captainslog2680

[captainslog2680]

Captive Audience, Part 1

Captain’s Log, Stardate 54965.30 We are currently en route to Arscan VI, an M-Class world with a small but growing colony. It has recently declared its secession from the United Federation of Planets, and Starfleet Command has ordered us to retrieve any Starfleet equipment or personnel. While the right to secession is guaranteed by the Federation Charter, we were also asked to try and convince them to rescind their secession. Personally, I believe something more is at play, given the relatively recent founding of the colony.

Captain Olon sh’Zula stood at the front of the conference room. She paced anxiously as she waited for her senior staff to file in, rubbing her temples as she turned thoughts over in her head. She had only been aboard the USS Georgiou for three Earth weeks, barely enough time to establish rapport with this crew and they were already being sent on a mission outside of their standing directive of exploration. Most of the officers aboard spent the last six years together, fighting in the war against Cardassia and the Dominion. The door slid open, and the most familiar face to her entered.

“Good morning, Captain.”

The slight Betazoid accent of Lieutenant (Junior Grade) D’roth calmed the Captain a bit. Celesta D’roth, the Georgiou’s Science Officer, had come aboard with sh’Zula from her previous command. D’roth was the youngest member of the senior staff by several years, barely 5 years out of Starfleet Academy. 

“Good morning, Lieutenant. I trust your morning is going well so far?”

Before D’roth could respond, the door opened and the remainder of the senior staff filed in, precisely on time for the meeting. Even though this senior staff had only been together a short time, they had established a routine of sorts for these meetings. The officers who made up the previous senior staff sat on the Captain’s left, and the newer ones sat to her right. As they settled in, retrieved coffee or tea from the replicator, and sat down, sh’Zula began her briefing,

“Early this morning we received a transmission from Starfleet Command. A colony in the Glessene Sector, Arscan VI, has declared its independence from the Federation. By virtue of being the closest vessel capable, we have been tasked with retrieving all equipment and personnel from the Starfleet research post there. Additionally, we were asked to try and convince the colony to stay within the Federation, but this was not a firm order.”

Commander Rebecca Weintraub, the ship’s first officer, spoke up,

“This seems straightforward enough, why are we being given a full briefing?”

“Because, Commander,” sh’Zula began, “I believe something more is going on. The Arscan VI colony has only existed for seven years and has a population of less than 10,000. That is not enough to maintain the colony, and I would wager that they understand that.”

Commander Weintraub nodded. She was in her early 30s, with short brown hair and broad shoulders. She had been picked out of the previous senior staff to be the Executive Officer due to her outspokenness as well as the respect the crew had for her.

“What do you think is the reason, then?”

Lt. Commander Stanislav Yegorov, the aging but still muscular Chief of Security, offered his opinion, 

“Not to be cliche, but Romulan interference perhaps? Opening up the Glessene Sector would allow them to potentially move the Neutral Zone into traditionally Federation space.” 

“It is not logical for the Romulans to engage in anything so hostile,” the Operations Manager and Second Officer, Lt. Commander T’Prea, interjected, “They are still recovering from the war and the Glessene Sector would not provide access to resources they do not have already.”

T’Prea was newer to the senior staff, only receiving their promotion to Lieutenant Commander after Weintraub received hers. Their matter-of-fact manner of speech and insistence on being correct often caused friction with other members of the crew, but their 40 years of service in the field, as well as off-and-on stints as an instructor at the Academy, had earned them a fair amount of respect.

Captain sh’Zula nodded in agreement as Yegorov rolled his eyes,

“Correct, we can’t say for sure what is happening until we investigate.”

At that moment, the computer chimed and the helmsman informed them that they had entered the Arscan system. The senior staff stood, moved to the bridge, and took their stations. The Georgiou’s bridge, like others of its generation, was designed to be comfortable and welcoming. Even though Akira Class ships were built for combat, Starfleet did not want its crews to lose sight of their overarching goals. 

“We are being hailed by the colony, Captain.”

“On screen.”

The image of a middle-aged Betazoid woman appeared, visibly nervous.

“Greetings, I regret to inform you that Starfleet vessels are no longer welcome in this system by order of the Sovereign Republic of Arscan. I ask that you please return to Federation space.”

Glancing at Commander Weintraub, sh’Zula stood as she responded,

“I apologize for our intrusion, but who am I speaking to?”

The Betazoid woman sat up straight,

“I am govern… I mean President Lojeea Grax. Again, I must insist that you turn around.”

“A pleasure to meet you, I am Captain Olon sh’Zula of the USS Georgiou. I am truly sorry President Grax, but we are here with the simple mission of retrieving any personnel or property belonging to Starfleet. We have no desire to violate your rights as guaranteed by the Federation charter. That is the whole of our directive at this point, I assure you.”

Grax looks off-screen for a moment, as if seeking approval, before she answers.

“Very well, but please accomplish this mission as quickly as possible. We do not desire any further relations with either Starfleet or the Federation.”

sh’Zula looks around the bridge, making eye contact with her crew to communicate that she is about to take a bit of a risk.

