Mission 1 : Swimming with the Fishes

[Alyana Ryat]

OOC: I'm hoping we can get this mission finished off soon.

"Sir, this is as close as I can get the ship to the cave." The pilot said. Aly nodded slowly. The hatch on the shuttle opened and Aly leaned out. She could see Thalin slogging towards them through knee deep water. Kavrin Los was leaning against the CScO's side as they stumbled forward. Aly thought she could hear fires burning somewhere near them.

The two officers reached the shuttle. Aly could see how pale and strained Karvin was looking. She had lots of questions for him but now was decidedly not the time. The Lieutenant lay on the shuttle floor his eye's flickering he seemed to be in and out of consciousness. Doctor Winchester started checking him over. Aly looked at the them and sighed, the lieutenant's secret was out now, in her opinion Trill secrecy was less important than saving Los's and Kavrin's lives; she might pay for this decision later but she could live with that and she didn't think she could live with herself if either of them died through her inaction.

"Doctor, the Lieutenant is Trill and more than that he is a gestalt entity. Los is an intelligent symbiont hosted by Karvin. At the moment the two of them are not communicating as they should and that could kill both of them. I realise that you know very little about Trill physiology but I do."

Tag: Jason.

As Doctor Winchester started scanning Karvin's semi-conscious body the pilot pivoted round in his chair.

"Umm, Commander Ryat, I know this isn't the best time to mention it but there is a single Aquan lifesign still within the cave. It's very weak."

Aly muttered a few choice phrases in Romulan and Klingon that fortunately the universal translator did not pick up. She knew it could be one of those who had attacked earlier but it could also be the missing Regent. She sighed and looked at Karvin, there was no way she could leave him.

"Chief, get us as close as possible to the lifesign and try for a better reading." Aly spoke quickly to the pilot and then turned to the science officer. "Commander Zarath, Could you investigate the life sign please."

Tag:Thalin

He headed towards the shuttle door. Aly looked back at Karvin. "Hold on," She said in her native language. " You're going to be all right"

She wanted this to be true, she didn't want to have lied.

Tag: Jason/Karvin.

[Deleted]

“I did not mean to patronize you. I simply wanted to make sure that you were alright. I did not question your ability to do things on your own – that, I assure you.” Kavrin looked at the commander, “Right now, i doubt i would be able to walk let alone walk in a direction” Kavrin knew the science officer was worried, two unknown truths in a day was usually hard to process, as they began slowly moving around to find a better place to hide when the others arrived. As they began to move Kavrin could just hear a shuttle as it appeared nearby, ‘my hearing must be getting weak’ Thalin began moving them towards the shuttle but Kavrin was barely helping anymore. His strength was failing and he still could not feel Los and he knew how long he had till his body would reject Los entirely. As they entered the shuttle Kavrin sole concentration was on Aly, the only link to home he had right now, as she began talking to everyone Kavrin began to lose a gain consciousness. As the doctor began working on him, Kavrin turned to Aly “Alyana, Los is still a young symbiont, i am his first host, so the commission will probably want me back on trill under lock and key for this, i am sorry i had to expose the secret of the Trill” Kavrin lose the ability to speak as he felt a strange sensation go though his body.

Kavrin knew what it was he was feeling, he could remember it well from the time of implantation, Kavrin heard Doctor Winchester start to speak to Aly about an enzyme in his body that helped the connection between the host and symbiont and that the phasser fire must have stopped him from producing it in the correct quantity. “I have given him a massive dose of the enzyme in the hope that it will stimulate his body to produce it naturally again” Jason stopped speaking while Jason scanned him again “Both Symbiont and Host are beginning to show signs of improvements, i would prefer to keep him in sickbay for a time until i am sure he is well” Kavrin listened to the doctor but wanted to do his job before he became locked up in sickbay for weeks on end. “Doctor that will not be necessary, whatever you did, it has reconnected us together. Commander, i am strong enough to work for now, i will stay in sickbay after the regent is safe.” Kavrin knew Aly was in a difficult position here.

<Tag Aly>

Kavrin was thankful with the small compromise, Kavrin moved to the front of the shuttle to look over the sensor readouts. As Thalin and Aly left the shuttle with a security team Kavrin noted something in the structure of the life signs “Lieutenant Los to Commanders Ryat and Zarath, the enemy have structured themselves to ambush a large group deeper in the cavern. I would advise extreme caution and be careful of the Klingons, they will be hard to hit”

<Tag Aly/Thalin>

[Alyana Ryat]

“Alyana, Los is still a young symbiont, i am his first host, so the commission will probably want me back on trill under lock and key for this, i am sorry i had to expose the secret of the Trill”

Aly shrugged although she doubt Karvin could see her now. "You did the right thing. The secret is not worth your life or the life of your symbiont." Aly had been given very explicit instructions on that before she had left home. She had never though that she would be applying them to another of her race though.

