USS Cherokee 
The Dating Game, Part 17
11703.26

Starring_
Steve Weller as CO_Ayidee and Producer
Zach Farland as CNS_Ens_Daniels
Dawn Freeman as OPS_Cmdr_Nash
Topper Loghry as CTO_LT_Q`ten
James Young as FCO_Ens_Oldman

Leave of Absence
Trish Yarborough as CMO-McIntyre
Absent
Pablo Delsoglio as CIV_Capt_Marek
Ship's Log, Stardate 11703.26, Tio Ayidee recording.  Starfleet backup has arrived in the form of the Michigan, Dirk, Kissinger and Metternich.  We are about to resume the hunt.

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OPS_Cmdr_Nash says:
::In Turbolift, heading back to the Bridge after assisting in Engineering.::

Host CO_Ayidee says:
::On Bridge.::  *All*: Status report, is the ship ready for departure?

CNS_Ens_Daniels says:
::In his usual place on the bridge::

FCO_Ens_Oldman says:
:: at the helm going over departure protocols ::

CTO_LTJG_Q`ten says:
::At his tactical station on the bridge:: CO: Tactical systems are online and ready.

OPS_Cmdr_Nash says:
::exits TL, returns to her post, makes sure everything is ready.::  CO:  Everything good here, Captain.

FCO_Ens_Oldman says:
:: everything checks out with Warp, Impulse and RCS thrusters ::

Host CO_Ayidee says:
FCO: Glad to have you aboard Ensign.  Starfleet thought your skills would give the fleet a great asset.

FCO_Ens_Oldman says:
CO: Helm reads green sir. Cherokee is ready.

Host CO_Ayidee says:
OPS: Coordinate with the fleet and confirm all are ready.  Inform them Flight formation Delta Three Three.

FCO_Ens_Oldman says:
CO: Thank you, sir. It'll be good to give a little payback for the Newton.

OPS_Cmdr_Nash says:
CO:  Yes, Sir.  ::does as asked::

CTO_LTJG_Q`ten says:
ALL: And for the Empire.

CNS_Ens_Daniels says:
ALL: ...and for Research Station 82.

FCO_Ens_Oldman says:
CO: Sir, I have clearance to depart. 

Host CO_Ayidee says:
FCO: The Newton held up pretty well, estimates are that best possible scenario she'll be back studying the Abyss in a month or so.  Assuming they can do the repairs here and don't need a space dock rebuild.
CTO: The Empire worries about glory.  I'll settle for resuming the peace this area had.

Host CO_Ayidee says:
FCO: Bring us out, we'll take position above and behind the Dirk.

FCO_Ens_Oldman says:
CO: Aye, sir.

FCO_Ens_Oldman says:
::disengages docking clamps and moves the Cherokee away::

FCO_Ens_Oldman says:
CO: We are away, sir.

FCO_Ens_Oldman says:
::plots a course to take the Cherokee above and behind the Dirk::

ACTION: The fleet pulls away from Research Station 82 and travels to the Abyss.

Host CO_Ayidee says:
ALL: We now have the fleet, any suggestions on how to find them?

FCO_Ens_Oldman says:
ALL: They'll probably be using some of the sensor anomalies and echoes caused by all the other derelict ships. We're going to need a way to pick up anything. Any kind of signal.

CTO_LTJG_Q`ten says:
CO: Just fire on anything that isn't one of ours.

FCO_Ens_Oldman says:
:: checking the navigational sensors for anything out of the ordinary. Any sign of irregular drifting from the derelict ships ::

Host CO_Ayidee says:
FCO: Yes, but they need an area where they can hold and maintain a small fleet.  Probably hundreds or thousands of places for a single ship to hide, but can't be that many safe enough to conduct repairs and maintain, right?

Host CO_Ayidee says:
CNS: Any input on what Kreak might be thinking?  What he might be after?

CNS_Ens_Daniels says:
CO: I think he just wants a victory for his house.

FCO_Ens_Oldman says:
:: frowns, trying to think of where they could hide a small fleet. Could be anywhere ::

ACTION: The fleet crosses the border and enters the Abyss.

FCO_Ens_Oldman says:
CO: Sir, we've now crossed into the Abyss. 

FCO_Ens_Oldman says:
:: concentrating on navigational sensors ::

Host CO_Ayidee says:
FCO: Acknowledged.

