13 April - 17 July 2006
Stardate 238202.01
On KiOm, a main off-shore mining facility near Phorgenica, Eibee (npc)
(a Balannti undercover agent), reflects on her role and what will
happen when her people have total control over the Prallems’ dilithium.
Stardate 238202.05
Lt Sam Vaelx finishes her repair to the ship’s systems, which makes her
realize that Engineering will need quite a lot of supplies before the
Dark Matter can leave the Outpost. However, all this work doesn’t
manage to dissolve Sam’s guilt over the recent events connected to the
general loss of power.
Lt Cmdr Robert Hadley reviews his troops to be sure they are all well
prepared to receive the dignitaries, soon to board the Dark Matter. To
be sure that everything goes according to plan, he even asks his men to
train on the holodeck for the event.
The evening is much quieter for Lt Gol’Khar, who only has one thing
planned for the evening: a dinner with Cmdr Vahl. Yet it doesn’t quite
develop as smoothly as he hoped, since Claryx first reproach him that
he almost forgot their date. Then, in the lounge, their evening is
disrupted by Trok (npc), Lt MacDuff and Ensign Chivez (npc), whom he
has to chase away.
Aware that Trok is making a nuisance of himself in the lounge, June
Craig forces him to sit at the bar and eat a heavy meal in complete
silence. Since he has no money to pay for his food, a financial
arrangement, (quite disadvantageous to Trok), is made between the two
of them.
Stardate 238202.06
Early in the morning, Cmdr Vahl is asked to accompany three crewmembers
who have decided to pursue their career elsewhere. Lt Corbett (former
Chief of Operations) is going back to the Sol System. On their sides,
Lt Trewyn (former Counsellor) and Ensign Bellophoron (former Assistant
Chief of Science) have chosen to remain on DSO 316.
Captain Lars Persson reviews the conference Hall, on Deck 5, where the
dignitaries will be able to meet. The head of this delegation, Algernon
Braket (npc), a name that Lars is familiar with. Moments later, he is
informed that a Lt Aspinal (npc), from the Judge Advocate General’s
Office, wishes to speak with him. Lars receives him immediately. The
young officer proves no match for the Captain, who easily rebukes his
attempts at incriminating the Dark Matter for the disappearance of two
aliens and a Bajoran artefact during the previous mission.
While she is reluctantly preparing herself for the imminent arrival of
the dignitaries, Lt Vaelx receives a call from Trill. It is from her
arch-enemy, Dr Xari Marel (npc), who has discovered that Sam and more
importantly her symbiont have sustained some injuries a few days ago.
Because of this, the Trill doctor expects Vaelx to report to the Trill
home world for a complete physical as soon as the current assignment of
the Dark Matter is over.
Lt McWarren calls the CEO to have holo emitters
installed in her office and quarters. As always, Lt Vaelx is prompt to
respond to this engineering request, however, she is less than
comfortable with the few questions that the Counsellor asks her.
First thing in the morning, June Craig drops by the
lounge in search of traces of misdemeanour left by Trok during his
night shift. At first she could find none, she then receives a visit
from Lt Finh (npc), an Engineer who ditched her but a few days earlier.
The impromptu meeting renders her speechless.
Lt Gol’Khar contemplates with regret the departure of his assistant,
Ensign Bellophoron and checks the crew manifest for new arrivals within
the science department.
Dr Hereward (npc), reminds Claryx Vahl that telepaths need to meditate
regularly, which prompts the XO to order a stack of scented candles; a
necessity for most Betazoid relaxation techniques.
Following an uneventful greeting of the six dignitaries aboard the DM,
Captain Persson receives his new CMO, Lt Selek and Counsellor, Lt
Sydney McWarren. The couple, who are married, has just arrived through
a transport shuttle, with their baby son Silek, and Selek’s trusted
medical staff.
In her office, Lt McWarren meets with Lareena Kam (npc), her
administrative Aide, and sets out to find a caring service for her
young son.
