STSF Seiben

27 January 2013: Challenger is in orbit around Earth having received its new missions to jump back in time to the year 1969 to stop a group of people interfering with the launch of the Apollo 11. As Engineering makes their preparations for time warp, the rest of the team receive 20th century pistols from the Armoury which they will use as protection for the duration for the mission as well as a few sets of car keys for our drivers. With the prep work for time warp complete and once everyone has everything they need, the Challenger makes its time warp around the Sun ... TBS = -328 years (or 5 minutes sim time) Key Points: - Capt Ja'Lale and Ens. Dvokr will be staying onboard the Challenger to provide support from above and to search for anything out of the ordinary as well as to keep the Challenger out of detection range from radar technology of that era. - Everybody else will be heading down to the surface 012713.rtf

USS Challenger - Mission Briefing: 27 January 2013 Crews are making their final preparation for their new temporal mission to stop a group of suspected terrorists from carrying out their plans to sabotage the Apollo 11 mission in July 1969. In a bid to preserve history, Starfleet Intel has ordered the Challenger to jump back in time to 1969 to stop these people. Engineering is making their preparations for the time jump. Preparations should now be wrapping up and crews beginning to head back to the Challenger. The mission will be led by Commander Rinax and Cdr Murphy from Starfleet Intelligence. TBS = 6 hours

20 January 2013: The USS Challenger has been recalled to Earth to report to SF Intel HQ for an important new mission they are to undertake. Having arrived back at Earth, the team beams down to San Francisco and receives their new mission - to go back in time to the summer of 1969 and stop a group of suspected time terrorists sabotaging the Apollo 11 mission and thus re-writing history. Upon completion of the mission briefing, the crew are to begin preparations for the time jump. Joining them, is Commander Zach Murphy from Starfleet Intelligence who will help lead the mission. TBS = 6 hours. 012013.txt

USS Challenger Mission Briefing: 20 Jan 2013 The USS Challenger has been recalled to Earth for an urgent briefing regarding some mysterious new orders Captain Ja'Lale received from Admiral Rawling from Starfleet Intelligence. Upon arrival to Earth, the Challenger crew are to beam down to SF Intel HQ to receive a full briefing of their next mission. TBS was 10 hours.

STARFLEET MARINE CORPS – INFORMATION GUIDE USS Challenger: 21 January 2013 INTRODUCTION: The Starfleet Marine Corps (SFMC) is a branch of the Federation Armed Forces and is responsible for providing combat military support in Starfleet installations, star ships or other locations where their services are required. The SFMC is a part of Starfleet and derives from the United States Marine Corps (USMC), and the Military Assault Command Organization (MACO) of the United Earth Navy in the 22nd century. SFMC squadrons serve on numerous installations, colonies, outposts, star bases and star ships throughout the Federation. Its ability to rapidly respond on short notice to expeditionary crises gives it a strong role in the implementation and execution of Federation foreign policy. STARFLEET MARINE CORPS: Allegiance: United Federation of Planets Role: Military support, Special Assault Forces, expeditionary warfare Formed: Circa 2161 Mission: Planetary defense, star ship security, star ship excursion operations Motto: “Semper Fidelis” (“Always Faithful” or “Always Loyal” – Motto of the former USMC) Marines on Challenger serve in conjunction with Security and are considered Starfleet’s elite fighting corps. They take on the more dangerous other crew cannot or will not be able to undertake. Like Security, SFMC members usually are part of standard away teams, boarding parties or internal calls such as intruder alert, and assist Security in providing general defense of the Challenger on or off the ship. RANK STRUCTURE: SFMC OFFICER RANK STRUCTURE Marine Rank & Abbreviation..........................................Starfleet Equivalent & Abbreviation Second Lieutenant (2 Lt) ..................................................Ensign (Ens.) First Lieutenant (1 Lt)........................................................ Lieutenant Junior Grade (Lt. JG) Marine Captain (M. Capt.)................................................. Lieutenant (Lt.) Major (Maj.)........................................................................Lieutenant Commander (Lt. Cmdr.) Lieutenant Colonel (Lt. Col)................................................Commander (Cmdr.) Colonel (Col).......................................................................Captain (Capt.) Brigadier General (B. Gen).................................................Commodore (Comm.) Major General (M. Gen)......................................................Rear Admiral (R. Adm.) Lieutenant General (Lt. Gen)...............................................Vice-Admiral (V. Adm.) General (Gen)......................................................................Admiral (Adm.) Field Marshall (F. Mar).........................................................Fleet Admiral (F. Adm.) SFMC ENLISTED RANK STRUCTURE Marine Rank & Abbreviation.........................................................Starfleet Equivalent Private (Pvt.).....................................................................................Crewman Recruit Private First Class (PFC)...................................................................Crewman Apprentice Lance Corporal (LCpl.).....................................................................Crewman Corporal (Cpl.)..................................................................................Petty Officer, Third Class Sergeant (Sgt.).................................................................................Petty Officer, Second Class Staff Sergeant (SSgt.).......................................................................Petty Officer, First Class Gunnery Sergeant (GySgt.)..............................................................Chief Petty Officer Master Sergeant (MSgt.)..................................................................Senior Chief Petty Officer First Sergeant (1stSgt.).....................................................................Master Chief Petty Officer Master Gunnery Sergeant (MGySgt.)...............................................Command Master Chief Petty Officer Sergeant Major (SgtMaj.).................................................................Fleet/Force Master Chief Petty Officer Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps (SgtMajMarCor)......................Master Chief Petty Officer of Starfleet SFMC Information Guide.doc

