ST:TTV626 | "The Heart of War"

Stardate 98264.4

The crew's efforts finally come to fruition and they find the long coveted Iconian sphere dubbed 'The Heart of War'.

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NPC@annpc#557:| Keelah finds herself in a setting that is very familiar, but at the same time unrecognizable. It appears to be in a completely wrecked state- half a roof caved in, all the consoles offline and - NPC@annpc#557:- many of them cracked or smashed, and the entire place strewn with debris and dust. She moves through the wreckage, seemingly without any direction from her own mind, pulling away a - NPC@annpc#557:- piece of metal with her Vulcan strength. She notices that the sleeve of her uniform is faded and tattered NPC@annpc#557:| She pulls apart another piece of debris, finding a mostly rotted corpse buried beneath. The corpse is clearly wearing a Starfleet uniform, with several power packs, a toolbox and a device Keelah - NPC@annpc#557:- recognizes as a modern microfusion initiator with a slightly dented casing. She stacks the toolbox and power packs on top of the device and lifts it, turning to leave without another glance at - NPC@annpc#557:- the body NPC@annpc#557:| As she moves towards the exit, she notices a Starfleet phaser among the debris and, once again of no accord of her own, walks over and sets down her current haul before bending over to pick up - NPC@annpc#557:- the phaser. While grabbing the weapon, she notices an outstretched hand that seemed to have been reaching for it. Only the arm and shoulder is visible, but it's more than enough for Keelah to - NPC@annpc#557:- see the gold stripe running over the shoulder, as well as the ship patch which depicted an Odyssey-class cruiser with the words U.S.S. ENTERPRISE, ODYSSEY NCC 1701-F written around it NPC@annpc#557:| Keelah simply picks up the phaser, stacks it atop the rest of her haul and continues outside NPC@annpc#557:| Stepping outside one of the still intact doorways, she comes to an outdoor area that would have once been a lush courtyard, but was now covered in charred or withered grass, burnt remains of - NPC@annpc#557:- trees and inactive fountain fixtures. All around her are ruined buildings with lines of crawler thralls creeping along insects NPC@annpc#557:| Keelah suddenly realizes why the sight is familiar. This is, or at least once was, Starfleet HQ... NPC@annpc#557:| She is unable to explore further however, as her body is turned around and she seems to have no power over it. The view across the San Francisco bay comes in, but it is virtually unrecognizable NPC@annpc#557:| Keelah continues to walk- no, march, towards the bay. She notices the nacelles of an Avenger-class starship sticking out of the water. Across the bay however, there is a thick smog obscuring much - NPC@annpc#557:- of where the city of San Francisco is located, with plumes of black smoke billowing from it into the sickly grey sky NPC@annpc#557:| She moves away from Starfleet HQ and joins a large group of other people- not people, thralls. Some of them are the horrifically misshapen and mutated Horde thralls Keelah has come to be - NPC@annpc#557:- familiar with, while others were still more or less recognizable as Federation species. A few can even be seen with Starfleet uniforms. Keelah falls in with these thralls as they make their way - NPC@annpc#557:- onto the Golden Gate bridge, all of them carrying something in their hands and moving across the bridge like a line of ants carrying food back to their colony NPC@annpc#557:| Through the mist surround the bridge, Keelah can make out the familiar shape of a Galaxy-class saucer embedded in the terrain in the distance, a swarm of avians circling above it in a vulture-like - NPC@annpc#557:- fashion. A few minutes down the bridge, the saucer is out of view, obscured by the mist, and she sees one of the flying creatures up close, a sinister bat-like being perched on the edge of the - NPC@annpc#557:- bridge. The Flyer thrall stretches its wings before it leaps off the edge, gliding with the wind towards the direction she had seen the saucer NPC@annpc#557:| Her arms begin to ache from the weight she is bearing, but she can't put it down. Her arms aren't obeying her commands as they hold up the salvage and her legs carry her obediently in line with - NPC@annpc#557:- other thralls. She is completely helpless to even close her eyes as the other side of the bay begins coming into view through the mist. The former modern metropolis was in complete ruins, but - NPC@annpc#557:- just beside it another city was beginning to spring up, a city of huge blocky structures, of pipes and of chimneys billowing clouds of thick pollution. A Horde factory city... NPC@annpc#557:| There is nothing at all she can do as her legs carry her closer and closer towards the factory, unable to do anything but observe as her body is operated by someone else entirely... NPC@annpc#557 | The nightmare finally ends and Keelah awakes in her bed… NPC@annpc#557 FX | https://youtu.be/zqvpME3IUB8 Keelah@crystyl blinks the world back into focus, breathing heavily and covered in cold sweats she once again finds herself leaning on Vulcan discipline to steady her mind as she sits up NPC@annpc#557 | As she sits up and begins to steady herself, the comm sounds and the reason she suddenly snapped awake becomes clear Keelah@crystyl reaches behind her, pawing at the side table a few times until she finds her combadge. Clicking it as she pulls it forward, "Se'Lai..." NPC@annpc#557 <C - TQ> Captain, we are receiving a message from the Regulators Keelah@crystyl:"Put it through to my quarters, would you" she gets up, moving to her desk NPC@annpc#557 <C - TQ> Right away NPC@annpc#557 FX | The familiar visage of Supervisor 9118-127-030 appears on the viewscreen, "Captain Keelah. I see you're not in your uniform. Is this a bad time?" Keelah@crystyl shakes her head and smiles faintly, "It is fine. We all need sleep on occasion. What can I do for you?" NPC@annpc#557 | Supervisor: "I am contacting you to provide a situation update. Approximately .009 Standard Temporal Units ago, the Administration detected and destroyed four Horde vessels attempting to pass - NPC@annpc#557:- into Regulated Zone 336. All four vessels were in possession of cloaking devices which they no doubt utilized to bypass Coalition patrols to reach the Zone." Keelah@crystyl:"An advanced recon scout presumably. It is unlikely that any force large enough to warrant a significant threat could be fully cloaked" NPC@annpc#557 | Supervisor: "While that is true of a conventional threat, the Guardians inform me that a single Horde thrall is enough to spread their control. The spread will be faster with greater number of - NPC@annpc#557:- thralls, but one vessel will be enough to 'infect' an unprotected civilization. No cloaked vessel will be able to pass through our Regulated Zones undetected, but it is possible the Horde will, - NPC@annpc#557:- or perhaps already have, slipped forces around the zones, which means they may already be beginning to build a new army further corewards by spreading their influence to the species residing - NPC@annpc#557:- there. All Regulator Survey vessels currently equipped with the defensive implants, including my own, are being dispatched to scout for potential Horde presence past the Regulated Zones." Keelah@crystyl:"A wise precaution as you are quite correct. I wish I had more to offer, but all I can say is that I appreciate the update" NPC@annpc#557 | Supervisor: "As a member of the Coalition, this is relevant information which you need to be informed on. I shall notify you if there are any further developments." Keelah@crystyl:"Likewise my friend" NPC@annpc#557 | The Supervisor nods and the call ends Keelah@crystyl leans back in her chair with a heavy sigh, "...and hope it does not take much longer to do so..." NPC@annpc#557 | Keelah is left in peace and quiet for a few minutes to relax and change... Keelah@crystyl emerges from the bedroom a short time later looking fresh and crisp back in her uniform, ready to join the daily briefing with the senior staff Keliaya@anncaris | As Keelah enters the conference room, she finds in addition to the usual senior staff, Gwi is present as well, discussing something with Lennie and Kelly near the conference room's display - Keliaya@anncaris - console Keelah@crystyl sips a mug of raktajino as she enters, "Sorry to keep you all. What do we have today then?" Keliaya@anncaris turns, "Captain! We might have something." Keelah@crystyl:"Oh?" Keliaya@anncaris:"We picked up a gravimetric disturbance during the shift I was supervising. I ran the calculations and its source has to be something truly massive. Much bigger than a star. Like a dyson sphere." Keliaya@anncaris | Gwi: "So she passed it to me, and I used our data to pinpoint the source of the gravity. We might not be able to see well inside this nebula, but physics still works the same way." Keelah@crystyl:"This is most fortuitous timing" Keliaya@anncaris nods and smiles, "I'll let you have the honour of showing the Captain, Gwi." Keliaya@anncaris | Gwi taps on the console, bringing up the nebula with a blinking red dot near the centre Keelah@crystyl moves over to get a better look as she sips her drink Keliaya@anncaris | Gwi: "This is the source of the gravimetric disturbances. It's in one of those patches where the sensor interference is the worst, so it's completely invisible outside the nebula. But once - Keliaya@anncaris:- we're in range to pick up the gravity emanating from it, it's impossible to miss." Keelah@crystyl | Lennie calls over from behind them, "S'got stronger emanations than other known spheres too. Ties in wit' Docha's messages" Keelah@crystyl glances back with a nod, "So far so good. What of the nebula composition itself? What can we expect if we enter it" Keliaya@anncaris | Gwi: "It's composed of highly ionized gasses, so our sensors are practically useless and our shields won't work, but it shouldn't affect any of the other systems." Keliaya@anncaris adds, "The armour generators should still work, so if there's danger, we'll be suitably protected." Keelah@crystyl:"Sounds like nothing we can't handle. Still, we have no idea what awaits within even if it is our sphere. Can one of the probes get telemetry back to us through that soup?" Keliaya@anncaris nods, "Communication should still function, so it'll be able to relay data back, assuming it can pick up anything. If it nears the source of the distortions, it should be able to detect the - Keliaya@anncaris:- presence of something as large as a dyson sphere, if not get us comprehensive scans of it." Keelah@crystyl:"Then let's start simple and go with that" Keliaya@anncaris smiles, "I already have my teams prepping one now. I can tell them to deploy it when ready." Keelah@crystyl smiles, "That's what I like to hear. Then I would say the usual daily affairs can wait for now, yes" Keliaya@anncaris nods, "We'll have it underway soon, then. Just making some modifications so its sensors are slightly more effective in there." --- Keliaya@anncaris FX | Some time later, Keelah awaits on the bridge as the probe begins approaching the source of the gravimetric disturbance... Keelah@crystyl | Lennie: "Nothin' yet..." she looks to Gwi, "How far until it reaches the source?" Keliaya@anncaris | Gwi: "500 million kilometres. It should be on sensors in an ordinary situation, but the nebula's probably obscuring it." Keelah@crystyl watches quietly Keelah@crystyl | Lennie: "We got... somethin'. Jus' kinda looks like a solid wall in all this mess though" Keelah@crystyl:"Do we have visual?" Keelah@crystyl | Lennie: "F'what it's worth..." she puts it up on the main screen. A static filled image that just barely on occassion gives way to a thick blue haze... Keliaya@anncaris glances to the screen, "Not the clearest view..." Keelah@crystyl sips her drink, still watching quietly Keelah@crystyl | Lennie: "Gettin' confirmed readin's o'neutronium alloy. S'lookin' good!" Keliaya@anncaris | In the occasional images that appear, something dark becomes visible beyond the blue haze... Keliaya@anncaris | Gwi: "Almost there. 