At the appointed time, a large group of officers and crewmen from all over the Sphere, as well as the Klingon diplomatic team and representatives from several of the indigenous civilisations in addition to the Enterprise command crew have gathered on the lawn and are shown to their seats, grouped by station and position. Mac is there with the Cuyahoga crew and Cassi, now a Flight Control officer on the Enterprise,is standing with them. Mac is armed with a Xenexian ceremonial sword.

Capt. Picard, flanked by Cdr. Riker, LCdr. Data, Ambassador Worf and several others the Thames crew don't recognise, are seated on the stage. Picard steps up to the podium and begins.

"Attention to orders!" he commands. "One of the happiest duties which falls to a command officer of the Fleet is that of elevating a junior to that august company. Commander Delilah Samson, approach please."

Cdr. Samson, clearly caught off guard, snaps to attention in the front row and marches smartly to the single step up onto the platform and steps to Picard. "Commander Samson reporting as ordered, sir!" she says, her voice breaking slightly.

"Commander, it has only been a year since you were assigned to command the Dyson Sphere Explotarion Mission and in that time you have  served faithfully and well, never wavering—even under attack by hostile forces—or shirking your duty. You are the living embodiment of Starfleet's highest ideals and Starfleet Command has seen fit to reward you by promoting you to the rank that you have proved you so richly deserve. Captain Delilah Samson," he takes out a small box and produces a fourth pip, fastening it to the shoulder of her dress uniform, "You are hereby promoted to the rank of Captain in the United Federation of Planets' Starfleet, by order of the Chief of Starfleet Operations, Admiral Shra'Hawk and the Commanding Officer, Bureau of Personnel, Vice Admiral D.J. Jorgensen, with all its attendant duties and perquisites." He places a hand on each shoulder and in a traditional act of Gallic gallantry, kisses her on both cheeks.

Commander, now Captain Samson blushes a deep crimson. "Thank you, Captain Picard. I shall do my best to fulfill the honour Starfleet has granted me."

"Ah, but that's not all, Captain. Starfleet has decided to expand your command, as befits your new rank—no, you're not being reassigned," he says. "I direct you to the holo—behold the newest addition to Dyson Base." The hologram fades into life against the azure sky. There, hovering in space above one of the entry portals into the Sphere, is an orbital station, an R-class station very like the infamous Regula One of the Genesis incident ninety years ago. "Capt. Samson, please welcome Dyson Station, the first part of phase three of Dyson Base."


This message was last edited by the GM at 08:38, Wed 21 Mar 2018.

In reply to Relic GM (msg # 1):

Sloane, turns and quietly comments to his crew.  "That will like bring big changes about here.   It will certainly expand the research they are doing and our available resources.  Interesting times are a foot."

Looking at the holo he adds "That's going to take a while to assemble. They are limited on what fits through the portal into the sphere. So they can only pre-assemble so much."

"Well, sir, it looks fully assembled. I was stationed on an R-class station for three years. They're not very big—it just looks big in the holoimage due to perspective. The portal is two klicks wide and the station is only a hundred sixty-five meters wide and two hundred metres tall. My bet is that it's a plug'n'play situation. They've already swapped out the observation module for what looks like a fourth habitat module," says Tony. Talja is clinging protectively to his arm, wearing her new tailored uniform. Zed notices she's also wearing a touch more makeup than usual. Zed suspects that something serious has developed between the two junior officers.

Meanwhile, Picard introduces some of the new officers, including LCdr. Gaius Claudius Glaucus, the new First Contacts Officer, freshly promoted and transferred from the Enterprise. Dr. Arapet, sitting near the Thames crew, glowers silently, still seething from the chewing out she'd endured earlier. Glaucus is a tall, muscular blond Magna Roman who wears a baldric supporting a gladius with his dress uniform.


Picard says of Glaucus, "Commander Glaucus has spent the last fifteen years in First Contacts. He's lead a dozen Assessment missions and with the end of the late Dominion War is looking forward to doing what Starfleet does best.

"And now, a word from the Federation Ambassador to the Klingon Empire. Ambassador Worf," he says by way of introduction.

"Thank you, Captain Picard," rumbles Worf. He wears a formal suit with his Klingon baldric over it, the glyph of the House of Martok gleaming. Runour has it that he killed Chancellor Gowron in single combat, but refused to step into the position, instead suggesting that General Martok would be a better choice for the office. "One of my personal projects is to see the lost crew of the IKS BortaS, the legendary Battlecruiser Vengeance, repatriated to Qo'noS. They are still under the effect of the Augment Virus and medical research is underway to provide a cure. Their genome is resistant to the cure first developed a century ago, and it is my pleasure and honour to present to you Doctor Keh'Lef, the Empire's foremost geneticist."


Zed notices Marissa Swann perk up at the mention of the BortaS and the introduction of Keh'lef.

In reply to Lt (jg) 'Fast Tony' Gazzo (msg # 3):

Leaning over to Swann, Sloane whispers "Do you have some history with the BortaS or Dr. Keh'lef.  The mention of them has seemed to get your interest."

