Ulith III Biophage Crisis - 2304.Q1.M3
Federation News Service, Breaking News, 2303.Q4.M2

The bloodiest violence the known galaxy has seen since the signing of the Khitomer Accords involved Starfleet, the Romulans, and the Klingons. Yet they were gathered not to carry on old battles, but to fight together against an extreme threat to all life. In this, they have been successful, saving the remnants of a newly discovered civilisation in the process: the Kadeshi of the Kadesh system.

The Federation President joined with Admiral Kahurangi today in voicing their praise for all the members of Starfleet who fought, and gave their condolences to the families of those who have perished. The President's press release stated, "The finest traditions of the Federation have been upheld by these brave officers and crew. While it is not our way to glorify violence or conquest, this was neither. Our explorers gave their lives to stop a force of twisted nature, and stood in the breach for those who suffered." Both the President and Kahurangi singled out for praise Admiral Aelin of Amarkia, and those lost aboard the crippled Riala, which is currently being towed by Starfleet Engineering Command vessels towards Amarkia.

Captain Nash ka'Sharren and Rear Admiral Hikaru Sulu are being feted across the Federation, serving as points of pride for Andorians and Humans. The bravery of Nash ka'Sharren in leading her fleet into the teeth of the Biophage's forces, and the ride to the rescue by Hikaru Sulu, will live on in the annals of Starfleet. Captain Michel Thuir of the USS Challorn is also being commended by many dignitaries for the intrepid performance of himself and his task force.

The head of Andor voiced their recognition of the tremendous sacrifices made by their people in fighting this menace, with Starfleet, with their Engineering crews, and with the starship Shakalash.

In the aftermath of the military defeat of the Biophage, many of the evacuated colonists are anxious to return to their homes. However, until the personal variant of the Vaccine has been distributed, Starfleet is still prohibiting return to the Romulan Border Zone. Thankfully, however, the Machado IV evacuation camp is proving to be a comfortable stay, muting the complaints.

It is believed that the Kadeshi, having lost their garden world, are gathering up their motherships and preparing to travel across known space, to another prospective garden world indicated on a Preserver artifact, to set up a new homeworld away from the bitter memories of Kadesh. The Federation Council has promised them safe passage through our space.

End Report

Starfleet Engineering Command Report

What a mess. Alright, Admiral, we have several million tons of busted starship that need a lot of TLC and not many places to put them. Sarek and Kumari both need Shipyards berths, the big triple-em ones. Unfortunately it'll still be almost a year before the new Tellar Prime Yard comes on-line. It'll take us a month just to get ships prepped for towing, out of the RBZ, and into the Core Worlds. I've checked around, and there may be affiliate member worlds with shipyards the right size. Amarkia has two that can fit an Excelsior that they use for their Riala-class. The Caitians have one, and the Rigellians have one. The Federation Council has indicated that they are willing to smooth things over, thankfully, though that favour may cost.

If we don't get the extra yards, we'll start bumping builds. First the 40 Eridani A Excelsior, then the San Fran Excelsior. For the smaller ships, the Oberth, then the Centaur, then the Constellation are the order in which we'll bump projects.

End Report

===

State of Emergency, 2304.Q1.M3 (Turn 6 of State of Emergency)
Current Level of Federation Mobilisation: Increased 2 (Preparing to Wind Down) [Up to 18 teams allowed]

You are currently operating in a State of Emergency.

This entails an increased operational tempo (you shift to three month-long mini-turns per Quarter), and an increase to available assets.
These assets usually will require no additional resources from Starfleet, as you are directing the resources of a Federation that does not embrace money. Any additional requirements will be noted on the actions themselves.

This State of Emergency will endure until such time as the cause of the crisis is resolved. In this case, until the Ulith III Biophage no longer poses a threat to the Federation. This will occur when the Vaccine II Tech is researched.


Mark of the Beast - Crisis Status Page
Research Mega Post

===

Crisis Projects

Internal Diplomacy

Internal Diplomacy
For communicating with Federation Member Worlds. Use this for managing aspects of your Mobilisation response.

Use teams that have the Internal Diplomacy Team type in order to accomplish these tasks.
  • Mobilise an Asset [Options for activating teams made available] (1 turn)
  • Expand Federation Mobilisation Level [Federation Council Only] (1 turn) [ Not available due to Political Concerns]
  • Smooth Over Evacuation Fears (2 turns) - Removes chance that colonies will baulk at evacuation
  • Requisition Civilian Shipyards in UFP (2 turns) - Gain access to 4 berths of 1m t size
  • Ask the Federation President to make a recruiting drive (1 turn to complete drive, results seen in 12 turns)
  • Demobilise an Asset [Gain +5 Political Will] (1 turn)
NB: Expanding Federation Mobilisation Level is done to increase the number of allowed teams, reflecting a greater proportion of Federation resources coming under your control.
Research

Research Projects
Here you will be able to research smaller tech projects that are more focused on short-term objectives. Occurs in addition to the Q3 research turn.

