[Phase 2] Captain Addison MacKenzie - Frontier Day - Part 2

[Addison MacKenzie]

 (( Bridge, USS Artemis-A ))

With her eyes fixated on the viewscreen, Earth quickly came into view. She was glad to see her home planet again, but she couldn’t allow herself to feel it - the adrenaline was flowing, knowing what danger lay waiting. Also there, many Starfleet vessels had assembled around Earth Spacedock. Addison looked down to the readout on her armchair, trying to access communications.

MacKenzie: Starfleet has assumed command of all communications for Frontier Day – is there any way we can override?

Richards/Chevalier: Response

She chewed her lower lip.

MacKenzie: Take us in, Mr. Richards. Let’s see if we can get someone’s attention…

Richards: Response

The Artemis made its way toward where the fleet was gathered, but only in time to witness the beginning of the celebration. The redheaded commanding officer of the Artemis held her breath as the images on the viewscreen homed in on Earth Spacedock, whose doors parted slowly, revealing the USS Enterprise. The magnificent ship entered space to fireworks and incredible fanfare. Almost immediately after, a boatswain’s whistle sounded over the comms, and the image on the viewscreen changed to reveal Admiral Elizabeth Shelby. Addison shared a concerned look between Dakora and Hopper.

Shelby: ::sitting in Captain’s chair, white doors with Starfleet logo on them behind her:: =/\= 250 years ago today, the Enterprise NX-01, the first warp 5 capable vessel to be constructed by human hands made it's maiden voyage. With it, a crew of 83 souls embarked on a journey; one of bravery, perseverance and sacrifice that would lead to the birth of what we know today as Starfleet. =/\= 

MacKenzie: ::flatly:: Happy Frontier Day, everyone…

Dakora/Hopper/Richards/Silveira/Jovenan/Chevalier: Response (if desired)

Shelby: =/\= A quarter millennium after the NX-01 took that first vital step, we gather on Frontier Day to take another; as we demonstrate our newest advancement, “Fleet Formation”. =/\=

Underneath the Admiral’s speech, various reports were being issued indicating the activation of the Fleet Formation Mode.

Pulaski crewmember: =/\= USS Pulaski, synchronization online. =/\= 

 

Magellan crewmember: USS Magellan, synchronization online. =/\=

 

Shelby: =/\= Synchronistic technology that allows every ship in Starfleet to operate as one. An impenetrable armada – unity and defence. The ultimate safeguard. =/\= 

 

Unknown ship: =/\= Synchronization online. =/\=

 

Shelby: =/\= In case of the unthinkable, fleetwide incapacitation, this system will protect our crews in our continued exploration of what still remains… our final frontier! =/\=

 

Artemis Computer: Fleet Formation Mode activated.

 

Shelby: =/\= Our next demonstration is the summation of decades of technological advancements. =/\=

 

Around them, warning klaxons sounded. Consoles all over the bridge displayed the same message: FLEET FORMATION MODE – STARFLEET EMERGENCY PROTOCOL NX12.11. One by one, the Artemis’s systems started to come under the control of the computer. Before they lost control of communications a message came through.

 

Picard: =/\= this is Admiral Jean-Luc Picard. I come to you with a warning. Changeling infiltration of Starfleet has made us vulnerable to our greatest enemy, the Borg. =/\=

 

That transmission ended as communications were relinquished to the computer. Addison looked to Dakora. Apparently, their small circle wasn’t the only one aware of the imminent danger they were in… Before she could speak, a massive spike in energy caused an intense screeching to come over the comms. She immediately put her hands over her ears and closed her eyes, leaning forward in her chair. Fortunately, the signal stopped as abruptly as it began.

 

(OOC: This is the point where the signal transmits the assimilation code to those whose characters are age 25 and under. You are unaffected by it, but you do start to be assimilated. The following narrative and dialog I am assuming for Chevalier is done so uniformly by all those assimilated across the fleet, and will also include those senior officers below decks who are under age 25.)

 

Blinking her eyes and slowly removing her hands from her ears, Addison sat back up in her chair. What she saw would be something she would never forget: Chevalier and several of the other young bridge officers stood slowly, his face struggling to maintain composure. The color of his skin and the veins on his face turned an eerily familiar grey-black color… and then he spoke.

 

Chevalier: We are the Borg.

 

Meanwhile, on the viewscreen…

 

Shelby: ::over shaky comms:: =/\= What’s happening to my crew… they’re turning on us!... We are under attack from within, Repeat, we are under attack. Something is happening to my crew. Ensign, what are you- =/\=

 

They watched as two ensigns approached Shelby and phasered her, just before the connection dropped. The sound over the comms was replaced by distressed, panicking voices from all over the fleet. Meanwhile, the officers who were assimilated kept repeating the same phrase:

 

Eliminate all unassimilated.

 

Addison immediately shot to her feet.

 

MacKenzie: What the-

 

Chevalier and the others swiftly reached for the weapons at their stations.

(OOC: Okay, this is where the fun begins! Because of your characters’ ages, the following crewmembers will be assimilated: Chevalier, Yellir, Kel. We can/should also assume that any other crew members under 25 will also be victim to the assimilation signal, which would likely be a significant number of people onboard.

What we know from ST: Picard is that the drones used phasers and did not seem to have adaptive shielding or the ability to assimilate others – they seemed to be restricted to the physical limitations of their respective species. The only rule is that you can’t kill another person’s character without their permission.

Remember that each week of this phase will last approximately one hour of in-game, so keep the pacing in mind as you’re writing throughout the week. I very much look forward to reading your chaos!!)

 

Tag, and TBC!

---

Captain Addison MacKenzie, M.D., Ph.D., FASFS
Commanding Officer
USS Artemis-A

Captains Council Member at Large

V239601AM0