ST:SoD310 | "Yorktown"

Stardate 100382.4

The Venator suddenly receives an unexpected new direction for their investigation as another Starfleet vessel picks up a distress call from one of the missing ships...

---

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NPC@annpc#557:| After following the lead from Sanctuary station, the Venator has been chasing rumours through the region, investigating every mention of 'Sirens' or shapeshifting aliens they can find

NPC@annpc#557:| Their latest lead has taken them to the Nenokalas, an old derelict dreadnought drifting in Horde space which has since been repurposed by pirates into a base of operations following the Horde's -

NPC@annpc#557:- destruction. Rianni, Emma and Rylliss are seated in a rustic bar set up in the ancient ship, awaiting a meeting with one Warlord Fengolirr, a pirate who had supposedly survived an encounter with -

NPC@annpc#557:- the Sirens once

NPC@annpc#557:| From their booth, they see as Fengolirr enters, surrounded by two tough-looking guards. The warlord himself walks over to the table with audible clanking noises, and the group quickly realize -

NPC@annpc#557:- that he sports a cybernetic leg which is making the noise as he steps across the metallic floor. His face is concealed by a battered but intimidating mask, arguably made even more fearsome by the -

NPC@annpc#557:- marks of battle upon it

NPC@annpc#557:FX | https://lumiere-a.akamaihd.net/v1/images/apilek-main_ab19a1be.jpeg?region=0%2C0%2C1280%2C720

NPC@annpc#557:| Warlord Fengolirr stops in front of the Starfleet officers' table, his helmet moving around as he clearly sizes up the group. When he speaks, his voice carries a mechanized echo from the helmet

NPC@annpc#557:| Fengolirr: "So, you're the ones who paid to have a talk with me."

Emma Ralde@crystyl:| Rianni nods, "We are"

NPC@annpc#557:| Fengolirr: "Hm. Well I won't turn down good dilithium." He seats himself opposite the group. "What do you want to know?"

Emma Ralde@crystyl:"We want to hear a story from the great warlord"

Emma Ralde@crystyl:| Rianni smiles: "One about Sirens"

NPC@annpc#557:| The warlord bursts into laughter, which echoes as a result of his helmet. After a good few seconds of amusement, he reaches up to his head and throws back his hood before removing the helmet

NPC@annpc#557:| Behind the mask lies a surprisingly ordinary-looking face. He seems mostly human save for ridges down the side of his face, which wraps around his inhuman-shaped ears. But other than those -

NPC@annpc#557:- features, he looks like a rather unremarkable human man in his 50s with balding hair and a goatee

NPC@annpc#557:| Fengolirr: "Sirens? If you're that desperate, you can get some pretty good consorts for half the dilithium you paid me, you know."

Emma Ralde@crystyl:"And she has me without having to pay even a strip of latinum. But word is that you've encountered them before, and that is interesting"

NPC@annpc#557:| Fengolirr nods, "That I have. And judging from the amount you're willing to pay, you've heard from some pretty good sources that it's not just a wild boast I've made up, huh?"

NPC@annpc#557:| Rylliss: "That's right. And we want to know what you know about these Sirens."

NPC@annpc#557:| The warlord gives a wave and his guards step off. He leans back in his chair, "I've had plenty of people interested in Sirens. No one willing to actually pay for that kind of information. What're -

NPC@annpc#557:- you up to?"

Emma Ralde@crystyl:pouts, "They tried to come between my vijra and me..." and slowly forms a wicked and venomous glint, "...they must be punished"

NPC@annpc#557:| Fengolirr grins, "Well, that explains it. Nothing like a lover's ire, is there? It was a long time ago when I encountered them. About thirty years ago by old Federal reckoning. I was still a -

NPC@annpc#557:- handsome young man then, with a head full of hair," he chuckles

Emma Ralde@crystyl:smiles, cosying up to Rianni as they listen

NPC@annpc#557:| Fengolirr: "I was working on a ship called the Malachent when we had the misfortune, or fortune depending on who you ask, of running into a Siren vessel. We didn't even know it was a ship at -

NPC@annpc#557:- first. It radiated solar energy all over, like some sort of miniature star. It contacted us before we could figure out what it was, saving us the trouble. They invited our captain over, and -

NPC@annpc#557:- apparently their charms were already working because he accepted. Before we knew it, the whole crew was on their ship."

Emma Ralde@crystyl:"What did they want?"

NPC@annpc#557:| Fengolirr: "Us. They weren't interested in our ship or our salvage. And by the time we were at that colony of theirs, neither were the rest of the crew. Everyone was completely infatuated with a -

NPC@annpc#557:- Siren and seemed to even forget that the Malachent was still back there."

Emma Ralde@crystyl:"And they were probably completely up front about that too..."

NPC@annpc#557:| Fengolirr: "They didn't try to hide what they wanted. Some of us were skeptical at first. They reassured us, said that they weren't up to anything terrible. Claimed that their species preferred -

NPC@annpc#557:- making with other species to evolve from new genetic material. They'd give us love, comfort, a good life, much better than the miserable existence we were scraping for ourselves. And slowly, one -

NPC@annpc#557:- by one, the crew was taken by their seduction. They even started helping try to convince the rest of us that it was the best option for us."

Emma Ralde@crystyl:| Rianni: "Sure sounds like a sweet deal they laid out"

NPC@annpc#557:| Fengolirr nods, "With the kind of life we were living, after most of us lost our homes and our entire peoples, it didn't take that much to win over the rest of the crew."

Emma Ralde@crystyl:"But not you"

NPC@annpc#557:| Rylliss: "So why didn't you take up on their offer?"

NPC@annpc#557:| Fengolirr: "I had a woman waiting for me on Sanctuary. We'd been together since we escaped the Horde as children. Some of the last of our people left, and she was expecting our first kid at the -

NPC@annpc#557:- time. A new generation of our dying species. A hope for our future. I wasn't about to give that up to run off with some damn aliens. The Diteans- that's what the Sirens call themselves, they -

NPC@annpc#557:- tried, oh they really tried. But I didn't let them get to me."

Emma Ralde@crystyl:smiles, "Well, I can certainly appreciate someone with a strong heart like that"

NPC@annpc#557:| Fengolirr smiles back, "There's a reason I'm Warlord, and most of the brutes I ran with are corpses. When the Diteans finally realized I wasn't playing bringal, they dropped me back off at the -

NPC@annpc#557:- Malachent. Had the ship all to myself. No crew, of course, but I managed to bring her back to Sanctuary alone, sell the salvage, hire a few hands, and so began my way up in the galaxy."

NPC@annpc#557:| Rylliss: "Wait, they just let you go?"

NPC@annpc#557:| Fengolirr: "Yeah. I told them several times, I'm not mating with you. I've got my own species to look after. Either let me go or kill me. And then one day they took me off the colony and back to -

NPC@annpc#557:- a ship. Was expecting them to do some dramatic execution, make an example of me, you know. But they beamed me back to the Malachent and last I saw of them, their ship disappeared off into some -

NPC@annpc#557:- portal. No idea where the colony they took me to was and didn't ever try to look for it. I'm not losing crew I've paid to these seducers."

NPC@annpc#557:| Rylliss: "I assume you have the coordinates of where the Malachent ran into the Siren ship?"

NPC@annpc#557:| Fengolirr: "I don't have the exact coordinates anymore, but I remember the general region. There's been other tales of ships disappearing to Sirens there, but it's not a sure place to find them. -

NPC@annpc#557:- Plenty of ships passed through without a problem, which is why we didn't think twice about travelling there. Wasn't like we were headed into Horde-"

NPC@annpc#557:| Rianni's combadge chirps

Emma Ralde@crystyl:| Rianni steps away to answer it, tapping, "Tierno"

NPC@annpc#557:<C - Eva> "Lieutenant, we need you and your team back on board as soon as possible. There's been a new development."

Emma Ralde@crystyl:| Rianni: "Understood"

—

Keliaya@anncaris | After returning to the ship, Rianni, Rylliss and Emma head up to the bridge immediately. As the doors slide open, the bridge is already buzzing with activity as everyone is on their posts -

Keliaya@anncaris - making various preparations

Keliaya@anncaris | Azevedo: "Course set and ready, Commander."

Keliaya@anncaris | Nqakula: "Engineering reports power distribution optimized for quantum slipstream."

Keliaya@anncaris:"Good. Get us underway, Azevedo."

Rianni@crystyl steps out, listening to the chatter as she approaches, "What's the situation?"

Keliaya@anncaris | Azevedo taps on his console and the Venator accelerates, not to warp but into a quantum slipstream tunnel

Keliaya@anncaris turns to Rianni, "We've received a report that the USS Yorktown has picked up a distress signal. One identified as being from the USS Faraday, with all the proper ID of an authentic Starfleet -

Keliaya@anncaris:- automated distress beacon."

Rianni@crystyl sits, "Are they aware that the Faraday crew have been compromised by these shapeshifters?"

Keliaya@anncaris nods, "They know the Faraday is MIA and that there's been shapeshifter activity in the Heart which is connected somehow. I imagine they'll be able to put the pieces together. The Yorktown is a -

Keliaya@anncaris:- formidable ship, but this is related to our search. Possibly the strongest lead we've had so far, so we're heading there to investigate as soon as we can."

Keliaya@anncaris | Rylliss: "The Yorktown wasn't supposed to be exploring anywhere near our search area."

Keliaya@anncaris | Eva nods, putting up a map on the viewscreen, "The distress call was picked up here, well outside our search area, even with the newer parameters."

Keliaya@anncaris | Rylliss: "That's closer to the Heart. It's almost like they're intentionally trying to lure in Starfleet ships."

Rianni@crystyl:"There is no way the Faraday drifted that far. This is clearly a trap, and possibly how they lured the Guan Yu"

Keliaya@anncaris:"My thoughts exactly. Fortunately the Yorktown managed to get a message out notifying the rest of the fleet that it's responding to the distress call."

Rianni@crystyl:"What's our eta?"

Keliaya@anncaris | Azevedo taps on his console again, "Around 36 minutes. Sixteen at slipstream to arrive outside sensor range of the system, and then twenty to approach at regular warp under cloak."

Keliaya@anncaris:"We don't know what we'll find there. Best to go in dark."

Rianni@crystyl:"Got it, thank you"

Keliaya@anncaris:"Did you learn anything from that pirate lord?"

Rianni@crystyl | Emma: "He pretty confirmed the story we heard"

Keliaya@anncaris:"Do you think it was a real experience then? Not just a story he made up to sound more impressive."

Rianni@crystyl:"I have no reason to doubt him having heard it direct"

Rianni@crystyl | Emma nods: "There was conviction in his eyes when he spoke of how he resisted them owing to his beloved. I believe him"

Keliaya@anncaris:"Owing to his beloved?"

Rianni@crystyl:"Yeah, his heart already belonged to someone. His wife and child - or unborn child, I'm not sure which is actually correct, but yeah! Because his heart belonged to them, the shapeshifters couldn't -

Rianni@crystyl:- seduce him. So apparently they just sent him on his way"

Rianni@crystyl | Emma: "It tallies with our experience when they tried to get Rianni and me"

Rianni@crystyl:"Well, apart from the whole being sent on our way bit. That was never on the cards..."

Rianni@crystyl | Emma: "True, but the Warlord was not Starfleet. So they probably didn't hold the same grudge against him"

Keliaya@anncaris | Rylliss: "They didn't lure his ship in with any distress call, either. He claims they just happened to run into the Sirens by chance. They certainly seem to be out for Starfleet, though."

Keliaya@anncaris:"I wonder why. Could the Faraday have done something to them when trying to resist that provoked them..."

Rianni@crystyl:"It wouldn't be the first time a first contact went bad"

Keliaya@anncaris:"But if they were trying to take the crew of the Faraday and got some pushback, surely they would've expected things could've gone bad. They started it, why suddenly have this vendetta for Starfleet?"

Rianni@crystyl hrms, "That is true... it did seem a lot more... rooted than something as fresh as that"

Keliaya@anncaris | Rylliss: "Maybe they view themselves as doing good. Seeing how they didn't kill the Warlord when he refused their deal, maybe they really believe they're offering people a better life. And if -

Keliaya@anncaris - some of the Faraday crew resisted and reacted with some sort of physical counterattack..."

Keliaya@anncaris | Eva nods, "They could see that as us starting something rather than them, but from how things look now, they must've managed to subdue the Faraday's crew in the end. If they thought some kind -

Keliaya@anncaris - of punishment was due, they have the people responsible. To go out of their way and target the Guan Yu and now the Yorktown...that seems like an overreaction."

