Posted by Lieutenant Commander Eulailia Dacascos (Chief Operations Officer) in Main Sim - And So It Begins…

Posted by Captain Alexxander Ryley (Chief Medical Officer) in Main Sim - And So It Begins…

Posted by Lieutenant Miranda Martel (Chief Engineer) in Main Sim - And So It Begins…
Posted by… suppressed (6) by the Post Ghost! 👻
<snip>
Pikelsimer looked at her and said “We’re not going for a target’s groceries. We’ll be looking for valuables, tech, and weapons. So the replicators are fine, I think.”

“If we’re pirates looking for plunder,” Gadi waved a hand towards Martel acknowledging the wording, “and we shoot, we aren’t going to look to blow the other ship up. Disable it certainly, but if we just blow it up there is nothing left to plunder. Certainly there will be casulties, but we will be aiming to disable the ship and keep them from running while we take what we want. Shots will be carefully aimed for specific targets so we don’t damage what we are after. And since I was put on the mutiny list, it’s well known I like to hack enemy ships, it’s not a stretch to think I’d do the same now.”

Gadi, CoS

“If I were looking for plunder, I’d target the cargo hold of a merchant ship and tractor in whatever comes flying out when the doors come off.” Paddy piped up, recalling a tactical training simulation he had taken part in at the Academy.

-Lieutenant Patrick McMillan: Counsellor-

Blue looked at him and said “Thats a great tactic. I see you’ve studied the S’kila Pirates of the Horsun system. Thats what they like to do. But it leaves a great deal of valuables that aren’t in the cargo hold.”

Shara watched the others start to work through the options and think the way they needed to. She’d have to push here and there as needed but so far so good. She shifted her attention to Blue, since Micah was (probably wisely) avoiding her gaze. “What targets have you preselected? I need everything you have on them.” It was not a request. They had been holding back and holding back on her this whole damn time and she was sick of it. She couldn’t do her job without information. It was in her damn job title.

Commander Calloway, CIO

Micah looked at her and said “They’re in your terminal now. Access was sent when we left the station. One is a Tellerite freighter carrying weapons. The other is a passenger liner with several high-profile and wealthy passengers.”

GM

“What about a two fold approach?” Paddy asked, “By which I mean, scan the ship for its valuables and beam across what we can while giving their shields a hard time when targeting the cargo hold?” The Irishman was beginning to realise that he was perhaps getting a little too into this whole pirate facade.

-Lieutenant Patrick McMillan: Counsellor-

“Define high profile.” Sara said. Her face was dark, though whether this was her persona or something within her had changed recently, it was hard to say for sure. “Do they have value as hostages? Or should we just rob them and move on?”

-CO

Blue shrugged slightly. “Possible. But we’ll plan when we have live intel.”

Micah shook his head. “No ransoming. Toomuch could get compromised with having an outsider around that long; so its hit ‘em, take the goods, take off.”

GM

Meanwhile, Shara was listening to the conversation as it unfolded while she used a secure PaDD to access her terminal. She wanted that information now when she could offer something useful to the conversation.

Commander Calloway, CIO

Ryley surveyed the room taking in the conversation. “Well, you could always choose to sedate and throw your prisoners into a cryostasis chamber once you’ve removed their valuables, any non necessary organs, blood…that sort of thing. And sell them back that way. Seems to work well for the Klingons.”

Ryley
MD

“That could work if we want to go for a more non-lethal approach, which to be honest, I would prefer.”

-Lieutenant Patrick McMillan: Counsellor-

With another slightly crooked half smile Ryley said “That depends on what we decide to class as non necessary organs and how much blood.”

Ryley
MD

“We’re getting off track. Yes, we want to look like pirates, but not bounty hunters. As Pickelsimer said no ransom. Human trafficking is it’s own beast that we don’t want to get involved with. Most pirates kill because it is,” using double bent fingers on both hands Bethy air quotes,” ‘necessary’. They want those crews to go back and get more cargo so they can hit them again. We have a bigger mission here, piracy is the cover. So we are after valuables, tangible materials we can sell quickly for profit. Think like a Ferengi an Orion.”

