Season 17: Episode 2: Delta Wave: Tidal Forces

[Tekin Nevir]

Captain's Log, Stardate 80117.3

The Discovery is currently on temporary patrol duty along the outer edge of the Beta Quadrant — a holding pattern, if I'm being honest. Starfleet Command has pulled us from exploratory operations pending a full forensic analysis of our recent engagement... or rather, our escape.

We encountered something in subspace—something alive. A species, maybe. A predatory force, almost certainly. They struck without warning, without negotiation, without even revealing themselves fully. We still don't know what they are.

We call them Xel'kath now. The name isn't official—it was pulled from a corrupted fragment of sensor data and stuck. It sounds like a hiss. It feels like one.

We don't know where they came from. We don't know how they exist. We only know that their ships—or organisms, or whatever they are—phase in and out of normal space, like a shadow that only becomes solid long enough to strike. They dwell in subspace, but not as travelers. They live there. Feed there.

I've read between the lines of Command's orders. We're not patrolling this sector. We're being watched.

Maybe they think we're compromised. Maybe they're right.

Or maybe there is something else unknown out there...

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[USS Discovery - Deck 1 - Main Bridge]

Tekin looked grumpy. The reason most likely was the scanner hovering over his head and the older Russian human holding it. The entire crew was being subjected to weekly scans of their mental state; a concern that at least one member of the Brass had brought up.  At this point with nothing to show for it, it really did seem like a waist of time.

"If you hold shtill, this will be over quicker."

"This would also be over quicker if you would just take the promotion and be our CMO." Nevir responded in kind, which got a laugh from the Russian lieutenant.

"Oh no.. no command for me.  You're lucky I don't leave the ship. Find me a younger officer to groom."

Nevir sighed as the scan completed.  Look at that, still nothing.  With him done, that basically finished off the crew for this week. Misha left the bridge to return to Sickbay, while Nevir checked the chronometer.  It was late, relatively speaking.  He usually would have been off the first shift hours ago.  But he was putting in extra hours through his own studies.  And it felt slightly more comfortable.  It gave him a higher chance of being on the Bridge if and when the subspace invaders returned. But he had to admit, he was getting tired.

"Mr. Ramort, you have the conn. I should try to get some sleep. Disturb me only for emergencies," he stated, standing up and leaving the bridge.

The perk of being the Commanding officer was that his quarters were the closest to the bridge.  It wasn't a long trip, and he was able to make it to his bed before he winked out.

[J.B Dersch]

[Lt. JB Dersch - Secuirty/Tactical Officer - USS Discovery - Deck 1 - Main Bridge]

Lt. JB Dersch stood at the tactical console, eyes narrowed as he focused on running diagnostics on the ship's security and weapons systems. The rhythmic beeping of the console provided a steady cadence as he tapped through various screens, checking the readiness of each system.

"Running diagnostics on security systems now," Dersch said to himself, his fingers gliding over the controls. The readouts blinked back at him, lines of code and status reports filling the display. All security protocols are green. Shield generators are operating at full capacity.

As he continued his checks, he couldn't help but steal a glance at the captain, who was lost in thought. The captain had been looking forward to the science conference at Outpost Solare, and Dersch could sense his disappointment over missing such an important event.

"Now checking weapons systems," Dersch muttered to himself as he switched screens. "Phaser banks—green. Torpedo launchers green across the board as well."

The information streamed in, confirming the ship's combat readiness. Satisfied, he double-checked the results one more time, ensuring everything was functioning without a hitch.

[Lorut Vila]

{USS Discovery|Ops Console|Bridge}

Vila was clacking away at the computer, as she had been for several minutes already.

"Sir, all systems are primed. As far as I can tell, nothing out there awaits. We're just...free to patrol," she said.

Fantastic. Command should know by now that idle work made her nuts, and when she felt like that, ANYTHING could happen.

She had excused Bosch and the rest of the Ops department for the evening-they needed the rest. She didn't sleep much, and she wouldn't, with the thought of alien spiders around. No siree.

"If that refrigeration system in the labs craps out again, I swear to the Prophets that I am blowing up that section of the ship," she muttered, as a yellow warning light went off. What the hell were they DOING down there?!

"Dersch, you need help there?" She asked. 

[J.B Dersch]

{USS Discovery|Ops Console|Bridge}

Vila was clacking away at the computer, as she had been for several minutes already.

"Sir, all systems are primed. As far as I can tell, nothing out there awaits. We're just...free to patrol," she said.

Fantastic. Command should know by now that idle work made her nuts, and when she felt like that, ANYTHING could happen.

She had excused Bosch and the rest of the Ops department for the evening-they needed the rest. She didn't sleep much, and she wouldn't, with the thought of alien spiders around. No siree.

"If that refrigeration system in the labs craps out again, I swear to the Prophets that I am blowing up that section of the ship," she muttered, as a yellow warning light went off. What the hell were they DOING down there?!

