Juggernaut

Posted on Tue Oct 29th, 2019 @ 11:05pm by Commodore Wilkan Targaryen & Captain Nathan Bishop & Commander Zephryn Kaldiran & Commander Nathan Hawkins & Commander Ash Randall & Commander Sherwin Porter & High Commissioner Jasmine Haynes & Lieutenant Commander T'Lisha "Hawkeye" Bishara & Patton O'Sullivan & Lieutenant Commander Victoria Rigby M.D. & Lieutenant Commander Lily Snow PhD, MD
Edited on on Thu Jan 2nd, 2020 @ 5:10pm

3,468 words; about a 17 minute read

Mission: Atlantis
Location: Bridge, Starfleet One
Timeline: 2429-12-03, 20:15

The turbolift doors slid open with a loud sigh and Admiral William Teagarden almost shared in as he launched himself onto his Bridge. They had returned from the surface of the planet to a Yellow Alert and Galatea refused to answer his requests for information. Now he knew why. Before them hovering above the planet was something that the Admiral never expected to see again: a Preserver Juggernaut. As soon as he saw it he could feel the headache form behind his eyes.

The Preserver Juggernaut was a small vessel compared to Starfleet One, but that wasn't to fool anyone. They were dangerous adversaries not trifled with lightly. The asymmetrical, wishbone-shaped vessel had a thick central sections between two horns that bent upwards above the central body. They were skeletal, bio-organic vessels that were a living organism in many respects. They had encountered them before. Nearly eight years ago, before the President took a liking to the ship, they had encountered a Juggernaut that had gone back in time with the intention of destroying the Human race in the year 2012. This ship was no less dangerous than that one.

"I expected some surprises when I returned to the ship, Commander," William said as he approached his Second Officer. "This wasn't one of them. Report."

"Was a surprise to us too," Hawkins turned to Teagarden and he drew closer. "We linked fluctuations in our shield power relay to incidents we experienced on the surface. Both parties had been exposed to a force of manipulation and feared it would have further affects on yourself and the away party." Nathan continued. "It was presumably our shielding and hull were amplifying this signal in form of musical tones. We re-created them expected the crew to become influenced once more, however, Galatea was the victim and this ship decloaked. Scans so far haven't detected any signs of life."

The Admiral looked carefully at the ship in orbit with them, his mind drawn back in time to the last time they faced such a vessel. This one supposedly had no signs of life, but that could change quickly as the Preservers used stasis technology routinely. He really wished he could say he was surprised though. Something had felt off since the very beginning.

"You did well, Commander," he answered after a moment. "Take your station, I have the Bridge."

Hawkins nodded at his dismissal. It was apparent from Teagarden's pause this wasn't his first encounter with the Preservers, his hesitation gave the impression their previous encounter had been difficult. Whatever happened next would prove interesting Nathan concluded retreating to his bridge station.

He glanced over his shoulder, "You all too."

Without a word Bishop moved to the XO's chair. He still couldn't believe what he had witnessed on the surface. The government was going to kill Commander Viol! An innocent woman whose only mistake was that her craft failed her, not because of anything she had done. He was livid with anger but he knew getting mad wouldn't help Viol or himself and especially the Admiral and the crew of the Enterprise.

He tapped some controls on the arm of his chair. "Their shields are down." He said crisply, formally. Not trusting himself to add anything further.

Jasmine walked over to her station, she had joined the Admiral. Typically she would be off duty, at this hour. But things were a little escalated. And the Senior Staff needed to handle the situation. "Confirmed, Admiral the shields are down. Not detecting any life signs on the ship, or power signatures. Yet she decloaked in front of us." Jasmine repeated to him. She tried to see if the planet, was sending a signal, and hiding the vessel that caused it to cloak.

When Sherwin had come back with the away team and gone to the Bridge to see what would happen, because he was livid. He'd lived through many tragedies and had experiences with a lot of cultures wherein death was looked at differently, but this was beyond anything he'd seen before. This was not a Klingon death by honor, this was not a suicide for the common good, or a sentence for someone who had murdered others. This wasn't even a killing in a grab for power. This was going to be a murder for someone who had tried to do her job justly but just didn't do it the way her superiors felt was correct. This was unacceptable.

As the senior staff returned to their stations having returned from the surface Hawkins glanced at their gloomy faces. Clearly their meeting with the Prefect hadn't gone to plan. Though he was intrigued to ask question this wasn't the time.

