Exodus
Star Trek: The Triangle Missions ... USS Niven
Stardate 43267.5
Vice-Admiral Nelson arrives on the USS Mercury and transfers LtCmdr Clinton York as Special Investigator with orders to investigate the appearance and apparent assault of a former Starfleet scientist Dr. Elrod Cain.
USS Niven travels to New Biloxi in the Midlands system, which is a popular resort destination in the Triangle sector. Notable ships in orbit include a Ferengi Marauder, the House of Chang IKS(D) Ng'tar Bird-of-Prey and a Cardassian freighter. Investigation reveals possible Klingon or Cardassian involvement.
Sudden psychic and physical assault on the crew leads to confusion and a chase of the Cardassian freighter which is revealed to be an Obsidian Order Q-ship (which self-destructs).
A mysterious device is discovered that appears to psychically assault people in its vicinity, and Dr. Cain is found to have been mentally tampered with.
News of the Battle at Wolf 359 is delivered by the USS Charleston, which arrived to help. Admiral Nechayev orders all efforts be made to end the Klingon Civil War.
Evidence of the Scientific Free-Thinkers Collective actually existing is found among Dr. Cain's effects. Plans are underway to investigate further.
Contents
Captain's Log, Stardate 43267.5
Heads and Beds
Tensions were slightly elevated aboard the USS Niven for was the time of year for personnel evaluations. I have agonized over my own reviews that I needed to write and sympathized with others as well. I am pleased to announce that of my own direct reports, Dr Matthew O'Grady has been promoted to Lieutenant Commander, and Lieutenant Commander Hazor Dyan has been promoted to the rank of Commander.
One specific example of personnel change was that Command Master Chief Petty Officer Spencer Harlock was retiring. I am sad that these will be his last few months aboard our ship, but nothing can deny that his retirement was well deserved.
Some of the crew organized a party in his honor and despite the impending parting, spirits were high. I had the responsibility to make the announcement of who was to carry on the torch and made a short speech. I made a mention that the Niven will no longer have someone people can go to for help with their sudoku puzzles, that the halls in front of the holodecks will feel silent without the sound of a tennis ball echoing off the walls at 0200 hours, and mused that Sergeant Major Michael Pierson will need to find a new bridge partner. I stressed that the next Command Master Chief will likely thrive in his new position, specifically since he was a Nice Guy, and gave the floor to Edward Biggs.
An Investigation is Underway
When the announcements were over and the party resumed, I had a communique from Lieutenant Commander Akoval that I had an incoming message from Admiral Alynna Nechayev. I excused myself to my ready room and received new orders. I was sent a set of coordinates to rendezvous with the USS Mercury and Vice Admiral Tom Nelson. We were instructed to pick up a special investigator, Lieutenant Commander Clinton York. I sent the coordinated to Lieutenant Joran Maniersi and we were underway.
Our mission involved assisting York in the investigation involving a former Starfleet Medical genetic researcher, Dr. Elrod Cain. What we knew of him was that he had retired suddenly at the age of 45 13 years ago and was never heard from again. Starfleet received an urgent message a few days ago from the vacation planet of New Biloxi in the Midland system stating that Cain was there and in a coma. We were to provide him with the best medical care available and to investigate his sudden appearance and presumed assault.
Unexpected Reunion
After the meeting was adjourned, Master Chief Rodrick St. Claire took me aside and mentioned that he and Cain were childhood friends. He prefaced his request by saying he knows we always put our best efforts into things, but to help Cain as much as we can as a personal favor to him. I reassured him that we absolutely will and he seemed a bit more at ease after that. He said that he had something to show me as well and lead me down the hall to a set of quarters.
When I opened the door, I was shocked to see my father sitting at the desk. I lost my composure and ran across the room to embrace him as it had been nearly 6 years since I last saw him. Apparently Admiral Nelson was the commanding officer where Dad was first stationed and they had chatted recently so he came by for a visit. He looked into my suspicions about Captain Billiemae Tompkins' passing, and thought that the news should be delivered personally. Unfortunately, he could not find anything out of the ordinary and that even with a 98% survival rate, the 2% still hovers as a lethal possibility. This news was very hard for me to accept, but it may come with time.
