Charting a course - Part 3
Posted on Wed Sep 3rd, 2025 @ 9:28am by Captain Daegan Baas & Lieutenant M'Tala "Hobbes" Clan Hrasi & Lieutenant JG V'Laros & Petty Officer 2nd Class Sizia Sh'velihr [Baas] & Aseek Tarnala & Commander Jerome Hunt Jr. & Lieutenant Liam O'Riley & Lieutenant Urushi Yaotome & Lieutenant Niami Troga & Lieutenant Ayumu Tanaka & Lieutenant JG Christian Rogers
Edited on on Wed Sep 3rd, 2025 @ 11:14am
2,167 words; about a 11 minute read
Mission:
What was Lost is Found
Location: Ready Room / Conference Room
Timeline: MD 2 - 1640
"Well... those are a bit stronger words than I'd use, but I think Mister Rogers makes a valid point, Lieutenant," Ayumu concurred, though V'Laros would be keen to observe that he was giving their new Chief of Security the stink-eye while he did so. "Sure, they are technically their own life form, and there is a lot we don't understand about it. But then again, just as much could be said about the Teplan Blight; a life form, yes, but one whose detriments far outweigh the benefits. If you're suggesting that we preserve the Defiled for research purposes, we could just as easily take a tissue sample, digitally archive it, and use that as something of a basis for controlled scenarios that we could run within the relative safety of the holodeck; but on the other hand, if we have the means with which to kill that thing- and I think Mister Rogers strongly implies that we do- I believe it would be far more imperative of us to do so."
He then turned to Daegan. "Ultimately, Captain, I believe this should be your decision, but you have my recommendation," he nodded.
Sizia stood off to the side in her normal spot awaiting the Captain's decision as it would dictate her action. But as she stood there she glanced to their Intel Chief as she watched her husband.
Daegan sat listening intently, his fingers laced together staring down the length of the table taking in everyone. Looking to their guest. "Aseek, this was...is your world."
"I knew the man running the station who left the recording the Commander mentioned. If you have the means to sterilize the planet... Do it."
V'Laros added, "Captain, with all do respect to Mr. Tarnala, the planet no longer belongs to the Pricari people and over the near 200 years since his launch this life form adapted by altering itself form billions of separate entities into a single massive creature. There is no way to tell what this life form could evolve into give time."
The Captain raised his hand to head off and additional comment. The problem was....they were all right. He took a breath. "Lieutenant V'Laros. The completely sterilize the planet we need not just an extinction level event but an astrophysical impact event in order to kill everything, correct?"
"That is correct Captain. An impact event is the only astrophysical even we would be capable of creating."
"Very well. I will give you all my decision shortly. In the mean time. Lieutenant V'Laros scan the system for an appropriate asteroid or planetesimal needed and coordinated with Hobbes on the speed and course we would need to take. Lieutenant O'Riley be ready to reinforce the tractor beam if needed also be ready to deploy quarantine markers should we go the other way.
"Dismissed."
"One other thing," Jerome addressed. "That station is on the verge of falling out of orbit. Regardless of what's happening on the surface, that station is still very much an asset. Starfleet can assign a team to it, regardless of if the defiled remain here or if we decide to wipe out everything on the surface."
Niami gave Baas a contemplative look, as she passed by, she made a soft remark, "It needs to be eradicated, it isn't a founder and it isn't alive. It is a disease. A cancer and if not surgically removed, it will spread and kill those still living."
Baas looked up in surprise from the backhanded comment from the counselor; who had been silent thus far. He wasn't a counselor but one didn't need multiple life times of experiences to know something was wrong. "Counselor...one moment."
A sharp glance to Baas, she paused and drew in a breath, turning back to take a seat next to him. Her hand went to her temple, feeling a headache coming on.
"Yes Captain?" her voice quiet, looking towards him.
"A meeting of the senior staff is meant for the open discussion of fact and ideas and the expression of opinion, not for snarky comments as one leaves the room. Especially from someone that was virtually silent during the meeting. Now there seems to something bothering you. Are you alright?"
"It wasn't meant to be snarky, just my own feelings. And so much high emotions, I didn't feel like trying to raise my voice in all of the opinions." her dark eyes had a bit of fire in them. "Captain, I felt something, I thought it was from the planet but-I don't know where it is from. Faint almost like fingernails upon a chalkboard."
"And this began happening when?"
"It was right as we were looking out at the planet. I had mentioned that I was sensing pain, agony. Silent voices trying to--make themselves known. Though was it truly from the planet? Was it instead the ghostly echoes of those who had died?"
She rubbed her temple, "I had mentioned something when the planet came into view, but my words had been lost in on the bridge while the teams were being assembled to go down to the planet and the station."
His expression shifting from slightly irritated to concern. "I wish you had brought this up while everyone else had been here. Bu that aside do you need to go to medical or will you be alright?"
"I will be alright, and really would you have wanted me to stand up and yell at everyone?" Niami giving a wry smile. "This situation is causing a lot of stress for everyone."
Nodding slowly in agreement. "That it has. Keep me advised of any change in your impressions and if it get worse be to go to medical."
"I most certainly will, oh and one other thing, If you recall the situation dealing with the bluegills. You know, the infestation of little worms which darn near brought the Federation to its knees? The one that controlled people? It got to the point that if there were planets that got infested with it, they had to do scorched Earth, Captain. I consider this one of those situations." Niami had a firm and yet pained expression. "That out there isn't sentient. Its going to kill us all and we can't have that."
