NationStates Jolt Archive

Intro....

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VOYAGER-CLASS STARSHIP

Nationality of Design: Shalrirorchian Federation (USF Vessels)
Circa 2500 CE

The Shalrirorchian Voyager-class starship was introduced in 2511 by the Advanced Technology and Design Directorate. A Voyager-class vessel was roughly equivalent in size and mass to the USF Vanguard-class heavy cruiser...indeed, they were both built on the same vehicle chassis.

Voyager's intended mission was extended-range exploration and scientific research, and as such is classified under the Science Vessel category of USF starships.


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POLLUX INCIDENT

Thread, Shalrirorchian Federation, Voyager-Class, Interstellar Incidents
Top Secret Classification -2513

ENTRY DELETED BY ORDER OF GALACTIC COUNCIL
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POLLUX SYSTEM-
NON-ALIGNED TERRITORY
Incident Hour 1

The distress signal had been received twenty-six hours prior.

The loss of a Voyager-class starship was a serious matter to Shalrirorchian Fleet Command. The ship, in many ways, represented the pride and joy of the Shalrirorchian Federation. Advanced technology competed with the finest minds in the USF for recognition in the newsfeeds.

Lt. Colonel McKinney's job, as befitting that of a Black Ops specialist, was considerably lower key.

McKinney's shuttle, loaded with his augmented strike team, approached the drifting, lost ship. Even at this angle he could make out the name on the side of the hull:

Excelsior.

"Notify Fleet Command that we have located the Excelsior, and that she is adrift." McKinney ordered his subordinate, then turned back to the screen. "She has no apparent hull damage." he added.

"Sir, her distress signal is automated. I can't raise anybody on the the vox comm." said one of the shuttle crew.

McKinney's eyes narrowed as he regarded the heads-up display and watched the drifting starship. Her running lights flickered weakly, as if afflicted by some type of horrible pox. He weighed the relative benefits of an intervention, then snarled quietly. "We're going in." he announced. "We cannot afford to let that fool distress signal keep screaming its' head off and bring every Tom, Dick, and Harry here. Excelsior's cargo is...sensitive. We board and silence the distress signal, then find out what the hell is going on here."

"Sir, shuttle bay remote computer is not responding." interjected the shuttle tech. McKinney rubbed the bridge of his nose in response and groaned.

"Bring us around to the airlock docks on Deck 10, then. We'll do this the old-fashioned way..."

"Sir, we're receiving a...uh....distress signal."

"A distress signal."

"Well, it looks distressed sir. We can't actually understand a word of it, but it's repeating on an infinite loop."

"I see. Well, since it'll be another opportunity for contact with an unknown species, we haven't got much choice but to investigate. And if we can render assistance, then all the better. Helm, set course for coordinates from Comms. Make all speed, if it truly is a distress signal, then we'll want to be there, fast."

"Aye sir, course laid in. Faster Than Light Translation in 30 seconds, all hands to Quarters."

The wail of the General Quarters alarm, mandated by policy any time an FTL jump was made, quickly brought the crew to readiness. Before they had all reached their posts, reality shattered in a manner that was indescribable by man, except to say that the ship was, for a rather ambiguous and difficult to measure period of time, completely non-existent. A similarly ambiguous and immeasurable time later, it reappeared at its destination, with all hands standing to quarters, prepared for any ambush that might be lying in wait upon their arrival. They would be unable to communicate for several minutes more,. but already they detected at least 2 ships in near proximity, with more likely out there somewhere. At least one seemed to be crippled, and the second vessel seemed to be sending boarders across...