Rianni@crystyl:"Yes, to go so far suggests something bigger still. It's like they already fought and lost a generations long war with us or something, the way they are carrying on..."

Keliaya@anncaris:"Dr. Qrehl's new sedative should be able to knock them out more reliably than a phaser stun, because he's tailored it specifically to their physiology. The downside is, it has to be applied via -

Keliaya@anncaris:- hypo, and it's not exactly been tested on any live subjects. But if we can capture one alive, we might be able to get some more answers."

Rianni@crystyl:"It's better than nothing"

Keliaya@anncaris:"I've got Farhalla working on a device to launch the hypospray so hopefully you won't have to get close. Like an old fashioned tranquilizer rifle, in the days before stun settings."

Rianni@crystyl:"Projectile hyposprays? Well that will be interesting" she chuckles

Keliaya@anncaris:"I don't think any of them are going in for a medical checkup anytime soon. With how they can extend blades from their hands, its safer than getting up close."

Rianni@crystyl:"No arguments here"

Keliaya@anncaris | Azevedo: "Exiting slipstream tunnel now."

Keliaya@anncaris:"Engineering, rebalance power for regular warp travel under cloak."

Keliaya@anncaris | Nqakula nods, "On it, Commander."

Keliaya@anncaris | The slipstream effect fades from the viewscreen and they are met with a regular starfield

Keliaya@anncaris:"Tactical, cloak us when ready."

Rianni@crystyl | Sin: "Cloaking now"

Keliaya@anncaris:"Helm, take us towards the system. Warp 7.7."

Keliaya@anncaris | Azevedo: "Aye Commander."

Keliaya@anncaris | Nqakula: "7.7? That's very specific. Oh, I see, it's the optimal balance between maintaining speed while under cloak while reserving some power for emergencies."

Rianni@crystyl:"Huh..." clearly makes a mental note

Keliaya@anncaris smiles, "Exactly, Ensign. There's no point rushing to help if we jump in and have to spend thirty seconds rebalancing our power levels before we can fire our weapons," she looks to Rianni, "Most -

Keliaya@anncaris:- Starfleet ships find their balance at a higher speed than this. But you know Terran ships and their weapon power requirements."

Rianni@crystyl:"Right! I'll have to remember that"

—

Keliaya@anncaris | After a few minutes at warp, Indrix announces, "I'm seeing three contacts on sensors. Two ships and a massive energy signature."

Rianni@crystyl looks over, "What kind of energy signature?"

Keliaya@anncaris | Indrix: "Plasma. Best description that comes to mind is a Romulan plasma torpedo, but much bigger. Almost like a miniature star. Not as high energy as even a small star, of course, but the -

Keliaya@anncaris - energy level is still significant."

Keliaya@anncaris | Rylliss: "Wasn't that how the Warlord described the Siren ship? Like a miniature star?"

Rianni@crystyl 's eyes widen, "It's them!"

Keliaya@anncaris:"Take us to red alert. Stay in cloak, ready weapon systems for when we drop out of warp."

Rianni@crystyl | Sin: "On it!"

Keliaya@anncaris | Eva: "I have an ID on the two ships. USS Yorktown and USS Faraday."

Rianni@crystyl:"So they have already sprung their trap"

Keliaya@anncaris | Nqakula nods, "It seems so. We're getting closer scans of the vessels now. Both of them have taken some damage. Yorktown's engines are down and all their starboard weapon arrays look disabled. -

Keliaya@anncaris:- Faraday's mission pod has been sheared off and almost all its forward weapons are down. I can't get any readings of the Siren ship, the massive energy level around it is obscuring everything."

Rianni@crystyl:"What about lifesigns?"

Keliaya@anncaris | Nqakula: "I'm reading Federation lifesigns on both the Faraday and the Yorktown, but the Faraday has a large number of lifesigns matching the data on the shapeshifters given to us by the -

Keliaya@anncaris - Rangers. There's some of them on the Yorktown too, I think they're trying to board. But the Yorktown still has most of its crew complement, while the Federation lifesigns on the Faraday make -

Keliaya@anncaris - up for only about a quarter of its crew."

Rianni@crystyl:"Stars, this is going to be a right mess..."

Keliaya@anncaris:"I have a feeling the Faraday crew's been compromised, but the Yorktown's mostly taken their ship out of the fight already. The problem is, with Sirens on board the Yorktown, we have no idea how -

Keliaya@anncaris:- compromised they could be, and while the Yorktown's taken a beating, she's still got some teeth left. And then there's the Sirens' own ship, which is nearly a complete unknown."

Keliaya@anncaris looks to Rianni, "Any thoughts on how we should approach this?"

Rianni@crystyl hrms, "As soon as we reveal ourselves they will react and we'll be drawn into a fight. Since we don't know the status of either Federation ship, we could find ourselves fighting all three. We could-

Rianni@crystyl:- board the Yorktown and establish contact with their real crew. That might be our best first step but then any following move will depend on what we learn"

Keliaya@anncaris nods, "The Yorktown's shields are down. We should be able to manage a stealth insertion onto the ship. Take the MACO team with you, and bring anyone else you think might be able to contribute to -

Keliaya@anncaris - the mission."

Rianni@crystyl stands, "I think in the circumstances, less is more. I'll head over with the MACO's for now"

Rianni@crystyl | Sin pouts, "But I-..."

Rianni@crystyl looks over, "You what, get easily tempted by anything eluding to more power?" she teases

Rianni@crystyl:"Besides, I need you here in case this turns into a shooting match"

Rianni@crystyl | Sin grumbles and smirks, "...nice save Tierno. This time. But you owe me!"

Rianni@crystyl waves a playfully dismissive hand as she enters the turbolift, "Owe one date with the whole MACO team. Noted"

Rianni@crystyl | Sin flaps, "What? No that's not-"

Rianni@crystyl | The lift door wooshes shut

—

NPC@annpc#557 | In the transporter room, Rianni gathers with the MACOs, watching on one of the consoles on the walls as the Venator approaches the battle site

NPC@annpc#557 | The first thing they see is a bright red glow blazing on the screen before either Starfleet ship even comes into view

NPC@annpc#557 FX | https://static.vecteezy.com/system/resources/thumbnails/007/515/464/original/lens-flare-light-with-red-bright-glow-sun-light-lens-flares-art-animation-background-free-video.jpg

NPC@annpc#557 | Sh'ivilnath: "Is that the enemy ship? Looks like a torpedo..."

Rianni@crystyl:"The warlord described it is a small star. I didn't imagine he was being so literal. What do you think, some sort of energy barrier maybe?"

NPC@annpc#557 | SGT Four: "Not even the Forli's shields produce a glow such as this. It would be impractical to utilize so much energy for a barrier."

Rianni@crystyl:"Maybe. Maybe it's their technology - grossfully inefficient but it just doesn't matter because the source is so abundant or something"

NPC@annpc#557 | CPL Kruger: "Maybe their energy source is so powerful they can't contain it all, and it produces that as a side effect?"

Rianni@crystyl:"But what sort of energy source could be that powerful short of an actual star" she tilts her head looking at the screen, "Could it be...?"

NPC@annpc#557 | CPL Th’ezhiath: "A contained star? Is that even possible? Wouldn't you need a whole dyson sphere to contain that?"

Rianni@crystyl:"Maybe it's not contained, but just tapped into. You know, like the Iconians did or something just for power source rather than weaponizing"

NPC@annpc#557 | The Starfleet ships begin coming into view. The battered Sutherland-class Faraday sits in the background as the Venator moves in towards the slightly less damaged Yorktown, though its hull is -

NPC@annpc#557 - still clearly covered in battle damage

NPC@annpc#557 FX | https://i.imgur.com/Ya94vl2.jpg

NPC@annpc#557 | Kelly's voice sounds from the console, "It looks like the area around the Yorktown's bridge has been engineered to block transporters, similar to what we had back on the Forge. However, we can -

NPC@annpc#557 - beam you into the forward shuttlebay just above the main deflector. It should be the closest access point to the bridge if the lifts between the saucer and engineering sections are working."

Rianni@crystyl:"That will do nicely" she steps over to the pad, looking to the MACO's, "Alright, you all ready for this?"

NPC@annpc#557 | Sh'ivilnath looks around to the rest of her team before giving Rianni a nod, "Let's do this."

Rianni@crystyl:"Remember, anyone can be an enemy. So scan first, and paint your targets for tracking" she clips on a headband with a single eyepiece like we normally see Mischa sporting

NPC@annpc#557 | SSGT Walker nods, "Understood, Lieutenant. We'll be careful and make sure to use the scanners in our suits before we fire."

Rianni@crystyl nods and looks to the operator, "Energize"

NPC@annpc#557 | The team disappears into transporter beams...

—

NPC@annpc#557 | Rianni and the MACOs materialize in the shuttlebay of the Yorktown. There are a number of bodies around the hangar, most of them wearing Starfleet uniforms. Some of them are clearly not -

NPC@annpc#557 - actual Starfleet personnel, with their blade arms being extended at the time of death and still very much visible. Others are more ambiguous, being potentially dead shapeshifters or crew of -

NPC@annpc#557 - the Yorktown that fell in its defense

NPC@annpc#557 | The MACOs immediately raise their weapons as they check the area

NPC@annpc#557 | SSGT Walker: "Coast is clear."

Rianni@crystyl looks around, making her way to a nearby console, "Let's get a lay of the land before anything else"

Rianni@crystyl taps, reviewing current status around the ship, "Computer, identify your current active commanding officer"

NPC@annpc#557 | Computer: "USS Yorktown currently under the command of Captain Kestra Troi-Riker."

Rianni@crystyl:"Good, so the Captain isn't incapacitated. What is the current location of Captain Troi-Riker?"

NPC@annpc#557 | Computer: "Bridge."

Rianni@crystyl taps her combadge, "Tierno to Captain Troi-Riker"

NPC@annpc#557 | The response comes after a moment's delay and is a male voice with a British accent. <C> "This is Commander Muthoni. The Captain is preoccupied. What do you require?"

Rianni@crystyl:"This is LT Tierno from the Venator. We came to assist but saw the precarious situation out there"

NPC@annpc#557:<C - Muthoni> "The...Venator? I'm not familiar with a ship by that name."

Rianni@crystyl:"Not surprising. I'd be happy to tell you all about it but right now you've got a ship under siege and I've got a MACO squad ready to assist. What must be done to secure the Yorktown?"

NPC@annpc#557:<C - Muthoni> "We have boarding parties trying to push up to the bridge. We're managing to keep them contained by the lifts in the Engineering section for now. I think they weren't expecting this -

NPC@annpc#557:- much resistance, but they're pushing harder now. If you can reinforce our teams there, that will be greatly appreciated. And our security can verify your identity as well."

Rianni@crystyl:"Of course. We'll speak soon Commander" she turns to her team, "That's our objective then"

NPC@annpc#557 | MACO Captain Sh'ivilnath gives Rianni a nod and motions for the rest of the team to move out. She takes point personally, with the team forming into tactical positions behind her as they exit -

NPC@annpc#557 - out into the hall

NPC@annpc#557 | The MACOs move through the ship professionally, checking corners and covering their backs. Soon, they come upon a hallway with ongoing fighting and the MACOs move into position on either side -

NPC@annpc#557 - of the doorway

Rianni@crystyl takes up position, phaser in one hand while scanning the area to identify all of the Diteans

NPC@annpc#557 | Though having taken shape as Starfleet officers, the Diteans are rather easy to identify, having all extended their blades and are rushing right for the actual Starfleet defenders at the end -

NPC@annpc#557 - of the hall. Despite this, they are not easy to hit from a distance as they move surprisingly quickly and erratically, almost like wasps zipping around. The MACOs pick their targets and open -

NPC@annpc#557 - fire, but only a few of their shots land, downing two of the enemies. The Security personnel at the other end of the hall also fire and land hits with surprising accuracy, taking out two more

Rianni@crystyl pockets her tricorder and taps the side of her earpiece, now enjoying the luxury of visual identification overlayed on her vision of the chaos ahead to easily identify enemy targets

Rianni@crystyl:rolls 82 (1-100)

NPC@annpc#557 | Rianni manages to take down one of the Diteans. The remaining three fall upon the Security in close quarters, and even with her target ID it becomes too risky to open fire in case of a stray -

NPC@annpc#557 - shot hitting an ally. However, the Security seems to be doing surprisingly well in close-quarters. An Andorian security crewman with a pair of ushaan cuts down one of the Diteans, while a -

NPC@annpc#557 - woman in a red striped uniform takes out a second with a katana. The third Ditean manages to get a stab in on one of the security crewmen, but the woman with the katana swiftly moves in to -

NPC@annpc#557 - assist, wielding the blade with expert proficiency as she slices one of the shapeshifter's blade arms off before swiftly finishing it with a follow up stroke

NPC@annpc#557 | The MACOs move in with Corporal Kruger rushing up to the wounded security to treat him

NPC@annpc#557 | The woman with the katana, who at closer examination seems even younger than Rianni, approaches cautiously, holding the blade in one hand as she takes out a tricorder and scans

Rianni@crystyl holds her hands out to her side non-threateningly, "Scan away. We're not Ditean"

NPC@annpc#557 | The woman scans Rianni closely before putting away the tricorder, "The Commander told us reinforcements might be on the way, but he wasn't sure if it was a shapeshifter trick. Guess not! -

NPC@annpc#557 - But...where did you come from?"

