USS Penumbra Sim Narrative, SD 202110.08

 

Introduction:

The Penumbra was still in interstellar space within the boundaries of the Breen Confederacy. After meeting with the Zhenkarian Corsaire, V'rot Ka'Gun, we were given coordinates on where to find a certain Ferengi merchant, Galex, and his luxury liner "party barge".

When Galex arrived, the Penumbra seized his tiny ship in their dual tractor beam, Grabby Hands, punched a tiny hole through his shields with a narrow-focus tetryon beam, and transported Galex to the Penumbra's Observation Lounge.

Col. Patterson and Cdre. Taylor spoke briefly with Galex. During that conversation, Patterson decided to be truthful with the Ferengi and told him of their mission. Patterson said, "There are certain members within Federation High Command that are highly interested in our findings, and ... potentially ... would pay handsomely for anything we consider 'actionable intel.'"

Galex was more concerned with "How much would it cost me with the Breen?" He said he had a contract with certain individuals "to monitor specific activities in exchange for a regular stipend." And he said that the Penumbra's presence would complicate that contract.

As Galex and Patterson were talking, though, SgtMaj. Derek Hines detected a "sensor ghost" strongly suggesting a cloaked ship holding station at the edge of long-range scans. He and Lt. Standin speculated this may be the ship Galex was waiting for when he dropped out of warp there unexpectedly.

Patterson continued speaking to Galex, telling him the Ferengi was underestimating Section 31, to which Galex laughed, "Section 31? They're a myth!"

Patterson sealed the room and said, "Admiral Sulyk sends his regards, by the way."

Galex responded, "Sulyk? He's still alive?"

Meanwhile, in Sickbay, LtCmdr. Denovan Hawke took the drug cocktail mixed up by Dr. Shadow K'Trevala and LtCmdr. T'Lin. At this time, he hadn't complained of any side-effects, though it hadn't been that long, really. His sister, LtCmdr. Katarina Hawke was waiting to see what effects there would be on Den before she took the medicine.

 

Bridge:

Booby Traps?

The Bridge of the Penumbra was manned by Cdre. Zak Taylor, Cmdr. Relok, LtCmdr. Jason Carter, LtCmdr. Tabeshk Tibris, Lt. Jackson Carshel, Lt. Re'Libel Standin, SgtMaj. Derek Hines, and SSgt. Will Davies.

Zak and Relok were standing near Hines and Davies in the Reconnaissance Area of the Bridge, reviewing the "sensor ghost" that Hines had detected at the edge of their long-range scans.

Davies was trying to offer his insight, but his train of thought was a little broken since he wasn't used to speaking up on the Bridge. "Don't we ... or haven't we ... gotten enough information on ... not only just setting up grids or the like for detecting cloaked ships, but ... as well as the Romulan cloaking device ... not only the Enterprise got ... Kirk, well stole, but ... the Defiant has." He paused, then added, "Also the Aldrin has one. The Klingons gave us information also." Then he got to his point. "Why can't we just use that to find them?" He paused again, then tried to explain, "From my perspective as a soldier. Use the enemy's tools against them."

Relok waited patiently for Davies to get his thoughts out, then responded, "Valid points, all, Sergeant. We do have quite a bit of knowledge of a variety of cloaking systems."

Zak glanced from one to the other, then spoke to Davies, "Problem is, we know something is out there cloaked, we just don't know what." He rubbed his forehead. "I just know Galex knows who's out there. And if he doesn't make contact soon, it's going to make trouble for both of us."

"Well," Davies answered, "like out in the field, we set up booby traps. Something they can't detect until they are right on it and it's too late."

Hines spoke up then, "Still ain't gotten a damn thing yet on sensors for that yacht. That shadow hasn't moved yet either."

Davies glanced at Hines and said, "Or ... there was another idea I had for the shadow. Just vent warp plasma. If they are in our wake, it's like setting up a trip wire with a paintball grenade."

At the Primary Science Station on the other side of the Bridge, Carshel suggested, "We could always zap the piss out of the cloaked ship and light them up like a Christmas tree at the same time."

