Mission 6: Into Troubled Waters

[Paikea Apirana]

=^=Commander Apirana, report to my ready room immediately=^=

Those were the words that had begun a new chapter in Pai's life. Captain Daya had been recalled to Earth on a classified mission. It had come as a complete surprise to Daya, but orders could not be denied. Paikea had been placed in command of the Rainier until further notice. It had come as complete shock to Pai since he had never wanted command, but it was a responsibility that he humbly accepted. He knew the burden that came with leadership, having left his responsibilities at home so long ago. Paikea felt a terrible sense of impending doom as he donned the command uniform, but he accepted that running would not solve any of the problems he faced. He was acutely aware that the Rainier had unfinished business. The murder of S'Reena Hope's husband and the disappearance of Isaiah had raised internal red flags, but they would press on. As he quietly walked the corridors of the Rainer, Paikea felt like he had to make a request of an hold friend and mentor.

"S'Reena, may I enter?" Paikea asked once he had arrived at S'Reena's quarters. It took a minute or so, but Paikea was given permission to enter.

(S'Reena)

"Starfleet has given us permission to investigate the loss of your husband, Starfleet and I also believe that the attempted high jacking of the Rainier is related to the events that have brought us to this point" Paikea said as S'Reena listened. "I know this is a lot to ask of you, but I would like for you to help us in an official capacity if you feel up to it."

(S'Reena)

"You are a decorated officer and any advice you can offer me will be most appreciated," Paikea said," I'm sure you would also like to bring these people to justice."

(S'Reena)

The decision had been left up to her, but Paikea secretly wished that such a veteran officer would take him up on his offer. He would know soon enough. Paikea could now only wait for the lift to stop and everything will be different. He would be walking onto the bridge, not as the Science officer, but as the ship's commanding officer. Everything depended on him making the right moves, keeping the crew safe, and continuing the mission of exploration. The doors opened, Paikea took a breath, and walked on the bridge.

"Captain on deck" Katie said with a huge grin on her face.

"Report," Paikea said with a smile," also alert all senior staff that we have a briefing within an hour."

(Tag All)

[Deleted]

"S'Reena, may I enter?" Paikea asked once he had arrived at S'Reena's quarters. It took a minute or so, but Paikea was given permission to enter.



For a moment, S'reena debated turning him away, but he was an old friend and that's what she needed the most right now. Friends. "You may enter," she called to him, wrapping the robe she was wearing tighter around her body. She felt cold, despite the tolerable temperature in her temporary quarters. Her hair still in tangles, but at least it was clean now. She certainly did clean up well, and she felt better now that she was out of the burnt and scorched uniform.


"Starfleet has given us permission to investigate the loss of your husband, Starfleet and I also believe that the attempted high jacking of the Rainier is related to the events that have brought us to this point" Paikea said as S'Reena listened. "I know this is a lot to ask of you, but I would like for you to help us in an official capacity if you feel up to it."



The Romulan woman nodded slowly, not quite meeting his eyes. She had done things, to bring his body here, some of them less than rule-abiding and yet here he wanted her help? Tears started to stain her cheeks as she slowly looked up.


"You are a decorated officer and any advice you can offer me will be most appreciated," Paikea said," I'm sure you would also like to bring these people to justice."



"I will think about it," she answered, her voice trembling. "Yes I want justice, but I'm not sure if I can be involved. I'll think about it." She watched him leave and she got to her feet, walking over to the bathroom. Picking up a brush, she started to pull it through her long hair, gently untangling it.

A few hours later, looking proud as ever, and dressed in her normal science teals, she stepped onto the bridge. Her hair now shining softly, and pulled back into a semi pony tail, her face still pale but not as stricken as before, S'reena glanced around the bridge. "I will help," she told Paikea firmly. "I want justice."

[Lorna Holsen]

Lorna knew she had waited long enough, especially with the staff meeting due in an hour. Truthfully she had all ready started when the notification had come through. Michael was hardly the first colleague she had autopsied and she knew he wouldn’t be the last. Theoretically she could have let someone else do this, but it was something of professional pride that she knew she could do a very good job and her friends and colleagues more than deserved that.

Michael was laid out in a sterile field, covered by a sheet. The surface contaminants were being removed from his skin and sent for analysis. Once that was completed the internal scans could begin.

She tapped her comm badge. =/\= Lorna Holsen to S’reena Hope =/\=

=/\=I will be starting the autopsy in ten minutes. I thought you would like to know.=/\= You didn’t just invite someone to her spouse’s autopsy but if S’reena wanted to be there Lorna would have no objections. Although given S’reena’s often stated opinion on sickbays Lorna doubted it.

