ST:TTV224 | "Let There be Darkness"

Stardate 94664.7

The Valley Forge studies a colony world that was devastated decades ago for potential resettlement, but they discover something unexpected buried within...

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Keelah@crystyll taps on her armest Keelah@crystyll: "Captain's Log, Stardate 94645.8. The Valley Forge is en route to the Anhui system, where a Federation colony was destroyed under mysterious circumstances during the early days of the Dominion War." Fiona@falconecoose <C> This is the USS MacAlpine to the Valley Forge, the captain is requesting to holo onto the bridge. Keliaya@anncarise | Silvestrie: "So what do you think happened to the colony?" Keliaya@anncarise | Vrolmacht: "Obviously one of the Changelings infiltrated it to sabotage the environmental controls." Keliaya@anncarise | Silvestrie: "You mean you don't believe the inside job story?" Keri@hawkecosse#4702 glances up from her console slightly as she rolls her shoulders, as she glances at the others Keelah@crystyll | T'Quila: "Incoming hail Captain. It's the MacAlpine requesting holo" Keliaya@anncarise | Vrolmacht: "What, the Maquis one? What would the Maquis gain from destroying a colony? They're bloodthirsty insurrectionist targs, but they still fight for a purpose." Keelah@crystyll: "Put it up" Fiona@falconecoose image appears and flickers slightly as it does so before it stabilises, as she offers a nod to Keelah "Captain." Keliaya@anncarise | Silvestrie: "Well maybe they didn't want to destroy the planet, but something went wrong." Keelah@crystyll smiles softly, "Captain, you sometimes I could swear the MacAlpine is shadowing us" Fiona@falconecoose laughs softly "Now why would I be doing that...it woulnd't have anything to do with the fact that all the fun stuff happens when the Forge is around..." Keelah@crystyll rolls her eyes chuckling lightly, "Let's not make a habit of that, eh" Keri@hawkecosse#4702 shakes her head slightly at Fi as she taps away on her console Keliaya@anncarise | Chag: "We're approaching the Anhui system, captain." Fiona@falconecoose "But where is the fun in that..." glances to someone on her own bridge quickly Keelah@crystyll: "Well Captain, I can't imagine anything untoward being this far off the beaten path now" she looks forward, "Slow to 1/2 impulse. Initial scans?" Patsy@turtles#8407 Does the scans Fiona@falconecoose: "Probally not, and being honest that will be nice if nothing goes wrong." Patsy@turtles#8407: "Scans coming in, well the planet is definitley uninhabitable due to all the ion storms which our scans are having trouble with." Keliaya@anncarise: "Seems to be the same as it was since the last survey then." Keliaya@anncarise: "According to our database the ion storms was the result of a catastrophic failure in the planet's environmental control system. Risian technology used in the initial colonization of the world." Keliaya@anncarise | Vrolmacht: "Sabotage, not failure." Keelah@crystyll shoots a glance to Vrolmacht, "Let's stick to the facts on the ground, shall we" Keliaya@anncarise nods, "Most historians suspect that due to the time period of its destruction, but there's no evidence to suggest either way." Keliaya@anncarise | Vrolmacht: "Sorry, captain." Keelah@crystyll: "Whilst it would always be beneficial to establish historical accuracy; our main concern is assessment for recolonization" Keelah@crystyll: "So ladies..." she glances to Zee & Fi, "...what do we think?" Zhyl'ia@thecastellan ponders "I do dislike going in blind" Keliaya@anncarise: "Well with our current technology we can clear away the ion storms. It's just a matter of cost verses benefit, as it would require a significant investment of science ships." Keliaya@anncarise: "On the other hand, scouting out a fresh new world would require use of exploration vessels too..." Fiona@falconecoose: "Either way there is going to have to be cost to reward analysis done to see which way is more benficial with less cost..." Keelah@crystyll: "What data do we have on the original colony? Perhaps if we can pinpoint where their environmental processors are, we can get a more focused scan through the interference" Patsy@turtles#8407: "If it helps from my medical point of view anything on the surface would be incinarated if we go into the storm without protection." Keri@hawkecosse#4702: "Captains...I'm dectecting something odd on sensors..." Zhyl'ia@thecastellan raises an eyebrow and listens over Keelah@crystyll glances over curiously before moving to take a look, "What have you got?" Keliaya@anncarise: "We do have the location of the original colony, which we can use to-" she looks over to Keri. Keri@hawkecosse#4702 "It shouldn't be there but I have reset the scans and it it still coming up every so often as an almost faint pop on the scaners...here." as she points to the scanners as it comes up again "The > Keelah@crystyll ponders the situation. Keri@hawkecosse#4702: > scanners are showing signs of technology, generators and the type. Got a biosign in a previous ping." Keelah@crystyll: "How does this correlate with the original colony layout?" Patsy@turtles#8407: "A biosign? Impossible nothing to my knowledge could survive the ionsation from the storms." Fiona@falconecoose holo image moves over to have a look at the results as well Zhyl'ia@thecastellan: "When you say survive, do you mean just biological?" Keri@hawkecosse#4702 taps on her console quickly as she cross refrences the scans "Hmm...it appears to be 36 klicks underneat the original colony, but almost spot on for longitude and latitude." Patsy@turtles#8407: "Yes, I haven't actually factored in the effects of th ion storm on technological or other beings." Patsy@turtles#8407 A light bulb goes off "Unless....Well nothing can survive on the surface where the atmosphere touches but the atmosphere does not touch the underground." Keelah@crystyll looks from Keri to Fi, "Any knowledge of former colony; mining output, that kind of thing? Could this be a part of it... surviving all this time?" Keri@hawkecosse#4702 glances over at Patsy "That is possible but an underground outpost surving for this long after this level of devistation...the power and resources they would need would be mad..." Fiona@falconecoose glances over at one of her own bridge officers "Having one of my officers check now." Patsy@turtles#8407: "But it could be possible they could have underground water sources etc. One thing is for sure they definitley would be cut off from all communication with the outside." Keelah@crystyll: "Well if they had the power to run a Risian weather generator, reduced down to a small enough area underground..." Patsy@turtles#8407: "What was the planets main source of power before the incident?" Keri@hawkecosse#4702: "Yes it would be possible...but it would exert a massive drain and was it not the weather generator that failed in the first place?" Keelah@crystyll: "That is the speculated outcome, yes" Keliaya@anncarise: "They used the same power system currently being used to maintain Risa's environmental control and resorts." Keliaya@anncarise: "Grid layout is almost entirely identical, and from what I can tell it's pretty flawless. Risa's only failures were usually either biological error or sabotage." Fiona@falconecoose: "Hmm, ok Alves has just came back with data that apparently the originial enviromental controls were built by a Risian engineer by the name Avondal, apparently he was some sort of genius in his field> Fiona@falconecoose: > and ok, it says here that he did develop a prototype plan for an underground city but was never attempted." Keelah@crystyll: "That might explain the consideration in revitalizing this colony then, if it warranted such investment to begin with then it much be rich in some form, therefore still of considerable value" Keelah@crystyll quirks a brow, looking back to Fi, "That... sounds a little coincidental..." Fiona@falconecoose: "Yes...yes it does, and I don't like concidences..." Keelah@crystyll shakes her head lightly, "I swear, if the Forge had come alone this would have been a strightforward survey..." Zhyl'ia@thecastellan chuckles "As if we don't always attract interesting missions" Keelah@crystyll chuckles with Zee as she returns, "Alright Zee, so any ideas on how to get a better picture of what's going on down there?" Keri@hawkecosse#4702: "Captains, been running focused scans on the sensor ping location, after I tied into the MacAlpines sensors as well. I am picking up signs of what does look like infrastructure." Zhyl'ia@thecastellan: "Well given what we know I highly doubt a probe will survive a visit, so anything we do will probably have to be from a longer range" Fiona@falconecoose laughs softly "Oh sure..." Keliaya@anncarise looks to Zee and Keelah, "We can dissipate the ion disruption temporarily." Keelah@crystyll nods, "Excellent work, I..." looks back to Kelly, "On sufficient scale to access the surface?" Keliaya@anncarise: "It would require a sustained deflector beam and it would clear an area of maximum a few square kilometres, but it should reduce the interference enough to send a transporter beam down." Keliaya@anncarise: "It /should/ also let us scan past the surface into the