Relok turned to his junior officer. "A sneak attack? But, we don't even know if they're hostile yet!"

"I never said 'sneak attack'. Geez, old man! Just ... thought it was funny."

Zak turned back to Davies. "But that would certainly show where we are. Let's save that for later, Sergeant."

Davies nodded, then added, "We also have ... like tracking foot prints or broken branches or the like. Follow the gas trail."

 

Galex's Comms

Zak's commbadge chirped with a call from Col. Travis Patterson. "Commodore, lower the shields and beam our new contractor back to his ship, please."

Zak tapped his commbadge. "Acknowledged." He turned towards the Operations Console and said, "Tabby, would you send our guest back to his ship now please?"

Tabby responded, "Hmm ... okay then. See ya, Lex!" And Galex was beamed back to his tiny ship. "I was so over having Dumbo on the ship."

Zak turned slightly towards the Helmsman, "Carter, pass us by that cloaked ship. Hines, tag it with a tracer if you can."

Carter engaged the impulse drive and maneuvered them towards the cloaked vessel. "Hopefully," he said, "they won't detect us like we've noticed them."

About that time, Patterson stepped onto the Bridge having returned from the Observation Lounge now that Galex was gone.

Suddenly, a communications link opened. They heard Galex's voice, "Ah, Thot Yurl, sorry, I didn't see you over there!"

The strange hissing buzz of a Breen's voice responded, "I do not appreciate being left waiting, Galex. I was under the impression you were reliable ... and discreet."

Zak glanced at Patterson, then back to Tabby, a look of confusion on his face. "We're hearing Galex's comms? How'd we manage that?"

"I didn't do it!" Tabby barked back. "Don't look at me!"

Relok looked towards the main viewer and commented, "It doesn't seem likely Galex would have such a flaw in his communications."

Tabby didn't turn but answered, "Relok, I can tell you for a fact he probably hacked us and shared his comms on purpose."

Galex's voice continued, "I do apologize. I was in the middle of my bath when my navigator informed me we'd reached the coordinates. But, we're both here now, so ... can I welcome you aboard?"

Hines' commbadge chirped. It was LtCmdr. Bevin MacArdry-Tibris in Engineering, her thick Scottish Brogue nearly indecipherable without long experience, "Chaik aut thais nambirs, thay mait be yewsfil: thray-thray-naine-thray-feive-tieu-saivn gaigahertz." She'd asked Hines to check out some numbers, specifically the frequency of 3393527 gigahertz.

Hines turned his attention to the designated frequency and began scanning. "Hmm," he murmured, but didn't clarify.

 

Backtracking

Patterson gave a smirk, then addressed the Helmsman, "Carter, slow us down to half impulse on our approach." He turned slightly towards the Tactical Station, "Standin, keep the shields up and weapons on standby. Just in case."

The stoic Vulcan filling in for LtCmdr. Denovan Hawke at the Tactical Station responded, "Aye, sir, shields and weapons on standby. MIRAGE remains active. No sign the cloaked ship has detected us ... yet."

Relok moved around the back of the Bridge and returned to the Secondary Science Station. As he approached he asked, "Carshel, can we play back our sensors to track where that 'ghost' came from?"

"Aye," the younger scientist responded, "Let me look into it and I'll get back to you on that." He began the analysis.

Zak moseyed around the Bridge and returned to the Command Chair and took his seat. As he did he grumbled, "I feel like the proverbial fly on the wall ... waiting for the swatter to smash us!"

Carter replied, "They better have one big flyswatter to hit this ship, Commodore."

The grating voice of the Breen came over the comm again, "I only have two hours before I have to report in, Mr. Galex. I was told you had the best in ... certain pass-times. I will be beaming over with a couple of bodyguards. Lower your shields."

Galex answered, "Certainly, Thot! And you may rely on my discretion. We pride ourselves on providing luxury and privacy. You won't need guards here, but they're welcome to come spend their latinum too!" His tiny yacht lowered its shields and the "ghost" on the Penumbra's sensors dropped its cloak, revealing itself to be a Breen Scout ship.

