Alyana Ryat
Commodore
Registered: Sept 5, 2007 16:34:56 GMT
Posts: 347
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Post by Alyana Ryat on Apr 2, 2015 23:57:12 GMT
It had been an exhausting four and a half hours at Starfleet Command but finally Aly had given them everything she could. She had not mentioned everything Dan had told her, only what she had been able to confirm in the archives, the last thing she wanted to do right now was get her FO in to trouble. What she wanted to do was indicate that there was something wrong with the investigations of the Keeloon and the Excalibur and her crew were the ones to remedy that.
Martin had frowned and murmured a lot as she had spoken but the urgency with which he had started issuing orders to his staff had indicated how seriously he was taking things. That had been nearly three hours ago now and Aly had taken a moment to contact her ship to confirm that she was all right and would give them more information as soon as they she got back. After that however, it was simply a matter of her waiting and occasionally repeating things to people. Around her everything had moved relatively quickly, at least, by the standards of Starfleet Command.
She finally transported back to her ship with authorisation for their investigation. She sent a message to her senior staff to gather for a briefing in a hour. In the mean time she paged Dan. Given that he had been the driving force for this mission it was only right that he had the details before the briefing.
***************************************** When Dan arrived in her office she offered him a seat and a drink. She was on coffee herself after the long stint at Starfleet Command.
“I have no doubt you have been wondering what I’ve been up to this afternoon, and being you, you have no doubt had some thoughts about it.” She paused a moment. “I did some research on the Keeloon, your investigation wasn’t the only one to be beset with problems”. She filled him in on the other attempts to find out what was going on.
She got herself another cup of coffee. “I took the information on the failed investigations to a friend of mine in Internal Affairs and he agreed that it was suspicious that four investigations had gotten nowhere. Not to belittle your efforts of course. The Excalibur has been assigned to conduct another investigation.”
Tag: Dan
“Internal Affairs have decided to look in to how repeated failures to get information had not been registered as a pattern before today. I hope they find something”
Tag:
“Given everything, I believe it makes sense for your to brief the senior staff on what we are likely to find with this one.”
Tag:
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Daniel Schirra
Captain
Registered: Apr 8, 2013 21:02:47 GMT
Posts: 468
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Post by Daniel Schirra on Apr 3, 2015 11:39:43 GMT
"I took the information on the failed investigations to a friend of mine in Internal Affairs and he agreed that it was suspicious that four investigations had gotten nowhere. Not to belittle your efforts of course. The Excalibur has been assigned to conduct another investigation ... Another thing, Given everything, I believe it makes sense for your to brief the Senior Staff on what we are likely to find with this one."
Dan wasn't sure how he felt about the Excalibur going after the Keeloon. They had proved they were more than just some 'rag-tag' group of fanatics, but at the same time, their outdated ship or ships, and archaic weaponry compared to today's equipment, but Trost had dragged them into this, albeit kicking and screaming, and it was his fault ... Had he remained with Intelligence rather than allowing himself to be assigned to the Flagship of Star Fleet, they would be off doing their thing, and he, his ... Leaving the Captain's ready room they entered the Observation Lounge, where the Senior Staff were waiting:
"I've asked Commander Schirra to chair this briefing, given his, unique knowledge of the subject at hand ... Commander ......."
"OK ... The Keeloon are, or were, a mediocre band of renegades, high-jacking, robbery, piracy, for want of a better description ....... They were pretty low on the Intelligence 'to do' list to be honest, until two years ago." he paused while he put the information on screen for everyone to look at, Their base of operations is in the Tau Nexxi System, Dornor Sector. We've sent ships in there several times, but the whole area is a mismatch of conditions and our ships were unable to reach their base."
"How serious is this thing they have hold of ?" the Helm Officer asked.
"Craylon Gas ..... Or more specifically, a derivative, a very dangerous derivative of the original ... We are, sorry, Intelligence are convinced that there is someone else pulling the strings, so to speak. The Keeloon couldn't have come up with this even if they had found the gas drifting in space. No, someone is making the decisions, and for whatever reason, the Keeloon are going along with it. We've come across them before, and they only just managed to escape, a transport en-route to Vega Proxii reported they were under attack. A Federation Star Ship, the USS Normandie went after them but were too late, they did however give us the first real clue as to where they were operating from, so not a complete loss."
"Is it possible that whoever is running the Keeloon have given them newer, faster ships ?" Karka asked.
"No, well at least there is noting to suggest they have. Sightings in proximity to the two bases that have been destroyed thus far indicate older vessels ... These attacks are increasing exponentially, first attack caused the deaths of five people on a research facility. The second, and much more devastating, ended in the loss of over two hundred ..... If this gas is released into high orbit in large enough quantities, it could mean total extinction of all life on that planet !" he said, stunning those present into silence, until Commodore Ryat finally spoke:
"Does Intelligence thing the Keeloon have sufficient quantities of the gas to do this ?"
"No or at least, they don't seem to think so or they would have used it by now ... Personally, I think they are, testing the water, so to speak." Daniel said changing the screen to show casualty figures from the two attacks, "I think they are trying to ascertain which races are more vulnerable to the gas. So far there have only been Human, Vulcan, and Bolian casualties ... You need to be aware here, that Intell' has unconfirmed information that they are targeting Federation outposts and settlements and will, eventually attack at the heart of the Federation itself."
"Earth !" someone said, dumbfounded.
"Yes." Schirra confirmed, then after a moment he leaned forward, "I know that some of you have been dubious as to why I am here, and why I was assigned as the ships Executive Officer ..... My loyalty, is to this ship and her crew. After consultation with the Commodore, it was agreed that I shed the black and wear the appropriate uniform. I welcomed this decision, thus the gold ...... I don't have any 'secret' agenda, I'm not going to be sending covert messages to Intelligence, in fact, I could do without seeing Admiral Trost and him merry men again. I don't trust the man, and neither should you."
"So we're going after the Keeloon to what, secure the gas, capture the renegades ?" the Helm Officer asked.
"They are manufacturing, and refining that gas somewhere. We need to find that location and destroy it, but the final decision will obviously be the Commodore's .. As to the Keeloon, yes, we need them but we also need the people pulling the aforementioned strings ... Catch them and we can at least be sure whatever remnants of the Keeloon survive, they won't be in the genocide business ! .... There are two men we need to target, as you can see, on the left is Deel Kwi, leader of the Syndicate, his right-hand man is Nars Lon. It is essential neither of these remain at liberty. Once they hear, if they haven't already, that we are going after them they will go into hiding. It isn't going to be easy by any means." he finished, sitting back down.
"Thank you Commander." the Commodore said, "OK, that first attack on the research facility on Typhonce III. We'll start there ... Departure in fifteen minutes. Dismissed." As the room cleared she asked Dan to remain.
"Commodore ?" he asked as she looked at the information.
"You omitted to tell them that you were directly involved in that first attack." she said simply.
"I was. As you know, I had infiltrated their ranks and rose quickly. I wasn't on the base at the time of the gas release. Would I have warned them if I could have .... No .... If I had, they would have rid themselves of the traitor in their midst and would have likely released whatever gas they had into the atmosphere of the nearest planet ..... Millions could have died." he said simply.
"I appreciate you candour Commander, and this will not be spoken of again. Let's get to the Bridge, we have people to find." she said, she couldn't imagine the self-control he had to achieve to allow those people to die, she placed a hand on Dan's shoulder for a moment before she turned to leave, Dan falling into step with her ..........
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Karka Psonoir
Commander
Registered: Apr 9, 2013 19:55:13 GMT
Posts: 422
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Post by Karka Psonoir on Apr 9, 2015 18:23:06 GMT
As was standard, Karka made his notes on the mission brief (using this century's over-large padds) in quiet, unobtrusive fashion. That was, until the briefing had been included and he had the opportunity to fire his critical questions and make his usual incisive remarks (at least, he liked to think they were).
"If we know the location of the Keeloon's base of operations and have strong reason to believe that they only possess a ship, or ships of older and non-Starfleet design, why don't we start from there? In the Tau Nexxi system. Are we not authorised? In addition, the Craylon derivative refinement facilities -"
"You've got to take into account," the security chief said, leaning over to him - seeing that the Captain and First Officer were already concluding the briefing, conferring between themselves - "That while it may be their main base, it's unlikely that given the recent attacks many of their vessels will be gathered there. Also, the Keeloon leaders if they were there will have already left, once they heard the Federation were on their case."
"It's my understanding we've been on their case since - "
The meeting had definitely broken up, all officers standing and following the command officers out on to the bridge. Karka rose from his chair with the security chief, ensuring he wasn't the last to leave. "Regardless of the actual material circumstances," he said, "Striking at the heart of the Syndicate would deliver a symbolic blow. No one need die; we disable their main base, whatever vessels they have docked there or on the surface... It's a signal of intent and would be debilitating for them, especially if the Syndicate's as weak as it's thought to be."
The security chief patted the Hybrudean on the shoulder as they exited and headed to their stations on the bridge. Consoles beeped, whined as sensor data were received and dock communications were conveyed. The chief said, "If someone is pulling the strings, directing the Keeloon's actions behind the scenes, planning these methodical attacks on Federation planets, outposts, they're unlikely to simply capitulate if their symbolic HQ gets taken out."
Karka thought he knew this also. He shrugged, sitting at his station at the bridge's port side, dismissing Jablweski - whose prosthetic leg had been fully accepted by his anatomy by now, after that unfortunate encounter the mission before last - and accessing the shipyard's data on its operation to get the Excal back on its own power. He monitored the mechanism of transfer, satisfied that the procedure was progressing smoothly.
It was true, he reasoned: the Keeloon's new, highly organised approach had manifested itself in these recent deadly attacks, and their resourcefulness in coming up with the idea, let alone the technology for manufacture and refinement, of the Craylon gas derivative, may well indicate a new presence at the heart of their command, or perhaps one removed from it.
They were shortly on their way to Typhonce III, the Federation outpost at which 5 civilian scientists had been lost (a combination of humans and/or vulcans and/or bolians). The outpost had been given no warning of an impending attack, all the scientists isolated in their small facility were deprived of life within ten minutes of the Craylon derivative's delivery into their air purification and recycling system. Unfortunately evidence of the attack would be hard to come by, as the Keeloon had obliterated the facility immediately after their surprise assault to ensure no bodies would be able to be recovered, and no trace of use of Craylon gas remained... Thus no tangible evidence to be brought against them, without the use of an intelligence agency or other mode of infiltration. Perhaps they could pick up a warp trail, or search for constituent atoms where the facility used to be. If the Keeloon had been careless they might even have left a ship in the region, but Psonoir very much doubted that given the apparently clean nature of the attack.
Speed was ramped up to warp 7. Karka sat back at his console - all he had to do on this mission was stay out of the way; he already, in a sense, knew part of how all this would play out. Stay out of the way and ensure he didn't become a carrier for the Gas which, he suspected, was the reason his home in the 29th century would become infected.
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Daniel Schirra
Captain
Registered: Apr 8, 2013 21:02:47 GMT
Posts: 468
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Post by Daniel Schirra on Apr 10, 2015 14:41:29 GMT
Prior to the meeting with Commodore Ryat ::
=^= I don't need to remind you 'again' Commander that Star Fleet Intelligence is overseeing and is therefore in charge of the investigation into the Keeloon =^= Trost was saying, and frankly Daniel was having trouble listening to the man he knew was responsible for a lot of what had happened thus far.
