Federation and Empire
From USSArcadia
This plot is a direct continuation of The Phoenix Project.
Federation and Empire, Part I
Stardate 50608.30
A very angry Captain Dacotah gave Ens. Thoros and 2Lt. Swan a stern talking to and sent them away from Ens. Naara and Trenton's cell. The captain told Naara and Trenton that she had her own ways of telling who was lying and "that it was not a happy, warm, fuzzy time." Initially, she set the Brig lock only on her command, but when red alert sounded again, she overrode her previous command and allowed all security personnel access to the brig again. She gave Thoros and Swan orders not to continue interrogating the prisoners.
Lt. Col. Quest awoke headachy and confused in sickbay, but she still wanted to leave. (She's a Marine, what do you expect?) Nurse Ratchet refused to release her, despite her pleas to return to duty during the red alert. Captain Dacotah refuses to override the doctors' orders and release her. Counselor Merri tried to comfort her, asking her how much she could coordinate from sickbay, if she wanted to feel useful. She agreed to use the counselor's office and "give orders sitting down" as long as she didn't return to full duty.
In engineering, Lt. Brighton tried hard to restore Arcadia's weapons systems, just in case the unknown ships near the planet turned on Arcadia.
Back on the bridge, Captain Dacotah felt helpless monitoring the yacht's situation from so far away. But, she had her own security situation as well. She ordered Lt. Meriva to report any access to the brig's lock codes.
In the brig, 2Lt. Swan deactivated the lock on Ens. Trenton's cell. It was now clear that they had known of each other before this interrogation episode! In order not to attract attention, she surprised and punched Thoros, knocking him out. Swan led Trenton to the shuttlebay where the Marine shuttles were located. An entire on-duty squad of Marines saluted the Marine officer. She offered the Marines the excuse that Trenton had admitted to sabotaging the shuttles and had agreed to give them enough information to make sure the repairs were done correctly. She let Trenton into the Marine shuttle and distracted the Marines while Trenton entered the shuttle. Before the Marines could do anything to question the woman they considered to be their superior officer, they found themselves beamed into a cargo bay. Trenton made an unauthorized launch of the shuttle from Arcadia and into free space. Arcadia did not have enough power to stop the shuttle from going to warp. Trenton had escaped and it was now apparent that Swan had been colluding with him all along. But, she had left herself on Arcadia.
Meanwhile, on the captain's yacht, Cmdr. Lo'Ami decided that they had no choice other than trying to make peaceful contact with the aliens who were now sending small ships to intercept them. He had Lt. Sema'J take the yacht back into space, continuing to broadcast universal peace signals to the ships. He maintained a peaceful posture, with shields down and weapons unpowered, although Lt. Marx was to be ready to activate the defensive systems on a moment's notice. He attempted blinking mathematical sequences at the ships through the yacht's external illumination. Shortly after arriving in orbit, their signals began to degrade. The aliens were jamming them! Not too shortly after the jamming began, three TIE Fighters from just ahead opened fire on the yacht, while others converged on their location. Lt. Marx quickly raised the shields, and the yacht sustained only minimal damage, although its shields started taking a pounding. Cmdr. Lo'Ami didn't want to bring the now overtly hostile aliens towards Arcadia, so, he had Lt. Sema'J set a perpendicular course away from Arcadia and engage at warp 6. The starfield streaked for a second as the ship entered warp, but, the engines couldn't maintain a stable subspace field. They had gained a little distance from the fighters.
Without warp, they couldn't outrun the whole alien fleet. Cmdr. Lo'Ami ordered Lt. Sema'J to reverse course back to the planet, and find the cave he had suggested they hide in before they entered orbit. All the way through the atmosphere, TIE Fighters continued firing at the yacht's shields. Lo'Ami allowed Marx first to fire warning shots, but the fighters were unaffected. Marx was then allowed to aim for the fighters, and took out a number of them with the yacht's phasers. Meanwhile, Ens. Alyriene searched for any combustible materials on the planet's surface. Once found, Lo'Ami had Marx target the flammable materials while Lt. Sema'J turned the yacht to manual controls to execute a rapid dive, upturn, and backflip into the cave. The explosion caused by the phaser blast was used as cover to make it appear that the yacht had been destroyed.
Once the away team arrived in the cave, the yacht was turned to minimal power and the away team returned to their white Federation-issue EVA suits (except for the Marines, who have black Federation issue EVA suits). They exited the yacht to explore the area. The cave's walls were lined with kemocyte, preventing accurate scans. As they reached the end of the cave, the away team detected a rockface that was different from the others and a power signature. Before they could complete their analysis, the rockface opened like a door, and the away team was facing approximately 50 armed men, who were in position behind cover in the newly opened room.
