Lt. Cmdr. V'Len Kel - I found my marbles
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Don K
Jan 20, 2026, 3:24:56 PMJan 20
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((Bridge, Deck 3, USS Ronin))
V'Len had seen Commodore Kells leave the ship during a crisis, as had Niac on more than one occasion. There was no harm then, if he opted to join an expedition out into the surrounding system. The ship was parked nearby the anomaly that the Kurosawa had emerged from and the investigation was ongoing. He had seen a report that one of the runabouts had not checked in, but he was planning on going away from the anomaly anyway. It seemed a prudent course of action assuming Jack or Marty didn't tie him to the captain's chair before he could get to the shuttlebay.
Kel: Alright let's do it. Let's catch up with Ian and see if he's got his modified shuttle ready.
Morgan and company were already sending a probe into the anomaly, the shuttle could be used to get a read on the Ross-580 system itself. Whatever was out there, it could be part of the mystery.
Shortrith: I'll make sure I have a medkit on me.
Kel: Vomek, you have the bridge.
The Romulan turned around to give the Commander a confused look.
Kel: I'm the chief science officer, who else should go on a science related expedition?
Shortrith: ::smiling:: You have a point.
Kessler: ::standing:: Commander, I understand your desire to go but I must formally object to leading this away mission and General Order 15 states, No Flag officer shall lead an away team into a hazardous area without armed escort.
V'Len gave Jack a sideways look.
Kel: I'm not a flag officer so I don't think that rule applies to me, Jack.
Kessler: ::grinning:: Nor did I think you would, but you are not going without me there at your side.
Shortrith: Nor me.
Kel: =/\= Kel to Ensign Wren. Please meet us in Shuttlebay 1. We're going on a field trip.
Wren: =/\= Oh! Okay, I’m on my way, sir =/\=
Kessler: Vomek, if anything happens and you need tactical help get Captain Winters up here to handle Tactical for you.
Vomek: I'll let her know you volunteered her Lieutenant Kessler.
((Deck 09, Shuttlebay 01, USS Ronin))
The trip to the shuttle bay was brief and V'Len was thankful that Ensign Wren was already waiting for them. She certainly seemed to be eager to please. V'Len had to wonder if he had ever been that bright eyed. It had only been four, perhaps five years, but V'Len felt like he was a senior citizen sometimes.
Wren: ::softly:: Did I miss anything?
Shortrith: Not really, we just got here. We're just going to get more scans of the temporal anomaly.
Kessler: Any special equipment aside from the standard you want with us Commander?
Shortrith: I'm happy to grab more scanning equipment and more sophisticated medical gear.
Kel: Anything you consider useful.
V'Len took quick strides toward the shuttle that Poagie and O'Connor were engaged with.
Kel: Mr. O'Connor we're going to need that modified shuttle sooner than we thought. Is she ready?
O’Connor: Surveying the system? Right, right. We need to eliminate that the system isn’t the problem and get baselines for here. Got it.
Kel: That's my hope. Progress?
O’Connor: Yeah, as silly as it sounds, I lost track of time. We have the Kepler almost prepped.
Kessler: Well personally, I would prefer a larger ship with maybe some Borg enhanced shields and temporal shielding but since we don't seem to have any, I guess this will have to do.
Kel: ::looking at Jack:: You know I used to brave ion storms in a Class F shuttle right? I'll bet we can get some good work done.
O’Connor: Well it’s not quite that good but we’ve added some precautions. We still want to finish modifying a couple more probes as gravity well generators to be able to deploy like an emergency brake and anchor. We’re thinking, based on what we know so far, that 6 of these micro generators surrounding us should hold the Kepler in the here and now.
Kel: ::firmly:: How long?
O’Connor: We’ll still need a few more minutes to finish off and run a diagnostic cycle and a couple of simmula…
V'Len hated to fly off with variables still unaccounted for, but he also knew they needed to move. If there was an impending danger coming, V'Len wanted to stay ahead of it.
