New Changes part 2

Posted on Tue Dec 30th, 2025 @ 1:06pm by Commodore Sureth & Commander David Wallace

Mission: CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT 10/25
Location: USS Cascade
Timeline: Concurrent

On

< Next Morning >

Sureth had yet to sleep as this had been a very long few days. Hustling to update his roster Sureth went to the old school shuttle pod bay and took the shuttle over to the USS Cascade.

" Permission to come aboard?" Sureth greeted.

The NCO Snapped too attention "Sir, Welcome aboard, The Commander has asked me too escort you too the bridge." he said making a slight gesture too the corridor.

Sureth nodded and slowly walked behind the NCO taking in the ships astethics. He often did this on the Neils Bohr, his own command. The Cascade was a damn fine ship. Into the Lift and upwards they went.

" Commander Wallace you have a good taste in ships." Sureth greeted.

"Thank you sir, we've got a few other surprises under the hood we haven't tried out yet." David said with some zeal.

" I am looking forward to that. But...first things first. Attention on deck." Sureth began. " As we are living under uncertain times and given all of your contributions to this station I take great honor in promoting you to Full Commander and CO of the USS Cascade effective immediately." Sureth replied.

David was on some level expecting this, "Thank you sir."

" Commander what is the Cascades status?" Sureth asked.

"No medical staff save two medics and a Nurse, otherwise I'll be fully staffed shortly." David started, "All systems are fully functional."

" I need you to fly to a system in the Lagoon Nebula. I will be going with you. Long range sensors show a planet that could be settled and used for our refugees and possibly our new home." Sureth replied.

"The yellow dwarf system?" David said trying to recall specifics

" NGC -6530a17b. A planet called Aurelia. ." Sureth replied.

He motioned too the helmsman who called up the system on a regional map, "Thirty minutes at Slipstream then two hours at impulse, assuming the flight path is clear." showing

" Activate the EMH. I need to go to that system."

"EMH as requested..." A holographic being appeared in medical attire.

" Commander I meant for you to do so but as its here. Doctor assume the role of the chief medical officer. Commander let me know when we can leave for the system."

"We can depart in a few minutes, unless you're joining us." David said.

" I will be coming along.I have placed Lieutenant Commander Kah’lyn Chiara-Rivers in charge of the station in my absence. " Sureth replied.

"Ensign Bear set course for NGC - 6530a17b, slipstream speed." David called out, "Would the Commodore like the honors?"

" No Commander this is your ship. The honor should be yours." Sureth replied.

David took the command chair "Engage."



< One Hour Later >

Sureth joined the science station and followed the scans of the planet they had come to see, Aurelius.

" Sensors are scanning numerous flora and fauna. There is also a large degree of life forms. I also detect the presence of a ship on the surface." Sureth reported as a seasoned science officer would do.

David applied the sensor readings to the main display "Let's investigate the ship, I don't want anymore surprises this week, are we getting any sensor signals from them?" he asked as he tented his fingers.

Sureth scanned deeper and made a discovery.
" It appears to be a downed ship. I am detecting multiple life forms around it." Sureth replied. " Commander Wallace these people may need our assistance. But this planet is one of three in this Nebula capable of hosting life and it is the number one the computer suggested we place the station above."

David looked at the data on screen and listening too the input "Can we get an identity on any residual energy or bio-signs?"

" Scanning...I can verify life signs but not specific breeds. Perhaps their coms systems are still functioning?" Sureth replied.

"Soon as we pass overhead give me a magnified view and start scanning subspace bandwidth for any transponders or communication searches." David wanted to play a hunch, "Tactical bang away with a broadband sweep like we're mapping the planet see if we attract their attention."

When the sweep began Sureth quickly received a signal as did tactical as the automated signal lightly chimed.

" Commander that vessel is Federation. Some forms of modified transponder signal is broadcasting. You are the Commander of this vessel but as we are scouting this planet for a future residence perhaps we should beam down and investigate?" Sureth suggested rather than order.

David kept his fingers tented looking at the information on the main viewer the seconds passed as he observed, he looked too his helmsman, "Launch an ODI for orbital launch and return and begin preparation for an away team."

The helms man started keying in commands, "ODI is in the shuttle bay and ready to launch, mission profile?"

