Stardate: 21.0524
Scene: SB OMEGA – Admiral Tergin’s Quarters


His voice was it’s usual calm soothing medium and melodic tone; it
hid his increasingly unnerved true center. “…Computer, Resume
Classified Personal Log, Security Access Admiral Tergin Only…” Then
the familiar chime of the computer’s compliance... “Like I was
saying, early intelligence shows that only the Telmarc Corporate House
of Mothers has emerged relatively in tact from the two year civil war.
There may be options for negotiation of a peaceful settlement to the
Cocoon divide with them. Most of the Telmarc capabilities and assets
are either destroyed, damaged or being litigated over… but the price
for such a victory was very high…Our boarder is turning into a
Humanitarian Crisis, with an increasing number of war refugees and
escaped slaves trying to come across the neutral zone…
…. I fear that the price of this Cold War with the Telmarc, is the
diminishing to Starfleet’s Capacities to represent the Federation’s
Interest in the Cocoon. Starfleet Intelligence… After they reassigned
my choice for Intelligence Chief, and moved the center of their
operations to outside the Cocoon…. Well I cannot say what happened for
certain… they conducted most of the border war… but the classified
reports leaking back… they are not good. Things seem to have gotten
lawless on the boarder… a loss of perspective… If the reports from
the Telmarc Refugees picked up by the HORIZON are true…
… I may have accelerated what I sense is a coming storm. Earlier this
month I ordered Starfleet Security forces to Engage with Starfleet
Intelligence Forces in a dispute over the ARTEMIS project… we, like
the Telmarc, we testing potential AI Command programs… SF Intel
usurped the project and my control and tried to steal it… not only
that, they may have been trying to test their own Anti-AI Computer
Virus while a Starfleet crew was aboard… I still have not pieced this
part together. My hunch says that all of this will come to a head
soon, one way or another. And I intent to be prepared... end log.”


****
Time: Earlier
Scene: USS ARTEMIS - Bridge


[[[snip from Brittany]]]

The XO took the proffered bag and opened it, his eyes widening slightly. “Gems?”

“Diamonds to be exact. And a few rubies.”

“A girl’s best friend,” Mercedes said, peering over I-Way’s shoulder.
“Question is, what's Intel doing with them?”

[[[end snip]]]

“There are a lot of unanswered questions at this point…” Solari said,
brushing his white hair that had fallen back into place. “Add it to
the list. The most pressing issue is that there are at least 20
Starfleet Intel officer’s on this ship, and we are being pursued by
two Phantom Class starships, no doubt also Intel.” Solari sat at the
Helm. They’d bypassed post of the circuits that were locked into the
Command AI functions, and now had manual control of most systems.

“Where is the rest of our crew? I think a bunch of folks were taken
away… I don’t know if we’re the only ones left,” Mercedes McCarter
said. She instinctively took up a spot at tactical. Josh and Jayne
took up the Engineering and Science posts respectively.

“The Phantoms will be in weapons range in 30 seconds… I think…” Jayne
said. “I’m still trying to get a lock on their stealth systems…”

“Try to get internal sensors online,” Solari said to Josh.

“Where are we headed?” Mercedes asked.

“To the border. There’s gonna be Starfleet ships there, as well as
Starfleet Intelligence… We’ll settle this there one way or another!”
Solari said, as he quickly pulled the ships course starboard. “Hang
on!”

“Sir we have another ship approaching, high warp. Fast! Seems to be
a refit Samurai… it’s reading USS IBUTHO…” Jayne said.

“Admiral Tergin! He’s sent some help,” Solari said, a slight smile
on his face. He hoped that refit included some weapons.

“Sir! They’re firing a Verteron Torpedoes!”

“Keep us ahead of that blast radius!” Mercedes yelled “Or our Warp
Systems will be disabled as well.”

“I know! I know! I need more power to the engines!” Wayfarer said.

“I’m trying to divert more power now,” Josh said as he worked the controls.

“Don’t compromise Internal security systems or we’ll lose the
bridge!” McCarter yelled.

“The V-Torp has exploded! It’s disabled one Phantom!… Along with
the Samurai…got caught in the blast wake…” Jayne reported from
monitoring the sensors.

“Well that narrows the odds at least. I’m maintaining course…”
Solari said. “McCarter try and see if you can’t get the rear torpedo
launcher online… Okay people, here’s the SitRep: We need to find a way
to get this bucket to stay ahead of that phantom, a way to neutralize
any remaining SF Intel on board, locate our own people.”

“Have you figured out where we’re headed sir?” McCarter asked.

“Well the way I figure it. We don’t know who’s loyal to Tergin. The
Fleet Admiral is the one who chose us for this mission, and we know
that SF Intel isn’t on our side. I say if we had to bet who to trust,
it would be the fleet admiral. I’m not saying we should, but I trust
the El-Aurian I know over a bunch of spooks I don’t.”

“How are we going to get to Tergin on the boarder? The Boarder is
crawling with Intel. Most of their ships with High Stealth.”

“I read a overheard a report that the HORIZON is on the Border. If
there is a captain that will be loyal to the Fleet Admiral, it’s his
Flagship’s CO. The Mystic.”

“Commander Nova’Song. Right, but the thing is, we were just here… or
so we thought,” Jayne said.

“And Obviously SF Intel didn’t want you there. And besides I’m not
sure you even were actually there none of us remember exactly what
happened over this last year...” he looked at Jayne, Josh and then
Mercedes. “That’s my best bet. Now if there are other suggestions
I’m happy to hear them, but right now, we still have a Phantom on our
tail, and no safe harbors, so I say we head for the biggest closest
ship loyal to Admiral Tergin…I need you with me right now people, we
can’t loose discipline or we won’t stay alive. Now I gave some
orders.”


NRPG:
Hi Both Ships,
Long time, no post. Summer is here, and I always get inspired... so
here goes...
Once again I’m going to try to merge the story lines, hopefully with
an intriguing and interesting storyline to generate enough players to
keep it alive :)

So Far we are: geoffrey, Brittany, Kathy, (don are you still around on
horizon? EJ?)

Anyone on either list who want to jump in for this adventure, let me
know, I'm more than happy to have you :)



Listen to the Universe,
Admiral Tergin
Fleet Admiral
Cocoon Fleet

And

Like fire, like light
Lt.<jg> Solari Incheon-Wayfarer
First Officer
USS ARTEMIS