SB Assailant Mission 3.2 - 'The Dragon Reborn'

[Deleted]

Ezdreiana was happy to see Admiral Lin walk into the room. As of that moment only five people where there and she knew two of them, Ambassador Adislo and the Admiral himself.

"Excellent. Well I am Admiral Magellan the Base and Fleet Commander. I am afraid I must apologize for the rest of my senior staff. Life on Assailant keeps us fairly busy"

"And we of course understand, Admiral life on a starbase is sometimes very hectic," Ezdreiana said joining the conversation," its very good to see you again Admiral and I hope that you are feeling better."

Tag Magellan

"Just one question though Admiral, I was told that Captain Voran would be joining us for this meeting?" Ezdreiana asked, hoping to have a few words with the Captain.

"Well Captain Voran is investigating a distress call from our mining outposts in the nebula and Admiral Loskene is going down to Qualinost to speak with the Debrune Elders. Have you been briefed on the current situation?"

"No sir, I'm pretty sure that none of us have been briefed about the Debrune or Qualinost," Ezdreiana said her interest peaked.

"Ah well let me briefly give you a summary. 2 years ago the ancient offshoot of the Debrune reappeared when we discovered an abandoned underground city on Qualinost. There population was small and vulnerable and we allowed them to resettle this planet. Whilst not one of their core worlds it held a deep religious significance. Since then we have finished terraforming the planet and have started colonization"

"So their haven't been any problems with the colonization of the these people?" Ezdreiana asked not convinced. She herself knew first hand that these types of transitions were not easy and their always were some problems.

"Its true there are some upheavals, to start with Starfleet had planned to house Tekaran refugees here, luckily the Debrune agreed to share the planet with them, but lately politics has reared its ugly head. Some of the Debrune want to Ally with certain Romulan Factions rather than the Federation. Its created a schism in them - a sort of Cold Civil War. A key elder was assassinated a few months ago but we believe the perpetrator has handed himself in so hopefully the whole situation will be resolved."

Ezdreiana was about to respond the distressing news, but she was interrupted by the female voice of the station's computer. It was all normal chatter until Admiral Lin called the computer by a name. Ezdreiana had never heard of a computer advance enough to reach sentience, but luckily for her Admiral Lin saw her confusion and explained the situation to her.

"Well then Lily thanks for being the air that I breath," Ezdreiana said looking up at one of the monitors in the room.

"No thanks required, Ambassador," Lily responded. That response brought a smile to Ezdrei's face surprised that she had gotten a response.

"Well Ambassador, Admiral now that we know whats going on," Ezdreiana said," I would like to know how we can help?"

TAG Magellan/Adislo

[evoran]

OOC: Been busy, sorry I haven't been around for a while.

BACKPOST

=^=...elp...they are attackin....They deman......aptai...Jane..y... be... they call... the....... the...Va.d...ar.... will destroy us all...inless.....ane..ay is sent to their vess....=^=

Voran, sitting in the centre chair listened with the rest of the Galaxy's bridge to the distress call and tried to make something of it.

"What do you make of that Elarus?" Came Magellan's voice.

"Call me Voran, Admiral; everyone does." Said Voran, "Did he say Janeway? Since I've been back, I've read about that starship Voyager that was lost in the Delta Quadrant. Perhaps you should have your people go through the information on Voyager's journey and see what they come up with."

CURRENT TIME

"Mr Harris," said Voran, addressing the human lieutenant at operations, he was just learning all their names, "what is our ETA at the mining station?"

"28 minutes, sir." Replied Harris.

"Mr Morley," He said, now addressing the tactical officer, another human lieutenant, "are we at full battle readiness?"

"Yes sir, all stations report ready." Came Morley's reply.

Voran had a PADD in his hand. He was still brushing up on his knowledge of the new Galaxy Class configuration. He didn't want to be caught out at a crucial moment.

The turbolift doors at the front of the bridge opened and Dr Mercy and Healer T'Val stepped out onto the bridge.

"Dr Stuart Mercy and Healer T'Val reporting for duty, sir." Said Mercy.

Voran got up and shook their hands.

"Good to see you both again," said Voran, warmly, "but there's no time for pleasantries, I'm afraid, you two had better get to your posts; we'll be arriving at our destination in less than half an hour."

<Mercy/T'Val>

Before long, the Galaxy was dropping out of warp.

"We have arrived at the Tarion VI Asteroid Belt, sir." announced the helmsman.

"Scan the area." Ordered Voran.

"Several of the mines have been attacked, some have been obliterated completely." said Harris.

"Lifesigns?" asked Voran.

"We are picking up lifesigns scattered around the mines." Reported Harris.

"Beam them all aboard, tell sickbay to prepare for casualties." said Voran.

After a few moments, Harris reported, "We have them aboard, sir."

<Tag T'Val/Mercy>

"Sir, I'm picking up a group of ships heading for another of the asteroid mines." said Harris.

"Federation?" asked Voran?

