Mission 1: Doubled Trouble

[Kaylana Cornette]

As the meal ended, the dinner party was taken on a tour of the Administration building, which was more like a palace than a government facility. The Grand Basileus, Lambalu, was most attentive to Kay and it only served to make her uncomfortable as he fawned on her. As they moved onward through the tour, Lambalu placed his hand on the small of Kay’s back, guiding her through as he laboriously explained the architecture. At another point of interest, he hooked her arm in his, no easy task for either of them as he was over a foot taller than she. Kay inwardly cringed at each touch. She wasn’t someone who was given to demonstrative acts of affection and the touchy-feely Lambalu was making her increasingly uneasy. Her intuition told her he was disingenuous and his cordiality only an attempt to cover up… something… by distracting her.

In the midst of Lambalu’s long-winded description of a large hanging tapestry, Kay’s comm. badge chirped. Excusing herself from the tour, Kay answered it. She couldn’t understand the incoming message which seemed to come in intermittent bursts. She tried sending a message, but had no idea if it was being received. Hopefully, it was enough of a message to establish they were alive and well. On her end, what she did get from the Rainier was garbled and piecemeal. And she was able to discern it was bad news.

She rejoined the tour and somehow maintained her façade of trying to look interested. Finally, they reached the end of a long corridor. Kay was relieved thinking the tour was over and she could request a quiet room for the landing party to rest in and discuss their options. The end of the corridor, however, was actually a door which swung open to reveal a resplendent garden.

Lambalu continued, “I think you will find it interesting that our horticulturalists have perfected a grafting technique that ensures a bountiful crop of succulent cucumbers, a delicacy among…”

“I’m sorry to interrupt you, Grand Basileus,” Kay said as graciously as she could, “But I have just learned we will be staying here longer than anticipated. And, since we will have time for the garden tour later, I think my comrades and I would benefit more from a short rest period.”

Lambalu looked at her sternly, evaluating the motives behind her request. It was clear he wasn’t used to anyone denying him anything. His eyes narrowed, “Of course. My attendants will show you to a room,” he said with a note of contempt. Then, his face suddenly brightened as he took on his smarmy style of earlier. Taking Kay’s hand in a grand manner, he kissed the back of it lightly. “We will have plenty of time now to get to know each other better.”

He looked up at Kay with an expectation in his eyes which made Kay think she was supposed to thank him for the hand kiss. She did somehow manage a smile at him. When he got nothing further, he gathered up his massive robes and strode off regally, Ambassador Oxill and his staff following him dutifully.


Happy to be away from Lambalu, the away team gathered together in a small but comfortable room. Kay immediately went to see how the Doctor was doing.

“I could tell you were in discomfort back there, but since you seemed to be handling it, I reasoned you could tough it out till we were alone. Are you alright?”

<Holsen>

“I know that Doctors also make the worst patients. Is there anyway I can still order you to take care of yourself?” Kay helped her wrap a support bandage around her wrist. Finishing the task, she helped Lorna lie down on a nearby pile of pillows. Her body needed to have time to heal from the strange toxins ingested at dinner.

“The storms are interfering with communications,” she told the group dispiritedly. “It’s affecting transporters too. I guess we’re stuck here for a while.” She gave a good-natured shrug. “But, on the bright side, we don’t have to listen to Lambalu explain the detailed pollination facets of the Ghelzakian cucumber.”

<Holsen, Chan, Johnson>

Quietly, the door to the room opened. A contingent of ‘servants’ ushered in a much-changed Ambassador Oxill then, to his relief, closed the door after him. He entered into the room, his body bent with worry, contradicting his colossal height. Sheepishly he approached Cornette.

“I am sorry to disturb you during your rest.” His eyes darted from one face to another, always avoiding the steady gaze of Kaylana. “I… do not know how to say this without appearing to be out of my mind.” He shifted his feet and Kay thought he was readying to bolt out the door without saying anything.

She tried to reassure him. “We will try to help you, whatever it is.”

Mustering his strength, he began, speaking haltingly and fearfully. “I am telling you this because I cannot breathe a word of my suspicions to anyone here on my staff – or within my government.” He looked around worriedly once again. “I am sure that the Grand Basileus is an imposter.”

Kay studied the Ambassador incredulously. “How can you be certain?”

“Many things tell me he is not the real one. The Grand Basileus Lambalu would never touch me… or anyone.” Oxill’s brow ridge was glowing more brightly as his anxiety grew. “And there has never been a rule against otherworlders using their technology here. Our society is one of simplicity, yes – but we have never forbidden others its usage.”

Kay was reluctant to openly agree with Oxill’s assumption, but she could see a pattern evolving which supported his hypothesis. If Lambalu were not who he claimed to be, that would explain his static-colored brow ridge and her intuition that he was covering up something. And if Oxill was right about the use of technology, it made perfect sense that an imposter wouldn’t want a stray scan to reveal his secret.

<Holsen, Chan, Johnson>

[Lorna Holsen]

The rest of the meal proceeded without any more interruptions. Lorna was feeling distracted not just by the pain in her wrist but also by the build up of people outside. She ate sampling small amounts from several different dishes but not enough of any of them.

Lorna kept her arm tight against her side as the away team was taken on a diplomatic tour. She pasted a smile on her face and did her best to look interested in what was goin on around her. She could completely suppress a hiss when one of the other members of the away team moved past her and caught her wrist with his elbow.

“I’m sorry to interrupt you, Grand Basileus,” Kay said as graciously as she could, “But I have just learned we will be staying here longer than anticipated. And, since we will have time for the garden tour later, I think my comrades and I would benefit more from a short rest period.” Lorna heard Kay's words, she was definitely grateful for the short rest period but the fact that they were staying longer than planned probably meant something had happened shipside. Maybe the Rainer had even been called away... No point worrying though there was enough going on here to 'entertain' them.

“Of course. My attendants will show you to a room,” he said with a note of contempt. Then, his face suddenly brightened as he took on his smarmy style of earlier. Taking Kay’s hand in a grand manner, he kissed the back of it lightly. “We will have plenty of time now to get to know each other better.”
Lorna was grateful that it wasn't her being drooled over she didn't think she would have been to resist backhanding him injured wrist or not.

The away team was left in a small room on their own. Kay came over to Lorna's side.

“I could tell you were in discomfort back there, but since you seemed to be handling it, I reasoned you could tough it out till we were alone. Are you all right?” Lorna gave a wry smile. "Just peachy. It's just a sprain, I think." She held up her hand and flexed her fingers demonstrating a full range of motion even if some of her movements made her wince. "Nothings broken I'm pretty sure of that and my hand is still functional even if it hurts." She shivered slightly even if the temperature in the room hadn't changed and there was no air movement. "And..." Lorna didn't really want to admit that she was further suffering. "I pretty sure that some of the chemicals in that meal weren't really suitable for ingestion by Betazoids. I haven't had anything worse than dizziness so far but I'm watching it, just wish i could have got a complete reading. Is everyone else feeling okay?"

Tag: rest of away team

“I know that Doctors also make the worst patients. Is there anyway I can still order you to take care of yourself?” "I'm stubborn not stupid." She smiled taking all sting out of her words. Kay helped her wrap a decidedly low-tech bandage around her wrist where it would help keep the swelling under control and provide a bit of protection against further knock and bumps. She carefully pulled her sleeve down over the bandage. It stuck out a bit but wasn't obvious unless you were looking for it. Lorna acquiesced to Kay's insistence that she lay down.

"So how did we get lucky enough to stay longer?" She asked.

“The storms are interfering with communications,” Kay told the group dispiritedly. “It’s affecting transporters too. I guess we’re stuck here for a while.” She gave a good-natured shrug. “But, on the bright side, we don’t have to listen to Lambalu explain the detailed pollination facets of the Ghelzakian cucumber.”

Lorna smiled at the comment. Then looked over as the door opened. She stayed silent and watched the tableau unfold
“I am sure that the Grand Basileus is an imposter.”

Kay studied the Ambassador incredulously. “How can you be certain?”

“Many things tell me he is not the real one. The Grand Basileus Lambalu would never touch me… or anyone.” Oxill’s brow ridge was glowing more brightly as his anxiety grew. “And there has never been a rule against otherworlders using their technology here. Our society is one of simplicity, yes – but we have never forbidden others its usage.”

Lorna heard the words but it took a while for them to percolate into her brain perhaps whatever had been in lunch was affecting her more than she had thought. If the Grand Basileus was an imposter than the changes would certain aid the cover up.

She looked over at Kay knowing that she more than the other officers in the away team was aware of Lorna's empathic talents limited as they were maybe they would be useful but she wasn't sure if she should say anything. She had done a bit of investigative work but had never really been a team member on those jobs. Kay knew a bit about that too, Lorna wasn't sure how much about her covert work the other officer had learned, again now probably wasn't the best time to mention it. Lorna stayed where she was and stayed silent waiting to take her cue from what the others did next.

[Deleted]

Crewman third class Geshav sh'Pozhov studied her tricorder, her antennae frozen in place. She glanced up to where she'd last seen the other members of her team but they were gone. "Commander?" she called out, hoping that either Apirana or Hope would answer. It was getting colder, and the sun was starting to set. Many anomalies had been recorded as the teams had lost track of time, and of eachother.

The Andorian junior scientist had remained very close to the first officer but eventually had lost sight of her. "Commander?" she called again, waving her tricorder about in the hope of finding a trace of her fellow away-team members.

---

S'reena had followed her 'buddy' around for a while, occasionally looking up towards the sky and then back to her tricorder, and of course occasionally peeking up to see if her buddy was still here. Her sharp hearing picked up the voice of a woman calling her name, but she couldn't see her. Since it was getting dark, S'reena required the use of her palm-light as, despite having received the necessary surgery to be able to see again, it hadn't cured her pre-existing condition of being night-blind.

