Update and What's Next.

Posted on Wed Jul 2nd, 2025 @ 9:11am by Commander Daynah Ral & Commander Rhupert Tyree

1,837 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: On the Trail
Location: Bridge, USS Valiant. Empok Nor.
Timeline: Day one, On the Trail.

Dressed in mufti, Rhu wove through the churn of chaos on Empok Nor. Busy like a beehive normally, in the after-affect of the Ashen Hand’s actions, it was more like someone had shaken that beehive. Once they’d established comms and been updated, he’d made the choice to dock the Adelaide and arrange for stores. He needed to check in on the Valiant as the log from his time away was a bit slippery?

Entering the docking bay, he saw Valiant’s normal lines and he stopped to admire his command. She rested on anti-grav fenders with tractoring hawsers securing her in place. Valiant was connected to shore power once more and was due to leave for the Yards in twelve hours, her compliment recalled. He’d brevetted Harriot to Lieutenant for the duration and she was taking the ship and enlisted crew to Valdivae by slow passage.

In the meantime, he and the senior staff would be taking the Adelaide for a shake down and (hopefully) to track down more information on the Ashen Hand. First things first though, he needed to meet with his officers. Meet his new officers and get the Valiant sorted. He’d sanitized the Logan persona, in a commercial freshing station, but they couldn’t keep the freighter here for long. This would be a busy day and he hoped to pull out by noon, local time, tomorrow.

He was dressed in Valiant’s new authorized uniform, including the braided Cal-Dim cords wrapped around his left bicep. He noted the increased security presence with a frown. He wanted to keep things on the quiet as much as possible, but given recent events he supposed it was inevitable. Pacing toward the gangway, he checked in with JG Ru’ffalo who was serving as OOD, then made his way to his bridge. As he walked, he trailed fingers along the bulkheads. It had been a month since they’d been last aboard and it might be several more before they were back aboard.

Stepping onto the bridge, he saw Dayna standing over the mission ops table. Stepping over, he asked, “How goes it, number one?”

Daynah stood over the mission ops table and evaluated the data on their upcoming mission. She noticed the Captain wearing the new authorized uniform and cringed somewhat internally. She knew that a mission was a mission and that was one of the reasons that she stayed aboard after the Valiant was assigned to intel. However, she wanted to cling to what she loved, what she cherished, what Alaryc held so dear. For that reason Daynah wore the standard uniform. "All is well sir. She is a tough little ship. But she will do."

Eyeing the decking and bulkheads, Rhu said. "I heard there were a few missteps, but all's well it seems." He studied his exec for a few beats and refrained from shaking his head. Dayna was positively stodgy and clung too much to her past. Set in her ways more-so than any scientist her age should be. But, she was a fine officer. "We were successful in liberating the Adelaide. How did things go here with the contact...Brexis was it?"

"Exceptionally well. I am happy to report. It seems that he is willing to play ball as it were so long as we keep him well paid. The information that he provided us checks out thus far. However, I would keep him at arm's reach and double check just about everything that he gives us." It was sound advice, and it was advice that she hoped the Captain followed especially if he intended to stay honest as it were.

"We'll get Amy to start working on checking as much as possible," Rhu said as his eyes drifted about the bridge. "I'd like no less than three independent sources to verify any bit of information we're going to depend upon. But having a general direction to pursue, gives us a place to start looking. Which I think we have. I'm giving the Adelaide approximately twenty three hours to finish taking on stores and get everyone in their NOC's sifted through the station and aboard. Valiant will be pulling out under the COB to Deep Space Five for refit. I hate leaving Harriet with the job monitoring things, but Captain Froyce assured me the Admiral is going to ride the supervisor like a rented mule, since they're reconfiguring the hull and nacelles."

Frowning then he switched topics back, "The Ashen Hand is definitely stepping up their antics. All this with the explosive devices on the station. The glitter, goo and graffiti. The people taken captive, including a Marine Brigidier General and his wife when the Savant Royal was plundered." He shook his head, "Lots of little pieces throughout this sector. Wider in scope than the Maqui ever where. We're certain that's where most of the escapee's from Federation detention facilities have wound up. After talking to the Captain Froyce and the Admiral, we'll be taking the Adelaide under cover toward Xepolite space. Federation Intelligence has indications that the Forager Clan that paused here were headed in that direction when they set out. We've gotten sensor reads on their three ships the support that."

