STF

Bridge - Vendetta! - Main Sim

Posted July 21, 2021, 9:41 a.m. by Gamemaster Wookius Furrius (Senior Gamemaster) (Gene Gibbs)

Posted by Captain Alexander Cochrane (Commanding Officer) in Bridge - Vendetta! - Main Sim

Posted by Lieutenant Celina Rodriguez (Chief Tactical Officer) in Bridge - Vendetta! - Main Sim

Posted by Gamemaster Wookius Furrius (Senior Gamemaster) in Bridge - Vendetta! - Main Sim
Posted by… suppressed (9) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)

“Both Trabe vessels appear, or in the case of the destroyed one appeared, to be uninhabited. From what I can tell they are supposed to be more of an orbital defence system then anything else, Sir,” Naim replied without taking her eyes off the data in front of her.

~Lt. Cmdr. Naim, CSO

“Understood.” Cochrane replied.

“Attempting to narrow down the source of the distress call,” Walker said from back by the Ops console. He had slipped in and relieved the duty officer just a bit ago, but he was rapidly catching up.

Adjusting the Manhattan’s main sensors towards the planet, Walker started working to narrow down the location of the distress call. From there it would hopefully be pretty quick to assess how many potential survivors there were.

CWO Darach - COO

bumping for GM

Darach was able to narrow the distress call. It was coming from a location on the surface of the planet that was routed to the existing vessel in orbit and relayed out from there. While there were no life signs on the orbiting vessel there were several thousand on the planet’s surface.

Tactical would note that the orbiting Trabe vessel was battling more on AI automatics with some remote input. The general tactical skill of the AI was quite good; the remote input less so.

There were no ‘Trabe’ escape pods launched at least not that the sensors could detect. There was a great deal of wreckage in this general area confusing things. However, that said, there were several small powered transmitters that denoted escape pods with a Kazon comms signature.

The communication from the Manhattan was answered, from a vessel that had the markings of the Kazon-Nistrim. The face appeared on screen. It was obscured by smoke in the bridge area and a small fire could be seen burning to one side that another was spraying to extinguish. The face, copper-skinned, flat nosed, with prominent forehead ripples which were dwarfed by the chunky, almost fungal like hair settled like a headdress, filled the screen. =^= You mean that the Trabe cowards are almost finished. Good. It will be said that Jal-Kulnah will go down in history for eliminating our blood foes. =^=

  • Wookiee

Cochrane motioned for comms to mute the channel and they nodded that it was complete.

Walker cocked his head to the side as he looked at the returned sensor readings. That was not exactly what he had been expecting, but it would probably make things easier.

“Captain, I’ve been able to trace the distress call to the surface of the planet, and I’m reading several thousand life signs. Interesting enough, there are no life signs on the Trabe ship. I think it might be automated.”

CWO Darach - COO

“I agree with Darach,” Celina said looking at her readings on the console. “The Trabe vessel’s fighting seemes more indicative of AI manuevers however I am not sure if this is from a remote input or simply the ships onboard AI. Either way, the general tactical skill of the AI is quite good.”

“Well, thats one good thing.”

“Can we disable the Kazon? I don’t want them destroyed but we are not going to get anywhere if they keep firing at the Trabe.” Creed asked Rodriguez as he looked over at her. “We need to have a plan if they push our hand.”

Another Kazon vessel went up in a brilliant cloud of fire and debris. Two others fired past the Trabe vessel targeting the planet, or perhaps the facility below. It was hard to tell precisely. The number of ships were declining quickly. The remaining Trabe vessel was showing signs of wear with three areas of its hull that had been penetrated with plasma leaks gouting out into space. Communications were getting cluttered between talk between ships and from the escape pods either in communication or were automatic transmitters.
- Wookiee

Cochrane looked at Creed and said “Let’s see how much they want to do just that, Mr. Creed. Red Alert! Helm, drop us out of warp thirty five thousand kilometers from the Kazon and between them and the Trabe platform. Tactical, weapons lock on the Kazon and load the burst-fire launcher but do not fire until ordered. Comms, open the channel.” When the comms officer nodded again Cochrane stood up and looked at the Kazon. =/\= Jal-Kulnah, I am Captain Alexander Cochrane of the Federation Starship Manhattan. We are responding to a distress call and we will be arriving at your coordinates in less than a minute. I am asking you to cease your attack temporarily. Do so, and perhaps we can strike a deal to cease hostilities going forward. Do not, and we will be forced to assist those asking for help and you will have no chance at further negotiations with us at any time. Your people do very well trading with us. In that vein, I look forward to negotiations, sir. As your people know, we have no affiliation with the Trabe, so we are a neutral party. Attacking us for responding to a distress call would not serve your sect’s interests going forward. I trust you will make the wisest choice for you and your people. Cochrane out. =/\= and he motioned for the comms to be cut. Taking a seat, he looked at Creed again. “Let’s see if we can at least get whomever is on that planet some breathing room until we figure out what exactly is going on. And if the Kazon attack us, well… they had an opportunity to talk first.”

