[Act 2] Lt. Cmdr Stros - The Power of Interlink
Nathan Richards
((Bridge, USS Independence-B))
Somehow, they had managed to get away from the Klingon Bird of Prey with the limited engine power they could pull. Things were quiet for the moment. Perhaps too quiet.
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: Response
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.
A diagnostic wouldn’t return anything. Stros knew that. Everything would come back as reading normal on account of Interlink making it seem like any commands had been received by the proper authority.
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.
Stros was unsure of the implication the Second Secretary held behind her head tilt. Sure, Stros had this ‘extensive expertise’ she mentioned, but that didn’t mean he knew exactly what was happening or what would happen. Who knew what, if any, modifications the Klingons had made to their Interlink system.
Ukinix: Tactical assessment, Lieutenant Moore?
Moore: Response
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.
Unfortunately, the best that Stros could offer was to ‘slow them down’. The team with Whispering Wall had indeed been very diligent in their research and development of the technology.
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.
Unfortunately enough, almost all Klingon ships were ‘warships’.
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.
His hand sliding across the console, Stros did his best to boost the comms. But whatever the Lieutenant had done didn’t seem to be taking kindly to outside influence. Perhaps a good thing given the circumstances.
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?: =/\= Response? =/\=
((OOC: Ushahl is an MSPNPC. More details in Act 1/Act 2 OOC email))
Computer: Warning. Shield systems, deactivated. Warning.- -
Ukinix: - - not again - -
Computer: Life Support systems, deactivated. Replicator systems, offline.
There went Stros’ chance for tea for a while…
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 furrowed his brow as his hands frantically tapped away at the console. More intrusions came in by the second, and it was taking all of his attention to try and stay on top of them.
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: Response
Ukinix: Lieutenant Miller, take us to moon thirteen, the natural interference around it might provide us some cover.
And the perfect opportunity for Stros to make the adjustments to the ship’s systems.
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.
One Bird of Prey was like any other, wasn’t it? Unless they had found some interesting ways to upgrade their ships in the 30 years they had been out in the Delta Quadrant.
Moore: Response
Miller: Nothing on scanners at the moment.
Stros: Both a blessing and a curse, as I believe you humans say.
Why would they catch up with them just to mess with their systems and vanish again? What were they trying to gain?
Miller: ::Frowning slightly:: I feel like they have cloaked themselves again.
A bold strategy. Perhaps they are toying with the Independence in an attempt to learn how Interlink interacts with other ships, and not just the research stations.
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.
Ukinix/Moore: Response
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 turned slightly in his seat, an eyebrow raised.
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.
Ukinix/Moore: 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.
As if it weren’t clear enough by this point.
Aitas: I’m afraid it’s not a matter of ‘if’. It’s a matter of how closely.
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.
The same basic premise for the technology, yet different approaches. While Starfleet Command had taken it on themselves to develop Fleet Formation with the entire Corp or Engineers, it was also given to a select few to perform their research and prototyping in secret. Why the secrecy? Stros had no idea. But it gave him and his team free reign with their research and development.
Ukinix/Moore: 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.
Stros turned back to his console and began to make the changes they would need in order to turn interlink back on their pursuers. A little bit of code here, a data flow there, power distribution over to there.
Ukinix/Moore/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.
One more quick sequence of programming and 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.
Ukinix/Moore/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.
An imposing force being afraid to talk to an opposing force didn’t seem too far out of the realm of possibility to Stros. Perhaps they hadn’t expected a response from Starfleet. At least, one so quickly.
Ukinix/Moore/Miller: Response
With light trills and maybe a couple of error tones, Stros finished rerouting the circuits in the Engineering console 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.
Ukinix/Moore/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.
Ukinix/Moore/Miller/Aitas: Response
With a quick and deliberate tap on the Engineering console, a trill sounded out but nothing seemed to happen.
Stros: I do believe you will now find a decloaking Bird of Prey on sensors.
Almost as if on cue, a proximity alert sounded as the Bird of Prey began to decloak. With a small smirk of triumph, Stros nodded his head. That was the power of Interlink.
Ukinix/Moore/Miller/Aitas: Response
TAGS/TBC…
Lieutenant Commander Stros
Head of Technological Research and Development
Whispering Wall/ Wandering Stone
A239905NR1