Task Force 17 – Report #2

June 29, 2025

It’s been a minute. Or, you know… three months. My last report went out in early April, and since then, the galaxy has basically rearranged itself. We had a six-week Fleet Action, a few promotions, a staff shuffle, and more writing activity than I ever thought possible.

For six weeks, our lounge was the digital equivalent of a non-stop party with creativity, caffeine and a healthy dose of chaos. And guess what? We won!

What made me proudest wasn’t the win itself (although I will admit that it’s a pretty neat flex). It was watching people support each other, co-write like maniacs, cheer each other on, and celebrate each other’s accomplishments.

And just when you thought we’d slow down and take a well-earned break — nope. We kept the momentum going with some staff transitions instead.

We said goodbye to Noli Auru, who served as TGCO before stepping back into the role of regular member in a different Task Force. He helped to keep things running during the busiest period of the year, brought his signature style to the table, and we wish him all the best for his future endeavors.

After learning the ropes as TGCO, Anna Caldwell – Chris – stepped into the role of Task Force Executive Officer. He’s excellent, experienced, and I can’t imagine someone more supportive by my side as I pretend to be organized.
In addition, welcomed Pascal Reade back into Task Force 17’s staff, and also brought in Nacien Rixx. Both are stellar additions to the team, and if you haven’t already messaged them with a ‘hey, congratulations’ already, you should!

It’s a great feeling to have a full team in place again, and I’m genuinely excited about what we’ll accomplish together in the coming weeks and months.

Now, I’ve already gone on at length about the amazing things we pulled off during Nightfall, so it’s only fair to show you what that looked like in practice:


Fiction Updates

USS Resnik – In the wake of the Blackout, the USS Resnik is dispatched to investigate the sudden silence from Research Station C221. Commander Isabella Broska leads a team to the station and uncovers a horrifying massacre – most of the crew slaughtered, survivors behaving strangely, and signs of secret research gone wrong. The attackers are confirmed to be the Vaadwaur, using reopened Underspace apertures to launch a coordinated invasion.

Before the Resnik can retreat, it is caught in a deadly ambush. Subspace is too unstable for warp travel, and the ship is vastly outgunned. The crew fights back with everything they have, managing to destroy several enemy vessels, but suffer catastrophic damage. Just as all seems lost, the USS ibn Al-Haytham and USS Givens arrive and drive off the attackers, rescuing the surviving crew while the badly damaged Resnik is hidden within the nebula for later recovery.

USS Merced – On Armon III, Chief Medical Officer Marcus Anvers and his team work tirelessly to develop a vaccine for the Armonians, only to be interrupted by news of an approaching Vaadwaur warship. With the revelation that the Vaadwaur are also affected by the virus, an uneasy alliance forms between Starfleet, the Armonians, and the Vaadwaur. But when the vaccine is finally completed, a betrayal is revealed: the Captain of the Merced had secretly promised the surrender of Armon III in exchange for Federation hostages. When he fails to uphold the deal, the Vaadwaur retaliate, killing the crew and sparing only Marcus.

Haunted but determined, Marcus helps orchestrate a daring rescue mission to recover the hostages. Returning to Armon III, Marcus is met with gratitude and honor. The Armonians build a new medical research facility bearing his and his late colleagues’ names.

Caireann Station – Across the station, from Little Risa to sick bay to the habitat ring, the crew of Caireann Station struggles to manage the growing number of refugees. Things take a turn when a Vaadwaur ship arrives with a sole Vaadwaur officer on board asking for sanctuary in exchange for information that might just help them stand a chance against the invading forces. After a tense staff meeting, the decision is made to bring him aboard while the civilians and refugees on the push back against the decision. When the Vaadwaur fleet arrives, a pitched battle begins as civilians willingly take their ships and place themselves between the station and the enemy fleet to protect their new home. As the battle begins to turn against the station, local ships arrive in the nick of time to help turn the tide. As Underspace collapses and the Vaadwaur retreat, the station is left to pick up the pieces in the aftermath and remember the fallen.

USS Seoul – The Seoul prepares to launch from DS-4 in an effort to save the citizens of Changxi IV; the ship takes on additional armaments while the crew trains for the battle that lies ahead. With the ship less than twenty minutes away from the planet, the crew meets for a last briefing to cover all their bases and prepare for the fight to come.

Hecate Squadron – As the Captain worries about losing contact with multiple ships under her command, a new threat is revealed: the Vaadwaur. Refugees flood the station – twenty-one at first, then fourty-seven – quickly overwhelming Hecate Station’s resources. Amid rising tension, Fleet Captain Kobhal delivers an impassioned speech to civilians and Starfleet alike: Hecate Stands. As the crisis reaches a boiling point release finally comes as the USS Wakefield and USS Saturn arrive to assist.

