USS MERCED TACTICAL EXERCISE REPORT by Lt Jannith Suder
As we were in Sector 001 investigating the death of Lt Commander Winter's father, the Admiral sent several of the Yorktown crew on a tactical exercise. The crew members who were sent were: Ivos, Suder, Jascar, Fallin, Culpepper, Weinberg, Campbell, Burns, Ro, Babbit, Thompson, and Blaine.
We were taken to the USS Merced, a light escort from 2315. It has been used as a cadet training vessel and by the looks of things, has not been kept well. It has 8 decks.
While checking out a distress call sent out, we found an organization for the rights of minerals was firing upon a mining ship. While attempting to save the mining ship, the organization ripped a hole in space and, although we tried holding the mining ship with our tractor beam, we were sucked through the hole along with the mining ship. Afterwards, we were not sure how far we had traveled but our ship was in poor shape as well as the mining ship. We evacuated the mining ship's crew to ours and salvaged what we could from their ship.
Coming across a planet, we found several differing minerals, which we brought on board, for trading purposes if needed.
Continuing along our lost way, we came across a Vikanian ship. After discussing our trouble, we they helped us to know our location as well as sending out a call to the Yorktown (unfortunately the call could take days). They also began escorting us through Vikanian space, as well as inviting us to dinner. This was fun, as we got to learn more about them.
After some time, another Vikanian ship approached. This approaching ship were "conservative" Vikanians. The Vikanians assisting us told us that the Vikanians were now in a civil war and they needed to leave. They gave us the coordinates for home and left. It was decided to assist the Vikanians who helped us flee the other ship. This action caused some anger with the approaching conservative ship and they informed us that we should leave.
We were taken to the USS Merced, a light escort from 2315. It has been used as a cadet training vessel and by the looks of things, has not been kept well. It has 8 decks.
While checking out a distress call sent out, we found an organization for the rights of minerals was firing upon a mining ship. While attempting to save the mining ship, the organization ripped a hole in space and, although we tried holding the mining ship with our tractor beam, we were sucked through the hole along with the mining ship. Afterwards, we were not sure how far we had traveled but our ship was in poor shape as well as the mining ship. We evacuated the mining ship's crew to ours and salvaged what we could from their ship.
Coming across a planet, we found several differing minerals, which we brought on board, for trading purposes if needed.
Continuing along our lost way, we came across a Vikanian ship. After discussing our trouble, we they helped us to know our location as well as sending out a call to the Yorktown (unfortunately the call could take days). They also began escorting us through Vikanian space, as well as inviting us to dinner. This was fun, as we got to learn more about them.
After some time, another Vikanian ship approached. This approaching ship were "conservative" Vikanians. The Vikanians assisting us told us that the Vikanians were now in a civil war and they needed to leave. They gave us the coordinates for home and left. It was decided to assist the Vikanians who helped us flee the other ship. This action caused some anger with the approaching conservative ship and they informed us that we should leave.
It was determined to continue through Vikanian space, despite the civil war, as it was the quickest way through, despite the warning from the Vikanians. We had several other encounters with Conservative Vikanian forces, but survived each with Lt Commander Ivos's quick and wise thinking. One such time involved our ship circling a planet with another Conservative Vikanian ship circling as well. Due to their sensor capabilities not being as high as ours, this allowed us to make repairs to the Merced. After some time, they gave up the chase and we were on our way again.
On our way home to the USS Yorktown now, I have a little time to reflect upon the past events. I believe that the crew did an incredible job with the situations given. Despite the USS Merced's poor quality, the crew repaired the ship as best as they could, giving the crew their best opportunity to continue. The morale of the ship's crew was kept higher than expected as well. Our helmsman's (Ro) abilities are incredible. He performed extremely well, during very stressful times.
I do have to wonder about my own mentality, as I found myself enjoying a game that Lt Commander Ivos started, called laser tag. Although it didn't involve killing others, it did involve stunning others. I've never been much for violence, but I did rather enjoy this game.
It will be good to be home with the crew of the USS Yorktown. I wonder if the investigation concerning the death of Lt Commander Winter's father has been resolved and how Lt Commander Winter is holding up. I also wonder how Lt JG Stout is functioning, and how our 2 Vikanian guests are faring.
