Republic Mission 03: "Needle in a Haystack"

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Mission Summary

Stardate 20401.01


In a slight twist, the Fleet Admiral tasked the Republic, the Second Fleet’s Flagship, to do a science survey of a nebula bordering Ferengi and Federation Space. There had been some interesting probe telemetry taken recently and Fleet felt it was wise to send a ship of the line to investigate. How correct they ended up being in that assessment.


After several hours of diligent searching and dealing with the anomalies presented to us by the nebula, a fighter patrol was launched and the source of the probes interesting telemetry was revealed: A Borg installation.


Increased levels of Muon radiation and a possible threat to the ship resulted in moving the Republic from the nebula and to continue the survey via the dispatched fighters. Fleet Com was contacted and support was being dispatched but several hours away. Then communications with the fighters was lost. After an agonizing decision the Republic was ordered back into the nebula. We successfully recovered our fighters and disabled the defense systems of the installation. An installation, we soon discovered, that was deserted and in serious disarray.


Transporters would not function in the nebula. It was decided that I would lead an away team to the station to recover possible survivors and ascertain what the purpose of the installation was. Commander Mormel was left in charge of the Republic.


The away team encountered a crumbling facility and some random Borg drones. The drones were dispatched but the decay of the facility was looking inevitable. After recovering a former Star Fleet Captain who had been assimilated and now severed from the Borg, the away team departed and headed back to the Republic. The problem was the Republic was under attack.


During the course of the away mission three Ferengi ships entered the nebula and claimed the Borg installation as their property. They threatened to fire on the Republic. Commander Mormel did all he could at the time and tried to prevent an altercation. Seeing no possible peaceful end to the situation he fired on the Ferengi, destroying one of their ships and severely disabling another.


In an unfortunate turn of events, accumulated Muon radiation caused a major explosion and hull breech in the engineering section at the same instant the Ferengi returned fire. The Republic was crippled but not out of it. Her fighters fought a valiant battle.


Returning from the installation in the midst of this I managed to stop the Ferengi attack and end the hostilities that led to the capture of their leader, Vorsag.


A new away team was dispatched to secure the station, an installation that was now discovered to be a Borg Transwarp conduit. After several tense moments the installation was stabilized and repairs continued to the Republic.


Finally our support arrived and were dispatched to guard the Transwarp Conduit while the Republic set a course to return to Star Base Bravo for repairs.

Captain's Logs

Stardate 20307.14

Stardate 20307.14

After successfully transporting Admiral Canto, his command staff, and other assorted personell and supplies to Star Base Bravo, we have departed for our mission.

The Republic has been tasked to study Nebula PC-963, after Star Fleet received new and interesting telemetry data from a probe that passed by the Nebula.

All departments have prepared for their tasking in studying and analyzing the Nebula.

This mission is a complete change of pace for this ship and crew. We have been on a constant war footing for my entire time in command and much of the crew had been under Admiral Beckett's time aboard as well.

While I have my own reservations regarding using the fleets flag ship for a simple science survey, I also am looking forward to the change the survey brings. It will give this CO and this crew a chance to work under different circumstances and go back a little to Star Fleet's roots.

We have have arrived at the Nebula and the analysis has begun.

Stardate 20308.05

Stardate 20308.05

After arriving at Nebula PC-963, the Republic began its science survey in earnest. After some difficulty detecting anomalies in the various nebula gasses, several probes were modified and finally produced some results.

One effect of the nebula was to expose the ship and crew to extensive amounts of Muon radiation. Shields, both internal and external have been reinforced and I have ordered the Medical staff to inoculate the entire crew against Moun radiation poisoning.

Then the next revelation came our way.

One of our probes detected a Borg installation located toward the center of the nebula.

Sensors and probes were ineffective in determining the full scope of the installation. A flight of two fighters was dispatched to scout to the installation and provide data and I ordered the Republic out of the nebula for security purposes and to contact command of our discovery. Three other starships have been dispatched to our location but are several hours away.