=^= Yes Admiral .. I understand =^=
=^= Good .. That is good to hear Commander .. The last thing we need is for there to be 'secrets' between us .. So I expect regular updates on your progress and to be forewarned if you or the Commodore intend to take any overt action in pursuit of the Syndicate or it's people .. We don't want them being spooked into taking action we simply cannot control =^=
=^= I think they are doing that already .. Admiral =^= Dan replied, sarcasm oozing from the comment.
=^= Just remember where your loyalties lay Commander .. Oh and please don't worry about the young lady you have befriended at home .. I'm sure all attention has been diverted off her now you are off-planet =^=
Daniel knew a veiled threat when he heard one, and also knew better than let the person know he knew, ergo he sat expressionless watching the man on screen before saying he appreciated the fact they were safe ... After a moments' silence, Trost reiterated his instructions to emphasize Schirra's requirement to comply, or apparently, Lana Griffin and her Daughters could face the consequences ! .....
Present ::
Standing to the right of Commodore Ryat he pondered if he should tell her about the conversation with Admiral Trost prior to departure, but decided that given he was going to ignore the man's instructions, or at least, be sparing with what information he relay's back, it seemed moot to tell the Captain. He found himself pondering the idea of a second seat in the Command area. Not that he had time to sit and relax of course, but it would make conversation easier he mused.
"Striking at the heart of the Syndicate would deliver a symbolic blow. No one need die; we disable their main base, whatever vessels they have docked there or on the surface ... It's a signal of intent and would be debilitating for them, especially if the Syndicate's as weak as it's thought to be." he thought about the comment, wondering if leaping into the proverbial lion's den without having the relevant information, may do more harm than good ....... They were en-route to Typhonce III, the site of the first attack. It had been sealed awaiting their arrival so hopefully any evidence would still be fresh. He remembered seeing a report on Trost's desk during one of their 'talks' and a name stood out. He turned to Alyana:
"Captain. I remember a name that may be connected to the Keeloon, a trader / entrepreneur called Lak-Tson ... Admiral Trost seemed to have little information on the man, but he does seem to have been in the same places as the Syndicate on numerous occasions. I didn't have time to go into the file in detail, and I had the distinct feeling that the Admiral wouldn't have said yes if I'd asked to see it ... It may be worth taking a look at the man ?"
"So much for sharing eh Commander." Ryat said, raising her eyebrows as she glanced up at Dan for a second before returning her gaze to the stars, "See what we have on him."
Daniel moved to one of the vacant stations and accessed the ships' computer, the information was lacking to say the least: He transferred it to a section of the view-screen for Alyana to review.
"That is all we have ?" she asked, a name ?"
"Admiral Trost has more ... The file seemed incomplete, gaps were information had been removed maybe, but he still had significantly more than we have here. Unfortunately, we can hardly 'ask' him for it, can we." Daniel said, annoyed at the apparent hold the Intelligence man had, yet he insisted that Schirra inform 'HIM' of anything they find, no doubt to enhance his chances of a successful conclusion on his terms !
"I don't see the point in continuing to look for information on this Luk-Tson." the Commodore said, "Navigator .. Time to Typhonce III ?"
"Two hours fourteen minutes Captain." the man replied ..........
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David Tan
Starfleet Intelligence
Suum Cuique ...
Registered: Dec 11, 2006 10:56:04 GMT
Posts: 792
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Post by David Tan on Apr 10, 2015 21:43:36 GMT
Lak-Tson .....
He had spent almost four years of his life building. Building his reputation, his clientèle, his associates, and now he was one of the most respected in his profession. Some would call him a, a murderer, some a smuggler, some a trader, the more needy or polite would often refer to him as a exceptional entrepreneur ... These were his bread and butter, the people that, once he had done a favour for, tended to be in his debt, and eventually he called for that debt to be paid.
He had been linked to some very important people, and to some very dangerous ones, who required merchandise that wasn't available on the 'open' market, and every time he had fulfilled his obligations, growing in respectability after each successful transaction ..... Of course, he like everyone else in his line of work, had suffered setbacks, disappointments, but Lak-Tson had a unique way of dealing with those disappointments, a very unique way indeed, but that was for another time ..... Tson was a private man in every respect. He didn't appreciate people trying by whatever means they thought would work, delving into his life, and especially his past. Many had enquired in passing about where he had come from, how he came to be in his line of work, what he had done before. he told them nothing, in fact some small part of him was proud that he was so unfathomable, but in truth, he knew little of his past ...
Vague images, snap-shots of people, places, thoughts, all haunted him in the rare times he managed to sleep. He can remember clearly his waking moments, medical personnel tending to his injuries, the wreckage of a craft. He had been one of only six people who had survived the crash, and despite all his efforts, his memory was blank before waking in the hospital on Deallex IV some four and a half years previous. It had taken almost three months before he could walk without aid, and a further month before he was released and given accommodation. His first weeks in his new role in the Central Offices saw him at odds with both his workmates and his superiors, but he did find he had a talent for the 'less than legal' and quickly excelled. he learned how to acquire information, both on topics of interest, and more importantly, on his fellow workers and superiors !
He wasn't too worried that anyone would discover his extra-curricular activities, and if they did he always had some snippet of information they much preferred remain secret ..... Thus his calling came about !
Two years later ...
It was about this time that he was introduced to a man named Nars Lon, who had use of his entrepreneurial skills ... A vessel, en-route through the Oreasa System, needed to disappear. Not materially, but in every other aspect this is what any enquiry must conclude. Lak-Tson hired people from his trusted employee list and bought a decrepit cargo carrier. Proceeding to the Oreasa System, they ejected their warp core and positioned it close to the carrier. They set two photon torpedoes to detonate on firing, and sent them on their way. The damage almost destroyed the ship, but again it was one of those events Tson would learn from and adapt ... The ship approached, dropping from warp with the transfer crew of fourteen. Unable to contact the stricken vessel, they transported over to investigate the life-signs. They were dead in thirty seconds, and Luk-Tson and his men transferred to their newly acquired asset. Stripping enough non-essential panels and systems they moved away and detonated the ejected warp core ... Three hours later they were several systems away handing over their prize.
A month later, the man returned to visit him once again, but this time he had a much more intriguing proposition for Lak-Tson ...
They were looking for someone for development finance ... He wasn't in the habit of handing over his well earned gains, especially if he wasn't seeing at least a seventy percent returns profit, but as he had had very successful dealings with Nars Lon previously:
"Who ?" he had asked.
"We are known as the Keeloon Syndicate." the man said, and went on to explain whet the Syndicate wanted to achieve, and how his knowledge, not to mention vast financial wealth could help ..........
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Karka Psonoir
Commander
Registered: Apr 9, 2013 19:55:13 GMT
Posts: 422
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Post by Karka Psonoir on Apr 16, 2015 22:20:17 GMT
"Engineering to bridge, is Lieutenant Psonoir there?"
"He is, Lieutenant," Karka answered, recognising Unwin's voice. He rose from his console, expecting this to be a summons from his assistant chief. He'd been researching the cleansed facility at Typhonce III, specifically what had caused the lapse in their standard defences that'd allowed the Keeloon to feed the Craylon derivative into their air recycling system. But something was afoot in engineering.
"Can you tell him to come down to engineering - "
"It's me, Unwin," he said into the intercom on the Commodore's arm rest, Ryat moving her arm in surprise. "What is it?"
"The warp core, sir... Anomalous reading around the reaction chamber. You had better come down."
Karka didn't particularly want to go through this again. He'd descended that ladder adjacent to the magnetic constrictors often enough, too often recently. Last time he'd inadvertently crossed the interface's wires and tapped into a private conversation between the Commodore and Commander Schirra in the ready room. While the prospect of a second eavesdropping was not uninviting, it was most definitely against procedure.
Excusing himself from the bridge he made his way down and enquired Unwin and Jablweski what was wrong with the warp core. He sat in his office, making it clear that he wasn't going to move - or rather head down the Jefferies' Tube to the constrictors and the chamber below - unless it was absolutely necessary.
"A reading has been picked up on the dilithium chamber," Unwin said. Karka looked at him nonplussed. "A biological reading. Residual matter of some kind. It seems to have been planted at the Starbase."
"Biological? Planted?" This did after all require some attention. Karka leant forward and entered some handwritten notes on his personal padd on the desk. "Planted suggests some subterfuge. Have you found evidence of someone having smuggled something aboard? What effect is this having on the core?"
"None, sir," Jablweski said, "But it seems that the 'matter', was intended to damage the warp drive system. Apparently it failed. We're checking subsystems of the drive and other systems for the same matter."
"What kind of matter..." Karka read the reports the two officers handed him. He recognised the signature instantly, "This is degraded human tissue," he said to the two men, handing the reports back. "Not anything biological that wasn't also intelligent in origin. Have this sent to the science lab."
Unwin and Jablweski exited, the first with a slight air of embarrassment Karka detected. He held off on informing Ryat and Schirra just yet, until he had something substantial to report. He didn't want to make noise about something that may well turn out to be nothing. While waiting for the science lab's results, he checked with the computer - reviewing the ship's roster just to be sure - for old, present and new crew of the Excalibur, the first and latter of which would've been exchanged at Spacedock. All were accounted for. Then the biological residue that was attached to the warp core that'd not been there before, was not the remains of a member of the Excalibur's crew.
An hour later - with just under an hour to go until the ship reached Typhonce III - the resourceful science chief had her results. "I can't make sense of it, Lieutenant," she reported, "I should inform the Commodore."
"No," Psonoir said abruptly, "I'll inform them myself once I analyse the data." The science chief acknowledged and the comm was closed, leaving Karka to ponder in his office. The results indicated that the residue belonged to a human male, the man having expired approximately three hours ago. It was chilling and alarming, that an intruder could've been prowling about the warp core and had met an... unfortunate and sticky end, while attempting... what?
There was enough DNA left to narrow the results considerably, according to who had been on the Starbase prior to departure of the Excalibur. After further research Karka had the owner of the DNA down to two possibilities, one of which had strong associations with the Keeloon Syndicate and its second-in-command Nars Lon, the right hand to Deel Kwi. He could discount the other possibility: a 17 year old trader in cotton from Luna.
Surely no coincidence... He informed the command team that Nars Lon, and the Syndicate as a whole, not only knew they were coming and had likely already fled, but had sufficient resources to have put an operative aboard the Excal prior to its launch, in the hope of destroying the Excal before it had a chance to go after the Keeloon.
<Tag Ryat/Schirra>
Meanwhile, while having the core scrubbed down of the biomatter, he might be able to follow a trail back to Nars Lon, his master Deel Kwi, and whoever this Lak-Tson was, if he had any involvement.
