23 August 2005 - 04 January 2006
During the Dark Matter's journey back to Outpost 316, Miss Craig is
confronted to a group of teenagers who want to use her image in a
holoprogram, a proposition that she turns down vehemently. Others
however, like Lt Orthis and his engineers thoroughly enjoy the escapism
offered by a fantasy holoprogram.
In the meantime, Lt Sulvik is informed that the DM has been granted a
new teacher, one who appears to be rather troublesome according to the
reports he has received.
On their side, Lt Cmdr Vahl and Lt Hadley take advantage of the general
quietude onboard, to have a discussion about Wolf 359 and how it
affected their lives.
Meanwhile on the Outpost Dr N'we discovers that what she has stumbled
upon is far more complex than she at first thought, and almost cost the
life of a Bajoran woman she had just befriended.
Far away, travelling from the Klingon Empire, the Garann sisters are in
hot pursuit of two criminals, whom they are convinced are heading for
DSO 316.
After spending a night with a Bolian woman, Nick Downey ends up in
sickbay. The following morning, he receives a visit from Lt Sulvik who
is dismayed to see that his concerns regarding the new teacher seem to
be founded.
Meanwhile, on Valo III, Imelda (npc) (Lt Orthis' ex wife) struggles to
resurface after her hectic runaway from Federation and Klingon's Forces.
Ernst and Boss (npc) finally arrive at the Outpost. It doesn't take
them long to locate Vahl. However, unbeknown to them, the Garann
sisters are also in the vicinity.
Once she has made sure that she can be of no further help on the
Outpost, Doctor N'we spends a last night with Tahlandi Jiasha (npc) and
then she reports to Captain Persson.
Lt Sulvik contacts an old colleague from the Academy over what he sees
as the inappropriate appointment of Nick Downey as the DM's new
teacher. Unfortunately for Sulvik, his "friend" is not impressed by his
remarks.
While Lt Hadley is doing his very best to avoid going on shore leave,
he received a call from Natalie Howe (npc), a survivor crewmate from
the USS Melbourne. She doesn't seem to be feeling too well and asks him
to become the Godfather of her daughter.
On the Outpost, June Craig sees the ruination of her shore leave plans
with the arrival of her grandmother, who decides where they should go
and what they should do and see. While visiting an art gallery, they
meet with Nick Downey. The respite however is short lived for June,
since her elderly relative is prompt to drag her elsewhere.
While Dr N'we gets familiar with her department and has the opportunity
to meet with Lt Sulvik, she receives disturbing news regarding the
recent events on the Outpost, which could even endanger her own life.
Back on the Outpost, Captain Persson spends some quality time with
Captain Samrai (npc), and Lt Orthis decides to date Myka (npc), a
friend of his, from the Natpurdalorum.
In the afternoon, Lamarr and Ernst (npc) manage to sequester Claryx
Vahl, thanks to the use of defensive sprays. They plan to get rid of
her with fatal injections, but the Garann sisters (npc) intervene,
quickly followed by Lt Gol'Khar who arrives on the scene and put an end
to their nefarious activities.
Captain Persson receives his new orders, which are to explore a planet,
apparently non inhabited, and see if it's viable for colonization.
However a Ferengi Merchant ship travelling in this remote sector has
just reported the presence of several unknown ships attacking their
prey.
When June Craig and Lt Orthis return to the Dark Matter they notice
that security has been increased to its maximum, reducing considerably
their personal freedoms.
Dr N'we decides to activate the EMH (npc) who is not particularly pleased to have to serve under her orders.
While Counsellor Sulvik considers the psychological welfare of the
crewmembers after this shore leave, Lt Gol'Khar indulges himself in the
calibration of the sensor analysis station, one of his favourite tasks.
After a briefing that highlights the different concerns about the
upcoming mission, the senior staff returns to its routine. For Lt
Sulvik it means more clash with Nick Downey, who, in addition seems to
have found an ally in June Craig.