Rianni@crystyl holsters her phaser, "I'm LT Tierno, we arrived a short while ago on the Venator and came to assist. We can't do much about the situation out there until the Yorktown is secure, so here we are"

NPC@annpc#557 | The woman sheaths her katana as well, "Ensign Hanako Sulu. I'm usually on the helm, but since we're dead in the water, the Captain asked me to support Security down here. These attackers -

NPC@annpc#557 - don't seem to use personal energy weapons. They move fast and they like to fight up close and personal, like Klingons, and I'm pretty good with the katana, so."

Rianni@crystyl smiles, "I noticed. Makes me wish I brought mine along now"

NPC@annpc#557 | Hanako taps her combadge, "Ensign Sulu to bridge. I've verified that the new arrivals aren't shapeshifters."

NPC@annpc#557 <C - Muthoni> "Good. Have their team leader come up to the bridge. We have some things to talk about."

NPC@annpc#557 | Sh'ivilnath: "Probably best for you to head up there. We're better off supporting the security team down here."

Rianni@crystyl nods, "Do what you can then. Use the Venator's sensor to locate them if needed" she steps into the lift

—

NPC@annpc#557 | The lift arrives at the bridge of the Yorktown and slides open. Beyond is an Odyssey-class bridge, much like that of the Gainsborough. There is some battle damage here and there- one of the -

NPC@annpc#557 - light strips is out and another is flashing, several of the holoconsoles are out or flickering and a few wall and ceiling panels are blown off, with wires dangling out from them. The bridge -

NPC@annpc#557 - is largely intact and functioning, however. Two officers are seated in the centre- a blonde woman in a CO uniform and a dark-skinned man with commander pips beside her. The woman's eyes emit a -

NPC@annpc#557 - glow like Sin's when showing off her psionics

Rianni@crystyl approaches them, taking in the current condition of things

NPC@annpc#557 | Officers are busy at work on the still functioning consoles of the bridge. Several security personnel are posted on every entrance to the bridge. As Rianni approaches, the glow from the -

NPC@annpc#557 - woman's eyes slowly fades away to a normal grey as the man stands

NPC@annpc#557 | Muthoni: "Lieutenant Tierno. Thank you for your assistance with the boarding parties. I'm First Officer Daniel Muthoni. It's good to meet you in person."

Rianni@crystyl pulls the eyepiece off, "You too Commander, Captain. I suppose I should start by saying 'permission to come aboard'" she smiles

NPC@annpc#557 | The woman returns the smile and stands as well, "Permission granted. Kestra Troi-Riker, Commanding Officer. Welcome to the Yorktown, Lieutenant."

Rianni@crystyl:"It's been a while since I've been on one of these bridges, seems to be becoming a habit of only seeing them in disrepair..." she shakes her head, "My MACO's are aiding your security. What is the -

Rianni@crystyl:- situation overall now?"

NPC@annpc#557 | Muthoni: "Our impulse and warp engines are down, as are our starboard arrays and launchers. We still have some port weapons, but the enemy isn't moving into our firing arcs."

NPC@annpc#557 | Kestra: "They're sending boarding parties. We're holding them off for now, but if they decide it's too much trouble to take the Yorktown intact, then we're practically sitting ducks."

Rianni@crystyl:"What about the Faraday?"

NPC@annpc#557 | Kestra: "We took out most of their weapons systems in the fighting, after we realized we couldn't target the unknown vessel effectively."

NPC@annpc#557 | Ferengi Ops Officer: "More transport signatures in the engineering section!"

NPC@annpc#557 | Muthoni: "Do your thing, Captain. I'll fill the LT in."

NPC@annpc#557 | Kestra nods and sits back down, the glow returning to her eyes

Rianni@crystyl looks between the two

NPC@annpc#557 | Muthoni turns back to Rianni, "The Captain's psionic abilities can manipulate the emotional state of people around her. She's using it to bolster the crew's focus. It shields us from the... -

NPC@annpc#557 - charms of these aliens and helps increase the alertness of our Security."

Rianni@crystyl smiles, "Of all the psionics in the galaxy, it is fortunate that you have her with you"

NPC@annpc#557 | As Kestra's eyes glow brighter, Rianni feels an odd sensation wash over her. Suddenly, the world around her seems sharper, like a screen turned up to high definition. She finds herself able to -

NPC@annpc#557 - pick up even little movements around her like a hyper-alert animal, registering motions she would normally have overlooked like the twitch of an Andorian officer's antennae

Rianni@crystyl looks around, taking it all in

NPC@annpc#557 | Muthoni chuckles, "Quite a sensation, isn't it?"

Rianni@crystyl:"It is quite remarkable. So what exactly happened to you guys?"

NPC@annpc#557 | Muthoni: "We picked up a distress call from the Faraday and came here to investigate. These shapeshifters were masquerading as the Faraday's bridge crew, but the Captain saw through them using -

NPC@annpc#557 - her abilities. When we demanded that they return the Faraday and what was left of her crew, that ship," he points to the red glow on the viewscreen, "came out of an aperture and they both -

NPC@annpc#557 - engaged us."

Rianni@crystyl:"I take it you don't have any people on the Faraday?"

NPC@annpc#557 | Muthoni: "Negative. We've been too busy defending ourselves to conduct any boarding action."

Rianni@crystyl:So all the non-Ditean lifesigns over there must be under their control..."

NPC@annpc#557 | Muthoni nods, "They don't seem to be confined to quarters or brig, according to our scans. We discussed using the Captain's abilities to spark the people on the Faraday into taking the ship, -

NPC@annpc#557 - but these...Diteans, as you call them, outnumber the other lifesigns still. And it means she has less energy to dedicate to our own crew, so we decided to save such a move for when we're in a -

NPC@annpc#557 - position to board the Faraday."

NPC@annpc#557 | Muthoni: "Which probably means taking out that glowing ship."

Rianni@crystyl:"Well, we've got the Venator here to help with that now too"

NPC@annpc#557 | Kestra's eyes fade back to their normal grey again and she turns her gaze to Rianni, "What class is the Venator?"

Rianni@crystyl:"It's impressive that you are able to maintain such a focus on your surroundings while doing that Captain. The Venator is technically a Trailblazer class"

NPC@annpc#557 | Kestra: "I have my mother to thank for teaching me all her focusing techniques, even though I never showed much in the way of psionics until recently. Trailblazer...I've heard that name -

NPC@annpc#557 - somewhere, but it's not a class I'm familiar with. A new ship?"

Rianni@crystyl:"In a manner of speaking. It's the first of its class in our fleet. But it's well established in the Terran one"

NPC@annpc#557 | Kestra: "One of the Terran ones Enelya was repurposing back in the Heart! That's why I've never heard of your ship before. Well, we can certainly use some Terran firepower right now, but -

NPC@annpc#557 - raw power won't be much use against our enemy. I don't think any of our ships can have as much raw power as they do, but we've been studying them and we have an idea of how they work."

Rianni@crystyl:"We have been theorizing, but I've yet to even see a comprehensive scan of that thing"

NPC@annpc#557 | Muthoni: "It's impossible to get a good scan of its inner workings with the energy surrounding it. But we believe it’s drawing energy directly from the system's star. The records we collected -

NPC@annpc#557 - during the battle indicated minute changes in their power level based on how close to the sun it was."

NPC@annpc#557 | Kestra: "The Faraday was waiting for us at the first planet in the system, specifically to lure us in close to the star. If we can draw the enemy away from the star, then we have a chance at taking -

NPC@annpc#557:- them down."

Rianni@crystyl:"Huh... guess we guess right! You said it first appeared through an aperture too? Which means they likely don't possess - or at least don't readily use - regular warp drive"

NPC@annpc#557 | Muthoni nods, "And if they get less energy the further they are from a star, that could explain why. They might not have the power to sustain warp when travelling in the space between star -

NPC@annpc#557 - systems."

Rianni@crystyl:"I can't imagine they'll be easily duped into just chasing us towards the systems edge"

NPC@annpc#557 | Kestra: "Not the far edge of the system. But if your ship tows the Yorktown to somewhere in the middle of the system, by the fifth or sixth planet, we could take a gamble on whether they -

NPC@annpc#557 - pursue or disengage. If they pursue, it might be a fairer fight there. And if they decide to leave the system, we lose the Faraday again, but at least the Yorktown will survive to fight -

NPC@annpc#557 - another day. Engaging them here will just throw your ship into the same position as ours."

Rianni@crystyl hrms, "It's a sound approach. But I can't help but wonder..."

NPC@annpc#557 | Muthoni: "Lieutenant?"

Rianni@crystyl:"As soon as they see what we're doing, they will likely disengage and we lose our best lead. So we need to force them into a position they can't fight back from. The Venator couldn't do it, but the -

Rianni@crystyl:- Yorktown... maybe..."

NPC@annpc#557 | Kestra: "Even with half our weapons offline?"

Rianni@crystyl shakes her head, "As you have already determined, conventional weapons will not win this battle. It's not the Yorktown's tactical systems we need here, it's her warp core. How long would it take -

Rianni@crystyl:- to get it back online?"

NPC@annpc#557 | Kestra: "Do you need the core, or the warp drive? The core is still functional, the nacelles have taken some damage which is preventing us from jumping to warp."

Rianni@crystyl:"Damn, that's a problem then. A ship this size could probably generate enough of an extended warp field to encompass that Ditean ship. Then it would only need a few seconds at warp to drag them out -

Rianni@crystyl:- into deep space"

NPC@annpc#557 | Kestra taps the console on her armrest, "Bridge to Engineering. If you prioritize repairs to the nacelles, how quickly can you get them working again?"

NPC@annpc#557 | A female voice responds over the comms, "Give me thirty minutes and I'll be able to get us a warp field again. It probably won't last very long, though."

NPC@annpc#557 | Kestra: "We'll try to hold out until the nacelles are ready to go. If the enemy decides we're not worth trying to board before then, we might need the Venator to run a little distraction. -

NPC@annpc#557 - They've been sending boarding parties at semi-regular intervals now. If they stop appearing, we'll know we might be in trouble."

Rianni@crystyl nods, "I think the Venator should appear before we move anyway. We need the sudden change to tip them off balance. May I use a console with a system layout for a moment?"

NPC@annpc#557 | Kestra: "Go ahead. You might want to tie in comms with the Venator while you're there, too. I assume you've got a cloak, and sending out a general hail will tip off our enemies. They're -

NPC@annpc#557 - jamming subspace communications, but if you stay close and use old radio frequencies, that might slip the net."

Rianni@crystyl nods, "Thank you Captain. An excellent suggestion" she moves to a console

Rianni@crystyl links in a secure channel to the Venator, "Captain, do you read me?"

NPC@annpc#557 <C - Kelly> "We're here, Lieutenant. Had a feeling you might go to radio with all the subspace interference."

Rianni@crystyl chuckles, "I'm here on the Yorktown's bridge and we've got a plan. But we're going to need to coordinate efforts between both ships, and sadly we don't have the luxury of the CIC so this will have -

Rianni@crystyl:- to suffice" she taps away, sharing her console with both bridges on their viewscreens, "We're going to force them away from the star to cut off their power source, but they won't go willingly. So,-

Rianni@crystyl:- the next time they attempt to board the Yorktown, we need the Venator to engage at this position" she shows the Venator coming at the Diteans from the star, "You might need to put on a bit of a -

Rianni@crystyl:- show and feint an overestimation. This will justify a retreat, when the Venator will come back and tractor the Yorktown out of the system. If we play it right, it should appear as a desperate and -

Rianni@crystyl:- slow attempt to flee, which they will - to a point - follow. We'll need the Venator to control the pace and give them the illusion of catching up until the Yorktown is ready. When the signal is -

Rianni@crystyl:- given here, the Venator disengages cloak and turns to engage while the Diteans close on the trailing and wounded Yorktown. However as they close in, the Yorktown is going to extend a large area -

Rianni@crystyl:- warp field and perform a short burst jump to beyond the system's edge. We don't know exactly how much we'll get out of the hasty repairs, so the Venator will need to track and follow closely. Our -

Rianni@crystyl:- gambit being, that they are relying on the energy of the star to power their ship. And once they are too far away, they are defenseless. Then we can turn the tables, and ideally capture the ship"

NPC@annpc#557:<C - Kelly> "I can always count on you to come up with a good battle plan. Should we beam you back to the Venator, or are you remaining to coordinate over on the Yorktown?"

