- Location
- Australia
YOINK~![X] Enterprise
While I don't have an episode summary for you, @OneirosTheWriter , I come bearing a gift nonetheless.
To Boldly Go... (a Starfleet quest)
- Thread starter OneirosTheWriter
- Start date
- Sci-Fi
-
- Tags
- star trek exploration fully automated luxury gay space communism top level canon (canon) #hashtagcontent all-encompassing space amoeba cardassian boy bands cardassian magical girls darkest bureaucracy debate makes the qm cackle like palpatine hoh is an empire quest it has to be foreign infiltrators more ships ship happens singers delenda est starfleet this is not an empire quest ur waifu is collective?
AKuz
Been Better
- Location
- A Rising Tide of Horrors
- Pronouns
- She/Her
[X] Enterprise
While I don't have an episode summary for you, @OneirosTheWriter , I come bearing a gift nonetheless.
Ohhhhh title card!
Hmmm well we've got:
>Gaeni super science filtered through cool hard Vulcan logic. IDIC at its finest to give Enterprise cover
>Stol: Best Helmsman currently serving in Starfleet
>Engineer Familiar with Cardassian Systems
>Knowledge of Cardassian proceedures and attitudes (Things that aren't going to change just because Miran Defected... in fact they have no Idea that Miran successfully made it to Federation space)
>Betazoid officer to help identify the weaknesses in the Cardassian system.
Now we just need to right this up as an episode summery! > : P
But seriously if anyone has anything to add, or another idea, please go ahead. All brains on deck right now.
The fact they might have two affiliates, make me anxious enough to hurry up and claim most of Gabriel Expanse with everything we got.
That they mention Gabriel Expanse concerns me since I feel like we are running out of time plus I think their affiliates is exploring the expanse for them and it would be tricky to clear them all out unless its wartime.
That they mention Gabriel Expanse concerns me since I feel like we are running out of time plus I think their affiliates is exploring the expanse for them and it would be tricky to clear them all out unless its wartime.
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- Location
- Actually pretty lost
[X] Enterprise
I'll give the Trek episode some thought.
I'll give the Trek episode some thought.
I'm never going to win against the Enterprise bandwagon. Hell, I don't know if I want to; getting the information off the Sydraxians is the hardest, most foolish choice, with the lowest chance of success. But something appeals to me about this. Here.
[X] Courageous
-[X] "Commander Kennedy has come up with a rather remarkable plan to convince the Sydraxians to accept our overture. Our guest has been most cooperative in training the crew on the necessary procedures. She has, and I quote, 'done this more times than you've lived years', which cannot possibly be true. I suspect she just enjoys the hoops we have to jump through. Once training is complete, we will approach the Sydraxian hunter-killer task force under a flag of truce. They've shown a willingness to talk before shooting, if only for posturing. Getting an open comm channel is the easy part. Afterwards, well..."
--[X] (offscreen) "The rehearsal begins in five, dearie."
---[X] (sighs) "Afterwards? We sing."
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Cardassian affiliates:
Bajoran (who have no choice in the matter, as the Cardassians have a puppet government in place).
Dawair (who we surround and they are not happy with their patron, but don't really want to cozy up with us yet either)
Dylaarian - don't recall anything about these guys off the top of my head
Lecarrens - natural paranoids with a talent for espionage - no idea about fleet assets
Sydraxians - they have a enough ships to be trouble, and a hate-on for us.
Yrillians - not full affiliates, but much closer to the Cardassian sphere of influence than ours.
Unknown 1
Unknown 2
Did I miss anyone?
They sure have a lot of affiliates when you go looking at it.
Bajoran (who have no choice in the matter, as the Cardassians have a puppet government in place).
Dawair (who we surround and they are not happy with their patron, but don't really want to cozy up with us yet either)
Dylaarian - don't recall anything about these guys off the top of my head
Lecarrens - natural paranoids with a talent for espionage - no idea about fleet assets
Sydraxians - they have a enough ships to be trouble, and a hate-on for us.
Yrillians - not full affiliates, but much closer to the Cardassian sphere of influence than ours.
Unknown 1
Unknown 2
Did I miss anyone?
They sure have a lot of affiliates when you go looking at it.
- Location
- Mid-Atlantic
The Cardassian occupation did not, by all indications in canon, start out "that bad." It's liable to get a hell of a lot worse. Plus, Bajor has a pretty important location. If at all possible we'd like to leave it as a demilitarized zone, not a Cardassian province for them to abuse the hell out of whenever they feel like it.
This is the drawback, though, of trying to avoid war while becoming strong enough that your rivals would be fools to attack you. There comes a point at which your power of action is... limited.
