To Boldly Go... (a Starfleet quest)

[Katsuragi]

Just a quick omake I had to throw together after getting a laugh out of some earlier discussion.

Spoiler: Starfleet Intelligence: Hiring Practices

To say that starfleet intelligence hadn't done a particularly good job in the crisis would be both underplaying it and being overly harsh depending on the viewpoint one used. The end result, however, was that professionally and publicly some degree of accounting needed to be held.

A slight frown crossed you face as you looked over the options available for replacement. You'd always had a certain degree of distaste for intelligence types, even as you had done a brief tour in the department to get a feel for it. You knew that it was an unfair assessment but it just seemed to attract a certain kind of person that sent shivers down your spine more often than other departments did.

The first two candidates were pretty much perfect as far as the position went. Long service histories dealing in intelligence matters. One was the more typical variety, having spent most of their carrier behind a desk. Keen mind for data analysis and knowing where to maneuver resources to get results. Stereotypical Vulkan, you mused to yourself.

The second candidate was more like watching one of those old spy videos from the 20th century. Once you had the clearance to get past all the redacted areas of the service record, at any rate. Enough action and undercover work to make ka'Sharren blush if you were being honest about the situation. Fitting that they shared a race, you supposed.

It was the final canidate that drew your eye more than the other two. She didn't have a history directly working for star fleet intelligence but that likely drew you more to the application given your gut distaste for SI types. By all accounts, she was a self made woman. An orphan that grew up on the streets of a human colony. Managed to put together a network of children to gather little pieces of information here and there to give herself an advantage in life. Spent a few decades of building up and visiting various races planets and doing the same thing. Seemed to be something of an moral type having foiled various shady situations with her network.

She vanished for near a decade before she was picked up on Earth for vagrancy, of all things. Local intelligence suspects she was in the process of setting up a network here on Earth and are still combing through Starfleet to make sure she didn't get her hooks in at all.

It's a bit unconventional, but you could get her a pardon and recruit her to lend her talents to Starfleet. Yes, you think this might be the best option.

.....................

"How's it look?"

"Hm? Oh, yeah. The male Andorian and Vulkan candidates are by far the best qualified candidates we've got to take over. Whoever gets picked."

There was a chuckle from the first. "And the third "canidate?"

The second laughed as well. "Oh, the boys in intelligence had a fun time coming up with that. Found a hobo chick we're working on getting sorted back into society. Made up a nonsensical background and credentials for her. The admiral should get a good laugh out of it given the criticism that's been tossed towards the department for previous hiring practices."

At that moment, a third officer rounded the corner, ashen face. "We've got to doctor some documents fast!"

"Hm?"

"Your fucking prank! Three guesses on how we're screwed, and the first two don't count."

The two original hallway goers exchanged looks. "You're kidding me, right?"

The ashen face man just glared. "Do I look like I'm kidding? We've got to make sure those documents are ironclad, get our new "Head of intelligence" up to speed, and pray to the great Voyager probe it never comes to light or being out of a job and SI being a laughingstock will be the least of our concerns."

 

[AKuz]

HONOURS I

​

Stardate 21469.7

"For his Bravery in action against the Inflictor at the fourth world of Veahrr-348 on Stardate 21469.7 Torvan i'Mneshai tr'Sekar is awarded the Sotarek Citation…"

Click to shrink...

Subliutenant tr'Sekar sits nervously at his post on the IRW Saharhae's bridge, his hands hovering over the conn, steeling himself for what awaits the Quarantine fleet in the Veahrr-348 system (Apparently known as "Kadesh" to its inhabitants).

"Reversion from Warp in 250 Ihnerha" The navigator speaks and Torvan straightens up in his seat. He resists the urge to bite his fingernails as he watches the counter on his panel rapidly spin down.

"Instructions from Admiral Khev," the Communications officer calls out from his station, "I expect all Rihannsu to do their duty to do their duty to the State, and to keep in mind the dishonour that we and our families would face if we fail in our duties before the Earth Federation and her subjects."

tr'Sekar also thinks that he can hear Commander Ch'lhev scoff from her position on the commander's deck.

"120 ihnerha until arrival Commander."

"Thank you Lieutenant." The Commander clears her throat, "I expect every member of my crew to do their duty. Defend our families, defend our honour, defend the Galaxy." tr'Sekar gives an affirmative along with the rest of the bridge crew; his Commander doesn't say much, unlike their illustrious Admiral. She's a doer not a talker.

"50 ihnerha until arrival."

The helmsman concentrates on his console and the viewscreen, preparing to respond instantly to any traps laid by the Inflictor... or perhaps even treachery from the Starfleet ships with them.

The helmsman takes over the count from this point forwards all maneuver information should come from him, "10 ihnerha… 8… 6… 4… 2.." tr'Seker braces for anything, "Arrival. Arrival. We are at sublight."

The lights on the viewscreen snap into stillness and her can see the rest of the Romulan formation dropping into place around Saharhae, and in the distance the flashes as the Earth Federation ships revert to sublight as well

"Commander Ch'lhev to formation, proceed at one half impulse."

tr'Sekar gently taps his panel, "Aye ma'am, proceeding at one half impulse."

"No Inflictor vessels detected." The tactical officer sounds almost as relieved as he feels.

The Commander sounds almost angry though as she instructs the Centurion to stay vigilant.

"Commander, Commodore T'Faer reports that her task force has destroyed the watch post." tr'Sekar purses his lips, he's not certain how happy he is knowing that most of the fleet is taking orders from a Vulcan. He'd much rather take orders from a Romulan or failing that someone from a people that understood warfare, like the Humans or Andorians.

"Admiral Khev is instructing our formation to proceed to Rally point Mosfaest and-"

The Tactical officer interrupts excitedly, "INBOUND SIGNATURES! HUNDREDS OF THEM!"

"DISCIPLINE YOURSELF, CENTURION," calls out the Commander from her walkway, "ORDER THE FORMATION INTO DEFENSIVE POSITIONS"

"Aye ma'am," Torvan complies, nudging his engines to slid the Warbird into place.

The Tactical officer has calmed down her voice level again. "Suicide craft entering our sector"

"Good. Goood. Our first kills of the day. To the honour of our families!" the helmsman can almost hear the predatory tone in his commander's voice.

It is only training and Romulan discipline that keeps tr'Sekar's hands steady when the first wave arrives… dozens upon dozens of the small craft in their sector.

"Fire!" orders the Commander

There is a perceptible pause and the tactical officer calls out in near-panic, "COMMANDER! THE… the Inflictor craft are between us and the Riala group. We are out of range"

Someone curses.

"Helm, bring us close," the Ch'lhev orders and his hands obey before his brain catches up, "We cannot allow the Inflictor vessels time to group up."

The screens shorts dozens of streaks and the flickering lines of phaser fire as Riala's task force begins to engage the Inflictor craft.

Torvan braces himself as he feels the subtle shuddering of his vessel opening fire, and he can the fireballs of Saharhae's targets exploding into purifying flame.

He's almost starting to feel relieved when the disaster starts.

"TWO OF THE STARFLEET M-TYPES HAVE BEEN DESTROYED," calls out the comm officer.

The there is another shuddering and another quartet of Inflictor ships are annihilated, but they are still not dying fast enough, "Rilairhan disabled!"

Torvan pulls his Warbird around as the last two shuttles dive after it, before spinning her on her axis, allowing Centurion t'Lehr a chance to destroy them as well.

tr'Sekar lets out a breath, the attacks is over.

"Loses are heavier than expected. Still…." Commander Ch'lhev looks over at her tactical officer, "Be alert for additional waves. The Inflictor-" her warning, while timely and accurate, is ultimately unnecessary.

"Second wave inbound… right on top of us!" Calls out t'Lehr

The Commander calls out for evasive maneuvering but Torvan has already begun to spiral away from the signatures, diving "down" the plane of the system.

Dozens of small ships loaded with the Inflictor have arrived, almost two dozen shuttles drop out of warp and streaking towards Saharhae alone. t'Lehr manages to catch some of them, the rest of the Romulan formation catching some others.

It isn't enough, and eight of the shuttles are within ramming range of Saharhae; tr'Sekar twists the Warbird on her axis and two of the pursuing smallcraft eliminate each other from the deadly race and another two race past, where the green lances of the Romulan ship's weapons destroy them as well.

