ST:SoD222 | "The Doomed Crew"

Stardate 4202.1

Stuck in the 23rd century with a timeship which seems to break faster than they can fix it, Mischa and her team must resort to drastic means in order to complete their mission and return home.

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NPC@annpc#557 FX | https://64.media.tumblr.com/621afd240ffc02baece4a0a9487301b2/tumblr_mipyzeediN1s6o4nio2_1280.jpg

NPC@annpc#557 | On the streets of a cyberpunk-style alien city, a black-clad figure runs through the crowd, dodging and weaving around people adeptly

NPC@annpc#557 | The figure's pursuers, several Orion males sporting the typical Syndicate implants, are far less subtle, pushing and shoving their way past instead. The figure rounds a corner into an alley -

NPC@annpc#557 - and the males follow along. They go on several bends and turns until the figure reaches a dead end

NPC@annpc#557 | Orion Thug #1: "Nowhere to run now, girl."

NPC@annpc#557 | Orion Thug #2: "Stupid human. You've just backed yourself into a corner."

NPC@annpc#557 | The figure turns around, revealing herself to be a younger Sabina. She appears to be in her early teens and doesn't have the Reman-esque characteristics she displays today. Her eyes are green -

NPC@annpc#557 - and her skin is still light, but far from the inhuman pale of the Sabina we know

NPC@annpc#557 | Young Sabina: "Stupid Orions. You followed me into a corner where I can dispose of you without the Syndicate knowing any better."

NPC@annpc#557 | The Orions exchange glances with one another and begins to laugh when Sabina draws a small razor from inside her jacket. One of the thugs reaches for his weapon but Sabina is upon him in an -

NPC@annpc#557 - instant, diving between his legs and slashing his ankle, causing the thug to drop to his knees with a roar of pain. The other thugs try to grab her, but she is too small and fast, moving -

NPC@annpc#557 - around the hulking males

NPC@annpc#557 | However, the big Orions are quite tough. Two of them go down, but the other two keep fighting. One of them draws a phaser and starts shooting. He hits his own friend by accident who drops to -

NPC@annpc#557 - the ground. Sabina dodges his next shot and tries to rush him, but one of his followup shots lands. It sends Sabina stumbling back

NPC@annpc#557 | The teenage augment doesn't drop however, instead letting out a cry and charging forward again. The Orion shoots a second time, knocking her down. She drops her razor this time

NPC@annpc#557 | As she starts to get up and reach for the weapon, the thug shoots a third bolt, knocking her on her back, though she is clearly still conscious and trying to get back up, though she's now -

NPC@annpc#557 - struggling

NPC@annpc#557 | Orion Thug #3: "Three shots on stun? You're no human, girl. The boss'll pay well for a catch like you..."

NPC@annpc#557 | As the Orion raises his pistol for another shot, a gloved hand clasps his shoulder. He spins around to find himself face-to-face with a Klingon woman, who immediately headbutts him. The force -

NPC@annpc#557 - of the impact sends the thug off balance and the woman grabs his arm, twisting it and forcing him to drop the pistol with a yelp of pain

NPC@annpc#557 | The thug tries to retaliate with a punch, but the Klingon ducks under it, then using the grabbed arm, executes a throw that slams the Orion hard on the ground. She follows up with a kick -

NPC@annpc#557 - straight in the centre of his ribcage and the thug goes still

NPC@annpc#557 | The Klingon woman doesn't even lift her leg, stepping over the Orion thug and towards Sabina, offering her a hand

NPC@annpc#557 | Young Sabina takes the hand, getting to her feet

NPC@annpc#557 | Klingon: "You're one tough little human. But you shouldn't take on four grown Orion males on your own."

NPC@annpc#557 | Young Sabina: "Who are you? And why did you help me?"

NPC@annpc#557 | Klingon: "One of the few in this place who has some honour. That should answer both questions."

NPC@annpc#557 | Young Sabina: "Well...thanks, I suppose. But what was I supposed to do?"

NPC@annpc#557 | Klingon: "Find friends. Or make some. Even the strongest warrior can't do everything alone."

NPC@annpc#557 | The camera fades out from the Klingon's face, her ridges match cutting to lines of wires forming a similar shape. The camera zooms out to show modern Sabina working away on a panel on the -

NPC@annpc#557 - Krenim ship

NPC@annpc#557 <C - Acey> "Sabina?"

NPC@annpc#557 | Sabina: "Sorry. Distracted. What am I supposed to do again?"

NPC@annpc#557 <C - Acey> "Reroute the thin cable to port D-4."

NPC@annpc#557 | Sabina nods, unplugging one of the cables and plugging it in elsewhere

NPC@annpc#557 | Behind her, Ori steps over, getting started with her allotted work for the day

Rianni@crystyl walks in, "Alright Acey, where exactly am I going for this now?”

NPC@annpc#557 <C - Acey> "The Commander had intended for you to relieve Sabina, but as she is still working, you may begin on the panel behind her."

NPC@annpc#557 | Sabina: "I'm running a little behind here. Don't worry, I'll be done in a few more minutes."

Rianni@crystyl looks to Sabina and gets to work at the panel, "You sure you don't want to take a break for the day?"

NPC@annpc#557 | Sabina: "I'm fine. I'd like to at least finish with this clump before I call it a day."

Rianni@crystyl:"Can't argue with that"

NPC@annpc#557 | Sabina: "So how're you doing? Other than having to do all this engineering work as a non-technical specialist."

Rianni@crystyl:"It's just another day the way I look at it. Unlike most of the crew I do not have emotional ties to anyone or anything where we come from, so I am not distracted by doubts about our return"

NPC@annpc#557 | Sabina: "No ties at all? Not even to the rest of the Latenter's crew? Or that other you?"

Rianni@crystyl:"Nope. Crewmates are just crewmates, I have no personal bonds with them. And the other me... well, we're kind of close enough regardless since she's in my head"

NPC@annpc#557 | Sabina: "You mean a telepathic connection, or just that you have her memories?"

Rianni@crystyl:"Oh, no telepathy there. Just that she's in my head. It's hard to explain but it's more than memories, it's like there's an echo of her inside of me and vice versa"

NPC@annpc#557 | Sabina nods, "I'm not sure if it's this ship or being in the past, but something's playing havoc with my precognition."

Rianni@crystyl looks back, "Really? How so?"

NPC@annpc#557 | Sabina: "All the visions I've had on this ship are memories from the past. Well, my past, anyways. The future relative to the time we're in now. I'm not sure if it's because we're in the past, -

NPC@annpc#557 - or due to some interference from the timeship systems. I'm no scientist, but I understand there's tachyons and chronitons at work, and these have some...unusual effects."

Rianni@crystyl tilts her head, "Visions of your past? But... isn't that just remembering stuff? Because I do that all the time"

NPC@annpc#557 | Sabina chuckles, "Not quite. Maybe memories are like this for people with eidetic memory. But when I remember things, it's not like seeing them happen again."

Rianni@crystyl:"Then what's it like?"

NPC@annpc#557 | Sabina: "I'm not sure how to describe it. I...recall things that happened, but it's usually focused on something. A face, a building, a picture. I can't really look around and remember every -

NPC@annpc#557 - detail like I'm there again. If I'm in a crowd, and you ask me to look for a hairless Klingon, I can search for the person. But if you ask me if I saw a hairless Klingon in a crowd I was in -

NPC@annpc#557 - several days ago, I can't remember, because my attention was probably focused on something else and I forgot all the background details."

NPC@annpc#557 | Sabina: "Unless the thing I'm trying to remember really stands out, like a big Gorn. Then, I'd remember them because they became the focus of my attention, even if just for a short while."

Rianni@crystyl:"Interesting. I don't really know how precognition works, but I guess it could be affected by temporal factors"

NPC@annpc#557 | Sabina: "My precognition in particular only works for events I'll be involved in. Or possibly involved in, since I saw things like you hunting me, which never came to pass in our reality. I'm -

NPC@annpc#557 - not sure if all precognition works that way. Haven't had a chance to talk much with that El-Aurian. To be honest, the man intimidates me a little."

Rianni@crystyl pauses midrepair and turns, staring blankly trying to process the concept of her being intimidated

NPC@annpc#557 | Sabina notices the silence and glances back with a chuckle, "I'm not /scared/ of him or anything. Though he does look like he knows what he's doing in a fight. It's mostly because of how he -

NPC@annpc#557 - carries himself. He's a lawman through and through, you know, the kind of people I spent much of my life hiding from."

Rianni@crystyl:"I get that. But intimidating you? Really?"

NPC@annpc#557 | Sabina: "I guess it's not really intimidation. Just...I'm used to avoiding men like him."

Rianni@crystyl turns back to her work, "That makes sense I guess. Still, given your abilities now it would likely be beneficial to try and work past that so you can capitalize on his expertise while it is there"

NPC@annpc#557 |Sabina nods, "I'll keep that in mind for when we get back. But yes, that's why I think these...memories are visions being affected by being here. They feel exactly like my visions and involve me. -

NPC@annpc#557 - Only, it’s things that have already happened to me rather than things about to happen."

Rianni@crystyl:"I wish I knew more about temporal mechanics and psionics to help you, but I'm probably the least knowledgeable one here"

NPC@annpc#557 | Sabina: "All this would probably be easier if we had the Krenim engineer along. This technology might still be a little advanced for him, but he probably understands it better than anyone. -

NPC@annpc#557 - Or any engineer. I feel like we're basically replacements for Acey's repair drones."

NPC@annpc#557 <C - Acey> "I /do/ have only a dozen drones to work with after the battle."

Rianni@crystyl looks up, "Does that include us?"

NPC@annpc#557 <C - Acey> "Negative. Though you are admittedly serving a similar purpose."

NPC@annpc#557 | Sabina meanwhile turns back to her work as she receives different further instructions from Acey through her earpiece

Rianni@crystyl:"Then you at least have a dozen plus two drones to work with!" she chirps

NPC@annpc#557 <C - Acey> "That is true, Though I was presuming that Sabina's statement meant she did not wish to be counted as a repair drone. After all, biological life such as yourself often do not -

NPC@annpc#557 - desire being thought of as drones, hence the antagonism towards ways of existence such as that of the Borg."

Rianni@crystyl:"I know, just having a little fun is all"

NPC@annpc#557 <C - Acey> "I see. You wish to be referred to as a drone in jest. I was under the impression that Observers such as yourself are regarded as little more than drones by your Creators, which is -

NPC@annpc#557 - why you are so readily disposed of after your missions are complete."

Rianni@crystyl:"That was true when I was created. We were less than drones in that sense really, as even drones are not simply discarded when their task is done. But that is all changed since the exodus"

NPC@annpc#557 <C - Acey> "Why is that?"

Rianni@crystyl:"Well for one, sizing up alien species from the safety of seclusion was no longer possible for the Creators. So the active Observers were all redeployed as scouts, since regardless of target -

Rianni@crystyl:- species, we were all designed for optimum integration and interaction which made us ideally suited to the role"

NPC@annpc#557 <C - Acey> "But that is simply a redesignation of role, is it not? Or does the lack of resources resulting from the exodus also inherently make you more valuable?"

Rianni@crystyl:"There is that. But do not forget that the exodus forced the Creators into a very different way of life. At the same time observation became moot, interaction became essential"

NPC@annpc#557 <C - Acey> "I believe I understand. Thank you for the explanation-"

NPC@annpc#557 | Ori suddenly hears a crackling noise and a thud behind her

Rianni@crystyl spins around to see what's happening

NPC@annpc#557 | She sees Sabina lying on the ground for a moment before she disappears into the flash of a tachyon transporter

NPC@annpc#557 <C - Acey> "I have transported her to the sickbay for treatment."

Rianni@crystyl:"What the...? Acey, what happened to Sabina?!”

NPC@annpc#557 <C - Acey> "There was an energy discharge from the panel. I am still analyzing the specifics of the incident."

Rianni@crystyl:"Best inform the Commander too"

NPC@annpc#557 <C - Acey> "I have just done so. You may visit her in sickbay if you wish. It may not be safe to continue work in the area until I have determined the cause of the malfunction."

