ST:TTV401 | "The Continuing Voyages"

Stardate 96376.7

The Valley Forge has departed DS9 and begun it's rimward journey to find the connecting end of the Newfrika Gateway. Having crossed through the allied Dubhe Sector; they now encroach on the border of Federation territory, and the great unknown.

As the crew prepare themselves for the bold step forwards, instinct leads many to look backwards in reflection as they prepare themselves for that point where they cross the invisible line and drop out of communications range with those they are leaving behind...

---

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Mitsuki Rumiho@yf47dex#9446 stretches a bit walking off the lift, kinda waves to everyone as she walks in, "Hello... it's still weird being here all the time..." Sana@turtles#8407: *sets herself up on the console nicely.* Keliaya@anncarise is working at the engineering station. Keelah@crystyll smiles at the Ensign's arrival, "Luckily the helm is right where you left it, Ensign" Keliaya@anncarise: "And we installed seats ever since the repair job a year or so back." Keelah@crystyll | Vrolmacht grumbles, "Not everywhere..." Sana@turtles#8407 Looks to the chair between her and Kazra Mitsuki Rumiho@yf47dex#9446 giggles a bit taking a seat, "I've been here since the chairs were installed, hehe." Mitsuki Rumiho@yf47dex#9446: just not... full time and all Keelah@crystyll leans back, slightly to one side as she looks ahead some before tapping a control on her armrest Keelah@crystyll: "Captain's log, stardate 96376.7. We are a few weeks out of DS9 now and are due imminently to cross the invisible line drawn across the bottom of the astrometrics charts; where exploration ends, and + Keelah@crystyll: + we drop out of range of the subspace comms network. It feels like this point - crossing this line - marks the true commencement of our new mission" Keelah@crystyll closes the brief log entry, "Helm, what's our status?" Mitsuki Rumiho@yf47dex#9446 thinks that sounds darker than it should somehow Mitsuki Rumiho@yf47dex#9446 glances at the nav screen, "Pretty smooth, nothing on scopes of note so far... figure based on what you just said we'll be ready to find a good spot for a new comm relay soon" Mitsuki Rumiho@yf47dex#9446: Thankfully, no subspace faults either.. Keelah@crystyll: "No subspace faults is... good" she chuckles Keelah@crystyll | Fisher: "Well, if anyone's got any last minute calls to make; I guess now's the time!" Mitsuki Rumiho@yf47dex#9446: how long does it take to drop a new relay and get it running though? Mitsuki Rumiho@yf47dex#9446: I figure we won't be out of contact super long since we have to make a chain right? Keliaya@anncarise: "If everything goes well, setting and prepping the relay itself is a fairly quick job. Current plan is to place one about every month, which means around a week or so of available comms - Mitsuki Rumiho@yf47dex#9446: guess I'll have regular messages home at least Keliaya@anncarise: - every month." Keliaya@anncarise: "We'll be prepping the next relay in the interim periods, so it should be ready to drop once we reach the right spot." Keelah@crystyll | TQ: "And... there it goes. We're officially out of range!" Keelah@crystyll looks to TQ, "We... already? For some reason I expected more a sense of occassion..." shrugs, looking back to her left, "All long range sensors to maximum resolution. Let's see what's out there" Mitsuki Rumiho@yf47dex#9446 glances at an aft camera view after getting a pop up notification on her console, it shows what looks like streaming fireworks launching from the hull, causing Rumi to giggle Sana@turtles#8407 Does all the sensor stuff Mitsuki Rumiho@yf47dex#9446 ports it to main screen to make Keelah feel better, "There ya go... you have a rogue junior engineer me thinks, hehe." Keelah@crystyll watches with a smirk, "Now that is a bit more like it!" Keliaya@anncarise glances to the viewscreen and chuckles, "Interesting way to announce our crossing over!" Sana@turtles#8407: "Not much on our sensors on maximum resolution. That blows." Mitsuki Rumiho@yf47dex#9446: I guess space is pretty big, If you wanted to give a sprint to find something I could throttle up.. but otherwise we're stable as cruising warp Keliaya@anncarise nods, "We've got a long way to go yet, we'll find plenty of unusual and interesting things along the way." Keelah@crystyll sighs softly, "Welcome to the reality of deep space exploration..." she stands, stretching a little, "Now the exciting part is over, I'll be in my ready room. Kelly, you have the conn." Keliaya@anncarise: "Let me know if you see anything unusual. I'll be here monitoring ship systems." Keliaya@anncarise turns back to her console and taps away, "So...anyone here been on an extended journey before?" Sana@turtles#8407: "I've been on a journey." Mitsuki Rumiho@yf47dex#9446: do I really need to answer that? Keliaya@anncarise chuckles, "I think we all have. And no, I'm faaairly sure I know your answer to that Ensign." Shinwa Tsurugi@Master_Dex walks in tossing a PADD in the air a couple times Shinwa Tsurugi@Master_Dex: Hope everyone liked me little light show, heh Sana@turtles#8407: "There was a lights show?" Shinwa Tsurugi@Master_Dex seems to be taking down some info from the main display Mitsuki Rumiho@yf47dex#9446: I had it on the screen Mitsuki