What the Hell is That?

Posted on Sun Nov 27th, 2016 @ 8:43pm by Colonel Damian Highsmith M.Eng & Lieutenant Colonel Eleanor Redpath J.D. & Captain Luke Smith & Lieutenant JG Michael Emerson

Mission: Bad Moon Rising
Location: USS Hammersley, Main Bridge
Timeline: Immediately Following 'New Staff, No Problem!'

ON:

Damian strode onto the bridge from his ready room, with Corporal Lansley standing there with his mouth agape as he had been interrupted in mid-sentence. Taking his seat at the command chair, he turned back. "Continue, Corporal." he said in a slightly fatigued manner.

Lansley took a breath and continued. "Sir, the message is broadcasting on One-Twenty One- Five on a loop like the escape pods we recovered but this one is a little different." Without prompting, Simon played the signal on the bridge speakers. From what Damian could tell, the broadcast was tinged with static and the unmistakable sound of heavy, hurried breathing- almost as if the person was running short on time and air.

"To any Federation ship in the vicinity, this is Dahar Mahoka. We are currently trapped in Section Two -Whiskey-Beta- Eight and we appear to be drifting. Please. Anyone. Help us-" any sound was cut off by a series of meaty thuds of bodies hitting bulkheads followed by distant yells that sounded like bodies hitting bulkheads. The voice delivering the monologue continued. "-I have forty souls alive and I don't know how long more we can hold out.-"

Yamaguchi raised an eyebrow. "Dahar... as in a Dahar Master..?" she asked softly, not expecting a response.

Damian made a cutting motion across his throat to cut the feed. His blood had turned icy- there were now more souls to rescue and they had no idea if they were even still alive. "Corporal, how old is that transmission?" Damian inquired.

"Approximately 90 hours, sir. We just started picking it up since the escape pod signals were terminated." Lansley said quickly.

Damian swallowed and looked forward as he tried to come up with a plan. The ship was already full of casualties and the medical staff was stretched thin as it was. Everyone had been working double shifts since the initial rescue and most of the senior staff was probably dead on their feet. "Corporal, get Captain Smith to the bridge and initiate a signal trace. Helmsman, lay in a course for that location.

Lee was helping in engineering with some transfer of power reserves to help with the boosting of the sensor output, "Nearly there, come on, can get better than that crewman. We need to get more power to the sensor array to at least get a fix. The messages are still coming in garbled at best and not the entire transmission either....well I don't think so."

"I'm trying sir.....there that better?"

"Good, =/\= Computer, replay the last transmission. =/\=" The computer replayed the distress call with more clarity. They too heard the bulkheads and background screams.

"Well they're scared. But still nothing much from it. Okay try the sensor array, the area is still vast but I'd be sure we'll get some interference to his sensors. Try to tweak that input a bit further...." They monitored the readings increase just a little bit and Lee was doubly sure that small changes give bigger results. As things degrade, there is always the set parameters that Starfleet requires but every engineer and crew alike, know that it is just a guideline and every module, component have their characteristics and seem to work fine if given the opportunity. Sort of like buying a CPU and overclocking it. That's what's being done here.

"=/\= Captain Smith to the bridge =/\="

"=/\= Coming!! =/\=" Lee wasn't the best of marines, short of discipline and marine ethos but he holds his work to heart. The days of parades and inspections, rifle shooting have gone for him. But he's quite happy to get up and the crack of dawn and burn the midnight oil. Lee headed for the turbo lift, "Bridge." The turbo lift wooed up the shaft and along and up; Lee never got used to being jerked about as much but was sure Engineering might look at that.....one day. The doors opened, "Who wants me?" Heading to his station, "Ops to this panel." The LCARS display glimmered up. Peering over at the sensors and saw the starbase debris appear. "Hmmm that worked well.....needs more clarity on that."

Lt Commander Plataea Yamaguchi was busy at her post. "I'm reading a significant amount of debris." she paused. "I think it's Starbase Nine Hundred." she added a moment later.

Just then the com system beeped at the bridge crew. "Emerson to bridge. My guys and I are ready for anything down here."

"Helm, take us in." Damian commanded. "The rest of you, prep for an Away Mission." Turning to the XO, Damian pulled a heavy golden challenge coin from his pocket that was emblazoned with the Starfleet Marine Corps seal on one side and two crossed wrenches on the other. “XO, pick a side- Heads says I lead the Away Team, tails says you go." Damian said, putting the coin flat in his hand.

Yamaguchi raised an eyebrow as she crossed her arms over her chest. "Ahem..." she regarded the two. “Should I even bother citing chapter and verse of the away team regs?" she inquired in a tone that said she knew the outcome.

Damian chuckled. "You could, Commander but we're Marines, we're well known for rushing headlong into danger." he said playfully. "Colonel, I'd appreciate it if you'd pick your side or I might have to pick for you." he said to Eleanor in the same playful tone, his statement tinged with a slight bit of impatience.

Yamaguchi simply shook her head. "That’s a matter of opinion sir." the older woman commented. "Risking the Captain or first officer on the ship is... frankly sir... most unwise as we simply lack the resources at this time."

Lieutenant Colonel Redpath looked at Colonel Highsmith "I do not believe in flipping a coin, Colonel. You have my endorsement to lead this away team" said the woman before she cast her eyes upon Yamaguchi. "I applaud your respect for regulations, rules, protocol and so forth. However, you will learn quite quickly Marines live by a code. It's rarely wise to try and keep a Marine from the action" she said.

Damian flashed a reluctant smirk at this woman's creative refusal. "Well then, you'll be on the bridge. Keep a channel open." Standing up from his chair, he walked over to the turbolift. "Keep trying to nail down that signal and have Captain Smith meet me in the Armory for briefing. Anyone else who wants to join is more than welcome to do so. “He said, opening the door for the assembled staff to join him. As no one rose from their seats, he moved his hand. "XO has the ship." he said deliberately before the doors closed in front of him.

Yamaguchi stood in silence, with an incredulous look on her face but she was able to not say anything stupid as she fought with her emotions, people had simply ignored the regs regarding away team duty out of hand which honestly bothered her, however she schooled her face back to a measure of passivity before she turned back to her panel. "Incoming debris." she reported. "Directly ahead."

"Helm, evasive maneuvers" she said calmly as Eleanor took a seat in the Captain's chair. "Yamaguchi, reroute auxiliary power to sensors. I want more advance notice of any debris before we hit the proverbial iceberg, alright?" stated the First Officer. "And if you need to, don't hesitate to raise shields if we are going to hit anything" she added.

Yamaguchi nodded. "Willco." she began to keep a sharp watch over the debris floating around outside. "Colonel... May I speak my thoughts?" the older woman inquired.

"You are the Tactical Officer, are you not? Given the situation, I'd hope you have a lot to offer...speak" she replied.

Yamaguchi regarded Redpath. "Colonel, has anyone considered the possibility that this could all be a trap... The Borg usually do not leave survivors as they assimilate them, not leave them to be picked up." she explained. "Could the Borg be waiting to take us out too...?”

A corporal approached Lee on the bridge, "You gotta go over to the armory sir."

"I haven't been here long."

"Sorry, sir."

"It's fine corporal." With that, he turned to the display.

"Ops off." the LCARS disappeared and he headed for the turbo lift.

Redpath weighed the possibility. "It is well within reason to consider this a trap, though I consider everything a potential trap. However, with nothing further to go on, we must proceed...cautiously."

Yamaguchi had not been expecting the response, she nodded her head as she processed it. "Very well... I will keep a weather eye out for Borg ships...” the older woman responded.


:OFF