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Daniel Schirra
Captain
Registered: Apr 8, 2013 21:02:47 GMT
Posts: 468
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Post by Daniel Schirra on Apr 18, 2015 17:44:58 GMT
The Excalibur entered orbit around Typhonce III ...... The quarantine marker buoy's protesting their presence. Daniel ordered the warning muted and then went to the Captain's ready room where the other's were waiting: "We can beam down whenever you are ready Commodore." he confirmed. "What is the status of the facility now ?" Ryat asked. "When the alarm was raised the internal sensor's detected the pathogen. Level Five protocol's were activated and the base sealed off ... Scan's showed no life-signs within the facility and the quarantine was put in place. No-one, apart from ourselves has been allowed to enter orbit since the initial alarm was raised. Sensors confirm there is no sign of the gas present and the atmosphere has been thoroughly scrubbed. We're fine to move around the complex, but I wouldn't try stepping outside." the Security Chief informed them ... Daniel took a PADD and read off the names for the Away Team: Cdre. Alyana Ryat Cmdr Daniel Schirra Lt. Karka Psonoir Ens. Wundt - Medical Crmn. Rex Tharp - Security Crmn. Ian Prescott - Security Ryat nodded then exited followed by the others comprising the away team. In the transporter room two Security personnel were waiting, they handed phaser's to each Officer then stepped up onto the platform ..... ~~~~~~~~~~ The group materialized in the main reception area of the research facility. Commodore Ryat motioned left and right and the two Security moved away to check the outer buildings attached by tunnels. Dan moved to the panel and activated full lighting from the reduced setting the complex had defaulted to once there were no life-signs present. He activated a screen behind the desk showing the lay-out of interconnected building's comprising the larger than expected complex. The plan was colour-coded, blue denoted administration, green for communal area's such as dining area's and recreation rooms, gymnasium, accommodation ... Orange for non-critical area's such as storage, hanger-bay, service area's ... Red denoted authorized access, laboratories, chemical storage, computer systems. One of the Security team, Crewman Tharp came back seemingly frustrated: "Commodore .. Once we leave this area every door seems to be locked. There is a reader next to the door but I can't get past. Do we break them down ?" Daniel had been going through the logs on the desk and noticed a digital reader on the desk against the wall, he opened several of the draws and came across numerous Identification Passes. Holding one up he turned to the reader and activated it. The screen lit showing a panel for information, he thought it couldn't hurt to give it a look before the Security Crewmen began breaking down doors at random. Enter Name :: Enter Access Level :: "It looks like these will get us through the doors." he said, quickly programming one for each of the team before pinning his own to the collar of his tunic each of the badges had a red diagonal line through it, "If I've done this right I've given everyone 'Red Level' Access, I assume that is the highest they have, so we should be able to get through to every section of the facility. The Scientist's were in one of the labs when, the alarm sounded." "We'll check the labs first ..... Schirra said, double-checking the pass, the others following suit, "We should remove the bodies and get them back up to the ship. Then we'll see what we can find." Ryat nodded. The first of the Labs they reached was empty, same for the second and third. Dan looked at the plan of the complex, fortunately there seemed to be one in every corridor with a green flashing arrow denoting their current location. Maybe they had activated when he initially looked at the schematic's in the reception area, either way it was a help. The complex was set out with the reception area in the middle, colour-coded corridors branching off like the spokes of a wheel. As they entered the forth Lab in this corridor, Tharp called them over ...... One the floor lay what had once been a man in his late fifties. His identification noted him as Doctor Robert Greenwald, Chief Research Co-ordinator, but what remained showed no resemblance to a man. The Craylon Gas had acted like an airborne acid, disfiguring the man almost beyond recognition. Tharp looked around and returned with a lab coat, draping it respectfully over the deceased. Within minutes they had found the remaining four Scientist's .... Ten minutes later the four bodies were placed in stasis chambers beamed from the Excalibur. But something was puzzling Schirra .... He went to one of the consoles and looked up the Personnel Roster for the facility: "There are normally almost fifty people here." he said, frowning. Karka approached him, reading the information for himself, "It say's here that everyone was assigned leave prior to a series of extended test simulations. The Base would have been sealed for a prolonged period, the Scientist's decided to remain on-site with three of the junior researchers ......" "So where are the other three ?" Crewman Prescott asked, checking his tricorder, "I don't get any other readings than ourselves, so it is likely they are somewhere dead. Was it the luck of the draw that ninety five percent of the personnel were off-base at the time of the attack, we could have been looking at many more fatalities if the attack had come a few days earlier." Dan looked at the man, realizing that he had stumbled on something that could be significant ! "They knew ! ....... They had to know there would only be a few people on the facility. There was no way they would want to risk the gas not killing everyone. This was a trial run. So somehow they had to know when the majority of the personnel would be away." Everyone looked at Dan, the ramifications of the Keeloon having 'inside' information was something they didn't want to contemplate ..........
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David Tan
Starfleet Intelligence
Suum Cuique ...
Registered: Dec 11, 2006 10:56:04 GMT
Posts: 792
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Post by David Tan on Apr 20, 2015 21:32:05 GMT
He had spent over a year now, initially he had used his own wealth to finance the Syndicate, but eventually, as his sphere of contacts grew, he began to see a return on that investment .... Now, he had seen his wealth quadruple and more, but his interest in the Syndicate was dwindling. Lak-Tson was the kind of person to loose interest, it may take a month, a year, or longer, but regardless of how much profit on a particular enterprise, if the challenge no longer held interest, then he would put that venture behind him and look elsewhere.
This disinterest had begun to rise within him over three months earlier, and he had decided to take a break away .......
The planet, Trenlong Prime, was essentially a holiday location and he had taken advantage of the season to take up residence for a while. He was sat on the golden beach looking out to sea, where two Suns slowly arced across the yellow sky, when a shadow blocked the heat. He opened his eyes to ask the person to move along, one hand beneath the towel beside him and resting on the phaser he carried everywhere. The person was in silhouette, his back to the Suns:
"I would appreciate it if you could move a few meters left or right Sir, I'm afraid you are blocking the view." Lak-Tson said pleasantly, while tilting the phaser in the general direction of the intruder.
"You are a very hard man to find Lak-Tson ......" the man said, moving to sit on the wooden platform beside him, "We feared something 'untoward' had happened to you."
"It's called a holiday."
"Indeed ......" the man said, wiping sweat from his brow and glancing skyward as if his annoyance would move the twin suns onward, unfortunately he was disappointed, "I have been sent here to return you to the Tau Nexxi System. It appears you should not have taken this 'holiday' without informing those you are indebted to .... My employers are somewhat annoyed at your lack of resp ....."
"Let me stop you there !" Lak-Tson said, raising the phaser from under the towel and aiming it at the intruders face. The man's eyes widened but he remained still, looking back at the man holding the weapon, "I am indebted to 'NO-ONE !' ..... I financed your 'employers' I did not apply for a job in their organization, and furthermore, I resent the implication that I am in some bizarre way beholden to them and not the other way around. I can accomplish my role from anywhere in the Galaxy, something your little group cannot, so please, for the sake of your continued existence, 'DO NOT' presume to lecture me .... Now, is there any particular reason your employer's require my attendance, or are they simply annoyed at the fact I'm not on one of their leashes ?"
The man looked nervous ... This assignment was clearly not going as he had planned it. He fidgeted nervously, eyes flicking to the phaser and then back to Lak-Tson.
"I was ordered to inform you, if you were reluctant to return immediately, that a ship is required."
"A ship ? ........ Surely they have the finances to employ any number of Mercenary's or hard done-by traders, why bother me with this ? .... I have a dinner appointment in six hours, so please do get on with it." as the man hesitated yet again.
"It is, expected, that you will provide a suitable vessel for their needs." the man said, obviously out of his depth and sinking rapidly.
"Is that so ... Well, go tell your 'employers' that I'm not some corrupt trader." Lak-Tson said, raising the phaser to emphasize his desire the man vanish, quickly, but he just looked over Tson's head and rose from the bed backing away quickly.
"Do you find pleasure in intimidating messengers ?" he looked over his shoulder, the phaser following the direction of his gaze until it fixed on a second man, this one much more confident in his demeanour, "I have been looking forward to meeting in person the man who has swelled our coffers with such expertise. We do indeed have finances, but alas we lack the 'on the ground floor' knowledge if you like, and would appreciate your abilities in this matter." Lak-Tson looked at the man who he knew to be Deel Kiw, the leader of the Keeloon Syndicate. Not that the presence of the man flustered him, in fact, he inched the phaser forward enough as if to prove the unspoken point.
"Hmmm, I find it a little insulting that you would send a 'messenger' while standing off to one side Deel Kiw ... Have I not helped you gain both financial security for your numerous projects ?"
"You have indeed. My apologies for the 'caution' but one never knows who may be friend, or indeed foe." Kiw said, glancing at the phaser, which remained fixed on his chest, but he chose to ignore it and continued, "As my messenger informed you, we require a vessel, not one for rent, not one for hire, but one we can own outright. How long would it take you to purchase such a vessel ?"
"Depends on what you need ...."
"Warp capable, weapons, ideally enhanced, and invisible."
"I will need a week." Lak-Tson said, returning his phaser to the towel.
"You have three days." Deel Kiw said, turning away as if the conversation was over, but he was mistaken:
"I said I need a week ... You can have what you require, in a week, or you can look elsewhere." he replied, closing his eyes to enjoy the suns rays .......
Seven days later ::
Beaming unannounced into the chamber of the Keeloon Congress, he shocked the assembled leaders of the Syndicate, almost getting himself killed in the process. But as the uproar died down to a rumble, he stepped up to the long table and glanced left and right, before looking directly at Deel Kiw:
"You required, no, requested a vessel ... I have that vessel in orbit."
"Good, we shall board at the conclus ........"
"No." Lak-Tson interrupted, "You requested that I acquire a ship. This I have done, but it is not yours for the taking my Lord .... I wish something in return."
"I assume you have taken 'precautions' ?" Kiw said, grinning as Tson shrugged, "very well, what is the thing you require for use of your vessel ?" Lak-Tson looked along the table, taking in each face of the ruling Keeloon Congress, then once again looked at Deel Kiw:
"Your table is set for seven, a good number to rule, saves any stalemates, yet one seat remains empty ........" The congress all looked as one at the seat to Kiw's left, then at Tson with undisguised contempt. Deel smiled, then spoke quietly:
"These people have been at my side for many years, you presume to sit at my left hand while each of the Congress is more deserving ?"
"It seems not ... I shall take my leave." Lak said, reaching for a concealed Communicator in his sleeve, but the leader of the Keeloon spoke before he could act:
"This 'vessel' .... It is suitable ?"
"It is a formally decommissioned Klingon Battle Cruiser .. 'D' Class ........ It is more than adequate for your needs." Lak-Tson said. Deel Kiw looked at his Council, each and everyone of them clearly against the conditions, but Kiw wasn't leader for his personality, and made decisions quickly, decisions the Congress tended to approve, one way or the other ....
"Take your seat on the Congress ... Lak-Tson ......" Deel announced, motioning to the empty chair ..........
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Karka Psonoir
Commander
Registered: Apr 9, 2013 19:55:13 GMT
Posts: 422
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Post by Karka Psonoir on Apr 22, 2015 15:35:57 GMT
Beaming down with the rest of the landing party, Karka manoeuvred his tricorder about his body, taking cursory scans while XO Schirra looked around the desk, perusing logs and finding ID cards, after Tharp reported back there was no exit to the immediate reception area.
The engineer took the proffered ID card, fixing it to his chest next to the gold Starfleet symbol. The door he came upon to enter the main complex chimed with its recognition of his ID card, a hidden speaker stating in a quiet female voice, "Access granted... Doctor Tellus Crevil... Exobiologist."
"Tellus Crevil..." he murmured, passing along the brightening corridors whose full lights activated as they detected his biological presence moving along them. He recognised the name, from somewhere... Some conference he'd attended - casually interested in a seminar on advancements and modifications of the duotronic systems developed by Daystrom et al - also included a seminar on macroscopic bacteria and its potential survival in vacuum... Yes, Crevil had been the speaker of the latter. Psonoir surmised that the man lived still; these had to be spare ID cards, left over by scientists formerly assigned to the facility, or by those on extended leave... Although if scientists still ostensibly assigned to the facility were on leave, they'd surely retained their ID cards during their leave so they could gain access on return?
