SIM LOG NARRATIVE - SD 201906.28

Bridge:

The Penumbra remains at Red Alert even though we are far from any active hostilities on the far side of the planet Janidor from the Kyrathian infestation. All systems are at normal operating conditions.

The Captain's Diplomatic Team made contact with the eldest Elder of Krigeth's beetle people, Folsen, who claims to be an ally of the Penumbrians and the Janosian humanoids. He promises to bring their concerns to their Elder Council, but we will have to wait for their decision. ("Soft Skins" as they refer to humanoids are not allowed in their Council Chamber.) The Captain dismissed the rest of the team to return to the Penumbra while he beamed to the Forward Operations Base to consult with Lt. Cmdr. Spearhorse and Lt. Col. Patterson.

On the Bridge were Lt. Cmdr. Relok, sitting uncomfortably on the edge of the Command Chair; Lt. Cmdr. Jason Carter, doing a final diagnostic of the Warp Nacelles at the Master System Display on the aft wall of the Bridge; LtJG. Tabeshk Tibris at the Operations Console, pulling together a list of needed resources; LtJG. T'Lin at the Primary Science Station, double-checking the status of the tropical cyclone headed towards Krigeth's island and reviewing the geological scan of the interior mountainous region of the Safe Zone island; and Ens. Lea Kalawai'a at the Engineering Station, trying to keep herself busy now that the nacelle had been cleaned out.

Relok spoke to Tabeshk, "Ensign ... er, Lieutenant Tibris ... do you have a list of resources that you have prioritized?"

Tabeshk nodded, "Yes, we need metals and minerals for the armor of the vehicles. Tlin, I need you to go digging."

T'Lin looked up from her scans. "That is a very vague statement, but very well."

Tabeshk grinned at her, "Like I said, metals and minerals."

T'Lin remained non-plussed, "And it is like I said, very vague description. Let me see the list of resources required." She stood and walked over to Tabeshk, leaning over, and memorizing the list.

Lea asked, "Yes, but what kind of metals and minerals? Um, sir."

It was Carter who answered, "If there's any dilithium deposits nearby that we can access and mine, it wouldn't be a bad idea to do so ...," he trailed off.

Relok asked, "Lt. T'Lin, are you experienced in geological survey work? Our preliminary scans showed a promising mountain range, but we can't do much scanning on the far side of the planet ... we need 'boots on the ground' as it were."

T'Lin answered, "Yes, Relok. I am better than most of our crewmates, and I have an eidetic memory so I will not have to refer to the list."

Relok replied, "That is good, T'Lin. Since I have command of the ship, and we're in need of an exploratory Away Team, I think sending you with a few Security Officers would be prudent. You might even take Tabby with you to make sure he gets what he's looking for."

Tabeshk turned his chair so he could look at Relok, "Is that an order, Relok?" He stuck his tongue out at the Vulcan.

Lea cut in before Relok could answer, "Permission to join the away team, sir? I'm very familiar with this ship, so I might be able to help identify useful materials."

T'Lin glanced at Tabeshk then at Relok, "Are you certain sending him would be a good idea, Relok?"

Tabeshk bristled, "Like you, I'm a trained warrior, too!"

Carter huffed and muttered, "Yet you freak out at the sight of a beetle."

T'Lin said, "That is not what I meant."

Tabeshk grunted, "Then what?"

Relok interrupted before the two Lieutenants could argue further, "I think you two, with Ens. Kalawai'a, would make an excellent resource recovery team. Take a couple of Security Officers, since Patterson has most of the Marines on the planet already, and one of our Runabouts."

Tabeshk commented, "I'll grab my batleth then." He logged off his station and quickly tied his hair off in a top-knot as he rushed back to his quarters to retrieve the large Klingon blade weapon.

"Oh, yeah," Relok added, "they'd probably need a pilot, too, don't you think Commander Carter?"

