January 2005 - Post Selection
ON : Collision
Time: Day 18 - 00.25 hours - Scene: USS Dark Matter Bridge
Sleep was the very last consideration that was on anyone's mind, as the final hours, minutes and seconds ticked their way towards the launching of the Quantum Singularity Device. Indeed, many of those throughout the small fleet of vessels had thought that, these may well be the last hours of their existence in this vast universe of theirs.
Cmdr Lars Persson could not deny that he had no doubts at all, concerning what they were about to do to an almost unseen enemy. But, confidence in his crew and those who had chosen to stand by him in this, their desperate hour of need, had given him a positive outlook on what is a particularly hazardous mission.
As Lars glanced around the deck of the bridge, he saw the faces of people who were alert and ready to perform their duties. He made a mental note of Lt.Cmdr Owen Jacobs (npc), his very capable number one officer, and was glad that he agreed to come along with him on this mission. He then looked at the chrono, it was time to initiate the first stage of his plan.
00.34 hours :
"Lomax! Message to all ships. Initiate Delta Vega one zero." Lars ordered calmly. "Drop to full impulse in four hours, two minutes and forty-five seconds, mark!"
"Message sent and fully acknowledged from all ships, sir." Lomax (npc) replied, as she listened to the comm system responses.
Within seconds, all ships belonging to the Klingon and Cardassian sections of the fleet, veered off on their pre-arranged flight plans.
Lars stared at the forward viewscreen, almost expecting to catch a glimpse of the entity, but he knew only too well, that this would not be the case. For even when they were almost on top of the thing, it would be quite invisible to the eye.
He glanced down at his computer access screen, and quickly tapped in a request on the display pad. A second later and data began to scroll down for his review.
"Lomax! Subspace message to Federation Headquarters, begin : Have reached stage one of the mission. Thirteen ships will assist the USS Archimedes and myself. Post deployment rendezvous point established and course plotted. ETA of entity now three hours and twenty-three minutes and counting. Message ends! Commander Lars Persson USS Dark Matter." He looks across to where Lomax is seated.
"Subspace message sent, sir." She replied, a perplexed look shows on her young face. "Begging your pardon, sir. But, surely it will be months before they receive our message, sir? And by then it... it may be too late!!"
"Hmm! A keen observation, ensign!" Jacobs replied. "However, it's very important to keep those back home up to date on what's happening, no matter how long it takes for them to receive news." Jacobs turns slightly to face her position. "You'll understand the point of all this once you become the Captain of your own ship, ensign." He smiles slightly, and then turns to face the screen once again.
Lomax blushes at hearing the officer's words, although she does feel a little foolish for bringing up the question in the first place.
01.55 hours :
Meanwhile, over on the USS Archimedes.
Main Shuttlebay.
Captain Jon Miles (npc) is watching over the last of the pre-launch checks, eager to see the large shuttle off his ship, and into position in front of the entity when the time arrives. On other occasions, he would normally leave such tasks to his very capable subordinates. But for once, he wanted to oversee these particular tasks for himself.
After an hours work, small group of personnel disembark from the shuttlecraft, and amongst them are scientists, Angus MacDuff and the Vulcan Temna (npc), who are quietly talking to each other. They stop talking as they notice the Captain approaching them.
"Well, gentlemen! I trust that the shuttle is now ready for launching?" Miles asks them both, glancing at each man in turn.
The Vulcan is first to speak as he hands the Captain a PADD. "Allow me, as you can see sir, the shuttle has now been double checked throughout, and is complete and ready to carry out its task, sir." Temna says, his voice is almost mechanical in its tone.
"Aye, Captain, sir!" Angus quickly replies. "The primary power source to the Quantum Device has been locked in and activated. It just requires the coded signal from you, to set it all into motion, sir."
"Very good! And congratulations, gentlemen! Your part in this mission is now virtually over." Miles says as he then looks at the scot. "Ensign MacDuff, you have given me more than I had expected, and I shall inform Commander Persson of your valuable assistance in this very difficult project. Thank you both, once again!"
The two scientists nod their appreciation as the Captain leaves them to join the shuttlebay launch crew.