It is still not enough, and the helmsman pulls "up" again, ignoring the cacophony in the background as one after another the remaining four ships accelerate themselves across Saharae's course, diving towards the Romulan ships as her helmsman twists into a loop, letting the shuttles catch themselves at a shallow angle, smearing them across the shields

Thanks to tr'Sekar however they are merely smeared across the shields, not direct hits, his maneuver causing the hits to merely be glancing. He breathes heavily as the world around him, sound especially starting to return.

They are not happy sounds of victory, but the near panic of loss, "-disabled, formation scattered!"

"SHIELDS GONE MA'AM! SECTION FIFTY THREE CAPACITORS BURNT OUT!"

"KUMARI REPORTS HEAVY LOSSES!"

"Captain Ka'Sharren is taking command of the fleet" Captain Ka'Sharren? She may be Enterprise's Captain, but didn't they start the battle with three or four Admirals?

The lights suddenly dim to emergency power, "Losing power to deck four, compartments thirty to thirty-six open to space" he hears from behind him. That's not good.

"Order-" he begins to call out to Commander Ch'lhev, when another hundred stars sparkles across the stars in front of his ship. He says something very undisciplined as he accelerates and pulls Saharhae around, trying to bring her into the umbrella of the Formation.

The ships shakes as something slams into the hull, nearly throwing him from his chair. He focuses on his duty, even as the emergency lights flicker and go out, and something explodes across the back of the bridge as something in her hull gives out.

He hears screaming that slowly quiets to moans and he feels something hot prick into his neck and then more work their way down his right side, but he has no time for it; his hands are busy rolling the Warbird away from another diving shuttle.

Torvan hopes someone is alive to purge the Inflicted spaces, he doubts that anyone on the bridge can do it, the moans are dying out and smoke is beginning to obscure his vision.

He swears as something else rocks the ship, the Saharae is barely holding together now unable to shoot, only flee, a fifth wave winks into space around her.

He coughs something wet and green onto his console, his hands dabbing through his own blood as he continues to keep Saharhae one step ahead of half a dozen smallcraft.

His concentration wavers as he launches into another coughing fit, he has no time to go for the emergency breather mask under his console, and a shuttle dives through an arc that narrowly misses a nacelle.

Saharhae almost makes it out of the battle nominally under her own power when one of the last shuttles nicks the Warbird sending her into a spin and her helmsman out of his seat where he stares up into the growing cloud of acrid smoke.

The seconds tick by as he slowly comes to accept his death, by smoke inhalation, poisoning, or blood loss. Whatever kills him, he knows that he's done his duty, none can deny that. He feels his body tingle, light surrounding him.

He distantly if he is being transported, but the lights of those are green, not blue. He relaxes as the Elements take him into their embrace.

"...for with great skill and little regard for his own well being preserving a prohibitively damaged IRW Saharhae until her crew could be recovered by the USS T'Mir"

Click to shrink...

---------------------

"Spacer Second Class Thesh Sholn, is awarded the Starfleet Medal of Honour for her actions on Stardate 21469.7 during the first phase of the Battle of Kadesh…"

Click to shrink...

The Excelsior class starship Kumari rocks under the attacks of the Biophage, and so does the Enlisted Andorian Thesh Sholn as well; stumbling across the deck, her hands gripped around a replacement section of EPS conduit.

"GET THAT OVER HERE!" Chief Bortz calls out, from where he and two other members of their damage control team have pried a section of wall apart, and pulled a damaged section of EPS conduit out.

"Coming, Chief!" she says, pushing herself off the far wall of the corridor with her shoulder and letting the weight of the replacement part carry her across to her destination.

The Tellarite Chief impatiently rips the part from her grasp, and she allows herself to enjoy the feeling of not having the heavy part.

As the team works another shudder works its way through the ship and Bortz suddenly stops and swears in three different languages, "Feel that?" he says after a Klingon curse, looking around, "That's the shields, fuck! GET THAT CONDUIT INTO PLACE!" he turns back to the young Andorian woman, "Shole get me a-"

The Tellarite NCO is interrupted by one of the other engineers. "The Diagnostic is failing. The remote control lines aren't lining up! There's a fault in the embedded line."

"I can get one!" volunteers Sholn brightly, she'd rather run and grab a section of cabling than have to manhandle the EPS parts some more.

She takes off when the Tellarite nods, sprinting down the corridor of the Kumari towards one one of the auxiliary control sections, there should be some spare control cabling there.

The ship shudders once more and she skids into the doorway as it slowly opens, and the lights flicker. Another shuttle has gotten through.

She slides through, and exhales in surprise when she finds the bodies. Inhaling she begins to cough, something is in the air. She scrambles for an emergency rebreather and slides it shakily over her head, tucking it around her antennae. It might have been just over six months since she'd finished her training, but the drills keep that skill current.

She reaches under the arms of a Human Ensign and drags him out of the auxiliary control station, and for good measure another seven meters past the section bulkhead just in case.

She goes back in twice more as the ship shudders from more hits.

She notices the flashing error alert as she's trying to place the Vulcan spacer who is her last charge over her shoulder. Someone on the bridge is trying to flush the EPS conduits, but… she swears. "The control lines," she mutters, "I've forgotten the control lines"

The team in here should be able to flush the section… but they've been unconscious for who knows how long. Another alarm goes off, somewhere in this section the Biophage has been detected...

Shuffling the heavy burden of the Vulcan, Thesh's hands play across the panel, setting it for thirty seconds, that should be enough time for her to get around the corner.

She runs faster than she has in her life and all but throws the Vulcan to the floor, before turning to seal the section in relief.

The bulkhead does not seal, she takes the situation in in an instant, time seeming to slow. The paneling on this side of the section has been wrecked by an energy surge of some sort that's blown all the panelling on this side out, smoke lazily rising from the cracked walls…

There is still an accessible override… On the other side.

The young woman doesn't hesitate, she dashes back through and pulls the panel off, slamming her hand down on the emergency control; the bulkhead sealing itself into place with a whoosh of finality.

She slumps against the bulkhead, the totality and finality of her decision sinking in.

She's only just begun to sob when the plasma flooding the deck incinerates her whole.

"...where she not only personally saved the lives of Ensign Colbert, Chief T'mek, and Spacers Geral and Shett, but sacrificed herself to preserve the rest of the officers and crew of the USS Kumari"

Click to shrink...

 

[OneirosTheWriter]

Captain's Log, USS Enterprise, Stardate 21582.6 - Captain Nash ka'Sharren

Hello, uncharted space, my old friend.

We return to the duties that Starfleet was born for, exploration and the quest for knowledge. Of course, even this carries the shadow of the Biophage behind it, as we focus on patrolling areas near the neutral zone, looking for signs of the plague's return. It will not be an easy task, with Courageous and Sarek both mending their scars, but Rear Admiral Chen has assured me that there will be help exploring these dangerous systems.

-

Captain's Log, USS Yukikaze, Stardate 21587.3 - Captain Jessica Rivers


We have received a message from Rear Admiral Chen at Starfleet Headquarters. For the next few months, until the Explorer Corps Excelsiors can return from repair, the Yukikaze is to take on exploratory duties in and around the Neutral Zone. I am, needless to say, very apprehensive at taking on such high-risk missions. For one thing, Explorer Corps missions tend to be that extra cut above in terms of risk and tension. For another, my crew has just spent several months on the front line of the Biophage crisis. Our sister ship was destroyed, we engaged in repeated battles amid the constant threat of, well, the Miracht's fate.

I of course have the utmost faith in my crew, but we are in desperate need of relief.

-

Captain's Log, USS Enterprise, Stardate 21591.5 - Captain Nash ka'Sharren

While en route to a location in the neutral zone where the scanners of the Runabout scouts detected unusual biological life signs, I received a communication from Captain Rivers of the Yukikaze, a Centaur-class ship that is helping us patrol the Neutral Zone. I gave her all the pointers I could about Explorer Corps work. The first rule, of course, being that if you take care of your ship, she'll take care of you.

-

Captain's Log, USS Polaris, Stardate 21592.1

Scientific sensors at an outpost in the Landry system have detected through subspace a large gamma ray burst several light years away, four light years above it on the galactic plane. It means that in a few years they'll all need to get under deflector shields, but of more import is that Tellar Sector Command wants someone to investigate. We are headed for that area of space now, and will attempt to locate the source of this burst.

