ST:TTV103 | "Forging Bonds"

Stardate 93726.9

In the aftermath of recent events which saw the loss of starships Caelian, Damocles, and Gainsborough; Captain Se'Lai has dedicated the Valley Forge to aiding the Gainsborough survivors in the ongoing investigation into these events as well as the pursuit of their lost XO who is currently listed as MIA.

Before the Valley Forge can embark on this journey however, they must integrate the crew with the Gainsborough survivors who wish to continue on this assignment while they work tirelessly pouring over logs and salvage to understand how the task force was so effortlessly destroyed.

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Keliaya@anncarise approaches from the depths of main engineering, "Captain. Commander. Everything going well?" Keelah@crystyll smiles, "I was about to ask you the same thing lieutenant. While familiarizing Eunha with the ship, we thought it prudent to check on progress here" Eunha@turtles#8407: "turns out as second officer I will be doing more than just sitting in my counselling office, so it's best I know my way around." she laughs Blarg@bobisgod171 tromps his way in and stops a few feet away. Keliaya@anncarise: "Well, the Forge is a marvel like I thought it would be, I've got to say your previous chief did a great job keeping her in shape, captain." Keliaya@anncarise: "The salvage job...that's something else." Keelah@crystyll turns at the sound of stomping, "Sergeant" Blarg@bobisgod171 can't help it. He doesn't have the height for adequate weight distribution. "Captain." Keliaya@anncarise looks to the new arrival as he steps in, "Sergeant? I didn't know that was a Starfleet rank." Keelah@crystyll chuckles Blarg@bobisgod171: "MACO NCO. Equivalent to a Starfleet Petty Officer, ma'am." He looks to Keelah, "I was stationed aboard the Damocles." Keliaya@anncarise: "Oh, I'm sorry." Keelah@crystyll: "Aah, you have my sympathies for her loss. You are then to pursue our investigation into the attack?" Blarg@bobisgod171 has a rare moment of hesitation choosing his words before answering, "Investigation. Yes. I would like to assist." Keelah@crystyll smiles thoughtfully, "I know vengeance can be a powerful driver in these things too." she turns to Kelly, "So Lieutenant, you were saying about the Gainsborough computer salvage?" Keliaya@anncarise nods, "I've got teams parsing through what's left of the computer. With luck we'll recover some tactical data that could help us defend against further attacks." Keelah@crystyll: "That's our key objective. The Forge is set to depart on our SAR and we need every advantage we can find" Keliaya@anncarise: "The work's slow, but in time we should be able to extract a good amount of information from the sensor logs. Is there anything in particular you'd want us to focus on?" Keliaya@anncarise: "I can ask my people to dig for more tactical data on enemy strategies, scientific data on their wormhole transportation or computer data to counter their virus." Keelah@crystyll: "Our biggest concern seems to be this virus. If we can't counter that then we are at their whim." looks to the others, "Though I am open to other suggestions, this is an open floor" she smiles Blarg@bobisgod171 steps up to the group, but he doesn't seem like the kinda guy that would know anything about a computer virus. Eunha@turtles#8407 simply shrugs Blarg@bobisgod171 gives it a shot. "The Damocles never came under attack from the virus. Their dreadnought may not be equipped to deliver it." Keelah@crystyll: "Well... the tactical analysis and wormhole knowledge are both of equal import." Looks to Blarg, "Right, it was escorted by a smaller vessel which focused on the Gainsborough?" Eunha@turtles#8407: "The dreadnought instead was equipped with mega ray of death I have decided to nick name it." Keelah@crystyll: "Very aptly named, Eunha!" Eunha@turtles#8407: "Thanks. Though when it comes to writing a report up about that weapon don't think we should use it." Keelah@crystyll chuckles, "Probably not..." Keliaya@anncarise: "Would a single Starfleet ship even be able to stand up against that dreadnought, virus or not? I'm not sure our shields are useful against this mega ray of death..." Keelah@crystyll: "So there is one thing I would very much like to understand, as you point out Kelly..." Keelah@crystyll: "If the dreadnaught can so easily cut through our ships and is impervious to our weapons... why then do they even need the virus to shut a vessel down?" Eunha@turtles#8407: "Well they took data from our computer. Perhaps it's there way of collecting information, have the small ship cripple one ship and the dreadnaught is it's guard." Keliaya@anncarise: "Which means they might not even use the virus again now that they have the Gainsborough's database." Keliaya@anncarise: "They might've also not known how strong we were compared to them, and we did outnumber them three to two. Four if you count the Aquarius." Keelah@crystyll: "So then... perhaps we would be best served by a tactical analysis first; focus on defense against the... 