Use teams that have the Research Team type in order to accomplish these tasks.
Please be aware that because of how dangerous the Ulith III Biophage is, it cannot be researched normally. Only the Infectious Diseases Institute and the Vulcan Science Academy may research them.
  • Biophage Vaccine Research Rush [REQ: Medical] (1 turn)
  • Biophage Combat Research Rush (1 turn)
  • Suicide Shuttle Countermeasures [REQ: Doctrine] (1 turn)
  • Ship Modifications [REQ: Ship Design] (1 turn)
Please see the Research Mega-post linked above in order to see individual techs.
External Diplomacy

External Diplomacy
Communicate with potential allies and hostiles outside of the Federation Member Worlds.

Use teams that have the External Diplomacy Team type in order to accomplish these tasks.
Membership fast-tracking is no longer politically tenable.
  • Fast Track Amarki into Member Status (4 turns) [Premature invite may lead to long-term issues]
  • Fast Track Betazed into Member Status (3 turns) [Premature invite may lead to long-term issues]
  • Diplomatic Push on Species (1 turn)
  • Request Asset from Affiliate [Request something, such as an Amarki Shipyard Berth] (1 turn) [NB: Shipyard berths require 10pp]
  • Arrange coordination of Federation and Klingon sensor nets for duration of crisis (3 turns) - ETC 2304.Q1.M1 - Andorian Ambassadorial Team

Civil Engineering Projects

Civil Engineering Projects
Here you will be able to take on engineering or large-scale labour projects. This can range from setting up bases or camps to making improvements to facilities, to carrying out labour-intensive tasks like organising an evacuation.

Use teams that have the Civil Engineering Team type to accomplish these tasks.
Some tasks in the future may require a special sub-type of Civil Engineering team: Civil Engineering (Medical) team. These are basically a sort of field hospital group that has organically attached engineers that are normally used to build hospitals in emergency sites. Actions that require this type of team are marked with "[REQ: Medical]".

[Note that Evacuations can have multiple teams assigned]
  • Create Evacuation Hub on Machado IV, Andor Sector [Improve Evacuation Rolls] (2 turns) - ETC 2303.Q4.M2 - STARFLEET MEDICAL
  • Fortify Indi Beta Outpost (+2 C, +2 S) (2 turns) ETC 2303.Q4.M2- ANDORIAN CIVIL ENGINEERING
  • Fortify Solitude Outpost (+2 C, +2 S) (2 turns)
  • Evacuate Arcori III (25k) to Andor Sector (1 turn)
  • Evacuate Liath V (55k) to Andor Sector (1 turns)
  • Set up Liath V Medical Emergency Camp [REQ: Medical] (1 turn)
  • Evacuate Cygnus Sigma I (30k) to Andor Sector (1 turn)
  • Evacuate Larssen II (15k) to Andor Sector (1 turn)
  • Evacuate Solitude (400k) to Andor Sector (8 turns)
  • Evacuate RBZ Science Outposts (2 turns) - ETC 2304.Q2.M1 - TELLARITE MINING EXPEDITION
  • Evacuate RBZ Listening Posts (2 turns)
  • Improve Indi Beta Power Generation to support new Shield Emitters (+2 L) (2 turns)
  • Create and deploy makeshift phaser kits on ten cargo ships (4 turns) [Become Combat 1 and can take a last-ditch shot in own defence] [No longer deemed necessary]
  • Deploy large-scale Tachyon Detection Network (2 turns)
Industry Projects

Industry Projects
Here you will be able to commence heavy industry projects such as major construction, expansion of resources, and other similar tasks. Set up new outposts, build heavy facilities, aid shipbuilding, or other things requiring large-scale industry.