Doctor Winchester found that the phaser shot had disrupted enzyme production in Karvin's body. Aly filed that piece of information away hoping that she would never need it again. After the injection of enzyme Lieutenant Los improved rapidly although it seemed that the Doctor was intending to keep a close eye on him, the Security Chief objected to that and looked at Aly for help.

“Doctor that will not be necessary, whatever you did, it has reconnected us together. Commander, i am strong enough to work for now, I will stay in sickbay after the regent is safe.”

She thought for a moment. "Doctor Winchester can be sure that you are producing the enzyme on your own at the moment so I don't want you dashing about. You stay here with Doctor Winchester and monitor the sensors. I will go with Commander Zarath and investigate the cave further.

She had the Science Chief left the shuttle heading for the Aquan life sign. She splashed through the knee deep water following the Andorian.

“Lieutenant Los to Commanders Ryat and Zarath, the enemy have structured themselves to ambush a large group deeper in the cavern. I would advise extreme caution and be careful of the Klingons, they will be hard to hit”

"Just great". she murmured but she check her phaser setting all the same.

In the cave she quickly spotted the aquan responsible for the life sign slumped against the wall. She was worried that the water was lapping around his chin. She walked over to him allowing the security team to stay near her. It was the Aquan Regent and he was breathing but far less deeply than she would have liked. Still there was hope. She caught him under the arms allowing his body to float as she headed back to the shuttle. Suddenly she heard shooting and lokked up to see what was going to she saw Commander Zarath fire at somethings he couldn't see further in to the cave.

OOC: I guess we're nearly there guys.

[thalin]

"Chief, get us as close as possible to the lifesign and try for a better reading." Aly spoke quickly to the pilot and then turned to the science officer. "Commander Zarath, Could you investigate the life sign please."

The Andorian nodded carefully, removing his now rather beat up and tattered tricorder from his side and starting to look over some of the graphic readings that the small display on the unit was giving to him. Murmuring over them, he nodded once more and started to walk away, "Aye, checking up on the life signs, Captain."

Gulping carefully as he walked far enough away, he started to realize that there were far more life signs than there were originally believed. The one life sign had become many, it would have seemed. At first it was impossible to tell them all apart, but once he added in a band pass filter so that each of their biometric indicators could be scanned separately, it became quite clear that these individuals were highly organized and arranged into a perfect formation.

As Thalin and Aly left the shuttle with a security team Kavrin noted something in the structure of the life signs “Lieutenant Los to Commanders Ryat and Zarath, the enemy have structured themselves to ambush a large group deeper in the cavern. I would advise extreme caution and be careful of the Klingons, they will be hard to hit”

Having walked a good ways away from the security team due to the fact that he was trying to carry out his orders in this investigation, he grasped quickly for the communicator he kept at his side and nodded to him awkwardly as he picked it up, speaking into it as though it were a harsh whisper instead of a more common method of speech.

"Thalin Zarath here - I recognize that ambush and...We are going to need to get a phaser rifle down here. I have quite a plan if we can get one." The Andorian then added smugly, "You should note my marksman classification that should be mentioned in my profile." Strangely, no such note could be found, for in fact, he was assuming that those in the ambush were monitoring their communications, and he was trying to bluff them out.

He then stood still, opening to a clear frequency and started speaking into the communicator once again, "Yes, that's right Commander, we are going to have a full phaser spread - anything that moves, shoot it. Even if it were a Starfleet officer, I don't care."

Of course, he were not speaking to anyone, but instead, continuing his bluff of having far more power than he did, in case they were intercepting his communications.

She caught him under the arms allowing his body to float as she headed back to the shuttle. Suddenly she heard shooting and looked up to see what was going to she saw Commander Zarath fire at something’s he couldn't see further in to the cave.

Zarath then looked back, finding that she had caught up to him. Continuing to grasp the pistol grip, he gulped carefully, "I think we really will need a phaser rifle.."

[Deleted]

It took six days for the cargo vessel to arrive in the Argo system, from where Savin transported straight to the Excalibur. He stood tall and straight on the transporter pad, his cat Caelir purring against his cheek once materialisation was complete. The Vulcan found the means of transportation through transporter unsettling, but had grown accustomed to it and would not let it get to him. Unlike him, Caelir did seem to enjoy the experience, for he purred after every instance.

"Welcome aboard ensign," a young man said, his voice pleasant and welcoming. "Commander Gold is in command of the bridge, Captain Ryat is down planet. May I show you to your quarters?"

