Forum Game: the UEFS Shrike

[WHAM]

[HOW TO PLAY] You can suggest future actions by posting in this thread. Up to three most popular commands will be executed during each update. To post a command, please enter a “greater than” -symbol before the actual command. For example: > Take lamp You can command the character to speak a line with the command “Say:” followed by the line, for example: > Say: “I'm selling these fine leather jackets” Note that the exact words typed will be used by the character in communication. There is a lot of places, objects and characters in this game and you might need to know more about them before interacting with them. If you wish to know more about an item, a character or a concept, use the command “Think: “ -followed by the subject, for example: > Think: lemurs or > Think: The war of 1812 Feel free to post thoughts, ideas, suggestions and theories in the thread, and to discuss the game and it's characters and events with other players. Just keep in mind that commands should be identified by the greater than -sign for clarity.

“Navlock is in the green. Sublight and maneuvering thrusters ready to fire. Exiting FTL in five - four - three - two - one...”



The universe around you lurches in a most unnatural way, the voice of your sensors officer fades out and you feel as if your insides were trying to escape your gut. As the UEFS Jibril's sleek black hull slides to a halt, firmly back in realspace, you, now fully enveloped by the rich black of virtual space, let out a deep breath.



“Captain, we have a contact. Scanning...”




As data begins to trickle into your brain via the wireless shunts in your skull, a virtual space begins to project around you, first laden with static and noise, then taking shape and sharpening. You see the Jibril, a tangle of symbols, icons and telltales representing systems and subsystems and crew members as they work in preparation for their mission. Around it, a vast section of empty space, with only one point of light standing out amidst the range symbols.



The holographic representation of your sensory officer stands next to you, enveloped in flickering images that project data from a number of sensors. His digital mouth does not move, but his voice is clear:


“Confirmed. Captain, the signal source matches, as do the validation codes: it is the Shrike.”



You look on as the hologram shape of another ship, larger and blockier than your own, forms in the virtual space. The UEFS Shrike, reported missing in action with all hands over three standard months ago, while on a routine transit flight to a remote sensor station. A few days ago the Shrike had reappeared, sending out an automated distress signal. High command responded by ordering a non-transit zone to be established around the area of the Shrike's , with only one ship allowed to approach. That ship is the Jibril, your ship. Through the neural implants you can see and feel through the ship. For all effects and purposes, while you remain in the virtual space, you are one with the ship. Airlocks, doors, elevators, lights, weapons, shields; all responds to your will, a mere flick of a finger and a word spoken enough to either send the Jibril into a full combat frenzy or lull it to sleep for another nightcycle.

“Scans of the hull show no damage, low power signature. Can't get past the shielding, so no readings on the interior. Captain, the boarding team reports ready to go. Permission to move us closer?”

[You are now in control of Edward Hogan, the captain of the UEFS Jibril, a light naval strike vessel currently on a mission to make contact with the UEFS Shrike, another military vessel which was missing for an extended period of time, and appeared only recently. You are the first ship to approach the Shrike.]

[Crimson Wizard]

Airlocks that can open with your mere sneezing is way too scary!

> Review the available crew and ship components under your control

[Mandle]

> Grant permission to move closer and board the Shrike...

(Jumpin' right in!)

[Ghost]

A more careful approach...

> think: Shrike

[selmiak]

> Get info on wireless shunts, check firmware version and search for updates

[Ryan Timothy B]

A more careful approach...

> think: Shrike

+

[Stupot]

For a bit more background:

> Think: UEFS

[WHAM]

< Here comes the first update. To keep amount of work per post under control, I am restricting the game to accept 3 commands per turn. The FIRST 3 commands will be accepted, unless later commands receive more re-posts / +1's. >

> Review the available crew and ship components under your control


Deciding to do an after-jump systems and personnel check, you glance across the visual representation of the Jibril. The myriad systems and subsystems, all interlinked and crisscrossed by fine threads representing connections both mechanical and virtual, are all displayed with utmost clarity and precision.

Primary systems under your direct control, should you so desire:
- Engines
- Atmosphere
- Shipboard gravity
- Long-range weapons
- Short-range weapons
- Faster-than-light (FTL) core
- Long range and ship-to-ship communications
- Sensor arrays
- Access control including doors, elevators and airlocks

Additionally you flick across the crew roster and location data. All fourteen crew members are present and accounted for, including yourself, the COMMS-OFFICER next to you, as well as the two naval OFFICERS in the next room, four ENGINEERING staff, two MEDICAL staff and the four highly trained MARINES assigned under your command for the duration of this mission.

Pleased, you nod to yourself, your holographic counterpart mimicking the suble motion. You let go of the virtual shapes and watch them slowly flow back into place.

> Grant permission to move closer and board the Shrike...


"Take us closer. Prepare to board as soon as we have docked." -you instruct your comms-officer in a cool voice that comes with being a seasoned veteran of the navy. He nods and his digitized fingers begin to flick through virtual control panels and data slates. Through your physical body, you can feel the vibrations and the Jibril's sublight engines begin to fire. In the virtual world you can feel the power coursing through the engines, and see the virtual form of the SHRIKE slowly moving closer.

> think: Shrike

As you watch the SHRIKE's sensory image slowly creeping closer, you realize that the SHRIKE is a mystery to you. You had never even heard of the ship until a few days ago, when an express courier shuttle docked with you, delivering a compliment of MARINES, along with "eyes-only" ORDERS in the form of an encrypted dataslate. All you know is that the Shrike had been missing under mysterious circumstances for over two standard months, after which it has floated in the middle of nowhere, broadcasting an automated distress signal on a naval emergency channel.

