SIM LOG NARRATIVE - SD 201906.07

Bridge

The Penumbra was in a low geosynchronous orbit over the vast ocean on the far side of the planet from where the Kyrathians had invaded and from where the Aslans were engaged with the Kyrathians in orbit. The Captain had decided it was time to approach the beetle-people of the islands as represented by the individual known as Krigeth.

On the Bridge were Capt. Zak Taylor, standing in the center of the Bridge, preparing to call his team for the Diplomatic Contact mission; Lt. Col. Travis Patterson, sitting in the Executive Officer's seat just forward and to the right of the Captain's Command Chair, reviewing reports of the ground operations; Lt. Cmdr. Relok, at the Primary Science Station, monitoring various sensor feeds; Counselor Charis Ariti, sitting quietly in the Counselor's seat just forward-left of the Command Chair; Lt. Jason Carter, manning the Helm and running a cool-down diagnostic on the ship's engines; Ens. T'Lin, at the Secondary Science Station, doing a quick run-down of some notes she had taken from the initial meeting with Krigeth's beetle-people in anticipation of the Captain's actions; and Ens. Tabeshk Tibris, at his Operations Console, ensuring all the various ship's systems were running smoothly.

Tabeshk reported, "Captain, if I may, I have a full report on Flyswatter, now Bug Zapper. Let me explain, this is gonna be a really fun idea! Me, Carter, and Bevin did some reworking on Flyswatter. Well, we've finished that and now we can launch it and well . it can zap them now."

The Captain nodded, briefing patting Tabeshk's shoulder, then turned and addressed Patterson. "Colonel, I'll be taking Ariti, a Marine security escort - maybe that Khalgon fellow - Shadow, and ... how about T'Lin, she's met Krigeth before."

Patterson nodded. "Khalgon is currently coordinating with Hines in Cargo Bay 1. I think they're doing inventory assessment to find out what assets we can spare for the FOB."

Relok interrupted to report, "We should monitor weather systems over the vast ocean, there is a tropical cyclone occuring, but far from where we will be."

A call came over the comm system from Dr. Shadow K'Trevala, "Captain, I've released Spearhorse from Sickbay to light duty, as long as he keeps up with his treatments."

The Captain tapped his commbadge and answered, "Thanks, Doctor. I'll see that he sticks to your regimen."

Shadow responded, "Thanks. Sometimes I think he's too stubborn for his own good."

Zak smiled silently, then turned to his Chief Science Officer, "A tropical cyclone you say, how far away?"

Relok answered, "Oh, it's hundreds of miles from Krigeth's island and thousands of miles from the Safe Zone, but ... these things sometimes drive other weather systems."

Patterson stood and walked to the Master System Display on the rear wall of the Bridge. "Show me what you've got, Relok."

The Vulcan stood and joined Patterson at the rear wall, bringing up a view of the planet below.

Meanwhile, Carter rubbed his chin and muttered, "Still can't figure out why the warp drive wouldn't fire when we needed it." He stood from the Helm and stepped over to the Operations Console. "Tab, can you pull up the system diagnostic report on Nacelle 3?"

Tabeshk looked up at Carter and answered, "Hmm? Oh, sure, here." He accessed the report and pulled it up on his screen, and they both studied it for a few minutes.

At the MSD, Relok pointed to a swirling clump of clouds, "There's the cyclone, and here," he pointed at a tiny dot on the other side of the sea, "is Krigeth's island." Then he added, "The Safe Zone is in the opposite hemisphere."

Patterson drummed his fingers on the nearby railing. "Geothermal overlay. What's the atmospheric draft look like?"

Relok did as ordered and overlaid a geothermal image onto the aerial view. "The storm may be moving towards Krigeth's island, but we should have several days of reasonably fair weather." He paused, then added, "Colonel, being an island culture, Krigeth's people surely have experienced cyclones in their history. We shouldn't need to worry."

The Captain tapped his commbadge, "Shadow, if your patients can spare you, join me in the Transporter Room for an Away Mission."

Shadow's reply came a second or two later, "Very well, sir, I'll turn sickbay over to Dr. McKinzie since Dr. T is resting."

Zak nodded and turned to T'Lin, "You, too, T'Lin."