Rumiho@yf47dex#9446: Tsu-kun has been on journeys! Shinwa Tsurugi@Master_Dex: Eh? Keliaya@anncarise smiles, "Impressive mastery of fireworks, Lieutenant." Keliaya@anncarise: "And we were just asking if anyone here's been on an extended journey like this before." Shinwa Tsurugi@Master_Dex: just strapped them to the hull with a timer.. Keliaya@anncarise chuckles, "Thaaat wasn't a serious compliment. It was a good show though!" Shinwa Tsurugi@Master_Dex: such disappoint... Shinwa Tsurugi@Master_Dex: extended is a loaded word, I spent 3 years post-academy on a ship with the Starfleet Corps of Engineers.. basically mobile problem solvers for Federation clients Keliaya@anncarise: "Oh, one of those ships. Never served on one myself. What class was the one you were on?" Keelah@crystyll FX | There is a sudden white flash. Not like a camera flash going off, but like the whole world around them flashed Keliaya@anncarise: "What was that?" Keliaya@anncarise looks around, "Did everyone else see that?" Sana@turtles#8407 Scans Shinwa Tsurugi@Master_Dex indicates his PADD, "I'm looking into it, but there is bad gel pack in one of the secondary data conduits between the two ship segments... just getting some data from here. Shinwa Tsurugi@Master_Dex: See what? Sana@turtles#8407: "Nothing on sensors." Mitsuki Rumiho@yf47dex#9446 blinks a bit Mitsuki Rumiho@yf47dex#9446: something reflective? Keliaya@anncarise: "That flash of light. Could be a lighting glitch, if everyone else saw it too." Keliaya@anncarise taps her console, checking bridge lighting systems. Shinwa Tsurugi@Master_Dex: this is not a troll? Was there a thing? My implants didn't register any flashes... Keliaya@anncarise: "No, it's not...maybe something scans and implants can't pick up for some reason?" Mitsuki Rumiho@yf47dex#9446 taps a few controls on the helm, "kore wa nani?" Mitsuki Rumiho@yf47dex#9446 looks back, "Commander, computer is telling me we're back in Fed space again." Sana@turtles#8407 checks the subspace relays Shinwa Tsurugi@Master_Dex glances over, "Damn.. did I waste the fireworks?" Mitsuki Rumiho@yf47dex#9446 narrows her eyes at Tsurugi, "That's not the takeaway.." Kiera@falconecoose exits the turbolift onto the bridge with a nod to those near it before she takes up her station Keelah@crystyll re-emerges from her ready room, "Did I just imagine that, or..." she looks around at the heightened activity, "Status report?" Keliaya@anncarise: "I saw it too. Doesn't seem to be a system glitch on our end, and the Ensign's saying the computer registers us as being in Federation space again." Shinwa Tsurugi@Master_Dex taps something on his PADD and accesses his implant control to see if he can widen his visual detection range Keliaya@anncarise continues checking to see if the ship computer is bugged. Keelah@crystyll looks to the front, "That's... different. Ensign, resume course..." Shinwa Tsurugi@Master_Dex: Well, this isn't related to that bad gel pack probably at least.. I already bypassed it, just didn't replace yet Keelah@crystyll: "Sana, focus forward sensors. Just in case there is something out there..." Shinwa Tsurugi@Master_Dex: so this is something new is the best I could say Sana@turtles#8407 Nods "I'll do a multi-phasic scan as well might be something in a different phase or something weird like that." Sana@turtles#8407 Focuses the forward sensors and then re-calibrates them to do a multiphasic scan and takes note of both readings Shinwa Tsurugi@Master_Dex: has that flash happened again, I can't seem to edit my visual range to see anything like you described Keliaya@anncarise: "Haven't seen it again yet..." Keelah@crystyll FX | As if on cue as Kelly says it... *FLASH* and *POP*, back where we started again Keliaya@anncarise: "And there it is!" Mitsuki Rumiho@yf47dex#9446: I've got us on the same course.. we're just.. not where we were.. apparently Mitsuki Rumiho@yf47dex#9446: and now we're back again... Keliaya@anncarise: "Were we at the same position both times before the flash?" Sana@turtles#8407: "I'm not getting anything from the forward sensors and the multi-phasic scan revealed nothing either." Shinwa Tsurugi@Master_Dex looks around, annoyed, "Why it is only sensitive to natural optics?" Keelah@crystyll scowls, "Not the most auspicious start..." Mitsuki Rumiho@yf47dex#9446 checks to see if the two flashes happened in the same spatial area Keliaya@anncarise: "It's definitely not a glitch in the computer, we are really moving back and forth." Mitsuki Rumiho@yf47dex#9446: we could try comms.. if we really are back in Fed space and not glitching.. we can contact people Keelah@crystyll FX | A disembodied voice speaks from everywhere, but nowhere, "Turn back. You do not belong..." it echoes, a little creepily Shinwa Tsurugi@Master_Dex: oh that sounds inviting Sana@turtles#8407: "Oh a ghost." Keelah@crystyll FX | A face appears among the stars on the viewscreen, blurry, and filling the view. It repeats, "You do not belong. You are not ready!" Shinwa Tsurugi@Master_Dex goes to another panel and starts checking other systems and safing them if needed Keliaya@anncarise: "I suspect an advanced entity..." Kiera@falconecoose raises her eyebrow slightly "Well then...this is one way to start a voyage." Keelah@crystyll looks to TQ who just shrugs in response, she didn't open any comms with