Memento Vivere (Plot)

Plot Details
"Memento Vivere"
Time Period:	241008.15 - ongoing
Involved Ships:	USS Charon Temep`Shar IRW Endless Sky
Involved Planets:	I’Rak Prime
Previous Plot:	Sun Serpent
Succeeding Plot:	unknown

After the breathtaking events of not only observing a star going nova but meeting a new, completely alien lifeform, the past once more catches up with Charon. A forbearer of disaster yet to come, a Romulan scout ship decloaks and the gravely injured woman who has sought out the Federation ship so far from home is none other than the Endless Sky's political officer and former lover to Itsak tr`Sahen, Shiarrael's estranged cousin.

Despite her misgivings about the agency, t`Rehu takes the woman on board and learns that Itsak was supposed to hand over the Vulcan wormhole technology to the Tal’Shiar along with a sample of the Memento Mori. But the Vaek'Riov seems to have plans of his own, beginning with the murder of the political officers in his wing and driven by a deep hatred for his father's race - the Vulcans. Which he is now able to eradicate thanks to a cruel twist of fate.

Alarmed by the news, the Captain attempts to send a warning to the Federation but whether the call is heard remains unkown - for Itsak has followed the last surviving Tal'Shiar's trail and surrounds the ship with a dozen warbirds, demanding not only surrender but every Vulcan on board.

Unknown to Charon's beleaguered crew, the Quantum Fury under command of Khiy Kanryth has arrived but can only watch as the Starfleet ship is towed back to I'Rak Prime, where the 23rd Fleet makes ready ... for war.

Will the loyal Romulans truly follow their Vaek'Riov who claims to seek the seat of Praetor and commit a genocide that will plunge the Empire into a new war? Will Itsak's cousin risk, even sacrifice the lives of her own children for her crew and a Federation planet? And how the hell (pardon my French) are we going to get out of this?

Synopsis

241008.21 Plot Notes

For once, Charon gets to fulfill her primary mission and actually be a science ship. Observing a supernova in all its glory, and up close, too, thanks to a sympathetic space Dragon. But the champagne hasn’t even yet had time to arrive in anyone’s bloodstream when trouble finds us once more, this time in form of a mortally injured Tal’Shiar officer requesting to meet Shiarrael t`Rehu. Seems the virus that decimated the population of Ch'Dabhae and countless others is now in the hands of the same Vaek’Riov who took the Vulcan ship Temep`Shar from under our noses.

The implications become all too clear when the escaped political officer informs Shiarrael of her former lover’s plans. Rather than turn over the ship and wormhole device to the Tal’Shiar, tr`Sahen plans to use it for an attack on Vulcan, a planet and race he despises after his father abandoned the family, leading to his mother’s early death. On Sakarra’s recommendation the Captain orders a warning to be transmitted to the Federation, but before decisions concerning our own predicament can be made, a dozen Warbirds decloak, demanding surrender. Yup, we’re screwed. Again. Though one should mention that the only reason the Rihanha and the Vulcan prefer surrender over being blown to bits is that vaporized people can neither warn anyone nor hit their would be captors over the head later.

A few rather luckless Gai’Shian learn to their detriment that it is unwise to startle a Marine in his barracks, though they naturally will be unable to impart that wisdom on anyone. Unwilling to follow an order that contains any word as foolish as ‘surrender’, Brent Warren takes to the Jefferies tubes and with some unofficial help from ever optimistic Savant starts a private little war. Big war. Mayhem, even. Whether it is the SNAFU (sic!), the fact a certain Vulcan has been taken captive or simply plain irritation over such rudeness that makes the good Marine employ rather harsh tactics is anyone’s guess however.

Said Vulcan has in the meantime arrived on the IRW Endless Sky, along with every other of her species from Charon. With good half of the crew shackled in the cargo bays and the other half taken to the Warbird, it’s by now rather obvious the Vaek’Riov is specifically after the Vulcans, in addition to any data concerning the Temep`Shar. And perhaps it should not have come as a surprise that tr`Sahen remembers his cousin’s thaessu very well indeed, even going so far as to greet her personally on board before throwing her into a bulkhead. The resulting attack by a furious Voran brings with it a circumstance which may after all prove fortuitous, since tr`Sahen is now convinced to have killed Sakarra’s ... lover. No, it does not count as Kal-if-fee.

Searching for some edible, say non-replicated food, and perhaps some friendly company, poor Ian Lamont finds the exact opposite in the form of Gai’Shian boarding forces. Since the diplomat has no taste for desperate last stance scenarios, he decides on a somewhat unconventional course of action (well, if you’re not Ian, that is) and heads for his home away from home – the ship’s brig. Shame about the Ale, though.

