RP Log: The Beginning Of The End
| Roleplay Log | |
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Location(s):
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Stardate:
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| 2022-08-27 10:14 | |
- Biology Lab <USS Buran NX-96400>
- The labs aboard the vessel have similar design queues to one another, but each is configured for a slightly different purpose. This particular lab has evidence of studies in biology and exobiology, with charts of planetary evolutions, and displays marking the origins of species in the area. There are a number of stations along the back wall, each of which can be devoted to a specific experiment or study project. A black, glossy panelling runs along the bulkheads at shoulder height near the entry door, allowing access to the LCARS interface, and tracers set into the bulkheads close to the ceiling indicate the current alert status.
[Svetzvani's Commbadge] Communications channel to Lieutenant Commander Worthington open - audio only.
[Svetzvani's Commbadge] Worthington says, "Worthington here."
You say, "James, it's Tink. Do you have a sec?"
[Svetzvani's Commbadge] Worthington says, "I do commander. How may I be of service?"
"T'Shaav suggested that I see you about being issued a hand phaser," Tink says. "She didn't tell me what's going on, but we're obviously up to something. And if something happens and I don't at least try to prepare to protect myself, Biran will... be unhappy." A smile is slightly noticeable in her voice at those last words.
[Svetzvani's Commbadge] Worthington says, "Indeed commander. Please report to my office, and I shal fill you in. I can trust you when it comes to security. I will issue you a hand phaser once you have been briefed."
You say, "Thanks, James. See you soon. Tink out."
You double tap your commbadge.
[Svetzvani's Commbadge] Connection to Lieutenant Commander Worthington terminated.
- Executive Officer's Office <USS Buran NX-96400>
- 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 smiles as the door opens. He offers a friendly wave from behind his desk.
Svetzvani steps inside and has a quick look around. "Nice place you've got here," she says playfully.
Worthington chuckles. "I'm technically entitled to the chief of security's office as well, and it's roomier," he says with a smile. "Please have a seat, and it goes without saying, what we discuss shouldn't leave this room. I would not want you to be court marshaled on our behalf."
Svetzvani smiles and takes a seat with thanks. "I'll be sure to do everything I can to stay out of that particular pot of boiling water," she says. "Though I get the feeling T'Shaav is trying to get me technically cleared for duty, just in case she needs my services in at least a semi-official capacity."
Worthington nodds. "Probably as a character witness," he says with a smile, then gets serious. "The facts on the ground are this. On Volan 3, there are 10000 prisoners held against their will, Federation included. There is a reactor designed by a saurrian scientist, dr. Ronukk, which can transmit energy to remote locations, which is how the cardassians are firing while cloaked. Strains on that system are what destroyed the USS Versailles and killed your crew, and caused all the pocket universe events. Not to mention, this capability itself is a signifficant threat. We are going to Volan to rescue the prisoners and render that reactor inoperative for good this time. It was damaged when commander Coil escaped. Our issue is, the Trill symbosis commission just had to weigh in, and pressure command to get Coil back. Commander Coil is critical to the success of this operation, so he has not been returned, at his own request. We are all as a result likely facing charges brought by the comission for kidnapping a symbiant. The commission may not be aware of the 10000 lives of the prisoners we are attempting to rescue or the quadrant wide implications of the Cardassian technology, but they likely don't care. We were ordered to Trill, and we are not following those orders. Phoenix is aiding us, and our job is to disable the weapons platform and occupy hostile forces while Phoenix beams up the 10000 prisoners. Then we'd likely need a ground team to disable that reactor. We put that out of commission, and the cardassians can no longer fire while cloaked, and there's no further risk of pocket universe formation," he concludes.
Svetzvani listens with focused attention. By the end of it, she's clearly stunned. "Ronukk? The Saurian scientist I was trying to find? It is his work that's responsible for the Versailles?"
Worthington nodds. "Work he wishes to see destroyed, yes," he replies.
"he... Why does he want it destroyed?" she asks next. The tone of her voice is very, very tense and her blue eyes glitter sharply with intensity.
Worthington responds. "Because he never intended it to be used for military purposes. He envisioned providing power to colony worlds that were struggling, not warships, and the cardassians never let him explain his work, and they overtaxed the system. He never wants to see what he created again because of the harm it caused," he concludes.
Svetzvani gets out of her chair and takes a couple of steps as if to pace the room. Instead, she stops in front of the viewscreen and stares at it as if it's a window, her gaze locked on the stars currently being displayed. She crosses her arms under her breasts and takes a couple of deep breaths. Without looking away from the screen she says, "I had come to terms with what happened to the Versailles when we thought it was a natural phenomenon that was responsible for the explosion. Then there was evidence that it might not have been natural after all. Now..." She pauses, then turns to face James, her arms still crossed. "Now we know who's responsible for those lost lives. It's... a hard pill to swallow."
