Debriefing: What Happened on the Hood

Posted on Mon Aug 30th, 2021 @ 3:16pm by Captain Maia Sterling & Ambassador Amanda Blake & Lieutenant Commander Sheena Toran-Blake & Lieutenant Commander Ryan Blake & Lieutenant Commander Robert Hendon & Lieutenant Commander Havri Belbre & Lieutenant Kasey Tanger & Captain David Blake & Lieutenant JG Samantha Blake, Ph.D & Rear Admiral Stera Saagu

Mission: The Riixian Insurection
Location: USS Leto, Conference Room

Captain David Blake sat at the far end of the table from Captain Sterling's seat at the head of the table. He and Amanda, his wife, had transported over once the Riixxian Caliphate agents and their brainwashed officer and crew had been secured and a brought to the conference room by a yeoman. His hand rested on the PADD with his incident report he would brief the Leto Senior Officer staff. He turned to Amanda. "You okay dear?"

"I would be better if we had some kind of defense against telepathic attack, darling." Amanda replied.

Sheena walked into the conference room. "Glad that you both are alright Mr. and Mrs. Blake," she said softly taking her seat near Maia's seat as it should be.
Hello
Ryan and Samantha entered together.

Both elder Blake's rose to greet and hug their children briefly before others arrived.

Ryan turned to Sheena, his hand extended in her direction. "Mom, Dad, allow me to introduce Lieutenant Commander Sheena Toran."

"Commander Toran, it is a pleasure to meet you. Ryan neglected to say how beautiful and capable you were. What is your assessment of this situation?" Amanda asked.

Sheena blushed, "It is a pleasure to meet both of you. I am also relieved to see you are alright. When I heard about the Hood being attacked it shook me up. My assesment on Betazed is not good at this point. Things seem to be heating up I'm afraid", she said rather subdued, but smiling still.

David gave Sheena a friendly smile. "So you are the one that has captured our son's heart? It is indeed a pleasure to finally meet you."

"I think we captured each other's heart. We have bonded in the traditional Betazed way. I call him Imzadi and he calls me Imzadi. We hope to marry sometime soon. Of course if it is permissable by our good captain," Sheena said smiling warmly at Ryan's father and mother.

Maia strode in a few minutes later, ship's business had kept her pretty busy especially with telepathic sleeper cells on board.

Maia walked over to Sheena and Ryan and the ambassadorial party.

"Welcome aboard the starship Leto. I am Captain Maia Sterling. It is a great pleasure to meet you both. Your service honors us all." Maia stated offering her hand to first Amanda and then Captain Blake..

Amanda took and shook the Captain Sterling's hand.

"Thank you Captain. We appreciate the opportunity to serve." Amanda said.

Maia nodded then offered her hand to Captain Blake.

"It is a privilege and honor to meet you Captain Sterling." David gave Maia a firm hand shake.

Brannon entered the room and took her seat at the table. She looked at the Captain setting there and figured it was the CO from the Hood. "Greets Captain."

Captain Blake nodded to Brannon. "To you as well Lieutenant."

Ambassador Saagu entered the room there are a lot of people there already she walks over and presents her hand. " I am Ambassador Stera Saagu. I am a daughter of the fifth house of Betazed assigned as a Diplomat for The Betazed Government. I came to meet everyone here to talk about the latest details on Betazed."

"A pleasure to meet you Madam Ambassador. I am Ambassador Amanda Blake, I have been assigned by the Federation Council to be their representative to Betazed. We will be collaborating a lot. It is my deepest desire that we can keep both our peoples as allies and fast friends." Amanda said.

"Pleasure to meet you, Ambassador," Jamie said with a polite nod, rustling her thick red curls a little in their tight braid running down her back. So far, Jamie was behaving on this mission, surprising her in her own mind.

"Has anyone seen Lieutenant Tanger?" Maia asked.

Ryan nodded at Maia's question. "He was in the Strategic Operations Center on a secure channel with the Ministry of State getting the latest developments on the Betazed situation."

Robert arrived late and bustled into the conference room and took his seat. He nodded politely at those who were already there.

“ Sorry I am late. Had a last minute emergency in Sickbay. Crewmen got to close to a plasma torch. Greetings.” Robert said

"May I introduce our chief surgeon Dr Robert Hendon." Maia said.

Hendon knew that not everyone shook hands. So he just gave every a polite bow instead.

