Episode 38: The Coup - Act 2

Game was 8/20/20.

As the officers return to the Solstice, Ssleestak and K'tral immediately split off to return to their repair work. Ssleestak focuses on systems checks and requisition forms, while K'tral finds a quiet corner and asks Sola, "Are there any Romulans on this ship?" Sola replies slowly, "You are aware of the one permanently on board, right?" K'tral grudgingly replies, "Yes," so Sola elaborates, "She's the only one. She haunts the science labs, some corridors, and occasionally Phillip's butt."

Meanwhile, Jessa heads for her cabin to fetch and walk her puppy Raj, and then heads out to grab a late supper. After eating dinner, Jessa heads back to her cabin and sacks out, completely exhausted.

Mel returns to her ready room to file some paperwork and then realizes aloud, "There's too many Wabai on my ship." She contacts the Federation Diplomatic Corps office on Starbase 212 and ends up speaking with a polite young human man named Declan. Declan asks a few formal questions regarding Zug and the Wabai seeking political asylum before declaring, "Bring them over at your convenience, I'll get some files ready." Mel then heads down to the temporary quarters in cargo bay three and explains the situation to Ambassador Zug and the dozen Wabai. She then leads them to Starbase 212 and the FDC's suite.

Declan meets her there and Mel is struck by how young he looks. He greets them all politely and asks them to step inside for a few moments while he asks Captain Deline a few last-minute questions. The Tizit and Wabai enter, clearly unsettled, and Declan lingers for a moment before pulling Mel aside. He asks softly, "Just one question. Is the ambassador color-blind?" Mel stifles a snicker and replies, "No, but his species has a narrower color spectrum then most. Everything on their world was a shade too bright. They do have excellent hearing, however." Declan thanks her and heads inside. Realizing she has completed her task, Mel heads to the Vulcan restaurant Sorel's for some meatloaf.

Fal checks in with his science department and finds no pressing issues, so he schedules a therapy session with Armina at 2200 hours and spends some time working on his own research. At 2200 hours, Fal enters Armina's office and declares, "One therapy, please." Armina gestures for him to take the couch, and they settle in. She asks him how he is doing overall, and he replies, "Things have been strange lately. Stranger than normal." Armina asks, "What is the strangest event so far?" Fal considers the question carefully and then replies, "It's honestly a dead heat. Between knowing that I lost my leg and that it was restored or living an entire lifetime in the space of only a few moments."

Armina asks him about that, so Fal relates his time as Ota Veric as a narrative. He tells her of his chain of hasperat restaurants and how he became a successful merchant and restaurateur. He concedes that being a restaurateur is a very different profession than being a science officer, and Armina observes wryly, "I would imagine there are the same caustic chemicals, though." Fal agrees and Armina asks him, "How did that life relate to your current one?" Fal replies, "Well, they are separated by over ten thousand years, and are in different areas of Bajor. I did come into contact with the primogenitors of the Fal family, however." Armina clarifies, "Were there any differences between how you were raised here and how you raised your children there?" Fal considers the question carefully, and replies, "I used the opposite parenting strategies than my parents. It was an experiment for science. My mode was more prescriptive. More attentive."

They talk about that for a while, and Fal concedes, "Once I realized what I was doing, I did seek out the opposite of what I experienced. I never pushed it to hazardous limits, but I did want to see what would happen." Armina asks him carefully, "Were the children an experiment to you?" Fal looks away for a moment and then replies, "On my best days, they were a delight. On the darkest days… well, science is the only constant." They talk about this for a while, and Fal realizes that this is the first of many sessions with Armina.

Peel returns to her shared cabin and walks into the bedroom to find Phillip drinking. He eyes her un-selfconsciously and asks, "Do you want one?" She nods, so he pours her a glass of whatever he is drinking; it's tart but he can't read the label. He explains the situation as simply as he can while he's still coherent. However, the longer he talks the less coherent he gets, and finally he's reduced to a mishmash of multiple languages. Despite this, he just keeps drinking. Sometime later his doorbell chimes and Peel gets up to answer. She admits someone and Phillip overhears the low susurrus of a conversation. He slowly sticks his head out of the bedroom to see Ensign Jen Kras speaking quietly with Peel. He says to her, "Hey." Jen asks him, "Are you alright?" Phillip replies, "Yeah." He plays it cool, or at least tries to.

