Dreamweaver - "Fallen Angel" Joint Mission Thread

[ariennye]

OOC: did i miss something ?

I don't think so. Magellan

[Jamey Gaz]

Arriving on location …

Jamey was attending to his normal duty while at warp, keeping an eye on the warp field and internal dampeners. The bridge was a bit quite right now, but somehow he knew that would most likely change during the course of this mission. Savot was busy at his station, along with Zimmerman, working through the data coming from the Angel itself. Arriving in the system where the artifact and the Angel were drifting, Jamey brought the Prometheus class ship out of warp and to a safe distance from the two. At all stop, Jamey turned looked down at his panel and saw for the first time, for himself at least, the Angel and the artifact. Due to safety, it had been determined earlier in the mission that they would hold position at a large distance from the ships; for that reason the ships were hard to get a feel for size. So, Jamey put measurement marks over his view, that he used on his panel, to show that the artifact was indeed large.

Turning towards Savot Jamey said, “Sir, we have reached our position … and engines are at all stop. I have the image on my station sir; shall I put in on main viewer? … and … call for the Captain sir?”

[gracemitchell]

"Right then, Grace are you coming?" Melain asked

"Right behind you Melain."

Melain signalled the Nevada and the 5 of them materialized in Nevada's sick bay.

Grace stopped for a moment to check on the reptilian alien, then decided to head to the bridge.

"Doctors! If you will excuse me I am going to the bridge. If you require my assistance, feel free to let me know."

As Grace turned to leave sickbay, the reptilian alien began to get agitated. She turned around and walked closer to where the alien was and he began to calm down.

"On second thought, I think I will stay here and get to know our new friend better"

Melain looked at Grace "Are you in contact with him at the moment, Grace?"

"Not at the moment. But because I was able to sense him earlier, it would appear that I have a calming effect on him."

[mercy]

Stuart helped Dr. Lorre get the reptilian situated in medical isolation. He knew he needed to get back to the station. "Dr. Lorre, Grace, I think our services will be better utilized with me here at the station and you two with him at the artifact. Healer T'Val has offered to help me on this end with the virus. We'll keep an open communications link so that we can compare our findings with each other."

They all agreed and Stuart was on his way back to the station.

[Zhukarak Hrisvalar]

All was set now. The alien reptile that originated from the artifact, was now onboard in medical isolation. Zhuk went ahead and had a few marine guards posted in the area to supplement security. Old habits were hard to break for a marine.

Doctor Mercy returned to the Assailant, and Doctor Lorre and Counselor Mitchell were onboard in sickbay, going over some of the new information they had brought along from Dr. Mercy's research. Zhuk sent Mr. Vicente to sickbay to see if he could continue to help with the research. A science officer could shed some light from a different angle.

The crew was ready. Zhuk looked over his shoulder at Frek. Frek acknowledged the look with a nod of his head. Zhuk addressed Harrias. "Captain, we are ready to disembark."

Harrias looked around the bridge and viewed each and every crew member there. Once he was satisfied that indeed all was ready and the Nevada was set to go, he gave the order. "Mr. Thelev, get us on our way."

Frek's hands activated different areas over his console, and the Nevada's thrusters activated, taking them towards the docking bay doors of the Assailant. The doors opened as Ops on the Assailant gave clearance for the Nevada to proceed.

The inner walls of the station began to disappear as the vastness of space started to take over on the viewscreen. Once the Nevada was clear of Assailant, Frek activated her impulse engines until the proper distance was reached for the engagement of warp engines. Once activated, the viewscreen was filled with the blur of stars streaking past.

The Nevada and her crew was on her way.

[Harrias Jira]

With the ship now in flight away from the starbase, Harrias took the time to look around him. He had felt a lurch when he had watched the El Salvador leaving the base, it felt like his own ship was leaving without him, and it had taken some willpower to remind himself that the El Salvador was under the capable command of Dr Irae. Or, as was probably more correct now, especially in the way in which he was thinking of it, Captain Irae. So many changes... he sighed.

But now, with the sovereign class ship vibrating ever so slightly as it crossed the gulf of space, he felt at home once more. There was something extremely relaxing about heading out on a mission. Especially when he was doing it close to home, rather than stranded, lost. The trill stepped backwards, and collapsed back into his seat, relaxing down into it. Beside him Colonel Hrisvalar was sat in the XOs seat. Commander Steve was still in a coma, and had been officially removed from the Nevada's crew, Hrisvalar gaining the approval of Admiral Magellan as the long term replacement.

OOC: Okay, it's terrible, and it's short, but it's just to let you guys know that I'm back, even if I can't put all my time into it quite yet.

[Deleted]

Melain breifed her medical team on the Reptillian's presence, and the little bit of progress Stuart and her had made on the virus.

"How are the refugees?" Rachel asked from where she was sitting at a terminal, updating the last of the crew's medfiles.

