Lt. Cmdr. V'Len Kel - Nothing to be Guilty of
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Don K
Feb 22, 2026, 2:25:17 PM (21 hours ago) Feb 22
to sb118...@googlegroups.com
((Bridge, Deck 3, USS Ronin))
The previous Kel hosts almost always had something to say. An anthropologist, a musician, a helmsman, a grandmother and a painter rattled around in his head always ready with platitudes or bits of advice. Xam Kel, the helmsman, was the most vocal particularly when it came to starship life. What surprised V'Len now is that they were all silent. None of the hosts had any advice for him now. He was charting new territory and someday a future host would hear V'Len in his head if ever he found himself with more problems than he knew what to do with. V'Len just hoped his advice would not be to run away.
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.
V'Len's hand rose to his chin. What kind of game was the vessel playing? He needed more insight.
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.
The entire bridge seemed to wait expectantly.
Nicolau: Sir, why would they bother with this staring contest? Wouldn't they just...attack?
T'Fearne: That is unlikely to be accidental. They may want us to be uncertain. Uncertainty erodes discipline. They are testing response thresholds. Perhaps we can’t detect their scans… or they are observing through alternate means.
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.
Nicolau: That ship doesn't look like it was built for...talking, sir.
V'Len turned to glance at T'Fearne to see what data the probe might have.
T'Fearne: The hostile ship is not registering as a known class of vessel, it has elements of Sheliak and Tholian technology. It must be a very new design. I’m reading layered hull armour and an advanced weapons array. An unusually high level of exotic radiation particles suggests the presence of a sencha weapon onboard their ship.
V'Len's eyes widened and then his brow furrowed. The last time the Alliance had created a Sencha weapon a large station was required. That his vessel now carried one meant that the technology had progressed significantly. A station took time to move from place to place, but a starship could move freely to almost any target of its choosing.
Kel: Any response now that's we're modulating our power grid.
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. =/\=
V'Len gave Nicolau a nod.
Nicolau: None that I can see sir but...hang on...there's an energy spike in their lateral sensor arrays…
T’Fearne’s fingers flew across her console. It was likely just a scan, but she wanted to be ready to bring their weapons to bear.
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.
The hostile ship edged closer to just at the edge of weapons range.
Nicolau: At least the waiting is over...sir. Standing by to maneuver…
V'Len wondered what Xam Kel would recommend, but the symbiont was silent.
Kel: Everyone take a breath. Standby to route power to forward shields. Let's hear what they have to say.
Wren: ::nodding:: It’s audio-only. Playing it now.
The audio crackled across the bridge.
B’hab: =/\= Attention, Federation starship Ronin, you are currently trespassing. =/\=
Broken though the message was and irritating as the voice was, the idea was clear. They wanted them to clear out.
Nicolau: Attempting to boost the signal gain, should improve the stability of the channel...can't do anything about the voice.
He wondered if his voice was equally irritating to the crew of the Alliance vessel.
Kel: ::shrugging his shoulders:: =/\= This is Captain Kel of the USS Ronin, this system is in unclaimed territory. I have personal attempting to provide aid to the damaged facility on the surface. =/\=
Wren: Response
For a moment the screen flickered and a cowled and cloaked figure appeared. It seemed to be seated on a raised dais and likely represented the individual in command of the vessel.
B’hab: =/\= To put it simply, you have ten minutes to gather your crew and leave this system, and you will leave intact. You stay a minute over your welcome, and they’ll be salvaging your ship all over the system, piece by piece. And you are not the great Captain Niac, I take it you’re his wet nurse. =/\=
V'Len bit his lip as Xam Kel's outrage seethed through him. V'Len was willing to take a few arrows, but Xam Kel had never been so disposed. He held his lips tight waiting for the outrage to pass.
Nicolau: That won't give us a great deal of time, sir, whatever you decide to do.
T'Fearne: ::quietly:: They seem to know us, or know of the Ronin and Captain Niac at least.
