1.6 The Tempest Tossed (mission)

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## Mission

While on an otherwise uneventful patrol near the Cardassian Union, the *Tempest* encounters a civilian Federation ship smuggling Bajoran refugees out of Cardassian space and its wanted, smuggler captain.

## Summary

### Cold Open

The old and well worn transport *SS Kelebek (NBT-11004)* flees from a Cardassian warship, dodging phaser fire as best it can, but ultimately taking a direct hit which does serious damage. In a desperate move, the ship turns towards a new destination and warps away with the Cardassian ship close on its tail.

### Part 1

The *Tempest* is a week into a two week patrol as part of a show of force to discourage Cardassian aggression. The patrol has been completely uneventful until now, when the transport drops out of warp near the *Tempest*, heavily damaged and sending out a distress call. The ship's captain, Ash Loon, introduces himself and the crew learn he is a wanted smuggler with warrants out for his arrest from multiple governments, including the Federation and Cardassians. The *Tempest* moves to protect the transport as the pursuing Cardassian ship arrives. The Cardassian commander, Gul Krim, demands the return of the 'criminals' aboard the transport and offers Maddox a deal to give Loon to the Tempest in exchange for the rest.

Maddox demurs on the offer and prioritizes helping the transport first, whose life support is failing and reactor core overloading. The crew debate how best to proceed and whether or not to take Krim's offer but decide that the immediate next step needs to be helping the transport and the people aboard. Panther goes over by shuttlecraft with a security detachment to find Loon and several Bajoran refugees. Panther loads the Bajorans onto the shuttle and takes Loon into custody, returning to the *Tempest* with them.

Maddox orders the *Tempest* to head back to Federation space, which Krim objects to. But Maddox keeps the *Tempest* traveling at impulse speeds, which keeps Krim from escalating the situation. Instead, the Cardassian ship shadows the *Tempest* as it travels towards the Federation at impulse. Meanwhile, Goodspeed, Teal, Eele and Panther meet the refugees in Sickbay where Teal treats their various injuries and radiation sickness, in the process discovering that they are victims of the Cardassian Occupation and were tortured and malnourished as part of their treatment by the Cardassians. The crew learns that Loon was helping smuggle the refugees out, an act which is technically illegal but far from really ill intentioned.

### Part 2

The *Tempest* receives a hail from the chief of security on a nearby starbase, informing the crew that he's learned they have taken Loon into custody and has dispatched a cutter to bring Loon back to the starbase. Goodspeed reaches the brig, where Loon is being held and asks Loon about his purpose and history. Loon explains that he was helping smuggle the refugees out of Cardassian space and is resigned to his fate now that he's in Federation custody but is not apologetic for any of his past actions. He admits to having done this particular smuggling run four times before.

Maddox meanwhile sends a subspace message to the Federation reporting the *Tempest's* situation. Lieutenant Douh calls the senior staff to the bridge, where they find the ship is now surrounded by three Cardassian warships. Now with reinforcements, Krim demands the *Tempest* hand over the Bajorans to them immediately, but Maddox refuses. Despite his bluster, Maddox knows that the *Tempest's* odds against three ships are long and so orders the ship to warp away towards Federation space and its own reinforcements as quickly as possible.

The *Tempest* is able to reach the *USS Chicago (NCC-14241)* in time, evening the odds somewhat. The Cardassians, unwilling to escalate the situation without a clear advantage, instead choose to withdraw. The crew debates what to do with Loon and whether or not they should turn him over to Starfleet Security or allow him to go free. Dr. Teal argues strongly that they should let him go but Goodspeed argues for the opposite and ultimately prevails. Before Loon is transferred to the starbase, she slips him a hypospray with a sedative, which he is later able to use to escape, stealing one of the starbase's cutters and fleeing into parts unknown.

Holden, considering the situation, contacts old colleagues at Starfleet Intelligence to recommend they recruit Loon. But they reply that Loon is not in their custody, having escaped before he reached them, raising Holden's suspicions.

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