Summary of Events Stardate 0109.28

Summary of Events
Stardate 0109.28

TNG Era:

The diplomatic mission of Ambassador Endara Khan is currently stationary in the Oblissa system, on board the USS Exeter, and escorted by a Kazon-Ogla Predator Class warship. Kazon-Ogla First Maje Jabin, onboard the warship is assisting the Ambassador in reaching out to Kazon-Oglamar forces in adjacent systems. While there is a long history of mistrust and enmity between the Kazon sects, Ambassador Khan is confident that the shared origins and history of the Kazon will provide the basis for unity, and that a united Kazon people can be a strong partner for the Federation in the volatile Delta Quadrant.


The USS Guadalcanal arrived in Oshionian Six and reports detecting no ships in the area. Captain Murphy has ordered a thorough survey of the planet.

Admiral Nogulich, commanding Starbase Lighthouse in the Durandal system, is hosting a Vulcan diplomatic delegation. The Admiral refused to confirm or deny speculation that the delegation was the first step in an effort to defuse the diplomatic crisis with the Klingon Empire.

The Heavy Cruiser USS Arizona reports evidence that four Woden Class freighters, including the SS Antares were destroyed in the Archanis sector. Examination of hull fragments indicate that Klingon photon torpedoes and packet disruptors were used. The Arizona is remaining on station to attempt to track the attacking vessel or vessels.

There has been no communications from the IKV Sword of Kahless, dispatched to investigate the disappearance of the IKS LIng'taH and dIng'patlh.

TOS Era:

The USS Xerxes destroyed a Klingon privateer ship and a G'Koon Class frigate in the Beta Lankal system. There have been no further communications reported from the Xerxes. It is due to reach the Pheben system in less than a day, and cross into Federation space the next day.


Command College

"What Are Your Orders, Captain?"

"Happenstance" Resolution

The next system standing between Captain Lionidas and the USS Xerxes, Beta Lankal has no defense platform, but it also has no convenient solar radiation shadow. What it does have is a large number of private and pseudo-private craft using the system to conduct unofficial, and according to Klingon leadership, unsanctioned activity. One such vessel, a privateer roughly equivalent to a Klingon G'K'oon Class frigate, immediately attacks the Xerxes with phaser-type beam weapons. The Xerxes, with its superior weaponry and shields easily defeats the privateer, but not before an indecipherable signal is transmitted. This time Captain Lionidas knows that his passage has been reported. He doesn't doubt that the privateer alerted Klingon forces to the presence of a Federation starship, and he has no qualms about leaving escape pods adrift. However, just before he can warp out of the system, two G'K'oon Class frigates appear from two different directions. Realizing that help could not have shown up that quickly, Captain Lionidas nonetheless has a serious fight on his hands this time, and his choice is a simple tactical challenge. The Xerxes has been fitted with an experimental plasma torpedo launcher that has just one drawback. The weapon draws so much energy in a single overwhelming attack that the Xerxes will be nearly helpless for several minutes before it can launch another. So while it may be preferable to:

A: lead one enemy away from the other in order to take on one ship at a time, this strategy leaves the other ship free to outflank the Xerxes or escape to bring in reinforcements. The other alternative:

B: engaging both ships simultaneously keeps both ships occupied, but risks the Xerxes being overwhelmed by superior forces.

Captain Lionidas decided to maximize his ship's strength while minimizing its weakness. He knew that the experimental plasma torpedo launcher could easily overwhelm the defenses of a single frigate while leaving him vulnerable to attack from the second frigate. He used a combination of light phaser attacks and hit and run tactics to lure one ship into a high-speed pursuit. Once both ships were out of range of the second frigate, he destroyed his opponent. By the time the surviving frigate had caught up, the Xerxes was able to warp out of the area.

