USS HORIZON NCC-825002
SD 16.0411 to 16.1206
"Death of a Lady"
Senior Staff
CO: Commander James Burke
FO: Lieutenant JG Abi Seldon
OPS/2O: Lieutenant JG D'Art Storm
aCEO: Lieutenant JG N'Borga Vandenberg
CSO: Lieutenant JG Nathan Cady
CNS: Ensign Alex McRae
SOCO: Lieutenant Arkanis
Orders
To: Commander James T. Burke, CO, USS Horizon
From: Admiral S'Telk, Fleet XO, Cocoon Fleet
SD: 16.0411
Commander,
I am ordering the Horizon to make a 'show the flag' visit to the Telmarc system. Located in the Saishan Sector between the Narojab and Jawiq sectors, Telmarc III is the hub of a vast commercial and trading empire. They service practically every warp-capable civilization in the Cocoon.
Unlike many other societies they are not a particularly aggressive species, unless a profit is involved, and prefer to work in the background. While not as focused on profit as the Ferengi, they decided long ago that business was a better long-term path than conquest. With a technology roughly at Federation level, they could have prospered on the conquest path - at least in the short term. As it is, Telmarc has a finger in every 'pie' in the Cocoon. This was true long before Starfleet discovered the Portal and has not changed in the interim. It was blind luck that we found the Portal before any Cocoon civilization did so.
In the past nine years I think the Federation has administered the Portal fairly and to the benefit of all species on both sides of the Portal. For the past year or two Telmarc has been pressing for more open access to Federation markets. And they have their allies among the Cocoon worlds.
The Federation Senate and Starfleet have tried to be accommodating, while protecting the Cocoon from exploitation by other races - notably the Romulan and Klingon Empire. Livable planets are at a premium and they appear to be unusually abundant in the Cocoon. Starfleet feels, and I agree, that uncontrolled access to the Portal would threaten the indigenous civilizations here. So it is a delicate balancing act.
At any rate, Telmarc pressure has increased in recent months. There are Intel reports of representatives of the Telmarc Board of Directors, as their governing council is called, lobbying other civilizations in the Cocoon to join together in insisting on free trade and access through the Portal.
Starfleet feels that the time is right for a more active presence in the Saishan Sector. Starships have been rotating in-and-out of the sector for the past half-year. Now it is the Horizon's turn. Intel has picked up recent rumors of a more aggressive faction among Telmarc and her allies. So this may turn out to be more than a routine visit.
Good luck,
Admiral S'Telk
Cocoon Fleet acting Executive Officer
Summary
Not yet written.
Promotions
Commander James Burke: promoted to Captain
Lieutenant Arkanis: promoted to Lieutenant-Commander
Lieutenant JG Abi Seldon: promoted to Lieutenant and Lieutenant-Commander
Ensign Vymora Einicrox: promoted to Lieutenant JG
Awards received
Outstanding Mission Award
Silver Nebula Awards: Lieutenant-Commander Arkanis and Lieutenant JG Vymora Einicrox
Distinguished Service Medals: Lieutenant-Commander Abi Seldon, Lieutenant-Commander Arkanis and Lieutenant JG Vymora Einicrox
Stars of Hope: Sergeant Luntas and Lieutenant JG D'Artaigne Storm
Meritorious Service Citation: Ruud Visser
Terraformer Awards: Adam West, Geoffrey Winder, Kyle Faber, Nick del Pozo and Susanne Dubrov
Viper Badge: Susanne Dubrov