PNPC Lieutenant JG Rachel Morgan -
Martin Tucker
Niac: The sensor interference from the creature just vanished...we should have a clear view around us again. Try to locate the away team. We'll need Lieutenant Vomek to get that sample…
Before the Captain could finish his thought, every comm relay on the bridge and everyone's combadges activated simultaneously and filled the bridge with a rich melodic timbre, like tuned-down wind chimes. Rachel started scanning and couldn’t pinpoint where it was emanating from. It should be from the creature itself, but it was like the voice was everywhere all at once.
oO Damn, never seen anything like this… Oo
Narhelion: =/\= Hello, Tiny Predator. =/\=
Shortrith: =/\= ::with a nod:: Captain. I've got the comms open on my commbadge. =/\=
Niac: 'Tiny Predator?' Is that coming through the UT?
Marsek: It's not being amplified through the probes we've sent so far, sir.
Akani: I honestly don't know…
Morgan: I’ve been trying to triangulate exactly where it’s coming from, and it's like coming from everywhere and nowhere all at once. But it’s the creature for sure.
Rachel just shook her head; she couldn’t make heads or tails of where it was exactly coming from, and she didn’t like not knowing something. So while the Captain had his chit-chat, she’d keep looking. She’d start by recording the speech pattern and go from there.
Niac: =/\= And hello to you...whomever you are. My name is Karrod...and our ship is the Ronin. We are not a predator...we have no desire to harm you. We wish to make peaceful contact. Can you understand us? =/\=
Narhelion: =/\= Narhelion apologizes to Tiny Predator’s fuzzy Caretaker. Narhelion did not realize Tiny Predator Ronin fragility. =/\=
Now they had a name, not that it would show up in any sort of database, but it might be that mathematically slim percent, so there’s always a chance. So Rachel would do her due diligence and see if she could dig up anything on the creature, calling itself “Narhelion”.
Niac: =/\= Narhelion? Is that your name...or the name of your ship? Either way 'fuzzy caretaker' thanks you, Narhelion. We did not believe you damaged us purposefully. Your energy transfer is also appreciated but doesn't appear to be compatible with our systems...I don't suppose you'd mind deactivating it? =/\=
Marsek: Caretakers? I wonder what it means by that.
Akani: Possibly us? As we take care of the ship?
Morgan: The power transfer has stopped, so that’s good news. The polarity wasn’t right, and I couldn’t adjust ours to match. Which was new to me…
Narhelion: =/\= Narhelion has a request. Narhelion is last of my kind. Would Tiny Predator’s fuzzy Caretaker permit Narhelion to take some of Tiny Predator to make a new Narhelion? =/\=
Rachel’s head shot up, looking at the viewscreen.
oO Did it, say what I think it said? Oo
Niac: Did...did the space whale just invite us to make a lil'whale baby?
oO Yup Oo
Marsek: I'm not sure if diapers exist in the size we'd need…
Rachel tried her best to stifle a snicker, and was unsuccessful.
Akani: If it even fits on the ship.
Morgan: SIr, I’m detecting a power surge aboard Narhelion. Like it’s gone to a heightened alert, though at the moment I’m not detecting anything, but then again the interference is still an issue.
Narhelion: =/\= Caution. Narhelion has detected approaching. Many more angry crystals and unknown vessels with them. Primary offensive armament still healing. Secondary and tertiary armaments are functional but remain in hibernation state. Primary and secondary defensive functions offline and in hibernation state. Recommend hibernation rescindment as soon as possible. =/\=
oO Angry crysta….Tholians, the Alliance, Crap on toast. Oo
Narhelion: =/\= Please. Narhelion does not want to expire. =/\=
Niac: =/\= We don't want you to expire either, Narhelion. We came to convince you to leave this area of space...but it's too late for that now. Please...wait just a moment. =/\=
The Captain muted the comms again, and stepped towards the tactical station. He was most likely trying to ascertain the size of the incoming Alliance party. It’s what she’d do. Rachel for her part already started repair teams to double time it, because it looked that this might get a little shooty and she wanted to be prepared for such an occasion.
Niac: Can you tell me the size and disposition of the enemy force, Ensign Akani? Lieutenant Morgan...are we going to be in anything like fighting shape when they get here? Ensign Marsek...now that the long range sensors can actually function, can you give us any idea what the creature might be heading towards? I refuse to believe it chose this course randomly.
Marsek: According to the predicted path, sir, we're heading right into a subspace fissure. Class ten.
Akani: Enemy force of around five Lattice Alliance-esque ships. In front of the fissure.
Morgan: Subspace fissure ::dripping with sarcasm:: just wonderful. As far as fighting shape, I wouldn’t hold your breath, Captain; you have a partial phaser, as the dorsal array is out and needs to be replaced completely. And only one torpedo tube is operable; give us two hours, and we’ll have both tubes ready to go, and juice up what we have without the dorsal array.
Niac: You're telling me the creature is heading towards a class ten subspace fissure that could tear the ship apart...but that it's on the other side of a Lattice Alliance task force that could tear the ship apart first...and that's only if we can perform enough repairs in the next few hours to survive until one of those things can tear the ship apart. Did I miss anything?
Marsek: ...There's also the Narhelion wanting to absorb part of the ship to create a child.
Akani: Other than that, yeah, that's everything.
Morgan: ::she shrugged:: They’ve pretty much nailed it, Captain.
Rachel watched as Captain Niac folded his arms across his chest and snorted.
Niac: Well, for a minute there I thought we were in real trouble. Let's see if our new friend will let us talk to Commanders Raga and Kel...because we're going to need to come up with a plan. And possibly schedule a baby shower.
Rachel snorted this time, at ‘baby shower’. What do you get for a space whale for a baby shower?
Niac: We're going to need a really big cake.
Morgan: I’m not sure Chef has the room to make one that size. ::she puffed a stray curl out of her eyesight:: and don’t get me started on candles….
Niac/Marsek/Akani/Narhelion: Response
Rachel’s hands danced over her LCARS as more reports started streaming in, while the Ronin wasn’t at 100%, she was slowly getting there. Still no warp core and she wasn’t entirely sure even with her down in engineering working on it would it speed up repair time. Warp cores can be delicate at times, and the last thing they wanted to do was blow the warp core while it was still in the ship.
Morgan: Cap, I can’t promise warp drive anytime in the near future; the damage is extensive. I can get us some impulse power and thrusters, but that’s about it for mobility.
Niac/Marsek/Akani/Narhelion: Response
Narhelion was headed for the fissure which put it head long into a Lattice Alliance task force. On top of that it was wounded and might not survive the encounter and they had away teams over there, which really started to complicate things, especially the way they were escalating.
Morgan: Not to make matters worse, but that strike force is powering up their weapons and are targeting Narhelion. I’ve got shields at 90%, give it five more minutes and we should be at full shields.
Niac/Marsek/Akani/Narhelion: Response