"No...their configuration matches those of the Vaadwaur." said Harris

"The Vaadwaur?" said Voran, turning to his first officer.

"They were a species encountered by the USS Voyager." said Tol.

"Then this does have something to do with Janeway!" said Voran, "They may have attacked the mines. Set an intercept course. Red alert!"

Klaxons sounded and the bridge lighting turned to red.

"Open hailing frequencies." ordered Voran.

"Open." said Morley.

"Vaadwaur vessels, this is Captain Elarus Voran of the Federation Starship Galaxy, please explain your presence here."

<Vaadwaur>

[Magellan Lin]

"We are being hailed"
"Put it on."

"Vaadwaur vessels, this is Captain Elarus Voran of the Federation Starship Galaxy, please explain your presence here."

"I am Commander Cadrin of the Reborn Vaadwaur Empire. We are here to demand the unconditional, unnegotiable arrest and trial of Captain Janeway and the crew of the USS Voyager"

TAG Voran

"The charges are without doubt. They will be charged with murder. They betrayed a pact between our peoples and allowed our homeworld and our sleeping soldiers to be slaughtered by Turei dogs. She is to be charged with genocide."

TAG Voran

"You will do as I say because I have control of one of your mining stations. If you make any move against us - or fail to deliver them to us in 24hrs. They will be killed. A single hostage will be killed every day past the deadline until we have her. To illustrate how resolute I am you will find 3miners at these co-ordinates - they have perhaps 3hrs left of air."

TAG Voran

"I have no desire for a diplomatic resolution. You can send all the Diplomats you like... but I call the shots." Cadrin out.

The screen went blank and Cedrin grinned back to his crew.
"Its a great day fellows. Today we make our Empire proud. Deploy our fleet in to a defensive screen - be prepared for any tricks. These Federationers are not to be trusted."

[Magellan Lin]

"I appreciate your directness." Magellan noted to Ezedriana, "As it happens a situation is developing. I mentioned earlier the attacks on the mining colonies."

"yes go on?"

"Well theres a little more to it than that. We do have a clue as to the perpetrators. They made reference to Captain Janeway and its highly likely that they are the Vaadwaur."

"Vaadwaur? I m not familiar with them" Adislo commented,

"I m not surprised. The Vaadwaur were encountered breifly by the USS Voyager in the late 2370's. They were not found to be particularly friendly."

"A delta quadrant race then. It must have taken them years to come here. And why specifically here. The Voyager crew are scattered all over the galaxy"

"Indeed" Magellan agreed, "Well nearly all. I ve re-routed one particular vessel to assist us. You both will prepare a diplomatic response with him. I m hoping Voran will have more news for us soon. He should be reaching the mining outposts about now."

"Who is this we are to work with?"

"Captain Harry Kim. I ve had the Rhode Island re-routed to join you here. He shouldbe here shortly. I ll upload all information I have on the Vaadwaur to your offices memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Vaadwaur"

TAG Adislo and Ezedriana

[evoran]

As Voran stood just behind the forward helm and operations stations, the viewscreen came up with a picture of the bridge of the Vaadwaur vessel and a man who was obviously the captain, standing and looking at Voran.

"I am Commander Cadrin of the Reborn Vaadwaur Empire. We are here to demand the unconditional, unnegotiable arrest and trial of Captain Janeway and the crew of the USS Voyager." said the man.

"Under what charges?" asked Voran.

"The charges are without doubt. They will be charged with murder. They betrayed a pact between our peoples and allowed our homeworld and our sleeping soldiers to be slaughtered by Turei dogs. She is to be charged with genocide."

Commander Tol, who had doubtless been studying information on Voyager's encounter with the Vaadwaur for the last few, minutes now stood up.

"Commander Cadrin, after they had been brought out of stasis by the Voyager crew, your people turned on Voyager and attacked her." said Tol.

"Commander, a Federation vessel would not condone the attack on your people and there is still the fact that you have attacked and destroyed several of our mining outposts." said Voran.

"You will do as I say because I have control of one of your mining stations. If you make any move against us - or fail to deliver them to us in 24hrs. They will be killed. A single hostage will be killed every day past the deadline until we have her. To illustrate how resolute I am you will find 3miners at these co-ordinates - they have perhaps 3hrs left of air." replied Cadrin.

"Commander, perhaps we should meet and attempt to meet a diplomatic solution." said Voran.

"I have no desire for a diplomatic resolution. You can send all the diplomats you like... but I call the shots. Cadrin out."

The screen went back to the asteroid field.

"Get me Admiral Lin on subspace." Voran said to Morley and headed into the ready room.

He sat down at the desk and activated the computer. Admiral Lin's face appeared on the screen.

"Admiral, we have a problem. It's a race from the Delta Quadrant, they're called the Vaadwaur. What do you know about them?" Said Voran.

<Magellan>

"They want us to give them Admiral Janeway or they're going to start killing hostages. What are my orders?" said Voran.

<Magellan>

[Magellan Lin]

Magellan took the call from Voran in a small room just off from the Fishtank.

