Chapter 2 - The Doomsday Clock

BEGIN
:::seated in the conference room, awaiting the briefing presentation of what had been learned in the last hour. The two warring forces are still ten hours from arrival at the island missile complex:::
Lt. Cmdr. Statzia Liski
BOT
— Today at 9:08 PM
::taps her finger on the corner of her PADD::
Cmdr Brielle Jayde – CTac — Today at 9:09 PM
::Rubs forehead and tosses PADD on the table with a heavy sigh::
Lt Commander Constance Stewart — Today at 9:09 PM
::standing in the back of the conference room looking at her PADD::
Patricia Crow
BOT
— Today at 9:10 PM
::enters, PADD in hand, looks to Henry for the go ahead and he nods:::
LTGhas — Today at 9:10 PM
::Enters and sits in usual chair::
Patricia Crow
BOT
— Today at 9:10 PM
So in the last hour we have decrypted more of the database down and this is pretty intriguing.
CMDR Caressa Melanick — Today at 9:11 PM
Looking around checking things out
Looking at padds, glad she is in medical
Lt. K’Naut, Chief Engineer — Today at 9:13 PM
::Stops at the entry and stares at Statzia. Mutters to himself:: I thought I smelled someone familiar.
Patricia Crow
BOT
— Today at 9:13 PM
Those islands are not natural, which we already knew, but they date to about sixteen thousand years ago. Their purpose was to be an interplanetary weapons system for a major solar system war which was going on. There is no record of what happened to the race which created them, but they were never fired. They are targeting the star of the system. The locals appear to have treated these people as gods and these islands have a very sacred reputation.
Cmdr Brielle Jayde – CTac — Today at 9:14 PM
::Glances over:: Hell…if either group gets their hands on those…
Cpt H Crow — Today at 9:14 PM
So you’re saying they think a weapon of a deity is sitting there for the taking to win their own crusade.
CMDR Caressa Melanick — Today at 9:14 PM
“Wonderful “ rolling her eyes.
LTGhas — Today at 9:14 PM
Pola T’Nash ::Ghas interjects::
Patricia Crow
BOT
— Today at 9:15 PM
Yes, and they don’t know what they have. If either launches, every planet in this system goes bye bye.
Lt. Cmdr. Statzia Liski
BOT
— Today at 9:15 PM
And with the Prime Directive in play, orbital bombardment of a sacred relic is probably also frowned upon.
Lt. K’Naut, Chief Engineer — Today at 9:16 PM
It might be possible to disable them.
CMDR Caressa Melanick — Today at 9:16 PM
Do we ever get anything normal?
LTGhas — Today at 9:16 PM
What is normal?
Lt. Cmdr. Statzia Liski
BOT
— Today at 9:16 PM
::hears the familiar voice from the doorway and clenches her jaw::
Lt Commander Constance Stewart — Today at 9:16 PM
nope were the twilight zone ship
LTGhas — Today at 9:17 PM
Twighlight Zone?
Patricia Crow
BOT
— Today at 9:17 PM
::glances to the new Intel, thinking she looks familiar:: Yes, disarming is our best bet. There are three main silos….overkill like any good military planner when one doomsday missile will do.
Lt Millie Stepanova, Couns. — Today at 9:17 PM
Has there been any success in reestablishing contact with either side?
Lt Commander Constance Stewart — Today at 9:17 PM
it was a old earth tv show
CMDR Caressa Melanick — Today at 9:17 PM
This is true. It’s a reference to a 19th century TV show, that presents altered realities.
Cpt H Crow — Today at 9:17 PM
None, they don’t seem to be in a negotiating mood.
Cmdr Brielle Jayde – CTac — Today at 9:17 PM
Disarming weapons that old, before they get there.
Lt Commander Constance Stewart — Today at 9:18 PM
how do you disarm a old nuke
LTGhas — Today at 9:18 PM
Oh yes, Rod Serling.
Patricia Crow
BOT
— Today at 9:18 PM
the problem is we’ll have to go down there. These systems have a firewall around the weapons themselves. We literally have to turn them off for good.
CMDR Caressa Melanick — Today at 9:18 PM
Got to have back ups
Lt. K’Naut, Chief Engineer — Today at 9:19 PM
It shouldn’t be too difficult to get them shut down.
Cmdr Brielle Jayde – CTac — Today at 9:19 PM
And it isn’t anything we can attempt from the ship I’m assuming.
CMDR Caressa Melanick — Today at 9:20 PM
Radiation concerns?