"Crewman?" she called back, stepping over a protrusion from the ground just in time after stumbling over another one only a second before. "Commander Apirana?" she called out, eyes on her tricorder again. She had stopped reading anything minutes before. Anything, other than those dratted anomalies, which she was certain of now, were man-made. "Pozhov, report!" she called out, having recalled the woman's name now.

The Romulan glanced up, reaching to brush a branch aside as she made her way back to the clearing they'd beamed down to. She gasped as she felt soil give way under her feet, then cried out in surprise as she slid down a tunnel and landed hard several meters down. "Pozhov!" she called out, glancing up while wiping her long hair from her face. Her tricorder cast an eerie glow on her face as she held it out, scanning her surroundings.

---

Geshev ran at full speed, using all her senses to locate the origin of the commander's voice. "Commander, call to me!"

"Watch your step, treacherous grounds!" S'reena shouted back, her voice echoing up the shaft. She had tried climbing up but each time her hands and feet lost their hold and she fell back down. "I'm down here! Go find Captain Cornette, and have TEG find a way to get me out of here! Get him to find the rest of the team too, they can't have disappeared!"

"I'm not leaving you here by yourself ma'am," the young Andorian called down, kneeling by the edge of the deep gap in the ground.

"I gave you an order crewman! Snap to it!"

Stricken, the Andorian glanced down. "Are you injured?"

"Negative crewman, just bruised and scraped. Now GO!"

Geshev scrambled to her feet and ran off, towards the buildings she knew Cornette was entertaining the diplomats, if one could call it that. "Captain!" she cried out, bursting into the room, "captain!"

Panting for breath the young scientist skidded to a halt before Cornette and the alien diplomats and their entourage. "Captain, we've lost sight of the science team ma'am. We were scanning and Commander Hope ordered us to go off in pairs and then there was fog and..." She was breathing heavily offering her tricorder with trembling hand. "I can't find Commander Apirana ma'am, I can't find anyone. All my tricorder reads are the anomalies...and then I heard Commander Hope and she fell and she can't get out.."

The Andorian was babbling, talking so fast it was any wonder if anyone could make any sense of it at all. "She told me to find you and said that TEG, I mean Commander TEG should scan for the team members and get her out and.."

(tag Cornette.......hope this helps ya along ;-))

[Paikea Apirana]

Hoping to find the answer to their problem within a few hours, Paikea actively scanned all the area. Within minutes of the away teams beginning the scans, the weather uncharacteristically began to change. At that moment, Paikea's belief that the weather anomalies were being controlled had now been confirmed.

"Crewmen, are you getting the same readings that I am?" Paikea asked of the crewman that he had been paired up with. When there was no response, Paikea took his eyes off of his tricorder and turned around. It was at that time that he realized that he was alone only encompassed by a thick and dense fog.

"Apirana to any members of the away team, please respond," Paikea said as he tapped his commbadge. Unfortunately all Pai heard was static and even though he was a well trained Starfleet officer he felt a chill run down his spine. After taking a moment to collect his thoughts and wits, Paikea took his tricorder and began to scan once again.

"Whoever is controlling them is not from this planet," Paikea said to no one in particular. The anomalies were so concentrated that he even doubted the Federation had such technology. Feeling that his scientific curiosity would need to take a back step to finding the away team, Pai stopped scanning and began yelling hoping that one of the away team members would hear him.

[Kaylana Cornette]

Her breath still coming in short gasps, crewman Pozhov was barely understandable. The gist of it, Kay ascertained, was that the science team had gotten separated and Commander Hope had fallen and couldn’t ‘get out’.

“Slow down, crewman,” Kay said, calming her. Cornette glanced at the tricorder Pozhov had shoved under her nose earlier. She took it from the crewman’s hands and scanned for lifesigns. Nothing registered, not even the occupants of the room. “I’m not reading anything. Maybe there’s something in the building that’s interfering.” She switched it to a wide scan. It was sporadically reading the weather anomalies, but nothing more.

Cornette moved to where the Doctor was resting, but Holsen was already rising from her repose. “I regret having to ask you, but do you think you can make it to Commander Hope?”

<Holsen>

Turning to Chan, Kay noticed she was already preparing herself and her team to head out. “Commander Chan, make sure everyone stays together. You obviously can’t rely on tricorders to find each other should you be separated.”

<Chan>

Ambassador Oxill was eager to help them and offered to go along. “I know the terrain surrounding this area. I can make sure you avoid falling into any crevices or sink holes.”

Everyone seemed ready, so Kay gave the go ahead to head out, Pozhov leading the way with Cornette at her heels.

Upon reaching the doorway, however, two servants blocked their egress, standing shoulder to shoulder.

“What’s this? Why are you keeping us here?” Kay impatiently demanded the two stoic guards. Each moment that ticked by may be crucial in saving the Commander’s life and the lives of the science team. She wasn’t in the mood to be diplomatic anymore. They offered no answer.

Just then, the two guards parted. Kay was about to trudge through when the Grand Basileus confronted her.

“Captain Cornette, Chief Diplomat, I cannot allow you to leave.” He sneered at her.

Exercising the utmost restraint, Kay politely protested. “Grand Basileus, we have several science team members who are lost and one who is injured. We are on our way to find them and help…”

“We were not informed of another group of otherworlders!” he snapped, his eyes flashing with anger. “Why did you hide the fact others were here? What gave you the right to spy and interfere?”

“I’m sorry… “ Kay fumbled a bit. “I assumed we had all been cleared for our visit.” She eyed Oxill for some hint of help. Thankfully, he stepped up.

“Your Excellency, it was I who authorized the personnel admitted to our world. Once the storms were discovered, the Rainier offered their knowledgeable people to find the cause.”

“Quiet!” Lambalu ordered and Oxill awkwardly shrank back. “We do not need their assistance! We do not want their assistance!” He glowered at them. “You are not welcome here anymore. I want all of you to leave immediately.”

“Believe me, nothing would please me more,” Kay said, stepping forward and matching his tone. “But, aside from the fact we can't transport out, we have shipmates out there who need help and we aren’t leaving without them.”

The two stood toe to toe, silently posturing for several seconds as Kay planted her comparatively diminutive body squarely in front of his gargantuan one. The tension was thick as everyone waited to see which one would back down – or which would strike first for the jugular.

Suddenly, Lambalu smiled menacingly. “You have no authority here, yet you make demands.” He moved around her as he continued, circling her like prey. “However, I am feeling quite generous today,” he said, leering at her in a most uncomfortable way.“ I will let you go and find your lost personnel, but you,” he sneered at Kay, “will stay here with me.”

Kay understood. She was collateral; a willing hostage to ensure the rest of the team did as he wanted. “Wonderful,” she said acerbically, “I was hoping to get a look at those cucumbers of yours.” She glared at him with a sardonic smile.

He smiled back knowingly at her. “My servants will accompany your people to assist them in their search,” Lambalu said, dispatching a guard for each member of Kay’s team. Kay had to wonder why he was still bothering to veil his seething anger with cordiality.

Lorna looked worriedly at Kay. Cornette gave the Doctor a reassuring half nod and waved the rest of the team off.

Watching them leave her, Kaylana privately hoped they would be back for her soon. She knew it would be a while. Communications were still down and the Rainier had no idea their situation had suddenly turned dire.

[Lorna Holsen]

Her breath still coming in short gasps, crewman Pozhov was barely understandable. The gist of it, Kay ascertained, was that the science team had gotten separated and Commander Hope had fallen and couldn’t ‘get out’.

“Slow down, crewman,” Kay said, calming her. Cornette glanced at the tricorder Pozhov had shoved under her nose earlier. She took it from the crewman’s hands and scanned for lifesigns. Nothing registered, not even the occupants of the room. “I’m not reading anything. Maybe there’s something in the building that’s interfering.” She switched it to a wide scan. It was sporadically reading the weather anomalies, but nothing more. Lorna's gaze flicked from the panicking crewman to Kay and then back again. She had heard what was going on and the site of another person waving a tricorder around was hopeful for checking out exactly what was wrong with her. Lorna sat up slowly and was gratified to find that the world didn't spin as she moved. This was a step in the right direction, it seemed she was over the worst of it.

Kay moved in her direction “I regret having to ask you, but do you think you can make it to Commander Hope?”

"Most likely, I have quite a lot of experience in rescue work and can pull a few tricks with a tricorder that should help. Please" She held out a hand and was pleased when she was passed a tricorder, it wasn't a medical tricorder of course but you could do a lot with one of these. Particularly if you knew who or more specifically what you were looking for. Commander Hope (and the rest of the away team) wasn't native to this bio system and that meant that if you knew precisely what you were looking for you could narrow the scope of your search and thus increase the focus...

She fiddled as efficiently as she was able cursing the dizziness came over her if she squinted too hard. She could hear the rest of the team talking but blanked them out. If she could hold a laser scalpel still when the red alert sirens went off in the middle of surgery she could do this now.

When they were ready the team moved off Lorna slipped the tricorder inside her winter coat determined not to let them get this one off her. She was sure her heart skipped a beat when the Grand Basileus appeared in the corridor. Lorna kept her head down and surreptitiously started scanning for exits and cover just in case.

Kay understood. She was collateral; a willing hostage to ensure the rest of the team did as he wanted. “Wonderful,” she said acerbically, “I was hoping to get a look at those cucumbers of yours.” She glared at him with a sardonic smile.