Federation and Empire, Part 2
Stardate 50609.06
The away team was greeted by the opening of the door and a loud call to "DROP [THEIR] WEAPONS! SURRENDER OR DIE!" Given how outnumbered they were, the away team complied. The Marines were slow to release their weapons, but, at Cmdr. Lo'Ami's order (more threats from their adversaries), they did. The room they entered was large, and had breathable air. The attackers ordered them to remove their helmets, then they took them away. The attackers made the away team remove their EVA suits, then, frisked all of the crew, removing both their tricorders and weapons (including Marx's prized bo shuriken), all of which looked unfamiliar to them. The crew was then ordered to sit.
Some of the rebels (the attackers) look confused when Lt. Sam Sema'J appears to comfort Ens. Zenaide Alyriene.
Col. Spacely, the rebel leader, began questioning Lt. Marx, asking how many ships they had in orbit, and when the rest of the "Stormtroopers" would arrive. Cmdr. Lo'Ami told them that he was in charge, and should be the one being questioned. For that, he received a blaster-butt. The crew who tried to help him were prevented from helping.
When trying to answer the questions, Lt. Marx seems particularly uninformed, describing the Interdictor Cruiser he saw as "a wedge with four blisters." But, Col. Spacely was still hesitant to believe that his prisoners really came from "a galaxy far, far away."
After Lo'Ami got up, Marine Command Sgt Major Jackson noticed the commander's new black eye, and protested. He too was rifle butted. After Ens Alyriene asked to help, she was allowed to.
Just after Col. Spacely demanded that the away team members prove they really were from far away, the Empire began making bombing runs with TIE Bombers against the surface above the rebel base.
Col. Spacely and his lieutenant, Jetson then tried to plan an escape for their own people, and what to do with the prisoners.
On Arcadia, Captain Dacotah recalled Lt. Col. Quest from sickbay (to the displeasure of Dr. Knollwatcher) in order to participate in the interrogation of 2Lt. Swan, who was taken into custody. The captain ordered Lt. Vectra Meriva on the bridge to find out how a low-ranked officer could manage to help saboteur Trenton escape, bypassing so many of Arcadia's security systems. Col. Quest ordered the second Marine shuttle to be kept online, with two fireteams guarding it. Captain Dacotah perused the Marine shuttle diagrams and discovered that the shuttle has an auto-eject system. She used the command prefix code to activate it, remotely knocking Trenton into space, and cloaking the shuttle until it can be retrieved. Dacotah and Quest planned a way to retrieve the stolen Marine shuttle using the second.
The medics arrived to find Thoros knocked out on the floor, from Swan's previous engagement with him. He was treated in sickbay, allthewhile demanding to be released. Eventually, he was. Thoros requested permission to release Ens, Naara Chendral from the brig, but was denied by the captain, who now has a severe dislike for Thoros' attitude.
On the bridge, Lt. Azlin Kiba was at tactical and Lt. Aaron Westler at the science console. All tried to piece together who was in ordbit of the planet, and what the status of the away team was, although they could not see the away team on sensors.
In engineering, Lt. Brighton continued to try to repair the ship, but his efforts were frustrated by the lack of power from the downed matter/antimatter reactors.
Federation and Empire, Part 3
Stardate 50609.13
The Empire retrieved Ens. Ryan Trenton's escape pod, and brought it to their flagship, VSD Monarch. Trenton was held in a holding cell there.
On the planet, the TIE Bomber runs against the rebel base became more severe. Col. Spacely and Maj. Jetson discussed plans to evacuate the base and what to do with the prisoners. Cmdr. Lo'Ami seized the opportunity to suggest that their own yacht be used as a diversion for the Rebel transport to get out. Spacely quietly ordered his fighters to destroy the yacht if it made any friendly gestures towards the Empire. He also asked Ens. Alyriene (whom Spacely seemed fond of) to ask for some of their supply of kemocyte. Spacely allowed them to take the kemocyte, given that it wasn't going to be of any use to the Rebel base. The Arcadia away team was allowed to return to their EVA suits and take back their equipment. They returned to the yacht and beamed over a drum of kemocyte just before the cavern between the Rebel base and the yacht collapsed. In the collapse, Lt. Sema'J was injured, and Ens. Alyriene (a less experienced pilot) took his place.
Meanwhile, the Rebel leader of Blue Squadron, one of their most experienced pilots, was killed in a bombing run. Lt. Marx offered to take his place, and was approved. Marx piloted an X-wing. The base's ion canon temporarily disabled the VSD Monarch, and the base released Blue squadron to escort the yacht and draw fire.
Green Squadron attacked the Imperial AT-AT walkers. Red Squadron waited to launch to escort the Rebel's transport containing the base's remaining personnel and equipment. The ion canon got a clear shot at the Interdictor Cruiser. Red Squadron and the transport then launched. Under heavy fire from TIE Fighters and TIE Interceptors, the yacht and the rebels ran for the break in the Imperial line. During the battle, a few X-wings and many TIE Starfighters are destroyed. Led by Lt. Marx, the X-wings of Blue Squadron destroyed the disabled Interdictor Cruiser while on their path for escape to hyperspace.
