Lieutenant JG Madalain Nicolau - The Hot Seat
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Karrod Niac
Feb 20, 2026, 12:55:54 AM (3 days ago) Feb 20
to USS Ronin – StarBase 118 Star Trek PBEM RPG
((Bridge, Deck 3, USS Ronin))
Nicolau: Well that's some of the only good news sir. Whatever that pulse did stabilized spatial conditions around the ship...at least for now. We should be able to navigate freely if we need to without falling into a...space...hole. Sir.
Wren: Sir, it looks like it’s Sheliak. Should we hail them?
T'Fearne: ::peering over the consol:: The Sheliak are precise about territorial and contractual boundaries. If they’re here, they likely believe they have a legal claim to the moon’s dome’s, technology and personnel.
Kel: Indeed, Administrator tr'Kharis made it clear the Lattice Alliance was the benefactor of the facility. Can we hail them Ensign Wren?
Wren: Oh, they’re… just out of range of our communicators…. Hm
T'Fearne: They may be testing our responses. Or trying to force us to close distance on them so they retain the diplomatic advantage. I recommend waiting for them to approach us.
Kel: I'm inclined to agree Lt. T'Fearne. There's no reason to rush these things.
She could hear the resolve and poise in the acting captain's steady voice but staring at the vessel on the viewscreen without moving was making her muscles taut with stress.
Nicolau: HOLD...::She coughed and tried to bring her voice to a reasonable volume and pitch::...Holding position, sir.
She was suddenly glad to have her back to the bridge as she felt the heat of embarrassment in her cheeks.
Wren: If it’s safe to move forward, maybe we could get close enough to try to warp some of the Tholians off-planet as well? They may be responsible for what’s happening down there, but…
T'Fearne: You mean transport some of the Tholians onboard? For bargaining power, ensign? We do have two smaller Tholians in the brig. I’m not sure we could differentiate the lifesigns of the ones on the moon with all the radiation…
Wren: ::surprised:: What? No, no, I just-
Kel: Let's put that thought on hold Ensign Wren. We need to get Tucker and his team back as well as the wounded before we start pulling out potentially dangerous Tholians.
Wren: ::Awkwardly:: Understood, sir.
Silently Madalain empathized with one of their newest officers. She knew how intimidating it was to speak up on the bridge, to offer half formed ideas to people who seemed so sure of themselves.
Nicolau: I could back us off a bit, sir...
T'Fearne: I can definitely seep us looking non-threatening, should we prefer to appear in a position weaker than we are, sir.
Kel: Good idea Lieutenant. Ensign Wren, can we create some fake readings showing the Ronin being in worse shape than it is? I believe "deceptive signaling" is what naturalists would call it.
Wren: ::snapping back to attention:: Oh, yes. I can vent some excess, uncharged gas to simulate a plasma leak. ::tapping in a few inputs:: As long as they don’t fire, they shouldn’t be able to tell the difference.
She could feel the energy of the bridge change in a moment and looked back at the helm controls, an piece of an idea falling into place.
Nicolau: We could release the inertial dampeners in some of the outer sections but...huh...that's weird.
She spoke without thinking as the short range sensors chirped an alert and she became totally absorbed by data that made no sense at all.
T'Fearne: Lieutenant. What do you see?
Kel: Lt. Nicolau. You have something?
Nicolau: Well it's just...sir...the vessel isn't targeting us. We're not getting any signs of active sensor systems at all. As far as sensors are concerned it's just sitting there minding its business.
Kel: Are any of our probes still out there? Can we use them to get more intel on that vessel?
Wren: We withdrew all of them, save for the one that disappeared…. I wonder if it’s shifted back into phase. I’ll do a scan to see if it’s out there now.
She could feel her nerves getting to her as the time stretched out and the vessel remained frustratingly inscrutable.
Nicolau: Sir, why would they bother with this staring contest? Wouldn't they just...attack?
T'Fearne: Response
Kel: That Lattice Alliance has proven tenacious time and again. I won't charge in until I know what I'm dealing with.
