Game session: ?/2007

In light of the Orion threat, Alberic reclassifies priorities to engines and shields, dropping weapons to tertiary priority. He remains on the Bridge to oversee the repairs from his command chair. Daphne starts repairing her station as well, allowing the Saber to drift a little in the process as she focuses on repairs. Fal works on repairing the shattered sensor grid and manages to get it effective for up to two kilometers around the ship – not great, but better then nothing. Mel decides to volunteer for general repair duty for Engineering, and is soon put to work replacing plasma relays, a relatively simple task. Her first attempt is successful, but her second one is more difficult as the track the relay is on cracked in the battle. She manages to force it out, but smacks a crewman in the process. Her third attempt is much more successful, and then she is paged and asked to come to Engineering.

Confused, she heads down and is directed to Cidhela's office. She finds Cidhela, Saval, and She-Who-Swims all crammed in there already. She manages to wiggle in, and learns that the three women have occasional covert meetings, and Saval's adage is when coordinating secret meetings, always convert, suborn, or kill the Chief of Security. Luckily, Saval likes Mel…

Saval states that they either have a spy aboard, or a spy working at DS9 where they received the runabout that was bugged. Also, she shows them a badly garbled message from Bjornson that she received, where he demands to know what they were trying to do earlier. Apparently, the good Lieutenant Commander is still a part of SI, and Saval believes that the Saber and her crew were sent to reinforce his cover – possibly with their lives. Although she has no proof, she suspects T'vala. The four women discuss the situation, and a few cultural idiosyncrasies are bandied about. At this point they can do nothing, but Saval warns them to keep an eye out for anything out of the ordinary. The meeting breaks up, and the four women return to their duties.

By the end of the three hour time limit, Cidhela has all the systems back online but cannot repair the hull breaches while they're still in the Badlands. Alberic accepts that and praises them for a job well done, and then orders the Saber to resume course to Kathon Prime. He also orders Daphne and Fal to try and pinpoint Tom Paris's location. Fal determines no ships passed by since their battle with the Valkyrie, and Daphne figures that Paris would have had to alter course to avoid the plasma shockwaves their battle caused. Even so, she estimates he's probably close to or has already entered the Kathon system. Cidhela adds that Saval has also accomplished another feat – she's managed to completely yank the warp masking system out of their ship, and now things are running much smoother. Although Saval disparages the device, Cidhela thinks that a larger ship with more available power would make better use of it.

Alberic asks Saval about any Federation communications relays that may or may not be in the area. Saval admits there is one – in the Kathon system. Relays can't survive in the Badlands due to the volatile plasma storms. Saval then works on expanding the reach of the sensors, and manages to get them up to a five kilometer radius. The Saber reaches the edge of the Badlands thirty minutes later, and Fal's sensor sweep reveals the ion trail of a large vessel, but he can't identify it. Saval tries to fiddle with the sensor grid a little more, and accidentally restores full functionality! The system is held together more by luck then anything else; sensors could fail at any moment.

Fal does a second sweep, and manages to identify the wake as belonging to the Prakesh; it came through maybe an hour ago. Alberic orders the ship to reduce speed to one-half impulse, and Saval sends coded messages to the Bellephron and the Enterprise via the comm-relay. Saval gives a quick lecture about the Kathon system – it's vehemently independent of either the Federation or the Cardassians, but has dealings with the Ferengi Alliance. It's a port of call for mall sorts of types that want to avoid legal scrutiny as well. Kathon Prime is the third body in the system orbiting a vicious red star that emits all sorts of solar radiation. The system is ringed by an unusually reflective asteroid belt that bounces the solar radiation back into the inner planets, which makes Kathon Prime a bit of a radioactive hellhole – the Kathoni have moved underground but refuse to leave their home planet. The Kathoni species are descended from avian stock.

They reach the edge of the Kathon system thirty minutes later and Fal detects both a Federation courier – presumably Mr. Paris – and the Prakesh already in-system, and are immediately hailed by a Kathoni government official, who has blue-white feathers, four eyes, an orange beak, and large wings. Alberic requests entrance into the system so they can repair their ship, and asks about legal procedures in arresting a Federation fugitive. The official grants permission to enter but states that the Kathon system is neutral space; they'll have to arrest their fugitive outside the system. Alberic decides to remain out-system in that case, but does request an encrypted channel. Intrigues, the Kathoni official obliges, and then Alberic warns him that the Prakesh is in-system with the same intent – and is unlikely to care about Kathoni neutrality. Saval "accidentally" transmits a detailed dossier on Gul Drucel and the Prakesh – including her weaknesses – to the Kathoni, and the official thanks Alberic for that information and closes the channel.