T'Lin said, "Understood, sir," and logged off her station, standing and heading for the Turbolift, checking her personal gear as she went. Ariti joined her at the lift and they headed to the Transporter Room.

The Captain continued, "Colonel, you have the ship. Try to keep it in one piece."

Patterson turned to the Captain, "Aye, sir."

About that time, Lt. Cmdr. Dean Spearhorse emerged from the turbolift, a new device draped around his neck, resembling the nebulizer used by Benzites. Zak smiled at him, "Care to accompany me on a diplomatic mission, Commander?"

Spearhorse answered, "Sure, sir."

Together, they turned and entered the Turbolift, headed for Transporter Room 1.

The Colonel then turned to the Helmsman, "Carter, pull up the flight schematics for the Ravens and read up. Shouldn't be too different from what you're used to. If the weather gets bad, I want a contingency plan to get the Captain and his team back aboard ... and you'll be flying it."

Carter looked up from where he and Tabeshk had been reviewing the nacelle report. "Yes, sir, I'll get to it." He returned to the Helm station and pulled up the schematics.

Tabeshk, his work done for the moment, propped his feet up on the edge of his console, mumbling, "Welp, I've done my job, and so far so good, time to relax." He continued muttering to himself, "I'm glad to be sitting here than being down there."

Patterson turned back to Relok. "Relok, we designed those biosuits to be produced en-masse for our crew. How difficult would it be to set something up similar in design for vehicles?"

Relok contemplated a moment, then answered, "Hmm. I think what you're looking for is resistance to the Plant Spores, correct? I think the key element in the biosuits was the electrostatic field that repelled the spores. It should be possible. Then again, sir, our vehicles are mostly metallic and impervious, it's the seals that are plastic and vulnerable."

Patterson nodded, "Anti-microbial plating, energy-displacement ... whatever we can come up with. How much energy would it take to sustain a bioelectric field around a light armored vehicle?" He stepped back up to the MSD and pulled up a schematic of the standard All-Terrain Infantry Combat Transport.

The deep, gravelly voice of Master Gunny Derek Hines came through the comm system, "Hines to Bridge. I've got Haymaker 3-3 and Haymaker 4 ready to deploy. Reinforcements to the ground, and heavy weapons and ordnance."

Patterson tapped his commbadge, "Acknowledged, Hines. Have 3-3 and 4 deploy, but detach Haymaker 3-3-A for diplomatic support, and beam them to the Captain's location. Patterson out." He tapped his badge again to change channels, "Bridge to Captain Taylor. I'm deploying Haymaker 3-3-A, under Cpl. Howard, to your position."

The Captain's voice came back, "Acknowledged, Colonel. We're waiting for our security escort and will be beaming down momentarily."

Patterson patted Relok's shoulder and said, "Get some ideas going on how to spore-proof those vehicles. I want the report on my chair when I get back."

The Vulcan flinched at the physical contact but said simply, "I will do that, Colonel." He returned to his station and pulled up some specifications.

Patterson turned and headed for the Turbolift, then paused and turned back around. "You have the Conn, Relok."

Meanwhile, Tabeshk rose from his station and approached a replicator and soon returned with a bowl of popcorn. He munched contentedly for a moment before he overheard Carter mumbling to himself, "Fascinating... these things have variable thrust vectoring?"

Tabeshk leaned over the console to look over Carter's shoulder, "Whatcha looking at Carter?"

But before the Lieutenant could get annoyed at the Ensign munching popcorn over his shoulder, the voice of Khalgon, the Klingon Pathfinder, came over the comms, "Alpha to Operations. Ready to Energize to Zone 1."

Tabeshk returned to his seat before calling back, "Okay, Alpha Team, everyone in place?"

It was the Captain's voice that responded, "Diplomatic Team in place, ready to energize."

Tabeshk gave them the countdown, "All right, energizing in 3 ... 2 ...1 . energizing." The Captain, his Diplomatic Team, and a couple of Marine escorts, along with Haymaker 3-3-A with Cpl. Howard at the wheel and a couple more Marines, were all beamed down to Krigeth's beach.

The Bridge had become quiet now, with only Tabeshk, Carter, and Relok remaining. The Vulcan Science Officer was deep in thought at the Primary Science Station and Tabeshk, bored, muttered, "Hmm, I wonder if the coffee is any good?" A moment later he leaned over to Carter at the Helm beside him, "So . Carter . do you think we're the only ones here?"

