No Time Like the Present

Posted on Wed Jul 24th, 2024 @ 3:22pm by Captain Shran dh'Klar & Commander Jonathan Grayson & Lieutenant Imik S'Niohun & Lieutenant Inara Senn

Mission: The Andromeda Strain
Location: USS Washington

Shran thoroughly disliked having to relive events from the Dominion War. He doubted Inara had enjoyed the experience any more than him. He was happy that Jon and Imik had managed to develop some sort of barrier to allow people to break free of the temporal dysphoria, though from what Deanna had told them, they still had some sort of strange disease to deal with. He wasn't entirely sure what she meant with a tachyon-based disease, but he'd leave that in the hands of Deanna, Sam, and Shon. They were coming into the sector of space where these temporal anomalies were emanating. Andromeda was checking out a binary pulsar system in relation to the anomalies, and the Washington was entering a red giant system. They knew that the Spector had last reported in one of the two systems, so it was likely one or both ships would encounter the anomalies and anything else related to them.

"Any readings Deanna?" Shran questioned.

"Getting readings now. Multiple anomalies present in the system. Will need to study them closer with Inara. Not detecting anything regarding the Spector, but tetryon radiation and theta radiation levels in the system are making sensor readings limited" Deanna replied.

"I'd rather not study them and get the hell out of here. These... Anomalies... Made me experience things I didn't like some years ago." Inara noted. 'Believe me, Deanna, you don't want to live it.' She spoke telepathically to Deanna.

"Glad to have you back with us sir, you too Inara. We're holding our own for the time being while Sam and Shon with Inara's help working on combating the tachyon disease." Jon reported.

Deanna looked at Inara and spoke to her telepathically, I had similar visions, and I didn't care for them either. It isn't the anomalies that are causing the dysphoria though, it is the tachyon disease, as strange as that seems to me. But Sam and Shon will handle it. I'm more concerned about us figuring out these anomalies, and the believe me, we aren't going anywhere until we do.

Shran looked to Jon, "Yes, good to be free of that dysphoria. Rather not experience that again."

A voice spoke up that was familiar, but it was disembodied, "What have you mortals gotten yourself into." A familiar entity suddenly appeared, Morrigan.

Shran looked at Morrigan, "I don't think we have time for you and your kind of antics at this moment."

"My kind might be the only thing that will save you my dear captain. Do you realize that you have massive temporal and dimensional portals all throughout this system? And vile things are coming through them" Morrigan replied.

Jon sighed and all but rolled his eyes at the sight of Morrigan. "Thanks for stating the obvious Sherlock. How about telling us something we don't know."

Imik looked at the being unsure of what it was, but then a familiar feeling entered her mind. At first, she thought it might be the dysphoria returning, but a faint return on her long-range sensors made her doubt that prospect. Leaving the Captain and Jon to deal with whatever that being was, she turned her attention to that feeling and more importantly that return some 200,000 miles off their starboard aft.

Keeping her thoughts to herself, she did something unusual for an Ojnas Officer. Imik failed to report a contact to her Sinkahue, she not only failed to report it, Imik actively hid the contact while she worked on it to fully identify just what it was. Was it a danger to the Washington? She doubted it, as the contact made no attempt to hide itself and kept a steady course and speed. Plus, there was that feeling of home, of something familiar and safe.

Opening her mind to other Ojnas, something that shouldn't be as she was alone on this vessel, she now felt a return of her trust that now confirmed to her that the approaching ship was Ojnas. But what were her people doing out here? Why would an Ojnas vessel enter or even approach this region? Further investigation was required before she could report to Shran, it could be they were from Ekotsy? Imik decided she would gleam more information before reporting, surely that was the correct course of action for now.

Jon was looking at the temporal distortions when he froze not from anything being wrong but rather from a familiar feeling in his mind. He turned and looked quickly at Imik and he could see that she too was experiencing what her was. A person they both knew and cared for was coming ever closer to them.

Morrigan looked at Jon with mild disdain. "I was investigating this space as these holes in time are unnatural and I suspected Hela might be involved. I know she is involved somehow. She obviously has not been here."

Shran looked back at the science station as Inara had been eerily quiet with the appearance of Morrigan, and shockingly had said nothing upon hearing that Hela might be lurking. Perhaps she was still in a dysphoria state?