Rianni@crystyl:"Our MACO's are still assisting here, and Sin is capable of putting on a show" she turns to Kestra: "I can remain here to assist and coordinate if you require it, Captain"

NPC@annpc#557 | Kestra nods, "Good idea, especially as this is your plan, and Yorktown will be executing the most tricky part of it."

Rianni@crystyl nods, "Alright" she turns back Kelly on comms, "One more thing Captain, would it be possible for Eva to join us?"

NPC@annpc#557:<C - Kelly> "I can transport her over to where you beamed in."

Rianni@crystyl:"Perfect, that should help. Thank you"

NPC@annpc#557:<C - Kelly> "Should we send some additional security with her to further reinforce the Yorktown?"

Rianni@crystyl:"I do not believe that is necessary. The Yorktown's crew has demonstrated uncanny resolve in the face of this enemy, they are quite capable and we would likely just start getting in their way"

NPC@annpc#557:<C - Kelly> "I'll just send Eva over, then."

Rianni@crystyl:"Thank you Captain. I'll have the MACO's there to meet her"

—

Keliaya@anncaris | On the Venator bridge...

Keliaya@anncaris | Indrix: "Still unable to get any closer scans of the Siren ship itself. But, I have managed to analyze the energy around it which is obscuring our scans. It is an exact match for the plasmas -

Keliaya@anncaris - present in the red dwarf star of this system."

Sin@crystyl | Emma: "So that's what Rianni is up to. She must think they're drawing power directly from it and plans to cut them off then"

Keliaya@anncaris | Indrix nods, "It is the assumption that makes the most sense, given our current proximity to the star and the amount of energy the vessel is producing."

Sin@crystyl:"Well I hope she's right else this is going to get real ugly real quick"

Keliaya@anncaris:"Another boarding party's just beamed over. That's our signal, Sin. Disengage cloak and get that ship's attention."

Sin@crystyl cracks her knuckles, "Guess we're about to find out, "Engaging the enemy now" she decloaks and hits the with a heavy opening barrage

Keliaya@anncaris | The barrage disappears into the glowing light. It is impossible for Sin to tell what damage, if any, has been done to the enemy ship, but a good few of the shots reappear on the other side and -

Keliaya@anncaris - fly off, dissipating into the distance, indicating that most of the barrage missed the enemy target

Keliaya@anncaris:"Helm, evasive maneuvers."

Keliaya@anncaris | The Venator goes evasive just in time as a thick beam of red light emits from the Ditean ship, streaking past where they were a moment before. There is no indication that the enemy is about to -

Keliaya@anncaris - fire, however, the light shifts as the ship moves to pursue them

Keliaya@anncaris:"Turn us around for another attack. We need to make this look convincing."

Sin@crystyl:"Guess they're a lot smaller than they look. Boy did they mess with the wrong Ocampa! I got an idea, but I need to switch firing modes. We good with that?"

Keliaya@anncaris:"It's worth a try. Our current hits don't seem to be landing."

Sin@crystyl grins and starts working, "Hunted this raunchy old Pakled one time, and he tried hiding in a nebula. I couldn't go in without creating an opening so I used my phasers to 'scan' through the cloud -

Sin@crystyl:- to find the old toad. It might just..." she fires, a low yield but constant phaser beam. Switching from one array to the next as the ship moves around the Siren ship, plotting and tracing where it-

Sin@crystyl:- hits, and where it doesn't, to coordinate a torpedo strike

Keliaya@anncaris | Sin's sweeping locates the enemy ship, but the torpedo is unable to lock on due to the intense energy. She'll have to manually guide the torpedo to its target!

Sin@crystyl uses her collated data to manually target

Keliaya@anncaris | The torpedo flies towards the enemy vessel and into the glow...

Keliaya@anncaris | The detonation is barely visible due to the intense glow, however, the glow seems to be pushed back a little, indicating that the torpedo detonation at least knocked the ship around some

Sin@crystyl punches the air, "Suck it Sirens! No idea what it did, if anything. But it definitely hit"

Keliaya@anncaris | The Venator immediately breaks off to evade again, but this time, the attack doesn't come in the form of a thick plasma beam. Instead, a wide cone of plasma energy bursts out from the glow, -

Keliaya@anncaris - enveloping the entire area and causing the bridge to shake a little

Keliaya@anncaris | Nqakula: "Shields down to 91%."

Sin@crystyl:"Sneaky bastards..."

Keliaya@anncaris:"Okay, we're not the only one who can switch up firing modes. But at least they don't seem to hit particularly hard with that wide beam attack."

Sin@crystyl continues to press her attack as before, "Looks like the Faraday is moving in on the Yorktown"

Keliaya@anncaris | This time, as the torpedo flies towards the Ditean ship, the glow seems to flare up. The torpedo detonates early, seemingly having no impact

Sin@crystyl grumbles, "Once bitten, twice shy..."

Keliaya@anncaris | This time, the Ditean doesn't retaliate with the wide beam, but instead peppers the area with a series of bolts. The Venator evades most of them, with only one landing a glancing hit and -

Keliaya@anncaris - causing some slight turbulence

Keliaya@anncaris:"Faraday's still got some weapons and it's moving in towards the Yorktown's disabled side. Let's get them in a tractor and help them turn around. Then they can have their weapons to bear on the -

Keliaya@anncaris:- Faraday."

Keliaya@anncaris | Azevedo: "Aye Commander."

Keliaya@anncaris | The Venator doesn't turn back for another attack run, heading over for the Yorktown instead. The glowing Ditean vessel follows in pursuit, trying another wide beam which Azevedo dodges -

Keliaya@anncaris - once again

Keliaya@anncaris:"Give us some covering fire with the aft weapons."

Sin@crystyl:"I'm on it"

Keliaya@anncaris | The Venator lays down covering fire from the aft arrays as it moves in towards the Yorktown. Soon, the damaged Odyssey refit comes into view on the screen...

Keliaya@anncaris:"Tractor beam. Turn them around to face the Faraday with their port side, then break us off immediately before the Sirens catch us both in another wide beam."

Keliaya@anncaris | The Venator locks a tractor beam onto the saucer of the Yorktown as it flies by, spinning them around before immediately letting go and breaking away. The Diteans continue to pursue Venator as -

Keliaya@anncaris - before while the Yorktown immediately unleashes fire with its remaining port weapons. The Faraday tries to evade, but the large and already very damaged vessel is unable to move quick enough. -

Keliaya@anncaris - It catches the brunt of the barrage and goes adrift completely

Keliaya@anncaris | Indrix: "Faraday is fully disabled!"

Keliaya@anncaris | The Ditean ship unleashes another cone, catching the Venator again and rocking the bridge

Keliaya@anncaris | Nqakula: "Shields down to 78%."

Sin@crystyl returns fire, "Whoever's handling weapons on that old barge knows what they're doing!"

Sin@crystyl | Emma: "You realize that Rianni stayed there to help them right..."

Sin@crystyl:"...I... never said anything! And you can't prove otherwise!"

Sin@crystyl | Emma grins

Keliaya@anncaris | This time, the Diteans fire several thinner beams which sweep all around. One of them catches the Venator, shaking the bridge some more

Keliaya@anncaris | Nqakula: "Shields at 65%!"

Sin@crystyl keeps returning fire, "Whatever she's doing over there she'd better get the hell on with it already. It's no fun when you can't even see if you're having an impact on the enemy..."

Keliaya@anncaris:"The Yorktown's nacelles are almost ready. Let's get back to them and start towing them away from here."

Keliaya@anncaris | Azevedo taps his console and the Venator turns back for the Yorktown. The Ditean ship continues to pursue, firing another cone. This time, Azevedo tries to duck under it, and they're caught -

Keliaya@anncaris - only by the edge

Keliaya@anncaris | Nqakula: "60%!"

Keliaya@anncaris:"Reinforce the shields with some power from weapons. We won't be able to evade as effectively when we're towing the Yorktown."

Keliaya@anncaris | Nqakula: "On it!"

Keliaya@anncaris | Once again, the Venator moves up to the damaged Yorktown and holds it in a tractor lock. This time, they don't release the beam after a quick turn, keeping the larger cruiser held as they -

Keliaya@anncaris - start moving both vessels away from the star

Keliaya@anncaris | The Ditean ship continues to follow, now targeting them with thick beams again. Azevedo evades the first one cleanly, but the second scores a glancing hit and the bridge shakes the most -

Keliaya@anncaris - heavily it has yet

Keliaya@anncaris | Nqakula: "Shields below 50%!"

Keliaya@anncaris:"Anytime now..."

Sin@crystyl:"I think this is the part where we're meant to play the wounded animal while we flee. Time for a plasma leak?"

Keliaya@anncaris:"Good idea. Lure them closer so Yorktown can catch them in its warp field."

Sin@crystyl:"Avocado, you should slow us down some to sell the effect" she initiates the fake plasma leak

Sin@crystyl | Emma facepalms at the brazen name error

Keliaya@anncaris | The Venator slows down as it trails plasma behind it...

—

NPC@annpc#557 | On the Yorktown bridge, the lift opens up and Hanako steps out, still carrying her sheathed katana to her side

NPC@annpc#557 | Kestra: "Ensign Sulu. Our warp drive is almost back online. Lieutenant Tierno can explain what to do, it's her plan."

NPC@annpc#557 | Hanako looks over to Rianni

Rianni@crystyl:"The Venator is going to feign combat damage and attempt to flee, tractoring us to safety. While they slow down with the apparent futile attempt, the Ditean ship will be drawn in. We're going to -

Rianni@crystyl:- get as close as we can in order to extend our warp field around them and drag them away from the star, since a tractor beam won't get a lock through that solar barrier of theirs"

NPC@annpc#557 | Hanako nods, "I can do that!" She moves over to take her seat on the helm

NPC@annpc#557 | Muthoni: "We're going to have very limited warp capability, but even a short jump should be able to take us out of the system. Hopefully, that'll be far enough for them to lose their power -

NPC@annpc#557 - advantage."

Rianni@crystyl:"That is our hope. I anticipate they will put up a heavy resistance once we make our move, so it would be advisable to divert all available power to defensive systems at that time"

NPC@annpc#557 | Kestra: "Engineering, divert any power we can spare to shields. After the warp jump, reroute everything from the warp systems there too."

NPC@annpc#557 | On the viewscreen, the Venator begins slowing down as it fakes its plasma leak...

NPC@annpc#557 | Engineering LT: "Nacelle repairs are complete!"

NPC@annpc#557 | Kestra: "Just in time. We still don't have impulse or maneuvering thrusters. The enemy ship is closing in, but we don't have impulse or maneuvering thrusters. We might need the Venator to -

NPC@annpc#557 - switch to tractor repulsors and push us towards them when they're close enough."

NPC@annpc#557 | Eva nods, "They'll be ready."

NPC@annpc#557 | Kestra: "Lieutenant, fire on them with what weapons we have. Make it look like we're trying to help cover the Venator in this desperate retreat."

Rianni@crystyl:"I can do that" she works her magic

NPC@annpc#557 | A few of the Yorktown's still functioning means fire on the closing glow. As it approaches them, firing its concentrated beams at the Venator, the tractor beam suddenly becomes a repulsor -

NPC@annpc#557 - beam, sending the Yorktown directly towards the Diteans. The glow comes closer and closer on the aft view, enveloping the entire screen...

NPC@annpc#557 | Kestra: "Sulu, now!"

NPC@annpc#557 | The Yorktown suddenly accelerates to warp...

NPC@annpc#557 | And just as quickly drops out of warp again

NPC@annpc#557 | Hanako: "That's all she's got, but we're outside the system!"

NPC@annpc#557 | Kestra: "Good enough. All power to shields."

NPC@annpc#557 | The bright glow immediately unleashes a beam which hits the Yorktown right on the saucer. The bridge shakes violently as several more lights flicker and additional consoles go out

NPC@annpc#557 | Andorian: "Shields down to 8%!"

NPC@annpc#557 | Hanako: "I have no maneuverability here!"

