I have spent the past decade - my entire career - serving aboard Deep Space 13. It has been more than my assignment. Itās been my home, as much as anywhere else ever has. That alone leaves me feeling bittersweet as I record this, my first Captainās Log.
I have just had my first real look at my new command, the Titan-class USS Reyga. Iām incredibly humbled to have been entrusted with this brand new vessel, and I look forward to writing the first chapter of its legacy. Of course, as much as I imagine inheriting a ship and crew from a previous commander brings challenges, so too does starting from the ground up. My day-one crew complement is only 105, out of 350. The rest will be arriving over the next two weeks, and a number of key positions will be vacant until they do.
One position that is thankfully not vacant is that of my first officer and science officer, Commander Sedai. Part of me feels guilty for stealing her away from Captain Varley. After all, she was already a DS13 fixture by the time I arrived all those years ago. Itās going to be a little strange, having her under my command in this context. It was different on the station. I didnāt often have to give orders to the head of counseling, so I never quite felt the awkwardness that I expected from suddenly outranking someone who had been something of a mentor to me. I have to admit though, Iām feeling it now. Sheās been nothing but gracious, though, and those feelings have been pretty handily outweighed by the relief itās been to have her help going through personnel files and sorting out the crew roster. Plus, thereās no one Iād rather have backing me up on the bridge.
The other senior staff position Iāve managed to fill promptly is that of Chief Medical Officer. Another one I poached from the station, Lieutenant Castillo. I donāt know him personally, yet, but heās served as CMO aboard a smaller vessel in the past and he comes highly recommended. Iām looking forward to meeting once weāre settled aboard.
On to operational business. Weāll spend about a week in dock taking on supplies and equipment, and the week after that on basic maneuvers in local space. We should have the rest of the crew aboard by then, and be ready to head out on our first assignment.
That should about cover it for now.
Holycrapthisishappening
I was glad to hear that our last shipment of bulk supplies and equipment was safely stowed aboard this afternoon. Iāve started to get a little antsy, just waiting around. Anyway, in addition to handling some crew check-ins on the bridge, Commander Sedai will be overseeing some last minute calibration of the mission pod sensor arrays during delta shift tonight. I have to say, Iām looking forward to seeing the new transpectral sensors in action. Reygaās supposed to be able to get clean scans inside areas where regular sensors would only show soup. If you believe the specs, anyway.
Well, we had a little hiccup during the sensor calibration. Apparently a maintenance hatch between the primary hull and the mission pod was left unsealed during the shipās construction. When we ramped up power for the calibration this caused the main computer to conclude that we didnāt have a pod attached, and safety protocols shut off all connections.
Obviously not a great start for the ship, but Iām proud of the way the crew handled it. Commander Sedai and Ensign Sadaann, the new Operations Officer, quickly diagnosed the problem from the bridge and devised a solution. Lieutenant Ralts took a shuttle out and coordinated with Ensign Ban to get the hatch sealed up properly. With that done, everything powered right back up and seems to be functioning to spec.
Two potted plants will be listed as casualties, but Iāve been assured theyāll both make a full recovery.
Iām going to order an extra day of systems diagnostics, just to make sure we donāt have any other surprises waiting for us.
Also, New Aberdeen Fleet Yards wonāt be getting a christmas card this year.
(( Event ā¢ Transcript ))
Weāre finally ready to get out there. The last of the crew boarded earlier today, and at the start of gamma shift, we set off on our first voyage. Our shakedown flight plan is little more than a sightseeing tour of V774 Tau, but it feels good to be underway.
Since things are going smoothly so far, Iām hosting a meet & greet in the officersā mess. Iāve asked the senior staff to attend, duties permitting, and I hope to get a chance to meet some of the rest of the crew in a less formal setting. Thereās more to getting to know a crew than chatting over replicated food though, so Iāve also booked Holodeck 2 and loaded up a training program for whenever the social scene slows down.
Itāll give the crew a chance to get used to working together, and --hopefully, give Katriel and I a bit of extra insight.
Well ā¦ the drill didnāt go exactly as planned.
We got barely five minutes in before an altercation between Lieutenant Sono and Ensign Ban brought it all to a stop. I feel a little guilty over it, but Commander Sedai and I were monitoring the exercise, so we had a birdās eye view of the whole thing. It sounds like the Ensign tried to use his telepathy to communicate, and the Lieutenant was displeased. When I called to check on her, she omitted the details and simply said that she wasnāt feeling well. I can certainly understand a desire for privacy, so for now Iām choosing to trust that if thereās something I need to be aware of, sheāll talk to me.
