AAR: Predator and Prey

Stardate:
100202
Filed By:
CAPT Lyn, Isadora
Clearance:

LOCATION Kelterre Sector

MISSION Make contact with extragalactic species.

OUTCOME Engaged Hirogen. Two of the extragalactic vessels confirmed destroyed, one unaccounted for. Only two survivors recovered.

KEY PERSONNEL
STARFLEET

  • CAPT Lyn, Isadora
  • CMDR LaSalle, Evette
  • LT Seonu, Asura

REPUBLIC

  • CMDR Nathes
  • LT Shea

NARRATIVE

The USS Minerva and RRW Tebok were deployed to search for the extragalactic vessels encountered by USS Dragon. This was made possible by the recovery of critical intelligence by SFI operatives which allowed tracking of a subspace pulse emitted by the vessels, the purpose of which is still unknown.

Only two vessels could be located in this manner, and one of these went dark shortly before our departure from DS13. Our ships moved to intercept the final signal at best possible speed. Our course took us within sensor range of where the first signal ceased transmitting. LT Seonu detected debris and the ship slowed to investigate.

Upon arrival at the debris field, it was discovered that the debris belonged to several Hirogen vessels which had been completely destroyed in a recent engagement. Spectral analysis of the debris also showed that one of the extragalactic vessels had also been destroyed in this encounter. CMDR Nathes suggested that based on the available data, the Hirogen likely had a method to track the vessels.

Shortly after resuming our pursuit, weapons fire was detected in the vicinity of the final signal. RRW Tebok was able to determine that six Hirogen vessels were engaged with the final extragalactic vessel. Both ships prepared to engage. Although this officer anticipated that the Hirogen would be prepared for our arrival, it was judged that rescue and defense of the final vessel took priority. RRW Tebok opted to remain cloaked on approach for tactical flexibility.

Several minutes before our arrival, all combat at the coordinates ceased. On arrival, sensors identified only a single destroyed Hirogen vessel and the target extragalactic craft. The target ship had suffered extensive damage and had been boarded by the Hirogen but was still intact. The Tebok’s sensors had detected six Hirogen vessels on approach, and officers on both vessels suspected that the remaining ships were lying in wait for an ambush.

USS Minerva proceeded to feign transporting boarding parties to draw out any vessels in hiding. This endeavor was successful, and four Hirogen frigates attacked when our shields dropped. Due to our preparations, we were able to raise shields before any direct hits. The ensuing engagement was a decisive victory, with all four attacked ships neutralized. Both the tactical acumen of CMDR LaSalle and LT Seonu, as well as the presence of RRW Tebok were instrumental in this encounter. During this engagement, LT Seonu was also able to locate the final Hirogen vessel, which had secured itself in the hull of the extragalactic ship for direct boarding action.

Both USS Minerva and RRW Tebok deployed assault teams to the alien vessel. However, by the time this occurred there were only three remaining survivors. Our teams were able to neutralize the remaining Hirogen boarders and secure the survivors, although one later succumbed to sustained injuries. One of the survivors, some manner of ranking officer, decided to scuttle his vessel rather than attempt recovery.

The deployed teams and surviving vessel crew were brought aboard USS Minerva for medical treatment. The alien vessel self-destructed shortly after recovery of our teams and both ships set course for DS13.


RECOMMENDATION

The higher ranking of the survivors had indicated a desire to speak to our leadership, a request which this officer believes we should fulfill. All near term efforts should focus on learning what we can from them. There is a third vessel unaccounted for, either destroyed or otherwise silent. However, the best chance of resolving that issue is to obtain assistance from the surviving crew recovered from this vessel.


RECOGNITION

CMDR LaSalle demonstrated exceptional leadership, anticipating and adapting to dynamic circumstances and issuing appropriate orders. She was additionally tasked with tactical command during combat and was able to achieve victory with minimal damage to our own vessel. Finally, CMDR LaSalle led the Starfleet team that boarded the alien vessel. Although presented with less than ideal circumstances, her teams were able to neutralize remaining hostile and made peaceful contact with the surviving crew.

LT Seonu demonstrated initiative at the sciences station, performing valuable analyses and information even when not directly ordered. She additionally contributed her tactical expertise, providing situational analysis and avenues of strategy. Finally, LT Seonu was part of the away team under CMDR LaSalle’s command. She was able to assist one of the surviving ship crew, and both contribute to our diplomatic efforts and preserving his life.

