Episode 1 - The Syndicate Storm

The Gagarin is assigned to interdiction duties in the rimward.

TSS 001 – Clouds Gathering

Montana Station
12.16.2401

“We’ve got a situation.” Fleet Captain Geronimo Fontana was on the viewscreen on the smaller bridge of the USS Gagarin. The ship had been the first in the line of the heavy escort class, and her journey had been filled with danger and discovery in equal parts. The Gagarin had seen Frontier Day up close, and the damage required a significant refit. The bridge had been replaced with an Akira-class-style command center. It wasn’t as spacious as most bridges and focused on the escort duties that the Gagarin was being positioned for within the Montana Squadron.

Helena Dread sat in the command seat. Lieutenant Sadie Fowler, her executive officer in training, was behind her at the operations console. Dread replied, “We saw the report an hour ago. Tougun isn’t taking his time, is he?” Tougun had seized control of much of rimward Orion Syndicate operations. It hadn’t helped they bore some responsibility for it.

Fontana groused, “No, he is not. Dragonfly is on her way to the colony to support and get them back on their feet. I’m tasking you with some Syndicate hunting.” He tapped at his console on the desk, and details slid across the screen as he continued, “We’ve been tracking his organization’s movements – intel has some guesses on where some ships will be. Your orders are to listen and observe…but if any threat comes to a Federation colony or someone calls for help – you have been cleared to take proportional action using the full breadth of the Gagarin’s abilities.”

A few glances at his last sentence were shared. The Gagarin was a heavy hitter. That meant action, but it also meant risk. Dread answered, “We’ll get underway.” The channel closed, and she turned to the tried and tested crew, “Readiness reports from department heads within the hour. We haven’t had much time to get to know the Gagarin…but the Orion Syndicate isn’t going to wait for us, the bastards.” She smiled and appreciated the chuckles that were shared. They had grown together quickly, and she was thankful she could retain most of them. “Let’s get to work.”

 

 

The door chime to her new ready room rang, “Enter.” Sadie Fowler stepped in, her eyes as wide as they had been when they’d taken command of the Gagarin the day before. “Take a seat, Sadie.”

The young woman obliged nervously. She handed a PADD to Dread, “Shift reports are complete. Double checked. I had to kick two back for revisions.” She blew out a sigh, “That was scary.”

Helena scrolled through the reports, “Who were the revisions?”

Fowler replied, “Jake and Sam. Jake didn’t have the correct dates or the changes in the shift schedule. Sam’s was missing her updated caseload report.” Her heart rate was slowing down after talking to them an hour ago.

“What was scary about it?” Dread leaned over her desk. She had bent Wren Walton’s ear on how best to train an executive officer. As much as Fowler would be coached, Helena knew she would be learning just as much. Milton Ford had been an easy placement – he knew enough about the how and what. Fowler was more of a blank slate.

Sadie held onto the chair’s arms gently as her eyes searched the ceiling. She turned thoughtfully and said, “It’s different when you have to tell someone how to do their job better. They were all people I worked with before…, but now it’s different. Not bad, and not awful…just different.” She kept her grip on the chair’s arms. “I know I can do this, Captain Dread. I want this.”

Helena tapped at the PADD, accepting the reports, “That’s half the fight, Fowler. Get us underway, Lieutenant Fowler.”

Sadie stood hesitantly, “You mean…”

Dread turned her attention to her console, “Yes, I do.”

The new XO stood, left the ready room, and walked slowly down the hall back to the bridge. She paused at the archway, taking a few deep breaths. “I can do this,” she whispered to herself. Taking several more calming breaths, she stepped onto the bridge and walked gently to the center chair where she sat, hands gripping the arms. “Helm, plot an intercept course for our destination – maximum warp.”

At the helm, William Prentice allowed a small smile to cross his lips, “Course plotted, sir. Ready to engage at your order.”

The bridge crew turned to Fowler, who forced her eyebrows down and said, “Engage.” The Gagarin jumped to warp as the crew returned to their duties, all smiles. Fowler released her grip on the chair.

Warp speed, indeed.

TSS 002 – An Empty Rimward

USS Gagarin
12.24.2401

“A week and nothing.” Captain Helena Dread sat at her ready-room desk, reading through the reports that her XO, Lieutenant Sadie Fowler, had handed to her moments ago. “Reports are still coming in on the damage done to the groups of Syndicate operators. Remind me never to piss off the Pirate Queen.”

Sadie was working on her own PADD, “It’s staggering how clean cut it was – anyone who participated in the thefts found themselves thrown out into the dark. Fourth Fleet is still cleaning up the mess.” She scrolled further down, “But that leaves us without any ideas on what Tougun is up to…or if he’s managed to survive. If the rumors are true and she’s cut all of them off…he’s on his own.”

Helena steepled her fingers thoughtfully, “When he took over the rest of the operations, he inherited most of the rimward operations – a lot of latinum swept into his banks. Not having access to the larger Syndicate would slow him down…but given the psychological profile they built on him after it was all done – he’s no quitter.” She worked through his past as she spoke, “He can’t go back to the slavery recovery operations, so that’s out. He’s built a reputation out here as the worst guy you could run into on a good day.”