"Coincidence"

The USS Xerxes has almost completed its dangerous passage through Klingon space. But first it must face a deadly challenge in the Pheben system. Another privateer attacked as soon as the Xerxes dropped out of warp, and was just as easily dealt with as the last. But as it exploded, a massive energy well appeared, preventing the Xerxes from going to warp. Sensors showed that the privateer had been using an experimental artificial singularity that could be responsible for the gravity well. This would not be outside the realm of possibility for a private vessel that uses technology from a multitude of sources and governments. But this time, a Klingon D-7 Class Heavy Cruiser appeared almost immediately. Captain Lionidas has no choice but to attack the D-7 and warp away to safety. The question facing him is whether or not the privateer with the artificial singularity drive was sent in his path as a deliberate sacrifice in order to hold him in the Pheben system. If it was, then he expects a larger task force to follow him to the Archer system, which already shows signs of trouble with the Klingons. If that is the case, he'll need to change course and lead the enemy away from the beleaguered outpost. If, on the other hand, the privateer was not a pawn sent by the Klingons, then he must get to Archer as quickly as possible. Assuming he can destroy the D-7 battlecruiser, Captain Lionidas has to make a decision without waiting to see who, if anyone, shows up next. He must either:

A: Distract any pursuit by setting course for the nearby binary Narendra system. If there is a task force on his trail, he might be able to elude them in the radiation shadow between the two stars. If there isn't, he'll take an extra day to get to Archer, where every second may cost lives Or...

B: Take a chance that the encounter in the Pheben system was a coincidence (which is possible), and go directly to Archer, which went silent several weeks ago.

In either case, Captain Lionidas must assume that the Klingons know he is headed for Archer. He can only hope to retain some element of surprise by anticipating the Klingons' moves and staying one jump ahead of them.

(Moderator's Note: There are no predetermined right or wrong answers. The most popular solution will give the players who chose it a "Command College Point". Ten of those equal an experience point.)

Choose A or B, or a third course of action, and write a brief explanation


Captain's Log

(From last week)

"There are only five of them left."

(As before, I rolled for a random planetary mission. Below are the planetary classification and random planetary mission I got. Then you'll see my creative solution)

Class R Rogue
Age: 2-10 billion years
Diameter: 4,000-15,000 km
Location: Interstellar space, cometary halos
Surface: May be temperate due to geothermal venting
Atmosphere: Primarily volcanic outgassing
Life forms: Non-photosynthetic plants, animal life
Example: Dakala

14) Members of the crew start to act very strangely when you enter orbit.

(TNG era)

"There are only five of them left."

"Thank goodness," Captain Murphy sighed. "Adjust orbital track for optimum beaming." Then he tapped the log record button on the arm of his command chair. "The USS Guadalcanal encountered a rogue planet, classified as X3AA by Starfleet Stellar Cartography, in the Sarpeidon Nebula, and entered a standard orbit. That was the last time standard came into the equation. As soon as readings started to come in, a dozen random crewmembers began to exhibit paranoid tendencies. Before we had a chance to restrain them they had assembled in four different transporter rooms and beamed down to the planet. Four security squads beamed down to the four locations, only to find that our people had attached themselves to biomechanical devices built into the surface of the planet. At the time, it was impossible to assess the potential danger posed to our people by removing them, so we beamed down a science team and scanned the interior of the planet. We found that the planet was actually a biomechanical device itself." Murphy paused, reflecting on the wonder of a planet-sized creature.

"The planet had been controlled at four equidistant points, by biological components who interacted on a psychic level to coordinate the navigation of the planet. Unfortunately, some element within the Sarpeidon nebula must have proven deadly to those navigation lifeforms, and the planet lost its navigation system. We believe that the planet then somehow reached out mental fingertips and found us. After our people had been connected for several hours, the science teams discovered that new indigenous lifeforms had developed to take over navigational duty, and our people were disconnected without harm. Now it's just a matter of beaming them back up. Pause log recording. Report, lieutenant."

"That's the last of them, Captain."

"And the planet?"

"It seems to making a controlled course change."

"Thank you. Resume recording. Rogue planet X3AA has grown itself a new set of navigators, and we are happy to resume our course." 


For Next Week:

"There's only one way to know for sure."

(Expand the following into a log entry of at least 100 words. Members post answers to the yahoogroup or the 'comment' feature on the blogsite. Lurkers feel free to leave comments on the blogsite)



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