RISKS...

[tomcat]

Grahm and Ramos left the briefing room and began to walk towards the turbolift. Grahm signaled his department and ordered that ten security crewmen meet them on Deck-4. When the lift's doors opened the guards were there and the two officer's stepped out. Grahm pointed to four of the men and said, "You are with me... you six go with Mr. Ramos. Help him secure the Engineering area and resolve what is going on there."

The group separated and Grahm and his men followed the curved hall around to the VIP quarters. The security guards would be stationed outside the Hydraen's rooms for their 'protection'.

John pushed the button on the wall to signal their presence to the princess – they hoped that she was within. The doors slid quietly open to reveal the stunning Isaboul with a sultry smile upon her face.

"Gentlemen? Is everything okay?"

"Your Highness, I need to inquire the whereabouts of all of the members of your entourage?" Grahm asked stiffly.

"Why... they are all here," she answered and gestured to them to turn about. The officer turned along with his guards - standing in the doorways of all of their rooms was each and every one of the princess's folk. They all smiled at the Columbia crewmen and unknown to the Human men, the Hydraen females all exuded a cloud of the beguiling pheromone.

The Leprechaun-class shuttlecraft circled round the Golayshian trying to see any activity within the viewing ports of the vessel but all was dark. The occasional flicker from an electrical discharge lit the hull but did nothing to help the shuttle crew.

There was no docking port on the disabled ship that would fit the collar of the Columbia's Chisu-class shuttle and with the power out, the Shuttlebay could not be opened.

On the bridge of the Columbia, Townshend, now back at her station, continued to call to the Hydraen ship trying to get an answer from Lt. Williams but nothing was received. Still, she did not give up in her efforts.

Mr. Stonn had also returned to his station and he looked through his sensor hood at the Golayshian. He was reading lifeforms aboard and that was a comforting sign but they needed to make contact and they needed to get them off that ship.

OOC: I need Stonn to make a Intellect Test TN 12.

Also, I need to know what your character's are doing - I put Stonn back on the brdige because I do not know what he's been doing or where he's been and how he wants to assist in this current predicament. So Shawn, if you do not want him on the bridge, let me know what he is doing. That goes the same with Darkan and Tam - after the briefing, where are they heading. I will assume Tam will hurry back to his work to get the 'air cleared', so to speak.

I keep feeling like I am moving your characters about the ship and I do not want to be doing that... so if you guys could add a post regarding your character and what they are currently doing on the ship every now and then (especially when they are not part of the particular scene), this will help me with the story.

For example: Darkan's last post only gave orders to Ramos and Grahm to go and find the Princess and her entourage. Even though he only mentioned those two, go ahead an give me something on what your character goes to do with the end of the briefing. I had Grahm direct Ramos to Engineering just because that seems the likely place the Engineer would want to go.

[GandalfOfBorg]

Once back on the bridge, Darkan reiterates his order.  "Mr. Pushkin, take us in as close as you can to the Hydraen ship, hopefully it'll improve communications and sensors."

After he has given the shuttle enough time to get to the derelict ship, Darkan requests a channel to it. Once he gets the go-ahead, "What's your status? What have you found out?"

[sdrotar]

Stonn Intellect Roll (TN 12)
Roll(2d6)+3:4,5,+3 Total:12 SUCCESS

OOC: It makes sense for Stonn to be on the bridge. I've been playing him a bit mousy of late, since he's "under the influence" and realizes that somehow, he's not himself... so he's trying to stay out of the way and not let on that he's having issues.

Ramos will be trying to figure out who's in with the bottles, and how to get them out of there ASAP.

[tomcat]

"Captain," replied a voice, "we can't see anything. There are still no lights within the vessel although we are getting readings of life-signs. They seem to be concentrated within engineering and on the bridge. Lastly, captain, we see no docking collar that would allow us access. The only other option is if the Hydraens know if there are explosive devices to open the Shuttlebay."

While the shuttle pilot spoke, Stonn continued to monitor the Golayshian through his sensor hood. He watched as the faint power source on board fluctuated in power – spiking up, and then down – it seemed peculiar that it would be so... consistent. The Vulcan's brilliant mind suddenly realized that there was a pattern, both mathematical but also consistent with an old Earth form of communication called Morse Code.

