ST:TTV218 | "The Enemy Without"

Stardate 94517.4

Just a normal day on patrol...

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View Episode (FED)

Keelah@crystyll sits in the captain's chair. Keelah@crystyll FX | The VF bridge is a quiet hum of activity as the ship cruises at low warp Keelah@crystyll shifts a little in her seat, crossing one leg over as she taps on her armrest Keelah@crystyll: "Captain's log, stardate 94512.1. With our latest resupply from DS13 complete, we are once again returning to our exploration of the unmapped regions..." Keelah@crystyll: "Our destination; an uncharted binary system along the Alpha Quadrant border. Whilst this is typically a lone assignment - far from contact with friend or foe - our route to this sector thankfully Keelah@crystyll: takes us through a heavily patrolled regions which for many brings the comfort of familiarity in seeing familiar sights..." Keelah@crystyll taps to end the entry, "T'Quila, put her on screen" Keelah@crystyll | T'Quila nods, "Aye Captain" and on screen appears the distant MacAlpine as the VF approaches Keelah@crystyll smiles softly at the familiar sight, "Open a channel, Chief" to which T'Quila again nods Keelah@crystyll: <C> Valley Forge to MacAlpine; Captain Skye, it seems our transit route once again brings us along your patrol path. Care to ride shotgun while we cross your patch?" Fiona@falconecoose: <C> "Reading you Valley Forge, and aye, it would be a pleasure to ride shotgun with you once more." Keelah@crystyll 's smile widens slightly, "Glad to hear it. We're heading up to the Alpha Quadrant - " she looks down to the front, "Fisher; update the MacAlpine with our flight plan and bring us alongside" Keelah@crystyll: <C> "Holocomms are open if you want to 'pop' over, Captain" Fiona@falconecoose: <C> "Copy that, will be over in a moment then." Keelah@crystyll | Fisher, "Matching course and speed now. Damn that's a big ship..." Keelah@crystyll quirks a brow, "Envy Fisher?" Fiona@falconecoose appears as her image flickers slightly, as she catches the Fisher's statement "Yes, yes she is. Captain." the last would be with a nod to Keelah Keelah@crystyll | Fisher turns in his chair with a chuckle, "More... admiration, Captain..." his gaze shifts to the holo-Fi as Keelah looks around Keliaya@anncarise chuckles, "Size isn't everything. But the MacAlpine's one of the new Endeavour classes- best of the fleet in terms of tactical prowess." Keelah@crystyll: "Good to see you again Captain. How is patrol life these days?" Fiona@falconecoose nods her head slightly "Thank you for saying so, not bad got her out for a quick spin around the block before going back to the Liyan cluster." Keelah@crystyll: "Liyan, eh? Much happening that way at the moment?" Keelah@crystyll FX | VF forms up alongside MA and the two ships continue to cruise side by side Fiona@falconecoose: "Hopefully not, but the last time I went some fools decided to ambush the MA. Sent them packing though, they didn't take into count that she can split into three ships." Keelah@crystyll smirks, "Their faces must have been a picture! Well here's to smooth sailing for you this time around!" Keelah@crystyll | T'Quila picks up abruptly, checking her earpiece before turning to the centre, "Captain, I'm receiving a distress signal; audio only, seems like a repeater..." Fiona@falconecoose smiles slightly, a smile that dosn't quite reach her eyes though, "Aye hopefully, though they are sending a second ship with us this time. An old Excelsior..." cuts her self off at the mention of > Fiona@falconecoose > distress signal Keelah@crystyll FX | Fi's comm officer would also be picking up the signal Keliaya@anncarise: "Well...there goes an uneventful journey..." Keelah@crystyll glances to holo-Fi, "Let's hear it" she orders, leaning forward slightly Keelah@crystyll: <C> "This is the SNV Thana Vaneri to all allied forces; OSN colony is under attack from unknown forces, requesting immediate assistance! *message repeats on loop* Fiona@falconecoose rubs the bridge of her nose slightly "Why is it never a normal patrol when we run into the Valley Forge...something always happens.." she says with a small smile Keelah@crystyll | Fisher begins programming a course, while Vrolmacht starts readying systems and personnel Keliaya@anncarise: "OSN colony? That's the place with the Branded Lady station we captured a while back, right?" Keelah@crystyll rolls her eyes with a slight chuckle at Fi, "Hey, this is your patch! We're just passing through here... still, I remember that colony; it's the one they founded after we helped them liberate that Keelah@crystyll: facility from the Branded Lady..." she pauses for thought, "... a counterstrike perhaps?" Keliaya@anncarise: "That's my first reaction too..." Fiona@falconecoose speaks to a few people on her own bridge quickly "Hmm, could be...could be...would mean pirates then, and they are always /enjoyable/ to deal with." Keelah@crystyll: "Well let us not leave a friend in need..." she leans forward, "Chag; take us out" Keliaya@anncarise | Chag: "Aye captain." Keelah@crystyll FX | The Bolian nods before adjusting course. VF veering sideways with MA and accelerating to high warp, "We're quite a ways out Captain, eta... 35 minutes" Fiona@falconecoose looks over at Keelah "I'm taking the MacAlpine to yellow alert." Keliaya@anncarise looks to Keelah as well, "Probably a good idea to do that too before we warp out. We'll likely be emerging in a combat zone." Keelah@crystyll nods and looks to Vrolmacht who responds over his shoulder, "Already on it Captain! Nothing on long range sensors yet" Keelah@crystyll | T'Quila: "I am picking up comms chatter from the KDF, Captain..." she pauses and looks back, "Captain/s/... Seems they are sending a response as well from the Zenas Expanse" Keliaya@anncarise: "Zenas Expanse? That's quite some distance away, near the OSN main base." Keliaya@anncarise | Vrolmacht: "The Empire's pulled the KDF back to the core territories. Not many active forces out here anymore except for fringe groups and mercenaries." Keelah@crystyll smirks, "Then once in range, we'll inform their flag that we'll try to save them some of the action" Fiona@falconecoose glances over at her own tacital officer "Begin execution of Helios Echo 6." before she turns back to the Bridge of the Valley Forge "Hmm...never good when the Klingons get involved." Keelah@crystyll: "Oh I don't know, if someone's messing with their allies then you can be sure they will make them regret it..." Captain NPC@annpc#5570 | T'Quila: "Captain, I'm picking up a hail on Starfleet frequencies. Signature seems to be coming from a...USS Troy." Keelah@crystyll blinks and looks to Fi, her expression clearly questioning as she's not familiar with the name from the 38th Captain NPC@annpc#5570 FX | MacAlpine would get the same hail. Fiona@falconecoose shakes her slightly, signalling her own unfimiliarty with it Keelah@crystyll: "On screen" Keliaya@anncarise taps on her console, searching the ship up, "USS Troy...Norway class, looks like an Alpha Quadrant patrol. One of Vice Admiral Arishan's." Keelah@crystyll: "Thank you Kelly" she nods over her shoulder Captain NPC@annpc#5570 FX | The image of a bulky man with a moustache and mohawk style hair appears on the screen in a captain's uniform. Fiona@falconecoose nods slightly at the mention of the Vice Admiral, before she turns her gaze to the view screen Captain NPC@annpc#5570: "Well hello ladies," he smirks. "You got the call for help too, judgin' by your headin'?" Keelah@crystyll quirks a brow at the greeting, "That we did, Captain...?" Fiona@falconecoose raises her eyebrow slightly at mans informality, something not sitting right with her "Please identify your self and your command, as per standard procedure." Keelah@crystyll follows with a nod of 'what she said' Captain NPC@annpc#5570: "Name's Santiago. Cap'n Santiago of the USS Troy. We got the message too and we're en route to assist. Permission to form up?" Keelah@crystyll: "More ships will present better odds against the unknown..." Captain NPC@annpc#5570: "My thoughts exactly! The Troy's a fighter, but she ain't the newest ship." Keelah@crystyll: "Neither is the Valley Forge, Captain..." she chuckles, looking to Fi with thought of the earlier conversation Fiona@falconecoose nods slightly, still slightly on easy about the whole situation "Sounds like a solid idea then. I'm Captain Skye, USS MacAlpine." Keelah@crystyll nods as well, "Captain Se'Lai on the Valley Forge." Captain NPC@annpc#5570: "Nice to meet ya. We're comin' to rendez-vous with you now. You're the two cruiser weight ships, right?" Keelah@crystyll: "Yes, that would be us... unless you have any other Federation vessels on sensors?" Captain NPC@annpc#5570 looks offscreen to his crew before glancing back, "Nope, nothin' but the three o' us." Keliaya@anncarise turns to Keelah and holo-Fi, "Captains, according to the file, the Troy's CO is a Captain Daniel Raynor..." Fiona@falconecoose nods slightly as she mutes her holo comm as she speaks to her own bridge crew aout bringing up the files and reports relevant to the Troy Keelah@crystyll turns to Kelly at the new info then looks back, "Captain, it would seem our records are little out-dated. We still have the Troy listed under the command of Captain Raynor..." Fiona@falconecoose signals to her own tacital officer to do a silent signal of general quarters aboard the MA as the crew made to battle stations without the ship going to red alert fully Captain NPC@annpc#5570: "Oh. Yeah, outdated they are. We lost Cap'n Raynor in that pirate attack. Boarders came right for the bridge, thought gettin' rid of the command crew was gonna do the job." Captain NPC@annpc#5570: "We showed 'em what happens when they try to board a Starfleet ship. But we lost the cap'n and first mate and some good men." Keelah@crystyll: "I see... and your long range comms were damaged too I suppose, preventing you from reporting this to Command?" Captain NPC@annpc#5570: "Oh we did notify tha- our admiral about the attack. Should be in the records I think." Keelah@crystyll | Fisher updates, "Troy coming into range now" Fiona@falconecoose glances back to Keelah as she continues to speak to the 'captain' as Fi talks to her own bridge crew to search the Troy's crew manifest for a Santiago Keelah@crystyll | Silvestrie, "Captain, records do show the Troy was the victim of a pirate raid, no mention of the change in command though" Keelah@crystyll: "It would seem that small detail slipped their minds..." she mumbles off-comms Fiona@falconecoose as she was doing this she would also have them look up the Troy's command prefix code for worst case scenario Captain NPC@annpc#5570: "We're on approach. So, uhh...we gonna discuss tactics or anythin' before we get there?" Keelah@crystyll shifts, swapping her crossed leg as she considers her response, "Standard approach for unknown situations is pattern Bravo-2-4-Sierra, right?" Fiona@falconecoose unmutes her self to Keelah "Oh I have a good idea as well, I have thier command prefix." Captain NPC@annpc#5570: "Yeah, sounds right." Keelah@crystyll nods and turns to Fi off-comms, "Seems they may be needed. Vrolmacht... red alert, and ready a tractor beam" Keelah@crystyll: "Well Captain, would you like the honours, or shall we?" Keelah@crystyll she says to Fi, still off-comms Fiona@falconecoose grins slightly "With pleasure." as she motions to her XO to input the prefix command along with the command to disable the Troy's main power Captain NPC@annpc#5570 FX | The comm feed is cut as the Troy loses power and now begins drifting. Keelah@crystyll: "Now, Commander!" Keelah@crystyll FX | VF locks a tractor beam on the Troy Fiona@falconecoose nods lightly to Keelah "Seems they didn't choose to change thier command codes Fiona@falconecoose: " Keelah@crystyll: "Bless..." she chuckles Keliaya@anncarise: "Probably didn't even know about it..." Captain NPC@annpc#5570 FX | The Troy is caught in a tractor beam. A few seconds later, some escape pods begin to launch, a few also stuck in the beam but ones launching from the underside of the ship manage - Fiona@falconecoose laughs softly "No one ever