Where in Space-Time is Kaylana Cornette?

[Deleted]

TEG was running down the corridor toward the Captain's Quarters. He saw that Nik and Jamey were already there.

"Good morning gentlemen." Before either could respond, TEG had overrode the lock on the Captain's Quarters. As he entered, he began to recount what happened on the station...

"I was in D'Vorax Bar, when I thought I saw someone I knew. I followed her out of the bar, when I was incapacitated. I awoke sometime later in a dark room, not onboard the station. There were people in black clothes at the edge of my vision. I was strapped to a table, and there were probes on my arms and on my head. I could not hear what they were saying, but I got this feeling about the Captain and some symbol. The noticed I was conscious and sedated me. I awoke on the station, in Cargo Bay 13 and ran to the ship to check on the Captain. When I arrived, the computer told me she has been gone since 22:30 yesterday, that was about 3 hours after I left the bar and 12 hours ago."

<Tag Nik: about you trying to see her in her Ready Room>

"Exactly. We need to find out what kind of transporter took her, and maybe we can trace it to a ship that has been near the station at 22:30."

<Tag Jamey, finding phaser Residue>

[Jamey Gaz]

The three were in the Captain's room looking at space that didn't seem to be upset at all save the table in the corner of the room.
As the First Officer recalled his story to Nik, Jamey walked over to that area and started to scan. A tricorder wasn't really needed as there was a dark gray scorch mark below the table as if someone fired on it that was tall. Scanning anyway, Jamey indeed found the residue of phaser fire.

"Commander," Jamey called for Teg, "I'm picking up phaser residue, however these scans are indicating that they came from a Starfleet issue hand phaser." Pointing to the read out as Nik came over to look, "But as you can see here the detection of nadion discharges indicates that the phaser crystal used is not Starfleet. My first thoughts are this was meant to be seen as something other that was it is."

<Tag Nik and TEG>

"I will start scanning for transporter signatures," Jamey said moving to the floor to see if the could detect any signs of transporter activity.

[Deleted]

Lieutenant Falco was at his station on the bridge awaiting relief from Commander Hawk and he never showed up. Falco did not mind pulling a double shift most of the time but he was soon concerned about the absence of Hawk without a word. Falco decided to check in with the FO.

=^= “Bridge to Commander TEG,” Falco called with a worried tone.

”This Commander TEG, what is it Lieutenant, I am kind of busy in the Captains quarters?” TEG replied with a bit of distress.

“I know Sir but Commander Hawk did not report for duty and according to ships computer he went missing about 47 minutes after the Captain, Sir.” Falco informed TEG.

“That’s just great Lieutenant. Now I have two missing crewmen and both are senior officers.” TEG shook his head and clinched his fists in rage, and looking up said, “Why me! Why always ME!!”

TEG turned and tapping his communicator ordered security officer Will Jamison and Major Leonardo Denart to report to the Captains quarters ASAP.

[Deleted]

Nik was busy running a multitude of scans. Unfortunately the science main frame was still down so his preliminary investigations were being greatly hampered.

"I dont believe this" Nik said quite loudly.

"What, what is it" TEG said with panic in his voice. His was started to get quite stressed and was showing it.

"I'm sorry. This is just near virtual impossibility. The science mainframe is still down.. and... well... It does remind me. I went to speak to the Captain. I was pretty sure she was in her ready room. I rang and waited for a few mins, and not wanting to look like someone who had been stood up on a date I decided to mooch over to the science station and see what was going on. It was then that things werent right. Actually it was then that the sceicne mainframe failed completely." Nik said in an over enthusiastic manner.

Tapping away on his PADD:

::Error 232/Alpha 1::

Showing it to TEG.

"This is the error that flashed up. Unfortunately, I have not been able to trace this error code anywhere. All I do know is that well the science network mainframe is still down. And well seeing as all this equipment ideally needs mainframe access and is currently running off the well little backup units which just dont really do the job."