Tag: S’reena, if you want to add anything

=/\=Preliminary results should be available in 45 minutes.=/\=

Tag: ditto

While the surface scan finished Lorna started her observations, Michael had lost an unhealthy amount of weight since she had last seen him. Most of his skin was bruised and there were layers of cuts and abrasions with varying degrees of healing. She knew there would be deeper damage that her eyes could not see. No one had this much damage inflicted on them, and Lorna had no doubt that this had been deliberately and calculatingly inflicted, without more serious damage being done as well.

OOC: There will be a follow up to this but I wanted to allow the story to move on.

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

One hour later.

Lorna reported for the staff meeting with a minute or so to spare. She was surprised and pleased to see S’reena present in uniform and clearly having cleaned up. Lorna settled in a chair on the other side of the table from the other woman.

She looked over to Commander Apirana and nodded, giving a slightly tired smile. There was never any rest for the CMO.

Tag: Meeting

[Deleted]

(until we move on I don't really have much to add as S'reena is already in the briefin room....it would be greatly helpful though if others assigned to the Rainier besides Apirana, Holsen and myself, would actually bother to get a response in)


She tapped her comm badge. =/\= Lorna Holsen to S’reena Hope =/\=


"Hope here.." THe Romulan woman was just in the process of putting on a fresh and clean uniform, after enjoying a quick sonic shower.


=/\=I will be starting the autopsy in ten minutes. I thought you would like to know.=/\= You didn’t just invite someone to her spouse’s autopsy but if S’reena wanted to be there Lorna would have no objections. Although given S’reena’s often stated opinion on sickbays Lorna doubted it.



"No doctor," S'reena answered, while now pulling on brand new boots as her own had been rather damaged as well. "I would not, but thank you for your offer. When are you expecting preliminary results?"


=/\=Preliminary results should be available in 45 minutes.=/\=



"If permitted, I'd like to review them with you in that time. I really appreciate you doing this doctor, I really do. Thank you."

[Lorna Holsen]

"If permitted, I'd like to review them with you in that time. I really appreciate you doing this doctor, I really do. Thank you."

“Of course S’reena”, Lorna said. “Would you like to join me in…” She paused a moment, about to suggest her office as a meeting place and then realizing that that was never going to work. “…my quarters in 45 minutes, I should be able to go over the preliminary results before the briefing

Tag: S’reena.

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

40 minutes later,

Lorna hurried back to her quarters, she just about had time to dump her jacket on the back of the sofa before the door chime went. “Come in.” She called wondering if S’reena had seen her running down the corridor.

Of course, someone had wanted the CMO’s opinion and she had nearly been late for her meeting with S’reena. This wasn’t going to be easy. It never was.

“Please have a seat,” Lorna said. Her voice was noticeably scratchy, that was what happened when you spent half an hour dictating notes. “Can I get you a drink?”

She guessed S’reena would not want to waste time but it did not hurt to offer. Lorna swallowed about half of her glass of mango juice and coughed once to clear her throat before starting to tell S’reena what she had discovered.

“I’m still waiting for the micro-toxicology and isotopic scans to complete but so far it appears that Michael’s cause of death was cardiac arrest caused by system stress.” That was the medical way of saying that his body had given out after a lot of abuse, Lorna was sure that S’reena understood that.

Tag: S’reena

[Paikea Apirana]

Having been in hundreds of mission briefings, Paikea had never felt apprehensive. Yet in all honesty this one was very different because Paikea was the man in charge and like President Truman of the 20th century, the buck certainly did stop here.

"As many of you know, Commander Hope tragically lost her husband," Paikea said as he acknowledged S'Reena's presence. "While celebrating the command of Commander Daya, a sabatour tried to highjack our vessel." Paikea proceeded to show the senior staff the picture of their reluctant friend. Paikea had promised him leniency if he helped the Rainier bring to justice those responsible. "We believe that both events are to much of a coincidence and we must investigate further."

"He has ties to a criminal organization, but he has yet to reveal that information," Paikea continued as he showed the coordinates provided by the S'Reena's shuttle," our mission is simple. We will use the information provided by the Commander's shuttle and begin our search there. I have asked Commander Hope to join us on our mission as an advisor."

(Tag All)

"Starfleet has given us permission to begin this mission immediately, and I would like to take them up on their offer. We'll be missing a few personnel, but I know that we can handle anything that will come our way," Paikea said trying to hurry through his presentation. "Does anyone have any questions?"

(Tag All)

[Deleted]

Her brow furrowed as she listened to Apirana list the facts of what they knew, she cleared her throat and leaned forward as she said. “I don’t see the connection.” Her tone flat. She shrugged. “Commander Hopes husband vanished months ago, while Commander Hope was Executive Officer on the El Salvador and this vessel if my memory serves was under the Command of Commander Jamison.”