Savin inclined his head into a quick nod. "Please," he added, picking up his duffle bag, slinging it across his shoulders.

The young man smiled, then preceded him out of the transporter room. "I'll give you a minute to stow your gear and your errr...feline. Not sure how the captain'll feel about that sir."

"I shall discuss that with the captain when the time comes," Savin answered coolly, "and I do believe I will be able to find my way to the bridge to report in. Dismissed crewman."

"Aye sir," the crewman responded, clearly disappointed. He turned on his heels and left, while Savin examined his sparsely furnished officer's quarters. They weren't much larger than he was used to, except for his quarters on the starbase, where he lived with his wife and son. Smiling ever so slightly to himself, within the privacy of his quarters, he pulled a picture frame from his bad and put it on one of the night stands. It showed an image of a smiling young blonde woman and a small boy with dark hair, blue eyes and slightly pointed ears.

That done, he set the cat down, made sure he had food and water, then made for the bridge. "Ensign Savin reporting sir," he announced as he stepped on the bridge, "permission to report to engineering?"

[Alyana Ryat]

Excalibur's Bridge, Lieutenant Commander Barbara Gold's POV

Barbara was no feeling anywhere near at ease, she didn't particularly like having charge of the bridge and she was very worried about Ephrem. Commander Ryat had not contacted the ship recently, she wondered what was going on down there.

Her console beeped indicating a ship heading towards them. It was the cargo vessel bringing their new Chief Engineer. He was espected and everything was arranged. She signalled the transporter room to expect their new arrival.

She also commed Commander Ryat but the was no response. The Commander had siad something about caves so it was probable that she was out of communications range, at least that was what she hoped the reason was.

A short while later the new CEO appeared on the bridge.
"Ensign Savin reporting sir," he announced as he stepped on the bridge, "permission to report to engineering?"

"Good to have you aboard Ensign." Barbara said. "Permission granted."

Main Engineering. SCPO Stephen Sanchez's POV

Stephen was whistling as he sat monitoring coolant flow the the impulse engines. There had been fluctuations but he was pretty sure that he had gotten them fixed now.

His attention drifted for a moment and that was, of course, when the coolant pressure dropped suddenly. He cursed and frantically worked to keep the engines from over heating muttering to himself as he did so. That coolant pressure should not have done that. He sighed wondering what more he could do.

It was then that he looked up and found the cool hazel eyes of a Vulcan he didn't recognise looking back at him. Stephen swallowed hard wondering how much of his error the other had seen.

"Umm, Welcome to Engineering, Sir. I'm Stephen Sanchez."

Tag: Savin

OOC: Alyana is not Captain in sim yet. Captain Santos is currently unconscious in sickbay as the result of an unexplained collapse.

[Deleted]

Inclining his head into a slight nod, Savin kept his eyes on the woman just a little longer. "Thank you sir," he answered promptly, wheeled around on his heels and marched back to the lift. He stepped in and gripped one of the handles that would enable him to command the car. "Engineering," he ordered, holding his breath for a second as the car started moving at full speed.

Upon entering engineering, he stood by a moment, observing his new staff as they busied themselves. His eyes fell on a young engineer who was monitoring the coolant flow towards the engines. Of course, his sharp ears heard him murmuring under his breath, while his eyes moved towards the board. It clearly showed the coolant flow was dropping, endangering the engines into overheating.

Quietly, he approached the young man and stood at his side in silence, observing him. Until he turned around, noticed him and finally spoke. "Umm, Welcome to Engineering, Sir. I'm Stephen Sanchez."

"Savin," the Vulcan replied coolly. "Shut it down," he then ordered, nodding towards the coolant and the engines. "While the captain is on the surface, I doubt we need the engines. We can maintain orbit while making use of the planet's gravity well. Why were the coolant levels dropping?"

The settled down in the vacant seat next to Sanchez. "Explain to me what you were doing, so that I may be of assistance." He preferred to let his engineers think for themselves, and come up with solutions to problems, rather than him supplying everything. It made them feel needed, and wouldn't saddle him with unnecessary problems to look after. "And I shall need the latest engineering report. I understand there were a few problems before my arrival?" Usually, engineering problems being present was a very safe assumption to make, especially as a new arrival.