-

Captain's Log, USS Yukikaze, Stardate 21593.2

I worry that stress has gotten to my crew. Sickbay reports that a half-dozen have reported in, experiencing hyper-realistic hallucinations of past events. Although our mission is progressing well, and we believe we have located a seam of useful materials, I am quickly growing less concerned about the mission and more about the mental health of my crew.

-

Captain's Log, USS Enterprise, Stardate 21593.6

I almost need two hands to count the number of rules that I laid out to Captain Rivers that I have just broke myself. And Petty Officer Bzorc, who was soon to transfer back home to Tellar, paid the price.

Was I rusty? Was I arrogant returning to my exploration after facing the Biophage? My crew are squarely behind me, but I find it hard to give myself a pass for this.

We beamed down an away team after sensors localised the source of the lifesigns within a series of caverns. After moving through several tunnels, we entered an area of EM turbulence that inhibited transporters and sensors. With anyone but Lieutenant-Commander Zaardmani upstairs, I think we would have all ended up dead. As it was, we discovered the nature of the lifeforms that caused such anomalous sensor readings from the runabouts. They are a form of parasite, winged insectoid creatures the size of a large dog. We tried to shoot our way out, but the phasers work poorly against the carapaces of these creatures. Thankfully, Lieutenant zh'Harasaan was able to generate a resonance in the crystalline structure of the cave walls that drove back the parasites for a time. It also caused the creature attempting to feast on Petty Officer Bzorc to flee. We were able to then jury rig a transport pattern enhancer to effect an emergency beam-up.

-

Captain's Log, USS Yukikaze, Stardate 21593.7

While mapping out the full extent of the resource seam on the planet Benaud III, more and more of the crew are succumbing to waking hallucinations of past events. Those who suffer it are describing it as extremely lucid memories. Moments of particular stress seem to be strongest among them, and we are having the most trouble with members of the crew reenacting past away missions.

This was most seriously a concern in the case of Crewman Jenkins, who relieved a particular mission where he was required to divest all clothing to get through a room of synthetics sensitive insects! Suffice to say, a few crew members experienced a crash course in human anatomy.

-

Captain's Log, USS Polaris, Stardate 21593.9

I have taken us into a broad orbit around a black hole that is starting to devour a red dwarf star. This is leading to the gamma ray bursts as the material of the star orbits the singularity. Our gravitational scans have missed the presence of this black hole, which is leading to much consternation of Stellar Cartography. However, while the incident has caused some blushes, it has also proved very helpful in further developing our understanding of the universe.

[Gain +5 rp]

-

Captain's Log, USS Enterprise, Stardate 21594.3

Petty Officer Bzorc's condition is not improving.

Medical Officer Asurva says that the bio-electricity the Tellarite body runs on is being 'siphoned' off, somehow and sent down to the planet. I proposed taking us out of orbit to break the connection, but I am told the shock of severing this connection through distance would kill him.

There is only one option; I must return to the planet.

-

Captain's Log, USS Yukikaze, Stardate 21594.6

We have finally isolated the cause of the hallucinations! It appears that we have been suffering a rare, difficult to detect strain of a something the Kadeshi called the White Fever, which induced hallucinations in all but our Vulcan crew members. With this diagnosed and treated, we are finally able to resume our mapping.

[Gain +50 br]

-

Captain's Log, USS Enterprise, Stardate 21594.9

I have returned after a harrowing journey, but a successful one. Mr Zaardmani was able to cut through the interference and locate a great chamber beneath the ground that seemed to be a sort of nesting ground. A natural formation of rock and the heavy minerals that run through the water table here. My away team made our way there and discovered that these have formed a dilithium 'matrix' of sorts encrusting the chamber. The parasites here have evolved to harness the subspace disturbance caused by this chamber to draw from prey even remotely. Doctor Asurva, who went on this mission, was able to analyse the reaction of parasite and dilithium chamber up close and discover how to safely break the connection to Petty Officer Bzorc.

[Gain +10 rp, +20 sr, Athos V may be set up as a colony, gaining 5rp per year]

Computer, End Log

(Edit A/N: people new to the quest who joined during the emergency, welcome to the normal heartbeat of the quest! Captain's Log posts!)

 

[AKuz]

The Crowning Exultation of Admiral Aelin



Stardate 21469.7

"Admiral Aelin of the Confederacy of Amarkia is hereby Posthumously awarded the Christopher Pike Medal of Valour for his actions on Stardate 21469.7, during the Battle of Kadesh…"

Click to shrink...

First Battle of Kadesh:

By the time the second wave of Biophage smallcraft arrive Admiral Aelin of the Confederacy of Amarkia Navy has come to the realisation that he is going to die.

He'd always thought that the warrior's Crowning Exultation was a myth; a legend limited to stories and fairytales. He'd heard the stories of the moment when an Amarki warrior-knight knows that he or she is going to die, there is a focus that descends upon the Knight as they resolve to themselves, deep in their hearts, to die as gloriously as possible. To sell their lives dearly for their people and their cause.

He'd considered it a fable. But now he was living it.

He beams down confidently at a wavering junior officer, "Never fear, Ms. Aylo, chin up! We didn't come all this way to give up at the first sign of trouble!"

The young officer slowly smiled back, feeling her courage strengthen off of his confidence.

He stalks back across the bridge, briefly catching himself on a railing behind his flag captain as Riala dives away from an infected ship. "That goes for all of you! Never in all our history has the Galaxy needed the courage of Amarki Knights than in this battle!"

He smiles to himself, it was a galaxy that was a lot larger than it was even four years ago.

Stardate 20617.8

The screen winks off and the image of the alien bridge vanishes taking the image of the White-haired blue Captain with it.

Aelin snorts and turns to his flag captain, "Well Captain, I guess the old Rings of Karakia trick doesn't work anymore."

The woman puffs up in annoyance, a single lock of hair loosened from a usually tight bun waving in her face, "Those aliens cheated! Distracted us!"

Aelin laughs and waves his hands dismissively, "Captain Illandra, they won with fair Knight's cunning. If we were thirty years younger I'd challenge them to a rematch as soon as we got back to Amarkia. But I know when I've been beaten, I've been getting complacent in my old age."

He laughs again, looking around at the Riala's officers and crew, most of whom were a third to a quarter of his years, "You know Captain? I was considering retiring? And I've made up my mind now."

The Captain that he's served with for decades starts in surprise, eyes wide, "Sir! You are as capable as you've ever been! Ever since we were squires together for Admiral Rael you were the best! You can't leave… us, the ship needs you!"

"Oh don't worry, I'm not leaving you right away, I'm going to stick around for another few years yet!" he sighs, "I'm just planning to get out of the way of the future, it's coming fast and the wise must know when to get out of the way."

The Captain's nostrils flare, "Admiral, I must protest, you are the best man that I have had the pleasure to serve with, do not sell yourself short."

The Admiral snorts again, "Thank you for the vote of confidence, Captain, but I know which way the wind is blowing. I can feel it." He points at the screen, at the gangly sleek collection of shapes that is the Federation ship. "The future is out there, with them."

"Well I guess if it's going to be that way, I'll leave with you, sir. You need me to watch your back."

NOW:

The lights flicker as Admiral Aelin slowly lowers Captain Illandra onto the deck, "You can rest now, Captain, our ship is in good hands," he nods towards the young Amarki crew operating the consoles, "The future has no place for old warhogs like us anyway"

The grey-haired Amarki woman nods slowly as the life in her eyes slowly fades, trying to raise her head, "...Aleshe...I've always…"

"Shhhh" says the grey-haired Admiral, putting out a hand to steady her as the ship's gravity shifted slightly, "I know Laie..." he smiles sadly, wiping a rivulet of teal blood off of her forehead, gently shifting frayed locks of hair as well.

The last breath escapes the Captain's mouth as it slowly forms the ghost of a smile, and she closes her eyes for the last time.

He straightens up, he can still feels his Exultation, the calmness settling onto his shoulders, he knows what he needs to do as he listens in on the chatter of his officers, "Bring us into the gap, Squire Aylo."

"Yes sir!" the young officer says, she obeys but her tone is confused.

