Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 28, 2011 4:43:02 GMT
The security officer inside Will told him to keep his eyes on Taarh. As he quietly looked around, his tensions eased as he realized that the Ravens CTSO was doing the same thing. He wondered if Deliks' thoughts mimicked his own....Things were going to easy.
During past away missions, Will had always made it a habit to study structure should an escape route ever be needed. During his studies, he had come to realize that most cultures had a tendency to use similar features in their architecture. He was hoping that to be the case here so as soon as Taarh led them into another room, his eyes went directly to the ceiling. The dozens of illuminated chandeliers that hung above their heads quickly told him that there was no "portal ceiling" as he had begun calling it. He instructed a couple of ensigns to move the body over to a wall out of the way before making his way over to the CO who was having a conversation with Commanders Blakus and Valenti.
"Well. It doesn't look like this ceiling offers a passage." he said as he glanced up.
After everyone gave a quick look, The Commodore asked for his senior staffs thoughts.
"It just seems to be going to easy." Will answered. "Despite what he has done so far," he added, referring to reuniting the CO with his girls. "i'm not too sure we can completely trust him. It could just be part of their plan to lower our guard. And how did they move the Raven? They took several of us away in an attempt to unlock the systems and unless someone talked, which I doubt...." he left the rest of his statement hanging for the others to grasp.
<Tag All>
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Carl Torek
Command Staff ..
Site Executive Officer Ranks Officer
Fleet Admiral
"UTRINQUE PARATUS"
Registered: Jun 17, 2006 22:34:35 GMT
Posts: 6,160
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Post by Carl Torek on Mar 6, 2011 17:35:50 GMT
Frustration was steadily building within Carl ... He had asked Chloe to take the girls to the far side of the room where several entertainment devices were situated. Bethan and Vanessa went with their teacher, albeit reluctantly.
"..... Despite what he has done so far, I'm not too sure we can completely trust him. It could just be part of their plan to lower our guard. And how did they move the Raven. They took several of us away in an attempt to unlock the systems and unless someone talked, which I doubt...." Will left the rest of his statement hanging for the others to grasp.
"I think I have to agree with Commander Jamison." Calli said nodding, "We really don't know who the hell is who on this base, and it's more than obvious that everyone and their proverbial 'cat' is after access to the Raven."
Carl had heard enough ... He walked purposefully to one of the two men guarding them.
"I want to speak to Taarh." he said, making it more an order than a request.
"I'm afraid that is not possible at this time Captain. He has duties on Sanctuary. If he did not attend he would be missed and questions may be asked." the 'guard' said, expecting the man to turn away but he was wrong.
"I could care less about his 'duties' ... I want him here and I want some answers, now."
"Maybe I can help you." the man replied, sarcasm oozing from his every word, but Torek chose to ignore it and continued.
"OK ...... Firstly ... Taarh, or Gaain, I have no idea which and frankly it's not relevant, has still got two of my Officers. I want them brought here." the man frowned as if it was the first time he'd heard the group wasn't complete, so Carl continued, trying not to either bite the end off his tongue, or hit the idiot i front of him, "My Marine Lieutenant and one of my Officers ... They were separated from us when we were brought onto the station ... Look ... Do yourself a favor, I assume you have communications. Contact Taarh and get him here 'WITH' my Officers, or we will go looking for them ourselves ... OK ?" Carl knew that he was pushing the man, but frankly, he didn't care. He had to restrain himself from glancing at his Daughter for fear the man thought he could be bluffing, so locked eye's until the guard turned to his fellow guard and spoke quietly.
Calli wandered to Torek's side.
"Sir. I've just realized something ....."
"Go on ?" Carl replied, watching the guards.
"Well ... Gaain said that everyone from the Raven was now being held on Sanctuary ... I think he was lying on that count. Why make it necessary to guard over a thousand people, when just taking the essential personnel off the ship makes watching them much easier. He's taken the children as leverage, but only Bethan and Vanessa, why, when he could have picked from something like sixty others ... It's obvious he found out they were connected to you personally. Taking our Comm badges was the easiest way to prevent contact with the ship. But I think it's still manned."
Calli had made a good point. Carl wanted to explore it ... He went to the guards ...
"Hey ! ... How long before Taarh arrives ?" he demanded.
"He is trying to make his excuses but there are people there that could see his leaving as suspicious. he asks you to be patient."
"Well he had better make those 'excuses' damn quickly or we are going to go looking for him ourselves."
"That would be ... Unwise ... I suggest you return to your family and await Taarh's arrival ... Sir." the guard said. Both Torek and Valenti didn't miss the fact that both guards' weapons had swung in a slow gentle arc from pointing at the deck, to being aimed just below waist level of their charges ..........
< tag : ALL >
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Andae Blakus
Moderator ..
Commander 1C
Registered: Oct 17, 2007 22:48:27 GMT
Posts: 1,447
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Post by Andae Blakus on Mar 11, 2011 1:16:47 GMT
The expansive sight out of the giant observation ports would've been beautiful, if its meaning wasn't laced with extreme alarm and the fear of never seeing home again. There was a certifiable 'hole' in the view where a Galaxy class ship should've been - as if it'd been cut out with a pair of scissors.
Blakus found himself doing little else except watching the sight, for he'd found himself with little else to do. He could hardly put his engineering expertise to use in inventing a way to leave undetected. Any action he took would be noticed by the irksome pair of guards and their wavering rifles.
He worked his head hard, weighing up all the variables and looking for inklings of ideas and chinks in the armour of their situation. What could be exploited?
He noticed Torek and Valenti backing away slightly from the growing threat of the guards.
"Easy..." Blakus cut in, stepping up to the two pairs and trying to draw his fellow officers away from the guards before there was any sort of irreparable confrontation.
He'd heard what Carl and Calli, and before them Will, had been talking about regarding the ship. "Sir, could it be possible that our shipmates are still in control, or have regained control?" he asked, "Perhaps they've taken the ship away from the nebula. It would fit in with things if it turns out Taarh's lying to us anyway. Gaain might have no idea where the ship's gone."
<Tag Carl, Will>
Of course, it was all speculation, fairly heady speculation. If the Raven's remaining crew were indeed in control of the ship, why hadn't they made a rescue attempt of the Raven staff aboard Sanctuary? Perhaps they could not.
Andae looked around for any of his engineering staff, finding just two among the admittedly relatively small number of officers there. Both were reasonably new officers, one having joined the ship a couple months previous, while the other being an old member of the USS Victory engineering staff whom had joined when that old vessel had been mothballed. Ensign Catley was his name, but Blakus had only served as his Chief for a few weeks before he (Blakus) had transferred to the Raven as XO.
"Catley, it appears we haven't spoken since you arrived. It'll have to wait, of course. Tell me, both of you, it's probably required reading at the academy now, can commbadges pick up ship frequencies even if sensors and communication equipment cannot lock on?"
"Aye sir, but we don't have one of those," the other officer, Harton, said. Blakus produced one from a fold in his uniform causing Harton to smile. "It takes some modifications though."
"Do it," Blakus replied, knowing that most fine-tuning of a commbadge's components could be performed using items about a Starfleet officer's person. "I think I have an idea. If, hypothetically, the Raven is trying to contact us but don't know where we are, we should be able to pick up a trace of that frequency intercepted on a commbadge, even with no message sent."
Catley and Harton opened up the commbadge, Blakus surreptitiously placing himself as cover between it and the guards, glancing over his shoulder to make sure it was hidden. Harton worked the badge with an implement she'd obtained from her boot, the components glinting in the harsh light as their engineered complexity was cleverly manipulated.
Suddenly the badge emitted a harsh high-pitched squeal. Rather rapidly, Harton removed the implement. "That's it," she whispered. Blakus was surprised in spite of himself. The Raven was trying to make contact; even if they weren't in control, people were trying to contact them.
"What's that?" the guards had marched up, demanding tones set in their voices. "Is that a communication device? Who - "
"We think some of our people might still be active on our ship," Blakus interrupted, not bothering to keep up with subterfuge. These people were meant to be helping them anyway.
The guard paused, staring at him incredulously. "There's no one left on your - " Another explosion cracked across their senses, vibrating the floor improbably. Blakus and everyone around was shaken off their feet, or if not then at least propelled into a wall (the only thing preventing them crashing to the floor).
He'd had enough explosions to last a lifetime, he thought as he turned to see a newly-formed hole in the wall. Debris had been blown out across the floor, the material of the wall having been simply smashed in. Taarh's form flew through after it as if he'd been hit by some weapon, and more Vezi poured in. Everyone was still returning to their feet, and whether or not these newcomers were friend or foe just couldn't be told.
<Tag Carl, Will & incl. Aeryn possibly?>
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Calli Valente
Starfleet Intelligence
"Don't get in my way."
