EPISODE 6 - The Wedge (Part 2)

[tomcat]

The President of the United Federation of Planets looked into the eyes of the Klingon diplomat that sat before him. He was looking for something... trust? He wasn't sure.

"So we can both count on a stand down of forces along the Neutral Zone within the next four hours?"

"Yes. It is agreed upon by the House Tal-Hok'nah, along with the Bor-Klah, that there will be no more aggressive acts made by Klingon vessels. It seems that the information that you gave us has proven correct about the Chak-ruth clan."

The Klingon diplomat did not go into any other details; especially that of the failed coup attempt by multiple assassins on Qo'nos. He did not feel that the Federation President need be more concerned at the moment. It was bad enough that there was what appeared to be a real shooting war commencing along the Neutral Zone... the thought that the House whom he represented was politically unstable did not help with matters. He wondered if his homeworld would be the same when he was finished with his duties on Earth.

It was fortunate for them that a transmission had come to Qo'nos, via a Federation channel no less, from a Captain Vrang of the Gr'Toth stating that there could be a potential coup. The diplomat wondered how many of high standing may have been vaporized in the attempt. He hoped that it was not enough to truly destabilize the already tenuous hold that they had.

"And what of the H'atoria sector? Our information states that is the most violent of incursions by your ships across the Neutral Zone... have you spoken to the governor there? Is there any other information of Romulan interference?"

Again the Diplomat lied, "We are in communication with the Governor of H'atoria. The Imperial forces there shall be brought into line within the deadline as well. As for the Romulan Empire, there has been no response from their high seat to our communications, and thus no response to the inquiries about their involvement in all of this."

President Falin made no effort to reveal the fact that one of his government's starships was somewhere within that sector. He hoped at least. The Klingon diplomat made no effort to reveal that at the moment, there was nothing they could do about the Chak-ruth within the H'atoria sector and Qwarl who commanded that fleet was part of the conspiracy.

Falin stood, "I appreciate your efforts in bringing this terrible incident to a quick conclusion."

The Klingon diplomat stood and nodded. He quickly turned and left the presidential chamber.

Darkan felt a burning in the back of his throat. He smelled an awful smoke and figured that that was what was irritating his throat and lungs. He tried to open his eyes but they seemed to be adhered closed. His hands found his face and his knuckles dug into the dried blood that had coated his eyelids. With his eyes now able to see, he took a blurry look about the bridge. The viewscreen was a bright static fuzz and the captain quickly glanced to Townshend's station to see her lying still on the deck floor. There was moaning coming from other dark corners of the bridge from unknown crewman, and Darkan was glad for at least they were alive.

"Why was the bridge dark," he wondered to himself. The ship should have brought on the emergency lighting. He continued to look around and did see some consoles still blinking so the ship did have power. Where was engineering?

"Captain," said a voice behind him and Darkan felt his body being lifted. It was the Vulcan, Stonn. As he was lifted, a horrific pain shot up Darkan's arm from where the ulna was sheered in half, the broken bones rubbing against one another. The captain gave a sharp cry and then all went dark again.

With him unconscious, Stonn eased the captain into a more comfortable position and pillowed his head with his torn uniform. The science officer then stood and looked about at the carnage that was the bridge. Small fires burned in circuitry panels underneath station consoles; crewmen lay scattered about and the only light came from the few blinking stations and the white static on the viewscreen.


[OOC:] First of all, welcome to Episode 6. I hope you guys liked the end of the last episode and I hope this new portion of our story is as exciting.

Next, as you all know, I have not been to giving with XP and advancements since our game commencement so long ago and that is because I started all of these characters with at least 4 advancements - that being said, it is time you all earned some. Each player character is awarded two advancements, or 2,000 XP. As always, please post in an [OOC] how you will be spending the 10 picks. Congratulations.

Bridge crew all need to make a Stamina test TN 10 to awake (obviously no PC is dead... though we may have lost some main character NPC's - I am going to see how I want to play that yet).