"Dersch, you need help there?" She asked.

[Lt. JB Dersch - Tactical Station - USS Discovery]

Lt. JB Dersch was focused on his console when he heard Vila's voice from the ops console. He glanced up, seeing her frustration bubbling under the surface.

"Everything's primed and ready for patrol" he confirmed, recognizing the restless energy in her tone. "Good to know, but I understand how you feel. Too much idle time can make anyone uneasy, especially out here."

As Vila expressed her concern about the refrigeration system in the labs, Dersch chuckled softly to himself. "If it's anything like those alien spiders you're worried about, I wouldn't take any chances," he teased lightly. "But hey, if you need backup to handle the lab cooling systems, I'm all in. I'd rather deal with a faulty refrigeration unit than hear about any cryo-bug incidents."

He turned back to his tactical displays, keeping an eye on the sensor readings. "But in the meantime, I'll keep an eye on security and weapons systems while you've got ops covered. Let's at least be ready if something does happen while we're out here—spiders or otherwise."

"Just shout if anything goes sideways," he added, allowing a smile to break his serious demeanor. "And let's hope for a quiet patrol until the next shift comes on." Dersch returned to his readings, the slight tension on the bridge fading as he focused on his duties, ready for whatever might come their way.

[Tekin Nevir]

(I said I would have to push it along regularly, so I'm advancing us to Solare.)

[USS Discovery - Deck 2 - Captain's Quarters]

He didn't get much time to sleep as it would turn out, as only an hour after he had retired for the night, an urgent high-level communication was sent to his quarters.  The Bajoran rubbed his eyes and walked over to his desk, turning on the computer to see an elderly yet familiar admiral.  Or retired Admiral.

"Admiral Janeway..? This is unexpected."

"Captain Tekin, right?  I seemed to have caught you asleep."

"Oh... long shift with this Xel'kath situation and Starfleet keeping us in the dark."

"I heard.. life living in subspace that prey on us.. sounds like another interdimensional race I encountered."

"I'm guessing you're not calling because someone told you how disappointed I was to not go."

"No, I'm not.  We have a situation developing in this region of space.  We've discovered an old abandoned transwarp conduit. It goes to the Delta Quadrant. And its being actively used."

This caused the Bajoran to sit up straighter, and he was no longer groggy.

"The Borg?"

"No, no.. thankfully no.  I think Picard settled that issue permanently. But therein lies the problem; the races of the Delta Quardrant have discovered it and where it goes.  Kazon, Maelon, Hirogen... all of my old friends."

"And they're not here to reminise of your journey."

"More like payback maybe."

Nevir was already doing the calculations in his head.  Even at maximum warp, they were still looking at days, not an instant response.  There was also...

"We're recalling ships now, I know your ship is the farthest one we're calling, but I know you have one of the few working quantum slipstream drives.  There is already a feet massing on their side, we need all the help you can get.  We've even reached out to the Free State."

"Luckily, I have some friends there, too. I assume Starfleet is okay with this?"

"They can talk to me if they have a problem.  Janeway out."

The channel closed, giving Nevir a chance to take a breath, and then he stood up.  It took minutes to get back into uniform and a few minutes after that, he walked back onto the bridge.

"Helm, set a direct course for Outpost Solare at maximum warp.  Engineering, we need the quantum slipstream drive online. All department finish your diagnostics and get ready for combat.  And go!" he stated, giving the order while he sat in his chair.

"I just received a message from Outpost Solare; they are expecting to come under attack, they are recalling as many ships as possible.  Janeway specifically reached out to use because of our slipstream drive.  Let's not disappoint her."

Days Later...

They were close enough to get readings from Solare, but not close enough to help.  With the ship at red alert, he was ready for anything.  Nevir spent most of the trip in his ready room, making calls to his contacts in the Romulan Free State.  If he couldn't get there soon, he wanted to at least help bring allies. It seemed to have worked and the Romulans were sending a fleet to assist.  With that sigh of relief, he turned to the battle data for the sector. There were incoming signatures already.  Two groups, from both sides.  One Federation, one Romulan.

His attention was interrupted when Ops announced a hail from one of the lead Federation ships. The elder woman in red looked at Nevir for the second time in a week.

"Discovery, you are just in time. Join the fleet formation, you should be dropping out of warp about the same time we do."

"Yes, ma'am. Do we need to come in guns blazing?"

"No, not this time.  It looks like they are already in retreat."

"Understood.  Stand down red alert, lets go to yellow alert."

While Janeway's fleet warped in, a green shimmer was the telltale sign of a slipspace drive, and the Discovery finally arrived at Solare.  Sure enough, the remaining ships were on retreat.

"Sorry Mr. Dersch, you'll have to wait to go guns blazing." Nevir commented, standing up out of his chair.

"Hail the station. Let them know Discovery is ready to assist."

