Season 11, Mission 10: The Ghosts of War

[Tekin Nevir]

First Officer's Log,

The Discovery has been dispatched to Sector 154 to study the Rystian Nebula.  We are the first vessel to do so, and our task is to form a full database entry, as well as mapping the nebula for future travels.  Its a stark change from our previous missions, and I for one welcome the downright relaxing mission.

The majority of the crew has recovered from the interferences we received from the alien vessel... both vessels, really.  There has been one case however, that has disturbed myself as the rest of the command crew.  There was one victim who seemed to have an adverse reaction to the attempted abduction, and unfortunately was not discovered until after the fact.  It is with a heavy heart from both him and myself that we are expected to lose a good officer through no fault of his own.  While I gather up the will to do what must be done, I've been using this mission as a proxy.  Science has always kept me focused, and this is no different.

[Bridge - USS Discovery]

The viewscreen was filled with warm colors as the ship moved through the thick clouds of interstellar gas.  The scans and information coming through was fascinating.  This was both typical and unusual of a nebula in its own special way.  As the Captain remained in his ready room, Nevir tried to keep his focus on the PADD in one hand, and the tapping of his other hand on the Captain's chair.  Sighing, he glanced at the time.  They couldn't wait any longer.

"Helm, change course to Mark 051.  I want to find the source of the heavy metals from our recent scan.  We could be looking at a dead star or planet.  Jyur, begin a metallurgical scan of the area."

At the sound of doors opening, he glanced at the Captain's ready room, and nodded.  Standing up, he made sure his previous order for Garrison to report to the ready room had been received, and turned to the back.

"Kali... you have the bridge.  Keep me updated." he said, walking over and entering the ready room where the Captain was.  They were mission just one person now... Kinley.

[Klabax Cottle]

[Sickbay]

Klabax sighed. Somehow, in all the ancient gods of the universe, he'd gotten himself promoted. Not once, which was average enough for any foolish captains, but twice. Two times!

If he wasn't careful, he'd lose his reputation at being a bastard.

Good things about being a higher rank was he could get away with more stuff. Bad news, he had to actually start being responsible.

He began running a lab test on some plant seeds he'd picked up- an offshoot of diomedian scarlet moss. It should take several days to work, but the resulting offshoots should perform as a pain relief upon contact- much nicer than the average hypospray in the neck. That was, provided it worked.

Having finished setting up the experiment, Klabax strode out of the sickbay toward his quarters, the two solid yellow pins on his neck as he walked. The last time he was a Lieutenant... He'd managed to get himself court-martialed down to Ensign, on probation. Not a fun time, but he stood by what he'd called his superior officer. That man had been guilty of worse than Klabax had called him.

He walked toward his quarters, figuring he'd have time to sit in silence with his animals. If anyone needed a Doctor he'd be around, or maybe he'd walk later, but for now he would sit in his zoo. That was what Chief Reyes had called it, right?

[Zuriel Soreka]

Chief Flight Officer's Log,
The discovery flight systems are a dream, Conley truelly knew his craft, as I had to change little. Most equipment and personal were up to, or above the requirements of starfleet. Since the equipment was good, I have spent most of my time getting to know the crew on the ship, but particularly in my department, so they would know what I expect of them and they of me, for now all things look promising. Currently I'm am scheduled for duty with the first rotation, it will be a ten hour shift for me, as I had to shift hours so the shuttles could all be inspected in the morning. The nebula at least schould be non eventful, but youhave to love the light show.

[Bridge - USS Discovery]

For someone who had been on duty for eight hours Zuriel was bright eyed, this was mostly due to the comical amount of caffeine he had invested before he went on, and partly because he was genuinely excited to see a new part of space.

The bridge was relaxed for the most part, aside from the random exchanges regarding experiments, it was mostly quiet. Zuriel sat slightly slumped in his seat, both hands on the helm, making slight corrections as we're needed., but for thr most part we was simply enjoying the view. The fading and flickering colors were very calming, but this was still a job, and he had to stay vigilant.

"Mark 051 , aye sir." Zuriel replied calmly.