'mega ray of death'" Keelah@crystyll rolls her eyes slightly at using the technical term for the weapon Keliaya@anncarise nods, "I'm no tactical specialist, but if the Valley Forge alone runs into another two of these ships, deploying the virus might be what you call 'overkill.'" Keliaya@anncarise: "It's possible they'll just go for a direct approach." Eunha@turtles#8407 Nods "It's likely. Kelly prep a team to take a closer look at this weapon, i'm sure if need be the tactical and science departments will be more than willing to aid." Eunha@turtles#8407 Enjoys the power that comes with being second officer Keliaya@anncarise: "Will do. We'll see if we can find a defense against the weapon, or anticipate it enough for us to maneuver away from it." Keelah@crystyll looks to Blarg, "Any tactical insight from the previous encounter - observations that may help us predict their behaviour in the event of another encounter?" Blarg@bobisgod171 squints a little, "They related size to tactical priority. Gainsborough, our largest ship, was removed from the fight." Blarg@bobisgod171: "They then focused on the Caelian, which was larger than Damocles, despite being the tactically less threatening vessel." Keliaya@anncarise: "And they didn't shoot down our escape pods when the big ships were down..." Keliaya@anncarise: "Maybe if we played with sensor illusions...I wonder how good their sensors are." Eunha@turtles#8407: "Trick them into thinking all the sips are of equal size? Confuse them into who's the biggest threat." Keelah@crystyll: "Even better... create ghosts of ships larger than the Forge!" Eunha@turtles#8407: "But could their sensors be able to tell a ghost from the real thing?" Keliaya@anncarise: "That's what I was afraid of." Keelah@crystyll: "Now that's the real question. Do we have anything in the Gainsborough sensor logs that may give us an indicator, or enough to construct a simulation?" Eunha@turtles#8407: "Do our console have access to the Gainsborough sensor logs?" she asks before moving to a console Keliaya@anncarise: "Well...only what we've extracted so far." Keelah@crystyll: "Then let us see what we can find" Eunha@turtles#8407 accesses the console and begins to search through what they've dug up Keliaya@anncarise: "I'll tell my engineers to focus their search on the enemy ship systems, data on their weapons, sensors and all that." Keliaya@anncarise: "The data here will be updated as more are retrieved." Keelah@crystyll: "Anything we extrapolate at this point. But I would like to see if we can find anything to support this sensor ghost concept, at least enough to test the theory" Keelah@crystyll stands back and quietly observes her minions work Keliaya@anncarise: "If it works, it could be more useful than any other method of countering their weapons." Blarg@bobisgod171 totally moved with them to the console at an appropriate time. Eunha@turtles#8407 keeps tapping "If the ghost theory doesn't work I'd say we should look into upgrading our shielding maybe..." Keelah@crystyll: "That much is a given, but until we understand the technology more we can not know exactly how to upgrade them" Keliaya@anncarise: "If we can predict when their weapons are being used, if there's a detectable energy spike or something, we could also develop maneuvers to avoid them." Keelah@crystyll: "That will be necessary" she nods, "At best a ghost will only buy us until the first shot is fired" Blarg@bobisgod171 says exactly what you'd expect a MACO to say. "We should consider attempting to board them." Keelah@crystyll: "That may indeed be a prudent approach..." Eunha@turtles#8407: "I can't remember if I sensed anything or not..." Keliaya@anncarise: "If they prioritize larger ships, slipping boarding parties over could be tactically sound." Keelah@crystyll: "First things first; any joy with data to support the sensor ghost theory?" Eunha@turtles#8407 looks for any sensor data Eunha@turtles#8407: rolls 89 (1-100) Keliaya@anncarise meanwhile uses the console to communicate with the other engineers, telling them the new priorities on which they focus their extraction efforts. Eunha@turtles#8407: "We got some low level scans from the enemey ship. Not seeing enough to indicate high or deep scans." Eunha@turtles#8407: "That is plausiable." Keelah@crystyll: "But according to reports; they first closed on our task force before engaging, and before deplying the virus" Keelah@crystyll: "So... /logically/ speaking; they must have detected them by some form at that point" Keelah@crystyll is clearly pained at sounding so Vulcan Keliaya@anncarise: "That's true..." Eunha@turtles#8407: "Well we won't really know for certain until we encounter them again." Keliaya@anncarise: "Let's see if the data we have now indicates any way to predict their weapons then..." Keliaya@anncarise: rolls 70 (1-100) Keelah@crystyll: "Perhaps." Blarg@bobisgod171: The weapons were concentrated verteron beams, and there was a build-up of neutrinos detected from the ship just before it fired. Keliaya@anncarise: "Looks like...yes, that's just what I was hoping to find! Neutrino burst from the enemy ship before the mega ray of death was fired." Keliaya@anncarise: "That could give us an edge..." Keelah@crystyll: "Enough of a time delay for us to detect it and execute manouvres?" Blarg@bobisgod171: 1.2 seconds. Keliaya@anncarise: "Hmm...oh. One point two seconds." Keliaya@anncarise: "Not enough for a helmsman, but maybe our new computer expert can program some kind of reaction for the ship once it detects the buildup." Keelah@crystyll: "A pre-programmed response to a detection of these readings?" Eunha@turtles#8407: "Are we sure that the ship would be able to move in time anyway? the Valley forge is rather large." Keliaya@anncarise nods, "Even then I don't know if the Forge can pull off a dodge fast enough, but it could be worth a try." Keliaya@anncarise nods in agreement to Eunha. Keelah@crystyll: "Perhaps she wouldn't have to completely move out of the way..." turns to a console and checks for patterns in consistency of enemy targeting (if they always aim centre, or strategically) Keelah@crystyll: rolls 43 (1-100) Keelah@crystyll: "According to this... the enemy weapon fires at a relatively slow pace. So if maximum distance is maintained, we should at least be able commence an evasive manouvre" Eunha@turtles#8407: "Perhaps it would be prudents to run some simulations." Keelah@crystyll: "That extra moment of detection could be used to trigger an auxiliary power shunt, what do you think Kelly?" Keliaya@anncarise nods, "That sounds like a feasible idea. A lot of simulations will have to be run, of course, especially if we're using a computer program to help with this maneuver." Keelah@crystyll: "Not with the manouvre itself. That would still require helm intuition. Just an automated power distribution, I'm thinking" Keliaya@anncarise: "Right. Unless we make our computer superintelligent again it could easily mess up a maneuver and put us right in the line of fire or something." Keelah@crystyll: "Indeed... So let us assume for a moment that between sensor ghosts and enhanced combat manouvres, we can evade their weapon for a time at least..." Keelah@crystyll: "It is fair to assume that if show ourselves to be a big enough threat, then they would use the virus attack sooner or later in a confrontation. So that is still a concern" Keelah@crystyll: "Beyond that; All we have so far is evading attacks, not ending a fight..." Keliaya@anncarise: "Should we even focus on developing something that could hurt them, or make sure we can survive and run first?" Eunha@turtles#8407: "Survive and run first." Keelah@crystyll: "Survive and run is essential. Shutting them down however may - in reality - be the only way we get to learn more about them" Keliaya@anncarise: "That's true...were their ships heavily shielded? When I tried to scan one I got blocked out by whatever their hull was made of, but I didn't pick up any shielding." Keelah@crystyll: "See what you can find in the data we have salvaged so far" Keliaya@anncarise searches for information about enemy shielding and defense. Keliaya@anncarise: rolls 13 (1-100) Blarg@bobisgod171: Primary sensors on the Gainsborough were offline for almost the entire fight. Blarg@bobisgod171: We were never able to scan the ship's interior, and the computer isn't able to extrapolate anything useful about the enemy's defenses. Keliaya@anncarise shakes her head, "Nope...thing. We didn't get any sensor data about if they had shields to raise or anything." Keliaya@anncarise: "All we know is that our sensors can't get past their hull, which means we don't have any info on what they have inside it either." Keelah@crystyll: "Anything on the hull composition? ...or possible points of entry?" she adds glancing back to Blarg with a light smirk Blarg@bobisgod171: no useful info. Blarg@bobisgod171 nods to Keelah. "Thank you for including me, Captain. I must depart to tend to my duties, however I will make myself available to you as needed." Keliaya@anncarise: "Nothing at all, captain. I'll let you know if we get more data that could be relevant." Keelah@crystyll: "Alright Sergeant. If we find any possibility of a ground encounter with this species... you'll be the first to know" she smiles with an affirmative nod Blarg@bobisgod171 nods, then departs. Keelah@crystyll: "Well at least we have some working theories to better prepare us for any encounter" Keelah@crystyll: "Now to the matter at hand for our mission; the SAR" Keliaya@anncarise: "Any clue where to look?" Keelah@crystyll: "Yes and no..." Eunha@turtles#8407: "What about the missing commander?" Keelah@crystyll: "We scoured the area thoroughly when we picked up the rest of your escape pods, so we are confident that your missing personnel are not