She paused for a moment. “Now only very recently while under the Command of Daya this vessel the USS Rainier was subject to attempted sabotage, the saboteur having being discovered and caught before Commander Hope arrived which I point out was not expected by anyone in Starfleet and certainly not pre-planned.” She took a deep breath. “Now if the sabotage was directed against the El Salvador then perhaps the connection might not seem too tenuous.”

She shrugged again. “Simply because two events happened does not mean they are related.”

She shook her head. “And in the event they are related that raises the bigger question of what makes Commander Hope and her family such a tempting targets, she is not the President or Starfleet Chief of Staff.” She paused for a moment. “Attacking them won’t even in the slightest halt Starfleet operations.”

[Lorna Holsen]

"As many of you know, Commander Hope tragically lost her husband," Paikea said as he acknowledged S'Reena's presence. "While celebrating the command of Commander Daya, a sabatour tried to highjack our vessel." Paikea proceeded to show the senior staff the picture of their reluctant friend. Paikea had promised him leniency if he helped the Rainier bring to justice those responsible. "We believe that both events are to much of a coincidence and we must investigate further."

"He has ties to a criminal organization, but he has yet to reveal that information," Paikea continued as he showed the coordinates provided by the S'Reena's shuttle," our mission is simple. We will use the information provided by the Commander's shuttle and begin our search there. I have asked Commander Hope to join us on our mission as an advisor." Lorna knew she wasn't really in the best frame of mind to discuss Michael's death dispassionately yet, not that there was a lot to say, so she just stayed quiet.

"Starfleet has given us permission to begin this mission immediately, and I would like to take them up on their offer. We'll be missing a few personnel, but I know that we can handle anything that will come our way," Paikea said trying to hurry through his presentation. "Does anyone have any questions?"

“Now if the sabotage was directed against the El Salvador then perhaps the connection might not seem too tenuous.”

Lieutenant Myles shrugged again. “Simply because two events happened does not mean they are related.”

She shook her head. “And in the event they are related that raises the bigger question of what makes Commander Hope and her family such a tempting targets, she is not the President or Starfleet Chief of Staff.” She paused for a moment. “Attacking them won’t even in the slightest halt Starfleet operations.” Lorna was about to say something about the Counsellor's words, then she stopped herself. What she was saying made sense. She hadn't even thought about why Michael had been taken and killed. She had been caught up in the how.

[Paikea Apirana]

"Lieutenant, you could very well be correct and we have completely missed the ball, and it just happens to be an unlucky chain of events," Paikea said glad that his officers were willing to speak their mind," yet I'm uncomfortable letting unknown assailants attack and kill Federation citizens. Our job is to make sure they come to justice and if our sabotage attempt is related, than we are getting a good deal out of it."

(Myles)

"Everyone, we will approach this situation two fold. Lieutenant Myles, I would like you to focus on the murder of the Commander's husband, when you find out anything or have an idea as to the how report to me," Paikea said," the rest of us will focus on finding the people responsible for the sabotage attempt.

(All)

"Does anyone have any questions?" Paikea asked as he viewed his officers. It was weird to call them his officers, but that's exactly what they now where." If no one has any questions, then you are dismissed. Oh Lieutenant, good looking out and calling out the obvious flaw in my reasoning, make sure you keep doing that."

(Myles)

As Paikea made his way towards the bridge, he couldn't help but chide his foolishness to look into connections that might not be there. He was glad that the possibility of him going down the wrong tree had been talked about and discussed. He knew he would need as much help as possible.

"Helm, take us towards the Beloti sector, Commander Hope's shuttle indicates we should start there," Paikea said as he took his seat and waited for his first mission to really begin.

[Deleted]

She tilted her head slightly in response to Apirana’s request she look into the murder while the rest of the crew focus on the sabotage. “Very well Captain.”

She turned to look at Doctor Holsen. “I will require the detailed post mortem results please Doctor.” She thought for a moment and then turned to look at Commander Hope. “Commander, I would like to review your Husbands activities before he was abducted, his work schedule, personal communications, log entries and work logs.” She paused for a moment. “If he was the target of an abduction and not merely in the wrong place at the wrong time, he would have been watched and possibly contacted by his abductors beforehand.”

(Tag Holsen, Hope)

She frowned as she added. “Also Commander details on where you found and how you retrieved your husband would be helpful.” Karen knew enough to know that a good investigation needed to be conducted, that meant until provided proof she would need to consider the possibility Commander Hope could have been involved in the murder.

As Apriana dismissed the briefing he turned to her and made mention of her questioning the assumptions, she merely nodded in reply. “Captain.”

[Lorna Holsen]

“I will require the detailed post mortem results please Doctor.”

Lorna nodded. “I will send them to you as soon as they are complete. If you wish I will go over my findings with you?”

