USS UNICORN
Mission 4 -- A Whiter Shade of Pale
Unicorn Message Header
Mission 4, A Whiter Shade of Pale
(4 Mission 12 Post 080899 CO)
OFF:
<USS Unicorn, Dante Base, at Dock>
<<Ready Room>>
ON:
The novelty of the holographic ready room was beginning to wear
off.
McAllister had cycled through several of the default
configurations, and
even designed a few of his own. Unsurprisingly, he had settled on
a
variation which looked remarkably similar to his old ready room's
design.
It was late; the night crew was on, and except for finishing
touches to the
new Sick Bay module, the Unicorn was ready to proceed with her
mission --
but proceed into what?
McAllister thought back to the conversation that had started the
current
chain of events.
<USS Unicorn, Sick Bay>
<<previously>>
McAllister: concerned "OK Biggs you wanted to see me in
private, the EMH
says I can't stay long so spill it quick."
Biggs: coughing and very pale only the drugs keeping him going,
"The
Krazzle were real interested in the tech improvements, kept
asking me what
we did with the ship. They want us eliminated......want the
sector wide
open.... some got close enough for me to get a telepathic read.
They may be
after others...but no spies on our ship, still plenty in the
Starbase...I
need to upgrade the shields...real important us being the only
ones to
fight Krazzle.....coughs. Got to be kept real secret....Only you,
me and
the Admiral. Can't let the Jarhead know....he's a prime target.
Might spill
something.
McAllister: thinking, "OK Biggs, but how you going to keep
him away. You
know he is going to be watching you close. Also I need something
to give
the Admiral for his approval and Help as well."
Bigg's spits up some blood, "ACEY code McAllister,
Lexington. All in
there...Was putting it in when Lessonar decided to play Computer
expert....Only your codes can get to it...." starts
rambling... "Stynt
should have never tried that bypass, made the fix harder, should
have
stepped in Captain....you know code...you could have fixed it
quicker......mumbles"
EMH: appears, "Sorry Captain, you will have to leave
now."
McAllister: "Take good care of him." Turns and leaves.
OFF>>
Captains Temporary Ready Room:
The Captain has created a software bypass to the file Biggs
installed in
ACEY. He pulls up the text and recorded message.
Biggs: appears to be standing on the Bridge with Lessonar doing
coding on a
terminal somewhere behind him. "If your pulling this up, I
gave you the
code words and I am probably one sorry looking icehole. I have an
idea for
a new breakthrough in Shield Technology based on the readings we
took
during our second mission against those Sect fighters. To
understand what I
am doing you have to understand a bit about current Shield
technology. In
short shields are basically magnetically charged, high energy
particals
that are modulated by a frequency controller to hold shape. As
energy hits
the shields the particles deflect the energy or are destroyed.
Current
shields can be taken down two ways. An ION charge will disrupt
the
frequency causing a loss of control and weakening of the
particles or the
energy destroys the particles faster than the recylce rate can
replace them
and depending on the amount of energy absorbed the shields are
weakened by
a percentage. That is why shields glow when hit.
My idea is to use a totally new technique. Instead of useing
magnetics, I want to use a pressor/tractor arrangement to create
two
magnetics barriers and inside the barrier I want of interject
Radiation
Particles using tac nukes as the feed. The shields will have a
totally
different affect. Ions will not disrupt the tractor/pressor
arrangement
making ION blasts useless. Energy striking the barrier will pass
through
the field and strike the Radiation particles which are much
bigger and
stronger than the magnetic particles. It takes more to destroy
them. I
anticipate at least a 25% increase in shield effectiveness but I
have been
unable to test it yet. The refresh rate on the shields is
increased by 50%
so instead of gettin 10% back a minute you get 15% due to the
fact that you
don't have to take time to recharge the magnetic particles. Your
already
injecting charged particles and your only limited by the speed of
the
projector's.
The Krazzle I am sure would love to get their hands on this. so I
am
placing this under special code. If something happens to me, Acey
will give
you the codes. This whole thing has to be hush hush from the get
go. If I
am not available to install, then contact Lawson-Royce for the
install. I
already gave him a heads up on the tech and this will be way to
hard for
Stynt. Were going to need some parts and some tac nukes to test
this if the
Admiral and the Science boys give us the go ahead. Well
Captain....that's
the plan. It's in your hands now.
<<present>>
McAllister and Biggs had know each other for a long time, since
they first
met when serving together on the Lexington. Biggs had saved the
young
Lieutenant McAllister's career, when by rights McAllister should
have been
busted for his actions. As a LT, McAllister still hadn't learned
there was
a right way, a wrong way, and the Starfleet way. Lt. McAllister
had done
the right thing, but it hadn't been the Starfleet thing to do --
the Fleet
frowned on violations of its General Order Number One, the Prime
Directive.
Biggs had called in some favors, and McAllister was given a
promotion to
Lieutenant Commander, a warning never to do that again, and a
transfer of
the Lexington and into Starfleet Intelligence, Covert Operations
branch.
McAllister realized he owed Biggs, and was inclined to trust him.
But the
Captain didn't understand why Biggs was adamant about using
tactical nukes
as a radiation source for the Unicorn's shield upgrade. The
Unicorn carried
several radiation sources that should work just as well.
