...To Chase the Songs of Distant Stars (A Star Trek: To Boldly Go... Companion Quest)

Prologue: Chapter VI

Captain's Log, Stardate 24987.6, USS Stargazer, Captain Maryam Ajam
(EC Excelsior, Apiata Space)

With the completion of the fleetwide Baryon Sweeps, the Fleet is making our final preparations to depart Apinae and begin heading towards towards the Gabriel expanse, where we will make our passage as quickly as possible.

Our crews are onboard, we are running our final tests, and will be making our final goodbyes shortly.

Finally, the Indorian engineering ship Rigger will finally be rendezvousing with the Fleet at Delzarr, as Rigger has completed the last minute repair task that diverted them from their initially scheduled rendezvous time four days ago.

-

Raelin takes ahold of Ayishah's hand and taps the Amarki Navy style communications device affixed to his collar, "Raelin to Pride of Kadesh: Two to beam up"

Maryam Ajam watches her husband and child vanish in the swirling light of a transporter, then turns to her parents.

Maryam takes after her father, Benjamin, in build, as he's a mountain of a man, taller even than she is, and even well into his late sixties he's powerful and well muscled. At the moment he's looking up at the daystar that is Pride of Kadesh; where his son and law and daughter will be spending the next twenty years.

Her mother, Nadiyyah, is much smaller, almost tiny compared to her husband and daughter,

She licks her lips inhales deeply of the Apinae air, "So, I guess it's time for me to say 'goodbye' for now?"

"Yes." says her mother, seriously. Abruptly she reaches out an arm and lays her hand on her daughter's shoulder, "You know I love you daughter?"

"Yes, mom" says Maryam, feeling very small as she puts her hand on her mother's, "I know"

Her mother puts her other hand on Maryam's other shoulder, "I will always love you Maryam. You have chosen the perfect husband, and had the perfect daughter. You have made me proud, you make me proud every day. No matter what happens, I will always be proud of you."

Maryam sobs suddenly and her mother gently wipes her tears away with her hands before taking a step backwards, "Please, say goodbye to your father now, or he will be inconsolable all the way back to Luna."

Benjamin Ajam approaches his daughter, tears in his eyes as well, "Hey, starlight, I uh-"

Maryam hugs her father tightly, holding him tightly, as they both begin to sob.

Eventually Maryam pulls back, tears of her own running down her face, "I'll miss you dad."

Benjamin wipes the tears from his face, "Oh. I didn't want to do this, I don't want you to spend twenty years remembering me crying. I tried so hard to be smiling all week with Ayishah so that she remembers her grandfather always with a smile on his face."

Maryam gives a shuddering laugh through her tears, "You're not dying dad, we'll be back."

Benjamin laughs too, "Oh, I fully intend to see you on your return. But… A child should always remember time spent with her grandparents to be all smiles and laughter. I can't wait to see the beautiful woman that you and Rae raise up when you return."

He takes a step back as his wife wraps her arm up and around his shoulders, "I love you starlight."

"I love you too dad." Maryam smiles and wipes her face with the cuff of her uniform, "I love you both. See you again soon."

Captain Ajam pulls out her communicator and flips it open, "Captain Ajam to Stargazer: one to beam up"

-

Captain's Log, Stardate 24997.4, USS Stargazer, Captain Maryam Ajam
(EC Excelsior, Apiata Space)

The Fleet has arrived at Delzarr, and are awaiting the arrival of the Indorian engineering vessel Rigger.

Once the Indorians have arrived we will be departing for the nearby Gabriel Expanse on the final leg of our journey out into unexplored space.

-

Captain's Log, Stardate 24998.2, USS Stargazer, Captain Maryam Ajam
(EC Excelsior, Apiata Space)

Rigger has finally arrived, and after meeting with the Kadeshi aboard Pride of Kadeshi personally, the Indorian Engineering ship has formally joined up with the Fleet as we begin to move toward the Gabriel Expanse.

-

Captain's Log, Stardate 25131.1, USS Stargazer, Captain Maryam Ajam
(EC Excelsior, Gabriel Expanse)

Our passage of the Gabriel Expanse continues to be quiet and so far we've managed to avoid contact with the Cardassians and their allies.

Though there is also an indescribable emotion settling in on the crew as we are now well past all other friendlies.