By design the Shrike is a frigate, slightly larger than the corvette-class Jibril, but from the specifications you've received, it seems the Shrike was modified to be more suitable for long-distance travel than most frigates, and more than usual of its systems were automated or AI -driver, to allow for a downsized crew of 9, instead of the usual sixteen to eighteen crew members on frigate -class ships. Much of the data, including armament, armor, shields and drive specifications, on the Shrike was classified, leading you to believe that the ship might have carried cargo, crew or technology of some top-secret variety, which would also explain why no other ships had been allowed to approach the Shrike, as well as why your own crew is not permitted to board, as the ORDERS clearly stated that the Jibril was only to act as a transport for the four MARINES.

"30 kilometers and approaching. Estimated time until docking, three minutes." -the comms-officer intones.

[NightHawk]

>Prepare the weapons and lock on to the shrike as a back up for boarding.

[selmiak]

>think: "eyes-only" ORDERS

[Mandle]

Estimated time until docking, three minutes."

>Start boiling an egg and making some instant ramen!

[Jim Reed]

>plot trajectory of Shrike backwards and forwards in time. (where did it come from, where is it going?)

[Stupot]

>Prepare the weapons and lock on to the shrike as a back up for boarding.

+1

Can't be too careful.

[Ponch]

>Prepare the weapons and lock on to the shrike as a back up for boarding.

+1

Can't be too careful.

+

Also, nice to have a new forum game from you, WHAM.

[WHAM]

> Prepare the weapons and lock on to the shrike as a back up for boarding.


With a flick of your finger, you arm the forward-facing PARTICLE-BEAM batteries, as well as the MISSILE-PODS mounted on the top and bottom of the Jibril. The firing key hovering on your digital waist feels heavy. All you need to do is grab it, point it at the Shrike like a pistol of olden times, and pull the virtual trigger. Since the Shrike's shields seem to be down, the Jibril should be able to critically damage the larger vessel, if not completely destroy it.

> think: "eyes-only" ORDERS

The orders were delivered by a courier shuttle and handed to you by a navy SECTOR COMMANDER personally.

-EYES ONLY- ORDERS TO FOLLOW - GOLD PRIORITY 1) The UEFS Jibril is to accomodate the TASK FORCE of MARINES accompanying these orders. Provide any materials and assistance requested. 2) The UEFS Jibril is to make contact with the UEFS Shrike at the enclosed coordinates and ascertain the fate of the Shrike's crew. 3) Any and all members of the Shrike's crew are to be removed from the Shrike and transported to the Naval High Command outpost at enclosed coordinates. 4) Destruction of, or damage to the Shrike is to be avoided if at all possible. However, the survival of the Jibril and all persons aboard, including the marine task force, are paramount. 5) No crew members of the Jibril are to board the Shrike under any circumstances. Only the marine task force provided is permitted to board. - ORDERS END -

It doesn't take much to deduce that something about the Shrike is seriously classified and way above the security clearance of anyone aboard the Jibril, save for the MARINES.

> Start boiling an egg and making some instant ramen!



You realize that you haven't had any lunch so far during this day cycle and it is getting a bit late. You prod a finger at the shape representing your room and remotely activate the cooker. A hot bowl of RAMEN NOODLES will await you in your QUARTERS. You could send for someone to bring them up to the command deck, but you can't recall a single time when eating while in command space hasn't resulted in a right mess. It is, after all, difficult to eat when you can't actually see the food.

[Bulbapuck]

Oh this is cool
If possible:
> Tell the COMMS-officer: "Send update to the crew, alerting them of the approximate time of arrival. Remind them that all non-authorized personell remain at their station and the medical staff be at the ready for whatever comes next."

EDIT: Fixed some grammar.

[Crimson Wizard]

Since we have little time before docking, I guess I will reiterate one of the previously skipped commands:

>plot trajectory of Shrike backwards and forwards in time. (where did it come from, where is it going?)

[selmiak]

also
>Check own position in time and space

[WHAM]

> Tell the COMMS-officer: "Send update to the crew, alerting them of the approximate time of arrival. Remind them that all non-authorized personell remain at their station and the medical staff be at the ready for whatever comes next."



The comms-officer nods, then taps into the ships internal communication system: "All personnel, the Jibril is now in condition yellow. Prepare for ship-to-ship docking procedures. Time to contact is one-five-zero seconds."

> Plot trajectory of Shrike backwards and forwards in time. (where did it come from, where is it going?)



You pull up sensory data of the Shrike to see if you can trace it's trajectory or origin. The comms-officer glances at the data and remarks: "That's odd..."

There is no sensory data on the Shrike. It's engines are cold and there are no emissions or particles that would indicate any recent engine activity. The ship is completely stationary relative to it's surrounding space, as if it had never moved at all. Nothing indicates that the Shrike has flown here under it's own power, nor does anything indicate that the Shrike is capable of maneuvering, though perhaps this is just a new feature of ship design, which might explain why high-command wants the shrike secured in secret.

> Check own position in time and space

The date is July 26th, 1126 (Post Terran Date). Shipboard standard time is 0942.
The UEFS Jibril is currently situated in an uncharted deep-space region 6 light years past the Perseus Arm region, over a light-year away from the nearest established shipping route.

[NightHawk]

>Brief and send in the boarding team.