STF

Main Sim - Bridge - The Arrival

Posted March 19, 2021, 10:14 p.m. by Captain Molly Holloway (Commanding Officer) (Joana Ribeiro)

Posted by Gamemaster Alias Smith N. Jones, Esq. (GMT) in Main Sim - Bridge - The Arrival

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Renveer (Executive Officer) in Main Sim - Bridge - The Arrival

Posted by Colonel Calvin Harris (Marine Commander) in Main Sim - Bridge - The Arrival
Posted by… suppressed (16) by the Post Ghost! 👻

SNIP

“Alright.” Molly said a little more enthusiastically than she wanted. “Maybe we could bring them on board and work out our differences? Maybe formulate a plan with what they know and with what we know…” The latter words were more of a thought than an actual question, even though they were said out loud. “Doctor, Lieutenant.” Holloway continued addressing both Drillek and the CSO. “Have Engineering help you with that. I want a plan on what needs to be modified on the Dresden in order to dock with the alien vessel.”

Drillek nodded and began detailed scans of the docking hatch, relaying the results directly to the Engineering station and to Main Engineering.

Renveer nodded at Ensign Winter, guiding her over to one of the empty terminals. “We can work on formulating a greeting. We need to make sure that every word said is positive, welcoming… something that can’t be misconstrued by incomplete translation.” He wracked his mind for a starting point. “I like the image idea. But what do we send an image of? We’re trying to dock with the ship, but we don’t want them to think it’s a boarding party…” Renveer shook his head at his next thought. “Dr. Drillek mentioned an ‘umbilical’ tube. Could we use that literally? Send a picture of a human embryo in the womb, with an umbilical cord attached? My understanding is that almost all animals that have in-uterus pregnancies have fetuses that look similar up to a certain point, so if we chose an image of a fetus young enough, it should appear similar to how an ultrasound would appear for the aliens as well. I would hope that image would foster a sense of care and assistance, as if we might be the mother in the metaphor. And if they have also associated a similar docking mechanism with an umbilical cord in their language…”

Renveer looked to Winter, wondering if he was making any sense at all. It was an out-of-the-box idea, but this was an out-of-the-box scenario.

(Lt. Cmdr. Renveer, XO)

Keri smiled at Renveer with a combination of commraderie and wonder before she could stop herself, then buttoned it down before speaking; “That’s a great idea, sir. And even if it’s not perfectly understood, it would give us a starting point, much like my earlier performance”, she said with a wry grin. Talking to him was easy. She seemed able to brainstorm with him as if they were colleagues, without forgetting the chain of command. It just made lobbing ideas off one another more fluid, and less encumbered by the added stress of rank. “Besides, I can’t think of any way that image could hurt our cause”, she added.

She began running through the biological database to sample the best examples of the image the XO was looking for. As she was running through the options, she felt herself stealing a brief glance back towards the Captain; she really was an impressive woman. She seemed at ease in the ‘big chair’ without being cavalier, which Kerilah had heard a lot about during her training at Starfleet. [Even if it’s all a smoke-screen, she is still excelling where others have failed because it doesn’t show] She admired Captain Holloway, and she hoped she had made a good impression on her Commanding Officer.

The console indicated it had completed the search and offered several dozen options. She selected the top three, that showed a young enough fetus to be non-descript, but still subjectively identifiable as something being supported and cared for, then presented them to Cmdr. Renveer.

Which one is our ‘ambassador’, sir?

(Dr. Winter, Ens)

At that moment the computer made several more advances in translation. As the figure on the screen spoke / sang, their voice came through. “… help in stopping… laboratory… the field… trapped… accident… assist… stopped… sacrificed… power… satellite… find…”

GMT

As the words came through, Holloway’s gaze shifted between the console and the viewscreen where the call was still ongoing. The words seemed more and more disconnected the longer they went. She glanced at Renveer and Winter for a split second as she knew that they were tirelessly working on a way for them to explain to the alien beings who they were. But they couldn’t just leave them hanging indefinitely.

Turning to Drillek, she asked. “Was there ever the mention of an accident on board the station?”. Holloway suspected that she knew the answer already, but she might as well just ask.

“No, Captain. Last report was completely normal.” Drillek replied.

