Game was 8/6/20. The session was shorter this time as we had two conversations out-of-game involving what the players wanted to do next. I had toyed with the idea of them crewing the Varich while the Solstice was repaired, but half of the players were adamant that they didn't want to leave their ship and Sola to others. Instead they'll likely take the Varich on the scouting mission and then focus on some dangling plotlines from the starbase and New P'Jem, with the possibility of a 'gloss-over' of downtime.

As the Solstice settles, Mel orders, "Stabilize! Status report!" Fal immediately scans the area and discovers a signal buried in subspace. Phillip carefully maneuvers the Solstice to safety as gracefully as he can, but he only has one partially functioning thruster. K'tral and Ssleestak rush to perform emergency repairs. Shan'taar reports, "That was a trilithium explosion! The residue is dispersing." Jessa holds on and tries to stay out of the way, but she decides to take a gamble. She accesses Terjan Tyr's memories, and when he tries to surge to the surface, she pushes him down. However, she successfully accesses his memories and determines the approximate amount of trilithium that was used in the bomb. She calls out, "That was approximately one-point-three-six kilograms(Three pounds)) of trilithium!" Mel and Shan'taar share a look, both knowing trilithium is a new form of explosive compound and that amount could have destroyed a quarter of the starbase, including the Concourse. Fal scans again, this time deliberately looking for trilithium, and quickly locks on to the trilithium residue decay rate.

As the Boston, Sacramento, and Montgomery Scott maneuver clear of the explosion, the USS Pulsar swings around New P'Jem at full impulse while the USS Renegade exits spacedock as quickly as she can. Mel checks on Jen, and finds the young woman clutching her head. She then receives orders for the Solstice to enter spacedock. Luckily, Ssleestak has repaired the one thruster, so Phillip plots a graceful arc and maneuvers the Solstice into space dock. He times things perfectly and cuts the thruster so the Solstice travels forward on inertia, until she comes to a stop perfectly aligned with her docking port. Excess personnel from the USS Phoenix swarm the ship to help, and Mel notes only ten minutes have passed since the explosion.

Admiral T'konra orders the senior officers to report to Operations for a briefing. Mel glances at K'tral and realizes she isn't even paying attention and her body language practically screams, "Fuck off, I'm busy." Mel notes at that point that she's served with Saval a little too long but passes the order on to the other senior officers and motions for Jen to accompany them as well. They then depart the Solstice while Ssleestak and K'tral continue performing emergency repairs. Thirty minutes after the explosion, K'tral has stabilized the EPS grid while Ssleestak has shut down the warp core.

Meanwhile, the senior officers of the Solstice and the command and executive officers of the Boston, the Sacramento, the Montgomery Scott, the Pulsar, the Renegade, and Starbase 212 gather in the main conference room just off Operations. Lieutenant Commander Elias Vaughn of Starfleet Intelligence is also present, as is Commander Christopher Hall of the USS Phoenix and Commander Arlene Sook of Starfleet Judge Advocate General. Admiral T'konra looks at Mel and says, "Please provide your situation report." Fal slides over the padd of data, which the admiral takes but says, "I meant since your departure." Mel runs down their trip to the mysterious coordinates, and then explains the coordinates were to the planet Kordikar. She details their experiences on Kordikar and contact with the Tizit Consortium.

After that, she says wryly, "And then things went a little off course." She details their temporal shenanigans, the Iconian Gate, the temporary erasure of her ship from time itself, the appearance of the USS Solstice-A, and the arrival of the Boston, the Sacramento, and the Montgomery Scott. Captain Aaron Englyss of the USS Boston then explains their departure from Starbase 211 three months ago, thanks to a 'temporal warning.' Mel then finishes her report and concludes, "Basically, the Prophets said so."

All eyes turn to Ensign Kras and she slides down the chair in embarrassment. She tries to explain a few times, and everyone immediately realizes how frustrated she is getting. Fal tries to reassure his best friend but botches the attempt. Jen side-eyes him but does her best to explain how the Prophets pass on information and imperatives but without any context due to their complete inability to comprehend linear time. Elias Vaughn gives her a reassuring nod, and she admits, "I think I struck a pact with the Prophets to save thousands of lives?" Saval replies, "It was one hundred thousand lives."

