Mission Log 16 - Stardate 21308.22 "Sudden Appearance"

Mission Summary

The Sheridan was sent out to the Bajor system to check up on various anomalies and signals eminating within the region. Upon arriving the crew discovered a very, very faint distress signal which then proves to be an old Starfleet distress signal from the 22nd Century. The Sheridan sends in a shuttle and away team into the Ditrobulan Nebula from where the signal is eminating.

What the Sheridan finds comes as a shock. Lying motionless and apparently dead in the Nebula, is the pitted and scarred shape of an old NX Class starship. Upon closer inspection, it is revealed to be the lost NX-03 USS Challenger, that had vanished 250 years ago with all hands.

The investigation discovers that an Aphasia type virus was the reason the ship vanished whilst on a survey mission 3 light years from Andor. Unfortunatley, some of the Sheridan’s crew were infected with this virus and due to the Krynar invasion the investigation is called off and the destroyer is recalled to help in the fight against the invaders. Needless to say the CMO and his team find a cure for the infected personnel whilst the Sheridan leaves the derelict for the tender care of the SCE who savalged her along with two of the Sheridan’s shuttles.

Logs

CAPTAIN BENJAMIN VAUGHN, COMMANDING OFFICER

Captain’s log, Stardate 21308.22 Captain Benjamin Vaughn recording

Though brief, our return to Starbase Alpha was a truly needed experience with what the crew had been through over the last two missions. I believe would cause anyone some kind of psychological problem. I understand that the base’s counselor’s had a busy enough time, especially with our Bajoran crew members.

I have to admit that the loss’s we suffered during our last mission played a little heavily on myself. To lose their lives whilst in the line of duty is something that all of us think of, even expect. But to lose them whilst investigating some transporter malfunctions came as a blow and it was one of the hardest times of my career, writing up the letters to their families.

Anyway, I digress a little. We are currently en-route to the Bajor System to run a sensor sweep to check out any anomalies and signals. I know that usually mundane missions like this are a anathema to Starship crews and their senior officers. I’d like to think it will be a rest for the crew and will enable us to run diagnostics of the ships systems prior to our return to Alpha.

Our replacements have all come aboard and I’m pleased to see that Korosenn has returned as a Midshipman. From what I’ve heard and read, his time on the Yeager wasn’t the best and his subsequent abrupt departure from Starfleet was something I didn’t expect. I just hope that he’s learnt a lesson and come back to us, an improved officer.

End log

Captain’s log, Stardate 21309.25 Captain Benjamin Vaughn recording

Arriving in the Bajor System was something of a shock. Hearing about the destruction wrought by the Krynar was devastating in itself, but seeing the debris left behind was something worse. The messages that were still being transmitted throughout the debris field were harrowing, some were quite poignant coming from people that had most likely died in the first assault.

Fortunately, it doesn’t seem to have affected the crew as I thought it might and during our initial sensor sweeps we picked up a signal that appeared to be of Starfleet origin, but appeared off in some way. I instructed us to investigate this signal further and we arrived outside a class 9 nebula which we had deducted the signal was coming from.

Further sensor tests showed that this was indeed from Starfleet, but the surprise was, it was over 250 years old. I ordered an away team commanded by Commander Ankar, my First Officer. Because of the high interference from the various compounds of the nebula It was agreed to send a lone shuttle with Alex, Ensign Roth and Midshipman Sharpe to be a scout to see whatever the source of this signal was.

They entered the nebula and after some 30 to 40 minutes discovered the source. The remains of an old NX Class starship, the NX03 USS Challenger to be precise and from the reports from the shuttle Richmond, it appeared void of life and power. I have now instructed a second shuttle, the Ohio. To join Commander Ankar’s team and possibly board the stricken vessel.

This shuttle has an engineering team, under the command of Lieutenant Byron, a medic and security personnel. The pilot is Lieutenant Blade my CTO, for now the Sheridan is in standard orbit outside the nebula awaiting any further results of the away teams investigations.

End log

Captain’s log, Stardate 21310.11 Captain Benjamin Vaughn recording

We are waiting for feedback from the away teams sent over to the Challenger in the shuttles Ohio and Richmond. It always concerns me when I have people out of sight and I wish that I were with them, damn the regulations etc. I know my people are probably enjoying the trip, seeing as you don’t get to visit a 250 year old ship too often.

Still, I’m having ships sensors try to see if using Sharpe’s probes will enable us to at least get a view of the old girl. It would be interesting to see her in all her glory.

End log.