[Deleted]

Kavrin was looking at the formation, the structure suggested that they were planning to fight a more aggressive trap then a defensive ambush, but that was a Klingon style ambush and they enacted them very well. Kavrin was about to send the new information to the extraction team when they contacted him first. "Thalin Sarah here - I recognize that ambush and...We are going to need to get a phasser rifle down here. I have quite a plan if we can get one." The Andorian then added smugly, "You should note my marksman classification that should be mentioned in my profile." Kavrin gave the only security officer on the shuttle a confused look, “First i am hearing of this, let me check his personnel file” Kavrin was about to agree with him when he realised that the comm. channel had not been secured, it was then he realised what the scientist was doing ‘oh you are a sneaky one commander’ “Do not worry about it Lieutenant” activating the consol Kavrin responded “It is commander, i will have one beamed to you immediately, if you are planning what i think you are, a full phasser strike should easily deal with the ambush” Kavrin released the signal but he knew exactly what the Klingon response would be, harsh and brutal to such a communication "Yes, that's right Commander, we are going to have a full phasser spread - anything that moves, shoot it. Even if it were a Starfleet officer, I don't care." if this was a real comm. channel response Kavrin would have shot the Andorian by now, but this plan would force the Klingons to attack before the team was inside the traps kill zone.

Kavrin watched the screen as the first shots were fired, like he had predicted the Klingons had pushed out to attack quickly, and had now both revealed their locations and pulled themselves out of formation. This now gave them the advantage, if Thalin and Aly were able to take advantage. Kavrin watched as the life signs on the screen began to move into a defensive posture against the assault, Kavrin could not see exactly the shots but he could see as people were hit. Kavrin watched on as the battle moved towards their defeat when all of a sudden a large group of the enemy life signs weakened heavily. Kavrin did not know what was happening and he did not like it, but as time progressed he noted more and more of the enemy life signs were beginning to weaken as they were stunned one by one.

Lieutenant Lawren’s point of view

As she looked at her fellow officers duck for cover as the shots started flying, Lieutenant Junior Grade Janice Lawren looked out over the area, most of the shots were being fired from a outcropping slightly ahead of where she was standing but as she was about to try and aim a shot at those that were firing mercilessly when a stray shot hit the rock she was hiding behind. Quickly dropping to the ground she waited a few seconds before getting up and quickly shooting a few shots at the rock she had previously scoped as the aggressors near her. As she dropped to the ground she knew she did not hit anyone and that now she was being fired at a lot, this was one of those occasions she wished she had a more powerful weapon on hand but alas no such luck this time. As she got up again to take a few more shots she noted that one of the targets were down and in the corner of her eye she spotted that the CScO had got himself in a perfect position to harry the group behind the rock, and because of the they had gotten themselves into a position to stop him causing any more damage to their numbers. But their move has given her an opening to get a few good shots in, placing her phasser see picked out two that she could hit without missing, as the first shot left her weapon the man she had targeted fell to the floor before the other could realise what had happened she shot him as well.

As the battle moved on, there were only a small number left and they had placed themselves in to block them getting to the regent without going through them, and in their number were the two Klingons. They had suffered some casualties, a few phasser burns and two down for good, she knew both very well but she could not morn for them now she had a job to do. Watching the Chief science officer she had been surprised by his abilities during this battle, he had taken charge of the assault on the last remaining fighters with the chief medically unable to work, the chief communications officer had also done well, she had taken a more field medic role in the fight, which had proven very helpful to ensign T’Dik who had been badly hit and would probably not have survived long without medical aid. Just as she was about to tell Aly what a job she had done there was suddenly a fire fight near where the regent was. Quickly moving with the rest they all charged to ensure the regent was safe and alive. As she arrived she was shocked by what she saw, it seemed like the group had turned on the Klingons and both side had pretty much killed each other in the process. Janice did not like it so she kept her phasser aimed on the Klingons while the others began checking for pulses, she noted that the CScO had gone straight to the regent. She did not really stop aiming until everyone enemy had been checked, one or two were alive but in no condition to fight, the two Klingons were dead. “Commanders, the area is secure, i will send out everyone to begin collecting our casualties and take them back to the shuttle, and hopefully they can be saved on the ship. May i ask on the condition of the chief? And the regent?” Janice had almost forgotten why they were here.

<Tag Aly / Thalin>

OOC: yes i kicked the mission one lol but you can string this post into two if you wish

[thalin]

This now gave them the advantage, if Thalin and Aly were able to take advantage. Kavrin watched as the life signs on the screen began to move into a defensive posture against the assault, Kavrin could not see exactly the shots but he could see as people were hit.

Never the less, this was the time that Thalin was moving into position. Service pistols always had seemed to be the weapons of officers, and this seemed to be no different really. Grasping his pistol over his head, Thalin took several aimed shots at the oncoming onslaught and then looked down, quickly strafing backwards as he took a bit of stoney ground behind himself. The area would be most useful for his defensive position. Taking three more shots, he watched the Klingon bodies cripple and fall to the ground under the power of his phaser, forced out from underneath the beam.

