- Pronouns
- He/Him
Well, our current strategy is to encircle the Harmony of Horizon in a net of ships, starbases and allies. It's also our plan for curtailing misbehavior by the Cardassian Union. Once that's in place, we'll reevaluate our options.
-
Going forward, links to content from Twitter (now X) will no longer be embedded. Pre-existing links should not be affected.
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?
- Location
- Germany
- Pronouns
- He/Him
We also had the update that explained to us how the Singer's usually work - consent, than mindwiping. Staying on the fringe, avoiding that and going rogue doesn't sound like a lot of individuals would try and survive.
You know what, I'm not really interested in writing the hypothetical future omakes for the revolution right now.
What I am telling you is that we are not in a position to forcibly remove the rulers of a peer galactic power from their thrones. End of story. If we try and are actually having some success, they'll offer us a peace treaty and the Federation government will take it.
So all these discussions about what we should "do with" the Singers are pointless. We are not in a position to "do" anything with them anymore than we are with the heads of the Klingon, Romulan, Cardassian, or Breen governments.
Last edited:
To be exact, the only way they survive appears to be pretending to be a perfectly consensus-abiding member of society, so that no one ever has any reason to reprogram them and discover they were never running Loyalty.exe.
I know that. It is inherently unethical to abandon all those people, but the Federation will do it in an admittedly regretful heartbeat if the alternative is too expensive. I just want to make clear that abandoning them is not the right thing to do, nor will it lead to a solution by the magic of waiting. Not this time.
Last edited:
- Location
- Germany
- Pronouns
- He/Him
That's different from 'you may not have that opinion because it's politically incorrect'. Part of the dilemma the Federation faces is that there will be individuals thinking about the 'easy' solutions. That needs to be addressed, before we get the Singer version of a 'office 31 versus the Founders' action. And addressing means offering alternate solutions.
KnightDisciple
Love God. Do Right. Fear No Man.
- Location
- Midwest, USA
I object to people going on about the virtues of killing all the Singers because it's a morally repugnant stance, not a "politically incorrect" stance.
- Location
- Peterborough, NH, USA
Also, the mods have determined that to be genocide, if I'm any indication.
I would contest that assertion, but I'm not an idiot.
Last edited:
- Pronouns
- He/Him
So, in the interest of shifting the conversation towards more practical concerns, who here has thoughts about shipbuilding for the upcoming game year?
Himmelhand
Giant Sinkhole 2020
- Location
- Midwestern US
Looking at the shipbuilding spreadsheet, a lot of 2326 will be ongoing builds (i.e., the Comet wave). Much of the projected "new" construction will be Renaissance-A refits.
The biggest thought I have is that we may want to reconsider those timetables to allow more ships to be present on the border (sending fewer cruisers into refit), and possibly to have a reserve of resources to repair damaged ships and replace lost crew (beginning 1-2 fewer new build projects). Most notably, the sheet shows a small deficit of officers (3.88) in 2326Q4. That's a slim margin when we're staring at a potential shooting war.
Last edited:
Thors_Alumni
Proud member of Thors Class VII from Liberl
- Location
- Liberl Zemuria.
that's Briefvoices job and he does a fantastic job of it. he listens to what the player base says about what they think should be the priority for ship building and he knows enough about what the in game Starfleet needs at the moment to tailor the planning for future ship builds. right now we are just starting on a whopping 22 Comet class starships that will complete in a little over 2 years from the current in game date.
NHO
Dumb is a state of existence
- Location
- ᓚᘏᗢ
Please, provide. Whole thread wants this.
2325.Q4 TF Liberty and TF Chorus
While all the high drama has been unfolding in Paris, you've been keeping a weather eye on the reports rolling in from the rimward border. It's likely that, with the war warning, that the Council will withdraw all but the most critical outreach tasks. At least Chekov's fleet is making its way home. As for the rimward task forces, it's been… messy.
Task Force Commander's Log -- Task Force Liberty, Commodore Abigail Taggart
(End the Rimward Slave Trade)
Captain's Log, SFS Sign of Rethelia, Captain Acitos Sanos
With that last scare, I have ordered the squadron to withdraw to Ruby Eyes' Folly. We have pursued the Hishmeri slave transports out past Ittick-Ka space, but it seems every third light-year we encounter another Sept patrol. There are more warp wakes on scans than be counted by eye, and we will not continue to evade them for long. I am sorry to report the targets have escaped.
[Event Failed]
--
Captain's Log, OUS Bokura
Not 10 light-years out of Emporium we ran straight into a yet-unaccounted-for Packhorse and attendant fleet. It was a close call, but both ships of my little squadron managed to escape. Long-range scans indicate the Hishmeri have changed course rimwards after meeting yet more reinforcements, and we will no longer be able to track them. I no longer believe a single shipyard can account for the ships we have seen - perhaps only a small portion of the Hishmeri fleet has operated on our border all along.
[Event Failed]
--
Executive Officer's Log, Commander Starlily
I should explain how the event that Commodore Taggart has been calling the Perfect's Ball works. The seven Majestics are all gathered aboard Radiant Firemind's Bastard, their attendant fleets surrounding it. There are some familiar names here: Glittering Hunter, Fiery Roar, Halcyon Mako, Diamond Iris, and three others. Also in attendance are a small Ittick-Ka squadron, the Liberty, and a Cardassian Jaldun. I'll get to them in a moment.
The Perfect of the Septs is each Majestic's ideal of the "Perfect" Hishmer - endowed with the best capabilities: leadership, calculation, charisma, ruthlessness, and so on. The candidates, if any are put forward, are engineered or bred and then raised from birth by the Majestics to embody whatever qualities would make them Perfect. A strong Majestic could control the Perfect as if a regent of a monarch, if their candidate could usurp the existing Perfect.
The Cardassian delegation showed up late, but with a plan. The Obsidian Order seems to have their snouts in every pie, and have been working the Majestics on the side while Adamant Dunebreaker and Radiant Firemind have it out in the main chamber. Unfortunately, no Majestic would see anything wrong with accepting gifts, or being fawned over by petitioners. Ordey has been cooperating with General Kit'le'rum has in countering the Cardassian push, but they simply are willing to offer more than we are.