Mel nods in agreement while Commander Hall notes, "Despite the Prophets' interference, Ensign Kras has saved many lives and continues to uphold Starfleet values. I think I speak for the room in saying that is more important. Especially considering how much damage the bomb could have done if you hadn't warned us." The other senior officers agree, and then discussion turns to the bomb. Admiral T'konra accesses the data on Fal's padd and displays the sensor readings on the main viewscreen. Eventually the officers decide they must split their personnel between repairs and the investigation.

Back on the Solstice, Ssleestak and K'tral convene to discuss the repairs. K'tral explains, "I estimate we will need three months to properly replaced the EPS grid." Ssleestak nods and admits, "I was estimating two months for the repairs to the hull and the rest of the ship anyway. I think we should take the time to repair this ship thoroughly and make her better than new." K'tral agrees wholeheartedly and they start plotting upgrades; Ssleestak definitely wants ablative armor installed. They start writing their report and proposals for the captain.

The senior officers return to the Solstice, and Mel plans to assist the investigation. Fal starts analyzing the trilithium explosion, while Phillip joins a repair crew and starts removing their makeshift hull patches. Jessa follows Armina around the ship as the senior counselor performs a quick check-in on every member of the crew. Once that's accomplished, Jessa talks to Armina about Phillip and fills her in on everything that she knows. She admits, "I want to help him as his friend, but he is your patient."

At 1930 hours, Saval calls for a staff briefing. The senior officers gather and Ssleestak puts his padd containing his proposed repair schedule in front of Mel. He and K'tral make it clear that the Solstice is looking at a three-month overhaul. Mel's face falls and K'tral places a bottle of expensive alcohol next to the padd. Mel admits, "I understand. My reticence is about the political and tactical situation facing this sector and the Federation as a whole. I have no question about your abilities to repair the Solstice."

The senior officers discuss Ssleestak's repair schedule, and Ssleestak admits, "To sweeten the deal, I want to add some extra features! Honestly, it bothers me that Sola is so tied to the ship. I want to design some sort of escape pod for her in the event that this ship is critically damaged or destroyed." The senior officers mull over his idea and agree. At 1950 hours, the red alert klaxon wails on every single starship and Starbase 212 itself! K'tral demands, "Captain, what did you touch?" Mel assists, "Nothing! I am innocent!" Admiral T'konra issues a station- and ship-wide hail; she orders, "Senior officers, report to Ops immediately!"

The senior officers of the Solstice disembark and return to Operations. By 1955 hours, the senior officers of every ship, the starbase itself, and the four religious leaders of the New P'Jem colony – First Minister Solor, Vedek Kasta Pomm, Pastor Étienne Gauchard, and M'Kor, son of Korak – are gathered in operations. Ssleestak's paranoia kicks in and he starts scanning the room with his tricorder. He is not alone, but Mel spots him and says, "Scan harder." She makes it clear she supports his actions completely. Ssleestak and K'tral linger near the door, but then K'tral realizes Tomerix, the executive officer of the Pulsar, is Romulan, not Vulcan. She eyes him warily, but he does not approach her.

Once everyone is present, Admiral T'konra announces, "At 1947 hours, Earth's power grid went down completely. The planet is defenseless, and all evidence suggests this is a precursor to a Dominion attack. Earth is not the only victim of sabotage, another bomb detonated on Starbase 375. One-fourth of the starbase was destroyed, but initial reports indicate only one fatality: the commanding officer, Admiral Hahn. Effective immediately, this starbase and all ships are now at red alert for the foreseeable future."

She continues, "We have reviewed the data brought back by the USS Solstice, specifically on their encounter with the Dominion, and the Tizit reports of the original fleet containing three cruisers and four wings of attack ships. Although the Dai'Loq have destroyed the cruisers and three of the wings, a fleet that size cannot operate this far from the Bajoran wormhole without support. Factor in the arrival of not one, but two Founders, and the only logical conclusion is that there is a Dominion base hidden somewhere nearby. I will be meeting with the captains to discuss scouting sorties; repairs to the USS Renegade will conclude in three days, and the final construction of the USS Varich in five days. Also, I shall meet with the colony leaders to discuss policing and protection. Are there any questions at this time?"

No one speaks up, so Admiral T'konra says, "Dismissed." As the officers file out, they realize that there is no recording of this meeting, and that this is all off the record. They return to the Solstice, and Phillip splits off to head to his cabin. Once there he finds a note from Elias Vaughn that reads, "Your parents are fine; they called in sick." Phillip reads the message a few times and then reaches for a bottle of alcohol, intending to get shit-faced as quickly as possible.