Enterprise Mission 01: "Mission to Kryten"

Captain's Logs

RAdm Thrawn

Stardate 20603.17

Stardate 20603.17 USS Enterprise Ships Log, RAdm Thrawn commanding. [Log #01 - events 3 – 17 March 2006]

In the presence of a very distinguished company of my friends and colleagues including Ambassador Picard (Retired) and Admiral Riker (Retired), former COs of previous incarnations of this ships namesake, I was formally handed command of the Federation’s newest Heavy Carrier USS Enterprise CV-07 by Admiral Nekitaroma COSFEC. There then followed a fabulous buffet and the chance to catch up on news and remake acquaintances.

Following the buffet, returning to the bridge, I said goodbye to a number of good officers off to other postings, Lt Ried to the Drake as Acting CEO and Lt Halycon (now fully recovered) to the Titan as CTO. There have also been some fresh officers joining us – Colonel Leeot i/c of fighter control and Assistant Counsellor Tey

And then it was down to the work of familiarising myself with the ship specifications, ordering crews recall, and suchlike. To make matters more complicated we have a media crew on board to record our departure and interview the crew, and I am apparently scheduled to speak with them shortly.

However at the moment we are just awaiting approval from SBA Command to depart and then our commissioning and shakedown runs can commence.

Log Ends/…...

Stardate 20604.10

Stardate 20604.10 USS Enterprise Ships Log, RAdm Thrawn commanding. [Log #02 - events 18 March – 10 April 2006]

Our departure from SBA was somewhat dramatic. One runabout was experiencing steerage problems with another going to her aid, and both were entering our course. The media of course reported the event in their own way, and I have to say that there approach was nothing less than contemptible. The event did highlight that we had a problem with our sensors but by coding in a service call to engineering, it appears the media crews did not pick that fact up. In the meantime SBA advised us of their position. We adjusted course slightly and readied out tractors to prevent any collision. Once that was resolved, we started receiving our fighters and shuttles, including Halo Fighter squadron from SBA.

I took the opportunity to carry out the interview with the media crew that seemed to go quite well. Just some career history and suggestions, thoughts on the recent challenges and wars faced by the Federation, my feeling about the ship and her crew and suchlike.

Just after they left and after spending sometime ploughing through the outstanding PADDs I started feeling unwell, and noticed a major change in my face. Calling the CMO I contacted the FO and discovered that this was not an isolated incident. The FO herself, Lt Darkfang and a host of others on the ship were also feeling unwell.

On arrival the Dr picked up straight away on the possibility of an allergic reaction particularly as I had used the new replicators very recently. Sans seemed to reveal that my Zakdorn DNA were becoming dominant over the Human DNA. There also seemed to be a strange substance in trace amounts attached to water molecules in my stomach, possibly from the replicator. Sending the data down to the sickbay and running a molecular and then an atomic analysis revealed the substance attached to the Water molecules to be Denzitoxin, a medical chemical used to correct dysfunctioning Genes. It was also present in Lt. Darkfang, Councelor Tey, and Captain K'Etana, and in an afflicted Andorian Reporter but in her bloodstream rather than her digerstive system. Dr. Quincy used haemodialysis to extract it from her blood stream

Using an infusion of 0.9% concentration of bisodium monohydrate, 1 microgram per kilogram of body weight into the victims seemed to bind up the free Denzitoxin radicals and allow for first pass elimination by the kidneys. We then took all the replicators offline and initiated hardware and software diagnostics of food replicator systems beginning with water or water based items, but in a way that did not destroy anything that provides any information as to past programming, system access, requests, even maintenance or installation DNA prints. Trusted Security and Engineering officers would undertake an investigation just in case this is not a commissioning problem but rather sabotage.

The diagnostics on the replicator systems came back as there being several misfiring connections in the main sequence storage subroutines, and the resequencers were misaligned on several stations - a possible explanation as to why some people were affected in more drastic ways depending upon where onboard they were.

As a precaution against unwelcome media broadcasts I have placed a communications blackout on the ship. After a short period of rest the facial and weakness effects seemed to have reversed and thereby allowing people back to normal duty, apart from hair fallout and that could only be cured by a haircut.

Log Ends/......

Stardate 20604.24

Stardate 20604.24 USS Enterprise Ships Log, RAdm Thrawn commanding. [Log #03 - events 10 – 24 April 2006]

Further medical cases are being reported but the bulk of the replicator associated ones appear to be sorting themselves out. A latest case has a new officer Pedersen admitted with an ageing syndrome. The usual treatments apparently haven’t worked and the sickbay medics are now looking at the transporter system for a possible cure.

Commissioning trials are going well and we have just completed the warp 9.2 emergency level tests with no apparent problems. Engineering are happy and analysis of our sensors and shields and all the other critical systems have passed their tests. Following the resolution of the replicator problem I have therefore sent a message to Star Fleet Command recording that Enterprise is certified for duty.

I have received news of the second phase of the re-organisation of the Fleet Group Structure. Whilst the ship based Group Commanders have overall charge of the deployment and tactical use of the ships, Chief of Operations officers have been appointed at Star Fleet Command to act as the strategic lead for the group, the manager of all the groups resources and liaison interfaces, supplies and restocking etc. 1st Battle Groups Chief of Operations in none other than recently promoted Admiral Odell, and this is welcome as we work well together.

Our mission orders have also arrived which should be a good test of the ship and the new crew in more ways than one.

Out on the right flank of the Federation – Klingon border is the planet Kryten, which has relatively recently become warp capable, and the council believes they are ready for first contact. However we are not the only ones who have noticed this planet. Although technically she is within our space, the seceding of a nearby system to independent status has made the border argument less robust than before. We are making overtures to the system to rejoin but the Klingons are obviously interested as well and trying to persuade them to join them. What makes things tricky is because of the proximity of Kryten to that system, intelligence believes that the Klingons might decide to leapfrog the contested system and try and grab Kryten, effectively isolating the contested system from our support if the systems decided that their independence would be better served by rejoining us.