"Admiral, we have a problem. It's a race from the Delta Quadrant, they're called the Vaadwaur. What do you know about them?" Said Voran.

Magellan frowned
"We were beginning to suspect as much given the scraps of distress calls we got. My biggest concern is the safety of our people and then where they have come from? The Delta Quadrant is a long way away - they use sub-space corridors but Janeway didnt think they extended this far and those that did exist were controlled by the Turei. What do they want?"


"They want us to give them Admiral Janeway or they're going to start killing hostages. What are my orders?" said Voran.

"Well thats not going to happen. The Federation has never given into threats. We need to find a way around this. I ve called in some help - expect Captain Kim and Rhode Island with you in a few hours. He ll bring some diplomats to try and negotiate with them. Althiugh judging from Janeways reports they probably won't take to it. Your orders are to rescue and protect our people and then to establish how they entered this quadrant."

"Aye Sir"

"Magellan Out."

Magellan returned to the room,

"Its as we expected - I need one of you or both if need be to go with Captain Kim and assist Captain Voran"

TAG Adislo and Ezedrirana

[Deleted]

"Captain Harry Kim. I've had the Rhode Island re-routed to join you here. He should be here shortly. I'll upload all information I have on the Vaadwaur to your offices

Captain Kim, Ezdreiana of course knew about the former operations officer of the USS Voyager. In fact she would be hard press to meet a Federation citizen who didn't know all of Voyager's senior staff.

Before Ezdreiana could respond to the information that had just been presented to her, Admiral Magellan had been called away. Ezdrei couldn't help but feel as things had just gotten a lot harder.

"The Vaadwaur, Captain Chakotay in his reports described them as Dragon teeth," Ezdreiana said remembering the report that she had read. Voyager had done much for the Federation and they were still working on the information that they brought back home.

"Its as we expected - I need one of you or both if need be to go with Captain Kim and assist Captain Voran"

"Admiral I'm more than willingly to go, I will not stand by back here safe," Ezdreiana said as she stood up and met the Admiral's eyes.

TAG Magellan/ Adislo

"Good, I'm very pleased to know that you will be their Ambassador," Magellan said," the Rhode Island will be arriving shortly, I have contacted Captain Kim already, he is expecting the two of you."

"Understood, Admiral, if you will excuse me I will go get somethings that I will need," Ezdreiana said as he shortly left the room and headed towards her quarters where she took a picture of her family, her meditation book and her IDIC medallion, the only things that she really needed.

=^=Ambassador Ezdreiana report to the Rhode Island=^=

"My first mission," Ezdreiana said to herself," I never would of thought that it would be so important."

[Deleted]

T'Val and Mercy both walked onto the bridge to report for duty, and they were warmly greeted by the El-Aurian captain. The Vulcan was pleased to see him again, and in good health at that, as she had taken quite a liking to the man. "It is a pleasure to meet with you again captain," she responded, equally warmly, "though I would have to remind you to stop by soon for your medical check-up. There is no immediate hurry, but sooner would be better than later."

"There's no time for pleasantries, I'm afraid," the captain continued, "you two had better get to your posts; we'll be arriving at our destination in less than half an hour."

"Understood captain," the Vulcan healer replied, and headed back towards the turbolift, gently pulling Stuart with her. Once they were alone in the turblolift, she smiled again. "Could not remain behind without me, could you?" she chided him playfully.

Yet their happiness didn't last long; they had barely gotten sickbay up and running smoothly before the call came through to prepare for casualties. No sooner had they acknowledged that call or casualties were indeed beamed in.

"We have them," T'Val announced as she moved in to have a look at them. There were 7 bodies, though the nurses moved in to cover two of them up straight away. She shook her head sadly, wondering who or what would attack harmless miners. The five remaining were all of different species, and from just looking at them she judged them to be Klingon, Human, Tellarite, Vulcan and another Human. However, taking a closer look told her that all five of them were of mixed blood.

She looked up at Mercy, a strange gleam in her eyes. "I do hope they catch whoever has so brutally attacked them," she stated, her voice oddly flat. "The two deceased were children! Barely sixteen standard years old, and these five are also barely in their twenties!"

<Mercy>

T'Val tapped her combadge. "Captain, out of the seven we have received two arrived dead. The remaining five are in serious condition and I cannot make an estimate on their survival rate as yet. We shall endeavour to keep you up to date on their condition. Please warn us if there are more incoming."

<Voran>

[adislo]

"Its as we expected - I need one of you or both if need be to go with Captain Kim and assist Captain Voran"

"Admiral I'm more than willingly to go, I will not stand by back here safe," Ezdreiana said.

Adislo didn’t hesitate. “I’m also willing to go,” she replied. “Although I don’t need to do if you only need one ambassador,” she said. But she doubted more diplomacy would hurt...

"I feel we need all teh help we can take. Your on the team Ambassador"

“Is there anything else important I should know?” she asked.

"I ll keep checking our archives and update you en route."