Rianni@crystyl:"So she's in sickbay now? Wait, was that flash you beaming her there?" she asks, already heading out

NPC@annpc#557 <C - Acey> "That is correct, Ensign."

Rianni@crystyl:"Well that's a relief. I thought she'd been vaporized for a minute there..."

NPC@annpc#557 | As Ori heads to sickbay, the camera zooms out, showing the Krenim ship as it sits motionless in deep space while conducting repairs. We zoom out further until the ship is no longer visible, -

NPC@annpc#557 - past many other stars and star systems, until comes to a rest elsewhere in the midst of space. Then...

NPC@annpc#557 FX | https://youtu.be/uRJly1XCWFI

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NPC@annpc#557 | We cut back to the sickbay of the Krenim ship, where Mischa and Ori arrives to find Sabina on one of the medical beds. Acey's projection is active here, one of the few places where the -

NPC@annpc#557 - holoprojectors haven't been destroyed, and she works away at the bed

Mischa@crystyl steps over, "What the hell happened down there?"

NPC@annpc#557 | Acey: "An incident which caused an unexpected energy discharge. I have managed to reach a conclusion on its cause while treating Sabina."

Mischa@crystyl looks to Sabina, "How is she?"

NPC@annpc#557 | Hassan steps into the sickbay as well, a few moments after everyone else arrived

NPC@annpc#557 | Acey: "The energy discharge would most likely have killed an ordinary human. Her augment physiology allowed her to weather the shock. She will make a full recovery, but will remain unconscious -

NPC@annpc#557 - for at least twelve hours, with an additional three days out of commission."

Mischa@crystyl:"Well that is something I suppose. Alright, so what happened and how do we avoid it happening again?"

NPC@annpc#557 | Acey: "The instructions I have been giving you have been tailored to human sight, as all members of the team are human. However, while treating Sabina, I noticed that her cone cells have been -

NPC@annpc#557 - affected by her augmentation. Her vision is far closer to that of a Reman's in more ways than sensitivity to light. In simpler terms, Commander, she is what you could describe as colour blind -

NPC@annpc#557 - compared to other humans, as she perceives colours the way Remans do. It appears this difference in perception caused her to misinterpret my instructions and connect the wrong wires."

Mischa@crystyl:"Why on Earth didn't she say anything when you gave instructions referencing coloured wires..." she sighs

NPC@annpc#557 | Acey: "She may have assumed that I was giving her instructions based on Reman perception. If I had access to the Latenter's medical records, I would most likely have been aware of the fact and -

NPC@annpc#557 - tailored my instructions accordingly. However, the Latenter is currently out of range, and I have had no reason to examine her in detail until now. I apologize for my assumption, Commander."

Mischa@crystyl:"Acey you do not need to apologize for not having access to information. So for arguments sake let's say that she wasn't aware of the discrepancy. Do you require assistance providing care for her -

Mischa@crystyl:- now or are you able to continue as normal without detracting from the repairs?"

NPC@annpc#557 | Acey: "I will be able to continue on as normal. Fortunately, the damage to the systems caused by the incident can be repaired in only thirty-three minutes. However, we now have one less body -

NPC@annpc#557 - to work on repairs for the upcoming days."

Mischa@crystyl:"Then the rest of us will just have to up our game"

Mischa@crystyl | Ori nods

NPC@annpc#557 | Hassan nods as well, "I'll cover some extra shifts."

NPC@annpc#557 | Acey: "When Sabina is able to return to work, I will be certain to adjust any colour-based instructions for her."

Mischa@crystyl:"Alright, well in spite of what I just said... we've all been running ourselves pretty hard since we got here so I think this little incident should serve as a reminder to also take a breather. Ori,-

Mischa@crystyl:- dig out some food reserves and lets all take a break before getting back to it now"

Mischa@crystyl | Ori, "Aye Commander" and heads off

NPC@annpc#557 | Acey: "How are you handling this, by the way? Ori mentioned having no connections and being less concerned about being trapped in the past earlier. However, you both have family back -

NPC@annpc#557 - in the 25th century, not to mention being closer to the crew of the Latenter."

Mischa@crystyl:";pulls a quirked looks as she takes a seat, "One little incident and now that EMH programming comes flooding to the surface, counseling included?" she teases

NPC@annpc#557 | Acey: "I am doing the best with what I have in lieu of an actual ship's doctor and counselor. It is the logical course of action, is it not?"

Mischa@crystyl chuckles, "I suppose it is, isn't it? Well, I'm sure you know that I do have family back home. And I am sure even without the Latenter's computer you know me well enough by now to know that such -

Mischa@crystyl:- facts are moot next to one detail"

NPC@annpc#557 | Acey: "That the mission always comes first?"

Mischa@crystyl corrects, "That I do not like losing"

NPC@annpc#557 | Acey: "Well, we have succeeded here in this particular mission. We have corrected the timeline, defeated the Survivors attempting to alter it, and even seized control of their vessel."

NPC@annpc#557 | Hassan: "But if we don't get back to the present, this might be one of those, win a single battle, lose the war instances."

Mischa@crystyl:"Exactly. And losing doesn't even have to be strictly in terms of the grand scheme either, not when it comes to my resolve. Some may call it a character flaw, but I know better. And so when I say -

Mischa@crystyl:- losing, that encompasses any and all definition of not getting my own way. And on this occasion, I had planned to see our mission through to completion and join the Admiral's conference on the -

Mischa@crystyl:- next steps. So I plan to do just that"

NPC@annpc#557 | Acey nods, "I understand. I am confident that we will be able to repair the vessel and return to the Latenter. It is only a question of time, however."

NPC@annpc#557 | Hassan chuckles, "Ironic, since we're on a timeship."

Mischa@crystyl:"That aside, the longer we are here the more chances that we will contaminate the timeline and make our own problems worse as a result"

NPC@annpc#557 | Acey: "Indeed. While we are outside the territories of any known interstellar power, there is a potential for Azedi or Cardassian vessels to venture out here. Fortunately, our cloaking systems -

NPC@annpc#557 - are active, and we should be capable of eluding any travellers out here."

Mischa@crystyl:"Still best not to push our luck"

NPC@annpc#557 | Acey: "Agreed. The slightest change, such as causing a vessel to deviate from its course, even if they do not find us, has the potential to cause some effect further down the timeline."

Mischa@crystyl | Ori returns with some refreshments, "Oh my, we're back to debating the butterfly effect again?"

NPC@annpc#557 | Acey: "Not quite debating. We are discussing the potential consequences of remaining here too long."

NPC@annpc#557 | Hassan: "Other than being old enough to retire when we get back."

NPC@annpc#557 | Acey: "Fortunately, that particular consequence will only apply to biological life."

Mischa@crystyl:"I do believe Acey is mastering the finer points of sarcasm ladies and gentlemen"

NPC@annpc#557 | Acey: "Thank you. I have been practicing."

NPC@annpc#557 | Hassan grins, looking to Mischa, "On the bright side, you'll fit in with the Admirals better with a few more years on you, Commander."

Mischa@crystyl scowls, "Oi, less talk of my age thank you!"

NPC@annpc#557 | Hassan: "Hey, I meant you'd look too young sitting with all the Admirals at the meeting. It's a compliment."

Mischa@crystyl pulls a faux-judgemental face, "Hmm... good save. This time"

NPC@annpc#557 | Hassan smiles, reaching over to take some of the refreshments Ori brought

---

NPC@annpc#557 | Half a day after Sabina's incident, Mischa is working away at an open panel in one of the halls of the ship

NPC@annpc#557 <C - Acey> "There appears to be a fault in the power flow here. My analysis has narrowed it to this junction. Can you identify and report the issue?"

Mischa@crystyl swaps tools for her tricorder, "Alright, let's have a look"

NPC@annpc#557 | With a quick scan, Mischa is able to find a clogged EPS conduit

Mischa@crystyl swaps the tricorder for another tool and tends to it, "There, how's that looking Acey?"

NPC@annpc#557 <C - Acey> "The power flow is nominal once again. Thank you, Commander. Please proceed to the deck below you for the next task."

Mischa@crystyl packs up her gear and heads off, "If I didn't know better, I'd swear you're enjoying this"

NPC@annpc#557 <C - Acey> "I am merely directing you as I would a repair drone, Commander. However, a drone is significantly more straightforward to utilize."

Mischa@crystyl chuckles, "So sorry, I will try to be a better drone. How's that?"

NPC@annpc#557 <C - Acey> "That will require direct neural interfacing."

Mischa@crystyl:"Then I guess you'll just have to make do with me"

NPC@annpc#557 <C - Acey> "On the subject of biological drones, you will be pleased to hear that Sabina has awoken."

Mischa@crystyl laughs, "Oof, might want to dial back the jestful insults a tad. I can't imagine she'd appreciate being called that. But jokes aside, that's great news. How is she doing?"

NPC@annpc#557 <C - Acey> "She is recovering well. I shall keep her for a few more hours for observation, and then release her from sickbay. However, I would suggest keeping her away from duties for at least -

NPC@annpc#557 - two more days."

Mischa@crystyl:"Easier said than done unless you plan on keeping her sedated for two more days"

NPC@annpc#557 <C - Acey> "I can simply refrain from giving her further instructions. Though if she decides to attempt to repair the ship without my guidance, it may only lead to further incidents..."

Mischa@crystyl:"Yes, there is not exactly an abundance of entertainment for her here. Perhaps a little guidance is best to keep her on lighter duties"

NPC@annpc#557:<C - Acey> "I concur. It will be better than attempting to lock her in sickbay."

Mischa@crystyl proceeds to the next section, "Alright, so where exactly am I going here?"

NPC@annpc#557 <C - Acey> "There is-"

NPC@annpc#557 | Acey is interrupted by the sound of a distant bang and the area rumbles slightly

Mischa@crystyl:"Report!"

NPC@annpc#557 <C - Acey> "Major rupture detected. Tachyon levels spiking. I cannot obtain a transporter lock on you. Proceed starboard immediately."

Mischa@crystyl doesn't argue and runs off

NPC@annpc#557 | Running down the hall, Mischa reaches an intersection. Down the port side of that hallway, she sees Hassan sprinting towards her

Mischa@crystyl:"Wrong way!"

NPC@annpc#557 | Hassan: "That way's flooded, follow me Commander!"

Mischa@crystyl turns again and runs off with him

NPC@annpc#557 | Hassan leads the way, bending a corner, and then another. He seems to have the layout of this deck down quite well. As they run, what seems to be a thick white mist comes into view behind -

NPC@annpc#557 - them. Force fields snap into place, but the mist simply moves through them, completely unphased as it expands

NPC@annpc#557 | The mist begins to catch up, and just as it looks like it's about to reach them, the pair step through a junction and an overhead door lowers behind. That seems to stop the mysterious mist

Mischa@crystyl glances back, "What the hell was that?”

NPC@annpc#557 <C - Acey> "Temporally shifted reactor coolant. Exceptionally dangerous to organic matter."

Mischa@crystyl:"Is everyone else alright?"

NPC@annpc#557 <C - Acey> "You two were the only ones in the area. A repair drone was caught in the leak but remains unaffected due to its inorganic nature. The spill is being vented now."

Mischa@crystyl sighs, "Seems we dodged another one by the skin of our teeth"

NPC@annpc#557 <C - Acey> "Once again, there is good news and bad news, however."

Mischa@crystyl:"I sincerely hope the spill was the bad news..."

NPC@annpc#557 <C - Acey> "A spill such as this often precedes a core breach. The good news is that I see no sign of a breach about to occur. The coolant was utilized for the temporal drive and not the warp -

NPC@annpc#557 - systems, which was why it became temporally shifted. That means we are safe and the ship's power levels should remain stable for the foreseeable future."

Mischa@crystyl:"Saving graces at least"

NPC@annpc#557 <C - Acey> "The bad news is that the vessel uses a significant amount of organic technology. As several panels were open for repairs, many of those has been destroyed. According to my -

NPC@annpc#557 - calculations, the additional damage will add two more weeks to the repair time with the workforce we have at present."