Shawn, Stonn is currently the only one awake on the bridge. I will want you to do some narrative as to what he wants to do; whether it is to help other crewmen or to check the ship's status. If he helps crewmen, each PC gets a +3 to their stamina to regain consciosness.

Matt, Seppun, Darrin... your characters are out and require the Stamina test above. Matt, unfortunately for Darkan it is a TN 18.

Let's have some fun! 

[tomcat]

Ario and the nurse slid out of the Jeffries tube on Deck three, due to the halfling's waning strength, and then ran into the Officer's lounge. From there the duo zig-zagged back and forth up the stairs to the Deck two foyer and there up to the bridge deck. Along the way they ran into more confused crewmen - some injured, some not and willing to help.

Once on Deck one, they came before the doors to the bridge and again they were closed and the automated systems were not working. Ario noticed a small panel burning in the security lobby - a room that was used to welcome any arrivals via travel pod - filling the room with an acrid smoke.



[OOC:] You can see where you are (and how you traveled up from Deck three) if you wish by consulting the ship deckplans in the Maps/Pictures.

I need a Strength test TN 15 to open the doors to the bridge - multiple crewmen can assist and I will give up to a maximum +5 to the test.

If anyone is in the room for more than 5 minutes they will fall unconscious from the killing smoke. Putting out the fire will stop the smoke, which will then clear in ten minutes (or faster if the venting systems can be activated).

[pgholland]

Ario felt like collapsing- now was not the time for more obstacles, "Somebody get that fire out, the rest of you, let's get this door open." he shouted, coughing through the smoke as he grabbed at the door join and began to pull, straining against his broken ribs and probably dealing himself much more damage as he used his high strength to pull the doors open.
He grunted as his fingers slipped, as his chest burned- the smoke and the injuries were taking their toll, Ario couldn't keep working at this intensity, his mind was becoming less and less focused, his pheremones were out of control, his mind raced, he could scent far too much; he could feel his training failing.
The crew needed him, he had to succeed, he could not fail, there was just no option- if they were under attack the bridge needed to be operational- he had to ensure that they were, with Dr. Tam unconscious he could not risk sending any of the other medical staff to the bridge- they were too vital; he had to do it.

[OOC: Strength Test TN 15
Strength +2, -3 Broken Ribs
Roll (2d6)+2 Strength-3 Ribs Total 7-1= 6
Even with the +5 bonus that's only an 11.]

[sdrotar]

Stonn looked around the bridge; it had received a significant shock.
Only his natural Vulcan strength had kept him conscious while the others were not, and he was only suffering from superficial injuries. He quickly looked around the bridge and saw that his fellow crewmates were not so fortunate.
Of course, things could be worse, he thought - and he figured that first, it was important to make sure that this was not the case.

"Bridge to Engineering. This is First Officer Stonn - report, please."
Without waiting for a response, he thumbed a control and spoke again.

"Bridge to Sickbay. This is First Officer Stonn. Medical emergency - please dispatch an emergency medical team to the bridge immediately. The captain and other members of the bridge crew have been injured."

He wanted to tend to his shipmates as quickly as possible, but he realized that he must first ascertain if any threat still existed to the Columbia - and the Gr'Toth.

Stonn leaned over his sensor hood and began scanning...

[seppun1]

      Pushkin lays on the deck, unconscious.  The explosion that picked up and threw the Columbia had sent him flying over the Center Console and down the small set of stairs that is right in front of the console.

OOC: Stamina test TN 10
Stamina +1, -1
Roll (4,5)+0 Total : 9

[GandalfOfBorg]

Darkan fortunately remains unconscious, emitting a groan now and then from the irritation of his nigh severed arm.  Barely aware of it, his minds swirls with thoughts recounting the recent events: the starship battle, sensor mission, and his longing for his fiance.

