The Secret of Obsidian
Posted on Thu Jan 22nd, 2026 @ 7:11pm by Commodore Tyler Malbrooke & Makeba Brown & Lieutenant Commander Rowena McGowen & Lieutenant Mira Jayna & Lieutenant Junior Grade Gage Tohoyia & Petty Officer 1st Class Kaylara Loran & Petty Officer 3rd Class Emiko Marley & Sergeant Andrew Shy & Sergeant Miranda Schultz
Edited on on Thu Jan 22nd, 2026 @ 7:13pm
2,628 words; about a 13 minute read
Mission:
The Cure: Operation Kakori
Location: SCIF - Deck 9 - USS Pioneer
Timeline: MD001 1000 hrs
Tyler made general small talk with Jayna as they made their way to the SCIF. The fact was he did not want to discuss the mission due to the classified nature, and he was not sure how much he could talk about, given Jayna's relationship with Neil. He did not want to pry. However, in short order they arrived at the SCIF. Tyler looked around to verify that the corridor was empty. "Right, Lieutenant. We bring Commander McGowen up to speed. Select the team and get to it. There is not much time."
Jayna nodded her understanding. The commodore would give them what they needed to know, and she would see what else she could find once she knew what the mission entailed. Until then, she would watch and listen.
Tyler keyed in his code, and the doors to the outer office opened. As expected, he saw two Marines standing in front of the inner doors. They mustered to attention when he entered. "Morning, Sergeants."
Shy, dressed in standard uniform, beret, and class 2 body armor with a phaser carbine slung at his back, snapped to attention and said, "Morning Commodore."
Miranda was a fraction of a second behind Shy in responding to the arrival of the Commodore and Jayna. Snapping to attention, she said, "Welcome, commodore, sir. Morning, lieutenant."
"Morning," Jayna replied to the Marines.
As much as Tyler enjoyed chatting with his crew and being personable this was no time for that. "Please inform Commander McGowen that I am here to give an emergency briefing. Please allow access Malbrooke-delta-five-nine."
Schultz contacted the chief and let her know the commodore was on his way in. Then she opened the doors for them to enter.
Andrew pivoted out of the way of the officers, his eyes following them into the SCIF, then glanced over at Miranda and asked, "Wonder what's up...the Commodore usually doesn't wander the SCIF.."
"Not a clue." She looked at the door for a moment, then shook her head. "I doubt we'll hear anything, unless it involves The Cure." There was a sparkle of humor in her eyes as she added, "Buy you a drink if it does."
"You're on. And I'll buy if it doesn't," Shy said as he shifted on his feet, avoiding the temptation to check his chrono. "Food to maybe? I feel like my belly is trying to gnaw its way out."
Rowena was in her office gaining up on reports. She had a latte sitting on her desk as she was going through heaps of stacks of padds. Unlike Jennifer, Rowena had a tendency to mess up her office. If the Staff warrant officer walked in her now, she would have something to say about all of this, even if she was a commander. That was the fun part about Jennifer, she was quite professional, but she would step over your rank if things didn't go her way.
Rowena looked around her office and sighed. She was really behind because of her leave and everything everyone has been through. She hoped she could catch up on all the work while they were on shore leave on Earth. She then rolled her eyes. Both the commodore and Vura would definitely be against her working during shore leave, she was sure of it.
Gage was working at one of the intel stations, scanning through the latest updates from Starfleet Intelligence. it was the kind of grunt work that a lower-level intelligence officer was expected to do. The reality was that, despite how interesting it might be to read about a newly discovered sentient microbe, most of the intel was not pertinent to what the Pioneer was doing. He was just about to click through to the next document when the Commodore and Lieutenant Mira, the Marine Corps Intelligence officer, entered the SCIF. Thank the gods Gage thought as he reflexively closed down the console.
"Good morning, Commodore, Lieutenant Mira," Gage said and stood up.
"Good morning, Lieutenant Tohoyia," Jayna replied.
"Morning Lieutenant." Tyler replied. His usual jovial nature replaced at the moment due to the nature of his coming to the SCIF.
Emiko was too busy to notice anything. She was listening to the comms and was picking up encrypted Romulan signals. Muttering to herself, she wondered, "What is all of this about? Artifact?"