NPC@annpc#557 | However, after the blast, the light of the Ditean ship is looking visibly dimmer...

Rianni@crystyl glances to Hanako while quickly working to maximize the limited weapons, "You have airlocks don't you?"

NPC@annpc#557 | Hanako nods, "Yes, we...we can use the air pressure as makeshift thrusters!"

NPC@annpc#557 | Kestra: "Do it."

Rianni@crystyl:"You only get one fire per airlock, make the most of it and try to keep our portside to them. I will do what I can from there"

NPC@annpc#557 | Hanako taps on her console quickly and several airlocks open, moving the Yorktown around just enough to dodge a second, now thinner beam, though not quite as thin as the multiple ones used to -

NPC@annpc#557 - catch the Venator earlier. The port side remains on the Diteans, allowing Rianni to return fire

Rianni@crystyl carefully cycles weapons, being cautious not to push the drained systems and doing similarly to Sin by using rapid bursts of phasers to pinpoint locations for torpedoes

NPC@annpc#557 | The Ditean ship returns fire, now using pinpoint bolts as well. The airlock maneuverability is too limited to dodge most of them as multiple hits land, quickly taking away the Yorktown's -

NPC@annpc#557 - remaining shields. The pinpoint attacks target the port weapons and soon Rianni's available weapons start diminishing one by one as the Diteans systematically take them out...

NPC@annpc#557 | The bridge shakes with every hit as the lights flicker and sparks fly. However, the light of the enemy ship is also getting dimmer and dimmer, and the rough outline of a vessel starts to show -

NPC@annpc#557 - through the glow

NPC@annpc#557 | Before Rianni loses all weapons however, the Venator appears on her tactical readouts as it drops out of warp nearby and moves right for the Ditean vessel

Rianni@crystyl:"The Venator is moving in. Does your Aquarius have a remote control facility? If so, we could utilise it's weapons now"

NPC@annpc#557 | Kestra nods, "Legis, launch the Aquarius."

NPC@annpc#557 | Ferengi: "Launching now!"

—

Keliaya@anncaris | On the Venator bridge, they see the significantly dimmer glow of the Ditean ship on the viewscreen as they head towards it

Keliaya@anncaris | Azevedo: "It's not as bright as before. Looks like the plan is working!"

Keliaya@anncaris | Indrix: "I can confirm, their energy levels are much lower."

Sin@crystyl hrms, "Couldn't we siphon off their energy?"

Keliaya@anncaris:"Maybe, if we configure our deflector to-"

Keliaya@anncaris | As the Yorktown's Aquarius launches to join the fight, the Ditean vessel suddenly fires a blue rather than red beam, and not at any ship but empty space. The space begins to swirl as some sort -

Keliaya@anncaris - of opening begins to form...

Keliaya@anncaris | Indrix: "They're using the last of their energy to get away!"

Keliaya@anncaris:"Rianni's suggesting a gravity well. Can we do it?"

Sin@crystyl:"It'll probably rule out siphoning their power. But we're not the ones short on it. I say we pin them down and get the Yorktown to drain them!"

Keliaya@anncaris | Indrix taps away at his console, "They've expended most of their energy on this aperture already. A gravity well, a ship of our size with the power we have available, it won't be strong enough -

Keliaya@anncaris - to counteract the gravitational forces coming from the aperture."

Keliaya@anncaris | On the viewscreen, the glow seems to have faded almost entirely, now revealing the shape of the enemy vessel...

Keliaya@anncaris FX | https://wh40k.lexicanum.com/mediawiki/images/8/85/PhoenixShipBFGA2.jpg

Keliaya@anncaris:"We can scan them now. Can we target their engines and then pull them away from the aperture in a tractor lock?"

Sin@crystyl:"I might be able to if I could tell what counts for engines on that thing! I'm trying to find the emitter that's generating that aperture..."

Keliaya@anncaris:"Get a tractor lock first. Hold them as long as we can."

Keliaya@anncaris | A tractor beam emits from the Venator onto the alien ship. It is held still for a few seconds before edging back towards the aperture, slower than before but still moving

Keliaya@anncaris | Indrix: "They're slipping away!"

Keliaya@anncaris:"Lifesigns. Are there any Federation lifesigns on board?"

Keliaya@anncaris | Indrix: "Negative. All Sirens."

Keliaya@anncaris:"Transporters?"

Keliaya@anncaris | Indrix: "Too much verteron interference from the aperture."

Keliaya@anncaris considers, "The Faraday still has Sirens on board when the Yorktown disabled it, correct?"

Keliaya@anncaris | Indrix nods, "That's right, and they still outnumber the Federation-"

Keliaya@anncaris:"Then we've still got our prisoners," she turns to Sin. "Ensign. Take that ship out."

Sin@crystyl:"My pleasure" she unleashes everything on it

Keliaya@anncaris | The lights and consoles on the bridge of the Venator flicker under the drain of its way too many weapons systems. Forward cannons and beams open fire, peppering the Ditean ship and rapidly -

Keliaya@anncaris - stripping it of any shielding. A trio of torpedoes impact its rear, severing the strange appendages of unknown purpose there. What remains of the ship continues forward, likely on momentum, -

Keliaya@anncaris - though it looks as if it is making a last desperate crawl for escape as it sits just on the edge of the aperture. However, before it can go through, a burst from the main phaser lance lands a -

Keliaya@anncaris - direct hit, vapourizing most of the ship. The aperture snaps shut, leaving nothing in its place save a few small shards of debris

Sin@crystyl grins, "Perfect! Now their friends back home should just see a few scraps of their own debris floating home. That should send quite the message boss, I'm impressed!"

Keliaya@anncaris:"Actually, I just didn't want them getting away and calling for reinforcements."

Sin@crystyl:"Also valid. But regardless of intent, I think they'll get the message that we're not taking their games lying down"

Sin@crystyl | Emma: "We've got standard comms back Captain"

Keliaya@anncaris nods, "Hail the Yorktown."

Sin@crystyl | Emma opens the channel

Keliaya@anncaris | Kestra appears on the viewscreen...

Keliaya@anncaris FX | https://i.imgur.com/gpdOZE0.jpg

Keliaya@anncaris | Kestra: "Kelly. You've got yourself a command. Congratulations."

Keliaya@anncaris:"It's a bit of a special circumstance, but thank you. Do you need any emergency assistance, or will you be alright if we leave you out here for a bit while we secure the Faraday?"

Keliaya@anncaris | Kestra: "We should be fine. The enemy's power seems heavily dependant on their proximity to stars as an energy source, so if any more of them show up, they're probably going to be closer to -

Keliaya@anncaris - the Faraday and not out here."

Keliaya@anncaris:"My thoughts exactly. That's why I want to go back for the Faraday and tractor it away from the star as soon as we can."

Keliaya@anncaris | Kestra: "I might be able to help with liberating the Faraday. I assume you'll want your MACOs and officers back for it too?"

Keliaya@anncaris:"Eva was telling me you've become quite the psionic now. Is that related to how you can help?"

Keliaya@anncaris | Kestra nods, "I can explain more when I'm on board. Or...I suppose I could just explain to Eva, and you'll know."

Keliaya@anncaris chuckles, "That works too."

Keliaya@anncaris | Kestra stands, looking behind her to Rianni and Eva, "You two, with me. We're going over to your ship. Muthoni, you have the bridge."

Keliaya@anncaris | Kestra turns back to the screen, "I'll see you on board, Kelly." She moves towards the lift with Rianni and Eva

—

Keliaya@anncaris | After arriving on the Venator, Kestra heads towards the bridge with Rianni and Eva while the MACO team awaits in the transporter for redeployment

Keliaya@anncaris | Kestra: "So, Kelly said she got this command as a special circumstance? Does it have to do with the missing ships?"

Rianni@crystyl:"Yes, there was some suspicion surrounding the circumstances of the Faraday and Guan Yu's disappearances. Since the Valley Forge had just recently returned to the Heart, we were above suspicion. -

Rianni@crystyl:- Captain Se'Lai was considered for the command, but her personal circumstances did not align. Her expertise made Kelly a perfectly suited candidate and so it was offered to her"

Keliaya@anncaris | Kestra nods, "I can see why. She's a good choice, for the mission and this ship."

Rianni@crystyl smiles, "That she is! The crew was only brought together for this mission, but it took no time at all for everyone to gel. That's all thanks to the Captain too"

Keliaya@anncaris | Kestra chuckles, "She always was good at making friends, too."

Rianni@crystyl:"I got the impression before that you two have met previously?" she inquires as they enter the lift

Keliaya@anncaris | Kestra nods, "We were in the same year in the Academy, the main annex on Earth."

Rianni@crystyl:"Oh wow. This makes for quite the class reunion then" she chuckles

Keliaya@anncaris | Kestra smiles, "Quite a surprise one at that. I believe she was out in the Gamma Quadrant when I took command of the Yorktown, and we were out here when she received this command, so neither of -

Keliaya@anncaris - us probably expected to find the other out here."

Rianni@crystyl:"Well in fairness, our search area was quite a way from here. we only came by now because it was the Faraday"

Keliaya@anncaris | Kestra: "Yes, the Faraday went missing in a different region from here, didn't it?"

Rianni@crystyl:"Yes, a way further out than this. Honestly, as soon as we heard it turned up all the back here it felt like a trap"

Keliaya@anncaris | Kestra: "I suspected as much too. We came in prepared, but there's only so much you can do to prepare for a threat you've never encountered before."

Rianni@crystyl:"Well that threat is still out there on the Faraday, so it's not over yet. The sooner we get the Captain up to speed and get that ship recovered, the better"

Keliaya@anncaris | The lift doors open to the bridge and Kelly turns over to them immediately, "Welcome back. And welcome to the Venator, Captain. Rianni, take over Tactical for Sin. Ensign, I want you on -

Keliaya@anncaris - the second security team in case they need field psionic support."

Rianni@crystyl nods, moving to tactical

Rianni@crystyl | Sin heads out to the turbolift

Keliaya@anncaris:"Rylliss, you're leading the first team. Emma, mind looking after Security for a little while he's gone? Mostly just to coordinate comms with the teams."

Rianni@crystyl | Emma smiles, "Sure thing!"

Keliaya@anncaris | Rylliss enters the lift with Sin while Eva moves to take over Ops as Emma moves away

Rianni@crystyl busies herself reviewing the combat logs to see what Sin got up to, smiling at times seeing how she pulled similar tricks

Keliaya@anncaris looks to Kestra in the meantime, "You think your psionics can get the Faraday crew to stand up against the aliens?"

Keliaya@anncaris | Kestra nods, "I've found myself able to influence the emotions of others en masse. It's been useful in preventing my own crew from being swayed by these attackers. I'm not sure how effective -

Keliaya@anncaris - it'll be on people already influenced by them, but it's worth a try."

Keliaya@anncaris nods, "It'll certainly make retaking the Faraday easier."

Keliaya@anncaris | Azevedo: "We're coming up on the Faraday now."

Keliaya@anncaris:"Take us back to red alert, Lieutenant."

Rianni@crystyl taps and brings the ship to red alert

Keliaya@anncaris | On the viewscreen, the damaged Sutherland-class starship missing its mission pod comes into view

Keliaya@anncaris:"Lifesigns?"

Keliaya@anncaris | Indrix: "Unchanged. Picking up seven without transport inhibitors. All Siren."

Keliaya@anncaris smiles, "Perfect. Beam them directly into the brig.”

Keliaya@anncaris looks to Emma, "Have the brig officer on duty raise security fields to maximum, disable transparency and audio so they can't communicate with anyone down there."

Rianni@crystyl | Emma: "I'm on it"

Keliaya@anncaris:"Get any available security down there too, just in case. Let's get a tractor lock on the Faraday and start towing it away from the star so the enemy won't have an advantage if more of them show up."

Keliaya@anncaris | A tractor beam emits from the back of the Venator as it begins towing the Faraday

Rianni@crystyl starts exploring potential to remotely access systems on the Faraday

Keliaya@anncaris | Unfortunately, it seems like the Diteans who took over the Faraday had the knowledge and foresight to nullify all the transponder codes, so it would require actual hacking to remotely access -

Keliaya@anncaris - its systems

Rianni@crystyl does her best, knowing she's no Lar

Rianni@crystyl:rolls 89 (1-100)

Keliaya@anncaris | Rianni is able to get full access to all basic, low-security systems on board, along with some additional ship functions. She notes that the Diteans are rerouting what power the Faraday has -

Keliaya@anncaris - left to polarize the hull plating and break the tractor lock and she should be able to block their access to it!

