We've Got Company!

Posted on Fri May 18th, 2018 @ 11:28pm by Captain Michelle Bartlett & Major Hailey Weston & Lieutenant Commander Shaille Levine & Lieutenant Valeria Mordin & Lieutenant JG Sandra Garcia

Mission: https://wellington.pegasusfleet.site/index.php/sim/missions/id/4
Location: Bridge
Timeline: July 8, 2399

Captain's Log, Supplemental: The away team sent down to the planet has failed to contact us. I can only assume that they have either been captured or that investigating is still going on. Hopefully the latter. The two vessels that appeared do not appear to have detected us or even acknowledged our existence yet, though I've been informed that due to the age of the vessel, they may be transmitting via a method we are unfamiliar with.

=/\= BEGIN=/\=

Michelle walked onto the bridge, assuming her chair from Lieutenant Mordin. "Has the away team reported in yet?" she asked, rather concerned. It was unlike Rostra to miss the hourly check-in.

Lieutenant Junior Grade Corinne Weissman looked across the bridge from the tactical console and shook her head quickly. "No Ma'am, there has been no contact from the away team as yet," she replied. "There have been no changes or updates at all."

"Quite unlike her to check in or give a report. Keep tabs on their life signs." she said to Ops.

"Aye, Captain." came the reply from the crewman at Ops. "At least they'll be the easy ones to spot."

Michelle chuckled a bit. "You might say that. Have we traced that signal they're aiming at our deflector dish?"

"Not yet, ma'am." Ops replied. "And even if we did, the universal translators wouldn't pick up the language."

"Take us to Yellow Alert, Ms. Weissman." Michelle replied.

"Aye Ma'am," With light fingers dancing across the console Corinne activated the yellow alert lighting across the ship. Even without the klaxons or the sense of foreboding that came with red alert, she could sense the feeling of tenseness across the bridge as the ship moved to yellow alert. "Captain, I would suggest try a low level scan of the alien vessels. There may be something that tells us how or even if they are trying to communicate," she said easily.

"Proceed." Michelle said. "As for the translator, we can worry about that later. If we know how they're communicating, we can try and relay a message back."

"It's too light and intermittent to be weapons fire." Valeria voiced her opinion from the science console. "I'll handle the scan." she offered helpfully as she began the sequence. setting the sensor array to the lowest possible setting, she began to get a read on the closest vessel.

"Continue scanning. It's either a message or they're trying to figure out who or what we are. How old would this thing be that it doesn't have proper comms?" she asked aloud, half-rhetorically, half-actually curious.

"That depends on your definition of Proper Comms." Valeria pointed out. "Subspace communication wasn't widely regarded as a thing for decades, and sometimes a species might not have the creativity or the resources to branch out. Subspace communication *or* warp field generation. Pulse phasors *or* phaser arrays. Sometimes, a species all on its own must make due." Valeria continued.

"Or maybe their research budget is spent lavishly by their leader on piles of soft pillows and desserts that soften upon command." at that, she giggled.

"Somehow, the last one wouldn't surprise me. I almost wonder if they've shifted into our time from another timeline." Michelle added. "At which point, we have to be extraordinarily cautious as to how we handle them."

Corinne paused momentarily. "Do we have any data from this region of space from any time in the last how ever many years?" she asked quietly. "I know our Federation records are not exactly current, but what about records from some of our Delta Quadrant friends?" she finished, looking pointedly at Valeria.

Direct and blunt. One day, they'd learn tact. Valeria gave a ghost of a smile at the suggestion, "With the Captain's permission?"

"Go ahead." Michelle asked.

"Lieutenant, would you kindly realign the subspace communication array to coincide with the Ts'usugi Buoy Network." Valeria requested.

She looked at the Captain before proceeding. Seeing Michelle's nod to go ahead, she acknowledged. 'Aye, ma'am. Frequency open."

The alignment complete, Valeria sent out a request carrier signal across the gulf of space. Within a minute or so's time there was a reply. The incoming comm showed the interior of some otherworldly craft. On the other side of the screen was a Ts'usugi male, dressed in a dark purple uniform. A soft violet illuminated the area around him, a simple reminder that not all species enjoyed the comforts of bright white light. "Connection stabilized. Who access the Network?" and Valeria stood just a little straighter as the question came up. "I do."