Sadie sat forward, her mind joining her CO’s brainstorm, “You said it – he’s not a quitter. He has nowhere else to go…and excels at what he does out here. Would he even think of competing with the Syndicate? He’s fearless, but everyone has their limits.”

“I think you misjudge him, Fowler. That psyche eval was interesting in what it included and didn’t include. It talked a lot about his motivations, desires, thought process…everything you can imagine except for his predictability. They couldn’t game out how he would act in any scenario. The computer and the counseling team had a hell of a time. The only thing it could predict with any certainty was whatever it was…it would end in violence. He doesn’t take the straight path…he takes detours…or hell, even makes his own road.” She sipped from her chilled cider, “I don’t think Tougun has limits as we imagine them. I think he’s been searching for his limits his whole life.”

The science chief blinked in rapid succession. She sat back, muted in abject shock. An Orion with no limits? With his history? That scared her in ways she hadn’t imagined. She whispered out, “Do you think he ever will? Find his limits, I mean?”

Dread stared out the floor-to-ceiling bay windows, “At this rate, we’re going to be the ones to find out when he finally comes out from behind whatever curtain he’s hiding behind.”

Sadie remained at a whisper, “Doesn’t that scare you, captain?”

Helena remained fixated on the universe outside her window. The question was and wasn’t hard to answer. She had spent her career in Starfleet, seeing and experiencing the unbelievable, the unthinkable, and the unforgettable. There had been plenty of moments that had scared her. She turned her attention back to her young XO, “Sure. If I were alone in a room with him, I would be scared shitless. Reading the reports gave me every kind of anxiety in the book…and then some.” She chuckled at the wide-eyed look on Fowler’s face, “Welcome to my ready room – foul language and all.” She continued, “I know I’m not going to be alone. I have my crew and the Gagarin with all her fists of fury ready to throw down. We don’t quit, either.” She refilled her cider, “Does it scare you, lieutenant?”

A quiet nod from Fowler as she wrapped her hands around her own refilled hot chocolate. Silence remained until she spoke, “I know we’re as safe as we can be here on the Gagarin. I know we all know how to perform our various positions and responsibilities. I just…the thought of it not being enough has been on my mind lately…and I can’t shake it.”

Dread finished her cider. “In the academy, they talk about the ‘no win scenario.’ Kirk is one of the first case studies, but there were plenty more we studied – many who lost. You remember that semester?” A somber nod from Fowler. “Then you remember how important it is to focus on working with your team every step of the way – being aware of as much as you can so nothing catches you unawares. Knowing and accepting what is under your control is one of the greatest weapons Starfleet officer carries.” She watched Fowler listen, and her eyes exuded a little more confidence as she stood. Dread added, “Being scared is pretty normal. What you do with those feelings will carry the day, Lieutenant Fowler.” Sadie thanked her captain and left the ready room. Dread remained in her chair. Her XO was right to be scared of Tougun. Helena wouldn’t admit it to anyone but herself at the moment, but the specter of the Orion just out of reach made her nervous.

And a little scared.

TSS 003 – The Heart of the Matter

USS Gagarin
12.25.2401

“You ready to talk about it?” Ensign Samantha Soojin sat in the armchair opposite Lieutenant Sadie Fowler.

Sadie replied, “I don’t know.” She sat on the edge of the wide couch, her hands grasping at her knees. It was Christmas morning, and the feelings of the last two months lay heavy on her heart. “I’m thankful to be alive, which is the first thing. The Sisters taught me to be thankful, always.” She had grown up as an orphan under the watchful eyes of the Sisters of Mercy in New Haven, Connecticut. Fowler had been given an incredible education, but she’d also been trained in ways to live that still stuck with her. She reflected on her disconnection from Vocast. “It hurt so much for so long.”

Sam held the silence for a few minutes before asking, “How has that been going? I know you’ve been working on making connections with the rest of the senior staff.”

“Lizzy’s been the most successful.” Lieutenant Elizabeth McKee was the Gagarin’s Chief Engineer. Fowler had sat down for a few meals with her early on in her recovery. It had been awkward at first, but she’d been thankful for McKee’s patience in walking with her through the unknown as she worked to find herself again. “She’s been through some of the same…stuff.”

There was another stretch of quiet before the chief counselor asked, “And what about…the other thing?” She noted that the chief science officer tensed slightly on the couch before relaxing.

“That’s…I don’t know what to feel. I mean, I know what I’m supposed to feel. I have a brother.” They had all met on Montana Station – Geraldine the El Aurien and the rest of the orphans who had been hunted for their perfection. Fleet Captain Fontana had opened quarters for them, allowing them to stay as long as needed. “Our parents fought so hard to protect us…and why. They loved us enough to find ways to keep us safe from…her and whatever else was hunting us.”

Sam circled back to where Sadie had started, “What are you supposed to feel, Sadie?”

“I’m supposed to be happy to have a brother – a blood relative. I’ve been an orphan my whole life…and now I have someone that looks like me. That’s supposed to be the best thing in the universe…but I still feel empty.”

Sam made some notes on her PADD, “How does that emptiness feel?”