"I'll keep her at half impulse with your permission sir, with the current particle density  any faster and we could displace the metal your looking for, might effect your readings." Zuriel made one more adjustment to keep the ship on the correct course, an he then relaxed back in his seat.

[Lennox Ainsley]

[Bridge - Disco]

Lennox's feet hurt. He had been disassembling, and reassembling weapons for a while now. Time became an unknown for him as he finally placed the last firearm down, it's checks went smoothly with no sign of misfiring. It had been a day of detox for him, ignoring the booze that called to him.

Having performed his duty for time time being, Lennox went to the bridge to receive further instructions. He had kept himself busy for the past few days by keeping himself in shape, there was not much action, for they were busy mapping out stars and nebulae.

"Anythin' ye want me te be doin'?"

[Kali Reyes]

"Kali... you have the bridge.  Keep me updated." he said, walking over and entering the ready room where the Captain was.  They were mission just one person now... Kinley.

[Bridge]

Kali casually sneezed into her sleeve and chalked it up to allergies, but the second sneeze was so violent she almost dropped her coffee in the process. Okay, so maybe it was a bad allergy system - environmental filtration systems be damned. Though she may have woken up much later than usual and even rolled off the bed in a sad heap of tiny sneezes that might as well have been a chittering alien language.

There wasn't a playful quip out of her when Tekin gave her command. Her bouncy, vibrant self seemed to be absent today, but she really couldn't muster the boundless energy needed to do it. What she wanted to do was get through her shift without any drama and maybe crash in her bed early. She made sure Tekin didn't see anything amiss when she slowly climbed into the Captain's seat and stare vacantly at the viewscreen.

[Bridge - Disco]

Lennox's feet hurt. He had been disassembling, and reassembling weapons for a while now. Time became an unknown for him as he finally placed the last firearm down, it's checks went smoothly with no sign of misfiring. It had been a day of detox for him, ignoring the booze that called to him.

Having performed his duty for time time being, Lennox went to the bridge to receive further instructions. He had kept himself busy for the past few days by keeping himself in shape, there was not much action, for they were busy mapping out stars and nebulae.

"Anythin' ye want me te be doin'?"

She almost completely missed his question. "Uh..." Every cylinder in her head was firing 50/50 at this point. "Tactical station? Do some recalibrations or something. We don't - CHU! - Ungh, not sure if we need to fire anything today."

[D'Vid]

[Sickbay]

Klabax sighed. Somehow, in all the ancient gods of the universe, he'd gotten himself promoted. Not once, which was average enough for any foolish captains, but twice. Two times!

If he wasn't careful, he'd lose his reputation at being a bastard.

Good things about being a higher rank was he could get away with more stuff. Bad news, he had to actually start being responsible.

He began running a lab test on some plant seeds he'd picked up- an offshoot of diomedian scarlet moss. It should take several days to work, but the resulting offshoots should perform as a pain relief upon contact- much nicer than the average hypospray in the neck. That was, provided it worked.

Having finished setting up the experiment, Klabax strode out of the sickbay toward his quarters, the two solid yellow pins on his neck as he walked. The last time he was a Lieutenant... He'd managed to get himself court-martialed down to Ensign, on probation. Not a fun time, but he stood by what he'd called his superior officer. That man had been guilty of worse than Klabax had called him.

He walked toward his quarters, figuring he'd have time to sit in silence with his animals. If anyone needed a Doctor he'd be around, or maybe he'd walk later, but for now he would sit in his zoo. That was what Chief Reyes had called it, right?

[D'Vid's quarters]

D'Vid had decided to do something out of the ordinary. He was going to make a visit to some one. The truth was D'Vid had wanted befriend a medical person.

"Computer location of Doctor Cottle" D'Vid said to the computer.

Doctor Cottle is in his quarters, the computer replied.

"Thank you," D'Vid replied.

D'Vid left his quarters and headed to Doctor Cottle's quarters.

D'Vid press the button to the old doctors quarters. He placed his hands behind his lower back and waited patiently for the Doctor to answer the door.