Mischa@crystyl groans, "Two more weeks of being susceptible to these incidents. I don't like it, but what choice do we have..."

NPC@annpc#557 | Hassan: "We've barely been at this for a week, and now we've got two more weeks of work. At this rate we're really going to be ready for retirement by the time we get back. Hang on. We've been -

NPC@annpc#557 - at this for less than a week. Acey, what's the current stardate?"

NPC@annpc#557 <C - Acey> "4190.6."

NPC@annpc#557 | Hassan looks to Mischa, "I've got an idea, Commander. I won't lie, it's a risky one. But it might be the best way for us to get back home in time without causing something worse."

Mischa@crystyl:"We're not exactly playing it comfortably as it is. What have you got?"

NPC@annpc#557 | Hassan starts to lead the way down the hall, "We need more hands on board. The four of us plus Acey's drones aren't enough. Sabina's already temporarily out of commission, almost permanently, -

NPC@annpc#557 - if she was a regular human. Preferably, we want people with engineering know-how."

Mischa@crystyl:"All of whom would be indigenous to this timeframe and so whom we can not interact with..."

NPC@annpc#557 | Hassan smirks, "Not under normal circumstances."

Mischa@crystyl narrows her eyes, "I taught you that smirk... now I regret it..."

NPC@annpc#557 | Hassan chuckles, stepping into a mess hall and taking a seat, "We can't interact with anyone living in this timeframe, or we change history. But what if we recruited the dead?"

Mischa@crystyl:"That's... certainly thinking outside of the box..."

NPC@annpc#557 | Hassan: "I did some research with the sisters back during the Horde conflict. We were theorizing that the planet-killer device was made by the Progenitors as a weapon against the Horde due to -

NPC@annpc#557 - similarities in design with that Progenitor Shield-Ship. If I remember right, in a few days, the USS Constellation is about to run into that thing. After taking severe damage, Commodore Decker -

NPC@annpc#557 - evacuates his crew of four hundred to a nearby planet. A planet which gets consumed shortly afterwards."

Mischa@crystyl:"I can't say I'm so familiar with the details, but yes Decker's confrontation with the planet killer became legendary. Didn't he sacrifice himself in the end in order to buy the Enterprise a window -

Mischa@crystyl:- of opportunity to destroy it?"

NPC@annpc#557 | Hassan: "I believe he sacrificed himself in a misguided attempt to destroy it, but it actually gave the Enterprise an idea which eventually succeeded in destroying it. But what I'm proposing -

NPC@annpc#557 - won't change any of those events. We've got a functional transwarp drive, a functional cloak and advanced tachyon transporters. The Constellation is going to be adrift with minimal power. We -

NPC@annpc#557 - beam the planetside crew on board before the planet is destroyed. Decker won't know any better and the Enterprise is still going to arrive to find him as the sole survivor. We get a full crew -

NPC@annpc#557 - and save four hundred Starfleet personnel. They can't ever go back to their families here to preserve the timeline, but they can be given a second chance in our time."

Mischa@crystyl:"It's certainly viable. But that's 400 temporal refugees to manage upon our return" she groans, "There's going to be no avoiding a TI visit from this..."

NPC@annpc#557 | Hassan: "Probably not. But I don't think trying to fix this ship up with just the five of us is going to work. The Constellation crew is going to have Starfleet-trained engineers and science -

NPC@annpc#557 - officers. Sure, their knowledge might be a few centuries out of date, but when it comes to this ship, so is ours. They won't be at much more of a disadvantage, and we can use people trained to -

NPC@annpc#557 - think for work like this."

Mischa@crystyl:"Well, like my dear old grandfather used to say; in for a penny, in for a pound"

NPC@annpc#557 | Hassan: "The Constellation should be disabled in a system near Rigel. Can we get there in time?"

NPC@annpc#557 <C - Acey> "Affirmative. Shall I take us towards Rigel, Commander?"

Mischa@crystyl:"Yes Acey, this is our new plan. Refocus repairs accordingly to sustain necessary systems only for now"

NPC@annpc#557 <C - Acey> "Understood. We are underway now. I shall adjust the repair scheduling."

Mischa@crystyl:"What is our eta?"

NPC@annpc#557 <C - Acey> "At our current speeds, four and a half days. Higher transwarp speeds may not be sustainable with the current state of the vessel."

NPC@annpc#557 | Hassan: "That should give us enough time to get there before the Constellation, still."

Mischa@crystyl:"Agreed, no need to push it. We can continue repairs to the best of our ability in the meantime"

NPC@annpc#557 | Hassan nods, "And figuring out how exactly to do this. We'll have to convince the crew to trust us, and we don't have any historical records from our future to show them."

Mischa@crystyl:"I think I can handle that"

NPC@annpc#557 | Hassan: "I'll work with Acey to make sure the transporters grab them all on time."

Mischa@crystyl:"Sounds like a plan. Hrm... Meantime, I need to work on my approach with the Constellation's crew..." she grins, clearly up to something

NPC@annpc#557 | Hassan smiles, "I know that look. Up to something nefarious, Commander?"

Mischa@crystyl:"I wouldn't say nefarious. Just... looking to take a leaf out of the book of our own temporal visitors"

NPC@annpc#557 | Hassan: "Well, I'd call them pretty nefarious..."

Mischa@crystyl:"Please. They've got nothing on me" she chuckles, "But seriously, this is nothing untoward, just a fun little plan!"

NPC@annpc#557 | Hassan grins, "I'll look forward to seeing what you've got planned, then."

Mischa@crystyl:"I'm sure you'll like it"

---

NPC@annpc#557 | Over four days later, Mischa and co. are gathered on the bridge of the Krenim ship as they begin to approach the region where the Constellation should be at

NPC@annpc#557 | Sabina: "Have you seen the bridge of any of their other ships? This doesn't look much like a Starfleet bridge. I wonder if it's Delta Quadrant design, or just things being different in the -

NPC@annpc#557 - future. Or their future, at least."

Mischa@crystyl:"I expect it is more a case that this is their krenim's design, rather than the larger organization"

NPC@annpc#557 <C - Acey> "That would make sense. While I cannot restore the data in the computer core and access the full history of the vessel, it possesses enough significant differences from the other -

NPC@annpc#557 - Survivor ships to suggest that the design is primarily Krenim. I believe this ship would be comparable to the likes of modern Vulcan and Andorian ships. Influenced by Starfleet and other -

NPC@annpc#557 - Federation advances, but still designed by its civilization of origin."

Mischa@crystyl:"Makes sense to me"

NPC@annpc#557 | Sabina looks around, "Do Krenim ships usually not have a central command chair?"

Mischa@crystyl:"I'm afraid i'm not that familiar with them to comment, but it's certainly possible"

NPC@annpc#557 <C - Acey> "I do not have that information on hand either. However, from the bridge layout, I surmize that this bridge was made to be more of a research centre than the command centre of a -

NPC@annpc#557 - military or exploration vessel. It is more akin to the Latenter's information analysis centre than the bridge of a starship."

Mischa@crystyl:"Which makes sense given the nature of the ship"

NPC@annpc#557 <C - Acey> "I have located the planet-killer on long-range sensors. The Constellation is not yet within range, but as we know its ultimate fate, we should be able to encounter it by tailing the -

NPC@annpc#557 - planet-killer."

Mischa@crystyl:"Perfect. Continue to follow at a safe distance, we don't want that thing noticing us now"

NPC@annpc#557 <C - Acey> "I have activated our cloak. As long as we are not caught within its antiproton blasts, we should be invisible to it."

Mischa@crystyl:"I know, that's just the last thing I want to facing in our current state" she chuckles

NPC@annpc#557 | Hassan nods, "Agreed. But it is worth studying from afar, collecting some first-hand data for those Progenitor theories."

NPC@annpc#557 | Sabina: "Progenitor theories?"

NPC@annpc#557 | Hassan: "Due to the planet-killer's course, it was assumed for the longest time that it came from outside our galaxy. But from the similarities it shared with the Shield-Ship we encountered, -

NPC@annpc#557 - we think it might've just come from the rim. Quite possibly built by the Progenitors to deploy against the Horde. This particular one might've malfunctioned, or was even sabotaged by the enemy -

NPC@annpc#557 - and sent towards the core."

NPC@annpc#557 | On the viewscreen, the familiar shape of the planet killer device slowly comes into view...

NPC@annpc#557 FX | https://trekmovie.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/doomsday2.jpg

NPC@annpc#557 | Hassan turns to the screen, "It does kind of resemble the Shield-Ship, doesn't it? Just without that mushroom head part. Where the Shield-Ship was one giant deflector dish, this thing's one -

NPC@annpc#557 - giant weapons array."

Mischa@crystyl:"Quite the foreboding sight, whoever created it"

NPC@annpc#557 | Sabina nods, "That it certainly is. I've seen images of it in some history texts, but it's not the same as being here."

NPC@annpc#557 <C - Acey> "You are still viewing it through a screen, rather than watching the vessel directly. The sense of scale is merely adjusted by the magnification, which you can alter on a PADD as -

NPC@annpc#557 - well. I do not see a difference between this image and one from historical files."

Mischa@crystyl chuckles a little, "I am not surprised"

NPC@annpc#557 <C - Acey> "I am unable to detect any form of functioning communications system on the planet-killer. Interesting."

NPC@annpc#557 | Hassan: "Why're you looking for communications systems?"

NPC@annpc#557 <C - Acey> "If it can receive outside signals, then it can be hijacked."

NPC@annpc#557 | Hassan: "Maybe giving you a ship was a bad idea..."

Mischa@crystyl:"Let's not get carried away with ourselves now"

NPC@annpc#557 <C - Acey> "Actually, I was attempting to determine its origins. The lack of communications suggests two things. Either its AI systems are simple and relies on outside commands, which means it -

NPC@annpc#557 - /should/ possess a communications system and has most likely been sabotaged. Or, its AI is advanced enough to operate entirely self-sufficiently."

Mischa@crystyl:"I think self-sufficient was always the theory about these things"

NPC@annpc#557 | Hassan: "Assuming it is of Progenitor origin and deployed against the Horde, I wonder if it might be running on some form of Nuhar AI. We've seen them malfunction and go mad over time. We -

NPC@annpc#557 - could be looking at something similar here."

Mischa@crystyl:"There are certain consistencies with Nuhar..."

NPC@annpc#557 <C - Acey> "Unfortunately, I see no way to access its inner systems. Without communications, we cannot examine the programming that runs within it."

NPC@annpc#557 | Hassan: "And from the lack of data we've got on it today, I'm guessing there's not much left to examine once Kirk and company are through with it."

NPC@annpc#557 | Sabina: "If it does come from the rim, maybe your friends out there'll find more evidence of its work to tie it all together."

NPC@annpc#557 | Hassan nods, "Yeah. We came here for the Constellation crew, not that thing."

Mischa@crystyl:"A fair point"

NPC@annpc#557 | Hassan: "Our curiosity'll just have to be put on hold."

---

NPC@annpc#557 | A while passes as they tail the planet-killer, and the team disperses from the bridge, resting or helping Acey along with repairs. As Mischa works away at yet another open maintenance panel...

NPC@annpc#557 <C - Acey> "Commander. Long-range sensors have picked up an incoming vessel matching a Constitution-class cruiser."

Mischa@crystyl:"The Constellation is here then"

NPC@annpc#557 <C - Acey> "That is the most likely scenario. Shall I inform everyone to gather on the bridge again?"

Mischa@crystyl:"Yes, I'll change and join you all there shortly"

NPC@annpc#557 <C - Acey> "I will notify the rest of our skeletal crew."

Mischa@crystyl chuckles, "It's 'skeleton' crew. They are not actual skeletons"

NPC@annpc#557 <C - Acey> "I see. The use of the word skeleton is an analogy for minimalist, I presume? I do not have access to the language databases I am used to working with."

Mischa@crystyl:"That's right, whereas the term 'skeletal' would imply they are actual skeletons. It is a quirk of the old english language"

NPC@annpc#557 <C - Acey> "Thank you for the explanation, Commander. As I have disposed of the bodies of the previous crew, there are no actual skeletons on board, and thus the term is inaccurate."