Then we lost contact with the fighters. After an agonizing decision I launched two more fighters and once contact with them was lost I finally ordered the Republic back into the nebula to the co-ordinates of the installation.

Both pairs of fighters have been recovered successfully, relieving me of the anxiety of losing more crew to the Borg.

Once in proximity of the installation we were able to ascertain that it appears deserted and the only systems running are automated. But then my counselor detected a single troubled life form. someone struggling with their severing from the collective.

As transporters have been made inoperational due to the variety of radiation in the area. I am going to lead an away team on a runabout to the source of these life signs in hope of ascertaining further the situation and make up of this installation.

Stardate 20309.16

Stardate 20309.16

The away mission was both successful and a bit of a disaster. The Borg installation is a Transwarp conduit station and it is in serious disrepair. The disruption of the collective at the end of the recent conflict no doubt is the root cause behind the stations current state.

Thankfully, we were able to retrieve valuable data on the makeup and operation of the station itself. I also retrieved a drone, one that was a former Star Fleet officer. He was barely alive but it is believed he was the drone Counselor Tey was in contact with telepathically. My hope is that we can restore his individuality. Dr. Larsen is currently working on that project.

During the away mission the ship was confronted by three Ferengi cruiser classed ships. They claimed that the station was theirs and threatened the safety of the ship. LCdr Mormel acted first, destroying one Ferengi ship and engaged in battle with the two others. Unfortunately, just prior to the engagement, there was a malfunction on deck 75 and the hull breeched. This dropped a whole bank of phasers and, when the shields weakened, the Ferengi exploited the breech with weapons fire.

Only after several vicious assaults by both the Republic and her fighters did the Ferengi ships finally reach a point nearing destruction. At that time, I was returning to the ship and intervened, threatening the Ferengi and ceasing hostilities only after they mutinied on their leader, Vorsag, depositing him in a shuttle craft and leaving the area. Vorsag is still out there in a severely disabled shuttle craft, drifting in the nebula.

The ship is severely damaged and it may be that we will require towing back to base. I have yet to see a complete damage analysis but my gut feeling is that no matter what repairs we effect, they will not be substantial enough without the services of a Starbase.

End Log

Stardate 20310.01

Stardate 20310.01

The damage the Republic has suffered in the conflict with the Ferengi ships has been substantial. Repairs will require some yard time. How long that time will be has yet to be determined, however, the engineering department has been working extremely hard on restoring as many systems and returning hull integrity.

Medical has been stretched thin with the list of casualties. Reported fatalities are high as well as a lengthy list of the missing. In light of this sad news I have every faith that the medical team will do all it can to keep this list from growing.

Lt. Larsen is making every attempt to restore individuality and human life back to the Borg we rescued. I am expecting an update on the Borg's condition shortly.

Science has been hit hard as the bulk of their labs were located along the areas effected by the hull breeches. I have not completed the final report on this damage but when done it will be amended to the log.

Flight Operations has listed among the dead and missing quite a few pilots. This valiant group, who fling themselves into danger as the tip of the spear, have performed brilliantly despite their losses. One pilot in particular, Lieutenant Jeffers, gave his life in an act that without a doubt, saved this ship from wither more serious damage or certain destruction. His squadron leader has requested that Lieutenant Jeffers receive the MOH posthumously. I concur and have sent the request up the chain of command.

Also, as Commanding Officer of this ship, it is within my authority to grant medals to the following individuals.

Lt Alex Harriman is awarded the Star Fleet Commendation Medal for performance above and beyond the call of duty. His actions both on the away mission and in enacting repairs was exemplary.

Lt David Travis is awarded the Star Fleet Commendation Medal for performing his duties under extreme hardship and while wounded. His work in engineering in restoring the ship to operational status is exemplary.

The following have been awarded the Star Fleet Achievement Medal for above average performance of their duties.

LCDr Haren Mormel for acting under extreme stresses when the Ferengi attacked.