Soon us "interlopers" will have the opportunity to speak to the gathered Majestics. I hope the Commodore can make our case then.
--
"And so it is with pride that we acknowledge the Septs as our friends in strength, and we wish that your infinite prosperity continues, free from the binding chains your coreward neighbors would force upon you. We are immensely grateful to be invited to observe this conference, and I will leave you with only this: Cardassia stands with you in defiance. Thank you."
--
"You respect strength, yet the Cardassians have come to you with soft whispered words in dark corners. Will you bow to these sycophants, even as they harbor your grand enemy the Imelak and seek to pull your tails out from under you? I say no! The Hishmer cannot be bought! We come to this conference seeking to deal with the Hishmer as equals, openly, without pretenses. I may sometimes oppose your actions, but the Federation will at least deal fairly. Think carefully, who you can trust, Majestics."
The scattered tail thumps and a yawn from Halcyon Mako punctuates Hishmer disinterest in a speech that would have instigated a riot back on Earth.
"At this rate…" Captain Sokolov murmurs.
"Have faith in the Commodore, Captain," Starlily says. "The Ittick-Ka are next."
"That's Colonel Mel'ix'it. Where's the General?"
"Shh, he's starting."
"Friends! I come to you today, to appeal to the courage of all Hishmer. For under Radiant Firemind, your people have been divided! The Federation and the Union speak of strength, but there is no strength greater than a People united together, for one purpose, guided by one mind. When I look at the Hishmer, I see a People with vast potential. And my Sages, in their immense wisdom, see this potential too. With a true Perfect's guiding wisdom, you could be great! No longer fighting for the scraps of Empires, but as an Empire in your own right. No longer lashing out aimlessly, but guided by wisdom and strategy. No longer constrained by supplies and logistics, but working with the industrious…"
As he speaks, a hiss of unhappy mewling washes over the chamber, yet Mel'ix'it continues unabated.
"...and bringing with it a fair share of the spoils. Cooperation will let us guide your righteous wrath, and send it against those who have long denied you your due, as they have denied us our..."
"Look," Taggart says. She points to the Cardassian Union delegation, who have an interesting set of horrified expressions on their faces. The Gul quickly rises and ushers the rest his delegation out, even as the Hishmer surrounding them hoot and holler at Mel'ix'it and steal angry glances at the retreating Cardassians.
"Did you plan this?" Sokolov asks. "I can't really see how-"
"Later," Starlily says, cutting her off. "We'll explain, but later."
"...thank you?" Mel'ix'it finishes, finally realizing the crowd had turned against him. He is ushered off the stage by hulking Ittick bodyguards and quickly vanishes.
"DUNEBREAKER!" Radiant Firemind thunders as she leaps onto the platform, her tail giving an audible thump on the metal. "IS THIS WHAT YOU MEANT BY STRENGTH? YOU MEAN TO MAKE US MERCENARIES FOR THE ITTICK, TO WALK HAND IN HAND WITH THE GREAT ENEMY THE CARDASSIANS HAVE SHELTERED? I NAME YOU TRAITOR. COME UP HERE AND ACCOUNT FOR YOURSELF!"
The other Hishmer pushes himself up onto the platform and circles Radiant Firemind warily, his white and black striped fur rippling in challenge.
"Better strength than weakness, pretender," he hisses. "For all your talk, you would yoke us to the Federation to smother our way of life."
"Then it is true!" Radiant Firemind shouts, looking out over the crowd to the platform containing the Majestics. "Big talk, Dunebreaker, but your friends have shown their true colors today. Are we herd-cats, or are we predators? You would make us slaves again!"
The crowd jeers as the Perfect and her rival argue, and no Hishmer notices the Starfleet delegation slip away from the chamber.
--
Executive Officer's Log, Commander Starlily
As I explained to Captain Sokolov, we had no chance of competing with the Cardassians in a shadow-game, nor was the Perfect really interested in stopping them with Adamant Dunebreaker taking all her attention. But Colonel Mel'ix'it was a weak point - too eager to promote an Ittick-Hishmeri alliance, but lacking the xenopsychological context the Cardassians were using so carefully. While the delegation from Cardassia knew that Hishmeri independence was a sore point, Mel'ix'it thought in Ittick terms and was eager to sell the benefits of close cooperation. He just didn't know the right way to present it to Septs, being a military officer, not a diplomat.
So the Commodore leaked some talking points to Mel'ix'it through General Kit'le'rum, disguised as a false xenopsych report that had been "stolen" from us. Mel'ix'it wrote his own speech that he thought would drive the Hishmeri to pick Adamant Dunebreaker and drive them into the Ittick-Ka's waiting arms. Instead, he inflamed a Hishmer audience who was already tired of interlopers telling them what to do at the most important event of the decade, and Radiant Firemind was quick to seize the opportunity. In the chaos, the Jaldun quickly took its delegation aboard and departed, knowing that their position here had been destroyed.
And best of all, the collapse of the budding Ittick-Hishmeri alliance gave Kit'le'rum a reason to investigate Mel'ix'it. Hopefully what comes of that will aid Huth fop Makpol out of what looks to be a sticky situation.
[Event Passed!]
--
With the treaty modifications pushed through by Radiant Firemind, we should see an end to Hishmeri raiding of affiliates and pre-warps on the rimward border. While I should not speculate as to the will of the Council, I do not believe we have the ability to prosecute a campaign even farther from our borders. An adequate deterrent force will ensure the Hishmeri stick to the terms and-
****WHUMP!****
Oh dear. Taggart to bridge-
Task Force Commander's Log -- Task Force Chorus, Acting Commodore Kith th'Risroth
(Stop the war with the Gorn)
I am still trying to understand what happened. Sage Alaeru told us he was reviving Sage Vardegga, and then the Commodore and the Diplomatic Service team were summoned to meet the revived Sage. I hear nothing for several hours. Then the revived Vardegga contacts Thirishar and tells us that the Commodore and his team have been arrested, that one of our Keplers shot his frigate to pieces, and that the Commodore will stand trial soon for Crimes Against The People. He has also asked us to turn over Commodore Taggart, if she can be summoned, for the same crimes. And then politely asked that we not go anywhere, lest our actions indicate our guilt.