Finally, she walked back to the center of the Bridge, and standing in front of the center chair, she pointed to herself and then at the viewscreen, as she spoke three isolated words. “We help you.”

Holloway, CO

The alien looked at her for a moment and then leaned forward, as if they were having trouble hearing her. one of the Comms officers said “Captain, we get more facial reaction and body language when the messages are sung, rather than spoken.”

GMT

Renveer nodded the Ensign Winter and pointed to one of the images she had presented, but his attention was quickly drawn back to the viewscreen as the captain spoke. He lowered his voice to address Winter. “We’ll suggest this to the captain if verbal communication continues to give us problems, but for now your singing talents might be needed again.” Renveer was not keen on singing himself… of course he would if required, but part of him was nervous that if he sung off-key it’d be like he was using a negative tone of voice to the aliens… and he did not want that. For now, he’d let those more confident in their lyrical abilities handle the communication.

(Lt. Cmdr. Renveer, XO)

Molly sighed softly as the comms officer spoke. Singing was not one of her best abilities, and even though she knew it was for the good of the mission and so on, she was afraid of the possibility of making a fool of herself in front of the Bridge crew.

Looking around, her eyes settled on Renveer and Winter, and she moved towards them. “Any progress?” She asked the two officers more as a proforma rather than anything else, before turning to the young Ensign. “Ensign Winter, the tune you sang a few moments ago was the first breakthrough we had. Do you think you’d be able to uh… sing our messages to them?” An apologetic smile broke her lips. “According to Dr. Drillek, they should be able to understand around 10% of what we are saying. Right now we are just trying to let them know that we are going help them. And you are quite more competent at singing than I am.”

Holloway, CO

At that moment Drillek stood up. “I’m going to Engineering to help with the modifications to the umbilical clamps. I will send word when we are ready.” and he turned and walked off the bridge.

GMT

Priscilla had been working on the latest computer translations as she nodded to Drillek who departed. “Sacrificed power… satellite find…” she murmured to herself and started to try to piece together the words they were learning with the songs and bits they were giving. If she could manage to make coherant sentences, then maybe communication both ways would be improved. The fact the words made less sense as the translation progressed meant either the words were more difficult, perhaps more scientific in nature, or the concepts were more complex. Help… assist… trouble… were words that came across easier than scientific… distortion… or out of phase. She attempted to help the computer fill in the first missing words hoping, like the cascade failure of translation, there would be a cascade success in the coming translations.

She also set the computers to scan the area in all aspects and spectrums trying to find a satellite of either man made or natural materials that could be setting off odd energy readings to possibly be the culprit and catalyst to what had occurred between the station and ship.

She had it look thru the most recent star charts from what the station had provided last, hoping to see if there was a discrepancy that may help. Something that was there now that hadn’t been there then. Had the mishap created something? Or had something come close and interacted in an odd way? She hoped they would discover it was something easily moved out of the way or destroyed. But in the back of her mind, she knew it wouldn’t be that simple.

Priscilla
CSO

Between the interference of whatever was affecting the station part of the alien vessel and the brown dwarf itself, reading of the area were convoluted at best. Try as she might, finding something of unknown origin and unknown materials was like trying to find a needle in several hundred haystacks.

GMT

Priscilla frowned under her breath. “Ok so no luck there. She let the computer keep running the translation permutations and began to look for a way to get into the lab. Getting the alien ship away was step one. But they’d have to get into the lab to shut down whatever started this.

She started fling over the schematics room by room and deck by deck. Once the ship wasn’t attached, where would the center of the bubble shift and how close to it could they get before being caught in it.

She also dug into her mind to remember anything that would help them once they were on the station. “Something to keep us from shifting once we’re there.”

Priscilla
CSO

OOC: Just to move things along, let’s pretend my next post doesn’t clash with my previous one! :p – Joana

IC:
Captain, we get more facial reaction and body language when the messages are sung, rather than spoken. The comms officer’s voice echoed through Molly’s mind, as she realized what she needed to do. She hated it, but everything for the mission, right? It didn’t really matter how self conscious she was about singing in front of the whole Bridge, and that all her singing experience had been acquired in the shower, when the most important task at hand was to convey to the alien ship that the Dresden’s crew was willing to help them.

