Aftermath X 2
Posted on Wed Jun 17th, 2026 @ 7:00pm by Captain Daegan Baas
1,779 words; about a 9 minute read
Mission:
What was Lost is Found
Location: Captain's Quarters
Timeline: MD 7 - 2150
The door closed to his quarter and he pulled open his uniform as he looked around, dropping his tactical vest over the arm of the sofa. So much had happened in a short amount of time; not only on the Valkyrie but in the Federation. In the weeks that followed destruction of Sol Station every member of the crew had tried to contact someone. Everyone had lost someone they had gone to the academy with, served with, been mentored by, or was related to. And he was no different as his daughter was serving on the USS Ganymede; right in the middle of everything.
He was one of the lucky ones, even with the chaos on Earth and only having been told to 'stand-by', at least he had been reassured that Esmé was alive. That was at least something and took a weight off his shoulders; but the worry was still there.
His memory flashed to the signal that had come in from the Frontier Day...disaster.
== This is President Anton Chekov of the United Federation of Planets broadcasting on all emergency channels. Do not approach Earth. A signal of unknown origin has turned our young against us. They have been assimilated by the Borg. Our fleet has been compromised and as we speak, our planetary defenses are falling.
== Sol Station is defending Earth as best it can. But we're almost out of time. ( panicked, indistinct chatter ) We have not been able to find a way to stop this Borg signal and unassimilate our young. But I know if my father were here, he'd remind us all that hope is never lost. There are always possibilities. Until then, I implore you: save yourselves.
== Mr. President, we need to get you to an escape pod. ==
Bringing himself back to the here and now there was still one final official duty before he called it a night. “Captain's log Stadate 78460.03. The USS Harper had arrived on site here at Kril'Es just as we had returned to the Valkyrie after resolving the crisis, previously reported, but not without cost. Captain Zumara has been full briefed on the events and her crew will begin the process of restoring the settlement's late 23rd century technology and guiding them into the 25th century. The Harper has brought a few new officers for us and I will be meeting with them before we depart.
"Administrator Kurul has stepped down and Counselor Yulvana has been appointed to take over until the end of the session. Despite recent events, I have a feeling that the people of Kril'Es will grow to be an example to both the Federation and the Romulan Empire. Every great civilization begins with growing pains and these people, once enemies trying to kill one another set their differences aside to defeat the Defiled. Had we not arrived they may have continued along that path. Even though a small handful of Romulans succumbed to the temptation of their old ways of ambition and tried to get me to hand over the Valkyrie; the rest of the settlement rose up against them.
I am posthumously awarding Lieutenant Liam O'Riley & Lieutenant Junior Grade Stevie Thomas the Valor Cross. I am also awarding the Valor Cross to those who after being taken hostage waited for their opportunity to rise against their captors. End log.”
“Now that that's over with...” He crossed over to and eventually stepped away from the replicator with his dinner and sat down at the table to eat. Things were to quiet and he looked across the empty table. Glance to the empty couch and the bite of his dinner stopped half way to his mouth before he let it drop to his plate. Everything was so empty here with Jules gone and he pushed his plate away.
When he was alone in he quarters he felt like he was a boat whose anchor had been cut loose. Letting his head fall back slightly he closed his eyes to just try and relax. Turning inward he reached into the experiences of his symbiont's previous hosts for anything that might provided some guidance. Loss and worry were nothing new to anyone but with the seemingly regular series of events and Jules departure...it was a lot to take in. If anyone had been watching it would have appeared that he was a statue for the last hour as he went from host to host. When he finally opened his eyes he actually felt a little better.
Huffing he picked up his, now cold plate, and recycled it and was heading to the bedroom when he was hailed. == Bridge to Captain Baas. ==
"Baas here."
== Sorry for the interruption sir but there is a transmission for you, from Earth. ==
She didn't say Starfleet or anything that would have indicated anything official so his hopes were raised and his heart pounded as he moved quickly to his desk. "Thank you route it to me here."
Sitting as his desk even as the holo-monitor activated, the Federation emblem faded and was replaced by the face of his daughter Esme. “Ohh Thank Goodness!”
“Hi dad.”
“I tried to reach you after we heard but I couldn't get through. I understand things were a bit crazy. How are you doing?”