While Angus MacDuff works on the science probes that they are bound to
need during their mission, Dr N'we discovers with dismay that so far
none of the senior staff has reported to sickbay, as ordered by their
CO.
Day two starts with Lt Orthis's engineers doing their best to give
Captain Persson the maximum warp speed he has asked for their journey
to the Krelcar Nebula.
Ensign Michael Munro (npc) goes through another counselling session
with Lt Sulvik. Following an encounter with the same Counsellor, Lt
Cmdr Vahl decides to take martial art lessons with Lt Hadley, this in
order to come to terms with her inability to defend herself during her
recent trial on Outpost 316.
Dr N'we goes to the lounge to see if Miss Craig wouldn't mind taking
part in a basic medical course and also asks the manager to be served
real food. A request that doesn't go too well with June, who prefers a
quiet life behind the bar.
Lt Gol'Khar reluctantly goes to sickbay and makes sure that the EMH (npc) understands how much he dislikes the situation.
Dr N'we receives a response from Lt Orthis about his physical.
Lt Sulvik and Lt Hadley have one of their casual talks. However it has
a twist this time, since the Chief of Security starts questioning the
Counsellor about his private life.
In the evening Captain Persson decides to sit for his psychological
evaluation. So, following Lt Sulvik's favourite method, he finds
himself speaking in a long monologue about his childhood and career
choice.
June Craig accepts Nick Downey's invitation to taste a special bottle
of wine in his quarters. Yet, despite their ulterior motives, the
evening remains purely platonic.
True to her decision, Lt Cmdr Vahl seeks Lt Hadley's help for a training programme, and settles for Aikido lessons.
Dr N'we reviews the file she recently received from Outpost 316 and
discovers that Dr Ivanin (npc) worked on the failed colony, Turkana IV and
served on the USS Ahwahnee at Wolf 359.
Lt Hadley received a startingly cold message announcing the death of
his friend Natalie Howe, and the fact that he is now the official
guardian of her daughter.
While Lt Gol'Khar is in cartography to analyse the space region that
the Dark Matter is passing through, Engineering discovers a problem
that will slow the ship down.
While performing Lieutenant Hadley's physical, Dr N'we informs him of
her latest discoveries regarding the mysterious events on the Outpost,
and by insisting, she gets him to mention how the death of a friend is
forcing him to adopt a teenager.
In a bid to understand the motivations of the Ferengi Captain (npc) who
reported an attack near the planet they are travelling to, Lt Cmdr Vahl
contacts him. After a long and painful discussion, she manages to
uncover that this dealer in precious stones never took an interest in
this world because its atmosphere is far too hot for the Ferengi.
While working all night to ensure that the Dark Matter can continue its
journey at the maximum speed, Lieutenant Orthis discovers with dismay
that Dr Hereward (npc) has put him on a diet, forcing him to eat low
fat yogurts and other types of so called healthy food.
A few hours later, while Dr N'we is making plans to ensure that her
department brushes up on their xenobiology skills, she learns of the
EMH's zealous attitude with Orthis's diet. She then heads for the
Counsellor's Office, intent on seeing to his physical, while going
through her own evaluation.
On day 5, June Craig has a hard time with an Ensign who finds it funny
to question the quality of the food she serves in the Lounge. However,
2 days later, she has a pleasant surprise when Lt Sulvik, forwards her
psychological profile to the Diplomatic Corps (as she had requested),
adding a letter of endorsement in the process. Later on that same day,
she receives a visit from Gol'Khar, who orders a romantic dinner for
himself and Claryx Vahl.
By contacting the parents of Natalie Howe, Lieutenant Hadley, receives
the confirmation that Ashley (npc) will soon be on her way to Outpost
316. She will however travel by private transport since her grandfather
doesn't trust Starfleet. The death of his daughter being shrouded in
mystery, he feels sure that Starfleet Intelligence is involved.
