Stardate:
98320
Filed By:
Liasvarnu, IV
Clearance: Shared with DS13 command
After Action Report
LOCATION Mevov - Mevov System - Donatu Sector
MISSION Level 3 field observation.
OUTCOME Unexpected encounter with Klingon forces, eventual capture and escape from secret facility.
KEY PERSONNEL
- LT Reyes, Miriam
- ENS Thyzee
- ENS Murphy, Adelaide
- Liasvarnu
NARRATIVE
The second phase of our investigation into Mevovâs degrading ecosystem was meant to be brief and uneventful, a simple data gathering initiative to further delve into the mystery that its slow and seemingly inevitable collapse posed. Our initial foray - and monitoring efforts - had allowed the Endeavourâs computers and personnel to conclude that Lieutenant Reyesâ fears were unfortunately grounded but the cause, or causes, of such a nigh perfect example of cascade failure continued to evade all those involved. Consequently, a small sortie was dispatched to the surface with the intent of trying to pinpoint the exact origin and root of this silent crisis.
Our first objective was to follow and observe the biological processes of one of Mevovâs large herbivores (Syncerus Caeruleum), which revealed potential anomalies in both the metabolism of the species and their diet: its main source of sustenance, a type of flora too on the decline, was being abnormally absorbed by the specimen to the degree that no vestige of it could be located in its waste, while the rest of plants it would ingest failed to be duly processed by its digestive system. Confronted by this, I hypothesised that there could be a flaw in the herviboreâs main source of sustenance, a missing or otherwise altered variable, such as an enzyme, that might be required for it to properly digest secondary sources, as well as for the plantâs own continuity and survival.
Armed with this discovery, we set to observe other species to confirm whether they too were being afflicted by similar issues when we stumbled upon something different altogether, a group of Klingons operating in the heart of an old crater. Though they were too far for us to be able to determine their exact numbers, it soon became obvious that there were more of them than there were of us and we opted for subterfuge, trying to remain hidden from them by watching from the craterâs edge. Ultimately, their motives were unknown and there had been no mention of Klingon presence on Mevov whatsoever. In light of this, the Lieutenant proposed that we attempt to unearth their intentions, proposal to which I objected since we were unescorted and unarmed. Before we could decide, alas, we noticed that a few of them happened to be physically grappling with one of the worldâs predators, a fine specimen of Panthera Quattrocculus, and in the ensuing struggle, a disruptor bolt must have sunk into the ground right below the ledge upon which the Lieutenant sat, causing her to fall into the crater.
Ensigns Thyzee and Murphy then proceeded to try and retrieve the Lieutenant, but she was spotted and apprehended by the Klingons before they had a chance to act. With our presence known, their first reaction was not to speak to us, but open fire and, at this, I attempted to contact the shuttle for emergency transportation, only to learn that all signals were being jammed. As we took cover from their volleys, an explosive was hurled to our position, sending both Ensigns below while I raced to our vehicle in the hopes of contacting our respective forces. As much as it pains me to admit so, the fact that I would awaken, a little battered, in a Klingon cell implies that I did not make it far before I too was caught.
Of the four, all of us accounted for in the cell, Ensign Thyzee and myself appeared mostly unharmed, but Ensign Murphy and the Lieutenant had sustained moderate injuries in the form of a broken leg each, both lightly treated by our captors. Regrettably, before we could devise a plan of action, that being our escape, one of the guards came to remove Lieutenant Reyes. I followed shortly after and they dragged me to another chamber. There, I was questioned, alone, as to the purpose of our gallivanting on Mevov and I satisfied their questions truthfully, such striking me as the best course of action given the scientific, and thus, rather harmless, nature of our undertaking on the aforementioned world, which revealed that the Klingons were interested in the predator we had seen them subduing. From what I gathered, they were of a mind to tame it but did not know how, their curiosity in that regard now coming to dominate most of their interrogation.
