Yeager:Fifth Mission - I'll See You Around Someday
Captain's Logs
Captain Kailani Leigh
Stardate 21605.29
Captain’s Log, Stardate 21605.29
Captain Kailani Leigh reporting:
Yeager has been dispatched to the Cardassian border with two missions.
The first, is a standard border picket. We’ll have active sensors hot, and not do anything to hide the fact that we’re out there patrolling. If we happen to pick up anything interesting that will be a bonus, but this isn’t our main mission and instead a cover for our real purpose out here.
We’re on a search and rescue detail, attempting to retrieve Commodores Julia Nielson, Alexis Tregelen, and former Star Fleet officer Joseph Valiant. Nielson and Tregelen receive intel that Valiant was being held on an old derelict space station in BKD-0517, an unaligned star system on the Federation-Cardassian border. Though the First Fleet sanction their mission to the Pier, it was somewhat ‘off the record’.
Now that they’ve gone missing, the First has put in a… request… to the Fourth Fleet to do the search and rescue since BKD-0517 in on the border of Fourth Fleet space. It makes sense, given the high value to the Fleet that both Nielson and Tregelen have. But given the situation between Fourth and First, this peculiar request leaves me unsettled. There’s a good chance we could be walking into a trap. That said, if this is a real assignment and we don’t succeed, there’s a chance this could be the tipping point that sends the cold war between First and Fourth into a hot war… something that I don’t even want to consider. We must succeed. The evidence we received that Nielson and Tregelen were in BKD-0517 on a station named The Pier is convincing enough to me that we have to take the risk.
I know many of my crew—myself included—are feeling uneasy that Fleet has given us so little in the way of resources. That they couldn’t even spare a mission specialist is questionable. Given the stretched resources of the Fleet right now I can understand but… my crew just doesn’t have that kind of training. Fleet has given us a small Carrayan trading vessel that an away team is going to use as cover to get on the station. The Pier is heavily occupied by pirates and privateers, particularly Vercours, so former Star Fleet personnel shouldn’t raise too many eyebrows.
Stardate 21606.30
Captain’s log, Stardate 21606.30
Captain Kailani Leigh recording:
The journey to the Cardassian border went as expected, quiet with the slight anxiety that comes with a new mission. The transwarp gate brought us here from Star Base Delta with no issues, and I’m somewhat sad that we won’t have that option for the return journey.
Lieutenant Commander Harkness assembled an away team that included Lieutenant Commander Donaghue, Ensign Henries, Midshipman Nasir, two security personnel, and Lieutenant Commander Cole, at my request. During the trip here they prepared the Carrayan freighter, called M’Ke Ara. Command provided us with some supplies that were non-Star Fleet identifiable, or old Fleet issued resources, and I’m confident our crew could make up the rest. From what I’m told, it wouldn’t be unexpected to find Fleet issued materials on board the Pier. The M’Ke Ara departed several hours ago for The Pier.
As for the Yeager, we have headed out on picket duty. I know that it’s not the best use of our time, so I’ve ordered Lieutenant Commander Britton to make the most of the sensor date we’re pulling anyway. She and Midshipman tr’Rllaillieu are working on analyzing the data to see if there’s anything of interest out there.
Stardate 21608.23
Captain’s Log, Stardate 21608.23
Captain Kailani Leigh reporting:
The intel we received regarding the station seemed to be holding up well, as the M’Ke Ara and the away team have passed the first few tests in getting on board the station: passing the traffic control test and putting on a believable show for the docking inspection team. Now comes the most difficult part: locating Commodores Nielson and Tregelen without raising any red flags. I think the biggest issue will be getting the information to track them down, because who knows how up-to-date our intel is. Hopefully the contact aboard the station can provide them with what they need.
Aboard the Yeager, things have been quiet but… interesting. Our communications crewman was sifting through comms traffic and heard a curious sounds in the static. Investigation into this sound proved to be a rudimentary signal—intentional breaks in the static—that seem to be a message for help from a Bajoran. We are currently conducting further research into the signal to see if we can locate it’s origins and provide assistance.