The Marine shuttle Tarawa towed the Belleau Wood that was damaged by traitorous-Ensign Ryan Trenton back to Arcadia. It did not appear that they were pursued by the Imperial fighters.
On Arcadia, Captain Dacotah and Lt. Col. Quest privately reviewed the results of Ensign Naara's interrogrations. Ensign Naara was released back to active duty, with apologies from Lt. Col. Quest.
Ens. Thoros took out his frustrations in a violent holohockey game.
Marine traitor 2Lt. Swan was taken to sickbay when her hands lost circulation from being bound too tightly following her capture. She was treated and released to the brig.
Captain Dacotah attempted to ready the ship for battle, even in its low power state. She approved Lt. Brighton's request to drain crippled Marine shuttle Belleau Wood of power to gain a bit more power for Arcadia. The Marines and engineers began to modify Arcadia's runabouts to act as makeshift fighters and assist Marine shuttle Tarawa, which was launched cloaked in case the enemy ships attacked them.
Federation and Empire, Part 4
Stardate 50609.20
On Arcadia, Lt. Brighton finished hooking up a system to drain power from Belleau Wood's power systems to Arcadia, and Arcadia's runabouts continued to be armed for battle.
The away team returned to Arcadia in the captain's yacht at warp, and Lt. Marx followed behind in his newly acquired X-wing fighter. After their identities were verified, they were allowed to land. Lt. Sam Sema'J and Cmd. Sgt. Maj. Blackjack were taken to sickbay for treatment of their wounds. Cmdr. Lo'Ami did not go to sickbay for his. Lts. Westler and Marx were assigned to study the X-wing and all the sensor records on Arcadia to learn about the technology they would be facing in this sector of space.
Cmdr. Lo'Ami informed Captain Dacotah that Arcadia may have inadvertently chosen sides in some kind of regional war.
The drum of kemocyte obtained by the away team was brought to engineering, where a new nozzle for the matter/antimatter injector was quickly synthesized. Because of the nature of the technology used, even with the nozzle, Arcadia would only be capable of safely traveling at a maximum speed of warp 6. Certainly, they could not yet reactivate the Phoenix Project modifications to get home.
The matter/antimatter reactor was brought back online, averting the power emergency, but it would still take some time for the warp core to be operational.
Marine-traitor 2Lt. Swan was forced to remove her uniform and replace it with a prison jumpsuit.
Lt. Col. Quest, meanwhile, closely monitored the movements of the Imperial ships that were in orbit of the planet and kept Tarawa cloaked and at battle readiness. She noticed that they had turned towards Arcadia's direction...
On the VSD Monarch, prisoner Ryan Trenton was taken out questioned. He identified himself as an Imperial secret agent, and his identity was confirmed by the star destroyer's computers. By vaporizing a stormtrooper with a phaser he carried, he convinced the Monarch's interrogator that Arcadia had technology that could help the Empire, and that had to be captured. Monarch jumped to hyperspace and arrived just next to Arcadia.
Federation and Empire, Part 5
Stardate 50609.27
All of Arcadia's crew returned to Arcadia, except the Marine crew of Tarawa. The retrofitted runabouts and shuttles awaited launch. The Marines rushed Belleau Wood back into service. Ens. Thoros copiloted for Lt. Col. Quest, because the Marines were overloaded with tasks. Lt. Marx waited to launch in his X-wing.
VSD Monarch hailed Arcadia. RADM Varen spoke for the Empire, and demanded that Captain Dacotah surrender Arcadia to them. "Ens. Trenton" stood beside him... in an Imperial uniform. Varen assured Dacotah that the crew would be safe, while simultaneously scrambling fighters. Meanwhile, more Imperial ships hyperspaced towards Arcadia's position. Powerless to fight and unable to run, the command team considered the option.
In engineering, Lt. Fitz Brighton and Ens. Naara brought the warp core back to life, allowing them a maximum speed of warp 6. Brighton informed the bridge.
Captain Dacotah kept the Imperials talking while Cmdr. Lo'Ami waited for an opportune moment to make a jump to warp. He texted messages to Tarawa and to Lt. Meriva at ops with their course coordinates. Tarawa was ordered to follow behind Arcadia. Col Quest offered to launch Belleau Wood to cover Arcadia's departure, but was denied permission when it was revealed that Wood's warp drive was not functioning. Finally, the order came. Arcadia jumped to warp in a direction free of Imperial ships.
Monarch engaged its hyperdrive in pursuit course and ordered its reinforcements to follow. Tarawa attempted to drop some mini-torps at Monarch, but they all missed.
With a star destroyer following and more Imperial ships converging, the command team needed more information. They called Lt. Col. Quest to bring 2Lt. Swan bridge.
Federation and Empire, Part 6
Stardate 50610.04
(Not simmed: Tarawa and runabouts safely arrive back on Arcadia.)