“Of course, Madam President. I would also like to offer that you and your staff join me on the Georgiou for dinner so that the Federation can offer its warm wishes on your independence. Afterwards, we will leave your system with all due haste.”

Again, Grax looks off to the side.

“I appreciate the offer, Captain, but I refuse to step foot on any Federation vessel at this point in time. Instead, your senior staff is welcome to join me this evening.”

“Excellent, we will see you shortly.”

The transmission then cuts out. Turning towards her crew, Captain sh’Zula points to Commanders T’Prea and Yegorov.

“Assemble a team to assist with retrieving our people and equipment, and make sure that they’re good in a fight. I believe that President Grax is acting under duress. You two and that team will join me for this away mission. Commander Weintraub, you have the bridge.” A flurry of ayes follow as Olon makes her way to the turbolift. My first away mission as captain of a starship, she thought. Here’s hoping I don’t screw it all up.

[captainslog2680]

Introducing: The USS Georgiou

Ship Name: USS Georgiou

Class: Akira Class

Scale: 5

Registry: NCC-63676

Traits: Federation Starship, Battle Ready, Crew Unused to Peace

Talents: Advanced Shields, Backup EPS Conduits, Improved Impulse Drive, Secondary Reactors, Dual Environment

Systems:

Comms: 09

Engines: 10

Structure: 10

Computers: 09

Sensors: 10

Weapons: 11

Departments:

Command: 03

Security: 04

Science: 02

Conn: 01

Engineering: 02

Medicine: 03

Senior Officers:

First Officer: Commander Rebecca Weintraub

Born on Mars, hand picked by sh’Zula from the K’valla’s senior officers as First Officer.

Operations Manager: Lt. Commander T’Prea

Vulcan, new to the crew

Chief Engineer: Lt. Boran Khel

Bajoran, a young rising star in Starfleet

Chief of Security: Lt. Commander Stanislav Yegorov

Chief Medical Officer: Lt. Commander Lucetta Rinaldi

Born on Earth, has been CMO on the Georgiou since it launched

Science Officer: Lt. (junior grade) Celesta D’roth

Betazoid, came with sh’Zula from her previous ship

Introducing: Olon sh'Zula

Name: Olon sh'Zula

Pronouns: She/her

Traits: Andorian, Woman of the People, Prosthetic Leg

Rank: Captain

Assignment: Commanding Officer

Attributes:

Control: 9

Daring: 12

Fitness: 9

Insight: 8

Presence: 10

Reason: 8

Disciplines

Command: 5

Conn: 4

Security: 3

Engineering: 1

Science: 2

Medicine: 1

Environment: Homeworld - Andoria

Upbringing: Rural - Rebelled against

Education: Starfleet Academy - Command Track

Career Length: Experienced - 18 Years 

Career Events:

Required to take command

In 2370, while serving as the lead helmsman aboard the USS Lysenko, the entire senior staff was abducted by Klingon pirates during a mission to perform observations on a black hole. sh’Zula, being the most senior bridge officer on duty, took the captain’s chair and managed to successfully bluff the pirates into surrender by implying they were testing secret gravimetric weapons, and would destroy both ships if the senior staff weren’t returned. 

Ship Destroyed

While serving aboard the USS Lysenko during the Dominion War, they were sent on a mission to deliver medical supplies to Starbase 47, where they were ambushed by Cardassians. The ship was completely destroyed, with 33 survivors making an escape via escape pods and shuttles. 

Focuses

Navigation, Helm Operations, Starfleet Protocol, Small Craft, Survival, Negotiation

Values

Determination creates victory.

Crew comes first.

I don’t back down from challenges.

Trust, but verify.

[captainslog2680]

Introducing: Olon sh'Zula

Name: Olon sh'Zula

Pronouns: She/her

Traits: Andorian, Woman of the People, Prosthetic Leg

Rank: Captain

Assignment: Commanding Officer

Attributes:

Control: 9

Daring: 12

Fitness: 9

Insight: 8

Presence: 10

Reason: 8

Disciplines

Command: 5

Conn: 4

Security: 3

Engineering: 1

Science: 2

Medicine: 1

Environment: Homeworld - Andoria

Upbringing: Rural - Rebelled against

Education: Starfleet Academy - Command Track

Career Length: Experienced - 18 Years 

Career Events:

Required to take command

In 2370, while serving as the lead helmsman aboard the USS Lysenko, the entire senior staff was abducted by Klingon pirates during a mission to perform observations on a black hole. sh’Zula, being the most senior bridge officer on duty, took the captain’s chair and managed to successfully bluff the pirates into surrender by implying they were testing secret gravimetric weapons, and would destroy both ships if the senior staff weren’t returned. 

Ship Destroyed

While serving aboard the USS Lysenko during the Dominion War, they were sent on a mission to deliver medical supplies to Starbase 47, where they were ambushed by Cardassians. The ship was completely destroyed, with 33 survivors making an escape via escape pods and shuttles. 

Focuses

Navigation, Helm Operations, Starfleet Protocol, Small Craft, Survival, Negotiation

Values

Determination creates victory.

Crew comes first.

I don’t back down from challenges.

Trust, but verify.