Captain's Log Stardate 90781.28 The upgrades to the Relentless' weapon systems seem to be operating within normal established parameters. Engineering has had to make some modifications to the EPS conduits as well as reinforcing the plasma flow taps to handle the additional energy output. We have seen an increase of 27.47% to our primary weapons and a 16.32% output to the shields. Our good fortune comes from our improving relationship with the government of New Romulus. However, it is not without a price.
Our patrols in and around the Nimbus and Azure sub-sectors have led to multiple engagements. While we remain victorious, we must also remain vigilant. The Azure nebula almost seethes with a palpable hatred.
Chief Engineer Kejhit has informed me that the verterium cortenide matrix of the number two and three starboard warp coils are showing signs of micro-fracturing, causing the steady drop in our top warp speed performance. Our recent battle with the Tholians the most likely cause. I have informed him that we will make for the nearest starbase with repair facilities after our final patrol is completed.
On a social note, I performed my first bonding ceremony as ship's captain. Lieutenant ka'Hech and Ensign Drexler were married yesterday evening. I considered it an honor to conduct this event and it seems to have bolster the crew's morale. May they live long and prosper.
Captain's Log Stardate 90799.89: We have finished our final security sweep of the Emperor's Delight, NFT- 70953. The interstellar cruise ship was boarded by a band of Orion pirates at approximately 0745 during alpha watch. The Relentless received the subspace distress call and responded. The luxury star-liner was deep in the Azure nebula, much deeper in than its original flight plan was charted. Having ventured so far in, the ship had little defense against the Orion marauders as shields were rendered useless and the automated defense phasers never fired a shot.
The two MACO teams' boarding actions initially were executed with their usual precision after the Relentless disabled the two Maraar-class escorts. However, once the Orion pirates realized they were trapped, they started taking the passengers hostage. The MACO team attempted to minimize the loss of life and I found their actions and the collateral damage within acceptable limits. The ship's captain, one Herbert T. McAnally, did not.
Captain McAnally expressed, quite emotionally, his dissatisfaction with our intervention and that the loss of any of his crew and passengers was unacceptable. I disagreed and attempted to explain to him that our rescue minimized his losses. He also claimed that he never set a distress signal and we boarded under false pretense. He accused us that Starfleet would be held liable and myself and the crew of the Relentless would pay.
I had my first office Commander Anthri begin an investigation into the Emperor' Delight. Upon accessing their ship's log and data, it was discovered that the cruise ship had been deliberately set off couse and it was no accident that she de-warped inside the nebula. Further investigation and interviews of their crew reveled the 2nd officer, Camille Nannson, activated the distress beacon.
The Relentless' medical team conduct screenings of their bridge crew and ascertained that Captain McAnally's brain functions were being subjected to high levels of Orion female hormones. Using the star liner's internal sensors, the away team found a single Orion female hiding in the captain's quarters. She has been arrested and taken into custody. Second officer Nannson stated that her captain's "companion" joined their crew during their last layover at Risa. Having been subjected to her influences, the captain was infected with poor reasoning and judgement and was suggested upon to take the Emperor's Delight directly into this ambush. Captain McAnally has also be taken into custody.
The cargo manifest and passenger list showed several valuable items. Many of the commodities would fetch considerable prices on the black market and several high profile Federation citizens and business-persons that would draw considerable ransoms. The Emperor's Delight's owner, Umox Unlimited, LLC, has been contacted to handle the after action details and the ship has been formally released back to them. Their representative, Faiton Gralchek, absolved the Relentless of any wrong doing, thanked us for our troubles, and said we could do with as we saw fit with Captain McAnally and the Orion woman. Both currently remain in our brig. We'll resume our patrol route shortly.
Captain's Log Stardate 90813.3: After three days of following the signal, we found ourselves just two light-years from the epicenter of the Antares Maelstrom. The signal was a high frequency narrow broadcast in the sub-K delta band of sub-space. We intercepted this signal during our transit from Starbase 514 to Deep Space 5 on a routine patrol run. Correction - Intercepted is a understatement; we were broadsided by the strength and magnitude of this communication beam. The Science Division was unable to decipher the transmission.
Following the signal's trajectory to its point of origin led us core-ward into the Maelstrom and a pocket of space filled with exotic particles and natural warp phenomenon. As we approached this focal point, we intercepted other similar signals coming from different vectors and of various frequencies, all intersecting at our current location. We went to Yellow Alert and raised shields as a precaution against the powerful signals and any local distortions. Scans and recent surveys of this area confirmed no habitable planets or artificial constructs for several light years in any direction.
Upon entering the Maelstrom, the original signal as well as the other vectored signals ceased. We began broadcasting a universal greeting on all known frequencies, including the one we had followed. We had to shut down several subsystems in order to produce enough power to transmit a reciprocating signal.
Two minutes after our initial hail, we picked up the signal again, this time directed at us. Concurrently, we detected highly organized plasma packets rapidly shunting about within the interstellar miasma. While we still were not able to decode the transmission, Lt. Bisson theorized that we might be dealing with an unclassified cosmozoan.
We attempted to run the plasma packet groupings through the universal translator but without a frame of reference or key, we were unsuccessful. Finally, a breakthrough occurred when the main computer did recognized a repeating theme. It turned out that the foundation for the intelligence's communication is rooted in base-pi. After that, we ran the transmissions through the main computer again.
The current transmission beamed at the Relentless was a request for our immediate departure.