With the Lieutenant headed for sickbay and Doctor Castillo departing to tend to her, we were left a little shorthanded for the exercise. Between that and some, uh, hesitation on the part of the other group, I chose to end early rather than try to force things back on track. In the end, I guess the point of the drill was to get people working together, so Iām glad this happened in a controlled environment, rather than in the middle of an actual crisis.
(( Event ā¢ Transcript ))
Reyga is currently en route to the area of the Valdore Nebula. Weāve been ordered to provide support for Operation Free Haven. Weāve joined the USS October and a trio of Republic warbirds, and will be investigating some Triāvokil outposts that have dropped out of contact.
Weāve arrived at the first location, a mining station. Itās a mess. Somebody did a real number on this place. Far as we can tell, no tactical value, but somebody blew it to hell anyway. One of the Romulan Commanders thinks itās a trap, a mass casualty situation to set up a secondary attack on responders.
October is heading up relief efforts while Reyga and the warbirds maintain a perimeter. Ensign Ban is leading an away team to assist on the station.
Thereās been an explosion aboard the mining station. Apparently Ensign Ban detected the device just in time, and got his away team away from it. He was injured in the blast, himself, but thankfully it sounds like heās going to make a full recovery.
Meanwhile, we tracked the ships responsible for the attack into the nebula. Republic forces in the area will pursue, and theyāre also taking over the relief efforts here. Weāre heading back to DS13 once they arrive.
(( Event ))
Reyga is in orbit of Takiri II, an M-class world near the Azedi border. This oneās been on the survey list for a few years, but its proximity to the Confederacy made it a low priority. With the risk of hostilities lower these days, weāre here conducting a standard planetary survey.
Everythingās been very mundane so far, with a variety of plants and animals life, but nothing having evolved near sentience. We have, however, picked up a very faint power reading. Nothing about it screams danger, so weāre sending an away team to investigate.
Crewman Tresha suffered an accidental injury on the surface, and has been beamed back aboard along with Doctor Castillo. Thankfully, it sounds like the Crewman should make a full recovery.
The away team is safely back aboard. Apparently they discovered the ruins of a small Azedi settlement, Frith castaways, possibly. The settlement was destroyed and there was evidence of phaser fire - likely Terrans, given the circumstances.
Should be an interesting report.
With our survey complete, weāre breaking orbit now, bound for our scheduled visit to Risa.
(( Event ā¢ Transcript ā¢ AAR ))
Weāve just made our scheduled rendezvous with USS Midway, RRW Virin and a convoy weāve been assigned to escort out to Starbase 718. Weāve got four freighters hauling kemocite and a prisoner transport.
Itās the transport that worries me. This was a last-minute addition to the convoy. Midwayās CO wasnāt able to provide any information on who theyāre transporting, their origin, or their destination beyond SB718. Worse still, theyāre reporting some kind of sensor echo following them.
Weāre totally gonna get shot at.
Weāve managed to establish that weāre being followed by four cloaked ships, Romulan in origin - but definitely not Republic, and now theyāre closing rapidly on the convoy. A scan of the prisoner transport shows no Romulans aboard, so we still donāt know exactly what these mystery pursuers are after.
Weāve dropped out of warp and gone to yellow alert. Captain Velās opened a channel and is attempting to warn them off, but an attack seems more and more probable by the minute.
The four cloaked ships were, indeed, Romulan warbirds. Presumably Star Empire, but I donāt have confirmation of that just yet. The combat encounter was brief, but intense. One warbird was destroyed, another disabled - Midwayās sending teams over to secure it now - and the other two retreated. Reyga, Midway, and the convoy ships sustained minimal or no damage, but Virin wasnāt so lucky. Extremely unlucky, even. What looked like a potshot caused a massive secondary explosion and she took heavy damage and casualties. Weāve got medical teams over there helping out.
Ensign Ban was a standout performer today at the tactical station. Solid performance and creative thinking.
Reyga is back at DS13 preparing for our longest-range survey mission yet.
ā¦
Just kidding. Our mission is a follow-up planetary survey of V774 Tau III - right here in DS13ās home system. This is something of a passion project for Ensign YogāSholegh, and Iām glad to see the young officer taking the initiative so soon.
The planetās atmospheric conditions present a unique challenge on multiple fronts, but Iām certain the crew is up to the task.
Weāve been tasked with supporting a second contact mission to the Alessia. Ambassador Perim and her staff, who weāve been transporting for the trip, will be visiting the planet surface to start things off. Afterwards, theyāll be returning to Reyga, where weāll host formal negotiations.