Suddenly a strange creature materialized directly in front of Shran. It had a large blade attached to its right forearm that it used to slash at Shran, but the Andorian narrowly avoided the attack before the creature was hit by a phaser blast which got its attention. Deanna increased the setting of her phaser to full stun and fired again, hitting the creature once more, but it didn't seem to be affected. The creature then attempted to slash the next closest person to it, which happened to be Morrigan. For her part, Morrigan blocked the attack with a forearm block and then slammed an open hand into its chest, causing the creature to seemingly dematerialize.

Morrigan looked back towards Shran, "I think you have more pressing issues than myself or Hela being about captain. These warriors are probing your defenses." With that she vanished without a trace, per usual with these gods.

Imik watched the unfolding appearances with total disbelief, the shield modulations and cycles were to blame. Because of the dysphoria, the shields were kept in a constant recycle mode altered bit by bit to block the temporal part of the problem. But that left the ship open to incursions by these life forms, but until a cure was found Imik had to keep the shield modulations going.

She glanced at Jon and nodded, she could feel what he felt and knew what he knew. That Ojnas ship carried a friend and hope, with luck it would arrive in time to assist them and help repulse the invaders thus saving the Sinkahue.

Jon saw the creature attack Shran only to be stopped by Morrigan. Not even a phaser blast appeared to have any effect on it. He turned slightly and saw Imik nod at him. She was feeling what he was. A reunion was coming and despite the seriousness of their situation he was very much looking forward to it.

Inara slowly came to and stared at Morrigan as she appeared and disappeared. "And this is why I still hate the gods. So superior, so hypocritical, so vague. Worship us, and don't ask questions. She could have told us what we were getting into four light years from this mess, but no. We are mere insects, and not worth shitting on." She said quietly to herself. "I'm working on our visitor, Captain. Hopefully we can get ourselves out of this situation without having to pray for deliverance from the apathetic gods."

Inara began to study the data from when Deanna started shooting at the warrior, and if there was one thing she didn't want, was to be saved by the divine.

Shran stood up and straitened his uniform as he checked himself, making sure he had avoided the creature's blade. He heard Inara complaining and felt like at least she was back to normal. "What was that?" he questioned.

"Unknown, but I am detecting tesseracts throughout the ship. I would say we are under attack, an invasion of some sort. We should inform all security personnel to set phasers to level 4. The stun settings apparently are ineffective" Deanna replied.

Shran looked back at Imik, "Lieutenant, inform your security personnel accordingly. Set condition red. I want security protecting all key areas of the ship, especially down in engineering." Looking at Jon he saw a strange look on his face. "Something wrong Jon?"

Jon looked at his friend and CO, "Oh no sir, nothing at all. In fact, everything is fine. I'm just picking up some vibes from someone we haven't seen in what seems like ages sir." He explained and knew he was being vague, but Shran knew of his link with Sachzny and hopefully could put two and two together and get his reference.

Shran offered a simple smile. "That would certainly be a much more welcome sight than the return of these gods. I have the feeling we may need all the help we can get.

"Indeed sir. This help is most welcome. Most welcome indeed." Jon replied as the sensations he was feeling grew stronger with each passing moment.

Inara finished studying the phaser blasts on the creatures. "Well, the invaders have a personal shielding system that will dissipate all energy weapons below setting five. We're going to have to kill them on sight." Inara shook her head 'And to think we could have gone to more pleasant places.' She thought to herself.

"Captain, I am detecting a trio of vessels. They are using cloaking technology, but it is a known variant. I believe the vessels are Romulan birds of prey, not seen since the mid 23rd century" Deanna informed from her Ops station.

"Twenty-Third Century Romulans?" Inara noted. "Hmm... T'Liss Class Birds of Prey... Two Disruptor cannons in the wings and.... " Inara whistled. "One enveloping plasma torpedo launcher. Essentially it's a plasma warhead containment system that launches an orb of ionized plasma towards a target. Captain, the weapon system is a century old, but still capable even today."

"I'm aware lieutenant. If our shields were down, I'd be more concerned" Shran replied. He looked contemplative. "So much going on. You'd almost think these ships from the past were a distraction to keep us from focusing on the real problems at hand. I want a solution to get these anomalies closed. Inara, that is your task. Deanna, focus on dealing with the intruder's abilities and whatever else is coming from the anomalies."