Lieutenant JG Meris & Lieutenant JG Orlon Roe: Playing the Odds
Meris/Brian
(( Bridge, Deck 01, USS Thor ))
Returning to the bridge had brought answers, but not nearly enough of them. As reports poured in from various stations around the ship, Meris found themself caught between cautious hope and growing concern. More of the crew had been located than they had dared hope, yet the numbers also made it painfully clear just how many people were still missing beyond the edges of the tidepool.
What mattered most was that Captain Kreshkova never seemed to lose sight of that goal. Even while an unidentified ship powered up nearby and tactical reports from Captain Winters painted a grim picture of the odds they might face, the focus remained fixed on finding a way to bring their people home. The samples recovered aboard the Magni suddenly felt more important than ever. If understanding the anomaly could help them see into it, communicate through it, or transport people out of it, then every piece of data might be one step closer to rescuing the hundreds still trapped on the other side.
For the first time since returning to the Thor, the chaos of the situation felt almost manageable. There were still far too many questions and nowhere near enough answers, but at least they were finally taking action instead of merely surviving.
Winters: Commander, with all due respect. Our number one priority should be the Captain and crew's recovery. Diverting resources to study where this anomaly came from, sounds great but is it the best use of our resources?
Perhaps it was the starch in the Marine's uniform, but even Meris felt the chafing from Captain Winters' observation. And yet, they knew rescuing their people from what they suspected was another dimension would absolutely rely on understanding that dimension. No matter how much the Captain might have wanted to, charging in with phasers blazing was not going to be the answer here. At least not yet. Meris hoped Captain Kreshkova saw things the same way.
Kreshkova: Captain Vinters, Your objection will be noted in my log. Not zhat I owe you an explanation, but so you can better focus, if ve understand zhe differences between zheir space and our space, and can make necessary modifications to bridge zhose differences, our sensors vill more effectively see inside zhe tidepool, vhich vould also render our transporters more effective vhen it comes time to get our people out. Correct me if I’m wrong, Commander Orlon.
Orlon, A.: Aye, Captain, ye’re right.
Winters: Understood.
The tension that had briefly settled over the bridge eased by a fraction. Meris let out a breath they had not realized they were holding while Roe glanced up from Operations and exchanged a quick look with his wife. The bridge did not need arguments right now. It needed solutions.
A small status update appeared on Meris' display and gave them something useful to focus on.
Meris: Shuttlebay reports the samples have been delivered to the science labs. Commander Orlon, if you could have one of your people examine them?
Kreshkova: Lieutenant Orlon, see if you can locate any member of zhe Command Staff on eizher of zhose ships.
Roe immediately shifted priorities on his display. The bridge lights reflected off the console as he filtered through active combadge signatures, command authorization codes, and personnel records.
Roe: Aye Captain. Scanning... I am detecting combadges from several officers aboard the Syren's Song. ::a pause:: Including Commander Herrick, ma'am.
The news brought a noticeable sense of relief. They still did not know how to get everyone home, but at least they knew some of their senior officers were alive.
Winters: Commander, has anyone determined what it is that these aliens used to render us all unconscious at the drop of a hat? We need to be able to defend against that if we are to try and stay in sustained engagement with these guys.
Kreshkova: I haf zhought of it, and I am open to any suggestions, but I’m vondering if zhe answers to zhat are also in zhat container obtained by zhe Magni. Anyzhing on zhat front from down below?
Ash checked her messages.
Orlon, A.: Nay yet, Captain.
Meris found themself staring at the tidepool on the viewscreen as they considered the question. They remembered gripping Wyatt Ral's arm. They remembered reaching for Naledi. They remembered the world coming apart around them. What they did not remember was actually losing consciousness.
oO It wasn't sleep. It wasn't unconsciousness. It was more like reality skipped ahead without asking permission. Oo
Meris: My own experience would suggest the effect was similar to a transporter. While I did experience a kind of... black out experience. I don't know that I was necessarily rendered unconscious. It was more like a long blink.
