USS UNICORN

Mission 4 -- A Whiter Shade of Pale

<USS Unicorn, Dante Base>
<<Bridge>>
ON:
McAllister was seated at his command console reviewing reports. Counselor
DevRoy had filed a protest regarding McAllister's denial of her transfer
request, but she seemed to be settling into her new office. She wanted to
make it clear to the Captain that unless her presence was actually required
on the Bridge, she really didn't want to be there, as she was still leery of
another encounter with Biggs. McAllister decided to let her have some
time -- besides, there wasn't an available station on the bridge. Except
for the XO's console. But he would be rectifying that shortly.
McAllister glanced around the bridge. At Mission Ops, "Major" Lanor was
busy running computer simulations for the rescue of the Away Team should it
be necessary once they reach the Pale. He was joined on the same platform
by Lt. Lessonar at the Flight Coordination station. Lessonar was also
running simulations, flight simulations, working to meet Lanor's
requirements for the transportation of marines to the surface of the Pale
using the personnel/cargo pods which could be carried by the Unicorn's
fighters. The pods made the fighters ungainly as hell, and Lessonar was
attempting to show Lanor that there was more tactical advantage to using the
fighters in their traditional role than as transports. After all, that's
what transporters were for.
At Tactical, Kira Malsten's holographic image was insuring that the
Unicorn's weapon's inventory was complete, while at the Science station, Lt.
J'min was reviewing data on the Pale, making notations for his briefing to
be held on their arrival. At the Engineering station, Lt. Stynt was
monitoring the progress of the final Sick Bay renovations.
Stynt (NPC): Captain, Sick Bay reports final module testing successful.
McAllister (CO): Very Well. *taps com* Sick Bay, this is the Captain.
What do you think of your new toys?
Wakakoe (NPC): +I've got some rearranging to do, but this new module
works as good as the old one. Although the EMH has more of an attitude.+
CO: *chuckling* With any luck, we won't need "Dr. Crusher" on this
trip. Carry on. *taps comm off* Mr. Sanders, what's our status?
Ens. Layna Sanders, OPS (NPC): All stations report manned and ready, sir.
CO: Very Well. *taps comm* Engineering, this is the Captain. Ready
to go Krazzle hunting, Biggs?
Biggs: +Aye, Cap'n! And don't let Mr. Stynt give ya any trouble up
there.+
McAllister glanced over at Stynt, who was smiling. McAllister grinned back.
CO: *chuckling* He's a lot less trouble than you are...
Biggs: *laughs* Aye, maybe so, but you just remember who keeps this
bucket of bolt from fall'in apart on ya, Cap'n.
CO: Will do, Biggs. *taps comm off* Lt. Malsten, do we have
clearance?
Malsten: *tapping keys on console* Final clearance approved, Captain.
CO: Very Well. Take us out, Mr. Afali, thrusters only.
Ensign Afali, CONN (NPC): Thrusters, aye.
The Unicorn detached from her docking port and slowly swung around, moving
away from the station that had been her home for far too long.
Afali: We're clear, sir.
CO: Very well. Set course for Way Point Echo, Ensign. Full impulse.
J'min: I thought we were headed directly for the Pale, Captain.
CO: We've got someone to meet first. We'll rendezvous at Echo, then be
on our way.
Afali: On course for Way Point Echo, sir.
CO: Warp Five, Mr. Afali. Engage.
Afali: Warp Five, aye.
Co: Status?
Stynt: She's running fine, Cap'n. All systems nominal.
Malsten: Sensors are clear.
CO: *taps comm* All hands, this is the Captain. Rig for silent
running. *taps comm off*
Sanders: All stations report ready, Captain.
Stynt: Cloaking device on-line, sir.
CO: Engage cloak, Mr. Stynt.
Stynt: Cloak engaged, sir.
And in the depths of space, the USS Unicorn shimmered out of existence.
OFF:
We're on our way. :-)
Good Gaming,
PD McAllister
Captain, USS Unicorn
Commanding

