Game session: 4/9/18; we tried out the ship combat rules. The Prakesh took a worse beating than expected, but it served the story and illustrated how quickly starship combat could be, so I’m fine with it.

Commander Shil’vala hails Aaron and reports the Boston has suddenly dropped out of warp. She asks what’s going on, and Aaron deflects a bit before stating there is a problem with the dilithium matrix. Shil’vala says, “Okay… do we have a repair estimate?” T’kora reiterates, “Two or three hours,” and Aaron tells his confused XO, “If anything changes, I’ll let you know.” Aaron, Kelly, and Kimball depart engineering, but Aaron and Kimball realize T’kora simply hit a kill switch and can restart the warp engines at any time. They head to the officer’s mess to grab a quick breakfast before returning to the bridge. Shil’vala surrenders the center seat, but it’s clear she’s still confused. Aaron tells her, “My ready room; I’ll explain.” She nods and tells Kimball, “You have the conn.”

Once ensconced in the ready room, Aaron lays it all out: the EMP grenade, the active data rod, and the “request” from SI to develop engine trouble. Shil’vala nods in understanding, and Aaron decides to call a meeting of the entire senior staff in the strategy room. Shil’vala agrees and decides to check with Lieutenant Anjohl to see if she knows anything about this Darrah Mace. Aaron agrees that’s a good idea as they leave. Five minutes later, the senior staff and Anjohl gather on deck two. Aaron lays out their findings to everyone, and the strategy table displays a holographic representation of the LV system: a red main sequence star, two Class-D inner planets, LV-397 itself, and two Class-J gas giants and a thin Oort cloud around the system. The hologram then zeroes in on LV-397, showing four continents and a sixty-eight percent hydrosphere – which is alkaline. Heavy deposits of sensor-blocking kelbonite are marked out, and a blinking cursor on a northern continent marks the region where Kimball and his crew survived for two months.

Shil’vala asks Anjohl about Darrah Mace. She reiterates what’s in the computer, but admits she knows him personally as she’s from Valo II. She says Darrah carries some guilt over the Occupation, as he met Skrain Dukat during first contact back in 2318 and often wonders if he said something that triggered the Cardassian avarice. The senior officers doubt it, but Anjohl states, “Speaking as a Starfleet officer, that’s all I know.” She then removes her combadge and lays it on the table before continuing in a softer tone, “Darrah often slips back into the Bajoran system to get refugees out. He also hunts for new colony sites, as Valo II is on the verge of collapse constantly. Honestly, his past as a lawman is one of the few things keeping the Bajorans there functioning.”

The holo-map reforms to show this sector of space and then zooms out to show Bajor and Valo II, which are about fifty light years from their current position. The Starfleet officers study the nearby Argolis Cluster, a stellar nursery infamous for navigational hazards, and wonder if that was his destination.¹⁾ The players realized this was as far out as the Bajorans could reach. Anjohl admits this is a likely hypothesis, but she hasn’t seen or spoken to Darrah in over a decade. She reclaims her combadge as Shil’vala asks Kimball, “Anything you can tells us about this planet?” Kimball briefly touches on the destruction of his former ship, the Excelsior-class USS Springfield, while facing three Galor-class ships and the ion storm that hit the system during the battle, preventing any rescue attempt by months. Kimball goes into detail about the limited plant life, oceanic life, and cavern systems they encountered on LV-397, and firmly recommends, “Don’t eat the purple lichen.” However, he admits it would be a good place to hide.

As Kimball talks, Kelly performs a long-range scan and determines there are no ion storms in the region, and none have formed in many months. He shares this information, and the officers wonder if Darrah Mace stopped at LV-397 voluntarily or was forced there by the Cardassians. Shil’vala carefully points out that the Bajorans are not Federation citizens, but Aaron replies, “We wait for orders.” Ten and Eleven then cock their heads simultaneously and announce, “Incoming priority transmission from Starfleet Command to Captain Englyss.” Aaron checks the time and realizes the communication is very early, but he orders it routed to his ready room. Shil’vala calls out, “All officers to stations!” and everyone files out.