Kavrin watched on as the battle moved towards their defeat when all of a sudden a large group of the enemy life signs weakened heavily. Kavrin did not know what was happening and he did not like it, but as time progressed he noted more and more of the enemy life signs were beginning to weaken as they were stunned one by one.

Once more, what Kavrin was seeing was the operations of the team on the ground, Thalin not having the time himself to examine the operations of those around him however. He had to stay focused, fearing that his life was going to end before him in his own hands. Gulping carefully, he shut one eye, trying to get a better sight on his phaser pistol as he continued to try to fire down at those whom were making a run for their team and rushing upon them.

Rolling onto the ground to avoid a stray blast, Thalin Zarath felt a strong burning sensation ripping through his uniform while the smell of burning flesh assaulted his nostrils. Shivering under what seemed to be hydrostatic shock due to the blast, he forced himself up, returning fire, before dropping down to a prone position in an attempt to avoid the subsequent shots that were most certain to come.

As he looked towards the one whom had assumed a medical role, he nodded, readying himself and trying to force the ideas of pain from his head as he suddenly threw his weight down the hill, rushing the residual troops in an effort to mop them up. His eyes winced, taking his second phaser burn as a shot ripped through his hip, though not before he could discharge his pistol once again.

Janice did not like it so she kept her phasser aimed on the Klingons while the others began checking for pulses, she noted that the CScO had gone straight to the regent. She did not really stop aiming until everyone enemy had been checked, one or two were alive but in no condition to fight, the two Klingons were dead. “Commanders, the area is secure, i will send out everyone to begin collecting our casualties and take them back to the shuttle, and hopefully they can be saved on the ship. May i ask on the condition of the chief? And the regent?” Janice had almost forgotten why they were here.

The Chief Science Officer looked up carefully, shaking his head, “The regent is severely injured. Are we going to be able to use the transporter? I believe that this is an imperative nature and a severe medical emergency. It looks as though the regent has struck his head and suffered burns..” Looking down to the body, he padded the forehead, looking back, hoping that he would be able to save the other in some way. The value of this mission, and its success, depended on it.

[Alyana Ryat]

Surface of the planet Argo, C1C Alyana Ryat's POV

Phaser fire was flying over Aly's head in the cave. None of it had hit her or the Regent so far. She was trying to keep the two of them out of the fight. Then a security officer near her was shot, he slumped into the water. Aly barely paused to think, if she had she might not have continued with the course of action she had chose. She wedged the Regent behind an outcropping so at least he had some cover there and then made for the downed security officer. She dimly remembered his face, T'Dik was his name if she recalled correctly. She Checked his pulse and started to tend to his bleeding. His blood pressure was dropping because it was leaking everywhere staining the water around them. Aly managed to control his blood loss and the pressed a hypospray of adrenaline to the side of T'Dik's neck. He needed all the help he could get to keep going at the moment.

Then one of the security officers spoke up, Aly had been so absorbed in her efforts that she hadn't noticed that the sound of shooting had faded. “Commanders, the area is secure, i will send out everyone to begin collecting our casualties and take them back to the shuttle, and hopefully they can be saved on the ship. May i ask on the condition of the chief? And the regent?”

Aly looked over at Lt Lawson. "Your Chief is stable but probably needs some further medical attention. The regent.." she looked round and saw to her horror that the regent had been hit, he hadn't been safe where she had left him. Commander Zarath was tending to him.

“The regent is severely injured. Are we going to be able to use the transporter? I believe that this is an imperative nature and a severe medical emergency. It looks as though the regent has struck his head and suffered burns..”

Aly cursed wondering if things could get worse then squashed that thought as when you started wondering that things did tend to get worse. She pulled out her communicator. She couldn't get through to the Excalibur. She sighed.

"It looks like this cave is interfering with communications so we can't arrange transport until we get outside. Doctor Winchester is on the shuttle so we should be able to confirm the no one is in immediate danger of dying. We'd best get moving."

Aly took responsibility for the now semi-conscious Ensign T'Dik, Commander Zarath was taking the Regent. The security officers were dealing with the prisoners.

It was a relief when they reached the shuttle once more even though it was somewhat of a squash. Doctor Winchester checked the injured over and said they were going to be all right.

Aly started making arrangements for the transport of the injured to the Excalibur. Doctor Winchester went back up as well. Aly, Commander Zarath and Lt Los were the last group to transport back. Aly felt a great deal of relief when she stepped off the transporter pad.

"Lieutenant, as the Doctor has said you're fit for light duties I want you to find out what you can from the survivors." She knew the survivors were currently in sickbay and unlikely to be going anywhere for some time. Therefore Karvin was going to have to be in sickbay as well.

Tag: Karvin.

