Mission Log 18 - Stardate 21406.01 "Disappearing into the Night"

Mission Summary

The Sheridan is sent on a mission to the planet Myar V to investigate the disappearance of a group of scientists who were observing the local inhabitants, a pre-warp civilization that have just entered their Iron age period of history. Arriving on site they discover the outpost empty with no signs of a struggle and going through the logs foind out that the Myaran’s are an offshoot of the Tellarite race who have just joined with the Krynar. As the investigation continued they discover that several Myaran’s have disappeared and all had symptoms of the common cold (sneezing, congestion, headaches etc), which happened to the three scientists before they too, vanished. Within the community friction has esculated into small boughts of conflict as each clan believes the other to be responsible for the disappearances.

Then the away team develop the same symptoms and then vanish, when they awaken they find themselves on a vessel as prisoners along with several Myaran’s who are all kept in separate cages. When their captors appear they are revealed to be Andorian’s attached to the Th’Dila family, a known criminal organisation in league with Orion slavers. They have been abducting Myaran’s and selling them in the slave markets. They have also been using nanites as markers for their transporters and the side effects were cold symptoms. Once transported aboard the ship the symptoms vanish after a short time. However, with the aid of the away team the slavers plans were scuppered and the Thriss class vessel was destroyed along with most of its crew. Ten of the crew were captured but their leader, Thalev Th’Dilla and his second in command, Viaalus escaped during the space battle.

We also gained a bonus with a CID Operative, Lt Cdr Salen who helped the away team and managed to gain a large amount of data from the ships computer before it was wiped or destroyed by Thelev. The Observation team were also rescued and are currently back on the planet watching over the residents. I understand that Professor Malfese is sending a report requesting further teams to keep an eye on the planets residents. Unfortunately, those Myaran’s we rescued had to have their memories erased due to the knowledge they had, would contaminate their progress. This was a most painful experience for myself as a ships Captain to have this serious procedure carried out, but I felt that under the circumstances this would be a better option. At least with more observation teams present any problems that may arise from the th’Dilla interference could be circumvented. Unfortunately, my First Officer, Commander Alex Ankar was lost during his return due to a transporter failure. It is a shock and an extreme sense of loss that a stupid equipment failure should cut short such a promising career. It is more painful as I considered Alex a friend as well as my second in command. The subsequent investigation carried out by Security and the Engineers did indeed find out that it was an equipment failure.

One of the emitters on the outer surface of the ship failed as he was beamed aboard and the power surge destroyed his matter stream in the pattern buffers, to be lost forever.

It is hoped, that maybe sometime in the future the Sheridan can help with the apprehension of this vile criminal and his henchman.

Logs

CAPTAIN BENJAMIN VAUGHN, COMMANDING OFFICER

Captain’s log, Stardate 21407.10 Captain Benjamin Vaughn recording

It has been a well received rest the Sheridan crew have had on Starbase Alpha. It seems that they are all looking forward to our next mission which is to find out what has happened to an anthropological research team on a primitive planet called Myar V. It seems they are another form of Tellerite race which Starfleet have been monitoring for 60 years or more and that the powers that be had deigned an observation team to be sent.

Since the Tellarite joined with the Krynar all contact had been lost with this team and I hope it has nothing to do with our former enemies. Now that we have arrived I guess we will have to send an away team to get ‘boots on ground’ as they say. I have a feeling this could be something that may involve the Prime Directive. Time will tell.

The sudden disappearance of Lt Blade has given me cause for concern and I have appointed Lt JG Sharpe as the new CTO. I hope the responsibility will make him into a valued member of my senior staff. It also appears that my Andorian CEO has qualms about his appointment, so we shall have to wait and see.

Captain’s log, Stardate 21407.24 Captain Benjamin Vaughn recording

Well we have arrived and are currently in orbit of Myar V, sensors show no other vessels in the immediate area, which is a good sign. Alex, along with Pedersen, Roth and Sharpe have now beamed down to the duck blind and have successfully arrived. So far, so good all we can do now is wait for their initial assessment before sending down the rest of the away team.