"Hard to say, I think they're happy that they are off the Nevada, but most of them still want to go home. As for the sick ones, most have lost consousness." Melain replied as she ran a scan on the alien.

"You seem distant Melain, is something wrong?" Tom asked, a sentiment Melain had not expected from him.

Melain didn't feel it was right to devulge the details of her family life. "Just tired, I'll be fine."

Just then a large crash resounded from Melain's office.
"By the Prophets, what was that!?" Melain yelped, nearly dropping her tricorder.

Tom hadn't even flinched and was already off to investigate the noise. "It would appear that we have an intruder." he answered, returning from the small room with a very wet Dradrian preteen. "I'm afraid your lilacs are in need of a new vase and water."

[zimmerman]

"Commander Savot, I am not yet able to access the Angel's tactical sensors or logs. All I can discern is that it did encounter something and the crew initiated an alert status, nothing new. Perhaps an away team could dock with ship via shuttle or, once we are in range, transporter. However, I am unable to provide any advanced reconnaissance data as of yet. Zimmerman, have you had any luck?"

"Not much," replied Kevin. "We're not quite close enough to tell if there's any- hold on. That Klingon, G'Rak? He's not on board the ship. Looks like a small shuttle is missing."

"It would be illogical to stay in one place for too long if one was not innocent in Mr. G'Rak's position, unless one was ill," said Savot. "However, I doubt that G'Rak would leave such an obvious trail for us to follow."

Kevin nodded. "Yeah, if he wasn't like most Klingons and actually knew something about computers, he could have faked it. But I should be able to... yes." The science officer smiled. "He's faked it. It wasn't too easy to find his error. Too hard for him to hack into the computer, I suppose."

"Surely you have no such experience, Mr. Zimmmerman?" probed Savot, slightly concerned.

"Well, let me put it this way...," Kevin began, grinning. "Hacking a Starfleet computer now, with access codes and a few years of experience, is definitely going to make me better than I was at the Academy."

Savot seemed to understand. "But a petty officer shouldn't have such abilities."

"No. He must have done a little homework on the side. But it wasn't enough. And if there's one thing I understand really well, its computers. I'm not the best, of course, but I'm not half-bad. As are a lot of other science officers. It almost seems like G'rek here-"

"-G'Rak-" put in Savot.

"-yes, him; it almost seems like he was wasting his time."

"We have already spent some time trying to see through this act, and now we must be wary of what other hidden talents he might have developed." Savot frowned. "I will contact the Nevada and Starbase Assailant and inform them of G'Rak's new abilities."

Kevin thought it was a little paranoid, but the Vulcan had been right many times, and a little extra precaution never hurt. Something was bothering Kevin, a very small thing, at the back of his mind. He barely registered it, but it was there.

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

“Sir," announced Jamey, "we have reached our position … and engines are at all stop. I have the image on my station sir; shall I put in on main viewer? … and … call for the Captain sir?”

Savot opened his mouth to answer when Kevin suddenly realised his mistake. The Angle's sensors had recorded very faint traces that a shuttlecraft might leave behind, but no more than naturally could be accounted for. However, those traces came from inside the shuttlebay - as Kevin had only just realised.

"Sir! We need to go to red alert now!" shouted Kevin.

Savot immediately flipped a switch on his chair. "Red Alert. All hands, battlestations." He turned to Kevin. "What is the problem?"

"Sir, G'Rak did take the shuttle. He was just so careful and patient, I didn't figure it out until now. The shuttle's missing, and he could be anywhere now. Also - the shuttle's armed."

[Deleted]

As soon as the Red Alert klaxon began sounding, Adam's hands moved across his display panel and the ship's defensive systems were arming. "Red Alert, Aye Sir...Raising Shields." The CTSO was now glad Ensign Nokomis had just finished inventorying and securing the weapons lockers. The thought of a rogue Klingon somewhere in space with an armed shuttle, or perhaps now on the El Sal was less than comforting.

The Lieutenant then began tactical scans of the surrounding space, as well as internal sensor sweeps on each deck. "Commander Zimmerman, can you tell which type of shuttle is missing? I would like to determine the armament."

[Jamey Gaz]

The main view screen was showing the now unpredictable 'stage' in front of them. What would play out on that stage was still up for grabs? “Red Alert,” Savot commanded. One could almost feel every person’s muscles on the ship tense readying for battle stations. The lights on the bridge during red alert would dim to the point of being almost off. The only real light was coming from the view screen, each stations panel, and ambient floor lighting placed there to show where steps were located. With light that low, the red alert klaxons would highlight everyone’s face a chilling shade of red every time it would flash.

Jamey placed the warp and impulse engines on hot stand-by, as was normal for red alert. Internal dampers were also brought to high, as well as stand-by generators to power them if the ship was hit by weapons fire. Jamey was now also looking at the tactical sensors that was overlaid on his navigational read out … during times of battle, or evasive maneuvers, it was the CNO job to work closely with the tactical offer. Any special maneuvers would be orchestrated between the two.

