Grand Expert Shanaak - Shockwave

[Wil Ukinix]

((Engineering, Deck 2, USS Independence-B))

Saavei: A Vaadwaur ship has been detected... it appears to be a frigate.

Shanaak simply clicked her beak once, as she tapped away at the console. While the symbols used were primitive and inefficient compared to the Trenvonn character set, she was able to make intuitive guess from the layout an iconography presented. As best she could, she modelled what had been proposed by the engineer, and came up with a list of corrections to ensure their best chance of entering the Manifold with as little risk as possible.

Taelon: Already?

Wong: Starting to wonder if their ears were burning with us talking so much about them. Hopefully, they'll behave themselves.

Saavei: I have input your corrections, Grand Expert. Simulation is showing a... forty-percent reduction on strain to the structural integrity field. oO That was certainly promising Oo Commander Taelon, would you care to review these?

Shanaak watched as the engineer moved aside and allowed the incredibly tall scientist access to Saavei's data. oO As it should be. Oo She also noticed the companion drone floating down the console with him. While not inbuilt into their systems, maybe the Federation weren’t so backwards with their use of synthesised intelligence routines after all.

Shanaak: ::To Wong:: Your shields will offer some protection, but there is a risk of radiation leakage which may affect your crew, thereby affecting operations of this vessel.

Wong: Depends on the risk. We could go for a dose of hyronalin-lectrazine to give us some protection if we need it. ::Pats his medkit:: I never leave home without it.

Shanaak observed the container of what appeard to be medical equipment, and clicked her beak silently once. Their preparation was seemingly evidence based and practical.

Saavei: We will be nearing the Daintree vanishing point soon. Doctor Wong, do you require any assistance?

 

The blond haired Klingon, showing his warrior culture’s natural strength, picked up a large buoy and held it over his shoulder. There were few Trenvonn who could have achieved the same feat.

Wong: Just tell me where you want it and we can deploy it.

She looked up addressed the tall Starfleet science lead.

Shanaak: Entering the Manifold via the nebula will result in pressure on your structural integrity collapse mitigation measures. The question will be, how much? And how much will your Commander Ukinix tolerate?

Taelon: Saavei, your work looks fine to me. Well, um, done.

Saavei: Thank you, sir. Forwarding data to the bridge.

 

She noticed the Klingon lifting the buoy and inserting it into their projectile weapons bay. oO Interesting. Crude, but effective. Oo

Wong: Buoy's ready. It's ready to launch when you are, Saavei.

Shanaak looked back at the modelling readouts on her console. She pulled a small device from an almost undetectable belt that she wore under her feathers, and pointed it at the console, before reading the device's display.

Shanaak: The data is clear. The USS Independence-B will suffer damage when entering the manifold, but you will need extra measures to ensure it is within tolerance levels for continued operation.

Taelon: Lovely...we'd, ah, best buff the shields, then.

She tilted her head to the side.

Saavei: The ship has ample power to do so. I do not estimate severe damage.

Wong: So far so good.

Shanaak: ::sliding finger on device:: I am making a formal request to the High Council to ask for assistance from a Trenvonn Expeditionary Cruiser to assist your vessel enter the Manifold. It can project its own deflector device to ensure the entry is re-enforced. But it won't be able to follow us in, which means it won't be able to help us leave. ::To Taelon:: May I send the telemetry provided with my request?

The Klingon held up his finger. Was that gesture confirmation?

Taelon: Of cour-

She waited as his answer was interrupted by comms.

Aitas: =/\= Taelon, do you have a moment? We have a request for you. =/\=

Taelon: =/\= Taelon here? =/\=

Wong: ::To Shanaak:: Go for it.

 

She shifted her head to look at Wong, before moving her finger on her device in a circle. The request was now officially sent to the High Council, and would be prioritised given she was a Grand Expert and one of the Council members.

Shanaak: The request has been sent.

Aitas: =/\= Could you create a plausible imitation of a failed attempt at transitioning to underspace? =/\=

A curious request. Her head snapped back to Taelon.