Captain’s log, Stardate 21310.27 Captain Benjamin Vaughn recording

Since we haven't been able to get a clear enough picture of what’s happening on the Challenger due to the nebula’s interference. I have decided to allow the Sheridan to enter the nebula and join the away team’s already there. We will remain at yellow alert with shields raised and hopefully, being closer, it will allow us to converse better as I’m curious to see the old girl as well.

End log.

Captain’s log, Stardate 21312.11 Captain Benjamin Vaughn recording

Our mission on the Challenger was cut short mainly due to the virus affected several members of the away team. We managed to get the transporters to work enough to get the crew back aboard and into isolation within sickbay. Unfortunately one of our people, Ensign Roth, under the influence of the virus attacked and sadly, killed Lieutenant Byron. This is to be an ongoing investigation regarding his demise and the science officers involvement.

However, once we left the nebula we regained communications with Starfleet and found out the Krynar has appeared within the Sol System and that a mothership was 400,000 kilometers away from Earth. I immediately ordered us to return to Earth even with those infected aboard.

The journey took around 14 days and within that time our CMO, LCdr Boorman discovered it as a type of Aphasia virus that had infected the crew and from what we deduced infected the whole crew of the Challenger which caused the loss of that ship 200 plus years ago. Unfortunately we cannot continue with the investigation aboard the old girl and it will be left to Starfleet Corps of Engineering to investigate further and to return our two shuttles left behind.

Now we have joined the Nova Battle Group and are about to engage the Krynar at Tellar to try and retake the system. I hope that the remains of Starfleet know what they are doing since the loss of Earth has come as a deep and emotional blow to myself and to this crew.

End log.

CREW LOGS

COMMANDER ALEX ANKAR, FIRST OFFICER

Personal Log Stardate 21311.29 Commander Alex Ankar recording

I don't like leaving such a mystery left uncovered, but we've been ordered away from the Bajor system. I wouldn't be in a hurry to get back on board the Challenger, but having not even removed it from the nebula feels like abandoning the job too early. There are rumours of our new assignment being a major emergency but we haven't heard that much yet - even if we're talking about a Krynar related battle (which this is starting to sound like) then I think the Sheridan has the experience but we're still not a warship per se. Our survival has been at the cost of other, larger ships in the past. I'm not sure I'd be very comfortable with anything like that happening again.... I definitely don't fancy getting destroyed either.

And while we're on the subject - damn these Krynar and their insatiable greed for power. They surely cannot be a rational, reasonable species as we've not had any kind of communication with them that I know of. This is brutalist warmongering at its most terrifying, costing the lives of billions and with no way for a path of diplomacy, tolerance or compassion to be forged. The worst part is that, in these instances, no matter how much one detests war, it is inevitable. All factions are technologically advanced and well-evolved, and yet we're still playing the old game of 'it's me or you and ain't gonna be me'. I was happy for the rest from all this conflict, but already we're going back.

Loss continues to strike the Sheridan regardless, with Byron the victim of a horrific and unwitting death at the hands of Raven Roth. Some kind of mind altering virus possessed her into such a thing, but I do not for a second consider her a murderer. I will not allow her to be treated as one either. Byron was with us for a long time and was a fine engineer on all accounts. I admit that it's strange but still saddening he's gone, even if I hardly knew the man. Now I suppose I never will.

ENSIGN DEREK SHARPE, TACTICAL OFFICER

Personal Log Stardate 21309.09 Midshipman Sharpe Recording

Why do I feel anxiety? This is amazing, absolutely. Yes I have trained before on actual training ships in the Sol system under impulse and thruster simulation, but this is where it all leads to. Our course has us...

What am I doing? This is my first recording of my personal logs aboard the USS Sheridan. I am her newest Tactical whipping post. I have heard all kinds of Midshipman Jokes and sabotages that have happened to others when they get their first assignment. Who knows what I will get, but I guess it will be more in how I react to it at the time.

My quarters are acceptable. I have switched out the desk and chair for the one I had transpoted aboatd from the starbase. The real wood looks nice amongst all the synthetic metals and plastics. It is only white oak, but it reminds me of home. The bed could be softer but I am sure I wont have a problem sleeping in when I am not supposed to.

In an hour I report for the first time. In the 4 days since coming aboard I have aquainted myself with the ship and some of my crewmates. I am surrounded by my own kind in the neighboring. More people and departments are on the deck up the corridor a piece, but it ain't a big ship, so it is easy to eventually run into everyone. I try to be nice and friendly to everyone, but i gues southern courtesies don't always fall in line with the ways of other cultures.

