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11
Interregnum 02-03 S2 / Re: Day 03 [ 1330hrs ] Back Channel Operations
Last post by Krajin -
[Lt. Cmdr Thane Va'rek | Civilian Freighter Merchant's Folly  In Transit - Triangle Region] Attn: @Ellen Fitz Pertinent Writers

Thane inclined his head to Mia with a light smile to try to appear friendly and responsive to her introduction. "A pleasure to meet you." When Cross began his brief, the cat listened. His eyes fell on the civilian hand phaser that was being issued out to each of them. When one was offered to him, he raised a hand and waved the Security Officer off about it. These weapons were crude and ugly compared to his own. His own weapon didn't look Starfleet-issued and worked with his own aesthetic, which he conveyed well. He did check other folk's Phasers, though, making sure they were set to stun, and swapped out one that wouldn't accept the setting.

As everyone moved out to pursue their tasks, Thane watched as Knox, a member of the Intelligence Branch on Theurgy, headed out to the ring. He set his alarm on his chrono and headed out to the ring last, after everyone else had gone off to pursue their own leads. The smell and the sound hit him first: the recycled air, the smell of many different sentient beings who have and have not put on deodorant, or who possess more subtle musks. As he began to walk through the crowds keeping his hands to himself, Thane slowly eased himself into reading various emotions and thoughts of those around him. He looked this way and that, catching glimpses of surface thoughts, emotions, as well as the unreadable minds of Ferengi who dotted the station.

He had a small list of his own to acquire for the Intel side of things and to acquire some information from someone he knew on station. He blended in with the people here, even if he was cleaner than most. Thane focused his gaze forward, and his ears constantly twitched as he listened all around him. He had a mind for pickpockets and other sorts of ne'er-do-wells. He hoped that the others would be aware and mindful of the risks of this place. He paused by a weapons merchant and looked over the wares. Bajoran Phaser pistols and rifles, Cardassian Phase-Disruptors, even Kzinti Phasers among other things. Anything here could be useful for undercover operations, as long as the quality was decent and the weapons unmarked.
12
Director's Cut / Re: [Stardate 57714.5: May 12th, 2381] - Boldly they rode...
Last post by RyeTanker -
[Lt (JG) XamotZark zh’Ptrell (Lt. Zark) | Somewhere in Donatra's Flagship] @Ellen Fitz @Hans Applegate

The nice thing about a ship at battle stations was that everyone had a job to do and everyone was doing it.  There was little pandemonium this deep into the battle, so there were few people running around the corridors.  Maybe as the ship took more damage that would change.  Zark kept an eye on the linked sensor network as the group moved deeper towards their objective, seeking out the life signs didn't have a friendly tag, but also contained the unique life sign signatures of the Romulans.  They were heading in effectively blind and Helena was doing her best to try to route the group around various knots of Romulans as they went. There would be moments where the point woman would hold up her hand and everyone would press against the walls.  Zark initially had to make sure the diplomat didn't keep on walking as she held out her arm to block Enyd from moving any further, then pushing her against the wall as they waited for whatever was going to pass.  Savi tech really was amazing as the bio dampeners kept the lumbering armoured figures from being detected in the belly of the beast.

It was said at the Academy that an officers job was to manage the flow of the operation, and Zark had to feel every second of what was going on around her.  Was the ship shaking more as it was being battered?  Did the sounds around her indicated normal operations, or some sort of danger ahead?  Were her people maintaining the right posture and alertness?  Were they getting too spaced out?  It was an instinctual grasp that the officers in charge of the parties had to maintain and she could feel the momentum was changing.  The stops were becoming more frequent.  The ship seemed to be vibrating more.  The sensor picture was becoming more crowded.  Maybe the number of systems and manned stations needed was becoming more dense the closer they got to the command centre. 

The group made it about two more junctions when an explosion could be heard ahead.  It wasn't too well muffled which meant that something nearby had catastrophically failed.  Zark didn't have to wait for the analysis.  "Blown out conduit sir.  From the sensor picture, it looks like a room, some of the life signs ahead are becoming erratic."

Zark nodded as she evaluated her options.  "Computer, show possible re-route options with time estimates." she asked.  A holographic window popped up showing various routes, and none of them were good.  If she decided to bull her way through, the energy signature of weapons fire was going to show up like a beacon and would bring the entire ship down on them.  "We're going to double back about 20 meters.  Uploading a new route now."  The transfer was instantaneous and Zark gave the security team a moment to absorb the change.  The team folding in on itself as the point element passed through the formation and changed the direction of travel.  Zark aimed her rifle towards the exposed rear till she heard Helena confirm she was in position and moving forward.  Zark turned to face Enyd and grinned as she gently pushed the diplomat towards the new point direction.  When the two of them passed the rear element, the Andorian held her human charge in place so she could go ahead.  It was a pretty smooth evolution as Helena began moving forward when her sensor window showed Zark was now directly behind her.  Zark could only hope at this point they were not going to face too many more obstacles as the clock kept ticking downwards.

