Episode 113. The Web Weavers
Context
- Coordinated Universal Time
- Thursday, July 15, 1954 - 9:21 p.m.
- Location
-
- Beta Quadrant
- Solar System
- Near Earth
- USS Enterprise
- Bridge
- Timeline
- Prime Timeline
- Previously on Trek Outta Time
-
After their arrival in 1954, the Enterprise and Tal'Kyr detected a spatial distortion. From that anomaly appeared a gigantic Tholian warship, the Tarantula, three to four times larger than the Enterprise. It opened fire, piercing the shields and tearing open the forward hull. As emergency systems came online, Agnes ordered a counterattack: torpedoes, DXS mines, coordinated fire with Tal'Kyr and the shuttles, but the Tholian shield held. Then the monster suddenly released a swarm of small fighters: the Meshweavers.
Characters
| Name | Affiliation / Branch | Title / Rank | Species | Original Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agnes V. Rodriguez | NATO / Special Fleet | Captain | Human | Schak'Irra Timeline |
| Angie Chen | NATO / Special Fleet | Commander | Human | Schak'Irra Timeline |
| Robert Gomard | NATO / Ground Forces | Colonel | Human | Schak'Irra Timeline |
| Eric Corda | NATO / Special Fleet | Lieutenant Commander | Human | Schak'Irra Timeline |
| Emilie Flores | NATO / Special Fleet | Ensign | Human | Schak'Irra Timeline |
| Charlene Savea | NATO / Special Fleet | Lieutenant | Human | Schak'Irra Timeline |
| Lingua | Starfleet / Temporal Division | N/A | Artificial Intelligence | Prime Timeline |
| Gornok | Zorek Entrepreneurs' Assembly | Chief | Tellarite | Schak'Irra Timeline |
Manifest
| USS Enterprise | |
|---|---|
| Affiliation | NATO |
| Location | 1954, near Earth |
| Captain | Agnes V. Rodriguez |
| First Officer | Angie Chen |
| Artificial Intelligence | Lingua (Unofficial) |
| Pilot | Eric Corda |
| Communications | Emilie Flores |
| Operations | Charlene Savea |
| Tactical | Angie Chen |
| Science | Manu |
| Engineering | Gornok (Unofficial) |
| Advanced Weaponry | Eros Vitos |
| Security | Robert Gomard (Unofficial) |
| Sickbay | Victor S. Calpel K'hoka Khol'a (assistant) |
| Counselor/Consultant | Manu |
| Custodian | Manu |
| Passengers |
Robert Gomard's squad 4 Vulcan survivors from Schak'Irra Emmanuel Macron Gornok's Tellarite workers |
| Detainees | Vladimir Joseph Putin and his bodyguards |
| Deployed Flotilla |
Tal'Kyr (With T'Met and Tarsi) Class F shuttles (Robert Gomard and his men) |
TL;DR
The Meshweavers surround the Enterprise and weave an energy web that paralyzes the ship. Angie proposes a desperate maneuver: overload the shields and reverse their polarity. Gornok grumbles, but carries it out. After a countdown led by Lingua, the shock wave releases a blinding explosion: the web disintegrates and the Meshweavers are pulverized. The Enterprise is free, but drained: shields fall to 2 %, the emitters are fried, and regeneration is out of service. Agnes orders the final assault toward the Tarantula, while the Tholian monster immediately retaliates, destroying the warp-nacelle pylons. The Enterprise has just lost its last means of escape.
Story
The Enterprise slips through the Tholian flotilla deploying all around us. For their part, Tal'Kyr and our shuttles try to neutralize the Meshweavers, which prove to be extremely agile. In only a few seconds, they stretch an energy web that immobilizes the Enterprise.
Lt. Cmdr. Eric Corda (Pilot)
Captain, we are trapped in some kind of spider web. I can no longer maneuver the Enterprise!
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Cut propulsion, Mr. Corda. Number One, target the weavers with the plasma turret.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
No effect, Captain. The weavers are protected outside the mesh.
Ens. Emilie Flores (Communications)
Captain, Colonel Gomard is on the line.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
On screen, Flores.
Col. Robert Gomard (Ground Forces)
[static] Enterprise, [static] do you read? This is Herbie 53! [static]
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
We read you, Robert!
