Bridge - Deck 1

Joey piloted Infiniti alongside Explorer right through the Kotha Tremali system at Warp Speed and brought the ship out of Warp just 250,000 kilometers short of New Bajor. Using the Impulse Engines at full thrust, the Lieutenant continued to pilot Infiniti for the next 45 seconds to their destination and parked the Intrepid Class Starship directly above New Rakantha.

Lt. Florenté: We've arrived at New Bajor, Commodore! I parked us in a geosynchronous orbit right above the capital city of New Rakantha, Sir!

With the engines cooling down from using them at full, both the Warp Nacelles and the Impulse Engines would have a time to settle down and cool off. Joey was relieved they were finally at their destination. With the ship in orbit and the autopilot controlling the maneuvering thrusters to maintain their position over New Rakantha, the Chief Flight Control Officer could sit back and relax.
_________________
Lieutenant Joseph J. Florenté
Chief Flight Control Officer, USS Infiniti

The Commodore was pleased to hear that they had arrived in orbit of New Bajor, right above the capital city of New Rakantha. With the engines powered down, this would give Lt. DeGrazzio all the power he needed to do an extensive scan of the city and outlying areas. With the sensor palette of Infiniti being the most advanced in the fleet, Jayden would be able to detect not only humanoid life forms, but any other kind as well.

Como Carpathia: Thank you so much, Joey! Go ahead and take a break if you wish, you've done a fine job. Jayden, you're up buddy! Let's get to scanning the area! Make sure to scan for all kind of life down there. There's a specific kind I'm looking for. If it's there, those colonists may be doomed and destroying the entire city from orbit will be the only way to be sure not a single one of those things gets off that world.

E.J. looked over towards Cmdr Delgado and shook his head as he whispered to his XO.

Como Carpathia: I sure hope it's not a nest of those things down there. If so, I'm not sure anyone down there can be saved without having each and every one of them checked medically to make sure they're not playing host to one of them. Those things are Hell to deal with, especially on a Starship. Remember how Jansen had to deal with one in the Impulse Engine exhaust system way back in our first mission? I really don't think the kid is up for that again.

The CO sat and continued waiting on Oriskany to show up above the city. According to the timetable estimate, the Sovereign Class Starship was running 11 minutes behind Explorer and Infiniti. The Commodore checked the Center Console on Explorer's condition and the display showed the other Intrepid Class Starship was running excellent as expected. So far all was going well on their arrival, now it was up to the scanning results to determine what to do next.
_________________
Commodore E.J. Carpathia
Commanding Officer, USS Infiniti
Division 1 Commander, Gamma Fleet

Jayden began scanning the whole area of New Rakantha for any life forms that were in the Federation database. The Lieutenant detected the remains of the colonists in the 4th sub-level of the hydroelectric facility which consisted of Bajoran, Betazoid, Cardassian, Klingon, Romulan and Terran. Lt. DeGrazzio also picked up another kind of lifeform he had never experienced before. This one was fluorine based! Jayden alerted the Commodore right away as he finished speaking softly to Cmdr Delgado.

Lt. DeGrazzio: Commodore! I've detected a lifeform that's not within the carbon based life readings normally in the types of races listed as the colonists of New Bajor. These strange readings indicate fluorine based life! I've never seen this before! Have you, Sir?

The Chief Science Officer continued to study the readings as he moved the scope of the search to the network of caves under the city. There was tremendous interference from the thalium lining the labyrinth where there could be colonists hiding from whatever attacked them. Jayden also scanned the area for more fluorine based lifeforms and couldn't detect that either. This whole situation was very peculiar to the Lieutenant. Lt. DeGrazzio kept an ear open for Como Carpathia's response to whether he knew anything about the fluorine based lifeforms.
_________________
Lieutenant Jayden C. DeGrazzio
Chief Science Officer, USS Infiniti

Before Cmdr Delgado could reply to what E.J. whispered to him, they all heard what Lt. DeGrazzio said about the fluorine based life forms in the hydroelectric power plant. This caused a cold shudder to run down the Commodore's spine, for he was very aware of this kind of life form.