Rianni@crystyl:"Captain- um.... Captains... I've got into the Faraday's computer. Not full control, but some. They're routing all available power to try and polarize the hull to break the tractor lock. I believe I-

Rianni@crystyl:- can halt their efforts. Do you want me to do so?"

Keliaya@anncaris nods, "Do it. We want them as far away from the star as possible, let's not have any delays in case they've got reinforcements inbound."

Rianni@crystyl nods, "Got it"

Keliaya@anncaris looks to Kestra, "Now might be a good time to try your thing."

Rianni@crystyl | Emma meanwhile looks to Rianni: "I can't believe they didn't even change the transponders..."

Rianni@crystyl:"Oh, they did" she keeps working

Rianni@crystyl | Emma doubletakes, "What? But how did you-...?"

Rianni@crystyl looks back with a grin

Keliaya@anncaris | Kestra steps over and takes a seat in the chair beside Kelly, her eyes starting to glow once again

Keliaya@anncaris | Indrix: "Reading some erratic movement in the Federation lifesigns. Whatever you're doing, it's having some effect."

Keliaya@anncaris looks to Rianni, "Do you have control of any security systems on the Faraday?"

Rianni@crystyl shakes her head, "I'm sorry Captain, but no. Those systems are more heavily protected"

Keliaya@anncaris:"Communications?"

Rianni@crystyl:"Now that is a system I do have!"

Keliaya@anncaris smiles, "Patch me into their internal communications."

Rianni@crystyl taps, a moment later, "You're on"

Keliaya@anncaris:"This is Commander Keliaya of the USS Venator. Starfleet crewmembers aboard the Faraday, you are in direct violation of General Order 21 by serving the hostile forces currently in -

Keliaya@anncaris:- control of your vessel. I understand that these hijackers have previously held influence on your mind. Assist us in retaking the Faraday now, and your actions will be noted and taken into -

Keliaya@anncaris:- consideration for any investigation into these events."

Keliaya@anncaris leans forward, "As for the hostile forces...your primary vessel has been destroyed. Surrender, and you will be taken as prisoners to be tried fairly for your crimes."

Keliaya@anncaris | One of the too-perfect looking Diteans appears on the viewscreen with the backdrop of the Faraday's damaged bridge behind him

Keliaya@anncaris | Ditean: "We have seen your so-called fairness, warmonger. You have no mercy. If it is the will of the Fates that we meet the goddess this day, then so be it. We fight to the bitter end."

Keliaya@anncaris | The comm abruptly ends

Rianni@crystyl | Emma scowls at the mention of the goddess, like they perpetrated the Orion goddess or something

Rianni@crystyl:"They really do not like us..."

Keliaya@anncaris:"Seems so," she looks to Emma. "Give the MACOs and the security teams the go-ahead to deploy. Stun any Starfleet personnel who might still be working with the Sirens. Lethal force is authorized on -

Keliaya@anncaris:- the Sirens themselves only."

Rianni@crystyl | Emma: "My pleasure" she gets to work liaising with the teams

—

NPC@annpc#557 | Sin and her security team makes their way through the Faraday, sweeping the halls for Diteans

NPC@annpc#557 <C - Emma> "Team 2, I'm reading another group of them. Two intersections down, coming towards you from the hall on the right side."

Sin@crystyl:"You're almost making this too easy"

NPC@annpc#557 <C - Emma> "With the size of the ship, a manual search is going to take forever, you know..."

Sin@crystyl:"That's why I said 'almost'. Alleviating boredom wins over making things too easy"

NPC@annpc#557 | Katapak: "We're coming up on the second intersection now. Get ready for contact."

Sin@crystyl cracks her knuckles

NPC@annpc#557 | The security personnel ready their rifles and take cover by the entryway. The Diteans notice their movement and the six enemies begin rushing down the hall, moving erratically and rapidly to -

NPC@annpc#557 - evade fire as they did on the Yorktown

Sin@crystyl steps out into the middle of the doorway. Considering briefly how to play with these new toys, she decides to explode the first one by destabilizing it's atomic structure

NPC@annpc#557 | The first one has no defense against Sin's ability and is exploded. The effect seems to shake the two closest to it as they stop briefly, long enough for Katapak and another security to hit -

NPC@annpc#557 - them with phaser shots, taking them out as well

Sin@crystyl looks to the next one, and leans slightly to Katapak, "So these guys are supposed to be shapeshifters right?"

NPC@annpc#557 | Katapak nods back. The other three begins to try and flee instead of continuing their charge at Sin

Sin@crystyl:"Well now I'm curious" she grins, reaching out for another. This time distorting the space around it to compress and deform it. As it begins to struggle and suffer, "I wonder if I can twist it into -

Sin@crystyl:- a pretzel..."

NPC@annpc#557 | Unfortunately, her attempts to twist it into a pretzel kills the Ditean like it would if she tried it on a non-shapeshifter, and Sin quickly realizes they are much less malleable than the -

NPC@annpc#557 - Founders. Another security enlisted takes out one of the other fleeing Diteans, leaving just the last one as it reaches the end of the hall and tries to turn down an intersection

Sin@crystyl pouts, "Aww. Well you people are no fun at all" she gives a bored sounding sigh, reaching out to the last one, "I do hope you are paying attention" she smiles, enveloping it in one of the -

Sin@crystyl:- atmospheric bubbles she learned to create and depriving it of oxygen while drawing it closer

NPC@annpc#557 | The Ditean is drawn towards Sin as it struggles to breathe, flailing its blade arms about

Sin@crystyl just brings it close enough to make sure it sees her so she can blow it a kiss as it draws its last breath

NPC@annpc#557 | The Ditean collapses as she blows it a dramatic kiss

NPC@annpc#557 | Katapak: "Now who's making it too easy."

Sin@crystyl smiles, "A girl's got to have her fun"

Sin@crystyl clearly hasn't gotten to flex one enemies for too long now and relishes in her brutal efforts

NPC@annpc#557 | Katapak: "I wish we had someone like you around when we were fighting the Iconians."

Sin@crystyl:"A bit before my time sadly. Anyway, if these Diteans have any kind of connection to each other, the rest of this one's-" she kicks the last one she killed, "-friends now know what is coming for them"

NPC@annpc#557 <C - Eva> "Sin, there's a psionic moving towards you. One that's stronger than the average Siren."

Sin@crystyl:"Ooh goody! I guess it worked then!"

NPC@annpc#557 <C - Eva> "Behind you, from the way you came."

NPC@annpc#557 | The security personnel around her turn, their rifles raised. A few seconds later, four people in Starfleet uniforms come into view, holding phasers. The security personnel hesitate for a -

NPC@annpc#557 - moment to check whether they are Diteans in disguise or actual Starfleet, allowing the enemy to get the first shots in, though fortunately they all duck into cover on time

NPC@annpc#557 | Crewman 1: "Stun or kill?"

NPC@annpc#557 | Crewman 2: "I don't know, I'm getting no lifesigns at all from them!"

NPC@annpc#557 | Indeed, Sin senses only one living entity further down the hall from the four Starfleet shooting at them

Sin@crystyl:"Stun then" she sighs, reinforcing their efforts with another suffocation. Just aiming for unconsciousness this time though

NPC@annpc#557 | The crewmen lean out of cover, firing and hitting the four. The stun shots drop them to the ground, but before long they stir and start getting up again...

Sin@crystyl:rolls 41 (1-100)

NPC@annpc#557 | Sin senses that these four are definitely not alive. How they're still moving though, she's not quite sure, but some psionics are involved...

Sin@crystyl:"Oh now this is fun... you can't suffocate what isn't breathing. That's a nice trick..."

Sin@crystyl starts getting ideas again

NPC@annpc#557 | Katapak: "Increase weapon setting."

NPC@annpc#557 | One of the crewmen increases her phaser setting and fires again. It punches a hole clean through the stomach of one of the zombie officers, but he keeps coming

Sin@crystyl:"Aim for the head. And don't trouble yourselves, they are long dead already" she says, focusing on locating the puppetmaster

NPC@annpc#557 | The security start taking aim for the head, which seems to do the trick! Sin manages to trace the psionics back to the puppetmaster, hiding in a room off to the side

Sin@crystyl closes her eyes, following the flow of energy through the walls to that room and uses another recently learned trick and explodes them all, just for the fun of the reaction

NPC@annpc#557 | The explosions catch the puppetmaster, and the last zombie still standing collapses of his own accord

Sin@crystyl:"Aww, is that it? These people are a lot squishier than I hoped. I wanted to see the look on their face..."

NPC@annpc#557 | Katapak: "Ensign, watch out!"

NPC@annpc#557 | Sin still senses the presence of the puppetmaster, which has...somehow moved beside her

Sin@crystyl grins, "Now that is more like it" she anticipates a bladed attack, allowing it to strike the solidified air around her - reconfigured into a barrier which seems to have been there the whole time.-

Sin@crystyl:- Or if not, she put it up without anyone noticing. Either way, she's only playing it one way of course

NPC@annpc#557 | Indeed, a blade-arm strikes the barrier- the arm belonging to the Ditean she had suffocated in a bubble earlier, now somehow back to life with the puppetmaster's consciousness within it

Sin@crystyl turns after the strike rebounds, "Now this is a new trick"

NPC@annpc#557 | The zombie Ditean steps back when its ambush fails. Its skin ripplies as its shape changes to a figure in a black suit with a skull-like mark upon its forehead, "You are a powerful one. Why -

NPC@annpc#557 - do you serve them?"

Sin@crystyl:"I serve myself. I play with my toys as I see fit"

NPC@annpc#557 | Zombie Ditean: "We will have much more in the way of toys for you to play with. Their kind are weak, still struggling to understand their newfound capabilities. We can show you true power."

Sin@crystyl scoffs, "Oh sweet child... you are all my toys. Now why don't you come out and play for yourself instead of using all of these puppets"

NPC@annpc#557 | Crewman 1: "We have only one alien lifesign on scanners, over in that room," he points ahead

NPC@annpc#557 | The zombie Ditean moves to block their way

Sin@crystyl glances back with a smile that she turns to the puppet, "Oh come now, do you really want to piss me off more by going through the hassle of getting through another puppet?"

NPC@annpc#557 | The zombie Ditean lunges at her again

Sin@crystyl gives a frustrated groan, dismissively waving her hand to the side and launching the puppet backwards down the corridor

Sin@crystyl did indeed just do a Yoda

NPC@annpc#557 | The puppet goes flying down the corridor, leaving Sin to advance into the room

Sin@crystyl strolls in, "Now, was that really necessary?"

NPC@annpc#557 | Inside, she finds a figure in a black, Greek style robe with the same skull marking on the forehead. He holds a staff which Sin recognizes as looking very similar to the one used by silver -

NPC@annpc#557 - blood Hades on Ha'at

NPC@annpc#557 FX | https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_auto,q_lossy,ret_img,w_1920,h_1080/https://h-o-m-e.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/bident-hades-1.jpg

NPC@annpc#557 | Puppetmaster: "Join us. We can show you how to make the most of your power. To become truly unstoppable."

Sin@crystyl:"You say that like I'm not already. That's an interesting looking staff"

NPC@annpc#557 | Puppetmaster: "Not yet. We are, all of us, the offspring of gods. But you...you have the potential to become a god yourself. A god of a new age we will usher in together. Let us show you the -

NPC@annpc#557 - way. The path to make the galaxy, nay, the entire universe, your playground."

Sin@crystyl:"Yeah... you're still not getting it are you? Tell you what though... if you give me your staff I might be convinced"

NPC@annpc#557 | Puppetmaster: "Very well. It is yours." She steps forward, handing the staff to Sin

Sin@crystyl takes it, studying and grins, "Idiot..." she extends it forward as a conduit for her good old fashioned lightning attack

NPC@annpc#557 | Sin senses that there is a degree of psionic power in the staff. Nowhere near as strong as the Trident, or even Hades' real bident, but the creators seem to have tried (and to a small extent -

NPC@annpc#557:- succeeded) in replicating its engineering. The staff enhances her power and the lightning disintegrates the puppetmaster completely, leaving a pile of ashes where he stood

Sin@crystyl pats the staff in her hand staring disappointedly at the ash pile, "You dare offer me the galaxy which is already mine. You presume to have what is mine. I am done playing with you now"

—

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Back on the Venator, Rylliss is on the viewscreen as he reports to Kelly

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Rylliss: "The Faraday is secure, Commander. All Ditean lifesigns have been neutralized and the MACOs are sweeping the decks just in case any might've found some way to hide from sensors."

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Kelly: "Casualty report?"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Rylliss: "Only minor injuries on our part. The most severely wounded is being treated in the Faraday's sickbay, but he's expected to be back on his feet for transport when we're ready to go."

