Stardate 76176.73
USS Titan - Luna Class Research Vessel
Commander Deanna Troi was restless. She had been unable to sleep for several nights running. Her normal sleep cycle had been plagued by dreams of a most disturbing nature: nearly all had related to her time among the Caeliar, several years previous. Despite multiple meditation techniques and even asking the Titan's CMO, Dr. Shenti Yisec Eres Ree for a light sedative, her bad dreams and overall discomfort persisted.
As she lightly heard the chronometer mark the arrival of 0200 hours, she rolled over and suddenly felt as if she were being thrown headlong down a well. Her sense of time and place was suddenly and completely out of sync. This was like many of the previous nightmares, yet something was more visceral about this experience. It genuinely felt as if she was no longer on the Titan, as if she had been transported somewhere far away from the vessel that she, Will and their daughter called home.
She seemed to be floating in a grey mist at first, then the mist began to solidify into a place: a small room, with almost no distinguishing features. She was standing. She looked down and she was herself, and even seemed to be attired in her normal soft, comfortable sleepwear. Then she saw her. A small girl. She stood roughly four feet away, and was weeping...yet no sound came from her.
Deanna fought through her immediate urge to rush forward and envelope the child in her arms. No matter how strong her maternal instincts and her empathic abilities, her sense of wariness and training as a Starfleet officer remained.
Despite the lack of auditory stimuli coming from what appeared to be a child, Deanna could easily and clearly pick up the overwhelming emotions that were emanating from the child. This was what was drawing her maternal feelings forward. This child seemed to contain all of the sadness and grief in all of the Universe. Deanna put a hand to her head and massaged her temples. The overwhelming psychic pressure was starting to make her feel physical pain.
She stepped closer and spoke.
"I am Commander Deanna Troi of the Federation Starship Titan," she reached out toward the child without realizing she was doing so. "Can I help you? Please..." Suddenly the sound of the child bawling burst like a bubble, and the sound immediately became too much to bear. "Please..." Deanna was almost screaming to be overheard over the intense sound of the child weeping. "Please, let me help you..."
After that, he had to walk on eggshells to guarantee that his own officer didn't suffer unduly from being baited by a couple of bullies, while still upholding the highest level of command protocol. When he finally yielded the Bridge to Commander Tuvok at 2300 he was definitely ready for some sleep. He had made his way to the spacious and comfortable quarters he shared with Deanna and Natasha, their nineteen year old daughter and went straight to bed.
It was a few hours later that he was awakened by Deanna tossing and turning next to him. Her movements were erratic and almost violent. He came awake instantly and reached over to grasp her shoulder and shake her awake. He shook as hard as he dared, but she continued tossing back and forth and whimpering loudly as tears poured down her cheeks. Will reached over and slapped his comm badge laying on the bedside table and said in a harsh voice, rough from sleep:
"This is Riker, medical emergency in my quarters, Dr. Ree, we need you."
Over an hour had passed since Commander Troi's night terrors had roused her husband from sleep. After beaming her to sickbay and administering a neuro-suppressant, Dr. Ree had then been inundated with a rush of Emergency calls, all from the many telepathic and empathic species currently serving on Titan.
These had ranged from Commander Tuvok, who had been in command of the bridge, suddenly fainting dead away; to the barely empathic Ensign Yarra, complaining of horrible nightmares and an overpowering migraine. All total, there had been over twenty different reports of illness effecting only the telepaths onboard, and Ree was disturbingly reminded of their time amongst the Pa'haquel and the star-jellies. He was pondering if he should approach the Captain about another widespread dose of telepathic suppressants: at least until he could determine what was effecting them all, when the message came in from Starfleet Command.
It was encoded with the highest security clearance and addressed to both Titan's CMO and her Commanding Officer. The Captain was still in sickbay, hovering around Troi's bed, and so after secluding themselves in Ree's office, they played the message.
It was a recording, made and sent out to all vessels in Starfleet: The message was from Fleet Admiral Janeway to every Captain and Chief Medical Officer in service. After Dr. Ree gave the command for the message to play, Admiral Janeway's face appeared, lined with stress and pain.
"This message has been recorded and will be distributed to every ship in Starfleet. As of 2300 hours, stardate 76178.94, Starfleet has become aware of a widespread condition effecting all telepaths and empaths throughout Federation space and beyond.
"Several hours ago, we were made aware of a devastating turn of events concerning the former Borg that were freed by the Caeliar in 2381." Katherine Janeway seemed to hesitate for a moment, then she continued. "As most of you are aware, Starfleet has been aiding the former Borg in establishing colonies for the last ten years or so." Ree tilted his head inquisitively as Janeway continued. "Some vessels of the fleet were currently engaged in this task when some unknown action precipitated widespread loss of life amongst the former Borg." Her face grew more grim. Ree remembered that one of Janeway's former crewmates was one of these freed Borg: Annika Hansen, formerly Seven of Nine. "We are attempting to ascertain if this was a terrorist act, or in some way an act of retribution against the former Borg." Janeway glanced off-camera for a moment and then went on. "This is..." she seemed almost to say something else and then continued. "This would not be the first time that these former Borg have come under attack for their actions while part of the Collective. Many of the Borg settlements established by Starfleet and its allies have been troubled for years." The Fleet Admiral shifted in her seat and Ree glanced at Riker for a moment, seeking some reaction, yet the Captain's face was brutally impassive, as if chiseled from granite.