"Narrows the time frame down a little tho" Jamey interjected.

[Deleted]

TEG didn't like this at all. First Kay, then Hawk.... Correction, first him, then Kay, then Hawk. Why was he released, what we the abductors after? TEG was about to say something, when in his minds eye, he saw a planet, a familiar planet, but he couldn't place it.

"First I am abducted from the station and subjected to a mind probe. Then before I'm released to the cargo bay, Kay is abducted from her quarters, one of the most secure rooms on the entire ship, then the science computer network mainframe has a fatal error, and then Hawk is abducted."

"Perhaps sir, if you visited Sickbay. A doctor could do a scan to see whose medical equipment did the scan." Suggested Nik.

"Good idea Nik. When misters Jameson and Denart arrive; Jamey, you and Mr. Denart stay here, Nik, you take Jameson to Hawks quarters and see what you can find. In the mean time, I'll get the doctors to see what sort of information they can get from the mind probe residue, maybe between it, the phaser residue, and maybe some transporter residue, we can figure out who is behind the abductions and pursue them."

With that TEG left and made haste to Sickbay.

[Michael Aarons]

lizjaneway said:

"You say you are older than what you appear, how much older are we talking here?"

"I'm only 3¹/₂ years old." He replied with a devious grin. She returned his look with a wry look. "How old are you?" Without missing a beat she replied.

"21." <Before any of you start scoffing remember this is a woman. >

"And I take it next year you'll be what, 18?"

"Well I was thinking 19, but that's just as good." They laughed.

"I just had a thought!" He bolted up.

"Uh oh." ;D

"I know something thrilling we should do!" Liz wasn't liking where this was going. "It'll be great!" She really didn't like where this was going. They embraced each other ready to go through with it.

"I can't believe you talked me into this."

"It's a little tense at first but afterward..." Liz began to doubt her judgment. "Go!" They leaped and as they went the cable became taught and they bobbed miles above the planet surface. They bungee jumped... What did you think they were doing?

[lizjaneway]

After they had their feet planted back on the ground Liz turned to him.
"I can't believe we just did that. Why did I let you talk me into doing that? It was completely crazy. I know something else we can do, might be even more fun," she said and took off for the beach.

Once there she made sure her wetsuit was zipped correctly, and put on a pair of water skis. She had her feet over the side of the dock and her hands gripped a handle attached to a cord which was attached to a boat. She smiled and told them to go.

It wasn't easy learning how to water ski, especially since this was the first try. She managed to stay upright for a couple of minutes, then found she couldn't hold on to the rope any more. Letting go she went over a ramp and landed below in the water doing a belly flop. She had never felt anything hurt more, and wondered which was hurt worse her body or her ego.

[Michael Aarons]

Michael had to fish Liz out the water. She was content enough to remain there for all the embarrassment she must have been feeling. He cradled her as she wiped her face of the sea water.

"Did anyone see?" She pulled herself into the boat.

"I think they were laughing with you not at you. Although they seemed to be doing most of the laughing so you might want to keep a low profile."

"Well now it's your turn."

Aarons uncomfortably dangled over the edge of the dock. He was given hold of the reigns. Suffice it to say, he was not thrilled.

"Just remember to hold on."

"Oh yeah there's some sage advice. Too bad no one gave it to you."

"Go!" She called out. The rope snapped taught and he disappeared off the dock.

All those present that day who witnessed the event heard two sounds. The sound of the high powered boat and one long obscenity as Michael dragged behind the boat at breakneck speed. He bent his legs squatting down toward the surface of the water. With his finger he parted the water in a wake gripping tightly with his other hand. He rose back up and as he did he veered off in different directions behind the boat. Liz stood there watching as he skied the luscious ocean. The front end of the skis lifted up and he gained some air beneath him before he crashed back down tumbling behind the boat. He corrected himself and was able to maintain himself. The boat swung around and Michael released the reign veering off in a jackknife as he sank into the water and swam the rest of the way to the shore. Liz ran to him.