Dr N'we's goes through her evaluation showing how much she dislikes the
session. Lt Sulvik, accustomed by now to the antics of the Dark
Matter's crew, listens stoically and follows her for his physical.
After discovering that his brother is having an affair with his ex-wife, Nick Downey goes to the lounge to let out some steam.
In the evening, the science station on the Bridge reports that two
unknown vessels are on an interception course with the Dark Matter, an
event that will occur in less than five hours.
When hailing these ships fails, Lt Gol'Khar
launches a probe towards them, an act which is reciprocated by the
silent intruders. The alien probe manages to pass through the DM's
force fields in the form of a bright light. It leaves the Bridge just
when Lt Hadley makes his entrance to man the security station. After
some wandering, it explores sickbay and takes an uncanny interest in
the EMH (npc), leading to his disappearance.
On his way to the Bridge, Lt Sulvik is accosted by Leon Vancas (npc)
who shows an interest in shadowing the Counsellor, this in order to be
fully qualified for the Academy the following term.
A half drunk June Craig reviews the files of people interested in the
position of bartender aboard the DM and seems to set her mind on a
gigantic Bolian male working on Outpost 316 at the moment.
The light probe lingers in Science in front of a quizzical Lt Gol'Khar and then moves to the Counsellor's office.
While engineering awaits in readiness on what might befall the Dark
Matter, Lt Orthis recalls a trip he once made with his ex-wife to an
abandoned Bajoran temple infested with lethal snakes.
Lt Hadley monitors the probe's every move, making sure that it cannot access Sulvik's computer files.
During her shift at helm, Lt Vaelx has an argument with her Symbiont
about her recent transfer to the DM and what she should expect from it.
After checking with Doctor N'we the exact circumstances of the EMH's
disappearance, Lt Cmdr Vahl decides to use the holowaiter as a bait to
trap the alien probe on the holodeck.
When the probe has been successfully contained, ready to be ejected, it
suddenly vanishes, leaving behind it a seemingly disabled EMH.
Relieved to be able to focus on their forthcoming encounter, Captain
Persson orders Lt Gol'Khar to use their cloaking device to create a
diversion. Upon hearing this news, Lt Orthis sets out to challenge the
right to use such an instrument, and Lt Vaelx volunteers to pilot the
shuttle that will hold the device.
Late at night, Nick Downey reflects on his choice to serve on a Federation ship and the dangers that this now entails.
Lt Hadley, Lt Gol'Khar and Lt Vaelx promptly meet in the Solar Eclipse.
While the cloaking device is being installed, Sulvik pays a visit to
the Chief of Security with a word of warning about their assignment.
There is no doubt that the Pulse Disruptor sported by Ensign Sokolov
(npc), more than concerns him.
Fearing that the EMH has a virus, Dr N'we tries to convince him to go
through a Level Three diagnostic. Once her staff deals with this, she
contacts Captain Persson again about his physical. Thankfully he
responds right away this time. During this examination Persson learns
that he must do something about his stress levels and makes a promise
to himself that he will ask Counsellor Sulvik for some meditation
advice.
Through Lt MacDuff, Vahl discovers that the two vessels heading for
them are enormous in size and could be processing ships of some kind...
The alien vessels finally contact the DM, (through the voice of the
EMH) to announce that they are in dire need of help. However, when
Captain Persson asks them to give more details about their condition,
they remain stubbornly silent.
The Bridge finally manages to retrieve a large cluster of data embedded
within the EMH's program. But he vanishes again right at the end of his
level 3 diagnostic.
Thanks to Lt Vaelx's piloting skills, Lt Hadley, his security team and
Lt Gol'Khar makes it safely to the vicinity of the two ships and then
beam onboard one of them. During their exploration, they find huge
rooms and an impressive quantity of the mineral, olivine. As they move
on, they are met by one of the aliens who, despite his bulky frame,
appears to be frightened and begs the away team to take him back with
them.