crust." Keri@hawkecosse#4702: "If we could get a sensor lock on the underground could we attempt to beam an away team in direct?" Keliaya@anncarise nods to Keri, "That's what I was thinking too." Zhyl'ia@thecastellan: "If I may, beaming in may not be the wisest idea until we know more" Zhyl'ia@thecastellan: "Think about it, there must be a reason we don't know more about what's down there" Keliaya@anncarise: "The storms have been preventing whoever is down there from contacting us, but that is a good point..." Keelah@crystyll: "Agreed. Perhaps clearing the way will allow us to first get a thorough scan, maybe even a comms signal through. We can drop a probe at the same time to act as a signal repeater if needed too" Keliaya@anncarise: "It's possible whoever or whatever is down there wants to be isolated. And I can't exactly blame them for the time period they lived through..." Keelah@crystyll: "It's also possible that whoever it is may be responsibe for the isolating circumstances down there; ergo the loss of the colony" Fiona@falconecoose shrugs slightly "I agree but as the saying goes sometimes to just have to jump in both feet first, or as my MACOs say feet first into hell." Zhyl'ia@thecastellan: "A little extra information never hurts in our line of work" Keelah@crystyll: "Indeed. We can always clear it a second time between us should the first attempt yeild favourable results" Keliaya@anncarise nods in agreement. Fiona@falconecoose: "Information is always helpful but knowledge is so much more usefull, and yes we could." Zhyl'ia@thecastellan thinks "I could also try to see what I can sense, but I can't promise a success" Keelah@crystyll: "Very well. Chag, put us in a geosync position ready to initiate the deflector burst" Keelah@crystyll: "Zee, I'll take anything you can give me as a bonus like always" she smiles Keliaya@anncarise | Chag: "Aye, captain." Keliaya@anncarise turns back to her console, "Preparing deflector burst..." Fiona@falconecoose: "The MacAlpine is moving into postion as well in case we need to assist." Keliaya@anncarise | Chag: "Geosync achieved." Keliaya@anncarise: "Activating deflector beam." Keelah@crystyll watches the spacemagic on screen Zhyl'ia@thecastellan nods and starts her attempt also Zhyl'ia@thecastellan twitches her antennae curiously Keri@hawkecosse#4702: "Captains! Scans have cleared up now, definitely picking up a thriving city down there." Zhyl'ia@thecastellan: "And they're scared" Keelah@crystyll nods and looks forward, "T'Quila; can you get a comms signal through?" Keliaya@anncarise | T'Quila: "That should be achievable. Whether they have the equipment to receive it however is another question." Patsy@turtles#8407: "Over 15000 lifesigns." Keelah@crystyll: "Stars..." Zhyl'ia@thecastellan: "And as I said, most of them are very fearful. That does not bode well" Keri@hawkecosse#4702 whistles softly "How many did the colony have before..." Keelah@crystyll: "Do what you can specialist. If we can't raise them..." she glances to Fi, "Your guys may be suiting up once more..." Fiona@falconecoose nods slightly as she motions to some one on her bridge "They are going to standby position, but I would rather use diplomacy than force on this one." Zhyl'ia@thecastellan ponders "Captain, do we know what level of technology they are at? They may have regressed after the incidents if they've been trapped a while" Patsy@turtles#8407: "To answer your question the colony before had a population slightly under 9000." Zhyl'ia@thecastellan: "We may be scaring them if they aren't used to our tech any more" Keelah@crystyll: "That a significant level of growth, and yes Zee; that is why I want as full a picture as possible before we do anything" Keliaya@anncarise: "The readings I'm getting matches up with late 24th century Federation equipment." Fiona@falconecoose: "Worst case scenario, we may be having to essentially make first contact with our own colony." Keelah@crystyll looks hopefully to TQ, "Anything?" Keliaya@anncarise: "Not the first time that's been done, though it doesn't usually seem to go smoothly..." Fiona@falconecoose: "No..no it does not." Keliaya@anncarise | T'Quila: "I have sent the messages as requested, but I have not received a reply as of yet." Keelah@crystyll: "Well then it would appear we have little choice..." Keelah@crystyll: "Kelly, what is the estimated window before the ion storm reclaims the cleared region?" Keliaya@anncarise: "The interference is already starting to set back in, but we do have the power to sustain the beam for half an hour if necessary." Keliaya@anncarise: "That is counting in the MacAlpine's power and any we need for a safe return to spacedock." Keelah@crystyll turns to Zee, "Then prep your team and... try not to be late back" she smiles Zhyl'ia@thecastellan smiles "We'll do our best" Zhyl'ia@thecastellan says to no one in particular "Let's try to prep for as much as we can, we don't know what we're dropping into" Keelah@crystyll: "Captain, I'll leave you to coordinate ground efforts from the MacAlpine as you see fit" Keri@hawkecosse#4702: "Already got an away kit ready for situations like this." Patsy@turtles#8407: I'll fetch my medical kit. Keelah@crystyll: "Good luck, all of you. Vrolmacht' you have the bridge. I'll be in my ready room" Fiona@falconecoose nods slightly "Was planning to beam down personally. Need to stretch my legs a bit." Zhyl'ia@thecastellan nods "Then everyone see to your preparations, we shall reconvene at the transporter pads" Zhyl'ia@thecastellan wanders off to prepare Keliaya@anncarise goes off to prepare as well. Patsy@turtles#8407 Taps her commbadge and speaks witht he chief medical officer to prep things for her trip Fiona@falconecoose nods to Keri as her holo image cuts off Keliaya@anncarise FX | The away team beams down in a long arcing hallway that has a distinct Federation appearance. Keliaya@anncarise FX | Some segments of the hallway have windows which show the view of an sprawling underground city... Keri@hawkecosse#4702 moves over to one of the windows to look out as she pulls out her tricorder as she taps away on it quickly Keliaya@anncarise FX | Window View: https://img00.deviantart.net/c004/i/2014/062/a/c/after_reset_rpg_illustration_underground_city_by_blackcloudstudios-d78r0eo.png Charlotte@turtles#8407 Checks her medkit over making sure she didn't forget anything Keri@hawkecosse#4702 enters data into her tricorder. Zhyl'ia@thecastellan: "Well, time to get our bearings. Where have we ended up?" Fiona@falconecoose glances up and down the hallway, as she seems rather relaxed "Hmm...I'll be honest I was expecting a welcoming party and not a good one..." Keri@hawkecosse#4702: "Oh my...this is stunning, these buildings so signs of so many federation cultures..." Zhyl'ia@thecastellan goes to speak but stops and tilts her head slightly "Be careful.." Zhyl'ia@thecastellan gestures down the corridoor "There's quite a bit of anger coming from down there" Keliaya@anncarise joins Keri, "And these vehicles...that one resembles one of those antique Earth designs..." Fiona@falconecoose raises her eyebrow slightly as she walks forward slowly as she casually looks out of the window as she walks Keri@hawkecosse#4702: "This is amazing...I know a few teams back on the starbase that would have a field day with this place." Mia@crystyll: "Ooh, c'est magnifique! But... where is everyone?" Keliaya@anncarise FX | A few moments after Zee's warning, raised voices can be heard coming down the hall. Mia@crystyll: "Aah there they are!" Fiona@falconecoose nods slightly towards Mia as they start to hear the voices "Ask and you shall recive." Mia@crystyll pulls out her tricorder to get an initial reading on the approaching lifesigns Zhyl'ia@thecastellan: "Let's try not to direct that anger at ourselves if we can" Keliaya@anncarise FX | The voices grow to be audible. Mia@crystyll: "We are detecting signs of multiple known Federation species" Keliaya@anncarise | Female Voice: "Father, stop! You're going to get us all into trouble!" Zhyl'ia@thecastellan: "And they're on the way" Fiona@falconecoose nods slightly "We will do what we can to avoid the anger, but what else can we do but speak to them." Keliaya@anncarise | Elderly Male: "No, the truth must be heard! The first duty of a Starfleet officer-" Keliaya@anncarise | Woman: "Father! Starfleet hasn't existed since I was born!" Keliaya@anncarise | Elderly Male: "Well clearly they do!" Mia@crystyll waves. Zhyl'ia@thecastellan adopts a non-threatening posture, just in case Mia@crystyll gives a friendly wave to prove the point Keliaya@anncarise | Woman: "Father, what you picked up, it was probably just an old message, maybe even a temporal disturbance! I thought that was what you Starfleet people researched!" Keliaya@anncarise FX | In front of them, a Tellarite and a human approaches from adjacent hallways to investigate what the fuss is about. Fiona@falconecoose glances back at the others "I think it may be time we said hello." Keliaya@anncarise | Tellarite: "Mary, shut your father up before the Enforcers lock this block down again!" Zhyl'ia@thecastellan: "Classic Starfleet diplomacy by the sounds of it, though they may be a little sore with us" Keliaya@anncarise | Woman: "I can't rein him