Carshel completed his analysis on the trajectory of the Breen ship. "Okay, I can trace the trajectory of the ship back for an hour or so. Beyond that we lose the trail. It just goes off into interplanetary space, though. I don't get it."

Relok gave him a curt nod. "Good work, though, Carshel. It lets us know from which direction he came. It's something."

Carshel shrugged, "Eh. Job's done. I'm just doing what I'm good at, instead of freaking out trying to find out things I don't need to know."

 

"Tell me you put a tracer on Galex's ship!"

Patterson turned to Hines. "Let's scan that Scout ship ... discreetly."

Hines nodded. "Anything we're looking for in particular?"

Zak turned to the Reconnaissance Marine. "It'd be nice to learn who this 'Thot Yurl' is. Thot, that's a high rank in the Breen military, isn't it?"

Relok answered, "Yes, Commodore, it's equivalent to a General, I think. But, why is a General aboard a small Scout ship?"

Hines glanced between the Commodore and the Colonel, having received conflicting orders. He said, "I think the ship comes first, sir? We have his name now. We can research that when we want. Right?"

Zak looked chagrined. "You're right, Hines." Then he scowled in thought and said, "If it's just a Scout, why are they way out here? Did he come here just to meet Galex? Is he delivering something? Carrying someone maybe?"

Then, without warning or notice, Galex's tiny yacht jumped to warp. And just like that, he was gone!

"Ugh!" Tabby groaned, "He's annoying!"

Carshel muttered, "At least we don't have to keep staring at that mess of colors he calls a ship."

"What the hell?" Zak cursed. He spun his chair towards the Recon Area, "Hines, tell me you put a tracer on Galex's ship!"

Hines shook his head. "Never got the chance, Commodore. I can try to track him, but ... I don't know how far he's gotten."

"Damn it!" Zak cursed again, smacking his hand on the arm of his chair. "That damned Ferengi double-crossed us!"

Relok said, "Sir, if Galex was going to double-cross us, I don't think we'd have heard his communications with the Thot. I suspect there's something deeper going on here."

 

"Actionable Intel"

Patterson gave a slight shrug. "We can't watch both of them at the same time, can we? Send the Deltas to track Galex?"

Strangely, the Breen scout ship just stayed where it was. It made no move to pursue Galex's yacht.

Zak glanced at Patterson, considering, then said, "How about we track Galex and let the Delta's stand guard over that Scout. I think it's weird he didn't take off after Galex."

Standin commented, "Sir, the Scout ship would have a small crew complement. There may not be anybody aboard. Perhaps ... we could take it ourselves?"

Zak raised an eyebrow as he turned to Patterson. "Now THAT could be some actionable intel, taking a Breen Scout ship."

Davies commented, "If they share the information that they all are using thus far, very good intel. Hines? With permission, I'll set up an assault team."

Patterson smirked, then nodded. "Hines, prepare a boarding party. Davies, you're with him. Get Khal'Gon and the rest of Alpha team, and report to TR1."

"Aye, sir," Hines said, then turned towards the man standing next to him. "Will?" Together they headed for the Turbolift.

Zak watched Patterson put together his assault team, then turned back to the front. "Tabby, get hold of that Scout with Grabby Hands. Carter, launch 4 Deltas to surround that Scout, and the other 4 to tail Galex."

Tabby nodded, "Understood," and engaged the dual tractor beams they called Grabby Hands.

Zak turned to the Tactical Station. "Standin, bring us to Yellow Alert."

The Vulcan nodded and activated the Alert. The klaxon sounded and lights flashed yellow all over the ship.

 

Observation Lounge:

'See ya, Lex!'

The Ferengi, Galex, was with Col. Travis Patterson and MstSgt. Khal'Gon in the Observation Lounge aboard the Penumbra. Patterson leaned back in his chair and placed one leg on top of the opposing knee. He slid a PADD across the table to where Galex sat and said, 'Help us out, Galex. There's good profit in ensuring the Breen doesn't have Borg technology.'

But Galex just glared at Patterson. 'I told you, you and your ship are going to complicate my contract! And if you screw up what I'm working on it will cost your triple!'

