Arcadia Station SB–101 Episode #649
Hot and Cold Running Wars
Episode VII (7) — “Flashpoint”
Stardate 11402.10

Starring (in order of appearance):
•	Nick Moline 
•	CO Capt Bodine (Michael Johnson)
•	CEO LtJg Takor (Christina Doane)
•	CIV Nyira (Barbara Moline)
•	FCO Ens Doole (Bruce Oriani)
•	CTO Ens Cadarn (Michael Hiles)
Guest Appearances By (in order of appearance):
•	Nick Moline as Capt Yan
•	Nick Moline as Ramone 

Mission Transcript
Time Lapse: 8 hours
Previously on Arcadia
Einstein is famous for postulating that the passage of time is relative to the observer. One of the biggest difficulties with warp travel was compensating for this problem. Einstein would have a field day with what’s currently going on inside a local Nebula.
This nebula was, back in the mid-22nd century, the home of Silik and his band of Suliban working for a mysterious figure from the future fighting a Temporal Cold War.
There was a room on their Helix station where time flowed at a slower rate, and it was here that Silik would communicate with the future.
While the helix, the Suliban and the Temporal Cold War are long gone, the U.S.S. Anderson was sent to the nebula to investigate strange temporal readings.
After being missing in the nebula for 4 days, the Anderson came out of the nebula believing that they had only been gone a few hours.
After investigation it was discovered that the entire nebula is currently undergoing a Time Dilation field and that time inside the nebula is flowing at a different pace from time outside the nebula.
The Anderson is about to re-enter the nebula to find out what is causing this. Meanwhile, Arcadia’s senior staff is in the Tigress and is stationed on the edge of the Nebula to coordinate from outside the field.
CO Capt Bodine says:
Captain's Log: SD: 11402.10: We are just outside the Nebula in the Regulus sector. Based on Takor's advice we plan on putting probes up outside the field in order to perform time measurements. After we finish the deployment I suspect we have to head in ourselves. I have no idea what we will find inside, but I hope whatever it is we can affect a solution.

Resume "Hot and Cold Running Wars" -- Episode VII
CO Capt Bodine says:
::sitting at the operations console on the Runabout U.S.S. Tigress::
Capt Yan says:
@COM: CO: Anderson to Tigress, I'm ready to enter the field. Like the probes we have our computer set to send messages every 0.5 seconds
CEO LtJg Takor says:
::Sitting at a back station on the Tigress, reviewing information::
CO Capt Bodine says:
::glances over at Doole sitting at helm:: FCO: I suspect we will be forced to enter the time dilation field. And I have no idea what sort of navigational hazards we might face in there. I hope you are ready. For now though I believe Chief Takor wants to drop some monitoring equipment out here first, she should have coordinates for you. ::glances back at his Chief Engineer::
CIV Nyira says:
$::helping her father pack for his return to earth:: Ramone: You'll be back for the grand opening right?
CEO LtJg Takor says:
CO: Yes Sir, All is ready ::Sends coordinates::
Ramone (Nick Moline) says:
$CIV: Of course, I wouldn't miss it. And I'll bring your brothers with me, they can't wait to meet you.
CEO LtJg Takor says:
::A non-critical message is sent from the engineer overseeing the repairs to Nyira's new place with a list of recommended fixes and letting her know he is available this afternoon if she wants to meet.::
FCO Ens Doole says:
CO: Just don't believe the sensors, you know how nebulas love to wreak havoc on them
CTO Ens Cadarn says:
::Steps out of the back of the runabout moving to an empty station.::
CEO LtJg Takor says:
::Nods to CTO::CTO: You ready for this?
CO Capt Bodine says:
::accepts the hail:: COM: Yan: We read you Captain this is your show. We will setup additional monitoring out here. If you could try to keep the COM open as you enter would like to see if we can stay in touch if the COM is active. If it fails try to reconnect right away when you get in.
CEO LtJg Takor says:
::She asks most of her attention still on her readouts::
CIV Nyira says:
$::smiles as she folds a pair of pants and puts them in the suitcase she has open before her:: Ramone: I'd like to meet them as well.
Capt Yan says:
@COM: CO: Acknowledged Captain.... A_FCO_Smithers: Lieutenant Smithers, once more into the breach!
CO Capt Bodine says:
CTO: while Doole and Takor coordinate the placement of the exterior probes. I was wondering do we have significant historical data on this Nebula, has it shown up in other significant reports. Anything about what we might find in there might be helpful if we go in..
ACTION: The Anderson moves forward at one quarter impulse towards the border.