We need to take Enterprise on a flag waving trip over there and see whether you can persuade Kryten and the contested system to join us. SFC are hoping that this will send a message to the Klingons that we won’t tolerate their interference in our space, but though we hope things don’t escalate, we must be wary as we know that their new leadership has expansion on their agenda. We still don’t have enough ships to meet our needs so we’ll effectively be on our own.

Though our Enterprise name will be a help of course it will not endear us to the Klingons given the history of conflict between ships of this name and their forces. But of course I suspect that’s why they named this carrier Enterprise - to provide something for our people to think about but more importantly to send a message to the Klingons and the Romulans that we have changed our approaches of the immediate past, and we are not going to be forced around.

I have perused the attached intelligence files, which don’t offer much more information. On the face of it, it appears a straight forward diplomatic mission with the added twist that they would no doubt attract every self-amusing hotshot of a Klingon Captain who would want to make a name for themselves by taking them on. He was determined that any confrontation would go the Enterprise’s way – if they were to use their name as a tactical weapon they need some successes under their belt.

There was however some slightly bad news regarding the media team which I don’t particularly like and am sure my officers wouldn’t either, but this order apparently came from the new CinC himself, so we must comply.

Log Ends/…

Stardate 20608.24

Stardate 20608.24 USS Enterprise Ships Log, RAdm Thrawn commanding. [Log #09 - events 1 – 24 August 2006]

Establishing that we could safely destroy the shuttle bombs provided they were more than 5000m away, we allocated the fighters to take them out, retaining the ships weapons for quick reactions against the cloaked enemy cruisers. However the news from the flight deck was not good when we discovered the main launch bay doors out of action. As a result we would have to make do with the fighters already in flight – 6 instead of the 24 considered necessary – and allocate some of the Enterprises weaponry to the defence. Whilst fighters were deployed using the slow secondary flight deck (due to the need to use internal maintenance corridors to transfer the fighters between decks), the 6 fighters and ships weapons picked off the shuttles as best they could, until there were only 10 left, though these were obviously the best and by now wise to our tactics. By randomly changing their flight path they were getting in closer and one shuttle which was a mere 5500 meters from the upper aft section of the ship radically changed course and shot for the saucer, slamming into the shields and exploding, her pilot being vaporised instantly. On the bridge the vibrations could be felt as the shields gave way. The shield generator for that section was offline, meaning the only way to cover would be to spread from other emitters, weakening the shielding in that section of the ship. The explosion from the shuttle had, in the few seconds before shields could be extended to protect it, caused minor structural damage to the upper aft, near the closed hangar doors. Damage seemed minimal, as it was pilot quarters that were hit—which were mostly vacant. Casualties: unknown. 3 crew 'missing'. No sooner had this information been received when Enterprise literally shook from a series of explosions as four shuttles slammed into her, the first two taking the shields offline for just a few seconds while they recycled. This left the window for the second two to hit.

The first hit the already-damaged hangar doors, nearly vaporising them in the process. The bay immediately depressurised, sending fighters that weren't tied down and crew into space as the large chamber decompressed. The structural integrity of that section of the ship was compromised somewhat, but would hold—however the whole aft section of the hangar bay along with the three adjoining sections of the hull were nearly destroyed and would require significant repair before they could be used again. 16 fighters were destroyed in the explosion, and 9 more were now adrift outside the ship, their status unknown. 311 crew were listed as 'missing' by the computer.

The second one that got through slammed into the forward section and had obviously been aiming for the forward launch bay—however it missed it's mark. Additionally the detonation was non-existent, and the shuttle itself had just slammed into the deck, embedding itself in the ship half hanging out and half inside the adjoining quarters. It had missed it's mark by several decks and the forward half was now stuck inside the CO's quarters.

This was followed by an "INTRUDER ALERT" announcement from the computer—according to it two Klingons were disembarking the wreckage and moving into the Enterprise – we would later learn that 6 in fact survived.

It was around this time that I ordered Comms to transmit a report to Star Fleet Command “Comms – Flash Message to CinC, 1st Battle Group Command and all nearby Star Fleet Vessels. Codeword Thrawn Q two K R four. Then send a log update”

But the fight back continued. On board security and marines were responding to the intruder alerts and cordoning off the area, and the marines transported a quick response team down to the surface of the planet.

Outside the ship reoriented herself to avoid the approaching damaged Klingon cruiser and our fighters were authorised to destroy her. The fighters delivered their fire power onto the hull plating of the cruiser which starved as it was of its protective shield energy softened, and finally the minimum structural integrity level was overcome. The connecting structure that joined the main torpedo and phaser module and the bridge to the main hull separated, spilling those Klingon warriors in the vicinity of the tear into a cold and painful death in the vacuum of space, the rest of the crew saved for the moment by the rapid closing of bulkhead doors. Moments later a fighter fired into the leaking plasma that had enveloped the ship ignited, and a visually thunderous and rolling explosion front ripped through the cruiser sending ship plates and energy into the surrounding space. All sensors were avidly watched as the high energy particles sped through space, watching for any tell tale signs of cloaked ships as their cloaking shield would fluoresce in the high flux. Unfortunately it hadn’t caused any classic cloaking shield fluorescence so he didn’t have any idea where the other ships were. All he knew was that they weren’t in the bubble of particles.

In response to the disappointment our sensor officers redoubled their efforts and started trying some off-base ideas to try and detect cloaked vessels.

They described how they had tried the motion sensors, short and long range sensors, and high-energy particle sensors. They had even been scanning for local dust cloud disturbances to no avail. The local antimatter explosions had saturated the local space with them so that they couldn’t discriminate for vessels, and the power fluctuations on the ship kept sending the sensors out of calibration. Then they thought of a new approach – they had already tried wavelength stretch, effectively using the sensors at wavelength outside of their normal limit, a use which gave rise to indiscriminate and very noisy sensor return patterns. As the power flows on board were stabilising, the sensor emitters were now more stable, and by repeating the extended sensor sweeps, the very noisy sensor map should become repeatable. Although in itself it would still be unfathomable, by subtracting one map against the next one, patterns should be identified. Areas of high energy particles from the explosions were expanding in a known pattern and so allowing for the dispersal between successive scans the officers could remove them from the overall picture. However a cloaked vessel will not have an expanding pattern – they will remain static – the simple fact that we are getting a stable sensor return could reveal their location, and allow details micro scans to be targeted at those specific areas. In addition by using our fighters tachyon emitters way behind the locations of interest, the sensor micro scans would become more accurate.