"What was that!?"

"Well Easton was built near the coast and let's just say they had a water sports program." He was dripping with water from the ocean.

"Oh I take it you've done this before?"

"No, I knew some girls who did."

[Deleted]

TEG made it to sickbay, luckily Trishta was there to take some readings. She had him lay down on the biobed and took some readings with a medical tricorder.

"Looks like a nasty piece of business you went through sir." Reported Trishta, "You mind was scanned by a Romulan Mind Probe."

"Romulans, eh?" replied TEG, "What would they want from me, or the Captain, or Hawk?"

"I don't know sir, perhaps you should discuss it with Major Denart or Commander Greenwood, they seem to be keeping themselves abreast of the current Romulan situation, considering the conversation I heard them having in Ten Forward the other day."

"Thanks... are we done?"

"You appear physically healthy, but I'm going to give you this cordical monitor just incase you have another hollucination, and an analgesic for the inflammation."

"Thanks"

With that TEG got his injection, and got the monitor attached to his head behind his right ear, afterwhich he swung his feet off the bed, and walked out of Sickbay headed for Hawk's Quarters to get an update.

[lizjaneway]

Trish shook her head watching the man leave wondering why in the world officer always wanted to leave quickly. She knew that was too fast, but she wasn't about to keep him any longer than required. She walked over to the nearest nurse telling them she was going to the office for some food and a bit of updating records. They only nodded as she moved away to start yet another gruelling task.



Liz couldn't believe her eyes, and was a little shocked that he looked better on the skis than she did. She heard her stomach roar, and knew they had forgotten to eat recently. She took off in the direction of the food tent. She knew Mike wasn't far behind her.

After feasting, Liz wondered what else they could do for some fun. She remembered the mountains in the distance, and thought a hike would be nice. She got the necessary gear, and teased him a little more about his age.

Once Mike and Liz were ready the took off on the trail. She hoped he wouldn't mind the pace she set, and found he walked beside her keeping up the whole way.

"Mike?" Liz said wondering how much of his attention she had at that time.

"Yes, Liz," he responded quickly, which didn't surprise her.

"I was wondering more about your past. I know only a little about you, and would like to know more," she said liking they were alone on the trail.

[Michael Aarons]

OFF: I take it then that you never read my bio, either one that is. And speaking of my original one (this goes for all who know me), if you have read it please just let it grow into a tumor and have it removed one day. I remember writing a corny one when I started but when I went back and reread it even I was embarrassed by how bad (even the grammar) it was. Therefore I went back and made one I was proud to have my name on.

ON: "Well I was really quiet person early on, did better than my fellow students so I was given a higher curriculum than most. This in conjunction with a lot of effort on my parents part earned me admission to the Easton Academy in the old U.A.E. I made my circle of misfit friends who all sort of congregated around each other for whatever their personal reason. I started to open to others about that time." They ascended the terrain as the trail became less apparent.

"So I take it that you pretty much kept to a corner away from others." She found it a little difficult to keep up with him as he furthered back in memory he quickened his pace.

"No I had my moments around the greater student body. And I also had dealings with the ladies." He averted his gaze from her. She moved in closer and hung on his arm wearing a smile.

"You must've swept them off their feet! I just hope ya' didn't drop them!"

"Hardly. I got noticed quite a bit. They'd often want to chat for whatever reason and I'd indulge them. I found early it best to find a way to keep them talking about themselves and what they liked, which came in handy for later moments." He could tell she was deeply intent on what he was saying. "Numerous times it would become apparent that they would try to get me in a closet during parties and so I'd give it my all."

"Sounds to me like you were missing their signals. You not realize they were almost throwing themselves at you?" He slowed down considerably and became quite incredulous. "Boy we need to have a talk. It's a wonder you landed me."

"Well they were probably just noticing me because of my flight activities on the side. Either that or because of writing. I tended to excel at that too." She stopped them.