Jen asks Phillip, "Are your parents OK?" Phillip replies, "Oh yeah. I got that news a little late, but do you want a drink? Mi casa es su casa. The intelligence man told me they're alive." Phillip remains loquacious and entertains his guest. He does notice however, that at one point Peel shakes the empty bottle sadly, but she continues to treat Jen like a Capellan, elongated vowels and all. Finally, Jen leaves for gamma shift and Peel tucks Phillip into bed. Phillip mumbles, "I can't drink if I'm lying down." Peel replies, "You'll think of something." She exits the cabin and then Phillip hears something being beamed out.¹⁾ He asks, "Sola? What just beamed out?" Sola replies, "Nothing. Go back to sleep." Phillip debates getting up to check, but when he tries to sit up the room spins around at warp nine. He then decides that he'll check tomorrow morning, and he lays back down to go to sleep.

Mel is just finishing her meatloaf when her combadge beeps. She taps it and states, "Captain Deline." Admiral T'konra orders, "Report to Operations immediately." Mel replies, "Yes, ma'am." She swallows the last bite of meatloaf and then looks up to see Sorel throw her a to-go cup. She catches it easily and pours her coffee into the cup, and then neatly snatches the dessert he throws at her next, already neatly packed in a to-go container. She heads up to Operations, and a Bolian lieutenant points to the conference room. Mel walks in with her to-go bag to find Admiral T'konra, Saval, Commander Christopher Hall, and Elias Vaughn already waiting, and she sees a holographic map of local space. She notes a few systems in unexplored territory marked in purple and sees the subtle apologies through body language from Elias and Christopher.

Saval's body language displays barely-repressed irritation, but Admiral T'konra gets right to the point; she states, "Captain, your orders are to temporarily take command of the USS Varich and scout these highlighted systems. After examining the intelligence you brought back from Kordikar, we have determined that these systems are the likely locations of a Dominion base." Mel examines the holographic map carefully but realizes the admiral is correct. The systems in question are isolated slightly above the stellar plane, and the Dominion ships fled Kordikar on a general heading towards that region. Admiral T'konra stipulates, "This is a reconnaissance mission only." Mel nods in agreement but notes that the admiral is still suffering from the after-effects of the trellium poisoning.

Admiral T'konra adds, "While you are away with the Varich, the Starfleet Corps of Engineers will look over the Solstice; Lieutenant Commander Cidhela and Lieutenant Simon Rockwell will head up the assessment team. You will leave at 1200 hours the day after tomorrow." Mel acknowledges her orders and then turns to Saval. She asks wryly, "Do I need a first officer?" Saval replies flatly, "No, it just won't be me." She motions to Commander Hall, who nods briefly. Admiral T'konra dismisses Mel and Commander Hall follows her out.

Mel starts eating her dessert as she returns to the Solstice, and Commander Hall apologizes. He explains that using the Varich for a scouting mission was his idea, and he did suggest Mel's crew as they are the most familiar with a Nova-class vessel. He admits, "Admiral T'konra is very literal." Mel says, "Understood. Vulcans, especially ones who have undergone kolinahr, tend to be very literal." They chat a bit as they continue walking, and Mel asks, "Do you prefer Chris or Christopher?" Commander Hall deadpans, "Captain Buldini always called me Christopher." Mel snorts and Commander Hall says, "Honestly, I have no preference." Mel tells him, "Welcome aboard, and be warned; my crew is very unorthodox." Hall reply sarcastically, "As long as they're not swinging from the trees and drinking all day." Mel retorts, "No, the arboretum was destroyed. Although the Varich has a new one."

Commander Hall splits off to start packing for his temporary transfer while Mel returns to the Solstice. She heads into her ready room and dictates a message to the senior officers about the new orders and their transfer to the Varich. She transmits the message, trusting that they will disseminate the word to their staff. Fal receives the orders after his therapy session and immediately acknowledges them. The message does include an exception for any nonessential science officers or engineers that are needed for the repairs, so Fal runs down the list of his personnel. He considers Lieutenant (junior grade) Trina and Master Chief Petty Officer Vado essential but transmits the message to the rest of his staff, leaving it open for people to volunteer. Alexandria Tovan is the first to reply; she states, "I'm coming, giggity." Fal has mixed feelings about Alexandria's presence, but accepts her inclusion.