He settles into the centre of the bridge standing with his hands clasped behind his back, "Knights of Amarkia! The enemy is scattering the fleet. We need heroes to close the gap and buy time for Captain Ka'Sharren to reorganize the fleet." he shifts his stance slightly to adjust for the shifting of the deck under his feet. "Bring us toward the Romulan formation."

He hopes he can buy enough time for the Andorian woman, if anyone can save the day it is her.

Stardate 20762.3

Aelin nibbles on the Federation sweet vegetables as he talks to the Starfleet Captain and Federation diplomats. The Amarki man considers that he really should have made Captain Illandra come with him, she has always had a sweet tooth.

"So, Admiral, how are you enjoying your visit to Enterprise?" the Andorian's uniform has gleaming metal awards and golden ribbon on it, highlighted against the crimson and black, it is an interesting choice of fashion, very unlike the elaborate Amarki dress uniforms; even the regular uniform is busier.

He considers gushing about the powerful vessel, about the smart and disciplined officers and crew, but it's beneath his dignity to gush, he decides on small talk instead, "I'm enjoying her buffet spread almost as much as I enjoyed her chasing me through the rings of Karakia"

Aelin enjoys watching the polished smiles of the diplomats flicker wondering if Captain Ka'Sharren had found some way to anger an important alien dignitary, "Which is to say, I am enjoying myself a great deal, I can't remember if I told you how much fun it was fighting Enterprise, I've never gotten such a good fight." He chuckles at the diplomat's attempt to hide his relief.

"It might not have looked like it at the time, but, well, I don't like losing, especially in front of my best friend's daughter." Ahhh Leaniss…. the youngest of Kornae's daughters, she was a nice girl if a bit impulsive at times, as the Captain would find out in her own time.

"Speaking of Senator Leaniss, I had expected her here tonight, I remember seeing her name on the guest list." says the Starfleet Captain, perking up at the mention of the junior Senator, as the other Andorian chips in something else.

Aelin smiles smugly, Leaniss has already told him her plans, he's always been "Uncle Aelin" to her, ever since she was a small child. "Ah, well, I'll let that stay her surprise."

The smile doesn't leave as he exchanges some more pleasantries waiting for the girl he sees almost as a daughter to arrive. If there was anyone deserving of Leaniss' affections it was the talented and charming Captain Ka'Sharren.

NOW:

"Enterprise reports that her task force is coming to our relief."

Aelin smiles slightly, "Thank you Squire." He knows that Enterprise will never get to Riala in time, the waves of deadly Biophage vessels were too strong, his ship had already destroyed dozens and dozens of them and yet more came.

"Keep up your courage fellow Knights!!" he exults, laying a hand on the shoulder of a wavering officer, "Our Courage is key to victory." His voice softens, "Our friends need us"

He leans forward, inspecting the tactical display as the lights dim to emergency power with a shudder, "Excellent shooting Knight Jaelee! Even Enterprise finds herself in your shadow."

The grey-haired Amarki returns to his spot in the middle of the bridge, standing tall and confident, hands clasped behind his back. Some few of Riala's officers and crew would live, their bravery having given time for the fleet to reform, having fought harder than any other ship in the fleet.

Aelin still feels it, feels his death coming. The calmness and focus of his Crowning Exultation are at the heart of Riala's successes, his crew holding onto his confidence like a life raft to keep themselves afloat in a sea of fear, and following his nearly prescient orders to stay ahead of the Biophage's attackers.

He calls out more orders, if he is to die here, he dies happy, there is no higher calling, no greater glory, than defending friend and family.

Stardate 21467.5

"All decks reporting ready Captain," The grey-haired woman nods at her Squire and turns to her long time comrade.

"Admiral, all decks report ready for departure," she says with a heel click and salute.

Aelin smiles at her formality, hands clasped behind his back, "Of course, Captain, take us out" he says, returning the salute.

"Set course for the Federation fleet, warp 8." She leans in as her subordinates call out the regular and comforting chatter of a ship underway. "So, Admiral, I thought we'd decided to retire?"

"Well." he chuckles, "I figure that this old warhog has one last fight in him, one last gift to the future."

"Be that as it may, sir, should we really be fighting these people's wars?" The Captain's mouth is set in a dismissive frown.

"Remind me to show you the data later. It is every bit as scary as they say." He gestures to the officers on the bridge. "Anyway, how else are we supposed to show off the best ship in the fleet? I know that I'm eager to show the galaxy what we are capable of"

"Well sir, I hope that they appreciate it. And you, sir."

NOW

The blue swirl fades and Lieutenant Leaniss spins around, looking for the man she considers her Uncle, the medics that had come aboard Riala with her dispersing to assist the injured bridge crew. Captain Ka'Sharren stands next to her, face unreadable as she scans the shattered bodies of Amarki knights that she'd failed to save.

Leaniss jumps when someone grabs her shoulder, and spins around. It's a junior officer, a Squire with an arm hanging limply at her side and teal blood matted into her once smartly tailored and fashionable uniform. "Senator… follow me."

The young woman leads them to a room adjoining the bridge, a small conference room. There are two bodies set atop the table. The first is Captain Illandra; Aelin's longtime companion. She is laid out with care, someone has even taken the time to wipe clean her face and straighten out her uniform to regulation standards… and next to her, laid out with the same level of care is her Admiral, a bundled up uniform set under his head. He isn't breathing.

"H-how long?" asks Leaniss, stumbling at the sight, Ka'Sharren catching her with a strong arm.

"He barely outlived the fifth wave ma'am. He brought us through intact." The junior officer swallows heavily and blinks back tears. "He kept us all alive ma'am."

Leaniss should have come over immediately, she shouldn't have met with the Kadeshi, she should have been next to Uncle Aelin when he passed on.

Still leaning on her Andorian ex-wife for emotional support she approaches the makeshift bier.

She takes a deep breath and straightens up, arm only loosely touching Nash now.

No, she tells herself. He would have told her to do her duty, that he would keep. There are tears in Lieutenant Leaniss' eyes. "He would have wanted to go out this way," she says, swallowing heavily. "Fighting for what is right, in defense of friends and family." The Amarki officer takes a shaky breath, "I will lay the first stone on his death monument myself."

"I will be there with you, Larai," the Starfleet Captain says softly before she moves to a parade ground stance; saluting the fallen Admiral with her free right hand. "I want your people to know how much we appreciate you sacrifices… how much we appreciate his service."

"... his courage and inspiring example helping to hold together the combined fleet long enough for it to reform itself"

Click to shrink...

 

[OneirosTheWriter]

Spoiler: Winning Vote

[X] Plan Industry, Recruitment and Diplomacy
-Shipyard Expansions:
--Request new Shipyard in orbit around Andor, 30pp (10 turns, gain new shipyard starting with one 2.5m t berth)
--Request Excelsior berth at 40 Eridiani, 30pp (6 turns, gain new 3m t berth)
--Request funding to start Utopia Planitia Shipyards, 135pp (16 turns, gain new shipyard starting with 2 3m t berths, 2 1m t berths, immediate activation of a Light Cruiser research team)
-(total 195 * 0.9 = 175.5 pp)
-Request Ongoing Budget increase 25pp (Roll for success)
-Request Academy Expansion, 20pp (Gain +.5 Officers/Enlisted/Techs throughput)
-Request new Tech Team to be added to your Ship Design Bureau, 30pp [doctrine]
-Request focused Diplomacy on Orions, 10pp
-Request focused Diplomacy on Amarki, 10pp
-Request focused Diplomacy on Betazoids, 10pp

The scale of the industrial build-up is unprecedented. In fact, most of your analysts say that this is most likely the greatest build-up of shipbuilding capacity in the history of any of the known powers. It is something that only the Federation, and, you reflect with a moment of pride, humanity could fuel, with the eschewing of personal wealth in exchange for the betterment of society. With two new shipyards and a total of six new berths, in the year 2304, Starfleet has been handed the key to a new era of peaceful expansion.