"Wait, you did writing?!"

"Not really, I mean I was no poet laureate or great author. I like history and that's basically one giant story and well I have a lot of experience when it comes to stories and so I was quite an expert on the subject. I frequently was helping people with their narrative problems and I think that may have added to my appeal. There were some occasions that I actually tried to get with one of the ladies but that met with mixed results."

"How so?" Unnoticeably they resumed walking.

"Let's just say that the last time I ever tried to actively socialize with a girl, I got shot by an arrow." Liz went from a hysteric laugh to a piteous 'oh.' "It was probably after two years that I realized that I had a thing for flying. Which is how I came to be noticed flying about over campus. One of my Capstones was to construct a flight capable craft from rudimentary means and fly it from Baku, Azerbaijan to Callander, Scotland. We had to route it through Jordan, Greece, Germany, and then over the English Channel to prove it was navigable. Suffice it to say we were pretty close on the arrival. But enough about me, you ever finally climb that tree?"

[Deleted]

TEG approached Hawk's quarters, to find them in shambles. The bed tossed, the tables knocked over, the plant uprooted, and several burn marks on the wall and floor. Nik Greenwood was crouched down taking a sample of what looked like iron-based blood on the carpet and Leonardo Denart was scanning the burn marks.

"Report, Gentlemen." Requested TEG.

"Sir, it appears that Commander Hawk fought against his abductor or abductors." Replied Major Denart, "These burn patterns indicate both Starfleet phaser and an unidentified disrupter pattern. I could give you more information, but it appears that the phaser strikes overlay the disrupter, disrupting the readings."

"Interesting about the disrupter patterns Major, Dr. Trishta reported finding physical evidence that I was attacked with Romulan mind probes. What did you find Nik?"

By this time, Nik had taken his sample and had his tricorder read it, "Definitely Falconian blood, sir. However, it shows low oxygen levels, so I'd assume this blood comes from a superficial wound."

"Our assistant CMO did suggest that the two of you might be able to shed some more light on the mind probes, and I suspect that the Molecular Chemistry lab could see what they could make of the burn marks." Remarked TEG, "Why don't the two of you get the readings from the doctor and take a sample of the burns to molecular chemistry and we'll have a briefing at 14.00 hrs."

"Aye Sir." They replied in unison.

TEG left Hawk's quarters for Kay's while enroute, he passed Big Bill's quarters, he stopped for a second and thought to himself, Commodore, wherever you are, watch over Kay and Hawk, and help us find them before something horrible happens. TEG arrived at Kay's quarters to find Jamey and Jameson were getting on well. They had finished their preliminary investigation, and were now taking samples for the different labs (as tricorders had limited forensic capabilities.) TEG got their attention and they gave their reports.

"The Captain was definitely beamed out of her quarters, I found trace human DNA patterns in the carpet from a transporter beam." Reported Jamey.

Mr. Jameson continued, "... and the weapons burns show traces of disrupter patterns under the phaser, not the faked phaser blast we first thought. We were just about to take our samples to various labs for further testing."

"Good job gentlemen. When you've completed that, Jamey, I want you to go over the internal sensors, I want to know as much as a molecule out of place, and Mr. Jameson, contact station security, and see if you can get the station's external sensor logs and see if there is any suspicious activity nearby at our golden moments. Briefing at 14.00 hrs... As you were."

TEG then decided that it time he went to the bridge and see if anyone up there had any additional information, as well as seeing if he could recall anything else from his experience and put it in a PADD.

[lizjaneway]

Liz wasn't sure what he meant by climbing any trees, then she remembered what he was talking about and smiled.

"I did climb that tree, but I went too high and came down with a thud and a branch in my leg. If you know that much, then you've read my record, which means you know about all of that. What more is there to tell you?" Liz said knowing it did a good job of telling her life's story.

