Captain’s Log Part Four — Distress Up North

Saturday—Four: Distress Up North

Personal log, supplemental. The USS Ottawa has been sent to a sector of space the crew have been jokingly referring to as “Up North” thanks to it being pretty high on the relative Z axis of the galaxy, above Federation space. The crew seem excited. As a Cheyenne-class starship, Ottawa is usually assigned to crisis situations—getting somewhere fast—but this time we’re exploring, seeing what’s out there.

Or we were. Because “what’s out there” turned out to include strange and dangerous subspace rifts or tears—manifesting as dark red, twisting, jagged edges of damaging energy—and given they’re putting out a lot of sensor and communication distortions, it’s going to take some work to figure out what’s happening up here.

You arrive on the Bridge about ten minutes early for the start of your shift. Captain Crilly, already there, offers a “good morning.” You wonder if the man ever eats or sleeps. 

Then the night shift officer on Tactical says, “Captain, I’m picking up a distress call—it’s faint, but I believe it’s coming from within the distortions.”

“Divert course to intercept,” Captain Crilly says. “Hail the source of the distress signal.”

But no one answers.

“Did we get a transponder code?” Crilly asks. 

You’re close enough to one of the relief stations to handle that, and tap in a quick check of the signal.

“It’s the SS Bytown—a Daystrom Institute science vessel.” You eye the relevant details. “A dozen crew. They listed as studying a cyclic pulsar.” It’s a small ship, but spacious for its crew count. Four decks, and built to handle extended scientific excursions.

“How soon until we can intercept?” Crilly asks.

“Fifteen minutes, Captain,” the night shift pilot says.

By the time Ottawa arrives at the source of the distress call, the shift change has occurred and the viewscreen changes to show a chaotic web of the angry, twisting red fractures of energy and subspace. Among them you can pick out a small grey speck. That must be the SS Bytown. 

“Magnify,” Crilly says.

The ship grows in size on the viewscreen, and at a glance it’s clear they’re in real trouble. The port nacelle is dark, the starboard nacelle is leaking warp plasma and twisted at an odd angle, and there’s a large rent beside the support strut. Flickers of light on the lower decks through the small windows could be fire, or even small explosions. 

“Life signs?” Crilly says.

Unfortunately, the sensors are struggling to compensate for the distortion of the twisting arcs surrounding the science vessel.

As you watch, however, an answer presents itself. Bytown launches all four of its escape pods just as another twist of energy slaps the damaged vessel and the hull suffers a larger visible breach.  

“Options,” Crilly says. His voice is calm. Apparently, your new captain is used to working in the midst of chaos.

Twelve crew in four escape pods among all that chaotic, damaging subspace distortion? Normally, you’d suggest beaming the survivors right out of the escape pods, but with all the interference, that could be a terrible idea, especially at this range—assuming you could get a lock at all.

You can think of two options for the Captain. One way to get to those people in those escape pods would be to risk moving Ottawa closer despite the subspace distortions—the shorter the distance, the better chance to ensure a proper pattern lock (CONTROL + CONN; Potential Focus: Helm Operations), or you could keep Ottawa at a safe distance, and attempt to extend the reach of the transporters, even if what you’re thinking of isn’t exactly in the manuals as written (DARING + ENGINEERING; Potential Focus: Transporters & Replicators).

Saturday—Test Four: Maneuver Ottawa in Closer

If you choose to move Ottawa in closer to the escape pods, you need to make a CONTROL + CONN test. Take your Control Attribute score and your Conn Discipline score and add them together, creating your Target Number. Roll two twenty-sided dice (2d20) and compare them to the Target Number. Count how many are equal to or lower than the Target Number. If you have Momentum, you can erase it to re-roll one of the dice.

If one of your rolls is below the Target Number, read Test Four: Maneuver Success! below. If both of your rolls are below the Target Number, read Test Four: Maneuver Momentum! below. If neither of your rolls were below the Target Number, read Test Four: Maneuver Failure! below. 

Test Four: Maneuver Success!
You explain the risks of moving in closer, but how it ups the safety factor on the transport.

“Agreed,” Crilly says. “Bring us to within transporter range.”

The tension on the Bridge is palpable as Ottawa maneuvers closer and closer to the writhing, twisting ribbons of crackling red energy. To transport survivors from the escape pods, the shields have to be down, which means even one hit could be disastrous. 

Balancing precision flying with the needed alacrity, Ottawa gets closer… closer… The twists of energy force adjustments to the course a few times, and at times it feels painfully slow, but Ottawasimply can’t risk an impact.