While the mission sounds straightforward on paper, thereās a little more going on than meets the eye. First of all, Alessia is located within the Crossroads Nebula, so weāre dealing with all sorts of interference. Transporters, communications, sensors, are all going to be spotty at best. Beyond that, this second contact is more of a damage control mission than anything else. Our first contact was a bit of a disaster, with a Starfleet crew leaving the Alessians horribly offended by their lack of ā¦ pets.
Thankfully, weāre more prepared this time.
Reygaās been in orbit of Alessia for just over 16 hours now, and weāre preparing to receive the Ambassador and the Alessian delegation. One of the diplomatic aides has just informed me of a last minute development - the Alessian delegates are bringing their pets up with them, and theyād like to leave them in the care of our crew while we sit down in the conference room.
I donāt love the surprise, but Iām confident that the crew can handle pet-sitting for a couple hours. How hard can it be?
Weāve completed our meeting with the Alessians and are preparing to depart the system. All things considered, I think it went very well. Weāve certainly smoothed things over from first contact, and weāre parting on friendly terms. The Ambassador certainly seems pleased with the outcome, and Iām happy to report that the delegatesā pets seemed quite well taken care of.
Even the cat Lieutenant Sono was caring for, despite her wearing a hazmat mask for some reason.
Some things, Iām learning, the Captain simply doesnāt need to know.
(( Event ā¢ Transcripts: Main, Sphinx, Hummingbird ā¢ AAR ))
Reyga has arrived in the Stukrid System to assist a Federation anthropological team studying a near-warp civilization. Weāre to track down and rendezvous with a comet, and extract surface and core samples for study. Hopefully weāll find that it contains materials matching something found by the anthro team, otherwise weāll have quite a mystery on our hands.
Myself and most of the bridge crew have been ā¦ incapacitated in one way or another by some strange affliction. Lieutenant Sono was the first to seem ill, falling asleep at the controls. I was next, apparently fainting on the bridge. In sickbay I discovered that the Lieutenant was barely breathing. Despite an ongoing series of apparently random fainting spells, I feel completely fine. Most of the bridge crew arrived shortly later. Ensign Aenki was ā¦ literally on fire, constantly contained by the shipās fire suppression system. Thankfully, his species is able to, uh, survive that sort of thing. Ensign Ban is turning green and tasting the air. Whatever that means. Ensign Sadaann seems terrified of his own shadow, nervous to the point of excess perspiration. Commander Kuvak is, uh, ā¦ Iām actually not certain. Acting, perhaps? And Katrielās hearing piano music.
Needless to say, the mission will have to wait. I find myself wondering if Captaā
ā¦
Though the mission had to be abandoned, for now, Doctor Castillo has managed to synthesize a treatment for our strange ailment. Almost everyone affected has been treated and is already recovering. Myself included. The only exception is Lieutenant Kholoi, who was apparently āpatient zeroā, spreading a viral infection around the ship while conducting her maintenance duties. She remains in critical condition and isolation while the Doctor and his staff work to develop a cure for her more advanced case.
Where and how the Lieutenant contracted the virus remain a mystery, but one we will investigate fully. With any luck, sheāll be able to tell us more once she regains consciousness.
(( Event ā¢ Transcript ā¢ AAR ))
We made a āquickā detour back to DS13 this past week, in part to continue the investigation into Lieutenant Kholoiās mysterious illness. Iām pleased to report that the Lieutenant is in stable condition, out of the medically induced coma. Physically, Iām told that she requires relatively little ongoing treatment, though the uh, more outlandish personality symptoms that we all experienced may still be affecting her. Further, she remains quite contagious, so sheās had to be kept in isolation.
The investigation on the station produced one potentially viable lead - the Lieutenant came in contact with an apparently unique āOubbard Figurineā, very shortly prior to falling ill. She sold the item to an antique shop, which resold it to some Tellarite entrepreneur off-station. Itās ā¦ admittedly not much to go on, but itās all weāve got for now.
While we wait for more info on that front, Reyga is en route back to the Stukrid System to continue assisting the anthropological team studying the native first contact candidates.
Reyga has changed course to intercept a civilian transport vessel claiming to be trapped in a known radiation belt. The distress call was ā¦ letās say, less than convincing, and the whole situation smells of a trap. Weāre obligated to check it out, regardless, but weāre going to do so at Yellow Alert.
We were right, the distress call was a trap. An an ill-advised one, at that. There was no civilian ship, that we could detect, only a Ferengi privateer. It generated some sort of subspace fold in the middle of the radiation belt. Something obviously went wrong. The subspace fold expanded and produced radiation spikes that penetrated both ships. The Ferengi were destroyed immediately. We were ā¦ lucky, I suppose, either in where the spikes impacted, or maybe simply that Reygaās safeties are more robust.