Jamey suggested to the Commander, “Sir, we are still in space … sitting ducks if you will … an easy target.”

[Savot]

As tensions around the bridge seemed to elevate due to the status of red alert, lights flashing and klaxons blaring, Savot raised his eyebrow at the ease with which some beings became apprehensive. Shortly after giving the order for Red Alert, Savot silenced the klaxons from his console, removing that element of tension as it was unnecessary at the moment.

"Do remain calm, everyone. We are at Red Alert as a precautionary measure only. Certainly we do not wish to face any weaponry unshielded, but now guarded as we are a Prometheus class vessel is likely not at risk from any class of shuttle within the Angel's compliment.", turning to Jamey he continued, "As such, Lieutenant, we will remain at station keeping only. At present we have no knowledge of the location of the shuttle, so any direction we moved would be equally at risk."

Turning to face the science and tactical stations respectively, Savot continued his directives, "Mr. Zimmerman and Mr. Parsons, continue to coordinate between yourselves and attempt to locate the shuttle, a warp trail if it left the region, vented plasma if it merely utilized its impulse engines and remained nearby."

Nodding, though still uncertain about remaining in one spot, Jamey spoke again, "And the Captain sir? Shall I inform her of the current situation?"

Before Savot could answer, an Irish voice came from the back of the bridge, leaning against the bulkhead with her arms crossed, a slight smirk upon her features, "Unnecessary, Lieutenant Parker. I been righ' here for plenty long enough. If I had known ye had yer eyes upon my chair Mr. Savot, I wouldna taken so long a nap."

Widening the smirk for an instant at the vulcan's double raised eyebrows, she only made the comment because both of them knew the ridiculousness of it, the down-to-business mask then slid firmly into place upon Deis' features as she took her seat at the bridge's center turning her face to either side to address her crew, "Fer the now we proceed with the Commander's plan. We play it safe, but don' bury ourselves in tension. Mr. Parker, have main shuttlebay have the Mini-Sal prepped and on standby. We're gonna give our Klingon fugitive some time to show hisself, but if all stays quiet we'll board the Angel and see if the dear lass can offer up any further data. Go to it folks."

[Jamey Gaz]

OOC/OFF: NPC Engineer (Earth Female … name: Lt. Brinia Vargos)

In Engineering …

Brinia was overseeing her staff put in an otherwise normal days work while she looked over the system logs from past twelve hours. Looking over the time frame when the El-Sal came out of warp and came to an all stop, she noticed that the warp field took a 15 percent drop in integrity just before exiting warp. Turning in her chair, she called up the systems monitor in her office. Looking at the only system that was using any type of field, she reviewed the shield system. The shields were up, and at 100 percent, however the field modulation algorithm was working vigorously to maintain modulation. She found after scanning the other systems that an alien field was present in the adjacent space surrounding the ship. Nothing like she has seen before. Asking the computer to theorize, she found that the transporter system would be the most affected by the existence of this field; she called the Transporter Chief and they both came to the same conclusion. With this field present, the transporter would not be able to obtain a proper lock on any person transporting back from another place to the El-Sal. If anyone transported from the El-Sal to the Angel or the artifact now, they would not be able to return.

“Brinia to bridge”

“Bridge here, what is it Chief.”

After telling the information to the Captain and the Bridge crew, Brinia and the Transporter Chief started to work on overcoming this limitation.

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

… on the Bridge …

Jamey was listening to the report that the CEO gave to the Captain, a report that came just minutes after instructing the shuttle bay crew to ready the Mini-Sal shuttle. Jamey wondered if the Captain was having some type of sixth sense … or was she just being careful? “Captain, the Mini-Sal is reporting as being ready and waiting. The Shuttle Bay crew was wanting to know how to fit the shuttle for its mission?” Jamey asked the Captain.

“Aye lad, tell em’ to be a fitin’ her for a security detail as well as an Engineering away team.” The Captain said back to the Lieutenant.

Jamey sent the message back to the Shuttle Bay crew and adjusted the navigational sensors to compensate for the field that the CEO had talked about. The adjusted sensors made for a smaller object detection range; turning to the FO and CO Jamey said, “Adjusting for the field, the navigational sensors ability to detect objects has lessened. The navigational deflectors will have less time to react to objects that would be in our path … I recommend we move about the space around the artifact with caution sir.” Turning to Lieutenant Parsons Jamey suggested, “Lieutenant, I would suggest you adjust the tactical sensors as well; a impulse engines vented plasma would be hard to detect with the company of this strange field in this area.” Jamey noticed that Zimmerman had been very busy at his station ever since the news came from Engineering about the alien field in the area.

