Posted by Commander Ryder Raauhl (Executive Officer) in Main-Sim – Command Information Centre (CIC)

Posted by Commander Ryder Raauhl (Executive Officer) in Main-Sim – Command Information Centre (CIC)

Posted by Ensign Tellek Bog (Engineer) in Main-Sim – Command Information Centre (CIC)
Posted by… suppressed (7) by the Post Ghost! 👻

<snip>
“Sir” Ensign Michaels, the on duty helms officer turned to face the XO who was stood looking at the holographic tactical display situated in the center of the CIC. “We’re five minutes from dropping out of warp and arriving at the Paulson Nebula Sir.” The recently graduated cadet nodded with a smile before turning back to his console to finalise the calculations on their arrival.

“Very good, thankyou Ensign” Ryder said as he acknowledge the Ensigns update. Taking a moment to look around he could see that all of Bravo shift was working away at their relevant bridge duty stations, the overwatching clock above the view screen displayed the time in a purple hue, 18:33:23. The Trills hand raised slowly to his comm badge slowly, allowing himself the last few moments of normality. Ryder already knew today was going to be a long day.

=^=XO to the Captain, we’re approaching the Nebula and will be dropping out of warp shortly, you may want to join us in the CIC for this one. All Hands this is the XO we’re going to Yellow Alert Medical prepare for inbound casualties, department heads prepare a list of available crewmemebrs for away teams and prepare them for disembarkation. I say again, set Yellow alert through the ship.=^= The ship registered his command as the lighting to the CIC and typically the rest of the ship dsiplayed a Yellow symbol. With the last transmission as it was he wasn’t taking any risks.

• Commander Ryder, XO

So. This was it. For the last week he’d been able to convince himself, almost, that none of this was real. That they were just another exploration vessel heading out towards another Earth-like planet for some fun and relaxation and cultural bonding. But no longer could he afford to coddle himself, or his crew, in the fantasy of their former lives. Finally, they had arrived at their true destination. And things were about to get very real indeed.

Stepping onto the bridge, Cobb was uncharacteristically silent as he climbed up onto the gantry and into his captain’s chair. Gone was the often drunk, sometimes ornery man they had grown accustomed to over the last week. Now, every pore, every atom within Zachariah Cobb exuded calm and confidence and complete control.

“Helm, once we drop out of warp, I want us at a quarter impulse until we’re in range of the Einstein. Get as close as you can and then slip into a comfortable holding spot.”

Nodding to Ryder, Cobb muttered “Let’s do this, Commander,” then allowed his hands to dance over the seat’s control panels as he activated a series of comms calls:

=^= Engineering, we’re about to drop to impulse speeds so have the engines primed and ready. Be prepared for anomalous effects from the nebula or whatever might be inside it. Current ARU alert level is yellow so get a temporary force field up around the warp core and the deuterium tanks. Also, I want the containment vessel to be loaded and ready to go from ARU transporter two. =^=

=^= Medical, have both alpha and bravo sickbays on standby. Prepare bravo for any anomalous casualties. Level five containment protocols to be enforced. Lt Commander McHarrie can provide assistance with that. =^=

=^= Science, I want you to brief the away team on everything you’ve learned about the anomaly. Load all critical points to the RTF Operative personal terminals and I want a comms buddy system with all members of the away team. Once they enter the Einstein their ability to think on their feet might be heavily compromised so, I want you to be available to do those critical calculations for them. =^=

=^= Security, if you’re not part of the away team then I want postings at all priority one locations around the ship. Particularly the containment levels. The last thing we want is one of those bloody things getting loose while our focus is elsewhere. Also have a team posted at bravo sickbay to assist with any problematic patients. =^=

He paused and took a breath before making the final call. Whilst he still didn’t trust the RTF leader, Manhattan, he was only too aware of the situation the Captain was being asked to lead his team into. And for that, Zachariah did not envy him one bit.

=^= Recovery Task Force. Your Captain will brief you and the rest of the away team fully before you depart. The Leviathan will have your back and will be offering every measure of support that we can. I know that will be of small comfort as you set out upon this mission but just know that you will, each of you, remain our primary concern until you’re back onboard this ship. May the gods go with you. =^=

The deeds done, the Captain allowed his body to fall back into the chair. And for the briefest of moments, every mission, every loss, every nanosecond of pain and of torture and of desperate loneliness within the soul of Zachariah Cobb was etched indelibly across his face. But quickly it passed and the stoic mask was returned. And something else as well, a transient and tantalising glimpse of raw, unadulterated, humanity.