She went by her quarters to pick up some clothing, as well as other belongings. She used a PADD to download the information about the Vaadwaur, which she was going to read soon. She then went to the docking bay.

She realized the Rhode Island hadn’t arrived yet, so she read the PADD. Adislo studied the information, and frowned. It didn’t sound like these people would be very susceptible to diplomacy, but she realized that there was no point to not trying.

The ship arrived, and Adislo went up to the bridge. “Captain,” she greeted.

[mercy]

T'Val and Stuart headed back to sickbay for final preparations of incoming patients. Within a half an hour, they were as busy as being on one of the SBA intensive care wards.

28 miners had been beamed aboard in various conditions. Most with plasma burns on their torso and limbs, others with broken bones from falling debris and collapsing mineshafts. All resultant from the attacks.

There were no pleasantries to be had for the moment. T'Val and Stuart were kept busy doing what they did best...saving lives.

[Magellan Lin]

The Nova Class Variant dropped out of warp just at the outer edge of Assailants defense perimeter. The vessel was state of the art one of the first few to roll off the assembly line the paint was scarcely dry.
Captain Harry Kim, once of the illustrious USS Voyager was sat in on the bridge. Captain. It was something he had long strived for and he had finally made it, even so he couldnt help worry that if it werent for his fame from being on Voyager he would never have been promoted.

He looked about his command with pride. He had assembled a good crew one or two from Voyager, even after all these years there was an affinity between them. Some might think that being cooped up together for 7 years people would want to get away from each other, but the reverse had been true. For many they only had each other. Their experiences and what they had missed in the Alpha Quadrant set them apart.

"Terry, Contact Assailant and have the Ambassadors brought on board. I ll meet them in the conference room. As soon as they are on board go to maximum warp and rendezvous with the Galaxy and Vanquisher"

Harry rose and checked his uniform. He left the bridge and entered the small conference room to wait. He was disturbed by the arrival of the Vaadwaur especially given their demands. They wouldnt given in of course, but there presence begged some important questions, how many Vaadwaur were there, How did they come to be in the Alpha Quadrant? Answers to all these he hoped he could find an answer to, and that the diplomats could negotiate the safe release of the hostages.

TAG Adislo and Ezedriana

OOC: Okay lets get the Rhode Island to teh Galaxy. Dont forget Galaxy you need to rescue those 3 miners. and work out how many hostages the Vaadwaur still have etc etc.

[Deleted]

"Ambassador Ezdreiana, Ambassador Adislo I'm Captain Harry Kim and I would like to welcome you to the Rhode Island," Captain said once he noticed the two ambassadors enter his conference room.

"Captain Kim its an honor to finally meet you," Ezdreiana said," my son has followed the careers of all of your old shipmates from Voyager. He will jealous that I got to meet one of his childhood heroes."

"Thankyou" Harry replied weakly as self deprecating as ever. Such adulation made him highly uneasy.

"Captain is there anything that you can tell us about these Vaadwaur?" Ezdreiana asked knowing that Starfleet reports never told the entire story.

"Only that they are not to be trusted. Neelix told us tales of what the old Vaadwaur were like. They are arrogant and aggressive. They will do anything to get what they want."

=^=Captain sorry to interrupt, just wanted to report that we are 23 hours from the Galaxy and Vanquisher=^=

Twenty three hours, that was the time that Ezdreiana had to come up with a suitable solution to this crisis. She knew that under no circumstances they were going to give Admiral Janeway to the Vaadwaur, so she would have to find a way to satisfy their lust for blood and revenge.

[Deleted]

Of the additional miners that had been beamed aboard, half was already out of danger, three more had died and the rest was still in critical condition. To T'Val's dismay the majority of these injured were also barely out of childhood. She continued her extensive care for the first five of mixed blood that had been beamed aboard, trying her best to keep them alive.

One of them, a girl which T'Val had estimated to be approximately twenty-one standard years old and of Klingon/Vulcan heritage, was declining rapidly. "Computer, activate EMH!" T'Val shouted, knowing Mercy would be too busy in his own ward to come to her assistance.

"Please state...." the EMH began, but was quickly cut of by T'Val, who beckoned him over.

"I need you to apply pressure to the pressure points of her circulation," T'Val instructed, "her bloodpressure is as low as that of a Vulcan, but in her current state that may cause blood clots. By building up pressure and then releasing it, we may keep her circulation going until we know the extend of her injuries."

However, just as the EMH moved in to assist, without much protest, the monitor at the girl's feet started beeping furiously. "Quickly!" T'Val shouted, as she too moved in to work on the girl. "Nurse! Cortical stimulators!" She wasn't about to let the girl die on her, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't revive the girl.

At last, one of the nurses had to physically pull her away from the girl. "She's dead healer," the nurse insisted, "there's nothing more you can do for her. However there are other youngsters that may still prosper from your excellent care."

