"Aft shields down! Hull breach in Shuttle Bays three and five! Fifty-three burn casualties isolated to rear decks, five to eleven!" yelled XO Commander Mri'Nt'nt, above the crackle and hiss of the destroyed half of the bridge's consoles. The platinum-like skin and matching non-regulation hair looked to be flowing over her navigations-slaved operations console. Because they were, people of her race possessing hair and nails both tactile and prehensile.
"Divert main power to Phaser cannons and come about to two-zero-zero, repeat! Free fire!"
"Complete turn, aye Sir!" she aknowledged.
"Cleared for full fire, aye Sir!" confirmed S'teen, the female Vulcan tactical officer.
Every Vulcan I have had the pleasure of knowing seems to have names beginning with an 'S' and ending in a consonant, mused the Captain.
The one-hundred-sixty-five thousand tonne ship turned a full 180 degrees along two axis ro assume an upside-down scorpion-like profile to its pursuing opponent.
"Action completed... NOW!"
Mr' slammed her palm on the console, as if the harder she hit it, the more powerful the warp core powered mega-Phasers would be.
In space, no one can hear the enemy explode. As all of its superheated atmosphere became plasma, disintegrating the slower hull components that contained it. As the screen and every light on the bridge goes black. [Stardate 7488.3]
... [title theme]...
Space, a cold, harsh mistress. These are the voyages of the starship Repulse
Its mission: to expand, serve, and protect the frontiers of the Federation. To respect all sentient life encountered, provide aid to space-faring civiliations, to boldly go forth as a banner of Starfleet.
Act One
[72 hours ago] "Captain's log, stardate 7481.1, one hour into the gamma shift, nearly a month out from Starbase Ten. We are approaching the nightside of the first colony along our eliptical supply route, named Freya by its settlers. We will achreve orbit at 7481.6 to match the sunrise at the capital city along the northern continent's western shore."
Briefing
Of the nearly five thousand settlers, less than half populated the town-capitol. Most staked their claim along the ocean shore or higher into the mountains. Estimates show that the planet will become a source of much needed minerals and foodstuffs within the next ten years. Necessary for Federation growth in this sector.
Refer to the section of the Index Supplement
Arrival
The landing party composed of the captain, and department chiefs from Science, Medical, Engineering, and two Security members beamed into the town square. They were met by a slightly balding, portly human with a curled handle-bar nustache. Along with him was a lovely Deltan, long bronze hair showing that she does not share their race's oath of celibacy. Also was a tall humanoid which looked to have been chiselled from rock, or perhaps out of a glacier.
"Welcome Captain Rod'ne! We here have heard so much about you and your fine crew," he said as he pumped the captain's hand with both of his own. "I am Harrold Fenton, governer-in eternity. These are my two aides, Morn and lovely Tara." Both bowed slightly as their names were mentioned."We have some fine delicacies prepared for you, including a local 'lumbanog' blend made famous by some of our filipino community here."
"Perhaps after we finish our business and run our surveys, we can arrange a little R&R," said the captain as he extracated his hand before the circulation got cut off. They started walking to what looked to be both the offices and residence of the local governor. The other five stayed behind with the tall aide to set up.
"Business, of course... but would a boring survey be necessary, when we have so much entertainment to show all of you?" his red cheek nearly hiding the wink as he made a pretense of not looking down the Deltan's deep cut blouse.
"I assure you, it will be unintrusive, but most necessary. Regulations, I am sure you are aware."
"Of course, of course. I most certainly would not want to brook any violations, like section thirty-one or some such."
As they entered the lavish office at the top of the double curved stairs, the captain flipped his communicator open and spoke into it. "Rod'ne to Repulse, beam down survey teams one thru four to coordinate at the town plaza." A look at the governor confirmed approval.
The following two days were uneventful. There were long interviews, made longer by distractions from both Fenton and Tara; his blathering and her silent mesmerizing gaze. It was evening of the first day by the time the camps had been set up. One for each department, assessing the viability of the colony. Except for the stories of missing colonists. Nothing alarming, since they were known to migrate out along the coast to stake claims of their own. But those that followed found no traces of some that went before, collaborated by others that have settled previously. During a discussion of this recent finding, an ensign in a gold shirt suddenly ran into the office, short of breath.
