USS Penumbra Sim Narrative, SD 202103.19 Introduction: . The Penumbra was skimming the border between the Klingon Empire and the Federation seeking out Nausicaan pirates that had kidnapped a Gorn Ambassador. On the way to the last known coordinates of the Ambassador, they picked up a General Distress Call from a freighter identifying herself as the "Canteen of Sparkles". Using a standard tractor beam, they towed her into the Hangar Bay where she was greeted by a team of Marines and Starfleet Security Officers, since it was deemed that the presence of a "damaged freighter" in the flight path of kidnapping pirates was just a little too coincidental. . Meanwhile, in Sickbay, the medical staff was still addressing the infection that MstSgt. Khal'Gon had picked up from exposure to fibers from the Mirror Ivorez. He was listed as "recuperating" but still suffering residual effects. Bridge, Observation Lounge, Main Engineering: Getting our Bearings . On the Bridge, LtCmdr. Jason Carter was at the Helm. The ship had gone to All Stop after bringing the freighter aboard and he was awaiting the order to resume their course. Beside him, LtCmdr. Tabeshk Tibris was monitoring power supply and distribution while humming some Klingon folk song softly to himself. . LtCmdr. T'Lin was working with LtJG. Jackson Carshel in recalibrating their long-range sensors. Carshel was on the floor, up to his elbows inside the panel, while T'Lin accessed the feed from her seat at the Primary Science Console. From beneath the console, Carshel could be heard saying, "Don't zap me, damn it!" . Relok stood in front of the Secondary Science Console, assisting with the calibrations. The procedure was tedious, and T'Lin was beginning to grow frustrated and rubbed her face, letting out a sigh.
. Cdre. Zak Taylor sat in the Command Chair, drumming his fingers on the armrest, while LtCmdr. Denovan Hawke stood at the Tactical Console. While Den was the Chief of Security, in addition to being the Chief Tactical Officer, he felt that SgtMaj. Derek Hines and Col. Travis Patterson had their "guest" situation well in hand and so stayed at his post at Tactical. . Meanwhile, down in Main Engineering, LtCmdr. Bevin MacArdry and her engineering team were fabricating replacement modules for the MIRAGE system. Even though they couldn't actually install them while the ship was flying through space (the process required technicians and engineers be on the outer hull), they would get the modules ready for installation as soon as they had the chance. . Zak asked, "Relok, did you and MAX find us any info on where those Nausicaans might have taken the Ambassador?" . The Vulcan Chief of Sciences answered, "Actually, sir, I mentioned we didn't have much in our database for this region of space. Mr Hawke suggested he might have useful information." . Zak spun his chair around instead of craning his neck (he still wore a soft cervical collar after getting whiplash during the Rift passage). "And ...?" he asked. . Relok glanced at Den and then back to the Commodore. "Sir, I think our Chief of Security has his hands full at the moment." Reboot? . Den looked between the Commodore and Relok and then said, "Was just waiting for a free moment to do so, and add the pieces of the map." He picked up the PADD where he'd started making notations. He was recalling information from his memory as a Borg. The Borg had assimilated Nausicaans in the past and some of them may have had knowledge of this region. As he picked it up, he turned to Relok and remarked, "Not really. Hines is down there and so is Patterson. They can handle things." . Zak glanced back at Den and said, "Hines and his squad can surely detain our new guest."
. Den nodded and said, "I'll use the aux Science station and get that added." He moved over and started to work. . Zak continued, "Get some info on Nausicaan pirates so we can at least make a guess as to where to look next. Oh, and T'Lin, Carshel, get our eyeballs washed or something. We need to be able to see. We're a Recon Vessel, aren't we?" . T'Lin struggled to contain her frustration as she answered, "We are working on it right now, sir. It is not like you can turn it off and back on again." . Relok's eyes flicked to T'Lin as he mouth opened a second. "Did we ... try that?" . T'Lin pretended to be shocked. "Oh, Great Mother! How did I not think of that?" Her face changed to a cool glare at her Chief, "Of course we did. Some of us are much less technologically challenged as you and the Commodore." . Relok merely raised an eyebrow and turned back to his station. Zak stood and stretched, then gave a little wince at the pain lingering in his neck. He strolled over to the replicator and ordered his usual, "Coffee, hot, black, sweetened." . The Artificial Intelligence known as MAX manifested his face on several pedestals around the Bridge and said, "There appears to be some sort of correlation between Onagra IV and the Ambassador's predicted route. There is a known piracy group that operates from the Onagra system, Commodore." . Zak took his coffee from the replicator, blew on it, sipped it, and then turned to face MAX on one of the pedestals. "Onagra system, eh? Think that's where they'd be?" He turned slightly and asked, "How far is that from here, Carter?" . Carter checked his navigational charts and then answered, "At our best speed, sir? We can be entering the system in an hour." What do we see?