Still, the warp core and fusion reactors shut down, leaving us dead in the water with only partial emergency power. The vast majority of the ship is heavily irradiated, leaving only a small section of Deck 6 as a safe shelter area. Weāve transferred as many command functions as possible to a console down here and the entire crewās currently crowding into just a few rooms.
Recorded after a āgoodā nightās sleep in the sickbay of USS Tyee. Reygaās been untangled from the subspace fold and is under tow back to DS13. Iām not certain yet the extent of the actual damage, but at the very least we need a thorough inspection and radiation sweep before we reboard and attempt to power back up.
Iām told we had two fatalities. Lieutenant Shātalis and Crewman Pittman. It should be ā¦ some small comfort that they simply had the misfortune of being too close to the spikes at time of impact, rather than the result of any ā¦ failures or ā¦ delays, on our ā¦
ā¦
Anyway.
Ahm. We lost emergency power pretty soon after my last log, and artificial gravity not long after that. We knew a rescue ship was on the way, but we didnāt know if weād be able to last that long, so I decided to attempt both ideas the crew had come up with for helping ourselves, in the meantime. Commander Kuvak had the idea to use a radiation pulse on the spikes, directly, to try to force them to retract. That involved walking right up to one of them, with a makeshift device, and receiving a likely-lethal dose of radiation. He volunteered for the job anyway. I ordered Ensign Sadaann to go with him. The other idea was reaching the cargo bay airlock and trying to reach the shuttle bay via EVA. This one, I tried myself. I ordered Ensign Ban to come with me, on the idea that he could use his visor to guide as around the worst of the radiation. We got about half way there before Tyee arrived and beamed us aboard.
I feel pretty stupid for sending three officers on suicide missions that werenāt necessary. But I suppose Iād have felt a lot stupider if the rescue had been farther away and the whole crew died waiting for it.
Kuvakās mission, at least, produced data that helped Tyee pull Reyga free, so thatās worth something, at least.
(( Event ā¢ Transcript ā¢ AAR ))
After completing repairs and decontamination, Reyga has once again departed DS13. Our mission this time has us setting course for a Maart-Mart distribution center, in search of the eponymous CEO, Maart.
We believe Maart to be in possession of a āspace cow statueā, or Oubbard Figurine, which may be the source of an infection that spread through the crew in November. In addition to preventing others from being infected, medical believes that the only way to create a cure for Lieutenant Kholoi, who has remained in isolation since her infection, is through examination of the statue.
As Maart did not reply to our initial inquiries and locating him proved to be exceedingly difficult, we left tracking him down in the hands of DS13 Intelligence. Weāve taken aboard Lieutenant Commander tāVeras with the latest lead, and sheāll be joining us until the conclusion of the mission.
ā¦
I didnāt think Iād ever see Aurelia in a Starfleet uniform. The last time I saw her, she was commanding a Republic Warbird. Which was already weird. I think, in my head, weāll always be junior officers plotting reprimand-worthy nonsense at the bar.
Weāve arrived at the distribution center. Thereās surprisingly little traffic here, for such a large hub - just two docked freighters. The stationās in a low power state and not responding to hails.
Weāre preparing an away team to beam over and investigate, in full protective gear per Doctor Castilloās recommendation.
The entire staff of the distribution hub was infected with Kholoiās disease, uhm, name pending. The away team managed to shut down the hubās automated systems, which were creating a hazardous situation, began triage of the sick, and located the Oubbard statue.
Additional medical and security teams were beamed over to handle the situation. All 50 documented workers are accounted for, plus four executives - including Maart - who were apparently visiting. Like Reygaās crew, the infected that were still conscious were engaged in extreme exaggerations of their respective mental states at the moment of original infection. Those that were exposed sooner had already fallen unconscious. Most have already begun to recover after initial treatment. Even most of those in the later stages are showing improvement. Two of the executives, and Maart himself, were by far the most serious cases. Theyāve been beamed to Reygaās sickbay, in isolation, and remain in critical condition.
A Federation hospital ship is en route to take over the medical situation here, and a Maart-Mart representative is on the way to take command of the station. I will note here, that Iāll be ordering the facility to remain shut down until itās undergone a safety inspection. The away team downloaded the facilityās logs and one point of note is that a number of freighters did dock and depart in the time between Maartās arrival and ours. Itās possible that their crews became infected, so weāll be attempting to contact them and investigating any who donāt respond.