Captain Dacotah pointed out that Arcadia couldn't run forever. The Empire was rapidly closing and more ships were on the way. Cmdr, Lo'Ami noted that the Imperial ships' faster-than-light drives seemed more vulnerable to gravitational fields than warp drive, and that their ships were less maneuverable at FTL. Cmdr. Lo'Ami suggested that they make a rapid turn back for the planetary system (P3X-991) and bring the ship into the star using Starfleet's recently developed metaphasic shield technology. The Empire couldn't follow them in, and, with some fireworks from a photon torpedo, Arcadia could get a head start. The CO approved the plan. Lo'Ami ordered the ship's course changed and the engineers to ready the shielding system, In engineering, Ens. Naara and Lt. Brighton worked on making the plan work. Meanwhile, Lt. Westler and Ens. Alyriene searched for a planetary destination where they might find carbonitrium, the mineral they needed to make a permanent fix of the matter-antimatter reaction chamber injector nozzle. Lt. Kiba suggested that they rig torpedos with gravimetric charges. That suggestion was approved as a secondary plan.
Lo'Ami visited sickbay, finally having Dr. Tynte treat the wound he received when blaster butted by the Rebels on the planet.
In sickbay, Dr. Knollwatcher examined a DNA sample obtained from an asteroid (?). The sample resembled the DNA from an ancient Earth mammal that resembled a Yeti.
When Lo'Ami returned from sickbay, Arcadia arrived at the star, and the plan was put into motion. With the metaphasic shield raised, Arcadia entered the star's outer atmosphere. The Imperial ships were forced out of hyperspace. Lt. Meriva fired a conventional photon torpedo at the star in order to mask Arcadia's exit. Lt. Westler had located a binary star system Z3X454 with two class M planets. Arcadia set course and engaged at warp 6.
Meanwhile, the captain and XO discussed further how they would try to elude the Empire. They knew that it was only a matter of time before they would be found.
Varen spoke with Lord Darth Vader. Varen's plan was now to overtake Arcadia, and capture the ship and crew. After they lost Arcadia in the star, Ryan Trenton took a guess as to where Arcadia would go next.
Federation and Empire, Part 7
Stardate 50610.11
Cmdr. Lo'Ami ordered science to continue long range scans of the system they were headed to. The fourth and fifth planets were class M, and both could contain carbonitrium. Ens. Alyriene pointed out that the fourth planet was a better choice because, on the other, the mining would have to be done underwater. On the fourth planet, the deposits are located in the desert. The planet is populated by a sentient, industrial, humanoid-like species that had already established some mining facilities. The air is also badly polluted. The species had also developed early antimatter propulsion technologies.
Lt. Marx had his X-wing modified to accept Federation mini-torps.
Ens Thoros brought prisoner 2Lt. Swan to the observation lounge. She was read her rights and interrogated by Cmdr. Lo'Ami and Lt. Marx, while Ens. Thoros stood guard. Lo'Ami recorded Swan's vital signs while she answered control and actual questions.
Swan's story: She was a rebel officer since she was a teenager. She was captured by the Empire and her family was kidnapped, and she was forced to work for the Empire. Her duty was to protect Trenton until he returned. She joined him when he went to the Federation. He infiltrated Starfleet engineering, she infiltrated the Marines. She claimed not to know the nature of or the technology used in the mission.
Lo'Ami recorded no direct evidence that she was lying. He suggested that she be evaluated psychologically.
If she were telling the truth, then, the only way to know what Trenton did to the ship would be to find out from him. Marx began developing a plan to use SOCOM-trained security and Marines to infiltrate the Star destroyer, and take back Trenton.
The doctors in sickbay continued to study their unknown DNA sample, reconstructing what the creature that bore it must have looked like (bipedal, tall and hairy).
Lt. Brighton and Ens Naara in engineering fabricated a new nozzle that would be ready for the insertion of carbonitrium, once obtained. Engineering will have to shut down the warp core to replace the nozzle. Brighton planned to do a cold, hard startup once the new nozzle was in place.
Federation and Empire, Part 8
Stardate 50610.18
Arcadia arrived at their destination and established an orbit that would mask their presence as best as possible in the plantary gravity well.
Lt. Westler located the carbonitrium deposits, already being mined, near a settlement. The planet's air was so highly polluted, that the away team required triox compounds available to aid their breathing. It was determined that the technology level of the planet's inhabitants was high enough that the Federation could trade technology with them without violating the Prime Directive. Captain Docotah, Marx and Cmdr. Lo'Ami determined that they would try to exchange air filters for the carbonitrium. No Imperial presence was immediately detectable on either planet.
An away team consisting of Cmdr. Lo'Ami, Lt. Westler, Dr. (Lt. Cmdr.) Knollwatcher, Ens. Naara, and Ens. Thoros beamed down to the planet out of sight of the mine. The planet was more backwards than their tech level would otherwise have made the away team expect, possibly because of Imperial interference. The team walked towards the mine. A miner named Gyorgi (the shipping director) approached the team. Lo'Ami entered into negotiations with him for 1400 kg of pure carbonitrium. The away team was directed to the inventory director Malyshev so they could verify the product's purity, and the environmental director Eva to arrange the trade.