USS Challenger, NCC-2457 Crew Manifest Red = NPC COMMAND Commanding Officer: Captain Fahrouk Ja'Lale (N/A, Rigellian Chelon) Executive Officer: Commander Erika Rinax (Female, Human) Second Officer: To be Determined BRIDGE PERSONNEL Helm Officer: OPEN Navigational Officer: Lieutenant Hanna Grace "H.G." Reed (Female, Human) Communications Officer: Ensign Hok D'Vokr Chim (Male?, Tellarite) Chief Security/Tactical: OPEN ENGINEERING Chief Engineer: Lieutenant Commander Edward Freeman (Male, Human) Asst. Engineer: Lieutenant John Randall (Male, Human) 2 AENG spots open SECURITY Chief Security/Tactical Officer: OPEN 2 ASEC spots open MEDICAL Chief Medical Officer: Lieutenant Gretchen Hanson (Female, Human) Asst. Medical Officer: OPEN 2 AMO spots open SCIENCE Chief Science Officer: Lieutenant Anastasia Poldara (Female, Human) - LOA Assistant Science Officer: OPEN 2 ASCI spots open STARFLEET MARINE CORPS (SFMC) Marine Commander: Major Kimiko Johnson (Female, Human) Marine: Marine Captain Cassie "Cass" Granger (Female, Human) Marine: Gunnery Sergeant Hunter "Kal" Matheson (Male, Human) 1 Marine spot open RECURRING CHARACTERS/NPCs USS Columbia CO: Captain Saylek (Male, Vulcan) Spacedock/USS Aurora CO: Admiral Hans Seiben (Male, Human) Starfleet Intelligence: Mr. Haskins (Male, Human?) Pilot: Lt. John McGee (Male, Human) Random SGV: N'Dak (Various) Former CO/Ambassador to Magna Roma: Ambassador Rolf Seiben (Male, Human) Magna Roman Ambassador to Federation: Ambassador Julia Quintus (Female, Magna Roman) Consul of Magna Roma: Consul Marcus Quintus (Male, Magna Roman) The USS Challenger is an Excelsior Refit Class starship set in the late 23rd century (2297), just after the events in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country and the Enterprise-B incident in Star Trek: Generations. To request an open post on board the USS Challenger, email the STSF Personnel Administrator Applicants must be graduates of the STSF Academy program. Challenger sims Sundays at 11PM ET in the 'Challenger' chatroom.