OFF>>
USS Unicorn enroute to the Pale:
Primary Shield Array which is undergoing massive rebuild while the cloak is
on and shields are useless. The ever suspicious Lanor is watching the
Engineer with interest.
ON>>>
Lanor: suspicious and confused, " OK I hear you asked the Captain to assign
me to help you. I would think you would want to stay clear of me. I hear
you got demoted from XO and now you want to make nice to me? You had us
jumping all over the ship during your little campaign of punishment."
Wayne: deadpan, "Just thought you would like to know why is all. Of course
if your feelings are that bruised you don't have to listen."
Lanor: watching closely, "Why so you can tell more lies? Hurt peoples
feelings, like DevRoy's? Maybe get more people killed like Wakakoe and
Harsh? Let me spell it out for you, I don't trust you. I think the Krazzle
got to you. I think your an accident waiting to happen. I may have to serve
with you, but I ain't trusting you an inch. Especially the way you keep
dodging all the questions and debriefings. The Captain may have fallen for
your lines but I haven't."
Wayne: looking back, deadpan as well "OK by me, that's your job, in the
meantime, you can help me with these Tac Nukes. That's why I wanted you
here, outside of Sarge your the only one qualified to help me handle them."
Lanor: carefully picking up the shining cylinder studies it, "I suppose you
have some good reason with all the different types of energy sources on
this ship, why you have to use Tac Nukes? It will be interesting to see how
you lie to justify this one. Although I am sure you have a completely
legitimate engineering reason for using them. Your good with reasons that
suit your purposes. By the way how did you get them?"
Wayne: looking at the parts of the Shield Unit, answers without looking at
the marine, "I didn't get the parts, how would I get Tac Nukes? Even my
contacts would run for cover if I tried to sneak those on board. I did this
legal. I sent my plan to the Admiral and the Captain. The parts arrived
while I was still laid up in the sick bay, and I never tied into the supply
chains or even the dock yard engineers. The Tac Nukes are required because
they are old tech energy sources. Tac Nukes are not like modern energy
systems. Modern particles are clean, efficient and small, for the most part
they don't have enough mass. Tac Nukes are crude in design compared to
modern systems. They create a heavier denser particle with neither a
positive or negative charge. If this shield upgrade is to work I need the
nastiest charge dampening particles I can find. I considered Old Style
Nuclear waste but that was cleaned up long ago. I looked for Neutron Bombs
but since those were used as subspace weapons they were outlawed, so the
nukes were my next best choice. The Tac's were made in old style Nuclear
fission plants and are NEUTRON heavy. Later we went to fusion which was
much cleaner and the heavy neutrons were stripped out. Neutron particles
are more resistent to destruction especially from phasor fire. This makes
for a heavier and denser shield. It will also have some side benefits later
but right now I am concentrating on Shields."
Lanor: still holding the Nuke, "So your saying the Captain or Admiral got
the parts? Where would they get them and why would they?"
Wayne: still concentrating on his work, "One of them had to have gotten the
parts. Anyone knows I can get regular ships parts and even some unusual
stuff, but nukes ain't exactly classified as ships parts now are they. I
suspect the Admiral went to the Federation Science Teams and got it
authorized. Those boys can get any play toy they want. Where did they get
them? I can guess and it would be pretty easy, the federation does maintain
the old arsenals of other planets who join. Always new low tech planets
joining up. There are so many planets that have had them stored away,
getting them would be no problem once they sent my proposal to Starfleet
Command for a Science Test. I chose the Nukes, because it was quicker to
have a source of heavy nuetrons than to take an existing clean energy
source and try to force heavy neutrons back in after they are split off. It
saved allot ot time and cred having a natural source rather than having to
create a synthetic one. I would have needed allot more equipment to create
nuetrons and then join them back into the current system and remove the
charge from the particles. Probably more than we could carry on this ship.
I could have used the ship to scoop them up in space but again I didn't
incorporate Ram scoops in our hull. I'd have to redesign the existing ship
again which would keep us from getting to the Pale and we would then be
dependent on an outside source for our particles and we would have needed
space for what we could store. I think this way is better, although I could
be wrong."
Lanor: smiling slightly, "I think I understand, and if you decide you want
to nuke a planet back to the stoneage you happen to have a ready source of
tools for the job. I can see where your on the road to a new technology.
I'll be your agent, "Look folks a brand new shield defence stops almost all
attacking energy and as an added bonus if you act now we'll throw in the
ability to irrevocably irradiate those delinquent on their payments as a
'usefull side affect." I am sure that will bring allot of satisfaction to
your new job of sucking up to our Krazzle buddies. As for being wrong, you
mean you might actually admit your wrong about something? Now I know your
not right in the head? What did you do with the old Biggs you criminal?"
Wayne: still working, "There are always scoffers, at least I finally put
something out there to fight Krazzle with instead of dancing around with
feathers in my hair and a bone through my nose singing "It's MAGIC!" You
say that with a smile, but it don't get to your eyes. It's people like you
who give scum a bad name. If we install the nukes in here they can't be
launched. Unless you plan to steal one and place it in a fighter. I'll have
to wire these into the Security Boards so that can't be done. As for the
"real" Biggs he died in a Krazzle torture chamber and I am the ghost of
Christmas Past. Now be a good little Jarhead and hand me that Nuke."