OPS_Cmdr_Nash says:
::prepares for the unexpected::

Host CO_Ayidee says:
All: Bring us to Yellow Alert.  Keep a sharp eye on the sensors.

CTO_LTJG_Q`ten says:
CO: Sir Kreak knows that the Empire views his actions as treason, and therefore his life is forfeit. His only goal now is to try and kill as many of his enemy as he can before he is killed himself.

Host CO_Ayidee says:
CTO: Any so called villain thinks he is the hero in his view of the story, and no one commits treason if they do not think they can win.  And if you win at treason it comes with power.

FCO_Ens_Oldman says:
CO: There are a handful of areas where graviton disturbances could effectively mask a small fleet, sir.

FCO_Ens_Oldman says:
:: checking navigational sensors :: CO: There shouldn't be one too far from here.

CNS_Ens_Daniels says:
CO/CTO: We're not dealing with a sane or rational person.  If he sees this ending in his own demise, he's basically orchestrating his own suicide.  I'm not sure he's planning on dying.

Host CO_Ayidee says:
FCO: Take us to the nearest one.  We'll check each until we find Kreak or show they are not there.

FCO_Ens_Oldman says:
CO: Aye, sir.

FCO_Ens_Oldman says:
:: plots a course to the closest of the 'larger' graviton disturbances ::

CTO_LTJG_Q`ten says:
CNS: This is not the first time that a faction has tried to bring back the old ways of the Empire, and I doubt that it will be the last. Kreak may very well be setting himself as a martyr for his cause.

Host CO_Ayidee says:
CNS: Death in battle is a goal for a Klingon, and if he thinks he died in an attempt to spark the Empire's "cure", it may not be a bad end to him.  Not saying you are wrong, but we can't know yet.

FCO_Ens_Oldman says:
:: sends the new course to the helms for the rest of the fleet ::

FCO_Ens_Oldman says:
CO: Sir, new course plotted and sent to the fleet. Engaged. 

CNS_Ens_Daniels says:
CO: I don't know.  It just seems to me, he wouldn't be going through all of this if he were planning on dying.  I'd think he'd want to live and see the glory to his house that he's expecting from all this.

Host CO_Ayidee says:
::Nods.::  CNS: Prove the worth of his cause by causing us grief.  He's already made a start for that.  Good point.

CTO_LTJG_Q`ten says:
CO: Sir we are being scanned!

Host CO_Ayidee says:
CTO: Can you identify the source?

CTO_LTJG_Q`ten says:
CO: I can give you a general location, sir, but I'm unable to pinpoint an exact location. Whatever is causing it is not letting up sir.

OPS_Cmdr_Nash says:
::getting messages from the other ships.::  CO:  The other ships have been scanned as well.

FCO_Ens_Oldman says:
:: keeping a keen eye on navigational sensors to make sure we're not heading into an Abyss-phenomenon ::

Host CO_Ayidee says:
CTO: Send the direction to the Helm.
FCO: Let's follow that path, running parallel to it 10,000 kilometers outside of it with evasive maneuvers running.

CNS_Ens_Daniels says:
CTO: I know dying in battle gives a Klingon great honor but, isn't the goal of battling living to tell the tale?  Even a Klingon must know living is better than dying.

FCO_Ens_Oldman says:
CO: Sir, we should be getting close to the gravitational anomalies... it's 'possible' that the scans are just from our own ships. I've seen this kind of thing before.

CTO_LTJG_Q`ten says:
CO: Aye sir ::sends the sensor probes trajectory to the helm::

FCO_Ens_Oldman says:
CO: On the other hand, the fleet could be hiding nearby.

FCO_Ens_Oldman says:
:: plots the new course, relays it to the rest of their fleet, and adjusts the Cherokee's heading ::

Host CO_Ayidee says:
FCO: That's the problem with this area we have to check every lead.

CTO_LTJG_Q`ten says:
CNS: You're thinking like a Human. For a Klingon nothing is more glorious than death in battle against ones enemy. And if that death serves a greater cause, so much the better.

FCO_Ens_Oldman says:
:: readies an evasive maneuver command at the helm... just in case ::

CTO_LTJG_Q`ten says:
CNS: Kreak believes he is serving a great cause, and that his death will rally others around that cause.

Host CO_Ayidee says:
CTO: Isn't victory in battle better than death in battle though?  Death is acceptable, but not the goal of any operation, right?