Our course has us travelling in the direction of what I believe is the destruction of the Bajoran Homeworld. I am sure I will see some emotions from crew about this. I have read some of the available ships logs of previous missions this Sheridan has been on recently, and in the past years. It has seen a lot I can say, i am sure I will too.

Better have a bite before my first duty shift.

End Log

Personal Log Stardate 21402.05 Ensign Sharpe Recording

I really take this first mission of my first assignment of my starfleet career as a blessing. To work with such interesting and devoted people through an interesting mission and spectacular find is I think grand luck.

Finding the Challenger and powering it up was an amazing thing to behold. A piece of History that I will be eager to board again when it gets brought home safely. I hope recovery teams will return to me the tricorder I left on the bridge from being electrocuted by my EV suit. That ordeal was as disorienting as having the crew I worked with be struck with Aphasia and go nuts for a while. The one who did die I found out was the one who I had tough words with in the Challenger Engineering. never knew him save for that. Another blessing in disguise?

Upon the long trek home, in getting to know my crewmates better I will have to say I am very comfortable here. We worked well during our mission as well to free Tellar from the Krynar influence. I anticipate more to come from that scene. The transcripts of their affais in the quadrant do not make much sense. I think the First Officer and I share some trepidation on that regard. Repairs to the systems will hopefully come with upgrades. I know what I'd prefer to do with the ship though I fear to have that done would also embody some odd creativity.

I will soon be asking for permission to use a Shuttle to take a trip to Starbase Delta. I heard of a deal on Lockboxes out there that if true, I do not want to pass up.

May our successes be blessed to continue without more loss than we have taken this first mission of mine.

End Log.

ENSIGN CLEO BANKS, SCIENCE OFFICER

Mission log Stardate 21310.27 Ensign Cleo Banks recording

I was sent with the away team at the last moment, and everything seems a bit off on the Challenger. I'm exploring the ship, the bodies of the crew seem to have dropped where they stood, or simply laid down in bed, as if they were ill. I'm starting to wonder if taking my helmet off was such a bright idea, perhaps the pathogen that killed these people is still in the air? Without tests I can not be sure it is a pathogen, but everything suggests it.

I hope to reach the lab, see if they were running tests or left any crew logs behind, some sort of bread trail to follow. The bodies are too decomposed to find out much from them, but perhaps some bone marrow samples can be taken. If the Sheridan arrives soon I can possibly get a body to the lab, for now I'll be stuck in a slightly less advanced lab and no anthropologists. I know Doctor Andrews on the Sheridan would love to be here, but for now my knowledge of death and anthropology will have to be enough. I believe Roth specializes in Archaeology, so I suppose that will help. She explained science to me like I didn't know what that branch was, but perhaps she was simply verifying that she too could offer a role. I tend to jump ahead after analyzing, she may have seen that as a threat, although I welcome any objective observations she may share, even if I don't agree that her branch of study is very important in modern science.

Anyway, it's a good thing besides cybernetics my second love is forensic anthropology. I just hope I find nothing that could have survived not having life support. We could have a dangerous outbreak on our hands.

(an audible sigh)

I'm feeling tired and came in close contact with the bodies in engineering, but I think it's nothing more than missing a few med appointments. Oh, speaking of engineering. What was that science officer doing in engineering? Everyone was possibly sick, and she ran down to engineering for....? It doesn't make sense. For now I will assume nothing, and let science explain what really happened.

End Log

Personal Log Stardate 21311.19 Ensign Cleo Banks recording

This was quite a mission, and I'm happy to be back on the Sheridan. I was right in my assumption that the crew was ill, they had a nasty virus which most of the away team came down with. I saw all sorts of weird things when I was hallucinating, and may have punched one of the engineers. I'll have to apologize for that. We lost a crew member as well, Byron. May he rest in peace.

I suppose it's time to come out with it, I'm pregnant, about 14 weeks nearly 15. The father is Johnny Blade, and he is, I'm pleased to report, excited about the baby. We were both glad little Lorelei was alright, after I had been so sick. I got to see her precious little face and hear her heartbeat. Shes so tiny, but I'm glad shes so strong. Of course, that doesn't surprise me at all.

We are currently heading to Earth, I haven't gotten much information. Everyone seems to think I should be resting, I'd rather work, but I will find out soon enough what's going on.