Use teams that have the Industry Team type to complete these tasks.
Some tasks require a special sub-set of industry teams: "Industry (Heavy) Team". These are marked with "[REQ: Heavy]". These teams have direct access to heavy industrial processors to do particularly large-scale, bulk work.
  • Design and Build a Supply of Tachyon Detection Sensors (1 turn)
  • Crash Build Outpost I (Pick Where) (3 turns)
  • Crash Build Starbase I (Pick Where) (12 turns)
  • Expand Indi Beta Outpost with Ship Repair Berth (4 turns)
  • Go Around The Clock On a Shipyard Berth (Pick Which) [Ship build/repair proceeds at double pace for duration] [REQ: Heavy] (3 turns)
  • Ad-Hoc Shipbuilding Order [REQ: Heavy] (1 turn) - Vote for new shipbuilding will appear in results post
  • Design and Build Armoured Freighter for use in RBZ [REQ: Heavy] (12 turns)
  • Improve the Machado IV Evacuation Center with Shield Emitters (L3) (3 turns)
  • Build second Starfleet Runabout Patrol Squadron (6 turns)
Combat

Combat Projects
Here will be options to order major offensives (if you have a known target) and issue missions to special strategic assets

Use teams that have the Combat Team type in order to accomplish these tasks.
Some combat tasks require special skills and can only be performed by teams that have the Demolitions sub-type. Other require the Recon sub-type.
  • Deliver Tricobalt Devices to Explorer-Grade ships in RBZ (2 turns) (Allows infection to be cleared from a planet in rapid time, in case the fleet is losing ground to the Biophage)
  • Scuttle an Installation (Pick which installation to destroy) [REQ: Demolitions] (1 turn)
  • Scout Neutral Zone Area 6 [Scouts Area closest to Klingon Border] [REQ: Recon] (2 turn)
  • Scout Neutral Zone Area 5 [REQ: Recon] (2 turn)
  • Scout Neutral Zone Area 4 [REQ: Recon] (2 turn) - LAST SCAN 2304.Q1.M2
  • Scout Neutral Zone Area 3 [REQ: Recon] (2 turn) - LAST SCAN - 2304.Q1.M1
  • Scout Neutral Zone Area 2 [REQ: Recon] (2 turn) - LAST SCAN 2304.Q1.M2
  • Scout Neutral Zone Area 1 [Scouts Affected Area furthest Coreward] [REQ: Recon] (2 turn) - LAST SCAN - 2303.Q4.M2


Fleet Tasks
RBZ Fleet

Here you can set overall orders to your fleet in the Romulan Border Zone, and Commodore T'Faer.

Fleet is Currently Reconstituting

Fleet Priority: Patrolling
Fleet Priority: Refugee Escorting
Fleet Priority: Defend Outposts
Fleet Priority: Hunt the Miracht
Fleet Priority: Own Initiative




Crisis Teams
Starfleet Command Internal Diplomacy Team/Research (Doctrine) Team
Federation Emergency Council Internal Diplomacy Team
Andorian Ambassadorial Team External Diplomacy Team
Starfleet Engineering Command Industry Team/Civil Engineering Team
Andorian Civil Engineering Team Civil Engineering Team
Starfleet Medical Command Civil Engineering (Medical) Team
Starfleet Infectious Disease Institute [Able to Perform Biophage Research] Research Team/Civil Engineering (Medical) Team
Starfleet Tactical Command - Tiger Team Research (Doctrine) Team
Starfleet Tactical Command - Runabout Recon Squadron Combat (Recon) Team
Commodore T'Faer Research (Doctrine) Team
Tellarite Mining Expedition 1 Civil Engineering Team / Combat (Demolitions) Team
Vulcan Science Academy Detachment Research (Any) Team
Federation Diplomatic Service External Diplomacy Team
Andorian Civil Service Internal Diplomacy Team
North America Productivity Commission (Earth) Industry (Heavy) Team
Andorian Orbit Guard Runabouts Combat (Recon) Team
Commodore McCoy Research (Medical) Team [Can join another Research Team to add +2 Skill]
Teams in BOLD are occupied with an ongoing task. Teams in RED are out of action due to damage.

Starfleet & Allied Fleet Groups

RBZ Fleet - Commodore T'Faer Available (RBZ) -Reconstituting-
Quarantine Fleet Under Romulan Command (FBZ) -Reconstituting-
===

Use teams to accomplish tasks that match their type. In other words, if you want to accomplish a Civil Engineering action, assign a team with the Civil Engineering Team type. If you want to accomplish an External Diplomacy action, assign a team with the External Diplomacy Team type. Some actions are special, and require a particular sub-type. Teams that have a sub-type can still accomplish all normal actions of that type, but can also accomplish special actions. For example, if you want to do an Industry action like building armoured freighters, which requires the Heavy sub-type, you need to use a team that is marked Industry (Heavy) Team, such as the Earth Industrial Concerns team.

Research can be accomplished by any team, but will progress faster if they have the same specialty. The exception is Biophage research, will will cause any team that isn't the Infectious Diseases Lab or the Vulcan Science Academy to be eaten, so don't do it :(

A multi-turn task will continue until complete. Some tasks will involve dice rolls behind the scenes, some tasks will be automatic-successes.