in, you know that!" Fiona@falconecoose shakes her head slightly "I don't think us being here is the problem, I think us not being here is the problem." Keliaya@anncarise | Tellarite: "Well if you don't then we all get into grub!" Zhyl'ia@thecastellan: "Exactly, if they think we abandoned them.." Zhyl'ia@thecastellan: "Well, you may get your welcoming party yet" Fiona@falconecoose moves forward around the corner alomst right away as she overhears what does appear to be a threat Keliaya@anncarise FX | Just as Zee says, four transporter beams appear down the hallway, cutting off the Starfleet Officers from the civilians... Fiona@falconecoose: "Well bugger..." Keliaya@anncarise FX | As they materialize, it can be seen that they are inorganic androids: https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/masseffect/images/c/c0/ME2_Loki_Mech.png/revision/latest?cb=20120917060158 Fiona@falconecoose looks at the androids as they materialise "Well hello there." Zhyl'ia@thecastellan: "Easy now, we don't want to cause problems for ourselves" Mia@crystyll 's drone runs a more passive scan on the not-Loki mechs Keliaya@anncarise FX | One bot advances towards the old man: "John Richard Hamilton. You are under arrest for disrupting the peace. Please do not resist." Keliaya@anncarise FX | Another bot turns to Fiona: "Please stay back." Keliaya@anncarise | Elderly Male: "The truth must be heard! Starfleet's still out there, I picked up their transmission!" Fiona@falconecoose glances at the others "I do not think we can stay idle in this situation..." Keri@hawkecosse#4702 nods slightly "I do agree..." Zhyl'ia@thecastellan: "At the risk of inviting even more mechs it may be best to.." Mia@crystyll: "We calculate the odds of staying idle resulting in mission success to be... well, we don't think you want to know" Keliaya@anncarise | Bot: "You may explain your actions to the Justicars once we arrive at the detention facility. Please cooperate for the time being." Fiona@falconecoose: "These are citzens of the federation we can and will not abandon them again." Zhyl'ia@thecastellan steps forwards and ahems "Excuse me.. officers?" Keliaya@anncarise FX | Another bot turns to Zee, "Please stay back." Charlotte@turtles#8407 Pulls her medkit slightly closer just incase Keliaya@anncarise: "I think these androids might not have actual AI...seems to be running on basic processes." Zhyl'ia@thecastellan: "But we are in possession of evidence" Keri@hawkecosse#4702 mutters under her breath slightly "I get the feeling these bots don't care for evidence." Keliaya@anncarise FX | Bot: "If you have evidence pertaining to an investigation, please visit an Enforcement station and present it to a Justicar. Your nearest location is Block Delta, Building 300." Zhyl'ia@thecastellan frowns under her visor Keliaya@anncarise FX | Meanwhile, the other bot advances towards the old man. Fiona@falconecoose takes a step forward, as she raises her voice so it carries down the hallway "But our evidence is about the existence of starfleet." Keliaya@anncarise | Bot: "John Hamilton. This is your third and final warning. Cooperate or force will be applied." Mia@crystyll: "Commander Zee, we may be able to directly interface with these units and override their base programming if so desired. Though we can not predict any wider implications of doing so. Just to highlight Mia@crystyll: an available option for you" Keliaya@anncarise | Bot: "Starfleet was destroyed 42 years ago." Zhyl'ia@thecastellan nods "Thank you Mia, would it be possible for you to show them some evidence of ourselves?" Keliaya@anncarise | Bot: "If you continue to question the word of the Emperor, you will be detained for disrupting the peace." Mia@crystyll nods, "Yes, we believe so. Preparing data packet" Zhyl'ia@thecastellan: "Emperor? That's.. concerning" Fiona@falconecoose: "Rumours of our destruction have been greatly exaggerated. I am Captain Fiona Skye, of the Starfleet vessel the USS MacAlpine which is currently in orbit of this planet." Keliaya@anncarise Meanwhile in the background... | Woman: "Father, please, enough of this!" Mia@crystyll transmits data packet to the bots showing pertinent Starfleet records to this colony Fiona@falconecoose her voice would still be loud enough to carry to the other people Keri@hawkecosse#4702: "I knew I had a bad feeling about this." Keliaya@anncarise | Elderly Male: "See! See! They exist! They-" Mia@crystyll: "As you can see verified by the presented data" she adds to reinforce the statement Keliaya@anncarise FX | The drones freeze for a moment as the data packets are sent. And then they all simultaneously speak. Keliaya@anncarise | Bots: "Override command recognized." Keliaya@anncarise FX | The bot closest to the old man fires a phaser beam from his hand, instantly knocking him to the ground. Keliaya@anncarise | Woman: "Father! He's over 100 years old! You can't just stun him, who knows-" Zhyl'ia@thecastellan flinches at the sudden shot, unable to anticipate the bots actions Keliaya@anncarise FX | The bot simply steps forward, grabs the woman and the old man and disappates into a transporter beam. Fiona@falconecoose as soon as the first phaser is fired she has drawn her owh phaser and shots at the bot that shot the old man as she charges the closest bot Mia@crystyll scowls, "We knew we should hacked their core programming too" Charlotte@turtles#8407 Moves forward as the man went down but stops as he goes down Keliaya@anncarise FX | The remaining 7 bots turn to the away team and raise their weapons... Zhyl'ia@thecastellan steps in front of the nurse Keliaya@anncarise FX | The bot is damaged but transported away nonetheless, though it doesn't manage to take the woman and her father with it. Keliaya@anncarise FX | Fi charges the second bot which turns to counter her charge with close ranged attacks. Mia@crystyll attempts a brute force hack of the present bots to exert a control signal of her own over all present Charlotte@turtles#8407: "I must get to the man, would you possibly be able to cover me?" Keliaya@anncarise FX | The bots freeze as Mia gains control! Zhyl'ia@thecastellan nods "Of course, everyone else assist the Captain just in case" Mia@crystyll holds her hands out straight, slowly lowering them to guide the bots into a standby pose Zhyl'ia@thecastellan steps cautiously through the bots Mia@crystyll: "We have assumed direct control" Charlotte@turtles#8407 Blinks at the bots but still caustiously moves past them until she reaches the elderly gentleman Keliaya@anncarise FX | The elderly man is unconscious. Zhyl'ia@thecastellan smiles "Good work as always Mia" Fiona@falconecoose slowly lowers her weapon as they go into standby, before she moves towards the civilians "Good work Mia." Charlotte@turtles#8407 Kneels down and opens her medkit and scans the man with her medical tricorder Mia@crystyll smiles, "Merci Commander! We will attempt to dissect memory cores, though this may not yield results whilst holding safeguards against external influence" Zhyl'ia@thecastellan: "I'd take the time to study these bots while we can, for those of the engineering inclination" Keliaya@anncarise steps up to the bot, then freezes as she looks at her tricorder. Zhyl'ia@thecastellan turns towards Fi "Far be it from me to assume to tell you what to do, but would you mind keeping an eye down the corridoor, just in case?" Keliaya@anncarise: "I'm reading vehicles with weapon signatures approaching our location!" Zhyl'ia@thecastellan smiles "Only while the Lieutenant works of course" Zhyl'ia@thecastellan turns to Keli "Ah, that sounds like a bigger issue" Charlotte@turtles#8407: "Hm, that stun from the phaser has led to a preliminary signs of a stroke. Nothing I cannot handle." she starts to adjust a hypospray and injects the man attempting to stablise him Zhyl'ia@thecastellan: "How long do we have?" Fiona@falconecoose nods slightly "That does sound like a problem." Keliaya@anncarise: "Not lon-" Keliaya@anncarise FX | As Patsy works, lights shine in from the windows as Federation style combat craft line up outside the window... Keliaya@anncarise FX | http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hxe2NLPgkQ8/Uakfx68QvoI/AAAAAAAAA0g/7UopuNJ_1aE/s1600/star-trek-into-darkness-ship-attack.jpg Mia@crystyll tilts her head slightly and the controlled bots move in unison to line up along the window facing the craft Zhyl'ia@thecastellan does not hear the noise, but instinctively hits her commbadge as Keli pauses Zhyl'ia@thecastellan is unsurprised when nothing happens Keliaya@anncarise hits her combadge as well, then looks to her tricorder, "We're being jammed. Locally. No signal is going out of this building...maybe the entire block..." Charlotte@turtles#8407 Scans the man and injects him with a pain killer for the stun and scans to see if the stablisation has worked Fiona@falconecoose looks at the craft and the at the others "This would be a problem..." Zhyl'ia@thecastellan nods "We need an escape plan, and quickly. Otherwise we may be at their mercy" Mia@crystyll: "Capitaine; the bots are at your disposla. Though we would prefer not to open fire on Federation citizens..." Keliaya@anncarise FX | A holographic projection appears from the front of one of the