Pulsar Mission 02: "...And Miles to Go Before I Sleep"

Mission Summary

Stardate 21002.15

Shore leave was cut short and the Pulsar's crew recalled for emergency deployment. Spatial rifts had formed throughout the Federation Core and Admiral Linden dispatched every available First Battle Group ship to assist the impacted systems. As part of these deployments, Pulsar was tasked with leading 1BG efforts at Alpha Centauri, working with two other 1BG vessels USS Hades and USS London.

Upon our arrival we found the system overrun with ships originating from the other side of the anomaly and belonging to a benevolent Terran Empire. Leading an away team to their flagship, the Trinity, I was able to develop a positive working relationship with the Terran Empire's lead representative, Commodore Rexx Growfrowff. From these talks we discovered that the Terran Empire was, as we were, attempting to close the rifts which were impacting their space as negatively as they were our own.

We also learned that, despite my initial sense that this was a First Contact scenario, Federation vessels had in-fact entered Terran Empire space in the past, the most recent of which had been USS Gettysburg which had, up until that moment, been assumed destroyed in a battle with the Romulans. Two other Star Fleet ships had also come into contact with the Terran Empire. An at first unidentifiable Cicero-Class Escort had been in Terran Empire space at roughly the same time as the Gettysburg, this vessel has subsequently been identified as the USS Stolik, belonging to Star Fleet Intelligence. The final vessel was IDed as the USS Sheridan and it entered Terran Empire space some six years ago.

It quickly became clear that the Terran Navy was not a threat, but that they were pursuing a vessel that was, one they identified as "Grath." Based on our exchange of information, the Grath would seem to be their version of the Borg.

Working together with Commodore Growfrowff, we mounted an attack on a Grath vessel that was on a direct course for Earth. This Grath ship had already destroyed two Federation ships including the USS Bismarck, one of the 1BG's Destroyers. While the Grath nearly broke through our defensive line, we were in the end successful. It is hard to say though if that success was a result of our own efforts or of the natural destructive force our universe seemed to have on anything which came through the rifts. In the end, every vessel, every person, from the other side, Terran and Grath alike, broke down and dissolved into their component elements.

London was able to seal the rift using a controlled warp core detonation. With the rift closed and everything that had come through it gone, the crisis had ended. As such I put us on course for home. Pulsar will need significant repairs and her crew much needed rest.

Let the record show that Rexx Growfrowff gave his life to save us. I will remember him as an honorable man and a cunning warrior. It was a privilege to know him, even for a brief time.

Upon our return to Starbase Alpha, Pulsar put into port and I granted the crew shore leave. Shortly thereafter Gettysburg put back in for repairs and Admiral Grant was relieved of his duties as her CO. With a little work I was able to steer things such that Commander Fitchel was named as Gettysburg's new CO. Pulsar will not be the same without Commander Fitchel, but I am immensely proud of him and have no doubt he will do well by the Gettysburg. I have selected Zor Kayzon to fill the gap left by Ken's departure. I am confident Zor will prove an excellent First Officer. I have also selected Lee Ander to assume the added role of Second Officer and Mick Roland to become Chief Engineer. As I record this I am in the process of ensuring these assignment changes occur smoothly and quickly.

Once all of these personnel matters have been resolved, I will speak with Admiral Linden and, once our new orders come in, recall the crew for our next mission.

Logs

Below are the log entries for the mission, grouped by who wrote them and sorted by Stardate.

Captain's Logs

Admiral Wueste

Stardate 21001.06

An emergency situation has arisen, spatial anomalies are impacting virtually every core Federation system. As such, I was forced to cancel shore leave and recall the crew.

Jeff has ordered Pulsar to Alpha Centauri to investigate the rift that has formed there. While some systems, such as 40 Eridani, seem to have been completely dimensionally shifted, Alpha Centauri remains mostly intact. The anomaly we are investigating has yet to impact our colonies on Alpha Centauri itself to any great degree, but it has deposited a large number of vessels in the system.

These ships are scanning the area using some sort of proton beam. Shortly after our arrival at Alpha Centauri one of these beams struck Pulsar and forced a reset of most of our systems.

While attempting to ascertain the situation we were hailed by one of these alien vessels. The hail came from Commodore Growfrowff, of the Terran Imperial Navy, a man who, to all outside appearances, bears a striking resemblance to a terran canine.

At the Commodore's invitation I am preparing to lead an away team to his vessel. It is seeming less and less likely that this is some sort of invasion force, Commodore Growfrowff seems just as confused by the situation as we are. I hope we will be able to find some common ground and work together to not only explain what has happened, but to develop a means to correct the problem, whatever it turns out to be. Commander Fitchel and Mr. Ander will be joining me on the away mission. I have asked Commander Fitchel to assign three additional members of the crew to accompany us. I have put Commander Kayzon in command during our absence.