At present you have a small portion of the full assets of the United Federation of Planets, mainly your quick response Starfleet assets, and nearby Andorian ready assets. You may recruit more teams via Internal Diplomacy, which is effectively requisitioning units. The Federation Emergency Council has arbitrary authority, and any mobilisation it makes will be automatically successful.




===

To vote, simply start looking for the actions that you want to take in this turn, then look to see what teams you have that match those actions. Then list down the teams and the actions that you are assigning them. If you don't want to give a team an action and just have them cool their heels for a while, that's fine.

For example...

[ex] Plan Name
Starfleet Engineering Command - Evacuate Arcori III
Runabout Recon Team - Scout Neutral Zone Area 1
Starfleet Command - Mobilise an Asset

And so on!
 
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Ulith III Biophage Crisis - 2304.Q1.M3 Result
[X] Plan Merged Plans
-[X] [Starfleet Command] Suicide Shuttle Countermeasures (1 turn)
-[X] [Federation Emergency Council] Demobilise an Asset: Commodore T'Faer (1 turn)
-[X] [Andorian Civil Service] Demobilise an Asset: Vulcan Science Academy Detachment (1 turn)
-[X] [Federation Diplomatic Service] Request Asset from Affiliate: Amarki Shipyard (1 turn)
-[X] [Andorian Ambassadorial Team] Diplomatic Push on Betazoids (1 turn)
-[X][North America Productivity Commission] Go Around The Clock On 40 Eridiani berth 1 (USS Sarek)
-[X] [Starfleet Engineering Command] Improve the Machado IV Evacuation Center with Shield Emitters (L3) (3 turns)
-[X] [Starfleet Medical Command] Deploy large-scale Tachyon Detection Network (2 turns)
-[X] [Andorian Civil Engineering Team] Improve Indi Beta Power Generation to support new Shield Emitters (+2 L) (2 turns)
-[X] [Starfleet Infectious Disease Institute] Biophage Vaccine Research Rush - (1 turn)
-[X] [Comodore McCoy] Join Starfleet Infectious Disease Institute team
-[X] [Starfleet Tactical Command - Tiger Team] Biophage Combat Research Rush (1 turn)
-[X] [Starfleet Tactical Command - Runabout Recon Squadron] Scout Neutral Zone Area 6 (2 turn)
-[X] [Andorian Orbit Guard Runabouts] Scout Neutral Zone Area 6 (2 turn) [Reduce to 1 turn]
-[X] [RBZ Fleet - Commodore T'Faer] Own Initiative

Acting Sector Command's Report, Captain Nash ka'Sharren, Stardate 21498.6

Good afternoon, Admiral!

My sector "fleet" as it stands, consists of myself, the USS Yukikaze, and the IRW Devoras after the Romulan Admiral was recalled to the Senate to answer for the near-total destruction of his command.

Suffice to to say, this is not how I envisioned my first taste of fleet command to be. Commander Velin reassures me that the Admiral will be fine, and that the victory and sensor logs will bear him out. More of a mandatory board of inquiry thing. We are still stationed in the Kadesh system, running down every sensor ghost and cleaning up pockets of Biophage. Given the number of pockets, I am, regrettably, almost positive that some of the Biophage has escaped. There is simply no longer enough hulls to properly account for them.

The Kadeshi fleet has left their garden behind for Galaar III, reuniting with the last surviving settlement of their people. There they will build one final large vessel and carry what is left of their people into a pilgrimage across known space. I wish them well. No people should have to suffer what they have.

The remaining evacuations have occurred as per requirements. The scouting is complete, revealing the extent of the Somtaw. If the Biophage had been allowed to finish digesting Kadesh and turn their attention to the Sotaw... Catastrophe hardly begins to do the thought justice. It is an fascinating lesson in not guessing the depth of a pool by the colour. [Staff Note for Human Admiral: "When you 'assume', you make an..."] For so long, Starfleet Intelligence, the Tal Shiar, and no doubt the Klingons, have been pointing fingers everywhere else, not realising that there was a warp-capable race springing up there over the last hundred and fifty years.

Regardless. Today space is a little less cruel. I am happier for it.


End Report

Internal Diplomacy Report, Federation Councillor, Emergency Committee Chairman Hayley Singh

Well, we've made Councillor Stesk a very happy Vulcan by starting to wind back the state of emergency as we appear to reach the final stages. He had just been starting to make veiled references about the need for the expediency of states of emergency being a dangerous lure that must be resisted, but after the return of a number of assets that appears to cease. There has been a lot of damage in the Neutral Zone, but soon we will be able to handle that within the normal processes of the Federation. Currently, much of our administrative arm is turned towards making sure that we will be able to meet the demand for Vaccines from people in the affected area. A number, of course, that has increased many, many fold with the discovery of the billion-strong Sotaw homeworld.


