Daniel Schirra
Captain
Registered: Apr 8, 2013 21:02:47 GMT
Posts: 468
|
Post by Daniel Schirra on Aug 28, 2016 16:00:18 GMT
"Admiral Williams is known for his habit of allowing just the right amount of information to leak out to others, you should see him play poker." Schirra said as they stepped into the 'lift, "It could be just as he said, he asked for a favour and Karka obliged." Dan said, not believing a word of what he just said as the turbo-lift door opened allowing Commodore Ryat to enter.
"Commodore." Lieutenant T'Seng said respectfully acknowledging her presence, the others remained silent as the doors closed and the 'lift continued it's fall. Alyana had obviously realised that everyone was a little too quiet.
"What's going on ?" she asked, eyeing her Acting Exec' ... Dan wasn't sure how much to say, given they had absolutely no evidence that anything untoward had occurred.
"Commander Psonoir left the Base hours ago." he began, wondering if she would simply tell him to stop worrying until there was something to worry about, but he continued regardless, "After trying to find out where he had gone, and getting nowhere, I contacted Command. For some reason they were less than eager to divulge anything, so ... I, we, went to see if we could get anything face to face. apparently, Commander Psonoir is doing a 'favour' for Admiral Williams."
"So he's doing something for the Admiral, as long as he's back before we depart then I don't see your problem." Alyana said, almost shrugging.
"He's lying." Daniel said, instantly regretting the way he had worded his comment.
"Hold turbo-lift." Commodore Ryat ordered, her full attention on the three Officers before her, obviously waiting for Schirra to expand on his accusation.
"Admiral Williams is being somewhat 'liberal' with the truth Commodore. It was blatantly obvious that he and his Adjutant, Captain Leech, and the Admiral know more than they are saying."
"He is under no obligation to answer our questions Commodore, but I have to agree with the Commander." Koni T'Seng said.
"There's no departure orders, no record of his leaving ?" Ryat asked, curios rather than concerned at this point.
"With your permission, I'd like to look into this further, it may well be nothing, but if Karka has been sent out on something he's not going to do easily, then he may be in danger. Commodore, you know the Admiral better than I do, could you not enquire, casually, when your Science Officer will be returning, you never know, he may give you more than he gave us."
< tag : Commodore >
They stepped out of the turbo-lift and Commodore Ryat left the three to their devices, she had things to do.
"There 'has' to be some record of the Commander boarding a shuttle or a ship, be it Starfleet or Civilian transport." Koni commented as Ryat left them.
"The Lieutenant is indeed correct." Snil confirmed.
"OK, we need to figure out how the Admiral could have got Karka off the Star Base unobserved, if that's the case, but personally I don't see why he would need to hide the fact, after all, he's the 'Base Commanding Officer, he can send someone out for sandwiches if he chooses." Dan said, pondering options, he could simply let it drop, but that wasn't in his nature, as an Intelligence Officer he preferred facts not speculation. If he took this further, knowing that Leech would be watching them now, it could cause trouble for not only him, but those around him ..........
< tag : Karka / Snil / Commodore >
|
|
Karka Psonoir
Commander
Registered: Apr 9, 2013 19:55:13 GMT
Posts: 422
|
Post by Karka Psonoir on Aug 28, 2016 18:05:40 GMT
From how the Doctor had described it, Sarpedon City and its surrounds on Mitchell Star Colony did seem most invigorating to Karka. Those few fuzzy pictures he'd seen and had memorised, hard-wired into his neural architecture even, seemed to have come to life some way, been given clarity and an increased vividness - it was acceptable. He was eager to learn more.
Several hours later, Karka had been left with a stunning impression of his 'home planet', something he thought he would end up revisiting in the following few days, weeks, even months; for now however he had to get back to the Starbase, people would doubtless be asking after him considering he'd booked no flight plan nor informed the landing signals officer or anyone else of import about his journey; no one had watched him get away. The Admiral he'd talked to had insisted on incommunicado, however he hadn't counted on Dr Maltis's - curious - masking of their engine signature, the revelation of which had only been revealed to him after the doctor had finished his story.
Deciding to treat this with stultified acceptance, Karka entered the final course adjustment in their waypointed route back to Starbase 16, the shuttle now rolling and pitching Z+ to bring the marker for the station to the centre of the screen.
Presumably he'd lost consciousness as he abruptly became aware of an alarm sounding. He'd also been immobilised, and looking ahead it seemed to him he stared out of a deep tunnel, the features of the shuttle's interior visible at the end and vaguely lighting up the well he'd found himself in. Trying to lever his mind out of this delirium, he heard Maltis's voice, distorted,
"I would've had to pretend to be you and contact the dockmaster, likely receiving a stern message from Hettul in your Command Centre, or a tractor beam, or a phaser beam or a combination from both. Fortunately the young Lieutenant Hettul knows better than to let Williams or Leech know about your predicament..."
"What are you doing, Maltis? Where are we? How long was I unconscious?"
He heard Maltis tutting, out of sight of the small circle that formed his whole vision, "Questions, questions... I'll answer one of them, if it'll satisfy you, we are near a space station between star systems, hidden behind or slightly within, depending on which stellar cartographer you consult, a lightyears-wide gas cloud." Feet came into Karka's field of vision, followed by Maltis's arms and head, "Up now, Commander. Your paralysis is psychosomatic, an effect of the toxin."
"You've ruined your career, Doctor," Karka muttered, getting to his feet painfully and sitting in one of the chairs.
"No I have not."
"Return us to Starbase 16. Release me from whatever..." His mouth seemed to glue itself shut, words failing him, a disconnect between cortex and vocal cords.
"No, Commander." A warning index finger was prodded against his chest, "I need you. And so do my colleagues at the faculty. Well? Oh. It is true those unadapted to the toxin do find it difficult to shake off its effects initially. Ah, we're landing."
They emerged from the shuttle into a brightly lit landing bay, Karka having not witnessed their approach or docking, thus having no idea what the exterior of the base looked like. Two Kalar - hired muscle, Maltis explained - stepped forward and held his arms. Dr Maltis turned to him, "Good day to you, Lieutenant Commander. Thank you for the use of one of your shuttlecraft."
"I'll let my superiors know of your gratitude when we get back. Expect to be hearing from Admiral Williams regarding your tampering with the engines."
Maltis shook his head, genuinely disappointed as he made the customary greeting/farewell gesture of Mitchell Star colonists. Karka was led to a separate exit from Maltis, across the landing bay; just as he reached the exit, the two Kalar stopped as a shout came from the upper level. Feet pounded along the gantry, the walkway clashing metallically. A dark blotch expanded rapidly from above the Hybrudean and he and the Kalar backed up, too slowly, as the cloud of smoke seemed to suck itself in for an instant before a white light pierced through from its centre; an impressive heatwave washed over the trio.
Knocked to the floor, Karka watched the Kalar get vapourised and then felt a searing heat climb along his arms... Peering at his uniform fabric he saw it sizzle and melt in three or more places, a hissing and boiling over which he could hear Dr Maltis's voice:
"You're the only one left, Commander. Commander? Commander?!" Karka grimaced and looked at where the smoke cloud billowed out and obscured the doctor. "Where are you, Commander?!" Maltis disappeared completely in a billowing column of smoke and energy released from what appeared to be a gap in the deck plating. As a fiery white tower it climbed to the ceiling ten metres above.
<Tag All - Help possibly as a small mission? I can modify to have me arriving back at the actual Starbase instead if deemed more acceptable>
|
|
Daniel Schirra
Captain
Registered: Apr 8, 2013 21:02:47 GMT
Posts: 468
|
Post by Daniel Schirra on Aug 28, 2016 19:32:18 GMT
"OK, we need to figure out how the Admiral could have got Karka off the Star Base unobserved, if that's the case, but personally I don't see why he would need to hide the fact, after all, he's the 'Base Commanding Officer, he can send someone out for sandwiches if he chooses." Dan said, pondering options, he could simply let it drop, but that wasn't in his nature, as an Intelligence Officer he preferred facts not speculation. If he took this further, knowing that Leech would be watching them now, it could cause trouble for not only him, but those around him, "I need to speak to someone, I'll meet you both in the Craic Bar in, thirty minutes, see if you can find anything out about unscheduled departures." Finding a room with a terminal he could access, he established a secure communication with a colleague in Intelligence, Sam Roberts: =^= Hey .. Long time no see =^= Roberts said, somewhat surprised at seeing Daniel.
=^= Yeh .. Look Sam .. I don't have a lot of time and this Comm might be traced if we reminisce too long .. .. I need to find something out without those people getting wind I've been looking into them .. Can you help ? =^=
=^= Depends who and what I suppose .. Shoot =^=
Daniel went on to tell his former partner in Intelligence what had happened on the Star Base, and the fact that the Base Commanding Officer and his Adjutant clearly knew more than they were letting on. Robert knew Dan well, and knew that if something was causing him concern then it was serious enough for him to risk looking into a Flag Officer to find out what he can. Roberts asked him to hold for a moment while he made a call, then he came back on:
=^= Two unauthorised departures .. Both using credentials from very high up .. So you can assume this Admiral Williams did the signing off for both =^=
=^= Any information on what they were ? =^= Dan asked.