He looks towards the ceremony and adds as a off remarks "All I have read about the BortaS  is the mission reports of Lt. Cdr M'Rel and they seemed a bit wreck less with their first contact."

In reply to Lt Zedrick Sloane (msg # 4):

"I think we should cut them some slack," comments Jon with a grin. "Look how reckless we almost were with the Vanara!"

"Are we still going to be working on the Vanara project," Jon muses, "or will we be reassigned to help with the BortaS repatriation? There seems to be multiple waves to catch, but I hate leaving a ride unfinished." Jon appears to still have his mind on surfing, and he has unconsciously grasped the hand of the Lintilla sitting next to him as he talks.

[OOC: While Marissa's player is dealing with his family issues, I'll reply to this question for him. (Her? Cross-gender players are confoozling!)]

Marissa looks at Zed and whispers, "No, I'm just anxious to get to the Klingon mission—being half Klingon and all." She gives Zed a wink and a tight grin. "You're right, but M'Rel and crew have a bit of a reputation for being reckless. I don't think Commodore Stone likes them very much, but they do produce results in the end. On the other hand, Jon, I think Gaius Glaucus is going to restructure how First Contacts are done. Hopefully he'll slap some sense into Dr. Arapet. I've served with Magna Romans before and they're hard-asses one and all."

Talja leans over and interjects, "Ja, Cdr. M'Rel has both his partisans and his detractors. Me, I find it hard to argue with success, nein?"

Tony adds, "Yeah, he's a real hard-case, but he's a straight shooter when it's time to go to the mattresses!"
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:02, Thu 29 Mar 2018.

In reply to Relic GM (msg # 6):

"Yeah I'm looking forward to getting back out there and getting our hands dirty." Sloan replies to all of them.  He muses "I wonder what our role with the BortaS will be."

"They do provide some interesting insight on the Klingon past that they keep to themselves." Being careful to watch Marissa's reaction.

Marissa is silent, but she looks uncomfortable with the subject.

Talja, however, replies, "In my studies as an exobiologist and exoanatomist, we studied the history of the Klingon genotype. Back in 2154, the Klingon Empire stole a supply of Human Augment embryos created by Dr. Arik Soong and attempted to create Klingon Augments. Could you imagine a Klingon Khan Noonian Singh? Several embryos were used by the Klingons to resequence the DNA of some test subjects. However, the subjects exhibited several unexpected side effects – their cranial ridges began to dissolve and they were more aggressive than the other Klingons had anticipated. For a time, it seemed that the experiments had been successful. The Klingon Augments were stronger and more intelligent, though they later suffered an excruciating death when their neural pathways began to degrade. One of the test subjects was suffering from the Levodian flu, which was modified by the Augment genes to become airborne.

"This led to an outbreak of what became known as the Augment Virus which spread from planet to planet within the Empire. Alarmed, the High Council issued an order to sterilise the infected planetary surfaces. A group of Klingon geneticists began to search for a cure, led by a Klingon general named K'Vagh. He kidnapped a Denobulan doctor working with Starfleet named Phlox, whom the organizers of the Interspecies Medical Exchange had asked if he would consider serving as their Director of Xenobiology. K'Vagh ordered Dr. Phlox to work with a Dr. Antaak, who'd met Phlox through the IME, in order to find a cure. Phlox asked K'Vagh why he chose to pursue the Augment project, when Soong failed. The general replied that Soong's only mistake was making only a few Augments, and that Klingons have discipline – although Phlox points out that Augments don't. What Phlox came up with wasn't exactly what the Klingons anticipated. In essence, he couldn't stop the virus, but using antibodies from K'Vagh he managed to the effects of the virus. It would still create Klingon Augments, but they would no longer die from neural degradation.

"Eventually, the pure-strain Klingons—those with an immunity to the Levodian flu—became a minority within the Empire, and the Augments—sometimes known as Human-Klingon Fusions—dominated the population. It wasn't until the late 2260's that a true cure was developed and the Fusions began to be physically reassimilated into the general Imperial populace. Naturally, the Klingons prefer to pretend that the whole sordid affair never took place. Only in the Imperial Klingon State in the Triangle did a small population of Fusions manage to isolate themselves both physically and politically as a distinct culture.

"The BortaS was lost with all hands well before the cure was developed, so they are all Fusions. Unfortunately, their genome has adapted fully to the augmentation and the cure no longer works on them. Dr. Keh'Lef is a noted genetics researcher. If anyone can refine the cure to work with the BortaS survivors, it is she."
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:59, Sat 31 Mar 2018.

Captain Picard continues, introducing several new members of the Dyson Base team. These include a new Security command team: Lt. Arthur Avalon and his 2iC, Lt. (jg) Gwynneth Lance; the new Counsellor, Lt. Mika Berenstain and several others. With the official business done, several stewards pass out small glasses of sparkling white wine. The bottles are marked Chateau Picard méthode classique, vintage 2364.

"And now," Picard announces, "A toast—to Captain Delilah Samson. May the deck be always steady 'neath her feet and her hand be steady on the helm!"

