Earlier today, as our joint crews were bringing a custom-modified sensor probe online -- to send into the upper atmosphere, a type-7 shuttle launched from the USS Arcane, piloted by their chief science officer, Lieutenant Commander Edward Marcus. His launch was unauthorized, and counter to our efforts.
Apparently, Mr. Marcus believed that there are chroniton particles in the atmosphere, and his modified shuttle could collect these particles. He then claimed to be able to use them to identify where our missing vessels went. Unfortunately, chroniton particles are theoretical, and have not been proven to exist. It is doubtful that they could exist within an atmospheric environment.
Before we could stop him, the Lieutenant Commander’s shuttle fired upon, and destroyed, our custom probe. It then descending into the planet’s atmosphere, and vanished. Six shuttles are now missing, along with 87 personnel from two different ships.
Our efforts have been hindered, and we will have to restart our experimental project. Two days of development work now orbit the planet as debris.
Captain Picard is understandably furious.
-Lieutenant Sam Archer
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February 28, 2365 -- (Original Devron Timeline)