100,000 kilometres." Keelah@crystyl 's eyes narrow, trying to focus Keliaya@anncaris | Soon, whatever is beyond the haze comes closer and closer into view... Keliaya@anncaris | TQ: "I'll try to boost the comm signals to get a better visual gain." Keliaya@anncaris | The flashes begin staying on screen for a few seconds longer, and from the images, Keelah can now clearly make out the exterior patterns of an Iconian dyson sphere... Keelah@crystyl:"It /is/ a Dyson Sphere..." Keelah@crystyl | Lennie: "S'active too! Probe's receivin' active comms traffic" Keelah@crystyl:"Alright, maintain the probe's position. Helm, take us in" Keliaya@anncaris | Fisher: "Aye Captain. Moving into the nebula." Keliaya@anncaris | The VF enters the nebula, and soon the blue gasses begin to surround the ship as well... Keliaya@anncaris | The ship's own sensors become more and more scrambled as they proceed deeper inside, and Vrolmacht soon announces, "Shields are inoperable." Keelah@crystyl:"As expected, standby with the armour still" Keliaya@anncaris | Vrolmacht nods, "Armour standing by." Keliaya@anncaris | Before long, the dark mass behind the blue haze becomes visible on the VF's own screen, without the flickering static this time Keelah@crystyl:"And there it is" Keelah@crystyl | Lennie: "I... can't believe we actually found it!" Keelah@crystyl:"We have found /a/ sphere Commander. Nothing to say it is the one we have been searching for yet" Keelah@crystyl | Lennie nods: "O'course. Still, damned excitin' though. Will recover th'probe once we'se in position now" Keliaya@anncaris:"We're going to have to check inside it. Even without the nebula, our sensors can't penetrate its hull." Keelah@crystyl:"Very good. Tee, I think Professor Lycas will want to be here" Keelah@crystyl | TQ nods, "On it" Keliaya@anncaris | A minute later, Lycas steps out of the turbolift onto the bridge, looking to the screen, "Excellent work, everyone." Keelah@crystyl:"It's been a long time coming Professor, but now it is time for you to shine and help us figure out if this is the gateway connected to Forged Earth. And if it is the Heart of War..." Keliaya@anncaris | Lycas nods, stepping over to the science station and reading the display, "The exterior surface of the sphere appears identical to that of other Iconian spheres, with the exception of the - Keliaya@anncaris:- significantly larger size. A standard hail directed towards one of the communication arrays should trigger the entrance sequence for the hatch and the guidance tractors." Keelah@crystyl:"Alright, take us into position and prepare for atmospheric translation" Keliaya@anncaris | Fisher nods, "Aye, moving into position." Keliaya@anncaris | The VF maneuvers in front of one of the hatches Keliaya@anncaris taps on her console before announcing, "We're ready for atmospheric transition." Keelah@crystyl | The bridge dims to the lesser seen blue alert status as the ship vents it's plasma exhausts and reconfigures the bussard collectors for atmospheric conditions as is known standard approach for a- Keelah@crystyl:- sphere Keelah@crystyl | With a nod from Keelah, TQ sends the hail Keliaya@anncaris | Nothing happens Keliaya@anncaris | Lycas raises a brow, "We have not altered our communication systems recently, have we?" Keliaya@anncaris shakes her head, "No, we haven't." Keelah@crystyl:"Could this sphere have different protocols?" Keliaya@anncaris | Vrolmacht: "It is possible. If this is indeed the Heart of War, it was built specifically to be a military installation. The security of military facilities are usually higher than that of - Keliaya@anncaris:- civilian ones." Keliaya@anncaris | Lycas nods, "A logical assumption. Perhaps this sphere requires a more sophisticated passcode." Keelah@crystyl:"Then I suggest we get to work on figuring it out. Kelly will never forgive me if we hang in this soup too long with the bussards reconfigured..." she glances back with a smile Keliaya@anncaris smiles back and nods, "I think there should be a new regulation that all COs need to have served in Engineering for at least a year. I'm sure the fleet would be in /much/ better condition if - Keliaya@anncaris:- that were the case." Keelah@crystyl | Rianni gives a nervous gulp at having to master all that techno-babble Keelah@crystyl:"Alright, alright. Focus people. Let us assume this /is/ the Heart of War. What do we know about it that makes it unique?" Keliaya@anncaris | Vrolmacht: "It was designed specifically for military action against the Horde." Keliaya@anncaris | Gwi: "It's larger than any other sphere, supposedly with a blue star at its core." Keelah@crystyl | Lennie: "Wasn't it a collaborative effort wit' th'Nuhar?" Keliaya@anncaris nods, "The Nuhar believe there to be a Foundry contained within." Keelah@crystyl:"Then maybe-" Keelah@crystyl | TQ grins, "Way ahead of you Captain! Transmitting Mia's Nuhar greeting instead" Keliaya@anncaris | Still nothing... Keelah@crystyl | TQ frowns, "I was sure that would do it..." Keliaya@anncaris:"The Nuhar greeting was intended to tell a Nuhar construct that we're not a threat. It needs an actual AI to read and interpret it. We could be on the right track, but we need a signal that a Nuhar - Keliaya@anncaris:- construct would send, not merely one bearing their language." Keelah@crystyl:"Then perhaps Relay can assist" Keelah@crystyl | TQ: "On it" Keelah@crystyl:"And while you're there, tell Mia to apologize to Pia for us interrupting their lesson schedule" she adds with a smile Keelah@crystyl | TQ chuckles as she contacts Mia, "Mia accepts the apology Captain, but Cadet T'Pia is reportedly dissatisfied that she was not permitted to accompany" Keelah@crystyl smiles and sighs, "She can scold me over dinner later" Keelah@crystyl | Mia soon strolls off the turbolift with Relay close behind. Having already been told what is required, the Nuhar drone moves straight to TQ's side to send the signal Keelah@crystyl | TQ almost stumbles out of the way as the less personable drone almost barges past her to interact with the array Keliaya@anncaris FX | On the viewscreen, the hatch opens as four tractor beams grab hold of the VF, pulling the ship inside... Keelah@crystyl smiles, "Excellent! See Kelly, nothing to worry about on those nacelles..." Keliaya@anncaris smiles back, "Good thing we got it open quickly!" Keliaya@anncaris | The VF enters the exterior of the sphere, and sensors suddenly clear up as the gasses are stopped from passing into it Keliaya@anncaris FX | http://sites.psu.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/9476/2013/03/url-1.jpeg Keelah@crystyl:"If any of you have not previously witnessed this sight. You'll want to pay attention to this" Keliaya@anncaris watches the screen as they enter, "I've never been inside one of those before..." Keelah@crystyl | Rianni, TQ and many others all watch in awe as well. Even Keelah & Lennie who have previously seen a sphere are humbled into silence as they enjoy the ride Keliaya@anncaris | The first sign of difference between this sphere and the interiors of other spheres soon come into view as they notice a giant hoop in front of them, then another further down the line, then - Keliaya@anncaris:- another. They are all shaped exactly like the entrance hatch and lined up directly with it, all the way up to the sun, which does emit a distinctly blue hue Keliaya@anncaris | Lycas raises a brow, "Curious. I have never seen structures such as these before." Keelah@crystyl:"Indeed..." she notes with a similarly perked brow Keliaya@anncaris turns and taps on her console, "They're not online at the moment, but from what I can tell, if they were online, they'd project massive magnetic containment fields, all interlinked up to the - Keliaya@anncaris:- entrance hatch. Perhaps some kind of defensive measure, to trap incoming ships?" Keliaya@anncaris | Vrolmacht: "A few around the entrance would suffice for that. There is no need to lead these fields all the way up to near the surface of the sun." Keelah@crystyl | Rianni tilts her head, "Looks kind of like an accelerometer path. But why would you ever need such a heavily reinforced path? Even at high warp you wouldn't need that much. And why coming from - Keelah@crystyl:- the star?" Keelah@crystyl:"There is only one maneuver I know which involves such extreme acceleration away from a star. And that is something one would never associate with the Iconians" Keliaya@anncaris | Fisher: "It wouldn't work in here anyways. If you slingshot inside a dyson sphere, you'd crash into the side before you managed anything. There's not enough room for a maneuver like that here." Keliaya@anncaris:"I'm picking up something different near the end of the path, by the star." Keelah@crystyl | Rianni: "If you're not launching a ship around the star, what's left to accelerate away from it besides the star's energy itself..." her eyes widen at the prospect of this being a colossal sun ray Keelah@crystyl:"Let's take a look" she nods to the helm to proceed Keliaya@anncaris | Fisher nods, "Bringing us closer to the star." Keelah@crystyl | Lennie maintains active scans for any signs of activity, and also generally just scanning as much as the arrays will let her at once. Like a kid in a candy store Keliaya@anncaris | Lennie picks up Nuhar alloys and signatures in quite a few of the Sphere's facilities, clearly indicating that the Nuhar had a role in building this sphere Keelah@crystyl | Lennie: "Definitely seein' evidence o'Nuhar contributions 'ere. Familiar alloys an' tech signatures all over th'place. But no active tech so far..." Keelah@crystyl:"Stay sharp. Just remember that if this is our connected gateway, the original probe was attacked by automated defenses" Keelah@crystyl | Lennie nods and looks to Relay with a smile, "Maybe them rumours of a lost foundry're true as well!" Keelah@crystyl | Relay beeps an acknowledgement. Hard to say if he's 'excited' by the prospect as his beeps are far less emotive than Miadrones still... Keliaya@anncaris | As they near the star, it becomes obvious that the containment field emitter line they are following is not alone, and there are multiple different ones leading from other areas of the sun - Keliaya@anncaris:- seemingly towards the edge of the sphere Keelah@crystyl | Rianni: "More of 'em! Huh, so... lots of sunrays...?", she mutters to herself, working to analyze the anomalous tech Keliaya@anncaris | At the end of the line by the last magnetic field generator hoop are four platforms evenly placed around the hoop. They are about the size of a small mining station each and appear to be like - Keliaya@anncaris:- deflector arrays but far more powerful and far more specific as well. They're currently unpowered, but all four are aimed at a spot on the sun that is in the exact centre of the containment - Keliaya@anncaris:- field and lined up perfectly with the exit hatch Keelah@crystyl | Rianni: "I still don't get the details, but... Captain this is looking increasingly like a weapon that somehow harnesses the power of the star itself" Keelah@crystyl:"That is quite the formidable defense if so. And I do not even want to think about the instability of this, or the magnitude of its use if it harnesses Omega" Keelah@crystyl | Rianni: "I will continue my analysis" Keliaya@anncaris:"The Iconians are known to use weaponized solar energy. They open one end of a gateway into a sun and the other directed at an enemy ship. That's how the Radiant was hit." Keliaya@anncaris:"This could be similar, just on a much larger scale." Keelah@crystyl glances back, "True enough... and that is a distinctly larger scale if so, but let us not jump to conclusions. Rianni; by all means continue your analysis and... keep an open mind" Keelah@crystyl | Rianni smiles and nods, returning to her work Keliaya@anncaris | Lycas meanwhile types on a part of the science console beside Rianni, announcing, "I have detected a structure similar to the control centres of other spheres. Its position near the star would - Keliaya@anncaris:- suggest that it serves the same function." Keelah@crystyl:"A good place to begin our search, Professor?" Keliaya@anncaris | Lycas nods, "I agree. Sending the coordinates to the helm now." Keliaya@anncaris | Fisher eyes the coordinates, "That's close to the sun..." Keliaya@anncaris | Lycas: "As were all other control centres found in Iconian spheres, hence my speculation. Our shields will hold at this distance." Keelah@crystyl:"We can close in enough to deposit a first survey team and then pull the ship back to a safe distance if needed" Keliaya@anncaris | Vrolmacht: "I suggest a security escort, in case there are defenses present." Keelah@crystyl nods, "Take whoever you feel necessary" she looks over to Vrolmacht in response. Smiling at the sight beside him, "And... you might want to consider a certain young Ensign not far away before she - Keelah@crystyl:- bursts a blood vessel" Keliaya@anncaris | Lycas nods, "A suitable precaution. Defenses have been encountered in such control centres before. I would also advise medical support. If there is damage to the facility, radiation exposure - Keliaya@anncaris:- is a risk as well." Keliaya@anncaris | Vrolmacht smiles, "Come with me, Ensign." Keelah@crystyl | Rianni does indeed look intently up at Vrolmacht, desperation in her wide pleading eyes Keelah@crystyl thinks just for a moment that Rianni was actually going to hug Vrolmacht. But is glad she didn't Keliaya@anncaris | Lycas: "I would like to accompany you as well," He looks to Lennie, "Commander? Would you like to join the initial survey as well?" Keelah@crystyl | Lennie shakes her head, "Much as I'd-a love to, I really ain't not much use to ya there yet. This's ya show Professor, not mine. Though given wha' we saw at th'entrance, may wanna take Relay" Keliaya@anncaris | Lycas nods, "Excellent advice." He makes his way to the transporter, waiting for the drone and the others to follow Keelah@crystyl | Everyone else promptly makes their way over as well Keliaya@anncaris | Fisher: "Approaching the control centre in five minutes." Keelah@crystyl | Lennie: "Will monitor radiation flares on th'shields. See how much of an impact it'll be for us t'hang around" Keliaya@anncaris | As the VF nears the facility, it becomes clear that the VF definitely should not hang around long. They can take the radiation for a few minutes but at this range, but any longer and systems - Keliaya@anncaris - will start getting affected. More than fifteen minutes, and the shields probably won't hold Keelah@crystyl | Lennie: "Aight, yeah... drop an' run's th'best thing. Jus' keep in comms range for th'team" Keliaya@anncaris | Sensors also pick up a large, currently inactive ship gateway near the facility... Keelah@crystyl | Lennie: "In other news... Cap'n, take a look at this!" she changes the viewscreen to show the gateway Keliaya@anncaris FX | https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/sto_gamepedia/images/a/a9/Dyson_Sun_Control.png/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/800?cb=20171009211133 Keelah@crystyl 's eyes widen a little, "That could be it. Commander, while the away team works, I want you to compare the probe data from the original gateway activation and see if you map it's location here - Keelah@crystyl:- based on the