Manifest updated as of 21 January 2013.

13 January 2013: The Challenger, now fully repaired, leaves StarBase 103 and heads to the Scorpio System to begin a new mission cataloguing a newly discovered spacial anomaly. Captain Ja'Lale receives an important hail from an Admiral Rawlings of Starfleet Intelligence to return to Earth. Without fully knowing the reason why, Ja'Lale orders the Challenger to change course back to the Sol Sector. The crew are to, upon arrival to Earth, beam down to Starfleet Intel HQ for a full briefing on what's going on. TBS = 10 hours. 011313.rtf

“Epilogue” In what was an especially tough few days, the battered USS Challenger finally neared Star Base 103. “We’re now within range of the station, Captain” replied the navigational officer. Captain Ja’Lale nodded. “Very good” he replied. “Helm, slow us down to ¼ impulse and hail the station for docking clearance” he said to the communications officer. The Captain was eager to get to the station as quickly as possible. The journey from the nebula to the station took longer than anyone expected due to the damages inflicted to the ship in their rescue of the freighter crew and the retrieval of the stolen goods from Hydra IV. Engineering and Medical crews had an especially hard time keeping the ship and its crew running and it was safe to say that everyone onboard was looking forward for a chance to finally rest and recuperate. “Docking clearance has been granted, Captain” replied the communications officer. “Oh, and Admiral Peters wishes to speak to you as soon as possible sir.” A few moments later, the Challenger approached the massive space station and went through its massive doors. People looking out of the station’s windows winced as the battered vessel slowly backed into its designated docking space, no doubt wondering what happened to get the ship in that state. 30 minutes later… After packing his belongings and taking his prescribed pain killers from Dr. Hanson, Ja’Lale exited his quarters and headed into the station. According to the station’s engineering crew, it would take about two to three weeks to fully repair the damage and get the ship as good as new, or better than new according to the station’s Chief Engineer. Ja’Lale certainly hoped his claims would hold true. Heading to his guest quarters on the station, Ja’Lale quickly unpacked his things and headed up to the station’s command centre to speak with Admiral Peters. He was quickly guided to the Admiral’s ready room by a young security officer. “You look like crap, Captain” Peters said rather bluntly before extending his hand. “Thanks. Though it could’ve been worse if it weren’t for my shell and chest plate” the captain replied, referring to the hard armour like plates on his chest and back. “As well as the fine work of my Chief Medical Officer” Peters smiled and nodded knowingly. No stranger to combat, Peters himself knew all too well the value of a good doctor. “Well, don’t worry. I’ve got my best engineering techs working on your ship. She’ll be ready to go before you know it” said the Admiral. “I only wish I could’ve avoided the debris from the freighter. We should’ve been able to detect that warp core explosion, but we were in the middle of beaming the freighter’s crew” Ja’Lale mused. Peters waved a dismissive hand. “It happened so fast you couldn’t react in time. It happens from time to time. What is important though is that we have the evidence to formally convict President Stein and Acting President Black for the theft and unauthorized sale of the supplies meant for the people of Hydra IV” the admiral said. “Thanks to your efforts, and the evidence you retrieved from the freighter, Starfleet has a solid case against them for their crimes against the Hydran people. Thanks to you, Stein and Beck can look forward to spending a fair chunk of time in the New Zealand Penal Colony.” “Well, I only hope that peace can finally come to the people of Hydra and that they can finally get the aid they need to get back on their feet” replied Ja’Lale. Peters nodded “Me too. But for now, try to get some rest. You and your crew are welcome to use the station as you see fit. You should try the new lounge and bar that opened last month. The finest Altarian whisky you’ve ever tasted.” “I don’t usually drink, but after what we’ve been through I just might take you up on that offer” said Ja’Lale. “Excellent” replied Peters. “My shift ends at 1800. I just might join you and your crew for a round of drinks after then. My treat” HYDRA IV – The arrest of Acting President Naomi Beck came as a big shock to the general public. The media was busy, exposing yet more charges and allegations of corruption against Beck and former President Stein and his administration. At 0900 local time, the USS Arizona and her support fleet arrived in orbit and quickly escorted Beck and her cabinet ministers to out of the Presidential Palace in what was a big media spectacle. Holo-images of her being detained by the Arizona’s security staff, being read her rights and subsequently beamed to the Arizona replayed across the planet for days, with her arrest making front page headlines across the Federation. Charged with multiple counts of corruption, abuse of power, theft and embezzlement charges Beck, Stein and about a dozen other government officials were sent to Paris to stand trial for their crimes and were sentenced to the New Zealand Prison Colony in a highly televised trial. In the days that followed, a caretaker government was formed with the help of the Federation and an election called. In a landslide victory, President Hastings formerly the governor of the eastern state of Estevan called for changes to the constitution to prevent and tackle corruption at all levels of government and to lead the people of Hydra to recover from the mysterious plague that engulfed the planet as well as rebuild after the planet’s lengthy civil war. Estevan and the rest of the planet would eventually recover from the effects of the plague which eventually disappeared as mysteriously as it appeared in the first place thanks to the assistance of the Federation. Under Hastings’ administration, the east quickly gained equal status with the west due in part to its natural resources and expanding export and newly built infrastructure in the reconstruction of the eastern states that followed. Under the new President and his government, Hydra IV was eventually accepted as a member state of the United Federation, a key promise Hastings called for in his election campaign. In the months that followed, the planet quickly transformed from one of the Federation’s most impoverished and corrupt colonies to a new period of prosperity and peace never seen before in the planet’s history.