Mischa@crystyl:"For what it's worth, I doubt anyone else would have ever picked up on that difference"

NPC@annpc#557 <C - Acey> "Yes, it is a rather minute detail. However, picking out minute details is somewhat of a specialty of yours, is it not?"

Mischa@crystyl:"Another personal refinement others might view as a negative trait"

NPC@annpc#557 <C - Acey> "Is attention to detail not usually a favourable trait?"

Mischa@crystyl:"Attention to detail; yes. Picking out minute details... not so much most of the time. Layman often view it a being pedantic"

NPC@annpc#557 <C - Acey> "To most mechanical life, I suspect such a trait would be seen as ideal. After all, any mistake in our code could cause errors, even minute ones."

Mischa@crystyl:"The problem is that as a biological, even I am not perfect" she smiles, "So despite that being a personal tendency, it does not mean I am infallible sadly"

NPC@annpc#557 <C - Acey> "But it is good to strive for perfection, even if you cannot ultimately attain it. Doing so will make you improve, will it not?"

Mischa@crystyl:"That's the idea!”

NPC@annpc#557 | Mischa arrives on the bridge, where Hassan is already present. Ori and Sabina arrive not long after as well. On the viewscreen, the planet killer is still visible, slowly consuming a planet -

NPC@annpc#557 - which is already fragmenting, its powerful antiproton blasts cutting it apart

Mischa@crystyl strolls in wearing her new outfit, "Quite the sight, isn't it"

NPC@annpc#557 | Hassan: "Seeing you in that old uniform, or the planet-killer doing its thing?"

Mischa@crystyl smiles, "Take your pick. But there's no wrong answer"

NPC@annpc#557 | Sabina chuckles, stepping up behind them, "A bit of both."

NPC@annpc#557 | Hassan: "This is your master plan to gain the trust of the crew, isn't it?"

Mischa@crystyl:"I did say I was going to take a leaf out of the temporal agent's book didn't I"

NPC@annpc#557 | Hassan: "Should've suspected this would be your plan. Should we get some uniforms too?"

Mischa@crystyl:"I've already taken the liberty, but don't plan on gearing up just yet. I will infiltrate the survivor group once they are on the planet and go from there, but if we need it then it would be helpful-

Mischa@crystyl:- to have others ready to join me there"

NPC@annpc#557 | Sabina nods, "I'll go get some extra uniforms replicated for everyone. Not much I can help with here on the bridge, anyways."

NPC@annpc#557 | Meanwhile on the viewscreen, the planet cracks more, revealing its core

NPC@annpc#557 | A few moments later, the view changes, showing...

NPC@annpc#557 FX | https://i.imgur.com/eKrX9z0.jpg

NPC@annpc#557 Sound FX | https://youtu.be/T8jZbAhF3nE

NPC@annpc#557 | Hassan smiles, "Now that uniform of yours looks much more fitting."

Mischa@crystyl:"Let us hope the survivors think so too. Especially as I would expect at least the senior staff to be familiar with everyone of rank and soon realise that I am not of their crew. I even went so far -

Mischa@crystyl:- as to adjust their insignia with a temporal emblem to help"

NPC@annpc#557 | Hassan: "Good attention to detail. I assume you want us to beam you down to the planet while the crew are transporting?"

Mischa@crystyl:"Not straight away. It will be too fresh for them still, so give them a chance to acclimate to their situation first"

NPC@annpc#557 <C - Acey> "The Constellation is approaching the planet-killer now."

NPC@annpc#557 | On the viewscreen, the Constitution-class cruiser can be seen moving in behind the planet-killer, likely conducting scans and analyzing the giant weapon

Mischa@crystyl:"It might not be easy, but we must simply sit back and observe for the moment"

NPC@annpc#557 | Hassan nods, standing and closely watching the viewscreen

NPC@annpc#557 | As the Constellation gets too close, the planet-killer begins to turn towards them. The Constitution-class cruiser starts to veer off, but the device activates, sending out a cone of energy

NPC@annpc#557 | The cruiser attempts to evade, but is caught on the peripheries of the blast. Its lights flicker erratically and the Constellation goes adrift

NPC@annpc#557 <C - Acey> "The Constellation has lost shields and main power. They are drifting further into the system."

NPC@annpc#557 | The planet-killer meanwhile seems to turn back to the remains of the planet it was previously cutting up, resuming its consumption

NPC@annpc#557 <C - Acey> "With their current speed and trajectory, the Constellation will enter transporter range of the third planet in one hour and fourteen minutes."

Mischa@crystyl:"It's actually impressive that they even manage to hold together for that long"

NPC@annpc#557 | Hassan: "All the more reason they'll be a good crew to have on here. Unfortunately they won't be able to save their own ship."

NPC@annpc#557 | Sabina returns to the bridge with several uniforms in hand, "Here we are, if they're needed for the rest of the crew."

NPC@annpc#557 | She glances at the viewscreen as she sets the uniforms aside, "Looks like it's already happening."

NPC@annpc#557 | Hassan nods, "It'll be an hour before they abandon ship and get down there. For now, all we can do is wait and watch, as much as it goes against our instincts."

NPC@annpc#557 | Sabina: "You don't have to tell me. We're close to the Rigel colonies. I spent plenty of time there as a child. If they get wiped off the starcharts, who knows where I'll be now."

Mischa@crystyl:"Yes, this is actually quite a pivotal day for the quadrant in this era when you think about it"

NPC@annpc#557 | Hassan: "If the Rigel system was lost, a lot of what we know would be different. Tabadi Mysti worked there, didn't she? And her daughter was born there. If that world doesn't exist, Starfleet -

NPC@annpc#557 - wouldn't have found Commander Lendaria. And without her, the rimward journey would go very differently, if it happens at all. Not to mention the billions of other inhabitants and what role on -

NPC@annpc#557 - history they might've played."

NPC@annpc#557 | He looks to Mischa, "We'll have to make sure that the Commodore believes his crew is lost. Without his vendetta against the planet-killer, the Enterprise might've left for reinforcements and -

NPC@annpc#557 - come back too late to save Rigel. Whether it means convincing his crew to play into the ruse, or just keeping them in the dark until the last minute."

Mischa@crystyl:"Agreed"

NPC@annpc#557 | Sabina: "I think I can get used to this temporal work. I know it's hard for you Starfleet-types, seeing your classic ships torn apart like that. But there's something interesting about -

NPC@annpc#557 - watching historical events play out firsthand. It's like a holodeck sim, but better."

Mischa@crystyl:"The difference is that we took temporal mechanics classes at the academy and are all well aware that when someone comes out with a comment like that, it almost inevitably results in the revelation -

Mischa@crystyl:- that you are in fact part of a predestination paradox"

NPC@annpc#557 | Sabina: "Oh, right. The technical side of all that is slightly less interesting," she chuckles

Mischa@crystyl:"And the realization that you must determine whether you are 'meant' to interfere with something in order to maintain the future you know, or if you are simply imagining it and in fact must refrain"

NPC@annpc#557 | Sabina: "Okay, maybe temporal work /isn't/ for me..."

---

NPC@annpc#557 | An hour passes as they idly watch the Constellation drift and the planet-killer feed

NPC@annpc#557 <C - Acey> "The Constellation has entered transporter range of the planet. Lifesign movements indicate evacuations have begun."

Mischa@crystyl:"Alright, how much of a window do we have until the planet killer hits that world now?"

NPC@annpc#557 <C - Acey> "It is still finishing up the remains of the fourth planet. Judging from its rate of consumption so far and its travel speed, I calculate that the crew has approximately four hours."

Mischa@crystyl:"And with your work on the transporters, how long to evac them?"

NPC@annpc#557 <C - Acey> "We can have all four hundred on board in five minutes and fifty-three seconds."

Mischa@crystyl:"At least that gives me a little time to play with down there, but it will be tight still"

NPC@annpc#557 <C - Acey> "The crew are beginning to transport to the surface now."

Mischa@crystyl:"Let's wait until the Constellation is clear and then we'll look to make our move"

NPC@annpc#557 <C - Acey> "Understood. The Constellation's sensors are heavily damaged. Even without our cloak, they will never notice our transports. It will also mean that they cannot see the planet-killer -

NPC@annpc#557 - approach until it is very close."

Mischa@crystyl:"I expect Decker won't be content to simply sit and wait. He'll be doing everything he can to limp that ship away and lure the planet killer away from his crew"

NPC@annpc#557 <C - Acey> "A brave but ultimately misguided attempt. The planet-killer appears to be feeding only on the larger remains of the planet. If the Constellation was to remain still, there is a -

NPC@annpc#557 - chance that it would be ignored, as debris of its size is being ignored, likely not worth the energy expended to consume them. The movement must be what causes the planet-killer to -

NPC@annpc#557 - engage the Constellation once more, rendering it incapable of retrieving its crew from the surface once it turns its attention to devouring the planet."

NPC@annpc#557 | Hassan: "But something Decker couldn't possibly know, since his long-range sensors are out. Poor man makes all the sensible choices, but they just end up being wrong in the end."

Mischa@crystyl:"Or perhaps the energy output. A machine on the scale of that thing must have extraordinary power needs, so it's likely drawn to desirable minerals which it can refine into its fuel. A warp -

Mischa@crystyl:- drive may very well be it's equivalent of an icecream sundae"

NPC@annpc#557 <C - Acey> "That is also a valid hypothesis. Planetary resources, especially those within the core, are far more rich in materials."

Mischa@crystyl:"And it is likely that those larger fragments contain greater volumes of whatever it needs. Or perhaps it could simply convert any and all matter, returning us to the volume hypothesis"

NPC@annpc#557 <C - Acey> "It is an interesting vessel. I wish we possessed more time to study it, or a situation where we could experiment with one without affecting the timeline."

NPC@annpc#557 <C - Acey> "The transportations has ceased, Commander. I am reading only one lifesign remaining on board the Constellation."

---

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Mischa beams down at a secluded corner behind some rocks near where the Constellation evacuees are gathering

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Stepping out from behind the rocks, she is able to spot the gathering survivors in their colourful 23rd century uniforms. They are spread out, many of them setting up camp with what supplies -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris - they brought. Among the mass of activity, it is easy for Mischa to approach them from her position and start blending in with the crowd

Mischa@crystyl does exactly that and starts to mingle with whoever she finds first

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Mischa finds a group of redshirts by a pile of supplies. Some of them are bringing crates around, while others are opening them and setting up field tents

Mischa@crystyl approaches those opening up supplies and starts to lend a hand

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | The redshirts allow her to help out, seemingly happy for any assistance and probably haven't noticed her rank stripes amidst the chaos of the situation. As she moves over to grab another -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris - crate, her communicator chimes

Mischa@crystyl gives an apologetic smile and steps away to answer, "Don't tell me there's complications already"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris <C - Hassan> "I've got some information to pass along. Not sure if it's quite a complication yet."

Mischa@crystyl:"Alright, let's have it"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris <C - Hassan> "The Constellation's comm systems are still fully operational, and I think it's still going to be after the planet-killer strikes again. We don't have Kirk's logs on hand -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris - without our contemporary SFI database, but I'm pretty sure I remember from my research that the survivors here are in contact with the ship up to the last minute. You're either going to have to -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris - refrain from telling the crew until right before we evacuate, or convince them to play around. Maybe a middle ground, where you inform their senior officers but keep the crew in the dark so -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris - they can stay in contact with Decker on the Constellation."

Mischa@crystyl:"Alright, I appreciate the heads up. I don't really want to put these people on the spot so I'll focus on the senior staff and let them make an informed decision"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris <C - Hassan> "Probably a good idea. We'll keep you informed of any further updates."