As the security chief left the transporter room Aly looked at the CScO, she knew something about the innate curiosity of scientists and doubted that he would let the matter drop. "I know you have a lot of questions for me and Lieutenant Los about our species, I promise I will answer those questions later. Right now I need all the information we have gather collated so we can explain to the Regent and the council what occurred."

Tag: Thalin

Aly wondered if she should try to get some sleep, instead she headed for the bridge. There she found Commander Gold stil in charge; that meant there had been no change in the Captain's condition. Commander Gold seemed relieved to hand command back over to Aly, she also reported that the new CEO, Aly mentally added meeting him to the list of things that needed to be done.

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

Main Engineering USS Excalibur, SCPO Stephen Sanchez's POV

"Savin," the Vulcan replied coolly. "Shut it down," he then ordered "While the captain is on the surface, I doubt we need the engines. We can maintain orbit while making use of the planet's gravity well. Why were the coolant levels dropping?"

Stephen wasn't quite sure how to take his new superior's attitude, at least it didn't seem that he was in trouble. Savin didn't seem angry, but then he was a Vulcan so that threw out any judgement made on emotions.

"Of course, sir." Stephen said, entering the commands to shut down the engines as he did so. "There's a pressure fluctuation in the coolant feed system. I though I had it pinned down and fixed but apparently not."

Savin settled down in the vacant seat next to Sanchez. "Explain to me what you were doing, so that I may be of assistance."

"Well," Stephen said slowly. "It was just before we entered orbit of Argo. There were spikes in the impulse engine power readings. I traced them back to the coolant lines. It seemed that one of the feed valves was stuck. I fixed that."

"And I shall need the latest engineering report. I understand there were a few problems before my arrival?"The CEO said. Stephen leapt to his feet to locate the required reports, there had been quite a few problems on the Excalibur recently, she hadn't put in for full maintenance at starbase in a while and they were still picking issues out of her computers after they were scrambled a mission or so back.

As Stephen returned with the report a though struck him. "Sir, do you think that it could be as simple as a blocked coolant line? I know normally that would show up on a diagnostic but with sufficient back-pressure it might trick the sensor..."

Tag: Savin

[Deleted]

"A blocked coolant line might indeed not show up if the pressure in the valve is sufficient," Savin agreed, "and if the pressure increases, it might cause a feedback to the engines." He nodded in approval. "Well spotted ensign."

The Vulcan rose to his feet, then turned to regard the ensign. "Perhaps you could give me a tour of engineering?" he suggested mildly, "I have not served on a Constitution class vessel before. My previous assignment was Earth-bound. The look he shot Sanchez was almost apologetic. Almost, but not quite.

Quietly, he followed the young engineer around, listening intently as he babbled on about problems and fixes. "Perhaps I should leave you to what you were doing prior to my arrival," he finally suggested, growing a little wary of the man's constant babbling. "I am going to pass by sickbay for my medical, I shall return shortly. Carry on with your duties and report when I return."

The Vulcan turned yet again and walked out of engineering. Minutes later, with datadisk in hand, Savin walked into sickbay. "Doctor, I am reporting for my medical," he called, offering the disk. As the doctor approached, Savin took place on the bed, which was promptly tilted backwards. "I have been ill during my voyage to Excalibur," he explained, "I was unable to take sufficient nourishment to compensate for my medical condition. I have taken insulin, and I have recovered prior to my arrival."

He met the doctor's eyes. "I require regular insulin injections, and I always carry sufficient doses with me in case of emergency. I would appreciate it if you could have my daily doses sent to my quarters. I am quite capable of seeing to the injections myself."

<doctor/npc?>

[thalin]

As the security chief left the transporter room Aly looked at the CScO, she knew something about the innate curiosity of scientists and doubted that he would let the matter drop. "I know you have a lot of questions for me and Lieutenant Los about our species, I promise I will answer those questions later. Right now I need all the information we have gather collated so we can explain to the Regent and the council what occurred."

Thalin Zarath nodded, walking along side her. She was right; he did have a large number of questions that he needed to ask about her species. He also understood, from what very little he head ever heard of Trills, that they were a joined species. He further understood that they thought it was strange to be asked questions about it. However, this was not due to a secretive nature. Instead, it was such an understood practice that there was very little reason to ever converse on the topic.

Nodding to her, he accepted the fact that his questions were going to have to wait. However, as she had expected it took a great deal of self-control to do so. Never the less, once he was able to catch on to the fact that he was really not going to be ask them, it started to sink into the scientist flesh that he had built up as the fabric of his being.

Following her as she kept walking, he nodded to himself as he tried to recover everything from his memory.