The plan was immediately authorised and had a result – Though there was a lot of interference as predicted, there were several regions of space that could contain one of the enemy ships. The regions are all fairly noisy electromagnetically and signal wise but one of the regions had a very low intensity almost random harmonic signature – one that the two sensor officers had recognised - it’s the jamming signal that’s disrupting our communications to the away team. We had a target.

Colonel Leeot was ordered to send in our fighter force to use phasers to paint that region with energy, then get the fighters were to fall back into their protective positions so that they did not exhaust their weaponry, as if we do get this one we still have one remaining and they may need to take it on without contacting us. In the meantime all the ships weaponry was targeted on the approximate area.

Stardate 20609.11

Stardate 20609.11 USS Enterprise Ships Log, RAdm Thrawn commanding. [Log #10 - events 24 August – 11 September 2006]

On Board Enterprise

2nd Enemy Cruiser

The Fighters started their runs and the first wave didn’t highlight anything so Colonel Leeot relayed new co-ordinates, based upon new analysis from his science and tactical sensor officers. And then we painted them. Ordering Lt Darkfang to remove the trespasser from this system the Enterprise opened fire with phasers and torpedoes. We all watched on the Bridge viewscreen and repeater displays as the first salvo landed on the target. Sensors detected that she was taking heavy damage and had just transmitted a burst wide band transmission. Her cloak is now offline and she’s trying to raise shields but the torpedoes are causing major power disruptions throughout the ship. She wouldn’t last long now. I reiterated the decision - she either surrenders or, if she continues trying to fight she has to be destroyed on the grounds that they had attacked us and the people down there without warning or mercy …. but that we also need to send a message that we will not tolerate Klingon interference in Federation space, and we need to send a beacon to the systems in this sector that we will protect them if they desire our protection.

The cruiser did not comply with our hope of a peaceful cessation of fighting. The Klingon crew worked tirelessly to stabilise their systems and raise shields, her executive officer even managing to get off a burst communication presumably to the last remaining clan cruiser still cloaked in the magnetic field node point of the planet’s southern pole, asking for help. The striken vessel managed to charge its phaser banks despite the power fluctuations and fired at the Enterprise, using it as cover for launching 4 already-loaded torpedoes. Unfortunately one of the torpedoes misfired in its launch tube due to the damage sustained in our attack and ruptured, causing its antimatter charge to make contact with surrounding matter. The resulting explosion vaporised part of the main hull and severed the main stanchions between the bridge and the hull, the two parts separating in a cloud of debris. Catastrophic haemorrhaging of the plasma conduits provided the ignition for the final explosion as her power source overloaded, and the cruiser was enveloped in a massive explosion. The phaser burst and torpedoes hit the Enterprises forward-lower hull shields, which contained the explosive yield but dropped to 69% before they started rebuilding. As the ships rocked to the explosions throwing some of the unaware onto the floor, there were several structural integrity alarms though they immediately reset. The loss of the second cruiser and her jamming device, plus the loss of the planetary jamming device [see later log section detailing away team activities], finally allowed communications to be restored between planet to ship.

The FO didn’t delay – she immediately made contact, reporting that the situation is under control. They have wounded and some casaulties, and some wounded Klingon prisoners [including their Captain Darj] and Krytenians. Asking her to discuss with Minister Jakda whether he is happy for us to take the prisoners into custody or whether he wants to process them according to local customs, and to extend an offer for us to treat his mean, transportation was authorised. The Enterprise and her fighter escort was redeployed to above the Away Team so that transporters could function without dropping shields from around most of the ship and acting as a target for the third cruiser still out here somewhere.

Enterprise’s Intruders

Following an analysis of suitable knock out gases, the databanks furnished the following information.

According to the latest data the standard anesthizine gas is still the best and fastest option Major. It can be easily introduced via the area environmental/life support system. The summary goes on to say that using an extremely dilute concentration of theragen, the Klingon nerve gas, mixed in with the anesthizine has also been shown to be beneficial as it deadens nerve input to the brain. However there is a warning that this could lead to unexpected enemy reactions as the gas takes effect because they will loose all rational thought about what they are doing

Whilst the Engineering teams got ready, Cdr Hendil was despatched to aid them in recovery of the shuttle. The knock out gas was admitted to the intruders area but they had obviously come prepared and put on small breathing systems. Now aware of our tactics they seemed to redouble their efforts to explode the bomb. I had no hesitation in authorising the release of Theragen Nerve Agent to the relevant areas, fifty percent concentration, more than enough to kill the Klingons instantly. Engineering teams were warned to adopt full emergency procedures

3rd Enemy Cruiser – Caution: Contains information discovered following cessation of hostilities

The Klingon Cruiser Vora’SuS was sitting in the magnetic field node at the planets north pole, their crew nervously hoping that the Federation cruiser couldn’t detect them. A little over 30 minutes previously they had watched as their flagship was destroyed whilst under cloak. The ships intelligence officers could not agree how the Enterprise had managed it, and were trying everything to avoid bringing attention to themselves …. before they had the opportunity of revenge.

With the Klingon jamming field now down, the Federation ship had begun transporting people from the surface to the ship, presumably their away team, but the location of the Enterprise flanked by her fighters meant that the ship could do nothing except wait. However the fortunes of war were about to change once again. Their comms officers picked up an identification signal from one of their presumed lost anti-matter-shuttles, and it was broadcasting from alongside the Enterprise hull on the opposite side of the upper saucer level.

The Klingon engineers quickly started adapting a torpedo with homing characteristics using the same subspace frequency as the shuttle. Their intentions would become clear - a minute or two and then they would fire, and hopefully use the torpedo to trigger off the shuttle bomb.