Kaylara was engrossed in her work and didn't notice the new arrivals at first. But when she did, she carefully saved her work and prepared to either listen to what the commodore and commander had to say or be asked to occupy herself elsewhere. It was more likely the latter, but she liked to be prepared for any eventuality. Either would be a nice break from routine.
Rowena got a little beep at her desk someone had entered the main room. She pressed on the screen on her desk and saw the Commodore and Lieutenant Mira walk in. She immediately got up, make some of the tags drop to the floor. She walked out of the office and stopped just a few steps away from them. "Commodore? Lieutenant?" She looked questioning.
When the inner doors opened Tyler glanced about. "Commander McGowen, Lieutenant Tohoyia, Petty Officer Marley, Ms Brown, and Lieutenant Jayna you all stick around. The rest of you take five and clear the room." He waited for the rest of the personnel to leave and keyed up the same images he just used in the Senior Staff Briefing. The holoemitters in the center of the room hummed to life with the image of a Nor Class station.
Kaylara got up and walked out the door to take a short break. Depending on the briefing, she'd have enough time to get to the Cure's gift shop to see what new products were on sale. If they needed her later, she'd be told. Otherwise, from the look on the commodore's face, she didn't need the headache.
"What you are about to see and hear is classified and cannot be discussed. Not even with the rest of the Intelligence staff. This is Breyet Nor and station built in secret within the Badlands. All of you with the exception of Commander McGowen will join the Cure's team to board this station and effect the capture of Lieutenant Commander Calvin Quaid." The image changed when Tyler mentioned Quaid. Noe it was as if he stood in the room. "Quaid is wanted for treason, his codes were used by the Obsidian Order to board and capture Empok Nor a couple of years ago."
Jayna nodded, remembering the event. She and Makeba had gone under cover to help liberate the station. Unfortunately, the leadership escaped and she didn't like leaving loose ends. Hopefully this mission would help tie them up.
Rowena looked at the image of Quaid. "I read about him in the reports from the Staff Warrant officer. She had some pretty colorful words for him, to say the least. Jennifer wasn't really someone to hold back her words." She crossed her arms. "She would have loved to be here I bet. Join you and give him a peace of her mind. But since he committed treason do we really have address him with that rank?"
"He is still given the respect of rank and is to be treated according to someone of his rank. He is only under suspicion as his codes were used. He then was nowhere to be found when we reclaimed the station. I admit that on paper he looks exceptionally guilty. However, one never knows when the Cardassians are involved. It is not outside the scope to say perhaps he was brainwashed or something else. Which is where you all come in. As we prepare for this mission I would like you all to dig up as much as you can about Cardassian mind control techniques. Upon arrival at the station Ms Brown and Lieutenant Tohoyia will board the station undercover. Your NOC personas are being written as we speak. You both will be New Maquis members. Once aboard you will find a way to get The Cure aboard, and where Quaid is. I want any and all information that you can gather on this station while you are there as well. Make sure that you use the Cardassian Language while aboard whenever appropriate the Universal Translator will be taken offline as it will be recognized. We have the reliable intelligence that everyone aboard understands the Cardassian language." Tyler began to hand out the assignments and made sure to look at each person as he spoke.
"Which brings me to Petty Officer Marley." Tyler continued. "You will board as part of the Cure's main force. Your job is to simply put translate everything they need. Until Quaid is in custody we cannot risk the UT being used. Colonel Tremble will have overall command of the mission. Lieutenant Jayna will be in command of the Intelligence team. She is the handler for you all."
Tyler keyed in another command and the image of the station dissolved and was replaced by an image of a Defiant Class Starship. "Ladies and Gentlemen allow me to introduce you to the USS Valiant NCC-75416 Commander Rhupert Tyree in command. To most members of the fleet this is a standard issue Defiant Class starship. However, we are now on the short list that know this vessel is assigned to Starfleet Intelligence. Her crew are all trained operatives who specialize in their particular field. This ship will bring you to the station and get you out. Any information that you discover on this mission should be shared with Commander Tyree, his XO Commander Ral, and their Chief Intelligence Officer Lieutenant Gordon." Tyler paused here to allow all of the information he shared to be absorbed and any questions asked if needed.
