Sierra-18:Seventh Mission - Isn't Love Grand
Mission Summary
Mission Summary Log
After the events of the Minos Korva explosion, and the visit of a strange alien race to retrieve a powerful artifact, Sierra Eighteen was due for a bit of rest. It all started with a normal day aboard Space Station Sierra Eighteen, but it soon became anything but normal. The day began relatively quiet for Alpha shift. However, reports soon started pouring into the Command Center from angry shop keepers that the environmental controls on the Promenade were not working, that it was extremely hot or cold depending on the location. Later, power shortages started occurring on the Promenade further angering the shop keepers. Upon inspection by our Engineers it seemed that something has been damaging the conduit circuitry.
Also, reports later came in from the Cargo Bays that something has been getting into and damaging various cargo containers. In the meantime, it was discovered by the First Officer that his pet cat Kiaya has disappeared from his quarters. More power systems were being reported as failing from other parts of the station. Eventually it was determined that several Cardassian Vole’s have infested the station and caused all these problems. And much to the chagrin the First Officer, it is discovered that his cat has apparently fallen in love with one of the male Cardassian Voles and the two have been running around the station together.
Sierra's crew got to work on ways to exterminate the voles and end the strange threat. The Medical and Science department cooperated on putting together a plan to create a bait that would attract the voles in order to trap them. They decided to build power generators that would attract the Voles if we cut main power. The Engineers got to work building the said generators, while Tactical designed a trap using force fields to keep them in place. Security on the other hand came up with an idea to neutralize the trapped Cardassian voles. The plan was executed perfectly and gave the desired results. None the less, it was later discovered that the first officer's cat was impregnated by the Cardassian Vole she fell in love with. Alas, that one particular Vole was shot and killed by one of the station's Marines.
Captain's Log
Station's Log Stardate 21105.15
Station's Log Stardate 21105.15
Commander Gabriel Archer recording:
There was a subspace explosion that happened in the Minos Korva system. The explosion resulted in a massive subspace shockwave that is expanding through Federation space, cutting all communication with anything that passes through. The latest victim of this wave has been the planet Betazed who just went dark a few minutes ago.
At its current speed and expanding rate, the shockwave is due to hit Sierra Eighteen in just a little over Eight hours. Science and Engineering are trying to devise a way to stop the wave by creating a counter subspace shockwave to cancel the effect. It is still too early to tell how or if the plan will succeed.
End Log
Station's Log Stardate: 21106.19
Station's Log Stardate: 21106.19
Commander Gabriel Archer Recording:
Our Science and Engineering teams were not able to entirely stop the shockwave. However, they found a way to protect starships from its affect by creating a warp field bubble without engaging any forward momentum. Eventually, the shockwave started dissipating by itself and we concluded that it will not pose any danger to Space Station Sierra Eighteen.
A special commendation should be awarded to Commander Jackson, Lieutenant Commander Kaiser, Lieutenant Rejal and Lieutenant Junior Grade Dramar for their quick thinking in devising the plan that had saved a number of starfleet vessels from being disabled. Commodore Roberts is already busy coordinating the role of the battle group Gamma Three in the relief effort after the shockwave. I can only hope that there had been no losses in life over this, and I wonder how long it will take for the Third fleet to be able to recover from this disaster.
Will the Cardassians see this as an opportunity to make a move? There has been a sighting of a Cardassian ship that had crossed into Federation territory and held position there for a some time. However, by the time our patrol ship arrived on the site the Cardassians had already went back into their space and left no trace behind them.
All things considered, I can't help but wonder what could all this mean? Are we heading into another bloody war? Is this is the calm before the storm? I have a feeling that the few weeks and months ahead will have the answer to these questions.
End Log
Station's Log Stardate: 21107.25
Station's Log Stardate: 21107.25
Commander Gabriel Archer Recording:
We are still conducting repairs on the USS Jefferson. Engineering had informed me that it will take a little bit longer than expected since her weapon's systems were completely fried, and considering the kind of technology we are dealing with here, I had to file a request for more spare parts to be delivered in order to maintain a decent stock level.
Furthermore, there has been some trouble in Science lab thirteen again. This time, someone or something was rerouting power to it and I sent Lieutenant Darmar there to investigate. I hope it will end up being nothing, but I have a feeling the curse of that lab has not been lifted yet. Caution is advised.