The Martian lobby has finally seen their day, as an appropriations act was tabled to the Council to help direct the resources needed to develop the Utopia Planitia Shipyards. It will take four years of work, but it will go ahead now. You met with the Mars natives who has been chairing the campaign, and both had tears in their eyes as they watched the bill go through. You for one are thrilled to see the yards go up, as you know they will be the most easily expandable yards; near to the earth's mighty industrial capacity, the Martian mineral assets, and the relatively clean orbits of Mars. There will come a day when Utopia Planitia will be known far and wide as the greatest hub of industry and engineering in the galaxy. You also met with the head of the new Utopia Planitia Design Group, who is eager and enthusiastic to get to work.

Further budgetary increases passed as well, as did the expansion of the Starfleet Academy. Approval to add a new team to the Ship Design Bureau's roster also elicited very little pushback.

====

Final Budget Increase:
+100 Bulk Resources per year
+60 Special Resources per year

New Research Teams:
Utopia Planitia Design Group (Light Cruisers)
Lt Kuznetsova's Tiger Team (Doctrine)

Diplomacy:
Orion - 95/100 + 7 = 102/500
Orion will become an Affiliate of the United Federation of Planets

Amarkia - 255/500 + 27 = 282/500

Betazoids - 266/500 + 12 = 278/500

====

Pick a ship that you feel performed especially well during the Crisis - Top 2 vote-getters will receive a crew rating boost - non-explorer only
[ ][HONOURS] Nominate a Ship

How to proceed with the Romulans?
[ ][RIHANNSU] Proceed cautiously, they are still are most dangerous adversary.
[ ][RIHANNSU] Let's put out feelers, and see if a lasting peace is possible.
[ ][RIHANNSU] Dare all, and attempt to befriend the Romulans.

After returning from Paris, you made your way across San Francisco to attend the retirement bash of Yamada Keiko. You speak to her at length, hearing her plans to retire to an isolated old manor in the north of Japan and write memoirs of her time in Starfleet and the Academy. You promise her that you will read them when she publishes them, as long as she doesn't mention that Rigel VIII incident... You also take the time to pick her brain about the matter of her successor to the post of Academy Commandant.

Yamada Keiko's Replacement
[ ][KEIKO] Commodore Tyvath th'Shryrrerh
Andorian Male, 54
Current Posting: Academic Dean, Starfleet Academy
Tyvath has held the post of Starfleet Academy's Academic Dean for a number of years. A proud former Science Officer on a Constitution-class ship, he trains scientists with tremendous rigour. Gain one re-roll of a science test across the fleet (takes 2 years to recharge).
[ ][KEIKO] Commodore Certunn Guk
Tellarite Male, 52
Current Posting: Director of Astrosciences School, Starfleet Academy
Certunn has led his school for four years, and is a loud, outspoken advocate for the importance of technical training. Gain +.5 Starfleet Tech, +.25 Explorer Corps Tech throughput.
[ ][KEIKO] Commodore Volin
Vulcan Male, 84
Current Posting: Director of Diplomatic School, Starfleet Academy
Was once T'Lorel's former Captain, and an inspiration for her approach to diplomacy. Gain one re-roll of a presence test across the fleet (takes 2 years to recharge).

To complete your busy schedule, you also visit Vice Admiral Heidi Eriksson in Operations. The disposition of the fleet needs to be updated to match the needs of the post-crisis Federation. As always, defensive priority number one is the key Federation instruments located in the Sol System, followed by Vulcan, then Andor and Tellar. The Romulan Border Zone is the new serious contender, though. Eriksson strongly recommends that you position at least one of the new Oberths there permanently, where their sensors can help track for signs of Biophage outbreaks.

Redeploy the Fleet
[ ][FLEET] Write in plan to Redistribute the Fleet

===

New Garrison Requirements:
Sol 15
Vulcan 12
Andor 9
Tellar 9

KBZ 6
RBZ 12

Please note that these will rise by 2311, requiring additional ships prepared by then.

 

[pheonix89]

And my first omake, ever. Specifically, the Captain of the T'Mir wondering why she's alive with an untouched ship when so many more powerful ships were devastated.

Yes, I know that targetting is RNG-based OOC.

Captain's Log, USS T'Mir, 21471.6 - Captain Samyr Kanil
Logic dictates that I should not be making this log. Logic dictates that an Oberth-class science vessel should not survive a battlefield full of cruisers. Logic dictates that a science vessel should not survive when the veterans of the Romulan Quarantine Fleet were devastated.

And yet, I am making this log. The T'Mir made it through the battles around Kadesh without taking a single strike to the hull. The T'Mir was not targeted at all by the suicide shuttle ambush. The Biophage did not follow up with an infection beam when the shields fell over Koba. And we were only barely targeted over Kadesh itself.

Did the Biophage not recognize the tactical uses of my ship's sensor suite, and so not consider us a threat? That would explain why we were not targetted over Kadesh - to a foe who doesn't understand the value of advanced sensors, an Oberth presents no more threat than a Klingon Bird of Prey, but is harder to defeat, and hence is not a logical target while combat-oriented ships remain on the field.

However, it does not explain the events at Koba, or the ambush. The Biophage has never before failed to even attempt to exploit a loss of shields, and yet at Koba, the T'Mir lost shields early in the battle, and was never again fired on by the enemy. My ship could not have remained combat-effective after a solid strike to the hull, but the enemy failed to follow up. Why? I do not believe that Lieutenant Solln's tweaks to T'Mir's ECM systems and Lieutenant Dolos's evasive maneuvers could have been so effective that the Biophage would give up on targeting our ship when our shields were down. And yet it remains an undeniable fact that the Biophage did not follow up properly on that opening.

To look further back, our task group was never even targeted in the ambush, though it was perhaps the weakest group. This I can explain, but only in hindsight, and only by questioning the competence of a very dangerous foe. In retrospect, it appears that the Biophage did not seem to have an actual plan in it's targeting of the shuttle strikes. It switched between fairly effective strikes on the Riala's task group and the Romulan Quarantine Fleet, and completely futile strikes against the Courageous and Enterprise task groups. If the forces sent at the Enterprise or Courageous group had been sent at Challorn's group instead, I would almost certainly not be writing this log, and the Biophage might have won at Koba or Kadesh.

If this was the only knowledge I had of the Biophage's tactical abilities, I would suggest that the T'Mir survived the ambush because the Biophage lacked the ability to logically analyze the situation, and so made distinctly illogical use of its available assets. But I know of the subterfuge it employed to conceal the Dunwich IV infection, and of the tactical skill it demonstrated in the clashes over Solitude and other colonies. The Biophage pursues a monstrous and illogical goal, but it has been intelligent in that pursuit.

I must conclude that perhaps there is not a logical explanation for these events. The T'Mir may have simply been lucky. Whether my crew created that luck with electronic warfare and evasive flight, or whether it was simple chance beyond our control, the T'Mir's survival does not appear to have a purely logical cause.

 

[OneirosTheWriter]

Starfleet Commander's Log, Stardate 21582.5

It is a much more relaxed atmosphere around the Ship Design Bureau as everyone shuffles in for the annual directions meeting. Rear Admiral Sanik even leads off with one of those extremely dry remarks Vulcans swear blind aren't jokes yet don't fool anyone: "Regrettably, it seems that this year we will not be investigating any truly fascinating flesh-shaping viruses. We will have to reconcile ourselves to the study of dilithium instead."

You aren't fooling anyone, Sanik.

Two new faces join the table: the chief of the Utopia Planitia Design Group, a bright-faced, high-flying Captain, and Lieutenant-Commander Kuznetsova of Starfleet Tactical's new doctrines team. Her work during the Biophage crisis was described as literally tireless, providing tremendous results and an early promotion and career boost to herself.

Computer, End Log



==========================================================

Current RP Pool = 160pt

9pts are required to activate a Tech Team
160 / 9 = 17 rem 7

17 Tech Teams may be activated. Unusued rp will carry forward to next year

The following Tech Team assignments are carrying over:
- Daystrom Institute - Computing
- Spock - Xenoanalysis
- Vulcan Science Academy - Sensors
- Starfleet Science Academy - Communications
- Starfleet Tactical Command - Foreign Analysis (Romulan Research)
- Andorian Academy - Shields
- Yoyodyne Propulsion Systems - Warp Technology


[ ] Submit a Research Plan, using up to seventeen Tech Teams

For list of tech areas and teams, please see: The State of Play - Research Megapost

A/N: By the way, if anyone has a better logo for the doctrine team, all submissions are welcome.