Ensign Wundt jumped as Karka met her at the next intersection. "My apologies, Ensign," he looked around, "Anything of note in the laboratories, chemical storage sections?"
"No, sir... Besides some evidence of routine research experiments they were conducting on the planet's atmosphere. And the chemical facilities are largely empty. No bodies found either, sir," she replied.
"That's ok. I think we've found the last of them. Go on looking through the laboratories; evidence of medicinal research could be of some help." She acknowledged and Karka continued along the passage, finally catching up with Ryat, Schirra and Prescott.
"They knew ! ....... They had to know there would only be a few people on the facility. There was no way they would want to risk the gas not killing everyone. This was a trial run. So somehow they had to know when the majority of the personnel would be away."
"Then it's possible they had someone on the facility at the time?" Karka asked, "One posing as a researcher who informed the Syndicate that the base was about to be largely evacuated... He or she then departed with the majority of the scientists when the period of leave came about...?"
"The computer banks should help us there," Prescott said, turning to a nearby console that allowed access to the nearby computer core systems. "Perhaps we can find more information on the researchers from the personnel roster."
Karka smiled to himself - he was continually impressed by Prescott's resourcefulness outside of being a security guard. He looked over the current personnel roster with Prescott, "Wait, Crewman. Scan back up... I recognise that man. Tellus Crevil, exobiologist." Karka raised his eyebrows. He was surprised that Crevil had still been assigned to the facility, despite his ID card having been left in the drawer at reception.
"He's one of those who escaped the gas..." Prescott murmured, skimming the scientist's file, "You know him? Who is he?"
"Well... He's me," Karka said, spreading his arms and shrugging.
"What?! Is there something you're not telling us, Lieutenant?" Schirra asked.
The engineer laughed, "Well, I mean this is him," he pointed to the ID card on his chest. "Strange that his card was left here. You'd think the scientists would've taken theirs with them."
"Indeed," Prescott said, "None of the names on our own ID cards match with the names of the 54 who were assigned to the facility - presumably former researchers here - except yours, Lieutenant," he glanced at Karka.
Psonoir looked at the others, "It seems we have our man, our insider," he said, aware of the irony. "Doctor Tellus Crevil was that insider. He had to be a Keeloon Syndicate collaborator, tipped them off that the facility was emptying and should be a prime target for their Craylon trial. Why else would he leave his card? The answer, he didn't intend to return, knowing what was about to happen. The others took their cards, expecting to come back once the extended tests concluded. The question is, where is Crevil now?"
"According to this he took his 'leave' in the Epsilon Nexxi system." The name clicked with everyone at once. Prescott looked around, "It's the nearest system to Tau Nexxi, 3.4 lightyears." As the information was sinking in, a chilling scream rent the air. They started, looking out of the laboratory to the corridor. Ensign Wundt.
<Tag All>
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Daniel Schirra
Captain
Registered: Apr 8, 2013 21:02:47 GMT
Posts: 468
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Post by Daniel Schirra on Apr 24, 2015 0:09:00 GMT
After an extensive search of the laboratories, he suggested they split up and search the remainder of the facility. It was then that Prescott had initially pointed out that they now knew the name of the insider .... "Wait, Crewman. Scan back up... I recognise that man. Tellus Crevil, exobiologist." Karka raised his eyebrows, surprised that Crevil had still been assigned to the facility, despite his ID card having been left in the drawer at reception. "He's one of those who escaped the gas..." Prescott murmured, skimming the scientist's file, "You know him .... Who is he ?" "Well ... He's me," Karka said, spreading his arms and shrugging. "What ! ... Is there something you're not telling us, Lieutenant ?" Schirra asked. The engineer laughed, "Well, I mean this is him." he pointed to the ID card on his chest. "Strange that his card was left here. You'd think the scientists would've taken theirs with them." "That isn't the only anomaly." Daniel said, taking the Identification Passes from each of them in turn and studying them closely, Those passes were in a container, clearly marked 'Blank Pass ID-02/468' ..... Crevil's ID couldn't have been in that container, so I either picked up one that was in the draw already, or the information on that pass changed somehow." "What do you mean, changed ?" Prescott asked, wondering where the Exec' was going with this. "Crevil wasn't working alone here, in fact he could have left well before the test was scheduled. Someone was helping him, my guess it was one of the Administration Staff." "But you said the pass had changed ?" Prescott said again. "I programmed those passes from the batch of blanks. Furthermore, I programmed them with 'our' names ! ....." snapping the Crevil pass in half, he turned and went back up the corridor to the reception area, leaving the other's stood waiting. He took three blanks out of the container and programmed three random names before returning to the group, he showed the three passes then went to the nearest lab door and placed the pass against the reader: 'Access granted ... Doctor Tellus Crevil ... Exobiologist ...' "How did you know ?" Alyana asked. "There were two readers under the desk. Nothing unusual there, but one of them seemed to have a pre-set default. If that reader was used it would default to whatever identification was programmed in. I used both simply to save time." he said, handing the newly re-programmed pass to the Commodore and the other's to Tharp. "OK, so this Doctor Crevil was working with someone, it just means we have two people to look for, right ?" the crewman asked, " .... and who are Mickey and Minnie ?" Shirra grinned ... "The Administrator on duty was one Arkum Zoras, Civilian." Schirra said, so maybe he went off-base with Crevil, or went off on his own, either way he isn't one of the deceased. They were discussing a myriad of scenario's when a scream rented through the air from the corridor ! They rushed out of the laboratory to find a profusely bleeding Ensign Wundt against the wall. barely conscious he mumbled something incoherently and tried lifting a hand to point along the corridor leading to the reception, but before he could be pressed for more information he drifted into unconsciousness, likely through the blood loss he was suffering. Daniel snapped open his communicator and ordered an emergency transport direct to Sick-bay ! ... The man vanished from sight a few seconds later ...... Everyone was now holding their phaser and checking the corridor from end to end. Crewman Tharp was using his tricorder to scan the immediate area, but was getting nothing for his efforts. He adjusted the range setting, which would allow a reduced but extended scan, and after sweeping the device back and forth several times he suddenly halted the arc and peered at the small screen: "One life-form ... Andorian !" Everyone spun to face the Security Officer as he double-checked his readings. "Is it possible your wrong Crewman ?" Ryat asked, wondering what the hell an Andorian would be doing on a Federation research facility. "Yes Sir." Tharp said with conviction, then frowned suddenly. He hesitantly turned to Ryat and interrupted, "Commodore, I'm reading a Tellarite now, same location and heading away from us quickly. "It has to be your tricorder Crewman." the commodore said, with a glance along the corridor. "Back to Andorian readings now." the man said, grasping a second device from Prescott and narrowing the scan to one specific range, "Andorian Commodore .... It, he is heading for the Arrivals / Departure Lounge. Sir, they have transporters there !" Schirra snapped open his Communicator and spoke to the ship: =^= Schirra to Excalibur .. Raise shields immediately ! =^= =^= Commander .. You do realize we cannot transp ...... =^= =^= Keep those shield up Mister .. Scan your immediate area .. If anything at all tries to leave orbit ensure they stay put .. .. Understood ? =^= =^= Aye SIR ! =^= the man said, closing the Comm. "We need that, person, preferably alive !" Alyana said, "Two teams ... Do not get separated from each other." .......... OOC :: Choose from the list who you are paired with :: The team now consists of the following:
Cdre Ryat Cmdr Schirra Lt Psonoir Crwmn Prescott Crwmn Tharp
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Karka Psonoir
Commander
Registered: Apr 9, 2013 19:55:13 GMT
Posts: 422
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Post by Karka Psonoir on Apr 26, 2015 23:58:36 GMT
Karka - having decided to take Crewman Prescott - took the left at the next junction along from where Wundt had pointed, Ryat, Schirra and Tharp heading in the other direction. Both routes, Karka knew from looking at Prescott's tricorder, were roughly the same distance to the arrival/departure area. From here, the passageways branched off, enclosing a central chemical storage area and other facilities, before - if one followed the main route - linking back up at the transporter departure point.
Andorian, Tellarite, back to Andorian; Karka suspected it wasn't merely down to a faulty tricorder. Tharp's final reading of an Andorian was surely an error... He delved into the knowledge imparted on his conscious by the future, it coming through the nodal markers - null zones of zero-time and space used by Hybrudean vigilantes - as well as the spacetime highways that intrinsically linked themselves to his mind: the Federation were aware of changelings in the 23rd century; in fact, changelings of a type had been one of the first enemies of Earth Starfleet over a century ago, however, Karka prophesied this changeling would present a different challenge.
They reached another intersection, Prescott leaning around the corner with phaser at hip level; he looked back at Karka, nodded - the section ahead was clear. He had an idea, crouched and opened his communicator, "Excalibur, this is Lieutenant Psonoir. Do you have information on Ensign Wundt's condition?"
"Yes actually, the CMO just reported, Lieutenant," came the surprised reply, "He's going to be alright."
"How was he wounded?" The duty officer told him a particle beam weapon had been used. "What type? Andorian by any chance?"
"No... some strange design... looks like it might be the product of a ship systems manufacturer rather than a weapons producer."
"Something the Keeloon Syndicate could afford perhaps?" Karka rose, nodding to Prescott and the two men moved forward.
"Sorry Lieutenant, was that a question?" the duty officer said after a pause. Karka flipped the communicator shut. He looked at Prescott who was taking point through this weaving section of corridor that cut a jagged course past several scarlet-marked lab entrances. Opening his mouth to say something, the crewman ahead of him was suddenly knocked to the deck. A thumping sound and confusion of the senses descended; a buzzing, ringing, leaving a tangy taste in the mouth had zapped through the area.
Karka instantly went into his accelerated mode of consciousness. He was witnessing events that much slower, able to think and formulate actions with incredible speed, but his physical body was hampered by the demands of the ordinary passage of time. The confusion of the senses was still all about him, a golden light coalescing and separating in swirls about him and the floored Prescott. A small shining device had flitted through the air at Prescott, impacting him in the chest; no bullet, rather an immobiliser.
With 0.2 seconds having passed Karka had worked out what was happening. A robot, or android of some kind had broken through a wall at the far end of the section, discharging an EM shockwave that'd disabled their weapons and confused their senses. It was advancing towards them, now turning towards Karka as it'd already incapacitated Prescott. Karka looked the android in the eye, or eyes, however many there were, it returning the stare. Its shape was vaguely humanoid, with a few critical differences.
Holographic images - to Karka's shock; the technology was so unknown to this era - flickered over the android's body, the image changing at random: first it created an Andorian, then a Vulcan followed by a Tellarite, then several other Federation member species, then an image of Tellus Crevil. The device generating this holographic overlay seemed to be malfunctioning - flickering and crackling madly with static - but whatever it was, it seemed to have the ability to not only create the image but to create the relevant biosignature also.
He calculated the android's probable strength, reasoning correctly he'd be at a disadvantage. He'd make it up in speed however, if not in physical speed then in the ability to think of attacking moves much faster.
Ducking under the robot's first blow - an arm appendage swung in a wide arc - he utilised the standard Starfleet self defence practice: fists clenched together a double elbow in the small of the back. Unfortunately there was no small of the back with this robot, but it'd become unbalanced by Karka's attack and toppled forward, clunking chest first to the floor.
Karka decelerated his consciousness; 1.6 seconds had passed since the beginning of the attack. Looking at the fallen robot, he saw a small cavity between its would-be shoulder blades. He reached in, pulled out a couple of choice wires. The android groaned, Karka turning the androgynous being over. He woke or rather revived Prescott from his fugue.