Lt. Brighton prepared Lt. Meriva for cold hard starting the warp core, once the new nozzle was in place.
Lt. Marx obtained a sedative from sickbay, in case he needed to use it to incapacitate 2Lt. Swan to enact his plan to infiltrate VSD Monarch. Later, he offered Swan the ability to go along with his plan willingly, in exchange for favorable testimony at her court martial. He gave his word of honor that he would not let the Marines frag her, and that she would be able to be armed and defend herself, when the time came. She agreed to come along.
Federation and Empire, Part 9
Stardate 50610.25
On the planet, Dr. Knollwatcher confirmed from her preliminary scans that the damage to the planet's inhabitants was bad, but reversible. Knollwatcher and Cmdr. Lo'Ami met the environmental director, a prematurely aged woman named Eva, who was suffering from the environmental effects and from other problems caused by lack of medical attention. Eva approved the trading plan and allowed Malyshev to complete the deal. After leaving the office, Dr. Knollwatcher asked to return to see if she could help some of Eva's medical issues that were simply caused by lack of medical attention. She did so. As an aside, Eva mentioned that the Empire was holding them back. When they are alone, Lo'Ami comments that he would want to give them the technology, even if the deal didn't go through.
Lt. Westler and Naara negotiated the deal with Malyshev.
On the ship, Lt. Marx asked Lt. Meriva if any military structures were present on the planets that could be infiltrated and used as launch sites for an attack against the star destroyer. Lt. Meriva answered that no such installations had been found.
Sgt. Major Jackson and the Marines donned replicated Stormtrooper uniforms, preparing for their deployment.
Marx has stormtrooper-Blackjack enter 2Lt. Swan's cell to judge her reaction. Her obvious fear of the uniform confirms that they look enough like real Stormtrooper armor to fool someone familiar with it. Swan is brought to sickbay (under guard) for treatment of a minor wound.
The carbonitrium was brought away from the mine and beamed aboard, and exchanged for air scrubbing technology. The away team returned to the ship.
A group of spatial distortions were detected at the edge of sensor range.
Federation and Empire, Part 10
Stardate 50611.01
2Lt. Swan was escorted to sickbay and her wounds were treated.
Lt. Marx and Cmd. Sgt. Maj. Blackjack prepared the elite security and Marines in Stormtrooper uniforms for deployment in the Marine shuttles.
Lt. Brighton realized he would not have enough time to spare to replace the broken nozzle, so, the temporary replacement was kept in place. The engineers tried to keep the systems going, while the refinement of the carbonitrium was (slowly) done.
Cmdr. Lo'Ami had Lt. Sema'J hide the ship in a gravity well while they dropped the shuttles.
An Imperial fleet dropped out of hyperspace. Varen attemped to hail Arcadia. Arcadia ignored their hailsm trying to avoid giving away their exact position. The Empire went into attack position, and launched all their TIE Fighters at Arcadia.
Arcadia was found and began to be swarmed by TIE Fighters, despite running away from the Empire's capital ships. Lt. Col. Quest took tactical, firing phasers repeatedly, but the fighters kept coming. One fighter, piloted by Kree, attempted to make a kamikaze run against Arcadia's bridge. Arcadia made a quick port-turning maneuver. Kree's TIE Interceptor smashed into a section of Arcadia's saucer, causing damage. Meanwhile, the phasers began to overheat. Lt. Brighton's attempts to cool them using telekinesis failed. His technological measures held off the overheating, but the quantity of power going through the system kept the system heating up.
The Imperial forces concentrated all their fire on Arcadia's phaser systems, heating the emitters even more.
In an attempt to take down more fighters, Arcadia launched a volley of quantum and photon torpedoes, on timed detonation. Many fighters were destroyed, but even more kept coming. Arcadia then turned towards the Imperial capital ships.
Arcadia's shields were at 65%, with severe damage to decks 7-10.
The Marine shuttles cloaked and passed right by the incoming fighters. They headed straight for VSD Monarch. The shuttle entered into the Star Destroyer's shielding and beamed the Stormtrooper-dressed Marines onto Monarch. In their disguises, they arrived at the Star Destroyer's bridge.
Federation and Empire, Part 11
Stardate 50611.08
Arcadia headed into the advancing Imperial fleet at full impulse, while under attack from all sides by TIE Starfighters. Arcadia destroyed many of them, and focused torpedoes on the Imperial capital ships, but TIE Bomber proton torpedo runs continued against them. The small bombers were more maneuverable than Arcadia, making it hard to dodge the torpedoes.
Arcadia was forced to lower its phaser power, because of their impending overheat. Engineering tried to hold the ship together and keep all systems powered. Damage control teams were spread thinly throughout the ship.
Sickbay treated the wounded, who were continually coming in from Arcadia's battle.