=^= A cargo transport .. It comes and goes every three weeks .. More than likely bringing in something the Admiral can't buy through 'normal' channels =^=
=^= .. .. And the other ? =^=
=^= A Moore-Class long-range Shuttle .. .. .. It left without filing a flight-plan or destination .. Authorised by one Captain Leech =^=
=^= There's no way to find out which direction it went once it left the Station ? =^= Dan was beginning to feel he was not going to find anything out, but Roberts had a little more information for him:
=^= Can't be one hundred percent certain obviously .. But the shuttle was picked up by the Tor Norris Observatory .. Which means it was heading for or through the Mitchell's Star Colony .. Might be useless information of course .. Given the shuttle must have changed course several times between leaving SB-16 and coming up on the long-range scan by the observatory .. Sorry I don't have any more for you but I can keep looking if you like =^=
=^= No .. Thank you Sam .. Youv'e been a great help .. Say hello to Gillian and the Kids for me .. Next time I'm in the area we'll grab a drink =^=
=^= I will and I'll hold you to that =^= The comm closed and Daniel sat back in the seat thinking deeply. Why would Williams need Karka to go to Mitchell's Star Colony ? ..... He was sorely tempted to bring up information on the Colony, but he had the distinct feeling that Leech would be watching his access and what he was looking at, or at least, trying to, as Daniel's Intelligence Security Access was untraceable. It 'would' leave a blank in the logs though, and it wasn't too much a stretch for Leech and Williams to realise it was him leaving the gap in the log. rising, he left the room and headed for the Promenade. He would wait for T'Seng and Snil at The Craic, he would also need to decide on whether he gave Amanda this information immediately or not. With the Excalibur still needing several days for the upgrades and maintenance to be completed, if they chose to go after Psonoir he would need to acquire transport ..........
|
|
Snil
Awaiting Assignment
Registered: Jul 11, 2016 12:13:40 GMT
Posts: 11
|
Post by Snil on Aug 29, 2016 18:19:39 GMT
While following his commanding officers around, he had listened and observed the people around them and he agreed with Schirra in his statement to the Commodore they had indeed been lying. He just didn't know what they could do about it or more what they could do that was legal. He didn't say anything but he had his doubt about what exactly it was Schirra thought he could contribute to the situation. When Schirra left them he nodded he would be at the Craic Bar if the commander wanted him there now he just needed to figure out what to do, they would need transport if they were to follow Karka of base and the info Schirra whanted, he could perhaps help with one of the two. Snil went to the Craic bar and left a note for others that he would perhaps be late in returning but if they would be so nice as to wait he would be there as soon he could. It took him almost 20 minutes to find the captain of the small vessel that had transported him to the base " greetings captain" he started the red-headed human male smiled "oh it's you, how are you liking your new ship she is a beauty" "it is a fine ship yes, but I wanted to know if you and your crew has any prior engagement or if you would be interested in helping me by lending me your ship" the man frowned " what do you need us for, I'm not saying no but I need little more that just me helping you" Snil nodded " it is only logical to be cautious but I'm not at liberty to discuss the reason, I'm not even sure if we would need you" he wasn't completely sure of that but if he had read Schirra right then he wanted the issue quiet, no he would have to hope that captain Simon Bright was curious enough. The Captain sighed "okay, okay you got me interested, beside I owe you one for my little mistake, you know, so I will help you if you need me and its simon" Snil was relieved "thank you capt... simon" and with a little bow Snil left. he walked fast and arrived only 10 minutes late to meet the others.
|
|
Daniel Schirra
Captain
Registered: Apr 8, 2013 21:02:47 GMT
Posts: 468
|
Post by Daniel Schirra on Aug 30, 2016 20:39:26 GMT
Daniel, Koni, and the Chief Engineer Mark Unwin, were sat in one corner of the bar when Snil arrived, he refused a drink and sat down, eyeing the others:
"I realise you may be somewhat unhappy at what we are considering Ensign, but needs must." Daniel said lightly, "We have a crew member missing, we know he was sent off the Station, and as you have seen, we can't get any information. I'm not in the habit of just walking away, but if you feel you would rather not be associated with whatever we choose to do then you are free to return to the Excalibur and continue your duties."
"Given the fact that I am here, I would have thought that sufficient evidence that I am, as you say, with you. but I respectfully reserve the right to change my mind at any point in our, venture." Snil replied, eyebrow raised.
"Fair enough." Koni said, shrugging, "So what's our next move ?"
"Well, our issue is the Commodore .... With the Excalibur still the best part of a week off being space-worthy, she may take a dim view of our going off, even if we could get a ship to use, on what could be a complete wild goose chase." Daniel said, finishing his drink and waving over a steward. He ordered a round then continued, "So, we need, or rather, I need to go to her with what we have so far. If she decides it's worth going looking for him while the Excalibur is out of commission, then all well and good. If she chooses to wait it out here, then I'll request permission to go looking for him."
"... And if she say's no to both ?" Mark asked.
"Then that's where things get a little sticky. Even though I'm technically still Intelligence, I'm seconded to the Excalibur as her Exec' ... I can face the same repercussions as anyone else for disobeying a direct order. All it will do in my case is have me thrown off the ship and back to my former employment. My Commanding Officer in Intel won't let me be thrown in a Brig for the foreseeable. But you guys, that's a different kettle of fish."
"Kettle of, fish ?" Snil repeated, everyone laughed.
"You could all face a Courts Martial, Ensign, effectively ending your, albeit thus far short career in Star Fleet." Koni explained, wondering if the Vulcan was still pondering the involvement of kettles and fish.
"It's a given that once Admiral Williams, or more likely his Adjutant, realise we've gone, he'll kick up the proverbial fuss !" Unwin said.
"We still don't have any means of going after the Commander." Koni reminded the group, "Unless you plan on walking."
Snil coughed politely, prompting everyone to look in his direction. He remained silent as the Steward returned with their drinks, then once he left the table Snil explained his conversation, and his request for a favour, from the Captain who's vessel brought him to Star Base Sixteen. Daniel clapped the Councillor on the shoulder, thanking him for his resourcefulness. The Vulcan didn't appear as if he wanted thanking.
"OK. I've not been able to find out much, but what I do know is that Karka left here on a Moore Class long-range shuttle. It was picked up on sensors two hundred thousand kilometers from the Tor-Norris Observatory. There was only one other vessel in the Sector at the time, but the Observatory couldn't identify it. The heading showed it could be going for Mitchell's Star Colony, but again we have no way of confirming that as the Observatory only had it on sensors for ninety seconds, it's main banks were monitoring something elsewhere and it was picked up on proximity sensors only. Once there was no danger of a collision Tor ignored the ship. I'm going to see the Commodore." Daniel said decisively, "Ensign, if you can speak with the Captain again, ask him how soon we could depart if we get the go-ahead .... Or not." he finished.
"You do realise that he could walk through that door at any minute and wonder what we're plotting." Koni said, again everyone laughed, though with a hint of worry ..........
|
|
Karka Psonoir
Commander
Registered: Apr 9, 2013 19:55:13 GMT
Posts: 422
|
Post by Karka Psonoir on Aug 30, 2016 22:27:18 GMT
The shuttle was still there, despite the explosion and the... obvious increase of temperature in the room - Karka was already sweating, a condition which was assisted by the burns on his arms, and looking over at the billowing column just now dissipating, where Maltis had last been, he saw that was still a locus of considerable heat as well. Maltis was nowhere in sight.
Psonoir looked up at the gantry to behind the glass, seeing the human there who'd shouted out earlier, "The shuttle!" he called, "Let me back aboard!"
The young man looked briefly over his shoulder at him, saying unfavourably, "Even if I wanted to I can't. The outer door's been welded shut by the heat blast. Expansion of metal, you know. It happens."
"Maltis is dead. He was my fellow citizen of Mitchell Star Colony... Clearly he'd turned his knowledge to more nefarious purposes." Psonoir wiped the perspiration from his brow, "You don't want to be aligned with this man. He has, or rather he had, kidnapped me, saying that he needed me. What could I have that he and your people would want me?!"
The smoke still concealed his sight of the man, who was presumably working to release the lock on the inner door. The human replied, "We're in mortal peril here, Karka Psonoir, if you hadn't noticed. Just give me a moment and my colleagues will be able to take care of you. Oh yes, they'll take care of you..."
"You don't need to do this. You've already incriminated yourself. Flood the seals on the outer door with liquid helium; it'll shatter the seal and locking mechanism but it'll cool the door enough that you'll be able to open it. I'm leaving, and you're coming with me, sir!" Karka looked with concern at the inner door, which was now moving slightly, trying to open then halting; he could espy people beyond it, some of them with weapons. He shouted to the human, "If you won't, then tell me what's going on here."
At that moment the inner door burst open; long grey-robed individuals who he realised were scientists stepped forth, others following, including a few more Kalar with giant axes and a few additional personnel with obsolete models of Starfleet phasers. The nearest scientist spoke, "I'm Dr Martha Aedemkin. You're coming with us."
Karka looked at them, defeated again, "Dr Maltis is dead."
Aedemkin replied, "No, he's not. We transported him away before the jet from the EPS conduit tore through the deckplating. He is now being taken to our medical centre to be treated for smoke inhalation and first degree burns."
Karka looked about as he was led along broad corridors, "Where am I?" The others left at the next intersection, Karka now alone with Aedemkin.
"If you must know," she said, "Inside a rogue asteroid at the edge of a gas cloud, interstellar space. The nearest star system is 7 lightyears away: Mitchell's Star Colony, our home, and your home." He watched her purse her lips - were there tears in her eyes? Aedemkin... yes, Maltis had mentioned her when speaking of the beach on the shores of Lake Tlemlis on Mitchell Gamma - which was near Karka's false home in the Colony. Given how Maltis had spoken of her it had seemed to Karka they were close.
He looked at her, "How did Maltis - ... Ahri, corrupt officers on Starbase 16? He mentioned that a Lieutenant Hettul was with him. Who else? Does he, and all of you, have the allegiance of the skipper of the requistioned Gorn freighter that rendezvoused with me to transport Maltis to my shuttle?"
She said nothing at first, then, "Hettul is from home, too. He's the only Mitchell Star colonist amongst the senior officers of the Starbase. He would have arranged to have you be the person that picked Dr Maltis up."
|
|
Snil
Awaiting Assignment
Registered: Jul 11, 2016 12:13:40 GMT
Posts: 11
|
Post by Snil on Sept 2, 2016 18:45:29 GMT
Snil was as usual confused at the rate of physical contact other races seamed to inflict on each other, and aperrently his own person, so when Schirra clapped him on the shoulder, which he found a bit excessive, he shook it a little and gave the commander a look of patience.
