AQ/D01 - Bridge

[Beno Velaul]

<<<, Ready Room<<

Returning from the Ready Room Beno was determined to prevent this war, there was nothing good that can come from it. As Beno was coming out, the first person that she wanted to talk to was Jez. She had an amazing idea, and she should explore it. "Lieutenant Jez I apologize for not getting back to you sooner, I think that tapping into the shuttles systems might yield some results, at least give us a better idea what we are facing." 

Beno looked up at the screen and noticed he was shrinking the search area, the smaller the better. They didn't have much time to look for answers, and when it expires it will go from bad to worse. "Lieutenant Jez you are pretty perceptive, our original Ambassador is suspected of such actions. Suspected of being involved with a major crime family, they no doubt are going to attempt tip the scales in their favor. Perhaps with an offer that she can not refuse." It was a small joke based on the circumstances, now it was getting close to dealing with the mob. I would like you to handle a class three probe to the shuttle if your first approach doesn't work, it can give us what the shuttle would be capable of."

She also wanted a backup plan for if the first one didn't work. "If we are going to be on Shore Leave, we might want to look like we are on it. "Lieutenant Khasim I think it might be time to send out the Armadillo, its an off road vehicle that is also a lot of fun to be in." It was a shame that Beno couldn't just leave the Bridge and go, but sometimes those were the breaks. Also we have exactly twenty four hours to figure out what happened, and I need to know everything you do no matter how small." At this point Beno wasn't sure what the best course of action was, but they were getting closer.

==Tag Everyone==

[Jez Mala]

Jez cringed slightly when Commander Velaul said, "Lieutenant Jez I apologize for not getting back to you sooner, I think that tapping into the shuttle’s systems might yield some results, at least give us a better idea of what we are facing."

Jez had been trying desperately to connect to the shuttle's systems, but the shuttle's power was so low that she couldn’t connect, she made several attempts, but nothing seemed to be working. The way Jez saw it they had a few options. The Aquila could try a power transfer to the shuttle, but that would give the Aquila’s position away, thus making them an easy target. They could send a small two or three man away team to investigate the shuttle crash site, and retrive the shuttles logs, and investigate the area to possibly identify the person or persons who took the communications array.

Jez’s eyes went wide when Commander Velaul said, "Lieutenant Jez you are pretty perceptive, our original Ambassador is suspected of such actions. Suspected of being involved with a major crime family, they no doubt are going to attempt to tip the scales in their favor. Perhaps with an offer that she can not refuse." It was a small joke based on the circumstances, now it was getting close to dealing with the mob. I would like you to handle a class three probe to the shuttle if your first approach doesn't work, it can give us what the shuttle would be capable of."

The idea of a woman leading a coup d’etat in this situation reminded Jez of Empress Dowager Cixi, the most important woman in Chinese history. She ruled China for decades and brought a medieval empire into the modern age. At the age of sixteen, in a nationwide selection for royal consorts, Cixi was chosen as one of the emperor's numerous concubines. But the tactics of the Empress included more ruthless measures as well. Historians widely believe that Cixi was responsible for the poisoning of her own son the Emperor in 1875. Likewise, she pushed Prince Gong, the architect of the Self Strengthening Movement into semi-retirement in 1884.

“Forgive me Commander Velaul, I have been trying to connect to the shuttle's systems, but it appears that the shuttle lacks enough power to establish a link with us.I can have a Class Three Probe ready in a few minutes. I would recommend a small two or three person Away= Team to go and investigate the shuttle.” Suggested Jez. “Which would you prefer, Commander.” Added Jez.



== Tag Velaul.==

[Beno Velaul]

There was no reason for Jez to feel bad about things beyond her control, the fact that the ship had little to no power gave Beno something to think about. One of them was why would a shuttle be that low on power? There really wasn't a reason she could think of, other than outside sources.

"Lieutenant there isn't a reason to feel bad, just because we didn't get the results we wanted doesn't mean we didn't get the one we need."  Beno thought about it further and it made sense to send out that probe first. "Let's send out that probe first, I want to make sure it's safe to send a shuttle first." There was a chance the environment could drain a power source real fast.

==Tag==

[Jez Mala]

Jez began programming the probe, making sure that all the necessary functions were on board, things like Weather,Topography, Energy output, Jez wasn;t sure what class probe to use. She reviewed the different classes of probes. She tapped away on her station

[ Class 1
Speed - .5c
Range - 200,000 km

Short-range astronomical probe which analyzes EM radiation, interstellar chemistry, and subspace fields.