"Citizen Valeera, the Network awaits your request."

Valeria gave a nod towards the screen, "Records from the local region, relative to Wellington." and the figure in the screen gave a glance down at his screen. "System, retrieve cube fifteen, rack seven. Records eighty six to one four two. Process." and then he looked up from his screen, "The data is extensive, but recent history is empty. The system ceased being of interest roughly five hundred years ago, relative Federation measure. Data processed for transmission. Sending."

"Can the Network assist you further, citizen?"

Valeria gave a quick look around the bridge.

Corinne shook her head quickly, feeling somewhat awkard that her suggestion had both been taken seriously and actually met with an informative response.

Michelle pondered a moment. "500 years ago... I wonder why?" she asked. "Did it show anything in our area?"

"I'll need to take the time to go over the records, possibly enlist some interdepartment assistance." Valeria commented before turning back to the figure in purple light on the screen. "Thank you for your time, operator. This concludes the inquiry." a pause, "Please assess this inquiry to my tally, rather then that of the Wellington."

The operator on the screen gave a nod, "Understood citizen. Wellington will not be marked with this inquiry. Network disconnecting." and the screen returned to the view of the planet that Wellington was in orbit over. Valeria turned towards Corinne with a ghost of a smile, "The Buoy Network is our centralized information sharing platform. We restrict its use, but the situation seemed sufficient to request. There was no way you would have known about it, and I will trust the weight of its value isn't shared." she paused, then turned to Michelle, "As you heard, I requested that this inquiry count against my access, rather than Wellington's. As a citizen, I have slightly less restrictions on accessing the network than you would, though as you can understand, less restrictions is not limitless access. I just didn't want to impose on your limits."

She smirked, "Besides, what I access the Network for doesn't need that much access."

Michelle laughed. "Just a simple farmer's daughter. Hard to imagine you'd have complex need of it." she added. "What's the status of those scans? Have we determined what they're trying to do to us?"

Corinne stared intently at the console in front of her. "It looks like it's some kind of repetitive code. The amplitude of the signal is not very strong at all. It seems to be modulating in a coherent way, so I wouldn't think it to be artificial and the signal is not in subspace bands which would be keeping with the possibility that they have shifted from another timeline, significantly behind our own." She paused for a moment and grinned. "I don't suppose anyone has a spare AM radio sitting around do they?"

After a moment, Corinne looked across the bridge, a look of surprise crossing her face. "Captain, if we scan them to find out the precise amplitude and carrier wave that they are using, there might be a way we can modify ours to match. The scan won't be quite so passive as it is a little more targetted and specific than what we have used, but if we can match it we might be able to actually open a dialogue with them."

Michelle thought on it for a moment before nodding. "Try it and see. While we're waiting, open a channel and see if we can contact the away team."

"Aye Captain, "I'm scanning the signal that we are getting from the alien ship and modulating our own communications to match the signal, and you can contact the away team at will." Corrine replied.

=/\=

"Wellington to Away team. Status report when you're able, please." Michelle spoke.

"This is Rostra. We've established peaceful contact with the locals. We met with the advisory to the..."

"... governing reagent but have not yet met with them directly. Currently we're in the hospitality of their leading scientific authority, and we're trying to see if anything..."

"... planetside can shed some light on what happened. They mentioned they were in a conflict with the Koldarens, and that a fleet of their ships were enroute to ..."

"... deal a final assault to their homeworld, and then the next thing they knew the fleet was gone and it was just us. I think they suspect we saved them." Rostra surmised.

"Also, managed to find the name of the planet for the records. They call this world Ren'nahr."

=/\=

The communication ended abruptly and for a brief second the bridge lapsed into silence. "If we can talk to them, we need to do it now, and for God's sakes, keep a transporter lock on the away team. I don't know what's going on, but I don't like it." Michelle stated.

Corinne's fingers moved easily across the console in front of her as she worked. She bit down on her bottom lip, and cast a quick glance at the Captain. "Okay, I think I have the correct frequency, I'm trying an open hail now..."