Como Carpathia: Yes, I have Jayden. We encountered just one of them during our first mission in the Gamma Quadrant while we were investigating an Omega Molecule. If you want to see what they're dealing with, look up XENOMORPH in the database! They're nasty as Hell and I feel very sorry for the colonists down there on New Bajor.

The CO thought about all the lives that were lost down on New Bajor and the horrible way they perished. What was even more dreadful was how were they going to see if the survivors could even be rescued or if they were facing obliteration by the launching of Quantum Torpedoes from the ships in orbit. It was the only way to be sure not a single one of those creatures make it off the planet so they could infest another location. However the latter was a last resort, a decision that wouldn't be made lightly.
_________________
Commodore E.J. Carpathia
Commanding Officer, USS Infiniti
Division 1 Commander, Gamma Fleet

Aléjandro couldn't believe it when he heard Como Carpathia mention the problem with New Bajor was a Xenomorph infestation! The very thought of those creatures mass producing down in New Rakantha was horrible to conceive! But this would have to mean there was a Queen down there laying eggs for the drones to make more of their species. All of this made the Commander really worried about the survivors down there in the city, hiding in the caves beneath it. Aléjandro did have a question about all of this though.

Cmdr Delgado: Commodore, the colony has been thriving for years. How could a Xenomorph infestation have occurred? That leaves us wondering if the colonists came across a chamber down in the caves that was undiscovered or an infected individual, be it a person or an animal, arrived on New Bajor and gave birth to it in the most horrific way.

The XO waited to hear from Como Carpathia on his opinion on how this could've happened to the people of New Bajor. If they all had to die to save the rest of the galaxy from an infestation, Aléjandro felt that was an extreme option. The Commander felt they should at least make an effort to contact survivors down in the labyrinth of caves under New Rakantha. Perhaps using sub-space relays in the caves from a base of operations on the surface would suffice.
_________________
Commander Aléjandro M. Delgado
Executive Officer, USS Infiniti

After hearing about Xenomorphs being involved in what was happening down on the planet surface, William's insides were turning in knots. LtCmdr Trylon had a vivid memory of when he was once infected and had one of those things come bursting from his abdomen! Had it not been for the quick thinking of Lt. Panettiere and the medical expertise of Dr. Sarrlak, William would've died on the scene in the Officers Lounge. While the discussion between the CO and XO was going on in a hushed tone, LtCmdr Trylon saw that a verbal message came from Whitestar.

Lt. Commander Trylon: Sorry to interrupt, Commodore. There's a voice message for you from Captain Daqtorgh.

Seeing the Commodore nod his head, indicating for William to play the message, the Chief Operations Officer played it for Como Carpathia.

Capt Daqtorgh: Welcome to New Bajor, Commodore! It pains me we have to meet like this when we could have gotten our crews together for a more honorable situation.

The Lieutenant Commander waited to hear if the Commodore wanted to send a message back to the Captain of Whitestar, or if he wanted William to open a channel so they could speak visually on their Main Viewscreens. The thought of what the people in the colony went through getting impregnated by the Xenomoprhs was truly horrible and memorable for LtCmdr Trylon. The anguish of having the thing burst from his own insides was beyond a pain of Level 10! Something William would never wish on another person, no matter how bad he disliked them.
_________________
Lt. Commander William T. Trylon, III
Chief Operations Officer, USS Infiniti

E.J. heard the audio message from Capt Daqtorgh and signaled LtCmdr Trylon to open a channel to Whitestar. Once the channel was open, the Commodore saw the Bridge of Whitestar on the Main Viewscreen with the Captain seated in the CO's chair. Even though the Klingon Captain was sitting, E.J. stood up to address the Son of a Dahar Master.

Como Carpathia: Thank you, Captain Daqtorgh. I think it best that we have a meeting with all the CO's and their XO's in Whitestar's Conference Room once Oriskany and Sutherland arrive. I have a feeling I may know what is responsible for the deaths of all those colonists on New Bajor. But I will discuss it at the meeting. As for now, do not beam anyone down to the surface of New Bajor for any reason. Is that clear, Captain?

