| File:ValiantMission1.png | |
| Project EDEN | |
| Season: | |
| Episode: |
1 |
| Date: |
2401 |
| Template:Mission | |
Starfleet, once again, is in shambles. The already overworked shipyards throughout the core worlds find themselves clogged with damaged ships and balance their repairs while building new vessels. The Corps of Engineers, now supervised by Commodore LaForge, breathe new life into some initiatives sidelined by the failed “Fleet Formation.” Among them is Project EDEN, a multi-functional emergency and defense protocol designed to operate in remote sectors and with a reduced crew.
EDEN’s testbed is the USS Valiant, a Duderstadt-class starship that survived Frontier Day. Under direct orders from Commodore LaForge, the Valiant is assigned to conduct EDEN field tests in the Epsilon Indi sector, near the area of space once referred to as the neutral zone. Little do the crew of the Valiant know that Project EDEN will be required due to unimaginable circumstances…
Summary
Commmissioning
Captain Piraa sh'Zamhlass arrives aboard the USS Valiant to formally assume command, greeted by a ceremonial honor guard composed of recently promoted officers and crew. Though she maintains a dignified demeanor, Piraa privately acknowledges the grim reality behind many of the promotions—fast-tracked due to the recent Frontier Day massacre, which decimated much of Starfleet’s personnel. She herself only received her captaincy because her predecessor was killed during the Borg/Changeling infiltration. As she accepts command, she discusses the elusive and difficult Haxin Mariwat, the architect of Project EDEN, a mysterious and advanced initiative she now inherits responsibility for. The moment is capped with a formal transfer of command, and the departing rear admiral makes it clear that whatever challenges lie ahead with EDEN are now entirely hers to face.
During her first week aboard the Valiant, Captain sh’Zamhlass finds herself overwhelmed by tasks yet underwhelmed by excitement, caught between urgent preparations for the ship’s launch and limited personnel choices for her command staff. Her new Executive Officer, Commander T'Zara, a Menthian from a frigid Gamma Quadrant world, arrives in a cryosuit, bringing both literal and figurative coolness to her presence. The two immediately find mutual respect and alignment, particularly in their shared concerns over Project EDEN, an advanced AI system meant to assist in crisis scenarios. They discuss safety overrides, contingency protocols, and the importance of maintaining control over a system that could, if unchecked, override even the captain. As they tour the bridge together, a bond begins to form, grounded in shared wariness, professionalism, and a sense of cautious optimism about the journey ahead.
Next to arrive is Lieutenant Commander Eden Corwin arrives aboard the Valiant to assume her role as Chief of Security and Tactical, nervously reporting in to Captain sh'Zamhlass. The two share a warm and familiar conversation, recalling a prior encounter aboard the USS Black Hawk-A and bonding over shared experiences in Starfleet. Piraa outlines the importance of Project EDEN, an advanced AI system being tested aboard the ship, and tasks Eden with reviewing its security protocols. Recognizing Eden's reliability, the captain also names her as a backup override authority for EDEN, should anything go wrong. Their conversation briefly turns personal, revealing Piraa’s struggles with infertility and Eden’s prior consideration of teaching before her career shifted into security. The meeting ends with mutual respect and a sense of confidence in the journey ahead, as Eden prepares to dive into her duties and connect with the rest of the crew.
Following her meeting with the Captain, Corwin introduces herself to the Executive Officer, Commander T'Zara, initiating a thoughtful and promising rapport. The two exchange personal and professional details, with Eden affirming her belief that Project EDEN, while advanced, cannot replace the human (or alien) element in Starfleet operations—especially in matters of security. T’Zara shares her own journey, from first contact to becoming the first Menthian to graduate Starfleet Academy, while Eden opens up about her late entry into Starfleet, inspired by her time aboard the Black Hawk. Their conversation deepens as Eden expresses her desire to protect her new XO and learns critical details about Menthian biology and cryosuit technology. Both officers find common ground in their unconventional paths and shared dedication to service, closing their conversation with a mutual exchange of respect and the Menthian blessing of serenitas, highlighting the cooperative spirit already forming aboard the Valiant.
Captain sh'Zamhlass visits Engineering to formally meet Lieutenant Kiran Arai, the Valiant’s new Chief Engineer, after noticing he had reported aboard without checking in. Their conversation quickly reveals a shared background in engineering, as they identify unusual power fluctuations and discuss firmware solutions. Kiran impresses the Captain with his knowledge, initiative, and interest in Project EDEN, which they’ll begin testing soon. Piraa sets clear expectations while appreciating Kiran’s enthusiasm and technical skill. Both leave the interaction with growing mutual respect and the sense that this assignment will be anything but routine.
