Space, a new dawn of exploration. As the Alpha Quadrant recovers from the Dominion War, there is a new resolve for peace and cooperation. Born on an isolated colony in frontier space, Cardassian Mal Tarak is accepted in to Starfleet. Commanding a ragtag crew of war survivors, his mission is to rebuild a peaceful union of worlds and boldly go where none have gone before. From the ashes of war rise a PHOENIX.
Mission 2: “What Lies Beneath”
Captains Log, Stardate 41239.1. The USS Phoenix is on a diplomatic mission to Zeta VIII to oversee the breaking of ground for a new history campus for Starfleet Academy. This is quite the test, as diplomacy has not been my strong suit, but by focusing on my composure and emotional intelligence I’m sure things will go smoothly. I was asked to deliver a keynote address, which went well and the attendees were impressed with my knowledge of the history of the surrounding systems (ancient civilisations founded by an unknown ancient race) – all hastily researched en route. However, our conference has been cut short by an outbreak of Zetan flu. We’re confined to quarters for the next 48 hours and I’m not permitted to return to the Phoenix. Exhausted, I lay down to sleep and awoke in an ancient tomb, dressed in ceremonial warrior garb, my skin distinctly non Cardassian…
I maintained composure as I established my bearings. I recognised the symbols on the wall as High Zetan – this was a tomb on the planet. My robes were ancient, my body (or what I could see) was not my own – so some kind of mind swap had taken place. Despite the age of the tomb, I was able to pry open the door with this body’s brute strength and got my bearings; I was within the confines of the city, the site of demolition for the new Academy building! I rushed back to base, convincing a passing patrol that I needed to speak to the commander immediately and instructed that my body – the body of Mal Tarak – be transferred to their infirmary.
Captains Log, Supplemental. My medical knowledge has helped assess this mind swap and established no evidential damage. I had the advantage of USS Enterprise records on similar mind swap events (those old scientists always had the answer!), but the Phoenix is not equipped to resolve this – nor can I beam out, thanks to the quarantine. I hoped that analysing the symbols from the tomb might provide some answers, but to no avail. To make matters worse, Starfleet Command has ordered construction to begin immediately, which would irreparably damage the tomb and prevent my recovery. I persuaded the work crew to hold off temporarily, using some red tape to tie up their administration processes to buy some time. I even checked the Phoenix crew roster for anyone with telepathic abilities. No Vulcans, no Betazed, nothing to help. As a last resort, I reached out to Federation experts via long range comms but found my signal to be jammed. The work stoppage that I had instigated had escalated in to a small worker’s revolt! With nowhere else to turn and at my most desperate, I returned to the tomb for one last try. On arrival, I was knocked unconscious by an unseen assailant.
Captains Log, Supplemental. I awoke restrained in a room that I could not recognise. There was a figure nearby who resembled the body in to which I had been transported. I started to talk and managed to get the stranger to speak. He was a High Zetan agent, a representative of the ancient civilisation that had founded this sector of space. He explained that the High Zetans were from another universe with warp technology (or similar, the translation may have struggled) far in advance of our own. He was the guardian of the tombed warrior (in which I had body swapped) and had been guarding in secret until he saw me leave. I relayed all that had happened and the guardian was enraged to find that the tomb would be demolished by the construction – to desecrate a revered site could result in a universal war. I convinced him that I could stop that from happening but would need his help. He agreed we should work together. We teleported back to the surface (I was blissfully unaware that we were in a stealth ship in orbit!). Security surrounded us as intruders but I remained focused and able to stand security down. We quickly met with the colony leaders and convinced them that the tomb should be preserved. The guardian performed the necessary ceremony to transfer my consciousness back to my own body and we returned the warrior to his place of rest. I examined the body to find it far beyond my medicinal skills. With comms re-established, I report my findings to Stafleet who suspend planetary operations to consider. But the worker revolt has reached a fever pitch and an act of sabotage results in an explosive charge being place near the tomb. With everything hanging in the balance, I quickly contact the Phoenix, beam the explosive away from the site seconds before destruction. Impressed with my actions, the guardian disappears back in to the shadows, with a promise to return if the warrior ever reawakens.
Captains Log, Stardate 41240.5. I have returned to the Phoenix, construction work having been discontinued. Talks between the colony leaders and the workforce are positive, although I feel a measure of guilt for bringing things to the forefront! Starfleet intends to relocate their proposed campus and is even discussing placing a General Order 7 on the site. Very few planets are out of bounds, which shows how seriously they take the threat posed by the High Zetan guardian. I’m left to wonder how long it might be before the warrior awakens again and how many High Zetan guardians might be walking among us unseen?
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David Griffiths is an author, playwright and producer from Liverpool. This journal was written using the Star Trek Captains Log Solo Roleplaying Game by Modiphius, available now.
David Griffiths 