58807.17-0800 - "The Kepler"

(OOC Notes: Specifically mentioned **@Greggory Griffith**, **@Shirik Lektar**, **@Raikon Achaea**, **@T'lol**, **@Zaje Korn**.) · Vanguard

   "The prefix code won't do us any good without power," Shirik pointed out. "There's nothing functioning over there at the moment." 

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Shirik Lektar Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Ops Chief Joined: February/24/2011 Location: Jacobsburg, OH Online Status: Offline Posts: 220	Post Options Post Reply Quote Shirik Lektar Report Post Quote Reply Posted: October/12/2026 at 4:31pm
	"The prefix code won't do us any good without power," Shirik pointed out. "There's nothing functioning over there at the moment."

raikon achaea Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Simmer Chief Engineer Joined: June/28/2026 Location: barnton Online Status: Offline Posts: 52	Post Options Post Reply Quote raikon achaea Report Post Quote Reply Posted: October/12/2026 at 4:23pm
	Not the usual way of using a warp field, but the Vanguard had held together. Raikon glanced over his console, checking the readings for any signs of hull damage from the stresses the ship had been subjected to just moments ago. Satisfied that everything was holding, he listened in on the conversation between Lektar and Tanner before offering his own suggestion. "If we want to be cautious, we can always use the Kepler's prefix code to have a look around before getting any closer."
	Lt. Cmdr. Raikon Achaea, Chief Engineer

Shirik Lektar Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Ops Chief Joined: February/24/2011 Location: Jacobsburg, OH Online Status: Offline Posts: 220	Post Options Post Reply Quote Shirik Lektar Report Post Quote Reply Posted: October/12/2026 at 2:51pm
	Shirik's hands gripped the edge of her console for a moment as the unusual maneuver was executed. The view on the screen shifted with them, and there before them, between the planet Bandari and themselves, as an Oberth class vessel. Shirik's gaze was now glued to her readings. "Confirmed, Captain. That is the Kepler. I'm reading main power offline." "No power at all," chimed in Tanner, his expression turning grim. "No life support, no gravity. Internal temperature is minus one hundred degrees C... no life signs."

T'lol Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Chief Flight Controller Joined: July/19/2026 Location: UK Online Status: Offline Posts: 10	Post Options Post Reply Quote T'lol Report Post Quote Reply Posted: October/12/2026 at 2:04pm
	"Aye aye captain." T'lol said, before she paused for a moment, only a fraction of a hesitation before her fingers were dancing across her console again. "Going to warp within a gravity sphere poses some risks, Captain." The Vulcan stated "I will need a few moments for the calculations." The manoeuvrer itself wasn't especially difficult, a quick jump to warp speed was already an established tactical move after all, but the Picard Manoeuvrer was in a straight line, and preferably not in solar system's gravity. Not only were they going to be doing exactly that, but they would in fact be getting closer to the source of all that gravimetric disturbance. There were several variables to take into account. Rebalance the warp field... Micro adjustments to the nacelles power balance... Rotate... The helm chimed as it accepted T'lol's commands. "Engineering? Please monitor the Structural Integrity Field for hull stress as we go in... 3... 2... 1... Executing." It only lasted a few seconds. The ship thrummed as the warp engine briefly lit up, the vessel rattling with gravity's indignation as the Vanguard launched ahead, deeper into the Bandari system. T'lol's hands danced across her console with confidence as she adjusted and carefully manipulated the Warp field. These manipulations allowed the Vanguard to turn, or more accurately to crab sideways, which was a decidedly unusual feeling, however it might have been overlooked as one of the system planets grew concerningly larger in the view screen and the warp engine cut out, leaving the warp field in place. This was intentional however, as T'lol used the fading warp field to slingshot gently around the planet. When the warp field did collapse, spitting the Vanguard back out of sub-space in a flash, T'lol bled the residue momentum into a curving turn, bringing them up sharply so the gray, cotton ball looking planet of Bandari Four was directly ahead of them and somewhere in the intervening space between the USS Vanguard and the planet, was whatever had pinged the sensors. "Maneuver complete." T'lol announced in that same calm, measured and soft voice with a chime from her console.

Shirik Lektar Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Ops Chief Joined: February/24/2011 Location: Jacobsburg, OH Online Status: Offline Posts: 220	Post Options Post Reply Quote Shirik Lektar Report Post Quote Reply Posted: October/12/2026 at 8:50am
	Shirik nodded affirmation, giving as much power as possible to the sensors. "Aye, Captain."