. Down in Main Engineering, Bevin finished the fabrication of the last of the MIRAGE modules and set them aside for testing and installation when they had the chance. She redirected her team to the sensor packages to assist all stations that might need reconfiguration. . From beneath the Science Station, Carshel announced, "I think I might have gotten the scans clear. We'll have to see, sir. I'll test on your orders." . Relok responded, "Let's see what we see." . About the same time, Den said, "That," he swiped the screen to send the data to the other consoles, "should do it." He stood and returned to the Tactical Console as he continued, "Everything the Borg had on those systems and races." He didn't add that it was "to the best of his memory". It had been a while since he was Borg, he could have forgotten some details, and things may have changed in that time as well. . Still, as the data came through to Relok's console, the Vulcan commented, "MAX, there's quite a bit more in Mr. Hawke's ... memories ... than you had in your analysis. Getting sloppy, are we?" . Zak choked on his coffee at Relok's jab at the AI. Den didn't have a drink, but if he'd had one, he probably would have just spit it all over his console. Zak smirked and started towards the Command Seat. "Den, check in on our guest, will you? I'd like to know what that ... um ... Canteen of Sparkles ... was doing just here, just now." He settled into his chair and then added, "And Relok, see if you can combine what MAX had with Den's info. Make your best guess and give Carter some coordinates. I don't like just sitting here." . Den asked, "Go down there? Or ... just call, Commodore?" . Zak responded, "Just call Hines or the Colonel and check in with them." He smiled, "I won't tell you how to do your job, Commander." . Den chuckled and tapped his commbadge. "Patterson, Hines, how are we looking with our 'guest'?"
. While they waited for a response, Carshel pulled himself out from under the console and stepped to the auxiliary panel. "Mm-hmm," he mumbled, "Testing in 3 ... 2 ... 1. All right, let's see how the scans look." . T'Lin watched and breathed out, "Finally! Long-range scans going out now, Commodore." . "Good!" Zak replied, "We're a Recon Vessel again! What do we see, then?" Finding the Trail . Carshel checked the long-range sensors and then commented, "Well ... many warp pathways, but ... one of them is unusual, sir." He pressed a few buttons and the main viewer began to slowly focus-in as the image crystallized. Faintly glowing trails were highlighted on the display. They were not truly visible in space but had been augmented by the sensors to bring attention to them. Several warp trails that cross through the area. . Carter gestured at them, "That's odd. One of those warp trails looks like they came about pretty hard." . Den added, "There's something curious here. It's that warp signature. It kind of reminds me of when a ship is venting warp plasma after being damaged. Not sure what kind, but it seems potentially dangerous. The pattern of it looks like the ship got damaged and ran." . T'Lin was studying different information on her console. She said, "I see a couple of locations that would be strategically optimal for base setups. Take a look." She overlaid her data with what was on the main viewer. As it appeared, she tapped certain locations on her own console and blips appeared on the main viewer. "Here ... here ... and here." . Relok looked at some of the locations, then zoomed in on one of them. "Is that supposed to be a starbase or something? It looks like a collection of flotsam cobbled together with baling wire!" . T'Lin commented, "Possibly set as a decoy base. The way it is built it is like it is meant to be noticed."
