Episode 02 The Stage is Set

*"The 'good old days,' sir. Alas, the junior officers now have their hair and their music."*
—**Azeri Sull**

## **Preshow Announcements**

* Ship plaque reveal (by Etsy shop QuestDesignCanada)
* Fan Mail Opening
	+ Black Rifle Coffee
	+ Cat tea infuser mug

* **League of Whimsey RP channel count**: 4,000+

## **Plot Synopsis**

### **Brief Overview**

The command staff examines the Romulan defector, who is recovering from the attempt on his life, and learn more about the Disruptor Blade that caused his injury. They also learn from Admiral Nallas Rhee that the Romulan was implanted with a telepathy-masking device that has caused him severe brain degeneration.

Captain Azeri Sull orders the crew to embark on an unauthorized mission to obtain the implant for study. They regain access to the intelligence wing of the Starfleet Command medical facility, where they begin to hunt for data on the device. Lieutenant Zhyliss Vrenn causes a distraction that has the unintended effect of locking down the facility, nearly leading to a firefight between the crew and the guards, though EXEO diffuses the situation.

As the crew leaves, a Romulan assassin makes an attempt to reach the defector, but is ultimately thwarted by the crew. He vaporizes himself rather than being taken captive.

After a severe dressing down from Admiral Collin McClane, the crew departs for their first boarding of the USS Ross. Dr. Andrea Redgrave, EXEO's designer, hails them to say farewell, and Dr. Debluch Marrone, USS *Ross*' senior ship designer, cautions Chief Theq Lynadas about the ship's potential volatility due to its two warp cores. Sull then orders Vrenn to take the ship out.

### **Pre-Break**

*Scene 1: Intelligence Wing, Starfleet Command Medical Facility*

Three days have passed since the previous episode. The scene opens with Captain Azeri Sull and Admiral Nallas Rhee standing over a the Romulan defector recovering in a med-bay in Starfleet Command.

The wound was caused by a Disruptor Blade that detonated when the Romulan was stabbed, missing his spine by about 3 cm and causing extensive damage to his vital organs. The chance of his survival were less than one percent. His surgery and treatment, which included the implantation of artificial organs, took two days.

Rhee and Sull banter briefly, and the admiral fills Sull in on some details of the Romulan situation. Rhee shares his suspicions of Section 31 involvement and promises to try to keep the “web of intrigue” away from the *Ross*.

Doctor M'Qrell arrives and examines the Romulan spy. While she is examining him, he awakens. The Romulan indicates he approached Ambassador Olyn Madzhin-Nil in order to reach Captain Sull. He claims to want passage on the *Ross* In order to reach his family, which he says is compromised. Sull promises to allow him passage.

The senior staff arrives. The ambassador senses the Romulan feels hope, noting they couldn’t feel him previously. Admiral Rhee discloses the Romulan had an implant that disrupted the ability of empaths telepaths to read Him. The implant causes severe decay in the brain.

Admiral Collin McClane arrives, in a foul temper, with two security officers, and has a brief discussion with Rhee and the *Ross* crew. Lieutenant Jane Lakat bluffs and claims to be an intelligence officer. McClane expresses frustration at the infiltration and notes he advocated for EXEO’s position before dismissing them.

The crew discusses events while exiting the med-bay. Lieutenant Zhyliss Vrenn teases Lakat for bluffing the admiral. Sull orders Security Chief Yeri Prahl to guard the Romulan. Vrenn notes he doesn’t know who M’Qrell is, and EXEO chides him for not reading the crew briefing, explaining unconvincingly that he hasn’t had time because he’s been sick.

Ambassador Madzhin-Nil requests to stand guard with Prahl because they will be able to feel a lack of presence from agents.

Sull has lunch with Vrenn. Afterward, while walking to their meeting with Admiral McClane, Sull orders Vrenn to “go forth, distract, report at the end of the day.”

*Scene 2: Admiral McClane's Office*

Captain Sull joins Admiral Rhee in Admiral McClane's office. McClane informs Sull that he will be briefing the President of the Federation after this meeting. He also mentions that Starfleet's resources have been allocated toward watching Section 31, not the Romulan Star Empire, and expresses his distaste for Section 31.

McClane informs Sull he is placing the Romulan in deep cover on the *Ross* in order to make him think he is getting what he wants.