dones, so what now? Boarding party? Oh watch them run..." Captain NPC@annpc#5570 - to hide in the shadow, avoiding the tractor and trying to flee. Keelah@crystyll: "Well as entertaining as this may be, we still have a distress call to respond to. So I suggest expediency..." Keelah@crystyll: "Board the ship and retake her while they are confused. Send her back to the nearest base with skeleton crew while we proceed forwards" Keliaya@anncarise: "What about the escape pods? Tractor them as well or leave them be?" Fiona@falconecoose nods lightly "I can have MACO Team 12 lead the boardig action." Keelah@crystyll nods to Fi's suggestion while answering Kelly, "I'm sure between us we have the capacity the transport them all into custody" Fiona@falconecoose motions to someone on her bridge quickly "The Cochrane, our Aquarius, is getting ready to launch as well to help with the clean up." Captain NPC@annpc#5570 FX | The escape pods try to run, but they're not particularly fast. Keelah@crystyll: "I'l have a detachment join your MACO's, and..." she hesitates briefly, "...Mia. With the systems off over there, she should be able to assist in quickly restoring computer control" Keelah@crystyll: "With your consent of course, Captain" she smiles Keelah@crystyll FX | VF begins systematically transporting pods in range while a pair of shuttles also launch to retrieve those further out with MA's Aquarius Keliaya@anncarise: "Mia? She has been wanting to go on an away mission for the longest time..." Fiona@falconecoose nods lightly "Sounds fine to me and the MACOs say it is ok as long as they follow thier orders while over their, you know how MACOs are." Keelah@crystyll: "She has, and while she is not a Starfleet officer; she is a serving officer on this ship. Circumstances here are favourable to her unique skillset, so I would remiss to discount her up front" Keelah@crystyll looks to Fi with a chuckle, "I guess you haven't met her before. She is... exciteable, but good at what she does. Alright, let's get this show on the road!" Captain NPC@annpc#5570 FX | Voices echo down the lift shaft from the bridge, "No, the escape pods ain't an option! Get the damn power online! I thought you said you knew how to work this ship!" Sharpe@falconecoose both turbolift doors explode outwards into the bridge followed by first a flashbang and then as a section of MACOs swing out of each moving up into cover and firing at those that they can see Captain NPC@annpc#5570 FX | The MACO down two of the crewman, but 'Cap'n Santiago' manages to duck into cover in time. Captain NPC@annpc#5570: "Frak they're already here! Grenades!" Captain NPC@annpc#5570 | Crewman: 'We don't have grenades on this bridge boss!" Captain NPC@annpc#5570: "Well phasers then! Whatever these Starfleet folks keep!" Captain NPC@annpc#5570 | Crewman: "I /have/ a phaser! I can't see a thing!" Mia@crystyll | Miadrone doesn't exit the shaft, instead going up through the access panels and working her through the utility shafts to emerge on the far side of the bridge when she sees an opportune moment Captain NPC@annpc#5570: "What did you say?!" Captain NPC@annpc#5570 | Crewman: "I can't see a thing! I can barely here you either!" Captain NPC@annpc#5570: "What?! Oh if you want something done properly..." Captain NPC@annpc#5570 | 'Santiago' fires blindly at the direction the flashbang came from, turning away from the other lift. Sharpe@falconecoose the MACOs keep firing as Sharpe shouts out towards the pirates "This is your one and only chance to surrender, we are MACOs and our weapons are set to kill." she finishes speaking as she ducks > Captain NPC@annpc#5570 FX | The MACOs take out a large Orion dressed in a clearly undersized tactical uniform. Sharpe@falconecoose > behind the bannister as the section from the other lift try to supress the pirates position Captain NPC@annpc#5570 | Crewman: "I surrender!" Captain NPC@annpc#5570: "What did you say?" Captain NPC@annpc#5570 | Crewman: 'It's over! Let's surrender!" Captain NPC@annpc#5570: "I'll shoot you myself if I have to! No surrender!" Captain NPC@annpc#5570 FX | The surrendering crewman ducks out of cover and gets shot immediately. Mia@crystyll signals on MACO earpieces: "We are in place to provide a distraction if needed" Captain NPC@annpc#5570: "See?! That's what happens when you surrender! Everyone keep firin'! Uhh...everyone?" Captain NPC@annpc#5570 FX | Only Santiago and a Tellarite in a blue shirt remain, entrenched in good defensive positions. Sharpe@falconecoose taps on her TACPADD for Mia to provide the distraction as the 2nd Section continue to try and supress the remaing two pirates as the ones with Sharpe try to push closer Mia@crystyll acknowledges and creeps out the access panel, approaching the central section behind the cover of the... step^^ Mia@crystyll as she draws close enough, she emits her distraction... Captain NPC@annpc#5570 FX | The pirates spin around at the sudden distraction. Captain NPC@annpc#5570: "Wha' the?! Mia@crystyll: FX | A pair of holo 23c Mia's suddenly appear either side of the 'Cap'n' and begin fawning over him! Mia@crystyll: (NOT Envirosuit Mias...) Captain NPC@annpc#5570: "Where did you...is this a part of the ship?!" Sharpe@falconecoose Sharpe and her MACOs sprint forward and pop a photon grenade over the cover the pirates where hiding behind to try and land it next to them Mia@crystyll FX | A third appears front and centre of the bridge, "Emergency Command Holographic systems engaged" Captain NPC@annpc#5570 FX | The grenade takes out the Tellarite, but Santiago's cover protects him from the explosion. Captain NPC@annpc#5570 notices he is all alone now and drops his weapon, "Okay, okay! I give up!" Captain NPC@annpc#5570 looks from Mia to Mia, "You can have your ship back now!" Mia@crystyll | the ECH projection turns on Santiago, "You are not mon Capitaine" Sharpe@falconecoose looks at the 'captain' "Apologies 'captain' you had your chance to surrender, we don't do second chances in this team..." as she trains her rifle on the center of his chest Captain NPC@annpc#5570: "No I'm not. Hey hey hey! Wait! I can give you your cap'n back!" Sharpe@falconecoose moves around the bannister as another MACO also keeps thier gun on him as the rest secure the bridge"Oh really is that so?" Mia@crystyll FX | The ECH projection fades and true Mia appears with the drone rising behind the ops console Captain NPC@annpc#5570 nods nervously, none of his previous bravado apparent now, "Yeah, the creepy woman, she kept him alive but you gotta hurry. Backup power's runnin' out. Take me in alive and I'll tell ya where - Captain NPC@annpc#5570 - to find him, I promise!" Captain NPC@annpc#5570: "Look, I wasn't tryin' to kill you or anythin'! I couldn't run with you catchin' all those pods, so I thought I might as well stay and fight, yeah?" Captain NPC@annpc#5570: "Gun was set on stun the whole time! I think...haven't used a Starfleet phaser for long..." Sharpe@falconecoose: "Would this 'creepy lady' be one refered to as the branded lady? And why should I belive you...why shouldn't you get shot 'while trying to escape'?" Captain NPC@annpc#5570: "Cause I'm not tryin' to escape, honest! An' yeah, that's her. Didn't want nothin' to do with the Starfleet ship but she wanted samples." Sharpe@falconecoose: "Samples? Samples of what?" Mia@crystyll taps away on the console as the drone restores power locally for core access Captain NPC@annpc#5570: "People! Y'know, what the docs do, hypos and swabs and all that." Mia@crystyll: "It would seem that the Branded Lady was keeping the crew for genetic experimentation. We believe they are held in stasis in sickbay still" Captain NPC@annpc#5570: "Damn it lady, don't give away my life card!" Sharpe@falconecoose: "Relay that back to the ships. So then 'Captain' you appear to be out of cards." Mia@crystyll nods as Miadron transmits the report back to both vessels Captain NPC@annpc#5570: "That's just great....hey she didn't harm your prisoners, the Eye wanted 'em dead but she said she don't kill folks who just happen to be caught in the middle." Mia@crystyll: "Capitaine; Capitaine Keelah acknowledges the report and requests prisoner transfer for further questioning" Captain NPC@annpc#5570: "We got some of your people alive, you shouldn't kill me! Treat me the way I treat you, yeah?" Sharpe@falconecoose considers just pulling the trigger before she conceeds as she approaches the pirate "Ok, tell the captain to prepare to stand by to recive single prisoner." as she swings the butstock of her rifle> Sharpe@falconecoose > at him to attempt to knock him out Captain NPC@annpc#5570 is knocked out by the blow Mia@crystyll 's projection fades as the drone approaches the now KO's pirate Mia@crystyll | Miadrone hovers close, jabbing the side of his neck with a replicated tool fixing on it's nose before hovering back and Mia appearing Mia@crystyll: "He is tagged for transport now" she says, reporting both locally and vid drone comms to the VF Sharpe@falconecoose nods slightly as she turns to the other MACOs "We good to go then? We can get the skeleton crew to beam over to take command now I persume." Mia@crystyll looks to Sharpe, "We can restore minimal power, but ships systems will take time to come fully online. With your permission, we will prioritize sickbay and request medical support" Sharpe@falconecoose: "Sounds good to me, do what you have to do." Captain NPC@annpc#5570 FX | The pirate impostor is beamed back to the VF. Mia@crystyll FX | A short while later, with emergency power restored throughout the ship, Kazra hails the bridge from sickbay, "Hey guys, so... seems we have a Captain again. Raynor is fit and well, and on his Mia@crystyll: way up to you. Have fun!" Captain NPC@annpc#5570 | Captain Raynor steps out of the now functional turbolift onto the bridge. Sharpe@falconecoose is lightly tapping on her TACPADD before she glances up as the captain exits the turbolift Mia@crystyll registers teh Captain's presence and emits a Bosun's call whistle from the drone as Mia turns, "Capitaine on deck!" Captain NPC@annpc#5570 smiles, "It's good to be back. I hope you'll forgive my appearance, I...just woke from stasis." Captain NPC@annpc#5570 steps down the stairs and extends a hand towards Sharpe, "Captain Dan Raynor." Mia@crystyll FX | A few techs work around the bridge, and Mia ofc. But otherwise is still as barren as most of the ship Sharpe@falconecoose nods slightly "Captain, I'm Captain Sharpe, MACO Team 12 from the USS MacAlpine." as she takes his hand Captain NPC@annpc#5570 shakes her hand, "Nice to meet you, Captain Sharpe. I suppose I have you to thank for getting my ship back in one piece?" Sharpe@falconecoose shugs slightly "I just did my job and breached an objective." Captain NPC@annpc#5570: "You did your job very well, might I say. If only we had you around back when we first were boarded." Captain NPC@annpc#5570: "But the past's the past. Give my thanks to your MACOs. I owe you one." Sharpe@falconecoose: "Thank you for saying so Captain, but I'm just a soldier and I will pass it on." Captain NPC@annpc#5570 smiles and nods before turning to Mia, "You're not a MACO..." Mia@crystyll smiles, "No, we are an Iso!" Captain NPC@annpc#5570: "Iso?" he spots the drone, "Ahh, new lifeform?" Captain NPC@annpc#5570: "New to the Federation, at least." Mia@crystyll: "Very astute mon Capitaine! We are Mia, from the Valley Forge. We came to help the MACO's restore emergency power" Captain NPC@annpc#5570 smiles and extends his hand, "Pleasure to meet you, Mia. Always nice to have new friends." Mia@crystyll takes his hand, "It is why we are here, is it not! We will remain and help your crew restore control as long as our direct interface can be of benefit. But our ships are on an urgent mission and must Mia@crystyll: depart post haste!" Captain NPC@annpc#5570 nods, "I appreciate all you can give. Once what's left of my crew is up and settled we should have the numbers to crew Troy back to the nearest starbase." Captain NPC@annpc#5570: "Thank you for your help, Mia." Mia@crystyll dips her head, "Bon voyage, mon Capitaine!" Captain NPC@annpc#5570 dips his head back in return, "Likewise."