Taelon: =/\= That's certainly doable, though, um, we do risk damage to the ship... =/\=

Aitas: =/\= Noted. That seems a probable risk with every option. Fureri is at a console nearby and available should you need it. =/\=

(Saavei) Taelon looked at the others, eyebrows raised. Saavei raised her own in return. oO Deliberately fail? Oo But it came from the bridge and was an order phrased as a request. She would have to trust their reasoning, which she did.

(Wong) Ikaia raised an eyebrow. Why a failed attempt? Was it because of the approaching Vaadwaur?

(Taelon) Evidently that was an acceptable risk. Taelon looked at the others, eyebrows raised.

Taelon raised the strips of hair above his eyes. And the, so did Wong, but only one of the strips. She was unsure what that gesture meant also.

 

Taelon: Well...how do we sell the ruse without damaging the ship too badly? Ideas?

oO I see. “Doubt.” Oo

Saavei: Reinforce structural integrity, shields to maximum. Armor should prevent severe damage but the crew will need to brace for impact. We will 'bounce' off the entry point like a stone skipping across water.

Wong: If a bumpy ride means we sell the rouse, then do it. Just tell us what you need to make this work.

The Klingon nodded towards the Vulcan engineer.

Wong: You got this.

Shanaak: May I ask... what it is that you have “got”?
But before anyone could answer, there were more comms. The Federation certainly did like to talk a lot during operations.

Orrey: =/\= Could it be worth shutting down most of the ship and drifting through. Would it reduce damage? =/\=

Saavei: =/\= Reducing non-essential systems temporarily to reinforce shields and structural integrity would do so, yes. =/\=

Wong: =/\= Then we should go for it, right? =/\=

Shanaak: =/\= I concur. =/\=

Orrey: =/\= Going back to the EMP we could empty some sections of the ship and try to ensure we take hits in those "dead" areas to contain the damage. Like when the entity was guided through Amity's systems. =/\=

Saavei: =/\= As you theorized, doctor, reducing the power load in those sections would reduce harm to any electronic systems. Shields would remain our best defense. =/\=

Seleya: =/\= So long as the EMP burst does not manage to take out the shields. It should also be noted, even if the damage is reduced, EMP can still damage electronics that are without power.=/\=

 

Shanaak clicked her beak once in agreement.

Wong: =/\= Then it would stand to reason we should put more power to the shields, right? =/\=

Aitas: =/\= Response =/\=

Ukinix: =/\= Extending Commander Orrey's idea, If a phase torpedo does get through our defences, could we somehow *direct* the torpedo to hit an evacuated area of the ship? Kinda like old school decoy flares, except we take the hit where it doesn't matter. =/\=

“Phase Torpedoes”. There was no data regarding the Vaadwaur or any other known species of that technology, from her memory. She tapped at her personal device, to look for any references to such a weapon.

Saavei: =/\= Without knowing the specifics of the torpedoes targeting scanners, it is difficult to say. Evasive patterns to direct likely impacts onto more heavily armored sections of the ship would be recommended. Crew can evacuate less-armored areas of the ship prior, in the event we have a hull breach. =/\=

 

Seleya: =/\= As was said, it is difficult, but torpedoes do come with preferential targeting. And this is also not taken into account if the Vaadwaur launches a salvo targeting different areas of the ship. Maintaining maximum distances to the vessel to give our pilots the best reaction time to possibly maneuver the ship would be our best defense, but would make it harder to use our own weapons. =/\=

Wong: =/\= I'm just going to point out that we're trying to enter the underspace - we can't fly into it at just any awkward angle. We still need to be careful as to how we approach it. =/\=

Taelon: =/\= Response =/\=

Ukinix: =/\= Commander Taelon, we're going in, start a countdown from ninety seconds. We have a crew to rescue. =/\=

Taelon: =/\= Response =/\=

Ukinix: =/\= Good luck. Ukinix out. =/\=

(Saavei) Saavei rapidly got back to work. They needed to reconfigure what they'd just configured, but since they had a (likely, she was sure) successful algorithm planned, only a slight deviation should give the bridge what they were asking for. The idea of deliberately failing was almost injurious to one's pride as an engineer but... that was illogical. She suppressed the emotion.

Shanaak’s feathers flared just a little. It seemed a decision had been made, in the presence of the Vaadwaur. It was unknown to her, or to the data they had on Vaadwaur which was limited, how they would react.