"Start in depth scans of the Preserver ship, Commander Snow. High intensity, I want to know as much as quickly as we can," Will ordered as he approached his chair. "Let's keep our distance, but don't make it look like you're keeping our distance. Start trying to raise them and get Commander Randall up here."

Zeph immediately transferred idle power and some reserve to the sensors and reported to Lily, "Commander Snow, sensors at your discretion."

Lily did as she was ordered to do. She didn't care that their sensors lit up like an old style Christmas tree. She made a few reconfigurations to the sensors as she scanned. She was attempting to scan through the ships hull.

Zeph now shifted himself to discreetly begin hailing the ship as a background noise, yet be able to amplify if contact was actually made. With the communications array now configured for tight beam, he began transmitting. =^= Unknown Vessel, this is the United Federation Starship Starfleet One. We are on a mission of peace and would like to open communications. Please respond.=^= He would wait exactly 12.756 seconds, one of the cadence tones, then try again.

As T'Lisha took her station, "Holy shit....", escaped her mouth. It was a formidable adversary to say the least. For one, it was the first time she actually saw one up close and personal. Two, judging by the emotions on the bridge, it was a serious matter and nothing to be toyed with. Three, it literally scared the hell out of her to a degree! Then she heard those tones again and shook her head. "Those damn tones!", she muttered.

The Admiral looked at Commander Rigby, "Head below and check Commander Rigby. Patton go with them."

Hawkins glanced over at the Counselor as she remained quite still and unresponsive since they'd begun testing the musical tones. It was unusual she had been affected, no one else to his knowledge had been.

“Yes Sir!” Patton replied. He wondered what had happened at the dinner but now was not the time to ask. The situation had escalated with the ship appearing in front of them.

Seeing the urgency of the situation, the CMO made his own call down to Sickbay to prepare for battle.

Just then, the turbolift doors opened and the, black and gold clad, 1 of Commander Randall emerged onto the bridge. She made way for the departing Rigby and Patton while she quickly looked around the bridge and then moved over by, and slightly in front of, the command dais, her eyes locked on the main viewer as she went. "Randall reporting, Admiral. Orders?" She asked, calmly while still studying the main viewer. The Engineer was feeling anything but calm, at the moment. The last time she saw a Preserver ship it was on a mission to destroy humanity and it had taken an extreme act of desperation to stop it.

"Welcome back aboard, Commander," William greeted. "See anything familiar?" He said indicating the vehicle on the viewer.

"Yes. Terrifyingly familiar, Admiral. We're still alive so, that means we have a chance of staying that way." The Tuansee answered.

Teagarden looked around the room, "We have encountered such a vessel before and it nearly brought about the end of the Federation as we know it. Today, we ensure our continued safety and prosperity. Bishop, Haynes, Snow," he looked at Ash, "Randall proceed to the transporter room. I want that ship thoroughly examined and I want to know if a Preserver is there waiting in stasis. Petty Officer Hannah and Rrawran will also make the trip." As the Admiral said it he watched the Rorworr Officer walk toward the exit.

"Aye Admiral." Bishop answered quickly. Leading the away team would keep his mind of Viol and her planned execution in the morning or so he hoped. He headed for the nearest lift knowing the others would be following closely behind him.

Lily followed the man into the lift. She noticed his almost defeated stance. "Commander, I hope you don't expect me to be Diplomatic on this away mission," She stated flatly and coldly.

Commander Randall looked to Lt. Commander Snow as she entered the turbolift, the comment, though without context, interesting none the less and looked to Commander Bishop. "Commander Bishop, it's your party, but I suggest tactical EVA suites and a full weapons compliment. The last ship had a mutagenic pathogen on board and we also may have to bug out without the aid of a transporter if someone is up and around over there." She recommended.

Bishop considered Ash's recommendations, "Recommendation noted Commander and make it so. Tactical EVA suits and full weapon compliment. We don't want to be taken by surprise over there."

Jasmine had remained silent, just listening to the others. When she heard Bishop's recommendation, she decided to speak up. "I agree sir, we have limited information. The only information they had was other incident that had us on the defensive end trying to play catchup, well according to the log. I was not present at the time." Jasmine said, as she entered the turbo lift with them.