Back Logs:

A long anticipated match finally unravels on the USS Quantum Fury as Khiy Kanryth and Aria Falcon beat each other bloody in an Andorian arena. Setting rage and experience against the Romulan’s unnatural speed, the Marine Chick (sic!) scores a victory, though by her own admission she may “not look like it tomorrow”. Well, at least the Cardassian is happy.

After having received rather a talking-to by Savannah McCoy concerning the small fact she nearly killed the Fury’s Captain, Aria Falcon decides to pay same person a visit and finds him alive – though in his usual, dry mood. Unable to get the irritating woman to leave him in peace, Khiy finds it prudent to at least impart some information, namely that they have lost contact with Charon and might be headed for trouble. Again.

The tradition of unusual and hilarious first dates on Charon is continued by Ian Lamont and Nimue Andraste, this time in the form of a seasoned ambassador acting like a nervous teen and a pilot acting like … well, a pilot. With a dog.

Landon Neyes is interrupted in his exercise regimen by an inquisitive Savant, and after the Trill’s initial annoyance subsides he finds the AI a most interesting conversation partner indeed. Though the Ulysses quote may raise more questions than it answers …

Aria Falcon’s encounter with the floating ghost being can be described as no less intriguing, though it sure is something to see the Marine Chick puzzled. Ever amicable Savant for her part has yet more data for her personality models and even earns herself an invitation to train with the Marines. Like they don’t manage to break enough stuff all by themselves.

Finally retiring herself and her bruises for the night, Aria learns about her bunkmate Samantha Davis before being positively fussed over by the timid yeoman. Considering the girl’s history, perhaps one should not be surprised about the little bit of ‘Hero-worship’ for the tough as nails Marine, but it sure throws an interesting light on Aria that she seems to be protective of the yeoman. But you call her mother hen at your own risk.

241008.28 Plot Notes

Not surprisingly, Shiarrael doesn’t mind disruptor rifles as much as she is irritated by rudeness, though the hard learned lesson is of little value to a group of Gai’Shian on account of them ending dead for it. In her usual straightforward manner, the Captain makes for her quarters to retrieve better gunnery but before she can deal out the hurt she intends, she must find that Itsak has beaten her to it and holds her children hostage.

A no less disgruntled Commander Falcon weaves his way through the ship and by a stroke of luck (for him, not the Romulans) catches a lone Marine’s attention. Naturally, the two men are up to serious havoc in no time, taking out a patrol with explosive enthusiasm, leaving booby traps and bloody messages in their wake. Whether the Romulans will truly abandon all hope remains to be seen, but they’ll sure have figured out that death comes for them. Headless, too.

Miranda Xavier gets to ponder the philosophical issue why Gai’Shian always seem to appear around a corner when one wear a fine ball gown, but the El-Aurian wastes little time to change attire after wisely avoiding an initial confrontation. Another one makes for the Jefferies tubes, and this time it’s a lady with an attitude.

Upon arrival at the brig, Ambassador Lamont is greeted by a Romulan rifle connecting rather forcefully with the diplomat’s head. Though being captured and beaten for the fun of it seems to spell the end of Ian’s spirited attempt at resistance, help arrives in the unexpected form of a cunning mercenary. Over the objections of a befuddled security officer, Aev tr`Keirianh and his would-be prisoners make for the shuttle bay. As usual, whenever Ian thinks his day can’t get any worse - it does. And while the sight of beheaded Romulans should suffice to turn any poor diplomat’s stomach, it’s in fact the bloody writings on the wall that make him wish they had taken a detour.

Somewhere on the IRW Endless Sky, Itsak tr'Sahen and his faithful Hanaj endeavor to find out just how much it takes to make a Vulcan scream. Or two of them, since comparing notes can only be helpful. Though their declared goal is certainly to obtain the Vulcan ship schematics in LtCmdr Sakarra’s personal database, their unrestrained enthusiasm makes one wonder if their playful nature isn’t going a bit overboard. As it happens however, one of the Vulcans is in fact Savant’s android conducting reconnaissance – and getting a lesson in Vulcanoid anatomy and behavior patterns. No less surprising perhaps is the discovery that torturing a Vulcan with a rare twist to her genes only makes her … relax. Or so it would seem.

The USS Quantum Fury arrives at her long journey’s destination only to find they are in fact too late. Not only is Charon surrounded by Warbirds who take her in tow and jump to warp before Commander Kanryth can formulate a plan to aid the beleaguered ship, but in a poor imitation of Captain Dread the Romulan officer left in charge begins to evacuate Starfleet personnel via the airlock to force a surrender of the forces still loose and fighting back. Something tells me this won’t go over well.

Holed up in the ship’s maintenance areas, a young engineer is confronted with his own mortality. Though Jack Fellos II is for the moment safe and out of view, he wouldn’t be an engineer if he wouldn’t get creative soon enough.