[CPO Dominic Lau | Donatra's Flagship | Battle in the Triangle]
Chief Lau had his perimeter, and it was going to be tenuous at best.  The comm channel was already alive with sounds of yelling and phaser fire as the corridor junctions were being contested by the local security contingents.  King had chosen well though and his people were calm under fire as they held their ground.  The team lead closed his eyes as he listened to engagement. He'd sent Bessir off to go shore up a junction that had a bit less combat power in it, and the sniper was reporting the situation was stabilized for the moment after he'd donated a grenade to the Romulan's sense of caution.  

"How's it coming Cheung?"  The Chief asked almost casually. The beeping coming from her PADD was furious.  "I've got a good head start on them.  Transporters and local security are becoming a mess, and I've got a virus in the system spoofing signals throughout the computer.  Turns out those Tal'Shiar computers have some really interesting overrides for when you really want to interfere with people you don't tally trust."

Lau nodded at this and a though formed in his mind as he turned to the woman busy hacking her way through the Romulan computers.  "Would you be able to roll us a series of forcefields to the shield generator?" The asian woman didn't look up as she continued typing.  "Probably, but I don;t have access to the transporters, so you'll need to clear the corridors ahead.  I could create a more secure set of flanks for you by flooding the adjacent corridors with boarding gas."  The Chief thought about this for a moment and nodded.  "Set it up. I'm going to take Bess and Reagan with me."  Cheung nodded.  "I should be ready by the time you get to Bess. Good luck."

The Chief didn't even look back, and only stopped by a crate to grab some demolition charges before stuffing them in his pockets. As the door opened, the cacophony of battle became more acute and he oriented himself towards the direction that Bessir had gone to.  It didn't take long for the Chief to find his sniper, though he wished he had Knox here for this excursion.  Just as Lau knelt next to the sniper, the hybrid took a shot that hit a Romulan in the chest.  The Romulan screamed as sparks exploded from the impact point and he flopped backwards.  "What's going on Chief?"  The sniper asked in a flat tone of total concentration.  "Cheung is going to set us up a rolling forcefield barrier, then we're going to blow the shield generator."  Bess looked at the Chief with an arched eyebrow. "Is that a good idea?  We already have enough attention on us at the moment."  The Chief nodded his head.  "Maximum destruction, we're going to completely seal off this flank."  Bessir grinned at this. "When going noisy, as noisy as possible?"  The Chief returned the grin the turned to a dark haired man next him. "Reagan, you're with me.  Singh, Moesbit, keep an eye here till we get back."  All three nodded, and Reagan took a moment to check his rifle out of habit.

"You're good to go."   Cheung's voice came back over the comm. Lau simply stood up and began moving down the corridor.  The cool calm voice of the standard Starfleet computer began passing updates to the team as they ventured out. 

It was eerie as the group moved towards the objective.  Lau could hear his heartbeat in his ear that seemed to overpower the sounds of battle around him.  He'd lean around a corner and see several bodies lying on the decks.  Somewhere else, a forcefield was flicking actively as a body was slumped against the energy barrier.  There was something odd about the bodies though, but he didn't give it too much thought.  At least, not yet. "What happened to them?"  Bessir quietly asked. Lau quick turn around another corner and took a precious moment to take a closer look at the bodies and his nostrils flared at the realization of the undignified way their bodies were laid out. Whatever the Romulans used as anti-boarding gas, it certainly wasn't anywhere near as safe as the Starfleet variety.  Eyes bulged, mouths open in silent horror, hands gripped around throats desperate for a last breath as the increased strength of the Vulcanoid bodies struggled against whatever chemical forces made them surrender their lives.  Lau took a moment to compose himself as he moved on. "I guess Romulans really try not to leave anything to chance."  There was a moment of silence, then it stretched out in silent agreement.  What else could one say? 

There was just one oddity in the sea of chaos around them.  Little did he know; himself, Bessir, and Cheung were all thinking the same innocuous thing at the same time. Where did Knox go?
13
Interregnum 02-03 S2 / Re: Day 01 [ 0800 hrs ] Maybe By Next Tuesday
Last post by Dumedion -
[LT Arven Leux | CMO’S Office | Main Sickbay | Deck 11 | Vector 2 | USS Theurgy] Attn: @joshs1000 @Ellen Fitz  @anyone else

Arven stood behind the desk working at the terminal (the height adjustment had been maxed out), nursing a stale cup of coffee between annoyingly slow taps of his fingers — due to the fact that he could only use one hand with any efficiency. The entirety of his other arm, from shoulder to wrist, was still bound in a cast of synthweave polymer, slung at a natural angle across his chest, thanks to the actions of a certain Andorian’s poor reaction to anesthesia.