David didn't hesitate "High altitude observation and information gathering."

The main viewer switched to a high angle view of the small shuttle bay as the small craft launched, David stood up, "I don't like surprises and this is a major surprise, depending on if this is wreckage being used by survivors we don't want to surprise them especially since they've been out of circulation, let's let the drone collect more detailed information and then make a decision on how to act."

The junior officer at the back operations station next too the Commodore spoke, "ODI is entering the atmosphere, and slowing into it's mission program, four minutes too it's mission zone, sensor suite is online and ready."

< On the Surface >

The ship was half buried in the surface and its drive nacelles had been twisted. Outside the ship under a rising Sun and pink atmosphere due to the illuminating Nebula 11 beings stood over a freshly buried grave.

The leader now, an Australian born Chief Engineer looked up as the cloud covered the sun.

" We need to get in the ship and start scrapping for anything we can use to survive."

<== ==>

David looked at the data feeds from the drone, "That's the leader of this group, maybe one of the senior staff." he said pointing too the foot of the gravesite.

" I have found some data now concerning this ship. Name: USS Veritas
Registry: NCC-74681
Class: Intrepid-variant (modified for extreme-environment survey, 2371 refit)
Last official log: Stardate 49827.4 (late 2372)
Mission: Secret cartography run charting the interior of the Lagoon Nebula for a possible future Federation listening post. Sureth replied

David looked at the information package, "Pre Dominion war, this mission profile reads like something dad would have been a part of at some point, maybe while he was working for Jonathan Rittenhouse." he said referring too the Dominion war era head of Starfleet intelligence.

" Those life signs could be part of the crew." Sureth added.

"Either way we're going to have to make contact with them." David said looking over at the Commodore.

" Commander by regulation I am inclined to give the order but as I have just
promoted you to Commander of this vessel it would not be very nice of me. I will assist how ever you need help." Sureth replied.

"I'll beam down with two others, no mission patches or rank insignia and make contact then depending on how things go we bring in help to evacuate anyone who needs help." David said as he started to walk too the lift "If I remember correctly the closest ships are the Horatio, Agamemnon and Peele," he paused "Ensign Bear keep the drone in an elliptical orbit around the crash site."

" I will remain aboard and maintain the science station." Sureth replied.

"Sounds good, Powell you're with me." David said as walked to the lift, "Nurse Chen to the transporter room for an away mission."

< On the Planet >

The Australian and 10 of the crew left the grave and returned to the ship to keep busy and try to survive. Commander Ian Erwin paused as he thought he saw a image in the sky hovering but when he blinked it was gone.

David and his two crew materialized about four hundred meters from the crash site just out from the tree line, "Wallace to Cascade looks like there's signs of life."

The class L world in this sector yielded some foliage and rocks and a large cave. Ian Erwin had spotted it and planned to travel there soon to investigate it. But today they had to scrounge for replicator systems.and things to help the crew survive.

As the trio walked toward the downed ship David looked around, "They've been on this planet for close too thirty years, you'd think someone would have detected them by now." Nurse Chen spoke first.

"Good question, parts of the nebula are known to be ionized in a way that most standard scans would just deflect, so discovering this was a fluke, but even I have a few questions myself." David mused he could sense someone's eyes on him as they walked.

The eyes indeed were on them as one of the Veritas crew had managed to get the sensors to work and detected the approach of beings.

" Commander Erwin we have company." he yelled as he handed Ian a tricorder and a hand phaser.

" Grab 2 more phasers and meet me behind those rocks. Set phasers to stun" Ian yelled back.

The Cascade away team slowed their walk, David could feel something, "This is Captain David Wallace of the Starship USS Cascade, we're here to help." he looked to his security officer and whispered "tell me you brought a couple of smoke grenades?"

Lyla motioned too her field coat showing the two can shaped devices tucked inside, David entered a couple of commands into his tricorder, he looked around, "I'm Captain Wallace of the United Federation of Planets." he waited a few more seconds, he got a signal from his tricorder "We know you're hiding nearby."

" Are you Federation?" Ian yelled back. Motioning for the security chief to stay put as he came out into the opening.

"Yes!" David called out.

" If you are Federation how did you avoid the anomaly?" Ian asked to verify if this guy was truthful.