Registered: Aug 4, 2010 21:19:10 GMT
Posts: 534
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Post by Calli Valente on Mar 13, 2011 12:16:41 GMT
"Sir. Could it be possible that our shipmates are still in control, or have regained control." Andae asked after settling the possible confrontation, "Perhaps they've taken the ship away from the nebula .... It would fit in with things if it turns out Taarh's lying to us anyway. Gaain might have no idea where the ship's gone ?" Frankly, anything was possible at this point, Torek thought. Calli went to make sure the children and their teacher were OK as Blakus spoke to one of his Engineers. She noticed him take a Comm badge from under his jacket and grin at her. He'd obviously concealed it when they were captured. After a few minutes Calli heard a high pitched whine, feedback from the Raven's systems maybe, she didn't know. Moving to Blakus she was joined by the Commodore. Carl watched in silence as the Engineer worked to get a steady signal, but the whine could have been caused by any number of systems both on Sanctuary, and the Raven herself. The only good point was that the ship was still close, and as yet still in their hands, figuratively speaking ... "We think some of our people might still be active on our ship !" Blakus said to a guard that had approached, but before the man could reply everyone was thrown off their feet by an explosion ... She noticed Taarh, who had been caught in the blast as he returned, picking himself up from where he had been thrown. Several other Vezi had entered the room, they were helping people to their feet. Calli could see that Taarh had kept up his part of the agreement as the Marine, Tavik, and Wedlerson rushed in to help. "We need to get out of this area ...." Taarh was saying, "Gaain's people were suspicious when I left early and may have followed. We caused the explosion, a power generator overload, common on the still under construction area's. But it will be investigated. My men will lead you to safety ... Follow them now." and yet again they were on the run ..... ~~~~~~~~~~After ten minutes of hard running, with Torek, Jamison, and Blakus taking turns carrying Bethan, they entered a section in the early stages of construction. One of the Vezi informed them that the sections behind the far bulkhead were still open to space, so beware ... Everyone was pretty sick of running when they came to a massive open space. this they were informed would be the hanger bays once finished. Calli and the rest were suitably impressed ... They could have quite easily fit two of the Raven in here with plenty room to move. Not quite on par with a space-dock, but not too far off ... It was dawning on everyone the sheer 'size' of Sanctuary. There was no way it had been thrown together as some rebel base, that was for sure. Calli made a note to point that out when she could. She watched Carl move toward the exhausted Taarh as Will dropped Bethan gently to the deck and she ran to Chloe and Vanessa. The Senior Officers gathered around the Vezi, guards raising their weapons menacingly until Taarh signaled them to stand back ... "We're done running Taarh until I get some answers !" Torek said, ignoring the re-raised guns, "Where the HELL is my ship, and just who's side are you on !!!" "I have no idea whe ......" Taarh began, but Torek interrupted him. "Don't give me that crap ... ANSWERS ... NOW ... Or 'despite' your threats, Gaain will be the least of your problems !" The room was totally silent following Torek's outburst. Calli could tell that the Commodore regretted loosing his composure in front of his Officers, and his Daughter, but he faced the Vezi down, defiantly refusing to cede until he got what he wanted. Taarh recounted what their situation was, the fact that he disagreed with Gaain's actions in killing civilians to prevent the research continuing, and he wanted a way to oust the man from Command. that information was new to everyone, and frankly, Calli thought he was trying to give the Federation Officers what they wanted to hear, but Torek wasn't having it ... "You know where my ship is. There is no way you, or anyone on the Raven could have released the lock-outs, so it's been towed. Now ..... You have access to transporters .... Don't bother to deny it. I want us back on the ship and we'll discu ...." But Taarh was shaking his head, signifying it simply wasn't going to happen, so Torek changed tack, "Then I want my Daughters, their teacher, and one of my Officers returned to the Raven safely. If you do that I will consider helping you toward your goal." "There is no way I cou ......" "THEN GET THE 'HELL' OUT OF HERE ! ... We'll take our chances with Gaain !" Torek said, dismissing the Vezi and walking to his children. Calli could tell it was one hundred percent bluff, but would Taarh ? "We cannot use transporters for the distance involved. The Nebula causes too much interference. The signal degradation could be fatal" Taarh said to Torek's back, "..... I will have your Children taken there in one of the maintenance shuttles. It will be a squeeze but possible. These men will take them now. Then you 'WILL' start to help us Captain ... Please do not acquaint my conceding this point as weakness. If need be I would destroy your ship and crew to prevent Gaain continuing his insane killing spree." 'Counter-bluff ?' Calli wondered. Carl looked at the man for a long moment, then came to a decision ... He spoke to Calli quietly, she in turn shook her head, but then nodded agreement. Torek turned to Taarh. "Commander Valenti will with my children and their teacher." Carl said, Calli looking less than happy about the order, "Once aboard she will contact me. I need you to return our Comm badges, or supply communication equipment to allow her to do this." Taarh took an archaic looking device from one of his men and handed it to Valenti, then taking a second one he gave it to Torek. "Your Communication devices will be picked up immediately. These work on a frequency below the range of the stations scanners. Use them sparingly though, as it is always possible some over-eager technician could stumble across the transmission ..." he signaled two of his men forward, "Take them to a shuttle." "No Daddy ... I want to stay with you !" Bethan said, running to Torek. He picked her up and moved to one side, speaking soothingly to the six year old. She kissed him gently, before putting on her best determined face and dropping to the floor. She grabbed Vanessa and stepped in front of the guards, "We're ready now." Calli nodded to Torek and followed the two guards, Bethan, Vanessa, and their teacher Chloe out of the room ... "I need to return to my place of work." Taarh said, "I implore you to remain here until my return. The guards are here for your protection, but we would all suffer greatly should you be discovered. They are under orders not to allow you out of this area, for your, and our safety, please allow them to do their job." With that the man left, leaving four Vezi for their 'protection' ... Outside the hanger, Calli followed the guards, carefully watching the route they were taking .......... < tag : All >OOC : We're not getting back to the ship anytime soon, so let's try to make our time on Sanctuary exciting and full of intrigue OK
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Carl Torek
Command Staff ..
Site Executive Officer Ranks Officer
Fleet Admiral
"UTRINQUE PARATUS"
Registered: Jun 17, 2006 22:34:35 GMT
Posts: 6,160
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Post by Carl Torek on Mar 19, 2011 20:44:56 GMT
Carl looked around the room ...
Eight of them now now that Aeryn Tavik, his Senior Marine, and Lieutenant Wedlerson had been brought back ... He was getting to the point were diplomacy was going out of the window in spades. He had no idea who the hell was working for whom. This so called Kvern conglomerate that had separated from the Vezi who were conducting the experiments that would eventually lead to their's and many other dimensions being destroyed.
He needed to get answers, quickly. But most of all he need to know the Raven and over a thousand men, women, and children were safe and well ... But how was he going to do that ?
"The children will be safe Captain." Wedlerson said as if reading his mind, moving to stand beside his Commanding Officer, "That Valenti is certainly a competent woman. I couldn't see many getting the better of her."
"You knew her before she came onto the ship Lieutenant ?"
"Only by reputation, which preceded her in spades ... One heck of a hard-[word deleted] that never takes no for an answer. She is well known for getting what she want's when she want's it, and rank insignia seem to have little or no effect on her ways and means. She'll make one hell of a Federation President I think." he finished with a wry chuckle.
The Lieutenant had certainly reassured him, if only a little.
"OK everyone." Torek said, gathering the Officers closer, and hopefully out of earshot of Taarh's guards, "Going off the amount of moving about we've been doing, I think Gaain is starting to track us down. I'm not convinced the last explosion was genuine either. It had all the markings of a staged detonation, more to urge us to move and ally ourselves tighter with Taarh than a direct attempt on our lives ... "
< tag : All here >
Several were nodding. It was established between them, that given the sheer size of the 'hanger-bay' and the distance between their earlier locations, that Sanctuary must be on the order of two, maybe even three kilometers in diameter. Approximately circular, and with anything from fifteen to fifty or more levels ... One thing was certain, this place wasn't cobbled together to hide from the Vezi leaders. It took time to construct ... So the research had been going on for a long time, and Taarh, or his predecessors, had built, or began building Sanctuary rather than setting up base on a planet or asteroid which could be found and destroyed. Every reading showed the Boricci Nebula to be empty of anything but dangerous gaseous elements, so no-one would even bother to look in here for a renegade sect ... 'Very clever, very clever indeed' Carl thought with a moments respect.
"Hey !" Torek said to one of their guards, "Just how much of this station is still unfinished ? ....... Come on, we're all supposed to be on the same side here. I need to know of we're in immediate danger of being found, or if we're in an area too big for Gaain's personnel to search thoroughly. So how much is still to be built ?" he asked again, trying to get himself and his Officers a mental picture of what they had to work with.
"What about a Command Center too ?" someone added.
The guards looked at each other as if silently deciding on what to say, before the one Torek addressed replied.
"We are in section seven of twelve and as you can see, it's just a skeleton. Sections one to five are completed, with six partially finished. Seven to ten have atmosphere but eleven and twelve are still open to space."
"So we came from six to seven ?" Andae asked.
"Yes. The even numbered sections have recreational area's ... The room with all the windows. Command is situated in section one with a duplicate in section seven."
"Here ?" Wedlerson said.
"Yes ......" the guard said, but received a look from his companion and decided to shut his mouth.
"We could use the secondary Command cen ......" Wedlerson began, but was cut off.
"No ! ......" the guard answered, a little too quickly for Torek, "The secondary control room is not yet operational. Even if we allowed you to go there it would be a waste of time, and there would be a danger of being located. There are sensors in place to safeguard the area linked direct to main command."
"Well it has to be worth a look." Carl said, stepping forward.
The young Engineer, Ensign Cately had been listening in silence while edging himself closer and closer to the guards while they were in conversation. As Torek spoke he jumped the distance between himself and the closest guard. Both men fell to the floor as the second guard trained his weapon menacingly on the other Officers. He looked at the brawl ensuing on the floor ...
Cately was young and strong, but it was obvious he was in a loosing battle here. He landed several blows to the guard, who feigned incapacity, then as Cately began to rise to his feet the man acted ... A single blow slammed into Cately's temple and he staggered back awkwardly. The guard casually got to his feet and approached his foe. He landed a second blow below Cately's left ear and the man hit the deck unconscious. Blakus and Jamison ran forward despite the rifle trained on them and picked the Ensign off the deck. Moving him to a table they established he still had a pulse, but barely.
"There was NO NEED for that !" Torek shouted.
"Then keep your men in check Commodore !" Taarh said from the open doorway ..........
< tag : All >
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Deleted
Registered: Mar 29, 2024 11:25:18 GMT
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2011 3:59:03 GMT
".....ally ourselves tighter with Taarh than a direct attempt on our lives ... "
"Agreed." said Will as others nodded and muttered basically the same. "And I can't put an exact finger on it but there's something about Taarh that's just not setting well with me. There's apart of me that wouldn't mind meeting someone from this third group of theirs. They can't be any worse."
Will stood by his COs side for the next few minutes as the Commodore attempted to get some information from their "guards".
He knew he was getting tired from all the running around they had been doing when he didn't realize what Ensign Cately was about to do until it was too late. The young officer attacked one the guards and the next thing Will knew, he and Blakus was picking the young man up off the deck.
"He's alive but barely." Will said to the CO.
"There was NO NEED for that !"
"Then keep your men in check Commodore !"
Will took began walking toward the Vezi until the Commodore halted him.
"Stand down, Will. You''ll get your chance." Torek said to him.
Will stopped and watched as Taarh left with grin on his face than he turned back to his leader.
"To hell with them, sir. I say once we get confirmation that Valenti and the others are safely aboard the Raven, we take these guys out and find that command center they seemed so desperate not to talk about."
<Tag Torek>
Will listened as his CO voiced his thoughts.