Not that he held a grudge on the matter. If anyone was truly to blame, Leux shouldered it himself; there had been documented cases after all — exceedingly rare ones — statistically speaking. In hindsight, he should have ensured the patient had been restrained, but had failed to do so, mostly due to fatigue combined with the low probability of a violent event.

Well, now we know better.

And now it was taking him forever to do anything. Irritated at that fact, Arven leaned back into a stretch then grimaced at the dull ache earned from the movement through his immobilized shoulder. His badge chirped then, which prompted an eye roll he managed to stop, but couldn’t keep the growl of irritation down. The free hand tapped the badge after a breath.

“Leux,” he answered.

[Doctor, your presence is required at reception,] an emotionless, flat voice reported; Arven recognized the sunny disposition of their one-and-only Vulcan medical officer, Ensign T’shai, immediately.

“Doubtful. I’m the Doctor, you’re the receptionist. Basic rules of physics dictate the impossibility of two objects being in the same place at the same time.”

Silence answered that statement for approximately one and a half seconds, while someone close to her on the other end cleared their throat.

[Be that as it may, Doctor, your presence is—]

“Oh, very well,” Leux grumbled and closed the channel, then picked up his mug of lukewarm coffee and left the office. Beyond, the greater part of Sickbay operated at diminished capacity, with several gold-collared crewmen working repairs at various consoles and EPS junctions, while a team of three worked noisily at dismantling the burnt remains of the decon chamber. The Doctor walked past them all, carefully moving aside out of the way, lest his arm get bumped into or the coffee spilled.

Rounding the corner, his attention drew towards reception: there stood T’shai behind her desk, and opposite of her stood an unfamiliar Grazerite, slowly turning about in place as if he’d never seen an active sickbay before. Leux froze and ducked behind an adjacent console out of sight, then popped up to queue up the visitor log from receptionist console:

LT Hessu-Nal, SB 234 ACMO, it read.

Wonderful, Arven frowned, then tapped his badge. “Leux to Vi-Nine.”

[Ah, good morning Doc—]

“Where are you,” Leux interrupted.

[...I am presently conducting patient interviews and supplemental care with Nurse Kitty on Deck Seven, Vector—]

“Fantastic. Stay there until I tell you otherwise. Kitty too,” Leux interrupted again.

[…might I inquire as to the reasoning behind—]

“Not now, just stay put,” Leux interrupted again, then closed the channel and resumed his measured pace towards reception, rounding the junction with his features set with his usual nonchalant appearance. The Grazerite had turned towards the center of the bay, watching the repair crews with the look of someone lost and expecting someone to show up to explain what had happened.

T’Shai saw Arven first, affixing him with her completely neutral expression that could have been a glare, or relief, or anything in between; there was no reasonable way to interpret Vulcan body language.

Arven stopped by her desk and made to take a sip of coffee. “Reporting as ordered,” he smirked over the cup’s rim, while his eyes moved over the several totes stacked upon the repulsor-sled parked behind the Grazerite.

“Doctor Leux,” the receptionist greeted, then turned her dark eyes to their guest. “This is Doctor Hessu-Nal, from Starbase Medical.”

The Grazerite turned to face Arven mid-introduction, then extended his hand nervously. Leux towered head and shoulders over the bovine-faced man; he set his coffee down on the reception desk and accepted the gesture with a nod of his own.

“Doctor Leux? I’m afraid I don’t recognize the name from the manifest we were supplied,” Hessu-Nal confessed.

Arven shrugged, then reclaimed his coffee. “Probably because that manifest is at least six months old and a lot of shit has gone down since,” he drawled, brow lifted at the cases. “Department heads were not immune.”

The Grazerite blinked at the language and dry, sardonic tone used; T’Shai offered no reaction at all. “Ah. Y-yes, yes of course. I assume you are the current duty officer, then?”
 
“I’m the only one left, so,” Arven shrugged, then smiled flatly.

The Grazerite blinked several times for a moment. “I see. Well,” a hand gestured to the crates, while the other adjusted the weight of the satchel strapped to his chest. “There were troubling rumors of certain…impediments…to your resupply requests; scheduling conflicts, sudden logistical disputes – things of that nature? I hoped to alleviate some of them.”

Arven let his brows rise fully as he waited for the man to continue.

“…Forty units of blood, and plasma,” Hessu-Nal finally caught on.

“Oh,” Arven’s head bobbed. “Nice. Just in time for most of our replicators to almost be on-line again,” he muttered, then turned to T’Shai and spoke quickly. “Have Franklin and Vega get these inventoried and into cold storage asap,” then returned his attention back to Hessu-Nal with his best approximation of a smile, which amounted to little. “Much appreciated. If you get up with the head nurse, they’ll get you up to speed. Welcome aboard. Try not to die on your first day.”

With the interaction concluded, Leux turned to leave.

“Oh, ah, I’m afraid there’s been a misunderstanding. You see, I, ah, have other business,” the Grazerite spoke up, then moved quickly to fall into step with Arven. “Official taskings. Requests from authorities. Operational updates.”