It's quite a mess.
As next-most-senior officer, I have taken command of the Task Force and spent some time reviewing the Commondore's gathered intelligence. My best guess is that Huth fop Makpol is accused of orchestrating Vardegga's death along with Commodore Taggart, thanks to an eyewitness account from Sage Vardegga. I admit I am mystified, as we rather clearly demonstrated last quarter that we had not been involved. But I will ask the fleet to gather what evidence we can, and hope that it is enough to secure our diplomats' release.
--
Task Force Commander's Log -- Task Force Liberty, Commodore Abigail Taggart (continued)
My apologies, it appears the Obsidian Blades did not take the loss of Cardassian support kindly. Fortunately, Audacious and Hacolus showed up to introduce them to the photon lance. A few hours after the ships fled, Radiant Firemind contacted me to tell me that the rebels had been dealt with in a manner commensurate with their crimes.
[Event Passed!]
[Taggart sighs heavily.]
I have looked over the intelligence from the Sign of Rethelia's attempted raid and the Bokura's scouting mission, and can only conclude that Radiant Firemind and the Majestics as a whole have carefully concealed the true capabilities of the Septs. Their initial claims about their migratory purposes are obvious lies in retrospect, and the relatively small size of the Perfect's expedition coreward a deliberate omission. The truth of the Hishmeri Septs is much more alarming.
Based on interviews with freed Brosmen, we know that the Hishmeri are supplied from major agricultural worlds rimward of Ittick space, and control space through a migratory fleet that acts to extract food, resources, and slave labor from occupied territories. Based on what little we can track, those territories could be larger than we had previously assumed. They may possess multiple shipyards, mobile or otherwise, and are willing to work with or use polities they do not conquer. Their fleet is large enough to seriously alarm the Ittick-Ka and the Cardassian Union, and to excite the Klingon Empire, and ranges far enough to affect all three polities. Finally, the Perfect has dealt with her most significant challenger. Should the Septs return to our borders we can expect them to return in much greater force and with greater unity of purpose.
I only hope that when they come, we are more prepared.
[Task Force Partial Success. See end of post.]
--
Task Force Commander's Log -- Task Force Chorus, Acting Commodore Kith th'Risroth (continued)
Captain's Log, USS Lyflam, Captain Ewan Wallace
I have received General Kit'le'rum, Colonel Mel'ix'it, and delegation from their Outrider, which will need warp nacelle maintenance if our scans are correct. Lyflam is now departing to Daw at maximum warp.
--
Captain's Log, USS Harmony, Captain Eneram Idrai
… and finally, we managed to meet with some Ittick engineers who were meeting with their Gorn counterparts on Emporium on behalf of Sage Yeredu. I had my chief engineer carefully breach the question of Ittick-Ka nadion trace signatures, and we discovered that the Ittick-Ka manufacture their shipborne disruptors to a very exacting standard that produces a distinctive coherent signature. One that matches the signature we scanned down at the site Vardegga died.
Of course, the Ittick-Ka have sold these same ships to a number of Hishmeri Septs, which muddles the waters, but not in our direction. I have sent a volunteer from the Ittick engineering team to board the Hvrass and speak with the Sages directly, and the big ship is proceeding to Daw as fast as it can fly.
--
"And that concludes our report on the loss of the Swiftflier."
Captain Sh'warr'anth's fur ripples and the medals of her dress uniform jingle slightly as she salutes the three Sages in attendance, with the Ittick engineer looking on in dawning horror as he realizes what he just gave testimony to. Alaeru regards Captain Sh'warr'anth with a neutral expression, but Vardegga is troubled, and It'klt-ket is nodding thoughtfully, although he continues nodding for long after the Captain finishes speaking.
"Go," Vardegga speaks at last. "We must confer in private."
[Event Passed!]
--
Ship's Logbook, IGS Toan-Agar, Senior Naval Specialist Nac-Agar
My Toan-Agar arrived at almost the same time as the Lyflam. En route, Captain Wallace and the Ittick Kit'le'rum appear to have teased some actionable intelligence from an Ittick colonel. Toan-Agar will be linking computers with the Lyflam to track down the physical location of an electronic dead drop through subspace repeater pattern analysis. The procedure should yield results within two standard hours.
--
"I swear to you, my Sages, I had no idea. Had I known the consequences of my actions, I would have reported straight to you."
Colonol Mel'ix'it's head is bowed so low he cannot meet the eye of any of the gathered Sages.
"No Ittick would use such a system," Alaeru declares. "To take data from a 'dead drop', anonymized, soulless? It is unthinkable."
"Nor would a non-Ittick have such a drop on Suminekk," Vardegga says, puzzled. "Less than five dozen outsiders have set foot on the planet. Sometimes we must contemplate the unthinkable."
"There are Federation petitioners on Suminekk right now," Alaeru points out.
"We all know children sometimes have rebellious thoughts," another Sage interrupts, their hologram rippling as they do. "Thank you, Specialist Nac-Agar, for your evidence. You may leave."
The Gaeni lets out a breath of relief as he departs.
[Event Passed!]
--
… and the strangest thing is Vardegga refuses to meet with General Kit'le'rum, telling him that settling the Starfleet issue is the greatest threat to the security of the People. But how could anything be more important to the security of the People than debriefing the Hishmeri situation, Kit'le'rum wonders? I have no answers for him, not yet.
--
"Do you see the problem, Sage?" Huth fop Makpol asks through the forcefield of the prison's cell. "Your most trusted aide begs for an audience, to discuss a crucial mission, with far-reaching results. You remember he had a mission, but you don't know what that mission was. Your mind dismisses it as trivial, even as he begs for your council. Is there really nothing wrong here?"
