***Sim Log Narrative, SD 201908.16***

**Bridge:**

The Penumbra was experiencing some engine troubles brought about by the use of incorrect software for the structural integrity algorithms related to the Quantum Slipstream Drive. This meant they were still in orbit over Janidor even though their relief, the USS Sojourner had already arrived. The problem had been found and new software protocols were being uploaded.

So, Capt. Zak Taylor was pacing across the Bridge, again, waiting on the results of the software upgrade. Lt. Cmdr. Relok sat quietly, though stiffly, in the Executive Officer's seat (since Patterson was in the Cerberus several light years away), subconsciously counting the Captain's steps, ~ 10, 11, 12, and turn .~

Ens. Denovan Hawke manned the Tactical station, keeping a sharp eye on everything, and LtJG Tabeshk Tibris sat at the Operations Console, monitoring the programming upgrade and making sure there weren't any system glitches caused by it.

With the recently promoted officer at the Tactical console, Master Gunny Derek Hines found himself instead in the Armory, going over equipment checks after the Penumbra team and its Marines had transferred command of the Forward Operations Base to the Sojourner's Corps of Engineers team.

The Captain turned to his Operations Officer, "Tabby, what's the word on that programming upgrade?"

Before Tabeshk could respond, Relok said, "Captain, you asked that questions six minutes ago ... it is unlikely it has changed much in that time."

Besides, Tabeshk seemed preoccupied, trying to remember the details of the programming SNAFU. The designers of the ship had installed Quantum Slipstream Structural Integrity protocols for the Intrepid-class, with its movable nacelles, and not for an Eclipse-class, like the Penumbra , with its angular hull and four fixed nacelles. They were changing these programs to the ones developed for the USS Prometheus , which had the four nacelles and angular hull, though they were having to do some modifications as they went because the Penumbra wasn't actually a Prometheus-class ship.

Zak turned to his Tactical Officer, "Hawke, any word from Patterson? He's probably using some coded channel or secret Marine-speak or other mumbo-jumbo."

Relok raised an eyebrow at the Captain calling the Colonel's language ''mumbo-jumbo'', but Hawke simply answered, "Not so far, I'll send a message though." His fingers moved over his console as he did so.

Zak paced some more, complaining, "It sure would be nice if we had a Chief of Flight Operations ready to fly, a Chief Engineer with engines running, and an Operations Officer with a ship running the proper Operating System ...," he trailed off.

Relok spoke up, "Sir ... with all due respect ... if their Captain wasn't breathing down their neck they may be able to work more efficiently ... sir."

Zak cut a glare at the Vulcan but said nothing. Relok raised an eyebrow at the glare and responded, "It is my duty as your Acting XO to point out when you're being an ass ... sir."

Zak sputtered, "Being an ---? Relok!" Exasperated, the Captain flopped into the Command Chair. "Fine!"

Hawke commented, "Intrepid-class used bio-neural gel packs, the Prometheus had multi-vector assault mode, which our ship doesn't have. They're nothing alike."

Tabeshk replied, "No, Den, they aren't. Somebody got the wrong software."

Suddenly a call came from Lt. Cmdr. Carter, down in Main Engineering, "Carter to Bridge. We should have the new software ready in a couple more minutes. I'm on my way up now. Carter out."

Hawke reported, "I've gotten a reply from Colonel Patterson and a set of coordinates. Also two words: Two Stations. Sending confirmation."

Zak turned to look at Hawke, "Two Stations? That's not good. We got our butts kicked at just one!" He turned back to Operations, "Tabby, we've got to get moving. Let's get that software configured ... double time!"

Soon, Carter stepped out of the turbolift, rubbing his forehead gently and walking towards the Helm without a word. Relok glanced at him, then flicked his eyes at the Captain and said, "I hope you're bringing good news, Commander."

Carter planted himself at the Helm without a reply and began fumbling with the controls. After a moment, he turned to look over his shoulder at a pedestal and asked, "When's the last time anyone checked on MAX?"