Sadie opened her mouth to reply and closed it again. It was a unique feeling that was hard to assign a specific emotion. She tried again, “It’s…like an ache..like a hunger that’s gone on too long, and it’s starting to hurt.” Feeling her heart climbing into her throat, she swallowed hard. “We’ve been sending messages back and forth since we met on the station. Sharing our stories. He’s five years older than me. A foster family in New York adopted him, and they helped him discover his passion – medicine. He’s thinking of joining up with the hospital on Montana Station.” She released the grip on her knees and smoothed out her uniform pants slowly, “I don’t know if he is doing it because I’m nearby or if he’s doing it because he wants to practice medicine in the rimward.”

Sam leaned forward from her chair. “What if it’s both?” She noted the surprised look in the woman’s eyes. “What if this is where he’s meant to be for a while? You said he’s a pretty good doctor.”

Fowler stared at the carpet, her eyes going distant as she recalled, “He’s said he likes it out here…always felt out of place at Earth and the inner rim.” She didn’t speak for a few more minutes before she shifted her eyes back up to meet her counselor’s gaze. “Having him close would help us get to know each other, grow the connection…even make some memories.” Sadie felt some of the weight lifting off her shoulders.

Sam noticed it as well. She asked, “Did this help?”

“It did…thank you, Ensign Soojin.”

Sam smiled warmly. “In here, it’s always Sam.” Glancing at her PADD, she said, “Let’s meet tomorrow after your shift. I think we’re getting closer to decreasing the frequency of our conversations.”

“You think so?” Sadie’s face echoed the shock in her voice. Was she making progress?

“With time comes progress, Sadie. You’re doing well…one day at a time.” Fowler stood, thanked Sam, and left. Soojin tapped at her notes. She reminded herself of her mantra – progress was progress, and hope remained eternal.

TSS 004 – Complications in the Rimward

USS Gagarin
12.26.2401

“Report!”  Captain Helena Dread slid into the center chair of the small bridge on the Gagarin.  Ruby lights flashed as the red alert klaxon faded, replaced by the shuffling of boots and stations.  She focused on the red clock at the front of the bridge—two in the morning.  An unkempt Ensign Alanna Barker slid a cup of coffee into her hands before stepping back into the back corridor to pull her hair together.

Ensign Athena Catari was tapping at the helm console, having drawn double duty from her primary focus on tactical and security.  “We picked up an Orion Vessel on short-range sensors three minutes ago.  Range is five minutes – they were shielded from our long-range sensors behind a small moon.”  She coaxed more from the sensors, “Medium size ship…moving at half impulse…course is erratic. If they continue on this course, they’ll run straight into one of the planets in about three hours.”

Dread took a drink from the warm cup and felt some semblance of her sanity return as the coffee passed her lips.  Her yeoman knew how to make damned good coffee, among other great talents.  “Shaw – see if anyone’s on the other end.  Weapons status?”

Athena sat back, confused, “None?  They’re not powered…and not present.”  She tapped across the commands on her screen again and found the same result, “Sensors confirm – no weapons present.”  The Bajoran turned in her chair, facing her captain, “That’s impossible—every Orion Syndicate ship…even the diplomatic ones run with some weapon capabilities.”

Helena considered the conflicting reports.  It was the day after Christmas, and Fowler had put on an intimate celebration with all the fixings and features from her years at the Sisters of Mercy.  They had gone to bed feeling the warmth of connection.  Being jarred awake by an Orion mystery threatened to turn her into a Grinch.  “Standard weapons on a ship of that make and size?”  Ensign Athena ran down the list – at least two types of phaser weapons, two or more weapons bays that would be outfitted with various heavy-hitting photon torpedoes.  Dread grumbled, “Damned peculiar.  Life signs?”

Fowler had made it to the bridge and relieved the junior officer at her station.  She quickly reviewed the data, finding herself perplexed.  “Nothing – dead or alive.  Sensors are reading an empty ship.  Power systems are active and running.  I’m not detecting any weapons fire or debris fields around the ship or nearby.”

“Shaw?” Dread hoped for something, anything.

Jake adjusted his earpiece, “There’s an open channel – my hails keep bouncing back.  Someone on the bridge is transmitting.”  He worked the board, “Attempting to locate where they’re transmitting.”

Helena sat back in her chair, “It’s been a few weeks since the purge.”  She stared at the screen, the ship moving slowly through space in silent sentinel.  “Thing is…things take time to get out here into the rimward.”

Fowler continued to adjust her scans.  “You think there’s more out here?  Or that they just got started?”  

The CO felt her hair stand on end as she replied, “Both.”

Suddenly, beeps sounded from multiple stations.  Athena jumped forward in her chair, “New contacts – coming out of a nearby system – two heavy Orion cruisers – coming in fast!  Arriving in 5…4….3…”

Dread ordered, “Full reverse!” They all watched as the stars and silent ship moved farther away.  Shaw reported the lead ship was hailing them and demanded to speak to someone in charge.  Dread sat up in her chair, muttering, “If he’s a Christmas Ghost, he’s damned overdue.”  She cleared her throat, “On screen.”

A flicker and the visage of Sarge filled the screen, “How dare you attack one of our ships!  You will pay for this Starfleet!”  She could see his spittle flying.  She winced.  He grinned, exposing his uneven and sickly teeth.