Tag: Lieutenant Myles

Lorna shook her head to Commander Apirana asking if anyone had any questions. As soon as she was dismissed from the meeting she returned to Michael’s autopsy. The last of the scans had completed and she was now able read over the micro-toxicology and isotopic scans. She returned Michael to his stasis drawer. At least he wouldn’t be disturbed any further.

As she had suspected Michael’s body showed signs of several bacterial infections of different ages and at least two large doses of broad spectrum antibiotics. This was further evidence that whoever had had Michael hadn’t simply wanted to kill him. The isotopic analysis suggested that he had most recently been somewhere with oxygen content slightly higher than Earth and the trace gas print could be matched to a location once one was found.

The bacteria that had affected Michael Hope were also a further clue to who had been doing this to him. One of the infections was a usually found on Bolian skin and normally wouldn’t affect a human, another was normally found on Felid species such as Caitians or Kzinti.

Lorna settled down to write up her findings. Technically she should have been off shift a while ago but she wasn’t going to let that wait. When she finished she sent all the information to Lieutenant Myles as promised and then informed S’reena.

Tag: S’reena / Lieutenant Myles

[Deleted]

S'reena paced her quarters, feeling awful and alone. Her children were not here, and she was here and she wasn't even sure why she had gone here, to the Rainier, specifically. It wasn't as if she had searched the ship out, it had happened onto her path. And yet here she was, and here there was a theory on a connection between Michael's murder, and some obscure sabotage attempt.

It was almost too much to follow, too much to bear and for the moment all she wanted most was just to curl up and cry. But she had no more tears left to cry, and she wanted this mystery solved more than anyone else. So... while she determined to go speak with Commander Myles and give her all she could remember from when she found her dead husband, she first had to scrape all her courage together, and head for sickbay.

White-faced, and trembling all over, as if she was litereally forcing herself into the office, S'reena stood in the doorway that led from main sickbay into the CMO's office. "What have you found?" she asked, her voice shaking, as if afraid of the answer.

[Lorna Holsen]

White-faced, and trembling all over, as if she was literally forcing herself into the office, S'reena stood in the doorway that led from main sickbay into the CMO's office. "What have you found?" she asked, her voice shaking, as if afraid of the answer.

This simply emphasised how far this situation had pushed everyone, Lorna had never thought that she would see S'reena volunatarily enter sickbay and speak to a doctor. She wished she still hadn't

“Come in” Lorna said, gesturing to a chair and keen to give the other woman some privacy away from the rest of medical staff out in Sickbay. “I have found nothing that contradicts my preliminary assessment of cause of death and a variety of trace evidence that will help us track down the people who did this to him.” She probably shouldn’t have said ‘will’ but it had sort of slipped out because she was determined that it should be so.

Lorna paused a moment unsure quite what to say next. She was partially waiting for S’reena to react and partially mentally sifting through what she could say, she did not what to catalogue what had been done to Michael, but nor did she want S’reena to think she was holding something back.

Tag: S’reena, Karen Myles

[Lorna Holsen]

Cris knew that Lorna was likely to be off shift late this evening, she just hadn't counted on it being this late. She knew that there hadn't been a medical emergency, she would have been summoned to sickbay if something like that had happened. Lorna could have been sent on some form of away mission but the computer would have informed her if Lorna had left the ship.

The death of a colleague was something all medics faced on occasion. If you were fighting an epidemic then there was also chance that one of the medical team would fall victim. They all accepted that, what had happened here was something different. Cris had never met Michael Hope but she knew how much his death had affected Lorna. Which was nothing to how if had affected S'reena of course.

Cris knew she would have to try to get Lorna to leave work at work, that was often far easier said than done. There were several possibilities depending on how tightly wound Lorna was when she got back. It was definitely going to be necessary to get some food in to her and then probably some physical activity, Lorna de-stressed best if she could hit something. Cris checked the medical rota, K'Lana was on shift but Mari wasn't. The young woman was becoming quite skilled at self defence and would be very helpful in distracting Lorna. Cris opened a comm link to Mari who was otherwise unengaged, booked one of the training rooms and started to put together a picnic tea.

[Savot]

[The Next Morning]



The Rainier's bridge officers on duty for the morning shift would receive an incoming hail from Starfleet Command and pick up an approaching armored shuttlecraft on sensors, =^=U.S.S. Rainier this is Admiral I'Ty Brev of Starbase 34.  Having become aware of the details regarding your current investigation I am en route with a somewhat... unorthodox mission specialist that may be of help.  Transmitting confirmation codes now, please have a full security team and your Chief Medical Officer present to meet us in the main Shuttlebay.  ETA 53 minutes, Brev out.=^=


The credentials would indeed check out as authentic, and the armored shuttle would arrive as estimated, gliding through the shuttlebay's containment forcefield to settle on the deck.  In addition to the security team requested from the Rainier herself, a detachment of 6 heavily geared guards strode down the lowered shuttle ramp to take flanking positions by the walkway.  Admiral Brev, a stern looking Andorian officer walked stiffly behind a human male in security cuffs that utilized both a physical lock component and a magnetic aspect that kept the wrists together securely until the proper deactivation code was received.  The prisoner, roughly in his mid 30's with dark hair shaggy and long from being in a maximum security facility certainly didn't look as deadly as the security measures taken would suggest, but you never know with some people.


