EPISODE ONE - "The Mentarin Effect"

Posted on Thu Dec 3rd, 2020 @ 12:57pm by Vice Admiral James Leyton

Mission: The Mentarin Effect
Location: Captain's Ready Room, Main Bridge, Deck 1 USS Resolution
Timeline: Current

EPISODE ONE - "The Mentarin Effect"
Vice Admiral James Leyton, Head of Starfleet Operations
Captain Matt Leonard, Commanding Officer USS Resolution
*****
Captain's log, Stardate 49394.6. The Resolution is back out in space after receiving it's first minor class overhaul. The refit works have increased our Warp drive efficiency, particularly to be more environmentally conscious in line with new Starfleet policy. Our IM Pulse engines have been upgraded as well, increasing our sublight manoeuvrability. Aside from this, many of the changes are merely improvements. The most significant visual change is reflected on Deck One, with the main bridge seeing an overhaul to it's layout. Specific improvements include additional port and starboard bridge stations, with enhanced Science and Mission Operations stations.

Ships company has been rotated, with new Department Commanders coming in during the refit period. I look forward to getting to know this new Crew over the coming weeks and months, as we get settled into our journey together. It's been a good eight years since I assumed Command of the Resolution, and it's been good to see my crew grow and develop over that time, and earning promotions and opportunities, and in a number of cases, Commands of their own. I relish the prospect of doing that all over again with this new bunch.

In the meantime, however, following a satisfactory shake-down cruise, the Resolution has just entered orbit of Mentar IV. Mentar IV is a world rich in resource, with substantial mining operations, producing and trading material that is used not only throughout the Federation, but also the Klingon Empire. Given the planets proximity to the Klingon border, and the recent change in our relationship with the Empire, Starfleet feel that it's time to revisit our trade agreement, with the hope that we can secure continued access to the available resources. I've been tasked with leading the negotiation.

End Log...
*****
Now...
Captain's Ready Room
Main Bridge, Deck 1

Leonard stood at the window, looking out at the planet below. There were clear signs of the heavy industrialisation that had brought so much attention to the Mentarins, even at this altitude. This heavy industrialization had polluted the upper atmosphere, which meant that beaming down would not be an option in this case, so they would be going down in a shuttlecraft. Matt had decided on taking a small team down to the surface. He didn't want to overwhelm them with a large Starfleet contingent.

It had been surprisingly quickly after the ship had been declared clear to return to active duty, that they had received these mission orders. Obviously, they didn't want to waste any time, and Leonard had certainly been as keen to get back underway as Starfleet had been to have them leave...

*****
Two weeks ago...

Leyton sat behind his desk, the information about the Resolution was on the desk. Its crew personnel manifest of all department chiefs laid out. First Officer Cameron Greyson, only ever served on one ship, and it had been requested that he be given a command at the Remington's refit. Being able to stall the promotion, he had sent him over to the Resolution, knowing Captain Leonard, he could determine within an acceptable amount of time. To him it was reasonable, it gave the second officer, a Commander Kane, more time to prove herself that she deserves to be in the position. With her jumping department to department, this may be just the thing to make her realize what she wanted. If not, well then there are others that know what they want.

He read the first officers profile, and except for one instance at the end of the war with the Cardassians, there was nothing unique about him. He spent his entire career on one ship, killing his father to save the enemy. That was totally rubbing wrong of him. Not only was he the man's superior officer on the away team, he was the man's father. Those innocent lives killed could have caused enough instability in the governing officials, the war may have ended sooner and better for the Federation.

This change had also delayed the completion of the ship by a few weeks, being almost ten feet in height, although most places on a federation starship was suitable for those heights, there were areas that were not.

"Admiral, Captain Leonard on frequency," came over his intercom as he turned.

“Understood.” Leyton replied as he turned on the screen.

"Admiral," Leonard nodded. He was clearly sat in his ready room, on the Resolution. "You wanted to speak with me?"

"Captain, long time no see. I am just checking to see if you have the Latinum you lost to me at Las Vegas last year." he took a pad off the table. "Ten bars of Latinum, plus three bottles of scotch."