[Zuriel Soreka]

The course ordered by the first officer was a simple one, quite literally a line to the spot requested. The ending coordinate was not given since they honestly would not know, the nebula was strikingly beautiful, but it was thick, with all the elements around them, they would be flying on limited instruments, which was part of the reason the view screen was on. With a slow dance of various shades of purple and blue the Discovery flew on, the ships motion creating even more interesting shapes in the gas as it went on.

Soon the thick fog of infinity gave way to titanic columns of heavy gas, Zuriel not knowing what they were composed of altered the course of the ship slightly to account for the possible danger, "Could anyone get me a composition report on those columns? Depending on what they are made of, they could cause fluctuations in the warp coils, but i'll avoid them for now." Zuriel said after squeezing the ship through a abutting group of gad behemoths.

Continuing to fly through the immense gas halls of the amethystine nebula, the expanse widened even further, revealing a circular clearing that Zuriel thought had to have been at thousands of kilometers across. Zuriel kept the ships current speed steady, there were regulations in regards to passing through unknown nebulae after all, but  since he now had a little bit more room, he took a more scenic route as he tracked the heavy metals ahead of him. "This truly is a beautiful sight." The El-Aurian sighed.

Around fifteen minutes later the ship was coming up on whatever had given off traces of heavy metals. The Rotunda of the Nebula gave way to a broken mass at its center. The flicker of lightning danced around the expanse randomly, as the discovery moved onward the object in front of them became more Intricate. It was a planet or rather what was left of one, it stood as a testament to days long past, as beautiful as it was destructive, Zuriel did not know what the sensors would tell about what the ship had just found but he would orbit around it just the same, to give the Science department a chance to get proper readings. "Do you think that amount of heavy metals could have come off that thing? Must have been quite the light show to crack a planet like that."

[Kinley Garrison]

[Jeffries Tube #15]

Kinley grumbled as she made her way through the near-claustrophobic  confines of the Jeffries Tubes. Sure she got some great readings of some of the particles in the air filtration system, and had a couple ideas to make it better, but right now, she was seriously regretting accepting the task from Michaels. To add to her chagrin, she got herself turned around and now was rather lost.

Her commbadge chimed again. Yet another reminder that she was needed in the Captain's room. "I'm coming. Just gimme a little bit to get outta here.
She tapped her badge.  "Captain Briggs, Commander Tekin? I'm going to be just a tad late to our meeting.  Got myself a bit turned around in the Jeffries, but I'll be there as soon as possible."=/\=

[Kyle Briggs]

Kyle waited in the door way as his XO entered. The doors closed behind them as they entered the Ready Room.

"Have a seat, Tekin," Kyle said as he walked around the desk and took his own seat as the comm chimed.

  "Captain Briggs, Commander Tekin? I'm going to be just a tad late to our meeting.  Got myself a bit turned around in the Jeffries, but I'll be there as soon as possible."=/\=

=^=Understood, Lieutenant. We'll see you when you arrive.=^=

Kyle turned his attention back to the young Bajoran. He knew Nevir had been having some trouble since the last mission. He was genuinely concerned.

"How you holding up?" he asked.

[Tekin Nevir]

Kyle waited in the door way as his XO entered. The doors closed behind them as they entered the Ready Room.

"Have a seat, Tekin," Kyle said as he walked around the desk and took his own seat as the comm chimed.

=^=Understood, Lieutenant. We'll see you when you arrive.=^=

Kyle turned his attention back to the young Bajoran. He knew Nevir had been having some trouble sine the last mission. He was genuinely concerned.

"How you holding up?" he asked.

[Captain's Ready Room]

Nevir did what he was told, taking a seat.  After letting a breath out, he sighed.  "Captain, you know how sacred our names are in the Bajoran custom.  I consider you close enough to use my given name instead of Tekin, if you would like.  Informally, of course." he said, glancing towards the door.

"I bet you 5 strips that Kinley is going to feel very foolish after we talk with her.  She has no idea what happened.  Neither of them know." he said, gesturing towards the Bridge, where Jyur was assigned.  He was avoiding Kyle question... but that couldn't last, and he knew it.