In the meanwhile, the USS Gemini is enroute to the Klingon border to investigate the disappearance of the USS Horsehead. Upon finding the ship, Captain Ruslanova and the senior staff quickly determine that the Horsehead was attacked and most of the crew abducted by the Vaadwaur. The Gemini heads to find the missing officers, fully knowing a trap is waiting for them, but eventually manage to rescue the crew and escape.

Saturn Research Cruiser Division – The USS Saturn, along with the USS Wakefield, arrive at Hecate Station, a welcome addition after the recent crisis. The ships are assigned to Hecate Squadron, serving as a mobile unit to push further investigation and research of the Grim Wall. The first assignment for the two ships is a mission of diplomacy: escorting the SS Duchess Veritas to deliver humanitarian supplies to the Klingon Empire. With optimism they can overcome the objections the Klingons are sure to have, the ships set out.

Overwatch Logistic Support Division – The crew of the USS Paso Robles settles into their new role, assigned to the Overwatch Logistics Division stationed out of Overwatch Station. The Paso Robles is assigned to escort the USS Oakland to Starbase Bravo and when the two ships arrive, they are given orders to investigate a possible Romulan presence in the Talvoth System. They launch under the guise of delivering self sealing stem bolts. Despite a successful deception the ships see nothing concerning. Meanwhile the station sends the Runabout USS Mare Serenitatis in the hope of creating a sensor net to detect hidden Romulan ships. Upon arrival both ships are chased away by Romulan Warbirds. Outgunned they retreat to Overwatch Station.

USS Oakland – The USS Oakland’s new Captain makes the rounds on the ship, taking time to meet his new senior staff before the ship is assigned its new mission. While waiting for the USS Paso Robles to arrive and escort them to their home port, a few of the new crew butt heads, requiring Captain Coleman to intervene. As they arrive at Starbase Bravo, they receive orders to patrol the Talvath system to investigate any Tal Shair presence and drop off supplies. As the ship is en route the crew encounters the SS Horatio, requiring assistance after a Romulan attack. After the staff complete repairs they ship continues to the Talvath system before they and the USS Paso Robles are chased off by Romulans in the system.

USS Healdsburg – The Healdsburg is assigned to disable or destroy a Blackout outpost in the Dentarra sector. With little info or time the crew bands together to complete their mission. The ship goes dark as they enter the system, concealing themselves in the system’s asteroid field and detecting a signal deep on the planet. The Healdsburg launches a probe to gain reconnaissance information. As the crew waits for information from a probe, backup arrives and the crew discovers their mission is going to entail more than initially planned. In the facility the crew finds experiments intended to produce a Borg/Vaadwaur hybrid. Working with the backup teams, the Healdsburg is able to destroy the facility.

USS Burbank – The USS Burbank is called to flush out Vaadwaur fighters who use the underspace tunnels to sneak attack civilian freighters. The senior staff debates whether they could safely use the Burbank as bait for the Vaadwaur, knowing they could have the help of the USS Sheffield. The crew are uncertain, but they come together to form a clever plan: they will bait the Vaadwaur using a remotely piloted shuttlecraft filled with simulated lifesigns. Their ruse is successful – almost too successful as the Vaadwaur attack, badly damaging the USS Burbank and injuring both Captain Johnathan Reilly and Commander Eliza Parker. The Burbank manages to hang on long enough to receive aid from the USS Sheffield, and together they fend off the Vaadwaur, making the area once again safe for critical freight traffic.

USS Calistoga – Following the abrupt retirement of its former CO, Captain Ishreth Dal takes command of the USS Calistoga – but a wary, junior crew makes earning trust a challenge. There’s little time to settle in. With the Vaadwaur advancing, the Calistoga is dispatched to Spaceport Mireya VII to seek aid from independent fighters hired to protect the sector. As an away team struggles to sway the station’s reluctant overseer, the Vaadwaur arrive. The Calistoga fights to hold the line. On the station, a hidden fleet – and a possibly illegal terraforming project – are discovered, cloaked by Klingon tech. With the secret out, the overseer agrees to help. Reinforced by the concealed fleet, the Calistoga repels the Vaadwaur and limps back to Starbase 339.

 

Task Force Recognition

Awards

Promotions


Conclusion

With Shore Leave on the horizon, there’s plenty to look forward to – new stories to tell, new connections to make, and I am excited to see where we’ll go next as a team.

Task Force 17 continues to be full of talent, heart, and just the right amount of chaos – and honestly, I wouldn’t want to have it any other way.

FrameProfile Photo
Cressida Brennan Task Force 17 Commanding Officer
Task Force 17