Lt Sin Am-Hyuk for actions while under fire from the Ferengi

Lt New for actions on the away mission to the Borg complex and in assisting with shipboard repairs.

Lt Tepel for performing engineering duties under extreme circumstances.

Lt Lein Meor for duties performed in sickbay under extreme conditions.

Lt Julia Larsen for actions while on the away mission and leading her sickbay team upon returning to the ship.

LCDr Vaurek for duties performed on the away mission to the Borg complex.

LCdr Ross Speer for duties performed while under attack by the Ferengi.

Also included are Counselor Aurin Tey and several members of all departments.

This ship is bruised but not beaten. It has held together because it is an example of the finest technology the Federation has to offer. But more importantly it has held together because of the work of its crew. Without whom the ship is merely tritanium and circuits. This crew has every reason to be proud of itself. It's commanding officer is.

End Log

Stardate 20310.12

Stardate 20310.12

Repairs have gone well. Warp power has been restored and the hull breaches, while not exactly pretty have been closed. Again, this all shows the continued resolve of this ship and its crew. Travis has showed why he earned that medal.

LCdr Vaurek has apprehended Vorsag and, I have plans for the Ferengi. He has technically committed crimes against the Federation and, while I'm sure there are more than a few of my crew that would love to put his big lobed head on a pike, there are other ways to skin a cat.

The Borg I rescued from the station has been restored to his individuality. Through the dedicated work of Dr. Larsen his implants are now a terrible memory. He tells me that the station is as we thought, a transwarp conduit and hub. He seems to believe it is salvageable. I have tasked Harriman and Travis to find out if that is possible.

Along that thought I have also ordered us to orbit the station and not leave the nebula. Our reinforcements are days away and the transwarp hub is too critical a component to risk leaving in Ferengi hands. I have this hunch that Vorsag's cronies, whipped or not, will be back.

There have also been a number of disturbing acts of violence amongst portions of the crew. The stress and strain of this mission, and being in this swirling mass of nebula is starting to grate on them. Leave will be granted once we finally achieve success in this mission and safely return to SB-Bravo.

End Log

Stardate 20311.04

Stardate 20311.04

The repair away team has been assembled and at this point should be affecting repairs to the damage Borg transwarp station. I have yet to receive an updated report but expect one shortly. I am not going to prod them along as engineers tend to work best when not being watched over their shoulders by their CO. Besides, LCdr Mormel is with them and he fully comprehends the urgency of getting this work completed.

There are vague reports of some of the crew contracting some sort of pox but I have, as of yet, to receive any report from any of the medical staff. The situation must be under control. I have confidence that Medical will handle the situation professionally and efficiently.

Vorsag, the Ferengi criminal who attacked the Republic, is in custody and currently under security's watch in a secured stateroom. I have made a veiled verbal agreement with him for his services in the event further Ferengi forces return while we are repairing the station. If they are not to arrive Vorsag will return to SB-Bravo with us and stand trial for his actions, a trial that, unfortunately, may also be for LCdr Mormel's actions in the attack as well.

Repairs to the ship are complete. While these repairs are not starbase quality they are still well beyond what was initially expected. From the reports it appears that there will be minimal yard time for the Republic upon our return. This is a good thing as the ship and crew need to get back out into the thick of things.

End Log

Stardate 20311.25

Stardate 20311.25

The mission is finally over for all intents and purposes.

Following a ceremony where the crew were given promotions and awards in recognition of their duty, the Republic has transited to Starbase Bravo and I personally am looking forward to some time off ship as is the rest of the crew.

There are several issues hanging over us though and I will have to personally see them through once we are back at base. RAdm Canto, while having a copy of my report, will still no doubt wish to have an informal hearing as to the actions of the crew, especially Commander Mormel. I hope this will go well as, in my opinion, Mormel has grown as an officer during this mission. He still fires from the hip on occasion but in many ways this is good, a contrast to my style and creates a solid situation in the chain of command here on the Republic. Still, anything goes when it comes to the Admiral.

End Log.