<tag Zimmerman and Parsons … as well as Savot>

OOC ... and for info only ...
The Mini-Sal is an Argo class shuttle. However, the El-Sal crew has modified its specs from its original abilities to better serve the needs of the El-Sal’s away missions. Now this shuttle is designed for marine/security use ... the 'Mini-Sal has been upgraded with type-X phasers emitters and 2 micro-quantum torpedo launchers ... also, double-layered shielding and ablative armor has been added to her hull. The Argo class shuttle warp drive wasn't upgraded so a max warp of 3 is all she will do (4 for a max. of 12 hours). A crew of 2 mans her and she can carry up to 25 marines/security officers with full combat gear. The Mini-Sal can also be configured in less than thirty minutes to be a platform that an Engineering crew can work from with a complement of supplies for a variety of away missions.

[zimmerman]

"It should be a type-10 shuttle, with upgrades," Kevin told Adam. After a few more minutes, Kevin had little more information. "This field's getting in the way of all my scans for the shuttle's path. However, I've found something else odd - someone, probably our Klingon friend, replicated a special kind of black paint on the Angle. In mass quantity. The missing shuttle's going to be hard to detect. All G'Rak would need to do is shut down all but emergency power and he'd be more invisible than if he'd got himself a cloaking device. I'm pretty sure he hasn't gone to warp, though I can't be certain."

Savot nodded. "Can you design a way to search for the shuttle?"

"Yes," replied Kevin, sighing, "but it'll take several dozen minutes to design, and hours, possibly days, to complete."

"Get started on it," ordered Irae. "Include the Mini-Sal in yer search pattern - we can spare her, if need be."

"Aye, Captain," said Kevin.

[Deleted]

"Thank you for the information gentlemen. A type X shuttle is no match for the El Sal in conventional combat, but I'll feel better once our Klingon friend is found." Parsons said. The CTSO then began adjusting the tactical sensors to more effectively search for the shuttle's emissions trail.

"Captain, I have an idea for finding the shuttle, but it is messy."

"Please be explainin' it to us then, Lieutenant." replied Irae.

"If Commander Zimmerman is correct and the shuttle has been blackened for camouflage in deep space, we may be able to use that camouflage to find the shuttle. If we launch torpedoes from the ship in multiple directions and detonate at a set range, the darkened shuttle would be easily visible against the backdrop of light created by the torpedo detonations. I could work with engineering to make the flash even brighter so we could detonate farther from the ship. Anything within the sphere of light would be easily visible to our sensors and probably the naked eye as well. Of course this would require a minimum of 6 torpedoes if we were looking in all directions. If we could determine which direction the shuttle was in we could accomplish the task with three or less," Parsons hypothesized.

"Of course there is a chance we would damage the shuttle, but it's not likely," the CTSO cautioned.

[Harrias Jira]

- "Captain, we have an incoming communication. Its the El'Savador."
- "Put it on screen Commander."

Jenkins nodded, and the large, slightly tense face of Captain Irae appeared on the screen. She offered Jira and the crew a small smile before she dropped it once more.

- "Captain, we have come against some opposition. There is a shuttle which has been camoflauged. We are launching the mini-Sal, and it should not pose too much of a problem, however, the presence of the Nevada would be appreciated as soon as you can get here."
- "An irishman asking for help?" Jira teased with a smile. Unlike his opposite number, he was feeling relaxed and eager.
- "Irish-woman. And I am purely thinking of the efficiency that two ships would give us. The El'Sal is however, more than capable of sorting this out."
- "Of course she is, especially with you at the helm. Nevertheless, we will endeavour to reach you a bit quicker. Rough guess, a few hours."
- "I look forward to it. Meanwhile, we have some big swatting to sort out. El'Sal out."

The screen blinked, and the starscape reappeared, white streaks of light passing either side of the view.
- "Mr Thelev, best possible speed please."
- "Already done sir."

Jira shook his head with a smile. Pre-empting orders was something that his crew had started doing recently, and even from simple ones like this, he was amazed with the efficiency that they created. He just hoped that he never had reason to rue the development. Of course, usually in such circumstances, there wasn't enough time left to rue the decision.

[Magellan Lin]

Gremmel watched those before him carefully, he didnt recognise his surroundings, but by the feel of it he was aboardthe ship. The pain was still there - the unbearable pain. He knew his time was coming and he needed to... what did he need to do?. Noithing like this had happened before. Always someone had come from home to replace the overseer. It was how he had arrived, a portal direct to the control room.

He shook his head and began to weep as he began to fear what had happened in his absence. It might have been slow but he now understood these peoples language, not that he would let that on. For now he just gathered information - It seemed he had been 'rescued' by a ship. He vaguely remembered strangers inthe control room, he remembered so little before the black out.
He watched those outside the isolation the one named Lorre and Grace were there, they stared at him, but at least they were no longer prodding him like that Mercy one had. Such strange names they all had.
For now he decided to play dumb, thats if the incessant pain allowed him to concentrate that much.