That's a fair point. The Cardassian offers appear very much lopsided in favor of the Cardassians- as someone predicted earlier. They're graciously offering to abstain from recognizing the independence of a planet we've already mostly reconquered, and to not fire on us without provocation. And that's about it. In exchange, they want recognition of their permanent dominance over a planet they staged a coup on and are in the process of taking over far more extensively than we take over our member states (as far as I can tell), large territorial concessions, and for us to stop even trying to convince their allies they'd be better off with us.
That last is particularly serious, because it basically means the Cardassians can permanently threaten us from the flanks. And that they can continue to back Bad Governments among their own affiliates, if they see fit.
- Location
- madison
we don't know that in character, they are also they are likely going to be a lot more nervous about the federation than in cannon. The Cardassians will have known us for a lot longer, so will be less blinded by their belief that no other power can be competent.
- Location
- Mid-Atlantic
Aaargh. Have to go, good night all.
We DO know about the strategic location, and can PREDICT that Cardassian occupation will get worse.
If we want a low-risk backup option, I'd say give the nod to S'harien. Saavik's done well when the chips were down in the past, and she's got a rapport with the Qloath. She might succeed, she might fail, but she's got a good shot- and the worst that's LIKELY to happen if we fail is "very angry Qloathi." Our relationship with them is good enough we can probably smooth things over eventually, and it's not like we can bring them in as a full member for several years anyway.
That said, my gut says Enterprise, although having S'harien try it as backup is honestly not that bad an idea.
We DO know about the strategic location, and can PREDICT that Cardassian occupation will get worse.
Trouble is, it's way over HERE and Enterprise is way over THERE. Not likely to work. Sadly.
Uh... the "con" on Courageous mission is "Courageous gets blown up by a squadron of angry Sydraxian warships."
If we want a low-risk backup option, I'd say give the nod to S'harien. Saavik's done well when the chips were down in the past, and she's got a rapport with the Qloath. She might succeed, she might fail, but she's got a good shot- and the worst that's LIKELY to happen if we fail is "very angry Qloathi." Our relationship with them is good enough we can probably smooth things over eventually, and it's not like we can bring them in as a full member for several years anyway.
You're not wrong, but while FOUR redundant missions is bad, TWO redundant missions might not be so bad, especially if we're choosing (what appear to us to be) the low-risk option as our backup. I can easily see Sousa going for it, given how high the stakes are.
Right now the Qloathi ARE in our camp. We might knock them down to 'loosely affiliated' with a true record setting epic diplomatic fail, maybe even 'neutral.' But for this one incident to push them all the way to 'enemy' would be utterly unprecedented.
That said, my gut says Enterprise, although having S'harien try it as backup is honestly not that bad an idea.
- Location
- Germany
[X] Enterprise
Nervos Belli
Don't think this means you've won!
- Location
- Murica
Shockingly, Cardassians diplomats propose deals in favor of Cardassia. Now to see how many holes we can poke in their arguments and how much we can push back.
[X] Enterprise
Both because it seems to have the best chance of success, and it's the most narratively fitting. When the Federation has a mission that desperately needs to be done that doesn't involve rocks, they call on the Enterprise. It's our flagship for a reason.
[X] Enterprise
Both because it seems to have the best chance of success, and it's the most narratively fitting. When the Federation has a mission that desperately needs to be done that doesn't involve rocks, they call on the Enterprise. It's our flagship for a reason.
- Location
- Earth
SO, here's my only slightly paranoia driven write up on just how bad the balance of power could be, if we were really, really, really, unlucky. Take the unknowns with more than a bit of salt, but don't dismiss them.
We can count on having at least around 650 combat power, since it seems unlikely the Apiata and Indorians would not fully support us given how they're almost literally just waiting for the metaphorical paperwork to be filed in order to become members.
The trouble is the Cardassians had 148C two years ago and we can say with near certainty that they've added 16C since then because we know they are outputting at least two Jaldun's a year. They were also building several escorts and that's probably given them something like another 10ish combat power. Given they seem to have gotten access to more resources since then, that number may very well be higher. Anyway, that would in general mean that they have around 180C minimum. Of course that's not even going into the idea that they could surprise us with more, because Miran didn't have complete info or something.
Moving on, intel on the Sydraxians has stated that they had 7-10 escorts and 2-4 cruisers. If the escorts have combat 3 on average and the cruisers combat 4, then they could've had as much as 46C. Problem again is that the report with those numbers is out of date and included no ship details. They should have more ships now days, perhaps as much as 60 to 70, depending on how many they can build and what their stats are.