The Commodore waited to hear back from Capt Daqtorgh as he could see the faces of those officers on the Whitestar Bridge expressing enormous concern for the colonists and themselves since E.J. issued the order not to send anybody down to the planet's surface. The CO did not want to risk one of those creatures getting up on Whitestar, especially since Phasers do NOT work on them. Only armor piercing rounds will do the job and with their molecular acid for blood, you don't want to kill one of them and have their blood eat a hole right through the hull!
_________________
Commodore E.J. Carpathia
Commanding Officer, USS Infiniti
Division 1 Commander, Gamma Fleet

Now that Como Carpathia and Capt Daqtorgh could see each other on the screen, they didn't need William to send text messages back and forth between Infiniti and Whitestar. LtCmdr Trylon just kept the channel open so the 2 CO's could converse, face to face.

Capt Daqtorgh: Thank you for the response, I think a senior staff meeting with Captains and Executive Officers is a good idea. I'll have Ensign Garcia set up the Conference Room. It's crystal clear, Commodore. We will not send an Away Team to the surface! I will not put my crew in peril or send them into an unknown danger that has no honor.

The Chief Operations Officer shuddered to think about what could possibly be going on down on the planet below. According to the sensors, Oriskany was approaching and would be in orbit within the next 5 minutes! This was good news, it meant that Sutherland wouldn't be too far behind them.
_________________
Lt. Commander William T. Trylon, III
Chief Operations Officer, USS Infiniti

The Commodore was happy to hear that Capt Daqtorgh understood that he was not to send anyone down to New Bajor at this time. Nobody would be going down there until after a course of action was discussed amongst the CO’s and XO’s of the fleet. All they needed to do now was wait for Capt Calzada and Adm Arayuss to arrive in orbit. Using the Center Console, E.J. could see the sensor display showing Oriskany being 5 minutes from orbit and Sutherland being 17 minutes to go before it arrived. The Commodore passed this on to Capt Daqtorgh so he would have an idea how long before the meeting would be taking place.

Como Carpathia: I’m glad you don’t see honor in sending your crew into a dangerous situation without all the facts yet. Oriskany is will be here in five minutes and Sutherland is seventeen minutes out, so we’ll be having the meeting over there in about twenty minutes. Does that work for you, Captain?

As the CO waited on Capt Daqtorgh to respond, E.J. monitored the progress of Oriskany and Sutherland. It wouldn’t be long before all the Starships of Gamma Fleet would be present in orbit above New Rakantha. At the meeting, the Commodore would announce his believe that Xenomorphs are responsible for the demise of the colonists whose bodies were found attached to the walls of the hydroelectric sub-level complex. Como Carpathia knew that Capt Calzada would be getting a greeting from Whitestar as soon as they arrived in orbit, as well as when Sutherland arrived. E.J. thought about all the children down there in New Rakantha and it made him filled with rage against whatever the cause was for the infestation of New Bajor.
_________________
Commodore E.J. Carpathia
Commanding Officer, USS Infiniti
Division 1 Commander, Gamma Fleet

William monitored the surface of New Bajor for any surface activity while the conversation Como Carpathia and Capt Daqtorgh was coming to a conclusion for the time being.

Capt Daqtorgh: Yes, Commodore. That will be fine! Whitestar out!

The Main Viewscreen returned to the view of New Bajor's surface which was now moving into darkness, bringing night to New Rakantha. It appeared that the atmospheric weather processors were no longer functioning since the clouds over the city began a deluge of rainfall once the sunshine had passed.

Lt. Commander Trylon: Commodore, it appears that the weather processing system is no longer working, it's starting to rain down there in New Rakantha. This could be problematic for any kind of rescue attempt, so I thought I would mention it to you, Sir.

The Chief Operations Officer watched as the rainfall covered the city streets with moisture and William became even more concerned for the people that had survived the Xenomorphs and found a safe place to hide. The Lieutenant Commander had a unique experience with these creatures having one burst from his abdomen during the first mission and being the only known survivor to live through the ordeal, thanks to the quick thinking of young Mr. Panettiere and the medical knowledge of Dr. Sarrlak. The thought of the children experiencing that kind of pain before they died was purely dreadful to imagine.
_________________
Lt. Commander William T. Trylon, III
Chief Operations Officer, USS Infiniti