McClane shows Sull a transmission from Admiral April Hebert in which Hebert asks McClane to refuse a Romulan request for a diplomatic embassy on Narendra Station, where the Ross is to be stationed. McClane then informs Sull that the Federation President and Council have granted the Romulan request.

McClane then apologizes for the dour sendoff and declines to wish Sull luck, saying "because I don't think you'll need it."

Sull is dismissed, passing Admiral Janeway on her way out and sharing a brief conversation. Janeway tells her to "enjoy those stars."

Janeway walks into McClane's office, and as the doors close Sull overhears McClane say, "thank god" upon seeing Janeway.

*Scene 3: Outside the Starfleet Command Medical Facility*

Lakat, Lynadas, and EXEO begin discussing how to carry out Sull's orders to obtain the anti-telepathy implant. Vrenn arrives shortly and informs them he has been ordered to be a distraction.

### **Post-Break**

*Scene 1: Outside Starfleet Command Medical Facility*

The crew continues the conversation with Vrenn, and he says he plans to use a shuttlecraft to provide a distraction. EXEO tells him to create a distraction whenever he feels he should.

*Scene 2: Lobby, Starfleet Command Medical Facility*

   Ambassador Madzhin-Nil and Lieutenant Prahl discuss his choice to join Starfleet and his childhood dream of being an explorer. He tells them, "explorer Prahl didn't make it through the war."

At this point, the *Ross* command crew arrives. EXEO asks for Prahl's expertise in locating the implant. Prahl suggests infiltrating the facility by using Doctor M'Qrell to gain access to the room in which the Romulan is being kept.

The crew discusses the details of their plan. Lynadas is overtly nervous. Prahl suggests that M'Qrell smile more in order to appear intimidating, and she begins smily widely.

The crew moves to access the interior of the facility. M'Qrell begins trying to talk her way past the ensign guarding the secure facility, dropping both McClane and Rhee's names. He says he does not see her name on the clearance list.

EXEO cold-reads him, finding he is intimidated by the number of ranking officers approaching him and was mildly nervous at the mention of space travel. EXEO successfully intimidates him (using Command.exe) and he grants them access. As they enter, Prahl stops beside the ensign and advises him not to mention their presence, because if he does, he may get "shipped out."

*Scene 3: Intelligence Branch, Starfleet Command Medical Facility*

M'Qrell confidently walks past the two guards outside the Romulan's medical bay, while the remaining crew wait outside. Lynadas attempts to add M'Qrell's name to the clearance list while he waits.

At this point, alarms in the building begin to blare and the computers lock down. The guards order the crew to hold their positions. The crew briefly glimpses a shuttlecraft touching down in the courtyard outside.

Lynadas removes his communicator badge and attempts to jury-rig it to block the alert signal and gain access to the medical file. EXEO assists (using System\_Tap.exe).

The security guards notice what Lynadas and EXEO are doing, and one raises a weapon. Before the guard can fire, however, Prahl punches him across the jaw and knocks him out cold. The second guard fires at Prahl but misses. EXEO grabs the comm badge from Lynadas, cuts him with it to show his red blood to the guard, and firmly tells the guard to stand down. The guard wavers, and asks what is going on. Prahl reprimands him harshly, then boldly takes the rifle from him and powers it down. He continues to intimidate the guard, who now looks terrified. Madzhin-Nil now attempts to calm Prahl.

Lynadas, with Lakat's assistance, manages to access and download the file.

As the crew begins to leave, Prahl stops them, feeling that something isn't right, and slams the person to his left against the wall defensively. A disruptor blast flies past them and strikes the remaining security guard squarely in the chest, dropping him.

Lynadas erects a forcefield that blocks the hallway. An apparently human male officer with angular features, regulation-cut black hair, and a red lieutenant's uniform peers around the corner of the hallway holding a Romulan disruptor. He appears enraged at the appearance of the forcefield. He attempts to run, but is stopped by a second forcefield erected by Lynadas.

The operative walks up to the forcefield and stares at the crew, carrying himself with the precision of an assassin. He looks them in the eyes and says, "Glory to Sela" before discharging his weapon into his own chest. He screams horribly as his body evaporates into a green mist, even as Lynadas drops the forcefield.