The prisoner strode forward as though in a trance, barely seeming aware of his surroundings just allowing himself to be guided forward and steered by the slightest nudge.  The Admiral stopped in front of the CMO and gave her a nod of greeting, "Doctor Holsen?  Admiral Brev.  This prisoner was a pirate captain whose ship belonged to a fleet whose operational area included the Beloti Sector the Rainier is currently en route to investigate.  We believe he could be a valuable intelligence asset; however, he's suffering the effects of withdrawal from Elasian tears.  We're working on securing the original source of the tears which should clear up his faculties but if there's anything you can do to make him more coherent in the meantime it would be helpful.  The sooner we gain access to what he knows the more useful it will be to you and your crew.  I realize how cumbersome security guards can be but at least two must remain with the prisoner at all times; this man is a confirmed killer and temporarily crippled a Federation starship before coming very close to successfully stealing its cloaking device.  Anything you need, I'll do my best to have provided for you.  Until we get something out of the prisoner your Captain's current orders stand but I'll be conducting another briefing of your senior staff once we have access to his intel; thank you Doctor."



<Tag: Any response/questions from Lorna>


(Anyone else is free to either have been in the shuttlebay to witness this and interact with Admiral Brev there, or encounter him in the corridors or conference room which is where he'll be stationing himself for the time being.  Also, it's a pleasure to be guest-simming with you; thank you for your hospitality : )    ) 

[Lorna Holsen]

=^=U.S.S. Rainier this is Admiral I'Ty Brev of Starbase 34. Having become aware of the details regarding your current investigation I am en route with a somewhat... unorthodox mission specialist that may be of help. Transmitting confirmation codes now, please have a full security team and your Chief Medical Officer present to meet us in the main Shuttlebay. ETA 53 minutes, Brev out.=^=

Lorna’s day began with her checking to see if she had any visible bruises from her workout with Cris and Mari the evening before. It appeared that she had got lucky this time. In Sickbay her shift started with her dealing with the results of a chase game between three year old twin sisters that had result in one falling on the edge of a coffee table and splitting open her forehead and the other turning her ankle and tearing two tendons.

The cut was nicely repaired and she had avoided fracturing her skull and she was now hugging her mother. Lorna was able to finish the tendon repairs inside the Admiral’s deadline. She had a distinct feeling that these two girls would not be playing tag in their quarters for quite some time.

Lorna reported to the Shuttle Bay with a couple of minutes to go on the Admiral’s deadline. This turned out to be enough time to see the shuttle come in through the forcefield and settle lightly in the space that had been allotted to it.

She watched as a security detachment left the shuttle followed by a human male in security cuffs and an Andorian Admiral. The prisoner looked a bit dazed, Lorna doubted he had been drugged in Starfleet custody and wondered instead if he was in withdrawal and if so, from what.

"Doctor Holsen?” Lorna nodded at the Andorian’s enquiry. “Admiral Brev. This prisoner was a pirate captain whose ship belonged to a fleet whose operational area included the Beloti Sector the Rainier is currently en route to investigate. We believe he could be a valuable intelligence asset; however, he's suffering the effects of withdrawal from Elasian tears. We're working on securing the original source of the tears which should clear up his faculties but if there's anything you can do to make him more coherent in the meantime it would be helpful. The sooner we gain access to what he knows the more useful it will be to you and your crew. I realize how cumbersome security guards can be but at least two must remain with the prisoner at all times; this man is a confirmed killer and temporarily crippled a Federation starship before coming very close to successfully stealing its cloaking device. Anything you need, I'll do my best to have provided for you. Until we get something out of the prisoner your Captain's current orders stand but I'll be conducting another briefing of your senior staff once we have access to his intel; thank you Doctor."

Lorna thought for a moment. “Auxillary sickbay, deck 8.” It was normally used for isolating contagious patients but it worked well enough for dangerous ones as well. “Does this patient have a name? And do you have any idea how long he has been affected by the tears?”

Tag:

Lorna and the security personnel and the prisoner and the Admiral proceeded to the Auxiliary Sickbay. Lorna used the biobed restraints.

She called up Doctor McCoy’s original notes on Elasian tear addiction or infection as he had called it. It would require tailoring something specifically for this patient and that would be harder without the Elasian who had infected him to hand.