LT Seonu collected a large amount of data which will may prove valuable, however some of this data was collected against the wishes of the alien commander. This officer is willing to overlook this breach of protocol in light of the LT’s priorities as a member of Starfleet Intelligence.

This officer would like to extend a special recognition to the CMDR Nathes and the crew of RRW Tebok. In addition to decisively tipping the balance tactically, CMDR Nathes lent her own considerable expertise on the Hirogen to our efforts. Tebok’s identification of Hirogen combatants prevented when could have been a fatal ambush. Starfleet continues to benefit significantly from her support and that of her crew.


OOC Thank you everyone who attended. This is a broad stroke overview from Isadora’s POV. Feel free to add your own character perspectives. As an aside, both alien crew are available for debriefs and conversation until the next event.

Event Transcript

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Stardate:
100202
Filed By:
CMDR LaSalle, Evette
Clearance:

ADDENDUM -=Away Team Report=-
Captain Lyn’s report already contains what are likely the most important points from our away mission to the alien vessel on this mission. I do, however, want to put a number of observations, opinions, and details on the record in case they prove useful later for analysis.

Firstly, as we arrived, we could see many dead from the ship’s crew, and Hirogen. The crew was clearly made up of at least three species, and possibly more. We have the two confirmed species represented in our survivors, plus many more insectoid beings among the dead.

Also of note, it was observed that the alien ship’s weaponry would phase through armor, and then come back into phase on the inside of the Hirogen ships, causing massive damage, and accounting for how they managed so well against a numerically superior force. We saw something similar on the inside of the ship, with at least one deceased Hirogen having half his body above the deck plate, and the lower half, presumably below, having been phased through it. This is consistent with the “leader” survivor of these aliens being consistently out of phase slightly with his surroundings, either due to, or being further prevented by, some of the technological implants he and the other deceased insectoid members of the crew exhibited. I recommend study of this technology if possible from gathered sensor readings, as it may prove particularly useful against the Kessok, should we be unable to solve their hostility by peaceful negotiation, or any remaining Azedi dreadnoughts, should they find a defense against Project Teleraptor, and relations degrade from the current uneasy truce we have with the former member-worlds. I am less enthusiastic about the application at the personnel level, as we have seen difficulties on the part of the “leader” alien we rescued, and the apparent need to utilize implants, despite the obvious effectiveness against a once again numerically superior and fierce Hirogen hunting party.

I would also like to point out that as we rescued the survivors on the bridge, and were discussing if we could tow their ship to DS13 for repairs, the leader pried back a metal panel, and showed us a small patch of what appeared to be organic material, rapidly decaying, as he said we needed to leave right away. Hybrid organic/technological spaceships are extremely short on examples, and our science and engineering teams may once again want to study carefully what sensor information we have to evaluate for any useful applications.

Finally, I should note that at this time, we still don’t know what the intent or mission of this extra-galactic crew was, but the two we have spoken to indicated that their mission has failed. The leader said that “Through seas of light and rivers of shadow we were carried. Legacy of the children of Nzema. Now the void calls.” and also "The knowledge of Ralan must die here if it cannot be saved.”

I’m not sure whether these were colony ships, and/or guarding some large cache of knowledge, but either way, it feels like a terrible loss. Hopefully, the full meaning of their words can be unraveled in time.

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Stardate:
100207.5
Filed By:
CDR Nathes
Clearance:

LOCATION Kelterre Sector

MISSION Engagement and eradication of Hirogen Forces troubling foreign intergalactic species

OUTCOME Hirogen group assailing aliens neutralized. Two survivors from surviving alien vessel recovered. Interview with survivors pending. Addendum will be submitted post-debriefing.

KEY PERSONNEL

  • CAPT I. Lyn (SF)
  • CMDR E. LaSalle (SF)
  • LT A. Seonu (SF)
  • LT Shea (RRF)
  • CDR Nathes (RRF)

NARRATIVE RRW Tebok and allied vessel USS Minerva were deployed to locate alien vessels encountered by allied vessel USS Dragon. Information recovered by allied intelligence services provided the means of locating these alien vessels.

The investigation resulted in the confirmed destruction of one of the alien vessels. Further, information acquired the Hirogen enemy had a means of tracking these vessels. The final location of our flight path was the sight of an intense battle between the surviving alien vessel and the Hirogen forces.

USS Minerva and RRW Tebok were, upon arrival, able to eliminate and destroy the enemy presence. Further, RRF Guard marines and Starfleet Security teams were deployed to the alien vessel to eliminate remaining hunters.

