TribbleTown or maybe not?

Posted on Sat Jan 6th, 2024 @ 9:38am by Captain Rhenora Kaylen & Senior Chief Petty Officer Ronson Mitchell & Commander Dean House & Ensign Kitiuas Thenis & Lieutenant Commander Bonnie "Bon-Bon" Durnell

Mission: Halloween

Ronson continued to work his way around the bridge with beverages, offering to everyone and thus feeling as though he were contributing to the ongoing situation. He made a mental note to check on the Captain in a few hours in case she may need anything. Heading back I to his small office he was surprised to see a spectre waiting for him.

"Ahhh can I help you?" He stammered, feeling a bit panicky all of a sudden.

"You help the Captain, you ease her burden. She has saved our lives. We wanted to thank you" the creature spoke in perfect English, having learned the dialect from the Captain. " The red giant you are approaching is dangerous. Caution is advised should you attempt to approach it"

"Uhhh okay, I'll let the commander know" Ronson replied and headed back to the bridge.

Ronson returned to the bridge with a cloth for Bonnie and relayed the new information to Commander Savar. "Sir, the creatures believe the star to be dangerous and are advising caution"

Dean had been doing exactly what he said he was going to, and it was getting loud. The back and forth between himself and a General Klotha was definitely heated. Curses in Klingon being thrown all over the place from both sides. Insults, there were gutteral laughs as well.

In Klingon: "Keep it up, Pa'taq. You and I both know you still have the Glommer program going, just in case. I don't want to have to go over your head, again. Just like at the Battle of Tanav. You still owe me for that, as well as, five cases of 2203 Romulan Ale. Get it done, or you'll be licking the boots of a freighter Captain, if you're lucky. We're already on our way." Klotha could be heard, even through the ear piece, though the words were very clear. Someone was still pissed.

Hearing what Ronson had said Kitiuas began reviewing what data had been collected so far by the astrometric department had collected. Her brows furrowed, there did not appear anything out of the ordinary, other than a higher rate of vertion particles being discharged but given what little she and the Federation knew about the birth of a white dwarf, this could be normal. Still to be on the safe side she reported her findings "Commander, there appears to be no known hazard or abnormalities with the exception of a higher rate of vertion particles being discharged, this could be normal given what we know of white dwarf birth's."

"No one cares that they were artificially engineered, General. Besides, there's nothing the Federation can do about it. That was done well before we were allies. Stop dicking me around." Dean still speaking in Klingon, meaning he was still being loud.

Ronson's eyebrows rose as he heard fluent Klingon coming from Commander House. The man was indeed one of many talents. He watched commander Savar and waited. They were now enroute to Kronos and drawing closer by the hour. This star issue was interesting though, they had no anonymous information, yet the creatures said it was dangerous. What would he do?

It got quiet for a good five full minutes before Dean responded again, this time in Common. "That's better. Transfer the authorization codes to my personal channel. We still may need to borrow a K'Vort, General. I'll let you know. Today will be a good day to die! Qapla!"

"I certainly hope not Commander!" Aurora smiled as she turned to look at House. "I have no plans to die anytime soon."

"Nor does anyone else have plans to die Aurora with the possible exception of Mr. House." Savar replied in typical Vulcan stoicism.

Ronson looked on but asked the question no-one else was game enough to. " What's a K'Vort?"

Dean looked to Ronson, "It's a larger version of the B'rel class Bird of Prey. We may or may not want to use that to transport the Glommers instead of the Sunfire. If so, the cloaking device will help as well."

"Isn't that against the regs?" Ronson asked innocently before coming up with another question. "What's a glommer?"

"Borrowing a ship? Why would it be as long as it's given willingly." Dean gave a link, "That's what the Klingons call the artificially created Tribble killers that we're headed to go get for the Spectres instead of using actual Tribbles."

"Will that work for them? Artificial lifeforms that is?" Ronson was curious. "It would take the ethics out of the question I guess if it gave them the sustenance they needed." Ronson mused as the ship headed towards the star they were going to study.

"They are technically alive, but they also have regeneration abilities to a point, so they should suffice. Also, given that they were created, it does, yes, take the ethics issue out." Dean nodded.

"Interesting" Ronson mused before heading back to his office.

"Eta to the star 15 minutes" The helm announced a short time later as the changing star filled the viewscreen.

The star was undergoing rapid transformation with violent energy burst being released at random intervals.

Dean gave a look down at the alert on his console, "Um...okay, I know I've been on a call, but am I seeing this right? We're about to be hit with a massive plasma wave."

Ensign Thenis was rapidly moving data about her console "Worse a plasma wave followed by a tachyon eddy. Time to impact seven minutes."

"Oh shit! Full stop! Use a combination of thrusters and impulse to drift us around 180 degrees. To turn us around and accelerate ahead of the wave. Setting shields to full aft. Keep us ahead of the wave and slowly match it's speed." Dean's fingers moving along his own console while barking orders.

Back in her quarters, the Captain was deeply asleep, recovering from the ordeal with the creature. She was subtly aware of the rapid change in the ship's course and speed but not enough to rouse her from her slumber. The creature remained ever present, it's features twisted in a sadistic smile as it watched the star out the viewport.