Away Team on Kryten

The Away Team had managed to fight off the last Klingon attack but unbeknown to them, the Klingons had one more trick up their sleeve. The unexpected transport into the room of additional Star Fleet marines had caught the front ranks of the Klingons off balanced. The increased barrage of shots coupled with the loss of contact with the Captain had forced those coming up the rear to stop and re-evaluate their attack. More worryingly was that contact with their ships had unexpectedly been lost. The Klingons split into 2 groups – one remained where there were whilst the other headed down a series of corridors until they were outside one of the walls into the chamber containing the Federation and Kryten troops.

Dr Wong was still coming to terms with the death of 2 of his closest medical colleagues – Janet Cunningham and Vince Martinez – who together with their marine guard was caught in the crossfire and destruction of some high energy containers within the room. The others were all nursing some injury and the loss of colleagues as well. Despite the arrival of reinforcements lead by Major Sexton, things were still critical as they were all still boxed into the one room.

With hindsight Captain Darj’s subsequent threat “Federation scum – Surrender now or die a most painful death” was most appropriate. It was only seconds later that, as he distracted his guards that there was a load roar from the hole and the corridor to the main doors, accompanied by phaser shots, as the surviving Klingons made their attack , their noise and the confusion more than compensating for the fact that there was only 3 from the direction of the hole and 6 from the door, plus the 2 prisoners. The fire fight and following hand to hand combat was savage in the extreme but here the marines training paid off. By targeting the Klingons phaser shots in the smoke filled room, several of the Klingons were killed in the first few seconds. Though there were deaths amongst the Federation and Kryten forces, the sheer numbers of defenders who through themselves wholeheartedly into the fight, including the CMO suffering from grief, overcame the small Klingon force and there were either killed or severely injured.

Also of note was the advance through the main entrance of the room of Mid Kolar, who fought off a Klingon assault and managed to destroy the planetary comms jamming device. Alas this did not restore comms to the Enterprise until the destruction of the 2nd Klingon cruiser a few minutes later in space.

In less than a minute it was all over and as the dust settled people looked around searching for friends who were alive or dead. Fortunately despite the surprise attack from two sides, there were no new deaths amongst the Federation and Kryten groups, though the Klingon attackers were all either death or wounded. They had failed in their attempt at rescuing their Captain who remained a captive. The Krytens meanwhile were taking their revenge out on the injured Klingons much to the dismay of the Federation teams who were ordered to not interfere by the FO, conscious of the need for non-interference with the local system of justice. However the High Minister noted the behaviour of the Federation teams and stopped them, puzzling over why the Federation should care about the treatment of those who had killed their friends – one more piece fitting into the puzzle of the morals of the UFOP.

With the jamming devices destroyed communications was restored between the Enterprise and Away Team. The FO and the High Minister conferred and permission was given to transport all the injured, prisoners, and non-kryten dead up to the ship, plus the High Minister and his personal guard. Whilst the more badly injured went first, others removed debris to reach those under the rubble. This unfortunately confirmed the deaths of the medical staff and their marine escort, confirming the worst fears of those who knew and admired them.

Very shortly afterwards the last of those transferring to the Enterprise had gone, leaving the healthy Kryten guards to examine the room and notify their relevant commanders.

Log ends …/'

Supplemental

Addendum

For the record:

Lt[JG] Janet Cunningham [Surgical Staff Nurse] and Crewman Vince Martinez [Medical/Surgical Technician] had been part of the CMO staff since he first arrived on the USS Dauntless years before. She is noted as being an exceptional surgical nurse. And he was frequently praised for his eagerness to learn and gain competence is an ever-broadening list of medical expertise. There are many who owe their lives to these two crewmembers who repeatably put their lives on the front line to help those around them, playing a full part in the teams regardless of the risk. Recommendations for commendations from the Medical Institute will be forthcoming.

Likewise, there will be similar despatches for all those affected by today’s events Stardate 20609.11 Supplemental USS Enterprise Ships Log, RAdm Thrawn commanding. [Log #11 – 11 September 2006]

On Board Enterprise

Analysis by the Engineering teams & Cdr Hendil of the impacted enemy shuttle revealed a deadly secret - a destabilising antimatter bomb incapable of transporting off the ship. Realising that every second counted and that there was only one realistic way to remove the danger Cdr Hendil ordered the Engineers back to safety, and after talking with myself, forced the shuttle to extricate itself from the impact damage with the carriers hull. With a horrendous shriek of tortured metal the shuttle was released from the hull, and immediately a transporter lock was formed with him to bring him back as soon as the shuttle was far enough away. Whilst Cdr Hendil tried as best he could with the failing systems to manoeuvre the shuttle around … he noticed at the same time as we did on the Bridge the third enemy cruiser as it emerged from its hiding place.

3rd Enemy Cruiser – Caution. Some of the following is based on subsequent analysis of the ships logs, the shuttles live transmission logs and communications evidence

The Klingon Cruiser Vora’SuS, readied and armed with its homing torpedo emerged from the magnetic node and headed straight for the Enterprise, her impulse engines rapidly building to full power. Alarms sounded throughout the carrier as the new threat materialised and our fighters changed course to intercept. The cruiser continued her approach and fired a torpedo set to the homing frequency of a device fixed to the antimatter device within the enemy shuttle, and then the cruiser started to shimmer in space as she engaged her cloak. Cdr Hendil, though still fighting with the controls than actually in control, saw the torpedo emerge and shoot off on a pre-set parabolic course so that once the torpedo was on the opposite side of the carrier, it would then have a free path to the homing signal impact site. What the cruiser and torpedo didn’t know was that the shuttle was no longer there. Cdr Hendil read the signs and pointed the shuttle on an intercept course with the disappearing cruiser, slightly ahead of its course and then punched up the impulse engine. The torpedo noted the change in target location and changed course slightly and rapidly converged on the shuttle.

On the Bridge we were quickly re-orientating the carrier to the new threat. Colonel Leeot was despatching his remaining fighters, ship’s weaponry officers were bringing the phasers up to power in case they had time for a torpedo shot, and the transporter rooms were establishing a lock on Cdr Hendil and finding that the environmental shield was preventing a good lock. Arrangements were therefore made with the CTO to lower the shield and establish a lock.