Patterson glared back at the old Ferengi. 'And you're willing to risk not only your profit but your life if the Breen DO have Borg tech?'

Galex sighed then said, 'Look, there's this guy who wants to spend some free time on my ship. IF he's happy and comfortable, I might learn stuff. And IF I learn stuff, I might be able to sell it to the highest bidder! Wake up, boy!'

Patterson tapped the PADD he'd offered to Galex. 'Names of officers. Ships. Equipment. Anything unusual ... record it, and get it back to me. We'll pay you based on the information provided.'

Galex took the PADD and said, 'Yeah, yeah, sure. But ... I need to be over there ...,' he pointed out the window at his ship, then continued, '... so my customer can get comfy, without your ship staring at him!'

Patterson gave a nod and stood. 'Then by all means ...,' he said, then tapped his commbadge. 'Commodore, lower the shields and beam our new contractor back to his ship, please.'

The Commodore's voice came back, 'Acknowledged. Tabby, would you send our guest back to his ship now please?'

They heard LtCmdr. Tabeshk Tibris, the Chief of Operations, reply, 'Hmm ... okay then. See ya, Lex!' And Galex was beamed back to his tiny ship.

With a nod at Khal'Gon, Patterson turned and strode back to his place on the Bridge.

 

Main Engineering

'Check Out These Numbers'

LtCmdr. Bevin MacArdry-Tibris was in Engineering. With all systems running smoothly, she had time to devote to trying to help get through the various 'sensor glitches' they'd picked up when they tried to scan Galex's yacht.

She used a program she called 'Finding Nemo', a 'phishing program', to see what she could discover. After several long minutes, she picked up something she thought was peculiar. She tapped her commbadge and called SgtMaj. Derek Hines in the Reconnaissance Area of the Bridge. In her strong Scottish Brogue she said, 'Chaik aut thais nambirs, thay mait be yewsfil: thray-thray-naine-thray-feive-tieu-saivn gaigahertz.' She'd asked Hines to check out some numbers, specifically the frequency of 3393527 gigahertz.

Though that frequency had caught her eye, it wasn't what she was looking for. She was hoping to determine the precise resonance frequency of Galex's ship's shields, always a useful value to know. But, Galex was nothing if not careful with his ship's specifics, and she wasn't getting anywhere with that.

After working it for a while, she heard a klaxon and the lights flashed to Yellow Alert. She put aside her investigations to prepare herself and her teams to shuffle power where it was needed during the Alert.

 

Sickbay:

Hallucinations or Side-Effects?

LtCmdrs. Denovan and Katarina Hawke were still in Sickbay, having been relieved of duty due to recurring hallucinations apparently caused by some kind of malfunction (or overload) of their Borg implants.

Dr. Shadow K'Trevala and LtCmdr. T'Lin were with them in Sickbay, doing what they could to keep them calm. Between those two, they'd devised a "drug cocktail" that was expected to reduce the hallucinations by slowing the effects of their Borg implants. The problem was there would be "side effects", both physical and mental.

Because of the risk, Den had decided to be the "guinea pig" and took the medicine first, and then they would decide whether his younger sister, Kat, would risk it.

Den sat on the edge of a biobed while Kat sat opposite him on an adjacent bed. Shadow sat nearby, strumming softly on his Tayledrian harp and projecting waves of calmness with his empathic abilities. T'Lin worked nearby at one of the medical consoles.

Suddenly, Den tensed. "Umm ... no." He fidgeted, then said, "Uh-unh! Oh!" and jumped off the biobed rushing for the head!

Kat watched her brother, unable to stop a giggle as he ran off. She slid off the bed and walked around a bit, muttering to herself, "Go away. No, I don't wanna talk to any of you anymore! It's not MY fault you died on that ice rock!"

Den heard her and hollered from the head, "Not real, Kat!"

"No!" Kat cried again. "Go away!" She ran and hid under a biobed, looking around. There were too many voices, and she couldn't even hear Den anymore. She didn't even really hear Shadow's harp anymore. "No!" she shouted, "Stay away!" Her voice changed pitch, sounding like a little girl again, "Go away. You hurt Mommy and Daddy!"

