ILLUMINARRPG: (3-0800)- CO, Captain Sekal

[Charles Gatling]

Mission: Prelude
Day: 3
Stardate: 2446.03.25

(Earth — San Francisco — StarFleet Headquarters — Conference Room -- CO,
Captain Sekal — 0800)

The CinC of StarFleet Command, formerly retired Admiral Nagato who had
returned after the admirality purge was seated behind a long and highly
burnished hardwood table. Four other Admirals sat with him behind the
decorative and utilitarian piece of furniture, Admiral Jericho "Jack"
Haynes of StarFleet Tactical among them. This was not taking on the form of
any debrief that the Captain had ever been a part of. Admiral Salek had
already returned to Mars, having no part in this debrief and having given
no warning of what form it might take. Perhaps he wasn't aware but he had
taken Giovanna with him to begin work on something of importance.

Admiral Nagato leaned forward and picked up a small, brass hammer which he
used to tap the bell set on the table before him three times. This wasn't
looking like a debrief but a formal hearing.

"Ding, ding, ding." The sharp sounds rang clearly through every corner of
the large chamber.

Sekal was in his dress uniform for the occasion, one didn't simply stride
into Command Headquarters without proper preparation. The oddity of the
situation was not lost on him.

Nagato cleared his throat, took a drink from the glass of water before him
then spoke.

"Captain Sekal according to StarFleet records your ship saw action against
three Klingon vessels within Romulan space on stardate twenty four, forty
six, zero three, zero one. Is this correct?"

Sekal's eyes narrowed slightly. "Affirmative."

"Also according to our records you destroyed two and put one to flight. Is
this correct?"

"It is." They were laying the foundation for something, of what he had no
clue as of yet.

"And what vessels were they?"

He leaned forward slightly in his chair. "One Vorcha class attack cruiser
was destroyed and another fled the battle. One Bird of Prey was also
destroyed."

The two on Nagato's left exchanged whispers while 'Jack' had a thinly
concealed smile. The Admiral to his right whispered something and he gave
the woman a quick nod.

Nagato leaned forward and fixed Sekal with a stare. "Records also show that
you were in a live fire with all three vessels at one time. Is this
correct?"

"That is correct."

The two on Nagato's left repeated a whispered exchange.

"Walk me through the battle Captain, how did it happen?"

Sekal left his arms purposefully loose on the arms of the chair he was
seated in as he replied.

"Illuminar was attempting to retrieve our officers from the USS Rhyne when
Commander Karchek's ship arrived and he demanded our surrender. I refused
and his Vorcha attacked. The disruptor cannon fire against our shields was
ineffective. The Rhyne was unpowered and inoperative at the time and I was
forced to return fire in order to protect it. During the engagement his
support ships arrived and joined the battle. The initial engagement took
place within the effects of the Anomaly and later actions indicated they
had not seen that ship.

  Illuminar moved away from the Rhyne on impulse to draw them away and was
at one point surrounded. The two Vorchas attempted to hold our attention
with disruptor fire while the Bird of Prey moved about the battlefield
cloaked looking for weak points."

The Admiral's eyes were hooded as he nodded. "Continue."

"Karchecks ship had already sustained damage and I turned the Illuminar
toward him to escape the circle. He took heavy fire and was forced to
disengage allowing us room to maneuver. His ship appeared effectively
unable to continue the battle so we turned our weapons to the other ships."

Jack was openly grinning now while the other three had shocked looks on
their faces. Nagato showed none of that, neither did he smile.

"And then?"

"Karcheck was able to restore power to his weaponry and seeing the Rhyne
attempted to destroy it. Our warp drive mobility had been damaged during
the battle however the engine was still available and we fired all weapons
at his ship in an effort to take him down before he was successful, he was
also accelerating toward the Rhyne. Our salvo failed to destroy him however
the Rhyne had restored power to their weapons and shields. It was their
phaser fire that destroyed the Da'Kar. They were too close however and the
explosion drove the Rhyne into the anomaly."

"And you were unable to stop that."

"Yes. The anomaly emitted a light speed eddy that pushed the Illuminar 2.3
light years from the anomaly but not before we had extricated Commander
Verin. She was the only one we were able to retrieve."

"And what of the other Klingon vessels?"

"The eddy according to our readings was conical in shape and began at the
point at which the Rhyne entered. The Klingon ships were not swept up in
it."

Murmurs had been growing from Nagatos left.

"You later destroyed the Bird of Prey and put the other Vorcha to flight."

"Yes."

Nagato gave a slight shake of his head as he sat back.

"Illuminar logs and those taken from the Rhyne show that they were in an
alternate universe for a year. Illuminar returned approximately two weeks
after she entered with no time dilation effects."

"That is correct."

Nagato took another drink from the glass then got an introspective look on
his face. "Captain there has been a lot of discussion concerning these
events with some dismissing them as illusion wrought by the anomaly. What
is your perspective?"

Sekal's brow furrowed as his eyes opened wider vertically. "It is a matter
of record that I as well as other members of the crew were affected by the
anomaly though in different ways. The battle and how it played out however
as well as the damage to the ship are verified by computer and sensor logs
and are a matter of record."

Nagato gave a slight chuckle at that. "And so they are."

Sekal noted that Jericho Haynes was openly smiling now..

"The shield upgrade has proven its mettle sir, without it Illuminar
wouldn't have survived to bring this report. Two Vorchas and a Bird of Prey
in a 3v1? Before today I wouldn't have thought it possible. But here they
are and the external damage to the hull took less than two days to repair."

"Impressive " Nogata nodded his head. "The ship that's nearing construction
has been outfitted with it and Sekal's new drive. She's going to be a
beast."

"The USS Raptor sir?"

Nogata nodded at Sekal. "Yes, the engineering team solicited your input I
hear." He gave a pleased sigh. "But that's another matter. Under the
circumstances you will not be pleased to know of where your next mission is
taking you."

"That is illogical sir, Illuminar goes where she is ordered."

Jack gave a laugh as Nogata rolled his eyes, the other Admirals looked
pleased.

"Then I suppose you will not be unhappy to hear that you will be going to
Qo'nos." Nogata deadpanned.

At Sekal's lifted eyebrow he nodded. "Oh yes. At this juncture for a number
of reasons Illuminar is the only ship I'd trust to send there and judging
from your history with the Klingons I don't think they are thrilled you
will be coming. The mission briefing starts tomorrow."

He picked up the small hammer and rang it once. "This hearing is adjourned."

(Reply: None)

Posted by Charles G
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://startrekfreedom.com/pipermail/illuminar-rpg_startrekfreedom.com/attachments/20220723/ef4887c2/attachment-0001.html>