Author Topic: Episode 1.3: The Well of Dreams (Read 11134 times)

Dafydd Jones · « **on:** February 22, 2010, 09:59:53 PM »

Captain's Log: Stardate 8392.6

After three weeks of restful R&R that included my annual week of sleep, the ship and crew are in the middle of a three month patrol of the Klingon Neutral Zone. All seems quiet, and I'm personally thankful I don't need to test my pitifully lacking tactical skills against our long-time enemies.

"Captain, I have an incoming transmission from Starbase 11," the communications officer reports.

Treyva nodded. "On screen, Miguel."

The image of Commodore Krane, commander of Starbase 11, appears on the viewer. The first words out of his mouth are, "Commander Treyva, you, sir, are out of uniform."

Even those officers on the bridge who were only paying cursory attention to the transmission stop in mid-work and turn toward the viewscreen, some glancing with interest and/or concern toward their acting-commanding officer.

"I beg your pardon, sir?" the captain asks.

"By order of Admiral Cartwright, Commander, Starfleet Command, you are hereby promoted to the rank of commander, with all rights, privileges and responsibilities thereunto pertaining," Krane says, a broad smile on his face. "You are also assigned as the commanding officer of USS Drake, both effective immediately. Congratulations, Commander."

Treyva was stunned beyond words. "I...thank you, Commodore."

Krane nods and continues, "Lt. Garav Idrani is assigned to the position of first officer, in addition to his duties as chief security and weapons officer. Congratulations, Lieutenant."

From his position at the weapons console, Garav nods, a slight satisfied smile forming along the corners of his mouth.

"Now, I'm authorized to suspend your patrol of the Klingon Neutral Zone for one full starday. You will resume monitoring Klingon activity in your sector on Stardate 8393.6," the commodore adds, causing heads to turn toward each other with curiosity. "In the meantime, I understand there will be a couple celebrations for you to attend below decks.

"Again, congratulations, Commander, Lieutenant. Starbase 11 out."

As the newly-minted commander leans back in his chair to take in the news, the intercom beeps. "Gordon to Treyva."

"Treyva here."

"Sir, your and Lieutenant Garav's presence are requested in Rec Room 3. Doctor's orders...Commander," she announced. The Denobulan can easily hear the mirth in Katrina's voice. "That is, unless you have patrol duties to attend to."

Renny · « **Reply #1 on:** February 22, 2010, 10:43:25 PM »

Harry turned his chair to face his, now -official, commanding officer.

He tried but failed to keep a smile from his face. It wasn't quite Denobulan in it's width but it was close.

"May I offer my congratulations, sir?" Harry said. "Richly deserved, if i may be so bold."

He turned to face Garav and added.

"And you too, Lt Idrani."

PGoodman13 · « **Reply #2 on:** February 23, 2010, 03:41:41 AM »

Quote from: Dafydd Jones on February 22, 2010, 09:59:53 PM

"Sir, your and Lieutenant Garav's presence are requested in Rec Room 3. Doctor's orders...Commander," she announced. The Denobulan can easily hear the mirth in Katrina's voice. "That is, unless you have patrol duties to attend to."

Treyva chuckled, still somewhat surprised at the turn of events. He had no idea that Admiral Cartwright even knew who he was, let alone would cut the orders for the Denobulan's promotion and first command.

His first command...yes, he had to talk to Dr. Gordon at the party. For the moment, however.... "No, Doctor, I find myself free as a bird for the time being. Garav and I will be down directly, though I suppose you knew that already." He was also going to have to ask her how she knew all of this was going to happen before anybody else.

Quote from: Renny on February 22, 2010, 10:43:25 PM

"May I offer my congratulations, sir?" Harry said. "Richly deserved, if i may be so bold."

"Thank you, Harry. Most kind of you to say so." Rising from his chair, he approached Miguel. "Young man, somewhere along the line here, I feel you've got a great deal to answer for," he said, smiling. "I need someone to watch things on this bridge, but in the meantime, I suppose there's a party I need to go to. I suppose the good doctor has invited the lot of you?"

