Temporal Federation News Service
From Temporal Federation News Service
|
3075 - 3078 | Gibraltar News Network | Archives | TFNS Headlines | Starfleet News | People and Places | Information |
The Return of the Replicators
Colonel and Crew of USS Venture Survive Deadly Encounter
By: D.D. Dangley, TFNS
In what is being called a classic test of tactical wills, Colonel Selia Organia and the crew of the timeship USS Venture narrowly survived a harrowing encounter in the Pegasus galaxy with a ship full of humanoid replicators bent on their destruction.
The original mission of the Venture was to use the UTFP’s supergate to travel to the Pegasus galaxy and continue the exploration begun there in a previous visit by the USS Victory. Shortly after arriving at their destination, the crew had begun analysis and mapping of a previously unknown solar system when the replicator vessel unexpectedly attacked them. Thus began a galaxy-wide game of cat and mouse.
“I thought it was all over for us more than once,” a crewmember stated, on condition of anonymity, “but Colonel Organia sure pulled our butts out of the fire every time!”
At one point, while attempting to hide within a Mutara-class nebula, several replicators boarded the Venture and relentlessly made their way to main engineering, with the goal of capturing the Venture’s temporal drive unit. The invasion force was eventually locked onto and beamed into the vacuum of space.
Despite having several opportunities to escape their relentless pursuers, the Venture fell victim to numerous mechanical malfunctions, mostly the result of previously unknown phenomena unique to the Pegasus galaxy itself.
The final showdown came when the timeship passed through an undetectable quantum dampening field, leaving it completely without power. After surviving a ferocious pounding by the enemy vessel, Colonel Organia was able to thwart a second attempt by the mechanical beings at stealing the temporal drive by detonating a series of explosives placed on the outer hull, which destroyed both the replicators and the drive unit. This had a secondary effect of giving the appearance that the Venture itself was about to explode, causing the replicator ship to withdraw. Colonel Organia used this opportunity to have three runabouts tow the ship while simultaneously launching a series of quantum torpedoes, designed to give the appearance of the Venture exploding. Once free of the dampening field, power was restored to the timeship, which easily made good it escape with this final effort. The fate of the replicator ship and crew remains unknown.
USS Venture is expected to spend a minimum of one month undergoing extensive repairs in sapce dock above Gibraltar, while preparing for its next mission. It has been announced that Captain Quintus Po, currently serving as Chief of Temporal Security on Venture, is to be promoted to Major and installed as the new Executive Officer.
Rumours of a new sub-quantum particle weapon, developed during the course of the encounter to be used against the replicators, remains unconfirmed. If such a weapon exists, it will surely be utilized in any future missions to the Pegasus galaxy, in case the mechanical menace is still found to be lurking there.
Aer Uprising Undone!
Avian Species Runs Amok on Dobson III
By: D.D. Dangley, TFNS
The mysterious species known as the Aer, who were recently revived from stasis after being adrift for nearly one thousand years, took up arms against their Dobsonite hosts, declaring that the remote planet was intended for their settlement alone. These claims were based on the Aer selection of what is now known as Dobson III for their new home after the destruction of their own planet in the distant past.
Sources indicate that Governor R’siq and Lieutenant Governor Hewett had extended an invitation to the Aer to co-colonize Dobson III. Admiral Yaulk, nominal leader of the Aer, wished to put this to a vote by the last survivors of the species. It appears that a splinter faction, led by Ras - the head of Aer security – believed that the planet was meant for Aer settlement alone, and that the UTFP colonists already living there were nothing better than squatters.
Despite Admiral Yaulk’s attempts to appease the violent members of the brood, several Aer took up arms and proceeded to terrorize a large portion of the Millan Tower (which houses the colonial government offices and the residences of most of Dobson’s citizenry), along with a smaller section of Providence Tower (where many businesses are located).
Through the combined efforts of Dobson III Planetary Security and Special Forces, the Aer uprising was quickly squelched. At least a dozen of the avian rebels were killed in fierce door-to-door fighting. Planetary Security Captain Brintine Eppling, acting head of the department in the wake of the drug scandal involving former Chief Keith Cassidy, was also killed in the line of duty.