there" Keliaya@anncarise: "An escape pod from the Gainsborough can't travel too far..." Keelah@crystyll: "Not of it's own accord at least... Kelly, pull everything we have on wormhole technology; tie in any Starfleet theoretical data too" Keliaya@anncarise nods and starts typing on the console, "You think their wormholes might've pulled the escape pods in?" Keelah@crystyll: "The timing and proximity make it plausible; at least enough that we can't rule it out" Eunha@turtles#8407: "I'm going to go see how my counselling staff are settling in." Keliaya@anncarise: "If these wormholes are stable enough for the enemy ships to travel in, it's possible they managed to make it to the other end..." Keelah@crystyll: "Alright, keep me apprised how the crews are integrated Eunha" she smiles, looking back to Kelly Eunha@turtles#8407 She smiles "See you later." Keliaya@anncarise waves to Eunha as she walks off. Keliaya@anncarise: "Well...wormholes can be notoriously unstable, especially artificially generated ones. The passage of more than the ship intended could've caused something unforseen, or maybe the enemy would've - Keliaya@anncarise: closed the wormhole the moment they exited...it's hard to tell what could've happened." Keelah@crystyll hrms, "Considering that we need to conduct a systematic search from the start point... and assuming we can even plot a vector for the wormhole... Keelah@crystyll: "Is there any theory to suggest that the escape pod may only exit at the same point, or could it theoretically release anywhere along the path, depending when the wormhole was closed ahead of it?" Keelah@crystyll rubs her brow, "You know what... astrophysics always gave me a migraine, perhaps we should retire to ten forward and continue a more relaxed discussion of it's finer points" Keliaya@anncarise chuckles, "Astrophysics was always a hobby of mine. I'm more than happy to explain wormhole theory!" Keelah@crystyll chuckles, "Come on then" Rumiho Mitsuki@yf47dex#9446 totally just came from the transporter room and is now entering the mess hall Keliaya@anncarise: "Well, wormhole openings are in our space, but the actual tunnel goes through subspace, so if you're trapped in the middle, you'll be trapped there somewhere." Rumiho Mitsuki@yf47dex#9446 looks around, trying to get her bearings a bit, wondering if she missed everything Keliaya@anncarise: "Unstable wormholes are hard to say though...their terminus could fluctuate and since they're not confined to our spacetime, they could end up in any region at any time." Keelah@crystyll spots Rumi wander in and waves her over with a friendly smile Rumiho Mitsuki@yf47dex#9446 clears throat, "Hello sirs, I'm late but came for the social, Cadet Mitsuki Rumiho." does a short bow with that Keelah@crystyll snaps back to Kelly, "Are you telling me they may not only be lost in space... but in time as well?!" Keelah@crystyll chuckles, "Please join us cadet. I would be interested to get your take on some theories we have developed here today" Keliaya@anncarise gives Rumiho a wave, "Hey Cadet. Welcome on board. You've just arrived, right?" Rumiho Mitsuki@yf47dex#9446: Uh.. I suppose so sir... I can.. so did I basically miss everything important? Rumiho Mitsuki@yf47dex#9446 nods Keelah@crystyll: "Nothing specific, so worry not. I was simply giving one of my new senior staff a tour and once we caught up with Kelly here in engineering, we began to postulate some interesting theories for the + Keelah@crystyll: upcoming missoin. Tell me... how much do you know of this so far?" Rumiho Mitsuki@yf47dex#9446: Very little honestly, gomen.. I don't even know if I will be available for it even if I am selected for cadet assignment work.. it depends on the class scheduling... Keliaya@anncarise: "It could be a dangerous assignment. Are you with tactical or security?" Rumiho Mitsuki@yf47dex#9446: Technically the Flight Operations career path is under the Tactical branch sir Keelah@crystyll smiles, "Flight ops, perfect! So is your preference for starship helm or do you lean towards the small craft?" Keliaya@anncarise: "Oh! She might know something about maneuver feasability, at least more than I'd know..." Rumiho Mitsuki@yf47dex#9446: Both ideally.. but I have more experience with small craft due to the way Academy training works. I will be doing my first solo shuttle flights this semester. I have had some ship helm experience Rumiho Mitsuki@yf47dex#9446: during volunteer assignments though Keelah@crystyll gives Kelly a knowing nod, she had the same thought! Rumiho Mitsuki@yf47dex#9446: including some large ships like this... though.. not /this/ large Keelah@crystyll: "Well Cadet... that balance could be perfect for an impartial assessment of our theory..." Keelah@crystyll leans back, crossing one leg over and folding her hands in her lap, "Hypothetical; you are at the helm of a ship under attack. The enemy fires a single burst weapon with a 1.2 second charge time" Keelah@crystyll: "At