 

[AKuz]

Lieutenant Commander Kuznetsova settles in

​

Starfleet Command, Stardate 21582.6

Newly Promoted Lieutenant Commander Alexandria Kuznetsova hops excitedly from foot to foot behind the Starfleet Command internal security checkpoint, waving excitedly at her guest.

Lieutenant Anne Usha waves back distractedly as she holds out her hand for the security officer to return her identification and hand over her visitor's pass.

The man squints up at her, shifting uncomfortably in his security armour, looking back and forth between her picture and her face and hitting keys on his terminal. He stands up to hand the visitor's pass over and return the ID. "Please wear this badge around your neck or clipped to your belt at all times." He turns to address Anne's host as well. "You must stay with your guest at all times while in restricted security areas."

"Yup, sure, will do!" Alexandria nods excitedly, grabbing Anne by the elbow and all but dragging her into the restricted area.

"Sure is a lot to go through for lunch," says Anne, looking at the badge hanging around her neck as they step into a turbolift

"Ohh, don't worry about it." The Lieutenant Commander's eyes light up. "Did you know! That I met! Admiral Kahurangi!"

Her companion blinks, looking away from the rapidly shifting lights of the 'lift. "Really?"

"Yeah! It was at at the directions meeting!" Alexandria nods enthusiastically, "I said 'Hi, It's nice to be working for you ma'am,' and she said 'Hi' back! She seems nice. We even shook hands too!"

"Awwww, I want to meet her too." Lieutenant Usha mumbles, jealous.

The turbolift doors whoosh open, and the two women step out into a small office space. Alexandria all but skips as she runs ahead to the middle of the room and spins around, arms out, "Welcome to Starfleet Tactical's Tiger Team office!"

It's a fairly standard Starfleet Office space, though it does seem laid out with an eye from more space between workspaces than usual, and raised section that overlooks the room from the back, tinted glass windows separating the office space from a what seems to briefing room and several other rooms. A few officers walk back and forth, evidentially having decided to skip lunch, or operating on a circadian system without lunch at this time.

Anne pokes a coffee machine set up along the near wall, wondering if it does snacks too, she likes snacks, "Tiger Team Office?"

"Yup! Well, that's for now, they don't really have a proper name yet. There are a bunch of suggestions: Starfleet Tactical Analysis Group, things like that.", Alexandria shrugs.

The coffee machine flashes red and beeps angrily at something she's done and Anne jumps back, "STAG? Isn't that another type of animal?" she says turning back to her friend, "Soooo…. Lunch?"

"Yup!" Alexandria is halfway across the office space, "Ohhhh! First you need to see my new desk!" she waves at Anne to follow from halfway up the ramp leading up to the raised area.

Anne huffs and jogs across the room after her dodging, dodging a rogue cleaning bot in the process, climbing the ramp and following the Lieutenant Commander into the middle doorway. She stops short on the open threshold, eyes wide, "That's a big desk."

"I know, right!" Alexandria vaults the desk and plops down in her chair, spinning it around once, "I always wanted my big desk!"

The desk is easily twice the size of the standard issue Starfleet desk. It curves around to from the wall over around to the other side, surrounding Kuznetsova's chair on three sides, smooth black surface reflecting the ceiling lights.

Usha keeps her face politely neutral, "Um. I'm not used to desks being that big" she says diplomatically. It's not just that it's a big desk, there's also only a small path to squeeze along the left wall to get to the chair. Which would explain the vaulting as much as Alexandria's endless energy.

"Yeah, well watch this!" Alexandria pulls out a tray and hits a row of switches, "PRESTO! ABRACADABRA! LET THERE BE SCREENS!" she yells grandiosely, a couple of heads pop up in the office mildly worried until they recognize their boss's' voice then popping back down as they get back to work.

A pair of terminals rise up from the desk on each side, and a trio of larger screens slide out of the ceiling, cocooning the Lieutenant Commander in data.

Anne frowns, the poor technician that had to install this setup, she really feels for them, "Um. Uhh, do you need that many, uh, screens?"

Alexandria giggles a little, blushing, "I sorta just checked off every box on the requisition sheet. Because good leaders need all that stuff and have big desks right?"

Anne watches her friend hit the switches again to send the screens into remission, "It doesn't…. usualllllly work like that, but, yeah, sure, sometimes." She looks around the office again. "So… what do you do here exactly?"

"I sit here and direct work, do analysis. Watch movies sometimes," says Kuznetsova, leaning back in her chair.

Usha sighs inside, "Nooo, I mean, like what does, uhm…. STAG? do?"

"Oh!" the Lieutenant Commander pops back up putting her hands on the desk, "We you know analyze data, make recommendations."

"The Office of Naval Architecture does that…. Oh, wait, it's secret," Anne says putting a hand over her mouth.

"Oh, not, like super secret. They wouldn't let you in if it was, even though I'm hosting you," she says pointing at Usha's visitor's pass.

Alexandria stands up, and takes a deep breath, holding her hands behind her back, staring ahead, fingers fidgeting, "This Team is responsible for research in a gap currently unfilled by Starfleet. As recent events have shown, Starfleet's starship doctrine in the modern era is uncertain and has gone unanalyzed. While several ad hoc committees from various institutions have recently been formed to ask the question of what path we take next, it is the responsibility of this Office to scrutinize all the tactical data gathered by Starfleet vessels and codify effective doctrines for regular Starship Operations."

Usha blinks, "You memorized all that..." she asks when Kuznetsova pauses for a breath.

Alexandria holds up a hand, "While long term strategic concerns are decided at a higher level than this office, we have identified a number of doctrinal paths that Starfleet Command may implement over next few decades. These doctrines will govern defence allocations and strategy on the galactic level as well as become an orthodoxy for how Starfleet vessels will operate on the small scale level in the event of a military conflict" she takes another breath, relaxing, "and so and so forth, I don't have all those slides with me right now."

Lieutenant Usha considers that that is just as well, she suspects that she'd understand the details of the doctrinal discussion about as well as Kuznetsova understands the fine details of Self Sealing Stem Bolt utilization. Her stomach rumbles and she changes the subject, "So, you have lunch here, or are we eating somewhere else…?"

Kuznetsova pops up from her chair, "Oh, no, we eat in the tactical command cafeteria." She walks around the desk and leans in close to her friend conspiratorially. "Though if I did learn anything recently, it's to make sure that the local restaurants order in and to keep utensils in the conference rooms."

Anne brightens up, "Oh! Can we order something now?"

"Nah, it's Taco Tuesday at the cafeteria, we can't miss that!"

"Soo….. tour the cafeteria then?", Usha does like Tacos, but she also likes to be having tacos, not talking tacos.

"Sure! As soon as we're done here!" she says, stepping out of the office, Usha trailing, trying to ignore her rumbly tummy. As Kuznetsova waves over a subordinate to introduce to her, she has a suspicion that lunch won't be coming anytime soon.

 

[OneirosTheWriter]

T'Lorel's face is death as she climbs a ladder through a cramped, dimly lit passage. A voice keeps chasing her, as does a matching sound of hand and feet on ladder rungs. One of the senior engineers is following her. "I'm telling you, Captain, there's no need for you to trouble yourself."

With a swift motion, T'Lorel hits an control panel next to a hatch labelled "Starboard Control Room". It slides open to reveal a brightly lit room. A series of engineering crew members look up in surprise at her arrival, but she paid it little heed as she crosses the room to another doorway, which she opens. Instead of a clear path, a blue shimmer of an integrity field appears instead. Through the force field she can see her quarry; nearly a hundred meters of huge torroidal warp coils, that line the inside of the warp nacelle like bronze ribs in some epic beast. Slender walkways trace paths out along the great spinal column-like shaft of the plasma conduit.

"Three manual access stations, you said, Lieutenant-Commander?" asks T'Lorel.

"Yes, Captain, but-"

T'Lorel turns away and opens an access cabinet next to the door, revealing a pure white hazardous duty suit. "Mister Onslow, Ensign Bruthoc, Petty Officer sh'Chenlaas, Crewman McLaughlin," she announces, naming each male crew member present. "Please turn to face the wall."

"Captain, let one of us do this, it's too dangerous-whoa!" Lieutenant-Commander Onslow spins about sharply, facing away.