"Captain, one of our science teams is missing!"
[beep-10:00-beep]
Act Two- a complication
"Explain."
"Sir, at about 1300 hours, science team two failed to check in from their survey of the forested region at the base of the mountain range. Scans have been unsucessful due to magnasite ore veins that run north to south along that region." A platoon of 22 MACOs were ordered to search in three squads towards the mountains, accompanied by a scientist and a medic each. After several hours, there was still no sight of the team. What they did find was traces of various explosives, chemical to biological in nature.
Science Team Two, composed of a human, Deltan, Bajoran and Trill, and an Orion and a Vulcan security detail, all women, were taking samples of the flora. They were about to start back to town when one of the townspeople, thought to have disappeared, asked them to follow into the woods. After a short trek, the team was led to a camouflaged tunnel that ran two hundred meters into the mountainside.
"These are ensigns Holloway, Idra, Coleen Beck, lieutenant Sha' and private Nerth. I am Izri Dor. We are from the Federation starship Repulse in orbit," said the trill Diplomatic Corp chief. "Welcome, I am John Solovan, former captain of the colony freighter G'nath." said one of the men, shaking her hand as he led her and her team to the other side of the vast cave. They walked as he told them of their plight.
"During our year long voyage to the colony, we found a discrepancy in our cargo inventory. We thought nothing of it at the time, busy with the exodus and coordinating our convoy of fifty ships. About a month after we landed, there was an infestation that threatened our food sypply. Since we had not had time to plant and grow crops, this would have been a disaster. Then stepped in Harrold Fenton, who provided a "miraculous" solution to our problems. A glommer he called it. It did quick work of the furry rodents. Jumping from one stationary puff to another."
"You have to understand that the governor is not really one of the original colonists at all. He averted a disaster, and out of gratitude he was elected as our leader. But now, half a year later, some of us have been having doubts. We investigated strange movements of materials and finances and have found many small discrepancies It tied in directly to that cargo in space. We have been communicating our findings to other settlements on foot, to avoid interceptions of our communications, hence the 'disppearances'."
"After back-tracking through computer records, we came upon a connection to the Orion Syndicate. As it turns out, they have been smuggling contraband through various colonization projects, like ours. Once out of the sight of the Federation authorities, associates would infiltrate and extract the items. Governor Fenton is one such individual. We were attempting to find a way to send a mesage, since there was a malfunction at the only subspace station we had. We also had no proof, until we found this." Removing a tarp from a shipping cargo container revealed... weapons, some of which were banned in Federation space.
... Meanwhile, back aboard the Repulse,"There is a mystery going on down here, and you know I hate mysteries," came the voice of the captain. "I'm sure you'll do just fine, Watson," replied the aristocratic XO into the comm at the center seat's armrest. "Now why don't I ever get to be Sherlock?" "Elementary, my dear Watson," she said in a british-like charm.
I hate when she does that thought the captain. He turned to address the deltan aide. "Now tell me, my dear Tara. Where did our esteemed governor run off to, and what do you know of those explosives outside of town?" showing her the report and map on his PADD.
"I'm certain I know nothing of what you speak, Captain." Her squirming in her clothes, that revealed more of her than it covered, made him more uncomfortable than even she appeared to be.
"I suppose I will have to report my findings to Command. And since I have a JAG aboard, you could find your colony under martial law by nightfall. And you in our custody right now, for your testimony." He flipped open his commulicator "Two to beam up." Seconds later they were whisked away to the transporter room. Acknowedging the vulcan transporter operator with a nod, "Call security to escort Miss Tara to a statesroom and assign a JAG to interview her." As he left, intending to grab a bite at the Officers lounge before proceeding to the bridge...
"RED ALERT! RED ALERT! Stand by for collision! This is not a drill!"
Suddenly a 'moon' appears...
[beep-20:00-beep]
Act three- a ‘twist’… everything seems to fall apart. Regroup
"HARD TO PORT!"