Ukinix: =/\= Bridge to all hands. We will be attempting to enter underspace in around sixty seconds from ::eyeing console:: .... mark. Follow the directions from Commander Orrey and Lieutenant Wong as to where you should move to. Ukinix out. =/\=

Saavei: The calculations have been changed to complete the appearance of a failed attempt. With these inputs to SIF and shields, internal damage to the Independence-B should be kept to a minimum.

Taelon/Shanaak: Response

Saavei: Yes sir, sending final readings to the bridge. Time to attempt now thirty seconds. ::tapping her comm badge:: =/\= Saavei to Bridge, navigational aid buoy is ready and can be deployed when ready. Doing so ahead of the first attempt will add to the appearance of a failed attempt. =/\=

Taelon/Shanaak/Wong: Response

Saavei: Attempt in ten seconds. Nine, eight... ::She steadied herself at her console:: Recommend we brace for impact.

 

Trenvonn procreation in primitive times meant incubating eggs, with a low to medium chance that the offspring would not survive - and incubation was performed by the males. Of course, as civilisation progressed, the practice of nesting became redundant with hatcheries, but the need to sit in a crouching “nest” position never went away - but it instead became used when the ground was subject to instability, or when exposed to extreme weather. Shanaak, accordingly, settled onto the ground.

Wong: Everyone, hold on to your butts!

That phrase meant no sense to Shanaak at all. She dared not ask.

 

The ship shook and swayed, and Shanaak felt her crouched body swing. But with her lower torso anchored to the ground, she remained relatively steady on the floor.

Taelon: Response

 

Shanaak: Is it safe for me to resume my standing position?

Saavei: SIF is steady. Shields at ninety-percent and recharging. Minor hull stress on Deck Four aft, sections three through five. Minor damage to ventral sensor arrays. Coordinating repair crews now. ::Looking to their guest:: Are you uninjured, First Expert?

Shanaak’s feathers bristled a little.

Wong: Health check. How's everyone doing?

 

Shanaak: ::Looks to Saavei:: This *Grand* Expert is unharmed.

Taelon /Saavei: Response

Wong: What's the status on radiation? Any leaks or are we good?

Taelon/ Saavei: Response

Wong: Just to be on the safe side, I'm going to give everyone a dose here.

Shanaak returned to the Starfleet console, using her personal device in tandem with it, assessing the telemetry.

Taelon/ Bridge/Saavei: Response

Wong: One for you.

She noticed Wong enthusiastically using a primitive device to administer Taelon with a treatment.

Wong: And one for you.

 

And then it was Ensign Saavei, before Wong approached the Grand Expert.

Wong: As for you, would it be okay if I looked you over?

 

She puffed her feathers a little.

 

Shanaak: In my society, Lieutenant Wong, refusal of an offered scientifically proven medical treatment is considered not only bad etiquette, but potentially fatal. Administer the treatment.

 

She allowed Wong to using the device, and it hissed when pressed against her neck. She rubbed it after he was done, it felt warm and uncomfortable for a few moments.

 

Shanaak: Quaint.

Taelon/Saavei: Response

 

Warning tones began to sound from the Starfleet console. Shanaak checked her device.

 

Shanaak: It appears there is a secondary rift opening. Our faux attempt at entering underspace has--

 

The ship jolted, sending the Grand Expert off of her feet. She flew through the air, before crouching down again to “nest”, keeping herself steady.

Taelon/Saavei/Wong: Response

 

Shanaak: The rift is growing, and that shockwave may not be the last--

 

This time, the ship seemed to tilt, as she grabbed on to her console to keep herself from sliding from where she was. She dug her talons in-- but sparks flew from the ceiling as the ship bounced, then jumped, before throwing her from her position, into another nearby console.

 

Taelon/Saavei/Wong: Response

 

The Grand Expert’s head hit the screen hard, causing her to fall into a daze, before she fell to the floor.

 

Her feathers puffed out as she lifted her head slightly, but it was no use. Her vision became tunnelled, before she blacked out.

 

Taelon/Saavei/Wong: Response

Tags/TBC!

 

 

 

 

 

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Grand Expert Shanaak
Trenvon High Council
Crovi III, Trenvonn System
V239511WU0