Marine Captain Michele Winters - Too Many Questions, Not Enough Answers
Joel Cannistraro
((Bridge, Deck 01, USS Thor))
Michele found herself aboard what the others felt was the real USS Thor. Not some made up set for the media production of some alien species bent on watching programming all day made up of captives taken from their ships. Whether this was the real Thor or another incredibly well designed sets front he aliens, Michele had nothing more she could do except play along, at acting like a Starfleet officer seemed the best way to try and locate the Captain and senior staff, at least for the moment.
Winters: Ok, I'm onboard with that. Who is down in Engineering that you know who can help?
Kreshkova: How many of our people are you detecting aboard zhe Syren’s Song, Commander?
Orlon, A.: Sensors are readin’ two hundred thirty-three.
Roe: Between the USS Janaran, the USS Thor, and the Syren's Song that leaves several hundred individuals unaccounted for.
Michele looked to the Tactical station and began a methodical scan of the ships. If this was the real USS Thor, then as much data as they could get would be the most help in locating their crew. If this was just another media production, the data could not be relied on even if the game makers allowed them data that came from the ships themselves. This was going to take a minute to figure out and Michele did not like that thought.
Kreshkova: But if ve add zhat number to our current number aboard zhe Zhor, zhat could leave us vizh as many as four to five hundred still on zhe ozher side of zhe tidepool.
Orlon, A.: Sensors kinna currently penetrate the tidal zone. If ya want me ta try amplifying our sensors, Ah’m goin’ ta need more power, Captain.
Meris: Aboard the Magni, we launched microprobes into the tidepool to collect readings from within the anomaly. It might be worth doing something similar with full-size probes.
Winters: ::looking to Meris:: Definently worth a shot. A class four probe should be best for spacial items like this tidepool of yours I would believe.
Kreshkova: Mister Orlon, see if you can zhe Commander more power for zhe LRS. Meris, tell me vhen zhe Magni is aboard zhen see how close to zhe tidepool vizhout endangering our falling in, Da?
Roe: Yessir.
The Bajoran immediately turned his attention back to the Operations console and Michele went back to the Tactical station, scanning for anything that would given her the edge over their captors.
Orlon, A: Captain, Ah’m also picking up movement on the other vessel. It has no IFF, but it’s systems - including tactical systems just came online.
Meris: The Magni is on short final now, Captain.
Kreshkova: Captain Vinters, figure out vhat zhat ozher ship is tactically capable of, and find a vay to be ready for it.
Michele glanced at the green haired Commander and then back down to her console as she began to run a tighter scan of the other vessel.
Winters: Aye sir.
Orlon, A.: With the extra power, Ah’m workin’ on boosting our sensor capability inside the tidepool.
Roe: You're welcome.
Meris: Captain Kreshkova, the Magni is now aboard.
Winters: Tactical analysis of the hostile vessel Commander. Twenty-one weapon ports. High yield energy output. Defensive shielding appears to be some form of tri-layered absorption shielding technology. Based on what I am seeing, we're outgunned and our shields won't keep us in a fight long against their weapons energy levels. I know a few tricks with shields that could buy us a few more minutes in a fight but not much more.
Ash/Kreshkova: Response.
Meris: Captain, while aboard the Magni we gathered samples of space from within the tidepool and returned them to the shuttle for analysis. Our intent was to compare those samples against local space to determine whether the region inside the anomaly originated from another dimension. We were pulled into the studio world before we could complete the work. Now that the samples are aboard the Thor, we can finish that analysis.
While that seemed all well and good from a scientific point of view, Michele was not sure how taking eyes off the hostile ships would help get the Captain and crew back. Who cared where the anomaly originated from at the given moment. It was here and their crew was being forced against their will to act out performances for an alien species they knew very little about.
Winters: How does knowing where this anomaly came from help us get the Captain and our crew back? Shouldn't we be focused more on a rescue plan rather than studying this anomaly?
Michele did not want to overstep, she did not know this crew but at the same time she felt she was missing something.
Ash/Kreshkova: Response.
Meris: I will have someone in the shuttlebay recover the samples and bring them to the science labs immediately.
Michele eyed Meris for a moment trying to determine if this was all part of an act, a performance for those aliens out there on the other ship which most likely was a holographic illusion propped up on a set for them to play out a scene for the audiences.
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?
Ash/Kreshkova/Meris: Response.
The Marine stood firmly at Tactical. The Lieutenant Commander out ranked her and was clearly in command. The others on the bridge seemed to respect the officer and follow her so Michele would not upset that dynamic. She did not have to agree with a senior officer's orders but she would follow them nonetheless as long. She eyed the younger woman for a moment and the gave a gentle and slight head nod in acknowledgement.
Winters: Understood.
Ash/Kreshkova/Meris: Response.
The Thor's tactical sensor suite was exceptionally impressive compared to the aging Akira class she currently served aboard and there were several notable items in these sensor suites she really thought should be utilized back in the Alpha Isles. Something she would have to address if and when she got back home.
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.
Ash/Kreshkova/Meris: Response.
(( Tags/TBC ))