View Episode (KDF)

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: *nods to bartender* The usual. *turns to Lexi* Ah, good to see you around.

Lexi@crystyll looks up from her raktajino with a nod, "Captain"

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: Had some time to settle in?

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: *nods to Egzo as she takes the glass offered by the bartender.

Lexi@crystyll nods slowly as she ponders, "Yeah... I think we're finding our feet now just about. Was actually meaning to ask you on that subject as it goes..."

Egzo@HF_Mudd walks up to the bar and calls for a glass of Dosi whiskey, with a nod to the boss and the other (Trill) female.

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: What do you need?

B'Atar@anncarise strolls into the bar, "Captain," she nods to Lexi and Egzo as well.

[Local] Lexi@crystyll: "Well, with all the action we're seeing out here... I grow fearful for the sustained wellbeing of my passengers"

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: *nods to b'atar* Commander.

[Local] Lexi@crystyll: "So I was wondering - now we have the funds for it - if we might rent accommodation for them here on the station?"

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: Passengers?

Lexi@crystyll turns - drink in hand - to greet the others with a raised mug before taking a long slurp as she looks back to Sadia

Egzo@HF_Mudd collects his drink order, and knocks about half of the glass back with a gulp and a shudder.

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: What kind of passengers?

[Local] Lexi@crystyll: "Lady Tinith Dronurr and the surviving members of the House. Most importantly... Dronurr's heir"

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: Wait...you've been holding those people in your ship all this time?

Egzo@HF_Mudd raises a thick brow at Lexi, and sips more carefully at the rest of the whiskey.

Lexi@crystyll nods firmly, "It was my oath to Dronurr that I protect them. This is proving increasingly risky with the amount of combat we are seeing..."

[Local] B'Atar@anncarise: "Must be one packed raptor..."

[Local] Lexi@crystyll: "Not that I doubt my crew of course, but you never know..."

Lexi@crystyll gives an exaggerated nod of 'you have no idea' to B'Atar

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: Well, there's more options than the base, but what numbers are we talking about?

[Local] Lexi@crystyll: "A little over 100. I was... tentative about broaching the topic before given Dronurr's - and my - standing with the Empire"

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: *rubs her chin* Well, your House is not discommendated or such. Do you expect your enemy to come here and cause problems?

[Local] Lexi@crystyll: "I expect our enemy considers them all to be dead, and wish to see it remain that way until I can clear Dronurr's name"

[Local] B'Atar@anncarise: "You got a plan for doing that yet, or?"

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: Then perhaps starbase housing might not be the best idea, due to the traffic. Setting them up on the Chu Tul colony might be a better idea.

Lexi@crystyll shakes her head despondently before looking back to Sadia, "That would be most agreeable I'm sure, thank you Captain"

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: Aside from the Capitol city and series of lakeside villages, there's still a lot of free space.

[Local] Egzo@HF_Mudd: They can set up their own little house-in-exile.

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: Setting a small community away from the main bustle should be easy, and will not draw attention.

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: *nods to Egzo*

[Local] B'Atar@anncarise: "That's a good idea."

[Local] Lexi@crystyll: "Sounds charming" she smiles a little, "But enough business, how's things here?"

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: Well, our Alarian neighbours are preparing for a full scale war against the Breen.

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: I also received direct orders from the High Command to "sit tight and observe" regarding the Hur'q.

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: *Hur'q situation.

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: I just returned from the staff meeting of the 4th fleet on Defera. Koth was livid about the decision.

Lexi@crystyll faux-spits to the side in disgust, "Sit tight... spineless petaQ! For centuries the Great Houses have thrived on boasting about their wish for glory against a worthy enemy like the Hur'q. Now they +

[Local] Lexi@crystyll: appear, and the High Council cowers like a child!"

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: Well, not everyone agrees with this. Martok is planning something, that's for sure, as he was given free hands to gather "volunteers".

[Local] Lexi@crystyll: "Martok is many things, but a coward is not one them. From what I've heard he is quite the strategist so if he is putting something together you can bet it will be glorious!"

B'Atar@anncarise nods, "Aye, he's quite well known for his battles in the Dominion War."

[Local] B'Atar@anncarise: "What about the Dominion by the way? They still playing nice?"

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: I've been in contact with some of the....like minded individuals. There will be a series of meetings, some of said people are moving towards the front, and one of such meetings will happen on Risa -

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: - in the next few weeks. I plan to be there.

[Local] Egzo@HF_Mudd: "Meetin's on Risa? Count me in."

Egzo@HF_Mudd grins, and tosses back the last of his whiskey.

Lexi@crystyll smirks, "Me too!"

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: Well, they called for some kind of diplomatic meeting on Deep Space Nine. It seems that the Hur'q hit them hard, and they are asking for aid. So I guess they are playing good...for now.

[Local] B'Atar@anncarise: "You're telling me the Feds defend a pleasure planet better than a deep space station?"

[Local] B'Atar@anncarise: "...figures."

[Local] Egzo@HF_Mudd: "Well, Risa's closer to their core. Bajor's way out here."

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: *to B'atar* Eh? Did I say something wrong?

[Local] Egzo@HF_Mudd: "Same for the Empire 'n us."

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: Talks with the Dominion are on the DS9. Risa stuff is relating the Martok's volunteer force.

[Local] Egzo@HF_Mudd: "Now, the good side a' that is that things are usually more... relaxed."

Lexi@crystyll FX | Sadia's comm beeps

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: I want to meet with some of the people that are interested or on the fence. *she sips* I feel the tides are shifting, and there's an opportunity to be seized - glory and otherwise - for backing -

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: *frowns and taps her wrist-comm* Cynis here.

[Local] Lexi@crystyll: <C: Ops> Captain, Lt Ngabh. We just received a priority hail from Tabadi Mysti, she is asking for you

Lexi@crystyll looks tentatively to Sadia as she hears the comm chatter

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: <C> Patch it through.

[Local] Lexi@crystyll: <C: Mysti> Sadia? Thank the stars! You've got to com- *explosion* -colony under atta- *static*.....

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: <C> Cynis here, what is your location? Dammit, Cynis to OPS, track that transmission!

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: Folks, saddle up, seems we have some work to do!

[Local] Lexi@crystyll: <C: Ngabh> It's coming from the OSN colony, Captain. Trying to re-establish a connection but just getting an automated SOS repeater

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: *to Lexi* We can give your folks temporary quarters on the base before we leave, but do it quick!

Egzo@HF_Mudd sets his empty glass on the bar and works his shoulders.

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: *to OPS* Get me two more ships up and about in 15 minutes.

[Local] Lexi@crystyll: <C> "This is the SNV Thana Vaneri to all allied forces; OSN colony is under attack from unknown forces, requesting immediate assistance! *message repeats on loop*

[Local] B'Atar@anncarise: "Well...looks like they need our help again..."

Lexi@crystyll nods and hits her wristcomp, "QanwI', evacuate all non-essentials to the station and prep for immediate launch!"

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: All right, see you up in 15!

Lexi@crystyll nods and heads off to join her ship

B'Atar@anncarise heads to the shipyard to launch the San'leth.

Lexi@crystyll 's holo appears as the QanwI' comes alongside, "We're all set here"

[Local] Egzo@HF_Mudd: "Hag'lhr's ready for action."

[Local] B'Atar@anncarise: "San'leth here and ready."

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: *appears as a holo* Daramar is ready, transmitting OSN colony coordinates.

[Local] Lexi@crystyll: "Got it. Ready to warp out on your mark"

[Local] B'Atar@anncarise: "San'leth standing by to warp as well."

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: All right, form up on Daramar and warp on my mark.

Lexi@crystyll FX | all response ships form up on Daramar and warp out to the colony

Lexi@crystyll FX | As the task forces cruises along at high warp, voices can be heard in the background of Lexi's bridge, growing louder and louder...

Lexi@crystyll | "...Qoy qeylIs puqloD, Qoy puqbe'pu', yoHbogh matlhbogh je SuvwI'..."

B'Atar@anncarise smirks at the battle singing and joings in, and soon San'leth's bridge is doing the same!

Lexi@crystyll grins wickedly as she starts to sing along with her crew as well

[Local] Lexi@crystyll: ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lJbXdRsKU0 )

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: FX | Open frequencies and soon Daramar bridge is singing as well.

Egzo@HF_Mudd chuckles as some of the members of his crew join in, and sways along in his command chair with the beat of the chant.

B'Atar@anncarise FX | As they begin to drop out of warp the singing starts to fade on San'leth's bridge.

Lexi@crystyll looks to Sadia with a chuckle, "I think it's safe to say that my crew are thankful for the freedom granted in their burden of caution being lifted!"

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: You are welcome. Now let's get to business! *barks to someone below* Sensor sweep!

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: Battle stations!

B'Atar@anncarise smirks before looking to her viewscreen and her smirk turns into a growl, "Looks like it's that Branded Bitch again. Reading one of those Nausicaan frigates...wait..."

[Local] B'Atar@anncarise: (Sensor rolls!)

Lexi@crystyll nods as she gets her gameface on, barking orders on her own bridge, "Engage the cloak and scout the system, full sensor sweep!"

[Emotes] Lexi@crystyll: rolls 26 (1-100)

[Team] Lexi@crystyll: dammit man, i said /full/ sweep! not peek out the window...

[Team] B'Atar@anncarise: Hehe

[Emotes] Sadia@gulremal: rolls 99 (1-100)

[Emotes] Egzo@HF_Mudd: rolls 28 (1-100)

[Team] Lexi@crystyll: also just because it's the only theme i can have when doing combat with lexi...

[Team] Lexi@crystyll: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=12&v=3o-b4NbWecE

[Team] Egzo@HF_Mudd: (sigh)

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: *just as a note, Daramar is not cloaked, though I have no issues if others are*

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: *observes some readings on her bridge* What freak brigade is this?! We've got Tzenkethi cruiser, two tholian and two nausicaan frigates. Sharing the sensor data.

[Local] B'Atar@anncarise: "I'm seeing this too...probably salvaged ships like the Branded Lady's but she doesn't use Tholian tech, does she?"

[Local] Lexi@crystyll: "Not that I can recall. What about the Thana, any sign of her?"

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: Trying to figure that out myself. Open hailing frequencies to any OSN forces!

Egzo@HF_Mudd waits for an answer, if any is coming.

B'Atar@anncarise FX | The two Nausicaan frigates spot the Daramar and turn to attack!

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: IKS Daramar to any OSN forces, respond! Egzo, B'atar, removes those nausicaan frigates, we are going for the cruiser!

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: *remove

B'Atar@anncarise -ROUND ONE-

[Local] B'Atar@anncarise: (Egzo, B'Atar, Lexi, Sadia)

[Local] B'Atar@anncarise: "Let's decloak and get the little ones off the captain!"

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: Lexi, assist whom, you see fit!

[Local] B'Atar@anncarise: -EGZO'S TURN-

Egzo@HF_Mudd picks out one of the frigates, and gives the commands to "**** it up".

[Emotes] Egzo@HF_Mudd: rolls 12 (1-100)

[Local] Egzo@HF_Mudd: (reroll )

[Local] Egzo@HF_Mudd: "You heard the lady. That one. Decloak and fire!"

[Emotes] Egzo@HF_Mudd: rolls 41 (1-100)

[Team] Egzo@HF_Mudd: (not embarrassing, at least )

[Team] Lexi@crystyll: hehe

B'Atar@anncarise FX | Hag'Ihr decloaks and in a barrage of fire obliterates the frigate's shields and damages its weapons systems.

B'Atar@anncarise | It breaks off its attack run and makes back for the cruiser...who supports it by lending its power and shields, quickly begining to recharge the damaged ship's defenses.

[Local] B'Atar@anncarise: -B'ATAR'S TURN-

B'Atar@anncarise | San'leth mirrors Egzo and decloaks to fire on the other frigate.

[Emotes] B'Atar@anncarise: rolls 49 (1-100)

[Team] Egzo@HF_Mudd: (mirrors indeed, with that roll)

[Team] B'Atar@anncarise: Yeah...

[Team] Sadia@gulremal: though b'atar has far higher combat skill

B'Atar@anncarise FX | Once again the frigate is forced to break off. This one doesn't get help from the Tzenkethi cruiser though, it's already busy helping Egzo's target.

[Local] B'Atar@anncarise: -LEXI'S TURN-

Lexi@crystyll | QanwI' sweeps in and decloaks to unleash a barrage of cannon fire and a torpedo on the vulnerable frigate

[Emotes] Lexi@crystyll: rolls 25 (1-100)

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: "Charge the coaxial autocannon!"

[Local] Lexi@crystyll: (reroll)

[Emotes] Lexi@crystyll: rolls 83 (1-100)

[Team] Lexi@crystyll: *boom* xD

B'Atar@anncarise FX | QanwI' finishes off the vulnerable frigate!

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: "Target the cruiser's front shield, just below the command deck, they are weakest there!"

[Local] B'Atar@anncarise: "Nice shot!"

[Local] B'Atar@anncarise: -SADIA'S TURN-

Lexi@crystyll nods and grunts commendingly to her tactical officer, who doesn't need to be executed today just yet

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: <FX> Daramar spools up the main autocannon, and fires a stream of high-energy disruptor bolts directly at the cruiser.

[Emotes] Sadia@gulremal: rolls 81 (1-100)

[Team] Egzo@HF_Mudd: (PAIN)

B'Atar@anncarise FX | The cruiser, already having weakened shields from fighting the Orion defenders, takes a severe hit. It returns fire blindly, none of it hitting the Daramar as its targetting system is -

B'Atar@anncarise - clearly fried.

B'Atar@anncarise FX | The two Tholian ships begin to zoom around the damaged larger ship, spinning a defensive web between the Tzenkethi cruiser and the Daramar.