End log.

Captain’s log, Stardate 21408.20 Captain Benjamin Vaughn recording

It seems that whatever has happened to the three man team, it doesn’t appear that they know anything about the observation outpost. An away team is currently there assessing the situation and about to investigate the base further. It seems that people have been disappearing after getting symptoms similar to a cold and it may have a bearing on what happened to the professor and her team.

On another note, Mr Sothrick suggested that Ms Pedersen lead the investigation for the security team on the ground. Unfortunately, she has suffered an emotional response whilst down there and Commander Ankar has ordered her return to the Sheridan. I have ordered our COS to find out what the problem is, though she is currently held in transporter room 1 under quarantine on the orders of our CMO due to the possibility of a viral infection coming aboard from the surface.

End log.

Captain’s log, Stardate 21410.21 Captain Benjamin Vaughn recording

Things have moved on quite significantly since Pedersen’s emotional outburst on the planet. Our Away Team have now vanished and our sensors have been blocked by someone unknown, we are currently blind other than visuals to what is out there in orbit.

Some Low Frequency transmissions have been detected by our senior engineer Lt Hookton and we are currently heading towards Myar V’s moon as it appears that is where the transmissions are coming from. As to our Away Teams whereabout’s I’m guessing, or hoping, that we will find them when we arrive in orbit of that moon.

Captain’s log, Stardate 21412.27 Captain Benjamin Vaughn recording

It appears that the disappearances on Myar V were down to slavers. An Andorian Thriss class vessel under the commander of one Thalev th’Dilla, a member of the th’Dilla crime family was abducting residents from the planet and apparently selling them onto various associates. With the aid of the away team led by Commander Ankar his plans were scuppered and his vessel destroyed along with most of his crew. We have ten of the crew under arrest and are returning with them to Starbase Alpha.

The Observation team were also taken by the slavers but have been rescued and are currently back on the planet watching over the residents. I understand that Professor Malfese is sending a report requesting further teams to keep an eye on the planets residents. Unfortunately, those Myaran’s we rescued had to have their memories erased due to the knowledge they had contaminating their progress.

It was a most painful experience for myself to have this serious procedure carried out, but I felt that under the circumstances this would be a better option. At least with more observation teams present any problems that may arise from the th’Dilla interference will be circumvented.

On another note, my First Officer, Commander Alex Ankar was lost during his return due to a transporter failure. It is a shock and an extreme sense of loss that a stupid equipment failure should cut short such a promising career. It is more painful as I considered Alex a friend as well as my second in command. The subsequent investigation carried out by Security and the Engineers did indeed find out that it was an equipment failure. One of the emitters on the outer surface of the ship failed as he was beamed aboard and the power surge destroyed his matter stream in the pattern buffers, to be lost forever.

Regarding the th’Dilla incident, the leader Thelev and his second Viaalus managed to escape before we could catch them. We also had a bonus as a CID operative, Lieutenant Commander Salen helped the away team to escape and has a large amount of data be managed to get from the ships computers before it was destroyed or wiped by Thelev. I hope that maybe sometime in the future the Sheridan can help with the apprehension of this vile criminal and his henchmen. For now the Sheridan in en-route home to Starbase Alpha and should arrive their by 21501.03 for a rest and maintenance. Again I must commend my crew on their sometimes unorthodox ways of helping set this mission right.

End Log

CREW LOGS

LT COMMANDER TOUROCK SOTHRICK, CHIEF SECURITY OFFICER

Personal Log Chief Of Security Sothrick Recording Stardate: 21407.22

Mission Logs: The crew is on the way to the Mayaran System in search for a sixty year old facility with missing Scientist. The scientists were studying a prewarp society and have gone missing. We will be going to the planet and most likely be going to the surface to search for our missing personnel. If we go to the surface I will be sending Lieutenant Pedersen with Lieutenant Drummond as part of the team. Pedersen had an issue where she disobeyed a direct order from her CO and broke the Prime Directive with a similar mission. Her going down while she may protest, will be a test. Although her attitude with our last mission has put more doubts of her for me.