Lt Sam Vaelx joins Lt Cmdr Robert Hadley for a
training session on the holodeck. During their usual banter, Hadley
realised that something is bothering the CEO and soon discovers that it
is linked with the renewed attention that Sam is receiving from Dr Xari
Marel.
Back in his quarters, Hadley spurred the curiosity of Ashley (his
god-daughter), when he stares too long at the blade he has just used on
the holodeck. Just like Cmdr Vahl, he cannot help feeling a bit
concerned by the arrival of another Counsellor onboard the DM.
Sam’s symbiont forces her to pay another visit to sickbay to check on
her recent injuries. Her confrontation with the new CMO doesn’t go too
well as the stern Dr Selek imposes a 1.45 hour long treatment on her,
forcing her to prolong her stay in the bay.
Unable to relax enough to go through a meditation session, Vahl rushes
to the lounge to check on the preparations for Braket’s dinner.
Captain Lars Persson makes another attempt at discovering why Braket’s
name seems so familiar to him, but he can’t find anything in the
Ambassador’s profile to stir his memory.
In his office, Dr Selek reviews the files of the senior staff and flags four of them to be seen by the Counsellor.
Meanwhile Gol’Khar visits cartography to familiarize himself with their
destination: Starbase Dyerma IV and the nearby planet, Dyerma III.
Counsellor McWarren spends some time checking the files flagged by her husband, then takes care of her baby.
Due to the fact that Klam (npc) once had a fight with one of the
diplomats, he tries to convince June Craig to choose someone else to
serve with her at the dignitaries’ dinner. But in her usual manner,
June refuses to change her mind.
While reflecting on the baby-sitter they found in-extremis for their
son, Sydney and Selek get prepared for the dinner. However Selek
expresses some concerns over this choice, for although the baby-sitter
is part Vulcan, he is not entirely sure that she is aware of the
requirements to live the Vulcan Way.
Sam receives a call from her older and estranged brother, Sevek (npc), who happens to be the CEO on Dyerma IV.
During the dinner, after falling victim to some bad remarks from the
Andorian diplomat, Lt Gol’Khar rejoices when the irate diplomat has an
accident with his soup. An accident, which seemed to have been
orchestrated by Klam.
On the runabout USS Hudson, en route to Dyerma IV, Ner Augyi, (the DM’s
new Assistant Chief Science Officer), speaks to her pilot about the
reasons that brought her to accept a position so far away from the Sol
System.
After the incident with Hadra, Ambassador Braket
engaged Vahl and Persson into discussing the history of their
respective ancestors. Because June Craig, in all her wisdom, had
decided to sit Robert Hadley down next to the new Counsellor, the two
officers break the ice and make arrangements towards small arms
training for Sydney. However during the whole of the meal Hadley kept a
strict eye on Hadra, who he discovers is concealing a palm phaser in
one of his boots.
After the dinner with the dignitaries, Lt Cmdr Hadley accompanies Lt
Vaelx to her quarters, so that she can pick up a few things and spend
the night in his quarters while he is on duty. They have made this
arrangement so that it is easier for Sam to keep an eye on Ashley, but
her quarters are in such a mess that it takes some time to prepare a
simple bag for the night.
Stardate 238202.07
Lt Sydney MacWarren finally gets a chance to meet with the people that
staff the ship’s Counselling and Mental Health Services. In the process
she finds out that Biara Maryl (npc) the former Acting Chief could
represent a problem, as she seems to be a little resentful of
MacWarren’s arrival as the new head of this department.
Stardate 238202.16
On holodeck 1, an image of Vulcan scenery sees Silek's baptism,
performed by Father Demetrius (npc) followed by his naming ceremony,
conducted by T‘Lara.
Aware of the two ceremonies, Craig curbs Trok’s plans to invade the
holodeck, she then consults a personal message that she has just
received. Unfortunately, it confirms that she has failed to pass her
diplomatic exams.
Stardate 238202.20
Vahl decides to pay a visit to the Counsellor about her meditation
problem. During the session, Sydney manages to convince Claryx to keep
an open mind on this relaxation matter and perhaps try to relax while
she is spending some time in a science lab.