As for the statue that started all of this, itās been moved to a sealed container in a science lab for further analysis.
(( Event ā¢ Transcript ā¢ AAR))
I received a letter of reprimand, today. It is not the first in my file, but it is certainly the one I am most proud of. Iāve replicated a framed copy, which looks just lovely hanging behind the desk in my quarters.
(( Relevant ))
Reygaās mission this week is a routine charting update in the Kassae Sector. While we are certainly capable of carrying out the important task of deploying survey buoys in the Federation interior, I canāt help but feel that perhaps this dull work is my fault.
Only a Vulcanās petty revenge could account for deploying a state of the art science and reconnaissance vessel past no less than four local ships capable of accomplishing the mission.
Ah, well. It never hurts to let the crew brush up on the mundane side of things.
Stellar survey ongoing.
Commander Sedai caught an officer playing Angry Warbirds on his bridge console, today. I must commend her for her diligence. Perhaps calling the officer in question out in front of the crew was not the most tactful way to handle the situation, but it was certainly effective.
ā¦
Yes, it was me.
Time is an artificial construct, created only to allow us to quantify the depths of our boredom and despair. I have transcended this construct and become one with the stellar survey buoy fleet. My probes extend throughout the sector, meticulously cataloging the position and characteristics of every known star. Though I know none have changed since this was last done two years ago, I touch each one anyway, for my life would be truly meaningless without the routine of charting updates.
Theeeeee sun is a mass of incandescent gas, a gigantic nuclear furnaaaace; whereā¦
{Log continues indistinctly for two minutes, then abruptly ends immediately following the sound of a door chime.}
Weāve temporarily suspended the charting mission to investigate some strange readings, which the XO and Ensign Sadaann believe to be a faint distress call.
The signal is intermittent, possibly Romulan in origin, and moving slowly towards us.
The source of the distress call turned out to be a Tāliss class warbird, the Sienov, operated by mercenaries. The ship was badly damaged, but staunchly refused to allow us to assist them. They did, however, transport a Star Empire officer aboard, apparently a defector, that they had been hired to deliver to someone in the Republic.
Despite the ā¦ legally questionable status of the Sienov, I decided that trying to arrest them on behalf of the Republic was too great a risk, given the condition of their ship. After escorting them out of Federation space, we forwarded their transponder ID and last known position to Republic Command, let them deal with it.
As to the Imperial defector, one Sublieutenant Delum, I decided to proceed to the Republic Officer who had orchestrated the unorthodox defection.
Weāve rendezvoused with Centurion Bolarus, RRF, sitting in a Kestrel runabout in the Virinat System. After explaining the situation, how weād come to receive the defector from the Sienov, the Centurion offered to pay us for our services, apparently whatever he had agreed to pay the mercenaries.
Perhaps against my better judgment, I released Delum into Centurion Bolarusā custody. To my surprise, they departed back in the direction of New Romulus. A database query doesnāt list Bolarus as MIA or AWOL, so I feel safe in assuming they arrived there safely.
Finding a lone officer in a runabout several systems away from their reported assignment was suspicious enough, but the offer of payment makes me absolutely certain that this whole thing was unsanctioned. My money (not that I accepted the payment, of course) would be on some kind of Romeo and Juliet situation. The mercenaries did call the defector a ālovebirdā at one point.
Whatever the case, I wish them well, and am thoroughly glad not to have had to dig any deeper into it.
(( Event ā¢ Transcripts: Main, Brig, Ready Room ā¢ AAR))
Somehow, Ensign Sadaannās replicator started spewing ā¦ something. Itās stopped now, and Commander Sedaiās investigating. Apparently the Ensign was spotted running away from the thing, and ā he wasnāt even the one who made the initial report. Canāt wait to hear this one.
Thereās a minor hiccup in that thereās some question as to whether the mass that came out of the replicator might be some kind of lifeform. Iām inclined to think the crew is jumping the gun. The number of things that would have to go wrong for a replicator to produce something alive is staggering.
Note to self: stay off Deck 6 for a while. I donāt know if that smell is ever going to come out.
Apparently, our replicator abomination is, in fact, some kind of lifeform. This is, as far as Iām aware, a unique occurrence in the history of Federation replicator tech. I do not think this is what the recruiting posters had in mind when they promised the search for new life, but I suppose a discovery is a discovery.
Iāve ordered a detour back to the Celes Sector to meet with Dr. Serindra Xadd, who had previously published about a theoretical lifeform called a āHaphazoidā and is probably the closest thing that exists to an expert.
