her fate here? Everything about this mission was right in her wheel house and it was that fact alone that made her stomach churn. She had to force herself not to think I don’t want to be here. I don’t want to be here. She was and that was simply reality.

Commander Calloway, CIO

Much like Shara, Bethany was simply listening and assessing the details and people around her. Everything and nothing was being said. Based on the staff meeting on the way here, it was implied that the station crew knew what was going on and what needed to be done. Now it appeared they were as in the dark as the Asimov crew. “Well, now that we are here, can someone give me specifics on how the ship’s tactical and defensive systems will be modified? And any contraband we might be taking on? Also Director Val’tre is there a gym, holodeck, or other training facilities on the station. I don’t want my officers making the mistake that they are on shore leave.”

Gadi, CoS

“Seems like there’s enough room for a brisk jog,” Paddy quipped, “Might be good for morale, eh Commander?” Paddy knew this was eventually going to turn into some form of negotiation, so was trying his best to keep spirits high between both parties.

-Lieutenant Patrick McMillan: Counsellor-

The Director laughed and smiled at the Counselor. “Oh, and then some!” and she laughed again. Looking at Calloway, she said “We have a full gymnasium, obstacle course, and a Risian Thermal Spa complete with wave pool and artificial lagoon. We call it ‘The Pool’, but… well… yeah. It’s big.” Blue looked at her for a moment and asked “Director, when were you informed of our arrival?” She looked at him confusedly for a moment and was about to speak when the door opened and Bolian man rushed in carrying a stack of PaDDs which he promptly spilled across the table.

“Sorry! Sorry!” he almost yelled out before looking at the Director. “Oh ma’am, I am SO sorry! I wholly and completely forgot to tell you about the eyes-only directive we received last week. I never pulled the file to your agenda, so it has sat unopened. Ma’am, I cannot begi-‘ and he was cut off by a sharp look from Val’tre. Straining to keep her voice even, she looked at the Bolian and said “Apologies later, Marzo. Now… if you please… Give. Me. The. File.” and the man sheepishly slid a PaDD to her. She lifted the device, went through a series of decryption and password checks and the began reading.

It took her almost five minutes before she looked up and said “First, my sincerest apologies. Had I known what was being planned when I should have -” and she shot a look of daggers at Marzo before taking a breath and looking at the assembled crew, “- then we would have been more prepared. But as we can’t change the past, I will simply say that we are entirely at your disposal.” Sh elooked at Marzo and said “Immediate pause on all non-essential work and experimentation. All project personnel are to report first thing to the Asimov Department Head that is in line with their expertise. Go, get it done.” and the Bolian bolted out of the room. Val’tre looked back at the Asimov crew and said “Alright then… my orders are fairly clear. We are to assist with whatever you need. Do you have an idea on what modifications you will need to your vessel? If it helps, I have some team members who are… well… let us say ‘more than passingly familiar’ with…” and she though for a moment and then smiled, “… Private, Independently Requisitioned Assets of Trade and Exploration vessels of questionable origin and purpose. I can introduce you all, if you like.”

GM

Sara smiled. “I’d very much like to meet them. Our ship probably needs to look like it’s been through hell, ideally without compromising it too terribly. Wouldn’t want to be caught short, would we?” Something in her turned. The crew, save perhaps for McMillan were seemingly largely uncomfortable with the mission. She’d have to seem wholly onboard. For their sake.

-CO

Bethany nodded with a slight grin at Kiernan. All that counselor training that went along with her other training being just as useful. For her part Bethany was looking forward to the mission, it was the kind of the thing she entered Star Fleet for, but she also wanted to make sure her department was ready for it. Bethany might enjoy living on the edge of life in a constant state of adrenaline rush. That didn’t mean though that she had to be reckless nor did it mean that her staff was prepared to live that way. “I would like to meet them as well.” She glanced at Calloway, “They might add a unique twist to those drills we were discussing Cmdr.”

Gadi, CoS

“Well,” Paddy chimed in again, “I’d happily come along to meet these folks if you’ll have me Captain, Commander?”

-Lieutenant Patrick McMillan: Counsellor-

Si’Rek cleared his throat and said “I would recommend that both our crew and the station personnel get together and discuss logistics. We don’t need to slow down an already convoluted process by having people tripping over each other.”

Si’Rek, Ops

“A good point Si’Rek.”

“Adrian Sorel and I are ready to assist where ever possible, ” T’Pris said with a short nod. She imagined that such a transformation for the Asimov crew was going to have some interesting physiology and psychological impact on them.”Perhaps, I could liaise with the Asimov’s Counselor?” She suggested as Adrian Sorel glanced up from his padd and nodded his agreement with his mother’s statement.

Adrian Sorel
Medical Intern

T’Pris Scientific Researcher

“That’s Lieutenant McMillan there,” Sara pointed down the table to Paddy. “Feel free to convene with him about that.” she said.

-CO

Off to the side sat a female officer in ops yellow with two solid pips at the collar with hair that at first blush seemed black but in the light a red undertone came through. Seafoam green eyes took passed to Pikelsimon, Agent Blue, and the rest. She was of average height, well built, and for the moment her arms were crossed over her chest. “If I may interject.” She paused just long enough. “We still haven’t heard exactly what mods the Asimov is taking on besides scarring her up a bit. Are we swapping out torpedo bays? Are we changing phaser arrays? Installing disruptors? Are we getting hands on any tri-cobalt devices? What about shuttlecraft and singleships? Are we changing shield systems? What about replicators? Atmospheric processors and scrubbers? Are we dumping some of our deuterium and anti-deuterium?” Her tone was concerned, but still polite as much as one could be.

These were all important considerations. They would affect many aspects of performance, and how the crew would operate. More over how they were carving up a ship sh already liked. Sure security got to keep most of what was in the armory, but the big guns and toys? That, she and the rest of the engineering team would have to handle.

Lt Martel, CE

Blue nodded and said “All good questions. So… the story that will be ‘leaked’ is that the ship will be taken by mutiny. That will allow for some believability as to why we have the systems we will have. That being said, we will have to remove or destroy some of the more sensitive systems… including the IFF infrastructure in the sensor array. Anything we cannot allow to fall into the hands of those we will be dealing with has to be made inert and irreparable. After that, we will be adding some disruptor technology, as well as a small but not insignificant bonus… a cloaking device, compliments of a certain wreck here in the nebula. After that, we will add some armour plating and reinforce some sections inside while ‘damaging’ them outside. The goal is to look worse, but be better prepared for the unknown.”

GM

Sara couldn’t help but hope they’d get to keep the cloaking device when they returned to normal service. “What about the interior? How battered and beaten do we intend to appear?”

-CO

It was a good question, and a valid one. Miranda wanted to know as well. They’d most likely have to modify the bridge, simply because it would be on view when communicating with others. But the rest of the interior could stand some battle scars too, she supposed. Especially if anybody wanted to check up on them, and take a walk-through. By what she knew of this operation already, they were going to have to sell a whole pack of lies as convincingly as possible. The easier they could make the lie, the better.

“It shouldn’t be that hard to let our security people engage in some live fire fun through the ship. But try not to bust up things too bad,” she suggested. “ANd it’s probably the quickest way to get the look we want. We can add extra stuff after.”

Lt Martel, CE