I diverted their line of questioning towards the notion of genetic manipulation then, suggesting that, in the event that the predator was incapable of developing bonds with other species, a little tampering could achieve such a thing, which piqued their interest - it is known Vorta have an eye for such, after all. They stated that I would help them accomplish this, ordering the termination of the other captives as an alarm started blaring across the compound. Apparently, in the midst of my interrogation a âprison breakâ had somehow started, one of the Klingons using those exact words, and they began to move me towards another section of the base, perhaps a laboratory or a transporter room, as explosions and fire rocked the ground. Before we could reach it, though, power began fluctuating throughout the installation and all of our captors left, leaving me stranded in the middle of a corridor.
I made my way to the nearest terminal and accessed communications, sending a burst of encoded data to my vessel, unable to locate any Starfleet ships in the vicinity. Fortunately, the Ometra-48 had already started search and rescue operations the moment I failed to observe scheduled contact with it and was moments away from reaching the planetâs orbit, the base being on the surface of Mevov itself. With the Klingons gone, it was only a matter of ferrying the survivors to our medical facilities, which included the Lieutenant, the two Ensigns and another supposed prisoner of Orion heritage, who was, instead, transferred to a Dominion cell, if he too received the urgent medical assistance he was due.
At this point in time, I cannot say how the other prisoners unfettered themselves or caused enough damage to destabilise the facility, but it is, without a doubt, the only reason we managed to escape. Upon securing it, my forces learnt that the complex was originally cloaked, which would explain why Starfleet never knew of its existence, and I can only imagine that the chaos created by the revolt caused it to malfunction. With the Ometra-48 already in the system, the prospect of having to face a host of Jemâhadar soldiers might have been too excessive a challenge for them to accept, especially if they wished to keep their operations under a veil of secrecy. The fact that they vanished without a trace might imply a cloaked ship nearby - perhaps another base, even - that they did not wish to expose to my vessel. Lastly, my soldiers noticed that, prior to abandoning the complex where they housed us, all entries and nodes were purged.
It is worth noting that, upon retrieval, the physicians on the Ometra-48 found extensive damage on Lieutenant Reyes, who seemed to have been subjected to a rather crude form of torture, while the Orion individual was probably wounded during the altercation preceeding our escape. His injuries have so far prevented any measure of formal questioning, and although he remains on my ship, I am more than willing to have him transported to Deep Station 13, seeing as Mevov falls under the jurisdiction of Starfleet.
RECOMMENDATIONS
- That we would be fired upon when it was rather evident that our group was comprised of Starfleet officers almost in its entirety - for they had no way of knowing that I was a member of the Dominion prior to my capture, as far as I can say - could imply that this is a splinter band of Klingons, a minor faction vying for its own share of influence. Knowledge of active Houses in the Donatu sector that fit such a description could yield more, but the Dominion is content to leave such to Starfleet unless directly asked to intervene.
- While the Ometra-48 makes for a formidable opponent, as do the soldiers onboard, the fact that the Klingons would choose to flee rather than confront either is unusual, especially when they possessed the advantage of surprise. This, coupled with the ease in which they would not only fire upon but prepare to execute Starfleet officers, may suggest that we are dealing with a specific, secretive branch.
- I cannot conclude that the Klingons are responsible for the downfall of Mevovâs ecosystem, but their interest in being able to tame specimens of the Panthera Quattrocculus family is certainly worrying. Could they be trying to weaponise them? If so, why? This too could be a lead that ought to be followed.
- By knowingly directing the attention of the Klingon captors towards the field of genetic manipulation, I have likely opened an avenue of investigation: though it is not particularly difficult to alter non-sentient creatures in this day and age, the materials, equipment and personnel required for it may be problematic to acquire on short notice. By monitoring all the necessary resources, we may be able to locate this group.
â
RECOGNITION
Though the circumstances of our capture blinded me to the deeds of Lieutenant Reyes, Ensign Thyzee and Ensign Murphy, their ability to operate under so grim parameters, as well as their survival, speaks to their bravery in the face of the adverse.
OOC Itâll be okay, she said! Harmless, she said!