T'Val shook the nurse off, while she watched the EMH pull a blanket over the deceased's face. "This should not have happened," she said sadly, as she tapped her combadge. "Captain, I fear I have more grave news. We lost another of the patients we received. However, I sincerely doubt that what we have received were the miners we were looking for. If I look at their physical well being, before they were injured that is, I find no evidence of them ever having worked in a mine."

<Voran>

[Magellan Lin]

The Rhode Island leapt across the stars to the rendezvous. Harry ensured the Ambassadors were assigned suitable quarters and then retired to his ready room to think.

As the Rhode Island entered the edge of the asteroid belt a flash appeared in front of them.
The helmsman quickly pulled the ship out of warp and into a steep dive to avoid a ship that suddenly appeared out of the coruscation of light.

Harry was quickly on the bridge recognising in an instant the vessel.
"Raise shields and arm weapons" he ordered, "Hail them"

"Federation Ship. We should have known you are harbouring our enemies."

Harry rose to his feet and indicated for the Ambassadors to be summoned.

"I can assure you. The Federation is not the enemy of teh Turei nor are we harbouring the Vaadwaur - quite the reverse in fact. They have our people hostages."

"Justice for awakening them" The Turei captain replied tersly. "Either way we are here to destory Cadrin and his men"


- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


Cadrin paced the bridge of his attack cruiser and checked oncemore that the hostages were split so that some where left on the captured mining station and the rest were placed on his ships. He was not taking any chances especially as his sensors had detected Federation reinforcements and a Turei ship.

He ordered a comm link to the Galaxy.

"Captain Voran - That other Starfleet ship better have Janeway or else a hostage will be killed. I have also noted the arrival of our enemy - the Turei. You will ensure they cause us no harm. I have moved some hostages to our ships. If they attack us they will kill your own people too. Ensure that we are protected from them or I will kill 2 hostages instead of 1. Cadrin out"

[mercy]

Stuart had lost two of his patients and he knew that T'Val had lost a couple as well. He had seen her shortly after the first loss, and he had noted the silent grief in her face.

She was a healer, one that took the loss of life as a heavy burden. Stuart was affected as well, but not to the degree as T'Val. He had seen many accident victims as an EMT. They were never a pretty sight, and he had built up a type of barrier on the affects of his emotions. He had realized that death was indeed a way of life.

Coming out of the private room of his last patient that he needed to take care of, Stuart saw T'val leaning up against a wall. Her face was buried within one of her hands while the other arm was folded across her chest.

He walked up to her and gave her a slight kiss on her forhead. "What's wrong?"

"I have lost another one..." Her voice trailed off into a silent murmur.

With a PADD still in his hand, Stuart reached his arms around her for a reassuring embrace. He felt her agony as she silently cried onto his chest. "She was so young...her whole life still ahead of her..." Her voice sobbing as she spoke.

"We can't save them all, T'Val. Just think of the many that you have saved."

<T'Val>

[Deleted]

T'Val looked up at him, grateful for his presence alone. "These are children," she choked, though her voice betrayed both anguish and held back fury. "Whoever attacked a colony of children must be low on morals indeed!"

She leaned against him, as he continued to hold her, while she wiped the tears from her eyes. When she looked up at him next, and gently disentangled herself from his embrace, her eyes held a determined and very odd sparkle. "There are still four in my care that may survive," she said softly, "but due to their unique genetics I am at a loss as how to proceed. One of them is a Romulan/Andorian mix, something which I have never seen before. Another is Tellarite/Klingon, another very unique individual. They are both not even twenty years old."

She scowled to herself, trying hard not to show him how furious she was, and not just at herself for her inability to save these youngsters. "I wonder how these children ended up here, and where their parents are." She looked up at him again. "Captain Voran mentioned miners, three in particular. Were they among the injured you treated?" Her voice trailed off as she added "or the dead?"

<Mercy>

Just as he was about to respond, one of the patient's monitors started beeping wildly, and T'Val ran from him without another word, her attention all focused on her patient. The EMH was already present, but she bodily shoved him aside. She sighed with relief when she found out her patient was stabilizing, and this was what had caused the monitor's alarm. The settings had been normal for another type of hybrid, while her patient was abnormal, but when she stabilized to normal for her, it went abnormal for the settings.

She frowned at the EMH. "And you call yourself a doctor," she scolded him, "you should have warned me, before you started adjusting settings for her. Then I could have told you that she is Romulan and not Vulcan, therefor her blood composition is different, especially since she is half Andorian."

The EMH frowned back but smartly did not respond, somehow he knew better than to argue with a Vulcan.

[adislo]

Adislo arrived on the bridge in time to overhear the ending part of the conversation.

"Justice for awakening them," she overheard. "Either way we are here to destory Cadrin and his men"

Adislo glanced at Captain Kim to show him that she intended to speak, then she stepped forward a little, the slight movement bringing her to the attention of the Turei captain.

“It sounds more like you want revenge than justice. The miners on the other ship did not awaken the Vaadwaur, and if you are truly willing to let innocents die just so you can have your justice-it can’t be real justice.”