“Transporter Room One?” Crilly says.

“Almost close enough, Captain,” comes the transporter chief’s reply. “The subspace distortion is playing hell with the transporter lock.”

You watch as one of the twisting, flaring ropes of subspace energy flicks and rotates, the tail end of the destructive force lashing out in the same direction as the four pods.

“Chief!” Captain Crilly says.

“Initiating transport,” the chief replies.

The furthest of the four pods explodes as the tendril of subspace distortion slams through it. The Bridge collectively holds its breath.

“We got nine survivors,” the transporter chief reports in a subdued voice. “Beamed directly to Sickbay.”

Nine. Too late for the scientists on the fourth escape pod then, you realize. 

“Raise shields and pull us back,” Crilly says, rising from his chair. “We just saved nine lives, people. Remember that.” 

[Mark down a checkmark in Box 4 on your Mission Tracker to note your success! If you also have the Helm Operations Focus, and your roll was equal to or less than your Conn Discipline, read Subspace Eddies below. Otherwise, when you’re ready, you can move on to Part Five.] 

Test Four: Maneuver Momentum!
You explain the risks of moving in closer, but how it ups the safety factor on the transport.

“Agreed,” Crilly says. “Bring us to within transporter range.”

The tension on the Bridge is palpable as Ottawa maneuvers closer and closer to the writhing, twisting ribbons of crackling red energy. To transport survivors from the escape pods, the shields have to be down, which means even one hit could be disastrous. 

Balancing precision flying with the needed alacrity, Ottawa gets closer… closer… More than once Ottawa zigs or zags beneath an arc of the distortions, but avoids impacts every time.

“Transporter Room One?” Crilly says.

“Almost, Captain,” comes the transporter chief’s reply. “Subspace distortion is playing hell with the transporter lock, but in a few more seconds… Initiating transport.”

As the chief speaks, you spot one of the twisting, flaring ropes of subspace energy flicking and rotating, the tail end of the destructive force lashing out in the same direction as the four pods.

“Chief!” Captain Crilly says.

The furthest of the four pods explodes as the tendril of subspace distortion slams through it. The Bridge collectively holds its breath.

“Twelve survivors,” the transporter chief reports in a relieved voice. “All beamed directly to Sickbay.”

“Good job everyone,” Crilly says, rising from his chair. “Now raise shields and pull us back.” 

[Mark down a checkmark in Box 4 on your Mission Tracker to note your success, and then put a checkmark in the Momentum Box! During a future test, you can erase your Momentum checkmark to re-roll one of your dice. If you also have the Helm Operations Focus, and your roll was equal to or less than your Conn Discipline, read Subspace Eddies below. Otherwise, when you’re ready, you can move on to Part Five.] 

Subspace Eddies
A Cheyenne-class starship is built to maneuver, and you managed, but the gravimetric wavefronts these rips in subspace created reminded you of oceanic eddies. There was a pull and tug and give and take almost constantly anywhere near the distortions, and you think it might be possible to better predict the way the various twists affect each other by modelling everything you experienced at the helm into the computer. It takes an hour or two, but you think it’ll be worth it.

[Mark a checkmark by Subspace Eddies under Advantages. When you’re ready, you can move on to Part Five.]

Test Four: Maneuver Failure!
You explain the risks of moving in closer, but how it ups the safety factor on the transport.

“Agreed,” Crilly says. “Bring us to within transporter range.”

The tension on the Bridge is palpable as Ottawa maneuvers closer and closer to the writhing, twisting ribbons of crackling red energy. To transport survivors from the escape pods, the shields have to be down, which means even one hit could be disastrous. 

Balancing precision flying with the needed alacrity, Ottawa gets closer… closer… The twists of energy force adjustments to the course more than a few times—it’s like the tendrils are attracted to the ship itself. Progress feels painfully slow, but Ottawa simply can’t risk an impact.

“Transporter Room One?” Crilly says.

“Not close enough yet, Captain,” comes the transporter chief’s reply. “The subspace distortion is playing hell with the transporter lock.”

You watch as one of the twisting, flaring ropes of subspace energy flicks and rotates, the tail end of the destructive force lashing out in the same direction as the four pods.

“Chief!” Captain Crilly says.

“Initiating transport,” the chief replies.

The furthest two of the four pods explode as the tendril of subspace distortion slams through them. 

The Bridge collectively holds its breath.