The Kathoni people have studded the asteroid belt with weapons emplacements, sensor grids, and force field emitters to control access to the inner system. There is a main passage that most ships use, and the Saber settles nearby to wait. Fal scans the asteroids and finds them heavy in minerals and extremely reflective to boot. He finds some of the weapons-platforms as well. The Saber crew watches as four Kathoni sub-light fighters "escort" the Prakesh out of the system. As soon as the Prakesh reaches the passage, Alberic hails them. Gul Drucel replies, and the two trade forced pleasantries and enquiries about their respective successes. Alberic reveals the location of Kel Nor and the existence of the Valkyrie, and freely transmits the Saber's collected data on both. Meanwhile, Fal can tell that the Prakesh has better sensors then the Saber and undoubtedly can tell the true extent of the damage, and Mel notices that the Prakesh is running with weapons hot, but not aimed at them.

In return, Gul Drucel offers assistance, and after some consultation Alberic asks if they could possibly replace some medical supplies and drugs? Drucel shows honest confusion for a split-second before agreeing, but the drugs are too delicate to transport. Alberic offers to join her on the Prakesh to fetch them personally, which Drucel accepts. The channel is cut, and Alberic decides to bring Biayoh and Tuvonn as bodyguards, and asks Mel if she wants to go, or if he can have Chilp if she declines. Saval clarifies that if he dies on the Prakesh, she gets the Saber. Alberic heads into his Ready Room to change into a clean uniform while Mel waffles on the decision to go or send Chilp. Saval enters the Ready Room and uses a hypo-spray to implant a subcutaneous transponder on Alberic, just in case.

Mel decides to remain aboard Saber, so Alberic meets the two Marines and Chilp in the Shuttlebay. Chilp hands Alberic a Type I phaser and babbles about having sheathed it in an alloy that makes it very difficult to find the weapon on scans. Alberic slips the weapon up his shirt sleeve and boards the runabout. He pilots the craft himself and executes a perfect take-off. On the Bridge, Daphne mutters "show-off" as the runabout leaves the bay.

Alberic pilots across the void to the Prakesh, and executes a perfect landing. They disembark and are immediately hit with the Cardassian sense of environmental controls – its 40 degrees Celsius with little humidity. Gravity is roughly 1.1G. The quartet is met by two Cardassian officers, but only the male introduces himself – Glinn Levek, first officer of the Prakesh. Levek escorts them to the Infirmary, where Gul Drucel is overseeing the acquisition of supplies personally. Alberic has the two Marines load the ready supplies and has Chilp accompany him to the Infirmary, which he finds gloomy and oppressive. He and Drucel meet in person; Alberic is a fraction taller but Drucel has far more muscle mass. A Cardassian medical technician is mixing the last of the drugs as they talk, so Drucel offers him a glass of kanar, which he accepts. They toast the Cardassian state. Alberic finds the kanar overly thick, and mentions that it's similar to Terran scotch. In response, Drucel pulls out a bottle of two-hundred year-old Scotch and offers him a glass, but she doesn't specify how she got it. She finds the libation weak, but Alberic feels the effects of both drinks and realizes he's approaching his limit.

On the Saber, the crew realizes Paris's courier is departing, but is instead making a run for the asteroid belt, rather then navigate the passage out and deal with either ship. The Prakesh also notices and starts moving to intercept. In the Infirmary, Drucel receives a signal and apologetically explains that the Cardassians must pursue a fugitive of their own; Alberic must depart. Alberic grabs the last of the drugs and he and Chilp rejoin Tuvonn and Biayoh at the runabout and depart the Prakesh. Saval orders the Saber to try and beat the Prakesh to the closest point to Paris in the asteroid belt after Daphne judges that they can pursue if they're careful. She hails Alberic and informs him that "Santa will be here within twenty minutes", a coded reference to Captain Jean Luc Picard and the Enterprise. Alberic manages to rendezvous with the Saber safely, and he runs to the Bridge, just as the Saber pulls ahead of the Prakesh. Once he's there he resumes command, and hails Tom Paris. He offers Paris a chance to surrender, but the cocky pilot refuses and heads deeper into the belt. The Saber enters in pursuit, and the Prakesh comes to a full stop.

Gul Drucel hails the Saber, but the asteroids break up the signal so badly it's a garbled mess. Alberic records a brief message stating that since Tom Paris is a Federation citizen, a Federation crew must be the ones to bring him to justice, and has the message sent to the Prakesh. Daphne easily dodges the initial asteroids just as the Prakesh opens fire – on the asteroids! Daphne has to immediately compensate for the shifts as asteroids get pushed out of course by disruptor fire. The Kathoni representative immediately hails again, and the Saber uses a nearby comm-satellite to clear up the signal. Alberic immediately apologizes for breaching Kathoni sovereignty, and promises to try and apprehend Paris outside the system. Mollified, the official does state that he will have to file an official protest regardless, but also advises the Saber to try and reach the center of the belt, where maneuvering would be easier.

