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current_story:the_sword_of_ophiuchus_part_2 [2021/02/20 18:02] cromwellcurrent_story:the_sword_of_ophiuchus_part_2 [2022/10/22 03:25] (current) site_admin
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-~~DISCUSSION~~ 
- 
 ====== The Sword of Ophiuchus, Part 2 ====== ====== The Sword of Ophiuchus, Part 2 ======
  
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 **Timeframe:  Ten minutes after departing the Personal flier 'Aerosprite'** **Timeframe:  Ten minutes after departing the Personal flier 'Aerosprite'**
  
-In the field, Starfleet Intelligence agents are used to improvising broadly and often.  Theo "Doug Forrest" Carter knew of hundreds of different unorthodox techniques to pull him and his team out of the most unpredictable circumstances.  Yet, there was very little left in his box of tricks when he and Saal Yezbeck found themselves alone, floundering in an energy-starved miniaturized Romulan personal yacht, stuck deep within the bowels of a gigantic lifeless and energy-deprived rouge intelligence base, which itself was cloaked in an uncharted star system floating in an unpredictable orbit around a star located in the farthest reaches of the known galaxy.  In effect, chaos theory had stretched the limits of plausibility, and therefore, it was only prim and proper that the universe snapped back into order by offering the two beleaguered men a chance at serendipity.+In the field, Starfleet Intelligence agents are used to improvising broadly and often.  Theo "Doug Forrest" Carter knew of hundreds of different unorthodox techniques to pull him and his team out of the most unpredictable circumstances.  Yet, there was very little left in his box of tricks when he and Saal Yezbeck found themselves alone, floundering in an energy-starved miniaturized Romulan personal yacht, stuck deep within the bowels of a gigantic lifeless and energy-deprived rouge intelligence base, which itself was cloaked in an uncharted star system floating in an unpredictable orbit around a star located in the farthest reaches of the known galaxy.  In effect, chaos theory had stretched the limits of plausibility, and therefore, it was only proper that the universe snapped back into order by offering the two beleaguered men a chance at serendipity.
  
 Once they had pushed aside their bafflement at finding what they had thought was a ghost ship from their past, let alone why it was still intact when all the others had long ago crushed themselves into scrap metal, it didn't take long for them to pounce on the usual jury-rigging methods that the Intelligence branch was so renowned for.  The energy from charged hand weaponry was a common substitute for direct power feeds when a transporter has been rendered inoperable due to depleted EPS junctions.  Of course, it was only good for one-way transports, but that's all that Theo and Saal needed to abandon the Aerosprite and claim their new vessel. Once they had pushed aside their bafflement at finding what they had thought was a ghost ship from their past, let alone why it was still intact when all the others had long ago crushed themselves into scrap metal, it didn't take long for them to pounce on the usual jury-rigging methods that the Intelligence branch was so renowned for.  The energy from charged hand weaponry was a common substitute for direct power feeds when a transporter has been rendered inoperable due to depleted EPS junctions.  Of course, it was only good for one-way transports, but that's all that Theo and Saal needed to abandon the Aerosprite and claim their new vessel.
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 "I remember you, Towe," Yezbeck acknowledged.  "Who are your friends?"  "I remember you, Towe," Yezbeck acknowledged.  "Who are your friends?" 
  
-"Commander Blake St. John," the young, blue-eyed ranking officer introduced himself.  "Team leader of Task Force Trident."  Motioning to the red-haired lieutenant behind him, he added "this is my number one, Lieutenant Shelia Anderson."  Pointing to the three other individuals in front of the transporter platform, he presented the rest of his team that was composed of a wide-eyed twenty-something human male with unkempt black hair and facial stubble to boot; a tall, brawny woman with braided blond hair who sported the largest piece of automatic weaponry of the team; and an almost teenage-looking younger man with a squat face, protruding lower lip, and a very close crew cut that almost made him look bald.  "That's Ensign Carson Jensen, our computer specialist.  Next to him is Petty Officer First Class Louise Clayborne, our second heavy weapons specialist aside from Deuce here.  Finally, that's Crewman Brian Baker, our medic, fresh out of his Starfleet Medical training program."+"Commander Blake St. John," the young, blue-eyed ranking officer introduced himself.  "Team leader of Task Force Trident."  Motioning to the red-haired lieutenant behind him, he added "this is my number one, Lieutenant Sheila Anderson."  Pointing to the three other individuals in front of the transporter platform, he presented the rest of his team that was composed of a wide-eyed twenty-something human male with unkempt black hair and facial stubble to boot; a tall, brawny woman with braided blond hair who sported the largest piece of automatic weaponry of the team; and an almost teenage-looking younger man with a squat face, protruding lower lip, and a very close crew cut that almost made him look bald.  "That's Ensign Carson Jensen, our computer specialist.  Next to him is Petty Officer First Class Louise Clayborne, our second heavy weapons specialist aside from Deuce here.  Finally, that's Crewman Brian Baker, our medic, fresh out of his Starfleet Medical training program."
  