While this was happening, however, Commander Britton detected an odd pattern coming from one of our display consoles. It indicated that someone was in our observation lounge, but investigation proved that the lounge was empty. Another of these “signals” have been detected, this time on a tricorder.
I have been in my ready room, and have been hearing these curious voices. I’m not sure if there is someone else in my ready room or if someone is playing a trick on me. But I am going to investigate.
Stardate 21610.21
Captain’s Log, Stardate 21610.21
Captain Kailani Leigh recording:
The away team split into smaller groups in an effort to cover more ground, and in the process seems to have made progress on finding our missing Commodores. Commander Cole has found someone who was assisting in the medical area who seems to have overheard enough information about the Commodores to lead him right to them. Meanwhile, Midshipman Nasir seems to have garnered enough trust in the Pier’s doctor to get information about them. Ensign Siwello took a different route, in paying the station waste manager to get access to certain restricted areas. Commanders Harkness and Donaghue have been mixing with the crowd on the station’s merchants area, picking up various leads about an important parcel that’s due to be shipped out in a few hours.
I can only hope that these leads are credible enough, and that they aren’t being misled by the people who abducted Commodore Nielson and Commodore Tregelen. For now, the Pier’s inhabitants seem oblivious to the fact that there are active status Star Fleet officers among them.
The situation on the Yeager itself has gone from bad to worse. The voices I was hearing have turned into some kind of entity that is getting entertainment by causing various havoc aboard the ship. It trapped me in my ready room with the lights out. Once my bridge team was able to get me out, the entity expanded its mischief to the bridge, including transporting our security officer off the bridge and replacing her with a Midshipman who was just getting ready for bed. Now it’s set a deadline for the end of it’s “game”. What will happen when our 60 minutes is up, I’m not sure.
It appears we have a working turbolift, so Midshipmen McKallon and Ch’ezherraq are off to find answers in Engineering. Commander Britton, Midshipman Rinzlo, and I have remained on the bridge to see if we can distract this entity or find answers of our own.
Stardate 21611.30
Captain’s log, Stardate 21611.30
Captain Kailani Leigh recording:
It was a damn virus! The whole crazy voice was a virus that had some how gotten into our system. Engineering is investigating the how, but it seems like it was coded into the space noise we were detecting. It was smart enough to get itself into the bridge's basic systems – like lights, the gravity plating, console screens—and to respond to interactions, but not smart enough to do much more damage or move to other decks. It’s... intriguing that something so simple could get past our firewalls, but I suppose anything’s possible. We’ve preserved the virus on an isolinear chip, and I’ve made a note to my colleagues at the Corps of Engineer’s programming department to give it a look.
I’m relieved to report that the away team was successful in retrieving Commodores Nielson and Tregelen from the Pier. According to reports, the population of the Pier was much more friendly to Star Fleet than the intelligence reports seemed to indicate. The away team returned safely to the Yeager, and the Commodores were put under the care of Commander Britton during our return to Star Base Delta. It’s not clear at this point who abducted Nielson and Tregelen. Though in my conversations with Nielson, it sounds as though it may have been an inside job. She suspects someone knew that by planting information Commodore Tregelen about Joseph Valiant, it would be enough to convince them to go on a wild goose chance, and that Admiral Wueste would give them the okay to do it. It’s clear Jules suspects something but what exactly, she won’t say. She’s weary and mistrusting, as one might expect from someone who had experienced such a trauma but… I feel like there’s more going on than she’ll say.
At any rate, upon our return it seems the fleets are undergoing a bit of a shuffle. While we were away, things came to a head in the civil war Star Fleet experienced, and I suspect this shuffle is an attempt to clean up a bit. The Yeager will be operating with a light crew, as many of her former crew have been reassigned throughout the Fleet. I’m pleased to say the Yeager itself is being reassigned to the Corps of Engineers to serve as a sort of flagship for the Chief of Engineers. Personally and professionally, it will be nice to be working for the Corps again.
