Episode 04: Simulcast | Chapter 01 "Tensions Rising"
[ Three Hours Later | USS Resolve | Conference Lounge ] DocReno & Absinthe
"Any word on A'vura yet?" asked Tristan Kendrick, pacing the length of the briefing room with Keval seated by the table next to Krystal Tancredi. F'Rell was present as well, and the rest of the gathering was the surviving Senior Staff of the Resolve - all having heeded Tristan's call. Derik Veradin was there, as well as Chief Medical Officer Lyhn. The Counselolr Ejek and Suq, their Cheif Engineer, along with Vivian Martin, the Chief Science Officer. All except for Tristan's Chief of Operations, who was not responding to calls.
"I've tried tah make contact with Security," said Krystal in her Sourthern drawl and shrugged with one shoulder, now in her regular white-collared uniform. She had her feet on the briefing room table, and Tristan could not remember at which point during the past three years he had ceased to tell her to sit properly - leaving her sit as she might. "Says they are not priviliged to tell meh anything. Sound faking fishy to me, and I can't help to think this Bradford guy I end up speaking with when I hail them is lying, to beh honest. Says I need to talk to sameh Komial woman, but she is nah available. I learned she was at tha scene of the explosion."
Frowning, Tristan was tired of waiting. He was split between remaining aboard his ship in case something happened, and to head back on the starbase to find A'vura.
"All right, I have had enough of this. I need volunteers to go find this Lieutenant Komial, probably still at the top of the base, and I want others to head to their security offices to see if there anyone else we can talk to. They must have a surveillance system, and if we have to search the recordings for ourselves, we will. I want A'vura back on the ship. So, who goes?"
OOC: Note that 3 hours have passed in waiting since the bomb went off. DocReno & Absinthe, have your characters pick either the bomb scene or the security offices. My next reply will have either Tristan and Krystal joining you respectively and leave the ship.
[ Below the Sub-space Acquisition Grid | Starbase 84 ] Attn: 1) Brutus, 2) Kaligos or Vystori
The body of the Romulan still lay on the floor in the dim light, untouched.
The Chief of Security had been at the scene for almost three hours, and the simple reason was that she had to wait for forensics to show up. Apparently, the Borg had to regenerate, leaving Security to make their own guess-work about what had happened. In wait for Ensign Six, the coordination of the station-wide searches had been handled from the foul-smelling place, and while they had a suspect in the Brig, she had yet to come to after having been stunned by Crewman Bradford.
The search teams had found nothing out of the ordinary on the starbase, leaving everyone to guesswork. Bradshaw remained in the security offices, taking over the aides duty station and answering messages and hails. His suspicions about what had gone down quickly spread among the officers as if it was the truth.
When Ensign Six hadn't shown up right away, someone from Science had been ordered to go there instead, and he had spent the last hour on the scene - filling in and logging findings until the Borg arrived. As soon as she did, he was to report back to his Chief Science Officer.
After three hours, Ensign Six arrived at the scene.
[ Security Offices | Brig | Starbase 84 ] Attn: 1) Nyla, 2) RedBaron
After Crewman Bradford left the Orion woman in her holding cell - facing the one where the last remaining Romulan raider was being held - three hours had passed without events or news on what had happened on the starbase after the bomb went off.
The posted Brig Officer was an Ensign by the name Turlington, a soft-spoken and large man that did his duty but only as far as he was required to. He spent his time by the brig duty station scouring the database for things to read while he waited for his shift to end. He had a fascination for last century vehicles and aeroplanes, and could spend hours immersing himself if the specifications on antiquities.
A meal had been served a few minutes ago, and the trays in the Romulan's and the Orion's holding cells were still left where they had been replicated. That was when the Orion woman came to, and found herself in the stark white cell, and with only another Romulan staring at her from across the floor of the Brig... Unless, with the lack of forehead ridges, he was actually Vulcan. A small comfort, in that case, given the circumstances.
[Lt Hi'Jak (https://orig03.deviantart.net/94e6/f/2015/265/a/e/hi_jack_02_by_auctor_lucan-d86nthi.png)| Below the Sub-space Acquisition Grid | Starbase 84] Attn: Brutus, Vistori, Auctor Lucan
Strait from one alien to another. Hi'Jak had been in his office as he had been working on various animal studies from his lab when the call had come down to his office. He was the assistant science officer on duty and apparently the head of his department couldn't be reached. He wasn't an admitted CSI, but even he could work a Tricorder and run a C.S.I. while they waited for Ensign Six to reach the point of interest. He had taken good care in not disturbing anything and documenting things as they were.
Admitting despite the severed head and body of a Romulan, Jack was noticeably excited. While this had turned what was supposed to be a relatively boring day around and was now one of the most dangerous in history as he worked his way around the crime scene and tried to come up with theories he couldn't help but smile. Hi'Jak had even gone so far as to replicate a pair of sunglasses for this occasion just because he had seen it once or twice on an old Earth centered video record, which was later turned into a set of holo entertainment features. Sure the entire sector, his home, his lab were all compromised but there was something about the work that was always immersive.
His current scans were all set on trying to get the make of the bomb, at least he assumed it was. He wasn't too familiar with things that made people's heads fall off, but he was pretty sure that the burn marks around the neck, and the fact that there was fragmentation around the bones he could see, as well as the splatter all suggested a controlled explosion.
"Walk me through this one more time, how did Security find this body?" Hi'Jak asked as he made a step around him it and took a few more scans of the mans neck and the area around him. There were some signs of a minor struggle, and he was pretty sure that they had taken an Orion girl in.
Hi'Jak stood up after a few more moments of analyzing the results. Reaching onto his belt he pulled out the sunglasses and took a deep breath as he unfolded them. "Looks like this guy was getting ready."
He slowly placed the glasses on as he turned to the chief of security. "to blow his load."
[LT Komial Dotnihl | Security Level: Brig | Starbase 84]
[Yellow Alert. Yellow Alert,] the starbase computer said on the intercom while the noise lasted. [Explosion detected in the Subspace Acquisition Grid area. Sector 5. Yellow Alert. Yellow Alert.]
All thoughts of Drauc fled her mind as she snapped into action, moving from the console to take a phaser from Mac as he made the rounds. He really was a life saver, and that was just one of the many reasons she kept the competent man on her staff. Drauc was shouting something, telling them to stay away from the Subspace Acquisition Grid. She shot him a glare over the shoulder of the team leader as the man came to attention to report readiness.
Schooling her features, her appearance became collected, calm, no evidence of the worry that was running through her thoughts, the increased pace of her pulse from her heart thundering in her chest. Fight or flight, they called it at the Academy, and with the memories of her near death fresh in her thoughts - thanks to a nosey Romulan - she could be forgiven if the reaction was flight.
But it wasn't. Every bone in her body screamed for a fight. A chance to prove herself again, unafraid, to live up to the trust and responsibility that Ian Hawthorne had placed on her shoulders. To spring into action, along side her people. To find the threat and deal with it, and protect the thousands of lives under her care. But she didn't let that eagerness show either. No fear. No anticipation. She would not come off as some trigger happy pyscho.
She had the safety and security of the station to attend to, and the laws of the Federation to uphold.
"All right, move out. Travel cores locked down so lets put that to use. You all know what to do. Phasers on heavy stun - dont shoot unless you have to, but if you need to shoot make sure you take them down. I want two people on each team tricorders out. Be ready for anything." She held her own rifle against her chest, military sling over her shoulder, emitter pointed down and to the left.
"Beta teams got the better bomb tech - Alpha, you're on point. Clear out resistance, beta can do sweep on any remaining munitions. Remember folks, we are the good guys here. You give them a chance to stand down. Lets not give our friends in JAG any excuse to come after us today," she reminded them again, before nodding slowly her eyes taking each security crewman and woman into her gaze, one at a time.
"Move out people," she ordered, before turning to Drauc, one last time as her men filled past. "We are always geared for War. When you're this close to the boarder with your people, we have to be." She ignored his tone of worry and turned her back on the prisoner, exiting the room at a brisk pace and making her way to the travel core to take advantage of the fast descent pods that ringed the central corridor.
[Three hours later | Below the Sub-space Acquisition Grid | Starbase 84]Atten: Hi'Jak, Six
Komial's finger itched over the trigger of her phaser rifle. All it would take was one little push of the button to send a pulsing beam of orange light flaring across the room and splattering against her target. He;d fly back from the impact, and slump down, stunned. Or maybe, just maybe, if she flicked her thumb over the power settings first, the little pulse fire would hit him in the chest, and the orange fire would wash outwards, ripping him from reality and leaving behind just minute traces of organic matter.
If she were lucky, those damn shades would vanish right along with the rest of his body.
It would be great stress relief, to be sure, she thought. Sadly, her phaser was only raised in her mind. In reality, it hung against her side, from the strap over her shoulders, and her hands were tucked under her arms, which in turn were crossed under her breasts as she stood, legs apart, one hip cocked to the side while the science officer made his horrible pun. Given that the man had his pants down around his waist, his cock out, and his head - well, not attached, she couldn't argue with this summary of the situation.
Just his delivery.
and where the hell is Six? Goddamn regeneration cycles. Useless wet behind the ears..... Komial understood that the cream colored woman's implants - those that the crew of the USS Voyager had been unable to remove - required a very specific sleep schedule. But it was just like that drone to be useless right when Komial needed her. Instead she was stuck with a second string comic for a CSI stand in. Added to the stress of the fact that one of her crewmen had stunned the only likely witness and possible rape victim - though what her role in things were was still a mystery - and her conversation with Drauc three hours earlier....Komial was having a very, very bad day.
Watching the stations Assistant Chief Science Officer pull out a pair of sunglasses in the darkened room was just the last straw.
"Lieutenant," she snapped off, drawing the gaze of a few of her security staff whom immediately straightened up from their own tasks, and very pointedly did not look at what was a bout to happen, "May I remind you that first and foremost, you are a Starfleet officer in the process of discharging your duties." She walked forward, reached up, and snatched the glasses off his face. "This is not some cheap holonovel, this is, at the very best, a murder investigation, and at worse we are dealing with both an attempted rape, and an act of terrorism that could have resulted in the bottom half of this starbase being blown out into space!" She hit her stride, hard, and didn't stop there.
"You will conform yourself to be the officer that your rank indicates. Mr. Hy'Jock," she continued, "I understand this isnt your usual duty but frankly I don't care. This is not a joke Lieutenant. This is deadly serious. Make wise cracks about it later." Others of her team might have made the exact same pun, given the situation, but they wouldn't have been dumb enough to do it in front of Komial Dotnihl, during the middle of the investigation. Well, Mac might have, but no one else.
"Do I make myself clear?" She asked, her voice as cold as ice.
The half breed was spared having to reply as a new source for Komial's ire walked in, from behind the Science Officer. She glared up at Hi'Jak, just a quick, angry glance, before walking right around him. "Ensign Six, so glad you could join us," her tone was all professional but it wouldn't take a genius to know that she was not at all pleased. "You'll find we have one body, head blown off, and one science officer about to meet a similar fate if he cannot remain professional. See to it you do not follow his example. I want this place swept. Anything and everything. This is your specialty after all, Ensign. Time to show us what you can do." Which has been jack shit so far she thought, but did not say aloud.
OOC: Please note that Komial's reaction to Hi'Jacks pun is not necessarily the authors reaction. Your post lead to a spark of inspiration, Kaligos, and I just ran with it.
[Ensign Six (https://img14.deviantart.net/51cf/i/2015/255/0/5/six_01_by_auctor_lucan-d91bx0h.png) | Below the Sub-space Acquisition Grid| Starbase 84] Atten: Hi'Jak and Komial
By the time Six showed up, her superior had already been there for quite some time. In fact it had been long enough that they had requested one of the Science officers to the scene to begin forensics for now, Hi'Jak in fact. It wasn't that she was entirely against it, however, there was a particular process she enjoyed when doing her work and she was a bit obsessive about anyone meddling and moving things around before she had had a chance to look over the scene first. Even still, she managed to show up with her forensics kit in hand, despite her delay, and was already making observations with her optic implant.
Even as her commanding officer remarked against her tardiness, Six kept her face emotionless as she spoke in response. "My apologies Lieutenant. Once I begin regeneration I cannot stop it until I am finished. I shall try to find a method of override from now on." Without much else in the way of formalities, Six got to work on what it was she did best, solving puzzles.
For a moment or two she just stood in one place, her eye scanning the scene carefully, meticulously, taking photos in her mind of everything exactly as it is. Then, taking her tricorder from her kit she scanned the room and body, storing away samples of residue and other residual elements that were left behind from the actually rather minor and precise explosion. Granted that explosion took off someone's head, but had it actually been large enough to do any wide-scale damage there would be little head left for her to examine, and the fact remained that his head was not all that far off from his body.
Finally, Six began to slowly make her way around the room and all of its inhabitants, including that of the dead Romulan. Every so often she'd stoop down and carefully turn or lift a limb, or poke and scrape at the residue left behind around the dead man's neck and head, or judiciously picking up or dabbing at small fragmented pieces of metal and flesh and blood from around the scene. Eventually she finished her initial examination and closed her kit after putting everything back in its place, specimens and samples held within. Turning to Hi'Jak she spoke to him formally, and without much in the way of hushed tones. "I need everything you've found so far, and anything you may have picked up. I also need for you to tell me if anything was moved or tampered with before I got here."
She then turned to other security officers, namely those that were within the same ranking field as her, but under her in regards to her specialty. "I need the body moved to the lab so that I can perform an autopsy. Please have it there immediately so I can complete my formal investigation." Everything she had done so far, no matter how little it had seemed, had been done with a meticulous precision that regarded her obsession with her work and what it entailed. Even though deep inside she was giddy with excitement at her first, real, case to solve, not once did it show on her exterior. She didn't crack a smile, she didn't tremble, she didn't even so much as sweat at the opportunity. Instead she did her job as she should, detailed, accurate, exact.
Lastly she turned back to her superior. "Lieutenant, with your permission I will head to the lab as well. I can have results from samples and the autopsy completed within the next few hours."
[Lt Hi'Jak (https://orig03.deviantart.net/94e6/f/2015/265/a/e/hi_jack_02_by_auctor_lucan-d86nthi.png)| Below the Sub-space Acquisition Grid | Starbase 84] Attn: Brutus, Vistori, Auctor Lucan
Jack had been rather proud of his pun and work, the blindness due to sunglasses were totally worth it, that was up until he felt his sunglasses pulled litterally from his face. He blinked stunned for a moment, as everything seemed to play out in slow motion. Komial chewed him out and some parts of his eight chambered heart beat slower. It was amazing, he had never wanted to strike a woman more then he had Komial.
It was amusing, he always tried to think of himself better than his klingon uprising, and yet the part of him that had been raised on Qo'noS was in awe of the other lieutenant. That part of him that had been taught to respect and admire the strength of a woman, caused his blood to boil a little, and he himself took an instinctive step back as he saw the fire in her eyes as anger illuminated them. She wasn't just hot when she was angry... She was stunning!
As she made herself clear that he was too be on his best behavior he was looking over the woman in a stunned slow silence. Unsure of what he was supposed to say. After a moment of looking at her rather dumbfound he coughed and regained his sense of self. Pulling himself back up to full height and doing so as he stepped away from her again. "Yes lieutenant you have made your point."
and my day... and my life! If he could have lived with himself he would have snapped some sort of salute, but frankly they were both of the same rank, and his human brain was doing his best to hide his emotions at the moment. It had been exciting yes, but he couldn't get too caught up in her the fact that the chief of security was attractive... rather he had to take a breather and separate that. He did however have one complaint with the way she addressed him. "I know that Klingon can be a difficult language Komial, but my name is pronounced Hi'Jak, or if you would rather you can call me Jack, which ever you would prefer is fine."
When Six entered the room Hi'Jak stepped to the side giving her the crime scene as she went about scanning things with her implants the same way he had done with the tricorder. He was happy to see former Borg again, and her care in her craft was impressive. Stepping back he gave full control over the crime scene to her, and as she interogated him he playfully rolled his eyes. "Hello to you too Six."
He was second in command of the science division on this station, and yet once again someone was doubting his capabilities This time however he was able to chalk it up to lack of social skills. He turned away to address Komial though he didn't really know what to say. He turned to look at her, and almost immediately he lost his nerve to do so. He stood in front of her for a moment drawing a blank but desperately wanting to talk to her after the first impression she had made. He snapped his fingers trying to calm himself down and talk. But he instead stood there for a good minute just snapping his fingers... and looking like a complete idiot.
He snapped out of it when Six said she was finished her sweep and wanted to move the body. Lack of social skills aside it was actually good to see the borg, it gave him an opportunity to share what he had learned, and as she ordered the body moved to her lab he stopped them for a moment. "Wait, wait, I've been waiting to show you something."
As he spoke he pulled out a glove to use for one hand, while holding the tricorder in the other it took him a moment to locate one of the fragments that he had picked up the scanner. He had to dig into the dead mans neck which no more pleasant than it sounded, till finally he pulled out one small fragment of an unknown metal. "Check this out, it's definitely part of what ever exploded his neck. I don't know the make of the metal yet, the tricorder can't get a clear reading so I'm going to take this piece back to my lab and check it out, but it's not the only fragment."
He ran the tricorder over the guys head. "this thing is picking up fragments going up as deep as his brain, and even into his chest cavity. Who ever this guy was someone wanted him not just dead but like super dead." He handed the Tricorder to Six and placed the fragment into a small plastic baggy.
"I'm going to take this piece down to my lab, and run a metallurgy test, among a few other things. When you get them all out we should have a better picture of what they were." He had his supsicions but he wasn't going to say them out loud without any evidence. He was pretty sure that the dead man hadn't detonated the bomb in the middle of a rape attempt. Rather he was pretty sure someone else had summarily executed the Romulan... it was a thought that gave him chills and not something he would bring up here.
As he left for his lab he turned to Komial."I know you think that I like to joke, and trust me I do, but I do understand the gravity of this situation. This star-base is my home too, and the last place I expect something like this to happen. So I am very aware of the sword of Damocles hanging over our heads with this, now if you don't mind you have something of mine." As he passed her he plucked the sunglasses from her hands, and placed them back, so he could leave the room in style.. this immediately backfired however as the fact that the dimly lit room made it impossible to see and instead of walking out of the room he walked into the doorway smashing head first into it.
"I'm okay." He said after a moment of searching for the door and walking blindly out of the room.
[ F'Rell of the 12th House | USS Resolve | Conference Lounge ] Attn: Auctor Lucan & DocReno
Of all the things that had happened already that day the fact that there was a missing crewmen bothered F'Rell the most. Her relationship with the Orion woman had been thus far one of simple friendship. On a ship of mostly humans it seemed natural for those who were in anyway alien to band together. But still there was some restraint on F'Rell's side. She usually preferred to keep to herself, less of a risk of saying something she knew she should not. But still for A'vura to be missing caused her no small degree of concern. She did not trust the crew of the station any more than she trusted the various predators of the deep oceans of her home world. She knew how brutal man could be.
She knew of how barbaric some races could be and the lust many held for the green skinned women of the Orion race. She counted herself lucky to be so alien that most viewed her with curiosity rather than primal lust. It was also concerning to her to note that many men she had encountered were far more willing to be reduced to primal lust under stress than she had previously believed possible. In her educated opinion it was likely the result of some primitive part of the brain becoming active, a desire to procreate to ensure species survival. It was the sign, or so she was very certain, of a less evolved race.
"I will go to the station's security offices," came the voice of her communicator as her long tendrils vibrated softly. It was not what she would have ever wanted to do, but she could not allow a member of the crew to be left behind, in the hands of those that might abuse her. It almost surprised her that she felt so protective of an alien, she knew it would be a liability later. Only now she did not care. "They will be less likely to risk damaging me or attempting to hold me prisoner. I am, after all, far to valuable to the scientific community of your Federation." It was almost a sarcastic remark, though the tone and inflection did not translate from the communicator.
[ Keval ch'Rayya | USS Resolve | Conference Lounge ] Attn: Auctor Lucan & F'Rell
Keval's antenna stood straight up at F'Rell's statement and turned to regard his fellow crew member and narrowed his eyes slightly. "I am not going to just allow another one of our people go alone on that station, F'Rell, and that includes you." he said in a respectful tone despite his facial expression. "I wil freely admit that I let my guard down once I stepped onto that station and tried to enjoy the presence of a beautiful woman, but my gut kept telling me something which I thought was just paranoia.."
The Chaan looked at the other occupants of the room and his antenna bowed because he did allow himself, the ship's own Chief Tactical Officer and the Captain's right hand, had allowed himself a chance, a mere small chance, to lower his defenses as his ship was back home at a safe port in the Federation.
Then the meeting that he and the Captain had with the station's commander and the news that brought which automatically set the two Resolve officers on the edge and then this new situation...
Keval's jaw clenched tightly as he looked up at his commanding officer, "I'm sorry about that, Kendrick. I'll head up the search at the top of the station." he offered.
[ Captain Kendrick | USS Resolve | Conference Lounge ] DocReno & Absinthe
Tristan heard F'Rell and Keval volunteer, but he knew better than to let either of them go alone - just like Keval had suggested.
"Tancredi, you go with ch'Rayya to the bomb site, try to find this woman named Komial if she is there, and if she is not, then someone there that is more cooperative than this 'Bradford' fellow might aid us. That security won't reveal anything strongly suggests that they are holding A'vura, even if they won't admit it."
"Aye, Captn'," said Krystal and set her feet down, walking over to Keval with her thumbs behind the waistline of her uniform trousers - strolling over there as if she were in boots and had a cowboy hat askew on her head.
Taking a deep breath, Tristan mulled it over for a second. "So, with this in mind, I will go with you personally, F'Rell. If she is in a holding cell, I want to be there and demand her release personally. Perhaps my word might make a difference, and I can even ward off any bad ideas from the scientific community on the base too, should they be more bold than you think. Then again... with you in my company, you would perhaps be more intimidating than I. If I were a security guard, I would consider my options thoroughly if a Captain walked in with a magnificent dragon behind his shoulder to back him up."
Having told F'Rell about the folklore of dragons back on Earth, Tristan was confident that she would know the reference and perhaps even see the humour in it. Pre-emptively, he turned to his CTO again, suspecting what he'd say since the Andorian served as the Chief of Security on the Resolve as well. "Yes, yes, I know I should not head there alone with F'Rell either, so I'll gladly accept having two of your men accompany me and her to the Brig. I will pick them up my self on the way out, and with any luck we'll meet here or at the Brig, depending on mine and F'Rell's success. The First Officer has already left on his assignment, so Lieutenant Havenborn, you have the command of the ship in my absence. Keep an eye on the repair crews and what they do. If Keval is right, they could be looking for evidence that would suggest we are conspiring with the Romulans, just like the Theurgy and the Harbinger. Dismissed."
True to his word, Tristan did select two security guards before he stepped off the ship - armed with hidden non-energy weapons. He turned his head to glance at the T'Fanrell in his company. "You know, I realise that you might not want to remain with us now that we have reached this base. Would you rather take off on your own and try to find a way to return to your home planet?" he asked F'Rell, not liking the idea of loosing her after having spent a good number of months together in dire straits. "If you do... you should know that you will always be welcome aboard the Resolve. You are a part of my crew now, and I would love if you'd consider staying with us."
Meanwhile, Krystal was walking next to Keval, her swaying step keeping pace with the Andorian as they stepped off the Resolve. "Sah tell me, ch'Rayya," she said and grinned to the 'blueskin', as she preferred to call him in retaliation for the pinkskin remarks. "Who was tha beautiful woman that you enjoyed tha presence of? We barelah got off the ship and you managed tah have someone flip her skirt for yah!"
[ Keval ch'Rayya | USS Resolve | Conference Lounge ] Attn: Auctor Lucan
Keval stopped and turned to look at the red-haired pilot with an even expression before saying "Nobody..flipped their skirt for me, Krystal. The station's security chief caught my eye pure and simple."
The andorian then started walking again, trying to act casual as they went even to the point of slipping behind the shorter woman after they had passed something to try and get a second look at it but as he did so, he caught a quick look at the Tactical CONN officer's rear and let out a low whistle at what he saw before moving to walk next to her again.
"So tell me Krystal, why are you curious as to who I was interested in?" he asked with a bit of a wolfish grin.
[ Krystal Tancredi | USS Resolve > Travel Core ] Attn: DocReno
At first, it seemed like her Andorian Chief Tactical Officer had a good ol' broomstick up his arse, not liking her joke one bit. Or he was simply embarrassed about casting furtive glances towards a 'pinkskin', or better yet, that he just happened to have another skirt to chase than those on the Resolve. Had he become weary of present skirts on their ship? She amused herself with her idle thoughts, just saying with a chuckle, "Simpahl an' pure? Ay think women are generally neither..."
Yet then the CTO whistled as he walked behind her, and Krystal couldn't believe she had actually heard it, thinking it was something else that made the sound, but then Keval walked beside her again, and his question made her frown in consternation. He was grinning at her, and her frown became two eyebrows raised in surprise. It would appear that she had been wrong on all accounts. She was neither a new skirt nor Andorian, and he would look at her like that? She had never considered the Andorian in quite that way before. One thing was certain, she might be young, but she sure as darn wasn't some simple and easy little city girl..."
"Ummm... I don't know," she said, chin raised as they stepped into the lift at the Travel Core, "I mean, yah brought it up, so I figured you'd..."
She cleared her throat, and started over, clenching her fists at her sides and glaring at the Andorian. Part mortified, part furious. "I don't care, and whay are yah looking at me like that? Not going tah happen, blueskin... and did yah just whistle at me like some Ferengi dock-monkey? Keep that thang sheathed or I'll kick you so gosh-darn hard it comes out yah mouth next time you try and flip a damn skirt." And with that tirade, she turned her back to him and folded her arms underneath her chest, blushing as much from Keval's attention as the indignation of going at him like that in front of a group of Starfleet officers from the base - three non-commissioned officers that they were sharing the large lift with.
[Lieutenant Keval ch'Rayya | USS Resolve > Travel Core] attn: Auctor Lucan
Keval took the response in turn, his antenna lowered slightly but once the two non-coms got off of the lift and they were alone again on the lift, the smile dropped from his face like it really didn't exist as he drew close to the younger woman and when he spoke, his voice was a hard whisper so that she could easily hear him.
"I'm sorry if I insulted your person, Krystal, but certain appearences have to be kept up until we know what is going on here." He explained, his eyes were looking around and scanning, looking for something. "For all intents and purposes we need to act like nothing is wrong, like we are simply a lost ship come home..nothing more or less."
Keval took a step away from the younger woman and said "Halt lift." before studying a map of the station to get his bearings before saying "resume." and moving next to Krystal again. "I ignored my instincts, I let my guard down...*ME*..the ship's tactical chief and let myself get distracted by feeling safe but after our meeting with the station's commander, my gut let me know how angry it was when the bomb went off and one of our ' s was captured...I can almost taste how wrong it feels and I let myself hope that the danger wasn't there."
He then moved away from her, he was angry with himself and with good reason - the crew trusted his instincts, he had managed to help keep them alive and right after Kendrick had told him what to do to ensure their people's saftey..
Keval's eyes narrowed, he wasn't going to let their operations manager sit in detention like some common ferengi flesh peddler..he was going to get A'vura out, safe and sound.
The blue skinned Chaan then looked at the young human with an apologetic look, "My job is to ensure your saftey as one of the ship's command staff and in that I failed." he admitted to her.
[ Krystal Tancredi | Travel Core ] Attn: DocReno
When Keval got up close and personal with her, Krystal thought he was going to make good on his innuendoes, and braced herself to defend her modesty - the sudden change in his face perhaps being the most frightening thing about the Andorian's sudden approach. She rounded back towards him while she took a step back, but his words reached her before she raised her guard, hearing him reassure her that it was an act for anyone watching them.
"Oh," she said when the CTO stepped away to study the station layout, feeling a bit foolish about not catching on to the blueskin's ploy - a tactic she had more or less ruined. Then again, perhaps not. She would have reacted the same way even if it was for the benefit of an observer, since it was true to herself that she would lash back in that kind of situation. What was most embarrassing was how professional Keval was about it in spite of her outburst. And what he might have lacked in cold pragmatism and professional attitude when he lamented his shortcomings to her, he made up for in charismatic ire. He said he failed A'vura, taking it upon himself that they somehow lost the young Orion woman.
"Well, yah shouldn't beat yahself up about it on mah account, and there is no knowing wha' A'vura got herself into. No matter yah responsibility, we all have a responsibility t'wards ourselves first. The mistakes of others are not yours to answah for." She said this and walked up to Keval, putting a hand on his shoulder and raking her red hair back from her face to look at him in the eye. It was a reassuring touch, and he could take as much comfort as he wanted from it. "As my papa used to say, first we have to learn if tha' fox broke into the hen-house, or if tha chicken got herself caught in tha yard. Regardless, we'll get tha fox, but we'll have to find tha tracks first, right? You know chickens right? "
Krystal dropped her hand, and right then, they had arrived on the right deck, so she stepped out of the large turbolift and looked around - seeing no public area but rather winding corridors with doors to maintenance sites. She had to look at the layout of the deck on the map as well to see where they were supposed to go, but once they are sure, they were off towards where the the bomb had gone off - the intercom on the base already having alerted all personnel to stay away from the bomb-site's section of the starbase's mushroom head.
"You met tha base commandah with the Capt'n, right?" she asked Keval next, her thoughts dictating her sudden question. "Did he give yah any reason to doubt what is going on here in tha Alpha Quadrant?"
OOC: Sorry for the delay, I had thought to wait on Brutus first, but I decided that we could extend the conversation a little bit more before they reach the bomb-site and speak with Six. Brutus says he will be posting soon too.
[ Komial Dotnhil | Below the Sub-space Acquisition Grid | Starbase 84 ] Atten: Hi'Jak, Six
She counted back slowly, from one hundred, trying the little anger management exercise she remembered from the Academy. The one that was supposed to keep you from reaching out and snapping a subordinates neck with your bare hands. Especially a mouthy one like Mr. Hi'Jok - Hi'Jak apparently, as the junior officer gave her a lecturer on Klingon pronunciation. The truth was she didn't much know the Assistant Chief Science Officer, but the first impression of the man was poor enough that he'd be considered lucky to not have the Trill responsible for his quarterly performance review.
Komial didn't even take - much - satisfaction when the blithering idiot smacked into the door way. She doubted the impact would jar some sense into him, and hoped the embarrassment of that would be more painful than any immediate dressing down she could give the junior officer. If I didn't need to make my report.... she thought darkly, sighing, and once Hi'Jak was gone, pinching the bridge of her nose.
"I'll take terrorists over idiots any day," she whispered to herself. She turned to her forensic specialist, started to say something, then stopped and shook her head. She had better places to be - hopefully much better, and didn't want to spoil her mood any further than it already had been, by talking to the borg Ensign.
Instead, she stormed off - managing to not bump into any thing, unlike the idiot that had just left. A few well practiced turns, being quite familiar with the layout of this part of the starbase, Komial entered one of the lift carts with more than a little bit of haste. Once inside, she queried the base computer as to the location of Captain Hawthorne, and smiled at the response, as she was alone; setting a course for the residential officers section of the starbase.
She had no idea that she'd just miss the two officers from the USS Resolve headed to the crime scene to question her.
[ Starbase 84 | Base Commander's Quarters ]
Komial took a moment to catch her breath as she came to a stop at the end of the hallway. She looked down the corridor and nodded, happy to see that there were no crew-members in sight. Not that there was anything uncommon about the Chief of Security reporting in to her CO - even if it was at his quarters, and no his office. It wasn't all that out of order for Captain Hawthorne to have various members of the crew over after hours to discuss work.
What was out of the ordinary was the way it made Komial feel.
But she maintained a professional demeanor as she hit the door chime and spoke softly, "Lieutenant Dotnhil, reporting, sir."
OOC: God that took far longer than it should. Had more than half of it written a while ago but things just kept coming up. Apologies for the delay.
[Drauc | Detention Center | Starbase 84]Atten: Nyla
In the security cell, Drauc sat had seen the Orion was carried in. She was put in the cell across from him. Even if he could not see the blood on her, he could see she had been through a rough time before her arrival.
Once the security officer had left Drauc turned his attention to the Orion girl. She was passed out, so rather than trying to talk to her to figure out what had happened, he moved up to the force field and closed his eyes to concentrate. He reached out with his mind and began to lightly probe her dreams. Images of a Romulan flashed through his mind.
Words that she did not know, but he did. Within a minute of espying her dreams, he had witnessed the the incident. and he understood.
They were all in danger.
[ F'Rell of the 12th House | USS Resolve | Conference Lounge ] Attn: Auctor Lucan
For the floating alien it was humorous to be compared to a mythical beast of ancient Earth. She had seen a number of fantastical interpretations of the creature known as dragon, both in still images and a few in video form during the quiet hours when they set up a make shift, as the crew called it, 'movie theater' in the Mess Hall. She made a noise with her whisker like tendrils that the small combadge in her appendage could not translate, laughter having not viable translation. Regardless it was comparable to a soft chuckle made by an upright bass if the strings had been closer to 8 feet long.
At the notion that she might return home F'Rell paused and turned down the volume of her communicator before she spoke. "It is unlikely that I will be allowed to return home. I have spent to much time amongst alien life forms. I would be treated with a degree of distrust. And should I return I could likely leave a trail for others to follow. Both would make things less than pleasant for me and my people. By now they have buried me and I am dead to them. So I will continue on in exile," she explained, the communicator softness made it almost seem like a whisper. She was not entirely comfortable sharing these thoughts aloud, but she knew she could trust the captain, he was a good man, at least from her observations of him. "The Resolve is now my home and it's crew are my family. It was not a fate I would have chosen for myself, but it is not altogether a bad fate."
[ Lieutenant Simon Walt | Science Center | Lab 17 ] Attn: RosariaRosette & Kaligos
It was as if the lines underneath his eyes were burning. That was how tired Walt was. He should have left already, so the trinkets presented to him by the scavenger was no longer catching his interest.
"Listen, I am sure these were all hard to acquire for you, but that doesn't necessarily mean that the Science Division of Starfleet will be paying you any latinum for them," he said, having been polite up to that point, and he truly did try to remain polite too. He ran a hand over his watery eyes and back over his bald head. He adjusted his seat as if it would make any difference in his argumentation, shifting his great weight forward and gesturing above the 'relics' on the table between them - speaking slowly. "As a scientist, I have no use of these. I agreed to see you, yes, and do all these tests, since you said you had items from Tartaras V. Specifically, the ruins of the Rokai provincial capital that was unearthed in 2369. But neither of these are Rokai as far as my tests can show. The results say they don't have the mineral composition to match the era... much less the planet."
The woman with the yellow eyes across the table was a looker, that was for sure, and that was part of the reason he had indulged her for the last hour they had been going over her findings, but now, his patience was running out. Furthermore, the lab was scheduled for the poor excuse that was his Assistant Chief Science Officer - too grand a title for a second rate scientist such as Hi'Jak in Walt's opinion. The lab had been the only one available to run the tests, and... she had been a looker. Inconveniencing Hi'Jak has been a fringe benefit, of course, but when the relics proved false... it turned out it was all just a waste of time.
Speaking of the little devil, the sliding doors to the lab opened and admitted Hi'Jak just after Walt finished repeating what he had already said to Sera vers Aldnoah twice before, and Walt pushed himself to his feet - seeing a chance to excuse himself. "Ah, this is Junior Lieutenant Hi'Jak, who's lab we had to borrow, but now that he is here, I am sure he wouldn't object to running more tests for you. Hi'Jak, please say hello to Miss Aldnoah. As you can see, she has a collection of fine relics that might be of import to our research, so why don't the two of you go over the inventory again. Hi'Jak here is perfect for the task, since while his forte might be in Animal Psychology, he also has a minor in Temporal Mechanics, so he might be able to tell you how the relics you found on Rokai ended up where they did, for nothing short of a temporal incursion would have made them end up hidden in those ancient ruins."
Walt gave them both a mock-pleasant smile as he gestured for Hi'Jak to take the seat across from the Câroon woman.
OOC: More posts to come here!
[ Captain Tristan Kendrick | Travel Core > Brig ] Attn: Absinthe & RedBaron
When F'Rell lowered her voice, so to speak, Tristan respected her need for private words with him on the topic so he gestured for the two security guards behind them to fall back a couple of steps. What F'Rell told Tristan gave him mixed feelings, since while he was glad to hear the T'Fanrell wished to remain with his crew, he regretted the fact that she might be unable to return to her home and her own people again. Tristan could not help but feel somewhat responsible since he had unwittingly sealed her fate by picking her up - forcing her into exile by affiliation alone. He could respect how some species wished to shroud themselves in secrecy to keep themselves safe, but to shut their own out like that?
"As glad as I am to have you aboard, please don't think for a moment that I would neglect to do anything I could to let you end your exile safely - should the day come and you wished to return to the T'Fanrell." He said this with gravity, a promise that he meant to keep. She might seek her native home one day, and he would be there to help her.
They had left the docking levels behind and entered the large cabin of the Travel Core, where the present crew were not sure what to make of the odd travelling companion that floated above them. They descended in the lift towards the deck with the Security office of the starbase, and as they got off, Tristan marched directly into the reception area with his entourage. At the aide's duty station, there was a shaven man with an unkind look about him. He narrowed his eyes at F'Rell where he sat too, obviously not too keen on the unknown.
"Can I help you, Captain..?" asked the the Security officer with a sour look.
"Kendrick, Commanding Officer of the USS Resolve. I am here to inquire about a lost crew member of mine - Ensign A'vura - and I believe she is being held here. I demand to see her, and know on what grounds she is being held. As her commanding officer, I have not been notified of her arrest, which is a breech against Starfleet regulations."
"I am not permitted to give our information about who is and isn't being hel-"
At least regulations from three years ago, he thought, and then decided to gamble before the security guard could make further denials. A small lie could open up large doors.
"Officer Bradford, isn't it? She was seen on the way to your custody, so I will not hear anything else but you immediately permitting my entry to the holding cells, or her release," he said placing his hands on the edge of the duty station and staring at the man with eyes that had seen far too much on his voyage through the unknown.
Bradford, which was the name Tancredi had mentioned, folded his arms across his chest. "We have a woman in custody....sir. Orion girl, and she is under suspicion of murder and espionage for the Orion Syndicate. She has yet to awake after being apprehended, she resisted arrest, so she had to be stunned. We do not have a name to her face, so we could not inform anyone that needed to be notified."
Tristan didn't know if he ought to laugh or strike the man. "It just so happens that my Operations officer is an Orion woman, and I can guarantee that she has no affiliation with the Orion Syndicate. I would insist on assisting base security by identifying her... if you would be so kind to admit me and my crewmen here."
Scowling, Bradford eyed F'Rell behind Tristan's shoulder. "What is that?" he said and got to his feet, offering any objection he might, it seemed. "Has it been processed yet? Unknown lifeforms can't... fly about the base without proper screening."
"Word of F'Rell's arrival has been passed on ahead of arrival, so don't give me a reason to escalate this to your base commander." Tristan did not budge an inch in his demand, eyes staring at the man.
"I can't admit all four of you into the Brig," Bradford said, chin raised.
"Fine, my Security officers will remain outside the doors. Gentlemen, you heard the good officer, you will remain outside until we come out again." Not going to let the argument continue, Tristan treated Bradford's word as final, already heading towards the security gate to the Brig - making Bradford step after. "Open it."
Eventually, Tristan and F'Rell stepped into the Brig, and the posted Brig Officer was confounded by the arrival. Bradford was there too, walking in together with them, and Tristan scanned the empty holding cells - all vacated save for two of them...
OOC: Posting with Ian Hawthorne soon, and another post is coming up to introduce Daniel Havenborn.
[ Captain Ian Hawthorne | Base Commander's Quarters ] Attn: Brutus
The matter of making Trish's body vanish was fairly easy when he could deactivate internal sensors in his quarters. Unceremoniously, he had dragged her naked body to the lare bathtub and dropped her into it. Unhurriedly, he had gone to get his handphaser and returned to her, set it to the highest setting, and vaporised her. It left a scent in the air, of course, so he had washed out the tub and filled it with essential oils - permeating the air scents far more pleasing. Conveniently having filled the tub for that task, he had taken a bath to rinse the scent of his ex-wife off his body.
As he sat there, occupied in thoughts that had already left Trish far behind, the chime and the voice of Komial reached him. That the Chief of Security would be at the door so soon after what he had done would likely have concerned most people, yet Ian merely smiled where he sat with his arms on top of the sides of the large bath tub - not even getting up and donning a bathrobe. It was not like Komial would be seeing something new. Inside, the darkness shifted in elation - different thoughts of killing the Trill making images of the acts flash before his brown eyes. So many options. Drowning her across the edge of the tub whilst sodomizing her. Skull-fucking her underneath the surface of the water - watching the redness spread around him. Gouging out her eyes with his thumbs while squirming his hardness down her throat.
"Enter!" he called, letting her find him on her own - idly indulging in his shared imagination while he waited for her.
[ PO Sanford - NPC | USS Resolve | Main Engineering ] Attn: Lieutenant Havenborn
Petty Officer Keith Sanford tugged absently at his uniform collar as he ran the Level 3 computer diagnostic. He was but one of the many technicians that had been deployed to the Luna-class ship for a complete overhaul. The ship had only returned that day, and already more than 100 people were working on preparing Captain Kendrick's ship for the voyage home to the Sol System.
Keith had orders to perform a secondary task too, and the duty station in Engineering was as good as any to do it. Evidently, there was some risk to the accumulated data in the Resolve's database, the explanation he got being that there could be all kinds of alien code could compromise Starbase 84's systems since no one could foresee what the data from beyond Romulan space would do if uploaded to Starfleet. That was all well and fine, but he had been ordered to do it in a rather unorthodox way - at least as far as he was concerned. I was not by the book, at least, but he had seen given stranger orders than that before, so he did not think too much about it. I figured it was just a preliminary check before the experts took care of that risk.
He fished out the isolinear chip from his pocket, one that he had been given that morning, and he crouched down below the control table. He opened the maintenance panel and switched out the chips, rising with a sigh to initiate the transfer. He raked his fingers through his red hair and went right to it, his fingers inserting the commands one by one.
The computer chirped, and he looked down at the results. He grunted, seeing that instead of downloading the targeted sample of the Resolve's database, an upload was made instead. Cursing, he initiated a search to find the new data, but no more had be begun the search than he saw warnings flare up on the touch panel. His green eyes widened, and a power surge bounced through half the console's systems until it...
The detonation threw him back, but the power surge caught him across the eyes before the shockwave hit him - the world turning dark before oblivion seized him.
[ Sera Vers Aldnoah | Science Center | Lab 17 ]
Sera could feel her patience wearing thin with every second she was forced to sit in the insufferable presence of the man in front of her. What the hell did this guy know about how difficult it was to get these things. She'd nearly died almost a dozen times trying to navigate that death trap they called a ruin. And this joker had the gall to sit across from her and tell her that artifacts she'd collected were worthless pieces of crap? Granted he didn't use those exact words but it was close enough to thoroughly frustrate the young woman. Her arms were crossed over her chest as she tapped the heel of her boot against the floor she had managed to hold herself back for the most part from verbally assaulting the man she'd spent the better part of the hour with. He was lucky she was only considering verbal assault if she was forced to sit here with this fool any longer she had no doubts her thoughts would steadily get more violent as time passed.
As Simon introduced a new man she looked away a sour look upon her face. "Just get lost already you've wasted my time enough haven't you?" Sera said. She turned her head to shoot the bald man a venomous glare. She turned to the new scientist who had entered the room mentally praying to whatever godly entities existed that this one wouldn't continue to mock her and her findings.
[LT Daniel Havenborn | USS Resolve | Deck 1 - Bridge ]
Daniel sat in the Captain's chair reading a PADD with the latest schedule projections, he knew the ship needed this but it almost felt wrong somehow although he couldn't quite explain why it felt wrong. When Captain Kendrick had assigned him to oversee the repair crews he had almost protested he didn't like sitting around waiting but he knew Commander ch'Rayya and Captain Kendrick carried more authority than he did but he still hated to wait. A few minutes after the Captain had assigned him this detail he had chosen three of his pilots to help him out. He was after all only one man and could only be in so many places at once. He had his pilots moving from repair team to repair team. He still felt a little weird calling them 'his pilots' even though he had been SCO for a couple years now he had wished that the circumstances behind his promotion hadn't been because Lieutenant Sorrell had to die.
He was halfway through the projections when an alarm sounded and his combadge chirped. "Salvo here, go ahead." He said as he tapped the combadge to silence it.
"Salvo, there's been an incident in Main Engineering." Came the response, he recognized the voice immediately as Lieutenant Ahern one of his pilots.
"What happened?" Daniel said standing up and heading towards a turbolift.
"We've got one of the repair crew being taken to sickbay, he was the one working at a console when it suddenly exploded." Lieutenant Ahern replied.
"Understood Knight, I'm on my way to sickbay to talk to him. Don't touch anything down there until I arrive to investigate, call our security personnel if you have to." Daniel said as he stepped into the turbolift. "Sickbay." He told the computer and the lift began to move.
"Understood Salvo, Knight out." Came the response. Daniel was concerned about this new development, A'vura was already missing and now he had what could be sabotage on board the ship.
The turbolift came to a stop and Daniel exited it making his way towards Sickbay. As he entered he noticed the EMH already active and tending to the patient. "How bad is he?" He asked the hologram.
[ EMH Mk. I | USS Resolve | Main Sickbay | Deck 07 ] Attn: Havenborn
Raising his chin and an eyebrow, the balding projection acknowledged the arrival of Lieutenant Havenborn before turning back to the repair technician lying on the biobed.
"The patient has suffered fourth degree plasma burns to the face and torso... which ought be fairly evident," he remarked and sighed as he tapped the control panel on the biobed to look at the readings. "I have given him large doses of anaesthetics and cortolin in order to keep the body from going into shock and the lungs functioning at the minimum capacity that they are able to without transplants, but it is only a matter of time until the heart gives out. Unfortunately, there is little to be done for him than to ease his pain. He won't be alive for more than a couple of minutes, but he will pass quietly."
The EMH picked up a PADD and handed it to the squadron commander. "I was able to determine the patient's identity with Starbase 84's medical records. I needed to consult his journals to see if he had any aversions towards the anaestetics I had to give him. His name is Keith Sanford, next of kin being a mother at a colony floating above Venus. No other family. Should I inform the proper channels on the base?"
The sound that came from what was left of Sanford was like a sleeping man trying to breathe through a thin straw.
[Komial Dotnhil | Starbase 84 | Base Commanders Quarters]Atten: Lucan
"Enter," she heard the voice of her commander call out, and the computer picked up on the words as well, unlocking the sliding doors to the captains suite, granting the Security Chief access to Ian Hawthorne's quarters. Quarters she was not exactly unfamiliar with, a fact that brought a shyer smile to her face then one might expect. It was all still relatively new for Komial - the thrill of it, being involved with the man that had saved her life. That her feelings had started as hero worship surprised neither officer. Where things had led well, that had certainly surprised the Trill.
She stepped inside though, professional as ever where eyes could be watching, and took a look around. Lights were low, and there seemed to be more light coming from the 'fresher. Her dark eyebrows rose on her forehead and she bit her lip for a moment, before throwing caution to the wind. She quietly stepped out of her boots and socks, and padded barefoot across his quarters as the doors sealed themselves behind her. Komial unzipped the jacket of her uniform and let it hang open as she walked into the doorway of the bathroom. She reached up, her hands resting against the top of the door frame as she stared into the steam filled room where her CO lay in the tub.
Her eyes took on a heated, lustful look as she drank in the site of the man. He was a talk, delicious drink of dark, dark chocolate, and she indulged in a moment of shameless ogling. Those eyes darted all along his soaked form, partially hidden from view, what was displayed before her mixing with the scrumptious memories she already had of him in his - what was the Terran phrase? Birthday Suit. Her shy smile became something that was best described as a saucy smirk, and her pink tongue darted out across her lips, ever so briefly.
"You wanted that status update on the explosion, Sir?" She asked, having tucked the PADD with said report into the back waistband of her pants. Admittedly, a report was the last thing on her mind, as she took a slow breath through her nose, smelling the oils in the bath, and feeling the moist air on her cold skin. It took everything she had not to moan just from the sensual display before her.
[Lt Hi'Jak (https://orig03.deviantart.net/94e6/f/2015/265/a/e/hi_jack_02_by_auctor_lucan-d86nthi.png)| lab 17 | Starbase 84] Attn: Auctor Lucan & Rosaria Rosette
Lab 17 was supposed to be his half an hour ago, at this point he wasn't even sure he was going to be able to run all of the tests he wanted too on this fragment. Considering that the tricorder hadn't been able to tell him the composition he needed a break down analyses of the thing, not to mention he wanted to try and figure out the type of explosive that was used.
The fact was an explosive device had been detonated on a Starbase, and his own theory was that it had been remote detonated. Which made everything all the more difficult. If it was just the sub space relay then he would buy it, but the fact was this was a Romulan, and he had to have gotten onto the starbase somehow. There were no easy answers right now. Which was an honest shame because if there was one thing he desperately wanted it was easy answers, and of course his boss had decided to take up the only lab that could give him the answers he needed for longer then he was scheduled. Someone somewhere had fucked up, and he wasn't about to let this oppertunity go to waist. Hi'Jak was oddly ready to work as he walked into the lab.
Moving past his boss he ignored the fact that he was still here at first, and only casually regarded the woman. She was attractive, but then he had just met his dream Trill and he wasn't about to let go of the image of the sweet security chief angel who had soundly handed him his verbal ass with her talking down. What am I thinking? He tried to push aside his school boy crush, but it was considerably harder than he thought it would be.
He started to get the machines ready to do the work he needed, all the while moving through cloud nine. "Hello." He said finally regarding the other two people. As he was trying to set up a device that would get him a better reading on the device, tell him at least what compounds were used to set the explosion he glanced up between the two people. His boss who was frankly a major pain in his ass. "Sorry if I'm interrupting anything, but I was scheduled into this lab a while ago, and you have been eating my time."
Hi'Jak spoke towards his boss, who probably knew he was causing an inconvenience to him. As he turned towards the woman he finall gave a more respectful glance at her. "Hi my names Jack, pleased to meet you. Uhm, i'm sorry to bother you a little, but do you mind acting as a lab assistant for a moment." normally he would have someone but his own staff played him like a fiddle as often as he played his boss, and he was not about to ask his boss for help. "Also I'm going to need that table, if you don't mind."
[ Captain Ian Hawthorne | Base Commander's Quarters ] Attn: Brutus
She was reacting as expected, and Ian indulged the ideas in her mind. She in a carefree demeanour, he stepped out of the bath in front of her. "Indeed, did you bring the report?" he said, a small smile at the corner of his mouth hinted on how he knew exactly what he was doing. "Or do you mean to debrief me in person?"
Saying this, he reached for a towel and draped it across his shoulders - stepping up to Komial. He had come to appreciate the Trill for her body, and the fact that she had removed her footwear and had come barefoot to him suggested that she had an idea to stay instead of returning to the Security offices. She had even unzipped her uniform jacket, revealing the golden colour of her undershirt and how it outlined the curves hidden beneath.
Less than an arm's length away from her, he grabbed both ends of the towel that he had draped across his shoulders. The light in the room caught the way the oil-laced water pearled and ran down his dark skin, and he tilted his head to look her in the eye - expecting her to either take liberties with his nakedness, or hold back to build anticipation. It depended on how anxious she was for his touch that day, and if she could restrain her urges and deliver that report. Ah, yes, the report.
"Either way, I would very much like to hear what happened... and why it took you so long," he said, words void of reprimand but serious. While the preliminary report she had given him was that the detonation had been too small to be any serious thread to the starbase, it was still a rather grave matter. "I would gladly have shared my bath with you if you had come earlier, so I hope you had a good reason for being so tardy. Perhaps you already have a suspect?"
[ Lieutenant Simon Walt | Science Center | Lab 17 ] Attn: RosariaRosette & Kaligos
It seemed that the scavenger's patience had come to an end as well, telling him to get lost at long last. Walt merely chuckled and shook his head, but the mirth trailed off when his taunts towards Hi'Jak's schooling passed unheard. The halfbreed seemed preoccupied in thought, and Walt frowned at him - hardly expecting something close to politeness when he had used the lab for his own devices. Devices that had originally been to strike a deal with the scavenger for his own stash of latinum, and perhaps blackmailing her into using that mouth for something else than talking about alleged ruin exploration.
"Well, it was good that the lab came to use in your absence, as little use at is proved to be in the end," he said to Hi'Jak, and then directed himself to the scavanger again. "Some honest work might be good for you. Hi'Jak could use all the help he can get any way. I wish you both a good day and don't forget to take all that junk when you leave these offices, Miss Aldnoah."
With that, Lieutenant Walt left Lab 17 behind, but he was curious about what it was that had Hi'Jak so ambitious all of a sudden... so he was going to return later and find out.
OOC: Walt is leaving, so have fun you two! Play nice, and let me know when you need input and results from the tests. :)
[Komial Dotnhil | Starbase 84 | Base Commanders Quarters]Atten: Lucan
A playful little pout, utterly out of character with her public persona of a hard nosed security chief played across her full lips. Komial straightened up, and gently reached out, a cool finger tracing a slow line down the wet and warm expanse of his chest as she met his gaze. In all seriousness she began with, "I have a written offical report right back here, Sir," she gestured behind herself with a tilt of the head, "that you're welcome to pursue at your leisure." Wasn't that statement just full of promise and so very open to multiple interpretations, she thought coyly.
"And in regards to the unfortunate delay," she continued, letting a hint of her underlying displeasure - renewed now at the realization of a missed opportunity to share a bath - seep into her voice, "was the direct cause of my forensics analysts being late to the scene - she was in the middle of her regeneration cycle and did not respond to the security summons. I had to suffer through the....assistance," such disdain in one little word, even as those cool finger tips moved now along the cut of his hip bone, "of the Assistant Chief Science Officer, Hi'jock...or was it jak?" She rolled her shoulders, "accidentally" allowing her jacket to slide down on one side so that it pooled in the bend of her elbow.
"Regardless, that left much to be desired. He may or may not have suffered from a self inflicted head wound as well. We may wish to follow up with medical later," she informed Ian with bitter amusement as those eyes flicked down. Her hand came to a stop, resting on his hip, longing to move in and grasp what was so pleasingly left on display for her eyes alone.
"We do have at least one suspect in custody. According to my people she - an Orion - was found on the scene and resisted arrest. She may also be a victim. Unfortunately I have not as of yet been able to interview her - again, because I could not turn the scene over to Ensign Six." She was clearly displeased by this, and equally, she clearly was battling the urges to give into her desire for the dark man before her.
Duty was proving to be the most torturous aphrodisiac...
[Lieutenant Keval ch'Rayya | Below the Sub-space Acquisition Grid | Starbase 84] Attn: Auctor Lucan & Ensign Six
Keval's antenna twitched a certain way as he could "hear" the ambient energy that the young woman known as Ensign Six left in her wake and motioned for the pilot to follow him. "To answer your question, Krystal, we did meet with the base's commander and something about what he said set my instincts ablaze with a feeling of utter alertness." The andorian explained as they went. "He spoke of a ship that supposedly went renegade called the Theurgy and why it supposedly did as well as mentioning another ship in passing."
He stopped and motioned her into a side alcove for a moment. "Now I will share something with you, Krystal. During my time at the Academy I had a mentor, a Lieutenant Commander Wesley Striker, he was in charge of advanced security operations in my second year and I gained a few things from him such as my attraction and admiration of women with red hair but most importantly I gained an understanding of listening to a lack of something during a conversation."
Keval took a second as he recalled the entire conversation that he and the captain had with Captain Hawthorne, his eyes narrowing as his tone lowered just in case anyone came up on them in the alcove, they would assume something else. "The way that he spoke and handled himself was too much like he'd rehearsed it, every step was measured and he kept his tone at an almost too casual level."
"Then there was the story about the Theurgy, he gave just enough details to make it sound like it was simply alerting us to the possible threat while at the same time *DARING* us to prove not only our's but also the entire ship's innocence because the Theurgy supposedly defected in whole to the Romulans but now we show up having traveled from the far end of their space..it made the captain and me start to make the arrangements to try and keep everyone from the Resolve safe before this bombing happened."
Keval then went past her but stopped and gave her closest shoulder a reassuring squeeze, "we may not be safe yet, my friend, but hopefully soon." he said gently to her before moving on.
Once they were back into a main section of maintenance corridors, he was reviewing mentally everything that had been said recently as he followed the "voice" of Six's energy when he turned to regard the younger woman again with a somber and serious expression. "And as for your comments a few minutes ago, Krystal, I can honestly say that I respect you too much to view you as anything more than a real woman and one of the finer officers that I have served with in my entire time in the service..but also since you were blunt and honest with me, all me to return the favor on that one."
"You Krystal are actually out of my league, pure and simple. You've got the brains, beauty, and balls that would make any man want to chase you and because of that, I could never look at you like I was..how did you put it..a ferengi dock monkey wasn't it?"
Keval took a breath, he'd wanted to be honest and clear the rest of the air fully since her explosion earlier. "Just thought you should know... Now come on, we have a mystery ahead!"
Keval resumed walking a short distance before coming up to the sight of the explosion and the strange ensign. "Ah, Ensign Six wasn't it? My name is Lieutenant ch'Rayya and this is my partner Ensign Tancredi, we're here to help."
[ LT Daniel Havenborn | USS Resolve | Main Sickbay | Deck 07 ] Attn: Auctor Lucan
Daniel stood by the patient listening to the EMH speak about the his condition. All Daniel could think was that this man had information that he needed and if he was going to die in the next couple minutes he needed to act fast to get it. How to go about getting it was the main problem though, he supposed he'd have to have the EMH wake the man so that he could speak to him.
"I need to speak to him before he dies, wake him please." Daniel said, his next of kin could be contacted at any time after he had the information he needed. Right now he needed to know what exactly the man was doing before the explosion and the only way to find that out was to question him before he died, even the most minor bit of information could help him right now.
Daniel was sure to get some sort of protest from the EMH, the Mark I's tended to be like that but he didn't need to hear a lecture about it, if needed he'd do it himself but he wanted the EMH online just in case something went wrong and to inform him of when the patient would die.
[ Captain Ian Hawthorne | Base Commander's Quarters ] Attn: Brutus
Remaining where he stood, Ian made no moment to indulge Komial by touching her in kind - teasing her still. Her fingers upon him made him stirr, yet he kept his hands wrapped around both ends of he towel and listened to her review and her apology. He did not have to read the report hidden behind her back, instead opting to hear what was not in that report. After all, he already knew the composition of the bomb, the yield, as well as the original device's purpose before it was set to detonate. Indeed, he knew more than the guesswork that would be in the report. How could I not? he thought and smiled to her, giving her the credit for his private humour when she spoke of the science officer.
Yet when she spoke of having an Orion girl in custody, and that she had been found on the scene... the bubbling mirth in Ian mind turned really, really sour.
The blackened presence within coiled in response. It tried to seize control of him and lash out at her in the ire that he felt - to punish her for the unfortunate development. If there was someone alive who had heard Aruto place his contact in the command centre of the base, calling him Captain, and understood Romulan... then this someone had to die. As the host, bound to order still and with caution a priority, Ian restrained himself. He had already killed Trish, and while he could kill Komial, it served no purpose. It was rather a detriment given how smitten she was with him - prone to follow him to her death. She was useful, whereas Trish hadn't been.
The fact that Security had a suspect was enough reason for his smile to die. It was a serious matter even at face value. "So for the same reasons, I presume you have not identified the suspect yet," he said, and only then did he indulge her a wee bit, reaching around her and taking the PADD from her waistline. As he did, he slanted his lips across hers, kissing her briefly but firmly. "If only your people were half as good as you, then you would have learned about this meeting before it even took place."
While his lips were parted from hers, he dropped the towel from the hand that did not hold the report and raised it to the side of her neck - his thumb brushing across her full lips while he spoke. "I am truly fortunate to have you, Komial... and you might have to take things into your own hands to get ahead of the development..." Saying this, he ran his fingers down her arm and took her wrist gently. He guided her hand to himself. He looked her in the eye with a playful gleam to his gaze, and he slowly raised his hand back to her face. He ran his thumb into her mouth in anticipation of feeling those lips around himself. "I am certain you can bring those responsible on their knees."
Leaving her to attend to his condition, he started to read the report. With the parasite and his own mind working in tandem, he remembered something from the Resolve's personnel files. He read the description of the suspect again - enjoying the development with Komial but not letting it dull his thoughts. When he found the connection, he almost chuckled in contentment. The situation was not nearly as grave as he had thought. He knew what to do.
"It would not be the first time the Orion Syndicate would try something, but what is the syndicate up to with the Romulans, I wonder?" he said initially, voice thick in the dimly lit room. "Regardless, what is most concerning is that they managed to get aboard the base to conduct their business. The only new ship that docked today was the Resolve... and given the fact that they came through Romulan space, it does seem like Captain Kendrick and his crew could have something to do with it. Now that I think about it... Kendrick does have an Orion Operations Officer, and it says that the suspect was reported wearing a dress uniform stained with Romulan blood. Only the crew of the Resolve wore dress uniforms aside from the senior staff here on the base..."
Pausing, Ian swallowed - lips pursing. "Her name was A'vura, I think, and if it is her you apprehended... I do wonder what she was doing all the way up there underneath the subspace aquisition grid after just arriving to the base." Closing his eyes, Ian knew that he would have to execute the plans he had for the Resolve ahead of time. Forunately enough, the incriminating evidence would already have been uploaded to the ship's memory banks, so the fate of Kendrick and his crew was already sealed. Pleased that the unfortunate development could be handled, his hand sought a firm grip around Komial's silken hair, and he took a deep breath.
"Be careful with her. Take every precaution... Orions are manipulative... dangerous. Assume that she is lying at all times... and that she was not alone in this. Your people may not be equal to the task, but I trust... you will not fail me..."
OOC: Another post with the EMH coming in due time.
[ EMH Mk. I | USS Resolve | Main Sickbay | Deck 07 ] Attn: Havenborn
The order gave the hologram pause, naturally.
"I beg your pardon, Lieutenant, but under the edicts of Starfleet medical practice, I cannot wake a dying patient in this state of fatal injury," he said dryly, frowning at the Tactical CONN officer as if he had actually been asked to bring someone back from the dead. "Look at him. The patient has no face left, and it is not certain that he can articulate speech successfully. Even if I would wake him up with the anaesthetics he is on still in effect - preserving him from feeling the unabated shock to his nervous system - his words would likely be too slurred to make out."
Folding his arms across his chest in protest, the EMH raised his chin. "No, I will let my patient die peacefully, spared from the experience," he said, and then... he tilted his head a bit - looking at the pilot with something akin to empathy. Something not expected, surely, given his so-often curt and rude demeanour. "Likewise, I will spare you from having it on your conscience to put another man through such an experience, and from the sight of it - which would likely haunt you for the rest of your life. "
He paused then, to let him think about it, before he resumed his activities, as well as his crude bedside manner. "I recommend you leave the patient in my care and return to your flight hangar, where you know what you are about. You are a pilot, Lieutenant, not a doctor."
[Ensign Six (https://img14.deviantart.net/51cf/i/2015/255/0/5/six_01_by_auctor_lucan-d91bx0h.png) | Below the Sub-space Acquisition Grid| Starbase 84] attn: Lucan, DocReno
Six sort of frowned with Jack went toward the body and started removing the bit he had found outside of a forensics lab, potentially contaminating the body more than it might have already been. He was obviously not trained in the same way she was, but with him being higher in command over her, she bit her tongue and simply nodded in response. She was used to people treating her like she didn't know her ass from her elbow more times than she'd care to admit. But for the most part that's what most people assumed of her considering her severe lacking in sociality, and in the fact that she was never really considered to be a human, even if she technically was.
Despite being used to it though it still bothered her sometimes. Her peers hardly ever forgot that she was a Borg, but they almost always forgot that her optic implant would pick up on even more than a tricorder would. It flustered her at times, but it was soon forgotten when Hi'Jak continued his antics with Lieutenant Komial, snatching his glasses from her hands, placing them back on his head, then proceeding to walking into the wall before making his way successfully out of the door.
She stood there a moment staring in his direction, utterly confused with the interaction, not to mention his actions. If she had been sore only moments before, at that moment she was stumped, and tilted her head curiously until Lieutenant Komial turned to face her a moment only to storm off instead. That also confused her greatly, but for now she just let it go and began to help in the process of carefully moving the body. Just as she had instructed a couple of officers to help place the body in a sterile, boarded body bag two new individuals came onto the scene.
One she recognized as Tancredi, the other however, she did not. She did recognize his species though, and quickly noted it in her mind. The blue skinned man quickly introduced himself though, and Six nodded stiffly in response. "You are correct Lieutenant. I am afraid I have just about finished here, though, there are still small fragments scattered throughout the local area that need to be collected and brought to my lab. If you would like to help then collecting those for me while I go with the deceased to complete my formal inspection would be most helpful." She gave him the coordinates on the Starbase as to where her lab was located before moving to finish gathering the body and its detached head for her autopsy.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
[ Ensign A'vura Zeshryr (https://orig08.deviantart.net/ca09/f/2015/289/a/2/a_vura_row_01_by_auctor_lucan-d9d9ngm.png) | Detention Center | Starbase 84] Attn: RedBaron, Lucan, Brutus, and anyone else I missed. xD
A'vura eventually began to stir in her new cell, though she hadn't quite realized that that was indeed where she was at the moment. Memory came back to her in foggy flashes, incoherent at first as if she had been out for a night of drinking and had drunk herself into a black out episode. Slowly though, her wits came about her, the Romulan who had tried to force himself on her, the fact that he had lost his head somehow in the process, the more than a little racist, and very insistent security officer who had fired his weapon at her.
Reaching up to her breast she tapped herself as if to use her combadge, only to remember first that it hadn't been synchronized yet, and to realize second that it wasn't even there anymore. Wiping her face with her hands she sat up better in her cell and glanced around. It took a moment to figure out that she was indeed in a cell in a brig, though that moment went by a little faster as the steady, and unmistakable hum of a force field keeping her in filled her ears along with the chatter from the other side.