He noddet at the commanders request and pulled a small communicater from some somewhere, sighed descritely, he knew he didn't have the time to try finding the captain agin, but to have to navigate his comunication officer was not always a easy task. He flipped it open "King fisher this is Snil, can I speak with the captain" after that he quickly helt the communicator as far from his ear as posible,and not a secund to soon it would seem.
"SNIL HOW ARE YOU, ARE THAY TREATING YOU WELL DO I NEED TO BEAT SOMEONE OP" the voice of the woman at the other end shouted.
"Kia please use your in door voice, and the rest is a conversation for another day I'm on..." he trailed of and look back at Shirra "duty" he finished "please put the captain on" snil looked a little green around the ears, he hadn't thought that he would have had to introduce his new officers to the all human crew of the King fisher that seemed to have adopted him with or without his concent.
"Oh alright but we will have that talk" there was some clicking and the line went dead for a secund.
"Bright" a dark voice answered "what do you need"
"Simon, our conversation from earlier, how soon can you be ready" if the others listened closely thay would be able to hear a small softning of the vucans tone.
A small pause and Simon answered "if you need steath half an hour if not then we are ready, you don't have to answer that I will at dock 5 waiting, just take your time give Kia a call when you are on your way"
"Understood" Snil put the small device away and turned to the rest of the table. The entire conversation had been in almost a whisper, after Kias shouting hallo thst is, Snil didn't think it would be wise to have others then his table mates hear the conversation.
|
|
Daniel Schirra
Captain
Registered: Apr 8, 2013 21:02:47 GMT
Posts: 468
|
Post by Daniel Schirra on Sept 2, 2016 23:58:37 GMT
OOC : We can continue with this but we will conclude it once the Commodore has a mission ready ::
IC ::
Despite all his efforts, he was unable to speak with Commodore Ryat. At each turn he was told she was 'unavailable' ... With the Excalibur still out of commission, they had no option but to make use of the Councillor's friend. He went back to the bar and asked Snil to contact his friend. Once done he turned to the others:
"OK, let's go look at this ship."
"I was instructed to contact the Captain prior to our going to the ship." Snil reminded Schirra.
"Do it on the way." Dan replied, leaving the Craic, the others following ....
~~~~~~~~~~
Schirra, T'Seng, Unwin, and Snil took the turbo-lift up to the docking ring and found Berth five .... There, looking like it had survived a sustained battering, was an old Antares Type Cargo Carrier. It's hull bore scorch marks along most of it's length, the deck-plating buckled and blackened, but it was obviously capible of warp flight, albeit only warp four maximum, and to be perfectly honest, Daniel wondered how it even managed to remain airtight, let alone fly, but he knew from experience that looks could be deceiving, and if her Captain was any sort of Trader, this ship was much better that it's looks belied. The name stencilled on the side was the SS Kingfisher, Registration number: SS-470 ...
"Bloody hell, it's old !" Koni muttered.
"Don't knock it Koni." Dan said, trying to sound more confident than he actually was, "These things were practically all cargo storage, with nacelles and a small Engineering Section aft, and Bridge / Living quarters fore. They are sturdy workhorses." he finished as a young woman approached them. She obviously recognised Snil and went to him first, ignoring the others:
< tag : Snil >
"With all due respect, 'Kia' is it ? ..... We need your Captain and his vessel for no longer than forty eight hours. If we haven't found what we're going to look for by then he can bring us back here, job done or not. So, if you would be so kind as to take us to Captain, Jones, the sooner we can be underway, and out of your hair."
"You're rank means nothing to us, Commander, so I would suggest you don't try to use it. We're a Civilian vessel and not under Star Fleet's regulations. Though I believe you are more than just an Executive Officer on the Fleet's Flagship Vessel, am I right in thinking you are Star Fleet Intelligence ?" Daniel didn't reply, so she continued as if he had, "Same conditions apply if you are to come aboard."
"Look Kia ..." Daniel said, his patience growing thin at the woman obviously trying hard to underline her authority, "If I wanted to take this, ship, of yours I could, quite easily, same as if I wanted to take it from under your Captains' feet. We are here to hire your services, if you don't want to supply them, say so and we'll look elsewhere, but please don't try to impose rules and regulations on us, I'm seriously not in the mood, nor do I have the inclination to find out who will win in a 'who has the biggest gonads' competition."
"Getting to know our guests, Kia ?" an elderly man approaching from the ship said, "Captain Simon Bright." he said, holding out a hand. Daniel took it firmly and returned the handshake ..........
< tag : Commodore / Snil / Unwin / Karka >
|
|
Karka Psonoir
Commander
Registered: Apr 9, 2013 19:55:13 GMT
Posts: 422
|
Post by Karka Psonoir on Sept 3, 2016 19:29:09 GMT
He was lifted again onto the torture device. One of the researchers stepped forward and the first implements were pushed towards him, sending electric arcs at his ribcage, propelling metal holders at his mouth and forcing them into his mouth, depositing the warm sickly and viscous fluid down his throat, making him gag and nearly throw up over his captors' fine shining torture weapons. The researcher looked at him, a pained expression on his face though it seemed to Karka he was doing what he thought necessary.
"Truth serum again?" Karka spluttered on the ghastly liquid, retching, "You've got to ask questions this time to actually make use of it." He paused, "Not sure what I could give you though so you'll have -" He broke off as a spike pierced his thorax just below the level of the lung, leaving a lesion 7cm deep. The wound was quickly cauterised by a flame-bearing tool that swung in on metal appendages from above and to his left.
Another 'researcher' unpeeled himself from the darkness, flint needling through his eyes as he came into the light, "We want some of your genetic material," he said, "Lake Tlemlis on Mitchell Star Colony, Gamma, near where you live, we understand, has special properties which impart on its residents - no matter when or how long they stayed there - a particular genetic alteration; this is what Maltis wanted from you, and what we want."
Karka panted, "You won't get what you think. You won't get anything." The electric arc instruments shocked him once more and he screamed. "My genes have nothing of use to you... You don't understand."
"Oh," there was a dryness in the voice of Dr Holin, as someone had just addressed him as, "What don't we understand?"
Karka paused, panting in the dark room that was filled with gleaming chrome nightmare instruments, "I can't tell you." I'm from the 29th century and in a body that screens and is impervious to all such genetic tampering? Perhaps I should, he thought, The problem is they wouldn't believe me; instead, if they weren't so unhingedly evil, they'd probably fall on the floor laughing.
The torture device that he was strapped to upright lifted itself then, springing free from the floor mechanism and pulling itself forward, clunking down again back into place; the instruments were right before him. Lights rippled with myriad colours and the implements aligned with each one poked forward, a dozen of them firing miniature plasma bursts and electric arcs of obviously higher intensity than before right at his thorax and neck. He hollered as the light dazzled all about him, illuminating his face and catching him, in the strobe light of it, in several unnatural contortions of flesh and ricti of agony. The implements died down, fizzling away their last before reconfiguring for a new attack.
"To access your genetic material we need from you one word, an answer to a simple question, which we will supply you with," Holin continued. "The genetically altered DNA that we wish to acquire is in a sense under lock - a creative part of the engineering - and is so designed that it requires voice activation on the part of the organism who is the DNA's host. So. The answer is Martha. The question is who will Ahri Maltis marry next month? Your task is simple, say Martha."
|
|
Daniel Schirra
Captain
Registered: Apr 8, 2013 21:02:47 GMT
Posts: 468
|
Post by Daniel Schirra on Sept 4, 2016 2:08:18 GMT
"Getting to know our guests, Kia ?" an elderly man approaching from the ship said, "Captain Simon Bright." he said, holding out a hand. Daniel took it firmly and returned the handshake.
"Captain, nice to meet you, and thank you for offering your services."
"Oh I'm all for helping out the needy." Bright said, glancing at Snil for a second. Daniel wondered how the Excalibur's Councillor came to be on such a decrepit vessel, rather than being transported to Star Base Sixteen by official means, but that was for another time. He looked at the Captain, and his seemingly ever-suspicious Communications Officer:
"OK. We need transport for approximately twenty four hours. If we haven't found what we'er looking for by then you can leave us behind."
"Really ?" Bright said, admittedly surprised.
"Well, my first thought was that you return us here, collect your payment and be on your way, but ... To be perfectly honest, we have no clue as to the whereabouts of our Officer, and it may well take more than a day to recover him. I can't ask you to remain at our convenience indefinitely. I've spoken to my superiors, and adequate recompense for your services will be available on your return to this Station, whether we're with you or not. Is that satisfactory ?"
"More than Sir." the Captain replied, motioning toward the conduit to the ship.
"This thing actually flies, right ?" Koni asked.
"This vessel, little lady, has gone further than you ever will, albeit much slower, but further nonetheless." Kia snapped back. Koni shrugged, unsure.
"Mister Snil here mentioned you might want to go to the Mitchell's Star Colony." Captain Bright said, inching unobtrusively between his own Comms Officer and the Excalibur Officer, "Fortunately, I have acquired a cargo going to that very location. You will change and serve, unofficially of course, as my crew. Mine are availing themselves of your hospitality, on your account of course ... Once docked at the Orbital Cargo Terminal, you'll need 'Leave' passes to go down to the Colony. These passes usually allow you a day, or twenty four hours, before you either re-apply, or get out. I've already acquired your passes, I'll be there for the duration, but once my Dock Permit expires, I'll be gone, regardless of whether you're aboard or not ... Is that acceptable ?"
"It is." Daniel said instantly.
"Then let's board, I have a departure time to meet."
Fifteen hours later, the SS Kingfisher entered the inner cordon of Mitchell's Star Colony and was granted permission to dock ..........
|
|
Karka Psonoir
Commander
Registered: Apr 9, 2013 19:55:13 GMT
Posts: 422
|
Post by Karka Psonoir on Sept 5, 2016 23:25:41 GMT
Karka's screams continued to echo through the sepulchre-like room and down the corridors. Even Holin seemed to be finding proceedings somewhat uncomfortable now, "Say Martha and it'll all be over, Psonoir. If you're not in possession of the genes we think you are, why not just say it?"