In an agreement reached between Governor R’siq and Admiral Yaulk, the vast majority of the Aer have been allowed to continue on to the planet Camelot in order to establish their own colony there. Several dozen Aer remain in custody on Dobson III, awaiting arraignment and transfer to Gibraltar for trial.
It remains hopeful that cooperation between Dobson III and Camelot will continue to grow, and that one day the wayfaring Aer will take their place as part of the United Temporal Federation of Planets.
First Contact Made on Dobson III
The Aer Have Arrived: Is Dobson III Ready For Them?
By: D.D. Dangley, TFNS
A hitherto unknown avian species called the Aer, the last known survivors of their race, have arrived on Dobson III. But are Governor R’siq and the colonists of the agrarian world ready to accept the new arrivals into their fold?
The Aer ship, called the Rinac, was detected on Dobson’s long-range sensors several days ago, adrift and with only minimal power. A detachment of the colony’s special forces was dispatched to make contact with the ship and to determine its status. It was discovered at that time that the Rinac carried an undetermined number of the Aer in stasis. The total number aboard the ship remains undisclosed, but is estimated as being anywhere from the low hundreds to over a thousand.
What we know about the Aer:
·The Aer are a bipedal avian race, whose traits include: talons at the ends of fingers and toes, wings on their backs (equal to their height), and a beak like arch inside their mouths in place of teeth. They are also a very intelligent species.
·They are the only survivors of a planetary population that rendered their world uninhabitable through nuclear war.
·The exact location of the Aer home planet remains unknown, but appears to be from somewhere closer to the galactic core based on their trajectory.
·The leader of the Aer survivors is Admiral Yaulk.
·The Aer communicate between themselves and with others by means of a pendant worn around their necks, that appears to have a dual function as a universal translator.
Admiral Yaulk has stated that the Aer were once explorers, and that the Rinac was originally constructed to investigate their own solar system when their home planet was decimated by nuclear war. After a lengthy search for survivors, it was determined that their world would not be able to support life for many generations. The Aer survivors combed their planetary databases for a new home. Dobson III, or Dschubba as the Aer refer to it (Dschubba being one of Dobson’s three suns) was chosen for its many similarities to the Aer home world. The survivors placed themselves into stasis for the long voyage to their new planet.
An analysis of the Rinac indicates that it is a product of pre-warp technology, similar to twenty-first century Earth technology. It is believed that somewhere during the course of the voyage, the Aer ship lost some of its power and began to drift. A voyage intended to take decades, at most, became an odyssey lasting nearly a millennium. When the Dobson special forces contingent boarded the Rinac, the Aer were awakened from their extended sleep.
Admiral Yaulk, leader of the Aer, was invited to visit Dobson III by Governor R’siq, and was greeted with full diplomatic honors. The two leaders have continued discussions related to the Aer situation, and whether they still wish to settle on Dobson III despite its already being colonized by the Temporal Federation.
The larger questions remain to be answered: Can the Aer and Dobsonites reach an agreement? Can both live in harmony? Can everyone agree to share?
Only time, and a great deal of diplomacy, can answer those questions.
Massive Drug Raid on Dobson III
Dobson III Drug Dealers Dismantled
By: D.D. Dangley, TFNS
Through the joint efforts of Dobson III’s Planetary Security and Special Forces, most of the drug syndicates that had infiltrated the remote agricultural planet have either been severely crippled or completely eliminated.
It was disclosed by sources close to the case, who have asked to remain anonymous as they are not authorized to comment officially, have indicated the drug operations had become quite sophisticated over time. Drugs were being shipped on regular transport deliveries to Dobson, where they were distributed to the local dealers by persons disguised as Special Forces personnel.
There has still been no official comment on the sting operation from Governor R’siq, Lieutenant Governor Hewett, Planetary Security’s Captain of Police or Colonel Oscar Steele of Special Forces, as the case remains an open investigation.