The security crewman got to his feet, noticing the semi-humanoid object on the floor, "What the...?" he moaned blearily.
"Don't worry. Who do you work for?" Karka asked the android. "Do you have the ability to understand language?"
"Ten ships in orbit. Pick one, they said. Ten ships in orbit... Pick one." The android repeated the words over and over before pausing, jerking its head to look at Psonoir. "You're not like the others." Psonoir blinked, ignoring the look he was expecting he was getting from Prescott. This had to stop happening. The android tried to get to its feet, Prescott shoving it down again. It said, "Ten ships in orbit, four automated. Zorastics Inc owned vessels, subsidiary of Keel-" Then looking at Karka again, "Why would you throw your lot in with these?" it said. Karka was silent, returning the stare.
"Zorastics Inc..." Prescott murmured, "Couldn't be the trading name for an organisation run by Zoras? Administrator Arkum Zoras. Karka?"
"It's unlikely to be a coincidence," he admitted, opening his communicator, "Psonoir to Commodore Ryat, Commander Schirra. We've apprehended the culprit, we hope. Are you still reading a lifesign? This one's an android; it seems to have the ability to mask itself as any number of Federation member species. It has some interesting news regarding the tactical situation in orbit..." He elaborated.
<Tag Ryat, Schirra>
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Daniel Schirra
Captain
Registered: Apr 8, 2013 21:02:47 GMT
Posts: 468
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Post by Daniel Schirra on Apr 30, 2015 20:08:37 GMT
=^= Keep those shields up Mister .. Scan your immediate area .. If anything at all tries to leave orbit ensure they stay put .. .. Understood ? =^=
=^= Aye SIR ! =^= the man said, closing the Comm.
"We need that, person, preferably alive !" Alyana said, "Two teams ... Do not get separated from each other."
They had been searching, hoping that whoever they were after hadn't managed to get off the surface, when their communicators chirped to life:
=^= Psonoir to Commodore Ryat .. Commander Schirra .. .. We've apprehended the culprit we hope .. Are you still reading a life-signs ? .. This one's an android .. It seems to have the ability to mask itself as any number of Federation member species .. It has some interesting news regarding the tactical situation in orbit .. .. =^=
=^= On our way =^= Schirra replied before they sprinted off to the coordinates the tricorder supplied ......
~~~~~
As they rounded the corner and entered the corridor, Daniel could see Psonoir and Prescott, both holding phasers on the 'person' they stood over. Approaching the seated figure, Dan had the uneasy feeling that he was seeing double for a second, as if the person 'changed' for a fraction of a second before reverting to it's, his, original form. He, Commodore Ryat, and Crewman Tharp came to a halt and eyed the prisoner, who seemed to be taking everything in with zero interest in events.
"What do we have ?" Ryat asked.
Karka instructed the to repeat what it had been saying when apprehended.
"Ten ships in orbit. Pick one, they said. Ten ships in orbit... Pick one. You're not like the others. Ten ships in orbit, four automated. Zorastics Inc owned vessels, subsidiary of Keel-" the android said before falling silent.
"..... Pick one, they said ..... What's that supposed to mean ?" Dan asked, eyeing the android.
"We were speculating that Zorastics could be connected to the Administrator, Zoras ?" Prescott offered. Daniel crouched in front of the android, locking eyes.
"Is there any way this thing is in contact with anyone, either on the surface or in orbit ?" he mused, opening his communicator:
=^= Schirra to Excalibur .. .. Are you detecting any anomalous readings .. Communications .. Either surface to surface .. Or surface to anything currently in orbit ? =^=
=^= Nothing Commander =^= Dan closed his communicator and turned to the others, "We need to look into this Zorastics Incorporated, it's obviously connected."
"If Zoras is responsible, and worse still, connected to the Keeloon, we need to ensure he doesn't realize we have this. Is it possible Zorastics are manufacturing the Craylon gas derivative for them !" Prescott said, pointing at the seated android. Dan once again contacted the ship. He ordered the android transported direct to the Brig and a level five force-field erected which would effectively 'box' it in until they could examine, or interrogate it further .... Seconds later their prisoner vanished from sight in a translucent energy matrix. It was obvious to everyone now that the Keeloon were not working alone ... It was imperative that they acquired information that would help them bring this issue to a close. There was no saying how many would die if they failed !
"Sir ........" crewman Tharp said, looking down at his tricorder, sweeping it from side to side, "I'm detecting one, no, two more unclassified life-signs ......"
"It can't be returning complex personnel !" Prescott stated, raising his phaser and covering the corridor behind them.
"No !" Tharp answered ..........
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David Tan
Starfleet Intelligence
Suum Cuique ...
Registered: Dec 11, 2006 10:56:04 GMT
Posts: 792
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Post by David Tan on May 1, 2015 12:20:12 GMT
"This 'vessel' ... it is suitable ?" Kiw asked. Lak-Tson described the ship he had taken great pains to acquire, "Then take your seat on the Congress ... Lak-Tson ......"
"Thank you, but my presence is needed elsewhere. Your vessel is in orbit, I would strongly suggest you thoroughly check all systems before venturing into open space. While I was assured of it's condition, you never know ...... I shall return in two day's and hopefully we will be able to begin our quest."
"Quest." Nars Lon asked, still seething from the man's appointment to the Congress, "You find us amusing .... Trader !"
"Amusing, no ... But what I do find annoying is your constant efforts to discredit me to Deel Kiw ..... I am aware of your efforts, so please do not embarrass yourself by denying it." Lak-Tson said, turning away and leaving the chamber before the man could think of a retort to the accusations thrown in his face !
oooooooooo
Lak-Tson wasn't stupid ..... Far from it in fact, and he always ensured his own safety and complete deniability in any major dealings he entered into. It was just the same with the 'partnership' he was currently in. Dorton Theta was a back-water sphere, nothing of interest, and certainly nothing anyone would want to be associated with given the complete lack of opportunities on the almost barren orb. But it was here that Lak-Tson had a small facility ... Buried deep in one of the ragged mountain ranges, was his sanctuary ... He had expended a great deal to have this built, and had subsequently ensured it's location remained with him and him alone, when the craft carrying the workers met with an untimely core breech. His small, shielded, single person shuttle, greatly modified from it's original specifications, dove into the grey green poisonous atmosphere unseen and plunged towards the surface. Any thought of pulling out of the dive need not concern him as the craft shot through an elaborate force-field and along a sixty kilometer tunnel, finally expanding into a circular chamber. Artificial gravity, and life support sprang into being as the ship reached it's goal. automatically slowing it rotated ready for departure before lowering onto three struts. The engines shut down and the door to the rear opened ......
He felt the chill in the air, and made a mental note to have the environmental systems react sooner once his approach was detected .... Entering a small but adequately furnished living area, he sat down and rested for a short time, then asked the computer to download all information from his craft and store it. He smiled to himself, knowing none of those in his presence knew they were being recorded. Every word, every expression, every change in heart rate, pulse, pupil dilation, was recorded and examined by the computer. This was yet another 'perk' he had acquired from one of his 'less than honest' associates, and was supposed to only be available to Star Fleet Security. But as he always said, everything, and everyone, had their price, all you have to do is find that one piece of information to use as leverage, and the world, so to speak, was your oyster ......
Information was a large part of his trade, and a lot of people were paying him a lot of money to keep certain information hidden, or to be more precise, to keep 'him' from releasing certain information ! ... So what did he have on the Keeloon Syndicate, well nothing too incriminating yet, but it was only a matter of time before one of his people brought him a snippet of information he could hold over the man. The one piece of information that was eluding him at the moment was just 'who' was supplying the Keeloon ? ..... They had finances, yes, but nothing approaching what they required, otherwise they wouldn't have sought out Lak-Tson. He instructed the computer to open a secure Communication link to someone who may be able to help, then he went off to prepare some food. for some reason he was decidedly hungry ......
Forty minutes later his Comm was answered:
=^= What do you want Tson ? =^=
=^= Now now Meaza my child .. No need for such antagonism .. I thought I would contact you purely as a courtesy .. But if you are busy .. .. .. =^=
=^= You caught me at the wrong moment that is all .. .. What can I do for you this time ? =^=
Lak-Tson informed her of what he needed, and stressed that she and her girls must be exceptionally careful. Any hint that they were gathering information would not bode well. From both sides ! ... Satisfied Meaza would do as asked, he closed the Comm and manually entered another code, this time he spoke for only five seconds before closing the link. Satisfied he was on track, he headed for his shuttle. A minute later he was en-route to Earth once again, the base, totally invisible to even the most thorough scan's shut itself down and waited patiently for it's creator to return ..........
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Karka Psonoir
Commander
Registered: Apr 9, 2013 19:55:13 GMT
Posts: 422
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Post by Karka Psonoir on May 2, 2015 13:04:42 GMT
Striding through the subterranean caverns of Epsilon Nexxi III, he accessed the laboratory facility where the derivative was being refined, stripped of its final impurities. Scientists nodded his way as he walked down the middle aisle, humming machinery either side releasing the immense heat generated by the final purification process.
At the end of the aisle was a small tank, a viscous liquid inside, enough room for a marine animal to swim in if it had the correct anatomy - strengthened dorsal and tail fins and cartilage rich pterygiophores connecting them to the animal's main body. This was the control environment, Nars Lon understood. The scientist at the controls to the tank's right, his scarlet labcoat stark against the pallid sickness of the tank, was adjusting several dials constantly. To Lon it seemed he had fine-tuned them ten times, adjusting clockwise and anti-clockwise by the same degree each time.
"You done?" he said eventually.
"Almost," Crevil answered. "Ok... Depressurisation in progress... Ejecting matter from the tank." The gaunt exobiologist's labcoat swayed as he turned to face Nars Lon. "The fish should live. The viscosity of the control liquid's correct this time."
"This will be your fifth attempt. The Syndicate's losing patience with you, and Zoras."
"Plenty more fish in the sea," Tellus Crevil said, leaning down to study the depressurising tank and rubbing his hands together, "Vacuum is now perfect to three parts per million. The aquatic lifeform is... surviving." He sounded surprised. "So we know the limits. One more step for the gas derivative towards wiping out biomatter in a vacuum, eh?"
Nars Lon turned away, feigning disinterest. "What news from home base at Tau Nexxi?" Crevil called after him. Lon ignored this too, striding out of the lab.
There was a map of the facility on the near wall that the landing party studied. They were still in the red section, at the end of which was the compartment with the transporter pads. Two other lifesigns had materialised, one of which was reading as Andorian, the other as human. Unlike the boxy android the XO had just had beamed up, these two were remaining fixed - no fluctuations between various Federation member species. However, that didn't discount them from being androids... these could simply not be malfunctioning and switching from race to race at random.
"Let's swap," Ryat said, "Schirra you take Prescott. Psonoir and Tharp, with me."
Psonoir brought up the rear as the team collectively guided itself towards one of the two lifesigns - the possible Andorian, possible android. He kept a distance to Ryat in front of him, Tharp ahead taking point. They stopped at each intersection, each junction and sharp turn in the corridor, nodding and covering each other as they progressed. The android from before had caught Karka and Prescott by surprise. He didn't think it beyond possibility that the androids (if this Andorian was one) could mask their exact locations - as well as what their species were - from their quarry until they were right on top of it.
"I'd rather not be drawn into another fight with an android," Karka said, "But I can warn you what to expect if we do." He filled in the COand the security crewman with the exact details about what'd happened to him and Prescott.