As if this was not enough, a brawl broke out on the promenade causing considerable damage to property. One fatality was recorded, Security Ensign Laura Palmer. It is always a painful experience to deal with the death of one of my crew. Unlike what some may think, it doesn't get easier with time, it only piles up in the back of your head and gets worse and worse. All I could do is to tell myself that the young woman had passed away knowing well the dangers that comes with that uniform and that she died preforming her duty to the United Federation of Planets and to her friends and family. There is no greater honor than that. Security is still investigating the scene trying to put pieces together and find out exactly what had started it all. Once the report is ready, measures will be put in place to prevent future conflicts.
On another note, I was informed today by Rear Admiral Roberts that he has been called to lead the effort in the aftermath of the Minos Korva incident. In his absence, I am left in Command of Sierra Eighteen until further notice. My first command decision will be to find someone to take over the duties of the first officer position. Naturally, the station's Second Officer, Lieutenant Commander Kaiser will be handling this task, while the Second Officer duty will be given to our Chief Engineer, Commander Jackson. Another change that took place was in our Medical department where Doctor Penn was called back to Earth and Doctor Prialien had to fill the void he left behind.
Looking back at these changes, I feel that we have a decent team here that is very experienced and can step up to the challenges of running a space station, at least until the Rear Admiral is back and things are back to normal again.
Alright time for me to go and see what the heck is going on in Science Lab thirteen...
End Log
Station's Log Stardate: 21109.22
Station's Log Stardate: 21109.22
Commander Gabriel Archer Recording:
These have been a very interesting couple of days on Space Station Sierra Eighteen. Now that the dust had settled and the reports are starting to come in, all the pieces of the puzzle are starting to fall into place and the whole picture are starting to be revealed.
It turns out that the brawl in the promenade was instigated partly by an alien who was carrying a strange artefact that resembled a bell. He called it Zorma’s Call for reasons that we did not know at the start but became clear later. The Gorn considered himself a prophet of a goddess named Zorma who communicated to him through that instrument, and he was preaching the end of times on Sierra Eighteen in light of the incoming shockwave that originated in Minos Korva. He entered into an argument with one of the shop keepers on the promenade and things quickly went out of hands and turned into an all out brawl. However, security was able to control the situation and restore order. None the less, the success was not without a price. Security Ensign Laura Palmer was lost in the line of duty. Although the people responsible were caught and dealt with, the loss of a crew member always weighs heavy on the heart of her Commanding officer and crewmates. She will be remembered for the brave and selfless person she always were, may she rest in peace.
While the clean up crews were starting to work on the promenade, a vessel of unknown origin and configuration appeared out of no where and hailed the station. They claimed to be a passive alien race that observes the universe and records it history without interference. They also requested access to the station in order to retrieve two artefacts that belonged to them. Now it needs to be stated that the Observers were considerably more advanced than any other species I’ve ever known, and it they wanted to retrieve the artefacts using force, there would have been nothing we could do to stop them. The fact they asked nicely spoke volumes to their respect to other species.
Further investigation revealed that the two artefacts the Observers were after were the instrument used by the Gorn, also knows as Zorma’s Call, and an artefact of a mysterious origin sitting in Science Lab 13. Eventually, we learned that the artefact were a key and a lock to a prison. If they were to be put together, a portal would have opened and let in an evil being called Zorma.
For now, the being was able to project its conscious into a willing host, the Gorn Prophet on the promenade, and the Observers sent one of their own, a soldier of a sort called Hazar, to try to prevent Zorma from escaping her eternal prison. To my shock, I learned that Zorma was in fact an Observer that went rogue and declared herself a goddess among mortals. She was captured and imprisoned by her own younger sister, Hazar. The battle between the two powerful beings was epic, and it took its toll on the space station and its inhabitants alike. In the end, with the help of Commander Jackson, we figured out how the key and lock mechanism works, and understood that Zorma was using the lock to project her conscious into the Gorn. Just when the battle was about to end, and Hazar was about to lose her life, I was able to distract Zorma long enough to allow Lieutenant Darmar to fire her phaser and destroy the lock. Thus cutting Zorma conscious off her host and sending her back to where she came from.
