Conference Room – Deck 1

Kirin sat at the head of the table in the conference room lost in thought while she waited for the rest of her senior staff to arrive. Ril, Kerry and Belania had already arrived and were sitting while they discussed the recent events amongst themselves. While the EMH stood by the window and looked out over the hull of the Sojourner.

Their conversation stopped when the door opened and an exhausted-looking Thanen entered. “Sorry I’m late, had to deal with a minor issue in engineering.” He quickly added, “Nothing to worry about,” when he saw Kirin start to ask about it.

Kirin smiled and nodded in his direction as he took a seat. “Thank you all for coming,” she said as everyone turned to face her. “The last day has been interesting, to say the least. As you all know the Malon have requested our assistance in obtaining the release of their people. I have been considering this overnight and I have agreed to do what we can. We are not a warship so if it comes to a fight we do what we can but I am hoping to avoid that. We have the coordinates for the system. It is about half a day away at max warp and is a highly actively binary pulsar system within a plerion.”

Kerry frowned, “A system with binary pulsars? That is very odd. Did the Malon, sorry Palek,  say anything about the system? What is in it? How dense is the wind nebula?”

“They sent over their scans for us,” Kirin said as she tapped a button on the table and a holographic image of the system appeared before them above the table. “The nebula surrounding the system stretches for a half light-year beyond the pulsars themselves. The pulsars are rapidly rotating tossing out extremely high levels of radiation and gravitational waves. Palek warned me that it is deadly to organic material unless properly shielded and can rapidly wreck machinery.” Pointing up at the holographic pulsars, she continued, “As you can see their proximity to each other gives both of them a wobble meaning the entire system, every four hours or so is swept by radiation. In addition to this, there are two class J planets in the outer system along with a class B in the inner system. Their mining colony though is on a class D asteroid in the system’s main belt.”

Belania studied the display for a moment before speaking, “Makes you wonder why they would set up a mining colony in that system. Will our shields be able to handle the radiation? If the Malon could I suspect ours will right?”

Ril looked over and smiled, “It shouldn’t be an issue. Our shields are more advanced than theirs but we should avoid being in the direct path of the discharge.” To which Kerry and Thanen nodded in agreement. 

“Beyond the environmental hazards of the system, which are not to be ignored,” Ril continued. “The Imperium likely won’t be happy. Their ships usually operate in groups, a single vessel we can out manoeuvre and outgun but if they have the numbers we will be at a disadvantage.”

Kirin nodded, “Palek said they had a survey vessel only but it is possible a military patrol has shown up. My thought is that we put the Sojourner sensors to use and sweep the system from just outside the plerion, along with any other systems in the area so it doesn’t appear that we are heading there. If the system is clear of a military presence we can enter, open discussions with the Devore at the mining colony and go from there. Any questions?”

Thanen sucked in air between his teeth before speaking. “We have a number of telepaths and empaths on board. They, the Devore, that is know Starfleet ships have mixed crews and will be unlikely to deal with us, knowing this.”

Ril snorted a laugh, “Let them dislike it, they are holding people hostage. Let us see how much they like the phase canons.”

Nodding Thanen continued, “I agree, this is something we must do and everyone on board knows this. It is just a possible issue I foresee.”

“It is worth noting, thanks. Though let us hope we can avoid a confrontation,” Kirin said. “If there are no other questions we need to get on our way.” 

“It’s not a question but I have a suggestion,” the EMH said from near the window causing some of those around the table to give the hologram displeased looks. “As you mentioned the system is highly irradiated. This radiation was present to a degree in the tissues of all the Malon’s I treated, at sub-lethal doses, if just. Their shielding isn’t as advanced as ours but I would suggest that all crew, especially anyone who may go over to the mining colony, take anti-radiation treatments before they beam over. If we take a direct blast from the pulsars discharge there may be bleed-through and it is something that I think most of us should avoid.”

“Thank you, doctor. That is an excellent idea. Please prepare treatments for anyone who may travel to the colony and general treatment for the crew,” Kirin said with a nod. Her frustration with the EMH still remained and would for a while she suspected but she had to admit he was on top of things.  “Everyone dismissed.”

Bridge – Deck 1; 12 hours later

The Sojourner reappeared into regular space in a blinding flash of light, half a light year from the boundaries of the plerion, the twin pulsars, their light pulsing ominously within the swirling purple and red maelstrom.