Makeba sat and practically stared at the image of the Valiant. Figures they would build a ship to make sure their bidding got done in secret. she thought. Fact was the idea of this ship angered her. However, the idea of what Quaid may have done, and what the Cardassians were doing angered her more. She looked toward Tyler and Jayna asking both of them. "Do you have any names of New Maquis members aboard the station? Perhaps I know some of them from my prior days. Even if I don't if the Lieutenant and I are to masquerade as members then it would be safe that we knew at least the names of some of their officers."
Jayna looked at Makeba, then at the commodore. It would be up to him to answer that question.
Emiko piped up in her soft but high-pitched voice. The doll-like girl was surprised but pleased that she was going to go on the mission. At first her eyes sparkled but after a moment, they steeled with determination. "You want me to go?" she asked hesitantly at first. "Of course, Commodore. I will do as you ask," she responded politely bowing her head. Finally! An away mission!
Outwardly, Gage showed little emotion. Most of his early work was classified, but the Commodore was one of the few on the ship who knew that his first assignments as an infiltration specialist were on Cardassia. He'd learned the language well and was very comfortable operating in Cardassian regions. One thing that helped intelligence work was the fact that Cardassians were not creative. They used the same design rather than create new ones because why bother changing when it worked? That meant he knew the layout of Breyet Nor and where the departments would probably be.
Gage cleared his throat. "Sir, if I am understanding this correctly, the target subject has been missing for multiple years and is surfacing now? How did the information of his current location come to us?"
Briefings sometimes served as a metric by which a commanding officer could see how his crew thought. This was no different and up until now Tyler was pretty amazed that his Intelligence Department had not asked the very question that Gage asked up until now.
Tyler turned to Gage. "While in pursuit of a fugitive, the USS Artemis found Breyet Nor. The fugitive that they sought was aboard the station. When they boarded the station, they learned that the target was aboard the station and being held in Cardassian custody. However, they were outgunned, and the Cardassians aboard the station were cooperative in handing over their target. The information that they gathered is in the data packet for you to look over. Ms Brown, you will be returning to your old friends, as it were, and Lieutenant Tohoyia is leaving Starfleet to join up. As to someone you know. We have learned that Dr Orlando Baptiste the former CMO of the Billingsley, is now handling medical aboard that station. You served with the doctor when you were assigned to the Billingsley. He probably won't remember you, but you can drop his name if need be."
Jayna hadn't been to the Badlands, but she'd heard plenty about Breyet Nor--both as part of the Bajoran Resistance and later as a Maquis. This was going to be an interesting assignment.
Rowena was just taking notes and listening for now. She was extremely glad she wasn't going on this mission. She was backed up on reports here on the ship, and she really felt like she needed to repair things with the crew. She knew it wasn't her fault, and she knew the crew knew that too, but her distance towards the crew from the start didn't do her position as second officer any good. She felt like she needed to work on that.
Gage was glad there was a concrete chain of evidence. His instincts said that the information was solid. He nodded at the Commodore's words. "Understood, sir," he said and glanced at Brown. He didn't know her much. He seriously hoped that she was reliable and good at her job or this would be a very short mission. "I'd like to review the data and speak with Ms. Brown about our covers. Time appears to be of the essence."
Tyler turned to the gathered group. "Of course. If there are no further questions this briefing is adjourned. Happy Hunting..." He turned to leave the SCIF. Although Tyler did not show it he hated this part of being Captain most. The idea of sending people off to what could be their deaths always troubled him.
A Joint Post By
Sergeant Miranda Schultz
Communications Specialist HQ, The Cure
USS Pioneer
Sergeant Tyrigus Fry
Rifleman, Team 1, The Cure
USS Pioneer
Commodore Tyler Malbrooke
Commanding Officer, USS Pioneer
Makeba Brown
HUMINT Agent, USS Pioneer
Lieutenant Junior Grade Gage Tohoyia
Infiltration Specialist, USS Pioneer
Petty Officer First Class Kaylara Loran
Data Systems Analyst, USS Pioneer
Lieutenant Mira Jayna
Intelligence Officer, The Cure
USS Pioneer
Petty Officer Third Class Emiko Marley
Intelligence Communications Specialist, USS Pioneer
Lieutenant Commander Rowena McGowen
Chief Intelligence Officer/Second Officer, USS Pioneer
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