Leux tried and failed to stop himself from sighing; he didn’t stop walking. “We requested personnel replacements. We requested resupply. We’ve done nothing but make bloody requests since we arrived.”

Hessu-Nal nodded sympathetically. “I understand, as I said, we’ve heard—”

Arven stopped and faced him abruptly. “You remember the Dominion War? All those engagements, all those ships crippled, left adrift in space? Then the recovery efforts? I do; the S&R task-groups, the resupply convoys. That flotilla that escorted the President to the Triangle should have swarmed us with reinforcements and supplies the second she made her grand speech. You know what happened?”

The Grazerite shook his head.

“Nothing. Not a bloody thing. They posted up, held position, and watched us; waiting for us to do something, anything, they didn’t like. That was our welcome back into Starfleet. Now this malarkey.”

“I’m sure there is a reasonable—”

The PA crackled to life suddenly, interrupting Hassu-Nal’s attempt at placation: [Medical team to the Fighter Bay on the double. We have an emergency.]

Arven sniffed, then turned to the nearest supply closet to equip himself with the tools of his trade. “Charlie team, with me,” he yelled, then tapped his badge. “This is Leux, received, ETA thirty seconds,” he replied, then turned back to Hassu-Nal as he slung a medical pack over his good shoulder. “Your coming too.”

“E-excuse me,” the Grazerite stammered as three duty nurses converged around Leux out of no-where.

“Thea, five to Fighter Bay, emergency teleport. Initate.”

The Grazerite’s protests died as the group simmered away in five columns of light.


[FAB | Deck 16 | Vector 2 | USS Theurgy]

The medical team materialized in a ‘no-man’s land’ between two groups: Chief Lok and a handful of his crew, joined by a pair of security types — and a gaggle of pilots Leux didn’t recognize, all of them surrounding one of their own, down on the deck.

“You three, check our guys out,” Leux spoke to his nurses, a thumb jerked over his shoulder at Chief Lok and company. “Find out what happened,” was added under his breath. “Your with me,” he told the Grazerite, then walked straight at the group of pilots without hesitation.

“Make a hole.” Arven demanded, before he’d even closed the distance. “I wont ask twice.”

“We’re here to help,” Hassu-Nal added, “we need space to do so.”

Arven saw the ‘emergency’ for what it was; lacerated face, likely broken nose, a decent amount of blood loss — but nothing so critical that a dermal regenerator couldn’t fix it. As Hassu-Nal moved closer, Leux turned and looked over his shoulder, and his eyes met with Chief Lok’s.

A brow arched, then he jerked his head to the side. Make yourself sparse, the look said.

“Doctor Leux,” Hassu-Nal called.

Arven moved in to assist without a word.
14
Interregnum 02-03 S2 / Re: Day 01 | 2200 hrs | The hunt is on
Last post by Eirual -
[Ens Mia Dunne |Physics Lab | Deck 17 | Vector 03 | USS Theurgy]
ATTN: @Pierce  @Nesota Kynnovan  @Dumedion

Mia was surprised to find Vanya waiting for them in the lab since  the former Chief of Science had been injured or damaged or whatever you called it for a cyborg. Mia had recognized the voice a little but hadn’t put it together that Vanya was functional again.
Moving further into the room along with Kerina and Thorne as they approached Vanya.

“So exactly how are we going to find this thing,” Mia asked as she rubbed the scratch beneath the torn sleeve of her uniform.  She mused to herself that if the thing was attracted to blood, and since she and Thorne looked like they’d already gone three rounds with the hideous creature, they could have been used for bait. Fortunately that was not the case. And if Vanya had a better way, Mia was all for it. Physics and Biology were not her specialties. She could get by in a pinch, but that was about it.
15
Interregnum 02-03 S2 / Re: Day 01 [ 0700 hrs] The Salvage Job
Last post by Eirual -
[Kelistina Kavot Droga | Crew Compartment | Shuttlecraft Maslow | Near debris stream  of USS Cayuga]
Attn: @RyeTanker , @Ellen Fitz , @Dumedion , @Krajin , @Nesota Kynnovan    @Stegro88   @Brutus 

Getting into her EVA as she glanced around the cramped area. Kelistina knew the others must feel the hurt as strongly as she did for their lost comrades. There was a sort of stillness that could be felt within the soul enhanced by the relative silence with the shuttle. Other than the commands from the Lt Cmdr, conversation had been silenced.  Kelistina was almost ready, all that was left was to don the helmet which would start the internal life support system.  That she would do at the last moment. Right now she pulled the work kit she’d been given, double checking each tool and going over the instructions she’d been given on their use.

The closer they got to their target the more unsettled she felt. It almost felt like she could feel the souls still within the shattered hull of the Cayuga. The only other time she’d felt that was when she’d been a child and the community had been threatened by several Taritt. Her body let off an involuntary shudder as she attempted to push that feeling of dread out of her thoughts. There was work to be done, and she would prove to her new dlotaz that she was worthy.

