Arcadia Mission 11102.21
The Echo of Your Last Goodbye: Episode 4
 
starring
 
Jeremy Castro as FCO Lieutenant Commander Logan Cartwright 
Christina Doane as SC Captain Paige Juliet Harker 
Jeffrey G. Brown as XO Commander Kraight 
Eduardo Oneto as CEO LtCmdr. Edward Luc On 
Karriaunna Scotti as CNS Commander Azhure Powers 
Christopher Dickinson as CSEC Commander Billy Bob Powers, Jr.
Bruce Oriani as CSO Lieutenant Commander Trikk Starr
Mitch Travis as CO Captain Sulek
 
with
 
Keith LaHue, Ship Manager
 
Last time on Arcadia: ​ The USS Quirinus was dispatched to the Delvian system to investigate the loss of contact with the Federation. They discovered the system had been destroyed, with all of the inhabitants dead. They followed the trail and discovered that a living ship was responsible. When contacted, it emitted a bone chilling 'scream' that rendered Kraight unconscious. It is several hours later, and Kraight will hopefully regain consciousness soon.
 
=/\==/\=  BEGIN Arcadia Mission 11102.21 : The Echo of Your Last Goodbye  =/\==/\= 
=/\==/\=  Episode 4  =/\==/\=

XO_Cmdr_Kraight says:
:: lying on a biobed in Sickbay, unconscious ::
Host CO_Capt_Sulek says:
::enters sickbay::
CNS_Cmd_Azhure says:
:: Standing next to Kraight, her eyes on the bioreadings.::
Host CO_Capt_Sulek says:
Azhure: Any change?
CSec_Cmdr_Powers says:
:: Tries to stare at the forward viewscreen, wondering if his eyes will ever adjust and let him watch for more than six seconds ::
CNS_Cmd_Azhure says:
:: For a moment more she looked at the screen before turning toward Sulek.::
CNS_Cmd_Azhure says:
CO:  All signs read stable.  He should or could wake, any time.
Host CO_Capt_Sulek says:
Azhure: It was Kraight once before with one of these ships.  While it is illogical to believe in fate or predestination, it is rational to believe that with his connection it will once again be he who deduces the solution.
CSec_Cmdr_Powers says:
<OPS_Richard> :: Glances over his shoulder at Commander Powers ::  CSec: It's something else, isn't it?
CSO_LtCmdr_Starr says:
::watching the science monitors::
CSec_Cmdr_Powers says:
OPS: "Something else" might be somewhat of an understatement there.
CNS_Cmd_Azhure says:
CO:  There is obviously a connection... and when he mentioned its name... either this vessel is the same or had some connection to Serena.
XO_Cmdr_Kraight says:
:: begins to stir ::
Host CO_Capt_Sulek says:
Azhure: Agreed
CSO_LtCmdr_Starr says:
*CO*: Captain. Scanners show nothing on the ship other than it being a bio-mechanoid.
CSec_Cmdr_Powers says:
<OPS_Richard> :: Inclines his head in agreement ::  CSec: If it's any consolation, the sensors are having about as much fun with it as our eyes.
Host CO_Capt_Sulek says:
Azhure: It destroyed an entire system, whether accidentally or not we do not know. What we do know is that we do not have the power to stop it here.

ACTION: Kraight's eyes flutter open, and slowly the face of Captain Sulek comes into focus. Though his Vulcan countenance remains as impassive as ever, the hand on Kraight's shoulder is an indication of just how concerned Sulek is.