[Lorut Vila]

{USS Discovery|Bridge}

A few days of boring-ass patrols had passed, but Vila had survived. Mostly. She'd passed the time in the gym, and then in the office-again, since she didn't sleep much, she was usually in one of those places-sometimes she took her meals in her quarters, but usually she just ate in the Mess Hall when she did eat.

Finally, they had gotten a message that they were needed to assist in some fuckery out in the Alpha Quadrant, and she was only too grateful for the work. Combat meant something to DO, and she was good at combat maneuvers, and Operations therein.

Hail the station. Let them know Discovery is ready to assist.

"Aye, sir," she said, and pressed a button. 

[J.B Dersch]

Days Later...

They were close enough to get readings from Solare, but not close enough to help.  With the ship at red alert, he was ready for anything.  Nevir spent most of the trip in his ready room, making calls to his contacts in the Romulan Free State.  If he couldn't get there soon, he wanted to at least help bring allies. It seemed to have worked and the Romulans were sending a fleet to assist.  With that sigh of relief, he turned to the battle data for the sector. There were incoming signatures already.  Two groups, from both sides.  One Federation, one Romulan.

His attention was interrupted when Ops announced a hail from one of the lead Federation ships. The elder woman in red looked at Nevir for the second time in a week.

"Discovery, you are just in time. Join the fleet formation, you should be dropping out of warp about the same time we do."

"Yes, ma'am. Do we need to come in guns blazing?"

"No, not this time.  It looks like they are already in retreat."

"Understood.  Stand down red alert, lets go to yellow alert."

While Janeway's fleet warped in, a green shimmer was the telltale sign of a slipspace drive, and the Discovery finally arrived at Solare.  Sure enough, the remaining ships were on retreat.

"Sorry Mr. Dersch, you'll have to wait to go guns blazing." Nevir commented, standing up out of his chair.

"Hail the station. Let them know Discovery is ready to assist."

[Lt. JB Dersch  -  Tactical - Bridge - Deck 1 - USS Discovery]

Dersch let out a small chuckle, shaking his head as his fingers hovered over the tactical console, the glow of the LCARS interface casting a faint reflection across his focused expression.

"Guess I'll have to save the fireworks for another time, sir."

His tone was light, but his vigilance never wavered. Even as the enemy forces retreated, his sharp eyes flickered across the readouts, scanning for anomalies—any residual energy signatures, cloaking distortions, or signs of a second wave. He knew better than to let his guard down. Too many battles had taught him that an enemy in retreat wasn't always a defeated one.

A subtle flick of his fingers sent additional sensor sweeps rippling through the battlefield, probing for hidden dangers lurking in the debris field. His gaze narrowed as he fine-tuned the tactical array, ensuring every last echo of the engagement was accounted for.

"No sign of cloak disturbances or last-minute heroics from the enemy. We should be clear—for now."

The rhythmic hum of the ship's systems pulsed beneath his fingertips as he initiated a full tactical assessment, processing the dispersal pattern of the retreating forces. He mapped their likely trajectories, considering the possibility of regrouping or reinforcements waiting just beyond their sensors' reach. The battlefield had settled, but Dersch wasn't one to take comfort in false security.

He exhaled slowly, fingers dancing across the interface as he reinforced the ship's defensive posture. Shields remained primed, weapons charged but steady—a quiet promise that if the enemy reconsidered their retreat, they'd find the Halo more than ready to respond.

"If they change their minds, we'll be ready."

His voice carried a quiet confidence, tempered by the experience of someone who had seen enough to never trust the calm between battles.

[Uncouth]

(I said I would have to push it along regularly, so I'm advancing us to Solare.)

[USS Discovery - Deck 2 - Captain's Quarters]

He didn't get much time to sleep as it would turn out, as only an hour after he had retired for the night, an urgent high-level communication was sent to his quarters.  The Bajoran rubbed his eyes and walked over to his desk, turning on the computer to see an elderly yet familiar admiral.  Or retired Admiral.

"Admiral Janeway..? This is unexpected."

"Captain Tekin, right?  I seemed to have caught you asleep."

"Oh... long shift with this Xel'kath situation and Starfleet keeping us in the dark."

"I heard.. life living in subspace that prey on us.. sounds like another interdimensional race I encountered."

"I'm guessing you're not calling because someone told you how disappointed I was to not go."

"No, I'm not.  We have a situation developing in this region of space.  We've discovered an old abandoned transwarp conduit. It goes to the Delta Quadrant. And its being actively used."

This caused the Bajoran to sit up straighter, and he was no longer groggy.

"The Borg?"

"No, no.. thankfully no.  I think Picard settled that issue permanently. But therein lies the problem; the races of the Delta Quardrant have discovered it and where it goes.  Kazon, Maelon, Hirogen... all of my old friends."

"And they're not here to reminise of your journey."

"More like payback maybe."

Nevir was already doing the calculations in his head.  Even at maximum warp, they were still looking at days, not an instant response.  There was also...