Our support vessels, USS Hades and London, have arrived. I have ordered both ships to remain outside the system for the time being and to standby for further instructions. Captain West and Commander Ley are both top notch, so I have no doubt they will provide invaluable assistance when the time comes.

Stardate 21001.15 - Supplemental Entry

I have found something of a kindred spirit in Rexx Growfrowff. So far our interactions with the Terran Empire have been surprisingly positive. The name Terran Empire would seem to invoke a far less benevolent organization than that which we are presented.

The Trinity, Commodore Growfrowff's flagship, is evidently from some time in the future, yet, the more I learn, I suspect not from our own future. Rexx and his people seem to be from some alternate reality of sorts, a future I doubt our own reality will replicate.

We have learned several important details since our arrival. Evidently we are not the first Federation vessel to encounter the Terran Empire. Rexx presented us with information which indicated prior contact with three of our ships. The first, USS Sheridan, evidently entered Terran Empire space some six years ago. The other two somehow shifted into that reality far more recently. Among the recent visitors to Empire space are USS Gettysburg and an unidentifiable Cicero-Classed Support Escort.

I know nothing of the Sheridan's time in Empire Space. I haven't had direct dealings with logistical deployments and mission summaries for Sheridan since my days with the old third fleet. Word that the Gettysburg was there though, and at a time after Star Fleet had declared her lost with all hands, was a welcome relief. Her current location is unknown, but I am hopeful she and her crew are intact. The escort vessel is another story, she would appear to bear no identifying markings and I have no knowledge of such a vessel being reported missing during the timeframe in question. I have made sure this information has been passed on to Jeff, so he can change Gettysburg's status in the official record and also investigate the unidentified escort vessel.

Pulsar has since been diverted to intercept the large vessel that had been traveling in the Vulcan-Denobulan Trade Route. It has shifted course and is now on a direct heading for Sol. Pulsar, Hades, Trinity, and a fleet of Terran Empire ships are en-route to intercept this vessel which, with Rexx's help, we have been able to identify as belonging to a species known as the Grath.

From what we have learned the Grath are this alternate realities version of the Borg. Reports indicate they have already destroyed two smaller starships.

London and a small group of Terran Empire ships are remaining at Alpha Centauri to continue monitoring the situation there and to attempt development of a means for returning the Empire ships to their time and for closing the rifts that brought them here.

If the Grath manage to break through our initial interception, London and those remaining Empire vessels will be all that stand in the way of the Grath and reaching Sector 001. From my previous conversations with Jeff, I am all too aware that no 1BG ship's remain in range to directly defend Earth. This means if the Grath break through our lines at Alpha Centauri all that stands between them and Earth is Starbase Alpha and the Planetary Defense Grid.

We've got a big fight ahead of us and we cannot afford to fail.

Stardate 21002.08

Our forces engaged the Grath and it became quickly apparent that more than brute force would be necessary to win the day. It also became clear that our standard energy weapons would be of little use as only anti-matter detonations seemed capable of breaking through the Grath defense field.

Using a combination of tactics, including a coordinated assault from the Terran Empire Fleet, Pulsar, and Hades, we were able to hold our own.

Pulsar's primary warp core, along with several anti-matter storage pods, were used to inflict damage on the Grath.

From Trinity, Commodore Growfrowff ordered a boarding action and I allowed Lt. Cellawe and Cdr. Ander to join the effort.

In the end we were successful, but it was hard to tell if it was due to our attack or simply the natural destructive force our universe seems to have on every ship and entity that traveled through the rifts. The Grath vessel, along with the the Grath themselves, the Terran Empire ships, and their crews, began to break down into their component parts, literally dissolving before our eyes.

The entire away team was safely recovered, but unfortunately our new friends, Commodore Growfrowff among them, were all lost.

Returning to Alpha Centauri we found that USS London had been able to permanently seal the rift using a modified warp core detonation. London's entire crew had evacuated prior to this action and we were successful in our recovery of their escape pods.

With our job at Alpha Centauri concluded, and the system essentially back to its pre-crisis condition, I put us on course for home.

Now, with Pulsar and Hades docked at SBA, both ships are undergoing repairs. Repair estimates for Pulsar are at approximately 2 weeks. Among the repairs needed, the primary warp core will be replaced, and a full assessment of the auxiliary core run, as it was put to far greater use than would normally be the case.

London's crew has been granted extended leave while another ship is secured for them. I have left Captain West to decide how to handle his own crew on Hades. For my crew on the Pulsar I have granted shore leave. They've earned some time off.