Keeping his voice lowered, he asked "You still good with this routing number one. I know you don't agree with the covert nature we're traveling. We haven't talked for just over a month so I wanted to sound you out."

Daynah smiled softly as she looked at the Captain. "Yes. So far you have stayed on the straight and narrow. So, I have not had any reason to yell at you. However, if you could arrange for an investigation of a nice nebula I would appreciate it."

Smiling, Rhu shuffled through some screens at the Ops table. "We'll keep a sharp eye out as we go. A couple of things for house keeping. You obviously know we've a new CEO and a CMO aboard. I'll be going around to meet and greet. Get me an assessment on them anyway after a few days. Dr. Zuub makes my teeth itch a little. Might be more mad-scientist than doctor so...you'll be the best one to advise me there."

Cycling through screens he said, "Standard additions and transfers to the crew. Shore leave at DS 5 has been approved for the bulk of the remaining crew. Oh, and Jayden's been promoted to Leutenant commander. We'll have to throw him a party."

"That is great news. Jayden deserves it." Daynah smiled softly. "As to the Doctor what makes him a mad scientist? I mean if he is one then perhaps we should go back and look for a new doctor." Daynah chastized herself for not meeting the new staff members as quickly as she should.

"She," Rhu corrected absently. "And there's...oddities in the psych profile. And the FI psych eval." Straightening up, he met Dayna's eyes and said, "Possible penchant for treating patients like medical experiments if something unique is encountered. Based off the file I doubt she'd let someone suffer or..." He thought about where he wanted to go with the statement before continuing, "Or draw out treatment to study something undeniably fascinating." He brought his hands up in a, who knows gesture. "We'll find out after more hands on. I'm going to ask Jayden to keep an eye on her and I know you will be. I'll enjoy your assessment."

"If I may be so bold sir. It sounds like someone may have to be removed from Starfleet. I mean experimenting on people..." Daynah's voice trailed off as she realized she was about to get off on a rant. Instead she caught herself and simply smiled. "I will keep both eyes on her, as often as I can spare them."

Shrugging, Rhu said, "Nothing substantiated so far and the rumors of course can't be included in personnel files. She's an unknown so. Keep an eye out is all I'm saying." Chuckling, he said, "If nothing else, the crew is eclectic."

"I think eclectic is putting it mildly..." Daynah's voice trailed off for the moment as she began to have a brief conversation with Ral. Alaryc had some choice words about the crew and most of them should not be repeated. However, the rest of Ral's hosts were rather impressed with the people around them. "Well it is my understanding that when you take on the mission such as we are you need some people with unique talents."

"Which is why I'm glad you stuck around, number one. Only the best people for Valiant. Despite themselves. We'll just have to juggle and tap dance at the same time. Wish I could carry a tune." Rhu smiled as he sorted through movement orders and flipped through updates. "Glitter and Goo. The Pirates must have deep hooks around Empok Nor to get bombs aboard and try to use us to piggy back a logic bomb back onto the station."

"Yeah it seems that Captain Hood has his hands full. Perhaps we should keep an ear to Lamberti. She is the Intel Chief on the station probably has some information for us. As for carrying a tune one of my past hosts was the foremost musician on Trill. I can give you lesson." She genuinely smiled in what seemed like the first time in quite some time. Daynah had an ear to ear smile that lit up her face when she used it.

"I would like that," Rhu admitted. "We're going to have time on our hands and I need to learn something new." Looking around he said, "Val is going to be different when we get her back."

"As soon as we can get a guitar or something like I think Rodan would be willing to show you a thing or two. It has been sometime since he had a chance to perform." There was a smile and a genuine happiness at the idea of being able to play music again. The part of her that was Rodan that loved the light and color of music, seemed to be in the deepest darkness over the past years.

"Excellent," Rhu said, then checked his chrono again and said, "I'd probably better bounce. I'm mostly done reviewing what I need to and have given Harriot her orders for the transit to DS5. Finishing squaring away what you need to and I'll see you aboard the Adelaide." Clearing his portion of the Ops table, Rhu started into the companionway, brain shuffling through everything that needed doing.

Daynah was alone on the Bridge for a moment. She was overcome with a wave of sadness. She would be leaving her home, the Valiant, Empok Nor, and for what. To galavant the galaxy looking in all of the dark places for any piece or scrap of information. "Well if I am going to have to this. I will be the light in the darkest of places."

 

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