"I don't see them being too much trouble for us. Between you, myself, Blakus and Delik, it should be a breeze." Will replied as the other two he just spoke of came walking up.
"So what's the plan, sirs?" asked Delik.
All eyes went to Commodore Torek.
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Carl Torek
Command Staff ..
Site Executive Officer Ranks Officer
Fleet Admiral
"UTRINQUE PARATUS"
Registered: Jun 17, 2006 22:34:35 GMT
Posts: 6,160
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Post by Carl Torek on Mar 27, 2011 12:14:04 GMT
Will took began walking toward the Vezi until the Commodore halted him.
"To hell with them Sir. I say once we get confirmation that Valenti and the others are safely aboard the Raven, we take these guys out and find that command center they seemed so desperate not to talk about."
Carl listened to his Executive Officer ... In many ways Will had the right idea, but something was still nagging at the back of his head.
"So what's the plan, Sirs ?" asked Delik.
"Something isn't quite right here ....." Torek began, looking around his assembled Officers, "This place is just 'TOO' big in my opinion. How many times have we come across rebel strongholds, hidden bases ... Have any of you seen one this elaborate, this big ?"
"It certainly is big." Delik answered for the group.
"Exactly ! ... Too damn big for a bunch of discontented scientists. I think there's much more going on here than we know of. I honestly can't put my finger on it, but what if we're on the wrong side in all this ?" Carl said, a puzzled look forming as if he wasn't quite sure of his train of thought, "This place has got to be two, maybe even three kilometers in diameter, and who knows how many levels. One hell of a big hide-out wouldn't you say ... The other thing that has been bothering me is how Taarh keeps vanishing, apparently to report for work ?"
"You think there could be more to all this then Sir ?" Delik asked.
"Well ... That hanger-bay alone is way too big for those tiny runabouts we've seen. I think it's there to accommodate something a damn sight bigger ... The base has research labs too. Why would they need labs ... I can understand they are trying, or say they are trying, to find a way to prevent the Vezi from finishing development on their whatever it's called. Couldn't that be accomplished without this damn super fortress !"
"They could do a lot of damage with two or three men teams I'd say." Andae offered.
"Yes, get in covertly ... Destroy vital systems, then get the hell out ... I've got to agree. So ..... Why all this ?" Will said opening his hands as if to to encompass the whole base.
A guard entered the room and approached them.
"I have been sent to inform you that your children and their companions are safely aboard your vessel."
"Where's the ship !" Delik said, standing toe to toe with the guard.
"I do not have that information." the man said, looking at Delik as if daring him to act. But Will eased himself between the two and edged the Star fleet Officer backwards, making the guard grin to his associates before turning to leave the room.
"You should have let me 'SMACK' him Commander." Delik said, frustration clear in his voice, "I'd have got all the infor ......" Will whispered something in the mans' ear and stepped back. Delik closed his mouth and stood silent for a second or two before replying, "Aye Sir."
"I think we need to get on the good side of Taarh." Carl began, "If the chance opens up for someone to speak to Gaain then we'll explore that avenue too. But for the moment, keep your eyes, and ears, open ... We need to gather as much information as quickly and quietly as possible ... Our main objective is to find out where the 'HELL' the Raven has been hidden. It's obviously accessible by shuttle, so we need to know how to get back to it if the opportunity arises OK."
Everyone nodded in agreement ......
On the shuttle:
They were in some sort of worker bee type shuttle. A front compartment had room for two pilots, but for this trip there was just the one ...
Calli and Chloe sat with the children in what looked like a cargo or equipment area, containing several large crates, separated from the cockpit by a screen. They watched through the small port-holes as Sanctuary fell behind them and they entered a thick layer of cloud ... Within a minute the shuttle slowed and began a slow turn, rotating in it's axis before backing toward a docking port on the engineering section ... A muted thud signified a good seal and the rear of the shuttle opened silently. Air-lock doors parted in the ships outer and inner hulls as the pilot came through to them.
"Follow me ... You can leave now." the man said, walking onto the Raven as he spoke.
As they entered the ship Chloe said she would take the girls to their quarters. Call agreed to accompany them, surprised that there wasn't Kvarn personnel everywhere.
"We don't need an escort." Calli said to the pilot who seemed to be set to follow them. He shrugged and returned to the shuttle. the air-lock doors began to close, "Look after the children !" she whispered before jumping through the narrowing gap in the doors and rolling behind the crates.
She remained hidden for the return journey to Sanctuary ..........
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Calli Valente
Starfleet Intelligence
"Don't get in my way."
Registered: Aug 4, 2010 21:19:10 GMT
Posts: 534
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Post by Calli Valente on Apr 3, 2011 12:29:32 GMT
Calli felt the shuttle dock then power down ... The pilot moved through the cargo area and left. She gave him a few moments before moving to the rear of the shuttle herself.
Edging along the back wall she tried to listen for voices or movement through the closed doors of the hanger-bay. Satisfied the area was clear she stepped into the corridor and began to back-track. Every time she heard voices she had to duck into the nearest room, and she knew it was only going to be a matter of time before that room was occupied ... She was currently stood in a storeroom, there were packages of supplies, crates, other essential and non-essential equipment. But the thing that caught her eye was the racks of boiler-suit type coveralls. She had noticed that almost everyone wore the same outfit, with no obvious rank or department insignia. Checking along the rail she found a suitably sized garment and put it over her uniform ...
Given the low number of people working in this section, it wasn't going to be a simple case of hiding in plain sight, more keep her head down and hope she isn't spoken to.
Taking a deep breath she readied herself, then outwardly confident, but nervous on the inside, she stepped into the corridor and walked straight into a group of people !
They seemed a little surprised at her sudden appearance and one woman did the one thing Calli was dreading, she spoke to her.
"Are you part of number four shift ?" she asked, the other conversations continuing, though several people did look at her for a moment.
"No ...." Calli said, hoping her look of confusion would help her out, "I'm on number two shift, but I'm new here and I've somehow managed to loose my way."
"Ahh, well that happens. At least at first." the woman said, seemingly accepting her reply, "Two shift is working over in targeting ... Back that way, follow the corridor for about two hundred meters, then you will see the deflector array through the windows. Just follow the noise from there."
"OK thanks." Valenti said smiling, then turned away to follow the given instructions, but the woman spoke again, this time a little suspicion to her query.
"They didn't issue you with an access pin on arrival ?"
Calli froze inside as she turned to face the woman again. She noticed that the men had stopped talking and were watching her with interest. She could see that the woman was holding her collar, and there it was, a small blue pin. Everyone was wearing one of one color or other. How the hell had she not noticed them before she screamed inwardly.
"Erm ......" she said, touching her own pin-less collar.
"We will need to return you to the Command center. It is highly unusual and against regula ......" one of the men began, but the woman interrupted.
"Oh come on, Keelr, she's new here and obviously nervous. Issue her with a pin. I know you carry the things round with you." she said, smiling at Calli to reassure her.
The man picked out several of the colored pins and scanned a red one onto the data device he was carrying. He placed it on her collar.
"Don't loose it. It allows you access to the area's you have been assigned to." the man said to Calli before turning to the woman, "And you owe me a drink at shift end."
"Thank you." Calli said, leaving the group before one of them decided to quiz her further, the woman watched her go ...
Following the given instructions until the others were out of sight, she entered a corridor off to the left and followed that for a moment. Sure the group she had spoken to had moved on, Calli back-tracked and headed down the corridor she was originally heading toward. After several minutes she realized the walls were slightly 'different' from what she remembered. She stopped, feigning checking an open panel on the wall while she tried to get her bearings ... 'That was it, I should have turned left back there' she thought, moving back to the junction and turning right. But within minutes she stopped again, this wasn't right ... Then it dawned on her ...
She was lost ..........
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Andae Blakus
Moderator ..
Commander 1C
Registered: Oct 17, 2007 22:48:27 GMT
Posts: 1,447
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Post by Andae Blakus on Apr 5, 2011 5:02:45 GMT
"... It had all the markings of a staged detonation, more to urge us to move and ally ourselves tighter with Taarh than a direct attempt on our lives ... "
The words still rang in Blakus's ears, seeming to make more and more sense by the moment - if that was possible.
"Perhaps Taarh is with Gaain and they're trying to get us all in one place," he'd suggested at the time. "But why the whole charade of moving us like this; couldn't they just move everyone from the cells all at once? Or was Taarh a backup plan when they realised we'd found a way out of that cell?"
Andae had been running the thoughts and all the associated possibilities through his head for the last hour, performing the logical loops but consequently ending up back where he started. Those loops had been shaken and broken up completely when the young engineer under his command had tried to spring the guards.
The next twenty minutes had involved further upheaval, and Andae was now knelt by Catley's prone body, periodically checking the man's pulse out of irrational fear, and wishing there was a proper doctor amongst the group. He could only muster his standard medical training and that might not be enough if Catley's condition deteriorated further.
He touched his hand to the man's neck, feeling the pulsating beat as the heart muscle sent blood around the traumatised body. The Commander ignored the current of hot anger he felt within at the wrong done to his officer. It streamed under the surface, a smooth flow of it like seething lava. He cocked his head; ultimately controllable.
"You've been causing more problems?" It was Taarh's voice.
He'd approached completely at unawares, and Andae watched all the Starfleeters turn around in surprise at their 'saviour''s sudden appearance. "The only problem is the brutality of your guards, Taarh," he accused.
Taarh turned sternly towards him. Andae recognised that the man was becoming less hospitable by the moment, continuing to treat them as if they were merely cattle, to be moved about, or children to be chided and kept in one place, no questions asked.
"Commander..." Torek warned. Andae nodded quickly in acknowledgement of his Captain, raising a hand apologetically. He knew; the plan was to get on Taarh's good side.
"We understand the secondary command centre isn't yet commissioned..." the engineer began tentatively.
Taarh paused, Andae picking up immediately on the intense anger in the Vezi's eyes in the instant he'd spoken. "Yes, that's correct... And there's no way to reach it safely."
"What will it be controlling mainly, the command centre? For sure I would've thought," he gestured to the gargantuan bay behind them, "a landing signals post for whatever large vessels come in here."
Taarh clearly wasn't comfortable with the current line of questioning, for without a word he'd already spun on his heel heading from the room. Jamison looked around at everyone, rolling his eyes as if to say 'that went well'.