vehicles, and it slowly forms into an Andorian. As it displays the head, it can be seen that his antennae are replaced by some - Keliaya@anncarise - cybernetic looking components. Keliaya@anncarise | Andorian: "This is the Justicars. You are under arrest by the personal command of the Emperor. The entire Enforcement has been notified of your violations." Charlotte@turtles#8407 Looks at the woman ignoring the scene of combat veichles and what not "Your father should be fine, make sure he gets plenty of rest and give him lots of food and water as it helps to recover from Keliaya@anncarise | Andorian: "Any attempt to resist will be met with lethal force. I really wouldn't try it if I were you." Fiona@falconecoose: "This is Captain Fiona Skye, of the starfleet vessel the USS MacAlpine." Charlotte@turtles#8407: stroke." Stands packing all her equipment back into the medkit "I would vacate the area very quickly if I were you." Fiona@falconecoose: "We come in peace, but could not stand by as your drones attempted to arrest and then shoot an inocent man." Keliaya@anncarise | Woman: "Thank you. I'll try to get him into our room but the building's probably blocked off by force fields after what happened...and they'll interrogate all of us sooner or later..." Keliaya@anncarise | Andorian: "Impossible. Starfleet was destroyed in the invasion from the Gamma Quadrant. Small pockets of what was once the Federation may remain, but only the protection of our glorious Emperor - Keliaya@anncarise - has kept us unaffected by galactic wars." Zhyl'ia@thecastellan: "You've no doubt seen our data, we aren't lying" Zhyl'ia@thecastellan mutters quietly "Ah, propaganda.." Keliaya@anncarise | Andorian: "I have not. And data can be fabricated. As can any costumes resembling what Starfleet once wore." Fiona@falconecoose: "I'm sorry but as I said to your drones, rumours of our destruction are exaggerated. Starfleet is alive and well and the Federation is still around." Mia@crystyll brushes down her skirt for no apparent reason as the Andorian says that Charlotte@turtles#8407: "Good luck." she says and then turns back to the window Keliaya@anncarise | Andorian: "I am merely an arm of the Emperor. I have been instructed to bring you to him directly." Keliaya@anncarise | Andorian: "If you believe he is mistaken, you will contend with him yourself." Mia@crystyll: "Perhaps we should have simply first requested to be taken to these peoples' leader upon arrival..." Keliaya@anncarise | Andorian: "I have been authorized to terminate you. But the Emperor and his servants are not without mercy." Keliaya@anncarise | Andorian: "Come with us, and you shall have your say. Let His Majesty be the judge of truth." Fiona@falconecoose glances at the others before turning back to Andorian "Ahh a good old fashioned 'imperial mercy', I had hoped that all civilations in the Federation where strong enough not to fall back to such." Zhyl'ia@thecastellan: "Well, he's definitely from Andoria. That's for sure" Keliaya@anncarise | Andorian: "The Federation's childish dreams of peace and friendship have proven to be a failure. A few liberties for the sake of security is no big sacrifice." Fiona@falconecoose: "I will speak to your 'emperor' then, and I will advise him of where he is mistaken. Any sacrifce of liberty for security is too big." Keliaya@anncarise | Andorian: "Good. I am pleased you have chosen the sensible option." Keliaya@anncarise FX | Meanwhile the woman slowly and carefully carries her father away in the background... Keliaya@anncarise | Andorian: "The Emperor's Seat cannot be reached by transporter systems. I will transport you on board my vessel and deliver you to him." Keliaya@anncarise | Andorian: "Stand by for transportation." Keliaya@anncarise FX | The holoimage disappears, and a few seconds later, the away team disappears into a transporter beam... Keliaya@anncarise TO BE CONTINUED... Keliaya@anncarise | LAST TIME ON TTV Patsy@turtles#8407: "Scans coming in, well the planet is definitely uninhabitable due to all the ion storms which our scans are having trouble with." Keliaya@anncarise: "According to our database the ion storms was the result of a catastrophic failure in the planet's environmental control system. Risian technology used in the initial colonization of the world." Keliaya@anncarise | Vrolmacht: "Sabotage, not failure." Keliaya@anncarise nods, "Most historians suspect that due to the time period of its destruction, but there's no evidence to suggest either way." Keri@hawkecosse#4702: "Captains...I'm dectecting something odd on sensors..." Patsy@turtles#8407: "A biosign? Impossible nothing to my knowledge could survive the ionsation from the storms." Keri@hawkecosse#4702 taps on her console quickly as she cross refrences the scans "Hmm...it appears to be 36 klicks underneath the original colony.” Keliaya@anncarise looks to Zee and Keelah, "We can dissipate the ion disruption temporarily." Keri@hawkecosse#4702: "If we could get a sensor lock on the underground could we attempt to beam an away team in direct?" Keliaya@anncarise FX | The away team beams down in a long arcing hallway that has a distinct Federation appearance. Keliaya@anncarise | Elderly Male: "No, the truth must be heard! The first duty of a Starfleet officer-" Keliaya@anncarise | Woman: "Father! Starfleet hasn't existed since I was born!" Keliaya@anncarise | Elderly Male: "Well clearly they do!" Keliaya@anncarise FX | Four transporter beams appear down the hallway, cutting off the Starfleet Officers from the civilians... Keliaya@anncarise FX | Lights shine in from the windows as Federation style combat craft line up outside the window… Keliaya@anncarise FX | A holographic projection appears from the front of one of the vehicles, and it slowly forms into an Andorian. As it displays the head, it can be seen that his antennae are replaced by some - Keliaya@anncarise - cybernetic looking components. Keliaya@anncarise | Andorian: "This is the Justicars. You are under arrest by the personal command of the Emperor. The entire Enforcement has been notified of your violations." Fiona@falconecoose: "I will speak to your 'emperor' then, and I will advise him of where he is mistaken. Any sacrifice of liberty for security is too big." Keliaya@anncarise FX | The holoimage disappears, and a few seconds later, the away team disappears into a transporter beam... Keliaya@anncarise | AND NOW THE CONCLUSION… NPC@annpc#5570 FX | The away team materialize in a the interior of a small Federation looking craft. NPC@annpc#5570 | The Andorian Justicar awaits them, and a dark skinned human woman wearing a similar uniform sits at the helm. NPC@annpc#5570 | Andorian Justicar: "I've taken the liberty of filtering out your weapons in the transporter beam. if you're really Starfleet, you would understand such precautions. Zhyl'ia@thecastellan never had a weapon anyway! Fiona@falconecoose glances about the craft as they materialise "Hmm, this is a nice interior. I can see the federation design. Do you still really doubt we are starfleet?" NPC@annpc#5570 | | Andorian: "I don't know what you are, but you're certainly not from around here. The Emperor will be the judge of your sincerity." Fiona@falconecoose shrugs slightly "We have provided the historical records already...can't wait to meet this 'emperor' of yours." NPC@annpc#5570 | Andorian: "It is not a privilege many are granted." NPC@annpc#5570 's robotic antennae set on Zee and he takes a step closer. It can be seen at this distance that his eyes have an unnatural glow to them- likely also cybernetic Zhyl'ia@thecastellan watches the unknown figure step closer "Yes?" NPC@annpc#5570 | Andorian: "You...are not Andorian." Zhyl'ia@thecastellan shakes her head "No, I am not. I am Aenar" NPC@annpc#5570 | Andorian: "Impossible. The Aenar were always rare...how could one have survived the Invasion?" Fiona@falconecoose: "And what invasion would this be?" NPC@annpc#5570 | Andorian: "The one from the Gamma Quadrant, of course. The final blow to the brittle Federation you claim to be from." Fiona@falconecoose: "Ah you mean, the one that didn't happen." NPC@annpc#5570 | Andorian: "That you cannot hope to dispute. There are some here old enough to have witnessed it themselves, including the Emperor." NPC@annpc#5570 | Andorian: "A great wormhole opened and from it an army of ships so powerful neither the Federation nor the Klingons could hope to stand before them." NPC@annpc#5570 | Andorian: "It was the Emperor who saved us by feigning our destruction." Zhyl'ia@thecastellan: "Hm.. curious.." Fiona@falconecoose: "We have provided you with our accurate historical records of the time period, your 'emperor' has lied to you about what happened back then." Patsy@turtles#8407: "If only our counsellor were here, didn't her grandmother serve in the dominion war?" NPC@annpc#5570: | Andorian: "Why would he destroy all that he has built if it were not necessary to ensure our survival?" Patsy@turtles#8407: "May I ask what is your emperors name?" Fiona@falconecoose: "Because people can be hungry for power, and I assume he only became the emperor after he forced you underground?" NPC@annpc#5570: | Andorian: "He is the Emperor. That is what we call him. But our records