“Well, that’s that then,” he shrugged at Ryder, following it up with a grin. He was ready.

• Captain Zachariah Cobb

Casela was on the counseling deck. She quickly ordered her staff to Sickbay. Patient rooms had been prepared days earlier. A quick thought to Gen * Gen you can stay here if you like. I have to go to the bridge.* Casela grabbed her bag out of its locker and summoned Fenrir to meet her on the turbolift. She could program him from there if he was needed.
=^=Lt. Synthi-er to Dr. Fey. I’ve sent the counseling staff to you to assist as medics. We also have patient rooms ready on the counseling deck.=^=

=^=Lt. Synthi-er to Cmdr Rauuhl. Counseling staff has been ordered to Sickbay to assist.=^=

A few minutes later Casela stepped into the CIC. She took her seat next to Cobb as she nodded to him. Fenrir took up a spot below and to the side of her. She attached her bag to the side of the AARM.
Lt Synthi-er, CNS/RTF

It took a few minutes for the reports of away team member candidates to finally come through to his panel but finally a list had been generated, quickly flicking through he assigned members roles and responsibilities based on experience and profession before giving it the once over and having removed several he felt could do without this one particular experience or where better suited ship side. Fortunately for him Casela wouldn’t be going on this one, he allowed himself a fleeting glance towards her before clicking send to notify each individual to report to sickbay before the main Transporter room.

Casela caught his glance and raised a brow. She waited for the orders to report to Manhattan to appear on her screen, but they never did. There were a lot of questions, no matter what her orders, but she put them aside: strong enough, right? She touched the rune stone hidden under her uniform and moved on. She would better serve the ship staying with the captain anyway. The orders did not include the AARM. “Cpt. Cobb, since RTF is not using the AARM, I’d like to send Fenrir to keep Gen company. He’ll be able to inform me if the anomaly is having any affect on her.”

Cobb shrugged. “Sounds like a good use for that thing to be put to use guarding her.” But then a moment later he leaned in and whispered, “Although if things take a turn for the worse then you might want them both up here where we can keep an eye on them.”

Casela nodded, it was a very good idea. “I’ll make sure Fenrir brings her here if anything happens, or summons me.” Casela turned to the AARM, “Fenrir, I want you to go down the counseling deck and stay with Gen. If she’s not there, find her and stay with her. Signal me when you are with her. You are to guard her and if anything unusual happens bring her here. If you can’t get her here, summon me.” She took her bag off and stowed it behind her seat. “Orders, clear?”

You have been assigned to away team one report to sickbay and then under the direction of the Away team leader Captain Manhattan prepare to disembark from the Main transporter room

The system acknowledged the message had been revived across the board and then tapping his comm badge =^=Captain Manhattan, CIC, you’re gonna be leading this away team, account for your team members and notify us when youre positioned and ready in transporter room one. CIC out. =^=

The Trill executive officer turned to the officer in charge of the ships helm controls. “How long until arrival Ensign?” the question was clear and direct, as was his response indicating that they had just one more minute till arrival. “Ok, count us down from ten.”

The first fifty seconds passed by slowly, much slower than fifty seconds should have felt but finally the ensigns voice broke the chorus of beeping and ticking which was the CICs ambient noise. “Ten… Nine… Eight…” Ryder could swear the room had gotten a whole lot warmer. “Three… Two… One..” The view screen changed from the strips of passing stars and planet and showed the Paulsan Nebula.

Ooc: Stations report in, Science - begin scanning, Sec - tactical situation (Shields, weapons, local space) , engineering - warp core situation, Sickbay/Away team update until time ready. Please leave to Mission director to explain what the scans pick up thaaaanks!

OOC:Added my signature.