Carter smirked at him, then gestured with a soft whisper, "Except for the ever-aware Vulcan behind us. I'm sure it isn't easy to figure out a way to spore-proof one of those Marine Fighting Vehicles, Tabeshk." He returned to reading the specs of the RAVEN craft.

Tabeshk turned and said, "Hey, Mr. Pointy-Ears, what's with the muted state?" He stood and walked over and poked the Vulcan in the shoulder.

Relok glanced at Tabeshk. "Ensign. Vulcans in general dislike physical contact unless specifically invited. You should know that, you spent most of your life among Vulcans."

"Oh," Tabeshk answered, "I know, but ." he poked the Vulcan again, ". it's so hard to not touchy-touchy!"

Carter tried to step in, "Ensign, did you finish the diagnostics on Nacelle 3?" Grumbling, he slid over to the Ops station to pull up the report himself, muttering, "Nacelle 3, why did you fail?"

Tabeshk responded curtly, "Yes, I have, Carter. I was waiting on a response."

Relok flinched, resisting a display of annoyance. "You may return to your station, Ensign. I'm sure there is ... something else ... you could be doing."

Tabeshk groaned, "Oh, come on, Relok! I'm alone with literally one of the most antisocial, emotionless people! You gotta have something in you!"

Cargo Bay

The primary Cargo Bay of the Penumbra had been turned into a staging area for the Marines to use in preparing for the Forward Operating Base (FOB) they had planned for the Safe Zone, to be used in organizing the natives, the Janosians, into a Resistance Movement against the Kyrathian Swarm infestation.

Master Gunnery Sergeant Derek Hines, the senior non-commissioned officer over all of the Marines assigned to the Penumbra, was coordinating the activities, and was involved in inventorying the assets that they could deploy to the surface. He scrolled data on a PADD with his finger and spoke to a Klingon Marine of the Pathfinder Unit that stood next to him. "Khalgon, see if we can find any more hydrogel stimpaks, and get with Engineering to see if we can get some sort of deployable cover against the spores. The more we can fortify, the better, but we need to be able to move."

Khalgon grunted acknowledgement of the orders and moved on and Hines turned to another group of Marines, "Get those heavy weapons platforms rigged for area denial, and on the pad for delivery as soon as we can!" As these moved off to comply, Hines tapped his commbadge, "Hines to Bridge. I've got Haymaker 3-3 and Haymaker 4 ready to deploy. Reinforcements to the ground, and heavy weapons and ordnance."

Patterson's voice came in response, "Acknowledged, Hines. Have 3-3 and 4 deploy, but detach Haymaker 3-3-A for diplomatic support, and beam them to the Captain's location. Patterson out."

As Khalgon returned with a load of stimpaks, a call came on his comm. It was the Captain, "Pathfinder Khalgon, report to TR1 for Away Mission. Bring your batleth."

Hines overheard the order and gestured to a few other Marines, "Alpha Team, detach and fall in with Khalgon. Double-time it, lads."

A moment later, with all four of them in position, Khalgon tapped his comm and responded, "We're ready here, sir ... and I always have my Batleth. We're on Cargo Transporter 4." He waited a moment but received no immediate response, so he tapped his commbadge again and called, "Alpha Team to Operations. Ready to energize to Zone 1."

The voice of Ens. Tabeshk Tibris, the Operations Manager, replied, "Okay, Alpha Team, everyone in place?"

Over the open comm it was the Captain's voice that responded, "Diplomatic Team in place, ready to energize."

Tabeshk gave them the countdown, "All right, energizing in 3 ... 2 ...1 . energizing." The Captain, his Diplomatic Team, including Khalgon and the other Marine escorts, along with Haymaker 3-3-A with Cpl. Howard at the wheel and a couple more Marines, were all beamed down to Krigeth's beach.

Shortly after Alpha Team had departed, Patterson entered the Cargo Bay along with Lt. Cmdr. Dean Spearhorse. He stepped over to Hines and asked for his report.

Hines answered, "Haymaker 3-3, Bravo and Charlie Teams, and Haymaker 4. They've got heavy weaponry ready to deploy. What about vehicular support?"