My first officer, Commander Dietrich Kaiser was shot and thought to be killed in the battle against Zorma. However, as a sign of gratitude, the Observer named Hazar was kind enough to heal him and bring him back to life… How she was able to do that remains a mystery to us. None the less, I was glad that the whole thing is now over and behind us. On the other hand, knowing that certain beings are sitting their in a space ship observing our every move is a rather disturbing thought. If we get the opportunity to encounter the Observers again, I will have a lot of questions to ask, and I will only hope that they would have the answers.
Now, I have to go and welcome my new Chief Tactical Officer, Lieutenant Burke back home to Space Station Sierra Eighteen…
End Log
Station's Log Stardate: 21110.24
Station's Log Stardate: 21110.24
Commander Gabriel Archer Recording:
Space Station Sierra Eighteen has been infested with Cardassian Voles. As a result, we lost power in the Command Center and in Decks 22 to 35 and we forced to evacuate these decks and relocating the CIC to Engineering.
While an investigation to the origin of this infestation has not been conducted yet, we are now ready to begin the eradication process. Science and Medical collaborated on coming up with a plan to place baits at specific locations that would attract all the voles. Engineering prepared special power generators to act as the said bait while Tactical covered the trapping mechanism and Security will be responsible of disposing with the trapped Voles.
My first officer, Lieutenant Commander Kaiser got injured while searching for his missing cat. Kiaya is believed to have taken an interest in one of the Cardassian Voles and has ran off with it. We are concerned that she may get caught in one of our traps and we are taking care not to do her any harm.
I was just been informed that through the efforts of an engineering team lead by Lieutenant Darmar, power has been restored to Decks 22-35. Now, I have to go hunt some Voles then check on the health of Lieutenant Commander Kaiser...
End Log
Station's Log Stardate: 21111.25
Station's Log Stardate: 21111.25
Commander Gabriel Archer Recording:
We were successful in dealing with the Vole infestation. Engineering crews has been dispatched to repair the damage and Security had launched an investigation into the origin of the infestation. So far, it seems that they arrived in containers delivered by a Kobheerian freighter named the Viterian. The arrived via Star Base Charlie from the Mars Colony. Our guess is that they were infected while aboard the freighter but no solid evidence has been found.
The cleaning up effort has been going well, and its look like we are about to have just another regular day on the job in Space Station Sierra Eighteen.
Now I am going to go and take a well deserved nap, its been a long day...
End Log
Crew's Logs
LCdr Kaiser
Second Officer's Log, Stardate 21106.23.
The station's crew, upon the recommendation of Commodore Roberts, has successfully transmitted a solution to the subspace shockwave. It's saved many lives but unfortunately, the true extend of the damage is unknown.
Having lost track of how many hours I've been awake, I've gone down to the Promenade to help Lieutenant Commander Read investigate the murder of one of her officers. Currently, we have the suspect cornered. This person had better give up peacefully because the Security team lost one of their own and they'll be just looking for an excuse to shoot first. I can't say I'd blame them. Being on this station is like being part of a family. Losing one of the members makes us all eager to settle the score, but justice must prevail. Even for a murderer.
Lt[JG] Darmar
Star date 241108.26 Personal log Engineering Officer Lt[JG] Jayal Darmar.
This place is worse than the ship I came from, the USS Dauntless. In the course of my routine duties I notices an slight power drain to a Science Lab 13 Deck 24. On investigation, the lab was guarded by security and I had to approach the First Officer to gain permission to enter.
Cdr Archer seemed very reluctant to allow me to enter and almost accused me of lying for suggesting that Lab 13 was bleeding energy off of the station. But because of my superior engineering knowledge and powers of persuasion he sent me to investigate, giving me a phaser. I'm unsure if his motive was to determine the cause or to eradicate a Cardassian from his crew! And this was my first day!
Having taken all precautions I eventual gained access to the storage room at the rear of the Lab in question and found a unit with an ancient artefact inside. This unit or the ancient artefact was the reason for the power losses.
Upon handling the artefact I seem to be transported to where my father was on Cardassia Prime, I recognised the place, then back in time to where I was imprisoned as a child, then dumped down a hole, I blacked out. I'm told I had serious injuries, which where attended to on the spot.