David paused "Anomaly? we didn't but that doesn't mean there isn't one."

Ian lowered his weapon and began to approach.
" My name is Ian Erwin. Our ship hit an anomali that knocked us out of warp . We had to crash on this planet."

David walked forward "David Wallace, we didn't detect anything as we entered the nebula, excluding the usual ionization we've seen so far." he looked around, "How long have you been here?"

" That is a long story. We have been here for 27 years. Our Captain died and I have assumed command." Ian replied.

"To be honest we weren't expecting to find anyone here, how many of the crew are still around?" David said.

" Actually we emerged from the ship yesterday. Our ship was on a mission which made it necessary to go into hibernation inside sealed biobeds. When we emerged we discovered our Captain had sacrificed her biobed to make sure we had enough power for the rest of us. There is only 11 of us left now." Ian replied.

David paused at the information "I am going to have to report in, I'm not doubting what I see here but considering the events of the last twenty five plus years I'm going to need some direction from the higher ups, do you know who the liaison officer for your mission was?"

" Commsnder our mission was to prevent an incursion We only had a crew of 12. A Dirty Dozen if you will. Only we failed when we hit the the anomali and crashed here." Ian replied.

"What ever it was it didn't happen, I think." David started "The report we have was you were to set up a listening post of some kind, but that's the extent of the file we have, far as any anomalies there aren't any on sensors and our ships are sensors are the fairly advanced, now we can evacuate the group to the ship and take you too a nearby starbase get some medical attention and get in contact with Starfleet to figure out what the next move is."

" I will have to speak to the crew. I will be right back." Ian replied as he slowly retreated back to the downed ship.

From above Sureth hailed Commander Wallace.

[ Commander the sensors show the Veritas has an energy build up. You need to return back to the ship.]

David swore under his breath, "Can you beam us out from here?"

As quickly the transporter beamed David and his team up a giant explosion erupted on the planet. The results of which revealed the Veritas was no longer detectable on sensors. Before David returned to the Bridge Sureth reported to tactical." The ship appears to have exploded. I am unable to scan their presence."

"Bridge! what happened?" David said as the chief of the boat came too collect David's field coat.

[ The Veritas has apparently self destructed .] a tactical officer reported.

"Pull the sensor logs, including the drone I want answers." David said as he stormed down the corridor too the turbolift.

Sureth assisted the tactical officer and by the time David arrived on the Bridge they had a possible answer.

" Commander we have triple scanned the data and made an astonishing discovery. The Veritas did not destruct it cloaked. There is no debris field but there is a small tachyon signature. Enough to hide a starship . The question I have is why?" Sureth asked.

David looked at the displays, "The other question is how'd they get a hold of a cloak?"

" This is a great mystery. On another continent I have planned to establish a land based settlement. We can proceed here and discover why they have cloaked themselves or move forward?" Sureth replied.

David didn't think hard, "We do have a job to do," he paused turning too the bridge crew "Tactical prepare two class four probes for communications, send one into orbit and the other out too the outer edges the nebula for relay duty, reconfigure the drones for ground surveillance around the proposed site, let's get the job done."

Sureth nodded and resumed his scanning of the planet. This mystery would be addressed later as they needed to be rescued at some point. With the addition of the probes for communications ground to space comms would be in place once Captain Kingston's team arrived to begin.

David looked at the data feeds on the main screen, "Tactical prep a class five probe, Atmospheric and Metrological observation configuration, I want a handle on local weather patterns."

The tactical officer's hand flew across the console, "Class five probe loading now."

Sureth could feel the adrenalin flowing in himself at having a world to explore and a mystery to solve.

David looked at the ops station, "Data link check with the relay probe?"

The ops officer looked at his readings "Both probes have linked properly, temporary subspace prefix established, we are connected with the rest of the galaxy."

" Commander Wallace excellent work. I need to hail the station and check in. Now is as good a time as any." Sureth replied.

"Open hailing frequencies." David said.

Sureth checked in with the station and the relays were as clear as if they were just out side. When he was done Sureth then looked to David from the science station.

" Excellent job on the comms Cascade. Commander you have a great team" Sureth replied

David looked around the bridge, "I wouldn't mind testing out one system before our friends arrive."

" Which one is that ?" Sureth replied curiously.