"You… you may be right," Vardegga says, as if pained by the thought. Huth fop Makpol makes no comment as the Sage walks away.
Two long hours pass, with only the red-blinking lights of the security devices keeping the Tellarite company. Finally, the turbolift at the end of the cell block hisses open.
"Commodore," Vardegga says brusquely. Two Ittick troopers file out of the lift and stand behind him at attention, helmets and disruptors gleaming. At a gesture from the Sage, the forcefield hums louder, then fades suddenly.
"You're to come with me," Vardegga says.
Huth fop Makpol is led to the Palace's temple-bridge, where the other six Sages are gathered, Alaeru and It'klt-ket in the flesh and the others by stern-looking holograms. As fop Makpol stands below the seven daises, Vardegga paces before the chamber. Alaeru has no expression, but It'klt-ket stares directly at the Commodore, his distracted manner absent completely.
"It is clear," Vardegga begins, "that the Federation holds no complicity in my death. The evidence cannot be denied, nor could they subvert so many dedicated subjects so quickly. I do not know what has caused the unreliability in my memory, but Alaeru, I know your skill. I have seen it in action. I find it hard to believe you would make such an egregious mistake."
Their eyes meet even as the other Sages pause, expressions frozen. For a moment both Alaeru and Vardegga refuse to turn away. Then It'klt-ket coughs loudly, Vardegga blinks, and turns to the other Sages.
"I will say only this," Sage Vardegga continues. "When our Champion saved us, when the Ittick looked to us for guidance, we swore a compact. We swore on His name to a solemn duty, to bring the People we ruled into the stars, to shield them from the Dark Forest, and to shepherd them to better lives. I remember my duty clearly."
He taps a communicator of some sort.
"Do you?"
Then he disappears in a swirl of transporter particles. An Outrider drifts across the temple bridge's transparent roof, briefly shadowing the gathered Sages from the system's sun, then flashes into warp.
[Event Passed]
--
The hologram of Alaeru and It'klt-ket conversing after Vardegga's dramatic exit flickers out.
"You honor us by allowing us to witness this," a Betazoid Starfleet Captain tells the Sage, hoping flattery will take the edge off the hostility she senses.
"Do I?" Sage Eridu asks. "Think carefully. Though your Federation has not committed any crimes, your people have sown discord where we had unity. The Champion would weep if he saw us now. Perhaps that is what Alaeru realized, when he chose to do what he did. No, I do not honor you, Captain. And your presence here becomes less and less welcome by the day."
[Event Failed]
--
"I sympathize, Captains. Nothing concerns me more than the cries of our People in need. But you have also seen, now, the sacred trust between the Sages is fraying and strained. Alaeru and Vardegga listen deeply to the People's voice, more deeply than any of us, and if we cannot bring them to one purpose, our efforts will be for naught."
Sage Vek'ket'kt'rk's eyes turn sharp as he regards the Starfleet delegation.
"And we must do so ourselves. We must not make a dispute between brothers about a choice between outsiders. I suspect your Commodore will have orders for you, Captains. This audience is over."
[Event Failed]
--
Task Force Commander's Log -- Task Force Chorus, Commodore Huth fop Makpol
Nothing like the Commodore's quarters on an Excelsior-class after a vacation in a foreign prison.
Despite our innocence, the fleet was asked to leave Ittick-Ka space. We are lucky the Yokathi Lakhept order managed to keep regular diplomatic contact open, or I would be in serious trouble. The truth prevailed, but I fear what we have unleashed.
For the first time we know of, the Sages are working in open opposition. Some seek a reconciliation between Vardegga and Alaeru, and see our influence as divisive. I worry more about the Sages who are taking sides. They'll court whoever they can to gain an advantage: the Hishmeri, the Cardassians, even the Gorn.
One positive. While I was stuck in a cell, Ittick-Ka diplomats quietly met with Gorn Hegemony diplomats and convinced them to sign a nonaggression pact. Tragically, this was helped along by the death of Prince Celzash, as the pro-war Gorn Reclaimer faction now lacks its leader. We can only hope that any future King of the Hegemony will stick to this agreement. I do not know the exact terms, but we have accomplished our stated mission. Peace over violence, for a time.
[Task Force Success]
--
You set your PADD down on the table and sigh. Outside your office's window, the Paris skyline blurs in a winter rain.
Yes, very messy indeed. In particular, you can't see the Council being pleased by the result from Liberty. Taggart's failure to magic up a politically acceptable resolution to the Thamelsian situation will have both the Pacifists and Hawks glaring a hole in your uniform. That the largest battleship in the STO couldn't recover a single Thamelsian slave will also drive rimward councilors into a frenzy on the issue of security, even as the ongoing crisis draws ships coreward.
At least there won't be a war between the Gorn and Ittick-Ka, but that only gives leverage to the Cardassians and Klingons in promoting military alliances with the rimward powers, and has the Gorn looking for targets for their militarism, like your newest affiliates: The Misek.
Looks like you have your work cut out for you.
Task Force Liberty Results:
The [Rimward Slave Trade 250/500] has become [Rimward Slave Trade: 300/300] and is cleared. [Far-Rim Slave Trade: 0/300] added to the Hishmeri Septs. The Hishmeri have agreed to a raid-free corridor, out to the practical extent of the Federation's ability to patrol, and are withdrawing from the Federation border en masse. Ruby-Eyes Folly will become a Rimward Border Zone in deployment. [+10 PP]
[Distant Stars: 0/100] has been added to the Hishmeri Septs.
The Council is very concerned about the potential size of the Hishmeri threat, but the failure of the reconnaissance missions means you have no additional intelligence to give them. [-10 PP]
The Council is disappointed that no additional slaves could be recovered. [-10 PP]
Commodore Abigail Taggart gains +1 Command from commanding Task Force Liberty.
Task Force Chorus Results:
[Gorn/Ittick-ka Tensions: 300/300] and [The Modern Enemy (Ittick-Ka): 300/300] cleared. The Ittick-Ka and the Gorn Hegemony have signed a non-aggression pact. [+20 PP]
Tag [Sage vs Sage: N/A] has been added to the Ittick-Ka.