Cdr Hendil caught the last of the shimmering as the cruise went under cloak and then, as he sped towards a point in space with his finger on the field shutdown switch, a proximity alarm sounded as the torpedo locked onto him on final approach. He took a quick look at the sensor screen, wasting precious seconds checking he still had time and then hit the field switch. As his body dematerialised, the shuttle collided with the cloaked main hull of the cruiser glancing off the hull plates. Then the torpedo hit the shuttle, exploded, and freeing the antimatter from its containment. The resulting secondary explosion was a lot bigger than the first. The quantity of AM chosen to severely cripple if not destroy the carrier was more than was required against a 40 year old cruiser. In a split second there was a huge chunk missing from the hull, with all the sharp edges of the explosion site glowing as the AM reacted with the hull, devouring more of the hull as it expended its force. Massive explosions followed as the debris, now in real space, continued to supply matter to the antimatter inferno.

On the Bridge the Enterprise and her fighters again changed position to take her further away from the explosion, and there was a general sense of relief from everyone as the third cruiser was finally accounted for. Of course there is always a price for such a close acquaintance with death and we were reminded of that fact when the Transporter Room reported that due to the cruisers explosion there was a massive power surge in the transporter circuits, resulting in the loss of the transporter lock and the certain death of Commander Hendil.

Log ends …/

Supplemental

Addendum - Personal entry:

I was not the only one to remain staring at the displayed cloud of boiling debris and gases on the viewscreen, as we took in the message. Though it is one of the worst things of the job to hear whenever any of the crew has perished in the line of duty, this one was all the more painful when it was someone I had worked with every day for more years than I can remember; from the time the new fresh faced and eager Midshipman had walked onto the bridge for the first time until the last time he ended his shift a few hours ago as the Chief Tactical Officer and a recently promoted Commander, and Third Officer of the Carrier.

William had been so happy at the time and well on his way to a brilliant career if he chose to take it, and now by quirk of fate he has been killed doing something so in character that one wondered how he had survived so long. And there is the problem – the fact he had like the rest of all us old hands survived all manner of near-misses and injuries that it had become almost an assumption that we would always survive as a somehow immortal being. And it made things all the more hard to accept when the universe plays its wild card once again and extinguishes someone who was cared about by so many people – another kick in the teeth by the rules of life.

I have no hesitation in ordering a Posthumous Diamond Star with all the remuneration that brings to those family he leaves behind. That almost certainly the whole crew owes their lives to his act of bravery is a fitting epitaph to this fine officer who always worked selflessly and professionally, in the true tradition of Star Fleet.

Personal entry ends…/

Stardate 20609.31

Stardate 20609.31 USS Enterprise Ships Log, RAdm Thrawn commanding. [Log #12 - events 11 – 31 September 2006]

On Board Enterprise

Sickbay

Following the traumatic events, I paid a visit to Sickbay to see how things were going with the injured and to personally pass on the bad news to those officers who knew Cdr Hendil. Just prior to leaving the Bridge, major Ryan appeared to have a seizure/faint and was transported directly there.

After passing on the news to the FO, CMO and COS, and re-emphasising that there were still things we needed to do – such as discover the reason for the attack on us and whether this attack within federation space was a locally initiated one, or one carried out with the full knowledge and consent of the Klingon leadership. Accordingly the FO would escort the 4th Minister of Kryten to security when he was ready, and I and LCdr Thomas (COS) would head there now to interview our prisoners. Mike would remain in sickbay and administer aid to his patients, including the recently arrived Major Ryan.

The FO duly approached the Minister to invite him along to security, only to find him in deep thought. We only found out later that as well as the ‘new’ realisation about the complexity & technology of the galaxy, our reactions to events were not as expected to him such as our automatic medical treatment of patients who moments before were our enemies; imprisoning our enemies rather than killing them out of hand. Indeed he was only now being truly convinced that everything we had told him about the universe and our philosophies were what we believed in, rather than a ploy to win his support. Willing to learn more he and his guards walked with the FO towards the security section.

We left Dr Wong attending Major Ryan, who appeared to have suffered from a fainting incident at first. However just after we left, his biosigns became erratic and Dr Wong summarised his condition from the readings [from something he had knowledge of] as akin with a psychic assault with a telepath - Massive adrenalin dump, blood pressure is dangerously low, his muscles involuntarily spasming, not breathing effectively and his brain activity as frenzied. In order to remove the danger to Ryan he was paralysed and artificially ventilated, but somehow it appears that Ryan was willing his life to end for some reason, his brain overcoming the paralyse and the equipment to slow his heart rate down to dangerous levels to starve himself of oxygen, stopped only when the artificial heart functions were activated in response. Deciding that way to die wouldn’t work, somehow Ryan’s systems changed tack and despite the paralysing drugs within him, his brain activity intensified and he clenched his fist. It was only because Dr Wong had seen this before that he realised what may be happening, as he himself had been through a similar situation on a previous mission – a patient willing themselves to die either for a past action or because they wanted to be at peace with someone they had lost. As the CMO was talking to the body about wanting o help, Major Ryan managed to gasp a few words – saying he was going to kill the CMO. From the words spoken it was clear to the CMO Ryan was wishing to join Telsia Caer in death – an officer he used to be very close with some time ago, and who we had recently heard had died. Such was the mental force that Ryan managed to grab the CMO around the throat and was proceeding to throttle him.

Security

No sooner had we arrived in security to question the captive Klingon pirates than several events all occurred together:

The bridge informed us that the USS Grant had arrived offering their assistance and bringing us several new officers – LCdr Dayune (CSO), Ensigns Flynn & Silran, and Midshipman Kolar – the ship presumably having been despatched by Adm. Odell at SBA to aid them. Then a member of our science section contacted security to alert us that a group of Klingons were trying to get into their labs. The COS Thomas quickly assembled the rapid alert team and disappeared to deal with this unknown group. I have no doubt that he will ascertain later on how this group managed to get aboard without detection.