Aaron heads to his ready room and toggles his viewscreen. He sees the emblem of Starfleet Command resolve into the image of Vice-Admiral Alynna Nechayev, who greets him briskly and asks for a status report. Aaron complies, and tells her everything. Admiral Nechayev looks pensive for a moment, and then tells him, “These orders are not to go on record, captain. Do you understand?” Aaron nods warily, and Admiral Nechayev orders him to proceed to LV-397 and attempt a rescue of Darrah Mace and the other Bajorans, but stipulates he is to use his discretion at all times. Aaron accepts but asks, “Do you know how many Bajorans there are?” She replies, “About fifty,” and Aaron does some quick calculations. Luckily, for a short voyage, the Boston can accommodate fifty additional people without issue. Admiral Nechayev then adds, “Oh, and captain, if you would do me a personal favor. Once you retrieve Darrah Mace, tell him Nechen Alla honors her debts. Good luck.” He nods in confusion, and she terminates the channel.

Aaron heads to the bridge and finds his entire senior staff – plus Anjohl – waiting silently. He nods and says, “We’re going to LV-397 for an assessment. Lieutenant Perrault, are we within Cardassian sensor range from LV-397?” Kelly checks his sensors and confirms that they are; the Cardassians can see them fine. Aaron nods and says, “This will be the first encounter with the Prakesh and our new crew. We need to be at our best. Helm, set course for LV-397, warp nine.” Ten and Eleven immediately spin to their stations, but hesitate. Aaron winces and adds, “Commander T’kora?” With a slightly raised eyebrow, T’kora taps a control on her panel and the warp engines flare to life. Aaron smirks and repeats, “Helm, now set course for LV-397, warp nine.”

The Boston leaps to warp and Ten and Eleven turn back to Aaron and innocently ask, “How close to the planet do you want to drop out of warp?” Hel-Torin hisses, “Oh, no,” but Aaron shrugs and replies, “Ideally, the far side of the planet.” With evil grins, both Bynars turn back to their stations and babble at each other in binary before looking back and announcing simultaneously, “Done.” Hel-Torin leans in and stipulates, “Outside of the atmosphere this time!” The Bynars turn back as they announce, “Recalculating… done.” Aaron turns to Hel-Torin and says, “At some point, I would love to hear about that incident over dinner.” Hel-Torin smirks and nods.

The senior officers begin brainstorming ideas on rescuing the Bajorans, and Kimball favors sending both runabouts and four shuttles out to ferry the Bajorans back to the ship; the kelbonite deposits will block a transporter signature as well as the ship’s sensors. Kimball plots drills and intends to run interference for the shuttles. Shil’vala suggests including Lieutenant Kuraht, as she can eat through rock to get to the Bajorans. Aaron asks about the two Galor-class ships near the probe; Kelly runs scans while Eleven estimates they’ll have a two-hour window before the other Cardassian ships reach LV-397. Kimball taps Anjohl for the away team as she knows Darrah Mace, and then Kelly calls out, “I have the Prakesh on long-range scans. She’s diverting power to her sensors.” Aaron nods and says, “They see us coming. Helm, increase speed to maximum warp.”

The Boston shudders as she increases speed, and Kelly reports, “Two small power spikes near the probe. The Galors are powering up.” Eleven calls out, “We’ll reach LV-397 in fifty minutes. The Galors won’t reach the system for two and a half hours after us.” Aaron nods and turns to Kimball to discuss the away team. Kimball stipulates that he prefers to remain on the Boston while Shil’vala offers to lead the away team; Aaron agrees to both. They work out a team of a dozen security officers, two med-techs, pilots, and Lieutenant Kuraht along with transporter enhancers. Shil’vala poaches Counselor M’Belaa, who brightens and exclaims, “I can take off my shoes!” Aaron shrugs but M’Belaa retorts, “I can climb a lot faster than you can without them.” Shil’vala smirks.