Carter interjected, "Um, Commander Relok? Col. Patterson has all three of our runabouts deployed to the oceanic regions to do underwater sonar scans for Kyrathian activity... I've got every bird of ours deployed, except for one."

Relok blanched, "Not ... the Cerberus! Take a workerbee before you steal Patterson's baby!"

Lea asked, "Can't we just ... beam over there?"

Relok answered, "If we beamed you there, you'd be on foot in the wilderness with little support. Taking a shuttle ... or whatever," he glanced at Carter, "would be advisable."

T'Lin nodded quietly, "Who shall be tasked with asking the Marine?"

Lea quickly quipped, "Not it!"

Carter moved over to the now vacant Operations Console and called the Forward Operations Base. The voices of both Staff Sergeant Hawke of the Pathfinders and Lt. Col. Patterson came back with "Go ahead."

Carter said, "We're gonna need to recall one of those runabouts for geological surveys. We're running low on materials, and we've identified a few potential sites to mine mineral deposits and dilithium."

While waiting for Patterson's response, Lea addressed T'Lin, "Why is Tabeshk arming himself? We're just doing a geological search ...," she trailed off.

T'Lin answered, "It would be foolish to go onto a planet covered in Kyrathians with no weapons, Kalawai'a." As she said this, she reached for her compact spear and extended it to full length to inspect it.

Lea mused, "Hmm . I've been down in engineering keeping this ship together with a roll of duct tape and some gum. I've read the briefings, but I'm not exactly knowledgeable on the situation." She tied her own hair into a tight bun and took a phaser from the weapons locker.

About this time, Tabeshk had returned with his batleth and any other supplies from his quarters he might have thought necessary.

T'Lin continued addressing Lea, "We are far from the bulk of the Kyrathians, but we cannot go without caution."

Lea questioned again, "I don't understand why you two are bringing close-range weapons. Wouldn't it be simpler to just grab a phaser?"

Tabeshk answered, "My family doesn't believe in gunfire."

Lea quipped, "My family believes in not dying."

T'Lin commented, "We have far different cultures than you do. Even though I have trained with phasers, I much prefer my spear."

Tabeshk grumbled under his breath, "'My family believes in not dying,' bah!"

Relok came to a decision. "T'Lin, Tabeshk, Lea, and Carter ... let's assume the Colonel will release one of the Runabouts. Go get geared up and wait in the Hangar Bay. If it doesn't work out, we'll come up with Plan B."

Just as he said this, Patterson came back with his answer, "We could use all the sensor availability down here ... but I think I could spare a runabout for supplies. We're kinda useless without logistics. I'll send the Express up. FOB out." He was referring to one of the cargo runabouts, the Federation Express (often referred to as the "FedEx" for short).

Relok nodded at Carter, "Try to keep the younguns on the straight and narrow, Commander."

Carter nodded, "Yes, sir," and the four of them stepped into the turbolift headed for the Hangar Bay. Just before the doors closed, Carter was giving them instructions, "T'Lin, geographical gear. Tabeshk, get some testing supplies for mineral compositions. Kalawai'a, you're mapping the analysis for us. Meet up in Hangar Bay 1."

Forward Operations Base:

Lt. Col. Travis Patterson and Lt. Cmdr. Dean Spearhorse had been establishing their Forward Operations Base near the Refugee Camp of the Janosian natives on a large island deemed "the Safe Zone". Capt. Zak Taylor had beamed from his meeting with the beetle-people to the FOB to meet with Patterson and Spearhorse to come up with their plan moving forward.

Patterson was standing with his arms crossed looking over the holographic display of the situation map while Spearhorse stood just outside the Mobile Command Post. Staff Sergeant Denovan Hawke, a rescued former Borg now serving as a Platoon Leader for the Pathfinders, bellowed at some of his men, "Everyone move it and get those perimeters secure and sentries posted!"

