I can see why this set of Captain's logs took some extra time. That was a lot of material!
Captain's Log, USS Sarek, Stardate 22337.2 - Captain Straak
After a truly inefficient series of months spent dealing with a wide variety of the most illogical sentients, I am pleased to report that the USS Sarek has returned to mapping unexplored star systems. This is a most satisfactory course of action.
After all, pulsars emit their destructive bursts of energy and radiation with logical predictable regularity. I can say no such thing for Gaeni Tech-Cruisers, the wisdom of whose designs are still a matter of meditation for me.
I like how Straak's personality is already starting to shine through. He might be good at sorting out sentient squabbles, but that's not what he wants to be doing.
Captain's Log, USS Enterprise, Stardate 22337.8
Thanks to Izzidiera's intervention, I have been given access to the High Council of Queens. I believe that I gave a good account of my ship and the Federation. Meeting all these illustrious queens, though... I am worried. I think a big question still looms over how the Queen/Worker scenario works with the Federation's stance on individual freedoms. The workers are, after all, born with the urge to serve their Queens and from what I'm told, being cut off from them for an extended period is extremely upsetting. But this gives us a scenario whereby a great swathe of sentient people are held in willing servitude.
I admit, I'm a little concerned about how it will play out.
And indeed, we never do get any particular resolution on the Queen/Worker issue. Something to worry about if they ever slowly grind their way up to +300 Relationship.
Captain's Log, USS Cheron, Stardate 22338.1
We have arrived at the Indorian colony world of Pridorin IV, a mining colony just on the Federation side and core-ward of their homeworld, responding to a distress call. It seems that a large escort ship has been attempting to intimidate Indorian trade vessels in the area that were headed for Amarkian space. We are first on the scene, but the Kumari and Challorn are responding as well, and should be here within the hour.
Nice to see the Cheron get to do something besides being blown up and finding minerals. I think you mentioned this is no longer Revak and he's moved on to other things?
Now the Indorians are an affiliate and the Cardassians were intimidating vessels going to the Amarki, so this was definitely a "claimed space" interaction. Nice to see Uhura pay off near immediately as well.
As per our rules of engagement, we have closed with the Parok at Red Alert, and they have withdrawn. However, a Jaldun-class destroyer has appeared immediately in their stead.
Okay, I am thinking this right here is where we earned our Militarization point. Instead letting them make their excuses and playing it cool, it out the Cheron closed with them aggressively as per our "don't back down" discussion.
@OneirosTheWriter is that about the size of it?
I think "don't back down" in the ROE is going to earn us a lot of problems. I know there was a lot of discussion in the thread about not letting the Cardassians see us as "weak" and that's the same old excuse that always gets trotted out whenever aggressive military action is called for. As though perception is more important than reality.
The Apiata have confronted us with these phony sensor logs that were apparently "kindly" retreived by the CDF Trager, which we had the displeasure of discovering was sitting in orbit. Of course, while we know they are lies, proving them to be is anothing thing entirely. Nonetheless, we have agreed to present our case to the Council of Queens at Dorsata colony. I have put in a call to the Enterprise as well. Although an Excelsior has little to fear from a Jaldun-class destroyer, we did get a sensor reading briefly of something rather larger hiding out in the outskirts of the system, and I'd rather have the backup.
That bit about something larger lurking out there is extremely worrisome. It seems like the Cardassians may have called up their own heavy cruiser but aren't ready to reveal it yet. How powerful are their biggest ships?
I don't think anyone in a Starfleet uniform believes them, but the Apiata are accepting it for now.
[Cardassian Relations with Apiata -25, +10rp]
Wait, do you have a whole separate set of numbers tracking Cardassian relationships with other species? How deep does this rabbit hole go!?
Captain's Log, USS Cheron, Stardate 22339.7
After the arrival of the rest of the Cardassian Border Zone fleet, including Commodore Uhura on the Kumari, the Jaldun harassing the Indorians has bugged out. Not, however, before giving the Challorn a very close fly-by and intensive scan. Captain Mbeki ordered weapons targeting on the ship as it went by and for a moment it seemed that it would break out into combat after all, but the Jaldun continued on and then left the system.
[+25 Relations with Indorians]
[Cardassians -5 Relations with Indorians]
[+1 Militarisation Point]
Ouch. That is the first miltiarization point we've ever gotten in the quest, and it stings. Puts us only two below the Threat Level as well.
First Officer's Log, USS Miracht, Stardate 22340.0
Captain Thuir has been gravely injured. A phaser blast very nearly killed him. If we'd gotten him to sickbay even a minute later...
Despit that, many crew members are dead. I have organised the recovery of wounded and bodies as best I can, and at most recent count, all crew are accounted for. Sydraxian ships harried us as we escaped the system, and our shields collapsed. I have set a maximum warp course to Leas Akaam to begin organising repairs.
We still are unclear as to exactly what local custom we broke. I do not know for sure if we will ever know, but the Sydraxians are apparently nearly as angry we deprived them of the "trophy" of the offending party as with the original offence itself.
[2 Hp damage, 1 Officer, 1 Enlisted Killed, will be towed back to shipyard, -100 Relations with Sydraxians]
Well. Now I know what a truly disastrous series of rolls looks like. I didn't know Relations could go to a negative number! Luckily they weren't a species we were particularly enthusiastic about, but still ouch. And that means we lose two turns worth of Captain's Logs. Thuir did not acquit himself very well here, I must say.
Director Sirvk, 40 Eridani A Shipyards, Stardate 22353.7
Assessment of the USS Vokau has led to further assessments of the remaining Soyuz-class vessels. We estimate that all four will require replacement warp cores within the next five years. The future of these escorts is now the matter of considerable debate, most of it intensely negative. This is the second serious breakdown of a Soyuz-class vessel in recent times, and it is the opinion of many in this department that they are becoming liabilities. There should be another ten years on their current refit cycle, but it remains doubtful the hulls will last to that point.
[Next Shipyard Operations phase will include a formal recommendation by Shipyard Operations and Starfleet Engineering Command to scrap all remaining Soyuz-class escorts]
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I think we're going to have to say "yes" to that. I knew those Centaurs would have to go. But damn, Starfleet is being squeezed tight. Fewer ships, more territory to cover. We need better ships and more of them.
Front page notes:
@OneirosTheWriter we no longer have any "Unassigned" ships, so you should probably take that Centaur out of there.
what would you prefer to emphasize with ship designs? Reliability? Quick research times? Cheap ships? Maximum capability?