She put on a small, somewhat kind smile as she addressed him, “Good morning, Captain Sarge.  I’m Captain Helena Dread of the Federation Starship Gagarin.  We had nothing to do with that thing.  Have your ships scan the thing.”  She was too tired and still needed another cup of coffee before she started using technical terms with an Orion captain.  Especially one that was threatening to kill her.

There was a pause as he sneered but retreated to the latter half of his command center.  A few moments later, he returned, the sneer still in place.  His tone was shockingly measured, “We have done our scans.  It appears this one wasn’t your fault…that we can see.”  His face looked as if he was going to implode as he said his next words, “If you have any…helpful data…the Tougun Network will thank you.”

Dread didn’t stop her eyebrows from raising.  That answered one of the questions.  She leaned forward in her chair, “I see.  Congratulations on the new…operation.  We’ll send you what we’ve gathered.  We suspect this ship may have been raided by Orion Syndicate operatives taking action against…well, it would seem…you.  If you could share any data you have…”

Sarge rolled his eyes. “I’ll pass along your concerns.”  The channel cut, and she watched as the two larger ships approached the wandering ship. Soon, it slowed and stopped.

Shaw spoke up from his station, and Helena turned to face him.  “I was able to trace the signal’s intended connection – it was being sent to the lead ship.  I managed to snag a recording of the channel before they shut it down.”  He connected the sound to the bridge speakers.

“They came for us, Sarge.  They weren’t Syndicate operators.  They were…mercs, we think.  I don’t have a lot of time…they grappled and tore our weapons off!  They’re working their way to me – everybody’s dead.  I know you have the ear of the big man. You need to warn him – whoever he pissed off on his way to the throne…they’re out for blood.”  There were sounds of blasts and a shout.  “That’s it…here they come.”  There was more shouting and a final blast.  The message recorded a bunch of movement and what sounded like bodies being dragged.  A beep, and the message began to repeat.

Helena asked, “Do they know we intercepted it?”  Shaw shook his head.  She mused, “Well, it’s not The Syndicate.  Someone else has decided to stage a revenge play in our massive backyard.  Helm, put some distance between us and him.  Shaw, I need a priority one secure channel to Montana Station.  Fontana is going to love this.”  

She stood from her chair, “Barker, we’re going to need more coffee.  Much more.”

TSS 005– A New Year’s Note

USS Gagarin
12.31.2401

“Home. What does that even mean?” Ensign Samantha Soojin is sitting in her quarters, staring out the small window she’s been afforded as a senior staff member. New Year’s Eve was in the throes of celebration onboard the Gagarin. Sam had begged off the various groups celebrating the end of 2401 and steeling themselves for the start of 2402. She’d been sitting at the small desk in her room, thinking of home…and maybe writing her parents. The console beeped at her, reminding her she was recording. “I’ve never really celebrated New Year’s Eve – even though you two always did.” Her relationship with her parents had ended six years ago. They had been angry when she’d emancipated. They’d been furious when she’d refused to follow their directives, wants, and desires for her.

She decided she needed to write this letter, even if she might never send it. There were things left unsaid when she’d walked away from them in 2396. “Honestly – those New Year’s Eve memories…they’re the only good memories I have from us. I knew you wanted what you wanted for me every other day of the year…but that night – you both let go of the lease you were desperate to keep hold of…and we celebrated the year’s changing.”

She pushed up from the desk and began to pace around the living room, “It’s been an interesting six years – the USS Mercy, the Olympic – I found people that felt more like home…more like…the place I belonged.” She stopped at the frame of a drawing over her couch, a quiet smile on her lips. “Here on the Gagarin…I’ve found good people. Friends, even. Sadie Fowler drew me a picture of her memories of home – the orphanage. Some Sisters there have passed, but she keeps up with those left. She’s even doing mentoring sessions with some of the kids. She doesn’t say it, but I think she wants to have kids. Her and Prentice…they’ve held it together – longer than I thought they would.” She felt her throat tighten with her own feelings, pausing for a few minutes. She swallowed, “I know you’re probably asking about my love life after hearing about someone else’s…and truthfully…there’s nobody out here. I mean, there’s Jake Shaw…but he’s…just young and stupid like I used to be.” She grimaced. “You’d tell me I was thinking foolishly, that he was wrong for me…that I need to find a good Korean boy somewhere out here in the rimward…and then come home.”

She grumbled, “But you were never home for me. You wanted Soojin. You wanted obedience. You didn’t want Sam.” She felt tears forming at the edges of her eyes and went silent as her mind worked through the resurgence of her feelings from her childhood. “But what I wanted never mattered. Thankfully I found that out here. Even as I played hopscotch from assignment to assignment, everyone welcomed me in. My old CO, Captain Halsey…he was on the Olympic. Best day of my life finding him outside my quarters. He’s on Montana Station now – and I get to see him when we dock…he’s never lost that warmth and interest in my life. He’s what you could have been for me.”