visual feed as I know it caught sight of a gateway such as this. If our assumption is correct, that lost probe could well be within that control centre" Keliaya@anncaris FX | https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/sto_gamepedia/images/a/a9/Dyson_Sun_Control.png/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/800?cb=20171009211133 Keelah@crystyl | Lennie nods: "I'll be in th'lab" heading off to the turbolift. Keliaya@anncaris | Fisher: "We should be in transporter range of the control centre." Keliaya@anncaris:"Transporters are standing by." Keelah@crystyl nods, "Send them over" Keliaya@anncaris gives the word and announces after a few seconds, "The team is on board. I suggest we pull back before systems start getting fried..." Keelah@crystyl:"Agreed. Mr. Fisher, if you will" Keliaya@anncaris | Fisher nods, "Aye Captain. Pulling us back." Keliaya@anncaris | The VF pulls up from the control centre, away from the scorching heat of the sun... Keliaya@anncaris taps at her console, "Much better. And we thought bussard collectors were the biggest thing to worry about today..." Keelah@crystyl:"I will be satisfied if this is the worst we have to face here" Keliaya@anncaris nods, "True. I'll be in Engineering, in case anything does need fixing." She looks to Mia, "Want to come with, or do you have administrative duty or lessons?" Keelah@crystyl | Mia: "We were in the middle of a lesson. But... if we could bring Ms. T'Pia then we can make it an engineering lesson!" Keliaya@anncaris:"Sounds good! While we're away from the sun, I'll see if there's any changes I can make to have our systems be more resistant to the heat and radiation for when we have to pick up the team." Keelah@crystyl | Mia: "Excellent, we will assist!" Keliaya@anncaris smiles and heads into the turbolift Keelah@crystyl looks around the suddenly empty bridge, then to Fisher: "Anyone would think they all had somewhere better be..,." Keliaya@anncaris | Fisher chuckles, "I'm pretty sure they're just excited to do what they're good at in this new environment." Keliaya@anncaris | The lift doors close, and a few seconds later it opens again for the replacement bridge officers who take over the vacated stations Keelah@crystyl:"It would be nice if this is our gateway... our journey would be done, mission completed. We could return to Federation space. See friends and family again..." Keliaya@anncaris | Fisher nods, "And get some other ships through to deal with the Horde. I think we could all use a break..." Keelah@crystyl:"Starfleet reinforcements would be a significant boon" Keliaya@anncaris | Fisher: "All due credit to Kelly and her teams for improving our systems over the journey, but we could use ships like the Enterprise or the Endeavour out here." Keelah@crystyl:"I'd take our Valley Forge over an Odyssey any day" Keliaya@anncaris | Fisher: "Me too, but what I wouldn't give for a few flagships as wingmen when we fly against the Horde..." Keelah@crystyl:"Valuable, but don't forget there's a whole new budding alliance back home as well. Just picture some of those imposing Klingon warships at our back as well" Keliaya@anncaris | Fisher: "Now that would be the perfect backup!" --- Evanne Dra@annpc#557 steps out of the turbolift, even though TQ's shift is still a few hours away from ending Evanne Dra@annpc#557 steps up to TQ's console, "How's things going, Tee?" Keelah@crystyl | TQ looks around, "Oh hey Eva, what's up? Couldn't sleep?" Evanne Dra@annpc#557:"Actually, I already woke earlier and was with Kelly, Mia and Pia down in Engineering. We came up with an idea..." Keelah@crystyl | TQ smiles, "Can always rely on own little brain trust to come up with something! Well, don't let me keep you" she smiles, figuring Eva's after the Captain Evanne Dra@annpc#557:"Well right now our comms can't penetrate the neutronium alloy, so we're out of contact with the QanwI'. We might have a way to tie into those comm arrays near the hatches so we can bypass the - Evanne Dra@annpc#557:- sphere and maintain communication with the QanwI', and the Coalition via our comm buoys." Evanne Dra@annpc#557:"It could be helpful in case the QanwI' sees something outside. Not much use having a scout if it can't report its findings, after all." Keelah@crystyl | TQ: "Ooh that sounds great yeah! Anything I can do to help then?" Evanne Dra@annpc#557 hands TQ her PADD, "This is what we've worked out, thanks to the expertise Mia's gained on Iconian and Nuhar technology. It's still your shift, so I'll let you have the glory of tying - Evanne Dra@annpc#557:- our comms in." Keelah@crystyl | TQ smiles, "I thank that glory safely belongs with you guys! But let's see what we have" she takes the PADD and begins tapping away on her console Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | After a little work, she does indeed manage to tap into the comm system around the sphere Evanne Dra@annpc#557 looks to Keelah, "Permission to test it out by checking in with the QanwI', Captain?" Keelah@crystyl peers over and smiles, "By all means. Who am I to stand in the way of the 'brain trust'" she chuckles, making clear she caught TQ's earlier comment Keelah@crystyl | TQ grins to herself that the name caught on, "Alright, let's give this a go. Hailing the QanwI'" Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | The hail is successful and Lexi appears on the viewscreen quite clearly Keelah@crystyl smiles, "Captain Vix" Keelah@crystyl | Lexi: "Well, isn't this an unexpected surprise. Let me guess; you boffins figured a way to bounce a comm signal back out of the nebula. Got a string of probes out there have we?" Keelah@crystyl:"Something like that, but no probes. We have successfully tapped into the sphere's communication arrays" Keelah@crystyl | Lexi: "Figures. Well, good to know we can be of /some/ use out here" she leans in hopefully, "Unless of course you're calling to say you need help?" Keelah@crystyl:"Sorry Captain, but this is just a test call" Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | A merc calls out behind Lexi, "Captain! We've got an incoming message for the Valley Forge coming from one of the comm buoys. Should we relay it to them?" Keelah@crystyl | Lexi pouts, slumping back in her seat, "Oh well, we're here to-" she snaps around, "Well, isn't that good timing then. Bounce it over" Keelah@crystyl perks a brow, "Good timing seems to the theme of the day" Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Merc: "Aye Captain!" Evanne Dra@annpc#557 FX | The visage of the Regulator Supervisor appears on the viewscreen, "Captain Keelah. I have an update." Keelah@crystyl:"Another so soon? This is troubling..." Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Supervisor: "It is indeed. We've just been in contact with the Trinity Alliance. It seems the peace agreement between the Trinity and the Forli have suddenly and inexplicably broken down. We - Evanne Dra@annpc#557:- proceeded to stop the Forli fleet and discovered members among them with traces of Horde influence. Our fears were correct. The Horde have already spread to the other side of the Regulated Zone." Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Supervisor: "The Administration has quarantined Forli territory, but so far we have found no actual thralls within. They are still at large somewhere." Keelah@crystyl:"That is indeed troubling. Not least as it undoes all our work in settling that region previously. However - and I do not wish to raise false hopes - but, we are currently within an Iconian Sphere.- Keelah@crystyl:- I have team making a preliminary survey of the control centre now as we try to determine if this is the goal we have been seeking" Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Supervisor: "If it is indeed an Iconian superweapon against the Horde, we may need it activated soon. The Horde's new strategy appears to be bypassing the Coalition entirely, and so far, they - Evanne Dra@annpc#557:- are seeing some success. Should they assert influence over an unprotected Regulator vessel or a Carran one, that will provide them avenues to spread to other regions of space far beyond what can - Evanne Dra@annpc#557:- feasibly be controlled." Keelah@crystyl:"We are doing all we can, but as I said it is early yet and we have yet to see if this is even the place" Keelah@crystyl:"I am however... hopeful" Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | The Supervisor nods, "I hope it is what you are seeking. We will continue to follow and attempt to contain the situation here." Keelah@crystyl:"We'll keep you apprised of any developments here. I wish once again I had more to offer, but it all just feels like empty platitudes at this point as we all know what we face and what we must do" Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Supervisor: "Indeed. Let us perform to the peak of our ability, and we may contain this latest advance yet." Evanne Dra@annpc#557 FX | The comm ends --- NPC@annpc#557 FX | Vrolmacht, Rianni, Lycas and Zanah beam down along with Relay and two additional security support. They materialize in a dimly-lit environment and promptly activate flashlights to properly - NPC@annpc#557 - see NPC@annpc#557 | Zanah checks her tricorder, "No sign of movement or life in here apart from us. No adverse radiation, either." NPC@annpc#557 | Vrolmacht: "It is too quiet. I do not like it." Rianni@crystyl:"Isn't it supposed to be quiet?" NPC@annpc#557 | Lycas nods, "This station has not been activated for 200,000 years. A lack of activity would only be normal." Rianni@crystyl looks around, "So is there anything specific we should be watching for here?" NPC@annpc#557 | Lycas: "Yes, but first let us...try our luck, as you humans say." Rianni@crystyl turns to him, "I think I'm beginning to understand why you and the Captain so often respond to things simply by raising a brow..." NPC@annpc#557 | Lycas shines his flashlight around until he spots a console and steps over, tapping on it, "As I expected. The minimal power means the majority of consoles are not online." NPC@annpc#557 | Lycas looks around, shining his flashlight at the different doors, "The layout seems identical to the other such stations we are familiar with. It appears the Iconians did not change what was - NPC@annpc#557 - not necessary." Rianni@crystyl:"Makes sense. Any construction on this kind of scale must rely on some sort of uniform fabrication" NPC@annpc#557 | Lycas: "Precisely. The only differences will be those necessary for the different function of this sphere, such as these magnetic containment field generators we observed on our way in." NPC@annpc#557 | Lycas: "Assuming the layout is identical, the generator room should be in this direction." NPC@annpc#557 | He proceeds to one of the doors, beginning to work on the manual override. Barely a minute later, the circular door opens NPC@annpc#557 | Zanah: "Good thing we brought the expert along." Rianni@crystyl follows, paying close attention to everything out of curiosity NPC@annpc#557 | They proceed through the station, their progress momentarily halted every time they encounter a doorway, but Lycas always manages to get them open after a little bit of tinkering NPC@annpc#557 | As they go, Zanah looks to Rianni, "You ever been to one of those dyson spheres before?" Rianni@crystyl shakes her head, "Mm-mm, only seen holos in my history classes. You?" NPC@annpc#557 | Zanah shakes her head, "Me neither. It's impressive and all, but this place here...I get what Vrolmacht means. This place should be filled with activity, but it's not. Even though we've never - NPC@annpc#557:- seen this place when it was active, it still kind of feels like seeing Earth Spacedock, but with all the people inside it gone." Rianni@crystyl:"I know what you mean. Everything I saw of the sphere the Romulans look after, it was always a hive of activity" NPC@annpc#557 | Zanah nods, "Even if someone else other than the Iconians took over, it'd feel better. Or if it was a ruin. But everything's still standing and in decent condition, from what I can tell. It's - NPC@annpc#557:- got everything except life. And that makes it feel just off enough to be a little unsettling." Rianni@crystyl:"You know, I think you've hit the nail on the head with that. It's because it's all so perfectly preserved, like everyone just up and left this morning or something" NPC@annpc#557 | Zanah: "Exactly. It's like a ghost ship." Rianni@crystyl:"I'm sure it will be a lot better once we get the power back on" she smile NPC@annpc#557 | They reach a large room with a central console. Lycas makes his way up to it, "Precise like the generator rooms in the other spheres. They are indeed identical." NPC@annpc#557 | The Professor taps on the console and a row of glyphs appear from a projector in the centre, its activation illuminating the room NPC@annpc#557 | Lycas quirks a brow, "That's different. These are Nuhar letters." NPC@annpc#557 | Relay hovers up beside him, "Allow this unit to assist." Rianni@crystyl smiles to Zanah, "Good thing we brought /both/ the experts along!" NPC@annpc#557 | Lycas nods and gestures for Relay to go ahead, "By all means." NPC@annpc#557 smiles back, "Good call on the Captain's part." NPC@annpc#557 | Relay interfaces with the central console, then hovers across the room. The glyphs begin to shift and change as the drone goes from console to console. Then, the glyphs fade NPC@annpc#557 | Zanah checks her tricorder, "Energy readings are powering up all around us. Whatever Relay did must've turned on the generator." NPC@annpc#557 FX | A large window slides upwards, revealing the blue star beyond. Though the light is significantly filtered, enough of it remains to completely illuminate the room Rianni@crystyl