After a moment Corinne shook her head. "It's like the signal is being blocked automatically, it's like..." she paused for a moment. "Hang on.. I wonder.. maybe..." her words were trailing off as she was clearly having a conversation with herself, her fingers flying across the console in front of her. "I'm recording the signal we're getting from the ship and I'm going to transmit it back to them. It's a long shot, but just maybe it will work..."

A very long minute later one rather confused and angry looking Ren'nahr military official appeared on their view screen, in a flurry of language and gestures as the univeral translators on the ship struggled to catch up. The final phrase though made the situation quite clear.

"Who the hell are you and how did you access our secure military communications channel?"

Almost immediately the lighting on the ship flickered as the ship lurched violently.

"Shields up, red alert!" Michelle demanded across the bridge. "What the hell just happened?"

"Single highly focused laser directed at shuttle bay two. Ruptured plasma conduit. The Marine away team is safe, no casualties and damage control is in place." Corinne replied quickly with a shake of her head.

"Get that communications channel open again," Michelle demanded, clearly unimpressed.

"Channel is still open Captain," Corinne said quietly. "On screen now."

"Reh'nari vessel, this is Captain Michelle Bartlett of the Federation Starship Wellington." she added very slowly and deliberately to allow any translators they had to catch up. "Had you simply not shot first, I'd have been happy to tell you that." she replied, still a bit miffed. "Stand down your weapons. We mean you no harm. We were here on a mission of exploration when you all quite literally just appeared out of nowhere."

"Negative Federation Starship Wellington," the Reh'nari vessel replied. "We have reports of your troops infiltrating our governmental infrastructure. Your attack on our flag ship and your consequent intrusion on our secure military communications channel provide more than enough evidence to prove your guilt. You will now stand down and prepare to be boarded."

Corinne double checked the calculations on her console before glancing up at the view screen. "Captain, one very sharp shot across their port bow should show them we aren't playing games," she said quietly.

"Prepare to arm main phaserbanks." she added. "Bridge to Fighter team. Stand by for deployment." she added.

=/\= "Scrambling for sortie! What are we looking at?" =/\= Carver asked, based on the response he'd know what modules to fit, or to go out bare.

"Two older vessels and potential fighters coming for the ship attempting to board us." she added. "I'm going to try and talk them down but that may fail."

=/\= "Understood. Launching in 5 minutes." =/\= It would take that long to get all the crews assembled and the pre-flight checks done.

"Captain" Michelle replied "Nobody is surrendering and you're getting nowhere near close to boarding. I would like some more time and an explanation as to these allegations of espionage before we risk an incident." she said firmly. "If you would like to meet--"

She was interrupted with further fire from the lasers and the transmission ended. "All right. I'm done being nice." she added. "Fire. Target weapons systems and propulsion."

"Bridge to sick bay. Prepare for incoming casualties." Michelle replied, before turning back to their interrupted conversation with Rostra. "Lieutenant, access your sources to determine if there's any reference to a species known as the Reh'Nari in this area or any surrounding ones." she said to Valeria. She also sent a message to Jack and Roger from her console so as not to tip anyone off. "Infiltration required. Reh'Nari. Access Koldaran Central Archives for references."

“Targeting weapons systems,” Corinne stated calmly, entering her access code and firing on the alien ship. “Direct hit Captain, if they have any form of shields they must have been minimal at best. Their weapons appear to have been disabled, one or two more direct hits and the ship is likely to be destroyed,” she finished, opting to hold fire. “I think the point has been made.”

"Agreed." Michelle said. There would be no honour in destroying such an ancient and relatively helpless vessel. "Attempt to open a channel again."

Taking the same pre-recorded signal she had used earlier, Corinne sent the signal back to the alien vessel. Almost immediately the same Reh’nari military officer appeared on the screen, only this time rather than anger, his expression was more ashen.

“Federation Starship Wellington, you have declared war on the Reh’nari.”

"With all due respect, I believe you fired the first shot." Michelle replied. "We do not mean you any harm. I will power down my weapons, Reh'nari ship... I would strongly urge you to do the same." she stated firmly as she looked over to Corinne to cut weapons. "There is a reasonable explanation for what's taking place here, I just need you to hear it." she added. "I'm sure you've noticed by now that you're the only two vessels in your entire fleet."