As they were actually nearing the transporter pad compartment, the Andorian dropped abruptly from ceiling rafters. It swung, aiming a kick at Tharp, downing the crewman before landing gracefully with little sound. Psonoir stepped forward to defend his CO. This was either definitely an Andorian, or an android in perfect holographic disguise, with the agility of an Andorian too.
Still, the first android's broken words played on his mind... Ten ships, pick one, they said. Pick one? The android - or these androids - infiltrators in Zorastics? Or had the android's vocaliser been damaged, repeating fragments of its mission rather than a cohesive objective?
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Daniel Schirra
Captain
Registered: Apr 8, 2013 21:02:47 GMT
Posts: 468
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Post by Daniel Schirra on May 3, 2015 23:54:14 GMT
Daniel had been looking into one of the Labs, and finding nothing that would help them. He wondered if they were going to get anything more out of the android.
Moving back into the corridor he walked towards the next door and reached out, it was then he heard the commotion from back the way he had come, turning he began to run toward the source of the noise, coming face to face with Crewman Tharp, trying to get to his feet, and Lieutenant Psonoir landing a blow to his attacker. Unwilling to allow more of the crew to be injured, he took his phaser and fired at the attacker. Somewhat surprisingly, he turned to face Schirra as if annoyed at the interruption. Daniel didn't hesitate, he fired again, and just to be sure, he repeated the task ... Finally, the Engineers' attacker fell to the floor.
"Commander. We may be able to get information from this one !" Karka warned as he raised his phaser again.
Schirra lowered his phaser and secured it before approaching the semi-incapacitated attacker. He was about to ask Karka how he wanted to proceed when his communicator chirped to life:
=^= Excalibur to Away team .. .. We have a situation up here =^=
=^= Report Lieutenant ! =^= Dan said, answering the comm. He also heard the Commodore asking for the same:
=^= Sixty seconds ago ship systems detected an airborne contagion .. .. .. We began scrubbing affected area's and were forced to erect force-fields on three decks .. We have casualties Commodore =^=
=^= Seal off 'ALL' affected decks immediately ! .. .. Scrub the air .. I want a full recycle in affected area's .. Once you can confirm no contagion is no longer present you can send Medical Staff into affected areas =^= he heard the Commodore say.
=^= Can you confirm what the contagion is Lieutenant ? =^= Dan asked.
=^= Checking now Commander .. .. .. .. Initial results show a large concentration of Craylon at six parts per million and reducing as we re-scrub =^=
Dan's blood ran cold ....... Somehow, some way, the Keeloon had managed to get the gas aboard the Excalibur. If those aboard couldn't contain the airborne killer, then there simply wouldn't be an Excalibur to go back to, as long before the gas was cleared enough to allow anyone back on board, the entire crew would be dead, and the ship would have impacted surface in what could only be described as a catastrophic explosion after her orbit naturally decayed beyond recovery !
=^= Erect level five force fields at every bulkhead .. Anyone not affected needs to get to the Medical Center as soon as possible or confine themselves to their quarters .. Take the ship out of orbit 'NOW' Lieutenant =^=
=^= But Sir .. .. .. =^=
=^= Do as ordered Lieutenant .. Do it now ! =^= the Commodore confirmed.
Ninety minutes later ::
Several times they had tried to contact the Excalibur, without success. Now they had to work out how to get word to Star Fleet Command as to their failure. The Android was uncooperative to say the least, and all efforts to get the sub-space transmitter working had failed miserably. Zoras had been thorough in his efforts, and now it seemed, he had also managed to murder god knows how many ! ... They had been working on bringing Comms back on-line when every Communicator chirped to life:
=^= Excalibur to Away Team .. Excalibur to Away team .. .. .. Come in away team =^=
=^= Away team =^= Alyana said, a sense of dread in her voice. Each of them waiting to hear what the young Lieutenant had to say.
=^= We .. We managed to clear the gas Commodore .. .. .. .. =^=
The man fell silent and Dan looked at the other's. Everyone knew what was coming:
"Commodore .. We had to vent into spa .. .. There was only one way to be sure the contagion was fully eradicated from all decks affected .. .. .. Ma'am I had to .. .. .. =^=
=^= How many Lieutenant ? =^= Daniel asked quietly. there was a long long pause, then he spoke:
=^= Thirty six =^=
=^= Establish orbit when you can Lieutenant .. Away team out =^= Ryat said.
No-one spoke as the full realization sank in ...... Thirty six of the Excalibur crew had perished due to the Keeloon and their gas ...... It was something that wouldn't go unpunished, no matter how long it took ! ..........
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Alyana Ryat
Commodore
Registered: Sept 5, 2007 16:34:56 GMT
Posts: 347
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Post by Alyana Ryat on May 7, 2015 1:34:39 GMT
OOC: Sorry all. I won’t say I am back because something seems to come up when I say that, but *crosses fingers and posts*
Aly had to admit that perhaps she had underestimated what she was getting herself and her people into. Specifically she had started to wonder if she had underestimated the affect heading out to face the Keeloon again might have on her second in command. The trip to Typhonce III had them all edgy.
Of course after being notified that Nars Lon, a known Keeloon Syndicate associate had managed to get himself reduced to organic residue by the Excal’s warp core, Aly felt that she had reason to be edgy.
Nars Lon shouldn’t even have been able to get on board the Excalibur so how he had gotten in to an area as sensitive and restricted at the warp core she had no idea. Security and Engineering were looking in to it and no doubt they’d find something. Aly just had to sit back and let her crew do their thing. When she had transferred to the Command Track no one had told her how hard the waiting was.
She decided to pass the time in her ready room waiting for more information. It did not seem all that long before the chime went. “Enter.” She called, she looked up to see Dan coming in to the room. She raised a quizzical eyebrow at him. “We’re ready to go?” she asked.
"We can beam down whenever you are ready Commodore." he confirmed.
"What is the status of the facility now ?" She asked.
"When the alarm was raised the internal sensor's detected the pathogen. Level Five protocol's were activated and the base sealed off ... Scan's showed no life-signs within the facility and the quarantine was put in place. No-one, apart from ourselves has been allowed to enter orbit since the initial alarm was raised. Sensors confirm there is no sign of the gas present and the atmosphere has been thoroughly scrubbed. We're fine to move around the complex, but I wouldn't try stepping outside."
Aly nodded and joined Dan as the two of them walked down to the transporter room.
Aly took the offered phaser and then took her place on the transporter pad. She wasn’t quite sure what she was expecting in the facility but an almost completely empty facility wasn’t it. She was very impressed with the speed at which Dan interpreted the map and coded up the security passes.
Four dead and three missing. That wasn’t good but at least it wasn’t fifty dead. That was what she had feared. A terrible thought struck her as Crewman Prescott read the information aloud, but Dan beat her to it.
"They knew ! ....... They had to know there would only be a few people on the facility. There was no way they would want to risk the gas not killing everyone. This was a trial run. So somehow they had to know when the majority of the personnel would be away."
It did not take long for Karka to track down the aberration in the records. Once again she was proud of her crew.
"It seems we have our man, our insider," he said, aware of the irony. "Doctor Tellus Crevil was that insider. He had to be a Keeloon Syndicate collaborator, tipped them off that the facility was emptying and should be a prime target for their Craylon trial. Why else would he leave his card? The answer, he didn't intend to return, knowing what was about to happen. The others took their cards, expecting to come back once the extended tests concluded. The question is, where is Crevil now?"
"According to this he took his 'leave' in the Epsilon Nexxi system".
Further information was extracted from the computer but then… Ensign Wundt got attacked.
Something that changed between a Tellerite and an Andorian fled the scene. Aly suspected that it was neither one nor the other, but something that a tricorder couldn’t get a proper read on was decidedly unnerving.
She agreed with Dan’s orders to ensure that the whatever-it-was did not end up beaming up to the Excalibur.
**********************************************
It had been virtually no time at all between dealing with android and the notification that there was something wrong on the Excalibur.
=/\= Checking now Commander .. .. .. .. Initial results show a large concentration of Craylon at six parts per million and reducing as we re-scrub =/\=
=/\= Erect level five force fields at every bulkhead .. Anyone not affected needs to get to the Medical Center as soon as possible or confine themselves to their quarters .. Take the ship out of orbit 'NOW' Lieutenant =/\=
=/\= But Sir … =/\=
=/\ Do as ordered Lieutenant .. Do it now ! =/\= the Commodore confirmed. She knew her voice had never been as hard as in that moment. Her crew and her ship were fighting for their existence and she was not aboard…
Aly realised she was pacing about two minutes later. She stopped and settled on to one of the crew benches and folded her hands into her lap and stared at the bulkhead opposite with a glaze that was close to pealing the paint.
=/\= Excalibur to Away Team .. Excalibur to Away team .. .. .. Come in away team =/\=
=/\= Away team =/\= Aly said, she almost fumbled her communicator in her haste to answer. There was a sense of dread in her voice.
=/\= We .. We managed to clear the gas Commodore .. .. .. .. =/\=
The man fell silent and Aly met Dan’s eyes for a moment. Everyone knew what was coming:
=/\=Commodore .. We had to vent into spa .. .. There was only one way to be sure the contagion was fully eradicated from all decks affected .. .. .. Ma'am I had to .. .. .. =/\=
=/\= How many Lieutenant ? =/\= Daniel asked quietly. there was a long long pause, then he spoke:
=/\= Thirty six =/\=
=/\= Establish orbit when you can Lieutenant .. Away team out =/\= Aly said.
There was a deep pain in her stomach but that had frozen into something near absolute zero, it had been an attack on her people and she would not let that go unanswered. None of them would. That was why they were her crew.
The boarding party returned to the ship. Aly left Dan in charge of coordinating the retrieval of the bodies (if possible) while all of the station logs were downloaded. She knew she would be conducting a memorial later but right now there was something else she needed to do. She ushered the shaky Lieutenant Anders in to her ready room, prodded him in to a chair and poured him a glass from her private stash, she had only ever shared this with Dan, but it was what was needed.
He wasn’t making a whole lot of sense. She wondered whether actually slapping him would help, but decided on putting the class in his hand and herself in his eyeline.
“Lieutenant Anders” She said, he was still staring off in to the distance. “Mikhail.” He blinked and refocused on his CO.
“You did the right thing, made a very hard decision. You saved over 400 lives and this ship. Thank you.”
He blinked and nodded. She doubted he actually believed her, but maybe he would one day. She hoped he would.
“Drink that. Go back to your quarters and take the rest of your shift off. Try to sleep”
He emptied his glass in one gulp and then started coughing. Aly let him recover before letting him go on his way. She knew the medical staff had been pushed hard by what had happened. There had been many crew that needed some treatment but she wanted to ensure that someone kept an eye on Lieutenant Anders.
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Karka Psonoir
Commander
Registered: Apr 9, 2013 19:55:13 GMT
Posts: 422
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Post by Karka Psonoir on May 7, 2015 11:52:38 GMT
Karka suspected foul play from his true brethren stranded in the 29th century. Stranded, because they'd had to shut off their avenues into the past, future, all space, so they could deal with the tragedy developing on their own door-step. While before they roamed spacetime freely, only the most daring vigilantes would risk it in these conditions, and a few had.
He - or rather one of his duplicates, a different Karka from a different world-line - knew this and had divulged it to him through one of the least accessed partitions of his mind, generally only used in emergencies: catastrophic damage to the 'contemporary' time of the 29th and surrounding centuries, irreparable damage to the spacetime continuum in one of the more prominent world-lines, all out war with the Raiders or the Ecclesiarchy; that sort of thing.
