To Boldly Go... (a Starfleet quest)
- Thread starter OneirosTheWriter
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That's precisely what sucks up all our resources, actually. If it weren't for Federalization, I'd have wanted UP2 earlier. As it stands... we can use it, but not to the full extent of its potential. That puts it in the "when all the crucial items are bought" category for me, rather than being a crucial item in of itself.
I've also slowly come around to the view that the main benefit to UP is the HIP, which can allow turnarounds short enough that it lets us build in reaction rather than continually. Having only a 1.5y build time is great for increasing virtual berth space, but there's also a serious tempo advantage in spitting out a new design or a wave of something right for the circumstances, and that advantage is difficult to measure.
Omake - Righteous - Briefvoice
Righteous
Commodore Chekov enters your office. "Reporting as ordered, Admiral ch'Tharvasse," he says.
You nod back. "Take a seat, Commodore." As he does, you take a moment to study Pavel Chekov in person. He has wrinkled skin and his hair is grey and going whitish, typical signs of aging in a human. He's an old man, 78 years old. Well only one year older that you, in fact, but you're not the one about to head off to the other side of known space for a mission likely to last years.
"You've read through your orders?" you ask before the silence stretches long enough to be awkward. It's just a way of opening conversation, of course he has.
Chekov nods unhurriedly. He doesn't seem particularly intimidated at meeting the Commander of Starfleet, but then why should he be? No matter how much power you wield, in his storied career he's met those more powerful and more terrible and more of a villain than you'll ever be. One of Kirk's crew, one of the last still on line service and able to be considered for this kind of duty.
"Take a squadron of Excelsiors, head to the other side of the Cardassian Union, meet this 'Righteous Allupii Empire' and get them to reform their social structure enough we can affiliate them," says Chekov.
"This might be one of the most ambitious missions I've ever approved," you confess. "You'll be as far from home as our furthest Explorer Corps missions, and if you get in trouble there's no way we can support you. Admiral Lathriss expects the mission to last for years; I might very well not be Commander of Starfleet by the time you get back. So..." Uncharacteristically, words fails you.
"So?" he prompts.
"So I decided I owed you an in-person meeting. Here's your chance to ask me whatever you want about the mission, tell me your thoughts, ask for specific resources, advise me to cancel the entire thing... whatever. This is your direct channel to the top." You slide a PADD across the desk at him. "A copy of your mission briefing if you need it to get your thoughts in order."
Chekov ignores the PADD, leans his head forward, and speaks, "Serfdom. Better than slavery, but not by much. You know, serfdom on Earth was invented in my home region of Russia. Not one of our inventions I'm proud of. To get rid of it required a bloody red revolution."
Your antenna twitch as your stomach turns. "I'm not sending you to start a revolution."
"You have no idea what you're sending me to do! The Voshov contacted these people once, stayed for a month, and were then on their way. We've had no direct communication with the Kaiser that rules these Allupii, and the Voshov's meeting with this 'sub-King Rabenstrag' ended in a duel. We still know very little about their society, their history, and what potential there is for reform or what tools will be required to do it."
"Commodore, are you advising me to cancel the mission?"
Chekov shakes his head. "No. I would have refused the assignment if I didn't believe in it. This is a valuable opportunity. We're not acting to save the Chrystovians because it's too late; because Starfleet didn't prepare years ago. Or at least that's what you said, Admiral."
You feel a hot flush of shame still at your decision.
Chekov continues, "An alliance with the Allupii is our chance to keep history from repeating itself. For once we're the ones taking the initiative against the Cardassians, not reacting. We're the ones reaching out to a species on their flanks, encircling them with an alliance, making them be the ones fumbling to catch up. Ainsworth and ka'Sharren proved in Gabriel that's the way to beat them. All the things that Admiral Lathriss wrote about this mission are true. It's a good mission."
"So then what do you mean I have no idea what I'm sending you to do?"
"I mean this mission has to play under Explorer Corps rules. Where we're going, there are unknown unknowns. I don't know what choices I'll have to make to keep my squadron alive and make this mission a success. I'll have to decide who the Federation's friends can be and find out how to make them our friends. For all I know, I might have to organize a revolution myself. We Russians are good at revolutions."
Explorer Corps rules. Chekov is right. Explorer Corps captains have raised revolutions and overthrown societies and gotten it retroactively approved in their board of review afterwards, because they were the sophont on the spot making the tough calls. Not that you think an old man like Chekov is worried about the board of review afterwards. What does he care? No, he's worried about orders from home trying to second guess a situation they don't understand. Or maybe about his captains worrying too much about board of reviews.
You make a decision.
"All right, Commodore, you'll have your Explorer Corps rules. For the duration of Task Force Righteous, you'll be reporting to Admiral T'Lorel, not regular Operations. They have some slack capacity for the next six quarters anyway, while we wait for the Ambassadors to launch. You're going to be officially Squadron Five and your actions and those of your captains will be judged as though it were an Explorer Corps mission."