Lt Commander Constance Stewart — Today at 9:20 PM
we could use radation suits
Lt. Cmdr. Statzia Liski
BOT
— Today at 9:20 PM
That’s the hope, at least, Chief. ::absentmindedly rubs just above her left knee::
Cpt H Crow — Today at 9:21 PM
These aren’t nuclear, they’re having some kind of trilithium knockoff.
Patricia Crow
BOT
— Today at 9:21 PM
Suits wouldn’t hurt.
CMDR Caressa Melanick — Today at 9:21 PM
::taps on the padd alerting sick bay for radiation protocols::
Lt Commander Constance Stewart — Today at 9:22 PM
what if both parties are watching the Island
Cpt H Crow — Today at 9:22 PM
We have to assume they are.
Lt. K’Naut, Chief Engineer — Today at 9:22 PM
Is there an underground area that we can beam into?
Patricia Crow
BOT
— Today at 9:23 PM
::brings up a holo map:: Scans show the entrance to the underground complex is here….and once you’re down about 200 feet it branches out to the silos.
Cpt H Crow — Today at 9:23 PM
We’ll have the teams beam to the entrance. Assuming we can get in there we’ll them shut them down manually.
Cmdr Brielle Jayde – CTac — Today at 9:24 PM
And hope we don’t trigger something in the process. I truly wish we could do this remotely, but tech that old, I get it.
Cpt H Crow — Today at 9:25 PM
Yes. This was a incredibly advanced race it sounds like. They might have fail safes.
Lt. Cmdr. Statzia Liski
BOT
— Today at 9:25 PM
Heads on swivels at all times.
Lt Commander Constance Stewart — Today at 9:26 PM
nods
LTGhas — Today at 9:26 PM
Weapons like this, weapons like this were meant as a last ditch effort. Pola T’Nash, the people of the Sun had weapons like this. When the world was at a loss, destroy the world.
::staring at the image of the island::
Lt. K’Naut, Chief Engineer — Today at 9:27 PM
No active sweeps with the tricorders, resonance scanning only should reduce the risk of triggering something nasty. ::Glances at Statzia::
Cpt H Crow — Today at 9:28 PM
All of you, sans the Counselor, will be going down. Pack what you need and be safe.
Lt Commander Constance Stewart — Today at 9:28 PM
” what about phasers just in case”
Cpt H Crow — Today at 9:28 PM
If I was going down I know I’d have one.
LTGhas — Today at 9:28 PM
agreed
Cmdr Brielle Jayde – CTac — Today at 9:29 PM
We likely don’t have a choice. Will there be a transporter lock on us the whole time or is it not possible?
Lt Commander Constance Stewart — Today at 9:29 PM
” just checking I plan to have one on me as always”
Patricia Crow
BOT
— Today at 9:29 PM
We don’t know if transporter signals will be blocked or not underground.
Lt. K’Naut, Chief Engineer — Today at 9:30 PM
It will depend on how far we have to go down and what materials the silos are made of.
LTGhas — Today at 9:30 PM
that far down, we might get at least a partial lock.
Lt. Cmdr. Statzia Liski
BOT
— Today at 9:30 PM
::stands, tucking the PADD under her arm, making eye contact with K’Naut::
Cpt H Crow — Today at 9:31 PM
:::stands:: Dismissed.
Patricia Crow
BOT
— Today at 9:31 PM
::turns on her heel to get some gear before heading to the transporter room:::
Cpt H Crow — Today at 9:31 PM
(gonna jump ahead a little so if you need a transition go for it)
Cmdr Brielle Jayde – CTac — Today at 9:31 PM
::Grabs the PADDs she had brought and starts to follow the others out::
LTGhas — Today at 9:32 PM
::gets up and heads to the Storage and heads to the Transporter Room::
Lt Commander Constance Stewart — Today at 9:33 PM
:: Turns to head out of the room heads to Security grab her bag she used on away missions adding a few extra things then heading to the transporter room::
Lt. K’Naut, Chief Engineer — Today at 9:33 PM
::looks at Statzia:: It’s been awhile, Z
Lt. Cmdr. Statzia Liski
BOT
— Today at 9:34 PM
::nods, sighing quietly:: We should talk later.
Cmdr Brielle Jayde – CTac — Today at 9:34 PM
::Checks her stuff before grabbing her phaser, eyeing some of the others::
Cpt H Crow — Today at 9:34 PM
::::THE AWAY TEAM IS BEAMED DOWN JUST OUTSIDE THE HATCH ENTRANCE. THE ISLAND IS REMENISCIENT OF AN IRISH CLIMATE AND JUST AS GREEN.:::
Lt Commander Constance Stewart — Today at 9:35 PM
looking around ” its rather beautiful here”
Patricia Crow
BOT
— Today at 9:36 PM
Yea we’re just standing on top of three star killing projectiles set up by an ancient species.