Den made his way back from the head and spoke to Shadow, "I might need something for those ... uh ... side effects, Doc."

Shadow stood and placed his harp in his seat and moved over to get Den some Diphenhydramine to help ease the histamine effects of the medication.

 

Sedation

Kat was looking for a way to escape. She backed under the biobed again and muttered, "Shush, they'll hear you! Mommy said get back to the shuttle." Then she called out again, "No! No, no, no! Go away! Go away!"

Den tried to soothe his sister. "I told you, they aren't there, Kat."

Shadow also tried to sooth her with his empathic projections, but Kat didn't acknowledge either of them. She didn't see them at all. All she saw was what was in her head. Suddenly she made a mad dash for the exit!

Den hurried to cut her off. "Oh no, no no." He was still seeing things too, particularly that damned shadow demon. But, his reflexes weren't impaired. He scooped up his sister and held her close, rocking her back and forth. "It's okay," he said.

"No!" Kat struggled against her brother. "No! Mommy! Help!" All she saw was a Borg drone that had captured her and wanted to turn her back into a Borg herself! She nearly screamed, "Den! Den, don't let it get me!"

"It IS me, Kat!" Den said. "It's Den! I took the cocktail; I can't talk to you in our minds. You have to believe me. It's just us ... and our friends."

T'Lin moved over, adding her own empathic projections to Shadow's, envisioning a soft blanket enveloping Kat. She spoke softly, motherly. "It is okay. You are okay. We will not let anyone harm you, Kat. You are safe here."

But Kat was now trapped in her hallucination. She didn't see or hear any of them. "Den!" she cried, "Mom? Help! Help!" She was nearly hysterical, whimpering like a frightened child and struggling to get free of Den's grip.

"Doc," Den said, "she needs to be sedated."

Shadow reached for a sedative and filled a hypospray and handed it to T'Lin to administer. Then he produced a chocolate-covered pill he'd prepared. He'd combined the "drug cocktail" that Den had had to drink into a concentrated pill form, coated with chocolate to help it go down easier. "Kat," he said, "we'll not hurt you, but ... I do have some chocolates for you!" He showed her the pill.

T'Lin tried to avoid using the sedative, preferring non-medicinal methods like her empathic projections. "You are safe, Kat," she said, repeating those four words in an almost hypnotic pattern.

 

"I found you!"

But ultimately, it wasn't working. They weren't getting through. Shadow took back the hypo and pressed it to Kat's neck.

"There you go," Den said. Then he nodded at Shadow. "Give her the inoculant. I'm okay ... for the most part."

Shadow quickly prepared an injectable version of their drug cocktail and loaded up another hypospray. Kat began to calm as the sedative took effect. "Mom," she murmured, "I c-can't find him." Shadow injected the medicine and almost immediately Kat relaxed further. She turned to look up at Den and smiled. "I found you," she said.

T'Lin took Kat from Den and gently laid her back on the biobed. "You are safe, Kat. You and Den are safe here. Go to sleep, child."

But even as T'Lin lay Kat on the bed, she held a grip on Den's arm, refusing to let go, even though she was sedated. T'Lin looked at the grip and said, "We will not take him away. He is right here with you. Sleep peacefully."

Kat succumbed to sleep, but ... her grip did not relax.

Hawke mumbled, "Yes, you found me. I'm right here." He looked at T'Lin and Shadow and gave a slight shrug. "I guess I'm not going anywhere." Then his face scrunched up a bit. "I do need something for um ... the runs ... unless that's what that other hypo was for." Then he squinted and said, "Oh, you've got red on you by the way. That Demon is having a lot of fun putting images of death all over everyone in here."

Shadow set up a portable toilet for Den, then moved back to his chair and took up his harp again.

T'Lin looked up at Den and said, "I will get you something for your diarrhea." When she returned with another hypo, she said, "Tell me more about the demon. What exactly are 'images of death'? Is it us injured, dead, mutilated? I need to know what you are seeing."