~~META:
title = Episode 3: Act 1
~~
====== Episode 3: Dangerous Explorations - Act 1 ======
//Game was 9/24/18.//
===== Stardate 44230.82: Sunday March 26th, 2367, 0600 hours =====
==== Kimball Attends Services ====
Chief of security **Lieutenant Commander [[trek:venerable:pcs:kimball]]** rises early and prepares for Mass. He heads down to the shared theater/chapel space on deck six, which is a holdover from the //Miranda//-class's origins in the mid-23rd century. The room can comfortably seat one hundred people, in two blocks of rows. Starfleet has consecrated the space for multiple religions, a concession to many species and cultures in a small space. Kimball doesn't mind, and takes a seat in the front block, which is reserved for the faithful. He is one of thirteen, all human, ranging in ages, genders, and departments. Behind them, about twenty observers file into the second block of seats, Kimball eyes a few humans, several Andorians, and his second, **Lieutenant [[trek:characters:anjohl]]**.
Leading the service is **Lieutenant Commander [[trek:characters:kragan|Ethan Noah Kragan]]**, the gamma-shift doctor. Ethan greets Kimball, and Kimball notes Ethan looks like a muscular Santa Claus; he's an older human with slightly long hair and beard, both of which are more salt than pepper. Ethan then performs a thirty-minute service, including Mass, and Kimball warms to his sincere and serene faith. After the service, Ethan performs a quick explanation and Q&A for the observers. As people file out, Kimball speaks to Ethan, and finds him a genuinely warm and gregarious man. Ethan is firm about his position; the Pope has given him sanction to administer services, but he is not a clergyman. They discuss the nature of faith in the current times and Kimball recalls telecommuting to services. Ethan accepts that times change, and the Catholic Church must change with them, but believes physical gatherings are important.
Both men note that Lieutenant Anjohl is lingering, clearly having a difficult time. Ethan softly admits that Anjohl is here regularly, even more than some Catholics, and he believes Catholic rituals remind her of her upbringing and bring her some comfort even though the Bajoran religion is very different. Kimball heads over to speak to her and learns the presence of fifty-one Bajorans on the //Boston// has brought up some very uncomfortable memories; they haven't had a chance to worship freely. Although the Cardassian occupiers have not banned the religion of the Prophets, they do use it as a tool for social control. Ethan asks Kimball if he can speak to **Captain [[trek:venerable:pcs:aaron]]** about letting the Bajorans use the chapel to worship. Kimball replies, "Starfleet Intelligence is relocating the Bajorans at 0945 hours. It will be tight, but I'll ask."
==== An Unpolished Service ====
Alpha shift starts at 0800 hours, and the senior officers settle into their stations. They will depart for the Argolis Cluster at 1000 hours, and the two hours before is reserved for systems checks and the like. Captain Aaron Englyss surveys everything from his chair as **Lieutenants (junior grade) [[trek:characters:ten|10011 ("Ten")]] and [[trek:characters:eleven|01101 ("Eleven")]]** settle into ops and conn respectively, his executive officer **Commander [[trek:characters:shilvala]]** claims mission operations at the back of the bridge, chief science officer **Lieutenant [[trek:venerable:pcs:kelly]]** takes the science station, and **Lieutenant [[trek:venerable:pcs:khaleed]]** stands his first bridge shift at environmental. As Khaleed is also functioning as an assistant to Kelly, mission ops and environmental have been swapped from their normal positions flanking tactical, so Khaleed is now directly behind Kelly. Chief engineer **Commander [[trek:characters:tkora]]** checks in at the engineering station on the bridge, but then relocates to main engineering, while chief medical officer **Lieutenant Commander [[trek:characters:heltorin]]** checks in from sickbay. **Counselor Lieutenant [[trek:characters:mbelaa]]** also reports in but relocates to deck seven to help with the Bajorans.