With swift sure gestures, T'Lorel undoes the straps of her uniform jacket, sliding the clothing off and placing it in a neat pile in the closet, before switching into the hazard suit. Finally she hits a button to seal the suit safely around her boots and gloves, then turns to her engineer again. "Mr Onslow, recall that this ship has spent the majority of six months in drydock having repairs performed. If this re-alignment is off by even 5 microns, instead of removing this vampire field via sub-space blowback, we will burn out half of our warp coils and necessitate even more dry dock time." She sets the helmet on her suit. It snaps shut with sharp finality. "I am seeing to this personally."

"... aye, Captain."

=========

Captain's Log, USS Enterprise, Stardate 21584.3 - Captain Nash ka'Sharren

Mr Zaardmani has reported to me that, while making an uneventful mapping of our current system, he was picking up long range sensor ghosts from the Rothsbail system. I plan to make a quick diversion to examine these anomalies as soon as we finish running this detailed geological survey.

-

Captain's Log, USS Courageous, Stardate 21584.7 - Captain Victoria Eaton

Ten minutes ago the Courageous received a Distress Call from an unknown source. And I do mean unknown. I nearly blurted my tea across the console, in fact, because the Universal Translator actually failed to universally translate it. The Science Officers are currently running diagnostics on it while we respond.

Could be some lingering battle damage that the repair crews missed.

-

Captain's Log, USS Sarek, Stardate 21585.1 - Captain T'Lorel

After receiving a distress call, we have made our was to the Ryland-Acroni system, within the Vulcan sector. Upon arriving, we isolated the distress call to a large, seemingly derelict freighter in orbit around the fourth planet. We are approaching for a close inspection.

-

Captain's Log, USS Sarek, Stardate 21585.2 - Captain T'Lorel

It appears we have stepped into a trap. A field that one of my science officers has described as a 'vampire field' is draining power from the Sarek's shields. If I drop the shields, it begins to drain power directly from the ship itself. I am currently endeavouring to isolate the source of this field. In addition, powerful tractor beam generators are holding us in space, while sensor jamming is in effect.

-

Captain's Log, USS Enterprise, Stardate 21585.3

We should be arriving out of warp into the outer reaches of the Rothsbail system, near the Rothsbail VIII gas giant. There we will begin scanning the gas giant's twenty-seven moons to isolate a direct cause for-

[Noise of ship shaking violently, distant shouting]

Oh, for the love of...

[Sound of door opening]

Red Alert! Power to weapons! Mr Zaardmani, status!

-

Captain's Log, USS Sarek, Stardate 21585.6

An abortive attempt to move against the influence of the tractor beams concluded unsatisfactorily. Shearing stresses on the hull threatened to cause ruptures. We must isolate these emitters before we may escape. ...unless.

-

Captain's Log, USS Enterprise, Stardate 21585.7

Space is home to many colourful characters. Adventurers, prospectors, wild-eyed researchers, and, alas, pirates and slavers.

It appears Mr Zaardmani's sensor ghosts were Orion Syndicate pirates in low-emissions running. As it turns out, he was so close with his long-range scans, that in the end we dropped out of warp nearly on top of their station! I don't know who was more surprised to see the other, but I can tell you who was more sorry in the end!

The slavers are all sequestered in the brig, with guards treated to resist Orion pheromones. The slave women and men have been put up in guest accommodation while we consult with the Federation Diplomatic Service as to how to handle the matter.

-

Captain's Log, USS Courageous, Stardate 21585.8

We have encountered a ship of unknown origin within the asteroid belt of the Pegasus-Levi system. At first we could not locate the signature of the ship, however with my assistance the sensor crews were able to decipher a series of anomalous readings. It seems that the asteroid belt is creating very unusual and disruptive readings.

-

Captain's Log, USS Sarek, Stardate 21585.9

I have used the Sarek's warp nacelles to initiate a massive sub-space shockwave, that has overloaded both the vampire field and the tractor beams that were keeping us in place, in addition to the sensor interference that was preventing us from localising their sources.

The vampire field and the tractor beams were located in the bait derelict, the sensor dampening from the planet. A spread of photon torpedoes has neutralised the threat of the derelict, and a series of precision phaser strikes the facility with the sensor dampening.

Subsequently, I have posted a bulletin to the ship's crew that orbit-to-ground phaser strikes are not to be referred to as 'The T'Lorel Manoeuvre'.

[Gain +5 pp, +5 rp]

-

Captain's Log, USS Enterprise, Stardate 21586.4

One of the Orion slave women that we rescued has been very friendly, doing herself to express her gratitude to myself any my command crew. I'll note that she seemed more than a little disappointed to discover myself, my first officer, and my senior tactical officer were all women! Nonetheless, I've engaged with her closely, largely because I don't quite trust her. Zhiddi feigns being gorgeous but quite dim, but she's all-fired clever when she doesn't think people are paying attention.

Doctor Asurva is providing me with a bit of guidance, but she seems very sour on the idea of these cliches of Orion society being on the same ship as her.

-

Captain's Log, USS Enterprise, Stardate 21587.3

I have suffered two near-accidents in the last ten hours. With this many outsiders on the ship, I started investigating intensively right after the first 'accident', and saw the second one coming - an obviously misaligned plasma manifold that would have reduced me to constituent particles had I activated the console.

Time for a little judicious interrogating.

-

Captain's Log, USS Courageous, Stardate 21587.9

After making a micro-jump to the asteroid belt for a closer look, we have discovered what lured the unknown exploratory ship to its doom. Inspection of the ship's sensor arrays shows a number of very unusual configurations, wherein...

[Chief of Staff's Note: I've taken the liberty of snipping 32 minutes and 17 seconds of log that are assuredly of little interest to anyone outside of the Vulcan Science Academy, I hope you don't mind]

... with the end result that the quadruple-coupling arrangement of this peculiar heavy element in the asteroid belt fooled the science ship into believing their was a clear path. They are regrettably all deceased, and their central computer core smashed to atoms by the impact, so we may never know where they were from, but that have left us quite a good deal to pick over.

[Gain +5 rp, gain +15 sr]

-

Captain's Log, USS Enterprise, Stardate 21588.4

I have finally discovered the source of the 'accidents' that keep following me around the ship. It seems that not all of the rescued Orion slave girls were actually, well, slave girls. One of them was not only a high-ranking member of the Syndicate, she is the Chief Executive Officer of an illustrious Banking House on Alukk! Nice try, Zhiddi, nice try.

Of course, the pheromone trick has been known to Starfleet for a while, but the documents of all the girls were impeccable.

Poor Lieutenant th'Halaas, the tactical officer of the second watch, was so bamboozled that he attempted a very abortive mutiny. I'll have to go see him when he wakes up from the phaser blast. Poor kid... At least I know not to send him on any subterfuge missions, he has no talent for it.

[Gain +15 diplomacy with Orion, gain +15 br, +10 sr in pirate loot]

Computer, End Log

 

[OneirosTheWriter]

2304.Q3

Continued Diplomatic Push

Betazoids 278/500 + 7 = 285/500
Amarki 282/500 - 3 = 279/500

Spoiler: Winning Vote

[X] Plan EVERYONE
-[X] Keep current assignments in place
-[X] San Francisco Fleet Yards Design Bureau - Ship Design (Explorer)
-[X] 40 Eridani A Shipyards - Ship Design (Escort)
-[X] Tellar Prime Academy of Mineral Science - Minerals
-[X] Starfleet Medical Command - Medical
-[X] Utopia Planitia Design Group - Ship Design (Light Cruiser)
-[X] Starfleet Tactical Command - Doctrine (Lone Ranger)

Spoiler: Carry-Over

- Daystrom Institute - Computing
- Spock - Xenoanalysis
- Vulcan Science Academy - Sensors
- Starfleet Science Academy - Communications
- Starfleet Tactical Command - Foreign Analysis (Romulan Research)
- Andorian Academy - Shields
- Yoyodyne Propulsion Systems - Warp Technology

San Francisco Fleet Yards Design Bureau - Ship Design (Explorer)

9 / 20 Nacelle Design Improvements (-2% to Nacelle Penalty on Explorers)
4 / 20 Design Efficiency I (-2% to SR Costs)
4 / 20 Combat Design I (-1% to Explorer stat weights)
4 / 20 Science Design I (-1% to Explorer stat weights)
4 / 20 Hull Design I (-1% to Explorer stat weights)
4 / 20 Shield Design I (-1% to Explorer stat weights)
4 / 20 Presence Design I (-1% to Explorer stat weights)
4 / 20 Defence Design I (-1% to Explorer stat weights)