Ittick-Ka events added to potential Task Force generators.
Commodore Hugh fop Makpol gains +1 Presence from commanding Task Force Chorus.
TF Alarm and Royal results will be delayed, we're going to move forward without.
Task Force Commander's Log -- Task Force Liberty, Commodore Abigail Taggart
(End the Rimward Slave Trade)
Captain's Log, SFS Sign of Rethelia, Captain Acitos Sanos
With that last scare, I have ordered the squadron to withdraw to Ruby Eyes' Folly. We have pursued the Hishmeri slave transports out past Ittick-Ka space, but it seems every third light-year we encounter another Sept patrol. There are more warp wakes on scans than be counted by eye, and we will not continue to evade them for long. I am sorry to report the targets have escaped.
[Event Failed]
--
Captain's Log, OUS Bokura
Not 10 light-years out of Emporium we ran straight into a yet-unaccounted-for Packhorse and attendant fleet. It was a close call, but both ships of my little squadron managed to escape. Long-range scans indicate the Hishmeri have changed course rimwards after meeting yet more reinforcements, and we will no longer be able to track them. I no longer believe a single shipyard can account for the ships we have seen - perhaps only a small portion of the Hishmeri fleet has operated on our border all along.
[Event Failed]
--
Executive Officer's Log, Commander Starlily
I should explain how the event that Commodore Taggart has been calling the Perfect's Ball works. The seven Majestics are all gathered aboard Radiant Firemind's Bastard, their attendant fleets surrounding it. There are some familiar names here: Glittering Hunter, Fiery Roar, Halcyon Mako, Diamond Iris, and three others. Also in attendance are a small Ittick-Ka squadron, the Liberty, and a Cardassian Jaldun. I'll get to them in a moment.
The Perfect of the Septs is each Majestic's ideal of the "Perfect" Hishmer - endowed with the best capabilities: leadership, calculation, charisma, ruthlessness, and so on. The candidates, if any are put forward, are engineered or bred and then raised from birth by the Majestics to embody whatever qualities would make them Perfect. A strong Majestic could control the Perfect as if a regent of a monarch, if their candidate could usurp the existing Perfect.
The Cardassian delegation showed up late, but with a plan. The Obsidian Order seems to have their snouts in every pie, and have been working the Majestics on the side while Adamant Dunebreaker and Radiant Firemind have it out in the main chamber. Unfortunately, no Majestic would see anything wrong with accepting gifts, or being fawned over by petitioners. Ordey has been cooperating with General Kit'le'rum has in countering the Cardassian push, but they simply are willing to offer more than we are.
Soon us "interlopers" will have the opportunity to speak to the gathered Majestics. I hope the Commodore can make our case then.
--
"And so it is with pride that we acknowledge the Septs as our friends in strength, and we wish that your infinite prosperity continues, free from the binding chains your coreward neighbors would force upon you. We are immensely grateful to be invited to observe this conference, and I will leave you with only this: Cardassia stands with you in defiance. Thank you."
--
"You respect strength, yet the Cardassians have come to you with soft whispered words in dark corners. Will you bow to these sycophants, even as they harbor your grand enemy the Imelak and seek to pull your tails out from under you? I say no! The Hishmer cannot be bought! We come to this conference seeking to deal with the Hishmer as equals, openly, without pretenses. I may sometimes oppose your actions, but the Federation will at least deal fairly. Think carefully, who you can trust, Majestics."
The scattered tail thumps and a yawn from Halcyon Mako punctuates Hishmer disinterest in a speech that would have instigated a riot back on Earth.
"At this rate…" Captain Sokolov murmurs.
"Have faith in the Commodore, Captain," Starlily says. "The Ittick-Ka are next."
"That's Colonel Mel'ix'it. Where's the General?"
"Shh, he's starting."
"Friends! I come to you today, to appeal to the courage of all Hishmer. For under Radiant Firemind, your people have been divided! The Federation and the Union speak of strength, but there is no strength greater than a People united together, for one purpose, guided by one mind. When I look at the Hishmer, I see a People with vast potential. And my Sages, in their immense wisdom, see this potential too. With a true Perfect's guiding wisdom, you could be great! No longer fighting for the scraps of Empires, but as an Empire in your own right. No longer lashing out aimlessly, but guided by wisdom and strategy. No longer constrained by supplies and logistics, but working with the industrious…"
As he speaks, a hiss of unhappy mewling washes over the chamber, yet Mel'ix'it continues unabated.
"...and bringing with it a fair share of the spoils. Cooperation will let us guide your righteous wrath, and send it against those who have long denied you your due, as they have denied us our..."
"Look," Taggart says. She points to the Cardassian Union delegation, who have an interesting set of horrified expressions on their faces. The Gul quickly rises and ushers the rest his delegation out, even as the Hishmer surrounding them hoot and holler at Mel'ix'it and steal angry glances at the retreating Cardassians.
"Did you plan this?" Sokolov asks. "I can't really see how-"
"Later," Starlily says, cutting her off. "We'll explain, but later."
"...thank you?" Mel'ix'it finishes, finally realizing the crowd had turned against him. He is ushered off the stage by hulking Ittick bodyguards and quickly vanishes.
"DUNEBREAKER!" Radiant Firemind thunders as she leaps onto the platform, her tail giving an audible thump on the metal. "IS THIS WHAT YOU MEANT BY STRENGTH? YOU MEAN TO MAKE US MERCENARIES FOR THE ITTICK, TO WALK HAND IN HAND WITH THE GREAT ENEMY THE CARDASSIANS HAVE SHELTERED? I NAME YOU TRAITOR. COME UP HERE AND ACCOUNT FOR YOURSELF!"
The other Hishmer pushes himself up onto the platform and circles Radiant Firemind warily, his white and black striped fur rippling in challenge.
"Better strength than weakness, pretender," he hisses. "For all your talk, you would yoke us to the Federation to smother our way of life."