Lea Chevalier Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Simmer Commanding Officer Joined: August/25/2026 Location: Philadelphia, PA, USA Online Status: Offline Posts: 42	Post Options Post Reply Quote Lea Chevalier Report Post Quote Reply Posted: October/12/2026 at 2:35am
	Léa had returned to the bridge just prior to the Vanguard’s drop from warp, retaking her place to the right of Commander Griffith on the bench that connected their two seats, a console between them acting as a buffer. She gazed ahead at the viewer as the ghostly remnants of the seventh planet appeared, and she wondered what could have wrought such devastation. The image put her on edge—more so than she had already been. In the many hours since they had set out for the Bandari system, there had been no reply to her message, and no further relevant data from the probes. The mystery of the Kepler, and whatever malady had befallen her, had proven confounding. She took a steeling breath as Lieutenant Tanner, then Commander Lektar, reported what the sensors were showing. At the mention of a ship on the far side of the planet, a silent exhale escaped her. At Griffith’s recommendation of caution, she nodded and cast him a glance for an instant—wary, but stalwart. In more than twenty years as a Starfleet officer she had met plenty of unnerving mysteries like this one, and she knew better than to let the nerves get the better of her. A brief warp pulse to reset their position seemed prudent. It would give them a better vantage from which to scan, and if things went awry the other ship would have a fractured, dead planet at its back while the Vanguard had open space behind her, and far more options. When Raikon’s suggestion followed—just as shrewd, given how little they knew—she nodded. “Very good, Commander.” Her gaze went to Shirik, to the left of the conn. “Increase power to our sensors.” A beat. “Lieutenant T’lol, set a closing course and reposition the Vanguard with a brief warp pulse. I want the detected ship just as Commander Griffith described: between the planet and us.” She glanced over her shoulder at Lieutenant Korn, a look that carried a quiet warning. There could well be a threat ahead, and if there was, the order for red alert would follow. For now, condition yellow would hold. “Take us in, Lieutenant,” she ordered T’lol at the helm. - (OOC Notes: Specifically mentioned @Greggory Griffith, @Shirik Lektar, @Raikon Achaea, @T'lol, @Zaje Korn.)
	Original character created and written by SWIFT.

raikon achaea Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Simmer Chief Engineer Joined: June/28/2026 Location: barnton Online Status: Offline Posts: 52	Post Options Post Reply Quote raikon achaea Report Post Quote Reply Posted: October/09/2026 at 5:51pm
	Since dropping out of warp, the ship had enough extra auxiliary power available to redistribute. Raikon glanced over the readings on the console, thinking about what they could do with what they had available. “We could boost power to the sensors. The percentage increase might give us a better picture,” Raikon offered, looking towards the others.
	Lt. Cmdr. Raikon Achaea, Chief Engineer

Greggory Griffith Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Simmer First Officer Joined: June/27/2026 Location: Orangevale, CA, USA Online Status: Offline Posts: 84	Post Options Post Reply Quote Greggory Griffith Report Post Quote Reply Posted: October/09/2026 at 11:51am
	Greggory leaned forward in his chair, looking from the viewscreen to the system display on his chair's console. "If the planet is putting off enough energy to interfere with sensors, I wouldn't recommend getting close until we've got a better idea of the situation. A quick warp pulse could put us on the other side of the system, so we could approach with the orbiting ship between us and the planet. If nothing else, getting a visual could tell us if that ship is the Kepler."
	Lt. Cmdr Greggory Griffith - XO Lt. JG "Scruffy" LeBlanc - Engineer

Shirik Lektar Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Ops Chief Joined: February/24/2011 Location: Jacobsburg, OH Online Status: Offline Posts: 220	Post Options Post Reply Quote Shirik Lektar Report Post Quote Reply Posted: October/09/2026 at 9:53am
	"The Kepler" Capt. Lea Chevalier, CO Lt. Cmdr. Greggory Griffith, XO Lt. T'Lol, Chief FCO Lt. Zaje Korn, Chief of Security Lt. Cmdr. Raikon Achaea, Chief Engineer Lt. Jason Tanner, acting CSO (NPC) Lt. Cmdr. Shirik Lektar, Ops Chief Stardate: 58807.17, 08h00 Location: Bridge, USS Vanguard *** The Vanguard dropped out of warp at the Bandari system. "Seven planets, 2 moons. The 7th planet is broken into two pieces locked in orbit around each other," reported Lt. Tanner. "The trail ends at the fourth planet, captain," Shirik said. The view screen lit up with an image of the planet as they approached. It looked like a grey ball of cotton candy. All sensors were aimed at the planet. "Class L," reported Tanner. "The atmosphere is composed of high concentrations of water vapor, mixed with carbon dioxide and trace amounts of other gases. It's breathable, but sensors are bouncing off the thick clouds, I can't tell you what the surface is like." "I'm detecting a ship in orbit on the far side of the planet," said Shirik. "It could be the Kepler. Sensors aren't able to penetrate the planet's atmosphere, and it seems to be interfering with scans of the ship. We'll need to get closer to the ship to get a good scan."