. But Zak said, "If that's not a pirate hang-out, I don't know what is!" He paused and then said, "Only ... if a Federation ship like us goes pulling in there, every pirate in the sector would bug out in a blink of an eye!" He spun his chair again and said, "Den, Relok, trace that warp trail ... would it happen to be headed to that ... pile of junk?" . Den glanced over at the Science Officer, "On your lead, Relok." . But Relok said to the Commodore, "You brought up a good point, sir. The Penumbra can't approach without alerting them, but neither could any of the Delta Flyers or even the Cerberus. But ... don't we have a junked freighter in our Hangar Bay right now?" . Zak spun his chair, a thoughtful look on his face, just as the Colonel's voice came back over the commlink. "Patterson to Bridge, sorry for the delay. We're moving our guest to Deck 6, Enlisted Quarters 44. Commodore, she has information regarding pirate camps and smuggling outposts." There was a pause and then the Colonel continued, "Commodore, you're gonna want to be down here for the proposition our guest just gave us." . Zak tapped his commbadge. "I just got an idea, too, Colonel. Bring our passenger to the Observation Lounge." Insufficient Data . Relok and Den were working on tracing the plasma trail. Den said, "It might have been in that direction. It could have stopped and altered course, but from this trajectory, I think so." . Relok nodded, "It's headed that direction. Let's see if we can extrapolate its course. T'Lin, Carshel, give me a hand here, will you?" . Zak had turned his chair back forward. He stood and announced, "Tabby, you have the Bridge. I'll be interviewing our guest in the Observation Lounge." . "Wait, what? Again? Oh, crap!" Tabby groaned.
. Den chortled slightly as Carter shook his head. Zak smiled down at him. "The other senior officers are busy and you're just twiddling your thumbs, so ...," he trailed off as he headed towards the Observation Lounge. . T'Lin laughed out loud, "Ha! You have to wear the big-boy boots!" . "Frick!" Tabby cursed as he stood and moved to the Command Chair. "Sir, I hate you sometimes." He sat down and glared at T'Lin, "Shh. Shut it, T'Lin. At least I've worn the boots!" . T'Lin answered, "I do not want to wear some worn-out boots three sizes too big." . Den returned his attention to his task. He glanced at Relok and said, "I'll give you the possible projected courses overlay for you three to use to help extrapolate the correct one." He tapped his console a few times then said, "Sent." . Relok nodded as the data began to work across his screen. "Hmm," he said, "that ship won't be going too far leaking plasma like that, nor too fast." . Carshel was reviewing the data as well but focused on the leak itself. "What do you think caused the leakage? Torpedoes, rockets, or a collision?" . Relok answered, "Insufficient data to make a determination based on only the trail. Once we find the ship, perhaps we can make a more informed determination." . MAX added, "If it were a torpedo, we might be able to detect trace amount of the weapon's energy pattern in the warp trail. Though it is highly unlikely we would be able to determine WHERE it came from." Cautious Approach . Den pondered what MAX had said and then commented, "If it's pirates, perhaps trying to take that ship. Or it is one of the pirate ships and half got their ass handed to them. So, they bolted. Either way, now that you mention it, Carshel, checking for residual weapons fire." He pressed several buttons on his console to do the scan.
. Relok turned to Den. "Though, if we find several ships, we should clearly be able to determine the one with this kind of damage. Right, Commander?" . Den nodded, "The signatures should be unique, yes, Relok." . Relok looked up from his calculations and at the main viewer. " I think it is highly likely the damaged ship did head for that collection of ships, though. Probably looking to make some patches to their ship before heading elsewhere. Tabby, I suggest we make towards that location, but ... stealthily. Though, without MIRAGE ...," he trailed off. . In the Observation Lounge, the Commodore stood quietly staring out of the window at the stars, hands clasped behind his back. After a few minutes, the outer door slid open and Col. Patterson gestured to a small woman with him saying, "After you." . The shortish woman with bright pink skin and purple hair stepped in and the Colonel stepped in behind her. The door slid shut and they all just stood there in silence a moment. The Commodore did not turn from his contemplation of the stars. The Colonel took up a parade rest stance himself. And the woman, knowing this was not her ship, waited nervously for the ship's commanding officer to speak first. Hangar Bay: Detained . In the Hangar Bay, a delapidated freighter, still steaming and smoking from it's engines, sat on the deck. Several Marines had taken positions around it, WAR rifles low, but at the ready. SgtMaj. Derek Hines fidgeted nearby, waiting for the hatch to open. . Col. Travis Patterson was riding the Turbolift, heading down to the Hangar Bay himself to see just who might be aboard this disabled freighter that so conveniently appeared in the flight path of fleeing kidnappers.