"We're recalling ships now, I know your ship is the farthest one we're calling, but I know you have one of the few working quantum slipstream drives.  There is already a feet massing on their side, we need all the help you can get.  We've even reached out to the Free State."

"Luckily, I have some friends there, too. I assume Starfleet is okay with this?"

"They can talk to me if they have a problem.  Janeway out."

The channel closed, giving Nevir a chance to take a breath, and then he stood up.  It took minutes to get back into uniform and a few minutes after that, he walked back onto the bridge.

"Helm, set a direct course for Outpost Solare at maximum warp.  Engineering, we need the quantum slipstream drive online. All department finish your diagnostics and get ready for combat.  And go!" he stated, giving the order while he sat in his chair.

"I just received a message from Outpost Solare; they are expecting to come under attack, they are recalling as many ships as possible.  Janeway specifically reached out to use because of our slipstream drive.  Let's not disappoint her."

Days Later...

They were close enough to get readings from Solare, but not close enough to help.  With the ship at red alert, he was ready for anything.  Nevir spent most of the trip in his ready room, making calls to his contacts in the Romulan Free State.  If he couldn't get there soon, he wanted to at least help bring allies. It seemed to have worked and the Romulans were sending a fleet to assist.  With that sigh of relief, he turned to the battle data for the sector. There were incoming signatures already.  Two groups, from both sides.  One Federation, one Romulan.

His attention was interrupted when Ops announced a hail from one of the lead Federation ships. The elder woman in red looked at Nevir for the second time in a week.

"Discovery, you are just in time. Join the fleet formation, you should be dropping out of warp about the same time we do."

"Yes, ma'am. Do we need to come in guns blazing?"

"No, not this time.  It looks like they are already in retreat."

"Understood.  Stand down red alert, lets go to yellow alert."

While Janeway's fleet warped in, a green shimmer was the telltale sign of a slipspace drive, and the Discovery finally arrived at Solare.  Sure enough, the remaining ships were on retreat.

"Sorry Mr. Dersch, you'll have to wait to go guns blazing." Nevir commented, standing up out of his chair.

"Hail the station. Let them know Discovery is ready to assist."

Làadan, being new to the ship,spent most of his time getting used to his new ship. Every day, before shift, he runs through the accessible decks and Jeffries tubes until he knows the ins and outs of the ship. After shift he studies ship systems, past missions, and species unfamiliar to him that are on the ship.

Làadan also studies this new
species, the Xel'kath. They exist in subspace. There are a lot of subspace anomalies, which is why ships have deflector dishes. Maybe there could be a way to make a repulsion field that would drive them away. This may require collaboration with xenobiologists and other groups.

[Nira Said]

  "Said to Ops. I'm going over to the Challenger for a roster discussion, see how we can help Challenger. And I understand Discovery had arrived late, can you see how much help they can provide in repairs and medical assistance?" 

[Deej Cloten | The Jackal | Promenade | Deck Ten | Outpost Solaere]

It was just in time for the evening rush. Crews were coming and going, and the momentary business was up and running.

"ICE CREAM, GET YOUR ICE CREAM DOWN IN THE JACKAL! THE NEW JACKAL IS WAITING FOR YOU!"

Cloten was giving out his best salesman voice as he gave his announcements, something he never did in years. The Jackal was remade, virtually, turned into a tropical setting, with music and ice cream. While the Orions in the gang didn't mind the loose tropical attire, the rest certainly felt awkward, but Cloten knew he had to keep the customers happy, and he barely had enough booze to sell.

"THAT'S RIGHT, YOUR ICE CREAM IS HERE! WE HAVE ONE THOUSAND FLAVORS, WITH MULTIPLE DIFFERENT VARIANTS OF POPULAR FAVORITES, MULTIPLE VARIANTS OF CHOCOLATE AND MINT! WE HAVE FRUIT FLAVOR SHERBETS OF ANY KIND! WE HAVE BETAZOID UTTABERRY, KAREMMA TULABERRY, ROMULAN LEHE'JHME, IT'S A FRUIT BLAST YOU'VE NEVER EXPERIENCED! HURRY, HURRY, HURRY!"

And then the real Cloten was sitting behind a bar with Dez ready to serve the ice cream, his holographic salesman repeating the different recordings he had been making. He had just gotten his sore throat treated by Barvik from the civilian medic business across the way. Barvik the old Benzite certainly looked to be winded, no surprise, given the amount of medical personnel called in...

[Nira Said]

First Officer's Log, Supplemental. A sizable fleet has assembled by now to Outpost Solaere. Despite the festivities as a morale booster somewhat still going on, this is an important matter between command officers; these are captains crucial to taking the lead against the Delta Wave.

[Commander Nira Said | Conference Room | Deck One | Outpost Solaere]

"One hundred and forty ships?" asked Janeway.

"Including the ships Commander D'Theia brought along," said General Sokin. "One hundred and fifty-five in total. It's all the Romulan Free State can spare at present; we need the rest of the fleet to keep these savages from the Delta Quadrant contained, at the present time."