[Jamey Gaz]

Sitting … it was the waiting game that Jamey hated the most. However this game was different this time. Was there a rogue Klingon out there in a shuttle-craft that was waiting for the right time to move or even attack? And what trouble to go to painting a shuttle with black absorbing paint to not go anywhere … just to sit there. What was he going to do? And why was he in Starfleet anyway if he was that volatile? All questions that needed answers; answers that were not available … where would they be found?

The Captain wanted the Mini-Sal readied, Jamey wondered if he was going to be asked to pilot. He remembered the last time he was asked to pilot a shuttle, he swore the bulkhead was still imprinted on his head after a blast struck the shuttle. Wow, Jamey thought … all this power in this ship, all the technology and still there were things out here in the blackness of space that baffled even the best minds, or computers for that matter.

Looking down at his navigational read-out there was the normal readings. Star chart readings, star sightings, pulsar timings for this area, signals from Federation beacons in this sector. The beacons were directional in this sector, old style; ones that were expected to come from a known location and angle. If something were in the signal’s way, a receiving ship would have to wait until its next cycle before seeing it again.

As soon as Jamey noticed this he almost burst out with trepidation. The signal had been absent for five cycles now. Signals had been known to be missing for three, even four but never five. Jamey spoke up and asked Savot, “Commander Savot, do you have the signal from Federation beacon 652 on your station? My sensors have missed it for five cycles now.” Turning towards Savot, Jamey’s eyes widened, “Sir, the only thing that can stop a signal of this style is if something is blocking it … something between us and the becon.” Jamey didn’t know if Savot would catch on to his thinking … but he also knew he was Vulcan.
Before Savot could answer Jamey’s question, alarms started to sound on the bridge. Parsons called out, it’s a ship sir … coming from behind … it is firing. As the weapons fire hit the Salvador, the bridge flashed with a hot white blinding light. In an instant Zimmerman was thrown from his station crashing down on the floor blood splattering everywhere. The Captain stood from her chair and rushed to his side pulling her trusty hypo spray from her pocket. His face was bloody and unrecognizable. Savot rushed over to the Tactical station and started to help defend the ship. This wasn’t a small shuttle piloted by some Klingon … it was a huge ship dwarfing the El Salvador.

Jamey started evasive maneuvers to no avail, the pursuing ship matched his every move. Another blast from the ship passed through the shields snuffing the warp core in one blast. The El Salvador was listing in space venting plasma. The computer sounded, “Intruder Alert … Intruder Alert,” a green spherical beam sparked in from of the view screen and two forms now stood in front of the crew. A blast from a shoulder mounted phasor on the intruder hit Savot as he was diving towards the floor. Jamey turned to look as the Captain was hit at point blank range. Looking up from his chair Jamey couldn’t get his legs to move while the approaching trespasser came ever closer to him. Breathing heavily, Jamey flinched as a blow from the enemy hit him across the face. ‘A knife,’ Jamey thought, why would he use a knife if he had a phasor. Blood ran down Jamey’s neck from the gashing cut under his chin, he couldn’t talk … he couldn’t warn the crew. Turning to see more of his crewman slain before his eyes he felt another blow … this time it was a searing pain ….

Jamey sat straight up in bed, sweet flowing down his forehead into his eyes, stinging. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest … "A DREAM!!" he screamed… Jamey felt under his chin to find nothing … not even a nick; he felt hot, a tingling in his head almost if something was IN his head. Was this stress … or was he not alone?

The symbiont in his stomach pouch felt as if it was turning around and around, he grabbed his belly and with his other hand swatted at the communication panel beside his bed, “Medical Emergency! Lt. JameyParker Gaz quarters!” Was something wrong with his symbiont … did anybody onboard even know about the physiology of Trills … was there even anything wrong?

<Tag Medical Person>

[Zhukarak Hrisvalar]

"Captain, given the situation of the missing shuttle I recommend that we go to Yellow Alert once we arrive."

"Agreed Mr. Hrisvalar. We don't want any surprises."

"Mr. Thelev, what's our ETA?"

"Twenty-three minutes, Colonel."

~Twenty-three minutes.~ It was enough time to go to sickbay and see if Dr. Lorre and Counselor Mitchell had made any progress.

"Sir, I think I will check on the condition of our 'guest'."

Zhukarak got up from his seat and headed to the turbolift, on his way to sickbay. On his way he was wondering where Theel'zhiin had gone off to. No sooner had he thought that, when Theel'zhiin appeared from between to land on Zhuk's shoulder.

Theel'zhiin nuzzled his head against the side of Zhuk's to show his affection. Zhuk reached up to pat his head.

"Where have you been off to? Ten Forward I presume again. You just have a taste for terran food items."

Theel'zhiin squaked at the mention of terran food. It was true, he was becoming real fond of that species' delicacies.

They finally arrived at sickbay.

"Doctor, Counselor, any progress?"