"Noted." Rising from his seat in the conference room he moved into the observation lounge. Looking out over the bow of the Valkyrie at the planet below.
Sizia watched as the partition closed. The silver of his hair bright against the darkness of his uniform. She had a feeling what was coming and like the others she felt the Starfleet was going to have to set the quest for knowledge aside and do what needed to be done.
Niami left, heading towards the bridge.
[Bridge]
"Why doesn't anyone ever remember just how powerful starships are?" Rogers muttered as he made his way to the security station. "Pull up the ship's weapons complement," he told the ensign currently manning the station.
"We have-"
"I don't need a verbal report." Rogers said, "Just pull it up so I can see what we have." He watched the screens as the ensign called up what they had. Rogers nodded. Just as he thought. They didn't need an exterior planet killer. They were the planet killer the captain was seeking. Which could be done in several ways, depending on what the captain decided.
V'Laros heard the new security chief's comments even though he had more than likely intended his comments go unheard. Glance back to see if anyone else had heard the comments, seeing the XO.
"Rogers what are you up to over here?" Hunt spoke while approaching the tactical station.
"Commander," Rogers said, glancing up. "Preparing to be able to answer questions that might come up and make proposals as necessary based on what the captain decides." He glanced around the Bridge. "We have the capability of destroying the planet, destroying the environment or eradicating the atmosphere without the need to do tricky manuevers with extra planetary bodies in the system." He glanced from the Commander to the science officer and back. "I'm sure Mister Velaros will be helpful in determining payloads if necessary."
"Even with all the firepower this ship possesses," the Commander responded. "There's no way that we could take out every microbe. We would need something far more devasting."
Rogers straightened and barely supressed a grin. "Oh, no, Commander. Destroying the planet is simple. If that's what's wanted, we could have that accomplished without worry." The gleam of toddlers in a room of building block buildings was not so easy to supress however.
V'Laros, surprisingly came to the new Security Chief's defense. "It would be theoretically possible for a ship of this class to achieve that goal. However it would take a precise and prolonged effort. This situation does present the opportunity to record and obverse an impact event that usually only occurs in the early stages of planetary system formation...the Theia impact Hypothesis for example...though on a smaller scale."
"We could also study the effects of quantum torpedoes on a planetary core," Rogers suggested. "For scientific inquiry, of course."
V'Laros merely raised an eyebrow at the suggestion.
[Ready room]
Having made his decision he had moved from the lounge and contacted Starfleet. After a very serious conversation he deactivated the holo and both hand came down on his desk as he stood.
[Bridge]
Walking out onto the bridge he stood there a moment as the discussions continued.
"Captain on the bridge," Rogers called out, the motion automatic.
Baas looked out over the those on the bridge as beta shift was already on duty and most of the alpha shift and senior staff were still there awaiting his decision. "Many of you will not agree with what the decision but primary mission of Starfleet is the discovery of new forms of life. Lieutenant V'Laros point out one keep fact, we know next to nothing about this...species and we will not destroy something we know nothing about." Looking to the Counselor, "Additionally the fact that a telepath potentially detected something that by all our current understanding shouldn't even exist is reason enough to demand further examination; and Starfleet Command agrees.
"The Federation has encountered many threats over the centuries and has yet to eradicate them simply because they posed a threat at the time of their discovery. ....And we won't be starting now.
"We have been ordered to search for any other signs of the Defiled as we continue our explorations. Starbase 152 will be dispatching a science vessel to study the new species and two escorts to enforce a quarantine. Lieutenant Rogers, see that quarantine markers are deployed in high orbit. Lieutenant V'Laros, Hobbes see that a series of class 8 probes are prepared for extending our search area." With a nod to Jerome, "Lieutenant O'Riley, see that the Pricari station's orbit is stabilized in the event the science team want to use it."
Rogers started to protest but shut it off. It would be inappropriate as the captain was relaying a decision, not inviting further input. "Yes, sir," he said, though he never quite learned how to keep his disappointment under wraps. "Launching markers now." He fired several, and some further out to be placed in orbit a light minute past the planet to stop ships from coming near it.
Niami felt like she had been sucker punched, when Baas announce his decision, her mouth going into a grim slim line. She had made her opinion known, and had given Baas information. Much to her dismay, it seemed that she had given a reason for the ship to pursue something dangerous.
Hobbes looked up to V'Laros, then back to the Captain. "Understood sir."
"As you wish Captain; we'll get the station stabilized right away" Liam replied acknowledging the order.
"Mr. Tarnala...Aseek, is there any final arrangements that need to be made for the remains on the station?"
Aseek jaw was clinched at the Captain's announcement but he relaxed as the Captain offer final respects to the remains of his people. "If I could be allowed to go over to the station to recover the remains for cremation I will keep the remain for use later, according to our traditions."
"Permission granted. Once the stations orbit is stabilized you can accompany a medical team to recover the remains."
Not being under his command Aseek felt safe to voice what many of the others couldn't and he looked to the others before replying. "While I strongly disagree with your decision concerning the Defiled...I thank you."
Captain Deagan Baas
CO
Aseek Tarnala
Last surviving Pricari - NPC
Lieutenant M'Tala "Hobbes"
CFCO - NPC
Lieutenant JG V'Laros
Acting CSO - NPC
Petty Office 2 Sizia Sh'velihr
Yeoman / Science trainee - NPC
LTjg Christian Rogers
Security Chief
Lieutenant Liam O'Riley
Engineering Chief
Lieutenant Ayumu Tanaka
Chief Medical Officer
Lieutenant Niami Troga
Chief Counselor
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