She stopped pacing and filled a cup with hot cider, “We’re a young crew – it’s helped me feel more at home this year – surrounded by people who understand me and what I feel. You never tried. God, I wish you had tried.” She felt the sob trying to push out of her throat, but she shoved it back down. “I wish I had tried too. I was angry. I was furious. You can’t use reason and logic when both sides would just as soon kill each other. We were an imperfect family behind those decorated walls that hid our sins.” She sipped at her cup, wondering what they were doing tonight. Her memories were crystal clear – games, old Earth movies, and falling asleep to the soft sounds of far-away fireworks. Then, the old conflicts would begin again on the first new day of the new year. “I think about you every few weeks…more and more recently. My friends here talk about their family with a warmth I don’t understand…and only have started feeling recently since joining Starfleet. You’ve cursed me with a long road to recovery…sorting through my feelings while trying to help others sort through their own.”

She returned to the couch, “I know I’ll have to acknowledge you again someday. To accept that you are a part of me. I have a family here on Gagarin…but I also want to find a way to make us work…the family that brought me into the universe. I don’t know what that looks like…but I know I want to find some way to make it work.” She sat, letting the silence hold as her mind contemplated the rest of the evening. “I was invited to spend some time with two friends tonight…I think I’ll go and try something new for New Year’s Eve.” She stood, walking to the door. Should she send the message? Should she save it for later?

“Computer, send the message to my parents.” There was a beep, and it was done. Sam stepped into the corridor and pointed her feet toward her new family.

TSS 006 – Unusual Friends

USS Gagarin
1.03.2402

“Lieutenant Fowler?”  Ensign Jake Shaw turned in his chair at communications.  “I’ve got something…unusual.”  Fowler stood from the center chair, happy to be free of it for however long.  The afternoon was getting underway, and her continued feelings about being in the position of XO had not abated.

She asked, “Define unusual.”  Her eyes searched the display as he switched through his various readings and scans.  “That looks like a distress call,” she concluded.  Sadie noted the slight shake of the ensign’s head, “You don’t think so?”

Shaw tapped at the console, reworking the scans. “It looks like it, but it’s not triggering our systems. It came across the reports ten minutes ago. The comms team caught it and flagged it. I think it’s meant to fly under our sensors and reach someone else.”  He continued applying filters and scans to the signal.

Sadie frowned, leaning down to look closer, “You have a point…who do you think it’s supposed to reach?”

He adjusted the screen to compare it to other similar signals.  “It has hallmarks of a Syndicate signal…but it’s different.  It’s almost like it’s related but not.”

The XO grimaced, “I think we’ve picked up a distress call from the Tougun Network, Ensign Shaw.”  She tapped her badge, “Captain to the bridge.”  She pointed at the screen, “Be ready to talk about all of that when she gets here.”  

Jake felt his heart jump as the XO stepped away to check in with Ensign Catari at tactical.  Helena Dread was a captain with high expectations.  She hadn’t let up since she’d stepped aboard the Gagarin with them, and he’d felt her fire off and on.  He was desperate to prove to her that he knew what he was doing.  It was just that he didn’t know what he was doing sometimes.

The voice of Dread reached him. “Report.”  The Gagarin’s bridge had been modeled after an Akira class. There were small corridors at the rear of the bridge, and the ready room, turbolift, and conference rooms were all tucked in the back. There were no doors to slide open to warn of someone arriving. Often, they were just…there. 

He tapped at the console, and the various details were soon displayed on the screen.  Shaw gave her the rundown and included the latest the sensors could tell them.  Dread walked to the center chair; her eyes seemed to be searching the view screen display.  She turned to the helm officer, “Yellow Alert -intercept course at maximum warp. Fowler – alert sickbay and engineering.  Mr. Shaw respond in kind by saying that we are on our way.  Have your team step up their monitoring of short and long-range communications.  I don’t think we’re going to be alone.”

 

“…showing a mix of injured and dead in the main operations area – fires are still burning.  The distress call stopped transmitting three minutes ago.  Reading backup power generators are running but won’t last long, captain.”  At tactical Ensign, Athena was running through the reports that the tactical and the engineering teams had worked up as they had dropped from warp.

Dread remained in her seat.  She turned to Athena, “Take your teams first to secure the area.”  She tapped at the arm of her chair, “Away teams begin transport once we have security’s confirmation.”  Lieutenant McKee from engineering, Ensign Dawson from sickbay, and their Chief Petty Officer, Henry Wyatt, had assembled in the transporter rooms.  She remained in her seat.  They were lending rescue assistance to a Tougun Network planetary operations center.  The hair on the back of her neck was permanently raised.  “Fowler – what do we see around us? I have a bad feeling about this.”

Sadie had been watching the long and short-range sensors.  She retasked the sensors, running the scans on repeat, “Nothing on short-range…wait…something…we have three Syndicate model ships on an intercept course.”  She shook her head in disbelief, “This isn’t the first time they’ve come out of hiding on us.”  Fowler turned to Dread, “I can’t tell if they’re Syndicate or Tougun, captain.  Intercept time at one minute.”