Angus looks at Temna and tries hard to hide the yawn that he feels is escaping his opening mouth. Temna's right brow rises as he observes Angus.
"You appear to be somewhat tired, Angus?"
"You don't know the half of it!" He replies, trying to stifle another yawn.
"Then why not get a few hours sleep? After all, our shift ended hours ago."
"Oh no!! I can't sleep at a time like this. No, I think that maybe I'll grab myself a mug of coffee. I want to be wide awake when the entity gets sent to hell and gone..." He says with a big grin.
"Really!" Temna replies in surprise.
USS Dark Matter
03.45 hours
With less than an hour to go before the USS Archimedes launches the shuttlecraft, Ensign Lomax continues to monitor all frequencies appertaining to the mission vessels, when suddenly, she begins picking up some rather heated communications emanating from the eight Cardassian ships. At the distance that now separates these ships from the Dark Matter, whatever is being said is not one-hundred per cent clear, due to spacial interference. But one thing is certain to the comm officer.
"Sir! I'm picking up some rather disturbing communications from the Cardassians." She informs the Cmdr while finding it difficult to hear everything that's being said.
"What's the problem, Ensign?" Jacobs asks her.
"They appear to be arguing between each other. Something about wanting to get things over and done with, sir!" Lomax replied.
"Damn them!!" Jacobs cursed, nodding his head in disbelief. "It looks like we may not be able to rely on them after all, Commander."
"Quite so, number one!" Lars said with just a touch of cynicism. "Keep monitoring the Cardassians, Lomax, and let me know if things get any worse?"
"Aya, aye, sir!"
04.36 hours
Just as the two ships reduce to full impulse speed, the science station alerts the Cmdr that the entity is now within range for deployment of the shuttlecraft from the Archimedes. Further to this, the entity is beginning to send out a form of wave pulse, one that's very similar to the type that it uses to detect star systems. Lars glances at the chrono.
"Lomax! Message to the Archimedes. Initiate launch of the shuttle immediately! Helm! Stand by to go to warp in two minutes on my mark... Mark!"
"Message sent and acknowledged, sir." She replies, then continues to monitor the comm. "The shuttle has been successfully launched,sir!"
A simultaneous response comes from Ensign Gradd (npc) at the helm controls.
"Ops, increase viewscreen magnification by ten."
The forward image intensifies to reveal an extremely large field of stars, stars whose luminosity is just slightly fainter than they would normally appear to be. All eyes turn to gaze at the scene. They feel a need to see what they are up against, yet there is very little at all, save a tiny speck that is the shuttlecraft.
At that moment, a barrage of explosions erupts in an area sixty-thousand kilometres off the Dark Matter's starboard bow. The Cardassians have begun to launch a totally unplanned attack. Their ships are using everything in their arsenals, and appear to be flying in total disarray.
Meanwhile, another continuous barrage of explosions marks the arranged fire-power of the Klingons, who, as planned, are situated some forty-thousand kilometres off the DM's port beam.
04.37 hours
With just seconds to go, the area of space around the Cardassians it lit up with enormously long trailing tendrils of brilliant blue/white lightning. The response to this is total confusion, the Cardassian ships try in sheer desperation, to avoid what they assume to be an attack on their own ships, by the massive entity.
The entity itself is now dangerously close, as the Cardassians turn to try and escape from their predicament. Unfortunately, as they turn, two of their number collide with each other with disastrous consequences. Parts of their vessels are blown out towards the oncoming Dark Matter.
"Red alert!! Shields up!! Brace for collision!!" Jacobs calls out.
"Full reverse and come about, mister Gradd!" Lars orders as he tenses up in his chair against possible impact from flying debris. "Attention all ships! Make ready to go to warp..."
04.38 hours
The Dark Matter eases itself around, ready to jump to warp speed. All remaining ships follow suit. Then, just as the Quantum Singularity Device is detonated, a large piece of one of the Cardassian ships collides with the port side of the ship. The jump to warp speed is suddenly initiated...