(Mike)

"I spy with my little eye, something not very good ahead," Liz said seeing the path fork ahead. Liz never did like it when the path split in two, because with two people they would argue about which way to head. She remembered the map, and about her little surprise. She hoped he wouldn't argue about this.

"Okay, so which way do you think we should go? I think we should veer right and go on that path. It looks interesting enough, and the other looks horrible," Liz said wondering what he would say about the two paths.

[Michael Aarons]

"Well, if I remember right you were our counselor for like 6 days or something not our medic. What's up with that? Got tired of hearing us complain?"

[Liz]

"Why not go straight through and balance between nice and not?" He said in an innovative way of dodging the issue.

"You want to cut through that?" She said pointing.

"Oh. Good point. Let's just go this way, for some one left handed I sure feel like going right."

[Deleted]

"Well this is fun, doing things the old fashioned way."

"It's damn slower" frustration in denarts voice.

Nik decided to take a quick break. He need some coffee, and hoped to high heaven that the replicator was still working the last thing he needed to was to make coffee the old fashioned way. Nik smiled. ~how did we cope before all this technology~ he thought to himself.

Popping into the science and engineering labs on the way back, he wanted to check on the progress on getting the systems back online. He also knew jamey needed internal sensors back. Nik was know annoyed that they were also linked to the science mainframe but also the security mainframe. Suddenly a brainwave over came him, he forgot that portions of the science mainframe were systematically stored in other mainframes a matrix he had thought up a while back. It ment should any mainframe go down, then they would still all be connected via the other mainframes. The problem was the protocals in place didnt mean that all the connections were physically connected all the time.

Nik started running towards engineering faster than he had ever run... or did he need the bridge...he could do it from either probably both.

"Nik to bridge"

[lizjaneway]

Liz chuckled hearing about how she switch positions. "That wasn't my fault, they processed my information with the wrong position listed. I noticed it and had it changed as soon as possible. It was luck that I caught that like I did," she answered.

They walked down the right path, and Liz was looking all about her noticing the trees and any fruit about. She heard something behind them, but didn't respond to it thinking it would go away with time.

They walked until darkness came upon them, and Liz moved into the small clearing spying a tent already set up. She smiled grateful she had this done for them, since she was very tired from the hike.

"Well, shall we set up camp the rest of the way?" She asked thinking of cooking something for him. She took off her pack and opened it taking out some food and a pan to cook it in. She noticed no fire, just wood stacked not far away.

Liz got the wood and started to make a fire, but for some reason it wouldn't light.

[Michael Aarons]

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you've been planning this." He sat by casually taking a perverse pleasure out of watching her try to ignite the flames.

"Good thing you don't know better." She continued her struggle to become a modern day Prometheus, but her efforts were fruitless while her companion sat by smiling. "Would you care to help out?"

He sauntered over, kneeling to extend his arm toward the pile. With a click the fire inched to life from an ember to a blaze. She wondered how he did that and he presented a small metallic device.

"How long were you going to go without telling me about that?" He just smiled.

"Until you asked." Liz was not amused. "You know there's something I've wanted to ask you, and I hope I'm not out of place, but... When we were at Zenaxia, that alien captain you were aiding... what's up with that?" She couldn't begin to explain.

[Jamey Gaz]

Things had slowed down a bit, at least for Jamey anyway. He didn't put much stock into running around until he saw fit. However, he found himself in a science lab pouring over samples from the CO and COO's room. The computer was having a hard time returning results as the main core was still down. Jamey also had two tricorders links together going over one of the samples. 'This is crazy,' Jamey thought. Stopping all the lab's computers he took the samples from their platers and put them in a secure case.

The still are of the core was hard to get accustomed too, and the lighting wasn't good either. However, an hour after leaving the science lab, sitting on the floor of the main computer core, he linked not only each tricorder but also the database resources of the main core, the results were done. It took more time with the small processing power of the tricorders but the database was the key.