This was one such emergency. His other self, currently in the 25th century but having recently been in the 29th, had issued enough basic data to Karka's rarely accessed neural node for him to know that the plague - the Craylon derivative, having spread to the Hybrudean civilisation 600 years hither by methods unknown... perhaps the events of this mission would play out such that it resulted in that eventual contamination? - had infected nearly 30% of the Hybrudean homeworld's population. His other self had also divulged to him that vigilantes had slipped the net - found a way through the Xetleti Archive's quarantine borders set up in the 27th and 31st - and made their dives into the past to possibly change the whole history of this dimension and thus render null the Craylon derivative's effect that'd somehow propagated through the centuries - whatever mode of transport it'd used to reach its tendrils out through time.
If these vigilantes (Karka feared the presence of a particular somebody among those vigilantes; a close friend yes, but not one he wanted to see anytime soon, that somebody's interference with the Excalibur's mission before last being enough) were attempting to prevent the Craylon derivative's delivery to the 29th century, they might see their goal as the extermination of the crew of the Excalibur, by use of the Craylon derivative, introduced through the air scrubbing system of the ship.
Did that extermination include himself? he wondered fearfully. No, he had to trust that his compatriots would've calculated their arrival time, or the arrival of the gas's time, to coincide with Karka's presence on the planet below; they wouldn't kill him, a fellow vigilante yet not only that, but one whose mission it was to bring duotronics to the 29th century, so they might defeat the invaders and misguided Hybrudean splinter groups. Then again, vigilantes of Hybrudea had certain characteristics, some of those reflective of the race as a whole: free-spirited, by definition self-appointed lawmakers and arbiters of justice; some had maverick tendencies, some were callous in their operative methods... They mightn't hesitate to remove the obstacle of Karka if they thought his loss would be nothing in the impending civil war that, as Karka understood, had been lost by Hybrudea in the 34th century.
* * *
The alternative to all this, he thought as he meandered about engineering - having returned to the ship with the others, no casualties sustained and a functional android to boot - was that one or more of the Zorastics vessels, somewhere in orbit of the planet, could be responsible for the gas derivative's delivery. Four automated ships, six others presumably crewed by Arkum Zoras's people (if this was his company and he'd played a role in the deaths of the scientists at the facility, possibly allied with the Keeloon). Could they have delivered a... phased projectile of some kind? A torpedo, sublight missile moving slowly enough to pass through the Excal's shield grid, carrying a payload of Craylon gas derivative and aiming for a hull section behind which lay an atmosphere scrubber?
"Unwin, Jablweski," he said, calling his people forward that followed in the first two's wake (three were missing, casualties of the gas), "At what time was the Craylon gas detected by internal sensors? And, extrapolating from that could you deduce what time it was actually delivered into the air system?"
"We detected it at 17:09 ship time, sir," Unwin said, checking over a console and flipping switches, "Going from that, I'd say it was introduced into the air recycling network at about 17:06. The concentration of the Craylon molecules in the air was so low that it took the onboard systems a while to detect the first few thousand of them."
"About 17:06," Karka smiled, shaking his head slightly. "Very well. Now, if the bridge permits it, I'll access the sensor grid to scan for positions of objects in orbit. Jablweski, analysing time index... 17:06, scan for phase variances that coincide with any 'wake' in the vacuum, that may suggest a projectile, sublight or supralight, was inbound to the Excal at that time."
The analysis took longer than Karka expected. He sat in his office, brooding over the first possibility that his 'countrymen', the Hybrudean vigilantes of the 29th century, were here taking desperate measures to ensure their (and his) time period wouldn't be infected by the gas derivative.
"We have something, sir. One of the Zorastics ships?" Karka nodded at Unwin's confused presupposition, "One of them launched a phased gravimetric distortion generator at us at 17:06 in a torpedo casing - the generic sort traders can acquire on any extra-legal market. It came from one of the manned vessels."
Karka nodded and stood, a measure of relief passing through him that his fellow Hybrudean vigilantes - although he'd far from discounted the possibility that they lingered here, weaving through localised space and time somewhere and somewhen not far from here - were not explicitly involved at this stage.
"Bridge, this is Lieutenant Psonoir. We have irrefutable evidence that a weapon was fired from one of the manned Zorastics vessels - the one the CTSO's targeting computer has designated X-736-IA. We have strong reason to believe that it carried the Craylon derivative and fired it at us, using as a delivery system a phased gravimetric distortion generator - which disguises itself as a minor subspace... wobble. Zorastics, whether under Administrator Zoras or not, are surely connected to the Keeloon. I suggest..." He paused, reminding himself his primary concern was the engines; not offering tactical advice, "... That we challenge said vessel and have them explain their actions."
<Tag Ryat, Schirra>
Karka calmly returned to his desk, steepling his fingers. He had to hope that the face, or the voice of the commander of that Zorastics vessel did not belong to someone he knew... a bit too well.
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Daniel Schirra
Captain
Registered: Apr 8, 2013 21:02:47 GMT
Posts: 468
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Post by Daniel Schirra on May 14, 2015 11:55:22 GMT
Daniel and Alyana listened to the Chief Engineer:
=^= I suggest ..... We challenge said vessel and have them explain their actions =^=
=^= Thank you lieutenant .. Out =^= the Commodore said looking through the plexi-glass 'window' ..... "Open a Communi ....." she began to say, but Dan interrupted her:
"I have an idea that may get us more information. Give me a couple of minutes." he said, heading off the Bridge, returning shortly after having changed his gold tunic for the black jumper. "If I may ?" he asked, motioning towards her chair, she stood and moved to one side realizing what the man had in mind.
"Comms, block 'ALL' sub-space transmissions for vessels in orbit, I'd like to keep this to ourselves for the moment ... Helm ... Approach the target vessel ... Bring us to two hundred meters dead ahead on their current orbital path." he said, sitting in the Command seat and waiting as the Zorastics ship, dwarfed by the Constitution Class Excalibur, came into view and the Excalibur changed her orientation so she was effectively reversing in her orbit and directly ahead of the other ship. He was a little surprised they hadn't already asked what the Federation Star Ship was playing at, but maybe they simply didn't care .... That, alas, was about to change:
"Sir, the Zorastics vessel is demanding to know what we are doing encroaching on their orbit." "Raise shields and lock weapons on that ship." he ordered, "Open a Comm link." he sat calmly as the face of the Captain appeared:
=^= What is the meaning of you're 'UNAUTHORI' ...... =^= the man began, suddenly realizing he was addressing a member of Star Fleet's Intelligence Division !
"Sir, two of the Zorastics ships have changed heading and are approaching." the Tactical Officer informed them. Dan ordered weapons lock on both ships then turned his attention to the man on screen:
=^= We have evidence that your vessel fired on us .. .. There is little point in denying the attack ..You are to be charged with the unprovoked attack on a Federation Star Ship .. .. Be aware Captain that we are monitoring your computer systems .. 'ANY' attempt to purge the records of the last seventy two hours will result in our firing on your life support .. You will allow personnel from this vessel to board where you and your crew will be taken into immediate custody on numerous charges of murder .. If you prevent our boarding it will be taken as an aggressive action and we will react accordingly .. 'DO NOT' misunderstand me on this point Captain ! =^=
=^= But .. Wha ! .. .. .. I have no idea wha =^= the Captain flustered, obviously guilty. Schirra continued as if he hadn't spoken.
=^= No doubt whoever ordered you to fire the weapon assured you that using phased gravimetric distortion would likely show up as a minor 'wobble' on our systems, and the point of origin of the torpedo could not be established .. They were wrong .. .. Disengage your drive and weapons systems immediately .. Furthermore .. Contact both your sister vessels that are currently approaching this ship and order them to return to their previous orbit .. Failure will be unwise at this point .. I do not appreciate being attacked and if need be I will systematically go through each of your vessels to get the information I require .. You have fifteen seconds to comply ! =^=
The man turned away from the screen, gesticulating wildly at some unseen minion. He glanced at the screen every few seconds as if hoping the ordeal was a dream, but the Federation Intelligence Officer stolidly remained before him. Dan glanced at the Commodore who silently watched the exchange. While he was hoping that the Captain of the Zorastics ship would comply with his demands, he had no misgivings that he may need to prove his resolve, and he wondered idly how far Ryat would allow him to go before she stepped in. Hopefully, he wouldn't have to test her on the point ...
"SIR ! ...." the Tactical Officer suddenly said, "The lead approaching Zorastics vessel is arming weapons."
"Stand by." Dan said instantly.
"Sir, they are not targeting us, they are locking onto the ship we are speaking to." the woman informed them.
"Fire on that ship. Disable their weapons and warp drive system immediately. Lock onto the third ship and stand by !" The Excalibur's phaser's fired in quick succession, bolts of almost pure energy slamming into and through the lesser shields of the Zorastics ship. It began a slow roll to Port and fell below their orbit, moments later climbing into a higher, albeit very temporary orbit on thrusters only. Without help from one of it's sister ship's it would remain in orbital decay until entering the atmosphere and burning up ... Dan ignored the view of the crippled ship and again returned his attention to the now visibly shaking Captain:
=^= It seems you're colleagues are less than enthusiastic regarding your situation .. .. .. Five seconds =^= The Zorastics Captain visibly slumped in his seat, defeat etched into his face. He nodded, unable to reply.
"We need to get a team over there as quickly as possible. I seriously doubt those other ship's are going to sit there indefinitely." he said, getting up from the Command seat ..........
< tag : Commodore / Karka >
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David Tan
Starfleet Intelligence
Suum Cuique ...
Registered: Dec 11, 2006 10:56:04 GMT
Posts: 792
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Post by David Tan on May 16, 2015 1:18:13 GMT
It had been over a year since he had supplied the Keeloon syndicate with their first ship, and in that time their profits had soared, figuratively speaking of course .... It had also been over a year since he had reported to those people above him who were ultimately responsible for his actions ........ On numerous occasions, they had attempted contact, but of course, they received nothing in reply, and this was now becoming a major concern. Lak-Tson had been in the somewhat dubious employ of one of the more 'shadowy' enterprises a fledgling Federation felt the need for. Yes, they got the job done, so to speak, and no-one seemed to worry about the methods, just the results .... In the decades to come this attitude would change, but not quite now.
He had been on what he considered a 'well earned' vacation when he came across information that he was now being sought in connection with some less than legal, endeavours. Truth be known he had all but forgotten who had first brought the persona to him, along with the vast finances to accomplish his task. After all he had succeeded far beyond what they had required, so much so that he had left those shadowy people far behind him as he simultaineously expanded his personal wealth and rose through the ranks of the Keeloon Syndicate. He had accumulated fortunes on several worlds, and would use this for what he called his 'master plan' if and when he came up with one ... The very notion almost made him laugh. Funds seemed to find their way to him without problems, be it commodities, bricks and mortar, stocks, it made little difference. It seemed that everything he touched turned to proverbial gold !
He was content to sit at the head table, doing the bidding of Deel Kiw, and his weakling underling Nacs Lon ... They served a purpose and if their little schemes interfered with the Federation, all well and good. But he did find himself having issues of the moral variety regarding the Keeloon's predisposition to genocide. Not that he would interfere of course, hell, if they were annoying the Federation then they would spend less time and effort and getting him into a room .... So .... Back to the vacation ....