Stardate 238202.21
No sooner has the DM approached Dyerma IV that Admiral Davison (npc)
informs Persson of his new mission. He is to assist the Prallem in
their relationship with the Balannti, a violent humanoid race from the
planet Tyngal Rukai.
While she awaits the arrival of the DM, Ner Augyi spends some time on a
holodeck to study the Phorgenica's main continent; and more
particularly an offshore dilithium mining operation. (OFF : Phorgenica
is the homeworld of the Prallem people.)
Finding that he can no longer bear the chair of his office since it is
very uncomfortable, Lt Gol’Khar calls the quatermaster’s office, and
insists that they bring him a seat that is more adapted to his size.
While he is waiting for it to be delivered, he notices that he has been
assigned a new Assistant. He reviews the file of Lt Jg Ner Augyi and
then summons her to his office.
Commander Inaia (npc) from Dyerma IV contacts Lt McWarren with a
communiqué she has received from the Dark Matter Counselling offices.
On consulting it, Sydney realises that it concerns the recent changes
she imposed on the schedule of her staff.
Lt (Jg) Ner Augyi answers Lt Gol’Khar’s call and meets with a flustered
petty officer transporting a heavy chair to the office of the Chief of
Science.
On the Starbase, Persson and Vahl meet with Lecomte (npc) and T’Mey
npc). The evening, however pleasant, is somewhat tinted by T’Mey’s cold
Vulcan stance.
While reviewing the new mission’s information, Vahl comes to the
conclusion that since they no longer have any Diplomats onboard, Lt
McWarren will have to act as a Diplomatic liaison during the
interaction with the Prallem. She then tries to involve June Craig,
asking her to volunteer as an attaché, but the Lounge Manager, who
happens to be in a foul mood, refuses categorically to oblige.
At the exception of Lt Sertak, the Security Department is quite happy
to see the back of the dignitaries, as it means that they can return to
a more normal routine.
Stardate 238202.22
Lt Gol’Khar leaves the Science Department to his assistant and decides
to spend a bit of time on the holodeck for a training session. However,
his inability to fight properly convinces him that he really is too
tired for this activity.
Trok (npc) and Klam (npc) discuss how they can help June Craig despite
herself. Unsure that he can trust the Ferengi waiter, Klam decides to
act on his own behalf, and manages to convince June to have a
conversation with Erz Finh (npc), now on Dyerma IV.
Lt McWarren confronts the member of her staff (Biara Maryl (npc) ), who
has bypassed the chain of command to complain about the recent changes
in their department. Sydney feels so upset after this whole affair,
that she asks her husband to meet with her in the arboretrum, in order
to vent her disappointment.
While a Prallem Councillor and his aide are onboard the DM, touring the
ship, Augyi visit Main Engineering to familiarize herself with the
probe maintenance bay. After checking out the probe sent to Phorgenica,
she finds ionization traces in the sensor windows and contacts the
Captain right away, as it looks like somebody has tried to mask a ship
from their scans.
Stardate 238202.23
While Persson and Vahl allow their Prallem guest to visit the DM, it
becomes obvious that they have a fascination for their shuttles, which
prompts the Captain to offer them a return to their planet via a
shuttle. Vahl, who has to complete the tour without the presence of the
Captain, notes that the aide seems particularly uncomfortable, while on
his side the Councillor shows a blatant disrespect for the Balannti.
In Space Imaging Lab Deck 4, Augyi and Gol’Khar discover that a small
vessel has crashed on the far moon of Phorgenica, and could well be the
ship that was trying to hide from their probe.
Craig wakes up early to track down Trok (npc) (who has
avoided her calls the previous day). After relishing on the fear he has
for her, June thanks him for talking the way he did to Klam and offers
him a truce, which he gladly accepts.
Lt McWarren reviews the trade treaty between the Federation and the Prallem, and what it entails for the two parties.