Crew Logs
First Officer
LCdr Ethan Harkness
Stardate 21607.24
First Officer's Log
Stardate 21607.24
Lieutenant Commander Ethan Harkness recording:
The quick transition from the Avenger to the Gettysburg was only exacerbated by my promotion and transfer to serve aboard the USS Yeager. While it is humbling to rise in the conditions that the fleets are in and to do so with a ship that has such a fabled history in the Starfleet logs, I can truly say that I feel a little unprepared for it. I had been injured on the Gettysburg's training mission and in the midst of recovery I find myself wearing Command Red with a new ship and a fresh hollow pip on my collar. The Yeager departed a week later which gave me practically no time to acclimate myself to almost anything. I had hoped to find us on a simple patrol or some other mission of general ease to help ween me to the ship's routine and that of my new Captain, Kailani Leigh.
That was not to be the case.
For a small ship with two Command officers with engineering backgrounds, you wouldn't expect us to receive a Security-centric mission. Alas, we did. I can't go in to specifics, but we are to rescue two Flag-level officers from imprisonment at a piracy/criminal nest known as the "Pier." With a minimal crew and a large quantity of luck, we are supposed to rescue the pair and make our escape. Ir should improve relations with the First Fleet, but who knows...it could just get us killed...or worse.
I know a bit of the crew is experienced in general and I will find myself leaning heavily on my Security Chief for this one...but I have some tricks up my sleeve. I just hope they work and don't end up like the chicken coop at home...
End Log.
Stardate 21610.07
First Officer's Log
Stardate 21610.07
Lieutenant Commander Ethan Harkness recording:
The Pier is exactly what you would expect from a hub of criminal and smuggling activity. I can only imagine that this is what Deep Space 9 was like before Federation intervention and regulation. The thought of being a Starfleet Officer doesn't even cross your mind in a place like this...its practically signing one's own death warrant just based on the consideration. Cardassian space may be relatively lawless, but the Pier is the capital, with a surprisingly smooth (albeit corrupt) system of doing business. A few pieces of latinum can get you just about anything. It makes you appreciate the peace, prosperity, and relative paradise of the Federation home worlds.
Our search for the Federation Admirals has garnered a few leads. It helped that no one thinks the Federation would dare come to the Pier. The rumor across the station is that someone is holding Federation Officers and everyone wants a part of them. People are bragging and giving us some lifelines. From what we know so far is that the transfer of these officers is going to be within the next couple hours....
I can feel we're close, but at the same time this is a large station. We could be chasing shadows. I can't afford to fail. We have one real shot at this if we expect to enact a rescue and get out in one piece.
Faith in all sorts of things...be with us.
End Log.
Stardate 21611.23
First Officer's Log
Stardate 21611.23
Lieutenant Commander Ethan Harkness recording:
Mission Accomplished.
Against all the odds, the team we brought along to The Pier to rescue Alexis Tregelen and Julia Nielson, succeeded in their mission. By all logical thought the team should have been bigger, better equipped, and had better intel. That being said, I couldn't be more proud of the work that they did in tracking down and rescuing the missing Commodores.
The most glaring error in the intelligence we received was evident to us when we were cornered by the mercenaries who had kidnapped the Flag Officers. By all accounts the mission had failed at that point, with the majority of the team either facing death or similar torture and captivity. Our rescue came at the hands of Pier's security forces, who distracted and assisted in neutralizing the mercenaries as we made our escape to the ship. Leslie, the team's commander, pointed out that trafficking and slavery were never acceptable at the Pier and that her own forces were looking in to the same group. Our actions forced their hands and allowed them to assist and intervene.