"So very sorry for the delay." Tanger stated as he stepped in the room. "I was getting more information about the situation on Betazed. It is not pretty and it is not letting up anytime soon. The planet is about to declare martial law and the government is hoping that these meetings will help ease the tension there and all over the Federation with regards to Betazoids."

"May I introduce Lieutenant Kasey Tanger, our Chief Diplomatic Officer" Maia said.

"Please will everyone take their seats." The captain said.

David Blake sat at the far end of the table from Maia. He knew others were due to arrive, but time was critical.

Once everyone was seated Maia started.

"Alright We are on a fact finding mission. What exactly happened on the Hood? Also how do we defend against telepathic attack?" Maia asked.

David Blake pulled up his notes on the display of the PADD in his hand. He had been able to identify three junior officers as Caliphate agents, a security officer who through telepathic conditioning had turned eight other enlisted security crewmembers into sympathizers. The assistance chief operations officer who had been charged with neutralizing the bridge crew. Finally an engineer who had accessed the lock down protocols for the ship. David had dispatched a security guard sent to kill him and Amanda and both then made their way to auxiliary control to take back control of the ship along with a loyal Boatswain's Mate.

Robert thought about that.

“Perhaps we could use a neural inhibitor that could block out any telepathic intrusions of any kind. It would have to be quite strong, plus it may cause nausea if worn to long,” Hendon advised.

"Do we have any idea of the frequencies that the telepath's use to communicate with one another? Perhaps we can set up some sort of dampening field on the ship, to protect us and the equipment," Maia asked.

"For the most part, I have been able to shut them out but I don't know how long I will be able to. These Caliphate....are very powerful and the neural inhibitor may not be enough to shut them out. If it does, it is likely to do exactly what Dr. Hendon said, side effect wise. The Romulan's might have a stronger inhibitor but not sure they would share it," Sheena remarked. Her headache was returning and it was very painful.

"If we can lets put all this vaunted technology to good use I need my first officer at her best not blocking telepathic attacks. There has to be a way of technologically blocking them artificially," Maia said.

Brannon replied, "They ones I took from the prisoners, and have 6 frequencies, and am monitoring them from the Security console. They are designed to look like the Starfleet communicators but cannot communicate when them. I have them in secure containers to prevent them from being used to listen to us. And also have them set up to to still work so we may be able to use them if needed."

"Are the frequencies more or less in the same band? Or are they totally disparate?" Maia asked.

Brannon placed one of the cases on the table, "Go ahead and pass it around to look at it. As to the mind issue I have not found a way around it yet. But so far I have not had any effects from that not sure why though. Could be they were told to leave me alone too."

"We should be able to block telepathic frequencies it wouldn't be much different from blocking any other electromagnetic radiation. We just need to know the frequencies we need to block it." Maia said.

"We need to find out how to block them and soon captain. I'm afraid I am losing ground slowly. The headaches persist the longer I fight," Sheena said trying to stay as normal as she could. There were definitely sleeper agents on the ship.

David looked around the table, a thought running through his mind. "Has anyone else been experiencing headaches?"

Robert raised a hand.

"Not myself but I have noticed an increase in crew coming in complaining of headaches. The readings I took from the medical probe suggested these were all stress related. But now........ we might be able to adjust a cranial stimulator to block out some telepathic frequencies but not all," He explained

David sighed. He had seen first hand what telepathic conditioning could do during his time in special warfare. He and a platoon of operators had snuck passed the blockade during the Dominion Occupation of Betazed. He had trained many Betazoids on insurgency operations. Most of them members of the Riixian Caliphate faction. "We have a problem then."

"I have been having headaches myself lately I went to sickbay and was treated for a caffeine addiction. I've been drinking green tea since but have still been getting headaches," Maia said.

Robert was bound by doctor patient confidentiality. So he could not say that in Maia’s case it really had been caffeine addiction. He just hoped she did not think he had misdiagnosed her and did not think good things of him.

"Just a bit of advice, maybe you should try some herbal non-caffeinated beverages." Tanger added to the conversation. "From my academy days of all nighters, I found caffeinated beverages only added to my headaches and stress made them worse. I have a four Betazoid herbal blends in the replicator system I would be happy to share with you. They alleviate a strong Betazoid headache so they should work for your human headaches much quicker."