Gadi, CoS

“Before we proceed with this strategy, I think it’s important to know how long we have to keep all of this up before we are invited or get our invitation into this ruthless part of space?” Eulailia asked looking at Blue directly. She understood why they were doing all this and the importance, but she couldn’t shake her concerns. “I am worried that the longer we do this the more likely innocent people will get hurt. So, the quicker we get this invitation the better.”

Dacascos, COO

“I agree that we want to avoid as much ‘real’ bloodshed as possible, but if we could at least make ourselves look somewhat - for want of a better word - ‘flashy’, then we are more likely to attract attention from our soon to be benefactors.”

-Lieutenant Patrick McMillan: Counsellor-

Ooc: fixing the split!

Miranda nodded. “Look, we don’t need to kill targets. And that’s actually bad for business for us. Anybody gets the idea that we’re gonna kill them and take what we want from the wreckage is going to fight hard. We don’t deal in prisoners or bodies because again, messy, and problematic. We’d have to go back and get those people later when it’s over anyway. If instead we can roll up, hold them at gunpoint, basically… and get what we want, and leave without a shot that’s better. People are more likely to cooperate in the future. Which is good for business. Does it seem a little soft? Sure. But it’s smart. Those that resist, we can burn, but only as much as we need to. And we shouldn’t need much. If after word’s gotten out that we’re not likely to be nasty, people still want to resist, then we burn them hard. It’s a lesson. You play nice, we play nice.”

“Mix in certainty with uncertainty, and they’ll know there will be a consequence. But they won’t know what. Which makes them less likely to do it next time. If they resist is the price we inflict on them then… one they can afford to pay. But the onus is on them, not us.”

She took a breath then. “Besides, we can always knock out the right shields pretty quick and slurp up whatever we want out of their cargo bay with transporters. And on Federation ships, with Lieutenant Commander Gadi and Commander Calloway, the three of us can probably come up with a hack around their security routines and protocols and just take it without an issue. At least for a while, until whatever exploits we find get patched up. Maybe. It’s an idea. But even then our guns still work. Better than before actually. I like the new setup. I’m sure you will too.” She flashed Bethany a sly grin.

Martel, CE

“How about you charge the long Toms and fire on them till they agree to hand over anything they have to get us to stop shooting, they high tail it off to find another target?”

Ryley
MD

Bethany glanced at Sharah and knew the woman was struggling the way she was. The rest of them didn’t get it, or if they did they weren’t able to wrap their heads around it. “Did we not hear Agent Blue? ‘It is lawless, chaotic, and highly dangerous. And the additional bad news is that we can’t into that part of space without an invitation. And to get that invite… we need a reputation. A reputation for criminal success, ruthfulness, and the willingness to do anything to get paid.’ Agent Pikelsimer said, ‘Anything we might have done to ‘lessen’ any of our actions could have tipped off the Syndicate.’ This is the real deal. Deep undercover op. We aren’t playing at pirates, we are pirate, and as Blue told the captain, she’s got to sell it. We’re violent, cruel, and do whatever to take what we want. IF we can sell that, from the get go, we can minimize damage later. Because if we don’t sell this, the syndicate will kill us or Star Fleet will. Blanket authority to return any perceived aggression has been granted to ALL Star Fleet vessels. In short… we will be fired on, on site. It’s not pretty and not what we signed up for, but it is our orders.” Most of the crew hadn’t signed up for this, or came from backgrounds that exposed them to it. Bethany’s job was to keep them all safe, and part of that was making sure they could fill the part they had been given.

Gadi, CoS

“Nah,” said Eulailia shaking her head, “I not killing anyone. I can’t do that! I will hand myself over as a fugitive first and face whatever consequences I must. That’s why it’s important to know how long it is going to take to get the invitation we need to track the syndicate. We could be doing this for years! I would also like to say how disturbed and disappointed how many of you are okay with actually harming people? If we went ahead with the proposed strategy and people really died by our hand, how many of you would be able to truly continue as you were before all this? Lieutenant Martel and McMillian actually seem to be the only ones trying to think of an alternative to lessen the loss of lives.” Eulailia shook her head and said, “We are all going to need to be in Counselor McMillian’s office after this.”