On VSD Monarch, the Marines from shuttle Tarawa created explosive diversions, while Lt. Marx's team bluffed to Varen that they were ordered by Darth Vader to bring spy Ryan Trenton to a debriefing. Varen and Trenton fell for the trick, and Trenton was escorted to a beam-out point. Then, most of the Marines beamed back to Tarawa, while Marx, the prisoner, and a few others, beamed to Belleau Wood. Both shuttles headed back to Arcadia, cloaked. A laser bolt from Monarch hit Tarawa, and it completely disappeared from both Marine and Arcadia sensors. Marx and Meriva reported the shuttle destroyed. Marx landed Belleau Wood on Arcadia under battle conditions.
Lt. Brighton sent more power through the matter-antimatter system. The temporary nozzle could not take the pressure, and eventually cracked. The coolant system began leaking, flooding main engineering with toxic warp core coolant. Lt. Brighton ordered engineering to evacuate and the blast doors closed. He ignored his own orders, trying to hold the ship together, locking himself in engineering.
As soon as the shuttle returned, Lo'Ami ordered Arcadia to turn about and go to warp. With a broken nozzle, the warp engines failed to activate, leaving Arcadia at the mercy of ever more intensive fire from the Imperial capital ships.
More spatial distortions -- ships in hyperspace -- were detected closing on Arcadia's position.
As a last-ditch effort, Marx is allowed to launch in his X-wing, to try to take some of the starfighter fire away from Arcadia. He was hopelessly outnumbered. Belleau Wood was prepped for relaunch to assist as another capable fighter.
Sickbay made efforts to use the emergency transporters to retrieve the now unconcious Lt. Brighton from engineering.
The bridge crew desperately tried to find an escape route. Then, even more ships dropped out of hyperspace.
Federation and Empire, Part 12
Stardate 50611.15
Sickbay was swamped with incoming casualties. Counselor Merri helped in sickbay, using the emergency transporters to beam Lt. Brighton out of engineering, which was now flooded with toxic gas.
The overloaded Dr. Porter went so far as to commission 2Lt. Swan to help out with some of the patients. Swan and Dr. Avery Tynte were involved in a nearly constant argument.
While Arcadia was pummelled by Imperial fire from both their capital ships and their bombers, new ships exited from hyperspace. Many of these ships had configurations that could not be identified by Arcadia's scanners.
One of the new ships hailed Arcadia. The commander identified himself as none other than Col. Spacely, who had come back to repay a debt to Arcadia's crew for saving their lives on planet Midbar. Meanwhile, the Rebel Blue Squadron launched its X-wing fighters and saved Lt. Marx's Blue One from becoming breakfast for TIE Fighters.
The Rebels requested that Arcadia come behind their Calamari Cruiser Endeavor, protecting them from the majority of fire from the Imperial capital ships. Meanwhile, they launched Y-Wing bombers and A-Wing interceptors to tangle with the TIE Starfighters and the capital ships.
Some of the Imperial capital ships that had already been weakened by Arcadia's torpedoes succumbed to the Y-Wing bombing runs. With all their fighters committed, the Empire couldn't bring in reinforcements to battle the Rebel starfighters.
Arcadia uses the opportunity to peek out from behind the Rebel cruiser and take torpedo shots at the Imperial ships.
The Imperial fleet went into retreat mode, turning VSD Monarch towards its hyperjump point, and leaving behind their TIE Fighters.
Blue Squadron, momentarily liberated from fighting the starfighters, made a pass at the Star Destroyer. Right after activating their hyperdrive, Monarch turns into a fireball, unable to take the stress of faster than light travel.
Arcadia crewmembers went to where they were needed most. Lt. Westler returned to sickbay to help with the wounded.
Counselor Merri returned to auxiliary engineering to help Ensign Naara bring the ship's systems back up. She activated the air filtration systems in engineering and the oxygen generators, clearing the air and making it safe to return.
Just then, a new contact is detected port side of Arcadia. It is quickly identified as the presumed-dead Marine shuttle Tarawa, decloaking. The damage to their communications systems made the barely audible. Once it was verified that her systems were not going critical, Arcadia pulled the shuttle into the shuttle bay by tractor beam.
With the Empire in retreat, Arcadia stood down from alert mode and installation began for the new nozzle for the matter-antimatter reactor system.
Cmdr. Lo'Ami thanked the Rebels for their help. The Rebels offered assistance in repairing Arcadia, which was accepted. Arcadia crew received an invitation from the Rebel crew to celebrate the Republican Thanksgiving.
Federation and Empire, Part 12 1/2
Stardate 50611.22
(NOTE: This was an optional Thanksgiving weekend sim.)
The Arcadia crew arrived on the cruiser Endeavor. Col. Spacely welcomed them and apologized for the Rebels' violent reaction to the Arcadia away team at their base on Midbar.
The feast consisted of delicacies from both the galaxy they were in, and replicated ones from Arcadia.