Zak strolled up past the heavy equipment saluting back at the Marines and Starfleet Security officers and enlisted menAs he approached the Mobile Command Post, Dean nodded, "Zak."

Zak smiled, "Commander! Got quite the armory set up here! Where's the Leatherneck?"

Dean suddenly realized who he'd addressed and how and said, "Excuse me! Captain! It's been a long day." Then he added, "And with the new reports of marine activities I come to you with hat in hand. I am not sure how to defend the old wooden ships against torpedoes and mines. It is like having the East India Company versus the Wolfpacks of World War One!"

Zak replied with a grimace, "Yeah, it's not a fair fight, is it?"

Then Dean realized the Captain had asked him a question and he replied with a smirk, "The Colonel was in the head last time I saw him."

They heard Hawke bellow again, "Go help, not stand around!"

Zak gestured for Dean to accompany him and together they entered the Post. Zak was saying, "The RAVENS can go under water ... I think ... to take the fight to them, I guess, but finding them in the ocean is tough. Hard to scan through salt water."

Dean commented, "I was considering uprating their military warships to coal driven reserve engines so they might be able to maneuver quicker to get out of harm's way."

Inside the Mobile Command Post, Patterson walked around the table, running a finger along a section of mainland. Zak called to him as he entered, "Travis, glad you're still here."

Patterson glanced up with a quick nod, then tapped his commbadge, "RAVENS, focus sensor sweeps with the runabouts in grid 021219, and spread outwards for 2 klicks. FOB out." He gave a sigh and shook his head.

Zak responded to Dean's idea, "Not a bad idea. Convert the sailing frigates to ironclad steamrunners. It'll take some time though, and a lot of manpower."

Dean said, "Sonar is unreliable in these waters due to the salinity factors. Our RAVENS would have limited capability as well with the water resistance. Effective weapons range would be less than two hundred yards. If I use them, they could escort convoys and clear mines."

Zak added, "Submarine operations are always difficult. Poor visibility, poor maneuverablity, but ... we have to hope the Kyrathians are having similar difficulties. As far as I know, this is the first time they've ever attempted such a thing.

. SSgt. Hawke had entered about that time just as a call came through from the Penumbra. Hawke and Patterson answered almost simultaneously but Patterson's went through, "Go ahead, Carter. What is it?"

Carter's voice came back, "We're gonna need to recall one of those runabouts for geological surveys. We're running low on materials, and we've identified a few potential sites to mine mineral deposits and dilithium."

Before Patterson could answer, Dean asked, "Col. Patterson, do you have any expertise with naval tactics?"

Patterson answered Dean, shaking his head, "I've been aboard a Delta Flyer in fluidic environments once or twice, Spearhorse, but it's not like there's a full training doctrine on it."

Dean glanced at the Captain, "Not to mention depth charges. How do I prepare the crews for that inevitability?"

Zak studied the situation map. "If I were the Kyrathians, I'd be concentrating efforts in this area," he pointed at the map, "where ships from the mainland turn out to sail to this island. They've probably noticed the activity." He paused then said, "But I'm wondering why we haven't seen their aerial reconnaissance. They have to know this big island is out here, they have ships in orbit too."

Dean considered Patterson's words then said, "Yeah, Starfleet doesn't usually send us out to fight other people's wars."

Hawke said, "Colonel, I may have a solution."

But Patterson held up a finger to hold off the Sergeant so he could finally answer Carter's call. He tapped his commbadge and said, "We could use all the sensor availability down here ... but I think I could spare a runabout for supplies. We're kinda useless without logistics. I'll send the Express up. FOB out."

Hawke raised an eyebrow at the Colonel's signal but waited his turn. Finally Patterson nodded to him, "Thoughts, Sergeant?"

Hawke said, "I can use my nodules to hack into the system or even introduce nanites. Though those would have to be extracted and reprogrammed for a specific purpose, sir."