Her brow furrowed as she looked at them confused, her mouth working to speak only to be held back by that chalky taste you get when your saliva diminishes due to some sort of trauma or being asleep too long. Finally, her voice cracking at first, she was able to utter those first few words. "Why am I in the brig?" When no one immediately responded her more assertive side came to the forefront and she spoke up a little louder. "I demand to know why you're holding me. I'm a Starfleet officer. I've done nothing wrong. Why am I here? And where on earth is my combadge?!"
[ Krystan Tancredi | Starbase 84 | Below the Subspace Aquisition Grid ] Attn: 1) DocReno 2) Vystori
Krystal listened to Keval while they closed the distance towards the bomb site, and he spoke of a man in the Academy who had taught him detecting bullshit and to fancy red-haired women. The contrast of the two things he'd learned made her do a double-take, suddenly not so sure the act he had played before, when they had company at the Travel Core, had been an act at all. She was distracted, however, by the story about the Theurgy and how Keval thad thought Captain Hawthorne had rehearsed his briefing. But... it could hardly be tha only time he had to inform his staff about tha renegade ship if it has been at it for a couple of months, right? she thought, wondering if she and the rest of Kendrick's crew were being paranoid. She had grown up on her farm with great faith in the Federation and Starfleet, and it seemed so misplaced that the Theurgy was anything but a ship commanded by a traitor.
When the Andorian squeezed her shoulder, she was returned to the present again, and found himself staring into his eyes. Keval was apologising for before, and at the same time... he was flattering her again - making her blush when he said she was was way out of his league. His brutal honesty blind-sided her completely, and the only thing she could come up with was a joke in response to his claim that she had balls. "I reckon I can't make yah take back all that, yah bloody charmer there, so I'll just say I have just as many balls betwixt mah legs as you do, blueskin! None!"
She laughed loudly at her own joke before they reached the Borg she had met on the Promenade. She and F'Rell had told Keval about her on the Resolve while they waited for A'vura, but the Brunali woman with the shiny eyebrow had not met the Andorian yet, so Krystal decided to pipe up before Keval spoke again - hoping the woman would be more forthcoming with her. She made sure to remember the directions to the lab before she caught up with Six.
"Wait, we had something ta ask yah!" she said, hoping Keval would follow along too so that she wouldn't have to try and convince the Borg to tell them what they needed to know by herself, "We have been traying ta locate our Operations Chief since t'is bomb went off, an' we'd loveh to hea' if you've heard or seen anything tha' suggest she was here. Her name is A'vura Zeshyr an' she is an Orion, just a wee bit olda' than mahself. Have yah heard anything? Seems so odd she gone missing right whan the bomb was announced, right?"
The sight of the Romulan's head was quite... unsettling, and Krystal swallowed and focused on looking at the Borg and Keval instead. No, she shouldn't look at Keval, tho' the notion about him fancying her was a great deal more compelling than looking at the head, that was certain.
OOC: DocReno, if you could fill in the blanks with Keval briefly (no long post required), it's Vystori's turn again.
Attn: Brig writers, Absinthe and Red Wine is next there, followed by RedBaron and then me with Tristan Kendrick.
[Lieutenant Keval ch'Rayya | Below the Sub-space Acquisition Grid | Starbase 84] Attn: Auctor Lucan & Ensign Six
Keval tried to shake off mentally the comment that Krystal had made, sure it was her usual rowdy way of trying to make a joke but still one of the few times that he tries to be nice and open..
The Chaan simply pushed that thought out of his head as he heard Krystal try and explain the situation with the young former borg ensign as he regarded the head in the young woman's hands. "Well ensign aside from finding out about my fellow shipmate, I am curious about the bomb here and why it seems that you are holding a romulan's head in your hands like it's some kind of meat puzzle." the Resolve's CTO asked as he arched one slender white eyebrow at the scene before him.
As Keval took in the entirety of the room, something just felt..strange to him and it made his antenna lower just ever so slightly as he regarded the room around them.
[ LT Daniel Havenborn | USS Resolve | Main Sickbay | Deck 07 ] Attn: Auctor Lucan
Daniel was really beginning to hate the EMH Mark I, he needed information from this man and it seemed like the only way that was going to happen would be without the EMH's assistance. "Computer, deactivate EMH." He said as the balding hologram disappeared. When the EMH was gone he moved towards the injured man and although it'd been a while since his medical training if he remembered right the hypospray on the left would wake the Petty Officer. Daniel picked it up and placed it at the base of the man's neck.
He looked down at the man. "Petty Officer Sanford, can you hear me?" Daniel asked the man on the biobed, he'd have to make this quick, he'd only have a couple of minutes before the man died. Daniel had had to make tough choices before, most of them during the ar and a few of them on their way home this would not be any different with the sole exception that they were in a spacedock.
Daniel had pushed his doubts aside he had a duty to the ship to find out who was behind the sabotage and he'd be damned if he wasn't going to do that duty to the very end. If Petty Officer Sanford was loyal to Starfleet he'd understand that and do his duty right to the very end as well.
[ Sera vers Aldnoah | Science Center | Lab 17 ]
Sera felt her fist tighten as the bald headed science officer mouthed off. She was moments away from taking one of the relics she'd brought along with her and bashing the smug man's face in with it. "Fuck off..." Sera hissed under her breath glaring daggers at the man as he took his leave. She'd been so preoccupied with her anger toward the man and his dismissal of the objects she'd risked life and limb for that she hardly noticed the newcomer until now. She blinked at Hi'Jak her mind took a moment to rewind back to remember what he'd previously asked her. Her mind could vaguely recall him asking for her help in some way she forced herself to calm. "Ummm sure I suppose I can help..." Sera muttered rubbing the back of her neck.
She glanced back at the table her relics sat upon and sighed before stepping over to the table and grabbing the rough canvas bag she'd brought along quickly stowing her findings away and leaving it on the floor by the table. She moved back over to stand beside Hi'Jak silent for a moment before she finally spoke "Your boss is a scumbag...I just thought I'd leave that out there." Sera said. She was quiet for a few more moments before another outburst came forth "I mean he wasn't even interested in anything that I brought he just sat there fucking me with his eyes." She hissed her fists tightening once more as her anger surfaced again. She took a few deep heavy breaths in from her nose and out through her mouth. "Sorry, Sorry I'm done now...So what needs doing?" Sera asked.
[Lt Hi'Jak (https://orig03.deviantart.net/94e6/f/2015/265/a/e/hi_jack_02_by_auctor_lucan-d86nthi.png)|Science Center | Lab 17] Attn: Rosaria
Hearing someone else telling his boss to fuck off was practically music to his ears. Hi'Jak was impressed with the woman, there was no question about that, and it didn't stop there. When she said that the man was scum he kinda had to agree. "Don't apologize to me for speaking the truth." He said lightly as he moved through the room prepping equipment before placing the plastic bag containing the fragment onto the table.
"Your not the first to complain about him, and frankly I can't stand him, but you don't get to pick who you work for. Sadly I just have to keep my head down half the time." If nothing else he was the chief science officers favorite punching bag, and frankly he was starting to wonder if this was even a good position for him to be. It hadn't really been the vacation he had thought it would have been. He had wanted to stay out of things like the dominion war, and put himself on the front line of a cold front. Now however that cold front was starting to heat up and frankly he wasn't a fan of what was going down around him.
"Right, do you have any experience with metallurgy? i'm trying to run a full spectrum on this thing to try and find what it's made of, if it's radio active, explosive, and if were lucky we should be able to run a match of that information against known explosives and get a possible ID for a bomb that went off earlier today." This was not his ground of expertise, far from it actually considering, but he had enough information to go off that he was confident they could find a match.
Looking at the woman he saw someone with more adventure in her step, and it was odd to him. He had lived his entire life trying to get away from adventure wanting a more stable life, and here was a woman with what was clearly the opposite intention. "So you're a relic hunter of some sort?" He asked finally curious about her. "Isn't that illegal on most Federation worlds? You'd have more luck selling to some ferengi... why come here?" hell why do it all was the question Hi'Jak really wanted an answer too, traditional money was not a Federation concern, why risk ones life over monetary value when traditional value no longer had meaning, outside the resources it took to repair and manage a space ship at least.
[ Lt. Jg. Suq | USS Resolve | Main Sickbay ] Attn: Auctor Lucan, Havenborn
The funny thing about bad memories is that they're often the clearest.
He remembers he was doing something in Main Engineering, it was probably insignificant if he couldn't remember what it was. 'It seemed like it had to do with computer diagnostics? Something I could've done in my sleep', he thought, 'Spirits, do I need sleep'. The explosion marks the true beginning of the memory. He felt it in his ribs before he heard it. He dropped his PADD on his shoe. His body moved on its own, towards the source of the explosion. He kicked his PADD under another console by accident. He smelt burnt flesh. He saw a brilliant light that he knew to be fire, but he couldn't tell what was the fire and what was the officer. The fire suppression system kicked on. He ordered someone with a sharp face and fear in her eyes to start clearing the area and when he spoke, his voice didn't sound like his own. Someone else found a fire blanket. They worked together to pull the victim away and put the fire out. Suq had every intent to perform first aid, but when the kit arrived and with the blanket off, he had no idea whether he was looking at a humanoid or a mass of melted flesh. It was all he could do to call for help.
“This is Lieutenant Jg Suq, I need an emergency beamout from this location. There was a bomb, someone is injured.”
Even still, standing in the hallway in front of sickbay, he smelled burnt flesh. He saw fire behind his eyelids, consuming all his thoughts, scorching his mind. He leaned on the wall behind him in an attempt to cool himself down. To anyone else, he was nodding off again, falling asleep while on his feet.
The USS Resolve had left him with many bad memories just like this one. Each one was crystal clear. He'd put out fires before, just the way he did in Main Engineering. He had to use a hand extinguisher to put out what the suppression system didn't register, he organized others to do the same – he'd done that before too. He's not really sure when the chaos ended. It was typical of all his bad memories to end in panic, then exhaustion, but Suq wasn't done riding the roller coaster that was Today. The acting chief of operations, A'vura was gone, and Kendrick had gone after her. Pure chaos.
It's not over yet, he thought, and rubbed his eyes with his knuckles. He had to focus on the now. He pushed himself off the wall and brushed his hair over his shoulder. A perfectly good console doesn't blow like that. He had to know what happened. At the same time, he didn't want to see what became of the burn victim.
He took a deep breath and walked into sickbay, to see Havenborn putting a hypospray to the neck of—the neck of that which used to be human, he supposes. Petty Officer Sanford. Pett Officer Jelly-flesh. Ha ha.
He took quiet steps to Havenborn's side, watching the other's hands carefully. At first, he thought he meant to put Sanford out of his misery a little faster, until he spoke,
"Petty Officer Sanford, can you hear me?"
He meant to wake him. That made more sense, but only a little. How much can Sanford say in this state? Can he say anything at all? Suq folded his hands behind his back and tried to keep his eyes trained on Havenborn, not the body. It seemed to him that hell followed them home.
[ Petty Officer Sanford | USS Resolve | Main Sickbay | Deck 07 ] Attn: Havenborn & FollowTomorrow
When he woke, his mind was abruptly stirred. It was curious, for Sanford could not remember going to bed, or anything at all, from before he went to sleep. In short order, he began to make several observations. Pragmatical as he was, he listed them. Firstly, it was utterly dark. Not the pitch-black sort of dark, but the sort of dark that held neither colour nor essence. He had never experienced such darkness before. Second observation; the air had a sterile smell to it, and there were few places on Starbase 84 that was like that. The third and last observation came slowly but surely - undeniable as it asserted itself. It started as growing ache, as if a painkiller was wearing off to fast, but the agony was no mere headache. Gradually, gaining traction through his nervous system, the pain grew... and Sanford could not keep still.
He began to stir into a more upright position, but something was stopping him, as if he did not have the muscles required to preform the action. A voice shortly followed, too loud, even if the speaker wasn't shouting.
"Petty Officer Sanford, can you hear me?"
The pain was permeating everything, and he was starting to panic. He turned to face the source of the voice. The world remained dark. He was shaking. I am in the infirmary, aren't I? That was what he meant to say, but it came out in a nightmarish imitation of words.
"Ah-eh-eferary, arh I?" It was as his lips weren't working, unable to to shape the sounds properly. Then, his mind began to race in truth, trying to remember every scrap of information that led to his current predicament. He could hear another person some distance away, approaching. Feeling the pain still growing, he was steeling himself as best he could against it - anticipating the way it cut into his chest, and the sides of his face. Oddly enough, there was no pain at all in the centre of it - as if there were no nerves there to feel the wave of agony as it built.
He heard a new sound. Biobed. A chirping noise measured his pulse. It was speeding up. His first question was moot. He knew where he was. He began to register everything around him with extreme clarity. Perhaps his body was producing something in reaction to the damn pain. Doctor... Why are the lights off?
"Doctoh, hay are teh layts oh?"
[Ensign Six (https://img14.deviantart.net/51cf/i/2015/255/0/5/six_01_by_auctor_lucan-d91bx0h.png) | Below the Sub-space Acquisition Grid| Starbase 84] attn: Lucan, DocReno
Without missing a beat, Six replied to them both. "I do not know if it is your shipmate or not, but it was mentioned in my last communication that an Orion had been detained here at the scene and was now in custody." She thought for a moment. "I do suppose it's possible to be your Operations Chief since there are little Orions that frequent this Starbase, though I could not tell you for certain at this point."
She watched carefully as the body was carefully lifted and placed in a stiff bag that could easily be gurnied to her lab. Then she spoke again, this time directly at Keval. "As for what has happened here, I have yet to determine that, which is why I am collecting all the evidence that is here, so that I may perform my autopsy and develop a theory as to what has transpired here based on what is collected. At this point everything is undetermined. If you'd like to assist, as I stated before, I could use help ensuring that nothing is missed and every single sample left behind from the incident is collected and labeled for documentation and analysis."
When she finished speaking, Six looked down at her hands and regarded the head she still held there for a moment before looking back up at Keval. "What do you mean by meat puzzle?" she inquired for a moment, "I do not see any puzzle pieces here, and I can assure you this is no child's game." Carefully she placed the head inside of the bag where it would normally be, sealing the fabric before sending it off to her lab. Afterword she glanced around, taking some last photographs with her optic eye of the scene, the splatter, and the remaining fragments before setting to work in collecting them, hopefully with help, so that she could hurry to her lab and find some more pertinent results.
[ LT Daniel Havenborn | USS Resolve | Main Sickbay | Deck 07 ] Attn: Auctor Lucan, FollowTomorrow
Daniel could barely make out what the Petty Officer was saying, it sounded like he asked about the lights which meant that he could hear him at least and that he was able to think clearly enough but he wasn't sure how well this was going to work. Nothing for it he supposed, but as he was about to ask his question he took notice of Lieutenant JG Suq, the Resolve's Acting Chief Engineer. He watched as the man stepped in and watched him, Daniel could only think that the reason he was here was to find out answers as well.
He turned his attention back to Petty Officer Sanford. "Petty Officer, there was an accident. You were hurt, you're in sickbay but I need to know what you were doing before the accident." He said. He hoped that the man would be able to answer him. If he couldn't get the information from the Petty Officer maybe he and the Assistant Chief Engineer could search to find what had happened.
Daniel kept a hypospray ready in case the Petty Officer needed some pain relief, he wasn't really sure if it'd help but he wanted to keep his options open.
[ Lt. Jg. Suq | USS Resolve | Main Sickbay ] Attn: Auctor Lucan, Havenborn
It seemed like an eternity, watching Sanford struggle to rejoin the living. He heard words, or the sad imitation of them. He still couldn't bring himself to look right at the biobed's occupant. This was cruelty as far as he knew. The desire to know the truth suddenly fought with his sense of mercy. He was glad Havenborn was the one talking. Suq couldn't find it within himself to put his thoughts to words, to say 'stop' or 'this isn't right'.
Curiosity got the best of him at last. As Havenborn explained the situation and asked for information, Suq glanced over at Sanford. All at once, he felt the explosion rattle his bones again, the smell of burning flesh overtaking everything, and his heart beating against his chest as if it wanted out. More tangibly, he felt a burning sensation rise from his stomach. He folded one arm in front of him and the other over his mouth. He was attempting to look as if he was thinking, to hide the fact he was attempting to quell his nausea. He closed his eyes and just let Havenborn talk, while he listened for the raspy, quiet response from Sanford.
[Lieutenant Keval ch'Rayya | Below the Sub-space Acquisition Grid | Starbase 84] Attn: Auctor Lucan & Ensign Six
Keval mentally sighed as he arched one pale white eyebrow at the borged woman. "It's an old terran forensic term for what you call a body that has been completely and forcably disassembled like the one in the body bag there, ensign." Keval said simply in a respectful tone to the younger woman and feeling his age. "It was often used by those medical examiners that had the unfortant duty of sorting through the various bits of debris that was once one or more living creatures to see which parts went with which body and to also cover the other aspects of it as well."
The Chaan motioned for Krystal to follow him as he met the stride of the shorter starbase officer. "It was not meant as you thought that it was because unlike some people I do not take bombs or their ilk lightly, so my question is now do you have any prelim data that you can use for a better understanding of what happened here. For instance was there any form of explosive such as Bilitrium, Divalent triceron or even simple Nitrilin for example?" he offered up as he walked alongside of the woman. "Furthermore why was there an officer down here with the romulan or was he like Lieutenant Nog or Ensign Sakal, the first of their species in the fleet, what conclusions have you started to form?"
/////////////////////////////////////
OOC:
The three explosives mentioned are three that appear in Trek. Bilitrium and Nitrilin appeared in the Deep Space Nine episodes "Past Prologue" and "Improbable Cause" while Divalent Triceron appears in The Lost Era novel "Well of Souls" for reference.
Also, Ensign Sakal is Ensign Zurin Dakal, the first "official" Cardassian Starfleet Officer who is a member, up till the most recent novel in the series, of the USS Titan's Operations department and a very cool character might I add :)
[ Sera Vers Aldnoah | Science Center | Lab 17 ]
Sera wasn't at all surprised to hear that she wasn't the first to have a problem with the Chief Science Officer. She frowned feeling a bit of sympathy for the man beside her when he stated he didn't get to choose who he worked for. "That sounds rough..." She muttered she leaned over a bit closer to look at the object he'd collected and placed on the table. She raised a single eyebrow as she looked upon it, It looked like any other piece of shrapnel burnt to a crisp and sharp and jagged looking. She'd had to pick enough of them out of herself after blasting accidents in ruins to know what one looked like.
"I can't say I know a lot about it...Though if this did come from a bomb you can probably check for chemical residue on it from the blast. If it uses anything specific than you can cross reference it with other explosives using the same compound and narrow down the search." Sera said. She shut her mouth afterwards considering that she was on the fast track of making herself sound like a terrorist with her knowledge of explosives. Though technically she likely did fall into that category a few times considering she'd had to use explosives to gain entrance into a few of the ruins she found herself sifting through usually scaring the hell out of the indigenous population at the same time.
As Hi'Jak asked about her profession she looked toward him "Sort of...Relics, Treasure, Junk that some Ferengi thinks has value...Whatever makes the most money I suppose..." Sera said in response to his question. She shrugged her shoulders as he mentioned the legality of her work. "It's only illegal if I get caught. And here is not on my list of places I'd like to be at this current moment in time...I'd much rather be off brokering a deal with someone who actually knows what the hell he's talking about instead of an arse who likely spends the majority of time polishing the bald spot on his fucking head." Sera muttered her tone growing a bit bitter towards the end of her sentence. She was quiet for a moment before she realized she hadn't fully answered his question.
"I got into a spot of trouble on my last expedition...I got it cleared up but port authority still has my ship impounded and I have to wade through a sea of red tape to get it out." Sera said crossing her arms. "Once my paperwork clears I can get going again." She added.
[Lt Hi'Jak (https://orig03.deviantart.net/94e6/f/2015/265/a/e/hi_jack_02_by_auctor_lucan-d86nthi.png)|Science Center | Lab 17] Attn: Rosaria
Hi'jack hadn't thought of that, and it was pretty clear from the look that ran across his face that he had a brand new respect for Sera as she mentioned the idea of matching up chemical residue rather then just the metal type. It was pretty clear that he was out of his area. "Thanks, that will work a lot better then I thought."
For the moment he was disregarding the fact that she was knowledgeable in explosives simply because she was more knowledgable than him. In any other situation he may have gave security a ring up, it would have even given him an excuse to message Komial, but that could wait for when he actually had a result he could show her. He could set the machine to scan the device for residue, but then paused. "Wait how do we know which residue is explosive, and which is... Romulan?"
It had exploded inside someones neck after all. He grimaced slightly at that but figured he could work it out in the long run. He could also cross refrence the list even further on the hope of finding a remote detonated bomb on the list. Putting the fragment to work he set the scanner and let it work.
He sighed. "I'm probably not even authorised to show you any of the results, but something is telling me that you will probably have an easier time reading them then I would. This is a little out of my field actually. And if I were you I think I would work on getting your ship back quickly then. While normally I'd say that this is probably the safest place in the universe, things are really starting to go tits up from what I understand. First there was all this talk about a renegade Federation ship, and now a bomb goes off inside a romulan's neck inside the Starbase... things are only going to get wierder."
Jack scratched his head and gave a soft nervous laugh. This wasn't exactly the type of thing he liked to talk about as his main field of expertise rarely if ever meshed with the actual work he did aboard this station. "Any way the results should be done soon-ish and will display on that screen."
OOC: I'm thinking that after Hi'jack's next post we should get the results from Auctor.
[ Melissa Wright | Shuttlebay 17-C | Starbase 84 ] Attn: RosariaRosette
When she'd been carted off from the Andorian shipyards way out to Starbase 84, Melissa had expected her life to get quite dull, quite fast. No more patching up precious old vessels and giving new life to venerable aging chassis; just a whole bunch of glorified inspection duties and maintenance on phaser arrays that weren't going to be put to use for at least another five years. The work on this station had thus pleasantly surprised her a few weeks after reassignment when a project equal parts unexpected and exciting landed in her lap.
Thanks to her experience with refitting ancient ships for modern service, Mel had been assigned to strip out half the systems on an old shuttle that had been recently impounded and mount on brand new tactical components. The Sabine, as it was apparently christened by the former owner, had become an abandoned prototype for a fighter-like craft that was sold to a high bigger when the original project fell apart. Now that it had landed back in their hands, Starfleet had decided it wanted to reopen the old program and refit the chassis with entirely modern systems.
It had made for one hell of a challenge over the past weeks, but not an unwelcome one. Starfleet being as obstinate as it was, the higher-ups expecting her to take this ship apart and piece it together again had decided not to declassify the old production records and blueprints. The first week alone had mainly involved tinkering with the aging vessel in order to sketch up schematics of it and figure out what parts were going where. That work had ultimately led her to the conclusion that little more beyond the hull itself was salvageable; quite frankly, with all the decay this ship had undergone, she didn't know how it had ever stayed in one piece for this long.
Since then the work had proceeded relatively smoothly. It kept Melissa and a couple of occasional helpers busy all through the duty shift, but it was enjoyable work. Ripping out computer systems well past their prime and EPS conduits corroded beyond any safe usage held its own gratifications. New computers had been installed within a day, soon hooked up to a completely redone EPS grid, a new propulsion system that was about ready to be brought online, and her personal favorite, a tremendously expanded weapons array.
Starfleet had asked for a heavily-armed vessel - a gunboat, to be specific - and oh lordy had Mel delivered. Aside from a heavy phaser pulse cannon on the end of each wing, she'd fitted another pair of smaller, anti-fighter cannons onto the front of the ship, right above an underside-mounted micro torpedo launcher. Two more conventional phaser arrays had been integrated into each wing, able to be hidden underneath a retractable sheath that she'd installed on a particularly insomnia-filled night. The shield systems were the heaviest that she'd been able to cram onto the vessel without having to rip out other systems to make room for the generator.
There had been a hiccup as the engineer had been forced to replace the EPS conduits a second time upon realizing the ones she'd installed couldn't handle the power load coming from the new warp core, but that had been the only major impediment. Said warp core was the last major item to be installed, and the biggest thing to address on today's agenda. It was already in place and simply needed to be fully powered on and diagnostics run before the ship could be declared space worthy. She'd already talked - alright, bribed with some genuine alcohol - some of the base's piloting team in order to ensure she could fly her latest project on its first test drive. After all these long hours over the past weeks, the blonde couldn't imagine letting it go out into the void without even once being at the helm.
Well, it was the second to last item. She fully inteded to paint some fine-ass flame decals onto this thing's hull when all the internal work was complete.
In the midst of hooking up some of the last antimatter injectors, she was distracted from her work by the sound of knuckles rapping against a bulkhead. Her head swiveled to find one of the senior engineers, Lieutenant O'Hanrahan, standing in the doorway to the small vessel's engineering compartment. The expression of weariness on his face didn't exactly fill her with optimism, but there was enough of that emotion already coursing through her veins to make up for his sour demeanor.
"About wrapped up with the repair job?" he asked in a dull tone.
"Just about, sir," she replied with an excited nod. "Gotta get this core hooked up and give it a checkup, but this thing is gonna be ready to fly by tomorrow. Maybe even this afternoon."
His own nod was decidedly less enthused. "Good. Once you have the Sabine ready, you're to remove the additional weapons systems and hand over the ship to Security."
The color vanished from her previously-rosy cheeks. "Sir? Can you run that by me one more time?" Remove... remove the weapons? The guns she had spent weeks bolting onto this thing? What? Who? How? Why in the hell?
"You heard me, Petty Officer. This vessel has been cleared from impound. Starfleet has decided to return it to its owner, Ms. vers Aldnoah, once your modifications are removed."
You've gotta be shitting me. "Sir, permission to speak freely?"
"Denied. Do your job, Petty Officer, and report back when complete for your next assignment."
With that he left as suddenly as he departed, leaving behind a blonde who was equal parts befuddled and infuriated. Just like that, all her work was for naught? Here she'd been following orders for weeks, doing everything she was supposed to and throwing herself into this project. And that was how her superiors showed appreciation for all that dedicated effort? A curt order to undo the most critical portions and hand this freshly-restored machine off to the idiot who'd kept it in awful condition? What, had the universe suddenly mistaken her for a toilet?!
Oh this was not going to go down this way. Not a chance in hell was she just going along with that. Growling in growing anger, she peeled away from the antimatter containers before her frustration could cause her to slam a fragile injector into the floor and blow up half the station. Fuck orders, she wasn't just going to hand over weeks of hard labor to security officers who'd give it to an irresponsible owner without a second thought. At the absolute bare minimum, she was going to have a thorough talk this this 'Aldnoah' chick about proper care for a starship before letting her get another crack at the vessel. And possibly, she was going to knock the woman's jaw off for letting the Sabine get into such poor condition in the first place.
The joy in her voice was gone as she spat out a vocal order to the air. "Computer, send a message to Ms. vers Aldnoah, telling her to get her ass up here, right now."
"Request could not be completed," the monotone voice responded, "Please restate."
Fucking formal voice input software. "Send a message to Ms. vers Aldnoah," she said again, fighting to keep her tone a bit more subdued, "Telling her to meet me in Bay 17-C as soon as humanly possible."
"Acknowledged. Message has been sent."
Now she just had to fight to keep down the urge to punch through a bulkhead until this woman arrived.
[ Sera vers Aldnoah | Science Center | Lab 17 ]
Sera's as Hi'Jak mentioned differentiating the bits of chemical residue from bits of Romulan recoiled a bit how was she supposed to know that. "I'll um..." She paused for a moment as the image of a Romulan's head being blown to bits flashed past her mind's eye. "I'll let you figure out how to deal with that particular issue." Sera said giving the science officer a hesitant pat on the shoulder. Generally when she used explosives it was to blast open a bulkhead or a wall sure there was one time when a some monstrous beast on Sedna had eaten her rucksack. But that was hardly on purpose.
As Hi'Jak continued to prep the fragment for scanning she listened to him speak as he worked. She walked over to the table she'd been seated at not long ago and sat on the edge. "Trust me if I had my say in the matter Sabine would be mine again already...But apparently my paper work isn't at the top of Port authority's to-do list." Sera said. She had to admit she was really getting impatient waiting to get her damn ship back sure it may be a bit old and far from working order but it was still her damn ship. It was more than her ship it was her home and she was getting it back one way or another even if she had to steal the damned thing back.
As Hi'Jak spoke about how long the scan would take Sera nodded and settled in to wait. Her wait was cut short however as a chime rang throughout the room catching her attention. "Ms.Sera ver Aldnoah your presence is requested in Bay 17-C at your earliest convenience." A computerized voice said. Sera pushed off the table and took up her bag "Well then I guess that cuts our time short then." Sera said shrugging "I'll be back and you can tell me about what the scanner said." Sera said nodding before heading toward the door. She stopped at the door before reaching into her bag rummaging through it a bit until her hand wrapped around one of the relics she'd neglected to show Hi'Jak's superior officer. "By the way mind scanning this too? I know your idiot boss took a look already but maybe you'll see something he can't." Sera said walking over to place the object beside Hi'Jak.
She quickly moved back toward the door "I'll see you later." She said before leaving the lab and Hi'Jak behind.
[Shuttlebay 17-C | Starbase 84]
Sera could only wonder who had asked for her. Maybe she was finally getting her ship back the very prospect of the idea made a smile form on Sera's lips as she navigated the halls of Starbase 84. But still she shouldn't really get her hopes up too much it didn't take her long to arrive at her destination. As she peeked inside of the bay her eyes widened at the sight that awaited her within. Sitting in the center of the bay was Sabine but rather than the old and ancient looking ship she'd been so used to piloting over the years she instead had a ship that looked like it had just rolled off the assembly line at some Starfleet shipyard.
She approached the ship blinking at the new armaments that adorned the ship's hull. Before the only weapons she had on the ship were a few small arms and the aged Tetryon cannons that some junkyard merchant had fitted onto the ship for her at the cost of a few more credits. She reached out placing a hand on the ship's hull smiling as she could see her reflection faintly in the cleaned nearly chrome looking metal of the hull. "Someone took good care of you while I was gone huh Sabine?" Sera said grinning.
[ Melissa Wright | Shuttlebay 17-C | Starbase 84 ] Attn: RosariaRosette
“Well, somebody had to take care of it, ‘cause God knows you didn’t.”
The confrontational voice came from the blonde rounding a corner around the front of the ship. Gripped tightly in the jumpsuited engineer’s hands was one of the Sabine’s old EPS conduits, its weathered state a testament to just how rough the ship had gotten before being impounded. She looked the other woman up and down with a matchingly rough expression on her face. Quite frankly, she was expecting someone in terrible physical shape with the hygienic habits of a feral baboon, given how little essential maintenance the Sabine had undergone; that it was a woman who seemed to be in shape and clearly took care of herself ran rather perpendicular to her expectations.
Despite that, Melissa didn’t even bother with introductions as she held up the aged piping for Aldnoah to view. “You see this shit? This nasty-ass corrosion?” She pointed to the heavily pitted walls of the conduit, a mess of dings and thinning metallic shielding. “I’ve seen conduits in better shape than this blow up under high stress. Jesus Christ, I don’t know how in the flying fuck this thing didn’t explode every time you accelerated to warp!”
It was a struggle to stay calm as she tossed the conduit over her back, letting it clang against the floor several times until it stopped bouncing by some cargo crates. Calm, calm, calm it Mel, don’t hit her, don’t hit her, don’t hit her too hard. She let out a flustered sigh as both hands lifted up to rub her temples. “Your ship’s out of impound,” she groaned out, “But we need to have a chat before you take it anywhere. There’s a whole bunch of new systems that we installed, and someone in this room needs a remedial course on How To Maintain a Starship and Not Blow Yourself to Hell Every Time You Fire Up the Engines.”
[ Petty Officer Sanford | USS Resolve | Main Sickbay | Deck 07 ] Attn: Havenborn & FollowTomorrow
The increase of pain, it felt like it was about to reach a crescendo, and Sanford did not want to know what would happen then. It felt... inevitable, and it frightened him. The darkness was worst of all, the implication that he might be blind too hard to handle. he shied away from the thought. It was difficult to focus as it were, feeling as if he was on fire but no one was trying to quench the flames. Why couldn't anyone help him? The voice, it had said 'sickbay' instead of 'infirmary'. The homecoming. The Resolve. He had to be on the Luna-class ship, speaking to one of its crew. The pain was making his arms and legs tremble, and he had no strength to move them.
Focus. The pain was getting worse, as if the sedatives he had been given was thinning out in his veins. Was it a doctor? He needed to know what he had done. Perhaps the voice could save him, take away the pain. What had he done? He could barely remember. I was going to download from the database, collect a sample to check for digital contamination.
"I 'as 'oing toh doh-load 'om the data-ashe, collecht a scham-le toh scheck 'or digitahl contha-ination." What was wrong with his mouth? He tried to articulate, but it was as if his lips weren't there. He swallowed, trying to remember what happened next. The pain was getting worse. He could hear his limbs shaking on the biobed, and he felt so weak. Please, it hurts, make it stop... Make it stop, doctor...
"'Eh-se, it hurtch, ahke it scho'... Ahke it scho', dochtor..." He tried not to let his fear take over, but he felt like he was about to panic. His tongue felt thick, and he was breathing fast, as if he was running. Runing while lying down. How did he end up this way? He remembered... flaring bright colours on a control panel. It was the panel he had been working at, wasn't it? The one he had put the chip into. There was something else he recalled... A malfunction. There was no download. The chip uploaded something. There was a warning. Overload. That's all... That's... all I remember. Please, help me. Make it stop. Make it stop.
"There 'as no doh-load. The schip u'loaded schomthing. There 'as a 'arning. O'erload. Thatch... all I reh'e'ber. Eh-se, hel' meh. Ahke it scho'. Ahke it scho'."
He was still running, even though he knew he wasn't, his laboured breaths wheezing through his teeth. Where was he running to? Anywhere else, he reckoned, than the pain of the dark.
[ Ensign Krystal Tancredi | Below the Sub-space Acquisition Grid | Starbase 84 ] Attn: Ensign Six & Keval
When the Borg named Six confirmed that an Orion woman had been apprehended and detained, Krystal looked away and cursed under her breath. That Bradford asshole in Security had kept it from her when she had contacted the Starbase to hear if there had been any sighting of A'vura. She had given him a complete description, and yet he said nothing, saying that he was not privy to share information. That meant that the Captain and F'Rell were on the right track to find A'vura.
But the bomb and the dead Romulan, what was that all about? And why had A'vura been there of all places? Krystal trusted A'vura, and the COps had been with them from day one of their three-year voyage. There was no way in hell she could be conspiring with the Romulans. So while they had an answer to where A'vura had gone, Krystal felt like they had even more questions than before.
The exchange between the Brunali Borg and the Andorian turned rather amusing to Krystal when they spoke of terminology from Earth and tried to explain themselves. Dark humour, perhaps, given the presence of the dead body. She was quite relieved to see the head put in a bag and removed from her sight, even if she was quite used to blood. Her dad used to hunt when she lived at home, and she had even helped him with the game he brought home to the farm. There was a signficant difference, however, between a dead Romulan body and a roe deer. Nonetheless, she followed in Keval's wake as they followed the Borg.
The question about the Romulan was good. Were they looking at a political incident, where the dead Romulan was a diplomat or a part of a Romulan delegation, or had it been a Starfleet officer? If neither, a civilian? Or worse, was there no record of the Romulan, meaning that he had been a spy that had slipped aboard the base? The talk about chemicals, however, went right above Krystal's head, and she refrained from commenting on that. She did not even know the chemical term for good ol' gunpowder.
[ F'Rell of the 12th House | Detention Center | Starbase 84] Attn: Everyone in the brig
The security officer, Bradford as the captain called him, was a thoroughly unpleasant person. Most members of the Starfleet had treated her with a degree of wonder since her arrival, and it had not seemed that they viewed her as any less deserving of the rights and privileges observed by all, yet this man seemed to view her as some beast that might have been contaminated. Were she not the gentle being she was, she would have remarked on his rudeness, as it was she said nothing and followed after them into the main holding area.
She quickly moved from holding cell to holding cell, peering in and looking for the lost operations officer, her long elegant body drifting easily through the air. She paused outside of a cell. Her long tendrils vibrated in relief when she saw the Orion. "It is alright, we will get you out of here shortly," came the voice of her communicator as her tendrils vibrated. She turned to the Captain and gave him a nod, shooting a scornful look to the security officer.
"I am certain this is nothing more than a mistake made by ill informed and under-trained security personnel," continued the voice from the communicator. She turned it up loud enough for both the captain and the security officer to hear. Though she could not convey tone across through the translator, she hoped her words said enough about her disdain for him.
[ LT Daniel Havenborn | USS Resolve | Main Sickbay | Deck 07 ] Attn: Auctor Lucan, FollowTomorrow
Daniel listened as closely as he could as he shut out the world around him; nothing else existed in this moment except for him and Petty Officer Sanford. As the man tried to speak he could feel the pain in his voice. It sounded like he was trying to a download to check for something, it was hard to understand him through all of the pain he was in. The hypospray he had on him would put him back to sleep and he couldn't give it to him just yet he needed to know more.
As he was about to ask the man for clarification, he spoke up again in that pain-filled voice of his. Daniel would likely remember this for days to come but if it helped find answers to what happened he could live with that. What he asked for next sounded like he wanted the pain to stop, Daniel wanted to give him something for the pain he really did but he needed some more information first.
"Petty Officer Sanford can you remember anything else, I can make the pain stop just tell me anything else you can remember." He said, he knew that some would find this cruel but he felt it was necessary. Daniel heard him speak some more and instead of a download it sounded like it was an upload and then there was an overload. Daniel had hoped that he had understood the Petty Officer right.
"Thank you Petty Officer Sanford, you can rest now." He said as he pressed the hypospray against his neck and pressed the activator. So an upload was done and it triggered some kind of overload, this definitely sounded like sabotage.
[ Lt. Jg. Suq | USS Resolve | Main Sickbay ] Attn: Auctor Lucan, Havenborn
Suq waited until he heard the hiss of the hypo to turn his back on Sanford and open his eyes again. He let go of the breath he didn't know he was holding. He took a moment to swallow his emotions down. Right now was not the time. When he spoke, his voice sounded wobbly and uncertain, as if he was just now remembering how to talk;
"Mister Havenborn...If you would...that is, correct me if I'm wrong, but...it sounded like he said that he was going to...to download from the database, collect...collect something...
There was no download, he said, the ship...the ship uploaded something? There was a warning, then an overload...."
His voice trailed off. That explanation made no sense. What would the ship upload, and why would it upload something? Could it be that their systems carried some sort of alien virus, and it only just manifested now? That makes no sense, he's used that console before, so have many other engineers. Why would it only manifest now?
"This...This is troubling." He muttered, and turned back to Havenborn to hear his reaction. He didn't want to see Sanford, so he anchored his gaze on Havenborn. The effect was unintentional, Suq seemed to be staring at him with intensity.
[Komial Dotnhil | Starbase 84 | Base Commanders Quarters]Atten: Lucan
It was all the Trill could do to keep the grimace from passing over her face as she saw Ian frown in turn. she knew the news wasn't good at all, and she waited on bated breath to hear the reprimand that was sure to come. He surmised - correctly - the reasons for why she had not yet interviewed their suspect - the delay, and the desire to report to Ian. Before she could answer him however, he leaned in to take the PADD - and kiss her. True, it was just a light brush of warm lips against chilled ones, and yet it was enough to tease the smallest of sighs from her mouth, and to allow the sudden tension in her shoulders to ease and fade away.
"If only your people were half as good as you, then you would have learned about this meeting before it even took place." It was a slap against her staff - or perhaps simply against her forensic specialist - while at the same time reminding her that he had confidence in her abilities. While things hadn't turned out great with the investigation yet, she was still in his good graces.
Which was where she loved being, as he teased his thumb across her lips. She opened those full lips in turn, and gently, oh so gently sucked on the tip of his thumb as she nodded in understanding, not trusting herself to speak for fear of how husky the words that would tumble out would surly sound. Her finger tips brushed against his, as he took her hand in his speaking softly - and placed the cool palm against his warm shaft, and then she knew what is was he wanted.
A smirk passed over her lips - she couldn't help it - as his words lead to inspiration. "Yes sir," she whispered softly, heavy with desire, as she sunk to her knees, hand gliding over his shaft. She listed - she knew how to multitask - as she wrapped her fingers tightly along that rod of velvety dark chocolate now placed before her hungry eyes.
He went on, reading and musing and Komial lodged away the facts in the back of her mind, how the suspect in question could very well be a spy planted on the Resolve or even by its crew. It would be disappointing if the returning heros ended up being less...heroic than she'd hoped. But she kept the frown off her face then as well, by simply opening her mouth and letting her tongue dart out. She licked, slowly, from base to tip along his curved shaft.
"Every precaution, sir," she murmured against his balls as one hand moved to cup them. Her mouth opened wider and she closed her lips over the swollen cock-head offered up to her. She hummed, deeply, as her cheeks hollowed out momentarily. A groan followed as her tongue began to flick out faster, and faster. Swirling around the swollen tip, around the ridge of it, then sliding down his shaft, slowly taking her commander deeper...and deeper.
[ Captain Ian Hawthorne | Base Commander's Quarters ] Attn: Brutus
Ian let out a deep breath, shuddering as he did because of what Komial was doing to him. After the warm bath he had taken, the Trill's slightly colder-than-human lips and tongue felt quite divine - if one would be of the religious kind.
"Good, I know you won't fail me," he murmured, looking down into her eyes while his hardness was treated by her cool mouth. His pulse quickened at the sight alone, and he reached down to run his artificial fingers through her hair, making a fist and encouraging her movements with his grip. He had put the PADD aside, finished reading it, and focused fully on his Chief of Security.
"If it is indeed... Ensign A'vura that you have in custody... I think you will have to search the USS Resolve for more evidence," he said idly, swallowing before he could continue. The pleasure she dealt him made his mouth dry. "I will sanction it, of course... Captain Kendrick and his crew can speak with me if they raise any issue against the search. Times are troublesome... with the civil war and the renegade ships out there... so I am sure Kendrick will understand the necessity."
Wanting to proceed with the known little dance they were in, Ian urged her to stand with his hands. He kissed her, passionately so, and pushed her up on the edge of the washbasin with some urgency. Then his mouth travelled - hiking up any remaining clothes so that he could cover a roused peak with his mouth. He swirled his tongue around the nub, before descending the Trill's body with lips and tongue.
"If it was this Orion from the Resolve, let's hope it was just her..." he said in his deep voice, and then he put her thighs on top of his shoulders so that he may taste her sex - treating her for what she had done for him.
[ Captain Tristan Kendrick | Brig ] Attn: 1) Vystori 2) RedBaron 3) Absinthe
As soon as F'Rell indicated that she had found A'vura in one of the cells, Tristan took longer strides to reach her. Bradford was mumbling something behind Tristan, but he did not care - not immediately. His immediate concern was A'vura and her well-being.
Once he appeared in front of the holding cell, he took stock of her appearance, seeing dark stains of basil blood on a rumbled and askew dress uniform. She appeared unhurt, however, and that was a relief. Her raised voice had not indicated any injuries either, and Tristan let out a small sigh. "What happened?" he asked her, the worry plain in his tone. "Are you hurt?"
Why was there blood on her clothes? Had she been falsely accused for something that had happened when the bomb detonated? She had vanished by that time, so it was not that much of a stretch to figure out that she had happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Not for a moment did he think A'vura had anything to do with it. He trusted her implicitly, and how could he not after all the things he and his crew had been through the past three years?
At one point when A'vura spoke, Tristan glanced across the corridor they were in - finding a mahogany-haired... Vulcan, or a Romulan. It was hard to see because of the surgical scars on his forehead, but he had the eyebrows and the ears. He met the man's gaze briefly, wondering if he had been arrested at the same time as A'vura was. He looked away soon enough, returning his attention to A'vura and F'Rell. The T'fanrell was an intimidating sight, and he nodded for her to interpose herself between Tristan and the straggling security guard. Tristan had no interest in letting Bradford interject while A'vura spoke.
[Lt Hi'Jak (https://orig03.deviantart.net/94e6/f/2015/265/a/e/hi_jack_02_by_auctor_lucan-d86nthi.png)|Science Center | Lab 17] Attn: Rosaria, Auctor Lucan
As Sera was called away Hi'Jak gave a small sigh so much for his lab assistant sticking around to help him decode the results. It was a shame her ideas had been rather handy so far, and as she moved to leave he watched her go with a pleasant smile. "Well hopefully you will be out of here before the shit really hits the fan then."
He gave a puzzled look as she turned back for a moment before handing him a relic she had found on her adventures. Just holding the thing he could tell that it was neat, it was a smooth triangular device, with several lines running along it, his first inclination was that it was a puzzle game of sorts. Like the old Rubrik Cubes only triangular and instead of colors there were symbols along each segmented line. They seemed scattered, but without knowing what they were and how they fit together it wasn't exactly going to be easy to solve it.
"Ooh I love puzzles. I'll take a scan of it sure." He said lightly, he almost immediately considered paying a price for the thing just because it was a neat little puzzle toy, he shook it around to try and hear if anything was inside of it, but it seemed pretty solid to him. Holding it in his hands it wasn't much more then a palm sized toy made of an older metal, at least he thought it was metal it was cold and smooth to the touch. He gave the triangle a twist just to see if the thing matched his theory and sure enough it moved like any other Rubrik Triangle
"Neat."
At that however there was a soft ding in the air that marked the finished scan, and he moved over to the consol putting down the puzzle until he could ask Sera if he could keep it later.
[Ensign Six (https://img14.deviantart.net/51cf/i/2015/255/0/5/six_01_by_auctor_lucan-d91bx0h.png) | Below the Sub-space Acquisition Grid heading toward Forensic Lab| Starbase 84] attn: Lucan, DocReno
Ensign Six nodded frankly at his explanation. She was going to have to get more used to these... idioms, if she was going to be more socially accepted as one of the crew. Perhaps on her next bout of free time she could take the time to look through a database and learn a few, or a few thousand.
When he changed the topic once more to the issue at hand though, she stopped to think for a moment. Keval was asking a lot of questions, questions she felt he likely knew she was not supposed to disclose at this time. But his operations officer /was/ missing, and they did have an Orian female in the brig at this time. Six couldn't say she blamed the Lieutenant for wanting answers if he could pry them from her. Everything was indeed becoming more and more suspicious, even to her. Six couldn't quite put her finger on it at this time, but something wasn't sitting right with her, and she would be determined to find out what it was.
Finally she nodded at him with firm regard. There had indeed been traces of Triceron found on and around the body, but she just wasn't able to disclose such information at this time. "I'm afraid, Lieutenant, that telling you anything further of my investigation at this point, would go against protocol. I do apologize. I know you must be concerned for your fellow shipmate and where she might be, and I can see the concern you have over this, incident here. I can assure you, that once you have the clearance and I finish my initial report, that information will be shared with you, but until I've reported to my own superior officer I just cannot disclose anything more. I would suggest that you wait the hour or two that it will take for me to perform my autopsy and testing, then speak with your commanding officer, as well as the Starbase commanding officer Captain Hawthorn, to find out the information you are seeking."
By the time she finished speaking they had made it to her forensics lab. "I'm afraid I'm going to have to leave you here for now so I can complete my work unhindered. Should I hear anything, or be given permission to share any of my knowledge, I will come to you myself to fill you in on anything I am able." With a sort of forced smile, and a polite nod, she entered her lab and left the two standing where they were. It always bothered her to tell other higher ranking officers to bugger off as it were, but at this point she really had little choice lest she get herself into deep water by saying something she shouldn't.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
[Ensign A'vura Zeshryr (https://orig08.deviantart.net/ca09/f/2015/289/a/2/a_vura_row_01_by_auctor_lucan-d9d9ngm.png) | Detention Center | Starbase 84] Attn: RedBaron, Lucan, Absinthe
A'vura was more than a little relieved to see her commanding officer and crewmate come into the brig. No one had as of yet answered her and why she was there, and the longer she had been, the more concerned she had become. Stepping closer to the force field separating her from her ship's captain she spoke to him with certainty.
"I'm not sure what happened Captain. I mistook the Romulan for a Starbase crewman, and tried to ask him for directions after I became lost in their corridors. He ran from me. I tried to use my Comm badge but it hadn't been synced up properly yet, so I chased after him instead. I mean why would he run unless he was doing something wrong? So I thought to catch him and help turn him in. I followed him into the Jeffries Tubes and he attacked me. He.. " she looked down a moment, blushing as much as her green hued skin would allow, before clearing her throat and looking back up at him as she stood up straighter once more. "He put his hands on me. I tried to fight him off but he had managed to get the better of me. Before I knew it he was talking in a language I didn't understand, like he was arguing with someone, and then.. and then his head just sort of exploded. I left the tubes and entered back into the corridors, looking for anyone I could tell what happened two when this idiot halted me, guns a'blazing, without letting me get a word in edgewise. He spewed racist comments at me and when I tried to protest to him and identified myself as a Starfleet officer but he fired his weapon and took me down anyway. I've no idea where my Comm badge, but you might want to ask him if he's seen it."
As she spoke the last couple of sentences she nodded her head in the direction of Bradford and scowled at him to boot. He had been too gung-ho and trigger happy with her and she was not against showing her distaste for him one bit. Finally she looked back up at Tristan. "Please get me out of here Captain. I didn't do anything wrong. He attacked me. I don't know anything else about what happened to him or how."
[ LT Daniel Havenborn | USS Resolve | Sickbay > Engineering ] Attn: Auctor Lucan, FollowTomorrow
Daniel had to admit that Lieutenant Suq was right, this was indeed troubling. "I think he said chip though, not ship. It makes far more sense that he was talking about a chip that uploaded something into the ship's database." He said, but what did it upload and what caused the overload were the real questions. "Let's head down to engineering and see if we can't piece together what happened." He said as he motioned for the man to follow him. "Computer, reactivate the Emergency Medical Hologram." Daniel said as he watched the EMH materialize in front of him. "I leave the patient in your care Doctor." He said as he and Suq left the room and stepped into the corridor heading towards the turbolift.
He tapped his combadge to contact the onboard security personnel. "Computer, use encryption protocol Alpha-Six-One, priority alert to all Security officers. Message as follows: This is Lieutenant Havenborn, please escort all Starbase 84 crewmembers off the ship and place us under quarantine, also place the ship on yellow alert." He said as the computer responded an affirmative.
He tapped his combadge and waited a moment while the computer processed his request. "Captain Kendrick, we've had a problem onboard." He said to the combadge as he paused for a second. "There was an explosion onboard, so far Lieutenant Suq and I have determined that a Petty Officer 2nd Class Sanford whether deliberately or unintentionally uploaded something into the ship's database which caused an overload and an explosion. I'm having the ship placed under quarantine and taking us to yellow alert." He said.
[ Sera vers Aldnoah | Shuttle Bay 17-C | Starbase 18 ]
Sera's attention was drawn away from Sabine as a woman spoke up declaring her presence and from the sounds of it her annoyance with Sera's maintenance habits when it came to the ship. The woman came into view shortly after her words had reached Sera the woman was taller than Sera by quite a few inches and the sour expression on her face said even more than her words did. She wasn't happy and Sera could only guess that the weathered looking piece of machinery in her hands was the reason behind it. There was no lie to tell Sera was horrible at maintaining her own ship she couldn't count the number of times she'd had to bring it in for service and being that her profession wasn't the most well paying of things often the service she got consisted of temp fixes and shoddy thrown together work and the occasional jury rigged part that somehow didn't cause the entire ship to explode.
As the woman held up the part she began pointing out specific parts of the damage to be honest the entire thing looked so broken that Sera was having a spot of trouble seeing the things the woman was pointing out. She opened her mouth to speak but as soon as her lips parted the woman once again unleashed another no doubt frustration fueled tirade upon her. Considering the woman's anger and Sabine's condition she could only guess that she was responsible for Sabine's rescue from the brink of scrap which was likely one of the few reasons that Sera wasn't losing her cool at the moment when she normally would have. Sabine was her home now and the thought of losing her was a painful thought so in a way she owed the woman the right to a few angry words.
She was quiet as the woman finished her lecture wincing as the part clanged loudly against the hangar floor after the woman had thrown it. Sera blinked as the woman seemed to rein herself in from another angry lecture. She felt a smile cross her lips as the news that Sabine was once again hers reached her. Anger aside part of her wanted to hug the woman after receiving the news. As the mechanic mentioned the need for a few words between the two of them all Sera could do was nod eagerly "Alright definitely!" Sera said she wasn't against the idea of getting a better grasp of how her ship worked and how to make sure it didn't fall into the condition it had been in previously. "Can we see inside though?" Sera asked for so long she'd had to sleep in the dormitories on the Starbase and it would be nice to step foot inside her ship again.
[ Melissa Wright | Shuttlebay 17-C | Starbase 84 ] Attn: RosariaRosette
By now, Mel's seething rage was subsiding, replaced by a melancholy resentment of current circumstances. The fact that Aldnoah was eager to learn about how not to screw up her ship again helped things quite a bit. If this had descended into a shouting match, Melissa probably would've ended up turning that into an impromptu boxing match, and then both of them would be out a ship as they simmered down in the brig. If anything, the cheerfulness that Sera was demonstrating helped the petty officer redirect some of her frustration back towards her superiors, the giant louts.
"Yeah, c'mon," she grunted while heading up the craft's loading ramp, signaling for Sera to come along. "Name's Mel, by the way. In case you wonder why it's scratched onto the impulse manifold."
Said manifold was out of view in the back as Wright waved her into the freshly-restored central area of the shuttle. Melissa had personally ensured that every surface was as shiny as if the Sabine had just rolled off the line at Utopia Planitia, every display and metallic surface cleaned to a perfect sheen. "We ended up replacing all the consoles with some that aren't older than dirt. Computer core's been switched out for a new one too, along with the shields and every centimeter of EPS conduit. It'll last for years, but you oughta run a diagnostic and some integrity scans a few times a year, just to make sure this thing isn't gonna fly apart at the seams."
The blonde was still fuming as she took a seat in one of the chairs at the front of the ship, where the main controls had been recently refitted to meet modern Starfleet standards. "Warp core should be online by the end of the day. Also installed a whole lovely bunch of new guns, but Security's gonna want all those ripped off before you can leave." She snorted audibly. "Because, y'know, isn't that just awesome?" Her words were punctuated by plenty of angered tapping against the currently inactive displays. "They have me bust my ass for weeks turning this thing into a gunship, and then it's just 'hey nope sorry take off all those sweet weapons now thanks bye'. Height of fuckin' fairness, am I right?!"
[ Captain Tristan Kendrick |Starbase 84| Brig ] Attn: Vystori, Red Barron, Absinthe, Havenborn.
Tristan listened to his chief of operations speak and immediately understood that this was a case of her being in the wrong place at the wrong time. He nodded and understood why she had done what she had, and as she spoke about the more traumatic parts of her event he had nothing but sympathy for her. "Don't worry we will get you out of there A'vura, and then you can work towards putting all of this behind you. For now I'm glad that you survived this encounter."
He gave her a calm reassured look they would find some way to get her out. He had some doubts that this would be easy but he could make a compelling argument and they would be back on the resolve-
His thoughts were cut off as Lieutenant Havenborn spoke to him. With the ship under quarantine there was no way for him or the people that had disembarked to get back onto the Resolve. "Understood Lieutenant, and keep the ship locked down. Make sure that Sanford survives and then place him under 24 hour surveillance. Also I don't think I need to tell you this, but get a team to find out what ever data was uploaded onto the Resolve and assess the damage." It wasn't a perfect situation they would have to enforce the lock down which meant that for the moment he and the other members of his crew were stuck with on the starbase which may as well have been enemy territory. "F'Rell my friend I'm going to have to appologize this may take longer then we originally anticipated."
"As for you, A'vura, sit tight, i'm sorry to say that we are a little stuck, even if I could get you out of that cell right now we can't return to the ship. I hate to say it but you may be safer here than out side of that force field." He gave her a sympathetic look as he wanted nothing more then to see her free. "Officer Bradford, since I need to leave the brig, and it seems that only two people can be admitted as visitors at a time I think I will tag out with the two officers who I brought with me. They are close friends of A'vura and won't cause any problems."
If he had to leave A'vura under guard then he was damn well going to have it be his guards and not some people that he didn't trust but he and F'Rell had a new job at hand.
"In the meantime, Bradford, I'd like to meet with your superiors as quickly as possible to get these matters sorted out. As far as I can see you are holding one of my crew under false charges which need to be dropped." Of course he had to also deal with the fact that someone had detonated some sort of bomb on his ship, but since he wasn't able to get aboard the ship while quarantine was in play that wasn't going to happen.
[ Sera ver Aldnoah | Shuttlebay 17-C | Starbase 84 ]
Sera followed Melissa up Sabine's loading ramp tucking her hands into the pockets of her jacket "I'm Sera." She said as she took in the new finish on just about everything inside the ship. If she had to guess this was likely what Sabine looked like before she traded hands with about several dozen different owners and got stuck with her. To say that Sera was surprised was an understatement she'd grown so used to the old Sabine's dirty and rusted interior that she never really gave any thought to what Sabine might have looked like during it's prime.
As Melissa went down the list of changes that Sabine had gone through she nodded as she continued to look around. Everything seemed so different but definitely not in a bad way. As Mel took a seat in one of the seats in the cockpit Sera continued to wander around Mel's voice carried through the ship allowing Sera to continue listening in to everything the woman was saying. She was amazed that so much work had gone into refitting Sabine to be quite honest she thought that Starfleet would just end up giving her back Sabine in the same condition she'd brought her in.
She perked up as she heard mention of Sabine having been refitted to be a gunship. She walked back to the bridge "I'm guessing with all the nice additions they had you slap on they probably weren't planning on giving her back to me were they?" Sera said bluntly. Part of Sera wasn't surprised when she'd bought Sabine years go the owner told her it was an old Starfleet prototype it figured they'd want it back. She sank down into the seat beside Melissa turning to face the woman "Well if there's something Starfleet certainly excels at it's wasting the time of others." Sera said sighing "In this case, Yours and mine." She added as she looked over at Sabine's controls. She glanced at the controls and back at the woman seated beside her for a moment "Can we take her on a test flight? Y'know before they have you strip her down again?" Sera asked.
"It wouldn't be right if you didn't get to fly the ship you spent all your time and hardwork on right?" Sera said.
[ Melissa Wright | Shuttlebay 17-C | Starbase 84 ] Attn: RosariaRosette
Mel was entirely prepared to respond to Sera's suggestion with a snippy remark, but she stopped just as her mouth was about to open. Test flight. Yeah, yeah, hadn't she actually been planning to do that? Bribed the pilots and everything. She'd forgotten while being immersed in her own rage at the higher-ups. The anger in her expression became mixed with cautious interest as she checked the time.
"Hm. Was scheduled for a test flight in a little bit." The blonde bit her lip, pondering whether or not it was worth going ahead with.... before making a decision in about two seconds flat. Hell yes, it was worth it. Security would be pissy about her taking the ship out for a flight without getting the weapons stripped off first, but they were probably going to be pissy in any scenario. At the very least, she could claim that it was just a part of the existing work schedule that they couldn't change at the last minute.
Her hands flew across the control consoles, firing up the main power systems of the Sabine. "Warp core needs to go through the initial startup sequence, but impulse is online. We can give the sublights a whirl while it boots up, then make a quick edge-of-the-system hop and back." She nodded to herself. She'd still be pissed off when they returned and the engineer had to rip off all these fancy weapon systems, but at least she could have some fun first. "Hell, maybe we can find a nice asteroid to test out all these new guns on."
[ Sera vers Aldnoah | Shuttlebay 17-C | Starbase 84 ]
A grin spread across Sera's lips as Mel spoke she could see the blonde's resolve breaking as her angry expression lessened and eventually came to be replaced with a look of interest. And as the words about a scheduled test flight left Melissa's lips she knew what was going to happen next. As Mel turned to the controls and began firing up Sabine's systems Sera felt positively giddy in her seat.
She watched Melissa swiftly start up most of Sabine's systems far faster than Sera herself had ever been able to. Apparently in the period of time she and Sabine had been apart Melissa had grown more used to the ship than Sera ever had. Though that shouldn't surprise her considering it looked like the woman had spent the entirety of the past few weeks restoring Sabine to it's former glory. She smiled over at Melissa as the blonde woman mentioned testing the new weapons on an asteroid.
"Now your speaking my language." Sera said
[ Petty Officer Bradford | Detention Centre | Security Offices ] Attn: 1) Red Baron 2) F'Rell 3) A'vura 4) Kaligos
The blasted Orion girl was yapping like a whore, trying to incriminate him when though he had the best of the starbase at heart. The slattern needed to be shut up, but Bradford decided that instead of answering the accusations, he would remain quiet and let any guilt to be found reflect upon the green bitch. If he acted the way he was supposed to, then her story would seem less likely than his. So, he clasped his hands behind his back and raised his chin, trying not to be intimidated by the floating dragon in the detention centre, 'swimming' between him and Captain Kendrick.
"I am sorry, visitors are not allowed to remain inside the brig indefinitely. Your security personnel cannot stay, and visiting time is over," he said, clearing his throat. "If they are close friends of the suspect, as you say, then it is all the more reason why they cannot be left alone in here with her. My apologises, Captain, but security protocols are strict, and unauthorised personnel cannot remain. I am afraid you have to leave, all of you, until my superior officer says otherwise."
Gesturing with a sweeping motion towards the door, he stepped aside to indicate that Kendrick and the floating freak had to move towards the exit. "If you would like to meet with Lieutenant Komial to discuss the suspect, please do, but protocol dictates that she cannot be released without a proper hearing. The reason for her arrest should be plain by the state of her clothing, and the fact that she did not comply to instructions. When she did not raise her hands, my colleague and I could not risk a suspect of homicide from attacking us, and with her being Orion, she might have been able to twist our minds as well. You will find it in my report, if Lieutenant Komial chooses to give it to you. I have acted well within my means, Captain, so please, there are no 'false charges' until proven otherwise."
Strange occurrences, with the alleged explosion on the Resolve too, but Braddford was not involved in that yet, and he only needed to save his own skin, which would be quite easy. Oh, and as soon as Kendrick and his ilk left, he would make sure the Orion bitch learned her place...
[ Ensign Krystal Tancredi | Outside the Forensic Lab ] Attn: Ensign Six & Keval
When the Borg woman vanished into the Lab, Krystal and Keval were left outside with little more answers than they had when they found the bomb site. Through the conversation, Ensign Six had revealed little, but confirmed that there was an Orion woman in custody, which meant that Captain Kendrick would likely be there right then - having found A'vura in their stead.
"Come on, Keval," said Krystal, "at least we have a lead on A'vura, right? We might even catch the Captain as he gets her out of there!" Turning on her heel, she set off towards another part of the Security levels of the Executive Centre. The forensic labs were in the opposite wing from the detention centre, but with a brisk pace set towards the area, they soon arrived there... only to find the aide's desk empty.
"Hello? Anyone there?" asked Krystal and looked around, raking back red hair from her face.
"Ensign Tancredi? Over here," came a voice further inside the area, and as Krystal stepped over there, she and Keval found two of Keval's men posted outside the main doors to the holding cells. The two men nodded towards them both, and the left one directed himself to Lieutenant ch'Rayya.
"Sir, the Captain is inside, and so is F'Rell. They have not come out yet, but there is a Security officer named Bradford in there with them. As far as we heard, A'vura might be inside there too in one of the cells. What are your orders?"
Bradford... That was the charming ol' bastard that Krystal had chatted with the last hour, denying them info.
[ Computer | Science Center | Lab 17 ] Attn: Kaligos
As Junior Lieutenant Hi'Jak listened, the results were vocalised in the lab.
[Test results incomplete,] said the computer in a disembodied voice. It was, however, not finished.
[Tricobalt and triceron concentrate grades at 106 microns grind size, ranging from: 40,1% tricobalt at 92,9% recovery, and 20,12 % triceron at 87,5% recovery. 3,02 % of recovery was a composite material: calcium hydroxylapatite. Remaining percentage are residual sub-microscopic particles from inhomogeneity in the main charge of an explosive device, typical when the shock front is obstructed. Residue signature inconsistent with known Federation explosive compounds. Particle analysis inconclusive because of chemical reaction. Shock signature not found in any Federation database because of incomplete composition. More data required.]
It seemed there was too little shrapnel for a complete analysis, but with more of it, the shock signature might be revealed, and shed some light on what the residual particles might have been. Calcium hydroxylapatite, however, was an easy riddle to solve, because it was easily derived as bone fragments from the victim.
OOC: RedBaron, now would be the time to have Drauc speak up lest Kendrick will leave to find Komial (in a very compromising position). Kaligos, you can have Hi'Jak head over to Ensign Six now. DocReno, up to you what Keval orders outside the holding cells. FollowTomorrow, you can have Suq reply over intercom to Kendrick as well, revealing that Sanford died... which might have a reaction from Bradford if he learns about it from Kendrick's combadge.
[ Melissa Wright | Shuttlebay 17-C | Starbase 84 ] Attn: RosariaRosette
Maybe this woman wasn't so bad. Terrible at starship maintenance, but not a terrible person. Mel was feeling a great deal more ambivalent towards Sera as the Sabine hummed to life, power systems fully engaging for the first time since the disassembly began a few weeks prior. In that time, they had powered up individual components and systems plenty of times, but until now they hadn't tried to fire up the entire craft at once. This was going to be... interesting, and hopefully not in an explosive way.
Nothing detonated, thankfully, as the impulse engines warmed up, glowing at the rear of the craft with a greater fire than had likely graced the ship in years. A little sigh of relief that they were in one piece exited Melissa's lips. All her effort to build a functioning starship out of a scrap heap with little of use beyond the frame itself had paid off, resulting in a craft that, if the console readouts were to be believed, could fly in open space without going up in a plasma fireball. Mel had done the exploding spacecraft shtick once; never again as far as she was concerned.
"EPS flow is good... power levels are stable... life support, inertial dampeners, and propulsion green across the board." Warp drive was flashing red, indicating it wasn't ready to engage, but they could work out the last kinks in that part after the test flight. Right now, her concern was on switching on the comm system, and opening a line to the boys up in CONN. "Station Flight Control, this is the Sabine, requesting permission to depart for scheduled test flying."