<Melain, Grace>

While he listened to their reports and findings, or their lack of, Zhuk went over to where their guest was being held for observation.

Zhuk observed that the alien had reduced his sense of fear of them. There was something else, but Zhuk wasn't quite sure what. Theel'zhiin felt it too. As Dr. Lorre was speaking, some of her words came to Zhuk twice, but only once through his ears. The repeat seemed to be in his mind, coming from Theel'zhiin. It wasn't really a repeat, as it was there at the same time as Dr. Lorre was speaking.

"Doctor, stop speaking." Zhuk ordered.

Dr. Lorre and Grace both looked at their First Officer with confusion on their faces. Grace came a little closer to him asking with a look of 'what's wrong'.

"Grace, I give you permission to sense my thoughts. Please do so now as I ask you to speak out my forname."

Grace prepared herself and spoke his name. "Zhukarak."

There it was again. Zhuk heard his name but at the same time he felt it. As he did not posses any telepathic abilities, he was only able to sense the feelings and thoughts of his firelizard Theel'zhiin.

Grace then spoke up.

"I 'heard' your thoughts, Colonel, and you're right. You did 'hear' your name in your mind from Theel'zhiin. I 'heard' it also in mine as I spoke it, and I think I know where it's coming from."

She turned and faced their alien guest.

"I think he understands us. As Melain was giving you her findings, Theel'zhiin sensed his thoughts and was repeating them back to you. I sensed it too, once I focused in on it."

"So he understands us, good. Now we need to be able to understand him. Grace, can you communicate with him?"

<Grace>

[gracemitchell]

"I will try."

Grace closed her eyes and began to search with her mind.

"There you are! I know that you can understand our language. My name is Grace, what is your name?"

Silence!

"We mean you no harm, we only want to help you? Is there anything we can do for you?"

"I want to go home?"

"Where is home? Perhaps, we could help you get there? I also sense that you are in pain, is there anything special you need to help relieve the pain?"

"My time is ending, there is nothing you can do for me except take me back to the control room."

"Where is your control room?"

"On the place you call the Artifact. I need to be there when the replacement comes. My name is Gremmel."

"It is a pleasure to meet you Gremmel. Why don't I leave your mind and we can talk face to face? I am sorry I had to talk to you this way."

"I don't mind you talking to me like this, it seems to help the pain, do you know why?"

"No, I am afraid I have no answer to that question. If I understand you correctly, you prefer I speak to you with my mind?"

"Yes, I like solitude and quiet and you are quiet in my mind."

"Fair enough. Then I will talk to you only with my mind. Why don't you start by telling me how you came to be in the control room on the Artifact? Oh, before we continue, I should tell you I will need to report all important information to my superiors. Perhaps you can help us and we can help you"

"I understand, Grace."

Meanwhile, Theel'zhiin communicated Grace and Gremmel conversation to Zhukarak.

[Deleted]

hrisvalar said:

"
"Doctor, Counselor, any progress?".....

Melain was about to comment on Tom's discovery when Zhukarak entered. "The Reptillian has appeared to settle down, as if he knows we are trying to help him. HIs pulse has settled, and blood pressure is returning to normal."

"And who is this?" Zhuk asked, pointing one blue finger toward Tom's captive.

"A stowaway it would appear. She's no older then, 15 I'd geuss. We found her in my office. She seems to have avoided being transferred to the Station. I wouldn't arrest her yet sir. The only harm she'd donw is knock over a vase in my office..."

hrisvalar said:

""Doctor, stop speaking." Zhuk ordered.

Melain obediantly shut her mouth, feeling somewhat abused. Was the Major that touchy about getting advice? Grace however seemed to understand, it took Melain a little longer.

As Grace, Zhuk and the Firelizard communicated with the Reptillian Melain guided the Dradrian child to a biobed. The Girl was cooperative and trusting, but did not speak.

"What is your name?" Melain asked, the girl just looked at her. Melain began a scan, and realized why she was so silent, the Dadrian was deaf.

[ariennye]

OCC: i am back

"Ariennye look at Lt. parson with rasie brow, then spoke all is well with the weapons lockers.
then pause then spoke again where do you need me at Lt?

[Zhukarak Hrisvalar]

Zhuk understood most of what was being thought between Grace and their guest who named himself Gremmel. Yet only key thoughts and mostly feelings and senses where the limits of the connection to a firelizard.

After Grace was done communicating, Zhuk asked her to explain in detail. When she was done, everything had finally made sense.

"Grace, please communicate with him that we are due to arrive at the artifact in approximately 15 minutes, or shortly as he may not understand our standard time scale. I need to get this information to the Captain. Thank you Grace."

Zhuk went over to where Melain was.

"Dr. Lorre. I apologize for my directness earlier, but I think you now understand why. Under normal circumstances I wouldn't have acted that way. I had just sensed something was wrong and as we are on a high priority mission....well I hope you understand. I'll leave you in charge with our stowaway. Please do keep an eye on her. We can't afford to have her running all over the ship. I need to get back to the bridge. Doctor, Counselor."

