Diversion and Deception - Part 1

Posted on Mon Apr 27th, 2026 @ 5:48pm by Captain Daegan Baas & Lieutenant M'Tala "Hobbes" Clan Hrasi & Ensign Garath Of the House of Varal [Baas] & Lieutenant Darius Korveth & Lieutenant Edruj Daughter of Thrawn & Lieutenant Urushi Yaotome & Lieutenant Niami Troga & Lieutenant JG Christian Rogers & Lieutenant JG Ryan Kellerman & Chief Warrant Officer 3 Talon Yamaguchi-Hunt
Edited on on Mon Apr 27th, 2026 @ 5:50pm

1,578 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: What was Lost is Found
Timeline: MD 7 - 1200

Earlier...

Baas looked to Edruj and Mallory, "O'Riley and Thomas were executed. It might be a long shot, but find me a way through that interference."

He then looked to Rogers & Kellerman, "You both are with me. Rogers, have a team meet us in the shuttle bay. We're going to the surface."


[Bridge}


After giving out the orders to his XO and second, he waited at the turbolift for the captain and others.

"Yes, sir." Ryan was immediately on his feet and ready to follow his Captain. His heart was pounding more than usual, and he couldn't tell if it was because two of his fellow officers had just been executed or if his worry for Ari was beginning to rise inside him. In all likelihood, it was a combination of knowing they could lose more people--even Ari.

Garath glanced at the Captain then looked to Rogers. "Permission to join the assault team, Sir."

Rogers thought for a moment, glancing at the Ensign. He'd already ordered Garath to prepare and lead a backup squad. "Brownie," he said, tapping his commbadge, thinking of the six foot eight, broad shouldered sergeant that acted as his Top. Unless they were taking multiple shuttles, he would take up a lot of space on the shuttle. "Change of orders, you'll lead the backup squad. Suit up and prepare for immediate departure on orders. Ensign Garath will be taking your place." He had to make sure more people were trained and raised to a combat readiness that suited him. In that vein, he thought, he had to have that conversation with Taggart regarding missing training reports. "Suit up, full battle rattle," he said to Garath. "And not just bat'leths and daggers. Though," Rogers said with a cold smile, "I'm not saying no to such."

Garath grin. "Aye sir! I prefer the kur'leth anyway."

Speaking to Garath; "Ensign, see that are guest are also taken to the shuttle bay."

"Yes sir."

Edruj wanted to go with the team to the surface. Her Klingon honor demanded that she avenge those executions. However, her duty overrode the honor. She acknowledged the order and turned toward the Engineering console and the communications systems. She would get through. There was always a way; she just had to find it.

Urushi jumped out of her chair. "Captain," she said simply, but with a hint of firmness in her voice. "I hate to be 'that person'. However, you should be present here, sir. You should remain on the ship sir, to command from here. It's your duty to the ship as a whole," she reminded him.

Rogers squinted at the officer addressing Baas. Normally he would be in full agreement and making the same objection. But this wasn't a normal situation. He wanted these aggressors to experience the pain of defying Starfleet after so much hospitality and kindness was showed to them. Also, he found himself almost confused by the thought, he hadn't heard word of the welfare of the old human/Romulan councilor that so annoyed him. He waited for Baas's reply before putting forth the argument.

Ryan didn't have much patience for debates that happened five minutes too late.

Two officers were already dead--and not theoretical dead. Not filed-in-a-report dead. Gone.

So when the discussion began--whether the Captain should remain, whether it was proper, whether this fit inside the neat little box Starfleet labeled procedure--Ryan felt frustration rising. There would be more than enough time later for someone to be right. But for now, they needed to be fast.

Baas stopped as the rest moved to the lift. "Under normal circumstance you would be right. But members of the crew are being held hostage. Nothing can be done from here. We have lost too many since leaving Utopia Planetia and I cannot expect my crew to do what I am not will to do myself. You have the bridge."

Ryan didn't turn back to look at Urushi or Edruj. Captain Baas had made his decision and that was the end of it. Anything else was noise.