"Sir, it seems to have been cloaked. Even its gravimetrics were shrouded...? Wait. The mass is inconsistent with a rock that size. It must be hollow, but scans can't get beyond it's apparent rocky surface," said Science/Comm Officer shan T'thaul, above the strained hum of the engines.
As the deck and the flight of the ship stabilized, Commander 'Nt'nt stood from the center seat and went directly behind the young Bynars at the flight control station and placed a hand each at the pair's shoulder. "Great flying." Pressing the intercom button at the center of their console,"Ops Con, I want all available techs and sensors sensors scanning every micron of that 'moon' and send a report directly to shan T'thaul's station." [ Aknowledged ] came the reply from the artificial intelligence in charge of the huge 30 manned operations center, situated just below and behind the bridge.
"It seems that the 'moon' is a shell; similar perhaps to the Yonada, discovered by the Enterprise a decade back. Sensors and probes come back empty, as if the area beneath the 'dirt' remained cloaked, as the space around it was, earlier. What caused it to apear, and what is preventing us from peering within is a mystery. I'm not risking an away team on its surface until I'm sure it is completely safe to do so. There are other things to worry about on the planet below." The captain hit the off button at his armrest after entering this latest update into the ship's computer archives.
Meanwhile, deep in the mountain caves...
"We need to inform the Captain about this," stressed the marine Lieutenant.
"What we need to do is ascertain the threat and obtain hard evidence," replied the JAG.
All agreed, the team with six others exired the mountain refuge and trodded through the forest, avoiding obvious trails and any signs of anyone having been there. After three hours, and five kilometers, they came across what remained of the only subspace relay antenna for the colony. At its base was nearly thirty containers, similar to the one in the cave.
"We will split up and place our communicators as close to the munitions as possible. So close together, they should be able to break out a signal to the ship. There are no signs of any guards, but scans indicate energy signatures around the compound, possibly booby traps." The six carefully maneuvered around the field surrounding the depot. Scans can only verify traps from no more than three meters from each of them. Upon reaching the fence, each of them placed thier communicators agaist it and flipped them open, leaving them with only one spare, left at the rendevous point, to be used as a remote trigger.
The team traced its steps back to the rendevous point, when a cloud of red mist suddenly exploded and engulfed them. The security pair raised their Phasers, the trio of scientists snapped open their tricorders, in unison. "Scans indicate that this is a virus engineered to interact with anything artificial and make it poisonous to anyone in direct contact with it. We have to strip down now!" They proceeded to remove all items of clothing that could activate the anti-tech virus. This included equipment and medical items such as hormonal inhibitors. Even body ornaments and the ocassional prosthesis were dangerous. The rebels, having placed their communicators around the compound, met up with them, surprised. The team waved off offers of clothes or blankets, for fear of activating any of the virus still on their bodies. They couldn't even wipe off their sweat.
On board the Repulse
[The only things we know for certain is that there is a cloaking device and a controlled quantum singularity, both of Romulan design, at the center of the shell.] toned the OpsCon AI.
The briefing room viewer along the wall opposite those at the long conference table showed what looked like a rust colored moon. Schematics and text in green could only show the speculated systems, but nothing more. "Madame Tara, what do you know about this? And does it have anything to do with my missing crewmembers?" asked the captain. "This is the first I have seen of this, Captain. And I don't know anything about the missing." the deltan fidgeted nervously, as if hiding something. "Clearly, there is something you are hiding. You and the governor are not part of the the original colonists, are you?" Adding two new images to the wall display, he recited what he had already read prior to the meeting, "Harcourt Fenton Mudd, convicted of smuggling, transporting stolen goods, and purchasing a space vessel using counterfeit currency. Con man. sentenced to death on Deneb V, as well as psychiatric rehabilitation. Twice. Along with three run-ins with the USS Enterprise, he has a long record covering many planets, some outside of the Federation. You have been identified as one of his 'marks'. victim of one of his many cons." Completely deflated, she stated through wrung hands, "He turned out to be a gentle man. He showed me many worlds, many societies I had never known existed. He treated me like royalty. No matter what planet we were on. I was... am his companion." The stars from the panoramic tramsparent aluminum shown their reflections in her eyes as she looked up at the captain.