The assembled officers and crew reply, "To Captain Samson!" and down the wine.

The party on the dais all step down to form a receiving line so everyone can congratulate the new captain. From there, the entire group mingles over cocktails and canapés. The reception continues for a few hours, and as the sky polarises into the night cycle, fireworks erupt.

As the bursts of coloured light flicker over the island, Möbius approaches the Thames crew. "Ah, Lts. Sloane and Swann, I was hoping to have a word with you. I understand you've not met Cdr. R Olivaw, the commanding officer of the Kapecki within the Sphere. You have, of course met Krrsh, the Finori loyalist you rescued from the monitoring station."

Krrsh is gingerly sipping a glass of fruit juice. He is still on the emaciated side, but the skin moult has cleared up with rest, a sonic shower and the chance to get out of the stale environment suit. "Thank you, my sssavioursss," he hisses softly. "You sssaved me from sssertain death at the tender mersssies of the chamaxss. Milord Möbiusss has asssigned me asss his liaissson to your misssion."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:46, Sun 08 Apr 2018.

Tony edges over to Jon and says, "So, whadaya think the Com—oops, the Captain—will have us doin' next? We gonna go back to spy on the apes, or work with the Klingons? Either one is copacetic by me. It's what I joined up for. Y'know, like the recruiting holos say 'To explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations' yadda yadda yadda." He drains the last of his beer and grabs another from a passing steward. "Wish this was the real deal 'stead'a synthehol, but the doc says no hootch for forty-eight hours."
This message was last edited by the player at 04:52, Wed 11 Apr 2018.

In reply to Lt (jg) 'Fast Tony' Gazzo (msg # 10):

Jon clinks glasses with Tony. "When your 48 hours are up, you're having a real drink on me! I've got some great whiskey in my quarters." hey says.

"As for our next mission," Jon continues, "We've made a start with the Vanara mission. There are some things there I'd hate to leave unfinished. Speaking of which..."  Jon sees one of the Lintillas approaching. "How are you enjoying the party?" He asks her. "I thought the fireworks were a nice touch!"

The Lintilla in question is about to answer Jon when a bearded commander steps up. "Kat, what the hell are you doing here? I thought in command of the ship! And you're out of uniform. What's going on?"

Lintilla looks startled. "My name is Lintilla. My sisters and I are guests here—archæologists. And you are?"


"Cdr. Tom Taliaferro, captain of the USS Bras D'or. You're the split-image of my XO, LCdr. Kat Carson. Are you from New New Aberdeen as well? That's where she hails from; in the Triangle," replies the commander.

"No, my sisters and I are from Brantisvogan, from outside your Federation. We're here on an academic mission for the Megalycée. We were studying the Ch'im—the Vanarra— village."

The two other Lintillas approach. "Lintilla, what's the matter?" they say in unison.

She replies, "This is Cdr. Taliaferro. He mistook me for his First Officer."

As the two new Lintillas look at each other in apparent shock, Taliaferro, confused, asks, "Who are you? What's going on?"

Lintilla 2 (Jon and Tony have got them sorted out now that they're back in their street clothes) says, "These are my sisters—Lintilla and Lintilla." "We're clones, before you ask," say the other two in unison, reflexively.

Taliaferro taps his commbadge and snaps. "Taliaferro to Bras D'or. Have Cdr. Carson take a shuttlepod and report to me immediately on Freeman's Island. Have the Security Chief escort her presonally. Out!"

"Excuse me Lieutenants," he says to Jon and Tony. "We seem to have a... situation here," he grimaces. "I'll need to see the Captain in her briefing room, along with these three ladies, as soon as LCdr. Carson lands."

In reply to Lintilla (msg # 12):

"Pardon me, Cdr." says Jon, "but we should accompany Lintilla to this meeting. We are sort of these ladies' guides here in the Sphere. Our commanding officer Lt. Sloan should be present also."

Jon doesn't see Sloan in the immediate vicinity, so he taps his comm badge. "Lt. Clare to Lt. Sloan! There appears to be an awkward development involving our visitors. We need your presence in the Captain's briefing room. Professor Lake should be in attendance also."

Jon then talks quietly to the Lintillas. "Could one of your other sisters also be in the Federation? Though, if she's a LCdr. in Starfleet, then she's been here for a long time."

Taliaferro replies, "If your Captain agrees, by all means. You obviously know these ladies, so your input would be appreciated."

The Lintillas interject, "What about Professor Lake?" "She's our team leader." "...And our friend. She can vouch for us!"

Taliaferro taps his commbadge again, "Cdr. Taliaferro to Capt. Samson. Ma'am, I hate to interrupt you, but we have a situation I need your advice on. When the shuttlepod arrive with Cdr. Carson, could we have a meeting in your briefing room? It's rather important." Samson replies in the affirmative turns back to Jon and Tony. "Shall we head back inside to see what happens? Well collect your Lt. Sloane and his XO on the way..."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:46, Sat 21 Apr 2018.