Adislo paused, trying to recall the information she had read, and continued on, hoping she had remembered correctly, but she didn’t know that much about the Voyager. “The Voyager would not have awakened the Vaadwaur if they had known what a menace they were. Voyager was just looking for a way home, a way to return to their families. The way to solve this problem is not to argue with each other, it’s to cooperate in a way that no lives will be unnecessarily lost,” Adislo admonished.

<Tag Ezdreiana and Lin (Kim)>

[Magellan Lin]

JP with T val


The miner hung in space tethered by a thin strand that weaved its way like an umbilical to an asteroid. The form was lifeless but the Galaxy's Ops officer assured everyone that an indistinct biosign was registering. The asteroid filled with refractive rocks and so beaming was out of the question and so Voran had given the go ahead for a Space walk to retrieve the miner.

T'Val looked thoughful when the Galaxy's first officer came to tell her that she was going to be on the team that was about to go for a spacewalk. "Are you certain?" T'Val asked, swallowing back her fear; it had been quite some time since she'd done any zero-G training and she had never liked doing it at that. At the first officer's nod she sighed. "I really think Doctor Mercy would be better suited," she protested. However, minutes later she found herself struggling into an EV-suit. "Why did I let myself be talked into this?" she muttered, as a crewman attached the helmet. She found the suit uncomfortable, and extremely claustrophobic. "Well let us go."

"You ll need to by first contact" the crewman noted, "We'll handle the tethers. You get across there and check vitals and apply any medication. Theres a respiraory valve in the support pack if you need to administer any drugs, - they will need to be gaseous of course. you set?"

T'Val nodded, then realized she'd been holding her breath. Her visor fogged over as she exhaled. "Can we not just get him in here, so that we do not have to go through this difficult procedure?"

"I suppose we could go over cut the tether and pull him in - but he may be dead by them. McCallow here will be with you. Stick close to him, he ll deal with the tether whilst you check him. Sound good?"

She gazed out the hatch briefly, then turned back to the crewman. "Can we not attach him to one of our spare air supplies and get him back in here?" She really didn't want to go out there, but it didn't look like she had any other choice. "Let us get this over with," she finally sighed, "the sooner we get this done, the sooner we can get him some decent help."

"Here take this tether" McCallow offered, T Val took it and attached it and then nervously made the first tenative steps. Out before them the miner moved slightly.

"A little to the right," T'Val spoke, her voice shaking. She shook her head in annoyance and tried focusing on her prospect patient. "I cannot reach him, you need to veer more, and I need to go more to the right. Yes that is it!" She felt her stomach turn as she floated out into space and finally reached the miner. "What do I do with this tether?" she finally asked, not really knowing what to do with it. "He is alive!" she finally reported, silently cheering to herself, "barely, but he is alive!"

As T'Val pulled herself closer to the patient the miner rotated away from her. She pulled on him so that he span back. The faceplate came into view. Inside the helmet was not the human she expected but a reptilian looking man with ink black eyes.

Startled, she let go of her patient, but then chided herself for doing so. "You are going to be all right," she whispered at him, not sure whether he (or she for that matter) could hear her. "I am going to get you back to that ship over there." With a gloved hand she gestured over her shoulder. She had no idea what species the reptilian was, but one thing was certain: it was not going to die on her watch. "What do I do with the spare tether?" she called again, hoping the crewman would answer

The alien grinned, a grin that was not comforting. Quiet the reverse. His arm shot out grabbing T Vals tightly. He used her to spin himself round to kick McCallows faceplate, sending him spiralling away. T Val pulled back snatching her arm back. The alien ignored her and tapped a device at his belt. In a flash of light all three of them were gone.

T Val shook her head in bewilderment and looked up. Several men stood around McCallow and her weapons levelled at them. "good evening. I am Cedrin and you are hostages for the Vaadwaur Empire".

[Deleted]

"The who?" T'Val querried, as she fought down an utterly sick feeling. First she couldn't tell up from down and suddenly she was crouching somewhere, in an unknown place.

Her first concern was her buddy, McCallow. "Are you all right?" she asked him, then turned to their captors. "He is unwell, I need to attend to him." She didn't await their answer, but struggled out of her EV suit, but not before checking that the air was breathable for them, and not toxic. She tossed the bulky suit aside and fumbled for her tricorder. "Breathe," she urged him, "slowly, count your breaths." She followed her own suggestions but her partner's condition concerned her.

McCallow seemed to be conscious, but also in need of extra oxygen. She grabbed a spare mask from her medkit, which had been hidden away in a compartment in her suit and placed it over his nose and mouth. Now that she was busy doctoring, she was completely oblivious to the reptilians which still stood aiming their weapons at them.

T'Val didn't care in the least, she had only eyes for McCallow, who seemed to be doing better now. At the back of her mind, she felt Yade's concern for her. ~do not come here~ she thought, willing the little green to stay with Mercy.