[Local] B'Atar@anncarise: -ROUND TWO-

[Local] B'Atar@anncarise: (Egzo, B'Atar, Lexi, Sadia)

B'Atar@anncarise FX | The damaged cruiser has stopped sharing power with the remaining Nausicaan frigate, which has low shields and still minimal weapons.

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: "B'atar, Lexi, go for the cruiser, don't let em get away! Disable if you can, destroy if you must!"

[Local] B'Atar@anncarise: -EGZO'S TURN-

Egzo@HF_Mudd points at the frigate. "Finish him."

[Emotes] Egzo@HF_Mudd: rolls 43 (1-100)

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: Leave the Tholians to me, it will be too long to manuever around that web to get a shot at the cruiser for Daramar.

B'Atar@anncarise FX | Hag'lhr does manage to finish the frigate, but not as spectacularly as QanwI'. The shots obliterate the bridge and almost all systems on the frigate go down, though it doesn't explode, simply-

[Team] Sadia@gulremal: I suppose the tholians erected that straight energy wall between daramar and cruiser?

B'Atar@anncarise -drifts lifelessly.

[Team] B'Atar@anncarise: Mhmm, that's what I'm thinking!

[Local] B'Atar@anncarise: "On it, captain!"

[Team] Sadia@gulremal: okay, my orders stand also, a ship to grab for egzo

[Local] Egzo@HF_Mudd: | <FX> Hag'lhr banks away from the drifting, burning wreck, seeking another target.

[Local] B'Atar@anncarise: -B'ATAR'S TURN-

B'Atar@anncarise | San'leth zooms towards the cruiser for an attack run.

[Emotes] B'Atar@anncarise: rolls 23 (1-100)

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: "Their front shields are completely down, hit them there!"

B'Atar@anncarise | San'leth scores a few grazing hits, but nothing as serious as the damage Daramar inflicted. The shots take out one of their fore weapons but nothing more.

B'Atar@anncarise FX | The frigate Egzo disabled must have been the one responsible for jamming, as comms with the OSN come through and an Orion woman wearing a Tabadi's tiara shows up on screen.

B'Atar@anncarise | Orion: "This is...Davni...Klingon...can you read me?"

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: "We are reading you, Tabadi. We have engaged the attackers, sit tight!"

B'Atar@anncarise | Davni: "We're grateful for your asssistance. They've got stealth ships, keep an eye out..."

B'Atar@anncarise -SURPRISE COUNTERATTACK-

Lexi@crystyll grumbles under her breath, "Of course they have..."

B'Atar@anncarise | An old design of the Romulan Mogai suddenly decloaks behind QanwI' and begins pursuing!

[Local] B'Atar@anncarise: -LEXI'S TURN-

[Local] Lexi@crystyll: "Let's finish this! lock a tractor beam on that hulk and prepare for hard burn!"

Lexi@crystyll FX | QanwI' tractors the dead frigate as it's engines burn a bright white and it accelerates head on at the cruiser under another barrage of cannon fire, releasing the tractor just as it banks up and

[Local] Lexi@crystyll: over the larger ship

[Emotes] Lexi@crystyll: rolls 64 (1-100)

B'Atar@anncarise FX | The Mogai turns just in time to avoid complete destruction, but the flying wreck slices half of the Romulan ship's wing off!

[Local] B'Atar@anncarise: "Nice move! Always thought those ships had oversized wings...why not just build a few good bird of preys or raptors with all those resources?"

[Local] B'Atar@anncarise: -SURPRISE COUNTERATTACK-

Lexi@crystyll slams a fist on her armrest triumphantly, "I'll drink to that... later!"

B'Atar@anncarise FX | The familiar form of a large dreadnaught comprised of various salvaged components decloaks behind the Daramar, pinning the big KDF ship between the Tholian web and itself...

B'Atar@anncarise FX | The Salvage-Ship begins to charge up its javelin weapon...

[Local] B'Atar@anncarise: -SADIA'S TURN-

[Local] Lexi@crystyll: ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BU9teDF-w8s )

[Team] Lexi@crystyll: just for that foreboding intro with the dreaded salvage dreadnaught arrival xD

[Team] B'Atar@anncarise: Good choice of music!

[Team] Lexi@crystyll: yay!

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: *Curses* "Screw this! Auxiliary power to SIF, reinforce the aft shields, FULL REVERSE! ALL HANDS BRACE FOR IMPACT!"

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: <FX> Daramar goes into full reverse, rushing right into the dreadnaught.

Lexi@crystyll 's eyes widen at hearing Sadia's order, "Well that's one way to do it... Hang on Captain, we'll be right with you!"

[Emotes] Sadia@gulremal: rolls 84 (1-100)

[Team] Lexi@crystyll: nice xD

[Team] Sadia@gulremal: *sounds of frantic poking at the skills on tray*

[Team] Lexi@crystyll: hehe

B'Atar@anncarise FX | Daramar smashes into the dreadnought, disrupting its charged attack and dealing damage to both ships.

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: *shakes in her chair* "Assault teams 1 through 50 prepare for insertion!"

B'Atar@anncarise FX | While the dreadnought suffers more damage, some of its arms begin closing in as if wrapping around the KDF ship. Soon, mining beams start drilling into Daramar's hull...

B'Atar@anncarise FX | Its other arms continue spraying the battlefield with fire, forcing San'leth to break off from the Tzenkethi cruiser...

B'Atar@anncarise -ROUND THREE-

Egzo@HF_Mudd curses, watching all of this occur on Hag'lhr's main viewer as he follows Sadia's order, looking for some way to help.

[Local] B'Atar@anncarise: (Egzo, B'Atar, Lexi, Sadia)

[Team] Egzo@HF_Mudd: (Any ships besides the DN?)

[Team] Egzo@HF_Mudd: (Cruiser, still?)

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: "If anyone hears this, target the mining drills or deal with other surviving enemies as you see fit!"

[Team] B'Atar@anncarise: (Enemy still has a badly damaged mogai and the two Tholian frigates)

[Team] B'Atar@anncarise: (But they are maintaining the net!)

[Local] Egzo@HF_Mudd: "Daramar is stuck in - go for the cruiser."

[Local] Egzo@HF_Mudd: <FX> Hag'lhr engages the Tzenkethi cruiser, spraying fire at anything that looks like a good target.

[Emotes] Egzo@HF_Mudd: rolls 99 (1-100)

B'Atar@anncarise FX | The Tzenkethi ship explodes dramatically...but Hag'lhr's sensors still pick up some signal from its location...

[Local] Egzo@HF_Mudd: "What...?"

B'Atar@anncarise FX | Another ship decloaks...a much newer KDF ship...with the sigil of the House of Torg on its hull.

[Local] B'Atar@anncarise: "Traitors from the Empire...should've expected as much with this lot," she growls.

Lexi@crystyll snarls at the sight of the new arrival, "Torg..." she spits

B'Atar@anncarise FX | Sensors read the ship as a heavily modified Vor'Kang.

[Local] B'Atar@anncarise: -B'ATAR'S TURN-

B'Atar@anncarise | San'leth tries to dash under the Vor'Kang for an attack run!

[Emotes] B'Atar@anncarise: rolls 1 (1-100)

[Team] Lexi@crystyll: ouch

[Team] B'Atar@anncarise: Yeah...

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: *sadia's holo would flicker, but she's holding to her chair, tapping something on the chair console* "OPS, beam all explosives of munitions bays 3 and 4 onto the enemy arm extensions!"

[Team] Sadia@gulremal: also, not hijacking turn order, juts preparing for my action

[Team] Sadia@gulremal: no rerolls?

B'Atar@anncarise FX | It seems the Salvage-Ship was expecting someone to charge the traitor ship and had an arm aimed all along. A heavy shot swats the San'leth off course, sending it spinning with its shields down

[Team] Sadia@gulremal: you have at least 5 one-time use rerolls

[Team] B'Atar@anncarise: I do!

[Team] B'Atar@anncarise: But not rerolling here, I have a plan hehe

[Team] B'Atar@anncarise: It suits B'Atar to do a mad rush from time to time!

[Team] Sadia@gulremal: okay, also, I just checked, and since you made more than a dozen of AARs, you actually have 2 re-rolls per event

[Team] B'Atar@anncarise: Oh yeah!

B'Atar@anncarise -LEXI'S TURN-

Lexi@crystyll FX | QanwI' banks around and charges at the nearest arm pinning Daramar, firing a stream of torpedoes into the middle of it

[Emotes] Lexi@crystyll: rolls 88 (1-100)

B'Atar@anncarise FX | QanwI' manages to sever that arm!

[Local] B'Atar@anncarise: -SADIA'S TURN-

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: <FX> As the explosives - mostly torpedoes - are being beamed onto/into the arms of the dreadnaught, Sadia pokes at the console - seconds later it glows in red showing "ARMED" message.

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: "Not for long, you motherf****r!" *slams the button*

[Emotes] Sadia@gulremal: rolls 36 (1-100)

B'Atar@anncarise FX | The explosives sever the rest of the arms, allowing Daramar to break away, but the modular nature of the Salvage-Ship makes it surprisingly resiliant to the damage of losing these arms...

B'Atar@anncarise FX | The Vor'Kang meanwhile begins to open fire on Hag'Ihr, doing moderate shield damage.

B'Atar@anncarise FX | In the background, one of the Orion corvettes defending the planet stabilizes San'leth in a tractor beam.

[Local] B'Atar@anncarise: "We're good here! Maybe charging in like that wasn't such a good idea..."

[Local] B'Atar@anncarise: (Sensor rolls!)

[Emotes] B'Atar@anncarise: rolls 44 (1-100)

[Emotes] Sadia@gulremal: rolls 76 (1-100)

[Emotes] Egzo@HF_Mudd: rolls 99 (1-100)

[Emotes] Lexi@crystyll: rolls 30 (1-100)

[Local] Egzo@HF_Mudd: <C> Hang on a sec! I got somethin'...

[Local] Egzo@HF_Mudd: <C> Thana Vaneri inbound... and another ship readin' as... Dominion?

Egzo@HF_Mudd looks up at the display, as the bridge jolts around him from the fire of the Vor'kang.

[Local] B'Atar@anncarise: -ROUND FOUR-

[Local] B'Atar@anncarise: (Egzo, Thana, Lexi, Sadia)

[Local] B'Atar@anncarise: -EGZO'S TURN-

[Team] B'Atar@anncarise: Just have ot not roll a 1 and survive this turn!

[Local] Egzo@HF_Mudd: <FX> Hag'lhr jousts with the Vor'kang, trying to get a good firing angle while evading the other's shots.

[Emotes] Egzo@HF_Mudd: rolls 52 (1-100)

[Team] B'Atar@anncarise: Good job!

B'Atar@anncarise FX | Hag'lhr manages to score a few hits, weakning the Vor'kang's shields while managing not to sustain any more hits.

[Team] Egzo@HF_Mudd: Superior agility wins the day in a turning fight.

B'Atar@anncarise FX | The OSN flagship warps in...and beside the Thana is a ship that is definitely not Dominion in aesthetic design.

[Local] B'Atar@anncarise: (https://i.imgur.com/ELYgLjq.png)

B'Atar@anncarise FX | The ship appears almost like a purple version of the elegant OSN style, except with notable differences.

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: "What the hell is that?"

[Local] Lexi@crystyll: "Whatever it is, I hope it's on our side..."

B'Atar@anncarise FX | Both ships open fire, lowering the Vor'Kang's shields as Orion fighters scramble alongside old Jem'Hadar ones...

[Local] B'Atar@anncarise: -LEXI'S TURN-

[Local] Lexi@crystyll: "Iiii'll... take that as a yes! Bring us about for another run!"

Lexi@crystyll FX | QanwI' swings around and charges the dreadnaught again, cannons and torpedoes pounding into it's front arc as the raptor sweeps across it's surface

[Emotes] Lexi@crystyll: rolls 36 (1-100)

B'Atar@anncarise FX | The QanwI' gets a fair few hits in, but nothing significant enough to scratch the massive ship

[Local] B'Atar@anncarise: -SADIA'S TURN-

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: "Emergency battery power to side thrusters, keep the reverse and turn us around, all weapons target the command module and fire at will!"

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: <FX> Daramar keeps the backwards momentum as it turns to the side. It's aft weapons are probably all fried but as the ship turns, side and eventually-

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: - forward weapons come to bear and they open fire.