There was a noise then, the sound of physical discomfort, physical struggle, a sound that instilled alarm in every Starfleeter present. Catley's body was convulsing slightly. Andae saw the man had partly regained consciousness, his eyes wide and his chest heaving. He leant over and coughed, a dash of crimson trickling from the mouth. Andae was shocked. Just how hard had the Vezi guard hit him??
"Taarh!" he called without a moment's thought. "Our man here needs medical attention."
The Vezi stopped in the half-completed doorway, shifting his stance without turning around.
"You heard!" Torek said more forcefully, "You can't deny him medical care."
Taarh turned, snapping his fingers at one of the guards. The guard moved quickly to lift Catley from the floor and take him from the room, and Andae moved to assist. As the trio exited under the doorway, Andae felt a hand come down on his shoulder.
"You're coming not further. I'm afraid I have to take precautions, which means keeping wise to any potential tricks." It was of course Taarh, his voice becoming less that of the saviour and more that of the malevolent enemy by the moment.
Taarh, the guard and the semi-conscious form of Catley left the room and Andae was left to return to the group, despondent. "You have my assurances he'll be treated and returned to you soon," Taarh's hollow voice echoed down the corridor, filling the hangar with a pale acoustic threat, "I can only offer this as a promise, not a guarantee."
That, under any rule, was simply unacceptable. Each Starfleet officer knew it like they knew Starfleet regulations, and yet for the time being, there was now just one guard remaining...
<Tag Torek, Jamison, all>
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Alex Watson
Commander 1C
All that glitters has a high refractive index.
Registered: Apr 10, 2011 14:30:46 GMT
Posts: 102
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Post by Alex Watson on Apr 10, 2011 23:50:08 GMT
The Night Before:
"Go on Alex! Do it! Do it! Do it!"
The general chant was taken up around the table, and so rather grudgingly, Alex rose to his feet, took the drink that was offered to him, and drained it. Cheers broke out and, coughing and spluttering from the intensity of the spirit, Alex sat back in his seat.
This was it, they had done it! They were science officers! Alex and his friends were enjoying their last bit of off-duty freedom together before they went their separate ways in the most traditional method of humankind: by drinking alcohol and laughing loudly. "Told you you'd get it, mate. Never a chance in hell they'd pick someone else," said Jeff, referring to the fact that Alex had been chosen as a Chief Science Officer, while the others had been assigned more junior roles. "Remember that time you stood up in class and told the instructor that he'd misunderstood the concept of Chaos Theory and how it relates to the theory of parallel universes?" Jeff roared with laughter, as did the others. "Course I do, Jeffy. I thought he was gonna 'ave a right old Brussel's, but he just said "If you're so bloody clever, you come up here and show me!"" Alex's imitation of the pompous voice of their instructor brought tears of laughter to the eyes of one of the others. "So I get up, I go to the board, and I show him!" his cockney accent rang through the bar. "Yup, you never stood a chance after that, mate. Knew right then you'd be the one to get the top job." "Well, when I'm rollin' in the Nelsons I'll give you a call, Johnny. You could come round and clean my lovely big office!" everyone laughed again, and the evening wore on.
..........
"Urrrrgh....." was about all that Alex could manage to articulate as he awoke in his quarters. He had no idea what time it was, and his brains felt like they had been beaten out by a slice of lemon wrapped around a large gold brick. As he sat up, rubbing his eyes, he saw a flash of the most blinding light. Instinctively he knew what it was and in the second that remained to him, contemplated the fact that being atomised in the fires of a supernova would come as something of a relief from his hangover.
............
The Present
Throughout the events that had followed, Alex had tried as hard as he could to blend into the background. It wasn't hard, as the many-pipped officers weren't really paying attention to the green-as-grass ensign. When Cately had been taken out, however, he glanced around to see if anyone was listening in, and spoke up for the first time since he had awoken.
"I don't like it."
He registered the look of surprise on the faces of the senior officers as they realised that it was he who had spoken. Finally, the commodore asked the question that was surely on all of their minds.
"Who are you?"
"Ensign Alexander James Watson, sir. I'm your new Chief Scientist, pleased to meet you." He snapped off a salute quickly with the air of one who has just realised what he is doing.
"And what don't you like, ensign?"
"I dunno. All this takes quite a bit to Adam 'n' Eve. It's bloody fascinating. Anyways, this Taarh lemon, I reckon he's stitchin' us up. He gets us back to the ship on the premise of helpin' us, we unlock it, then the other Julius and his mates show up and half-inch it, and probably ice the lot of us."
"What makes you think that, Ensign?"
"Because it's what I'd do, sir..."
<Tag Torek, all>
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Carl Torek
Command Staff ..
Site Executive Officer Ranks Officer
Fleet Admiral
"UTRINQUE PARATUS"
Registered: Jun 17, 2006 22:34:35 GMT
Posts: 6,160
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Post by Carl Torek on Apr 11, 2011 0:57:56 GMT
Carl and the others turned as the man spoke ...
"And who might you be Ensign ?" Will asked.
"Ensign Alexander James Watson, Sir. I'm your new Chief Science Officer. Pleased to meet you."
The Senior Staff tried hard to hide the grins forming as the Ensign snapped off a crisp salute. Carl did grin, and motioned for Watson to put his arm down before he strained something.
"What don't you like ... Ensign ?" Andae asked, curious.
"I dunno. All this takes quite a bit to Adam 'n' Eve. It's bloody fascinating. Anyways, this Taarh lemon, I reckon he's stitchin' us up. He gets us back to the ship on the premise of helpin' us, we unlock it, then the other Julius and his mates show up and half-inch it, and probably ice the lot of us."
"What makes you think that, Ensign ?" Aeryn asked, curious.
"Because it's what I'd do, Sir..." Alex said, addressing the Marine.
"Do you always address your Senior Officers with that lame impression of a twentieth century cockney barrow-boy Ensign !" Torek said, restraining himself from telling the young man to get the hell out of his sight until he could speak concisely.
The room fell silent as they waited for the newcomers reaction, but Carl wasn't waiting.
"I know that under normal circumstances, we would meet once my Exec' had welcomed you both aboard and confirmed your transfers." the half Vulcan Commanding Officer said, looking from Aeryn to Alex and back, "But these are, as you can see, not normal circumstances ... But that doesn't mean you can be insubordinate or disrespectful ... Mister Watson, I would much prefer it if you spoke in a manner becoming an Officer ... Is that understood ?" he finished, raising an eyebrow in the typical Vulcan quizzical manner.
"Yes Sir ... Sorry Sir." Alex said, reddening, and throwing yet another salute.
"Then we will say no more about it. Please also be aware that we do not salute on a formal basis Ensign." Torek said, seemingly satisfied he had made it plain that then next time would be the last aboard his ship, "Now ....... You have all see the size of this base. I am coming to the conclusion that Mister Watson, despite his colorful metaphors, could be correct in his assumption that we are being 'played' I think the expression is. So, do we have any thoughts on what our next move should be ?"
Carl watched his Senior Staff, that included his newly acquired Chief Science Officer, despite his rank of Ensign, that included the newcomer to the conversation .........
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Deleted
Registered: Mar 29, 2024 11:25:18 GMT
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Apr 11, 2011 1:44:27 GMT
"Well Taarh doesn't appear to have a good side for us to get on." Will mumbled, trying to lighten the mood after seeing Catley being carried out.
As Commander Blakus turned and made his way back toward them, Will saw they they were thinking along the same lines. Only one guard left. Will spoke as Andae approached.
"The children are safe and the rest of us here are Starfleet. I say we take that last guard and make a break for it, sir." Will said
"Now they have Catley." was the Commodores reply.
Will turned and spoke to Blakus.
"How did he seem while you were with him, Andae. Do you think he has a chance of making it even with Taarh's help?"
<Tag Blakus>
"I don't know why, but my gut is telling me that Taarh has no intention of helping Catley. I know you don't want to leave him behind, sir, but I would be surprised if we ever saw him again. I'm sorry."
They all stood silently for what seemed like eternity until Delik spoke up.
"What if we split up?" he said. "The majority of you can try to find the Raven while I take a couple of men and get Catley back."
"Not without a means to communicate." Will answered.
"Well. When I was standing toe to toe with that guard, I noticed what looked like an earpiece. They have to be talking somehow. Maybe that's it." Delik replied. "We take out this guard and you and the others take the piece and head out. My team will confiscate one as we go."
"Sounds solid." Will said. "Only one minor change."
"What would that be, sir?" inquired Delik.
"As Acting CTSO, it's your job to protect the Commodore and the Raven, so you will go with him while I take a couple of men with me to retrieve Catley." Will said.
Everyone than turned their attention to the CO to get his thoughts on the plan.
<Tag Commodore>
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Alex Watson
Commander 1C
All that glitters has a high refractive index.
Registered: Apr 10, 2011 14:30:46 GMT
Posts: 102
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Post by Alex Watson on Apr 11, 2011 15:57:10 GMT
"Do you always address your Senior Officers with that lame impression of a twentieth century cockney barrow-boy Ensign !"
Alex felt like someone had reached out and smacked him in the face. His cheeks reddened slightly with a mixture of embarrassment with just a tinge of anger, which he quickly suppressed. It was like being back at the academy, he thought, with all and sundry looking down their noses at him just because he spoke differently.
"I know that under normal circumstances, we would meet once my Exec' had welcomed you both aboard and confirmed your transfers." the half Vulcan Commanding Officer said, looking from Aeryn to Alex and back, "But these are, as you can see, not normal circumstances ... But that doesn't mean you can be insubordinate or disrespectful ... Mister Watson, I would much prefer it if you spoke in a manner becoming an Officer ... Is that understood ?"
"Yes sir! Sorry sir!" Came Alex's still accented, but crisp reply.
After giving it a moment's thought, he realized that what bothered him the most about what the commodore had said wasn't that he had told him off, because looking back he realized that it was really rather deserved, but that he had suggested that Alex's mannerisms were an affectation. His strong East-End accent certainly wasn't affected, but if he really stopped and thought about it, after four years of Cambridge and two years of the Graduate Fast-Track program, his slang (mostly) was most certainly something that he consciously chose to continue using. This rattled him a little, as he'd never really thought about it before.
The others were talking about splitting up and finding Cately, and the Chief Engineer had suggested the use of the earpieces that the guards wore. His analytical mind presented a problem.