A response came back within a few moments. "Acknowledged, Sabine, you're clear for takeoff."
That was all the authorization Melissa needed to start gunning in. Ever the firm believer in getting straight to the heart of things, the engineer took perhaps three seconds to raise the craft several feet above the hangar floor before practically slamming the acceleration. A sudden burst of forward thrust sent the Sabine hurling through the force field of the bay and flying out in the void. That they didn't suffocate as soon as they left the station's atmosphere was definitely a good sign.
Not that it took long at all for Mel to feel off-kilter. Almost immediately upon departure, she felt an unease between her head and her gut, like something was wildly inconsistent between them. With her brow furrowed in curiosity, she tried to isolate just what this odd feeling was. Almost like her body wasn't under the same gravity all the way through, but how could that be? They'd replaced the artificial gravity field generator, hadn't they?
Her green eyes suddenly flew open as she realized what they hadn't replaced. "Dampeners!" The engineer shot from her seat, swiveling on one heel towards the back of the craft. "The dampeners were still good so we kept them in, but I didn't calibrate for the increased mass of the ship!" Stupid, stupid, stupid. So busy strapping new guns onto the ship that she hadn't bothered to ensure passengers wouldn't get queasy from any acceleration.
As she ripped open one of the interior side panels to access the dampeners directly her attention briefly turned back towards Sera. "Keep us moving, I can fix this in-flight." It wasn't a terribly good idea to do so, granted. Neither was trying to have sex with a Xindi-insectoid, but she'd done it successfully on several occasions. "Maybe while I get this patched, you can tell me where you found this old bathtub?"
[ Sera vers Aldnoah | Space | Sabine ]
As power ran through Sabine systems, Sera couldn't help but smile even wider over the years she'd gotten used to less than positive noises coming from Sabine's systems whenever she powered up. But now it seemed Sabine was filled with new life as everything seemed to begin working flawlessly. "I haven't heard Sabine work this well since...Well ever." Sera said unable to ever recall a time that her ship had been in good working order.
It wasn't long before Sabine began to rise from the shuttlebay floor Sera's eyes looked over the dashboard as each light representing a different system aboard the ship lit up green confirming that each system was working properly. She could hear Melissa speaking to the station port authority. Suddenly in a split instant Sera flew back against her seat her eyes wide as the ship gunned out of the hangar at full speed. Her hands gripped the edges of her seat tightly slowly loosening as the inertia dampeners took effect lessening the effect of momentum within the ship.
Some part of her fell a bit strange though as if there was some sort of pressure was pressing down on different parts of her body fluctuating from a light push to something a bit heavier. She had no idea what was causing it but it wasn't long before her unspoken question was answered as Melissa suddenly shouted out the problem and got to her feet and heading toward the back of the ship. Sera turned in her seat to see Melissa tearing a maintenance panel off the wall of the ship. As Melissa turned her attention back to her for a moment she nodded and quickly turned back to face Sabine's control panel.
Sera took hold of the controls she was surprised by how much easier Sabine seemed to handle now. As she kept the ship moving testing the handling on Sabine with a few simple maneuvers she glanced back as Melissa asked her how she ended up owning Sabine. "I found Sabine in a junkyard on a planet I was doing a job on." Sera said the name of the planet long having been forgotten in her mind. "For a while I was planet hopping with any ship or crew I could find or relying on my employers to get me around. My latest job paid quite a bit so I decided to go shopping around and Sabine was what I could afford." She said.
"The guy who owned the yard seemed eager to get rid of it considering how easy it was to get him to drop the price." Sera said shrugging.
[ Melissa Wright | Space | Sabine ] Attn: RosariaRosette
The engineer couldn't help but chuckle at the thought of a prototype Starfleet vessel being found in a junkyard. At one point in time, this thing had been the shiniest new toy to fly out of a Utopia Planitia yard, a beautiful piece of work explemlifying the Federation's top engineering works. Now, it was an aging spaceframe that had to be gutted and refilled almost from scratch in order to be even a reasonably spaceworthy craft, formerly occupying a spot as some scrap heap's least favored ware. Just made so much sense, didn't it.
"Sounds about right," she mused aloud as her adjustment on several components of the dampener were finished. With one final tap on the control panel, a wave of fluctuating pressure washed across the Sabine. It was... dizzying, at least for a few moments, but this wasn't the first time she had gotten to feel the unpleasant effects of recalibrating the dampeners while accelerating. No, the first time, she'd lost a lovely pasta lunch all over the floor. Trying to recalibrate it while at warp hadn't helped.
After a moment to regain her balance, the engineer hopped forward, returning to the pilot's seat feeling much more at ease. "Alright, dampeners should be okay now thrusters all look good... screw it, let's give all these new guns a spin." She ran a quick scan and located a suitable asteroid floating through the system a short distance away. "There, that looks good. Let's give her a whirl on that thing."
As they laid in a course for the chunk of lazily hurtling rock, Mel continued on from Sera's answer to her question. "God, I remember trying to find decent weapons for sale in scrapyards. Back before I joined Starfleet, I used to spend days on end digging through junk heaps trying to find a disruptor cannon or a phaser array that wasn't busted way beyond any use." Nostalgia was carried on an undercurrent in the small sigh that left her mouth. "Least back then nobody would order me to strip out every gun I bought after I spent two weeks getting them fixed."
[ Sera vers Aldnoah | Space | Sabine ]
Sera felt the pressure inside the cabin of the ship fluctuate her grip on the controls tightened for a moment as she maintained her focus. As Melissa returned to her seat Sera released control of the ship back over to the blonde. She waited as Melissa went through another check on the ship's systems but smirked as the woman seemed to give it up in favor of testing Sabine's shiny new weapons. "Alright let's do this." She said as she powered up the tactical station along with Sabine's weapon systems. She could hear Sabine's humming rise in volume as power was directed to the ship's weapons.
As they set a course for a wayward asteroid Sera turned as Melissa spoke about her former pastimes of searching through scrapyards for weapons to fix up. "That must have been fun." Sera said sarcasm in her voice as the display for the tactical computer came up with statuses on the systems still booting up. She turned to look at Mel as she spoke about how much easier it had been in those times despite the fact she'd had to scrounge up her own materials. Sera frowned her fingers drumming on the arm of her chair as she turned her seat to face Melissa fully.
"So why do you stay? Considering you managed to make it look like you threw Sabine into a time machine I'd would think that you could be doing a thousand other things instead of listening to some tool in a fancier uniform and a title." Sera said.
[ Melissa Wright | Space | Sabine ] Attn: RosariaRosette
For all of two seconds, Melissa's mouth hung upon as if to respond to Sera's question about what was keeping her in Starfleet. The moment ended with a quick snap shut of her jaw before she could speak a single word. What was she going to say, when the truth was that Mel had no idea what was driving her to remain in service? Her sense of duty was minimal, if she even possessed one. Success had met her in climbing the ranks, but adding more stripes and stars to her collar was no lifelong goal. Despite what propaganda bylines might have insisted was the case, the work proved to be an absolute bore, lacking in any true variety. It was always the same sort of phaser arrays and photon torpedo tubes breaking down or being worked on, in most cases with the same sort of constant recurring problems.
So, what kept her in this position at all, when retiring to the life she used to lead would've allowed so much more freedom, so much more excitement? No more doldrum months at Andoria, trying to keep ancient vessels functional well past when they should have been scrapped. No superior officers too high and proper to settle their differences with a good, old fashioned impromptu boxing match. No orders or regulations to keep her from pursuing whatever business opportunity she fancied. It had been a long time since she'd led a life with that much about it to enjoy.
They were coming up on the asteroid as Melissa at last gave her response. "Don't know." Simple and honest, as she so often tried to keep herself. Staring into the face of all logic, she didn't have a damn clue what was preventing her from marching up to the station's XO, handing in her uniform, and never looking back. She was doing her best to avoid eye contact with Sera as she continued, "Guess I could leave, but... I don't know. I mean.... I guess I'd miss the showers?"
She shrugged, unable to offer a better explanation. "I mean, I'd have to wait until a freighter or some other ship came along anyway. God knows you don't want to be stuck on a Starbase like that with no job, no friends, and nothing to do for weeks until somebody who's hiring comes by."
[ Lt. Jg. Suq | USS Resolve | Main Sickbay > Engineering ] Attn: Auctor Lucan, Havenborn
Suq kept his thoughts to himself as he listened to Havenborn. Chip, not ship, he thought, so if a chip uploaded something to the ship, then it would be sabotage, or an attack, and who would go about attacking a Federation ship with a whole Federation Starbase ready to defend her? And who gave Sanford the chip? Did he do that to himself? If he did, this is one hell of a suicide attempt...
Havenborn began to take his leave, but it took Suq a moment of standing in place before he realized the Lieutenant was no longer in his field of vision. He glanced up to see the EMH activated. Suq felt safe in the conclusion that it was time to go. Without any acknowledgment to the doctor and his gaze directed at the floor, he turned around and left, following Havenborn to the turbolift.
He was silent in the turbolift too, listening to his messages to Security and Captain Kendrick. When his speech was over, he lifted his head and brushed some hair out of his face,
"I suppose we can tell him later that Sanford did not make it...Assessing the damage comes first"
[ Sera vers Aldnoah | Space | Sabine ]
Sera scoffed "The showers? Really?" Sera asked she glanced back over toward the computer briefly to check the status of the weapon systems before turning back to Melissa who seemed to be purposely avoiding her eyes. "Are showers where you have to share hot water with dozens of other people really worth it?" Sera asked. Sera couldn't help wanting to persuade the blonde next to her that there was definitely better options for her out there. Over the years joining Starfleet had briefly passed her mind every now and again. But every-time she ever seemed to give it any serious though a blowhard moron like Science Officer Walt showed up to change her mind.
Then came the reasons that Sera could really sympathize with being stuck at the Starbase with no job and no one but boredom to keep you company. She drummed her fingers against the armrest of her chair again as an idea quickly began to formulate in her head. First of all Sera wasn't the best at ship maintenance that was already a huge given. Second of all despite first impressions Melissa didn't seem like a bad person to have around. "Well who says you have to wait? I might be looking to hire on some extra help around here y'know considering my inability to keep Sabine in top shape." Sera said.
"Okay well maybe hire isn't the right word to use...I'm not sure if I'd be any good at being someone's boss." Sera muttered. "More like a partner maybe?" Sera said. "I mean I can't offer showers but you can't tell me that adventuring around the galaxy for money doesn't sound fun right?" She asked.
[ Melissa Wright | Space | Sabine ] Attn: RosariaRosette
The offer caught Melissa so off-guard that her initial response was a half-suppressed laugh. Not laughing at Sera, of course; it was just a gut reaction to so unexpected an offer of work. Partnering up with Aldnoah and taking off with her in the Sabine... that wasn't anything she had even remotely considered before the other woman suggested it. Rather outlandish, yet with an odd appeal as she took a few seconds to consider it.
"That's.... more tempting than I would've thought." Targeting programs below her were beeping as they lined up with the wayward asteroid. Tempting, but... no, no, she couldn't just run off on some strange woman's ship. "Look, I've got a career that I wasn't really planning to give up on here, so... sorry. I mean, God knows you could use somebody to maintain this bathtub, and I'd love to work on her some more, but...."
She stopped, sighing. But what? What kind of excuse was that? What career did she have, really, in Starfleet? Even when she was assigned under a captain who knew how to put her to good use, a reassignment to the latest ancient wreck of a starship was always imminent. Unless she surrendered her soul to the miasma of bullshit that was 'Starfleet virtues', she'd never rise to a high enough station to avoid getting tossed at random assignments every year. What she was doing with her life right now had nothing even resembling a future.
The blonde tited her head over to look at Sera, locking her eyes onto the other woman's gaze. "You know I'm gonna have to strip out all the defensive systems, right? You'll be lucky if they let you keep the shields, for fuck's sake." Her hand was hovering over the fire command, now that a lock on their space rock had been made. "This time tomorrow, the Sabine's gonna be defenseless, and I can't do anything to prevent-"
She stopped short, not because she had nothing else to say - quite the contrary, in fact. As she held her finger aloft, not quite unleashing the horde of guns that had been strapped onto the craft's sleek frame, Mel had an ephiphany. She was wrong; there was something that could be done to preserve the brand new arament. One thing so brazen, arguably so mind-numbingly stupid that to even attempt it would be taken as a sign of insanity.
"-we steal it." It felt absurd to say it, but... there it was. The solution to her frustration. "Security doesn't expect the ship back 'til tomorrow. We could sneak in tonight, tell Flight Control to suck a fat one, and high tail it the fuck outta here." She pulled her head back, blinking rapidly, though between the blinks her eyes were still honed in on Aldnoah's. "If we do it fast enough, we can be at warp, heading out of Federation space before they even know what the hell's going on."
A smile was slowly creeping across her face as she tapped the fire command, unleashing an ungodly hail of phase and pulse cannon fire at a soon-to-be-vapor chunk of rock.
[ F'Rell of the 12th House | Detention Center | Starbase 84] Attn: Everyone in the brig
As the security guard spoke F'Rell found her disdain for him growing. He was the sort one should not leave prisoners alone with, that much she was certain of. However she lacked any real authority, she could no more order the man then any of the prisoners could. She could however make her own voice heard. She clicked off her communicator and moved closer to the man the captain had called Bradson.
As she approached her tendrils began to vibrate, the sound was subtle at first, but became more and more obvious. Each tendril seemed to vibrate on it's own at a slightly different pitch. From her research humanoids were susceptible to Binaural Beats (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binaural_beats) and she was in fact capable of creating something similar, this notes would have caused gibberish to spout from the communicator as they were not thoughts and ideas that could be expressed in words, they were instead emotion. She kept herself a safe distance from the man as she did this, ready to react in an instant.
To add to the effect she began to change her biolumenesence so that several key points in her body began to change in color. The effect was subtle, but not unnoticeable. The combination of the sound and the change in her body was enough to overwhelm the senses of any who gazed at her body. She only hoped it would leave the man in some sort of stupor. She continued until the man relaxed. She only hoped that the Captain and the Operations Officer of her ship would remember her doing this not not look at her. She could not risk effecting their psyche as well.
OOC: Hey, yes she is attempting a form of hypnotism on Bradford. With any luck it should put him in a relaxed and suggestible state. I figure this could be interesting. I will of course leave it to everybody how their characters react or if they react at all.
[ Sera vers Aldnoah | Space | Sabine ]
Sera could see the gears turning in the blonde woman's head as she mulled over the offer. Unfortunately the answer she got wasn't exactly what she had hoped for as Melissa seemingly refused the offer. As Melissa seemed to trail off on her last sentence though Sera glanced toward the woman. It looked like Melissa was giving it more thought Sera kept quiet as she let Melissa think about her options. From what she'd seen so far it didn't look like the woman particularly enjoyed working for Starfleet. And she couldn't blame her on that note either.
As Melissa met her gaze with her own she listened as the woman mentioned that more than likely she'd have to remove everything that she'd spent all of her hard work fitting onto Sabine. Sera opened her mouth to speak but once again Melissa trailed off her sentence causing Sera's mouth to shut with a click as her teeth clacked together. Her eyes strayed from Melissa's face to the woman's finger hovering over the firing button. Her eyes glanced back up at Melissa after a short period of silence between the two of them Melissa finally spoke drawing Sera's complete attention.
The next words that came out of Melissa's mouth both surprised her and strangely didn't as well. "You want to steal it..." Sera said. As Melissa began to describe her plan Sera leaned back in her chair crossing her legs and her arms across her chest. "Alright then let's do it." Sera said smirking. She glanced out the window watching Sabine's weapons blast an asteroid into dust.
[ Melissa Wright | Space | Sabine ] Attn: RosariaRosette
So that settled it, then. Even though this was among the most objectively terrible ideas Melissa had ever come up with, she felt nothing but enthusiasm about pursuing it. Even Sera seemed excited by the prospect. They were outright going to commit multiple criminal offenses including grand theft starship (of a Starfleet vessel, no less). Melissa herself was genuinely going to commit desertion, and possibly treason depending on how one wanted to interpret Federation law in this case. It was so completely insane a plan that, as the dust of a former asteroid harmlessly bounced off the navigational shields, the engineer decided that God, or the universe, or whatever powers that be would probably let it work out just for the sheer absurdity involved.
Leaning back in her seat, her gaze turned towards space as the wheels already began to rev up inside her mind. "Okay.... yeah, yeah, I can do this. Just need to set up a scheduled task in the flight control computers to open the hangar doors tonight, shouldn't be too hard. Maybe something to throw the sensors into a diagnostic when we're leaving, keep any tractor beams or transporters from locking onto us." It'd take her maybe an hour to whip up a program to handle that, plus all of two minutes to discretely upload it into the station's computer core. "By the time they get it back online, we'll be at warp heading far, far away from here."
Her eyes slid back over towards Sera - or more accurately, towards her apparent new partner in crime. "Just gonna need to pack up my shit, not too much stuff in my quarters. Clothes, some odds and ends, one small and unobtrusive pet. Maybe leave my boss a present before we take off." Rather fortunate that she didn't know anyone on SB84 very well - no goodbyes to say. "If you've got any business still on the station, you'll probably want to wrap it up real fast, because I don't think we're going back there after we do this."
[ Sera vers Aldnoah | Space | Sabine ] Attn: Drana Kalastria Asshole
Sera nodded she didn't know the ins and outs of a Starfleet Starbase like Melissa did so for the most part she was going to just go along with whatever it was her new partner had planned. All Sera knew was that she was getting a shiny new ship and someone to finally talk to when she ended up drifting about space other than herself. "Sounds like a plan." She said. Sera turned her seat to watch bits of space dust drift past the ship. Sera took a moment to think about everything that had occurred up to this point. When she'd woken up in the dormitories this morning she definitely hadn't planned on any of this happening but now that it was. She couldn't help but be happy it did after the shitty hospitality Starfleet had shown her up to this point she definitely didn't have any regrets about stealing Sabine from them. To be fair she didn't consider it stealing considering Sabine was her damn ship to begin with.
"I need to go pick up some things I left too." Sera said nodding. When she came to Starbase 84 there were three things Starfleet had taken from her upon arrival. The first being her ship, the second being her weapons, and the last being her artifacts. She'd gotten two of those things back her guns though were an entirely different story. When she'd tried to reclaim them they had confiscated her plasma rifle and disruptor pistol due to the illegal nature of her ownership of them. She thought for a moment of her chances of breaking into security and somehow making it out of there in one piece. "Fuck it..." She muttered sighing heavily as she wrote reclaiming her weapons off as a lost cause.
"It shouldn't take me long I'll just need to swing by the science center real quick and grab something." She said shrugging.
[Ensign Six (https://img14.deviantart.net/51cf/i/2015/255/0/5/six_01_by_auctor_lucan-d91bx0h.png) | Forensics Lab | Starbase 84] Attn: Lucan, Kaligos
It took a little over an hour to perform the autopsy on the deceased Romulan, and it would have been concluded a lot sooner had she not decided to double and triple check her results, results that didn't make any sense to her. She had collected all the residual materials from the body, around it, and the head, and there were destroyed particles from the device that had been inside his neck that spoke of Starfleet affiliation. But, that couldn't be, could it?
Traces of Dentarium and Bitanium were found on her optic scans of the metals, remembered based on their consistency and makeup from her time as part of the collective. As much as she wasn't a borg anymore, that massive database still remained in her mind, and likely would never go away. It thoroughly confused her though and she tested the pieces of metal and such that were large enough to grant conclusive results to confirm her findings, but still small enough that they could easily be shrugged off by the untrained and unwary.
The fact that the amount of Triceron compounds were overwhelmingly high didn't help to deter her resolution that the device was a disguised Starfleet subcutaneous communicator, not to mention the fact that Tricobalt was a known Starfleet used explosive used on warheads, and had been added to the device in such high amounts that it destroyed nearly all traces of any Starfleet issued material. Had it not been for her optic implant, not only would it be likely that the other materials would have been left unrecognized and thusly overlooked, but without knowing what to look for, the larger pieces that were in fact intact had an increased chance of also being overlooked and not confirmed through the ship's computer.
After searching carefully through all the pieces and fragments of detonated material she eventually found what could only be the point of detonation. There was barely anything left from that part of the device, but it was enough to tell her that the device had a remote detonation, and through her optic scans, she was able to conclude with minimum reasonable doubt that the detonator had to be somewhere on the Starbase itself, the overall range being fairly low.
Her findings were troubling, and she compiled her report with a bit of remorse, unsure exactly what this meant. Were there members of Starfleet handing out information, weaponry, and technology to the Romulans? And who on the Starbase would be traitor enough to do something like this? Could it really be one of the Resolves members? Or was one of her peers the traitor in question? Six knew that some of her findings would likely be discredited, considering they came from borg collective knowledge rather than from the computer's findings, her experiences showing her more often than not that borg findings were often turned away just due to the sheer amount of hatred and fear of it. However she included them in her report anyhow, feeling it was far too important to leave out. If there was a traitor on board, it needed to be known.
[Komial Dotnhil | Starbase 84 | Base Commanders Quarters]Atten: Lucan
"Good, I know you won't fail me," Those words meant more to Komial than she knew how to say. So instead of saying anything ,the Trill did her best to show Ian. Actions not words. Her eyes flicked up and she pulled back from his cock again, meeting his gaze. Slowly she dragged her tongue over his dark shaft, from tip to base, in a long, wet lick. She kissed the ridged vein along the underside of his cock, and teased his head once more as she spoke, flicking that tongue with the same attention to detail as she put into her work, before once again swallowing her captain, working him deeper, and deeper into her mouth, till that thick head was poking her throat.
She hummed and grinned ever so slightly, as there was something simply satisfying about having him in her mouth like this. His confidence in her skills, professionally, was like an aphrodisiac to the Trill, that just allowed her to enjoy this all the more.
Soon though, after ruminating on the possibilities of a search of the Resolve - sad, but a necessity that Komial understood - she found herself standing before Ian with the taste of him on her lips and an ache pooling between her legs. All from simply sucking his cock. It was amazing how much that turned her on, a fact that she had discovered in college. She wanted to reply, to thank him, reassure him but his lips were on hers and any thought of speech was gone.
Cold fingertips traced her captains jaws as his mouth claimed hers, and then moved lower, working across her spots. "Mmmmmmmmmm," a wordless noise of pleasure slipped out past her lips as her head tilted back. Her butt hit the edge of the wash-bin and she let out a little squeak, followed shortly by another moan as the last of her clothes fell away and those sinful chocolate lips closed over nipples. He was so much warmer than she was - it amazed her that more Trill didn't flock to humans in droves. The sensation was tantalizing....addictive.
Komial would swear, after, that when Ian's lips moved down her stomach, her spots grew flushed. Maybe it was all in her head but she was sure she could feel them pulse and heat up from his kiss. And when he nestled between her legs, the bare shaven folds that she took such pride in...
"OHhhh," the moan broke out, as her hands slid over his shorn head, caressing, her legs squeezing and her head falling back in bliss as a little bit of cream pooled in response to that tongue. Oh, that devilish tongue "Ohhh, oh yes....."
[Lt Hi'Jak (https://orig03.deviantart.net/94e6/f/2015/265/a/e/hi_jack_02_by_auctor_lucan-d86nthi.png)|Science Center | Lab 17] Attn: Rosaria, Auctor Lucan
When the scan completed Hi'Jak sighed he knew that had been a possibility, knew that he didn't like the idea that the fragment he had taken had been too small to really give him the information that he needed. He sighed as he looked over the metals that he could ascertain just from the small fragments he had, as he continued to absentmindedly play with his new found toy. The puzzle box had otherwise intrigued him as he worked over the list in his mind he had no reference for their use.
But something told him that he knew someone with an encyclopedia in her head that might have more answers than him. He took the baggy and walked out of the lab, keeping it and the puzzle box on his person. There was no reason not to take his new found toy, and if he left it in the lab then he could bet that his overseer would get his hands on it, and he would never see it again.
Walking down and out of the labs he reached the turbolift and quickly departed for the forensics lab, when he arrived he walked in to see Ensign six working on her report. He sighed seeing her again was both nice, and yet felt like his own head was going to explode. He still was unsure of exactly what he thought about her aside from being cold and emotionless talking to her was like talking to a literal ice queen. Still it beat half the people on this station he knew that much.
"My scans were inclusive. All i could find out was a few pultry metals, and none of them were that explosive." Hi'Jak gave a sigh as he walked into the room. "How about you? any new information to share?"
[ LT Daniel Havenborn | USS Resolve | Engineering ] Attn: FollowTomorrow
"Understood Captain, Havenborn out." Daniel replied as the communications channel closed. This was going to be a hard investigation. The best place to started he supposed would be in Engineering. He nodded to Lieutenant Suq and agreed with him. "We'll inform him when he arrives back onboard." He said as he made their way through the corridors and entered Main Engineering.
He looked around and saw that the place was being cleaned up by the Resolve's personnel which seemed to be a good thing. Security had cleared out all the Starbase personnel from Engineering first and he was quite glad for that. He walked up to an technician who handed him a report and he looked it over. It didn't really read that well, they weren't too badly damaged but it'd take awhile for Engineering to be fully operational.
"Lieutenant I'd like it if you got started down here, see if you can access the computer that Petty Officer Sanford was on, I doubt we'll be able to get anything from it but let's cover our bases." Daniel said as he handed the report to the Lieutenant. "I'm going to head to the computer core and run a diagnostic on it and see if we can't determine if anything was actually uploaded." Daniel said as he waited for the Lieutenant to acknowledge him just in case he had any questions before he left.
[ Lt. Jg. Suq | USS Resolve | Main Sickbay > Engineering ] Attn: Havenborn, Auctor Lucan
Suq took the report and gave it a cursory glance. He could already guess what it contained--a couple weeks worth of repairs and long nights staying awake, and that's only if they had the parts on hand. He wasn't looking forward to it, or any of this investigation for that matter.
He glanced up at the scorch marks on the floor and sighed. Everything around the console and the console itself looked like some mighty god came down and smote Officer Sanford out of existence. More than anything, Suq was unwilling to touch the console himself. As he started to come up with a game plan, his expression became one of great determination.
"...I'll get started, yeah. Let me know if you find anything. I'll do the same. If I find anything, that is." He took some steps towards a different console, one that did not look like an overcooked hunk of metal.
First things first, Suq created a virtual machine on the console he was running. It imitated a very basic medical console, without actually having any real hardware. If there is a virus that can be transmitted from computer to computer, he couldn't risk his own console blowing out on him and possibly endangering the ship computer as well. If Sanford unwittingly uploaded a virus, then connecting to the crashed contraption through the virtual machine would not trigger an explosion, because the virtual machine believes it's a medical console, not an engineering console. The virus would tell the virtual machine to overwork parts that simply don't exist. Hopefully, this would allow Suq to study the virus, the upload, or whatever it was, but that's provided that he can connect to the annihilated apparatus.
Next was to open a connection to the damaged console. Suq's screen informed him that it was attempting connection. From there, all he could do was wait, and hope the damaged console still had something to connect to.
[ Melissa Wright | Sabine | Space ] Attn:RosariaRosette
"Fuck it."
Oh no. No no no. Those were two little words that rarely had good connotations. Uttered together, at a moment like this, they were a sign that some hesitation was occurring. Not what she needed now. Sera may have followed it up with a mention that she needed to grab a few things from the science center, but Mel was still back on the previous comment.
"Okay, great, but back up. Fuck it? Fuck what? Fuck the station, fuck the crew, fuck Starfleet, fuck the engineer who patched up your ship?" She shrugged, some apprehension clear in her voice. "First three I'm down with, fourth... maybe later, but what's going on?"
Her eyebrows raised as she considered what else the other woman had mentioned. "Something you can't get back? Because, I mean... if we're gonna be stealing a starship, I can steal some other shit too." Both eyes darted away just long enough to lay in a course back to the hangar bay. "If it's something that's been taken as contraband, that's not too much of an issue. I can probably get a transport lock on it and beam it onto the Sabine while we're hauling ass out of here."
[ Drauc T'Laus | Brig ] Attn: 1) Kaligos 2) Vystori 3) Absinthe
Drauc had been watching the newly arrived people, biding his silence as he tried to make up his mind about what he had learned. When the Orion young woman spoke, and she actively thought about her encounter underneath the Subspace Acquisition grid, the words he believed he had perceived in her mind became even more clear - shedding any doubt from his mind about what was going on. Or at least, the implications were clear, even if he had no idea what motivated the man that had named himself 'Moon' in Drauc's native tongue.
The creature, the alien that was unknown to him, it was thrumming and shifting light, and it seemed a distraction to Drauc - seeing it as an opportunity. If Bradford was preoccupied, he could speak with Captain Kendrick and Ensign Zeshryr. It was his only chance, and despite how he had abandoned Starfleet many years ago, it seemed he had little choice in the matter. Another war was at hand, and it started in the shadows. If it meant he could fight once more, he was not about to spend that time in a penal colony.
"Kendrick, Zeshryr," he said and stepped up to the force field - emerging into the stark light from the ceiling in the corridor between the holding cells. "Hear me, for I have derived what it was you heard, A'vura, when you were attacked."
Having said this, he glanced towards the creature and Bradford, who was looking more agitated - fearful - than under some kind of trance. He was retreating from the beast, and it suited Drauc fine. He looked back to the Orion with the blod-stained dress uniform. "I may be Romulan, yet not like others," he said and raked back mahogny hair from his forehead, revealing the surgical scars across his flat forehead in the light, "I can read minds, and I have read yours. I know what was said, and the Romulan named a traitor aboard the base. I used to be in Starfleet, and I have been betrayed before, so I care none for it..."
The bygone memories of Tal Shiar still lingered with him, but he shed it from his thoughts - more urgent matters at hand. "My name is Drauc. Drauc T'Laus. Will you hear me out? I wish to help, but I can do naught else from inside here than speak of what I learned from your memories, A'vura Zeshryr."
Meanwhile, Bradford covered his eyes with his forearm - the fearful trance broken. "What is it doing? Stop it! Guards! I am being attacked!"
Behind Bradford, the sliding doors opened, but it was not the base's security detail that arrived... but a redhaired woman and an Andorian man that Drauc had never seen before.
[ Captain Ian Hawthorne | Base Commander's Quarters ] Attn: Brutus
His Trill subordinate was easily led on, by actions and words, and Ian rewarded her compliance with diligence - devoting himself to her alien sex.
As his subject, Ian had come to bend her fully to his will, the past month's project having been as rewarding as it was enjoyable. He believed he had her loyal beyond question, not about to doubt his word. She had accepted the necessity to search the Resolve without objection, and he was pleased that she had submitted herself so quickly. All it had taken was to build upon her debt, without bespeaking it, and she had become more pliant with each private encounter. As long as he made her believe he truly desired her beyond her duties towards him, he would reap the rewards. After all, it was hardly a sacrifice on his part - rather the opposite - even though the thing inside had to be discouraged from time to time. Splitting her head open against the mirror was hardly constructive, nor smothering her in the shards while mounting her. No, she had purpose, far more so than Trish.
Before he was content with his reward to her, he had let two fingers enter her as well, working in tandem with his tongue. Yet before long, he meant to give her what she truly craved. He brought her as close to euphoria as he could, before he stood up between her spread legs. He kissed her, made her taste herself, and he grabbed the base of his hardness so that he might stroke his swollen head up and down her shaved sex. He kept her on the edge of the basin as he lubricated himself with her fluids, and without making her wait for too long, he sheathed himself inside her - her welcoming depths well prepared for his entrance. With just a couple of thrusts, she had as much of him as she could fit inside her - squirming into her with each surge of his hips.
"The people on this base... are counting on you... just as much as I," he said against her full lips, grunting as he pushed harder, "and I know... neither of us will be disappointed... when you do what has to be done... They would not want you to hesitate... nor would I... if you would have to arrest people on the Resolve. For regardless what rank they may have, and despite how we.... celebrated their return like they were heroes today... We cannot let that affect our judgement. If they have been with the Romulans the past three years... it would explain a lot of what has happened... since they docked."
Driving his hard member into his Chief of Security, Ian was quite content with how he had ascertained control over the situation. Pleased, he indulged her by visiting her breasts with his mouth - sucking at those Trill teats of hers because he had learned that she liked it.
[ USS Resolve | Computer ] Attn: FollowTomorrow & Havenborn
When the computer was accessed, noting out of the ordinary could be found at first - as if the upload had never taken place. It discredited the statements of the late Sanford, making one chalk up his claims to paranoia or excuses for his mistake. A diagnostic search rendered nothing.... until the search entered the root catalogues of personal messages made aboard the ship.
Then, log after log revealed itself to contain Romulan speech patterns and text symbols. Not just in a dedicated order, or a hidden folder, but there were even logs in Suq's and Havenborn's own personal log directory as well. Furthermore, traces of subspace messages appeared too, suggesting regular and clandestine correspondence. Even more were generated while the diagnostic was still underway, as if the virus was still working to create the evidence.
There was simply too much data to translate and take in, but based on just a few samples, the texts were not very flattering, sufficed to say....
[ Sera vers Aldnoah | Sabine | Space ] Attn:Drana
Sera blinked as Melissa seemed to take her words to heart quickly bringing up the words she'd uttered out of frustration. She opened her mouth to reassure the engineer that their plans would still be proceeding regardless of if she managed to get her stuff back or not. But before she could even utter a word Melissa continued throwing out ideas of whatever it was she seemingly wanted to "Fuck.". The last bit of the blonde's sentence didn't escape her but using her better judgement she chose to put that aside for later and instead focused more on calming the other woman. "It's nothing r-" Sera began only to be cut off as the blonde continued speaking telling Sera that it wouldn't be that difficult to steal more if that was the issue.
Once more Sera found herself speechless it was like the deity of fortune or something had chosen today to just dump every little droplet of luck onto her. "Starfleet Security has my weapons." Sera said simply. It took a moment for the it to sink it but now that she thought about it she felt a bit ridiculous they were just weapons it wasn't like she couldn't get new ones. But some stubborn part of Sera's personality refused to let those Starfleet Security goons keep her property. "It's stupid I know...But they're mine and I want them back..." Sera said crossing her arms and drumming her fingers against her arm. "So your telling me you can just beam them onto Sabine? Doesn't Starfleet have any kind of failsafe to make sure that kind of stuff doesn't happen?" She asked.
[ Melissa Wright | Sabine | Space ] Attn: RosariaRosette
Security office? Mel bit her lip, pondering options for how to approach that particular problem. As long as she knew the locker they had Sera's weaponry stuffed into, she could initiate a beam-out from inside the station before they departed, getting around the hairy issue of Stabase 84's shields blocking any transport attempt. The problem was the automated defensive measures that lockup had in place: force fields around that entire section to block transport attempts, with a failsafe in the form of an EM field generator that would throw up interference if an unauthorized transport attempt was detected.
Getting around the failsafe actually could be easy, if a feat that would need to be accomplished with haste. Making a clean getaway was already going to require a diagnostic cycle to shut down external sensors, and adding the internal sensors in that area to the cycle would be a simple matter. They would have perhaps thirty seconds before someone in the control room overrode the cycle and had sensors back online; with any luck, Melissa could transport the guns on board within ten seconds of the initial shutdown, and use their remaining time to book it out of tractor beam range at full impulse. By the time sensors came back online, they'd be too far away to be easily grabbed, with shields up to prevent beam-out and warp calculations almost done.
It was the force fields that were an issue. "Yeah," she finally said aloud, "They've got that whole section shielded. It'd have to be shut down from a security station, or by someone with the right engineering overrides... which I don't have." She winced at the admission; weapons and sensors weren't an issue, but internal security was outside her assigned duties.
Although, there was something else she had access to. A more indirect, much more manual sort of override "Okay.... Okay, we might still be able to pull this off." Christ, this plan was getting more complicated by the minute. "The force field has its own backup power source, but it runs on station power usually, which means there should be a main EPS conduit feeding that section."
She let out a small huff. "If you disable that conduit right after I shut down sensors, the automated security measures and alarms won't go off. It'll be tight, and we'll pretty much have to rip out of the hangar at full impulse, but I think I can juuuuust barely beam you and your guns onto the Sabine, they get us out of tractor range before the station has eyes up again." Close was putting it mildly; the margin of error would be all of three or four seconds. "I mean, the timing is gonna have to be pretty much perfect, but it'll get around all those security measures without getting us locked up or shot."
[LT Keval ch'Rayya | Brig] ATTN: Everyone
Keval had been unusually quiet during all of this, processing everything that had been said in front of him as well as what he was seeing and "feeling" from an Andorian point of view and he kept up with Krystal on reflex up until they got inside of the station's brig and his pale eyes saw that the captain and Fr'ell was in the room facing a security officer that seemed to be trying to cause some kind of trouble.
Keval simply went into motion as he came up behind the security guard that was claiming to be under attack, slipped one broad arm under and across his chest while centering his thumb on a cluster of nerves on the back of the man's neck before wrapping the rest of his fingers alongside a couple of other pressure points which brought the security officer's ranting to a quick and sudden stop as his eyes shot open in reaction for a moment before he was guided to the floor like a boneless fish by the Resolve's Tactical Chief.
"Alright, can someone please tell me what's going on here before I need to start hacking the security cell?" Keval asked his captain with a tone of respectful curiousity as he dragged the security officer off to one side and out of the way.
[ Captain Tristan Kendrick |Starbase 84| Brig ] Attn: Vystori, Absinthe, Havenborn, Follow Tomorrow DocReno, and Lucan
Kendrick was going to have to talk with F'Rell at some point about how not to scare people. He understood why she had tried her abilities here, but at the same time such tactics only tended to work when there was a calm environment to work with not a brig break out. Which this was quickly becoming. He wasn't going to leave one of his officers in the brig while there was now a lot of problems to work past. For the moment he looked to Keval who wanted to know what was happening.
"I will debrief you later, for now get A'vura out of there." Any calm approach that they could have had just went down with Bradford calling for back up. His original plan to facilitate a prisoner exchange was up in smoke now that he had one unconscious officer and more questions than answers. The safest place for him and his crew was back on the resolve which of course meant that they would be breaking the quarantine faster than he had desired. There was also the problem with getting off the Starbase, the brig of course had a dampening feild that would protect prisoners from beaming out, but once they were past the security offices... as the idea dawned on him how they could make an escape, a smile crossed his lips.
With that he clicked on his combadge and sent a message to Havenborn. "Lutenant I am going to need someone at transporter controls on the ready to beam out the away team plus two as soon as you are safe to do so."
"It was a good shot F'Rell, on a happier day you might have gotten him to calm down. For now I'd like You and Tancredi to take Officer Bradford to the security offices and hold an escape route into the hallway make sure we are clear. Once we have A'vura out of her cell we will perform an emergency beam out to The Resolve." He sighed, they were only going to have one chance at a beam out as it would probably raise a bunch of alarms. The station was already on High alert, but if they took Bradford with them. He smiled lightly thinking it over before he looked to A'vura. "I remove my previous statement it seems you will be much safer back with us after all."
"To everyone else I am about to break several of Starfleet's laws and regulations. If you have any objections please speak now so that I can make a note of it in my log and when we get to the hearing I will speak to your behalf." He otherwise turned to Drauc. At this point he was already sold on the idea of a traitor among the Starbase. He was half considering freeing Drauc as well as A'vura in fact he could probably blame her break out on him. At the same time this was a self proclaimed Romulan who could read minds.
"Speak quickly Drauc we are on a tight schedule apparently." He knew he wasn't going to like the answer, but he needed to know who it was.
OOC: I think within the next two or three post cycles we will be pulling back from the Starbase without hopefully raising too many alarms.
[ Dr Silim Parnak | Starbase 84 | Science Lab 47 ] ATTN: Auctor Lucan
It was dark. Very, very dark. So dark that Dr Parnak knew without the goggles he was wearing, he could easily wave his hand in front of his own face and not see it. The lab in which he sat had been carefully selected. Lab 47 was a glorified cupboard, no windows and only one door meant there was no chance of leakage from external light sources. All the equipment had been turned off and stored aside his PADD.
As he had for the previous 30 minutes, he watched the bat sleep. The bat came from Carrayan II, where it spent most of its time pollinating flowers, dispersing fruit seeds and, unlike many other mammals in the Chiroptera order, frolicking in the sunlight. The current stage of research on this animal was to assess how to interacted with its environment; Silim's plan to see how the Carrayan Solus Bat handled complete darkness was not progressing as well as he hoped. There was an expectation for the bat to do something, anything really, however the bat only slept and this left Silim bored, idly fingering a PADD.
The PADD he held in his hands was Starfleet, not Cardassian. All of his old devices had been transferred to Federation standards when he joined the research project seven months ago. Silim missed the old PADD, the Starfleet ones were grey, square and boring; they had no aesthetic.
Careful not to make any sound, Dr Parnak sighed internally. The project had sounded interesting when Starfleet Science had suggested it as one of many joint ventures with the Cardassian Science Ministry. He had arranged a sabbatical from the University of Culat and travelled across the quadrant to join to taskforce. Oh yes, that taskforce; Silim had expected at least three or four researchers, including himself, plus some research assistants. Instead he had Walt. A nice enough person, for a human, and an otherwise accomplished scientist but with too much going on in his department he was nothing more of a supervisor and pencil pusher. Perhaps if that assistant Walt complained of often did more work, then Silim could get more help on this project and head back to Cardassia.
It was a little surprising how much he both missed and did not miss Cardassia Prime. Here he was, deep in the heart of the Federation, absorbing the culture, the food and apparently, the understaffing yet Parnak's mind drifted to the newsletter he had received from the Federation Consulate before he left. In two days time, they would be performing Oedipus Rex at the National Theatre in Cardassia City as part of their on-going 'Arts of the Galaxy' campaign. The season so far had had both up and downs, the less said about the Klingon opera the better.
There was a faint hiss of the door, breaking the silence of the lab. Silim instinctively turned to see who was with him, but with his goggles acutely tuned to turn the infrared light of the dark lab into light that Parnak could process any normal light source would be blinding. This was definitely correct of the corridor.
"GRAH!..." Silim cursed, retching the accursed eyewear from his face. "... Has NO ONE told you it's polite to knock? There are experiments in progress."
Parnak hit the button on the padd. The lights returned to normal levels within the lab and, after a few moments of rapid blinking, he could finally identify his intruder.
"Walt? Did you forget what I was running? You could have blinded me!" Even with his aggravated tone, Silim wasn't overly angry; the disruption was a break from the boredom even though he could have done without the resulting visual distortion. While Walt stood in the doorway and explained himself, the Solus Bat had awoken. It lifted itself onto its wings and flew once around the room. It was only as it swooped out the open door and down the corridor that Parnak realised the trouble they would be in.
"Well that's JUST perfect." He sighed, exasperated. "You know, I'm blaming you for this..."
[Ensign Six (https://img14.deviantart.net/51cf/i/2015/255/0/5/six_01_by_auctor_lucan-d91bx0h.png) | Forensics Lab | Starbase 84] Attn: Kaligos
Six had been so engrossed in her work that she hadn't heard the doors to her lab swish open nor the footsteps of Lt. Hi'Jak as he walked in. It wasn't until he was directly behind her and speaking that she finally noticed, and despite her normally calm demeanor she seemed to jump nearly three feet out of her skin before spinning around defensively. It took her a minute to realize what had happened. She had been startled, and she cursed herself in her mind upon realizing that and quickly spoke on point to try and deter the Lieutenant from noticing. Borg did not get scared after all. But she wasn't exactly borg anymore was she?
"My results were a little more conclusive than yours I think. I was able to determine four trace elements within the metal fragments. The computer primarily found Triceron, but I managed to find miniscule fragments of Dentarium and Bitanium. Unfortunately the amounts were so small that they can easily be disregarded but I can assure you, after viewing the fragments with my optic implant that they are there and were part of the device. What's most curious about the elements I found though was this."
Six handed him a copy of the report in a way that showed her excitement, something that rarely got seen of her, and only when she was captivated by a mystery or puzzle. For a small moment while she gabbed on, she even smiled a bit at talking about her findings and the potential for what it could mean.
"I found residue that was found to be Tricobalt, a known Starfleet explosive. Now, I'm not sure why, but according to my findings it seems as though the implant was a Starfleet subcutaneous communicator, disguised as Romulan with all the Triceron to deter anyone from finding the smaller Starfleet issued fragments. And if you look here," she started, moving to pull up a magnifying scope that had a tiny piece of metal beneath it, "You'll see the point of detonation. I've concluded that this device was remote detonated, and that the detonator has to be somewhere close on the Starbase. Whoever took off the Romulan's head, is likely still here."
Looking at him expectantly, she almost seemed eager to see what he might have to say in response to her findings. "I will admit that my optic scans are often dismissed by Starfleet, but I know they are accurate, so I included them in my report regardless."
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
[Ensign A'vura Zeshryr (https://orig08.deviantart.net/ca09/f/2015/289/a/2/a_vura_row_01_by_auctor_lucan-d9d9ngm.png) | Detention Center | Starbase 84] Attn: Kaligos, Lucan, Don Reno
A'vura knew what F'Rell was doing as soon as she started and did her best to keep her gaze down and away from her shipmate. She almost didn't hear what the other member of the brig was saying and had to turn her focus from looking away to trying to peer to the side and listen to him harder. When he said the last of his words she looked at her commander with wide eyes. "A traitor on board? But who? This.. this can't be right can it? I mean why would anyone want to betray Starfleet?"
She had had yet to hear about the Theurgy and its crew, and couldn't quite wrap her mind around the idea of anyone going awol. She was about to say more when shit hit the fan so to speak and Bradford started to shout after Keval and Tancredi both entered the brig. At that point everything seemed to slow down like it had before in the ducts, Keval moving to Bradford and quickly causing the man to lose consciousness.
It made A'vura take a small step back from the field in front of her, mouth open and stunned, wondering what they were going to do now. No sooner had the thought crossed her mind did the Captain speak again and set a plan in motion. Shaking a little she waited, waited for Drauc to speak again, waited for the field to be lowered, waited for her Captain to direct her to where he wanted her.
[ Drauc T'Laus | Brig | Holding Cell ] Attn: Havenborn, FollowTomorrow, Absinthe, DocReno, Kaligos, Vystori (no order set)
What was this calling that had stirred him to speak? Old loyalties to Starfleet? He was not sure if he had spoken up for sake of vindication in the light of his years as a raider after the Dominion War, facing time at a Penal Colony or extradited to a war-riven Romulus for a even harsher sentence, or if he had rose to the call of action after deriving what Zeshryr had heard. Either way, he had caught Kendrick's attention. Should he bargain for release if he told them what he knew? Another gambit, and a dangerous one. No, he would speak as he would when he served in Starfleet, and earn their recognition rather than try to force their hand. They were virtually heading out already, and Drauc leaned forward to look at the creature and the white-collared woman with the red hair.
"Take him? As in carrying him? Geez, thanks, Captain," said the young woman, but she hesitated not on the order, already crouched down in order to pull the heavy human across her shoulder. Straightening, she stumbled, but caught her balance before she fell. "Okay, F'Rell, I don't know how you'll do it, but I can't help you that much in drawing any guards outside away from the way to the exit. At least Bradford didn't think to tap his combadge, so they won't know what we are up to... I will try to stay out of sight, so you lead the way."
Drauc looked back to the Captain, wondering why they would not leave the despicable Bradford behind, but as he read the surface thoughts of the human's mind, Drauc derived the motive. A'vura had not been identified, so if they brought the single witness and got out of Security undetected, there was a chance they'd buy time before Lieutenant Komial would set her guards after them. Drauc nodded towards the Brig Control station by the exit. "You will have to delete the surveillance records and shut down sensors here, and I have learned the access codes," he said before he got to the truth about what A'vura Zeshryr had said. He did not bargain for release, merely commenting on what the Captain was thinking.
"Yhfi-ss'ue.... N'ventnar. Auethn," he said next, looking towards A'vura - reciting what the Romulan that had accosted her had said first. He spoke quickly, saving them time to hear it all. "It means 'Travel tubes... Code 'Bared Fang'. Advise me.' Your attacker told the person who communicated with him that he was in the base's Jefferies tubes, and while I don't know what code 'Bared Fang' entail, I guess it might have something to do about you exposing him. Then, more importantly, he said 'Au'e, prod. Hwiiy hrrau hwaveyiir,' and that means, word for word, in a derisive defence to something said to him, 'Oh, sure, Captain. You are in the command-executive center.'"
Despite his history, and his battle experience, Drauc found his heart beating faster - the rush of adrenaline coursing through his veins. It was the anticipation of expected battles to come, now that the truth was given a voice through him. Yet he was not finished. "When he spoke next, he was threatened, saying 'Daisemi'in, regghai, sthea'hwill h'ta-fvau galae. Vaed-', and while he was cut off, his words were 'Chief among several, sir, I request to go back to the fleet. You-'." Drauc took a step closer to the forcefield, looking at A'vura as he spoke in his quick words. "Then, you saw what happened. The communicator he was touching on the side of his neck exploded - ending his life before he could say anything more. Kendrick, as you are aware, there might be several 'Prod', several Captains of docked starships in the Executive Command Centre, but 'Chief among several' evidently means that there are more of them. More of them that would murder their own Romulan asset, an operative that they hid aboard this starbase. Unfortunately, I don't know what 'they' - whoever they are - might conspiring to do, but if if it merits such methods, I would wager it is not something in line with Starfleet protocol, to say the least. This is what I know, and since you are not the Captain that spoke to the Romulan, I lay the truth at your feet, hoping you may act on it."
Having said what he had learned from the Orion woman, he had made his gambit, and while he hoped they would set him free, he said nothing further - awaiting what sentence Kendrick would give him. Hopefully, it was a sentence that didn't entail him remaining in the cell.
[ Lieutenant Simon Walt | Starbase 84 | Science Lab 47 ] Attn: Arista
Having been deep in thoughts, Simon had failed to realise he might disturb Parnak when he stepped into the laboratory. The Cardassian was studying the Carrayan Solus Bat, and it required nocturnal conditions, so he quickly realised his mistake. "Oh, I am sorry, Parnak," he said, blinking his watery eyes to make out where man from the Cardassian Science Ministry was. He needed the light from the corridor behind him, so he left the door opened just to that he might speak with Parnak without being blind."There came a transmission from Cardassia Prime. The University of Culat wants you t-"
The flutter of wings startled him, and he yelped, backing away towards the door. He fumbled for the handle, meaning to get out again and close the door, but had he only opted to remain inside instead, he might have shut the door before the bat escaped. Yet escape it did, in a rapid flutter above Walt's head, it shot out into the corridor. Mind drawing a blank, Simon supposed he ought to run after it, as if he would have any chance of catching it with his large hands, but the notion of running rid any such notions from his mind, and he ended up just standing there - mumbling a curse in answer when Parnak said he would lay the blame on him.
"You should have put it back in the cage," he said, flustered, and stepped out to look where the bar had gone. It was making its way down the corridor, and conveniently enough for sake of its impromptu experience of freedom, two researchers happened to step through the sliding doors from the area outside the science centre - opening the doors for the bat too. The two researchers screamed, thinking they were attached by the creature, and one of them even fell to the floor. If it weren't for the time wested in the lost bat, it might have been humorous, but Walt had little inclination to laugh.
"It is already out of the centre," he said to Parnak, and an idea came to him, "You. You are in better shape than I am. You might be able to catch it. I... I can go to my office and in-inform security about the missing bat, but you know its behaviour too. I'm sorry, but the project is riding on you now. Go, go, you must go after it before it escapes out into the Recreational Dome! Then we'll never be able to get our hands on it. In the corridors, at least, you have a shot!" Swallowing, Simon shifted his weight out the door again, making way for Parnak to get out of the laboratory.
To be completely honest, he saw a great opportunity in the set-back too. With Parnak leaving, he could use the scheduled time in Lab 47 for himself. He could just bring the holoemitter from his office and peruse the holovids he just downloaded from the civilian databases. He had yet to see the seventeenth edition of the 'USS Intercourse', and now was his chance. Unlike Parnak, however, he would make sure to lock the door...
OOC: Havenborn & FollowTomorrow, your characters have just found that evidence of a close affiliation with the Romulans has been planted into the ship's database, navigation systems, system calibrations and logs. The whole ship is permeated with compromising evidence. Moreover, Kendrick has asked Transporter control at the ready to beam those in the Brig back. Given what has been found, FollowTomorrow, you could post Suq reporting it to Havenborn or Kendrick, your pick, but the word must come out. Havenborn, you know what your character has to do. Absinthe, looking forward to see what you come up with for F'Rell but let me know if you need help. DocReno, Vystori and Kaligos, you have Drauc's revelation to react to, aside from getting A'vura out of the cell (and Drauc too, if you want him to purge the surveillance logs as they get out).
Arista: The idea I had was that the chase after the bat would take Parnak to the corridor outside Security, and see F'Rell emerging there - the T'Fanrell species something that would catch his eye. If not, the fact that Krystal Tancredi is carrying a body over her shoulder might instead. :) Your next post could end before he and the bat reaches security, however, since Absinthe have yet to post with F'Rell.
[ LT Daniel Havenborn | USS Resolve | Computer Core > Transporter Room 1 ] Attn: FollowTomorrow, Kaligos
Daniel was reading through the records he didn't notice anything at first; then suddenly he began to see information that shouldn't have been in the computer core, it seemed that a virus had been uploaded into the computer. He began seeing a script he was familiar with and while he wasn't fluent in many languages he recognized Romulan when he saw it. This was not going to end well for them if they couldn't figure out how to get this damned virus out of the computer core.
As he was reading through the some of the logs he had a hunch to read through his personal log and saw that the virus had worked its way in there as well. This was definitely not good and the amount of time it'd take to get this smuggled onboard meant that Sanford had to have done this unknowingly. He was about to begin looking in other places when he heard the communications message from Captain Kendrick.
Daniel tapped his combadge to respond. "Understood Captain, I'll see to it myself and let you know when I'm standing by." He said as he closed the channel and logged out of the computer core. He walked towards the turbolift and made his way to transporter room 1 and after a few minutes he arrived and as he walked in he relieved the transporter operator then stood behind the console and made sure that the virus hadn't infected it yet. If they could beam their people back that'd be good.
Daniel tapped his combadge again to inform the Captain he was ready for them. "Captain I'm ready to beam you group back on your command." He said as he watched the screen waiting for their signatures to appear outside of the security office.
[ Lt. Jg. Suq| USS Resolve | Engineering ] Attn: Havenborn, Auctor Lucan
There was so much that had changed that Suq didn't even know where to begin. Romulan, in his personal logs, in the navigation logs--everywhere, in everything. He was pretty sure that's Romulan food and drink in the replicator history. To anyone with an ounce of common sense, it looked as if they had been in cahoots with the Romulans for a long time now. On top of the crap-sundae that was that day, there was really no way he could fix this unless he plain old wiped the entire computer, and that would look even more suspicious.
He stepped back from the computer and ran both hands through his hair. He couldn't believe it, but it was starting to look like some kind of conspiracy. A real one, not just the ones spoken about in tabloids and message boards. He had to admit to himself, this was genius. Horrible, but genius.
It took him some time to gather his thoughts and find his courage. He's sure Havenborn already knows what's happening. This widespread corruption of the computer is probably visible from every terminal. He taps his combadge,
"Captain Kendrick, looks like someone's trying to frame us for conspiring with the Romulans. They planted evidence on us, makes it look like we've been cohorting with the Romulans for a while."
[Komial Dotnhil | Starbase 84 | Base Commanders Quarters]Atten: Lucan
When he put his tongue to use between her legs, well that was when the profanity started in earnest. Mixed in with liberal use of the word "Yes," in both Trill, and Federation Standard, the spotted beauty let out a litany that would make a Marine blush, and a Klingon proud. Thank the Great Bird of the Galaxy, the mans quarters were sound proof. It wouldn't do for any of the Security staff (or frankly, anyone on the starbase, StaFleet officers or no) to hear the raunchiness that broke past the Chief of Securities - her reputation as a cool and collected officer would go down in flames as bright red as the ones gracing her cheeks just then.
She got closer and closer, he legs beginning to shake. Those spots felt like they were on fire, even though she knew her legs had to feel cool against the Captain, especially with him fresh from a warm bath. His fingers curled deep inside her and she let out another rolling moan, hitched in the back of her throat. Her breasts bounced as she shook, and her fingers gripped the counter under her, back arching. And then he was pulling away and she let out a pitiful whimper, dark eyes fluttering to look down at him - and see him standing between her legs, his hard length resting above her sex, along her toned stomach.
There was that whimper again, muted this time by her captains lips against hers. Coyishly, her tongue darted out, tasted herself on his lips and groaned, a deep, vibration bubbling from her throat. Her breath hitched again, feeling his cock slide along her swollen, tender pussy lips, and she rolled her hips - maybe she could catch his cock head, slip him into her - or maybe it would just feel good for them both, the added friction. She smiled against those dark chocolate lips; either result was a win for her.
And then he was inside of her and that whimper became a sweet mewl. Her hands roamed over his shoulders as she listened to his words, nodding, biting her lip and blushing fiercely. The faith this man had in her, the praise he leveled on her in the middle of something so intimate as this - managing to make duty into an endearment. She was melting inside, there was no doubt about it, even in her hushed "yessirs," and other little noises, those walls in her heart breaking down even as the walls of her core squeezed the rock hard shaft inside of her. She had little idea of how soon that faith would be put to test, and with the way Hawthorne's teeth were scraping her nipple, well, thinking wasn't really at the top of her to do list just then.
"Oh Gods, Ian," she whimpered as he hit her just right, just, just perfectly right, his cock head brushing that place deep within, his lips sucking her nipple, the dusty red pebble hard as a rock in his mouth. She hardly ever used his given name, never in public, almost never in private, but when he did that so very deep inside her tight, tight pussy, well - nothing else seemed right. Her whole body quaked with the way his cock head stroked her so deep inside, left her feeling vulnerable, safe, strung taut and limp all at one a contradiction of feelings and sensations that she couldn't put into words. Her fingers stroked over his bald head, back behind his ears, as if trying to map every curve of his skull as she shook again, nearly on the edge of orgasm.
Dr. Silim Parnak | Corridor outside Security Centre | Starbase 84] Attn: Auctor Lucan, Anyone leaving the brig
As Parnak thundered down the corridor he cursed Walt, in fact, he cursed everything. He cursed the bat, he cursed the station and he definitely cursed the confused ensign who did nothing but stop and stare as Silim passed.
For the last five minutes he'd been following this bat down various corridors but at least he'd had the sense to take some equipment from the science lab. In one hand he held a light baton and in the other something Starfleet defined as a Handheld Animalia Containment Unit, or in other words, a cage. In this case, Parnak continued to be perplexed by Starfleet's, and the Federation's, inane desire to call normal objects by complex names so that later they could then make it into an abbreviation.
"Computer, lower lights in this section by 60%" He barked. The computer dutifully carried out its orders with a chime. This was Silim's plan. If the bat was a positively phototactic creature, and it was, then it will be drawn to biggest light source in its path. With the lights down low and his baton turned high, Parnak waved the baton manically; the bat, blissfully unaware, continued on its path away from the Cardassian.
"Oh, my kingdom for a phaser..." he sighed. With that he could just stun it out of the sky, although no doubt security would detect the blast and dispatch deputies leaving him to explain how he had forgotten to lock the door and let loose a wild creature onto the station. So far, this had not been Silim's greatest day on the job.
He followed the bat around the corner towards the security centre and in a moment of inspiration he tossed the light baton forward into the bat's line of sight. As it descended, he quite literally grasped the moment and used his now free hand to catch the creature and stuff it into its crate. Precisely at that moment, the doors in front of him parted leaving him staring at the open entrance of the security centre like a child caught with his hand in the cookie jar. He abruptly stood and tried to look nonchalant.
Although there were others, his gaze was brought upon the redhead in front of him. She wasn't unattractive, but what really held his attention was the unconscious body she held over her shoulder. "Hmm?" He mused inquisitively. To break the tension, he smirked and raised his cage, nodding towards Tancredi. "I don't suppose I could interest you in a trade?"
OOC: Sorry it took me so long to reply, I got caught by a cold which knocked me through a loop. I'm feeling much better. Hopefully this should give those in the security centre some fun for those that want to participate.
Also, I promise Parnak is quite a good exobiologist. Honest! Even if he currently can't keep tabs on a bat.
[LT Keval ch'Rayya | Brig] ATTN: Everyone
Keval gave A'vura a slight smile as he walked over to the control panel for the force field and pulled open the access panel below it to get to the isoleaner chips system as he started a quick process of switching out chips and entering a series of codes.
"You know A'vura, we've really got to stop meeting like this." Keval said in a slightly jovial tone as he continued his work in a unhurried manner as what he was doing wouldn't cause a system inquiry and then a message to the trill security chief if he went about it slowly. "I mean of all the places to get locked up for trying to sing old earth bubble gum pop songs..."
Keval gave himself a moment to raise his head and wink at the orion woman to let her know that while he was taking this seriously, he was trying to lighten the stressful situation just a little bit before he lowered his head and went back to his work.
"Now they probably didn't teach you this at the academy which is how to do a system bypass but making the computer think that it's a routine bitrate cleanup cycle..which if done right will cause the systems that the security field operates on to go into a system check mode and...."
At that moment the force field that seperated A'vura from her and her freedom disappeared which left the andorian with an even bigger grin on his face.
"...and turn off the security field. Gods how I miss those classes." Keval said as he stepped aside and motioned with a refined grace like he was a butler for the younger woman to step out of her cell and head out of the brig.
But as he straightened back up, he looked over at Drauc and his eyes narrowed in thought before his face relaxed and he asked "What about him, please tell me we are not leaving him to rot in this place that stinks worse then a Pakled beer factory?"
[Lt Hi'Jak (https://orig03.deviantart.net/94e6/f/2015/265/a/e/hi_jack_02_by_auctor_lucan-d86nthi.png)| lab 17 | Starbase 84] Attn: Vystori, Auctor Lucan
Jack almost chuckled when the former Borg drone seemed to nearly leap out of her skin. She was kinda cute when she was more Brunali than borg. But at the same time she seemed to gather up her wits about her. He let out a sigh as she seemed to recover and then go over her findings. When she said that it was in fact a close proximity detonated device Hi'Jak actually clapped his arms and did a quick fist pump.
"Called it." His celebration of joy was short lived as he came to the same realization that she had, whoever detonated the device was likely still on board the ship which of course meant that there was a likely a traitor or even another romulan agent here. His eyes widened as he came to the realization that they were in actual danger here. "Wait... that's not a good thing."
He bit his lip as he looked over the fragments on the table. Jack was no longer sure what was going on here. It didn't take a scientist to figgure out that the Romulan got here on a ship recently docked here. He remembered the Romulan from the holding brig, the bio scans that had ended up on his desk, How had he ended up on the Starbase? How many more traitors could there be. "If it's as you say than that means this was a Starfleet explosive right?"
Walking up to the computer he sighed and started to work. "Starfleets sub net is massive, but we know the time of the explosion which means we know the time that any communication was sent to it, if it was a Starfleet explosive, then I am going to bet that it was a Starfleet com channel, probably something small, if I were going to set off a bomb, I wouldn't encrypt that kind of communication makes it's file too big, cumbersome you can't hide it, if it were me trying to hide Romulan operatives than I'd go with something that looks like subspace chatter, the same stuff the communication tower is designed to pick up, I bet you that if we focus in and search all comm signals at the point of the explosion than we can play back the detonation command. It wouldn't be much, it's probably scrambled all to hell, but if we are lucky we can get a voice in that chatter."
Jack smiled as he thought about his plan and tried to make it happen. "If we can find and reconstruct the voice, then we will have a clue as to whoever set off the bomb."
[Captain Tristan Kendrick |Starbase 84| Brig ] Attn: Vystori, Absinthe, Havenborn, Follow Tomorrow DocReno, and Lucan
F'Rell and Krystal left the room hauling away Bradfords limp unconcous body. At the same time he turned his attention to Drauc. His story and all that would follow it. 'Command-Executive Center' and Chief among several. Sure enough he had to agree with Drauc's current mind on the situation. There were probably more than one traitor on board starbase 84, and that meant he couldn't trust anyone be them from another ship or on the starbase themselves. What was more there was a big one calling the shots, a leader who had the power to kill assets at his disgression.
Kendrick's fist tightened he was about to give a different set of orders, perhaps start down a very dangerous path, but then his com badge clicked, and for a moment his mind stopped. Someone had altered their story. Altered the logs of his crew, and his ship to make it seem like they were the traitors. This chief among many was going to hang his crew for their crimes! Someone was going to end up taking the blame for this situation and it was his ship... all of his crew.
Or just him...
Kendrick tapped his com badge. "Save all of my altered personal and captains logs to your personal PADD, and then begin a progressive memory purge of the ship. As soon as I am on board I am going to be calling a senior staff meeting."
He turned to Keval and had to agree they couldn't risk letting Drauc stay here. "Get him out."
Turning to Avura he handed her his phaser after he set it to stun and smiled. "Go with F'Rell and Krystal secure our exit, and if the Romulan tries anything funny stun him."
[ F'Rell of the 12th House | Detention Center Main Desk | Starbase 84] Attn: Everyone in the brig
F'Rell's mind raced as she did her best to come up with a plan. As the doors slide open and she spotted the first security guard she had but one idea, she only hoped it was a good one. She snaked over to him, turning up the volume of her communicator as she did so, so that it would be more than loud enough to intimidate the guard, so she hoped, and inform the others of her plan.
"You! Peon! I am F'Rell of the 12th House, representative of the T'fanrell peoples. I demand to speak with the Station's Commanding Officer, no... I Demand to speak to the President of these United Federation of Planets in regards to the truly despicable way I have been continued to be treated," roared the communicator quite loudly as the vibrations of her whisker like tendrils shook the air. She did her best to look furious and dangerous, she only hoped that due to her alien physiology the humanoid would have no point of reference. "And until I speak with the leader of the United Federation of Planet, I am commandeering this section of the station on the behalf of the T'fanrell peoples, as it appears to have the highest concentration of security personnel."