Zhuk took his leave and hoped that the good Doctor was understanding. He had been a CO before and knew better than to rule with an iron fist. That wasn't the way people followed a leader, not through fear. At least not for very long. Leaders like that didn't survive very long.

[Savot]

Savot sat at the Ops console on the bridge as the ship held her station in the blackness of space. Zimmerman and Parsons had continued working tirelessly to adjust the sensors to gather more data, but as yet the results had been fruitless. Parker had returned to his quarters for some rest at the end of his duty shift and Captain Irae had entered her ready room to review the information gathered thus far and make an update report to Admiral Magellan back on Assailant.

As Savot was attempting to aid in the sensor efforts, a beep came over the intercomm, =^= Commander Savot, sickbay here. We have some reports down here that you should take a look at. =^=


Savot raised his eyebrow for an instant but was done before his hand reached his commbadge to reply, =^= Savot here. I will be down momentarily. =^= Savot then rose, nodding to Zimmerman to keep an eye on things until he returned, though with the Captain only so far away as her ready room there was little to worry about. Savot passed Ms. Nokomis as she exitted the turbolift to give her report to Parsons on the weapons locker status. Giving her a polite nod as he walked by, Savot then stepped into the turbolift and descended towards sickbay.

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

The nurse handed the vulcan Commander the padd and twisted her lips in a frown, "We've gotten over 17 reports of strange nightmares already. So far there seems to be no common thread. I thought we should bring it to the Captain's attention."

Savot nodded as he took the padd and skimmed it himself, "Quite correct. I'll take to her presently. In the meantime, catalogue all the cases, both previous and incoming, by species of the crewmember. It may be possible to discern whether or not this 'epidemic', if such is indeed the case, is unable to affect some biologies." The nurse nodded as she had intended to do just that, after all former CMO Irae's staff was no bunch of amateurs. Returning the nod, Savot left and headed back up the turbolift to the bridge.

Upon exitting the lift and seeing that all was still relatively calm on the bridge, Savot went immediately to the ready room. Pressing the chime on the doorway he quickly received permission to enter from Deis' voice authorization inside. Savot entered, looking down at the padd to skim it once more before handing it over for the Captain's perusal, glanced upward to make his report, "Captain, sickbay has recorded several...", as he looked up from the padd fully he stopped in his tracks, the greenish pallor of his skin fading somewhat as he saw an impossible sight. Captain Irae sat at her desk, puzzled at the break in the vulcan's statement, but what stood behind her was the source of Savot's temporary paralysis. For behind her chair stood Commander Savot's father... his dead father.

Savot's mouth parted slightly agape as he took in the sight before him. No words could come to him as he faced this complete impossibility, but the spectre faced no such difficulty as it spoke from behind the Captain's desk chair, "Have you nothing to say my son? I transcend the very boundaries of death itself, whereas you failed to cross mere space to save my mind from death when I required your presence. Your mother and sister both fought to salvage me, but the first of my children made no such appearance." As he stepped from behind the chair, Savot glanced down at his father's stomach, and though the spectre's face held no reflection of such a wound, the flesh was burnt away clean through to bone from his father's left hip up to the bare bones of his scorched ribs. The padd shook in Savot's hand as he watched an impossibility stand before him, and utter words he had always feared were his father's last true thoughts about him.

Savot gripped the padd tighter, attempting to summon forth greater control and escape the vision, but instead he found himself interacting with it further, "If it had been within my power to reach Vulcan and participate in the familial mind healing following your plasma burn accident, I would have father. I was no longer even in this universe at the time of your death. There was nothing I could do to..." His father quickly cut him off as Savot tried to defend himself to this hallucination with a raised hand, and a look of anger that was entirely out of place upon the vulcan features Savot remembered of his father's face.

"Excuses are without logic, my son. Do not disgrace my name further by attempting to escape your guilt. You were needed and you failed. Those are the only concrete facts at work here", the dead vulcan man then stood beside his living son, though all Captain Irae could see was her vulcan friend and First Officer standing there talking to no one. The spectre leaned in close to Savot's face, looking towards Deis, "And what of her? Does the human woman know the range of your reliability? Is she aware that her trust in you as an officer is misplaced? That given the same situation you would fail to save her as well?"

Savot's eyes narrowed as he turned to face his father, "I would do no such thing. Were it to cost my own existence, even the loss of my katra itself I would not allow Deis to come to harm if it were at all possible to prevent it. I will accept no statements to the contrary, from you or anyone else!", and though he managed to keep his voice low, the unmistakable addition of tension was easily readable in Savot's voice as Irae continued to look on at her First Officer in confusion, rising from her chair to walk over and attempt to snap him out of it.