"Sir...permission to speak, sir?"
"Granted, Ensign."
"The earpieces. It seems logical that at least those belonging to Taarh and his guards would be set on the same frequency, so they'd be onto us before we could say two words to each other. Also, there's no guarantee that any other ones we find would be set on the same frequency, that we could manipulate the workings of what is essentially alien technology in order to change the frequencies, or that they aren't all official earpieces with a direct line to Gaain."
Everyone looked at him, seemingly surprised, but Alex took one more breath.
"Also...sir, I respectfully suggest that we attempt to obtain a schematic of this station before we split up. Without one, there's a good chance that even with earpieces we'd never be able to find each other again. Everywhere on this damn base looks the same. I'd suggest this secondary control room that they've mentioned. Even if it isn't fully operational, the computer banks are likely to still be active."
Alex stood apprehensively, waiting to hear what the others would make of what he had said.
<Tag Torek, all>
Modified for color only ... Torek.
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Calli Valente
Starfleet Intelligence
"Don't get in my way."
Registered: Aug 4, 2010 21:19:10 GMT
Posts: 534
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Post by Calli Valente on Apr 14, 2011 21:00:55 GMT
She had wandered the identical corridors for ten long minutes, ducking into rooms, or back-tracking whenever anyone got close ...
She could hear two men approaching. They were just around the curve of the corridor so she confidently pushed through the double doors and found herself in Sanctuary's version of the Raven's Ten Forward. The room wasn't busy, maybe a dozen men and women, sat eating or working. She found a table far enough away from the door but still easily reachable if she needed to run, and sat down.
She activated the PADD she had acquired and feigned checking her data. She was wracking her brain wondering how in hell she was going to find her way back to the rest of the ships' Officers, when the answer came from the next table ...
"Well I've been here almost a week and I 'STILL' can't find my way round." one woman said.
"Yes, if it wasn't for the guides I'd never turn up for work."
"So where are we working next, erm ..." the first woman said, picking up her PADD, "Location ... Hydroponics lab number four ?"[/i]
* Follow green indicator * the PADD replied.
As both women stood, Calli spotted the green pulsing line on the deck ahead of them as they left.
"At least someone has had a good idea on thi ......"
Their conversation was lost as the doors closed behind them ...
Calli looked at the PADD. 'So not hard after all' she thought as she prepared to ask for directions. But then it hit her ... She had 'NO' idea where the Commodore and the rest were being held, apart from knowing it was some sort of observation lounge, and that was going on the premise they had not been moved again ! ... Rubbing her temple, she almost yelled in frustration.
Sh waited a moment, then followed the two women out. Once in the corridor she walked purposefully, as if she knew exactly where she was going and had every right to do so. When she reached an un-occupied section she lifted the PADD.
"Location ... Computer core ?"
* Warning - That information is restricted * the voice said, causing her to re-think. She didn't want to attract the attention of anyone by asking for too many secure areas, so she changed tack.
"Location ... Observation lounge number one ?"
* Follow maroon indicator * the computer said helpfully.
Calli began to follow the lights. There was no way of knowing of course that they would be there, or just how many damn lounges this place had. For all she knew they may not even be on this level. But she had to start somewhere ..........
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Carl Torek
Command Staff ..
Site Executive Officer Ranks Officer
Fleet Admiral
"UTRINQUE PARATUS"
Registered: Jun 17, 2006 22:34:35 GMT
Posts: 6,160
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Post by Carl Torek on Apr 21, 2011 15:08:12 GMT
"Sounds solid." Will said. "Only one minor change." "What would that be Sir ?" inquired Delik. "As Acting CTSO, it's your job to protect the Commodore and the Raven, so you will stick with him while I take a couple of men with me to retrieve Catley." Will said. "OK." Carl agreed, glancing at the guard out of the corner of his eye, "Then our first task has to be removing the guard and then ge ......" "What if he is basically on our side, willing to help ?" Delik asked, "Sorry for cutting in Sir." he finished, after a glare from the Exec. "That's a fair question, and I'm not against anyone having their say Lieutenant." Torek said after the Security Officers' interruption, "But I'm not sure we can count on that. He's shown no signs thus far of being willing to go against his orders." "I'll talk to him." Andae said, casually walking toward the man, "So how long do you think we'll have to wait for ......" the blow was quick. Much too quick for the guard to react to, as Andae slammed his closed fist into the carotid sinus. The surge of blood to the brain, followed by an immediate drop in pressure knocked him unconscious instantly and Blakus caught the body before he hit the floor, placing him down unharmed. He dragged the body out of direct line of sight of the door then took the small earpiece and walked back to the group. "Right ..." Torek said, "One of us will use the earpiece, the other group will take the optical device given to Commander Valenti. Both groups will need to find extra devices then we'll try to communicate. It goes without saying that once Taarh finds out we are gone he'll be mad as hell. It's going to be down to just where his loyalties lay as to him contacting Gaain or finding us himself. Priorities ...... One. Find Catley. Two Comms, and three, Locate the Raven." The groups moved to the door, listening carefully for any sound outside. When there was none Carl spoke. "OK ... Go." Blakus stepped up to the door. It opened silently, and the Raven crew left the room .......... < tag : ALL >OOC : OK all, lets go find something
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Alex Watson
Commander 1C
All that glitters has a high refractive index.
Registered: Apr 10, 2011 14:30:46 GMT
Posts: 102
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Post by Alex Watson on May 1, 2011 15:49:37 GMT
As Alex and the others left the room, looking around constantly for any signs of guards, he felt a little wary. They were essentially diving into a situation and environment of which they had no knowledge whatsoever. They didn't know the layout, they didn't know the slightest thing about the occupants of the base other than that they appeared to be hostile and they had no means of defending themselves should they be discovered. Alex didn't like it, but under the circumstances there was really no other alternative.
The group moved along the corridor quietly, minding their footfalls, until they reached a crossroads. They looked around, but there was no indication of any activity. Alex swore under his breath, and he could tell that he wasn't the only one who had. They had decided on two groups, and they were now presented with three alternatives. While the senior officers leant in together to discuss the situation, Alex noticed what appeared to be some sort of computer terminal on the wall. It was not like any federation computer terminal but, Alex supposed, a computer was a computer in any dimension and was likely to have the same sort of functionality as those aboard the Raven.
"Commodore, permission to attempt something, sir?"
"Exactly what do you wish to attempt, Ensign?" said the Commodore, placing a little too much emphasis on the last word for Alex to feel entirely confident.
"I'd like to try and access their computer network through this terminal. If it works, it'll make our jobs one hell of a lot easier." Alex said, crisply.
"And if it doesn't work, Mr Watson?" said the Chief Engineer.
"It'll probably trigger an alarm that'll bring them straight to us, sir."
The senior officers' faces clouded with apprehension, and Alex could almost see the cogs whirring beneath their skulls. Attempting this hack risked exposure, but not attempting it risked total failure of the mission due to lack of information. Eventually the Commodore nodded his head crisply.
"Do it, Mr Watson. If we don't have any information we'll end up getting caught anyway. We've got nothing to lose."
"Aye sir." Said Alex, turning to face the computer and steepling his hands in front of his face. The question was, where to begin? Hoping against hope that the computer system was similar to that on the Raven, he unclasped one of his sleeve pips, revealing a tiny computer adapter at the base. He'd installed it as a precaution for exactly this type of scenario, but unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately) he'd never had the opportunity to test it in action. With a deep breath, he pressed the adapter into one of the sockets on the computer. It sprang to life, flashing irregularly and whining for a few seconds, before returning to normal. Alex breathed a sigh of relief. So far, so good. The pip was installed with a virus that in theory would temporarily override security software and allow him access to the main data banks. It wiped itself clean when the pip was removed, and the only noticeable effect on the main network was a two second hack time that would, also in theory, be untraceable.
Bending close to the computer, Alex began to work, calling up detailed schematics of the base and its environment as well as personnel records and security protocols. He was designing, in essence, a crash course in how to fit in on the station by selecting those items he deemed would be most important.
As Alex worked, the other officers kept lookout around the corners of the junction. If they were discovered now, in the midst of this, it would be disastrous for everyone. The corridors, however, were silent and deserted.
After about twenty minutes, Alex stepped back and moved to the unit next to the computer, gesturing everyone to gather around.
"Okay. As far as I can make out, this unit here is their equivalent to a replicator. I've programmed us all with identities for this station and have integrated them with the genuine records. They'll be almost, but not quite, impossible to expose because, in a sense, they're real. I've tried to give us assignments as close to our real talents as possible as well to avoid unwanted attention. The only problem was you, Commodore. I'm sorry to report that I've had to make you a nurse, because they're the only ones who have hats as part of their uniform."
<Tag Carl>
Alex turned back to face the computer. "Synthesise devices." he said briefly, and a small number of cylindrical objects about two centimetres long materialised in the replicator. Alex too them out and offered them to each member of the group.
"These are storage devices containing a scematic map of the station as well as information such as its standing security orders. You can peruse them at your leisure, but I'd recommend you take a look as soon as possible. The display is holographic, so you just activate them and scroll through to what you're looking for. Now, for the final touch."
He turned back to the replicator, removing the virus pip from the computer terminal. The system whined and flashed for two seconds before falling silent. Alex spoke loud and clear to the replicator.
"Computer, Scientist 2 James Watt requesting complete replacement uniform and equipment." The replicator hummed, and a uniform identical to those the occupants of the station were wearing materialised in front of him. He turned to the rest of the group.
"You each need to ask individually. Your names and assignments are on the first page of your storage devices." He turned to the commodore. "Sir, I'd like to request to take a small team and infiltrate the laboratory. I might be able to learn more about what it is they're doing here. Petty officers Shinsky and Badel could accompany me," he said, pointing to a young woman and a slightly older man standing at the back of the group.
"I'm afraid we'll still have to look for a way to communicate only with each other. The communicators that I could replicate here would be universal and able to be reached by friend and foe alike."
<Tag Carl, All>
Modified by Alex: Speech regarding communicators didn't paste the first time.
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Carl Torek
Command Staff ..