"Well, two hundred and twenty starships is also as much Starfleet can spare, plus what ships have arrived here," Admiral Gillespie responded. "Roughly puts it to almost four hundred ships. We have one hundred more ships each to reinforce the fleets outside the Benzite and Ivor systems, it should be more than enough to stem the ships."

"Truly, I admire how fast your ships have mobilized," Sokin replied. "But then again, this isn't the Dominion War, wherein it took a great deal of time to get ships across the quadrant just to get at Cardassian territory. This new war, it's even closer to both our doorsteps."

"Too close for comfort," Janeway pointed out. "More than five hundred total ships from the Delta Quadrant is certainly too many, especially from them. And they're really focused on different points, though it's surprising they haven't gotten to Outpost Solaere until now."

"Och, it's easy to forget aboot the Ciden System," Admiral Gillespie put in. "Though the Kazon seemed admittedly interested in the asteroids."

"It's logical that they found better targets," Sokin put in. "Another reason to ignore the Ciden System."

"At least we were in time, and if the lot are still ignoring this system, this is why it's an ideal base for our assembled fleets," Gillespie said. "Rather like hoo Deep Space Nine had been in the Dominion War."

"Still, your expertise in all those races is invaluable, Admiral Janeway," Sokin said, turning to Janeway. Nira had to admit, it didn't take much to get Sokin over to take command of the Romulan forces around Outpost Solaere. She could sense that, inside, Sokin was anxious to command a Romulan fleet again, after ten years of commanding refugee militias; the beard and scruffiness were the only indications of his having lived in Oaish'le, cleaning notwithstanding.

Nira looked around at the Command officers present. Kinley was at her side. Captain Tekin and Commander Ramort was present at a different end. Captain Galloway was there with Malik, although Nira did her best not to look at Malik, because if she did...well, she had a professional air, being on duty, but nonetheless, there was a particular gleam in her eye whenever her eyes passed by Malik, like she was still reeling from the news of his engagement and the shame she felt for letting her passion get the better of her for that moment.

Then there was Captain Hansen with Dal and Captain Kim with his own First Officer, Naomi Wildman. There were other admirals and captains in attendance inasmuch as the conference room was allowed to fit, but these were the major officers to command the fleet. The most prominent admirals present are Janeway, Gillespie and Clarence Maizlish. Nira wondered momentarily if Admiral Carter would be present...if at all...

...meanwhile, at the other end were Romulan officers present. Sokin and D'Theia were most prominent, but Nira was sure she saw friends of Captain Tekin's present, including Ralik.

"Still, it should be more than enough to bring down that conduit, but engaging on the other side? In the Delta Quadrant itself?" asked Sokin. "At least some of us remember all too well the attempt by the Tal Shiar to eradicate the Founders. We'd be at a disadvantage to fight on their territory."

Janeway looked at Nira and Kinley, and Nira responded first. "It stands to reason, sirs, that our probe on the other side of the conduit is, amazingly, still active, not taken offline; therefore there's the impression that it has not been noticed by any of the parties on the other side, which is surprising. But nonetheless, after almost a dozen days, we've learned a lot about what's in proximity, especially since our probe is advanced enough to pick up stuff three sectors away.

"We've detected details of the Unimatrix, roughly a sector away from the conduit. The derelict unimatrix seems to act as a scavenger's fondest dream, with the replication systems acting as the equivalent of the cherry on top, or in the case of the Romulans, the lehe'jhme," Nira continued, looking at Sokin, who nodded.

[Nira Said]

[Continuation of Joint Thread Post #42]

"From what's seen, they've not only figured out how to use Borg replication systems, they're using them to get out weapons, ships and assault units. Of course, we haven't seen any indications of the Rosewood and the Adamant, not so much as even a tachyon signature from the former - the two ships we detected coming through before the attack, of course; we figure they're between the conduit and the unimatrix, that's why we haven't seen them. How long they've gone without getting attention from the Kazon is amazing, but it's only a matter of time before the Kazon find them," Nira finished.

"I can agree in regards to the Borg technology," Sokin said. "We captured a Kazon raider and examined it, and we were surprised to discover the interior made it look like it's assimilated."

"Well, we know Admiral Picard ended the Borg functions," Captain Hansen said, "but it's very unlikely for the Borg to assimilate the Kazon, unworthy of assimilation as they are."

"So they're assimilating themselves, or at least their systems," Janeway commented. "And they're making interior parts, but arranged their interiors to look the same as their ships. Or rather, the ships that look like the Trabe."

She paused, and Nira had the impression that Janeway was contemplating that the Trabe are well and truly extinct by now. "And then there's the fact that how unified that they are; all eighteen Kazon sects had never been this entirely united, even when they were going after us in our journey."

"The ships I can understand, and abusing the power of replicators is something, a disturbing quality on people like the Kazon," Sokin said. "But where did they get their mechanized units?"

