LOG 004 – EYE OF THE STORM

Captain's Log, Stardate 57450.9

We have been participating in an astronomical survey of the local sector. Of particular interest is a nearby star-forming nebula. Within the region lies a high concentration of volatile gasses.

The crew of the U.S.S. Melbourne are conducting the survey of the nebula when sensors detect an incoming subspace shockwave and shields raise automatically. The shockwave rattles the ship, but the shields are more than able to handle it and there is no damage to the vessel. Long-range scans detect that the shockwave was the result of the birth of a new Class A blue-white star in the nebula, but that the event has ignited the surrounding gas in the nebula creating a dangerous ionic storm.

While examining the data collected on the stellar birth and the resulting ion storm, Lt. Stuart encounters a strange pattern that he recognizes as a subspace signal buried in the noise. LT. Cmdr. Ahn'Kress is able to clean up the signal and it is revealed to be a distress call from the U.S.S. Cassiopeia, a Nova-class science vessel also operating in the sector. The Cassiopeia had been observing the birth of the star from closer in and has been caught in the explosion and resulting ionic storm.

Despite the risk, Capt. Mitchell orders the Melbourne into the nebula to locate and assist the Cassiopeia. The volatile gases in the nebula react badly with the ship's impulse engines, causing an engine breach and taking the weapons systems offline. With the Melbourne rapidly losing impulse power, Lt. Cmdr. Ahn'Kress is able to adjust the ship's main deflector and bussard collectors to counter the volatility, restoring impulse power. With power restored, Cmdr. Partav begins coordinating damage control teams to restore the weapons, just in case they will be needed.

The Melbourne presses deeper into the nebula, finally reaching the edge of the ionic storm. An energy spike from the storm overloads the ship's sensors, leaving the crew blind. To compensate, Lt. Cmdr. Tir takes out a Type-11 shuttlecraft, the Yarra River, with Lt. Stuart aboard to use the shuttle's sensors in place of the Melbourne's. Lt. Cmdr. Ahn'Kress is able to extend the Melbourne's shields to protect the shuttle from the worst of the storm. The plan is successful, with Lt. Stuart able to use the shuttle's sensors to get a location fix on the Cassiopeia.

As the Melbourne heads towards the disabled Federation vessel, Cmdr. Partav and Lt. Cmdr. Ahn'Kress are able to repair most of the sensor damage and restore the ship's scanning ability. With the sensors working, Lt. Cmdr. Tir and Lt. Stuart return to the Melbourne and resume their stations on the bridge. More energy discharges from the storm strike the ship, damaging the shields, but they are able to hold as the Melbourne gets close enough to the Cassiopeia for communications to break through the storm's interference. Lt. Cmdr. Ahn'Kress is able to hail the other ship and a channel is opened. Capt. Mitchell is able to reassure Capt. Halliday of the Cassiopeia that the Melbourne is ready to assist.

Capt. Halliday explains that their engines are down and that shields are barely holding, with their wounded and all but the most essential personnel sent to the most protected areas of the ship to defend them from the rising levels of radiation. With the Cassiopeia's shields up the Melbourne cannot transport the crew off, and if they were to drop the shields the crew would be exposed to a lethal dose of radiation before everyone could be beamed off.

With the Melbourne's size advantage over the smaller Nova-class ship, it is decided to try and bring the Cassiopeia within the larger ship's shields. With skillful piloting by Lt. JG Reydon, and Lt. Cmdr. Ahn'Kress able to match the Melbourne's shield frequency to the Cassiopeia's, the ship is maneuvered to bring the two vessels close enough for the tractor beam to get a lock. The Cassiopeia is carefully brought to a position aft of the Melbourne's engineering section, nestling the smaller ship between the warp nacelles.

With the Cassiopeia safely in tow within the shields, the wounded are able to be transported to the Melbourne's Sick Bay while Lt. Stuart is able to provide Lt. JG Reydon a swift course to get them out of the nebula. Once they are clear, the rest of the Cassiopeia's crew, including her Captain, are beamed over to the Melbourne. Capt. Halliday is extremely grateful to Capt. Mitchell and the crew of the Melbourne for the rescue, even more so once it is determined that the Melbourne has the needed parts to get the Cassiopeia operational again. With that the two crews begin work, expecting that within a week the Nova-class ship will be functional enough to make her way back to Starbase for full repairs.