[Gain +10 Political Will for Demobilising two teams]

End Report

Federation Diplomatic Service Report


The crippling of the CAS Riala and the death of Admiral Aelin is regrettable. However, the manner of his demise, plowing through waves of shuttles in an attempt to reach a doomed planet, has struck a chord with the Amarki people. He is being celebrated as a fallen hero of their people, and will be receiving a full state funeral.

Our inquiry with the Confederacy of Amarkia has, in an almost perverse way, also bolstered relations, by reminding them that it was a shared bond of suffering between the two sides. The initial assessments that we sent of the USS Kumari were very sobering, it seems. By good fortune or, at least, the fact they cannot afford many Riala-class explorers, both of their large berths are clear and the USS Kumari is under tow by Starfleet Engineering Command vessels to the Dzinghi system.

We have also been making progress with our affiliates, the Betazoids. Careful feting of their contribution has struck a chord with the Betazoids, who are very proud of their telepathic heritage.

[+25 Diplomacy with Amarki for interactions]
[2u10+10 push with Betazed = +12 + 10 for interactions for +22]

End Report

Starfleet Engineering Command Report

Admiral,

With only one of five Excelsiors fit for active service, it is a very ... let's go with 'interesting' ... time to be in Starfleet Engineering.

The USS Sarek is back at the large berth of 40 Eridani A, and so is the human industrial team. They will continue their work until the Sarek is spaceworthy again, which at this rate of progress should take three months. The USS Kumari is being towed to Amarkian space, a move that has many in Starfleet Engineering ... pensive. [Chief of Staff note: Read: "Freaking out hilariously".] Nonetheless, we can recognise that the Riala is good engineering, so she should be in good hands with a team from Starfleet Shipyard Ops taking control of the operation.

Other ships are entering a variety of small bays and starbases to carry out repairs. Much of the fleet will be back on deck within three months, baring the USS Svai, which, to be perfectly honest, we have no idea how she survived. But survive she did, to be repaired in one of 40 Eridani A's small bays.

Our work crews, meanwhile, are on Machado IV again, this time installing a series of fusion reactors that will eventually power a planetary shield around the evacuation site camp. The crew from Andoria is also working at the moment, performing a similar operation at Indi Beta Outpost, installing new reactors in order to support more powerful Shield Generators.


End Report

Starfleet Medical Command Report


Admiral, two main things to report on.

We have split our focus over the last month. Our organic engineers have detached to help deploy the Tachyon Detection network. This use of our assets may have made Starfleet Medical irritable in most cases, but in this case, our medics are preoccupied. Which brings us to the other focus. Our medical staff have deployed to the recovering ships of the Romulan Border Zone fleet to attempt to heal the wounded of that battle. There are, lamentably, fewer than normal. The nature of the Biophage leads to many damaged areas being purged which is no less damaging to the crew than it is to the Biophage.

As a result, our final casualty list from the battle runs to approximately 1,380 dead Starfleet and Federation personnel, plus another 325 wounded. Combined with earlier actions during the crisis, this crisis has seen the greatest loss of life among Starfleet since before the signing of Khitomer.

However, this is most likely at an end. With the addition of Commodore McCoy, the Infectious Diseases Institute has made the breakthrough in developing a vaccine that will render a person immune to the reshaping effects of the Ulith III Biophage, and will shortly have a system that renders the hulls of ships likewise.

Biophage Vaccine Research Rush

10 / 10 Perform full analysis of the properties of the Biophage.
20 / 20 Sample Bio-laboratory Containment Procedures
20 / 20 Sterilisation Procedures
30 / 30 Vaccine Development I

40 / 40 Vaccine Development II
20 / 20 Structural Integrity Field Modifications I
30 / 30 Structural Integrity Field Modifications II (+10 gained from Battle of Kadesh)

Ship Modifications

20 / 20 Structural Integrity Field Modifications [+1 to Hull vs Biophage, Slow down infection rates]
11 / 30 Structural Integrity Field Modifications II
14 / 20 Freon-Trilithium Plasma Coolant Hull Adhesive (Slow down infection rates from Infection Beams if hull undamaged)
10 / 10 "The Big Red Button" Accelerated Warp Core Breach Process (+1 to attempts to self-destruct after infection)

Tactical Command Report

Our principal aim at Starfleet Tactical Command has been in analysing the events and outcomes of the Battle of Kadesh, which was the largest and most significant battle Starfleet has fought in decades. This will be an extended process, of course, as there is much to examine. However, we have already drawn a number of useful details, including ways to improve ship survivability in contact with the Biophage, which has helped our research considerably. In the long term, seeing how the ships performed will be invaluable to our progress towards making combat doctrines for the new era.

