Mission 94:1001: Khhe Rhae - Clean Start

[Deleted]

When a message had come through from Terrh asking if she could join him in engineering, Jhu had completely disregarded it. When she had first joined the War Academy, she had frequently got messages from people saying they wanted to be her friend, or wanted some help on an assignment. But every time, they had turned into mean pranks played against her. So very soon she had got used to ignoring such things. When she was ordered to do something by a superior, she did it as she had no choice. But when requested by an equal, she could quite easily let it pass her by.

So, as the hours passed, and everyone else on the bridge came and went, all beavering around to fix the problems Uhlan Hir had created, or working at some other task, Jhu stood at her station and ran full diagnostics and trials on every system she had at her disposal. Twice. She never tired of the work, her sharp mind instead endeavouring to check every part of what was happening, searching for any way to increase output, even by 0.1%. She turned the sensors onto the ship itself for a moment, and inputted a series of restriction that resulted in it showing her the location of Uhlan Terrh, based not upon his signature node, but instead on some biological facts she'd noticed.

She frowned as she saw where he was, and quickly expanded her search to see if he was alone. He wasn't. As far as Jhu could tell, their Chief Engineer was having a secret meeting with a member of the Tal Diann. She let her eyebrows crease for a second, and then relaxed them. It was none of her concern what they were doing. Maybe they were plotting against the Sub Commander, maybe they were plotting against her, maybe they had simply chanced across each other somehow. She considered letting Sub Commander Echal know, but decided against it. He'd made it clear that he wanted nothing to do with her, so she'd return the favour.

OOC: Sorry for the delay, I only scan read the mission and completely missed the way in that you gave me Terrh. I then kept meaning to post, but I guess you just get into a rut sometimes of waiting for something interesting to happen that you want to be involved in, and end up completely forgetting to do anything! I apologise that this is so short, but its just something to get me back on the board again.

[Deleted]

On the bridge, Centurion Dor’vel leaned back comfortably in the executive officer’s chair. The Sub Commander was off the bridge, not in the ready room, and so the ambitious officer was rather enjoying the illusion of command. Technically, though he was the highest ranked officer on the bridge and assuming the role, the person in charge was actually the Chief Science Officer by position, as a senior officer, but there was no way Dor’vel or any other bridge officer was going to acknowledge or admit that unless it was unavoidable. However, if some sort of problem arose, they would all defer any and all blame to her in a heartbeat. That’s just the way it was.

When a hail came through, the Centurion jumped slightly. While enjoying his mock tour of duty being in ‘command,’ he hadn’t really expected to have to do anything, and had almost hoped nothing would come up in a way. Glancing quickly towards science, Dor’vel decided to deal with this himself to see where it led. “Answer it,” he ordered before turning to the viewscreen to see an older Commander appear.

“We have a new crewmember to deliver to you,” the Commander announced rather unceremoniously, entirely ignoring any of the usual pleasantries or introductions.

Hesitating for a moment Dor’vel debated his options. Beaming someone over at warp wasn’t exactly recommended, but dropping out of warp would require either speaking with Sub Commander Echal or coming to a stop without his permission. Neither seemed desirable. Finally, the Centurion just blurted out, “Beam him over.” At the incredulous look on the viewscreen, he added. “We’re only at warp one, and if you match our heading and velocity, we won’t have to restart our current tests.”

While that was technically true, it wasn’t necessary and still not recommended, but the Commander shrugged, not seeming to care. Transmit your navigational data. We will energize when in position,” he responded dryly before cutting the channel.

Nodding once to helm, the Centurion shifted a little in his seat. The bridge was eerily silent, with no one saying anything, either good or bad, but he knew they all knew he was taking a risk, but most if not all of them would have done the same thing in his place, except perhaps the science officer, but she didn’t count as one of them. After a several minutes of stressful worry, the science station began to signal, but the officer at tactical spoke first. “Transport complete, Uhlan Taranek is onboard.”

Sighing in relief, Centurion Dor’vel relaxed in his seat once more having dodged a disrupter blast. It seemed this temporarily in command thing wasn’t so bad after all.

~

Waiting in the transporter room, Tamir nervously straightened her uniform. She’d become so accustomed to civilian clothing again while on Assailant that it still felt strange to be in a Romulan uniform again, albeit a ‘Romulan civilian’s uniform.’ It was uncomfortable enough being a civilian on a military vessel, worse even than a simple crewmember, but to add the uniform only made it worse. So far she’d been mostly ignored, but the stares of the medical staff hadn’t gone unnoticed. They all knew she had boarded the S’Harien with Govan and were trying to figure out what, if anything, that meant. The nurse had forgotten the nightmare of Romulan military service, the tension, suspicion, and politics... Maybe she made the wrong choice.

For some reason, Tamir was ordered to welcome the new Chief Medical Officer, though she had no idea why. Perhaps it was because she was new or a civilian, or maybe even because she was currently an unknown. Whatever the reason was, when a message had been received detailing the arrival of their new boss, Citizen H’railiun had been selected as the welcoming committee. While waiting, the Uhlan at the transporter controls had been eyeing her, which made Tamir a little nervous, but she had no choice but to stay where she was until the newest doctor arrived.

As the communication finally came through, she tried to put on a brave face. After all, she was here to meet her new boss, and that meant showing no fear. As the familiar sound of a transport in progress began and the figure of the new member of the S’Harien crew coalesced on the padd, Tamir stepped forward. “Welcome to the S’Harien, Sir. I’m Citizen Tamir H’railiun, one of the nurses,” she stated quietly.

<Tag Sural>

[Deleted]

The transporter released its grip on him in a rough fashion. Sural could almost feel the wrench of the lock as the final few molecules of his being appeared on the pad. He felt dizzy a moment, realising this to be an effect of an at warp transport he dismissed it, thankfull that his atoms had not been scattered across this part of the galaxy.

He looked up slowly and blinked, banishing the feint stars fluttering before his eyes, tell tale signs of oxygen deprivation to his retina. He was met by a young nurse. She blabbered at him. Sural barely acknowldegd her name.

"I see my child" he eventually grunted. As the disoreintation faded his wits returned to him.

"Thank you for the greetings Tamir. My belongings? Did they survive the transport?"

"Yes " an Uhlan at the transport controls nodded. He stepped down from the console and headed for the medium sized case that stood beside him.

"Leave it!" Sural barked and then smiled "Sorry. I did not mean to startle you. I will carry my case. I am not so old that I cannot manage. Besides it contains my research and no-one comes between it and me" his smile faded a little as he looked at Tamir "No one" he added sotto voce.

"Please, lead the way. I am eager to see our facilities and then I should freshen up and report to the Commander."

Tamir nodded and led the older man from the transporter room. Sural was unfamiliar with Valdore Class vessels and allowed himself to be led first to his quarters and then onto the medical bay. He tried not to sniff at the meagre resources. He was used to the state of the art technology offered at his research institute.

"Thankyou Tamir. I will require a sealed bio hazard laboratory for my research. See to it whilst I find our Sub-Commander and report in."

[Deleted]

Heading back to the engine room he was still concerned about the ship. He had helped build her when he was appointed her chief engineer. He knew every nick and cranny of this ship every system from top to bottom. His gut was telling him things were going to get worse before they got better. When a alarm went off the cloak had failed now he knew something was wrong it wasn't a simple system problem somebody was messing with his ship.

Running into the engine room his staff were already busy working on the problem. " Report whats going on with the cloak all systems were checked out." His staff was at a lost and he started to wonder if it was one of his staff after all it would make some sense. Still they were the best hand pick by him they wouldn't have messed up the attemp on the sub commander like that.

Looking around he made a judgement call and knew the sub commander wouldn't be happy. " Take us out of warp signal the bridge and let them know until all systems are checked again they are going to have to live with impulse." Now he would have to see if his partner ship with the Chief intell officer would work he know in a few mins either he would live or be spending some time getting to know how cruel there sub-commander was.