Mischa@crystyl:"Thank you" she closes the comm and heads back to the survivors, roaming the camp in search of the senior staff

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | As Mischa roams around the camp, she spots another group of redshirts, these appearing to be engineers, working on setting up a larger piece of equipment. Though it looks quite different from -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris - modern Starfleet tech, the antenna-like shape suggests a purpose for relaying signals, likely communications. Most of the engineers are officers, a few ensigns, a lieutenant junior grade and a -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris - full lieutenant, the highest-ranking officer visible in the immediate area

Mischa@crystyl heads over, eyeing the construction and approaching the LT, "Quite the bit of fabrication"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | The LT turns around, "The Commander had the foresight to bring down components for a comm buoy. There's too much interference from that thing to reach Starfleet Command. In case the worst -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris - happens and the Constellation doesn't make it, we can still use this to broadcast a distress call that someone can pick up on when the interference clears up."

Mischa@crystyl:"Yeah, that was some quick thinking from the Commander alright" she looks around, "Speaking of, I don't see them around at all..."

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | LT: "She should be around here somewhere. Probably coordinating-" he pauses as his gaze drifts over Mischa's uniform to her rank strips. "Hang on. You're a senior officer?"

Mischa@crystyl smiles sweetly, "Mhmm" holding an expectant gaze on him, "You said she's probably coordinating...?"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | LT: "She's probably coordinating the camp setup, somewhere in the middle of everything. You're Commander..."

Mischa@crystyl:"Leveson-Scott. Mischa Leveson-Scott. I'm not surprised that you don't recognize me. I in fact just recently joined you all. So the Commander was over... there then" she points

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | The LT nods, "That's where I saw her last. She's probably moving around but someone there should be able to direct you."

Mischa@crystyl smiles again, "Thank you!" and promptly heads off

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | The LT eyes Mischa as she walks off, shrugging and turning back to direct the other engineers with the comm buoy

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Mischa arrives at the centre of the camp, where many tents are already raised and more are being assembled by the minute. There are many more gold and blue shirts here of higher ranks

Mischa@crystyl discretely explores, searching for a female commander in a gold uniform

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | As she explores, another redshirt with LT stripes walks up behind her, "Commander!" He doubletakes upon getting closer to Mischa. "You're not Commander Takeshewada..."

Mischa@crystyl:"At ease LT before you break something" she chuckles, "No I am not Takeshewada, but I am also looking for her"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | The LT nods, then narrows his eyes, "Who /are/ you? I've never seen you on the ship before."

Mischa@crystyl:"Oh, that's no surprise! I'm new. So, shall we find the Commander then?"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | The LT shakes his head, "I'd know if a new senior officer joined the crew. I'm the security chief. So...who are you and why're you wearing that uniform?"

Mischa@crystyl:"I'm very new"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Security Chief: "I'll take you to the Commander. But if she doesn't recognize you..."

Mischa@crystyl:"What? You'll throw me in the brig?" she smiles

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Security Chief: "Good point. Well, you better be ready to identify yourself to her. I think I see her, right over there." He starts to make his way over

Mischa@crystyl follows the Chief over

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | The Chief approaches another woman in a gold commander's uniform who is in the midst of talking to a blue shirt LT. When the blue shirt heads off, the Security Chief approaches

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Security Chief: "I found this...Commander looking for you. I've never seen her before, but she claims she's very new."

Mischa@crystyl:"Claims? Really? I thought we'd established this; if I wasn't very new, then you would obviously have seen me before now, wouldn't you"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Commander Takeshewada: "I don't recall a new commander being added to our roster, either. I know just about every crew member, and certainly every officer Lieutenant and above. Especially any -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris - new ones."

Mischa@crystyl:"Then I must say Commander Takeshewada, it is a pleasure to meet you. I am Commander Mischa Leveson-Scott"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada: "You're not a part of our crew, are you?"

Mischa@crystyl:"I am not. I am happy to explain all, in fact doing so is exactly why I am here. But we should talk privately first"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Security Chief: "Leave the Commander with a stranger on an unexplored world we're marooned on? I don't think so."

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada: "Relax, Lieutenant Vascogne. Privately can mean the three of us, can't it, 'Commander' Leveson-Scott?"

Mischa@crystyl glances to the Chief from the corner of her eye, not at all surprised but turns her gaze back to Takeshewada, "At your discretion" she agrees, "And there is no need for the semantics, I am exactly -

Mischa@crystyl:- who I said I am; Commander Mischa Leveson-Scott, service number XX-752-9925 JEK, assigned to the Starfleet Office of Intelligence. Here, see" she holds out her real combadge upside down for her to-

Mischa@crystyl:- see the SN printed on the rear, but clearly not offering it for her take either

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada: "What's that, an old metal badge from the time of the Klingon War? Forgive me if I don't take your word for it, but we can talk more off to the side if you like."

Mischa@crystyl nods, following her

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Commander Takeshewada leads them away from the crowds. Lieutenant Vascogne stays behind Mischa at the very rear of the group, "I'll be keeping an eye on you..."

Mischa@crystyl smirks, "Enjoy the view then"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Heading away from the campsite, they arrive at the side of a serene-looking lake, out of earshot of the rest of the Constellation crew. Commander Takeshewada turns to face Mischa

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada: "Assuming for a moment that you /are/ who you say you are...what is a Starfleet officer not of our crew doing on this planet?"

Mischa@crystyl:"That's your first question? Darn, I was certain the unfamiliar badge would pique your interest first... oh well" she sighs whimsically

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Lieutenant Vascogne steps over to examine Mischa more closely, "You're right. You're wearing our crew's insignia. But that's not a Command emblem. Or Science or Ops."

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada: "I assumed the badge was from the last decade, when Starfleet used metal badges like that with IDs on them. I had one as a Cadet, but it was different from that."

Mischa@crystyl:"Well, you are both right on both counts. Sort of. The badge is indeed not in current service, but it is not from a past circulation either" she turns a smile to the Chief, "And I'm so glad you -

Mischa@crystyl:- noticed! I worked /really/ hard on this, and was worried nobody would even pay enough attention to see that little detail!"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Vascogne: "I wouldn't be a very good security chief if I didn't have an eye for detail, would I? Though I have to admit that uniform does look pretty authentic aside from the one difference."

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada: "So why do you have a modern uniform with our crew's insignia but a different emblem, and a badge that's not in service?"

Mischa@crystyl:"Well I am glad I did such a good job since I had to reproduce it from memory without the replicator patterns. I was convinced the skirt was too short but..." she looks Takeshewada up and down -

Mischa@crystyl:- smiles, "- clearly I was worried over nothing. And to answer your question, I have this uniform because I made it as I wanted to be able to reach you without unwarranted attention from your crew. -

Mischa@crystyl:- As for my combadge, are you really going to insist that I spell it out for you? It is not in service /yet/. Ergo, it will be, in around... 200 years or so, give or take a decade perhaps"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada: "You're saying you're from the future."

Mischa@crystyl:"That is correct"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada: "Well, Starfleet's aware of time travel. And there are instances of visitors from the future, so I suppose it's not impossible. And if you are lying, well, I can't think of any -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris - lie that could convincingly explain your presence here, but most people would probably go for something a little easier to believe."

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Vascogne nods, "The wilder the story, the less likely it is someone made it up to cover for something."

Mischa@crystyl:"Very true. You see, I'm not here to infiltrate your ranks or carry out any subversive nasty business. Honestly, you're a rag-tag group of survivors stranded on an alien planet; not exactly a high -

Mischa@crystyl:- priority for foreign governments now is it?"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Vascogne: "The only people who would have an interest in us out here are the Orions. And if they're the bad kind, they'd just beam us into their cages. Our ship is crippled and helpless. They -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris - don't need to infiltrate us if they want to capture us as slaves."

Mischa@crystyl:"And they'd be crazy to try and slip in while that planet killer is circling"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada: "So what does a Starfleet commander from two centuries into the future want with us? Are we supposed to determine the course of history here, or something along those lines?"

Mischa@crystyl:"That would be nice wouldn't it? A convenient messenger delivering news of some grandiose purpose to be served here? Well I'm afraid things like that seldom happen outside of a holodeck. Let me be -

Mischa@crystyl:- blunt; in a little over 1 hour from now, that planet killer is going to finish devouring its entree and move on to this world as it's main course. All survivors from the Constellation will be -

Mischa@crystyl:- lost while Decker is forced to watch helplessly from what remains of your bridge. This will break his spirit, but also give him the resolve needed to take the necessary action when the Enterprise -

Mischa@crystyl:- arrives, ultimately helping Kirk to defeat it"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada: "So you're warning us to beam back to the Constellation? Doesn't that mean Decker won't stop that thing? You can't just be here to tell us we're going to die. What good does that -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris - do anyone?"

Mischa@crystyl:"None at all. And you can't beam back even if you wanted to, as the ship is barely holding together and won't be capable of transporting everyone again now. What I just told you is how history -

Mischa@crystyl:- remembers these events. What I am doing here is telling you that this does not have to mean everybody on this planet dies today"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada: "You're telling us there's a way we can survive? Somewhere on the planet we can hide?"

Mischa@crystyl shakes her head, "No, this planet will be completely devoured by that monstrosity. But there is a way you can survive; you can come with me"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Vascogne: "You have a ship?"

Mischa@crystyl nods, "I do. And before you ask, I will tell you not to waste your time. It is beyond my station to manipulate history, so I can not turn our weapons on the planet killer or change history so that -

Mischa@crystyl:- you all survive. Whatever the outcome here, history will remain unchanged and record all of you as being lost here. I am simply offering you a way out if you wish it, as that is all I can do"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada: "You're offering to take us to your ship, into the future, so history here remains unchanged?"

Mischa@crystyl:"Yes, which is why I wanted to find you discretely and present you the facts first to make an informed decision for your crew as it is not my place to insight everyone. And make no mistake either; -

Mischa@crystyl:- this would be a one way trip to the 25th century, no turning back. We have protocols in place to provide support and help re-acclimate everyone, but I appreciate that some may still prefer to -

Mischa@crystyl:- simply face their end"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada considers for a moment, "I'll have to talk to the rest of the crew about it. I assume we can't let Decker know about this offer of yours?"

Mischa@crystyl shakes her head, "Unfortunately not, that is the one caveat. If he were to learn of this it would have a drastic impact on his resolve which could result in a very different outcome here, and not -

Mischa@crystyl:- necessarily one for the better. If he is not subjected to the emotional trauma of watching his entire crew die on this planet, he will likely not act as history remembers in leading the Enterprise-

Mischa@crystyl:- to a solution. If that occurs, we could lose both the Constellation and the Enterprise, and that planet killer continues deeper into Federation space unchecked. This is again why I had to brief -

Mischa@crystyl:- you discretely first, since this decision will involved deceiving the Commodore and hurting him"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada: "You're lucky it's me down here and not Decker. I doubt he'd go along with something like this. But I can see where you're coming from. We've seen what that planet-killer can do. -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris - We can't take the risk of it venturing through the heart of the Federation. And if we change the way history plays out in your future, that might very well happen."

Mischa@crystyl:"Exactly, I am glad you understand. There is one more detail to be aware of in your decision"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada: "And that is?"

Mischa@crystyl:"Starfleet in any timeline is not exactly in the habit of travelling back and rescuing every wayward crew from the brink of death. I am not here by design, but by accident. As such, I did not come -

Mischa@crystyl:- to offer you this escape from sheer good will alone, I need something from your crew. In short; I have a small team which commandeered an advanced enemy timeship. We are in this time now by -

Mischa@crystyl:- accident, and so part of the deal is that I need the extra hands to help repair this future ship in order for us to get back to our time"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada: "So that's what you're getting out of this. Starfleet does everything in our power to save lives, but I thought it was a bit unusual for you to go out of your way to save people -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris - who died in a distant chapter of history for you."

Mischa@crystyl smiles, "I knew you'd be a smart one, have to be to hold your own as Decker's right hand. Not that I know him of course, only how he has been remembered. But yes, of course such divine benevolence -

Mischa@crystyl:- would be highly suspect which is why I am telling you everything now. Don't get me wrong; my team and I will return to our time regardless, it will just be much harder work with so few to handle -

Mischa@crystyl:- things. So it is up to you to decide how to proceed from here, and what to share with your crew. Just remember that I can not allow history to be rewritten"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada nods, "I understand. Your history hasn't been written yet, but I can see the danger posed by that machine. If we somehow cause things to play out differently, it's not difficult to -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris - imagine all the death and destruction it can bring. And even if it means sacrificing our ship to save Federation colonies, it'll be a worthwhile sacrifice. That's something we all knew could -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris - happen when we signed on."

