Tenuous Grasp on Destiny

Mission Info

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Mission Summary

Opening Act:
Second Star is a small vessel, and the crew know each other well. It is revealed that they were acting as courier for information deemed sensitive and highly valuable. They were betrayed by a member of the crew, and another one had just been killed. The traitor escaped in the Aerowing shuttle/fighter and is presumed to be coming back for them once he can contact backup. The ship shows evidence of internal battle, and there is damage to many systems. They know of a derelict scrapyard nearby which they head to limping in hopes of finding a hiding place and a way to make repairs.

The crew suffer in dire conditions, systems are in danger of total failure and the air is growing thin. A debate erupts over sending a distress signal, and we discover the data is not friendly to Federation interests, and would likely land them in trouble if Starfleet found it. It would also broadcast their signal to the traitor. The fact that someone who had been on board for over a month was able to kill another crewmate has put a temporary wedge between their teamwork. Quint makes the call and the decision is made to push onwards, this crew is familiar and weathered, this is just another day in the life.

Second Act:
Onboard the Aerowing, Tasco Lothal gives his report and we get a larger picture of the situation. Tasco blew the airlock with his partner Corin still in it. Second Star didn't have a transporter to save him so he died in space. Tasco is told this is unacceptable and the Barzanian Planetary Republic cannot be tied up in such an affair. Mission aborted, but if he knows what's good for him, there can be no witnesses.

They arrive in the scrapyard, finally able to search the scuttle for parts. They have three EV suits and a day's worth of life support functioning before critical failures were believed to start. The bones had been picked on everything, but Akio believes there is more to this scrapyard, namely, how it has remained intact without a central gravity generator. A pocket universe is discovered, and though dangerous to try and enter without knowing more, they enter it as the Aerowing returns to the scrap yard hot on their pursuit.

Third Act:
The pocket universe is a smuggler's hold, and inside is a treasure trove someone had obviously forgotten about, or been prevented from returning to it all these years. The facility is powered by a Romulan Artificial Quantum Singularity Core and is expected to last for millennia. Inside this micro universe we have the parts and loot from a lifetime of gathering laid all about, but the crew isn't looking at any of them. They see the “USS Lafitte” an Excelsior class Starship retired after the Dominion war and a crippling hull shot.

They board it and spread out. Each crew member heads to their inevitable post as they explore. Judah is kept up to date in a live stream from Akio’s Quad-Core (tricorder upgrade) but is thrilled at the concept of piloting an interfacing with the computer. They discover the the good the bad the ugly and determine that the ship is able to cruise at warp speed at least a few times more, as would be necessary to get it to a shipyard for repairs. It needs a few vital components, which lay out the next act’s action.

They need Power cells, a Computer core, and certain vital fluids required for mechanical operation to many areas. As the Federation did strip it of vital parts, there are no EPS circuits. Stations will need to be powered by battery, and the Second Star has only a few things to offer even if they completely use it for parts. The crew hesitates, there is uncertainty as there is no guarantee they can make this massive starship able to work again.

Fifth Act:
Ingenuity and perseverance pay off as main power comes on line. The cargo holds are full of loot, and the Second Star lay in pieces in the empty shuttle bay. They have everything they need in the sense of the barest minimum required to fly. Most of the ship is sealed off in vacuum, but there are routes established to all vital areas of the ship. Everyone is exhausted but thrilled with their success so far. Their one hurdle is coordination, without a central computer core, the ship cannot operate in unison like it needs to.

Judah and Akio come up with a solution. Judah communicates with the ship directly, his brain able to interface. They propose that Judah and the Second Star, task as the ship's main computer. As Judah is completely paralyzed this is a chance for him to save everyone, though it means he will likely lose all sense of self and become inseparable from the ship. They adapt the interface from the Second Stars Computer core, which is fortunately a sophisticated matrix able to handle a starship this size.

The Aerowing finds the device containing the pocket universe and is trying to pry it open. Judah makes the connection and the ship hums in response, all systems firing. The pocket universe collapses to the chagrin of the the Aerowing who is now faced with a massive Excelsior class Starship. They have no weapons, tractor beam or even a fully functional deflector but the pure bluff from Quint makes Tasco stand down. They recover the aerowing and take Tasco into custody. They fly out of the scrapyard and begin warp tests when they detect a Galaxy Class Starship headed their way, hailing them. There is no running, but Quint makes an impassioned speech that they are not pirate or scavengers, that this was their ship, and they had much work to do.