Yes, perhaps he'd been foolish: why suffer all this torment when all he had to do to prove his DNA wasn't modified was to say a word? Such arguments against self however had their true function in masking a deep seated fear that he somehow really did possess such genes, which could result in the unravelling of his genetic structure.
The chance had to be taken though he felt, and decided his fear was better off banished, for he wouldn't give these people a chance to toy with him any longer. "If you insist," he said, perhaps a little too confidently, "Martha."
Holin smiled grimly, nodding to two assistants who unstrapped the science officer from the machine. Weak-legged, Karka stumbled his way out with their support, trying to fight them for a moment before he realised he needed them close by to just be able to walk.
"Congratulations, Psonoir. Now what was so difficult about that?" Holin said and followed him into another room, this one replete with a kitchen unit and - in a small cubicle - a single bed. As he regarded the pitiful cubicle he felt cold metal being impressed against his neck. "A blood sample," Holin explained as Karka batted his hand away, "I will return at 1900 to inform you of the results, and of what I've learnt from your unlocked DNA..."
* * *
Karka was left alone in the room. Despite his fears, he suspected Holin and co would be disappointed at the 'results'. He sighed and collapsed on the bed, the cardboard of the cubicle walls shaking and nearly falling, and noticed blood still dripping from the half-cauterised wound in his thorax... The object of the supposed genetic unlocking appeared at the door, along with Maltis.
"Martha Aedemkin," he whispered, wincing in pain as he sat up and accidentally kicked over one wall of the cubicle - the whole thing came crashing down. Aedemkin and Maltis crossed the threshold, standing in the kitchen area. "What?" he asked after a period of silence, "Could you possibly arrange for someone to treat my wounds?"
Maltis spoke, "An Antares class bulk carrier has made orbit of planet Gamma at the Colony. We plotted its trajectory as it passed 11.2 lightyears from our sensor array in the Algaran sector; it has come from Starbase 16."
Karka paused then sighed again, "You think Starfleet's sent someone after me."
"It seems the ship in question left at the time scheduled," Maltis ignored his remark again and looked away, coughing violently. Perhaps he was still suffering from the effects of the smoke inhalation, "Which ordinarily places it under no suspicion. Then again you may know something about it, Commander... Its captain an old friend of the Excalibur perhaps?" Karka said nothing; of course not, but he wasn't going to tell them that. Maltis smiled, "Hmm. It will interest you then to know that the freighter is being followed by two Miranda class starships? These were captured by the Algaran array three hours ago..."
Maltis nodded to Aedemkin and she passed Karka several dark prints, deep space reconnaissance, Karka saw, now studying the monochromatic images of the vacuum with ghostly grey ships superimposed on them. It was possible the Antares craft was looking for him. How far behind were the Mirandas? Looking at speed and position information down the sides - perhaps 20 lightyears.
Martha replied, "We instructed Lieutenant Hettul that in the event the Federation realised you were missing, he should use whatever means necessary to hinder the rescue effort. We think he's convinced Command that the Antares freighter is committing an illegal act of some sort, this we think being why Williams has sent the starships."
* * *
Another theory was that the Mirandas were following the freighter believing it might lead them to Karka, being on their side. However that the freighter was still in transit indicated that the Mirandas weren't there to help, for otherwise those on the freighter would've handed authority over to Starfleet. Fortunately Unwin was in a better position to speculate, from the bulk carrier itself, "They're hiding in the sensor shadow of the gas cloud we passed half a parsec back. Not very well, I might add," the CEO reported over the shoulder of Bright's controller operating the sensors.
"We've already made orbit of planet Gamma. They'll have to ask permission to enter the shipping lanes and the authorities don't take kindly to Federation starships showing up without warning," Bright commented. Unwin looked back at the station whose operator he was standing behind. The Commander had already tried communicating with the two starships to no avail.
<Tag all>
|
|
Daniel Schirra
Captain
Registered: Apr 8, 2013 21:02:47 GMT
Posts: 468
|
Post by Daniel Schirra on Sept 10, 2016 15:15:20 GMT
The Kingfisher entered close parking orbit around the Mitchel's Star Colony spaceport ... "What are the two Mrianda's doing now ?" Captain bright asked. "They are holding position half a parsec away. We've not been able to contact them, so they are either waiting to see what we get up to, or are working out how they can benefit from our situation." Karka informed them. "Well we're going to get nowhere staying up here ..." Daniel said, eyeing the Captain who was nodding in agreement, "Can you request shore leave for some of your crew ? ... Hopefully they will allow us to use their extensive facilities without prying too much into why we actually want to go down there." Bright asked his Comms Officer to contact the spaceport and make the request. Five minutes later, whiel Bright's crew were beginning to off-load their cargo, Schirra, T'Seng, and Snil were readying themselves to transport to the surface. ooo000ooo Despite it's location, on the outskirts of the regular shipping lanes, and some distance from the nearest large colony, Mitchell's was very modern. Dan didn't know what he was expecting, but his experience with the outer rim stations told him the place should have been running on minimal. He immediately realised that this place was anything but 'minimal' as they passed through the newly constructed spaceport. The colony, far from being a backward outpost, was akin to a large city, running with their own governing body, a police force, Offices, accommodation, pretty much everything you would expect to see on a resort rather than a transportation and cargo hub. Captain Bright had requested a forty eight hour layover to effect repairs to his drive systems. These were not entirely fictitious as the ship was in dire need of upgrades to countless systems. Thankfully, the authorities on Mitchell's seemingly sympathetic after scanning the cargo carrier, readily agreed, likely hoping it wouldn't blow itself up during departure. First thing the three did was leave the spaceport and go in search of temporary lodgings, from there they would begin their search ..........
|
|
Karka Psonoir
Commander
Registered: Apr 9, 2013 19:55:13 GMT
Posts: 422
|
Post by Karka Psonoir on Sept 15, 2016 15:30:06 GMT
While he'd been making himself a cup of coffee using the antiquated systems - no replicators here - Karka had accidentally pulled part of the power circuitry for the kettle out of the wall, the moulded duranium socket coming loose. He'd taken the kettle stand which weighed several kilograms and threw it towards his bed cubicle; several metres of wiring had burst out of the wall, like a ruptured vein in straining muscles; fake plaster exploded from the ripped out line and a gap in the flimsy wall was revealed.
He'd made his way through, pulling the cooker back into place from the cavity between rooms (though it would be obvious to anyone entering his room how he'd escaped). Now in the next passageway, he perused a map, looking for a way back to the shuttlebay where he and Maltis had arrived and been steamed.
"Mr Psonoir! I would stop right there if I were you..." He turned around and saw Maltis, phaser levelled at him, one of the Kalar in an adjacent passage, plasma sword gripped in its huge hands, "Holin has your blood results and realises you aren't of use. It seems you weren't born on the colony." The doctor seemed disappointed. "Still, though, we can extract..."
According to the map, there wasn't another door that could be locked for 1.2 kilometres. No one else seemed to be with Maltis; why not run...
He had the impression he was passing deep into the asteroid: the passages became increasingly narrower, more winding and haphazard, and there seemed to be less and less light - as if down here whatever generators they had couldn't be made powerful enough, while there was more room near the surface. Artificial gravity seemed to fluctuate as well - that which increased the natural gravity of the object threefold under normal circumstances perhaps doubled it now and was intermittent. If he couldn't get to a shuttlebay, he reasoned, he could at least find a comm array, send a message to Starbase 16, or that transport pursued by the Mirandas...
He was falling over a rail into a black abyss. The barely illuminated walls and elevated steel flooring - there so people didn't walk across bare, uneven rock - whirpooled in his sight as he was flipped over the railing. Initially with only a hold of four fingers, he pulled himself up after much scrabbling; his face drew level with the railing again and a Kalar appeared, roaring and diffusing bad breath over the Hybrudean. Karka blanched and pulled at the massive cranium of the Rigel-dweller, pulling it with difficulty down and over him. It flailed in the stale air, howling as it faded to nothingness in the abyss.
Maltis appeared round the bend and cried out, levelling his obsolete weapon and loosing a beam. Sparks flew from the railing as Karka toppled back over it and ran into an alcove to the right.
|
|
Daniel Schirra
Captain
Registered: Apr 8, 2013 21:02:47 GMT
Posts: 468
|
Post by Daniel Schirra on Sept 15, 2016 23:13:34 GMT
Finding accommodation, the group huddled around the table in the living area .....
"Is there any way we can use the internal systems to check on the possible whereabouts of Commander Psonoir ?" Dan asked. Koni moved to the terminal and accessed the menu:
"Oh hell, have you seen this thing, it's primitive." she said, running through the available options before taking a tricorder and a small kit from her bag. Moments later she had access, though what she was actually able to get at was minimal at best, even the flight records were basic: Ship name, registration, arrival / departure times, passes to the surface, but little else. she read out a short list of vessel arrivals in the last twelve hours, Two Cordovan, a Gorn Freighter, a Vulc ...."
"That's it !" Daniel said, moving to the screen to look at the information on the Gorn vessel, "There ... It's flight path coincides with where the observatory picked up the two ships. Psonoir was transferred to a ship from that one, they turned up here, I'd bet another vessel docked within the hour of that one." T'Seng looked up the information and pointed. There, on screen was what they were hopefully looking for ... A ship docked and several people were granted planet-side access. While she couldn't get the exact information they needed for fear of being discovered, they could at least be sure Karka was on the surface now, and not in space somewhere.
"They apparently managed to obtain a fourteen day lay-over. Whatever vessel they arrived in, must be in dire need of attention, unless they are contracted to the Colony of course, in which case a new pass would have been issued for the Commander." Snil commented.