Separately, I canāt help but have some concerns about Ensign Sadaann, after all this. Heās always seemed ā¦ uneasy, nervous. Not entirely unexpected in a young officer, but Iād hoped he would grow out of it as he got used to his position. Aside from this ā¦ absurdity, heās been a perfectly competent bridge officer, awkwardness aside, so itās not exactly a proficiency or disciplinary issue. Still, Iām starting to suspect he may need more than time to make progress.
Weāve collected Doctor Xadd from her outpost. She was very excited to study our new lifeform. As weāre overdue our next assignment, sheāll be conducting her initial study aboard until weāre able to offload her and the lifeform to a proper research facility.
(( Event: Duplication Inundation ā¢ Transcripts: Main, Sadaannās Quarters ā¢ AAR))
(( Event: A weem a way ā¢ Transcript ā¢ AAR ))
While conducting a routine survey mission, Reyga has received a distress call. The call was nonspecific and only transmitted briefly before disappearing. Weāve traced the source and have set a course.
The distress call was sent by a civilian runabout, SS Shavokh, which appeared to have been attacked by an Andorian freight hauler. There was no immediate indication of the cause of the confrontation, and no hostilities were undertaken in our presence. Both vessels moved to depart, with the freighter going to high warp. The runabout, on the other hand, had sustained damage and was unable to gain any significant distance. Despite this, they initially signaled that they were in no distress and refused to provide information or accept assistance.
Only when the runabout occupants realized that they would be unable to travel under their own power did they request our help. Specifically, they requested that Reyga tow them to the nearest aperture of the Yuhop Wormhole, which they hoped to reach as soon as possible. They continued to refuse offers of engineering and medical assistance, and were unwilling to be brought aboard. We complied with their request, though their damage progressed and they were eventually forced to beam aboard.
Weāre currently taking the runabout into our bay to conduct repairs. Commander Sedai is meeting our reluctant guests in the transporter room.
The occupants of the runabout were a trio of teenagers, who had ā¦ āborrowedā the runabout from one of their mothers. They were attempting to reach Atenalp to attend a music festival.
ā¦
ā¦
ā¦
Weāre on our way to get a firsthand look at this festival. This kind of event and interstellar attention is unprecedented for the Yuhop, and honestly concerning, given the systemās strategic importance.
Engineering should have the runabout repaired by the time we arrive, and weāre in the process of contacting the parents. After we investigate the festival, weāll be returning the children ā and their vessel, back home.
(( Event ā¢ Transcript ā¢ AAR ))
Iāve completed the annual fitness reports for the crew. It was a relatively smooth process and Iām confident that weāll make some professional development headway with individualized plans. I learned that Lieutenant Kholoi intends to put in for a transfer for health reasons. I can certainly understand wanting to get off the ship, after being in isolation for such a long period. If she feels up to returning at some point in the future, Iād gladly welcome her back. Iāve also been made aware of Ensign Sadaannās desire to return home to Mātalas, on leave. I intend to facilitate this as soon as itās reasonably close to our mission route.
Though, it may be a while.
We received word from 38th Command tonight, that thereās a better than decent chance war is going to break out between the Romulan Star Empire and the Romulan Republic. Intelligence is reporting a three-prong invasion of strategically vital systems. Official word is weāre staying neutral, but ā¦ Starfleetās put five fleets on a war footing and declared five sector-wide yellow alerts. Though itās currently only āprecautionaryā, weāll be complying with a directive to begin combat readiness drills.
Reyga is presently on course for the Sierra Sector at high warp, in order to deliver Doctor Xadd and her project to an appropriate facility. Iāve ordered our course to be adjusted to keep us outside the yellow alert requirement for as long as possible.
I should have known we could only go so long without being pulled into a conflict. That seems to be the mantra of the 25th Century. I tried to comm a friend of mine, at Republic Command, but I couldnāt get through. I guess thatās to be expected, given the situation. Itās probably for the best. I wasnāt sure what I was going to say to her, anyway.
Admiral Aluk made sure to remind his Captains that we are technically neutral, and that diplomacy is our first defense. But I couldnāt help feeling uninspired by his message. Even coming from a Vulcan. Even if the diplomats are successful, it still feels like weāre doing little more than delaying the inevitable. The Empire and the Republic donāt even recognize each other as legitimate entities, how can we expect to mediate that? What compromise can be made when both sides say the other doesnāt exist?
Iāll be honest. Iām feeling pretty nervous. If it comes to it, it wonāt be my first time taking a ship into combat, but it will be the first time ā the first real time, with this ship, and this crew. Itās a different role than the one weāve spent a year practicing, and one that I probably havenāt emphasized enough before now.
