USS Penumbra Sim Narrative, SD 202106.18 Introduction: . The Penumbra was holding station in interstellar space within the borders of the Breen Confederation just beyond the heliosphere of a star system where they had discovered at least two inhabited planets (not to mention asteroids and space stations). . It was decided to send a covert Away Team to the more rural of the two planets using the Canteen of Sparkles as their transport, since that vessel was an unaffiliated freighter that shouldn't draw too much attention. The Away Team consisted of Col. Travis Patterson (Team Lead), LtCmdr. Bevin MacArdry (Engineer), LtCmdr. T'Lin (Sciences & Security), LtCmdr. Tabeshk Tibris (Operations & Security), Lt. Katarina Hawke (Medic), SSgt. Will Davies (Recon & Security), and Miss Misty Mane (Pilot). . The Away Team were all dressed in Breen clothing (with the ubiquitous helmet) and it was thought they should be able to pass for Breen to all but the most careful examination. Their Mission was to mill around the small village that had been selected and listen in on any local gossip. The Federation's existing intelligence on the Breen was so outdated, almost anything could be useful. . After the Canteen had departed, the Penumbra would return to a hidden orbit of the rural planet and monitor comm traffic and the various ships running to and fro. The Canteen of Sparkles and the Cerberus, Pre-Launch: . Col. Travis Patterson was sitting at the rear hatch of the Canteen, pulling on the Breen helmet. He coughed a bit and muttered, "Sheesh, these things aren't designed to breathe very well."
. Behind him was LtCmdr. Tabeshk Tibris, struggling to get his helmet on. "These darn helms suck for ridges too, Pat." His half-Klingon nature meant he had forehead ridges that made the helmet a bit uncomfortable, or at least more than it might have been otherwise. . Across from Tabby was SSgt. Will Davies, one of Patterson's Pathfinder Marines selected for this Away Mission. He'd just secured his helmet and said, "I am locked and loaded. Suit is a little constrictive, but I do like the wrist mounted weapon." . Beside Tabby was LtCmdr. Bevin MacArdry, who'd just sealed her own helmet. She gave a nod and said in her strong Brogue, "Aim raedy, sair." . Across from Davies was Lt. Katarina Hawke, assigned as the Medic for the Away Team. She shifted, uncomfortable in the Breen clothing and helmet. She didn't like how restricted she felt. She understood the need to dress like this, but it wasn't comfortable and she was watching the others knowing they weren't very comfortable either. . Across from Bevin was LtCmdr. T'Lin, the Vulcan Science Officer and highly skilled D'Vir of her people. She moved her shoulders around, a bit too tall for the suit to fit just right, and grumbled wordlessly, before strapping in and beginning her prayer, like she always did before any Away Mission. . Up front in the pilot's seat was Misty Mane, the civilian owner and operator of the Canteen of Sparkles. She called out, "Alrighty, prepping for flight. Give it a few, she's an old gal." . Patterson confirmed all of his team was aboard and closed the hatch. Once it was secure he tapped a spot on the side of the helmet to activate the hidden communications link. "Patterson to Sandoval. Chief, get down to the Cerberus and keep her on standby, just in case." . The response came over the secure commlink, "Aye, sir, I'm on my way."
. They also overheard a brief exchange from the Bridge. The Commodore had said, "Relok, keep a sensor lock on the Canteen and our Away Team. If things go sour, we'll beam them up and bug out of the system." . Relok responded, "But, sir, if we do that we'll be abandoning the Canteen on the surface. Miss Mane will demand compensation, you know." . Zak answered, "If it's an emergency, Relok, I'm sure she'll be reasonable." . Misty responded, "I really don't intend to leave my ship. She's ... she's all I have left. If things go bad, let me know before shit hits the fan alright?" . Bevin chimed in, her Brogue nearly indecipherable, "Iffin thay'll aigray, thain I'll mak ye a naw Sprainkile baittir thain thais ane." . Kat glanced around then asked, "Huh?" She still had the most difficulty understanding Bevin's accent. . Patterson translated for her, "She said 'If they'll agree, then I'll make you a new Sprinkle better than this one.'" Inside his helmet he grinned at Bevin. . "Hell no!" Misty retorted. "Just ... no. I don't want a new *Canteen. This old heap of junk is family! If it goes, I go with it. This ship can't just be replaced." . Davies commented with a shrug, "Well, just ... upgrade what's needed, ma'am." . Patterson rolled his eyes, though no-one could see through the Breen helmet he wore. "Relax, Misty. It'll be fine, just ... fly us to the planet." . Misty relaxed, slightly. "I'll fly, I'll fly. I just hope everyone is, well, as comfortable as could be. I did do some tweaking, but that darn Ensign messed things up a little, mostly mild." She was surely referring to Ensign Al Thums who'd been part of the repair team that had come over when she'd first arrived. . Finally, Misty nodded. "Alrighty, ready for liftoff."