Apparently Cdr Archer, determined to see me off transported me and a number of other officers to the promenade where two alien beings where engaged in a duel. Only semi conscious I made sure my weapon was handy if needed and that it was on its highest setting, where upon Cdr Archer, who was engaging the beings, commanded me to destroy the artefact before the beings where able to secure it. I saw the artefact thrust toward one of the beings, and able to stand I fired my phaser and destroyed the artifact, as ordered, which in turn destroyed the being trying to obtain it. All was calm on the promenade and the other being left the station.
Myself, still suffering from the contact with the artefact proceed to the Medical Bay and was declared fit for duty. I have rested now and will begin this days shift. Hopefully I have proved my worth and there will be no more attempts to remove me.
I wonder sometimes about Star Fleet, how it ever survives, without good strong Cardassians like myself in its ranks. I am convinced this is the place for me at this time. I am more determined to eventually go to Cardassia Prime and find my father. I hope the boarder will at some time reopen, and the turn Cardassia reborn.
End Log.
Mid Reese
Personal Log Midshipman Daniel Reese Stardate 21108.28 (Inaugural Entry)
I have now been stationed for several weeks on Space Station Sierra 18, and I'm finding the adjustment difficult to make. The atmosphere on the station is much different from the academy, and I feel that it is going to take me a long time to adjust. The idea of developing amd maintaining friendships within a command structure is intimidating. I miss my friends at the academy. And I miss Rowena.
The academy is where we met, at a banquet held in my third year, the daughter of one of my favorite professors. We've been together for almost two years, and I find the separation livable, but impermanent. If I cannot arrange a teaching position for her at the station's school, I'm not sure how long I will be able to resist Commander Abrams offer for a post a Starfleet R&D. I can only hope that the plans Rowena and I have put in place are sound.
In the meantime, I have submitted a project proposal to Commander Archer to use subspace telescope technology to investigate the recent Minos Korva shockwave. If the project is approved, I will attempt to contact Esrael Hopkins for advise on working with his technology. He has been hard to reach as of late. My hope, with this project, is to determine the cause of the shockwave and to develop a way to prevent or predict such an event in the future. Personally, I feel compelled to complete, if I can, Doctor Hopkins work. I always felt that Starfleet cut his original project off too short.
LCdr Kaiser
Acting First Officer's Log Starfate 21108.28
A fight between two aliens on the Promenade has been the main event of the day. I was injured in the shootout but seem to have made a remarkable recovery.
As of recent, we've had reports of environmental issues on the Promenade and I'm wondering if it could somehow be a side effects of the battle. Engineering teams have been sent to monitor the events and make necessary repairs.
LCdr Kaiser
Acting First Officer's Log Stardate 21109.24
The environmental issues have been identified as an infestion of Cardassian cats known as Voles. I had never seen one in person before today. They are rather unattractice to human eyes. We've had to abandon the Command Center as they've done quite a job on our power system. We've begun to suspect this could be sabotage and could be a preemptive strike before an attack but as of now, our tactical sensors show no danger.
Kiaya, for some reason, seems to be going with the voles. I don't know why but I've begun hunting voles in hopes of finding kiaya and rescuing her.
Ens Mitra
Stardate 21109.24 Ensign Eden Mitra recording.
Seems like a long time since I last completed a log…..guess I have neglected this.
To be honest though, a lot has happened over the past few days.
Lets start with Laura Palmer……I didn’t know her that well, but she was in my department and a colleague. Her murder I think hit the Security department hard….at least we got the two who killed her. I have been told that the one who was burnt…well, he may not make it anyway.
I can’t help but feel that I wish he would just die now. Eye for an eye? I know that’s not right, but I can’t help it. Kaiser saved my bacon that day…to be honest, if he hadn’t been there…well, this entry wouldn’t be made by yours truly right now. He is a very competent man, skilled and knowledgeable. Not bad looking either…..but I’m not gonna think on that. Been there before and I had my fingers scolded then! I’m not going to make the same mistake twice.
Makes me think of some of the other crew on station. There was a midshipman….Aldren I think his name was. Bit of an oddball, kept himself to himself, always seemed deep in thought and distant. I didn’t get to know him, seemed good at his job but think he needs to work on his people skills! He left rather abruptly, shipped off station to somewhere.
Lcdr Read. She is a strong leader, and I’m glad that she is my immediate supervisor. She cares for her staff, and I’ve heard from others that if you step out of line, she deals with you firmly yet fairly. I think that I could learn a lot from her.