Upon eliminating the enemy, contacting with the aliens was established. There were only three survivors. While their intentions are unknown, the aliens seemed partial to coordinating with RRF and allied efforts.

In context of previous interviews, an addendum will be provided following a debriefing with these aliens.


RECOMMENDATION The Hirogen operating with impunity is unacceptable. Their attacks of the alien vessel, seemingly without a clear motivation, indicates this enemy has significant resources at their disposal. The only sensible solution, therefore, is to destroy the Hirogen presence before they become a greater problem.

Recommendation is given for the Senate and RRF Command to authorize a decisive strike against the Hirogen enemy. Their primary bases should be destroyed, and their accompanying warships should be captured or destroyed. The Federation will likely not protest. And further, the Hirogen’s purported association with Rator III should be taken into account.

Lastly, information on the unknown species remains limited. Following a debriefing with the aliens, all information will be forwarded to Republic Intelligence, the Senate, and RRF Command.
​
RECOGNITION LT Shea’s swift tactical assessment of the situation ensured the Tebok’s decisive destruction of enemy forces.

CAPT Lyn is to be commended for ship-to-ship engagements against the Hirogen enemy. Coordination between Minerva and Tebok was near flawless.

CMDR LaSalle and LT Seonu are to be commended for their actions on the ship. A combination of diplomacy and tactical prowess ensured the survival of the remaining aliens.


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Stardate:
100215.4
Filed By:
CAPT Lyn, Isadora
Clearance:

ADDENDUM

This addendum contains a technical and medical update based on scans taken by the USS Minerva.

ALIEN VESSEL TECHNICAL DATA

MATERIAL COMPOSITION
Exterior scans taken by LT Seonu of both wreckage and the intact alien vessel confirm information from USS Dragon’s encounter with the vessels. Both ships found that the exterior hull plates of these vessels possess sensor scattering properties which severely limit the quality and quantity of information gained by standard scans. This property is imparted by both the material composition of the hull plates, as well as a type of active hull polarization.

Interior scans of the vessel taken by LT Seonu and the away team were not hampered by the same sensor scattering but were limited by the range and resolution of the tricorders carried. These scans reveal the composition of the inner hull and other structural elements to be 40% polyduranide alloys, 25% carbon, 5% tetraburnium derivatives, 15% neutronium, and 15% unknown elements. Both the carbon and some percentage of the unknowns are organic in nature.

The same scans suggest that the computers of the vessel run on a techno-organic components, not unlike Starfleet bioneural circuitry. This seems to have suffered intensive degradation in certain components and is being actively supplemented with isolinear and duotronic circuitry.

There are organic conduits integrated with most hull surfaces on a micron level. These may serve to supplement the ship’s EPS grid, although these conduits were inert in all scans taken by the away team.

PROPULSION
The ship possesses a M/AM warp core of some configuration although the specifics and output are unknown due to insufficient scan time and resolution. Exterior scans show what may be energy collection devices on the outer hull which feed directly into the ship’s EPS grid, although this is currently speculation.

Exterior scans show six plasma exhaust vents for impulse drives. The output of these is currently unknown.

CREW
The full complement of the alien vessel is currently unknown. The away team identified over a hundred deceased individuals upon boarding but this may not be accurate as to the full crew complement. The vessel’s crew appeared to be multispecies, see medical data for more details.

DEFENSIVE/OFFENSIVE SYSTEMS
Scans of Hirogen wreckage by LT Seonu indicate that these vessels employ energy weapons. Residual signatures on the Hirogen vessels indicate impacts by sirilium laced neutron particle weapons. Intact sections of the Hirogen vessels also suggest that these weapons were able to bypass the monotanium hull armor on the Hirogen vessels and deal direct structural damage.

Scans of Hirogen hunter remains by the away team indicate that the species uses both plasma and verteron laced neutron particle weapons as personal armaments.

Exterior scans show at least ten emitters for particle weapons on the exterior hull. The vessels possess launch tubes for torpedoes or other ordinance, but no such weapon signature was observed at either of the battlegrounds.

Interior scans indicate that the vessel does possess defensive shield emitters, but the output is currently unknown. No ablative armor or other hull armor was observed, however the outer hull deflected scan attempts. The encountered vessel’s shields had been depleted by the Hirogen and it had suffered multiple hull breaches, giving some idea as to the maximum range of the ship’s defensive capacity.