 "Wait!" Lieutenant Anderson halted the conversation.  "Where's Blimpy?" "Wait!" Lieutenant Anderson halted the conversation.  "Where's Blimpy?"
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 "Did you think McCain wouldn't have had this all planned out?" Commander St. John re-directed back to the doctor.  "This place warehouses thousands of alien artifacts from all over the Gamma Quadrant.  Borg-derived structural integrity fields are installed on every deck... McCain salvaged them over the years from wrecked Borg cubes in the Alpha Quadrant.  As for the Geodesic radiation, he ordered the subspace transceiver array to be reconfigured into an enormous phase generator using an amplification crystal the commodore found on a planet deep within Dominion territory.  The array was capable of producing a synchronic distortion field for the whole station, putting it and everything within out of phase with the geodesic radiation. In my opinion, it was questionable whether it would have worked, but McCain's standing last order for the base was clear:  If he died, this was their next course of action." "Did you think McCain wouldn't have had this all planned out?" Commander St. John re-directed back to the doctor.  "This place warehouses thousands of alien artifacts from all over the Gamma Quadrant.  Borg-derived structural integrity fields are installed on every deck... McCain salvaged them over the years from wrecked Borg cubes in the Alpha Quadrant.  As for the Geodesic radiation, he ordered the subspace transceiver array to be reconfigured into an enormous phase generator using an amplification crystal the commodore found on a planet deep within Dominion territory.  The array was capable of producing a synchronic distortion field for the whole station, putting it and everything within out of phase with the geodesic radiation. In my opinion, it was questionable whether it would have worked, but McCain's standing last order for the base was clear:  If he died, this was their next course of action."
  
-"Obviously, it didn'work," Theo concluded.+"Obviously, it DIDN'work," Theo concluded.
  
 "Actually, we made sure it NEVER worked," retorted Anderson.  "We sabotaged the transceiver array and reprogrammed the verteron beam so that the far end of the Geodesic fold would open on the other side of the star.  Sensors would never pick up the opening on the far end, and it would end up right back here in the same star system." "Actually, we made sure it NEVER worked," retorted Anderson.  "We sabotaged the transceiver array and reprogrammed the verteron beam so that the far end of the Geodesic fold would open on the other side of the star.  Sensors would never pick up the opening on the far end, and it would end up right back here in the same star system."
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 Theo was lost in thought as the commander concluded his remarks.  Saal was looking at his friend quizzically, knowing full well that the gears were turning in Theo's head; an expression that only he would have noticed.  As for the other members of Task Force Trident, they slung their weapons over their shoulders as Commander St. John handed out orders. Theo was lost in thought as the commander concluded his remarks.  Saal was looking at his friend quizzically, knowing full well that the gears were turning in Theo's head; an expression that only he would have noticed.  As for the other members of Task Force Trident, they slung their weapons over their shoulders as Commander St. John handed out orders.
  
-"Louise, stay here in the transporter room and take stock of the landing party gear and EVA suits.  We may need them before too long."  Turning to his second-in-command, he continued.  "Shelia, take Blimpy back to engineering and do a full engine diagnostic.  If everything checks out, bring the mains and impulse deck back online."  Turning to the young medtech with a crewcut, he said, "Brian, why don't you and Doctor Yezbeck check out sickbay and see what medical assets are still good after their contact with the Geodesic radiation?  If we're the only ones left out here in this part of space, I don't want to be without operational medical facilities going forward."  Finally, he turned to Deuce and Jensen.  "You two, you're with Commander Forrest and I.  We'll head to the bridge and get the sensors back online."  Turning to Theo, he asked "are you good with that, commander?"+"Louise, stay here in the transporter room and take stock of the landing party gear and EVA suits.  We may need them before too long."  Turning to his second-in-command, he continued.  "Sheila, take Blimpy back to engineering and do a full engine diagnostic.  If everything checks out, bring the mains and impulse deck back online."  Turning to the young medtech with a crewcut, he said, "Brian, why don't you and Doctor Yezbeck check out sickbay and see what medical assets are still good after their contact with the Geodesic radiation?  If we're the only ones left out here in this part of space, I don't want to be without operational medical facilities going forward."  Finally, he turned to Deuce and Jensen.  "You two, you're with Commander Forrest and I.  We'll head to the bridge and get the sensors back online."  Turning to Theo, he asked "are you good with that, commander?"
  