Dafydd Jones · « **Reply #3 on:** February 24, 2010, 05:49:10 AM »

Groan

Whatever it was that Natei was mixing, it snuck past his normally resolute Denobulan constitution and made his head swim. The swimming turned into pounding at some point the next day and forced the captain to sickbay for some analgesics.

There, he talked with Katrina at length about Captain Bong's condition. It was heartwarming to hear that his former commander would make a full recovery, even though his recently-resurrected career was over; his cardio-vascular system was just too fragile. The doctor mentioned the Federation Merchant Marine offering to transfer his commission to the fleet logistics division headquarters, and that Bong was likely to accept it.

It turned out that Katrina knew about the promotion early because she had been keeping tabs on Captain Bong's condition through his attending physician -- an Academy classmate, apparently -- she then used a few other medical contacts to get the party organized and "approved" by Commodore Krane.

Now, at 8393.6, Commander Treyva strode onto the bridge, the hangover relegated to the background for now. He found his way to the center seat and leaned back, and began calling for situation reports from the various watchstations.

As the engineering bridge officer made her report, Miguel broke in, "Captain, I'm receiving a Priority One planetary distress call from Starfleet Command on the emergency channel. It's pretty weak."

All activity on the bridge stopped, every face turned toward the Denobulan, who answered, "By all means, Miguel. On screen."

The image of Federation President Alistair Fergus appeared on the viewer.

"This is the President of the United Federation of Planets. Do not approach Earth. The transmissions of an orbiting probe are causing critical damage to this planet. It has almost totally ionized our atmosphere. All power sources have failed. All Earth-orbiting starships are powerless. The probe is vaporizing our oceans. We cannot survive unless a way can be found to respond to the probe. Further communications may not be possible. Save your energy. Save yourselves. Avoid the planet Earth at all costs. Farewell..."

The image froze and was overtaken by interference before disappearing all together.

OOC: Garav, Harry, Kathy and Paula are on the bridge right now.

PGoodman13 · « **Reply #4 on:** February 24, 2010, 04:20:17 PM »

Treyva sat up in his chair. "Harry, all stop. Miguel, keep that channel open in case they're able to transmit anything else. Paula, see if there's any sensor data they were able to transmit with the distress call. Perhaps there's some way we can help without having to approach the system."

OOC: God, I hate not knowing what to do....

Dafydd Jones · « **Reply #5 on:** February 24, 2010, 07:51:08 PM »

It takes the young science officer a moment to gather her bearings and respond with any coherence. "I'm getting heavy ionization on the signal, which makes sense, given the president's message," she notes. "They sent data showing the...whatever it is the probe is emitting."

Paula pauses for a moment as she reads the incoming data. "Oh, gods, this is powerful. Captain, you have to look at this; I've never seen anything like it!"

PGoodman13 · « **Reply #6 on:** February 24, 2010, 08:50:54 PM »

"Captain," Treyva muttered as he rose and walked to the science console. "It's going to take a while to get used to that..."

Perring into the sensor hood, he took a moment to look over the data. "Neither have I," he said without looking up.

OOC: Sys Ops (Sensors) - 7 skill, +2 for specialty, +2 for Int = +11

Rolling 2d6+11:

(4+2)+11: Total = 17

Renny · « **Reply #7 on:** February 24, 2010, 10:35:54 PM »

Harry brought the Drake to a stop, trying to process what he had just heard. His thoughts raced as he considered his friends and family. Earth had always seemed...unassailable. He focussed on the helm, realising the best he could do was concentrate on the job at hand.

Dafydd Jones · « **Reply #8 on:** February 24, 2010, 11:33:23 PM »

OOC: It would be a Physical Sciences test to analyze the data, rather than a sensors test, making the result 14.

Treyva determines (TN12) that the energy signature seems to be a combination of a modulating audio frequencies and powerful ionizing pulse. The former may be a byproduct of the latter (like the whine of a phaser), or they may be unrelated (or related in some other way).

PGoodman13 · « **Reply #9 on:** February 25, 2010, 01:16:17 AM »

He stood from the sensor hood and looked at Paula. He quickly explained what he'd seen in the sensor data, then said, "I don't understand the audio frequencies. Phasers and disruptor weapons make a whining noise when fired in an atmosphere, but that's a by-product of the beam interacting with the atmosphere, not a component of the beam itself. They don't emit audio frequencies when fired in space." He bent over the hood again and re-examined the data. "This, though...this seems to be a component of the beam. It doesn't make any sense."