He smiled back knowingly at her. “My servants will accompany your people to assist them in their search,” Lambalu said, dispatching a guard for each member of Kay’s team. Kay had to wonder why he was still bothering to veil his seething anger with cordiality. Again Lorna was impressed that Kay had kept her temper, and was willing to go along as a hostage. Lorna had seen the situation before. Been the hostage but that had sorta been planned and the hostage taker hadn't been aware that she was armed at the time.

Lorna looked worriedly at Kay. Kay gave a half nod that seemed to be reassuring. Lorna hoped she had a plan. The ret of the away team and their assigned helpers/guards headed off. Lorna was making a list of ways to disable her guard in a manner that didn't mean she had to fix them up again later, that got annoying.

The icy wind hit them as they exited the building. Lorna scanned the area carefully. The away team broke into its prearranged groups each knowing the direction they would go in and when they would met back here. Lorna and one of the security detail and their assigned 'helpers' headed off into the snow.

[Kaylana Cornette]

Lambalu drew in closely to Kay. “Now that we are alone, why not tell me your real purpose in visiting Ghelzak IV?”

She turned away from him and moved to a nearby table adorned with an expensive looking glass vase. “Purely to escort your ambassadorial representative here and nothing more,” Kay said blandly, studying the vase.

“I do not believe you.” The Grand Basileus’ tone wasn’t angry or accusatory. He simply was stating what he believed to be fact.

This may be her first diplomatic mission, but it felt in every way like a confrontation with a hostile race to Kay. She was drawing more from her command skills now than diplomacy. “I don’t care if you believe me or not,” she answered nonchalantly.

Lambalu’s eyes flashed as he moved quickly toward her, his great bulk of robes bumping the table and sending the beautiful vase tumbling to the floor. The shattering of glass didn’t deter his advance toward her. He grabbed her arm hard causing Kay to wince involuntarily. He bent low and growled close to her ear. “You would care if you understood what we are capable of doing.”

He scoffed derisively. “You and your Federation – you think you are so superior. You are as easy to conquer as insects!” The pressure he applied to her arm grew as he spoke and Kaylana inadvertently exhaled a tiny whimper. Her acknowledgement of the pain he’d inflicted satisfied him enough that he loosened his grip.

She defiantly wrenched her arm free. “Some insects can inflict a deadly sting when provoked.”

Lambalu laughed loudly. “Your arrogance is unbelievable! Look around you – you have no one here to protect you.”

“So, who are you?” Kay asked, thinking she had just laid her trump card on the table.

Lambalu smirked. “Since you will not be rejoining your ship, I will tell you. At least, I will tell you what your limited mind can understand,” he said, giving her a haughty look of contempt. “All you really need know is that we are your inevitable rulers.”

“If you know anything about the races that make up the Federation, then you would know we aren’t conquered easily,” Kay said with a haughtiness of her own.

He ignored her sassy retort. “This is not our first encounter with the human species,” Lambalu told her. “Your anatomy has been dissected, your thought patterns and social interactions analyzed – all citizens of your Federation have been acutely studied and successfully replicated.”

Kay pressed him further. “And who are you?”

“A race beyond your comprehension composed of elements you do not understand that live in a realm of space you cannot enter - without our technology.”

“Every living being has an Achilles’ heel,” Kay murmured.

“A what?” Lambalu cocked his head slightly.

”Good,” thought Kay, “there are nuances to the human culture he’s unfamiliar with.” “I was wondering aloud how you think you can pull this off. And why begin here on Ghelzak IV?”

“This planet and the inhabitants were inconspicuous, yet significant enough to garner access to influential positions in the Federation," he said. "We have been ready for some time to begin our strategic replacement of key Federation personnel. The Ambassador was sent out to establish contact and then return here for replacement. We were expecting a slow and measured invasion. Your arrival here has expedited our plans; quite advantageous, actually.” He walked through the broken shards of glass on the floor and the crunching sound set Kay’s teeth on edge.

His demeanor was overly calm, which gave his words a more sinister quality. “Some of your comrades will be replaced." He bent to pick up a large piece of the broken vase. "Those who aren’t replaced will be eliminated.” He held up the shard of glass conspicuously. “My servants have been instructed to make their deaths look like accidents – a fall off of a precipice. With the weather conditions as they are, who would question a misstep on our treacherous terrain?” He let the piece of glass fall from his hand and crash to the floor splintering it into thousands of tiny fragments.

Kay thought of Oxill and how he had said he would guide the landing party away from any dangers. She could only hope her team would be able to listen to him.

Lambalu prattled on. “The fall of your other officer set up our ruse nicely.” He paused then gave her a sideways glance. “And you – you will be replaced.”

“Replaced?”

He clarified for her. “A new Captain Cornette, Chief Diplomat, will go back to your ship and take your place. She will be an exact copy of you in every way. Not even your closest friends will suspect it is not you.”

“And I will be eliminated – killed – after I’m copied?” Kay asked matter-of-factly.

As his answer, Lambalu’s lips formed a pencil-thin smile.

“Why me?” Kay asked. “If you know anything about Starfleet, then you know I don’t hold a key position. In fact, quite the opposite.”

“As with any successful incursion, the more subtle the infiltration the better. Your low-level position suits our needs perfectly.”

“Thanks,” Kay added sarcastically.

The Grand Basileus seemed more sedate now that his secret was known; and his confidence was brimming. “Our permeation into the Federation will be accomplished quickly now.” He spread his arms in a grand gesture. “It was as if a great gift was dropped from the sky when you arrived here. My superiors will be very pleased with my progress and I have you to thank for it.”

Lambalu nodded to a servant at the far end of the room. The servant opened the door and two more men entered.

“Take our guest to sub-level two, section six,” he told the two muscular men. They obeyed each taking one of Kay's arms forcefully and dragging her away.

[Michael Aarons]

“…seemZzz… Zzz… We may have…Zzz… change… Rai… Zzz… hear mZzz?” They stood there, worried and hovering over the console.

“No. We can barely get your signal,” The replacement engineer pleaded into the comm. Stacey overlooked the conversation quietly; she knew her substitute engineer had better hearing than her and could more readily make out the glitchy conversation.

“You need tZzz… boozZz… sigZzZ gain… Do youZzzzZz” The others watched the lop-sided conversation. Losing communication with the ship was not good. Kaylana moved about in a vain hope for clarity.

“I can’t really make it out it. Can you still hear me? Oh, ugh.”

“There’s… noise and I can only… abouZzZz… half of what you… saying.” The more the air around Ghelzak swarmed with activity, less and less would it be possible to get anything clear through the channels leaving the away teams with little to no contact. Stacey stepped up with questions as to how they could get past this interference if only to clear up the signal.

“Passing it through the deflector would clear up things; it wouldn’t clear up the signal but it’d definitely get it through. But we’d have to redirect her toward the landing party’s location.” Stacey signaled the ship move into the proper position. Once again they tried to make contact.

The message crackled like an antique AM radio but they could make every out much better. “The planet is shrouding in storms and ionization caused by it. As this continues we won’t be able to beam you up so don’t expect us to bring you home.

Communications are already being affected but we’re working on that.”

“Recommend that you keep a track on us; never know when things are going to start getting bad, if they do.” The replacement looked to Stacey who nodded.

“Agreed.” The ship moved past the point and the feed was lost. Kaylana stood there weighing the situation. S’reena’s party hadn’t contacted them and it was unknown if they were experiencing the same problems.

"Captain!" she cried out, bursting into the room, "Captain!"

Panting for breath the young scientist skidded to a halt before Cornette and the alien diplomats and their entourage. "Captain, we've lost sight of the science team ma'am. We were scanning and Commander Hope ordered us to go off in pairs and then there was fog and..." She was breathing heavily offering her tricorder with trembling hand. "I can't find Commander Apirana ma'am, I can't find anyone. All my tricorder reads are the anomalies...and then I heard Commander Hope and she fell and she can't get out…”

The readouts on the away team positions were fuzzy; although it showed their locations, half of them were missing and it was hard to get a pinpoint on the exact location.

Staring didn’t seem to help the situation. Although the changes had been made, the desired goal still eluded him as Michael pondered the problem alone.

“Eck,” he groaned. Stroking lightly upon his chin, it suddenly occurred to him, he could stand to shave. Scrunching ever more his brow, he searched every notion in his brain to find an answer. “What would the Doctor do?” he thought aloud. The switch controlling the neutron polarity sat there out of the corner of his eye. “Surely not…” He didn’t know if he dared, but against all reasonable sense he turned the knob reversing the polarity. “Ha ha!” He was suddenly giddy as everything came together. “Alright, now we can begin testing.”

The wispy fog was a terror to navigate through as Cmdr. Apirana stumbled around down on the surface. The shadows were deceptive because what at first looked like a tree (which would make for a good reference marker) was instead just darker fog. He couldn’t even see the sky; or if he did, he couldn’t tell.

As he continued in the most logical direction he could determine, he was alarmed as the fog became denser and darker, but for one unique reason. As he got closer the reason became clearer: there was a big black door leading downward that appeared out of the fog. This was certainly a curious thing.

[Deleted]

OOC... Sorry for becoming disconnected from the storyline for awhile. This should bring me partially up-to-date. I will post the rest later.

IC... Planetside.

As the shimmering effect of the transporter ceased and the transporter room was cross-faded into the arctic-like surface of the planet below, Xin-Ling, who had not so much pleasure in wearing the cold-weather gear—more in anticipation of that cold than of not caring for the fact she did not wear the gear well, giving her, at least in her own eyes, a decidedly penguin-like look. She had been certain more than one junior officer had looked at her on the transporter pad with that similarity running through their minds. She voiced no complaint about her appearance, but silently wished Mr. Aarons had consulted with her briefly about the design before completing his project.