This is not a test I wanted to have to put them through.
Weāre currently at Condition Yellow. Doctor Xadd and the lifeform have been safely offloaded. Iād intended to return us to the 38thās area of operations, right back the way we came, but weāve received new orders.
Reygaās being diverted to meet a 38th Fleet task force carrying diplomats to Rator III. Our role in the mission is tactical reconnaissance, ensuring that the main force isnāt surprised or prevented from retreating.
(( Relevant, Transcript ))
Reygaās been deployed, along with Mariner, for a recon mission on the Romulan border. Our orders are to link up, combine sensor data, and relay real-time information to DS13 where a team is working on war planning.
Weāre presently located at the very edge of the Sierra Sector, toes dipped in the neutral zone. Iāve sent Ensign Sadaann over to Mariner to coordinate our efforts.
Itās almost easy to forget, at this distance, the reality of the fighting weāre witnessing. I feel like I should have something profound to say, but nothing comes to mind.
Weāve already got a decent look at Imperial supply lines and confirmed their main strongholds. A couple surprises cropped up. Newly built structures that werenāt in the database, presumably thrown together to support this war. Weāre repositioning to the Republic-controlled Tephrei System to get better sensor resolution on the far side of the Empire.
Weāve gotten clearance to proceed to the Mylassa System. Rather than charting a course through Republic space, Captain Tolarās taking Mariner there via the direct route - right across the Empireās main supply line in the sector.
Sheās decided to go alone - which is good, because thereās absolutely no way Iād have taken Reyga through there. Not that I donāt think theyāll make it - one or two ships passing through at slipstream would be tough to catch - but thereās still some risk. Would be a hell of a neighborhood to get stuck in with a plasma leak.
Weāre gonna take the long way 'round. If anything goes wrong, at least weāll still be in the area. At maximum slipstream, weāll reach Mylasa in just under three hours. Marinerās trip will only take 40 minutes, so if all goes as planned theyāll be finished taking scans with time to spare and we can rendezvous on the way back to DS13.
Weāve reconnected with Mariner at Mylasa, collected Ensign Sadaann, and are now on a return course for DS13. Seems like they had a bit of a scare and diverted to a shorter crossing before proceeding through friendly space. They still beat us here by a couple hours, but Iād imagine not quite by the margin theyād hoped.
The situationās out here is pretty worrying. Half the Republic Navy is flowing through this narrow five-lightyear stretch of space between two Imperial systems. The Empire doesnāt seem to be making any moves to cut it off, which ā¦ is good, I suppose, but a little surprising.
Still, Mariner got the intel they were looking for, and it sounds like thatāll be very helpful for planning the 38thās next moves.
Iāve been delinquent in my log recordings for the past few weeks. Funny, how the most important entries always tend to be the ones that get skipped. Itās easy to say āthatās not important right now,ā but in hindsight, I know thatās [REDACTED]. Avoiding the log keeps you from reflecting. That might be okay for other officers ā even beneficial, if it helps them keep focus on the task at hand ā but not for the Captain.
I need to be better. And I will be. Hopefully history doesnāt mind a little backdating, in the meantime.
With war looming, Reyga was dispatched to Rator III with a task force escorting a diplomatic corps delegation. Ambassador Perim spoke to the Imperial Senate, while other diplomats conducted some sort of closed-door negotiations.
Exactly nothing went according to plan.
In orbit, we had cloaked warbirds playing chicken, risking collisions. When Captain Morton complained, they gave us a course to follow that was a convoluted overlapping maze of nonsense. Under other circumstances it might have been funny, but while they were toying with us, they were gearing up for war. We got a pretty good look at freighters being loaded up as troop transports. Not what you want to see when youāre trying to stop a war from breaking out.
Ensign Ban and Crewman Enpisi beamed down to provide security for the diplomats.
ā¦
The-- the diplomats did, eventually, make it out safely. As did the Ensign. Crewman Enpisi was killed. Along with two officers from USS Heimdall. Apparently the Tal Shiar tried to frame the delegation as spies. This wasā¦ this was a loss. And not just in the literal sense. Whatever powers within the Empire might have been swayed by diplomacy, wonāt be any more in the face of this.
The ranking FDC attachĆ© on the mission recommended the Ban and Enpisi for commendation, and Iāll be adding my support for that.
(( Event: The Eleventh Hour ā¢ AAR ))
(( Event: Mala Fide ā¢ AAR ))
The Federation declared war on the Star Empire. Weāve received updated rules of engagement from fleet command. Reyga was officially selected to be part of combat ready group 2, however, as we were still in the Sierra Sector, we were tapped for an early scouting mission rather than returning to DS13.