O’Connor: Nevermind, We can run those in flight.
Wren: :: To herself:: At least we’ll have plenty of room… ::Out loud:: I have an Engineering pack with me, is there anything else I need?
V'Len went through the list in his head. Med kit, engineering kit, modifications…
Kel: Let's make sure we have some pattern enhancers in case we run into trouble and need to transport.
O'Connor: ::raises eyebrows and smiles slightly:: Religious idol of your preference? We’ll probably need all the prayers we can get.
V'Len wondered if it would be wrong to ask the Bajorans on board to begin praying to the Prophets on their behalf. At the moment is seemed as viable a plan as any. He wondered how often Karrod felt like he was ad libing.
Kessler: response
Wren: Understood, I’ll make sure that’s brought aboard.
Kel: Excellent, shall we head out?
Kessler/O'Connor: response
Before anyone could speak further Shortrith's comm badge came suddenly to life. V'Len recognized the voice as one he had already heard a great deal from.
De La Croix: =/\= Sickbay to Doctor...Shortbread. This is Doctor Thessolonia De La Croix. It seems you've forgotten to check in with me. =/\=
Dr. De La Croix was highly respected surgeon and V'Len was willing to give her a wide berth to operate hoping the medical staff would benefit. In fact De La Croix had proven to be stand offish and arrogant in a way that V'Len found deeply disappointing.
Shortrith: =/\= It's Doctor Shortrith, and I set up a meeting to check in with you when you first joined the ship. It should have shown up in your notes. =/\=
To their great credit Renaie remained calm and collective. Jack and O'Connor seemed annoyed to say the least.
Kel: ::raising hand:: Let the doctor deal with her staff. We can start the preflight checks.
Kessler/Wren: Response
De La Croix: =/\= Well try to be a bit more interesting next time and I just might be able to remember it. So what's all this nonsense with the lights? The candy striper you have working down here doesn't know a thing. =/\=
Shortrith: =/\= We're at yellow alert. There is some temporal stuff happening and the usual captain and first officer are dead. ::coldly:: And don't you dare speak about any of the medical staff like that again.=/\=
V'Len smiled. He remembered another medical officer calling the bridge during a yellow alert. The XO had given him a thorough dressing down. To this day V'Len always looked around if someone mentioned Wes Greaves.
Shortrith: =/\= Actually, please meet me in shuttle bay 1. We're going on an expedition and I think your assistance would be appreciated. =/\=
V'Len's eyes went wide and a small smile crept across his face. He was not sure this was the time of place, but it was Renaie's staff. If she thought De La Croix could be useful who was he to argue.
O’Connor: ::Ian went wide eyed and mouthed at Jack and Kel:: Who the heck is this woman?
Kel: I believe that is our new Chief Surgeon.
Kessler/Wren: Response
De La Croix: =/\= Me, on a ship even smaller than this one? I hardly realized such a thing existed. What am I to do, nurse an amoeba back to health? =/\=
Shortrith: =/\= We're conducting scans on the temporal anomaly with a finer-toothed comb than what the probes conduct. ::to Kessler and Kel, still on comms:: I've got that right, yes? =/\=
V'Len tapped his comm badge.
Kel: =/\= Quite right Dr. Shortrith. We'll warm up a seat for you Dr. La Croix. Shuttle bay 1. =/\=
Kessler/O'Connor/Wren/De La Croix: Response
Shortrith: =/\= I don't care, Doc. Get to shuttle bay 1 as soon as possible. Shortrith out. =/\=
V'Len was about to say more, but declined. He was pleased to see that Renaie was in not intimidated. It was more than he might have been able to say for himself at that point in his career. V'Len nodded toward the aperture in the side of the shuttle.
Kel: Shall we?
Kessler/O'Connor/Wren/De La Croix: Response
The group clambered into the shuttle and V'Len. Took a seat in one of the auxiliary stations. He set it up so that data would feed in from the science sensors.