anything Mitsuki Rumiho@yf47dex#9446: but we just started... isn't there a rule that super entities have to wait until like.. a few months in? Keliaya@anncarise: "Hey, at least it didn't throw us into the Delta Quadrant..." Shinwa Tsurugi@Master_Dex looks back, "This isn't holonovel rules..." Keelah@crystyll: "Tee, broadcast on all frequencies Keelah@crystyll: "This is Captain Se'Lai of the Federation starship Va-" is interrupted Keelah@crystyll Voice | "Turn back Keelah. You do not belong. You are not ready!" Sana@turtles#8407: "It's not Q is it?" Shinwa Tsurugi@Master_Dex: I think they'd be less mysterious about it Keelah@crystyll frowns, her expression turning wide-eyed as she watches the blurry image become that of... her mother? Mitsuki Rumiho@yf47dex#9446: should I... slow down? Keelah@crystyll: "What is this... show yourself!" seems rather annoyed at whatever this voice is, taking that of all faces Keliaya@anncarise: "There's a whole species of Q from what I understand...maybe some of them might act differently from the one Starfleet's most acquainted with." Keelah@crystyll nods, "Hold position for the moment, until we get a handle on this situation" Mitsuki Rumiho@yf47dex#9446 does as ordered Keelah@crystyll FX | Another male voice speaks from just behind Sana, "She has an excellent point you know, I had many dealings with the Q during my years of exploration" Keliaya@anncarise looks behind Sana to see if anyone's there. Keelah@crystyll | Kazra sloooowly looks over, also going wide-eyed as she sets eyes on the figure, looming over Sana's shoulder Sana@turtles#8407 Turns around to look for the voice "HEY THERE." Mitsuki Rumiho@yf47dex#9446 glances over Keelah@crystyll FX | Sana is greeted by the stern, authoritative face and bald head of Jean-Luc Picard, wearing a TNG S1 uniform. He sagenods, reinforcing his point Sana@turtles#8407: "Well this is fascinating." She pulls out a PADD and makes notes "I need samples." Keliaya@anncarise: "I think it's taking on familiar faces to be more relatable." Keelah@crystyll FX | Another voice calls across excitedly after suddenly appearing beside Kiera, "You... don't have time for this. This entity is clearly... a threat. Red alert, arm all photons and. Fire!" Sana@turtles#8407: "EEEK ANOTHER ONE!" MAKES NOTES Keliaya@anncarise: "Or maybe this is something else..." Shinwa Tsurugi@Master_Dex: well at least I can see whatever the fresh hell this is.. Keelah@crystyll FX | Kiera’s visitor appears to be a WoK era ADM Kirk Shinwa Tsurugi@Master_Dex moves slowly from his location after the thing proves to be able to appear anywhere. Keelah@crystyll: "Who are you, and what do you want?" she looks to the newest arrival Keliaya@anncarise checks her console to see if these visitors are holographic in nature, or can be picked up at all. Mitsuki Rumiho@yf47dex#9446 is looking around from her seat, unsure if she should stay where she is or not Kiera@falconecoose looks over her shoulder at the 'visitor' "Well then...this is odd, and what exactly would I fire at? The void of space?" Keliaya@anncarise: "Sensors are registering them as...human." Keelah@crystyll Kirk | points dramatically to the screen, "There! It's some... sort of... space entity, it's a threat to the ship!" he looks to Keelah and suddenly appears right in front of her Keelah@crystyll Kirk | "What. Are you waiting for... Captain? Aren't you. Ready... for this?" Shinwa Tsurugi@Master_Dex: is this some sort of half assed test of our character? Keelah@crystyll Picard | also suddenly pops from one spot to the other and appears behind her, "Clearly, she is not. She should turn back; a good Captain must think of her crew" Keliaya@anncarise: "Or maybe just an entity playing around with our historical records..." Keelah@crystyll looks between the mirages with a frown Shinwa Tsurugi@Master_Dex: This is no way to conduct a legendary contact.. Sana@turtles#8407: "Ooooh check our computer systems see if there is some sort of bug in them?" Keelah@crystyll | T'Lia (disembodied viewscreen image) "She was never ready, foolish child!" Shinwa Tsurugi@Master_Dex: I think we determined that Keliaya@anncarise nods, "First thing I did after the computer said we were in Federation space again." Keelah@crystyll | Kirk & Picard nod to T'Lia, "She should have stayed in bed this morning..." Keliaya@anncarise: "Computers are fine, this is definitely...something else." Keelah@crystyll facepalms, mumbling, "Could this get any worse..." Shinwa Tsurugi@Master_Dex: I mean it's annoying, but is it really bad? Sana@turtles#8407 Takes out a tricorder and walks around scanning the entities studying every single detail carefully for anything Keliaya@anncarise: "I've encountered advanced beings like this one before, their disconnect from our lifestyles can make them difficult to understand." Mitsuki Rumiho@yf47dex#9446 looks to Tsurugi, "If we can't go anywhere it is." Keliaya@anncarise nods at Rumi. Keliaya@anncarise: "Unless it's just messing with us and decides to relent after a day." Keelah@crystyll FX | It gets worse for Keelah with another *POP* and she is suddenly naked... Shinwa Tsurugi@Master_Dex: hmm... well if Sana can get some data, maybe we can devise a way to lock them out Shinwa Tsurugi@Master_Dex raises an eyebrow Keelah@crystyll blinks, looking down herself at the fresh chill and