<Vaadwaur/McCallow>

~~

Back in Galaxy's sickbay, Yade sat on her haunches, fannin her wings and chirping in distress. She had been only too aware of her bondmate's fear of zero-G, her startled behaviour at finding a reptilian rather than a human out in space, and her sudden disappearance.

The green firelizard screeched, trying to get Mercy's attention, but only D'Beren, now present in sickbay as well, noticed. The boy gazed intently at the green, trying to figure out what she was trying to say. With his two years of age, and having grown up with his parent's three firelizards, he knew by now how to tell when they were pleased, happy, angry or in severe distress by looking at their eyes.

D'Beren saw Yade's eyes whirl red and yellow, a sign of danger. Looking around, the two-year old spotted Stuart Mercy. "Mercy!" he called, not yet used to the fact of calling him either uncle Stuart, or just Stuard. Daddy didn't quite seem fitting to call this man by, even though the boy foresaw him and his mother spending the rest of their lives together. Perhaps later, but certainly not now. "Mercy!" he called again, pointing to Yade, "something is wrong with her."

<Mercy>

[mercy]

Stuart had no answer to T'Val's question of the three particular miners that everyone was looking for. After stabilizing another patient, a request came through that one of the doctors would be needed for a space walk.

It was a short debate that concluded with the fact that Stuart would be more useful aboard the ship, and that T'Val could handle the situation with this floating miner. She had confided in Stuart about her fear of not having solid ground underneath and possibly floating away. Stuart comforted her some more and reassured her that there was nothing to be frightened of. She would be in good hands.

While she was out on her space walk mission, Stuart continued monitoring and caring for the rest of the patients. Most were stable with a few elevations of various readings that were then assuaged by increasing or decreasing dosages of medicines. D'Beren was a great help as well, holding the trays that carried some of the medicines. It was the best Stuart could do to help keep him occupied while he was watching him at the same time.

While Stuart was busy going over one of his patients' charts, he barely noticed the green fire lizard that belonged to T'Val. He could here it making a fuss in the background, but ignored it thinking that it and D'Beren were having some fun.

It wasn't until D'Beren pulled on Stuarts smock that he had gotten the message. "Mercy!" he called again, pointing to Yade, "something is wrong with her." Stuart looked over at the green fire lizard and couldn't help but notice the fire red/yellow eyes. Never having seen Yades eyes that way before was cause for alarm. ~The Galaxies...T'Val...~

"D'Beren, please remain here and continue to help the nurses. I'll go find out what's going on. Yade, make sure he does so." As soon as Stuart was clear of sickbay and of D'Beren's ears, he tapped his comm badge. "Captain Voran, what's happened to T'Val?"

The Captain decided to wait until Stuart made it to the bridge. Once there, Stuart was given all the details of what had happened. "What are you doing to find her...them?" Stuart was beside himself, remembering how he told her that everything would be alright during this space walk.

<Voran>

[Deleted]

Yade chirped in response, settling on the boy's shoulder, fanning her wings to keep her balance. D'Beren yelped as he felt the green's talons dig in, and tried to shake her off. "Bad Yade!" he announced, as he let go of the tray when Yade took sudden flight. "Now lookit!" he said angrily, scurrying to pick up the fallen hyposprays.

He looked up when he saw a set of wheels stop in front of him. "Need help with that little one?" a gentle voice came from above him.

D'Beren looked up to see Rayna and he smiled. "Rayna!" he exclaimed, moving to clamber onto her lap, the hyposprays forgotten. "What are you doing here?"

Rayna didn't hear a word of what the little boy was saying, and since he was no longer looking up at him, she couldn't see it either. "Look at me when you talk little one," she said softly, "for I can't hear you." She pointed at Yade, whose eyes where wheeling the white of danger. "What's with her?"

D'Beren's face fell and he looked up at his mother's friend with sadness. "Mommy," he said, uttering the single word with even more sadness. "Yade acts on what mommy feels. Mercy's gone to check."

Rayna frowned and looked over at the green firelizard. She'd seen the creature in action, and had also seen other creatures in action, knowing that the bondmate's mood was usually echoed by the firelizard. If the green was indicating danger, then the bondmate must be subjected to it. "I'm sure she'll be fine," the Romulan woman assured the boy, gently running a hand through his hair, "Mercy'll be back soon. Why don't you wait here with me?"

D'Beren nodded, wiping tears from his eyes, as he clung to the disabled woman.

[evoran]

"Captain Voran - That other Starfleet ship better have Janeway or else a hostage will be killed. I have also noted the arrival of our enemy - the Turei. You will ensure they cause us no harm. I have moved some hostages to our ships. If they attack us they will kill your own people too. Ensure that we are protected from them or I will kill 2 hostages instead of 1. Cadrin out."

This wasn't good. As far as he could see, there wasn't much way to get the hostages out. He couldn't attempt a rescue operation, the hostages would be killed. Now he had the added element of the Turei, and from what limited research he had done on them, he didn't think they'd be any better off.