Relok glanced at Carter, a stunned look on his face, "MAX? I can't believe I forgot about him!"

Suddenly, the Captain, impatient, jumped back out of his chair, "Tabby? Ready yet?"

Tabby glanced at the Captain, "Ready for .?"

Relok rolled his eyes and tried, in vain, to not let out a groan. The Captain also rolled his eyes, "Ready to fly, Tabeshk. Is the software configured so we can leave here and go and catch up with Patterson before the whole Delta Flight is annihilated by Kyrathians!"

Tabeshk flushed a moment, "Oh, yeah, I think so, Captain."

Zak spun and said, "OK, Carter, check the system and get us flying, maximum safe warp."

Carter nodded and tapped his commbadge, "Engineering, time's up, MacArdry. What's our speed limit?"

Bevin responded, "Tais guid, lait's gae! "

Tabeshk mumbled to himself, "Really not looking forward to more bugs for once."

Hawke asked, "Shall I engage Mirage mode?" He paused, checking his console, then said, Incoming hail from the Cerberus, sir."

Zak answered, "Hawke, reply to Patterson we're about to depart. And yes, activate MIRAGE, and take us to Yellow Alert."

Hawke responded, "Actually its only for you, Security Level 4. Sending to your Ready Room, sir." He transferred the call, then activated Yellow Alert, followed by the MIRAGE cloaking system.

Zak grumbled as he said, "OK, then, I'll take it there. Relok, you have the Bridge." He strode off through the door to his private office.

Carter turned to Relok, "Engineering reports all systems good for warp. My console confirms. Ready for system departure. 1/2 impulse to clear orbit."

Relok nodded, "Once clear of the planet, go to maximum warp as the Captain ordered."

Hawke reported, "Weapons charged and torpedos loaded, on standby, Commander."

Carter checked his console. "Zero G turbulence. Engaging warp drive."

Tabeshk cried out, "Let's rock and roll!" Then he added, "Soooo, that's where Patty went to go chase bugs? I'm sure if you threw a dog bone he'd run to catch it." He giggled at his own joke.

Carter glanced back over his shoulder once more, first at Hawke, then at Relok, and then at the pedestal that housed MAX. He muttered, shaking his head, "We should have never let it go this long."

After a few minutes, the Captain emerged from his Ready Room back onto the Bridge with a stern look on his face. "We've got some problems coming up, folks." He addressed his Helmsman, "Carter, ETA to Patterson's location?"

Carter responded, "Would've been there an hour ago if the White-Coats did their job right!" He checked his console then said, "ETA 3 minutes, 42 seconds, sir."

Zak replied, "Good." He turned to his Tactical Officer, "Hawke, Patterson reports a lot of small Kyrathians in that system, but they haven't noticed Delta Flight and hopefully they won't see us under MIRAGE, but be ready for anything."

Hawke answered, "Already set up and all tactical systems ready and on standby."

Zak nodded then turned back to Operations. "Tabby, send a message to the Aslans. We'll need all the help they can send us sooner rather than later."

Tabeshk responded, "Aye, captain sending message now."

As he gave his orders, the Captain sat back down in the Command Seat. As he did, LtJG. T'Lin arrived from the Computer Core and quietly took her place at the Primary Science Station. A moment or so later, the Penumbra dropped out of warp into a new star system and made its way towards the largest planet and its system of rings and moons, all swarming with small Kyrathian craft.

Tabeshk eyed the scene on the main viewer and muttered, "Yeah, that looks like hell."

Carter rubbed his temples again and groaned.

Relok scanned the sensor readouts on the arm of the XO's chair. He said, "Captain, that large planet is nearly three times the size of Jupiter! It has twenty ... no, thirty moons and three rocky rings."

Zak commented, "That's a lot of material for Kyrathian Gatherers to harvest."

Hawke added, "As well as a lot of small craft."