Patterson's color flushed at the suggestion. Briefly his eyes flashed red. "Absolutely not, Hawke! I'm not about to have another potential court-martialing due to misunderstandings involving nanites! And that is something I do not want to hear coming from your mouth, or that of any other Marine, while you serve on my ship. Is that understood?"

Hawke stiffened, "With all due respect, sir, those are under control as am I. They are completely under-utilized in a crisis. So no, it is not understood."

Patterson glared at him. "Outside, Sergeant, you're dismissed."

Hawke shook his head briefly, then came to attention, snapped a salute, and did an about-face to exit the Post and return to overseeing perimeter reinforcement.

The Captain watched the interplay between the former Borg and the Starfleet Intelligence test subject but remained quiet, but Dean simply ignored the Sergeant and his Colonel and addressed the Captain, "If the Kyrathians attacked this world, my question is, looking at their tactics of trying to go after less technologically advanced species, shouldn't we go under cover in the nearby sectors to warn the other space-farers in the area, or even those still using non-traditional means of motive power, to avoid this sector and gear up for a fight in case this fight spreads?" He paused then added, "I suggest if we have to approach a non-warp-capable civilization we use methods that are comparable, early chemical and ionic propulsion, or even something as adaptable as a Gemini Rogala ... I believe the engineers could whip up a little vessel like that for missions to sensitive or strategic worlds in nearby sectors."

Zak studied his Chief of Security then answered, "Well, we have to depend on our Aslan allies to watch out for Kyrathians, even though reconn isn't their strong suit - that's why we're out here after all. But ... I did receive notice that Starfleet is finally sending us a little help." He paused dramatically before continuing, "Turns out the Ambassador's old ship - not the Reciprocity, but the Sojourner - is coming out here. They're Corps of Engineers now. They'll help with rebuilding - once we've gotten rid of the bugs."

During this exchange, Patterson had remained quiet but was gripping the edges of the holographic display table with white-knuckled intensity. Dean tried to break the tension and addressed Patterson, "Since that is your old ship, sir, will you be taking the conn? I would hate to see you leave the Penumbra, sir, you are a huge asset to this crew."

Patterson looked at Dean, blinking, his nanites still firing and his temper still hot, "What do you mean?"

Dean replied, "The old girl in the neighborhood ... I thought for sure you would be getting the center seat .... why else would they send a ship you know so well?"

Patterson glared at Dean another moment before saying, "Commander ... I didn't serve on the Sojourner. That ship is older than my career!"

Dean nudged the Colonel, "Come on, don't tell me you never wanted to command your own starship? What's wrong with old? Old veterans seem to possess the best tactics on this planet ... and they sure don't build 'em like that anymore, sir. If her hull could talk ... think of the stories that old girl could tell!"

Zak smirked at them then explained, "Travis wasn't on the Sojourner. He did a stint on the Maverick, I think, another of the Ambassador's former ships. And Patterson was on the Agamemnon when the Android commanded it for a short mission."

Patterson puffed up his chest. "I am a Marine, Commander, not some armchair general sitting in the center chair on a starship, pointing fingers and giving orders expecting them to be carried out. I'd rather take the fight to the enemy myself."

Zak raised an eyebrow at Patterson, "So that's what you think I'm doing?"

Finally Patterson calmed a bit, his skin fading from the slightly reddish tint of his fired-up nanites to his usual vague luminescent blue. He sighed, "No, Captain... but I've seen my share."

They were interrupted by the Captain's comm chirping. An odd buzz-click came through first, then the Universal Translator kicked in with what they'd become accustomed to as Krigeth's voice, "Is this working? Did I do it right?"

Zak raised an eyebrow as he tapped his commbadge, "This is Captain Zak, is that you Krigeth?"

The click came back followed by Krigeth's UT voice, "Ah! I did do it right! Elder Zak, the Elder Council has come out of their meeting and Elder Folsen told me three simple words: 'It is done.'"

