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Post by ryvaken on Oct 31, 2013 18:50:44 GMT -8
To explore strange new worlds. To seek out new life and new civilizations. To boldly go where no man has gone before.
Does anyone remember these words anymore? Computer, delete log and rerecord from the beginning.
Captain's log. Someone in the Divine Treasury put down a lot of money to muck up my career. How did I even get here, anyway? Uncle Zoken just finished negotiating a relocation contract with a Risian Relaxation Troupe. I'm struggling to finance a dilithium mine halfway across the quadrant. Computer, delete, start again.
Captain's log blah blah blah. According to the 74th Rule of Acquisition tomorrow will be an extremely profitable day. The 62nd promises even more profit to come, and of course the 45th is approving as well. What scares me, though, is that I'm curious. Rules 208 and 25 tell me to be cautious.
The Iconian gateways are active. In my career I have encountered seven Iconian gateways to date. Five in Romulan territory, one in fluidic space, one on Mol'Rihan. In five of those cases, I was obligated to destroy the technology in order to deny unfriendly governments a tactical advantage. In one case, I was unable to secure the gateway at all. Only the gate held by the Romulan Republic is secure enough to study. For a time, Starfleet Command was in agreement. No one, they thought, would actually try and activate the gate. It would be suicide.
Apparently not. The gateway tests are scheduled for tomorrow. New worlds, new civilizations, a true chance for discovery. The profit to be made with an active gateway is incalculable. And yet, all I hear are worries and concerns. Captain Shon of the Enterprise called me an hour ago to see if I shared his concerns. I almost asked him where that Andorian courage was, but 43 stopped me. I think I managed to calm him down. He'll be bringing demolition charges in case of an emergency. 217, 99, 218...it's a good idea.
They say Ambassador Worf is joining the Klingon delegation. 190...the man served with the first Ferengi in Starfleet. I have a bottle of blood wine in the hold. If rumor holds true, I'll have to invite him for a drink. Vile stuff, but I tire of seeing enemies out my port windows every time I check in with the task force. You just don't mix 34 and 35.
Computer, protocol FCA-1. Encrypt log file and archive on closed system. I'll eat my own lobes if Section 31 doesn't make a go for my logs after this is all over.
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Post by ryvaken on Nov 2, 2013 10:55:13 GMT -8
Captain's log, supplemental. The Iconian gateway on New Romulus was sabotaged by Iconian infiltrators, identities still unknown.
85, we're in trouble. As best we can tell from scans of individuals we know to be compromised, and the records of abductions on the Enterprise-D, the Iconian tactics hinge on 103. I've ordered Doctor Yagami to run daily examinations of crew rotations and Commander Harlaown has set the internal sensors to keep a real-time record of all persons on the Arthra. I've ordered similar measures to all other ships in the task group, however the Daedalus-C and the Calibre have had to restrict the scans to only essential personnel and senior staff. Commander Takamachi is trying to find ways to inhibit the Iconian teleporter technology, but without experimental data her theories remain just that. Theories.
162. The massive Iconian gateway in the Jouret System is a wonderful find. As A'dranna said, it is ultimately no different from the Bajoran wormhole, which was also constructed by an advanced alien culture. 75, I don't know why there are calls to destroy it. Or, rather, I do. Omega preempts almost all other directives. Starfleet's very own zero-tolerance policy, the boundary that can't ever be crossed. 82, 77, 19, it's a good policy. 14, 9, 5, 1, 45, 58, the gateway is stable already. This isn't an Omega experiment, it's an accomplished piece of technology that has existed, stable, for thousands of years. Maybe hundreds of thousands. Maybe longer. This is not a reason to resume Omega experimentation of our own, but destroying the gateway poses more risk than using it.
If the Omega Directive is defeated, I expect to be approached for an opinion on what to do with the gateway, as will many others. Lobbying for a position on the initial push through the gateway will come later. 98, for now I will focus on making sure no one else votes to abandon this find.
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Post by ryvaken on Nov 5, 2013 12:27:49 GMT -8
The Iconian vessel has been transferred to Captain Subaroku's command. I'm told the crew out of Utopia Planetia have christened it Stormrider. I don't ask questions of what humans find amusing, so Stormrider it is.
The vessel has been identified as an Obelisk-class carrier by its computer and datalogs from the Iconian subspace station. Although my experience with carrier-class vessels is substantial, Captain Subaroku's knowledge of "Species 29" and technical schematics was sufficient to enhance the performance of the carrier's "swarmers." Likewise, her experience dealing with collective structures is critical to managing the computer-controlled drones that the vessel uses in lieu of traditional fighters. Holodeck simulations of the Stormrider in combat have been encouraging. I have reluctantly ordered the Stormrider into drydock, however. We stand to profit more from dissecting its technology than we do in its performance as a front line vessel.