Mischa@crystyl:"Just make sure your crew understands this as well. The last thing I want is to instill false hope in anyone and have them running off to try and contact the ship with news of a miracle visitor from -

Mischa@crystyl:- the future. Make no mistake; I will do what is necessary to prevent anyone from doing that"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada: "I'll explain it to the crew, and give them a choice whether to come with you or stay on the planet. How small is your team on this ship, exactly?"

Mischa@crystyl:"Is that really the most pertinent thing right now?"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada: "If it's as small as I suspect it is, even a few of us could help. I must admit I'm curious about this whole commandeering an enemy timeship business you mentioned, but that can -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris - wait."

Mischa@crystyl:"Yes, even a small number of volunteers would be a help. But as I said, our mission will progress regardless. So best just to focus on you and yours right now, and what is best for you all. If you -

Mischa@crystyl:- want to give everyone time to process this and make a decision, we should get moving"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada: "Let's go." She makes her way back to the centre of the camp

Mischa@crystyl follows

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Commander Takeshewada approaches a redshirt Tellarite working on a device in the heart of the camp, "Ensign Gragim. Is the loudspeaker ready yet?"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Gragim: "All set, Commander."

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada: "This is always the part of Command that Decker was better at. Alright, turn it on."

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | The Ensign nods and presses some jellybuttons, activating the loudspeaker

Mischa@crystyl:"I'm not Decker, but I'm here to assist if you need it"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada: "Thank you, Commander. I'll probably need you to explain some of the details."

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada speaks into the device, projecting her voice throughout the camp, "Attention, Constellation crew."

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | She gives the camp a moment to respond, and as the crew falls silent and turns towards her, she speaks again, "We've been joined here by a member of Starfleet from the future. I know this -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris - seems like a crazy story, but we've been out here on the frontier, and we know just how crazy things can get. The details of her account checks out so far. She says the machine that attacked -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris - our ship will soon turn on the planet, but she's offering us a way out by beaming up to her own ship."

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | One of the officers in the gathering crowd asks, "What about the Commodore?"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada: "Commodore Decker is needed here to stop the planet killer from advancing to the heart of Federation space."

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Another officer speaks up, "If Decker'll survive, that means we'll be safe returning to the Constellation, right? Shouldn't we join him and help him?"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada looks to Mischa for assistance

Mischa@crystyl steps up to join her and fields the question, "I'm afraid it is not that simple. My history makes clear that the Commodore's actions which will ultimately lead to his helping the Enterprise destroy -

Mischa@crystyl:- the planet killer were a direct result of his having witnessed the death of his crew after he evacuated you all here to safety. If we do anything to interfere with him now, it could easily -

Mischa@crystyl:- result in him not taking the same course of action, which may lead to the planet killer destroying the Enterprise and killing all of her crew as well. Starfleet as it is now does not have the -

Mischa@crystyl:- scope to lose two of its Constitution cruisers - and if it did, what would remain to stop that planet killer from roaming further into Federation space?"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Murmurs spread through the crowd as the crew exchange glances with one another. A few of them nod, and a blue shirt chimes in, "If we go with you, does that mean we'll be going to the future?"

Mischa@crystyl:"Yes, I can't extract you from the planet and return you to your lives here. There are too many unknown variables and I would be in breach of the Temporal Prime Directive. So it will be an -

Mischa@crystyl:- extraction to the 25th century, and a one way trip"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada adds, "We are also welcome to remain here on the planet and await our fate. Either way, our friend from the future is adamant that history must remain the same and we -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris - have to be seen as dead in the 23rd century. She won't force anyone to go with her, and I won't give a command on whether to stay or go. This is a personal choice for all of you. If you go -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris - with her, you'll never be able to see any friends and family outside those of us that come with you, but you'll have the rest of your lives to live out in the future. And if you stay, you'll be -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris - giving up your lives, but it might be preferable if you can't live without your family in our time. The decision is yours to make and yours alone."

Mischa@crystyl checks the countdown time while Takeshewada speaks

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada looks to Mischa, "How long do we have before the planet killer strikes?"

Mischa@crystyl:"The planet killer will turn on this world in two and a half hours. So the evacuation will commence in two hours for any who wish it. Take that time to make your decisions, I will remain here with -

Mischa@crystyl:- your Commander to answer any questions or concerns as far as I am able to"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada: "You heard her. Two hours to make up your mind."

---

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | About half an hour after Commander Takeshewada's announcement, she is standing in the middle of the camp, taking a TOS clipboard from another crewmember

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada: "Thank you, Yeoman." She flips through the clipboard before looking to Mischa, "We have 81 signing on with you so far. The rest are still making their decisions."

Mischa@crystyl nods, "Have you thought about what you will do yet?"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada: "I'm here to lead the crew in Decker's absence. I was thinking about going with wherever the majority of the crew is, but I suppose there's not much I can do for them in the face -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris - of oblivion. So I'd be better off going with everyone taking your offer."

Mischa@crystyl:"I know it probably doesn't mean much, it certainly wouldn't to me in your position, but I do give you my word that I will look after them for you if you chose to stay"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada smirks, "Thanks for promising. But I'll probably come along to make sure you keep your word."

Mischa@crystyl:"I would expect nothing less from a woman in your position" she smiles

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada: "Tell me more about this ship you want us to help with. Are timeships common in the 25th century?"

Mischa@crystyl:"Not exactly. There is only one species we know of who really make use of them in our time. This ship belongs to them from an unknown point in my future"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada: "So these enemies you commandeered the ship from are from the future for you as well?"

Mischa@crystyl:"Yes, they are a particularly devious enemy and the situation is far more complicated than I can effectively describe here and now"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada: "I assume the ship is more advanced than what Starfleet has in your time?"

Mischa@crystyl:"In some ways, not so much in others. I would say it is more that it is simply different"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada: "And you think we can help? Our engineers are well-known for being very crafty and that probably hasn't changed. But we're still working with technology much more advanced than -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris - our own, from an alien race we don't know anything about."

Mischa@crystyl:"It's fine. My team and I are about the only ones in Starfleet who are in any way close to familiar with the technology of this ship, and one of that team happens to be a sentient AI currently -

Mischa@crystyl:- occupying its main computer. Trust me, we are all essentially worker bees for her on the repairs. It really is a case of many hands making light work"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada: "Your team has an artificial intelligence? Are they common in Starfleet in your century?"

Mischa@crystyl:"Not quite. There are a few, but Starfleet had... issues with AI not long back, so they are few and far between still"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | As they speak about Acey, Mischa's communicator chimes

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris <C - Acey> "Commander. I have intercepted a message from the surface attempting to contact Decker concerning your revelations. The message has been prevented from reaching the Constellation, and -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris - I have identified data on the communications device which sent it. You should be able to utilize the information to locate the individual doing so."

Mischa@crystyl:"Thank you Acey, please send me the data"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris <C - Acey> "Relaying it to your tricorder now. It will identify the device once you are in the vicinity."

Mischa@crystyl:"Understood" she turns back to Takeshwada, "We have a problem"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada: "What's happening?"

Mischa@crystyl:"One of your crew has failed to follow orders and attempted to use your comm array to contact the Constellation"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada frowns, "That's certainly a problem. You say attempted, did you manage to stop them?"

Mischa@crystyl:"Of course. But now I must find the one responsible as they have proven themselves a liability. I have their comm frequency so it is simply a matter of searching the camp for a match"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada: "I'll come with you. Hopefully they'll be a little less likely to do anything else rash with me around."

Mischa@crystyl nods and begins roaming the camp

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | After a few minutes of roaming, Mischa's tricorder would give a positive match. It seems to point to a tent which has been set up as a medical centre

Mischa@crystyl points to the medical tent, "In there"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada nods, making her way over to the tent. There are a handful of crew wounded from the planet killer's attack on the beds, and a few blue shirt doctors and nurses tending to them

Mischa@crystyl checks her tricorder

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | The tricorder narrows down the signal, pointing to a man in a blue shirt with Lieutenant Commander stripes

Mischa@crystyl nods towards him, "Know him?"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada: "That's Dr. Rosenhaus, our Chief Medical Officer. He's the one who contacted the Constellation?"

Mischa@crystyl:"Unfortunately, yes" she draws her very modern phaser, very openly as she sets it to stun

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada: "You're just going to stun him? Shouldn't we talk to him first? Make sure it is him, and someone didn't slip him their communicator or something."

Mischa@crystyl:"I said before that I will not take any risks with people being foolhardy" she sighs, "That said, I would prefer not to deprive your injured crew of their CMO... Alright fine, I'll give him a chance-

Mischa@crystyl:- to explain" she marches over, spinning the doctor by the shoulder and pressing her phaser to his forehead, "I believe I was quite clear before when I said that we can not contact the -

Mischa@crystyl:- Constellation. And if I wasn't, your Commander here certainly was. So tell me doctor, do you make a habit of disobeying orders?"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | The doctor stiffens as Mischa points the phaser to his forehead, but quickly gathers himself, "I make a habit of saving lives, and the Commodore's is still on the line."

Mischa@crystyl:"Got it. so you're a liability, short sighted, unable to follow orders and not to be trusted" addresses Takeshewada, "good enough for you?"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Dr. Rosenhaus: "You're just going to shoot me? Aren't you a Starfleet officer too? Or is the Starfleet of the future that callous?"

Mischa@crystyl:"I am a Starfleet officer, but I do not work for Starfleet Command. I am sure even in this time any senior officer will be well aware of the presence of Starfleet Intelligence and their function as -

Mischa@crystyl:- those who do what is necessary, especially when SFC can't get its utopian hands dirty. You think it's callous to want to protect the timeline and countless millions of lives both now and in the -

Mischa@crystyl:- future? Seriously, I think you should choose your words more carefully"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Dr. Rosenhaus: "You're talking about your future. As far as we're concerned, it hasn't been written yet. How do I know the version of events you've told us is the best outcome? Maybe we can -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris - change things, make it even better. Unlike you, I'm a doctor, not an intelligence officer. I signed up to save people, not keep my commanding officer in the dark and send him against that -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris - thing on his own."

Mischa@crystyl:"Actually I'm talking about /your/ future, my past. And of course we don't know what is best or not, only what is established. That is why there is a Temporal Prime Directive. This is no different -

Mischa@crystyl:- to you going and giving a pre-warp civilization antimatter reactors because you think it might be a better outcome for them. We all know how that fable ends, and this is exactly the same. I may -

Mischa@crystyl:- have expected something this naive from a junior officer who doesn't know any better. But a man in your position should be wise to the bigger picture"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada: "We /are/ saving lives here, doctor. That's why the Commander is here, to save us from the planet killer. We can't do anything to stop it now, not with the damage the -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris - Constellation has taken. If we let history play out as she's described it, then we're safeguarding the lives of billions of others in the Federation."

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Dr. Rosenhaus: "What about Commodore Decker? Are we just going to leave our captain to whatever terrible fate the planet killer is going to inflict on him and the Constellation?"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada: "We're not leaving him to anything. He chose to stay behind on the ship. Just like you all have the choice to stay, if you don't want to go with Commander Leveson-Scott."

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Dr. Rosenhaus sighs, "Damn it, Hiromi. You always were good at making a point. I suppose you're right. The Commodore already decided to go down with the ship. And that's in our past, as well -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris - hers."

Mischa@crystyl:"So are we going to have any more stupidity now?"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Dr. Rosenhaus: "I'll focus on the lives here inside my tent. You won't have any more trouble from me."

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada: "This is what Decker would want. He sent us down here so we can be spared from the planet killer's destruction. He doesn't know it's coming for us anyways. Commander Leveson-Scott -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris - is just finishing what he started with the evacuation."