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Kelly: "Good to hear it. What about the Faraday crew?"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Rylliss: "24 confirmed KIA, a further 16 wounded. 37 have been stunned and imprisoned in the brig, and the remaining 135 is assisting us with control of the ship systems."

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Kelly nods, "That leaves 590 of the crew still MIA."

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Rylliss: "I spoke with some of the surviving officers who cooperated with us. They claim that the Diteans have the rest of the crew on one of their colony worlds. Some are being used for -

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 - breeding, while others resisted the seduction and are being held prisoner. None of the officers know the location of this colony though, since they didn't reach it through regular warp."

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Kelly: "Of course not, that would just be too easy..."

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Rylliss: "What they do know is that the Guan Yu and her crew are being held at the same location. Apparently the Guan Yu took more damage during its capture and is being repaired to use in the -

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 - same manner as the Faraday."

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Kelly: "That's good news. We find that colony and we can find the rest of our missing people."

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Kelly leans forward as she spots Sin and her staff in the background of the Faraday's damaged bridge, "Ensign? What are you holding?"

Emma Ralde@crystyl | Sin turns and waves the staff, "You like my trophy boss?"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Kelly: "That reminds me of Hades' staff. From the demon world, with the silver blood copy of him?"

Emma Ralde@crystyl | Sin smiles, "Yep! This thing is more like a cheap knock-off though. Still works to some degree though"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Kelly: "So it's a replica in function as well, not just in form?"

Emma Ralde@crystyl | Sin nods, "Pretty much, yeah. I got it off this mouthy Ditean - think he might've been the leader of this group - complete waste of space, even if he did have some interesting tricks"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Kelly: "Interesting. That suggests they must've come into contact with Hades, or the silver blood copy..."

Emma Ralde@crystyl:"Might be worth investigating"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Kelly nods, "But first, let's follow the leads we have on hand. Rylliss, see if you can get any other information of note out of the Faraday crew. Check the computers too, they might have some -

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 - data on this colony if we're lucky. Emma, go with Eva to meet the prisoners we've beamed into our brig. If the Faraday crew don't know the colony's location, the Sirens themselves probably do."

Emma Ralde@crystyl nods, "Understood"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 moves to head to the lift with Emma

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 looks to Emma as the lift descends towards the brig, "The Sirens might know where this colony is, but I don't imagine they'll be particularly eager to tell us."

Emma Ralde@crystyl:"I imagine not, no. Any thoughts on how to get it out of them?"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 considers, "Everything we've heard suggests they're a very sociable people, right?"

Emma Ralde@crystyl:"That's my understanding"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557:"If we can get some conversation going, we might be able to get them to slip up and reveal something. But that on its own might be difficult, seeing how much they seem to hate us."

Emma Ralde@crystyl:"I'm not even sure it would be possible to trick them either, since those Rianni and I met seemed to sense our invulnerability to them straight away"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 nods, "Maybe not trick them into thinking that they have some influence over them, more...getting them carried away with conversation that they say something they shouldn't."

Emma Ralde@crystyl:"Yeah that does seem the more likely of the two, as unlikely as it seems in itself" she chuckles

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | The lift doors open and they step out towards the brig

Evanne Dra@annpc#557:"Maybe the conversation won't be too friendly, but at least they can't break it off by attacking us while locked up in the brig."

Emma Ralde@crystyl:"I certainly hope that's the case"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557:"If nothing else, at least we might be able to learn /why/ they're targeting Starfleet..."

Emma Ralde@crystyl:"That'd certainly be a good start!"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | As they approach the brig, the bolstered security presence is evident with a pair of crewman patrolling the hall, and then another on the brig doors itself

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 steps into the brig, where all the cell force fields are currently polarized to block any attempt at unwanted interaction

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | The brig consists of six separate cells, much larger than the Intrepid or regular Pathfinder's, no doubt thanks to Terran design philosophy. The individuals cells are smaller, though

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Brig Officer: "We've had to cram two of the prisoners into the same cell, but the Terrans built these with bunk beds, so there's enough space inside."

Emma Ralde@crystyl looks around, "Just realized this is the first time I've looked in here. You can really see the Terran influence in this part of this ship. I don't suppose we left their torture booth things -

Emma Ralde@crystyl:- installed too did we?"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Brig Officer: "No, we took all those out to comply with Starfleet regulations."

Emma Ralde@crystyl:"Too bad. Um... not that I thought we should use them or anything. But their presence could be persuasive"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 nods, "We'll just have to make do without them. Should we speak with them one by one, or let all of them hear what we're saying?"

Emma Ralde@crystyl hrms, looking around and sizing up the prisoners

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | The brig officer unpolarizes the cells. The prisoners are all in their own uniforms and presenting their too perfect, likely original appearances, rather than assuming the shape of any -

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 - Federation species or wearing Starfleet uniforms. Emma can see which cell is currently housing two, while the rest all have one each within

Emma Ralde@crystyl:"We may just have to go systematically through them"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 nods, "Let's start with one of the lone ones first, then."

Emma Ralde@crystyl nods, picking a random cell and approaching

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 follows, tapping the panel beside the cell and removing the sound damping. The Ditean within sits quietly on his bed

Emma Ralde@crystyl smiles sweetly, "Hello! I do hope we are not disturbing you"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | The Ditean looks over from his bed, "You've come to pry us for information before executing us, I assume."

Emma Ralde@crystyl:"Well... you're half right I suppose. There would be no real reason to come and talk to you if we didn't want information"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Ditean: "Let me guess...you wish to know where the rest of this vessel's crew is being held."

Emma Ralde@crystyl smiles again and purrs, clearly putting on her own charms, not to be out-charisma'd by an alien, "My, you /are/ good aren't you!"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | The Ditean stands, striding over to the field, "Trying to use our own tricks against us?"

Emma Ralde@crystyl:"If you find me charming, it's ok to admit it. I won't tell your friends"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Ditean: "Oh, we have nothing against finding you charming as individuals. It is your collective organization we seek vengeance against. Not all of you are personally responsible, and we are -

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 - fully capable of making that distinction. Why do you think we're keeping some of you as mates?"

Emma Ralde@crystyl:"Well the wording kind of says it all" she leans in as well, "I must confess, I admire your capacity to make that distinction. Just how do you draw the line like that? How do you not see -

Emma Ralde@crystyl:-Starfleet in the eyes of your taken mates?"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Ditean: "I must admit, many of you are surprisingly adamant in the innocence of your organization. We have been able to convince a few of your crimes, but alas, it is still in the minority, as -

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 - you can no doubt tell from the current crew of the ship we have commandeered."

Emma Ralde@crystyl:"Well, it is often difficult to see another's perspective. Especially when it contradicts your own. Few are enlightened enough to be able to step out of their own sense of self and view things -

Emma Ralde@crystyl:- objectively"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Ditean: "We have considered the possibility that your particular vessels truly have no knowledge of the attack. However, you still belong to the same organization and will no doubt come to its -

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 - defense, as your ship has here. That makes all of you a threat and an enemy."

Emma Ralde@crystyl:"If coming to the defense of those you are sworn to protect makes you somebody's enemy, many will choose that. You said before how you had to persuade others and managed to sway some, yes? So you -

Emma Ralde@crystyl:- must have noticed a consistency in your having to tell everyone about this attack you speak of"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Ditean: "We have. But that does not change the nature of the attack."

Emma Ralde@crystyl:"Nobody's saying that. But don't you find it odd that you have to tell everyone you encounter about this attack?"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Ditean: "Yes. But as we have come to understand, your Starfleet is not a single fleet but made up of many different branches and fleets. We have encountered other organizations like yours, and -

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 - it is not uncommon to find that one arm of the fleet is not aware of the actions of another."

Emma Ralde@crystyl:"True, but senior officers still know of activity. And ship computers have access to shared libraries. Surely those have been pulled to reinforce your persuasions, right?"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Ditean: "We have studied the data on your computers and come to the conclusion that it must be you who are responsible. Perhaps there are some oddities, but they are outweighed by the -

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 - information which /does/ align."

Emma Ralde@crystyl hrms, "Well, call me bias. But when the lives of my friends and family are at stake I prefer not to be so dismissive of oddities. I know you don't want to share information with us, but if this -

Emma Ralde@crystyl:- is purely about understanding what we are accused of doing, surely that's within the realm of reason, is it not?"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | The Ditean considers and nods, "I suppose so, if you claim to be aware of these events."

Emma Ralde@crystyl:"I can't claim to be aware of them if I don't know what they are. But I really do want to understand, and iron out these oddities you have found"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Ditean: "Speak with Alkena. She is more familiar with the data obtained from your computers than I."

Evanne Dra@annpc#557:"And...which one is Alkena?"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | The Ditean points to a cell across the brig

Emma Ralde@crystyl bows her head and smiles, "You have been most helpful, thank you. I am sorry that you must remain here for now, but you understand of course"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Ditean: "Of course. We would do the same in your position. We /have/ done the same in your position."

Emma Ralde@crystyl taps to reisolate the cell and looks to Eva, "So far so good"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 nods, "They clearly have something against us, but they're not just throwing insults at us, either. I think we can get some information out of them."

Emma Ralde@crystyl:"I am more hopeful of that now. This talk of inconsistencies however does have me worried"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557:"Let's see what this Alkena has to say on it."

Emma Ralde@crystyl nods and heads to Alkena's cell

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 taps the panel again to allow conversation. On the other side of the force field, this Ditean sits in a meditative pose, her eyes closed

Emma Ralde@crystyl stands front and centre, watching her

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | The Ditean opens her eyes slowly as her gaze focuses on Emma, "Well, aren't you a sight for sore eyes?"

Emma Ralde@crystyl smiles, "It's a burden, it's true"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | The Ditean returns the smile, "Well, I for one am glad to have a captor as pleasant as you."

Emma Ralde@crystyl:"I would much prefer not to have you as a captive at all - any of you in fact. I am sincerely hoping that you are the one to help me achieve that Alkena"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Alkena: "Yes, I would prefer that as well. You know my name? We do not wear identification like your communication badges. One of the others must've told you, then."

Emma Ralde@crystyl:"Yes, I understand that you are the most familiar with the comparisons you're people have made between the attack which sparked this conflict and our records"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Alkena gives a slight pout, "Is that why? Not because I can better cater to your desires?"

Emma Ralde@crystyl smiles, "Well, you /are/ more my time than he was" she winks, "But I can't do much with this current stalemate now, can I"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Alkena chuckles, "We can change our type to almost whatever you like. Given some limitations, of course." Her skin ripples and turns a shade of green to match Emma's, before she changes again, -

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 - becoming the male Andorian brig officer, complete with Starfleet uniform, which leads the brig officer to double-take. She smirks at him before changing back to the form she was initially in

Emma Ralde@crystyl:"Point and case. He was far less playful than you! So how about it, help me understand these discrepancies you found"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Alkena: "That would also be easier if you let me out of the cell. But I don't suppose that's going to happen just yet, so I'll settle for what I can remember. Let's see..."

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Alkena paces behind the force field a bit, "Well, there's the ships. The ships that attacked us were without a doubt your ships, but many of them don't quite match the types you have in -

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 - service. Some seem to be amalgamations, which is unusual, though not unheard of with all your refits and such."

Emma Ralde@crystyl:"And where did they attack you exactly?"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Alkena: "Aetenia. I don't suppose the name has any meaning to you?"

Emma Ralde@crystyl:"I can't say that it does. I would have to assume that is the name of your homeworld, but please forgive my naivety if that is not so"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Alkena: "No, it is our primary forge. Your strike force opened one of your gateways behind our defensive lines and obliterated the shipyard, as well as every vessel docked within. Then you -

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 - bombarded the surface, taking out every production facility you had the time to before our counterattack drove you off."

Emma Ralde@crystyl:"Gateways? I'm afraid I don't know exactly what you mean by that. We travel by warp as you have no doubt seen. The only gateways I've ever seen are Iconian ones"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Alkena: "Yes, precisely those. You and your Coalition allies are the only ones with access to the Iconians and this technology, from your own data. Some of the other vessels present at the -

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 - attack matched those from Coalition groups as well. You are the only ones who could have been responsible for such an attack. That conclusion outweighed the relatively slight discrepancies."

Emma Ralde@crystyl:"It certainly does seem that way. But please, indulge me on these discrepancies"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Alkena: "Most of them we learned only after we got our hands on the Faraday. There are the ship types I mentioned, the fact that there was no mention of the attack in your files and how the -

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 - crew genuinely knew nothing of it, and how such an attack seems contrary to your rules and methods of operating. Relatively slight, as I said, compared to the overwhelming evidence that your -

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 - people are responsible for the attack."

