AAR: Operation Pounce

Subspace Network Reports
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1
Stardate:
101415.7
Filed By:
CAPT Mirazuni, A.
Clearance:

LOCATION Kern System, Xarantine Sector, Beta Quadrant

MISSION Assisting the U.S.S. Defender in assaulting asteroid base.

OUTCOME Asteroid base assaulted successfully, and Captain Sh’ow rescued.

KEY PERSONNEL

  • CAPT Mirazuni, A.
  • CAPT Nimitz, A.
  • CAPT Nimitz, T.
  • CAPT Tyrstoc
  • CMDR Kala, S.
  • CMDR zh’Vhenda, K

NARRATIVE Upon arrival, the U.S.S. Endeavour, U.S.S Ecstasea, U.S.S. Gato, and U.S.S Thrasher found the U.S.S. Defender engaged in a battle with several frigates and a carrier.

I ordered the U.S.S. Ecstasea, U.S.S. Gato, and U.S.S. Thrasher to advance at full speed toward the U.S.S. Defender, engaging aggressively to disrupt and scatter its escort screen. With the escorts diverted, the U.S.S. Endeavour executed a direct strike on the exposed carrier. After an initial broadside, I attempted to persuade the carrier captain to stand down. Whilst my initial attempt failed, the captain was more amenable to my request after the U.S.S. Heimdall appeared, and the other ships inflicted more damage on the escorts.

One of the enemy frigates attempted to break contact and retreat. I directed the U.S.S. Heimdall to pursue and track the vessel to its destination, an asteroid base, while the remaining ships moved to support. The U.S.S. Endeavour remained on station temporarily to oversee the securing of the enemy carrier. Once the U.S.S. Defender had completed boarding operations and ensured control of the vessel, the U.S.S. Endeavour regrouped with the task force at the perimeter of the asteroid field.

Upon arrival at the asteroid base, it became apparent that the facility was in the process of being abandoned. Sensor scans confirmed the presence of multiple hostile contacts within the station, concentrated around Captain Sh’ow’s location. Several security teams were deployed via transporter, including a unit from the U.S.S. Ecstasea led by Commander Kala, who assumed operational command on the ground as the senior-ranking officer.

The hostiles attempted to extract Captain Sh’ow with them. Following a brief standoff, Captain Tyrstoc initiated a directed energy pulse to neutralise all weapons on the base. Captain Nimitz successfully executed a site-to-site transport, beaming the hostile elements aboard her vessel for containment. Finally, Captain Sh’ow was safely recovered and transported to the U.S.S. Endeavour.

Following the extraction, the U.S.S. Endeavour broke formation and returned to Deep Space Thirteen with Captain Sh’ow on board. The remaining vessels remained on station to complete the clearance and secure control of the base.

RECOMMENDATION Captain Sh’ow will be transferred to Deep Space Thirteen medical upon arrival. Recommend treatment, therapy, and a long rest.

Commander Kala did not disclose her romantic relationship with Captain Sh’ow to this officer; this was only revealed after the officer was on the ground.

Furthermore, it should be noted that the Commander is not currently medically cleared for away team missions; none of which were disclosed before this mission began.

These oversights show a significant oversight of command procedures onboard the U.S.S. Ecstasea. I recommend that Command undertake a review of the U.S.S. Ecstasea’s procedures.
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RECOGNITION All Commanding Officers worked well together, especially in complex multi-ship manoeuvres.

OOC This is the report for the event “Operation Pounce”. Transcript here.
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2
Stardate:
101415
Filed By:
CMDR Kala, Sejea
Clearance:

ADDENDUM The U.S.S. Ecstasea warped in to see the U.S.S. Defender under siege and constant fire from two Caitian Shikaris Class Escorts, two Slithus Class Escorts, and an Aspero Class Carrier. After warp, we awaited orders as the U.S.S. Endeavor arrived and gave the order for the Ecstasea to advance directly to the Defender and help scatter the frigates and draw fire off of the Lexington Class ship.

The Ecstasea was having a hard time locking on to targets with the first two rounds of fire missing the enemy escorts and one of those hits striking the U.S.S> Leopard instead. After a firm talking to from Commander Kala, LT. Commander Bhili straightened up and would disable the weapons with successful targeting to two of the escorts.

