Strange New Worlds (Excalibur-A)
| USS Excalibur-A | ||
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 INACTIVE STATUS | ||
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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.