Site Executive Officer Ranks Officer
Fleet Admiral
"UTRINQUE PARATUS"
Registered: Jun 17, 2006 22:34:35 GMT
Posts: 6,160
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Post by Carl Torek on May 1, 2011 21:05:01 GMT
"And if it doesn't work, Mr Watson?" said the Chief Engineer. "It will probably trigger an alarm that will bring them straight to us, Sir." "Do it Mister Watson." Carl said. ~~~~~~~~~~Torek listened to the Science Officer as he explained what he had achieved. It hadn't surprised the Commodore that Watson had produced some piece of technology that had helped them. He just hoped it worked without giving their location away. Carl was pleased at the Ensigns' work and waited as he allotted phantom roles to each Officer. "The only problem was you, Commodore." Alex said, hesitating slightly, "I'm sorry to report that I've had to make you a nurse, because they're the only ones who have hats as part of their uniform." The room fell totally silent until Will spoke. "Well I never saw 'that' coming." Torek gave his Exec' a look that would melt hull plate. Jamison in turn kept a dead-pan look on his face, knowing his Commanding Officer wasn't really annoyed ..... He looked at the data device and scrolled to his new identity, glancing at a reddening Watson as he moved to the replicator. "Computer ... Surgical Nurse Tor Raleck ... Supply complete replacement uniform and equipment." He lifted the uniform off the replicator and looked it up and down. Theater blue top and trousers with a small cap along with a medical scanner device, "Could have been worse I suppose." he said shrugging, before moving off to one side to don the outfit as the others took their turns. "I'm afraid we'll still have to look for a way to communicate only with each other. The communicators that I could replicate here would be universal and able to be reached by friend and foe alike." Watson said once everyone was ready. "OK. I suggest we each get to our 'assigned' work areas." Carl said, giving Alex another side-long glance, "Then try to find Comm devices ... Once we can communicate we'll decide where to go from there ... Word of warning. try not to attract unwanted attention. Should you be questioned play Innocent. You are new to Sanctuary and are finding your feet yadda yadda. I would suggest we meet back here in two hours to compare notes." "There's a section partially open to space." Will said, looking at the schematics, and sending the information to the other data devices, "I'd say we're better meeting there ... Less chance of being spotted ?" "Agreed." Carl said, then had an idea, "Can we communicate through these Ensign ?" "Only in alpha numeric form Sir. No audio visual." "Good enough ........ OK let's move out ... Rendezvous in two hours." Torek said .......... It was quite amusing to see that the Commodore had a modicum of a sense of humor. He could remember another Commanding Officer, well' several actually, Picard, Riker, B'leel ... All of them knew how to take a joke. All of them had been the butt of one of his pranks at some time or other. But he had to say, this Science Officer had had surprised him, pulling off a stroke of pure comic genius making Torek a nurse. 'The only way it could have been better was if the damn replicator had produced a knee-length matrons outfit complete with paper cap, but ahh well' Q thought as he watched them leave. Stepping backward into the wall something suddenly occurred to him, and he popped back into the room. Clicking his fingers he grinned, wondering how the ingenious Science Officer would feel when the next time he tried his little device all it was good for, was playing Vulcan burial music ... Grinning at his own joke, he instantly vanished .......... < tag : All >OOC : Please don't post 'Q' for the time being, thnx guys
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Deleted
Registered: Mar 29, 2024 11:25:18 GMT
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on May 2, 2011 3:49:16 GMT
With everyone now attired in uniforms matching the personnel on the station and somewhat of a plan in mind, Will took two security people with him and set off trying to find their missing crewman. As they were walking down a corridor, they were approached by two others.
"What are you doing in this area?" the taller of the two asked.
Will stepped up and took the lead.
"We've just arrived and well, I guess we got lost." he said trying to look somewhat embarrassed.
"Just arrive have you?" the second one asked as he stepped forward and looked at the badge on one of the other crewmen. "According to this, you have been here 6 months."
"So which is it?" asked the first.
Will took another step toward the taller of the two as his security team moved in a somewhat circle around them.
"Well. It's like this...." Will started. But before he could say another word, his two people each stepped into a punch and rendered their assailants unconscious.
"Good work." Will said. "Now, Lane, you try and find a place to hide them while Green and I see what we can find on their bodies."
"Aye, sir." said Lane as she quickly disappeared around a corner.
Will and Green bent down and began going through pockets. They discovered one of the earpieces that they had taken from the guard when they made their escape. Will quickly placed into his ear. They also took the badges that the other men had on their chests. Just as they stood, Lane returned.
"Sir. there's what appears to be some sort of utility closet just up this next corridor."
"Great. We'll tie them up inside it. You two grab that one."
A few moments later, they had the two men bound and gagged and were once again making their way down a corridor in search of Catley.
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Andae Blakus
Moderator ..
Commander 1C
Registered: Oct 17, 2007 22:48:27 GMT
Posts: 1,447
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Post by Andae Blakus on May 3, 2011 23:03:14 GMT
The science officer's hack into Sanctuary's information network had designated Blakus the name Voori Esan. He surveyed the garment he was to wear. The replicating unit had given him something he thought looked like the maintenance uniforms worn by Starfleet engineering personnel. Also given to him was a small red pin. Apparently, it was an access device that all new personnel were given on arrival.
He and his fellow engineer Lieutenant Harton, had been 'assigned' to a section called array assembly. Andae had suggested to the Captain that he and Harton explore the section; he'd been given permission to do so but had been constrained to just an hour of investigation. He knew full well it wouldn't do to be split up too long.
Their route to the section had been untroubled although it felt as if they'd been walking a long way, taking many left and right turns. Eventually they'd come out on to a wide gantry-way overlooking a large space below. The section was partly exposed to space, although obviously, Blakus thought, there had to be large forcefields protecting the groups of workers that milled on the lower level.
They looked over the balcony down at the several dozen fast-moving figures. The nebula and its myriad colours were in full sight in front and above them, and partly-constructed, spindly arms of the station lined the wide space on either side, framing the nebulous miasma in between.
It was unclear exactly what the workers below were working on, only that they seemed to be engaged in a constant process of shifting large gurneys of material and equipment. They all followed the same general course: across the bay after appearing from beneath the gantryway, to then disappear behind a far corner into some other area. From the looks of the gurneys' contents it didn't appear they were assisting in the actual construction of the station.
He turned to Harton and indicated the nearby ramp to the lower level, "Shall we?" he asked.
The pair headed down, noticing to their relief that everyone was wearing the same maintenance uniform they wore. Trying to mind themselves without appearing conspicuous, both made a beeline for the area everyone was heading to. Andae glanced around and saw that no one took especial notice of their passage; he could only surmise they weren't acting oddly.
The next area proved to be just as large if not larger than the last, and here it became clearer what all the gurneys were for.
In the centre of the volume, hanging from the ceiling and supported from the floor, was a large cylindrical object. A sharp metallic sheen ran its length, taking in large power cells and other assemblies that glowed a brilliant blue, like the magnetic constrictors on some models of Starship warp core.
"Got to be at least seventy metres!" Harton exclaimed.
Blakus shushed her, signally silently they should move to somewhere less open. They headed over to a group of people who seemed to just be standing around. Blakus thought they might be able to disappear for a while and evaluate for themselves the situation but, as it turned out, it wasn't going to be that easy.
It became clear when they reached the group why they were standing there. Someone was giving a briefing, or rather, an oration. Blakus and Harton looked on the person's face and immediately froze.
The engineer's mind whirled. Could they quickly step away, without it appearing strange? Should they hide their faces? Either way there was now a distinct problem... For the orator was Gaain.
They couldn't slip off quietly; they'd have to wait. Blakus tried to appear as neutral as possible. While he wasn't sure Gaain knew Harton's face, he knew the Vezi had seen him. But as long as they didn't get caught they could learn so much, and Andae's report back to Torek might be very interesting...
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Alex Watson
Commander 1C
All that glitters has a high refractive index.
Registered: Apr 10, 2011 14:30:46 GMT
Posts: 102
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Post by Alex Watson on May 4, 2011 17:10:35 GMT
As the other groups made their separate ways from the crossroads, Alex and the two members of his team started to walk with the group which included the first officer and the two security personnel. They walked briskly and purposefully, until they came to a T-Junction. Alex looked over at Jamison.
"Good luck, sir." he said.
The first officer nodded, gesturing for his team to follow him, Alex did the same and they split down different paths. It wasn't long before Alex heard the very faint and muffled sounds of two punches and subsequent groaning. He cursed inwardly, muttering to himself.
"Damned security. Wouldn't recognise subtlety if you embossed it on the end of a photon torpedo and fired it up their nose! And don't laugh!" he snapped at the two petty officers, who were sniggering at his rant, "This is serious business. One wrong move and the game is up." The two fell silent as they continued to march down the corridor.
As they walked, Alex took a minute to reflect on his new uniform. It was similar to Starfleet uniform except that it was white rather than black, and instead of pips to designate rank, he had two horizontal stripes of blue across his lapel: the top one solid in colour, the lower one in a series of dashes. He had a blue pin attached to his collar to allow his access to his work areas, and the other two looked the same except that their uniforms only had one dashed blue stripe on their lapels.
When they reached another crossroads Alex rolled his eyes in frustration. How many damned junctions could this place hold without any actual rooms? He walked over to the computer and pressed the access key.
"Computer, requesting direction to main laboratory."
"Follow yellow indicator." The computer replied in a soft female voice.
They set off, following the flashing yellow markers on the floor. The path twisted and turned for at least ten minutes, and Alex started to wonder if he was going to be able to gather any sort of meaningful information in the hour and three quarters that remained to him before rendezvous. Just as he had concluded that it was unlikely, he turned the corner. Before him behind glass doors stood the most incredible laboratory he had ever seen. Every conceivable piece of equipment was there, and there were several of which he could only begin to guess the function.
"Ah!" A voice rang out, and Alex quickly composed his face into one less of awe and more of the repressed tedium of the workplace. He was, after all, supposed to be a mid-ranked scientist. A middle-aged man with a grey beard in a similar uniform to Alex, but with four bars on his lapel, the uppermost and lowermost solid, the middle two dashed, strode up to him.
"Excellent!" The man said, "Just the man I need, can you go over to station eight and check the status of the solar energy proj..." he paused, looking at the flashing yellow marker at Alex's feet. Alex swore violently internally, he'd forgotten to cancel the damned guidance program.
"Did you...forget where the main lab is, Scientist 2?" He asked, half darkly amused, half suspicious.