Next, the Yrillians. Aka, the navy who we have no info on save that they prefer to use federation tech escorts and that it's fairly large. That could mean anything, but even if all they have is somewhere between 10 and 20 Centaur-A clones that's still another 30 to 60 combat power.
The Dawiar are similar, no fleet numbers or details but they were able to fight the Caitians without losing quickly which suggests that their navy had something like 20 to 50 combat power back then. A number that once again is likely to be higher now days.
The Lecarrens are the worst of the lot, intel wise. Other than being fairly small, we have no details, so I pencil them in at between 15 and 30 combat power. It could be anything of course.
Lastly, the Dylaarians. We have no info on them but they seemed like they have a robust economy, so in the name of caution I'll give them a range of 30 to 65 combat power. That would put them somewhere in between one of our weaker members like the Betazoids, to as strong as the Caitians. Either way, not a good thing.
Adding all of that up, the Cardassians could maybe call on anywhere from 320ish combat power on the absolute low end, to worst case around 550ish combat power on the higher end. Yes, I know we still would have the advantage if that was all it was. Problem is, all of this does not take those potential new client states into account, and I've also not covered what could be in any "Bajorian" navy. If those clients have 50 combat a piece on average and if the "Bajorian" navy chips in another 10-20, then the Cardassians could perhaps, just maybe, have around 670ish and thus have more combat power than the Federation. Add in them managing to somehow keep our affiliates from joining in and it becomes a uncomfortably even fight, espeically if they strike first and get in a good sneak attack on something important.
Anyway, like Simon_Jester, I too have to go. This will be interesting to check on in 12 hours.
We can count on having at least around 650 combat power, since it seems unlikely the Apiata and Indorians would not fully support us given how they're almost literally just waiting for the metaphorical paperwork to be filed in order to become members.
The trouble is the Cardassians had 148C two years ago and we can say with near certainty that they've added 16C since then because we know they are outputting at least two Jaldun's a year. They were also building several escorts and that's probably given them something like another 10ish combat power. Given they seem to have gotten access to more resources since then, that number may very well be higher. Anyway, that would in general mean that they have around 180C minimum. Of course that's not even going into the idea that they could surprise us with more, because Miran didn't have complete info or something.
Moving on, intel on the Sydraxians has stated that they had 7-10 escorts and 2-4 cruisers. If the escorts have combat 3 on average and the cruisers combat 4, then they could've had as much as 46C. Problem again is that the report with those numbers is out of date and included no ship details. They should have more ships now days, perhaps as much as 60 to 70, depending on how many they can build and what their stats are.
Next, the Yrillians. Aka, the navy who we have no info on save that they prefer to use federation tech escorts and that it's fairly large. That could mean anything, but even if all they have is somewhere between 10 and 20 Centaur-A clones that's still another 30 to 60 combat power.
The Dawiar are similar, no fleet numbers or details but they were able to fight the Caitians without losing quickly which suggests that their navy had something like 20 to 50 combat power back then. A number that once again is likely to be higher now days.
The Lecarrens are the worst of the lot, intel wise. Other than being fairly small, we have no details, so I pencil them in at between 15 and 30 combat power. It could be anything of course.
Lastly, the Dylaarians. We have no info on them but they seemed like they have a robust economy, so in the name of caution I'll give them a range of 30 to 65 combat power. That would put them somewhere in between one of our weaker members like the Betazoids, to as strong as the Caitians. Either way, not a good thing.
Adding all of that up, the Cardassians could maybe call on anywhere from 320ish combat power on the absolute low end, to worst case around 550ish combat power on the higher end. Yes, I know we still would have the advantage if that was all it was. Problem is, all of this does not take those potential new client states into account, and I've also not covered what could be in any "Bajorian" navy. If those clients have 50 combat a piece on average and if the "Bajorian" navy chips in another 10-20, then the Cardassians could perhaps, just maybe, have around 670ish and thus have more combat power than the Federation. Add in them managing to somehow keep our affiliates from joining in and it becomes a uncomfortably even fight, espeically if they strike first and get in a good sneak attack on something important.
Anyway, like Simon_Jester, I too have to go. This will be interesting to check on in 12 hours.
Theunderbolt
"Prepare for trouble..."
- Location
- USoA
Well if we go by tradition the Enterprise is our go to ship for when the impossible needs doing.
[X] Enterprise
[X] Enterprise
Captain's Log - 2312.Q4.M3
- Location
- Australia
Captain's Log, USS Kumari, Stardate 24972.4 - Captain Erzath zh'Darlyth
We came across the CDF Karnack while patrolling space in the Straits of Themis. As they began to approach aggressively, we powered weapons and warned them off. When they ignored our hail, we fired upon them and drove them off. We dealt some damage to their ship after they lost shields, including coring out one of their phaser arrays. However the Karnack withdrew from battle, and we headed back towards Starbase 9 to regroup and run post-battle inspections.