Class 2
Speed - .65c
Range - 400,000 km

Short-range astronomical probe which analyzes EM radiation, interstellar chemistry, and subspace fields.

Class 3
Speed - .65c
Range - 1,200,000 km

These probes land on planets and return samples, thus providing a detailed on-site analysis of the planet. Crews can also use Class 3 probes to analyze the capabilities of enemy starships. They have 'stealth' capabilities.

Class 4
Speed - .6c
Range - 3,500,000 km

These probes perform close observation of stars and other high-energy phenomena.

Class 5
Speed - Warp 2, .5c
Range - 430 billion km

These probes land on planets and return samples, thus providing a detailed on-site analysis of the planet.

Class 6
Speed - .8c
Range - 430 billion km

Communicator relays and emergency beacons. They cannot attain warp speed (to make it harder to detect them with subspace sensors), but have high sublight velocities. When a Class 6 probe exhausts its fuel supply, it coasts and broadcasts a recovery signal toward Federation Space. The probe's navigational module facilitates recovery and trajectory tracking.

Class 7
Speed - Warp 1.5, .5c
Range - 450 billion km

These probes orbit an inhabited planet for up to three months to collect information about its inhabitants and relay it to the ship. They have 'stealth' capabilities.

Class 8
Speed - Warp 8/9
Range - 12 light years at Warp 8, 6.5 hours at Warp 9.

Long range sensor probes. In crisis situations, they can be used to send a lone passenger on an emergency mission. The range of a class 8 probe depends on its speed. Its long range sensors have a range of 6 light years.

Class 9
Speed - Warp 8/9
Range - 14 days (76 light years) at Warp 8, 12 hours at Warp 9.

Long range sensor probes. In crisis situations, they can be used to send a lone passenger on an emergency mission. The range of a class 9 probe depends on its speed. Its long range sensors have a range of 12 light years. ]

None of them seemed to meet the needs of the mission. After a few minutes she decided to combine the best abilities of the Class three and the class five probe, as well as the analytical ability of the class one probe to detect EM radiation, interstellar chemistry, and subspace fields. Just to cover all the bases.

Once she was satisfied she launched the probe. “Probe launched Commander.” Announced Jez, her tone confident. Jez stood there waiting. She knew it would take a little while for any results to come in.



== Tag All.==
==GM Input: Does the probe provide any meaningful results. ==

[Samira Khasim]

Samira looked at Coppola. "Interesting deductions, Ensign," she said. "It makes sense; a criminal of any kind wouldn't want to draw attention to his or herself."

With Coppola's suggestion for a search grid and at Mala's indications - the underlying idea that the attackers were prepared, had waited for the shuttle - her suggestion at an away team made Samira furrow her brow.

"That's going to require something where we can't get the attention of the authorities," Samira said. "Logically, if the locals knew of a second away team covertly operating, they'd take offense to the first. However, it's definitely something we can't ignore; I'll talk to Commander Velaul."

But then, she heard Commander Velaul returning. Speak of the devil. Samira stood and listened. Clearly Commander Velaul may have picked up on the conversation, and her suggestion of using a land vehicle while making pretend to be on shore leave made absolute sense. "That's an excellent idea. Pretending to be on shore leave can definitely provide us with a cover. Hopefully the local civilians and authorities won't mind us being down there."

She nodded. "Understood, Commander. I'll need a team to come along...and probably a change of garb to look like we're going on Shore Leave."

==Tag Beno, Jez and Coppola==

[GM-07]

== For Coppola ==

Based on the size of its tracks, the vehicle would have had trouble navigating tight city streets, and it would have attracted significant attention if it had tried. Coppola was able to surmise that the vehicle probably had not traveled further than the industrial manufacturing district that served as a sort of buffer between the wasteland on one side and the city of Saule on the other.


== For Mala ==

The Class 3 probe was the strongest choice based on Mala’s needs, particularly for its stealth capability and ability to withstand planetary landing. The probe’s sensor array also had the ability to analyze local atmospheric conditions, allowing it to detect EM radiation and subspace anomalies.

Various satellites and ground-based scanners continued to bombard Aquila, but no sensor beams followed the probe as it journeyed down to the surface. It seemed that the Riani did not detect the probe.


== For All ==

After a few minutes, the probe successfully landed and established a feed to Aquila’s computer. The dark sand of the wasteland shimmered under the light of two of Riani’s moons. As atmospheric sensors came online, the probe reported high levels of toxic chemicals in the surrounding area, such that long-term exposure could cause negative health effects. Fittingly, there were no animals in the probe’s landing area, and only a few brittle plants dusted the sloping hills.