"Ruthie had quite an adventure for her first away mission.  I've been more concerned about her than myself.  You know me, you've seen my record.  I've put my life on the line more times than any sane man.  The idea of WONO came directly from my actions.  And I know Hrafn knows if I break it.  But Ruthie... the girl went through so much, I was honestly hoping she would get a nice easy mission.  It hasn't been easy.  The nightmares of Cardassians are now joined with the nightmares of losing her father to an ancient race of humans."

[Klabax Cottle]

[D'Vid's quarters]

D'Vid had decided to do something out of the ordinary. He was going to make a visit to some one. The truth was D'Vid had wanted befriend a medical person.

"Computer location of Doctor Cottle" D'Vid said to the computer.

Doctor Cottle is in his quarters, the computer replied.

"Thank you," D'Vid replied.

D'Vid left his quarters and headed to Doctor Cottle's quarters.

D'Vid press the button to the old doctors quarters. He placed his hands behind his lower back and waited patiently for the Doctor to answer the door.

[Quarters]

As Klabax was watching his Septa cat from Andoria running around the small space, mewling as it chased an automated laser around the room, when Klabax's door chimed. He stood and restored the stoic and unfeeling expression on his face as he went to the door.

He saw the El-Aurian outside. "Petty Officer." he said, as the cat ran around like a metaphorical chicken without a head. "What can I do for you?"

He recalled the man's name and file, he remembered being surprised at the El-Aurian nature of the man, but other than that he was at a loss of why the man wanted to talk to him. Then again, nothing in life was predictable, especially on starships.

[Jettis Jyur]

First Officer's Log,

The Discovery has been dispatched to Sector 154 to study the Rystian Nebula.  We are the first vessel to do so, and our task is to form a full database entry, as well as mapping the nebula for future travels.  Its a stark change from our previous missions, and I for one welcome the downright relaxing mission.

The majority of the crew has recovered from the interferences we received from the alien vessel... both vessels, really.  There has been one case however, that has disturbed myself as the rest of the command crew.  There was one victim who seemed to have an adverse reaction to the attempted abduction, and unfortunately was not discovered until after the fact.  It is with a heavy heart from both him and myself that we are expected to lose a good officer through no fault of his own.  While I gather up the will to do what must be done, I've been using this mission as a proxy.  Science has always kept me focused, and this is no different.

[Bridge - USS Discovery]

The viewscreen was filled with warm colors as the ship moved through the thick clouds of interstellar gas.  The scans and information coming through was fascinating.  This was both typical and unusual of a nebula in its own special way.  As the Captain remained in his ready room, Nevir tried to keep his focus on the PADD in one hand, and the tapping of his other hand on the Captain's chair.  Sighing, he glanced at the time.  They couldn't wait any longer.

"Helm, change course to Mark 051.  I want to find the source of the heavy metals from our recent scan.  We could be looking at a dead star or planet.  Jyur, begin a metallurgical scan of the area."

At the sound of doors opening, he glanced at the Captain's ready room, and nodded.  Standing up, he made sure his previous order for Garrison to report to the ready room had been received, and turned to the back.

"Kali... you have the bridge.  Keep me updated." he said, walking over and entering the ready room where the Captain was.  They were mission just one person now... Kinley.

[Bridge]

"Aye sir." Jettis mumbled, quickly doing so in a moment's notice, before sitting back to eye the viewscreen until the scan decided it had completed. He wish he was more busy, give his mind a chance to move quickly and not focus on the last mission. So long as he was occupied, he could keep a composure a Vulcan would envy, and seem unaffected by his surroundings. His mind was moving too fast for him to worry about petty emotions.
But with a calm shift like this, he had plenty of time to think, and that was probably his worst enemy.

Desperate for a distraction, he glanced back at the sniffling Chief sitting in the Captain's chair. Quirking a brow, he gave her a slight look, before swinging around without another word. Sure, he could order her down to Sickbay, but he doubted she would be here in the first place if it were that bad. He would have to take it up with Tekin, though, in case it were some kind of side effect from that weird metal, or the Aztec Ship's less-than-perfect filtration system. Who knew what they were breathing in.