Kimball does a quick diagnostic of his station before approaching Aaron; Aaron considers the request and replies, "If here's time, go ahead, but speak to [[trek:characters:darrah]] first." Kimball leaves the bridge and first heads to the security complex on deck seven. He speaks to a human crewmember, who reports a few minor drunken fistfights amongst the refugees, but nothing dangerous. Counselor M'Belaa reviewed the incidents and declared them adrenaline drops and "blowing off steam." Kimball looks over the records and agrees. He then heads to the cargo bay, where the Bajorans are packing up their meager belongings. He finds Darrah Mace; the former lawman looks haggard at the responsibilities of leadership. Kimball pitches the idea of a chance to worship freely, and then is very much aware of the total silence and fifty pairs of Bajoran eyes on him at the mention of the word "chapel."
Darrah is stunned at the offer, but swiftly agrees. Kimball leads the fifty-one Bajorans out of the cargo bay and up to deck six without a single issue, and they file into the chapel. Ethan is waiting for them; he has added a few Bajoran elements to the chapel for their use, and he greets Darrah and the others in Bajoran. Ethan admits he has studied their religion in an attempt to understand Anjohl's presence but is stunned when that makes him the //de facto// prylar on hand. Kimball shrugs and stands to the side as Ethan bravely dives into leading a Bajoran service. Although he stumbles a few times over doctrinal - and cultural - differences, he manages to perform the service admirably, and may Bajorans are openly weeping. Ethan concludes the service at 0930 hours, which is cutting things very close. However, the Bajorans file out, had back to the cargo bay, grab their belongings, and disembark without incident, and with a minute to spare. Darrah Mace thanks Kimball profusely, and asks he pass their gratitude to Captain Englyss.
==== The Boston Departs For the Argolis Cluster ====
The Bajorans offload at 0945 hours, and Starfleet Intelligence liaison **Lieutenant Commander [[trek:characters:bjornson]]** boards and officially transfers [[trek:characters:krim]], the surgically altered Cardassian spy, into SI's care. Lieutenant Bahb leaves the bridge to participate in the formal handoff as she was his patient, and he cautions Bjornson, "Be careful, you're not going to get much out of her." Bjornson smirks and retorts, "That's why we have pickaxes." Khaleed opens his mouth but cannot come up with a proper reply. He returns to the bridge and Kelly asks him, "Do you need help with anything?" Khaleed shakes his head, so Kelly hands him the compiled data packet on the Argolis Cluster to review.
At 0955 hours, Aaron calls out, "All stations, check in." Everyone runs a final diagnostic and reports; everything is good to go. The umbilical cables and docking clamps holding the //Boston// to Starbase 211 retract at 1000 hours, and the //Boston// powers up her warp core. Aaron orders, "Eleven, take us out, thrusters only." Eleven complies, and the //Boston// slips out of space dock under her own power. Aaron orders a course plotted to the Argolis Cluster, which is two light years away. He then orders, "As soon as we're clear, jump to warp eight." Eleven does exactly that, and the //Boston// jumps to warp. At warp eight, the trip to the Argolis Cluster will take a day. The rest of the day passes quietly, as everyone runs systems checks to confirm their readiness now that they are underway. Khaleed reviews the Argolis Cluster data thoroughly.
===== Stardate 44234.08: Monday March 27th, 2367, 1030 hours =====
==== The Boston Arrives ====
The //Boston// approaches the Argolis Cluster, a proto-star nursery that straddles the Dorvan and Betazed Sectors. The crew is aware of the basic information, thanks to Kelly: the cluster is invisible to the naked eye, but contains intense and variable gravimetric shear due to the stellar nursery, and he estimates there are six or seven systems inside. Each of the systems is very close together due to the nature of a stellar cluster, but high-warp travel is incredibly limited due to the gravimetric shear. Warp 4 is the highest recommended speed, and this avoids the core of the Cluster. The Cluster is an oblong lozenge, with the widest part in the Dorvan Sector before it "tapers" off in the Betazed Sector. It is roughly six light years 'long' at the longest point, and four and a half light years wide at its widest point, which is the side facing the Cardassian border. The Cluster is approximately seven light years 'tall' at the most.
