| SUBMITTED: Stardate 95054.8 | FILED BY: CMDR M. Leveson-Scott .II | SECURITY: Level 2 - Confidential |
LOCATION: Deep Space
MISSION: Investigate anomalous distress signal fragment
OUTCOME: Freighter recovered and responsible party identified. Dialogue for future cooperation opened with Imperial Intelligence operatives.
KEY PERSONNEL:
CAPT Bishop - USS Endeavour NCC 98500
CMDR Leveson-Scott
CMDR Larson (NPC) - USS Endeavour NCC 1895
LCDR Dix (NPC
LCDR Jan (NPC)
LT Rahir (NPC)
LTJG Fontaine (NPC)
LTJG Lewis (NPC)
LTJG Savur (NPC)
ENS ch'Eren
1LT Valencia
CMDR Qu'Run - IKS Peghtaj (NPC)
(Unidentified) - IKS Peghtaj (NPC)
NARRATIVE: Whilst towing NCC-1895 back to K7, comms detected a brief flash of a distress signal. Though too partial to comprehend in any format, it was recognizable as a standard Federation signal and so we altered course to investigate. Long range sensors reported a sensor dead zone surrounding the signal source (later found to be a tachyon field), and so I ordered the helm to hold position at a comfortable distance from the perimeter so that we could detach from NCC-1895 before investigating further.
A short time into our preliminary investigation of the site, the tachyon field which was scrambling sensors began to dissipate and once it had completely disappeared we were greeted by a KDF raptor revealing their presence to us. A ship promptly identified as IKS Peghtaj - a vessel registered with the KDF's Imperial Intelligence Service. Contact was established where they were adequately forthcoming in the sharing of details they had learned since arriving shortly before us, in the name of mutual allied cooperation. They offered their assessment of the freighter and determination that it had been attacked by a Romulan cell of the Scryer Network; an assessment which I confirmed as consistent with what we know of the organization. This soon led to the inevitable determination that a closer look at the ship emanating the distress signal was required and so I took a small team over to the freighter where we were joined by CMDR Qu'Run.
Our on site investigation was systematic in capturing logs and flight records from the freighter, all of which appeared in order. We also encountered an openly presented message on the command station's console:
Message: "You have deceived us, Starfleet. We came to you to conduct an honest deal for the return of our traitor. Did you think we would not notice the loss of one of our starships? We told you there would be consequences. You did not consider them. Now your people lie dead. Let this be a lesson to you."
This corresponded with findings made by CMDR Qu'Run insofar as the bodies of the freighter crew all burned beyond recognition by low yield plasma based energy weapons (total 29 freighter crew found in this condition, all displayed prominently throughout key areas of the ship). With no knowledge of existing Starfleet operations that might apply context to the message's implications I forwarded a copy back to LTJG Lewis to run through the archives for a broader cross reference.
During our final sweep of the freighter bridge, 1LT Valencia detected movement towards our position and we came under attack from a pair of automated spider drones; both of which were promptly dispatched. I was able to confirm CMDR Qu'Run's assessment that they were older model drones supplied across the black market by the Orion crimelord Blood Queen Maral. This further supported our theory of the Scryer Network being responsible, as Maral is a known supplier to them.
Making sure to part company with our KDF ally on amenable terms left open to the possibility of future cooperation on this matter, we returned to the Endeavour and took the freighter under tow - resuming course at lower speed so that NCC-1895 could travel alongside us under it's own power. During this time, LTJG Lewis presented me her findings and confirmed my suspicion that this did in fact relate to a Starfleet operation. Having reviewed the associated reports with Captain Bishop, we have concluded that this freighter crew was set upon not for the apparent theft of it's cargo, but the revenge killing of it's 29 Federation civilians on board as offset against the 'promise' referred to in the message we recovered.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Having expressed a relatively stronger awareness of the supposedly linked prior events, I have deferred to Captain Bishop's judgement regarding any further action. I can at least report that the identities of the civilian crew have been captured from the ship's manifest and their families will be notified accordingly. The freighter itself will be drydocked upon return awaiting legal claim of ownership or ultimately reassignment if no such claim is made.
ATTACHMENTS:
Correspondence_Trail.maf
Prisoner _Exchange.aar
OOC: This is from an impromptu Endeavour player crew event. If I've unintentionally misrepresented your character's actions, misspelled their names, got their rank incorrect, et cetera, please send me a PM over enjin and I'll make the necessary edits.