[Deleted]

As she escorted him, first to his quarters and then to the lab, Tamir was on edge. While he seemed nice enough, albeit a little...quirky, the quick, forceful defense of his research had been unsettling. The doctor wasn’t the easiest person to read, but already the nurse was fairly certain he wasn’t too happy to be here. The look on his face when walking into sickbay for the first time seemed to confirm this suspicion. "Thank you, Tamir. I will require a sealed bio hazard laboratory for my research. See to it whilst I find our Sub-Commander and report in,” Sural said before leaving.

Sighing heavily, Tamir turned to find several of the medical staff watching her, most likely trying to decide whether to ask her about their new boss or not. Crossing the room to meet them, the nurse decided to inform them anyway. “Doctor Taranek has requested a sealed bio-hazard laboratory set up for his research while he goes to meet the Sub Commander,” she announced before letting a tiny smile slip out and adding, “One word of caution: just don’t touch his research. He’s rather protective.”

Only a flicker of amusement crossed two of the five faces before any traces simply vanished. “Thank you, Citizen. The surgical kits and trays need to be reorganized, sterilized, and prepared,” one of the highest ranking doctors ordered rather coldly.

With another sigh, Tamir nodded. “Understood, Sir, I’ll start on that immediately.” Turning towards the storage room, the nurse tried not to show any hurt feelings. It did hurt to have people dislike her automatically like this, and while she had hoped to somehow at least earn their respect, but so far, that didn’t seem to be working out very well. Still, she wasn’t going to just give up altogether. She’d fit in eventually.

~

Giving the tactical officer one final shove into the wall, Govan finally released him and straightened his uniform before taking a step back. “Now, I am going back to the bridge. You will go retrieve that device of yours, download its contents into the main computer, and forward that information to me,” Echal ordered before grabbing the front of his uniform and bodily throwing the Sub Lieutenant out of the lift. “And I suggest if you value your life, you don’t leave anything out because I will find out,” he added as the doors closed with Talok outside and the Sub Commander inside.

<Tag Talok>

Rolling his shoulders a little, Sub Commander Echal shook his head. Did all Navy commanders have to deal with this? He doubted they did, but then again, it must be sad to be so small, and without the Tal Shiar, you were small. He wouldn’t be remaining small for long. As the doors slid open, and Govan stalked back onto the bridge, the Centurion in the first officer’s chair stood and acknowledged him, properly at that. “Sir, we just received our new Chief Medical Officer. He beamed aboard a short while ago,” the officer informed him, betraying no hint of emotion.

Waving him off, Govan replied, “Fine, are we still at warp one or is there progress?”

Grateful the Sub Commander hadn’t taken his head for allowing the doctor to beam over without informing him before, Dor’vel replied, “We are still at warp one, Sir.”

Somewhat frustrated with the lack of progress, Govan waved him off again before moving to the Commander’s chair and taking a seat. He hated how slow this boring, useless mission was being completed and wanted answers and progress. Before he could contact engineering, alert klaxons sounded. Turning back toward tactical, where Dor’vel had just moved to take over, Echal snapped, “Report, Centurion!”

“Our cloak just failed,” the officer reported, his fingers dancing over the panel trying to get more information. “The engine room reports we’re dropping out of warp.” As if on cue, the ship gave a tell tale shudder and the stars on the viewscreen blurred then came to a complete stop. Govan glanced back at Dor’vel, who added. “They also reports we’re staying at impulse until all systems are checked and rechecked.”

Growling in disgust, Echal opened a channel to Terrh. “Echal to Virh, what’s going on down there?” the Sub Commander demanded, growing more frustrated by the minute. So far, it had just been one problem after the other on this blasted ship...

<Tag Terrh>

As the engineer finished speaking, the doors at the back of the bridge opened and the newest S’Harien crewmember stepped onto the bridge. Sighing in annoyance, Govan spat, “Just get it done and get it fixed.” Slamming the channel closed, Echal turned back to helm and ordered them to continue on course at full impulse before turning on the unsuspecting Doctor…well did it really matter what a doctor’s name was? Sizing the man up for a moment, the Sub Commander just waited for him to speak. As a rule, he despised doctors. This one would likely be no different.

<Tag Sural>

[Deleted]

He had timed it just right as to when he would get a call from the sub-commander

“Echal to Virh, what’s going on down there?”

taking a moment he collected his thoughts and put in all down as plainly as possible " Sub-Commander it would appear that the same bugs that interupted your meal this morning have jumped to the cloaking device. We prevented the feed back which would have blown the ship up. We are working on trying to elminate the these bugs but it appears they are determined to keep jumping from system to system."

" There is a system you haven't tried yet Sub-Commander one that should have been tried when you came aboard why dont you try Command code lock out so we can make sure there are no bugs in that system. It will be a inconvience for a short while but it would allow us to make sure that system is functioning normaly" He was no spy but he hoped the Sub-Commander was clever enough to figure it out. The system had no bugs but nobody else knew that.With Command code lock out anybody trying to access a key system would show up in a heart beat.

[Deleted]

The Intelligence officer stared at Terrh in near disbelief. The engineer was suggesting some kind of pact between the two of them, and that was something that Tevio could not accept unless it was in the interest of his work, and in this case he did not think it was.

Ch'varak showed little personal feeling with anything in life, and where his work was involved... emotional attachment to a particular point was out of the question. It showed weakness, a certain susceptibility to the temptations of thought. And for a Romulan, a lack of passion was a strange trait indeed, Tevio had it, he just did not show it.

The two senior staff continued watching each other a while longer, after which it was Tevio who finally responded. "Send me your information then Virh," he said in his deep voice. "And I will 'keep Echal off your back', so to speak." Ch'varak added snidely.

With that, he 'permitted' the Chief Engineer to leave. He watched the back of Terrh retreating down the dark, narrow corridor. The ceiling was low down here, Tevio noticed. Terrh had to duck at times to avoid hitting his head on out-jutting metallic objects protruding from the ceiling. Dark and claustrophobic, much as the mood of the meeting had been, was the best way to describe the setting. Terrh disappeared around a bend, and Tevio imagined what the engineer was doing now.. walking of course but it was something interesting to ponder on. He wondered if Terrh Virh would take this 'agreement' seriously.

Of course, Tevio was not taking it seriously. He had no intention of protecting the engineer from the steely fist of the Subcommander. Terrh would have to look out for himself, Ch'varak had better things to do than bow to the wishes of a non-Tal Diann especially as the information he would receive in return would likely be of little value. Still though, Tevio held out a hope that the engineer would discover something that he had yet to consider.

The Legate returned to his quarters, deciding that it was much more productive to think than to talk to the mindless vermin that was the S'Harien's crew. How was he meant to uphold the honour of the Navy when serving with such Romulans? The Tal Diann were the true Navy. Tevio sat down to brood on the day's events thus far.

Five minutes in, the dimly lit lights of the chamber flickered and died. They came back on soon enough, once again bathing Tevio's face in shadow, but this time a distant, muted alarm could be heard.

It bothered him little that the cloak had failed, it was nothing to do with him. Perhaps though, the Legate thought, it was worth investigating. He had yet to make his first disposal on this "mission", and where better to start than engineering? He stood and left his quarters, taking the pathogenic bacterial sample with him. Maybe Terrh would thank him for this. To remove one of the engineer's staff would be to keep Echal away, the Subcommander's fears would be eased and Terrh would avoid a meeting with the S'Harien's CO.

Or maybe Tevio would just offer up the Chief Engineer himself and be done with it.

[Deleted]

The bridge of the S'Harien was not that different to the old D'Dederix class, just more modern. Modern wasnt' something that really appealed to Sural, keeping up with the times seemed irrelevant. Everything changed but that didnt mean he had to.

The Sub-Commander was stood dead centre overseeing the helm officer when the doors opened and led him on to the bridge.

"Uhlan Taranek reporting Sir" he said with a salute, he watched Govan for an glimpse of the man he was. The eyes were the key, they spoke much more than lips did. Govan said nothing and a quiet seemed to fall across the bridge. Once Sural felt suitably intimidated Govan spoke.

"Doctor. I m not sure we have need of you. Those that are injured are too weak or unskilled and do not deserve to survive."