. Patterson nodded back at her once more and repeated, "It'll be fine, Ms. Mane." As the old freighter rattled and groaned as it lifted from the Flight Deck he turned to Davies, smirking behind the helmet, "Ain't too bad, just ... old. Steady as she goes, Ms. Mane." . Across the Flight Deck, CfWrnt. Sandy Sandoval had boarded the private Reconn vessel, the Cerberus. He opened a commlink, "Cerberus to Bridge. Standing by on Alert One." . LtCmdr. Jason Carter, Chief of Flight Operations, responded, "Acknowledged, Chief." There was a brief pause as the Canteen slipped through the force field at the Hangar Bay doors, then Carter said, "Away Team is away." Bridge, Pre-Launch: . Cdre. Zak Taylor sat in the Command Seat on the Bridge of the Penumbra. He said, "Mr. Carter, as soon as you're ready, signal the Canteen they're free to launch." . LtCmdr. Jason Carter, Chief of Flight Operations at the Helm, answered, "Aye, sir." He signaled the Hangar Bay and opened the primary launch doors. . Cmdr. Relok, the Vulcan Chief of Sciences and Second Officer, took the Executive Officer's seat since Col. Travis Patterson was leading the Away Team. He pulled up an active sensor feed on one of the chair's arm panels. . Just off to Zak's right, sat SgtMaj. Derek Hines at the Reconnaissance Station. Between them stood LtCmdr. Denovan Hawke, Chief of Security and Tactical Operations, at the Tactical Station. Zak turned his head, "Den, verify MIRAGE status and then Carter can take us back to our hidey-hole." . Den checked and responded, "We're all good, sir." . Zak glanced at Relok to his right and said, "Relok, keep a sensor lock on the Canteen and our Away Team. If things go sour, we'll beam them up and bug out of the system." . Relok turned to him and said, "But, sir, if we do that we'll be abandoning the Canteen on the surface. Miss Mane will demand compensation, you know."
. Zak gave a slight smirk, "If it's an emergency, Relok, I'm sure she'll be reasonable." . From the Flight Deck they heard Misty's response over a commlink, "I really don't intend to leave my ship. She's ... she's all I have left. If things go bad, let me know before shit hits the fan alright?" . Then they heard LtCmdr. Bevin MacArdry's nearly indecipherable Brogue, "Iffin thay'll aigray, thain I'll mak ye a naw Sprainkile baittir thain thais ane." . They even heard Kat ask, "Huh?" and Patterson's translation before he closed the commlink. . A moment later, Carter announced, "Commodore, the *Cerberus has initiated pre-flight procedures." . Zak groaned, "Carter, try to convince AEGIS that she can wait until Patterson screams for help." . Carter shrugged, "It's just a pre-flight, sir. Sandoval's down there." . Just as he said this, a call came from the Flight Deck. "Cerberus to Bridge. Standing by on Alert One." . Carter responded, "Acknowledged, Chief." He gave the signal to open the main Hangar Bay doors. . Den watched on his Tactical console as the Canteen suddenly appeared as it slipped outside of the active MIRAGE system. "They're out, Commodore," he reported. . Carter confirmed, "Away Team is away." Away Mission: . After launching, the Canteen made the most direct route to the designated planet. As they flew, Kat commented, "Why does this Breen clothing have to be so uncomfortable?" . Patterson chuckled. "Probably because the Breen aren't mammals, Kat." . Kat scowled at Patterson, again the expression hidden behind the helmet. Then she let out a soft chuckle and said, "I guess you're not wrong." . Davies tapped the visor-like eyepiece, "I do like the different spectrum visual, though."