Cmdr Brielle Jayde – CTac — Today at 9:36 PM
Beautiful place in the middle of a war, with massive weapons. Couldn’t just be the beautiful place, could it?
Lt. K’Naut, Chief Engineer — Today at 9:37 PM
::Approachs the hatch, tricorder set for resonance scan. Begins scanning it.::
Lt Commander Constance Stewart — Today at 9:37 PM
” sometimes in the middle of war you have to find beauty”
Lt. Cmdr. Statzia Liski
BOT
— Today at 9:37 PM
::lets out the breath she’d been holding–and then makes a face at the taste and smell of fresh air:: Keep your eyes open and watch where you walk.
LTGhas — Today at 9:37 PM
Flanders Fields, was just was beautiful before and then after.
::pulls out tricorder::
Lt. Cmdr. Statzia Liski
BOT
— Today at 9:38 PM
::checks her rifle an extra time before visually scanning the room::
Patricia Crow
BOT
— Today at 9:38 PM
:::checks PADD::: I think our secret is out. Looks like both fleets are picking up speed. Eight hours out now.
Makes sense that both would have some kind of sensors or satelites watching.
Lt Commander Constance Stewart — Today at 9:39 PM
” we need to get this done fast then”
Cmdr Brielle Jayde – CTac — Today at 9:39 PM
Of course they did. ::Pulls out her tricorder and lowers the scanning intensity::
Lt. Cmdr. Statzia Liski
BOT
— Today at 9:40 PM
Don’t be too eager to do this quickly. Unknown advance civilizations with doomsday weapons probably don’t leave them lying around unguarded.
Lt. K’Naut, Chief Engineer — Today at 9:40 PM
It looks like there’s an opening mechanism over here. ::points to one side of the hatch::
Lt Millie Stepanova, Couns. — Today at 9:41 PM
((I roll a perception check to check for traps! 🤣 ))
LTGhas — Today at 9:42 PM
::runs hand over the interface:: I think I can get us in.
Lt. Cmdr. Statzia Liski
BOT
— Today at 9:42 PM
::shifts to one side, raising her rifle and aiming at the closed hatch::
Patricia Crow
BOT
— Today at 9:42 PM
:::glances around:: I don’t like us just standing here in the open.
Cmdr Brielle Jayde – CTac — Today at 9:42 PM
Yeah, we need to get inside, though carefully.
Lt. K’Naut, Chief Engineer — Today at 9:42 PM
Careful. There are sensors all around the edge of it.
Lt. Cmdr. Statzia Liski
BOT
— Today at 9:43 PM
::nods:: And here I was just being paranoid about being planetside…
LTGhas — Today at 9:44 PM
::Taps a four symbol command on the panel::
Lt Commander Constance Stewart — Today at 9:44 PM
can we throw the sensors off any
Patricia Crow
BOT
— Today at 9:44 PM
Can you read those symbols?
LTGhas — Today at 9:44 PM
Yes, in fact…
I’ve come across this language before. A long, long time ago.
Cmdr Brielle Jayde – CTac — Today at 9:45 PM
::Raises an eyebrow:: You have?
LTGhas — Today at 9:45 PM
Or something similar.
Lt. Cmdr. Statzia Liski
BOT
— Today at 9:46 PM
::taps her finger nervously on the safety::
Patricia Crow
BOT
— Today at 9:48 PM
::the tapping was driving her crazy:::
LTGhas — Today at 9:48 PM
While I was a Cargo Captain, several of the traders I’ve met had tried to trade with my crew certain items with symbols similar to this.
Lt. K’Naut, Chief Engineer — Today at 9:48 PM
Pressing those symbols seem to have done something. What, I don’t know.
Cpt H Crow — Today at 9:49 PM
:::THE HATCH HISSES AND SLIDES INTO THE GROUND HORIZONTALLY::
LTGhas — Today at 9:49 PM
Open Sesame!
Cpt H Crow — Today at 9:49 PM
:::BELOW IS A LADDER THAT GOES DOWN….AND DOOOOOOOOOOWN::::
LTGhas — Today at 9:50 PM
Who disturbs my slumber!
Cmdr Brielle Jayde – CTac — Today at 9:50 PM
::Looks down the ladder:: That…is a very long way down.
Lt Commander Constance Stewart — Today at 9:50 PM
” agreed”
LTGhas — Today at 9:50 PM
about 200 meters I reckon
Patricia Crow
BOT
— Today at 9:50 PM
::scan:: Two hundred and thirty two feet.