I attempted communication, logically explaining who we were and the potential benefits of a mutual exchange of information. We were again answered with the request to leave, but only on a much more powerful aptitude, strong enough to disable our sensor arrays. We had been given a warning. I deduced that the next signal might disable my ship. I ordered a reverse course and set us back out of the area. The final transmission we received, thankfully much weaker, as we moved out of the area, simply stated "We do not deal with meat."
We departed the maelstrom without any further confrontation. We analyzed the deep scans and sensor readings and determined that this life form was similar to others encountered by Starfleet but different enough to be classified as its own species.
Upon reviewing the previously recorded communications we had intercepted, we determined that this species of cosmozoan was some sort of core cluster intelligence and that it had been communicating, across several mega-parsecs, with others of its kind via subspace.
When I reflect at the potential loss of making full contact and open communication with a species such as this, I am disappointed but not surprised. Beings such as this, composed of the very fabric of the universe, and most likely almost as old, would see us as we view micro-organisms, insignificant and short-lived.
We have resumed course to complete our patrol run to DS 5 and I am anticipating Starfleet's orders for our return to New Romulus. I find the world most fascinating and complex. The founders and settlers share a philosophy, a way of life, that I find logical and beneficial. We cannot disregard that, no matter how important other issues may seem.
First Officer Anthri's Personal Log (Security Encryption Gamma-2-7 enabled) Stardate 90820.7: Upon our return to New Romulus, the captain has thrown himself into his new role of liaison to the growing colony. Having been temporarily assigned the title of "Ambassador of Goodwill", Captain Stravek has hardly been on board the Relentless in the past week and has been assigning orders from the fleet embassy instead. While all of his orders are proper and justifiable, I cannot but wonder where his current intentions lie.
To date, we have secured and ferried building materials, foodstuff, and supplies from across the sub-sector "Material security is vital" he has said, in reference to the new colony and its inhabitants. As First Officer, it is my job to ensure the health, well-being, and security of this ship and its crew, including the captain. He seems more concerned with them than his ship, crew, and our mission.
While I have gone on a few of the away missions with Captain Stravek, I lack his Vulcan version of enthusiasm, and have deferred additional missions to the other officers. What I have witnessed is his overly focused attention to cultivating a relationship with the breakaway colonists. In his limited down time, he spends much of it with their leader D'Tan, as well as a Romulan female, whose name I haven't caught yet. Stravek, I believe, is becoming negligent in his duties as a starship captain. His backlog of secured Starfleet transmissions alone is over 72 hours past due, not to mention the much needed repairs on our over worked engines.
I suspect that the captain may secretly be a Reunificationist, hoping he can somehow be a part of bridging his people and these Romulans. If I didn't know him, and having served under him all this time, I'd say he was "going native", to use a pinkskin phrase.
Should his errant behavior continue without justification, I will have to confront and reason with him. If that option fails, I will contact the 7th Fleet's Admiralty and declare the captain unfit for duty. In either event, per Drake's directives, I have compiled and transmitted a synopsis to the operative on the captain and his unusual behavior. Drake's fear, which I share, is that this New Romulus movement will further increase the instability of the quadrant and that the Star Empire should be dealing with their wayward people, not Starfleet.
Captain's Log Stardate 90843.6: I've completed most of the arduous tasks on New Romulus. The biggest challenge was getting all parties, the Romulans and Remans, the other Federation and Starfleet personnel, and even the Klingons, to communicate effectively and without preconceived notions. All involved, especially the Romulans, do not want this to become another Nimbus III.
While I, and most of the other Federation diplomats, do not fully comprehend the true nature of the Klingon involvement, and as to why they are so heavily involved in assisting a bitter rival, we cannot afford to miss this opportunity to strengthen the relationships with all involved. Supporting the Romulans could historically be a bigger event than the now defunct Khitomer Accords. Only time and everyone's trust will tell.
Upon relieving my post, I have left Commander Anthri in my stead. Begrudgingly but without complaint, she accepted her posting. She lacks the long term insight and diplomatic experience needed to continue her career path toward captaincy. I suspect that she believes my actions regarding New Romulus were not in the best interest of the Federation. What my Andorian officer fails to see, and why her new assignment will be relevant, is the greater good and long term benefits of such endeavors, regardless of what she may think. I believe that this experience will open her eyes to a wider galaxy and not be shackled by paranoid narrow-mindedness. Sometimes the needs of the few are just as important as those of the many.
Second Officer Lieutenant Commander Theo, whose round the clock efforts during our stay were critical in moving several projects forward, will be acting as my XO in the interim. And, as part of the officer exchange program with New Romulus, Sub-Commander Kendriss has joined my bridge staff. Starfleet has given her limited access to any operational information needed that is related to securing the space in and around her home-world. This is the first steps of many to a more stable, unified galaxy.
\\{}//++++Begin encryption sequence Ja'hoa Trem Balkios++++\\{}//
I've managed to maintain my cover as Sub-Commander Kendriss despite several close calls. My compliments to our unit's chief surgeon; he has done a superb job in my disguise. The remains of the real Kendriss are forever interred in the lava lakes beneath the planet she so loved. Fitting.
Captain Stravek, believing every word that fool D'Tan tells him, has given me access to most of the ship, believing that I am here to help strengthen the bond between the Federation and the Separtists. While not like most the pacifist Vulcans I have encountered, he seems to be no threat and is just another Starfleet lapdog. I will bide my time and wait for the right moment. We of the Tal Shiar know only patience and death. In one swift blow, we will weaken the Federation, eliminate the Separatists, and give our new allies everything they have asked of us. And when the time comes, I will perform the gom'kador on the captain myself so he can watch as we execute our plans as he slowly bleeds out.
\\{}//++++End encryption sequence++++\\{}//
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