. A few moments passed and then the communications system chirped as a Breen called the ship. His voice had a tone that distinctly conveyed he was utterly bored to tears. "Attention unidentified freighter, state your destination and declare your cargo." The sentence was accented by a clearly audible yawn. . T'Lin suggested, "Trading, fishing, R&R, maybe?" . But Patterson just raised any eyebrow, again invisible within his helmet, and said, "Misty ... your show." . Misty opened the commlink, audio only, and responded, "Just a farmer with crops passing through on our way home." She muted the signal and muttered, "Hope they buy that load of dung." . Patterson grumbled softly, "This thing doesn't have any weapons either." . Misty grumbled back, "No, it's a freaking cargo ship you dumb ... ugh! Nevermind!" . The Breen Flight Controller's voice came back over the comm. "That's all fine and dandy, but ... you still didn't identify. Destination, cargo. C'mon, you know the drill, I've got things to do you know." . Patterson mumbled, "Tell him it's the only goddamned farm in this sector, and we're carrying new laborers." ==/\== . Davies said, "Do we not have codes in these suits we can use? They might be older codes, but still ...," he trailed off. . Patterson waved at hand at Davies and said, "Let's not use outdated codes unless we have to." . Misty signaled she was opening comms and said, "The only farm in the sector, sir. I'm carrying new laborers." . The Breen replied, "Old Urgosh bought some new slaves, eh? Didn't think he had any money left. See you at Disembarkation Check Three in ... five minutes."
. Misty responded, "Understood," and closed the comm channel. She breathed a sigh of relief and said, "This has got to be the craziest and dumbest thing I have ever done!" . Davies said, "This ought to be fun. And," he gestured at Kat, "Hawke there is short for a stormtrooper ... I mean Breen." . Hidden behind their helmets, several people rolled eyes at Davies. Kat was trying to remain calm, occasionally holding her breath as needed. . Patterson moved to the front and tapped Misty's shoulder, twice. "That's the first obstacle. Now we've gotta comply with their orders and go to inspection." . Misty looked up at him. "If we live through this, can I join the crew? I think I have earned it by now, since my life is literally in your hands. Sneaking into enemy lines is NOT something I am knowledgeable on you know." . Patterson mumbled, "We'll talk about that when we get back, Misty." . Misty said, "Yeah, I know." Then she said, "Altering course to the coordinates suggested." She lowered her voice and patted the console, "Just keep creeping along, old gal, just keep creeping along." . Then the comm system chirped again as the Breen Flight Controller called. "Hey, you guys just overshot the approach for Check Three! Pay attention! Bank right and set down at Four. Sheesh ... amateurs!" . Misty grumbled to herself, and NOT over the comm, "Well, if you TOLD me I would have docked! A-holes!" She banked the ship to the right, then said, "What the heck am I supposed to look for? What does the docking things look like?" ==/\== . Patterson placed a hand on her shoulder. "Easy, Ms. Mane. Get us into the atmosphere, and slow to thrusters only. Adjust heading, 15 degrees down. Clear the cloud level, and tell them we're getting some sensor interference and need to adjust for visual confirmation."
. "Alright," Misty said, taking a breath. "Gotcha. They said bank right as well, so it's to the right." She descended slowly, banking right as she did. . Kat bit her lower lip, watching as Misty flew the old freighter. A moment later the Canteen dropped below the clouds and a clearly obvious spaceport became apparent. Two other freighters were parked nearby and a squad of six Breen soldiers with weapons patrolled the area. . "I think that's it," Misty said. . Patterson tried to remember, then said, "We said we had new laborers, didn't we? We didn't say anything about new recruits." He glanced at his team, all dressed in Breen outfits, and none of them would be "slaves" or manual laborers for a farm. . Davies said, "Aren't laborers for the Breen used as new recruits as well? Different races." . Misty opened a commlink again. "Permission to land for inspection?" she asked, closing the commlink as quickly as she finished speaking. . The Breen Flight Controller responded to Misty's request, "Permission? Just land the damn thing and ready for inspection! Have you never done this before? Who's on that ship?" . Misty sighed, trying to calm herself, and muttered, "Just land the ship, got it." She proceeded to do just that. . T'Lin accessed memories from her D'Vir Mother soul, hundreds of years of experiences from all over the galaxy, and said, "I have some info on docking protocols. There will be a search on the ship for contraband, but since WE are the cargo, they should not look too hard. There will be a weapon sweep, so hide your weapons very, very well." . Patterson gave a shrug. "Guess we'll find out, won't we? Worst case scenario: Davies, you take the ones out on the right." ==/\==