The young Orion helmsman, Dese, sucked in a breath through her teeth as the image of the nebula appeared on the viewscreen. “That does not look like a friendly place…”

Kirin glanced over at her and suppressed a smile but had to admit the swirling maelstrom of gases surrounding the twin pulsars did have an unfriendly look to it. Turning to look over her left shoulder at Belania she spoke, “What can you tell me about the system?”

Belania barely looked up as she spoke, her hands darting across the controls before her. “We will know in a moment, the primary and secondary dishes are currently focusing on the system now, I had them sweep two others first.”

Silence settled over the bridge for what seemed like ages before Belania spoke up a mere 30 seconds later. “Scans complete Captain.”

“Show me,” Kirin responded as an image of the system appeared on the viewscreen.

“I am not seeing any Devore ships or warp signatures in the system. There are also no signals from the system at all which is odd. I would have expected something from the mining colony but they could have been ordered to remain silent,” Belania said. “As expected there are high levels of radiation from the pulsars and some theta radiation as well. There are also significant deposits of blood dilithium present throughout the system. At levels, we have not approached before.”

“Ok, notify medical that I want all our telepaths and empaths to be told and if they have the slightest idea that they are being impacted they are to report to sickbay right away,” Kirin said. “Have the doctor double-check the neural monitors they are each wearing.”

“What about the reports on this ‘subspace trumpet’ that Starfleet sent through? Should will try it?” Belania asked.

Kirin shrugged, “Kerry is currently working on assembling it but right now our main focus is on the Malon. Besides I don’t think interacting with the enraged ghosts or whatever they are of the Brenari right now will help. I believe she is planning on working with Ensign Ined Bruco and Jenoda Toi when there is time for it.” Standing, Kirin walked up beside Dese, who was busily reviewing the scan data herself, “Take us in Ensign. Drop us out of warp at by the outer class J planet please.”

Dese nodded and a moment later the ship’s main engine flared to life and the Sojourner vanished in a flash.

Bridge – Deck 1; 3 hours later

The Sojourner moved through the asteroid belt where the Malon colony was located while avoiding a direct discharges from one of the pulsars as it swept by their location.

“I have the visuals on the facility Captain,” came Ril’s voice from the primary tactical station.

“Put it on screen, let’s see what we are looking at,” Kirin remarked.

The viewscreen changed from an image of the wider system to showing a bulbous-looking facility of the surface of a large asteroid which seemed to be more blood dilithium than rock. Docked to the facility were a large mining vessel and a larger waste disposal transport. 

“Um, Is it meant to look like that?” Asked Dese from the conn, concern and apprehension clinging to her words.

Kirin looked at the screen in shock, “No, I really do not think it is meant to…”

The majority of the colony, mining ship and parts of the waste transport were covered in blood dilithium. The crystal formations had formed directly on the surface of the structure and ships and in multiple places punched directly through the hulls as if they had expanded with great speed and force. On top of that, the waste transport and parts of the colony and mining ship had a think green haze surrounding it. 

“I am detecting very high levels of theta radiation leaking from the transport, lethal levels if someone didn’t get treatment right away,” Kerry said from one of the science consoles off to Kirins right, concern clearly audible in her voice. “The dilithium growth is beyond abnormal, it clearly has expanded rapidly. I will need a sample to be sure but I suspect the theta radiation and the radiation from the pulsars may be affecting it somehow. It also looks like there are points of decompression within the ships as well…” she said before a concerned looked crossed her face, “any indications of weapons fire on the colony and ships.”

“Weapons fire? Palek didn’t mention anything about that. Maybe the Devore…” Kirin began before her mind switched gears to why they came as she tried to suppress the rising anger towards the Devore. “What about power and life signs? Is there anyone down there?” Kirin asked looking back at Belania.

“It is hard to say with the interference from the system and the radiation. The colony and ships are dark, I am not reading any power output on any of them. There are, yes, there are sporadic life signs in the colony. I cannot pinpoint them exactly but I think they are grouped relatively close together.”

“Ok. Get us their double time Dese but keep us out of the worst of the radiation if you can. Ril, you take an away team down and see what you can find out. Kerry, you join her, figure out what you can about the dilithium and take Nurse Joy as well as a couple of your security team. Whoever you find down there may need medical attention right away.”

Ril nodded and looked over a Kerry before shooting Belania a quick smile. “Let’s go see what we find down there Dawson.”