V'Len was hardly surprised. Niac had made a habit of being a thorn in the side of the Consortium and the Alliance. He felt a certain pride in being associated with a problem.
Kel: =/\= There is a reactor on the surface that is highly unstable, if we cannot get it back under control it will decimate the quadrant. =/\=
Wren: Response
The cloaked figure shifted subtly as if a wave was passing over him. Apparently he was not interested in the peculiarities of the situation.
B’hab: =/\= Do not test me Captain. =/\=
Kel: =/\= The radiation is extreme on the surface. I need 30 minutes at least to get my people out. =/\= ::turning to T'Fearne:: Mute the channel.
Wren: Response
Nicolau: Channel muted sir. Do you think he'll do what he says Captain? I mean...can he? The destruction would be...enormous.
V'Len's eyebrows raised and his eyes widened even thinking of it. Another idea struck him as well, he would let Niac down. He shuddered at the thought.
T'Fearne: ::arms folded:: They’re granting us time to evacuate. That suggests they prefer compliance without expending unnecessary munitions. Either their ordinance is limited… or they wish to avoid collateral damage to the moon’s infrastructure. ::brows knit slightly:: But they must realise evacuation would take longer than ten minutes. Sensors alone would confirm that. It’s not a realistic timeline.
Kel: Perhaps they're trying to determine what we've done to get the system under control. Administrator tr'Kharis suggested that the generator was an asset to the Alliance.
Wren/Nicolau: Response
V'Len stood and took a few paces towards the main viewscreen. There had to be a delaying gambit he could use.
T'Fearne: Did you notice the cloak? The movement beneath it? I saw no ocular glow, no thermal distortion typical of Tholians. It read more… Sheliak. ::glancing toward the engineering officer:: Wren, can we still pull telemetry from the probe? Any indication of life-sign type aboard their vessel?
Wren/Nicolau: Response
T’Fearne's voice interupted his thoughts.
T'Fearne: If it’s Sheliak in charge onboard, they are precision-obsessed. Notoriously legalistic isolationists who treat territory and contracts as their way of life. They rarely bluff. ::a beat:: We could stall? Ask for time to review their legal claim to the system and the moon research base. We do have a JAG officer onboard. Lieutenant Morrow. If we also have access to any of the base’s personnel perhaps they could provide information useful for buying more time.
Kel: Good thinking. =/\= Kel to Lieutenant Marrow, I'm in need of some legal advice. =/\=
Marrow/Wren/Nicolau: Response
T'Fearne: If they value the base or its research, they won’t risk destroying it outright. They would have to send a force to the surface to eliminate or capture our people and secure any projects or data. ::highlighting an area above the base one the screen:: If we position ourselves tactically between their ship and the moon base, they may hesitate to fire on us for caution of hitting the moon base.
V'Len sat down in the command seat once more.
Kel: Move us to 100km above the habitat module. Keep us clear of the radiation stream coming from the lid.
Wren/Nicolau: Response
Once more the Ronin was in motion slowly sinking toward the surface. V'Len was concocting his next communication to the Alliance vessel when the comms came to life.
tr’Kharis: ::clipped, cool tone, almost matter-of-fact:: =/\= This is Administrator tr’Kharis to this vessel's security! You are about to have a Tholian intruder onboard at my present location. Reinforcements would be… prudent. =/\=
V'Len's eyes went wide and he hurried to tap his combadge.
Kel: =/\= Security! Intruder alert in the transporter room ::glancing at his data screen:: Deck 6.
V'Len trusted that one of the many security officers aboard would see to the situation.
T'Fearne/Wren/Nicolau: Response
Kel: Ensign Wren any new information from our probe?