Capt Yan says:
@COM: CO: I sure hope we can maintain cont....
CO Capt Bodine says:
::attempts to maintain COM link with the Anderson:: COM: Anderson: We see you moving in.
ACTION: As the Anderson passes through the border Yan's voice starts getting slower, and the t sound from "contact" stretches out

Capt Yan says:
@COM: CO: ttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt
CTO Ens Cadarn says:
::Logs into the station pulling up the sensor readouts.:: CEO: I'm ready.
CO Capt Bodine says:
::attempts to adjust the subspace carrier in the same fashion they sent command and control to the probes in an attempt to clean up the com channel::
CTO Ens Cadarn says:
CO: I'll see what I can pull up from the database. ::Begins pulling up the library data on the nebula, wondering how much would be classified.::
CEO LtJg Takor says:
::Nods returning her full attention to the sensors, probes and other incoming data....::
CO Capt Bodine says:
COM: Yan: We still have a connection but its badly distorted.
ACTION: The signal gets too slow to maintain a connection and severs, the pings from the Anderson come 30 seconds apart, indicating a 60x slowdown currently
FCO Ens Doole says:
CTO: I think the probes should be placed at the following coordinates ::shows him on a PADD:: What do you think?
CEO LtJg Takor says:
CO: Sir pings 30 seconds apart, 60x slow down...
FCO Ens Doole says:
CTO: Hopefully the nebula doesn't mess with them too severely, and they will create a "Tholian Web" of sensors to get information...at least in theory...hopefully
CO Capt Bodine says:
CEO: Yeah I can see that
CEO LtJg Takor says:
CO: Yes Sir.
::Continues working at her station::FCO: Probes are ready.
CO Capt Bodine says:
::attempts a compressed data packet instead:: COM: Anderson: Text: If you can translate this, send us a non-line message back with your status and the amount of time passed.
CTO Ens Cadarn says:
::Leans over looking at the PADD:: FCO: It looks I would just alter these two probes here ::Indicates a couple of the probes.:: by 15 degrees and shift 12 meters, should give better coverage.
Ramone (Nick Moline) says:
$CIV: Would you be interested in meeting Tira? She wants to meet you but she doesn't want to impose.
FCO Ens Doole says:
CTO:: ::looks at PADD, makes the adjustments to indicated probes:: Well, can't shoot a rabbit hunting squirrels.
CIV Nyira says:
$::nods:: Ramone: I would like to meet the woman that has made you happy through the years.
FCO Ens Doole says:
CEO: Place the probes at these coordinates ::sends him the information:: and let's see what happens.
CO Capt Bodine says:
CEO: I am not sure why I feel adding ourselves to this mess is the right thing to do here, or why I think we are any more equipped then the Anderson to help, but I hate the idea of sitting out here when we could be helping them. In the absence of an XO and as the most senior officer here other than myself I value your command opinion in this case. Do we go in given what we both know and don't know? ::then he added to the rest:: ALL: If anyone else has any other advice the floor is open.

CTO Ens Cadarn says:
::Shakes his head as he turns his attention back to his console wondering what that was supposed to mean.::
CEO LtJg Takor says:
FCO: Understood ::Takes the coordinates and inputs them, giving the probes their orders and sends them off per previous orders.:: 
::Blinks, forgot she was an officer as well as an engineer, looks thoughtful for a moment then replied quietly:: CO: Sir, my preference is we lock this down and study it. Nor have we been able to block the effects via shield modification or other means." ::She sighed::CO: Downside to waiting is someone may run the blockade
CO: If they think we're hiding something and to be honest this vessel can do what the anderson can with fewer people...