Wren: Sir, I’ve found our lost probe. It looks as though it’s about twenty years older, but it’s still putting out a signal. I’ll reconnect with it and send it closer for a scan. oO I should tell someone that our probes have a lifespan of over twenty years. That’s honestly impressive. Oo
Her mouth dropped open in surprise as the probe connected, their picture of the system and the Alliance vessel becoming more clear by the moment.
Nicolau: That ship doesn't look like it was built for...talking, sir.
T'Fearne: Response
The comm chirped and Madalain almost jumped but a few thundered heartbeats later she found the controls.
Esot: =/\= Anna Pavlova to Bridge. We are looking for clearance to launch. =/\=
Nicolau: =/\= Standby Pavlova, we have an unknown and potentially hostile vessel holding position relative to us. Suggest you...uh...launch aft. Keep the ship between you and the vessel as long as possible. Bridge out. =/\=
Kel: Any response now that's we're modulating our power grid.
Nicolau: None that I can see sir but...hang on...there's an energy spike in their lateral sensor arrays...
T'Fearne: Response
Wren: Sir, they’ve spotted the probe, and have it in a tractor beam. I think- ::distracted by her console:: They’re hailing us through the probe, sir.
Her hands were poised over the impulse controls but she managed to keep her voice steady this time.
Nicolau: At least the waiting is over...sir. Standing by to maneuver...
T'Fearne/Kel: Response
Wren: ::nodding:: It’s audio-only. Playing it now.
She winced as the atonal Sheliak voice blasted out over the speakers, riddled with signal corruption.
Nicolau: Attempting to boost the signal gain, should improve the stability of the channel...can't do anything about the voice.
Nicolau: Well that's some of the only good news sir. Whatever that pulse did stabilized spatial conditions around the ship...at least for now. We should be able to navigate freely if we need to without falling into a...space...hole. Sir.
Wren: Sir, it looks like it’s Sheliak. Should we hail them?
T'Fearne: ::peering over the consol:: The Sheliak are precise about territorial and contractual boundaries. If they’re here, they likely believe they have a legal claim to the moon’s dome’s, technology and personnel.
Kel: Indeed, Administrator tr'Kharis made it clear the Lattice Alliance was the benefactor of the facility. Can we hail them Ensign Wren?
Wren: Oh, they’re… just out of range of our communicators…. Hm
T'Fearne: They may be testing our responses. Or trying to force us to close distance on them so they retain the diplomatic advantage. I recommend waiting for them to approach us.
Kel: I'm inclined to agree Lt. T'Fearne. There's no reason to rush these things.
She could hear the resolve and poise in the acting captain's steady voice but staring at the vessel on the viewscreen without moving was making her muscles taut with stress.
Nicolau: HOLD...::She coughed and tried to bring her voice to a reasonable volume and pitch::...Holding position, sir.
She was suddenly glad to have her back to the bridge as she felt the heat of embarrassment in her cheeks.
Wren: If it’s safe to move forward, maybe we could get close enough to try to warp some of the Tholians off-planet as well? They may be responsible for what’s happening down there, but…
T'Fearne: You mean transport some of the Tholians onboard? For bargaining power, ensign? We do have two smaller Tholians in the brig. I’m not sure we could differentiate the lifesigns of the ones on the moon with all the radiation…
Wren: ::surprised:: What? No, no, I just-
Kel: Let's put that thought on hold Ensign Wren. We need to get Tucker and his team back as well as the wounded before we start pulling out potentially dangerous Tholians.
Wren: ::Awkwardly:: Understood, sir.
Silently Madalain empathized with one of their newest officers. She knew how intimidating it was to speak up on the bridge, to offer half formed ideas to people who seemed so sure of themselves.
Nicolau: I could back us off a bit, sir...
T'Fearne: I can definitely seep us looking non-threatening, should we prefer to appear in a position weaker than we are, sir.
Kel: Good idea Lieutenant. Ensign Wren, can we create some fake readings showing the Ronin being in worse shape than it is? I believe "deceptive signaling" is what naturalists would call it.
Wren: ::snapping back to attention:: Oh, yes. I can vent some excess, uncharged gas to simulate a plasma leak. ::tapping in a few inputs:: As long as they don’t fire, they shouldn’t be able to tell the difference.