USS Unicorn
Approaching the Planet Pale
ON>>
McAllister sat in the captains chair watching the view screen which has a
tactical display of the solar system. Three Krazzle destroyers are on a
slow circular orbit of the far reaches of the system obviously relaying new
mines. The Unicorn, cloaked is far outside of their scanner range and
approaching from the opposite side of the planet.
McAllister: leaning forward in the command chair hands steepled in front of
him "J'Min I thought you said there would be 4 destroyers."
J'Min: looking up from the tactical post, "There are Sir. The fourth is in
a tight orbit around Pale. From the readings I would guess it is having
trouble with its engines. I can't tell but it may have been damaged in a
fight."
McAllister: "Are there any other Federation ships in this area?"
J'Min: "Negative Sir. And no sign of debris that would indicate a space
battle. At least not where we can see it."
McAllister: "Helm take us in slow. Keep the planet between us and the
destroyers. Maintain cloaking."
Helm: "Aye sir."
The Unicorn drifted slowly into orbit around the planet getting close
enough to be sure that the Destroyer had indeed been in a space battle.
Which it had apparently won since the wreckage of its adversary was now
falling back to Pale as a spectacular display of shooting stars.
J'Min: "Sir, it would appear that we can avoid either the 3 destroyers or
the one parked around the planet. While cloaked none of them will see us
but the cost of cloaking is prohibitive to say the least. I recommend we
beam the away team down and then put the Unicorn in orbit behind one of the
moons. In that manner it should avoid all but the closest scrutiny and can
recloak should the destroyers chose to look closer."
McAllister: "Very well make it so, away team to the transporters. We'll
check in every 2 hours. Go to plan B if we miss two check ins
McAllister and the rest of the away team walk down to the transporter rooms
where they are met by Lanor and 3 marines.
Lanor: salutes marines follow suit, "Sir, your guard as requested they are
armed with hand weapons only."
McAllister: looks over the marines who obviously aren't carrying fewer than
3 guns each. Looks back at Lanor and shakes his head. "You people are
always on overkill."
Lanor: deadpan, "When you have it and don't need it you lose nothing. But
when you need it and don't have it... you lose everything. Be careful down
there sir. Present company excepted the Krazzle have been mean SOB's and
this may yet be a trap."
J'Min: smiles revealing teeth, "You misunderstand if you think I am not a
'mean SOB.' I merely save mine for my enemies."
McAllister: all right mount up. We have a lot of work to do."
The team mounts the transporter pad and in a few seconds shimmers from
existence. Leaving Lanor to slowly shake his head and walk from the room.
OFF>>

OK we are on Pale. Sorry it took so long.

Capt. Lanor
USS Unicorn Marines.