Mischa@crystyl lowers her weapon, "Commander, do we have a decision from the doctor and his patients yet?"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Dr. Rosenhaus: "I need to talk to you about that, actually. Two of my patients here are still unconscious. I can't wake them yet without endangering their lives."

Mischa@crystyl:"Then as their doctor, you must make the decision for them"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Dr. Rosenhaus: "From what I'm hearing, you want us to help out on your ship. Is that right?"

Mischa@crystyl:"That is correct. But unlike someone who one might describe as - oh I don't know, callous - that does not mean I am unwilling to evacuate the injured because they are unable to assist. The ship has -

Mischa@crystyl:- sickbay, and it is there to be used for any of your crew who require aid"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Dr. Rosenhaus nods, "Then you should take them along. Planet killer or not, these patients stand a better chance in a sickbay than down here. I'll go with them too, I'm their doctor after all. -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris - Don't worry, I won't sabotage your ship or anything. I'm not an intelligence officer, even if I wanted to, you'd just catch me again."

Mischa@crystyl:"Yes, and you've already used your crew's one warning" she looks around, doing a quick count up of patients and staff in the tent

Mischa@crystyl taps her combadge, "Acey, begin evacuation with 31 lifesigns at my current position, excluding myself and Commander Takeshewada - all direct to sickbay"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris <C - Acey> "Understood Commander."

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | The people in the medical tent begin disappearing into flashes five at a time, until the entire tent is evacuated save for Mischa and Commander Takeshewada

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada: "Your transporters look very different from ours."

Mischa@crystyl waits for them all to disappear, "And Acey, keep an eye on their CMO. He is not trustworthy yet"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris <C - Acey> "I will monitor him closely."

Mischa@crystyl turns, "Remember, these are not our transporters. But I am sure even Starfleet technology will seem quite different once you see it"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada: "It's going to be an interesting experience, that's for sure."

---

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Over another hour passes and Commander Takeshewada steps up to Mischa with a clipboard in hand, "I have the final numbers. 361 of us will be going with you, not including the 31 you've already -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris - transported. The remaining 37 are opting to stay behind."

Mischa@crystyl:"Alright then. We should start transporting groups right away, so let them know and if any want to bid farewell to those remaining; now is the time"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada nods, "I'll let them know." As she turns and begins addressing them through the speaker again, Mischa's communicate chirps

Mischa@crystyl steps away to answer, "What's the latest?"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris <C - Acey> "The planet killer has completed its consumption of the fourth planet and is now on its way towards the third. As per previous calculations, we have approximately thirty minutes."

Mischa@crystyl:"Alright, we have 361 survivors preparing to start immediate evacuation so that should be plenty of time still"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris <C - Acey> "Affirmative. Transporters are standing by to begin evacuating on your signal."

Mischa@crystyl glances over her shoulder, "The first group should be ready momentarily"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada returns to Mischa after having completed her broadcast, "It's all done. The ones leaving will be setting their communicators to this frequency when they're ready. You can beam them -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris - up as the signals appear."

Mischa@crystyl:"Acey, I assume you got that?"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris <C - Acey> "Yes Commander. I am registering several signals already. Beginning evacuations now."

Mischa@crystyl:"Perfect. Let me know when everyone is accounted for"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada meanwhile adjusts her own communicator, "I guess I'll see you on the other side, Commander."

Mischa@crystyl:"Alright. It is probably for the best if you are there to greet your crew and coordinate"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada nods, "Agreed." She is beamed up by Acey a moment later, disappearing into a white flash. Soon, other crewmembers around the camp begin flashing away as well

Mischa@crystyl wanders the camp, checking on the rest of the Constellation crew while the remainder beam up

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | The camp starts getting smaller and smaller, until fifteen minutes later, Mischa's communicator chirps again

Mischa@crystyl taps, "Is that everyone accounted for?"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris <C - Acey> "Yes Commander. We have all 392 crew who are coming with us on board. We are locked on and ready to bring you back as well."

Mischa@crystyl takes one last look around, "Energize"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Mischa disappears into a flash as well...

---

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Mischa materializes on the transporter pad of the timeship. Hassan stands behind the transporter console and several TOS-uniformed officers are gathered just off the pad. Commander Takeshewada -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris - is speaking with them and she turns to the pad as she sees the flash of Mischa's arrival, "This is everyone who wanted to come along. That AI of yours is quite handy. She's assigned everyone -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris - quarters and are directing them there now."

Mischa@crystyl steps off the pad and smiles, "That she is. I am just sorry your first taste of the 25th century couldn't be our own ship, but all good things"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada: "How did you end up on this ship? Boarding mission gone wrong?"

Mischa@crystyl:"Technically the mission was a success, since we managed to seize the ship. However a stray weapon discharge struck a critical component in engineering - not one of ours, point of fact - and that -

Mischa@crystyl:- caused the wild jump. With the work the crew did to sabotage their own systems before losing the ship, that's how we ended up in this predicament"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada nods, "Is your entire boarding party Starfleet Intelligence?"

Mischa@crystyl:"My entire crew is, though that does extend to field commissions I've granted and mission specialists who do not wear the uniform"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada: "And this ship, I take it that it has some mechanism to hide from the planet killer? And the Constellation, since we didn't see any signs of another vessel in the area."

Mischa@crystyl nods, "Yes, it has an advanced cloaking device. Until we got smart to it during more recent conflicts, it was beyond our capacity to detect as well"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada: "Of course, a cloaking device. It looks like you have some key systems active, like transporters and the cloaking device. I assume the ship can fly, but it can't return to the -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris - future just yet?"

Mischa@crystyl:"That sums it up pretty much. There's a lot which is in bad shape, but Acey will make sure nobody ventures into danger zones by accident. Our priority now is to get the temporal drive functional -

Mischa@crystyl:- again. Once we are back to our time, we will most likely lock this ship down to start analyzing the technology and learning what we can from it's remaining systems and data"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada nods, "That sounds like a sensible thing to do. Wouldn't want to risk another accident like the one that brought you here."

Mischa@crystyl:"Indeed. And it just so happens the Latenter - that is my command - is the only Starfleet vessel with temporal systems comparable to this ship. We have only just retrofitted it all, and are -

Mischa@crystyl:-still getting to grips with everything. But we have a functional temporal observatory to monitor timeline changes and shielding to protect the ship from them, so really this vessel is even more -

Mischa@crystyl:- important to us than it is to the fleet for what it can teach us"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada: "Speaking of observatories...I assume these repairs we need are going to take a while?"

Mischa@crystyl:"It won't happen overnight exactly, but on the same note I don't plan on getting comfortable here either. I expect a day or two for everyone to get acclimatized before we can really make any -

Mischa@crystyl:- progress. But hopefully it won't take much longer after that. Acey, do we have any rough estimates based on the numbers at this point?"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris <C - Acey> "With the additional hands on board, the most optimistic estimate puts completion of repairs on the temporal drive in one week. It may take up to three weeks, depending on the -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris - capabilities of the new crew, the recovery rate of injured personnel currently in sickbay, and unexpected errors and circumstances such as the coolant leak we experienced previously."

Mischa@crystyl:"One to three weeks is reasonable, thank you" she looks back to Takeshewada, "This is where I would like to use you"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada: "What're you thinking?"

Mischa@crystyl:"I'm thinking that this ship now has a reasonably full complement, and I am just one officer. I would like you to continue in your established role with this crew and act as my XO. They are your -

Mischa@crystyl:- people at the end of the day - you know them, I do not - so I believe it will help everyone acclimate, and help us expedite our mission if we retain as much of your command structure from the -

Mischa@crystyl:- Constellation as possible"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada: "I agree. You know the ship and mission, but I know the crew. And I already have a suggestion to make," she smiles

Mischa@crystyl smiles back, "Good. I don't know what kind of man Decker was to serve under, but I like my officers - especially senior staff - to always speak their minds. So what have you got?"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada: "We're hidden from the planet killer and any Starfleet ships, and it's going to take at least a week to finish the repairs anyways. I think it should be safe for us to stay around -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris - here until the planet killer situation is resolved. That way, any of the crew who want to observe what's happening can do so. If history plays out properly the way you say it should, then -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris - seeing that thing stopped could offer some closure. Settle some doubts about disappearing from the present, our present, and convincing everyone that we're dead."

Mischa@crystyl smiles, "Fortunately that was already my intent and the ship is already taking up position on the system's edge to monitor events as they play out"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada: "Of course you'd have thought of it already..." she chuckles. "Well, thank you. I think it'll definitely help the crew realize the importance of everything that's happened here, -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris - and that all the sacrifices we have to make aren't for nothing."

Mischa@crystyl:"My thoughts exactly. Right now everyone is acting on my word alone, so I hope that seeing events play out will instill at least a little faith going forwards"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada smiles, "I hope so too. I'll make sure everyone's settled in."

---

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Several hours later, the crew have all settled in. A few of the engineers have already gotten to work, being interested in the advanced Krenim technology and using the work to keep themselves -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris - distracted. Outside the ship, the Enterprise had arrived and was now working alongside the Constellation against the planet killer. Commander Takeshewada and a number of others from the -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris - Constellation crew are observing in a room Acey configured for them, with a viewscreen and various consoles presenting sensor readings

Mischa@crystyl walks in, loitering out of the way and observing the observing, as much actually... observing

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada notices Mischa a few moments later when she glances back to check on the rest of the crew, "Commander. Come to check on us, or history?"

Mischa@crystyl:"Hmm... yes" she smiles

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada chuckles, "Very helpful." She turns back to the viewscreen, where the heavily damaged Constellation limps in to distract the planet killer from the Enterprise

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris FX | https://i.imgur.com/73ymG2r.jpg

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada: "It's good to see the Constellation moving again. Even though it looks like it might be for the last time."

Mischa@crystyl:"Even so, it is quite the dignified end for her"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada nods, "Bringing down that planet killer, it's an end worthy for a Constitution-class starship. I don't suppose you've seen one of those in your time? Or did Starfleet keep one as a -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris - museum somewhere?"

Mischa@crystyl:"The Connie or the doomsday machine?" she chuckles, "Sorry, don't mind my humour. To answer your question, yes; the Constitution as you know it will in fact go down in history as one of the all time-

Mischa@crystyl:- legendary vessels of Starfleet. As for the museum..." she upnods towards the screen, "You are looking at it"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada looks back to the screen and widens her eyes, "The Enterprise...?"

Mischa@crystyl nods, "Unfortunately not the exact ship that's out there now, as that one will undergo a major refit or two once Kirk's 5 year mission is over. But a faithful replica remains to this day"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada: "That makes sense. The replica is of the ship as it is now, and not any of the refits?"

Mischa@crystyl:"Yes, the ship that cleared that 5 year mission and made Kirk's mark on history"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Blueshirt: "Looks like the Enterprise and Constellation are retreating for now."

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada: "They haven't found a way to break through the planet killer's armour."

Mischa@crystyl:"They still have a tough time on their hands, but they'll figure it out with Decker's help"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | A few minutes pass as they watch, before the blueshirt speaks again, "The Enterprise just launched a shuttlecraft."

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada glances over to the blueshirt, "Are they evacuating?"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Blueshirt: "No, it's...just a single shuttle."

Mischa@crystyl:"If memory serves, that is Commodore Decker"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada: "He's going to take on the planet killer alone, with just a shuttle?"

Mischa@crystyl:"I don't think he's intendeding on attacking it conventionally. I believe he plans to detonate it's core inside the maw of the machine since it is not armoured on the inside"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada: "I can see the logic in that. But one shuttle can't be enough against that thing."

Mischa@crystyl:"No, of course not. But remember how I said that due to his emotional state he would take extreme action which would ultimately help Kirk to defeat this thing" she nods to the screen, "This is it. -

Mischa@crystyl:- The Enterprise will see the resulting 'blip' in the machine's power levels as a result of Decker's efforts and realize that he had the right idea, just the wrong scale. Fortunately for them, there-

Mischa@crystyl:- is an exponentially larger warp core to hand"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada: "The Constellation...so that's why we can't be on the ship, and Decker needs to believe we're dead."