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

Lorna’s console bleeped with the arrival of a message, it required her to end two passcodes before it would play. She locked her office door.

She was entirely unsurprised when Commodore Neilas Anders appeared on the screen. He did not pause to exchange greetings.

“I got your message Lorna, in the last decade there have been eight other cases of Starfleet Officers going missing in mysterious circumstances, all of them medical officers.” Lorna’s eyebrows went up, she hadn’t expected that. “They disappearances have occurred across a wide range of space and we hadn’t connected them prior to this, not even sure they are connected. You have permission to investigate under operation Troubadour.”

Lorna nodded.

"I understand you have a prisoner onboard from the attack on the USS Vesuvius."

Lorna nodded once again, sometimes talking to Intelligence operatives could be annoying.

"Our information about the attack on the Vesuvius and the eight missing officers is sending now."

"Thank you." Lorna said. Her console beeped indicating the files had been received and then the comm link cut out.

[Deleted]

Having heard that a high ranked admiral had arrived on the Rainier, S'reena made her way to the conference room. Rumour had it that this Andorian had installed himself here, but somehow, had not taken command of the ship. THe Romulan woman found that unusual, since anyone higher ranked than the captain, normally ended up somehow demanding or simply taking command of the ship.

S'reena hadn't seen Apirana in days, and wondered if he was at all on the ship. No-one had heard from any of the command staff in days, and S'reena had been going back and forth between bridge, science offices and sickbay to speak with Lorna - even though really, she preferred to be nowhere near the medical facilities. But, it'd been the only way to talk to her old friend and so she'd put on the brave face, and visited at least once or twice a day, if only for a few minutes.

She knocked on the door, preferring to knock rather than use the horrible beep-boop chime that she despised so much. "Admiral may I have a word?"

(Tag)

S'reena stepped inside and listened for the door to close. "I'm currently a mission advisor on this ship," she started, "but I'm feeling very useless right now, and the science chief seems to have gone AWOL. I would like to take up the position of chief of science, until the current one chooses to return, wherever he's gone off to."

(tag)

[Savot]

[Shuttlebay]


Lorna thought for a moment. “Auxillary sickbay, deck 8.” It was normally used for isolating contagious patients but it worked well enough for dangerous ones as well. “Does this patient have a name? And do you have any idea how long he has been affected by the tears?”   


"Real name unknown, the pirate moniker he assumed for himself is Skurr Darkblade", the Andorian flag officer rolled his eyes at the theatrics, "Initial tear exposure believed to be at least 9 years ago, but possibly longer.  Source is an Elasian female named Tysmur, no last name.  We believe her to have been complicit in Skurr's crimes but he cooperated upon his capture and orchestrated the release of hostages as well as the location of 2 depots that held the pirate group's plunder in exchange for her freedom.  She's performed no illegal acts since his capture after the Vesuvius incident, and while there is some risk in bringing her back into contact with Darkblade we feel the potential gains, namely preventing the deaths of further Federation citizens, to be worth the risk.  She'll be escorted by security personnel as well once we rendezvous with her transport within Beloti Sector space."


After seeing the pirate secured in the Isolation bay and nodding to the guards there, Admiral Brev bid the doctor farewell for the time and told her not to hesitate to come to him with any questions or needs.  He then proceeded to the bridge where he set up a personal console at the seat to the left of the conference table's head.

**************************************************************************************************************
[Conference Room]


A bit later, after getting set up and confirming the estimated rendezvous with the transport carrying the Elasian, Brev heard a physical knock upon the door which was certainly unusual in this day in age.  His antennae perked in the direction of the door and he responded quickly, "Come in."


The entering woman asked for a word with him to which Brev nodded and extended a hand for her to take a seat if she so chose. S'reena stepped inside and listened for the door to close. "I'm currently a mission advisor on this ship," she started, "but I'm feeling very useless right now, and the science chief seems to have gone AWOL. I would like to take up the position of chief of science, until the current one chooses to return, wherever he's gone off to."


The Admiral narrowed his eyes, taking in the officer's words and nodding slowly, "Understandable; I wouldn't want to have nothing to do but twiddle my thumbs either.  Until such time as the appointed CSO resumes their duties the position is yours.  And if the position is resumed at the end of our current assignment you are welcome to either join my staff or be dropped off at the posting of your choice, assuming they have a vacancy of course.  I'm not big on wasted manpower and I understand you have some personal motivation in this matter."


"We're meeting a transport ship carrying a former colleague of the prisoner in order to alleviate his withdrawal symptoms from the Elasian tears.  He was interviewed recently about this series of incidents since part of his testimony admitted the group he served with preyed on targets in this region of space.  So if the current perpetrators aren't his former associates it's likely he can use his contacts to find who is.  While many of the specifics will depend on what intel we can get from the prisoner; I have a basic outline in mind specifically involving both yourself and Doctor Holsen the details of which I'll discuss with you both here in 1 hour.  You're to either wait here or tend to other business in the meantime Commander."



