Ensign Akani Xira - The Spirds And The Spees
Renaie Shortrith
((Bridge, Deck 3, USS Ronin))
Akani: Captain, what would the possibility be of the Alliance being wary of the entity because of what happened with the Tholian vessel? Or would they be more likely to attack?
Niac: Wishful thinking, Ensign. If the Alliance perceives this creature as a threat they're all the more likely to throw everything they have available at it. The Tholians and the Sheliak only agree on one thing...that all other life forms are beneath them. Even big ones.
Her face firmed for a moment before she spoke up again.
Akani: There's a possibility that due to the perception of the Ronin as its child, it may believe it has the responsibility to protect us while we get the ship in order?
Marsek: It is moving slowly, like it does feel it has responsibility of the ship's health. The energy readings are remaining the same. ::muses:: The same energy source for offense, defense, and support...how curious.
Morgan: A central system to guide them all I’m guessing.::she gave a one shoulder shrug::
Niac: Interesting as this speculation is we have more immediate problems...and I'll put our hull damage at the top of that particular list. Do you think it's worth trying to free the ship in its current condition?
She considered all the points, and weighed them in her mind against her previous experience on the Compass Rose, and her experiences from her previous ship.
Akani: I'm inclined to take the protection at face value, and take the time to get the Ronin to the point where we can work without the protection.
Marsek: It doesn't seem as if the creature is expending much energy to bring us along. Whatever it's doing, it's not hurting itself.
Morgan: I fear that’s because the creature is sapping our power whether or not it's aware it’s happening. But we are losing power and I’m afraid the longer we are close to it, we’re going to be drained of power rather quickly.
Niac: Keep an eye on the EPS grid, Lieutenant Morgan, I'd like to avoid replacing every relay on the ship if we could. Ensign Marsek, are you still picking up anything from those fragments that impacted the creatures exterior?
Marsek: The levels of the tetryonic emissions are lowering, sir. I'm no expert on Tholian weaponry, but I don't think they degrade at that quickly of a rate.
Morgan: They don’t degrade as quickly as that.
Niac: It's like the creature is absorbing it as it goes. I wonder if it's capable of recycling it, using as some sort of supplemental power. We need to get back in touch with the away teams....Ensign Akani, any luck?
Akani: Not at this stage.
oO Soon. Please. Oo
Marsek: I don't have enough information yet to determine what's happening with the projectiles. At this moment, I'm unable to tell if these are being crushed or even absorbed into it. ::murmurs:: That would sure be something…
Morgan: Just a reminder folks, the creature this close is draining our power, and I’m dipping into reserves just to make sure it doesn’t bleed us dry. Something we obviously agree that it’s not a good thing.
The lights dipped in and out again and the red alert klaxons automatically triggered.
Niac: Silence that alarm, I think we're all thoroughly ::He gestured towards the viewscreen:: alerted. Pull secondary systems offline, it's not like we're going to be able to use them right now anyway.
Akani: Silencing, at least on the bridge.
Marsek: No great reads on the away teams yet. I also can't determine if what the creature is doing is affecting its inner structure or health - but as it's still steady, I want to tentatively say we aren't hurting it.
Morgan: Between the power drain and interference I can’t get much of anything on the away teams at the moment, no EVA suits and no can do on commbadges either.
Xira tensed for the nth time that day.
Niac: Then we need another option...we're not going to be able to launch shuttles to recover them in these conditions and I'm not sending another team over until I've got a better understanding of what I'm sending them into. Suggestions?
Marsek: ::shakes her head:: My first thought is another class 5 probe, but this interference is making it near-impossible to determine safety.
Akani: If we restore comms, maybe we'd be able to talk to the teams. Get their opinion.
Morgan: ::to the Captain:: I’d suggest we back off and get just outside its range so we can restore some systems.
Niac: If you can think of a polite way to ask our friend out there to let us go I'm all ears, Lieutenant. Speaking of...what's that material doing to the hull? I sincerely hope it's not developing a taste for duranium plating.
Marsek: I won't be able to tell until Lieutenant...Vomek returns, but the data is suggesting that it's a harmless polymer.
Akani: It seems to be sealing over the breaches for now.
Morgan: I’m turning on life support to the three decks that had the hull breaches. I don’t know how much we want to populate those decks, but I don’t see a problem.
An alert from the sensors. oO What now? Oo
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...
Every comm relay on the bridge activated at once and a massive voice filled the bridge with a rich, melodic timber.
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: Response
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? =/\=
Xira smiled softly as visuals came through of the creature.
Narhelion: =/\= Narhelion apologizes to Tiny Predator’s fuzzy Caretaker. Narhelion did not realize Tiny Predator Ronin fragility. =/\=
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: Response
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? =/\=
Xira's jaw dropped in surprised as she realised what was being asked.
Niac: Did...did the space whale just invite us to make a lil'whale baby?
Marsek: I'm not sure if diapers exist in the size we'd need...
Akani: If it even fits on the ship.
Morgan: Response
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. =/\=
Xira's heart sunk a little as she heard a wail.
oO Poor thing… Oo
Was the Lattice Alliance coming back?
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. =/\=
Niac muted the comms once again and walked towards the tactical station.
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: Response
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: Response
Captain Niac crossed his arms and snorted quietly.
Niac: Well for a minute there I thought we were in real trouble. Lets 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.
oO Another structured element? Oo
Niac: We're going to need a really big cake.
Xira glanced at the others on the bridge, before taking a deep breath and noticing the shifts of the colours within Narhelion.
Once again, she uttered a soft prayer and braced herself for whatever she needed to do.
[End Act 2 for Akani!]
Tactical Officer
USS Ronin - NCC-34523
They/Them (Player) She/Her (Character)
A240204RS3