Roe nodded thoughtfully. He remembered the end of the Newlywed Game. One moment he had been standing beneath bright studio lights and the next he had been back aboard the Thor. There had been no sense of being asleep in between or waking from unconscious. More like a dark mask had been pulled down over his eyes only to have it lifted moments later.
Roe: That's consistent with what I experienced as well.
Just then, Sasch's attention seemed to be drawn toward something emerging on the viewscreen. A shuttle was slipping out from behind the pirate vessel. Moments later, a second craft followed.
Kreshkova: Vinters, report. Vhat am I looking at?
Meris immediately isolated one of the contacts and enlarged it on the main display.
Meris: Those appear to be shuttlecraft.
Roe leaned slightly forward.
Roe: I doubt they're just for a stroll...
Winters: Response.
Kreshkova: Based on zheir trajectory, vhere do you zhink zhey are headed?
Meris barely needed to check the projected flight path. The answer was obvious.
Meris: They are on course for the Syren's Song, Captain.
Roe: (under his breath) Guess who's coming to dinner...
Winters: Response.
Kreshkova: Meris, please put us between zhe Syren’s song and zhat shuttle. Mister Orlon, vhezher ve zhink zhey can hear us or not, please inform zhem zhat to board eizher zhe Janaran or zhe Syren’s Song vill be considered a hostile act, and ve vill take action.
Meris & Roe: (in unison) Aye Captain.
Meris immediately acknowledged the maneuvering order. Their fingers moved across the helm controls with practiced confidence as the Thor adjusted course. The massive Vesta-class vessel accelerated smoothly to full impulse, slowing as it placed itself between the approaching shuttlecraft and the stranded starships. It was not a subtle move. It was very much the starship equivalent of stepping between two people and saying, ‘We're doing this now.’
Across the bridge, Roe opened a channel and routed it on a wide-band frequency. If the alien vessel was listening at all, they’d hear the message.
Roe: =/\= Unidentified vessel, this is the Federation starship USS Thor. We are monitoring the approach of your shuttles towards the SS Syren's Song. Be advised if you attempt to board the Syren's Song or the USS Janaran your actions will be treated as a hostile act and we will respond. Stand down and return your shuttles to your vessel. Please acknowledge. =/\=
The Operations Officer waited for a response while monitoring the channel for any sign that the message had even been received. After a moment he glanced toward Captain Kreshkova and gave a small nod indicating the transmission was away.
Winters: Response.
Meris studied the navigational sensors. Every assessment they had received suggested the unidentified vessel would pose a challenge to the Thor in a direct confrontation. If the pirates believed they held all the advantages, they might simply ignore the warning message that had been sent. But, perhaps that belief could be encouraged to change.
Meris: Captain, given that we are both isolated and understaffed, that vessel may consider that they have the upper hand. ::a pause:: We could alter their perception of the situation if we were to create a sensor ghost of an approaching starship... perhaps the Octavia E. Butler, for example.
Roe looked over from Operations.
Roe: A sensor ghost? How do you suggest we do that?
Kreshkova/Winters: Response.
Meris: We could use the lateral sensor array to bounce active scans off a distant stellar phenomenon. If we tune our transmission appropriately, it could give the appearance of an approaching starship. If we couple it with a burst communication of the OEB's transponder signal, reflected off the same phenomenon, it should be a sufficient ruse to convince the pirate vessel that the Sagan-class starship is approaching. Any region of ionized plasma should be sufficient to create such a sensor ghost.
Kreshkova/Winters: Response.
Roe considered the proposal and slowly frowned.
Roe: That's an awful thin veil you have on that ruse. If they aren't convinced immediately, they'll pick up on the fact that the "OEB" isn't getting any closer pretty quickly.
Meris found themself nodding in agreement. The idea was risky. Then again, since arriving aboard the Thor, most of the plans they’d needed to come up with had held more than a modicum of risk.
Meris: I acknowledge that it is a gamble. If it fails we will need to be prepared to defend ourselves, as well as the Syren's Song and the USS Janaran as well.
Kreshkova/Winters: Response.
(( Tags/TBC ))
---
Lieutenant JG Meris
Helmsperson
USS Thor
A240207M14