Jolan tru everyone -- sorry for the relative lack of advanced notice but I will not be attending tonight's sim as I will be going to see The Hobbit (fashionably late as that was what t'Rex did last week on release day) and will end relatively late as it is a 3 hour movie. See you all next time we sim! - Koga's Player

The Challenger will also be taking a break for the holidays, and thus there will be no sims for the next two weeks (23rd and 30th of December 2012). We will return with a new plot on Sunday the 6th of January 2013. On behalf of Commander RInax and myself, I'd like to wish you all a very happy holiday season and a happy new year; if the world doesn't end tomorrow that is. :P

Seeing that we're missing our xo this weekend and some of you might have other plans this weekend, I've decided to give you all a break this week. Challenger will not run this Sunday and will resume next week.

"In Transit" A Joint Venture of Ayumu Kasuga, Heather Jamison and Christina Nickels The room hummed much like any do on a starship. Patches of colour and artwork adorned the walls. The room spanned a good length to accommodate the three single beds. Each one with someone sleeping in them. One was waking up. A jumble of emotions swirled in her head and the feeling like she had been run over by a Klingon targ. Ayumu rubbed her head and blinked her vision still blurry, as she tried to take stock of what happened. Her vision though eventually refocused, finding herself in a totally unfamiliar surrounding. Looking around, she mentally racked her brain to recall how she got here, when she looked around trying to find where her other cohorts were. "Heather, Christina. Are you guys there?" "Ugh...," is all Heather said. Christina could hear something but was unable to comprehend what it was. With her getting more sedative she was having issues comin out of it as fast as the others. She just drifted in and out of sleep. "Nice to know you guys are still alive" mused Ayumu as she rubbed her head. The room was dark, but by the vibrations she felt below her, she knew that they were in motion. "Ohh... my head... what happened? Where are we?" she wondered aloud. Heather rubbed her head and hair. "Why to I have such a headache? Wh.. where are we?" She heard Ayumu ask the same question. "Guess we..oh... don't know." With a wince, Ayumu sat up to get better look. "I can't tell, but anyone want to wager that it won't be long before we find out? " The room came into focus for the science officer. Room was dark, drab... some artwork on the floor. "Ahhhhh!" Heather frantically turned her hands over and back again. Then she paniced that it was on her arms as well. "Ahhh!" Hearing screaming, Ayumu turned quickly over at Heather's general direction. "What happened? " she exclaimed. "Are you OK?" Christina continued to lay on her bed but was able to make a very low audible sound , letting the others know she was still alive. " Uuuhhhh" "No! I'm not. My skin!" Heather leaps out of bed, luckily in some dark brown robe. "Christina, wake... ahh! You have it too. Wake up!" Ayumu moved closer to Heather and Christina. Her mouth opened wide. "Oh my God! You're right! You're both green! What's happeneing" Christina tried to ope her eyes but no use, she just faded back to sleep, thinking this all a dream. She looks at Ayumu. "Oh, you too!" She turns to Christina. "Are you alright? Hey..." Heather shook Christina to awaken her. Ayumu Kasuga -> "Whaa-haa! But I don't want to be green!" Ayumu said sadly. "This dark green looks familiar," speaking to Ayumu but shaking Chirstina. Ayumu took another look, as she watched Heather try to wake Christina. It does.. I can't quite put my finger on it" she said. Christina finally opens her eyes only to see a green woman shaking her and another standing near by. 'AAYYYYYKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Christina shuffles trying to get away from the green women. " Get away!! HEATHER, AYUMU!! HELP ME!!" "It's us!" Heather continued to shout. "Something has happened to us." "Yes, it seems something turned us into this ghastly green colour. I wish it were a dream as well, but sadly it doesn't seem to be" agreed Ayumu. Christine stops her struggling long enough to look closely at the two women, one of them holding onto her. "Heather? Ayumu? " Once she realises that is he r companions she settles down and looks at her own arms. "OH dear god, I AM Green." A hiss from behind them went unnoticed. A tall equaly green woman stood as the door closed behind her. "We all are..." Ayumu stated. Her sentence trailed when she heard the door to their quarters hiss open. (end) Christina heard the sound of the door and