"Black alert!" David called out, the ship echoed with the electronic noises of the alert rang through the ship "Engage cloaking device!"

David smiled as the limited lighting came on, the violet alert lights encircled the bridge and work stations, beside him the bridge crew executed orders and procedures "Entering a higher orbit sir, cloaking device functioning as expected, board shows all emissions within limits." The ops officer called out.

David turned "Officially there are only a few ships still under exemptions to the Treaty Algeron, unofficially the Romulan governments have relaxed the rules in exchange for some trade concessions recently, the condition is the technology the Pegasus developed is banned."

Sureth was unaware but then it dawned upon him about the Veritas. 27 years ago discussion of equipping cloaking devices on star ships had been discussed by a high ranking Star Fleet Officer . The officer had been half Romulan and Sureth knew her well calling her T'Hana though she never embraced any true Vulcan attributes.

" Commander Wallace I want to beam down to the site where you found the Veritas. "

"We need to resolve this, plus something about their story doesn't add up..." David grumbled slightly as he added "I should have brought a squad of marines or other operators."

" This was supposed to be a simple scout mission. " Sureth replied.



< On the Planet >

The 11 survivors had once again stepped outside the cloaked Veritas and were looking around for any kinds of fresh water and foods. The new leader Ian Erwin joined them as he also knew the ship would need materials to replicate things they would need.

" Science and Security go to the North. Medical go back to the ship and see if your bio bed is charged. We need it for injuries in case anyone gets hurt. " Ian instructed. But he paused the moment he saw two unknowns coming their way. Running ahead Ian realized it was the same folks from before.

" Do not come any further." Ian yelled.

But the two kept walking forward.

" We mean you no harm. I am Commodore Sureth from Starbase M-69. We are aware of who you are Commander Erwin. Where is Captain T'Hana?"

" If you are who you say you are how goes the war?" Erwin asked.
" The Dominion War is over. We made a treaty with the Founders. Did T'Hana perish?" Sureth asked.

Erwin approached and then replied " She sacrificed herself so we would live. How do you know T'Hana?"

" We served together on the USS Bohr. She was my second officer and science chief. This is Commander Wallace from the USS Cascade. " Sureth greeted.

" Ah yeah we met... Hello mate." Erwin nodded.

David could get a sense of the mans apprehension again, he just played it pleasant for now "Hello again." shifting his leg so that the EP-38 phaser was visible to any onlooking, the Starfleet logo emblazoned on the side near the grip.

" Guys I have to protect my Crew. I'm sorry I pretended to destroy the ship. What's left of her is partially inside the surface. We hit an anomali which interacted with our shields. That triggered the Captain's....pod to open. She redirected her life support pack to reinforce ours . When we crashed the interphased part of the ship went into that hillside. Everything is still operational except for our deformed nacelles. Including our...cloaking device." Erwin replied.

David shook his head, "That is unfortunate but we're here as part of a survey for a new colony."

" Colony? I guess that makes us your first prospectors then. I would ask that you stay clear of our little area. We still have sensitive data and equipment aboard. No doubt you all probably have more advanced stuff by now? How many colonist are moving to this planet?" Erwin deflected.

David looked at the man, "I don't have those details, but the colony site isn't anywhere near here." David could get the sense that the man was hiding something.

" Commander Wallace will mark off this area for now. However Commander I insist on debriefing you. A lot has occured in 27 years." Sureth then added.

" I understand Commodore. If T'Hana were here I am sure she would have already given you a report." Erwin replied.

" Commander Wallace let us return to the Cascade and allow Commander Erwin to attend to his crew." Sureth added.

Tapping his badge "Two to beam up." David said.

Once again back on the Cascade Sureth felt the feeling Erwin knew more than he was saying.
" With the comm systems up on the planet we will have eyes and ears on . I will summon for the transports to bring in the initial terraforming equipment . The next month or so will be very busy. At your leasure Commander take me back to the station ." Sureth replied.

David knew there was more too this but refrained from speaking again, "Helm take us out, then back too the station."

Sureth had not prepared for the Veritas situation but he would not dismisses it . Once they were more established on the planet time would be made to investigate further.

As for the Calypso and Commander Wallace it would be a short ride back to the station so Sureth just sat back and watched his young officer excel.


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