As she grabbed him by the shoulders, Savot's father then stood behind the Captain, leaning over her shoulder to look at her face from the side, then facing back to his son though still leaned over her shoulder, at least to Savot's eyes. "And what of your other feelings towards her? Is she aware of the shame you bring your people with such thoughts? That despite the fundamental superiority of our people you would still choose to..." And with that, a statement so intensely nonsensical coming from a vulcan, Savot was able to drive away the image at last, as would a human squeezing their eyes shut tight to escape a nightmare, though with his vulcan mental training the closing of the eyes was unnecessary in Savot's case.

Savot blinked once to refocus himself, looked around to make sure he was free, then looked down at the Captain who was shaking him by the shoulders and repeating his name to try and snap him out of it, "Captain, we have a serious problem..."

[Deis Irae]

::Deis finds herself thrust into the oddest situation shes ever experienced. Especially when it comes to vulcans. The silent pause was shruggable but him suddenly talking to someone that isnt there is something entirely different. Shes never seen him even remotely nervous and confused...and now shes seeing emotion on his face...its enough to give her the shivers. She gets up from her chair wondering if this has something to do with that damned artifact out there. She places hands on his shoulders and shakes him, but his eyes do not turn to her...its as though she isnt there"" Savot...SAVOT! can ye 'ear me Comm.....

"I would do no such thing. Were it to cost my own existence, even the loss of my katra itself I would not allow Deis to come to harm if it were at all possible to prevent it. I will accept no statements to the contrary, from you or anyone else!"

::::Deis scowls slightly wondering where in the hell THAT came from. She knows that hes loyal to her as Captain. Shes dying to know who or what hes talking to. Its the tension in him that shocks her though...shes known this particular vulcan for a long time now and its almost like seeing him unclothed, seeing his emotions on his face. She takes a deep breath and tries again, shaking him with more insistance this time and saying his name very carefully* Savot...look a' me man. Tis Deis, come back t me Commander. ::wondering if she needs to give him a good slap in the face...that tends to work with people who are wierded out or hysterical...or hallucinating. Luckily enough it isnt necessary for soon enough he focuses on her eyes instead of whomever he was seeing::

"Captain, we have a serious problem..."

::She nods for him to continue, not knowing what else to do for the moment...somewhere in the middle of the explanation of the dream occurrences among the crew she finally takes her hands down from his shoulders. She dosent ask about his own "problems" yet but recieves the information from sickbay, nodding and then asking about himself* Wha was tha Savot? be ye dreamin too? while awake?
::Savot straightened out his posture, reassuming dignity that had momentarily waned from his control. Clasping his hands behind his back he tilted his head in a nod.:: "That is the only possible conclusion, Captain, as what I believed I saw could not have been possible. Should this happen to a crewman at a station of delicate stability, their hallucinations could cause them to inadvertently destroy the ship in thier delerium.

::Deis considers his words, looking up into Savots face as though measuring something...what was it he saw...who was it that he was talking to. But she shakes her head and dosent ask:: I be needin a full list o all personell tha be havin these nightmares. ::grateful that she hasnt been afflicted yet...so much for that wonder drug that was supposed to help us with this problem:: All persons experiencin this need t be watched...::looking at him again and lowering her eyes...this "watching" includes himself:: Savot iffen ye experience this again...tell me so.

*Savot nods slowly but firmly* Of course, Captain. My vulcan discipline may enable me to ward off the effects for a time, especially given my experience with this hallucination just now, but there is no way to surmise how long any of us will be able to fight it. The padd contains the names of all reported cases thus far, I shall issue a general order to the crew to report any such episodes.

::Deis nods again and looks at her Commander worried for him...what happens when a Vulcan goes mad. She didnt even believe it was possible. She will keep an eye on him personally she decides:: Arrigh...yer wi me Savot, back onto th bridge. ::taking the padd and skimming the names as she walks towards her doorway...she stops before she walks out and says to him, with a bit of emotion in her voice* An thank ye Savot....ye dinnae know wha yer words meant....though they nae be aimed a' me. ::then she wooshes out the doors and onto the bridge, about the same time as Jamey ends up in the same place. She looks to those gathered and says* Report.

=========
OFF: Im finally back and will be posting as per normal. Sorry it took so long but between two massive hurricanes and surgery its been a rough 2 weeks.

[zimmerman]

"Report," ordered Irae.

"Well," replied Kevin, "Sickbay reported a couple people having 'living nightmares' - sounds like something from my academy training mission, where people saw things that weren't really there, and didn't notice people that were. Elizabeth Habsburg, and engineer, and Jason Riley, a nurse, have both had those living nightmares. And that shuttle's still out there, despite our best efforts to find it. I..." Kevin hesitated, then continued. "I thought I saw a small portion of the wall being assimilated, like a bunch of Borg nanoprobes were there, but when I looked closer it was gone. It was just out of the corner of my eye, and I'm an bad sleeper, so its probably nothing."