Avenger/James Madison: "Justice"

Mission Logs for Avenger/James Madison mission, “Justice”.

Mission Summary

Mission dates: 21204.12 through 21209.03

James Madison

The USS James Madison, under command of Commander Tyra Crawford is sent on a mission to follow-up on a sensor reading of a vessel which appears to be the Chin’toka’s original yacht, which was used as a get-a-way vessel after the Chin’toka hijacking. The vessel is in a relatively empty area of space not far from where Sierra-18 used to exist.

Upon arrival, the vessel was explored, several booby traps disarmed, and valuable intelligence gathered by the James Madison crew via away teams and sensor scans. While they were conducting their investigation, a space-time anomaly opened in space. A massive vessel came from it… a vessel which should not have existed…

Avenger

The USS Avenger under the command of Captain Derrick Hiram Ulysses Grant, on a mission to confront Krynar forces near Betazed encounters the Romulan battle cruiser RIS Shadowhawk. After a battle during which the Shadowhawk was destroyed and the Avenger seriously damaged, several shard vessels show up.

In an effort to defeat the Shadowhawk, Captain Grant ordered the detonation of one of the Avenger’s warp cores (after ejection). Shortly after this detonation a spatial rift opened up, and sensors detected a ‘ghost ship’ in the form of the USS Copernicus, a ship destroyed three years prior.

Avenger was pulled into this rift and ejected, with damage that was so serious the ship was able to only operate on impulse power. The sensors indicated an empty galaxy, excepting some sort of dark matter/energy anomaly nearby which was growing. The ship also appeared to have been propelled nearly 100 lightyears from its prior position.

This dark cloud encompassed the ship, and pulled it through another rough ride, after which it found itself in our universe. The oddity of it was that all non-biological items and devices were ‘reset’ to ten years prior, shortly after Avenger was launched in her original universe, and at the exact moment of her destruction in this universe. She was a brand new, ten year old ship.

One of the first things detected was a small vessel, the USS James Madison.

Together

The two commanding officers worked together to get Chin’toka’s yacht towed back to Star Base Delta.

Logs, USS Avenger

Captain’s Logs

Captain Derrick Grant, Commanding Officer, USS Avenger

SD 21204.12

Captain's Log, Star Date 21204.12, Captain Derrick Grant recording.

Begin log.

We were dispatched on a covert mission by Star Fleet Command two weeks ago. Our mission seemed relatively simple: Operate under low-profile mode, infiltrate a sector which is nearly vacant and under enemy control, and attempt to rescue a team of captured intelligence agents on a small base which is believed to be under the control of invader-friendly forces.

With our recent intel about the invaders, the 'Krynar' is what some of my crew are now calling them because the one we had captured for a short time had identified itself as such, we thought this would be a relatively easy run. And it had been, up until a few minutes ago.

Screaming across the sector at warp 8, our stealth systems engaged, things were going relatively good. The ship was performing well after her last overhaul and repair back at Star Base One; the crew, including the latest batch of replacements, all doing well; Commander Scott settling into his role as First Officer. I even brought Katie and Amanda along for the ride, partly because of the threats against Earth of late, and partly because a father always feels he can protect his children better than someone else.

The Federation is in bad shape. I'm not sure most people realize it. Then again most people don't get to see the high-level intelligence briefings that I do. The Federation is falling... or by the standards of some, already has. Andoria is gone. Vulcan has suffered major attacks by both Inquisition and terrorist factions—even the Romulans tried to capture it a few months back. Tellar has been an Inquisition-controlled planet for over 9 months. Betazed is now under Inquisition 'protection'. The Dominion alliance has proven to be less than perfect. They started out by sending an armada and decimating the surface of almost every Cardassian world that they could, and left Bajor alone only because they realized the Bajorans hated the Cardassians more than they did. Bajor is holding up, and is still a Federation Member, but their allegiance is definitely in question—they certainly treat the Dominion better than they do us.

The Klingons have surprisingly been invaluable allies. Ever since the Borg invasion they have stood by our sides, and the alliance is so strong now that we may as well absorb them into the Federation—or join the Empire, which may actually be the better route in the current climate.

The Romulans have, of course, capitalized on the situation. They should realize that as soon as the invaders have taken care of us, they will move to them next. But they are Romulans, and their arrogant attitude leaves them still believing that they are invincible, as we once did. They will learn, and probably the hard way.

So here we were, streaking across empty space, heading toward our rendezvous when out of the blue... or perhaps the black... that ••••••• ••••• Riov Imina Sevala de-cloaked her cruiser the RIS Shadowhawk, and like the cowards that all Romulans are, fired on us before we could respond. As sono as we returned fire, they used some sort of sensor trickery to fake damage and make it look like they were ahead of us, just so they could circle back and hit us with a volley of plasma torpedoes. And then the God damned ••••• had the nerve to COMM me... and rub in the fact that she killed my wife.

I, of course, lost it, ordered a very risky maneuver, completely unaware—or perhaps just ignoring—the fact that another danger was looming outside the ship. In the process, between the attacks of the knife-eared ••••• and my own maneuver, I nearly disabled the Avenger.

The girls are missing, and I'm worried as hell about that... did they get vaporised in the attacks? They appear to have left our quarters so who knows? I swear if that Romulan ••••• killed my daughters I'll spend the rest of my life hunting her down so I can capture her and with my bare hands kill her slowly and painfully.

[There is a marked pause in recording.]

Calming down some, I realize that's not a very Star Fleet thing to say... but it's true... my kids are missing, and the only one I can blame is her... HER... that Riov on the Romulan ship that's now fled.

I'd flee too, if I could, because it looks like something has opened all of hell's fury right on our ••• outside. Whatever it is, we need to move away from it. Without our full sensors working, we're not going to be able to tell what it is or stop it... at least not yet... but we sure as hell need to get away from it.