Chekov nods in satisfaction. "Thank you Admiral."
You have to add. "A much as you'll be able to report at all, anyway. Hopefully the relay stations you drop along the way will stay intact, but the Cardassian Union has every incentive to destroy them once they realize your mission. If that happens, we might be out of touch until you can convince the Allupii to build a subspace transmitter strong enough to punch across the Union."
He gives a little shrug. "That's part of the mission anyway. We can't call them affiliates if we can't talk to them."
"What else?" you ask him.
He retrieves the PADD and circles three ships with his finger. "The Pleezirra, the Salnas, and the Odyssey... I want them replaced with the Spirit, the Endurance, and the Opportunity."
"What; why? Those are some of our best captains," you protest.
"What, and you don't need your best captains at home with six Excelsiors off the roster?" But there's an odd tone in Chekov's voice.
You make an 'out with it' gesture with your hand.
"Maria Volkov, Xuggaed, and Nalae Veraniss are on the Panel of Captains. If they come with me then there's no scenario they'll be home when the new Ambassadors launch in six quarters. They'll lose their chances at five year missions."
Ships should of course not be pushed around to accommodate the careers of individual captains, but you have to appreciate Chekov's loyalty. Maybe there is something to what he says about sending off so many of your best people for so long. But- "I'll give you the Spirit for the Pleezirra and the Endurance for the Salnas, but the Odyssey and Captain Veraniss stay."
You raise your hand before he can argue further. "Trust me, you'll need her. There's more to her than just the commendations in her personnel file. She has a personal style that will fit in very well with the Allupii from everything we know about them. A real... swashbuckler I believe is the term."
"Understood," replies Chekov. "I can have the Endurance, eh? At least now I know where I'll be putting my flag."
That's right, Chekov commanded the Endurance about a decade ago. It ought to be just like coming home.
He moves on to the next topic of conversation. "I read the analysis in my orders, Admiral, but straight from the top what do you think I'm looking at as far as Cardassian interference?"
This you have an answer for. You headed Starfleet Intelligence yourself once, a couple of decades ago, and you're still capable of reading between the lines.
"I think we have a good chance of the Obsidian Order not knowing where you've gone, at least for a while. Information about this mission has been held as a priority secret, and Admiral Lecras is conducting a misinformation campaign. We can't hide that six of our Excelsiors are dropping out of sight, so we're going to let it be hinted that you're on a top secret mission in Romulan space. The Romulans agreed to help after we called in some favors. I think they consider this kind of thing good sport anyway.
"Keeping it mostly Starfleet helps. There was talk early on about sending the Basilica of Lakhept, but either we'd have to lie to the Honiani about where their flagship is in the name of security or practically send the Obsidian Order a letter announcing our intentions. That leaves the Apiata Little Queenship and Stingers support we've secured, but they're good at keeping secrets and have low Cardassian penetration of their information networks."
You pause for effect, and Chekov smiles ruefully like he knows what's coming.
"That's the good news, Commodore. The bad news is that it's certain that the Obsidian Order is keeping their eyes on such a large and dangerous neighbor. The moment you arrive in Allupii space, the clock starts ticking. Time for their agents to see you. Time for their agents to report back. Time for their High Command to panic and decide what they want to do, scramble some ships, and do it. My guess is that you might have a year if you're lucky, maybe only three quarters if you aren't."
"Then what?" he asks.
"Then they probably do their best to destroy your lines of communication like we discussed. And when they're sure they've done that, they come after you... if they can. Neither of us should doubt for a moment that the Cardassians will be willing to kill you if they think they can get away with it. Before they can muster enough ships to destroy a nine ship fleet, it is imperative that you secure some sort of sponsorship or alliance or at least some sort of guest right from someone important in the Allupii political system. Something that means they can't just roll in a battlefleet on you without severely damaging relations with the Allupii."
Chekov just nods.
You add, "On the positive side, I plan to personally take the meeting when the Cardassian Ambassador understands what we're doing and comes to complain about it. I expect it to be very satisfying to watch his head metaphorically explode."
Chekov actually laughs a little at the thought. Then he asks, "What about my request for an Amarkian Gendarme detachment?"
Yes, that's a tricky one. You tell him the truth. "John tells me we're getting pushback from the Amarkians since there's no Amarkian ship in the squadron. They'd love to get a Riala out there. He's confident they'll come around, though."
"I hope so, Admiral. I've read the Voshov's logs several time. If the Allupii to take me seriously, apparently I need some sort of title. Of course we can make up whatever we want, but I doubt they are a stupid people. Having what they will consider a personal guard or personal order of knights would go a long way to sell such a deception or exaggeration. The Amarki know how to do nobility in a way we Russians have forgotten."
Again with the Russians! Must be a very culturally distinct region of Earth. You don't know enough Earth history to say.