Looks like we escaped with a few bruises and burns, no apparently structural damage.
[Start of skirmishing with Cardassia]
[NB: This has since ceased with the arrival of CDF Ronagot in the Celos system and resulting ships]
-
Member World Coordination Office Report
A sketchy report is coming through from the Apiata that they have had a skirmish of their own with the Cardassian. No ships lost on either side, but some details are yet to come through. We expect to have a full report to make during the first month of next year.
We believe that a Light Queenship team jumped a Jaldun and a prospector looking through a system in the frontier zone, and drove them off.
-
Captain's Log, USS Sarek, Stardate 24974.3 - Captain Straak
For a few weeks now we have been successfully conducting wargames with the Apiatan fleet, including working with the USS Stargazer and the USS Winterwind. Unfortunately, partway through, first Commodore ka'Sharren had to depart to take up a Task Force Command, and then subsequently the Sarek itself was dispatched urgently to the system of Celos.
Despite this, much was learned regarding the Apiatan fleet, and our own capacity.
[Bonuses to all doctrine research currently underway]
-
We came across the CDF Karnack while patrolling space in the Straits of Themis. As they began to approach aggressively, we powered weapons and warned them off. When they ignored our hail, we fired upon them and drove them off. We dealt some damage to their ship after they lost shields, including coring out one of their phaser arrays. However the Karnack withdrew from battle, and we headed back towards Starbase 9 to regroup and run post-battle inspections.
Looks like we escaped with a few bruises and burns, no apparently structural damage.
[Start of skirmishing with Cardassia]
[NB: This has since ceased with the arrival of CDF Ronagot in the Celos system and resulting ships]
-
Member World Coordination Office Report
A sketchy report is coming through from the Apiata that they have had a skirmish of their own with the Cardassian. No ships lost on either side, but some details are yet to come through. We expect to have a full report to make during the first month of next year.
We believe that a Light Queenship team jumped a Jaldun and a prospector looking through a system in the frontier zone, and drove them off.
-
Captain's Log, USS Sarek, Stardate 24974.3 - Captain Straak
For a few weeks now we have been successfully conducting wargames with the Apiatan fleet, including working with the USS Stargazer and the USS Winterwind. Unfortunately, partway through, first Commodore ka'Sharren had to depart to take up a Task Force Command, and then subsequently the Sarek itself was dispatched urgently to the system of Celos.
Despite this, much was learned regarding the Apiatan fleet, and our own capacity.
[Bonuses to all doctrine research currently underway]
-
[X] Enterprise
The only concerning bit is that recognizing the Bajoran government means we're acknowledging they control the entire species while them recognizing the Orion Union as the lawful government of Celos is only acknowledging the control of a single world. So under this agreement the Cardassians would be free to support rebel groups on other Orion worlds while we wouldn't on any Bajoran colony.
Meanwhile I highly doubt the Cardassians will be able to convince the Lecarre to stop being paranoid spies or the Sydraxians from seeking vengeance against us. Every time they fail here gives the Federation more ammunition to use against them at future negotiations.
As distasteful as allowing the Cardassians to puppet Bajor this is actually a semi fair trade. Bajor is, to the best of my knowledge, already under complete Cardassian control and Celos will be under complete Orion control very soon.
The only concerning bit is that recognizing the Bajoran government means we're acknowledging they control the entire species while them recognizing the Orion Union as the lawful government of Celos is only acknowledging the control of a single world. So under this agreement the Cardassians would be free to support rebel groups on other Orion worlds while we wouldn't on any Bajoran colony.
Quite reasonable. Then again this should be the default assumption for any two nations not at war so...
This actually works out in our favor. Given our limiting diplomatic powers for the near future not being able to diplomance their clients isn't a real issue since we wouldn't be doing so anyway. Hell we probably wouldn't without that thanks to the whole Bajor mess.
Meanwhile I highly doubt the Cardassians will be able to convince the Lecarre to stop being paranoid spies or the Sydraxians from seeking vengeance against us. Every time they fail here gives the Federation more ammunition to use against them at future negotiations.
This is important. By flat out telling them "No" on at least one of their items we show the Cardassians the Federation aren't push overs who will accept any deal if it means peace.
- Location
- Actually pretty lost
Yeah, it's not a focus of the vote right now but the claim on the Gabriel expanse is an obvious red herring, to give the UFP something to fight over that they can graciously give up during negotiations. The rest of the deal still sucks.
