[Act 2] Lieutenant JG Kaito Moore - Two Can Interlink This Game

[Lieutenant j.g. Kaito Moore]

((Bridge, USS Independence-B))

They had managed to get away from the Klingon Bird of Prey with the limited engine power and weapons that Kaito had to cowboy. He just hoped Interlink didn’t mess with the auto self-destruct on the torpedoes—else some civilization somewhere was in for a rude awakening in a million years.

But things were quiet for the moment. Too quiet, and that made Kaito nervous. His right leg bounced rapidly as he did his best to both watch sensors and try to keep weapons and shields online.

Ukinix: What’s our status, everyone.

Stros: The Klingon’s link to the Independence’s systems has been reduced. Systems are slowly coming back online. 

Moore: I got minimal weapons, but I think I have shields isolated for now. Maybe. ::Looking at Stros:: Hard to tell with Interlink.

Miller: All flight control systems are intact for the time being. However, we have limited warp and impulse controls, meaning we can fly but are limited in speed and range. I am working to see if I can fix the issue faster. One more thing, Captain, we are currently dead on comms. There are no incoming or outgoing comms for the moment. I am running a level 3 diagnostic on them right now.

Kaito’s mind was racing. There had to be a solution to this problem, some way to cut off the Klingons.

Aitas: Intact. Though I must reiterate that anything that goes through our systems may have been overheard; or could be once comms are restored. As I don’t have extensive expertise on this project, :: she inclined her head toward Stros:: I will volunteer myself to transport messages as needed.

Ukinix: Tactical assessment, Lieutenant Moore?

Moore: ::Looking over at Wil.:: Tactically, we outclass them in all categories. That style of Bird of Prey is no match for our ship… if it wasn’t for Interlink. We’re facing a Veridian III situation, sir. Shields drop, and the only thing saving us for a few hits is our ablative hull plating.

Stros: I am attempting to generate a lock out of sorts on the ship’s systems. I may, perhaps, be able to slow them down with our next encounter.

Slowing them down being the best answer wasn’t the solution Kaito liked.

Ukinix: That Delta Quadrant Klingon colony, um… ::clicking fingers:: ghevchoq voqwl’. That’s a *loooong* way from the Barossa sector. And there’s been no reports of them going rogue.

Aitas: I received a short briefing about them; they’ve been very quiet overall. A few more pilgrims after Frontier Day, but none via warships that we know of.

Miller: ::tapping hands on console:: Yes, I can get us short-range comms only, with audio, but the quality will not be the best. ::tapping commands into console:: Ok, it should work now, Captain, but remember you may hear extra static or choppy voices in the channel.

Stros: Comms are live, Commander, partial as they may be. I can boost them only slightly at this time.

Ukinix: =/\= This is Commander Wil Ukinix, Commanding Officer of the USS Independence-B. We’re Starfleet, in case there’s any confusion. We mean you no harm, we’d just like to talk. =/\=

Ushahl: =/\= HA! All you Starfleets know how to do is talk.  =/\=

((OOC: Ushahl is an MSPNPC. More details in Act 1/Act 2 OOC email))

Computer: Warning. Shield systems, deactivated. Warning.- - \

Moore: oO Oh no you don’t. Oo

Kaito quickly focused on the shields. That was the key—the overpowered shield array of Sisko’s masterpiece. Keep it online. Keep them alive.

Ukinix: - - not again - - 

Computer: Life Support systems, deactivated. Replicator systems, offline.

Ukinix: If they’re using interlink, and they can see our systems… can we see theirs?

Computer: Starfleet database, updated. Red Alert status, reset.

Stros: ::Grumbling slightly:: In theory, yes. If their implementation of Interlink hasn’t differed too far from the original application. I will need to reprogram some of the Independence’s systems in order to have that functionality, sir.

Moore: If we can just block them, that would make this so much easier.

Ukinix: Lieutenant Miller, take us to moon thirteen, the natural interference around it might provide us some cover.

Miller: ::nodding head:: On it, Captain, impulse engines engaged, and we now headed towards moon thirteen.

Ukinix: Aitas, I know we’ve lost contact with Amity now, and the away team, but can you find *anything* about that Bird of Prey?

Aitas: I’ve an idea of where to look.

Kaito focused on finding them. He expected them to attack at any moment.

Moore: ::To Miller:: Got anything on your screens?

Miller: Nothing on scanners at the moment. 

Stros: Both a blessing and a curse, as I believe you humans say.

Miller: ::Frowning slightly:: I feel like they have cloaked themselves again.

Stros: It would be their most viable option in this instance. Remain cloaked and continue to access our systems with no worries of getting caught.

Moore: Until they can shut us down and destroy us… or board us. Sir, I would like to deploy all security in counter-boarding gear, and all hands armed for close quarters.

Granted, he knew many would die in a boarding action. Disruptors were nasty, and Klingons liked fighting with blades, but all hands would be needed to hold the Indy. Whatever the Commander decided, Kaito knew he wouldn’t like any of the options. You don’t fight close quarters with a Klingon unless you have to.