“We got six survivors,” the transporter chief reports in a subdued voice. “Beamed directly to Sickbay.”

Six. Ottawa got in range too late for half the scientists, you realize. 

“Raise shields and pull us back,” Crilly says, rising from his chair. His voice is even. “We just saved six lives, people. Remember that.” 

[Mark an X in Box 4 on your Mission Tracker to note a failure. When you’re ready, you can move on to Part Five.]

Saturday—Test Four: Extend Transporter Range

If you choose to keep Ottawa relatively safely away from the subspace distortions and attempt to extend the range of the transporters to beam the survivors from their escape pods, you need to make a DARING + ENGINEERING test. Take your Daring Attribute score and your Engineering Discipline score and add them together, creating your Target Number. Roll two twenty-sided dice (2d20) and compare them to the Target Number. Count how many are equal to or lower than the Target Number.  If you have Momentum, you can erase it to re-roll one of the dice.

If one of your rolls is below the Target Number, read Test Four: Transporter Success! below. If both of your rolls are below the Target Number, read Test Four: Transporter Momentum! below. If neither of your rolls were below the Target Number, read Test Four: Transporter Failure! below. 

Test Four: Transporter Success!
Getting closer is a bad idea. 

You explain your thoughts about cross-targeting and utilizing Ottawa’s various long-range sensor arrays as boosters for the transporter lock, and Captain Crilly’s eyebrows rise a little more each time you suggest yet another bypass or cross-connection that bends or breaks a technical protocol.

“Outside the box thinking,” Crilly says. “Let’s get it done.” 

He orders the helm to maneuver only a little closer—the flailing tendrils of destructive subspace distortion seem to be picking up speed and motion, and the four escape pods look all the more fragile, but you don’t have time to spend looking at the viewscreen.

Technically, the transporter’s range is limited by the acuity of the sensors more than anything else, and what you’re doing will increase that acuity. It’s just that you’re increasing the acuity by re-routing the potential pattern of living, breathing beings through sensors and buffers intended to study stars, not transfer someone molecule-by-molecule from one place to another.

But if you also let the data ride along the higher-speed LCARS networks to make sure no data is lost in the process, it should allow a significant increase in range with only an acceptable drop in safety margins. 

Well. Safer than moving a Cheyenne-class starship into those massive destructive energy twists, anyway.

This is probably why the words “unconventional approach” are used so often in your reviews.

The adjustments come online with a chirp, and you turn and nod at the Captain.

“Transporter Room One?” Crilly says.

“I’ve got a lock, Captain,” comes the transporter chief’s reply. “The subspace distortion and the distance are making this slower than usual, but it’s working.”

You watch as one of the twisting, flaring ropes of subspace energy flicks and rotates, the tail end of the destructive force lashing out in the same direction as the four pods.

“Chief!” Captain Crilly says.

“Initiating transport,” the chief replies.

The furthest of the four pods explodes as the tendril of subspace distortion slams through it. The Bridge collectively holds its breath.

“We got nine survivors,” the transporter chief reports in a subdued voice. “Beamed directly to Sickbay.”

Nine. Too slow for the scientists on the fourth escape pod then, you realize. 

“We just saved nine lives, people,” Crilly says, rising from his chair and aiming a nod in your direction. “Remember that. Raise shields and pull us further back—I don’t want to get any closer than we are now.” 

[Mark down a checkmark in Box 4 on your Mission Tracker to note your success! If you also have the Transporters & Replicators Focus, and your roll was equal to or less than your Engineering Discipline, read Pattern Adjustment below. Otherwise, when you’re ready, you can move on to Part Five.] 

Test Four: Transporter Momentum!
Getting closer is a bad idea. 

You explain your thoughts about cross-targeting and utilizing Ottawa’s various long-range sensor arrays as boosters for the transporter lock, and Captain Crilly’s eyebrows rise a little more each time you suggest yet another bypass or cross-connection that bends or breaks a technical protocol.

“Outside the box thinking,” Crilly says. “Let’s get it done.” 

He orders the helm to maneuver only a little closer—the flailing tendrils of destructive subspace distortion seem to be picking up speed and motion, and the four escape pods look all the more fragile, but you don’t have time to spend looking at the viewscreen.

Technically, the transporter’s range is limited by the acuity of the sensors more than anything else, and what you’re doing will increase that acuity. It’s just that you’re increasing the acuity by re-routing the potential pattern of living, breathing beings through sensors and buffers intended to study stars, not transfer someone molecule-by-molecule from one place to another.