After disabling two of the escorts, the Ecstasea was ordered to follow the U.S.S. Heimdall which had been in pursuit of a fleeing enemy escort. The pursuing ships were stopped by an asteroid field where an old and aging mining base was hiding. U.S.S. Gato and the U.S.S. Thrasher helped in clearing away asteroids and causing a distraction, so the Leopard and <Ecstasea could move in and beam down to rescue the kidnapped, Captain Sh’ow.

Commander Kala was the senior officer on the ground and relayed information back to Captain Mirazuni on the situation. Captain Sh’ow was held at gunpoint by one of the enemy Ferasans. None of the Ferasans seemed willing to release the Captain, so Commander Kala asked for Captain Mirazuni to have weapons disabled. Heimdall responded and sent a feedback loop of its deflectors to disable all weapons inside the aging station. This gave Commander Kala the upper hand to melee attack the ferasan into releasing Captain Sh’ow and thus making it possible for him to beamed out to safety and in to the Endeavor’s sickbay. The rest of the ferasans were beamed into Heimdall’s brig and placed in holding cells to be detained.

With the mission being a success, Commander Kala was ordered to rejoin her ship and stay with the Gato and Thrasher on their way back home to DS13.

RECOMMENDATION Upon seeing how the Miranda Class was having issues with locking on targets and missing the first few shots, the U.S.S. Ecstasea will need its weapons and targeting systems checked over and possibly have maintenance conducted to ensure they are working better in the future. It may also be worth noting that this ship has been struggling with systems recently and it may be a sign of needing to be decommissioned from the fleet later this year.

It should also be worth noting that Captain Tyrstoc’s actions and suggestion of targeting and shooting the station (which was very aged and probably could crumble from a sneeze), and just beaming out the Captain while he was held at gun point wasn’t just rash, but highly dangerous as well. It is recommended that he be reminded of safe beam tactics when in an enemy situation as he could have killed or seriously maimed Captain Sh’ow.

RECOGNITION Despite the failing firing and locking systems, LT. Commander Bhili did an excellent job in disabling the weapons systems on two of the enemy escorts. Everyone who participated in the mission performed with excellence.

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Stardate:
101416.0
Filed By:
CMDR Zenade, Sunin
Clearance:

ADDENDUM I am writing this on behalf of myself and Commander Kas, who was onboard the U.S.S. Leopard as the ranking officer during this.

The U.S.S. Defender, came under attack in the Kern system following our monitoring attempts of the asteroid base that was home to the Caitian Group Black Claw, and where Captain, H. Sh’ow was being held.

Whilst attempting to remain hidden not only was our probe destroyed but we where soon ambushed by an Aspero Class Carrier, two Caitian Shikaris Class Escorts and two Slithus Class Escorts, whilst our fighters where scrambled and attempted to fight off the Aspero’s own fighters we where heavily out numbered, even after deploying the Leopard, luckily our shields held out long enough for additional support to arrive.

With the Additional support and attempts by CAPT Mirazuni, A to try and talk down the Carrier Captain down, we remained on station to clean up the prisoners that where on both the remaining Caitian Escort ships and the Aspero, a task that met with no resistance.

Whilst this was happening the U.S.S. Leopard, took Commander Kas and a group of our best Security officers in pursuit of the Captain with the Heimdall, I was unaware at the time but I later found that our guest Lt Cmdr R’Nol Sh’ow, a visiting science officer who had joined others of both the Sh’ow and Kala family on the Defender and Ecstasea due to recent personal developments, had made his way aboard the Leopard and attached himself to the Security team that would be tasked with location and rescue of the Captain.

Once the Leopard and other ships reached the station, it is my understanding that Commander Kas took the Leopard as close to the base as possible, and once the Heimdall had lowered the stations shields, the Leopard beamed down a team, that had been lead by Commander Sh’ow, this team encountered heavily fire from the Ferasans that where attempting to extract Captain Sh’ow, with a number of injuries reported.

It is then understood, that this team managed to corner the last five Ferasan’s and following the disabling of weapons was able to sweep the area and ensure that everything was security, after the Captain was safely off the station and the Ferasan’s where in the brig, the Leopard returned to the Defender, where she redocked with us, before we headed to DS13, to off-load our prisoners into Federation custody.