checks around as well, watching for signs of movement. Quickly being distracted by the view, "Wow..." NPC@annpc#557 | Vrolmacht steps over with her, "Not a view you see everyday, Ensign." Rianni@crystyl:"It's spectacular" NPC@annpc#557 | Meanwhile, Lycas taps away at the central console, "I have confirmation. This sphere is the Heart of War," he looks over to Rianni, "And it would appear your hypothesis on the purpose of the - NPC@annpc#557 - magnetic containment fields is accurate as well." Rianni@crystyl joins him with renewed interest, "It's a weapon then? But... a great defense and all. But not exactly the solution to the Horde situation that we envisaged" NPC@annpc#557 | Lycas: "It does possess an additional function, but it appears to be the emitting of a pulse not similar to our own, only significantly more far-reaching. However, as we learned from the arms - NPC@annpc#557:- factory, while this function is effective at stunning the Horde, it is only temporary and consumes much of the Sphere's energy. Perhaps short bursts of it, rather than the range the Iconians were - NPC@annpc#557:- utilizing to attempt to placate the entire Horde, could be viable as another defense mechanism, but not as a superweapon against the entirety of the Horde." Rianni@crystyl:"Well this is... unexpected. What does this mean for the war?" NPC@annpc#557 | Lycas: "The Sphere could still serve as a valuable base for the Coalition. There is also the theory proposed by the Architect and Lieutenant Dra that the signal emitting function can be - NPC@annpc#557:- altered to send their telepathic commands to the Horde and prompt the self-destruction of the entirety of their-" NPC@annpc#557 | Zanah: "I'm reading movement!" Rianni@crystyl readies her weapon, focusing on the perimeter NPC@annpc#557 | Lycas quickly turns to the console, "Activating the power must have also activated the station's automated defenses." NPC@annpc#557 | Vrolmacht and the security officers also ready their weapons Rianni@crystyl:"Can you do anything to override them?" NPC@annpc#557 | Lycas: "I am attempting to see if I can shut them down." NPC@annpc#557 | Several hatches near the ceiling begin to open and drones begin to stream out... NPC@annpc#557 | They waste no time, immediately opening fire on the team Rianni@crystyl ducks into cover and begins returning fire NPC@annpc#557 | Lycas and Zanah duck behind the closest cover as well. Vrolmacht and the security personnel assist, and between the four of them, the first wave of drones is quickly taken down NPC@annpc#557 | Zanah: "There's more movement through the station. A lot more." Rianni@crystyl:"If we can't get them under control quickly we'll have to pull back. We're too vulnerable here" NPC@annpc#557 | Lycas stands and gets back to the console, "I cannot override the drones. It appears they are following directives programmed into the individual units rather than utilizing a central command - NPC@annpc#557:- network." NPC@annpc#557 | More drones emerge from the hatches, several of them firing continuous red beams rather than the bursts of the Iconian swarmers. These beams cut a swatch across the room. Lycas dives behind - NPC@annpc#557:- cover, but the central console explodes and he is caught in the explosion, being sent flying back. It soon becomes clear that the continuous beam drones are of Nuhar design... Rianni@crystyl:"Relay can do you anything?" NPC@annpc#557 | Zanah rushes over to Lycas while Relay dashes into the centre of the room. It becomes clear that none of the drones, Nuhar nor Iconian, is targeting Relay. A few seconds later, the Nuhar - NPC@annpc#557:- drones suddenly turn on their Iconian counterparts, cutting them down before forming up behind Relay NPC@annpc#557 | Relay: "This unit can override the Nuhar drones, but only the ones of Nuhar design." Rianni@crystyl:"Good work Relay! The Iconian ones aren't targeting you. Can you do anything to flag us as Nuhar?" NPC@annpc#557 | Relay: "Negative. Biologicals have lifesigns. Scans indicate that it is possible to physically access an Iconian drone and utilize it to override the remaining Iconian drones as this unit has - NPC@annpc#557:- done with the Nuhar drones." NPC@annpc#557 | Zanah meanwhile injects Lycas with a hypo and runs a scan over the burnt front of his uniform Rianni@crystyl:"Then we'll get you that drone" she nods to the other security personnel before glancing back to Zanah, "How is he?" NPC@annpc#557 | Zanah: "I can't stabilize him here. We need evac." Rianni@crystyl:"Get him back to the ship" NPC@annpc#557 | Vrolmacht nods, tapping his combadge, "Vrolmacht to Valley Forge." NPC@annpc#557 FX | No response... NPC@annpc#557 | He taps his combadge again, and still nothing... Rianni@crystyl:"There must be some sort of jamming in place. We need to get this place under control!" NPC@annpc#557 | Relay: "Negative. No jamming detected." Rianni@crystyl:"What? They can't be out of range?" NPC@annpc#557 | Relay: "Insufficient data. This unit can only determine that signals are successfully travelling outside this station." Rianni@crystyl:"Alright Relay, while the others work on getting us out of here. We'll help you get the drones under control" NPC@annpc#557 | Vrolmacht: "Another wave is incoming. We must deal with them first and attempt to take one of the drones without completely destroying it." --- Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | On the Valley Forge... Evanne Dra@annpc#557:"If the Horde are indeed headed towards Underworld...we may have to consider the Architect's plan. It is risky, but it could be the only way of stopping the Horde in time." Keelah@crystyl:"Perhaps. Whatever this facility has to offer, I doubt very much it will be a miracle solution" Evanne Dra@annpc#557 nods, "We'll see what the facility is capable of first, and if the Architect's plan is viable. But if we could use the Trident to project a self-destruct override for the Horde...it could be the - Evanne Dra@annpc#557:- only option we have left. The Regulators and Junayd can jump, but even they have to be in the vicinity to detect a cloaked ship, and there's not enough of them to cover the entire-" Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Suddenly, the consoles across the bridge all flicker. They come back on in an instant, all displaying the same message... Evanne Dra@annpc#557 FX | https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/88/OmegaDirective.png Keelah@crystyl looks around and groans, "Great..." Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Gwi taps on his console and nothing happens, "I'm completely locked out of the station, Captain..." Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | The same is true of TQ's console and every other across the bridge... Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Fisher: "I've lost helm control. Good thing we're not still right above that sun." Keelah@crystyl stands, "Lock down your stations and stand by" heading out to her ready room Evanne Dra@annpc#557 | Gwi: "Aye Captain..." --- NPC@annpc#557 | Down in the control station, Rianni, Vrolmacht and the security crewmen take out another wave of drones with the assistance of the Nuhar ones NPC@annpc#557 | Vrolmacht: "That one looks intact! Ensign, you're the closest. Grab it before the next wave arrives!" Rianni@crystyl:"On it, Sir!" she holsters her phaser and quickly moves to grab the downed drone and drag it back, cautiously kicking it before handling NPC@annpc#557 | Fortunately the drone seems to be inactive. Two Nuhar drones accompany her as she pulls it back to cover her in case additional drones arrive, though the next wave is not here yet Rianni@crystyl pulls back into their cover and looks to Relay, "Think you work with this?" NPC@annpc#557 | Relay: "This unit will attempt manual override." NPC@annpc#557 | Relay fires a much thinner beam, cutting around the inside of the Iconian swarmer NPC@annpc#557 | Relay's beam shuts down abruptly as it begins to state: "Danger. Proximity alert." It darts back as smoke begins to arise from the swarmer's internal components NPC@annpc#557 | Relay: "Danger. Proximity alert." Rianni@crystyl:"Son of a-" she grabs the Iconian drone and launches it back across the room NPC@annpc#557 | The drone explodes in mid-air, fortunately far enough away from Rianni to cause any harm NPC@annpc#557 | Relay: "This unit is designed to repair much larger constructs. This unit's instruments are not fine enough." Rianni@crystyl breathes a sigh of relief and looks to Relay, "So we need a plan B" NPC@annpc#557 | Vrolmacht looks back to Zanah and Lycas, "Doctor, can you apply your surgical skills here?" NPC@annpc#557 | Zanah: "Maybe, but I'm a doctor, not an engineer! I wouldn't know what to tamper with inside that thing!" NPC@annpc#557 | Lycas: "Allow me...to...assist." NPC@annpc#557 | Zanah shakes her head, "You're in no condition to, Professor." Rianni@crystyl:"Maybe Relay can help direct. Professor you need to rest" NPC@annpc#557 | Vrolmacht: "Heads up, another wave is incoming!" NPC@annpc#557 | More Iconian drones swoop in from the vents... Rianni@crystyl refocuses on defense once more NPC@annpc#557 | This wave appears to be larger than the one before. The Nuhar drones assist in taking out their Iconian counterparts, but the Iconian swarmers focus fire exclusively on the lifesigns. One of - NPC@annpc#557:- the crewmen takes a hit in the shoulder and falls back. Zanah rushes over behind cover, scanning him before giving him a hypo NPC@annpc#557 | As the shooting dies down, Vrolmacht calls over, "How is he?" NPC@annpc#557 | Zanah: "He'll live, but he's out for the count!" NPC@annpc#557 | Vrolmacht growls and looks to the other crewman, "You wouldn't have to have any Engineering experience, crewman?" NPC@annpc#557 | Crewman: "Unless you count helping my brothers nail together a wooden shed, no sir." NPC@annpc#557 | Lycas: "Doctor..." NPC@annpc#557 | Zanah quickly rushes back to the Professor, "We need to get you back to the ship immediately." She taps her combadge, "Amari to Valley Forge. Valley Forge, respond." Rianni@crystyl:"Relay, they can't be indiscriminately targeting all biological lifesigns. I mean... the Iconians and Nuhar were biological, right?" NPC@annpc#557 | Relay: "Correct. However, the IFFs cannot be altered from any central interface, assuming the Iconian drones are in the same configuration as the Nuhar drones." NPC@annpc#557 | Lycas meanwhile pulls Zanah's hand down from her combadge, "There is only one...way...we will all survive this." NPC@annpc#557 | Zanah shakes her head, "I can give you a few more minutes, Professor." She rummages around for a different hypo Rianni@crystyl:"Maybe not, but perhaps our signatures can be. If you can extract the IFF parameters, maybe we can set our tricorders to project over our own signatures'' NPC@annpc#557 | Lycas: "A few...minutes...only means...more drones." NPC@annpc#557 | Relay: "Sending IFF parameters now." NPC@annpc#557 | Rianni's tricorder does indeed light up with data from the Nuhar drone Rianni@crystyl:"Good job relay. Make sure to patch in everyone else' too. Then we'll see..." NPC@annpc#557 | Everyone else's tricorder lights up as well. The next wave of drones arrive and they pause, confused for a moment. They circle around the room before one of them fires once at Vrolmacht, - NPC@annpc#557:- calling him to yell a Klingon curse and dive behind cover before it stops firing. Then another fires once and only once towards Rianni NPC@annpc#557 | Vrolmacht: "They're confused, but it's not warding them off completely! We do not have dampeners for our own lifesigns!" NPC@annpc#557 | Meanwhile, Zanah tries to apply another hypo, but Lycas grabs her wrist Rianni@crystyl:"It's a start at least. We'll keep them at bay for you" NPC@annpc#557 | Zanah: "I can still save you, Professor." NPC@annpc#557 | Lycas: "Yes...you can...but I cannot be unconscious." He loosens his grip and raises his hand, "Your permission, doctor." NPC@annpc#557 | Zanah shakes her head NPC@annpc#557 | Lycas: "You swore an oath...to save lives. This...is the most...logical...solution. Your permission...doctor." NPC@annpc#557 | Meanwhile, Vrolmacht and the remaining crewman opens fire on the confused swarmers, taking them out while they aren't firing and quickly ducking into cover when one turns to them NPC@annpc#557 | Zanah sighs and nods. Lycas sets a hand on on her face NPC@annpc#557 | Lycas: "Remember..." NPC@annpc#557 | A few seconds later, the current wave of drones are down. Zanah stands slowly, staggering a bit as she walks almost drunkenly towards Rianni, "Any of the drones in one piece?" Rianni@crystyl looks around for one to recover NPC@annpc#557 | There is one in good condition, which still seems to be partially active Rianni@crystyl grabs it and pulls it back, looking to Zanah noting her distant appearance, "Doctor...?" NPC@annpc#557 | Zanah: "There will be time to explain later." She kneels down beside the drone, opening her medkit and setting out several tools, "Help me pry this cover back." Rianni@crystyl kneels opposite her, assisting with the cover NPC@annpc#557 | Zanah immediately gets to work, expertly tinkering with the drone interior as if it were just one of her patients NPC@annpc#557 | Vrolmacht: "More movement incoming!" NPC@annpc#557 | Zanah: "Cover me! Just need a few more seconds..." Rianni@crystyl turns and readies her phaser once more, "I've got you doctor" NPC@annpc#557 | Vrolmacht and the crewman begin picking off drones again. One of the confused drones evades a shot from the crewman by complete fluke as it flies around in a circle before turning towards - NPC@annpc#557 - Rianni and Zanah... Rianni@crystyl focuses her fire on that drone before it can act