Archer, well, what can I say? What did I just say about Supervisors and handsome men…..* laughter* Seriously though, I don’t think I could have asked for a better CO. Capable and strong, a natural leader.
God, I sound like Dear Diary! I used to have one as a little girl…been along time since I did one of those. What was that boys name?…..the one I had the crush on? I can’t remember.
Get a grip, Eden. At the moment we are having a crisis on station. All power seems to have been lost in the CiC, and there are vole-things running around. I have just seen some on the CC, came out of a vent cover. Are they the cause of the loss of power? I’m not sure, but I do know that they are pretty disgusting. There was also a cat with them..and we know how I feel about cats!
Ok, I’m going to sign off now and go vole huntin’!
Mid Reese
Personal Log Midshipman Daniel Reese Stardate 21110.02
Life in Starfleet, it seems, will never be without its share of complications.
Commander Archer has approved my project proposal and allotted Science Lab 13 for my use. I have yet to assemble a project team, although the facilities clean-up is well underway. I had hoped to be able to start the project in earnest by now. Unfortunately, a sudden vole infestation has struck the station, leaving me reassigned to extermination duty.
I can't help but wonder if my low rank has something to do with my being pulled off my project. Does Lieutenant Halak think my project has so little chance of success that it would be postponed so quickly? I admit that the vole infestation is pressing, and that my talents have not entirely gone to waste, but I can't help but wonder if the extermination teams could get along fine without an astrophysicist on board.
Worse yet, in all the hustle and bustle of the newest crisis, I have had little time to speak with Rowena. She must be worrying about me by now, given how much I told her about all the devastation the Minos Korva explosion caused. I'll have to find a few minutes to set aside to send her a quick letter in the middle of all this mess.
Rowena is the most important thing in my life, and I hate that we see so little of each other since my assignment. I hope she continues to understand my decision to take a post in the fleet, rather than on Earth. When all this is over, I'll have to set a firm time and date to meet with the local schoolteacher. Securing a teaching position for Rowena here would solve so many of our problems.
Lt[JG] Darmar
Personal Log Lt[JG] Jayal Darmar, Engineering Officer.
Currently on my way to the Life Support complex on Deck 23. Apparently the voles have cut life support to decks 23 through 35.
Earlier today was assigned to fix Firek's Taylor Shop's air conditioning. A task beneath my status and skill. The shop is on deck 8 of the promenade. I crawled into the conduit space above the shop to fined the power conduits eaten away. That's when I spotted the Cardassian Vole, a cat like small animal which now seem to be in plague proportions all over the station. I immediately reported it to the Commander, as I knew where there was one, there would be many. I used to shoot these creatures back on Cardassian Prime with my Father.
Returning to engineering where the command centre had been established because the Station Command Centre had lost all power, which had tripped Read Alert, probably because of the voles, I was order to turn off station's phaser and reduce power to the shields and other defensive system to allow normal operation to resume. Mean while I believe a plan was being hatched to deal with the voles.
That's when I discover that the Life Support System had failed and we had thirty minutes of air left on Decks 23-35. I recommend evacuation, which was implemented, and I, Ens Frank and Mid Dalton are on our way to the Life Support centre to repair damage and restore Life Support. I've sent Mid Dalton to retrieve breathing apparatus just in case we need them.
Log Ends
Mid Thrace
Personal Log, Jordan Thrace- Medical Officer- Stardate 21110.05
Now that I have finally gotten things settled here at my posting aboard Space Station Sierra 18- I have a moment to catch up. I must say that just jumping into the fray has been interesting. When I came aboard, there was a fight on the promenade- In short, some aliens took over, zapped some people, I had to save the First Officer of the station. He's fine now. His wife, girlfriend, Orion lady friend person is a little crazy. She's completely obsessed and I don't understand how he lives with the constant smothering that woman must do to him. Ahem, anyways....
The medical staff- Dr. Ava Prilien- CMO. She is amazing. I haven't really had much time to talk to her, but she knows what she is doing and seems sensitive and to genuinely love her job. The head nurse- Gibbo. We don't seem to get along very well yet. I think he has a boot up his butt. He keeps giving me looks like I am doing something wrong. I will have to confront him next time.