The only problem is we can't... not fast enough... not in our current condition. It's moving faster than .25c, which is maximum impulse speed. And we can only do 1/4 impulse... so it'll overtake us easily... in about 20 minutes by estimates.

And now my Chief of Science has come up and said something about seeing a ship inside the anomaly...

End log.

SD 21206.12

Captain's Log, Star Date: Unknown, Captain Grant recording.

Begin log.

We were caught by the anomaly, and for a few minutes it seemed like we were dead. A searing burning sensation seemed to be felt by the entire crew, and some reported bright white light, regardless of where they were on ship. When it ended, we found ourselves dead in space, the ship appearing to be severely damaged—we have since found out that while the damage was substantial, it was not as critical as originally thought—and over half the crew dead or missing. I assume the missing are from the hull breaches all over the ship.

In the past few hours we've begun putting things back together, but we still don't know where we are. What we do know is that there is a large black cloud of some sort either growing near us or coming toward us. Sensor signals get swallowed by it, and we don't know what it is. We have no warp power, and based on the guesses of one of the stellar cartographers we have set course for what we hope is an inhabited—and friendly—world. We will probably have to go through this black cloud, as going around it would literally add years to our journey—which already could be 20 or more years.

Amanda will be grown up and Katie will be in her 30's by the time we get there. The girls are scared but doing okay. They are in a secure area, near sickbay, and are with one of the ship's counselors. I don't have the details yet, but it sounds like there may have been some sort of altercation between Katie and a member of the sickbay staff. Whatever it was I hope it wasn't serious.

We have a skeleton crew now, based on our latest head count we are down to under 300 personnel, nearly 100 of which are injured in some way. We have only 237 persons able to work, and divided into three shifts that's just under 80 people per shift. That's not enough to run this ship, so people are pulling double shifts.

Most of the senior staff are gone, and I've yet to re-fill several key positions. The bridge looks empty, with only six of us here when normally there are over double that many, but then most of the stations don't work. The main viewer is offline, so we are reliant upon the smaller screens on each station.

Something feels wrong about this place... and I don't just mean the fact that we're in such bad shape. Something just seems... wrong... and I can't tell what. It's nothing tangible... but I feel like this place is not where we belong... cosmically.

End log.

SD 21207.15

Captain's Log, Star Date: 21207.15, Captain Grant recording.

Begin log.

We were pulled through that dark anomaly. This time the experience was an opposite to before. Everything got cold, dark, and it seemed like time stood still for eternity.

And then I found myself sitting on a brand new bridge. On a brand new ship. That was 10 years old... that is to say everything on the ship, that was not biological, seemed to have reset to 2402 standards. That includes most of our databanks, excepting that data stored in biogel packs. Thankfully most of our identification and security and command systems are stored there so we still had ability to run the ship. But our historical library data is gone. Also all upgrades to the ship since then, including some of our systems and portable devices are gone. It's quite troubling.

More troubling is that we seem to have arrived in a parallel universe to our own. This universe is similar but slightly different. The biggest difference is their ships seem tiny by comparison, and horribly under-armed. For example, my ship was referred to as a 'carrier' by the commander of a ship with an odd designation ES-17877. While the ship appears to be Star Fleet, the designation and some other things don't add up. Also this small ship appears to have a cloaking device... which would be necessary if you had such a tiny and under-armed fleet.

I am meeting with the commander of the ship, a Commander Tyra Crawford, aboard the Avenger soon. She is beaming over and I have asked security to escort her to the observation lounge, where I will meet with her.

Oh yes, it appears a dozen shards followed us through the rifts... or perhaps they exist here as well. Either way, a dozen is a smaller grouping than I've ever seen. They almost always number in the thousands, and rarely under the several hundred, so this may have been shards that were lost from a larger grouping or mothership. Either way, we did defeat them, but not without sustaining some damage, mainly because our countermeasures, which were far from perfect, no longer exist. The upside is we seem to have captured the remains of a disabled shard. I hope we get a prisoner out of it, although I don't know what we'll do with it if we do. We also lost all our data on them...

End log.

SD 21207.30

Captain's Log, Star Date 21207.30.

Captain Grant Recording.

Begin log.

Crawford left to contact her Star Fleet commander, a Commodore Draev, apparently a Mirak of all things, at a base called Star Base Delta, which apparently is an Immense-class base at the location of 157 in this universe. She is going to brief them on us, on the situation, and request permission for us to accompany them back to base.

I sent her with a list of our personnel and asked for her to send me their jackets. I have only had a cursory glance over mine and saw no major surprises, although it sounds like my counterpart here was a bit of a reckless rebel. He managed to make it to Vice Admiral, and then got caught on some sort of scandal, and then was killed trying to escape after being convicted. I can't wait to read more on this.

I purposefully avoided my personal file containing information about my family, etc. It sounds, from the vague answers I got from Crawford and her reaction to my questions about Ariana, that she is alive here but perhaps we didn't have involvement. I'm not sure what that would mean but without Ari in my life perhaps that explains some of the craziness my counterpart appears to have participated in. I'm a bit apprehensive about finding out more, but will likely read my file once we set course.

I haven't got a good report on the cargo bay happenings yet, but I feel I should let them work on things for a few minutes before I breathe down their necks. Alarms just went off indicating weapons fire, and a team has been sent to handle things. As much as my instincts are to run down there, with our short crew I need to stay up here and play good leader.

End log.

SD 21208.12

Captain's Log, Star Date 21208.12.

Begin log.

After a discussion with Commander Crawford, we have come to terms on how to proceed. The James Madison will escort us to their Star Base Delta, which is exactly where SB-157 should be, and we will be processed by Star Fleet there. What that means, I do not know.