[Ensign Six (https://img14.deviantart.net/51cf/i/2015/255/0/5/six_01_by_auctor_lucan-d91bx0h.png) | Forensics Lab | Starbase 84]
As Hi'Jak worked at the computer, he seemed to find what he was looking for, only to have it bleep at him loudly with, "Security Authorization Level 10 is required to review this transmission." Six frowned when she heard that. Only a Captain or higher ranked member of Starfleet could have sent that transmission. She checked over the logs herself and sure enough he was fairly accurate with his finding that the transmission came within the same timeframe suggesting that this was in fact the at the moment the bomb was detonated, and using her borg interface alongside the computer she was able to ascertain reasonably that the transmission's target was within the area of the detonation, though she could only confirm that with about 70% accuracy.
Regardless, Six was not all that happy about these findings as they grew more into the realm of a Starfleet traitor on board the Starbase. Looking at Hi'Jak, she shook her head. "I need to get these findings to Lieutenant Dotnhil." Tapping her Comm-Badge she tried to call for her with no response, and again no response after she tried a second time. "Computer, locate Lieutenant Dotnhil." "Lieutenant Dotnhil is in the Senior Officer's Quarters." Six pursed her lips and gathered her report along with all the recorded evidence and the upload of her ocular and borg interface evidence and snatched the other lieutenant by the shirt sleeve, tugging him with her. "Looks like we'll have to search for her personally," she chimed as she pulled him along toward the turbolift.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
[Ensign A'vura Zeshryr (https://orig08.deviantart.net/ca09/f/2015/289/a/2/a_vura_row_01_by_auctor_lucan-d9d9ngm.png) | Detention Center | Starbase 84
A'vura crinkled her nose a bit as she thought about the implications of what Drauc was saying. The words were entirely familiar to her when he spoke them in the other language, though she couldn't be certain that his translations were accurate. Given the state of things there seemed reasonable cause to wonder if he was lying. But then again to what end? To be let out of his cage? Only to come along with us and be trapped inside of another? Shaking her head she looked at her Captain disdainfully. "I've never heard of a captain betraying Starfleet. What has been going on since we've been away?"
As she spoke Keval made tried to make light while tricking the system into letting her free. And even then her brow furrowed in the frowning expression on her face. It wasn't that she wasn't appreciative of his attempts. It was just so utterly harrowing to learn that someone so high up in Starfleet rank would even think to betray them, their own people. It tied her stomach in knots and made her feel a little sick. Still, for his benefit, to show she wasn't upset with him in any way, she forced a small smile, and a small crack back, "Well, you know me Lieutenant. I can't seem to get enough of that Candy Girl."
No sooner had she made her comment did the field disappear in front of her and he was motioning for her exit in a mock-dashing way. Stepping out she happily accepted the phaser from her Captain with a nod and another small, forced smile. Then she hurried after F'Rell and Tancredi to do as he had asked.
[ Captain Ian Hawthorne | Base Commander's Quarters ] Attn: Kaligos, Brutus & Vystori
With no counter-arguments raised, and her sounds merely being mewls of pleasure, Ian was confident that Komial would see things his way when it came to the Resolve's Captain and crew. Thus assured, he held nothing back, no point in making either of them wait for the culmination of their impromptu meeting. He wrapped one arm behind her lower back and ground his thick hardness into her where she sat on the edge of the water basin. He made them heave with his movements, and the way her cool body felt against him made him increase the pagan rhythm - the hard peaks of her breasts raking across the planes of his chest once he released one of those pebbles with his mouth.
Eventually, he lifted her off towards his bed in the adjacent room, continuing their exploits in earnest.
Sometime later, he came the second time that day - having sown Trish with his seed too before he killed her. Whether or not his seed would take in Komial did not concern him the slightest. If he would impregnate her, he might keep her alive long enough to let her beget him children - spawn that he had no faith would survive in the wars to come. If she would die before she came to full term, so be it, because she was expendable once she had served her immediate purpose at his side. After all, she would be less useful as his right hand in the later phases of her gestation, her physique deteriorating with each trimester, and her appeal to him lesser by the day. There would simply be no point in keeping her or the potential children alive.
Thus, he came inside her without compunction. As if it meant something, he slanted his lips across hers while it lasted. Afterwards, merely on a whim, he whispered those words he knew she wanted to hear from him too, simply because it would aide his cause. "I love you..."
Forestalling any answer, bereaving her of the moment, there was a chirp on the door to Ian's quarters. There was a visitor, and reality returned. Ian was curious who had come, yet he did not answer. He acted irritated, and unsheathed himself from Komial so that he might walk over to a control panel outside the bedroom. He keyed up the camera feed showing the two people outside, and turned his gaze towards Komial.
"She is one of yours, isn't she?" he said, mind racing despite his collected demeanour. "That forensic science officer you spoke of?" Leaving the display lit for her to come see for herself, Ian moved to dress himself, subtly letting her know his irritation through movements alone, but not saying anything further. Hopefully, she would deal with the two junior officers without him having to speak with them.
[ Ensign Krystal Tancredi | Outside the Security Center ] Attn: 1) Arista 2) Vystori 3) Absinthe
The way F'Rell set up the distraction had been truly inspired, and Krystal could not help but pause in her slow progress to get out of the security center to gape at how the T'fanrell drew the attention of all the present personnel with her gambit. The aide's desk was already empty since Bradford, well, he lay across her shoulder, so as soon as she got there, no one would note her slipping out the door.
Sneaking was hard with the dead weight she carried, but F'Rell had drawn people away from her round-about path towards the exit, so it was merely a manner of moving silently and hoping the security guards wouldn't turn around. She could hear them trying to reason with F'Rell, which was quite funny since it showed how little they knew about diplomacy and protocol for the current kind of situation.
"Well, F’Rell of the... Um... 12th House," one of them started to say, searching for the proper words that would soothe the alien's rage, "Representative, we do not have any means to communicate with the President from here, and even at maximum warp, there would be quite some time before she would get here. And, well, you can't stay here until then, so... Could we... Um... could we perhaps arrange for accommodations that would suit... your majest- I mean, your eminence?"
Keeping from laughing despite herself, Krystal managed to close the last distance towards the exit, and she slipped out. She'd done it! Only then, she practically walked straight into a Cardassian, and her eyes widened in alarm. After being away for three years, the Dominion War was not that long ago, so she almost jumped out of her skin when she was caught carrying Bradford, but that was merely the first stage of her fright. Because next, a nightmarish creature was shoved into her face, and she let out a short scream - toppling backwards with Bradford. She ended up with him draped across her on the deck plates - stuck and at the Cardassian's and his monster's mercy. Through sheer luck, the sliding doors had closed before she had screamed - preventing the entire security centre to see her indignant fall.
"Get tha' thing away from meh!" she barked as she tired to shimmy her way out from underneath Bradford. To add insult to injury, this being Krystal's pride sustaining a savage blow, A'vura soon emerged through the sliding doors too - seeing her there with Bradford on top of her. She was so mortified she wasn't really noticing if the Cardassian tried to help her or not, because even if security was none the wiser, several people that had been crossing the open area had stopped to stare at what was going on - likely wondering if the Cardassian had attacked her or even killed Bradford before he'd do her next.
[ Drauc T'Laus | Brig | Holding Cell ] Attn: 1) DocReno 2) Kaligos
The anticipation of Captain Kendrick's decision regarding his fate was something Drauc kept from getting to him, or at least keeping himself from showing it. Ultimately, he had offered the Resolve his aid, but if the crew didn't dare accept it, it would be their misfortune. He was confident about his own capabilities, and if Starfleet would not have him back, he knew there would always be some battlefield he could find and earn his keep. Redemption among his old peers would have been excellent, but if it was denied him, her was not about to accept a fate in a penal colony.
As it were, the Andorian named ch'Rayya and Captain Kendrick made their decision, and Drauc inclined his head to them while the forcefield was being dealt with by the resourceful Tactical Officer. "I will do whatever I can to aide you, and afterwards, you can decide my fate. For the time being, my phaser is yours, along with my loyalty."
Once the field winked out, Drauc stepped past the two Starfleet officers and made his way over to the duty station inside the detention centre. Without delay, he tapped in one of the access codes he had learned and brought up the surveillance system's master display, keyed up the records for the last hour and deleted them one by one - the arrival of the Resolve's crew removed from existence along with any evidence of the ongoing escape. He had some trouble with the permanent removal of the files, but luckily, the authorisation that Komial Dothnil had used when she searched for his Starfleet personnel file worked to get the job done. It took him fifteen seconds, give or take, then he stepped away from the duty station.
"We have one minute until the surveillance system reboots. I suggest we leave... Captain." It was odd, using Starfleet rank again. Nostalgic, even. He had been a better man back then, or younger, at the very least.
Drauc looked towards the Andorian, expecting the man to take point instead of Kendrick in order to safeguard his Commanding Officer.
OOC: FollowTomorrow, Suq was given orders by Kendrick earlier. Havenborn and SummerDawn, you have your joint post to finish and Kendrick's order to beam them all out is coming up with Kaligos' post.
Dr. Silim Parnak | Corridor outside Security Centre | Starbase 84 Attn: Auctor Lucan, Vystori
That thing? Silim had been called many names in his life, but never had he been so insulted. He may be an outsider on a Starbase many light-years from home but he had a doctorate and was respected in his field. For the briefest time Parnak was ignorant to her meaning. It took him a moment to realise she was, in fact, referring to the caged bat in his hands. He hadn't even moved the cage that much. Obviously she had some form of phobia. Placing the enclosure on the deck carefully away from the woman and her unconscious partner, Parnak stepped in to help.
He wondered about this redhead. In his mind he began to fill in a story. This man and woman must be dating and they must have been celebrating, fighting or something similar. The man had drank too much, got in trouble, been arrested and passed out. This woman obviously wasn't very smart. It was foolish to release a man so intoxicated. Parnak then remembered back to the tales from the Irish man on the freighter he had taken to Starbase 84. In his stories it was blondes who were stupid, not the redheads. It was all a ridiculous system anyway; assigning hair colours to levels of intelligence.
The doors to the security centre parted again and out walked a dishevelled Orion woman. At last, the story made sense, or at least why the male had drunk so much. The Orions were notorious boozehounds. This one? Well, she was either a friend or a mistress. A mistress, now that would be interesting! Again a tale began to weave itself in Silim's mind. There'd been a fight between the redhead and the male. He then turned to the only option he knew, the arms of a bottle. In a bar he'd met the Orion. She'd whispered in his ears and filled his nose with pheromones. Later, they were caught cavorting on the entertainment decks, lewd and inebriated. This poor redhead, she obviously had been called to collect her lover and because she was so distraught, or that she was so stupid, she'd saved the man and his mistress. It was poetic. It was marvellous. It was something that Silim would have to write down later and send to one of his playwright friends.
"On Cardassia, deputies wouldn't let people out of the drunk tank until they've sobered. Perhaps next time you should think the same for your boyfriend. It could avoid this situation." He hefted the unconscious human up and placed the man's arm over his shoulder, hugging the man against himself to support the weight. It was unfair for this woman to have to drag her lover home alone, especially as Silim had started to feel guilty about his bat joke. "Come on then, lets get him home. Which habitat level are you on?" He asked the poor dense redhead, then he shot a look at the filthy Orion succubus. "...And you. Are you going to help or not?"
[ Lt. Jg. Suq | USS Resolve | Engineering ] Attn: Auctor Lucan
Suq paused. He had a inkling of where this is going, and he didn't like it one bit--but it's not like he had a better idea, did he?
"You've got it Cap. See you soon." He reached for his pocket, searching for his PADD, and found nothing there. Of course, he had dropped it during the explosion. He began to walk about the room, checking under consoles for it while his mind wandered. If only Captain Kendrick's logs survived, and the rest of ship's memory erased...it'll seem as if only Captain Kendrick had collaborated with the Romulans. He knew that was not true, not in the least, but...
He found his PADD, kicked into a corner, and dragged it out. He wiped the dirt off it with his sleeve and returned to the console. It didn't take long to set up a download. The Captain was not making a small sacrifice by doing this. This was treason. He didn't want to let this happen, not while he knew the truth, but all other options in his head were too dangerous, risked too many lives.
A chirrup interrupted his thoughts. The download was complete. He disconnected his PADD. His hands hesitated over the keys, but he began to enter the command. He thought briefly of taking a quick nap before the senior staff meeting. He watched the numbers on the screen mark the computer's progress, and to him, it felt like counting down to someone's funeral. He listened for sign that the Captain was aboard the ship, and hoped he came soon.
[LT Keval ch'Rayya | Brig] ATTN: Kendrick and company
Once Keval got the security field down for Durac, he nodded respectfully to the hybrid before heading over to a weapons storage station and grabbed a phaser for himself before following him out of the room and took up a spot at the rear of the group, keeping their rears guarded in a casual manner.
He caught the look and posture of Durac but he knew that Kendrick was more then capable of taking point himself because he had worked with him over the past few years and knew what he was capable of doing in the field..however it took every ounce of his considerable willpower not to bust out laughing when he saw the tableau of what F'Rell was doing.
"So captain, do we have a plan in place from alpha to beta?" the Chaan inquired from his spot in the group.
[ Sera vers Aldnoah | Sabine | Space ] Attn: Drana
Sera blinked at Melissa as the blonde laid out her plan to actually get her weapons back. To be quite honest Sera had expected to just forgo getting them back sure they were hers but was it really worth potentially getting caught and getting thrown into prison. Already she'd been given back her ship with all of it's newfound glory that would have been enough for her. And it wasn't everyday a stunning blonde with an attitude to match her own decided to run off with you against all form of logic or reason to go off to maker knows where in a stolen ship.
"Do you think it will really work?" Sera asked now that they had a plan she was far more willing to give it a try. If they were going to steal the ship they might as well steal all her other possessions back at the same time. "If so then I'm up for it. We're already committing one crime a few more won't make a difference." Sera said. Already Sera's mind was processing how many different ways things could go wrong but in the end her mind had always tended to do that. It was better to have a good understanding of all possible outcomes to help decide your next course of action.
[ Captain Tristan Kendrick |Starbase 84| Outside the Brig ] Attn: Everyone
Tristan nodded to the suggestion of leaving. of course with the rest of his crew holding down security, and keeping their escape route good there was probably a lot less time than they wanted. Walking out of the brig he saw what F'Rell was doing, as well as what Avura was getting into. Amusing as it was he wanted less people near the brig not more. For this plan to work they required some amount of anonymity. Still he didn't draw the weapon that was given to him by Drauc. they still had less than a minute before security cameras went back on line.
As Keval asked if he had a plan Kendrick smiled. "Didn't you hear me send a message?"
Tapping his com badge he sent a message to Havenborn. "Away team, plus three to beam up. Lock onto Avura, and we will be taking a Romulan with as well, Krystal is holding our third party."
With that command the rest of his crew should be back on his ship. Still he looked around the room. He could take full responsibility for this jail break, just like he would everything else. Of Course now his crew had to find a way to hide officer bradford as well as Avura and Drauc from the rest of Starfleet. It was a lot to entrust to his crew, but it was him or the ship.
He just had to put his faith in them, he closed his eyes and waited for the familiar sensation of being transported back onto his ship. Now that they were outside of the brigs containment field and his ship could get a good lock on them.
[LT Keval ch'Rayya | Brig] ATTN: Kendrick and company
The andorian snorted back a laugh, "Of course I did, Tristan, but I'm just wanting to make sure that there was more to it because my gut is screaming at me that something major is going on other then what we're seeing." Keval explained as he looked down at the phaser he was holding long enough to make a couple of minor field adjustments that allowed him to use the medium stun setting at a lesser charge to the weapon before looking up at his commanding officer.
The andorian's "gut feeling" had been developed from years of security work, some minor work shadow work during the last couple wars and the past few years being lost with the Resolve had helped to hone it for him as he kept his senses alert because something very dark was nagging at the back of his mind. "It's times like this that I wish Krystal had a rifle on her all of the time to be completely honest." he mentioned as he kept up his rear-guard duties.
[ Lt. JG Zelosa Ejek | USS Resolve | Quarters ]
Invaders on the ship. Her mind revolved around this information, for it was the deciding factor of all her present actions and deliberations. It was also the reason Ejek crawled through a Jefferies tunnel: something she was asked to do so rarely outside of training exercises that her mind didn't even care to call them "tubes".
She was with Suq. The Efrosian, in his function as Chief Engineer, followed behind her, carrying his tool box. He had originally taken the lead, being more used to these surroundings, but they had soon learned that it was more sensible for her to open hatches. There were fires and occasional explosions in the halls and walls around them, and her skin was less sensitive to the touch of surprisingly hot metal.
A flash of disrupter light and a blasting sound behind them made them hurry up.
"They're close," Ejek panted.
"Too close," Suq decided. He grabbed a coil spanner - apparently the next best thing Starfleet had to a phaser if you wanted to kill someone, so Ejek wondered why handling it didn't require a license - and turned around just in time to see a shadow emerge. She stopped.
"You can't-"
But his gaze was determined: "You have to reach the control room and lock this whole section down. It is the only way."
There were times in which Ejek knew that the impending doom of her friend would have broken her heart. This was not one of them. Her emotions ran on basic survival instinct, and her mind was set on escaping this situation. She wanted not only to avoid the raiders in the corridors, but the whole invasion, by doing all it took to prevent it from spreading over the ship. And, quite frankly, if she played her part in retaking the ship and kept him in good memory, she had done more for Suq and made sure his death was more meaningful than if she stayed to argue until they both got killed. It still left a gloomy feeling in her chest when they parted.
The hatch at the end of the corridor did not lead to the expected control room within the warp nacelle on the port side. Instead, Ejek climbed into main engineering. After she closed the hatch, she left Suq and his doom behind. It felt as if it didn't matter anymore.
There was no further sound from the previous scene, nor any sound at all save for the mechanical humming of the machines. Main engineering lay bare and fully functional in front of her, but it was void of all humanoid life that wasn't hers. As she walked closer to the warp core, she found that there was only one other person inside as she lay eyes on the luminescent body of F'Rell of the 12th House.
That was all right, her mind said, F'Rell belonged here. She was probably dealing with some major malfunction that had left the room contaminated, and subsequently evacuated. That Ejek's own body would be susceptible to radiation did not cross her thoughts.
The Cardassian approached the alien, then she saw impossible movement at the corner of her eyes. Alarmed, she halted and turned her head; to look into the gun barrel of a Jem'Hadar soldier. She had just enough time to realise that it was over. Her heart missed a beat and her mind raced, but she could only surrender to the inevitable conclusion that her life was about to end. No way out, nothing left to do. A flash of yellow light, and-
Her cocked legs were the first things in her sight. Ejek gasped for air. She reached for her sweaty eye ridge and massaged her temple, hugging her knees with the other arm. She sat on her bed. Apparently, she had started up. Now she needed to catch her breath, and for her heart rate to calm down. She knew where she was, but the realisation did not come with much relief. Yes, she was still alive, but only to face the fact that she was not altogether well.
It turned out that it had hardly been four and a half hours since she had returned from the welcoming ceremony and went to sleep. When had been the last time she peacefully slept through?
Her crew knew better than to wake her, mainly out of concern, as she had long since discovered that nightmares were her mind's favourite way to haunt her. This came as no surprise, seeing how her expertise in controlling her mind and thoughts failed at night, as well as her strategy to focus on facts and knowledge. Where there was no consciousness, there she couldn't focus her thoughts, and where she couldn't focus, there she struggled to interfere with the dots her mind connected in a way she didn't want it to.
She had reliefs, though. She was not out of strategies. Painting was one activity she had picked up after the Battle of Cardassia, and it helped her to express her emotions with colours and brush strokes until she was drained out of the need to express herself. Running was a way to exhaust her body and stimulate happiness hormones at the same time. But right now she was too annoyed and tired for either, so she resorted to her usual routine in such situations:
"Computer. Play audio file 74 from last halt. Stop playing after I've fallen asleep."
There were sensors in the walls that could distinguish beta brain waves from the various other kinds. The computer would know, it always did.
Disgruntled, Ejek lay back down and stared at the ceiling. None of her dream scenarios had happened that way in reality. Of course not. But attackers on the ship, fires and F'Rell fixing engineering on her own, all that at least had happened at some point during the last three years. It did not surprise Ejek that her mind was still preoccupied with any and all of it, not so shortly after returning to the safety of Federation space. And now that the stress of keeping it together had fallen off her, she had all the time, and apparently the need, to come to terms with it. Maybe she would take a few weeks off, maybe talk to someone and get some help.
Because there was more to it. Ejek only had to give the Jem'Hadar in her dream some thought to know it, and to know what it was. They were home. They were supposed to be safe here. Thus, her mind found it necessary to warn her not to feel too carefree. By the logic her emotions seemed to go by, it was better to always be prepared than to miss one clue: it could lead to a situation similar to the Battle of Cardassia.
From a rational standpoint, that was nonsense, of course. Statistically, it was no more likely that some genocidal galactic superpower decided to extinguish her whole species than in the 21 years before she had been traumatised, and feeling edgy and sleep-deprived wouldn't help her limit the risk, either. Besides, she didn't seek eternal safety, or not turning to Starfleet should have been her first step towards it. In the past three years she had faced continuous threats to her life, and it wasn't avoiding these situations that caused her quite a headache, but sleeping through the night now that they were back home. Trauma was so stupid, it was frustrating.
Yet it couldn't be helped right away, only dealt with. So Ejek decided to concentrate her thoughts on the audio book that had started playing about half a minute ago, and she was already fading back to sleep when something strange caught her attention.
".... Mnahe afw'ein qiuu; Rh'e hweithnaef..."
Romulan?
"Computer." Ejek frowned. "What am I listening to?"
The computer's answer came quickly, and luckily in as much Standard as was possible: "Taer'thaiemenh, by the author Raiuhes Ahaefvthe."
"I don't even have that book," the Cardassian said to nobody in particular as she swung her legs over the edge of the bed and got up. "Stop record."
She had not reached the bathroom when yellow alarm sprang to life. Ejek jerked and cursed, turning on her heels to pick up her duty unfirm and get dressed in under a minute. She had five to reach her post, but what good would she be in a counselling office, not even knowing what went on?
"Computer," she addressed the USS Resolve's mechanical persona once more while applying make-up to her forehead and pinning her hair up. "Who and where is the senior officer closest to my location?"
"Acting Chief Engineer Lieutenant Suq-Reylin-Efreya Xan is in main engineering."
[ Lt. JG Zelosa Ejek | USS Resolve | Engineering ] Attn: FollowTomorrow
The Cardassian counsellor reached main engineering not two minutes later. For Suq, who had gotten to know her quite well, it would be obvious that she was stressed. Her skin was shinier than usual, and her neck ridges were sprawled out, stretching the fabric of her collar. Ejek approached him with wide, firm steps until her eyes found the remaining pieces of the exploded console.
Upon seeing this, her demeanour changed. She approached, still, but her steps got lighter, more self-conscious. An ironic smile appeared on her face as she acknowledged that there was even more going on than she had at first expected.
How much one could miss in only four and a half hours, she mused. Maybe her mind wasn't so far off after all. Maybe she should do it like Lieutenant ch'Rayya and chalk it up to intuition.
"A Romulan book amongst my belongings, and now collateral damage in engineering. There must be a lot I've missed." Ejek summarised, tilting her head and watching Suq with wakeful, expectant eyes. "Would you mind to fill me in?"
She stopped next to him, looking at the console he was working on.
"I mean, after you're done doing..." Her eyes narrowed. This wasn't the engineering console she remembered her friend working on. In fact, everything seemed quite generic, as if the ship had just been commissioned. "What are you doing?"
[ Lt. Jg. Suq | USS Resolve | Engineering ] Attn: Julia
He stared at the numbers and his mind meditated on the image of funeral pyres. It felt like a thick fog suffocating him, making it hard to breathe...
Then he heard Ejek's voice, and he turned around to see her standing there. His eyes were baleful, sleepy-looking. She appeared just as stressed as he did though, her neck all flared out like she intends to scare him. He offered her a weak smile.
"It's a uh, progressive memory wipe. I hope you didn't like the novel. I probably just got rid of it." He shrugged, then looked back at the console for a very long time. When he spoke again, his voice sounded a little more uncertain. He spoke slowly, trying to choose the right words.
"Someone burnt up a li'l. There was a...a sabotaging. Someone planted evidence on us, uploaded a chip and-- you know Federation consoles, they blow like orion hookers-- so one of our men is dead and there's Romulan on everything. It makes us look like...It implicates us in treason, basically, with the Romulans. So I'm wiping everything. Kendrick's coming aboard here soon, he might be here already. There's going to be a senior staff meeting. "
He turned his head over to Ejek, looking over at her as if the one thing in the world he needed most was a hug.
"Ejek, I can't help but feel like I'm never going to forget today. Like I'll be nightmare-ing of it for the rest of my life."
[ Drauc T'Laus | Starbase 84 | Escaping the Security Centre > USS Resolve] Attn: All
Oh, the thrill of what he was about excited Drauc, moving out from the detention center in the middle of starbase security - escaping with happenstance allies. The menial boredom broken at last. After having been arrested, the chance to stretch his legs was exquisite, and doing so in defiance of his captors made it all the more sweet. He heard the Captain and the Andorian speak, random thoughts of theirs touching upon his mind, yet he paid it no heed - focused as he was on his physical surroundings.
In the Security Center, outside the place of his captivity, he saw the strange alien posing as the decoy, and he was pleased to see that this crew was resourceful. In the battlefield, all means counted if victory was there for the taking. Lieutenant Dothnil's officers were none the wiser while he moved with Kendrick and ch'Rayya - treading in the footsteps of the two women that had gone ahead of them. Women, who were out of eye-sight when Kendrick ordered someone to beam them all out. They were about to pass the aide's duty station when Drauc picked up something strange beyond the sliding doors. It was a... maelstrom of confusion, fear, surprise and... Expressive thoughts describing an amorous affair between two humans and an Orion woman. It made no sense, since A'vura had been taken into custody. Was it someone's imagination that so poignantly cut his focus?
When the sliding doors opened, Drauc's eyes widened - seeing a Cardassian holding Bradford's unconscious body. Krystal Tancredi was down already, on the deck by their feet, and it would seem that it was by the Cardassian's hand. A'vura was there, as he thought, but why had she not fired upon the spoonhead cur? Surely Kendrick or ch'Rayya would do so any moment. The Dominion War did not seem so long ago, having never returned to Federation space after he left, so Drauc only stayed his hand from striking the snake-man down with his fist for another, singular reason.
It was because the squad was not complete - the beam-out about to happen any second. Strange, how he had adjusted to battle instincts so soon, and with strangers like these. Such was Drauc compelled to think, and he whipped his head around to make eye-contact with the strange, flying alien that they could not leave behind enemy lines - seeing her through the open doors they had just stepped through. With his arm, he waved for the alien to cease the charade and re-join the squad - hoping that she would see him in time. If not, she'd be beamed out as soon as this "Havenborn" got a transporter lock on her.
No more had he turned back to the tall Cardassian threat than he realised that the beam-out was already underway. Shimmering fields surrounded everyone present... even the Cardassian, and the cage next to the his feet. Too late, too late...
OOC: Havenborn is next to post with the beam-out! F'Rell is beamed out directly afterwards, when she had flown out of the Security Center. The caged bat escapes on the Resolve directly after the beam-out too.
[ENS K'Ren | Quarters | USS Resolve ]
K'Ren sat drinking, not alcohol as her species metabolism made it to dangerous to consume even a single beer, but a simple herbal beverage she'd discovered on earth, something called tea. She couldn't sleep and after an hour of stretching and exercising, she was a bit calmer than she had been when she awoke. She put down the battered aluminum cup and glanced at a padd lying on the table next to her. The screen was lit up unexpectedly and she wondered if perhaps her mother had returned her message. She doubted it but hope springs eternal.
Picking it up she was floored by what she saw. A whole stream of messages coded in Romulan were showing in her comms. Running an auto-translate, she could recognize Romulan but not read it without a computer's help, disturbing conversations came across her screen, messages suggesting she'd slept with some Romulan Commander at her CO's behest as part of a 'cultural exchange' program between the Resolve and the Romulans.
"What the fuck?" She muttered as she kept reading the translated messages. This had to be some idiots idea of a bad joke but her internal comms were secured so how did they get in? In any event her immediate superior needed to be aware of the messages, in case there was something going sideways. She was already dressed, well, still in her yoga pants and shirt. She was off duty after all. "Computer. Location of Lt Havenborn."
+Lt Havenborn is in Transporter Room 1.+
K'Ren took the padd with her as she left. The walk from her quarters to the Transporter Room wasn't that far on these Luna class ships. Entering she saw Havenborn at the transporter console, having just closed a comm link. "Lieutenant. Do you have a minute?" She asked, a distinct purring accent in her voice, "I think somebody may have comprromised my securrity clearrances."
[LT Daniel Havenborn | Transporter Room | USS Resolve ]
Daniel was standing at the control console watching the targeting sensors as he heard the doors to the transporter room open. He turned to see Ensign K'Ren one of his pilots enter. He wasn't fond of her species but she herself had proven to be a good pilot. As she walked up to him he turned to face her while keeping his hand on the console ready to beam the away team back. So the virus was still spreading he wasn't sure how he was going to explain this to her but he'd try his best.
"There has been an act of sabotage onboard, a virus was uploaded into our computer that is adding Romulan information, you're not the only one affected by this. It seems to be affecting everyone and everything on the ship." Daniel said, he wasn't an engineer so he wasn't sure how they could stop it but he hoped the Suq was getting on top of it.
K'Ren blinked in surprise, ears flattening a bit, her tail twitching rather agitatedly. Everyone was affected? Virus? Sabotage? K'Ren steadied herself for a second by placing a paw out on the console. She couldn't shake the feeling this was far worse than some simple virus. "Lieutenant?" She asked, "Has anyone read these infected messages? Mine's suggesting some pretty lewd things I know for a fact didn't happen. Rather intimate encounters with high ranking Romulan military officials."
As she said that, her face flushed a little. She already knew some people thought she was loose with her body, and perhaps she was, but some things one learns from a young age are hard to shake. And given her mother made a living from selling her body, and her existence was owed to one of those encounters, the apple didn't fall that far from that tree.
She handed him the padd with the translated messages. "Does Starfleet know we've been sabotaged?"
As far as he knew the personal logs were still restricted they just had been replaced with false information. "As far as I know no one has read them but I haven't had time to completely read through everything." He said as he tapped the console again to keep the target coordinates centered on the outside of the security center.
He sighed, he wasn't sure who exactly had been behind the sabotage in the first place. For all he knew it was someone from Starfleet Intelligence who had done it. "We're currently under a quarantine lock down as ordered by Captain Kendrick. It'll be up to him to inform Starfleet of our current situation." Daniel replied, honestly this was far above his pay grade and was definitely above her pay grade.
"For now just sit tight. If you want to help you though you can either go help Lieutenant Suq in Engineering or go to the Computer Core and see how far the virus has spread and try to stop it from spreading further somehow." He said.
Despite some background knowledge in fighter systems, K'Ren was anything but an engineer. She knew she'd just be in Suq's way if she went down to main engineering or the computer core so no sense going into the grotto if she didn't have to. Which brought her back to sitting on her tail, waiting while people with more skills than her figured out this virus. And that to her was anything but acceptable. She wanted a challenge she could sink her claws into, a target on the sensor screen, a bogey for her guns. This cloak and dagger computer virus, Romulan planted evidence stuff was just too abstract for her,
"I've skimmed mine and it looks bad." K'Ren sighed, ears folded back, her tail nervously twitching now. "If everyone's reads like mine, the first thing Starfleet is going to do is lock us down on suspicion of collaboration while the spooks pick this ship apart weld by weld." She sighed, unhappy with the situation, first a nightmare about Markus, now false records implanted in her personal logs.
"I guess I'll go back to quarters or something." She finally said, "I'd be useless to the engineers and I need to go punch something. Markus was in my dreams again and I thought I was finally past that."
Daniel nodded to her as he rechecked the targeting sensors. "I find that diving into some work helps me forget about bad dreams. Just keep on your toes and if you see anyone from the starbase on your way back escort them to security, Lieutenant Ahern is leading the security detachment onboard at the moment and should have escorted all of them off. Also report anything out of the ordinary to me." He said to her. Lieutenant Ahern should have gotten all of the starbase personnel off the ship but there could have been some stragglers. He didn't want them on the ship just in case some of them had plans to commit more sabotage.
OFF:
Joint-Post by Lieutenant Daniel Havenborn & Ensign K'Ren
[ Lt. JG Zelosa Ejek | USS Resolve | Engineering ] Attn: FollowTomorrow
"I didn't understand it, anyway," Ejek reassured Suq that the novel's loss was no concern of hers. She did it in a casual, dismissive tone, but it reminded her that she'd have very much liked to analyse it. More precisely, she'd have liked to analyse its background and context and everything else that had been planted on the ship. Some of it would, without a doubt, have been more conclusive than the novel.
Whoever installed evidence on them must have left some traces of their method of operation. Welcomed data for the perpetrator(s?)'s personality profile, which's creation she expected to be her first priority in a situation like this. They had to find out about their enemy, and fast, if they wanted a chance to understand and intercept what had been set in motion.
Unfortunately for her work flow, that data was gone. She understood the intention behind deleting it, and saw a 50:50 chance that it had been the right thing to do. Depending on whether or not Starfleet was involved, trusting Starbase Security to aid their investigation, despite their whole ship being under suspicion, was not advisable. Deleting the evidence would at least buy them some time.
Suq's report was altogether inconclusive. It left her with more questions than it answered, and her innermost desire was to pry them out of him. Why had he deleted the data? He had mentioned the captain, so did he act on orders or had he panicked? Was there reason to believe in Starfleet's involvement? Where was Captain Kendrick? Who had died, when, and how? How long, already, was there Romulan data on the ship, where exactly did it come from, how did it spread, and why did it need a memory wipe out of all possible counter-measures to get rid of it? And the most concerning of them all, the one most people were probably afraid to ask: was it one of their people? There could have been a traitor all along.
She didn't have to be a counsellor, however, to see that her friend was about as bad as she felt inside. After she had heard him out, she needed a short moment of collecting her thoughts. Then she put her palm on top of his, stroked the back of his hand with her thumb and offered a sympathetic smile. It demanded some restraint, because her coping mechanism seemed contrary to his, but she decided not to press the matter, not with him. There was an interesting senior staff meeting to come, later, and a friend at the edge, now. All in good time.
"We've seen better days," she agreed. "But haven't we also seen worse? We're not done yet, and I'm determined to turn this thing around."
She would have loved to offer a quick-fix, but like so often in their time serving on this ship, she couldn't think of one. It was entirely possible that it'd get as bad as Suq feared, maybe even worse. As always, though, he wasn't alone in this. Neither of them were.
[ LT Daniel Havenborn | Transporter Room | USS Resolve ] Attn: Away Team
A couple of minutes after Ensign K'Ren had left the room Daniel heard the order to beam the away team plus another onboard. How many people was the Captain planning on beaming aboard? Daniel thought to himself as he tapped the console, the targeting sensors locked onto the group and he set the transporter beam to a wide setting to make sure that he got everyone, it didn't help that some of them weren't in such close proximity to one another. He wasn't a transporter chief so he wasn't the best at this, he knew enough to operate it and get the away team onboard but that was about it.
Then transporter pads began to light up signifying that he had done his job right and a moment later seven people were rematerializing on the transporter pad. Suddenly though Daniel noticed another lifesign that had been caught in the transporter beam, it was small and moving. He compensated for the lifesign's movement by adding more power to the transporter beam and a moment later everyone had materialized on the pad.
The first thing that Daniel noticed however was a bat was now flying around the room and there was also no sign of F'Rell, there was however a Cardassian and a Romulan. Daniel was really wishing he had a phaser right now, the only Cardassians he trusted wore a Starfleet uniform and this one wasn't and what was a Romulan doing with the Captain, for all they knew he could be the one behind their sabotage, although he wasn't really dressed like he would imagine so maybe he wasn't but it probably wouldn't help them any if they're found to be harboring a Romulan.
"Captain, where is F'Rell?" He asked as he began to scan for her again on the starbase trying to get a lock onto her so that he could beam her out, he was really hoping that he hadn't missed her lifesign.
[ Lt. Jg. Suq | USS Resolve | Engineering ] Attn: Julia
"Yeah. There's been worse." He nodded.
He laid his other hand over Ejek's for a time, as if he means to absorb all her cool demeanor through her hand and use it all for himself. At least, that's how it felt to Suq. He knew she probably had a million questions, and she probably wanted to interrogate him. Where he needed touch to feel better, she needed to know what was going on. He'd get to that, just as soon as he collected his thoughts.
When he felt strong enough again, he released her hand. He turned to the console to take a deep breath and collect up his PADD. Now that he was focused, he could at least offer a better explanation of what happened.
"I know that didn't make much sense, I'll try again."
"Earlier today, Petty Officer Sanford was trying to upload something from a chip and the console exploded on him. Like I said, Federation issue parts, they blow at the drop of a hat--but yeah, uh, I don't think he knew what he was doing, unless he was really messed up in the head, but that upload was some kind of virus that injected Romulan into, well, everything. Transporter logs, personal logs, Captain's logs, the replicators, the holodeck...and I guess they gave you some books. So I'm sorry about the novel, but I'm going back and wiping it. Captain's orders." The console balked at him about something, he turned to it and began typing in another command,
"The only thing I'm saving is Captain Kendrick's altered logs. They're all on my PADD." He tried to keep himself from thinking too hard about what this would mean. He hoped Ejek, being the vastly more intelligent of the two, would understand and he wouldn't have to say it aloud. Saying it aloud made it that much more real.
The console dinged at him, and he hit okay to continue. The only sound from him came from him tapping the console's frame and staring down the screen, as if to threaten it to go faster.
[ Krystal "Meony" Tancredi | Outside The Security Centre | Starbase 84 ] Attn: Vystori, Auctor, Havenborn, DocReno, Kaligos & Arista(https://orig01.deviantart.net/7fd3/f/2015/168/0/9/krystal_row_01_by_auctor_lucan-d8xn7ih.png)
Dr. Silim Parnak | Corridor outside Security Centre | Starbase 84 Attn: Auctor Lucan, Vystori
"On Cardassia, deputies wouldn't let people out of the drunk tank until they've sobered. Perhaps next time you should think the same for your boyfriend. It could avoid this situation." He hefted the unconscious human up and placed the man's arm over his shoulder, hugging the man against himself to support the weight. It was unfair for this woman to have to drag her lover home alone, especially as Silim had started to feel guilty about his bat joke. "Come on then, lets get him home. Which habitat level are you on?" He asked the poor dense redhead, then he shot a look at the filthy Orion succubus. "...And you. Are you going to help or not?"
Blinking stupidly for a few seconds, Tancredi tried her level best to process everything that happened in a nutshell, more to her own benefit than anyone else's.
Carried Officer Useless, made it past security, bless ya, F'Rell; bumped into Cardassian, swept off feet, anchored down by Officer Useless, bat from hell too close to proximity for comfort, and all this witnessed by Zeshryr and a Romulan. Yup, perfect summary. She rose to her feet with all due alacrity, and waggled a finger in the Cardassian's direction, "First off, we ain't on Cardassia, secondly, ee-yuck! That lump o' worthless ain't mah boyfriend and ain't gonna be e'en if he was the last man in da universe, y'hear?"
Brushing her uniform down for emphasis with her hands, the redhead glanced towards Zeshryr, and had a defensive "This ain't what it looks like," on her lips, but she forewent that when she realized the way the Cardassian addressed Zeshryr was
very disrespectful. She refrained from slapping him only because she felt Captain Kendrick did not need an intergalactic incident on his hands. If it were her alone, the universe would have imploded long since. "Hey, be nice to 'er! That's an officer of Starfleet, and 'er name's A'vura Zeshryr," said Tancredi, "And fer the love o' mother mercy, wouldja please put away the bat from hell?!? Why are ya even carryin' around somethin' like..."
[ Transporter Room | USS Resolve ]The slight nauseating sensation was so familiar to Tancredi, it didn't even register in her brain that she was being transported until the scenery transformed all around her in the blink of an eye. "...that anyway? MOTHERFUCKER, Havenborn! A li'l warning next time, wouldja? Ah was in the middle of beratin' this fella 'ere with 'is stupid ba...oh God, ya did'n' transport its cage with it! SOMEBODY SHOOT THAT THING NOW!" Tancredi flapped her arms frantically at the bat, now free, taking a few laps around the room, when the door actually detected the bat and opened for it, and seeing or sensing the door, the critter was soon past it and on its way to God knows where. "NO! SOUND RED ALERT! WE GOT AN ANIMAL LOOSE!"
She whipped around to the Cardassian, "What is that thing and what does it do?"
Realizing that Havenborn hadn't transported F'Rell over, Tancredi turned to the lieutenant and said, "F'Rell's on da same floor wit' us, just a coupla feet ahead, get 'er outta there real quick like, lieut, she's surrounded by Starbase security. And Ah need ta get me gear 'n' weapons. Shootin' time's comin'."
[ Lt. JG Zelosa Ejek | USS Resolve | Engineering ] Attn: FollowTomorrow
It would have amused Ejek that Suq perceived her demeanour as cool. She felt not cool at all, but held back. She had woken up to a real-life kotra game, and now she wanted to make it her turn. Being a token wasn't good enough for her. Instead, she meant to fight back.
Suq wasn't the only one who was reassured by holding hands. His were warm, much to Ejek's delight. She enjoyed the sensation of their touch, and was almost a little disappointed when the acting Chief Engineer let go of her to gather his PADD. A feeling soon forgotten as he resumed talking. She listened carefully.
Sanford's name made Ejek raise her eye ridges. Starbase personnel. Interesting. If Suq was right in that he had been oblivious to the consequences of his upload, the man would have gotten his chip from someone he trusted. Most likely a higher ranking Starfleet officer. Unfortunately it was too late to ask him whether they were part of the Resolve's crew or the starbase's, but Ejek was sure that security was already tracing back this poor man's steps, and finding out more about the explosion.
"I have the novel's name and author memorised. Mh, the little of it that I understood, at least, but I trust it will be enough to look it up later." Maybe the Federation database had an entry, if not the whole book along with its translation.
As she spoke, the Cardassian leaned against the console and slowly, as if in fear he'd take it away from her if Suq saw it, picked up the PADD he had mentioned to hold the last remaining data of the virus. Immediately, she started to skim through it.
"Have you any idea how the virus worked? It would make a huge difference if the evidence was specifically written for our crew, or if the virus learned our speech-patterns. I'm looking for mistakes that would indicate the latter."
After a few minutes of silence, Ejek turned her head to look at Suq: "When station security asks you why you wiped the ship's memory except for the Captain's logs, what are you going to say?"
[Ensign A'vura Zeshryr (https://orig08.deviantart.net/ca09/f/2015/289/a/2/a_vura_row_01_by_auctor_lucan-d9d9ngm.png) | Transporter Room | USS Resolve | Attn: All in the transporter bay.
No sooner had A'vura walked through the doors did she see Tancredi on the floor with a Cardassian in front of her and Bradford sprawled across her middle. She was about to point her phaser at the man when he was suddenly hoisting Bradford off of Tancredi's lap and over his shoulder a bit, focusing on her to help him. With wide eyes she looked from her fallen shipmate to the man before them confused, trying to catch up to what was going on here. Tancredi seemed to be relieved to have the man no longer on top of her though so A'vura swiftly moved her weapon to her belt and draped Bradford's arm over her own shoulder to help the Cardassian with the heavy load.
By the time she had her Captain and the others had come out from the brig as well. He hit his Comm-badge and ordered them to beam everyone out, and beam they did, bat, Cardassian, and all. In the span of another breath she was back on her ship with her crew, away from the Starbase brig and breathing her own sigh of relief to be 'home' as it were. Her relief was quickly replaced though by another small burst of panic when she realized the Cardassian at her side had been beamed aboard with them and that there was a small, flying creature flitting about the transporter room above their heads, in an even greater state of panic than her own fluttering heart seemed to be in.
Cursing under her breath at the outright anxiety ensuing over the small creature A'vura let go of the limp man that she and the Cardassian had been holding up and took out her phaser once again. Adjusting the settings to a lower stun she ran from the room into the hallway, pointing, aiming for a moment, then fired, hitting the bat whilst in the air only to have it drop to the ground with a soft thud. She marched over and picked it up in her hands then marched back into the transporter room where everyone was at, glancing around in annoyance. "Somebody want to get me a containment unit for the damned thing please!?"
[ Melissa Wright | Sabine | Space ]
"Hey, if you're gonna commit about a dozen felonies, might as well toss in a few extras right?" Mel's confidence in the plan was evident in the lopsided grin she offered to Sera as the Sabine cruised back towards the shuttlebay, falling into autopilot for the remainder of the return trip. "I know it's a bit.... well, nuts, but that's why it's gonna work. Trust me, this is the most boring starbase in the entire Federation - nothing crazy ever happens here. Nobody's going to expect it or know what to do until we're long gone."
Within a few moments the craft safely returned to the bay, coming in for a gentle landing inside the empty hangar area. With any luck, it'd be the last time this ship ever came in for a landing on a Starfleet installation or spacecraft. Mel hopped to her feet with a renewed energy, eagerly clapping her hands together as her mind started racing with the specifics of this little diagnostic routine script she'd need to slap together. Wouldn't take too long to throw it onto a padd and load the thing into the starbase computer, hopefully, and after that she would have just enough time to pack her crap, crate up June, and haul everything down into the ship using some of the starbase's underutilized corridors.
Over the course of... about an hour and a half? Yeah, no problem at all, then.
"Alright, I gotta get everything straightened out for my part," Melissa said cheerly as she started heading towards the exit ramp, "I'll call you up, say 1730ish? Just be ready near the security office by then, and we'll get this shit rolling." She clicked her tongue at the woman and winked before bounding down the ramp, quite enthusiastic to put this ridiculous plan of theirs into motion.
[Dr. Silim Parnak | USS Resolve | Transporter Room] Attn: Triage, Vystori, Haverborn, DocReno, Kaligos, Auctor Lucan
Silim stepped down off the transport pad and, with the help of the Orion, dragged the unconscious male with him. He wasn't best pleased. It was rude to transport someone against his or her will, especially without prior knowledge. The redhead could have at least told him that she didn't live aboard Starbase 84, he wouldn't have bothered to try to help at all.
There was a sound of fluttering; the solus bat was loose and terrorising people again. It was amazing how many people became distraught over a simple flying creature. As Silim straightened his coat to the best of his ability with one hand he heard a hurried question. "What is that thing and what does it do?"
Excited, Parnak rapidly replied. "It's a Chiroptera from the Pteropodidae family. Most similar to the Earth based Nyctimene Robsoni. What's really interesting about this is..." Turning, Silim realised it was the dense redhead who had asked. As such he resisted the urge to roll his eyes, instead he shortened his vernacular and started again. "... It's a bat. It flies and eats fruit, nectar, and insects. It's completely harmless Princess."
Silim had originally meant the Princess comment in earnest, as she was pretty enough to be one, but as it left his mouth he remembered the woman had rejected his 'rescuing a drunk lover' theory; he hoped she wouldn't take it as him being sarcastic.
In fact, why was this woman so irritable anyway? It was like... wait... could it be? Did she have feelings for Silim instead? On Cardassia, it was common that when one party was interested in another they would flirt by adopting a confrontational attitude, but this was too soon, they'd only just met. Could she already be falling in love with the enigmatic charm of Dr Silim Parnak, noted Researcher and Exobiologist? It wasn't as if Silim was apposed to the idea; she was attractive, for a human, and it had been many months since his last intimate liaison.
His musings were abruptly brought short as the Orion abandoned Silim with the comatose man, off to hunt Parnak's lab experiment. There was the short shrill sound of phaser fire and she returned, proud in her capture of a poor defenceless creature. How barbaric.
It was beginning to get like a Pakled circus in here, all chaos, no fun. Parnak jostled the slumberous man to catch Tancredi's attention. Alright Princess, boyfriend or no, it's your body. Where do you want him?
Silim silently prayed that the end would be close. He didn't want to carry this lump down 15 decks.
OOC: If anyone wants to look up Cardassian dating tips. I'd suggest the Deep Space Nine season 3 episode: Destiny. Gilora and O'brien would have made a lovely couple. If it wasn't for that darn Keiko in the way ;)
[Captain Tristan Kendrick |Starbase 84| Brig ] Attn:Triage, Vystori, Haverborn, DocReno, Auctor Lucan, and Arista + senior staff of the resolve.
Tristan had to practice deep breathing for a moment. His ship was being consumed by chaos. Or at least this one transporter room was. They had somehow grabbed a cardassian in their beam out and left F'Rell on the station. If they sent the cardassian back it would implicate the resolve even further, if they beamed out F'Rell who was busy trying to rope in the entire security aboard the station they would implicate the Resolve as well. Though considering where she was he wasn't entirely sure which was the smarter move.
He was thankful when the bat was finally apprehended, and it seemed he needed to control some of the chaos. He gave a sharp, loud whistle as he stepped off the transporter pad. Clearing his throat he gave one harsh order. One that was at least mostly directed towards Krystal, as she was still in some mode of freak out. "Silence!"
Kendrick rubbed his hand along his face, for a moment once he had the attention of everyone. "Excuse me there seems to have been a mistake. I was trying to get my crew off the station and it seems you have been beamed aboard with us. As the ship is currently under quarantine, hence the need for our beam in, I can't actually return you to the starbase right away. I apologize for the inconvenience but I promise you will have our full co-operation in the mean time perhaps I can get you a personal escort while you become acquainted with us."
"Havenborne if you can't get a lock on F'Rell through her... rather unique life sign, then perhaps it is best if you keep a temporary lock on her, so we can beam her out when needed." He was going to add that she was drawing a lot more attention to herself than he would have liked and perhaps waiting until she was alone would be for the best. He would have sent a com to her, but with all the attention on his ship he honestly didn't know which was more dangerous.
"Drauc, you will acompany me, and as for Bradford." There was a soft smile that touched his lips as the Cardassian asked the question of where do we want him. "Perhaps some time in the brig would do him well."
Lastly he pressed his com. "This is Captain Kendrick, I am back on board The Resolve and I am calling a senior staff meeting in the briefing room in 10 minutes."
OOC: I am going to wait for Brutus's post for Hi'Jak since I think that will be a goldmine of material.
[Komial Dotnhil | Starbase 84 | Base Commanders Quarters]Atten: Lucan
Komial came, right then and there on the bathroom counter as her commanding officer increased the ferocity of his thrusts, teeth letting go of her nipple only to press his body to her's. It drove her over the edge, loudly, lewdly, and nearly violently with the way the woman convulsed against, and around Ian Hawthorne. She rippled over his cock and he didn't once seem to stop at all, just took it all in stride.
Which really did wonders for the Trill, in ways she couldn't find words to describe.
By the time she came down from that first high, she was on her back on the bed, the soft sheets crinkled and ruffled under her, smooth and soothing against her back and shapely rear. A gasp escaped her lips and even though they shook still, she wrapped her legs around Ian's waist, her tan skin and brown spots so pale compared to the rich dark tones of her captain. They made quite a contrast as they fucked there on the bed.
And then there was a warmth filling her that shocked her, eyes going wide. Even as she realized what had happened, her second orgasm hit and sure enough she milked every drop of seed from his body. They hadn't done that before. He'd always pulled out in the past. Filling her mouth, coating her skin. She adored both options, but this, this was something far, far more intimate and it robbed her of her will to speak, or think. Think of the repercussions. All she could do was feel, and feel she did, feel wonderfully, lost in the bliss. His lips capturing hers as he filled her deep inside.
Only as she came down from that high did she start to wonder to question why, until - "I love you..."
Her eyes went wide again and a blush crept into her cheeks. She was shocked. She was thrilled. She was all aflutter and lost. Her mouth opened to repeat the words, to kiss him, to revel in the moment, the pure bliss - and the door chime went off. Ian pulled out of her - a sudden loss that nearly brought a sob to her throat - and went to check who had the gall to interfere just then.
Komial's head fell back against the pillows and she whined out a soft curse at whomever had chosen that moment - what should have been her perfect moment - with their poor timing. Oh, it was the bane of a Starfleet officers existence, always being on beck and call. Especially for a base CO. But this? Right Then? What god had she offended so thoroughly...
"She is one of yours, isn't she?" he said, mind racing despite his collected demeanor. "That forensic science officer you spoke of?"
She sat up abruptly and then swung shaking legs off the bed to pad over to the monitor - feeling a bit of his seed trickle down her leg. It should have summoned up butterflies in her stomach, but instead the image on the screen robbed her of that joyful feeling. Just as that blasted Borg cunt had robbed her of her own declaration.
"That bitch," she hissed under her breath before she schooled her self and looked about for her uniform, rushing to dress before answering the door. Let them both stew. "I'll handle it sir. My utmost apologies for my subordinates...timing." She left her underwear where it was, strewn about his bathroom. Six and her pet idiot from the science division wouldn't get that far into Ian's quarters. Bra-less, she snapped her shirt into place and zipped the jacket. Rank insignia hadn't been shaken off, she didn't think but didn't take the time to check. Her badge in place, she stormed to the door, hitting the comm panel.
"Ensign Six, and Mr. Hi'Jock" she said harshly as she raked her fingers through her hair, trying to put herself back into place and buy Ian a bit more time. He seemed to move with purpose, ease, and clear frustration that only angered her further. Ruined the moment she thought again. "You two had better have a stellar reason for interrupting a classified briefing." An utter lie - nothing about this briefing was classified, not that there was much of a briefing at all. But let that bitch think that Ian had summoned her to his quarters for work. Let her think that she had stepped in it again - because she had, though not for the reasons stated.
She still hadn't opened the door for either of the idiots outside. She wanted to jettison them both out of an airlock and then wrap her self back in Ian's arms and tell him - at length - just how she felt. Instead she waited for the pair of mewling fools to state just why they were there, slowly counting backwards as she tried to reign her irritation into something at least approaching the professionalism that Ian - That Captain Hawthorne - admired in her. Admired enough to tell her he loved her. Oh Gods I am going to kill them both
ooc: not sure quite how much of a gold mine this is but here ya go ;)
[Lt Hi'Jak (https://orig03.deviantart.net/94e6/f/2015/265/a/e/hi_jack_02_by_auctor_lucan-d86nthi.png)| lab 17 | Starbase 84] Attn: Brutus, Vystori, Auctor Lucan
Well that was easy. Jack had been looking for a needle in a hay stack, something that subspace would have scrambled to hell, instead he found that who ever had sent the transmission had incripted it with the highest level of security. The file was there for almost completely in tact. Impossible to access for anyone other than a captain, but in tact. It also meant who ever had sent this transmission had been a captain... a fact which caused Hi'Jak, to shudder for a moment.
He quickly saved what he could to a PADD, keeping the traced file for a time when they could have someone break the encryption.
When Six grabbed him and stormed off to find Dotnhil, Jack's heart fluttered for a moment. "Wait like right now? I have been wroking with lab chemicals all afternoon, can't I take a shower or something first."
Jack stumbled over his words, but there was no pleeding with six, and soon the two of them were outside of the captains quarters... A captain, he shoved that thought way back. He had no reason to suspect that it was the starbases commanding officer, what would he have to gain from attacking his own station? there had to be a dozen or so ships attached to the starbase which meant that there were probably a dozen or so captains, any one of them could have sent the message and encrypted it. In fact if anything this was a blessing, he could ask the commander and chief to help break the encryption on this clue and help solve the mystery! Yeah there was nothing to worry about. They were going to solve this case.
Jack was happy to hear Dotnhil's voice but even more greatful that she didn't actually open the door. He was glad that she wouldn't get a full close up of him, which was probably for the best. Her voice was no less heavenly when it was angry, and he felt himself swoon just a tinge at the angry slightly berating voice. She even continued to mispronounce his name, but at this point he was considering it a pet name of sorts. "You can call me Jack if you want. I mean everyone else does."
Hi'Jak tried to press himself so that he could look a little better than he felt about the situation."We analyzed the bomb, and we found that it was of Starfleet make. I then back tracked the bases recording system to find the detonation signal which was also Starfleet, and had a level 10 encryption on it. Which means that it was sent by a captain. We need someone who can override the security locks, but with that done we can play back the voice of whoever sent the detonation command. "
He gave a happy smile back at the door trying to convey his best look towards the camera. "Well actually Six was the one who identified the bomb... But I found the recording." Credit where credit was due after all. "So do you think we could speak with the captain?"
[ Lt. Jg. Suq | USS Resolve | Engineering ] Attn: Julia
"Well, I mean, I do have an idea of how the virus worked." He already sounded a little more emotive, more energetic--relatively speaking of course.
"Computer viruses are like people-viruses piggyback on cells and legitimate programs. It's possible Sanford's chip was legitimate to an outside observer. I'm not sure if it was intended to blow the console or not--you know real programs exist specifically to blow up computers, and I wouldn't know without looking at the source code, but anyways, this is a really good metamorphic virus that hitched onto some sort of program, most likely a basic program designed to scan stored data on a starship computer for corruption or illegal alteration. That's used all the time and just about every starship computer worth it's grass has one, it's part of the computer's self maintenance system. Anyways, the program was probably written to analyze types of data, speech patterns, language, basic personality traits, expressions and tone of voice, and anything that seems out of the ordinary is flagged so someone can look at it. What probably happened is that those flags the program put up were immediately read by the virus, which then used the data the program collected to scan file types, scan our personalities and stuff, and alter everything into Romulan. Oh, and someone must have deliberately coded it with certain phrases and information to make it purposely look like we were collaborating with Romulans, phrases that we don't say often, like "Bird-of-Prey" and "Jolan Tru". Similar viruses exist already and the code is published for all to see. It's just a matter of altering the source code for your needs and then somehow not only getting ahold of Starfleet-specific programs, but also altering Starfleet-specific programs. Not an easy task, but not impossible.
It would be unlikely that the virus-writer knew what we were like because we were lost for so long without contact from Starfleet. It might be simpler to write a virus that just plants false data specifically crafted to look like us, but that would mean that either someone on board did it, someone who knew what we went through and what we were like, or that our lizard overlords sent us off to get lost on purpose and crafted the virus so that we would be destroyed when we get back. The first option is unlikely because the virus would implicate the virus-writer and there are so many better ways to kill yourself than implicate yourself in treason, and the second is unlikely because there are no lizard overlords, and Cardassian overlords excluded because they're Cardassians, not lizards."
It was quite a speech. Considering how little Suq usually talked, with his frequent random tangents notwithstanding, it's possible he just used up his entire word quota for the day. He paused, just long enough to think about the last thing Ejek said. The thing that was not about viruses and computers. In that silence, he heard the captain's call for a meeting. He sighed and patted the console.
"I'll say whatever the Captain tells me to say. I don't have a better plan. I don't agree with it, but....you know." He shrugged.
OOC: I sure do hope you guys like yellow
[ Krystal "Meony" Tancredi | Transporter Room | USS Resolve ] Attn: Vystori, Auctor, Havenborn, DocReno, Kaligos & Arista(https://orig01.deviantart.net/7fd3/f/2015/168/0/9/krystal_row_01_by_auctor_lucan-d8xn7ih.png)
The look was not lost on Tancredi, when the Cardassian had been quite eagerly explaining what the creature was exactly, until he realized who he was talking to, thus shifting his demeanour; dumbing down his explanation, as it were, and this irritated the redhead no end, and she was already in quite a mood as it was. Sniffing audibly, she folded her arms over her chest, and said, "Ah
know what chiroptera an' pteropodidae means, mister, an' nyctimene robsoni, that's an Earth creature known better as the eastern tube-nosed bat. Ah grew up in a farm, an'....wait, did ya call meh
princess?!?"
One Kentucky Fried Cardassian coming right up.
His summary execution on the spot was halted mainly due to the presence of all the superior officers and Captain Kendrick, along with the fact that just then, Zeshryr was taking care of the bat problem, its liberty short-lived, thankfully. Unfortunately, the Orion only stunned it, to the disappointment of Tancredi, who, despite herself, reached out to tentatively poke the creature. That was when the Cardassian, still bearing Bradford, or as Tancredi preferred to call him, Officer Useless, called for her attention, using that title
again. She rounded on him aggressively, "Just shove 'im out an airlock for all Ah care! And if ya call me princess
one more time, so help me God, Ah'll..."
Her left fist was already drawn back, when Kendrick yelled for silence. The redhead reluctantly obeyed, folding her arms and turning her back to the Cardassian, muttering under her breath. Still, the captain resolved all the issues in one fell swoop. That was why he was the captain, Tancredi privately mused. Personally, the young woman wasn't one for leadership. Those things were best left to people with the capacity and willingness for it. She cast a glance at her captain, and then at Officer Useless. "Brig? Great, he gets to steal our precious oxygen."
Sighing, she turned to the Cardassian and put her hands out, intending to take the weight off him. It was her responsibility anyhow. Then a lightbulb went off in her head, and she bent down instead, picking up Officer Useless by the boots and hefted, intending to let him drop, hard, onto the floor. Hopefully the Cardassian would have the sense to let go. No way she was going to lug him on her back, breaking it, only to have him tossed into a brig. No, she was going to drag his sorry behind through the most difficult-to-navigate paths through the
Resolve. Including the doors that you have to bend your head and step over to get through.
[ Dr. Silim Parnak | Transporter Room | USS Resolve ] Attn: Triage, Kaligos, Vystori, Auctor Lucan, Havenborn, DocReno & anyone else
Silim was willing to help a damsel retrieve her drunken lover and mistress. Even though it wasn't as poetic, he was willing to assist in taking a comatose crewmember to their quarters. The brig however? That was the final straw. He refused to haul dead weight through the ship to a prison, especially since they'd just left one.
The redhead, who was so aggressive at this point that Silim was sure she would jump his bones at any moment, wanted the unconscious man? She could have him. He placed the man unceremoniously to the ground, and as Tancredi bent to pick up his feet, Silim took his chance. With his hands behind his back, he lent in close, acting nonchalant. When his mouth was about an inch from the redhead's ear he teasingly whispered. "Come find me when you finish. I'm sure I can help you see your god, Princess..."
With that Silim was gone, leaving Trancredi to drag Bradford away. He had already stood back straight and was approaching the Captain with an outstretched hand and a smile. The smile was part amusement and smugness over the situation with the redhead, with a hint of smarm towards his next target.
"Dr. Silim Parnak, Exobiologist." He said by way of introduction. As the Captain introduced himself, he formulated the correct way to explain this whole incident that would mean that Parnak came out on top. As a Cardassian, this was one area in which Silim excelled.
"It's a shame to meet under such unusual circumstances. I was transporting one of my research animals to the lab when I found your crewman struggling to, what I thought at the time, bring a drunken lover or colleague home. Naturally I stepped in to help." He shrugged as if he was performed a selfless act, which in his head, he had tried to do so. At this point Silim looked back at the Orion with his escaped bat and continued.
"Needless to say it was a bit of a shock to be suddenly transported aboard a vessel, especially with the accidental release of my bat. Unfortunately with the manner in which it has been captured, the phaser fire will have no doubt put strain on its cardiovascular system." He paused for effect. "Alas, the creature will no longer suitable for research and will have to be released back to Carraya II, or destroyed humanely." It was masterful; in one sweep Silim managed to exonerate himself and removed the need to keep the bat around. Good riddance.
"Now..." He said, looking back to the captain. "...You said something regarding a quarantine and an escort?"
[ Drauc T'Laus | Transporter Room | USS Resolve ] Loose PO: 1) DocReno 2) Kaligos 3) Triage 4) Absinthe, escaping 5) Vystori & Havenborn JP
As Drauc had feared, the Cardassian had come along with the beam-out, and with him, some vile cretin that beset the Resolve's crew with screeches from above their heads. It sought to flee, about to escape the room and into the endless corridors of the Luna-class ship, but A'vura - the Orion who's dreams he had been reading the past few hours - she was quicker. An excellent shot, impressing Drauc where he stood on the pad - completely motionless throughout the chaos. If he had been given a phaser, he might have attempted to subdue the creature as well, alas, the Andorian had not trusted him enough with a weapon of his own. Cautious, clever, Keval. Anything else would have been a severe error on his part, Tactical Officer and all. He would have done the same, despite how true he would be to his word.
Drauc stepped off the transporter pad to make way for the last individual, the one named 'F'Rell'. As he did, he looked at the man by the transporter controls. Fleeting thoughts and images, nothing solid. He was a fighter too, as much he gleaned, and judging by his collar, his weapon-of-choice was to ride a metal beast into battle. Drauc could respect that. Wars needed all kinds to be won. Jaws clenched, he surveyed the rest of the room and what transpired, noticing that the Cardassian had the wrong idea about a great deal of things, the attention from red-haired human foremost - another pilot. She deigned not fornicate with the man. This was plain to Drauc, yet he said naught - brown eyes staring through the dirty tresses of his burgundy hair. He flexed his hands underneath the sleeves of his threadbare cloak, quelling the temper that rose him him - an unbidden instinct to protect the human female rising. It would complicate things if he spoke to quick, lashed out without forethought. Yet he stared at the snake until Captain Kendrick asked him to come along, and he shed all brutal intent from his mind.
Eyes unblinking, he stepped after the Commanding Officer of the Resolve, and he felt... something animating his step. Was it the feeling of treading the path of the righteous again? Had he truly missed it so? He meant to speak before that voice came again... the snake approaching Kendrick with clear intent to associate himself with the person who held the most authority in his presence. Drauc bided his time behind Kendrick's shoulder as the Cardassian introduced himself - eyes cast in shadow as he verified every word said. To his credit, the exobiologist seemed truthful. Drauc could respect that, at the very least.
"He speaks the truth," said Drauc quietly without releasing the snake with his stare, not caring if more people than Kendrick heard him. "He is here by mistake."
It was not his place to advise the Captain, not unbidden, even though he had a defined opinion about Parnak's presence. He was a witness to the capture of Bradford and knew his whereabouts. He could not be released. While the brig might not be the Starfleet way, Drauc wished to ensure he did not leave the Resolve and reveal the very same actions Drauc had sought to hide from the security guards. Why erase the surveillance logs if a Cardassian might - unwittingly or not - set the hounds on them instead?
Drauc flexed his scarred hands underneath his sleeves, foreseeing words spoken before they escaped the teeth of those present - anticipating Kendrick's answer...