Dacascos, COO

“You’re never the same,” Shara said quietly, her gaze fixed on an invisible spot on the wall. For a moment it seemed like she wasn’t even there before she shifted her attention back to the group, and with a deep inhale the CIO rose to her feet and surveyed the table as she moved away from her chair. Gone was the hard-ass persona she had adopted so easily. Too easily, perhaps. For the moment, she was just herself, as odd as that was in this circumstance. Though she studiously avoided letting her gaze rest on Micah. She could not deal with her husband right now.

“Look, you’re all seeing this the wrong way. Yes, we’re going to make a statement, and yes there will be consequences for our actions. And yes, you might not like those later. This is not my usual shtick either, so before anyone gets in a twist over anything I might say, understand that I have twenty years of experience being on the other side of borders, of sticking myself in places I don’t belong and making everyone believe I was always there,” she said as she moved about the table, eyeing this group as if she was truly seeing them for the first time.

“I can only do so much, so help me I’m going to get us where we need to be. We need to be flawless and I don’t have time to make you into the people you need to be right now. This isn’t about being cruel.” Was she going to talk about it? She normally would never but times being what they were, she didn’t feel she had much of a choice. “It’s no secret that I was a member of the Maquis. When our colony invited them to use our settlement as a staging ground, we did so knowing that we were inviting trouble onto our doorstep. Do you think it was easy, for any of us, to join a fight knowing that at anytime we would potentially bring that destruction down upon our heads? We had families, children. My late husband and I had to look each other in the eyes and make an impossible decision to allow even the possibility of harm to come to our home, to our daughter. My own brother was a Lieutenant in Starfleet. As you can imagine when he found out what we were doing, it was not great. Do you think he relished the idea of taking down Maquis vessels knowing that at any time he could be killing his own sister?

Shara pounded her left fist into her right hand. “This is a WAR! Do you get that yet? There’s no official declaration. These people are fighting in the shadows with an air of confidence they get to have because they’ve been fighting before we even knew strikes had been made. They torture and maim. They kill and threaten without remorse. These people are anathema to our very way of life, to everything we fight to defend in the Federation. Take it from someone who was once on the other side, considered an enemy of the Federation. War sucks. It is hard, sometimes brutal. And we have been asked to fight this war on the behalf of those that can’t. And that means something.

Eulailia’s eyes widened and she put her left hand on her chest as the Commander spoke. She didn’t expect such strong emotions from her.

“You want the truth? Here’s the truth: I don’t want to be here. I’ve done my service to the Federation. I’ve sacrificed everything time and time again, because it was what was required of me, because I put on a uniform and made a vow to Starfleet, to the Federation. It’s a miracle I’m even standing here. The odds say I shouldn’t be. People who do covert work don’t tend to live very long. But I am here, and I stayed on this ship rather than staying back on that station because I knew you needed me. Everything about this sucks”-she let out a bitter laugh-“but so help me if any of you aren’t one hundred precent getting this situation, if you can’t understand the difference between fighting aimlessly and fighting for a purpose, you better stay the hell out of the way, because the rest of us have a really hard job ahead of us. And we certainly don’t need your indecision. And this isn’t a game. People have already suffered in this war. My job is to make sure that as few as possible going forward have to suffer, including us. But like I said during that first meeting, I can’t do this alone. I need your help. So make your choice and either help or stay out of the way.” It was to her credit that she managed to not swear, because she sure wanted to. They were supposed to be passed this point. And all she could feel about the whole damn thing was a well of anger that had been brewing since that day she walked into the ready room on the Manhattan and understood that someone had been messing with her daughter, and others and that lives were going to be ruined if they didn’t get a handle on the situation fast. Normally a woman of few words, she was almost more mad that she needed to make a goddamned speech here, again.

Commander Calloway, Pissed off CIO

Ryley fixed Calloway with a completely stoic look and seemingly ignoring her meaningful and important comments said in a gruff deadpan tone “You want a sedative there Calloway?”