Eleven drops to warp four as recommended, and the ship shudders as the weakest waves of gravimetric shear hit them.((In the outer regions of the Argolis Cluster, the crew had the **Gravimetric Shear 1** complication at all times.)) Aaron debates possibilities for several seconds before coming to a decision and ordering, "Helm, set a course looping around the cluster. We'll skirt the edges first and launch probes to map the shear and find a safe way inside. Science, get everything you can and forward it to engineering so T'kora can start working on countermeasures. Everyone else, stay sharp." Eleven computes the most efficient course based on the data available and executes it. Aaron knows the //Boston// carries sixty casings, twenty of which are photon torpedoes.
Over the course of the next week, the //Boston// skirts the edges of the Argolis Cluster, dropping probes in their wake and varying their warp speed when the gravimetric shear allows. The probes chart the shear and local conditions, and boost communications. The first two probes function just fine, but the third and fourth probes go offline within hours. Kelly suspects they were lost to shear. Bahb suggests linking probes to confirm; Aaron agrees and orders them to focus on that specific region whenever possible. The //Boston// launches another four probes, this time ahead of them to chart their way. Three of the probes range ahead without issue, but the fourth one hits a gravimetric shear and rapidly compresses to the size of a coin! Eleven immediately alters course to avoid that shear.
===== Stardate 44256.14: Tuesday April 4th, 2367, 1145 hours =====
==== Cardassian Shenanigans ====
The //Boston// now has a much better idea of the exact size of the Cluster and the location of the worst gravimetric shear on the outskirts. T'kora has modified the shields to compensate and is preparing other countermeasures to the structural integrity fields. Probe 8 suddenly beeps, and Kelly checks it. He reports it has found something, and Aaron orders the //Boston// to that location; Eleven executes the safest course. They rendezvous with probe 8 at 1232 hours, and Kelly takes more readings. He initially discovers an ion trail, rapidly decaying, and estimates a vessel entered the Argolis Cluster at that location a day ago. He fiddles with the sensors and overcomes the interference form the gravimetric shear. Kelly calls out his findings as he recognizes them; the vessel that breached the Cluster was Cardassian and left enough of a wake that the //Boston// can travel safely behind them. Khaleed opines the Cardassian vessel must have been huge if that is the case, but Kelly, still focused on the sensors, shakes his head and says, "No. Checking... confirmed. It was three //Galor//-class vessels, captain."
Kelly performs some more scans and announces, "Definitely three //Galor//-class cruisers, but I'm picking up metallic debris. They didn't get inside unscathed." He highlights one reading, and the crew realizes they are looking at part of a Cardassian warp engine. Khaleed argues that for three Cardassian vessels to brave the Argolis Cluster, something very important must be inside. Aaron agrees, and Kimball points out, "We know the Bajorans were heading for the Cluster before they were diverted to LV-397. Maybe they're looking for that colony site." Aaron nods and then hails T'kora. He explains the situation and asks her if she can apply her modifications to a runabout. T'kora replies, "//I do not recommend that, captain. A runabout is too small a vessel to risk in the cluster//." Aaron replies firmly, "I didn't as if you recommended it, commander; I asked if you could do it." He softens his tone and adds, "If we're facing the possibility of three Cardassian vessels, I want a backup option."
There is silence over the channel, but Aaron can hear T'kora rapidly rapping her fingers against a panel. Finally, she replies, "//Yes, I believe I can. It will require two hours minimum, however.//" Aaron accepts that and replies, "Get to it; I'm sending Kelly and Khaleed down to assist." Khaleed interrupts, "Can we also apply these modifications to probes and torpedoes?" T'kora replies, "//Negative. At that point, we are looking at diminishing returns//." Aaron agrees, and likens any conflict inside the Argolis Cluster as slapping each other with foam noodles in a pool. Khaleed looks at him blankly and Aaron realizes the analogy didn't work.
===== Summary =====
[TBA]
===== =====
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[[{}trek:venerable:recap:2_act_3|<= Episode 2 Act 3]]
[[{}trek:venerable:recap:3_act_2|Act 2 =>]]
{{tag> recap star_trek venerable }}