Sitting the Klingon Captain in a chair with the other 4 survivors in cells the questioning then began but it was quickly obvious that they were not going to answer our questions. The Captain became very loud and disruptive and without warning attacked, temporarily immobilised his guards and jumped towards me. The other injured Klingons similarly made an incredible recovery from their wounds, one jumping at another startled security officer in a corner of the room holding a laser rifle, and the other one heading for the FO and Minister Jakda. The Klingons in the Brig added to the chaos by throwing themselves all at once at the door to their cell, their bodies and uniform metal overloading the energy field emitters due to the collective mass being exerted against it, and allowing the Klingons to miraculously pass through the energy field, badly burned and smoking but nonetheless on the outside, further distracting the duty security guards. The officer at the security control desk managed to grab his sidearm out of his holster only to find three hundred pounds of Klingon flying at him through the air. Punching the alarm button he ended up on the floor with the smoldering Klingon on top fighting for his life in close hand to throat fighting. Fortunately a combination of good shooting from the FO and Minister Jakda’s guards, as well as our own guards and our close combat training, managed to overcome the surprise attack, but at some cost. The Klingons were all dead, even Captain Darj who had apparently broken his neck when he hit the wall. Fortunately the security officers were all alive though the CMO would be having a few more patients.

After checking the FO and the Minister were okay, Captain K’etana berated herself that she should have seen it coming - better [for the pirates] to die in battle than be taken prisoner by us...especially after hearing his ships were destroyed. K’Etana also checked on the Minister and in a rather abrupt fashion asked the Minister whether we should just return him to his planet and leave them alone, or did he wish to stay in contact and one day perhaps become a part of the Federation.

It was perhaps a bit more abrupt than I would have liked but it had more than the desired effects. Indeed the Minister seemed to make a decision given her tone as he then informed us that he was in fact the Supreme Minister of Kryten, and that anyone normally speaking to him like that would be dealt with in a way some would say harshly. And then he said something that surprised his own guards. “For a visitor who is obviously here for more than a visit, you seem to treat me with a peculiar style of commonality which would horrify my ministers …. [but I don’t take offence at] what your First officer has so eloquently asked. In fact it is refreshing to be able to discuss matters in such a frank way.”

After checking some facts regarding the UFOP policy on non interference and technology transfer, and satisfying himself that the fact the Enterprise was a capital ship on patrol rather than an invasion ship if he asked us to leave, he concluded with his thanks for our help in removing a threat from his planet and that though he would need to know a lot more of the Federation, her policies, limits of governance and suchlike, that we could rest assured that we had the basis for an agreement between our two peoples.

I was able to assure him that although we had to depart shortly, the USS Grant would remain behind to help them with any queries they had, and though I personally did not have the authority to grant membership I did believe that the Federation would look constructively at any request for normalising our relations and all that entails.

[The later point is assured given it was one of our mission goals, and would also act as a reference during discussions with neighbouring wavering systems who had recently left the UFOP and were considering reapplying for membership given the increasing threat from the Klingons.]

Our deal concluded, the FO and an escort walked with the Supreme Minister to the nearby transporter room for transport back down to his planet.

Just as I headed back to the Bridge a new message from the Bridge came through. 3 Klingon cruisers had just decloaked and appear to be maintaining station 400 kilometres in front of us. The problem was that the ships we knew were on their way were not expected for at least another day, and even with 30 serviceable fighters there was no way we could defend ourselves against 3 brand new cruisers. Besides – if they wanted to attack why didn’t they decloak somewhere else, and why were they just sitting there?

log ends ../

Stardate 20610.25

Stardate 20610.25 USS Enterprise Ships Log, RAdm Thrawn commanding. [Log #13 - events 1 – 25 October 2006]

On Board Enterprise

Science

The Klingon attack group discovered on the science deck have been dealt with. Of the 5 in the group 2 were initially killed in the fighting and 3 wounded. Unfortunately the 3 survivors proceeded to kill themselves some time afterwards in standard Klingon fashion, willing to accept death rather then the dishonour of capture and interrogation.

The group was initially challenged by the small security force under LCdr Thomas in bitter hand to hand fighting. Determined to aid their crewmates, the scientists apparently grabbed anything to hand that could act as a weapon and left the sanctuary of their labs and attacked the Klingons from the rear, catching them totally by surprise. And to add to the melange, a medic team arrived and threw themselves into the fight.

With no fatalities and mostly repairable injuries within our combined team, this is a superb example of the crew working together against the enemy.

Bridge/Observation Lounge

The arrival of 3 Klingon cruisers so soon was unexpected, as was their behaviour – shielded, fully armed and readied for use, except that the weapons targeting systems were powered down. The explanation became clear however when we opened visual communications. Though this was not disclosed to anyone other than the FO, the Klingon Commander was someone I knew and trusted. He and his FO were invited over to the Enterprise so that we could discus matters quietly in the Obs Lounge.

The Klingon Commander was indeed Captain K’Tang, an old friend from our Nebula mission. His FO, thought unknown to me did have a house emblem I recognised – that of the house of Kang – my former Valley Forge Captain now deceased – and the wearer was his cousin – Cdr Venock. My FO didn’t at first seem at ease with the arrivals …. but after some tough and defensive explaining by the Klingon as to why there had been no word between them both for over 2 years father and daughter were reunited once more. However I think it will be a while before she forgives me for sending her to collect 2 un-named Klingons from the Transporter room without forewarning her as to his identity. K’Tang explained that the reason he was here.

After our initial meeting he had come to regard me as a like-minded person and thus he had sent friends of his including a Commander Ralok who had disagreed with the Emperor to our patrol base 157 where we had subsequently granted them and their ships/crews asylum. Additionally he had sent designs of a new first strike weapon – a new dreadnought which can fire under cloak. Unfortunately the ship carrying the plans was intercepted by the prototype and destroyed but when we then destroyed it, the Klingon High Command had cancelled the project as obviously there was a design flaw and they couldn’t afford the resources to build them if they were easy to destroy. Captain K’Tang then handed me a chip containing all the design specifications and commissioning trials of the ship should it ever be considered for manufacture again, to replace the data that had been previously sent to us.

