SD 05/07/05 - "Stinks to be You" aka "The Wrath of Ironbottom #14" - Dear God! What a disaster!!
The message we picked up was from New Cait! Ironbottom's attacking them! Oh God, that planet has a population of millions! The planet has some defenses, notably the space station and the Starfleet ships that are usually there, but against a Borg, they won't last long. When they go, Ironbottom will slaughter everyone!
And it would take us hours to get there on our warp drive. By the time we got there, it would be too late.
Lera's solution, try and call someone closer. I would think that broadcast would have reached all ships that could have gotten there if we got it, but that's Leralogic (TM) for you.
Finding out our long range communications was still out, we called the Moneybags to see if Droolin and the Ferrengi had any luck. We got the same wait for a response as before. Then when he did answer, he looked a bit dissheveled, and had lipstick on his face! Asking what he was doing, he answered he had just repaired the hollodeck and was doing some "by the book" tests. Never mind that I ordered the communications array be given a higher priority. Well, Lera ordered a view of the Ferrengi holodeck, and there was a bedroom scene with several giggling women. She then requested permission to beam over, and I gave it.
Lera getting mad at Droolin for messing around. That would have been funny if it wasn't for the underlying situation hanging over us.
How to get to New Cait? Seven of Elleven of the "BoReD Borg" beamed over with a solution, a risky one. He felt Ironbottom got there so fast due to the cube's transwarp drive. The "BoReD" shuttle also had one, and it could be beamed over and jury-rigged to our warp drive, saying it should get us there, and the Moneybags which would be towed with a tractor beam, and the "BoReD" shuttle which would hold on via magnetic clamps.
"Should" is the key word here. He himself stated there were risks.
First, it would almost certainly blow out our warp drive. If we were forced to stop prematurley, we wouldn't be able to go faster than light speed, and the nearest base would be years away. If things took a turn for the worst in the fight, we would be trapped.
Also, there was a risk of structural dammage, possibly enough to cripple the ship before the fight even started or even blow it up in transit.
And then of course, having so much in the hands of Borg. Can even these atypical Borg be trusted?
Unfortunetly, we don't have any options. If we can't get there, New Cait is doomed.
Guess I should at least have Tarra watch over them. Just got a report she's showering after getting a stuck sewage valve unstuck, but getting herself and a bunch of redshirts a most unwelcome shower. Ugh!
If only that was the most pressing thing on my mind.