Episode 36: The Hand of the Prophets - Epilogue

Game was 3/19/20. Due to COVID-19, Alec, Jeremy, and Heidi & Daniel Skyped in. The game was a little uneven as we adapt to the new format. This is part I of this game session; part II is the beginning of Episode 37.

The senior staff meets for a perfunctory meeting and then splits up. Phillip pitches in to help the engine upgrade and works on the systems side of things, only misaligning a couple of minor EPS taps without realizing it. Ssleestak realigns the taps without complaint, as Phillip’s knowledge of flight control is invaluable. Ssleestak continues the upgrades to the warp engines and reinforces the EPS grid. Mel writes a report for the Department of Temporal Investigations.

Fal resumes his research into religious law on behalf of Jen and Darsic Kor. He dives deep into ancient texts, many of which were hurriedly digitalized during the Occupation to prevent the Cardassians from destroying them. He finds a few loopholes around the Attainder in a text dating back to the Second Republic of Bajor, about three thousand years ago, but needs more time to continue his research. He sends word to Darsic Kor, who has found employment as a civilian engineer on Starbase 212. That evening, he shares a drink with Ota Basric; the two men sit silently as they sip springwine. At one point, Fal suddenly exclaims, “Hey, that bomb thing, pretty good.” Ota just grunts and slugs the last of his springwine.

K'tral works on the EPS grid with Ssleestak, but that evening she settles into her cabin and starts calling up the dossiers of her fellow senior officers. She learns of Mel’s extensive combat patrols and medals during the Cardassian and Tzenkethi wars of the early 2360s, Jessa Tyr’s previous host, the criminal Terjan Tyr, and that Fal’s hands are cloned replacements and he spent years in diplomatic limbo in Klingon space after his family escaped the Bajoran Occupation. She discovers Phillip’s birth and childhood on Starbase 375 and his estranged uncle, Samuel Mourningham, a known member of the Orion Syndicate. Finally, she learns that Ssleestak had fourteen clutch-mates but only seven survived to adulthood.

K’tral then asks Sola to appear, and the AI complies. K’tral impishly asks Sola to dance; Sola raises an eyebrow in a Vulcan-like fashion and then vanishes. All over the ship, the words ‘Blame K’tral’ appear on every screen, and then the Solstice performs a waltz in drydock! K’tral smiles, but the SCE sends a message, “Please don’t ever do that again.”

K’tral hears her door chime ring and she calls out, “Enter.” Ensign Kras steps in hesitantly and sneaks a quick look at K’tral’s cabin; K’tral possesses multiple symbols of different faiths, and a Japanese ikebana arrangement. K’tral offers Jen the couch and she settles in awkwardly. Jen then says, “This is weird, but I have a message from Lieutenant Commander K’tral in 2387 to you. However, I have zero context.” K’tral is curious and nods, so Jen continues, “She told me to tell you, ‘He was vesh’Surak,” as she taps the back of her hand, where K’tral has her burn scars. K’tral remains impassive, although she immediately recalls that the vesh’Surak are a banned sect of logic extremists. She tells Jen, “Thank you, I will remember. Refreshments?” Startled, Jen nods so K’tral grabs the first bottle she can reach and pours the human a generous cup of Vulcan port. Jen slugs the liquor down before she realizes what it is, so she quickly tells K’tral, “Excuse me please, but I can’t process alcohol anymore.” She dashes out, and K’tral writes everything down in her journal.

The senior staff once again meets for their meeting and then splits up. Ssleestak finishes the upgrades and then starts running extensive tests. K’tral helps where needed and makes a mixed tape for Sola. Jessa beams down to Sarek City to say goodbyes and endures multiple tongue-lashings from Ambassador Jannek. Phillip spends time with Peel, while Fal ramps up things in the science department. Ssleestak has a flash of inspiration and hails Mel. He theorizes, “Perhaps that data rod is full because it also scanned the world around it in the 22nd century?” Mel admits the theory is sound but rebuffs his attempt to test it. She slips off the ship to grab lunch quietly at Sorel’s and takes the rod with her. Finally, Ssleestak hails Mel at 1513 hours and declares the upgrades complete.