. Suddenly, Kat stiffened slightly, then said, "Um, Den's telling me about a Heavy Cruiser incoming." She and her brother shared a residual Borg interlink. Even though both had been disconnected from the Borg Collective years ago and most of their implants removed, there was no way to fully clear some of those implants, especially the ones connected to the brain. . Patterson glanced at Kat and groaned. "A Heavy Cruiser? That's gonna add another hundred to potentially worry about." . Davies double-checked their weapons and gave Patterson a nod. "Good to go, Colonel." . T'Lin glanced over at Davies and Patterson, the two Marines on this Away Team, and said, "You two need to loosen up, you are laborers, not well-trained soldiers. Slouch a little, drag your feet, slur your words." . Misty called, "Brace yourselves, I'm landing." . Patterson gave her a nod, "Set her down, Ms. Mane." . Misty settled the Canteen to the ground and was beginning to wind down the engines. She muttered, "I really should have just stuck to smuggling." . Suddenly, the comm system relayed a call from some other Breen vessel. "Flight Control, clear a pad to receive a freight transport, Priority Code Beta Three Two Seven, transport en route." . The Flight Control Officer responded, "Priority Beta? Crap! Uh ... incoming freighter, scrub inspection and clear the field. Take your load direct to Urgosh's place. Go!" . Patterson rolled his eyes and grinned, even though the helmet blocked those actions from view by others. He said, "Abort landing, Misty." . T'Lin smirked in her helmet, "No inspection for us!" . "What?" Misty blinked, "Shit! Okay then, up we go!" She fired the engines again and lifted the Canteen from the ground and turned to leave the spaceport area, though she wasn't sure just where she was going yet. . T'Lin pointed over her shoulder, "Just fly us to the village." ==/\==
. Patterson turned to Kat, "Kat, get a message to your brother and see if him and Hines can identify this ... Urgosh fella's place." . She nodded at him and called her brother in her mind, ~Den, can you and Hines identify anything on this Urgosh fella's place?~ . Misty turned the Canteen towards the nearby village and then T'Lin added, "They are nervous about the cruiser. Ask where Urgosh wants his cargo, they should tell us the coordinates for it." . Misty turned to look at Patterson, who was the leader of the team. He nodded, "Do it." . About that moment, a Breen cargo transport broke through the cloud deck, headed towards the same landing area where the Canteen had been a moment before. . Misty opened the commlink and called the Breen Flight Controller, "Where does Urgosh want his cargo?" . The Controller, obviously flustered, answered, "How the hell would I know? Ask him when you get there! Now clear this channel!" . Though the comm was closed now, Misty whispered back to the Controller, "Gladly. You're rude sir." She turned to the others and repeated, "Breen are RUDE!" . T'Lin suggested again, "Tell them that Urgosh told you to go through inspection and that they would tell us where to go from there. Be blunt and a little rude about it. You are a slave trader, remember?" . But before she could do that, Patterson spoke. He looked around at his team and then turned to Misty. "Misty, I hate to say it, but you're not exactly gonna be able to stick around as long as we are. Get us low to the ground, slow as much as you can, and get ready to pop the hatch." . Misty drawled, "All right ...," she wasn't sure this was a good idea. ==/\== . As Misty lowered the Canteen to just a few meters above ground, she slowed it to a crawl, and popped the rear hatch. She turned her head to ask, "Are you sure about this?"
. T'Lin studied Patterson's face a moment then gave a curt nod. "Too late to second guess this now!" She moved towards the open hatch. . Patterson nodded back at her. "Without a clear landing zone or instructions on where Urgosh wants his cargo... yeah, we don't really have the choice, do we?" . Up on the Penumbra, Den had a location for Urgrosh. He called Kat over their interlink, ~Five kilometers northwest, Kat.~ Quickly, Kat relayed the information to the team. . As the Canteen flew low and slow approaching a farm, a Breen rushed out of a building raising some kind of long rifle and pointing it at the Canteen!. . Davies had been gazing out of the hatch and saw the man pointing a weapon. He announced, "They know we're here!" Then he raised his own weapon and said, "Oh, no you don't!" and he fired. . The farmer, or whatever he was, with the rifle got off one shot. Disruptor energy crackled along the bottom of the ship, scorching the hull but not getting through. Davies' shot hit him square in the chest and he collapsed in a heap, motionless. . Davies turned to Patterson and said, "There went our cover." . Patterson stepped to the hatch, watching the terrain roll past, rather quickly. He could see that it was relatively flat and covered with tall grass, which should provide good cover. He hoped the ground wasn't too hard. He said, "Time to drop, everyone. Go! Go! Jump and roll with the terrain!" . T'Lin was first out, followed immediately by Tabby and Bevin. Kat was uncertain but she was the team's medic and there was no way she was staying behind. She jumped. Davies followed her. Patterson was last and he called, "Misty, we're clear. Get outta here and signal the Penumbra for rendezvous. Godspeed!" And he jumped. Bridge, Post-Launch: . After the Canteen had launched, the Penumbra made its way back to planet under the cover of its MIRAGE system and resumed their high orbit.