"I believe I can answer that," Dal said, looking at Hansen and the rest. "Well, Gwyn - or rather, Commander Gwyndala - she knows the story best, but I can do my best to sum up. Given a time displacement, the Starship Protostar wound up on Solum in the Delta Quadrant, dividing the people. Then-Commander Chakotay, when he and his crew were captured, sent the Protostar back the way it came: through a time-displaced wormhole - long story - so one hundred elite Vau N'akat were sent in after it, along with their Drednok robots, after it.

"However, temporally weird as that wormhole had been, the hundred had been scattered throughout time. We knew only of two that made it out enough to search for the Protostar and try to destroy the Federation: Ilthuran, Gwyndala's father, and Ascensia.

"The former got out roughly twenty years before finding the Protostar, and he thought he wouldn't live through it, hence why he sired Gwyndala. Ascensia, however, emerged three years previously and disguised herself as a Trill officer. Again, long story, but they'll be in Starfleet reports from Starfleet Command and in the Department of Temporal Investigations."

"Suffice to say," he added, "since two of the hundred were known about, this new Kazon alliance using Drednoks really brings to mind: What if the Kazon came across some of the other ninety-eight, came across them somehow, then began to make use of those Drednoks? Fixing them up and reverse-engineering them?"

"And the worst possibility," Captain Kim said, "what if one of the Kazon sects found one of the other ninety-eight, that he or she could've still been alive?"

"Took the words out of my mouth, Harry. Er, Captain Kim," Dal said. Janeway only shrugged; people around had gotten to know Janeway, through the history books as well as in person, that she had a habit of being on friendly enough terms with her crew at times for a first-name basis. It was the case in the seven years on Voyager, and again a generation later with the six teenage escapees of Tars Lamora.

"It's possible, Mister R'El, Mister Kim," Janeway said, indicating her present professionalism. "Still, there is potential evidence: The Kazon have assembled Drednoks, along with lesser units, possibly because actual Drednoks could be difficult to make."

"And based on the different examinations of the varied Drednites our different crews have encountered," Nira said, nodding at Galloway, "we have learned a great deal that Borg technology is used to assemble Drednoks and Drednites."

"Indeed, but the most significant finds were made by the Starship Challenger's science department, I believe?" Janeway asked, looking at Galloway and Malik inquiringly. Even Nira had to look over; she had gotten a copy of the findings from Challenger's science department, though she figured she got hers directly from Lieutenant Randall, another friend from the Challenger. But she was interested in hearing it directly from Galloway and Malik.

[Tekin Nevir]

First Officer's Log, Supplemental. A sizable fleet has assembled by now to Outpost Solaere. Despite the festivities as a morale booster somewhat still going on, this is an important matter between command officers; these are captains crucial to taking the lead against the Delta Wave.

[Commander Nira Said | Conference Room | Deck One | Outpost Solaere]

"One hundred and forty ships?" asked Janeway.

"Including the ships Commander D'Theia brought along," said General Sokin. "One hundred and fifty-five in total. It's all the Romulan Free State can spare at present; we need the rest of the fleet to keep these savages from the Delta Quadrant contained, at the present time."

"Well, two hundred and twenty starships is also as much Starfleet can spare, plus what ships have arrived here," Admiral Gillespie responded. "Roughly puts it to almost four hundred ships. We have one hundred more ships each to reinforce the fleets outside the Benzite and Ivor systems, it should be more than enough to stem the ships."

"Truly, I admire how fast your ships have mobilized," Sokin replied. "But then again, this isn't the Dominion War, wherein it took a great deal of time to get ships across the quadrant just to get at Cardassian territory. This new war, it's even closer to both our doorsteps."

"Too close for comfort," Janeway pointed out. "More than five hundred total ships from the Delta Quadrant is certainly too many, especially from them. And they're really focused on different points, though it's surprising they haven't gotten to Outpost Solaere until now."

"Och, it's easy to forget aboot the Ciden System," Admiral Gillespie put in. "Though the Kazon seemed admittedly interested in the asteroids."

"It's logical that they found better targets," Sokin put in. "Another reason to ignore the Ciden System."

"At least we were in time, and if the lot are still ignoring this system, this is why it's an ideal base for our assembled fleets," Gillespie said. "Rather like hoo Deep Space Nine had been in the Dominion War."

"Still, your expertise in all those races is invaluable, Admiral Janeway," Sokin said, turning to Janeway. Nira had to admit, it didn't take much to get Sokin over to take command of the Romulan forces around Outpost Solaere. She could sense that, inside, Sokin was anxious to command a Romulan fleet again, after ten years of commanding refugee militias; the beard and scruffiness were the only indications of his having lived in Oaish'le, cleaning notwithstanding.

Nira looked around at the Command officers present. Kinley was at her side. Captain Tekin and Commander Ramort was present at a different end. Captain Galloway was there with Malik, although Nira did her best not to look at Malik, because if she did...well, she had a professional air, being on duty, but nonetheless, there was a particular gleam in her eye whenever her eyes passed by Malik, like she was still reeling from the news of his engagement and the shame she felt for letting her passion get the better of her for that moment.