Intelligence oversights in to the Pier's actual policies could've made the difference between a stressful mission and far smoother sailing. While I understand the need for an expeditious arrival and retrieval, it concerns me greatly as I reconsider what could have happened to the crew under my own command if Leslie and the Pier Security hadn't taken such an advantageous position.
It really reflects on my own personal leadership...people could've died and I almost walked them straight in to their graves.
End Log.
Engineering
CE LCdr Trever Cole
Stardate 21606.14
Personal Log
Chief Engineering Officer
Lieutenant Commander Trever Cole
Stardate 21606.14
The mission is to recover some high ranking fleet commanders including Commodore Neilson. She knows how to take care of herself, but I hope for success here.
I was a little surprised to be picked to be on the team by the Captain. I kind of thought this would be a shake-out mission for the new officers. As crazy as that sounds given that this is far far from being a cakewalk. But I am glad to be along personally. I can help prove to Neilson that this mission is legit.
Hopefully I can get to know some of the new officers as well. And most of all, I hope we all come back to have another post mission hologram party that nearly kills us all.
That reminds me….Computer, put a note on the engineering schedule to have a team comb through the holo-buffers and make sure they are clear and clean.
Well, I have to cut this short. I am almost late for departure.
End log and save.
Security
COS LCdr Addison Donaghue
Stardate 21605.09
Chief of Security's Log
Stardate 21605.09
Lieutenant Commander Addison Donaghue recording:
It has been a very strange week.
Seven days ago, I was a CID Supervisory Investigator with four solid pips and no real home, stuck in limbo with a fleet that might have gone insane. I'm still not entirely sure this fleet is where I want to be, but with Jason here, it's where I need to be.
As such, I made the sacrifices needed to remain here in the 4th Fleet without a potential recall looming over my head every day as I check my messages. Stepping down from a Supervisory Investigator means I am no longer a commander, which is actually probably the least relevant consequence of my current decision. Rank truly is not a very high priority n my life, particularly as it really afforded me very little in CID to begin with.
The most relevant consequence is that I am now assigned to the USS Yeager as her COS. She's not quite the pea shooter PF-2314 was, but she also isn't the reliable fighting machine that the USS Ticonderoga was before her destruction. I have a whole department that is smaller than the group I supervised on Bravo with CID, which will take some getting use to. I believe I will need to alter the rotations and patrol disbursements to make the most of how small and in my opinion, understaffed the department is.
We will have to see if this decision works in Jason and I's favor. I made this decision on a whim -- unusual for me -- but I truly don't want to be on the opposite side of a disagreement from Jason, particularly when I do share some of the Fleet's concerns though not its rashfulness. I fear that the Yeager may keep me away from Jason in the short term though as it looks like we will be patrolling the Cardassian border -- an interesting assignment for a scout -- but I hope in the longer term, it will benefit us.
At minimum, at least, I was able to choose my own path this time... even if it was lesser of evils.
End Log.
Stardate 21606.20
Chief of Security's Log
Stargate 21606.20
Commander Addison Donaghue recording:
Well, we managed to depart the Yeager without incident, though that was the easiest part of this entire foolish endeavor. I am disappointed to note that the cross trained pilot that was promised has been replaced with an officer that is anything but. The ensign is clueless at best and absolutely incompetent at worst. Either way, my hope for being at least somewhat adequately staffed is definitely not going to pan out.
I'm also concerned that it seems to have been decided that we are going to 'wing' this mission, as Matt would say it. I know I can be overly detail oriented but with a mission where we have neither the staff, the training nor the equipment for success, the Devil is in the details. The tiniest detail can be our undoing and as of now, as we arrive at the Pier, we have discussed no plan.
Unfortunately, when the planning of others is inadequate, security generally gets the blame for not keeping everyone alive in the aftermath. It's unfair but no one has every claimed that security is an overly appreciated field of work. With only two officers, I don't have the capability of cleaning up any messes, making planning even more crucial.