Ryley
MD

Her head turned slowly, foggy blue eyes fixing themselves on Ryley. And then, perhaps unexpectedly, Shara laughed. She tipped her head back, hands akimbo and laughed. “Gods, how about right into the next year? Save you form having to fix a broken hand again, yeah?” She shook her head, letting measured inhales and exhales steady her. Her first time having a crew in twenty years and she was sure it was going to do her in entirely.

Commander Calloway, CIO

“Oh, she is crazy, crazy. I am starting to think I was put on this ship because no one else wanted to be here.” Eulailia thought to herself.

Dacascos, COO

“I get the feeling you’re enjoying this Commander,” Paddy said with a cheeky grin to Calloway.

-Lieutenant Patrick McMillan: Counsellor-

The look that took over her face was nothing less than the icy cold of Andor, and though her body was still, her chest heaved as she actually struggled to contain the rage that blossomed. She was supposed to trust this kid with her issues, to help her through. Someone had a terrible sense of humour. PADD in hand, she managed to still the other response that first came to mind and settled on the more measured one, relative though that was. “Eff you,” she said and strode to the door. If people were wise they would not intervene. Then again, wise was not a word she was associating with this group so far.

Commander Calloway, CIO

Eulailia gasped, put her hand over her mouth, and kept it there until the commander exited the room. When she thought she was far enough away so she couldn’t hear her words, she threw both hands up and said, “I am scared of her. I am not saying a word around that woman, I am not trying to get beat up on this ship.”

Dacascos, COO
OOC: Did she leave the room? I assume she did. My character hopes she did…lol.

Ryley watched Calloway with one eyebrow quirked. To Dacascos he said “Don’t worry kid, we’re all scared of her, that’s just your innate sense of safety kicking in. Trust your instincts they seem to be working. But bit if advice for you, don’t ever say someone scares you out loud like that again or someone somewhere will eat you for breakfast.”

Ryley
MD

Eulailia put her hand on her forehead and shook it, “Ugh. You are so right. That was stupid of me. Clearly an unnecessary burst of emotion considering the situation. I know better. Thanks for keeping me on my toes, sir.”

OOC: Okay, weird split that we’ll fix now. But I was trying to not assume she’d get out the door given that Blue and Piklesimer (and the CO) are between her and the door, so left it open. Though given that it’s unlikely that Shara and Micah will have have words right there, I assume he’d let her go (they’re too professional for a domestic dispute). So if everyone else is okay with her making it out of the room, so am I. :)
~Linds

Bethany rolled her eyes HARD and obviously, “Cmdr Calloway isn’t the one you need to be afraid of. She has too much self discipline and selfrespect to beat you up. She’s the one that will keep us all alive and safe. She’s not having fun, this isn’t fun or amusing or a game of pretend.” Bethany caught the eye of everyone in the room and then looked at the COO. “Only one person in this room is truly scared of her right now and it ain’t you pretty girl.”

This was insane, this was why Bethany worked alone. No wonder Elias was such a scary, twisted captain to his crew. How do you get them to listen otherwise?” That thought sent icy cold dread down her spine. NO nonono, she did NOT understand him....shoot me, now, kill me. I don’t want to be like him or understand him. She was loosing her mind.

Gadi, CoS

“I just know she did not…..She must think I am not going to say anything to her.” Eulailia thought to herself.

She moved behind the doctor a little before she said, “Let’s get one thing straight, my name isn’t “pretty girl” Eulailia is fine or if you want to be formal about it, Lt. Commander Dacascos, okay. Also, I am intrigued by your loyalty and how you defended her, but the woman has issues. I don’t know her all that well, but I can clearly see that much.”

Dacascos, COO

Dacascos was behind Ryley with Bethany sitting beside him. So she couldn’t see the new COO but she didn’t bother to turn around. She shrugged “THIS This right there. You all don’t get it. We are NOT Star Fleet anymore. There are no ranks anymore. You are NOT Lt Cmdr Dacascos anymore. Your time in Star Fleet is gone. Look around, no one is in uniform for a senior staff meeting. You have to let go of it. You have to get in character, live it, breathe it, become it. But you keep working on that indignant offense if you want. I suggest you work on a tougher skin, a stronger back bone, and practice slinging insults instead.” Bethany didnt’ wonder about Calloway at all, she did wonder what Blue and Picklesimer were thinking when they recruited this crew for this mission.