jumped. "What was that? "We have company" said Ayumu. "Good to see you three awake." The woman's voice as impressive as her stature. The light reflected her green skin tone. "You should be more appreciative of your new colour. It looks good on you all." "Who are you and where are we?" Christina says almost demanding. She gave them a wide smile, "Questions questions... so many for three young women needing a lift to somewhere so far." She walked up to the group and gave them a closer look. "Hmm," staring Heather in the eye. Christina got up quickly seeing the green woman stepping towards her friend. She quickly sat back down when she began to loose her equilibrium and staggers a bit. "What did you do to us?" "We are making arrangements for your transport to Minos Korva. None of you had enough latinum to make it worth our while, but luckily for you we ran into a snag in our business. A little sprucing up and you three are well on your way to earning your passage." "Snag," Heather quipped. Ayumu rubbed her chin in thought. "I see. It's awfully nice of you to offer us a lift, despite our lack of financial resources. What exactly do we have to do to earn our keep? I guess our new green appearance has something to do with it?" she asked. Christina looks to the other two and back to the woman. "That only half answers the question." Not as eager to take the offer of being green. She eyed Ayumu, "To the point I see. Only a little entertaining and a little dancing. The special guest we have and his other associates can only look, but not touch. Unless..." "Oh, and to your questiong redhead. The snag is our regular girls are out with a case of the Delvian flu. A nasty strain rendering them unable to perform their duties." "Unless?" Ayumu didn't like the sound of that, but opted not to explore it further. "So a little song and dance routine and we'll have earned our way to Minos Korva. I knew I should've saved up more Frequent Flyer Miles" "I don't like the UNLESS part myself. That can mean anything." Christina says watching the Orion Mistress. "How can we be certain we will remain safe?" "Oh since you are doing us a favour we are taking as good of care as any of our girls. Good fresh food, plenty of rest in between sessions. And the 'unless' is only if you choose, but since this is your first time as slave girls I'd not expect anything so daring. We do take a percentage." The mistress smiled and continued to eye each of them. Orion with red hair? Could not be worse than loosing their customer. Christina's eyes became big. "Slave girls?" she quickly looks between her two counterparts. "what did we get into?" Heather spoke. "I think we are dancers or something. I've heard these slave girls in a...," almost saying Federation, "handbook. We dance for men or whoever will watch to keep them occupied. Right?" Asking the tall woman. Ayumu wasn't sure what they've gotten themselves into as well. "It's not that we don't trust you but how can we be sure you'll live to your word and let us go at Minos Korva? Sorry for all the questions but it isn't every day we are abducted and turned green" She answered simply, "That's about right sugar." Then she turned to Ayumu's question. "Hey, it's not easy being green and seductive, but it can be a rewarding lifestyle. And for trusting we will drop you three off at Minos Korva, you have little choice at the moment. Trust me, our girls are pretty top notch save for this flu. We don't want to be paying out for three more dancers." Christina pops up. "so we ARE SLAVES at this time then."Ayumu shrugged to herself. What the Orion woman said was true after all. "That is true I concede. Well Shikata ga nai (nothing can be done about it). My knowledge of dancing and seduction is admittedly limited but I am a quick learner" "Oh oh don't you worry your little head. That's a misconception started long ago. If you knew your true history we are really running the show for the Orion Syndicate's so called slave trade. It's the men who are the slaves to our seductions and our pheromones.. which you three don't have. We are working on that." "What do you mean working on that? I thought only Orions had the ability to produce and ... and well.. you know..." She stumbles searching for the best wording. She continued to answer, "We think we will have a simple hypo spray that can give you that control over men for a few hours at a time. Think of this as an opportunity to show real power over men. Based on looks alone each of you would have a career with us." "I'm not sure I would like a permanent career in this field. I hope I can dance well enough to pull it off." Christina says, wondering aloud. To Be Continued in Sim...