Welcome to New Biloxi!
After parting ways with the Mercury with York in tow, we arrived in the Midland System in two days. Maniersi scanned the area and reported a Ferengi marauder and a Klingon Bird of Prey aligned with House Duras and House Chang called the Ng'tar, and a Cardassian freighter. Maniersi said he would keep an eye on their actions.
We contacted the medical facility and had Cain beamed aboard the Niven where Dr Matthew O'Grady attended to him right away. He reported that though Cain's vitals were strong, his brain activity was normal which was very unusual. I asked to be kept apprised and beamed down to the surface with an away team to help York with the investigation.
Send in the… Clowns??
Late that night, I was woken up by a communique from Commander Devin West saying that something strange was going on and that I needed to get to the bridge immediately. Once again, I trudged down the halls in a nightgown and robe. When I got there, I asked for the status and West said that Hazor had experienced something alarming and Akoval had gone to check it out. Strange power fluctuations have also been occurring for 45 minutes.
Just as I was about to give West a look saying "you called me down for 'something strange'", the turbo lift doors opened and four clown cars and five clowns suddenly burst into the bridge. While we were all still bewildered, one of them shot out the comm panel rendering our comm badges useless and demanded that we surrender or they'll kill us all, all the while honking horns and causing pandemonium. During this, Lieutenant Junior Grade Pilar Gonzalez, reported that the Niven was under attack.
With dealing with an internal attack of the bridge and and external force as well now, I ordered red alert, battle stations, set phasers set to stun, and to fire at will. I made a beeline for the weapons locker, but nearly all bridge officers were down already. Only West, Gonzales, and I remained standing.
I managed to grab a phaser rifle and took cover behind the weapons locker and shot into the melee. Much to my dismay, the shots seemed to go right through the assailants. And just as suddenly as they arrived, they disappeared, however the carnage left behind was very real. Gonzales, still dealing with the attack on the ship, found a potential target and when given permission to fire, we saw that it was the Cardassian freighter. They turned tail and were making preparations to jump to warp. We tried to tractor them, but they evaded us, so the chase was on.
Since I was still without a communicator badge, I went over to West who was down on a knee and tapped his communicator to call Chief Warrant Officer Harald Lysander. I ordered a site to site transport to the secondary bridge. When I materialized, Frazier immediately ordered for a defensive perimeter and I went to the functioning communication panel. I called engineering and Lieutenant Commander Razeez Mohammed reported that with a few risky bypasses, we were able to go to warp 9. Maniersi maneuvered close enough to ring the Cardassian ship's doorbell and knocked them out of warp. I took that opportunity to order boarding parties.
The Obsidian Order
First Lieutenant Sanderson McKinney reported saying that it was a crew of four Cardassians, but there was a 100% casualty. I had Pierson go over along with Syvek to assess the cause of deaths. Mckinney then commed in stating that this was no common freighter ship as it actually belonged to the Obsidian Order. Pierson and Syvek were already scanning for traps, but Maniersi warned, saying the Order was not likely to leave one of their ships floating around in space. Right on cue, Syvek ordered an emergency beam out, and seconds later, the ship exploded. We sent out a message to the nearest ship, the USS Charleston to assist us in sorting through the wreckage.
While this was going on, York gave a report on his findings about Dr. Cain. Apparently he had been mechanically manipulated and it was a strong possibility that the Cardassians were behind it. In order to further assist him, we knew that we had to try to locate the Scientific Free-Thinkers Collective and we managed to find a few leads on their whereabouts.
Genocide
The following day, the Charleston arrived. Captain Cecilia Bromwicz had somber news to tell us. There was a Borg attack at Wolf 359. I was devastated to learn that the ship I was assigned to before the Niven, the USS Kyushu, was one of the ships lost with all hands. In fact, we had lost about 80% of our fleet. Because of this, Vice Admiral Alynna Nechayev has given us orders to do whatever we can to bring the Klingon civil war to an end for we are in desperate need of allies. We are in dire straits, indeed…