NPC@annpc#557 | Rianni hits the drone and it spirals out of control, crashing onto the ground and exploding! NPC@annpc#557 | From behind Rianni, the modified drone rises into the air... NPC@annpc#557 | Zanah: "Here goes nothing..." NPC@annpc#557 | Vrolmacht: "Watch your fire! Do not hit the altered drone!" Rianni@crystyl staggers a little in surprise as the drone suddenly hovers behind her but acknowledges and watches carefully... NPC@annpc#557 | The modified drone dashes past Rianni, almost bumping into her as it makes for the center of the room like Relay did. The other drones promptly stop moving, hovering in mid-air for a few - NPC@annpc#557 - seconds before they all turn and disappear back into the vents NPC@annpc#557 | Vrolmacht checks his tricorder, "I am still reading movement throughout the station, but they are no longer headed towards our location." Rianni@crystyl turns back to Zanah, "What did you do?" NPC@annpc#557 | Zanah: "I manually...reconfigured..." NPC@annpc#557 | Zanah slumps to the side before completely falling limp on the ground Rianni@crystyl rushes to her side, "Doctor? Doctor!" --- NPC@annpc#557 | On the Valley Forge, Keelah enters her ready room as the Omega Directive comes into effect... Keelah@crystyl sits at her desk and begins reviewing the directive to explore her options NPC@annpc#557 | The sensor data indicates a large amount of omega particles throughout the Sphere. It appears they were previously hidden within neutronium containers so the sensors have been unable to detect - NPC@annpc#557 - them until recently. The particles became visible shortly after power signatures began emanating from the control station, where the away team must have activated something. Now it seems the - NPC@annpc#557 - omega molecules are on a standby mode. All of them appear to be at no risk of detonating at the moment, but the directive still insists that they must be neutralized Keelah@crystyl cross checks historical Omega actions against Iconian sphere attendance NPC@annpc#557 | Historically, Starfleet has always attempted to neutralize the presence of Omega molecules found in Iconian spheres, but Starfleet has also had far more ships at its disposal for the task. One - NPC@annpc#557:- ship can't possibly deal with all the particles found within the sphere. Given the logs at the arms factory indicating that the facility was completely out of power, the sphere must've been idly - NPC@annpc#557:- generating particles in the years it was dormant until every single storage for them is full Keelah@crystyl reviews the directive itself for applicable guidance for this unique situation NPC@annpc#557 | The directive does call for the immediate notifying of Starfleet Command. Though it may take time for the message to travel through all the buoys, it should still be possible with the comms - NPC@annpc#557:- tied into the sphere Keelah@crystyl thinks a long while before tapping her intercom, "Tee, please have Kelly and Ensign Ralde report to the ready room" Keelah@crystyl | TQ: "Will do Captain" Keelah@crystyl | TQ: "OH, Captain! The away team has been trying to contact us. Must have been during the Omega blackout thing..." Keelah@crystyl hrms, "Typical. Open a channel and patch it through here for me please" NPC@annpc#557 | Vrolmacht's voice comes through Keelah's console NPC@annpc#557 <C - Vrolmacht> Captain. Is everything alright with the Valley Forge? Keelah@crystyl:"A little situation, but nothing to be concerned about. What is happening over there?" NPC@annpc#557:<C - Vrolmacht> Activating the power generator on the station prompted its drones into defensive action. We have the drones under control now, but we require immediate medical evac Keelah@crystyl:"Comms are restored now. Get your team back then report my ready room" NPC@annpc#557:<C - Vrolmacht> "On it, Captain." NPC@annpc#557 | The ready room doors open and Kelly and Emma step inside Keelah@crystyl looks up, "Ladies. Thank you for coming, please" she gestures for them to sit NPC@annpc#557 | Kelly nods and takes a seat, "Is this about the console lockouts?" Keelah@crystyl nods, "Yes, as second in command and in Vrolmacht's absence I decided to break protocol and bring you in on this. As it happens, Commander Vrolmacht is on his way back as well, but I still welcome - Keelah@crystyl:- your counsel on this" she turns to Emma, "I am guessing as a former command officer, you are familiar with this situation?" Keelah@crystyl | Emma nods, "Not faced it myself before, but I was briefed" NPC@annpc#557 | Kelly: "Of course you'd know..." Keelah@crystyl | Emma: "I honestly wish I didn't" NPC@annpc#557 | Kelly: "The bridge is recovering the away team now outside. It should be a quick in-and-out, I have Thorkildsen supervising but I don't anticipate any problems, since we didn't have any on the - NPC@annpc#557:- way in. So...what is this situation?" Keelah@crystyl:"It is called the Omega Directive. One of the few Starfleet regulations that will arbitrarily overrule even General Order One if needed" NPC@annpc#557 | Kelly: "That explains why everything was locked out. What's so vital about this directive?" Keelah@crystyl:"Omega molecules. Equally the most powerful thing known to Starfleet, and the most unstable" Keelah@crystyl taps her monitor and spins it around to show Kelly the famous Starfleet research station remnants in the 'no warp' sector Keelah@crystyl:"The Lantaru Sector. Familiar with it?" NPC@annpc#557 | Kelly nods, "That's the one riddled with subspace anomalies, right? I've read about it when I was studying theoretical physics, but there's not much known about this sector. Likely due to the - NPC@annpc#557:- inability to travel at warp speeds limiting research expeditions." Keelah@crystyl:"Actually a great deal is known. This is the remnants of a classified Starfleet research facility from the late 23rd Century" NPC@annpc#557 | Kelly: "Of course it was classified..." Keelah@crystyl:"They were experimenting with Omega as a power source, and this was result. The subspace rifts preventing warp travel in the region are the result of this failed experiment. Starfleet chose to cover- Keelah@crystyl:- up the incident and bury all knowledge of Omega, with only Command and Flag officers being briefed" Keelah@crystyl | Emma nods: "Yet another in the category of 'not our proudest moment' Starfleet history lessons" NPC@annpc#557 | Kelly nods, "I can see why..." Keelah@crystyl:"The ship's computer is programmed to override all other functions with the Omega Directive upon detecting it's presence anywhere within range of the ship. The Directive actually stipulates that - Keelah@crystyl:- I - and I alone - act in a solo mission to neutralize all traces of the particle, keeping my entire crew in the dark and informing Starfleet of the action. However, that is not the most prudent - Keelah@crystyl:- course here. Not only are we too far away to be of consequence, but this Sphere has been generating Omega molecules for hundreds of millenia" NPC@annpc#557 | Kelly nods, "That's a lot of particles to neutralize..." NPC@annpc#557 | The door slides open and Vrolmacht steps in Keelah@crystyl:"In previous encounters with Iconian Sphere's like the Jenolan, entire fleets have been despatched to handle the Omega situation" NPC@annpc#557 | Kelly: "Do you think we should try to activate the gateways and allow additional support to join us?" Keelah@crystyl:"I think we should try to do that regardless of Omega. Lendaria is currently trying to determine if this is the same sphere as we connected to from Forged Earth" NPC@annpc#557 | Kelly: "Should we do something about the molecules in the meantime, or wait for support to arrive?" Keelah@crystyl:"That is where I seek counsel" NPC@annpc#557 | Kelly: "I've never even known these Omega molecules existed. I'll need time to review the data on them. Do we know what purpose they serve in the sphere? The Iconians must've been generating - NPC@annpc#557:- them for a reason." Keelah@crystyl:"They are consistently associated with Iconian spheres. As for the specifics... I am no expert, but I believe it is tied in their ability to transport sphere's. Here, there is every chance it is - Keelah@crystyl:- tied to the unique function of this place" NPC@annpc#557 | Vrolmacht nods, "It is possible that they are used to generate the quadrant-wide variant of the deflector pulse the Iconians hoped would be able to permanently destroy the Horde. We have - NPC@annpc#557:- confirmation that this sphere is the Heart of War." NPC@annpc#557 | Kelly: "The pulse...isn't that what Eva was hoping to reconfigure to send that self-destruct signal through the Horde?" Keelah@crystyl:"Something like that, yes" NPC@annpc#557 | Kelly: "I'll look into it, see if we can discern exactly what function these molecules serve and if they pose any imminent risk. If we can't deal with them ourselves, at least this way we'll - NPC@annpc#557:- have more information to offer when Starfleet sends a task force here." Keelah@crystyl | Emma: "It may not be my place to say, but that directive is very outdated - along with Starfleet's mentality about such things. Yes, it's catastrophically dangerous in the wrong hands. But here..- Keelah@crystyl:- these sphere's have stood for over 200,000 years without incident. Let alone how long they were active before that. I think it's fair to say that the Iconians knew what they were doing. Omega in - Keelah@crystyl:- their hands is no different to antimatter in ours" Keelah@crystyl nods, "I am inclined to agree. But our options are somewhat restricted at present. We must tread carefully" NPC@annpc#557 | Kelly nods, "That's why I want to evaluate the risks first before doing anything. It could be safer to just leave it all as it is. Like the Ensign says, it hasn't caused a problem for 200,000 - NPC@annpc#557:- years. The Iconians could have it contained, and tampering with it might just cause more problems." Keelah@crystyl:"Alright then, we'll proceed with gathering information for now" She looks to Vrolmacht, "What news from the control room?" NPC@annpc#557 | Vrolmacht: "You should come to sickbay." Keelah@crystyl perks a brow, "Very well, dismissed everyone. Keep me apprised of your progress" NPC@annpc#557 | Kelly nods and heads out Keelah@crystyl looks to Vrolmacht as she stands, "To sickbay" NPC@annpc#557 | Keelah and Vrolmacht steps in to find Zanah and the crewman on two of the sickbay beds, and a third with a covered body. Kazra turns from Zanah's bed to them as they enter NPC@annpc#557 | Kazra: "I was wondering when you would show up." Keelah@crystyl looks around, her heart skipping a beat at the sorry sight, "Doctor. What's the situation?" NPC@annpc#557 | Kazra: "Crewman Lopez is stable. I'm not entirely sure what's wrong with Dr. Amari yet. There was...nothing I could do for the Professor." Keelah@crystyl slowly loos over to the covered body, "Professor Lycas..." turning to Vrolmacht, "What happened?!" NPC@annpc#557 | Vrolmacht: "The central console of the generator room was caught in the crossfire. The Professor was caught in the explosion. Dr. Amari needed the facilities here to stabilize him, but the - NPC@annpc#557:- ship was unresponsive at the time." NPC@annpc#557 | Kazra nods, "Zanah did what she could, but...the Professor's age was advanced, even for a Vulcan. He couldn't hold out long enough for the evac." Keelah@crystyl moves over to Lycas' body, peeling back the cover to take a look at him, "It started as such a exciting day too, for him above all of us" NPC@annpc#557 | Vrolmacht: "I am sorry, Captain. We held off the drones as best as we could." Keelah@crystyl:"At least he made it here. He got to discover this special Iconian sphere in the end; I am sure he would satisfied with this ending" she covers his face once more and moves to Zanah, "What about Dr.