However, when the away-team arrived near the administration building, her distaste for the avian design evaporated in the new feeling of appreciation for the warmth the gear provided. Growing up in Southeast Asia gave her an appreciation for warmth. She brushed a stray lock of hair from of her eyes, which had decided to assert itself and its ability to travel wherever it wanted in the winds.

Try as she might in the second chamber, she could not sweep from her mind the scene from the classic Wonderful Wizard of Oz from 1939, and any moment expected some disembodied voice to bellow, “I am Oz, the Great and Terrible; who are you, and why do you seek me?” The slightest ghost of a smile forming on her lips, she wondered how her shipmates might react if she were to make that announcement.

She did, however, enjoy the beauty of the architecture and paintings, though she would of course have preferred maritime scenes to agricultural ones.

At the sight of the small figure on the raised platform, she thought, “Ah! The little man behind the curtain!”

At Kay’s signal to her, the Asian Warrior gave a small, nearly imperceptible nod, and readied her missiles, should she need them, but it turned out they were not needed—at least, not yet.

The next room held an elaborate table which was heavy with food and fanciful decorations, but had no real order. The table itself was low to the ground with pillows for seating. There were no utensils. Instead, thin flat wooden sticks resembling small paddles were pre-set in empty bowls. …

Nothing looked particularly appetizing but Kay couldn’t refuse …. Forcing a smile, she scraped at it with her flattened ‘chopstick’ and, after much effort, trapped it then quickly shot it in her mouth. …

Swallowing hard, Kay looked to her comrades. “Delicious. You all must try some!” she said emphasizing the words ‘all’ and ‘must’. ...

At the veiled command to partake of the celebration, Xin-Ling took a seat at one of the pillows. She noted the flattened “chopsticks” with gratitude, certain she would have no trouble using them. It had been the common method of eating in her parents’ family. Ambassador Cornette’s difficulty with the “chopsticks”, however, she found amusing.

Holsen, bored beyond endurance but trying not to appear so, casually reached for her medical tricorder, thinking she might get a discreet scan or two. Suddenly, several servants who had been standing quietly around the room, pounced on her, wrenching it from her hands.

As the servants moved upon Dr. Holsen, Xin-Ling readied herself, but avoided moving as yet until she could see if there was an actual threat against the doctor’s person. As there was none, she did not chose to spring into action, since this was, after all, a diplomatic mission.

The last and arguably the most important area was the industrial and farming area, the largest of the districts it was where ninety percent of food was grown and farmed and was the only area that had any manufacturing capability. Inside one such manufacturing warehouse that had been deserted for the last few months a bright silver light flashed, it went unseen by the citizens as they walked past the boarded up building. The walls inside the normally darkened building walls were now illuminated by a silvery light emanating from seemingly floating portal.

She had noticed these manufacturing warehouses before, as the industrial/farming boarder was adjacent to the locale of the administrative building they had entered, but at the time thought little of it, until the explanation of the natives’ disdain for machinery was mentioned. While it could be legitimate, still, it merited attention, she thought. After all, why would there be a need for industry if the citizenry of this planet were industriophobic?

Lambalu looked at [Kay] sternly, evaluating the motives behind her request. It was clear he wasn’t used to anyone denying him anything. His eyes narrowed, “Of course. My attendants will show you to a room,” he said with a note of contempt. Then, his face suddenly brightened as he took on his smarmy style of earlier. Taking Kay’s hand in a grand manner, he kissed the back of it lightly. “We will have plenty of time now to get to know each other better.”

As Lambalu left the away team, the suspicions of the Security Chief rose. Something about his facial expressions spoke of something far more sinister than a simple romantic rebuff. Xin-Ling would have to keep her eye on this one!

“The storms are interfering with communications,” [Kay] told the group dispiritedly. “It’s affecting transporters too. I guess we’re stuck here for a while.” She gave a good-natured shrug. “But, on the bright side, we don’t have to listen to Lambalu explain the detailed pollination facets of the Ghelzakian cucumber.” .”

”I would honestly like more if he would talk of sailing,” Xin-Ling quipped. “Farming is not my happy-thing. Give me good sea-tale anytime.”

"I pretty sure that some of the chemicals in that meal weren't really suitable for ingestion by Betazoids. I haven't had anything worse than dizziness so far but I'm watching it, just wish i could have got a complete reading. Is everyone else feeling okay?"

“I feel fine, other than taste buds protest like pirates.”

“Many things tell me he is not the real one. The Grand Basileus Lambalu would never touch me… or anyone.” Oxill’s brow ridge was glowing more brightly as his anxiety grew. “And there has never been a rule against otherworlders using their technology here. Our society is one of simplicity, yes – but we have never forbidden others its usage.”

This made perfect sense and supported the uneasy feeling she had felt for some time. So it was not just the Ambassador and herself, but a native–one high in government–also doubted the genuineness of Lambalu. Xin-Ling’s eyes narrowed. Far more important at the moment than who he actually was the question: what covert operations was he trying to keep under wraps?

[Deleted]

OOC... The second “catch up” posting.…

“Commander Chan, make sure everyone stays together. You obviously can’t rely on tricorders to find each other should you be separated.” … Ambassador Oxill was eager to help them and offered to go along. “I know the terrain surrounding this area. I can make sure you avoid falling into any crevices or sink holes.”

As there were several security people who had beamed to the planet’s surface as members of the away team, Xin-Ling had already begun preparing her unit as to who would accompany whom when the need should arise if Kay later decided upon the need to split the party, though for now the order was to remain together. She had communicated to each of her people his assignment as to which group of the away team he would accompany upon the need to split ranks.

She was glad the ambassador desired to come along and offered his help to steer clear of any treacherous ground.

The two stood toe to toe, silently posturing for several seconds as Kay planted her comparatively diminutive body squarely in front of his gargantuan one. … Suddenly, Lambalu smiled menacingly. “You have no authority here, yet you make demands.” …. “However, I am feeling quite generous today,” he said, leering at her in a most uncomfortable way.“ I will let you go and find your lost personnel, but you,” he sneered at Kay, “will stay here with me.

“My servants will accompany your people to assist them in their search,” Lambalu said, dispatching a guard for each member of Kay’s team.

Xin-Ling took careful notice of the situation as it developed, covertly prepared to spring into action if Kay required it, but let her guard down somewhat when the Grand Basileus acquiesced. Still, she did not like his attitude, and Kay’s decision to stay behind caused her not a little concern.

As she was standing near Kay, she spoke sotto voce, “Do you want one of security to remain with you?” Kay shook her head, and at Ambassador Cornette’s command, Xin-Ling and her security team moved out with the others, the CTSO uneasily leaving Kay to her “tour”.

Xin-Ling pulled her cold weather gear around her, yet couldn’t shake the sensation a part of her shivering was related more to the current situation than to the climate. She took heart in the fact her people were well trained, and likely could handle any attack from the “escorts” the Grand Basileus had assigned to them. As to her own group of potential opponents who kept an eye upon the group to which she was assigned, as long as she kept attentive, her group’s “escorts” should not be a problem. Doubtless the potential enemy was very formidable, as any palatial guard would be the elite of the military—but she was an elite fighter also.

[SA. Stacey Jackson [Ret]]

It had come in faster than any storm he had ever encountered, which admittedly growing up on Earth with it’s weather control devices was very few. The snow and wind made it hard to see more than a few meters away, he couldn’t see or hear any others in the away team he had beamed down with either.

Sighing as he struggled against the wind and snow trying to get readings with his tricorder Palmer snapped it shut and stowed it back in his belt, some strange form of interference was getting in the way.

He walked for another ten minutes before he suddenly stopped, looking down at his feet he barely made out a hole in the ground had he not happened to see it he would have surely fell down. Laying on his stomach he peered his head over the side and spotted a person a few meters down. The faint red he could make out made him guess it was Commander Hope.

“Commander!.. Are you alright?” he called down squinting to try and get a better look at her.

<Tag Hope>

“I can’t see anything that I can use to get you up.. if I leave I probably won’t find this again.. Oh brilliant.” He suddenly said as he reached for his phaser. Pointing it above his head he fired in short bursts. Continuing to do so every few seconds. “Somebody is bound to see it and investigate.. hopefully we can get you out of there before long.. And it’s Palmer, Richard E.. Serial number four seven nine six two F… you know for my commendation.. I prefer one in gold actually.”

<Tag Hope/ other away team members>

** Bridge – USS Rainier **

The communication had been lost with both teams now, The storm had engulfed the city and neither teams signals were able to penetrate the interference. Stacey couldn’t move the ship any closer this class of ship wasn’t designed to enter an atmosphere, Taking a deep breath she looked at the screen. The location where the city should be on the planet now clouded in white almost beautiful clouds.

The bridge was relatively silent, people had their eyes fixed on the scans or the communications readouts in case any signal did manage to cut through interference however unlikely it was.

She turned and pressed the console on the side of her chair. “Commander Aarons, get that shuttle of yours ready for flight within the next hour.. if this storm doesn’t clear up soon we may need it.”

<Tag Aarons>

“Let’s hope it is as fancy as you claim it to be Jackson out.”

[Deleted]

“Commander!.. Are you alright?” he called down squinting to try and get a better look at her.

S'reena squinted up, shielding her eyes against Palmer's palmlight. "I'm fine, a little bruised but nothing broken I think. Nothing but my pride anyway, I think...can you get me out of here?" She could barely make out his silouette against the light, her eyes too sensitive against the bright light, yet incapable of seeing anything in the dark.