Helena gritted her teeth, “Rimward’s never a boring place; brochure’s promise be damned.  Red Alert – signal the away teams to take cover.”  The klaxon rang as the ruby lights descended onto the bridge. Officers scrambled to their muster stations as the seconds counted on the clock at the front of the bridge.  They had been running drills to check their speed.  Dread was satisfied in knowing the times were improving—still plenty of room for improvement.  The screen was then filled with two medium Syndicate ships and one large – looming over them.

Shaw shook his terror loose and reported, “Captain, we’re being hailed by the lead ship.”  Dread nodded. The screen flickered, and then a face she was not expecting appeared. Once his Orion eyes caught hers, a salacious grin grew on his face.

Tougun.

“Captain Dread of the Federation Starship Gagarin.  I had wondered where you would end up.”

Helena controlled her simmering fear, “Tougun of the Tougun Network.  I need to let my teams know to remove from cover.  You were not who I was expecting.”  He waved his acceptance, and she ordered Shaw to transmit the all-clear.  She followed that with, “Stand down to yellow alert.”  The lights faded to the muted yellow.

“Still don’t trust me entirely, Captain Dread.”

“I don’t trust you at all.  A name change doesn’t change a criminal enterprise.  Or it’s local leadership who seems to have a habit of a murder or two.  This is your facility.”  Dread’s mood was sour.  She wouldn’t be able to stand up to Tougun and his ships – the only hope was to find a tenuous way to assist where they could and get the hell out.  Sooner rather than later.

Tougun’s face mocked her with faux outrage, “A murder or two?  You’re being kind.  I assure you my number is much higher than that, Captain Dread.”  He paused, his eys searching the bridge for something.  Dread wasn’t sure if he found it as he returned his attention to her, “Yes, this is my facility.  My people report you’ve sent down engineers, medics…and an unusual amount of security people…including a very unhappy Bajoran.  She has some feelings about the security of her people.”

Athena, Dread mused.  You could never accuse her of ignoring protocol or process.  “I won’t apologize for her.  You seem to have enough resources to assist yours – would it be acceptable for my people to finish what work they started?  We can hand over reports on damage and our progress.”

The Orion’s eyebrows shot up, surprised, “You seem pretty content to leave this hive of scum and villainy behind, Captain Dread.  No desire to attempt to spy, bug, or otherwise compromise this location?”

“I’m a doctor, Tougun, not an operative.  I’d rather leave your people better than I found them.  Who attacked them and why – that’s your thing.  I’d rather not find myself on the business end of their wrath.  They seem to be very focused on you and your operations.”

“You’re not even curious?  Has Starfleet turned over a new leaf?  You’re not even going to ask?  Color me surprised in any other color but green.”  Tougun sat back in his chair.  He didn’t seem sure what was happening – Dread took some satisfaction in that.

Helena decided to bite. “Who is it, then.”

“You are aware of the recent… aggressive stance of certain elements of the Klingon Empire?”  She replied with a curt nod. “One of the pieces in my rise to power was the taking over of a large swath of Romulan Syndicate operations out here in the Rimward.  However, I also cut deals with some extremely minor Klingon houses and a few mercenary groups.”

Dread’s conclusion crossed the finish line as he finished speaking.  She replied, “And now you have some Klingons who have decided that your Romulan operations will be their entry ticket into the festivities at the big house.”

“You are not just a pretty face, Captain Dread.  You’ve got some brains, too.”

Helena ignored him, “Why are you telling me this?  You’re not on our Christmas card list.”

A sly smile crossed his lips, “I may be no more than a murderous thug in your eyes, Captain Dread, but I don’t wish any harm to come to my new Federation friends here in the rimward.  These Klingons on the hunt aren’t going to stay focused on me forever – they have a nasty habit of getting distracted…and old grudges on tanks of Klingon mead are never a good mix.  I do have my reputation to uphold, Captain Dread.” 

The channel cut.  Dread turned to Fowler, “What the hell was that?”  Sadie shrugged.  She wasn’t sure either.  The CO gathered herself, “Order our teams to complete their work, collect the reports, and hand them over to the locals.  I don’t want to wait any longer than we should.”

She moved to stand but was interrupted by alarms, first from Fowler’s station and then from the tactical station. Dread turned to Fowler, who looked alarmed.

“We have four Klingon Bird of Preys on intercept course – five minutes out.  Additionally, two more heavily armed civilian ships are right behind them.”

Helena clenched her fists, “Never boring in the Rimward.  Tell the away teams it’s time to take cover and secure the injured for real this time.”  She gripped the arms of the center chair.  She had hoped to get out before things went sideways.  Life in the rimward, she grumbled.  “Red Alert – signal Tougun – it looks like we’ll have to learn how to be friends, after all.  Damnit.  Helm – evasive maneuvers.”

TSS 007 – Fight and Flight

USS Gagarin
1.03.2402

The bridge shuddered as the Gagarin danced through the weapons fire.  Captain Helena Dread sat in the center chair, lightly gripping the arms.  The opening conversation with the Klingons had been a shouted order to get out now and then a closed channel when they were told of the Starfleet officers on the planet providing support.

Two of the Birds of Prey had been disabled, and the third was proving that having a strong personality at the helm could save the day.  The two civilian ships were far from unarmed and were currently keeping the attention of the Gagarin and her crew.  Dread held onto the arms as the Gagarin slammed into a hard starboard turn, pushing the inertial dampeners. “Status?”