"Captain," said Stonn. "I am getting a communication from the Golayshian."

To this comment both Darkan and Townshend looked to the Science Officer. "How?" was the question from that came from both.

Answering, Stonn replied, "It seems that Lt. Williams is using the power reactor's output to communicate by Morse Code. I am reading... 'Columbia... Columbia... need aid... Golay... is a loss...'."

Stonn stood erect and turned towards the command chair, "The pattern repeats."

Ramos walked towards the entrance to Engineering and he could immediately see his crewmen milling about all looking for an answer or a reason.

An ensign walked up to the Chief Engineer, "Sir, Specialist Callahan has secured himself in the Warp Core room and has overridden all security protocols on the bulkheads. We have been trying to communicate with him but he hasn't responded."

[GandalfOfBorg]

"Can sensors detect any lifesigns in the shuttlebay and is there a way they could detect some sort of reply from us?" queries a somewhat relieved Darkan.

[sdrotar]

Stonn turned to Captain Darkan.
"Sir, I suggest we order the shuttle's running lights to relay a signal in Morse Code. We could tell our landing party to make for the shuttle bay, build one functioning airlock, and then blow the bay doors. This would allow not only our crew to return to the Columbia in the Galileo, but would also allow the Hydraens to use their shuttle to evacuate the Golayshian."

He looked back at his sensor panel before speaking once more.
"The Golayshian appears to be a total loss. We must evacuate the ship quickly while we still can."


***

Down in Engineering, Ramos had already had men and women gathering cutting equipment to get into the bulkhead. But first, he thought something was worth a try...

Thumbing the comm toggle, he spoke in the hopes that the crewman had not cut off communications as well.
"This is Chief Engineer Ramos. We see that you are trapped and are coming to help you. Can you assist us?"

[GandalfOfBorg]

"And yet how will we know that they received the message from the shuttle?  It'd probably be faster if we just scan the shuttlebay for lifesigns.. if there are none, cut the doors open withe phasers and go on in."

[sdrotar]

"And yet how will we know that they received the message from the shuttle?  It'd probably be faster if we just scan the shuttlebay for lifesigns.. if there are none, cut the doors open withe phasers and go on in."

"That it likely so, Captain. However, our team has initiated Morse Code contact, and it is reasonable to assume they could do so again to confirm receipt of any message. Even though the shuttle bay may be empty at any given moment, most of the equipment our crew brought aboard would likely be on that shuttle - and it is possible that someone may enter the bay retrieving some of it - at a highly unfortunate time - if there was no warning given."

Stonn paused a moment in thought before he spoke again.
"Even if we were to cut into the bay, there would still be no functioning airlock, and no way to get our people and the Hydraens out safely. We have a competent Engineering team at our disposal on the Golayshian. They would be well-suited to the task if we can get them started on the project."

"The decision - of course - is yours, Captain. I am merely suggesting different avenues of approach." He nodded gently as he spoke.

[tomcat]

As if the two debating officers had been heard, Townshend put her hand to her ear and chimed out, "Captain, I have Lt. Williams... putting him on speaker."

"Columbia. Columbia. This is Lt. Williams. Do you read me?"

"We copy Lieutenant. What is your status?" replied Townshend.

"The last electrical discharge that coursed the nebula must have arced through the Golayshian. In her weakened power state, the ship's shielding was not enough to keep the power surge from frying out almost every system on board. The breakers tried to trip but they literally blew. The spike then proceeded to overload the APR and burnt conductors out. Though the reactor can still generate power, there is no way to transmit it to any viable system. I was using the power fluctuation to send an distress call when Ensign Pierce asked why we didn't use the Galileo comm. I felt like kicking myself."

The bridge crew could hear the young engineer laugh at his last comment. "Needless to say sir, we have 80 Hydraen crewmen over here and two shuttles that have a combined 20 man capacity. The hangar bay doors have explosive bolts but once blown... there is no more use of the hangar."

OOC: More to come... need to look at some old threads for notes

[GandalfOfBorg]

"Finally, some good news," thought Darkan.

"How many EVA suits do the Hydraens have, Lieutenant?" he asks.