Commodore V'Airu: Contact

[tonyrc...@gmail.com]

(( Bridge, Deck 1, USS 'Oumuamua ))

As soon as Ossa arrived on the bridge, she asked for a report from the officers there -- Promontory in command, Maxwell standing in for the marines, and Nilsen at helm. What they presented, courtesy a concise report from Maxwell and supplemental material from the computer, told an even more complicated story than Ossa had expected -- one that involved temporal displacement and, even worse, the Borg.

V'Airu: Surely not. The Borg?

Maxwell: For all oor sakes sir, I dearly hope not.

As did Ossa. She had been a junior lieutenant on Tar'Hana when the Federation had made first official contact with the Borg, courtesy the Enterprise, and she'd understood that her role as a tactical officer for the foreseeable future was to prepare for the inevitable Borg invasion. It was dumb luck that her next assignment, the Equity, hadn't been at Wolf 359 in 2367, and although the Crow Dog had been recalled to Earth in 2373 with another Borg cube incursion, they hadn't arrived in time to join the Battle of Sector 001. After that, of course, the Dominion had taken up much of Starfleet's attention, but Ossa never forgot the years she'd trained to fight the Borg, and dearly hoped she wouldn't have to dredge up those experiences.

Promontory: The ship was known to have escaped the Borg but it hasn’t been seen since. We haven’t seen any evidence of the Borg here and now, but caution is certainly warranted. We’re continuing onward, but, carefully.

Nilsen: If erm…yeah we need too (nervously) I’ve lay some navigation markers in the console. They are tied to our relative position and heading. So…If we need to turn tail and the regular navigational sensors do go down, I can get us out of here without getting lost.

V'Airu: Very much appreciated, Nilsen.

She couldn't emphasize enough how much she really, really did appreciate that foresight -- though she realized, as her gaze fell on Nilsen, of course he would still be battling his nerves, even if they hadn't stumbled time shenanigans that involved the Borg. In fact, she was impressed with how well the whole bridge crew was holding it together.

V'Airu: Any speculation on how this ship made it out here?

The Bajoran wormhole had been conclusively discovered in 2369, which meant that the Nautilus could have conceivably come through. But even if so, how had it made it all the way out to the Esh-o, especially since Starfleet wasn't doing crewed deep reconnaissance at that point, and certainly hadn't started during the war.

Promontory: Perhaps some interaction with their ship’s experimental devices and the Borg’s weapons sent them out here. Maybe something to do with this (gesturing to the gaseous cloud surrounding the ship) phenomenon. Bottom line, we need more data.

Nilsen: I’ve hooked into the probes and their data is coming in now. (To Maxwell) Lieutenant sir, you should be able to see that now.

Maxwell: Thank you, Ensign. Updating the feed... now.

Yet even as he did so, Ossa noted that the data wasn't as rich as she would've expected, not with all the modifications they'd made. A quick look at her arm console told her that the sensoria weren't yet operating at their peak, which Promontory confirmed a moment later.

Promontory: It looks like the probe network isn’t up to 100% effectiveness yet. (turning to Ossa) The engineers just being extra-thorough again?

V'Airu: They certainly were. (beat) I expect everything will be coming online shortly.

And if not, Main Engineering would shortly receive a stern comm call. There was thorough, and then there was slow.

Nilsen: erm.

Maxwell: You alright there, helm?

Again Ossa looked to her console to see if Nilsen's half-interjection corresponded to any change in their course. Yes, after a fashion: relative to their previous course, they appeared to be moving more elliptically, perhaps even curving back to proceed the way they'd come.

V'Airu: Nilsen, report.

Nilsen: Response

Maxwell: Commodore. I think Mr.... (beat) I think the Ensign is ontae something.

V'Airu: Explain, please.

Nilsen: Response

However, it seemed that while Nilsen had instigated the change, Promontory was more interested in how Maxwell interpreted it.

Promontory: Say more Max, what do you think is out there?

Maxwell: No idea, sir. It's a signature right enough, but I cannae get a clear enough reading even with the sensors boosted. We'd need tae get closer.

Promontory: Further into the unknown then?

V'Airu: Keep us on course, Nilsen.

If he could, and Ossa didn't intend to question his qualifications, even in her own mind -- and yet she found herself opening up her underdeveloped and very new empathic abilities to see if she could read anything from Nilsen. Previously, she'd been able to get a bare read on the ambient feeling of the whole crew when they were relatively harmonized in their feelings -- but she'd never tried to read a single person before. Predictably, she couldn't get anything at all, and had to rely on Nilsen's self-report.

Nilsen: Response

Maxwell: Aye, that should just about be close enough.

Promontory: If we can get those comms boosters on the probe network to full functionality, we may be able to establish clear real-time communication with the Nautilus. Maybe this signal is related?

V'Airu: Perhaps. With luck, we'll be able to ask them directly.

Assuming, of course, there was anyone on the Nautilus to answer. Ossa was still keeping as many contingencies as possible in mind, and she didn't want to assume that they would receive an answer until she was speaking in real time to someone.

Maxwell/Nilsen: Responses

Promontory: Then let’s try it!

V'Airu: Agreed. As soon as the network is fully online and we're within range, Nilsen, open up a communications channel. Maxwell, keep an eye on the tactical situation. If anything changes, I want to know.

Maxwell/Nilsen: Responses

Promontory: That sounds promising.

After they'd responded, Ossa leaned over to her right, and lowered her voice to speak to Promontory.

V'Airu: Promontory, good work on your first time in command. (beat) How was it?

Promontory: Response

V'Airu: It would have been a difficult first assignment for anyone, with a supporting crew of lower-ranked officers. Yet I trusted you to perform admirably, and you did.

Promontory: Response

Maxwell/Nilsen: Responses

The interruption returned them to the moment, and while Ossa gladly would have continued the conversation, she was equally glad to hear Nilsen's affirmative. It was a shame that they didn't have visual contact yet, but a real-time audio channel was more than acceptable.

V'Airu: Excellent. Open the channel.

Promontory/Maxwell/Nilsen: Responses

V'Airu: =/\= This is the Federation starship 'Oumuamua attempting to establish contact with the Nautilus. Nautilus, do you read? =/\=

OOC Since this mission was proposed and outlined by Jay, I figured that we could give him first dibs on the Nautilus's response, if he wants it!

Nautilus Officer: =/\= Response =/\=

Ossa signaled to Nilsen to mute the channel for a moment, then looked around the bridge at her officers, inviting opinions before she responded.

Promontory/Maxwell/Nilsen: Responses

She signaled Nilsen to open the channel again.

V'Airu: =/\= We are heading toward the center of this phenomenon, Nautilus. If you are located there, we will find you. =/\=

Nautilus Officer: =/\= Response =/\=

Promontory/Maxwell/Nilsen: Responses

Tags! and TBC!

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Commodore Ossa V'Airu

Commanding Officer

USS 'Oumuamua

V238208LV0

she/her/hers (this character) & he/him/his (player)