[ Lt. JG Zelosa Ejek | USS Resolve | Engineering ] Attn: FollowTomorrow
Pleasantly surprised, Ejek listened through Suq's speech. A reptilian smile grew larger as he navigated her through his thoughts, deepening and corroborating some of hers.
Nothing of her colleague's explanation was too technical. Courtesy of Suq, most likely, because even though she knew the first thing about engineering - she was a woman, after all - her friend was well aware that it wasn't her field of expertise, and how much of it she could stomach at a time.
She answered his conclusion about lizard overlords with a low chuckle: "You realize that gives me the best of alibis, don't you? A Cardassian, no lizard, who's been stuck in Romulan space for three years, and a counsellor at it, no less." One of her hands let go of the PADD to spread her fingers innocently. "It can't have been me."
The idea was to relay this information to starbase security. The look she imagined on the security officer's face when Ejek simply answered their inquiry with 'I'm no lizard overlord' was the most amusing mental image she could get out of this whole, messed up situation.
"But in all seriousness," she continued, getting earnest. "We have been stuck in Romulan space long enough for someone, or even a group of the finest Starfleet officers, to desert. We could have had a stowaway, too, or the Romulans stole data and we never realised it. Perhaps they want to implicate the virus-writer - framed one or real - in treason, just in case Starfleet needs further proof of its own involvement. It might even be that we deal with an idiot, but without any data we can only make assumptions. Assumptions are no reliable source of information for a personality profile, you see."
Her voice got irritated in the end. She had grown up on a planet with excellent data storages and had even worked in a facility that stored data. The idea of losing three years worth of information didn't sit well with her. Especially since they were looking for the truth, not for a way to place the blame.
That was the moment both of them got the captain's call for a meeting in 10 minutes time. Finally! Right afterwards, Suq answered her question about his plans to withstand the starbase's possible questioning.
"I know. Of course, maybe the virus was never meant to be analysed before its deletion." She gave Suq a meaningful, dry look, then continued in resigned, icy cheeriness: "But we don't want to implicate the captain in treason for real, do we?"
It was a rhetorical question, but one that gave away her intentions. She believed Suq that he had acted on orders. Unless he had been replaced by a Founder, Ejek simply didn't think he was a good-enough actor to fool her with a performance like the one he had given since she joined him in engineering. The captain, on the other hand, had not only destroyed evidence, but also left Suq with incriminating leftovers and no explanation to cover it up. There was a fine line between leaving it to his acting chief's discretion to deal with the situation, and planning to frame him by both blaming the loss of data and the falsification of captain's logs on the Efrosian later. However, Kendrick had saved the ship a few times too often for Ejek to incriminate him on such far-fetched suspicions. Yet she didn't want to leave her friend unprotected, either.
"600 seconds." She eventually said. "A lot can happen in 600 seconds, mh. So far, all indications point towards someone who used an unsuspecting station operative to plant incriminating evidence on our ship. For the sake of argument, let's assume this is true.
We may be lucky and whoever gave Sanford the virus didn't know his schedule and has no idea the deed is done. But it's only a matter of time until they connect the dots, now that we're quarantined."
"If we're further lucky, they don't expect us to be so bold as to delete the evidence, and thus aren't in a hurry. But no self-respecting mastermind would give us much time to organise ourselves and come up with counter-measures."
Unless they were really confident. Over-confident, Ejek would think. Or they were after something entirely else, not necessarily the Resolve's incrimination. But, also for the sake of argument, she continued to assume they were. It seemed like their greatest threat at the moment.
"Let's assume we don't have much time and starbase security gets to you before you have another chance to talk to the captain. I will suggest the same to him, later, but for now, let's see if we can make this version work: Sanford's stick blew up his station and deleted the memory core. You've been trying to retrieve the data. That way you won't incriminate yourself by following a potentially defected captain's order and thus draw more suspicion than necessary to the rest of us."
Ejek paused for a moment. "As for this PADD... you can leave it to me if you like. I want to further study the changed logs, and I'm sure, between the two of us, I can come up with a better lie on the spur of the moment."
[Ensign Six (https://img14.deviantart.net/51cf/i/2015/255/0/5/six_01_by_auctor_lucan-d91bx0h.png) | Outside Captain's Quarters | Starbase 84]
"Lieutenant, according to my findings, I can reasonably say with about a 70% accuracy that the detonations frequency not only occurred locally, within the Starbase but also within close proximity to the blast, but that the communication Lieutenant Hi'Jak found coincides with the time and general location of the signal sent to the device found in the deceased Romulan. Much of this I was able to find with my optic implant but some of it seems to be corroborated with the computer's findings via testing and lab results. It would appear as though we have a traitor on board Ma'am. One that would rank Captain or higher no less."
Six rambled on about her findings as if it wasn't strange to have the Lieutenant hiding behind the closed door of their shared Captain, but the fact that she was, was not lost on the ensign, nor were the higher levels of agitation in Dotnhil's voice. It was quite obvious by the sound and pitch in her voice that the pair had interrupted something, though Six was clueless as to what that could have possibly been. "Lieutenant, if we could only speak to the captain, we could gain clearance on our finding and use the computer's voice recognition software to pinpoint and clear up exactly who was on the other end of that receiver."
[ F'Rell of the 12th House | Main Security Office | Starbase 84 ] Attn: Anyone?
The minutes ticked by and F'Rell was more and more certain she was getting herself in too deep. She had made her demands and the security officer had countered, and she had in turned yelled at him some more. It was all good fun, and she had gotten the attention of almost every security officer there. The only problem was she had no way of knowing where her fellow crew members were or if they had gotten away safely yet. She did not in fact know if it was safe for her to get out of there yet. She was trapped until she knew something and it was unlikely she was going to get more information anytime soon. She was going to have to rely on instinct, something most T'fanrell had not done in ages past.
She wanted out, so with that in mind before she allowed the security guard to respond to her newer more ostentatious demands, she coiled herself up and shot herself like a bolt out of the security offices. She moved as fast as her lighter than air body would allow, snaking and coiling to keep her peed up.
When she paused she was some distance from the security office. She tapped her combadge. "Captain, I am away, please tell me you have gotten back to the resolve," she said, the communicator translating and relaying it, hopefully, to the captain's combadge. "I am unsure where the nearest transporter room is, please advise."
OOC: Her combadge should give her exact location, so she can be beamed up or guided to the nearest transporter room with relative ease. If you guys want it more action-y, she could be chased by some security people.
[ Lt. Jg. Suq | USS Resolve | Engineering ] Attn: Julia
If a founder had replaced him, Ejek would know. Suq was so bad at acting that a founder could play Suq better than Suq could. Right now, the Efrosian sounded just as socially inept as he usually did. He smiled, but only barely at Ejek's overlord joke. That usually was his favourite. It didn't feel so funny anymore, now that Ejek held the Captain's life in PADD. He had a startling urge to just snatch it from her and hold it tight so no one would ever know what it said.
He felt like his head was spinning as Ejek listed all the possibilities. He had considered some of them, but just didn't want to entertain the idea that they were royally screwed, as the humans say it. He felt so, so tired. He tried to suppress a yawn during Ejek's long-winded speech.
"I...I just want a nap." He rubbed his forehead. Perhaps Ejek knew what napping meant for Suq, or maybe she didn't, but he didn't really care right now. "I'll...I'll go with that story. I don't think anyone would've questioned me otherwise. I'm not...not exactly the face of a villain, you know. Don't have any lizard in me." He turned back to the console and gave it a few taps, as if it would speed up the process. Whether or not he cared for the PADD, he didn't show, but he still wanted to hold it, destroy it. Scheming was not his forte. He was a poor liar, in his mind. He felt no confidence about this plan.
"I guess keep the PADD. I just kinda...figured if, you know, you got held up, or if I got held up or if we both did, we could just say 'we had to delete everything, we were held at gunpoint, but we saved this' and hand it over. Like big damn heroes. Oh, two minutes left, how nice of you..." He patted the console, this time in a more affectionate manner.
[ Sera ver Aldnoah | Sabine | Space ]
Sera couldn't help but smile at the confidence that the blonde displayed paired with that silly grin Melissa gave her. "Can't argue with you there." Sera said. The blonde's confidence was almost contagious in all other cases she might have thought that the idea was perhaps a bit crazy and not worth the effort. But just hearing Melissa say that it would work had her convinced for the most part.
As the ship came in for a landing she watched Melissa hop to her feet. She watched the blonde's face for a moment she could almost see the excitement in her eyes as she no doubt began putting things together for their plan to work. As the blonde turned to her she nodded "I'll be there." She said giving Melissa a nod before the blonde quickly raced down the ramp to go finish her preparations. For a moment Sera stood in the cabin of Sabine staring after the blonde before letting a smile form on her lips as she walked down the ramp. She'd never given the thought of having another person aboard Sabine any real thought but now that she was getting to know the woman who'd fixed up her ship a bit better she had a feeling that her days were about to get a whole lot more interesting.
She idly wondered if she should even bother picking up the relics she'd picked up from her last ruin dive. For a moment thoughts of the idiot of a chief science officer this starbase had surfaced in her mind. "No way in hell I'm letting him keep my things." She muttered as she walked down the ramp and began to head to the science wing of the starbase intent on picking up her relics and perhaps giving that smug bastard Simon Walt a good right hook to the jaw.
[Captain Tristan Kendrick |Starbase 84| Transporter Room | USS Resolve ] Attn:Triage, Vystori, Haverborn, DocReno, Auctor Lucan, and Arista + senior staff of the resolve.
Kendrick sighed wanting nothing more than to clear out of the transporter room, and have some time alone to think before things could get worse, though when he heard F'Rell's com he felt a wave of relief run through him. "Havenborn can you get a lock on our dragon and get her back on board she said that she is alone now."
He would have pushed the man aside and beamed F'Rell back to the resolve himself,but there were other more pressing matters at hand and he returned his attention to Parnak. He already had a gut feeling that the man was trustworthy on some level. Oblivious perhaps for the number of Starfleet laws he had broken and continues to break, including his own rather unlawful imprisonment. He wanted nothing more than to make the man a comfortable guest aboard his ship if only so that he didn't contact the starbase and raise a thousand more questions as to the happenings of the resolve.
The last thing he and his crew needed was another black mark.
"Yes actually I can escort you to some temporary quarters for the moment, and supply you with a guard who can lead you more around the ship. I also have to have Drauc set up for his stay aboard the resolve so why don't we all take a tour. As for your Bat."
Kendrick paused to think it over, the thought of humanly destroying the creature even if necessary hurt him in some way. He was usually that kind of sentimental fool who didn't like the idea of death while on board his ship. "If you can't use it for your research... would it be suitable to have as a pet?"
He knew he was going to regret asking that question. He would take in Stray Dogs if such a thing were to be found on a space station. He had ten minutes however before his briefing with the senior staff. "Could you perhaps run down it's needs with me, and I will see if I can accommodate the little guy on my ship. I... Don't like the idea of killing it, and any creature taken into a lab usually doesn't fair well when released too the wild."
He offered to take the creature then and there it would need a name, but he would figure that out later. As with everything else it was merely one more problem to heap ontop of the list of many. He turned to Drauc giving the man a small nod, in thanks for the assurance that Parnac was telling the truth. The three of them would make an exit from the resolves transporter room, not waiting to see F'Rell return, not that he didn't want too, but there was currently too much to do and so little time to do it in.
[ Lt. JG Zelosa Ejek | USS Resolve | Engineering ] Attn: FollowTomorrow
Suq's napping habit was known to Ejek, but had never gotten into her professional focus. It didn't seem to interfere with the engineer's line of work, and being more exhausted under stress wasn't exactly something to call a fellow officer out on. In this particular situation, however, Ejek found herself reading something else into it. It was as if the nature of their current threat caused Suq trouble.
For the Cardassian, waking up to a ploy was certainly annoying, but not unheard of. She didn't like being trapped or groping in the dark, but the idea of being betrayed, even by Starfleet, even by a member of her current crew, didn't cause her the slightest headache. The situation prompted many questions - who, when, how, why, to what extend, how thorough (was everything they tried to escape already part of the plan?) - but never if it was possible. Ejek had grown up in a world where things were rarely as they seemed, people even rarer talked openly and thus left a lot of leeway for interpretation, and were prone to sacrifice an individual for a benefit it did not understand. If the individual disagreed, it had but one chance: it had to be better in the game.
The Efrosian, on the other hand, seemed to struggle with the idea of being objectified in that manner, and probably even more so by his own authorities. He had lost control over the situation, but he had lost control many times before and had seemed more collected to Ejek, then. In those cases he had known what to expect. This one seemed new to him, and he felt defenceless. He only saw the damage, but no way out. He wanted to press his eyes shut and wait until it was over.
Ejek lowered the PADD, which she had skimmed for cross references with the deleted material, and put her hand on Suq's once more. She wanted his attention. Smiling softly, she said:
"If we say that, then we'll be separated and asked what we saw of what we deleted, who forced our hands, how we saved the data on the PADD and why we haven't contacted the starbase in the meantime."
She shook her head: "We have to keep this very simple, so we don't risk to contradict each other. Therefore: we didn't delete the memory files, the virus did." Simple enough, wasn't it?
"Trying to restore our ship's memory, you found this." Ejek waved with the PADD. "You gave it to me. I should estimate its validity. After all, who knows what the upload was intrinsically meant for. We're cautious, because treason is a hard accusation."
Nodding, Ejek concluded: "That is really all that happened. And if someone asks you why you're nervous." She smiled once again. "This has just been one hell of a day."
[ Lt. Jg. Suq | USS Resolve | Engineering ] Attn: Julia
Ejek was startlingly insightful. He didn't talk much about his sleeping habit, it just never came up, but somehow she knew. He didn't see a way out except for a long hibernation. She felt her freezing hand jolt him out of his thoughts. For the few minutes it took for the computer to finish, he remained still, holding her. He didn't speak, he had no idea how to convey what he felt right now. He yawned, quite a few times actually.
The console chimed that it had finished, and Suq sent the thing into sleep mode. He turned around to her, "That's it then. Let's get to the meeting before we're late..." He started to walk off, however he's still holding her hand. It's as if he just plain forgot he still had it. "You know I'm not a very good liar, but you've got a better lie than me, so I'll take it and use it and, you know, do the best I can with it. I might have to alter the time of download on my PADD, though, or it won't add up. The lie, that is."
[ Lt. JG Zelosa Ejek | USS Resolve | Engineering ] Attn: FollowTomorrow
More than once during their minute-long silence Ejek considered breaking it. She thought about addressing his fears, reassuring him that she didn't see the situation as quite as hopeless as he seemed to, but in the end she let him concentrate on his work at the console while further skimming the PADD's log file, herself. Standing close by she kept holding Suq's hand, occasionally squeezing it or stroking it with her thumb.
When Suq started walking out, not letting go of her, Ejek followed dutifully. She had the PADD in front of her eyes, manoeuvring through the ship she knew so well, as it had been her home for the last three years, with paying only mediocre attention to the little of the environment she could see. It was enough not to bump into anyone, possibly also because the officers crossing their path were more attentive, and because she had a guide to push and pull her if needed.
Normally she wouldn't read and walk, but in a situation as pressing as this one, she ought to make an excerption.
The exception didn't last very long. Beaming, obviously happy with Suq picking up on planning out their further steps, she handed the PADD back.
"Why, yes, of course."
Now she freed her hand, turning to him while readying herself to speak anew: "What do you think about the rest? Does it need adjustments?"
Ejek had no idea how many outsiders, if any, had seen the incriminating Romulan on their computer, nor how Suq would have retrieved the Captain's log when nothing else had come back. She didn't have to know, either, as she was no engineer. But if he had any adjustments to make, now was the time to let her know.
"I know it looks bad, but subterfuge is just a skill as any other. In the end we win or we lose, just like every time you needed to keep the ship from falling apart last-minute."
Nothing supernatural or unconquerable about that. Absolutely casual business.
[ Lt. Jg. Suq | USS Resolve | Engineering, to hallways ] Attn: Julia
He wished he was just repairing the ship. The Resolve didn't talk back, the Resolve didn't question him. All he had to do was keep her from falling apart, or exploding, or collapsing, or malfunctioning, or anything else. If he put in work, he could reasonably expect her to come out okay. People, on the other hand, people were unpredictable. They could see through his lies. Or not. He has no idea and other peoples' reactions don't seem to be related to how much effort he puts in.
His hand slips out of Ejek's and he taps on the PADD with purpose.
"Havenborn, he knows about the explosion, the virus, but I haven't been able to speak to him, he was supposed to go to the computer core to see what he could do there but he's probably left now that I...I kinda trashed everything. Oh, the Captain...Um....I'm just...gonna edit the time, so that it...it happened like, a moment after the virus. So I can say I got to it before it was totally done with it's deletion... Or something like that. Does that even make sense?" He picked up his head to glance at her, hoping she'll fact-check his addition to her lie. He spoke as he walked, so when he glanced up, he expected her to be walking with him.
[ Lt. JG Zelosa Ejek | USS Resolve | Hallways ] Attn: FollowTomorrow
As expected, Ejek walked beside Suq. She looked more composed than she had when they met in engineering, almost relaxed and reluctantly optimistic. There was still a lot she didn't know and see through, but a start in ordering things had been made. She had adjusted to the new threat and a vague agenda to stick to.
"Havenborn will be in the staff meeting, and so will the captain. You'll get your chance soon enough," the Cardassian predicted. It was likely that they were forced to make a few modifications, discussing the subject with the others, and even possible that they had to scrap their plan altogether in order to obey their superiors. That was fine with Ejek; she did not insist on her version of events, as long as some collective effort was made. Her and Suq's story would have fulfilled its purpose of being a makeshift explanation to be put forth to starbase security as soon as it was replaced by another, and hopefully more advanced one.
"Hmm. If the transfer happened after the complete deletion, wouldn't there be evidence of it on our main computer?" Ejek mused. From the very moment the system was wiped clear, she assumed it restarted storing data. Even though the log file itself could have been lost in the purge, shouldn't there be traces of the connection with the PADD, unless it had been terminated before the completion of the erasure?
"Furthermore," she continued, an idea forming in her head. "If the data is supposed to be saved and not retrieved, wouldn't it be easiest to just leave everything as is? I've come across a Romulan novel, chances are other crew members have noticed changes, too. We shouldn't try to deny them, or we'll provoke contradictory witness statements amongst the crew. We only deny our responsibility for the deletion, as it's rude towards starbase security at best and suspicious at worst."
"Actually, it's both. Of course it's true that we distrust them, and I can easily argue in our favour if I need to defend our motives, but I'm fairly sure it's unwise to set these signals. At this stage we know so little that we can only go by very basic assumptions. One: We're framed. Two: We're at least let to believe that we're framed by starbase personnel. So what's most likely to happen next? We seclude ourselves, which separates us from potential allies. Therefore, how about we say no, and make sure we keep one foot in the door with our friends at the starbase?"
Ejek could have gone on and on about her take on the situation, but she decided to make a cut here. She didn't mean to overwhelm Suq even further, as it might have a similar effect on him as circumlocutory engineering talk had on her.
"Anyway," she said apologetically, "Here's what I think we should do: We stay low and make sure we keep a certain level of neutrality. Force them to prove our guilt, and challenge our allies to aid us disproving it. Hopefully, we'll find out more about our enemy and their motivations on the way."
There was someone out there who knew they'd be lying about the virus. As it became their move to prove it or try again, the Resolve's crew would sit back and expect them.
As an afterthought, Ejek added: "Ah, you should think about a useful answer to the question why you were tampering with the captain's logs, of all the things you could have been saving."
It was fairly easy to find an excuse here, seeing how the captain's logs were supposed to summarise their adventures for their superiors - another reason why their alterations were so incredible. Why would Captain Kendrick be so stupid as to openly admit his involvement with the Romulans? Why would any of them return with a ship full of treacherous data, when they could have wiped out the ship's memory just before returning, and successfully blame the loss of data on complications during their journey? - but she figured it was best to address a few key points about their alibi story.
[ Krystal "Meony" Tancredi | Transporter Room | USS Resolve ] Attn: Kaligos, Vystori, Haverborn, DocReno, Auctor Lucan, and Arista(https://orig01.deviantart.net/7fd3/f/2015/168/0/9/krystal_row_01_by_auctor_lucan-d8xn7ih.png)
"Rrrrrrr!" Tancredi growled in a guttural manner at the Cardassian. Left holding Officer Useless by his ankles, each tucked under one arm, she bared her teeth, her lips curled into a vicious snarl. He was toying with death, annoyingly calling her princess when she made it quite clear she hated that. As soon as she got her hands on her weapons, she was going to show him just how terrible a mistake...so, his name was Silim Parnak, and an exobiologist. This was information to keep in mind. She didn't leave the room right away, regardless of how awkward she looked holding the still stunned starbase officer in such a manner. But it was not her who was unconscious or being carted around in an uncomfortable manner.
The Romulan's actions, behaviour and words caught her attention, however. She had not seen anything or read anything into his words, but she was curious all the same, with a healthy dose of wariness. These people were all newcomers on board her ship. The ship of her family. So long as Kendrick said nothing against them, she held her peace, such as it was.
But when the matter of the bat was brought up, she sighed audibly.
Why did it have ta be a bat? She thought bitterly, and finally began to move, as there was little else for her to do until the meeting was held, dragging the man, "Mind yer head," said the pilot, and grinned to herself when she head a soft thunk as Officer Useless' head went up over the slight bump and fell back down. She twisted her body around, so that she was now dragging him behind her while she trudged on ahead, able to look for other places to hit the man's head on while she took a very long route to the brig.
"Ye're real lucky, ya should know," said Tancredi, as she turned a corner sharply, scraping the man along it, and of course, causing him to hit his head, "me personally? Ah'd have gone with airlock departure, y'hear? Ah don't care none 'bout ya."
She scowled as she stepped over a low-clearance threshold with a raised flooring, "Step over lightly and duck yer head," she pulled hard, knocking him over the threshold and heard an appreciable thunk again, "Ya put Zeshryr in a brig, after shootin' 'er, an' Ah'm willin' to bet ya did it ta save yer own skin, which makes ya a yella-bellied no good coward. Watch your head."
THUNK!
She turned a sharp corner, eventually, and unfortunately reaching the brig, "Howdy do! Gotcha a live one! 'e was the one done gone an' trussed up Zeshryr none too nicely. Whatcha say we show 'im our welcome?"
[ Dr. Silim Parnak | Transporter Room | USS Resolve ] Attn: Kaligos, Vystori, Haverborn, DocReno, Auctor Lucan, Triage and anyone else.
"A pet?..." Silim queried as they stepped out into the corridor, unaware of his forthcoming doom at the hands of Tancredi. Was this really a question that Kendrick was asking anyway? Parnak quashed the urge to ponder how someone like this could have made it to the rank of captain, instead, after hearing his plea not to destroy the subject, Silim replied. "It's a wild animal, Captain. Bats are terrible pets, as they require a large space to thrive alongside a varied diet of fruits, nectars and insects that they need to hunt for themselves. The Carrayan Solus Bat is different in the fact that it is active during the day and is positively phototactic, but still it requires roosting space and not to be disturbed."
By this point, Silim was very nearly into 'lecture' mode; it had been at least three years since he last led a class at his home university in Culat and a lesson plan for the Solus bat was forming itself. Oh how he missed the chance to shape young minds. At this point there was an option to stop, but Silim couldn't help himself. "Furthermore, most bats can live 20 to 30 years, whereas many bats in captivity live only one. That and this animal is a relatively new discovery; this is why I am researching its habits. There's no way to guess how it would respond to long periods aboard ships nor how it would interact with new lifeforms."
Down the corridor they continued to walk and talk, well, everyone walked, Silim talked. "... And what is this about returned animals not surviving?" Silim looked behind him to the Romulan and briefly wondered about trying to include him in the current one-sided conversation. No, no doubt he would have had time with Kendrick in the Security Centre. Anyway this was the time for Parnak to shine. "Is there a problem with Starfleet Science that means they cannot release creatures of study correctly? The Cardassian Science Ministry has been conducting behavioural studies for centuries. While, yes, those animals who have undergone extreme research such as cellular change or the testing of new drugs may not be suitable to go back to a wild state, it should be fine to reintroduce this bat back to its natural habitat."
Stopping outside the turbolift, Parnak turned to Kendrick with a wide grin on his face. An idea had formed in his mind. "Science Lab 47." He began. "You could return the bat to Science Lab 47. Simon Walt, the chief science officer, is expecting it there. The bat is going to go back to Carraya II in two weeks time anyway. You can use the biofilter in the transporter to remove any form of airborne pathogen, if that is the reason behind this quarantine, and it would mean I wouldn't need to check in. In fact, that would leave me to assist in sorting out whatever is going on ..." He shook one hand around indicating the entire Luna Class vessel. "...Here."
It was a great plan. Poor, sentimental, Captain Kendrick wouldn't have to worry about destroying the animal, Walt would get payback for refusing to help capture the creature and Parnak would have something more interesting to do than prod chiroptera in the dark. In the back of his mind, he knew something odd was going on. There was no reason Starfleet would remove an unconscious prisoner from a starbase onto a quarantined vessel, but in the end, it didn't really matter. Silim was swept up in the idea of curing the disease, saving the ship, and having something more interesting to write in his monthly letter to his sister.
"So tell me..." He started again, resisting the urge to rub his hands with glee. "What about this quarantine?"
OOC: Sorry, This one is relatively speech heavy. Kaligos, eventually Parnak will stop talking and allow you to speak ;)
[ Captain Ian Hawthorne | Base Commander's Quarters ] Attn: Brutus, Kaligos & Vystori
With deft motions, Ian was dressing himself while he listened - watching Komial's back from afar while she demanded answers. The amusement he felt at hearing the lie she told the two outside the door was fleeting, because given the fact that the Borg had been assigned to the forensic investigation of the bomb and the late Auroto's body, it was easy to assume that the woman had found evidence to share.
So, he listened as he donned his uniform jacket, frowning as he adjusted the cuffs. Naturally, the thing inside was rearing in fiery ire and wished to kill all three skin-puppets that might have learned to much. Images of how he might do it came to him. Messy, messy imagery.
Yet Ian, he saw this for what it was. It was a development on the Kal-toh table that was unforeseen, certainly, but he was not nearly as phased as the beast. Indeed, it was both the strength and purpose of the host to deal with these things, and doing so with wit sharpened by a second intellect - augmenting his mental faculties. He listened, and mobilised, planning out his counter-moves as he stepped up behind Komial. After they spoke, he slowly reached across her shoulder and closed the comm-link so that he might whisper to Komial - his warm breath filing her ear.
"It would seem there is more evidence pointing towards the Orion woman's Captain - Kendrick just having arrived from Romulan space. His would be the only ship that could easily have smuggled a Romulan aboard the base." He said this with a concerned tone of voice, his words thrumming against her back where he stood. "I do not know what might be going on, but we can't have your people openly accusing a Starfleet officer of that rank. I am sure you understand that given the explicit news about the killing sprees of the Theurgy and the Harbinger, this might stir unrest on the base, and undermine the faith that thousands of civilians hold in us to protect them. Discretion, before they stir a riot..."
He laid a hand on her shoulder, continuing in his deep voice. "If their findings would be true, sceptic as I am to trust any evidence sprung from her Borg implants, it would be even more important that they learned to keep things like these to themselves. Order them to send the data to you, and we can go over it together - behind closed doors."
Alas, as confident Ian was that he would get through to her with his reasoning, and just after he removed his finger that had closed the comm-link, there was another unforeseen development. This, in the form of a voice from Komial's combadge - also heard by the two outside the door.
[Security to Lieutenant Komial! The Orion suspect has escaped the detention centre! I repeat, we have a breakout, and she was not the only one. The Romulan raider is gone too!] There was a bewildered pause. [We... We have no idea how it happened! The surveillance system has been rebooted and the recordings are lost! Also, Bradford is missing too! He was the one on call, and the computer says he is nowhere on the base!]
Again, the beast coiled in vehemence... but Ian's scowl was that of the Kal-toh player, finding that he had to adjust his game more than he'd thought. He had believed he played both sides of the table, but evidently... there were far more players than he had anticipated. A moment's thought, then he closed the comm-link again with his finger. "Komial, you can use my computer console to access the entire base's surveillance system and coordinate your staff. As for the evidence... we can look at it together. Tell them to send it, but I don't think you want to let them in..."
A mere glance up and down her dishevelled appearance likely got his point across. He removed the finger and opened the comm-link again, and the stepped away from Komial to let her give her orders.
With his back towards her, he couldn't help the small smile that crossed his lips...
[ Drauc T'Laus | USS Resolve ] Attn: Kaligos & Arista
Walking with the Captain and Parnak, Drauc both listened to the useless information and disregarded it at the same time - his focus instead being on the interior of the Luna-class starship. That, and the thoughts of the two he walked with. Not for sake of prying, but for sake of efficiency. Just having escaped the brig, it seemed to Drauc obvious what was the best course of action would be. For with the crew intact, the next step was to leave the base and remove the ship from the enemy that dwelt there. Leave, and find aide that was less likely compromised.
For as far as Drauc was concerned, based on what A'vura had heard... no one on Starbase 84 could be trusted. The crew of the Resolve, however, had just come to the tainted base, and therefore, Kendrick had his loyalty. Finally, the exobiologist ceased speaking, asking about the quarantine. Drauc looked sideways at Kendrick before raising his rasping voice - looking at the Cardassian though the tresses before his eyes.
"The question isn't what the quarantine might be," he said, eyes unblinking - the only movement to his person being the way he flexed his scarred hands inside he sleeves of his threadbare cloak. "It is whether or not you want to know the answer. Knowledge is not always a merit, Silim Parnak. It can also be a curse. Should you know the answer, the truth might force you to share the fate of this crew. Ignorant, as you are, you may plead innocent and unaware - convincing Starfleet Security you had no part. You could leave this ship, returning to your studies."
Somehow, looking at the Cardassian, Drauc could not shake the idea that the man wanted nothing rather. There was disdain and discontent when he spoke of the flying creature, and it seemed to Drauc that Silim Parnak wanted nothing rather than a change. Having said his warning, Drauc turned his head to look at Kendrick instead - stating what he saw prudent to point out to the Human.
"I know the minds of our present opposition, and I may be of use. Should you need me at the meeting you have summoned, you need merely ask. Like I said, my loyalty is yours." As he rasped it the second time, he realised that the meaning might be lost on the Captain. Perhaps it was time to be more explicit. Perhaps it was time to don the titles of old... "In fact, you may be able to find me in the database. I once ranked Junior Lieutenant in Starfleet after the Dominion War."
Indeed, he would tread the path of the righteous once more.
OOC: Next time I post, I can set up the meeting, unless you do so first, Kaligos! :) It might be quite short, though, given the pending arrival of the Theurgy.
[ LT Daniel Havenborn & Ensign A'vura Zeshryr | Transporter Room | USS Resolve ]
Daniel thought about reprimanding Krystal but decided that he'd let it slide for now seeing as it was his fault for letting the bat loose, although he wasn't that great at operating the transporter. He wasn't fond of having another Cardassian on board but he'd deal with it, and even though it had been a few years since the war he still didn't trust them and felt that they had no place in the Federation but that was his opinion. Although seeing A'vura made him he feel a bit better knowing that at least she wasn't in the starbase brig now. As the bat went into the corridor he watched as A'vura went after it and brought it back a moment later.
He nodded to Captain Kendrick. "I can try sir but I was lucky to pull you all out when I did." He said as he looked at A'vura. "Ensign Zeshryr could you help me with the transporter controls?" He asked her. "I'm not sure I can accurately target F'Rell's lifesign on my own." He said as he began to reset the transporter again moving over a bit so that the Orion woman could access half of the control console.
A'vura still held the unconscious bat in her hand while her other reholstered her phaser at her hip. It seemed that no one was going to get her what she needed, so she scanned the room herself for what she needed instead. Her dark eyes settled on a small, clear container with dime sized holes in the sides and top which was just what she had had in mind. Opening the unit she carefully set the bat inside. As much as she was relieved to have settled some of the panic over the creature she was still sorry she had to stun it in order to do so. It wasn't her wish to hurt the innocent being, so once the animal had been placed within she pet it softly with her fingertips and tested its snout to ensure it was at least still breathing.
When she had closed it, she made her way back to Havenborn. As much as he had moved over she still had to press in awful close to him to reach all of the panel at his side. If her green skin could blush, and it sort of did, a slightly darker shade of green mixed with soft pink tones, she'd do so each time she had to reach beyond him, rubbing her side up against him almost uncomfortably. It didn't help that she still looked disheveled and unpresentable, a fact that was starting to wear on her a bit. What she would give right now for a hot shower and a change of uniform. Despite that though she did her task as asked, changing the patterns to look for in order to lock onto the T'fanrell.
"Her lifesigns are harder to pinpoint, but if you change these settings here, and adjust for this frequency, you can lock onto F'rell's unique lifesigns in order to beam her out. Only reason I know this is because I've had to reconfigure much of the ship's life support systems as well as other environmental systems in order to accommodate her, specifically to her quarters." While she spoke she touched the computer pad and adjusted the numbers and frequencies accordingly, showing him exactly what she was doing so he'd know for future use. "I believe we can beam her on board now." she finally stated, turning to look at Daniel with a small smile, her finger hovering just above the slide to transport.
Daniel nodded as he smiled at her maneuvering around him. Somehow even looking like she did he could tell she was a beautiful woman and he felt very attracted to her. He realized he was staring and focused back at the job at hand. He watched as she reconfigured the transporter settings to pinpoint the T'fanrell's lifesigns and a minute later her lifesign was visible. "Everyone clear the transporter pad, we've got a lock on F'rell." Daniel said as he waited until everyone had cleared the pad then reached his hand forward and at the same time met her hand as they both activated the transporter to beam F'rell up.
[ F'Rell of the 12th House | Hallway | Starbase 84 ]
For a moment, as the transporter beam caught the much larger form of the T'fanrell she held her breath and seemed to loose some altitude. The beam was designed for much sturdier lifeforms and for F'Rell it was always an unpleasant experience. She tended to loose much of her internal pressure in the deconstruction/reconstruction cycle and as a result it was far from the most comfortable experience. But still, it was one of the primary ways of close range transportation and it only took a moment. She she would had adapted to it a good deal.
The last thing she saw before materializing on the transporter pad was the security guards rounding the corner looking more than a little confused.
[ F'Rell of the 12th House | Transporter Room | USS Resolve ] Attn: Anyone?
As her body formed on the pad F'Rell seemed to sag for a moment as the pressure inside her body equalized. Holding her breath and isolating her internal structure helped a little, but it still left her looking slightly deflated. The effect only lasted about 10 minutes, but it was quite noticeable.
Her long tendrils hung loosely, brushing the surface of the pad. Until she regained pressure it was nearly impossible for her to move them and speak, thus she said nothing. Luckily she had explained this before and the crew of the resolve would know. The only transporter that did not do this was the larger industrial ones in the cargo bay as they were more used to moving non-organic things. For some reason the one in the transporter room gave her no end of trouble.
[ Lt. Jg. Suq | USS Resolve | Hallways ] Attn: Julia
Suq cradled the PADD, he watched the floor ahead of him as he thought about their plan of action. Her suggestions came one by one, each met by silence until Suq had time to consider them. Of course they were all intelligent ideas, he could expect nothing less than the best from the Cardassian, but what he worried about was whether or not they were right. Ultimately, though Suq was listening as intently as he could, her discussion was only met with another suppressed yawn. He didn't even think to begin answering her question until they arrived at the turbolift and stepped inside. He scratched his chin while he pondered his own response.
"I guess...I wasn't thinking." He answered, but then realized how that statement made him sound. Unprofessional was an understatement. "Or, well, I was. The story could be I saw the Captain's logs, saw Romulan, and only had a few seconds to save it to my PADD before it got wiped so I saved it thinking that something was off here. Because I'm not privy to any Romulan cahoots, but there appear to be many cahoots with the Romulans.
"That....that sounds awful. I can't say that."
He cringed at the idea of benefiting from this in any way. Making himself look like some glorious hero and the captain like traitorous scum?! If this were literally anyone else's plan, he'd be seeing red and itching to give someone a good sock to the face for it. But this was his plan, he came up with it, all on his own.
"Let's talk about it at the meeting. I got nothing."
[Komial Dotnhil | Starbase 84 | Base Commanders Quarters]Atten: Lucan
In Komial's mind, she pictured a field, utterly barren and devoid of life. That field represented the utter lack of fucks she gave at that moment when it came to what that halfbreed science officer wanted. Unfortunately, her job was to care, regardless of how upset she was. The frown never left her face, her arms remained crossed under her breasts, once her hair was straightened. Her lips - swollen from kisses - were curled into a little snarl. Still, she listened to Hi'Jak and Six, took in everything they said, before glancing back at her Captain. Her lover.
Slowly, she swallowed the snarl and schooled her features. Komial knew she could be the officer he needed her to be just then. But what Six was suggesting - a traitor, of captain rank? If she and Ian hadn't just been discussing concerns about the Resolve she might have dismissed those accusations out of hand. As it was she still had to stamp down on her frustration. For all her faults, Six wasn't nearly as incompetent professionally as she was socially. She opened her mouth to speak, but then felt, more than saw, Ian stepping up behind her. The comm died with a press of his finger and just in time, because when he whispered, the warmth of his breath sent a shiver down her spine and the softest of moans escaping her lips.
She closed her eyes, listened, and swore that she had to get her reactions under control or they were all going to be in a world of trouble.
The Security Chief was pleased to hear her CO's thoughts mirroring her own, even if she was slightly saddened by the game they would have to play. But the actions of the Theurgy and the Harbinger forced Komial's hands. A riot...deep inside, her stomach churned at the thought. She was responsible for the security and safety of every man, woman, child and being on this station. Thousands of souls in her care. If that meant she had to stifle the concerns of her people, keep their mouths shut to keep rumors from spreading, all while investigating what was looking more and more like the fall of a man that should be a hero - Komail could swallow her doubts and rise to the occasion. For all those lives at stake? It was a sacrifice easily made.
The hand suddenly on her shoulder was a warm, reassuring weight, that helped make what she had to do next easier. Her own hand reached up and squeezed his briefly. A breach of protocol, perhaps, but given what had been said moments earlier, in the privacy of his quarters, an acceptable one. Yet again however, she was interrupted before she could voice her thoughts.
"Acknowledged," she spoke into her combadge, the ire bubbling up in her tone, "Lock down the brig. I'll notify the captain. We are on Security Alert. Do not sound basewide Red alert. We don't want a panic on our hands." They had gone and done it now. What had just been idle suspicion now seemed to be full on fact. There was a traitor somewhere on her station.
Ian turned the comm back on and Komial addressed her subordinate and the unwelcome tag along that was Hi'Jak. "I am going to be straight and to the point. You are going to listen to what I say and execute without question. We are now under a security one black out. A gag order until I get to the bottom of this. You two are making accusations that could have damming repercussions and if we are going to go down this path we are going to do it discreetly," her voice was laced with cold steel, tone brokering no descent. "You both just heard what we're dealing with. Now, I want you to transfer your findings to Cpt. Hawthorne's computer, now. I'll be coordinating with him from here. You will speak to now one, and I mean NO ONE, of what you've found."
She waited, impatiently, for the duo to do as she ordered. Any hint of dissent was met with cold authority, and soon as she heard the telltale ping from the captains work station, she nodded to herself. "Get back down to the bring level, Ensign," she said curtly to the borg, keeping her tone flat. "See what evidence you can dig up," It would get her out of the way for the moment at least. "Mr. Jock," she then addressed the science officer, "keep your mouth shut. Do as you've been ordered. Stay out of trouble. We now have an escaped prisoner on our hands. Dismissed."
Killing the comm before there could be any further argument - or any more inane attempts at correcting her misuse of the junior Lt's name, Komial swallowed and turned to face Ian. There was a myriad of things she wanted to say just then, but personal needs would have to wait in favor of Duty. Instead, she nodded towards the computer, "With your permission?" She asked, and once she had it, began to pull up the surveillance logs...
OOC: I can expand upon what she finds in the logs, as per our conversation earlier this morning. Not sure how far you wanted me to take this one post.
[ENS K'Ren | Quarters | USS Resolve ]
With nothing to do really but sit tight, K'Ren found her thoughts drifting back to her sleep and the dream, or more accurately nightmare, that seemed to haunt her of late. Some days she wished she could consume alcohol, drink away the nightmares, but a part of her knew that was not the path to go down. She'd seen it destroy men, ruin lives, and hurt others.
The nightmare she'd been reliving was a recurring memory from almost a year before. She'd been on Ready 5, her fighter warmed and on the launch rails in case the scouting party ran into trouble. And trouble they had. On their way back after an uneventful patrol, they'd been jumped by enemy fighters, and by the time she and her wingman could get launched, the patrol was in trouble. The enemy patrol was ultimately destroyed but at the cost of a fighter and it's pilot.
Now losing a squadron mate is tough, it hurts and in the tight knit community aboard the Resolve, so far from home, the loss was even more keen. But for K'Ren it was especially tough. Markus 'Furball' Thorne, one of the younger pilots, was K'Ren's human fiance and the pair were contemplating a future together, one of settling down and raising a family of cute little Neko's together. A tear formed in her eye as the memory of exact moment she lost Markus, the panic'd calls for a beam out, the sudden burst of static, the surge of energy as the fighter's engines erupted consuming her mate and the future they'd planned together.
She'd worked through it with Lt Ejek and after a few months the nightmares seemed to fade and K'Ren moved on with her life. Now they were back, and she felt ill-equipped to deal with them again. She needed to speak with the counselor before this whole sabotage crisis got out of hand. Picking up a padd, hoping the infection that compromised her messages wouldn't corrupt the one she needed to send, she began to compose a message.
It wasn't a long message, asking your counselor for an appointment to discuss things usually wasn't but for K'Ren who was a very independent soul, asking for help was one of those things she had a hard time doing. Finally though the brief message was written and she pressed send.
[ Lt. JG Zelosa Ejek | USS Resolve | Turbolift to Briefing Room] Attn: FollowTomorrow, SummerDawn, Kaligos, DocReno, Arista, Auctor Lucan, Havenborn, Vystori
Ejek caught herself laughing. She didn't mean to laugh at her friend - and indeed sounded more affectionate than gleeful - but he had started so well and then retreated so suddenly as the realisation of his meaning set in, that she couldn't help herself. Still chuckling when the turbolift doors reopened, she disclosed: "I love your idealism," as she set foot into the new hall.
Not understanding what, exactly, sounded so awful about Suq's little ruse, she could only guess. Maybe it was racist against Romulans. Maybe it was just bad because it was a lie, or because they attempted to frame their beloved leader. Either way, the acting chief engineer seemed in need of some encouragement to keep up the act, and she knew just the right justification to counter the ever-present: It is wrong because it is wrong.
"We can't save the crew from a prison cell. So, naturally, we'll have to keep a few people in the game. We don't do this to save our own skin, but to set things right in the end."
There it was again, like several times before in their discussions of the last three years: the end that justified the means. But wasn't she right about it? Wasn't she?
"Every Captain goes down with his ship. That's what they say, isn't it? Why do you think Kendrick let you copy this?" She pointed at the PADD Suq still held in his hands. "He knows he can't save himself, so he saves us, so we save him." At least Ejek hoped so.
By now they had reached the meeting room and headed for their seats. Ejek sat down next to Suq and prepared herself by logging onto a PADD, which would soon reveal K'Ren's message to her.
[Captain Tristan Kendrick |Starbase 84| Briefing Room | USS Resolve ] Attn: DocReno, Auctor Lucan, and Arista + senior staff of the resolve.
Kendrick frowned slightly as he was told that there was no way to really salvage the bat aside from sending it back to it's home. He had no idea when anyone would be able to make such a journey or if it would be able to survive the transportation long enough. They did fortunately have one thing that no one else did when transporting the small creature. "We can set up one of our holodeck to recreate it's natural habitat for the moment it is the best storage we have that is viable for the poor creature until such time that we can make a journey to return it to it's home. It will be able to wait out the quarantine in relative comfort I imagine."
As for Parnak's use in the situation he had to admit there wasn't much he could imagine the man fixing. It wasn't that kind of out break or virus that had forced Havenborn to shut down the ship's contact with the outside world. "We do have need of a doctor of your talents," he said thinking of the wounded his ship had, but moreover, that he was a third party witness to what he was about to hear, and if accusations would be made towards him and his crew, they would have a completely unbiased spectator. "But for the moment I think it would be best if you got a full picture of what was going on aboard my ship. If both of you would accompany me to the briefing room you can attend our senior staff meeting and then we can all better understand what exactly is going on here."
The question lingered because in truth Kendrick didn't have that good an idea of what was going on for himself either. He was annoyed by that fact, and it was the main reason he wanted to have this meeting.
He was a little surprised when he wasn't the first too arrive at the briefing room, but took his chair anyway. "Our First Officer will not be joining us for this meeting. He is in a debriefing meeting aboard Starbase 84. Chief Science Officer Martin is still on Starbase 84. Everyone else, I would like to introduce Drauc, and Dr Silim Parnak, they are both from the base, and have been swept up in our current affairs."
Kendrick didn't bother to explain that Drauc had been one of the people broken out of the brig, for the moment he was pretending the jail break didn't exist, if only so that Parnak got the full idea of why it was needed. "Now would someone kindly go over what the hell has been happening on my ship? and what we can do to solve it?"
There was of course the small plan that was already in action with the false recordings, but now more than ever he wanted the full picture of what had been happening aboard the resolve.
[Lt Hi'Jak (https://orig03.deviantart.net/94e6/f/2015/265/a/e/hi_jack_02_by_auctor_lucan-d86nthi.png)| Outside Officer Quarters| Starbase 84] Attn: Brutus, Vistori, Auctor Lucan
Hi'Jak paused, this time he was getting the distinct impression that Dotnhil didn't like him. He was sure that she was busy, but there was something else there that was aside from the anger. even though he had given her many opportunities to use any other name, she seemed insistent on just making up what ever thing she could as if that would insult him. It didn't, not really. He was used to such insults really, and few words could ever really hurt him anymore. Being a half breed he had heard it all before, but there was still some pain there more to do with his crush on her than anything else.
He shook his head now was not the time to think about personal affairs, and with Six chiming in with her findings and theories it was good that he had at least some support on the matter. Still something struck him as weird. Scientific curiosity perhaps? The fact was that they were ordering him to hand over the evidence he had found but weren't going to let him hear it. That was perhaps the most maddening thing he had heard all day.
He didn't pause however to send over the file to Dotnhil's personal PADD, after all it meant that he now had her contact information! If he had been feeling rejected before that thought alone caused him to perk up. He was going to send a letter to her later if he could. The hopeless romantic inside of Hi'Jak already knew that it wasn't going to work, but he was going to write up some kind of poetry or artistic verse when he got the chance. "Message sent ma'am."
The thought that he would have to shut his face and take this to his grave however didn't sit with him, and once the thing was sent off, Hi'jack made no attempt to delete the evidence from his PADD. If nothing else maybe one day he would find a captain willing to open it. For now he just hid it within all of the clutter and science notes on animal breeding cycles he had.
Being dismissed as they were Hi'Jak turned away from the door and started to walk back to the science center, but also taking Ensign six with him. They both had to head to a turbolift so why not share a ride for a moment. "Six... you have the Federation database in your head. What is the common procedure for this... type of thing? Investigating a captain I mean?"
He was curious because He didn't follow a lot of protocols on his own, but there had be rules for this kind of investigation and for some reason he felt like he certainly shouldn't have been shut out of it.
OOC: The characters who represent the senior staff of the resolve are:
- Cpt. Tristan Kendrick Commanding Officer
- Lt. Keval ch'Rayya Chief Tactical Officer (also Security)
- Lt. JG Suq-Reylin-Efreya Xan Act. Chief Engineer
- Lt. Daniel Havenborn Squadron Commanding Officer
- Lt. JG Zelosa Ejek Act. Chief Counsellor
- Ens. A’vura Zeshryr Act. Chief of Operations
- Ens. Derik Veradin Act. Chief CONN Officer
- A nameless Chief Medical Officer
Non-Senior Staff Present:
- Drauc T'Laus
- Silim Parnak
[ LT Daniel Havenborn | Briefing Room | USS Resolve ] Attn: Senior Staff & everyone in briefing room
Havenborn walked into the briefing room and took a seat. When Kendrick asked what had happened he cleared his throat. "One of the starbase engineers, a Petty Officer 2nd Class Keith Sanford, was attempting to download our database to check it for digital contamination but it seems like a virus was uploaded instead." Daniel said as he paused a moment. "I don't think Petty Officer Sanford was aware of what was going to happen as a console exploded and mortally wounded him."
Daniel straightened his back a bit as he continued. "I initiated the lockdown and placed the ship on yellow alert thereafter using my officers in conjunction with security to make sure that the rest of the starbase personnel were escorted off of the ship. I didn't want any more incidents to happen, afterwards I contacted you and while Lieutenant Suq headed to Engineering I made my way to the Computer core to begin a diagnostic it was then that Suq and I discovered that the computer was infected with the Romulan code." He said as he looked over at Suq.
"You then ordered me to the transporter room and you know the rest from there, at least on my end sir. Lieutenant Suq may have found something in Engineering that I don't know about however." He said nodded at his fellow officer, hoping that he had found something to help out their current situation or had more information to add to everything he had said.
[Ensign Six (https://img14.deviantart.net/51cf/i/2015/255/0/5/six_01_by_auctor_lucan-d91bx0h.png) | Outside Captain's Quarters/Lift/Brig | Starbase 84] Attn: Kaligos, Lucan, Brutus
Six was about to protest with a, 'But Lieutenant,' when she was cut short, essentially ignored, then dismissed. And when Hi'Jak took the PADD and sent their findings to her, essentially taking over the task that Six was assigned, she quietly fumed in her spot before the Captain's door. Her expression changed quickly to that of nothingness, her ire quietly suppressed for no one to see. This sort of thing happened too often for her liking. It was as though her peers did not trust her ability to do her job, and it was tiresome to say the least.
Thankfully, for Six though, on the way there she had taken the time to link herself through her borg implants to the PADD and download everything from there to be stored in her optic implant, including the communication transmission, even if it still did deny her access to it. She was determined to hear that transmission for herself, and if that meant hacking into the ship's computer later to do so then so be it. For now she had it tucked away in her 'mind' though, safely stored away for later use.
It had not been lost on her that her commanding officer had been acting strangely, nor the fact that she had been the one to answer the Captain's door rather than the Captain himself. Something odd was going on, and Six's love for puzzles far surpassed any anger or resentment she had for anyone at this point, her steps quick and eager to get back to her lab as soon as possible to try and piece the parts together. /That/, after all, was /her/ job, and she intended to do it.
After a few minutes of silence, she finally answered Hi'Jak, speaking softly so no one else could hear should they be around. "Common procedure is to keep an issue like this under wraps until further evidence can be compiled. However, it is not common procedure to request the information to a Captain's computer, when it is a Captain or higher rank that is in question. It is more common for an appointed liaison to oversee any further investigation of a Starfleet Captain or higher ranking officer. Lieutenant Komial, while above us in rank, is not an appointed liaison. Sending her the information, without saving a copy, is highly irregular. Lucky for you I have a hard copy stored," she stated to him, absently tapping her temple near her optic eye.
When they reached the lift, she spoke the deck number that would take her to the brig. While in there, she pulled out her phaser and checked it's settings, making sure that it was set to stun just in case. Today was turning out to be an interesting, if not irksome day for her. More so than usual it seemed. When the lift reached her station she bid a polite farewell to Hi'Jak, then, with her hand still resting on her holstered phaser she stepped out and made her way for the brig.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
[Ensign A'vura Zeshryr (https://orig08.deviantart.net/ca09/f/2015/289/a/2/a_vura_row_01_by_auctor_lucan-d9d9ngm.png) | Transporter Room/Briefing Room | Starbase 84] Attn: Everyone in briefing room
A'vura followed Daniel closely behind him as they finished beaming F'rell aboard and then headed toward the briefing room once she was safely there. She sat down at the large table, crossing her arms over her chest, rather uncomfortable with the fact that she still looked as she did in front of her peers. She usually prided herself on her smart appearance and the fact that she looked so utterly disheveled was disconcerting.
As she listened to her Captain, then again to Daniel, her frown from before seemed to return and deepen across her features. What the hell was going on? It's as though someone over there on the Starbase was trying to frame them for something. But for what? And to what purpose? It didn't make a lick of sense to her.
For now she chewed silently on what was being said in the room, thoughtfully trying to process the situation, trying to see if she could come up with some kind of clear answer, some kind of helpful conclusion, or some sort of strategy to aide in the mishaps that seemed to be happening to them currently.
[Lt. Jg. Suq |USS Resolve| Briefing Room ] Attn: Briefing Room
Suq didn't see himself as an idealist, but to Ejek, he must seem so. Efrosians were, by nature, idealistic, he supposed. He did not change his posture or expression as he walked into the briefing room, there's no indication that the counselor's words helped him. In truth, they did, but he had to focus on the upcoming meeting.
He stepped into the room and left Ejek's side. He remained silent, the PADD full of lies locked in his arms like a baby. A traitorous baby. Haha.
He prepared to speak. When he did, his voice sounded remarkably different. Instead of wavering and uncertain, he spoke with a solid tone. Rehearsing what he wanted to say in his mind made it easier to speak--and it certainly didn't hurt that he had his own personal support person nearby as well.
"Sir, after Lieutenant Havenborn and I left each other, I went to engineering and found the same thing the Lieutenant did. Everything from correspondence and transporter logs down to our personal logs were corrupted. It looked like we had been scheming with the Romulans. I sent you a message over communications, and as per your orders, performed a progressive memory wipe, saving only the Captain's logs. They're on my personal PADD here."
He hesitated, wondering if now was the time to interject and say he had an idea, but failed to speak up. Right now, the Captain was gathering information first.
[Lieutenant Kevan ch'Rayya| USS Resolve| Briefing Room]
Since coming back aboard the ship, Keval was unusually silent which wasn't something common because he was usually the one who quickly analyzed the situation and started to formulate various types of tactical or strategic plans was uncommonly quiet.
Instead he was trying to analyze what was going on the Starbase which made his brow furrow deeply as he looked over at the base's scientist which was more of a strike against him with another one being that he was a cardassian which while wasn't a thing against his species but the fact that he came from the station which had given him a bad feeling since they arrived which was only made worse by his meeting with the base commander and the story that he told the captain and himself.
Keval looked over at Lieutenant Ejek and looked the young woman over, ignoring her physical beauty to focus on the fact that she was cardassian that he knew and had come to trust over these long few years during the trek back to Federation space...
He stopped that train of thought to pinch the bridge of his nose as he closed his eyes tightly as he rewound his last thoughts in his head:
Ignoring her physical beauty...
Keval let out a frustrated sigh, he couldn't believe he had thought that but it was expected after a fashion as he came to an internal understanding that he hadn't a real chance to relax after focusing solely on his dual duties as the ship'separately tactical and security chief for the past few years without any real chance to allow him to let his guard down and relax...
Keval shook his head to help him focus again as he heard the ship's engineering chief speaking at which point the part of him that was the investigator and the part of him that did shadow ops told him of possibilities at which point he looked over at Suq. "Tell me more about your findings."
[ Lt. JG Zelosa Ejek | USS Resolve | Briefing Room] Attn: Everyone in the Briefing Room
Ejek's heart missed a beat at the sight of Captain Kendrick's unexpected companions. She felt something she hadn't felt in a long time: Angst.
Dr. Silim Parnak was the first Cardassian she met in at least five years. Before now, Ejek had successfully avoided discussing her decision to join Starfleet with any one of her kind. Now she got overly aware of the uniform she was wearing, and anxious to discover what implications it held for the Cardassian doctor.
The loop she was thrown into by this development was so severe that, for a moment, the shock even prevented her from paying any mind to the fact that the captain had also introduced a scarred Romulan.
She knew she had no time to dwell on personal problems, however. The situation was too delicate to let herself be distracted. (Wasn't it ironic, though, that the introduction of one of her own people hit her harder than the prospect of being wrongly accused of collaborating with the Romulan Empire?) Yet this was the mindset she still dealt with when she met Lieutenant ch'Rayya's eyes, and flashed him a meaningful look back. She didn't like their current situation one bit, but she was glad to have the Andorian in on it.
Maybe she should be more wary around him, she realised, simply because she relied on him. Or maybe she should know better than to give in to persecution mania. ...Even though it was justified.
"If I may answer on my colleague's behalf," she chimed in. "There was not enough time to analyse the whole log in detail. It is three years worth of altered mission summaries, after all. But I have some of it memorised, and I would suggest to run all available sorts of diagnostics to find patterns both in the text and source code."
Ejek turned to the captain. "As for a solution, Sir. I strongly recommend we blame the complete data purge on the virus or the explosion and make sure we don't lose our good relations with the starbase. Whoever did this to us won't wait forever to make their next move; I expect starbase security within the hour. But I speculate on this: If the whole base was against us independent of reason, there had been little need to frame us. If we avoid to incriminate ourselves too much with this, we might buy us some time to find out more about our enemy. Which should be our first priority. We simply can't successfully fight an enemy we don't know."
Looking from Kendrick to ch'Rayya and back (and carefully avoiding Parnak), she continued after a short pause: "Consider the alternatives. If we seclude ourselves, which I have a feeling our assailant wants, we become even more suspicious and deny ourselves the opportunity to find out more. If we flee, we ultimately admit our guilt. Also, without a thorough check of the ship's computer I wouldn't even exclude the possibility that a dormant part of the virus suddenly takes us off-course or initiates self-destruction."
[ Dr. Silim Parnak | USS Resolve | Briefing Room] Attn: Kaligos, Auctor Lucan, Havenborn, Vystori, Julia, FollowTomorrow, DocReno & anyone else
This day, Parnak mused, this day had been terrible.
It started with the incredibly dull experiment, followed by the escape of the bat, helping to steal a prisoner from Starbase Security and, finally, the quarantine. Silim was almost ready to call it quits, however all of the problems of the day dissolved as soon as he stepped into the conference lounge.
Across the table she sat; a beauty like he had not seen in at least 6 months and 13 days. Delicate argent skin, spotless ridges, enveloping slate eyes; she was Cardassian. He'd spent more than a decade studying beings not from Cardassia, little had he realised that it would take nearly seven months on a Starfleet station near Romulan space to finally understand how much he had missed his people, that familiar sight of home, even if it came clad in a unexpected uniform.
Silim sat opposite and ensured that he didn't stare. Instead, he following whomever was speaking. First was Kendrick who introduced the two guests but not his senior staff, silently Parnak cursed that it wasn't easy to find out the name of this fellow member of his race. Next, the white and yellow collars explained the digital virus ravaging the ship and again, the day from hell had boiled to the surface, if only to add another nail in the coffin; Silim was completely superfluous. With no biological element to this quarantine he was as useless as a solar powered torch. The Andorian wanted to know more and then finally, she spoke.
He didn't particularly listen to what she said, using the opportunity to look upon her again. She avoided eye contact and it confused Silim. Was she shy? Ashamed? Had she joined Starfleet to get away from her kind? And what was with that hair? Why did she style herself with a child's haircut? She was younger than Parnak, he didn't doubt that, in fact, so was everyone else in the room, but why did she try to make herself look even more so?
Parnak's musing was cut abruptly short as she finished speaking, and so as to not make her uncomfortable Silim looked back to Kendrick, focussing on the matter at hand. Didn't the principle of Occam's Razor boil down to the fact that the simplest explanation was usually right? A Romulan virus had infected them and they had just happened to bring a Romulan aboard? It was quite the coincidence.
The scientist in the back of his mind reminded him that correlation does not imply causation; furthermore, Silim didn't feel the need to intrude on this matter, apparently he'd managed to meddle enough already. Instead he ran his hand through his hair and his mind wandered. He thought about the tastes, smells and feelings of home she might have that he hadn't think to bring.
Perhaps, just maybe, she had Yamok Sauce?
[ Drauc T'Laus | USS Resolve | Conference Lounge ] Attn: 1) Kaligos 2) Free Posting Order
Seated by the table, Drauc watched those assembled through the tresses of his burgundy hair, absorbing their unguarded thoughts with his jaws clenched - eyes unblinking. At these times, with new thoughts invading his mind, he knew his abilities to be both a gift and a curse upon him - the experiments that his late brother and he had suffered both giving perception and taking away coherence. Unknown thoughts, new minds, they were all invasive, vexing him. He quelled them to make thoughts of his own.
The strongest reaction came from the female Cardassian, thoughts of shame permeating her mind. It had to do with the snake seated next to him, who also reacted upon the sight of the female, only in a more appreciative manner. With no names offered for the senior staff of the USS Resolve, Drauc would have to piece together the names and ranks by listening, by hearing the names unspoken. It held no immediate relevance, since the matters at hand took precedence over coming to know his new crew - provided that Kendrick offered to let him stay. Drauc knew what risk Kendrick took upon himself in freeing him, and he hoped he could compensate the human for his decision. He would thread the path of the righteous for him, and earn trust as best he might.
The pilot and the engineer - an Efrosian - offered little more than Drauc already knew after hearing what had been said to Kendrick over combadge in the Brig. The Cardassian female... Ejek? It was an unsaid word that repeated itself in the minds of those present, and Drauc supposed it was her name. A counsellor, that much was made evident too. She spoke, and illuminated factors worth addressing - vectors of deduction that altered the battlefield. He saw the terrain, and had be been a man of lesser restraint, he would have found it bitterly amusing - laughing at the implications. As it were, he bared his teeth as a smile ghosted across his features. "Sound yet belated advice," he said in his damaged voice, and he realised that if he had said as much, he would have to continue. He flexed his scarred hands inside the threadbare sleeves of his cloak, and his rasping tone rose in volume - eyes sliding between those present. "Captain Kendrick has just aided in the escape of Ensign Zeshryr, not to mention my own, and a certain Security Officer Bradford - being the only witness - has been carried to brig of this ship. I might have been able to erase the surveillance logs that would have shown it happening... but the... the T'Fanrell? F'Rell, I presume to be her name, she courageously and openly acted the decoy for the guards to enable our escape, so this crew has already been incriminated - the degree thereof as of yet unknown."
The creature had done what she could, given the circumstances, but just like his own presence as a Romulan aboard the ship, the T'fanrell's association pointed an accusing finger towards the Resolve. Again, Drauc respected Kendrick's gamble - the boldness of it clearly a mark of a victorious leader, and he could but hope he could offer something in return to clear their good names. They were not, he knew, the true enemy within their ranks. "Upon this field of battle, I second Counsellor Ejek's tactic. The enemy forces must be espied, and their leaders revealed. Else, this crew must fight its way free... and the terrain is decidedly not favourable."
He fell silent then, reckoning that he had spoken too much already - the staff's collective level of trust towards him hardly satisfactory. He did not even consider the fact that he had learned the female Cardassian's name and used it without an introduction. As he sat there, he hoped the Captain would continue to stand with him, and not betray his word. Drauc could only hope Starfleet was somewhat like it used to be in that regard... so unlike the factions in his people's civil war.
[ Captain Ian Hawthorne | Base Commander's Quarters ] Attn: Brutus
Komial was dismissing the walking dead - Ian Hawthorne already devising methods to have them removed and their suspicions silenced - and he had entered his private study. He sat down behind his wide desk and opened his computer console, keying up the surveillance system while he waited for her to join him. With the thing inside honing his sharp wits, he went about making a few preliminary searches. In particular, tracing the movements of the two individuals who had just paid his quarters a visit. As it were, the search was very... very rewarding. He suppressed the smile that almost slipped into his features upon his discovery, since his smitten little kitten had just joined him. Instead, he wore a deeply concerned frown.
"It would seem that neither Ensign Six nor Junior Lieutenant Hi'Jak are strangers to the Resolve's crew," he said ominously, and with a flick of his thumb, he projected the recording he had found on the wall of his study - the view of the Promenade illuminating the room. There, as he magnified the imagery, both the Borg and the halfblood Klingon could be seen with the strange creature that Kendrick had brought from beyond Romulan space. A 'T'fanrell', supposedly, but there was also a fighter pilot from the Resolve present, speaking in apparent familiarity with Six and Hi'Jak. Both the pilot and the T'Fanrell has been seen in the docking bay, arriving with the Resolve, so there was no denying their affiliation. The surveillance of the promenade did not allow for audio either, busy as the area was and with too open space to pick up more than the din of the crowd. Then, he changed to the second recording he had found. "Here... is the Resolve's Chief Tactical Officer together with the very same fighter pilot. Look at whom their company is... leaving the crime scene underneath the subspace acquisition grid."
Indeed, through sliding doors the small party walked, speaking amongst themselves. Ensign Six, the Andorian, and the redhead pilot. "One might wonder where the creature went, if the pilot is here," he said, thinking aloud and ran a new search before the group came close enough to the surveillance unit to pick up the details of their conversation. The search yielded results immediately, the recording signature of the creature quite easy to detect given its unique composition. At this point, seeing what he saw before he sent the image to the wall and showing Komial, Ian was having difficulty containing the mirth of his second nature. It was all too easy... fortune favouring them both.
Captain Tristan Kendrick was seen on several occasions, dozens of feeds conjured on the wall, where he was espied in the company of the T'Fanrell. Feeds showed them leaving the severely damaged Resolve, and... "Where were they heading?" he wondered quietly, making the computer establish the timeline with a couple of taps on the touch screen of the console. The feeds then coalesced into one, and with a fast-forward view of the timeline, it was evident that the two went to the Executive Office Complex, and specifically... towards the Security Centre. Then just before they entered... the feed cut. From that point, the surveillance record had been erased, and while it was unfortunate, Ian had enough to give his orders. Upon seeing the record end there, he tapped on his authoritative voice, rising from his chair. He used the circumstances to his advantage, making Komial think he was profoundly disappointed in how this could have happened on his station.
"Captain Hawthorne to Security, was there a flying creature present when the Romulan and the Orion murder-suspect escaped the Brig?" he said, his words succinct and to the point to whomever sat at the Aide's station.