Omake - Mission Sacrifice - Briefvoice
Mission Sacrifice
"Mr. Whelan, I do not comprehend what these markers are meant to indicate. Can you explain?" asked Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Tybek.
Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Peter Whelan blinked and awoke. He looked at the map of local space in front of him, covered in alien sigils and realized. "Oh no... no, it happened again. I... I'm sorry. I have to report to sickbay. I'm sorry."
Without another word, he left.
"I don't understand," said Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Tisana Bessle, less than an hour later. "I understand why Whelan was helping you... Security officers take a lot of secondary assignments when we're in route. But- up and left, without so much as a by-your-leave? Abandoning his post? Not like him." The Amarki's eyes narrowed.
"If Mr. Whelan required medical attention, I have no objection to his prompt departure. What puzzles me is that he would create these symbols and then deny all knowledge of them."
Tiisana leaned in to study the map. "Something in his heart, perhaps- or rather, a breakdown of his wits?"
"If so, of a most peculiar nature. These glyphs are recognizable Iconian in origin, even if I am unable to ascertain their meaning. They appear to be marking something, with coordinates for time as well as space."
The Amarkian Lieutenant (Junior Grade) studied the map, then jabbed her hand at it. "There! That matches the subspace instability we charted, fourteen days ago! It was me checking the short range scans of it against the long range! Every ten hours, the whole area would set to vibrating in five dimensions, like a pickup microphone. The resonance boosts subspace signals passing through, more and more until the peak hits. Then everything shuts down for a few minutes, the whole zone goes still, and it cycles back towards its peak again." She frowned. "What was all of this in aid of, though? What were the both of you doing?"
"We were attempting to chart likely supply routes for a number of Cardassian subspace relays. Such as this one," answered Tybek. He reached out with a finger and touched a marker on the screen... partially blotted out by an Iconian symbol.
They exchanged a long look. Tisana broke the silence. "Now that we speak of it, I remember something about Whelan and the old Iconians. There was a mission to some Iconian ruins just before Commodore ka'Sharren left the ship, you remember. Whelan was in sickbay a long while, he touched something on the planet- and it touched him, I fancy. I never heard all the details, beyond the gist of what the captain said in her briefing to the security teams- you remember, the one with the song and dance. But-" she smiled slowly, laying a finger alongside her nose. "I know who would know."
"Lieutenant Clunn," affirmed Tybek.
A little while later the short Tellarite was nodding her head. "Oh, I remember Whelan. They were keeping the details confidential at the time, but eventually word got our about what happened. Guess the two of you aren't exactly gossip central of the ship. Anyway, Whelan got an Iconian database put into his head. It was the talk of the ship for a while, but Commander Zaardmani figured out how to reverse it and he was fine. Is this important?"
"That it could be..." said Tisana.
"I would say the probability of the incident's relevance has risen significantly," answered Tybek, looking up from a PADD that had just beeped with a message.
At the puzzled expression on the faces of the two women he elaborated. "The subspace relay on which Mr. Whelan marked the Iconian sigil... the ship has just set course towards it at emergency warp."
Peter Whelan wasn't looking very good when they were finally able to speak to him. After some back and forth where the trio of Lieutenants (Junior Grade) explained the situation, he looked even worse.
"It still happens sometimes. I get flashes of knowledge, little bits of Iconian data that didn't quite make it out of my brain. It wouldn't so bad except I go into a kind of trance when it happens. It's a miracle they still let me on duty. I have to report in the Doctor T'Les weekly no matter what, and immediately if an incident happens."
"Peter," said Tisana, stepping forward and gripping him by the shoulder. "From what we can make out, there's a mission to this relay- a matter of haste and importance. The top officers aren't telling us much, but I know they're putting together an away mission. If any of this Iconian knowledge can make a difference, and you can help-"
Whelan looked at her hand gripping his shoulder, then looked back up determined. "Yeah... you're right. It was my own dumb fault I got this database in my head, and because of my mistake we lost our chance at priceless historical data. If any good can come of it I have to try. I can meditate, try to bring it back to the top of my mind, figure out what it was trying to tell me. But... it could be a little dangerous. I've... lost things before, trying this."
"Then logically Doctor T'Les should supervise," answered Tybek.
"She'd never approve. She'd order me not to," said Whelan.
The Vulcan's face got tightened slightly. "Then-"
"But Peter's hypothetical musings about what the doctor might or might not order don't correspond to an actual order, which he has not received, meaning he is free to act as he thinks is best," said Dill smoothly.
The Vulcan considered for a long moment. "Agreed," he said.