McAllister
understood that Biggs had found out the Krazzle were developing a
weapon
that would render current shield technology almost useless. He
approved of
the upgrade idea -- but still the thought nagged on him: Why
tactical
nukes? And just where in the seven hells had Biggs managed to
find any --
Starfleet arsenals hadn't included basic nuclear devices in
several hundreds
of years.
McAllister's com beeped. It was the message he had been waiting
for. Eyes
only, classified Level Umbra, it took a moment for McAllister to
confirm his
identity and then for Acey to decode the message:
TO: Commander, NX-75589
FM: Area 51
P.D., it was good to hear from you. I received your request for
assistance, and understand how deep the doo must be for you to
have sent it.
As I am currently without assignment, I can accept your offer;
I'm having
the orders cut now. Expect my arrival in 72 hours. We'll work it
out --
The Elf.
McAllister: Acey, acknowledge receipt of message, then delete all
traces
of File Area 51, authorization, McAllister Niner Niner Two.
Acey: I have complied.
McAllister: *chuckling* You don't have to talk like a Borg, you
know.
Acey: *less formal* I am still analyzing personality types for
assimilation into my matrix.
McAllister: Take your time, a personality is a hard thing to
develop.
Some real people have never found one. Get me another coffee,
will you
please?
Acey did not reply, but a mug of McAllister's favorite brew
appeared within
reach on his desk. McAllister smiled, took a sip.
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Captain's Log, Stardate -- insert
current date
and time here --The Unicorn was the victim of a Krazzle attack
today. As the attack was centered in the Sick Bay, the obvious
conclusion
is that this Lord Skragg wanted to eliminate Biggs. I'm am not
convinced
this is the fact of the matter; however, the end result was the
destruction
of the Unicorn's Sick Bay module. Biggs and Kira have been
transferred to
Dante's facilities. The viral infection continues to fight off
all our
attempts to find a cure. We have been able to determine that the
virus has
settled into a 28 day cycle. It still affects those exposed in
different
ways. Lieutenant Lessonar remains personally unaffected by the
virus, but
in twenty more days will have to be placed in isolation for a
week as he
will once again become contagious -- he remains a carrier.
Commander Duke
has been cleared for light duty; the virus affects on him have
gone into
remission, but he is still recovering from the physical torture
at the hands
of Lord Skragg. Unfortunately, Biggs' recovery will be hampered
when the
virus manifests itself again in 20 days. Lieutenant Malsten
remains
paralyzed, but unaffected mentally. I have worked with Acey to
develop a
specialized version of the Ready Room program which will allow
Kira to
participate in the current mission of the Unicorn by projecting
her
holographic image anywhere on the ship her presence may be
required. Unless
some treatment for the virus is found, Lt. Malsten will not be
able to come
on any Away Missions.
That brings us to Captain Lanor, our marine commander. The good
Cap't. once again overstepped his authority and assumed security
duties for the Unicorn, using Kira's illness as an excuse. There
was a confrontation with Dante personnel -- the Admiral is not
happy with the fact that weapons were drawn by my crew on his
station. Capt. Lanor resides in our brig. I know Dyral was only
thinking of protecting the
Unicorn, and I share some of his apprehensions regarding Biggs'
actions. I
have used some favors with Dante Command to calm things down, and
I will be
releasing Cpt. Lanor to full duty without loss of status once we
leave
Dante. Biggs is going to talk to him and hopefully set Dyral's
mind at
ease. I wish someone could set my mind at ease regarding Biggs.
He's been
a true friend for many years, but of late he is going off
half-cocked and is
playing his cards way to close to his vest. I am not certain that
his
captivity by Lord Skragg did not turn him against us somehow.
Therefore, I
have requested assistance from some other old friends. I'm not
sure what
name she is using now, but I have always been able to reach her
using the
code name "The Elf." The Elf will be arriving in three
day or less, by
shuttle, and will assume the position of the Unicorn's Executive
Officer,
with the rank of Commander, which for all I know may be a step
down for her
these days.
Some minor housekeeping issues. I have approved Lt. Lessonar's
request to become Wing Commander for the Unicorn. However, due to
his past actions, I am holding his promotion until his
performance in his new position warrants it. Lieutenant Lyris
DevRoy has applied for a transfer. I have denied her request, but
have removed from
her responsibilities the Medical section -- Lyris remains the
Unicorn's
Counselor, but is no longer CMO, and has been instructed not to
approach
Biggs for any reason. Since Lyris will be on the bridge more
often than
not, and Biggs will be returning to his position as Chief
Engineer, we
should be able to make this work. I have told Biggs that it will
be
incumbent on him to ensure that this does work. He may not like
Betazoids,
but he will learn to work with them. I am asking Dr. Wakako to
resume the
duties of CMO until such time someone is posted to that position.
OFF: OK, the last post we all received
was from Biggs, on the sub-plot level. It
shouldn't have gone out, but it did, and we can work with that.
If there is
a conflict with what is in this post and what is in any others,
consider
this a Split-Fix and go with what is posted here. I appreciate
you all
holding as requested to give me time to get this out. I have one
more post
to follow this one, which will get us on our way. Ya'll are doing
great!
Thanks,
PD McAllister
Captain, USS Unicorn
Commanding
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