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Captain's Log, Stardate 56391.8.
The USS Swiftsure is en-route to the Corvalin
System. Onboard is a team of Federation Scientists and their equipment. Our
orders are to deliver them to a series of archaeological dig sites on three
of the planets in the Corvalin System. The Corvalin System is interesting in that it contains three
inhabited worlds whose populations all share a common ancestor. How this
occurred is a mystery and a major reason for the mission we are currently on.
Another
Federation research team is currently in the system and our passengers are to
augment the research that is already taking place there. So far their finds
indicate the presence of an advanced civilization some six hundred thousand
years ago. Several artifacts have been found that date the sites to around
the time of the Tkon Empire. It is uncertain at
this point if they are actually from that civilization or another as yet
unknown one.
There have
been some troubling developments though. The team already on site has not
been heard from in over a standard week. Doctor Grazer, the head of the team
that we are carrying, is not overly concerned at this point and has put the
lack of communications down to technical difficulties. There is a religious
faction on the three worlds though that has presented problems. They have
made public their displeasure with the Federation's digs and might take steps
to prevent further action. Add to this the increasing number of treasure
hunters and traders that have recently arrived and you have all the players
for a major disaster. The local authorities have managed to handle the
situation, but are quickly becoming overwhelmed. As such this ship's
compliment of security and marines will be used to reinforce their
overstretched resources.
Captain's Log, Supplemental, Stardate
56416.45
The Swiftsure has arrived in orbit above Corvalin
Three. On our run into the system we were intercepted and attacked by three Corvalin warships. The Corvalin
vessels immediately attacked us and attempted to ram their vessels into ours
by using a warp jump. Lieutenant O'Bannon skillfully evaded their attacks,
allowing us to disable them. The Corvalin warships
self-destructed before we could take them in-tow. The resulting shockwaves
buffeted the ship and caused minor damage.
Upon our
arrival at Corvalin Three we were contacted by a
Grand Prefect Tro'Lun. The Grand Prefect informed us
that the Federation Archaeological Team, along with a majority of the elected
Corvalin Government, had been arrested on charges
of Crimes against the people. He ordered us to leave the system. My request
to investigate the charges against the archaeological team was refused. Tro'Lun then cut off his communication with us. Doctor
Grazer insisted that we remain long enough to investigate the matter. I
agreed and ordered 2nd Lieutenant Moss to beam down and secure one of the dig
sites. The Marines were engaged by a force of unknown locals. A dampening
field was erected over the site by the Corvalins
and an anti-matter missile launched at the site.
The missile
was launched from short range and we could do nothing to stop its flight. The
missile struck the dig site and all those in the immediate area were either
killed or severely wounded. Five Marines and Five Security Guards were killed
with Four Marines and Seven Security Guards being wounded. After the
explosion Lieutenant O'Bannon's shuttle flight located the mobile missile
launcher and destroyed it. The Corvalin foot
soldiers returned, but were easily beaten by reinforcements from the ship.
Three of them are currently 'guests' in our brig and await interrogation. It
is my hope that one of them will know something about the location of our
missing archaeologists.
At present we
are enroute to Corvalin
Five, the site of the original archaeological find. Doctor Grazer hopes that
this site will still be intact. I can't help but think that we were tricked
into visiting the site on Corvalin Three. There's
just something about all of this that doesn't sit well with me. So far we've
been playing someone else's hand and it's high time that we started using our
own.
Captain's Log, Supplemental, Stardate
56441.71
The
Swiftsure is currently on final approach to Starbase 285 after our mission to the Corvalin
System. The Archaeologists being held captive by the Corvalin Prefecture were rescued just prior to their execution. Unfortunately their
team leader was murdered before we could rescue her. The liberated
archaeologists are currently recovering in sickbay. Doctor Leeds assures me
that their physical wounds are healing but that each has shown signs of
significant psychological scaring. They will require further care at a more
specialized facility.
In regards to
the Corvalins, their application to the Federation
will have to be put on hold. Only Corvalin Five
remains in the hands of a democratically elected government. The Third and
Fourth planets are firmly under the control of the Corvalin
Religious Prefecturalists. An even more troubling
development is the apparent purging of anyone with Corvalin
Five blood from these two worlds.
It is my
belief, based upon the evidence gathered during this mission, that the
religious coup was caused by the Prefecture's desire to repress the
Archaeological discoveries. Doctor Grazer's team concluded, using artifacts,
DNA and pictographic evidence, that the Corvalin's
accepted history was incorrect. This information would undoubtedly cast doubt
on the religious teachings of the Prefecture. We have provided copies of this
information to the proper Corvalin Authorities.
I am
surprised by the absence of the Q. I had believed that they would have
visited again, now that our mission is complete. Perhaps our actions were not
what they expected or were unworthy of their attention.
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