Shortrith: Well, it looks like we have a volunteer for the trip.
Kel: ::turning to Shortrith:: Well done doctor. You handled your subordinate very well. If they get to be too much, let me know. I'm sure Jack can be of assistance.
Kessler/O'Connor/Wren: Response
The group continued to get the shuttle ready. The sensors were not seeing much parked in the shuttlebay, but it was clear that just beyond the main door the space was saturated with chronitons. There was little else that could be detected.
Kel: Are we ready? I'll give La Croix another 90 seconds and then we need to go.
De La Croix/Shortrith/Kessler/O'Connor/Wren: Response
At that moment the Chief Surgeon burst through the door and stood I the midst of the fore section of the Kepler.
Kel: Take a seat Doctor. We're just about ready to depart.
De La Croix/Shortrith/Kessler/O'Connor/Wren: Response
The shuttle rose off the deck and began its rapid acceleration toward the exit of the bay. As the bust into the space around the USS Ronin. V'Len's sensors came to life. There were 11 planets in the system. Six were gas giants, five were terrestrial planets at least as big as earth if not slightly bigger.
Kel: Doctors. See what you can see as far as life readings on those interior planets
De La Croix/Shortrith/Kessler/O'Connor/Wren: Response
V'Len continued to look at his readings. Gas giants always reminded V'Len of marbles and these were no exceptions. Deep crimsons met with bright azures and emerald met with magenta. The variety the universe could produce never failed to impress V'Len.
Kel: ::pleased:: The gas giants are very colorful.
De La Croix/Shortrith/Kessler/O'Connor/Wren: Response
Kel: ::smiling:: I'm always like this, all the time.
The shuttle continued on for several minutes with data flowing in. The Chroniton count began to fall as they moved away from whatever hole had been produced in space. It seemed the system was calm, until it wasn't. Every light on V'Len's console suddenly became red
Kel: What the…I'm picking up a massive burst of ultra-high energy gamma rays coming from the gas giant closest to the Ross-580 star.
De La Croix/Shortrith/Kessler/O'Connor/Wren: Response
Tags/TBC
--
V'Len had seen Commodore Kells leave the ship during a crisis, as had Niac on more than one occasion. There was no harm then, if he opted to join an expedition out into the surrounding system. The ship was parked nearby the anomaly that the Kurosawa had emerged from and the investigation was ongoing. He had seen a report that one of the runabouts had not checked in, but he was planning on going away from the anomaly anyway. It seemed a prudent course of action assuming Jack or Marty didn't tie him to the captain's chair before he could get to the shuttlebay.
Kel: Alright let's do it. Let's catch up with Ian and see if he's got his modified shuttle ready.
Morgan and company were already sending a probe into the anomaly, the shuttle could be used to get a read on the Ross-580 system itself. Whatever was out there, it could be part of the mystery.
Shortrith: I'll make sure I have a medkit on me.
Kel: Vomek, you have the bridge.
The Romulan turned around to give the Commander a confused look.
Kel: I'm the chief science officer, who else should go on a science related expedition?
Shortrith: ::smiling:: You have a point.
Kessler: ::standing:: Commander, I understand your desire to go but I must formally object to leading this away mission and General Order 15 states, No Flag officer shall lead an away team into a hazardous area without armed escort.
V'Len gave Jack a sideways look.
Kel: I'm not a flag officer so I don't think that rule applies to me, Jack.
Kessler: ::grinning:: Nor did I think you would, but you are not going without me there at your side.
Shortrith: Nor me.
Kel: =/\= Kel to Ensign Wren. Please meet us in Shuttlebay 1. We're going on a field trip.
Wren: =/\= Oh! Okay, I’m on my way, sir =/\=
Kessler: Vomek, if anything happens and you need tactical help get Captain Winters up here to handle Tactical for you.
Vomek: I'll let her know you volunteered her Lieutenant Kessler.