Taking a deep breath, Holloway tried her best to reproduce the same tune that Winter had sung moments prior, while repeating the same words she had uttered before. “We help you.” Her singing abilities might not be as sharp as the Ensign’s, but Molly was at least able to carry a tune.

She hoped that for now, that was the bridge that closed the gap in understanding between the two ships.

Holloway, CO

As Holloway began singing, the eyes of the aliens lat hed onto her and narrowed. For a long few moments nothing happened. But after about a minute, the being began to sing in return.

=/\= Help…yes… tomato… assist… satellite… hat rack… nebula… broken… furniture… frightened. =/\= came the translation, such as it was.

GMT

Tomato? Hat rack? The words didn’t seem to make much sense, but it seemed like the beings had gotten at least the general idea behind her words. They had also mentioned a satellite, a nebula, broken furniture, and that they were frightened. Or so it seemed.

Issac shook his head briskly; bringing himself back to reality. He had let himself get caught up and absorbed in the strange events; the singing back and forth, and the limited communication. He still had a job to do; even though he wasn’t quite sure he could help in this specific situation. But even though the information was limited, key words had stood out. the field… trapped… accident.... satellite They painted a picture, but of what.... Issac wasn’t sure. But it didn’t bode well.

Quietly, he began issuing orders into his commbadge. =/\=Division leads; we’re approaching the station and have made limited contact. There’s signs of an unusual energy field of some sort; and it appears to have trapped at least one ship. I want full patrols of the Dresden, starting immediately. You know what passes for normal around here, so take note of anything that don’t seem right; and make it known. And remember - move in pairs.=/\= He paused, before turning to the Marine commander next to him. “Sir; reckon we oughta get ready for a field trip…”

-Forgrave, CoS

=/\= Osten to Fograve. NEnsign Astin and I are sweeping division three, engineering and lower decks. Will keep you apprised of anything out of the ordinary. =/\=

(Ensign Osten, Security Division Three Officer)

The Dresden’s Marine CO smiled down at the Ship’s Security Chief and nodded. “Sounds like a good plan to me Chief… one squad or two?” The sparkle in the Marine’s eye was devilish and energetic.

Harris, MARDET CO

=^= Janvier to bridge: Can I request a couple of scans? I’d like one of the field and another of the lifesigns in the field and on the alien ship. With the information directed straight through to my console in the Medical Lab. I’d like to take a closer look at how this thing is affecting the station, and the ship. =^=

Dr Janvier, CMO

Renveer signaled to the science station to compile the sensor readings requested by the chief medical officer. “Get those scans sent to Dr. Janvier as soon as possible. This is a rescue mission first and a first contact mission second.” He turned to Forgrave and Harris. “Assemble an away team, they head to our umbilical docking mechanism. Prepare to board the alien vessel when engineering gives us the all-clear. Find Chief Hsull and take him with you, we can’t discount the possibility that there are dangerous beings aboard the station that may have caused this phenomenon.”

Nervously, NE Johansson’s flew across the terminal, pulling up the scans and sending them to the requested console. “Aye, Sir. I’m on it.”

The commcall interrupted her thoughts. Glancing for a moment at the Ensign standing and picking up on Renveer’s orderes, she quickly pressed her commbadge, to reply =/\= Holloway to Janvier, science is taking care of it and the scans should be there shortly. Let us know if you find anything. Holloway out. =/\=

The let the captain continue to handle the conversation with the aliens. Lastly, he tapped his comm badge. =/\= Renveer to engineering. Status report. =/\=

(Lt. Cmdr. Renveer, XO)

A familiar voice, tinged with a tone of amusement responded immediately. =/\= Dr. Drillek here, Commander. I believe two of your crew are working on the clamp as diligently and thoroughly as they can under the time constraints given. Expect docking to be ready in twenty minutes. =/\=

GMT

There was a lot they seemed to be waiting on. Looking around the Bridge, Holloway made mental notes on what was going on: they needed the scan results from both Science and Medical as they tried to learn more about the anomaly affecting both the station and the ship, as well as the progress from Engineering so they could dock with the alien vessel.

All that was left to do was trying to gather more data from the beings themselves and maybe give something more to the computer to help tuning the translation. Trying on her best singing voice, Holloway tried again to convey to the aliens some more of their plans to help them. “We dock with your ship.”

Holloway, CO


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