Crawford has promised to give me at least summary jackets from her universe on all of the crew, so that they can begin to prepare for any issues that may arise on our arrival at their star base. I already had mine, and have now read it.

How in hell did I end up marrying a ••••••• Romulan, and of all Romulans none other than Imina Sevala? What in hell was she doing in our space peacefully, much less apparently in a Star Fleet uniform?!? What kind of •••••• up universe lets something like that happen?

In a calmer voice...

Okay... I have to figure out how to deal with this. I have to figure out how to tell the kids that we are in a new place, that is almost like our old place, but with some differences... like their mother being alive still, but not their mother. Yeah, that should be easy.

Not to mention God knows what else the crew will find out, and how we deal with THAT.

I ordered Mihar to work with the crew on their BIO's from this universe; and have asked for another update from the cargo bay. I hope some answers are forthcoming soon.

This entire crew is exhausted and beaten to a near pulp emotionally. We need a lucky break... or a break of some sort anyway.

End log.

SD 21208.26 - Final

Captain's Log Star Date 21208.26, Captain Derrick Grant recording.

Begin log.

• Prior to arrival at base.

Thankfully we found a small supply of Ketracel White in my office. I have dispensed the first dose to the ten Jem Hadar who remain, and this should stave off any disaster for a while. In a couple of months we'll need to address this matter, but at least this puts off the problems for now.

The Krynar we had captured is dead. It had apparently attempted to take control of one of my medical doctors, Jack Ristone, and had also killed two of my Jem Hadar Marines. After its death, as expected, the Krynar and its vessel disintegrated themselves, so there was little physical evidence left to process.

While en route we are hosting members of the James Madison crew aboard the Avenger. It is good to see some fresh faces, and I think it's good for their crew as well. Thus far there have only been a few incidents and the crews seem to get along fine.

I still feel a need to find our way home, but it seems with each passing day that need reduces just a little bit. Katie asks about it daily, though. Amanda... well she's looking forward to 'making new friends' as she puts it here in this world.

• Upon arrival at Star Base Delta

Captain's log, supplemental.

While en route we received very specific instructions as to what was going to happen to us when we got to Star Base Delta, an Immense classed star base where 157 should be—or would be in our world. Those instructions included orders that we were going to be transported to the base, temporarily relieved, and handled as civilians. No doubt we'll have security following us about, or at least monitoring us. I would do that if I were in their shoes. The ship is going to be 'processed', which I assume means scrubbed for any indication that we're not who we say we are, and then for any intel that we may be able to offer them.

I am ordered to, one hour after our arrival, report to the Fleet Commander; who is either a Commodore Draev (a Mirak), or a Vice Admiral Grayson. There seems to be some confusion as to who I am meeting with, as Draev is apparently an acting FC and Grayson is the full FC, but is only working part time. An odd fleet indeed that splits such duties.

The rest of the crew are released for on-base shore leave.

The Jem Hadar present an interesting challenge to this universe, as they do not have a treaty. For that matter I suppose the two Vorta are also an enigma here. I presume that security will be high around them but thus far I have not been told that they will be restricted or imprisoned in any way... but maybe I'm just not being told. If they are, then I'll have to find a way to deal with it diplomatically. I have mixed feelings on it, of course.

This is my last log aboard Avenger, as we are now preparing to depart the ship. I leave my girl in the hands of this Star Fleet's engineers who are due to beam over in the next few minutes. I hope and pray that I'll be back aboard her soon.

End log.

Crew Logs

Lieutenant Samanatha Dramar

SD 21206.26

Chief Engineers’ Log , Stardate…. I’m sure there is one somewhere Lieutenant Samantha Dramar recording

The Avenger… she’s in practically the worst state that I can imagine. I’ve never seen a ship this badly beaten and broken survive. It’s a testament to her strength and will. There are so few of us left right now. My staff is down to 20… the rest of missing, severely injured, or dead. We’re supposed to be working eight hour shifts at this point, but the reality is that most are working doubles, or non-stop. I haven’t slept since…. whenever… however long ago we were attacked.

Jack keeps threatening to sedate me if I don’t sleep, but how can I. Not… not when there is so much left to do, left to fix. I’ll just run off stims until the job’s done. I can sleep then. The Avenger. She’s got. She’s… (A sigh is heard)… The warp core is entirely non-functional. As best I can tell, when the core was over heating, the intense heat melted the matter injector beyond repair. I mean, maybe I could repair it if I had entirely function machine shop. The part can’t be replicated right now. I...

To make matters worse, the reserve warp core was in the storage bay that the bastard romulans decided to immolate with a plasma torpedo. I tried to explain to Derrick sometimes things get broke that just can’t be fixed. Can’t they… I’m an engineer, damn it! I should be able to fix it.

Anyway without the core, we’re running off of fusion reactors. The damage to impulse system means our max speed is somewhere around 0.4c. Not exactly what you’d expect of the Flagship…

The mattergy bank has nearly been depleted. As a result I’ve requested that Derrick severely restrict all replicator usage. As a result, I’ve instructed my staff to duck it whenever possible and if they can’t duck it then •••• it. We’ll just have to do without.

Internal communications are a little better. Instead of being impossible, they’re now somewhat sporadic. Crewman Prolog had an idea to reestablish long range communication. Last I heard was that he was successful, though there was no response. Either no one was listening or no one was able to respond.

All I know is this has been worst then a nightmare. I just want to wake up.

End Log

SD 21207.17

Chief Engineer’s Log, Stardate… 021207.17 Lieutenant Samantha Dramar recording

I don’t even know how to, where or what I can really say to describe what happened, but I’ll do my best. Running out of options, the Captain took the Avenger into the darkness. When we entered it, this icy wave washed over all of us. I thought skinny dipping in the artic sea was cold, but that didn’t hold a candle to this. I’ve never felt cold like this. It washed over everything, enveloping us in darkness. And the pain…

• pause*

I was certain that this must have been hell. I have no way of knowing how long it lasted. There is no doubt in my mind that I will carry that experience with me the rest of my life. God willing, I won’t come back to me every time I get a cold chill.