Cmdr. Lo'Ami introduced the Rebels' chef to Arcadia's foods.
Lt. Meriva disliked the pea soup, while Lt. Westler thought it was good.
Lt. Brighton finally stopped worrying about the engines long enough to enjoy himself.
2Lt. Swan was allowed to join the crew unshackled, although she was being watched closely by Ens. Thoros.
Thoros also kept close watch on his bottle of Andorrian Ale, and tried his hardest to hide his disgust with the food.
Swan and Dr. Porter appeared to be getting along.
One Rebel woman recognized Swan. They began talking nervously. The Rebel had been in the same unit as Swan for a while, and was also captured and taken to the Ajax 5 labor camp where Swan's family had been until both were moved to other places. The woman, Ayelle, thought that Swan's family was taken to the mines in the Taanak Asteroid Field. She herself was rescued by the Rebels in trasport.
Federation and Empire, Part 13
Stardate 50611.29
Lt. Brighton was ordered by sickbay to slow down his activities (including curbing his use of telekinesis).
Cmdr. Lo'Ami checked up on Lt. Brighton's repairs to the warp engines (including the Phoenix Project modifications) and the battle damage. All the repairs were proceeding ahead of schedule. Lo'Ami prepared Brighton to recheck whatever information they get from Trenton before they try it on the engines. Lo'Ami then lets the engineers do their work and returned to the bridge.
Lt. Marx drew up an interrogation plan for Ryan Trenton, preparing to use "extraordinary means." Marx set up a holodeck recreation of a Word War II German prison camp. Lt. Meriva helped him set up the simulation, even after the warning that the methods may violate some Federation human rights principles. Marx requested that Ens. Thoros be kept out of this interrogation, because he might not be able to set aside his loyalty to Starfleet regulations.
In sickbay, Dr. Knollwatcher congratulated 2Lt. Swan on her compassion and ability to help people during the crisis. The doctor had Swan tell her the story of how she came to be working for the Empire, giving her a chance to explain herself. She told the doctor how she had been forced to work for the Empire in order to save her family, who is still being held in an Imperial prison.
On the bridge, Lt. Sema'J took over helm and ops consoles, and helped prioritize repairs and make sure the ship would be ready for battle, should the Empire return.
Repairs continued and the ship prepared to warp back home.
Federation and Empire, Part 14
Stardate 50612.06
2Lt. Swan and Dr. Knollwatcher talked in sickbay; Swan was worried about whether her family was still alive. After conversing, Knollwatcher called Lt. Westler to her office to try help locate the camp where they're being held. They find a followable trail heading to the camp.
Out of nowhere, Cmdr. Zar Alces, a former chief science officer of Arcadia appeared. He was let off by Dr. Virax, with whom he had been transdimensionally traveling. Virax didn't stay long enough to help the Arcadians out of their predicament. Alces wandered to the bridge, caught up on the status of the Phoenix Project and proceeded to argue with the XO (his former assistant) about why it shouldn't work. Eventually, Lo'Ami sent Alces down to engineering to help Lt. Brighton recheck all of his calculations for the return home.
Meanwhile, on the bridge, Cmdr. Lo'Ami had Marx's R4 unit read off Trenton's Imperial service record that had been hacked from VSD Monarch's computers, trying to learn enough to help Marx verify Trenton's information. Lo'Ami noticed that Swan appeared in Trenton's service record, and the story contained their was similar to the one she told him at her interrogation. He checked R4's records on Swan, and, it was noted in the record where her family was held, and that, in the event of Trenton's capture, they were to be executed.
Ryan Trenton was retrieved from his cell for interrogation by Lt. Marx. Trenton offers to tell everything he knows in exchange for passage away from the Empire and his freedom. Lt. Meriva was called from the bridge to use his empathic abilities to detect if Trenton was suicidal, and just leading Arcadia to its destruction. No suicidal intent was detected. The offer was brought to Cmdr. Lo'Ami, who saw little choice in agreeing. Yet, he set another condition: that Trenton right his wrongs in this galaxy - help free Swan's family - before they left.
Trenton claimed that he did nothing to the ship to make it get where it went. He just hopped a ride on a "hunch" that it would make it to the Empire. Trenton privately advised Lo'Ami against the rescue operation, and that the Phoenix Project didn't work at all. All his requests were refused.
Finally, Trenton said: "In exactly 48 hours there will be a vessel flying through this sector of space." A console came on automatically and showed a sector of space. ...
Federation and Empire, Part 15
Stardate 50612.13
Dr. Knollwatcher completed talking to Westler and Swan about Swan's history. She went to Cmdr. Lo'Ami to talk him into a rescue mission (she did not already know that the mission was planned). Knollwatcher made up in private with Westler over her being upset at him for leaving medical for science.
Lt. Marx was given control over the rescue mission for Swan's family. He prepared Belleau Wood, Ens. Thoros, and some Marines for the mission, dressing them in Stormtrooper armor. Trenton was brought along for the use of his codes. Swan was called over to participate in the mission.