Taritt - Large Predator from Zarood (info found in Species file)
Dlotaz  - Family or Community
16
Interregnum 02-03 S2 / Re: Day 03 [ 1330hrs ] Back Channel Operations
Last post by Eirual -
[Ens Mia Dunne |Docking Ring 3 – Halkar Anchorage]
ATTN: @Ellen Fitz @Krajin @Hans Applegate @Nesota Kynnovan

Mia looked back at the Conn officer and chuckled, “Who you callin a boffin, Jay?” She looked at her Bajoran partner, “So Lisel, do we let her tag along or send her off to Ring two play with the others?”

Shechuckled as she turned to make her way into the first shop, looking for anything on the list. While there were a few things, none of them looked in very good shape. Among the items for sale were older tricorders, an ancient looking neural scanner and something that looked like it might have once been a small stasis chamber. She seriously doubted that any of them worked, or if they did it wasn’t well. She looked at the Bajoran medical officer with her and whispered, “I don’t see anything I would consider in even moderately good shape, what do you think, move on to the next shop?”


[Ens Lisel Korto (Med NPC) | Ring 3 -Halkar Anchorage]
Lisel smiled and jokingly replied, “We can always make her carry everything. And maybe she’s better at negotiations.” She gave the Denevan a quick nod, “welcome to the club,” then followed Mia into the establishment that looked like it was called ‘Moab Medical Supplies’.

Looking round she could almost agree with Mia, but there were a few items on her list that she saw here that looked promising. “Maybe, but let me see about this,” she held up what looked like a surgical kit, “Although it does seem way overpriced.”  She carried the kit to the counter, and frowned at the Tellarite standing behind it, “This is way too much, are your eyes so little they cannot see it?” She really hoped she was doing this insulting thing right.
17
Interregnum 02-03 S2 / Re: Day 01 [ 0800 hrs ] Maybe By Next Tuesday
Last post by Eirual -
[Ens Mia Dunne | Main Bridge | USS Theurgy]
ATTN: @Ellen Fitz @joshs1000 @rae @Brutus @RyeTanker @Dumedion @Stegro88 @chXinya @Nesota Kynnovan @Hans Applegate

Mia spun round looking for the Captain, to no avail. She shouldn’t have been surprised because they were docked, but for some reason the fact that most of the bridge was powered down came as a shock. “Now what do I do,” she said as she headed for the door, only to pause mid step and look back. The AI, Thea, could help. At least she hoped so. “Thea are you still here,” She called out, “We have a really big problem.”


She took a deep breath and continued, “We need to stop them, they are going to rip the ship apart. I heard them on the turbolift to the deck 7 docking port.”   Mia moved to one of the science consoles to bring it back online, “If we find everyone that does not belong on the ship, maybe we can , I don’t know, put forcefields round them?”  She kept rambling to herself as she attempted to get the console online,” we stop them from doing anything really stupid.”
18
Interregnum 02-03 S2 / Re: Day 01 [2100hrs] When All is Stretched Thin
Last post by Dumedion -
[Ens. Talia “Shadow” Al-Ibrahim | Southern coastal tree line, Unknown Island | Uuluma Chain | Romulus] Attn: @Ellen Fitz

There wasn’t much cover in the trees; Talia discovered that fact with a bitter surge of disappointment, followed quickly by frustrated, exhausted anger when she heard the high pitch whine of engines over the wind and rain. She stumbled through the darkness, trying and failing to not aggravate the injuries she’d already sustained; every other step forced weight onto the leg that had grown equally numb and somehow hot, centered around whatever had impaled the outer thigh. Off balance, hobbled, with the opposite arm hung useless and pinned in place at an unnatural angle, every other step sent her bumping or crashing into trees, limbs, or snagging it on brush.

Then, of course, the darkness lit up in emerald fire...

Talia threw herself to the side with a curse that started as a hiss and ended in a howl of agony; even with a mid-to-low attempt at trying to roll some momentum off. Leaves and twigs slapped into open wounds on her exposed skin to breed fresh pain, while the misaligned or broken socket of her shoulder threatened to erase her from consciousness completely – not to mention the fever heated numbness that was slowly spreading from her leg…

The skiff howled too, as it passed overhead. Talia’s eyes registered it as a blur; something that stopped the torrential downpour for a split second, illuminated like a fever dream, a phantom, behind distant strobes of lightning.