“Well, first of all, I do assume that I am heading with you…is this the correct assumption? Now, based on that, I should try to deliver this to you quickly. The Klingon Empire has been aiding a revolutionary group that was caused by the traditional versus non-traditional rift here. This revolutionary group holds to neither values…actually, its not quite clear what they hold steadfast too, but the Klingons have seized the opportunity to formulate total anarchy on the planet. I think you know what comes next – they move in, and it’s a colony of the Empire with a whole fresh group of slaves for that aforementioned political entity. Same story you hear everywhere.”

[Alyana Ryat]

USS Excalibur, Corridors and Bridge, C1C Alyana Ryat's POV

“Well, first of all, I do assume that I am heading with you…is this the correct assumption?" Aly nodded, there was something very reassuring about the way the science officer talked.

"Now, based on that, I should try to deliver this to you quickly. The Klingon Empire has been aiding a revolutionary group that was caused by the traditional versus non-traditional rift here. This revolutionary group holds to neither values…actually, its not quite clear what they hold steadfast too, but the Klingons have seized the opportunity to formulate total anarchy on the planet. I think you know what comes next – they move in, and it’s a colony of the Empire with a whole fresh group of slaves for that aforementioned political entity. Same story you hear everywhere.” Aly sighed,

"I don't think the ruling council is going to like that much. No one likes hearing that they've been manipulated by an outside force."
She wasn't looking forward to that conversation, also she was privately wondering whether Harad Gilles had been working with the Klingons or here of his own accord. Either way she somehow felt that their paths would cross again.

On reaching the bridge she had a channel opened to the surface and spoke one more to Elder Denaris informing him of the situation and adding that the Regent had been located and would be returned as soon as he had stabilised properly.

It seemed recent events had dulled the Elder's temper somewhat and he was more willing to talk and even asked after Captain Santos in concern.

Once that conversation was concluded Aly spoke to Doctor Winchester asking him to arrange transfer of the Regent to a Argoan medical facility as soon as he could. The Excalibur would stay in orbit another day or so allowing everyone to catch up with everything. The Aquan prisoners would likewise be returned to the planet. The Klingon ones would be returning with the Excalibur to Starbase Delta. The starbase's medical personnel would probably also take over care of Captain Santos.

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USS Excalibur, Main Engineering, SCPO Stephen Sanchez's POV

"A blocked coolant line might indeed not show up if the pressure in the valve is sufficient," Savin agreed, "and if the pressure increases, it might cause a feedback to the engines." He nodded in approval. "Well spotted ensign."

Stephen was relieved that he had done something right, he had definitely gotten off on the wrong foot with his new boss, maybe he was starting to undo some of the damage.

"Perhaps you could give me a tour of engineering?" Savin suggested mildly, "I have not served on a Constitution class vessel before. My previous assignment was Earth-bound."

"Of course, sir." Stephen jumped to his feet and began the tour, he did his best to fill the CEO in on everything that had been done to the engines in the last month or so. he didn't want to risk leaving anything out. Somewhere in the middle of the tour he realised that he was babbling be his nerves meant that he couldn't stop.

Then the CEO spoke again. "Perhaps I should leave you to what you were doing prior to my arrival," he said. "I am going to pass by sickbay for my medical, I shall return shortly. Carry on with your duties and report when I return."

Stephen nodded dumbly, wondering if he had finally blown his chance of being able to get on with the CEO. As the Vulcan left the room he returned to the impulse engine coolant lines.

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USS Excalibur, Sickbay, Doctor Wundt's POV

Doctor Winchester had finally made it back from planetside although he was now occupied with the Regent and the injured security personnel that had come back with him. Wundt sighed, he should have been off duty by now but hadn't yet been able to leave sickbay and considering the sudden influx of patients it would be a while yet before he could leave. Having the CSO in sickbay wasn't helping either.

It was then that a tall Vulcan officer arrived in sickbay. "Doctor, I am reporting for my medical," he called, offering the disk. As the doctor approached, Savin took place on the bed, which was promptly tilted backwards. "I have been ill during my voyage to Excalibur," he explained, "I was unable to take sufficient nourishment to compensate for my medical condition. I have taken insulin, and I have recovered prior to my arrival."

Wundt quickly scanned the disk and with a practised eye compared the data from previous physicals to what he was seeing now. Type one diabetes wasn't a comman ailment and Wundt had certainly never observed it in a Vulcan. He privately thought that Savin would be far more organised with his insulin doses than a human might be.

"I require regular insulin injections, and I always carry sufficient doses with me in case of emergency. I would appreciate it if you could have my daily doses sent to my quarters. I am quite capable of seeing to the injections myself."

"Of course," Doctor Wundt said. "I see no problems with your physical and am signing you off as fully fit for duty. I hope not to have to see you again in a professional capacity"

The last comment was his usual line on greeting a new member of the crew although he knew it might not be that well received by a Vulcan.