*Scene 4: Admiral McClane's Office (2:34:22)*

The scene opens with the senior staff assembled before Admirals McClane and Rhee, their ears ringing from the shouted dress-down they have just received.

Rhee tells McClane he ordered the crew to retrieve the information, a lie he intends to shield them from further consequences. He claims they predicted this action would flush out the Romulan assassin. McClane doesn't believe him, but Rhee points out that McClane can take credit for flushing out the assassin, an action the President will likely be grateful for. Rhee convinces McClane that making the *Ross* depart on its mission is the best punishment.

McClane specifically calls out Vrenn for stealing a shuttlecraft using a code that didn't belong to him, then gives him five seconds to leave his office to avoid a reprimand on his record. Vrenn bolts from the room. McClane dismisses the rest of the crew by suggesting they follow Vrenn's example. Rhee follows them out of the office.

Rhee promises to clean up their mess, and notes he must write a condolence letter to the family of the fallen officer. Sull hugs Rhee, and the crew leaves.

*Scene 5: In Transit to the U.S.S. Ross (2:41:40)*

Family, crew, and passengers load into shuttles bound for the *Ross*, hefting belongings and saying goodbyes.

Vrenn rejoins the crew and takes the helm of the shuttle to transport the command crew. Lynadas is visibly nervous about the flight. Vrenn threatens to mess with Lynadas, and Lakat encourages him. Lakat holds her pet wompat, Orwell, up to look out the window. The crew shares an emotional moment watching the Earth recede behind them, then the *Ross* appears before them in all her splendor.

*Scene 6: Bridge and Ready Room, U.S.S. Ross (2:48:00)*

As the command crew settles into their stations on the bridge, Doctor Andrea Redgrave hails the ship to say goodbye to EXEO. EXEO removes her ring, integrating into the ship's data core. They share a familial look, then the transmission ends.

Debluch Marrone, a disgruntled looking Tellarite, enters the bridge, calling for "Chief Theq." With Sull's permission, Moroni brings Lynadas into the captain's ready room, where he first expresses his belief that it is "absurd" for a ship to have two warp cores. he then warns Lynadas not to run the second core at the same time as the first, or risk turning the ship into an antimatter bomb. Lynadas responds sarcastically, making clear he has the qualifications to have deduced this himself, and the two engage in some brief engineering banter.

As Marrone leaves, he separately tells both Lynadas and Sull, "you're gonna do fine." Finally, he turns to the *Ross* herself and whispers, "take care of them."

Captain Sull checks in with their senior staff, then orders Vrenn to take the *Ross* out.

## **Cast**

* Eric Campbell - Game Master
* Revati Dhomse - Jane Lakat
* Gina De Vivo - EXEO
* Sam de Leve - Azeri Sull
* Aki- Olyn Madzhin-Nil
* Xander Jeanneret - Theq Lynadas
* Bonnie Gordon - M'Qrell

## **Non-Player Characters**

* Nallas Rhee
* Tygan Nauls
* Collin McClane
* Yeri Prahl
* Zhyliss Vrenn
* April Hebert
* Kargan
* Debluch Marrone

## **Locations**

* Medical Facility, Starfleet Command, San Francisco, Earth
* Office of Admiral Collin McClane
* Bridge and ready room, U.S.S. Ross

## **Notable Lines**

*"How comfortable are you with your eyebrows, sir?"*
—**Azeri Sull**

*"No one should stay in any closets."*
—**Olyn Madzhin-Nil**

*"The 'good old days,' sir. Alas, the junior officers now have their hair and their music."*
—**Azeri Sull**

*"I have big orders."*
—**Zhyliss Vrenn**

*"I believe if you scan me, you'll find I have nothing* but *clearance.”"*
—**EXEO**

*"If you discharge a phaser rifle at my crew again, I will take you apart. Do you understand me?"*
—**Yeri Prahl**

*"Are all Bolians this abrasive? It's nice."*
*"We prefer acidic."*
—**Dr. Debluch Marrone** and **Theq Lynadas**

*"Time to go."*
—**Azeri Sull**

## **Notes and Trivia**

* The security guard's death in post-break scene 3 is the first death of the series.
* The standard opening credits scene (visuals by Zefilms Productions and music by Leland Cox) is shown for the first time at the end of this episode.