Some time later, Captain Samhaya Mrr'shan was being briefed by three very junior lieutenants.
"Time is tight, so tell me what you think you know now, and I'll consider discipline for this blatant attempt to circumvent medical advice later."
"Yes Captain," said Tybek. "Per the information that Mr. Whelan was able to retrieve, it appears that the Iconians either altered subspace in a number of specified locations or took advantage of a natural phenomenon. In any case, at the marked locations subspace undergoes a regular cycle of vibration and expansion, during which transmissions are enhanced by a factor of up to 3000% at the highest point in the wave. The Cardassians likely discovered this for themselves when looking for a place to put their relay. However, this also constitutes a weakness."
"Explain."
"Immediately after the peak of the cycle, which lasts approximately 9 hours, there are 7.1 minutes where local subspace is completely dead to both messages and sensor traffic. A temporal blind spot if you will. If, as I deduce, there is a mission being planned to this relay-"
"We could take advantage of the blindspot to sneak in and start our work without tripping any alarms," replied the Captain, her tail swinging back and forth. "It's a tight window, but it just might make the difference. All right, good work. Only- Why is it the three of you and not Mr Whelan?"
There was a long moment of silence.
"He... he's not able to speak right now, Captain. He forgot how," said Dill chim Clunn.
Captain Mrr'shan's fur rose ever so slightly.
"I see." She left the ready room without bother to dismiss three lieutenants (junior grade).
"Mr. Whelan, I do not comprehend what these markers are meant to indicate. Can you explain?" asked Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Tybek.
Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Peter Whelan blinked and awoke. He looked at the map of local space in front of him, covered in alien sigils and realized. "Oh no... no, it happened again. I... I'm sorry. I have to report to sickbay. I'm sorry."
Without another word, he left.
"I don't understand," said Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Tisana Bessle, less than an hour later. "I understand why Whelan was helping you... Security officers take a lot of secondary assignments when we're in route. But- up and left, without so much as a by-your-leave? Abandoning his post? Not like him." The Amarki's eyes narrowed.
"If Mr. Whelan required medical attention, I have no objection to his prompt departure. What puzzles me is that he would create these symbols and then deny all knowledge of them."
Tiisana leaned in to study the map. "Something in his heart, perhaps- or rather, a breakdown of his wits?"
"If so, of a most peculiar nature. These glyphs are recognizable Iconian in origin, even if I am unable to ascertain their meaning. They appear to be marking something, with coordinates for time as well as space."
The Amarkian Lieutenant (Junior Grade) studied the map, then jabbed her hand at it. "There! That matches the subspace instability we charted, fourteen days ago! It was me checking the short range scans of it against the long range! Every ten hours, the whole area would set to vibrating in five dimensions, like a pickup microphone. The resonance boosts subspace signals passing through, more and more until the peak hits. Then everything shuts down for a few minutes, the whole zone goes still, and it cycles back towards its peak again." She frowned. "What was all of this in aid of, though? What were the both of you doing?"
"We were attempting to chart likely supply routes for a number of Cardassian subspace relays. Such as this one," answered Tybek. He reached out with a finger and touched a marker on the screen... partially blotted out by an Iconian symbol.
They exchanged a long look. Tisana broke the silence. "Now that we speak of it, I remember something about Whelan and the old Iconians. There was a mission to some Iconian ruins just before Commodore ka'Sharren left the ship, you remember. Whelan was in sickbay a long while, he touched something on the planet- and it touched him, I fancy. I never heard all the details, beyond the gist of what the captain said in her briefing to the security teams- you remember, the one with the song and dance. But-" she smiled slowly, laying a finger alongside her nose. "I know who would know."
"Lieutenant Clunn," affirmed Tybek.
A little while later the short Tellarite was nodding her head. "Oh, I remember Whelan. They were keeping the details confidential at the time, but eventually word got our about what happened. Guess the two of you aren't exactly gossip central of the ship. Anyway, Whelan got an Iconian database put into his head. It was the talk of the ship for a while, but Commander Zaardmani figured out how to reverse it and he was fine. Is this important?"
"That it could be..." said Tisana.
"I would say the probability of the incident's relevance has risen significantly," answered Tybek, looking up from a PADD that had just beeped with a message.
At the puzzled expression on the faces of the two women he elaborated. "The subspace relay on which Mr. Whelan marked the Iconian sigil... the ship has just set course towards it at emergency warp."
Peter Whelan wasn't looking very good when they were finally able to speak to him. After some back and forth where the trio of Lieutenants (Junior Grade) explained the situation, he looked even worse.