 Theo nodded in compliance, his thoughts still wandering to St. John's inadvertent discovery of a means to survive a Geodesic fold. Theo nodded in compliance, his thoughts still wandering to St. John's inadvertent discovery of a means to survive a Geodesic fold.
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 **Location:  Bridge, deck 1, USS Republic nee Asgard** **Location:  Bridge, deck 1, USS Republic nee Asgard**
  
-The expansive Galaxy-class control center was just as opulent as it's predecessors from ages past.  While it did not possess the ancillary science and engineering workstations to the port and starboard as the real Galaxy-Class Republic did four years ago, it still maintained the roominess and aesthetic quality that the designers at Utopia Planitia first intended for maintaining a comfortable workspace aboard deep space exploration cruisers.  The bright tan carpeting still matched the padded vinyl seating arrangement, and the smooth faux wood railings gave the impression of a homey feeling while also maintaining the utilitarian needs through a multitude of recessed LCARS-based control panels.+The expansive Galaxy-class control center was just as opulent as it's predecessors from decades past.  While it did not possess the ancillary science and engineering workstations to the port and starboard as the real Galaxy-Class Republic did four years ago, it still maintained the roominess and aesthetic quality that the designers at Utopia Planitia first intended for maintaining a comfortable workspace aboard deep space exploration cruisers.  The bright tan carpeting still matched the padded vinyl seating arrangement, and the smooth faux wood railings gave the impression of a homey feeling while also maintaining the utilitarian needs through a multitude of recessed LCARS-based control panels.
  
 At this moment in time, all members of Task Force Trident were present on the bridge, either in person or on the main monitor in front, along with Theo Carter and Saal Yezbeck, the latter transmitting from sickbay.  Chief Petty Officer Towe - aka Deuce - stood at the tactical arch, while Commander St. John sat comfortably in the command chair, his elbow resting on the armrest in a leisurely pose.  Manning the Ops console was the ill-groomed Ensign Jensen, scratching at his rough-shaven face while Theo paced the space between the command chair and con.  Petty Officer Louise Clayborne joined audio-only from the transporter room, while on the main monitor, the split screen displayed Lieutenant Anderson on the left side of the screen, while Doctor Yezbeck and Crewman Baker stood on the right side. At this moment in time, all members of Task Force Trident were present on the bridge, either in person or on the main monitor in front, along with Theo Carter and Saal Yezbeck, the latter transmitting from sickbay.  Chief Petty Officer Towe - aka Deuce - stood at the tactical arch, while Commander St. John sat comfortably in the command chair, his elbow resting on the armrest in a leisurely pose.  Manning the Ops console was the ill-groomed Ensign Jensen, scratching at his rough-shaven face while Theo paced the space between the command chair and con.  Petty Officer Louise Clayborne joined audio-only from the transporter room, while on the main monitor, the split screen displayed Lieutenant Anderson on the left side of the screen, while Doctor Yezbeck and Crewman Baker stood on the right side.
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 //"What's your plan for getting back?"// Lieutenant Anderson asked with ambivalence after hearing Theo's request to take the ship to the Delta Quadrant.  //"We can open the Geodesic fold on this end using the base's verteron array, but if you hadn't noticed, the Republic is an older Galaxy-class baseline model from the 2360s.  She doesn't have the equipment to generate enough verteron particles for establishing another Geodesic fold once you get there.  At least not one big enough to pull a ship this size back through to the Alpha Quadrant.  It'd be a one-way trip."// //"What's your plan for getting back?"// Lieutenant Anderson asked with ambivalence after hearing Theo's request to take the ship to the Delta Quadrant.  //"We can open the Geodesic fold on this end using the base's verteron array, but if you hadn't noticed, the Republic is an older Galaxy-class baseline model from the 2360s.  She doesn't have the equipment to generate enough verteron particles for establishing another Geodesic fold once you get there.  At least not one big enough to pull a ship this size back through to the Alpha Quadrant.  It'd be a one-way trip."//
  
-"We don't need a fold big enough to pull the Republic back," Theo explained, continuing his pacing in the center of the bridge.  "Just Yezbeck, John Carter, and myself.  We can have the Republic generate the largest verteron beam it can, and then use one of the shuttles or a runabout to get back.  They both have transporters, and they can be locked into a diagnostic loop just like the one you used here."+"We don't need a fold big enough to pull the Republic back," Theo explained, continuing his pacing in the center of the bridge.  "Just Yezbeck, John Carter, and myself.  We can have the Republic generate the largest verteron beam it can, and then use one of the shuttles to get back.  They're old, but they have transporters, and they can be locked into a diagnostic loop just like the one you used here."
  