Commander Ryder, XO

Casela sat up in her chair watching the view screen, ready to get her first glimpse. She scanned the image for her first glance at the Einstein. Waiting to see what the different departments would report. While they waited she glanced at Cobb, then at Ryder, and each of the other bridge officers. Tension was high, and she expected it, but she wanted to cut off any problems before they happened.
Lt. Synthi-er, CNS

Cobb sat back and steepled his fingers under his chin. It was a pose he’d unconsciously learned from Admiral Roebuck…or had the Admiral learned it from him? Either way, it usually indicated that he was deep in thought. None of them particularly palatable right now.

A few moments of silence passed and then suddenly the Captain was up on his feet and heading towards the door. “I’m going to brief the away team on this one personally, Commander,” he called over to Ryder. “I know Manhattan will have a fair amount to talk to them about himself, but if I’m sending my people over to that hellhole then the least I can do is look ‘em all in the eyes before I do it.”

• Captain Zachariah Cobb

Casela had been about to ask him a question when he suddenly got up. She smiled, she was proud of Cobb. He was making strides back to himself, and the glimpses she saw were impressive. Did he really just leave the naughty children alone in the CIC? Her strange humor getting the better of her, but she kept herself from laughing.

“Very well Captain, I have the Conn” He nodded to Cobb and watched him leave before again looking to Casela we was gonna need to find something for her to do that involved her being away from him, she was far to distracting here.

Casela raised a brow. He was uneasy, she had a feeling she knew why. Well this was her job. Keeping his eye she took a slow breath and rolled her shoulders to ease the tension, a silent suggestion he do the same. They had work to do and they were both going to have to be on the bridge to do it.

But that meant she had to ask Ryder. And asking him for things usually didn’t go over well…crap. “Cmdr Rauuhl. Dr Kastil has asked for a victum of whatever this is. She wants to conduct an autopsy in order to determine what happened to them. When we get close enough,” oh lord....she should just do it herself....permissions and politeness and regulations, why????, “permission to locate and transport a body for her. She has already set up a containment area.” She had something else she had to do in order to get Cobb the information he had asked for when they first got the assignment. She was sure this one would not go over well with Ryder. “Cpt. Cobb wants an evalution of the crew’s mental state. I will have to access the ships logs and download the files.” This she could do herself, she had the clearance for it, but regulations said she had to ask. GAH! This was pointless.
Lt. Synthi-er, CNS

‘Perfect a distraction’ He thought turning to Casela this time to talk not just get his eye full. “Permission granted but only once the away team has secured the Ship and assessed there’s no chance off contamination the Leviathan, I am sure she has put every effort into the contamination area but the crew of the Einstein were not fools and I am sure they thought they had it safely contained too. ” He turned his attention to her second question, “You don’t need my permission to carry out your job when it comes to medical situations, only the Chief Medical Officer can stop that and I don’t think she’d have any objections so do what you need to Lieutenant.” There, he said it, after all they were still work colleagues.

• Commander Ryder, XO

Casela nodded, of course she would wait to transport a body, but she assumed she didn’t make that clear, and, as much as she hated to admit it, he was right. She cringed at the thought. She touched the rune stone absently, but no one could see it so it simply appeared a habit of deep thought. She flipped open the command panels on her chair. The left she connected to Fenrir’s optical nodes so she could see what he saw. The other she pulled up a command access link and waited till they got close enough to the Einstein to connected with her computer.

Lt. Synthi-er, CNS

“Our systems are at ninety-percent with only some of our minor systems still undergoing the refit, I don’t suspect they will affect our mission sir” Reported the on-duty Operations Officer Lieutenant JG Luke Wyatt, he had served on the Leviathan with the previous crew and knew Commander Ryder before the change in employment and before he become joined. The Officer couldn’t help think however that he had changed as a person, for better or worst however was yet to be seen.

OOC: I originally said I would do science but considering its one of our most populated departments I am sure one of you fine people can do a department report, as a reminder we still need Engineering, Security, and Science.