26 August 2012: The Challenger & Nightingale continue their joint efforts to help treat the populace of a major medical outbreak spreading in the eastern continent of the planet Hydra IV. After meeting with the eastern governor, Captain Ja'Lale had returned to the Challenger to monitor operations on the surface. Commander Rinax had also previously returned from her mission. In the sickbay, Lt. Randall healed enough to be cleared back into medical duty after his mysterious attack on his previous mission. Theories also abound on the cause of the outbreak, including one from the construction supervisor where the outbreak may have been caused by an alien ship of mysterious origin. Not wanting to leave any stone unturned, Captain Ja'Lale had ordered records of past ships inbound over the last few months. TBS = 1 hour. 082612.rtf

Challenger is scheduled to run as planned if there are enough players on hand, however absences will be excused.

12 August 2012: The Challenger and Nightingale are still in orbit around Hydra IV. Captain Ja'Lale meets with the governor of the eastern state of Estevan for a possible exemption of the evening curfew for Starfleet personnel. Meanwhile, the others find themselves in a bit of hot water when they are found in an area they shouldn't be in. Will the Captain get an exemption, and will the rest of team get away unscathed? TBS - 30 minutes 081212.rtf

29 July 2012: The Challenger and the Nightingale are in orbit around Hydra IV, and are completing their transfer of supplies from the fleet of freighters that arrived from Earth. Meanwhile, the curfew on the surface has now lifted and the science and engineering teams prepare to head back to the surface to continue their relief efforts. A temporary exemption has been granted to Starfleet crews, but the captain and commander are looking at extending that exemption for the long term and plan to speak to the governor of Estevan as well as the Chief of Police to make that possible. Before this happens, the Challenger receives a comm from a concerned Admiral Baldwin who enquired about Lt. Randall's status in the Challenger's sickbay. After not getting much in the way of info due to his mission's classified nature, Captain Ja'Lale informed Baldwin that Randall's condition was stabilizing in the sickbay and is expected to recover from his injuries. With that part over, Ja'Lale and Rinax look to go forward to speak with the local government to extend their curfew. TBS - 30 minutes. 072912.rtf