Worthington stands and walks to stand next to svetzvani at his desk. "We do," he replies. "It's the Cardassian military, and don't forget it," he replies. "Dr. Ronukk ended up a prisoner in the end on Volan 3. He saw his vision for abundant power given to struggling colony worlds turned into a weapon of war used to harm. The Cardassian military is responsible for the lost lives. Their greed and ambition caused this. If we succeed, we will set this right."
Svetzvani turns back to the viewscreen, then backs up and sits on the corner of Worthi's desk, eyes staring once again at the stars on the screen. After a long few moments she asks quietly, "Where is Ronukk now? Is he here on the Buran?"
Worthington nodds. "He is helping us shut down the reactor once and for all and rescue the 10000 prisoners held on Volan 3. He is making amends. He did not mean for any of this to happen," he replies.
Tink nods after another few seconds. "I'll want to talk to him when this is all over," she says. "Will you arrange it?"
Worthington considers. "That may be possible," he says, then looks seriously at tink. "You do mean talk, right? I know losing the Versailles has to have been the roughest thing to happen to you in your career. I saw it happen with my own eyes."
Svetzvani finally pulls her eyes away from the screen to look at James. "I do mean talk, yes," she asures him. "In fact, you can be there when it happens. I just... want a little extra... closure."
Worthington nodds, and searches the face of the former counsellor aboard the Phoenix. "That will be arranged. I understand," he replies. "This has been quite terrible. I'm sure we can arrange for you to observe our mission. Seeing that technology that caused the Versailles's destruction destroyed once and for all, that may help with closure. The Cardassians do not know how to recreate dr. Ronukk's work. Once it's gone, it's gone, and he will never recreate such technology again."
Svetzvani swallows hard, then nods again. "Thanks, James," she says. "Is there anything else I should know about what's going on?"
Worthington considers. "Of course you know that Kellen's life is in the balance. He's stable right now, not getting worse, but not getting better either. Unless something is found, his future does not look bright, but he wishes to see this through," he replies. "Just know that when this is all over, captain T'Shaav and I as well as the other senior officers aboard will likely be court marshaled for our role in this. I don't want you to be court marshaled as well. You will only be a visitor here by all official metrics, so not liable in any way for what we do. It's only fair though that you know what we are doing and why," he concludes. "If there's anything I can do for you, my door stands open. Dr. Ch'Vyran as well is here, and counsellor Tarun. I know that learning how Versailles was destroyed cannot have been easy for you. I hope with this mission, we can lay that to rest."
Tink uncrosses her arms and gets to her feet again. She smooths her skirt and straightens her jacket. "I've been working on Kellen's problem with the medical staff," she says. "I'm still hopeful we can find something. As for the legal issues now in play, I didn't really know about them until just a little while ago. But if there's anything I can do to help with that as well, you know I will." She seems to relax a little, giving James a small smile.
Worthington nodds, relaxing himself. "Get us an admiral with some clout at command who can tell the commission where to stick it," he says with a smile. "Just let us know if you need anything. Let me go to the armory and grab a side arm for you. Please have a seat. I will not be long."
When James returns, Tink isn't sitting, but slowly pacing the room in thought.
Worthington enters, walking over to the commander. He hands her a type 2 phaser in its holster and a spare power cell. "Just in case, and just for self defense. I don't want the head of the Starfleet Corps of Engineers riding my ass if something were to happen with his wife. That would not bode well for my impending court marshal," he says with a smile.
Svetzvani takes the phaser and checks it as she has been trained. She stows it at her side along with the spare power cell. "Thanks. Now, let's hope I don't need to use it," she says with a wink. "You'll have it back as soon as this is over."
Worthington nodds. "I hope you do not as well. I'll have security teams posted around the ship, but they cannot be everywhere at once. Department heads are responsible for overseeing security of their departments, and crew must be vigilent in their personal effects. You will likely be on the bridge, which will both be secure and also a tempting target. We may erect forcefields to prevent beaming in to the bridge. That remains to be seen though."
Svetzvani steps forward and takes Worthi's hands in hers. "Going into something like this, I can't think of a crew I'd trust more." She smiles an easy smile, then lifts herself up on her toes and kisses him on the cheek. "Be careful, James."
Worthington smiles. "I will commander. We all will. Get some sleep. We're all going to need it soon, and we will keep you informed," he replies.