Mischa@crystyl nods solemnly, "Yes, I am sorry again. But... you knew the man better than anyone most likely. Tell me, do you think he would take such drastic and desperate action in a normal frame of mind?"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada shakes her head, "No, I don't think he would."

Mischa@crystyl:"Of course not, nobody in their right mind would. But after doing everything right here, fate threw it all back in his face and forced him to sit helplessly and watch while all of you 'died' on -

Mischa@crystyl:- that planet after he evacuated you there for safety. That's enough to break even the most stoic Captain, and in the Commodore's case on top of all the other trauma of these events; drive him to -

Mischa@crystyl:- this action. And without him doing this, the Enterprise may never have learned the singular opportunity they have here to stop that machine using the Constellation"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada watches as Decker's shuttle gets closer and closer to the planet killer, "I wish we could save him too, but I suppose he's giving his life for a worthwhile cause. He might not be -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris - in a good state of mind right now, but if he knows what his sacrifice will ultimately lead to, I think he'll be pleased with it."

Mischa@crystyl gives a solemn sigh, "And if I had a way to do so - even to reach him - I would"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada watches as the shuttle disappears into the maw of the machine before lowering her head from the screen, "At least his sacrifice is still remembered two hundred years into the future.

Mischa@crystyl stands to attention, "Commodore Decker. Your sacrifice will not be in vain. And it will not be forgotten"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris stands at attention

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada and the other Constellation crew in the room join Mischa in standing at attention

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada: "We'll keep your memory alive where we're going, Matt."

Mischa@crystyl gives it a respectful minute before relaxing her stance, "If you would prefer, I can leave you all to it"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada relaxes her stance as well, "It's alright, Commander. I imagine this is quite a noteworthy moment from history for you. You're welcome to stay and watch with us."

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada: "Just because it's not personal to you doesn't mean we won't let you join us."

Mischa@crystyl smiles a little, "Thank you, I can watch from any viewscreen. But it means more to be here with the rest of you right now"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada smiles back, "Thank you, for coming here and explaining the necessity of these events."

Mischa@crystyl:"It is the least I can do"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Blueshirt: "The Enterprise are beaming personnel off the Constellation. I'm reading two lifesigns left on board."

Mischa@crystyl:"They must have figured things out and are putting a plan into motion"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada: "It looks like it. The Constellation is moving in towards the planet killer."

Mischa@crystyl:"Yes, this should be it then"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | On the viewscreen, the heavily damaged Constellation begins to limp towards the machine...

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Blueshirt: "Another transport signal. Only one more lifesign on the Constellation."

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada: "A noble end for the ship. Do any of the Enterprise crew sacrifice themselves in this endeavour?"

Mischa@crystyl:"I am uncertain, truth be told. It is possible that some lives were lost during the skirmishing but the only distinguished memorial from this is Decker"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | They continue to watch as the Constellation approaches the planet killer's maw

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada: "Whoever's left on there is cutting it awfully close."

Mischa@crystyl:"I wager good latinum that it's Kirk"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada: "I wouldn't be surprised. He's well-known for his heroics. Always likes to personally see the success of his missions, especially the more dangerous ones. Not unlike you, if I'm -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris - not mistaken," she smiles. "That's why you're here on a captured enemy ship now, isn't it?"

Mischa@crystyl smiles, "It is true that I tend to lead from the front, not the back. Goes with the territory really since most of our actual missions off ship tend to be high stakes infiltrations, which are what -

Mischa@crystyl:- I was trained for"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada: "I think you would've gotten along well with Kirk, if you lived in our time."

Mischa@crystyl:"Oh yes, we got on quite well indeed" she grins

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada glances back, doubletaking at the comment, "This...isn't your first trip into the past, is it?"

Mischa@crystyl:"It is not. And it is not my first time looking at the Enterprise of this era either. Although in fairness the last time it looked rather different too, since that was actually an alternate universe"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada: "I see Starfleet has no shortage of interesting missions in your time." She turns back to the viewscreen as the Constellation is about to enter the planet killer

Mischa@crystyl:"There are plenty of everyday missions as well. You just happen to be on the thick end of a particularly elaborate one"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada: "Pretty elaborate two, actually," she comments as she watches the detonation of the Constellation inside the planet killer

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Blueshirt: "I picked up a transporter signal. Looks like the final lifesign got out in the nick of time."

Mischa@crystyl:"Of course. Can't get out too early or it won't be heroic" she chuckles

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada chuckles, "Right. It looks like the planet killer's gone inert, too. Decker's maneuver with the full power of a starship was enough to do the trick."

Mischa@crystyl:"And that is how history will remember him still"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada smiles, "I'm glad to hear that. Well, it looks like this particular mission is finished, and the Federation is safe, in the 23rd century at least." She turns to Mischa, "Time to -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris - finish the other mission we've gotten ourselves into."

Mischa@crystyl nods, "Back to work then"

---

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Nine days have passed since watching Decker and the Constellation's sacrifice to stop the planet killer. The timeship has returned to the location where it was captured, and the crew, old and -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris - new, have been hard at work repairing the vessel. Mischa has had to do a lot less hands-on repair work with nearly 400 crew on hand, and manages things from the bridge of the ship

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | As she works away at the console, the doors slide open and Commander Takeshewada walks in with Lieutenant Commander Masada, former Chief Science Officer of the Constellation and also a member -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris - of the current bridge crew on the Krenim ship. Hassan enters not far behind, relieving the Constellation's Lieutenant Vascogne who was working on the bridge alongside Mischa

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | The reason for the unexpected shift change is quickly made clear when Acey's voice comes through the comms, "Diagnostics indicate the temporal drive is now fully operational, Commander."

Mischa@crystyl:"Thank you Acey, it looks like we're just about set to make the jump home"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Takeshewada: "Or the jump to a new life in a whole new century, for most of us here."

Mischa@crystyl smiles over her shoulder, "Or that"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris <C - Acey> "I have been analyzing the functions of the temporal drive. Once we have returned to the Latenter near the time of the Gainsborough's destruction, we will be able to generate a -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris - temporal vortex to bring both vessels to our present. That will negate the need for the Latenter to perform another slingshot maneuver to accompany us."

Mischa@crystyl:"That is welcome news"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Acey: "We are prepared to execute the first jump on your command."

Mischa@crystyl:"Alright, let's do it. Initiate the temporal vortex"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Masada and the officer on the engineering console begin tapping away at their consoles. A beam of light emits from the front of the timeship, creating a wormhole-like aperture. The helmsman -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris - gives Mischa and Takeshewada an uncertain glance, but the Constellation XO gives him a nod of reassurance and he takes the vessel in. As they enter, the viewscreen shows strange assortments -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris - of colours, giving no sense of movement or direction, unlike the interior of a wormhole. Then, the colours start to fade away like mist, slowly revealing the exit aperture around them and the -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris - starfield beyond

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Commander Masada: "Our position is unchanged. Chronometers are calculating the current stardate as 93678."

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Hassan smiles, "Exactly when we need to be."

Mischa@crystyl:"Anything on sensors?"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Commander Masada: "Negative. No wait, there's...looks like some crates, and a small shuttlecraft with an extremely slow sensor profile. I wouldn't have caught that if it wasn't for the crates."

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris <C - Acey> "That must be my ejected Dart craft. We have certainly returned to the right time period."

Mischa@crystyl:"Then we must assume that the Latenter did indeed return our origin ahead of us. Alright, let's recover the Dart and prepare to move on then"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris <C - Acey> "I believe they are cloaked, Commander. I have just re-established communications. Shall I put them through?"

Mischa@crystyl:"Aha, I'm so glad Victoria did not prove my expectations wrong. Yes, put them through please"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Victoria appears on the viewscreen on the familiar bridge of the Latenter

Mischa@crystyl smiles, "There's a welcome sight. Thanks for sticking around"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Victoria: "I wasn't sure what to expect when you disappeared for a moment there, so I ordered us to stay hidden and alert. Good to see you found your way back, Commander. Are these... -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris - historical uniforms I see behind you?"

Mischa@crystyl:"Yes, it is fair to say that more time has passed for us than for you"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Victoria: "I thought that might be the case. We're also picking up a lot more lifeforms on board. All lifesigns of Federation species rather than Delta Quadrant ones."

Mischa@crystyl:"Yes, there is no need for concern as we have full control of the ship with no remnants of the original crew. The lifesigns you are reading are our new crew"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Victoria: "Wherever did you find a new crew? You didn't take them from the past, did you...?"

Mischa@crystyl:"From the uniforms, I think you already know the answer to that question. Worry not though, we have not altered history in any way"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Victoria chuckles, "That's good to hear. Temporal Investigations is still going to have a field day, though..."

Mischa@crystyl groans, "Don't remind me..."

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Victoria: "Sorry. Anyways, will you be coming back on board or remaining with your new crew on the Survivor ship?"

Mischa@crystyl:"I will remain here while we complete the return jump. You will be pleased to know that with the excellent repair work of our new crew here, this ship is now able to generate a vortex substantial -

Mischa@crystyl:- enough to carry both it and the Latenter home. So if you want to recover the Dart, we will make preparations for the final jump. Once back, I will return as I need to debrief the Admirals"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Victoria: "Sounds good. We'll retrieve the Dart and stand by to travel back with you. I assume Acey and the rest of the team will be staying over there for now, too?"

Mischa@crystyl:"For now, yes. We don't want to be occupying this ship longer than we need to. But circa 400 additional personnel might be a stretch for the Latenter. See what you can do and we'll review later"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Victoria: "You probably want some crew on board for the transwarp journey back to Crateris, anyways. Maybe the Admirals'll come up with a plan for the ship and the crew once we arrive."

Mischa@crystyl:"I expect they will have lots of ideas once they know we have it"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Victoria nods, "But for now, let's go back home."

Mischa@crystyl:"Sounds like a plan to me"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | The camera zooms out to show the Latenter decloaking to retrieve the Dart beside the timeship. We fade out, then back into...

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris FX | https://youtu.be/H_fN9_kvClw

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | The camera zooms in to the station, onto a classic TOS interior where officers wearing era-appropriate uniforms are working

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | A pair of lift doors slide open to show Kirk, Spock and Lieutenant Washburn

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris FX | https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Washburn?file=Washburn.jpg

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | As Kirk and Spock go off one way, Washburn splits up from them, taking a different turn and walking down a much emptier hallway, then through a pair of doors to a small office

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Behind the desk of the office is seated a man in a purple TOS uniform- Commander Ackerson from Emma's vision, though his uniform now bears a captain's stripes on the sleeve

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Captain Ackerson speaks with the distinct cadence and pattern of Commodore Fox/Aka as the doors slide shut, "I have read the Enterprise's report on the destruction of the Progenitor weapon -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris - ship, or the 'Doomsday Machine,' as Kirk so dramatically puts it. Excellent work once again, Lieutenant Washburn."

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Washburn: "Thank you, Captain."

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Captain Ackerson: "My condolences for the loss of the Intrepid. I understand you had a friend on board."

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Washburn nods, "That's right, sir. Lieutenant V'Daal. It doesn't impact our plans, does it?"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Captain Ackerson: "No, fortunately it does not." He taps his console, "You are familiar with Dr. Richard Daystrom, I expect?"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Washburn: "Of course."

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Captain Ackerson: "The Enterprise will be serving as a testbed for his M-5 multitronic computer system. I will need you to keep a close eye on the experiment. Survivor personnel close to the -

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris - doctor suspect that the test will fail just as catastrophically as it had in our universe."

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Washburn: "And we want it to happen here, too?"

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Captain Ackerson nods, "Interfere only if the Enterprise and its senior staff come under serious risk. Otherwise, you are to follow the orders of your superiors on the Enterprise."

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Washburn: "Understood, Captain."

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Captain Ackerson: "Good. Dismissed."

Goto Yuzuki@anncaris | Washburn turns and exits the office. The camera lingers outside the door, showing 'Ackerson' with a cold stoic face as the doors close, and we fade to black....