Daphne dodges asteroids and continues pursuing Paris deeper into the belt, while Alberic uses the tractor beam to push smaller asteroids out of their way if necessary. Saval manages to hack into Paris's communications panel and Fal sends a "porn bomb" consisting of Terran, Tellarite, and fish pornography. So surprised and disgusted by the porn bomb, Paris nearly hits an asteroid, and Daphne closes the gap. Fal's sensors state that the Enterprise has entered the system, but since they're so deep in the belt they cannot say for sure. Then disaster strikes when Daphne misjudges a gap and scrapes a large asteroid with the Saber's ventral hull, causing shield damage and ripping open the hull. Alberic manages to deflect the asteroid away enough to avoid a cataclysmic collision, but Paris has increased his lead. However, Fal's sensor board lights up – the Bellephron has arrived close to their position! Trusting the sensors, Alberic sends their telemetry to the Bellephron and hopes they'll be ready.

Disaster strikes again when several micro-asteroids come flying out into their path and strike the starboard hull! Shields drop to twenty percent and life support has been compromised. Realizing their survival is in jeopardy, Alberic orders Daphne to forget risky direct pursuit and concentrate on herding Paris to the waiting Bellephron. Grudgingly, Daphne obeys while Mel manages to use the Saber's tractor beam to nudge Paris's courier away from a path deeper into the belt. Daphne closes the gap as best she can, and then sees an opportunity to take a risk and ensure Paris's capture. Selectively forgetting her orders, Daphne gooses the Saber's impulse engines and cuts Paris off, sending him tumbling out of the asteroid belt – and into the sights of the Bellephron! In Alberic's eyes, success forgives all and he ignores Daphne's breach of orders. The Saber carefully navigates out of the belt to find Paris's shuttle crippled by the mighty Excelsior-class ship. Recalling that the Bellephron is commanded by Captain Theresa McMannon, Alberic hails her and thanks her for her assistance.

Captain McMannon has not arrested Paris, reserving that honor for the Saber and her crew, so Mel beams over with the Marines. As they materialize she spots Tom Paris pull out a phaser, and she stuns him before the Marines can react – which earns Ganth's grudging respect. As they secure their prisoner, Captain McMannon explains that the Prakesh is departing the Kathon system rather then engage the Enterprise. The Federation flagship is making her way over now, and Captain Picard hails the Saber. Alberic immediately responds and gives a very quick briefing, and admits he potentially caused an incident with the Kathoni government. Captain Picard congratulates him on the success of his mission, especially after Alberic sends him the data about Kel Nor and the Valkyrie. Because of her damage, the Bellephron will take the Saber under two to Deep Space Nine for repairs while the Enterprise will remain in the Kathoni system to smooth over the diplomatic incident.

The Bellephron locks the Saber in her tractor beams and sets out at low-warp back to Bajor; the trip will take two days, which will allow the crew time to begin repairs. Mel makes sure to be right in front of the brig when Tom Paris regains consciousness, and she taunts him lightly. He refuses to say anything. She spends most of the two days splitting her attention between brig duty and helping with what mundane repairs she can.

Daphne visits Tom Paris after her shift, partially out of respect for his piloting skills and partially out of lust. They talk, and Tom becomes a little more receptive, especially once Daphne mentions "conjugal visits." However, Tom's arrogance turns Daphne off, but his skills as a pilot are undeniable and she wants to bring him to a training simulation to pick up some tricks. Daphne approaches Mel for permission, but Mel is wary and refuses unless Saval gives her permission. Daphne tracks down Saval, who is in Engineering, and tries to chat up the Vulcan woman before making her request. Saval flat-out refuses, citing security reasons and Daphne leaves Engineering, annoyed and even more determined to get her way somehow. Saval drops by Security and makes it clear to Mel that Daphne is in no way shape or form allowed to release Mr. Paris.

Mel continues to torment Tom Paris by staring at him without saying anything for her entire shift. Daphne manages to corner Captain Selense in a turbolift and proposes setting up a simulator that works through the brig's force field, to bypass the security concerns. Alberic tentatively approves, and Daphne heads to Engineering to talk to Cidhela. Engineering is still chaotic as repairs are conducted, but Cidhela listens as she works on a faulty plasma relay while Daphne explains her idea. Cidhela tells Daphne to return in an hour, after Cidhela has had enough time to finish the relay, and she should have something that would work. Daphne returns promptly in an hour, and Cidhela hands her a portable rig. Daphne heads to Security with the rig and starts setting it up. Soon, the two pilots are comparing moves and tricks as the Bellephron enters the Bajoran system with the Saber in tow.

Recap originally published on Livejournal.

⇐ Act 6