Distress Call
99117.9
@Maikull
Just outside V774 Tau System
The USS Alexander departs DS13 towards the Kelterre Sector Wormhole, bound for the Yuhop System where she will meet up with fellow Task Force members USS Dragon-A and USS Peacecraft.
[CAPT] Maikull Barron: How are we looking?
[LCDR] Zach Brannigan: On course for the Kelterre Wormhole, ETA 1 Hour. Projections show the wormhole will remain open for another 90 minutes at that location.
[CAPT] Maikull Barron: Excellent!
[LCDR] 3 of 14 (Pi) : Uhh, might not want to celebrate too soon sir. I am detecting a distress signal.
[CMDR] Jessie Stern: Location?
[LCDR] V’era:: Triangulating… Appears to be originating from the Azha System.
[CAPT] Maikull Barron: (Displeased) Lets hear it.
[PAN-PAN, PAN-PAN; This is the Vulcan Science Vessel P’men, I am located in orbit of Azah III in the Aldebaran Sector. There is a missing, presumed stolen prototype vessel which contains volatile cargo. Assistance is required immediately.]
[LCDR] Zach Brannigan: Volatile Cargo?
[CMDR] Jessie Stern: (Looks to Maikull for a moment and nodds) Helm, set course for Azah III, Warp 7, inform them we are enroute.
[CAPT] Maikull Barron: Vera, Send word to Captain Dubois and Captain Tungsten that we will be missing our Wormhole window, and will regroup once we settle whatever mess we just stumbled upon.
[LCDR] V’era:: Aye sir.
It did not take long for the Alexander to make location in the Azah System. True to the distress signal’s word, a Vulcan D’Kyr Science Vessel stood by waiting for them.
[CAPT] Maikull Barron: Open Channel. Science Vessel P’men, This is Captain Maikull Barron of the USS Alexander responding to your Distress Signal.
Admin. Pruvis (After a brief moment, the view screen came to life, with a robed Vulcan man) Captain, your response time is commendable.”
[CAPT] Maikull Barron: Luckily we were in the neighborhood. How about you catch us up to speed on this missing vessel of yours.
Admin. Pruvis (the Vulcan made a face of uneasiness for a moment before controlling himself) Perhaps captain we could discuss the details…in person?
[CAPT] Maikull Barron: Very well. Ill make arrangements to have you beam aboard. Barron out. (On his orders the view screen cuts to blank) That was weird.
[CMDR] Jessie Stern: I don’t have to be a betazed to tell he is highly uncomfortable about the whole situation.
[LCDR] V’era:: Vulcans hate being in the wrong, this could put a blemish on his holier-than-thow dignity. More than likely you’re picking up on Vulcan shame.
[LCDR] 3 of 14 (Pi) : Tell us how you really feel, uni.
[CAPT] Maikull Barron: Alright. Mark-0, clear our guest for arrival and escort him up please. Jessie, Zach, and Vera; Conference room. Lets see what our friend has to say for himself. Pi, you have the bridge. Start a sweeping scan see if there might be anything that could give us a lead.
(There was an echo of “Aye Sirs” at the captain’s orders as everyone began to move towards their assigned tasks. An annoyed Vera crosses paths with Pi as he heads for the captains chair )
[LCDR] 3 of 14 (Pi) : You asked for that one… (he remarked with a smirk)
[LCDR] V’era:: (with a defeated sigh) I know…I know…
[LCDR] 3 of 14 (Pi) : Try to be nice?
[LCDR] V’era:: No promises.
(About 20 minutes pass, and Chief of Security Mark-0 escorts the Vulcan Administrator to the Conference room where the Captain, First Officer, Tactical Officer, and Chief Science Officer await him.)
Admin. Pruvis Thank you for seeing me on such short notice. I will get right to the point. I am Administrator Pruvis, of the Malon Industrial Entertainment Corps. The Vessel that has gone missing, is a APC Cruiser holding the Prototype Corporate Asset known as Dreamscape. It was moored here on the planet surface far from the reaching hands of the Malon Conglomerate in the off-chance it was deemed too threatening to their social-economical structure. I was tasked with routine checks and maintenance on the vessel as need be. Three hours ago, I received a warning that the ship had been struck by some form of electrical interference which disabled most ship systems. By the time I arrived, it was gone.
[CMDR] Jessie Stern: Quite a long way for a Malon Affiliate.
Admin. Pruvis Correct, though their logic is sound. It is unheard of for Malon to associate this far out of the delta quadrant, so it provided the perfect cover to secure their corporate secrets.
