Captain’s Log Supplemental. Our trip through Underspace has been a success and we have arrived in the D’Deridex system. The aperture was undefended and we managed to slip into the asteroid belt located between the fifth and sixth planet. Over the last thirty six hours we have discovered that the system is under occupation by the Vaadwaur Supremacy. It would seem that civilization isn’t as primitive as we thought. As of now, we have not been detected by them which means we can plan our next move. The liberation of the D’Deridex system.

We haven’t been able to locate any surviving members of the defense fleet that was here before. We have however managed to locate multiple destroyed and heavily damaged Romulan vessels across the system mainly located around the gas planets as well as the fourth and fifth planets. A tactical analysis of the forces are staggering. The armada is numbered in the low hundreds while the ground forces are numbered in the millions, with a high concentration of troops on D’Deridex V. The planet seems to be acting as the Vaadwaur’s forward operating base for their occupation.

Commanders T’Soni and K’Tal are currently devising a plan for what we need to do to liberate the system and minimize losses to our crew. Lieutenant Jackson and Ensign Lovar are working on a way to send word to Victoria so we can have some reinforcements. Despite our precarious state the crew works at an increased efficiency. Which surprises me because during the Dominion War many officers didn’t know what would happen next or who would be taken next yet my crew haven’t wavered. Lieutenant Commander Reno says that since we have decided to liberate the system an overwhelming sense of pride has covered the ship. In other words…

Paramount Strong!

Standing on the upper level of engineering, Lieutenant Commander Zahir Davidson leaned on the cool metal railing as she gazed down at the warp core. It trumped a steady rhythm that resonated through the entire ship. The chief engineering officer watched as her officers moved across the lower level as they carefully prepared for what was to come. She admired how they moved like a beehive, where one would see chaos, she saw order. Their loyalty and determination to the mission were unequaled. They knew what they were about to face and the overwhelming numbers they would be put up against, but that only strengthened their resolve. She had wished that they had a division or, at the very least, an Achilles-class to back them up.

“Are you alright, ma’am?”

Snapping out of her thoughts, she whipped her head around to see who it was that had called out to her. Turning, she saw the worried expression of Lieutenant ch’Kavor approaching her. The Andorain assisting chief engineering officer had a skill for appearing right when she needed someone to talk to.

“N… ya,” she said, stuttering as she spoke. Her voice was barely above a whisper as she spoke; she knew that he would inevitably ask what was wrong, but she couldn’t lead with that. He was her friend but also her subordinate. “I just wish we had more time for prep.”

“And for an Achilles,” he inquired, chuckling as he spoke. ch’Kavor had endured countless rants from the commander about the class since its reactivation within the fleet. She would go on and on about the ship’s specs, its Armament, and its combat efficiency, and also how she wanted to lead a squadron of them to some border, and across the Federation. Even suggesting she would face off against the Dominion and the Borg. Something they both agreed was a pipe dream.

Davidson laughed lightly, smiling before her thoughts eventually back to the staff meeting from that day. “Ya,” she said, smirking as she turned back towards the core. Her smirk dropped as she realized the mission that was ahead of them. “That too,” her voice somberly toned. She feared what was about to happen to the Paramount was only a utility cruiser, a ship not meant for war. Engineering could only do so much during an engagement. She could only do so much.

“Ma’am,” ch’Kavor said carefully as he stepped up to stand beside her. “Permission to speak freely?”

“Always, Lieutenant.”

“We’ve got this,” he said, gesturing to the officers on the lower level. “We stand behind the captain’s mission. We stand ready to fight!” He paused as he considered his words. He needed to encourage her to get her on the right path. “We stand behind you,” pausing, allowing her to let his words hit her. “We are ready to assist in the liberation of the system, in our own way. By keeping this ship moving and firing,” ch’Kavor sighed heavily, he knew what they were about to face. He knew it was a possibility that they would lose, but that didn’t matter; all that mattered was them killing as many Vaadwaur as they could before they did. He hoped their determination, even against overwhelming odds, would encourage the civilian populace to take up arms.

“Ma’am… Zahir,” he said carefully. Davidson turned to look at him as he called her by her first name. “We can’t show them our fear, we must show them we stand ready to lose our lives for this mission because they are. No matter what we feel, we must ensure the people who serve under us have somewhere to look to when their resolve wavers,” ch’Kavor stated, his voice resonating with Davidson. She knew he was trying to comfort her, and truth be told. It was helping.

“Thank you, Kevil,” she said softly as she placed a hand on his shoulder. She recovered her hand as she looked out at the officers, the determination etched into each of the faces. She turned back to ch’Kavor, “Gather the section heads around the pool table at twenty ten hours.”

ch’Kavor straightened his stance as he looked at her. “Yes, ma’am,” he said, his voice sharp as he walked away to carry out her orders.

Davidson resumed her position at the railing; this time, determination and pride resonated through her. Pride in the officers under her leadership and pride in herself for being their leader. Davidson hummed as she whispered to herself, “Paramount strong.”

Unknown (Error), Asteroid Belt, D’Deridex system, Beta Quadrant

Across the bridge, screens were covered in data streams coming from across the ship. Battle damage reports, system updates, and communication channels all fed to the command deck of the Romulan warbird. On the starboard side of the bridge was the science station where a bunch of officers had gathered. They muttered incondenstly about something.

“What is with all the chatter?” came the cool, measured voice of the ship’s commander. The elder Romulan had been a squadron commander for merely three days, which numbered in the thirties. That was before the arrival of their uninvited guests, who decimated his squadron and seized control of the system under his care.

“Admiral,” an officer stated anxiously as they stepped towards the senior officer. “We have detected a possible Starfleet ship entering the system, but there is no way to confirm. What lost their signal about 50 kilometers from our present position at mark three four one barring six two.”

“A Starfleet ship,” he whispered to himself. The elder Romulan raised his head as he gazed his eyes at the officer. “Do we have any other information?”

“No, sir.”

Elder Romulan thought for a moment. He had thought nothing could get into the system due to the Blackout that was currently affecting them. “Helm set a course for their last known position, but keep us hidden. Signal the rest of the remaining squadron to follow suit, but advise them to keep their distance.”

He received an ‘aye’ in return as he looked ahead at the viewscreen. “Let’s hope they’re here to help,” he whispered to himself.