. Hines was carefully monitoring all the comm traffic he could pick up, trying to sort through it to make sense of it all. Then he heard something that caught his attention: a Flight Controller addressing an incoming freighter, "Attention unidentified freighter, state your destination and declare your cargo." . Hines tensed and muttered, "First hurdle ... come on, Misty, do your job ...." . Misty's voice came over the comm, "Just a farmer with crops passing through on our way home." . The Breen Flight Controller responded, "That's all fine and dandy, but ... you still didn't identify. Destination, cargo. C'mon, you know the drill, I've got things to do you know." . Then MAX interrupted, "Breen vessel closing from starboard aft, dorsal. Course 031 mark 025." . Cdre. Zak Taylor turned to his Tactical Officer, LtCmdr. Denovan Hawke, "Easy, Den, he can't see us, right? Carter, make sure we're not in his way." . Den checked his board and said, "Shouldn't be able to, the MIRAGE is still working." . Carter checked his navigational display and said, "I see it, MAX. Altering course to 141 mark 080, lateral roll 20 degrees port." After a moment he reported, "Established in the overhead, low synchronous orbit. We're at Stable One, Commodore." . Relok raised an eyebrow and turned to the Commodore. "Sir, this one we could see ... what if a Breen warship comes in under cloak? Would we detect it to avoid collision?" . Hines answered first. "If there's any radio traffic, I can triangulate their location, but it may be delayed ...," he trailed off, his face screwing up a bit. He scrubbed at his brow a moment and then said, "Commodore, I'm picking up some traffic. Sounds like a heavy cruiser coming in to pick up supplies from the rural colony in about 10 minutes. Attempting to triangulate their location." He went to work furiously at his station.
. "Damn!" Zak barked. "That's going to complicate things for our Away Team if they send personnel down to load supplies." . Den said, "Double checking, not that I don't trust your data, Hines. Making sure." He scowled as he confirmed it. "This got more complicated." ==/\== . Relok looked again at Zak and asked, "Commodore, did we make arrangements for secure comm signals with our Away Team? I wouldn't want to contact them if we risk exposing them, but ...," he trailed off. . Zak started with, "Den, Hines, tell me we have a way to talk to our team that's ...," but he was interrupted by Hines. . "I didn't think we needed to," Hines said, raising an eyebrow. "Kat is over there, Den is here, ..." he trailed off. . Zak blushed, "Oh, um, yeah, we have that don't we? Den, let your sister know they might be having company." . "Yes, sir," Den said as he called for his sister, ~Kat, you've got incoming. A heavy cruiser.~ . After a moment, Hines called out, "I've got it, bearing 118 mark 72 as of last transmission." . Zak grumbled, "I deliberately chose the rural world to avoid just this scenario! Why do the Fates want to play with us like this?" . Hines added more information, "They just called to Flight Control. Priority Code Beta 3-2-7. Still bearing 118 mark 72, at heading 215 mark 171. Can't tell their speed, though." . Den mentioned, "Sir, that just flagged them and us." . Zak turned to the Tactical Officer, "What do you mean, Den?" . Den grimaced, "I'm not sure, it might be a glitch." He glanced back down at his console and scrolled through a few things. "Pffew," he breathed, "No, I think we're in the clear." . Relok said, "Commodore ... I'm detecting a ... sensor anomaly in the general direction where Hines said that ship would be. I think it's cloaked, but ...," he looked up with a smirk, "We can see it, well ... sorta."
. Then Den stiffened a moment then turned to Hines, "Kat wants to know if we can get tone on Urgosh's place and I can feed it to them." . Hines muttered, "Urgosh, Urgosh ... hang on." He toggled a few things on his display and then said, "MAX, replay any messages with the name Urgosh, and see if we can triangulate a coordinate." . Relok also glanced over at Den and Hines, then stood and moved quickly to one of the Science Stations. "I have a topographic scan here ... based on where the Canteen is and assuming this Urgrosh's farm is nearby ...," he trailed off and then continued, "Yes, there's a large farm about five clicks northwest of their location. It's the only one within 20 klicks." . MAX chimed in, "Confirmed. That location coexists with transmissions intercepted." . "Thank you," Den said, then relayed that information to his sister on the Away Team. . Now, they all just had to hold their breaths and wait for the Away Team to report in.