Gadi, CoS

Miranda spoke up, her tone was icy cold as well. “A reaction like that out there could get all of us spaced or vaporized. Or worse. A lot worse,” Miranda said, speaking up. her expression had turned hard, stoic. The set to her jaw and glint in her eye, the slight flush to her skin brought out the red tones in her hair, and for a moment it wasn’t hard to see that though it was buried, there was a simmering anger.... if one looked close enough. “Sheeple react like that. The soft, bleeding hearts of the Federation react like that. We’re murders, killers, mutineers, who’ve turned our backs on everything the Federation stands for. The strong survive, the weak perish. The only thing that still exists is cooperation, and having each other’s backs, because that’s what it takes. Not because we believe in any high-minded ideals about bettering ourselves and our fellow man. Go read the mission briefs again.”

Eulailia rolled her eyes, crossed her arms, and shook her head at both Gadi and Martel words.

“This isn’t a game. People are probably gonna die. And if you have to take over in a tactical situation, fire the ship’s weapon systems, then it’s gonna be you taking out innocent lives, cupcake.” While it wasn’t standard duty for an Operations Officer to handle the ships weaponry in a battle, they could, in a pinch, serve as a backup tactical officer. They were certainly helping manage ship’s resources during those time periods, especially power management. “You prepared for that? Can you live with that? We’re out here to be sharks, hunting in the deep waters. Ruthless. Unfeeling.” She shook her head. “It’s no game. It’s no act. I dunno how you got this billet, but I pray you’re made of much sterner stuff and have ice in your veins, because we’re gonna need it.”

She glanced at the CE, and thought, “Cupcake …huh” she had the mind to call her “funnel cake” since she was getting all twisted up over what she said.

Was she out of line? Maybe a little. But Gadi was right, rank was pretty much meaningless. Only doing the job and getting it done. It seemed a good chunk of the senior staff still hadn’t gotten it. Hadn’t sunk in. She’d understood the assignment even before they’d made it to the tholian nebula. At least partially, but now, finding out that they weren’t actually going to have any kind of cover, successful or not… If she didn’t wind up dead, or in a brig, probably was going to be her last tour. And she was going to find the chucklehead who put her on this ship.

Martel, CE

Eulailia heard the rant or whatever it was but she still held the same position. Funnel cake and her friend could call it what they want, her not having a backbone or being too soft but she preferred the term non-confrontational. She was not a fighter and never have been. Sure, if something went down on the ship and she had to defend herself, the ship or one of her crew mates she could do what needed to be done but not when it involved innocent people.

“If you must know, I got this job because I am good with administrative, not tactical stuff and I am very much aware of what an Operations Officer’s job is. I can operate the ship’s weapons or any other weapon I need to, I wouldn’t be here if I couldn’t, but only for the defense of the ship or any of the crew who are in danger, anything beyond that well I just can’t.”

“Right lay off. She made a mistake and I guarantee it won’t be the only one made before we find our feet with this, it’s not like they write an un-rule book. Adversity inspires loyalty or mutiny so which one are we going to be? Because we either gotta stop at each other’s throats bemoaning the fact this isn’t a game or we gotta decide it is a game and we’ve got to be believable and play to win or…” he drew his hand across his throat.

Ryley
MD

Eulailia could not hide her smile as the doctor talked. He was someone to stay close to. The man was always sensible and clear-headed. Since rank didn’t matter anymore he was the only person she was willing to listen to.

Dacascos, COO

“That’s enough.” Sara said, her voice ice cold, still commanding. “We have enough enemies outside these walls. Including some of our old friends. We don’t need to make things more difficult. Some of us-“ she glared at Gadi and Calloway “have more experience in this line of work than others. I expect you to be mentors. Not critics. No matter what side of the law we’re on, we’re working as a team here. That’s the only way we survive.”

-CO