When we came out of it, we were in a different world. Maybe we weren’t actually in a different world but it might as well have been. ALL of the damage to the Avenger had been repaired. All of it. Even the annoying warble in the SIF that I’d never been able to fix. Gone. It was like she came right out dry dock. There were even two new warp cores sitting in the housing, fluxing, reacting like nothing had happened.

I’ll tell you it’s damn unnerving. What even makes it more so is that ship is in the condition she was in when she left space dock. As best as I can tell, every modification and upgrade that I have ever made or that had been done to her was removed and replaced with its launch date equivalent. I mean I’m grateful they, whoever, whatever they are fixed my ship, but man the colors. The holographic interfaces… all the data in the computer, new sub-routines. All gone.

I guess that I should be more grateful that I’m alive. The scuttlebutt running around is that we’ve gone to some alternate reality. I mean, I guess that it’s possible but I don’t know. What would it all mean? What about the home that we left? I know it had its low points, with the state of the Federation, those bastard romulans, and the Krynar conquering everything else, but it was our home damnit!

Sorry... sorry… I’m going off on a tangent. While we were/are trying to wrap our heads around what happened, a small escort class vessel identified as USS James Madison approached us. Apparently while Derrick was talking to them, Krynar showed up. Those bastards just won’t leave us alone. The battle was short. Their ships were destroyed, save one which is now in cargo bay 2. We didn’t get off scott free though. Their gravic weaponry punched a hole straight through the section 26 of saucer. *sigh* We lost good people there.

Anyway, I’m headed to cargo bay 2 to dig through the ship we captured. Hopefully it will yield some valuable treasures. Maybe we can catch a break and find something to give us an edge in this war.

End Log

Ensign Rurik Feng

SD 21209.01

Personal Log Ensign Rurik Feng Stardate 21209.01

Begin Log:

We're a long way from home. The Avenger has passed through two rifts in the space-time continuum. I was badly injured during the these events. So what I know, I've learned after the fact. Our mission failed. We were ambushed by the Sevala and the Shadowhawk. Captain Grant jettisoned the warp core and detonated it, destroying the Shadowing. But no t before the Avenger was badly damaged. We were then intercepted by a patrol of shard ships, shortly before passing through the rifts. I understand that we were able to capture one of them. As usual, the damn thing died and both it and its ship self-destructed. So we didn't get much useful intel, or at least, not as much as we would have liked. We did confirm that the Krynar use some type of telepathic control to influence their enemies. Apparently the Krynar succeeded in manipulating one of our crew, confirming what we've suspected for some time now. How many of the peace-lovers back home are simply slaves to the Inquisitors?

But I guess that doesn't concern us anymore. We're stuck here, in a parallel universe. There are some significant, if relatively minor differences to the timeline here, such as the use of ship class designations in the registry numbers. The most important difference is that they are not losing the war with the Krynar. At least, not yet. Of course, their war only started some six months ago. The invasion corridor was also different, coming from the Bajoran wormhole. It's hard to imagine that Bajor is gone. But in this universe, Bajor and the space station in orbit were the first targets of the Krynar. Given the Inquisition's use of the wormhole, and the initial appearance of their ships as Dominion warships, it seems a safe bet that they hit the Dominion first.

It feels odd saying this, but that's true, I hope the Dominion here gave 'em hell. Like they did to the Cardassians in our universe. If not, then we're in for another long, hopeless war.

The Captain says that we'll be going home just as soon as the scientists here find a way to get us home, but...the odds are not in our favor. All the sensor data we were able to gather on the rifts was lost when we passed through the second one.

So here we are, facing an uncertain future. We're on our way to a Starbase Delta, apparently located where Starbase-157 should be. From there, our fate will be in the hands of strangers. One thing is certain. They're going to take the Avenger. What they do with us, well, that no one knows. One thing our favor is that we do know more about the Krynar than they do.

On a more personal note, I'm never going to see Kaitlin again. Of course, she might already be dead, but I'll never know.

End Log.

Lt [JG] Kema Sadat

SD 21204.12

Chief Science Officer Lt [JG] Kema Sadat- Duty Log Stardate 21204.12

Well, I'm heading back to the ship after climbing back out of a shuttle, one I had to use to take readings of something I still know little about. I guess I should start from the beginning, when a seemingly peaceful, and covert mission turned into a battle.

I knew when I joined Starfleet there would be quite a few of these moments, but I must admit I wasn't expecting what happened today. I'm still not certain how that Romulan ship found us, but once they did it was disastrous.

Not only were we being blasted to bits, but an anomaly appeared on view and sensors. At first I couldn't get a good reading, nor a good look at it. But once the ship was damaged I was ordered to take any measures to see what was going on outside of the ship. Once the shuttle got into position,

[a sigh, followed by a pause]

I don't know how to explain what I saw, it was the most beautiful yet frightening thing I've ever seen in my life. Sensors relayed bursts of subspace radiation and interference, chronoton particles, that seemed disposable to the anomaly itself. Also, neutrinos and tachyons levels that seem to supersede any levels we have recorded.

The most odd part of the whole thing was the appearance of a ship among the pulsing ribbons that made up the anomaly. It seemed to stretch, then vanish, but that isn't the most strange part about it. It was the USS Copernicus...I was under the distinct impression it was destroyed.

What were they doing here? I'm on my way to tell the Captain what we saw.