• Lieutenant JG Wyatt, Ops

=^= CIC this is Agent Niven, RTF. 2nd squad Black Devils are QRF=^=
Niven, RTF 2nd Squad

=^=CIC, Ensin Jolson reporting all decks secure,=^= then after a pause =^= Pepe is on the move, ETA 07:05. Detail reports package is in a good ish mood.=^=
Ensin Jolson, Security

Ryder now happy with the status of the ship he said “Helm bring us within transporter range of the Einstein” The Trill XO tapped his comm badge, =^= Away team this is Raauhl, We’re now nearing transporter range of the vessel. So far no contact has been established with the vessel and due to the nebula, we are unable to scan for life signs. Be careful and we will monitor the situation from her. Open comms whilst you’re over there please.=^=

“Bring the ship up on the viewscreen please.” He ordered the operation officer who was stationed in front of him. A moment later the ship could be seen adrift in the Nebula. “Inform RTF command that we have arrived and are sending away teams now.” Ryder was clearly tense, this would be his first mission as XO, and first as an RTF Officer there was really no telling what was about to happen.

NE Wyatt nodded and began composing and sending the message over the encrypted communications network the RTF used to remain undetected, it was an impressive system and it was no wonder why they hadn’t been outed by when dealing with the sensitive situations the RTF ships and agents did on a day to day basis it really didn’t come as a surprise, some would argue it was far superior of the much darker organisation section 31.

• Commander Raauhl, XO

Sometimes, and only sometimes, Casela liked being Betazoid. ANYTHING was more superior to section 31. The humor she found in Ryder’s thought made her smile slightly to herself as she looked at the view screen and the Einstein. What kind of ship was that? She shook her head, she’d find out soon enough. She turned back to the console on her chair and began establishing a link to the Einstein’s computer system, once (and if) the link was established she accessed the medical records first and routed them to Lt. Kastil’s desk. =^=Lt. Synthi-er to Lt.. Kastil, stand by to receive the medical records fro Einstein. I’ll send them as soon as the link has been established.=^= Next she went after the psych records, duty logs, and personnel records. She’d need those to determine what mentally was going on with the crew. And then there were the command files. She could but she wouldn’t. She set the computer to send those directly to Zachariah and Ryder. She then sent the access code request link to Ryder. It would pop up on his console a few seconds later. He could put that in himself and then the files would end up on his and the captain’s consoles.
Lt. Synthi-er, CNS

Moments later her console chirped notifying the counselor that the transfer had been complete, surprisingly easy considering that someone should at least on the Weinstein have checked her access code but it came back without being authorized. None the less she had the information she needed, however, the duty logs were encrypted beyond that of standard Starfleet policy and would require some extra leg work.

• LCARS

Casela watched the information suddenly start downloading. When no one verified her codes from the Einstien there should have been a few more hoops to jump through, and the code she used should not have accessed the command files. She had codes for that, well possibly had, but the one she used wouldn’t have done it. That was too easy, and when things were too easy, alarm bells when off in her head. Cobb wasn’t back yet, “Cmdr Raauhl, I need you to see this.” When he was able she turned the screen, “It’s all there, even the command files. I shouldn’t be able to get command files. The only way the computer wouldn’t require extra verification is if someone on Einstein approved the link, or someone disabled the security access before …whatever happened, happened.” She looked up at him, “An RTF ship should not be that easy to access.” She glanced back at the screen, “It’s all encrypted, and I’ll get started on that, but…’ she shrugged, “I’ve learned to trust my gut.”
Lt. Synthi-er, CNS

Ryder looked to Casela and then to the readouts, “The only time I know a system would do this if the ship has been abandoned or there are no life signs” He said quietly so that only she would hear, “When a ship comes into range with the same IFF as it, so for example, Starfleet. It will then freely allow the information to be passed but it will be encrypted so only the right people can use the information, a bit like what was once referred to as a black box. I fear we may be too late for the crew.” The thought that the whole crew would be dead was certainly not something the Trill XO wanted to think about.

• Commander Raauhl, XO

Casela nodded slightly her own voice still low, “I’m afraid you’re right, and now our crew is going over there.” She’d scan the personnel files and start making a list of casualties and next of kin. She glanced at the view screen, what if they had to destroy it and everyone on board to prevent what ever that thing was from doing more damage? She hoped she wouldn’t be making a similar list for the Leviathan.

Teller Bog has his eyes glued to the engineering station screens, he was scanning the feeds. If one was diligent and lucky one could learn a lot from them. Minute changes in the plasma flow, changes in the hull integrity fields, defensive and navigation shields, even the shear stresses on the hull could tell you a lot about what was going on outside. Not to mention what was going on inside the ship.