The further this progresses, the more it reminds me of when we rescued Braggins and that is not a good thing. I truly need to stop taking NON-CID assignments. They always seem promising and then, within a week, I remember why I don't work well within the traditional framework...
End Log.
Mid Koga Rinzlo
Stardate 21611.29
Security Officer's Log
Stardate 21611.29
Midshipman Koga Rinzlo recording:
My assignment aboard the yeager has been a troubling one, perhaps due to my own expectations. Crawling through the jefferies tubes visual checking unfamiliar systems on beta shift was grueling work. Meanwhile a rescue team was performing an covert operation behind enemy lines. I know I'm only a Midshipman but I can't help but feel my talents would have been invaluable to the away team. After my performance on the bridge I'm not sure I'll ever be assigned to Alpha shift let alone an away team.
Its hard to not blame myself for the proliferation of the Laughing Dark Virus, I if anyone, should have seen the hallmarks earlier. After all I studied software security and Artificial Intelligence at the academy. It's tempting to make excuses about not sleeping or not having the right equipment to do the job at hand, but in the end I left the captain in the presence of a hostile entity; to chase a lead that ended up being completely superfluous. If starfleet deems that I failed in my service I will accept any and all disciplinary action.
It is my understanding that the Yeager has been recalled for unknown reasons and many of us are to be reassigned. Hopefully I can serve my next captain better than I did Captain Leigh.
End Log.
Tactical
Mid Thike Ch'ezhyrraq
Stardate 21611.30
Personal Log
Stardate: 21611.30
Tactical Officer
Midshipman Thike Ch’ezhyrraq recording
“So I guess summarizing the last mission is the best way to start, I just received a new transmission but I will get to that next I suppose. Can never get used to just talking to myself, This isn't my first Personal Log, but prior to Starfleet, I never really did them. At the academy they said it’s a form of mental health, and that it's important to at least try every week. I mean, I guess I can understand that, but it still doesn't make it any easier.
“So the mission started off smooth, nothing strange on the sensors, standard routine, it really wasn't anything odd, at least to start. The away team left the ship, that was still good for a while, until… wait, nevermind, if you want the history of the last mission, then review my prior logs, or go see the official mission logs. There is this transmission that I need to address that is way more important, well to me anyway. Good thing this is a personal log, and not some official report.”
“I just got some bittersweet news from Starfleet command, I am getting promoted to Ensign, but with that comes a transfer off the Yeager to the Columbia.” Thike paused for a moment of melancholy. “The Columbia really is my dream assignment, it's a covert special operations vessel, and Karin and Konga both got transferred there as well. Lets just hope that when the time comes, that a Chief Tactical Officer position comes available.”
“They say your first ship is your true love. I have been on a lot of first ships, each new ship was pressing forward, and each time I never looked back, so I never really understood where such a saying came from. I missed the crew each time, but there were always new friends to make, and new experiences to be had, never actually felt like I was missing out.” Starting to feel the bitter, of the bittersweet, Thike let it all catch up to him, getting a little choked up. “The Yeager was different, I don't know if it was Captain Leigh, the fact that my sister friend Karith was on board, or Konga, the new troublemaker from the academy… wait strike that, two of the three are transferred with me, maybe it was Captain Leigh.” Pausing to think that over for a moment. “Small ship with huge aspirations, family-like atmosphere, it may have just been the entire experience. Well I do know that the Yeager will always have a special place in my heart, I had an amazing time here.”
“I guess all that’s left now is Kites Ho!”
“Wait, I guess I should explain that last one, my sister loved flying kites on the holodeck growing up. She would always go running off ahead, but it was a holodeck, why run ahead, seemed futile to me, so I would constantly be yelling at her to hold up, slow down and hold up!! She just wanted to go fly her kite, so she would yell back to me in a mocking tone, Kites ho! It always stuck with me.”
Staring at the terminal, Thike just let the bittersweet sink in for a few moments of silence, before finishing up, “Computer, end log.”