RECOMMENDATION Captain Sh’ow should be allowed the time he will need to recover and rest, as well as adjust to news he has received since returning to Federation care.

I also have no choice to say that both myself and Commander Kas, as acting command staff for the Defender and Leopard in the Captain’s absence, where not only actively aware of the conflict of interest, present by Commander Kala attending the mission but of Commander Sh’ow sneaking onto the away team, and we both accept that we where both blinded by our by our loyalties to our Captain, and the traditions his family holds dear, that state that in this situation, a mate is to be expected to actively seek and find their missing mate, no matter what. And whilst I understand Starfleet still has rules and regulations, we are still required to make adjustments for cultures as best as we can

Whilst I am not expecting nothing to come from this matter, I feel that with the overall success of the mission and low federation personal injured or killed, any actions taken in light of this should be minor. Both myself and Commander Kas are available for further comment if needed, and whilst I can not speak for Commander Kas, I know that I am fully prepared to meet with any actions that stem from our actions during this mission, I should also add the reports I have been provided of the Commander’s act only show me a professional and in control officer, yes she beamed down to save her partner, but she did it with a cool head and a plan that was not rushed or dangerous.
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RECOGNITION I can not express my thanks enough to all the crews involved, and for the Defender and Leopard crews for not only acting with professional behaviour but by also following our orders to the letter, even when the situation seemed almost hopeless, when we where first ambushed.

OOC The culture excuse, is totally not a way to get out of saying, neither of them had the guts to argue with the angry Bajoran lady lol

Thanks to Everyone that attended, I know towards the end it centered on the Sh’ow’s and Sejea but I appreciate everyone’s efforts today and for anyone that attended the pregnancy reveal at the end

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Stardate:
101423.0
Filed By:
CMDR Kas, C.
Clearance:

ADDENDUM I have decided that following a senior staff meeting on the Defender, and meeting with Captain H. Sh’ow to check on his recovery, to submit my own addendum to proceedings, whilst I won’t go over the complete actions of the mission as Commander Zenade has covered the ships actions fairly completely.

I figured a few points needed raising so I have listed them below.

  1. The lack of decisive decision making from the Captains that arrived in the system where the hostile base was located, it seemed none of the senior officers of the rank of Captain wanted to take charge and proceed with the rescue, this only changed with the arrival of the Endeavour, which shouldn’t have been the case.

  2. The lack of attention to detail in reviewing of provided scanner logs and other information handed to officers, this was most evident when the U.S.S Heimdall fired a number of torpedoes at the Asteroid that housed the base, a base that from all our scans wouldn’t be able to stand that kind of fire power, had even one of the torpedoes suffered a malfunction and impacted the base once the shields have gone down, we would have been collected our Captain’s body, or ashes, the Details where all there in the scans had officers paid attention.

  3. The lack of willingness to put boots on the ground improve our situational awareness of the Captain’s position on the ground, our scans had already revealed a number of possible hostiles, all likely heavily armed, the first suggestion was to attempt a beam out of said hostiles, that had surrounded the Captain, well transporters are not instant, had even one of them managed to get a shot off before the system had fully engaged, we would have been having to do body recovery instead of a rescue, this simple issue could have been resolved by deploying any of the number of security teams across the multiple ships in system, two of which (Once the Endeavour rejoined the group) where dreadnought class ships.

  4. Both points Two and Three bring me to my fourth point, some officers in the group displayed a woeful lack of care for the Captain’s return, from over doing the needed force to take down the base’s shields, to a lack of concern around his safety on the ground and during any attempts to save him, this is something I wouldn’t expect of Starfleet officers, even more so of ones that are such a high rank, whilst this certainly doesn’t apply to all command officers in the group, the fact it applies to even one of the officers is highly concerning.

  5. My final point, is one that does blur the line between professional and personal opinion, but after reading the recommendations for certain officers actions, I feel the need to voice my opinion, but despite the fact the officer in question has a medical reason to not be on the mission, at least the officer in question showed a professional willingness to get the Captain back, and from what my team on the ground saw, there was certainly more professional behaviour on the base, when compared to the issues I have raised above.

I understand in combat sometimes communications can break down, I just felt that I should raise my own issues with this mission and make sure everyone involved was aware of the concerns and issues the crew have had, call us bias if you wish, but our duty is to protect our Captain, and given the way this went, we nearly ended up losing the Captain.