CNS_Cmd_Azhure says:
CO:  What happened last time?  I understood her to be destroyed, in ways that count, if not from Kraight's mind.
Host CO_Capt_Sulek says:
*Starr*: Understood.  Run comparisons on this ship with one you will find in computer storage.  See if this one has any differences.  The ship was called Serena.
CSO_LtCmdr_Starr says:
*CO*: Understood. ::begins running comparisons::
Host CO_Capt_Sulek says:
Azhure: We do not know that she was destroyed.  The connection that Kraight constructed nearly killed him but we never adequately ascertained what exactly happened.
CNS_Cmd_Azhure says:
CO:  It simply... vanished?
Host CO_Capt_Sulek says:
Azhure: Perhaps… or it may have translated to another subspace level.  We do not know.
Host CO_Capt_Sulek says:
::he looks down:: Kraight: Commander... you are again with us?
CSec_Cmdr_Powers says:
:: Rubs his eyes ::  OPS: I doubt that's helpful, mister.  TO: Nishi, anything we can do about it?  Maybe just put up a nice picture in its place.
XO_Cmdr_Kraight says:
:: looks around ::  CO, CNS: How long have I been out?
Host CO_Capt_Sulek says:
Kraight: Three hours 21 minutes and…  :: pauses ::  …32 seconds.
CSec_Cmdr_Powers says:
<TO_Lt_Nishi>: Maybe just aft view, Commander?
CNS_Cmd_Azhure says:
:: she started to respond, only to pause as the captain gives a more exact number.::  XO:  What he said.
XO_Cmdr_Kraight says:
::weakly ::  CO: Captain... that ship... it's not Serena. It touched my mind, somehow, on the bridge. I think it was able to do that because I carry Serena's memories. It... he... has been searching for her.
CSO_LtCmdr_Starr says:
*CO*: Though I can't make out exactly what they are, there appears to be differences in appearances, and the sensors aren't really being able to tell me more.
CNS_Cmd_Azhure says:
CO:  Then the connection.
Host CO_Capt_Sulek says:
Kraight: He? A mate?  CSO Starr is running comparisons as we speak.
CNS_Cmd_Azhure says:
XO:  Can you tell us anything else?  You were the only one to become unconscious... though it may take a few days for my ears to return to normal.
CSec_Cmdr_Powers says:
:: Turns and gives his former subordinate a non-plussed stare ::  TO: Really?
XO_Cmdr_Kraight says:
CNS, CO: He calls himself Orpheus, and yes, he was Serena's mate. Orpheus believes that Serena was not destroyed when her drive collapsed, but that she was thrown into a parallel universe. He has been searching for her for... centuries. Time, it seems, flows differently in some parallel realities than it does in our own.
CSec_Cmdr_Powers says:
<TO_Lt_Nishi> :: Shrugs and glances down at her console ::
Host CO_Capt_Sulek says:
*Starr*: Understood.  ...::listening to Kraight::  For future reference the ship we face is called Orpheus.
Host CO_Capt_Sulek says:
Kraight: A most interesting name.
XO_Cmdr_Kraight says:
CO: Yes... I noticed that, too.
CNS_Cmd_Azhure says:
CO/XO:  Why did Orpheus destroy a star system?
CSec_Cmdr_Powers says:
:: Turns to face forward again ::
XO_Cmdr_Kraight says:
CNS: He didn’t destroy the Delvian system deliberately, but he didn’t take any precautions to prevent it, either. Orpheus has found a way to... to... well, the best word would be to 'fold' space. It puts a tremendous strain on his singularity drive, but he can travel between realities. He has been searching many, many parallel universes, trying to find Serena.
CNS_Cmd_Azhure says:
XO:  And if he does not find her?
XO_Cmdr_Kraight says:
CNS: I don't think he has any intention of ending the search until and unless he does find her. I believe the term is 'monomania'.
CNS_Cmd_Azhure says:
CO:  So, a possible accidental death.  That will not go over well with the survivors.
CSec_Cmdr_Powers says:
TO: Gotta be a reason why it's still hanging around...
Host CO_Capt_Sulek says:
*Starr*: See if you can obtain a frequency of that sound burst from Orpheus.  Perhaps we can develop some means of communication, if that was what it was.
XO_Cmdr_Kraight says:
CO: Orpheus has grown careless over the centuries. Nothing matters to him but finding Serena. His mind is... well, I am not an expert on the psychology of living bioships, but I would have to say that he is severely disturbed, if not wholly insane.
CNS_Cmd_Azhure says:
XO:  You are saying he should be destroyed?
XO_Cmdr_Kraight says:
:: shakes head emphatically ::  CNS: No. Absolutely not. If he is the last of his kind, then destroying him would be tantamount to genocide.
CSO_LtCmdr_Starr says:
*CO*: Captain. Not that I'd want that thing disappearing with you on it, but since the sensors can't seem to give us any real information , and being that this thing is not entirely mechanical, but a biological side too, would it be possible to mindmeld with the damn thing, find out more?
XO_Cmdr_Kraight says:
CO: He is not responsible for his actions. He despairs of finding Serena, and he no longer cares what happens to him, nor what happens when he uses his singularity drive. He has caused uncounted catastrophes in our universe, and in other universes as well.
CSec_Cmdr_Powers says:
<TO_Lt_Nishi> CSec: Well, maybe it just likes us, Commander.  Or at least Commander Kraight.
Host CO_Capt_Sulek says:
*Starr*: That would not be my first choice.  Work on the frequency response and universal translator.
CNS_Cmd_Azhure says:
XO:  I do not mean to sound cruel in this, but neither can we just let him continue in his grief.  He cannot stay here.  And all I could do... :: she stopped.  What she could do would not matter as in a way, it would be crueler then death... to take him out of time and place to leave him alone.::
XO_Cmdr_Kraight says:
CNS: Counselor... if Orpheus knew that something, some part, of Serena had survived, is it possible that that would help him come to terms with his loss?
Host CO_Capt_Sulek says:
Kraight: Then we should give him the opportunity to follow in her footsteps.  We do not know if Serena survived, but we could offer him the alternative.  My concern is the effect that such an action would again have.
CNS_Cmd_Azhure says:
:: Concerned where this might be going, she sat on the edge of the bed::  XO:  My friend, I cannot answer that question, not without some more... information.  His mind is more alien then I am used to.
XO_Cmdr_Kraight says:
CO, CNS: I think it would help him tremendously. Captain, I can help Orpheus, and perhaps stop him from causing another catastrophe in the Zeta Ophiuchi system. I carry Serena's memories. If I can link with Orpheus' mind as I did with Serena, he could know that she was not wholly lost to him.
Host CO_Capt_Sulek says:
Kraight: If however, you cannot satisfy me that you will be safe... I will not allow a reconnection.  The last one was too close and we do not know that Orpheus will react in the same manner.
CNS_Cmd_Azhure says:
XO:  And if he decides to take you with him?
Host CO_Capt_Sulek says:
Azhure: I share your concern.
CNS_Cmd_Azhure says:
:: For a very brief moment, Azhure allowed a look of mutiny to pass through her eyes as she looked at Kraight.  But just as suddenly it was gone.  She knew better.::
XO_Cmdr_Kraight says:
CO, CNS: With respect... Orpheus is mere hours away from condemning eight billion sentients to an icy death. Captain, I understand the risks. I am willing to take this chance nevertheless.
CNS_Cmd_Azhure says:
:: Acknowledging what she already knew, she quietly got up and stepped back.::
CSO_LtCmdr_Starr says:
*CO*: What if we sent this Orpheus on the same course as Serena. Even in and out of the parallel universes he travels, he's bound to find her
Host CO_Capt_Sulek says:
Kraight:  I have known you and trusted you for many years, but until you can show me the simulations, you do not have permission.  We have time at least for that.
XO_Cmdr_Kraight says:
:: nods :: CO: Understood, sir. Permission to return to duty?
Host CO_Capt_Sulek says:
*Starr*: The Commander needs to build a simulation of such a task... he will need your help.
Host CO_Capt_Sulek says:
Kraight: That is up to medical.
CNS_Cmd_Azhure says:
:: Quietly::  CO:  He is cleared.  There is no reason to keep him here.
Host CO_Capt_Sulek says:
::he turns:: Kraight: I will see you then on duty.
Host CO_Capt_Sulek says:
::he leaves sickbay and enters the TL:: Bridge.
XO_Cmdr_Kraight says:
CO: Aye, sir.
CNS_Cmd_Azhure says:
:: As Sulek left, she stepped forward, laying a hand on Kraight’s shoulder.  She looked at him seriously, then leaned down to lightly kiss his cheek before standing to turn away.::  XO:  I will finish the paperwork.  ::And with that, she was gone.::
XO_Cmdr_Kraight says:
:: looks around the empty ward... then rises and begins dressing ::
Host CO_Capt_Sulek says:
::he arrives on deck:: Powers: Anything to report?
Host CO_Capt_Sulek says:
::crosses to captain's chair::
XO_Cmdr_Kraight says:
:: finishes, and leaves to find a turbolift ::
CNS_Cmd_Azhure says:
:: Sitting at the CMO's desk, she does just that, only to pause a moment, leaning her face into her hand, briefly covering her eyes.  Then with a sigh, she put her thoughts aside and the consequences and finished the update.::
CSec_Cmdr_Powers says:
CO: My eyes hurt from looking at the screen, Captain.
Host CO_Capt_Sulek says:
Starr: The XO will need the original schematics for the apparatus he used to connect to the last ship.  Be sure to have those ready with any pertinent differences scans show of the current ship.
Host CO_Capt_Sulek says:
Powers: Then, Commander, you may need to go see medical.
XO_Cmdr_Kraight says:
:: arrives on the Bridge ::  CO: Request permission to resume my duties, Captain.
CSec_Cmdr_Powers says:
CO: Nah.  Just need to stop staring.
Host CO_Capt_Sulek says:
Kraight: Granted .
CSO_LtCmdr_Starr says:
CO: As you wish ::begins compiling the information required::
Host CO_Capt_Sulek says:
Powers: Then do so.  You may stand down from the conn.
Host CO_Capt_Sulek says:
Kraight: CSO Starr has began gathering the data you may need for your simulations.
XO_Cmdr_Kraight says:
CO: Understood. I'll begin the programming.  :: turns to the console ::

=/\==/\= END Mission =/\==/\= 
 
Copyright © 2011 Star Trek: A Call To Duty. All Rights Reserved