Zak gave his orders. "Carter, get the Delta Flight crews rotated out and another squad back in flight as quick as you can. Hawke, keep a sharp eye on all those little ones, but don't forget there are two full-sized Colony Ships here as well. One is probably fully functional and loaded with all the bugs from Janidor. Oh, and Patterson said they have two Stations here as well, one functional and one under construction."

Hawke responded, "Roger that." He would have done kept a sharp eye anyway, but it never hurt to be reminded.

Carter turned in his chair, "Sir, the Flyers need maintenance. They've been in atmosphere for days without it."

Zak groaned, "I know, Carter, but we have 8 of those little ships and only 4 in constant use, right? Get at least 2 of them in space and add 2 more when you can."

Carter stood and turned to face the Captain, "Sir, a moment?"

Zak raised an eyebrow and gestured for Carter to join him as he stepped to the rear of the Bridge by the Master Systems Display.

A call came through on the encrypted channel. It was Patterson. "Cerberus to Penumbra. Permission to dock."

Tabeshk reported to the Captain, "Captain, the Cerberus want's to dock. Just thought I'd let you know."

Zak turned and answered, "Tabby, bring the Cerberus in, I'm sure Patterson would like to chat."

Tabeshk called Patterson back, "'Penumbra to Cerberus, permission granted."

Relok chose that moment to slip into Science Officer mode. "Captain, we'd be remiss if we didn't scan the other planets in the system as well. Just because one is the focus of our attention, we don't want to miss anything happening on the others."

T'Lin chimed in, "Relok, I will scan the planets."

Relok smiled at the younger Vulcan, "Oh, Lt, didn't see you there. Please do."

Without a trace of smile, T'Lin responded dryly, "I am a mouse." She turned and began running a wide range scan on the neighboring planets.

Relok continued to smile, "I think more like a weasel, Lt., a ferocious little weasel."

At the MSD Carter stepped close to the Captain, facing the Display with his back to the room, and spoke softly, "With respect, sir, all 8 Flyers were deployed. Two were vanguards for us. Two were used to designate targets on the planet, and the other 4, plus our Runabouts, were actively hunting and eliminating the Torpedoes to protect the Janosian Fleet." He paused before continuing, "And we need a minimum footprint. The more ships out at any time, the higher the signature, even with MIRAGE and advanced countermeasures. So, frankly ... I'm not launching any small craft until they have maintenance and we know what their next course of action is ... sir."

Zak grimaced as Carter ran down his report, and spoke his recommendation. Finally, the Captain replied, his own voice soft so as not to carry, "Understood, Cmdr. We'll give them a couple of hours then. Can we get two back out in ... say, two hours? Your call."

**Cerberus, Delta Flight, & the Captain's Ready Room:**

Lt. Col. Travis Patterson was in his heavily-modified reconnaissance cruiser, the USS Cerberus , hiding cloaked in a dense asteroid ring around an enormous gas giant. Four modified Delta Flyers were hiding with him nearby. They had sent their position to the Penumbra and to each other so they could maintain their observation of the large number of Kyrathian vessels flitting around the asteroid field.

After what seemed like forever, Patterson finally received a response from the Penumbra . Using a highly compressed and encrypted Security code, he quickly relayed their coordinates, the fact of the heavy Kyrathian presence, the patrol route of Delta Flight, and the key phrase, "TWO STATIONS". And then backed out from the asteroid field some distance to where he felt comfortable to send a more detailed communique. "Cerberus to Penumbra, Security Level 4."

A few moments later, he received his response. Capt. Zak Taylor was in his Ready Room so Patterson knew they could speak freely. Zak barked out, "Colonel, report!"

Patterson first sent a stream of video with tactical overlays to the Captain's terminal. Zak scanned the data, his eyebrows raising and his eyes widening. Finally he said, "So that's where they're coming from!"

He took a breath and then said, "We need to relay this to the Aslans in the sector so we have ready backup. We're on our way."

Patterson agreed but reminded him, "They sent 6 ships to help us out already ... they're gonna need a fleet of 20 or more this time around!"