close range; can you avoid the attack?" Keelah@crystyll wear a mix of intrigue and entertainment on her face, the question clearly not sounding as analytical and instructor like as it reads Rumiho Mitsuki@yf47dex#9446 tilts her head, "close range is a bit nebulous... but if the weapon is a typical energy weapon and doesn't have a secondary attack like proximity explosions... Rumiho Mitsuki@yf47dex#9446: ... it is potentially possible... but it depends on your ship's capabilities, that I know the thrust force of the maneuvering rockets, and where on the hull they are located Keliaya@anncarise: "Is it completely feasible at slightly longer ranges?" Rumiho Mitsuki@yf47dex#9446: actually I was about to say.. if I am completely honest sir... a good space pilot would never allow a close range during combat. It is a terrible move to make. Keelah@crystyll: "And one which may not be optional on our current assignment" Rumiho Mitsuki@yf47dex#9446: at longer ranges the options expand greatly.. to the point that strict avoidance is no longer even your only option. Rumiho Mitsuki@yf47dex#9446: I suppose you can't say why... Keelah@crystyll: "You have no doubt heard enough rumours around the starbase already regarding the demises of three ships recently..." Rumiho Mitsuki@yf47dex#9446: of course, but that doesn't tell me anything about upcoming missions Keelah@crystyll: "Indeed. What you may not know Cadet, is that this ship was the one to recover the survivors from that incident... and our mission is not yet complete" Rumiho Mitsuki@yf47dex#9446 nods, as if she expects something more Keliaya@anncarise: "And we're thinking the survivors might have been caught in the wormhole created by the enemy ships. If we follow that trail, there's a good chance we'll run into these ships again." Keelah@crystyll: "So we are preparing every countermeasure we can to safeguard this ship should that happen" Rumiho Mitsuki@yf47dex#9446: Understood Keelah@crystyll: "This includes a new protocol to automatically manage power distribution to the engines upon detection of a particular power signature; the beginning of this theorized 1.2 seconds" Keelah@crystyll: "The conept being; that our pilot instantly has the full manouvering capability of all engines should evasive be required without warning" Rumiho Mitsuki@yf47dex#9446 rubs her chin, "Interesting..." Rumiho Mitsuki@yf47dex#9446: so... did I pass the test? Keelah@crystyll smiles, "Had you not; then you would not have found yourself on board" Rumiho Mitsuki@yf47dex#9446 starts a bit, "There was another test? I didn't even know about it.." Rumiho Mitsuki@yf47dex#9446 looks a bit confused for a second Keelah@crystyll chuckles, "Your personnel record told me all I need to know. I see you growing into a fine helmsman and there is no better ship to apply your small craft experience to on a larger scale, than the Keelah@crystyll: Forge" Rumiho Mitsuki@yf47dex#9446 nods, "Thank you sir!” Keliaya@anncarise looks to Keelah, "We could use her for the simulations, it'll be less risky than putting her right in the seat. And if she familiarizes herself with the testing, she'll be able to pull it off - Keliaya@anncarise: when we actually run into their ships again." Keelah@crystyll nods and looks to Rumi, "The Forge is quite unique among ships her size in terms of manouverability. I'd wager that your small craft experience will weigh heavily in our favour there" Keelah@crystyll: "Since most come to her having already learned larger ships and expecting the same, then can be quite surprised!" Rumiho Mitsuki@yf47dex#9446: must have some really kickin' thrusters then Rumiho Mitsuki@yf47dex#9446: and a good inertial damping and structural integrity system... Keelah@crystyll chuckles, "That she does... now. I suggest you study up on the details before we run any simulations but in short; this is an extensive refit which includes a warp capable saucer section..." Keliaya@anncarise nods, "I've only started on the chief engineer job here, and it's already impressed me more than any other ship." Rumiho Mitsuki@yf47dex#9446: huh... Keelah@crystyll: "That secondary core serves to run the saucer's impulse drive independently of main engineering, and the positioning of the drive ports along the ventral axis are, welll... as you say + Rumiho Mitsuki@yf47dex#9446: I'll study the materials in my off time between classes and my EVA training though for sure! Keelah@crystyll: "...'kickin' thrusters'!" Rumiho Mitsuki@yf47dex#9446: an impulse drive run by a warp core?! They're usually run by independant fusion reactors... weird... Rumiho Mitsuki@yf47dex#9446 considers the additional consequences of that, "Sugoi..." Keelah@crystyll: "Of course... take my 'Captain speak' with a pinch of salt." she chuckles Keelah@crystyll was totally a chief engineer before command track... honest! Rumiho Mitsuki@yf47dex#9446: it's good Captain speak I think Keliaya@anncarise chuckles, "You've got as much engineering