"Not at all, Scientist 4," Alex was grateful at this juncture that he had included the correct rank titles and forms of address in his briefing package. "I was misled, accidentally I'm sure, and ended up...well I'm still not certain where it was. I must have forgotten to cancel the guidance program when I got back to familiar ground. I apologise."
"Accepted, Scientist 2. This place is a damned maze on the edges. I keep telling Gaain that he should simplify the layout, but I think he rather likes the idea of people getting lost. It would make a harder job for people to invade this place, I suppose."
"I suppose so."
"Anyway, I need you to go and check the equations on the solar readout simulator. We've had a slight malfunction that resulted in the simulator predicting a hyper-nova." He laughed, Alex didn't. "I'm sure it's just one of the young researchers with a keen mind but a sloppy hand inputting the figures wrong, but I want someone a bit more senior to look it over for me."
"Of course, Scientist 4, I'll get it done."
"There's a good lad, and keep me up to date on the situation. My office is over there. It's marked "Chief of Science" In case you get lost again!" Chortling at his own joke, the older man slapped Alex on the shoulder and moved off towards his office.
"Solar readout simulator?" said Petty Officer Shinsky, the young woman, "does that mean-"
"Silence, Petty Officer. We don't know who's listening and remember, we're supposed to know what we're doing."
"Yes sir, sorry sir," Shinsky whispered back.
"It's ok, this place would blow anyone's mind who hadn't seen it before. Let's do whatever he asked us to to. Science station eight is over there," he said, pointing to a large figure 8 embossed on the wall. "Let's go get some information."
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Calli Valente
Starfleet Intelligence
"Don't get in my way."
Registered: Aug 4, 2010 21:19:10 GMT
Posts: 534
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Post by Calli Valente on May 5, 2011 15:23:50 GMT
Calli had been following the maroon light for almost thirty minutes now, and was beginning to wonder if she had picked the wrong location for where she thought the crew could be. She was checking the PADD device for other observation lounges when she almost went head-long into two people.
"Oh ... Sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going ... Excuse me." she said, making her way past the two. But one of them spoke to her.
"Wait ... You are from 'Administration'. Maybe you can solve our disagreement ?" the man said, then seeing Calli's confusion, pointed at the red pip, "You're wearing a red Admin pip ?"
"Oh, yes sorry ... I'm new here, still having to use the guide light." she said, noticing the two centimeter long colored bars on both their lapels. 'Must be some sort of departmental rank system' she thought.
"I am Science two Plenn, this is my over-imaginative colleague, Engineer two Hyzl ......"
"Anyway. Is there any truth in the rumor that we have captured an ALIEN ship from another dimension ?" the woman asked a little over-excitedly.
"...... And you are ?" the man continued, watching her closely.
"Senior Administrator Llaic." Calli replied, turning to the woman before Plenn could interrogate her further, "As for an alien ship ... I think we need to concentrate more on our assigned tasks, rather than speculating on fantasy ... Don't you ... After all, I would hate these rumors to spread to Teerh, or Gaain himself."
Hyzl went white at the suggestion their Commander could hear it was her speaking of such idiocies."
"Told you it was sheer madness." Plenn said, grinning apologetically, "We'll detain you no further administrator." he said, grabbing his companions arm and making a hasty exit ... Breathing a sigh of relief, but also noticing the high, almost 'feared' regard the two held anyone from 'administration' in.
~~~~~~~~~~
It took a further fifteen minutes for her to reach Observation Lounge One, but it was less fraught with fear given the two's reaction to the red pip.
Entering she found the room empty ... 'Damn !' she thought, frustrated. But she needed to take a look round for anything that would give her a clue as to the crew location. Moving around the room she noticed that the chairs, rather than being under each table, were set around in an almost circular pattern, as if a group had been having a meeting and left without replacing them. She checked the replicator, but that was no help, she had no idea how to use it, let alone check on any 'log' that might be available ...
Standing in the middle of the room she did a slow one eighty degree turn, looking for anything that seemed out of place, and something did ... On the wall opposite the replicator, there was what seemed to be a set of storage cabinets. One had a door slightly open ... Only a matter of a centimeter, but to her trained eye it was out of place. Moving to the door she peered through the gap, but could see nothing, so she pulled the door open and grinned broadly ... On the floor of the cabinet were around a dozen Star fleet uniforms !
It was obvious that they had found a way of blending in to be able to move around with some freedom. "Just can't see them wandering round nude." she said to herself, before making sure the cabinet was securely closed ... All she needed to do now was figure out where the hell they have got to ..........
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Andae Blakus
Moderator ..
Commander 1C
Registered: Oct 17, 2007 22:48:27 GMT
Posts: 1,447
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Post by Andae Blakus on May 15, 2011 4:40:40 GMT
"Our future awaits us, friends. It's ours for the taking. This station and this device that we've constructed here assures us of that future. We need only stop those who would see it all ruined in their sweeping idiocy, their casual ignorance. And of course, the only way ..."
Andae began to phase out of Gaain's speech, becoming more interested in the reactions of those around him to the oration. They all appeared extremely attentive to what they were hearing, moreso than he would expect. It was, Andae thought, as if each of them held an immeasurable quantity of belief, a fervour that couldn't be surpassed by anything of normality. He could see it in their eyes.
Everyone cheered as Gaain finished a segment of the speech with a proclamation. Blakus and Harton nodded along feigning approval, trying their best to fit in with this strangely partisan environment.
Another ten minutes passed before Gaain finally stopped speaking, and the listeners started to diffuse away from the gathering. Andae pursed his lips, watching Gaain step off the raised area from which the speech had been delivered. With several aides in attendance, Gaain exited through an inconspicuous door cast in shadow towards the rear of the platform. The engineer wondered if it led to an office area, or perhaps, he thought, some sort of backdoor system to other key areas of the station. While it was tempting, he didn't dare try to enter it at this point.
"He's madder than I thought..." Harton muttered in his ear.
Andae raised an eyebrow, turning aside and indicating for Harton to follow. "Did you listen to all of it?" he asked, "I haven't heard so much rhetoric since... hmm."
Harton grinned beside him as they walked, aimlessly for the time being. "I tried. So it appears they're planning a direct attack on the Vezi's sun experiment, perhaps soon." Andae watched her, seeing how her eyes fixed on the object to which they were now drawing closer; the seventy-metre long construct that had so drawn their attention when they'd first entered. "I wonder if it has anything to do with the plan."
Andae sighed. "Very likely. But what else are they doing here? What future?" He turned a decision over in his head, looking to the monstrosity ahead, "Well I suppose we should take a closer look."
The 'device' was suspended on a large rigging. Something akin to scaffolding lined and dotted most of its surface, giving it an unfinished but threateningly mechanical look. The rig was accessible by a steep temporary stairway, and further up a framework of elevators allowed for ease of access to sections of the device closer to the ceiling.
Indicating the pins in their collar to a pair of guards, Andae and Harton climbed the stair and stepped up inches from the device. It throbbed in a warm mechanical glow; Andae sensed a deep thrum of power, a wild, burning fire inside it, something untamed that was to set loose the rage of the Vezi on their pioneering brethren. Was it, then, a weapon? They fell silent for a moment as they passed close by a group of workers.
"Excuse me, maintenance personnel," a rough voice said. "Move on, this is a busy area and you're standing right by the tertiary coolant port." Andae paused, not turning to face the voice, whose own group had stopped what they were doing and now looked on the backs of Blakus and Harton with disapproval. "What division are you with anyway?" the voice asked, "Your sleeve colour... The guidance system?! Why are you down here? Get the hell up there now! Braoshi wanted all his personnel on it this shift."
Andae turned, eyeing the man carefully. "Perhaps you should mind your own work, and stop interfering with that of others... SIR."
"You... You do not take that tone with one such as I, scum!"
Andae knew he'd been stupid, but as was common in these situations he couldn't keep his natural petulance in check. The man stepped forward, making to assault him or to at least enact some disciplinary measure.
Before he'd got far a screech rent the air around them and the coolant port behind the man flared up. Andae felt a scorching heat permeate his entire body; alarmed, he stepped back. It wasn't just a coolant port, he realised. It was an exhaust. Orange fire bloomed in his entire field of vision and heat seared his face. He watched as the man whom had threatened him was enveloped in the fiery haze, the expression of anger on his face dissolving as Andae's sight was saturated with white heat.
The fire faded, having lasted only a moment, and Andae was on his knees. Pandemonium rang all around him at the disaster, the accident. Of the man caught in the blast, dashed ashes across the steel grating were all that remained.
"Andae... Andae! We need to get out of here!"
"Yes, yes, Harton. We should probably find Commodore Torek," he croaked.
Above the sound of the shouting and the shocked wailing of alarms, Andae could only think of the blazing heat he felt all across his scalp and on his face. He became aware of an onrush of people; damage control teams come to relieve the situation. At their forefront was a woman of larger stature, an administrator of some sort he guessed. She took one look round at the scene of instant carnage and then spoke. "Round all these people up. You, and you, secure this sector... Back to work."
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Alex Watson
Commander 1C
All that glitters has a high refractive index.
Registered: Apr 10, 2011 14:30:46 GMT
Posts: 102
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Post by Alex Watson on May 16, 2011 18:05:49 GMT
Alex walked forwards through the laboratory towards the science station he had been asked to check. He was trying desperately to remain professional and had to keep reminding himself that he was a Starfleet officer on an incredibly important mission, not an idiot child in Santa's Workshop. His trip across the laboratory was unremarkable, except that the odd Scientist One would touch their head in a form of salute when he passed them. Evidently his disguises were as good as he'd hoped. When he reached Science Station Eight, he rubbed his hands together in an attempt to look like a man who knows what he is doing and has come to fix something. He wasn't sure if he'd succeeded, because the young female Scientist Two who was at the station looked at him slightly non-plussed.
Alex stood still for maybe three seconds, but it felt like an eternity, before he finally managed to say, in what he fervently hoped was a steady voice,
"The Chief of Science sent me over here. Wanted me to have a look at the Solar Readout Simulations, apparently they've been malfunctioning."
The look that the girl gave him was one of pure ice.
"Oh, so that's what you're here for is it? So YOU think I've made a mistake as well then? Well you can look all you want, but you won't find a single error in a single equation! I've triple checked them all myself! This is just punishment for last week!"
Alex almost took a step backwards in the face of her fury, as his two comrades had done, but thought that as the senior officer he should show a bit more grit.