End Log

LIEUTENANT JUNIOR GRADE RAVEN ROTH, SCIENCE OFFICER

Personal log Star Date 21402.20

LT(JG) Raven Roth:

I should have recorded this long before now, I've been putting it off ..before now I couldn't face sitting here saying what I need to say because I didn't want to here it, well … might as well get on with this.

It started when we were assigned to the Bajoran system upon arriving we picked up a signal from a class nine nebula, Ankar,Banks,Sharpe and myself were the first away-team to enter the nebula to find NX-003 challenger we waited for Byron's team to arrive before boarding.

Once on-board we made our way to main engineering so the engineer's could power up the Challenger little did we know of what happened to the crew. It was Banks and myself that came across the first bodies, we didn't know at the time that a virus similar to the Aphasia virus was affecting us” Raven stopped talking to drink some tea then continued

I can't seem to remember what exactly happened but I … Hercules died on that mission I hope Sarah can forgive me oh this event put a well a wedge and a spanner in our so called family back on earth .. after the Challenger mission we were sent up against the Krynar due to my treatment as I out of commission for this encounter I can not say much about it.

I'm going to miss Lieutenant Elaine Montgomery, she's gone back home for personal reasons.

Oh and Sharpe well he's one to keep and eye on, he was trying to make me feel better about what happened and I thank him for that but I need to find the way for myself.

Cleo is having a Baby girl which is cool and has asked me to be her assistant as she's now the new CSO we both got promoted to Lieutenant junior grade.. hum what else to say

End Log

LIEUTENANT HOOKTON, ENGINEERING OFFICER

Personal log

Today, I experienced my first mission aboard the Sheridan, or rather the Challenger.

The trip to the vessel was uneventful though cramped. Eleven people in EV suits should not be crammed into a type-7 shuttle. I think I read that in a manual somewhere.

Upon arrival, we made our way from the docking ports up one level to the engineering section of the ship.

Lieutenant Byron organised the engineering team to begin bringing the vessel back online. When main lighting was established, we found some of the previous crew.

I’m no medic, but the appeared to have died at their posts.

Commander Ankar then took a team with him to the bridge. I volunteered to join his team.

When we reached the bridge, we found more bodies as we attempted to access the ships systems. One of the bodies wore the rank of Captain I think. I’ve always been a little fuzzy on the colour changes and old style rank insignia.

That’s when we got the message that something was wrong with Lieutenant Byron in Engineering.

The Commander issued an order for everyone to return to the engineering section. When it became clear that both science officers from the first shuttle along with some of our security team and our pilot were also missing, I headed off to look for them.

I found one locked up in one of the Challengers labs. She seemed panicked and obviously hallucinating. When I tried to communicate with her, she… Incapacitated me briefly.

Thankfully, she found her way back the main group.

Upon returning to the group myself however I discovered that Lieutenant Byron had been killed. I did not see how or why or by who, but with several members of the group, myself included by this time, in differing states of confusion and incapacity. I didn’t know what to think.

Thankfully, someone aboard the Sheridan found a way to make the transporters work, depositing us in sickbay.

Later I discovered that it was Ensign Roth who had attacked and killed Lieutenant Byron while under the influence of the virus that had afflicted the group.

I can only hope that she’s going to get over this. Especially as it transpires that she was related to the Lieutenant.

I can only hope that this mission was atypical.

I’ve just found out we’re on our way back to Earth. Better check the news feeds I guess. See if there’s anything interesting happening back home…

End log.

LIEUTENANT COMMANDER TOURICK SOTHRICK, CHIEF SECURITY OFFICER

Mission Log Personal Log Chief Of Security LCdr Sothrick Star Date: 21401.21

This mission has been sparatic as humans like to say and fast moving. We had discovered a NX class ship hidden away in a nebula that was well preserved. Along with it would seem was also a virus that had hallucenatory sysmptoms. This virus is being linked to the death of an Engineer by the hands of a fellow crewmate. My official report as well as that of CR Logan and Midshipman Korosenn. I am having Ensign Pedersen interview all others that were apart of the way team. I however with the oversight of the Doctor will be interviewing and also for the time being counseling Ensign Roth as it was her Cousin that was killed and her that killed him. The death seems to have effected Lieutenant Blade strongly. I was allowed to man the weapons station because of his inability to concentrate as we encountered Krynar on our way back to SBA.

It would seem that we are heading back to Star Base Alpha. On a personal note I feel compelled for some reason to attempt to communicate to a few particular persons. The most my Father. As I usually spend such "down time" on training and meditating I am not sure what is stirring me to locate these particular people but I do feel such.

End Log.