OFF :
Commander Lars Persson
Commanding Officer
USS Dark Matter
Time: Day 18 - 00.25 hours - Scene: USS Dark Matter Bridge
Sleep was the very last consideration that was on anyone's mind, as the final hours, minutes and seconds ticked their way towards the launching of the Quantum Singularity Device. Indeed, many of those throughout the small fleet of vessels had thought that, these may well be the last hours of their existence in this vast universe of theirs.
Cmdr Lars Persson could not deny that he had no doubts at all, concerning what they were about to do to an almost unseen enemy. But, confidence in his crew and those who had chosen to stand by him in this, their desperate hour of need, had given him a positive outlook on what is a particularly hazardous mission.
As Lars glanced around the deck of the bridge, he saw the faces of people who were alert and ready to perform their duties. He made a mental note of Lt.Cmdr Owen Jacobs (npc), his very capable number one officer, and was glad that he agreed to come along with him on this mission. He then looked at the chrono, it was time to initiate the first stage of his plan.
00.34 hours :
"Lomax! Message to all ships. Initiate Delta Vega one zero." Lars ordered calmly. "Drop to full impulse in four hours, two minutes and forty-five seconds, mark!"
"Message sent and fully acknowledged from all ships, sir." Lomax (npc) replied, as she listened to the comm system responses.
Within seconds, all ships belonging to the Klingon and Cardassian sections of the fleet, veered off on their pre-arranged flight plans.
Lars stared at the forward viewscreen, almost expecting to catch a glimpse of the entity, but he knew only too well, that this would not be the case. For even when they were almost on top of the thing, it would be quite invisible to the eye.
He glanced down at his computer access screen, and quickly tapped in a request on the display pad. A second later and data began to scroll down for his review.
"Lomax! Subspace message to Federation Headquarters, begin : Have reached stage one of the mission. Thirteen ships will assist the USS Archimedes and myself. Post deployment rendezvous point established and course plotted. ETA of entity now three hours and twenty-three minutes and counting. Message ends! Commander Lars Persson USS Dark Matter." He looks across to where Lomax is seated.
"Subspace message sent, sir." She replied, a perplexed look shows on her young face. "Begging your pardon, sir. But, surely it will be months before they receive our message, sir? And by then it... it may be too late!!"
"Hmm! A keen observation, ensign!" Jacobs replied. "However, it's very important to keep those back home up to date on what's happening, no matter how long it takes for them to receive news." Jacobs turns slightly to face her position. "You'll understand the point of all this once you become the Captain of your own ship, ensign." He smiles slightly, and then turns to face the screen once again.
Lomax blushes at hearing the officer's words, although she does feel a little foolish for bringing up the question in the first place.
01.55 hours :
Meanwhile, over on the USS Archimedes.
Main Shuttlebay.
Captain Jon Miles (npc) is watching over the last of the pre-launch checks, eager to see the large shuttle off his ship, and into position in front of the entity when the time arrives. On other occasions, he would normally leave such tasks to his very capable subordinates. But for once, he wanted to oversee these particular tasks for himself.
After an hours work, small group of personnel disembark from the shuttlecraft, and amongst them are scientists, Angus MacDuff and the Vulcan Temna (npc), who are quietly talking to each other. They stop talking as they notice the Captain approaching them.
"Well, gentlemen! I trust that the shuttle is now ready for launching?" Miles asks them both, glancing at each man in turn.
The Vulcan is first to speak as he hands the Captain a PADD. "Allow me, as you can see sir, the shuttle has now been double checked throughout, and is complete and ready to carry out its task, sir." Temna says, his voice is almost mechanical in its tone.
"Aye, Captain, sir!" Angus quickly replies. "The primary power source to the Quantum Device has been locked in and activated. It just requires the coded signal from you, to set it all into motion, sir."
"Very good! And congratulations, gentlemen! Your part in this mission is now virtually over." Miles says as he then looks at the scot. "Ensign MacDuff, you have given me more than I had expected, and I shall inform Commander Persson of your valuable assistance in this very difficult project. Thank you both, once again!"
The two scientists nod their appreciation as the Captain leaves them to join the shuttlebay launch crew.