Still settling into her role as Chief of Science aboard the Valiant, Lieutenant Commander Aya Tusalo gave herself a walking tour of the ship’s modular labs, reflecting on her past and the challenge of rebuilding her department. She was soon approached by XO T'Zara, who, intrigued by Aya’s background and long career, initiated a conversation about career transitions, regrets, and motivations. Their candid exchange revealed shared uncertainties and respect for each other’s experiences, even as both navigated their new roles. T'Zara welcomed Aya aboard and offered her support, leaving the Betazoid officer to continue finding her footing on this unfamiliar new assignment.
Introduction to EDEN
During the Valiant’s "Activation Day" briefing, Captain sh'Zamhlass assembled her senior staff to meet Commander Haxin Mariwat and witness the unveiling of Project EDEN. Despite the Captain’s intent to control the rollout, Mariwat prematurely activated the EDEN hologram, prompting skepticism from several officers, particularly Commanders T'Zara, Corwin, and Lieutenant Arai, over its integration, ethical design limits, and safety. EDEN explained its safeguards and limitations, asserting it could not harm the crew or override command decisions, but tension remained high as comparisons to failed AI systems surfaced. Captain sh'Zamhlass reminded the team of their limited staffing and upcoming departure, assigning diagnostics to Engineering and Science to vet EDEN’s readiness. As the staff dispersed, it became clear that while the technology was impressive, trust in its architect—and in the program itself—had yet to be earned.
Eye of the Storm
Three hours before launch, Captain sh'Zamhlass received sealed orders from Commodore La Forge detailing the Valiant’s mission: to conduct a series of field tests for Project EDEN beginning with a planetary evacuation after a scientific experiment goes awry. The tests were to be kept secret from EDEN and its creator, Commander Mariwat, who surprisingly agreed. However, the Valiant was violently knocked from warp en route, causing widespread damage and power loss, leaving the crew blind and adrift inside an unanticipated ion storm. With no sensors and critical systems offline, the crew scrambled to assess the damage and regain control. Despite lingering distrust, the Captain authorized activating EDEN ahead of schedule, assigning her senior officers to repair systems, rescue crew, and find a path out knowing this unplanned crisis would now serve as their first real test.
Security Chief Corwin leads her team on a dangerous mission to rescue crew members trapped on the damaged recreation decks after an ion storm cripples the ship. Navigating dark, unstable access tunnels, they locate survivors behind sealed blast doors and quickly breach them to free the injured. Corwin skillfully extinguishes a fire near a replicator using nitrogen gas from the ship’s reserves, ensuring the area’s safety before evacuating. Despite the chaos, she remains focused on coordinating efforts, prioritizing crew safety, and regrouping to plan their next move.
In the chaotic environment of Engineering, Chief Engineer Arai and his small team struggle to stabilize the ship amid widespread system failures caused by the ion storm. Critical systems, including structural integrity fields and the Optical Data Network, are failing, complicating repairs. With the help of Petty Officer Syile from Operations, they identify depolarized isolinear chips as a key issue, likely caused by a partially uncoated sensor array that left the ship vulnerable to ion surges. After successfully repolarizing and replacing chips in the replicator system, they plan to methodically reset higher-level systems like internal sensors to regain control and better understand the storm’s impact. Despite setbacks, their coordinated efforts provide hope for restoring vital ship functions.
Timeline
- Commissioning
- July 17: Honor Guard
- July 23: Ladies in Red
- July 23: Meeting the Captain
- July 23: Meeting the XO
- July 24: Captain to Engineer
- July 24: Setting Up Shop
- Introduction to EDEN
- July 25: Activating the Construct
- Eye of the Storm
- 0930 hours: Sudden Stop
- 1015 hours: On the Bridge (in progress)
- 1000 hours: Just What We Need
- 1000 hours: Search and Rescue
- 1015 hours: Repairs
- 1015 hours: (Re)Activating the Construct (in progress)
OOC Information
Mission 1 began on September 8, 2024. Since then, 12 posts have been published.
External Information
Complete Mission Logs for Episode 1: Project EDEN
| USS VALIANT MISSIONS | |
| SEASON 1 | 1: Project EDEN • 2: Green Sky |
| BACKGROUND | 2401 |