Lt. Brighton ran another set of checks on the Phoenix Project, and confirmed that they passed. Brighton calculated that Arcadia's relative position to its original emergence point in the far away galaxy had to be within three light years in order to execute the jump back home. He gave them an 87% chance of success. Brighton attempted to use his telekinetic powers against the advice of sickbay and found himself with a headache. He headed back to sickbay. He collapsed upon arrival and was treated by Dr. Tynte. Brighton was in a trance, mumbling an ancient healing incantation. Counselor Meara-Callum (who was needed as a telepath) assisted.
On the bridge, the dropoff for the rescue mission was planned. Belleau Wood dropped off first, and Arcadia would have to find a hiding place in a nearby asteroid and a way to get there undetected, so the prison facility's control center could be destroyed.
Dr. Knollwatcher arrived on the bridge prepared to have to convince Cmdr. Lo'Ami to rescue Swan's family, only to find that plans had already been made. She accepted to take on Swan as a medical apprentice, should Swan decide to stay with them. She was also given orders to find out what species Trenton really is, once he gets back from the mission.
The Marine shuttle was given launch clearance and left for the Taanak Asteroid Field prison camp.
Federation and Empire, Part 16
Stardate 50612.20
Belleau Wood landed on the prison asteroid, and the security team, Marines, 2Lt. Swan. and Trenton disembared and began infiltrating the prison. Trenton led them to the barracks. Then, they all went in together, Swan to identify her parents, and the others to attack, if necessary. Trenton used his service number to try to convince the guards to let them in. One of the guards recognizes the number and a fight started. The Marines grab Joseph and Nancy Swan (and others?) and firefight their way back to the shuttle, which was recloaked and launched.
Lt. Brighton was treated in sickbay, regaining consciousness, and getting yet another lecture from the doctors about how he shouldn't overwork himself and his telekinetic abilities. Dr. Porter slapped him in order to get the message into his head. Good move or bad move?
Cmdr. Alces held engineering together, complaining (in his usual style) about Fitz's organization techniques. He discussed with Ensign Noital a way to make sure he doesn't miss his ride back with Dr. Virax.
Dr. Knollwatcher tried to examine scans of Ryan Trenton to find out what exactly he is. Trenton's species was found not to be in the databanks.
Arcadia made its way at high speed through the asteroid field, maneuvering to avoid asteroids. Dust particles began to clog the ship's Bussard collectors. Alces and Noital worked to separate the particles and clear the dust to keep the engines clear.
Arcadia was signaled by the team after Swan's family had been recovered. It swung around a large asteroid and dropped out of warp.
A few Imperial frigates were detected, and they detected Arcadia once it dropped out of warp. A battle began with the frigates and prison firing on Arcadia. During the fight, helm officer Sema'J was struck by a violent console explosion. He had not fully healed from previous injuries and was put into a coma. Ens. Betty took over the helm for the rest of the battle. As soon as it got in range, Arcadia dumped quantum torpedoes on the prison control center, destroying it.
Belleau Wood landed on Arcadia under battle conditions. Arcadia then set high warp course out of the asteroid field.
Federation and Empire, Part 17
Stardate 50612.27
Arcadia set course for the Rebel fleet in order to drop off Swan and her parents before making an attempt to get back home.
2Lt. Swan met her parents for the first time out of a battle situation. They asked how she was able to get away from the Empire in order to come back and rescue them. She told her parents the truth - that she had made a deal with the Empire to help them in exchange for her parents staying alive. Her parents argued with her, surprised that she would have even considered working for the evil Empire. They disowned her and screamed at her to leave them.
Swan dejectedly resolved to let her parents go back to the Rebels, and she would answer for her crimes with the Federation.
Ryan Trenton was escorted to sickbay for examination by the doctors. Her cooperated, but made sardonic comments at the doctors all the way through the procedure. The doctors confirmed that Trenton's species was not in the Federation databanks. Trenton warns the doctors (again) that the Phoenix Project will not work to get them home. He informed the doctors that he was trying to get "home." When the doctors asked what made him choose the Empire to help him get there, he responded simply that they seemed like the best of his choices.
Arcadia arrived at the Rebel fleet, and the Rebels agreed to send a shuttle over to pick up the guests. 2Lt. Swan and her family were escorted by a guard to the shuttle bay.
The shuttle left with 2Lt. Swan's parents, and Katherine Swan stayed behind, putting herself at the mercy of the Federation's Starfleet justice system. Swan was stripped of her fake Marine commission and given the rank of acting ensign. Cmdr. Lo'Ami informed her that it would be a long time before her record was clear, but that the charges against her were lost in a "computer glitch." She was ordered to report to sickbay to complete a training course under Dr. Knollwatcher, who would report her progress back up the chain of command to the captain and executive officer.
Arcadia set course for the coordinates for activation of the Phoenix Project modifications, and their best hope for a trip back home. They ramped up to high warp... and into more of the unknown.