(Tag: All.   Wanted to do more but the sleep is banging at my door.  Will continue in next post; thanks for your patience.)

[Deleted]

"We're meeting a transport ship carrying a former colleague of the prisoner in order to alleviate his withdrawal symptoms from the Elasian tears. He was interviewed recently about this series of incidents since part of his testimony admitted the group he served with preyed on targets in this region of space. So if the current perpetrators aren't his former associates it's likely he can use his contacts to find who is. While many of the specifics will depend on what intel we can get from the prisoner; I have a basic outline in mind specifically involving both yourself and Doctor Holsen the details of which I'll discuss with you both here in 1 hour. You're to either wait here or tend to other business in the meantime Commander."

"Elasian tears?" S'reena frowned, her brows pulling together in an almost solid 'V'. "Sir....the last I know, my husband was conducting research on this affliction, and he and his team were working towards either a vaccine, or a cure."

The Romulan woman looked restless. "Sir, I want to be there for that interview. I want to know if they have anything to do with my husband's death. And sir, I want to know if it's safe to have my children transported here. They're currently on the starbase, and my brother's taken time off to watch them, but they really belong with me. The youngest are still very young sir, I don't want them away from me for too long."

She was almost pleading with the Andorian, something she wasn't very used to as she was usually a very proud individual. "Please sir, I need answers."

[Lorna Holsen]

"Real name unknown, the pirate moniker he assumed for himself is Skurr Darkblade", the Andorian flag officer rolled his eyes at the theatrics, "Initial tear exposure believed to be at least 9 years ago, but possibly longer. Source is an Elasian female named Tysmur, no last name. We believe her to have been complicit in Skurr's crimes but he cooperated upon his capture and orchestrated the release of hostages as well as the location of 2 depots that held the pirate group's plunder in exchange for her freedom. She's performed no illegal acts since his capture after the Vesuvius incident, and while there is some risk in bringing her back into contact with Darkblade we feel the potential gains, namely preventing the deaths of further Federation citizens, to be worth the risk. She'll be escorted by security personnel as well once we rendezvous with her transport within Beloti Sector space."

Lorna absorbed the Admiral’s words, it would certainly be easier to break an addiction to Elasian tears if she had the source of the tears at hand.

She nodded. “Thank you Admiral.”

She doubled checked the restraints and left her patient in the care of the security personnel and the vital sign monitors. She walked back to her office and set to work. She hadn’t gotten very far through her work when she was interrupted by the call from Commodore Anders. His calls were always interesting. Back when they had first met Lorna had been a Lieutenant and Neilas had been a Commander, they hadn’t got off on the right foot. But things had gotten much better over the years. Knowing that she wouldn’t be able to complete the detox until after Tysmur arrived Lorna took the time to read all the documentation Neilas had sent her.

Hopefully there would be something in there to explain why Starfleet medics were being abducted. She called up Michael's autotospy results on another screen. She had to detach herself and look at this rationally. There had to be something.

[Savot]

[Conference Room]


Admiral Brev listened to Hope's sudden interest over the tears, and her request to participate in the interview/interrogation, "I have no objection Commander.  And while we'll certainly keep our eyes open for other Elasian tear connections I don't think our prisoner's situation is linked.  He voluntarily subjected himself to Tysmur's tears years ago since their mind-affecting properties, while potentially hazardous in and of themselves, can also provide a mental barrier of sorts to keep the tear-afflicted subject from being read by telepaths which certainly proved useful in Skurr's pirate 'career'.  The negative effect of the tears was negated while he was in Tysmur's presence since he appeared to have been genuinely enamored with her before having the tears in his system.  They're only hitting him so hard now because in her absence he's been going through withdrawal; I expect his stupor to alleviate once we rendezvous with her.  But, your having mentioned the possible connection, I won't rule out anything.  And if there are answers to find we'll get them you have my word."  The firm certainty in his voice and his slightly sympathetic response to S'reena's near-plea suggested the Admiral himself may have lost friend or family himself at some point but he volunteered no details if that was indeed the case.
 

His brow then furrowed a bit at the latter, "Hmm, while I certainly understand your desire and the inherent 'rightness' of having your family with you Commander I wouldn't recommend bringing them here until the completion of this mission.  We'll be following the trail of clues likely into a pirate-heavy sector of space and the potential for both vessel and personal combat is rather high to willingly include children.  I won't refuse if you insist but I do strongly advise waiting until this assignment is over."