Going back to the scans, he glanced up as the helm officer spoke, prompting him to look up at whatever they were avoiding. Inhaling, he was distracted for a moment by the sight. Sure, he had seen things like this before, but from a tiny shuttle with a tiny window of view.
"It's mostly iron, silicon, molecular hydrogen, carbon monoxide, all typical, but then there are chondrules, traces of moissanite, vinyl alcohol... there might have been something else here at one time, like a satellite or an astroid belt." He commented, before going back to tracing the trail of heavy metals.

When they finally arrived at the source of the readings, he cocked his head, mildly confused. "Most of the readings are normal, but there's Indium and Hafnium floating around too." Glancing from Zuriel, to Kali, he looked back at the viewscreen, at the desolate planet. "It's not that common of a thing to find - on Ancient Earth, Indium was used to prevent corrosion and damage, and also as a conductor. Hafnium can be made into a weapon, because of the high energy content, but it would take a lot of mining to get enough of it. Hell, it would probably take two planets to find enough, without destroying the planet and the planet's atmosphere by mining constantly for it." He explained, turning back to his station and broadening the scan range. "I'm going to stretch the perimeters of the scan, see if it picks up anything out of the ordinary. There could be something else of interest in here. Tactical, could you keep an eye out for anything unnatural that could be interfering with these readings?"

[Kyan Mackenzie]

[Holodeck | USS Discovery]

Kyan was no fan of doctors, which was a well established and universally known fact. And that included those of the head shrinker variety. But due to the experiences he had on the last mission, the Discovery's headshrinker thought that they ought to have a meeting. So then, instead of being on the bridge at his station, where he wanted to be, he was down here at the holodeck for the gods knew what. But then head shrinkers weren't like the regular doctors. They were sneaky and sinister. They didn't always have the victim come to their dungeon. Sometimes they would try to ply their trade on "neutral" ground. Such was the case today.

The crimson haired boy eyed the display on the holodeck door with a mixture of suspicion and contempt. The description said that the program was set to mimic a park. The weather was quite warm and sunny. Apparently Lieutenant Doss thought that some trees and sunshine would throw him off of his guard and then she could get inside his head.

They would just see about that.

"Computer. Change weather patterns in holodeck program. Make some thunderstorms and high winds. Also... put a dinosaur in there."

Seconds later, the computer replied. "Program finished, you may enter when ready."

Kyan grinned devilishly as the doors parted and he entered into his "counseling session."

[D'Vid]

[Quarters]

As Klabax was watching his Septa cat from Andoria running around the small space, mewling as it chased an automated laser around the room, when Klabax's door chimed. He stood and restored the stoic and unfeeling expression on his face as he went to the door.

He saw the El-Aurian outside. "Petty Officer." he said, as the cat ran around like a metaphorical chicken without a head. "What can I do for you?"

He recalled the man's name and file, he remembered being surprised at the El-Aurian nature of the man, but other than that he was at a loss of why the man wanted to talk to him. Then again, nothing in life was predictable, especially on starships

D'Vid brought his hands to his side. He was feeling a little nervous now as time had passed in seconds. The door of the Doctor opened with the unfeeling face of an elder. The Denobulan male personality would fit in the twentieth century male. Those days the gramps had a cold feeling to them. They were brought up as a man is strong but never shows his emotions. Because they will come off as weak. In a way like a Klingon.

"Ah Lieutenant I was hoping to come by for a visit," he replied. The cat behind Klabax had made a cool cat leap. D'Vid attention was taken to the flying cat. The Petty Officer would like to have a pet of his own, but he had decided not push his luck to have one.

A smile grew on the El-Aurian. "I wonder we could just talk. I am here on un-medical session," he leaned and whispered. "I just like to real animals. If you know what I mean."