The scouting teams have also reported in. Our final tally of the Sotaw indicates they have four colony worlds, the largest of which has two million people, plus five science outposts, and the homeworld with a billion people on it. They appear to be a people dedicated to engineering rather than exploration or war, and are capable of great feats in this field.

Biophage Combat Research Rush

20 / 20 Develop EPS Venting Protocols [+5 for Actions at Birkeed III]
20 / 20 Romulan Combat Footage Analysis
20 / 20 Phaser Firebreaks (to slow spread of biophage on a planet)
20 / 20 Rapid Beam-out (Save crews while minimising the risk of conveying the infection)

28 / 30 Specific Phaser Remodulation [+10% to Combat Pool in fleet battles vs Biophage] (+10 gained from Battle of Kadesh)
18 / 20 Anti-Biophage Torpedo Payload Jacketing [Escorts gain +1 Combat vs Biophage large ships] (+10 gained from Battle of Kadesh)
18 / 20 Navigation Deflector Disruption Pulse [-1 to Biophage Combat stat, to a minimum of 2] (+10 gained from Battle of Kadesh)

Suicide Shuttle Countermeasures

15 / 15 Shuttle Cloak Sensor Pattern Analysis (+1 to Science when attempting to spot inbound shuttles)
15 / 15 Mutual Support Formation (+1 to Combat when attempting to intercept inbound shuttles)

30 / 30 Tachyon Burst Sweep (+1 to Science when attempting to spot inbound cloaked vessels)
20 / 20 Shield Harmonics Modifications (+1 to Shield when attempting to withstand a hit)


End Report

Communique from Federation President

Congratulations, Admiral.

Your handling of this crisis has seen it through to a successful conclusion. While casualties among colonists were steep, as they were among ships and crews, the intellect of your researchers, and the valour of your crews have seen the threat of the Biophage contained, reduced, and now effectively eliminated. Thousands perished, but millions survived, and against an organism unlike any we have ever seen before, of an unparalleled lethality, this is good work indeed.

The new vaccine is being delivered to the Gaeni for mass fabrication and even now is being distributed among the sentients who live in the Neutral Zone.

Further, you and the Enterprise have sown the first seeds of communications with the Romulan Star Empire, something we hardly envisioned possible. What those seeds will grow into none of us can say, but the Council looks forward to finding out.

The experience of this encounter, and the feeling of needing extra ships everywhere, and more acutely the current vulnerability as the Excelsiors are repaired, has also led the Council to believe that an expansion of Starfleet is required. The details remain to be ironed out, but we are looking forward to working with you on authorising this expansion.

End Message



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

The Ulith III Biophage State of Emergency has been concluded successfully with the development of the Vaccine and destruction of the Biophage's major fleet units.

The Federation Threat Level is Reduced from 8 to 4. The Militarisation level is Reduced to 2.

In line with the authorised expansion of Starfleet, the Maximum Combat Value has been increased by 100, to bring it to a total, at the current threat level, of 190. You are advised that the Minimum Science Level will be steadily increasing in future to match this. Further, minimum defence levels on systems will be increasing. You, of course, have no maximum Science level. You are reminded that this is an expansion of the fleet, not a militarisation of it, and should be careful how this is treated.

This crisis is considered to have come to a Successful conclusion. Gain +100 Political Will, and +50 Research Points. Gain +10 diplomacy with all non-affiliates. Gain 25 diplomacy with all affiliate members.
 
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2304.Q2 - The Snakepit
2304.Q2

When you take your place on the podium it is to the sound of applause. You much prefer it to the skulking whispers and speculation that greeted your arrival at the podium in the aftermath of the USS Cheron bombing and the loss of the Dunwich IV colony. Instead you are now lauded along with your staff for your roles in leading the response to the Biophage. Of course, the applause is never louder than when your first words are, "I am pleased to announce that the State of Emergency in the Romulan Border zone is over."

The powers harnessed by the State in a crisis are dreadful in their enormity, and their bestowment upon you is the greatest act of trust. There is no greater vulnerability to the tyrant than the moment of emergency, when all look for expedient answers and short-term comfort. None are quite so keenly aware of it as the Federation Council. The act of seeing you renounce your elevated powers is thus cathartic.

You swear blind that you even see Councillor Stesk smile at you.