- Keelah@crystyl:- Amari?" NPC@annpc#557 | Kazra: "She's physically fine, from what I can tell, but I'm picking up odd neural signatures. It's not Horde influence though." Keelah@crystyl | Rianni sits at her side, holding her hand, "She was trying to help the Professor. They argued about something with him wanting to assist with the drones. Then... I don't know, she came and asked - Keelah@crystyl:- me to help her with a drone. Then just went to town on it, like she was performing surgery" Keelah@crystyl hrms, looking to Vrolmacht, "Did you see any interaction between the two?" NPC@annpc#557 | Vrolmacht: "I saw her treating him, but I was too preoccupied with the drones to witness the specifics. I /do/ recall her telling me that she did not have the knowledge to manually override - NPC@annpc#557:- the drones when I asked if she could apply her surgical skills here." Keelah@crystyl to Kazra, "Doctor, may I see her neurological scans?" NPC@annpc#557 | Kazra nods, tapping the bed to displaying the readings Keelah@crystyl studies the readings and nods, "As I thought. She is not alone in there" NPC@annpc#557 | Vrolmacht: "What do you mean?" Keelah@crystyl:"If I had to guess, I would surmise that she carries Lycas' katra" NPC@annpc#557 | Vrolmacht: "That must be how she learned to alter the drone..." Keelah@crystyl:"Stands to reason" NPC@annpc#557 | Kazra: "Your custom is usually to bring those back to Vulcan, right?" Keelah@crystyl nods, " Yes. Even a Vulcan mind can not carry someone else' katra indefinitely. For her... this is problematic. But without a priest to assist, I am uncertain how to proceed..." NPC@annpc#557 | Kazra: "Maybe the Architect can assist. He created a new body for Eva and transferred her into it. Maybe he can do the same here, or at least stabilize things with Zanah." Keelah@crystyl:"Separating a katra may require more expertise than he possesses on Vulcan's however. Doctor, what is the professor's physical condition?" NPC@annpc#557 | Kazra: "We can't put him back into his old body, that's for sure." Keelah@crystyl:"No way to repair the physical damage?" NPC@annpc#557 | Kazra shakes her head, "The Architect could help us create another body like with Eva. We'll just have to find someone with the expertise to transfer the katra." Keelah@crystyl:"I /may/ be able to accomodate there. I have experience with katras, and with melded transfers from Pia's upbringing" Keelah@crystyl:"Short of getting him back to Vulcan. that may be our best chance for either of them at this point" NPC@annpc#557 | Kazra nods, "It's worth a try. Should I notify the Architect, or do you want to do it yourself?" Keelah@crystyl:"I'll go speak with him. You should remain with your patients" NPC@annpc#557 | Kazra nods and turns back to the medical bed Keelah@crystyl makes her way over to the Architect's quarters. Chiming the door as she approaches The Architect@anncaris:"Enter." The Architect@anncaris sits behind a desk, tapping away on a computer Keelah@crystyl walks over, "Architect, I hope I'm not interrupting?" The Architect@anncaris looks up, "Not at all, Captain. I am merely checking the calculations for my proposed plan, should you choose to go ahead with it. What can I help you with?" Keelah@crystyl sighs, "I am afraid I must once again ask you to perform the impossible" The Architect@anncaris smiles, "I am preparing for the impossible as we speak. I am sure your request will be reasonable compared to my own proposal." Keelah@crystyl:"Comparatively perhaps. But it still feels unnatural, just as it did last time" The Architect@anncaris:"Last time?" Keelah@crystyl:"When you helped Eva with a new body" The Architect@anncaris nods, "Ahh. You require me to do this again?" Keelah@crystyl nods, "Professor Lycas was critically wounded while investigating the facility. However... it became more complicated when he passed his Katra to Dr. Amari. If we can't separate it from her, we'll - Keelah@crystyl:- lose both of them" The Architect@anncaris:"I assume you seek a new body for the Professor, then? Did you recover his former one?" Keelah@crystyl nods, "Yes, it is in sickbay" The Architect@anncaris:"Then it should be possible for me to recreate it," he stands, "I shall make my preparations." Keelah@crystyl smiles, "Thank you. When the body is ready, I will attempt to separate his katra from Zanah's" The Architect@anncaris:"Are you sure you are ready for such a task, Captain?" Keelah@crystyl:"No... I'm almost positive that I'm not. But I am the closest person on board who may be able to achieve this" The Architect@anncaris nods, "I will have the body ready and leave you to your preparations, then." Keelah@crystyl:"Thank you Architect. And when this is done... we should discuss your proposal for the sphere in more detail" she adds before turning and heading out --- NPC@annpc#557 | Meanwhile in the lab, Lennie and Ziranar are working on identifying the gateway NPC@annpc#557 | Ziranar shakes her head, "The probe data definitely doesn't match with our scans here. The visual feed shows a gateway much further away from the sun, near the sphere's habitable zone." Lendaria@crystyl:"Could there be more than one ship gateway 'ere? Place's pretty damned big after all" NPC@annpc#557 | Ziranar: "That's likely. This place is as big as some planetary systems. Let me check the data on the other spheres..." Lendaria@crystyl:"I'll begin mappin' th'sphere interior. See if we can find anythin' else wha' looks like a gateway" NPC@annpc#557 | The Bolian ensign taps away at her console, "Yes, there are indications of multiple different gateways, both personal and ship sized, in the other spheres. It seems to be standard for there to - NPC@annpc#557:- be a gateway right by the control station, or at least the other control stations had them too. It's known to be an emergency evacuation mechanism, apparently." Lendaria@crystyl:"Makes sense. Now just t'find some others then" NPC@annpc#557 | Ziranar: "I'm sending you the known locations of gateways in the other Spheres. Maybe the gateways here will be in the same locations." Lendaria@crystyl:"Thanks. Should be a reasonable assumption t'expect some consistency" NPC@annpc#557 | Ziranar: "We've seen plenty of similarity between this one and the other spheres, after all. I still can't believe we found it and are actually here. Have you been inside one of those, - NPC@annpc#557:- before, Commander?" Lendaria@crystyl nods, "Spent a lil' time out at tha' one in th'Delta quadrant" NPC@annpc#557 | Ziranar: "Wow. Until now, the Iconian arms factory is probably the most functional archaeological site I've been to. This sphere doesn't even feel like a site, so much of it still works. The - NPC@annpc#557:- Iconians really knew how to make their technology last." Lendaria@crystyl nods, "Yeah, definitely felt nothin' like a digsite when I were there. Full o'Alliance ships an' folks all over th'place. Were more like a big starbase than anythin'!" NPC@annpc#557 | Ziranar nods, "A /really/ big starbase. I wonder if this one is going to soon be filled with Coalition ships and scientists." Lendaria@crystyl smiles, "S'a nice thought, ain't it" NPC@annpc#557 | Ziranar smiles as well, "That it is! I can't wait to start studying this place in depth." NPC@annpc#557 FX | Lennie's search does indeed pick up another gateway, this one further from the sun and in a similar position to where one was found in other spheres Lendaria@crystyl:"Ooh now wha' we got 'ere. This looks promisin', cross check against th'Newfrika probe visuals" NPC@annpc#557 | Ziranar: "On it! Visual certainly looks closer, but the reading still doesn't match up..." Lendaria@crystyl pouts, "Hrm. Dangit! Well, on with th'search then. Gotta be more out there still" NPC@annpc#557 | Ziranar nods, "There has to be. The other spheres had more, and they're smaller than this one." NPC@annpc#557 | As Lennie continues to scan, she detects something else- a large facility in the sphere of Nuhar origin, with seemingly no Iconian components, unlike the others which were largely a mix of - NPC@annpc#557:- technologies Lendaria@crystyl:"Huh, check this out" she focuses the display on the facility, "S'entirely Nuhar" NPC@annpc#557 | Ziranar steps over, "That's a big facility, too. Bigger than Federation spacedocks, even." Lendaria@crystyl:"I wonder if tha's a foundry..." NPC@annpc#557 | Ziranar: "That's exactly what I was thinking too. Hm...it does seem to have a structure that suggests ships can dock with it." Lendaria@crystyl:"Will flag it f'further investigation. Gotta keep searchin' for tha' gateway jus' now" NPC@annpc#557 | Ziranar: "It's certainly worth looking into. Maybe once we get Nuhar in here, they'll be able to help us identify its purpose." Lendaria@crystyl:"Exactly" NPC@annpc#557 | After a little more scanning, Lennie locates another gateway, once again consistent with known positioning! Lendaria@crystyl:"Aight, got another one for ya. Le's see how well this one marries up" NPC@annpc#557 | Ziranar nods and moves back to the console she was working at, "It's good that the gateway positions seem to be matching up with the ones in other spheres. That'll make the rest of them easy - NPC@annpc#557:- to find." Lendaria@crystyl:"Here's hopin'!" NPC@annpc#557 | Ziranar taps on her console, "We have a match! Visual, positioning from the sun and surrounding facilities seem to be consistent with what the probe picked up!" Lendaria@crystyl:"Shiny! So based on this data, can we extrapolate where tha' old probe's likely t'be?" NPC@annpc#557 | Ziranar: "Let's see...yes! There's a facility here that matches up with the angle the probe saw the gateway from." Lendaria@crystyl:"Yes! Aight, flag tha' f'another away team too. Soon as we get this big ball tamed, Cap'n's gonna wanna get folks over there t'confirm" NPC@annpc#557 | Ziranar: "Both facility and gateway are flagged for further study. Let's see if we can locate the other gateways based on the data on the other spheres, while we're at it." Lendaria@crystyl nods, "Aye. We'se gotta secure this place, so all gateways an' external hatches're a priority" --- T'Emp@anncaris FX | In her quarters, Keelah does her best to prepare to transfer Lycas' katra... Keelah@crystyl kneels on the floor in a dark corner. Facing the window with her meditation lamp in front of her T'Emp@anncaris | T'Pia steps into the room, pausing and double-taking at Keelah in the corner. Noticing that she is meditating, she quietly takes a PADD and sits down on the sofa Keelah@crystyl doesn't move or open her eyes, "You would make for a poor ninja my daughter" T'Emp@anncaris | T'Pia: "Oh! You heard me!" she giggles. "I hope I'm not disturbing anything..." Keelah@crystyl:"It is fine. Were I performing anything critical to avoid disruption on, I would lock myself in a holoprogram of a temple. I am just trying to prepare myself" she stands, extinguishing the lamp and - Keelah@crystyl:- restoring the lights T'Emp@anncaris | T'Pia: "What're you preparing for?" Keelah@crystyl:"To perform a katra transferal" T'Emp@anncaris | T'Pia widens her eyes, "A katra transferal? Don't you need special training from the temples for that?" Keelah@crystyl:"Yes, but unfortunately there are no temples around here. Hence my focusing on prior experience to prepare" T'Emp@anncaris | T'Pia: "You mean the katras from that crashed Vulcan ship you found on the pre-warp world?" Keelah@crystyl nods, "Between that and your own education, I am the most logical choice as the one to attempt this" T'Emp@anncaris | T'Pia nods, "You do have more experience than anyone else on the ship. Is there anything I can do to help?" Keelah@crystyl smiles faintly, "Just being here to keep my focus is more than enough" T'Emp@anncaris | T'Pia beams happily, "Speaking of the ancient Vulcan ship...we don't have katric arcs here, or even makeshift ones like that crew used. What're you transferring /to/?" Keelah@crystyl sighs, "Professor Lycas was injured while investigating the control centre. As a result, his physical body was irreparably damaged and his katra now resides within Dr. Amari" T'Emp@anncaris | T'Pia: "So that's why you have to perform a transfer...you don't intend to hold on to the katra, do you?" Keelah@crystyl shakes her head, with a chuckle, "I think the Professor would get on better in the head of a non-Vulcan than in mine. No, the Architect is lending his expertise to create a replacement body" T'Emp@anncaris | T'Pia: "Oooh, that's where you're transferring him to. And Dr. Amari probably can't wait until we get back to Vulcan, I expect?" Keelah@crystyl:"Indeed. So if I do not attempt this, they will both be lost to us" T'Emp@anncaris | T'Pia nods, "I'll let you focus on your preparation then, mum!" Keelah@crystyl smiles, reaching forward and taking TP's hands, "Thank you my daughter" T'Emp@anncaris | T'Pia smiles back, "I hope the transfer goes well! Hopefully me reading on the sofa here won't be too distracting for you..." Keelah@crystyl:"Quite the contrary" she smiles back T'Emp@anncaris | T'Pia nods, "I'll do my reading here then!" She gets back to reading from her PADD Keelah@crystyl returns to her mat on the floor and continues meditating Keelah@crystyl sits down T'Emp@anncaris | She meditates in quiet for the better part of an hour before her combadge chirps Keelah@crystyl taps, "Go ahead" T'Emp@anncaris:<C - Eva> There's another incoming message from the Regulators, Captain Keelah@crystyl:"Thank you. Please route it to my quarters" she stands, moving to her desk T'Emp@anncaris | The Regulator Supervisor appears on the viewscreen once again, "Captain Keelah. I have another concerning update." Keelah@crystyl:"This is becoming habit, Supervisor" T'Emp@anncaris | Supervisor: "I hoped I wouldn't have to do this either. The Administration has gotten into contact with the Carrans and learned that they have lost contact with two of their courier vessels - T'Emp@anncaris:- within the last 0.1 Temporal Units. It could be the result of pirate raids, though it is unusual for them to lose two ships in such a short timespan with no trace of their fate. There is a - T'Emp@anncaris:- possibility that the Horde have already spread. As a precaution, we are providing the defensive implant to all couriers, but I would suggest warning your people." T'Emp@anncaris | Supervisor: "If the Horde have indeed gained access to the subspace corridors, they will be able to reach your territories in a short time." Keelah@crystyl nods, "I appreciate the warning. I will of course send word" T'Emp@anncaris | The Supervisor nods back, "We will send warning to all nearby civilizations we are aware of as well, and continue our search for these Horde stealth groups." Keelah@crystyl:"We have no further news here yet. As you might imagine, an ancient Iconian facility such as this takes a little deciphering" T'Emp@anncaris | Supervisor: "Indeed. I hope you will be able to unlock its functions in time to stop the Horde before they spread too far." Keelah@crystyl:"We will do whatever it takes" T'Emp@anncaris | The Supervisor offers a final nod before ending the call T'Emp@anncaris | T'Pia looks up from her PADD, "That doesn't sound good..." Keelah@crystyl sighs, "That is the third conversation I have had with the Supervisor of this tone since we arrived at this nebula" T'Emp@anncaris | T'Pia: "You think the Horde might have already spread out of control?" Keelah@crystyl shakes her head, "No. I think they are trying to adapt to our rigid defense against them and are now over stretching themselves to begin their usual games of sowing dissent. It will take - Keelah@crystyl:- considerable time for them to establish any kind of foothold by