His patience running thin, Persson agrees to accept the alien aboard
the DM. Aware that something is going on, the large ships fire on the
Dark Matter, but although the attack made for an hectic flight back for
Lt Vaelx, the intruders prove to be no match for the DM.
While juggling with her various tasks as a CMO and trying to find out
was has become of Dr Hereward, Dr N'we runs a thorough scan on the two
ships and discovers that their crewmembers suffer from various levels
of Magnesium Iron Silicate Toxemia, or Olivine Poisoning.
Unbeknown to everyone on board, Dr Hereward materializes in the Lounge.
There he exchanges his medical knowledge with Abe, allowing the two
emergency programs to share a comprehensive database about the crew's
dietetic needs.
Very early in the morning, Lt Cdr Vahl broadcasts a message to the
alien ships, informing them that the Dark Matter could be in a position
to cure them of the disease that affects their crew. True to Dr N'we's
worst fears, this premature announcement triggers a series a violent
events among the aliens, one of them being the demise of their cruel
leader, Amala (npc).
By speaking with Lt Hadley, Dr N'we and Captain Persson, Gumulu, the
asylum seeker (npc) learns more things about how the Dark Matter crew
operates and manages to live peacefully.
The return of the EMH, at around 04.00 marks an outburst of dietetic
advice, but also helps Dr N'we to figure out a potential antidote to
help Gumulu's people.
After a short night, Lt Gol'Khar checks on the progress made by his
scientists and discovers that the 2 alien ships have indeed visited the
Krelcar Nebula, and very recently.
Lars Persson wakes up with orders from Admiral Davison (npc) to place
Lt Orthis (npc) under arrest. Since these instructions originated from
the Judge Advocate General's Office, Persson can only guess that this
is linked to the undercover relationship that his former CEO has kept
with his wife.
While Lt Hadley carries out the order in as friendly a manner as he
can, Lt Cmdr Vahl checks with Lt Sam Vaelx whether she would be
interested in the CEO position. The fact that she accepts the offer
prompts Dr N'we to remind Vaelx of her physical. During the
examination, Dr N'we discusses the MIS contamination she has
discovered, which has been left by the light-probe. The two women
decides to work together to eliminate this infiltration.
With the potential cure for the disease suffered by Gumulu's people
being prepared, the Dark Matter finally leaves the area, accompanied by
the two M'Rtlag ships.
Early in the afternoon, June Craig receives an out of date message from
her father according to which his life is endangered because he owes a
large sum of money to some unfriendly people.
Having received more data from their probe, Gol'Khar's scientists are
able to determine that the planet where they are going was rich in
olivine, but doesn't seem to harbour any intelligent life.
In a bid to get make more money, June Craig asks the XO to be allowed
to participate in the ongoing mission, but with the M'Rtlag too sick to
enter any diplomatic proceedings for the time being, she is turned down.
Gol'Khar and his team finally obtain the proof that the M'Rtlag
ransacked their destination planet, taking all the olivine they could
from its soil. The scientists also detect faint life-signs in the
underground of the planet.
Dr N'we confronts Cmdr Vahl in the morgue to show her the direct
consequences of her lack of communication with sickbay when she sent
that second message to the M'Rtlag ships.
Continuing with her work on the filtration systems, Lt Vaelx asks Lt
Hadley's assistance to access the the small arms locker and phaser
maintenance areas. They get along nicely and promise to meet later in
the lounge to share a meal together.
Persson orders Vahl to assemble an away team for 03.00, whose purpose
will be to explore the underground tunnels of the planet that issued
the distress signal.
-- To Mission Summary Part Two --
Summary written by :
Lt Cmdr Claryx Vahl
XO
USS Dark Matter
Posts Selection :
-
Shift Change by Lt N'we
- Ulterior Motive JP by Craig and Downey
- Boarding Party by Lt Hadley
- Secret meeting of the Holograms by Lt N'we
- Rendezvous in a locker JP by Lt Hadley and Lt Vaelx