End Log

Lt(JG) Viper West

SD 21207.16

Chief Medical Officer Lt [JG] West- Duty Log Stardate 21207.16

I don’t really know where to begin. We have seen days of battle and the morgue is over following with good officers. The Medical department has been hit just as badly as any of the others. We seem to have had a rest in the fighting, but it was sort lived, as we are again at red alert. I don’t know how many of the Medical officer’s are still on other parts of the ship, but in the Sickbay, we are down to three ranked officers, Myself and Ensigns van der Westhuizen and Ristone.

Although I noted that the previous department head had list Ristone as a trouble maker, I am yet to see this, he has been helpful and working just as hard as any other.

I must also note that some how, the sickbay looks in mint condition. After the last battle, we were down to emergency replicators only, and after a quick visit to my office, all was fine again. Maybe I should visit my office more often!

End log

SD 21208.09

Chief Medical Officer Lt [JG] West- Duty Log Stardate 21208.09

The trip keeps getting more interesting the longer it gets. After a quick conversation with the ships counselor I was asked to report to the Medical labs to attend to two new patients. The patients were Starfleet officer's from the ship we encountered out of the blue.

On investigation, we found that it was actually one patient and his doctor who had been beamed over. The patient was infected with a super virus which we have not seen around for the good part of ten years.

The virus itself was by no means incurable, but what I did find rather interesting was that they referred to the virus as the Cardassian Virus. Looks like my old friends had something to do with this virus.

My patient's treatment involved some heavy antibiotics and a triple blood transfusion. The transfusion is still in progress, but all signs point to him making a full recovery.

I am hoping to get a chance to speak to the doctor of the other ship and see how medically advanced or backwards they are.

End log.

SD 21208.26

"Chief Medical Officer Lt [JG] West- Duty Log Stardate 21208.27

The treatment of Mr. Aldren from the USS James Madison went much better than we could have ever hoped for. He has made a full recovery and has shown none of the side effects that other doctors have recorded when treating Humans. I have stored a sample of his blood for the Scientists at Starfleet to experiment on, and maybe they can improve the treatment to have less side effects.

Another strange event has taken place on the Avenger. Some how we have broken a time / space barrier and find ourselves in a different reality. Apparently there is a carbon copy of me running around here some where. I received a personal file on him, but I haven't opened it. I have caused enough trouble in my youth and really don't want to know what two of me could do.

We are following the James Madison back to the Delta Space Station. This is their base of operations. What is to happen with us when we get there, I can not say, but I have a feeling we are going to be followed around closely.

On a personal note, I must make more time to visit the Science department.

End log."

Ensign Jack Ristone

SD 21207.15

Medical Officer's Log Stardate 21207.15 Ensign Jack Ristone recording:

After working for nearly thirty hours straight, several of those hours including a ship wide emergency battle with the Romulans, I managed to catch some three hours of sleep before yet another Red Alert had me scurrying to sickbay to help out.

Our latest skirmish with the Romulans has left our medical department with very few staff. I have a feeling long shifts will be the norm until we can return to Starbase and get new crewmembers.

Upon arriving in sickbay I quickly noticed something was different. Several of our newer and more advanced pieces of equipment were simply gone. Additionally sickbay itself seems to be completely renovated from when I was here only a few hours ago.

Currently I am putting together a team to head to cargo bay two per the request of the captain. He however did not tell us why he needed a medical team there. I am therefore preparing for a mass casualty scenario though to be honest I am not sure the Avenger has enough crew for a mass cas situation.

Eng log.

SD 21208.27

Medical Officer's Log Stardate 21208.27 Ensign Jack Ristone Recording:

If I were being totally honest I would admit to the fact that I have avoided recording a log entry at all cost the past few weeks. However added pressure from my Department Head as well as other senior staff of the Avenger had told me that I have eluded this entry long enough.

So much has happened in such a short period of time that I still have difficulty separating it all out in my mind. It seems like one minute were were engaged in a dogfight with the Romulans and then the Avenger experiences some sort of unexplainable event that makes us feel like we are everywhere and yet no where at the same time. That experience also included a blinding and burning white light.

Whatever that was, although very damaging, was not catastrophic and I was able to begin treating crewmembers almost at once. The line of injured crewmembers seemed unending and by the time the flow was manageable I had already been on duty for almost forty hours (as I had worked during my off-time). Since I was scheduled to return to work officially in less than six hours I returned to my quarters to catch a few hours of sleep.

My sleep however was interrupted by what I at the time believed to be a dream but later discovered was the Avenger passing through some sort of other anomaly that not only brought up to another dimension but also somehow reverted our vessel back ten years in time.

As if this was not enough we quickly found ourselves in space battle with several Krynar shard ships. We managed to capture one of the vessels and I was sent to represent the medical department.

[At this point Ristone becomes noticeably distressed]

While in the Cargo Bay a Krynar and myself became telepathically connected. Every ounce of data confirms that during this connection I was mentally manipulated and controlled and while I know that I am therefore not responsible for the thoughts I am still currently working through I cannot shake feelings of guilt.

Guilt that I at times have sympathy for the Krynar who was eventually killed. Guilt that I miss the connection we had. Guilt that I want the Vorta and Jem'Hadar dead for what they did.

I have been meeting with a counselor and will continue to do so until I can sort things out. In the meantime I have restricted myself to light duty. I am working the clinic mostly and have no preformed a surgery since the event happened.

Members of the USS James Madison, a Federation ship from this alternate universe, have been spending some time over here on the Avenger. I have mostly kept my distance except for Ty Crawford their acting Commanding Officer.

We are nearly at Starbase 157, or 'Delta' as they call it here, where I have been informed we will be relieved of duty until they can decide what to do with us. As much as I am not looking forward to the down time I am hopeful I will be able to work through some more of these feelings.

End log.