"Can you access public transport ?" Dan asked. Koni did so but had no luck, so she accessed the Colony database to see what private contractors were currently held licences, but again no luck. Frustrated she stood and moved to the balcony for some fresh air, Daniel followed her, looking out as the panoramic yet relatively basic late evening vista before them, he could see there was a great deal of construction work being carried out on the outskirts of the Spaceport. He wondered if one of those empty structures were where Karka was being held. Of course, searching was out of the question, so they needed to find the information they needed elsewhere, but where .... He looked back into the room where Snil was turning the pass they had been issued with on arrival over and over in his hand and an idea occurred to him. He re-entered the room and took the pass from the Councillor:
"These things are used for practically everything, right ?" he asked as Koni came off the balcony.
"Before you ask Commander, there's no way I can get into that data without having their version of Security dropping in on us in short order."
"Not from here no ...." he said, thinking quickly, "But what about if we could get assess from one of the Port terminals directly ?"
"..... Oh, and how do you propose we accomplish that, exactly ?" the Tactical Officer asked.
"According to the info sheet, the Port is not active between twenty one hundred, and zero four hundred, their time." he said, flicking through the information data on the Colony, "So we go in, access one of the terminals, and ...."
"You forget one relevant flaw in your plan Commander." Snil commented from the other side of the room, "You would need to be in possession of an authorised identification pass, and unless I am mistaken ...." he said, eyeing the room cryptically."
"Then we snatch one of the employee's." Schirra said quickly, "Someone low-level, but with the access we require. Can you access Personnel information on that thing ?" Koni did as asked and after a prolonged search found what they were looking for, a low-level Admin Employee, known to be lax in his duties, often reprimanded, and obviously unimpressed with his situation. Bringing up the information on his whereabouts they hit a proverbial wall, but then she managed to access his credit information, and could see most of his off work time was spent in a bar not far from his lodgings, and only a kilometer from their location. Leaving their rooms they travelled to the bar in question .....
~~~~~~~~~~
The place was dark, and full .... It surprised Daniel that such a place could have a regular clientele, but apparently this place did. Making their way to a free table they looked around the room. Given they now knew what their intended 'target' looked like, they couldn't see him anywhere. dan was beginning to think they had made a mistake when the person they were interested in walked past and sat at the bar with two others.
"How do you want to handle this Commander ?" Koni asked.
"Ideally, we get his Pass and go look into the records, hopefully without him being aware we borrowed it." he replied, grinning at T'Seng. Koni shrugged, rising and heading for the bar. She placed her elbows on the fake-wood bar and looked at the waitress until she stopped walking past and asked her for her order. Requesting the first thing that came to mind she began to pick up the glasses then seemingly thought better of it and picked up the one she decided was hers. Downing the rough burning liquid she waved her glass as she ordered a refill, knocking the man's drink over in the process. She apologised and offered to replace it, insisting when he said he was about to leave. She asked one of the bar staff to take the other drinks to her friends, then smiled at the man before her ..........
|
|
Karka Psonoir
Commander
Registered: Apr 9, 2013 19:55:13 GMT
Posts: 422
|
Post by Karka Psonoir on Sept 16, 2016 15:39:26 GMT
Starbase 16
Hettul made his way to a cargo bay and checked the last container, before accepting the comm from the asteroid base using the wall panel which came up split screen, one side showing a small room at the asteroid, the other the office of the biology faculty, Mitchell Star Colony University. "Lieutenant," Dr Holin said from the asteroid, "As you can see we're already in discussion with Professor Thompson's team on the Colony. When will your arrangements be ready? The sect is already on us demanding answers."
Hettul nodded, "Doctor, I told you soon, I have Teuthre close to breaking point. Your Colony's deflector is ready to go down anyway, but our beleaguered little friend's codes will ensure the grid does fail, should my signal not connect to the requisite protocols in the planetary computer mainframe." He leant over and looked through the small window in the container: he could see the loyalist Star Colonist writhing about in the red-orange depths of the hydrochloric fluid - resilient thing, very little skin degradation.
Mitchell Star Colony
Unwin was accosted outside the establishment by a group of unsavoury looking folk in grey rags. "Excuse me," he cleared his throat and tried barging one out of the way with an elbow in the ribs, looking into the bar and trying to catch another team member's eye.
"No getting through there, fellow... You're not from around here, are you?" The man blocking his path drank from a hip flask and stared at Mark with dead eyes, "What say we take a little walk? Something I can get you, something I can arrange for an interested foreign customer..."
Dear lord... Appalled at the impudence, Unwin shrugged brusquely, dislodging the hand of another of the miscreants who'd clasped him round the shoulder. "Just looking for a friend of mine." That caught the man's attention; his eyes glinted and he threw the flask to a colleague, barking something indistinct.
"Friends to be found in places you least expect. Seven bars of latinum's the price."
Unwin cast another look towards the bar's interior, "Do you take credit?"
Fifteen minutes later, as he turned away from the window where he'd seen T'Seng talking to their quarry against the bright tangerine backdrop of the bar - sure on that account things were progressing well - he put his troops in order: ten self-described private soldiers, really no more than a gang of delinquents, whose leader - now Mark's makeshift lieutenant - had agreed to have them hunt the blocks surrounding the spaceport - many of those buildings, as described by the dodgy lieutenant, being derelicts - for any sign of Karka Psonoir. They wouldn't be bothered, the lieutenant explained in his clipped tones, any youths seen with chains and (fake) laser weapons were assiduously avoided by the anxious local populace.
|
|
Daniel Schirra
Captain
Registered: Apr 8, 2013 21:02:47 GMT
Posts: 468
|
Post by Daniel Schirra on Sept 17, 2016 0:28:00 GMT
Daniel stood off along the bar as Koni approached their candidate. He had to admit she was good at her job, and was, apparently, fully adaptable to any given situation as she had the man smiling and practically hanging on her every word. She leaned in close several times, likely assessing her chances of removing his pass without him being aware, when satisfied she asked him to buy her another drink and when he turned to the bar she deftly released his pass, holding it in her hand as she glanced at Daniel.
Moving along the bar he passed close to her and she handed over the key-card. He went to the end of the bar and ordered while placing the pass in his jacket. He nodded to T'Seng to close her play and get out. he had noticed Mark moments earlier, seemingly in conversation with a small group of locals so he decided to go out and check, but as he turned to leave Unwin was apparently issuing orders to the group, who split up quickly leaving him stood at the window. He looked in then entered, a wry smile on his face.
"Friends of yours ?" Daniel asked, glancing along the bar at the still in conversation T'Seng.
"Hired help." Mark said ordering a beer from the woman stood patiently waiting to serve him, "they know the places to hang out. They'll search the area for signs anyone is being held."
"OK ... How will they let you know ?" Mark held up a battered non-Federation communicator, Dan nodded, "Good. We'll head back to the Admin Block at the Spaceport. With the pass we 'should' be able to get what information we need to find Karka. I'm hoping that whatever they used as currency for port fees et cetera, they will have acquired lodgings with.If we can track that then we'll have a place to start." he glanced at Koni again, who nodded almost imperceptibly before telling her new friend that she needed to make a comm to her employer, but she would be back within the hour and hoped he would wait. The man was only too willing, and eyed his good fortune up and down as she left the bar. Shaking his head in admiration, Daniel and Mark followed her into the dark street ...
~~~~~
The building was mostly in darkness at this late hour, apparently Mitchell's Colony employees didn't believe in working late. All the better for their needs:
Approaching one of the side doors, Dan swiped the metallic pass over the sensor and the door slid silently aside. Lights were blinking in numerous upper corners, possibly their version of closed-circuit monitoring. He told them to keep the heads lowered, thankfully the whole place was so behind times that they wouldn't be recognised unless they looked up and waved. Entering a turbo-lift they climbed to the upper level but not the uppermost before stepping into the darkened corridor. Floor lighting allowed them enough illumination to read the plaques on the doors and they quickly found one that could be fruitful 'Data Records' ....
Entering quickly, Koni closed the door behind them. The room held four tables, each with a computer terminal. Daniel handed the key-card pass to Mark, who took the closest chair and placed the 'key' in the appropriate slot. The screen came to life and a menu appeared.
"Not very big on security around here are they." T'Seng commented as she watched the door in the corner of her eye, ready to jump on whoever wandered in unexpectedly, "You would have thought they would at least have some basic security protocols in place. Hell, a child could wander in here and play havoc." she shook her head in dismay as Unwin accessed the system.
"I might have something ...... Someone called 'Maltis' has been busy. They have lodgings but have also acquired a storage plot, according to this it's a temporary lease only." Mark looked at the others.
"It's the best we have, but to be sure, can you look at anyone and everyone arriving say, two hours before this Maltis character, and up to our arrival. They were here before us so no need to go past our turning up." Schirra asked the Engineer before obtaining a hard copy of Maltis and his transactions. He sat down and began to read ... Twenty minutes later Unwin was satisfied they had the best candidate for their kidnapper. According to the record he and several associates had rented an apartment in the Tallod Complex, less than a kilometer from their own rooms. His storage plot was in the Ggent Quarter, on the outskirts of the Spaceport, easily accessible and off the main thoroughfare, so no unexpected visitors. An ideal place to do business that was best kept private !
"Get that address to your hired help Mark, then we'll head for their apartments."
~~~~~
The building was only fifteen storey's high, so hardly on a par with Federation construction, and again, the barest and easily surpassed security. stood across from the Complex, they could see the uppermost floor, rented in it's entirity by the one they knew as Maltis. From their lowly point, most of the level seemed in darkness, but that meant nothing.
"If Maltis is who we're looking for, he either has Karka up there, or in the storage plot." Koni said, looking up and down the almost deserted street, "I suggest we take a look up there while no-one seems to be at home, then go over to the alternate if we draw a blank here." the others agreed and they crossed the street and entered the building. Not wanting to risk the turbo-lift, they entered the stairwell and began the long climb. Reaching the uppermost floor, Dan slowly pushed the door ajar and listened for any movement or conversation that would indicate there were guards in place, but the corridor in the direction he could see was deathly silent. Risking being discovered, he pushed the door far enough so he could look in the other direction, no-one there either. He ducked back in and turned to the others:
"OK, all clear. Eight doors, three to our right, five left, all identical from what I can see." Daniel said, retrieving his Type 1 phaser from his inside pocket, the others following suit.