Zak ran his fingers through his greying hair, "Yeah, 6 on 6 here at Janidor and they lost 4 of them!"

Patterson stroked his own short-cropped hair, "I'm not sure ... but it looks like resource gatherings to me. Mining of asteroids, collection of atmospheric gases ... I don't like it."

Zak said, "Two Stations can manufacture a lot of Colony Ships ... but where are they getting the insectoids to man it? They'd need some kind of breeding facility, or whatever the hell they use."

Patterson smirked, "I'd need one helluva diversion to get close enough to find out!"

Zak smirked back, "Stand by on that. We'll be there shortly and we'll figure something out. Stay out of sight and keep recording. Taylor out." He logged out of the Security clearance and returned to the Bridge.

Patterson continued to transmit video and tactical data through the compressed stream, rubbing his fingers together impatiently.

Finally, the Delta Flight ships received the highly encrypted transponder code that told them the Penumbra had entered the system. They couldn't see it since the ship was using its active MIRAGE cloaking system, but as soon as it had arrived, Delta Flight converged on it, seeing as how some of those craft had been in active and continuous use for several days now without a break. Patterson called the Penumbra on the encrypted channel, "Cerberus to Penumbra. Permission to dock."

The voice of LtJG Tabeshk Tibris came back to them, "'Penumbra to Cerberus, permission granted."

**Main Engineering, the Computer Core, and Sickbay:**

Ens. Lea Kalawai'a was with LtJG T'Lin in the main Computer Core on Deck 7, awaiting confirmation from Engineering and Operations that the upload of the revised Structural Integrity Protocols had been completed. She was growing impatient and was fiddling with her terminal. Beside her, T'Lin was actively avoiding her own boredom by scrolling through various analytical details on her own terminal, humming softly to herself.

In Sickbay, up on Deck 5, Dr. Shadow K'Trevala was verifying that everything was in its proper place and that there were sufficient supplies in stock in the store room. Once he'd done this, he resumed his work in the medical lab on the biological weapons they hoped to use against the Kyrathian Swarm: the insecticide and herbicide they'd termed the "Bug Bomb", enhanced now with the "stink bomb" pheromones extracted from the beetle-like people of Janidor. The pheromones still decayed too quickly to be a long-term solution, but their effectiveness in causing the Kyrathians to fully withdraw from Janidor had to be useful.

On Deck 8, in Main Engineering, Lt. Cmdr. Bevin MacArdry and Lt. Cmdr. Jason Carter were monitoring the software upload, adjusting configurations on the fly as discrepancies arose. The original programming had been for an Intrepid-class vessel, with movable nacelles for a small, atmospheric-capable ship like the USS Voyager . This upgrade was written for a Prometheus-class, with its angular hull and four fixed nacelles. But, the Eclipse-class, like the Penumbra wasn't exactly like a Prometheus-class, so some modifications had to be made as they went.

Carter glanced over at Bevin as the Chief Engineer accessed various journals and other engineering reports for information on the SIF software for the Prometheus . "How's that test going, Bevin?"

Before she could answer, a call came from Lea, "Engineering? Guys? I'd love to get off this dumb rock as soon as possible, please."

Bevin ignored Lea and answered Carter in her strong Brogue, "Ait's gaein sair, I'm staill trayin an gaittin tha sawftwair tae werk carrictly. "

But Carter, still irritable at not being able to fly his ship, and still slightly miffed at the Ensign from earlier perceived impropriety, raised an eyebrow and responded not to the Ensign, but to her superior officer, "Commander MacArdry, I'd suggest addressing the behavior of your subordinates. I have heard enough whining from her lately, and adding Tibris on the Bridge is enough of a headache, honestly ... just advising my opinion."

Before Bevin could respond, he tapped his commbadge, "Carter to Bridge. We should have the new software ready in a couple more minutes. I'm on my way up now. Carter out." He turned back to Bevin, "Let's get her done, then... I'll be on the Bridge to get flight checks done." He started to leave.