“I can’t see anything that I can use to get you up.. if I leave I probably won’t find this again.. Oh brilliant.” He suddenly said as he reached for his phaser. Pointing it above his head he fired in short bursts. Continuing to do so every few seconds. “Somebody is bound to see it and investigate.. hopefully we can get you out of there before long.. And it’s Palmer, Richard E.. Serial number four seven nine six two F… you know for my commendation.. I prefer one in gold actually.”

The Romulan smiled, though the man above very likely couldn't see. "I would hug you if you got me out of here Richard," she answered as she sank back down to the ground. Though the ground was frigid it was more comfortable than remaining standing and craning her neck. "I could send Auric out but she wouldn't find me either. Richard, how well do you know morse code? Perhaps you could use your phaser to send out bursts that might be recognised as a message. Perhaps Commander TEG might be able to use ship's sensors to find me, and anyone else who is lost."

"I admit Ma'am I missed that lesson in the academy, well lesson's really." He continued firing up the short bursts. "But in any case I am sure morse code or not a phaser being fired into the air is bound to attract attention." He shrugged his shoulders as he said. "You know it is kind of ironic.. all this time I knew you on El Salvador while you were blind I didn't once know you to trip over or fall down.. and now you have your sight back first mission you end up in a hole."

<Tag Timely rescue>

[Lorna Holsen]

Sickbay - USS Rainer

Cris Lieder was actually having a slow day, there was a gentle trickle of minor injuries, cuts, burns bruises; nothing serious and nothing traumatic. She wondered how her wife was doing planetside. As no one had contacted sickbay things were probably going all right.

=/\=Attention medical staff Protocol Holsen 3 2 is now activated=/\=

The computer's clipped tone cut through the quiet of sickbay. Cris muttered under her breath she, like the rest of the medical staff knew exactly what Protocol Holsen 3 2 meant. It was one of Lorna's way's of keeping her staff sharp. It would only go off when sickbay was quiet enough and would cut out either after an hour, or when the ship went to alert status, or when a serious injury was brought in, or when the person in charge of sickbay ordered it gone. The last time it had gone off Lorna herself had been on duty and had let it run 55 minutes until it had cut off due the arrival of an engineering tech with plasma burns.

Under protocol Holsen 3 2 the universal translator was off in sickbay. Cris knew the story of why Lorna had started doing this to her medical team Dyraxis III, ion storms, mass casualties, most of their equipment on the fritz. It hadn't been pretty. Thus, every so often the UT was turned off to ensure that the medical staff could communicate with each other no matter what happened.

Cris looked around checking off who was on duty, she knew she had it easier that some of the others; her planet hopping child hood meant that she was fluent in several languages and could make herself understood in several others. Still it had been a learning curve for the whole medical staff. 'And', Cris reflected as she continued with her duties 'it would certainly make the shift more interesting.'

****************************************************

Planetside

Lorna and the trio of people with her made their way across the snowscape. Lorna had initially managed to get some intermittent readings of Romulan life signs but nothing strong enough to get a proper lock on to. Still it had given them a general direction to head in. Lorna hoped she was imagining the weather getting worse as they ploughed onward.

Lorna thought she saw a flash of light a head of her. As she stared the blue glowing line reappeared. She waved attracting Ensign Hamaz's attention. "Someone's over there firing a phaser." Lorna tried to get an accurate reading of distance the data presented wasn't at all helpful so she simply headed that way. She was pretty sure that the repeated phaser shots were someone attempting to send a signal but it was possible that someone was being attacked. She had her phaser in hand as she approached.

She saw where the shooting was coming from. They were definitely shooting over their head. Signal then. Lorna let herself relax a little. She screwed her eyes up against the wind and snow trying to make out the figure. "Lieutenant Palmer is that you?" She shouted. "It's Doctor Holsen. Is everything all right?"

Tag: Palmer

He pointed the light down the hole, Lorna could see Commander Hope quite clearly. "We'll get you out of there Commander" Lorna said. She went to one knee to reduce her chance of over balancing and lent forwards which put her head out of the wind so she didn't need to shout so much. "What got hurt on the way down?" She knew how much S'reena liked sickbays and actually given the injuries the other woman had received over the years Lorna was surprised. There were no obvious injuries, all her limbs were pointing in the correct direction and had the right number of bends in them. But there was most likely some injury and there was no way Lorna wanted to put pressure on that when they S'reena out of the hole.

Tag: S'reena

[Paikea Apirana]

Feeling that he was not making any progress in finding his crew mates or a safe location, Paikea took a few minutes to find his bearings. If it wasn't for his martial arts training, Paikea would have likely fallen and hurt himself in the rugged landscape.

"Getting lost on a strange planet sucks," Paikea said as he sat down and sulked about his situation. At that moment, Paikea thought about his parents and what they would think if they saw him give up on a difficult situation. It was at that moment, that he saw something off in the distance and he as almost a hundred percent positive that it was phaser fire.

Almost instantly, Paikea got off of his butt and raced towards the phaser fire. Even if they weren't his crew mates, it would mean that he would no longer be alone and lost. It took Pai a good fifteen minutes to cover approximately two and a half miles and by that time the phaser fire had ended.

"Well lets hope they can see mine and respond," Paikea said out loud as he took his phaser and fired overhead in hopes that someone would respond back and help him find his crew mates.

[Deleted]

"I admit Ma'am I missed that lesson in the academy, well lesson's really." He continued firing up the short bursts. "But in any case I am sure morse code or not a phaser being fired into the air is bound to attract attention." He shrugged his shoulders as he said. "You know it is kind of ironic.. all this time I knew you on El Salvador while you were blind I didn't once know you to trip over or fall down.. and now you have your sight back first mission you end up in a hole."

"Morse code is quite useful," S'reena answered slowly, peering up at the young officer. "Send three short bursts up, then three longer one, and then three short ones again. While I agree that phaser fire in general will indeed get attention, a specific patter will do more so." The Romulan shivered, the fog falling so deep it now too feel into the hole she'd fallen into, almost obscuring her companion from view.

She hugged her arms around herself, occasionally rubbing her arms or move her fingers. She was so cold... It helped that Palmer kept talking to her, and she realised he'd asked her a question which she'd taken quite some time to answer now. "I tripped often enough," she ensured the young man, "just not for everyone to see. Just ask Commodore Savot, or even Commander Jackson, they might actually confirm it. They won't deny it to protect my pride, both are too honest for that." She paused again, letting a long silence fall, though her sharp hearing picked up footsteps. Briefly, wonder filled her mind, wonder about where her small companion might be. "Palmer, have you seen Auric? I've not seen her since I fell in..." She didn't remember that Auric was right there with her, now lying curled up in a corner, safely tucked away, and ready to move when her bondmate was, provided some wamth would be provided first. The little gold chirped softly almost sleepily, but the sound went unnoticed by the Romulan.

[Tag Palmer]


"We'll get you out of there Commander" Lorna said. She went to one knee to reduce her chance of over balancing and lent forwards which put her head out of the wind so she didn't need to shout so much. "What got hurt on the way down?" She knew how much S'reena liked sickbays and actually given the injuries the other woman had received over the years Lorna was surprised. There were no obvious injuries, all her limbs were pointing in the correct direction and had the right number of bends in them. But there was most likely some injury and there was no way Lorna wanted to put pressure on that when they S'reena out of the hole.

"I had a hard fall, I think I'm pretty bruised and I don't believe I've broken anything," S'reena replied, her voice quavering a little as she spoke. She had sat down along the way, curling up to preserve as much body heat as possible. Frost covered her long hair, her skin an eerie greenish/yellow colour. "I'm very cold, I can't get up anymore, I can't move anymore, it's too cold. I'm getting very sleepy doctor..."

S'reena closed her eyes for a moment, then started as alarmed sounds came from above. "Talk to me, keep talking to me, don't let me fall asleep. Preferably, get me out of here, and find Auric for me? Please?"

[Tag Palmer/Holsen]

[Lorna Holsen]

"I had a hard fall, I think I'm pretty bruised and I don't believe I've broken anything," S'reena replied, Lorna did not like the tremor in the other woman's voice S'reena was tough and had been through a lot. Lorna knew S'reena would try to hide weaknesses that something this obvious was showing was not a good sign.
The light revealed that there was frozen on the Romulan's hair, Lorna had been worried about injuries for the fall but the cold cold be worse than an injury at the momenty

"I'm very cold, I can't get up anymore, I can't move anymore, it's too cold. I'm getting very sleepy doctor..." S'reena closed her eyes for a moment. Lorna watched but when the blink stretched too long she shouted down the hole. "Don't you dare fall asleep S'reena."

The Romulan's eyes flickered open in response to Lorna's shout. She was dangerously hypothermic "Talk to me, keep talking to me, don't let me fall asleep. Preferably, get me out of here, and find Auric for me? Please?" Lorna had seen the firelizard curled up in the hole as well. So that part at least was easy. She looked across at Lt Palmer and Ensign Hamaz and the two 'guards' that had been assigned to them. One of the guards was carrying a coil of rope across his shoulder.

"I'm going down top Commander Hope, we'll need that rope to get her back up. See if you can find an anchor point."
Lorna's tone was hard and flat. She turned back to S'reena. "I'm coming down to get you. Stay awake and listen to me." It was only about two and a half meters down the shortest bit of the hole which obviously wasn't where the Commander had fallen. It didn't to look to be that hard a climb although the earlier damage to her wrist would not make things easier.

"I never got around to telling you how Cris and I met did I?" Lorna set off down the rock face. "Actually speaking of Cris she was asking me to invite you round for dinner some evening. I think she wants you to tell her tales of the Hanson. I'd have thought she had enough stories about me being disreputable but there you go." Lorna paused a moment to allow her wrist to uncramp and then continued climbing. She was sure the junior officers were avidly listening to this sudden insight into her life but it was necessary to keep S'reena concious.