Logs, USS James Madison

Captain’s Logs

Cdr Tyra Crawford, Acting Commanding Officer, USS James Madison

SD 21204.20

Stardate 21204.20 Acting CO's Log Commander Tyra Crawford recording:

Just when I think I've managed to get a grasp on the current madness, it's like someone flips a switch, the floor tilts the opposite way, and I'm scrambling to stay on my feet, again. At least, this time, the scramble is in my favor...

I got a call last night, while trying to drown my worries about Thomas in a bottle of very nice bourbon, asking that I report to Commodore Draev first thing in the morning to discuss my next assignment—not a topic I was overtly concerned about, at that moment.

The meeting with Draev wasn't nearly as pointless as I'd expected. He was very candid about what was known about the hijacking and gave me full access to the information, which included the identity of the man my assault team injured during the hijackers' escape. His name is Paul Vice, and it looks like he's been on someone's radar for a long time. I'm curious as to why nothing was done about him before, but that's really a low priority in the range of questions I want answered.

More surprising than a flag officer actually being forthcoming, he gave me the opportunity to actually do something about this situation...

The yacht that was used in the hijackers' escape from the Chin'toka has been located. From what it looks like, it's adrift, but no vessel has ventured close enough to inspect it. Given where it's located, I can understand that hesitation. Draev has authorized the James Madison, a specialized escort assigned to the fleet, to take a look at it, and hopefully, gain some clues about where its occupants went. For all we know, they're still inside, but I doubt it.

Had anyone else replaced Thomas, I would have expected to have beg to even accompany the ship...instead, Draev gave me the ship along with any additional personnel or equipment needed. I think it'll probably be frowned upon by some brass at HQ, but I don't care and I don't think Draev really cares if he never gets the privilege of being acting FC again—he'd probably prefer it.

I've given Draev all my requests, including the one for acting FO. I was tempted to request Kata as it was her position and ship until she requested a leave of absence, and I know she'd have postponed it, if I had asked. However, I didn't want to put her in a position where she felt her biggest goal was to reign me in from doing something stupid. Instead, I picked the CTO of the Chin'toka, who I met while retaking it. If I've read her correctly, she's smart enough to know when to step in if I get too deep into this, but she'll know when to hold back too. Not to mention I have a hard time not respecting a woman that can hold bourbon as well as I can.

We launch tomorrow afternoon, after the Madison has been cleaned up from its rather unfortunate fate during the chase.

My one concern about taking Draev's offer had been Thomas. At the time, he wasn't out of surgery and I knew little of his status beyond what the doctor had told me last night and what my imagination had been able to concoct while I was trying to sleep.

He came out of surgery a few hours after the meeting. The doctors seem to think he has a good chance at making a good recovery, though they stop short of saying a full recovery. Then again, they keep reminding me that he's lucky to even be able to make any sort of recovery with what happened to him. I think it'll be some time before I can look past the injuries and the long recovery and truly appreciate that.

With how beat up he is and the measures the doctors have had to take to try to treat his array of injuries, I didn't actually expect him to be in any way coherent but I was able to have a few moments of semi-coherent conversation with him.

He didn't know where he was or what had happened, which I'm actually grateful for. It was both comforting and very painful. He shouldn't be in this condition...he's not a soldier, not really. I've seen some horrible things done to people in combat, but it's different when it's between soldiers on a battlefield. This was just...senseless, for shock value and a distraction. I can't let them get away with that...

It takes a special type of person to throw a breathing person out of a yacht into space, to kill someone who had been an asset, or to massacre entire teams of mercenaries. We're dealing with a well funded, well connected, and well trained psychopath... Or more likely, a group of them. I suspect if we don't find them on this outing, they'll reappear to make us pay for it, again.

I have every intention of avoiding that...

End log.

SD 21205.11

Stardate 21205.11 Acting CO's Log Commander Tyra Crawford recording:

The crew of the Madison so far has lived up to the expectations their files created for them. They are very talented but very different from any crew I've previously served with. They somewhat remind me of the intelligence team that Derrick kept hidden on the Getty—possibly because Sierra, one of the team's assault specialists, is here and I suspect her marine companion, Mitchell, has a similar gray background.

I still haven't figured out the crew's dynamic. For such a small ship, the crew doesn't appear to be incredibly tight, and seem to cluster down department lines with a few exceptions. The marines and security seem tight knit, although Mitchell seems quite close to the helmsman, Eli. Then, there's Shelmer, who is probably friendly with the female population as a whole. The rest of the crew, specifically the CMO and CE, are unnervingly quiet and distant—or I'm just too use to Douglas and Jud.

Regardless, the journey so far has been smooth, except a few initial ruffled feathers over Crissy and I's sudden appearance.

We're almost half-way there, and I'm becoming incredinly restless. I can only do so much research into my current opponent and I've become dissatisfied with letting my mind wander. Boxing has provided an adequate distraction and a way to order my thoughts. Fortunately, the Madison has provided numerous suitable sparring partners, particularly a PO1 I brought along has proved to be very skilled. However, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't eager to get this situation ordered and finished.

I don't like being away from Delta under the circumstances. I worry regularly that there will be a message waiting for me from Delta, bearing some horrible news, each time I return to my quarters. I often think I chose wrong by leaving his side for this chase—what good is seeking justice/revenge if you lose what's more important in the process?

It's too late now, and constant worry over my fiance's status is only a distraction. Focus is essential, if I don't want this too be all in vain.

SD 21207.03

Stardate 21207.03 Acting CO's Log Commander Tyra Crawford recording:

It looks like Paul Vice might get the last laugh after all, not that I'm entirely surprised. The bastard is about as ruthless and cold hearted as possible... too bad he's not putting it to better use.

When we reached the yacht, it looked to be entirely gutted. Both the warp core and computer core are gone and it was entirely depressurized. It also had three different explosive devices on it, albeit not hidden well.