The probe focused its visual array toward the site of the shuttle crash. From this vantage point, it was clear that the shuttle had held up quite well. The forward section of the shuttle had crumpled on impact, but the small, two-person cockpit was intact. There was no sign of the shuttle’s pilot or its passenger.

The odd scorching that the Khasim had noted appeared to have been caused by a particle weapon. The hull plating on the shuttle’s spine had been pried open and the warp engine had been torn out.

[Daniel Brooks]

<<<Transporter Room 1<<<

Captain Brooks rode the turbolift contemplating the conversation he had with the Ambassador and the news he was given by Commander Velaul of the Federations position in all this.

The doors slid open and Daniel stepped out onto the Bridge and moved around to where Commander Velaul was.

"Situation report number one?" he asked looking at the view screen briefly before back at the Commander.

== Tag Commander Velaul and anyone else==

[Shione Kurasa]

Not long after the Captain arrived a message from the surface came over the Bridge Comm

[Commander Kurasa to the bridge.

Given the nature of the situation, I would like to request additional security personnel namely; Ensign Mala and Security NCO Taylor Reese to beam down to my location as soon as it is convenient. And should Commander Velaul wish to accompany them. I would request that all arrive with Phasers. We are looking at a potentially troubling trip to meet a senior government official and we could face unknown potential threats, Kurasa over.]

==Tags==

[Beno Velaul]

Beno couldn't be more proud than she was at this minute, they were coming up with brilliant results. She didn't notice at first that the Captain came on the Bridge, when he asked for a situation report. Even if there wasn't much to update, at least there was something.

"Captain what we have so far is proof that the shuttle was attacked, and the Ambassador is missing presumed to be alive. We have been making remarkable progress in looking for where, the search area starts in the industrialized zone on the planet" It was a good place to start considering how big the search area could have been, still it didn't reduce the degree of difficulties. 

"We have also been scanned from the planet quite a lot from the planet, different governments I am assuming are competing for the same satellite to scan us. They are busy competing with each other to scan us that they are providing us with extra security as a result, the probe we sent went un noticed as well. 

There was a sudden communication from the surface. [Commander Kurasa to the bridge.
Given the nature of the situation, I would like to request additional security personnel namely; Ensign Mala and Security NCO Taylor Reese to beam down to my location as soon as it is convenient. And should Commander Velaul wish to accompany them. I would request that all arrive with Phasers. We are looking at a potentially troubling trip to meet a senior government official and we could face unknown potential threats, Kurasa over.]

Hearing the message, Beno wanted to be down there to figure things out more. There were lots of answers down there, they just needed to find them. "Captain with your permission I would like permission to join the away team." At this point if there was anything that Daniel needed to tell her he would. 

==Tag==

[Jez Mala]

Jez stood waiting for the probes' telemetry, hoping that they would finally get some answer to this most intriguing mystery, she had the same feeling as she got when her and her parents would uncover an unexpected room or hyphen library in an ancient palace, especially where such rooms were never to be expected.

Jez couldn’t help but wonder how this was going to play out. Was the Aquila witnessing a possible Civil war one nation state trying to dominate the rest of the planet?

Jez reviewed the probe's flight path and chose what she thought would provide the best success. She was glad she chose to go with a slightly modified class 3 Probe, the Class 3 probe was the strongest choice based on Mala’s needs, particularly for its stealth capability and ability to withstand planetary landing. The probe’s sensor array also had the ability to analyze local atmospheric conditions, allowing it to detect EM radiation and subspace anomalies.

Various satellites and ground-based scanners continued to bombard Aquila, but no sensor beams followed the probe as it journeyed down to the surface. It appeared as if the Riani did not detect the probe.

As Jez was waiting a message came through.

[Commander Kurasa to the bridge.

Given the nature of the situation, I would like to request additional security personnel namely; Ensign Mala and Security NCO Taylor Reese to beam down to my location as soon as it is convenient. And should Commander Velaul wish to accompany them. I would request that all arrive with Phasers. We are looking at a potentially troubling trip to meet a senior government official and we could face unknown potential threats, Kurasa over.]

Excellent now we might be able to get some answers to this mystery thought Jez.

Jez looked at Commander Velaul and the Captain, “Sirs, if we are going to beam down, might I suggest civilian attire, Star Fleet uniforms might draw negative attention to ourselves .” Suggest Jez.



== Tag All. ==