He could see her struggling, her face tightening as her eyes welled. “I..I'mm....Daddy.., I Killed all those people! My Captain, my friends, all those people on the station!” She dropped her face into her hands sobbing hard.
He wanted to give the order to QSD back to Earth right then and there but it would still be over a week before they would arrive so he had to do the best he could. “Esme look at me.” She was still weeping into her hands for a time and he let her cry it out for a bit before calling to her again, “Ezzy...look at me.”
Slowly lifting her head she wiped her face sniffling.
Even as tears still fell form his daughter's eyes, he stared at her intently not only as her father but as a Captain. “You...Did...Nothing. I read the report. It was the Borg, all the way. The Borg killed all those people...Period. If you or anyone else had been able to do anything you would have. That's why, once that control signal was shut down, everyone returned to normal.”
Esme wiping her cheeks again. “That's what the counselors keep saying. I should probably have one of these episodes with them.”
“Actually, you should. Shows them you are dealing with the situation and not playing the tough soldier or lying to them.”
She smirked and she took a stab at which of the previous hosts had learned that little trick. “You get that from Renar or Lizula?”
Bringing a hand to his chest mockingly shocked to lighten things further, “What you don't think your father was able to learn that little pearl of wisdom on his own?”
Giggling. “Nope.”
Glad to see her old self returning. “That's my Ezzy. And for your information it was me. Although the counselor I picked that up from did happen to know Saman as a child."
"Seee...it wasn't all you..."
He shifted a bit, "Fine fine...I don't wanna ruin the mood but I have to ask; what happened afterwards?”
Esme straightened and her smile faded. “Well after we returned to normal most of those on the bridge lost it, but I did the best I could do. Once the only senior officer left on the Ganymede made it to the bridge we began putting the pieces back together aboard ship, looked for survivors on station debris... It was hard but getting people to focus on helping survivors helped.”
As he watched he could see her eyes welling up again, “Acting XO right out of the Academy. I'm impressed. I wish I'd been able to be there for...”.
“No no no... For once I'm glad Starfleet sent you out to the middle of nowhere. If you'd been here...”, more tears fell as she swallowed hard, “...I might have lost you and mom to.” Wiping her eyes, with a tissue this time, “Where is mom anyway?”
“Sorry but she's, ah, on duty.”
Knowing better to than to ask further, “She never could sit still could she. But Hey. There is some good news.” Turning herself to the left she showed her dad her collar. “They gave me a promotion. I am also now the Assistant Chief Flight officer for the Ganymede.”
Raising his hands he gave his daughter a round of applause. “Congratulations!”
“Ok ok. Enough about me. What's going on with you and the Valkyrie. I was following things but then things went kinda dry.”
He hated lying to his little girl but classified was classified. “Well we hit a dry spot in our explorations is all. Can't find a new civilization in every system.”
Nodding, she had to agree, “True but that must have been exciting to find the Ulysses?”
“It's been interesting that for sure. With everything that's been going on we haven't had a chance to even consider how they got out here.” He paused, “There's an assignment for you...Lieutenant.
“How to two 23rd century starships, engaged in combat near the neutral zone, vanish. Only to reappear well beyond the borders of explored space even in the 25th century? That should keep you and your friends busy.”
Esme shook her head but the corner of her mouth curled at the challenge such a puzzle would offer. "That might actually help."
Deagan grinned, not that he expected them to come up with a theory that those already trying to answer that very question would come up with, but if anything it would give them something to focus on other than the tragedy they'd been through. “I'll send you all the pertinent details.
Tossing up a mock salute to her father, “Yes sir!” She paused, “Thanks dad. Even though I'm glad you weren't here when things went to hell, I wish you were here.”
His head bobbed and he reached out to the monitor. “So do I.”
Kissing her fingers she too reached towards her monitor. “Bye dad, Love you. Tell mom I love her.”
“I will. Love ya too Don't forget to write.”
The monitor deactivated and faded away once the signal was closed. Leaning back in his chair he felt much better and a smile formed. He straightened his uniform as he rose. Still needed to have dinner, he decided that it was past time he interacted with the crew...perhaps dinner in the open mess.
Captain Deagan Baas
CO
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