I sent Kyber, Dawson and Mitchell to disarm them, which they did, and then reinstate power and gravity. Once that was done, Aldren, the Madi's senior security officer, and I headed over. There had been reports from the bridge about a tachyon stream, but it had posed no problem to us at that time.

To our surprise, we found the yacht's bridge mostly intact. We were able to collect forensic samples, which were matched to Thomas, Vice, a prisoner and VAdm Wueste -an anomaly I find unnerving and puzzling.

While that's more than I anticipated finding, I'm not sure it was worth the cost. While Aldren and I were inspecting the bridge, the team in engineering accidentally set off another trap, releasing a super virus. They were all suited up, and I was able to get my helmet on... Aldren, though, seems to have been infected. I don't know the prognosis yet, but the title 'super virus' doesn't give me the warm fuzzies.

However, I have a bigger problem. Moments after the virus' release, a large battle cruiser has somehow appeared from the tachyon stream. I don't know how that's possible but it's there.

I suspect Inquisition forces are behind the occurrence. There hasn't been a battle cruiser named the Avenger in 10 years and even if there was one, they don't just appear. On the other hand, they haven't attacked us yet.

I'm almost to the bridge—I should have an answer soon.

End log.

SD 21207.28

Stardate 21207.28 Acting CO's Log Commander Tyra Crawford recording:

Well, we've gotten answers regarding the arrival of this battle cruiser, but it's hardly what I was expecting or anything I'd like to be dealing with.

For all intents and purposes, the Avenger seems to be from another universe, a universe where some of the same people and places exist but only in different contexts and with different backgrounds. Its universe appears to be battling the same threat as ours, except they call the Inquisitioners Krynar, and they've seemed to have progressed further into the fight but in a rather undesirable direction.

Its CO is none other than my former CO, Derrick Grant, which was more than a little unnerving given Grant's fall from grace and then, death. I've seen the crew manifest and recognize numerous names, some of which, like Mihar Kata and Kyle DeWitt, I know well. It's very disorienting, I'll admit. I didn't enjoy being in a room with their Grant because I had to keep reminding myself that it was a different person and my normal assumptions might not be true.

The big question for the last hour has been what to do with the Avenger. I had a face to face meeting with Grant, and he indicated that they aren't able to return to their universe yet. He has also stated that he'd be willing to help with our conflict, which might be a significant help. They seem to have significantly more experience with the Inquisitioners, to the point that they were able to capture a damaged shard.

However, I don't think that things are going to go that smoothly or well. I spoke to Draev about the situation and he was very reluctant to allow the Madison to escort the Avenger to Delta. I can't say I blame him… Not only is the ship dated 10 years but it's captained by a man who is a war criminal in our universe and crewed by people that potentially already exist in our universe. It's not an easy situation, but then again, that's why he has that box along with his pips.

I'm less than thrilled with his desire for daily reports on the Avenger and her crew. I'm even less thrilled that he wants two weeks to prepare when it would only take us 10 days. It might have been a little cruel for him to tell me that Thomas is mostly coherent and then, tell me to take my time getting home…

Truthfully, I just want to make this headache someone else's…I didn't need an additional complicated situation to add to my growing arsenal.

End Log.

SD 21209.03

Stardate 21209.03 Acting CO's Log Commander Tyra Crawford recording:

Well, we made it back in one piece with no more Inquisition shards and there were no major incidents with the Avenger crew either. I'll admit that I'm be happy to hand them over so I can stop answering their multiple questions with legitimate 'I don't know's.

My crew did spend more time on the Avenger than expected. They got along well and beyond seeing doubles for people I know, I didn't mind the chance to stretch my legs. The Madison is far too small for any prolonged missions any way. How Kata could tolerate it.... well, I'll have to ask next time we talk.

My only concern is that my crew might have made friends and become attached. Given that we don't know exactly how their situation will be handled yet, I tried to avoid that particular possibility. However, I still hope the situation works out well.

As soon as the Madison is officially docked, I have a meeting in the FC's office. I don't know if it'll be with Draev or Thomas but hopefully, I'll be able to get some answers, either way. I'm also curious about what the yacht will tell now that it's in a place where it can be fully analyzed.

End Log

Crew Logs

Lieutenant Adam Shelmer

SD 21206.12

Chief Tactical Officer Lt Shelmer- Duty Log Stardate 21206.16

As the Madison entered the Japori System, Chin’toka’s yacht came into view on Tactical’s short range scanner. Discovering the yacht had been stripped and booby trapped, the CO sent an Away team to disarm the explosives and investigate.

The Tactical team, along with the FO and Helm officer, were left on the bridge. Mid Meyer was assigned to set up a Deflector field, to protect the Madison if an explosion occurred.

Shelmer verified that a tachyon steam was coming from a location on the other side of the yacht, flowing through the yacht and the Madison. Shelmer suggested moving the Madison out of the stream, only to discover that the stream seemed to be following the Madison’s warp core. Shelmer noted that the tachyon stream had increased in volume.

Then the computer detected a signal appearing at the farthest end of the tachyon stream. Though extremely brief, it appeared to contain a combined mass reading and a weak subspace signal. Further investigation suggested that a Galactic Exploration Cruiser, GEC-9035, the Copernicus, was transmitting time and location data. It was last known to be in the Andorian sector of space on a rescue mission, two months ago and almost 80 light years away.

Then the Away team requested help with transporting a live charge. Meyer was able to transport it without major incident into open space.

End Log.

SD 21207.14

[Mission Log, Stardate 21207.14 CTO Lt Shelmer reporting... Begin Log]

Meyer and I were ordered by the FO to scan the Madison’s area in space for anything which may pose a threat. Aside from the tachyon stream being anchored to the Madison and the Second Away Team arriving at the Chin’toka’s yacht, the Tactical department didn’t finding much to report. Then Fiore ordered us to divert power from the weapons system to boost our scans.