. Finally, the hatch of the old freighter unlocked and slid open. A brightly colored pink-skinned, purple-haired humanoid emerged, hands in the air. She spoke, "All right, all right, I'm coming out. I'm unarmed! What is the meaning of this?" She glanced around at all the armed Marines standing around the Hangar Bay. . Hines nodded at one of his Marines, SSgt. William Davies, "Davies, full sweep of that vessel, top to bottom." He turned to the woman at the hatch. "Ma'am, you're hereby being detained under Starfleet regulations, for suspicion of abducting a Gorn Ambassador. Kyle! Cuff her." . Cpl. Homer Kyle stepped forward, cuffs in hand. "Sorry, ma'am," he drawled. . "Gorn Ambassador?" The woman gawked. "Now wait just a god-damn minute! I work with the Gorn, why would I kidnap one?" . Hines responded with a straight face even as Kyle cuffed the woman. "That's a damn good question. What exactly were you doing here at the Ambassador's last location? And with a ship in rough shape? Knowing the Gorn ... they wouldn't go out without a fight." . "I was ... delivering a shipment ... of 'shrooms!" She said, also straight-faced, even as the cuffs were secured behind her back. . Kyle stepped back after fastening the cuffs and grinned. "'Shrooms? I seent some o' dem in cow patties back home. Good stuff, huh?" . Patterson arrived just as the woman was making her statement. He strode over and asked, "Delivering to whom?" Hines stepped back as the Colonel took charge of the prisoner. . "Want proof?" the woman asked. "Go check my logs in the cabin. As for my ship ... well, it's honestly always looked like a heap of junk. I was delivering to the Gorn! They really like 'shrooms." Smuggler . "All clear!" Davies called from within the vessel.
. The woman continued, "I get it. I smuggle. Arrest me if you must, but I did not kidnap anybody! I supply mushrooms and the occasional lumina crystals, and write down every shipment, as I am supposed to do." . Patterson crossed his arms over his chest and scowled at the woman. "I've known quite a number of people with your trade. Smuggling contraband across the known quadrants." He paused before continuing, "You sell it square and bluntly, unafraid and un-wavered by the laws that govern this sector of space ... and the laws are quite strict about what would happen to smugglers and their vessels." . The woman frowned. "Yes, I know. Look, I didn't choose to become a smuggler, I'm forced to be one by the Ogres of my planet! Smuggling is all I know to do! It's the only escape I can get from them!" . Patterson nodded, and said softly, "It would be a shame if they were to find out you were caught, wouldn't it?" He glared at her a moment before saying, "I want more information about the ongoings in this sector: pirate locations, smuggler outposts, fences, every single inch of the underground you know about. Then we'll talk about whether or not you'll keep your ship and cargo." . "Wait," the woman said. "You're looking for pirates? Well, why didn't you say so? Most of my shipments go to pirate locations and smugglers' outposts!" . Patterson moved his arms to clasp his hands behind his back. "Exactly. You're gonna tell us where they are. All of them." He spoke to the man standing beside him without turning his head, "Hines, I want a detachment on security of the freighter at all times. Nothing breathes on that thing, and nothing comes out, without my approval." . "Aye, sir!" Hines answered and then barked out, "You heard the Colonel, Marines! Davies, your team is on primary detail! You guys did the first sweep."
. "Well," the woman began, "do I have to have guns at my back, though? Look, I am no criminal. You wanna look around my ship, go ahead." She stepped aside to let people pass. "Like I said, in the cabin are my records of clients and locations and shipments, even how much I paid. You can find my log book in the desk drawer by the helm steering. Should be the drawer on the left. The one on the right is ... well, snacks, like chips. I got hungry just floating there." Need a Pirate to Find a Pirate . Both Patterson's and Hines' commbadges chirped. It was LtCmdr. Denovan Hawke, the Chief of Security and Tactical Operations up on the Bridge. "Patterson, Hines, how are we looking with our 'guest?'" . Neither man responded right away. Instead, Patterson just shook his head at the strange woman in front of him. "On the contrary, you have yourself testified on record that you're a smuggler ... so you are, in fact, a criminal. The fact I haven't had you locked in the brig on your arrival is a courtesy I extended. You should consider yourself lucky." He turned this time to address the man beside him. "Hines, see to it our guest is given adequate quarters, and post a guard." . The woman balked. "So, my honesty is treated as jack shit huh?" She glared at the Marines around her. "I thought being honest lessens the punishment. At least in a brig I won't have to worry about being hunted down by my own race." . "Watch your tone with me, girl!" Patterson barked back. "As I said, adequate quarters ... unless you'd rather an 8 by 10 cell with a bucket to crap in." . "Well," she scoffed. "It's not like I haven't had to use a bucket before! I'm just being honest here, but ... I'll remain silent then." . Hines reached out and nudged the woman softly on the arm. "This way." He looked over at Patterson and said, "Colonel, Deck 6, E-44." They started towards the exit.