Over a number of days, you spend outrageous amounts of time in Council and Committee meetings, making budgetary claims and requests. The Council is in agreement, the margin for error in Starfleet's capabilities needs to be greater, and resolving that starts with them. To this effect, even before you begin the horse-trading, you are told of a basic, 'free', increase in your budget.

[Federation Council has approved additional 50 br and 30sr per year budget increase]

Still, with the name Kahurangi the flavour of the month here in Paris, and news services abuzz with images of Vulcan children lining up for their vaccines, you know you can wrangle a lot more than that.

[ ][COUNCIL] Submit a plan to the Council
(You may select any number of options, as long as you can pay the Political Will cost. You currently have two-hundred and eighty-nine (289) Political Will to spend.

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

Federation Council Options for 2303.Q2
  • Request expansion of San Francisco Fleet Yards, 15pp (4 turns, gain new 1m t berth) [Can take multiple times]
  • Request expansion of 40 Eridani A Shipyards, 20pp (4 turns, gain new 1m t berth) [Can take multiple times]
  • Request Excelsior berth at a shipyard, 30pp (6 turns, gain new 3m t berth)
  • Request new Shipyard in orbit around Andor, 30pp (10 turns, gain new shipyard starting with one 2.5m t berth)
  • Request funding to start Utopia Planitia Shipyards, 135pp (16 turns, gain new shipyard starting with 2 3m t berths, 2 1m t berths, immediate activation of a Light Cruiser research team)
  • Request new Starbase I [Write in Sector] 20pp for home sectors or RBZ, 30pp for KBZ
  • Reduce Militarisation Level 75pp [Increased due to low level]
  • Increase Threat Level 50pp [Increased due to peaceful outlook]
  • Request Ongoing Budget increase 25pp (Roll for success)
  • Request Allocation for an Excelsior's resources, one-off-infusion of an Excelsior's cost, 20pp
  • Request Academy Expansion, 20pp (Gain +.5 Officers/Enlisted/Techs throughput)
  • Request Temporary Explorer Corps Recruitment Drive, 20pp, (Gain 2 Officer, 2 Enlisted, 2 Techs, PLUS Convert 2 Officer, 2 Enlisted, 2 Techs from normal service)
  • Request Start of Ambassador class project, receiving one-off boost of Research Points and go-ahead for some projects, 50pp
  • Request Start of Renaissance class project, receiving one-off boost of Research Points and go-ahead for some projects, 35pp
  • Request Start of Custom Explorer project, receiving one-off boost of Research Points and go-ahead for some projects, 60pp
  • Request Start of Custom Cruiser project, receiving one-off boost of Research Points and go-ahead for some projects, 40pp
  • Request Start of Custom Escort project, receiving one-off boost of Research Points and go-ahead for some projects, 55pp
  • Request Refit Program for Miranda class [+1 S,H,L for 20br, 10sr, 1 Year (4 turns)], 6 turns, 45pp
  • Request Refit Program for Constellation class [+1 C,S,D, for 20br, 10sr, 1 Year (4 turns)], 6 turns 45pp
  • Request Refit Program for Centaur class [+1 S,L,P,D for 15br, 15sr, 1 Year (4 turns)], 6 turns 45pp
  • Request new Tech Team to be added to your Ship Design Bureau, 30pp
  • Request focused Diplomacy on a potential member species, 10pp (One affiliate or prospective race will undergo accelerate diplomacy) [Can be taken multiple times]
  • Arrange to have an Old Guard Admiral convinced it is time to retire, 20pp


====

Federation Grading:
Current Minimum Science = 50 [Now 75]
Current Maximum Combat = 190 [Now 103]

(Soft cap, will gain +1 Militarisation per 10 pts over - will increase with Threat Level by 10)

Minimum Concurrent 5 Year Missions = 3
Current Militarisation Level = 2
Current Federation Threat Level = 4

Council Objectives:
85 Science by 2311
2 New Oberths by 2311

Starfleet Ambitions:
Operate no fewer than 5 concurrent Five Year Missions by 2311.

Current Federation Full Members:
Humans
Vulcans
Andorians
Tellarites

Current Federation Affiliates:
Betazoids 265/500 + 1 = 266/500
Rigellians 186/500 + 14 = 200/500
Caitians 173/500 + 10 = 183/500
Amarki 240/500 + 15 = 255/500
Risa 145/500 + 4 = 149/500
Caldonians 125/500 + 12 = 137/500
Gaeni 125/500 + 9 = 134/500

Currently Known Others Possible Members:
Orions 95/100
Yrillians 45/100
Dawiar 25/100
Kadeshi 35/100
Sotaw 35/100

Major Powers
Romulans - Unusual (The recent cooperation has caused relations to enter an unknown phase that is still being assessed)
Klingons - At Peace
 
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Omake - Starfleet Hiring Practices - Katsuragi
Just a quick omake I had to throw together after getting a laugh out of some earlier discussion.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"How's it look?"