“Remember when we came to this sector to explore?” Jack said with a slight smirk as he swiveled his chair’s display as he began reading the tactical information.

There was some talk off screen, someone saying something thought it was muffled, though it did cause Jal-Kulnah to turn his head to hear, at least before the transmission was cut. Less than a minute later there was a reply=^= Some things, Manhattan, are … =^= he didn’t get a chance to finish as the Trabe vessel sent off a barrage against his ship that literally cut it in half. That likely saved some of the crew, for the engine half split off and, seconds later blew. The shock wave sent the forward section tumbling toward the planet.

“Try and get a tractor beam lock on that section!” Cochrane said loudly.

“Weapons locked on the Kazon vessel,” Celina verbally confirmed Cochrane’s order with her finger poised above the launch button ready for his command to fire.

Celina Rodriguez CTO

Just then he had an idea. Looking over his shoulder, he said “Calloway… how’d you like to hack a Kazon ship?”

Cochrane, CO

Faye turned to Alex and grinned. “Is that full permission to do my thing? Because if it is, you’ve just made my day.”

~Faye Calloway, Counter-Intelligence

“Do your thing, Commander. Just make sure we can still chat.”

Cochrane, CO

“I would suggest using a helix encryption, it’s relatively new… doubt the Kazon know anything about getting past that… though I don’t find their ships to be very powerful, so maybe brute force alone might work,” Creed said as he looked over at Faye.

Faye grinned. Ahhh, finally a chance to do something legitimately! “Could work if I can’t push my way in the first time,” she said with a nod to Creed, adding the extra layer to her plan.

“Just try not to electrocute them all Commander,” Walker said with a wink towards Faye.

Calloway snorted. “That’s just cruel.”

Turning back towards the Captain. “Should we try reaching out to the Trabe Captain? See what assistance they might need?”

CWO Darach - COO

It was messy where they were with much debris about. The remaining vessels were still moving about. This first attempt at halting hostilities was not the most successful. Now, in the thick of it they could see that the Mostral and Pommar clan were focusing on the Trabe ship. The other, unknown clan markings, were the ones firing down to the planet. The number of ships were much in decline; both sides have taken significant damages.

There was, at this time as well, a transmission from the planet.

“On screen!” Cochrane said as the notification came in.

The screen blinked on to show a female Trabe. The woman had smooth flowing golden hair with small braids toward the ends. Her face was oval and fair, the Trabe ridges at nose and brow more delicate than the male counterparts. In this case, there was also a hint of accents along the flow of the ridges over the brow. Her age appeared to be mature, perhaps on the edges of entering middle age. Her eyes were a bright grey.

=^= I am Tebia. We detected your ship. Please. Are you for or against us? =^= She paused. =^= I recognize your people have grievance against us as well. So many. =^= Her expression denoted an unspoken add of ‘Are you joining the others against us?’

=/\= This is Captain Cochrane of the Federation Science Vessel Manhattan. How about we save past grudges for when we can get the shooting stopped and try to settle this with words, not phasers and torpedoes. You sent a distress call, we are here to see if we can assist. Simple as that. =/\=

She bore an expression that was a mix of surprise, relief and uncertainty, her lips parting as though to speak, then was distracted by the scene shuddering causing her to reach for something to steady herself and the screen to ‘fuzz’ over briefly. A voice carried from off screen, also female, relating to ‘primary power magnetic couplings severed’ .. Tebia focused and replied. =^= Thank you =^= she said simply, appearing uncertain as to what more to say.

For Faye, she had a number of potential in points - notably wrecked, but still powered in places, ships.
- Wookiee

“Hey Rodriguez, can you do an active scan of one of the more damaged Kazon lead vessels again for me? I need something to piggyback on and they already know we’re doing that,” Faye called out as her fingers began moving swiftly across her console as she snagged a infiltration program that would get her into the Kazon’s system. They could fight it of course, but if she could get in, then she could play a game of system shut-down. She’d leave the enviro systems, of course, and the lights. Maybe. And ohh! maybe a little friendly fire? Now that was devious! She laughed inwardly

~Faye Calloway, Counter-Intelligence

Cochrane, CO

Creed, XO

There were three potential targets for Faye that Rodriguez could find. One was a wreck with no life signs but an active power system. It was drifting not too far from where the Manhattan had established itself. It appeared that it had been struck amidships rupturing the hull that had set off a series of smaller explosions that had resulted in explosive decompression, killing the crew. The power levels were fluctuating without having any ‘controller’ but it was not at the moment at risk.