Then there was Captain Hansen with Dal and Captain Kim with his own First Officer, Naomi Wildman. There were other admirals and captains in attendance inasmuch as the conference room was allowed to fit, but these were the major officers to command the fleet. The most prominent admirals present are Janeway, Gillespie and Clarence Maizlish. Nira wondered momentarily if Admiral Carter would be present...if at all...

...meanwhile, at the other end were Romulan officers present. Sokin and D'Theia were most prominent, but Nira was sure she saw friends of Captain Tekin's present, including Ralik.

"Still, it should be more than enough to bring down that conduit, but engaging on the other side? In the Delta Quadrant itself?" asked Sokin. "At least some of us remember all too well the attempt by the Tal Shiar to eradicate the Founders. We'd be at a disadvantage to fight on their territory."

Janeway looked at Nira and Kinley, and Nira responded first. "It stands to reason, sirs, that our probe on the other side of the conduit is, amazingly, still active, not taken offline; therefore there's the impression that it has not been noticed by any of the parties on the other side, which is surprising. But nonetheless, after almost a dozen days, we've learned a lot about what's in proximity, especially since our probe is advanced enough to pick up stuff three sectors away.

"We've detected details of the Unimatrix, roughly a sector away from the conduit. The derelict unimatrix seems to act as a scavenger's fondest dream, with the replication systems acting as the equivalent of the cherry on top, or in the case of the Romulans, the lehe'jhme," Nira continued, looking at Sokin, who nodded.

[Outpost Solaere - Deck 1 - Conference Room]

Leave it to a spacestation to have a conference room to envy any ship.  Even the massive room on the Odyssey Class couldn't compare.  All the more reason why this station had to be protected.  And why Nevir found himself at a table with fellow friends and former shipmates.  Kinley the bright science officer after his own heart.  Nira the headstrong tactical officer who thought through different scenarios at once. Galloway the proud heritage commander, and one of the first close officers he had to let go. So many people around him he had connections to, and it made him feel more content, especially in a room full of Starfleet legends.  He gave a nod to Captain Seven; they had met after Frontier Day. He knew of the names of Kim and Wildman; he had no idea who the purple one was, but he seemed like someone who was forced to row up quickly.

And then there were the Romulans, which gave Nevir a sigh of relief.  He nodded to his friend, the former Discovery assigned liaison of the Free State.  That the Romulans had been able to recover to the point where they could send a fleet made his work worth it.  In a sense, the older Captain was looking a room full of lives he touched, paired with a room full of lives Janeway touched.

As the conference got underway, he looked down at his notes and the display.  He also had a readout of Discovery with her perks.  The ship type made him pause.

Deep Space Tactical Cruiser

Right... the Prometheus class was designed during the Dominion War and refitted for use in deep space.  Like Delta Quadrant deep space.  The first non-classified ships in the class were even sent out in an attempt to find Voyager.

He looked back up at the discussion, and while he waited for Ian to speak, it was instead a science officer—a Romulan Starfleet science officer. He had to admit; she had a point. Federation ideals were a thorn in his side; they always put him in the position of his crew vs. his ideals. And it bugged him how dangerous the galaxy seemed to have gotten, especially with the newest species they had encountered. He looked at the tactical map with them and the gateway, as well as the section of the Delta Quadrant that housed the other side. Like the remains of the unimatrix.

"If I may Admiral... if we assume that the Kazon have figured out how to utilize Borg leftover technology, then taking down the gate will only delay it.  I understand the General's concern, but if we truly want to eliminate this threat, we're going to have to take down the unimatrix as well.  We can't give them the ability to rebuild. And of course, the farther we go out from the gateway, the higher the risk of something going wrong and ending up on the other side of the galaxy."

[Tekin Nevir]

[Conference Room - Outpost Solaere]

Ian had been a captain long enough to feel pretty confident in most situations, but the collection of Starfleet legends all gathered in one room had him more than a little awed. It seemed all too logical for so many of the crew of the original Voyager to be present. After all, they were the ones that made first contact with the species that were invading the Alpha Quadrant and who could possibly know more about them. Especially the details that didn't get entered in official reports. When Captain Tekin spoke up, Ian added in his thoughts.

"Distinguished Sirs, I have ta agree with Captain Tekin. Given what we ken about the Kazon bein' relentless scavengers and the Hirogen bein' relentless hunters, if'n they could collude ta get a Borg transwarp network operational, knockin' out the end point would just be a temporary patch. We need ta bring down the whole kit and kaboodle ta end this threat.

"This Axis of Delta Quadrant buggers are nae a Dominion level threat, but death by a thousand cuts still leaves you dead. I accept that the deeper into the Delta Quadrant we go ta reach the Unimatrix, the more likely we end up with multiple Voyageresque ships stuck far from home, but we are Starfleet and we ken full well the job was dangerous when we took it. With the Admirals' permission, Challenger is prepared ta take on the mission of destroyin' the Unimatrix."