She had to keep moving; the asshole was coming back around for another run - and was going to keep coming - until they were dead or the storm finally cut them a break. Talia knew which was likely to come first. With a groan of effort, the pilot dragged herself up out of the mud, only for a second line of fire to arc down from the sparse canopy; trees splintered, the jungle around her screamed as animals took flight or scrambled away on instinct. Something scaled, multi-limbed and hissing scampered over her back to disappear into the brush faster than she could even react. Then her hand slipped off the smooth surface of a branch, and Talia tumbled back to the mud-slicked earth; she rolled, then crashed to a stop, pinned to a rock amidst a fast flowing creek of run-off working its way back out to sea – the maimed shoulder took the brunt of the impact, and she screamed silently for nearly a full minute while thick columns of steam rolled up all around her position.

Through the pain, orange light bloomed in the night between the wind wracked trees to arc overhead – a flare, haloed in the deluge of blistering rain and wind.

Hirek, Talia knew; or simply hoped; it didn’t matter. Someone else was out there and drew the skiff off. Her eyes strained to track it in the darkness, as it dipped out of view somewhere back toward the shore. She wasn’t going to make it very far however, not with two lame limbs. With a surge of furious determination, the fingers of Talia’s working hand found the end of whatever had impaled her thigh; even that slightest aggravation sent a searing jolt of pain up into her stomach, powerful enough to make her nauseous. She grit her teeth and pushed through, locking one finger, then two around the sharp outline of it, then a thumb; a rapid series of breaths followed, much like Hirek had shown her...

...and Talia pulled with everything she had.

Hot wetness spilled from the wound as it gave, then came, with considerable agony; in the end, it felt more organic than anything else, but by then she wasn’t concerned with what it was anyway – her whole body rolled over, fist locked around the barb, held over the bloody wound in her thigh – as she moaned and whimpered through the worst of it.

Then she heard the skiff come in again, then hit the beach with an anticlimactic rumble. Talia pulled herself up to look back towards the beach. She saw it; saw the lights of its engines flicker out – canted at an odd angle, nose down in the sand.

"Nice landing, dickhead," Talia scowled, then grimaced, and hauled herself up to her feet. "Come on out to my island, have some ale, we'll have a good time," she mock-mimicked Hirek's voice through the pain, refusing to go down again.


[Meanwhile…| Taev tr'Aimne | Northern coastline, Cretak Isle | Uuluma Chain | Romulus]

Only a desperate fool would tempt fate in such conditions, or a highly skilled and confident navigator. Hirek was no fool, although the tides tended to weather everything, given time. As familiar rivalries went, Taev grudgingly admitted that his ‘esteemed’ first cousin had been blessed with far more talents than himself – namely the ability to get into, and out of, a great deal of trouble – but when the matter resolved to seamanship, well, the clan entire knew whom to call upon.

His boat wasn’t the fastest, but she was built by his own hand from the hardest ironwood to be found in the Chain, its hull set with spiraled runes and mandalas of fortune and had never once failed him. Her name was Daughter of Providence, and she was as spoiled as any living offspring could be, because a man couldn’t help but love a thing created from his own sweat and blood.

Twin turbo-charged outriders hurled them across the open face of the sea, full tilt, bearing towards the source of his cousin’s transmission burst. Beyond reckless for a lesser navigator, perhaps, but now they skimmed the shallows, powerless and silent; the tri-hull braced, angled into the surf, rigging and sheets drawn in, with only automated oars and Taev at the till. The others, his nephews, Ovar and Earo, each manned one of the twin bows as lookouts, infrared scopes held to their faces where they lay braced against the swells. The former was the best spotter in the entire Chain, bar none, while the latter, at barely two decades of age, had already proven himself as the best marksman the clan had seen in generations.

Still, Taev worried that he shouldn’t have allowed them to come.

The signal had vanished almost instantly upon reception. They’d made decent time in transit, even with the storm, but arrived to find only empty seas. If not for the idiot flying that skiff lighting up everything for any fool to see, they’d likely never have had any hope of finding their long-lost kin in time.

“Thirty degrees port, up the south spit! Two bodies, a third coming out of the trees,” Ovar shouted over the wind. “Last one looks…off.”

Taev grunted, unsure what to make of that, but he trusted the lad’s eyes over anyone else; even if they were at least 700 meters out from the shore.

“Earo,” he shouted. “Ready up!”

The marksman reached over his shoulder and leveled a long-barreled disruptor over the lip of the bow, then settled behind it without a word.

“Make it count! Steady now, lads!” Taev added over the wind, rain, and surf, then angled the main hull into the wind and up into the tidewater, eyes squinted into the darkness, reading the tides and distance from memory as much as sight. They’d close the distance in a few minutes, at most, he reckoned.


[Moments later…Agent Raja | South beach, Unknown Island | Uuluma Chain]

The target was dying, that much was obvious; there was no fight left in him – even after Raja prodded the body with a boot, business end of the disruptor rifle pointed at the back of his head. The body wiggled limply, like a boned fish. A flick of the Agent’s thumb clicked on the mounted torch over the body, the sudden brightness blinding in its intensity, forcing him to curse and blink rapidly – then he saw the marks – and the spider-webs of nerve induced lethality pumping its way under the poor bastard’s skin.