Sural nodded with a half smile, the Sub-Commander wasn't that stupid, he was playing to a stereotype, almost a role. A position he was expected to take. This man was indeed dangerous.

"I hope you won't be offended if I beg to differ." Govan shrugged indifferently, "I m sure there will be times when my skills will come in most handy."

"Have you finished?" Govan replied "I have more important things to do"

"Actually no." Sural stated boldly, after a sharp collective intake of breath silence descended on the assembled bridge crew as they waited to see what happened next, "I have some ground rules"

Govans eyes bulged as he nearly reached apolplexy, the gall of this old man. Sural seemed not to notice or in fact thrived on it, continued.

"I am old yes. I was in service before you were born probably and I m still and Uhlan. That should tell you something. Promotion isn't my primary goal, so if you want a scycophantic yes man of a doctor then tough. I do whats needed. Secondly, medicine isn't the relished profession of many in the services but I can assure you I am a valuable asset and that if I keep out of your way you will do the courtesy of doing likewise, that way I forsee a productive, professional relationship. Thankyou"

He turned on his heel and began to depart. Sweat beaded his brow, he had made this speech to several former CO's but never someone like Govan and for all he knew he had just lined himself up for a perfect knife in the back, but then what did he care, he had lived a relatively good life and whilst his primary goal was yet to be achieved one couldn't live just for revenge... or could you. He would find out in the next 30 seconds as he neared the exit.

[Deleted]

"Actually no, I have some ground rules,” the doctor continued, which stopped Govan cold. He had already been halfway turned back around and was about to reply to Terrh when Sural had spoken. “I am old yes. I was in service before you were born probably, and I’m still an Uhlan. That should tell you something. Promotion isn't my primary goal, so if you want a sycophantic yes man of a doctor then tough. I do what is needed. Secondly, medicine isn't the relished profession of many in the service, but I can assure you, I am a valuable asset, and that if I keep out of your way you will do the courtesy of doing likewise; that way, I foresee a productive, professional relationship. Thank you." After his speech was completed, Uhlan Taranek actually turned his back on Echal and moved towards the turbolift. The bridge was silent.

In those few seconds, a variety of emotions flickered through the mind of the Sub Commander. The first was probably the most surprising of all: amusement, and a grudging respect. It wasn’t that this man was too stupid to realize he was risking his life or that he underestimated Govan and didn’t see him as a threat. No, he was afraid and knew his life was at stake, but somehow, this doctor found the need to say what he needed to say important enough to take that risk. That was admirable, if not still very, very dangerous. The second reaction was the most familiar: rage.

As Govan stared in shock at the retreating back of the new crewmember, a very dangerous smile crossed his mind. Doctor Taranek had made one, fatal error. Had his little speech been made in the ready room, as it probably should have been, the Sub Commander may have laughed it off in amusement, made a note to keep an eye on Sural, and their paths hopefully would not cross often. However, instead he had done this on the bridge, in front of everyone, who was now waiting to see what would happen next. Such a public display of insubordinance could not be tolerated.

In a flash, as the doctor reached for the control pad to signal for the lift, Govan had one of his many knives out and it went slicing through the air, landing straight into the pad just above Sural’s hand and very narrowly avoiding his outstretched finger frozen in place next to the still quivering blade. “Let me make something perfectly clear to you, Doctor. This is my ship. No one makes ultimatums to me. I don’t care how old you are, how good of a doctor you are, or even who you are. If you ever speak to me like that again, the only thing you’ll be is dead. You want a ‘productive, professional relationship,’ then talk to your staff. If you want to live, then just steer clear of me. You got that?” Glaring venomously, Echal added, “Now you have five seconds to get off my bridge or the next knife will require your medical colleagues assistance in extracting it from your bloody, lifeless, and maggot infested corpse.”

<Tag Sural>

[Deleted]

Sural froze as the dagger thudded into the wall inches from his hand

“Let me make something perfectly clear to you, Doctor. This is my ship. No one makes ultimatums to me. I don’t care how old you are, how good of a doctor you are, or even who you are. If you ever speak to me like that again, the only thing you’ll be is dead. You want a ‘productive, professional relationship,’ then talk to your staff. If you want to live, then just steer clear of me. You got that?” Glaring venomously, Echal added, “Now you have five seconds to get off my bridge or the next knife will require your medical colleagues assistance in extracting it from your bloody, lifeless, and maggot infested corpse.”

Sural forced himself to stop shaking, he took a firm grip on the dagger and with some effort pulled it free. He turned to face Govan who stood calmly in the centre of the bridge. He may have looked relaxed but Sural could tell by the bunching of muscles that the Sub Commander was ready to act in a blink of an eye with reflexes that he could never hope to match. He forced himself to walk over to the man who was threatening his life. He held out the knife, handle first. A couple of seconds passed before Govan took it and Sural half wondered if the man would pull sharply to draw blood, this could be the end of his surgical career, but he didn't.

"I think we understand each other perfectly" Sural said with a curt nod of the head, "I know my place." He turned again and made a swifter move for the exit and this time reached the door without a knife flying at him. He fled back to his quarters and pured himself a strong whiskey. Sometimes he wondered if he had a death wish other times he knew he did. He knew exactly which time this was.

[Deleted]

This doctor was an interesting contradiction. So familiar with reading body language, Govan did not fail to notice the tension and shaking, which indicated fear, and yet, the man did not flee as quickly as possible from the bridge as the Sub Commander would have predicted. Instead, Sural retrieved the knife, for a moment putting Echal further on edge, and then strode calmly to the command center to meet the former operative, holding out the knife, handle first. "I think we understand each other perfectly. I know my place," Doctor Taranek replied before indeed fleeing the scene.

It took a lot for a person to truly be a puzzle to Govan Echal, but this new arrival seemed to be just that. This was someone to watch... Smoothly replacing the blade from whence it came, the Sub Commander turned his attention back to the more immediate and important matters at hand. He had gotten the disguised message from the Chief Engineer regarding the ‘bugs,’ and it was certainly disturbing to think that there was someone onboard that wanted him dead badly enough to take the entire ship with him. That also made another thing clear...this was not a Navy act.

Taking a seat in the command chair, Govan accessed the command lockouts, as Terrh had suggested. A few minutes later, and it was up and running. The engineer was correct; it would make it far more difficult to access any systems without the proper authorization. It’d make it hard enough for legitimate access as it was. After the lockout was completed, the Sub Commander hoped that would keep whoever was causing these problems locked out and make it easier to track him. Only time would tell, but all Echal could really do was sit back and let the crew do their jobs.

Rising from the chair, Govan glowered over at helm. “Stay at all stop,” he ordered before turning his attention to tactical. Talok had not returned since the incident in the turbolift, and Echal wondered briefly if the man had been such a coward as to flee. Honestly, even a doctor had shown more courage. Sniffing in disdain, the Sub Commander stalked toward his ready room, leaving the bridge to whoever was strong enough to take over. His bet was on Centurion Dor’vel, as he’d done so last time. It was always fascinating who took initiative and who remained inconspicuous. Either could mean anything depending on the person as well as the circumstances.

Carefully surveying and scanning to room to look for any booby traps, Govan did eventually decide it was safe enough to sit and access his computer terminal. The first thing he did was draft a very brief message to Sub Lieutenant Ch’varak at his current location. [Whoever tried to kill me is causing the system’s malfunctions as well. This isn’t just about my life anymore. This person might not stop at destroying the S’Harien. I doubt the Navy or the Tal Diann would be very happy about that.]

<Tag Tevio>

~

Stifling a yawn, Tamir proudly surveyed her work. For some reason, the nurse had been ordered to set up Doctor Taranek’s new research lab, probably so that if a mistake was made it would fall on her and not anyone else. While it wasn’t the nicest thing to do to her, she had made sure to do it properly; after all, her training had provided the knowledge to understand exactly how a lab was supposed to be.

And now, she was done. The room was sterilized, secured, and supplied perfectly, and Tamir had done all the work herself. Actually, the nurse was quite proud of her accomplishment and herself. “H’railiun to Taranek, Sir, I have your lab set up, as requested. It’s arranged and supplied based on standard requirements, but if you should need or want anything else, I’m sure it can be arranged,” the nurse reported.