As beta shift continues, Ssleestak and K'tral don't even notice Mel's order while Phillip sleeps through it, unaware that the first bottle of alcohol he drank was a gift of Betazoid wine to Peel from Armina. However, the flight control department learns of the transfer orders and everyone immediately volunteers. Meanwhile, at 2330 hours, just before gamma shift, Sola informs Ssleestak and K'tral, "This is your thirty-minute warning." Both engineers ask, "Warning about what?" Sola informs them separately, "You have thirty minutes until I beam you both back to your respective quarters to sleep." K'tral grumbles at the presumption, but Ssleestak is thrilled that he has a few extra minutes to work that he doesn't have to spend getting ready for bed.

Gamma shift passes and Phillip wakes up at 0630 hours in the morning. He hears the shriek of a horrible banshee, and cries out, "Sola? What is that?" Sola replies, "That's your alarm, dumbass. Hold out your hand." Phillip obeys and Sola beams a pill and a breakfast sandwich into his hand. Phillip swallows the pill and wolfs down the sandwich. When he finishes, Sola replicates a trough of water with a crazy straw right in front of him. She also adds a note next to the trough, which repeats Mel's message with exquisite calligraphy. Phillip feels no shame about drinking from the trough and sticking his head in it. He reads the notes and starts checking his personnel's replies.

Ssleestak and K'tral also receive the same message when they wake up and find breakfast already waiting for them in their respective replicators. K'tral eats first and then reads the note, while Ssleestak multitasks and does both at the same time. Both are outraged and they contact each other simultaneously to say, "Did you see this?" Ssleestak accepts the necessity and sends a message to Lieutenant Commander Cidhela to request a meeting. He also contacts Sola to get her reaction to this. He admits, "I'm worried about you and I'm not keen on leaving you behind." Sola assures him, "Cidhela and Simon know what they're doing. Hell, they were both heavily involved in my creation. I will be OK." Ssleestak insists, "I want to hear from you everyday while I'm gone," and Sola agrees.

At 0745 hours, the senior staff gathers for the morning briefing. Ssleestak brings a tray of cinnamon buns and places them on the table. Everyone notes that Commander Hall is sitting in Saval's usual seat, and they also see Armina glide in imperiously without acknowledging Hall in the slightest. Mel opens the meeting by saying, "Good morning, everyone!" Ssleestak replies, "Good morning, captain. Would you like a cinnamon bun?" Mel eyes the tray wistfully but decides to get one after the meeting. She says, "Alright, let's address the elephant in the room." She then details the transfer order to the USS Varich.

Shan'taar interjects, "The Varich is not as fast as the Solstice, but she is the fastest ship currently available. Her cruising speed is warp nine, her maximum speed is warp nine-point-five, and her emergency speed is warp nine-point-nine-two." Mel agrees, and reiterates, "We are operating under a 'Do Not Engage' order. Hopefully, this will be reconnaissance only." Ssleestak knocks on the hull in agreement. Mel then introduces Commander Christopher Hall and explains he will be acting as executive officer for the duration of this mission. The senior officers – save for Armina – welcome Hall to the Solstice, and Ssleestak makes it a point to shake his hand. Mel returns to the transfer orders and explains, "I'm allowing exceptions for any member of the science department who may have started a long-term experiment that requires the station's resources. Also, any engineer that Ssleestak or K'tral deem as essential and continuing the repair work will also be excused."

Commander Hall then says, "It is standard procedure for the SCE to examine a ship this heavily damaged after an engagement. This is done purely to give a set of objective eyes on the damage and the estimates, but an important point is that the SCE is not going to start any work while we're gone. They will observe, assess, and recommend, but they will wait until we're back so they can get input from Ssleestak and K'tral." Although K'tral is still surly about this arrangement, Ssleestak says that he understands the rationale behind everything. He adds, "And in this case, Sola is a benefit. No other ship can directly tell an engineering staff what is wrong." Mel agrees, and Commander Hall tells Ssleestak and K'tral, "SCE has no doubts to your abilities. But we are aware how engineers can get possessive of their ships."

Shan'taar states, "I have arranged for a tour of the Varich for later in the afternoon. Also, captain, all members of the security department are ready for transfer." She-Who-Swims interjects, "As is the entire medical department." Armina turns to Jessa and asks archly, "How many members of our department have indicated they wish to remain behind?" Caught off-guard, Jessa replies, "Uh, zero?" Armina turns to Mel and states, "Counseling is ready to go."

Commander Hall turns to Phillip and asks, "Any word from flight control?" Thankfully, Phillip collated everyone's requests and noted that the only concern his department has is the loss of the Thunderbird. He replies, "Everyone is going." He says nothing about the Thunderbird but surreptitiously starts the paperwork to formally transfer the Type-11 shuttle to the Varich. He copies Mel in on the request but before Mel can even approve anything, Sola works some technological magic in the computer system and the transfer is approved automatically. The staff meeting ends shortly after that, and the senior officers returned to their respective cabins to pack in preparation for the transfer – after swiping some cinnamon buns, leaving a bemused Ssleestak with an empty tray.