"Two options then. Go for the furthest to the right and work our way up. The problem there is Maltis and his friends might return before we can find the commander, if he's here and not at the other location of course, second, we go for the closest door and get inside, consider further options once inside, if we don't walk in a a room full of guards that is." Koni suggested.
"Mark ?" Dan asked the Engineer, wanting a consensus rather than making a decision as ranking Officer.
< tag : Mark / Ryat >
|
|
Karka Psonoir
Commander
Registered: Apr 9, 2013 19:55:13 GMT
Posts: 422
|
Post by Karka Psonoir on Sept 18, 2016 19:02:25 GMT
Unwin weighed up the options; if they used the first door they came to, the one directly ahead, they had very little chance to back up if the room turned out to be occupied, "I'd suggest the door furthest to the right; that way if people are in the room, we'd only be at the mercy of people from one direction if we had to retreat." Schirra nodded and Unwin went in first, padding softly down the corridor and letting his hand fall on the door handle; this would have to be silent and quick.
He threw the door open and lunged in with weapon raised. A large room, two people standing near couches, another spread-eagled in a chair with a mug rolling onto the floor beside him, liquid spilling. One of the two standing had started speaking into a communicator but the other it seemed had already been in the process of shooting her when the Excal officers burst in! She fell and the man who'd fired, seeing them, grabbed panickedly at the fallen comm, running for the window at the far end and crashing out of it through the glass.
Unwin lowered his phaser, squinting, "What the..." As the others piled in he checked for a pulse on the woman; dead, as well as the man in the chair. "What could she have been saying that he shot her for it?" Now they heard activity in a nearby room...
"Something about a movement?" T'Seng asked, frowning.
Karka peered down into the abyss, now in a small compartment and - he thought - hidden from Maltis. Either that or the doctor was pounding around on the level above just to let him know he was there, waiting 'til the Hybrudean - who he'd thought was a Mitchell Star Colonist - ran out of resources, mental resources wherein he admitted the siege was over.
There was a muffled shout and more clunking of boots. "Damn it, where are you, Psonoir!" Hmm... maybe not.
There was a buzz and an audial stimulus somewhere from his body; still glaring down into the presumed pit - looking as if it cut all the way down to the centre of the asteroid, a fracture in past times perhaps, which during a freezing period on the celestial body had opened up forming a crack to the centre of it - he frowned and felt for the buzz, withdrawing to his surprise a small communicator, "Hello?" he whispered.
"Commander. It's Martha Aedemkin, I sequestered the communicator on you while you were unconscious. Ahri -" that was Maltis, Karka knew, "- doesn't know I'm talking to you... There's something I need to say. Something that will help your fellow officers rescue you, to let them know where to look..."
Karka frowned, though not at what the woman, fiancee of Maltis, was saying, "Go on." As he waited he leant over the rail, eyes trying to penetrate the gloom that was not, it seemed, entirely featureless in the place one might expect bare rock.
"You've been moved. That is to say, you're not -" The comm went dead. Looking at the communicator with a small measure of dread, Karka set the orange light on it pulsing, weighed it in one hand and returning his gaze to the pit, cast the comm into the supposed natural chasm. It tumbled out of sight and, as he'd foreseen, clattered against something certainly artificial not very far down. The orange light winked up at him, surrounded by darkness like an eye glaring out of hell.
Then, despite his newfound doubt over his supposed location, something extraordinary and disorienting took place: the side of the chasm those 15, 20 metres down opened, and grey, clearly terrestrial light filtered into the dark quarters, soon cut off by a humanoid individual striding in. Whoever it was stopped by the fallen communicator and looked up, obviously having perceived the Hybrudean's presence, withdrew a communicator of its own and raised it to its mouth. Unbeknownst to Karka, something about the uniform he was wearing had piqued the newcomer's interest.
"Mr Unwin... You there?" It was fortunate the gang leader spoke in that sinister whispering way, the CEO raised the communicator the man had given him and acknowledged. He thought he could hear him licking his lips, "I've found your friend, Mr Unwin. Must say he's rather too far above me to make this an easy rescue..."
Mark glanced at the others, "What's going on? He's on a floor above you?"
"In a manner of speaking. Seems me and the boys have stumbled onto some stage, edifice like a studio centre of the storage lot. Already seen temporary lodgings for one, a destroyed kitchen and a room with a dreadful looking chair, all sharp and nasty. Now I'm in another section with your Mr Psonoir, looks as if modelled on a space-borne rock."
"Stay there. We're going to get to you, somehow." Unwin closed the channel and looked at Dan, about to mention the communicator the woman had been using, but the door handle started moving...
|
|
Daniel Schirra
Captain
Registered: Apr 8, 2013 21:02:47 GMT
Posts: 468
|
Post by Daniel Schirra on Sept 20, 2016 18:07:09 GMT
"What the..." As the others piled in he checked for a pulse on the woman; dead, as well as the man in the chair. "What could she have been saying that he shot her for it ?" Now they heard activity in a nearby room ... "Something about a movement ?" T'Seng asked. Suddenly the communicator Mark had retrieved chirped to life, he glanced at Schirra before activating the aged device: "Mr Unwin ... You there ?" Daniel was listening to the conversation when Koni held a finger to her lips then pointed at the door. At first Dan didn't see what she was pointing out, then realised the handle was moving, almost too slowly, but moving just the same ! ... He waved at Unwin to continue the conversation while he and Koni moved into position, he on the hinged side of the inwardly-opening door, she behind a nearby chair, giving her a clear field of fire should the situation warrant. He glanced at Unwin again, nodding at the door: "..... Now I'm in another section with your Mr Psonoir, looks as if modelled on a space-borne rock." The Chief Engineer moved to the wall while still holing the seemingly clandestine conversation. The door, now ajar, continued to move inward, and Daniel wondered who was trying to be so careful in their entry. Surely they didn't expect those inside all to be looking away from their point of ingress, so why the subterfuge ?[/blockquote] An arm made an appearance, fingers wrapping around the edge of the door. Daniel secured his phaser and readied himself. Nodding to T'Sent to be ready, he reached out, grabbing the arm and yanked it and the rest of the person into the room. Dropping the newcomer to the carpeted floor he was about to continue the move with a solid blow to the temple when he realised he was about to hit a woman. The half-second hesitation was all she needed, raising her knees and throwing Schirra over her before bouncing to her feet. There was a dull 'thud' then she fell face-first into the flooring, Koni stood over her, a satisfied look on her face. The Comm had abruptly ceased so Mark came forward, helping Koni to lift the semi-conscious woman, no more than a teenager, into the other empty chair, while Daniel took one of the curtains and covered the deceased. Koni began slapping the girl to bring her around: "Hey, wake up !" she said, slapping her again, this time the girls' eyes opened and she put a hand on her face where a red mark was already beginning to show, "Who are you, what are you doing here ?" she continued. "I .... I came for my Sister, they have her, along with another I don't know." the girl said, eyeing her captors with suspicion. Koni glanced at Schirra who imperceptibly shook his head, silently instructing her not to mention the recently murdered occupant of the other chair. He walked forward, hands raised to show he meant no harm, then knelt in front of her. He realised that she couldn't have been wore than fifteen or sixteen, what the hell was she doing entering a known hideout alone, she must have realised that she could have been captured easily, as proven by her present situation ! "What is your name ?" "Talta." the girl said quietly, my Sister is Korta." "You said there was another in this building, another what, prisoner, someone being questioned ?" Dan prompted, steering away from the subject of the sister, which he was almost positive was only meters away under the curtain.. "Yes. We have known about this building for some time, but have never been able to enter undiscovered, but you're presence gave us the opportunity. You really are crude in your methods." she said, a hint of defiance in her last comment. "Maybe so, but we're in." Mark Unwin stated. "As, am I." the girl said, eyebrows raised as if she were pointing out the obvious to a child, "Now, if you are through detaining me, I'll be on my way. My sister needs me before they ship her out." the last statement made all three Federation Officers feel a cold chill down their spines ! "Ship out, to where !" Dan said, blocking her rise from the chair, "what are these people, slave traders ... WHAT are they !" "We do not know much, only that they come here periodically, usually for two to three days, then vanish once more. Whoever they bring also disappears but they remain vanished, while the others return maybe two, three months later to repeat the process. It was said they were recruiting, but no-one knew for what, or dared approach to ask, for fear of being struck down without warning. My .... My sister decided she needed more in her life, and when they left last time she took it upon herself to enter and search the building for evidence." the girl said, her throat dry so she asked for a glass of water which Koni supplied. Refreshed, she continued, "We thought they would not return so soon, but they arrived with a man, obviously not one of their party, but he was not my concern, my Sister was, and 'SHE' was still in the building !" Daniel moved, allowing her to stand, but asked Koni to move to the door while they continued the conversation. "Do you know anything more ?" .... Any reason why they want these people ?" "No." the girl said a little too quickly. Mark picked up on it and decided to play a hunch: "Is there some sort of, resistance, a movement of some kind, organised to stop their activities ?" he asked, seeing Talta's eyes narrow suddenly as she looked around the room, possibly weighing up her limited options, then, realising it was remain and talk, or jump out of the recently broken window, she locked eyes with Unwin, her lips sealed. "This other person ....." Daniel said, hoping she would at least co-operate enough to help them, "Was he dressed like us, in civilian clothing ?" he asked, seeing Talta frown for a second and knowing that she had seen Karka. Be it before they entered the building, or hopefully, while she was concealed inside and out of sight of the kidnappers ! "He was wearing a long, almost floor-length coat, but I could see a Starfleet uniform beneath. Dan was about to ask more when the communicator Mark was still holding chirped to life once again. The girl almost screamed in fright but Daniel managed to get a hand around her and cover her mouth, whispering for her to remain silent, whoever was on the other end wasn't their friend, and by definition, not hers either ! ..........
|
|
Karka Psonoir
Commander
Registered: Apr 9, 2013 19:55:13 GMT
Posts: 422
|
Post by Karka Psonoir on Sept 22, 2016 19:48:24 GMT
Dr Maltis confronted Karka with the communicator, flanked by two Kalar who he had take up positions behind Karka. Not blinking as he regarded the Hybrudean, Maltis activated the comm and waited for an answer, "Your man is dead, unless you leave this planet immediately and never come back. Where is Martha? Korta Martha Aedemkin," he clarified, "I wish to speak to her, or Mr Psonoir's fate will be worse than manual labour at our generator under Lake Tlemlis."