Of course, our...comrades agree. The Telvanni has been spotted in the vicinity of the Stormrider on five separate occasions in the weeks since the carrier was brought to dock. Naturally as a liaison to the Federation Commander Krylis is entitled to access to Federtion starbases, however his visits to that particular station was formerly a monthly occurrence. The Beautiful Raider's cloaking frequency has also been detected in the Vulcan Sector. Our next deal with General Arrathar is not scheduled for two more weeks, and is supposed to take place at Drozana. Although she is a valued business partner, I find myself hoping that she slips and is caught by station patrols. Such leverage could fill my holds very nicely.
The squadron's finances are running low. The Fleet has made contact with a freighting company out of Cardassian space that could contract dilithium shipping throughout the quadrant. The reduction in costs of such a contract are extreme, but so is the price of the contract. I funneled large amounts of my squadron's resources into procurement to satisfy that contract. Energy credits are easy to come by, however I fear it will be some time before my reserves are strong enough to resume dealing on the Futures Exchange. Until then, I have ordered all ships to seek out salvage and seizures from enemy forces. The Arthra will depart to the Azure Nebula within the hour. I look forward to selling Tholian technology on Ferenginar.
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Post by ryvaken on Nov 13, 2013 7:39:24 GMT -8
Refits to the squadron are progressing apace. Requisitions have pushed through. I've had to pull the Daedalus from Alpha Quadrant duties to rejoin front line service. At this rate I'll need to recruit the Echelon too. I've even had to call in the Azita, Gunther, and Navarre.
We've finally been assigned a flight of Yellowstone runabouts. I've assigned one to Captain Subaroku as a tactical shuttlecraft, the others have entered service with the Arthra's combat shuttlebay. Our compliment of Danube runabouts has been transfered to the Catian liason, along with the wing of Scorpions. The two forces seem to work well together.
The Arthra's remaining beam arrays have been repurposed to the Borg cutting beam. This has opened up sufficient power conduits to install new phaser cannons. We've had to use substandard components to complete the refits on time, however we project a significant increase in offensive potential regardless. With these refits, I have managed to get the Arthra scheduled on the beachhead missions to the Solanae Dyson Sphere. The second line of my squadron will follow through once the breachhead has been established and map the surrounding sector. The Sphere cannot be our sole focus.
-Next Entry-
The sphere has been confirmed to be producing Omega particles. The potential here is enormous, however the Omega Directive has been activated even by Klingon and Romulan forces. I was not aware the Klingons had knowledge of Omega, let alone an equivalent Directive. It's not exactly something Starfleet has shared with the galaxy. Standing orders for the sphere group are to eliminate any Omega particles and dismantle active generators.
With the quantity of particles involved, I am forced to agree. The technology in the sphere is identical to that of the Obelisk and the Iconian subspace station. It's possible that Omega's subspace reaction does not impede gateway travel. Perhaps the Iconians have some means of repairing the damage. In either case, the sphere could easily be a weapon to cripple all warp travel and allow the Iconians to conquer worlds one by one. Divide and conquer through technological advantage is the Iconian style.
However, I have ordered my crew to disassemble the Omega generators instead of destroying them whenever possible. Too much useful technology has already been lost by fear of military consequences. Captain Subaroku has been reported to mutter about "particle 010" in her alcove and has been pulling double shifts ever since the Iconian use of Omega was discovered. I am reviewing Janeway's reports on Hanson's involvement in Voyager's brush with Omega. I can't afford my second to relapse into a drone-like state on the edge of the Delta Quadrant.
-Next Entry-
I was researching Voyager's encounter with Omega when I should have been reviewing the native species. The Echelon made first, or perhaps second contact with the Voth. It is lucky to have survived the experience, but I've ordered her back to Earth. I'm not sure she'll be properly spaceworthy again with that much of her secondary hull blasted off.
Communications with the Voth have been few, brief, and hostile. Simply put, they want us out of here and are not willing to negotiate. And I thought hew-mons were stubborn.
-Next Entry-
Joint Command has been established behind the minefield. The Azita has been retasked with other Nebula vessels to provide a sensor net to detect the cloaked Voth ships that may attempt to pass through the barrier. However, with so many Klingon and Romulan ships in the sphere, the detection grid is dangerously imperfect. Voth saboteurs are a constant issue.
We still don't know what the Voth want, other than the Omega particles. Communications are refused, envoys are shot, peace offerings have been vaporized. We don't know what happens to captives taken from the battlefield.
The Voth are older than the Iconian Empire. There's a decent chance that in their histories, they faced the Iconians in battle. Like Omega, they represent a chance for profit in knowledge, not just technology. And just like Omega, they cannot be reached because of the petty concerns of a command hierarchy.
There's no profit in ignorance. I'm pretty sure that's a Rule. If not, it should be.
End log.
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