The Tellarite has studied the ships specks for a month now, but being at the engineering station during operations made him obsessively diligent. If he missed something lives could be lost, even the ship.

If that wasn’t enough, he was monitoring the scan feeds on approach to see if an engineer’s eye could pickup anything about the derelict. Once the command codes were sent, he accessed the Einstein’s engineering feeds.

What ever had happens over there he did not want happening here.

Bog

The engineering feeds were accessible but with the interference from the nebula and the ever daunting fact that nobody was alive on the ship, there was a lag between the audio and the voice neither of which were in sync, whenever anyone tried to access the Einstens systems it degraded that little bit more with the feeds being intermittent at best.

Casela looked at the encryption on the files. “I’ll get started on this. When I’m done do you want me to send the appropriate files to the different departments or would you like to review them first?” She’d only been tasked with medical and duty logs. But they had everything now. She reached down into the bag she’d stowed by her chair and pulled out what looked like a small palm-sized super thin PaDD. She spun the console back around and got to work in decrypting the files. She began by trying polyalphabetic substituion ciphers and then monoalphabetic substitution ciphers. She did’t expect those to unlock the files, it was too complicated, but it might unlock a small part of it. Then she tried transposition and mechanical ciphers and symbol substitution ciphers. As she worked through each one she input information into the small device in her hand. Once those were done she moved on to classic ciphers and polygraphic substittuion ciphers. And finally modern ciphers. She applied all non federation ciphers she knew of while slowing working through the levels of encryption on the files.

Lt. Synthi-er, CNS

From her efforts the counselor would partially unlock the files, she would be able to access the latest captains log in a readable format only as well as several mission reports detailing information about the Ferengi and the artifact but beyond that, despite the successful transfer, it seemed the file had degraded as a result of the nebula.

• LCARS

Casela shook her head, frustrated. She pulled up the logs she was able to retrieve…Ferengi? “R…Cmdr. Raauhl, The logs show they encountered the Ferengi or something to do with them. The files are too degraded to get much. There are some details in here about the artifact.” She sends the logs with the details to his console and then sends the one salvaged Captain’s log to Cobbs command console for when he returns. “The files are too degraded from the nebula. Maybe the away team would have ore luck with a direct download?” She began to read over the mission logs (OOC what do they say???)

Ryder nodded his attention back to the view screen and their slow approach to the ship, it wouldn’t be long until the would-be sending over their away team and he did wonder if what had happened to that crew would happen to them or even worst the whole crew of the leviathan. Not wishing to think of it anymore he drew his attention away from the viewscreen and began pacing.

• Commander Raauhl, XO

The fact that he was getting scrambled engineering voice logs instead of the live system telemetry gave Teller the chills. He would much rather see reactor outputs and such, eps, life support and structural integrity would tell him a lot about conditions over there.

“ It’s like some one is spoofing us!” Bog growled as he re tried the command sequence for the live telemetry. “If only I was closer” he mumbled thinking that if the ship was relatively intact he could dock a shuttle and remote pilot it out of the nebula were they could see what they were doing.

Bog the irritable

Casela took a survey of the crew in the CIC. Bog seemed frustrated. She knew the feeling. She got up and walked over to the engineering officer. She whispered conspiratorially, “You know when I’m frustrated I like to hit things. Maybe we should get the bulkheads up here reinforced so we don’t break anything too badly.”
OOC: She’s trying to make friends! LOL

Lt. Synthi-er, CNS

“There’s no need for any of that just yet, I’m sure they’ll be plenty of time for hitting things later” Calmly spoke the XO before also saying, “Tactical, are we picking up anything on sensors a cloaked ship or anything?” He looked now to Ensign Holt who was manning the Security console, “And you know what lets use this thing” He pressed the button on the holographic situation table and the lights in the room dimmed ever so slightly as the map populated local space clearly showing the Leviathan in all ehr glory, the Einstien and the nebula. It truly was a magnificent bit of technology and as Ryder poked the ship it zoomed in, seemingly it was interactive too.