"You do know that in all the confusion, he could have already left the planet. Leaving you, perhaps never to be seen again."
"What time we had was precious, and will last me many lifetimes. Fate brought us together. It may bring us together again."
Nodding to the security guard stationed at the door, Tara was excorted to the transporter room. To be remanded to the new colonial authorities.
Himself exiting to the rear of the bridge, he sat in the center chair, gracefully vacated by Commander Nt'nt. "Did she seduce her with her deltan scent?" she said under the hum of the environmental system. He shot her retreating back with twin phaser glares. "Report!" he said to no one in particular. Hiding a grin, the science officer on gamma shift responded "Other than the new moon, there has been nothing unusual within the short sensor range."
"What of the missing away team? Have we been able to spot them yet?"
"No, sir. The magnasite ore still masks any sign of them. It would require at least four communicators in tandem for them to reach us."
Perhaps them not sending a distress beacon is a good sign, Perhaps...
Knowing that his crew was capable in just about any ssort of situation thrown at them, he continued to read and sign reports. Fuel consumption, non-emergency Starfleet communiqies, relay of a status report on some Project: Genesis by her sister ship the USS Reliant.
From just beyond the Oort cloud, traversing the outer system in just a matter of minutes at more than a thousand times the speed of light, a ship fired off one photon torpedo, seconds before it even dropped out of warp.
"Captain, we have a bogie on our six!... Incoming!"
[7488.29 minus 20 seconds]
[beep-30:00-beep]
Act Four- a fight… ground or starship combat
[7488.29 plus 10 seconds, where a sneak attack has left the rear vulnerable and two of the five bays exposed to space. A wild maneuver completely destroyed the enemy ship]
"Captain, we have all systems back online. We're getting a message and coordinates from the missing team.. Requesting a group extract and full demolition sweep, said coordinates."
"Launch fighter Squadron Fuller-Ultra! Go in HOT!"
A resonding BOOM is felt through the bulkheads as six of the compliment of eighteen fighters, minus their warp sleds slammed out of the undamaged bays at 0 to 0.1c for a full circuit around the 'new' moon and the planet before sweep bombing the munitions depot. Just seconds after the remaining away team and the last of the 'rebels' disapeared in the sparkling haze of the transporters.
"Sir, something has broken out of the satellite and is heading out-system at high warp speed! The cloaking device is no longer in it... as well as the singularity. And sir, your not going to believe what's inside..."
... the science team looked to be no worse for wear, some minor bruises and scrapes from brush and dirt. Minus all of their clothes. They lined up at full attention as the captain and XO inspected them, her stiffling a snicker.
"For breaking protocol, I should put the lot of you in irons," he said sternly as they avoided his gaze by looking at a particular blinking light on the far wall, behind his head For his part, he was attempting to be just an inch past their noses as he passed each one. Avoiding some parts of their bodies that extended beyond their nose. "Instead I will recommend commendations for independent thinking in the absence of command. I'd give you all medals... but I wouldn't know where to pin them. Dismissed!" It took all of their remaining dignity not to run out the door to their quarters. Else a few things would have jiggled. Mr' broke out laughing, the door having barely swooshed shut.
"Was it me, or was Sha's skin changing from green to red in places?"
The Vulcan transporter technican stated, "The erogenous zones of Orion females at their peak cycles have swollen blood vessels when in the proximity to a male of sufficient quality to copulate for reproductive purposes rather than recreation... sir."
Captain Rod'ne's skin suddenly showed more red than brown.
Bwahahahaha of an un-lady-like nature could be heard in the halls and the turbolift as she made her way to the bridge.
Final Act- putting it all together
"Captain's log, supplemental. It turns out that the 'moon' was an abandoned Borg satellite ship. What happened to its crew and weapons systems is a mystery. Best to be solved by another ship and a more fully equiped R&D team. Both the cloaking device and the singlarity that powered it seemed to be the "heart of a space dragon" of some sort, possibly enslaved by the Borg. Last seen heading towards the 'dark disc' of the galaxy. Perhaps going home..."
"Sir, all supplies have been off-loaded, and all departments are green for go. The new colonial government is cooperating with the C'n'C team and estimates the comm relay should be up and running within a week. And there was no sign of the governor."