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: * at the dreadnaught

[Emotes] Sadia@gulremal: rolls 8 (1-100)

[Team] Sadia@gulremal: reroll

[Team] B'Atar@anncarise: Gotta reroll for such a well thought out maneuver!

[Emotes] Sadia@gulremal: rolls 22 (1-100)

B'Atar@anncarise FX | Daramar scores a few hits, damaging the centre of the dreadnought, but soon it focuses all its remaining shields to the core module, soaking up the remainder of the attacks.

B'Atar@anncarise FX | Seeing it is outmatched, the Vor'Kang turns to flee.

B'Atar@anncarise FX | The Tholian ships likewise break their web and moves to escape.

[Team] Sadia@gulremal: <C> Cynis here, dreadnaught is beaming the crew to the planet surface! *shouts to the side* Those assault teams ready?

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: <C> Cynis here, dreadnaught is beaming the crew to the planet surface! *shouts to the side* Those assault teams ready?

B'Atar@anncarise FX | The Salvage Ship tries to recloak...but it simply flickers a few times in and out of visibility.

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: <C> Also, if you ain't busy, focus fire on the dread! Not letting it escape again!

[Local] B'Atar@anncarise: <C> "San'leth is still bringing systems back up but we can get some of our warriors planetside right away!"

B'Atar@anncarise FX | The task force receives a call from the mysterious ship alongside the Thana.

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: <C> Cynis to B'atar, do it!

[Local] B'Atar@anncarise: <C> "Aye Captain!"

Egzo@HF_Mudd orders Hag'lhr to fire on the dreadnaught as well.

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: <C> Transferring control module location, target these coordinates!!

[Local] B'Atar@anncarise: <C> "That new ship is hailing us, should we accept or ignore?"

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: <C> Open hailing frequencies.

The Branded Lady@annpc#5570 FX | An aqua-green skinned alien with black tattoos all across her visage appears on holo.

The Branded Lady@annpc#5570 | ???: "My ship is relaying you the weak points of the vessel. Target those, and we'll take care of the rest."

Lexi@crystyll looks curiously to the new arrival

The Branded Lady@annpc#5570 FX | Along with the holocall, all ships receive the suggested targets.

[Local] B'Atar@anncarise: (On the dreadnought of course)

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: <C> Very well, target THOSE coordinates.

Egzo@HF_Mudd shrugs. "Kem? Do it."

[Team] B'Atar@anncarise: (https://youtu.be/_CHyFqB3eqg)

[Team] B'Atar@anncarise: Music!

[Team] B'Atar@anncarise: and remember none of us has seen the Branded Lady in the flesh yet!

[Team] Sadia@gulremal: https://youtu.be/t4DCOpG1oNE?t=67

The Branded Lady@annpc#5570 | ???: "Fire on my mark."

The Branded Lady@annpc#5570 | ???: "Mark!"

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: "All power to the weapons! Open fire!"

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: <FX> Daramar targets the coordinates and fires all she's got.

[Team] Sadia@gulremal: I guess that link I posted goes in at this point

[Team] B'Atar@anncarise: Mhmm! hehe

[Local] Egzo@HF_Mudd: | <FX> Hag'lhr adds its fire to the volley.

[Team] Lexi@crystyll: hehe

Lexi@crystyll FX | QanwI' turns and joins the focused fire

B'Atar@anncarise FX | The Thana Vaneri and the mystery ship also opens fire, its fighters going in for an attack run, adding to the overall firepower.

B'Atar@anncarise FX | The Salvage-Ship turns to flee but crumbles under the barrage, piece after piece being severed until it's nothing more than a small cruiser comprised of the command module and several others.

B'Atar@anncarise FX | On its own, the command module looks surprisingly similar to the Tzenkethi cruiser Hag'Ihr exploded earlier...

The Branded Lady@annpc#5570 | The mysterious alien speaks to their crew offscreen, "Shut down all weapons. Allocate all available power to the deflector and deploy the singularity.

B'Atar@anncarise FX | A gravity well forms around the command module, pulling all the other pieces in towards the centre of gravity.

B'Atar@anncarise | The module is pummeled to a pulp, first flickering as it loses shields, then it begins to cave in on itself until the whole salvage ship is nothing but a crumpled pile of debris.

B'Atar@anncarise | It actually doesn't look too far off from its state when it was functional.

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: <C> I don't know how, but the module crew beamed to the ground!

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: <C> Also, captain Cynis of IKS Daramar speaking. Your timing is impeccable.

The Branded Lady@annpc#5570 | ???: "Damn it. They can do some more damage yet, but they're doomed. They won't ever escape the system with all our ships here."

[Local] Egzo@HF_Mudd: <C> Egzo. CAPTAIN Egzo. And... you don't look like a Vorta.

[Local] Lexi@crystyll: "Or an Orion...."

The Branded Lady@annpc#5570 | ???: "I wish I was one of those immortal bastards," she chuckles.

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: <C> If you don't mind, we will start transporting our own forces down. What is the status down there?

The Branded Lady@annpc#5570 | ???: "I am Vora-Orion Dos Zon'Shaie'Foree Nos Zona-Cae. You may know me better as the Branded Lady."

Lexi@crystyll 's brows slowly rise

[Local] The Branded Lady@annpc#5570: "And by all means. I know the captain of that ship won't go down easy. There's more to be done yet."

[Local] The Branded Lady@annpc#5570: -TO BE CONTINUED-

B'Atar@anncarise | LAST TIME ON ZENAS PRIVATEERS...

[Local] B'Atar@anncarise: <C> "This is the SNV Thana Vaneri to all allied forces; OSN colony is under attack from unknown forces, requesting immediate assistance! *message repeats on loop

[Local] B'Atar@anncarise: FX | The familiar form of a large dreadnaught comprised of various salvaged components decloaks behind the Daramar, pinning the big KDF ship between a Tholian web and itself...

[Local] B'Atar@anncarise: FX | The Salvage-Ship begins to charge up its javelin weapon...

[Local] B'Atar@anncarise: Egzo@HF_Mudd: <C> Thana Vaneri inbound... and another ship readin' as... Dominion?

[Local] B'Atar@anncarise: FX | The OSN flagship warps in...and beside the Thana is a ship that is definitely not Dominion in aesthetic design.

[Local] B'Atar@anncarise: The ship appears almost like a purple version of the elegant OSN style, except with notable differences.

[Local] B'Atar@anncarise: Sadia@gulremal: "What the hell is that?"

[Local] B'Atar@anncarise: FX | An aqua-green skinned alien with black tattoos all across her visage appears on holo.

[Local] B'Atar@anncarise: ???: "My ship is relaying you the weak points of the vessel. Target those, and we'll take care of the rest."

[Local] B'Atar@anncarise: FX | The Salvage-Ship turns to flee but crumbles under the barrage, piece after piece being severed until it's nothing more than a small cruiser comprised of the command module and several others.

[Local] B'Atar@anncarise: FX | A gravity well forms around the command module, pulling all the other pieces in towards the centre of gravity.

[Local] B'Atar@anncarise: FX | The module is pummeled to a pulp, first flickering as it loses shields, then it begins to cave in on itself until the whole salvage ship is nothing but a crumpled pile of debris.

[Local] B'Atar@anncarise: ???: "I am Vora-Orion Dos Zon'Shaie'Foree Nos Zona-Cae. You may know me better as the Branded Lady."

B'Atar@anncarise | AND NOW THE CONCLUSION...

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: <C> Daramar to Thana Vaneri, what the hell is going on here?

Lexi@crystyll interrupts, "Before you all get excited here, we've got another 2 ships inbound on long range sensors"

[Local] The Branded Lady@annpc#5570: "That's not ours," she turns offscreen to her crew.

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: <C> *to local holo-conference* Damage report! Also prepare for ground action. *off screen* And get me ID on those ships!

[Local] Lexi@crystyll: "Getting an ID now; USS... MacAlpine & Valley Forge, inbound at high warp"

Fiona@falconecoose | The KDF would be recving a hail from one of the ships on approach

[Local] The Branded Lady@annpc#5570: "Federation. Should've guessed they'd show up to any distress call."

[Local] Lexi@crystyll: <C: Mysti> "Well they are our allies, and one of their ambassadors is on the surface... and yes, this is who she claims to be; it's... a long story"

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: <C> Open channel to Starfleet vessels.

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: <C> This is captain Cynis of IKS Daramar, we are responding to OSN distress call.

The Branded Lady@annpc#5570 nods, "All you need to know is that protecting this planet from the traitorous bastards attacking it is in both our best interests."

[Local] Fiona@falconecoose: <C> "This is Captain Fiona Skye of the USS MacAlpine to Klingon vessels, we are here to provide assistance to the OSN assests in distress."

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: <C> *to Mysti* What is going on here? Why is she helping us against the Salvage ship?

[Local] Lexi@crystyll: "Fashionably late as always, Starfleet..."

[Local] Fiona@falconecoose: <C> "Better late than charging in all guns blazing."

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: <C> *to someone off screen* I want full ground sensor scan, and all available assault teams prepped for insertion.

The Branded Lady@annpc#5570 | Mysti: <C> "She's handing herself over to the OSN...kind of. The Salvage Ship isn't hers, it's a part of the Scryer information broker group."

[Local] Egzo@HF_Mudd: "Scryers, huh."

The Branded Lady@annpc#5570 | Mysti: <C> "Apparently someone doesn't like her making nice with us so they bought off her own mercenaries and turned them against her."

Lexi@crystyll can't help but smirk a little at the revelation

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: <C> Captain Skye, seems you're late for the space combat. There's still some troublemakers on the ground, though.

[Local] Lexi@crystyll: <C> My Honour Guard is locked and loaded!

[Local] Fiona@falconecoose: <C> "Copy that, already have response teams and MACOs standing by in the transporters."

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: <C> *mutters* Buggers are hiding among civilian structures, so we "technically" can't shoot them from orbit.

[Local] Lexi@crystyll: <C> More fun at close quarters anyway

Lexi@crystyll grins while sharpening the tips of her bat'leth

Egzo@HF_Mudd mutters too, at Sadia's observation. Havin' Feddies around, even as 'friendlies', always cramps his style.

Lexi@crystyll has no style to cramp, so she's indifferent

Fiona@falconecoose | The USS MacAlpine drops out of warp slightly ahead of the Valley Forge, as she keeps her distance from the Klingon Ships

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: <C> *to Mysti* Tabadi, I will trust your judgement, but I must voice my concern. But for now, I'm joining ground forces to end this attack. We can sort the rest after the immediate threat is over.

The Branded Lady@annpc#5570 looks to Sadia, "You won't shoot my clones if I send them down there to help, right? I promise they won't shoot you."

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: <C> Cynis to squadron, get all available troops pn the ground, coordinate with B'atar's assault teams that have already landed.

[Local] Lexi@crystyll: <C: Keelah> Daramar, this is Captain Se'Lai on the Valley Forge, as pleasant as it always is to see you Captain, it always seems to be under such strenuous circumstances... We will remain in orbit to

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: <C> *text message to Egzo, Lexi and B'atar* I want your ships to keep an eye on Branded Lady's ship and forces from the sky.

The Branded Lady@annpc#5570 | San'leth acknowledges.

[Local] Lexi@crystyll: + secure the outer system. I must point out though, that one of our Ambassadors is on the surface and request that every effort is made to extract her safely"

Egzo@HF_Mudd casually glances at the little screen on his armrest, and just as casually taps out a reply (that translates to) 'yes'.

Lexi@crystyll | QanwI' sends text affirmative

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: <C> Copy that, Valley Forge. Send us info on the ambassador and we'll try to extract them.

[Local] Fiona@falconecoose: <C> "My teams will begin to beam down now, any information you can send them about the situation would be appreciated. Extraction of our ambassador is currently the primary objective of our MACOs"

[Local] Lexi@crystyll: <C: Keelah> Thank you Captain, sending data packet now. Good hunting down there!

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: <C> *to someone offscreen* Send that info to all squad leaders on the ground, they should keep an eye on that person and extract them to safe spot.

[Local] Lexi@crystyll: ( https://www.theorderofmidnight.com/storybook/m/41760224/viewthread/31824615-enelya-vix )

[Local] Lexi@crystyll: (^ Data on Fed ambassador)

The Raven@annpc#5570 FX | After beaming down, they easily make it through the shield which only blocks transporters and communicators (and messes with sensors slightly). Once inside, scans reveal the location of the -

The Raven@annpc#5570 - Ambassador and the ground teams make in a side entrance, finding themselves in some kind of warehouse room.