CNS_Ens_Daniels says:
CTO: I think like a human because I am human and wanting to die is just plain dumb.  It sounds like you're saying dying is preferable to living when it means dying with glory.  That's just crazy.

ACTION: The ship picks up an unmanned object a bit larger than a shuttle sending out the signal in 4 directions.  It seems to be receiving signals from what are presumably other stations.

CTO_LTJG_Q`ten says:
CNS: Defeating ones enemies is always preferable. But the inability to achieve victory does not mean one just gives up and runs away.

CNS_Ens_Daniels says:
CTO: Who's running?  If I have to die I'd prefer to do it in my sleep, painlessly and at a very, very old age.

FCO_Ens_Oldman says:
CO: Sir! My navigational sensors are picking up an object ahead.

CTO_LTJG_Q`ten says:
CNS: Kreak knows that ultimately he cannot win, but he is determined to take out as many enemies as he possibly can.

FCO_Ens_Oldman says:
:: ensures the Cherokee and fleet will steer a safe course around it and any other spatial anomalies ::

Host CO_Ayidee says:
FCO: Slow us down bring us in carefully.  Let's see what we have.
OPS: Put it on screen.

FCO_Ens_Oldman says:
:: slows the Cherokee; sends commands to the fleet to do the same ::

CTO_LTJG_Q`ten says:
CO: These sensor beams are not directed straight out. Rather they curve back around creating a sphere.

FCO_Ens_Oldman says:
CO: We're moving ahead with RCS Thrusters, sir. Fleet is standing by.

Host CO_Ayidee says:
CTO: Like a Tachyon field sort of thing?  Sensors don't work normal so set this up?

CTO_LTJG_Q`ten says:
CO: It is like these sensors have been set up as proximity sensors

CNS_Ens_Daniels says:
CTO: How do you know Kreak thinks he cannot win.  Maybe in his delusional state he thinks he's going to win.

Host CO_Ayidee says:
All: What does that affect the search?

CTO_LTJG_Q`ten says:
CO: Like a sort of trigger device.

CTO_LTJG_Q`ten says:
CNS: Perhaps he does think he can win. Either way, he will not surrender.

Host CO_Ayidee says:
CTO: Let them know we are coming, but most blades cut both ways, right?  Does it give us anything we can use?

CNS_Ens_Daniels says:
CTO: Agreed, he won't surrender.

CTO_LTJG_Q`ten says:
CO: Sir I believe perhaps Kreak is expecting one ship, us, or the Newton. I do not believe he is aware of an entire fleet on his trail.

Host CO_Ayidee says:
::Nods.::  CTO: A system like this would have a hard time differentiating numbers of ships crossing.  But if they set up a sphere, where would they put them?

CTO_LTJG_Q`ten says:
CO: It should not be too difficult to hide the fleet in these conditions. Kreak will eventually show up to discover what he has caught.

Host CO_Ayidee says:
All: If you were setting up a perimeter alarm though, where would you put it in reference to what you wanted to protect?

FCO_Ens_Oldman says:
CO: the protected area would be directly in the middle... 

Host CO_Ayidee says:
FCO: That is my guess.  Bring the fleet towards the center.

FCO_Ens_Oldman says:
:: adjusts course deeper into the Abyss past the object; relaying the course to the rest of their fleet ::

Host CO_Ayidee says:
CTO: Weapons at the ready, not going in unprepared.

CTO_LTJG_Q`ten says:
CO: The sheer magnitude of this sensor array would suggest that it is receiving power from other sources.  Perhaps we could track those other sources and determine a direction in which to proceed.

CTO_LTJG_Q`ten says:
CO: Weapons are ready sir

Host CO_Ayidee says:
All: We will check the center and move on from there.

FCO_Ens_Oldman says:
CTO: If you can pick up another object or similar signal, we can use that to get a better read on where the actual 'center' is.

CTO_LTJG_Q`ten says:
CO: Working on it sir.

FCO_Ens_Oldman says:
CTO: Might be hard with all the disturbances in the area. :: keeping watch for anything untoward on navigational sensors ::

Host CO_Ayidee says:
FCO: Then follow the sphere and see where it goes?  Get a better idea of its size?  Good idea, let's start with that and narrow it down.

Host CO_Ayidee says:
All: Just follow the sensor lines.  Let's narrow this down.

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