Leonard grinned. "I don't believe that's accurate Admiral. Just being an Admiral doesn't mean that you get to claim on bets that you certainly lost." The Captain chuckled.

"All joking aside Captain... we've got a mission for you. Relatively dull, being as its the maiden voyage after the refit."

"Excellent," Leonard replied, "I'm eager to get back to duty. I think that it's safe to say that our shake-down cruise has been successful."

"Have you ever heard of the Mentarins?"

"Vaguely, Admiral" Leonard replied. "From Mentar IV, near the border with the Klingons."

Leyton nodded, “They are in the middle of unrest, population are threatening to topple the government.”

"How do you want us to proceed Admiral?" Leonard asked, "Sure there are Prime Directive implications if we get involved in their planetary government."

“I agree with you Captain. Prime directive would indicate we don’t interfere, but in this case, the federation, and the Klingons are being blamed for the unrest, apparently we are responsible for scores of deaths, cave ins, explosions. Illnesses. Its being said that we run a slave labour camp at one of their colonies.” Leyton replied as he sent over the information he would need. “They are also contemplating changing the agreement, and wanting to strike a deal with the Cardassians, Klingons, even the Ferengi. It sounds like an empty threat, but if this about the slave labour and other accusations turns out to be true... it most likely won't be the end of it, but we have always been against those things." He paused, took a drink of coffee. "The deutronium they provide us with. Although its not the purest that we have in the sector. It is by far the the largest amount we receive. Even after we share it with the Klingons."

"I would assume that we're not running a slave labour camp Admiral?" Leonard asked, before quickly adding, "because if we are, I'll be seeing to it that we shut it down." At this, he was very insistent.

"We have no idea what's going on, we've barely had a presence there ever. They want to do things their way, and unfortunately they got lost in the shuffle when it came to checking on the welfare of their people." Leyton informed him.

"But we're still involved anyway. I suppose the old saying 'In for a penny, in for a pound', applies in this situation?" Leonard understood.

Leyton nodded, "That's the case."

"Is there anything further Admiral?"

"Your new XO, is being sought to be a CO, even with several admirals against that idea. You are to determine whether those doubts are valid and report back to me within six months."

"I'm already evaluating him on that basis, sir," Leonard replied. Greyson had been somewhat forced on him by senior command. Not that he wasn't a good officer, indeed the opposite. But what could Leonard do with a man that was already being tipped for a Command of his own, and knew it.

"Excellent Captain... he has been given a green light for a CO, but doesn't say he knows everything, he's only been under one captain, only knows one way of command. Your record of showing the way speaks for itself. Its time to spit out another proper Captain for the fleet. Somehow, all your former crew leave for greener pastures.”

"I would hardly call them greener pastures Admiral," Leonard replied, "Starfleet offered almost all of my senior personnel promotions and career advancement. Quite frankly they'd have all been stupid to turn it down." He didn't really mean to call his former crew stupid. But sticking around for sentimental reasons when there were opportunities for advancement was frankly career suicide, in his opinion.

"I look forward to hearing when the Mentarins are dealt with and we don't have to worry. Leyton out."

*****
Now...
Captain's Ready Room
Main Bridge, Deck 1

Leonard had been going over his away team selection, and whilst it had in no way been easy to choose, to limit his team, he felt that he had made the right choices with Johnson and Wayne. When both Greyson and Kane had separately expressed their disapproval of him going down at all, they'd each also insisted that he at least take the Chief of Security. If the two of them weren't so cock-sure of themselves for a few minutes, they might realise that they had a lot in common, and saw eye to eye on many things. He planned to take the time to bring them both together, perhaps he could bash some sense into them, to make them realise.

Of course, from a practical stand point, having 'Commander Johnson on his away team made sense, and he was certainly his first choice to travel down to the surface with him. Indeed, he'd only tolerated the protestations of his First and Second Officer's merely to get a rise out of them both. And considering that it had worked, he considered that 'Mission Accomplished'. Lieutenant Wayne, on the other hand, being the Chief Engineer, might have some insight into the nature of the mining operation. The Captain didn't want to head down heavy handedly, especially given the accusations made against the Federation. He didn't want to confirm their fears.