Emma Ralde@crystyl:"I don't suppose you happen to carry your own records from Aetenia with you now, do you?"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Alkena: "I am afraid not."

Emma Ralde@crystyl:"You have clearly learned about us since all of this started. Had your people ever encountered Starfleet or the Coalition before?"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Alkena: "We are familiar with some members of your Coalition and some species within your Federation, but we have never encountered Starfleet before the attack."

Emma Ralde@crystyl:"And so how is it that you came to learn about Starfleet in the wake of this attack?"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Alkena: "We went searching for those responsible and learned of Starfleet and the Coalition. Our investigation led us to finding the Faraday."

Emma Ralde@crystyl:"I see. Now this gateway you mentioned, it was Iconian?"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Alkena nods, "We have seen the technology before, although we are unable to replicate it. The Coalition is one of the few groups who have access to this technology, and it was your ships, -

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 - primarily Starfleet, who conducted the attack. Which is why the pieces fit too perfectly, and the slight discrepancies which exist can easily be explained away."

Emma Ralde@crystyl:"Forgive me, but the fact that none of the ships match our records and we have no corresponding records of movements associated with that attack are not so easily explained away. What you describe -

Emma Ralde@crystyl:- sounds more like convenience in the eyes of vengeance"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Alkena: "/Some/ of the ships don't match your records. Not all of them. There are some ship types which do."

Emma Ralde@crystyl nods, "Still, those are some pretty gaping discrepancies all things considered" she turns and looks around the room, "What do you think of our ship here?"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Alkena: "Well, I can't see much from within this prison. But I did see you on the Faraday's sensors during the fighting. Your ship only supports the fact that discrepancies in ship type can be -

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 - explained away. Your ship does not match anything in the Faraday's database precisely. It appears to be a heavily armed variant of a scouting and exploration ship, reconfigured for a more -

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 - aggressive role."

Emma Ralde@crystyl smiles, "Quite the curiosity isn't it? Still, I'm glad that you noticed the subtle differences though. There is one thing however that you do not know about this ship"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Alkena: "And that is?"

Emma Ralde@crystyl:"Until recently, it belonged to an enemy. They travelled here - through a gateway, curiously - and attacked us with it. Along with lots of other ships that were similar to ours, but not quite the -

Emma Ralde@crystyl:- same. Curious, isn't it"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Alkena: "And how is it that this enemy fields vessels so similar to your own? A splinter faction? Someone who stole and now imitates your technology?"

Emma Ralde@crystyl shakes her head, "Nothing so pedestrian I'm afraid. They are from an alternate reality in fact, one where Starfleet and the Federation are much as you currently envisage them to be. Only they are -

Emma Ralde@crystyl:- called the Terran Empire"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Alkena: "An alternate reality. We are familiar with the concept. If you will humour me...show me a scan of something original to the ship. A wall, a console, something you haven't switched -

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 - out for a replacement from this reality."

Emma Ralde@crystyl:"You can identify quantum origin like that?"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Alkena: "If I am not mistaken, the scan will come up with a quantum signature distinct to something native to this reality."

Emma Ralde@crystyl smiles, "I'm sure I can find something around here. We'll be back shortly for a little show and tell" she smiles

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | The brig officer digs out a tricorder from his console and hands it to Emma, "Here you go, Ensign."

Emma Ralde@crystyl:"Perfect, thank you!" she runs a few scans around the area until she has clear readings of the distinct quantum signature of the untouched ship parts, and scans herself to show herself not having -

Emma Ralde@crystyl:- that same signature before returning and holding the tricorder up to the field for Alkena to see

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Alkena leans into the field, viewing the scans and nodding, "As I thought. There is a distinct quantum variance. We analyzed the debris left in the wake of your attack, and we found no such -

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 - variance on the remains of your ships there."

Emma Ralde@crystyl pockets the tricorder, "Perhaps not. But it is quite clear that things are not always as they appear on the surface"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Alkena nods, "Maybe. But the information we have still identifies you as the most likely culprit."

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Alkena: "If such an attack occurred to your people, would you stand by idly, knowing another could very well happen again? If I recall from your ship computers, something similar /did/ happen, -

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 - when mechanical life you created attacked your primary forge facility. Did you not move against them and outlaw them from your Federation?"

Emma Ralde@crystyl:"Yes we did. And we later acknowledged that as being an unjust panic reaction because those being persecuted were not actually those responsible for said attack"

Emma Ralde@crystyl:"This rising tension between your people and ours is going to continue getting uglier, and continue costing lives to both sides. Do you really want that, or would you rather get to the truth of the -

Emma Ralde@crystyl:- matter?"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Alkena: "We are not a warlike people. We do not want to fight. We do it only to protect ourselves. Perhaps, as you said, all this is a mistake. But until you can prove that you were not -

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 - responsible for the attack, we have no choice but to consider you an enemy, as you did against your mechanical creations."

Emma Ralde@crystyl:"That is fair, all things considered. But to do that we need to understand what exactly happened at this attack. We need to find out who /did/ this to your people, and so we need go there and see -

Emma Ralde@crystyl:-data for ourselves"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Alkena: "We still have defenders in the system, though your vessel does have stealth capabilities. Still, it is located close to other territories we value, and giving such a location to an -

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 - enemy would be unwise."

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 speaks up, "Actually..."

Emma Ralde@crystyl looks to Eva

Evanne Dra@annpc#557:"If we are your enemy, we'd already know the site of your attack, in which case giving it to us wouldn't change a thing."

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Alkena considers, "That...is a fair point. Though you could still be an enemy, just not /the/ enemy which attacked us."

Evanne Dra@annpc#557:"You really think so, from everything you've seen in the Faraday's computers?"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Alkena: "I admit, that would be rather unlikely. More likely, either you are the enemy, who knows the world's location already, or you are not an enemy at all."

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 smiles, "Exactly."

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Alkena: "Very well. You shall have the location of the attack, but nothing else."

Emma Ralde@crystyl smiles, "It is so much more than that though. It is the opportunity to show you who we really are, and put this conflict behind us. Thank you"

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Alkena: "Be warned though, that if you pursue this line of inquiry, you will be venturing into our territory. Ditean vessels and installations will attack you if you are seen. It would be -

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 - foolish to try anything. And I would rather not be vapourized."

Emma Ralde@crystyl:"I have no desire to be vapourized either. See that, we're finding common ground already" she chirps

Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Alkena chuckles, "I think that is common ground that most living things have. Still, I am pleased that we found something to begin with."

—

Keliaya@anncaris | A few hours after the fighting has stopped, the Venator's senior staff gathers in the conference room

Keliaya@anncaris:"First things first- after a bit of discussion, Captain Troi-Riker and I have decided that the manner they lured in the Yorktown, combined with testimony from prisoners and the Faraday crew, -

Keliaya@anncaris:- precludes the possibility that the Ditean are actively intercepting our communications. They probably had access to general Starfleet channels through the captured vessels, but the Guan Yu seems -

Keliaya@anncaris - to have been lured the same way rather than specifically targeted due to the Admiral's orders."

Rianni@crystyl:"Makes sense. What will become of the Faraday and her crew now?"

Keliaya@anncaris:"Because we've determined that our comms aren't being actively tapped, we've sent a report back to the Heart to request a gateway opening. The Yorktown has just repaired her impulse systems and -

Keliaya@anncaris:- will be towing the Faraday and the recovered crew back to the Sphere. What happens to the ship and her crew will be up to the Admiral and fleet command. The personnel in the brig will certainly -

Keliaya@anncaris:- be court martialed. As for the crewmembers who helped us take the ship back, they'll probably go through a general collective hearing as opposed to over a hundred separate ones."

Keliaya@anncaris:"What disciplinary measures are taken if any will be for the legal proceedings to decide."

Rianni@crystyl:Back to the search for us then I take it"

Keliaya@anncaris nods, "On the subject of which, we now have three potential leads. We've gone from a lack of choice to spoiled for choice, now..."

Rianni@crystyl:"What exactly are the options before us?"

Keliaya@anncaris:"First is the connection between Hades' bident and the weapon Sin recovered. It might not contribute directly to the search, but there's a chance the silver blood knows something that can help us."

Rianni@crystyl:"Which just comes with the added risk of exposing Sin to that power again"

Rianni@crystyl | Sin: "Hey!"

Rianni@crystyl smiles

Keliaya@anncaris chuckles, "That too. It might not help us at all, and Ha'at is some distance away so it's a weaker lead. Given recent events with the Kratt and the infiltrators though, I'm hesitant to ask the -

Keliaya@anncaris - Admiral to send another ship to investigate. If someone goes to Ha'at again, it should probably be us."

Rianni@crystyl:"True, but the Forge is still back at the Heart and plenty of the old crew who are familiar with things there. It's a possibility at least"

Keliaya@anncaris:"That's a suggestion I hadn't thought of, seeing how the Admiral was reluctant to send the Forge on this mission. But a search and rescue into potentially hostile space is one thing, a more -

Keliaya@anncaris:- scientific and diplomatic journey to check on the Kratt and Ha'at could be on the table. I'll mention it in my next report."

Rianni@crystyl:"So what else have we got?"

Keliaya@anncaris:"We know the Guan Yu and the rest of the Faraday crew are being held prisoner at one of the Diteans' colony worlds. We don't know exactly which one and the Diteans have erased all the sensor data -

Keliaya@anncaris:- the Faraday collected, but the crew remembers it was a Class-M world, second in orbit around a yellow star. And judging from the current path of the Diteans..." she gives Indrix a nod

Keliaya@anncaris | Indrix: "With more in-depth analysis, I've been able to determine that the apertures created by the Siren vessels are different from the wormholes of Junayd technology. While Junayd wormholes -

Keliaya@anncaris - fold space-time, these apertures are more like punching a shortcut through subspace. While they may seem similar on the surface, the Junayd technology is similar to a temporary version of the -

Keliaya@anncaris - Bajoran wormhole, while these apertures are closer to a temporary Carran subspace corridor."

Rianni@crystyl:"Does that mean you've been able to track them too?"

Keliaya@anncaris | Indrix: "Unfortunately not. Our methods for tracking Junayd wormholes are useless for these apertures. However, I am able to determine that this technology requires more power the further they -

Keliaya@anncaris - tunnel, which means these ships have a maximum range limit. They cannot hop from one side of the galaxy to the other, in the same manner as Iconian gateways."

Keliaya@anncaris:"That combined with their activities gradually getting closer to the Heart rather than jumping right to it suggests they need to advance like any other force, and not appear behind our lines as -

Keliaya@anncaris:- easily as we feared. And given their gradual advance and range limit, it's likely that the colony they're holding our people at is either in or near our search region. A yellow star still doesn't -

Keliaya@anncaris:- narrow things down by much, but it's something."

Rianni@crystyl:"So these are our options"

Keliaya@anncaris:"There's a third one. The site of the attack which apparently set the Diteans against us," she nods to Emma

Rianni@crystyl | Emma nods: "The prisoners we questioned were surprisingly forthcoming. They revealed more about the alleged attack as well some inconsistencies between their knowledge of it, and our records. -

Rianni@crystyl:- It seems at least feasible that if we can get to the truth of it, we may be able to end the conflict and they have provided us with the coordinates of their shipyards where it happened to -

Rianni@crystyl:- accommodate this"

Keliaya@anncaris:"That's our third lead. Our mission is to locate our missing people, but if we find the truth behind what sparked the Diteans' aggression, it might allow us to find a peaceful resolution to all of -

Keliaya@anncaris:- this. It's also possible that the colony is somewhere in the vicinity of these coordinates, assuming the Diteans control a single region, and not multiple disconnected regions."

Keliaya@anncaris | Azevedo: "And assuming that region is significantly smaller than the Federation. Or the Klingon Empire. Or the Dominion. Not a galactic superpower covering multiple sectors and lightyears."

Rianni@crystyl nods, "Since this has a specific destination, I see no harm in continuing our search while journeying towards the site of this attack to investigate. Whichever we reach first, we investigate first.-

Rianni@crystyl:- Seems the best way to hedge our bets"

Keliaya@anncaris | Rylliss nods, "A good call. I agree with the Lieutenant."

Keliaya@anncaris | Farhalla: "As do I. I might not have been raised on Vulcan, but it seems the most logical way to proceed," she smiles

Keliaya@anncaris:"We make our way towards the site of the attack and investigate any systems that match the colony's description along the way. Sounds like a plan. Anything else anyone wants to discuss today?"

Keliaya@anncaris | Everyone around the table shake their heads and Kelly stands, "Alright, dismissed everyone."