Phillip starts to compose a message to his parents, when Sola materializes behind him and asks him quietly, "Do you want to speak with them in real time?" Phillip retorts, "I'd love to, but I don't see how that's possible." Sola looks innocent and replies, "I may or may not have access to certain SI channels." Phillip says firmly, "I don't want to know, so don't ask, don't tell." Sola smirks and then accesses Starfleet Intelligence's private channels. She tells him, "OK, they're distracted, go! You have five minutes." Sola dematerializes, and a few seconds later the channel syncs up with Starbase 375 and is routed to his parents' cabin. His mother Patricia and his father Harrison appear on screen, looking utterly bewildered as to how their son is speaking to them in real-time from over three hundred light years away.

Phillip says immediately, "This call never happened, and you can't tell anybody. I can't say how I'm doing this." Lieutenant Commander Patricia Dade stares at her son²⁾ and starts swearing, but Chief Petty Officer Harrison Dade says, "I'm not asking any questions. Well, maybe a few questions. Are you alright?" Phillip replies, "I'm OK, how about you two?" Harrison says, "We are OK. We weren't anywhere near the cargo bay on deck twenty-seven because we called in sick like you asked. How did you know?" Phillip answers, "I can't answer that either. Out here, sometimes things just happen."

Harrison nods, and then leans in and lowers his voice. He says, "Something janky is going on here. No one knows why Admiral Hahn was even in that cargo bay. Also, the Enterprise-E is here. And we shot it!" Phillip stares at his parents, stunned, as his father continues, "The Enterprise dropped out of warp and then we opened fire with our phasers. They didn't have time to raise their shields. Thankfully, no torpedoes were used, so the damage isn't critical." Phillip asks carefully, "Was this deliberate, or someone getting jumpy?" Harrison replies, "Supposedly, our chief of operations got jumpy. However, that's bullshit. I know the man, he's as cool as a cucumber, and more importantly, he wasn't even in operations at the time. So, keep your eyes peeled, son."

Phillip spots Peel entering their cabin; he motions over and says, "Hey, come here. These are my parents!" Patricia squeaks with joy at the thought of Phillip being in a relationship, and then Peel looms over him on the screen. Patricia blinks in surprise and says, "Phillip, your forced perspective seems to be off." Phillip says weekly, "No, it is not." Patricia blanches while Harrison says carefully, "Nice to meet you. Are you Capellan?" Peel nods and introduces herself, and then Harrison Dade starts talking to her in Capellan! Phillip then notes a timer suddenly popping up on the screen, so he quickly wraps up the call with several seconds to spare. The call then gets cycled into the SI logs, and with all the traffic back and forth is basically ignored.³⁾

Lieutenant Commander Cidhela hails Ssleestak and says, "I've got about ten minutes if you wanna do a walk and talk." Ssleestak agrees, and then learns Cidhela is in an EVA suit and is trumping over the hull of the Solstice.⁴⁾ He dons an EVA suit as well and quickly heads out to meet her. He finds her at the ruined starboard nacelle pylon and resolves to himself that he will be friendly and professional. He introduces himself and explains everything that he is found so far in terms of the damage. He adds, "And here's a few things you can pretend to be surprised about," and tells her of the Dai'Loq nodules. Cidhela sighs end replies, "I assume this is Sola's doing?" Ssleestak agrees and asks if she's read his proposal at all. She admits, "I got through about half of it this morning. Very good work, and I know Simon is impressed with K'tral's skills."

She looks away briefly and then says, "My job is to be as dispassionate and objective as possible, but I'm not going to lie to you. I still have a great deal of fondness for this ship, and these engines are the ones I built." Ssleestak jokes, "Not anymore, you're going to have to rebuild them!" Cidhela snorts in agreement but Ssleestak assures her that he understands her attachment to her former ship. He asks her, "If possible, I would like daily reports on your assessment." Cidhela agrees and replies, "I'll have one of my assistants send you something daily, but starting after a few days, so we've had time to perform our initial overall assessment." Ssleestak is perfectly fine with that, and then Cidhela asks, "So, whose idea was it to use phasers for welding?" Ssleestak admits, "Commander Tor of the USS Montgomery Scott."