Crew Logs

Lt. Commander Zor Kayzon

Stardate 21002.09

Chief Engineer / Second Officer - USS Pulsar LCdr Zor Kayzon Personal Log Stardate 21002.09

[begin recording

This mission again pushed me personally. We were sent to investigate an incident in the Alpha Centuari system. As we reached the system and found the Terran forces, Admiral Wueste made contact with them and through communications, agreed to a face to face meeting. He took Commander Fitchel and some of the senior members of the crew, leaving me in charge of the Pulsar.

Shortly after their departure we were contacted by Admiral Linden and ordered to intercept a large vessel on a course that would have it pass through Alpha Centauri and eventually Sol. The vessel, later identified as belonging to a Borg-like species known as the Grath, proved to be quiet a challenge. It wasn't until the arrival of the Terran forces, that we were able to turn the tables. But an unknown condition, which I can only describe as a decay, was what finally did them in. I can only hope that it is for good. I would not want to face them again.

On a personal note, the losses were tragic and add to guilt I always feel when facing the aftermath of a battle. Maybe I am not fit for command? I also found myself having to give an unpopular order to Kamble. I am not sure that once she stops to gather herself, that she will forgive me for it. It was exactly what has bothered her about us getting close. And now I believe I may have helped cement those fears. I don't want to lose her and I hope it is not too late. Time will tell.

end recording]

Lt. J.G. Mick Roland

Stardate 20912.26

Assistant Chief Science Officer - USS Pulsar Lt. [JG] Mick Roland Personal Log Stardate 20912.26

[begin recording

To my surprise, I’ve been promoted to Assistant Chief Science Officer. Being a science officer and having been assigned to two battle cruisers, the Dauntless and now the Pulsar, I’ve managed to avoid being shot at and avoided having to shoot anyone. I’m not counting the Romulan transporter incident. They were dead on arrival for all practical purposes, plus I only gave the order to fire so that doesn’t count. Or does it? I suppose it does. I’ll have to get used to the idea of giving orders that may be the deciding factor if someone lives or dies. I’ll have plenty of time to think about that since Lt. Rejal will be an excellent CSO, and I’m sure she’ll do a great job for years to come.

The behavior therapy that I’ve studied, and since implemented, since our last mission has done wonders for the severe anxiety I was experiencing for no apparent reason. It’s virtually gone. I’m not sure why it started, but I’m glad it’s been resolved. That could have definitely hindered or ended my Starfleet career. I suppose it was the extreme duress from back-to-back missions on battle cruisers as opposed to science vessels. I’ve definitely adjusted mentally, and in good time. We’re off again.

end recording]

Stardate 21002.13

Assistant Chief Science Officer - USS Pulsar Lt. [JG] Mick Roland Personal Log Stardate 21002.13

[begin recording

I can say that I’ve looked death in the face, and it isn’t pretty. After a courageous battle by the Federation and Terran forces to fend off an attack by a monstrous sized vessel housing a life form called The Grath, the Pulsar was able to narrowly escape with the help of all involved. My confidence continues to grow in our second officer Commander Kayzon. He had the bridge during this unexpected event.

When you’ve experienced and seen what you feared most, much of that fear dissipates, even if that something is death. I feel I have gone to the edge and made it back to tell my story. I am stronger. With each challenge I emerge feeling I can face even greater challenges. I know now that I can do what I feared I couldn’t - and that is face any challenge that comes my way with courage and dignity.

end recording]

Lt. J.G. Thomas Cellawe

Stardate 21002.29

Assistant Chief of Security - USS Pulsar Lt. [JG] Tom Cellawe Personal Log Stardate 21002.29

[Computer start recording

The constant flashes of pain in my shoulder and down my arm are constant reminders of the horrors I faced aboard the Grath vessel. Once again I was thrust deep into danger, only this time, I barely made it out, and I didn't make it out whole...it was only thanks to the fantastic medical team aboard the Pulsar than my shoulder...heh I call it 'my'...has been returned to me.

I can still feel the new tendons cracking and taut, like overstretched elastic. My whole arm feels foreign to me, my own screams still ring in my ears echoing the vicious sights and lives lost in our battle against the Grath.

I was sent on board as part of the boarding team...myself and Ander...but we ended up separated, though that makes little difference to the story...I was part of a squad made up of myself, Lieutenant Beth, a fantastic security officer, and Zaxx, a brave soul. The fact that I am alive and they are not is testament to their bravery and valour, and they must be remembered, which is why I am ensuring I mention them here...

What's the point though, really? I am certain no one is going to listen back to this, and if they do, whether they care about those who died at the grubby hands of the Grath! Of course not, it's in the past now, this is purely history. Well, hello to those bothering to listen to this. Remember those names. Remember Beth and Zaxx...it is for people like you, so you can be free...free to live...that they died. Make sure you remember!

I have little memory of events past their deaths, what followed appears in my mind as a grey smush, a haphazardly put together slideshow of forgotten events, and random encounters. All I know for certain is I am back on board Pulsar, and I need to get ready for moving out again...

End recording.]