<Tag Sural>

[Deleted]

"Sub Lieutenant Terrh?"

Tevio was standing by the wall in Main engineering, looking around for the Chief engineer. He had just asked one of the junior engine-crew who had initially shrugged his shoulders, until he had realised whom it was who had asked the question. In that moment of realisation, the junior Romulan's face had rearranged itself in the most fascinating and peculiar fashion. His body language changed as well, from threatening confidence (for he was not a small Romulan) to something more akin to a nervous arachnid.

"I believe he is on the upper level. Legate." The intimidated brash young Romulan said, pointing behind him to a steel gantry near the beige-grey ceiling.

The Intelligence officer moved close past the engineer who towered half a foot higher than him, without a single glance of distaste. In fact, Tevio showed no emotion at all.

He made his way up the steep steps set into the wall, almost having to climb them they were so tall and narrow. He saw Terrh immediately upon reaching the top. The engineer was working a console, his concentration was at such an intense level that he did not even notice Tevio approach. That was good, the Chief Intelligence officer thought. All of the engineering staff should have at that moment been working as hard as possible to fix the cloak. It was one of the top requirements of the Navy, for every full warship to have a fully-functional cloaking device at all times, and it was Tevio's job to make sure of that. This was no simple trip to eliminate somebody for incompetence. Unless of course it was done intentionally.

"Virh, I see you are hard at work?" Tevio rasped, looking over the Chief's shoulder and seeing what he was working on. The engineer turned around.

<Tag Terrh>

"I would expect nothing less, engineer. If this problem is not rectified soon, it won't just be Tal Shiar scum you'll have to fend off. Despite our agreement I cannot ignore my commissary duties to the Navy." Tevio took a step forward. "I am sure you understand," he said, threateningly leering at the engineer with the flicker of a smirk unavoidably showing on his face.

After turning away right from Terrh, Tevio felt a familiar buzz sensation on his wrist. He lifted his left wrist and read the message. It was from the Subcommander. Ch'varak raised an eyebrow.
~ Whoever tried to kill me is causing the system's malfunctions as well. This isn't just about my life anymore. This person might not stop at destroying the S'Harien. I doubt the Navy or the Tal Diann would be very happy about that. ~

Very well... Tevio thought, with the most imperceptible hint of a sigh in his next exhalation of breath. He started walking along the gantry again, this time with more of a purpose in his stride. He walked past two engineers leaning on the siderail of the gantry walkway, who at first sight appeared to be studying a portable data screen together. Tevio kept his ears attuned. One of the engineers whispered something to the other.

In less time than one could blink, Tevio had spun around one hundred and eighty degrees, unsheathed his hidden blade with his left hand, and thumped the weapon into the chest of the engineer who he was sure had uttered the words regarding him. With a brief yelp, the treacherous engineer was propelled over the side-rail, and plummeted to the lower level several metres below.

Engineering was stunned into silence. The victim of Tevio's ancient, ritualistic dagger was sprawled on the lower level, his body contorted into a position that was uncomfortable just to see. Ch'varak looked down over the side-rail, his face completely without emotion and his body language betraying no hint of anything. Yet in that small instant in which he had attacked the Romulan, he had displayed enough feeling to satisfy anyone for a year.

Whether the engineer had been killed or not Tevio could not be sure, but either way he expected a reaction from the righteous engineer, which was exactly what he got.

<Tag Terrh>

[Deleted]

“I’m scared, Govan. I don’t feel well, and I haven’t since the doctor was here. You know what they say about the doctor…” Her face was pale, and the tinge of green to her lips only served to justify the fear in her eyes. Why had they come for her...?

“They’re just rumors. No one likes to go to the doctor, but that doesn’t mean he’s bad. You’re going to be just fine.” They were lies, empty lies, and they both knew it. Children who were sent to the doctor only got worse until they didn’t come back.

“I’m still scared. I want to stay here with you. You’ll take care of me, won’t you? Just promise me, please Govan?” The voice was weak, too weak, and filled with terror. It didn’t matter what he promised. They both knew they had no power of their own.

“I won’t leave you alone. I’ll stay right here, and you’ll be alright. Just don’t give up, ok? We have to stick together like we always have.” Sticking together wouldn’t solve anything. He could protect her from the others, but not from this, never from this...

“Promise me…” Her eyes were growing tired, the heavy lids dropping lower over dark eyes, the whites streaked with little green lines, which seemed to multiply by the hour. As if time wasn’t already against them, it continued to move ever faster.

“I promise. I promise...” Empty words, empty lies, empty promises… “I promise...”

Sitting up and rapidly gasping for breath, Sub Commander Echal had his disrupter pulled before he was even fully awake. Glancing around the empty ready room, he ran his fingers through his hair, damp with perspiration, before wiping his equally drenched forehead with his sleeve. It was just a dream, the dream, but it had been so long since he’d had it last. He hadn’t even intended to fall asleep, since being unconsciousness was currently a very dangerous thing for someone in his position.

Shaking his head briskly as if to shake the cobwebs of memories past from his mind even as he rubbed the grit from his eyes, Govan rose from the piece of furniture he supposed passed for a couch. He’d been out for nearly two hours, far too long to have his guard down, but so far, there didn’t seem to be any consequences. It was luck, and if he wanted to stay alive, Echal knew he’d need to be more prepared.

After rising to his feet and stretching the knots out of his muscles, Govan glanced toward the replicator. He was starving, but unsure if it was safe. Still debating the safety of getting something to eat, the Romulan was thrown off his feet and into a wall rather hard before he could decide. Ignoring the disorientation, and the ringing in his ears, the Sub Commander stumbled to his feet, also ignoring the blood that was sliding down his face. He was alive, so whatever the attempt, it had just failed.

No one came running to his defense, perhaps hoping for his demise, but Echal was undaunted as he stumbled through the door onto the bridge. To his surprise, on the other side was utter turmoil, the damage just as bad if not worse than in his ready room. The helmsman and a junior scientist appeared to be dead, their consoles in flames, and the smell of burning flesh and metal tinged the smoke that filled the room. The flash of warning lights bathed the room in green, and the sound of blaring alarms was piercing and yet horribly distant at the same time. It was pure chaos.

Centurion Dor’vel was stumbling towards tactical, his face blackened with smoke and spattered with blood. “What happened?” Govan shouted over the noise as he moved to the helm though he doubted the ship was in any condition to go anywhere. The officer’s reply was too muffled to understand, so Echal shot back. “You need to speak up, so that I can hear what you say!” he added, motioning toward his ears.

Nodding, Dor’vel tried again. “I DON’T KNOW,” he supplied rather unnecessarily.

“WELL FIND OUT!” Govan shouted back, but there was no threat or accusation in his voice. This wasn’t the time for that. The helm wasn’t responding. It appeared to have ruptured so badly that the control panel was warped and beginning to crack. Though he knew it was useless, Echal stooped to check the pulse of the unmoving helmsman, and as suspected didn’t find one. The man had taken the brunt of the explosion and hadn’t stood a chance. Straightening, the Sub Commander looked back at Dor’vel, who was the only still moving crewmember on the bridge. “WELL?”

Tapping frantically on the badly damaged console, Dor’vel finally gave up, slamming his fists on the non-functioning panel. “IT’S NOT WORKING, COMMANDER, AND EVERY CONSOLE ON THE BRIDGE IS IN THE SAME CONDITION. THEY ALL EXPLODED SIMULTANEOUSLY!” he reported, wiping the blood out of his eyes.

Indicating towards the Ward Room, Govan and Dor’vel stumbled to the door only to find the panel malfunctioning. After retrieving a hand actuator, the two managed to push it open and enter the slightly less damaged room. Several consoles were also burned out, but not all of them. A few moments later, the Centurion had their answer. “Sir, it looks like there was a massive, ship-wide power surge, starting on the bridge and then moving down from there. We suffered extensive damage and heavy casualties. Nearly half the consoles on the entire ship blew out,” the tactical officer reported, his face a mix of horror and fury that perfectly matched Echal’s own.

Taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly, Govan tried to focus. Revenge would come later. “What about the Engine Room?” he finally asked. They had to regroup.

Checking with the console, Dor’vel replied, “It’s damaged like the rest of the ship, but not as badly as here,” he reported. “Sickbay is being inundated with injured...”

“Alright,” Govan started, quickly gathering his thoughts. “We’ll check the bridge and see if anyone’s still alive. Sickbay’s on the way there,” he ordered, ignoring the fact that he was actually showing compassion. Right now, there was no Navy, Tal Shiar; they were all just Romulans, and whoever was responsible would pay for this.

<Tag All>

[Deleted]

Stood at her console, the chief science officer had observed the ship’s new doctor’s introduction. She had smiled wryly to herself as their commanding officer had wedged one of his knives into the wall beside Uhlan Taranek’s hand; hopefully if the doctor managed to annoy Govan enough, the attention would be taken off her somewhat. Although, she reflected, it wasn’t like she was getting much attention at the moment, quite the contrary really.

In spite of her popularity, or maybe because of it, she was pulling double shifts at the moment, trying to calibrate all her systems in the manner that she preferred. As it was her first posting, she wasn’t all that sure about exactly what her preferred manner WAS, but she wasn’t going to let a small thing like that get in the way of her work. Instead, she simply set up the systems and the station in the manner that felt the most natural, chopping and changing bits as she went as she found better or, at least, different ways of doing things.

She had just decided that the lab reports tab should be on the third page in, as they were only of a vague interest most times, when he console had exploded.

Exploded wasn’t exactly how the event went through her head. In fact what mostly went through her head, or at least into it, were bits of her console itself. Which hadn’t been high on her to-do list. What she had experienced had been mostly red searing painful heat. And then nothing. The nothing had been nice. Now though, she was waking up, and the red hot pain was coming back.

She moved her hand absently to the side of her face and felt it come away sticky, presumably covered in her own blood. She lay on the floor for a few more seconds, listening to the shouts of those around her trying to make some sense of what had happened. She already knew. With energy and anger that she didn’t realise she had, she almost flung herself to her feet, and stormed towards their commanding officer.

“This is your bloody fault! Whatever you have done, whoever you have [word deleted] off, whatever it is that’s going on is no longer just endangering you, but its starting to endanger me, and every other idiot onboard. So the sooner you get the heck off this ship and let us find the would-be killer without the risk of us all being blown to hell, the better!” Jhu was practically screaming. She took a few deep breaths, and then added. “Sir.”

[Deleted]

He saw Ch'varak and payed him little attention he was focused when he heard the gasp of his crew. Ch'varak had hurt on of his staff he was about to respond when the alarms went off systems starting crashin explosions on the bridge and in his engine room. He calmed himself and silinced the alarms in the engine room. He noticed Ch'varak still standing there a little dismayed at what just happend ship wide.

Turning to his staff " shut down all none need systems devert power to back key systems only. Increase power to life support and internal shields." Looking over at Ch'varak and controling his anger.

" Ch'varak we will discuss the assualt on my staff later. We have learned 2 things right now who ever this is doesn't care if they live or die so there not afraid of you. The other being its not my staff there all here and have been under you observation the entire time. With that being said if you dont get out of my engine room in the next 60 Sec my staff will kill you is that clear the Romulan you just assulted has many friends and if they dont I'll beam out to space my self 58 secs and counting. We will finish this conversation later as chief engineer you have 50 sec's I dont have time for you"

Turning back to his console trying to figure out what controls he had left, he had some helm control. He took impulse off line tapping his console '' Bridge you need to get out of there you have microw holes in that section you are venting air and shields are not yet stable just you move to engine room to take control of the ship"<Tag anybody>

[Deleted]

Reaccessing the bridge from the ward room, Govan was actually relieved to see a few more people moving than before, though they were badly injured. The officer who had been manning the engine station was supporting the Sub Lieutenant from operations, and when he glanced up to see Echal, he called out, “The helmsman, junior scientist, and tactical officer are all dead. I haven’t checked the woman yet.”

Knowing exactly what he meant by that, the Sub Commander motioned Dor’vel to join him. “Help him. I’ll check her,” Govan ordered. The engineer was barely able to support the dead weight of the mostly unconscious Sub Lieutenant, who didn’t look like he was in good shape. As the Centurion moved to assist, Echal was about to check the science chief when without warning, she leaped to her feet, heading straight for him.

“This is your bloody fault! Whatever you have done, whoever you have [word deleted] off, whatever it is that’s going on is no longer just endangering you, but its starting to endanger me, and every other idiot onboard. So the sooner you get the heck off this ship, and let us find the would-be killer without the risk of us all being blown to hell, the better!” she practically screamed at him before seeming to gather her strength, pull herself back together for a moment, and adding, “Sir.”

His first reaction, much to his own dismay, was actually attraction. What it was about an absolutely furious, defiant, injured woman that got to him, he could never figure out, but this time, he chalked it up to adrenaline and nothing more. Then, of course, came the anger. “If you weren’t already half torn apart, I’d break your jaw for that. Don’t tempt me to finish the job and tear you all the way apart,” he hissed, stepping forward to tower directly over her, slightly upset to find he didn’t tower quite as high as he usually did, given her height. “This isn’t just about me anymore! Open your eyes and look around! This is beyond overkill here. Half the consoles on this entire ship exploded and who knows how many people are dead and injured, including us. I may have enemies, but this is too far for any remotely self-respecting Romulan.”

His ‘lecture’ was cut short by a static filled, but still comprehendible, comm signal. =/\=Bridge, you need to get out of there; you have micro-holes in that section; you are venting air, and shields are not yet stable; just you move to the engine room to take control of the ship,=/\= the Chief Engineer supplied before the line went dead.

The Centurion and two other injured men were already almost inside the lift, and looking back at Jhu, Sub Commander Echal could see her skin was growing paler as a particularly nasty wound on her forehead continued to gush blood. Hating himself for this, Govan sighed in resignation, and simply swept the science officer off her feet and over his shoulder before heading for the lift, ignoring any sounds of protestation on her part. Once they were all in the lift, the commanding officer set her back down and ordered the lift to get them to the medical bay. Of course, the lift wasn’t responding, and by now the computer was picking up on the danger of decompression, and announcing an impending loss of containment and oxygen.

Swearing, Govan turned to the injured engineer. “Can you manage the ladders on your own?” he demanded. The determined looking Lieutenant nodded. “Good,” the Sub Commander replied as the group headed to the access port. “Centurion, you take the Sub Lieutenant.” Turning back to the science officer, Echal glared at her. “I’m carrying you, and if you fight me, I’ll just knock you out and carry you anyway,” he announced flatly before unceremoniously sweeping her over his shoulder again.

The climb to sickbay was harder than Govan would ever have admitted. It seemed the lifts were all down, so the access system was flooded with people, most trying to get to sickbay. In the emergency situation nerves were frayed, but they were all dealing with it, prioritizing according to injuries, and all letting the officers from the bridge through without hesitation or complaint. If they weren’t all Navy idiots, Echal might have actually been proud...maybe... It took nearly half an hour to get to the medical center, and by then, even the ‘invincible’ Sub Commander was worn out. Stumbling in, he quickly deposited Jhu, who by now felt like she weighed about a ton, back to her feet. “You’re welcome,” he mumbled before leaving her on her own.

<Tag Jhu>

Crossing sickbay to find Sural, he was instead met almost immediately by Tamir. “Govan!” she cried, scanning device already in her hand as she rushed to check on him. The nurse had a large bruise on her cheek, one of her sleeves was ripped, and she was covered in blood, but she looked otherwise unharmed. “What happened?” she asked, sending him a mild glare almost daring him to try and get out of an exam.

“I remain standing,” Echal insisted gruffly but allowed her to run her scans. “There was a ship-wide power overload, blew out a lot of the consoles and caused a lot of damage. Ouch!” he complained as she probed a rather tender spot near his heart.