David looked at both Maia and Sheena before taking a long breath. "The Caliphate operatives I worked during the occupation would use their telepathic abilities to condition enemy subjects to betray their Dominion allies. The same could be happening here." He turned to Robert. "You need to do a scan for elevated endorphin levels in the Captain and First Officer." He glanced at the people at the table. "Probably your entire Senior Staff."

"That seems reasonable, Doctor do you have your medical tricorder?"

Robert twisted himself around and pulled it out.

“ First rule of being a medic on a Starship. Always carry a Medical Tricorder and medical pack at all times!” Hendon said.

Sheena suddenly stood...."Must......shut...you...out! I will....not....yeild," she said through clenched teeth. "Captain....SHIELDS...sh....ie.....l", Sheenas body thudded to the floor.

Hendon was at her side in a second. His medical tricorder out he scanned her. Robert had been concerned about her since she had come into sickbay , to see Steve. It was a matter of time before her shielding became to much for her. Then again another thought entered his mind. She had managed up until now but it was only since she had come in this room. Had it now overwhelmed her. He pulled out a small device from his medical pack. His hands ran over the controls and he place it on her temple.

Ryan was at Sheena's other side just after the Doctor made it too her. He helped to support her as Robert conducted his medical scan. Worry and fear etched his face.

" This should help bring her round and help her." He said but then a pain in his head began.

Ryan looked across Sheena's semi-conscious form and nodded. "Thank you Doctor."

The pain stopped in Robert’s head stopped.

Admiral Saagu replied, "They have been trying to do it again. But they have not been successful with a lot of Betazed this time. The one trying to condition the minds have to be stronger telepaths than the one they are trying to condition. So they cannot have a lot of success. Also the Rixxian Caliphate has only been able to control small areas and they are spread all over the planet. They are not strong enough to take Betazed by force."

Brannon looked up "So far the only one about to control me was Toda. If that is the case My mind may be superior to the Caliphate members that were on the Leto. And I may be able to manipulate this to my favor Captain Sterling. It seems from what I have read that some Betazed have a stronger level of mind reading. Which means the minds of some are superior to others and they cannot read the minds of a superior one. And also cannot control them superior minds.

I found this information on the chip left by my mother for me. And I do agree with the idea of scanning everyone." Brannon continued

"Have you analyzed the data is there any way we can protect ourselves from attack?" Maia asked.

Brannon replied, " When I was a prisoner being held by Toda. She kept a Neuro-stimulator on me. The only time I had any headaches was when I tried to use my telepathic abilities. It is possible that is why she kept it on me. To prevent someone else from suing their telepathic abilities against me.

Also I copied the information on other pads. I was hoping Sickbay and Engineering could help examine the information to see if we can find a solution sooner." As she passed the pads around. Including Captain Sterling, Lt Toran and LCMD blake.


The chief engineer, Jamie, arrived after having been walking around, as casually as possible, looking for bugs or other technology that could be used against the group - hidden transporters, weapons, that sort of thing. Luckily, she came to the conclusion, having walked with another officer, that they were safe for the moment, but she didn't look for long-distance snoops. She was certainly feeling more herself, though, as she saw a few quite handsome Betazoid men jog past, muscles glistening, and damn if her endorphins weren't pumping and her body fighting against the pheromone inhibitor she took. But she tried her best to keep at least somewhat professional at the moment. She gave the captain and the guests a nod, and waited to avoid interrupting their conversation.

David thought for a moment before looking at Robert. "Correct me if I am wrong, but don't Betazoids have a increased auditory range of hearing than humans?"

“ Yes they do.” Robert replied

Even in a semi-conscious state, Sheena's head hurt badly. "Can't....keep him......out....whispering won't.....stop!" she moaned, moving her head back in forth. "Shields......raise the shields......shiel..ds..please....no more!" Groaning, she lapsed into an unconscious state again. It was almost as if her body shut down mind and strength sapped. No one knew why the Caliphate went after her, only her grandparents knew the possible reason why.

Robert ran a tricorder over Sheena. He had never seen a telepathic attack was bad as this. One person could not be doing all this by themselves it was incredible. But sadly it also meant there was nothing he could do. But keep her vitals going and hope her own mental screens returned to full strength.

Ryan could barely make out Sheena's final words before she lapsed into unconsciousness. He tapped his commbadge. "Bridge, raise shields and sound battle stations. Contact the Hood and advise them to do the same."