Commander Randall nodded a couple times as the turbolift closed and they were on their way. "Tricorder readings were a bit of a mess on the last encounter beyond a few dozen meters. I have a sensor drone swarm we can use to augment our scanning capabilities at a distance." The Engineer stated. "When we beam across I'll set the swarm loose to map the ship and feed data back to us." She added.

"We will continue to monitor from here," Teagarden said from his seat hoping he didn't just sign their death warrant.

"Admiral," Sherwin said, "I should probably go as well, as I have experience with this...and I have a cure in case they try to affect us with the mood-altering neurogenic."

"Not this time, Doc," the CO answered. "I want you and your Assistant Chief to do a full workup on the Counselor. The Corpsman will be able to handle it."

Standing at the turbolift and still not sure how it had happened, Vikki only knew that the pain in her head was threatening to explode as she tried to process all else happening around her. She was aware that music was still playing, so similar to what she had heard before. “Make it stop!!!”

"Take her to Sickbay," the Admiral ordered again.

Porter was already next to hear by the time Teagarden had barked that order. "On our way, Sir," he replied as he gently put his hands on her shoulders to guide her toward the turbolift. "We've got this."

William crossed his arms and watched the viewscreen carefully, hoping that the away mission didn't do them all in. "If anything happens and that ship comes to life," he began after the away team had boarded the lift, "be prepared to get us out of here. Maximum speed."

Fighting with the tones and now the music replaying in her head , she managed to sift through it, "Enginerring better be ready for a jump to warp 9 when I do hit the engines. Anything to get away from the damned music!", Bishara said.

William looked at the Helmsman, "Commander, are you hearing the music as well? Are you well?"

"I'd feel a hell of a lot better if the music and tones would stop!", T'Lisha said painfully putting her hands to her temples. Instead of getting quieter it was getting louder and it hurt.

"I would like for you to go to sickbay as well and get checked out." Turning toward the Operations Manager William also motioned toward the Strategist to join them. Speaking lowly he outlined a plan, "I want the two of you to hack into the communications of the Atlantean Colony. When they start the process to disintegrate Commander Viol I want to not only know about it, but also want you to bring her aboard at the exact moment they begin."

Zeph nodded, his tail shook once, as he replied in a low tone, "Understood, Sir. On it."

Nathan wanted to ask more, last he had seen of the Atlantean Commander Viol she was giving them a tour around the stunning gardens. Now, in a strange twist she was to executed by her own Government who'd endorsed her exportation mission in the first place. Though rescuing the woman from certain death was morally the correct decision to make it wouldn't sit well with the Prefect, nor hacking into their communications. So much for a peaceful relationship with the distance Cousins the Commander noted.

Zeph moved over to the Strategic Operations Console to be with Commander Hawkins. He already knew about Strat Ops and their enhanced computer and comm systems, as well as their more advanced optimization programs for comms and sensors. He smiled to Nathan, his large Vulpine canines showing readily in that smile, and said, "FYI, I do have advanced A.I. and spatial array programming training as well as plenty of hands on experience. Shall we use the back channel Strat Ops communications array to perform a low noise sidereal frequency code sweep and see if we can find an Maintenace back door in an Atlantean comm/surveillance satellite, or even a ground array?"

The Human regarded his colleague with curiosity, the toothy smile was another unique factor. He'd not encountered his species before, so far the Operation's Manager had been impressive with his knowledge he and Galatea would have a lot in common. "Somehow I'm not surprised you have experience is this area," Nathan said lowly. "You're a curious fellow Zeph."

Zeph performed a short bow with his head while his tail shook twice in affirmation. He replied, "Better a curious fellow to learn about than a dull one to be ignored. I look forward to learning more about the person who is 'Nathan' as we work together." He yiffered gently, and continued, "Shall we get started?"

Glancing sideways at him Nathan smirked slightly before returned his attention to the console. "Let's focus our efforts on a ground array, the last thing we want to do is inadvertently wake the Preserver ship."

Jasmine stayed close to the side of Nathan. She was assisting him, with trying to find the ground array, and keep the away team. "Was it like this last time, power online, life support online for a derelict ship?" Jasmine asked, thinking it was a little to convenient.

Hawkins was surprised by Haynes arrival, she'd been drafted onto the away mission to the alien vessel, unless Teagarden had revoked the order and he'd not heard it.