[Deleted]

"Indeed not," the Vulcan replied, bowing slightly towards the doctor, "I shall endeavour not requiring your services while either of us are on duty. Good day doctor."

Savin backed out of sickbay, relieved to be on the outside again. Since being diagnosed with diabetes, and there being no cure for Vulcans, he felt he had seen enough of sickbay already. Yet, he knew he needed these checks, he was by far unqualified to diagnose himself even though he knew best what he needed and what he could not digest. Fortunately, for him, he never was one for the sweets, unlike his wife Gwen. Their son too, enjoyed the occasional sweet.

Shaking his head, the Vulcan headed back for engineering. Seconds later, he stood before the brightly lit intermix chambers, examining the marvelous piece of technology up and down. Walking around the vertical column, he reached the console that regulated the matter/antimatter flow to both horizontal and vertical intermix chambers. The flow was still irregular, and was showing signs of tampering.

Sometime during his absence, apparently the warpcore had been restarted, though his specific orders had been to keep it shut down. Frowning, he worked the console to shut the core down a second time. "Who restarted the core?" he demanded, his tone clipping and cold, "who gave that order?"

The chambers darkened as power to it was disconnected, the lights in engineering briefly flickering as the power flow changed. With the intermix chambers now shut down, Savin approached them carefully, holding a tricorder out to take readings. To his dismay, the horizontal chamber showed signs of damage. Still frowning, he walked over to the wall communications panel. "Engineering to bridge. I have shut down the warpcore, the intermix chambers are damaged. I will restart power to the impulse engines in ten minutes, but we will remain without weapons and warp power for several hours. I will have to give the chamber a complete overhaul. Please send security down to engineering for an investigation. I want to know who has access to engineering, other than myself and my engineers. I also want a security check on my personnel, to see if there is any likelyhood to having a saboteur among them."

He looked around for a toolbox, grabbed the nearest one and slid under the horizontal column, at the same time calling out orders to his freshly appointed assistant. The core was not to be restarted until he gave the order, plus there was the danger of him being fried alive if the core would come online.

Ten minutes later, the vertical column sprang to life under Savin's specific orders and engineering lit up again as normal power was restored. Weapons would indeed take longer, but the Vulcan was confident that he and his team would repair the damage in less time than was allocated for it.

[thalin]

Aly nodded, there was something very reassuring about the way the science officer talked.

Admittedly, the Andorian found something equally reassuring in the fact that she would listen to him. He had always felt a bit out of place on the overwhelmingly human institution that this Federation Starship was, and therefore, it was a nice turn of events to have someone willing to lend him an ear.

Aly sighed,"I don't think the ruling council is going to like that much. No one likes hearing that they've been manipulated by an outside force."

A tranquil and pensive nod came from the Andorian as he listened to her, “Perhaps we should allow someone else to speak for us then? Remember of course that my assistant is a Vulcan. As such, he is incapable of lying and therefore should be easily trusted far more than a Human, Trill, or Andorian ever would be as all three of our species are emotional and act on our emotions. His is not. Furthermore, he is telepathic to some degree. I am sure that even a touch telepath should be useful in this condition.”

She wasn't looking forward to that conversation, also she was privately wondering whether Harad Gilles had been working with the Klingons or here of his own accord. Either way she somehow felt that their paths would cross again.

He was not looking forward to it either. In fact, the simple fact that he did want to have to go through with that speaking engagement was a large driving force for the suggestion of allowing the Warrant Officer on his behalf. Oh, there were certainly good reasons for that suggestion, though that was one of them. Then again, not making either of them have that chatter was certainly a good reason…

[Alyana Ryat]

USS Excalibur en route to Starbase Delta

It was two days since Aly had come back on board Excalibur and nearly a day since the ship had left orbit. She had got through her conversation with the Aquan Council, but not without drawing on every bit of diplomatic experience, persuasiveness and self-control that Zedan and Tonor before him had passed to Ryat. She felt tired and emotionally drained by the whole experience. She had taken the Science Officer's advice and had a Vulcan officer along side her to explain things when emotions started running high.

It was a relief however that both the surface dwellers and the water-breathers had both separately come to the conclusion that had they been working together from the start then the Klingons wouldn't have been able to cause so much trouble. The peace conference had started off pretty much there and then and had been going far better than either side (or Aly) had thought possible.

It was a relief to be heading back to starbase and then someone else could take charge of the unconscious Captain in sickbay and the rowdy group of Klingons in the Brig. Then she could get back to her relatively quiet existence as comms officer which would be a relief after ending up in command...

OOC: I think that just about does it for this mission. Of course, feel free to add more about the trip home etc