indicate that he was made Emperor after saving us all, through the good graces of his people." Patsy@turtles#8407: "But what is his real name?" NPC@annpc#5570: | Andorian: "I am not old enough to remember such details. Whoever he was before he was Emperor, he is something different now. He is our guide and protector." Patsy@turtles#8407 Wants to throw her medkit so hard at this guy NPC@annpc#5570 | Human Justicar: "We are approaching the Emperor's Seat." Fiona@falconecoose: "Or he seized power with forcing them underground and then changed history to be the victors history. Absolute power, corrupts absolutely." NPC@annpc#5570 FX | Outside the window, a big trapezoidal structure looms. Keliaya@anncarise | https://i.ytimg.com/vi/6ERaekTpHEw/maxresdefault.jpg NPC@annpc#5570 | Andorian: "Be careful what you accuse the Emperor of. It will not help your case." NPC@annpc#5570 FX | Slowly, the shuttle approaches the structure which grows even larger until only the doors of a docking bay is visible from the window. Fiona@falconecoose: "Are you able to disprove what I have just said though? Do not some of the older people still tell stories and the verbal history of how it was before." NPC@annpc#5570 | Andorian: "Do I look like a Vulcan or a Tellarite? I am not here to debate logic or to argue in circles." NPC@annpc#5570 | Andorian: "The Emperor will decide your fate, and his will is my command." Fiona@falconecoose: "Then you have not learned from your past and you are doomed to repeat it." Zhyl'ia@thecastellan sighs quietly NPC@annpc#5570 FX | As the craft lands, the large doors at the back swing open to rows of the same white androids seen earlier in the building they were at. NPC@annpc#5570 | The Andorian motions for the away team to follow. Zhyl'ia@thecastellan follows gingerly, carefully trying not to trip NPC@annpc#5570 FX | After a short walk and a turbolift ride, the team is escorted to a throne room... NPC@annpc#5570 FX | Where an old man with a distinctive marking on his foreheads sits in a grand chair overlooking everyone. Keliaya@anncarise looks to the rest of the team, "That is definitely a Risian..." Patsy@turtles#8407 whispers "What was the name of the man who wanted to test his underground weather thing?" is very technical with her words Keliaya@anncarise: "Av...something? Avondal I believe." Patsy@turtles#8407 Nods NPC@annpc#5570 FX | The Emperor speaks from his seat, "Thank you, my ever so faithful hands. You may leave now." NPC@annpc#5570 | Andorian: "My lord, these are dangerous and deluded people who managed to shut down several Enforcers." NPC@annpc#5570 | Emperor: "You disarmed them, did you not?" NPC@annpc#5570 | The Andorian nods. NPC@annpc#5570 | Emperor: "Then your work here is done. Leave." NPC@annpc#5570 | Andorian: "Yes, my liege." NPC@annpc#5570 | The Andorian and his partner bows before exiting. NPC@annpc#5570 | The Emperor stands, examining the away team closely from his vantage point. Fiona@falconecoose glances at the others with a small nod as she takes a small step forward as the NPCs start to leave "Avondal? I persume? The famed Risian engineer?" NPC@annpc#5570 nods, "That was my name, yes. A long time ago, in a different life." NPC@annpc#5570: "You are Starfleet? That is a symbol I have not thought to see again." Fiona@falconecoose: "We are. I am Captain Fiona Skye, of the USS MacAlpine which is currently in orbit along with another ship." NPC@annpc#5570: "I presume you are here on one of your missions of exploration?" Fiona@falconecoose: "We are, we were planning to survey this world for possible recolonisation when we detected this underground colony." NPC@annpc#5570: "As I expected..." Fiona@falconecoose: "You expected this?" NPC@annpc#5570: "Not on this day, in this very moment, no. But we could not go undetected forever." Fiona@falconecoose: "Why did you try to? Why not re-enter the universe?" NPC@annpc#5570: "A universe that cares not for my work? Where I am expected to...share everything?" NPC@annpc#5570: "You have been to my homeworld, have you not?" Fiona@falconecoose: "I have yes, and it is a wonderful world." NPC@annpc#5570: "A world where countless spoiled fools take my work for granted?" NPC@annpc#5570: "It is a world designed to indulge your pleasures, not ours." Keri@hawkecosse#4702 crouches down as if to sort her boots, but as she is doing this she quickly takes her combadge off and attempts to reconfigure the broadcast settings in an attempt to bypass the signal jam. NPC@annpc#5570: "I have lived life as a servant. Now it is MY turn to be respected." Fiona@falconecoose: "Maybe on your world, but on countless colonies I know that your work is respected. And is this way you want to be 'respected' by running an authoritarian imperialist state?" NPC@annpc#5570: "I bring order and stability to these people in the way the Federation never could. You were not here forty years ago." Fiona@falconecoose: "Is that how you want to be remembered? Not as the great engineer who allowed countless worlds to thrive and helped to create life, or as the mad emperor who only imposed fear on his people?" Fiona@falconecoose: "No the Federation wasn't here 40 years, but it is here now. 40 years the Federation was in the midst of a bloody war and were stretched thin." NPC@annpc#5570: "Sometimes fear is an effective tool. The Cardassians have shown us that. The Maquis have shown us that." NPC@annpc#5570: "Perhaps your excuses are valid, but we had to take matters into our own hands. You were not able to protect us from the Cardassians, the Dominion would surely have destroyed us." Fiona@falconecoose takes a step forward as her eyes almost flash with passion "Fear is never an effective or acceptable tool to use. The moment we do that, we are no better than terrorists." Fiona@falconecoose: "Maybe they would, maybe they wouldn't have. That is a question lost to time now, and the only thing we can do is learn from the past so we do not repeat it!" NPC@annpc#5570: "You think I rule only through fear? You have seen but a fraction of my world. Sometimes a disobedient child must be punished." NPC@annpc#5570: "But my people see me as their savior. They seek the guidance I provide them, the security my creations offer them." Zhyl'ia@thecastellan: "Do they know any different? Have you let them explore the stars?" Fiona@falconecoose: "The moment you draw the tool of fear, you can never put it down. It takes the heart of the user and dampens the spirits of the subject. You say you give them security, but you do not give them > Fiona@falconecoose: > the freedom to experience that 'security' you imposed your will on them." NPC@annpc#5570: "Give a child freedom and watch them throw themselves into the sea. The Federation values its liberties far too much." NPC@annpc#5570: "Sometimes order for the whole must be put in front of individual freedoms." NPC@annpc#5570: "As the Vulcans say, the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few." Fiona@falconecoose: "Without liberty life is a misery. And the needs of the many, will and always has been for freedom." NPC@annpc#5570: "Hm. If this were any other city I would let the truth spread and show you how they destroy themselves." NPC@annpc#5570: "But this is my city." Patsy@turtles#8407: "Some already know the truth." NPC@annpc#5570: "I am not the evil dictator you believe me to be. I do not wish to kill you." NPC@annpc#5570: "Starfleet may have failed us, but you are not our enemy." Zhyl'ia@thecastellan: "We never failed you, you never gave us a chance" NPC@annpc#5570: "Then I offer you one now." NPC@annpc#5570: "Clear your logs and report to your superiors that this planet is unfit for recolonization." Zhyl'ia@thecastellan: "You mean lie" NPC@annpc#5570: "It will not be a lie if you choose the alternative." Zhyl'ia@thecastellan: "Okay, and what is this alternative?" NPC@annpc#5570: "This building is protected from transporters. If you wish to dispose of me, you will either have to transport troops or explosives outside the building." NPC@annpc#5570: "This building holds the city's environmental controls. Destroy it, and you take all 15,000 lives with you." NPC@annpc#5570: "Storm it, and I will have done the same long before you can reach me." Patsy@turtles#8407: "The Federation are not soldiers or fighters we would never do such a thing." NPC@annpc#5570: "Then leave us be." Zhyl'ia@thecastellan: "You would commit genocide to continue being emperor?" NPC@annpc#5570: "I would perish as well, of course. But what other choice do you leave me?" NPC@annpc#5570: "To once again give away all that I have built?" Zhyl'ia@thecastellan: "You speak as if it's black and white" NPC@annpc#5570: "There will be no compromise. I have done enough of that in my first forty years." Zhyl'ia@thecastellan shakes her head Fiona@falconecoose: "Only dictators deal in absolutes, and I thought you said you were not an evil dictator." NPC@annpc#5570: "A dictator is one who holds dominion over the lives of people." Patsy@turtles#8407: "Which you are doing by making them live a lie." Zhyl'ia@thecastellan: "And rounding them up at your whim with your bots" NPC@annpc#5570: "The people answer my whims, yes. But I am far beyond just an 'Emperor.'" NPC@annpc#5570: "You know what I have achieved. On this world the very forces of nature bend to me." NPC@annpc#5570: "Here...I am a god." Zhyl'ia@thecastellan: "A self stylised god.." Fiona@falconecoose: "What does god need with a colony?" NPC@annpc#5570: "I hold the power, and that is more than I can say for you now." NPC@annpc#5570: "I could vapourize you all if I wished, but I am merciful enough to give you a choice." Zhyl'ia@thecastellan mutters quietly "I'm not sure I'd call it a choice.." Fiona@falconecoose: "The might one wields is not power, power is everyone and everything around you. It is what you know and what you do with that knowledge. And at the end of it all, power is who stands beside you > Fiona@falconecoose: > through the deepest valley. And you stand alone, but a starfleet officer is never alone." NPC@annpc#5570: "Oh, but you are alone, unarmed, helpless." Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: Just as Fiona ended his statement, he arrives with Brie, phaser in hand:"Whoever you are, I'm afraid you are wrong." NPC@annpc#5570: "I can be patient. But I can al-" NPC@annpc#5570 turns, "What is this?" NPC@annpc#5570: "You are not my Justicars!" Gabriella@drcrippler: "We are," Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: His phaser is pointing directly at the emperor:"Captain Timoreev, U.S.S. Attar." turns on Fiona:"Captain, are you alright?" Gabriella@drcrippler looks at Timo. "Way to go on the deception Captain..." she mutters Fiona@falconecoose: "We are, thank you Captain. I was wondering when the reinforcements were arriving." NPC@annpc#5570 taps the armrest of his chair, "Enforcer bots, secure the Seat Chamber! Kill everyone except myself!" Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: Scrolls his shoulders at Brie, murmuring:"It looked like a good moment to intervene..." Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois shot at the Emperor chair Gabriella@drcrippler shrugs. "All I'm saying, we should perhaps of disabled..." blinks. Did Timo...just shoot first? NPC@annpc#5570 FX | The phaser shot stops before it reaches the central area around the throne as a blue force field flickers into place. NPC@annpc#5570: "Fool! Did you think you could kill a-" Fiona@falconecoose dashes forward towards the emperor but stops short as the force field appears NPC@annpc#5570 FX | The force field flickers some more and fades. NPC@annpc#5570: "Oh...Starfleet technology really does advance quickly, doesn't it..." Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois as soon as he sees the force field fading, he shoots again at the chair. NPC@annpc#5570 FX | The chair is melted down by the phaser shot! Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: "Now, would someone please explain me what's happening here?" Fiona@falconecoose continues walking forward as the force field fades, making sure to stay out of the line of fire "Emperor, you are here by under arrest and are being taken into starfleet custody. Call of your guards" Gabriella@drcrippler moves towards the emperor, with her rifle up. "Yeah, you're nicked," NPC@annpc#5570: "You'll have to let me use a console to do that, wouldn't you?" NPC@annpc#5570 FX | Miadrone, who was totally in the background the whole time, hovers over to a console and connects. Fiona@falconecoose: "Sorry no. Not with the threat of genocide you said earlier." NPC@annpc#5570 FX | As the white bots storm into the room, they all freeze and lower their weapons. Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: "Emperor? Under arrest?" turns on Fiona, while approaching the throne:"Captain?" Gabriella@drcrippler looks between Timo and Fi. "Shall I...cuff him?" NPC@annpc#5570 sighs, "Well...this all had to end someday." Fiona@falconecoose: "Long story short, pre-dominion war colony. This guy is a big famous engineer that built the environment controls faked the destruction of the colony, brought it all underground and declared himself > Fiona@falconecoose: > emperor. And he enforced his rule through fear and his robot police force and Justicars." Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: "Wait a moment, captain. Did he proclaim himself by force? Or was he appointed? I know this may seem a detail right now, but it's important..." NPC@annpc#5570: "I would never have killed my own people, you know? That was only a threat to you." NPC@annpc#5570: "The people chose me, because I told them I saved them from the Dominion invaders." NPC@annpc#5570: "For all I knew at the time I may very well have done so." Fiona@falconecoose: "Really? You would never kill your own people? Your people seemed pretty damned scared of you and your police." Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: "Captain..." he remains calm:"Please, answer my question." Gabriella@drcrippler looks between the two again, carries on pointing the gun at the emperor Fiona@falconecoose: "At this moment we only his word and his actions to go off." Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: "Then we need to ascertain this. This was a Federation colony, and as such it enjoy the right to self-determination in political affairs. Still.." he turns on the emperor:"You illegally detained + Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: + Starfleet officers." NPC@annpc#5570: "Illegally? I am the law here. Or...was, as it seems." Fiona@falconecoose: "Who in his own words said he was a god, and threatened the life of this away team." Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: "The people of this colony will decide about this. For the moment, you'll retain your role as emperor, but you'll be transferred on board our vessels and brought to DS13, where the Federation Council+ Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: + will be informed of the situation. From there on, the issue will pass into the hands of Federation authorities. Starfleet will ensure the safety of the colony from external threats for the whole + Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: +duration of this 'process'." Gabriella@drcrippler: "So...can I cuff him or not?" NPC@annpc#5570 nods, "Very well." Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: Shakes his head to Brie:"Nope. The emperor will be given VIP quarters, as per protocol, and treated as a guest, although under strict limitations." Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: "Also, a representative, or more than one, from this colony, will have to accompany him." Gabriella@drcrippler nods and lowers her weapon Keliaya@anncarise | Mia materializes as the drone disconnects from the consoles. "We've set all Enforcer units to only respond to violent crimes and also shut down the transporter block," she says with a proud beam. Keliaya@anncarise | Mia: "We may now return to the Valley Forge!" Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: Nods with a smile:"Thank you Mia. With a bit of luck, we may avoid a diplomatic incident and, what's worse, a civil war erupting in the colony." Keliaya@anncarise: "Maybe that old man from the building we were in can serve as a representative." Keliaya@anncarise: "The one Nurse Mount helped. I recall him saying something about being ex-Starfleet." Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: Turns on Keliaya:"For sure we could ask him more info. We'll have to find him." Gabriella@drcrippler looks at Kelly. "This old man?" she points to the emperor... Keliaya@anncarise: "Oh no, another old man, someone who was starting to doubt this Emperor's word." Keliaya@anncarise: "He seems to have a clear mind about what's going on around here." Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: To Fiona:"Captain Skye, I bet the MacAlpine is equipped to handle the situation there. You'll stay in orbit and check the situation until further notice." Fiona@falconecoose nods slightly "Aye Captain, I will return to the MacAlpine now and make sure we are organised for that." Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois nods to Fiona:"Very well. it will be though, but I'm sure you'll handle it." Fiona@falconecoose nods as she taps her combadge "Skye to the MacAlpine, one to beam up." BRIE AND TIMO’S RESCUE MISSION Gabriella@drcrippler: | looks at Timo. "Looks like we just missed them..." Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: grudgingly:"It seems so...where are they being taken? What's happening here?" Gabriella@drcrippler: "I don't know Sir..." she says scanning for a location of the transporter beam NPC@annpc#5570: | The beam originates from a ship taking off into the distance. Gabriella@drcrippler: "There seems to be a ship taking off in the distance..." she point in the direction of the ship Keliaya@anncarise: | Window View of the City: https://img00.deviantart.net/c004/i/2014/062/a/c/after_reset_rpg_illustration_underground_city_by_blackcloudstudios-d78r0eo.png Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: "Details? Material composition? Occupants? Something?" Gabriella@drcrippler: "Occupants...is our away team, plus an Andorian and a human. Composition is typical for Federation craft in late 24th Century" Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: "That's odd...but not unsurprising." he looks around:"Let's find a less vulnerable spot, then we need to trace that vehicle. Can we get into communication with the VF?" Gabriella@drcrippler: "I brought transport enhancers if we need them," she says and tries to communicate with the VF NPC@annpc#5570: | Signal is being locally jammed, enhancers help but will need some work to break through the jamming. Gabriella@drcrippler: "There seems to be a local jam sir...we can try the enhancers but we'll have to give it some time. Perhaps we should locate the source of the jam?" Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: Nods to Brie:"That would enhance our possibilities..." he says while taking his own tricorder, trying to locate the jamming source Gabriella@drcrippler: | looks around, surveying the area with her MACO eyes NPC@annpc#5570: Another similar ship that has come for a landing on top of the tower! Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: "Looks we have to hurry...something let me think we'll not be left in peace for much..." Gabriella@drcrippler: | points to the tower. "I agree...are you armed sir?" Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: Indicates his phaser pistol: "That's all I've got." Gabriella@drcrippler: |nods. "Mind if I take point?" Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: "Not at all. Be my guest." he says, with a faint smile accompanying his words. Gabriella@drcrippler: "Which way are we headed?" Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: "Well, before answering this question, we need to assess more precisely the enemy forces in the area...but our priority is still assessing the situation, and eventually rescuing our team." Gabriella@drcrippler: "Well it seems like there are some deactivated sentry bots posted around. I have a feeling they won't be deactivated for very long," Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: "Any idea on how to avoid that occurrence?" Gabriella@drcrippler: "Try not to piss them off?" Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: "That's....that's a good idea. Lets proceed very carefully. Any clue about the vehicle's direction?" Gabriella@drcrippler: "So that vehicle that is coming towards us, it's where our away team is being taken too. Perhaps...we could ambush them, steal their vehicle and rescue the away team?" Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: "Stealing and infiltrating?" Gabriella@drcrippler: "Think of it as borrowing and rescuing...unless you have a better idea sir?" Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: Sighs:"Well, we cannot treat these people as hostile. Not until we have clear confirmation of their intentions. So, we need to move carefully." Gabriella@drcrippler: "I can take them out with minimal force sir," Gabriella@drcrippler: "Or...maybe I can take cover, wait for you to ascertain their intentions and react accordingly?" Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: Nods:"We have to stop that vehicle first. Then, we will see how they react to my presence. In case, you intervene." Gabriella@drcrippler: "We could...wave at them?" Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: He stands silent for a moment, then looks in the direction of the deactivated Enforcers: "Wait a moment...can you ascertain from here why those sentries are deactivated?" Gabriella@drcrippler: | taps her padd to do just that Gabriella@drcrippler: "They seem to have been hacked, remotely. Something has overwritten their AIs," Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: "Can you trace the author? Is that a Starfleet signature?" Gabriella@drcrippler: "Its not Starfleet..trying to trace the signature," she taps at her PADD Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: "News?" he asks, clearly a bit nervous, while still looking around Gabriella@drcrippler: "The signature...is...is that...Mana?" Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: "Mana? How? She wasn't in the away team..." Gabriella@drcrippler: | shrugs. "I don't know but at least we know it's friendly...did you have a plan?" she asks, glancing at the distance to the vehicle Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: Nods:"Yes, I have" looks at the vehicle:"Lets take that one and reach the away team." Gabriella@drcrippler: "You want me to grab a sentry bot?" Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: "Nope. A means for transportation. We need to reach the place where they are held. If we can avoid the bots all together, the better." Gabriella@drcrippler: | nods. "Well sir, I'll follow your lead...say something if you need rescuing," she says, stepping behind Timo, gun lowered Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: Looks around, to better identify any possible enemy near the vehicle before approaching it Gabriella@drcrippler: | watches how a master does it Keliaya@anncarise: There are two beings dressed in the Justicar long jacket uniforms Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: silently marks one of the Justicars for Brie, then begins to quickly sneak around to take the other from behind, the hand on his phaser pistol, just in case. Gabriella@drcrippler: | blinks. "Oh so we are doing this..." she steps forward. "Hi... I'm er...lost..." Keliaya@anncarise Justicar: "Halt! You're not permitted on this level while quarantine is in effect!" Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: As soon as the Justicar speaks to him, he suddenly assumes his most diplomatic attitude:"Quarantine? What quarantine?" he asks, plainly. Gabriella@drcrippler blinks again Keliaya@anncarise | Justicar: "Quarantine has been dec- wait...you're wearing those uniforms..." Keliaya@anncarise: | Justicar #2: "You are under arrest by the personal command of the Emperor!" Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: before the guard can say anything else, he shot her at point-blank, then take cover to avoid return fire from the other one. Gabriella@drcrippler: | looks at Timo before swinging her gun around at the head of the other Justicar NPC@annpc#5570: | The other one fires at Timo but his shot goes way off as he is knocked out by Brie! Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: As soon as he sees both guards down he emerges again from his cover:"Let's take the vehicle, Hurry!" Gabriella@drcrippler: "Stealing and infiltrating?" she looks at Timo with a grin before dragging the Justicar into the vehicle. "Grab the other one," Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: Dragging the guard:"Stealing and infiltrating, indeed. I didn't give you the details, though." he sighs:"If Mana deactivated those bots, then our away team is in danger." Gabriella@drcrippler: "Don't worry sir," she jumps in the pilot's seat. "Right, now to fly this thing..." Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: Taking the second seat:"Well, I hope you'll learn fast. We don't have time." Gabriella@drcrippler: rolls 73 (1-100) Keliaya@anncarise: The Federation controls make piloting this very standard for Brie! Gabriella@drcrippler: "Strap yourself in... now...this one is to go forward...or is that self destruct?" shrugs as she pushes it anyway and zooms off towards the tower. Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: Remains perfectly calm:"I'm confident enough that you'll not activate self-destruct." Gabriella@drcrippler turns and smiles to Timo. "I'll try to not misplace your trust sir," Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: Looking at the palace just in front of him:"Amazing architecture..." Gabriella@drcrippler: "Is it?" she shrugs. "I'll take your word for it sir," Gabriella@drcrippler: | after a while, she lands at the Ziggurat. "So, plan? We take their uniforms?" Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: "Find a landing pad of some sort, and let us in." Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: Nods:"Yes, we cannot hope to sneak in undetected with our uniforms, I'm afraid." Gabriella@drcrippler nods. "I guess I should say don't look, but I don't mind either way..." she says as she begins to unzip Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: Seems to completely ignore what's happening around him. He just quickly proceed at wearing his new uniform, then he looks around: "We cannot know where they were taken...tricorder scan?" Gabriella@drcrippler: | takes her outer shell off and puts on the justicar uniform "Nope," Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: Takes his tricorder, and quickly scan for Starfleet signs in the vicinity NPC@annpc#5570: | In their uniforms, the Enforcer bots completely ignore them. Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: "I have them.." he says, then takes the lead. Gabriella@drcrippler: | takes both Starfleet badges and quickly reconfigers them. "Sir we should split up. I've adjusted these badges so we can see where the other is," Gabriella@drcrippler: "If you tap your badge, it'll give me a warning, and vice versa. That way I know you're in trouble," Gabriella@drcrippler: "I think you should find the away team, and I'll try and disable the jam?" Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: "Nice, but since we know their location, it's better to stick together. United we stand."