Morrow/T'Fearne/Wren/Nicolau: Response
Kel: Ok. Let's open a channel. ::waiting:: =/\= Alliance vessel. As this is unclaimed territory, I require an additional 20 minutes to determine our legal requirements in this situation. Please stand by. =/\=
oO I hope this buys us some time. Oo
Morrow/T'Fearne/Wren/Nicolau: Response
Tags/TBC
--
The previous Kel hosts almost always had something to say. An anthropologist, a musician, a helmsman, a grandmother and a painter rattled around in his head always ready with platitudes or bits of advice. Xam Kel, the helmsman, was the most vocal particularly when it came to starship life. What surprised V'Len now is that they were all silent. None of the hosts had any advice for him now. He was charting new territory and someday a future host would hear V'Len in his head if ever he found himself with more problems than he knew what to do with. V'Len just hoped his advice would not be to run away.
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.
V'Len's hand rose to his chin. What kind of game was the vessel playing? He needed more insight.
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.
The entire bridge seemed to wait expectantly.
Nicolau: Sir, why would they bother with this staring contest? Wouldn't they just...attack?
T'Fearne: That is unlikely to be accidental. They may want us to be uncertain. Uncertainty erodes discipline. They are testing response thresholds. Perhaps we can’t detect their scans… or they are observing through alternate means.
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.
Nicolau: That ship doesn't look like it was built for...talking, sir.
V'Len turned to glance at T'Fearne to see what data the probe might have.
T'Fearne: The hostile ship is not registering as a known class of vessel, it has elements of Sheliak and Tholian technology. It must be a very new design. I’m reading layered hull armour and an advanced weapons array. An unusually high level of exotic radiation particles suggests the presence of a sencha weapon onboard their ship.
V'Len's eyes widened and then his brow furrowed. The last time the Alliance had created a Sencha weapon a large station was required. That his vessel now carried one meant that the technology had progressed significantly. A station took time to move from place to place, but a starship could move freely to almost any target of its choosing.
Kel: Any response now that's we're modulating our power grid.
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. =/\=
V'Len gave Nicolau a nod.
Nicolau: None that I can see sir but...hang on...there's an energy spike in their lateral sensor arrays…
T’Fearne’s fingers flew across her console. It was likely just a scan, but she wanted to be ready to bring their weapons to bear.
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.
The hostile ship edged closer to just at the edge of weapons range.
Nicolau: At least the waiting is over...sir. Standing by to maneuver…
V'Len wondered what Xam Kel would recommend, but the symbiont was silent.
Kel: Everyone take a breath. Standby to route power to forward shields. Let's hear what they have to say.
Wren: ::nodding:: It’s audio-only. Playing it now.
The audio crackled across the bridge.
B’hab: =/\= Attention, Federation starship Ronin, you are currently trespassing. =/\=
Broken though the message was and irritating as the voice was, the idea was clear. They wanted them to clear out.
Nicolau: Attempting to boost the signal gain, should improve the stability of the channel...can't do anything about the voice.
He wondered if his voice was equally irritating to the crew of the Alliance vessel.
Kel: ::shrugging his shoulders:: =/\= This is Captain Kel of the USS Ronin, this system is in unclaimed territory. I have personal attempting to provide aid to the damaged facility on the surface. =/\=
Wren: Response
For a moment the screen flickered and a cowled and cloaked figure appeared. It seemed to be seated on a raised dais and likely represented the individual in command of the vessel.
B’hab: =/\= To put it simply, you have ten minutes to gather your crew and leave this system, and you will leave intact. You stay a minute over your welcome, and they’ll be salvaging your ship all over the system, piece by piece. And you are not the great Captain Niac, I take it you’re his wet nurse. =/\=
V'Len bit his lip as Xam Kel's outrage seethed through him. V'Len was willing to take a few arrows, but Xam Kel had never been so disposed. He held his lips tight waiting for the outrage to pass.
Nicolau: That won't give us a great deal of time, sir, whatever you decide to do.
T'Fearne: ::quietly:: They seem to know us, or know of the Ronin and Captain Niac at least.
V'Len was hardly surprised. Niac had made a habit of being a thorn in the side of the Consortium and the Alliance. He felt a certain pride in being associated with a problem.