"Then it is true!" Radiant Firemind shouts, looking out over the crowd to the platform containing the Majestics. "Big talk, Dunebreaker, but your friends have shown their true colors today. Are we herd-cats, or are we predators? You would make us slaves again!"
The crowd jeers as the Perfect and her rival argue, and no Hishmer notices the Starfleet delegation slip away from the chamber.
--
Executive Officer's Log, Commander Starlily
As I explained to Captain Sokolov, we had no chance of competing with the Cardassians in a shadow-game, nor was the Perfect really interested in stopping them with Adamant Dunebreaker taking all her attention. But Colonel Mel'ix'it was a weak point - too eager to promote an Ittick-Hishmeri alliance, but lacking the xenopsychological context the Cardassians were using so carefully. While the delegation from Cardassia knew that Hishmeri independence was a sore point, Mel'ix'it thought in Ittick terms and was eager to sell the benefits of close cooperation. He just didn't know the right way to present it to Septs, being a military officer, not a diplomat.
So the Commodore leaked some talking points to Mel'ix'it through General Kit'le'rum, disguised as a false xenopsych report that had been "stolen" from us. Mel'ix'it wrote his own speech that he thought would drive the Hishmeri to pick Adamant Dunebreaker and drive them into the Ittick-Ka's waiting arms. Instead, he inflamed a Hishmer audience who was already tired of interlopers telling them what to do at the most important event of the decade, and Radiant Firemind was quick to seize the opportunity. In the chaos, the Jaldun quickly took its delegation aboard and departed, knowing that their position here had been destroyed.
And best of all, the collapse of the budding Ittick-Hishmeri alliance gave Kit'le'rum a reason to investigate Mel'ix'it. Hopefully what comes of that will aid Huth fop Makpol out of what looks to be a sticky situation.
[Event Passed!]
--
With the treaty modifications pushed through by Radiant Firemind, we should see an end to Hishmeri raiding of affiliates and pre-warps on the rimward border. While I should not speculate as to the will of the Council, I do not believe we have the ability to prosecute a campaign even farther from our borders. An adequate deterrent force will ensure the Hishmeri stick to the terms and-
****WHUMP!****
Oh dear. Taggart to bridge-
Task Force Commander's Log -- Task Force Chorus, Acting Commodore Kith th'Risroth
(Stop the war with the Gorn)
I am still trying to understand what happened. Sage Alaeru told us he was reviving Sage Vardegga, and then the Commodore and the Diplomatic Service team were summoned to meet the revived Sage. I hear nothing for several hours. Then the revived Vardegga contacts Thirishar and tells us that the Commodore and his team have been arrested, that one of our Keplers shot his frigate to pieces, and that the Commodore will stand trial soon for Crimes Against The People. He has also asked us to turn over Commodore Taggart, if she can be summoned, for the same crimes. And then politely asked that we not go anywhere, lest our actions indicate our guilt.
It's quite a mess.
As next-most-senior officer, I have taken command of the Task Force and spent some time reviewing the Commondore's gathered intelligence. My best guess is that Huth fop Makpol is accused of orchestrating Vardegga's death along with Commodore Taggart, thanks to an eyewitness account from Sage Vardegga. I admit I am mystified, as we rather clearly demonstrated last quarter that we had not been involved. But I will ask the fleet to gather what evidence we can, and hope that it is enough to secure our diplomats' release.
--
Task Force Commander's Log -- Task Force Liberty, Commodore Abigail Taggart (continued)
My apologies, it appears the Obsidian Blades did not take the loss of Cardassian support kindly. Fortunately, Audacious and Hacolus showed up to introduce them to the photon lance. A few hours after the ships fled, Radiant Firemind contacted me to tell me that the rebels had been dealt with in a manner commensurate with their crimes.
[Event Passed!]
[Taggart sighs heavily.]
I have looked over the intelligence from the Sign of Rethelia's attempted raid and the Bokura's scouting mission, and can only conclude that Radiant Firemind and the Majestics as a whole have carefully concealed the true capabilities of the Septs. Their initial claims about their migratory purposes are obvious lies in retrospect, and the relatively small size of the Perfect's expedition coreward a deliberate omission. The truth of the Hishmeri Septs is much more alarming.
Based on interviews with freed Brosmen, we know that the Hishmeri are supplied from major agricultural worlds rimward of Ittick space, and control space through a migratory fleet that acts to extract food, resources, and slave labor from occupied territories. Based on what little we can track, those territories could be larger than we had previously assumed. They may possess multiple shipyards, mobile or otherwise, and are willing to work with or use polities they do not conquer. Their fleet is large enough to seriously alarm the Ittick-Ka and the Cardassian Union, and to excite the Klingon Empire, and ranges far enough to affect all three polities. Finally, the Perfect has dealt with her most significant challenger. Should the Septs return to our borders we can expect them to return in much greater force and with greater unity of purpose.
I only hope that when they come, we are more prepared.
[Task Force Partial Success. See end of post.]
--
Task Force Commander's Log -- Task Force Chorus, Acting Commodore Kith th'Risroth (continued)
Captain's Log, USS Lyflam, Captain Ewan Wallace
I have received General Kit'le'rum, Colonel Mel'ix'it, and delegation from their Outrider, which will need warp nacelle maintenance if our scans are correct. Lyflam is now departing to Daw at maximum warp.
--
Captain's Log, USS Harmony, Captain Eneram Idrai
… and finally, we managed to meet with some Ittick engineers who were meeting with their Gorn counterparts on Emporium on behalf of Sage Yeredu. I had my chief engineer carefully breach the question of Ittick-Ka nadion trace signatures, and we discovered that the Ittick-Ka manufacture their shipborne disruptors to a very exacting standard that produces a distinctive coherent signature. One that matches the signature we scanned down at the site Vardegga died.
Of course, the Ittick-Ka have sold these same ships to a number of Hishmeri Septs, which muddles the waters, but not in our direction. I have sent a volunteer from the Ittick engineering team to board the Hvrass and speak with the Sages directly, and the big ship is proceeding to Daw as fast as it can fly.