He also explained that he had orchestrated events so that his task group patrol route would be close to us. He confirmed that the actions of the pirate Captain Darj and his force of three cruisers [which we had accounted for] was for the sole purposes of increasing the wealth of his own family and his reputation if he succeeded here against Enterprise when he finally announced this to the Emperor. Klingon High Command had intelligence that something was going on here but they never knew the extent of his activities. But the most important thing he had to say was that the Klingon empire was not foolishly going to risk war over this matter – despite their rhetoric he believed that they would stick to the defined border and try not to provoke trouble .. at least until the Emperor ordered otherwise and no-one really knew what was going through that man’s mind. Actions here had provided him the excuse to meet with us, and to meet his daughter, and for his likeminded executive officer to meet us and form his own opinion, should anything happen to him in the future. Although he said that he was not able to promise everlasting peace, he did confirm that people were doing their best to slightly shift thinking so that we can avoid conflict until there is another change in leadership along to path of the last one.

He asked specifically that I relay a message back to my superiors and try to make them understand that whilst they didn’t give the regime an excuse for action then it is unlikely they will take that action. They would also ensure that the Klingon Patrol we were expecting would be intercepted and ordered to return to their normal patrol.

After further discussions between myself and Venock, and K’Tang and his daughter, the meeting broke up and the Klingons returned to their own ship. It order to reinforce the point that things were changing, their departure was no less surprising than their arrival. The obviously brand new ships started moving for departure. The two rear cruisers started moving and turned 180 degrees in opposite directions and headed back in the direction of their homeland. The central Klingon cruiser waited and then did what looked like to the Enterprise as a backward somersault, turning 180 degrees and following the other ships. Altogether a very impressive and very well choreographed, and totally unlike standard Klingon behaviour.

Alone again above Kryten except for the Grant, we made ready for our departure. Grant was to stay in orbit and offer the Krytens any reasonable requests for assistance and information. We have apparently taken on a fair number of new officers that had accompanied the Grant, which is always good news. With repairs to the outer hull now complete and work in progress internally, and with our remaining fighters now loaded, it was now time to head home. With a final goodbye to the Supreme leader of Kryten we departed, destination Earth.

In final summary,

Though the Enterprise had experienced battle a bit sooner than expected and we have lost about 311 crewmembers, including our CTO and several medical officers, we have achieved what we had set out to achieve for the planet of Kryten. And more than that, based on what we have learnt from Captain K’Tang we have also achieved the real mission why Enterprise had been sent here – the securing of the Federation influence on this side of the border with the Klingons. Once word spreads that we had destroyed a rogue Klingon task force and saved an innocent plant from ransacking and destruction, it would be hard to understand why any of the newly unaligned planets in this sector didn’t commence re-joining negotiations with the UFOP.

So much achieved but at the cost of 311 of my crew, maybe a dozen Krytenians and 3000 Klingons. There will always be some who will argue it was low in numbers compared to what would have happened if we had not been successful, as no doubt a local conflict would have occurred sooner rather than later, but it doesn’t make it any easier when writing the letters home to the families of the lost.

Final Log entry of Mission to Kryten ends …/

Capt K'Etana

Stardate 20606.31

Stardate 20606.31 USS Enterprise Ships Log, Captain K'Etana recording.

[Log #04]

Having arrived at the planet Kryten we were immediately hailed by the natives. I answered their hail myself and was quick to discover their dislike of the Klingons. Apparently the Klingons have been harassing them for generations - whether this is sanctioned by the Empire or not is anyone’s guess. Admiral Thrawn offered that I lead the away mission but taking into account their strong dislike of the Klingon race and my heritage I thought it best I do not lead it. He agreed to this and beamed down to the planet with an away team leaving myself behind in command of the Enterprise.

As this was going on a few Klingon signals were detected on sensors. It appeared they were on an intercept course with the Enterprise and would arrive within three to four days. It seemed we only had a short time in which to conduct first contact before the Klingons arrived.

Stardate 20607.16

Stardate 20607.16 USS Enterprise Ships Log, Captain K'Etana recording.

[Log #05]

As the Admiral and his away team comprising of Thomas, Pedersen, Tey and Wong were on the planet making first contact with High Minister Jakda and his aides we got a little surprise aboard the Enterprise. It seemed the Klingons that were four days away were not the only ones we had to deal with. At first a sensor shadow of a Vor'cha Klingon cruiser was detected. Probably as a result of a leaky cloak. This was strange in itself, Vor'cha were old cruisers that we thought to be decommissioned. They are no match for the Enterprises armament. As we puzzled over this Admiral Thrawn beamed back to the bridge. He and the away team had made progress and he decided it was a good idea having smoothed the way that I should go down now to take command of the away team. I agreed and we effectively switched places. Taking Kolar with me I beamed down to the planet to meet with Jakda face to face. I brought Kolar with me, hoping to show that not all Klingons were 'pirates' as he had called us.

Stardate 20607.16

Stardate 20607.16 Away Team Log, Captain K'Etana commanding.

[Log #06]

Aboard the Enterprise the following hail was received from the lead ship of the attacking cruisers.

[Federation Pe'taQ! You are in our territory and we have a fleet of ships approaching to escort you from this system. Leave now or be destroyed!]

With shields raised on the big E the away team were now stranded...

I arrived on the hot dusty planet that was Kryten to a comparitively cool reception. They were especially displeased to see I had brought Kolar. (A 100% Klingon tactical officer). After a series of difficult questions Jakda finally relented and decided he would continue talks with us. The away team broke off and began to speak to the natives about their respective professions; I could see Wong and his Kryten counterpart were eager to learn more of each other’s races. Jakda and I continued our conversation.

Things seemed to be going well. And then the building was stormed.

With no knowledge of the space battle going on above us we found ourselves taken by surprise by the Klingons. After decapitating one of Jakda's officers they burst into the throne room where we had been holding talks. They quickly took the high minister's daughter hostage. Their demands were simple; Captain Darj the leader of his force, was there to claim Kryten in the name of the Empire. They would not negotiate. We tried to use our communicators but discovered there was a dampening field in place. It made sense now to assume the Enterprise was engaged in battle with shields raised, as the Klingons in front of us had to have come from somewhere.

After a short standoff I decided to take the initiative. I gave the order to open fire.

The firefight that ensued was chaotic. Jakda's daughter was thrown aside with an injury to her leg. Mike Wong retreated to behind the throne to provide aid to the injured. I found myself being attacked by a Bat'leth wielding Captain Darj as the others were locked in the exchange of deadly phaser fire.