“Your eardrums are damaged, and you’ve broken two ribs,” Tamir reported. “There are numerous other minor injuries as well, which can all be repaired easily with a regenerator, even your ribs will be easy enough, but your ears will need surgery.”

Groaning loudly, Govan was far from pleased. “The minor stuff doesn’t matter, and the surgery can wait. I’ve got work to do,” Sub Commander Echal grumbled moodily.

“It’ll only take a minute or so to at least somewhat repair the ribs,” Nurse H’railiun insisted. “And I’ll give you something to block out some of the pain. No argument.”

“Fine,” Echal replied grumpily. Dor’vel was also being tended to, so it only made sense to wait. The Centurion was the only other officer Govan felt he could trust. As promised, a few minutes later his ribs were feeling much better, and the pain was dramatically reduced. While waiting for treatment, the Sub Commander took a good look around sickbay. There was plenty of damage here too, and so many dead and injured... The more he saw, the more his rage grew. Whoever did this would pay with their life. “Thank you,” he muttered to Tamir. His hearing was still muffled, but not unbearable. “Go tend to the others; start with the science officer.”

(Tag Jhu)

As Tamir nodded and moved off in Jhu’s direction, Govan wondered why on earth he had said that, but was quickly joined by Dor’vel and soon forgot. “Let me check one thing first,” Echal stated before heading toward Sural, who was very busy with something. “Report,” the Sub Commander ordered quickly, hoping for the respect of a quick summery at least even though he knew the doctor was very distracted.

<Tag Sural>

[Deleted]

Looking at the system reports through out the ship there was heavy damage. It was only by dumb luck the ship hadn't blown completely apart. It would take a space dock to repair key systems and to bring warp power back on line. Thinking to himself how the hell did they pull it off where did they start.

He started to access systems when command lock out came up. Well thats simple enought he was the chief engineer and knew how to get around them. He pulled up access logs and started to crossfrence access to secoundary systems to see who had accessed them all. A name appeared not somebody he knew but at least it wasn't one of his staff. He could play this a number of ways but which would be the tough one to decided. Sooner or later Sub Commander Echal would ask for a report.

Looking back down at the status of repairs it was going slow. Tapping out a few commands the bridge would be out for least a hour. There were more pressing repairs and fires still needing to be contained. He didn't have time to report he need to get things under control the only problem was he now knew who was to blame.

Computer locate Sub-Commander Echal ask him to report to the engine room when he has time. He now knew his life hung in the balance which way the scales tipped was the question he knew Ch'varak would be out for blood and the only peron to stop him would be the Sub-Commander. The problem was the sub-Commander really didn't care about life so it was going to be a gamble.

[Deleted]

With her mind reeling and twisted, it was taking all of her control to simply keep her concentration on one thing. Almost as soon as she had spurted out all of her words to Sub Commander Echal, her thoughts had clouded over again and it was all she could do to stay on her feet, let alone listen to his rebuke. His words slipped in and out of her hearing, never clear, but instead lapping at her brain like a gentle sea shore, trying to get their meaning across, but simply slipping back away with the rest. It was a soothing influence, calming her in spite of the pain spearing through her head. All at once though, all the water rushed away, and she felt her legs starting to buckle. Just at the moment when she was sure to fall in an unceremonious heap onto the floor, Govan scooped her up and deposited her on his shoulder.

Most of the journey was a blur; she knew that there was mass controlled panic, and that everyone seemed to be trying to cram themselves through the same narrow passages as they were, but Govan’s status meant that in spite of this they managed to make their way through without too much agro. That said Jhu’s head was definitely not improving with the number of times it was lightly bumped against the walls. She luckily was more or less back in control of her own senses when she was none too gently released into sickbay to fend for herself once again.

“You’re welcome.” Govan grunted in what seemed an unwilling acceptance of her. Had she been more in control of her wits, Jhu may have felt slight warmth at it, but as it was she barely recognised it at all. She eased herself onto the edge of one of the hard bio-beds and tried to let herself relax, but when she did the pain that she’d been pushing onto the peripheries of her senses came back with a renewed gusto. Immediately she put her effort back into the mental barriers that she’d created, and contented herself with physical relaxation.

It was probably only a few minutes later, but to Jhu it felt like hours when Tamir walked over to find out the extent of the young science officer’s injuries. Her eyes seemed to narrow slightly as she looked over Jhu, but it may simply have been due to the wounds that were scattered copiously across her body, rather than for her reputation. As Tamir administered an anaesthetic, she simply let her mind wander away and stopped caring about anything other than how wonderful it was to have the pain dulled so much without the need to keep vigilant against it.

She must have dozed off completely, for the next thing she knew, the doctor was standing over her.
“Now young lady, how are your injuries healing? Your report indicates that you got rather seriously hurt, and yet with our situation, our commanding officer is insistent that I get everyone back on duty as soon as I can. It’s most irregular.”

With a sharpness that felt comfortingly familiar, Jhu nodded up at him. “Aye doctor, I’ll need to get back to my post then.”

[Deleted]

Sural had been sitting quietly in his lab extracting the samples he had brought with him when the explosions occured. He had been carefully transfering the penultimate vial of biomatter into a stasis chamber when the alarm sounded. He ignored it at first. Alarms were commonplace on ships, they were dangerous places should he stop for every minor incident he would never get all his work done. It was a few minutes later when a nurse tentativly knocked on the door.

"Go away" he hissed,

"Theres an emergency. We need you"

"Theres always some kind of emergency. Its probably the Commander running the drill. I have neither the time nor the patience for his little games, disturb me only if he comes down here."

There was a pause as the Nurse wrestled with her confusion,

"But its real sir. We have wounded pouring into to Med Bay."

With a sigh and a silent curse that he would put the nurse on the twilight shift for the next five years if she was exagerating he lft his lab.

"We have triage setup but more are arriving, nearly all consoles exploded."

Sural frowned at that what were the chances of a simultaneous failure like that. He scowled at the Nurse until she turned away allowing him to enter his 9 digit encrypted code to lock the lab door and then ushered her down into the med bay.

5 or 6 romulans lay on biobeds whilst more were being helped into the room. He had barely had time to look at his staff let alone become familiar with the med bay and now he was called upon to act swiftly. And swiftly he acted.

"You" he pointed at Tamir, about the only face he recognised "You cover first arrival triage"

There was a little gasp as a more senior doctor stepped up to protest

"Ah A volunteer" Sural interjected before he could protest, "Get a dermal regenerator see to class 1 Burns any lacerations."

"We're running out of beds" A nurse stammered as she helped another man in.

Sural looked at him and the arterial bleed at the neck.
"Leave him" he said coldly, the man would be dead before he could be properly treated and he was only an Uhlan. "As for beds, use the floor."

He span round plucking up a tricorder and quickly scanning the most senior officer injured.
"This man needs surgery. Prep Theatre"
Without waiting for an orderly he flipped the switch on the bed to antigrav and pulled the bed free.

"Come on" he muttered and pushed the wounded officer into the theatre.

With a deftness born from years of experience he had opened up and relieved the pneumothorax within 4 minutes. The officer now breathed more evenly.

he tossed a micro-sutcher over to the nurse "Sew him up and place him on a ward. I ll see who is next."

He emerged from theatre green blood staining his tunic and noticed Govans arrival. His trained eye quickly established the Commander was uninjured and so he ignored him. Instead he went to a centurion who looked as if he had lost an eye.

“Let me check one thing first,” Echal stated before heading toward Sural, who was very busy with something. “Report,” the Sub Commander ordered quickly, hoping for the respect of a quick summery at least even though he knew the doctor was very distracted.

"Report!?" Sural scoffed, "People are injured and some have died. Let me get on with my job to heal the former to minimise the latter. Then we can have a nice chat about statistics and exactly what happened to flood my med bay with injured. Perhaps you should pester the engineer he wont have the remains for someones eye ball dripping down their hands."

And with that Sural turned back to the patient.

[Deleted]

As Tevio restored his knife to its concealed spot on his person, Terrh span from his console, looking as if he was about to respond to the Legate's actions in quite a vehement manner. As he did so, several consoles in engineering sparked and exploded. The lights dimmed and then relit, the back-ups kicking in. The whole ship then 'jolted' to the side, making Terrh stumble and thus preventing him from saying or doing anything. Tevio, like everyone else was nearly knocked off his feet. The Intel officer braced his fall on the row of consoles on his right.