RECOGNITION Despite my points raised above, I still have to say I am appreciative of the fact support turned up when it did, as without it the Defender might have suffered more damaged, With special recognition, to the Commanding officers of the Gato and Thrasher, for all the support the ships provided in not only replying the assault in the Kern system, but by also blockading the escape route for the Ferasan group, helping ensuring we had all the time required to execute our rescue, and my thanks do go out to the Endeavour medical crew for who expertly treated the Captain on his return to DS13, whilst he needs further help to recovery, this initial help has likely been critical to get the Captain back on the road to recovery.

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5
Stardate:
101422.5
Filed By:
CMDR zh'Vhenda, K.
Clearance:

ADDENDUM On Stardate 101414.8, escort frigates USS Gato and USS Thrasher were diverted while returning to USS Hornet from combined forces training, in regards to a rescue mission of a missing Starfleet Captain. Both frigates diverted and arrived on location to the scene of the USS Defender under attack by a Caitian Aspero class carrier and four additional Caitian escort vessels. Additional Starfleet forces in the form of USS Endeavour and USS Ecstasea arrived and operational command was established by Captain Mirazuni.

Upon orders from operational commander, USS Gato and USS Thrasher proceeded to attack one of the Ferasan crewed escorts. Commander zh’Vhenda established tactical lead between Thrasher and Gato and proceeded to press the attack on the vessel using combined frigate tactics. Both frigates were to operate as one fighting force, maneuvering in close proximity to each other to enable shared shield strength and force tactical confusion upon the opposition forces.

Initial attacks on the Ferasan escort sapped the vessels shield strength and initial return fire was inaccurate at best. However on subsequent attacks, both Thrasher and Gato sustained significant shield damage. Commander zh’Vhenda ordered both frigates to retreat to maximum engagement range and engage with torpedoes. This torpedo barrage resulted in the targeted escort being disabled, but also caused a subsequent warp core breach. Emergency beam-out of the crews saved 60 with the most critically wounded being transferred to USS Endeavour.

Following the successful defense of the USS Defender, Captain Mirazuni ordered the newly arrived USS Heimdal and additional forces (including Thrasher and Gato) to pursue an escaping Ferasan vessel. A quick pursuit revealed that the vessel had escaped to an asteroid field base.

While USS Heimdal, USS Ecstasea and other vessels provided boarding forces to the station in an effort to locate the missing officer, USS Gato and USS Thrasher provided immediate area security, effectively blocking the station’s hangar access by positioning both frigates to blockade the hangar. Due to a large number of prisoners aboard both frigates, neither were able to provide boarding parties to the station, due to the risk of the Ferasan prisoners aboard the frigates.

No additional significant action were carried out by either Gato or Thrasher at this time. Upon USS Hornet’s arrival for retrieval, prisoners were transferred to USS Hornet’s brig for transit back to DS 13.

Nothing Further…

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Stardate:
101422.6
Filed By:
CAPT Tyrstoc
Clearance:

ADDENDUM Let the record show that this officer stands witness to and affirms the recounting of events as stated in the report of CAPT Mirazuni, A. except those details which follow, and contests the account of CMDR Kala, S. and CMDR Zenade, S. and the assertions of misconduct therein.

The USS Heimdall arrived late at the operational location due to unanticipated delays from stellar phenomena along the charted warp route. These delays caused what appears to be a minor temporal discrepancy en-route likely due to warp field fluctuations. Investigation by USS Heimdall Chief Science Officer CMDR K’shoph, P. indicates this was likely due to contact with a “stellar storm” composed of high-energy particle radiation. Effects were limited entirely to the duration of the warp jump, although Chief Medical Officer LCDR Cheveik has observed all crew show lasting signs of age approximately one solar week beyond expected. No damage to ship systems was reported.

Regarding the pursuit of the fleeing Ferasan Slithus Escort, the Heimdall initially attempted intercept as directed by recognized Flag Officer CAPT Mirazuni—in accordance with the procedure of operational chain of command so as not to disrupt fleet coordination. A directed volley from forward phaser banks only, targeted at the vessel’s engines on my direction, failed to penetrate shields before it was able to engage its warp drive. Heimdall then engaged in pursuit of the Slithus at high warp as ordered by CAPT Mirazuni, but was unable to successfully intercept the vessel before it exited warp within the asteroid field mentioned in previous reports.