Making a lucky escape with the help of Thomas, The rest of the team and I regrouped at the back of the throne room. Two of the Krytenites were badly injured, the rest of us had sustained injuries that could be dealt with later. Jakda then provided a means of escape - his throne retracted into the floor revealing an underground passage below. Myself, Pedersen, Kolar and Thomas provided cover along with the rest of the Krytenite guards to allow the injured and some others enter the passage. We then followed with the Klingons close behind not knowing where it would lead us... Stardate 20607.31 USS Enterprise Ships Log, RAdm Thrawn commanding. [Log #07 - events 16 – 31 July 2006]

Suddenly and without warning, 3 Klingon Vor'cha classed cruisers decloaked and began to circle the Enterprise, and then the ship came under fire from three different angles, the disrupter blasts reducing the shields to 84%.

A hail was received from the lead ship on decidedly unfriendly terms. The image on the viewscreen was of a young Klingon Captain who promptly cut the transmission after his speech. "Federation Pe'taQ! You are in our territory and we have a fleet of ships approaching to escort you from this system. Leave now or be destroyed!"

Sensors then reported a beam down from one of the ships to the planet. Captain K’Etana and the away team were going to have company. The Enterprise started to deploy her fighters to add to the Half squadron [Omega] astern of us , and Marines and Security were moved up to General Quarters 2 – patrol all corridors and departments, together with quick reaction forces ready to go at a moments notice. In addition with Comms Protocol Garellian 3 still in force there was no danger of anyone on board sending any unauthorised transmissions particularly targeting the media team that was still onboard.

Whilst we were ascertaining the enemy beam in points for transmission to the away team, we also hailed the Klingons and warned them of the consequences of their actions, only to be met by another volley of torpedoes further reducing the shields to 63%. With the standard protocols followed, Lt Darkfang and his team were then ordered to target the lead vessel and disable it. Though they fired, the enemy cloaked and we registered no hits. And then worse was to come. Following a brief communication from the FO warning of a hostage situation the comm bands were jammed by a planetary source.

The three Klingon ships suddenly de-cloaked at the same moment, all firing their disrupters at the aft shields on the Enterprise. They were in positions which would require the Enterprise to divide her weapons between them, far enough apart that a concentrated volley might be difficult without rolling the big ship as Darkfang fired. Their concentrated fire only dropped the aft defensive shield power by 12% as they only seemed to be firing secondary disrupters—far less than such ships are capable of and in fact far less than they had previously used.

At first this seemed illogical—why would they fire such a small shot. Then we found out why - sensors indicated 18 incoming contacts... Klingon shuttles by the initial scans, all at full impulse. They were arranging into small groups of three and coming at the ship from three different directions, such that they would be hard to hit without individually picking them off. Sensor readings on them were fuzzy, but each clearly contained lifeforms and some sort of equipment—the nature of which was uncertain. As this data was scrolling across the boards, the flight operations officer announced that the flight deck doors had snapped shut a few moments ago—at the same moment of the decloaking of the vor'cha cruisers—when the environmental forcefields in that area had failed. Engineers were being dispatched already. The emitter for the forcefield had apparently exploded. The cause was unknown at this time.

Darkfang let another volley of torpedoes and phaser fire go at the vor'chas scoring a direct hit on one but only grazing the other two. The two that hadn't been hit, cloaked again and were gone from sensors. The one remaining had a nacelle which was glowing and leaking plasma, which was dangerous—if anything ignited the plasma, the ship would likely explode, killing the 800 or so warriors aboard and causing unknown damage to any vessels in the area. This ship wasn't deterred, however. Using thrusters and impulse drive, she turned toward Enterprise and appeared to be preparing for an attack run. The shuttles were still approaching, but using very evasive courses.

Our sensors finally managed to get a detailed look at the shuttles and each was found to be carrying a large amount of antimatter, each therefore capable of causing us immense damage. As an immediate action we started to use tractors against the shuttles, to try and give us clearance enough to explode the antimatter shuttles without damaging us in the process.

Log ends ..

Stardate 20608.24

Stardate 20608.24 Away Team Log, Captain K'Etana commanding.

[Log #08]

Having trekked through the snaking passageways at great speed we finally managed to lose the Klingons. The Krytenite guard that had stayed behind us had given our team the chance we needed to make our escape. Unfortunately it was not to last. But we had been given a much needed respite so taking the opportunity we followed the underground passage to a door. Behind it lay a large cavern of sorts, it had shelves of chemicals and a few beds. As Grepa could no longer wait for surgery in his condition, he had been hurt badly in the throne-room, Mike and Filru decided to perform it there and then.

As they were doing so Klingon voices were heard far down the passageways. It seemed we had not escaped them, and as the two doctors finished up the surgery they informed us Grepa could not be moved for another twenty minutes at least. Mike suggested he and Filru stay here with Grepa and try to fend off the Klingons while the rest of us escaped; they would follow once Filru could be moved. I declined his offer. We both knew that whatever chance the team as a whole had standing up against these Klingons a second time, alone, he and Filru had none.

As they stabilised Grepa and finished off the surgery Xavier Thomas helped prepare us for the imminent onslaught. We assumed defensive positions as Pedersen and Kolar barricaded the door.

There was no mistaking the Klingons arrival. They did not spend long in breaking through our makeshift barricade, and once it gave a wave of battle hungry bloodthirsty Klingons spilled through.

Our attempts to suppress them with phaser fire did not last very long either. Soon it was down to hand-to-hand combat. Many were injured and just as I felt there was no hope left a group of Enterprise marines lead by Major Sexton materialised in the midst of battle. They had somehow managed to break through the dampening field enough to beam one team down.

With their presence now the battle turned in our favour. In a matter of minutes the marines had dealt with the Klingons, but they were not without their own casualties. Major Sexton was one of them, taking a nasty disruptor wound to the leg. Pedersen appear to be missing several fingers and a couple of medics were simply unaccounted for in the dust and rubble. We attempted to regroup and deal with the injured before considering our next move. As we did so a warning was shouted out from our new prisoner, Captain Darj;

“Federation scum – Surrender now or die a most painful death”

As it turned out we should have listened...