"Cris and I met on Sephus II. I was just a Lieutenant jg back then serving on the Ganymede. It was an outpost population 300 wrecked by groundquakes. We responded to their distress call there were only hours to go before local night fell. Have to say night there was even colder than here." She continued the story as she made it to the level where Commander Hope lay. The end of the rope dropped down shortly after.

Lorna reached S'reena's side she was very still although she had been responding to the rambling story. Lorna pitched her voice low. "As you are no doubt aware you are very cold. I'm going to get you a bit warmer so we can get you out of here." As she talked Lorna dragged a few large rocks close to the commander and then she pulled her phaser from her boot she fired on the rocks heating them to a nice glow. "Come S'reena." She helped the other woman to a slightly more upright sitting position so the warm could get to her. She gestured to Auric "You too, S'reena would kill me if I looked after her and let you freeze."

Tag: S'reena

[Deleted]

S'reena tried her best to listen to the doctor's story but it was increasinly difficult. Cold was creeping up her bones, chilling her skin and slowing her heartrate. On occasion she managed a nod as Holsen and she grimaced as she was hoisted up towards the glowing rocks. She was stiff from the cold. Her attention shifted minutely as Holsen mentioned Auric and only now did she notice the little gold curled up a little further away. "Auric!" she called softly, encouragingly.

The little gold chirped sadly, slowly creeping towards the warmth, up in Holsen's lap which was warmer than her mistress's. The little one's eyes opened to show a mix of red specked with white. She craned her neck, keening as S'reena closed her eyes again, clawing at Holsen's hand to get her attention.

S'reena blinked, jolting awake again. "I'm cold," she complained, "how did you survive the cold nights?" Her breath showed as fog in the dimly lit space as she fought to listen to the doctor. "TEG," she whispered, "signal TEG, he can find us..." Her eyes closed again and this time she did fall asleep, her body shutting down for now.

[SA. Stacey Jackson [Ret]]

Palmer watched with a growing sense of unease as Doctor Holsen descended into the gaping hole that Commander Hope and her ever present flying lizard thing as he called it had fallen down.

The snow storm was starting to die down, as he tore his eyes off the scene going on below him to look to the sky he began to get an odd feeling about the storm. While it looked natural, smelled natural and even tasted natural something about it struck him as being anything but, although he was at a loss as to pinpoint what it was.

He was about to look back down when out of the corner of his eye he noticed a faint orange streak fly into the sky before as quickly vanishing, he turned and watched for a moment as again the streak appeared and then vanished. “I was imagining it.” He mused to himself before turning quickly back to the whole and yelling.

“Someone else is sending a signal with a Phaser.. I’m going to go find them!” Turning to the security officer who had made his way there with Doctor Holsen he said. “In exactly five minutes fire your phaser straight into the air.”

With that said Palmer stood and began to run as fast as his feet and the piling snow would allow him. Despite never being a fan of running in this case he was glad to do it as the increased amount of activity helped to warm his body up.

It took only three minutes before he could now hear the Phaser being fired as well as see it. And a further few seconds before he finally reached the man doing it.

“Commander!” She called out as he came into Pai’s view, “Are you alright Sir?”

<Tag Pai>

“Commanders Hope and Holsen are half a kilometre that way Sir, we can make our way back in about one minute or so.” As if one cue as he looked back the security officer came through and streaks of Orange light blazed through the sky.

“Follow me Sir.” Palmer grabbed him by the arm and began running back to the landmark his mind had dubbed. ‘Hope’s hole in the ground.’

It wasn’t hard for the pair to make it back and Palmer leaned next to it and yelled down. “We have Commander Apirana.”

<Tag Holsen, Pai – TEG and Chan If you could find a way to join the group perhaps following the same signals Pai and Palmer did>

***Bridge U.S.S Rainier***

A junior officer that had been working at the science station turned to look towards the middle of the bridge and said. “Captain, we have just began picking up the signals from the teams comm. badges.. It’s still not safe to transport.”

Stacey relaxed her fingers slightly as they had found themselves dug into the arms of her chair. “Where are they Ensign.” She asked firmly.
He looked back to his console and said. “Captain Cornette appears to be inside the Government building… the rest seem to be a few kilometres away in the main industrial district.. Ma’am.”

Stacey frowned heavily as she thought over the information, Cornette was alone this on of itself signalled something was wrong she knew procedure and wouldn’t have ignored them for no reason.

Stacey was about to say something when the Ensign spoke up again. “Captain.. we are picking up some form of background radiation near the sub space activity hot zones.” No sooner did he finish his sentence did the lights dim and yellow alert signs around the tops of the walls begin to flash.

Again Stacey frowned, “What’s going on now.” She demanded louder than the first time.

The Ensign turned with a strange look on his face and said. “You should see this for yourself Ma’am.”

Stacey stood up quickly, too quickly her head spun for a moment as she walked over to the Science station it took her a moment for her vision to become less blurred and the words on the screen to become readable. Her face dropped instantly. “Red Alert!” She ordered.

“I want internal scans.. every deck.. make sure they haven’t opened one on the ship.” She reached down under the console and pulled a phaser out. “Tell Commander Aarons to meet me in the Shuttle bay NOW.”

She moved to the turbolift moving faster than one would expect of her when she suddenly turned.. “If I am not back within the hour.. launch a quarantine warning and leave this sector at maximum warp.”

The Ensign looked at her and began to say.. “But Cap..”

She had already stepped into the turbolift when she replied. “You have your orders.” The doors closed and the Ensign now found himself in the most impossible of scenarios.. A junior officer in Command in a time of emergency.

**Shuttle Bay**

Stacey walked over to the shuttle and began speaking before Aaron’s could manage to get a word in. “We need to get our people now.. they are in far more danger than they realise.”

She handed him a Padd and despite it having the information on it she spoke anyway. “They don’t have a name, they seem to live in a sub space dimension.. they were encountered only once by the Enterprise.. they abducted crew and experimented on them for reasons unknown.” She sighed as she stepped into the shuttle. “The reports say before the connection was severed a bright light flew through the aperture and through a deck wall before flying off into space... Somehow it made it’s way here.”

She sat in the co-pilots seat and looked down at the controls.. her face contorted slightly as she looked at the readout. “Get us there fast and smoothly Commander.. time is of the essence.” She input the latest readings from the bridge into the shuttles navigation computer and said. “Take us to Commander Hope’s position first.. we will need their help.”
<Tag Aarons>

[Michael Aarons]

Kay really didn't know what to expect. Although she had had many unusual experiences; she had encountered death, entertained him in her home, and told him to keep his hands to himself; it still did not fail to keep her ever wondering what lie ahead of her each time.

As per the arrangement, the Grand Basileus hadn't moved against her but still it didn't do much to ease the notion that she was in more trouble than she'd ever been. Accompanying enigmatic statue of a man and his troops, she was rather curtly beckoned to have a seat on a lone bench. Many of the "Ghelzaki" culture fleetingly survived this far into the government building resulting in a Potemkin society outside. Lambalu took hold of the viewer concentrating intently on the storms simulated about the globe.

"I thought your people didn't like technology," she said. Barely acknowledging her out the corner of his eyes, he responded.

"You needn't concern yourself with that anymore." He continued to track and glide the viewer around the globe monitoring with increased interest in the storms and occasionally other parts of the planet.

OFF: Just think that machine from "Home Soil".

Kay monitored the various subtleties about him closely. For a moment she took note very minute yet present fluctuations in the colors of his face.

"Well it's just a little strange that a planet with such an agrarian revivalist mentality would have an industrial arrangement even though something has to exist to provide means for all the items required for agriculture. Befriending a technologically centered people as the Federation seems rather odd; I doubt any of us really even know what a hammer is. I doubt anybody these days even knows what it feels like to really get your hands dirty (I think I once even killed a plant) and here you are flying back and forth between here and Earth and all those starbases; although Oxill tried to light a couch on fire just to cook a meal (silly oaf). These storms seem to be quite awful, and sudden mind you, but even in 400 years the weather service has never been as efficient as Microsoft; just think what they'll do to those poor cucumbers." Lambalu stared and, swirled in the corner of his face, the expected colors were glowing with an expression she had used on someone before but for the life of her couldn't imagine who.

Lambalu continued to analyze the surface of the planet as Kay looked around. "These storms aren't natural are they?" His eyes darted for a fraction of a second. "And you know that." Again without paying her any mind he responded.

"Let's just say we have plans."

Michael poked his head out of the glove box.

"Why are we at red alert?" Shortly thereafter came a beseeching message to expect the captain any minute. "Well great," he thought, "so much for the spinners and under-lights, to say nothing of the William Shatner pinball machine; now how am I supposed to pick up chicks in this thing?"

Feb 8, 2011 14:30:18 GMT SA. Stacey Jackson [Ret] said:

**Shuttle Bay**

Stacey walked over to the shuttle and began speaking before Aaron’s could manage to get a word in. “We need to get our people now.. they are in far more danger than they realize.”

She handed him a Padd and despite it having the information on it she spoke anyway. “They don’t have a name, they seem to live in a sub space dimension.. they were encountered only once by the Enterprise.. they abducted crew and experimented on them for reasons unknown.” She sighed as she stepped into the shuttle. “The reports say before the connection was severed a bright light flew through the aperture and through a deck wall before flying off into space... Somehow it made it’s way here.”

She sat in the co-pilots seat and looked down at the controls.. her face contorted slightly as she looked at the readout. “Get us there fast and smoothly Commander.. time is of the essence.” She input the latest readings from the bridge into the shuttles navigation computer and said. “Take us to Commander Hope’s position first.. we will need their help.”