The Raven@annpc#5570 FX | Inside, one of the Raven clones is already awaiting them with a squad of Branded Lady clone troopers.

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: *watches sensor readings on the top of her minigun and then at the clone* All right, what's the sitrep?

[Local] The Raven@annpc#5570: "The fiery Klingon girl's already pressed ahead with her assault team. The way up should be clear, but the Eyes never run out of tricks."

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: Tricks like?

[Local] The Raven@annpc#5570: "Be wary for traps, reinforcements hiding where you're not expecting, that sort of thing."

[Local] The Raven@annpc#5570: "Remember, the Scryer's agents are masters of espionage, not war. They won't fight honourable like you Klingons prefer."

Egzo@HF_Mudd snorts.

Sharpe@falconecoose moves into the warehouse with her team of MACOs as they do a quick scan of the area while she looks over at the KDF teams, as she grins slightly "Don't worry, I will see if I remember to leave any"

[Local] Egzo@HF_Mudd: "Not a problem."

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: Got it. Keep eyes on strange air ripples, they are probably using cloaking tech. *adjusts scanner on her gun*

[Local] The Raven@annpc#5570: "We believe the Ambassador is in this building, but also the Eye leading the assault, so this will be heavy fighting."

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: Wouldn't have it any other way, but they'll most likely try to get to ambassador and use them as the bargaining chip.

[Local] The Raven@annpc#5570: "These troops are bred for front-lining. Want us to go first, or do you want to lead the assault?"

[Local] Sharpe@falconecoose: "Rescuing the ambassador is my team's number one priority."

The Raven@annpc#5570 checks her scanner, "We're still reading two Trill lifesigns in here, so she should still be alive."

Sadia@gulremal: You go first, we'll provide covering fire.

The Raven@annpc#5570 nods and motions for the big Orion clones to move out first before unslinging her rifle and following.

Sadia@gulremal: *to her folks* Dead clone costs nothing.

Lexi@crystyll smirks as she follows cautiously

Sadia@gulremal: *follows at close distance, checking her scanner for any irregularities* Hope they don't use cloaking mines.

Sadia@gulremal: Those things are almost impossible to detect.

The Raven@annpc#5570: "If they're using mines, the first assault team would've likely already set them off. What we should keep an eye out for is -"

The Raven@annpc#5570 FX | Rattling noises suddenly sound in the ceiling...

The Raven@annpc#5570: "That!"

The Raven@annpc#5570: rolls 75 (1-100)

Lexi@crystyll drops to a prone stance as her gaze shifts upwards

Sharpe@falconecoose taps on her TACPADD to adjust her cybernetic eye to adjust to scan for infrared and other standard radations on the spectrum

The Raven@annpc#5570 aims her rifle and shoots into the ceiling. An entire plating falls down, with a dead Maral assassin droid lying on top.

Sadia@gulremal: Oh lookie, this is familiar.

The Raven@annpc#5570 FX | More ceiling tiles burst as four assassin droids drop down!

Sadia@gulremal: *preps an EMP grenade*

The Raven@annpc#5570 FX | One of them lunges into the clone vanguard, felling two clones with one swing of its blade weapon.

The Raven@annpc#5570 FX | Another drops out of the ceiling tile shot down by the Raven, and the other two appears in front of the KDF/Starfleet forces!

[Local] The Raven@annpc#5570: -ROUND ONE-

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: *charges her gun*

[Local] The Raven@annpc#5570: (Sadia, Sharpe, Egzo, Lexi, Raven)

[Local] The Raven@annpc#5570: -SADIA'S TURN-

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: *fires a charged shot at the nearest droid*

[Emotes] Sadia@gulremal: rolls 52 (1-100)

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: Take that, tin can!

The Raven@annpc#5570 FX | The shot knocks the droid back, dislodging one of its arms, though it still seems to be functional.

[Local] The Raven@annpc#5570: -SHARPE'S TURN-

Sharpe@falconecoose dives into cover along with her team splitting between the two sides of the corrider as they start to open fire at the closest droids

[Emotes] Sharpe@falconecoose: rolls 34 (1-100)

The Raven@annpc#5570 FX | The droids are fast. Really fast. Their programming allows them to react to shots far more effectively than an organic ever can, and the still fully intact one manages to evade all damage.

The Raven@annpc#5570 FX | The damaged one however takes a few more hits, but it's not quite done yet.

[Local] The Raven@annpc#5570: -EGZO'S TURN-

Egzo@HF_Mudd tries to catch one or more of the twisting, dodging droids in the wide blast from his "deck-sweeper" pulsewave disruptor.

[Emotes] Egzo@HF_Mudd: rolls 64 (1-100)

The Raven@annpc#5570 FX | Egzo's pulsewave catches the one jumping around the most, knocking it to the ground and disabling its shields, leaving it prone as well!

[Local] The Raven@annpc#5570: -LEXI'S TURN-

Lexi@crystyll launches a scattering of throwing stars across the droids path before darting forwards with an upwards swing of her blade

[Emotes] Lexi@crystyll: rolls 20 (1-100)

[Team] Lexi@crystyll: ...gonne be one of those days

[Team] The Raven@annpc#5570: Awwww

[Team] The Raven@annpc#5570: Going for the damaged one or the one knocked down by Egzo but still intact?

[Team] Lexi@crystyll: whichever is closest haha

The Raven@annpc#5570 FX | Even the damaged droid is still fairly agile and parries the attack with the blade on its undamaged arm before prepping for counterattack.

[Local] The Raven@annpc#5570: -RAVEN'S TURN-

[Emotes] The Raven@annpc#5570: rolls 88 (1-100)

The Raven@annpc#5570 parries her droid's blade swing with her rifle, causing the weapon to be bent in two. She immediately lets go of the weapon and grabs the droid's shoulder, leaping onto its back. The droid throws -

The Raven@annpc#5570 - her off and across the room, then raises its energy weapon to finish her before realizing that she's planted a sticky grenade on its shoulder. It explodes into pieces.

The Raven@annpc#5570 FX | The clones trade fire with the other droid, losing a few of their own in the process.

The Raven@annpc#5570 | The one armed droid exchanges blows in melee combat with Lexi but doesn't manage to get any hits in.

The Raven@annpc#5570 | The one knocked to the ground by Egzo begins to quickly get back up.

The Raven@annpc#5570 -ROUND TWO-

[Local] The Raven@annpc#5570: (Sadia, Sharpe, Egzo, Lexi, Raven)

[Local] The Raven@annpc#5570: -SADIA'S TURN-

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: *seeing the damaged droid is engaged in melee, she switches target to the droid that just got up, firing another blast*

[Emotes] Sadia@gulremal: rolls 64 (1-100)

The Raven@annpc#5570 FX | Sadia hits the droid while it's still prone and it collapses back, sparks coming from it as it shakes erratically.

[Local] The Raven@annpc#5570: -SHARPE'S TURN-

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: And stay down!

Sharpe@falconecoose Sharpe and her MACOs continue to push down the corrider engaing the droid not engaged by Lexi as they move

[Emotes] Sharpe@falconecoose: rolls 51 (1-100)

The Raven@annpc#5570 FX | The MACOs get a few hits in on the droid already weakened by the clones. With the Branded Lady's troops acting as grunt meat shields they do a good job of damaging it without taking any.

[Local] The Raven@annpc#5570: -EGZO'S TURN-

Egzo@HF_Mudd racks his pulsewave, k-CHAK, and looks for an unengaged target; finding none, he does a quick visual sweep for any suspicious ripples, ambushers coming up behind, etc.

The Raven@annpc#5570 FX | There is indeed something stealthed trying to sneak up to the group!

Egzo@HF_Mudd shoots it. BAM.

[Emotes] Egzo@HF_Mudd: rolls 73 (1-100)

[Team] Egzo@HF_Mudd: (cheerfully points to self, "pirate.")

The Raven@annpc#5570 FX | The assassin is vapourized by the shot- it didn't look like a droid, but some sort of organic attacker.

[Local] The Raven@annpc#5570: -LEXI'S TURN-

Lexi@crystyll continues to spar with the droid, looking for an opening to parry it's blade with one tip of her bat'leth and decapitate it with the other

[Emotes] Lexi@crystyll: rolls 78 (1-100)

[Team] Egzo@HF_Mudd: very nice

[Team] Lexi@crystyll: #likeapro xD

The Raven@annpc#5570 | Though skilled, the droid's taken a good amount of damage and doesn't react fast enough, allowing Lexi to dig her bat'leth into its neck and it suffers critical damage!

[Local] The Raven@annpc#5570: -RAVEN'S TURN-

[Emotes] The Raven@annpc#5570: rolls 94 (1-100)

[Team] Lexi@crystyll: damned indestructible upgraded Loki's...

The Raven@annpc#5570 gets back up and seeing Lexi's blade in the neck of the droid, immediately lunges in and...tackles Lexi?

[Team] Lexi@crystyll:

The Raven@annpc#5570 FX | The force of the tackle drives the blade straight through the droid's neck, and Lexi, Raven and the bat'leth all end up against the wall as the damaged droid explodes!

Lexi@crystyll is tackled

[Team] The Raven@annpc#5570: They explode like Lokis too!

[Team] The Raven@annpc#5570: hehe

Lexi@crystyll dusts herself off, scowling at the interruption to her glorious combat but grunts a 'nicely done...'

The Raven@annpc#5570 FX | The one mostly disabled by Sadia gathers enough strength to crawl towards Sadia in a futile attempt to bomb her.

Lexi@crystyll is not impressed.

The Raven@annpc#5570 FX | Meanwhile, the last droid goes down to the overwhelming opponents of clones and MACOs alike.

[Team] The Raven@annpc#5570: Turns are done here, feel free to shoot the crawling suicide droid as you like!

Lexi@crystyll folds her arms and casually watches the droid slowly crawl along, seemingly quite entertained by it's efforts

The Raven@annpc#5570 gets up and cooly dusts herself off.

Egzo@HF_Mudd turns back to the group, satisfied at catching the ambusher by surprise in turn, just in time to see Sadia finish off her foe.

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: *sadia slings the minigun on her back and draws her big pistol, shooting the crawling droid's head clean off*

[Local] Egzo@HF_Mudd: "Nice."

The Raven@annpc#5570 FX | The droid dies and explodes a safe distance from everyone.

[Local] Egzo@HF_Mudd: "Keep movin', don't let up."

The Raven@annpc#5570 moves to her clones, picking up one of the dead ones' rifles, "All clear here."

Lexi@crystyll nods and moves up with the meat shield clones

B'Atar@anncarise FX | Up ahead, B'Atar and a handful of Klingons are guarding a doorway.

B'Atar@anncarise no longer has her helmet and much of her armour is bloodied, not all of it hers obviously or else she would be dead, but her and most of the other Klingons have taken some visible injuries.

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: Friendlies here!

[Local] B'Atar@anncarise: "Captain! Good to see you join us!"

Sharpe@falconecoose frowns slightly as she spots the Klingons as her and her MACOS move up towards the door

[Local] Lexi@crystyll: "Glad to see you saved some of the fun for the rest of us B'Atar"

The Raven@annpc#5570 moves over with her clones too.

B'Atar@anncarise chuckles, "Oh there's plenty of fun ahead."

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: *nods* Good to see you are still with us. What's ahead?

[Local] B'Atar@anncarise: "They've got a Tzenkethi...tough fella. Walking tank. We nearly got to the control room but that guy forced us all the way back."

[Local] Lexi@crystyll: "Finally a worthy challenge..." she grins

[Local] B'Atar@anncarise: "That Federation ambassador's in there, he's also got assassin droids but I think he sent them after you."

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: We've dealt with the droids. But taking that Tzenkh will require some tactics.

[Local] B'Atar@anncarise: "How many'd you kill?"

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: Four and one organic stalker - didn't see what they were...not many pieces were left.

Egzo@HF_Mudd smirks, raising his pulsewave briefly by way of explanation.

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: *she checks her tricorder for the situation ahead*

[Local] B'Atar@anncarise: "There should be two more out there somewhere. I can press on but I don't think all of my warriors can handle it."

[Local] B'Atar@anncarise: "We can guard your flank, make sure no more of these things sneak up on you."

Sharpe@falconecoose glances at the Klingons as her MACOs speard out to either side of the door "How many are we talking about being in the room? And the ambassador is confirmed to be in there?"

