Unexpected Visitors

Posted on Mon Dec 28th, 2020 @ 9:06pm by Captain Maia Sterling & Lieutenant Steve O'Carroll & Lieutenant Commander Sheena Toran-Blake & Commander Ryan Blake & Lieutenant Commander Havri Belbre & Lieutenant JG Nishu Yalet

Mission: The Thorion Conundrum Mission Brief
Location: Shuttlebay
Timeline: 239411.27

–Shuttlebay–

It hadn’t taken Doctor Tamara long to assemble a team and gather the emergency equipment s/he hoped they wouldn’t need. Just as s/he’d arrived outside the bay, s/he thought s/he might have seen someone s/he’d already met. “Mr. Blake is that you?”

Ryan looked over his shoulder at the mention of his name. He gave Tamara a nod. “Doctor, glad you are leading the triage team. Let me know if you need any help getting casualties to sickbay.”

“Thank you, you’ll be the first one I ask.”

The doctor entered the shuttlebay with hir team, ready to work. Looking up in mild awe, s/he noticed the shuttlebay crew hadn’t quite retrieved all the escape pods yet.

Ryan stepped into the shuttle bay as the first of the escape pods was being brought aboard. He took a step to the side to allow the security detail to take up the position.

Lt. O’Carroll followed Mr. Blake into the shuttle bay, the tractor beams worked perfectly, and the escape pods were each brought on board. His teams opened each one, by the time they were finished there were only 12 survivors all Saurian. Most were in a state of hibernation it seemed to conserve oxygen.

Tamara directed hir teams to shadow the security teams – though s/he felt they weren’t necessary – and to enter as soon as possible. The chief doctor hirself leads the first team to the first and closes the pod.

Nishu was in the shuttle bay with the others watching what was going on, and as she kept watch on what was going on, with the escape pods around the shuttle bay She wanted to make sure everything in the shuttle bay was safe and Secure.

All she cared about what was going on in the Shuttle bay and the Saurian crew in Hibernation, she saw how the Medical teams were checking them out, she walked over by them to see what was going on cause she didn’t want anything to go wrong.

Soon a small contingent of engineers and security as well as a few marines were there making sure there was no funny business and to help with any possible triage.

Tamara instructed their teams to keep the Saurian people in their hibernated – at least until they could get them to sickbay where they were more capable of handling any emergencies – least they inadvertently cause to worsen any of their conditions. Obvious life-threatening injuries in need of immediate attention would be treated with first aid here, but otherwise their second priority was to get everyone to sickbay.

Lt. Brannon came into the shuttlebay and set up security personnel on all exits and in key areas of the shuttlebay. She then tapped her communications badge. =/\= Captain security is in place to keep everyone contained in the shuttlebay till we can clear their security issues. Also have setup protocols for all our personnel as well. They will have all weapons removed from them and secured in the armory. =/\=

=/\= Very well Lt. Brannon, see that they get whatever medical care they need and then set them up in visitors’ quarters. Try to make them comfortable, Sterling out =/\=

Brannon replied, =/\=Aye Captain, will do. All weapons are all secure and those hurt are cleared to go to sickbay. Also, will have my teams set the rest up in quarters on Deck 7. They will be monitored by security to keep them out of secure areas. =/\=

Doctor Tamara stepped out of a life pod, and spotted Lieutenant Brannon, “Lieutenant a word with you please?”

Brannon smiled; “how can I assist you doctor?”

The doctor returned the security officer’s smile with one of hir own along with a lite tail wagging. “Lieutenant, I’d like for all of the survivors to remain undisturbed in their states of hibernation – there’s no telling how reviving them prematurely could affect them, especially the injured; they are to be sent directly to sickbay for medical and evaluation. We should have enough facilities in sickbay to handle this lot until they revive on their own and are cleared by me.”
Brannon smile, "Not a problem Dr. The ones already out of hibernation will have quarters assigned to them so they can relax and rest. You will have control on when they are moved to quarters. Releasing them when they are rady."

Sheena arrived and looked at the situation. Everything seemed to be well in order and the Saurians were actually in a state of hibernation it appeared. Walking around the pods she noted the weapon scoring on them, and they looked familiar. She hoped she was wrong.

Turning quickly, Sheena made for the door and back to the bridge, as she needed to check something out concerning the attack and check the debris field for what she hoped would not be there.

One of the Saurians came out of his self-induced hibernation cycle. His name was Stroth and he was a miner and engineer.

“Where am I?” He asked.

Lt. Brannon went over when one of the Saurians came out of hibernation, “I am Lt. Brannon of Starfleet. You are on the starship Leto. I am Chief of Security. You are safe here; we will get you medical assistance and then make arrangements for you and others from your ship are able to rest. Can you tell me who attacked your ship, and how many crew members you had on your ship?