He looked over the results. The hum of the computer core wasn't audible to Jamey anymore as he had become accustomed to the sound. However the hue of the light from the core was making his eyes burn with fatigue. Rubbing them he called TEG. "Jamey to Commander TEG, I have the results of the samples from The CO and COO's room. I have double checked with all know data in the database and have confirmed that they Romulan in nature. I can not however attest to the age of the Romulan technology from witch they came ... on as their origin." Jamey stalled for a moment to let that sink in or either to hear some type of response ... "I will work on those logs now as the main core's processing ability still hasn't come on-line."

<TEG>

Cleaning up his mess in the core he returned to his office. The computer there was larger than a normal issue desk computer because of the research a CNS had to perform. He paused only for a moment for a class of water then started to prep his desk computer for the work. He had retrieved the logs into a portable storage device and linked it to his computer. Sitting down he started with the first log.

...

It seemed as if weeks had passed when in reality it was only hours. His eyes now were so tired the log files started to blur on the screen before him. Standing he decided to change his tactics.

"Computer, from the storage device search the data to see if any other transports were logged during the same time frame as the Captain and the COO was taken from the ship."

"Accessing"

Jamey walked over to his port window and started looking for a familiar star, but they were nothing but blurs too. Shaking his head when the computer beeped he turned his thoughts back to his work.

"No transporter activity was logged during the time frame in question."

"OK, is there anything that would suggest that a known transporter device was used."

"Negative"

"Is there any evidence of tampering based on data from known methods."

"Negative"

The questioning went on for another thirty minutes before a new idea hit him. "Computer, taking in account all known attributes of warp signatures, are there any signatures showing up in the logs?"

"Accessing ... ... ... Negative"

"Are there any elements of a warp signature?"

"Yes, one element."

Jamey looked at the result on the screen then contacted Nik, "Commander Jamey to Nik, I have found evidence of an degraded ionizing field. I think its purpose was to hide the warp signature of a departing ship."

<Nik>

Edit in orange ... got my XOs and COOs mixed up ...

[lizjaneway]

Since she didn't want to delve into all of that, and hoped he wouldn't ask, she kept mute about it thinking of some way to change the subject. She just smiled at him.

"So do you have any more camp secrets I should know about, or are you going to keep them to yourself to impress me?" Liz said teasing him a little. She couldn't help it when she was around him, teasing just came natural. She felt like there were no worries in the galaxy, and wished this feeling to never leave.

"Mike, if somehow I disappeared on you and was gone for six years before I returned, what would happen?" Liz asked not sure where this question came from.

[Michael Aarons]

"We'd all become lazy and plaguish without your dogged enforcement of health. And mumble, mumble, mumble" He started poking the ground with a stick avoiding her gaze.

"What was that?" He started to deny but she cut him to the quick. "No you were saying something! What was it?" She began tickling his neck which seemed to get a response.

He refused to confess, and as she poked and prodded him trying to get him to tell her what he was saying, he squirmed as she embraced him tightly. He couldn't move for she had pinned him in an alien body lock maneuver which meant that she had him at her mercy.

"Now tell me, what were you going to say?" He relaxed his muscles and she let up on him.

"I said I'd miss you greatly." She released her body lock but not him. She held him close to her.

"Was that so bad?" She smiled.

"Excruciatingly." He was kidding.

[Tag]

[Deleted]

Nik and Jamey's investigation had revealed an ionizing field in the local vicinity. Unfortunately, because the computer core was not yet operating properly, they had to rely on the science computers for their calculations. TEG decided to be useful, so he went down to the labs to see if he could help at all. When he got there, he found Major Denart hunched over a quantum microscope analizing the phaser burns that were recovered from Hawk's and Kay's quarters. TEG was well aware of Denart's expertise in Romulan technology, TEG assumed that is why he had been left to study the samples while Jamey worked with the engineers restoring the Computer Core.

"Ahh, Commander." Greeted Denart, "I've been going over the quantum signatures of the disrupter blasts, and found something interesting... They appear to be from Romulan weapons, with non-Romulan crystals or power sources."