“All that trouble, and your already dead,” Raja scowled over the wind and rain, then killed the torch and slung the rifle over his chest to secure the binders as he made to kneel beside the body. “Tough break, old son.” If the man answered, the storm and the sand stole the sound before it could reach Raja’s ears. “Shame about your partner too, whoever they were – pretty sure the jungle will finish off what I couldn’t. Tell you the truth, I don’t give a shit. I’m here for you, and only you. Sooner I get you back, sooner my family is safe,” he grunted as the body was turned over, dead weight manipulated into something he could bind and drag back to the skiff.

Better to deliver a corpse than nothing at all.

“Right then, shall we,” Raja finished, then grabbed hold of the man’s ankles and started to pull backward.

That’s when something crashed into him from behind.

Everything tumbled into a frenzy of confused motion: it was feral, this…thing; roaring, hissing, stabbing. He batted at it, grabbed it, pushed it away – but it kept coming back, savagely – an animal blur of black and grey and hard, cold flesh. His hand purchased around a tuft of wet hair and yanked. Its head came up, screaming like a banshee. He put his fist into it, then fumbled for the pistol at his thigh.

It wasn’t there.

Something cracked into his knee; the joint gave with a wet snap. He fell, rolled, scrambled against whatever was attacking him. It beat itself into him - sharp blows of pain registered across his ribs, groin, and head - in rapid, furious succession.

They rolled over again; limbs pinwheeled, caked in sand, wet with blood and rain.

The rifle strap was tight across his neck suddenly, twisted, clamping windpipe and blood. Something stabbed into his side, hot, painfully sharp; his vision blurred as limbs pinwheeled, desperate to grab onto whatever held him. He threw himself backward in desperation, crushing whatever was beneath him in the sand, then rolled, and mounted the stunned creature...

Through the haze of rain and wind, Raja blinked in surprise through lightning-flashed revelation: it was a woman, a human. Her face was a bruised, bloody smear – wheezing ragged breaths. He nearly laughed as his hands closed into fists around her thin neck and squeezed without hesitation.

“Ambush me in the dark, eh? Nice try, round-ears.”

Movement from the waves caught his eye, suddenly: a shape that wasn’t a wave, followed by an odd, blink-flash of emerald…

…and Agent Raja’s reality and head ceased to exist before he could even process what had killed him; then his body, headless and lifeless, collapsed onto the human he had been throttling.
19
Interregnum 02-03 S2 / Re: Day 01 [ 0800 hrs ] Maybe By Next Tuesday
Last post by Hans Applegate -
[PO2 Knox, | Starbase 234]
Attn: @Ellen Fitz @joshs1000 @Eirual @rae @Brutus @RyeTanker @Dumedion @Stegro88 @chXinya @Nesota Kynnovan

Knox had just finished his meal at the mess deck with Hurly when he heard what was happening aboard the Theurgy. Turning to Hurly he said, “You need to get me to a comm station that can contact Admiral Anderson! And quickly! They are tearing apart our ship.”

Hurly thought for a moment. He knew the reputation of the Theurgy. But, the Admiralty was way above his paygrade. If this petty officer had a connection with an admiral then Hurly decided it was not his decision to approved or deny anything, just pass the information along. Or in this case, see that information was allowed to pass along. Afterall, as a deck hand Hurly knew that most problems he faced in the fleet were because of a lack of communication, not form over communication. “This way,” he said gravely and started a brisk walk down a corridor.

Soon they entered a communications room. A female ensign was sitting at the desk looking busy. Without a word, Hurly knelt down next to here and pulled a panel off the lower consol next to her and reached his hands in. “Sorry lass. We will be done in a few minutes. This station won’t be operable for about 20 minutes while we work.” He then handed a part he had removed to Knox. “This the one?”

Knox knew at once what was happening. “Yeah. We need all of them. I will get Greg to bring up the replacements.”

“Hey! What is going on!? Who are you?” She stood up took a step back and questioned.

“Ma’am, you know there are members of the Theurgy on the station and the Theurgy is docked here. We have been ordered to do a security upgrade to our communications as a precaution. If you don’t mind step outside the door and make sure nobody comes in please. We have verbal orders. We don’t want those pirates knowing or having a record of what we are doing. It is just a simple upgrade that will take a few minutes.” Knox answered as he got down on his knees and pulled off another panel.

She stammered. It seemed logical. “But…I didn’t…”

Hurly got up leaving his panel off. “I know. Verbal orders and we are working quick for security reasons. I can stand outside with you and wait for Greg.” Hurly led her out of the room leaving Knox alone.

Knox got to his feet and locked the door and jammed it shut. Then placed the relay that Hurly had handed him back where it belonged. Then working with lightning quick dexterity he keyed up the emergency communication protocol that Admiral Anderson had given him.