40 Eridani A Shipyards - Ship Design (Escort)

4 / 10 Nacelle Design Improvements (-5% to Nacelle Penalty on Escorts)
4 / 10 Design Efficiency I (-2% to SR Costs)
4 / 10 Combat Design I (-1% to Escort stat weights)
9 / 10 Science Design I (-1% to Escort stat weights)
4 / 10 Hull Design I (-1% to Escort stat weights)
4 / 10 Shield Design I (-1% to Escort stat weights)
4 / 10 Presence Design I (-1% to Escort stat weights)
4 / 10 Defence Design I (-1% to Escort stat weights)
4 / 10 Torpedo Roll Bar Design I (-5% to Module Scale 0.5 Frame Weight, -2% Combat Power Req and -2% to Weight when a Module is present)
4 / 100 Escort Size I (Scale 3.5 Escorts now allowed)

Utopia Planitia Design Group - Ship Design (Light Cruiser)

6 / 15 Nacelle Design Improvements (-2% to Nacelle Penalty on Cruisers)
11 / 15 Design Efficiency I (-2% to SR Costs)
6 / 15 Combat Design I (-1% to Cruisers stat weights)
6 / 15 Science Design I (-1% to Cruisers stat weights)
6 / 15 Hull Design I (-1% to Cruisers stat weights)
6 / 15 Shield Design I (-1% to Cruisers stat weights)
6 / 15 Presence Design I (-1% to Cruisers stat weights)
6 / 15 Defence Design I (-1% to Cruisers stat weights)
6 / 30 Module Design I (-2% to Scale 1 Module Frame Weight)
6 / 150 Cruiser Size I (Scale 7 Cruisers now allowed)

Tellar Prime Academy of Mineral Science - Minerals

9 / 20 Bulk Resource Extraction II (+5br on Resource Extraction missions)
4 / 20 Bulk Resource Identification II (+ 1 to Rolls on Resource Extraction missions)
4 / 20 Bulk Refining Techniques I (+5 to Mining Colony annual production)
4 / 20 Special Resource Extraction II (+5sr on Resource Extraction missions)
4 / 20 Special Resource Identification II (+ 1 to Rolls on Resource Extraction missions)
4 / 20 Special Refining Techniques I (+5 to Mining Colony annual production)

Starfleet Tactical Command - Doctrine (Lone Ranger)

21 / 50 Lone Ranger Doctrine
[Gained +4 from Omake reward, +3 from VAdm Eriksson]
[Doctrine gains +5 from battle experience]

Starfleet Tactical Command - Foreign Analysis (Romulan Research)

17 / 30 Tactical Analysis I (+1% Fed Combat Power vs Romulans)
17 / 30 Doctrinal Analysis I (-1% Rom Combat Power)
22 / 30 Attack Pattern Analysis I (+2% chance of dodging a hit)
24 / 30 Intelligence Analysis I (Improved counter intel)

[Gained +10 from close cooperation with Romulans]


Daystrom Institute - Computing

20 / 20 Data Analysis Center I (-1 RP required to activate Tech Team)
9 / 30 Data Analysis Center II (-1 RP required to activate Tech Team (8))
20 / 20 Targeting Computer I (2% weapon weight reduction)
8 / 30 Targeting Computer II (2% weapon weight reduction)
20 / 20 Ship Computer Core I (2% Science weight/power savings)
3 / 30 Ship Computer Core II (1% Science weight/power savings)
20 / 20 Ship Operating System I (1% warp core power improvement)
13 / 30 Ship Operating System II (1% warp core power improvement)
6 / 30 Portable Analysis Centers (+2 rp annually from research colonies)

[Gain weight/power savings for Science stats]

Yoyodyne Propulsion Systems - Warp Technology

20 / 20 Dilithium Efficiency I (Warp Core Weight:SR ratio)
1 / 40 Dilithium Efficency II
20 / 20 Warp Core Construction I (Warp Core Weight Savings)
4 / 40 Warp Core Construction II (Warp Core Weight Savings)
16 / 20 Warp Core Scaling I (Warp Core Min Multiplier reduced)
16 / 20 Escort Warp Coil Design I (Nacelle Weight Penalty)
16 / 20 Warp Core Safety Design I (Reduced chance of Warp Core Breach and reduce crew loss in the event of ship destroyed)
8 / 20 Warp Core Power Generation I (+2% to Warp Core output)

[Reduce Special Resource Requirements of Warp Cores, weight savings on warp cores]

Starfleet Science Academy - Communications

20 / 20 Long Range Subspace Comms I (Lead to roll bonus for Distress Call and Diplomacy missions)
8 / 40 Long Range Subspace Comms II (Gain +1 to all Distress Call and Diplomacy missions)
20 / 20 Fleet Comms I (Give a 1% bonus to Federation Combat values in multi-ship battles)
3 / 40 Fleet Comms II (Give a 1% bonus to Federation Combat values in multi-ship battles)
18 / 20 Research Net I (Gain +5 RP/year)
18 / 20 Subspace Communications Intercepts I (Improve Intelligence Gathering)

[Gain 1% bonus to Federation fleet combat values in battle]

Vulcan Science Academy - Sensors

20 / 20 SR Anti-Cloaking I - (Improved chance of intercepting cloaked vessels)
12 / 40 SR Anti-Cloaking II - (Improved chance of intercepting cloaked vessels) [+10 from recent experience]
20 / 20 Targeting Sensors I - (2% weight savings for combat)
7 / 40 Targeting Sensors II (2% weight savings for combat)
20 / 20 Enhanced Sensors I - (2% weight savings for Science)
7 / 40 Enhanced Sensors II - (2% weight savings for Science)
20 / 20 Long Range Sensors I - (progress to a +1 to Rolls in Mapping Missions)
7 / 20 Long Range Sensors II - (gain +1 to Rolls in Mapping Missions)

[Gain weight savings for combat and science, improved cloaking interception]

Andorian Academy - Shields

15 / 20 Core Shields I (reduce Shield power requirements by 2%)
10 / 20 Navigational Deflector Efficiency I (reduce Defence power requirements by 2%)
10 / 20 Navigational Deflector Construction I (reduce Defence weight requirements by 2%)
10 / 20 Emitter Designs I (-2% to Deflector Weight)
4 / 20 Emitter Simplification (improve Weight:SR ratio of Deflectors)
10 / 20 Shield Geometry I (+1 to Damage Evasion Attempts)
15 / 20 Shield Regeneration I (No effect yet)

Starfleet Medical Command - Medical

10 / 20 Sickbay I (Improve Crew Survival Rolls)
10 / 20 Away Team Medical Equipment I (Improve Rolls for various Distress Call missions)
15 / 20 Infectious Diseases Lab I (Improve Plague handling rolls)
15 / 20 Radiation Treatment I (Improve Crew Survival Rolls in Warp Core Breaches or some Science Mission mishaps)

Spock - Xenoanalysis

20 / 20 Xeno Architecture I (2% Weight/Power Savings for Presence)
9 / 40 Xeno Architecture II (1% weight/power savings for Presence)
20 / 20 Recruiting Campaign I (Increase Academy intake from Federation Affiliates to 0.05 each)
4 / 40 Recruiting Campaign II (Increase Academy intake from Federation Affiliates to 0.1 each)
20 / 20 Diplomatic Analysis I (Improve the Annual Diplomacy Rolls)
4 / 40 Diplomatic Analysis II (Improve the Annual Diplomacy Rolls)
20 / 20 Universal Translator II (Improve First Contact Scenarios)
9 / 30 Universal Translator III
20 / 20 First Contact Protocols I (+1 to attempts by non-Explorer Corps ships at First Contact encounters)
9 / 40 First Contact Protocals II (+1 to attempts by non-Explorer Corps ships at First Contact encounters)

[Gain 0.05 officer/enlisted/tech from each Affiliate]
[Annual Diplomatic Rolls changed to 2u10+15]
[Savings for Presence stat gained]



A/N: Yes, I know these results posts are probably pretty boring, but I can't write narrative for everything :<