I think, after Rator, the crew knew it was coming. The atmosphere is tense, but manageable. Weāve been running drills on Reygaās combat role for over a week, at this point. Brushing up on anti-cloaking maneuvers, electronic warfare, emergency stations.
The mixed levels of experience have been on full display. The old hands are ready, but where weāre green, weāre green. Itās time to grow up.
- Stardate 100394.1 (+ 2 Supplementals)
- Stardate 100394.8
Reyga took part in the invasion of the Cero System, one arm of āOperation Guillotineā. I want to start by saying we got through it, and that every member of the crew deserves a monthās leave on Risa. If this is the only time I make that recommendation, Iāll be thrilled, but based on how the Romulans fought I have a feeling weāre all going to deserve a lot more leave than that, by the time this is through.
Not that weāre likely to get it.
I was very impressed by Reyga, itself, in combat. Weāre not going toe-to-toe with Dragon anytime soon, but we managed a solid balance of direct fire and fleet support. The high-powered sensors in tactical mode far exceeded my expectations. We also managed to scramble enemy targeting and communications on several occasions. All other systems performed as expected. We came through with minimal damage and only a handful of minor casualties. During the battle we took on survivors from USS Vanoc, and the medical team did a great job patching them up.
The bridge crew is certainly a ā¦ unique bunch. I knew that already, of course, but under stress, the eccentricities are amplified. Ensign Sadaann, well, he could have been better. Ops is a hectic job and he got it done, but heās not exactly the picture of grace under fire. Out of everyone, heās unfortunately the one I tend to feel like I need to keep an extra eye on.
Speaking of fire, Ensign YogāSholegh wound up caught in a fire suppression field, again. His work at the science station was excellent, mind you, but throw some panel sparks at him and the computerās convinced heās erupting. Maybe he was, I donāt know. Either way, weāll have to tweak that.
The far end of the spectrum was Lieutenant Sono. I-hah-honestly, if all you could see was the tactical station, youād never know we were in combat. I love the calm, but there might be such a thing as too calm. Experience and confidence at tactical should be a steadying influence on the younger officers, but I think the effect was undercut by the updates on her grand-nieceās kindergarten graduation, or oh-this-reminds-me-of-this-or-that. Iiiiiit probably wouldnāt have fazed a seasoned crew, but bouncing that off of Ensign Sadaannās tightrope of anxiety made for a very strange atmosphere.
Commander Sedai, of course, is a godsend, keeping everyone on-task. Whenever I feel like I might be the busiest person on the crew, I realize sheās juggling two tasks for each of mine, and then some. She took point on the rescue op in the middle of combat and coordinated the science department, without it ever feeling like my XO was in two other places. In the aftermath, sheās running a film club that Iām certain will be good for morale. It always was, for me, back on the station.
ā¦ Iāve been told my presence at these is not optional.
Iāve received a message from our old friends on the Sienov. Turns out they suspect the defecting Sublieutenant they shoved onto my ship is actually Tal Shiar.
I definitely regret not digging any deeper into it, but the whole situation gave me a headache. In fact, itās giving me a headache again now. They only have a suspicion based on a fileās encryption level, but if itās true then ā well, I guess thereās two possibilities. Either the RRF Centurion who arranged the trip is also Tal Shiar, or heās not and just ā¦ fell for the old subspace-order-bride scam: espionage edition.
Whatever. I sent it along to 38th Intel. Let them figure out what to do with this lovely bit of information.
(( Relevant ))
Reygaās spent the last week at the edge of the Cero asteroid belt. Weād been trying to locate a series of dilithium mining platforms being used as fighter bases and comm relays, but theyāre small and cloaked and thereās a lot of sensor scattering.
The only real option was to send small craft in to track them down. Commander Sedai went out in our runabout, Aesop and led the effort. She came back with two daysā worth of repair work, but also platform locations and a verified detection method. We hit a couple at range, but fighters from Forrestal cleaned up most of them.
Afterwards, we picked up our security teams, including Ensign Ban, which had been operating as part of the ground force on Cero III. The planetās now fully under Federation control, but it sounds like we had to fight for every inch. Doctor Castillo gave me a report on our casualties, this morning. Six dead, three in critical condition.
Now that weāre caught up. Reygaās on a picket route just outside Cero. For the moment it seems like the Imperials are too busy on other fronts to come bother us, but if they do pivot our way weāll be the early warning.
Command is still finalizing our next moves, but Iāve been told to keep the engines warmed up. Whateverās coming next, weāre gonna be out in front of it.