It is known that two casualties, which occured during the joint operation, were Colonel Shras, the Andorian commanding officer of Dobson III’s Special Forces, and Planetary Security Chief of Police Keith Cassidy. Former First Sergeant Oscar Steele has been elevated to the rank of Colonel and is now serving as the acting commanding officer of Special Forces. A replacement has not yet been named to fill Cassidy’s position.
A third casualty, Officer Dennis Osbourne of Planetary Security, was involved in a stand-off with Special Forces in the restaurant of Daisy Kline, known as “Daisy’s Place”. Osbourne refused to surrender and began shooting at SF personnel before being killed by an unnamed Special Forces officer. There were no other casualties as a result of the incident.
A better picture of the drug scheme and how it was thwarted by the cooperative efforts of both Special Forces and Planetary Security is expected to emerge as the high-level kingpins arrested during the joint raid are arraigned in court.
Historic Mission of Exploration Begins
USS Vinara Studies Pegasus Galaxy
By: Pera-nat, TFNS
After a delay caused by the Zaniah Gamma Burst, the USS Vinara has traveled to the Pegasus Galaxy via the Gibraltar Supergate to begin a five-year mission of exploration. The Vinara is the first of a new class of starship geared towards long-term autonomous exploration. The largest starship yet build, the Vinara is uniquely suited for her mission.
In the center seat for this mission is Captain Lani-Rez, a veteran of over 20 years. He has been the Captain for four other exploration missions and been with the Vinara since it was being built. The crew is made up of the best and brightest from all over the Federation, top-of-the-class scientists, technicians, engineers, diplomats, and this reporter are all working together to make this mission a success.
The first destination for the ship and her crew is the planet where the USS Victory found the Ancient city Atlantis during their mission to Pegasus last year. Since the Victory went to the city in the distant past it will be interesting to see how it has changed in the millennia that have passed.
The Vinara will pave the way for more specific follow-up missions that will be determined on the ship’s findings.
Rogue Time Cop Finally Captured
By: TFNS Staff Reporter.
After eluding the USS VENTURE and Time Fleet’s best Temporal Enforcement Officers for over a year, Jennifer Mironda is finally in the custody of the Temporal Federation. She is being held on three counts of violating the Temporal Accords, three counts of murder, and one count of attempted murder.
Mironda, a former Temporal Enforcement Officer herself, once held the rank of Major while serving aboard the USS VENTURE. While on a mission to the Enocillian home world in the gamma quadrant more than a year ago, she was captured and subsequently tortured by the Enocillians. It remained unknown at the time that this event caused Mironda to fracture into two distinct personalities. Her therapist at the time, Dr. T’Ris, was attempting to help Mironda come to terms with her fracturing personality. Before any breakthrough could be realized, Mironda murdered Dr. T’Ris and began her temporal crime spree.
Her first attempt to change the past was during the USS VENTURE’S historical observation mission to The Battle of Hastings on Earth in the year 1066, where she had plotted to kill the French King William of Normandy and preventing the battle. Her plan was discovered and thwarted by the crew of the USS VENTURE. Mironda was able to escape in an Aeon-class timeship to avoid capture.
Jennifer Mironda was next detected on Earth in the year 1912. It was originally believed that she had arrived there to prevent the sinking of the great vessel Titanic after striking an iceberg. Instead, she had come to steal away particular jewelry that was connected to the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914, the event that triggered Earth’s first world war.
Mironda remained silent during the gamma ray burst incident. It was discovered in the aftermath of the burst that she had had once again altered time. Mironda assisted the planet Rehmani, located in the Dekkar sector, from being effected by the gamma ray burst by advancing their technology several centuries ahead, from pre-industrial to space dwelling.
An away team from the USS VENTURE was eventually successful in tracking down Mironda and apprehending her. The VENTURE’S Temporal Enforcement Officer, Lieutenant Quintus Po, who is credited with Mironda’s arrest, is still recovering from wounds received in an altercation with the prisoner and was not available for comment. Sources within Time Fleet Headquarters state that the timeline has been returned to normal.
Strangely enough, Jennifer Mironda believed that her actions were being done in order to save lives. The fact that she killed three individuals, and nearly a fourth, are at odds with her stated beliefs.
