Independence had stood a week in spacedock, receiving repairs and upgrades.  In addition, of course, new personnel.  They'd had time for basic familiarization, meeting their superiors and department.

Briefings had been had aboard station, as Decker overviewed the scientific data they'd recovered from the alien artifact.  Admiral Chichester had ordered the material declared top secret and classified, and any further data to be relayed to his office.

There had been a memorial service for those lost, let by Commander ch'Pertha.

There had been a promotion ceremony, conducted by Admiral Chichester, which saw Ch'Pertha promoted to Captain, in recognition of his new role and service.  D'rala had been promoted to full Commander at the same ceremony.

Now, fully fitted out, ready as they'd ever be... the Independence stood by for its next mission... moving out of dock to take up a position near the station.



The hail came from Starbase 24, lighting up Tsolo's board as the command channel keyed in, direct from Admiral Chichester.  It was general hail, to be put onscreen.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:39, Sun 04 July 2021.

Which Tsolo, who happens to be on duty, does.

The hail....

The main viewer blinks and the face and form of Admiral Helon Chichester the IX appeared, sitting in his office, hands folded in front of him.

"Captain," Chichester drawled, his Tennessee accent carrying through.  "Remote mining colony Coriolanus IV failed to send its last scheduled status update, so Starfleet Command wants the Independence to check in. You'll be the lone ship in the area, so you'll operate without access to further support. Coriolanus IV is a mining colony that recently discovered one of the largest deposits of dilithium ever recorded, so it is critical to discover what happened and protect the deposits."

"The system is at the edge of explored space, but it’s not claimed by any other power. Because of its remote nature, Starfleet decided to also send a survey and research team to explore the planet and its surroundings for new life and phenomena. The stakes are high, as enemy nations are encroaching from every corner, and each load of dilithium can power a starship task force."

"You'll need to make good speed.  Please get underway at once," Chichester concluded.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:07, Sun 04 July 2021.

Watching his friend's face on the screen, Ranse wonders if this might be the last time he sees Helon. He hoped not, but he had taken this assignment specifically for such an adventure, it was too late to wish for quiet post, even if he wanted one.

He watches the bridge crew closely, trying to get a sense for how tight a ship his new captain might run. It was the captains prerogative of course, and he would not judge, but he found it good to get a feel for things.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 02:23, Mon 05 July 2021.

Even as the Admiral was speaking, Lieutenant Commander Decker started pulling up all the records he could on the Coriolanus system, planet IV, and the surrounding stellar region. He also sent out quick messages to the various sub-departments within the Science branch to have its leads begin studying the region and system as it pertained to their specific disciplines and specialties.

ETA: There had been so much unknown, so much guess work in the last missions. He and his department would be as prepared as they could be this time. No one was going to die for lack of an answer he ought to be able to provide.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:27, Mon 05 July 2021.

Tsolo, meanwhile, asked Tumtum (as he named the comm computer) to search the files for any communication that mentioned the  Coriolanus system, planet IV, or the surrounding stellar region.

“Roger that, Admiral”, ch’Pertha acknowledged.

As soon as the screen went blank, ch’Pertha sat quietly a moment, considering.  Then, “Navigation, plot is a course, and prepare for launch, I want us on X* Warp.
Ltn Tsolo, reply with official acknowledgement and log us enroute; with ETA based on Navigation’s calculations”.
            * where X equals a swift speed; because this player doesn’t know his game data

Activating the ship-wide alert systems, ch’Pertha addressed the entire crew,
“This is the Captain speaking.    As of this moment, the Independance is on duty.
Our assigned task to welfare check a new colony on the boarders of known space.
We will launch in approximately 20 minutes”.
He knew that every department, right now, would be leaping into activity for preparation for such: sending the ship into a state of controlled chaos.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:31, Wed 07 July 2021.

Adventure. Danger? Perhaps. Clearly the Admiral had faith in the Independence and it's crew, especially it's Captain.

"Sounds like we would be facing some serious trouble Captain."

He didn't add that he wished they weren't going to be alone out there, it was a given, but it was also a risk they had all signed up for.

"Unless you need me for something, I will be in sick bay."

He feared his department would be made very busy this assignment. He hoped he was wrong, but more often than not his intuition on such things had shown to be pretty accurate.

Mentally he was already preparing the kinds of drills he imagined they would need. Triage, for starters. Maybe setting up a field hospital, if they were required to set up on the planet itself.

He would alter the holo-drills to include more violent injuries, toss in a few faux-crewmates designed to be beyond saving to see how willing his people would be to ignore the lost causes when the situation called for it. Unknown faces for starters though, so sense pushing them too far too fast. Still, best to test the mettle of his staff as much as possible.

He waited for the Captain's permission to leave, and hoped to overhear an estimate of the travel time...