He had wanted to say, he had wanted to see the old grub was not a grub at all. Heck, D'Vid one day want tell that small security guard a few names himself. The word grub was rubbing off. It was a bad terminology calling another a grub. The word got around by other crew gossiping how the small little one security had a big chunk of a mountain on his shoulder. But D'Vid felt that everyone had a mask on for the rest of the world to see, but the true person was to be found. That what D'Vid had liked to do. He should had done counsellor for the crew.

D'Vid prefer judge someone by knowing them by a person's character  by facts by a gossiper or the individual who dislikes the human. Plus, what D'Vid understand that the doctor's species are happy aliens to be around but can be tough as a Klingon. Heck D'Vid met a few himself and they all seem to be positive ones. D'Vid was a bit curious.

[Zuriel Soreka]

[Bridge]

"Aye sir." Jettis mumbled, quickly doing so in a moment's notice, before sitting back to eye the viewscreen until the scan decided it had completed. He wish he was more busy, give his mind a chance to move quickly and not focus on the last mission. So long as he was occupied, he could keep a composure a Vulcan would envy, and seem unaffected by his surroundings. His mind was moving too fast for him to worry about petty emotions.
But with a calm shift like this, he had plenty of time to think, and that was probably his worst enemy.

Desperate for a distraction, he glanced back at the sniffling Chief sitting in the Captain's chair. Quirking a brow, he gave her a slight look, before swinging around without another word. Sure, he could order her down to Sickbay, but he doubted she would be here in the first place if it were that bad. He would have to take it up with Tekin, though, in case it were some kind of side effect from that weird metal, or the Aztec Ship's less-than-perfect filtration system. Who knew what they were breathing in.

Going back to the scans, he glanced up as the helm officer spoke, prompting him to look up at whatever they were avoiding. Inhaling, he was distracted for a moment by the sight. Sure, he had seen things like this before, but from a tiny shuttle with a tiny window of view.
"It's mostly iron, silicon, molecular hydrogen, carbon monoxide, all typical, but then there are chondrules, traces of moissanite, vinyl alcohol... there might have been something else here at one time, like a satellite or an astroid belt." He commented, before going back to tracing the trail of heavy metals.

When they finally arrived at the source of the readings, he cocked his head, mildly confused. "Most of the readings are normal, but there's Indium and Hafnium floating around too." Glancing from Zuriel, to Kali, he looked back at the viewscreen, at the desolate planet. "It's not that common of a thing to find - on Ancient Earth, Indium was used to prevent corrosion and damage, and also as a conductor. Hafnium can be made into a weapon, because of the high energy content, but it would take a lot of mining to get enough of it. Hell, it would probably take two planets to find enough, without destroying the planet and the planet's atmosphere by mining constantly for it." He explained, turning back to his station and broadening the scan range. "I'm going to stretch the perimeters of the scan, see if it picks up anything out of the ordinary. There could be something else of interest in here. Tactical, could you keep an eye out for anything unnatural that could be interfering with these readings?"

Things it seem to get a little more lively on the bridge, every man and women on this ship had a heart for exploration, and their were moments like these that really let that fact come out. This was a long shift, and honestly a boring one, but still there was some wonder to be had by the crew. It did the El-Aurian's heart well to be apart of something greater again, he was gone for far too long.

"An interesting assortment of elements Jettis, nothing that I know would hurt the ship, but crazier things have happened, so ill keep us a safe distance away from anything to big." Zuriel altered the course of the ship so that, while they could get closer to the body in the void, they could veer off in time if the body in question's orbit was more erratic than it seemed. "Here we are now we can get a proper look at her." The Discovery was clearly dwarfed by what looked to Zuriel as a broken planet, if someone took the time to look they could almost put the pieces together like a jig saw puzzle. While the broken planet was clearly naturally occurring, the damage did not seem it could have been caused by the same means. "Looks like a planet to me, ripped right apart, perhaps to get to the more valuable elements that you mentioned?" Zuriel posed this questioned glancing back a Jettis.
"This is as close as I will get but. perhaps a probe could shed a bit more light on what happened here." Zuriel spoke as he brought the ship to a stop. "But from what I see on my station this is clearly the origin of the heavy metals."