No response. Maltis glanced at the Kalar who shuffled closer to Karka; the Hybrudean steeled himself, this ordinarily called for consciousness acceleration, but it wouldn't protect his bones - he was sure the Kalar could break him in two fairly easily.
It was as Karka had feared, as they could hear weeping in the background over the comm. This could end in being a most unfortunate trip to his false homeworld. The nature of the scenario seemed to be dawning on Maltis, whose face was red and his eyes damp with the effort not to cry, "You will put my fiancee on immediately! Or you'll pay for your insolence in having... kil- ..."
<Tag Schirra>
Taking advantage of the doctor's weakness, Karka fled down the adjacent corridor into darkness, leaving Maltis cursing and the Kalar casting about dimwittedly.
In the command chamber, Maltis had already sent the two Kalar to the disintegration chamber. He stood before the screen as it flashed to show a room, Holin's secretary at the faculty turned his face from a computer, "Dr Maltis, results from the recording you made from the communicator. Voice identification, unknown. It's been deleted, and those who did it covered their tracks with an encryption, I've seen it before... the programming corresponds to randomised code used by Starfleet Intelligence." Blood drained from Maltis's face.
Pushing back the hatch at the top of the shaft, the doctor pulled himself onto the roof of the asteroid studio, stumbling across to the heavy weapon emplacement operated by one of the biology faculty's mercenaries. He waited 'til the man aimed the gun and verified the detected heat signatures, then looked through the viewfinder at the broken window of a residential building across the grey expanse of the city.
He raised the recovered communicator to his lips, "Officer of Starfleet Intelligence. You will leave the apartment in the Tallod Complex, proceed to your vessel, and depart the Star Colony. Failure to do will result in the elimination of you and your friends. I have enough firepower here to destroy the building - look out the window and you'll see what I mean." One of the blinds moved a fraction. He tried to keep himself from trembling, fearing Starfleet Intelligence and all they might do to him and his operation. "You are lucky I am not destroying you anyway, for you have killed my fiancee."
"Where is Commander Psonoir."
"Mr Psonoir has chosen a most unpleasant manner of death." The blind in the window moved again, a gloved hand visible for an instant, "Nothing would be achieved by way of deception... Your heat signatures are visible to me."
<Tag Schirra>
Psonoir made it as far as the courtyard adjacent to the storage lot before being accosted by yet another Kalar and one of the locals. "You! Where is Burkardt?" The local stopped him with a strong hand against the chest, "I saw him go into that building behind you, mister, one of the old communicators in his hand. What have they done with him?"
"I think he may well be deceased." Karka glanced at the immobile Kalar.
"Don't worry about him. He's one of the few lucky ones. Dr Maltis has brainwashed most of the others, and his fiancee or so the rumour is. I knew her at the faculty," he rearranged his rags, "Since then my research has gone poorly." Karka tried to shrug the man off, making towards the spaceport, not knowing where Schirra and the others might be on the planet, he saw an orbital craft as his best chance to find them. "No, let me come with you. I know what Maltis has planned, you've been in that hell and at their asteroid base most likely, but you won't -"
The man flinched as something like a thunderbolt split the air from the storage lot to part way across the city. Air was ionised in a volume around the asteroid building, Karka's skin prickling as waves of heat washed over him. Smoke started rising above a building towards the south-east. Then another blast, at a slightly lower angle from the vertical.
|
|
Daniel Schirra
Captain
Registered: Apr 8, 2013 21:02:47 GMT
Posts: 468
|
Post by Daniel Schirra on Sept 24, 2016 0:43:18 GMT
"He was wearing a long, almost floor-length coat, but I could see a Starfleet uniform beneath." Dan was about to ask more when the communicator Mark was still holding chirped to life once again. The girl almost screamed in fright but Daniel managed to get a hand around her and cover her mouth, whispering for her to remain silent, whoever was on the other end wasn't their friend, and by definition, not hers either !
=^= Your man is dead unless you leave this planet immediately and never come back .. Where is Martha .. Korta Martha Aedemkin .. I wish to speak to her or Mr Psonoir's fate will be worse than manual labour at our generator under Lake Tlemlis =^=
Daniel held a finger to his lips and nodded to Koni to take hold of the girl, he mouthed: 'Keep her quiet !' ...
=^= You will put my fiancee on immediately .. Or you'll pay for your insolence in having .. .. Kil- .. .. =^=
=^= I can't do that =^= Dan said, listening to the silence for a long long moment before he continued, =^= I am sorry .. But your fiance was dead when we got into the room .. I have no idea wh .. .. =^=
The scream was unearthly in it's distress and utter sorrow, but Daniel knew that that wouldn't last. The man needed a target, a focus for all of his anger and hatred, and he knew he would be that target. They had only two options now, they could leave, and thereby condemn Psonoir to whatever fate this man had in mind, or, they could 'appear' to leave, and go after the Engineer risking the deaths of everyone involved. He pondered putting it to a vote, but knew the futility of such an action, given it was only ever going to be get Karka back, regardless of the consequences !
"Is there any way we can triangulate a location from that communication ?"
"With this ?" Unwin asked, admittedly surprised the Commander had even asked, "No, sorry ... We can say that they are close, within a kilometer maybe."
"How do you know that ?" Koni asked.
"Terrain for one. The fact that this thing is the poor cousin of our communicators and would almost need line-of-sight to be totally effective. I'd say given our location, eight hundred to a thousand meters." Mark said with a shrug.
"So we're talking ?" she prodded.
"Postulate a radius of say, five hundred meters ... A ≈ 7.85×105 ... Work's out at roughly three quarters of a million square meters ... Certainly too much to search, even given a large part of the area is derelict." Unwin said as the Comm again chirped to life:
=^= .. .. .. Mr Psonoir has chosen a most unpleasant manner of death .. Nothing would be achieved by way of deception .. .. Your heat signatures are visible to me =^=
=^= We didn't kill your fiance .. If you know anything at all about the Federation and Intelligence .. Then you would know you are wrong and I am speaking the truth .. You have Mister Psonoir with you why not ask him =^=
=^= You murd .. .. =^=
=^= NO ! .. .. We DIDN'T .. .. Look .. There is a faction on this Colony and obviously one that is not aligned with you or your schemes .. If you are completely convinced that we are responsible then have your man open fire and be rid of us ! .. But believe me .. We are not your problem .. We came here to retrieve our Officer nothing more nothing less .. I have no interest in your nefarious activities so return Commander Psonoir and we'll do as you ask .. But believe me .. Should you choose to take action against us then the full might of the Federation will descend on this colony the second we are reported missing and whatever little schemes you have running will need to be done from a prison cell .. .. .. You may well think I'm calling your bluff .. If that is so then carry out your threat .. Otherwise you might want to consider talking this out .. You know where we are =^= he closed the communicator and threw it on the table.
Koni, Mark, and the seemingly traumatised Talta looked at him in silence, wondering if he had just effectively signed their death warrants !
|
|
Karka Psonoir
Commander
Registered: Apr 9, 2013 19:55:13 GMT
Posts: 422
|
Post by Karka Psonoir on Sept 24, 2016 21:47:44 GMT
The ionising shot rang out for kilometres all around, hitting near the Tallod Complex building but clearly wide of the mark. Maltis glared at the mercenary ensconced in his secluded seat behind the heavy weapon's barrel, "You missed!"
Before he could look through his binocs again at the still intact apartment, the barrel of the gun swung towards him, the tangerine glow of the viewfinder piercing through the mist and eyes of the two former allies meeting, "You wouldn't know anything about Burkardt wouldn't you, doctor?" the mercenary drawled, "The man whose communicator you hold, my colleague from the western precincts..."
"Don't tell me I've hired a thug," Maltis groaned, backing away from the 2 metre barrel towards the edge of the studio roof, the huge weapon tracking him all the way - glanced over his shoulder and saw a ladder leading down that edge of the building - he stepped backwards into nothingness.
The mercenary fired at him, another bolt shooting through the air and leaving a sizzling cloud of ionised particles to spread through the surrounding cubic metres and blocks.
In disappearing from view Maltis had caught hold of one of the ladder's rungs, now righting himself and lowering himself shaking towards the ground - he was stunned the mercenary happened to have worked with the thug he'd killed not an hour ago, and that the man had elected not to fire at the apartment but well under it, into the street two blocks to the west, and then again further up the street at Maltis's secondary outpost manned by other faculty staff and befriended locals.
Karka had begun running towards the location of the blast, after staring agape with his two new acquaintances - the failed researcher and the Kalar sans brainwashing - at the explosion it'd caused. He had no doubt that who the operator of the weapon had been aiming for was Schirra - whose voice he'd heard over the communicator when he'd been under guard by Maltis - and whoever else he'd brought to the planet; he had to hope that somehow the Excalibur XO and the others had avoided injury in the blast.
The rag-clothed researcher led him along to the impact point - a block or so from Tallod Complex, he told Karka, which was where the staff working on the storage lot lived while they were on the planet. "Why do they want me?" he asked the man.