On his way to accompany the Captain to Mercenia Tal, Lt Cmdr Hadley has
a bet with his Deputy that the Prallem will be the first to fire on the
Dark Matter. The second meeting between Jiril and Persson proves to be
fruitless since the Councillor doesn’t show much interest in the crash
site. The meeting is even shortened by apparent bad news, whispered at
Jiril’s ear by his stoic aide.
On the plaza, outside the administrative building, an enigmatic
character hiding in a dark alley tries to contact the two Starfleet
officers. This attempt is disturbed by a sniper who fires at the trio,
and manages to seriously injure Hadley.
On board the Dark Matter, Doctor Selek operates on Hadley to remove the
bullet that has pierced his abdomen. While Counsellor McWarren takes
care of Hadley’s god-daughter, Cmdr Vahl prepares an away team, whose
aim will be to investigate the crash site.
Lieutenants Gol’Khar and Macduff volunteer for the away
team and go straight to the shuttle bay on Deck 3, where they are met
with Vahl, Sertak (npc), Gradd (npc) and Travis (npc).
Once their shuttle has landed on the moon, the team quickly discovers
various footprints that either indicate they aren’t the first people to
examine this site, or that the occupants of the unmarked crashed scout
ship have managed to get out. The team then tries to get inside the
ship, but they discover that its hatch is jammed.
Captain Persson is contacted by Councilor Jiril (npc) before he has a
chance to get back to him. Although the Prallem dignitary says he has
no clue as to what happened on the Plaza he assures the Captain that
his people will find and punish the person responsible for the attack
on Lt Cmdr Hadley.
In the gym, June Craig sees her efforts to remain fit interrupted by
the intrusion of her friend Maria Chivez (npc). At first the science
officer shares her worries about Angus MacDuff and his safety while he
is on the moon, and then directs the conversation towards June’s
diplomacy studies. A touchy subject that manages to anger June.
Meanwhile, Hadley is recovering in sickbay. While he is told of the
treatment he will have to go through before he can return to full duty,
he discovers that Ashley is siding with the sickbay’s staff, as far as
his well-being is concerned.
After a short spell of work in the lounge, June decides
to take advantage of Cmdr Vahl's absence to see the Captain about her
career in diplomacy.
On the Prallem Moon, no sooner has the team discover that the
scout-ship doesn't belong to the Prallem or the Balannti, that they are
spirited away by a mysterious white light.
With Lt Cmdr Hadley still in surgery, Lt Berg (npc) is forced to work
with the forensic team. He reaches the conclusion that the large gauge
military-type assault weapon used against his Chief must belong to a
third party.
Captain Persson focuses all the ship's resources to the recovery of his
missing team. He then receives a message from Admiral Davison (npc),
which informs him that due to new developments with the Tzenkethi
coalition, three members of his senior staff will be reassigned
urgently to Trillius Prime.
During a senior staff briefing called by the Captain, June suggests
that they send their EMH (npc), suitably disguised as a Prallem, so
that he could lead an undercover investigation in Phorgenica's capital.
In one of the science labs, Dr Hereward reluctantly
goes through the process that will turn his appearance into that of a
Prallem citizen. As soon as the work is completed, he complains to
Captain Persson about the way his matrix is being used. However,
Persson manages to convince him that he is about to help the crew of
the Dark Matter in an unique way. It is enough to alter the EMH’s
reluctance to go to the Prallem home-world.
On Mercenia Tal, Eibee (npc) and one of her Balannti colleagues, Rekk
(npc), reflect on their situation. The latest developments on
Phorgenica saw them losing their cover, being emprisoned and forced to
live in the sewers of the Capital. All this happened so suddenly that
they are convinced that councillor Jiril (npc) has received information
about their doings from a third party.
On the ship of unknown origins, the away team is first confronted to
walls and floor that are covered with a sticky substance and then get
the opportunity to talk to their captors. The group of aliens sent to
speak to them, insist that the Dark Matter have to leave this sector of
space, otherwise war will be the only issue.