Zeph did a small shrug. "Depends upon the Derelict Ship, I would suppose. An L'Tandrey Starrior or Standard ship would have power with life support running if encountering possible rescue or those who could be new crew. Now, this is my first time encountering a Preserver ship, but from comments, if you have crew in stasis, then, power and life support would come online to assist them in coming out of stasis. So, great care must be taken by the away team. As for us, we have a rescue to perform expediently. First question, did any of the away team get a tricorder reading of Commander Viol when they met her? It would greatly help in searching for her life signs and then pinpointing her to lock on with the Transporter."

Jasmine wondered why Zeph asked that question. They were bound by the prime directive not to get involved. They could not rescue Viol, even if they wanted too. And she wanted to rescue her.

Hawkins thought back to Bishop's report of the small damaged craft they rescued Viol from. "We have her data on file as Doctor Porter treated her minor injuries, and we should be able to retrieve further elements from the transporter buffer."

Zeph nodded and replied, "Perfect. Initiating data routines now.. got her. Now we just have to encode this specific search into our generic sweeps of the planet and pinpoint with arrays after we get an initial hit." He changed his attention to the communications searching. An interested 'Hmmm' came from him as he showed a deep space search array that was out in the boonies. "There, we hack into that, worm our way into their main circuits, then tie into the Information Propaganda communications for the government, and have full access most likely."

"Most likely?" Hawkins echoed. "Sounds like we'd better think of a plan B just in case."

Zeph yiffered gently, "Well, most likely as such an installation is a pet project of an influential politico, but, always the chance of a last gasp. So, a plan B is good... never mind. Pet project it is. We have access to the entire communications net of the political machine. And, we now have Commander Viol's location, and we should shortly have a transporter lock. Our orders are carried out to the Admiral's desires, yes?"

"Commander Haynes," William called out as he returned to his chair.

"Yes Admiral, how can I be of service?" She asked. She was eager for something to happen. She did not want through the night. She had made plans with Patton.

"Head to the Transporter Room with the rest of the away team. I want you there should the Preservers wake up," Teagarden admitted remembering their last encounter. "Take a Type 3 with you."

Jasmine was expecting to take her stand issue phaser, but she was a little surprised to hear, that the Admiral wanted her to carry a weapon with a little bit of a kick. She was happy to see he was not taking any chances. She simply just looked at him, and said. "Yes sir."

He paused, as if carefully considering the next part of the discussion. He leaned forward in his chair and spoke low, "The last time we encountered these people it didn't go well for us and the Chief Engineer of the ship was exposed to a mutagen that changed her at a cellular level. We couldn't save her, but used our scans to develop a defense. Nonetheless, I want you to be prepared for what may have to be done."

"Understood Admiral." She said, feeling a little bit of burdon on her shoulders. She knew what the Admiral was asking of her. She was a trained security officer, and there were times in her life, where her moral compass, may have to be shelved for the greater good.

T'Lisha's head was painfully throbbing from the tones and music in her mind. "Where the hell ar....is that com....ing from?", she groaned holding her head tightly.

William looked up at the Helm Officer, "Commander Kaldiran beam the Commander to Sickbay as well."

"No captain.....I can sta........argh!!!!!My HEAD!!!!!", T'Lisha yelled as she stood quickly, suddenly holding her head, she crumpled to the deck unconscious.

Commander Bishara's form sparkled into tiny lights and was gone. Zeph replied, "Initiated and completed sir, informing sickbay." =^= Medical, Bridge, Commander Bishara suffered a collapse from an outside influence, sending bridge recording of the last two minutes for your edification. Bridge out.=^=

The CMO's voice came over the comm. =/\= Beaming her directly to Sickbay now =/\=

Hawkins watched Bishara vanish from view with a sense of discomfort. After all, it had been by his Command they'd begun to replay the strange musical tones that exposed the Preserver ship, however in turn it had disabled Galatea and was now affecting selected members of the crew. Would prolonged exposure have continued affects or would the away party in further danger?

William rose from his chair, "I'm going to go to my office because I have a quick call to make. Commander Hawkins has the Bridge. Call me if you need me."

Wearily Hawkins crossed the bridge once again relieving the Admiral. "We'll try to save you from additional surprises," he commented as the two passed.

"I know you will, Commander," Teagarden said as he approached the starboard door. He looked back in, "Especially because I think we all would like to get some sleep tonight."

 

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