Kel: =/\= There is a reactor on the surface that is highly unstable, if we cannot get it back under control it will decimate the quadrant. =/\=
Wren: Response
The cloaked figure shifted subtly as if a wave was passing over him. Apparently he was not interested in the peculiarities of the situation.
B’hab: =/\= Do not test me Captain. =/\=
Kel: =/\= The radiation is extreme on the surface. I need 30 minutes at least to get my people out. =/\= ::turning to T'Fearne:: Mute the channel.
Wren: Response
Nicolau: Channel muted sir. Do you think he'll do what he says Captain? I mean...can he? The destruction would be...enormous.
V'Len's eyebrows raised and his eyes widened even thinking of it. Another idea struck him as well, he would let Niac down. He shuddered at the thought.
T'Fearne: ::arms folded:: They’re granting us time to evacuate. That suggests they prefer compliance without expending unnecessary munitions. Either their ordinance is limited… or they wish to avoid collateral damage to the moon’s infrastructure. ::brows knit slightly:: But they must realise evacuation would take longer than ten minutes. Sensors alone would confirm that. It’s not a realistic timeline.
Kel: Perhaps they're trying to determine what we've done to get the system under control. Administrator tr'Kharis suggested that the generator was an asset to the Alliance.
Wren/Nicolau: Response
V'Len stood and took a few paces towards the main viewscreen. There had to be a delaying gambit he could use.
T'Fearne: Did you notice the cloak? The movement beneath it? I saw no ocular glow, no thermal distortion typical of Tholians. It read more… Sheliak. ::glancing toward the engineering officer:: Wren, can we still pull telemetry from the probe? Any indication of life-sign type aboard their vessel?
Wren/Nicolau: Response
T’Fearne's voice interupted his thoughts.
T'Fearne: If it’s Sheliak in charge onboard, they are precision-obsessed. Notoriously legalistic isolationists who treat territory and contracts as their way of life. They rarely bluff. ::a beat:: We could stall? Ask for time to review their legal claim to the system and the moon research base. We do have a JAG officer onboard. Lieutenant Morrow. If we also have access to any of the base’s personnel perhaps they could provide information useful for buying more time.
Kel: Good thinking. =/\= Kel to Lieutenant Marrow, I'm in need of some legal advice. =/\=
Marrow/Wren/Nicolau: Response
T'Fearne: If they value the base or its research, they won’t risk destroying it outright. They would have to send a force to the surface to eliminate or capture our people and secure any projects or data. ::highlighting an area above the base one the screen:: If we position ourselves tactically between their ship and the moon base, they may hesitate to fire on us for caution of hitting the moon base.
V'Len sat down in the command seat once more.
Kel: Move us to 100km above the habitat module. Keep us clear of the radiation stream coming from the lid.
Wren/Nicolau: Response
Once more the Ronin was in motion slowly sinking toward the surface. V'Len was concocting his next communication to the Alliance vessel when the comms came to life.
tr’Kharis: ::clipped, cool tone, almost matter-of-fact:: =/\= This is Administrator tr’Kharis to this vessel's security! You are about to have a Tholian intruder onboard at my present location. Reinforcements would be… prudent. =/\=
V'Len's eyes went wide and he hurried to tap his combadge.
Kel: =/\= Security! Intruder alert in the transporter room ::glancing at his data screen:: Deck 6.
V'Len trusted that one of the many security officers aboard would see to the situation.
T'Fearne/Wren/Nicolau: Response
Kel: Ensign Wren any new information from our probe?
Morrow/T'Fearne/Wren/Nicolau: Response
Kel: Ok. Let's open a channel. ::waiting:: =/\= Alliance vessel. As this is unclaimed territory, I require an additional 20 minutes to determine our legal requirements in this situation. Please stand by. =/\=
oO I hope this buys us some time. Oo
Morrow/T'Fearne/Wren/Nicolau: Response
Tags/TBC
Lieutenant Commander V'Len Kel
Acting-Captain
Chief Science Officer/Second Officer
USS Ronin NCC-34523
T239811VK2
He/Him (player/character)
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