perks an eyebrow, "Yeah... it got worse..." Mitsuki Rumiho@yf47dex#9446 glances back at the pop and starts, then looks at Tsurugi, "Hey! Don't look curious, you turn around!" Shinwa Tsurugi@Master_Dex: oh... uh.. right. Keelah@crystyll FX | The Kirk & Picard mirages both snicker, "Foolish child! Should have stayed in bed!" As they speak, they seem to loom over her more and more... Shinwa Tsurugi@Master_Dex: though the things have proven they are in fact... dicks Sana@turtles#8407: "They are like evil little demons." she continues to walk around the pair scanning both with every scan possible Shinwa Tsurugi@Master_Dex: can we punch them? Keelah@crystyll forces her gaze down, closing her eyes and trying her best to focus her mind, "Stay sharp. Stay focused. Stay awake... huh, stay awake...?" Keliaya@anncarise glances back, perfectly comfortable with Keelah without any clothes. She glances to Sana fairly naturally, "Are they showing up as humans to you too?" Sana@turtles#8407: "Everything registered as normal." Keliaya@anncarise: "Same from ship internal sensors..." Shinwa Tsurugi@Master_Dex: so we /could/ punch them? Sana@turtles#8407: "Hmmm, perhaps a scan of the captain?" Keelah@crystyll FX | *POP...* Keelah@crystyll FX | Keelah sits bolt upright, in her bed, in her quarters. Gasping lightly as she looks around the darkened room. Keelah@crystyll blinkblink, "What a weird dream..." she sighs, getting up and shoving a handful of PADD's to one side. The headers read ' Captain's log; USS Enterprise...' Keelah@crystyll FX | After getting up on the morning of the big day, and washing away the remnants of her strange dream, Keelah arrives on the bridge; not wanting to be absent for the big moment Keelah@crystyll steps off the turbolift, looking around with a smile, "Good morning everyone. Kelly, what's our status?" she carries a mug of raktajino that she sips idly Keliaya@anncarise: "All systems nominal, Captain. We're ready to cross into unexplored space." Keelah@crystyll sits, setting a PADD down on the armrest, "Very well. Helm; take us to extreme comms range and bring us to a stop before we go beyond" Mitsuki Rumiho@yf47dex#9446 looks back, "To a stop? Need to send a last message before we drop a new relay?" Keelah@crystyll: "Something like that" she nods with a smile Mitsuki Rumiho@yf47dex#9446 shrugs, "Ok, and we're stopped." Mitsuki Rumiho@yf47dex#9446: though our signal strength is pretty low at this distance.. Keelah@crystyll: "I trust our comms team to be capable enough to hold a hail together" she nods over to TQ with a small smile Keelah@crystyll TQ | "Captain, I've got an incoming hail..." Keelah@crystyll: "Put it up" she nods, standing and straightening her tunic Keelah@crystyll FX | The viewscreen shifts to that of a typical Fed interior, ADM Torin sits at her desk with a warm smile. The image is choppy, but legible Keliaya@anncarise turns to take a look at the viewscreen. Keelah@crystyll: "Right on time Admiral" Mitsuki Rumiho@yf47dex#9446 silently mouths an 'ohhhhh...' Keelah@crystyll Torin | "I try my best, Captain" she looks around the visible faces on her screen, "I know you are all eager to get underway, so I won't keep you" Keelah@crystyll Torin : "I just wanted to take a moment to acknowledge this bold undertaking for you all, and wish you godspeed in your journey ahead" Keelah@crystyll: "Thank you Admiral, I am sure I speak for my whole crew when I tell you how proud we all are to be setting off on this mission" Keelah@crystyll Torin | smiles, "And I am proud of you all for it. Godspeed Valley Forge, and good luck" Keelah@crystyll dips her head, "Farewell Admiral" Mitsuki Rumiho@yf47dex#9446 forces herself to not wave at the screen Keelah@crystyll returns to her seat after the channel closes, "Well, this is it everyone. All stations; ready check" Mitsuki Rumiho@yf47dex#9446: Helm's good to go Captain! Kiera@falconecoose: "Tactical, all systems read green." Mitsuki Rumiho@yf47dex#9446 silently thinks it's a bit more pomp than needed Keliaya@anncarise turns back to her console, "Engineering is ready to go." Keelah@crystyll T'Quila | "Comm's are good" Keelah@crystyll looks around with a smile, focusing forward after the last call, "Helm... take us out" Mitsuki Rumiho@yf47dex#9446 toggles the throttle up and takes them into warp, which looks about normal Keelah@crystyll watches as the room settles in a hum of everyday activity before tapping on her armrest control to open a new log entry Keelah@crystyll: "Captain's log, stardate 96376.7. We have now embarked upon our extended voyage, and ventured beyond the previously mapped borders of Federation space. In preparation for this journey, I took to + Keelah@crystyll: + reviewing the early logs from some of the more famous exploration missions throughout Starfleet's history, as I recalled reading back in my Academy days..." Keelah@crystyll: "Almost everyone is familiar with the dedication quote from the Enterprise, and how her exploration captain's referred to space as being the 'final frontier'..." she glances over to the turbolift + Keelah@crystyll: + where the VF's plaque hands proudly on the wall, "...and made me consider our own dedication quote with new context..." Keelah@crystyll FX | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjaejG-LDAQ Keelah@crystyll: ---END SCENE---