22 July 2012: The Challenger and Nightingale continue treating sick patients on the respective ships. Meanwhile, aid vessels have arrived from Earth with medical supplies, food, water and other equipment needed for the reconstruction mission tasked to Challenger's engineering and science crews. On board one of these freighter vessels is one of Challenger's engineers who was severely injured and transported to the freighter by an unidentified vessel. Upon arrival, the injured crewman; Lieutenant John Randall was transported to sickbay where Dr. Hanson and her medics began emergency treatment. It is currently unknown how Randall got injured and how he arrived to the freighter in his current conditions, but it seems he might have had a run in with the Romulans during his covert assignment. Meanwhile, the engineering and science crews were still on board the Challenger due to a strict curfew set up by the local law enforcement officials on Estevan. Curfew was due to lift in the next half hours, and teams were taking in supplies from the freighters. Captain Ja'Lale and Commander Rinax further monitored the transfer of supplies, and were in plans to talk with local government officials for a possible exemption of the curfew for Starfleet crews. TBS = None. 072212.rtf

10 & 17 June 2012: The Challenger and Nightingale begins their mission on the planet Hydra IV to help treat an outbreak of a mysterious disease that is affecting the eastern half of the planet. 061012.rtf 061712.rtf

The classic "Whammo!" ... hopefully though, I'll be safe in the bridge and not have to use it lol.

03 June 2012: Finally arriving at the Antares system to rendezvous with the medical ship Nightingale, Challenger's crew prepare for their quick departure to Hydra IV. Science and Engineering work on a plan to improve food and other aid to the planet while the rest of the team gets up to speed with the current events on the planet. After a brief chat with Nightingale's captain, the two ships set course and depart Antares. TBS = 3 days. Note: No sim on Sunday 27 May due to the U.S. Memorial Day Holiday. 060312.rtf