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

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

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

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

"Hm?"

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

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

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


Stardate 21469.7

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

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

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

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

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

"120 ihnerha until arrival Commander."

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

"50 ihnerha until arrival."

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Fire!" orders the Commander

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

Someone curses.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"KUMARI REPORTS HEAVY LOSSES!"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

---------------------
Dispatch from the Federation Council said:
"Spacer Second Class Thesh Sholn, is awarded the Starfleet Medal of Honour for her actions on Stardate 21469.7 during the first phase of the Battle of Kadesh…"


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

She's only just begun to sob when the plasma flooding the deck incinerates her whole.
Dispatch from the Federation Council said:
"...where she not only personally saved the lives of Ensign Colbert, Chief T'mek, and Spacers Geral and Shett, but sacrificed herself to preserve the rest of the officers and crew of the USS Kumari"
 
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Captain's Log - 2304.Q2
Captain's Log, USS Enterprise, Stardate 21582.6 - Captain Nash ka'Sharren

Hello, uncharted space, my old friend.

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

-

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


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

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

-

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

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

-

Captain's Log, USS Polaris, Stardate 21592.1

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

-

Captain's Log, USS Yukikaze, Stardate 21593.2

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

-

Captain's Log, USS Enterprise, Stardate 21593.6

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

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

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

-

Captain's Log, USS Yukikaze, Stardate 21593.7

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

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

-

Captain's Log, USS Polaris, Stardate 21593.9

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

[Gain +5 rp]

-

Captain's Log, USS Enterprise, Stardate 21594.3

Petty Officer Bzorc's condition is not improving.

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

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

-

Captain's Log, USS Yukikaze, Stardate 21594.6

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

[Gain +50 br]

-

Captain's Log, USS Enterprise, Stardate 21594.9

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

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

Computer, End Log

(Edit A/N: people new to the quest who joined during the emergency, welcome to the normal heartbeat of the quest! Captain's Log posts!)
 
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Omake - Admiral Aelin - AKuz
The Crowning Exultation of Admiral Aelin



Stardate 21469.7

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

First Battle of Kadesh:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Stardate 20617.8

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NOW:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Stardate 20762.3

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NOW:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Stardate 21467.5

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NOW

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Diplomatic Message to the Confederacy of Amarkia said:
"... his courage and inspiring example helping to hold together the combined fleet long enough for it to reform itself"
 
2304.Q2 - The Snake Pit Epilogue
[X] Plan Industry, Recruitment and Diplomacy
-Shipyard Expansions:
--Request new Shipyard in orbit around Andor, 30pp (10 turns, gain new shipyard starting with one 2.5m t berth)
--Request Excelsior berth at 40 Eridiani, 30pp (6 turns, gain new 3m t berth)
--Request funding to start Utopia Planitia Shipyards, 135pp (16 turns, gain new shipyard starting with 2 3m t berths, 2 1m t berths, immediate activation of a Light Cruiser research team)
-(total 195 * 0.9 = 175.5 pp)
-Request Ongoing Budget increase 25pp (Roll for success)
-Request Academy Expansion, 20pp (Gain +.5 Officers/Enlisted/Techs throughput)
-Request new Tech Team to be added to your Ship Design Bureau, 30pp [doctrine]
-Request focused Diplomacy on Orions, 10pp
-Request focused Diplomacy on Amarki, 10pp
-Request focused Diplomacy on Betazoids, 10pp

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

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

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

====

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

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

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

Amarkia - 255/500 + 27 = 282/500

Betazoids - 266/500 + 12 = 278/500

====

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

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

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

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

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

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

===

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

KBZ 6
RBZ 12

Please note that these will rise by 2311, requiring additional ships prepared by then.
 
Omake - Captain's Log, USS T'Mir - phoenix89
And my first omake, ever. Specifically, the Captain of the T'Mir wondering why she's alive with an untouched ship when so many more powerful ships were devastated.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I must conclude that perhaps there is not a logical explanation for these events. The T'Mir may have simply been lucky. Whether my crew created that luck with electronic warfare and evasive flight, or whether it was simple chance beyond our control, the T'Mir's survival does not appear to have a purely logical cause.
 
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2304.Q3 - Ex Astris, Scientia
Starfleet Commander's Log, Stardate 21582.5

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

You aren't fooling anyone, Sanik.

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

Computer, End Log



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

Current RP Pool = 160pt

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

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

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


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

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

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