Jennifer Mironda will be returned to Time Fleet Headquarters on Gibraltar, where she will face charges that, if convicted, would keep her in prison for the remainder of her life.
Crisis Nearing End
Dobson is saved!
By: Sven Oldigen
Temporal Federation News Service
The Governor of Dobson III, R'Siq and Lieutenant Governor, Jason Hewett, have just issued a joint statement about the botanical crisis.
The following is the statement given by Jason Hewett. 'Citizens of Dobson III. This evening we have some very good news to bring you. Finally, after many days of worry and many more days of hard research we have found the cause and solution to the botanical blight, which has been plaguing our world. During the brief time when Dobson was being phased to save it from the Gamma Burst, one of the phase generators developed a micro fracture. This fracture was enough to allow tiny amounts of the volatile Gamma Radiation into the atmosphere. The radiation mutated a common plant virus, which normally would have done little damage. But this mutated virus was able to kill all plant life it came in contact with and spread rapidly. R’Siq will go into the details as to how we are treating this plaque but suffice it to say, by the end of the day all of the plague should be destroyed.'
Crisis for the Federation!
Scientists Work for Solution
By: Arned Darvin
The Federation is facing its greatest crisis ever as a Gamma burst is expected to blast across the northern sectors in a matter of thirty days. Because of this impending doom, the President of the Temporal Federation, KaRae Daelan, has declared martial law in the northern sectors as well as on Gibraltar and the Capital City, New Phoenix City.
The Star known as Zaniah will go nova in thirty days and will emit the burst, which will potentially destroy the atmospheres in all class M planets in the effected 500 light year radius. The matter is complicated by the proximity of a temporal anomaly, which will accelerate the burst collapsing the time to prepare to a mere thirty days.
It is expected that all governments in the effected area will follow suit and declare martial law for their own safety.
It is not known yet as to what the ultimate solution will be but needless to say, there isn’t much time to find one.
New Starship Nearing Launch
Laish Starship R&D Facility, Laish II
By: Pera-nat, TFNS
While new starships are a common sight here, the approaching launch of the USS Vinara, first of the new Vinara-class exploration starships, is generating a lot of excitement. The largest starship to be built to date, the Vinara was designed for one purpose- the exploration of other galaxies. Her claim to the size record comes from her length- at almost two (that’s right, 2) kilometers long (1800 meters) she’s the longest ship ever to be built, while not the widest. The skinny design is all part of the Supergate travel design that is at the core of this ship.
Everything about her design is built around one concept: survivability. Like the starships of the first centuries of the Federation, the Vinara-class starships will operate on their own for extended periods of time, easily as long as several years. She comes with everything you can think of, all the science labs you could ever want, shuttles, enough cargo room to supply a colony for a year, and all the luxuries of home. In addition, she is armed to the teeth- multiple phaser banks and cannons, many types of torpedoes, and a Multi-vector Assault Mode, not to mention regenerating ablative armor and multiple shield layers for defense.
The Vinara will be undergoing her final trials in the next few days, and as long as everything checks out, she will depart for another galaxy by the end of the year.
Trouble at Timefleet Headquarters
Generals Relieved of Duty
By: Alan Cray of the Edinburgh News
It is a grave and stressful time here in New Scotland and Timefleet Headquarters where reliable sources say that Lieutenant General Paul White and Brigadier General Jennifer Matthews have been relieved of duty while the Judge Advocate General investigate their relationship. It has been known for sometime that the two have been in relationship with many rumors of possible marriage between the two. But now something has changed and only time will tell where this will lead.
Rogue Timecop on the Loose
Now in the Earth Year 1912!
By: Manchaca A. Pinder, TFNS
The former head of temporal security on the USS Venture, Jennifer Mironda has now become a liability instead of an asset. It is believed she was driven insane when the Enocillians tortured her during a mission. Mironda is being sought for the murder of two Venture officers as well as meddling and trying to interfere in the historical event circa 1066 Earth Calander.
The brave crew of the Venture tried their best to capture the rogue time cop, but she managed to slip away before causing too much damage to the time line. Now the Venture is once again hot on her trail on the liner RMS Titanic.
Let us hope they are successful this time.