She could feel the energy of the bridge change in a moment and looked back at the helm controls, an piece of an idea falling into place.
Nicolau: We could release the inertial dampeners in some of the outer sections but...huh...that's weird.
She spoke without thinking as the short range sensors chirped an alert and she became totally absorbed by data that made no sense at all.
T'Fearne: Lieutenant. What do you see?
Kel: Lt. Nicolau. You have something?
Nicolau: Well it's just...sir...the vessel isn't targeting us. We're not getting any signs of active sensor systems at all. As far as sensors are concerned it's just sitting there minding its business.
Kel: Are any of our probes still out there? Can we use them to get more intel on that vessel?
Wren: We withdrew all of them, save for the one that disappeared…. I wonder if it’s shifted back into phase. I’ll do a scan to see if it’s out there now.
She could feel her nerves getting to her as the time stretched out and the vessel remained frustratingly inscrutable.
Nicolau: Sir, why would they bother with this staring contest? Wouldn't they just...attack?
T'Fearne: Response
Kel: That Lattice Alliance has proven tenacious time and again. I won't charge in until I know what I'm dealing with.
Wren: Sir, I’ve found our lost probe. It looks as though it’s about twenty years older, but it’s still putting out a signal. I’ll reconnect with it and send it closer for a scan. oO I should tell someone that our probes have a lifespan of over twenty years. That’s honestly impressive. Oo
Her mouth dropped open in surprise as the probe connected, their picture of the system and the Alliance vessel becoming more clear by the moment.
Nicolau: That ship doesn't look like it was built for...talking, sir.
T'Fearne: Response
The comm chirped and Madalain almost jumped but a few thundered heartbeats later she found the controls.
Esot: =/\= Anna Pavlova to Bridge. We are looking for clearance to launch. =/\=
Nicolau: =/\= Standby Pavlova, we have an unknown and potentially hostile vessel holding position relative to us. Suggest you...uh...launch aft. Keep the ship between you and the vessel as long as possible. Bridge out. =/\=
Kel: Any response now that's we're modulating our power grid.
Nicolau: None that I can see sir but...hang on...there's an energy spike in their lateral sensor arrays...
T'Fearne: Response
Wren: Sir, they’ve spotted the probe, and have it in a tractor beam. I think- ::distracted by her console:: They’re hailing us through the probe, sir.
Her hands were poised over the impulse controls but she managed to keep her voice steady this time.
Nicolau: At least the waiting is over...sir. Standing by to maneuver...
T'Fearne/Kel: Response
Wren: ::nodding:: It’s audio-only. Playing it now.
She winced as the atonal Sheliak voice blasted out over the speakers, riddled with signal corruption.
Nicolau: Attempting to boost the signal gain, should improve the stability of the channel...can't do anything about the voice.
T'Fearne/Kel/B'hab: Response
Madalain couldn't be sure why but she got the impression the Sheliak was...enjoying itself. Somehow.
Nicolau: That won't give us a great deal of time, sir, whatever you decide to do.
Wren/T'Fearne/Kel/B'hab: Response
Madalain tapped at the control and breathed out a long breath.
Nicolau: Channel muted sir. Do you think he'll do what he says Captain? I mean...can he? The destruction would be...enormous.
Wren/T'Fearne/Kel/B'hab: Response
Tags/TBC
Madalain couldn't be sure why but she got the impression the Sheliak was...enjoying itself. Somehow.
Nicolau: That won't give us a great deal of time, sir, whatever you decide to do.
Wren/T'Fearne/Kel/B'hab: Response
Madalain tapped at the control and breathed out a long breath.
Nicolau: Channel muted sir. Do you think he'll do what he says Captain? I mean...can he? The destruction would be...enormous.
Wren/T'Fearne/Kel/B'hab: Response
Tags/TBC
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Lieutenant JG Madalain Nicolau
Beta Shift Helmsman
USS Ronin - NCC-34523
V239509GT0
Lieutenant JG Madalain Nicolau
Beta Shift Helmsman
USS Ronin - NCC-34523
V239509GT0
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