Adding more power to the sensors revealed that the tachyon stream had low levels of neutrinos and chronitons flowing within it. These were not of concern, however both ends showed significantly increased amounts of these particles. Localized dark radiation was being emitted near the yacht, while the other end of the stream showed a moderate level of tetrionic radiation combined with a trickle of energy which appeared to be manifesting out of a very tiny crack in space-time.

Then as I watched the transponder signals from the Copernicus fade, the dark energy end of the tachyon stream appeared enlarging.

Concerned about the safety of the Away Teams, I reported this to our CO, who requested I research additional information on individuals she had found evidence of in the Chin’toka’s yacht. While I was researching, an alarm indicated a high-velocity object was detected in our vicinity.

A probe whisked by us and almost out of nowhere a Federation ship, marked USS Avenger, NCC-1500, appeared. While the CO’s of the Madison and Avenger were sizing each other up, Inquisition shards appeared and battle ensued. Meyer got in some good shots and eliminated several shards. The Avenger was able to dispatch the rest, but not without both ships receiving damage and, as for the Madison, loss of life.

At one point, with three shards heading our way, the Madison went into black mode, evading them long enough for the Avenger to cut them down.

At present, I have the Con, while Crawford heads over to the Avenger.

[End log]

SD 21208.14

Mission Log... Stardate 21208.14 Lieutenant Adam Shelmer recording,

As nothing much was happening while Shelmer had the Con and Crawford was over on the Avenger, he took time to tell some stories and bond with his staff, Meyer and McKenzie.

Shortly though, Crawford called requesting that their sick crewmate Aldren be transported along with the Madison’s doctor, Rehu, to the Avenger for treatment.

Shelmer was in mid-story when Crawford returned, but left Shelmer in charge. She requested updates on repairs to the Common Room and asked Shelmer to send out an ALL CLEAR to any rescue ships which may have received their distress call.

Crawford returned to the bridge and rescinded Shelmer’s request for an efficient course back to StarBase Delta and told Meyer to add 14 days to the trip back. Once transmitted the Tactical staff on the Avenger noticed the delay built into their course to SBD.

Feeling very peckish, Shelmer suggested a trip to the Avenger for food and recreation, Crawford was less than please with this suggestion, but she eventually ordered Shelmer to set up a rotation and, if he was so hungry, get off her bridge and get something to eat.

Add and Meyer proceeded to the Port Barracks for a bit of food and some storytelling…

End recording...

SD 21209.03

Final Mission Log... Stardate 21209.03 Lieutenant Adam Shelmer recording...

Got a chance to really kick back and enjoy some down time. Meyer and I spent some time sleeping and eating in the Barracks.

As the ship took it's alternate route back to SB Bravo, shift duty was typical, nothing of note occured.

Got a chance to meet some of the Avenger crew in the form of a Texas Hold'em card game in their 10 Forward. It was a hoot seeing those new to the game get their first introduction. I think I'll have some converts before this leave is over.

Looking forward to time on Bravo... and the new women I might meet there.

End recording...

Lieutenant Korban Aldren

SD 21206.2

Chief Security Log Star Date 21206.28

The journey out to the stolen yacht was mundane for the most part. Periods of normal ship duties, punctuated by a few brief encounters with Fiore. She is a fine woman, and I get the feeling that our love-making has been release for both of us….

As we arrived at the yacht it had become apparent just what they had done to it. Our scans revealed nothing that we could use, other than the booby-traps left behind. Kyber, Mitchell and Dawson went over first and commenced de-arming the traps. Part of me wanted to go with them, but I am more than aware that they are all far more qualified than myself.

I have gone across with Crawford as the second away team. The inside of the yacht is pretty much what I would have thought…..debris strewn everywhere, components and equipment stripped…apart from the bridge.

A quick tricorder scan has shown there to be a wealth of evidence to be gained here….contrary to my first thought and this seems out of character for the hijackers. Why would they leave so much evidence behind when they have been so careful? I’m guessing they must have been disturbed and forced to make a quick getaway….whatever the reasons I am concentrating on securing and preserving as much as I can.

The first team have made a discovery down in Engineering…I’ll record later….

End Log.

SD 21207.16

Security Log Star Date 21207.16

We returned from the yacht and came back to the Madison……I have contracted some kind of Super Virus from the bastards who stole the yacht. I have been told that there is a cure and I shouldn’t really be feeling the effects yet. However, and I don’t know why, maybe its my Angosian genes, but it seems to have hit me hard. I am in sickbay and under quarantine…..I know that we have been involved in some kind of battle and another ship, a USS Avenger appeared.

I have never heard of that ship and don’t know where she has come from…..

Let’s face it I don’t really know a lot……pretty usual for me I guess!

I am stuck here in sickbay and feel like I’m going outta my mind! I have to get out of here but know that should I try and leave I’ll run the risk of infecting the whole crew….even though I am very frustrated I know I won’t do that.

I have to place my trust in Rehu and wait for him to help me out!

End Log.

Lieutenant(JG) tr’Rehu

SD 21207.16

Chief Medical Officer Lt [JG] Rehu - Duty Log Stardate 21207.16

Let’s keep this brief, I have a situation on my hands, and time is a major issue. The James Madison was investigating the shuttle when Mr. Aldren came in contact with a super virus. Normally a person may put it down the nature of what we do, but I expected a little more from Mr. Aldren, seeing that he is also part of our Science department.

It appears that we are looking at the Cardassian Virus, easy curable if I was on a Starbase or larger ship. But I can not replicate the cure on the Madison and am forced to make or at least modify a new one.

End log