Moments later an older man with Admiral pips answered. “Admiral Anderson! This is Knox.” Knox shifted from his male form to his female form. Then to a Gorn, then to a copy of Anderson himself, then an unidentified insectoid lifeform, then back to his standard male human form. This was the special ID code for Know with Admiral Anderson.

“Go ahead Knox. What is going on?” Knox now had the Admiral’s full attention. This was the first ever contact using this system between the two since Knox had left his office many months earlier.

“The station commander here is tearing apart the Theurgy. They are pulling off everything that is not standard issue. It is a prototype ship so nothing is standard. And they are obviously gutting all the upgrades. We can send you a copy of every upgrade to the ship we have made so Starfleet can benefit form it. But, don’t let them disassemble the most capable ship in the fleet for petty reasons like this. We are still useful! And this is a waste for no reason other than petty politics. They are already on board and starting now. Please contact this station directly and stop it and get ahold of anyone else you need to get ahold of and stop this. Starfleet is about to lose a lot of technology to stupidity if you don’t intervene quickly!” Knox stopped to take a breath.

Admiral Anderson blinked a few times. “Already aboard the ship? Thanks for letting me know Knox. I am gonna have to get off this line and make contact myself directly!” With a click the call ended and the screen went blank. Knox checked both panels to make sure everything was in order. He checked he was in the right physical form. Taking a moment to steady himself Knox unjammed the door and unlocked it.

It slide open catching Hurly flirting with the Ensign he had accompanied out of the comms office. “All done. Let’s go to the next one.” Knox said and started walking down the hallway.

Hurly joined him as the Ensign asked, “What about Greg?”

After rounding the corner, Knox turned to Hurly. "Thanks for your help. But I need to run and get back aboard the Theurgy quickly." With that, Knox left Hurly as he sprinted towards the closest turbolift. Hitting his comm bage he called the Theurgy. "This is Knox. Where am I needed on board the Theurgy?"
20
Interregnum 02-03 S2 / Re: Day 1 | 2100 hrs | The Charred Archive
Last post by Dumedion -
[LT Vanya | Library and Research Room | Deck 15 | Vector 01 | USS Theurgy] Attn: @Nesota Kynnovan

His reactions were quite comical but also welcomed in comparison to the more negative spectrum of initial interactions she’d experienced. Most humans, with a healthy percentage of exceptions, tended to realize what Vanya was — or appeared to be — before they bothered to discover who she was, thus offering her an entire shift of easily analyzed observational behaviors. These observations in turn were codified into a databank, which in turn allowed a degree of successful statistical deduction into the mysteries of expressive body-language employed by the species.

Emotive response analysis: mild shock, either due to habitual self-conscious behavior or interrupted/diverted intention assigned to impending societal interaction.

With the shock of her approach and introduction writ clearly upon the newcomer’s features and body language, Vanya kept the same smile on hers while she allowed him to open the space between them; following at a less-accelerated pace only once he had reached the bookshelf and recovered enough of himself to enable a reciprocated introduction.

Frost, Vanya turned the name over mentally, then initiated a brief memory search.  Dr. Frost, Nathan, she amended with a grin at his nervous little wave, shifting the light load of the damaged books under one arm as she calmly walked to an adjacent shelf, purposefully staying within his direct line of sight.

The mental search revealed little: a few pings from her days at the Academy from several reference sections of various textbooks, some postscript attributes, three or four lecture notifications now several years outdated; the meat of who the man was remained unknown, with the exception of several interview articles published by known peers and undergraduates. Apparently, Dr. Frost had excelled as an academic and earned himself something of a reputation in the process; whether that reputation was viewed positively or negatively varied considerably.

Vanya’s face betrayed nothing of the ongoing mental analysis as she sat herself gracefully upon a side-table, then lifted one long bare leg over the other, crossed at a forty-five-degree angle away from Frost. Dark green eyes widened with delight at his response — for it was both vague and curious — but the amount of awkward hesitation laced within his speech pattern was enough for her to form a rough hypothetical explanation.

Her hands rested on her knee as she leaned forward to reply, like a couple of friends about to share secret gossip.

“I’m thoroughly pleased to meet you, Doctor Frost,” Vanya winked at him, then eased herself back with another smile. “Oh, I’m quite taken care of, thank you for your concern. You see, as a synthetic organism, I do not require much at all,” she shrugged, then tilted her head at him to observe and gauge his reaction before pressing on; a hand lifted and gestured to Frost in an elegant curl.

“Come now, darling, do try to relax. There’s no need for such tension, surely? We are all professionals, engaged in simple conversation, yes? So,” Vanya made a meal of the word, eyes bright with curiosity. “Doctor Nathan Frost; I recall the name heavily mentioned in Bioengineering and Virology courses from the Academy. We’re obviously fortunate to have someone of your considerable academic reputation, but alas, I’m afraid that is the limit of data I currently possess,” the android pouted, then rested a fist under her chin and smiled at him again.

“Be a dear and fill in the rest, wont you?”
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