USS Unicorn - orbiting Pale Primary Moon
Sickbay
ON>>
The Unicorn drifted quietly through a stationary orbit, hiding behind a
moon of Pale waiting for word from their landing party. So far only
routine reports had come in and apparently until the orbiting Krazzle
destroyer was finished with its repairs the landing party would have to
wait to contact the local government.
Major Lanor of the marines stands just outside of sickbay and watches as
the three contaminated people quietly sleep in their isolation cells. The
trip and the long waiting had burned the 20 day period in a hurry and now
the 3 unfortunates were back in quarantine heavily sedated, with the EMH
watching them closely. Wakakoe, having been reported dead was still very
much alive but hiding in marine country. Since Lanor had attracted so much
attention to himself in an attempt to drag Starfleet Brass into investigate
Biggs, he needed someone who didn't exist to do the investigating for him.
The Doctor was the perfect candidate. Wakakoe had only been to happy to
comply after having been found by Dyral in the automatic disaster locker
underneath his table. The locker, like most of its kind on the Unicorn,
had been beefed up to provide temporary shelter for 1 or 2 people in case
of lose of pressure. It had easily survived the belly bomb and with the
Krazzle's guts covering sickbay forging a death certificate had been fairly
simple.
Turning and walking back to the turbolift Lanor went back to his quarters.
Once there he walked quietly over to his desk and carefully lifted the box
on it. Inside sleeping peacefully was the Slocar. The thing could get into
anywhere and couldn't be easily found with scanners. Must be all part of
its camouflage, thought Lanor. He had been very surprised to find it in
his hidden weapons locker sleeping peacefully on a sword. Narrowly
avoiding a spraying by offering it the sandwich he had been eating, Lanor
had managed to calm it down. Unfortunately, once fed it had a habit of
returning. Something which bothered Lanor since it easily got around every
piece of security he put up. Finally, getting smart, he had fitted it with
a small collar which had a transmitter inside it. The Slocar occasionally
lost it's toy but, more often than not it wore it , this allowed Lanor to
track the Slocar's movements. Today though was no accidental meeting.
Lanor had taken to leaving the box on the table with food under it and
surprisingly found the Slocar there often lately, especially when Sanders
had been in the room. He mused, maybe now that it had marked her, it felt
comfortable in her presence. Of course he wouldn't tell her that. If she
suspected the Slocar followed her around there would be no living with her.
Taking the Slocar from the table and gently rubbing it under the chin,
Lanor walked to the vent and offered it up. Earlier he had transported a
bit of sandwich into Biggs quarters when they were getting his clothes for
the quarantine. Now the Slocar sniffed the vent and wandered off in the
general direction.
It took an hour and several false starts but the Slocar finally
wandered into Biggs quarters. Turning on the camera Lanor began to look
around...
The first thing he noticed was that the room must have been designed
like Biggs home planet. The Slocar obviously did not like the heavy weight
or the very bright intense light that cast a sharp bluish tint like and
insane arc welder. Sheesh, thought Lanor, I need to get filters on this
transmitter. I wonder what the radiation count is on his planet? The
Slocar rapidly fled the uncomfortable surroundings and Lanor turned off his
gear. Turning to the control panel to his left he pushed in the button and
turned off his Scan Net override. Immediately ACEY appeared.
ACEY: "Capt Lanor what are you doing?"
Lanor: a little startled but not surprised, "What does it look like I am
doing?"
ACEY: "It would appear that you are deliberately hiding a transmission from
Scan Net. May I ask why?"
Lanor: "Why are you asking?"
ACEY: "The Capt asked me to monitor all uses of Scan Net and report
anything
unusual."
Lanor: leaning back in his chair and looking at the attractive hologram, "I
didn't want to set off any alarms for a low powered transmission test. As
I am the only officer on Board and still functional with access to Scan Net
I turned it down so it wouldn't detect the test. Now that the test is
complete I have restored it to full operation. Is there anything that says
what I have done is wrong?"
ACEY: reviews her files, "No, in fact there is presidents which state that
your behavior is normal. Very well continue. Sorry for the interuption."
Lanor: hastily, "ACEY!" when she reappears, "Just for your clarification
there is only one Captain for this ship. All the marine, army, exctra
officers of the same rank are temporarily refered to as Major. Keeps the
confusion down amoung the biological intelligences."
ACEY: ponders the comment, "I see. Thank you. I will keep the data for
future refernce." Fades out.
Lanor waits for about 1/2 an hour then calls out again. "ACEY!" When she
doesn't he checks his clock. It was nearing the "hour before dawn"
when everyone was either at their posts or in bed. Changing into his armor
he went rapidly down the hall and tried Biggs' door. To his surprise he
found it unlocked. Walking in he quickly shut it behind him and then
turned to face the room. The filters on the armor and the powered servos
negated the heavy gravity and bright light as well as the low radiation
count. Lanor stood by the door and did a very slow survey of the room.
The room appeared as normal as this room could appear. The bed was neatly
made and the room tidy. A scan showed no unusual items in the room. No
hidden machines or camera;s no transmitters except the standard intercom.
Nothing to excite the interest. But the same could be said for Lanor's
room and it was loaded with extra stuff.
Trying to think like a grease monkey Lanor walked around slowly first
checking the floors and walls for the "secret" panels that Biggs was
infamous for. Unfortunately, the only thing to the room that had any
personality at all was the large poster of a buxom woman wearing next to
nothing blowing a kiss to the world. The brillant red leaders "Betazoids
do it everyway." were hand written across the top and bottom. A similar
poster with a woman holding a lollypop was on the table, "Betazoids really
suck." was scralled across it. Everything else seemed to have been
removed. There were a couple of places were something had once sat but had
since been removed. The closet was full of boxes marked for transport back
to storage on vulcan. It was as if everything that belonged to the old
Biggs had been taken and the 'new' Biggs hadn't decided what his
personallity was yet.
Quietly Lanor left the room. ACEY had noticed his Scan Net overrides but
hadn't noticed when he only undid part of them. The rest, the security
shutoffs for Biggs' room, would automatically restart the security and then
erase themselves shortly. It would be traceable, but unless you had a
reason to be searching in dead and deleted files it would be real unlikely
anyone would find them before the computer overwrote the memory.
Especially since Scan Net was constantly rewriting to save disk space. By
breakfast time there would be no evidence that anyone had ever entered
Biggs' room.

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