At the helm station at the front of the bridge, a wide-eyed Ensign, Archer Corwin, was frantically keeping his cool while he put every skill he’d learned in the academy to work.  Next to him was the stoic and focused Ensign Athena.  She answered for both of them, “We’re evading most of their fire, but they’re packing a punch, sir.”  The Bajoran tactical chief had been putting the twelve phaser arrays to work, punching at the enemy’s shields with increasing fury.  The ship shuddered again, and Athena asked, “Permission to engage with torpedoes?”

Helena knew that delicate attempts to disable the ships would be challenging once they unleashed the four forward and aft launchers.  Recovery, or at least survivors, would be harder to find.  The Gagarin was a tough ship with teeth and talons.  The ship shuddered again.  Lieutenant Fowler at Science reported, “Shields at 90%.  Sensors showing they’re loading torpedo bays.”

She had no choice.  “Permission is granted, Lieutenent Athena.  Let’s give them a taste of a Gagarin punch….or two.”  The CO watched and listened as her tactical chief worked with the beleaguered Ensign Corwin, giving him attack pattern orders as she targeted the torpedo launchers.  Athena was as serious as they came, but her instructional tone was measured and direct.  Helena had spent time with the young woman, giving her some guidance.  There were plenty of times for Athena’s severe nature to be brought to bear.  This wasn’t one.  “Disable as much as you can – we still need to figure out how they stayed out of our sensor’s sight.”

Athena smiled wide and went to work.

 

“That’s…interesting.”  The battle was over.  The last Bird of Prey was being chased by Tougun’s ships.  The two civilian ships were down to one, and Dread stood in the haphazard bridge while the science and engineering teams from the Gagarin swarmed the captured ship.

Lieutenant Fowler held up a piece of computer equipment about the size of her hand. She reported what she knew, “It’s a signal disrupter, far from rudimentary.  If it hadn’t come from a ship trying to blast us into pieces, I’d almost say I’d admire it.  It’s a unique design – engineering thinks it’s specifically designed to impact Gagarin.  It would explain how we’ve been surprised these past few weeks.  Some of it is hiding behind moons or using nebulas to obscure what we can see…but this isn’t standard issue for anyone.”

Helena shook her head, “This was a mercenary ship…you think Tougun has them as well?  Why would both of them have something like this?”  She groaned as the answer came to her as her mind processed her question, “Shit.  Someone’s selling us out in the rimward – and anybody’s who got the latinum is getting the drop on us.”

Sadie handed the equipment to an engineer, who secured it in a container and headed back to the Gagarin.   Fowler continued, “McKee and I will take the thing apart piece by piece.  We will have to reverse engineer it to trust our sensors again.”  She glanced around.  Most of the crew had moved off the bridge to other duties.  Sadie stepped closer to her CO, “There was that security issue on Montana Station in December.”

Dread put her mind to work.  The report had been for the eyes of the commanding officers of the ships in the Montana Squadron.  The reality was that word spread fast on a vast station like Montana.  Certain elements had remained classified.  It was those elements that she suspected Fowler was referencing.  “You think there’s more at play?  Or was more at play?”

Sadie shrugged, “I know Commander Thasaz and her team were able to fix most of the glaring issues.  But between the time of the event and the fixes…plenty of data may have been available.  Including things about the ships in the squadron.”

Helena replied, “Nobody’s reported these kinds of issues.”

“Aside from the Dragonfly, we’ve got the strongest tactical profile in the rimward.  When the wolf is hunting you, you have to find a way to throw off your scent.”

Dread mused, “They’re worried if we see ‘em coming, we won’t just bloody their noses a bit…we might break a few bones on the way.”  She let out a long sigh, “Get to work on it.  I’ll be on the bridge.”

 

“That is a serious accusation, Captain Dread.”  Tougun’s face was back on the viewscreen of the Gagarin, and Dread smiled in response to his denial, which was as much a confirmation as anything.

“My accusations are never of the lightweight variety, Tougun.  Deny or confirm – it doesn’t matter to me.  I know.”  She kept her smile as she continued, “Our people have held up their end of the deal – complete reports are in the hands of your folks, as well as a generous gift of a few generators, medical supply manufacturing units, and some engineering equipment.  We’ll be taking our leave.”  She got the signal from Fowler.  The teams were all back aboard Gagarin—safe and sound.

“You really don’t like me…not even a little.”

Dread’s smile faded, and her tone shifted.  Her words, once loose and free, tightened up.  Her eyes narrowed.  She adjusted her posture, her eyes taking on a menace, “If I had the full backing of the squadron with me, you would be in handcuffs.  Our friendship lasted all of fifteen minutes…and it was too long.  You blasted those two Klingon ships apart.  I don’t take lives if I can help it.  You enjoy it.  I don’t like you, not even a little.”

“You think you could have handled those ships on your own?  Your ship’s tough, Captain Dread, but even she has her limitations.  You could at least thank me for my services.”