Tanger, who had been observing and taking notes this whole time was suddenly aware of presence in the air. "I am picking up on a thought or such. My head is starting to hurt but I think whomever was attempting to reach Sheena is now reaching out to me and I am just not sure what to make of this message or such. This is a telepathic attempt to gather information about those of us who are Betazoid on this ship and the pain is growing and it is harder to focus on what the specifics are."

Maia shook her head in frustration. Most of her staff and a good portion of the crew were Betazoid, if they couldnt develop a defense there mission was as good as finished.

Maia turned to Captain Blake.

"What is the current status of the Hood, Captain Blake?" Maia asked.

David looked up the table at Maia, a serious expression on his face. "The Captain and Second Officer were killed when an explosive devise detonated. A human security officer killed the First Officer in her sleep. We have three confirmed Caliphate agents in the brig at the moment. The ship has only three other Betazoid crewmembers. An interrogator in the Intelligence Department, plus two others in the Medical Department, a nurse and an enlisted Hospital Corpsman Second Class. We have been able to restore impulse and thrusters, but the Chief Engineer says it is at least six hours until we will have warp capability. Shields are at best, maybe 30%. Phasers and torpedo launchers are functional though."

"In that case we have six hours to figure out a defense against these psionic/telepathic attacks." Maia said.

"Ma'am, the source of the headaches for the telepathic personnel seems to be coming from off the ship, I am sensing a a few voices and thoughts that are near but not on the ship." Tanger was fighting the pain and struggling to figure out the source. "I want to say a cloaked vessel is near by and the minds or device that are are reaching out to telepaths are there." Tanger then closed his eyes and was not able to think anymore.

Ryan turned to Tanger. "Can you get a general bearing or distance?"

"Sir, I believe they are just to our port but about ten degrees towards the underside of the ship. The fluctuations of the shields are being used to help hide their ship from being detected and the ship is full of Betazoids who are being used to project the signals to find other Betaziods, I am not sure if this is a Riixian operation or that of a covert enemy of both Betazed and the Federation as a whole." Tanger struggle to keep focuses. He was one of a few to pass the course on telepathic manipulation procedures that all telepathic diplomatic students undergo at the academy. "I am not sure, but I am picking up fifteen separate minds acting as one and then four others that are manning the process." Tanger then grabbed his head and covered his eyes.

"We could fire blindly, we have a lot of Betazoids on this ship could we use them to block this manipulation so we can at least think clearly"? Maia said.

Ryan was thinking hard. Firing weapons blind into the suspected location of the enemy vessel would just alert their opponent the Leto knew they were close but not that they knew their exact location. They would simply alter course and approach from a different angle. A dispersed cloud could possibly detect the enemy, but if they were following at any distance they would see the cloud and alter course too. Then a thought came to mind. "Hydrogen atoms. Space generally has a random number of free floating hydrogen atoms in every cubic meter. A cloaked ship will displace those atoms as it maneuvers."

Samantha piped in to help formulate a detection method. "A low power scan could detect that displacement and we would know where the bow of their ship would be."

Ryan glanced at his sister and nodded. He turned to Maia. "Navigational sensors are already attuned to detect hydrogen atoms for automatic course corrections. Use those and I doubt the enemy ship would even be aware we were actually looking for them."

David Blake looked at his son and daughter. His expression obviously impressed by their on the spot plan. He also turned to Maia. ""It could work...and...it's the best plan we have."

Maia pressed the intercom button.

"Bridge Initiate a low power scan and check for displacement, then target and fire phasers. Target any explosions adjust and keep firing." Maia ordered.

"Shall we resume on the bridge?" Maia suggested in obvious pain.

[End]


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A Post by:

Captain Maia A. Sterling
Commanding Officer
USS Leto NCC-80916

&


Lieutenant Commander Ryan Blake
Chief Strategic Operations/Second Officer
USS Leto NCC-80916

&

Doctor Samantha Blake
Acting Chief Science Officer
USS Leto NCC-80916

&

Captain David Blake
Acting Captain
USS Hood NCC-42296

&

Lt. Cmdr. Sheena Toran
Executive Officer
USS Leto NCC-80916

&

Lt.Cmdr. Dr Robert Hendon
Chief Medical Officer
USS Leto NCC-80916

&

Lt. Kasey Tanger
Chief Diplomatic Officer
USS Leto, NCC-80916