Starfleet science headquarters has been doing gene testing in IQ with chimpanzees. I got a shipment the other day with a chimp that Science officers could not handle. I told them I would work with him, with the condition I get to keep him. He is behaving well for me so far. A few messes with blankets in sickbay, but nothing too bad. I have named him Palog and I want to teach him to be an assistant. He can do things like make beds and do laundry- with some training.
I had to perform an autopsy- due to my background in Xenobiology. I really hate guts and chopping things open, but it is always good to know why a creature died. This creature was a Gorn Hybrid from the promenade incident. Detailed reports are in sickbay records.
I really do not miss home at all. There is far too much going on to really think about it. I like it this way. Busy. Currently we are working on a way to extract the Cardassian Voles from the station. Stupid infestation. Attacking our energy and power grids. I am working with Ava and Reese from Science to fix the problem. We are going to set up generators to lure them in, then zap them. If that fails, we are in the process of creating a disease that targets their specific DNA. Trick of that is- we need one alive to do that.
I better get back to it.
End Log.
Cdr Jackson
"Chief Engineer's Log. Stardate 21110.11. Commander Areack Jackson Recording."
"Things have been eventful on the Sierra as of late. The installation of the new systems from Engineering HQ is almost finished. It would have been completed some time ago, but there have been a few events that have slowed things down."
"An encounter between two extremely advanced, and extremely hostile beings occurred in the promenade. Thankfully the damage to the station was minimal, but the crew did suffer a few casualties. Immediately after that was resolved, Commander Archer, now in command of the Station, assigned me to be the second officer, meaning more paper work and responsibilities. I'm not complaining, though it does leave me with less time to interact with my Engineers."
"Speaking of my Engineers, there are more challenges there. A small, though vocal, number of the Engineers don't like the idea of serving under a Romulan. Most of the opposition seems to trace back to Petty Officer Zane Carter. I have a plan for resolving the issue, though it is not one I'm looking forward to."
"I would prefer to handle the situation sooner than later, but there is a more pressing matter. Somehow, the Sierra has been infested by Cardassian Voles. They are filthy vermin, they can chew through almost anything, and love to build their nests in the shredded-up casings of the power conduits they are drawn to."
"We are working on a trap to get rid of the pests, and Engineering is putting together the "Bait." With any luck, we'll have the nasty things off of my station before they can do much more damage."
"Computer, End Log."
Lt[JG] Darmar
Personal Log
Lt[JG] Jayal Darmar, Engineering Officer. Star date 21110.22
I’m on the run here between jobs, so this is a quick up date. My team has finished repairing the Vole damaged Life Support systems on decks 23 through 35. Where heading back to engineering for reassignment.
The conduits where repaired, then computer reprogrammed, then each deck was slowly turned on one at a time to avoid any overload on the system.
The vole situation has not been contained yet but I believe an eradication plan is in place. Looks like me and my team will be sweeping up vole bodies for the rest of the day.
End Log
Lt[JG] Burke
Chief Tactical Officer's Log Stardate 21111.01 Lieutenant Junior Grade Leanne Burke recording:
It's definitely been strange since I received my orders to return to Sierra. After my time aboard the James Madison, I knew that there was a chance for Command to think I was ready for bigger things. This, however, was not on my list of what I though was going to happen.
The command chain has significantly changed since I was last onboard. I expected to once again see Commodore Roberts in his ready room. Instead I was met by Commander Archer. Only during wartime would I suspect that a CO and a First Officer gone in such a short time. Makes me wonder what happened to Commander Hawk. Upon the realization that Commanders Archer and Kaiser were now wearing crimson a hole was left open in the spot of Chief Tactical Officer. Even as a was nervous about the position, I gladly accepted the offer. Who knows what this challenge might present me with in the future?
Once I finally had a chance to get changed there wasn't any opportunity for me to get aquatinted with my newfound position. Unknown voles began to affect the power conduits which led to us being powerless in the Command Center. With no choice we evacuated down to Main Engineering. Uneasy about the situation I first headed down to the Flight Deck as I didn't know how our other systems might have been affected. I hope making sure our fighters were ready to launch wasn't overstepping my bounds, but I wasn't go to let anything kill us all on my first day.
A plan was come up to trap our infesting voles with power generators and force fields. Our plan is about to go underway and I want this to work. I'm already starting to feel out of my element. I need a chance to actually get caught back up once again.
End log.