TN 18 Stamina - (6+5)+3=14

[tomcat]

[OOC:] Primary NPC rolls:

Grahm Stamina test TN 10
Stamina +2, Fit +1
Roll(2d6)+3: 1,5,+3 Total:9 +3 (Courage) = 12 SUCCESS

Townshend Stamina test TN 10
Stamina +1
Roll(2d6)+1: 1,4,+1 Total:6 +3 (from Grahm) FAILED

I will post their advancement picks tonight.



Stonn sat down to his station and looked into the hood only to see darkness... no power to his console.

The Vulcan thought about the current conditions - life support seemed to be operational, though the air scrubbers were not drafting the smoke; the ship had gravity; some stations were showing console lights but no functions... it seemed illogical. The ship's emergency status display showed that the ship had inner-sealed itself with all departmental doors secured.

The worst thing that Stonn noticed was that the ships LCARS system was not replying - it would not allow him to change his displays from one system to another. The computer core seemed to be scrambled and was stuck and unresponsive... at least that was a layman's term that might be used.

Stonn turned his head to see Grahm and a couple other people rousing. The tactical officer rubbed his head and pulled himself up off the floor, steadying himself as he did with the weapon's console. He looked to the Vulcan sitting at his station while their fellow bridge crew lay about, some motionless. John didn't know what to feel looking at the second-in-command - either ready to burst out with laughter from the comical scene, or to flare into a rage for the Vulcan not helping anyone.

"What's the status?" Grahm asked his XO, as he moved across the bridge to first ascertain the captain's well-being and then more quickly to Townshend.

Suddenly there was a banging on the bridge doors - someone outside was trying to open them.

[sdrotar]

Stonn sat down to his station and looked into the hood only to see darkness... no power to his station.

The Vulcan thought about the current conditions - life support seems to be operational, though the air scrubbers are not drafting the smoke; some stations are showing console lights but no functions... it seemed illogical. The ship's emergency status display showed that the ship had inner-sealed itself with all departmental doors secured.

The worst thing that Stonn noticed was that the ships LCARS system was not replying - it would not allow him to change his displays from one system to another. The computer core seemed to be scrambled and was stuck and unresponsive... at least that was a layman's term that might be used.

Stonn turned his head to see Grahm and a couple other people rousing. The tactical officer rubbed his head and pulled himself up off the floor, steadying himself as he did with the weapon's console. He looked to the Vulcan sitting at his station while their fellow bridge crew lay about, some motionless. John didn't know what to feel looking at the second-in-command - either ready to burst out with laughter from the comical scene, or to flare into a rage for the Vulcan not helping anyone.

"What's the status?" asked Grahm to his XO, as he moved across the bridge to first ascertain the captain's well-being and then more quickly to Townshend.

Suddenly there was a banging on the bridge doors as someone outside tried to open the environmentally sealed doors.

"Mr. Grahm, I am relieved to see you ambulatory," said Stonn. "I have requested a status report from Engineering and a medical team from Sickbay, but have not received any response. All computer systems are off-line."

He noticed the look in Grahm's eye. He knew that most humans would have attended to their injured companions before doing anything else, but logically, Stonn realized that if a threat still remained, it was imperative to ascertain that before all were lost. He did not expect Grahm to understand; such was the nature of working with humans - and Stonn understood that.

Fortunately for him, he was First Officer, and as Captain Darkan had mentioned to him once, "being in command means that you don't have to explain yourself."
He did what he thought was right, a logical course of action; and followed it through. He had performed his duty.

Now, duty called for action. He moved toward Townsend first, while Grahm knelt by the captain... and then there was a sound at the turbolift doors. Certainly, if the emergency release was functional, there would be no need to knock.

Stonn strode to the doors, placed his fingers between them, and pulled.

***

Strength Roll
Roll(2d6)+10: 2,5,+10 Total:17

***

OOC: By the way - I'm not trying to make Stonn a Grade-A jerk; I'm just trying to get into the character of someone emotionless...

[tomcat]

[OOC:] Not taken as a jerk at all... it was rp'ed perfectly. I am glad you fed off of Grahm's 'human' expressions re: his XO! Makes for classic Trek relations. 

Also Shawn, your strength bonus is only +2... 