"Very good. Madame 'Nt'nt, take us out of the system, and procede to our next assignment at warp factor five."
"Approved, sir."
"...We still have another five months before returning to our home. Until then, we have 'miles to go; a long, long way from home'."
[beep-41:00 END]
An Epilogue
Old Quarters, Imperial City, Q'onos
"Sire, the cache of weapons enroute to our base has been lost" said one hunched, cloaked figure to the other, larger, broad shouldered klingon. "And it seems our associate Mudd is missing as well. Handed a data scroll, the larger quickly scanned through its contents. Snarling,
"My plan to overthrow the Council has been diverted! I will see to it that this p'Taq human, Rhod'ne will die a cold death in space. I swear this on my son Duras. So swears Ja'arod."
Index Supplement
Miranda-Soyuz class Cruisers of note: USS Reliant NCC-1864, others
165,000 deadweight metric tonnage; 20,000 tonne load capacity*;
Engine: FWF- 200c (standard), 1,200c (emergency)
Crew (Pass.): 346 (3 Platoons of 22 each);
Weapons:
Two FH-11 Phaser banks f/p; f/s;
Two tubes f/a MkIV torpedoes
- classified Scorpion mega-Phaser
Two Squadrons (6 each) F-18 warp-capable fighters
Officers (posotions):
XO Commander Mri' Nt'nt (female agnian, stage 3);
MACO/Security Platoon Delta Lieutenant Sha' (female orion, 29);
Diplomatic Team Cimmander Izri Do (joined female trill, 27);
Flight Control Operations 101, 110 (bynar pair)
Intelligence Branch Officer T'prynn (female vulcan, 65);
Ops AI;
Science/Comm Officer T'thaul (shaan andorian, 54);
Tactical Officer S'teen (female vulcan, 26)
Chief Medical Officer (male, betazoid);
Chief Engineer Lt Cmdr Mog (male tellarite, 32);
Quartermaster Chief (non-comm) O'Reiley (male human, irish 63)
Transporter Operator (unnamed vulcan male)
* Missions specific swap-outs:
Cargo thransport: add'l 900,000,000 cu meters
Marine assault- 1,000 Batallion maximum / Hospital ship / Evac/Short 'hop': 5,000 beds
SFB designates the class as NCA new heavy cruiser, as an advanced supplement to the CA Constitution class heavy cruiser and the new CAR Enterprise refit. It is an upgrade of the CR cruiser, FASA's Anton class.
The Setting
The year is 2280. Events take place around the first motion picture.
"Stardate 7401. Captain Rod'ne, for the next six months your ship and crew will be resupplying six of our colonies within "The Triangle" as well as exploring previously marked phenomena along the route. Being so far out from the centers of not just the Federation, but the treaty boundaries of the nearest Powers, you will also be the eyes and ears of Starfleet. Out there you will find rogues, spies, and even honest merchants. Protect our interests, represent the Flag, and may the solar winds be at your backs." ~ Admiral Forrester, Starbase Ten
A note on Chronology
Stardates1312.4-6987.31 2266-69 The original series episodes were numbered as they were produced. Sometimes an earlier episode would be aired before one not yet completed. Hence, the discrepencies in staardate chronological order. The first season was actually the second year of Captain Kirk's planned five-year mission. The previous "shakedown cruise" being mostly unrecorded ["Where No Man Has Gone Before"]. What follows will be the recorded adventures of Kirk and crew.
Stardate 7412.6 2272 "The Motion Picture" shows the first among a new design of ship systems, most importantly the warp propulsions.
Stardate 7401- our story begins...
Stardate 8130.4-9454.1 2285-89 The "Wrath of Khan" and the following motion pictures would introduce the next step in the evolution of starships, the USS Excelsior. Originally a test bed for new technohogies.
Stardate 9521.6 2292... Excelsior class would go on to replace the now fifty year old Constitution class as the workhorse of Starfleet, for the next century of service.
NOW Stardate 12500.2 2312 July 1, a Monday
- TNG stardate 66500.02, 25th anniversary (77 years later)