((Deck 09, Shuttlebay 01, USS Ronin))
The trip to the shuttle bay was brief and V'Len was thankful that Ensign Wren was already waiting for them. She certainly seemed to be eager to please. V'Len had to wonder if he had ever been that bright eyed. It had only been four, perhaps five years, but V'Len felt like he was a senior citizen sometimes.
Wren: ::softly:: Did I miss anything?
Shortrith: Not really, we just got here. We're just going to get more scans of the temporal anomaly.
Kessler: Any special equipment aside from the standard you want with us Commander?
Shortrith: I'm happy to grab more scanning equipment and more sophisticated medical gear.
Kel: Anything you consider useful.
V'Len took quick strides toward the shuttle that Poagie and O'Connor were engaged with.
Kel: Mr. O'Connor we're going to need that modified shuttle sooner than we thought. Is she ready?
O’Connor: Surveying the system? Right, right. We need to eliminate that the system isn’t the problem and get baselines for here. Got it.
Kel: That's my hope. Progress?
O’Connor: Yeah, as silly as it sounds, I lost track of time. We have the Kepler almost prepped.
Kessler: Well personally, I would prefer a larger ship with maybe some Borg enhanced shields and temporal shielding but since we don't seem to have any, I guess this will have to do.
Kel: ::looking at Jack:: You know I used to brave ion storms in a Class F shuttle right? I'll bet we can get some good work done.
O’Connor: Well it’s not quite that good but we’ve added some precautions. We still want to finish modifying a couple more probes as gravity well generators to be able to deploy like an emergency brake and anchor. We’re thinking, based on what we know so far, that 6 of these micro generators surrounding us should hold the Kepler in the here and now.
Kel: ::firmly:: How long?
O’Connor: We’ll still need a few more minutes to finish off and run a diagnostic cycle and a couple of simmula…
V'Len hated to fly off with variables still unaccounted for, but he also knew they needed to move. If there was an impending danger coming, V'Len wanted to stay ahead of it.
O’Connor: Nevermind, We can run those in flight.
Wren: :: To herself:: At least we’ll have plenty of room… ::Out loud:: I have an Engineering pack with me, is there anything else I need?
V'Len went through the list in his head. Med kit, engineering kit, modifications…
Kel: Let's make sure we have some pattern enhancers in case we run into trouble and need to transport.
O'Connor: ::raises eyebrows and smiles slightly:: Religious idol of your preference? We’ll probably need all the prayers we can get.
V'Len wondered if it would be wrong to ask the Bajorans on board to begin praying to the Prophets on their behalf. At the moment is seemed as viable a plan as any. He wondered how often Karrod felt like he was ad libing.
Kessler: response
Wren: Understood, I’ll make sure that’s brought aboard.
Kel: Excellent, shall we head out?
Kessler/O'Connor: response
Before anyone could speak further Shortrith's comm badge came suddenly to life. V'Len recognized the voice as one he had already heard a great deal from.
De La Croix: =/\= Sickbay to Doctor...Shortbread. This is Doctor Thessolonia De La Croix. It seems you've forgotten to check in with me. =/\=
Dr. De La Croix was highly respected surgeon and V'Len was willing to give her a wide berth to operate hoping the medical staff would benefit. In fact De La Croix had proven to be stand offish and arrogant in a way that V'Len found deeply disappointing.
Shortrith: =/\= It's Doctor Shortrith, and I set up a meeting to check in with you when you first joined the ship. It should have shown up in your notes. =/\=
To their great credit Renaie remained calm and collective. Jack and O'Connor seemed annoyed to say the least.
Kel: ::raising hand:: Let the doctor deal with her staff. We can start the preflight checks.
Kessler/Wren: Response
De La Croix: =/\= Well try to be a bit more interesting next time and I just might be able to remember it. So what's all this nonsense with the lights? The candy striper you have working down here doesn't know a thing. =/\=
Shortrith: =/\= We're at yellow alert. There is some temporal stuff happening and the usual captain and first officer are dead. ::coldly:: And don't you dare speak about any of the medical staff like that again.=/\=
V'Len smiled. He remembered another medical officer calling the bridge during a yellow alert. The XO had given him a thorough dressing down. To this day V'Len always looked around if someone mentioned Wes Greaves.