--
"And that concludes our report on the loss of the Swiftflier."
Captain Sh'warr'anth's fur ripples and the medals of her dress uniform jingle slightly as she salutes the three Sages in attendance, with the Ittick engineer looking on in dawning horror as he realizes what he just gave testimony to. Alaeru regards Captain Sh'warr'anth with a neutral expression, but Vardegga is troubled, and It'klt-ket is nodding thoughtfully, although he continues nodding for long after the Captain finishes speaking.
"Go," Vardegga speaks at last. "We must confer in private."
[Event Passed!]
--
Ship's Logbook, IGS Toan-Agar, Senior Naval Specialist Nac-Agar
My Toan-Agar arrived at almost the same time as the Lyflam. En route, Captain Wallace and the Ittick Kit'le'rum appear to have teased some actionable intelligence from an Ittick colonel. Toan-Agar will be linking computers with the Lyflam to track down the physical location of an electronic dead drop through subspace repeater pattern analysis. The procedure should yield results within two standard hours.
--
"I swear to you, my Sages, I had no idea. Had I known the consequences of my actions, I would have reported straight to you."
Colonol Mel'ix'it's head is bowed so low he cannot meet the eye of any of the gathered Sages.
"No Ittick would use such a system," Alaeru declares. "To take data from a 'dead drop', anonymized, soulless? It is unthinkable."
"Nor would a non-Ittick have such a drop on Suminekk," Vardegga says, puzzled. "Less than five dozen outsiders have set foot on the planet. Sometimes we must contemplate the unthinkable."
"There are Federation petitioners on Suminekk right now," Alaeru points out.
"We all know children sometimes have rebellious thoughts," another Sage interrupts, their hologram rippling as they do. "Thank you, Specialist Nac-Agar, for your evidence. You may leave."
The Gaeni lets out a breath of relief as he departs.
[Event Passed!]
--
… and the strangest thing is Vardegga refuses to meet with General Kit'le'rum, telling him that settling the Starfleet issue is the greatest threat to the security of the People. But how could anything be more important to the security of the People than debriefing the Hishmeri situation, Kit'le'rum wonders? I have no answers for him, not yet.
--
"Do you see the problem, Sage?" Huth fop Makpol asks through the forcefield of the prison's cell. "Your most trusted aide begs for an audience, to discuss a crucial mission, with far-reaching results. You remember he had a mission, but you don't know what that mission was. Your mind dismisses it as trivial, even as he begs for your council. Is there really nothing wrong here?"
"You… you may be right," Vardegga says, as if pained by the thought. Huth fop Makpol makes no comment as the Sage walks away.
Two long hours pass, with only the red-blinking lights of the security devices keeping the Tellarite company. Finally, the turbolift at the end of the cell block hisses open.
"Commodore," Vardegga says brusquely. Two Ittick troopers file out of the lift and stand behind him at attention, helmets and disruptors gleaming. At a gesture from the Sage, the forcefield hums louder, then fades suddenly.
"You're to come with me," Vardegga says.
Huth fop Makpol is led to the Palace's temple-bridge, where the other six Sages are gathered, Alaeru and It'klt-ket in the flesh and the others by stern-looking holograms. As fop Makpol stands below the seven daises, Vardegga paces before the chamber. Alaeru has no expression, but It'klt-ket stares directly at the Commodore, his distracted manner absent completely.
"It is clear," Vardegga begins, "that the Federation holds no complicity in my death. The evidence cannot be denied, nor could they subvert so many dedicated subjects so quickly. I do not know what has caused the unreliability in my memory, but Alaeru, I know your skill. I have seen it in action. I find it hard to believe you would make such an egregious mistake."
Their eyes meet even as the other Sages pause, expressions frozen. For a moment both Alaeru and Vardegga refuse to turn away. Then It'klt-ket coughs loudly, Vardegga blinks, and turns to the other Sages.
"I will say only this," Sage Vardegga continues. "When our Champion saved us, when the Ittick looked to us for guidance, we swore a compact. We swore on His name to a solemn duty, to bring the People we ruled into the stars, to shield them from the Dark Forest, and to shepherd them to better lives. I remember my duty clearly."
He taps a communicator of some sort.
"Do you?"
Then he disappears in a swirl of transporter particles. An Outrider drifts across the temple bridge's transparent roof, briefly shadowing the gathered Sages from the system's sun, then flashes into warp.
[Event Passed]
--
The hologram of Alaeru and It'klt-ket conversing after Vardegga's dramatic exit flickers out.
"You honor us by allowing us to witness this," a Betazoid Starfleet Captain tells the Sage, hoping flattery will take the edge off the hostility she senses.
"Do I?" Sage Eridu asks. "Think carefully. Though your Federation has not committed any crimes, your people have sown discord where we had unity. The Champion would weep if he saw us now. Perhaps that is what Alaeru realized, when he chose to do what he did. No, I do not honor you, Captain. And your presence here becomes less and less welcome by the day."
[Event Failed]
--
"I sympathize, Captains. Nothing concerns me more than the cries of our People in need. But you have also seen, now, the sacred trust between the Sages is fraying and strained. Alaeru and Vardegga listen deeply to the People's voice, more deeply than any of us, and if we cannot bring them to one purpose, our efforts will be for naught."
Sage Vek'ket'kt'rk's eyes turn sharp as he regards the Starfleet delegation.
"And we must do so ourselves. We must not make a dispute between brothers about a choice between outsiders. I suspect your Commodore will have orders for you, Captains. This audience is over."
[Event Failed]
--
Task Force Commander's Log -- Task Force Chorus, Commodore Huth fop Makpol
Nothing like the Commodore's quarters on an Excelsior-class after a vacation in a foreign prison.
Despite our innocence, the fleet was asked to leave Ittick-Ka space. We are lucky the Yokathi Lakhept order managed to keep regular diplomatic contact open, or I would be in serious trouble. The truth prevailed, but I fear what we have unleashed.