Urushi really wanted to stop him, she wanted to reach out and pull him back. But she knew that this was the type of man who was on a mission and couldn't be stopped. She simply looked down at the deck as he left the bridge before returning to the science station.

Without another word he entered the lift, "Shuttle bay."

Niami watched as Baas left the bridge with the others, she pulled herself together, now was the time to be calm. Much like she had to be when lost in another universe.

The counselor moved quietly stopping by the captain's chair, then continued, walking around near the other stations. She couldn't sit still, she was hoping that her presence would help. She also wished to keep tabs upon the proceedings with those on the planet and going to the planet.


[Turbolift]

As the doors closed...

"Though you will," Rogers whispered to Baas, "keep yourself shielded by me, Garath, or another security officer at all times. Right, sir?"

As the lift sped towards the shuttle bay, Baas looked to Rogers. "You can't lead from behind."

"Chariots, carriages, dog sled teams," Rogers muttered as he stepped back, "quarterbacks in Terran rules football." He continued with a few other examples, but he said what needed to be said. Now it was time to give orders to his personnel about their positioning, where the captain was concerned.

Baas ignored the comment for now but there was an audible exhale.

[Shuttle Bay]

Confused and dejected members of the crew filed into the shuttle being used to evacuate personnel to the surface. Most didn't know what was going on and couldn't believe the Captain was evacuating the ship. Those thoughts and expressions changed as the Captain and a team of officers entered the bay, dressed in tactical gear, carrying phaser rifles, passing by them all, heading into the pilot's briefing room.

Ryan had changed into light armour plating, and a type-three phaser rifle was slung over one shoulder. It had been several years since he'd donned anything this heavy, but his time in security aboard the Resistance, and his previous assignments aboard the Astera and Galileo had provided him with enough experience and confidence to slide right back into it.

The faces of his fellow crewmates were a mix of melancholy and bafflement. Some were no doubt wondering how a group of friendly Romulans had somehow found a pressure point and forced the Captain to go along with abandoning the ship. Others were probably still confident that something else was afoot and there was no way Baas would give up the Valkyrie without a fight.

Still, Ryan knew the focus was on saving lives. They had lost two already as part of some insane demonstration of power. This Dareem had proven he wasn't afraid to kill to further his people's goal.


[Pilot's briefing room]

Baas activated the table top display, bringing up a holographic display of the settlement, looking to the assembled team. "I doubt we will be able to beam...", stopping as two entered the room.

Warrant Officer Talon Yamaguchi-Hunt had shown up. Word was getting around regarding the recent execution, and with her husband on the surface, Talon wasn't one to just sit around. "Permission to accompany the away team to the surface."

Marcus Chen hadn't been summoned, but his boss was on the planet. He didn't know Darius Korveth well, but he knew his history, at least the part that hadn't been redacted. Besides, it was bad form to let your boss get killed on your watch. So, when he heard about the rescue attempt, he wasn't going to sit idly by and let others jump it Which is why he had shown up to volunteer, hoping they would let him take part.

He nodded to everyone as he stepped into the room.

Looking to the two volunteers, having a spouse on this kind of operation could bring an element that could create problems should things go sideways, but he didn't see emotions in her face, just pure determination. As to Ensign Chen, he was more of an academic with no actual field experience. However, adding an extra body to the team would free up one of the others who did have experience. "Granted."

Returning to the table, he looked over the area. Blue dots moved over the settlement as the first shuttles flew over, on their way to the landing coordinates.

Rogers turned to Baas. "Captain, a word about this inclusion."

Looking to Rogers as they stepped away from the others. "Yes?"

"We're going into a situation where some of them have proven to be dangerous and willing to kill without a second thought. We need clear-headed combat operatives at the moment, not emotionally distracted spouses and armchair intellectuals. You're placing them, and others, in jeopardy if you allow them to come. Security needs to focus on those necessary. Not those who think of it as a field trip."

Glad that he raised that objection Baas bobbed his head in approval as he silently acknowledged. “You're right. In combat there need to be cool heads and academics. However, there will be more to this operation than direct combat...trust me.” With that he gave him a single wink before heading back to the rest.


TBC...

 

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