[Security here, ah... Yeah! There was some representative of the... the Teh-fanrull people, Froll of the 12th House, it said its name was. It demanded to speak with the Federation President, but we meant to report it to you, of course. With the escape, we didn't have time to, and it kinda... left all of a sudden. We figured we scared it off somehow. Why? Should we go look for it?]
As amused as Ian was at the response, the moronic speaker belonging in a holonovel, he did not let it show. The fact that the creature had distracted the personnel evident with the ridiculous claim. No, quite the opposite. The disappointment in his eye when he looked at Komial was plain, for he meant to use this to his advantage. Oh, how she would have to earn his respect again. These were her people, after all, and she would have to put her house in order. He did not even answer the security guard, closing the comm link before speaking quietly to Komial - his dark features a cliff in the apex of deepest winter.
"Right now, it would seem to me... that we might have Romulan conspirators of the same calibre as Captain Ives and Captain Vasser aboard our station," he said, walking around the desk towards her. "We have thousands of civilian lives aboard that depend on us for their safety, and we have let the Romulan Civil War be fought on the decks of our base - a damn bomb detonating in their midst! Tell me, why else would Kendrick free his Orion officer after she killed a Romulan? Why else would he not only free her, but another Romulan held in our Brig? If there is any kind of credibility to the Security Level 10 evidence, why else is there a Captain who set that bomb off? We have failed them all, and only swift action can let us get ahead of these traitors - intercepting whatever they are planning to do next."
Everytime he had said 'we', he had meant 'her', and as much was plain in his authoritative tone - the set of his scowl.
"My fear, Lieutenant, is that the development we are seeing now might be acts that will undermine our defences before the renegade Captains come here in full force... handing over this base to them as if served on a silver plate," he said, instilling fear of the possible repercussion... and then... he shifted gears, gave her an opening for redemption, almost apologetic in his quiet words. Slowly, he even reached out to her, as if her failure forbade him the words of the apology he wanted to give her, and brushed some hair behind her ear in regret. "We cannot afford taking any chances... The time for swift precautionary measures has come, and we need to act before it is too late. Can I... entrust you with this task?"
Or will you fail me again?
Once she gave her answer, he stepped away, as if torn by his conflicting feelings about her, and he seated himself by his desk with a deep sigh. "Go. Leave now, and have Ensign Six and Junior Lieutenant Hi'Jak apprehended at all cost, without them being able to contact Kendrick or his crew." In other words, they were preferably to be stunned on sight. His orders broke no compromise, resolute in their finality. "The escaped prisoners needs to be found and brought back, even if Kendrick might have them in his care. Also, the whereabouts of the Resolve's crew needs to be made, everyone of them. If they are aboard the station, I want them incarcerated at once, but quietly so to avoid scenes for the civilians. I want security in the docking bay, standing ready to board the ship on my order. Also, I want a full scan made, a thorough search of their database made to find anything that ties them to either of the Romulan factions. We had a maintenance team sent to repair that ship, so I want all of the people on the teams accounted for, hearings made about what they've found. Moreover, I want to know the full state of repairs of that Luna-class ship. Is she in any state to do battle, and if so, I want to know how we best disable it inside the docking bay. Go now, and keep me informed. I will look at this alleged 'evidence', and God be willing, we are not too late..."
And thus, as she was sent away, the evidence found would be left with him. He would send it to her, of course... but in due time. Still, he forced himself to not grin in elation.
OOC: Another post coming up for F'Rell, K'Ren and Krystal Tancredi in the Resolve's hangar. Stay tuned! :)
[ CPO Erik Randall | USS Resolve | Fighter Assault Bay ] Attn: Triage, K'Ren & F'Rell (Free Posting Order)
It was supposed to have been shore-leave, yes, but no... They were instead quarantined after a lethal accident in Main Engineering. Erik Randall - the Resolve's Chief of the Deck - had wished to step of the bloody ship for the first time in three gruelling years, but no... Quarantine, and he was back in the hangar, unable to go to the Promenade. He had just been about to leave, finished with giving his instructions to the repair teams from the starbase... and then boom! The repair teams he'd spent hours to help set up their work on the Mk II Valkyries and the Type-8 shuttles just left the Resolve on Havenborn's orders. All his plans had gone up in smoke with the alleged explosion in engineering, and there he was, going over yet another insane modification report suggested for the Tribble Squadron's shuttles, as if they had never returned to Federation space at all. At this rate, he was prepared to strangle Ensign Tancredi, the unorthodox change to the shuttles that had landed on his desk a couple of days ago being just the latest in a long list of things already done to the Type-8 shuttles. Usually, he could accommodate a variation of the suggested augmentation, but this? With the arrival to Starbase 84, he had hoped to avoid the argument altogether.
Fortunately, he found his weapons maintenance chief - Liam Herrold - first. The Tribble Squadron's shuttles were lined up close by, eight scorched and repaired hulls of what used to have been regular shuttles. Now, they were freaks of their original nature, just the hulls and the warp engines remaining from their original design. Randall tossed the PADD to Herrold, who caught it - wary of Randall's mood - and read it. A concerned frown came to him too. "Wait, wait, wait. She wants us messing with the phasers' photonic collection couplers?"
"Yup." Randall took the PADD back, tapping in his calculations. He was wearing civilian clothes, he realised, since he had thought he could have that shore-leave, and he had not changed back to his jumpsuit. Perhaps he was clinging to hope that he was actually about to leave ship, and hadn't thought to change back.
"That's nuts. They'll just burn out the phasers even sooner!" Herrold had begun to pace the deck, also at his wits end in regard to the shuttles.
"I know," Randall said, breathing through his nostrils. He was done with the calculations - the results no surprise - and tapped the red button in the corner of the touch screen. "Hence... I just slapped a big 'Denied' on it."
"Did the Squadron Commander actually approve this modification?" asked Herrold, scratching his blonde hair.
"Havenborn? Yup. He trusts Ensign Tancredi, the jokeys that fly for her too. They might be green shuttle pilots, but I suppose she has taught them well. None of them knows anything about the things they fly, though. Furthermore, we are hardly some R&D department. These things can't be done safely. I will let her and Havenborn work it out with the new repair teams."
"Okay, but perhaps we ought to tell her this? You know how she can be," Herrold said, and he was just such a suck-up for her. He likely fancied her.
"Right," said Randall and tapped his combadge... only there was no combadge there on his grey t-shirt. Swearing, he dug it out of his pocket and rammed his thumb into it. "Chief Randall to Ensign Tancredi, could you come to the hangar, please? It is about the modification. We can't make it. Come down here and I'll tell you why."
While he spoke, Randall watched how Chief Herrold returned to work, climbing up on a maintenance platform and buried himself in the guts of Ensign K'Ren's Valkyrie fighter. Little did he know that the halfblood Caitian pilot just entered the hangar, seemingly idle in her stride - as if she waited for something... or someone. His eye did not stay long on the pilot, for someone else just made an appearance. A sight often seen in the hangar because of the open space it provided her. Randall saw F'Rell emerge from one of the Jefferies tubes - many of the grates permanently open on the Resolve for the T'fanrell so that she could get around the ship without having to use the small turbolifts.
Running a hand over his short, grey hair, Randall realised that the rare sight might be the last he saw of the creature, now that they had made it back. Their long voyage had come to an end, and despite his every intention to leave the ship as soon as possible, he found himself already missing those odd, small things that he would never see again...
[Captain Tristan Kendrick | Briefing Room | USS Resolve ] Attn: DocReno, Auctor Lucan, and Arista + senior staff of the resolve.
Once they got all the details on the table Kendrick let out a long breath he wasn't aware he had been holding. He was thankful that Suq had done as he had ordered and saved his modified logs. There were as he saw it a few problems aboard his ship. Avura, Drauc, Silim, and Bradford. The ship would be searched deck by deck and if any of them were found then there would be a problem. There was no one he could message to stash the four people. No other ship would take them.
He had to find some place the four of them could hide. "When security arrives from the base we need a story. Any shuttle we launch would likely be apprehended, we have poked the bee hive with this, and while we must draw out the traitor in their midst we can't do that while everyone thinks that we have betrayed the Federation. At this point it will be clear to Starbase 84 that there is a traitor among us. These logs can be used to incriminate me, and only me."
He knew this was coming, he had known it since he had been informed of the virus. He looked to Ejek if things had only been a little different it would have worked perfectly. His glance carried with it an unspoken apology for what he was about to ask of her, and Lieutenant Suq. "When Security comes aboard, and they will... you two will meet them. Ejak, and Suq... You will take these logs, and explain that I ordered the progressive memory purge to erase all the work I had done with the Romulans. That in order to get us back to Federation space I betrayed the directives, that I have run this ship with an iron fist. All of you will collaborate in making a story that paints me as a monster, and make sure that every member of the crew can give these details freely. If you all work to hand me over, then all of you can survive this with rank intact, and then you can route our true traitor."
Prison was not the retirement that Kendrick had planned. He had pictured returning to Federation a dozen times and he didn't think his darkest imaginings could hold like this. Still if it was him or the crew, it was an easy choice. "Any order you have acted out upon in my logs you have done so under duress. Accept it and move on."
"But even with that... Silim, Drauc, A'vura, and Bradford... none of you can be found. If you are found aboard my ship in a search it will be proof that the crew has conspired with me. We need a solution to that problem as quickly as possible. A safe place to hide them while the ship is searched. Ideas?" He looked to the crew wondering what they could do to keep the four of them safe and out of harms way. "As far as finding our traitor goes, the three of you are our best hope."
He glanced towards the doctor. After all that Silim had been through with them accidentally abducting him it was a lot to ask for the man's faith.
[Lt Hi'Jak (https://orig03.deviantart.net/94e6/f/2015/265/a/e/hi_jack_02_by_auctor_lucan-d86nthi.png)| going back to the science labs| Starbase 84] Attn: Brutus, Vistori, Auctor Lucan
Hi'Jak gave a curt nod when Six said that their head of security was breaking protocol. He had figured as much but was still worried for the outcome of all of this. When she said that it was foolhardy to send everything he had without keeping a copy there was a slight coy smile that the borg drone must have missed, because Jack glanced down to his PADD, and checked all the information he had on the case.
When he returned to his office and lab it was a mess, same as ever. He dropped his PADD onto his desk the screen turning off, and mixing in with a dozen others. It would take forever for someone to sort through all of his papers. Especially since he had hidden the evidence underneath several papers on his own PADD about relativity theories.
He let out a sigh as he returned his attention to simple puzzle triangle. He was keeping this thing. He wasn't sure how probably going to buy it off the woman once he saw her again. But as he turned it over in his hand he thought of other ways to try and crack the puzzle. It was like a logic game, and usually he loved those.
However at the moment he also just felt tired. The day was draining him and he felt a little chill running up and down his spine. A traitor captain... that was more than enough reason for him to stay away from this case.
[Lt. Jg. Suq |USS Resolve| Briefing Room ] Attn: Briefing Room
He was tired. So, so tired. He broke into a yawn when he met the Capetian's eyes. He didn't mean to, he tried to stifle it, but he was so tired. His hands gripped the PADD, he felt like his face had gone warmer, or maybe he was just getting ready to throw up. Same feeling, really.
"Captain..." He stopped up. What could he say? He couldn't, in good conscience, do this. Ejek made a point though, it would be a lot easier to save their captain if they were not in a jail cell.
"What you're asking of us is...a lot. I am not a good liar. I'll do my best." What with his slow way of talking and difficulty getting to the point, it's possible he'd keep the security teams held up a few minutes. He wouldn't count on it, but he could try. He made a memo to himself to be extra putz-y later.
"I don't know if it will hide them from scanners, but there are enough...well, holes and creases of this ship that maybe they could hide there. Under the floor panels of the holodeck, I know those are loose, they weren't tightened after that one time with the holo-emitters...maybe we just move them around the ship so security never sees them. Or we could just say our transporter beams just aren't aligned very well and we picked up the wrong people. At least that part is true, anyone can tell."
It's only now, as he spoke aloud about their guests did he realize yes, they did have guests. There was a Romulan--how strange, and disconcerting. That'd be even more reason to suspect the Resolve was a ship full of traitors. Oh look, a Cardassian. He thought little of him, except that he had a very nice neck as far as Cardassians went. He yanked his gaze away, as he realized he was staring at everyone again. He fidgeted with the PADD in his hands and hoped this meeting would be over soon.
[ Krystal "Meony" Tancredi | Brig | USS Resolve ] Attn: CPO Erik Randall, Liam Herrold, K'Ren & F'Rell(https://orig01.deviantart.net/7fd3/f/2015/168/0/9/krystal_row_01_by_auctor_lucan-d8xn7ih.png)
After depositing Officer Useless at the brig, the young woman made her way towards her personal quarters. Once inside, she decided a quick wash would be good, and proceeded to strip off her uniform and underclothes, tossing them onto her bed, she padded into the refresher and performed a quick rinsing. She passed by a small mirror when she was finished, and took a moment to study her own form as much as she could. Most of her back was a criss-cross of jagged, horrid scars, a memoir of her time at the hands of aliens who delighted in lashing her until she didn't have much of a back left. Her arms, chest and belly weren't without their own marks. She could easily have these removed if she really wanted, but Tancredi liked them. They made her her. Save for the hair on her head, her eyebrows and eyelashes, the rest of her body was curiously devoid of all hair, another strange result from yet another encounter with aliens. She had no complaints, honestly; Everyone on the
Resolve carried scars like her.
Done with her self-examination, she proceeded to dress in her battered fighter pilot armour, the tough silvery plating had often proved to be a lifesaver, and bore as many marks as its wearer. Her uniform came with some customization, namely a pair of holsters on either side of her hips, to house her modified disruptor and plasma pistols,
Flash and
Burn respectively, the disruptor she got from a Klingon warrior on one world, and the plasma weapon from an unusual Romulan on another world. They carried the memories of their previous owners. "Howdy, li'l beasties," said Tancredi affectionately as she twirled the pistols with her index fingers before holstering them in a cross-armed manner, the same way she always drew them out. After that, she slid in her two retractable battle-swords into their sheaths along her back, and her boot daggers, and a knife in its sheath just in front of her left hip, close to
Flash, and lastly, a standard-issue phaser, in a small holster right over her heart. She was loaded for bear, or perhaps, in this case, for Starbase.
If the lady had a sixth sense, it was for battle, and she knew there was one coming. It made her smile.
She headed towards the Fighter Assault Bay, where Chief Petty Officer Randall ought to be working on the modifications she had petitioned for her current fighter shuttle, the
Fuzzy Flayer, a souped up bastardized-beyond-belief butt-kicking Type-8 shuttlecraft. Using her own engineering know-how, she worked on the
Flayer personally with the help of other crew to turn a once normal shuttle into the first of Tribble Squadron's war shuttles. Armed with two forward-facing disruptor pulse cannons, mounted just beneath the cockpit, with an automated rotating dorsal tetryon turret, and a ventral torpedo launcher with its standard payload of eight shuttle-grade torpedoes, it was six meters and four tons of mean.
And she thought of ways every day to make it even meaner than it already was.
[ Fighter Assault Bay | USS Resolve ]As she was about to enter the bay, her combadge went off, and she heard Randall's voice on it. Placing a palm to muffle the voice, she grinned with amusement, and immediately strode into the Bay with all the sway and swagger of one who owned the ranch...I mean Fighter Assault Bay. Hooking her thumbs into her belt, she headed straight for Randall, quietly approaching him from behind, and then quite loudly going, "Howdy, pardner! Ah got yer call. So why cain't ya make them mods Ah asked for?"
She was all room-brightening grins from a thousand shiny white teeth. And her favourite rancher's hat. The stupid thing that had survived all these years with her.
[Komial Dotnhil | Starbase 84 | Base Commanders Quarters]Atten: Lucan
What more could she say? What more could she do? That look, on the heels of what he'd told her before everything started falling apart, it devastated Komial. It was a struggle to remain professional but she managed it, by the grace of god if not her own determination. A sharp nod, and somehow, without her voice breaking, a concise "yessir".
There were orders to issue, assignments to give out, and Komial focused on that and not the disappointment that was ripe in Ian's tone. She bottled the anger and the fear and channeled it as she straightened her back. Six and Hi'Jak - they'd just left. Those little shits she thought to herself. On the one hand she found it hard to suspect that either were capable of being part of a terrorist plot. But then again, Six was part borg, and could Starfleet ever be truly sure where her loyalties lay? She wasn't like Jean Luc Picard, who'd only been assimilated for a short time. That woman - well. Mr. Hi'Jak - she could use his name, she just chose not to - almost seemed too incompetent. But, what better cover?
Regardless, they needed to be dealt with, and fast. The video evidence was enough to merit bringing them in regardless. And so she tapped her badge and issued orders to her direct subordinate, the Assistant Chief of Security. She ordered him to be discreet, but to put the notice out that both Hi'Jak and Six were to be apprehended on site. Quietly, stressing that they should avoid a scene but to get them now. "Lock down their comm access. Shut them out of the system. I don't want them calling for help."
Swiftly, she exited the captains quarters, swallowing down tears and bile. It was all too much. They should have been heroes, that crew that had come back against all odds but now it seemed that she'd let them endanger her station, her people. Her responsibility.
"Lock down the docking bay. Have ops secure the pylon on the USS Resolve." She ordered, her tone brokering no dissent. Anger leaked through the comm channels as she called team after team, sending them out through the massive station. "Everyone from the Resolve every last crew member, I need to know where they are right this very instant. You and you," she flagged down two of her people on a routine patrol, "You're with me. We're going to the docking bay, now."
Hopefully by going directly there, Komial could cut off Six and Hi'Jak. Hopefully her team could isolate the duo's comm access. Hopefully they could salvage this disaster.
Hopefully, she hadn't ruined everything with Ian, just as it was starting.
Hopefully.
[ CPO Erik Randall | USS Resolve | Fighter Assault Bay ] Attn: Triage, K'Ren & F'Rell (Free Posting Order)
The young woman sure gave Randall a bit of a startle, rounding on her as he was when she spoke up. Erik gave her a once over and noted how she got her full battle gear on, only the helmet being replaced by her old-school civilian hat.
"Because," he said, putting his hands on his hips as he spoke to her, "if we did that mod, you'd get some more effect, but you's burn out your phasers after a few dozen shots, and the typical engagement sees hundreds. And before you say so, no, it is not because of the fact that I hate modifications, sometimes I don't. But over the past three years, these shuttles have become unreliable freaks. We cannot trust that they will hold together in all situations. Not any more. We need to keep modifications from the factory specs under control, that is our job, and we cannot do our jobs on these shuttles anymore."
As he paused, Erik noticed how Herrold had stopped working on K'Ren's fighter and was looking at his chief. Was not about to let Herrold side with Tancredi. Not again. So, he continued. "You are not getting this modification. This madness has been going on for too long, you doing things without supervision, and it needs to stop right now. I should have stopped this project right from the start if I had foreseen the liberties you are taking with things that you know too little about." He gestured as he spoke, making his point by clenching his fists before his chest. "Tight tolerances. These crafts were designed with every specification defined to very tight tolerances. Havenborn might have approved this mod, but this is my final word as Chief of the Deck. Neither of you are engineers, and he can be wrong, which in this case he was. That is precisely why I am supposed to be checking off the mods. It is easy for you pilots to miss the bigger picture, unable to see where popular theory doesn't rhyme with cold reality."
Herrold cleared his throat, having climbed down to stand next to Tancredi. "Are you sure the tech specs were wrong, Chief?" he said, raking back blonde hair dirty with grime from his aquiline features. "Krys- Ensign Tancredi have - so far - been right about the mods already made to these shuttles."
"Of course I am sure," said Randall and kept himself from rolling his eyes at how Herrold was looking out for the Ensign. "The photonic collection coupler is one of the more sensitive parts of the phasers. It's tuned the way it is because that's the only way you dissipate the heat the other parts of the emitters collect during firing. If she and those who are placing their lives into the hulls of these shuttles would have gone into combat with that mod done, they would all have found their phasers overheating, and either the safety interlocks would have prevented firing... or the phasers would have exploded. Tancredi, you need to understand this, these..."
He gestured towards the shuttles and the Mk II Valkyries both, "...are not yours, they are ours until the moment a pilot launches them. If we spot something off, we will deny it, and we have been far too lenient. It stops right now. I mean it this time, clear?"
As firm as he was trying to be with her, Herrold was ruining it again - siding with Tancredi as always. Erik Randall had told the pilots these things more than a dozen times, and yet he seemed to have to repeat himself yet again. The Tribble Squadron remained... as ever... the thorn in his eye. He actually believed that it was those shuttles that had made the temples of his hair grey, and not the fact that they had been surviving in uncharted space for three years.
[ LT Daniel Havenborn | Briefing Room | USS Resolve ] Attn: Senior Staff & everyone in briefing room
Daniel listened to Captain Kendrick as he explained what the officers were to relay to the crew and while he didn't quite agree with the situation he understood it completely and would follow the orders given. Even though he wasn't a member of the Neo-Eastern Coalition anymore he still remembered the three most important lessons that were drilled into him; always respect the chain of command, never disrespect your unit and always follow your commanding officer's orders, no matter how much you may disagree. However like all rules there were exceptions, such as an unlawful order or extenuating circumstances. However Daniel knew that he'd do the same thing for his pilots if he ever needed to; 'we sacrifice for the greater good' is what his Uncle Emile had always told him growing up.
Daniel thought of one way to hide A'vura, the Romulan, the Cardassian and Bradford from the prying eyes of the Starbase's Security forces, though he wasn't sure if it was a good idea. "What about inside torpedo casings?" He asked. He knew that they could be modified to hold a person and he highly doubted that the Starbase's Security forces would search for them inside a torpedo casing, especially if said torpedo was stored in the magazine. "Once they're modified and all four are in we could store them in the torpedo magazine." Daniel said. It was about the only idea he could come up with other than trying to run from the Starbase of course, though that idea wasn't really an option he'd consider seriously.
[ Outside the Security Center | Starbase 84 ] Attn: 1) Drana 2) Vystori
With their orders received, Petty Officer Anton Gates and Crewman Roland Clarke exchanged a knowing look. Orders were to arrest the odd Borg in forensics, and neither of them had any compunctions about that. They rose from their table in the officer's lounge.
"This is Gates, Clarke and I will take care of it. I will let you know when she is in custody," said Anton with a winning smile after tapping his combadge. Roland was not the one to raise any issues, for certain, since Anton knew he had lost family and friends to the Borg. In fact, he might have to keep Roland from going too far when they made the arrest. "Set your phaser to highest stun, but keep it in your holster." They wouldn't want to startle the civilians on the base with drawn handphasers, after all.
Leaving the lounge, they consulted the base computer about the Borg's whereabouts - easily tracking her imminent arrival. In fact, they were able to set up an ambush, predicting her path towards the security centre. At the entrance of the Executive Officer's Complex, there was a wide and open reception area where the public aboard the base could make appointments with the present Starfleet divisions. This was where Six would arrive, and they could follow her into their shared work-place, the inside of the security centre the ideal place to apprehend her and put her in a holding cell. It would be away from the public, and the shortest possible distance to the cell that awaited her.
When the Borg arrived in the reception area, Anton swaggered over to the reception desk, winked at the brunette there, and pretended to read a PADD on the counter - all to avoid looking at Ensign Six as she passed them by. With a quiet smirk, he felt like he was in an espionage holo-novel, the lead character about to-
"You are under arrest! Raise your hands and keep them where I can see them! I mean it!" It was Clarke's voice, and Anton realised he had not shared his intentions with the crewman. He had thought Roland would follow his example, remain by his side, but no, as Anton spun around to see what was going on, the pockmarked, angry youth had whipped out his Type II phaser and brandished it at the Borg as if he meant to shove the muzzle into her face. Even worse, it just so happened that the Borg was not alone in Roland's sights. There was a blonde engineer in a yellow jumpsuit there too - right between Six and Roland - and as he was always keeping an eye for the ladies of his own rank, Anton knew the woman to be Petty Officer Melissa Wright. As much as he enjoyed the sight of her, he couldn't help thinking; What is she doing here?
Naturally, the busy reception area stirred in reaction. People swiftly cleared away from Roland Clarke and the two women he was pointing his phaser at. Anton was trying to get there, but people got in his way. The noise from the crowd drowned out his call to Roland to put away his phaser. Some child began to wail in fright. It was a bloody mess, the situation getting out of hand too quickly. "Clarke! Don't do it!"
By the looks of his subordinate's stance, he looked like he was about to fire his phaser - all his pent-up ire towards the Borg released. Six represented her collective species to Clarke, he had said so to Anton the other day, and Anton had merely ignored the bigoted farm-boy's words. The Borg was the very reason the orphan had enlisted. Now, with his chance at hand, Clarke was advancing on the women, reaching for Melissa Wright, and while Anton supposed Roland would shove her away from the Borg and get her out of his sights, it might not be so plain to either of the women what he was about to do...
[ Science Center | Lab 47 > Lab 17 | Starbase 84 ] Attn: 1) RosariaRosette 2) Kaligos
Simon Walt stepped out of Lab 47, adjusting his belt on his portly frame. He had just paused the holovid so that he could get something to drink, and to get another set of tissues. He had never expected the new additions of the USS Intercourse's crew to be quite so... limber. He just hoped Dr. Parnak would not catch the bat anytime soon so that he could finish watching the whole vid.
"Lieutenant Walt?" came a brusque female voice, giving Simon a start, and he spun around to see two security guards stepping into the corridor. Immediately, his heart was beating fast, and it had nothing to do with those Orion sisters he left projected inside the lab. He felt his neck heating up, but cleared his throat in a semblance of composure.
"Yes?" he said, dreading the answer, somehow thinking that he had been caught red-handed and that someone had decided to report it to Security. Surely they wouldn't send...
"We have orders to take Junior Lieutenant Hi'Jak into custody. Where is he at?" said the woman again, sharp eyes and lean in frame - much to Simon's dislike. He recognised her, and remembered that she was Chief Petty Officer Felicia Guerra. Before he answered her, he glanced towards her companion, a crewman named Kraig Tucker. He was twice the size of Guerra, well over two meters tall, and Simon disliked that even more - feeling inferior in the face of imminent arrest. Slowly, however, the woman's words caught up with his thoughts, and he realised he was in the clear. The rush in which he accommodated the good security officers made him stumble over his own words.
"Of course! Good riddance, I don't care what he did, I am sure he is guilty of it and then some. Never liked the youth, always knew it was something fishy about him. Lab 17, yes, indeed. Lab 17, there he will be. Come, I will lead the way. Did he have something to do with the bomb at the top of the base? I knew it. My father used to say I had an eye for these things, and I should have trusted my instincts. Oh, dear, oh, dear."
"We don't know why he is to be tak-" began CPO Guerra slowly, but Simon had already reached the lab, so he stepped through the sliding doors and pointed towards the young man with the Klingon ridges on his forehead.
"There! Take him!" he said, as if he was a battle commander sending the vanguard on a sortie, but his accusing finger drifted to the second person in the room when he saw her - eye-catching as she was. He did not even realise that he hadn't dropped his hand, for there was the Câroon pest of a beauty that he had spent the whole damn day with, dismissing her claims to have found something worthwhile for the Science Division. Was she still there? Of course she was, or has she just returned? Either way, if Hi'Jak was about to be arrested, Simon feared he would end up with her again. No, he would not let her ruin the rare chance to enjoy a holovid in complete privacy in the middle of his shift. He wanted the yellow-eyed scavenger gone immediately.
"While you are at it, take her as well," he said with a raised chin. "Her name is Aldnoah, I think, and some of those artefacts she tries to sell us are illegal, taken from sites where she had no business stealing from. I suggest you confiscate all those things. I will send you a list of planetary authorities who would like them back."
Nodding to the Chief Science Officer, Guerra and Tucker went for the two people in the lab, hands on the hilts of their holstered phasers.
[ ENS K'Ren | USS Resolve | Fighter Assault Bay ] Attn: Triage, Randall & F'Rell (Free Posting Order)
With not much else to do aside from wait for the counselor to return her message, K'Ren found herself idly wandering into the fighter bay. She considered herself one of the lucky ones, flying one of the few remaining Valkyrie fighters, a true fighter and built to handle combat. The Type 8's by comparison were bastardized beyond belief, exigencies of the constant danger driving their design. Phasers slapped on with minimal thought to how they'd survive combat. She had to admit tho, as she slowly wandered towards her own fighter, that the pilots who flew those birds were ballsy.
Going up to her own fighter, she ran her paw along the smooth skin of the bird. The girl was tough and she could feel rough patches in spots where repairs had been made, but the fighter had survived along with K'Ren. A couple unofficial claw marks on the side below her cockpit attested to K'Ren's prowess in battle, her kills as the others called them. She let out a sigh. She'd been hoping to take leave from the Resolve, head back to Cait, maybe sign up as a fighter pilot in the local defense forces. Settle down on her home world, maybe even find a nice young Human or Caitian gentleman to bond with and have a few litters of kits with.
That hope though was dashed with the infection of this Romulan virus. At the very least, she'd be stuck aboard while Starfleet investigated but somehow her gut told her it wouldn't be that easy. Whoever planted the bug knew what they were doing and she had to admire the skill of whomever wrote this thing. Hacking into private logs and other secured areas in an automated fashion meant either the hacker was good, or somebody in Starfleet planted the evidence. That second thought though worried her. What hornet's nest had they walked into?
Settling into her fighter, easier as she wasn't in her flight suit just a non-regulation exercise wear she enjoyed as it made her feel sexy and feminine, a far cry from her bulky flight suit, K'Ren couldn't help but overhear the conversation between Randall and Tancredi. Another discussion about unauthorized modifications. She frowned as Herrold jumped into the fray. This was a matter for higher ups. She knew this, so why was he insistent on getting mixed up in something about his pay grade?
[ Krystal "Meony" Tancredi | Fighter Assault Bay | USS Resolve ] Attn: CPO Erik Randall, Liam Herrold, K'Ren & F'Rell(https://orig01.deviantart.net/7fd3/f/2015/168/0/9/krystal_row_01_by_auctor_lucan-d8xn7ih.png)
It was going to be one of those days, and with her nerves somewhat on edge to boot. Tancredi was deceptively friendly and highly intolerant of anyone outside of the crew of the
Resolve. In the crew, however, they could almost get away with murder, within reason. It was certainly why Erik Randall still had his teeth intact, and wasn't sporting a sword through the thorax thus far. But far more than that, she actually was listening to him. To the crew of this ship, they were the only people who might have said that Tancredi was a reasonable girl, because she listened, and considered what these people, her family, had to say.
Her cheery smile had been replaced with a serious, considering look, and she kept her eyes locked on Randall throughout the time that he spoke, one clenched fist planted against the side of her hip, while her other hand hung by her side, holding on to her flight helmet. Obliviously she leaned closer towards Herrold when he joined her, though at his calling her by her rank and surname, she gave him a slightly irritated glance, before returning her concentration on Randall.
"All right, Erik," said Tancredi in an unusually low, husky tone that she used when she was just feeling tired, and she was resigned, which was a rare expression to begin with, but it was the closest she could come to placating or appeasing someone. However, she raised and pointed her index finger at Herrold, "and Liam, how many times do Ah gotta tell ya? Jus' call me Meony, dat's mah name, saves ya a mouthful first of all, and Tancredi 'n' Krystal are names Ah hardly answer to any more." Then she patted his arm affectionately with a lopsided grin.
Sighing, she turned back to Randall, and placed herself next to him, so that he was forced to turn to look at her, or place himself in the same position that she was in: looking at the
Fuzzy Flayer. "Look, Ah get it," said Tancredi, "and Ah even accept what yer sayin' - see, Ah'm not unreasonable - but ye're forgettin' that mah...well,
our baby don't run on the ol' standard issues no more, right?"
She was referring to the fact that over the last three years - due to resource shortages and the losses of their Valkyrie fighters through various engagements with hostile forces - that some pilots had taken to using the shuttles to substitute as fighters, and as such, had begun altering their standard specs into something they were each more comfortable with. They'd done this by slapping on salvaged alien weapons, armour, shields, even engines and power cores to boost or increase the performance of the transport ships, since the standard issue phaser weapons were rarer without available replacements. Tancredi was no exception to this, and had replaced almost everything that was once stock issue on the
Flayer.
"C'mon," said Tancredi, "as ya said, even Ah wouldn't know it as well as ya, but Ah do have..." she jabbed a thumb at her chest, "...an engineering degree, and while Ah'd never match ya in skill and knowhow, Ah can at least not look like a complete idiot, Ah mean, we did all three o' us work together on the
Flayer didn't we? And it's served us fer years without killin' me. Call it luck, call it yer miracle hands, but it worked."
She offered Randall a small smile, her large eyes drawing him in with a look, before turning away to gesture at the shuttle, "Now, the
Flayer ain't no bird...no doubt...it's a turkey. A killer turkey, but a turkey no less, and the disruptors, tetryons and torps all work jus' fine...but them phasers are just holy embarrassing! Ah swear, Ah have no idea how Starfleet's gotten by what with them Klingons, Romulans and whatever else and we have weapons like these. Look, if ya cain't upgrade 'em or Ah don' know, improve 'em in da least, maybe we jus' take the darned things off, make room for improvements on what's left, whaddaya think? That work better? And ya can ease the volume off the power feed to weapons, maybe give the engines a boost, and the auxilaries will get a kick out of the extra zaps, and Ah can shift some o' that into the shielding. Even at it's fastest, the
Flayer cain't pull stunts like a Valkyrie, but Ah can make up for it with durability."
She cast a glance towards K'ren, who had settled into her Valkyrie, one of the lucky few pilots who still had a serviceable craft. Twisting her hat off from her head, Tancredi flipped it, twirled it between her fingers, and slipped it right back into its place, then winked at her. She always had to resist reaching out to pet the feline woman on the head, not sure if that would offend her. Her head abruptly snapped back to look right at Randall, fists planted on her hips, as she looked expectantly, and perhaps a little hopefully up at him, with a faint smile playing on her lips.
[ Lt. JG. Zelosa Ejek | Briefing Room | USS Resolve ] Attn: Everyone in the briefing room
There was a message on her PADD, but Ejek had yet to find time to read it. A lot of information was to be taken in and processed in a relatively short period of time during this meeting. The Cardassian did not plan on letting anything slip her mind. Already was there so much she deemed important that she could impossibly address or talk through it all. Ejek sincerely hoped that she had her priorities straight.
"I, for one, have already made peace with the idea to have you court-martialled, Captain." Ejek said coolly after a quick glance at Suq. Maybe seeing him like this made her caustic. Maybe it was the plan itself, or the idea that she might have trouble making a necessary sacrifice, that ticked her off.
"But, with all due respect." The Cardassian got up. "I don't think this is going to work."
She walked up and down in a slow pace as she unveiled her thoughts.
"If we say you ordered the memory wipe, and we obeyed without question or hesitation, we incriminate ourselves. Even if we say you purged the memory, yourself, and we stopped you at the Captain's logs, there will be no explanation for the sudden Romulan in everything after the explosion in Engineering. We will face reports of that incident. As Lieutenant Havenborn has stated, there was station personnell present when it began. We also don't know when station security gets to us. We must calculate that we will most likely not have the time to hammer out and rehearse a well-elaborated story, let alone to let every single crew member know of it.
For all we know, there might also be a traitor on board, after all. We should not entrust more people than strictly necessary with our plan. Also, not everyone is a great liar. Some break under stress, some just don't get it right. The least we need is contradictions because our lie was much more complicated than necessary. We must simplify, gentlemen. ...And Ensign Zeshryr.
We need an easy explanation that answers all the discrepancies that will show up. The easiest that I can think of is that none of us knows exactly what's going on, either. We are still searching for answers. There was an upload to our database, a station officer died in an explosion, a virus altered pretty much every data on board, then the memory got wiped out completely. Suq was able to save the Captain's logs, but wasn't sure what to make of them. They incriminate Captain Kendrick, but that well may be an after-effect of the virus. He showed them to me, I suggested we show them to station security.
This way, if it turns out that some of the yet unread content on Suq's PADD incriminates more, if not all, of the crew, we can deny its accuracy. But we get the station in on our investigations and hopefully restore some faith in this ship, even if it's at our Captain's expense."
Now it was on her to shoot Kendrick an apologetic look.
"Is there any way we can get Zeshryr back? Meaning, can we make it look like she's been on our side all along, and, if we really want to blame it all on you, Captain, like you went after her for a reason? Killing her, for example."
The Cardassian looked at the Orion. "What did you escape from, anyway? Why are you covered in something that looks like Vulcan blood? I, too, have heard bathing in it makes one smarter, but I never took you for the superstitious type..."
Sighing, Ejek sat back down. She massaged her left eye ridge. What else? There had been so much on her mind, so much she had wanted to say...
Right. The Romulan across from her. She looked at Drauc T'Laus. How did he know her name? What had the Captain told him about her? She would ask one of them later, if there was still time.
"One more thing." She exclaimed before taking her PADD back into her hands. "Wherever you decide to put our guests, make sure to collect and destroy their commbadges - evidence - and mask their life signs."
____
OOC: I'm very sorry for the long wait. I've honestly thought I'd make it "today", and then didn't, for a good three or four days now...
[ Dr. Silim Parnak | Briefing Room | USS Resolve ] Attn: Everyone in the briefing room
People were putting forward their ideas on how best to solve this situation. Each with, in Parnak's eyes, varying degrees of success. It was when Ejek, as he had learnt her name, put that inclination on the word 'guests' did he feel that perhaps he wasn't as welcome as they had previously said. He couldn't work out why she wouldn't want to see another Cardassian and felt disappointed. Nevermind, he shored himself mentally, He had waited patiently and after all of the staff had spoken, now it was time for Silim to throw his options into the ring.
"While I think we all agree that your wish to sacrifice yourself for your crew is valiant..." He started towards Kendrick "... I wonder if it is needed."
Silim felt the lecturer in him becoming antsy, but resisted the urge to stand and present, instead keeping seated. "We know that the Starbase is going to wait to question you about the prison break and that the more they delve into the situation on the Resolve, the more they will question. We've also established that any shuttle launched from Resolve will be destroyed. So why don't we use that our advantage?"
As Parnak talked he gesticulated along. It was a habit he hated yet had not managed to shake. "With access to one of your laboratories, I could fill a bio-canister with enough components to approximate a body, whether Human, Orion or Romulan" He looked in turn to Kendrick, Zeshryr and T'Laus. "I'd then need some skin cells, hair samples and, of course, your combadges. What we then have is, well, for lack of a better term - Kendrick Soup." He smiled apologetically to Kendrick for the name. "We then load the canisters into a shuttle on autopilot and release it to be destroyed. I think if we were to load it with some form of detectable explosive and aim at, say, the starbase doors that should give them opportunity and motive enough to ensure its destruction. If they were to inspect the remains, they would find all the trace materials to ID our captain and escaped prisoners. With no one left to interrogate, it should prove easy for your crew to incriminate a renegade captain who is unfortunately no longer alive."
Finally he turned to Suq. "... And if your man here is able to transport without being detected, I think I have somewhere more spacious that Holodeck plating or a Torpedo magazine for us to hide. My quarters. So far no one knows of my involvement in your little scheme, not only would I like to keep it that way, but it could provide a useful hidden base of operations within the Starbase should we require one."
With that he finished outlining his plan and Parnak looked around expectantly awaiting the applause. Of course a standing ovation would have been too much, but not unwelcome. He supposed people would wonder why would a Cardassian with no real ties to the Federation want to help an innocent Captain from being wrongly accused? Well to improve Federation-Cardassian relations of course, that and having the favour of a starship captain is a useful thing.
[ CPO Erik Randall | USS Resolve | Fighter Assault Bay ] Attn: Triage, K'Ren & F'Rell (Free Posting Order)
While Liam Herrold had looked a bit conflicted about addressing the redhead by her callsign given the situation, Erik took a deep breath and stilled the impulse to dissuade her from using his first name. After all they had been through on the Resolve, it had become more common, but now that they were back in Federation space, he did not find it appropriate any more. Perhaps it was wrong of him, but he was still frustrated about the modification request. Clenching his jaw, he remained where he stood when Tancredi came to stand next to him and looked at the shuttle. Herrold was not sure where he'd go, looking like he might return to the maintenance he was doing on K'Ren's Valkyrie. Randall heard the pilot out while she spoke, not agreeing on some accounts, but her suggestion had him mull it over a bit. He had tried to not be charmed by the young woman in her persuasion attempt, looking away when she tried to compel his decision. The pause that came made Herrold speak up instead.
"Meony, that is a great idea!" he said, not looking like he was about to leave any more. His blue eyes lit in excitement, he ran both his hands through his hair as he thought about it. "The extra energy from the removed primary phaser conduit can be used for any purpose as the pilots see fit! Be it the shields or the weapons, it should help stabilising the whole EPS grid in the shuttles! How much more power would that free up, Chief?"
Grudgingly, he give up the argument he had in mind about taking away the last piece of Federation armament not being sound. Randall realised it was a point of principle without any greater merit. With a deep breath, he raised his PADD and made the theoretical calibrations. "Impossible to say for certain at this point..." he said, raising an eyebrow at the crude estimate he was making. "It's not like anyone knows the tolerances in those grids at this point, bastardised as they have been by all the new, alien tech... I have an idea about what the tolerance ought to be, and without the primary phaser conduit in the way, grid stability might increase with 2 %... and the freed power might amount to 5 %."
"That is awesome, isn't it?" said Liam, grinning to the redhead, "I can help remove the phaser strips right away I just ne-"
"No, we are not removing the phaser strips on the hull," said Randall, clearing his throat. The youths were getting ahead of themselves again. "This, for the simple reason that we have no hull plating to put there instead. The strips will remain, deactivated, and instead we just bypass the conduit. It will achieve the highly theoretical result in the least amount of time. Liam, round up the deck hands still on the Resolve. It should be easy enough work to get this done on all of the freaks while we wait for this damn quarantine to be over. You however, Liam, will finish what you started on that Valkyrie. You can't just leave the maintenance access wide open like that."
"Oh, of course. I'll join you shortly, Meony," said Liam with a smile to her before returning to K'Ren's Valkyrie. While climbing up, he used his combadge to rally the deck apes and instruct them what to do. He was just finished when he came up next to the cockpit, about to walk across the fighter to the maintenance access when he was startled - seeing K'Ren in the cockpit without her exosuit. He was almost falling off the bird before he caught the edge of the raised canopy. Randall watched the younger man and shook his head, hearing the flat-cheeked maintenance chief apologise to the pilot that he hadn't seen arrive. "Sorry, I... did not expect you to sit there in your... Ahem... Anyway, I will just be back there and... finish up."
Bemused, Randall walked off, wondering how he had ended up approving another modification. Before he knew it, he had suddenly indulged Tancredi again, and the Tribble Squadron was getting another upgrade. Randall gave Tancredi a sour look when she wasn't watching, and the deck hands shuffled their feet and began to work on the Tribble Squadron's shuttles.
[ Drauc T'Laus | USS Resolve | Conference Lounge | Deck 01 ] Attn: All present
The kind of tactics discussed were not of Drauc's preference. Subterfuge. Deceit. Lies. On the battlefield, he could not hold faith to such things, and he believed in a more direct approach. However, some of those things did hold merit given the current terrain, and so he listened, and made his own suggestion. Doctor Parnak's methodology was sound, just short of a viable solution, so his amendment was more bold. Certainly so on his own part, for it was yet another way in which he could prove his merit to the human Captain. If her was to tread the path of the righteous, and ease the guilt in his heart, he would walk the whole mile. Only then could he earn trust, and perhaps... his old rank in the fleet. Better fight than flee. Better act than hide.
"Before our life-signs are detected aboard this starship," he rasped, raising his head and looking at the Efrosian engineer with clenched jaws, "I think a jamming signal must be activated now, well before the shuttle with the false life-signs is launched. Otherwise, our life-signs will be seen in two places at once - be it in Parnak's quarters or here. With an interior jamming signal on the Resolve... the starbase's sensors will not see that you remain aboard. If blame is to be cast on your name, Captain, then it would make sense that you'd order the jamming signal activated, as if you are trying to hide what you've done. Communication will be cut, sensors disrupted, and Parnak gains the time he needs to fill the bio-canisters."
Slowly rising to his feet, Drauc's threadbare cloak settled around his lean frame, and his gaunt face turned towards Kendrick. "A jamming signal will not, however, allow us to remote-control the shuttle from the ship," he said, knowing this because it was a raider-tactic of his. Decoy. Bait. Effective to lure, and to earn any prize. "Therefore, I hereby offer to pilot that shuttle myself, taking those bio-canisters with me. I can also take that datapad, should that be your preference. Either way, I will grant you the time you need to find the true enemy in this conspiracy. I offer this not because I crave to die..."
Not a lie, for he just craved the strife - a break from the idleness. To have his blood stir anew.
"...but because I doubt they will risk open engagement within the closed docking bay of this base. Should they open fire, they know that I - or rather you, Captain - might return fire... and there are many civilians aboard the base. My guess is that their first option would be negotiation lest they would cause a diplomatic incident across all Federation worlds represented among the population. As long as I remain within the docking bay, I will give you the time you need. If the opportunity presents itself, and they open the bay doors for me, I will attempt to put the shuttle on autopilot and send out in the base's weapon envelope. As for how I escape the shuttle... I have a few ideas in mind."
He fell silent on that note, for why should he hand out all his raider tricks? As he stood there after he had volunteered, he read the minds of some of those that had been silent, and he noted which ones that thought it was a splendid idea simply because he was Romulan, and they would be more at ease with him off the ship and on a suicide mission of his own choice. He noted them, but said nothing. Others thought he might use the opportunity to escape the base and the punishment that was due for him, and he noted them as well, but again, he said nothing. Let them think what they wanted, for he had just offered them what they needed to save their own skins. He could respect their opinions, for he knew they might not believe him capable of walking the right path... regardless how short that path might turn out to be.
"The only question that remains," he said to Kendrick, slowly flexing his hard and scarred hands inside the sleeves of his cloak, "is if I were you, would you take the aeroshuttle underneath the saucer of this ship, one of the Type-6 shuttles that I have gleaned in Lieutenant Havenborn's thoughts, or any ordinary craft in the shuttle bay? It is a question of might be plausible and what you are willing to jeopardise in this endeavour... for either of the three crafts would serve this purpose."
Right then, the sliding doors opened and the Captain's yeoman burst in. "Security is on the way towards the docking bay, and they are about to secure the pylon we are at! Also... all the crew still on the base are reporting that they're being followed... they think they might be about to be arrested!"
Drauc's hands became perfectly still. The time to act was now. He looked towards his Captain, hoping that the human would have faith in his fortitude... and that the exobiologist was capable of doing what he'd said.
[ Ens K'Ren | USS Resolve | Fighter Assault Bay ] Attn: Triage, Randall/Liam & F'Rell (Free Posting Order)
K'Ren smiled up at her bird's crewchief. She hadn't realized he'd never seen her wearing anything other then her flight suit, so perhaps it was a bit odd from his perspective. She liked to think she cleaned up pretty good out of the suit as the suit well, it was built for function, not style and here she sat, showing off what lay beneath it. "No worries Chief." she replied, a gentle purr rolling off her lips. "I'm off duty and with quarrantine in effect, I didn't know what else to do." She paused, an idea popping into her head. "Would you want some help Liam?" she asked, intentionally using his first name.
Not waiting for a reply, curiosity about what lay beneath the airframe getting the better of her, K'Ren used her agility and climbing experience to slip out of the pilots seat and onto the airframe itself. She plodded along the length of the bird till she found the open hatch Liam was working on. For some reason, despite the nightmares, she was in a flirty mood. Squatting before the open hatch she smiled at Liam. "So what's happening with my birrd?" she asked, genuinely curious.
[Captain Tristan Kendrick | Briefing Room | USS Resolve ] Attn: DocReno, Auctor Lucan, and Arista + senior staff of the resolve.
Kendrick was impressed for a moment as all the plotting started to come together. Parnak's plan had merit and with the additions of Drauc, both at the helm of the shuttle and the jamming signals they had a good way of keeping everyone under cover. That said there was one major problem with the plan.
He knew from the moment he had taken him hostage that officer Bradford was going to be a problem. If he was found on the ship he would indicate that other members of the Resolve's team were to blame for the break in and not just the captain and the few escaped members. Then again there was one thing they could do with him.
"Parnak drauc... we are running low on time have the shuttle deployed ASAP. Drauc take the Aeroshuttle, it's larger and provide more protection."
Honestly he wasn't sure that they wouldn't just blow it up. They would see the fleeing suspects and may try to detain them, or they may blow them up. He had no wish to see Drauc die, but at the same time this was an opportunity.
"All of the security on board the starbase will be focused on our ship, which means there will be lighter crews in less protected areas, if we can silently beam back aboard the starbase then we should have a chance to find out more about the various captains still docked here. One of them has to be our captain of captains, the away teams job will be to find them while security is checking over our ship."
Which of course meant they had to find a way to delay security for as long possible. "Ejek, Havenborn your new job is to stall as much as possible, give Parnak and Drauc enough time to make the plan work, and then keep the majority of security on board. If you have to fake some sort of epidemic do so... Use every trick in the Starfleet manual to make sure that the people who go aboard my ship do not come off my ship."
[Lt. Jg. Suq |USS Resolve| Briefing Room ] Attn: Briefing Room
He stood, listening to the collective planning of the group. Honestly, with two Cardassians and a Romulan in the room, he's not too surprised at how deceitful, how genius the plan was. He would have gladly clapped for the strange doctor with the voice that made Suq sleepy, but time was short. Startlingly short. The interruption in their talk drained Suq of the color in his face and his exhaustion.
But now was not the time to be afraid. Suq continued to hold the PADD with a grip that made his knuckles white. He should be afraid, but the only thing he felt was resolute determination.
"I will keep the PADD. Ejek is right, if this has something that incriminates somebody else on it, maybe it's just best to delete whatever data is on it. Uh...You." He pointed at the other Cardassian who's name he did not know, and would be referred to as You until further notice. "If I beam everyone to your quarters, I need to know where your quarters are. Ejek, just get the info from uh...uh, You" He pointed again at the Cardassian, " "and send it to my PADD. I'm gonna jam some signals. I'll be at the transporters next."
At that, he turned around, and off he went. He started at a brisk walk.
His heart was pounding in his ears. Walking would take such a long time. Maybe if he sprinted, he could make it up. He could probably run the whole ship twice, he felt. When he was fairly sure he wasn't being watched, he began to run.
[ Outside the Security Center | Starbase 84 ]
So close. So very close, and that's right when it all went tits-up.
Melissa was mostly just here to do some scouting out, make sure of exactly where the right EPS conduit to blow out was located before enacting her semi-insane plan with Sera. It was an easy enough thing to pass off as regular maintenance; anyone passing by would see the jumpsuit and just figure she was supposed to be examining wiring down here. If they questioned it, she could always just say she'd taken a detour due to engineering being a bit short-handed. The maintenance department needing people to lend a hand wasn't exactly a foreign idea.
But of course it couldn't be that simple. Mel's head was snapping to attention when she heard something about somebody being under arrest; her first instinct was to assume that she'd been somehow found out, and security was here to arrest her. Yet before she could jump to respond in the worst possible way, the engineer found that some guy she almost vaguely recognized but couldn't quite place was aiming a phaser at her... and some other lady. Truth be told, the blonde didn't recognize either of them, but she sure as hell recognized a guy with crazy-eyes leveling a weapon at an innocent women.
Christ, did it have to be today?
He was advancing on the woman, even as a crowd gathered and urged him not to do it. Melissa had of course found herself in the worst possible position, right between the guy and his mark such that he'd have to shove past her if he wanted to grab the poor girl. So, standing between an armed loon and the object of his ire? She'd been in that situation once or twice before Starfleet, but never on a day when she'd been planning to commit grand theft starship, so... it was a new twist on an old experience, at least. That was the only good thing about this situation.
Alright, only one of two things. The good thing for the girl being threatened was that Melissa, while perhaps not heroic, had instincts screaming at her to intervene before she got shot herself. Wincing, the blonde tightened her grip on the small plasma torch she'd been picking up when Commander Nutso had started yelling, and with a small prayer to whichever deity might be listening, lept forward with (she hoped) enough suddenness to catch the guy off guard and knock him off his feet before he could fire at anyone. With any luck, she could at least throw his phaser aim off balance, but... since when had luck necessarily been on her side?
[Ensign A'vura Zeshryr (https://orig08.deviantart.net/ca09/f/2015/289/a/2/a_vura_row_01_by_auctor_lucan-d9d9ngm.png) | Briefing Room | Resolve] Attn: Everyone in the briefing room.
A'vura had been sitting silently up until now. The idea of heading back onto the Starbase, left her feeling a little squeamish to say the least. She was disheveled, still covered in blood and gore, her uniform ripped and her Comm badge missing. Even Ejek had made mention of her state. Looking toward the woman she gave her a grim nod of acknowledgement before speaking, "I was attacked on the Starbase. Part of that.. explosion was something detonating inside of the man and taking his head off while he was..." she cleared her throat and looked away disdainfully a moment before continuing, "...while he was on top of me." If they were planning on any amount of disguise she would be a dead giveaway in her current state. "I... I don't mean to protest Captain, but are we certain that heading back onto the Starbase is our best option? If we're planning on hiding to any degree I'm going to stick out like a sore thumb Sir."
Her comment likely gave pause, drawing attention to her figure. At least Suq had already left the room to activate the jamming signal, but the looks from the rest? To cover her embarrassment, she said something else that stuck out to her because of her familiarity with sensor technology. "Also, if we beam out, it would look like we'd be in two places at once. Both on the Aeroshuttle and on the base. Outside the dampening field, we can't mask our life-signs."
Then at the same time, how were they supposed to expose any traitors on the base?
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[Ensign Six (https://img14.deviantart.net/51cf/i/2015/255/0/5/six_01_by_auctor_lucan-d91bx0h.png) | Brig | Starbase 84] Attn: Drana, Lucan, Brutus (and anyone I missed)
It didn't take a brilliant mind to know the man pointing the weapon at herself and the woman in front of her was actually pointing it more so at Six. His gaze in fact was firmly locked on her, but by the confusion in the other woman's eyes it was apparent that she hadn't registered that fact as of yet. It also didn't take a brilliant mind to be able to tell that the man was looking at Six with lethal intent. He had no intention of taking her in quietly. Fortunately for Six, she was a brilliant mind and had deduced the probability of her death rather quickly based on the man's actions, tone of voice, and other slight variances.
As the rest of the room burst into chaos, Six's calm demeanor kicked into overdrive, her arm immediately rising with phaser in hand. She didn't need to check it, she had already done so in the hall, the phaser set to stun previously. Then it seemed as if everything around her got quiet, her focus pinpointed on Clark's obviously eager face, the room and it's turbulence slowing to a motion that would denote someone of a much faster ability. Within the span of a sharp breath in, she fired her phaser. Yet before the beam hit its mark, the woman in the yellow jumpsuit had decided to try and aid Six with a plasma-torch. People were screaming, and the security guard had tried to intercept the woman. The plasma-torch in the woman's hand got activated, and the bright light from the muzzle blended into the beam from Six's phaser. When the combined light vanished, the two-fold assault had a singular outcome. In that same span of a breath, Clark 's features changed into something akin to bewilderment, then emptiness, his body crumpling to the floor in a heap.
Immediately Six knew what had just happened, and cursing under her breath she waved the woman to herself, her voice overriding the audible fear that had risen in the area. This action would not bode well for either of them now. "I'll beam us out. Come with me, or die here." She made her way to computer console, and with her last step, her index finger extended to a port in the ship's computer, and a thin wire-like implant wormed from the fingertip and into the port, making quick work of the lockout that had been placed in order to transport them from the room they were in, and into the closest vicinity of the Resolve's Captain.
Her partially digital mind deduced that if she was being framed, then she would not be alone - the evidence having caused this reaction. Captain Kendrick could help her get to the bottom of it, now that she knew he was also a target of the Starbase and her crew. She was going to get to the bottom of this, and she was going to make sure that any innocent party was redeemed for these accusations. In another set of heartbeats, the realization settling, Six and the woman that had been caught in the mess were both beamed from the reception desk of the lobby, and into the briefing room of the Resolve - where the base's sensors told her the Captain would be.
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[Ensign Six (https://img14.deviantart.net/51cf/i/2015/255/0/5/six_01_by_auctor_lucan-d91bx0h.png) and Ensign A'vura Zeshryr (https://orig08.deviantart.net/ca09/f/2015/289/a/2/a_vura_row_01_by_auctor_lucan-d9d9ngm.png) | Briefing Room | Resolve] Attn: Everyone in the briefing room!
Before A'vura could get out much more on the matter, two women suddenly materialized in the corner of the room, not far from the door and where everyone stood. Her eyes widened as she noted that one of those women held a phaser in her hand, and was now pointing it directly at the Captain. Taking out her own phaser she lifted and aimed at the borg just as it made its way toward him. Starting to speak she was cut off, the borg curt and to the point.
"I believe I have something you may wish to hear Captain Kendrick. It seems as if we're both in the middle of the same issue here, and I believe I have something that might clear both of our names. A transmission was sent by a rank of Captain or higher on the Starbase within close proximity to the detonation at the top of the base. This transmission I feel certain is an integral part of what is now happening here with us, and is a direct result of our being targeted as... what's the term you humans use? Patties?" Moving away a bit she used her implant once more to leech into the ship's computer and uploaded a copy of the transmission, and all of her findings on the autopsy for them to look over. She then brought up the transmission specifically, the computer chiming as it had before, "Level 10 clearance required."
"I believe this will help us all if you would only clear it for us to hear who sent that detonation transmission."
It seemed as those A'vura's silent question had been answered. Apparently this... woman... had key components to exposing the true traitors on this Starbase. Having been highly present when the said detonation went off, A'vura remembered how the Romulan had been talking to someone, but that did not make her lower her phaser as she pointed it at the borg. At the same time, she kept the other woman in the jumpsuit within her peripheral vision - not knowing what kind of threat she might present. Softly, low, and only to her Captain, A'vura spoke the truth of what she knew, "When the Romulan attacked me, he stopped to talk to... someone... I don't know... but there was definitely a transmission I could not hear. Perhaps there is some truth to what this... borg says?"
[LT Keval ch'Rayya/ Briefing Room/ USS Resolve]
Keval's question was still unanswered as the ship's Chief of Tactical and Security lapsed back into the quiet silence that he got when he was trying to solve a problem but he was still aware of the conversation that was going on around him.
When the cute Borg (the term "cute" was subjective because of the fact of most borg being fuglier then sin) appeared in the briefing room combined with the information that was also presented that A'vura had heard a Romulan bomber talking to himself prior to the explosion and the arrival of the security forces and their efforts made him furrow his brow.
"Focus all efforts on getting an anti beaming field up at once." Keval said as he turned to the captain. "I don't have all of the information that I need to give you a full theory yet, Kendrick, but what I am seeing isn't a good thing."
The Chan stood up and placed his hands onto the table, "If they are already heading this way then we can only assume that they had to step up what ever they were going to do when one of our people was found near the explosion site," the pale blue skinned andorian stated as he turned his gaze onto the borg "And that's patsie..but you get a cookie for the effort provided we survive this mind you..but what do you have to add to my equation before we just allow you to willy nilly add stuff to our database?"
[ Liam Herrold | USS Resolve | Fighter Assault Bay ] Attn: SummerDawn, Triage & Absinthe
When Neko, as she was called among the pilots, offered to help him, Liam was not entirely sure what to say. It didn't seem like he had to say much at all, since the girl with Caitian blood bounced up from her seat and followed him in no time at all. Liam was used to walk the slick and treacherous surface of the warp fighter's hull, but it seemed K'Ren had no difficulty following him. He had paused in his path towards the maintenance access panels in front of the twain warp coil tails of the fighter, and for sake of covering up the way he looked at her while she moved, he raised a cautioning hand. "All right, j-just watch your step so that you won't fall."
Perhaps a needless comment, since cats had a tendency to land on their feet, but he covered it up with his usual friendly smile. He turned back to the starboard panel which he had left open when he got down to talk to Randall and Tancredi. The opening was almost two meters long and more than half that wide, with hidden hand-rails below the edge to aide in climbing down in to the 'engine-pit', as he liked to call it. He got down there, where there wasn't that much room but where he could still stand and turn around to access the different propulsion systems in the fighter. Down there, however, he realised he was kind of trapped by the pilot - who was right above him as he worked. A quick glance upwards informed him about the fact of the view he got of her from that angle, and he cleared his throat in attempt to act like he didn't notice anything of the sort. That voice of hers certainly did not help either. Not at all. The engine pit suddenly felt quite warm, despite how it hadn't been powered up since the last patrol in Romulan space.
"Oh, I am just making sure she is all right," he said, trying to sound idle about it... betrayed by another glance towards her. The look lingered too long, he thought, before he cleared his throat and turned to calibrate the impulse engine output feeds. "I ran a Level 2 diagnostic just earlier and I'm just checking the curves... to see if they match the result, I mean. Sometimes its not enough to trust the scans, having to get your hands dirty and making sure she purrs the way she is supposed to when you turn her on."
He continued working, as best as he might, trying to not be too distracted by the pilot above him. At least the deck team was working on the Tribble Squadron, so his slight... predicament was not likely spotted by anyone save for Neko. He thought it odd that she had such a sudden interest in him, and he couldn't understand what she wanted yet - making him less at ease.
OOC: Waiting to post with Drauc until Julia, Arista and Kaligos has posted in the Briefing Room. :)
[ ENS K'Ren | USS Resolve | Fighter Assault Bay ] Attn: AuctorLucan, Triage & Absinthe
Following Liam up onto the airframe had been easy enough, her reflexes made balancing on the surface of the airframe easy enough. The hull was a little slippery from the special coatings designed to reduce atmospheric drag, something most modern fighter designs were equipped for, even if most combat happened in space it seemed. She took the chance to look over the bird, seeing her craft from an angle she almost never bothered to look at it from. But today the object of her attention was the crew chief and she followed him, noting where he walked along her hull.
Half squatting, half sitting at the entrance to the engine pit, giving Liam a good view of what was normally obscured by her flight suit, K'Ren looked down into the cavity inside her fighter where Liam was working. She'd noticed his glances, sensing his unease even as his eyes lingered on her body. She wondered if he was interested in her, and she wondered if Liam might be the one she let break her dry spell? "Is she alrright?" K'Ren finally asked, putting on a little bit of a sultry tone, "Her currves I mean? Orr do you need a little morre hands on diagnostics? Make surre she's purring?"
[Sera vers Aldnoah | Lab 17 | Starbase 84]
As Sera arrived at the lab she looked toward Hi'Jak she didn't have much time to get off the station. She didn't know how much of a fuss Melissa's distraction would cause or when it was exactly going to happen. She looked around the lab for a moment trying to find the rucksack she'd dragged into this place to display her findings to that moron of a science officer stationed here. It was a pity the man himself wasn't here she'd have loved to give him a good hit in the face with the bag. But unfortunately he was absent. "Well it was nice knowing you Hi'ja-" She was cut off as the door to the lab slid open revealing the very subject of her ire. Her fist clenched unconsciously now that she was looking at him she couldn't help but wish now that she could have slipped away without him noticing.
But as he entered pointing out Hi'Jak like he were some grand military commander of old she froze as his finger drifted towards her. Before he added that the two security officer that followed behind him should take her as well. She could feel her heartbeat quicken she could feel an entire myriad of things at the moment anger, fear, shock. Her fist tightened even more she could feel her anger overcoming her entire thought processes her yellow eyes narrowing at the man pointing at her. She could almost feel her blood boiling in her veins as she stared past the two security officers approaching her and Hi'Jak. Finally things in her life appeared to be taking a better turn and this son of a bitch had shown up and decided to turn everything upside down.
No that wasn't going to happen again. As the security officers approached Sera mouthed two words at the balding science officer "Your Dead." As the first security officer approached her she quickly swung the heavy bag of artifacts at the man's head letting it go before quickly sweeping past him to move behind his back one arm moving to wrap around his neck and the other moving up to lock the arm in place applying pressure cutting off his air supply before forcing the man's body between herself and the other security officer heading toward's Hi'Jak.
[Lt Hi'Jak (https://orig03.deviantart.net/94e6/f/2015/265/a/e/hi_jack_02_by_auctor_lucan-d86nthi.png)| going back to the science labs| Starbase 84] Attn: Auctor, & Roaria
Hi'Jak was confused for a long moment. Why was Simon in his lab? Why was there a security team about to arrest him? His mind was like a computer at that moment struggling to update as the world around him seemed to fold in on it's self with one big revelation. The bomb had used a Starfleet signal, something only a captain could access. A moment ago he had sent off that evidence to the chief of security and the captain of the Starbase...
Now he was being arrested. Six had said that this investigation wasn't following proper proceedures. He wasn't just being cut out, he was a loose end, and he had read enough novels, to know that meant he would either rot in a prison for some crime he hadn't committed or he would be killed off. This just like an old noir... and he was the detective who in the third act was set up to take the fall.
When the men were ready to draw the phazer on him some part of Hi'Jak was ready to accept his fate, until Sera went ninja on one of their asses. Hi'Jak bolted forward towards the other guard. He ducked under the man giving him as small a target as possible while putting his arms up. He had run so many different boxing programs over the years, having taken to the sport as a way to channel that klingon rage, and now he was ready to unleash it on a regular human. His first punch landed hard in the mans sternum, and the follow up was his left, a powerful hook that slammed into the mans jaw, all those muscles augmented with his half breed strength. Slamming into the guard hard enough that he heard something physically crack, and he wasn't sure if it was the guys jaw, or his neck, either way he slumped and wasn't going to get up a second time.
Jack stood angry, His glare turning towards Simon. Sera may have said the man was dead, but that wasn't her kill. He walked over the guard he had dropped and grabbed Simon lifting him and slamming him against the wall with one hand. His other one picked up his com badge off his shirt. "Thanks boss, I'm gonna need this along with your clearance codes, hand them over."
Jack's skin burned for a moment. It felt good to hit something once and a while. Normally he only felt like this when he was working on something that truly captured his attention. That klingon side of him that he usually ignored was right now begging him to break the man in half, but without something that could unlock doors the two of them wouldn't be getting far. "You are disgusting to me by the way, always have been, my biggest regret in coming to this piece of crap station, has been working under your pathetic ass, holding this lab together and letting it fall apart has been a joy because of every time you passed me over for someone with less experience it meant I got to continue making your life a living hell."