Soon, the ops officer had identified another lifesign in the asteroid field. Voran ordered a spacewalk to retrieve the person. It wasn't long before the two crewmembers were out attempting to retrieve the survivor.

As Voran watched on the viewscreen, they all disappeared in a flash of light.

"What happened? Where are they?" asked Voran.

"Tracking..." said ops, "They're on the Vaadwaur vessel sir."

Soon, a distraught looking Doctor Mercy appeared on the bridge.

"What are you doing to find her...them?" Asked Mercy.

"We already know where they are, on the Vaadwaur vessel. Doctor, I suggest you attempt to control your emotions, we'll do everything we can to get them back."

<Mercy>

"Get me Cadrin." said Voran.

Cadrin appeared on the screen.

"Why have you taken our crewmembers?" asked Voran.

<Cadrin>

[Magellan Lin]

Cadrin smiled falsely.
"I wanted to ensure that things go the way I intend them to. My limited experience with your people leads me to believe you can be as... cunning as we."

Elarus took a moment to collect himself before replying.
"Surely there is some way to negotiate our way out of this. That ship arriving is carrying our Ambassadorial staff."
Cedrin shrugged,
Then Elarus changed tack,
"You might be annoyed with Voyager and Janeway, but I think there is a way out for all of us. So few of you survived the hibernation, life must be hard... few resources, little food, medicine... supplies."
Cedrins eyes narrowed,
"And?"
"And we could perhaps make restitution to you. Killing Janeway will achive nothing, dealing with us will get you all those things."
Cedrin paused, such a deal would elevate him amongst the Vaadwaur perhaps even to leader.
"Very well. I will retain my hostages for now but I agree to your idea. We shall meet - arrange it."
Cedrin snapped off the comm.

Voran sighed, he had at least opened up a dialogue.

"Sir I have Captain Kim on the line."
"Put him on."
"Captain. How are things progressing?"
"So so" Voran replied, "They ve taken two of my crew hostage but are now willing to talk."
Harry nodded,
"We'll be alongside in a few minutes. I can transfer an Ambassador to you to run the negotiations."
"Only 1?"
"Yes I think the other one should stay with me as I try and deal with the Turei - They are going to attack the Vaadwaur at their first opportunity regardless of our people held there."
"Very good Captain. We'll see if we cant get this Cedrin to back down."
"And I ll soothe the Turei. Kim out."

TAG Adislo and Ezedriana

[Deleted]

After seeing to McCallow's needs and determining that he wasn't badly injured, beyond a dent in his pride, T'Val straightened, giving their captors a cold stare. "Starfleet does not take kindly to its personnel being held hostage," she stated, "nor do they negiotate with terrorists."

She caught McCallow's cautioning glance, silently warning her not to antagonize them. She nodded in return, but didn't waver her cold stare from the reptiles. Instead of getting an answer, the two of them were grabbed roughly by the arms, and escorted to private quarters. Just before they left what T'Val assumed had been the bridge, she heard Voran's familiar voice.

A prod from a weapon in her back made her move on, rather than engaging in the human desperate act of shouting for help. The Vulcan had no desire to get killed, and she certainly didn't wish to be the cause of her fellow captive's death. Their new 'home' was obviously decorated to fit the needs of the reptilian species, the air damp and humid, furniture was sparse and the bathroom contained a huge tub.

She coughed ever so slightly as the humid air started to gain effect on her, but she was determined not to let McCallow know. They both had more pressing matters to be concerned about. ~come to me Yade~ she thought, once they were finally alone. No less than ten seconds later, an agitated little dragon appeared mid-air. She creeled and screeched, demanding attention, demanding to be reassured.

"We are all right," she reassured her friend, "I want you to have a little look around this ship, and then return to Mercy. I know you can make him understand. If not, find Dinas and have him inform Magellan."

McCallow just stared at her as she engaged in a monologue with the creature. "What is that?" he asked, awed.

"This is Yade, my firelizard," T'Val explained, "she is still young, but she is very intelligent. Look, she is concerned for the both of us, and knows that we are in danger." She motioned towards the speedily white whirling eyes, which were speckled with red. "She is also angry, and very hungry."

Turning back to Yade, she gently stroked her back. "Go now my little friend, and I am certain Stuart will reward you with a good meal. Otherwise you may harass Magellan in feeding you, as he has Dinas to feed too." With an affirmative chirp, Yade set off and disappeared as quickly as she had come. "And now we wait," T'Val explained, once more suppressing a series of coughs, "I hope they will not take too long to realize where we are."

Galaxy bridge
Yade appeared out of nowhere, chittering wildly as she attempted to land on Mercy's left shoulder. She fanned her wings, getting her right wingtip caught in his hair, screeching, trying to get him to understand her message. She dug her talons into his shoulder for balance, as she continued to chitter and screech.

<Mercy/Magellan/Voran>

[evoran]

Voran let out a breath as Cadrin's face disappeared from the viewscreen. He had no intention of giving the Vaadwaur supplies, after all, the Federation didn't negotiate with terrorists. But, at least he had bought them some time.