Col. Robert Gomard (Ground Forces)
[static]
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Hello, Robert!!!
Ens. Emilie Flores (Communications)
I am sorry, Captain. I lost the communication. The mesh is jamming every channel.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Flores, try to recalibrate the communication frequencies to bypass the mesh. We need a solution to break free. Suggestions?
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
We could try overloading the shields and reversing their polarity. That would release an enormous amount of energy, which could destroy or damage everything near the Enterprise.
Lingua
[beep] Captain, Commander Chen's idea is bold, but if you apply it, the Enterprise will be left unprotected for two minutes. That is how long it will take to regenerate the shield.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
It is risky, but we have no choice. Flores, open a communication channel to engineering.
Gornok
This is Gornok! The turbines are purring at full power. What can I do for you?
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Gornok, disable all safety protocols and prepare to overload the shields.
Gornok
Grr... Gornok is not sure he understood, Captain. You want to blow up our shield???
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
That is right, Gornok. Hurry!
Gornok
Grr... That will consume an enormous amount of energy and could damage our systems. Are you sure you want to do this, Captain???
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
We have no other option, Gornok. Shift all ship power to the shield and prepare the overload.
Gornok
Grr... To turn the Enterprise into a microwave oven, Gornok needs five minutes!
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
You have three, and not one more!
Gornok
Grr... Okay, okay, it will be ready in two minutes.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Flores, have you restored communications with our allies?
Ens. Emilie Flores (Communications)
No, Captain. Lingua is recalibrating the frequencies.
Lingua
[beep] Communications are restored with Tal'Kyr and Herbie 53, Captain Rodriguez.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Thank you, Lingua. On screen.
Col. Robert Gomard (Ground Forces)
Hello, Enterprise, are you still there?
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Yes, Robert. We are holding on! How are things on your side?
Col. Robert Gomard (Ground Forces)
We are trying to shoot down the weavers to destroy the web, but our beams are not powerful enough. To make matters worse, the Tarantula is firing on us!
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
We will handle it. Order all shuttles to move away from the Enterprise.
Col. Robert Gomard (Ground Forces)
Understood, we are pulling back. Good luck, Agnes.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Good luck to you too, Robert. Savea, make sure all our units are out of range.
Lt. Charlene Savea (Operations)
Confirmation received, Captain. Our entire flotilla and Tal'Kyr are at a safe distance.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Perfect. Gornok, this is Rodriguez. Initiate shield overload!
Gornok
Shield overload in progress, Captain! Hold on, this is going to blow like a Klavarr crystal in a carafe of Tarv sparkling mist!
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Lingua, reverse polarity when the overload reaches its critical threshold.
Lingua
[beep] Five... Four... Three... Two... One... Polarity reversal!
The view on the main screen becomes blinding as the Enterprise's energy shield reverses and gradually expands. Flashes of energy propagate in waves, crossing the web and disintegrating the Tholian weavers. The web structure collapses in a cascade of brilliant light, freeing the Enterprise from its trap.
The bridge shakes violently under the effect of the energy discharge. The lights flicker and consoles throw sparks as the enormous amount of released energy dissipates into the surrounding space.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Well done, everyone. Mr. Corda, full ahead! Straight toward the Tarantula! Number One, take over the plasma turrets and fire at will. Savea, shield status?
Lt. Charlene Savea (Operations)
2 %, Captain. There seems to be a problem with regeneration!
Gornok
Captain, Captain, this is Gornok!
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
I am listening, Gornok.
Gornok
Grr... The overload caused several critical failures. We have lost 90 % of shield regeneration capacity, and the emitters are badly damaged.
Lingua
[beep] Confirmed, Captain Rodriguez. Without shields, the Enterprise will not withstand Tholian fire for long.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
How long can we hold out, Lingua?
Lingua
[beep] At this rate, 3 to 5 minutes. To maximize our chances, Tal'Kyr must move closer to the Enterprise and extend its shield.
Before we can even apply Lingua's suggested plan, the Tarantula repositions itself in front of the Enterprise and fires another concentrated energy stream, targeting our warp nacelles. In a single strike, the powerful beam tears away the nacelle pylons, leaving us with no means of escape.