"So Captain, not withstanding the regulations," noting the expression forming on her face, which he had seen many times before, although, for the life of him he couldn't imagine from who, he continued on, "if I take you down there, who does that leave on board?"

[Deleted]

Xin-Ling had not been pleased with leaving the warmth of the administrative building, though she dutifully accepted the change to exterior duty. After all, locating S'reena was far more important than staying warm.

She was on heightened alert from the point they had been told native warriors would accompany each search party “for their own safety" amidst the treacherous topography of the planet. There was something sinister in the suggestion.

Once outside, the parties split, two security personnel assigned to each one, and they initiated the search for the fallen Romulan.

The course her party took led them first up the side of a high precipice, which increased the petite Asian’s suspicions. She would have to keep a close eye on their native guides, as their trail was not a comfortable width; indeed, five persons might stretch from the mountainside to the edge of the pathway. She did not like the set-up, and the patches of snow on the pathway did not help matters, and a glance over the side revealed jagged rocks at the base of the hill.

Once they had reached a few hundred meters’ altitude, she noted the “guide” was eyeing one of the medical team, Lieutenant Rebecca Jerrel, who had been assigned to her search party. Readying her hand for action, she watched the suspicious character.

The guide waited until there was no snow between him and his intended victim, and the rest of the party were walking somewhat ahead and had turned a bend in the hill, out of sight of the Asian Warrior. Suddenly, the creature rushed the medical team member, intent upon pushing her over the edge.

It is fortunate Xin-Ling’s suspicions slowed her down. Swiftly, her arm went up from a side position, and the hum of … something… was heard. Seconds before Lt. Jarrel would have felt the deadly impact of the native, his charge was terminated by the Asian Warrior’s soporific dart.

In an instant, the security chief was beside Lt. Jerrel, steadying her, and the two advanced to the remainder of the party.

It was now confirmed. The Ghelzaki “guides” were obviously not there in the office of concierge. They were plants to destroy the crew of the Rainier.

Suddenly, an orange flash of light burst skyward from below and in the distance; all understood its meaning, and so set their destination toward the source of the orange beam.

[SA. Stacey Jackson [Ret]]

Stacey frowned slightly before taking a deep breath and replying. “It strikes me as funny that you remember that regulation.. but all the others you conveniently forget.”

She took another deep breath as she added. “The officers I left in charge are well trained and have been given clear orders.” She pointed to the shuttles helm station and said. “Now do as I asked and pilot this shuttle to Commander Hope’s location… and if you so much as even think about bombarding me with pointless twentieth century Earth pop culture I’ll have you gagged.”

She walked into the shuttle as she added. “Honestly the arrogance of assuming a none Human would care about your barbaric history is astounding.”

`She sat down in the co-pilots seat but quickly got up and moved back a seat.. Mainly to avoid head ache inducing ramblings from the officer who despite all odds had not been strangled in his sleep. She pondered for a moment how he ever rose to Commander then decided it was probably mostly Cornette's doing.. Thoughts of having her court martialled for that alone filtered through her head before she sighed. Looking around she pondered how cramped the shuttle would soon be but decided being cramped would be preferable than being stuck in a snow storm.

She tapped a few controls and activated a comm. channel to the bridge. “Bridge this is Jackson.. we are about to depart.. under no circumstances are you to disregard my orders.. If I am not back or you do not hear from me before after an hour you leave at maximum warp.”

It took several seconds but the reply came back.. “Yes Ma’am.. your cleared for departure.”

Stacey looked up and said. “You heard the man Commander lets go.”

<Tag Aarons>

*** Ambassador ***

He slipped through a door quietly and looked around before moving hesitantly toward Cornette. “Our sensors have picked up a shuttle of your Federation design moving toward the city.. I have hidden this fact from my leader.. I have made sure a corridor was left unguarded.. you should leave and find a way to rejoin your crew.”

He reached behind him and pulled out a phaser looking at it for a moment he passed it to Kay. “It won’t tale long for them to notice this and you are missing so you should hurry… Only promise you will stun and not kill any of our military they are only following orders from those they believe they have sworn allegiance.”

*** Jackson ***

As they landed on the surface of the planet even Jackson had to admit Commander Aarons had considerable skill when it came to piloting. She gave a slight shrug as she thought of the old adage that skill sometimes comes in odd packages.

Moving to the back of the shuttle she gave a nod to the two security officers whom she had brought along. Going down was bad enough but she wasn’t going to do it without an escort.

The door on the side of the shuttle slid open and Stacey stepped out of the shuttle, wincing slight to see through the snow she walked to a small group that seemed to be leaning over and looking down into something. She moved to the edge and looked down before saying.

“Alright get them out of there and into the shuttle.”

<Tag All>

[Paikea Apirana]

“Commander!” She called out as he came into Pai’s view, “Are you alright Sir?”

"Palmer, you shouldn't have come alone, though I'm glad that you saw my little fire signals" Pai said glad that he was no longer alone and that pretty soon he would be among friends and collegues," Plus I'm fine and either way what is the current situation?"

“Commanders Hope and Holsen are half a kilometre that way Sir, we can make our way back in about one minute or so.” “Follow me Sir.” Palmer grabbed him by the arm and began running back.’

The fact that Palmer was practically dragging Pai back to the group was starting to annoy him, but it was certainily better than the alternative.

“We have Commander Apirana.”

"Thanks Palmer, though you didn't have to announce my presence, I'm not important enough for that," Pai said with a smile. The smile unfortnately did not last long as Paikea observed Commander Hope's situation. "Doctor is she going to be fine?"

(Lorna)

Paikea and the rest of the away team waited in silence and it wasn't long before Paikea heard the familiar sound of a Federation shuttlecraft. A few moments later his realization was confirmed and Captain Jackson faced the group.

“Alright get them out of there and into the shuttle.”

"Captain, if you are here, who is in command of the Rainier?" Paikea asked surprised and worried that the Rainier was without a single senior officer.

(Jackson)

[Lorna Holsen]

Lorna allowed herself a moment to similar enjoy the warmth being given off by the phaser heated rocks. She had been surprised when Auric had settled on her lap, it was the closest she had ever gotten to the firelizard. Auric's size and wings meant that she lost heat even fast than her mistress. Lorna's examinations of S'reena shown there to be no serious injuries. She was however tired and hypothermic and the former made it very hard to tell how severe the latter was.

It wasn't a good idea to let someone with hypothermia fall asleep, and they did need to get out of this hole at some point. She was distracted for another moment allowing S'reena to gather her strength and warm up a little further. Auric was chirping gently in Lorna's lap. She had passed word up to the others that they were okay and would be coming up as soon as S'reena had 'defrosted' enough to make the climb.

Lorna felt scratching at her hand and glanced down the firelizard's eyes were open showing a mix of red specked with white. She looked agitated She craned her neck, keening as S'reena closed her eyes again, digging her claws further into Lorna's hand as she did so. Lorna leaned over careful to avoid dislodging Auric "S'reena!" she put some authority and emphasis into her tone but not enough that it counted as a shout.

S'reena blinked, jolting awake again. "I'm cold," she complained, "how did you survive the cold nights?" Lorna was puzzled for a moment before dragging her mind back to Sephus II in the basement of a mostly collapsed building. "We did this," She gestured at the glowing rocks. "There's more than one reason I insist on phasers in medkits." she paused a bit a lowered her voice just a touch, enough that tone sounded conspiratorial not enough that even the partially asleep S'reen would have any difficulty hearing her. "Ended up just working through, dosed our selves with adrenaline and a couple of other things. Got chewed out by my chief for that. I tore my shoulder muscles digging through rubble and Cris nearly lost fingers to frostbite... That we got ourselves and our patient out is one of the proudest moments of my life."

Lorna unzipped her winter jacket and allowed Auric to creep underneath. She pulled her jacket half closed and got to her feet careful not squash or dislodge her passenger. Lorna leaned over S'reena, her breath was slowing, she had to face facts, the other woman was not going to be climbing out of this hole under her own steam any time soon. Lorna drew the phaser again and reheated the rocks. "TEG," she whispered, "signal TEG, he can find us..."


Lorna could have kicked herself, why hadn't she thought of that? Answer: she had been far too focussed on her patient...

She walked back to the wall she had orginally climbed down, she received a chirp from inside her jacket as Auric registered the lower temperatures away from the rocks. "Palmer," Lorna shouted. "We need a change of plan we're going to have to life Commander Hope out of this hole. I believe I can secure her safely this end but it's going to take a few people to pull her up.

Lorna watched as S'reena was lifted out of the hole. She was not looking forward to the climb herself but there was no other option. her wrist was throbbing in time with her pulse when she made the surface. She was relieved to see that the others had arranged S'reena in what little shelter there was. Lorna went at once to her patient's side. She heard the shuttle landing and looked up inn time to hear Commander Apirana addressing Lt Palmer.


"Thanks Palmer, though you didn't have to announce my presence, I'm not important enough for that," Pai said with a smile. The smile unfortnately did not last long as Paikea observed Commander Hope's situation. "Doctor is she going to be fine?"


"Given warmth and rest she will recover quickly."