A second target was more a damaged shuttle that may have been ejected from a ship, or launched. There were no life signs and it too was drifting. It had taken exterior physical damage but was otherwise intact.

The third was a life escape pod that had a life sign, but also looked to have a link with one of the other Kazon ships still intact.

Wookiee

“I have three possible targets. A wreck with fluctuating power systems, a damaged shuttle, and an escape pod. I suggest the escape pod since it is the only one with life signs. If anyone is nosy they will just assume we are looking to possibly rescue the occupants. Scanning now Faye,” Celina said.

Celina Rodriguez CTO

Wookiee
Alex looked at Comms and said “Broadcast on all channels to everyone above and below the planet.” =/\= Attention Kazon and Trabe vessels and platforms. This is the Manhattan. Cease fire. I repeat, cease fire. We offer to serve as mediator in order to help temporarily cease hostilities in this area. We are responding to a distress call. Do not fire upon us or we will defend ourselves. I repeat, cease fire and allow us to commence negotiations. =/\= He closed the comms and looked back at Faye. “Shut ‘em all down if you can, Commander.”

Cochrane, CO

Initially at least there was no change … but then this needed to filter through four different Kazon sects.

“Cascade it is,” Faye said. “We’ve got a bunch of derelicts, and.. yes, one… okay, I got this,” she said as she cracked her fingers and set about working at a rather furious pace. Her eyes were skimming what she was typing in, but only barely and so much of it was done by instinct. Build it, toss it out and see what bites she got. But she had some ready-to-go infiltration programs.

Faye went after the escape pod. It was likely not to have much more than monitoring sensors and communications and that meant no one would be there to bump her out. She took her infiltration program (tidily packaged to hide itself, thank you very much) and she sent it out on the Manhattan’s sensors to the escape pod. Would it take? If so, she’d know pretty damn fast because she would then get feedback from whatever Kazon ship was talking to the pod and that was her first target. The beauty of this was they would all infect each other before they really knew what was going on. Timing was key and so was being bold. No playing nice. Not today. Well, okay, maybe alittle, She did promise not to injure anyone… intentionally.

“Someone give me a count, please! How many active shooters do we have right now? Don’t care who.” Faye called out across the bridge.

~Faye Calloway, Coutner-Intelligence

Active shooters appeared to be the single uninhabited Trabe platform on their side. The Kazon targets were becoming slim. With the apparent destruction of the one Kazon-Nistrim vessel - that was still tumbling toward the planet - the other two in that clan had warped out. That left the three other Sects who looked to be down to a single ship each specifically with one having two. They were the ones firing down to the planet.

So 5 in all at this time.

The escape pod was linked to the Kazon-Pommar ship that was, with the other single Kazon-Mostral ship, focused on the Trabe platform. It was not difficult for Faye to get a connection. Once inside the Pommar ship she quickly found it laced with firewalls; apparently they didn’t trust one another that much. It wasn’t that Faye couldn’t get in, but she’d need to choose which area to focus on to gain access rather than having an open field.

As Faye was working, the Trabe platform went quiet.

OOC: I didn’t see a post to say that the tractor was activated to catch the tumbling ship .. correct me if I missed it
Wookiee

“Sir do I engage a tractor beam on that tumbling ship,” Celina asked.

Celina Rodriguez CTO

“Absolutely! We cant have it slamming into the planet. Try and get it in a stable orbit. If not, bounce it off the atmosphere.”

Cochrane, CO

The tractor beam caught the ship on the far limit of its range. As it caught the mass and momentum jerked the Manhattan as the ship strove to stabilize; the inertial compensators only a moment behind and causing her occupants to jerk forward. As the Kazon ship’s forward momentum was stalled and it was slowly being pulled back the next event happened ..

The Trabe vessel succumbed to it’s damage, suddenly flaring up in a series of explosions sending energy and debris about, overcoming one of the two Kazon ships who had been firing on the planet.

A piece of debris caught the nearby derelict Kazon ship that Faye had had as an option. Almost as a chain reaction it blew, sending its own circle of debris. One such piece caught the Manhattan in the lower decks with a shudder and a screeching crunching sound that could be heard even on the bridge. Sensors would show a hull breach stretching from Decks 18-21, though localized.

Whether it was because of the sudden change or from the comms call .. space suddenly grew quiet.
Wookiee


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