Zak's eyes sparkled a moment as he glanced up at Dean and Patterson. He tapped his badge again, "Krigeth, you said 'done'? Does that mean your people will help?"

Krigeth responded, "As I understand it, Elder Zak, we will be sending some of our younger people to slide Nishara into the Plague Lands where they will ... spread their scent. We will see if it does what you hope."

Zak grinned, "Wonderful news, Krigeth. Thank Elder Folsen for me. Zak out." He turned to Dean and Patterson. "So, the beetles will help us. Let's hope it does what we want. That should allow us to corral the Kyrathians in the cities ...," he trailed off.

Engineering & Sickbay:

Lt. Cmdr. Bevin MacArdry had been in an EVA suit on the outside of Nacelle 3 doing the final clean-up from the gunk that had fouled the system. After she'd completed her efforts she slipped back through an airlock and headed back to Main Engineering, where she began working on some kind of "repulsor" system that might work on the torpedoes and mines the Kyrathians had started using. She hoped the system would be a simple "drop and deploy" method that would not require any thought.

Meanwhile, in Sickbay, Dr. Shadow K'Trevala was busily working on their one Janosian patient, who'd been seriously burned in the airstrike ordered by Lt. Col. Patterson when the first Observation Post had been compromised. He hoped the skin grafts would soon heal so he could bring him out of the medically-induced coma, but . it wouldn't be today.

Hangar Bay:

Once the Resource Team had gathered their equipment, they regrouped in the Hangar Bay. The pilot who'd brought it back from the surface skillfully parked it in the designated area. Lea waved at the man as he shut down and opened the hatch.

Tabeshk arrived and joked, "I has the stuffs, we can go now I presume?"

Carter walked over to the pilot, "You're relieved of the helm. Thanks for the ride."

T'Lin asked, "Are we ready everyone?" She glanced around as everyone nodded, and together they boarded the shuttle.

Carter hopped into the pilot seat and said, "All right, seatbelts!"

Tabeshk said, "Yup . let's do this. YEEE HAW!"

They all buckled in and Carter lifted the shuttle, turned and exited the Hangar Bay. As he did, he hit the comm, "Relok, we're away."

Tabeshk quickly recorded a message to his dad. He'd heard that people going on Away Missions often did that, in case they didn't return. "Hey old geezer, I'm going to planet Janidor, know anything about it? Eh, shut up, I have my batleth. Yes, I have the daq'tagh too. Oh, I'm a LtJG now. Yeah, I know mom would be so proud. How are the martial arts going there on Vulcan? Good, I hope. Okay, I gotta go dad. I'll fight with honor." He ended his recording.

Lea turned to Tabeshk, dreading the small talk but feeling it a necessary part of the ride, said, "Tabeshk . am I pronouncing that correctly?"

Tabeshk turned to look at her, "Yes, Ensign? Oh, yeah, that's correct."

Lea looked desperate, trying to think of something to say. Finally she said, "How are you today?"

Tabeshk shrugged, "Today's great, I guess." He paused then said, "I wonder what Janidore is like."

Lea said, "I transferred over last time we were in Federation space and have been mostly crawling around in the Jefferies' Tubes this whole time, so I'm a bit out of the loop on all this."

Tabeshk commented, "It's fine. To be completely honest, I am still confused about everything, Lea."

Lea asked, "We're involved in some sort of war? Doesn't sound very Starfleet to me, with the Prime Directive in place ...," she trailed off.

Tabeshk answered, "Oh, the directive has been lifted, but yes, we are in a war with the Kyrathians."

Carter clarified, "Technically, Starfleet is not 'at war', we are providing support to an ally that is at war. And . we're here! Spread out and search for clues. Daphne and I will take the high ground. Velma, take the vegetation over there. Shaggy, Scooby... go do something useful." He winked at the "Scooby Doo" joke as he set the shuttle down in some "badlands" near a rocky mountain.

Go Back