Cpt H Crow — Today at 9:50 PM
*meters
LTGhas — Today at 9:51 PM
So, who should go down first?
Draw straws?
Lt. Cmdr. Statzia Liski
BOT
— Today at 9:51 PM
I will.
Cmdr Brielle Jayde – CTac — Today at 9:51 PM
I think we just need to head down.
Patricia Crow
BOT
— Today at 9:51 PM
Fine with me
Cmdr Brielle Jayde – CTac — Today at 9:51 PM
::Eyes Tricia, wondering what is going on::
Lt. Cmdr. Statzia Liski
BOT
— Today at 9:52 PM
::slings the rifle over her shoulder, steps to the ledge, and peers down::
Patricia Crow
BOT
— Today at 9:53 PM
::looks to Brie with a ‘what?’ expression::
Lt. K’Naut, Chief Engineer — Today at 9:53 PM
::sweeps with the tricorder:: I can’t get any readings from deeper than about 50 meters.
Cmdr Brielle Jayde – CTac — Today at 9:53 PM
::Nods slightly towards Liski::
Lt. Cmdr. Statzia Liski
BOT
— Today at 9:53 PM
::takes a breath:: Well then–give me a 50 meter head start.
Patricia Crow
BOT
— Today at 9:54 PM
::slight shrug:::
Cmdr Brielle Jayde – CTac — Today at 9:54 PM
::Sighs slightly::
Lt Commander Constance Stewart — Today at 9:54 PM
” shouldnt we go down as a team not split up we dont know whats down their”
Lt. Cmdr. Statzia Liski
BOT
— Today at 9:54 PM
::slips over the edge and starts down the ladder::
Cmdr Brielle Jayde – CTac — Today at 9:55 PM
Need to leave some space between all of us, just in case.
Lt Commander Constance Stewart — Today at 9:56 PM
right
Lt. K’Naut, Chief Engineer — Today at 9:56 PM
I’ll follow Commander Liski. ::climbs down after her::
Lt Commander Constance Stewart — Today at 9:56 PM
Ill go after K Naut
Patricia Crow
BOT
— Today at 9:56 PM
Count to twenty and then next person
LTGhas — Today at 9:56 PM
I’ll go next ::follows Constance::
Cpt H Crow — Today at 9:56 PM
::looks at Brie:: I’ll bring up the rear.
Lt Commander Constance Stewart — Today at 9:57 PM
counts to 20 then goes down the ladder
Cmdr Brielle Jayde – CTac — Today at 9:57 PM
::Nods:: I’ll stay next to last then.
Lt Millie Stepanova, Couns. — Today at 9:57 PM
((How far can I see visually?))
Cpt H Crow — Today at 9:57 PM
(pitch black)
Lt. Cmdr. Statzia Liski
BOT
— Today at 9:58 PM
::gets about 30 meters down before pausing in the darkness. She reaches into one of her tool kit pockets, grabs her torch/flashlight, flicks it on, and tucks it between her teeth::
Lt. K’Naut, Chief Engineer — Today at 9:59 PM
::pulls out a flashlight and attaches it to his sleeve::
Lt. Cmdr. Statzia Liski
BOT
— Today at 10:00 PM
::reaches 50 meters and continues::
Lt Commander Constance Stewart — Today at 10:00 PM
turns on her head lamp
LTGhas — Today at 10:00 PM
I don’t want to be a pollyanna but, we’re the first people to climb this ladder in centuries. pretty cool.
Cpt H Crow — Today at 10:00 PM
::::ONCE ALL MEMBERS ARE AT THE BOTTOM THERE IS AN AUDIBLE ECHO SUGGESTING THEY’RE IN A HUGE CHAMBER:::
Lt. Cmdr. Statzia Liski
BOT
— Today at 10:01 PM
::swings her rifle back to the ready, shining her flashlight around the room::
Patricia Crow
BOT
— Today at 10:01 PM
I wish there was a lightswitch.
Cmdr Brielle Jayde – CTac — Today at 10:01 PM
Instead ::Flips on her own torch:: We got these.
Patricia Crow
BOT
— Today at 10:02 PM
:::shines hers on an archway leading out of the room, easily ten feet tall::: Well there’s a corridor here.
Lt Commander Constance Stewart — Today at 10:02 PM
swings her rifle around holding i t and looking around
Patricia Crow
BOT
— Today at 10:03 PM
The map showed one opposite of this too. Split up?
LTGhas — Today at 10:03 PM
There’s an electricity here.
Patricia Crow
BOT
— Today at 10:04 PM
+Merc+ We’re down here…really big chamber….big door.
Cpt H Crow — Today at 10:04 PM
::::STATIC::::