Heimdall disengaged pursuit outside of the asteroid field on my order, so as not to destabilize the known hostage situation before Starfleet vessels could regroup. Once regrouped, there was some delay, as I perceived the situation, in executing a plan of attack on the mining base. The battlegroup was to execute a split maneuver at first, Heimdall had been ordered to standby for a frontal assault on the mining facility in order to create a diversion for flanking ships. To facilitate this, photon torpedoes were prepared with the intention to target any remaining defenses and/or asteroids with maximum impact for purposes of shock and awe.

Directed high-intensity scans from the Heimdall, relayed to the battlegroup, then detailed the hostage situation as described in CAPT Mirazuni’s report. As the urgency of the situation was made clear—indications being the lifesign logically identifiable as Captain Sh’ow, H. was imminently under threat of execution—CAPT Mirazuni ordered the Heimdall to disable the station’s shields and execute a tactical beamout of the Ferasan hostage-takers.

Given that a torpedo salvo had already been prepared, I saw fit to order the Heimdall to close with the station at best speed and trajectory, making use of phasers to clear asteroids from the direct path of the ship and fire the torpedoes to disable the station’s shields. A conical spread pattern was employed to avoid striking the mining station structure itself. This maneuver was successfully and competently completed on all counts by Heimdall’s crew, achieving the desired effect of total disruption of the fortified mining station’s systems. It remains my assessment that, without immediate disruptive action—for which a phaser strike may not have sufficed—Captain Sh’ow would likely have been killed.

Immediately following this, the Heimdall utilized its secondary deflector array to initiate a directed feedback pulse to disable the hostile Ferasan’s weaponry aboard the station. The decision to beam out the Ferasan hostiles was that of CAPT Mirazuni, and Heimdall executed this under my command with respect to aforementioned chain of operational command, particularly as any further delay or deliberation at this stage would likely have been fatal to all hostages (which included a number of prisoners in addition to Captain Sh’ow).

Had command circumstances been different, my strategic recommendation would have been to beam in a strike team to intervene, in order to manually ensure safety, and not attempt beamout. However, I also concur with CAPT Mirazuni’s assessment that it was wholly inappropriate, dangerous, and a significant breach of protocol for CMDR Kala to command such a strike team herself. There must be limits to cultural accomodations to protect the lives of all officers involved. Especially given undisclosed medical concerns in addition to the personal conflict of interest, of which I was also unaware.

Cargo Bay 2, empty at the time of the operation and locked down on transport, was used on my order as the initial containment site for the Ferasan hostiles beamed aboard. Security teams under personal command of Heimdall Chief Security Officer LT Hirnuan were standing by and successfully pacified the Ferasan’s and took them into custody. The prisoners were transferred from the brig of the Heimdall to DS13 Security upon return to the starbase in accordance with protocol.

RECOMMENDATION While I believe there are circumstances when a ship captain’s direct presence in a situation is called for despite the risk, as Starfleet’s history clearly shows, this does not constitute one such circumstance. During my time in the MACOs, I participated in many hostage rescue operations, and in none of them would it have been considered acceptable for a personal relative of a hostage to lead the rescue team. Furthermore, doctrine in those scenarios clearly favored rapid and decisive intervention once negotiation had been forgone in favor of direct action.

I believe 38th Fleet captains should receive additional training on hostage negotiation and tactical doctrine for hostage rescue. I also believe commanding officers in the fleet should receive a reminder on the risk assessment protocol for personal involvement in an away team, and proper communication and coordination thereof.

Finally, I wish to submit my own admission of culpability, as Flag Captain of Cetratus Squadron—to which Captain Sh’ow belongs—of abject failure in successful coordination and execution of sufficient search and rescue attempts for one of our own. While attempts were made to ascertain the exact details and nature of Captain Sh’ow’s disappearance, assumptions were made on my part regarding personal leave that should have been double-checked.

Cetratus Squadron also should have been mustered with appropriate immediacy to match the severity of the disappearance. To cut right to it, I could, and should, have done more to remedy and avoid this situation altogether in my capacity as Squadron Leader. It is my failure as a commander, in part, that led to Captain Sh’ow’s extended time in hostile captivity. This is inexcusable.

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