. Patterson nodded and finally tapped his commbadge as he followed them. "Patterson to Bridge, sorry for the delay. We're moving our guest to Deck 6, Enlisted Quarters 44. Commodore, she has information regarding pirate camps and smuggling outposts." . Just before the exit, the woman turned and said, "Hey, wait a second, it's important. You're looking for pirates? You won't find them in your current state. You need a pirate to find a pirate. Let me by that pirate! It's a better idea than taking up room when I could be useful." She stood a moment, then shrugged as she turned back towards the door, "Just think about it." . Patterson held up a hand. "Hold it, Hines." He tapped his commbadge again. "Commodore, you're gonna want to be down here for the proposition our guest just gave us." . Hines turned to Patterson. "Y'know ... if it weren't for your background, you'd never have considered this in the first place." . The Commodore responded, "I just got an idea, too, Colonel. Bring our passenger to the Observation Lounge." . The woman turned again to face Patterson. "Look, I get you don't trust me, and I get that it seems like I showed up during a really bad time but ... if I can help, let me help and clear my name." She paused, then added with a grin, "Think of it as community service to pay for any crimes I committed." . Patterson looked her over and gave a nod. "Hines, stand down." He gestured for him to remove her cuffs as he tapped his commbadge again. "Patterson to Engineering. I need a team to come fix up this freighter. I get the feeling we're gonna be using it." He turned back to the woman, "You'll accompany me to the Observation Lounge. The CO wants to speak with you personally." He waved off Hines, and the big Marine shrugged and returned to the Hangar Bay as Patterson and the freighter pilot walked to a Turbolift.
. They stepped into the lift and Patterson stood with his arms behind his back, staring at the door in silence. He felt a little odd not having his rifle for a change. . The woman looked up at him and cleared her throat. "I ... uh ... I wanted to apologize for my behavior, any inconvenience I've caused." She paused and Patterson continued staring silently at the door. She added in a soft voice, "I wasn't lying about the 'being forced' part." Sickbay: Spavined Grinch Cat . In Sickbay, Dr. Shadow K'Trevala was meeting the new doctor, Lt. Oscar Myerz, and giving him the quick tour. Lt. Katarina Hawke was studying the virus that had infected MstSgt. Khal'Gon. . Khal'Gon, for his part, was recuperating, his strength returning by the hour. He was actually sitting up on the side of his biobed. He grumbled, "How much longer before I can return to duty?" . Kat looked up from her study and glanced over at Shadow, wondering if he was going to let the Klingon go back to work with the virus he had. . Shadow called out, "Two more days, Khal'Gon, and I think the itching and infection will be all over." . Kat resumed her study, experimenting in various simulations with ways to eradicate the virus, should it somehow resurface in the future. Shadow called out to her, "Anything, Kitten-Kat?" . Kat smiled at the nickname and answered, "Not much. I've tried a number of normal anti-virus treatments, but there's been little response, other than what you've used to treat it so far. And that's good, it's working, but things adapt. I am trying a few experiments to see if there's a way to stop it from adapting so it wouldn't return, should it return." . "Good thinking, Kitten-Kat," he said. "Keep it up." . She reached for a hypospray and walked over to Khal'Gon. The Klingon grunted as yet another hypo approached his neck. "What's that supposed to be for? Thought we were done using me as a pin cushion." (edited)
. Kat smirked. "It's a breathing treatment." . "Not sure I trust that smirk on your face," he said. . "It's treating the scars on your lungs so you can breathe easier," she assured him. . Shadow approached. "It's to help your breathing, Khal'Gon. Unless you want to sound like a spavined grinch cat for the rest of your days." . Khal'Gon huffed, then sighed, his breath rattling through scarred lungs. "What point is there to argue? Go ahead, let's get this over with." . Kat injected him with the hypospray with a smile, then turned away. "Your next treatment will be in a few hours. Try to breathe normally."