Strength Roll
Roll(2d6)+2: 2,5,+2 +5 (for assitance from others) Total:14

[pgholland]

[OOC: Not the turbolift... unless it's not us...]
Ario closed his eyes, tried to work past the burning chest pains and the now sodden make-shift bandage even as he tried to carry out one of the many meditation rituals he had been taught, even as he pulled at the door a seocnd time, trying to wrench it open again.
He could feel his lungs filling with smoke, and knew that his weak constitution would mean he was more susceptible than most of his crew- just one of the downfalls of his Deltan heritage, and others were surfacing now too...-they needed to work fast if they were going to ensure the bridge crew's safety.
[OOC: Strength Test TN 15
Strength +2, -3 Broken Ribs
Roll (2d6) (6,1)-1= 7 total]

[tomcat]

[OOC:] I will consider the doors opened if Stonn wants to throw in a Courage on that roll above... but I want to wait to hear from Shawn.

[sdrotar]

[OOC:] I will consider the doors opened if Stonn wants to throw in a Courage on that roll above... but I want to wait to hear from Shawn.

OOC: Go for it. Our unconscious, mangled-armed captain would probably appreciate it.

[tomcat]

With a group effort, the doors to the bridge opened an inch, a foot, and then another - enough to allow the medical team and some other accompanying crewmen inside. Stonn looked into Ario's face and saw the apparent Vulcan features, but that he was not full-blooded.

"Interesting," thought the XO.

The nurse pushed past all and made her way about the bridge. She went first to the captain, checking his still form for any potential hazards to neck or spine. Her keen eyes quickly saw the break in his arm and knew that it would be quite painful if he were to wake up. Filling her hypo, she gave Darkan a pain-killer and secured his arm to his torso with shreds of his uniform tunic; then with a crewman and Ario to assist, waved smelling salts under his nose. The amonia brought Darkan back to consciousness and caused him to cough - the affects of which made him catch his breath even through the pain-killer.

"I need to get you to sickbay captain," she said to him, making sure he understood.

"She needs help too," Grahm cried out. He held the still form of Jess who had yet responded to any of his attempts at waking her.

Ario came over to where Townshend lay, "I will take over from you, sir."

This freed Grahm up, though unwillingly, and he stood up to look at Mr. Stonn. "Well... what's first?" he asked, though he pretty much knew.

Around the bridge, the non-seriously wounded officers were being awakened by the nurse and soon Pushkin and Anderson were standing there with Grahm and Stonn.

[sdrotar]

This freed Grahm up, though unwillingly, and he stood up to look at Mr. Stonn. "Well... what's first?" he asked, though he pretty much knew.

Around the bridge, the non-seriously wounded officers were being awakened by the nurse and soon Pushkin and Anderson were standing there with Grahm and Stonn.

Stonn nodded in thanks to the medical team as they departed, then turned to Grahm.

"First, gentlemen," the Vulcan intoned, "we need to restore power to the bridge, if possible, in order to determine how severe the damage to Columbia is. If that is not possible from here, we will need to disperse to areas where it can be restored; using personal communicators if necessary. Communication with the Gr'Toth is also imperative. There will be Klingon scouts arriving at our location within the hour, and we do not know their disposition. Time is of the essence."

He went back to his science station, laid down under it and removed the access panel...

[pgholland]

Ario looked up from the extremely attractive human female, " Communicators are non-functional sir, I tried contacting you twice on mine." he took a deep breath and tried to purge the burning desires rising; he couldn't keep this up for long.
"Somebody get the doors to the conference room and Captain's Ready-Room open, Nurse we can't risk getting these people to sickbay until the turbolifts are working again, the Captain certainly can't climb down the ladders, plus this way he will be close to the action should anything else happen. I'll get to work on helping the painkillers as well."
With that he looked around for somebody to help him with Townshend- with his cracked ribs he knew he couldn't lift her, not with any safety or certainty. "If we could make this a quick job, I have some wounds I'd like to get seen to at some point."