Shortrith: =/\= Actually, please meet me in shuttle bay 1. We're going on an expedition and I think your assistance would be appreciated. =/\=
V'Len's eyes went wide and a small smile crept across his face. He was not sure this was the time of place, but it was Renaie's staff. If she thought De La Croix could be useful who was he to argue.
O’Connor: ::Ian went wide eyed and mouthed at Jack and Kel:: Who the heck is this woman?
Kel: I believe that is our new Chief Surgeon.
Kessler/Wren: Response
De La Croix: =/\= Me, on a ship even smaller than this one? I hardly realized such a thing existed. What am I to do, nurse an amoeba back to health? =/\=
Shortrith: =/\= We're conducting scans on the temporal anomaly with a finer-toothed comb than what the probes conduct. ::to Kessler and Kel, still on comms:: I've got that right, yes? =/\=
V'Len tapped his comm badge.
Kel: =/\= Quite right Dr. Shortrith. We'll warm up a seat for you Dr. La Croix. Shuttle bay 1. =/\=
Kessler/O'Connor/Wren/De La Croix: Response
Shortrith: =/\= I don't care, Doc. Get to shuttle bay 1 as soon as possible. Shortrith out. =/\=
V'Len was about to say more, but declined. He was pleased to see that Renaie was in not intimidated. It was more than he might have been able to say for himself at that point in his career. V'Len nodded toward the aperture in the side of the shuttle.
Kel: Shall we?
Kessler/O'Connor/Wren/De La Croix: Response
The group clambered into the shuttle and V'Len. Took a seat in one of the auxiliary stations. He set it up so that data would feed in from the science sensors.
Shortrith: Well, it looks like we have a volunteer for the trip.
Kel: ::turning to Shortrith:: Well done doctor. You handled your subordinate very well. If they get to be too much, let me know. I'm sure Jack can be of assistance.
Kessler/O'Connor/Wren: Response
The group continued to get the shuttle ready. The sensors were not seeing much parked in the shuttlebay, but it was clear that just beyond the main door the space was saturated with chronitons. There was little else that could be detected.
Kel: Are we ready? I'll give La Croix another 90 seconds and then we need to go.
De La Croix/Shortrith/Kessler/O'Connor/Wren: Response
At that moment the Chief Surgeon burst through the door and stood I the midst of the fore section of the Kepler.
Kel: Take a seat Doctor. We're just about ready to depart.
De La Croix/Shortrith/Kessler/O'Connor/Wren: Response
The shuttle rose off the deck and began its rapid acceleration toward the exit of the bay. As the bust into the space around the USS Ronin. V'Len's sensors came to life. There were 11 planets in the system. Six were gas giants, five were terrestrial planets at least as big as earth if not slightly bigger.
Kel: Doctors. See what you can see as far as life readings on those interior planets
De La Croix/Shortrith/Kessler/O'Connor/Wren: Response
V'Len continued to look at his readings. Gas giants always reminded V'Len of marbles and these were no exceptions. Deep crimsons met with bright azures and emerald met with magenta. The variety the universe could produce never failed to impress V'Len.
Kel: ::pleased:: The gas giants are very colorful.
De La Croix/Shortrith/Kessler/O'Connor/Wren: Response
Kel: ::smiling:: I'm always like this, all the time.
The shuttle continued on for several minutes with data flowing in. The Chroniton count began to fall as they moved away from whatever hole had been produced in space. It seemed the system was calm, until it wasn't. Every light on V'Len's console suddenly became red
Kel: What the…I'm picking up a massive burst of ultra-high energy gamma rays coming from the gas giant closest to the Ross-580 star.
De La Croix/Shortrith/Kessler/O'Connor/Wren: 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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