Strange New Worlds (Excalibur-A)

USS Excalibur-A
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Strange New Worlds Mission Profile

Stardate 239101.18

Having set out from Starbase 118, the crew of USS Excalibur-A set a course for an empty asteroid field that was to become a training grounds for the crew. Before setting out upon their true mission of exploration, Fleet Captain Kalianna Nicholotti has ordered a simulation to test the capabilities of the ship and crew, as well as give them a chance to learn to work together. The senior officers of ‘’Excalibur’’ nominated her to be their adversary in the mock-combat. Nicholotti agreed to the plan and secretly selected two officers – Lt. Commander Katy Orman and Ensign Azin – to assist her as shipboard accomplices. Lt. Commander Brek was appointed Second Officer, acting as temporary First Officer to Lt. Commander Ben Livingston for the duration of the simulation.

As the simulation began, a strange radiation signature caught the attention of the bridge crew, who believed it to be a sensor ghost planted there by the captain. Meanwhile, Nicholotti launched and set out for the asteroid field as her accomplices began a sabotage of the ship’s communication systems. As the simulation progressed, a series of weapons platforms opened fire upon Excalibur. Though the ship was undamaged by the initial barrage, it took precious seconds of their attention and cost them the initiative on which they’d planned.

Stardate 239102.01

The crew of USS Excalibur fought off a deadly barrage of fire from weapons platforms littered throughout the asteroid field. Much of the fighting was done blind, as saboteurs knocked took out communications and sensors; runabouts were launched to use as spotters, but the fighting remained difficult. Within the ship, saboteurs managed to take out many of the internal systems, including turbolifts, communications, and basic functions. As the rest of the crew scrambled to identify their opponents and restore systems, the worst of the damage was about to occur.

Just as Excalibur headed into the asteroid field to get cover from some of the weapons platforms, the saboteurs managed to pull off their greatest victory – one that nearly spelled doom for the ship and its crew. Shields faltered, then fell. Simultaneously, the deflector lit up, funneling the ship’s power out into the black in the form of a tremendous beam. The resultant damaged deflector left them in the middle of the asteroids with no protection whatsoever from the hurling rocks. Calling an emergency stop to the engagement, the ship carefully worked its way out of the field as Captain Nicholotti rejoined the ship.

The crew spent the evening afterward preparing reports, repairing damage, patching up emotional wounds, and welcoming aboard a few new members of the crew: Marine Officer First Lieutenant Debra Cross and Ensign Daniel Underwood, their newest Helm Officer.

Stardate 239103.01

The morning following the live test, the crew of the USS Excalibur-A, NCC-41903, prepared for a mission of pure exploration. With the directive to test the slipstream drive and explore beyond charted space, excitement traveled quickly. Some chose to join the occasion on the bridge, while others buried themselves in work. Whatever they were doing, it didn't last long. Not long after the drive was engaged, the ship was ripped from the slipstream and thrown through 'normal' space.

Soon, everyone began experiencing mental illusions and hallucinations around them. Ranging from seeing passed loved ones to fears brought to life, the stability of everyone was questioned. While the medical staff and science officers worked on a solution, a distress call came in. A ship nearby was being swallowed by some unknown force. With seconds to act, the Captain orders the occupant transported aboard allowing everyone to learn a little about the area of space they've stumbled into.

Not far from their position in space was a station made of biotechnical material. The occupant that had been saved seemed leery of the crew, yet was diplomatic enough until she was returned to her station upon an ultimatum issued by the station's commander. Since her return, nothing had been received from the station, even in return to a request to come aboard in peace. There was an eerie silence between the two, broken only when a massive energy wave sweeps through the sector hitting both station and ship like an invisible brick wall.

Stardate 239104.07

Theories are tossed back and forth regarding the station, it's involvement, and the aptly named 'Nothing' outside. It appears that the phenomenon is growing and it appears that it may even be intelligent. When a plan to look inside backfires in a chaotic power overflow to the conduit leading to the Tactical Officer's station that injures Lieutenant Silveira, who was running the test, the crew looks for other options.

That's when they develop a dangerous plan involving radiation and get an unexpected call from the station outside. Katy Orman's face appears on the screen and takes everyone by surprise, but doesn't allow the reunion to last long. She tells a tale of black things existing within the folded space where she, and the other missing crewmen, were trapped. Though they were unable to communicate in the folds, Katy was able to see the black thing that ultimately pulled her into normal space. She shared information with the crew that told them it was those who were missing, and the black beings, that were causing the hallucinations by touching those in the normal realm. The call ended with an agreement with the Prime Captain that all would work together to solve the crisis.

Soon after, Lieutenant Silveira makes a run for the anomaly outside with a shuttlecraft. Thinking that he is about to collapse the space-time rift, the Captain has the shuttle tractored and the officer beamed to sickbay, where he had not been released to begin with. A forcefield and a security detail keep him there while the Captain returns to the bridge and looks for a way to attempt contact with the assumed belligerent intelligence of the rift.