The turbolift door slid open and Hailey strode onto the bridge by herself, having given Commander Bowman off to an Ensign as soon as the red alert had hit. She noted the conversation going on the screen and slid over to the tactical station, motioning the officer there to remain, but wanting to get a clear picture of what was going on. There would be time to make her presence known to the Captain when she was done.

“Aye Captain,” Corinne replied as she disarmed the weapons, stepping aside slightly to give the marine co better access to the tactical console.

The Ren’hari military officer glanced at someone speaking in hushed tones out of range of the view screen before looking back to Michelle again. “I am under instructions from his imperiousness. You are hereby granted five minutes to explain why you have attacked our vessel. The execution of your people has been stayed by five minutes while you explain.”

"A relief." Michelle said, hoping to hell Rostra and the others could get back to the ship. "I'm unaware of your rank, but it is tradition where I am from that the commander of the vessel is referred to as Captain. So, Captain... Allow me to explain what is going on here. We are here on a mission of exploration and were sent here for scientific research. I know this must seem quite odd to you, but... You intended to be fighting Koldarans, were you not?"

"You will address me as Commander Gulnaz." He glanced off screen again, nodding slightly before turning back to the screen again. "Our intelligence indicated there was a fleet of Koldaran war ships in orbit of our planet."

Michelle pondered a moment, hoping she could get everyone to keep their heads.. Literally.. "Commander Gulnaz, without giving too much away I can assure you that there are no Koldaran warships within millions of kilometres from here." she paused and then she just came out with it. "We have reason to suspect that there is somehow a temporal lapse. What on earth would the Koldarans have wanted with one cluster of the galaxy, anyway?"

"It is not my place to question their motives, I follow the orders handed down from His Imperiousness." Gulnaz replied calmly. "We were ordered to defend Ren'hari from the invading Koldaran fleet by any and all means necessary."

"I can assure you, Commander. There is no Koldaran fleet in the area. The Koldaran Empire abandoned their domination of this area years ago. There are many free worlds that had once been under their occupation." Michelle replied. "The area of space we are currently in is a neutral territory patrolled by..." she paused so as not to give too much away "Ourselves and other powers. I follow a strict chain of command myself. Would you perhaps be able to beg His Imperiousness to allow us to continue our investigation and make our point?"

Gulnaz looked off screen again, a fleeting look of doubt crossing his face before instantly being replaced by his previous stoic demeanour. The sound of hushed arguing could be heard as Gulnaz shook his head again before turning back to face the view screen. "You expect us to believe that after almost two decades of warfare the Koldaran Empire has vanished in a matter of hours? Captain, I'm sure even you can understand how ludicrous that sounds? Against my recommendation my second has forwarded your request to the Grand Vizier. If he deems it worthy he will allow you to complete your investigation but I cannot do any more than that. We too have a strict chain of command to follow."

"Thank you, Commander. Might I expect your vessel to stand down if we do as well?" she asked, unaware of what was taking place outside just as of yet."

With a nod off screen, the Ren'hari military officer signalled their intended compliance. "I give you my word Captain, you will be under no further threat from our vessels. I wish you well Captain."

"Recall the fighters and order them to stand down, Lieutenant." she called to tactical. "Major... if you'll join me in the ready room?" she asked before tapping her commbadge. "Bartlett to Commander Honn and Commodore Myers. Report to the ready room immediately. Ms. Mordin, the bridge is yours. Twice in one day... You might not want to leave..." she added with a smirk.

=========END=======

Captain Michelle Bartlett
Commanding Officer
USS Wellington

Major Hailey Weston
Marine Commanding Officer/Second Officer
USS Wellington

Lieutenant Commander Jack Carver
Commander, Aerospace Group
USS Wellington

Lieutenant Valeria Mordin
Chief Science Officer
USS Wellington

Unknown Operations Officer
USS Wellington

Lieutenant JG Corinne Weismann
Security Officer (NPC by Shaille Levine)
USS Wellington

Commander Gulnaz
Commanding Officer
Reh'nari Museum Piece... Ermmm... Vessel (NPC by Shaille Levine)
USS Wellington