He turned to Sera, "Could you do me a favor and grab the PADD's on my desk, they are kind of my life's work and I don't want to leave them behind."
[ Lt. JG. Zelosa Ejek & Dr. Silim Parnak | Briefing Room | USS Resolve ] Attn: Everyone in the briefing room"The only question that remains," he (Drauc T'Laus) said to Kendrick, slowly flexing his hard and scarred hands inside the sleeves of his cloak, "is if I were you, would you take the aeroshuttle underneath the saucer of this ship, one of the Type-6 shuttles that I have gleaned in Lieutenant Havenborn's thoughts, or any ordinary craft in the shuttle bay? It is a question of might be plausible and what you are willing to jeopardise in this endeavour... for either of the three crafts would serve this purpose."
Surprise. Outrage. The question how on Cardassia anyone could think it a good idea to bring a mind-reading stranger to their staff-meeting was the last that Counsellor Ejek's mind formulated in Standard. She didn't know if it would do her any good, but making a conscious effort to think in Cardassian from now on was the extent of actions she could take to prevent her mind from being read. As long as she was around the Romulan, the Universal Translator on board would translate her spoken language for her.
It seemed, though, that she didn't need a translator at all to face her next conversational partner.
What the fuck, Suq?! Watching him leave, Ejek asked herself whether she had to thank him for making her day essentially better, or essentially worse. She'd bet her life on him trying to play match-maker, here. And it might turn out to be just the pretence she needed to approach the other Cardassian.
As Ejek made her way over to Parnak, Silim used the opportunity to eye her again. She was young, but not as young as that foolish child's haircut made her look. He couldn't help but wonder what had happened for her to befall such a fate. Stuck on a Starfleet ship many miles away from home. Standing, he extended a hand with a warm smile.
"I don't think we've had the chance to properly introduce ourselves. Dr Silim Parnak, Exobiologist and Chair at the University of Culat." When she was close, he breathed her in. She had a subtle yet slightly sweet smell with perhaps a dash of... how best to describe it... spice? Something was giving her just a hint of an earthy musk.
"Counsellor Ejek," the female Cardassian said with a composed smile. Shaking his hand she added, as an afterthought: "Zelosa Ejek." It seemed rude to not return the courtesy of a full name, even though she had grown quite accustom to not using her first name any longer. As she continued, she spoke in their mothertongue: "Apologises for my colleague. I assure you he is a better engineer than communicator. Hopefully you are not too averse to the idea of sharing the location of your living space with me."
Silim smirked, looking back toward Drauc and, before he continued, he thought back to his training. Like most middle and upper class children on Cardassia, he had been taken to extra curricular mental training classes. He could remember the lessons in that dark, humid classroom. He remembered the teacher, a stern shrill woman called Pakor with bad breath and greying hair. Every one of her lessons, alongside everything else he had experienced, was etched into his eidetic memory. As she had explained many times, though the training techniques against telepathy were effective against touch telepathy, the data about its uses against other telepathic and empathic abilities was inconsistent. Silim activated the technique anyway. It was better to be safe than sorry, or as Pakor used to repeat, it's better to be a Legate than to be a Gorr. He also followed Ejek's example and started to speak in native Cardassian.
"My quarters are based on Habitat level 17, section 35. Perhaps after this all blows over we can get some..." The beam-in interrupted sharply. Ejek jerked at the sight of the Borg with the phaser. She let out a muffled scream and already meant to dive under the meeting table for cover when she realised the attacker had only eyes for Captain Kendrick. So she stayed standing, but on weak knees, supporting herself at the tabletop.
How embarrassing! She had lost her cool, and in front of the first one of her kind she met in seven years.
Outrage waved up in her once more as she followed the Borg with her eyes, trying not to lose sight of the other woman, either. How dared they confront her with her fears and triggers when she needed her focus so desperately? She had
no time for a breakdown! -
Oh great, add mental pressure. That will help, Ejek. That will help.Being surprised by an armed opponent was just the kind of introduction she couldn't stand. It was bad enough on its own, but the battle of Cardassia had taken its toll on Ejek. In defiance of any attempt to keep her mind off the radar, she was temporarily unable to save Drauc T'Laus from stray impressions of great fear and danger, distant - yet by far too close! - screams of Cardassians, phaser shots, the upper left wall panel of a corridor in the basement of the former Cardassian Bureau of Information...
Stop, Ejek demanded of herself.
Focus!She was a proud Cardassian. She had mental control. She knew how to focus her thoughts, she just had to do it! Damn it! She wanted out of this room. Just out. Right now.
But she couldn't leave. She had a task to fulfil. Many, actually. Ejek inhaled and exhaled deeply.
Focus!Silim arched an eye ridge towards his follow Cardassian. She seemed to be struggling with the sudden appearance from the two new crewmembers. Was she emotionally unstable? Perhaps this was why she was out here? Or just maybe, she was suffering from some awful memory. Parnak felt a need in his heart to save this poor woman. He could be one of those heroes from the old epics. His hand moved into one of his pockets and he thumbed against one of the multiple tools within.
While most were innocuous scanning and lab equipment, hidden amongst them were the remains of Parnak's old service issue disruptor. Like most retired personnel, he did not hand back in the device before his discharge, instead keeping it as a memento. It was dismantled, so he could bring it across immigration lines and so far it had been undetected, but he could probably get it back together in a few seconds. He'd have to use the power cell from other of his scanners. It was a risky move, but possible. He looked to Ejek, concerned for her well being, but also trying to calculate how he could save the girl, kill the intruders and get away unscathed. "I think you might want to sit down? He suggested indicating her obvious reliance on the furniture.
Bristling at his offer, Ejek let go of the table. She crossed her arms and turned away from Parnak to face the other Starfleet officers. The anger that flared up in her gave her the emotional distraction and drive she needed to return her focus to the situation at hand.
"I think this is a splendid time for red alert," Ejek suggested drily. Anyone? Hello? It would set the shields and weapons to full power, too, and thus prevent beaming.
They were running out of options. And time. Ejek could only agree with Lieutenant ch'Rayya's assessment: she lacked the necessary information for a sufficient theory, too, and was wary about having a stranger from the base add anything to their ship's systems. Last time had not turned out too well for Petty Officer Sanford, or her crew.
"We don't
have a database, as of now." Ejek pointed out in response to Lieutenant ch'Rayya. She was talking about the memory setback, of course. "But I intend to change that. Ensign Zeshryr. I want you to have a check-up in sickbay. Anyone who can blow someone up from inside has certainly had the chance to implant a fatal virus in them or anything of that sort. I also want a digital sample of your attackers' DNA, and a thorough analysis of anything that can be found on you and might help. Then," she disclosed. "You may shower.
Please." If there was still time.
As Ejek promoted the finer points of personal hygiene, Silim took interest in the data placed up on screen from the Borg newcomer. Specifically the autopsy report, after all, it's not everyday that you get to look inside a Romulan. The most disappointing part was that the cranium had been completely destroyed in the explosion, meaning Parnak couldn't find out if Romulans really did have enlarged lateral ventricles and a smaller cerebral cortex, a possible reason for their constant paranoia. Nevermind, he consoled himself, if it was such a big deal he could always try to find the answer in that which was coating the Orion. Or inside Drauc.
While the Borg tempted Kendrick in what was the oddest version of Deus Ex Machina that Silim had seen since watching 'Thesmophoriazusae', he mainly felt relieved to get the situation resolved. It was fun with the traitors and exploding spies, but it would also be nice to save the day with his brilliant Kendrick Soup plan. Most people within the conference lounge seemed distracted meaning Silim ended up looking around in exasperation. Could someone
PLEASE show me to the laboratory?...
[ Liam Herrold | USS Resolve | Fighter Assault Bay ] Attn: SummerDawn, Triage & Absinthe
Her question caught him split over how he might answer. First, Liam wanted to reassure her that he had everything in hand, and while his main forte was weapons maintenance on the Valkyries, it was not like he could handle regular maintenance on the propulsion systems as well. He was still a Chief and Randall's right hand man. However, the more he knew he should decline, the more he wanted to ask for her help... for reasons not entirely clear to him. He swallowed, unsure what to say at first, until he simply had to say something.
"Yeah, I... It certainly would not hurt with a second opinion. These are not photon torpedo guidance systems after all," he said with a chuckle to try and take the edge of the situation. He stepped back from the maintenance small display and gave her enough room to come down into the pit as well. "You pilots got the same tuition as I did on the propulsion systems as a part of your curriculum in Tactical CONN Academy, and while you might not be down in these pits every day, you ought to know the theoretical stuff just as well as I do."
He was rambling, justifying his invitation for himself, or perhaps keeping up a pretence for both their sakes. Deep down, he just couldn't deny how he fancied the idea of her down in the engine pit with him. He had to be going mad or something, indulging in what had first been an idle fantasy when he saw her out of the suit. She certainly wasn't helping though, the way she purred and moved like that.
[ Simon Walt | Lab 17 | Starbase 84 ] Attn: RosariaRosette & Kaligos
Simon's finger had begun to tremble a bit before he slowly lowered it, seeing how the scavenger bludgeoned the first security guard across the head so that he spun around - quickly seized by the primitive beast of a girl. In no way had he foreseen the ferocity of the female Câroon. The guard, head still rolling on his shoulders, slowly went limp in Aldnoah's grip - knees buckling and about to fall over.
Even less, though, had Simon predicted the sheer vehemence in which Hi'Jak tore into the second guard. He never even got a phaser beam away, merely having raised it before the consecutive strikes had him do a disjointed dance. In the end, Simon was not entirely sure what had happened, but the guard landed across a desk littered with equipment before slipping down unto the floor. With a yelp, he realised that he was too late to run away, his collar seized by Hi'Jak and being pushed up against the wall next to the door. While Simon's toes never left the floor, it was obvious that the young Klingon half-breed was far stronger than he looked.
Stripped from his combadge, he was even prevented to call for security, and his access codes were demanded from him. He was not, however, in the right frame of mind to give those away - still too shocked by the development. One moment he was having an exquisite holo-vid break in the company of some of the finest characters ever to appear on the USS Intercourse in years, and the next, he was suddenly threatened to his life by a filthy scavenger and the savage young scientist he'd suffered the company of for far too long. He could just open and close his mouth like a fish, as if there were no end to the things he wanted to object to - unable to deliver any retort to the short tirade he heard about how Hi'Jak had been feeling about his commissioning to Starbase 84.
Luckily, Hi'Jak turned his head to the scavenger, making a request, and like a cornered walrus, he slapped his hand against the control panel next to the door, grubby fingers going for the intercom button. "Security to Lab 17!" he called, not recognising his own voice. Over the sound of his heart beating in his ears, he sounded like a woman. It was certainly the least of his concerns. "Hurry! They are going to kill me!"
[Acknowledged, we are on our way.] The next second, the klaxons went off, the entire Science wing of the Executive Center resounding with the security alert - making the scientist step out of their secluded labs in confusion and fear.
[ Ens K'Ren | USS Resolve | Fighter Assault Bay ] Attn: AuctorLucan, Triage & Absinthe
K'Ren smiled, her teeth showing the slightest bit, her tail twitching with nervous excitement from being invited into the bay with Liam. The butterflies in her stomach weren't helping matters, or her judgement for that matter as she wanted to believe Liam was inviting her down there to inspect her curves, something she wouldn't mind but at the same time, wasn't sure if that was what he meant. At least though, she could keep up the flirting and if something happened, or didn't, then she'd play the cards she was dealt.
K'Ren turned, planning to go down the hatch backwards. It was easier to climb down ladders that way and Liam would get a view of her curves from the back as well. "Thank you Liam." she purred as she started down the ladder slowly. The silence and a feeling of staring told her Liam was watching, probably not just in case she missed a step. Training or no, aside from the readouts on the screen, she wasn't much good with the engines, preferring to leave that to the deck crew. She could do a pre-flight and knew how her engines should perform, but finicky stuff she left to the experts.
Setting foot in the pit, K'Ren could see the readout from the engine diagnostics and everything looked fine, absolutely normal in fact, at least based on the glance she gave the readouts. She made a point of studying them a little, stepping back just a bit so she was closer to Liam, close enough she could feel his breath on the exposed fur of her back. Her eyes were such she didn't have to stare at the screen close up, she actually had better visual acuity at distance, giving her an excuse to stand closer to him. Her tail idly wrapped around Liam's leg as she studied the readouts.
"The currves look okay?," she finally said, turning back to Liam, her tail releasing itself from his leg. Taking a risk, hoping she'd guessed right, she took her hand and gently grasped Liam's, moving his to her waist. "Orr should we do a level one diagnostic?" she asked him, "Make absolutely surre?"
[ Liam Herrold | USS Resolve | Fighter Assault Bay ] Attn: SummerDawn, Triage & Absinthe
When K'Ren's tail wrapped around his leg, it gave Liam a start, but he covered it well - not moving much at all in reaction. His heart was beating loudly in his ears, though, and the warmth of her body alone made the engine pit feel like an incinerator. He was unsure where to put his hands, wanting nothing rather than to feel the fur that threatened to tickle him - to let his hands span her waist. He dared say naught, in fear his voice would fail him, and he dared not move, lest the erection her tail had given him would touch her. He did not look down, fearing his yellow jumpsuit showed his condition too plainly. Instead, he put his hands on the either side of the edges of the engine pit, preventing them from ending up anywhere awkward.
His heart skipped a beat when she turned around to face him, picking down one of his hands again and putting it to her waist. His mouth fell open and she did not know what to say at first, the embarrassment of just how much he had come to want her so quickly making the words stick in his throat. "Y-Yeah," he said, not able to help but looking at her body in the shadows of the Valkyries' guts, her fur back-lit by the blue maintenance displays. As if on its own accord, his hand slipped up underneath the top of the exercise wear she had on - the inviting warmth of her body incredible. "We better make really sure..."
Such a dumb thing to say. Not the kind of eloquent answer he'd hope to say in the present situation, but a moronic answer was better than silence, at least. He could not help but lean in his mouth seeking hers, and his other hand eagerly joined the first in slipping underneath her top. Is this really happening?
[ Sera vers Aldnoah | Lab 17 | Starbase 84 ]
As the guard went lip in her grip his air cut off by the arm constricting his throat she released him shoving him to the floor before kneeling beside him undoing the buckle of his phaser holster and taking the weapon. She glanced over her shoulder as Hi'Jak seized the cowardly science officer who'd seen fit to try and get them both arrested. Her glare burned with hatred as she requisitioned the unconscious security officer's pistol belt and secured it around her own waist. Her eyes turned to Hi'Jak as he asked her to grab the PADDs from his desk. "Sure." She said shifting to her feet and moving over to the counter to retrieve the PADDs Hi'Jak had pointed out.
Her eyes shot to Simon as his hand slapped against the control panel beside the door. His fingers pressing the intercom button and quickly sending out a call for help to security. Sera bared her teeth before approaching the restrained science officer and shoving the barrel of the phaser between his lips. "You know before you did that...I was considering just giving you a good punch in the face..." Sera growled her eyes burning with hatred. "Now I really am going to kill you, You worthless piece of shit!!" Sera yelled in the man's face her finger tense on the button of the phaser. She glanced toward Hi'Jak for a moment before pressing the button sending a phaser beam lancing through the back of Walt's head.
"C'mon if I know Starfleet security officers and by this point I'm sure I do. It will take them about three minutes before they come rushing in with phasers drawn." Sera said slinging her bag over her shoulder. "My ships in the shuttlebay if you want to get out of here without waiting a few years in prison I'm your best bet." Sera said.
[ Ens K'Ren | USS Resolve | Fighter Assault Bay ] Attn: AuctorLucan, Triage & Absinthe(OOC: Quick reference on the outfit she's wearing:
(https://i1024.photobucket.com/albums/y310/SummerDawnHE/Maternity/product_1682x_zpsmasnatab.jpg)
Yeah the model is expecting, so could K'Ren be if she isn't careful. :P )
K'Ren could feel the tension in Liam as her hand guided his to her waist. She knew though when his hand slipped beneath the hem of the shirt she wore, followed eagerly by the second as he leaned in closer, she'd guessed his desires correctly. Of her's, she wasn't quite sure. She'd gone from entering the bay to find a distraction, nothing sexual of course, from her nightmares to in the engine pit of her own fighter with her crew chief, flirting and now the the very first caresses of petting and making out. She realized there was only one way this would end and for some reason, she was okay with it.
Draping her hands over Liam's waist, she pulled him in closer so their bodies pressed against on another. The warmth of his body pressed against hers, their lips touched, K'Ren cocked her head slightly from instinct and the press of his lips against hers was enough she felt like she'd melt into a puddle on the floor. Her tail twitched, betraying her excitement at the feeling of having a male this close against her after a year without. She could feel his erection pressing through his jumpsuit and it filled her with a nervous excitement and a desire to remove his jumpsuit, to see what lay beneath.
Eventually their lips parted, K'Ren taking a couple short breaths, inhaling his scent in the engine bay. She felt the urge to be anything but passive with Liam. If she hadn't have been so distracted by this (apparently) Romulan hack job and the emotions welling to the surface from the one year anniversary of her mate's death, she'd have noticed the subtle changes in her body as she entered her heat cycle. But as she was now, that was the farthest from her mind, the desire for Liam forefront in her consciousness.
"I think we'd better," she finally remarked, her hands moving to the zipper on his jumpsuit as their lips touched again. Thankfully jumpsuits zipped up in the front and were easily removed, otherwise she might have resorted to claws, which would've been awkward to explain later.
[Lt Hi'Jak (https://orig03.deviantart.net/94e6/f/2015/265/a/e/hi_jack_02_by_auctor_lucan-d86nthi.png)| going back to the science labs| Starbase 84] Attn: Auctor, & Roaria
"Holy Fuck!" Hi'Jak took an instinctive step back when Simons brains were suddenly placed on the outside of his body. He looked at Sera for a moment rage still boiling in his mind. She had no idea what she had just cost them, and for a moment the half klingon was considering ripping her apart. That was until she mentioned her ship. It was strange how quickly something like that could change an attitude, and Jack was suddenly much more calm.
"Okay... Yeah that sounds good." Hi'Jak turned back only for a moment grabbing one of the phasers from the security team, and then was out of the door. He had been living on this starbase for years, and knew it well. As they left the lab he turned back again and fired the phaser into the room hitting a set of lab equipment and watching with some satisfaction as the room went up in flames quickly thanks to the flamable equipment and liquids.
"That should stall someone, now we go this way." He said taking the lead. He silently wondered just how quickly they would lock him out of the system. If they were going to arrest him than there were a few ideas that had been lurking around his head. He had wanted Simons codes so that he wouldn't have been locked out. Tossing his own combadge away he knew they could still track him by his half klingon nature, but then again he wasn't the only half breed on the station. Putting on Simons he tapped it.
"Computer Initiate a level 3 bio hazard evacuation procedure." He followed it up with his own string of codes and authorizations, and smiled if it worked or not. Maybe the idiots hadn't ordered his credentials locked out. Then again there was one other way that they could get the area evacuated.
"I figure we start a big enough panic we can get out in the chaos."
[Captain Tristan Kendrick | Briefing Room | USS Resolve ] Attn: All
Kendrick paused and listened to Avura as she brought up the hole in sending the away team. She was right... he hadn't considered that they would show up in two different places. He let out a small sigh and nearly collapsed back into his own chair for a moment. He had wanted to settle this matter quickly, but if they were going through all of this to make sure.
When two women however beamed aboard his ship in the middle of his meeting two things happened. Kendrick suddenly remembered that they were still vulnerable to that, and also he was looking at a borg, and an engineer. There was a stunned silence for a moment as he stood up his hand going to the phaser on his hip as he looked at the two women almost dumb founded before an order passed his lips.
"Computer Red Alert." The shields raising would of course help them and prevent anyone from beaming onto this ship any further than that. As he now regarded the women with his full attention. He took the PADD and ordered it to play. "What ever this is, you have my thanks for bringing it too me. Now would you mind telling your friend not shoot me?"
Kendrick had already given safe passage too a mind reading romulan, what was a former borg drone and someone else. "What are your names?" He said rather calmly before finally taking the evidence and ordering it too play giving his clearance.
After it played he glanced at Ejak and Havenborn. "You two, get down there and stop any one from getting on this ship. Stall for as long you can."
He turned to the chief medical officer a young human woman. Pulling some of his hair out which at this point due to the stress wasn't a hard task. "Chief Lyhn get Parnak and Drauc to the medical bay to get the dummy ready to deploy." He said handing his hair over to Parnak. "Ensign Veradin, to the the bridge and man the helm. Let's pull the lead out of our asses now and get this plan going quickly."
[ Liam Herrold | USS Resolve | Fighter Assault Bay ] Attn: SummerDawn, Triage & Absinthe
With Neko opening his jumpsuit, Liam's breathing was uneven, and he felt the bulge at the front of his underwear freed to the air of the engine pit. His engineering undershirt had the same colour as the jumpsuit, so when he shrugged off the sleeves of the jumpsuit, there was little difference. It was not until he pulled the undershirt over his head, hitting his hand against the edge of the maintenance bay in the motion, that any true progress in this madness they were indulging themselves in. His body lean and knotted with a working man's muscles, he did not think twice about what she might think of him, for he was entirely focused on K'Ren.
As soon as he had helped the fighter pilot by undressing himself for her, motions deft and quick, his hands returned to her just as his mouth did. He slanted his lips across hers, and no longer did his hands steal underneath her top. Instead, he hitched up the top along her front, the progress stopped by her armpits - exposing her abdomen and her breasts before he abandoned the idea to completely remove the garment. Leaving it there, bundled up above those exotically furred breasts of hers, the top could easily be pulled down again if they were at the risk of being caught. He made a strange sound of contentment deep down in his throat when he could lay his hands freely upon her body, fondling her even as his lips descended from her mouth and travelled down her neck - the scent of her driving him mad.
At the point which his warm mouth sought her breasts, his calloused hands had reached down behind K'Ren's waistline - cupping her buttocks in his fingers. He used his thumbs to shimmy the garment down over her hips - her panties following along. Errant thought about Randall or someone else discovering them lingered with Liam, but despite the risks of what they were up to, he could not make himself stop.
[ Starbase 84 Computer | Science Labs ] Attn: RosariaRosette & Kaligos
When Hi'Jak tried to access the computer, it seemed like Security had actually ordered him locked out of the system. For while the combadge was not his, the codes he tried to use had been rescinded.
[Access denied. Bio hazard protocols may only be initiated by Starfleet personnel. Security authorisation required.]
The fire had triggered the fire depressant protocols, and another klaxon had chimed in with the first as a result of the explosion. Meanwhile, colleagues of his were filing out into the corridor, and the security alert routines had them moving to designated areas as quickly as possible so that they wouldn't get in the way of the arriving security guards. A window of opportunity, perhaps, if they were quick enough to join them. Some of them had already seen the Asst. Chief Counsellor armed together with an equally armed woman with yellow eyes, but most of them would likely be oblivious to the death of Lieutenant Simon Walt. The security surveillance systems had seen it all, though, and people were already keeping tabs on them from the Security Center - following their every move on the monitors and directing the inbound detail of guards.
Unless they found some means to vanish from the live footage, their attempt of escape would be a short one.
[ Drauc T'Laus | USS Resolve | Conference Lounge ] Attn: All present
When the Borg and the woman in the engineering jumpsuit had beamed straight into the conference lounge, Drauc had switched gears entirely. He had been prepared to leap from the back of the room - having retreated there to fully gauge the situation when the unannounced visitors materialised. He was not armed, but some kind of kills needed no weapon to be made. It seemed, however, that the visitors meant to neither arrest those escaped from the Bridge nor incarcerate Captain Kendrick. Instead, the Borg needed Captain Kendrick's aid out of mutual interest to find the true adversary. This, Drauc could respect, and therefore shed any immediate plans he had made about taking the lives of the visitors.
In part, his instincts had been coloured by the thoughts of the present crew when the beam-in had occurred, so when the alarm settled, so did he, and he stepped towards a vantage point where he could witness whatever it was the Borg meant to access with Kendrick's security clearance. The present senior staff of the Resolve were concerned about the delay when they had security arriving at the Resolve's docking pylon, and yet they still wished to learn who was behind all that had occured. Drauc wished to leave himself, and while the older Cardassian doctor became harder to read, Drauc needed not sense his thoughts to know he wished to synthesise the bio matter that would act as the decoy in their plan. Still, before too many seconds had passed, the Borg cued the relevant transmission.
"Jolan tru, Auroto. Aihr Aidoann," said a computerised voice in Romulan, generated by some voice-distortion device. Drauc heard it in his native tongue.
"Greetings, 'Ghost'. This is 'Moon'," it likely said with the aid of the Resolve's universal translator, letting everyone assembled understand the words.
"Hfai. Hwiiy?" came a second query in the same computerised voice from 'Moon' when it received no reply from 'Ghost'.
"Bond-servant. Where are you?" said the universal translator.
"Yhfi-ss'ue.... N'ventnar. Auethn," came the reply, and it was not a computerised voice. It was the voice of someone native of Drauc's people.
"Travel tubes... Code 'Bared Fang'. Advise me." it said in Federation Standard, the irritation was plainly heard too, as if the Romulan had been interrupted doing something. Drauc recognised the reply from A'vura's thoughts too. It was the voice of 'Moon' that was new to him.
"llhusra veruul! H'ta-fvau, bruchon!" said 'Moon', the computerised voice distortion not diminishing the ire of the speaker.
"You vile cur! Come back here, traitor!" In Federation Standard, it was just as plain.
"Au'e, prod! Hwiiy hrrau hwaveyiir!" replied the Romulan with the real voice, defensive.
"Oh, sure, Captain! You are in the command-executive center!"
"Vaed'rae. Neth lleiset… Nah'lai ma'l arik. Ssuej-d'ifv?"
"You will listen to me. Your choice, either freedom... or death. Do you understand?"
"Ssuaf-ha? Rha?"
"I understand? Indeed?"
"Rh'e."
"Indeed."
"Daisemi'in , regghai, sthea'hwill h'ta-fvau galae. Vaed-"
"Chief among several, sir, I request to go back to the fleet. You-"
"Ta krenn. Hwiiy rh'e... auroto."
"Behold. You are indeed... a ghost."
There was a sound in the recording, a gradual build-up of a ringing noise, and at the onset of a detonation, the sound was cut short. For some, the entirety of the conversation was new to them, for others, they had now been allowed to hear the distorted voice of 'Moon'. For Drauc, it was intriguing, but it changed little in regard to the mission he had taken upon himself. Kendrick was issuing orders, sending the Cardassian woman and the fighter pilot out to speak with Security, and as for the exobiologist and himself, they were to be escorted where they needed to be. Drauc looked toward the Borg and the blonde woman in the jumpsuit once more before he followed the female Chief Medical Officer towards the door. Parnak would need to collect some hair from A'vura Zeshryr before he left, unless she decided to follow along to the Medical Bay, and as for Bradford...
"Lieutenant ch'Rayya," he rasped where he stood next to the female doctor at the door, hoping for the attention from the Chief Sec/Tac Officer. "I could bring Bradford with me, instead of having Doctor Parnak wasting time needlessly synthesising a decoy for his life-sign. We might be short on time as it is. If you agree, I would need to have someone of your guards escort him to the aerowing from the Brig in that case, and if not, I reckon Parnak needs samples of his DNA brought to the med labs as well."
Having said this, Drauc left with the CMO and Parnak once they had A'vura's DNA - heading for the med labs in Sickbay. On the way there, Drauc said naught unless spoken to, his thoughts on 'Moon' and what kind of role he held in his or her collaboration with one of the Romulan factions in the civil war. Hopefully, with Kendrick's access, the Borg and would be able to determine the true identity of the speaker. Perhaps there was a way to triangulate that transmission signal now that the Captain could grant the authority. Sadly, Drauc had not been able to stay and learn the whole truth of it. He had a task set for himself - granting time for Kendrick and those back in that room to find the truth.
While they walked, the Red Alert klaxon resounded in the corridors, along with the computer's voice. [Red Alert. Red Alert. All hands to battle stations. Red Alert....]
OOC: Posting order dissolved! Havenborn and Julia, have your characters head down to chat with Security on the pylon now. Komial Dothnil will be there. Havenborn, don't forget to give appropriate orders to Tactical CONN in this situation, K'Ren and Krystal being in the hangar already. FollowTomorrow, have Suq activate the jamming signal to conceal the life-signs aboard the Resolve now. The Red Alert will not achieve this, but stop people form beaming in. Arista, post with Parnak collecting A'vura's sample and end your post in the med labs, having him begin his work. Drauc and the CMO will be present and I will be posting in reply.
In the Conference Lounge, the suggested posting order is this: 1) Drana, catching up 2) DocReno, ordering to have Bradford dumped on the aerowing 3) Vystori, Six making further access from Kendrick to determine more data in the transmission. A'vura will be aiding in the scene too, and reacting to re-living that voice again(?) 4) Kaligos, granting access to learn who the true villan is (I will post the results)
EDIT: I cleared up the confusing "Attn:" tags, lol. I finished this post 3 am in the night, I think.
[ K'Ren | USS Resolve | Fighter Assault Bay ] Attn: Auctor Lucan, Triage & Absinthe
She knew the risk of getting caught was great, but the idea was actually exciting and only added to her arousal. Liam apparently was as well given how fast his undershirt disappeared onto the ground beside the coveralls which remained at list ankles. A trip hazard she thought idly but also easily zipped back up in someone came by. For now though, she could see the man's shapely figure, her fingers feeling the strength of his muscles, something the jumpsuit hid so well.
Her shirt eventually, like his jumpsuit remained on enough it was easily slipped down. She purred deeply, a slightest moan of pleasure escaping her lips as his hands touched her breasts holding them. Her body was by now aflame with passion, unwilling to stop, unable to back down. His lips on her breasts, suckling them like a kit, while his hands slipped blow her waist, her pant's and undergarment sliding below her waist. They dropped to her ankles and when one hand brushed between her thighs, accidentally or intentionally (she didn't care), K'Ren's arousal went into overdrive. Had she known she was in the beginning stages of heat she may have backed down but now that overpowering passion had taken root, she wasn't going to stop for anything at all.
Growling a little, K'Ren pushed Liam up against the bulkhead to his back, the pit was quite small so two was already cozy, kissing him passionately as her hands caressed his frame. His underwear remained the last obstacle between them and she shoved those down below his waist with far less delicacy then he'd shown hers. Now exposed, the rod she wanted so badly was exposed to her touch and she gently stroked it, torn between more foreplay and getting to the main event. Her needs though, and the knowledge down time was fleeting on this ship, she let her urges take over. Whispering into his ear, she held his member perfectly positioned to enter her, and fan the flames of passion into an inferno before he quenched her fire with a singular act. "Your call." she whispered, giving him one final chance to back down before they went beyond a line they couldn't uncross.
[ Liam Herrold | USS Resolve | Fighter Assault Bay ] Attn: SummerDawn, Triage & Absinthe
The pilot shed any confusion about what she wanted when she pushed him up against the diagnostic controls of the impulse engines, freeing his hardness from its confines and seizing it with her hand. He gasped as she did, shuddering when she stroked him, but any sounds he made was muffled by her warm mouth. As she moved, his skin was teased with the delicate fur on her lithe and limber body, and he could not help himself from caressing her wherever he might. He had thought to touch her more between her legs, but with the almost violent reaction, he let the matter that he couldn't reach it anymore rest.
Instead, she had guided him to her dewy folds, stroking herself with the crown of his phallus. He needed not touch her since she had the matter well in hand already - the slipery warms encompassing him making him light-headed. He groaned quietly against her lips before she spoke, forcing himself to be quiet lest he'd never hear the end of it from Randall and the others. She spoke, giving him the choice to continue or not. It wasn't a choice as far as he was concerned, the alternative to stop unthinkable. Feeling her hardened nipples rubbing against his torso and him pressing so close to entering her, he was beyond the point of no return already.
So, he reached down and lifted one of her legs, pulling it free from her thin exercise pants, and held it up for her in the bend of his arm. "J-Just keep it down," he asked, mouth dry and breathing uneven. He trusted her to guide him just right, and pushed into her - feeling his thick girth squirming its way into her. Had someone told him he would be fucking Neko in the middle of his shift that morning, he'd never believe it, and he still didn't believe it even if he was bucking his hips like someone possessed - his thrusts going deeper each time he did.
[ A Few Minutes Later ]
[Red Alert, Red Alert. All hands to battle stations. All hands to battle stations.] Surely he wasn't hearing it right? Was it part of the same waking dream he was having? No way there could be a red alert issued while docked inside Starbase 84? He could not give it any credit, and looked up to K'Ren in confusion even as he was still moving - making her bounce in his lap as he had ended up propped up against the side of the engine pit.
[ ENS K'Ren | USS Resolve | Fighter Assault Bay ] Attn: Auctor Lucan, Triage & Absinthe
K'Ren knew when he didn't refuse, just told her to remain quiet and lifted her leg, that they were going all the way. Only thing that would stop her now from getting what she wanted was an alert in Spacedock, rare but not unheard of. The bigger worry for her was getting caught by another member of the crew, but having had her share of rushed trysts in quiet areas, K'Ren knew the drill. When he entered her, his cock so much thinker then her deceased mate's, she stifled a little groan, purring deeply as Liam buried himself into her body, each inch filling her. Had there been time she'd have enjoyed the feeling of Liam inside her body but the need for sex, more specifically and orgasm, overrode that and she began to buck her hips back against Liam, driving him deeper into her body with each thrust.
[ A Few Minutes Later ]
Driven by the illicitness of this whole romp, and concern for being caught at any moment, it hadn't taken them both very long to approach the climax of their encounter. They however weren't quite there yet, K'Ren was on the knife's edge, Liam couldn't be that far behind when the alert klaxons went off. It was so perfectly timed to ruin the moment that K'Ren was tempted to ignore it. Another part of her knew this was no drill and she had to do her duty but in the heat of the moment, her passions won out and she kissed Liam as his thrust's pushed her over the edge.
The alert thankfully was loud enough that it muffled her mewling as her orgasm overtook her. Knowing he was close, his body had stiffened with those past few thrusts, K'Ren went into overdrive. Partly sitting in his lap, partly standing, K'Ren thrust back hard, burying Liam as deep inside her as she could, her body's breeding instincts taking over. Her insides quivered from the pleasure, spasming in a way that to Liam must have felt like she was milking him. Any thoughts beyond this moment were lost in her orgasmic bliss, and she rode him with a possessed being, her every sense attuned solely to him and the sensations he was producing in her..
[ Suq | USS Resolve | Main Engineering ] Attn: Kaligos
Suq made it to main engineering in record time. He hadn't just jogged or sprinted, he had run at top speed the entire way there. He started skidding as he entered engineering, he had to use a railing to stop himself completely and change directions. He jogged to a console and began setting up a jamming signal.
Now that he was standing still, he started to feel the sharp pain in his chest a lot clearer. His breathing didn't slow down on his own. He knew he had to stop and use his inhaler, but that could wait, couldn't it?
A standard jamming signal wasn't too hard. They've used one before, Suq still had his settings saved. Just as the red alert klaxons went off, Suq tapped his badge.
"Captain," He wheezed, a hint of his second voice coming through. He coughed in an effort to clear himself out. "Your jamming signal's done. Awaiting orders." He coughed again. In this moment, he admitted his weakness and pulled out his inhaler. He took two puffs of the stuff, and cringed at the metallic taste.
"I'm not running around like that again," He spoke to no one in particular. "Probably. Maybe next time I'll just...power walk. I'll powerwalk the next time everything goes to hell. Yeah." He rolled his eyes and shook his head.
[ Dr. Silim Parnak | Briefing Lounge | USS Resolve] Attn: Vystori, Auctor Lucan, Julia, Anyone Else
Silim gave a double take as Kendrick ripped hair off of his own head and pressed it into Parnak's hand. The sheer levels of stress that would make that seem like the sensible option was astounding. Silim was glad in that moment that he hadn't asked for Kendrick's spleen. And what was with that lead comment? Wasn't lead poisonous in humans? If so, why would they put it in their posterior? Dismissing the thought and with hair in hand, he turned to Ejek.
"Well then, Counselor..." He smiled and nodded "...until next time?" The question was rhetorical, but he hoped that the younger women would seek him out later.
Parting ways, he approached the Orion. "Excuse me, my dear, but could I disturb you for some of your follicles?..." He paused, before adding. "...Preferably ones without the coating in grey matter" He smiled apologetically, but he didn't want to have to sit and clean strands of hair to get an accurate sample.
Once she had handed over a few strands of her hair, Silim thanked her and moved to the Chief Medical Officer. "Well, shall we get this show on the road? I don't particularly want to stand here all day with these."
The walk to the turbolift was a quiet one. As they descended towards sickbay, Silim eyed the Romulan. He was interesting. Dark and brooding, but not as paranoid as the standard of his race.
"Tell me, how did you develop your telepathic abilities? It isn't common to the Romulan makeup?" He listened curiously to the reply. Analysing the response. "Oh really? How interesting. You simply must let look into your cranium at some point. It'd certainly be educational."
Arriving at the Sickbay, it was quite similar if not identical to those others that Silim had seen. He looked around, still holding the hair in his hands. "Could someone find me something to keep these in?" Once that was complete, he could start his work. He ordered three bio-canisters from an orderly and began to replicate the required materials. Hopefully Ejek and the white collared male could hold off station security long enough to complete this work.
[ Liam Herrold | USS Resolve | Fighter Assault Bay ] Attn: SummerDawn, Triage & Absinthe
It seemed that the Red Alert did not discourage Neko at all, climaxing as she were around Liam's hardness while the klaxon resounded across the Hangar. He had looked to her for an answer on what to do, and the answer was quite clear as she began to ride him with renewed fervour. He had managed to preserve himself for her, drawing it all out a bit both for the sake of their enjoyment but also since they couldn't move or make too much noise. Now, however, she bounced so hard he was afraid the Valkyrie might be rocking on its landing gears (which was silly, since it weighed over twenty-five metric tonnes). She was positively milking his orgasm out of him, her halfbreed Catian sex convulsing around him even as they moved together.
"We need to... We need to st-" he tried to say, but could not help but continuing to move with her - being so close. He decided that it was quicker to finish than to try and disentangle himself from her and climb out of the fighter (not to mention getting dressed). With no thought of restraint holding him back, and her already having finished, it was time to take initiative. With a noise deep down in his throat, he laid her down against the floor of the engine pit and seized her hips - his cock never leaving her in the shuffling movements he made. K'Ren did not have enough room to lie down straight, having to lean her head against the other side of the confined space or bend sideways on the floor. Either way, it granted him the opportunity to go hold on to her hips and truly finish what they had started - the savage rhythm matched perfectly to his liking. Moreover, it granted him the full sight of her bare body; how she writhed and moaned, and how it made her breasts move with each thrust he made.
It was a matter of seconds, ten or twenty at the most, and despite the inflection of stress from the resounding alert, he was soon coming hard. Gasping breathlessly as he spent himself inside her, Liam convulsed as if possessed - her movements siphoning his seed out of him. There was, however, no time for any afterglow. Still shivering from his euphoria, fingers numb and mind blank, he tried to get himself dressed again, scrambling about to find his undershirt.
"What's going on?" he managed, even though he knew Neko likely knew as little as he did.
[ Drauc T'Laus | USS Resolve | Corridor > Sickbay ] Attn: Arista
Doctor Lyhn, apparently being the Resolve's Chief Medical Officer, led Drauc to a turbolift, and they were accompanied by the exobiologist.
At first, the only spoken words heard were that of the code red status of the ship, where a disembodied voice foretold the imminent battle. Drauc had always felt that it made his blood stir. A spark of hope for new strife, knowing that perhaps the waiting had come to an end. Yet as the years had gone by since he last served in the Federation's fleet, he found that it did not hold the same compelling nature any more. Perhaps he had read too many minds, become soft by the experience of loss suffered from war, empathy gained for the people around him by absorbing their thoughts. Either way, Drauc said naught, his hands now completely still inside his sleeves. This was his true element, and it soothed him.
The question came from the Cardassian, and Drauc turned his eyes to look at the doctor. His thoughts more guarded, he could not glean much, and there wasn't much to be found either. He might not trust snake-men, but this one seemed able to tread the righteous path just as well as him. Drauc could respect that, even though there was no telling if the man would be just as loyal to the unfortunate Captain Kendrick when Starfleet Security boarded the ship. He would not put it beyond any Cardassian to betray his allies. Presently, Drauc had no reason to deny the man an answer, so he spoke - eyes unblinking behind the tresses of his hair.
"I developed nothing," he rasped in quiet explanation and raised his hand to rake back his hair - baring the surgical scarring that had replaced the ridges above his eyes. "I am the result of an experiment, no more. An attempt to harness the abilities hidden in the Romulan genome, once shared by the Vulcan people. Yet what I gained was else, separate from what the distant cousins of my people developed. I find it as much a curse at it is a gift."
Doctor Lyhn turned to look at him in the turbolift, and Drauc could sense how she was sexually attracted to him despite her biased feelings towards his species. He did not even look at her, however, the battlefield being his mistress. Doctor Parnak commented on opening his cranium, which made Drauc consider whether or not he should break his arm. They had reached their destination, however, so he remained silent in answer, thinking that he 'must' not let him do anything - least of all let a Cardassian resume what the experiments he'd once suffered.
When they were in the medical labs, Doctor Lyhn ordered her people to assist Parnak as best as they might to synthesise the biomatter. They rushed to help, and Drauc stepped back. A laboratory was no place for a former child soldier, and he needed to aquatint himself with the aerowing shuttle if he was to carry out his mission. "Doctor Lyhn, have the containers brought or beamed aboard once he is finished. I will be in the cockpit, preparing to launch on the Captain's signal."
"Do you need someone escorting you there?" she asked, and Drauc turned his head, sensing how she meant to offer to do it herself.
"No," he said, leaving the room, "I can find the way." If she showed herself to be disappointed, he did not see it. His thoughts were on what he had to do for the Captain and his crew, and as always before any kind of battle, he remembered his brother Kraun - missing him no less than the day he'd died. On the way to the turbolift, he had to break into a weapons locker in order to arm himself, but it was quick work, and he was sure the Captain wouldn't mind if he was prepared for more than acting the decoy. After all, Drauc was putting his life on the line for the benefit of his liberators, so he should at least be able to defend himself if the terrain wasn't in his favour.
[ ENS K'Ren | USS Resolve | Fighter Assault Bay ] Attn: Auctor Lucan, Triage & Absinthe
Through the orgasm, K'Ren felt Liam move her, putting her onto her back as he moved within her, never once stopping his thrusts. She groaned, whimpering, murring, and even a few stifled cries as waves of pleasure washed over her body. The peak of peaks came as a familiar sensation of warmth filled her inner being, her body accepting his lust offering. Sated, K'Ren began to regain her senses. The klaxon blaring in the bay jolted her out of her contentment and K'Ren scrambled to her feet, exactly what she'd been doing with Liam becoming a pleasant though distant memory. Her senses regaining themselves, she slipped into her training, quickly slipping her pants on as she looked around the small bay. She wasn't 100% sure but she suspected that Starfleet wasn't buying the truth and the ship was under attack. "I don't know but General Quarters is never good." she fibbed a little, 90% of that being the truth. Shoving her shirt down over her breasts, she smiled at Liam. "Duty before pleasure." she pecked him on the cheek and scrambled up the stairs.
The crew lounge was just across the bay and she could be suited and ready for flight in literally a minute or two. Running gracefully across the bay, her mind now on the alert and getting to her combat station, the complexities and risks of her tryst with Liam no longer in her mind, K'Ren was soon in the squad bay and suiting up alongside her flight team. Of course if she'd stopped to contemplate what she'd done, she'd have realized just how big a risk she'd taken, letting Liam empty his seed into her when she was entering her most fertile phase.
[ Sera vers Aldnoah | Science Labs | Starbase 84 ]
Sera was no stranger to anger and she could certainly catch a glimpse of it in the eyes of Hi'Jak shortly after she'd cut Simon Walt's miserable life short. She also knew that anger made people do stupid things so her finger was tense on the button of the phaser more than ready to shoot down the young klingon as well if he tried anything. Fortunately the mention of her ship appeared to defuse the tension between the two before it could escalate further. She watched as he claimed one of the phasers from one of the fallen security officers and proceeded to destroy a good deal of the lab equipment.
She followed him watching as he picked up Walt's combadge and proceeded to order the computer to initiate a biohazard evacuation procedure. As she heard the synthesized voice of the computer deny their request though she frowned. She looked out into the corridor and could see a crowd of people filing out of the area no doubt at the orders of Starfleet Security who she no doubt expected to be rushing here at this very moment. She took hold of Hi'Jak's arm. "This way." She said quickly pulling him toward the crowd. She wasn't a technician in any sense of the word so she didn't know any tricks or work arounds for their surveillance or computer issue. But she'd escaped enough angry Romulans and Klingons and Starfleet Officials to know how to dissapear into a crowd.
It was never easy especially when the entire place was as wired as a Borg cube but it certainly wasn't impossible. All they'd need to do was get out and find their way to one of the more populated sections of the Starbase and blend in. After that they could make their way to her ship hopefully Melissa wouldn't mind if they expedited their escape plans. "Keep your head down your ridges make you noticeable so keep your face out of sight." She said as they joined the group filing out of the labs. They didn't have much time not enough time at all but she pushed down the frustration welling up inside of her. She had only come here to get her relics back and now here she was in a giant mess.
[ Krystal "Meony" Tancredi | Fighter Assault Bay | USS Resolve ] Attn: CPO Erik Randall, Liam Herrold, K'Ren & F'Rell(https://orig01.deviantart.net/7fd3/f/2015/168/0/9/krystal_row_01_by_auctor_lucan-d8xn7ih.png)
Oblivious to any dirty looks that Randall might have aimed at her, Tancredi was all smiles now. It wasn't the victory of getting what she wanted as much as the fun of persuading Randall into doing something. She often imagined the man to be something akin to a stubborn bull, most unwilling to do anything except what he wanted to do, so the accomplishment of getting his cooperation was that much sweeter. To be honest, it was as much a victory for Randall as it might have been for the redhead, as the Chief Petty Officer did not refuse modification requests without a very good and valid reason. So it was a compromise to the mutual benefit of all involved. Now she oversaw the modifications to her shuttle personally. It wasn't an unfamiliar sight, in all honesty, Tancredi never was one to stay out of things even if she was liable to get in the way.
But in this case, she at least knew her own baby, and always worked alongside the other deck hands, if not Randall and Harrold themselves. She knew everyone here by name, knew their stories, their hopes, as much as they knew hers. They knew the southern belle would never leave the
Resolve or settle on Earth ever again. If they were ever to return, she would remain on board, probably even die on the ship. To keep her mind focused on the now of things, Tancredi buried herself in her work, carefully adjusting the power alignments of the fighter shuttle. She had taken off her flight suit and her hat, something she had seen K'Ren do as well (sans the hat), and the pilot had disappeared along with Harrold somewhere, not that she cared to know; she had eyes only for this power coupling right here in her hands. Tancredi was never known for her modesty, and was better known for relying on whatever seemed practical or most ideal to her. Right now, that meant flexibility and relative comfort, and if that meant she would end up showing a fair bit more flesh than usual, then so be it. Besides, the scars on her body weren't a pretty sight, so she quietly dared anyone to stare at her and not remember the horrors inflicted on her and everyone else aboard this ship.
She was holding a sonic driver between her teeth while wrestling with wires when the red alert sounded. Looking up at the ceiling, the redhead let out a soft sigh through her nose, "Ah cain't tell if Ah'm happy, or irritated, when Ah'm right about things like this."
Pulling herself to her feet, she glanced about and addressed the nearest deck hand, "Hey, sugah, do be a dahlin' and help me finish up at warp nine thousand? Much obliged, muah!" She blew a kiss and grabbed a nearby towel to wipe herself clean, then dressed back in her suit, leaving her hat on her seat, she was going to be powering up very soon, and everybody knew better than to mess with Tancredi's hat. Tapping her combadge, she quickly addressed all the pilots of Tribble Squadron, "Ah assume y'all heard that? Good. Haul butt, pronto! Ah want alla ya tribbles ready ta go tumblin' around in space at the drop of a hat. Meony out."
She rechecked her sidearms and other weapons one last time, then quietly muttered to herself, "We're all fucked, but what else is new?"
[Komial Dotnhil | Starbase 84 | USS Resolve Docking Pylon]Atten: Hawthorne, Havenborn, Juila, Kendrick, Tancredi, ch'Rayya
Lt. Dotnhil swept into the docking pylon bay like a small tornado, tossing about orders through her combadge as she approached the officers on hand. Coming to an abrupt stop, the Trill let her cold gaze sweep the room before her. Barricades were already going up in place, and she could see the shimmer of portable field generators set back a few meters from the docking tube that lead to the USS Resolve. She could see the engineering section of the ship in the distance, through the observation window, and her face became a mix of sorrow and anger.
They should have been coming home heroes - thats what we needed. Instead it looks like we're getting more traitors. She knew she shouldn't assume, not until all the evidence, all of it was tabbed up and confirmed, but she just couldn't dismiss what she had seen with Ian. She couldn't shake the feeling that they were all being duped, by the very people they had welcomed so shortly before.
Pushing those thoughts aside, and focusing on the task at hand, she moved over to a console that had been set up behind the barriers. It was a secure console, one that would utilize a direct line from the station to hail the ship attached to the pylon. Before she opened a channel she looked up, seeing the approach of the officer currently in command.
"Ma'am," the stoic Vulcan officer - Lt (jg) Selnak - addressed his superior, coming to attention. Receiving just the smallest nod from Komial, the Vulcan continued, delivering a brief sit rep. "Per your orders, a security perimeter has been established around the USS Resolve," if the junior officer felt any concern about this, neither his face nor tone betrayed a hint of it. "To this point, no one from the Resolve has attempted to enter or leave via the pylon bridge. Further more, scans have shown that the persons of interest from the ship, as well as the prisoner Drauc T'Laus and Officer Bradford were shown to be on the ship. Unfortunately," he paused here, and then, "a scattering field has been put in place. While we can communicate with the ship through that console," a nod in the direction of the device set squarely between the duo, "we can no longer determine who is or is not on the vessel. A most inconvenient development."
Inconvenient my ass, its down right tragic, Komial thought, but did not voice aloud. Lt. Selnak had done his job and certainly did not deserve any of her ire. Instead, she counted back from ten, letting the scowl she directed at the Resolve fade from her face. "Thank you, Mr. Selnak. Given our lack of options, let's see what our friends have to say for themselves."
Selnak had worked long enough with Lt. Dotnhil to know when she wanted a response, and when she did not. This instance, he deduced, was firmly the latter situation and as such he crossed his arms behind his back and stepped to one side, to see the display on the console as the Trill SecChief punched up the hailing protocols.
"To the crew of the USS Resolve" Komial said, keeping her tone even, professional. "An investigation is under way on this station. As part of this investigation, we are forced to request the presence of the following personnel. They are to disembark the Resolve immediately and turn themselves over to the proper authorities. For their actions in the break out of suspects already in custody, we require Captain Tristan Kendrick, and Ambassador F'Rell." She doubted the actual ambassadorial status of the alien passenger, but she did interfere with Komial's staff and that was grounds enough for her sake. "We require the surrender of the suspect A'vura Zeshryr, who is to be returned to our custody, as well as the prisoner Drauc T'Laus, both of whom are confirmed to be on your vessel. " She paused to let that sink in, and added, "We also demand that Security Officer Bradford be returned to us immediately. Scans have shown that he has been take aboard your vessel too, against his will."
Her tone had turned harsh at this point. Bradford may or may not have been an idiot, but he was one of her people and she would not stand for any of them being held captive. "Lastly, the following personnel are requested to disembark to the station for questioning in the pursuit of a related suspect: Lt. Keval ch'Rayya, and Ens Krystal Tancredi. Failure to do so promptly will force our hand, and that is the absolute last thing we wish to do at this time. Only these individuals need to surrender themselves. No one will be allowed to board or leave the USS Resolve until such time as the suspects are turned over to our custody."
There, Komial thought, eyeballing the vessel through the observation ports. Let them stew on that for a moment. "She knew the whole compliment of the crew on that ship had heard everything she had said.
While she waited for a reply from the - she refused to think of it as 'enemy' ship - her combadge chirped. Frowning she took a few steps away from the console (motioning to Selnak to man the station) and tapped the badge on her chest. "Dotnhil here."
[This is Lt. Mackenzie, ma'am, down in the Security Center,] she heard the deep, resonate voice of her Assistant Chief over the channel, and took a deep, slow breathe to keep herself calm. Mack was someone she trusted, had faith in. If he was calling now, it was important.
"Go ahead, Mack," she authorized.
[Aye ma'am. I have a report on Lt. Hi'Jak.] That focused Komial's interest, and Mack took her silence as a sign to continue, [We dispatched Chief Petty Officer Guerra and Crewman Tucker to take him into custody. His location at the time was Science lab 17. They are no longer responding, but their life-signs are at Lab 17, not moving.]
"Dispatch a second team there immediately, and request someone from medical," Komial ordered without missing a beat, her ire rising. "I can tell there's more you haven't said yet Mack. Tell me everything."
[Yes, ma'am. Additionally, Chief Science Officer Simon Walt called for security from Lab 17, saying that 'they' were about to kill him. His life-sign is no longer detected on base, winking out in Lab 17 just a minute ago. We have already dispatched that second team, and medical to the location.]
Komial feared the worse for the base's Chief of Science, "I'm afraid we're going to have to add murder to the charges against Lt. Hi'Jak, she said softly dreading the call she was going to have to put into Captain Hawthorne.
[We'll know more shortly Komial, but I suspect you're right,] Mack rarely used his SO's first name, but her tone, the disappointment that seeped through, merited it. It showed how hard this was hitting the Trill that she didn't even bother to correct him, and as such, he continued, [Our people here in the Security Center is now tracking Hi'Jak and a Câroon civilian by the name Sera vers Aldnoah from Lab 17 with the base's surveillance system, sending teams to intercept them. We'll update you further once they are apprehended, but for now, I wanted to loop you in.]
"Good job, Lieutenant," Komial replied after a moment, "I know I can count on you to see this through. Apprehend that murderous bastard. I want him in custody as fast as possible. Dotnhil out."
She swept some of her hair behind her ear, tucking it out of the way, and wondered briefly if she looked like she felt - a mess, out of sorts, sore from an amazing romp with her lover - a man who loved her - who now she was risking to let down with all this mess. She was out of her depth and she prayed it didn't show. She barely had a moment to catch her breath before her badge went off again, and with a ragged sigh she tapped it. "Report."
[Boss, this is P.O. Gates. I'm out in the lobby of the EOC, we have a situation.] The voice coming out of her badge was shaken and Komial knew immediately it wasn't good news. She could hear shouting in the background... Gates and Clarke had been sent after Six... Shit.
"Take a deep breath Petty Officer," she instructed, keeping the ire and concern out of her voice, "and tell me whats happened."
[Yes, ma'am,] she could actually hear him take that breath, despite the noise coming through her combadge, and it filled her with a new sense of trepidation. And her fears were borne out. [We were tracking Ens. Six and encountered her here in the EOC. Crewman Clarke... he moved to arrest her in the middle of the lobby. I tried to get him to wait until we had her in a more secluded position, like you ordered but...Clarke...he...well, his history -]
"I know," she stated bluntly, and regretted the assignment of Clarke instantly. She knew his history with the Borg but she expected him to use that to fuel the pursuit of Six, not turn the whole damn thing into a public shoot out.
[Aye ma'am,] Gates continued, reluctantly, [Apparently, Six was not alone, and a blonde woman wearing an engineering jumpsuit of the same kind that the dead Romulan wore aided Six in preventing arrest.] That was news to Komial but before she could comment, the officer on the scene added, [A firefight ensured, with Clarke opening fire.]
This time Komial let out an expletive that would have her grandmothers hair curling. Across the room, Selnak turned his attention towards her, eyebrow arching on his otherwise impassive forehead.
[It gets worse ma'am. Crewman Clarke was killed before Six and the unidentified woman were beamed out.] That was worse all right, and another bout of uncharacteristic profanity slipped out.
"Hold down the fort there, I'm sending help. Komial out. Shit, shit, shit," she swore and hit her badge again, "Dotnhil to Mackenzie. Send teams to the EOC Lobby asap. We have an officer down, and two, repeat two fugitives in the wind. Station wide alert to all staff - arrest Ensign six on site. Shoot first, ask questions later. STUN," she added quickly, "But take her down. She's got an accomplice - possibly related to the body we have in the morgue."
[Christ Almighty,] she heard Mack mutter under his breath, followed by a fast, [Yes ma'am. Teams are being dispatched now, but boss, we're running low here.]
"Understood. I'll dispatch a team from here as well. Lt. Selnak will coordinate on site." She didn't even have to turn to issue the orders - Selnak's Vulcan hearing could pick it up just fine, and was already pulling a few guards away to accompany him. "Mack, I need you to pour over the visuals - find out who the hell is helping Six turn this mess into a damn shoot out. I want a name, and I want it 5 minutes ago. Dotnhil out."
Things were falling apart all around her, and it was everything that Komial could do not to loose control. She wanted to shoot someone, she wanted to thrash, she wanted to cry. All the joy from earlier was gone, only to be replaced with growing dread.
One more time, Komial hit her combadge, "Lt. Dotnhil to Cpt. Hawthorne. I think you'd better head on down here sir. The situation is escalating. Our suspects have turned violent, murdering at least one of the station personnel - Crewmen Clarke. I suspect a second as well - Lieutenant Simon Walt." She paused and then, "All evidence points to collaboration with the bomber's body we found earlier, and unfortunately, with the crew of the Resolve."
[ Erik Randall | USS Resolve | Fighter Assault Bay ] Attn: Havenborn, SummerDawn, Triage & Absinthe
When the Red Alert came, Erik Randall stormed back onto the deck in the Fighter Assault Bay.
"What is going on?" he said loudly and looked around, seeing that the deck hands were either finishing up with the Tribble Squadron's shuttles or aborting the modification process pending on the state of completion. Fighter pilots were filing in, some of them already changing into their exosuits. Were they preparing to launch while inside the mushroom docking bay of the starbase?
"Chief Randall to..." he said as he tapped his chest, cursing since there still wasn't any combadge there. He dug it out of his trousers again and jammed his thumb into it. "Chief Randall to Lieutenant Havenborn, what is going on? Will the fighters be launching or not? If they are, the flight deck has to be cleared! The maintenance teams from the base have left all their crap over the deck, and our people are still trying to get their the fighters prepped for launch."
He took a deep breath, walking out across the deck littered with tools and trolleys from the teams that had been sent away when the quarantine was put into effect. the deck hands were still arms deep into the guts of the Tribble Squadron's shuttles. "What's the priority? Preparing the fighters or clearing the deck, Lieutenant? Your squadron is assembling down here as we speak, and the shuttle pilots too. With your permission, we really could use their help getting the bay ready!"
[Lt Hi'Jak (https://orig03.deviantart.net/94e6/f/2015/265/a/e/hi_jack_02_by_auctor_lucan-d86nthi.png)| going back to the science labs| Starbase 84] Attn: Auctor, & Roaria
Even without his combadge, Jack knew that his biology was making them a target. Keeping his head down was a little easier said than done, but he managed. He really wished that Starfleet uniforms allowed for a hood or anything that would have obscured his face. Walking with the currently evacuating crowd he kept close to Sera, and honestly was a little disturbed by what he had just seen.
Hi'Jak had never killed before, and as much as he hated Simon he had the full intention of letting the scum live or at least he thought he did. In the moment with the blinding rage pounding in his ears he wasn't sure what he was mad about. Simon didn't deserve to be mourned, and there was some part of him that was whispering into his ears saying that Simon... should have been his kill.
As they made it to the wall, Hi'Jak grabbed her by the arm and pulled her away from the crowd subtly leaving the evacuating people as they went for a turbo lifts, and turning down an empty hall cracking open a panel into the Jefferies tubes. "It will be harder to track us in these than if went into a turbolift and said a floor, they would security cutting us off before you could get out of the lift."
It was always uncomfortable, but at least they would have something, some way of moving around, and of course the best part, limited sensors. "As we go along if we find anything that looks important for sensors shoot it." Hi'Jak said as he crawled into the tunnel and started making his way down.
[ Lt. JG. Zelosa Ejek | Briefing Room - then corridors | USS Resolve ] Attn: Everyone in the briefing room, later: Havenborn
Ejek was more pleased than reasonable as red alert sounded through the room. Something she had suggested was implemented. Whether it happened due to her suggestion or not did not matter; it happened, and thus made her feel a little more in control. Good. Because she needed her focus and resolve.
"Understood, Captain," the Cardassian acknowledged Kendrick's order. There was no time to thoroughly process the information from the Romulan's transmittion (Ejek was still not entirely over the beam-in of borg and engineer, either). She had it memorised and would think it over, later. For now it was time to concentrate on stalling starbase security. Hopefully, she'd still have everything said in the conference room present enough to draw the right conclusions when confronted with more evidence, or difficult decisions.
Before Ejek could more than nod to Doctor Parnak, he had already turned to Ensign Zeshryr. Maybe she was just slow to react, with everything that was on her mind. It didn't matter. Everyone was in a hurry, the female Cardassian included. She turned to Havenborn. "Lieutenant," and was already on her way out of the conference room.
Without knowledge of starbase security chief Lt. Dotnihl's hail - it needed to be patched forth to be heard in their location - they headed to an air-lock in the saucer.
"What are your plans on stalling security?" The Cardassian asked the Squadron Commanding Officer. "Because if I'm entirely honest, mine isn't ready yet."
[ LT Daniel Havenborn | Briefing Room to Airlock | USS Resolve ] Attn: Chief Randall, Ejek, K'Ren, Tancredi, on duty security person (and anyone else I may have missed)
Daniel nodded as Kendrick gave him his orders, as he waited for the briefing to come to an end he began to think about everything he could do to keep the personnel on the Resolve, several things came into mind as the Captain mentioned that they shouldn't be allowed to leave the ship. Though he wasn't certain if the Captain would agree with it or not, but he could take the heat on that later if needed. Suddenly two beamed into the room and Daniel reached for his sidearm, a modified phaser that fit more firmly in his hand than a regular phaser did, it was shaped much like the weapons that he had grown up with and he honestly felt that his accuracy was far better for it. As he was about to remove his sidearm from his holster he watched as the Captain greeted the newcomers and when he was about to say something he ordered him and Junior Lieutenant Ejek to stall. As he nodded to Kendrick and left the briefing room he received a call from Chief Randall.
Walking through the corridor he listened to the Chief's call and while part of him agreed that the fighters could be useful he knew that they wouldn't last long against the Starbase, which likely had its own Tactical CONN presence and would be launched against them and if all things were equal his squadron could stand their own but he knew such things were just a pipe dream. "Calm down Chief, we're not going to be launching anything at the moment. Clear the bay but I want my pilots suited up and armed." He said as he thought for a moment as he and Ejek entered a turbolift to head down to the airlock. "Have Ensigns K'Ren and Tancredi report in to me when they're suited up and armed, Havenborn out." He said as he closed the communications channel.
Daniel listened to Ejek explain that her plans to stall security weren't ready however his was ready; he just needed the time to implement it. "My plan is to defend this ship and keep starbase security onboard, one way or another." Daniel said as he paused for a moment thinking about his plan one more time. "First we invite the starbase security onboard, then I'm going to have Ensign Tancredi release vial one hundred and seventeen from science lab four." Vial 117 contained a contagious non-life threatening biological agent that had some sort of unique properties to it, he couldn't remember what exactly it did just that it wasn't life threatening. He remembered the vial from the times that he and Junior Lieutenant Krissy Williams had hooked up, she was an expert on Vial 117 and he had listened to her talk about it quite a few times though he didn't remember all the details about it, he smirked at that thought.
"We'll then have to hold them for medical reasons and if they try to leave forcibly or resist in any way I'll have our security teams on standby with my pilots and we'll stun them and toss them in the brig or a cargo bay six." Daniel said, he had chosen cargo bay six because it was an external cargo bay and he could use the threat of exposing them to vacuum if necessary. He then tapped his combadge. "Lieutenant Havenborn to Security. Have all remaining security personnel prepare to stun any starbase security personnel, Ensign K'Ren will coordinate with you when she arrives." He said as they exited the turbolift and headed towards the airlock.
[Komial Dotnhil | Starbase 84 | USS Resolve Docking Pylon]Atten: Hawthorne, Havenborn, Juila, Kendrick
Even before Komial received a confirmation response from the Captain, her guards were snapping to and calling out, pulling her attention back to the airlock for the embargoed vessel. Her dark eyes snapped up and a scowl once again formed on her face. She signaled two of the guards to take up flanking postioins and drew herself upright. Using the local comm command panel to project and amplify her voice - the same device she used to hail the ship moments ago - Komail addressed the apparent new comers at the airlock cycled.
"Approach slowly. No sudden movements," she called out in a stern yet cool voice, not at all betraying the worry and anxiety racing behind those eyes, nor the anger bubbling in her gut, "State your names and rank. Are you here to surrender and accept terms. Be very, very careful how you answer." While Komial did not have a weapon drawn, plenty of her team did, and the duo from the Resolve would find themselves stairring down the emitters of multiple phaser rifles. No one had replied to her hail via the open comm network, and that bothered the Trill very much.
Something, she knew, was up.
[ Sera vers Aldnoah | Starbase 84 ]
Sera shot brief glances over at Hi'Jak as they did their best to blend in with the crowd around them. She was having a bit of a harder time doing so considering she was the only civilian evacuating the science wing. Though she assumed Hi'Jak was having just as difficult of a time with his own anatomy working against him. She scowled down at the tattoos adorning her arms she understood that they were part of her culture but it didn't stop her from resenting them for giving her away so easily.
As they made it to the hall she felt a hand grasp her arm. Her first instinct was to punch whoever was touching her but as she caught sight of Hi'Jak she allowed her clenched fist to loosen. She watched as he cracked open an access panel exposing a Jeffery tube. She glanced at Hi'Jak a small smile on her lips. "Good thinking." She said as he explained that taking the Jefferies tubes would most likely be safer than taking the turbolifts.