"It still happens sometimes. I get flashes of knowledge, little bits of Iconian data that didn't quite make it out of my brain. It wouldn't so bad except I go into a kind of trance when it happens. It's a miracle they still let me on duty. I have to report in the Doctor T'Les weekly no matter what, and immediately if an incident happens."
"Peter," said Tisana, stepping forward and gripping him by the shoulder. "From what we can make out, there's a mission to this relay- a matter of haste and importance. The top officers aren't telling us much, but I know they're putting together an away mission. If any of this Iconian knowledge can make a difference, and you can help-"
Whelan looked at her hand gripping his shoulder, then looked back up determined. "Yeah... you're right. It was my own dumb fault I got this database in my head, and because of my mistake we lost our chance at priceless historical data. If any good can come of it I have to try. I can meditate, try to bring it back to the top of my mind, figure out what it was trying to tell me. But... it could be a little dangerous. I've... lost things before, trying this."
"Then logically Doctor T'Les should supervise," answered Tybek.
"She'd never approve. She'd order me not to," said Whelan.
The Vulcan's face got tightened slightly. "Then-"
"But Peter's hypothetical musings about what the doctor might or might not order don't correspond to an actual order, which he has not received, meaning he is free to act as he thinks is best," said Dill smoothly.
The Vulcan considered for a long moment. "Agreed," he said.
Some time later, Captain Samhaya Mrr'shan was being briefed by three very junior lieutenants.
"Time is tight, so tell me what you think you know now, and I'll consider discipline for this blatant attempt to circumvent medical advice later."
"Yes Captain," said Tybek. "Per the information that Mr. Whelan was able to retrieve, it appears that the Iconians either altered subspace in a number of specified locations or took advantage of a natural phenomenon. In any case, at the marked locations subspace undergoes a regular cycle of vibration and expansion, during which transmissions are enhanced by a factor of up to 3000% at the highest point in the wave. The Cardassians likely discovered this for themselves when looking for a place to put their relay. However, this also constitutes a weakness."
"Explain."
"Immediately after the peak of the cycle, which lasts approximately 9 hours, there are 7.1 minutes where local subspace is completely dead to both messages and sensor traffic. A temporal blind spot if you will. If, as I deduce, there is a mission being planned to this relay-"
"We could take advantage of the blindspot to sneak in and start our work without tripping any alarms," replied the Captain, her tail swinging back and forth. "It's a tight window, but it just might make the difference. All right, good work. Only- Why is it the three of you and not Mr Whelan?"
There was a long moment of silence.
"He... he's not able to speak right now, Captain. He forgot how," said Dill chim Clunn.
Captain Mrr'shan's fur rose ever so slightly.
"I see." She left the ready room without bother to dismiss three lieutenants (junior grade).
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Nervos Belli
Don't think this means you've won!
- Location
- Murica
Right now we're making overtures to the Sydraxians, attempting to secure cooperation with the Yrillians, and just had a diplomatic meeting with the Dawiar. Giving up the ability to do any of those is far worse to me than any Lecarre plot. Even if the Sydraxians could be persuaded to back off now, you have to know they'll be back as soon as war is declared. Whereas if we actually settle things now there's a chance that when we go to war with the Cardassians then their affiliates may not follow. That to me is worth much more than getting the Lecarre and Sydraxians to stop. Besides, I highly doubt the Cardassians can convince the Lecarre to stop their covert actions. That'd be like getting a Tellarite to stop arguing with everything.
- Location
- Canada
[X] Enterprise
Of course they might have been able to figure it out without pushing poor Whelan. You notice they had all the pieces already. But they wanted to be sure, to have the facts. So they pushed ahead in all their inexperience and junior grade determination.
It's one of those Trek endings that attempts to ask rather than answer a moral question. A sacrifice was made, but the question of whether it was really necessary is left open.
It's one of those Trek endings that attempts to ask rather than answer a moral question. A sacrifice was made, but the question of whether it was really necessary is left open.
AKuz
Been Better
- Location
- A Rising Tide of Horrors
- Pronouns
- She/Her
I hope this is a good format for this:
[x] Enterprise
-Episode: TBG: Deft Touch
[Teaser: Tensions with the Cardassians are at an all time high, and war is immanent if the Federation mishandles the talks. However Starfleet must obtain information vital to negotiations. Admiral Sousa orders Enterprise into Cardassian space to Retrieve the data from a comm relay.]
