RP Log: Spilling the Tea to Civilians
| Roleplay Log | |
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Location(s):
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Stardate:
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| 2024-11-27 02:08 | |
- Executive Officer's Office <USS Kestrel NCC-97802>
- Not as elaborate as the Ready Room, this small office does provide the XO a private space to conduct meetings and for paper work. The primary feature of the office is a wooden desk with a high-backed chair behind it. Upon the desk is a desktop terminal. To the fore of the desk are two additional chairs.
- Upon the opposite bulkhead from the desk is a viewscreen, in direct line of sight from someone sitting behind the desk.
- The carpeting is a soft beige with the walls matching in a slightly darker tone.
Worthington stands up as he hears the door open.
Kellen still looks less than thrilled, "Hello James. So just how many of these raiders are a threat?"
Worthington considers, jesturing to a seat and taking one of his own. "Well, there's the one that attacked me and captain Ki'Vek's crew while we were testing some new shield technology. At least a couple confirmed with this new weapons tech, not all have it. Echo papa 607, that designation rings back to some old reports of an automated weapons manufacturing planet that killed off its own inhabitants through an intelligent AI that adapted its weapons." He pauses. "But, that's only part of the problem. Starfleet has an asset missing. Missing, and presumed stolen, is what we think."
Kellen shakes his head, "Better not be my ship you're talking about. Admiral Kadn himself signed off on my recovery and salvage of the Hera."
Worthington shakes his head. "Honestly, given what it is, I wish it was. Now," he pauses. "I've been specifically ordered not to tell you any more than I just did. Let's just say though, this ship makes those raiders look like shuttles by comparison, and has some of their advantages, plus others of its own. It's not an old ship like yours. Quite the opposite."
"That raider isn't as much of a joke as I made it out to be, if I hadn't had ship built for such encounters..." Kellen trails off. "There are other UFPCA ships that would crumple like a tin can under that kind of attack. Even without the Echo Papa weapons. How did they get type X photons?"
Worthington looks thoughtfully. "Who knows," he says. "I've never seen a type X photon before seeing one of these raiders. I still can't find the specs for them. Likely someone outside the Federation is making good money building ships for pirates and criminals. Also, not every theta-class is identical. I've seen at least two different ones with different shielding configurations for example." He pauses. "But yes, most ships would be decimated in an encounter with these raiders, and their shields are no joke. No UFPCA ship I've ever seen can even scratch their paint."
Kellen sighs and finally takes the offered seat, "Starfleet should've put out a warning. These idiots with their fancy toys can knock the hell out of trade." He rubs his chin thoughtfully, "Why Orion though? All the systems up here are far from Orion."
Worthington considers. "The admiral has us patroling anywhere there has been known pirate activity, past or present. Orion, admitedly, is pretty far from all the other worlds. Pree'nos is nearby though, and we were fired at previously by that same raider. It was a warning, not a serious threat. They didn't even drop out of warp. Just unloaded a torpedo and blasted out of the system. These patrol ships also suck at running things down, as I previously stated. They stick out, are visible from a long way away, have a slow warp drive, and our long range sensors mean nothing when dealing with a stealth craft." He sighs. "The best way to catch them I think, is to beat them at their own game. Lay in wait somewhere, jump them, and hit them with enough firepower to break down their shields and disable their engines. From there, systematically take out their shields and weapons, and see if that gets them in a talkative move. Alas."
Kellen shakes his head, "Doubt that you can get enough damage fast enough, from what I saw in that encounter. I was dishing out more damage with my beams than they were after all and barely scratched their shields just like they barely scratched mine."
Worthington smiles. "But, you couldn't fire 8 type 2 quantum torpedoes on a single salvo," he says. "Our phasers would take a long time to hit them too, but they got a taste of them as they left. Still, one solid shot from our torpedoes, and they'd be limping at least, so we could then run them down. Disable their warp field and hit them again and again. The main issue is getting close enough and keeping them at impulse. The only way I see that even having a remote chance in hell of working, is if they believe they will win the fight, and they start it, which means, well, baiting a trap. This is getting well outside Kestrel's mission parameters now, but these raiders are a serious threat. I'd have to discuss this with the admiral. Get a target package. A ship that appears helpless, with enough shields to last like yours did, and backup not too far off. Plus, maybe a surprise or 2 in the torpedo tubes. Remember that cardassian freighter that was a trap for us? I'm thinking now along similar lines, but for a different purpose."
"I doubt they'll fall for that," Kellen says after a moment of thought. "Otherwise they would have been preying on other ships and I would've heard of them before this. I'll have to send word out through the UFPCA contacts, even the UFPCA itself, informing them that Starfleet is hiding threats from us and we have to be very careful. Maybe even upgrade our ships for combat." He raises an eyebrow, "Especially if Starfleet has lost a top of the line ship."
Worthington nods. "As I recall, they attacked you initially because they thought you were Starfleet," he says. "A ship they could take on. They were reasonably confident in that regard. I still think we can bait a trap, but it has to look good. It's something to talk to the admiral about anyway." He pauses. "And, if you do hear anything about a missing Starfleet ship rocking up somewhere it definitely doesn't belong, please reach out. Keep it on secure channels though. Visual subspace comms or encrypted data transmissions. In the meantime, I think I'll have a word with the admiral about these raiders, and how we might do something about them. They're becoming a more serious threat by the day. We can't stand by and watch civilian ships like yours get attacked, or our own ships, for that matter."
Kellen shakes his head, "If you can't stand by and watch civilians get attacked, you'd tell us there's a threat, James. Hiding behind the Admirals is beneath you. And now they know that if they attack a Starfleet ship, another will show up. Even if Serendipity is no longer Starfleet, she looks like a Starfleet ship with a fancy paint job as that raider accused us of. And UFPCA uses a lot of old Starfleet hulls."
Worthington shakes his head. "You act like I both know what Starfleet tells the UFPCA, and like I have a say in the matter. You of all people should know better. We aren't going around withholding things from you on purpose. I thought Starfleet was actually keeping the civilians in the loop. You know, doing their damn job. I'm not hiding behind admirals by expecting other people to do the right thing," he says with a sigh. "I also can't take this ship and run off mission without approval, outside of emergencies. I'll be the first to come running to a distress call if I hear it though. But yes, these raiders are Starfleet's problem, and we need to find a solution."
Kellen rises from his chair, "I know full well what Starfleet is, James. I helped fight to keep Starfleet what it should be, don't forget. Unfortunately, it appears to me that Starfleet's forgotten about the civilians in their interest in keeping secrets. Especially buliding new warship designs instead of exploration ships like the press releases say." He pauses and sighs, "It's good seeing you again, James. And I appreciate your showing up to help out, but Starfleet has a problem again and it's not the raiders. It's the mindset and the long term focus."
Kellen shakes the offered hand, "Sorry to have come down on you like that, but dammit James, Starfleet is supposed to be better than this. At least where the raiders are concerned."
Worthington nods back. "I know. It's really frustrating," he says. "To feel nearly powerless. Our chances of finding our objective on this patrol is really low. We have to just hope we run across it. To feel nearly powerless at times, well, I know that feeling. Rest assured, I will contact you directly if and when we learn more about the raiders. The other thing, it's highly classified as it is, and I probably told you more than the admiral wanted, but what the hell. Just be warned. If you see a fancy looking prototype coming your way, run, and let us know where it is. I've been told in no uncertain terms, Kestrel isn't even a match for it."
Kellen frowns, "Better hope that it isn't in the hands of these raiders then. They don't appear to have rules, unlike everyone else I know. But if I see something, I'll let someone know." He gives a wave before heading out.