The alarms were off a few seconds later, and Terrh recovered. From what Tevio could gather the explosions had occurred over the entire ship. Before he could absorb these events and let his mind figure out the significance of it, Terrh was speaking. Tevio only half-listened, alarm had settled into the centre of his thoughts, coming to the forefront amidst the storm of thinking. He had to leave this place.. His half-formed plan to stay in engineering and affect some change had to be abandoned, there were too many enemies here now anyway, including the fresh-viewed but disrespectful engineer.

"... We will finish this conversation later as chief engineer you have 50 sec's I don't have time for you"

Tevio walked towards Terrh, making it look like he was to pass him but instead he stopped, whispering harshly in the Chief Engineer's ear, "Your staff wouldn't touch me!"

<Tag Terrh?>

Tevio descended the narrow step-ladder down to the lower level of engineering. On his way out, he stopped by the man whom he had stabbed. The chest wound had not killed the Romulan, Tevio noted. There were two others helping the injured engineer, one of them being a medic whom had just arrived along with several more from the medical department. Whether the victim of Ch'varak's assault died or not, was of little consequence. The man had paid for his insolence either way, even though the way in which he had phrased his comment was of interest.

The bridge had been the Legate's next stop, but with hearing what Terrh had said upon Tevio's leaving of engineering, he had to change plans. The S'Harien's command centre was not a good place to be when it was full of hull microfissures.

"Locate Subcommander Govan Echal." Tevio spoke into his wrist-device.

~Subcommander Govan Echal is in Sickbay~ the male voice replied. Tevio hated to do this, but he would not be left in the dark. Granted he spent most of his time working from the shadows but that was when he knew every detail of what went on on the ship, he needed answers.

After having to use the access shafts to reach sickbay, which had turned out to be far more arduous than first envisaged, Ch'varak arrived in Sickbay in a near state of exhaustion. Doing his best to hide it, he moved into sickbay.

It was a dark and grim place. The biobeds situated along the walls were more akin to something from the industrial quarter, and the walls themselves displayed all manner of bizarre and fascinating medical equipment. Protruding from the walls like giant spikes tipped with a cold glint of steel, they looked more like the instruments of the infamous torturer-interrogators on Romulus. Ch'varak settled by a wall, he was unnoticed so far and he felt content just to watch. Medical staff attended to the wounded, which were many, and Doctor Sural Taranek as Tevio knew his name to be, standing on the far side of the main part of sickbay was in heated discussion with the Subcommander.

The two finished their debate and then Govan seemed to get a comm-call. Tevio could not be sure above all of the noise in the sickbay. Either way, Echal started moving towards the exit. That was Tevio's cue. He approached the former Tal Shiar and turned to settle into stride with him as he and a Centurion started to depart sickbay. Only then did Govan notice the Intelligence officer.

"Subcommander," Tevio said as they reached the door, his deep voice was almost reverberatingly low, "Would you mind informing me as to what is happening on this ship?!"

<Tag Govan>

[Deleted]

"Report!? People are injured, and some have died. Let me get on with my job to heal the former to minimize the latter. Then we can have a nice chat about statistics and exactly what happened to flood my med bay with injured. Perhaps you should pester the engineer he won’t have the remains of someone’s eye ball dripping down their hands!" the doctor yelled before turning his back on the Sub Commander entirely.

That had been exactly what Govan had expected, but for some reason that was a mystery to him, he actually cared about how the crew was doing. Well, except for whoever did this of course; they could be blown up, burned, chopped into pieces, and suffer extremely slowly until death for all he cared. But with all the people on this ship, not all of them could be treasonous, assassinating traitors, and so loyal, dedicated, hard working officers were dying as well, and no self-respecting Romulan would stand by while that occurred and do nothing including Sub Commander Echal.

“I would take him out of commission, if I didn’t care about the crew’s lives,” Echal grumbled to himself “...which is why I even asked him for a report in the first place.” Shaking his head, the Sub Commander glanced at Dor’vel and rolled his eyes. “We need to get to the Engine Room anyway,” he mumbled, before raising his voice to address everyone present. “Any of you who are well enough, get to your stations, and give the doctors some room to work.” At that moment, Tamir approached him looking worried, and though Govan was trying very hard to pretend he didn’t even know her, he knew he couldn’t keep ignoring her, so he finally asked, “What is it?”

“She’s going to be alright, the Sub Lieutenant you brought in, but I’m worried about you. I overheard someone say this all happened because someone tried to kill you. Is that true? Is someone really trying to kill you?” she asked, eyes wide with fear.

Sending a mild glare at Dor’vel, who suddenly pretended to be very interested in something on the floor, Govan replied, “I don’t know. Someone did try to kill me earlier, but I think there’s something more going on than that now.” At her worried look, he sighed heavily, and resisting the strange urge to touch her arm for some reason, added grumpily. “Don’t worry about me. I know how to take care of myself.”

The nurse didn’t really look much happier, but she tried to smile a little and nodded to say she understood. Still resisting what he now recognized as some ridiculous desire to offer some show of physical comfort, Govan merely nodded as well and turned to leave before thinking of one last thing. “When your patient is well enough, could you tell her she should probably report to the Engine Room? But…don’t tell her I said that!” he added hastily as the last thing he needed was Jhu thinking he needed her help or something, when he only wanted to avoid having to talk to her.

As Tamir nodded and quickly moved off to assess a group of incoming casualties, Govan glanced at Dor’vel, whose expression was carefully blank. “You say a word about that to anyone, and you’ll wish you’d died when the consoles exploded,” he threatened, sounding much more like his usual self before the comm sounded an incoming message and the computer requested that he report to the Engine Room.

“Where did you think I was going,” Govan grumbled, again to no one in particular, before he and the Centurion finally got out of sickbay on their way to what would need to be the temporary command center until the bridge was safe. It wasn’t exactly ideal, but it was better than nothing, and technically nowhere was safe on this ship at the moment. The two officers had barely left sickbay when they became aware of a third person tagging along, and tensing, his hand moving to his disruptor, the Sub Commander turned and was quite surprised to see the Chief Intelligence Officer.

"Sub Commander, would you mind informing me as to what is happening on this ship?!" Tevio demanded in a low yet firm voice that clearly conveyed his frustration.

“If I knew that, the person responsible and I would be spending some quality time together,” Govan shot back before continuing on his way and conversing with the rather annoying Legate. “All I have are the simple facts: someone tried to poison me, then the weapons overloaded, and finally, a massive power overload, one that encompassed this entire doomed ship, caused over half the consoles to explode. So now that we have this lovely chat out of the way, I’m going to the engine room to try and command what’s left of the S’Harien. And since you’re supposed to know everything that goes on aboard this bloody ship, why don’t you go do YOUR job.”

Stopping at the nearest junction room, where they would access the maintenance system to get to the Engine Room, Govan came to a halt before glancing back at his enemy. “Look, this isn’t the time for politics or grudges, so why don’t we just put all that aside until we’re not at risk for losing the ship, and our lives, right out from under us. Now, let’s get to the Engine Room and start figuring this out as a group.”

<Tag Tevio>

As the small group finally reached their destination, they were greeted by the semi-controlled chaos of engineers running in all directions, trying to fix problems or to prevent new ones from forming. Above it all, Terrh was giving orders and working madly at a console on the upper level. Motioning to the Centurion and Legate, the Sub Commander made his way up the ladder, carefully avoiding any frantic officers he came into contact with along the way, before joining the Chief Engineer. “Virh,” he stated, announcing his arrival. “What’s the current status of the ship’s systems?”

<Tag Terrh>

After the engineer had given his report, Echal merely nodded. That wasn’t the most important thing at the moment. “Hand off the operation here to your assistant. If we don’t figure out who is behind this, all of these repair efforts won’t matter much,” he ordered motioning the small group into an office. Once everyone was assembled, he glanced around the room. This was the closest thing to a ‘senior staff meeting’ since boarding the S’Harien, save with Dor’vel representing tactical, Doctor Sural clearly occupied with more important matters, and the science officer still injured.