Petty Officer Amamiya stands at one of the benches in sickbay, cataloguing the results of recent blood work done on several members of the crew, and comparing said results to their recorded baselines.  Part of her mind focuses quite efficiently on the work in question; another, deeper part of her mind drifts, pouring over what she has seen in the last few days.

Azami is quite practiced at slicing her mind into sections, allowing one part to focus on tasks while another part considers.

The memorial had been moving, their not-yet new captain a fine speaker.  For Azami, it had been a disturbing affair – talk of men and women she hadn’t known, names unfamiliar and never to become known, and images of those departed with faces she will never remember.  Despite that, she mourns the losses; any and all life is precious, and with each candle extinguished, a little more light leaves the universe.  She had also taken the opportunity to study the visages of those about her, especially the command crew; these ones, she will come to know, and will benefit from knowing.

Assuming her stay here lasts any time at all.

The promotion ceremony had come in the middle of a scheduled test, and Azami had eschewed attending; really, such things are more for officers.  Eyeing the notices after, she had been surprised to discover not only one, but two important changes, both to the command staff: a new captain (the Andorian who spoke at the memorial) and a new commander for an XO.  Orion, she notes; a good thing she has kept up with her studies, the crew of this ship is far more diverse than those of past experience.

Her time in-quarters has been limited; she barely knows the names of her bunkmates.  But then, arriving, showering, and sleeping, then rising and heading straight to breakfast will do that.  It’s a habit not exactly conducive to developing a social network, but it’s her habit and Azami is content.  Off duty, she has explored her deck, and others, tried the gym, and hunted down a list of volunteer duties.  And now, she’s back in sickbay, unaware of the drama unfolding on the bridge.  That is, until the intercom crackles to life.

*This is the captain speaking….*

Her hands still, and Azami’s focus jumps to the information imparted.  New colony.  Twenty minutes to launch.  Enough time to finish her tests; there is no need to ‘prepare’ for launch in the sickbay.  All things are in their place, for the moment.  However, it seems likely Dr. Layne will arrive soon, now that he is aware of the priority of their mission.

Best she be ready.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:27, Tue 06 July 2021.

Tsolo replies Aye and obeys. He then awaits any results from the archives.

--Quarters to The Bridge--

D'rala had just set her workout  bag on her bed, returning from the holosuite, when she received the Captain's announcements.

Pulling her uniform out of its place, she paused a moment to gaze at the extra bar that now sat on the garment. D'rala had yet to decide whether or not she felt that she had earned the promotion. If not, she would simply have to earn it going forward, she'd told herself. Easier said than done.

The thrill of getting back into the action slowly but surely overtook her grim thoughts as she dressed, and took leave of her room. She was going to present herself to the bridge for orders.

Soon enough, she stepped off the lift onto the bridge, crossing the floor to wait silently until an appropriate moment.

"Orders, Captain?" she asked, when the timing was right.

T’Lara was in her office when the message went on the ship’s intercoms.  ‘A welfare check on a new colony’ didn’t sound very encouraging; if the colonists couldn’t contact Starfleet on their own, it must mean they’re in dire straits.  If they’re still alive.

Getting up from her chair, she turned toward the window behind her to have one last look at the starbase before their imminent departure.  The Independence was flying right into the heart of danger, again, and leaving the safety and relative calm of the space station was accompanied with some trepidation.  Justified, seeing every one of their missions thus far ended with fatalities among the crew.

The colonists are in trouble.  We can’t just leave them to their fate.  She reminded to herself.

It was one thing that helped her overcome her jitters; there were people in need, who depended upon them.  Twenty minutes couldn’t pass fast enough…

Decker quickly began pulling up everything Starfleet had on the Coriolanus system, especially planet IV.  There was far less data than he would have liked.  It was on the edge of known space, fringing Romulan and Klingon space; charted but unexplored until very recently.  The system was known to have a particularly dense Oort cloud, which calls for careful navigation. Because the situation is unknown, standard procedure is to drop out of warp at the edge of the system to gain a better perspective.

Coriolanus IV, as noted, had very recently turned up an incredibly rich dilithium find, a veritable jackpot if you would.  So far, only two ships had landed men there - the mining colonists and a survey/research ship (recently dispatched).

There is no indication as to why contact has been lost with the colony, as yet; a garbled transmission was received but it was unintelligible, and then contact was lost. It is known the colony had approximately 200 workers, researchers, administrators, and support staff. The Independence was updated with schematics of the colony, transmitted with their orders.

He assigned his department mates to dig up everything else they could find.

Tsolo's research showed that the mining colony had regular transmissions/check-ins until the last, garbled transmission - and then nothing.  Patrolling ships had noted their progress but none were in range or free to check on their status when the event occurred.  Something about a problem in the Mutara sector...
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:28, Thu 08 July 2021.