101903.6
LCDR Wind-People, Ansha
LOCATION near the Traelus system in the Ba’Aja Sector.
MISSION Routine Navigational Survey. Remapping of Gravitational Waves.
OUTCOME Though this was a routine survey mission, the ship was ambushed, hit with surgical strike that instantly knock out EPS grid, and damaged the Warp Core resulting in catastrophic antimatter release.
KEY PERSONNEL
- LCDR Ansha Wind-People, XO and Acting Commanding Officer
- CMDR Caza Yit, Chief of Security (deceased)
- LCDR Shamaz Ashydi, Chief Medical Officer
- LCDR Sh'ow, R'Nol, Science Officer
- LCDR Bihil, Operations Officer (deceased)
- LT Anakkei Solla, Tactical Officer
- LTJG Zachary Sweazey, Helm
- Ensign Oppa Guynes, Navigation and scanning
- CPO Donas zhe’Nambur, Engineer, Acting Engineering Officer (deceased)
NARRATIVE
On 101892.3 We arrived at location just outside the field/force influence of the Traelus System in the Ba’aja Sector as per orders and began navigational surveys and updates to gravitational maps as necessary. We immediately calibrated our sensors and began our sweep patterns as directed. Scans continued uneventfully for the next 20 shifts (80 hours)
At 101897.83, LT Solla, noted a craft appearing suddenly on the port aft side, 217 Mark -13. Before we could react a large explosion rocked the ship. All power was lost, until emergency batteries kicked in. Engines were unresponsive. Sensors, tactical, and shields were also offline. Hails to engineering met with no response. Red Alert was called. LCDR Sh’ow volunteered to go to engineering and find out what was going on.
At 101897.85, We were able to restore limited sub-space communications and contacted the USS Defender, who was to relay our status and position to Fleet Command, and if possible either assist or have another ship dispatched to assist. Emergency beacons were deployed and distress signals were broadcasts.
Around this time we began to receive reports of a hostile entities boarding the ship and attack crew members with no mercy. Their description was scant but according to one of the security personnel, they were using a form of personal camouflage devices that rendered them hard to see, and in fact invisible in low light environs. It was later determined based on the accounts of several sources that these were Hirogen hunters.
At 101897.9, LCDR Sh’ow, contacted us that he had reached engineering, gravity was off in the engineering space. Debris, smoke, coolant, and bodies were seen floating around. Note: the containment doors would have sealed at this point so LCDR Sh’ow could only look in from a porthole in the central passage.
LCDR Sh’ow stated that one lone individual was still alive in the space. CPO Donas zhe’Nambur, had donned an EVA suit and was trying to keep the now failing containment field in operation. She confided to LCDR Sh’ow that she could not reach the bridge to let us know that we had to abandon ship immediately as containment failure was eminent and that there were Hirogen hunters lurking about the ship.
At 101897.92, the order to abandon ship was given.
It was discovered that some of the single person pods on the bridge were inoperable, most likely as a result of the initial blast. As there were 4 surviving bridge crew left including myself, and 3 pods I instructed LTJG Sweazey and Ensign Guynes to each take one. As LT Solla was severely injured and unable to walk, I placed her in a pod. We attempt to see if I could perhaps squeeze in but this proved impossible so I sent her out in the pod and decided to stay behind.
Power and life support were failing and the temperature was plummeting rapidly, which I hoped might allow me some possible escape. Note: my species is capable of being revived from a frozen state as long as we are not dessicated. Unfortunately the space was beginning to fill with toxic fumes.
It was at this time, I was greeted by an Adjaellian Tardigrade, a species of tardigrade from my species’ home planet Adjaellia Prime. I thought I was hallucinating but it was confirmed by LCDR Sh’ow that was indeed brought in a frozen state to the Defender by this tardigrade.
The last time we encountered this species it was less than friendly. They were a natural predator to my species, and had mauled and killed one of my kind, Megan Wind-People, that had decided to join a merchant marine crew. That particular tardigrade attack and killed several civilian crew and Starfleet Members on that encounter, but this was different. It was able to share, as my species does with touch. A limited form of communication where experiences, the sensory stimuli and emotions involved therein are passed on. I felt its regret, sorrow, and an understanding that they now realize we are also sentient like they are.
There was an understanding in this exchange that since Adjaellia had been laid desolate by Jannesen-Yashal Mining Co, we were both refugees and “countrymen” for lack of a better word, and that our mutual cooperation should be beneficial. In the exchange it sensed my fear, and assured me that our people would no longer be prey (they eat our spores).
The tardigrade had been a prisoner of the Hirogen’s that had attacked our ship. When their boarding ship latched onto the USS Ecstasea, the power dropped long enough for the containment field holding it hostage to drop and it was able escape. It rampaged through their ship and on to ours in an act of revenge. The Hirogens had attempt to hunt on Adjaellia and took this tardigrade at great cost of life after not being able to kill it.
From here I began going into stasis. I remember the tardigrade removing my skeleton structure, etc… rolling me into a ball with my wrist mount tricorder inside ( I had set off the transponder in the hopes of rescue or recovery at some point ) and then we went into some place. It felt like a dream and describing it, especially when I lacked my eye lenses, and was drifting into stasis is impossible. My tricorder was not set to scan or record. All functions were to operation the locator beacon unfortunately.
It was later stated that the tardigrade would leave scanner view as if using some form of trans-dimensional portal or something and then return closer to the Defender. At the current time this phenomenon is unexplained. The tardigrade did not share any surrounding experiences regarding this, or perhaps I could not understand them. It bares further study but the tardigrades are dangerous, hard to corner, and very elusive. The story of my subsequent return is best described by others present.
I awoke in the warm, nutrient bath, in a tank in the botanical science lab onboard the USS Defender in my species’ natural structureless state, where as of this writing, I still am.
Of the 152 crew members onboard the USS Ecstasea, 33 were confirmed dead, either during defense of the ship, initial attack, or succumbing to wounds after; 49 are listed as missing in action as their bodies have not been found; 63 are wounded.
RECOMMENDATION
- Post investigation we should see if an Adjaellian Tardigrade would be agreeable to study. I do not think it would right off. I would approach this idea cautiously. It should be respected that they have a high degree of rational understanding leaning to sentience but they are still very dangerous when provoked.
- If we have anymore Miranda Class cruisers in the fleet, they should be retired immediately or upgraded. The Hirogens were able to exploit a weakness at the aft end between the hanger bays, which essentially took out our main and backup EPS conduits.
- Chief Petty Officer Donas zhe’Nambur gave her life trying to maintain the containment grid which gave the crew time to escape. This is worthy of naming a craft in her honor. She was a 35 year veteran of Starfleet and a foremost expert on Miranda class cruisers. Her service to Starfleet and ultimate sacrifice deserves remembrance.
- Commander Caza Yit lead a team to defend the ship against the boarders. She died in combat after defeating several in bloody hand to hand melee.
- Lieutenant Commander Shamaz Ashydi, MD, though injured coordinated evacuation of the wounded, and once onboard the Defender, refused treatment for herself until all our injured crew were taken care of.
- Lieutenant Commander R'Nol Sh'ow though injured investigated the initial conflagration, then organized the surviving crew. He has continued to be supportive, and in my immobile state has stepped up as a leader.
- Lieutenant Junior Grade Zachary Sweazey assisted with crew member organization once on board the USS Defender. He has since been assisting LCDR Sh'ow and the Defender crew with helping the survivors.
- The crew of the USS Defender for assisting us in our time of need.