Tactically, two vessels of the class were able to contest one Apex-class battleship, four Hunter-type escorts, and six accompanying frigates. However, there is no way to gauge the tactical abilities of the ships given that there is no record of the engagement. Records from the Orion vessel Dispaar show that the alien vessels prefer opening with ambush tactics, meaning one or more of the Hirogen vessels may have been caught unaware. In addition, there is no way of knowing how many Hirogen vessels were involved in the initial engagement and how many were reinforcements.

MEDICAL DATA

GENERAL OVERVIEW
Three distinct races were observed to be part of the alien crew. These included an unknown insectoid race, a humanoid race identified as the Siluvan, and a third humanoid race with remains unidentified. The insectoid race comprised 63% of the identified bodies with Siluvan making up 33%. Of the final race, there is only a single individual represented by the survivor Kehl.

UNKNOWN INSECTOIDS
The first race is an insectoid-humanoid race of which there were no remaining survivors. Scans of deceased individuals show a multitude of cybernetic implants. The purpose of these implants seems to be enhancement of biological functions such as expanded visual spectrum or supplementation of functions such as hormonal and neurochemical regulation.

SILUVAN
The second species is represented by the survivor Ilin, who identified his species as Siluvan. Medical scans show his species to have commonalities with most carbon-based humanoid life, with most biological parameters falling within the range of norms for most Federation species.

The species neurological functions are most similar to Vulcanoid, with the species relying on copper based proteins for oxygen transport. The species possesses analogues for organs such as liver, pancreas, and kidneys. Muscle density and vasculature comparable to humans suggest planet of origin had moderate gravity and temperate conditions. Eyesight has expanded range in the ultraviolet spectrum but is otherwise comparable to most Federation species.

Ilin appears to have had digestive enzymes genetically engineered to allow for metabolization of a wide range of diets than this species appears to have been originally capable of. It is unknown whether this is unique to this individual or was standard across his species. Finally, the Siluvan appear to be hermaphroditic, with Ilin possessing equivalents to male and female genitalia.

UNKNOWN HUMANOID
The final species is represented by the other survivor from the vessel. So far this individual has identified himself as Kehl but has not named his species. Medical scans have so far been inconclusive, as Kehl appears to exist in a state of flux, phasing in and out of existence at high frequency.

Although LT Seonu was successful at stabilizing his implants, this appears to have only increased the frequency of his phase shifting enough to present the illusion of continuous physical presence. It is unknown whether this is a natural state of his species or a product of some other circumstance.

Kehl has demonstrated the ability to control his phase shifting to some extent. After being denied access to the surgery ward containing Ilin, he was observed phasing through a level 3 isolation field and a bulkhead in order to access his shipmate. After confirming Ilin’s status, he returned to the medbay. To date, he has not utilized this ability again.

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Stardate:
100292.1
Filed By:
CDR Nathes
Clearance:

ADDENDUM
An interview of the survivors was conducted and concluded.

Ilin and Kehl were interviewed. Kehl, on account of his own orders, departed the interview early.

It should be stated we are dealing with a people where-in time moves differently for them. As such, brevity of conversations will not serve either the Romulan Republic or United Federation of Planets well in fostering understanding with this civilization. The members of this civilization appear very long lived, even by Romulan standards.

That in mind, significant and critical information was yielded from the interview.

Historical background was provided by Ilin. Detailed information will be provided in the following transcript, but roughly speaking: It appears their people went on an exodus from their original homeworld. While the aliens were tightlipped about the specifics, the details the aliens provided indicate they had no other choice.

Their original mission appeared to be contacting Children of N’zema. It appears this group existed within our region of space for some time. As of now, it does not appear they have succeeded in that objective. Requests have been sent to the Romulan Archives to find any information pertaining to the Children of N’zema.

Ilin mentioned one other vessel is unaccounted for. This vessel is commanded by Judicator Thala. Judicator Thala was described as martial, paranoid, and an effective military officer. Considering they likely encountered Hirogen forces, I would surmise Judicator Thala likely has a negative disposition towards peoples within this region.

Ilin had no knowledge of Judicator Thala’s location. On account of a lack of wreckage, it can be surmised both she and her crew are still alive.
RECOMMENDATIONS

  • Locating Judicator Thala should be made a priority. That in mind, diplomacy with this individual will be challenging. Judicator Thala was best described as serious, uncompromising, and suspicious. She likely has an unfavorable disposition towards the peoples of this region on account of encounters with Hirogen Forces.

  • It appears that a group of people (or peoples?) related to these aliens existed in our region. As such, any and all information within RRF and Starfleet databanks should be investigated. Old records might provide context.

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