Patterson shook his head, "I've got Relok tying knots in his brain to find out how we can render them immune. Until then, it's too much of a risk to deploy them."

Hines grunted then turned to a second group of Marines. "All right. Bravo, you guys will deploy with Spearhorse on Raven 1. Charlie, with the Colonel on Raven 2. Haymaker 4, you guys will deploy on Ravens 3 and 4. Once we get the Victors armored, we'll have the runabouts bring them down to you. Any questions?"

Patterson waited while Hines briefed the Marines under his command, then turned to Spearhorse and quietly asked, "You up for this, Dean?"

Dean had just been released from Sickbay on "light duty" assignment. He wore a breathing apparatus on his chest similar to the nebulizers used by Benzites. He nodded then said, "As I suggested to the Captain, if we agree to give the elder some tech, we should limit it to lasers, rather than phasers. They will need food and medical supplies as well."

Hines barked out, "Let's move out, Marines!" As they began to move, he placed a hand on Spearhorse's shoulder, "Glad you can join us, sir."

Spearhorse gave him a wan smile and said, "It is just good to be back on my feet." He turned back to Patterson, "I believe the laser defense could be complimented with old school radar so they can target the enemy craft coming in at long range. We will need a coded comm so they don't shoot friendlies down."

Sickbay

Lt. Cmdr. Dean Spearhorse was in Sickbay, fuming. He still could hardly breathe, but was anxious to get back to work.

Shadow gave Dean another check then declared, "Well, light duty, but I think you can get outta here for now, come back if anything seems off."

Dean answered, "You know I will, Doctor. I can't stand being cooped up in here. Thanks for getting me back on my feet, and thank the nurse for the modified nebulizer." He waved to O'Fin, the Benzite nurse that has suggested the device. "This should help the respiratory ailment - till we get done with treatments."

Shadow nodded and said, "Just get well, Dean, that's all I want." As Dean strapped on the device, he commented, "It's not as cumbersome as I thought it would be."

Shadow tapped his commbadge, "Captain, I've released Spearhorse from Sickbay to light duty, as long as he keeps up with his treatments."

The Captain tapped his commbadge and answered, "Thanks, Doctor. I'll see that he sticks to your regimen."

Shadow responded, "Thanks. Sometimes I think he's too stubborn for his own good."

Dean smiled at the Doctor as he exited Sickbay and walked down the corridor. A few passing crewmen gave him some odd looks as he passed but he ignored them, stepping into a Turbolift and calling out, "Bridge."

Just after Dean left, the Captain's voice came over Shadow's comm again, "Shadow, if your patients can spare you, join me in the Transporter Room for an Away Mission."

Shadow's reply came a second or two later, "Very well, sir, I'll turn sickbay over to Dr. McKinzie since Dr. T is resting." He gathered his equipment, including his special bag of non-traditional medicines, and one of the voder devices they'd replicated from the one Counselor Ariti brought from her time with Ambassador Android among the Aslans. Once properly equipped, he left Sickbay and headed towards Transporter Room One. As he did he tapped his commbadge once more, "Captain, for all in the Away Team, I think we need a secondary passive locator device for the transporter to locate a party member that loses his commbadge for some reason."

Transporter Room 1

Ens. T'Lin and Counselor Ariti were the first to arrive in Transporter Room One, but they were joined a few minutes later by Dr. Shadow K'Trevala. A moment or two later, the Captain arrived with Lt. Cmdr. Dean Spearhorse. The Captain smiled at T'Lin, "You're quick, Ensign." He was referring to how quickly she had left the Bridge after he'd told her she'd be on the Diplomatic Team, and how quickly she'd arrived in the Transporter Room.

She nodded at the Captain, "In my village, those that are slow will die before puberty begins."

Spearhorse continued a conversation he'd been having with the Captain in the Turbolift as they rode from the Bridge. He said, "I think I built up a rapport with the Janosian Elder."

The Captain glanced at his Chief of Security, "Good point, Dean, that's the other mission. You should go with Patterson then and help the Janosians with their Resistance Movement, not guard a diplomatic mission. We'll have the Pathfinder, Khalgon, who was with Ariti getting that pheromone sample. We'll be fine."

Shadow interrupted, "Captain, Dean's on LIGHT duty until he's recovered more .," he trailed off.