This infuriating Orion was taking up Helena’s last few nerves.  She narrowed her eyes further, “You’re welcome.  Good day, Tougun.”  She stabbed at the console on the arm of her chair, and the channel cut.  “Helm – get us the hell out of here – maximum warp.  Put us back on our next patrol vector.”  The Gagarin rumbled forward, turned, and flew into the darkness.

The bridge was silent until Fowler asked what everyone else was thinking. “We’re going to see him again, aren’t we?”

Dread stood from the command chair, “He seems drawn to us –  and not just Gagarin – Starfleet too.  To what ends…who knows?  We’ll need to start making some guesses.  It feels like Tougun’s up to something – more than usual.  Assign some science and tactical officers to dig into his file and operations.  You have the CONN, Lieutenant Fower.”  Dread walked off the bridge, leaving Sadie to wonder what was ahead of them.

TSS 008 – Underneath

USS Gagarin
1.04.2402

The device lay on the table in the engineering workroom.  Lieutenant Elizabeth McKee sat, and an advanced VISOR unit slipped over her eyes.  Her hands held intricate tools that resembled operating room equipment.  She was working patiently with each component.  McKee marveled at its creator – they had taken a specific function of the Gagarin and worked backward to circumnavigate it.  The elegance of such a device was infuriating because it had kept them in the dark out in the rimward.  She could marvel at the creativity and be furious at the deception.

She heard the door slide open behind her but remained focused on dismantling the unit piece by piece. Lieutenant Sadie Fowler’s voice asked, “Have you had any luck?”

McKee continued working as she replied, “It’s perfectly tuned to the Gagarin – from passive to active sensors.  It’s programmed to reflect scans and hide the target from scans on Gagarin’s spectrum.  I’ve sent the preliminary report to Montana Station – they’re working to evaluate any security breaches.”  She removed three more parts, setting them aside: “It won’t take much work to reverse engineer this thing – and update the ship’s sensors and system.”

Sadie sat down at the side of the table, “You think there are more out there – targeting other ships in the squadron?”  Her mind had been working on the problem since the discovery.  Someone out there in the rimward was trying to complicate her job.

Liz separated the two remaining pieces, notating their functionality and position: “I think we might have been a test run. The station is relatively new, and its positioning was intentional. I think the Syndicate…now the Network – they’ve only managed to map so much.  The rimward is massive – it takes weeks to get across the damned thing.  There’s enough space to guarantee we’ll never lay eyes on everything and everyone.”

Sadie followed her logic and didn’t like her conclusion: “If we’re the test run, is this someone’s way of saying hello?”  Her eyes widened as she wondered, “Or was this a warning of how they could get to us?”

McKee disconnected the last elements and sat back in her chair, staring at the neatly arranged pieces and parts. “I love that your first thought is they were just giving us a wave, Sade.”  She ignored her friend sticking out her tongue at her.  “The thing is – you don’t go to this much work to let someone know you exist. You do it because you want to stay hidden.  This was created and manufactured – it took time, it took materials…whoever they are, whatever they’re up to – it’s no good.”

They stared at the disassembled pieces.  Fowler asked, “Do you ever wonder if we’ll find someone who’s not mad at us, Starfleet, or the Federation?  Someone who just likes us for us?”  She rolled her eyes at the amused look on McKee’s face, “I’m serious, Lizzie.  Why do we keep running into the ones that want to punch our lights out?” 

The Chief Engineer chuckled, “Because we’re out here in the rimward, Sade.  Although,” she gestured to the universe map on the wall, “if you look at the rest of Fourth Fleet – we’re all trying to keep the chaos from unfolding.  You’ve been reading about the Klingons taking a swing at the Romulans?  Our little encounter is small compared to the larger movements out there.”  She let out a long and tired sigh, “Being a Starfleet officer isn’t easy, Sade.  The universe is big and complicated.  Don’t try to make sense of it all – you’ll get a headache.”  She surveyed the pieces, “You ready to reverse engineer this bastard with me?”

 

Fowler sat at her station on the bridge as she updated the science station display.  Captain Helena Dread chuckled as the signals began to reappear, “That certainly cleaned things up.”  Between Fowler and McKee, the resulting adjustments and updates to the sensor systems immediately opened their view of the sectors around them and beyond. The signals ran the gamut—network, Colonial, and several unknowns. Dread had shared her theory that the unidentified ones could be the Klingons on the hunt for the former Syndicate Romulans who had unwittingly become part of Tougun’s Network.

Fowler replied, “We’re getting much better data.  McKee was able to determine the frequencies and fields at use further – if there are additional devices out there, we’ll have a better chance of punching through the interference.”  She tapped at the console, bringing up a few planets, “We’ve got a few possibilities as to where this thing was either produced or materials gathered for its construction.”  She explained that using previous survey data from science vessels over the years, they could compare the materials used in the device to locations with raw rocks and metals.

Dread asked, “You think we could use extra help on this one?”  Fowler’s look of confusion gave way to her explanation, “Captain Wren Walton’s got a powerful science ship.  Together with the Gagarin to back us up in case someone gets froggy.” Sadie smiled.  It would reunite her with her boyfriend, William Prentice.  It would also help them find the saboteur sooner.  Dread chuckled, “I know part of the reason for your smile.  Get me Walton on a secure channel.  Let’s see if she’s willing to team up.”