"This brings me back," Janeway was saying. "To the matter of our telepathic and empathic crewmembers." She seemed at a loss for words for an instant, then her face set firmly and she went on. "Starfleet Medical has received reports from throughout the Fleet, from our colonies and from Federation and non-Federation worlds alike: This appears to be effecting the entirety of known space. At this time, we have no other recourse but to believe that these two events are in some way related." She held up a PADD. "Attached to this recording, all Chief Medical Officers will find an extensive report of the evidence gathered by Starfleet Medical, I feel certain that you will find the cases on your own ship will echo the instances of telepathic disturbance already noted; however please do gather your own information and pass it to Starfleet as soon as is possible." She attempted a grim smile, but was not fully successful. "I feel certain that whatever this occurrence is, we will root out its cause and find justice for the slain, while finding protection and aid for those who are suffering at this time." Her face grew grim once more, yet there was an iron determination to her voice: "We are Starfleet, despite the great wisdom of our Prime Directive, we do not sit idly by when those we have undertaken as allies and friends are stolen from us. We do not tolerate such wanton attacks and we shall bring retribution." She reached down and adjusted her uniform jacket and then went on. "Each vessel's Captain will receive individual orders from myself and from Vice Admiral Picard, who will be undertaking the leading of this mission." She smiled once more, and then said: "Janeway, out."
These had ranged from Commander Tuvok, who had been in command of the bridge, suddenly fainting dead away; to the barely empathic Ensign Yarra, complaining of horrible nightmares and an overpowering migraine. All total, there had been over twenty different reports of illness effecting only the telepaths onboard, and Ree was disturbingly reminded of their time amongst the Pa'haquel and the star-jellies. He was pondering if he should approach the Captain about another widespread dose of telepathic suppressants: at least until he could determine what was effecting them all, when the message came in from Starfleet Command.
It was encoded with the highest security clearance and addressed to both Titan's CMO and her Commanding Officer. The Captain was still in sickbay, hovering around Troi's bed, and so after secluding themselves in Ree's office, they played the message.
It was a recording, made and sent out to all vessels in Starfleet: The message was from Fleet Admiral Janeway to every Captain and Chief Medical Officer in service. After Dr. Ree gave the command for the message to play, Admiral Janeway's face appeared, lined with stress and pain.
"This message has been recorded and will be distributed to every ship in Starfleet. As of 2300 hours, stardate 76178.94, Starfleet has become aware of a widespread condition effecting all telepaths and empaths throughout Federation space and beyond.
"Several hours ago, we were made aware of a devastating turn of events concerning the former Borg that were freed by the Caeliar in 2381." Katherine Janeway seemed to hesitate for a moment, then she continued. "As most of you are aware, Starfleet has been aiding the former Borg in establishing colonies for the last ten years or so." Ree tilted his head inquisitively as Janeway continued. "Some vessels of the fleet were currently engaged in this task when some unknown action precipitated widespread loss of life amongst the former Borg." Her face grew more grim. Ree remembered that one of Janeway's former crewmates was one of these freed Borg: Annika Hansen, formerly Seven of Nine. "We are attempting to ascertain if this was a terrorist act, or in some way an act of retribution against the former Borg." Janeway glanced off-camera for a moment and then went on. "This is..." she seemed almost to say something else and then continued. "This would not be the first time that these former Borg have come under attack for their actions while part of the Collective. Many of the Borg settlements established by Starfleet and its allies have been troubled for years." The Fleet Admiral shifted in her seat and Ree glanced at Riker for a moment, seeking some reaction, yet the Captain's face was brutally impassive, as if chiseled from granite.
"This brings me back," Janeway was saying. "To the matter of our telepathic and empathic crewmembers." She seemed at a loss for words for an instant, then her face set firmly and she went on. "Starfleet Medical has received reports from throughout the Fleet, from our colonies and from Federation and non-Federation worlds alike: This appears to be effecting the entirety of known space. At this time, we have no other recourse but to believe that these two events are in some way related." She held up a PADD. "Attached to this recording, all Chief Medical Officers will find an extensive report of the evidence gathered by Starfleet Medical, I feel certain that you will find the cases on your own ship will echo the instances of telepathic disturbance already noted; however please do gather your own information and pass it to Starfleet as soon as is possible." She attempted a grim smile, but was not fully successful. "I feel certain that whatever this occurrence is, we will root out its cause and find justice for the slain, while finding protection and aid for those who are suffering at this time." Her face grew grim once more, yet there was an iron determination to her voice: "We are Starfleet, despite the great wisdom of our Prime Directive, we do not sit idly by when those we have undertaken as allies and friends are stolen from us. We do not tolerate such wanton attacks and we shall bring retribution." She reached down and adjusted her uniform jacket and then went on. "Each vessel's Captain will receive individual orders from myself and from Vice Admiral Picard, who will be undertaking the leading of this mission." She smiled once more, and then said: "Janeway, out."
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