Lt Gol’Khar looses his temper. He sees their menaces as being nothing
but hot air and give them the fight they seemed to be asking for. As
soon as he has grabbed the alien leader by the collar, Lt Sertak (npc)
fires on the other aliens. The away team then starts to search for
their two missing members. By the sound emanating in the first corridor
they take, their first stop will be what they think is an engineering
room.
Despite Ashley’s insistence that he takes some rest, Robert Hadley insists on going to the Bridge to man the tactical station.
June Craig makes an unexpected visit to the lounge. There she discovers
that her staff is trying to find a name for the lounge, she selects
“The Devil’s Advocate” from their suggestions.
On Mercenia Tal, Hereward (npc) drifts into the suburbs. There, he
overhears a few words said in Balannti, which leads him to meet with
Eibee (npc).
When Captain Persson is informed that a character named Eibee wishes to
speak with him, He takes Lt Cmdr Hadley to the holodeck, for a little
deception aimed at discovering Eibee’s true motivation.
While exploring the strange ship, the away team is literally engulfed
by the flooring and falls into a damp chamber, one that Lt (jg) Gradd
(npc) and Ensign Travis (npc) have occupied for some time. When Gradd
informs the newcomers that they are in what seems to be a digestive
chamber, Lt Sertak (npc) proposes to set his phaser on overload to
generate an explosion.
From his science station on the DM Bridge, Pete Smith
(npc) discovers that a serious explosion has just occurred on the alien
ship he is monitoring. When he also locate the life-signs of 6
humanoids, he urges the officer in charge of the Bridge to beam them
aboard.
The away team is beamed into the main transporter room, and then
directly to their quarters, as they badly need a shower to get rid of
the stinky substance that covers them.
While reviewing the Prallem media, June Craig receives a call from her
friend Erz Finh (npc). He has accepted the ACEO position on the DM and
is presently on board the USS Yorktown, which will meet with the DM in
two days.
Communication officer Kris Lomax (npc) monitors the conversations
emanating from the approaching Balannti Fleet. A prolonged silence
among their chatters worries her.
After speaking with Finh, June thinks back on her past, and the circumstances that led her to spend her life in space.
Once they have changed uniforms, Vahl and Gol’Khar go to sickbay, where
Nurse Hendrix (npc) makes sure they are all right. In the meantime,
Hereward returns to the DM with a Balannti male who suffers from a bad
chest infection.
Persson and Hadley observe their holo counterparts as
they interact with Eibee (npc). When it becomes obvious that the
Balannti woman has no intention of acting in a aggressive way, the two
men enter the holodeck and explain their little deception to their
guest.
While June Craig continues to reminisce on the events that brought her
to work as a waitress on the USS Charleston, the Captain decides to
head forward to meet with the approaching Balannti fleet.
Stardate 238202.24
Cmdr Vahl informs Persson that the probe that they had launch to try
and trace the LamFir ship has been destroyed. This piece of news
prompts Lt Gol’Khar to see if the M’Rtlag probe they gained on a
previous mission can be used in this instance.
In the evening, the Dark Matter finally meets with the Balannti fleet
and its leader, Skulkan (npc). As surmised, dealing with him is far
from easy. In a bid to show that he will not be bullied, Captain
Persson dispatches food for them to retrieve, a reaction that gives
them two hours to cool down.
However, when the two hours have elapsed, the Balannti comes back with their weapons charged up.
Because she doesn’t want to spend the evening alone,
June Craig forces her team to remain in the lounge, despite the lack of
customers. This develops into a game of strip poker between the lounge
manager and Trok (npc)
Meanwhile on the Bridge, the crew discovers that the LamFir Emporium
has taken advantage of the Dark Matter’s absence to attack Phorgenica.
Captain Persson manages to rally Skulkan (npc) to his cause (at least
for the time being) and sets out to return to the Prallem home-world,
accompanied by the Balannti ships.
Lt Mertsick Cordon, the new CMO of the Dark Matter, is reflecting on
his Bajoran past that keeps on haunting him, during his journey on the
USS Yorktown.
Stardate 238202.25
Lt Gol’Khar and his scientists refine the controls of the M’Rtlag probe in order to obtain better results from it.