"Do the energy patterns conform to any know species technology?"

"Yes sir, Ferengi."

"I didn't think the Ferengi made their own weapons anymore."

"They don't, but the energy signatures are consistent with their old style disrupter whips."

"Well that does raise some questions. Thank you Major, I'm going to see if I can help Mr. Gaz with the computer core."

Denart acknowledged TEG's departure, and TEG made his way to the core access. When he got there, he fount the place to be a mess.

"Mr. Gaz, report!"

"Sir, it appears that the real reason for our computer problems is a very sophisticated virus."

"Is this related to the error at Wesley's World?"

"No sir, it appears to be a problem introduced around the same time the Captain and Hawk were abducted."

"Damn, it rains and it pours."

[lizjaneway]

Liz noticed he hadn't tried to move away from her, and chuckled seeing he was actually getting comfortable.

"If it weren't for the fire dying at some point, I think I could get use to this," Liz said leaning back against a log usually used for sitting on enjoying his closeness. ~I wish this moment to never end. Now if I only had the power to actually do that.~ She thought, and watched him as he closed his eyes.

Liz woke with a start hearing something howl in the distance. The fire was still ablaze, and she knew that it was Mike's doing. She looked around discovering he was gather a few more logs.

"Didn't wish me cold?" she teased getting up and stretching.

[Michael Aarons]

"Oh no, don't get up. You were just getting to be comfortable." He toted the wood over to the fire. She merely looked at him funny.

"What's that supposed to mean?" She placed her hands on her hips in mock defiance. He just stood there staring at her.

"That I like laying on you?" He sat down on the log and started tossing sticks into the flames.

"Is it just me or did I hear something howl just now?" She pulled her arms in close trying to soak up the warmth. She took a seat near him.

"You probably did. However I wouldn't necessarily rule out the sound of an engine from some vessel taking off. In any case there are ways to make sure nothing bothers us."

"I'll assume you've taken care of that?"

"Naturally."

[Tag]

[Jamey Gaz]

"No sir, it appears to be a problem introduced around the same time the Captain and Hawk were abducted."

"Damn, it rains and it pours."

"Yes sir, that it does." Jamey said with growing frustration. "Every time I restore one pathway, twelve more are encrypted." Jamey looked at TEG with growing concern, "This virus isn't dangerous. In fact it does nothing but encrypt pathways. It seems the person or persons who did this intended this to take time; a stall tactic." Jamey turned his eyes back tot he terminal and continued, "Sometimes its a small encryption bit ... at other times its uses two huge prime numbers. Before I can stop the next encryption, the private key is destroyed. Each pathway in turn uses a different set of prime numbers ... thus the modulus is different."

Jamey looked at TEG and saw that this wasn't the info he wanted to hear. "I will stay with it sir, I'm writing a sub routine now that will search for the main virus code while I'm working on each pathway. Maybe I can stop the process that way then clean up from there."

"Continue with your work Commander Gaz, use the resources you need but don't allow that virus to spread to other systems"

"I understand Sir," As TEG left the core Jamey wiped the dripping perspiration from his face and returned to his work.

[Deleted]

TEG walked out of the Computer Core with a defeatist feeling on his chest. His friends, Kay and Hawk were missing (and it may have been is fault), more clues to the perpetrators were coming, but they were garbled and confusing, and even if they managed to find out what was going on or where to start looking, the Majesty didn't have the computer power to navigate out of a paper bag, let alone out of the the starbase and into open space. It was at this point that TEG felt unable to help. He glanced at the chronometer and realized that this investigation had been going on for 20 hours so far, Kay and Hawk could be half-way across the sector by now. TEG decided that to help the investigation the best, he should sleep then relieve someone from their duties when he gets up.

While sleeping, the same images go through TEG's mind... OP-46, Kay and Dr. Schmidt, Hawk and the Falconian Book, and a star imploding.