“Alright, here’s what I think. It’s obviously a crewmember, someone fairly unfamiliar with technical matters or else I’d be dead and perhaps the rest of you as well. That precludes engineers, operations officers, and most scientists. Any member of the Intelligence department would have access to better information, most pilots have a solid working knowledge of systems, and I don’t see a medical officer doing this. So that mainly leaves most of the tactical department or any unskilled crewman.”

Pausing for effect, Govan took a breath before continuing. “Legate, work with the Centurion to identify possible suspects, Ch’varak identifying those with a possible motive or some sort of history or background that would explain this, while Dor’vel approaches this from the angle of capability. They need enough skill to at least pull something like this off but not enough to have been more successful. Virh, you work on tracing this from a technical standpoint. If they were stupid enough to have failed to kill me or do more damage, they should have been stupid enough to leave some sort of trail behind. Find it, and use the science officer when and if she shows up.”

“Between the three of you, we should be able to find some overlap somewhere or at least some clues that may lead to whoever’s responsible. Once you have some viable suspects with some solid evidence, I’ll be able to take it from there,” Govan added, grinning menacingly. That was something that he would enjoy immensely. “Now, let’s all get to work and find this monster quickly, so that I can do just that.”

<Tag Tevio/Terrh/(Jhu)>

~

After one of the doctors had finished examining the science chief, Tamir carefully approached her again. The nurse knew very well who she was, but doubted Jhu would remember her. As a girl, Tamir had been very much on the outskirts of the elite youth, both because her grandmother was very strict and because the rest of the family had mostly ostracized her because of her mother’s indiscretion. What had happened to the science officer had only served to remind the young Tamir of the fate that could have easily befallen her mother, and what had eventually come to her, though without any of the shame Jhu had endured. As her grandmother had often said, those with the privilege of popularity have more to lose. It was only now that Nurse H’railiun truly understood, and why she had been kept sheltered.

“Excuse me,” Tamir offered, “I believe the senior officers are all in the Engine Room. If you are going back on duty now, it would probably be best to report in to Gov...” Wincing slightly, the nurse quickly corrected herself. “...the Sub Commander there.”

<Tag Jhu>

[Deleted]

He listened to the sub-commander he was not happy about leaving the repairs to his staff. They were good and could handle it but this was his ship Echal commander the ship but he helped build it. So in his mind this was his ship he took the damage to the ship personaly.

Listening to what was being said he kept from smiling the sub-commander had no idea just how right he was. He already had a name but that crew person didn't show up on the ship roster. It was unwise to say anything at the moment not with out a better lead, a name was only useful when you had a face and a body to put it to.

Looking around at the group he waited for a idea he was still focused on the repairs and not on the matter at hand. That had been one of his problems all his life more concerned about the ship and not about plots.

[Deleted]

The young romulan struggled to her feet, her mind shocked out of the painkiller induced blissful state and back into the raw reality of the world. In spite of the short tirade she had given the doctor, she was not in the slightest bit inclined to return to duty. But her duty it was, and so she must. Taking the advice of Tamir, she made her way down to the engine room. Unfortunately by the time she got there, the senior staff had already dispersed. After asking a few questions of the technicians, she managed to get out of them which way Terrh had gone, and followed after him.

Without really intending to, Jhu snuck up behind the engineer, and peered over his shoulder. After a few seconds, she raised an eyebrow; he appeared to be observing a pair of more senior officers, and checking their reports on the computer.
“That seems a most illogical way of carrying out an investigation. If you truly intend to personally check every single member of this crew for suspicious activity, you will find a large number of suspects, and you can guarantee that our man won’t be among them.”
“Man? What makes you think it’s a man?” Terrh shot back, none too subtly avoiding her comment.
“Because a woman would be better at it than this.” She grinned at him, and then accessed the computer herself, to see how many names he had checked off so far.
“Twelve. Well; it could be worse. And you only have... 397 to go?”
“396. I haven’t crossed my own name off yet.”
“I wouldn’t; you seem to be more suspicious than anyone else could be.” Her smile had disappeared, and was replaced with a far more severe glare.
“Are you accusing me of this?”
“Not this. But something. You’re definitely up to something.”
Terrh seemed to lose patience. “Okay, yes, I know something; but I want to check it out before I present it to Govan. If that’s okay with you Madam?”
Jhu’s eyes slitted. “Of course it is Sub Lieutenant Virh.”

Terrh nodded, and turned back to the computer screen as she started tapping into the console next to his again. A couple of seconds later, she’d opened a channel to their commanding officer.
“Sub Commander Echal; my greetings. Sub Lieutenant Virh knows something he isn’t letting on, maybe we could get Ch’varak down here to… find out?” Her insinuation of an interrogation was obvious, and the blood flooded out of Terrh’s face.

<tag Terrh, Govan>

OOC: Sorry its only short, am quite busy with work at the moment, so just trying to get in what I can when I can.

[Deleted]

He kept his calm which was quite amazing considering everything he had going on right now. He knew it would only be a matter of time before I-Mhiessan reported what she had seen on his screen to the Sub-Commander. He kept himself from laughing for amoment it would do them any good the name didn't show up on the crew roster, if she had taken the time to check herself she would have realized it.

Go ahead report to the Sub-Commander he thought to himself try and get on his good side. The think being is the Sub-Commander didn't have a good side so it wouldn't do you any good. He dealed in facts what good was a name with out a body to put your blade into would be the Sub-Commander thinking. He was told to report when he had solid facts not empty one's.

He had hoped that Ch'varak might come down to engine room to ask questions in person. He had a little suprise for him if he did one that would teach him a little more respect for him and his staff. They were not happy about the last visit and knew he had there backing, there was more to a fight then just being able to throw a knife.

[Deleted]

Sural finished up on the final operation required and then checked on those crewman still lying in the med bay.

He flitted from Bed to bed chekcing IV's and running tricorders over the wounded.

"Stop complaining" he spat at on officer, "Get back to work" to another. Finally he came up to Tamir.

"You did well Tamir. You handled Triage deftly. I noticed you paid particular care to the Sub-Commander and if I did then others will have. I value my staff and do not want them compromised. Understand."

TAG Tamir

"Well with the crisis over get some rest. In your own bed." he added "I better go deliver the butchers bill."

He left medbay and made his way down to the temproary bridge in Engineering. Teams of engineers worked to keep the ship operational whilst Intelligence and Security officers stood impassivly at every junction accusation in their eyes.

He saw the Sub-Commander on the far side of Engineering beside Terrh's office. He seemed engrossed in a conversation with Jhu and the Engineer. He waited on the sidelines until the conversation broke up and then coughed.

"I have that report for you now." He said and without waiting reeled off the casualty list, "4 dead, 3 unlikely to last the night. 32 major injurires mostly 2nd and 3rd degree burns and 67 minor injuries. Of those injured I have returned 56 to active duty."

TAG Govan

"Before you go. Can I have a word?"

Govan said nothing just scowled. Sural took that as a yes, he was past caring anyways.

"I interned once with Dr Salan a leading pyschologist. He had a most interesting theory. Federation ships work co-operatively, Klingon and Cardassaian ships by rigid martial law and pride. They all have an air self superiority. We well, are naturally different. We have pride and we are superior but in our case we are our own worst enemy. When something happens the Federation, Klingons and Cardassians automatically assume they are too infalliable that the perpetrator must be an enemy of the state. We however are superior but always look inwards. Our first impulse is to doubt our own kind, because it is too impossible to believe that we are so infallible that another could do it. We blinker ourselves and that is dangerous. Whilst we naval gaze perhaps the bigger picture is lost." Sural smiled
"Of course once he published his theory of Salan was arrested by the Tal Shiar and executed. Ideas are dangerous and stating them deadly."

"Is there a point to your ramblings old man" Govan said dryly

"Only that if this" he waved a hand about him "Incident were a Romulan plot to kill you, surely I am communing with the dead?"

TAG Govan