Angus looks at Temna and tries hard to hide the yawn that he feels is escaping his opening mouth. Temna's right brow rises as he observes Angus.
"You appear to be somewhat tired, Angus?"
"You don't know the half of it!" He replies, trying to stifle another yawn.
"Then why not get a few hours sleep? After all, our shift ended hours ago."
"Oh no!! I can't sleep at a time like this. No, I think that maybe I'll grab myself a mug of coffee. I want to be wide awake when the entity gets sent to hell and gone..." He says with a big grin.
"Really!" Temna replies in surprise.
USS Dark Matter
03.45 hours
With less than an hour to go before the USS Archimedes launches the shuttlecraft, Ensign Lomax continues to monitor all frequencies appertaining to the mission vessels, when suddenly, she begins picking up some rather heated communications emanating from the eight Cardassian ships. At the distance that now separates these ships from the Dark Matter, whatever is being said is not one-hundred per cent clear, due to spacial interference. But one thing is certain to the comm officer.
"Sir! I'm picking up some rather disturbing communications from the Cardassians." She informs the Cmdr while finding it difficult to hear everything that's being said.
"What's the problem, Ensign?" Jacobs asks her.
"They appear to be arguing between each other. Something about wanting to get things over and done with, sir!" Lomax replied.
"Damn them!!" Jacobs cursed, nodding his head in disbelief. "It looks like we may not be able to rely on them after all, Commander."
"Quite so, number one!" Lars said with just a touch of cynicism. "Keep monitoring the Cardassians, Lomax, and let me know if things get any worse?"
"Aya, aye, sir!"
04.36 hours
Just as the two ships reduce to full impulse speed, the science station alerts the Cmdr that the entity is now within range for deployment of the shuttlecraft from the Archimedes. Further to this, the entity is beginning to send out a form of wave pulse, one that's very similar to the type that it uses to detect star systems. Lars glances at the chrono.
"Lomax! Message to the Archimedes. Initiate launch of the shuttle immediately! Helm! Stand by to go to warp in two minutes on my mark... Mark!"
"Message sent and acknowledged, sir." She replies, then continues to monitor the comm. "The shuttle has been successfully launched,sir!"
A simultaneous response comes from Ensign Gradd (npc) at the helm controls.
"Ops, increase viewscreen magnification by ten."
The forward image intensifies to reveal an extremely large field of stars, stars whose luminosity is just slightly fainter than they would normally appear to be. All eyes turn to gaze at the scene. They feel a need to see what they are up against, yet there is very little at all, save a tiny speck that is the shuttlecraft.
At that moment, a barrage of explosions erupts in an area sixty-thousand kilometres off the Dark Matter's starboard bow. The Cardassians have begun to launch a totally unplanned attack. Their ships are using everything in their arsenals, and appear to be flying in total disarray.
Meanwhile, another continuous barrage of explosions marks the arranged fire-power of the Klingons, who, as planned, are situated some forty-thousand kilometres off the DM's port beam.
04.37 hours
With just seconds to go, the area of space around the Cardassians it lit up with enormously long trailing tendrils of brilliant blue/white lightning. The response to this is total confusion, the Cardassian ships try in sheer desperation, to avoid what they assume to be an attack on their own ships, by the massive entity.
The entity itself is now dangerously close, as the Cardassians turn to try and escape from their predicament. Unfortunately, as they turn, two of their number collide with each other with disastrous consequences. Parts of their vessels are blown out towards the oncoming Dark Matter.
"Red alert!! Shields up!! Brace for collision!!" Jacobs calls out.
"Full reverse and come about, mister Gradd!" Lars orders as he tenses up in his chair against possible impact from flying debris. "Attention all ships! Make ready to go to warp..."
04.38 hours
The Dark Matter eases itself around, ready to jump to warp speed. All remaining ships follow suit. Then, just as the Quantum Singularity Device is detonated, a large piece of one of the Cardassian ships collides with the port side of the ship. The jump to warp speed is suddenly initiated...
OFF :
Commander Lars Persson
Commanding Officer
USS Dark Matter