She maneuvered herself into the tube climbing down until there was enough room for Hi'Jak to squeeze in as well. "Come on try to put that access panel back too." She said up the shaft toward the opening as she waited for her temporary partner in crime.
[ ENS K'Ren | Briefing Room to Airlock | USS Resolve ] Attn: LT Havenborn
K'Ren was changed into her flight suit within minutes of climbing out of the engine pit of the fighter. Instinct from the number of times she'd been forced awake and out of her bunk in the middle of sleep, the changing into her flight uniform without any real care for how she looked, the enemy could care less if your fur was ruffled or not. Helmet under her arm, K'Ren strode back on to the flight deck as she'd done so many times.
She smiled at Liam who was busy prepping another fighter, hers already buttoned up from the looks of it and ready to go. She'd do a preflight obviously but her trained eyes didn't spot any glaring faults. Thinking back to earlier that was one memory that was going to stick with her awhile she mused, still not quite exactly cognizant of the exact risk she'd taken, her instincts and thoughts tuned more towards the upcoming battle then the minutes before.
She was beginning her walk-around when she felt, something between the sound of footfalls and the scent of the deck chief, CPO Randall behind her. He never came up to specific pilots while an alert was going down so something must be up. When he told her that Lt Havenborn wanted to speak with her, she had a sneaking suspicion she knew what for. When she was handed a phaser weapon that normally only ground crew and security were issued, she knew something big was up, and most likely related to the security breach.
Giving Lt Havenborn a call, she spoke to her superior officer over the comm system in her suit. "You wished to speak with me Lieutenant?"
[ Erik Randall | USS Resolve | Fighter Assault Bay ] Attn: Havenborn, SummerDawn, Triage & Absinthe
Hearing the reply from Lieutenant Havenborn, Erik had made a cursory acknowledgement followed by a cursory curse.
He cast his gaze about and called a few orders to his team, making sure they knew their priorities. He also had to get two of the pilots to report to Havenborn, and get them armed, so that was his personal undertaking. He already knew that Tancredi was armed, so there was no use going to her with a phaser from the weapons locker in the back of the deck. Instead, he fetched power packs and a Type II hand phaser for K'Ren and made his way over to her, soon telling the Catian to give Havenborn a call after he gave her the weapons.
Next, he made his way to Tancredi, seeing that she was indeed already armed. "The SCO has orders, so get in touch with him. Apparently, you will not be launching just yet. Keep those... guns of yours close too. It sounded like something else is afoot."
Having said that to Tancredi, with no time for ought else, he joined his crew to make sure the bay was ready for launching the crafts if so required. He glanced at Liam as he passed him by, wondering why he was looking at the Catian's back. He shrugged, no time to give it any thought. He had work to do.
[Ensign Six (https://img14.deviantart.net/51cf/i/2015/255/0/5/six_01_by_auctor_lucan-d91bx0h.png) and Ensign A’vura Zeshryr (https://orig08.deviantart.net/ca09/f/2015/289/a/2/a_vura_row_01_by_auctor_lucan-d9d9ngm.png) | Briefing Room | Resolve] Attn: Everyone in the briefing room!
Six glanced at the chan, analyzing him for a split second before nodding her head and responding in kind. “The explosion that killed the Romulan in question happened due to a local transmission. I’m fairly certain that it not only came from within the sector but from inside the base. My superior officer ordered my findings sent straight to her within Captain Hawthorne’s quarters without requests for backups being sent directly to the rest of top security officers. When a Captain or higher is in question it is standard protocol to present those findings to someone other than a Captain or higher, or at least with a party of legislatures and witnesses to ensure that the truth is managed. She did none of these things, and then within moments of leaving and returning to my station at security headquarters, it was attempted to…” she paused a moment with what could appear to be a smidgen of disdain, “ apprehend me. Things did not go well. My phaser beam and the energy of a plasma torch mingled and the resulting blast killed one of the men sent to disarm me, seemingly at any cost. I’ve more to gain at this point trusting your crew than to be lost going back from where I came. “
As Six continued on with her findings of the Starfleet issued materials the detonation device used and the precise type of device that was utilized to make said explosive that had lay hidden within the dead Romulan, A’vura turned to Parnak as he came for a sample of her hair. She did as he asked her, producing several strands, hopefully in the way that he needed from her, carefully.
She did not, however follow the man as he eventually left the briefing room. Instead she turned back to Kendrick and the Borg woman and shook her head a bit. It was unnerving to listen to the man that had attacked her once again. Her cheeks burned and her eyes narrowed at the PADD with a flash of anger and hatred for the man that had left her in such a dire state. Clearing her throat though she pressed past that thought, her voice rasping a moment when she first tried to speak before clearing her throat and trying again. “His voice is so distorted. It’s hard to tell if that is even a male, though by the sounds of it it likely is. Is there any way to clear up the transmission so the voice is more recognizable?”
Six turned to the PADD and used it to try and reconfigure the transmission to play in clearer than before, attempting to remove the distortion that the speaker's communication device was causing. When she finished, she played the transmission a second time now that clearance had been granted, and frowned, deeply. “I know that voice. It’s… familiar to me. I’ve heard it before. Many times. I.. I can’t quite place where though. It’s still too distorted. I’m not sure if I can clear it up anymore without damaging the transmission’s credibility. Captain do you have any ideas?”
At that point, the sliding doors opened and admitted the Captain's Yeoman again, voice shaken "Captain, there was a hail from the base. I am patching it through here." At the word from the Captain, and with a couple of taps on the PADD held in the Yeoman's hand...
...the voice of Starbase 84's Chief of Security was heard in the briefing room, making her demands.
[ Krystal “Meony” Tancredi | Fighter Assault Bay | USS Resolve ] Attn: LT Havenborn, CPO Erik Randall, Liam Herrold, K'Ren & F'Rell(https://orig01.deviantart.net/7fd3/f/2015/168/0/9/krystal_row_01_by_auctor_lucan-d8xn7ih.png)
Everyone was frantic, everyone was running around, doing things real fast. That was how someone was going to slip up...if they were of any other Federation crew outside of the
Resolve. But for the last few years, the crew of the Luna-class starship had been pressed into moving at high speed with maximum efficiency. While she waited for the rest of Tribble Squadron to form up, Tancredi busied herself with helping to clear the deck, but it turned out in the end that she would be busy elsewhere, as she saw Randall approaching her. She nodded at his instructions and passed on her present work to the nearest personnel. When he turned his back to her, she quickly went up to him.
“Hey,” said Tancredi, and then she gave him a very quick sideways hug, letting go before he even knew what had happened, “stay alive.”
Her tone indicated she meant it. It was one of the few times that her voice lost its edgy, aggressive aspect, and became low, feminine. She relished battle, but she also hated the losses that often came with it. The loss of lives. The loss of family. Who would it be this time? K'Ren? F'Rell? Herrold? She would thank God very audibly if nobody died, but she wasn't one given to reckless optimism. Heading away from the chaos of the Fighter Assault Bay, Tancredi tapped her badge and with the computer's help, had a direct line to Havenborn in short order. “Reporting fer duty, suh! Whaddaya need from me?”
[LT Keval ch'Rayya/ Chief Tac/Sec/ USS Resolve Briefing Room] ATTN: Kendrick and others in the briefing room.
After the various bits of information came through the room followed by Kendrick's orders, Keval spoke.
"Tristan, I think that our arrival may have sped something else up," the andorian said as he moved to his feet, his blue orbs narrowing deeper in thought. "I don't have all of the information but if things are going the way that it is I think the Hawk elements in fleet command must have sway again."
Keval then tapped a couple of commands into a station at his spot at the table. "If we exit red alert status, I want to move my deputies to key locations and start activating transport inhibitors to block anymore... unwelcome guests from just hopping aboard our home but I'm going to head down to the head down to the docking port and ensure that nobody does anything totally stupid there."
Keval then started to head towards the door, "If you're wanting my opinion then it's that we remain at red alert and go directly to dealing with a potentially very hot and hostile starbase security chief... Captain."
[Lt Hi'Jak (https://orig03.deviantart.net/94e6/f/2015/265/a/e/hi_jack_02_by_auctor_lucan-d86nthi.png)| Starbase 84 | Jefferies Tubes ] Attn: Auctor, & Roaria
Jack didn't have much love for the tubes in all honesty. They were cramped, sweaty passages that ran for miles and they always made him feel claustrophobic. Even though this was his idea as he moved the pannel back into place he already regretted the use of the maintaniance shaft. "So we have two options, and neither are great. We can either head towards the travel core, and litterally ride a lift." Something that was dangerous and stupid if time saving.
"Or we can climb something like a thousand miles of tubes slowly and be exausted by the time we got to your ship." Hi'Jak muttered as he moved to follow her, the cramped place basically meant that he was forced to watch Sera's ass as they moved. Still hopefully the sensors were weaker in the tubes. In truth it wasn't much of a choice, the lifts were far better suited towards their needs at the moment and that meant heading towards the travel core.
"Not that I don't mind the view, but shouldn't I be in lead? I mean I've actually used these tubes before do you know where we are going?" Hi'Jak said rolling his eyes for a moment not that there were a lot of places to go from the lab. He really wished he could have quarantined the sector or done something to slow security. Still being stuck behind Sera did have one advantage, like he said he really didn't mind the view. He had always thought of himself as more of an ass and leg person and Sera's lower half wasn't half bad looking. He could see the allure though now when they were in danger of being caught really wasn't the best time.
OOC: Kendrick reply coming later today.
[Lt. JG. Zelosa Ejek | Halls | USS Resolve] Attn: Havenborn, SummerDawn, Triage, Brutus + whoever I've forgotten
That was his plan? Ejek shot a glance at her superior officer as if to question his sanity, but she controlled herself. "What is vial 117?" She asked, instead, her voice forcefully calm. As a member of an alien species relatively new to Starfleet, she was more sceptical than most when confronted with unknown substances. Lest she unwittingly got in contact with cobalt diselenide because it was supposedly non-lethal. And the Cardassian state only knew what was deadly to F'Rell. No, actually Ejek was pretty sure not even the Cardassian science ministry knew that for a fact.
"Are you absolutely certain it's not harmful for our residing T'fanrell?" The Cardassian probed further. That reminded her, they still needed an excuse for F'Rell's participation in the jail break. She'd been used, Ejek though. Yes, that would most likely suffice.
"If you ask me, since our primary mission is to stall, don't have Tancredi release anything safe for coloured steam. Or narcotic gas, if you must; that way they're sure out for a while, and we can conveniently quarantine them in sickbay." Ejek shrugged. "We'd blame the release on the Captain and his followers, and claim we'd have to keep our guests under surveillance until we know what it was. Then we apologise for the hold-up, as it turns out everything's fine, and have starbase security puzzle out how Kendrick and his friends betrayed us all. Hurray, they're our saviours."
The Cardassian turned around the next corner and the docking bay doors came in sight. Almost at the same time, Ensign K'Ren's voice sounded through the Lieutenant's combadge. A tinge of guilt flashed through Ejek. She knew she had yet to answer the hybrid's message. The Cardassian kept posture and her mouth shut in a downright irrational attempt to not let the half-Caitian know she was present.
Ensign Tancredi's voice was the next on the line. Things were coming to a head.
Ejek didn't interrupt Havenborn as he issued orders. For the sake of the Resolve crew's integrity she hoped that it would not come to any open confrontation with starbase security. Their best bet was the base would go for the Aerowing once it launched and left the Luna-class vessel be until after they discovered who they were supposed to blame for all that.
With a deep breath the Cardassian forced herself to leave the false security behind the Resolve's shields to face the security department of starbase 84. Since she hadn't gotten anything of the security chief's previous hail, she was relatively unprepared of what was awaiting her behind the docking bay doors.
She stopped immediately when addressed by Lieutenant Dotnihl, slowly raising her hands, palms shown, in a gesture of surrender to the vast amount of phasers pointing at her. This was the second time today. Things didn't get better.
"Zelosa Ejek, Lieutenant Junior Grade." She stated her rank and name, in the requested order. "We do not know of any terms, but we are here to meet with you." The Cardassian said, grateful for how obviously intimidated she was by this situation. There was no need to play anything at all. "Perhaps we can peacefully sort out this... misunderstanding." It had to be a misunderstanding when a group of heavily armed people threatened an unarmed counsellor and the Squadron Commander of a starship, speaking of terms of surrender that had yet to be issued, hadn't it?
[Captain Tristan Kendrick | Briefing Room | USS Resolve ] Attn: Everyone in the briefing room! + Follow Tomorrow
The transmission played out and Kendrick actually smiled for a moment. For once it seemed they had some hard evidence that there was a traitor among the starbase. The former Borg and her friend just brought them an important piece of the puzzle. What was more the voice was something to him. He wasn't sure where or who it was, but there was some familiarity to it as well, and If both he and Six had heard that voice it was making it seem like the list was getting smaller and smaller for their mystery saboteur.
He relaxed a little with this the two intruders into his briefing room were certainly welcome if they were bringing him information like this. "The voice is... I can't place it, but lets see what our engineering team can do with it." Taking the PADD, he sent the transmission to his Chief Engineer and then tapped his combadge. "Suq-Reylin-Efreya, great work on the jamming signal. Check your messages and listened to the transmission I just sent you. Maybe you and your team can clear it up a little more, or match it with someone in the Starfleet database."
The database that this ship no longer had. He paused for a moment before shrugging. "Just see what you can do, I don't expect a miracle, but keep it safe."
The next intrusion into the briefing room was his Yeoman Lane was an elderly woman who's once blond hair had started to fade and had several wrinkles along her face though he wasn't entirely sure if those were from her age, or the stress the crew had from the years of being in enemy space. They had all aged unnaturally at some point. He didn't say anything at first as the Yeoman worked to patch through a set of demands from the star-bases' chief of security.
Top among that list was to hand himself over along with the other members of his crew that the plan was supposed to protect. He had no intentions of actually submitting to any of the demands at this moment. His attention returned to Six.
"That's the same Chief of Security you showed the evidence too?" He asked curiously for a moment but shook it off. For now, this place was the safest for him as long as they remained locked in at red alert there was no way to get a clear transporter reading on anyone and so transporter dampeners weren't needed as long as they kept shields raised.
Keval made his request, and Tristan nodded. "Agreed, we stay at Red Alert, and you can go deal with security. We need to get that decoy ship launched, any time you can help to buy is a definite good thing."
Kendrick had to admit that yeah, it was likely that the war hungry hawks were back in power. It was a lot like the situation during the Klingon peace talks, and he wasn't surprised. The Romulan Star Empire was in open revolt and there for weak, and whenever an 'enemy' showed weakness there was always going to be some faction that turned around and wanted blood, even among the most peaceful operations.
For now, he would just have to keep his faith in his crew, and stay out of the way, which brought him to A'vura, Six and the other entity still in the briefing room. The four of them had no job except staying away from security.
"For now the four of us need to find some place to stay out of the way if they sweep the ship. Thiose known to them are supposed to be on the decoy aerowing." He considered for a few moments hiding places that would have worked and none came immediately to his mind.
"A'vura any suggestions on where we can go?"
He turned to the unknown and Six. "Thank you for risking your lives to bringing all of this to my attention. You took a great risk and for that my crew will do what we can to protect you both." Sanctuary on his ship was about the only thing he had to offer at this point, and even then they would need to be clever and work out some place to stay.
"What's your name?" He asked looking to the one person who hadn't introduced herself in the briefing room, an attractive blonde woman in a jumpsuit that did not appear to know Six that well either...
[ LT Daniel Havenborn | Airlock | USS Resolve ] Attn: Julia, Brutus, Triage, SummerDawn
As Daniel received the first message from Ensign K'Ren he smiled at the prompt response. "Ensign K'Ren head to security and coordinate with them. Also check in with Lieutenant ch'Rayya and see where the best spots for his security personnel would be just in case this turns into a firefight. That's all, Havenborn out." He said as he closed the communications channel and a moment later he was contacted by Ensign Tancredi.
"Ensign Tancredi I want you to head to science lab four and find vial one hundred and seventeen, that's vial one-one-seven, and release it into the ships environmental system, the contents are harmless to anyone on the Resolve. That's all, Havenborn out." He said as he turned to Ejek.
"Vial one hundred and seventeen contains a non-life threatening contagious biological agent that is essentially harmless; we're safe as we've all had the inoculations for them, unless someone on the ship hasn't been here for the past three years." He said as he paused for a moment. "I can't remember the exact symptoms but they're not life threatening; just look incredibly alien. It's something that our doctors will recognize and they'll be able to help us with stalling them." Daniel answered her.
Daniel let Ejek walk forward and talk to the starbase security personnel. He straggled in his steps, hanging back as they approached the barricade. It took him quite a bit of willpower not to grab his pistol and take aim, but it was hardly advisable given the circumstances. Being closer to the airlock, he reasoned he had a fighting chance at opening fire and retreating back into the protection Resolve's bulkheads if things took a turn for the worst.
[Komial Dotnhil | Starbase 84 | USS Resolve Docking Pylon]Atten: Hawthorne, Havenborn, Juila, Kendrick
While she confronted the two officers from the - she hated thinking of it as 'enemy' ship, so she went with embargoed instead - she discreetly glanced down at the mobile unit set up in front of her. It was pulling up what little crew file's they had managed to assemble in regards to the Resolve since its return to Federation Space. Which wasn't a whole lot, she reflected as she watched the Junior Graded Lieutenant in the teal of science and medical raise her arms up.
Zelosa Ejek , Komial thought, reviewing the thin notation about being one of the first Cardassians in Starfleet, and apparently being a counselor. She imagined a ship trapped on the wrong side of the neutral zone would need one of those. If she wasn't part of some treacherous plot between the Cardassian government and the Romulan Empire. But Komail admonished herself not to jump to too many conclusions, despite the fact that there was mounting evidence against them. She had her orders and she would stick to them.
"A misunderstanding?" Komial asked as she looked between the two officers. While her team had informed her - discreetly - of the shields being raised on the embargoed vessel, she knew there was no such protection extending through the airlock. The physical contact of the docking tube would interuppt the flow of the shields. She picked up on the way the man in fighter white hung back, closer to the port into his own ship. She narrowed her eyes slightly, looking for any kind of tell. Years of training told her that man was about as on edge as could be, despite the cool facade he had on. He was a professional warrior, unlike the woman currently addressing Komail and her officers. Keeping her hand hidden on the console, she discreetly gesutured to another member of her team to keep his eyes and weapon trained of the fighter pilot.
"Who sent you out, Lt. Ejek. Do stay just where you are," she added, letting her team emphasize the point with a slight raising of a phaser rifle, "And who is your friend back there?" The computer would tell her, but still. The Cardassian was about ten meters away, and the human half the distance away from the Resolve's airlock.
[ Krystal "Meony" Tancredi | Corridor to the Fighter Assault Bay | USS Resolve ] Attn: LT Daniel Havenborn, Chief Medical Officer Lyhn(https://orig01.deviantart.net/7fd3/f/2015/168/0/9/krystal_row_01_by_auctor_lucan-d8xn7ih.png)
"A'ight, sugah, ya got it! Ah'll check with Lyhn to make sure we've all gotten shots for it too!" said Tancredi, and turned off her communications with the lieutenant. She started jogging towards the turbolift to get to the science labs, when she stopped midway in an empty corridor, "Hold it!"
It just occurred to her that yes, Vial 117, a very fun vial, was harmless to almost everyone on board the
Resolve. But not
everyone presently on board the
Resolve had been inoculated just yet. That Romulan for one, the annoying Cardassian, Doctor Silim Parnak, and Officer Useless. Well, no need to waste resources on someone useless...so no issues there. But the Romulan...and unfortunately, even Parnak would need inoculation. Sighing, Tancredi tapped her combadge, "Doctor Lyhn?"
"Yes, Meony?" said Lyhn, sounding more than a little busy.
"Sorry to bother ya, but Lieutenant Havenborn wants ta flood our environmental systems with Vial One-One-Seven," said Tancredi, "you remember
that vial, don't ya? Good times. Anyway, Ah think he forgot our new guests don' have the inoculation against it jus' yet. Our Rommie friend's gonna need if he doesn't want ta spend da next few days goin' through embarrassin' experiences. Oh...and...Doctor Parnak too...ya know, that damn Cardassian. But, no rush for him, really, no rush at all. Or ya know, jus' use something sharp and painful fer 'im...if ya don' mind that is."
Tancredi couldn't help herself. She was an opinionated sadistic bitch that was not afraid to speak her mind, and Lyhn knew it. Oh she knew it very well. She knew how well Tancredi could cuss in English, Chinese, French, Klingon, Romulan and Cardassian, all in one very long sentence, during surgeries, and that was with sedatives. Without sedatives, she could add several more languages in, because the first thing Tancredi learned from any new language to her was the foul words. As Captain Kendrick knew, if he wanted to start wars, he would just lock Tancredi in a room that could communicate across the quadrants. So Lyhn took everything she said in a stride, practically ignoring her painful suggestions on how to give Parnak the inoculation and replied with, "Understood, Ensign. Parnak's with me right now, so I'll administer the treatment for him, first. Carry on."
"Roger," Tancredi closed her link and entered the turbolift, "Sahns Labs."
"Unknown location, please state again." said the feminine computerized voice.
"Gahd dammit!" Tancredi took a deep breath, and said very slowly, "Science...labs."
The turbolift began to move, and Tancredi leaned back against the wall, muttering, "Four centuries since da first computer. Ya'd think they'd have a comp that can understand fucking accents bah now..."
[ Science Lab 4 | USS Resolve ]Tancredi lightly tapped her fingers over the various vials in storage, making beeping noises with each touch over one, "Boop, boop, boop, oOOoo, Vial Sixty-Nine, very naughty...Vial One-One-Five, One-One-Six, ah, One-One-Seven. Come ta mama."
She retrieved the vial, and headed out for the Environmental Systems. "♫♪Let's get it staaarted-uh-hot! Let's get it staaarted IN HERE!♪♫"
Once more in the turbolift, she looked up questioningly at the ceiling, and then said "En-che-nearing! And if ya don' get
that, Ah'm gonna fucking shoot ya!"
Fortunately for the computer, it apparently figured it out, and sent Tancredi to her desired destination with all due alacrity.
[ Ship Environmental Systems | Engineering Deck | USS Resolve ]Skipping over, Tancredi opened the valve to receive the vial, and shoved 117 into it. "All raht, fahr in da hole!"
With a snap and hiss, the vial's contents was released into the systems. Soon, everyone within the
Resolve would be inhaling the lovely contents of the vial, and God help those without inoculation. Tancredi had half a mind to run over to the brig just to watch Officer Useless and cackle at his dilemma. "Damn Ah love mah job!"
[ Sera vers Aldnoah | Starbase 84 | Jefferies Tubes ]
Sera frowned as Hi'Jak presented their options to her and sure enough as he'd said neither option sounded good in any definition of the word. One involved taking the risk of trying to take a lift while the other involved climbing through miles of Jefferies tubes to get to the shuttle bay where Sabine was waiting. Although it was dangerous and the chance of getting caught was far greater she had to say that heading toward the travel core sounded like the far better option. She sighed thinking about the many ways their escape could go wrong most of them involved the two of them shooting their way through a small army of security officers to finally reach the shuttle bay.
Sera glanced back at Hi'Jak as he mentioned that he should probably be leading considering he actually knew how to navigate through the tubs. To be fair he had a point but right now in the cramped space there wasn't much room to let him get ahead of her. His comment about the view didn't escape her either but at the current moment they both had better things to worry themselves with. "Take a picture it'll last longer." She said as she looked ahead of them. "Just tell me which way to go I can't really make much room for you in here." She said simply.
[LT Keval ch'Rayya/ Chief Tac & Sec/ USS Resolve Briefing Room] ATTN: Briefing room & Docking Gantry.
Keval nodded at his captain's orders as he left the briefing room and ran into Crewman Jaffe who handed his department chief a phaser rifle and a hand unit which he gratefully accepted before tapping his com-badge. "The is Keval to Ensign Chu'lak, Launch the aeroshuttle at once on my authority." he said.
*Confirmed, Lieutenant* came back the Vulcan officer's reply.
"Come on, Jaffe. I want to make sure that everything over in the gantry is on the up and up." Keval said as he and the crewman quickly made their way down there but what he saw when he got there made his blood freeze (even more so for an Andorian) as he watched Zelosa with her arms up as the busty, red headed chief of security of the starbase started to bark orders.
"Damn sir. I don't know if I'm to shoot her or fall in love." the almost still wet behind the ears enlisted said plainly as he looked at the the base's chief of security.
"If I had a strip of latinum for every time.." he muttered darkly as the conversation that he had with Krystal only earlier that same day floated through his mind as he made a couple of quick adjustments to his rifle's settings before following it up with the hand unit. "Look, keep your eyes on the base personnel and try to focus on creating a cross fire to not hit any of our people."
Jaffe looked up at his chief and nodded slowly as he quickly started to make an adjustment to his rifle's beam emitter.
"What are you doing?" Keval asked as he re-holstered his hand unit and got ready to position himself for an optimal field of fire.
"Well the compression phaser rifle uses a unique two field emitter range system and by manually adjusting it instead of going through the weapon's own internal system." Jaffe said as the weapon made a slight whirring noise before he braced it against his own shoulder. "It narrows the field down and prevents my department chief from kicking my ass later."
Keval didn't say a word as he quietly went back to keeping the cardassian woman covered to the best of his ability and allowed his instincts, honed from years of operational use, combined with the senses that Lor'Vela had granted him to keep his people safe from harm.
[ Melissa Wright | Briefing Lounge | U.S.S. Resolve ] Attn: Kaligos, Vystori, All others
Well, tits up didn't really begin to describe Melissa's day. If she didn't know better, she'd pinch herself and check this all wasn't a dream. After completing repairs and arming Sabine, She was told to remove everything again. She'd met the glorious tattoo-handed tomb raider and hatched a plan to escape to a world of excitement, adventure, and perhaps even a bit of slap and tickle.
It was after that when everything had started to turn for the worse. She didn't even know what had gotten into her head but, with all the talk of running away and starting a new life, she must had felt heroic. That could be the reason why she'd attempt to jump in front of a security guard to save a woman she'd never even met before. The woman hadn't even thanked her before she abruptly beamed them both to god knows where. Although what she had said reminded Melissa of a particularly awful boyfriend she had in the academy who was obsessed with those late 20th Century movies. The robot in that movie was pretty cool, but why were so many boys pre-occupied with that period in history anyway? She shuddered the thought away and brought her attention back to the room.
It appeared that there were things happening on the Starbase which was outside of her little world. Some form of dastardly plot was underway, and it meant that Mel was here; with Orions and Romulans and Cardassians, oh my!
The captain had taken the time out of his obviously busy schedule to thank Melissa and the borg for their part on this unfolding story. Offering them hospitality and solace of the ship. It took a moment to realise that he was the one who had returned from spending the last few years in Romulan space. Mel tried to remember what it was even called. It had been the talk of the station when they had returned? Was it the Resolute? The Revolution? It didn't matter anyway. What did matter was that she got back, to Sabine and Sera.
"Petty Officer Melissa Wright, Sir." Melissa saluted the captain. "Sir, I realise there is a lot going on, but is there any way I could get back to Starbase 84?..." She paused, before mentally shrugging, might as well go the whole hog. Melissa tried to avoid her cheeks becoming flush. "...I have a date."
[ Dr. Silim Parnak | Main Sickbay | U.S.S. Resolve ] Attn: Auctor Lucan, Triage, All others who care
Silim looked into the canister before sealing it shut with a final click. It was, for lack of a better word, disgusting. Inside each one was enough raw materials and a small electronic pulse generator, which would fool a sensor into mistaking it for a living being. Each one was fine tuned for the race of whom they were emulating. Checking with a tricorder that all the canisters were now complete, Silim sighed in relief. He had rushed the process as time was short. Usually this would take hours if not days to complete. He hoped it would be good enough.
"We're ready." He said matter of factly towards his fellow doctor. "It's not going to win any beauty pageants, but it'll do." Doctor Lyhn had been following Parnak's progress with keen eyes, but was sensible enough to give the Cardassian space to work. Lyhn called across the orderlies who proceeded to load up and cart them off to their destination. Silim had a though to call out after them, with a standard 'If you break it you bought it' speech, but he couldn't really be bothered. In fact, he was feeling a bit tired.
Lyhn's combadge chirped and what followed was the sweet dulcet tones of Tancredi. Although it was rude to overhear on another's conversation, Silim couldn't resist and when the topic changed to be about himself, he was jubilant. At least for the few seconds before she requested him to be stuck with something painful. While most would change expressions to that of someone with a slapped ass, Silim couldn't help but smirk. No matter what she said, he was in her mind. Stage one of dance was complete.
As Lyhn retrieved the materials to inoculate both Parnak and Drauc. Silim used his combadge. "Parnak to Kendrick. The canisters are complete. They're being taken to the shuttle now. Would you care to inform your Romulan comrade?"
[ Suq | Main Engineering | U.S.S. Resolve ] Attn: Kaligos, Auctor Lucan "Suq-Reylin-Efreya, great work on the jamming signal. Check your messages and listened to the transmission I just sent you. Maybe you and your team can clear it up a little more, or match it with someone in the Starfleet database [...] Just see what you can do, I don't expect a miracle, but keep it safe."
"On it, Captain."
Suq had been hunched over a console, he straightened up when he heard his Captain's voice. He tapped his screen over to his personal inbox, newly wiped out thanks to the clean database. There was a message with a transmission attached. He hit play and closed his eyes to listen.
"Greetings, 'Ghost'. This is 'Moon'..." Began the transmission. Suq recognized Romulan for a split second, before the universal translator kicked in. His sensitive ears had to work hard to pick up every tone in the mystery stranger's voice. Moon had used a voice distortion device. The whole transmission played and Suq still couldn't make heads or tails of the voice, except that Moon was a man. Or maybe a really manly woman. Suq bristled to think about the distorted voice. It was familiar, he'd heard one with the exact timbre before. Someone spoke with that voice to him once, but he couldn't pin where. The word 'greetings' hung in his head...
He began to tap at the computer. He pulled up a variety of audio editing tools to clear up some of the noise and static, make the voice a little louder, and to reverse some of the distortion. The rest of the work would be handled by Suq's ears and auditory center--being Efrosian, his hearing was more advanced than any of his other senses. He couldn't clear all the distortion--it was a voice distortion device after all--but he cleared enough to make the voice sound real, not so robotic.
After his work, he hit play one more time, then stood silently with his eyes closed, focusing...
"Greetings, 'Ghost'. This is 'Moon'...." "Greetings, 'Ghost'...." "Greetings..." "Greetings..." "Greetings...""Greetings, and welcome to Starbase 84!"
Suq's eyes snapped open. He remembered someone who had this tone of voice. His body jerked off to the side and he almost tripped over himself in his haste to find a PADD or console or
something that had been disconnected from the main computer core before the explosion. He knew there was one off in his office, one he deactivated shortly after docking so he could repair it. Once again, he sprinted there, and thankfully it was not far.
His hands shook, he dropped the PADD at least twice in his attempts to pick it up. He had to focus on placing its isolinear chip back into the slot. While he worked on that, he turned and started to speed walk back to the console he was at previous. He narrowly missed falling down the stairs.
The PADD turned on in his hands just as he arrived at the console. It was still a wreck, all memory from before its corruption two days ago beyond repair. But all he needed was this one voice recording, this one recording of Ian Hawthorne, greeting the
Resolve to Starbase 84. He found it, he hit play, and he listened.
"Greetings, and welcome to Starbase 84!"The message played out, and then he switched to the mystery transmission...
"Greetings, 'Ghost'. This is 'Moon'..."A perfect match, he thought, as the transmission played out to the otherwise-empty engineering room.
"You vile cur! Come back here, traitor!"
A few minutes after having been contacted, Suq sent off his message to Kendrick. It contained a refined copy of the original transmission, with more of the distortion cleared, and a copy of Ian's greeting.
"Captain. You, uh, might want to sit down for this. The voice in the transmission is Ian Hawthorne. He's the guy who greeted us to the Starbase. You've got proof in your inbox. I think--" He paused, but he always wanted to say this. Now is his chance, "I think we're in a real life conspiracy theory."
He stood in silence, smiling to himself and staring down at the play button for the Moon transmission. He felt a lot like he was watching the whole universe burn down around him.
He really would kill for a nap right about now.
[ ENS K'Ren | USS Resolve | Fighter Assault Bay ] Attn: Keval
"Understood Sir. Ens K'Ren out."
Guess that answers that question she mused. Station Security didn't exactly believe the ship wasn't compromised and now things were coming to a head. She started heading towards security as she began making calls to clarify her orders. "Ens K'Ren to Security. I have orders from Lt Havenborn to be placed at your disposal. Where am I required?"
"Good question." Came the voice through her combadge. "We're securing for a potential boarding action by Station Security, and apparently a shuttle was just recently approved for launch. Lord knows why." The voice at the end paused briefly, "We can use you anywhere Ensign but maybe ask Lt ch'Rayya. He'll have a better idea where we can use you."
"Understood. K'Ren out." she responded, starting towards the docking port. It was several decks up and both there and the shuttlebay were in the same general direction. Hopefully he would know what was going on.
Making the third call in as many seconds, K'Ren got Keval on the horn. "Sir. Ensign K'Ren. Lt Havenborn placed me under your direction. There's a shuttle being prepped for launch. Do you need me to pilot that shuttle, or where else do you want me?" She would normally be a bit more respectful of tone, but as things were a bit insane, and information needed to be communicated, she hoped he would forgive her terse language.
[ Lieutenant Mackenzie | Starbase 84 | Security Centre ] Attn: Kaligos & RosariaRosette
In the surveillance room, which was the proverbial heart of the security centre, there stood Mackenzie and coordinated the teams deployed over the entire starbase. There were currently three focal points for him and the ones seated by the computer consoles, and those were the lobby of the EOC, the Science Labs and the docking pylon to the USS Resolve. With Komial at one of those locations, it was his job as Assistant Chief Security Officer to make sure all the teams were deployed efficiently.
"Still no trace of where Ensign Six and her compatriot went," he said, as if to himself. He thought it over one more time before making the call. "I am redirecting two teams in the lobby to the Jefferies tubes. Hopefully, they will be able to intercept Hi'Jak and the Câroon civilian before they get to far. The Science Labs are in the EOC anyway, so it is an ideal starting point for the search. Furthermore, I want two guards in all the cars in the Travel Core. If the suspects tries to get anywhere quickly, we'll have them."
Indeed, Hi'Jak and Sera vers Aldnoah had been spotted entering the Jefferies tubes in the Science Labs, and while they had no eyes on them since then, they had their life-signs to trace with internal sensors as best as they might. Mackenzie stepped forward as he watched the two dots flicker and move on the centre screen in the room. "Tell Stavros and Rigell that they need to take a right in the first intersection, and then go down one deck. If they hurry, the two suspects will move right into them."
[ Petty Officer Stavros | Starbase 84 | Executive Offices Complex > Jefferies Tubes ] Attn: Kaligos & RosariaRosette
With the lobby under control, several guards arriving and calming the civilians present around the dead body, the orders to pursue the scientist and his accomplice did not come as a surprise to Stavros. With a quick look towards Rigell they heeded the order to enter the Jefferies tubes. Stavros silently wondered what the hell was going on, but if these two rats in the maintenance tubes were affiliated somehow to Six, then they were just as guilty as that Borg murderer. Crewman Clarke had not deserved to die like that - killed right in a public area in far too young years.
"Come on, Rigell," said Stavros to the crewman next to him as they entered the tubes, and in short order they were on the way to the indicated spot - about to ambush the rats before they scurried too far. Stavros raked his oily hair back from his forehead and had his hand phaser out as he crawled, and Rigell's gaze behind tresses of blonde hair assured Stavros that he could count on the young man - he would not hesitate to do what was needed.
Wait...
Having taken point as he climbed down the chute that would take them to the ambush point, he thought he heard noises. Time was too short. No time to hesitate. He dropped down the hole, letting go of the maintenance ladder, and hoped to appear right in front of the two suspects with his phaser ready. Unfortunately, the rats had scurried too far, so he ended up right between them. In front of him was the posterior of a woman in civilian clothes, and the moving shadow on the bulkhead in the cramped space showed that the scientist was behind him.
Stavros whipped back with his hand, meaning to deal backhand blow to the scientist. Awkwardly, he would turn around and try to strike the suspect with his phaser as well. He hoped Rigell would climb down soon, even though the woman was likely an easier target for him.
[LT Keval ch'Rayya/ Chief Tac & Sec/ USS Resolve Briefing Room] ATTN: K'Ren & Docking Gantry.
When K'Ren's voice came through his communicator, Keval had to think about who was doing the speaking for a second before he remembered that it was one of Havenborn's pilots and he readjusted his hold on his phaser rifle to tap his communicator. "Ensign, report to the Aerowing shuttle but make sure that you have an emergency transportor armband just in case." Keval said as he kept his eyes trained on keeping his Cardassian colleague covered with his weapon.
"Furthermore only keep the shields up on the shuttle until otherwise told by myself or the captain, K'Ren." Keval said as he adjusted his footing just a little bit..something about this whole situation was still not settling right with him. "If we pull this off perfectly then I owe you a candle lit dinner, deal?" he asked, hoping that positive thinking would help the situation within the 'verse.
But still something about all of this was making his gut scream at him-there was a missing element but what could it be the former member of Starfleet Special Operations kept thinking as he kept his people covered.
[ ENS K'Ren | USS Resolve | Ship's Corridor ] Attn: Keval, Drauc,
K'Ren listened to Keval's instructions. In addition to the active beacon in her helmet, her suit had a passive transporter beacon embedded in the exo-suit, the idea being if she made planet fall in hostile territory and lost her helmet, as long as she had her suit on, orbiting ships could find her. "Understood. Transporter beacon and shields up until told otherwise." She chuckled a little. "I'll hold you to the dinner Sir. K'Ren out"
She'd already changed course for the shuttle bay when he'd given her the instructions. Being a Caitian, sprinting came naturally and a good sense of balance made cornering almost as easy. That assumed one didn't run into anyone in the halls along the way. The turbolifts being too slow, K'Ren knew where a couple larger Jefferies tubes were that could get her up to the shuttlebay in a hurry.
She was panting a bit when she finally made the shuttle bay, just in time to see staff from Medical leaving the shuttle with empty grav carts. Her ears perked in curiosity, tail twitching as the presence of medical teams on a shuttle was unusual. That the shuttle was already warmed up and the Chief Medical Officer was stepping off was even more unlikely. Slipping aboard as the airlock began to cycle, she saw an unfamiliar face in the cockpit.
[ LT JG Zelosa Ejek | Airlock | USS Resolve ] Attn: Havenborn, Brutus
Who sent her out? The better question was: why did this inquiry come as a big enough surprise to bestow a moment of speechlessness on Ejek? It hit her between the eyes like a bloody amateur. Luckily, Lt. Dotnhil didn't stop after just one question, and thus gave her enough time to reflect on her answer, while simultaneously filing the Trill's other two requests in her mental database.
Following the security chief's gaze to Daniel Havenborn, the Cardassian's mind raced in a cost-benefit calculation. She wanted to lie about her tasker. Her instincts told her to avoid being associated with Captain Kendrick, since he was about to become their scapegoat. But her mind knew better than that. Surely, starbase security would know by now that the Resolve's captain was on board his ship. Thanks to precise sensors, there was a good chance starbase security even knew she had been in his proximity not too long ago, and that their last meeting had coincidentally been in a conference room. No, lying about that would most likely not pay off well, but make her suspicious, instead.
"Lieutenant Daniel Havenborn," the counsellor answered Lt. Dotnhil's second question first. She stayed where she was, just as ordered. That order did not help her nerves in the least, however. "He's the Resolve's Squandron Leader. Our Captain sent us out to talk to you. He wants us to find out what's wrong. And, really, please... would you mind telling them to put those phasers down? I am unarmed! And I have no idea what is going on!" Those last words were said in a strange mixture of pleading and indignant.
Was she losing it? Ejek knew Starfleet protocol well enough to know that, in theory, all those phasers should be on stun. But that was standard procedure for intact operations. The Cardassian's trust in the intactness of starbase security was low at this point, confronted with a severe case of being framed for treason, possibly out of their ranks. Only one of those people had to have a 'phaser malfunction' and Zelosa Ejek was history...
[Komial Dotnhil | Starbase 84 | USS Resolve Docking Pylon]Atten: Hawthorne, Havenborn, Juila, Kendrick
Those deep, dark eyes of hers narrowed again as the CSec processed what she was being told. They shifted from the Cardassian woman in teal to the human man in white, sizing him up. She was amused that he was letting the cardassian answer for him, but then again, this Lt. Ejek was a counselor, and they were supposed to be good at putting people at ease. Not that the counselor herself was very calm at the moment.
Komial was no telepath, but she didn't need one of her telepathic subordinates to be able to tell just how upset the other woman was. Granted, no one liked to be starring down the barrel of a phaser rifle, regardless of whether or not they were innocent. But the stakes were far too high for Komial to care about her comfort.
"I'm sorry, Lieutenant," she said, addressing the Cardassian, "But my men are not going to be lowering their weapons any time soon. Just because you appear to be unarmed doesn't mean you're not a potential threat. And frankly, I'd rather have you under the gun than not, just right now. I have around ten thousand lives to consider. You're discomfort, frankly, isn't even on my sensor readout when it comes to priorities." Suck it up, butter cup.
Stalling a bit more while she waited for Captain Hendricks to get down her, Komial added. "As for whats wrong, Lieutenants," now addressing both Resolve crew members, "How about the fact that your crew has been seen colluding with wanted felons." Oh, that was just a we bit of a stretch, "We have already sent a direct message to your ship. It seems your captain has offered you up as fodder."
[ LT Daniel Havenborn | Airlock | USS Resolve ] Attn: Brutus, DocReno, Julia
Daniel glanced over at Ejek as she explained their situation. He was more than happy to let her talk this out, he had no real intention of doing much talking. As his pilots could attest to he wasn't one for fancy speeches, he preferred to let his actions do his speaking for him. Although in another couple minutes Ensign Tancredi will have released vial one-one-seven and if Komial and her team forced their way on board they'd become infected and he'd be able to quarantine them, effectively stopping them from searching for Captain Kendrick and the others.
However as Komial spoke he looked at her and as she denied Ejek's request he couldn't help but smirk slightly. He knew before she even spoke that the Security personnel wouldn't lower their weapons, it was SOP in this situation that they keep their weapons trained on them. For his part however as she addressed both of them he shifted his hand on his modified phaser pistol and changed the setting from safe to stun but still keeping it holstered.
He wasn't sure what message she was referring to, he knew that Suq had put up a jamming signal so whatever message she sent might have been jammed without their knowledge. He'd let Ejek respond and interfere only if absolutely necessary.
[Ensign Six (https://img14.deviantart.net/51cf/i/2015/255/0/5/six_01_by_auctor_lucan-d91bx0h.png) and Ensign A'vura Zeshryr (https://orig08.deviantart.net/ca09/f/2015/289/a/2/a_vura_row_01_by_auctor_lucan-d9d9ngm.png) | Briefing Room | Resolve] Attn: Everyone in the briefing room!
A'vura thought for a bit before finally answering. "There are two clear options at this point Captain. Either behind the Plasma Manifolds, or in the Nacell Access Corridor. Both places would shield us from scans coming from their ship. It would prevent them from seeing our life signs as well. My main suggestion would be the Necell Access Corridor personally. It's large enough certainly for all four of us to hide out, with plenty of spare room to maneuver around if need be, on the off chance that they do find us there. Hopefully though, if they do decide to scan for us, not only won't they find out life signs on the ship here, but they won't find them on the Starbase either, which will work in our favor."
Nodding her head, Six eventually responded as well. "I agree. The Nacell Access Corridor is likely the safest place for us and will indeed prevent them from seeing us with any of their scans. They won't know where we are and will waste much time looking while we can devise more of a plan and have the time to clean up that transmission further." She then looked at Kendrick and stood at attention. All this fuss and of course she had forgotten protocol in the process and neglected introductions. "My apologies Captain. I'm Ensign Six, Forensic Science Officer." She then saluted properly to him and remained at attention until he told her to do otherwise. She was nothing if not keen on rules and protocol, despite the current situation, and it surprisingly flushed her a bit that she had forgotten such formalities even with what was all going on.
Much to Six's relief A'vura broke her tension and spoke up finally, "Sir if I may, we may wish to get to our hiding places soon, whatever you finally decide, ASAP, else they do their scans and it be too late for us."
[ LT JG Zelosa Ejek | Airlock | USS Resolve ] Attn: Havenborn, Brutus, DocReno
All things considered, Ejek knew she had to do something entirely counter-intuitive: from here on she was going to deliberately stretch a situation she was uncomfortable with, and that for as long as possible. There was a great chance in the mere fact that she wasn't comfortable, too. It showed, and if anything, the counsellor doubted she was making the impression of someone who wanted to stay under the gun for longer than absolutely necessary. If she was lucky, it would take Lt. Dotnhil quite some time to even get the idea that she was stalling. If she wasn't lucky, she had a believable excuse for her outrage about that horrendous assumption. And if she was going to have a PTSD-induced breakdown over being held in this situation for too long, she at least had a starting point to question the security chief's competence in court, together with hopefully a few more minutes of distraction.
The Cardassian took the liberty to silently process the Trill's words for a few seconds. This was good, actually. Being seen as fodder played right into Ejek's scheme, so she wanted to make sure she and Havenborn fit the profile. She knew better than to take Lt. Dotnhil's words too literally. Surely, the chief of a starbase's security unit was smart enough to consider that things weren't always as they seemed. But unbeknownst to the Trill, the Resolve's officers had decided to blame it all on their captain, so having been sent out despite his better knowledge, yet without theirs, was an interpretation much in Ejek's and Havenborn's favour.
"We know nothing of a message," Ejek said eventually. She wondered if her knees trembled from concentration or tension. "What did it entail?" It was true, the message had not been transmitted shipwide. Yet the counsellor did not know that it had been supposed to. She expected it got sent directly to the bridge, and simply hoped the Trill would be kind enough to repeat it as they waited for an official reply, or at least give the Resolve's Lieutenants the benefit of the doubt and explain herself again, even if she was, at this point, still secretly certain that they were in cahoots with their captain and actually knew the message after all.
From a neutral standpoint, Ejek was pretty sure there was some Federation law or another in place that said a suspect had the right to know of their indictment. This wasn't Cardassia. Or so she had been told countless times. It looked like the time had come to prove there was any value whatsoever to that claim.
"I don't mean to be rude," she started after another pause short enough to catch her breath, but not long enough to signalise she was done talking. "We've been out there for the last three years. Assuming you're right, and we have been seen... colluding with wanted felons, was it?" She remembered the other's words exactly. This was merely Ejek resorting to her dusty rhetorical skills back from her schooling on Cardassia Prime. She doubted she was making a decent spokesperson right now, but in her defence, she was positively scared by the phaser barrels pointed at her. Falling back on old lessons helped her calm down a little and enabled her to formulate coherent sentences.
"Are you absolutely certain we knew who we were getting involved with? Or are you telling me you have suspects on this base that are known for more than three years, but eager, and apparently able, to beguile my homecoming crew?"
[LT Keval ch'Rayya/ Chief Tac & Sec/ Starbase Docking Gantry] ATTN: Docking Gantry.
Keval kept his sights on Dotnhil and her right shoulder, the muzzle of his rifle was very steady as he stayed quiet and kept his attention fully on the scene that was unfolding ahead of him as his antenna twitched ever so slightly as he kept that sense free and clear.
For the past couple of years while everyone was looking forward to the day that they could finally be back home, Keval was curious about what kind of new happy hell would occur when they did get home-Voyager for instance after all had missed the entire Dominion Conflict and with his varied history within the Federation's naval service, it made him wonder what kind of things was going to happen next.
Keval wasn't the kind of man that sees the glass half full or empty, he simply drank the damn glass dry and moved on.
Right now the only thing that he knew for certain was that there was something very wrong with this situation as a fellow maven of the security arts, Keval knew that the red-headed trill should've been doing more then just talking if he was in her place and that was bothering him even more then the fact that they were being set up and while he loved how Zelosa was slowly and analytically tearing apart the Trill's very own words-Prophet's he loved it when he watched the counselor at work.
"Hey Chief, do you think that Dotnhil has a valid point?" Jaffe asked as he adjusted leaned just a little bit more to get a better vantage point on the base security guard that had a bead on their fellow crew member.
"While I respect the fact that she's doing her job to the best of her ability, I know for a fact that who ever is giving her this information has got to be the winner of the biggest douche in the galaxy award, Jaffe." the Chaan said in a tense tone as he kept his attention focused on the scene in front of them. "I don't know what's going on but I do know that we didn't do anything that we're being accused of doing, let alone what she's accusing the captain of doing."
Jaffe blinked a couple of times before quickly casting a curious look at his department chief. "What do you mean by that, sir?"
"What I mean Jaffe is that by the rules of the service that a captain is responsible for the actions of his, her, or hir's crew." Keval explained slowly as an even darker thought slowly crept into his head that colored him with several shades of concern. "I just hope that there hasn't been any new shit happening in the Triangle that would make the syndicates connected to the Roms."
"What's the triangle and what brought on that line of thought, sir?" Jaffe asked in an honest tone.
Keval couldn't help himself as he turned his head just enough to look at the young man kneeling next to him with a single arched white eyebrow before shaking his head ever so slightly. "The Triangle is a section of space that is controlled with one of the major powers in the Federation, Klingons and Romulans at each of it's three tips..hence the term the Triangle and plus it's controlled by the Orions so..."
A look of understanding came over Jaffe as he slowly nodded and then went back to covering their fellow crewie.
[Komial Dotnhil | Starbase 84 | USS Resolve Docking Pylon]Atten: Hawthorne, Havenborn, Juila, Kendrick
"I'll break it down for you so you can understand just how trouble you're all in," she wondered if they were stupid, or stalling. Either way, she stared the duo down with a look of cold professionalism. She had her own reasons for dragging things out. Hopefully the boys and girls in Ops would break through the scattering field Lt. Selnak informed her of. But to the matter at hand, she began ticking off offenses with her fingers.
"Let's review, shall we? How about charges of aiding and abedding the escape of a prisoner from our bring - Drauc T'Laus, a wanted fugitive charged with espionage, and desertion," she began, those cold eyes slowly building up a heat inside, "or the abduction of a suspect that had been legally remanded into our custody, as part of the investigation of a bombing of our station shortly after your arrival!?" Oh yes, her voice was rising now. "Your captain absconded with one A'vura Zeshryr, whom was found at the scene of a suspected terrorist attack. And you illegally removed her from custody before she could be questioned." she pointed at the ship, that cold anger lacing every word out of her mouth.
"What else? Oh yes, how could I forget that your people kidnapped Security Officer Bradford, one of my men. Which is why we have also...requested the presence of the so called "Ambassador"," At this point, she made little quote marks with her fingers, "F'Rell, who delayed our guards while members of your crew made off with the prisoners. Is that enough for you? Because I have more." She walked forward, in part to buy time and in part to see if she could confirm a little suspicion, trying to see a bit further past the two she was currently addressing.
Komial could hear a few of her people sucking in sharp breaths - no one liked their boss getting closer to a ship full of possible traitors. But the fierce CSec was not the kind of person to ask her people to do what she herself was unwilling to do.
"We also require, Lieutenant, the presence of your Tactical Chief, Lt. Keval ch'Rayya, and a woman identified from your personnel records as Ens Krystal Tancredi, for questioning. They were seen having an in-depth conversation with someone we suspect as having aided in the terrorist bombing. So as you can surely imagine, Counselor." she paused for affect, "I am not in the mood for games, and I am less than inclined to be forgiving just now. You lot were supposed to be returning home heroes. And in less then 24 hours members of your crew have provided aid and comfort to known fugitives and kidnapped starbase personnel."
And then as if an afterthought, she added, "Oh, and there is the tiny matter of the scattering field you've put up around the Resolve which is in violation of Starfleet regulations regarding the docking and breathing of vessels in Federation stations."
[Captain Tristan Kendrick | Briefing Room | USS Resolve ] Attn: Melissa Wright, Parnak, Six and A'vura, Suq & Krystal Tancredi.
Kendrick had to admit that he had some sympathy towards Melissa's plea. He doubted that she wanted to remain on board his ship for any length of time, she probably had just arrived in order to help Six and deliver the evidence. He was thankful for her service on board his vessel but what she was asking was currently impossible.
"I feel for you, it's always difficult when the line of duty prevents a social event. However in order to beam you back on board Starbase 84, we would have to lower our shields. That is currently something I am unwilling to do as it would make our entire operation open to being boarded."
He hoped that his explanation as to why he couldn't allow her to go made sense. He had no wish to take hostages... well additional hostages as Bradford was still being loaded onto the yacht. "I am afraid that your date will have to be put on hold until such a time that I can return you to the starbase without my crew being arrested for war crimes they have not committed."
As Parnak called in, he let out a long sigh of relief. "Thank you Doctor, your service is greatly appreciated." Out of everyone on board his ship the Cardassian had little or no need to help them. He could have set up a comm-link to the starbase and told them everything that was going on, given away the plan. Instead he had turned out to be one of the greatest helps he could have envisioned on board his ship. Parnak was going have Kendrick's gratitude for a long time to come.
Tapping his combadge, Kendrick connected to Drauc, out of everyone he was the person he had the most difficulty trusting, but also the least incentive to betray his crew. "Drauc, the canisters are on their way to you. As soon as they are on board you have permission launch."
He hoped that putting the details out onto the table would win some sympathy. Of course there was another problem with the plan. They could launch the shuttle but the ship it's self was still locked in place. He blinked for a moment feeling completely stupid. The docking clamps would keep their ship from running.
As Ensign A'vura made her suggestion and Six made her proper introduction he nodded, both were good suggestions, but there was some work to be done. "Actually there is a third option, and one that is a little more critical." He said trying to keep an upbeat tone about this.
"How do you three feel about zero gravity? We are currently still attached to the Starbase, we can't get out until the docking clamps are removed. Since we don't have access on our side, it will have to be done manually. On the bright side, the jamming signal will also cover the immediate proximity to the hull, so we won't be detected there either."
Kendrick tried his best to remain optimistic. He smirked trying to make it more of a joke, but they were going to need some extra hands for this.
Suq's transmission reached him shortly after his cracked joke. He blinked for a moment not having a chance to sit down before he found out who the traitor was. He blinked not even thinking for a moment. Captain Hawthorne. It made sense, it made a lot of sense and he had to agree with Suq this was a bad conspiracy theory if he had ever heard one. "Thank you Suq..." He already had some suspicion by how the investigation had been handled according to Six, but this was proof. "Suq, I'm about to lead a team onto the outside of the ship to remove the docking clamps. You've done a lot today, could I ask you for one more mission? We could use a few extra sets of hands."
With that, there was only one other person he was going to contact. "Kendric to Tancredi. I need an extra set of hands for some work are you free to go for a walk with me? I promise you will hate every step of it."
[ Drauc T'Laus | Aerowing Cockpit | Docked w. the USS Resolve ] Attn: All
Because of the fact that many of the Resolve's crew were on the starbase, Drauc was not stopped on the way to the aerowing's docking bay, which was located on the ventral side of the Luna-class starship's saucer. The few he met looked at him strangely, but he said naught to them, nor did he look them in the eye, and thankfully, they did not get in his way. He supposed an escort would have eased things along, but since his brother died, he preferred to work alone. Even when he sought new battlefields as a mercenary, he had refused aid from like-minded. It was not until his people's civil war began that he'd been forced to travel on a raiding ship, just in order to get somewhere before the empire or rebel forces locked down transportation and trade. Survival against all odds. That was why he had sabotaged the raider's navigation system and made the ship stray far beyond the RNZ, so that the Federation might capture his vile travelling companions, and while in custody, he had hoped to barter for a second chance down a more righteous path. He simply hadn't foreseen just how he would accomplish that in the end, yet the truly righteous way was never easy to tread. For if he had wanted a certain chance for freedom... he would not have sworn his loyalty to Captain Kendrick.
With his scarred hands flexing inside the sleeves of his threadbare cloak, he stepped upon the aerowings small bridge. Through his tresses of red hair, he looked at the controls, and found them familiar enough. It was soothing, to be alone on the ship, with no minds present besides his own. No thoughts to infer upon his, allowing him to seat himself at the helm of the shuttle, and run the usual pre-flight checks in solitude. He had left the Cardassian exobiologist in the medical lab to synthesise the biomatter, and he would use the time to reacquaint himself with Starfleet helm controls. What was it that humans used to say? His memory failed him at the specifics, but they had a saying about riding a two-wheel contraption, learning to balance it, and how doing so allowed them to do so for the rest of their lives. It was not accurate, but it was a valid enough comparison for what he was trying to do. With too little time, he keyed up a vid-tutorial on the HUD... only to reject it because it was not an expedient solution. I will simply have to test that saying of theirs at my own convenience...
Expedient, however, was the Cardassian in completing his task, because no more had he managed to arrange his tactical displays the way he wanted them until Kendrick contacted him. "Acknowledged, Captain. I will launch as soon as the biomatter and officer Bradford are aboard, drawing the eye of Starbase Security." The reality of the situation did not escape him, that any further contact between the aerowing and the Resolve would compromise all personnel on the starship, so he added, "I wish you luck in finding the true traitor, because I have likely wagered my life on this chance at redemption under your command. My only request... is that you use the time and opportunity I will provide to its fullest extent. I hope you can make all of this right again... redeeming your good name and your crew."
Words failing him, he simply ended the transmission, using his former rank. "This is Junior Lieutenant T'Laus, shutting down communications. Over and out." In the following silence of the cockpit, Drauc leaned back and closed his eyes, seeing his brother in his memory. In his mind's eye, Drauc saw him smiling at him, a bitter, sharp expression, but he imagined it to be the approval he sought. For whatever quaint wisdom he might have gained from reading the minds of thousands, the opinion of his dead brother mattered most to him. Drauc opened his eyes, mind focused, and slowly pulled the hood of his cloak over his pointed ears.
Then, with deft motions, he powered up the aerowing's engines. His battlefield awaited.
While he did so, the airlock opened in the back compartments and admitted CMO Lyhn and her staff, loading canisters of Parnak's false biomatter. Drauc did not turn the opening of his hood towards Doctor Lyhn until she stepped up to him, saying, "Mister T'Laus. We are about to release a viral agent aboard the ship, and you need a vaccine against it otherwise you'll..."
"I understand, doctor," he said, cutting her off, because he had already glimpsed the symptoms she had been about to detail, instead wishing her to leave him alone. For while he could certainly respect the tactic - the airborne virus about to deal with any starbase insurgents on the Resolve - it was not his battle. "Proceed."
Timidly, at first, Lyhn reached inside his hood with her hypospray and inoculated his neck with the vaccine. He said naught, uninterested in the way she mentally debated saying anything further to him, ignoring how she was still attracted to him because of that Vulcan lover she had taken in the Academy - this memory of a man that resembled him causing her to feel the way she did in his presence. He waited for her to just leave him without a word, while the unconscious Bradford was carried into the back of the aerowing. The human was protected by the hard shell of a stasis unit. Indeed, Drauc reasoned that it would have been a step backwards on the righteous path if the - albeit vile - security guard was exposed to too much danger while on the aerowing. Lieutenant ch'Rayya had trained his people well in foreseeing the problem. Eventually, Doctor Lyhn stepped away with a hushed, "Godspeed."
"There is no such thing," said Drauc evenly in reply, not caring if she heard him, and not having moved an inch while the aerowing was loaded. When the last medics stepped out, however, he reached forward and tapped the airlock's controls with his fingertips. The door closed. It was time to launch... but... someone had got aboard before the airlock sealed shut. He turned the helm's chair around, finding a... Caitian-blooded woman in the entrance to the cockpit, bedecked in some kind of exosuit that must have construed in his years away from the fleet. Drauc stared at her, both incredulous about her presence and annoyed - face shadowed by his hood as he wondered what might be going on. Her thoughts, however, slowly revealed that she held no hostile intent, her being as surprised as he was at seeing her. There was no time. He had orders.
"The Captain has authorised this shuttle to launch as a decoy, so I suggest you sit down... whoever you are," he said and swivelled back to the helm controls, tapping in the command to release the docking clamps, "because you will be coming along for a rather rough ride."
True to his word, he decoupled the aerowing from the Resolve at an angle, making a barrel roll down from the view of the docking pylon. He also powered up the phaser arrays, primed torpedoes, creating weapon signatures that were bound to draw instant attention from all levels of the starbase.
Inertial dampeners and gravity on the shuttle compensated for the brutal movements, and Drauc narrowed his eyes as he took in the terrain on the sensors. As soon as they vacated the Resolve's jamming field, all kinds of readings became available, klaxons going off as Flight Ops on Starbase 84 tried to contact him and his Caitian passenger - likely alarmed because of either their collision course or their powered weapons. Scarred hands moving across the controls, he made the aerowing sway out and away from the Galaxy-class cruiser that had docked at a pylon below the Resolve. Had he been a less composed warrior, he would have cursed. He corrected his course again with his fingertips, manual input too slow for his liking, and raised the nose of the aerowing just before it would have collided into a docking bay that located at the bottom of the vast area inside the base - an area only protected by a pressurised structural integrity and gravity field. The docking crew that they had almost killed were naturally panicked, scrambling like ants in Drauc's peripheral vision as he set a third course at a climbing angle. Imminent collision warnings had gone off inside the cockpit, and he was positive he had heard the dock workers screaming even from inside the shuttle, but Drauc said nothing - quietly taming the beast of which he had taken the reins.
Finally, he claimed a valid target during his uncontrolled flying. Without hesitation, he opened fire at a docking pylon's arm that held no life-signs, just above the Resolve. As he did, he spoke, but merely because the Caitian might be willing to aid him. If nothing else, out of sheer self-preservation. After all, thruster engines were perhaps recommended for the close confines of the docking bay, but not exactly known for their high-velocity precision. "This would be a lot easier if this shuttle had a control stick instead of making all these manual commands..."
[ Meanwhile | Outside the Travel Core | Docking Bay ] Attn: All
Stepping out of the Travel Core area and onto the deck that held the USS Resolve docked, Captain Ian Hawthorne first noticed the commotion when he passed by a window. Flashing lights reflected off the docked ships outside. Work-bees were clearing off the starships as if their pilots' lives depended on it. He frowned, slowly stepping towards the window, only seeing one half of the circular docking bay. Down the corridor, he heard raised voices, and someone was screaming in fright. "What is going on?" he said quietly, turning his penetrating stare towards two of his accompanying officers - the CAG of the base's Tactical CONN forces, and the Chief Tactical Officer, both part of his senior staff and asked to attend the dealings with Captain Kendrick. Neither held any answer, but it soon came to all three of them, roaring when something massive passed by just outside the window where they were walking towards - the accompanying force of the thrusters shattering the glass. Ian cried out, just as the parasite screeched in his mind. Falling, clawing at the deck plates, they were about to get sucked out... had not the base's emergency systems kicked in and raised a structural integrity field - re-pressurising the corridor within seconds.
Ears ringing, having landed on his side, and the thing inside him screaming for blood, Ian slowly got back on his feet with a clenched jaw - glass raining off him like a shroud of cut diamonds. "Red alert!" His glare reflected his internal reaction entirely, and he rounded on the shattered window like death itself - the base's klaxons going off in answer to his call. The turbulent wake of the passing ship's microfusion thrusters made the air shimmer outside the integrity field. The scent of the deuterium combustion filled corridor as he stepped forth - looking up with hands made into fists by his sides. He spotted the rogue ship in his bay, and he saw that it was an aerowing. An auxillary craft to... Glaring, Ian tapped his combadge before he even completed his thought.
"Lieutenant Dotnhil," he barked, because while she had requested his presence, he still had a couple of hundred yards to the Resolve's pylon, but he could see the arm leading to the Resolve from where he stood. He saw her red hair from afar as he spoke, and present in his tone were not a single shade of the lover he had been to her. "This is Hawthorne. What the hell going on?"
"Captain!" said his Chief Tactical Officer behind him, before Komial could answer. The officer was also back on his feet after the aerowing had passed, holding a finger to his ear-piece. "I am getting reports of sensor readings, from outside the base! Something has passed through the tachyon grid! It's... Whatever it is, it has some dampening field in place."
There were no end to things that justified Ian's murderous glare as he turned to the officer, knowing that whomever was out there, he might have been moments to late in calling for Red Alert and preventing any boarding parties. "Is it the Romulans?" he asked with jaw still clenched, but he thought he already knew the answer. Somehow, he just knew...
"No. It is just confirmed. It... It is the Theurgy. She must have been in grey mode, but went to Red Alert after we did," said the Tactical Officer, and perhaps the news and reports of Captain Ives' doings caused the light tremble to his voice. "They must have thought we spotted them. I have no idea how a ship that size got so close without us seeing it, I..."
For Ian, the images of Lisa and Cameron flashed before his eyes, even Trish, before he expelled them from his thoughts. Whatever Komial was replying to him from the Resolve's docking pylon, he ignored it. Her voice was irritating noise from his combadge. "It was Kendrick, I am sure. Report to the Command Centre immediately. And you," Ian said and turned to the CAG, who was also back on his feet, "scramble all your Wing Commanders, launch all available fighters, and neutralise that aerowing on your way out there!"
Then, he focused on Komial, tapping his combadge to give his cutting retort. "Lieutenant Dotnhil, shut your mouth and listen! Captain Ives is here, and you will deal with any boarding parties from the Theurgy before they manage to sabotage our defences from within. Coordinate with your second-in-command, and keep the Resolve locked down for the time being. I repeat, keep her crew locked in. I am heading to the Command Centre, and if you fail me again... and we are still alive... you will be demoted to Ensign - stripped of your position for all your shortcomings today. Somehow, Captain Kendrick's crew has sabotaged our sensors, and let Ives through our defences. All under your watch. So, will you please get your damn house in order now? Hawthorne out."
With a mordant stride, Ian returned whence he had come, back to the travel core, heading to the Command Centre...
...about to end the greatest threat to his kin once and for all.
- FIN