CO Capt Bodine says:
CEO: Of course work in the Doole suggestion if you feel they are viable but you and Cadarn are best qualified for placement. Do what you think is best.
CEO LtJg Takor says:
CO: Placement looked good, I made a few minor modifications. We're all set on that front.
CO Capt Bodine says:
CEO: Good, let’s wait an hour for the Anderson to give us a reasonable response.
CTO: Did you figure out if there are historical significances to this area?
FCO: Keep us in a stable orbit. Let me know if there are any gravitational shifts in navigation it could indicate a sign of expansion in the nebula,
FCO Ens Doole says:
CO: Yes sir
CEO LtJg Takor says:
CO: Aye Sir.
ACTION: The pings start coming 50 a second and the Anderson (previously looking like it was standing still) zooms off at what appears to be low warp, though in actuality is one half impulse. Over the course of a few minutes, thousands of pings, and several data streams come from the Anderson really fast. Time now seems to be moving 25 times faster inside the nebula than outside
CEO LtJg Takor says:
::Forwards report to the Captain::
CTO Ens Cadarn says:
::Shakes his head.:: CO: So far just the only thing of note is the Suliban using this area
CO Capt Bodine says:
CEO: Summary, best guess what just happen?
CTO: Yeah that is right; the so called temporal cold war wasn't it?
ALL: Okay I don't think we have to wait an hour.
CO Capt Bodine says:
CEO: Can we filter through the data we just received, Has the Anderson reported any serious problems or concerns?
CEO LtJg Takor says:
CO: Bit like a rubber band it pulled out then bounced back, as for why I'm still analyzing the data...
CO: Working on it Sir.
CTO Ens Cadarn says:
::Nods the captain.:: CO: Yes captain. 

CEO LtJg Takor says:
CO: Nothing useful in the data dump Sir.

ACTION: Sensors show the warp-impulse Anderson making it's sweep of the nebula, covering hours’ worth of the search pattern in a matter of minutes. Suddenly a data stream comes...
Capt Yan says:
::via text:: @COM: CO: Captain, I found something, right at the coordinates where the Helix used to be, there's some sort of tear... I think it is a...
CO Capt Bodine says:
ALL: It is possible with the advanced recon package we might have better and more finite tools then the Anderson. I say we go in and offer them a hand any objections? ::although he said this last to everyone he looked very clearly at Lieutenant Junior Grade Takor::
ACTION: The com cuts off as a shockwave approaches very rapidly from the center of the nebula, the shockwave dissipates right before the edge of the nebula and no effect is felt on the Tigress, but the comm beacons stop. The Anderson can be seen inside the nebula completely still
FCO Ens Doole says:
Self (kinda out loud): This is getting harder than catching a greased pig in a rodeo
CEO LtJg Takor says:
::Continues to review the data dump scanning for useful information::
::Stops as shockwave hits:: CO: Sir we've lost contact...
CO Capt Bodine says:
FCO: Prepare to set course one quarter impulse match the same vector the Anderson used.
CTO: Shields up, yellow alert, Defensive systems online.
FCO Ens Doole says:
CO: Acknowledged, One quarter impulse, Anderson Vector.
CO Capt Bodine says:
CEO: Try to maintain passive contact with the probes out here as we go in, but your primary focus will be what we find when we go in.
::looks at Doole:: FCO: Engage.
CEO LtJg Takor says:
CO: Aye Sir. ::Takes a deep breath and refocuses her attention on the probes::
FCO Ens Doole says:
Out loud: Time to lasso us a tornado and dig a canyon. ::punches it::
ACTION: The Tigress moves forward towards the nebula, but as it reaches the border it lurches and stops, unable to push through. Sensors indicate the particles that would normally be moving and flowing are so still that they can't be pushed out of the way by the bussard collectors, the gas of the nebula simply won't part to let the Tigress enter
CEO LtJg Takor says:
::attempts to compensate::
CTO Ens Cadarn says:
::Glances up at Doole wondering if he was entirely sane, whatever he said wasn't Klingon and didn't seem very Betazoid either.::
CO Capt Bodine says:
FCO: Why are we not entering the Nebula?
FCO Ens Doole says:
CO: Unknown, we should be slipping through this like a ocean liner on a smooth sea, yet we're not going anywhere
CO Capt Bodine says:
FCO: Is it navigational system error or environmental?
CTO Ens Cadarn says:
::Directs his sensors toward the Anderson trying to see what happened.:: CO: I'm detecting a hull breach on the Andersons bridge. ::Studies his readings briefly before continuing.:: They seem to be frozen in time.
CO Capt Bodine says:
FCO: Adjust speed to half impulse.
FCO Ens Doole says:
CO: Adjusting speed

Pause