But if you also let the data ride along the higher-speed LCARS networks to make sure no data is lost in the process, it should allow a significant increase in range with only an acceptable drop in safety margins. 

Well. Safer than moving a Cheyenne-class starship into those massive destructive energy twists, anyway.

This is probably why the words “unconventional approach” are used so often in your reviews.

The adjustments come online with a chirp, and you turn and nod at the Captain.

“Transporter Room One?” Crilly says.

“I’ve got a lock, Captain,” comes the transporter chief’s reply. “The subspace distortion and the distance are making this slower than usual, but it’s working.”

You watch as one of the twisting, flaring ropes of subspace energy flicks and rotates, the tail end of the destructive force lashing out in the same direction as the four pods.

“Chief!” Captain Crilly says.

“Initiating transport,” the chief replies.

The furthest of the four pods explodes as the tendril of subspace distortion slams through it. The Bridge collectively holds its breath.

“Twelve survivors,” the transporter chief reports in a relieved voice. “Beamed directly to Sickbay.”

It worked. All eyes turn to you. 

“Excellent work everyone,” Crilly says, rising from his chair and aiming a nod in your direction. “Raise shields and pull us further back—I don’t want to get any closer than we are now.” 

[Mark down a checkmark in Box 4 on your Mission Tracker to note your success, and then put a checkmark in the Momentum Box! During a future test, you can erase your Momentum checkmark to re-roll one of your dice. If you also have the Transporters & Replicators Focus, and your roll was equal to or less than your Engineering Discipline, read Pattern Adjustment below. Otherwise, when you’re ready, you can move on to Part Five.] 

Pattern Adjustment
The transporter buffer struggled with the patterns of the Bytown scientists, but it wasn’t just the distance you were pushing the transporter signal, it was the interference causing their patterns to resonate in an odd way. In the end, you managed to adjust the signal strength enough to compensate, but it definitely feels like a good idea to keep that adjustment ready for another spin, just in case more people need to be transported through that mess out there. 

[Mark a checkmark by Pattern Adjustment under Advantages. When you’re ready, you can move on to Part Five.]

Test Four: Transporter Failure!
Getting closer is a bad idea. 

You explain your thoughts about cross-targeting and utilizing Ottawa’s various long-range sensor arrays as boosters for the transporter lock, and Captain Crilly’s eyebrows rise a little more each time you suggest yet another bypass or cross-connection that bends or breaks a technical protocol.

“Outside the box thinking,” Crilly says. “Let’s get it done.” 

He orders the helm to maneuver only a little closer—the flailing tendrils of destructive subspace distortion seem to be picking up speed and motion, and the four escape pods look all the more fragile, but you don’t have time to spend looking at the viewscreen.

Technically, the transporter’s range is limited by the acuity of the sensors more than anything else, and what you’re doing will increase that acuity. It’s just that you’re increasing the acuity by re-routing the potential pattern of living, breathing beings through sensors and buffers intended to study stars, not transfer someone molecule-by-molecule from one place to another.

But if you also let the data ride along the higher-speed LCARS networks to make sure no data is lost in the process, it should allow a significant increase in range with only an acceptable drop in safety margins. 

Well. Safer than moving a Cheyenne-class starship into those massive destructive energy twists, anyway.

This is probably why the words “unconventional approach” are used so often in your reviews.

It takes longer than you expected to make the adjustments, however—safety protocols keep reminding you this isn’t supposed to be done—but finally they come online with a chirp, and you turn and nod at the Captain.

“Transporter Room One?” Crilly says.

“I’m acquiring transporter locks, Captain,” comes the transporter chief’s reply. “The subspace distortion and the distance are making this slower than usual, but it’s working.”

You watch as one of the twisting, flaring ropes of subspace energy flicks and rotates, the tail end of the destructive force lashing out in the same direction as the four pods.

“Chief!” Captain Crilly says.

“Initiating transport,” the chief replies.

The furthest two of the four pods explode as the tendril of subspace distortion slams through them. 

The Bridge collectively holds its breath.

“We got six survivors,” the transporter chief reports in a subdued voice. “Beamed directly to Sickbay.”

Six. Your changes were too late for half the scientists, you realize.

“We just saved six lives, people. Remember that,” Crilly says, rising from his chair and aiming that last at you before turning back to the rest of the Bridge. “Raise shields and pull us further back—I don’t want to get any closer than we are now.” 

[Mark an X in Box 4 on your Mission Tracker to note a failure. When you’re ready, you can move on to Part Five.]