At 03.00 Trok, minus most of his clothing, tries to reach his quarters without getting noticed.
Captain Persson looses his temper at the way that
Skulkan speaks to him. But when the Balannti leader reveals that he
knows of the LamFir Emporium and possesses a means to disrupt their
organic ships, the two men manage to find an agreement, for the sake of
Phorgenica’s survival.
It is with relief that Lt Cmdr Hadley and Cmdr Vahl note that the
weapon shared by the Balannti does actually work. Around 05.00 the
LamFir vessels finally retreat, albeit slowly.
The USS Yorktown rendezvous with the Dark Matter. The new CEO, Lt
D’Amaz an Andorian, is the first to board the DM and is promptly
greeted by the XO.
While he is enjoying a holodeck romp involving some raunchy Klingon
women, Lt Mertsick is interrupted by the Yortown’s CO, who informs him
that he can now transfer to the Dark Matter.
While he is getting prepared for a meeting with Councillor Jiril (npc)
and Skulkan, lars Persson receives an unexpected call from
HalKunan(npc), the Balannti Chancellor. The older man doesn’t share
Skulkan's ideas of conquest and askes for help. Running out of time and
unable to leave the orbit pf Phorgenica, Persson asks for the
assistance of the Yorktown. It is then arranged that the Yorktown will
travel to the Balannti home-world where it will attempt to evacuate the
remaining population.
After greeting her friend Erz Finh (Engineer) onboard, June Craig
returns to lounge, where she discovers with amazement that Trok is
auctioning the pair of shoes he won from her the previous night.
During the talks between Councillor Jiril and Skulkan,
it becomes obvious that only the Prallem are willing to make a step
towards peace. What Jiril proposes is to accept a good proportion of
the Balannti on the Prallem Home-world, but Skulkan feels diminished by
such a prospect and leaves the conference. Once he has gone, Vahl
pretends that she has the ability to read the mind of the Prallem, a
manipulation that leads Jiril to reveal that he had been in touch with
the LamFir Emporium. This species had contacted the Prallem government,
proposing an alliance against the Balannti, their common enemy.
In a last attempt to demonstrate the Balannti power, Skulkan’s Fleet
fires on Phorgenica and suddenly jumps to warp. Captain Persson chooses
not to pursue them, so as to offer his assistance to the Prallem
people, and even more importantly, be present when HalKunan(npc), the
Balannti Chancellor, arrives with all his people.
During a short respite from Bridge duty, Lt Cmdr Hadley discovers that
Sam Vaelx, the ship’s former CEO, has left a message for him,
explaining the reason why she has had to resign from the DM in order to
return to Trillius Prime.
Meanwhile, June Craig discovers that Erz Finh (npc) has already taken
advantage of her by sending his child to the lounge while he is busy in
Engineering.
From their science stations on the Bridge, Lts Gol’Khar and MacDuff
monitor the progress of the rescue mission that the USS Yorktown has to
undergo. Everything seemed to be going reasonably well, until they
observed massive changes in Tyngal Rukai’s magnetosphere…
Stardate 238202.26
The arrival of the USS Yorktown and HalKunan’s refugees sees the
beginning of the face to face negotiations between the Balannti and the
Prallem. At first they are monitored by the Dark Matter, but Captain
Persson quickly decides that the two factions need to be left alone, so
that they resolve their differences by themselves.
Stardate 238203.10
After having provided Phorgenica with what materials they could to
hasten the Balannti’s settlement, the Dark Matter finally returns to
Dyerma IV. During this journey, Trok (npc) reflects on the way that
Craig has changed since the arrival of Finh (npc). She seems to do
everything he wants, something Trok would truly like to use to his
advantage.
- Mission End -
Summary written by :
Lt Cmdr Claryx Vahl
XO
USS Dark Matter
Posts Selection :
-
An Unpretentious Diner by Lt Cmdr Hadley and Lt McWarren
- Doing Homework by Ensign Augyi
- Shadow Boxing by Lt Cmdr Hadley
- Deadlock by Cmdr Vahl