[Local] Lexi@crystyll: "And that Tzenth might be big, but they're also slow. We can take him!" she nods to B'Atar

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: Okay, I'll use my gun to draw the attention, rest of ypu try to flank him. Shoot at the power pack at his back.

[Local] Egzo@HF_Mudd: "Got it."

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: *switches weapons* Assassins must be keeping eye on the Ambassador, or they are watching Tzenketh's back.

[Local] B'Atar@anncarise: "We saw the ambassador ahead, and a few Orion but they might already be dead."

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: *nods* Ready?

[Local] B'Atar@anncarise: "Let's go."

Lexi@crystyll kisses her fingertips and touches them to the tip of her blade before drawing it, "Ready!"

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: *pokes at the scanner at her minigun, targeting the Tzenkethi.

Sharpe@falconecoose nods to her team as they move down the corridor.

B'Atar@anncarise FX | Along the way they pass by quite a few bodies- Orions, Klingons, droids, Nausicaans and various other mercenary looking individuals.

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: *checks the status of her PSG*

The Raven@annpc#5570 FX | Inside the control room, the Tzenkethi awaits them, holding the ambassador by the neck in one of his massive hands.

Egzo@HF_Mudd takes note of the bodies soberly, bloody testament to the challenge ahead.

The Raven@annpc#5570 peers in, "That's him. The First Eye."

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: *signals others to move in as she draws the attention*

Sharpe@falconecoose the MACOs would stack up on either side of the door as the breacher on each side prepares a stun grenade "You might want to shield your eyes once we go in."

[Local] Egzo@HF_Mudd: "Course he is."

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: *adjusts her visor's shading at Sharpe's comment* Ready?

[Local] Egzo@HF_Mudd: "Whoa. Whoa whoa whoa."

Sharpe@falconecoose nods slightly "Standing by for breach."

[Local] Egzo@HF_Mudd: "If you don't get his attention, taunt him or somethin', give him someone to be mad at --"

Lexi@crystyll looks back to Egzo

Egzo@HF_Mudd nods to Sadia.

[Local] Egzo@HF_Mudd: "Soon as those go off, he's just gonna squish the guy he's holdin' and toss 'em aside."

[Local] Egzo@HF_Mudd: "Doesn't have to see to do that."

[Local] Egzo@HF_Mudd: "You want him mad."

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: Let's do it. *moves from the cover and opens fire at the Tzenkethi.

[Local] Egzo@HF_Mudd: "... oughta do it."

Egzo@HF_Mudd follows the boss lady.

Sharpe@falconecoose the MACOs lob the stun grenades as they move in as they detonate within the room, firing as they do so as Sharpe looks for the Ambassador

Lexi@crystyll smirks and tenses her grip on the blade as she prepares to lunge forward

[Team] Egzo@HF_Mudd: (well THIS is gonna be a Charlie Foxtrot. :/ )

The Raven@annpc#5570 FX | The Tzenkethi stumbles back as he is hit by Sadia's shot, dropping the ambassador. His shields take heavy damage, but his armour appears to still be functional.

The Raven@annpc#5570 | The First Eye: "WELL WELL, HERE AT LAST. LET'S BEGIN, AND SETTLE OUR DEBTS!"

The Raven@annpc#5570 FX | The Tzenkethi fires his minigun in Sadia's general direction!

[Local] The Raven@annpc#5570: -ROUND ONE-

[Local] The Raven@annpc#5570: (Sharpe, Sadia, Lexi, Egzo, B'Atar/Raven)

[Local] The Raven@annpc#5570: -SHARPE'S TURN-

Sharpe@falconecoose would dash forward as her MACOs concentrate fire of the Tzenkethi to cover Sharpe as she attempts to get to the ambassador

[Emotes] Sharpe@falconecoose: rolls 76 (1-100)

B'Atar@anncarise FX | MACO covering fire allows her to reach the ambassador, but it appears that she is on the ground and not moving, possibly injured.

[Local] The Raven@annpc#5570: -SADIA'S TURN-

The Raven@annpc#5570 | The First Eye: "Perhaps we can still talk this out?"

The Raven@annpc#5570 | The First Eye: "NO! NO THEY MUST ALL PAY FOR WHAT THEY DID!"

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: *stands her ground as long as her personal shields are holding, buying time for others to flank the boss* BRING IT ON! YOUR GARBAGE SCOW SCRATCHED PAINT ON MY SHIP AND IT JUST CAME BACK FROM THE DRY-DOCK!

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: *keeps firing*

[Emotes] Sadia@gulremal: rolls 66 (1-100)

The Raven@annpc#5570 FX | The Tzenkethi staggers more notably this time, likely taking some pain from the hit. His shields and armour is starting to fail for sure now...

The Raven@annpc#5570 | The First Eye: "IT'S A MERCY COMPARED TO WHAT I'VE BEEN THROUGH. FLEETS SHATTERED, A PEOPLE FAILED."

The Raven@annpc#5570 | The First Eye: "Stand aside. All I want is the Federation. Have them fill my grave, as they've filled theirs with the lives of my comrades."

The Raven@annpc#5570 -LEXI'S TURN-

The Raven@annpc#5570 | The First Eye: "NO! THE KLINGONS ATTACKED US TOO, IN THE LAST WAR, THEY MUST DIE! THEY WILL ALL DIE!"

The Raven@annpc#5570 FX | The crazed Tzenkethi starts charging at Sadia, guns blazing.

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: Boy you have some serious mental issues, lemme help you by venting your brain a bi- *curses as she drops the gun and attempts to dodge*

Lexi@crystyll jumps to intercept the charge; bat'leth held firm in front to cut him down

[Emotes] Lexi@crystyll: rolls 66 (1-100)

[Emotes] The Raven@annpc#5570: rolls 82 (1-100)

The Raven@annpc#5570 FX | Lexi's well placed strike slashes through a gap in the Tzenkethi's arm armour, disabling one of his arms. He roars in fury and swings two other arms at Lexi, effortlessly swatting her aside -

The Raven@annpc#5570 - and slamming her into the wall.

The Raven@annpc#5570 -EGZO'S TURN-

[Local] Lexi@crystyll: (...ow)

[Emotes] Lexi@crystyll: zzzZZZzzz...

Lexi@crystyll slumbers peacefully.

The Raven@annpc#5570 | The First Eye: "NO ONE STANDS IN THE WAY OF MY VENGEANCE!"

Lexi@crystyll is k'd the F out

Egzo@HF_Mudd is going for the flank as ordered, pumping blast after blast into the tiled shields that make up the foe's "shell" in hopes of hitting, or overloading, the power pack.

[Emotes] Egzo@HF_Mudd: rolls 38 (1-100)

The Raven@annpc#5570 FX | Egzo gets a few hits in, but doesn't manage to destroy the power pack, only damaging his armour further.

[Local] The Raven@annpc#5570: -B'ATAR/RAVEN-

[Team] Sadia@gulremal: Braven

[Team] Lexi@crystyll: xD

The Raven@annpc#5570 tries a variant of her maneuver on the droid by charging and then sliding underneath the Tzenkethi to plant a sticky grenade on its power back once behind it.

B'Atar@anncarise provices covering fire.

[Emotes] The Raven@annpc#5570: rolls 81 (1-100)

The Raven@annpc#5570 outmaneuvers the Tzenkethi but he has apparently expected this as he kicks backwards, knocking the Raven off target.

The Raven@annpc#5570 FX | The grenade still sticks and explodes, disabling his shoulder mounted weapon and blowing the armour off in that section completely. It seems to wound his arm too, but he continues trying to -

The Raven@annpc#5570 - charge with two good arms...

[Local] The Raven@annpc#5570: -ROUND TWO-

[Local] The Raven@annpc#5570: -SHARPE'S TURN-

Sharpe@falconecoose reaches down for the ambassador in an attempt to grab them and pull them into cover out of the way of the combat

[Emotes] Sharpe@falconecoose: rolls 95 (1-100)

[Team] Egzo@HF_Mudd: excellent life-saving there.

The Raven@annpc#5570 FX | Sharpe manages to get the ambassador to safety, but she still seems to be unresponsive...

The Raven@annpc#5570 -SADIA'S TURN-

B'Atar@anncarise FX | Shooting sounds behind them as San'leth's warriors appear to be fending off the remaining assassins who try to flank them!

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: *seeing there's no time to recharge for the next shot, she drops the minigun and draws her pistol, falling backwards as she shoots at the Tzenkethi's right knee.

[Emotes] Sadia@gulremal: rolls 53 (1-100)

The Raven@annpc#5570 FX | The shot causes the Tzenkethi to stumble and miss her with the swipe of his two good arms! It also exposes his back for an opening from both behind and the side...

The Raven@annpc#5570 -EGZO'S TURN-

Egzo@HF_Mudd 's masked and goggled face is lit by the hellish green flare as he fires bolt after bolt into the gap.

[Emotes] Egzo@HF_Mudd: rolls 48 (1-100)

The Raven@annpc#5570 | Some of Egzo's shots manage to damage the power core, shutting down his armour

[Local] The Raven@annpc#5570: -RAVEN/B'ATAR'S TURN-

The Raven@annpc#5570 lines up a shot carefully to finish him off...

[Emotes] The Raven@annpc#5570: rolls 9 (1-100)

[Local] The Raven@annpc#5570: ((Definitely rerolling that! hehe))

[Local] Egzo@HF_Mudd: (( I should hope so. ))

[Local] The Raven@annpc#5570: ((Oh i dont need to wait, I have 2 accounts!))

[Emotes] B'Atar@anncarise: rolls 2 (1-100)

[Local] The Raven@annpc#5570: ((Okay...that wasn't a good diea))

[Local] The Raven@annpc#5570: ((Haha))

The Raven@annpc#5570 and B'Atar doesn't manage to hit the power core, though with shields down the Tzenkethi is taking a lot of heavy damage.

The Raven@annpc#5570 FX | He drops to his knees beside Sadia...

The Raven@annpc#5570 | The First Eye: "This is the end then...but I go to my death...knowing I have taken at least one Federation life with me..."

[Local] The Raven@annpc#5570: -SADIA'S TURN-

[Team] Egzo@HF_Mudd: (Is Sadia gonna end this one with her Cutscene Pistol too?)

[Team] The Raven@annpc#5570: (Haha the Cutscene Pistol)

[Team] Egzo@HF_Mudd: (SWTOR joke

[Team] The Raven@annpc#5570: (I got that! The magic pistol that appears for rifle using characters!)

[Team] Egzo@HF_Mudd: (or minigun...)

[Team] The Raven@annpc#5570: (Oh yeah!)

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: *gets up and aims at his head* I never knew you, but I hope your messed up mind finds some peace. *pulls the trigger*

The Raven@annpc#5570 | The Tzenkethi slumps to the ground fully.

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: *and then another, just for the good measure cause man, that's a big head*

Egzo@HF_Mudd nods approvingly as the boss shoots again, to be sure.

The Raven@annpc#5570 steps up to the dead Tzenkethi, "A relic of the old Federation-Tzenkethi war from the last century...he's lived far more than his time."

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: *checks if the Tzenkethi is really dead, then moves to Lexi*

Egzo@HF_Mudd walks up and prods the massive body with his disruptor's muzzle, to be sure the old lizard-turtle isn't getting up.

Sharpe@falconecoose scans the ambassador as she calls over the MACO medic on her team

[Local] Egzo@HF_Mudd: "Someone check on the hostage." His eyes don't leave the corpse.

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: (to Raven) Whatever. We need a medic here!

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: Are the shields still up?

[Local] The Raven@annpc#5570: "They are, but we should be able to shut them down from here."

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: Egzo, see if you can use the consoles to bring the shielding down, so we can beam in the support.

[Local] Lexi@crystyll: :FX | With the area secured, local reinforcements swoop in to the call for aid

The Raven@annpc#5570 slings her rifle behind her back and helps Egzo shut down the shields so the orbital forces can hear them.

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: *as egzo moves by, she motions her head towards raven and nods in warning*

Egzo@HF_Mudd does the thing.

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: *obviously still not buying the Branded Lady's story*

[Local] Egzo@HF_Mudd: *either*

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: *motions to incoming kdf medics to Lexi* I want her up ASAP.

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: *to Sharpe* How's the ambassador?

Lexi@crystyll | Medics check both Enelya and Lexi, advising that each are in a critical state and request permission to move them both to local hospital for immediate attention

[Local] The Raven@annpc#5570: "This may take some time without the access codes..."

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: *gives permission*

The Raven@annpc#5570 helps Egzo along, bypassing the security layers slowly.