• Commander Raauhl, XO

Casela shook her head to herself. Really the CIC was too glorious to damage, but if the comment relaxed the agitated ensign she’d make the joke. And then she bit back a smile. If the situation wasn’t so serious she’d say Ryder looked like a little boy with a new toy while he was playing with the situation table. But she couldn’t say much, she’d be playing with it too. It was an amazing piece of tactile equipment.

The security officer upon his scans wouldn’t pick up any cloaked ships though the interference that was causing issues with their remote access to the derelict ship would likely be causing the same issues to their scanners as well.

• LCARS

Bog looked up at the woman, “Tried that and all it got was me stuck on the bridge…” the Tellarite switches to a tight beam and remodulates the carrier to again try and get the live telemetry from engineering. “Some one doesn’t want me to see what’s going on on that ship real time” he growled, “Every Time I try to tap into the engineering telemetry the ship sends me caroled peaces of a log” stopping a moment Teller scans his own telemetry, don’t want something slipping buy him on their own ship.

Casela nods, “The nebula is interferring with all transmissions.” Which reminded her, “Cmdr. M Cpt Manhattan should know we are having trouble with communications between the ship. It might interfere with our ability to keep in contact.”

“What I would do to park a shuttle over there, so we can cut threw all this back skater!” It was obvious that setting the boards on the bridge was frustrating, but he didn’t show signs of the rage the Counselor had felt before. It was driven buy fear founded in compassion. His mind was a swirl as he jumped from point to point trying to tease out a coherent nearitive from the data streams in front of him, wile another part, no where here here the surface simply compared the data to its experience and accumulated knowledge, making contingency plans. It was this part of the Tellarites mind that had recognized the wrongness in William Hampton and had triggered the uncontrolled rage yesterday.

Bog the Engineer
“You’ll force to make sense, keep at it.” Casela would have made a more insult like comment to the En, knowing he’d appreciate it, but she figured the XO didn’t like her joke about damaging the CIC so she let it drop for the moment. She could see Bog’s frustration, but his concentration as well. She moved back towards her seat but stopped to look at the holographic display.
Lt. Synthi-er, CNS
OOC: Fixing a split

“Inform the Captain of the difficult, but I am sure he’ll already know. Let’s keep an active scanner and not lose our heads, the last thing we need is someone jumping out on us. “My concern is the Ferengi, if the Einstein bargained for it, well let’s be honest stole the artifact we could very well find ourselves on the receiving end of some Fenregi or worse mercenaries, rule of acquisition 88, It ain’t over ‘til its over and When the shooting starts, let the mercenaries handle it number 431.”

• Commander Raauhl, XO

IC: =^= Lt. Synthi-er to M Cpt. Manhattan. We are experiencing some interference with communications and link up with the Einstien. It’s likely to interfere with our comms from ship to away team as well.=^=

Casela would see that the Einstein did, in fact, cheat the Ferengi for the device and had reported of Ferengi ships trying to stop them, which would explain why they were in the Nebula so close to the Neutral zone.

• LCARS

Casela passed the information to Ryder. She didn’t want to announce out loud to an already high stress room, that the Ferengi would be coming after them next for whatever it was they were retrieving. She’d had good dealings with them in the past, but if several ships had been sent out to retrieve the artifact, then it was doubtful it would be a pleasent encounter. And speaking of which where was Cobb? He should have returned by now. And Fenrir hadn’t reported finding Gen yet either. She moved back to her chair and glanced at the left hand screen to see what Fenrir was up to.

Lt. Synthi-er, CNS

Bog’s eyes narrowed as a plan began to develop, checking the scanners to insure that the nebula didn’t contain anything that might react negatively to his plan. “I think I can clear up some of the interference, but it will require an active anti graviton stream from the tractor array.” If he could clear a narrow corridor of ionized gas and debris he would be able to establish a secure tight beam connection. It wouldn’t have a an unlimited band width but if the ship’s internal come were active he could insure communications with the away team and limited telemetry from her internal sensors.

Tellek

OOC: Holding for the away team to beam across.

• Jakeus Maximus

If he was keeping his Tellar eyes on his computer screen he would see a message from the Transporter room inform him that the transport of the away team was a success.

• LCARS

“Away team away” barked Bog, but he was much more interested in the telemetry from the transport it’s self. Perhaps he could learn more about the sub space interference effecting communications that way.

Good little piggy