Bevin bristled slightly at Carter's remark, "I've nivvir staifiled my paipul fra spaikin thair minds, saince thair barnstairmin haes saived tha shaip any nambir o times, sae I'll tailk tae thaim aiboot pripir mailitiry daikarim bit I'm nae gaein tae skwaish thair craitivity! "

Carter turned and cut a glance at Bevin and gave a curt nod, followed by a heavy sigh. "Sorry ... I'm just ... frustrated recently. Excuse me." He spun on his heel and left Engineering, headed for the turbolift.

Back in the main Computer Core, Lea finally decided to get comfortable, reclining in a chair and bringing up a newspaper on a terminal.

Several minutes later, Carter was back on the Bridge and called Engineering from there, "Time's up, MacArdry. What's our speed limit?" As he said this, the Yellow Alert lights went on all over the ship.

Bevin nodded as the upload finished, tapping her commbadge to respond, "Tais guid, lait's gae! "

With the upload completed, T'Lin confirmed the computer system accepted the upgrade, then turned to the turbolift to return to her station on the Bridge. Lea followed, headed for her own station in Main Engineering.

**On the Sojourner:**

An unfamiliar voice responded, "Sojourner Ops to Spearhorse, acknowledged, Commander, stand by for transport." A moment later, Dean shimmered out and reappeared on the bridge of the USS Sojourner. As soon as he'd materialized he saluted and asked, "Permission to come aboard, sir."

A tall black man wearing the Command Red uniform and with the four pips of a Captain greeted him. "Welcome aboard, Commander."

Dean shook the man's hand as he said, "Captain Jackson, your reputation proceeds you, sir."

Jackson harrumphed, "Hmph, what little reputation I had barely extends to the Beta Quadrant, much less the Gamma! I just happened to get the Android's old ship and somehow that makes me special!"

Dean responded, "The Ambassador would not have recommended you to help in the rebuilding of the Janosian homeworld if he had not heard about that job you pulled in the badlands when the Enterprise pulled out! The reunion of the Ba'ku and their children was no small feat."

The tall black man actually blushed, "Well ... I just did what I needed to." He quickly changed the subject, "So, I hear you've developed a rapport with the locals, and you're staying a while to help us coordinate."

Dean nodded, "For a bit sir. I'm not sure when the Penumbra will head back our way, considering the recon assignment. You have read the report on the locals and the heavy odds we faced down there correct, sir?"

Jackson answered, "Yeah, I've read them. Nasty bit with those bugs. And funny how you got them to leave because you made the whole planet stink too much!" He grinned.

Dean smirked back at him, "Stink? smells like home! I grew up next to the city waste incinerator." He chuckled. "It really isn't that bad. But," his face lost the grin, "I would strongly urge we keep the ship at Yellow Alert in case they want to sniff again to see if it is palatable to do a McArthur return."

Jackson's face also lost the grin. "I certainly hope they don't return! The Sojourner is equipped as Corps of Engineers, builders and surveyors mostly, not fighting the Kyrathians!"

They exchanged a few pleasantries and Dean begged off to go to his quarters. Once there he quickly checked in with the Penumbra, acknowledging that all personnel had made it back to the ship with no losses or injuries, though a few had fallen ill from the local food.

Reminded of the food, Dean called the Sojourner Bridge, "We may need to test the food supplies on the planet to make sure our bug spray will have no lingering effects on the vegetation or other food stock." Once this message was acknowledged, he began to disrobe for a long awaited sonic shower.

**In Attendance:**

Capt. Z. Taylor, Dr. K'Trevala, Ens. Lea Kalawai'a, Ensign Denovan Hawke, LtCmdr. Dean Spearhorse, LtCmdr. J. Carter, LtCmdr. MacArdry, LtCmdrRelok, LtCol. T. Patterson, Ltjg Tabeshk Tibris, Ltjg. T'Lin, MGySgt. Hines

**NPCs:**

Capt-Jackson-Sojourner (played by Relok)

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