Sharpe@falconecoose the MACO medic starts to contact the MacAlpine to get an emergency transport ASAP

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: Could the First Eye have something upon what's left of his gear to speed this up?

Egzo@HF_Mudd is more careful about this work than his brutish appearance might suggest, taking it slow and looking for hidden traps.

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: *checks the First Eye for any sort of passkey or similar stuffs*

B'Atar@anncarise checks the Tzenkethi's gear as well.

Egzo@HF_Mudd mutters as he works, "Could cut the main power - at the source or the nearest EPS junction. But that'd probably give you, ha, bit of an overload..."

Lexi@crystyll | Medics - not really knowing who's in charge to better direct their general query to - tag the injured for local transport

[Local] Egzo@HF_Mudd: "... the loud and bright kind..."

The Raven@annpc#5570 nods, "Not the optimal solution..."

Egzo@HF_Mudd points to Raven, "there, and there."

[Local] Egzo@HF_Mudd: "On three. One, two, three." *bip*

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: Hmmm, nothing here, it seems.

Lexi@crystyll FX | the two Trill disappear into green transporter beams

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: *nods to B'atar* Good work.

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: *to Sharpe* Thanks for the assist, hopefully ambassador can still be saved.

[Local] Egzo@HF_Mudd: "I think we're almost..."

[Local] The Raven@annpc#5570: "There!"

Egzo@HF_Mudd turns from the console to Sadia.

Sharpe@falconecoose nods slightly "Just doing my job, and that is down to the doctors now."

[Local] Egzo@HF_Mudd: "Shield dome powered down."

[Local] Egzo@HF_Mudd: "You're clear for transport."

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: I hope you were okay with more aggresive approach, this guy didn't look mentally stable to negotiate.

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: Good work you two. *taps her wrist-comm* Cynis to squadron, we've secured the ground, have incoming wounded, prepare to receive them.

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: *to medics* Very well, if you need more doctors to help, let me know.

Lexi@crystyll | Medic: "Our doctors have sufficient triage skill, but are less familiar with Trill physiology..." she looks to the Starfleet uniform

[Local] Sharpe@falconecoose: "I belive the Valley Forge might be able to assist in a better capacity."

Lexi@crystyll lays unconscious with a Starfleet doctor pouring over the console beside her bed

Sadia@gulremal: *after wrapping up the securing the site, she's back out of her body armor and checking the hospital*

Sadia@gulremal: *nods to doctor* How's she doing?

Lexi@crystyll | Kazra turns to Sadia, looking her up and down before responding, "I assume you mean this one and not the ambassador..."

Sadia@gulremal: Yes, and her name is Lexi, daughter of Norin and Honour Guard Captain to the House of Dronurr.

Lexi@crystyll | Kazra: Of course, "Well, she took quite a blow to the head. Internal haemorrhaging put her in a critical state..."

Lexi@crystyll | Kazra: "But I was successful in treating her surface injuries at least. As for the rest; that's down to her now, well, them..."

Sadia@gulremal: Can she be transported to her vessel?

Lexi@crystyll | Kazra: "I would not recommend it so soon after joining. They need time to adjust to one another, and I would prefer to remain with her until she recovers"

Sadia@gulremal: Wait, what?

Sadia@gulremal: Let's go one step back here, doc.

Lexi@crystyll | Kazra nods towards the next bed over with a covered up body on it

Sadia@gulremal: Well, ****.

Egzo@HF_Mudd: | This, of course, is what Egzo walks in on.

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: So, you want to say that symbiote from the ambassador is now inside her?

Lexi@crystyll | Kazra: "That's one way of putting it..." she sighs, "Ambassador Enelya's larynx was crushed, there was nothing I could do for her. But with a small window of time that the Vix symbiont could +

[Local] Lexi@crystyll: + survive, I had to risk joining it with your friend here. She needed Vix's strength as much as it needed hers. Together, they will heal each other"

Lexi@crystyll | Kazra: "Unfortunately, by the time both have recovered sufficiently, they will be permanently bonded and inseparable." she pauses, "This is the gravest of circumstance we endeavour to avoid as +

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: So now we have Lexi Vix here. Klingon House Guard Captain and Federation ambassador.

[Local] Lexi@crystyll: + impact on both symbiont and host can be... troublesome, with an unplanned joining."

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: Oh yeah, I doubt troublesome begins to describe it.

Lexi@crystyll | Kazra shakes her head, "Not quite Captain. Lexi Vix you have, but the Federation Ambassador died with Enelya."

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: Hm. I will admit the nuances of trill-symbiote relation eludes me. So for now, she stays here?

Lexi@crystyll | Kazra, "That would be preferable. At least for a day or two until she wakes of her own accord. From there, I will do my best to guide her in this new state of being."

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: Can this guiding be done from somewhere else, like Risa for example?

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: *turns around and notices folks at the door* Oh, there you are.

Lexi@crystyll | Kazra: "Once she is recovered enough to be mobile, setting matters not" she nods

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: Good, we can wait for couple of days, they are still some matters to be settled here.

Lexi@crystyll | Kazra nods, "I have already spoken with my Captain and she has consented to remain as long as I deem necessary"

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: Anyhow, thanks a lot doc. If I can help anyhow to speed up her recovery, let me know.

[Team] Sadia@gulremal: what can I say? poor Vix is in for a ride.

Lexi@crystyll | Kazra: "From what little I know of Lexi from records back home; first step will be keeping sharp objects away from her when she wakes up" she chuckles

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: Well, this will be an interesting report - for someone to write.

[Local] Egzo@HF_Mudd: "Not it."

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: But I love your reports. They are short.

Egzo@HF_Mudd announced this from shortly inside the doorway, where he stopped upon entrance to see how this would play out.

Egzo@HF_Mudd chuckles. "Well, if that's what ya want, I can do short."

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: You'll have time on our way to Risa, yes?

Egzo@HF_Mudd nods.

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: *to Sharpe* How are you holding up?

Sharpe@falconecoose looks up from her TACPADD "Fine...bar the failure of the mission."

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: It's unfortunate ambassador couldn't make it. But at least we took this First Eye guy out.

[Local] Lexi@crystyll: (and still saved the colony, that's kind of a win!)

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: Well, you did help save the colony from an attack.

[Local] Sharpe@falconecoose: "That is a result, not the objective though. The objective was to save the ambassador."

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: Ambassador was already out when we arrived on the scene. There's nothing you could have done at that point.

[Local] Sharpe@falconecoose: "There is plenty I could have done."

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: Enlighten me.

[Local] Sharpe@falconecoose: "Faster through the corridors, more efficient, could have done something different, anything."

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: Captain, the ambassador was already in the Tzenkethi's grip even before we beamed down. He was just waiting for us to come so we could see them die.

Sharpe@falconecoose shrugs slightly "Any failure can be improved on. And I don't need a lecture from the KDF of all people." as she turns back towards the door

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: Worrying about that will change nothing. You did your best, and if you need confirmation for your report's sake, I'll vouch for your performance.

Sharpe@falconecoose laughs softly, almost bitterly at that as she moves towards the door "Oh what a world, where the KDF are offering to vouch for my performance."

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: Fine, be your way. *nods to Egzo* I'll stay a bit here. You prep the squadron for departure. I have to speak with Mysti and Branded Lady.

Egzo@HF_Mudd nods, but looks wary. "Sure ya don't want me around for that?"

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: *turns back to Lexi's biobed* Well, I'll call you when they're around, maybe we can even schedule the proper meeting on Risa.

Egzo@HF_Mudd nods again.

Egzo@HF_Mudd talks to his wrist. "Egzo t' Hag'lhr. One t' beam up."

Egzo@HF_Mudd shortly vanishes in a cascade of crimson sparks.

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: *flashes a smile to doc* Say, I didn't catch your name, doctor...

Lexi@crystyll | Kazra turns with a soft smile, "Commander Kazra Meel, CMO on the Valley Forge"

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: *nods* Captain Sadia Cynis. Say, I have more questions about....

[Local] Sadia@gulremal: -- SCENE END --

View AAR

SUBMITTED: Stardate 94517.4 FILED BY: CAPT K Se'Lai SECURITY: Level 2 - Confidential

LOCATION: Deep Space / OSN Colony

MISSION: Distress signal resonse

OUTCOME: Colony attack repelled

KEY PERSONNEL:

CAPT Se'Lai (USS Valley Forge) CAPT Skye (USS MacAlpine) CAPT Raynor (USS Troy) [npc] CAPT Sharpe CMDR Meel [npc] LCDR Keliaya Mia LaRouche AMB Vix CAPT Cynis (IKS Daramar) CAPT Egzo (IKS Hag'Lhr) CAPT Lexi (IKS QanwI') TAB Mysti (SNV Thana Vaneri) LT B'Atar 'Captain Santiago' [npc] 'The Branded Lady' 'The First Eye' [npc]

NARRATIVE: Whilst patrolling alongside the MacAlpine, we received a distress signal originating from the new Orion colony located along the sector border (the site claimed by the OSN after a joint Starfleet - KDF - OSN operation liberated a major Branded Lady cloning facility). Whilst the Valley Forge and MacAlpine moved to assist, we were contacted by the USS Troy - a local patrol escort under VA Arishan - who also picked up the distress call and was moving to assist as well, requesting to form up with us.

Almost immediately upon opening communications with the Troy, both Captain Skye and myself felt something was off about the situation - in particular her Captain Santiago - and so both set about performing our own checks. It did not take long to figure that the man on screen was an imposter and no Starfleet officer (called out by myself in quoting a non-existent standard procedure). At this point it was clear he intended to attack, despite the futility of such an action, however Captain Skye's own preparations were more than in hand and so, before the Troy's weapons could be turned on either of our vessels, they were shut down with overriding command codes and tractored. Whilst both vessels swept up fleeing escape pods from the Troy, a MACO squad was dispatched from the MacAlpine to regain control of the ship. Given the circumstances, I opted to send Mia with them; since her ability to interface with the Troy's computer through her drone shell would be paramount in an expedient restoration of power.

The boarding party worked quickly and decisively, and soon regained control from the pirate crew; learning in the process that the real crew were being held in a form of stasis on the lower decks. Medical teams responded and it was not long before the Troy was back under the command of Captain Raynor who immediately returned her to dock. It seems that the Troy was heavily damaged whilst defending a convoy from a raid by the Branded Lady's forces, after which she was boarded and the crew were overpowered before said pirate forces took control of the vessel and maintained the rouse that she was operating normally. Following a recent shift in the dynamic of the Branded Lady's group (to which I lack sufficient information to comment on at present), this crew was seconded by the Scryer Network who seemingly directed them to intercept our response to the OSN's distress call.

Resuming course, we soon arrived at the OSN colony to find that the immediate threat had been halted in orbit by KDF forces who were now preparing to secure a ground facility where the last of the attackers were holed up. While we worked to secure the system and recover the battle site in orbit; the MacAlpine's MACO's were redeployed alongside KDF ground forces for the final assault. I armed our allies with the information that Ambassador Vix was visiting this colony and her retrieval was a priority objective for the MACO squad.

The joint ground op was as swift and efficient as one would expect. It would seem that the attack was the work of the Scryer intelligence network and fronted by the 'salvage dreadnought' we have faced in the past. While we confirmed from the debris field in orbit that the dreadnought was destroyed here by the KDF forces, the ground team were confronted with a combination of combat droids and stealth assassins. Cornering the' First Eye' who seemingly knew he was making his last stand, the Tzenkethi operative held Ambassador Vix hostage in preparation for the ground teams arrival. Given his entrenched position, the Tzenkethi proved predictably troublesome for the ground team to shut down - and one of our KDF allies was severely injured in the process - as was Ambassador Vix.

Post mortem examination confirms that Ambassador Vix (who was suspended by a strangulation grip from the Tzenkethi when the ground team first arrived) died after her larynx was crushed some time prior to that incursion. Whilst her loss is tragic and she will be missed by the Diplomatic Corps, her people will be take solace in the survival of the Vix symbiont - who is now joined with the KDF Captain; Lexi.

RECOMMENDATION: Having already taken personal responsibility for informing both the Diplomatic Corps. and Trill Symbiosis Commission of Enelya's passing & Vix' new joining; I believe there is no outstanding action on this front. The USS Troy has reported back to VA Arishan and her crew is well on the way to recovery. Further intelligence is required to properly assess the Orion situation, but on the surface it would seem that the Branded Lady is now allied with the OSN and fighting against the Scryer Network.