[Act 1: Captain Mrr'Shan receives her orders and briefs her senior staff. In another scene Enterprise Junior officers are processing data and Lieutenant (JG) Whelan seems to have a relapse of the iconian mental overload that he suffered in "TBG: Visions in the Dark"]
[Act 2: The Enterprise Junior officers discover that Whelan's latest relapse had information related to their apparent current mission in Cardassian space. Commander Kenchi spends time preparing Enterprise to use the stealth techniques that she has used in the past episodes "TBG: The Cardassian Incident" and "TBG: Cats and Dogs" as well as getting ready to access Cardassian data archives using the knowledge he gained from Kadek Tor in the Episode "TBG: Ghosts of the Future, Whispers of the Grave". He pushes the crew perhaps too far due to the important nature of the mission.
[Act 3: The Junior Officers including Whelan discuss what they've learned and the risks in pushing Whelan's condition. New Betazoid officer Ensign Nixa pushes herself to memorize Cardassian work procedures and attitudes as provided by the Cardassian Defector Gul Miran "TBG: "Ghosts and Whispers I and II" "TBG: Ghosts of the Future, Whispers of the Grave"]
[Act 4: Stol runs final checks on the shuttle that he and Bazeck spent Ten years working on. Ten years of upgrading and refining a single shuttle as a side project might end up saving the Federation. Mrr'Shan is darkly amused and comments about how absurd it is that the future of the Federation may come down to Stol and Bazeck's "Project Car". In the next scene The Junior officers ignore Doctor T'les' advice and push Lieutenant Whelan to use the bits Iconian data still in his brain. Whelan nearly dies during the attempt and the Junior officers are discovered by a medical alert.
[Act 5: The officer's share Whelan's discoveries with Captain Mrr'Shan. She does not like how the data was obtained but feels helpless to not use it. This leads into a Cliffhanger where Mrr'Shan orders the Enterprise into the Iconian modified subspace corridor during one of its "temporal dead spots"]
There. Does that work? Plan submitted in (First Draft, presumably the writers workshop this. I imagine that this not only airs at the same time that ENT: Damage would have, but also explores similar themes.) Episode format for your voting pleasure. Time to write an Omake about this.
[x] Enterprise
-Episode: TBG: Deft Touch
[Teaser: Tensions with the Cardassians are at an all time high, and war is immanent if the Federation mishandles the talks. However Starfleet must obtain information vital to negotiations. Admiral Sousa orders Enterprise into Cardassian space to Retrieve the data from a comm relay.]
[Act 1: Captain Mrr'Shan receives her orders and briefs her senior staff. In another scene Enterprise Junior officers are processing data and Lieutenant (JG) Whelan seems to have a relapse of the iconian mental overload that he suffered in "TBG: Visions in the Dark"]
[Act 2: The Enterprise Junior officers discover that Whelan's latest relapse had information related to their apparent current mission in Cardassian space. Commander Kenchi spends time preparing Enterprise to use the stealth techniques that she has used in the past episodes "TBG: The Cardassian Incident" and "TBG: Cats and Dogs" as well as getting ready to access Cardassian data archives using the knowledge he gained from Kadek Tor in the Episode "TBG: Ghosts of the Future, Whispers of the Grave". He pushes the crew perhaps too far due to the important nature of the mission.
[Act 3: The Junior Officers including Whelan discuss what they've learned and the risks in pushing Whelan's condition. New Betazoid officer Ensign Nixa pushes herself to memorize Cardassian work procedures and attitudes as provided by the Cardassian Defector Gul Miran "TBG: "Ghosts and Whispers I and II" "TBG: Ghosts of the Future, Whispers of the Grave"]
[Act 4: Stol runs final checks on the shuttle that he and Bazeck spent Ten years working on. Ten years of upgrading and refining a single shuttle as a side project might end up saving the Federation. Mrr'Shan is darkly amused and comments about how absurd it is that the future of the Federation may come down to Stol and Bazeck's "Project Car". In the next scene The Junior officers ignore Doctor T'les' advice and push Lieutenant Whelan to use the bits Iconian data still in his brain. Whelan nearly dies during the attempt and the Junior officers are discovered by a medical alert.
[Act 5: The officer's share Whelan's discoveries with Captain Mrr'Shan. She does not like how the data was obtained but feels helpless to not use it. This leads into a Cliffhanger where Mrr'Shan orders the Enterprise into the Iconian modified subspace corridor during one of its "temporal dead spots"]
There. Does that work? Plan submitted in (First Draft, presumably the writers workshop this. I imagine that this not only airs at the same time that ENT: Damage would have, but also explores similar themes.) Episode format for your voting pleasure. Time to write an Omake about this.
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Shard
One and Many
- Location
- Malaysia
There's precedent for this, I think, in the Biophage crisis when we had a volunteer research team on a sample of it on a station with self-destruct and numerous security measures (which ultimately failed to keep it contained, resulting in... self-destruct.).