[Deleted]

*BANG**BANG**BANG*

The throbbing in TEG's head was worse than anything he had experienced before. "Boy, has it been a while," he commented to the small empty room he was in, "Note to self, watch out for real alcohol, it is a real pain." He chuckled at the thought, which just made his head hurt a little more. He checked his chronometer, and found that he had been out a little over 20 hours, at least since the last time he could recall the time. He got up, and found that while his head hurt, he was somewhat steady on his feet. He saw some light coming from under a door, so he decided to walk over to it. There was no control panel along the side of the door, but he did find a small round object protruding from it. He grabbed the protrusion, and pulled. The door did not move. He turned the protrusion, and the door came loose and opened on hinges. He pulled back quickly, and was quickly blinded by the light. He raised his hand and was able to shield his eyes so he could see and saw a corridor going to his left and right. To the right, the corridor ended at stairs. To the left, there was an intersection, and voices. He began to walk along the wall toward the voice. When he got to the intersection, he heard voices coming from both directions, but could distinguish the lower pitched voices of most humans (and those where the Universal Translator was operating) to the left, and to the right, a higher pitched sound, more like buzzing and clicking. He chose to go to the left, where he eventually found some members of the diplomatic away team. One of them commented that Geshev was looking for him. He called Geshev and was able to get the gist of the issue with Commander Hope. He took a tricorder from Geshev, made some modifications, and set out to find Commander Hope.

TEG disabled the automatic pickup on his commbadge, and began a broadcast signal to echo-locate, the terrain, as Geshev tried to lead the way using another tricorder. After about 20 minutes, he began to hear chirping commbadges. He arrived and found several members of the away team attempting to haul the commander out of the hole with a rope, constructed of local material.

"I heard someone was looking for me," TEG called out. He was then given the gist of the situation. There did not seem to be enough friction on the rocks for people to effectivly pull up the commander. They were trying to pull the rope around a tree to act as a pully, but Standard Starfleet boots, being as they are, don't have much grip.

"I have an idea, but I'm going to need a phaser." Someone, he wasn't sure whom, was able to find a small, type 1 phaser. "That will work."

TEG opened the phaser, and attached the phaser's emitter coils to the sensor emitter of his tricorder. He then cross-fed the power supplies, and after about 2 minutes, had a working (at least for a few minutes) tractor beam. He had everyone pull, then aimed the makeshift beam and Commander Hope. It was much easier for them to lift her our of the hole. Just as they were getting her to the ledge, the emitter quit, causing her to have to be slid the rest of the way away from the hole, but thankfully, there was no chance of her falling back in. Dr. Holsen made it out hole a bit easier.

A few minutes later, a shuttle arrived with Captain Jackson.

"Captain, if you are here, who is in command of the Rainier?" Paikea asked surprised and worried that the Rainier was without a single senior officer.

[Michael Aarons]

“Now do as I asked and pilot this shuttle to Commander Hope’s location… and if you so much as even think about bombarding me with pointless twentieth century Earth pop culture I’ll have you gagged.”

She walked into the shuttle as she added. “Honestly the arrogance of assuming a none Human would care about your barbaric history is astounding.”

Michael's brow furled as his breathing became slow and to the point. He turned to the captain with something on his mind.

"I want to make one thing straight, I'm not really interested in what rank you hold, or what position you maintain on this ship or otherwise, but I can assure you that it doesn't clear you to suddenly talk to me in such a disrespectful manner. You don't like me: fine, that's your failing; I don't particularly care for you but I've not been compelled to express it. I don't what it is causing you to sit awkwardly but feel compelled not to share from now on. Are we clear?"

She quickly got up and moved back a seat. Mainly to avoid headache inducing vibes from the officer who despite all odds had not been strangled in his sleep.

The shuttle engines primed and the doors cleared. The Vachir accelerated forward and although it didn't seem much, it was doing 320Mmps when normally she was rated for 230Mmps. Clearing the magnificently large ship, she headed down for the planet in quickened pace then breaking the atmosphere.

Now out of the vacuum, the craft beamed with alacrity. Of the four occupants, only he who wielded it's power elated in the moment while the others were scared beyond belief. It cracked the air with a mild boom and made for the greater part of the landing party.

As they landed on the surface of the planet even Jackson had to admit Commander Aarons had considerable skill when it came to piloting. She gave a slight shrug as she thought of the old adage that skill sometimes comes in odd packages.

Moving to the back of the shuttle she gave a nod to the two security officers whom she had brought along. Going down was bad enough but she wasn’t going to do it without an escort.

The door on the side of the shuttle slid open and Stacey stepped out of the shuttle, wincing slight to see through the snow she walked to a small group that seemed to be leaning over and looking down into something. She moved to the edge and looked down before saying.

“Alright get them out of there and into the shuttle.”

TEG opened the phaser, and attached the phaser's emitter coils to the sensor emitter of his tricorder. He then cross-fed the power supplies, and after about 2 minutes, had a working (at least for a few minutes) tractor beam. He had everyone pull, then aimed the makeshift beam and Commander Hope. It was much easier for them to lift her our of the hole. Just as they were getting her to the ledge, the emitter quit, causing her to have to be slid the rest of the way away from the hole, but thankfully, there was no chance of her falling back in. Dr. Holsen made it out hole a bit easier.

A few minutes later, a shuttle arrived with Captain Jackson.

"Captain, if you are here, who is in command of the Rainier?" Paikea asked surprised and worried that the Rainier was without a single senior officer.

Stacey corralled everyone into the shuttle amidst the biting cold that set upon her unconditioned face. With her differently clad subordinates about, it was easy to differentiate her as the leader in the new outfits.

Everyone did their best not to step on anybody's toes inside the shuttle. Xin-Ling and Dr. Holsen reported on status of their 'escort' and the health of Cmdr. Hope while noting the whereabouts of Capt. Cornette.

<tag Chan, Lorna>

The Vachir touched down outside the administrative building as Aarons tore through the crowd as he made for the building. Stacey demanded of him an explanation for what he thought he was doing.

"Making sure you don't try and leave without rescuing everybody by taking the one thing you need - ME!!!"

Pure rubbish, she thought. To her surprise, he was right. In refitting the shuttle, Michael had customized the control scheme beyond any comprehension save his own. Swell.

Xin-Ling asked whether someone should go after him but the captain reasoned that sure if they do it would only wind up with them as the target. Their only hope lay in his coming back alive, or someone learning how to understand stupid.

Lambalu was consumed by information coming through on his machines. Kay pondered her options to confront the Grand Basileus. Would she be able to take him with only the weapon given her? Could she do it without being noticed in time? The more and more she went up the ladder the more and more was forced to become a soldier.

The door opened slowly as Michael slipped in. She spotted him as he noticed her skulking over.

"Come on," he urged.

"What are you doing here?" she said surprised, though elated, to see him.

"Getting you out of here. Now don't argue." He yanked her along as suddenly the Grand Basileus roared out at the intruder and his hostage. They dodged his lunges in their haste to the door and out into the long winding corridors outside.

They bolted past a startled and confused Oxill. Lambalu snatched him up as he dug a blade hidden on his person into the ambassador's gut. In an instant that stretched out almost infinitely as Kay stole a look back, the color and expression twisted and faded from the prefect at the hands of this monstrous leader before he himself regained pursuit.

Kaylana insisted that he should have never risked his life on such an impulsive plan but as usual, he didn't listen.

"Why did you come all the way in here for me!? I was perfectly safe for the time being!"

"You're right. I should have just left you behind. What was I thinking?! I'll just take you back." He stopped. The massive figure of Lambalu closed in on them. Kay snatched his hand pulled.

"Come on!" she ordered. They both ran as fast as they could hand in hand. "This way!"

"No. This way!" They continued running as Kay fired shots back at their pursuer. With only a few meters left, Kay disabled one of the doors in an attempt to buy some time. "You look stunning in your outfit."

"Why thank you. So do you."

"I know." They rounded a corner as Michael suddenly jerked back warning her not to proceed. Just around the bend, blocking the exit were a handful of guards ready to fire at them. They opened fire as they shot around the corner trying not to get hit themselves. The opposition was too much.

"Hold on," Kay said. She took the opportunity to liberate some of the hallway decor and smashed open a glass pattern window.

"Watch your step," he warned as she climbed through.

The shuttle party watched and waited for sight of the two. The snow crunched under the fall of their boots as they dashed for the Vachir before anymore of them tried to attack. They could make out the shuttle as the others urged them to hurry up. They burst through the door winded but relieved to have made it in one piece.

The engines ignited once again and Michael took off erratically into high gear as they raced back into orbit. Everybody was ready to heave a sigh of relief to be back safe and sound. As Michael worked the helm, Kaylana's hands rested on his shoulders as she smiled, watching. They made arrangements to redock with the ship and once they did, everyone was just glad to be home. Of course Stacey was furious, but as S'reena was carted off to the sickbay with Lorna, everybody hurried to where the were needed most: the bridge.

Having rode the turbolift in relative silence, the air was abuzz up top. Stacey ordered everyone to report on the situation. The nature of the storms liked to have enveloped the planet as it became less coherent; as if subspace had engulfed it. A large starship, of which no one could identify, emerged from the far side of the planet.

"How did we miss it?!"

"It must have hid in the planets gravity well," they all shouted. The moved into warp as Stacey ordered pursuit. The ship lunged forward on a pursuit course. She gained on the other vessel quite easily and with a few phaser bolts and a spread of torpedoes to her starboard engine it dropped out of warp.

A tractor beam to her remaining engine put a stop to any further escape attempts as Capt. Jackson questioned why they couldn't get a reading on her. Paikea's scans indicated that her hull was littered with scattering devices which hampered sensors.

<tag anybody to fill in the gaps here>

The screen filled with the surprising image of Bagratashen Deb-Lambalu sporting an appropriately dissatisified look upon his face. The captain demanded an explanation.

"Alright, I admit it. We annihilated the people here and copied their identities to try capture the 'others'." Stacey questioned their desire. "Why indeed?" he asked.

Captain Jackson chose her next words very carefully.