View AAR

SUBMITTED: Stardate 94664.7 FILED BY: LCDR Keliaya SECURITY: Level 1 - Open

LOCATION: Bozhou, Anhui System, Dubhe Sector

MISSION: Survey for resettlement of destroyed Federation colony

OUTCOME: Survivors of the original Bozhou colony discovered to be living in an underground city under the dictatorship of Avondal, designer of the planet's environmental systems. Avondal has been apprehended following his abduction and threatening of the Valley Forge away team.

KEY PERSONNEL:

CAPT Se'Lai (USS Valley Forge) CAPT Skye (USS MacAlpine) CAPT Timoreev (USS Attar) CMDR Zh’Zhavis LCDR Keliaya LCDR Verlin 1LT Valencia LT Mount CIV Mia LaRouche

NARRATIVE: The Valley Forge was given the task of surveying Bozhou, the third planet in the Anhui system, to explore the potential of resettlement. To give a brief history, Bozhou was originally an uninhabitable world which was terraformed and settled by the Federation with the use of environmental control technology developed by Risian engineer Avondal. In 2374, all contact with the colony was lost and Starfleet arrived to find that the environment systems had suffered a catastrophic breakdown for unknown reasons, covering the entire planet in deadly ion storms. The colony was then listed as lost.

Due to interference from the ion storms, scanning the planet was difficult and transportation was impossible. At first, the Valley Forge's scans yielded identical results to previous surveys, but our upgraded sensors allowed us to pick up signatures that technology from two decades ago had missed. Narrowing in on the signatures, we were able to identify a city beneath the planet's crust, where the ion storms could not touch. I was able to configure the deflector to temporarily dissipate the storm directly above the underground signals, allowing for clearer scans as well as transporter functionality.

With both Valley Forge and MacAlpine power reserves, the deflector beam could be sustained long enough for an away team to have a small window to go down and investigate. We assembled quickly and beamed into the city, finding ourselves among architecture clearly based on various Federation cultures. It seemed that some of the locals had also noted our presence when we cleared the storm and scanned them. However, humanoid robots beamed in to arrest anyone insisting that Starfleet was here, as the city's residents were made to believe that the Federation was destroyed by the Dominion.

We initially tried to negotiate with the robots, but when it became clear that they were not able to think and were bound by rudimentary programming, we interfered with Captain Skye's lead. Using her Arshai programs and equipment, Mia overrode the bots, but this caught the attention of the city's Emperor who dispatched law enforcement officers called Justicars. They arrived in small armed vehicles and we found our communications jammed as well. We had no choice but to go with these Justicars to see their Emperor.

Upon arriving at the Emperor's Seat, we discovered that the ruler of the city was none other than Avondal, the Risian mastermind behind the construction of the original colony. Dialogue with him revealed that he had covered the surface of the planet in ion storms to hide from the Dominion, which he thought Starfleet could not protect them from. The colonists saw him as their saviour and chose him to lead their new home under the surface.

Avondal solidified his hold by spreading propaganda stating that the Federation had been conquered by the Dominion and his regime was their only hope for safety. Unable to communicate with the outside galaxy due to the ion storms, his people did not know any better. It is unclear whether Avondal truly believed his claims, but his comments suggest that he didn't think the Federation would be wholly destroyed. Regardless, he has visibly been corrupted by power over the years, refusing to return to his old 'life of sharing' (paraphrasing what he said).

The Emperor allowed us to leave on the terms that we do not report the existence of his city. He knew that Starfleet would be obligated to intervene as his citizens are Federation citizens or descendants of ones, and threatened to destroy the entire colony if we ever attempted to depose him. Our attempts to persuade him to change his ways were to no avail.

Fortunately, Captain Timoreev and Lieutenant Valencia arrived in time to intervene, having been beamed down in a second away team to investigate shortly after we did not report back in. They had obtained Justicar uniforms in the meantime and managed to sneak into the facility armed. Avondal was able to call Enforcer bots to him before he was detained, but Mia once again shut off his automated security as well as disabled the transporter and communication blocks using the consoles in his throne room, allowing us to return to our ships.

RECOMMENDATION: As suggested by Captain Timoreev, Avondal should be taken to Federation authorities where he can be given formal proceedings to determine his crimes and whether he has any right to remain as the ruler of Bozhou Colony. In the meantime, we should probably ensure that the colony does not fall into chaos and eventually reveal the truth about the state of the galaxy to its inhabitants. Then, they can choose to stay in the underground city or reintegrate into wider Federation society.