The man looked with concern at the congregation of people ahead, who'd been made agitated by the two explosions, "Maltis has found a way of harnessing the energy of a power station beneath Lake Tlemlis in the northern hemisphere to modify the cellular RNA of a species of fish unique to its waters. I suspect he sees you as someone he can use in the power station. Perhaps you lived by Lake Tlemlis once? People from there have a unique signature which the researchers from the faculty are able to exploit to accelerate the process of RNA modification."
Karka blinked, "I see. I didn't live there but he believed I did. And the faculty...?"
"The biology faculty at the Colony university," the man answered, as if Karka had asked him the most obvious question. "Dr Maltis's team there have been interested in the Lake for years. I know, I was once one of the researchers. When they were refused their grant they went against the government and started exploring under the Lake anyway, securing funding from less than reputable sources."
"If what you say is true, Maltis isn't going to leave me alone. He'll come for me even if he's destroyed the people trying to rescue me."
"And if they're still alive, you need to find them."
They entered the vicinity of the two blasts - great holes in the asphalt-covered pedestrian zone in the area near the Tallod Complex - pushing through crowds of who were on the verge of rioting, approaching the ominous 15-level structure intact within the generated smoke clouds. The trio could hear distant sirens; people lay hands on them and especially Karka - seeing his uniform beneath the coat no doubt - crying out for help; there were many injured. "You think they could be in that building?" he asked the man.
They started towards it, not knowing that Ahri Maltis was just fifteen metres behind and closing on them with a laser rifle...
|
|
Alyana Ryat
Commodore
Registered: Sept 5, 2007 16:34:56 GMT
Posts: 347
|
Post by Alyana Ryat on Sept 25, 2016 14:18:28 GMT
OOC: Apologies all. I will post a new mission post directly but you are welcome to continue adding to this thread. You are an awesome crew.
Aly could not say that her discussion with the Admiral had gone well. They had talked for half an hour and he had told her precisely nothing. She knew that if she attempted to investigate she would draw attention to herself, Dan had that sort of subtly down and she did not.
She returned to her quarters and paced a while before sitting herself down and trying to meditate. Ryat had learned how back on Vulcan but it wasn't something that Alyana had ever done. She reached a slightly vague drifty state but she wouldn't call it proper meditation. She sighed, it was time for lunch.
"Commodore Ryat to C&C". Aly got to her feet and responded to the comm telling them she was on her way. She had been to Command and Control numerous times but she wasn't expecting the level of chaos on this occasion. She wove her way towards the Admiral, he looked grave. This was clearly a time for orders.
Ten minutes later Aly was issuing orders for her crew to return to the Excal and was heading to her quarters to grab her things. They would be shipping out as soon as possible (she had given them an hour and half to get back on board and report in). This time they did not have far to go but the situation was quite literally unstable and could worse at any moment.
|
|
Daniel Schirra
Captain
Registered: Apr 8, 2013 21:02:47 GMT
Posts: 468
|
Post by Daniel Schirra on Sept 25, 2016 20:35:56 GMT
The others listened to their Commander in something approaching worry:
=^= .. .. .. Otherwise you might want to consider talking this out .. You know where we are ! =^= he'd finished, throwing the communicator on the table and turning to face them.
"I have the feeling that Maltis will do one of two things now." Mark said, eyeing the window and the numerous buildings beyond, "He's going to knock on the door, or he's going to ensure you don't get to walk through it."
"I'd say we leave, now ..." Koni suggested. Daniel had to agree, so they made their way to the door, hoping there wasn't going to be someone waiting outside. Thankfully they were alone, which began to worry all of them if truth be told ... making their way down to ground level no-one commented on the distinct lack of opposition to their flight. Koni commented on the fact that all they had passed were civilians, not one of which gave them a second look. Had Maltis withdrew his forces ?
Reaching what they knew was a door to the open, Daniel considered the idea that he had made a mistake. If they stepped out into the sunlight, they could be cut down without having to endanger any civilians, but they couldn't remain behind the door indefinitely, so it was go back up, or step out. he turned to the others, who stood silently waiting, then placed his hand on the door release ...
~~~~~
Stepping tentatively into the mid-day sunlight, Dan recalled their location and that of possible cover without having to put the locals at risk. less than one hundred meters to their south was a second building, a little run down, but suitable to get them closer to the center of the city, if only fractionally. They were almost at the second building when the ground beneath them shook violently and a cloud of dust and rubble climbed into the air. They were all thrown off their feet as the shock-wave slammed into them but as Daniel looked back in the direction they had come half expecting the building they occupied moments earlier to be gone, but there it was, intact. He was getting to his feet when a second blast shook them, a second cloud enveloping them for long moments ... Why miss ? ... Why fire on them but allow them to live !
He got to his feet and helped the other up. They could hear cries, screams, terrified civilians all pleading for help in the aftermath of the destruction, then Koni heard someone behind them and spun ! ..... She crouched, seeing someone approaching in the gloom and dust-cloying air, once the newcomer was close she sprang, dropping him instantly to the pavement and locking her arms around his neck applying pressure to the dishevelled intruder. Someone spoke, almost a whisper:
"Koni !" She instantly eased her grip, looking up seeing Schirra and Unwin grasping the one that had spoken.
"Karka !" she heard Daniel utter.
"He's with me when you've finished strangling him." Psonoir said almost casually. T'Seng quickly released he grip and got to her feet, helping the man up she turned to the others.
"Who's doing the firing, and what the hell are they using !" Unwin said, looking into the gloom in the direction Psonoir and his companion had come seconds earlier.
"I'm afraid that, only I can answer that question." They turned to see someone unsteadily approaching. One arm was hanging limply at his side, obviously broken, but the other one, holding a phaser-type weapon, was he held on Psonoir, "You thought you had escaped me. Well alas, you are mistaken. I will call in my people and we shall finish this. You ... All, have failed in your attempt to save your colleague, and in doing so have sealed your fate."
He raised the weapon, and despite his obvious condition, kept it trained on the Engineer, he staggered backwards, regaining his stability before anyone could reach him, then he began to apply pressure ion the firing mechanism ..........
|
|
Karka Psonoir
Commander
Registered: Apr 9, 2013 19:55:13 GMT
Posts: 422
|
Post by Karka Psonoir on Sept 27, 2016 14:50:34 GMT
"Karka Psonoir is coming with me," Maltis yelled through the dust, short rifle held in one hand and now jammed against the Hybrudean's neck, "And if you decide he's not, it's best he dies. One thing, I will evade capture... You see, Commander..."
"Schirra," Karka mumbled.
"Schirra," Maltis carried on hurriedly, "It's not the first time I've faced and destroyed one of your number in combat. Many work beneath Lake Tlemlis, and many more will be recruited."
Schirra held up a hand as Unwin tried to dive forward to snatch Karka away - there was no way the engineer would be able to move fast enough, even with the broken arm Maltis was sporting. The doctor turned Karka around, prodding him in the back with the weapon and moving perpendicular to Schirra and the others, keeping his eye on them all the time, "Just keep moving and all will be fine, Psonoir... Perhaps somewhere else rather than the Lake is in store for you, if you can keep your mouth shut."
He was forced up a mound of displaced soil and smashed foundation stones, fallout from the nearby blast that'd been meant for the residential building where Schirra and co had found Aedemkin and her mysterious executor. At the top Maltis pushed him away and levelled the weapon, as Karka - without moving - watched Schirra and the others confer as they realised they couldn't get line of sight to fire. They scampered away from their place next to the writhing mass of civilians and disappeared round the side of the 15-floor structure that loomed overhead.
"Move closer," Maltis snapped, bad arm fixed to his side and laser rifle pointed at Karka's thorax, "My top pocket, on the left... My left! Take it out... good, press the button, position it before me." Karka did as asked, knowing if he disobeyed Maltis would kill him instantly, and the doctor spoke into the device, "Maltis 0 0 2, enable."
A hole opened in the sky, emanating something akin to sheet lightning, like a strobe in the heavens, and out of it emerged a beige craft, its variable geometry wings splaying out horizontal as it came into land in the empty lot beside the decrepit residential tower. Before it could start its final descent a second instance of lightning lit up the sky...
The sonic boom overtook and he was blown off his feet down the mound, thumping into the gravel heavily and rolling towards a corner of the building just as Schirra and the local (whom they knew as Talta) appeared there. Collecting Karka between them, they saw through the haze Maltis still atop the mound albeit prostrate, waving desperately at the craft with his one good arm.
"They fired again..." Karka murmured, peering towards the studio at the storage lot several kilometres away.
The craft was veering madly, wing vortices forming calligraphic patterns in the air before it managed to stabilise and shoot a thin line - a grappling hook - towards the howling doctor. Having grabbed him by the feet it carried him for perhaps a hundred metres, before the extremities were pulled off and the flailing speck of the doctor - dropped from the ship - fell in a ballistic trajectory into the Mitchell Gamma business district. Eventually, evading further shots from the weapon emplacement on the roof of the studio, the craft managed to conduct a quick smash and grab landing and carried the maimed researcher into high orbit, and from there out of the system.
"Well..." Karka let out a deep sigh.
* * * * *
"He wanted me for research into the RNA of a species of fish, a species of fish unique to a large freshwater lake in the northern hemisphere," he explained around the table in the officer's mess aboard Simon Bright's ship, "Modifying the RNA would allow ships carrying illegal cargo to pass in and out of the Lake - from space, through the planetary navigation network - undetected." He licked his lips and put his cutlery down, using a napkin and drinking some champagne, "He had believed I was from a settlement near the lake." He allowed the others to scoff. He smiled, "Indeed, if that were true, I would during my stay there have been imbued with a particular characteristic that, if exploited correctly by Maltis, would've accelerated the process of RNA modification in the fishes."
"What would his exploitation have involved?" Bright asked, sitting next to Snil, next to whom were envoys sent by the apologetic captains of the two Mirandas.
"He would've dissolved me into the Lake, molecule by molecule," Karka answered, causing a stir, "He was firm in the belief I had such characteristics... There is no doubt he would've done it."
|
|