“I am Stroth lead mining technician for our convoy, how many of us have you brought on board?” Stroth asked.

Ryan stepped up to where Angela and Stroth were. He gave a nod to Stroth. “Hello Mister Stroth. I am Lieutenant Blake. If would be beneficial if you could come with me and answer some questions the Captain may have, provided you don’t need to go to sickbay first.”

“I seem to be alright. Let’s go see your Captain, Lieutenant Blake.” Stroth said.

Lieutenant Blake turned to Lieutenant Brannon. “Once the doctor has moved the patients to sickbay, I would like a damage assessment done on all the escape pods. If possible, have Lieutenant O’Carroll see if one of the freighter’s bridge officers downloaded sensor logs of the battle. Might give us a better understanding of who did this.”

Brannon replied, “Understood sir, also was thinking if some of the trace evidence is was sent to Science Lab that they may be able to answers some questions of where they were when attacked.

Ryan gestured to the exit. “Mister Stroth, if you will accompany me.” Ryan left with Stroth to consult with the Captain.

TAG remaining personnel in the shuttlebay

–Bridge–

“What is it Number One?” Maia asked as she saw Sheena tear straight to Science one.

“Something about the weapons fire residue on the pods. I’ve seen it before,” Sheena said as she scoured the debris field looking for……… “Orion……weapons!” she said suddenly. “Question is what did the Orions want with the Saurians?” she asked looking at Maia.

“My guess would be the mining equipment. Remember that Pergium deposits have been discovered on Thorion III. The pirates would need mining equipment to dig it up and excavate.” Maia said. We will know more when the doctor revives the Saurians. Maia added.

“Wait…you don’t think they were going to use the Saurians as slave labor, do you?” Sheena croaked.

I don’t think so, they weren’t looking for slaves they were looking for equipment. If they were looking for slaves these few would never have escaped. No this was a hit and run. They knew this area was well patrolled and probably knew we were in the sector. No, they weren’t slavers they were looking for equipment to exploit the Pergium strike on Thorion III. Look at it from a tactical perspective. they took the mining ships. Normally slavers would have destroyed any evidence. According to our sensors there is very little debris, so they beamed aboard killed the crews and stole the ships, they didn’t even bother to pick off those few who escaped. No, my guess is that they are going to use those ships to try and infiltrate security on Thorion IV.” Maia stated.

“Understood, but that might be a ploy to give them more time to get the Pergium they have already mined out before our arrival in the system. I say that on the assumption that they already did the dirty deed and now want to boogie” Sheena said solemnly.

Ryan arrived on the bridge with Stroth. He nodded at Maia and Sheena. “Sirs, one of the survivors. He may be able to help shed some light on what happened.”

“Welcome aboard the starship Leto, I am Commander Maia Sterling Commander of this ship. Can you shed some light onto what happened to you and your people”? Maia asked.

“I am Stroth, thank you for rescuing us. We were 3 freighters on our way to Thoron 3 to mine Pergium. Our ships were full of mining equipment and there were 80 of us all together not counting the freighter crews. I am a mining engineer by trade and work for the Saurian Consortium.”

Stroth pulled out an identity disk and handed it to Maia who then handed it to Mr. Blake for analysis.

Ryan took the disk to the Mission Ops Two station and returned a few moments later. “Identify is confirmed Captain.”

Maia nodded. “Please continue Mr. Stroth”.

“We were attacked by four ships, one vessel, I had never seen before. Three of them looked to be Klingon birds of prey. They all had cloaking technology and we didn’t even know they were there until they were already on top of us. We carried point defense phasers and particle cannons, but nothing compared to the ships that attacked us. We were outgunned twenty to one. There was a short, pitched battle which we lost badly. They came for the ships and cargo, they beamed troops aboard the ships who just started killing everyone they came in contact with. Only a few of us survived in escape pods and we’ve been floating out here for hours. I don’t understand why they didn’t pick us off, but they seemed only interested in our cargo. I never even got a look at them. We kept thinking they were going to pick us off one-by-one, but we also knew this was a well patrolled route. This was more of a hit and run tactic the Orion pirates used twenty years ago. There are only 8 of us left now. When we left Sauria, there were 86 of us.”

Stoth said his eye slits blinking vertically.

We didn’t know how long we would be out there, so we entered a state of hibernation until we were rescued.

Maia nodded and turned to Sheena. This more of less verifies my theory on what happened, number one. Have security perform a sensor sweep of the area and see if they can come up with directional heading of the bandits.

“Understood captain,” Sheena said. Turning to Ryan, “Lt. Blake, run a thorough long-range scan to try to isolate both neutrino and ion signatures and report your findings to me asap,” Sheena added.