this means, which only reaffirms how far off their remaining forces are now. Of course, they can still do immense damage this- Keelah@crystyl:-way so we can not relax our efforts" T'Emp@anncaris | T'Pia nods, "I'll try to help however I can in figuring out this Sphere!" Keelah@crystyl:"If we learned anything from the initial survey, it's that we can not underestimate how dangerous this facility is. Don't worry, once we have it secured there will be more than enough work to go - Keelah@crystyl:- around with unravelling it's mysteries" T'Emp@anncaris | T'Pia smiles, "Looking forward to it! And I'm sure you'll get plenty to study once you finish with the katra transfer prep too!" Keelah@crystyl smiles, "Something for us all to look forward to" --- The Architect@anncaris | Some time later, the Architect informs Keelah that the body is ready... Keelah@crystyl enters the lab where the Architect's workshop is setup The Architect@anncaris | She finds the Architect with the same machine he had used to recreate Eva, this time with a new body identical to Lycas' original. On the bed beside it is the unconscious Zanah, with Kazra - The Architect@anncaris - monitoring beside her The Architect@anncaris:"I have recreated Professor Lycas' body as you asked, Captain." Keelah@crystyl:"Thank you Architect. Kazra, is there any change in Zanah's condition?" The Architect@anncaris | Kazra shakes her head, "The neural readings seem to be stable so far, fortunately. I've kept her under and had her constantly monitored just in case still. Need me to revive her, or can you do - The Architect@anncaris:- this while she's out?" Keelah@crystyl:"Unconcious may be easier as her own mind will be quieter" The Architect@anncaris | Kazra nods, "I'll leave her as is, then. This is your show, Captain." The Architect@anncaris:"Be careful, Captain. You are not just transferring one consciousness, but also attempting to separate two in a single mind." Keelah@crystyl steps over between the two, "Actually it may be more accurate to say this the Professor's show. Since it will be down to his will whether he lets go of Zanah or not" Keelah@crystyl sets a hand each on their heads and begins the ritual The Architect@anncaris | As Keelah melds with Zanah's mind, she feels both her consciousness and Lycas' together. It is very easy to distinguish which is which, as they are quite different and not closely joined, - The Architect@anncaris:- boding well for removal Keelah@crystyl continues The Architect@anncaris | The Professor's katra seems willing to leave Zanah's mind fortunately, though it still takes Keelah some effort to properly hold on to and extract the katra due to the lack of formal training... Keelah@crystyl visibly struggles but fights on stubbornly to save the pair The Architect@anncaris | Lycas' katra passes on into Keelah, and as it does she begins seeing fragments of his memories, images of things she had only seen in holoprograms, and some things she had not seen at all. She - The Architect@anncaris:- sees through the Professor's eyes as he dissects a piece of visibly Borg technology, surrounded by Intelligence personnel with a figure clad in some form of all-black uniform sitting in the - The Architect@anncaris:- background, watches out of the Professor's eyes as he operates on a 23rd century Starfleet bridge, then strolling through what appears to be an early 24th century Romulan facility with a man who - The Architect@anncaris:- looks somewhat familiar, someone who must have been in a history book somewhere though not quite the age as the most common images of him. Keelah sees the faces of some of his family, of other - The Architect@anncaris:- Starfleet personnel in uniforms of various eras. Soon, she has managed to take the katra from Zanah into her own mind, and now only has to pass it onto the new body... Keelah@crystyl 's condition is probably enough to Kazra cause for concern at this point The Architect@anncaris | Kazra checks her tricorder and makes for Keelah, but the Architect stops her, "Interrupting her could be dangerous while she is in the midst of such a complicated procedure." Keelah@crystyl meanwhile continues to fight her way through The Architect@anncaris | Kazra: "She can't keep this up! It might kill her." The Architect@anncaris:"And interrupting her may kill her, the Professor, Dr. Amari, or perhaps all of them. She understood the risks. You will have to trust her to complete this." The Architect@anncaris | Kazra sighs and backs away, though monitors Keelah carefully, still looking ready to spring to action The Architect@anncaris | Keelah manages to begin transferring Lycas' katra into the new body, the draining process weighing heavier on her... Keelah@crystyl stubbornly pushes herself beyond what she knows to be her realistic limit, refusing to fail The Architect@anncaris | With one final push, Keelah manages to complete the transfer, but slips out of consciousness... Keelah@crystyl finally slumps to the floor, having given it her all --- Keliaya@anncaris | In sickbay, Keelah slowly begins regaining consciousness... Keelah@crystyl groans, blinking the world back into focus Keliaya@anncaris | As her senses come back to her, she hears T'Pia's voice exclaiming, "Doctor! Doctor, she's waking up!" Keliaya@anncaris | The footsteps still feel faint and distant to her, but she sees the distinctive sleeve of a medical uniform as Kazra looks over her Keelah@crystyl groans more, "Kazra..." Keliaya@anncaris | Kazra: "Captain. It's good to have you back. How're you feeling?" Keelah@crystyl tentatively sits up a little, "I thought you had a hypo you were ordered to give me the next time I had the stupid idea of doing something like that..." Keliaya@anncaris | Kazra chuckles, "I'll keep that in mind. I do have a hypo for you now, though." She promptly applies it to Keelah's neck. "Here, this should make you feel better." Keelah@crystyl grunts, "Well in that case... I'll forego your court martial for disobeying orders" she chuckles, looking around more, "Lycas and Amari?" Keelah@crystyl sits down Keliaya@anncaris | Kazra: "Both alive and well. I kept them under observation for the first day or so, but like with Eva, everything was perfectly fine, so I discharged them. Still keeping them off duty for the - Keliaya@anncaris - time being, though." Keelah@crystyl:"The... /first/ day or so? How long have I been out?" Keliaya@anncaris | T'Pia: "It's been over three days. You had us worried, mum!" Keliaya@anncaris | Kazra: "You really strained yourself. Next time I /will/ hypo you if you come up with an idea like that." Keelah@crystyl:"Three days?!" she takes TP's hand, "We... have to get back to wor-ohhh..." she wobbles Keliaya@anncaris | Kazra: "There's no lasting damage though, no thanks to yourself. You've been running low on sleep already as is. And don't give me the 'Vulcans don't have to sleep as much,' I know my Vulcan - Keliaya@anncaris:- physiology texts very well." Keliaya@anncaris FX | The door slides open and Kelly and Vrolmacht steps in Keelah@crystyl smiles, "No arguments today. But I still have to-... ohh..." she wobbles again, clearly not as ready for duty as she insists on being Keliaya@anncaris | Kazra: "Don't overcrowd her..." Keliaya@anncaris smiles, "You're awake, Captain." Keelah@crystyl:"I think the jury is officially still out on that... What's the latest?" Keliaya@anncaris chuckles, "We can catch you up fully when you're properly awake. Everything's been going well inside the Sphere so far. Zanah and Lycas are back up, which I'm sure Kazra's told you already." Keelah@crystyl:"We need to... the Horde... Underworld... no time... must-" she slumps back out of consciousness Keliaya@anncaris | Kazra steps over and checks the readings, "She'll be alright. She just overdid it again...typical." Keliaya@anncaris sighs, looking to Vrolmacht, "I guess we're going to have to do the staff meeting without her, aren't we..." --- Keliaya@anncaris | In the past three days, Lennie and her department has been studying the Sphere. They have determined that to the best of their knowledge, the Architect's plan should theoretically be viable. - Keliaya@anncaris - It is also possible to open the gateways; however, doing so requires diverting the Sphere's energy, which will be required if the Architect's plan is to be carried out Keliaya@anncaris | In addition to the usual senior staff, the Architect, Sin, Luthril and Eva has joined for this meeting Keliaya@anncaris:"So first off- the Captain's well. She awoke briefly earlier, but fell unconscious again." Keliaya@anncaris | Kazra: "It's not a good idea to force her awake, but I don't expect any serious issues with her either." Lendaria@crystyl:"F'real? Damn, tha' ritual really did a number on 'er didn't it?" Keliaya@anncaris | Architect: "It was a very complicated procedure. I am pleased to hear that she is well and will make a recovery in time." Lendaria@crystyl | Sin: "You sure she isn't just hiding away from dealing with this Horde stuff?" she teases Keliaya@anncaris | Kazra: "Quite the opposite, actually. She was too eager to get back to work and knocked herself out again." Keliaya@anncaris | Vrolmacht sits at the head of the table, looking sterner than usual. He glances to Lennie, "Before we move on to the main subject of the meeting...how is the study of the Sphere proceeding?" Lendaria@crystyl:"Makin' good progress, given th'time at least. We think we can activate the gateways. Or fire th'weapon. Not both though" Keliaya@anncaris | Vrolmacht nods, "We have received the latest communications packet from the comm buoys earlier today. There has been a...troubling development." Lendaria@crystyl | Sin: "Like there's any other kind of late..." Keliaya@anncaris | Vrolmacht: "Sometime late yesterday, Starbase 375 was visited by a ship matching Carran signatures that appeared out of a subspace tunnel. The starbase dispatched a runabout team, but the ship - Keliaya@anncaris:- disappeared without making further contact. Shortly afterwards, there were reports of erratic behaviour, culminating in a mutiny and total loss of communications. The Fifth Fleet dispatched the - Keliaya@anncaris - USS Geneva to respond. The vessel never reported back in." Lendaria@crystyl:"Goddess... they're already hittin' Federation space? Are we already too late then?" Keliaya@anncaris:"The Captain said something about Underworld and the Horde. We asked T'Pia more about it, and she told us Keelah received a message from the Regulators saying that the Carrans lost two of their - Keliaya@anncaris:- couriers. We suspect this is the Horde's doing and we've sent a reply, but last we heard, Starfleet only has a few vessels outfitted with implants like ours intended to help us against the Horde." Lendaria@crystyl | Sin: "So what are we waiting for? Let's fire this thing and be done with them already" Keliaya@anncaris | Vrolmacht: "If these vessels respond in time, they /may/ be able to contain the threat, but the Carran ship is only one of two that has gone missing and even the one that was spotted has not - Keliaya@anncaris:- been destroyed. The spread may only get worse from here. The Ensign has a point." Keliaya@anncaris | The Architect nods, "And if the Horde have taken a single Carran Courier, it means the entire Horde is now capable of navigating the subspace corridors. Even if we stop this current attack, - Keliaya@anncaris:- they will be capable of striking again much more rapidly than before." Lendaria@crystyl:"Ok, but wha' /exactly/ will this thing do?" Keliaya@anncaris | Architect: "It will do more or less what the Iconians designed the sphere to do- carry a signal across the entire quadrant. The difference is that we will not be sending something akin to the - Keliaya@anncaris:- deflector pulse we have been using so far. We will send a telepathic signal, with the aid of the Trident and the Sphere's systems, to override the Horde's control of their own thralls and command - Keliaya@anncaris:- the entire Horde to self-destruct. It will not be unlike what Lieutenant Dra here managed outside the Iconian Arms factory, or what we accomplished together during the end of the Battle of - Keliaya@anncaris:- Calahadon, only on a larger scale that encompasses the whole of the Horde." Lendaria@crystyl:"An' wha'bout th'thralls affected - what'll happen to'em? Keep in mind tha' may well include a lot of our own folks back home now. Where does th'influence start an' end?" Keliaya@anncaris | Architect: "Those under their influence but not yet complete thralls will have to be dealt with using your procedure to cleanse influence, as they are not under the direct control of the - Keliaya@anncaris:- Horde. However, because they are not Horde, they will also be unable to influence others even further. The spread ends with them." Lendaria@crystyl:"So those influenced only ones'll - wha'? - jus' be stuck as general asshats until they get fixed then?" Keliaya@anncaris | Kazra nods, "Only full thralls have shown the ability to spread influence. Those 'Anarchists' as the Guardians call them are still trouble, but they won't create another Horde themselves." Keliaya@anncaris | Architect: "Those who have already become thralls will be killed as part of the self-destruction, but as we have already seen, their personality and memories are beyond recovering. Their - Lendaria@crystyl:"Not gonna lie; this telepathic 'magic' fix still sounds iffy t'me. I ain't likin' nothin' I can't get a proper physical analysis of" Keliaya@anncaris:- bodies /can/ be recovered, but they are essentially beginning as a new individual." Keliaya@anncaris nods, "Me too, but the Horde are also telepathic magic to begin with. It might be the only way to fight them." Keliaya@anncaris | Architect: "The longer we wait, the more of your people back home will be turned into full thralls, with no hope of return. Yes, some of yours who have already turned will be lost, but the - Keliaya@anncaris:- number is likely still minimal at this point, given the small amount of thralls the Horde has managed to sneak past the Coalition." Keliaya@anncaris | Architect: "If we allow them time to spread further, this may not be the case." Lendaria@crystyl | Sin nods, "Not like we've got any alternative at this point. So it's either stop them, or let them win" Lendaria@crystyl sighs, "Ain't arguin' tha'. Still don't mean I gotta like it though" Keliaya@anncaris | Vrolmacht: "Eva and Luthril. What do you think?" Keliaya@anncaris | Luthril: "I am no familiar with the functions of this Sphere, so I will have to take your word on the capability to enact this plan. But the Architect's reasoning is sound. We have seen the - Keliaya@anncaris:- ability to successfully override thralls in action already, after all. We're just applying the same thing on a larger scale." Keliaya@anncaris | Eva nods, "And we've already been able to extend the scale thanks to the Trident. The Sphere just pushes that a step further." Keliaya@anncaris | Kazra: "What about the physical effects of this?" Keliaya@anncaris | Eva: "The energy will be coming from the Sphere, not our own bodies. We just have to maintain focus." Lendaria@crystyl:"How'll the Trident interact wit' th'station?" Keliaya@anncaris:"I've been looking into that part. The control station Lycas' team activated normally manages the Sphere's jumps. It's where all the power is ultimately fed to. We simply need to tap the Trident - Keliaya@anncaris:- into that power source- a few modifications to create what's essentially a power outlet in the control station to plug the Trident into." Keliaya@anncaris:"Once the Trident's plugged in, we'll have to configure the sphere to use the telepathic signal coming from it instead of the signal it's currently programmed to send. That part sounds harder than - Keliaya@anncaris:- it is. From our investigation into the pulse emission, it seems the Iconians set it up so the pulse is something they plug in, rather than the entire system being built specifically around the - Keliaya@anncaris:- pulse. Actually makes a lot of sense, because if the pulse didn't work, they'd have the ability to reconfigure it to try something else quite easily, and if it did work, well, it's meant to - Keliaya@anncaris:- destroy the whole Horde in one blow, after which it becomes useless. This way, they could still adapt the function for something else if the need came up." Lendaria@crystyl:"Makes sense I guess. So that's it then? We jus' plug this thing in and 'poof'-" she gestures with her hands, "-no more Horde?" Keliaya@anncaris | Architect: "There are still those whose minds have been affected but not directly controlled by the Horde, as you brought up earlier. They will continue to cause trouble in the Horde's wake, - Keliaya@anncaris:- but they will be disorganized and without the Horde's greatest weapon of telepathic control. I expect you will have to deal with them for many years to come, but they should be no more dangerous - Keliaya@anncaris:- than ordinary raiders." Lendaria@crystyl:"All seems so simple after so many years strivin' for it..." Keliaya@anncaris | Architect: "We have all worked hard to find this Sphere, and we have not done it easily. This is only the last step in a long journey." Lendaria@crystyl:"Well I guess tha's it then. Nothin' else now but to get on an' do it, right?" she looks to Vrolmacht, brooding quietly at the head of the table Keliaya@anncaris | Vrolmacht nods, "I think we are all in agreement that we have no other viable options. Have your department work with Kelly's in configuring this." Lendaria@crystyl nods, "We'll get it ready as quick as we can" Keliaya@anncaris | Luthril: "I would like to join the Architect, Sin and Eva in this endeavour. While the energy is not coming directly from us, having my focus may make this proceed more smoothly." Keliaya@anncaris | Vrolmacht: "Sounds good to me. The four of you, do whatever preparations you need to do." Lendaria@crystyl | Sin nods, "We'll be ready" Keliaya@anncaris looks to Sin, "What about that Witch from the Lupan ship? We suspect she might have an interest in the Trident, or be connected to it in some way. If we use it, she might show up again." Lendaria@crystyl | Sin nods, "It's a possibility, but nothing we can do to prepare for it. Just have to hope she's for real in her obsession with space whales and nothing more I guess" Keliaya@anncaris:"I suppose we'll have to expect a visit from her afterwards, but we'll have to deal with it when it happens." Keliaya@anncaris | Vrolmacht: "Anything else?" Lendaria@crystyl:"Nothin' we ain't already said" Lendaria@crystyl clearly still doesn't feel good about this, but sees no alternative Keliaya@anncaris | Vrolmacht nods, "Let's make our preparations, then." --- NPC@annpc#557 | The control station is far less empty now as the VF personnel have set up all over the area, primarily in the section Emma has been sent to now NPC@annpc#557 | On occasion, an Iconian or Nuhar drone can be seen emerging from a hatch somewhere before disappearing into another, now displaying no signs of hostility NPC@annpc#557 | In the middle of the room, Ensign Ziranar speaks with an engineering Petty Officer, "That should be the one you want." Emma Ralde@crystyl still jumps a little every time a drone jumps out at he NPC@annpc#557 | Engineer: "That one? I was there five minutes ago. That activates some kind of energy ray. Almost cooked me alive!" NPC@annpc#557 | Ziranar sighs, "I was sure that was it...maybe that one over there," she points across the room NPC@annpc#557 | Engineer: "This one better not be another near-death encounter..." Emma Ralde@crystyl joins Ziranar as the PO wanders off, "Looks like a fun game. Sort of... Russian Roulette with plasma conduits" NPC@annpc#557 | Ziranar nods, looking to Emma, "Yeah...last thing I want to be responsible for is someone getting disintegrated by a plasma beam. When I decided to be an archaeologist, I thought I was going - NPC@annpc#557:- to spend all my time on quiet backwater colonies digging up old relics. My professors always said death ray traps and ancient superweapons were the fancies of people who'd played too many - NPC@annpc#557:- holoprograms..." Emma Ralde@crystyl laughs, "Yeah, And I set out just to do enough service years to earn a respectable place in society. Here I am two centuries later. Or is it three now..." NPC@annpc#557 | Ziranar chuckles, "I guess Starfleet has a way of subverting expectations. Amusingly, most of the people who think archaeologists are exactly like those holoprogram heroes would probably love - NPC@annpc#557:- it here." Emma Ralde@crystyl:"But you still signed up for a frontier exploration mission, right? Must have had some inclination towards that adventurous lifestyle, no?" NPC@annpc#557 | Ziranar nods, "Oh yes. I didn't want to spend my entire career looking for pieces of something new from cultures that's already been studied by thousands of people and scraping the bottom of - NPC@annpc#557:- the barrel for evidence that might support my interpretation among the hundreds of different ones out there. I wanted to come out here and be among the first to find and study something totally new, - NPC@annpc#557:- something no one, or at least no one in the Federation has studied before." Emma Ralde@crystyl:"And that means getting your hands dirty - and not in the traditional archaeological sense!" she chuckles NPC@annpc#557 | Ziranar chuckles, "True. It's just that all this sophisticated Iconian technology...I did my research and read up on everything I could, but I still feel like I'm a little out of my depth. I - NPC@annpc#557:- always thought we'd be helping Professor Lycas when we finally began work on the Sphere, but Commander Vrolmacht wants this done as soon as we can, and Lycas is still recovering from, well...- NPC@annpc#557:- death. Plenty of you Engineers are used to figuring out foreign technology, but all of a sudden I'm one of the experts on the Iconian side of things people are looking to." Emma Ralde@crystyl:"Never easy is it" she smiles sympathetically, "Being thrust into the centre of attention and having everyone looking to you for answers" NPC@annpc#557 | Ziranar: "It's a lot to get used to. I take it you've been in a fair few situations like this?" Emma Ralde@crystyl:"I can relate" she nods, "The important thing to remember is that it's ok to not know the answers" NPC@annpc#557 | Ziranar: "But when everyone's looking to you for them..." Emma Ralde@crystyl sets a hand on her shoulder, "It's still ok to not know" NPC@annpc#557 | Ziranar: "How do you tell them though, if they're coming to you for the answers you don't have?" Emma Ralde@crystyl:"That... is one of those things you tend to find your own way for. For me, I had to understand that we are all in the same position. All here exploring the unexplored and trying to find answers - Emma Ralde@crystyl:- together. If we don't know an answer, then we're asking the wrong question. Like..." she looks around for an example... Emma Ralde@crystyl moves over to a nearby exposed control circuit, "Someone comes and asks 'how does this work?', and you don't know. Then they are asking the wrong question. They want to ask 'how can we figure out - Emma Ralde@crystyl:- how this works?'. You see?" NPC@annpc#557 | Ziranar nods, "Yes, that makes sense. I suppose no one has all the answers, not even Professor Lycas. He might be the most familiar with this technology out of all of us, but I hear even he - NPC@annpc#557:- wasn't sure of the function of some things in here and had to figure it out along with the bridge crew." Emma Ralde@crystyl smiles, "Exactly! So you see what I mean when I say it's ok not to know stuff? Then you just have to reframe the question into one you can attack!" NPC@annpc#557 | Ziranar smiles back, "That's great advice? Is it true what they say, that you've served in every department? You almost sounded like a Counselor there..." Emma Ralde@crystyl laughs, "Is that what they're saying? I've just been around the block a few times is all" NPC@annpc#557 | Ziranar chuckles, "That's what I've heard! But you /have/ worn every department colour at least once, haven't you?" Emma Ralde@crystyl:"I suppose... though technically only science blue, not medical" NPC@annpc#557 | Ziranar: "What did you do while you were in science? If I can ask. They also say a lot about you is classified..." she smirks Emma Ralde@crystyl:"R&D. And as for the classified stuff... I was pretty sure the shipboard gossip train had declassified all that by now..." NPC@annpc#557 | Ziranar: "The two to three century part, yes. I wasn't sure if there was more to it, though..." Emma Ralde@crystyl:"More like...?" NPC@annpc#557 | Ziranar chuckles, "Gossip also has a habit of giving unreliable information, or multiple different versions of a story. Not unlike archaeology papers, actually..." Emma Ralde@crystyl chuckles, "Well now you've got me curious exactly what these different stories are" NPC@annpc#557 | Ziranar: "Well...all the accounts say it was an accident, but some say it was an experiment. One version is that it was on some new energy source that went wrong and you were caught in a - NPC@annpc#557:- shockwave that infused you with the energy and gave you immortality. Another says it was back during the first war with the Klingons, when Starfleet was exploring some...less than ethical methods - NPC@annpc#557:- to win, and you were the result of some secret illegal augmentation project to create the perfect soldier. And there's also versions that say it was an ancient artifact you found while serving on - NPC@annpc#557:- on a frontier exploration ship like this one..." Emma Ralde@crystyl chuckles, "Wow, that's quite the variety. I had no idea I was such the topic of debate!" NPC@annpc#557 | Ziranar chuckles, "Well you are quite mysterious! Your history, at least. You seem very approachable as a person," she smiles Emma Ralde@crystyl:"Kind of a package deal there. You want green skin? That means being a people person!" NPC@annpc#557 | Ziranar: "It's true of blue skin too! Well...at least most Bolians. Andorians are more ushaan people and the Lodzki, well...that depends on the Lodzki, but their size do make many of them - NPC@annpc#557:- appear intimidating. Okay, just Bolians, not blue skin." Emma Ralde@crystyl chuckles, "Probably another reason why people keep coming to you for guidance" NPC@annpc#557 | Ziranar smiles, "True! We do like to help! Do you get that often too?" Emma Ralde@crystyl:"Are you kidding? Orion complexion /and/ pips. Even without the wild rumours about me being some immortal mythological figure, that screams for folks to seek me out" NPC@annpc#557 | Ziranar: "But not seeking you out for the same reasons, I imagine..." Emma Ralde@crystyl:"Not all the time I suppose!" NPC@annpc#557 | Ziranar: "Speaking of the immortal mythological figure part, do you have any...abilities that resulted from whatever it was that gave you immortality? Maybe the ability to interface with - NPC@annpc#557:- unknown alien technologies using your mind?" Emma Ralde@crystyl laughs, "Nice try, but last I checked; that's not in my repertoire!" NPC@annpc#557 | Ziranar laughs, "I suppose it was too much to hope for! Do you have any other abilities at all, or is that also classified?" Emma Ralde@crystyl:"As far as I know; I'm just an ordinary girl" she smiles, strolling off knowing she leaves Ziranar with more questions than answers, totally not playing up the rumour mill