I have started a team for my project that the Captain and First Officer approved. I have even been allowed to bring Ensign Phoenix aboard to lead the project as we had both worked on the idea when on the Pegasus.

I had been charged with finding CTO Lieutenant Blade as he was supposed to return to the Sheridan and report for duty before this mission. I had discovered he was on the ship but to my knowledge he has not reported in.

(there was a silent pause as he took a sip of his tea he then looked at the screen and with a deep breath began again)

On a personal related note, I had in the last few months spent more time with the Chief of Science Cleo Banks. She and Mr. Blade were having a baby. Did have a baby born earlier this morning. A Lorelei Banks, I had spent even longer with her today and must admit feeling like. Well with the news that Mr. Blade has in fact returned I will try to keep my distance. She is a very interesting woman though and I would have to say a very different woman and perhaps an exact opposite of myself.

Well as I said it is a mute point and I will attempt to keep my distance from the family as I feel my emotions have betrayed not only myself but Blade as well as he was a close colleague of mine as well.

Computer End Log.

MIDSHIPMAN JONATHAN LETTERLOCK, MEDICAL OFFICER

Personal Log Stardate 21501.13 Midshipman Jonathan Letterlock recording I guess it's tradition for a midshipman to do a log about his first day, but it's not the reason I'm doing this log. Within the first six hours of being on board the Sheridan, the first officer has been killed, not by being shot, not by making a voluntary sacrifice. He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. I'm convinced that life in the stars is one for me, but if anything like this happens often, I'm not sure I'll be able to do this... I've always been hugely fearful of death, I don't believe in an afterlife and the fact thats we're just...gone frightens the hell out of me. The death of Alex was so quick and so unexpected, he didn't even know he died, hell, he doesn't even know he was alive! I guess then, theres only one thing we can do, there will be people after us, and we need to do things that will affect them, in a way, our lives aren't for us to enjoy, there for others, like Martin Luther King or Nelson Mandela. I guess thats why I want to be in Starfleet, just so I can make my mark. Computer End Log.

LIEUTENANT JG DEREK SHARPE, CHIEF TACTICAL OFFICER

Personal Log Stardate 21503.08 Lieutenant Junior Grade Derek Sharpe recording

It has been to long since my last log. A lot has happened, in the good and bad of many things. While I am more at peace with my place and situation in the workings of the crew and ship, my heart still feels curious about something I know not. I first wish to honor my first First Officer who was lost in the previous mission. He worked diligently to save the lives of many people and was possibly my best ally in the crew. I feel that not many tolerated me as well as he did. I can only hope that our new FO will be able to work creatively and openly with me as my first. Not many adapt easily to me. My experience in the events of being kidnapped and all with the whole situation on Myar and the slave ship, opened my eyes a bit to working better with others and trying to delegate more. This is also most appropriate now as I have a new midshipman with whom I need to blend into the team and crew, and with many factors of the growth of my department and me as its leader, I have already failed in aspects. He was inappropriately marked in a welcome tradition I allowed to get out of hand and now I am needing to make strong amends as this led to him wanting to attack me, which did not end well in that desire either. On a lighter note, Jackson is here with me this mission and I hope that he will have an easy time rehabilitating out of joint surgery with less area to run and aggravate his situation. I have to show him the bridge where I am stationed quickly and I am sure the command personnel will not like me for that. I have a habit of people not liking me for minor actions. That might be a good thing in some ways. The tension is a challenge I like, though others just see it as frustration. We adapt and grow. We all. Hopefully.

End Log.