Ukinix: Response

Kaito gave Wil a nod. He trusted the Commander.

Miller: I’m recalibrating the sensor sweep to filter for residual warp signatures and magnetic displacement–if they’re hiding, I want to know where. With your permission, Captain, I’d also like to boost the deflector modulation. We might be able to mask our emissions more effectively near the moon. 

Stros: If the vessel has warped in and out of the system since this last encounter, a warp signature would certainly be present. But I do believe you would be ‘hard pressed’ to find any magnetic displacement this close to the gas giant and its moons, Lieutenant.

Moore: He is right—we should be well hidden by the moon, but so will they. Even if they decloak, unless they are within close range, we’ll have trouble seeing them with the current attacks. But it is best to assume they have much better visibility than we do, thanks to Interlink.

Ukinix: Response

Miller: If we’re being watched, I’d rather not give them a clean shot next time. I also want to figure out this “Interlink” system.

Aitas: I’m afraid it’s not a matter of ‘if’. It’s a matter of how closely.

He nodded in agreement with Aitas.

Stros: And Interlink is a system commissioned by Starfleet command in conjunction with Fleet Formation. And from what I hear, that initiative didn’t quite go…as planned.

Moore: Mhmmm. You can say that again. They should have shut this down.

Kaito wasn’t too happy to be reminded of Fleet Formation and Frontier Day—Fire. Eliminate All Unassimilated. He quickly pushed the thoughts out of his mind, but not before a shiver ran down his spine.

Ukinix: Response

Aitas: ::calmly:: Lieutenant Miller, I would ask that you cycle your interference method at the first opportunity. And please refrain from verbally repeating the details.

Stros: I do believe the current priority should be reaching the 13th moon and achieving cover before attempting anything else.

Ukinix/Miller: Response

Aitas: Can confirm the Bird of Prey hasn’t visited ghevchoq voqwl’ directly. But they have a lot of files on it, and the Kuvah’magh figure that colony was established around.

Stros pushed himself up from his chair. Kneeling down next to the console, he pulled the access panel away from underneath.

Stros: I have almost completed the modifications in order for us to utilize Interlink, Commander.

Moore: I got a few new annoying upgrades to my E-War Suite I’ve been needing to test, Commander.

Ukinix/Miller: Response

Aitas: If I may; they seemed rather afraid of talking to us. It’s enough to make me wonder just what they’re worried we might say.

Kaito wasn’t sure if he agreed with that assessment. To him, if that were the case, they could’ve slunk away under cloak and never engaged.

Moore: ::Looking at Wil:: I wouldn’t be so sure, Commander. Unless war has broken out and no one told us, those Klingons are clearly rogue from Klingon High Command. So I doubt they worry about diplomacy or any verbal threats we make against them. ::Looking back at his console:: No—given the intrusions, but not attacking us—I would argue they are testing the system. Learning how to effectively use it against us… and most likely others.

Ukinix/Miller: Response

A few light trills and the occasional error tone came from Stros’ console before he seemed to finish up and replaced the access panel.

Stros: Modifications complete, Commander. We should be able to access the Klingon ship. ::Standing, turning towards the viewscreen:: We should even be able to see them now. ::Shrugging:: In theory.

Kaito looked over at his sensor feed—and there it was. A beacon. A target invisible to everything else except the comms array. They were connected to us, but so were we.

Moore: Confirmed. I got them on proximity sensors—long range, but they are out there. ::Console beeping:: Heh. I can see their commands. Interlink is telling them an allied ship is in distress. Then again, it is giving away our general position too.

He shrugged the last part away. With no cloak, it didn’t matter too much to them. Oh, what he would give for a cloaking device right now.

Ukinix/Miller/Aitas: Response

Stros: With access to the Interlink protocols, one should be able to do what we saw happening to the Independence. And so much more.

Moore: Cool. ::Looking at Wil:: Can I just depth charge them, sir? That should give them one heck of a rude awakening.

Ukinix/Miller/Aitas: Response

Stros: I do believe you will now find a decloaking Bird of Prey on sensors.

Or we could lose the tactical advantage by showing our hand early. This is exactly why you never play cards with a Vulcan.

Almost as if on cue, a proximity alert sounded as the Bird of Prey began to decloak. Stros had a smug smirk on his face as he nodded his head. Kaito shook his head, and instead did his own show of force—full power to weapons, torpedoes in the tubes and ready to fire, and a full weapons lock. Most of all, no hiding the amount of Phaser and Quantum hate they were ready to rain down on the Klingons.

Moore: Full weapons lock. Torpedoes are hot. Phasers charged and ready to fire on your command, sir.

Ukinix/Miller/Aitas/Stros: Response

Ushahl: =/\= Response? =/\=

((OOC: Not sure which way this will go, if they talk or not—so cutting tags short.))

Lieutenant JG Kaito Moore

Tactical Officer

Amity Outpost

A240006KM1