From now on the only friends we'll have are the ones we make along the way!

Personal Log, Maryam Ajam
(Human, Female)

My regularly scheduled check up and prosthetics tests were today.

Doctor-

-
[ ] [CMO] Dr. T'Les

"-T'les has given me a clear bill of health. Though there's still something completely novel about a cheerful Vulcan.

Then again, Vulcans are all about "mastery of passion" and Dr T'les has decided to master her passions with persistent positivity instead of tight control.

She came highly recommended by Nash and Pritya, and I certainly can't fault her skill or her bedside manner.

S:3, P:3, I:1, C:1, E:1
[Positive Bedside Manner] Character recovery time from Injury is faster.

-

[ ] [CMO] Dr. Naad Hath-Set

"-Hath-Set says that I'm doing fine and that he has a number of new prosthetic augmentations that he thinks that I'd like. As usual, I've turned him down, my arms are just fine the way they are right now thank you very much.

He means well though.

For a Gaeni only recently transferred to Starfleet Dr Hath-Set is settling in well and is eager to see what exotic diseases and injuries are out there for him to treat.

S:4, P:1, I:1, C:1, E:2
[Experimental Techniques] Chance to reduce non Combat-Engine crew casualties.

-

[ ] [CMO] Dr. Rurrou Sh'har

"-Sh'har looked me over and pronounced me in fine condition. Then he gave me a candy and sent me on my way.

I'm happy that the crew is in the care of an old hand like Dr. Sh'har. His Caitian muzzle may be greying but his mind and his hands are as steady as ever.

I once asked him why he applied to such a long term posting and her told me that 'I was born to be a frontier doctor and I plan to die a frontier doctor.'

S:3, P:2, I:2, C:1, E:1
[I've seen something like this before] Reroll failed hard medical tests when present.

-

[ ] [CMO] Write In. Same rules as the last vote (see below) with 9 points, same as the above candidates.

-

Captain's Log, Stardate 25151.2, USS Stargazer, Captain Maryam Ajam
(EC Excelsior, Gabriel Expanse)

One last obstacle ahead before we reach clear air! We will pass near Lydantic Outpost on our way through, and as a result we are being challenged by the Dylaarians, and Karen Sarjan has asked us to negotiate passage. Truth be told, based on their assets in the area, I doubt very much they could stop us if we wanted to plough through, but who knows how strong they may be on the return voyage? I'd like to not leave enemies I don't have to.

-

TUTORIAL INTERRUPT:
This event was passed in TBG using regular event resolution rolls. However, as this is a safe environment I will be taking the opportunity to demonstrate the technique through which most non-shipborne events will be handled:

1. Receive Mission
2. Select Participants
3. Roll using applicable SPICE scores against the event difficulty
4. Results Happen

Depending on the scenario, multiple Characters can attend an event, and those characters that attend the event together will not only gain Experience, but they will interact more with the other characters that they are attending with.

In this way characters will over time gain additional SPICE points and Merits, but also bonuses from working with characters that they have a close relationship (professional or otherwise with).

Also during some turns there may be multiple events and locations all at once and you will have to dispatch them all at once.

In this case, the mission is:


So, once you understand the mission, you can choose Characters from the provided list below, as so:


Now, because I don't want the unintended consequences of people wanting different groupings of characters and ending up with a mixed up result due to vote on each Character, or the same character being dispatched to multiple places at once. Mission Votes will be by plan.

So for this turn, while success is automatic as per the original TBG… Captain's Log, I would like to carry out the vote so that people can get practice with the method, and start on getting the characters interacting.

So, in the future, most event votes will look like the following:

Missions:
[Lydantic Outpost]
The Dylaarians at Lydantic Outpost are challenging the Fleet's passage through the expanse, and while we can force our way past, it is much preferable to find a diplomatic solution.

This mission is likely to be purely Diplomatic in nature.

This mission is rated: EASY

Please assign up to two Characters to this task:
[ ] [Lydantic Outpost]

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Captain Maryam Ajam

Commander Tazam Losue

Lieutenant Commander Kathrine Marshall

Lt-Commander Luel Ulin

Lieutenant T'Vitt

Ambassador Sharen na'Threx

Knight-Captain Raelin

Hanna Valentine