 "Let me get this straight," reasoned Blake St. John sitting in the command chair.  "You want to abandon a Galaxy-Class starship in the Delta Quadrant?" "Let me get this straight," reasoned Blake St. John sitting in the command chair.  "You want to abandon a Galaxy-Class starship in the Delta Quadrant?"
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 "It could take us DAYS to find John," pointed out Theo.  "Maybe even weeks or months if our coordinates are off any.  I don't think there's enough energy in the station's reactor to leave the fold open that long." "It could take us DAYS to find John," pointed out Theo.  "Maybe even weeks or months if our coordinates are off any.  I don't think there's enough energy in the station's reactor to leave the fold open that long."
  
-"Correct," Commander St. John added.  "The verteron array will take every drop of energy left in the base's reactor core.  We'll have to drop the base's cloaking field just to generate the one short Geodesic pulse needed to create the fold."+"Correct," Commander St. John added.  "The verteron array will take every drop of energy left in the base's reactor core.  It takes so much power, I doubt there's enough to keep it open even an hour.  We'll have to drop the base's cloaking field just to generate the one short Geodesic pulse needed to create the fold."
  
 //"Drop the cloaking field??"// shouted the voice of Petty Officer Clayborne over the comm system from the transporter room.  //"Do we want to even do that?  It was a miracle that no one saw us generate the pulse the first time three years ago!"// //"Drop the cloaking field??"// shouted the voice of Petty Officer Clayborne over the comm system from the transporter room.  //"Do we want to even do that?  It was a miracle that no one saw us generate the pulse the first time three years ago!"//
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 "Right," the commander backed him up at the captain's chair.  "And if Deuce is going, we're ALL going."  As a momentary silence fell upon the bridge, each individual considered the potential mission that Theo had just laid down in front of them. "Right," the commander backed him up at the captain's chair.  "And if Deuce is going, we're ALL going."  As a momentary silence fell upon the bridge, each individual considered the potential mission that Theo had just laid down in front of them.
  
-"Shelia," asked St. John after a moment.  "Any way you can scavenge some of those Borg structural integrity field generators from the base?"+"Sheila," asked St. John after a moment.  "Any way you can scavenge some of those Borg structural integrity field generators from the base?"
  
 //"Blimpy and I will have to do an EVA,"// she replied.  //"It might take some work, but I think we can do it."// //"Blimpy and I will have to do an EVA,"// she replied.  //"It might take some work, but I think we can do it."//
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 "Take Louise with you, just to be on the safe side," ordered the commander. "Take Louise with you, just to be on the safe side," ordered the commander.
  
-//"I'll start prepping some suits,"// the petty officer announced over the comm system. //"Clayborne out."//+//"I'll start prepping some suits,"// the petty officer announced over the comm system.
  
-//"You know,"// the lieutenant warned.  //"It'll be a severe power drain on Republic to keep just one of those generators active for any length of time."//+//"You know,"// Anderson warned from the screen after PO1 Clayborne closed the channel.  //"It'll be a severe power drain on Republic to keep just one of those generators active for any length of time."//
  
 "We don't need them to run long," St. John replied.  "Just long enough to get us through the Geodesic fold.  In addition to reinforcing Republic, I'd recommend projecting another structural integrity field forward of the ship as it enters the fold." "We don't need them to run long," St. John replied.  "Just long enough to get us through the Geodesic fold.  In addition to reinforcing Republic, I'd recommend projecting another structural integrity field forward of the ship as it enters the fold."
  
-Shelia's eyes lit up.  //"Hey!  Good idea, Blake!  That'll give us an extra line of defense against the magnetic eddies!"//+Sheila's eyes lit up.  //"Hey!  Good idea, Blake!  That'll give us an extra line of defense against the magnetic eddies!"//
  
 St. John smiled.  "That's why I went to command school," he remarked wryly.  "You may want to have Blimpy also modify the main deflector for multi-phasic shielding as well." St. John smiled.  "That's why I went to command school," he remarked wryly.  "You may want to have Blimpy also modify the main deflector for multi-phasic shielding as well."
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 "If you live up to what your reputation says you do best, commander," St. John replied with a crafty smile.  "Then you and I need to rig this station for the biggest demolitions operation the Gamma Quadrant has ever seen..." "If you live up to what your reputation says you do best, commander," St. John replied with a crafty smile.  "Then you and I need to rig this station for the biggest demolitions operation the Gamma Quadrant has ever seen..."
  
-//(to be continued)//+//([[current_story:the_sword_of_ophiuchus_part_3|to be continued]])//
  
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current_story/the_sword_of_ophiuchus_part_2.1613844127.txt.gz · Last modified: 2021/02/20 18:02 by cromwell