As the Boston nears LV-397, Aaron orders Shil’vala’s team to locate the Bajorans, get them out, and head for the planet’s northern pole to confuse Cardassian sensors. If the Boston is still covering them, they’re to go to warp and head for Starbase 211. Shil’vala hesitates, and then nods once. The away team heads for the shuttlebay and prepares for launch. Kelly continues scanning and announces, “The Prakesh is transferring power to her tactical systems." Aaron mutters, “So either preparing for an orbital bombardment or readying to give us a warm welcome.”²⁾

Tense minutes tick by, and then Eleven announces, “Dropping out of warp in three… two… one!” The Boston drops out of warp kissing the turbulent atmosphere of LV-397, and Kimball is pretty certain they’re directly above his old campsite on a northern continent. The Prakesh is scanning the southern continent, but swiftly shifts and starts swinging around the planet to intercept. Shil’vala’s flotilla launches, and they swing in the opposite direction of the Prakesh, keeping the planet between them and the Cardassian ship. Kelly picks up trace radiation from the death of the USS Springfield, but also a crashed Ferengi ship on the surface. The Ferengi ship is decades old and heavily retrofitted; Kelly is certain said ship will never leave this planet. He then hijacks the Cardassian sensor array and determines where they haven’t scanned yet. He runs a few cross-checks and narrows down where he suspects the Bajorans are hiding, and then transmits his findings to Shil’vala.

Aaron eyes the approaching Prakesh and calls out, “Battle stations!” The shields go up and weapons run hot as the Prakesh comes into view and Ten reports, “Incoming hail for Captain Shen.” Aaron nods and Ten routes it to the main viewscreen. They all see a hard-edged female Cardassian gul as she says, “Captain Sh…” and trials off when she sees Aaron. Aaron smiles and replies, “I am Captain Aaron Englyss, the new commander of the U.S.S. Boston. Captain Shen has been reassigned for reasons I’m not going to tell you. But I have been looking forward to meeting you, Gul Drucel.” Gul Drucel’s eyes narrow, but Aaron can see she’s swiftly recalculating. She then replies, “Captain Englyss. Is that Scottish heritage?” Caught off guard, Aaron replies, “Indeed. Have you ever been to Scotland?” Gul Drucel laughs hollowly as she sweeps the bridge and notes the new faces, “No. I fear your homeland wouldn’t be welcoming to Cardassians. Too… wet. What brings you to the middle of nowhere, captain?”

Aaron smiles and replies, “One of my officers was here several months ago and planted a garden. He insists the tomatoes are ready, and the ones from here make spaghetti sauce to die for.” Gul Drucel retorts, “He must have been from the late, lamented Springfield. Sadly, Captain Englyss, no… tomatoes have survived.” Aaron, still stalling for time, turns back to Kimball and says lightly, “See? I told you the birds would have gotten them by now.” Kimball plays along and replies, “We only saw swallows, and they ignore plants, captain. African swallows, not European ones, mind you.”

Gul Drucel smiles coldly and asks, “Tell me, Captain Englyss, do these tomatoes have ridges?” Aaron says brightly, “As a matter of fact, they do!” and shows her a picture of Portuguese tomatoes. Gul Drucel’s smile grows even wider and shows the barest hint of teeth as she says softly, “I’m afraid, captain, that we have a prior claim on these ridged tomatoes.” She cuts the channel and the Prakesh powers up her disruptor array. Aaron calls out, “Scan that ship! Target priority to her weapons and shields!” The Boston and the Prakesh scan each other as they jockey for position, and then Aaron orders, “Attack pattern gamma!” As Eleven maneuvers into position, the Prakesh opens fire with her forward spiral wave disruptor! The Boston shudders under the barrage but then Kimball returns fire, stripping away the Prakesh’s shields and damaging her primary weapon!

The Prakesh banks to starboard and reroutes power to restore her shields, but Aaron senses an opportunity and orders Kimball, “Let them have it again, both barrels!” Kimball opens fire again, ripping away the just-restored shields and causing power loss throughout the Prakesh! The Prakesh then surges forward and opens fire with her secondary phaser arrays; she targets the Boston’s warp nacelles and then jumps to warp! Aaron is startled at the sudden retreat, but orders, “All hands, secure from battle stations. Damage control teams to your sections!” Ten reports, “Port nacelle took a direct hit, but engineering is already working on it.” T’kora departs the bridge as Aaron hails Shil’vala; her fleet has reached the surface. Shil’vala’s voice is heavily distorted by static, but she reports they’ve made contact with the Bajoran refugees. They’re gathering them now for loading, but then she adds, “Captain, I need Perrault down here. The Bajorans found some ancient ruins in the caves, and something I think is a Matruse device!”