The Captain smiled at Shadow and then at Dean, "True, Dean, take it easy, but help Patterson interface with the natives. We'll catch up later. Back to the bridge, Commander."

Dean answered, "As you wish sir, but . what if they want to take me into custody again for not sharing tech? How far am I allowed to go?"

The Captain responded, "I hope that won't happen, but ... the Prime Directive is lifted for this planet. They are beyond those concerns at this point. We're going to help them any way we can, including advanced tech."

Dean raised an eyebrow, "Including phasers?"

But the Captain didn't respond since his commbadge chirped with a call from Patterson. "Bridge to Captain Taylor. I'm deploying Haymaker 3-3-A, under Cpl. Howard, to your position."

Zak tapped his commbadge, "Pathfinder Khalgon, report to TR1 for Away Mission. Bring your batleth." He grinned at the last phrase.

Khalgon's voice came back through the comm, "We're ready here, sir ... and I always have my Batleth. We're on Cargo Transporter 4."

The Captain tapped his badge again, "Acknowledged, Colonel. We're waiting for our security escort and will be beaming down momentarily."

Spearhorse picked up his line of thought, "I believe we could give them old style lasers ... but phasers may be a bit much for the tech status of the planet."

Shadow handed Spearhorse an extra supply of medication, along with a few Tri-Ox ampoules and a hypospray in case Dean needed them. As he did he said, "You could also give them roomsweepers ... see how the Kyrathians like acute lead poisoning!"

Without commenting on that idea, the Captain stepped onto the Transporter pad. He said, "Counselor, T'Lin, Shadow, let's go."

Dean tapped his commbadge, "Gunny Sergeant Carter and PFC Kyle, report to the Cargo Bay for Away Team Security Detail."

Once the others were on the Transporter pad, the Captain tapped his commbadge and called Tabeshk at Operations, "Diplomatic Team in place, ready to Energize."

Tabeshk gave them the countdown, "All right, energizing in 3 ... 2 ...1 . energizing." The Captain, his Diplomatic Team, and a couple of Marine escorts, along with Haymaker 3-3-A with Cpl. Howard at the wheel and a couple more Marines, were all beamed down to Krigeth's beach.

Away Team 1 (Krigeth's Beach)

The Diplomatic Team materialized on Krigeth's beach, where once the Penumbrians had had a Beach Party. The Captain looked around, then took a deep breath, "Man, smell that fresh air. Sea breezes baby!"

The Marines fanned out into a defensive posture. A moment later, Khalgon reported, "All clear! Weapons at ease, boys. Howard, you're with me and the Captain. The rest of you, standby in reserve."

The Captain asked, "Counselor, Shadow, T'Lin, how do we contact Krigeth to let him know we're here?" He was referring to the beetle-like creature they'd first met on this beach just a couple of weeks before.

Corporal Howard said, "I've got a flare I could launch."

T'Lin and Shadow began walking towards the treeline, where they'd first met Krigeth. Suddenly, Krigeth appeared at the treeline as if on cue, having stepped out of the mysterious "Nishara" his people could use for near instantaneous transport. He buzz-clicked in surprise and the Universal Translator in all their commbadges came back with the question, "Who's there?"

The Captain raised both hands in what he hoped was the universal sign of "I come in peace".

But it was T'Lin who first spoke, "Krigeth? It is just us."

Shadow used the voder device, his words being translated into the buzzes, clicks, and thunks used as language by the beetle-people, "Greetings, Krigeth, it's Shadow and some friends who need to talk to you about everything going on on this world."

Krigeth bobbed slightly, "That is the Strange One T'Lin. That is the Strange One Shadow. That is the Strange One Ariti. That is the Strange One Khalgon. And these others?"

T'Lin pointed at the Captain, "This is my Elder, Zak Taylor."

Zak raised an eyebrow as the young Ensign referred to him as "her Elder", but said nothing.

Shadow added, "Our chief."

Krigeth bobbed his whole body several times. "Elder Zak, I am honored to meet you."

Zak allowed Krigeth to do his thing without comment, then began. "Krigeth, I need to meet with your Elders. It's critical that we gain the help of your people against the Swarm."

T'Lin asked, "Do you suppose they are willing to meet with us?"

Krigeth's antennae waved. "I have spoken to some of them, informally. To be honest, sir, they have been expecting you."

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