"They'll come around," you reassure him. "Speaking of attachments, we're keeping this held even tighter than even the mission itself, but one of your diplomatic squads is actually going to be a Starfleet Intelligence Field Intel team. They may not have a lot to do in the first year, but when the Obsidian Order does show up they'll be in place and ready. Don't call them; they'll liaise with you through your Underway Intelligence officer.
You discuss the remaining attachments with Chekov, including the University of Betazed Contact Team (just in case) and Pallas-Abat Institute Ship Design Team to help keep hulls intact if things get rough. As you wrap up, Chekov asks a question.
"Why me, Admiral? Why an old man?"
Who is only one year older than you. Still, you don't pretend not not know what he's talking about. "Medical gives you a clean bill of health, but I'm not going to lie, it would be nice for me if you were twenty years younger."
"Nice for you?" He laughs.
"All right, yes, that's funny. But we settled on you because you're good at keeping people alive. There's no personnel department out there you can go to for replacements if crew die. What you have is what you have. You're a survivor old man, and you'll keep everyone else alive.
Chekov nods and gets up to leave. "Thank you for this meeting, Admiral."
"You're welcome. And Commodore? Good luck."
He'll need it, you do not say. You don't need to say it.
This does rather depend on getting my recommended deployments and ships voted for the TF to be canon.
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- Location
- Aotearoa
That was good. With the other changes, I'm still a little conflicted and would like the Theatre Rennies, but swapping to:
[X][TASK] Briefvoice 2324 TF Plan
-[X] Call up 32 points of ships (120 pp, call up four cargo ships)
[X] [SQUAD] Briefvoice 2324 Garrison
[X][TASK] Briefvoice 2324 TF Plan
-[X] Call up 32 points of ships (120 pp, call up four cargo ships)
[X] [SQUAD] Briefvoice 2324 Garrison
Forgothrax
Not Going Gently
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We're also going to want to buy these for all the member zones facing the Cardassians.
- Location
- Illinois
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40pp per set of stations is a bit ouch at this point with everything else we need, but we might be able to get one this year. Or, even better, get a discount on them following the events of this quarter.
Flip-Flopping again.
[X][EC] Assign Courageous
[X][ODY] Withdraw from Explorer Corps
[X] [SQUAD] Briefvoice 2324 Garrison
[X][TASK] Briefvoice 2324 TF Plan
-[X] Call up 32 points of ships (120 pp, call up four cargo ships)
[X][EC] Assign Courageous
[X][ODY] Withdraw from Explorer Corps
[X] [SQUAD] Briefvoice 2324 Garrison
[X][TASK] Briefvoice 2324 TF Plan
-[X] Call up 32 points of ships (120 pp, call up four cargo ships)
- Location
- Aotearoa
Presumably Chens discount on infrastructure in STO space would qualify.
Forgothrax
Not Going Gently
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We've got to have Rethelia and Apinae covered, no bones about it. GBZ and possibly CBZ too to cover our shipping. Starbases are great, and we need to slather all 4 of those regions in Outposts to create a tight sensor network and create bulwarks from which the local fleet can fight. All local starbases/major world defenses need maximum reinforcement and mines stockpiled to allow us to lay minefields upon a rise in tensions (ironically, the Cardassians are going to struggle with mines, the average S of their screen will lag significantly behind ours).
Doing as much of this immediately as we can also sends a message, as would a United Fleet exercise in Q4. And the message is "we're getting ready for next time."
- Location
- Australia
Vote closed, tally please?
Forgothrax
Not Going Gently
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See above.
- Location
- alphen aan den rijn
dammit the order got here before me.
i was just about too say that
i was just about too say that
Ok, as I currently understand it, [USS Odyssey (Nalae Veraniss)] will be far out of range when the Ambassador wave is released.
We have 6 Ambassadors that we will need to decide EC/Normal crewing this year (5 in Q3, 1 in Q4), with EC Captains needing to be picked next year for the vessels with EC crewing.
We have 9 - 1 = 8 currently available Captains listed here, so how many of those Ambassadors are we likely to assign to the EC (5 or all 6?) and who is going to miss out?
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I had a suspicion that this might be the case.
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We have several additional Keplers coming off the lines next year; depending on how things go this year, we might be able to shake loose enough ships for a a Bolian task force.
Although that will make us the creepy guys who won't take a hint and leave people alone.
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- Australia
Hm. Do people still need the Current Fleets listing in the MWCD, or is the wiki helping people track that better?
Wiki still a little incomplete; "List of Fleets" Page needs to be coded.
It's a little bit of a pain to find individual Fleets without using the Search option. And I Know plenty of people on SV/SB don't use the search function.
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I'd like to still see it in the posts. Easier to read through without having to open more tabs.
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I'm on a smartphone; I'm screwed either way.
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- Illinois
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Wiki still needs updating. A lot of them are complete in terms of hull numbers currently, but there's a lot of information still missing, mostly names (though those would mostly be on the database).
EDIT:
On it.
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I like having it for verification purposes. (Also, Ashidi and Yrillians added this year?)