For the first time we know of, the Sages are working in open opposition. Some seek a reconciliation between Vardegga and Alaeru, and see our influence as divisive. I worry more about the Sages who are taking sides. They'll court whoever they can to gain an advantage: the Hishmeri, the Cardassians, even the Gorn.
One positive. While I was stuck in a cell, Ittick-Ka diplomats quietly met with Gorn Hegemony diplomats and convinced them to sign a nonaggression pact. Tragically, this was helped along by the death of Prince Celzash, as the pro-war Gorn Reclaimer faction now lacks its leader. We can only hope that any future King of the Hegemony will stick to this agreement. I do not know the exact terms, but we have accomplished our stated mission. Peace over violence, for a time.
[Task Force Success]
--
You set your PADD down on the table and sigh. Outside your office's window, the Paris skyline blurs in a winter rain.
Yes, very messy indeed. In particular, you can't see the Council being pleased by the result from Liberty. Taggart's failure to magic up a politically acceptable resolution to the Thamelsian situation will have both the Pacifists and Hawks glaring a hole in your uniform. That the largest battleship in the STO couldn't recover a single Thamelsian slave will also drive rimward councilors into a frenzy on the issue of security, even as the ongoing crisis draws ships coreward.
At least there won't be a war between the Gorn and Ittick-Ka, but that only gives leverage to the Cardassians and Klingons in promoting military alliances with the rimward powers, and has the Gorn looking for targets for their militarism, like your newest affiliates: The Misek.
Looks like you have your work cut out for you.
Task Force Liberty Results:
The [Rimward Slave Trade 250/500] has become [Rimward Slave Trade: 300/300] and is cleared. [Far-Rim Slave Trade: 0/300] added to the Hishmeri Septs. The Hishmeri have agreed to a raid-free corridor, out to the practical extent of the Federation's ability to patrol, and are withdrawing from the Federation border en masse. Ruby-Eyes Folly will become a Rimward Border Zone in deployment. [+10 PP]
[Distant Stars: 0/100] has been added to the Hishmeri Septs.
The Council is very concerned about the potential size of the Hishmeri threat, but the failure of the reconnaissance missions means you have no additional intelligence to give them. [-10 PP]
The Council is disappointed that no additional slaves could be recovered. [-10 PP]
Commodore Abigail Taggart gains +1 Command from commanding Task Force Liberty.
Task Force Chorus Results:
[Gorn/Ittick-ka Tensions: 300/300] and [The Modern Enemy (Ittick-Ka): 300/300] cleared. The Ittick-Ka and the Gorn Hegemony have signed a non-aggression pact. [+20 PP]
Tag [Sage vs Sage: N/A] has been added to the Ittick-Ka.
Ittick-Ka events added to potential Task Force generators.
Commodore Hugh fop Makpol gains +1 Presence from commanding Task Force Chorus.
I, John Brown, am now quite certain that the crimes of this guilty land will never be purged away but with Blood.
TF Alarm and Royal results will be delayed, we're going to move forward without.
Last edited:
- Location
- Aotearoa
That feels like a shitstorm of failure.
- Location
- Outside the Box
- Pronouns
- She/Her
So you're saying the Hishmeri are Space-Mongols. And they use starships instead of horses.
Whelp, R.I.P the entire quadrant. We thought the Singers were the greatest threat when all along the frigging Mongols were next door this entire time.
Whelp, R.I.P the entire quadrant. We thought the Singers were the greatest threat when all along the frigging Mongols were next door this entire time.
- Pronouns
- They/Them
We've known this for a while.
Random Member
Gardener of Human Happiness
- Location
- Behind You
Their names make them sound like Ponies....
The fucking nomad horde!
Thors_Alumni
Proud member of Thors Class VII from Liberl
- Location
- Liberl Zemuria.
All of those failed events *eye twitching*
- Location
- Outside the Box
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Let me correct that: They are the Mongol Empire. Previously, we thought their territory was limited. But instead it seems they're only behind other local powers in tech level, and that won't last forever.
I know I'm being overdramatic here, but I am legit scared to end up in a war against the Hishmeri now.
We totally already knew that though. People have been saying the Hishmeri are scary since forever.
On more current news, the Hishmeri have gone off, probably to conquer someone weaker. That's good news. The Ittick-Ka are threatening to disintegrate, not so good news but it does stave off open war and we can grab a slice of that pie as much as anyone.
- Pronouns
- They/Them
The Ittick-ka hold at least four species in bondage-one of which is known to be spacefaring. There's a good chance we could pick up an affiliate or two in the event of Ittick-ka Civil War.
- Pronouns
- He/Him
So, the Hishmeri are officially a bigger threat than we realized? As always, the answer is more starbases.
More or less my point. We could also snatch a splinter led by a Federation-friendly Sage. Doesn't make the civil war good news, but it is inevitable when we uncovered what appears to be a manner of brainwashing in the highest levels of their government.
Man, I just noticed but we're completely surrounded by mind-controllers.
Theunderbolt
"Prepare for trouble..."
- Location
- USoA
Well it's a good thing we have Chekov and his group heading back. We could use those Excelsiors to hold the zone.
- Location
- Illinois
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Damn, unfortunate.
Yeah, that's not good at all. We don't want to deal with Hur'q 2: Cat Boogaloo. But looks like we might have to. At least there are powers other than Orion now.
Hey, this is true.
Get screwed.
They most certainly are good.
Uh oh.
Yeah, this really could be Hur'q 2. We've got to be careful with the Hishmeri. Very careful.
Got you.
And another success.
It's something.
We most certainly do. However, on the whole, even with the string of [event failed] messages, we're doing well here. Liberty was a partial success, and Chorus a success, even if it looks like now the Ittick-Ka might fall into civil war. Overall, this is a victory. We've gotten good amounts of what we wanted, even if not everything, and we've prevented a potential massive catastrophe in the form of a Gorn–Ittick-Ka war.
Thors_Alumni
Proud member of Thors Class VII from Liberl
- Location
- Liberl Zemuria.
In all probability those ships are going to be going into docks for maintenance checks for at least a quarter.