In an ironic turn of fate, the Russian bear Chernienko is rescued from the creatures he reviles above all others by none other than a Romulan child and his faithful sidekick Nohtho. Having acquired far too much experience with Gai’Shian in his past, Nveid not only managed to avoid patrols but scavenge for useful things, most of all weapons and food.

Back Logs:

Dr Anderson receives a pleasant visitor in the Quantum Fury’s sickbay, meaning a crewman actually showing up voluntarily for a checkup and not even grumbling at him. Though young Miss Davis is not quite ready to go orbital skydiving, the good doctor authorizes light exercise and extracts a promise that Samantha eat better. Well, he shall have an eager ally on Charon for sure, Miss Betty loves nothing better than feed her crew like Christmas turkeys.

241009.04 Plot Notes

En route to I’Rak Prime, Itsak tr'Sahen wastes little time to see about obtaining decryption codes for the data found in T'Pelar’s quarters – not quite what he had hoped for, but enough to patch together Temep`Shar and the wormhole device to suit his purpose.

Nikolai Chernienko and his unlikely allies Nveid and a cheerful Fvai gear up to join up with the mysterious resistance fighters who leave an impressive number of dead Romulans in their wake (though not much else). To the Marine’s surprise, the child has not only smuggled the Vulcan’s sword out of her quarters but a datachip containing Temep`Shar’s schematics. Talk about a quick thinking kid.

Desperate to do something and haunted by the screams of crew being executed, Jack Fellos II configures a tricorder to contact Savant but unfortunately being stuffed into a pocket calculator doesn’t do much to increase the good AI’s helpfulness. A plan to simply take the airlocks out of commission is scratched due to Romulan tendency to only get more creative, but one may assume the engineer hasn’t pulled the last hyperspanner out of his hat.

A badly injured Vulcan wakes in the Commander’s quarters on the IRW Endless Sky and has barely time to come to terms with the fact her emotional and biofeedback control are still severely compromised, when tr`Sahen returns with her trusted adjutant ‘Yyaio’ aka Savant in impressive disguise in tow. Though the Vulcan android is far from operating at peak efficiency due to having suffered her own innovative torture, she manages to not only look after Charon’s XO as per their captor’s orders but continue her quiet, stealthy analysis of the Romulan computer network.

Three days. That’s how much time ‘Yyaio’, the Vulcan who is none needs to infiltrate the Romulan ships and begin to wreak all sorts of creative havoc. But since the average lifespan of her race on board the Endless sky is significantly less than that, LtCmdr Sakarra resorts to what one may safely call desperate, ‘grasping at straws’ measures. The overwhelming success however – not so much in regards to infiltrating the ship’s computer but in becoming a distraction for the Vaek’Riov – surprises even the Vulcan herself. Actually, no. It doesn’t. Good luck in getting her to tell you though.

Stuck in a cell on the space station orbiting I’Rak Prime, Shiarrael t`Rehu can’t help aiming her barbed humor at a poor Galae security guard and later, at some unexpected allies springing her from prison. Baffled that her cousin would not only allow for her children to be snatched from his care but Charon to still be in rebellion, the Captain seems to take the arrival of Commander Kanryth in stride. Not that she’s going to look a gift Fvai in the mouth. Aye, it’s on now…

Back Logs:

Landon Neyes decides for a nightly stroll to the mess hall after his arm implants give him trouble enough to make sleep quite impossible and is surprised to find another crewmember nursing a hot chocolate so late at ship’s night. As luck will have it, the other night owl is none other than Dr Anderson and after an amicable talk about the assignment both officers are headed to, the Trill gets his arm treated in Auden’s typical gentle but no-nonsense fashion. Too bad Landon won’t get any sleep after all – nor finish his cocoa – because suddenly the Quantum Fury goes to red alert. Batten down the hatches, lads, this one will be ugly.

K`tara Sevarius boards the Quantum Fury and luckily (for the other guy) no one makes an issue of the half-Klingon’s ceremonial dagger. Still, the security officer is left to wonder what kind of assignment she’s accepted if her transport is already commanded by a Romulan.

Before leaving for his first assignment out of the academy Jack Fellos II proposes to his long-time girlfriend Callah, but the young woman asks for time to consider.

A clandestine operation comes to an exciting end when the Klingon ship Koragh finally intercepts the sellers of a powerful Andorian artifact awaiting their Breen buyers. Naturally, a cheerful space battle ensues and it’s mostly thanks to the timely arrival of the USS Andropov that the Klingons don’t have to figure out whether it’s a good day to die. Thus having completed his mission, Oberic Sierra seems content to find a replacement to take his post on Charon.