*****************************************************
[Conference Room: 3 hours later]


Admiral Brev had gotten restless a bit and taken to pacing in the conference room while having his console read out his incoming reports audibly so he could still work on the move.  As they neared the rendezvous with the ship carrying Tysmur, Commander Hope and Doctor Holsen reported as ordered.  Even in this unusual situation and the strain all were under the Andorian was impressed with how these officers conducted themselves and remained mission-oriented.  He hoped the Rainier's command staff had noticed that quality as well.  He gestured the two women to chairs as they came in, "Commander, Doctor, let's get right to business."


He pulled up on the main wall mounted viewscreen a stellar map, with a few control taps a dotted green line formed a very curved and irregular oblong circle around a chunk of it, "Our working hypothesis is that this region of Beloti sector space has recently become a preying ground for a large collective of pirates who, while mostly working independently, can when needed pool manpower, ships, and intel to go after larger targets or evade the pursuit of survivors by show of force.  We believe smaller pirate groups have slowly gathered into something barely short of their own armada; including the group that assaulted and attempted to steal a cloaking device from the U.S.S. Vesuvius several years ago... led by our tear-afflicted prisoner."


Another set of controls zoomed in on a particular system and flagged a space station, "This is ostensibly a 'civilian' outpost under the purview of a Ferengi merchant consortium.  We know illegal deals go down there on a regular basis but among the station's permanent residents are a near-regiment of their legal minds, and in the interests of avoiding a long and arduous trudge through their blasted red tape and threatening an interstellar insult to Ferenginar we've left them alone.  The Orion Syndicate also does business through the station.  And in his sporadic moments of lucidity, our prisoner indicated that the fleet he worked with made a lot of their dealings through here as well.  We're going to the station with a minimal team in the unmarked craft that's bringing Tysmur here."


Brev pulled up a new image of standard Starfleet container number L647X7, "My belief is that someone involved with the murder of Starfleet medical personnel works aboard that station as the central hub of the operation.  If they're not one of the attackers themselves, someone on that hunk of tin knows who is.  My plan calls for your 2 fields of speciality in particular.  The container displayed as both of you may be aware is the standard containment vessel for bio-mimetic gel, a highly volatile substance illegal to distribute used in genetic research that also lends itself to the creation of bio-weapons and explosives.  I want to board the station offering to sell the gel to the highest bidder.  Doctor Holsen will keep the gel secure and pose as an AWOL Starfleet medical officer abandoning her post in fear of falling victim to an attack herself like her colleagues have, selling the gel as her ransom of sorts.  Commander Hope will accompany undercover both to pose as your partner, but primarily to access and decrypt the communications database on the station.  If there are any transmissions in the memory logs associated with the medical personnel attacks then we should hopefully be able to trace them to one end or the other of the pipeline.  The pirate Skurr will accompany to help our facade and point out any persons of interest aboard the station.  After getting him out of his stupor, we'll keep Tysmur aboard the Rainier during our mission so he doesn't try to escape on the station."


"Now this is obviously a seat-of-your-pants set of mission parameters as we've had a small window of opportunity to generate a response.  I'll gladly hear any suggestions to the plan as-stated from either of you", and with that the Admiral gave the two women the floor.

[Lorna Holsen]

"Now this is obviously a seat-of-your-pants set of mission parameters as we've had a small window of opportunity to generate a response. I'll gladly hear any suggestions to the plan as-stated from either of you", and with that the Admiral gave the two women the floor.

Lorna paused for a moment, she had never really done any undercover work but she was optimistic she could pull it off. She owed her deceased colleagues that, and she would do whatever she could to assist S’reena in her investigation.

“I will need about half an hour to complete the anti-tear serum after we get Tysmur on board. Due to the length of exposure I estimate it will take at least three hours to remove the tears from Skurr’s system and remove his dependency on them. Are we using the transport to take us to the station or is there is another route in mind?”

Tag:

Lorna thought for a moment about whether there was anything else she could offer to the mission

“I believe I can create some bio-tracers which can be used to trace us in an emergency. Nothing that will show up on a standard medical scan or weapons check…”

Tag:

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

When Lorna was able to catch up with Cris, Lorna took her wife aside and informed her that she was going to be leaving the ship for a bit on a mission that she couldn’t really talk about.

Cris knew that this was one of the side effects of being married to a Starfleet officer, but she couldn’t say she liked it. She wrapped her arms around Lorna and buried her face in her wife’s hair.

“I love you. I wish you didn’t have to go. Stay safe…” She paused and relaxed her embrace to look Lorna in the eyes. “…or at least as safe as you can.”

Lorna nodded. “I promise.” She kissed Cris. “I’ll miss you.”

Cris smiled. “I’ll miss you too. I don’t suppose you need anyone else on the mission?”

Lorna shook her head and then smiled wryly. “I don’t think so.” She knew that Cris would ask; she always did.