View Log Entry

Stardate 96376.7

We have now embarked upon our extended voyage, and ventured beyond the previously mapped borders of Federation space. In preparation for this journey, I took to reviewing the early logs from some of the more famous exploration missions throughout Starfleet's history, as I recalled reading back in my Academy days..." Keelah pauses, with a moments contemplation, "Almost everyone is familiar with the dedication quote from the Enterprise, and how her exploration captain's referred to space as being the 'final frontier'..." she glances over to the turbolift where the VF's plaque hands proudly on the wall, "...and made me consider our own dedication quote with new context..."

"Space; the final frontier. These are the continuing voyages of the starship Valley Forge. Though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we will fear no evil as you are with us. Always."

Supplemental

As our first day of this mission winds down to an unremarkable close, I find myself reflecting on the dreams that plagued me before waking this morning. At first I was quick to dismiss the condescending images of the great Starfleet captain's whose logs I had been reviewing in preparation for this voyage - not to mention that of my mother. But one thing still bothers me... how they all kept repeating 'You do not belong here'. Why...? I can reconcile anxiety playing with my subconscious mind to conjure these figments of doubt, and their telling me that I'm not ready, or that I'm a poor captain - these are perfectly logical manifestations of doubt and anxiety. But why would they say that of all things? It is not logical...