Strat Ops Report: The Bugs

Posted on Tue Oct 27th, 2026 @ 1:53am by Captain Rovak & Colonel Ashaan Vhau & Lieutenant Director Iliana Raaku & Commander N'Tgni Creon & Commander Intharia T'Zor & Lieutenant Rune Thul & Lieutenant Akaar Zuul
Edited on on Tue Oct 27th, 2026 @ 1:54am

950 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Shifting Shapes [4-5]
Location: Strat Ops Briefing Room - DS13
Timeline: 2 weeks after the end of Undermind

“At 0600 this morning using Colonel Vhau’s marines we executed precision strikes on the remaining identified Klendathu bug populations across the surface. Of the 1,308 remaining that had somehow avoided death after Advisor Polyphron’s telepathic self-destruct order, the breakdown is as follows, which you'll see on your padds:

999 Service bugs (nonlethal labor caste)
70 Hopper (flying variety)
233 Warrior (Bladed infantry)
4 tanker (flamethrowing and covered in dense energy and projectile weapon-immune armour)
1 plasma (interstellar-ranged energy artillery)
1 other (discussed below)

Marine teams attempted stun capture as priority but all non-lethal settings proved ineffective even under saturation fire for most varieties. Lethal force was required in the capture of all non-service targets.

The following numbers of targets were recovered:

156 service bugs
0 Hopper
19 warrior
0 tanker
1 plasma
1 other

The Harmony Institute has requested additional assistance with storage options, I authorised the reassignment of the Deck Crew to the task, they had the new assembly together inside two days. My compliments to Lieutenant Mazur.

The other mentioned is according to initial Harmony Institute reports, something they've dubbed a 'Queen'. A breeding mother that seems capable of birthing egg clutches containing the different caste species. This is the first concrete evidence we’ve had of their reproductive nature. She’s the biggest one we’ve found, and formidable. We were lucky to get her alive.

The institute is not yet confident enough to provide comprehensive reports, but initial observations include that the warrior caste may live for as little as 15 days without participating in some kind of combat. Their diet is omnivorous but they subsist on a nutritious fungal growth the service bugs maintain extensive tunnel-farms of.

They seem susceptible to holographic effects, and so they are currently contained within holographic environments. They all seem to be healing well. Nothing further has been learned about the brain beyond basic metabolic and chemical processes and rhythms.

We’ve conducted secondary and tertiary scans using the scanners supplied by the Harmony Institute, which has given us comprehensive new views of the subsurface of Dreizhen III, and confidence that all the bug populations have been controlled. There are further tunnels we’ve discovered but not explored, and that will be the focus of marine expedition forces over the next month, with the support of as many crew as you are willing to provide, Captain.”

Commander Creon finished her presentation, and the lights came up again in the conference room. She stood awaiting any response or follow-up from those assembled.

“Why were so few of the service bugs captured?” Rovak asked.

"Despite their lack of tactical utility, they were still aware enough of their situation for many to attempt suicide off ledges and against sharp or hard surfaces. That's in addition to the lethal force that was required to disable them, stun settings had no effect beyond agitation." Creon explained.

"I hope we can learn if the bugs have always been on Dreizhen III or if they came from elsewhere," Rune said, it had been nagging him and he was sure he wasn't alone in that. "I am happy to volunteer for any telepathic communication efforts or tests that may be deemed needed." He said, he hoped he could do just as well as their Tok'ra ally did with making a connection.

"Interphase scanning shows that the bugs are native to this universe. Given their short lifespans however that just means they were born here, it's no indication that they originate here. The Harmony Institute is looking further into it." Creon explained. "Your offer is appreciated, but for now they're focusing on exogenous study, no further mental exploration is planned."

Akaar chimed in, the Violanari male kept a neutral expression. "Starfleet won't be involved, Commander? Not even oversight?"

"We've got about a dozen xenobiologists down there working alongside them, but they're running the show. I'll be meeting weekly with S'Lace to go over things. We're not about to leave the former Order members alone with them after what happened with M'Hum." T'Zor explained.

"Polyphron mentioned a significant presence she detected while she occupied the Brain bug. Do we know what that referred to, or does it still elude us?" Rovak asked.

"We believe it's the Queen that was captured. Unfortunately Polyphron isn't willing to blend with the brain again, but as far as we can tell it's the one. It's quite a formidable creature. As far as we can tell it doesn't actually take commands from the brain, but it does have a similar connection to all the other bugs, likely to allow it to determine what new offspring the hive needs." T'Zor explained.

"Colonel, Director, anything to add?" Creon asked the Marine CO and Intelligence Chief.

"No ma'am." Vhau answered quickly. "Just hoping my people aren't going to have to go down in any more bug holes any time soon." He said dryly.

"I've been in touch with my contacts on Vulcan, they report that most of the former Order of Divine Harmony's supporters seem to have given up on it since M'Hum's death, a handful of other similar endeavours seem to be their new interest. They don't expect we'll face any resistance." Director Raaku said.

"Any further questions?" Creon asked the others.

"I feel I should point out that we probably should propose we work with our Jaffa and their associates allies in further subterranean survey operations for all planetary inhabitants' safety?" Rune offered and smiled. "Unless that is already being sorted?" He quickly added.

"I think that's worth pursuing. They've cooperated well so far, there's no reason to think that won't continue." Creon said with a nod.

Rune nodded back his appreciation but didn't add anything else.

"Very well. Dismissed." Rovak told the room, when nothing further was forthcoming.

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