Standing, he turned to communications. "Miguel, see if you can separate the audio components from the ionizing energy."

OOC: I'm glad the dicebot liked me as much as it did. And, from a player's POV anyway, when all else fails, do what Admiral Kirk did, though approached from a different direction.

Dafydd Jones · « **Reply #10 on:** February 25, 2010, 05:41:10 AM »

"Aye, sir," the communications officer replies as he sets to work.

OOC: Miguel System Operation (Communication) +9 vs. TN15

Rolling 2d6+9:

(1+4)+9: Total = 14

Dafydd Jones · « **Reply #11 on:** February 25, 2010, 05:53:56 AM »

OOC: Miguel spends a Courage point to improve the result to 17.

"I got it, sir," Miguel announces. He pauses as the sounds pulse through the bridge. "If I didn't know any better, it sounds like a form of communication. Could it be their form of 'Morse Code?'"

OOC: The PCs on the bridge hear the same sounds heard in the movie.

PGoodman13 · « **Reply #12 on:** February 25, 2010, 06:02:31 PM »

Treyva leaned against the guardrail and crossed his arms over his chest, listening to the strangely beautiful, haunting tones. After a few moments he nodded. "You could be on to something, Miguel. It would explain the audio frequencies as a component of the beam; they could be using the ionizing radiation as a carrier wave of some sort."

He thought for a moment, playing back the President's distress call in his mind. "He said the oceans were being ionized. What would this sound like underwater, Miguel?"

Dafydd Jones · « **Reply #13 on:** February 25, 2010, 06:28:37 PM »

Miguel furrows his brow. "Umm, yes, sir, let me see if I can remember my computer modeling course," he says, turning toward his station.

Miguel Computer Use +5 vs. TN15

Rolling 2d6+5:

(2+2)+5: Total = 9

Dafydd Jones · « **Reply #14 on:** February 25, 2010, 06:39:31 PM »

"Captain, I'm sorry, I'm a cryptographer and linguist, not a modeler," Miguel admits.

Paula immediately turns in her chair and taps a few controls. "Should I kick this down to the computer lab, sir?" she asks.

PGoodman13 · « **Reply #15 on:** February 25, 2010, 06:46:17 PM »

Treyva nodded. "By all means." Turning back to Miguel, he said, "All right, then, let's play to your strengths. Run this through the UT, see if you can figure out what it's saying and not what it sounds like."

Turning to face the other officers on the bridge, Treyva said, "The floor's open, ladies and gentlemen. Suggestions and opinions are welcome."

Nolmir · « **Reply #16 on:** February 25, 2010, 07:17:59 PM »

As the transmission and then the frequencies were played on the bridge speakers, Garav listened intently, but, being a tactician and investigator and not a scientist, it made no sense to him. Nevertheless, the satisfaction of his permament assignment was totally gone in light of the sobering news.

"What do we know about the probe itself?" Garav asked. "Obviously, if it's able to ionize an entire planet's atmosphere and disable all the ships in Earth orbit, it's unusual."

Not waiting for a response, Garav began tapping controls at his station, looking to see if the computer held any records of similar vessels.

OOC: Computer Use (Retrieve) total bonus of +3

Rolling 2d6+3:

(4+5)+3: Total = 12

Dafydd Jones · « **Reply #17 on:** February 25, 2010, 08:30:22 PM »

The computer shows no records of anything like this vessel ever being encountered. (TN10)

Dafydd Jones · « **Reply #18 on:** February 25, 2010, 10:16:08 PM »

Nolmir, please give me another Computer Use (retrieve) check.

Renny, please chime in whenever.

Nolmir · « **Reply #19 on:** February 26, 2010, 05:10:41 PM »

OOC: Computer Use (Retrieve) total bonus=3

Rolling 2d6+3:

(1+5)+3: Total = 9

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Author Topic: Episode 1.3: The Well of Dreams (Read 11134 times)