Cidhela sighs in recognition and grumbles, "Our initial scans came back with extensive phase or damage to the hull but used for welding." Ssleestak shrugs and admits, "I thought it was crazy at first too, but we were desperate, and the simulation looked sound. Honestly, I do see potential in this, at least in terms of an emergency repair." Cidhela frowns as she considers the implications, and then says slowly, "That actually could work. That's a good point. An emergency repair either during or immediately after a battle, If nothing else than to get the hull ready for a jump to warp speed." She then apologizes, and says, "I'm afraid I'm going to have to cut this short here. I've got a meeting to attend virtually while I'm stomping around out here." Ssleestak thanks her for her time and shakes her hand before departing.

Jessa receives an appointment request from Chief Erik Edgly and meets him in her office in ten minutes. Edgly takes the reins immediately as he is wont to do, and Jessa appreciates it. He explains his unease about leaving the Ra'vin'ka refugees trapped in the transporter buffer, but admits, "We've got everyone separated out except for that one last clump. Several patterns are entangled, mostly children, but a few whose patterns have degraded so much they've just merged. Unfortunately, Tor'Mina'Ka's son is in this cluster." Edgly goes on to explain a bit about how transporters work, and how Dai'Loq technology is very similar to Orion technology. He asks her carefully, "Have you encountered any Orion technology?" Jessa represses a shudder and replies, "Not this time around." Edgly picks up on her meaning immediately and says, "So you're aware of how devious and quite frankly petty it can get." Jessa recalls Terjan's experience with the Orion Syndicate and his death, and simply nods.

Edgly explains, "We're terrified of any booby traps that the Dai'Loq left behind. We decided early on that we were going to separate each pattern and have them isolated individually before we tried to beam anyone else out of the buffer." He makes a few more technical points, although Jesse doesn't really understand any of it. He swings back to his guilt over the Ra'vin'ka, and eventually manages to verbalize that he is a technician, but lately he feels like he's also a doctor breaking bad news to the family of a patient. He admits, "No offense counselor, but I don't want to wear the blue." Jessa laughs and replies, "No offense taken." They talk a bit more, and then Edgly leaves feeling a lot better. Jessa makes a note to herself to poke Jen about this later, and then checks the local time on the colony. It's late evening there due to the time difference, so she plans to take a trip down in several hours to visit her various charges down there before she departs.

Mel tends to the minutia of the transfer orders but does check in with Declan. Declan informs her that the paperwork is being signed and should be transmitted back to Earth shortly. Mel asks to speak to Captain Galan'naar for a moment, and Declan immediately transfers her call to his station. Galan'naar appears and greets her; Mel returns the greeting and asks, "We're going to be departing for a scouting mission soon. Do you know anything about this particular region of space?" She supplies the coordinates, and Galan'naar examines them for a moment before telling her, "Be careful out there, captain. That region's been a bit of a buffer zone between the Wabai Unity and the Tizit Consortium for many, many years, even after my ancestors conquered the Tizit. Be very careful with use of your warp engines. There is subspace damage throughout that area, that can disrupt or rip apart your warp shell. Our scientists believe that some sort of superweapon was used thousands or even millions of years ago that ruptured the barrier between real space and subspace. Historically the region has been used by various criminal and pirate groups, and last I heard I think some Klingon pirates were out there?"

Mel asks a few careful questions, and realizes it is probably the Raa'Kuul. Galan'naar admits, "Unfortunately any stellar maps I had were lost with my ship on Kordikar. However, I can offer you my navigator if you wish. She knows the area well; she spent a few tours out on the border picking off the pirates." Mel thanks him for the offer and admits, "I appreciate it, but I need to check with my superiors first." Captain Galan'naar understands completely, and they end the call.

Ssleestak catches wind of the Ra'vin'ka transporter buffer issues through the ship's grapevine and quickly seeks out Chief Edgly. He explains to the older human how he had a firsthand look at Dai'Loq programming language, and how it revolves around their four tenets. Chief Edgly nods, as he is aware of the tenets. Ssleestak suggests, "Mayhap you can use the Dai'Loq AI and try to shift the transporter program away from, say the aggression tenet, and more towards the family tenet. This way the system will be more cooperative with you." Edgly reconsiders the idea carefully and replies, "Thank you, sir. I'm bringing a copy of the program with me to work on. I'll plan do just that."⁵⁾ Meanwhile, K'tral collates her notes for the SCE assessment team while Fal examines the layout of the science labs on the Varich.