"I don't know anything about that, I'm afraid. I'm just here following orders. I can assure you it's nothing personal."
The girl just scoffed and turned away, getting up to go to another console.
"What's your name?" she asked, "If you're going to be working with me, It'd be useful to know it."
"I'm James," said Alex, "Scientist Two James Watt,"
She looked at him, and Alex swore he saw the faintist flicker of a smile underneath her scowl.
"I'm Jenny. Scientist Two Jenny Gerson." She said, mocking his slightly pompous tone. Alex did not rise to the obvious bait.
"Nice to meet you, Jenny. Shall we have a look at the Simulator then?"
"I suppose so, for all the good it'll do you. Come on over here." she replied, waving her hand to the console next to hers. Alex strode up to it and smiled a little. He at least knew how to work their computer systems somewhat from his little forray into their databanks. His hands sprang to life on the console, tapping and touching instinctively to call up the relevant data. Jenny stood, looking rather impressed despite herself.
After a few minutes, Alex stepped back, his heart beating furiously inside his chest, his spine numb. Forcing his face into irritation rather than the horror he felt at what he had just discovered, he turned to the girl. "Well, it's obvious to ME where the problem lies, Jenny." He said, with the air of someone about to tell her off. She tensed, readying herself for a fight.
"And where's that, genius-face?" she quipped. He dropped his voice to a whisper, moving closer to her.
"The whole thing's bloody well insane. You're right, there isn't a single error and the whole lot'll blow itself to smithereens the second they turn it on. And it won't stop there..." he tailed off, biting his tongue and hoping she didn't realise the implications of his last sentence. To his immense relief, she smiled properly, dropping her voice to a whisper as well.
"Of COURSE it's insane! Everyone knows it! I think even the Chief of Science knows it, he just doesn't want to admit that he knows it. Gaain's threatened to execute anyone who displays disloyalty to the project, so no one speaks up."
Alex rubbed his face in his hands. "Crap." he exhaled under his breath.
"That about sums it up," said Jenny with a little laugh.
At that point, an alarm went off, and Alex jumped involuntarily. Jenny didn't notice, for which he was thankful, but he straightened himself up, looking around and half expecting armed guards to swoop down on him where he stood. Jenny was on the computer, tapping away. After a minute or two she turned around, a grim look on her face.
"Argh! One of those idiot grease-monkeys has gone and got himself atomised by a cooling exhaust. You'd think the warning signs we put all over them were just for decoration!"
"Who was it?" Alex asked, dreading the answer.
"Engineer Three Lantar Stivali. Well that explains it, he always was a total numbskull." Alex's sigh of relief passed unnoticed, Lantar Stivali was not one of the fake identities he had given the crew of the Raven, but he had a sneaking suspicion that at least one of them had been involved in this. He cursed mentally. What had he said? No Unwanted Attention. It had seemed simple enough when he said it, but clearly somebody thought that throwing senior engineers into coolant exhausts didn't constitute Unwanted Attention.
Alex looked up, the Chief of Science was standing there with a rather tired look on his face.
"Find anything, Scientist Two?" he asked wearily,
"No, Scientist Four, there was no fau-" Alex began, but he was cut short.
"OF COURSE THERE'S A FAULT!" shouted the Chief. Alex realised that his outburst was more from frustration than anger at him personally. It took a few seconds for the Chief to regain his composure. "Very well, very well...I'll get someone else to look at it. In the meantime, Scientists, get a move on down to Engineering. We need to run a scan on the coolant exhaust that just incierated Stivali. Check there are no faults with the system. That sort of thing."
"We'll attend to it, Scientist Four," said Jenny from behind Alex. "Come on, you three," she said, pointing to Alex and his comrades with a grim smile, "we've been invited to the barbeque."
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Carl Torek
Command Staff ..
Site Executive Officer Ranks Officer
Fleet Admiral
"UTRINQUE PARATUS"
Registered: Jun 17, 2006 22:34:35 GMT
Posts: 6,160
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Post by Carl Torek on May 23, 2011 10:39:20 GMT
Carl watched his Officers split up once in the corridor, each taking the designated heading to one of their departments. He didn't much like the idea of splitting up, but there was little choice now. They needed answers, and quick !
Checking his 'uniform' he asked the Data Pad the location of the nearest medical facility. Immediately, a blue pulsing line appeared at his feet, so tentatively checking the corridor he began to follow.
Within minutes he could see the sign proclaiming 'Med Three' so he quickly canceled the directional light and placed the Data Pad in his tunic ... Entering the Med Center he scanned the room quickly. It was obvious that this wasn't the main Sick-bay, and was still being fitted out, but it would have terminals connecting it to there. Finding what he was looking for, Torek moved toward the station, picking a light board containing a medical chart from the nearby table. It showed details of an injury treated earlier. Pretending to study the information, he reached the computer station and asked for the record to be displayed.
It was a fortunate move, as a second later someone spoke to him.
"Nurse ... What are you doing ?"
Carl turned to see an elderly man, obviously a Doctor. He needed to be careful.
"Doctor ... This constriction worker, treated earlier for a broken radius, ulna, and two ribs, has complained of server pain. With the condition of our treatment room, I was checking we had not missed anything before getting him back in. If all seems well i can issue pain suppressants and return him to work."
The Doctor watched Torek for a moment before looking at the skeletal image on the screen. Obligingly, the computer chose this moment to flicker into darkness before coming back to life."
"Everything seems OK with the mans treatment. Return him to work." the Doctor said, obviously not one to suffer malingerers lightly, and with a look of frustration at the monior, "Then check on our power supplies. The last thing we need is an outage during critical surgery."
"Yes Doctor." Torek said, breathing a sigh of relief.
After scanning through the schematics for the deck he was on, he moved up one and continued. He almost smacked the console in frustration as all he could see was already on the Data device. But then he came across a section blanked out .....
Glancing round to make sure he wasn't being watched, Carl tapped the screen on one of the blanked area's.
* CAUTION - Restricted Access * Flashed up ... Quickly, he hit a section directly above his location and breathed a sigh of relief no alarm had sounded. Checking the information was now on his Data Pad, Carl left the Med Center. As he moved along the corridor he took a staircase to the next level, not wanting to be cornered in a lift without explanation as to why he was there. He approached the junction he needed but could see two men, obviously guards, standing either side of the corridor he needed. Walking straight past, he noticed in his peripheral vision that the corridor had a red stripe, maybe twenty centimeters in height running the length on both sides. Obviously some indication that not just anyone was going to be going down the corridors in question.
Reaching a bend and out of sight of the guards, Carl slumped against the bulkhead. He needed a way in, but how ? ..........
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Andae Blakus
Moderator ..
Commander 1C
Registered: Oct 17, 2007 22:48:27 GMT
Posts: 1,447
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Post by Andae Blakus on May 24, 2011 1:56:48 GMT
Harton was pulling Andae to his feet, and quickly the two of them made to scamper away before they could be rounded up with the rest of the nearby workers. Several enforcement officers, wearing the same type of sleeve and collar as those that'd been worn by Taarh's guards, moved to enclose the group at the behest of the leading admin officer.
Through glazed-over eyes Andae tried to follow his engineer subordinate as she made quickly for a narrow descending ladder off the rig, and hopefully out of the bay. But the noose had already tightened, their escape cut-off, and now they were squeezed up next to a couple dozen workers. All looked as if they'd rather be somewhere else, some of them appearing worried, but the overriding feeling Andae thought, was one of shock.
"You will all be facing an inquery over this... incident," the administrator woman announced as they were being led in an orderly fashion off the rig. She nodded to the quartet of guards, who proceeded to round on the group and force them towards the nearest large exit, like farm dogs would herd sheep.
Andae looked through the archway he and the rest were being ushered towards. It led into a wide and dark corridor with a darker ceiling of uncertain height. The engineer guessed that this was a somewhat central part of Sanctuary, where there were a great many large spaces within which to fit rooms and facilities perhaps crucial to the role and purpose of the station.
"What about our injuries?!" a worker complained.
The woman followed the group from some distance behind. "You will be treated for wounds during the questioning process."
There were a few grumbles. Andae saw how a good proportion of their 'fellow' workers were limping; some had burnt or singed clothes, but as far as he could tell it was himself that had the most extensive injury. His hands were blistered to shreds, his whole cranium and the front of his neck continued to burn as if he were ablaze in a fire. He dreaded the prospect of his reflection.
The grumbles and discontentment amongst the workers seemed to be growing, and it became even worse when they entered the dark corridor. A yelp and a shout erupted. "This is inhumane! We shouldn't be treated like this!"
"Is this what Gaain wanted?"
Andae glanced at Harton, exchanging a look of surprise. And then it hit off.
A trio of workers charged at the pair of guards on the left of the escort, hurling them into the walls and flooring them. A clamour of voices from the rest of the workers developed into a charge of bodies down the corridor, and weapon fire lanced into two of their backs as they tried to run. Andae nodded at Harton in the ensuing melee and they dashed off to the side, hoping to steal away.
The guards however, had not been subdued by the rebelling workmen. The two undercover Starfleeters ducked through flying fists and swinging rifle butts, but Harton took a heavy hit to the side of the head. Andae spun round at the sound of her yelp in time to see her go down, knocked unconscious. Rifle fire burst his way and he dived down a narrow passageway leading off a side corridor. He hit the ground in the shadowy recess, and as he thought that it'd been rather conveniently placed, things seemed to go quiet...
Raised voices lowered in volume; Andae heard the sound of shifting feet and accusing voices, the ominous clicking of rifles, and soon deduced that the guards had come out on top. He held as still as possible in the dark of the narrow space and listened carefully, preparing for another fight. Voices faded, the footsteps receding away down the corridor.
Another minute or two later and he considered it safe enough to move out of cover.
Sure enough, they were all gone. He screwed up his eyes, fighting back agony and frustration. Yes, he'd escaped, but at the cost of another of his valued engineers. Now he knew he had to backtrack, or at least, he had to find the Captain or first officer. Which begged the question, where was Jamison and the security officers whom had gone in search of Catley? What was the Captain doing?
And another thought occurred to him. The escape from the group had been absurdly easy. In fact, the whole incident had been bizarre. Entirely bizarre... From a sheltered position he eyed the construction rig, through the archway, and saw a new team stepping up to the blasted exhaust to conduct some sort of inspection...
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