A Larger Briefing

Posted on Wed Nov 11th, 2026 @ 5:44pm by Captain Shran dh'Klar & Commander Jonathan Grayson & Commander Callie Raven-Grayson & Lieutenant Commander Imik S'Niohun & Lieutenant Commander Shoniara T’ghann-Travis MD & Lieutenant Kate Kono & Lieutenant James Phoenix

1,401 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Another Tin Man
Location: Conference Room

Shran had ordered Jon to collect several additional officers to inform them of the new mission they were embarking upon, and he hoped to gather insights from them as well. With everyone now gathered in the conference room, he wanted to get things started.

Shran looked around the table and began his address, "It is early, so I apologize for that, but such is the nature of our work. StarFleet has detected an entity that has been encountered only once before. The entity was known as Gomtuu, and the Enterprise was sent to investigate it at that time. We have been sent a Betazoid ambassador as they were, this time it is Ambassador Celes here. We are already on our way to make contact with the entity. We do not know if it is the same one the Enterprise detected or another. We will prepare for both eventualities. We also are in a race to reach the entity with the Romulans, just as the Enterprise was. It appears that this time we are in a better position than the Enterprise was in regard to the Romulans though. So, I open the floor to each of you. Thoughts, comments, I want to hear it all."

“We know that Gomtuu and others of its kind are highly telepathic, powerfully so. I don’t think it would give the Romulans a chance if it read their intentions. On the other hand, it would most likely interact with the telepaths onboard, though I can’t say I’m picking up on anything as yet. The Gomtuu we all know about had a connection with Tam Elbrun from a significant distance away.”

Kate leaned forward and gave a toothy smile. She was both scared and still in sorrow over the past mission, but she hid it behind the face of a clown. “…. the Romulans: are they pursuing the same objective we are, or do we have reason to think they know more about Gomtuu than they’ve admitted or shown? Last time, their involvement nearly turned first contact into a contest over who could claim the being. If this is another living ship, we should be prepared for it to perceive an armed approach as a threat.”

Her gaze moved around the room. “What did the Enterprise’s encounter tell us about the risks of transporters, shuttles, or direct contact? Gomtuu could move through space and defend itself in ways we couldn’t predict. If it brings us aboard or if it refuses to let us leave, what’s our contingency? And if it’s the same individual, do we know whether it remembers the Enterprise? We may be arriving as strangers, or as the next chapter in a relationship it wishes to continue…” Kate looked to whoever in the room looked like they spent a lot of time on sensors… “Do we have a track on the Romulans current position in relation to us and the Initial Contact Point?” Kate asked.

“To be honest I don’t think there’s a risk of violence against those it considers friendly. Gomtuu protected the Enterprise when it directed an attack at the Romulans. From what I remember Gomtuu used to have a crew until they were all killed, it was lonely. We don’t know if this tin man has a crew or not.” Callie added.

Imik sat listening as both Shran and then Lieutenant Kono spoke, she had read some of Enterprise D mission logs but was unsure if she had read about Gomtuu. "We have several telepaths on board within the crew, me included. How do we know this living vessel will not choose one of us as its next crew member?" She looked around the table, "This creature has free will and the ability to defend itself, it may not want the Ambassador or converse with him. Do we have a contingency strategy if such an event takes place?" She now looked directly at Kate, "As of 23:45 hours last night, no contact has been detected for any vessel in this area."

Shon sat up looking around the room. I am half Vulcan and I may be able to be some small help when and if we connect." she looked at Callie. " I have just spent six months at the Vulcan monastery in Tighaan and have been mastering a technique with very little resonance theta waves that might counteract the massive impact on the mind of Gomtuu? Also from the medical point of view we will be ready for any possible injuries that might be sustained in this, if indeed we do communicate.....we may find insults to the brain we will need to manage." she looked at Callie again, "Isn't that right Commander?" she asked with a flat Vulcan tone to her voice.

“Possibly” Callie nodded. “It depends on the strength of connection and how it affects the telepaths it’s aimed at.”

James spoke up. "What can we expect from the Romulans? How many ships were there when the Enterprise dealt with them?"

"Tampering and interference." Jon replied firmly. "The Romulans will want the alien all to themselves."

"I think you people are doing what StarFleet tends to do, overcomplicate the simple" Ambassador Celes said flatly. "The situation is simple. Just as the first encounter, a deep range probe has discovered this creature. It may be Gomtuu that was encountered by the Enterprise and it may not be. What we know of the creature is that it is sentient and has telepathic abilities, and that it can function as a living vessel if it so desires. And yes, the Romulans would very much like to reach it first and claim it for themselves."

Deanna stared daggers at her younger brother. "We aren't close enough for telepathic contact yet. Not to be too blunt, but I am the most powerful telepath on the ship. I'll begin reaching out immediately, but I don't recommend the other telepaths on the ship risk contact until we make close contact."

Shran nodded. "I tend to agree that we should limit telepathic contact, at least until we are in visual range of the creature. The telepathic members of the crew may be the best option for an away team. I think we should limit who goes over when we send them, perhaps Deanna, Callie, Imik, and Shon. That would cover all the bases with our telepathic crew. As for the Romulans, I want us to be prepared for conflict with them. We can assume they will be aggressive in this situation. Jon, I want you to ready tactics with Phoenix and Kate regarding the Romulans, including what strategies they might use."

Imik looked towards Deanna, "Self-praise is no recommendation Commander, but to make my position clear. I have no intention in making contact with this creature, I will close myself to it as I am the senior Security Officer. I feel it would be unwise for me to engage with the creature, with due respect Sinkahue."

"So do we have any idea if there will be any Romulan contact?" Shon said.

Kate’s grin sharpened. “I realize I’ve already asked whether we expect Romulan contact—and the room sailed past it at warp speed. And then Shon asked again in a different way…” Kate giggled a little playfully as she rephrased the same question a third time. “… has anyone spotted our pointy-eared neighbors?” She lifted a finger before anyone could answer. “And, for the record, that was same-question number three. Question number four: do we have an actual Romulan position on sensors?” Kate pointed to Shon. “You should ask too. Again…” She winked.

"Yes sir., we'll be ready. No worries." Jon replied crisply.

Deanna looked over at Kate, "It obviously went past you, but Imik actually answered that the Romulans have not been spotted as of yet. Considering their vessels are almost certainly cloaked, that isn't a surprise. We'll run into them at some point though." She then looked to Imik, "I was not engaging in self-praise. If anything, I was attempting humility."

"And a wonderful job of it you did my dear sister" Tam quipped, enjoying the opportunity to poke the bear metaphorically.

"Right, I've heard enough. We know what we have to do and you all have assignments. It is early, but let's get to work. Dismissed" Shran said, a hint of crabbiness in his voice.

 

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