Ryan accessed the sensor arrays from his bridge station. He sighed as he shook his head. “The ion trail has already decayed too much for an accurate bearing. Best guess is that their course took them away from the Thorion star system.”

"I have science and engineering working to see if they can raise trace off the pods not as to who attacked them."

Ryan continued to study the faint ion markers, but there was little to work with in verifying a course and probable destination. This was a heavily travelled shipping lane which made it all but impossible to track a vessel not previously encountered and logged.

“Storth we are on our way to Thorion IV. Until then you are welcome to stay aboard enjoy our hospitality as our guests.” Maia said.

“Lt. Brannon please have Lt. Yalet assign and escort our guests to suitable guest quarters after they are finished in sickbay.” Maia instructed.

“Am already working on it Captain and hope to have quarters assigned soon. I am working with the Quartermaster now.” Replied Brannon.

Nishu was still in the shuttle bay with the others watching them take care of the visitors,and not saying much unless she was needed.

“Mr. Barton set search pattern alpha into the helm, I don’t want to miss any of the survivors”. The captain ordered.

"Aye Captain" The helmsman replied.

Sheena was thinking aloud, “What I wouldn’t give for a few fighters right about now!” she muttered. With a couple of fighters, they could extend the sensors to look for ion or neutrino’s, but alas, they were a Nova class, no fighters! Wait…..”Captain, could we launch a couple of long range probes to extend our sensors to see if we pick up at least a possible direction?” she asked.

“No need too, I already know where they are going. They will try to infiltrate and get to Thorion III. Those ships were full of mining equipment Number one. Where else would they go?” Maia said.

“Right, so shouldn’t we get there quickly and try to head them off, at least?” Sheena asked. “I mean, were it me, I would try and get there before they did and stop them or confiscate their cargo or ships. Is that not what we are out here for? I understand our mission to Thorion IV is priority but now we are aiding the Saurians, so……? Shenna added, looking at Maia.

“Well we are just a bit busy right now, but I agree Number One. So here is what we are going to do. Send a subspace message to Thorion IV and report this incident, include the ship descriptions and any sensor telemetry and descriptions of equipment from the Saurians. The Thorion’s are very militaristic and formally Orion’s themselves. They hate the pirates even more than we do. They already know we are coming. Right now, we enjoy an ally status with them. They are very interested in joining the Federation to put an end to this very thing.” Maia replied.

“Understood and it’s a good thing we are on the same page,” Sheena said. Turning to Lt. Brannon, “Send subspace message to Thorion IV advising them we will be there but a little late. We are currently dealing with an incident involving theft of mining ships and helping the crews that were ejected into space,” she added. “Message delivered, now I am hopeful that we can seal this alliance with the Saurians. I would love to get my hands on those pirates myself,” Serina said looking at Storth smiling. “It will be my pleasure Mr. Stroth to get your ships back,” she added.

Maia nodded, “Justice will be served Mr. Stroth”.

“Thank you, Captain.” Stroth replied.

“Captain, may I suggest that we go to warp 7 or possibly 8 to get to Thorion III ahead of those that hijacked the Saurians ships? I would love to get those ships back and put those responsible in the brig,” Sheena said.

We are not going to Thorion III, Number One. We are going to Thorion IV. The Thorion system is not Federation territory at least not yet. If we blaze in there with weapons hot it will create a diplomatic incident. We sent a message of warning now we wait. If the Thorion’s ask for our help then we can assume a more adventurous posture.

“Mr. Barton progress of the search pattern? Anything on sensors?” Maia asked.

"Negative Captain". Barton said.

“Sorry captain, I got ahead of myself there. Still thinking like a security officer,” she said trying to hide her red face.

“Not at all Number One. Just be mindful of our situation, this isn’t exactly Federation space. It is however a commercial shipping lane. Don’t worry we will deal with the pirates sooner or later or the Thorion IV authorities will. Our job is to provide them options. Once we have completed our search pattern and collected all the evidence we can; we will proceed to Thorion IV, with all due haste.” Maia stated.

"Very good Captain, I will continue with the search patterns", Sheena said smiling at Maia.

"If we don't find anything else in the next half an hour we will resume our course to Thorion-4." Maia stated.

After a thorough search of the area it was time to get going.

Alright we've done all we can here. Helm resume our course for Thorion-4 warp factor 6." The captain ordered.

[End]

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A Post by :

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

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

Lieutenant Ryan Blake
USS Leto NCC-80916
2nd Officer/Strat. Ops. Officer

Lieutenant Angelina Brannon
USS Leto NCC-80916
Chief Security Officer

Lieutenant Jamie Dougherty
USS Leto NCC-80916
Chief Engineering Officer

Dr Ayasha Laith
USS Leto NCC-80916
Chief Medical Officer