[Outpost Solaere - Deck 1 - Conference Room]

Nevir look at Ian with wide eyes.  Before he could stop himself, he spoke.

"Ian, no-I mean, Captain Galloway, with respect, Discovery is better equipped for this.  Should the worst-case scenario occur, we have the best chance of surviving the Delta Quadrant, and with our natural high speed plus the Slipspace drive, we stand the best chance of making it home before all of us age out."

He turned to the Admiral.  "Ma'am, do we know where in the Delta Quadrant this gateway leads to?"

[Nira Said]

[Commander Nira Said | Conference Room | Deck One | Outpost Solaere]

"Boasts have been reported," Nira said, nodding at D'Theia, "but considering they had been coming from different sects, it certainly indicates a spirit of cooperation in the Kazon. We don't know how united they have been, but we could try." She leaned next to Admiral Carter and whispered, "don't worry, you didn't miss much."

"It's worth trying," Admiral Janeway said. "Same with the prospect of a hunt in the Hirogen. They'd have to be highly intrigued enough to have interest enough in a hunt more than an invasion."

At the points brought up by Tekin and Galloway, Nira nodded. "It does stand to reason that the transwarp hub would have to go. But the unimatrix is the bigger threat. In fact, potentially the biggest one. If that's destroyed, the threat of this axis will be broken, they won't stand a further threat not only to the Federation but any in the Delta Quadrant threatened by them."

"And if we have to destroy the transwarp hub, it'll have to happen last," Gillespie pointed out.

"We'll just have to see," Janeway said. "Besides, there are plenty of slipstream and protostar-based starships to help transport potentially stranded ships back to the Alpha Quadrant. Fortunately, given the outer proximity to the sirilium nebula identical to the Azure Nebula, it gives at least a star chart mark to go with."

"That it is," Gillespie said, and looking at Galloway, he said, "I admire the enthusiasm, and we'll all have a hand to reduce the unimatrix to scrap. The conduit, however, that'll be something to hand to the Federation Council. Noo, yeh will take the lead of the first wave, Captain Galloway."

He pulled up a formation group and said, "Yeh will have command of this small group to strike first. It's going to be a feint, of course, a way to surprise them. Yeh will be accompanied by the Caledonia, the Ursa Major and the Firestorm to lead, and will include the Rendezvous, the Kirishima, the Boldt and the Winters. That'll shake the lot up, and hopefully draw away a portion of their forces away to weaken them.

"Once you've drawn them away, given 'em blazes and make yehr way back, and pick up the Rosewood and the Adamant while yehr at it. It shouldn't take long, with the number of ships at hand."

"I stress priority in locating the two ships," Admiral Maizlish added sternly. "It's important to collect them to see what information they had acquired while they were there." Gillespie nodded, though his eyes were long and hard on Maizlish before continuing. "We'll be leading the bulk of the fleet t'come in after, and once as much of the enemy force is diverted away, then the real attack begins. Maizlish, Janeway and I will be the primary commanders for the Starfleet vessels, with the Enterprise taking the lead..."

"...and D'Theia, Ralik and I have command of the Free State forces," Sokin pointed out.

"...we'll proceed with the attack and bombard the unimatrix," Gillespie said. "Starships Horizon and Prodigy will lead attack wings for Starfleet to handle any additional raiders and hunter corvettes. Who kens? Maybe it'll distract the Hirogen enough."

"We have attack wings of Red Lady-class Warbirds and Malem-class Birds of Prey to assist," Sokin added.

"Finally, Starship Discovery will bring up the rear and guard the conduit," Janeway said, looking at Tekin with a shrug. "Of course, it'll have Voyager to assist, along with the Archer and the Eddington, should be more than enough to take care of any ships that'll come in for a surprise, in an interception radius of a dozen lightyears."

"Aye, and we'll keep a handful of reserves between the Alteran end of the Hobus Nebula and the Ciden System," Gillespie said.

Nira nodded. She felt confident in commanding the Horizon, she had gotten to know the quick and speedy ship and was looking forward to the battle at hand. Once other captains like Galloway and Tekin spoke up and had their questions answered, the briefing ended and officers were dismissed. Orders to assemble came in. Nira looked at Kinley, patting a shoulder in understanding that she'll have to remain behind with Outpost Solaere. She had a mind of who to bring along.

"Commanders Litt and Lek, Lieutenant Fawkes, Mister Therem, Doctor Parry, report to the Horizon,"  she ordered, tapping her comm badge. "Oh, Commander," Gillespie said to Nira. "I'll be attaching one of my aides to assist you as temporary first officer."

"I understand, Admiral," Nira said, feeling glad; at least it'll mean a burden off Litt's shoulders so he'll focus on the helm. "I look forward to meeting him or her."