experience as me, if not more." Keelah@crystyll: ((seriously, i even built the MSD for this ship from the ground up, how do i make that slip dangit!)) Rumiho Mitsuki@yf47dex#9446 giggles a bit, "I could have fun bragging about this ship to my dad.. he's an Engineering Captain too! hehe." Keelah@crystyll: "Oh really? Is he stationed with the fleet here too?" Rumiho Mitsuki@yf47dex#9446 nods, "Hai!, Captain Kawamori of the U.S.S. Shadowfax Keelah@crystyll: "Shadowfax... Sovereign class right? That's a proud ship!" she smiles Rumiho Mitsuki@yf47dex#9446: Mostly Sovereign, it got an update to the primary hull.. it's a mixed class now" Keliaya@anncarise: "Oh, that's the one!" Keliaya@anncarise: "Mixing it up tends to work best in my experience. Sometimes classes are designed the way they are for a reason, but just because something works doesn't mean you should stop trying to improve it." Rumiho Mitsuki@yf47dex#9446: it spend 4 years in coreward uncharted deep space before he came back here... charting a new colony destination for an emigration fleet.. The ship needed the speed of a Vesta, but the resilience of Rumiho Mitsuki@yf47dex#9446: a Sovereign.. that's what he told me." Keliaya@anncarise: "Oh wow, one of those big long-time assignments then." Rumiho Mitsuki@yf47dex#9446 nods, I was still in high school when I last saw him in person before his return... not that I saw him a lot in person before that.. but that's neither here nor there." Keelah@crystyll nods slowly as she listens, "A situation that reverberates with many of us" Keliaya@anncarise: "He didn't choose to take family along?" Rumiho Mitsuki@yf47dex#9446: it's not really that simple. Keliaya@anncarise nods, "Not that I think he should, you never know what you can run into in deep space." Rumiho Mitsuki@yf47dex#9446 nods, "That too." Keliaya@anncarise: "If it were me, I'd leave family back on a safe Federation world." Rumiho Mitsuki@yf47dex#9446 smirks, "Well, I stayed on Earth.. with my mom, who I lived with.. because she had custody." Keliaya@anncarise: "Oh. Right." Keelah@crystyll chuckles Rumiho Mitsuki@yf47dex#9446 smile a bit Keliaya@anncarise: "Should've thought of that too...just not something common among my people." Rumiho Mitsuki@yf47dex#9446: my surname was a hint, hehe Keliaya@anncarise chuckles, "Surnames aren't exactly common among my people either." Keliaya@anncarise: "I'm used to the concept by now of course, deriving information from it just doesn't come as naturally to me." Keelah@crystyll smirks, "If you think the human concept is troublesome; try introducing yourself to our resident AI expert!" Keliaya@anncarise laughs, "Oh, I know what you're talking about there." Rumiho Mitsuki@yf47dex#9446: oh I heard the station had a person like that... Keelah@crystyll looks to Rumi to elaborate, "We refer to Mana. You may not have met her yet, but she is from a recently discovered species called Arshai. Their names are... intricate!" Keliaya@anncarise: "We picked her up back on the Gainsborough, first member of her species we've had contact with." Rumiho Mitsuki@yf47dex#9446: oh... I don't know either.. but there is someone else on the station I was thinking of Keelah@crystyll: "oh?" Rumiho Mitsuki@yf47dex#9446: I don't know the specifics, gomen.. they run one of the departments I think Keliaya@anncarise: "I think I know who you're talking about, she's a pretty famous scientist from what I know." Keliaya@anncarise stands, "Anyhow...I should get back to the data extraction. And check in with science to see what insights they can give on the wormhole theory." Rumiho Mitsuki@yf47dex#9446: Hai, it was nice to meet you Rumiho Mitsuki@yf47dex#9446 adds on a short bow to that Keelah@crystyll nods, "Please do lieutenant. I expect a full report before we ship it" Keliaya@anncarise: "Pleasure to meet you too. We'll try to have a good approximation of the enemy ship ready for simulation once you've familiarized yourself with the Valley Forge." Rumiho Mitsuki@yf47dex#9446 pauses for a second and then nods firmly Keliaya@anncarise waves as she heads off, "I'll see you both around!" Rumiho Mitsuki@yf47dex#9446 looks to the Captain, unsure what to say Keelah@crystyll: "Well Cadet, we have probably both lingered here long enough also. I should let you return to your studies" she smiles, also standing Rumiho Mitsuki@yf47dex#9446: Hai, I wanted to get in some EV suit calibration time actually. Rumiho Mitsuki@yf47dex#9446: I'm also training to be an EVA specialist besides a flight operator Keelah@crystyll chuckles, "Well you have fun with that now. Just don't forget to take a little downtime for yourself in between everything; it's all too easy to get swallowed up in your duty" Rumiho Mitsuki@yf47dex#9446: I'm Japanese sir... that is how we roll... hehe.. but no worries! Rumiho Mitsuki@yf47dex#9446 tosses up a v-sign with her hands to accompany a smile Keelah@crystyll smiles, "Good day, Cadet" giving a polite nod before heading out