[LCDR] V’era:: Until you left it out in the open for any space fairing scavengers to scoop up… (She snapped coldly)
[CAPT] Maikull Barron: (Adjusting in his seat and clearing his throat to deflect from the tension between the two vulcans) Administrator, please what is so volatile about this ‘dreamscape’ asset? I understand if there is a Non disclosure agreement in your contract, but if you expect Starfleet to look into the matter and not refer it to local system investigators, I believe we have a right to know.
Admin. Pruvis (His piercing gaze moved away from Vera back to the captain, and he nodded in defeat) Yes, of course captain. I will cooperate if it means expedition of the ships recovery. Dreamscape is a program utilizing Borg Neural-processing technology in conjunction with holographic entertainment, allowing many users to ‘experience’ the same premade programming together within a more ‘realistic’ impression than standard Holo-suite technology.
[LCDR] Zach Brannigan: Wait…it uses Borg Nano Tech? How does that make it any better than a Holo-suite?!
Admin. Pruvis The Neural Processers work in conjunction with a ‘clients’ REM Sleep Cycle. In Stage 4 Sleep, test subjects were cited to experience the flow of time differently. In layman’s terms; one hour of sleep would register to the user as 12 hours inside the ‘program’.
[CMDR] Jessie Stern: Barring the huge moral ramifications of recreational borg tech, (not that I want to know how they come by it) that’s actually scientifically impressive.
Admin. Pruvis Morality is a major concern with the implementation of this program, Commander. The Malon intent to use this to specifically target their working class. Creating a fleet of these ship, they would be marketed as affordable yet luxurious destination cruises, when in reality they are placed into stasis against their will and knowledge and subjected to the program. The Programming of the Dreamscape would simply be the continuation of the cruise, with none of the passengers being the wiser. The working class could experience nearly a week of relaxing ‘shore leave’ and ample amount of rest with contingencies for replicated souvenirs to sell the realism. All while the corporate conglomerate lessens the actual downtime of their labor force.
(There is a brief pause as the shock is registered on the faces of the Starfleet officers.)
Admin. Pruvis Give them bread and circuses and they will never revolt. The idiom is mirrored across hundreds of worlds.
[LCDR] V’era:: That is atrocious. And you are a willing participant in this practice?
Admin. Pruvis On the contrary. I am simply a long distance caretaker for a vessel. I have no part in the development, distribution, or profiteering of Dreamscape. I just know the prototype is aboard this vessel, and could possibly be a target for corporate espionage.
[LCDR] Zach Brannigan: Well it sounds like someone did manage to get their hands on it.
Admin. Pruvis That is unlikely, Lieutenant Commander. The security features aboard would not allow foreign access to the vessel without extreme countermeasures, to which I would be notified. Biometric readings of all authorized occupants are required for entry, and the security systems installed were worth more than the ship itself.
[CMDR] Jessie Stern: Does anyone else outside of yourself and the Malon have biometric access?
Admin. Pruvis Yes. One. Which leads to the actual volatility of the situation. Dreamscape would be…a regrettable loss. However there is an 11 year old child held in stasis aboard the vessel. He contracted a extremely rare and terminal illness at a young age, and his parents spent an exorbitant amount of credits to safeguard him. He was meant to remain in stasis until a cure could be found. If the ships systems were compromised, even for a moment, I fear that his Stasis could have also been compromised. His recovery is paramount next to the status of the vessel or its contents.
[CAPT] Maikull Barron: (before any of the other officers could remark at this, the Captain taps his comm-badge) Barron to the Bridge.
[LCDR] 3 of 14 (Pi) : Pi here sir, go ahead.
[CAPT] Maikull Barron: We found anything yet?
[LCDR] 3 of 14 (Pi) : We have located where the ship was stationed at, and scans indicate a controlled departure, however we are unable to accurately re-create their warp trail.
[CAPT] Maikull Barron: That’s clear, set course for Drozana Station, Warp 8. Let our old DaiMon friend know were coming. Barron out.
(Cutting his comms, he turns to the table once more)
[CAPT] Maikull Barron: Were not sitting around the table scratching our heads if there is a child’s life on the line. Administrator, your going to be joining us while we figure this out, return to your ship and gather whatever you require and return at once.
[CAPT] Maikull Barron: Zach, get the specifications of the ship and put out a Fleet Wide All Points Bulletin on this APC Cruiser. Someone nearby, DS13, K7, or even Star base 157 ought to have seen something.
[CAPT] Maikull Barron: Jessie, I want you to pursue the scavenger possibility. If someone nicked it off the planet, chances are they are going to want to sell it quick.
[CMDR] Jessie Stern: Hence Drozana…Right.
[CAPT] Maikull Barron: Find out if anyone has heard anything, and set a lure incase they do later on. Vera, Get with Roptojmey and dig deeper with the Administrator. We need to know everything we can about this child and his condition, as well as possible threat to the ship and crew if we manage to get ahold of him. We’ll Reconvene in a few hours. Dismissed.