Happy Birthday, Andy! I saved you a slice of cake, but your Blob ate it. :(

“Outbreak” Warning: Graphic medical details and disease symptoms are depicted in the log. Reader discretion is advised – especially if you just ate. Estefan, Eastern Continent, Hydra IV - It started small, but quickly snowballed into something uncontrollable. Dr. Alicia Hermitage wiped her brow and looked up at a medical team bringing in about a dozen more patients. “Put them in the back corner there” she said, pointing at a back wall of the hospital ward. The ward was fairly large by eastern standards, but it was packed well past capacity with sick and dying patients. At last count, there were well over a hundred, but Alicia estimated that a further thirty or forty came in since then. After adjusting her breathing mask, and surgical gloves, she called out to a young nurse. “Martha, I’d like you to check the new patients. Assess their condition and have them placed in the appropriate area,” she ordered. Martha nodded her acknowledgement and headed to the back corner where the new patients were placed. As was the case with most of the patients, their skin was covered with large swollen pus filled lesions throughout their bodies. Martha cast a sorrowful look at the patients. “The disease is in fairly advanced stages. I don’t know if there’s much we can do for them,” she said. “All right, put them in the Intensive Care section” Alicia hollered back. Visibly tired after working for over twelve hours, Alicia took a long swig of her energy drink. Though she and her medical team had treated hundreds of people today, hundreds more keep coming in every day. She also knew that this was the case in hospitals all around Estefan and other major cities and towns in the eastern continent. Though the outlook looked bleak, Alicia still considered herself fairly lucky. As the capitol and largest city in the eastern hemisphere, her hospital in the heart of the city was better prepared and possessed more sophisticated equipment than in other smaller towns. She could only imagine how bad it was in smaller cities and towns, which didn’t have the larger facilities and modern equipment that she had. But still, due to sheer number of patients coming in, many of whom came from smaller areas across the continent to receive better treatment, she and her team were stretched to the max. It didn’t help at all that the planet’s economy was still recovering from the civil war, particularly here in Estefan. Resources and medicine stocks were stretched pretty thin. If this keeps up, she thought, looking at more techs bringing in more people, they probably would run out of room and/or medicine within two or three days. Alicia looked down at her patient and injected him with a hypo to help ease his pain. His moaning eventually subsided as he drifted into sleep. Her superiors in the Ministry of Health kept reassuring her that the Federation was sending aid, but so far, little has come. She knew that they couldn’t rely too much on the ruling government in Hydrus, the planet’s capitol. With so many millions affected, the central government lacked the resources to effectively distribute aid to all affected areas in the east. The outbreak was causing the already credit-strapped government further into the red. * * * * HYDRUS - It was another bright and beautiful day in the capitol, but it little to brighten the mood in the Presidential Palace. Inside the grand marble hallways of the palace, President David Stein walked briskly down a large golden spiralling staircase. On the wall behind, a large golden backlit Hydra stood prominently. From ancient Greek mythology, the Hydra sea serpent was the origin of the planet’s name and was of course, adopted as the national symbol. Stein paid it no mind as he walked down the staircase accompanied by his advisors informing him on the latest in the east. “Any word from Starfleet? When are they sending more supplies and assistance?” He asked. A man of great pride, it pained him inside to have to resort to petty begging for help from the Federation. But, he had little choice. “We heard from Admiral Miller yesterday” replied one of his advisors. “They’ve sent in two of their ships to provide aid and medical supplies. They should arrive in a few days. Apparently, they’re sending in one of their larger Excelsior class ships to act as a deterrent against pirates” Stein said nothing but nodded. Ever since the civil war, rouge mercenaries and pirates still plagued the area even after the war ended. As much of the government tried to defeat them, they lacked the ships and resources to fully wipe them from the area. Over the years, the pirates have grown bolder and think nothing of raiding freighters and ships bringing in aid to the planet, only to resell the same stolen goods in the black market at very inflated prices. Stein appeared slightly relieved that the Federation was sending one of their big new Excelsior class ships. “These pirates are pretty audacious, but they’ll be wise to think twice against tangling with a ship of the line” he mused to himself. “Precisely what Starfleet thinks” replied his Defense Minister “the pirates still don’t have the resources or firepower to take on a Miranda class, let alone an Excelsior. Their biggest mother ships are barely bigger than an Oberth class. Hopefully, that’ll allow more freighters to come in with our medical supplies and equipment” said the president. President Stein looked to the health minister, a short balding man walking beside the president. “Mr. Constanza, is there any progress on determining what we’re dealing with? And can you confirm that the outbreak is still contained to the eastern half? I don’t need to tell you how imperative it is, that the outbreak is contained to the east,” Stein said sternly. “Well, I’m afraid our scientists don’t have much progress, sir. We know it started in Estefan six months ago, then quickly spread to all areas in the east. We believe the original carrier contracted it from another planet he was visiting, but we haven’t got far in finding out more.” Constanza didn’t want to say that the relatively poor labs the planet possessed hampered his research. This wasn’t Starfleet Medical in San Francisco. Most of the medical research equipment and methods used were older than most of the researchers themselves. “But, I can tell you that there has been no reported outbreaks here in the west. The Ministry of Transportation immediately suspended all flights and transports from the east. Luckily, they’ve acted quick enough to contain the outbreak” “But, I don’t know how much longer that’ll be” frowned Stein. “This Federation teams their sending better be good. Contact Starfleet again and see if they can get here any quicker. Did I ever mention how much I detest all this petty grovelling to the Federation?” Stern asked sarcastically.

20 May 2012: The crew of the Challenger return to the ship to depart for their next mission at Hydra IV, a remote Federation colony which is crippled by a mysterious outbreak in the eastern hemisphere of the planet. Challenger departs Earth Spacedock to the Antares system to rendezvous with the hospital ship Nightingale before moving on to Hydra IV. TBS = 3 days 052012.rtf

Challenger will be meeting as scheduled. If enough people show up, we'll continue with our current plot. We wish you all a happy Memorial Day long weekend.