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SUBMITTED: Stardate 93726.9 FILED BY: CAPT K Se'Lai SECURITY: Level 2 - Confidential

LOCATION: USS Valley Forge

MISSION: Preparation for Gainsborough SAR

OUTCOME: Ahead of the Search & Rescue mission to locate and recover lost escape pods from USS Gainsborough; Valley Forge teams must first develop strategies for any potential encounter with species 2492.

KEY PERSONNEL:

CAPT Se'Lai, LTCD Eunbi, LT Keliaya, SGT Blarg, CDT Mitsuki

NARRATIVE: A routine progress check conducted by myself and LTCD Eunbi - as my recently appointed second officer - led us to an extended review of all preparations for the upcoming SAR with LT Keliaya and her team.

A number of key points were addressed including:

• Tactical analysis

• Evasive countermeasures

• Counterattack

• SAR Wormhole theory

RECOMMENDATION:

• Tactical analysis Analysis suggests that species 2492 measures threat by direct correlation to starship size. Based on logically derived assumptions regarding sensor detection when the task force first arrived in the region; systems are being allocated to project sensor ghosts of larger vessels upon detection of species 2492.
  

• Evasive countermeasures A measured delay of 1.2 seconds was found between an initial neutrino buildup and the discharge of the dreadnaught's primary weapon. Valley Forge computer is being upgraded to accomodate an automated protocol to manage auxiliary power to the engines upon detection of this exact energy pattern; affording helm additional evasive capability.
  

• Counterattack This was addressed, but the lack of sensor data from the recovered Gainsborough computer core did not yield anything to work with.
  

• SAR Wormhole theory To quote ancient Earth literature; "Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth". Having exhausted the possibility that the missing pods were recovered, or lost in the debris field. The only remaining consideration is the proximity and timing of the dreadnaught's departure via wormhole. The current working theory is that the missing escape pod/s were caught up in it's event horizon. As an artificial wormhole, it's behaviour is less certain to us at present, though theory suggests that as the wormhole closed ahead of the escape pods with the dreadnaught exiting the other end; the pods may have been ejected at an earlier point along it's path. This theory will need to be further investigated at the source.

Extensive simulations are currently being planned for all above theories and will be tested as extensively as possible while en route to the incident site.

Additional note; recovery teams also captured a number of personal and duty logs from the Gainsborough's final tour - which would not have been captured by her last docked backup - and are in the process of distributing these accordingly. One of note is the Gainsborough's AAR from their encounter with the Arshai 'Mana' which will be presented to command once fully recompiled.