Twice in two day's he had seen the same man ..... Nothing unusual about that given he was at a resort and he saw almost all the guests on a daily basis, some of whom he was on nodding terms with, while others he could sit and pass the time with quite easily. but this one person stood out by not standing out. This morning he decided he would strike up a conversation and see where it led him. He found the man by the pool as he had done every morning:
"Can't help but love this place." he said as he dropped onto the lounger beside the man.
"Yes ... We come here every year when the Children are home." the man said, happy to engage. They spoke congenially for a time then the man asked if he wished his companion to join him for lunch. Lak-Tson agreed, and they rose to enter the dining area. It was during the meal that the man's attitude changed subtly:
"My associates in the Federation, have decided bring this venture to a close. You will turn over all details of finances accumulated whilst in our employ. Furthermore, you will divulge all information on the Keeloon Syndicate and it's leadership, which from our separate investigations, show 'you' as one of the high leadership." the man said, enjoying his salad while Lak-Tson looked on in silence. Finally sated, the man looked up at his companion and smiled, "You have taken somewhat of an advantage since we initially financed you, and we require those funds handed over along with everything else we requested. After this rather enjoyable meal you will accompany me to you rooms where you will access all accounts and transfer said funds to a holding account pending, re-distribution."
Lak-Tson finished his drink, then stood. The man did likewise then followed Tson out of the dining area and into the lifts:
"To be honest, I had lost track of my assignment ... Is there no possibility that they will allow me to continue ?, the Keeloon are planning something large, bigger than anything they have done so far." Lak-Tson was saying as they stepped into the corridor and walked towards his suite of rooms, he glanced sidelong at the man who's expression confirmed he was already dismissing the request outright ... Tson stopped at a door and placed his thumb against the reader set into the frame:
"I was under the impression you had taken a penthouse suite ?" the mad queried, but he was ready for the query:
"I purchased the Penthouse a year ago and do stay there, but I also own four rooms on this floor for, entertaining ...." he said as he ushered the man over the threshold. Closing the door he lifted an innocuous disk off the side table as he passed and stepped close behind his guest. The man turned, sensing Tson's approach, and the device was pushed against his temple. He lost all motor function instantly and dropped to the floor. Tson rearranged his somewhat dishevelled limbs, legs out straight, arms crossed over his chest, head straight. Only then did he reposition the disc and sat on the floor beside the man ..... he leaned forward and made several inputs on the device then smiled at his captor:
"OK .. That thing on your temple is something I procured at some great expense, but you have to agree it's well worth the fee ...... So, just a couple of questions then we're done. Oh, and just so we're clear, your complete honesty is a requirement in our discussion, otherwise you can look forward to the view you have at the moment, save for colour changes from room to room obviously ... You can speak if you want to by the way, just don't shout, I'm still learning the parameters of that little gem, and my fail-safe settings may be rather jittery at this point."
"Whatever information you think I have, you are mistaken. I was sent here to ask you to come back, nothing more." the man whispered.
"So the three weapons you have, and the emergency transport device are just in your room because you couldn't find enough swimwear to fill the case I assume ?" Tson asked pleasantly.
"I have no idea wha ......"
"You have a ship in orbit." not waiting for the man to admit or deny the statement, "I'll be cutting my vacation short thanks to your appearance. Don't worry, I'm not going to kill you, but I'll leave you with a warning for those who may be sent after you ..... The next one will die, and the next, and the next ... Things are not as they seem !" he said, moving out of eye-line.
The man lay on the floor, unable to do anything else, Tson had long gone ..........
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Karka Psonoir
Commander
Registered: Apr 9, 2013 19:55:13 GMT
Posts: 422
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Post by Karka Psonoir on May 16, 2015 15:05:06 GMT
Aboard the deorbiting ship...
The commander of the Unyielding Blade dragged himself along the deck of his bridge. The place had been plunged into darkness; screen graphics flashed in the night, steam escaped from ruptured consoles that could only be maintained by a constant flow of heavy water coolant behind their electronics. A jarring alarm sounded from a nearby console; he found his feet and slotted himself into the dislodged chair, it having been torn partly out of its fixing.
"Oh no..." He blinked and checked the orbital plot again; it was unmistakeable... they would deorbit in four hours. He heard spluttered coughs and moaning from around the bridge, wondered how many of them were still alive. These were the people he had been landed with, he thought with resignation, shaking his head. The Federation ship's attack had disabled both engines and weapons, and had done a lot of collateral damage besides.
The viewscreen ahead - actually just a strengthened-perspex window - displayed a spinning starfield, the points of light blurred and made circles. The inertial dampeners barely coped; he could feel the pull of centrifugal force that offset and confused the artificial gravity. He coughed suddenly as he inhaled deeply fumes rising from the navigation console. Wiping sweat from his brow, he realised he had to escape, leave these poor mercenaries to it.
They'd been tasked with - at his own behest admittedly - removing the ship that - through a ridiculous blunder - had revealed its firing of the 'PIGDIG' at the Federation vessel and had now condemned all 6 manned ships to the retribution of the superior starship. His own ship had failed to destroy the PIGDIG-firing vessel, and were now in a pathetic spin, deorbiting with no hope of recovery.
He stumbled through the tight passageways of the Unyielding Blade, life support failure alert signals and rattling vibrations through the grille of the deck assailing his senses. Blinded by the billowing smoke lit up in scarlet, he felt his way forward as the acrid smoke irritated his eyes. He grunted when he found the escape pod entrance - the single pod on board, meant for the commanding officer - a small circular hatch. Leave these poor people to their fate that lay in the hands of the Syndicate. They'd failed to prevent information linking supposed Federation administrator Zoras to the Syndicate's council (through his illegitimate company Zorastics Inc, which had become illegal when the UFP had abolished currency within its borders), and would pay the consequences.
Not he, however. He clambered into the escape pod, that incidentally was also a PIGDIG (Phased Gravimetric Distortion Generator) with a compartment designed to hold one beleaguered humanoid, rather than a Craylon Gas Derivative 0N-KWI-749 delivery system as on the doomed vessel (the Sharpened Sabre) about to boarded by Starfleet officers...
He laughed, shaking his head as he took up his position the escape pod, looking through the tiny portal that gave him a view of the planet below. He felt the pod disconnect from the ship and fire itself into interstellar space via a subspace pocket (in which an object could move at whatever speed the occupant desired up to about warp 6.3; relative velocity to the vessels in orbit didn't matter). The planet shrunk to a point of light and then nothingness in a fraction of a second.
Preah Tara sighed, taking up his seat in the tiny compartment: already things were not going to plan, unless the Xetleti Archive had plotted the probabilites incorrectly and Karka was meant to board that Zorastics vessel. It was unlikely. But the future - no matter how well one could predict events - was nebulous in the moment even if one had spent the majority of their life there.
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Karka Psonoir
Commander
Registered: Apr 9, 2013 19:55:13 GMT
Posts: 422
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Post by Karka Psonoir on May 16, 2015 15:11:36 GMT
Karka stood aside as security officers cut their way through the blast doors. Numerous attempts at getting the crew - more and more obviously mercenaries in the employ of Arkum Zoras or associates of the Syndicate - to open the door voluntarily had been met with failure. It would only increase the term of their prison sentence for the murder of a dozen Excalibur officers, before their surreptitious Gas attack had been discovered, and for the attempted murder of the starship's entire crew except for the landing party on the surface.
The charges planted and the phaser rifles employed finally detached the blast door from the surrounding bulkhead. One of the security officers pushed a foot against it and it clunked to the ground, nearly flattening a Zorastics crewmember standing on the other side.
No firefight. They'd been prepared for it; all in defensive positions in preparation for a defensive onslaught that would only worsen the position of Zoras's minions. Instead of a defensive action, they were met by four officers in ragged clothing staring at the deck in contrition. The boarding party was led by Schirra and backed up by Karka, whose task it was to download the computer banks's data and ascertain where this ship and the rest of its convoy had been, what it was doing here, what their connection to the Keeloon Syndicate was, and what they'd been planning to do after executing the Excalibur's crew.
Karka found the computer core, the acquiescent crew of the vessel - named the Sharpened Sabre, he discovered - bowing their heads partly in shame, partly in deference. Psonoir with Jablweski accessed the computer and downloaded the information. It could surely only confirm things they already knew: if Zorastics had the Gas, then they must have an intimate connection with the Keeloon. Lieutenant Hearan, their assigned security officer, warned them of approach.
"I'm the vessel's commander," a voice said from down the passageway, sounding panicked, "I surrender my vessel to Federation authorities and beg for clemency. We were only carrying out orders."
"Whose orders?"
"Mine, Lieutenant Psonoir," another voice said, emerging from shadows somewhere very much closer to them. Karka recognised the man from his personnel profile in the facility on the planet below. He looked back to check the data download. Sure enough, Zorastics Inc had been a member, now a subsidiary company of the Keeloon Syndicate.
Hearan was swiped aside by a gauntleted fist, crashing to the grille-plated deck. The man was well over six foot, stepping forward into the passageway from some hidden alcove. "Administrator Zoras," Karka said.
The man smiled, "Obviously. You've seen my profile," he looked irritated, "Rather invasive. You gave us no warning of your approach." He loomed threateningly, though if he attempted anything Karka was... 80% sure he could subdue him - it would require however another consciousness-accelerated experience, and those were rarely pleasant.
"We weren't expecting the system to be occupied. You were all meant to be dead. At least, til we found out that more people than the five scientists killed by the Craylon Gas had once occupied the facility. That's when we realised the facility may well have been infiltrated."
"And now you know that for sure."
"Yes. You and Tellus Crevil. Well, if the latter exists. How do you know my name? And where's the Syndicate's command?" Karka shrugged as Zoras laughed in response to his questions - it'd been worth a try. He raised his communicator before Zoras could react, speaking rapidly, =/\=Psonoir to Schirra, we've been led into a trap. Arkum Zoras is here at the computer core and he has my team under - =/\=
He cut off intentionally; that would have Schirra scrambling a security team to their location as fast as possible. Zoras exploded in rage and slammed his gauntleted fist at Jablweski's thorax. The engineer crumpled to the deck. Karka, seeing the 'Jefferies' hatch in the ceiling above him, leapt on to the computer core access console and bounded for the hatch, grasping at a handhold to its side and hovering their worryingly for a few moments, before he pulled the hatch cover off and clambered inside.
Now he was in the ventilation shafts, Zoras prowling the corridor below. He opened his communicator again and whispered, =/\=Psonoir to Commander Schirra, recommend we beam out immediately. I have the computer data on my tricorder. I have two men down, attacked by Zoras and possibly dead. Recommend lock onto their signals as well.=/\= He crawled along a few metres silently, keeping his exact location a mystery. He wondered again as he halted, taking deep breaths, How did he know my name?
<Tag Schirra, Ryat>
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Daniel Schirra
Captain
Registered: Apr 8, 2013 21:02:47 GMT
Posts: 468
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Post by Daniel Schirra on May 20, 2015 17:04:19 GMT
In the transporter room, Karka and Daniel were joined by four burly Security Officers, they had been instructed to make sure Psonoir and Schirra got what they needed, by any means short of actually killing anyone ....
The craft was old, much older than Daniel was expecting ... Daniel took two of the Security team and approached the Bridge, while Karka, along with the remaining two headed directly for their Engineering Section and hopefully, the computer core.
ooooo
Three men stood facing them as they entered the ramshackle Bridge. The two Security Officer's covered the crew while Dan walked around looking at mismatched consoles, badly fitted screens, panels that seem to have been scavenged from who-knew how many other ships ... When he had finished his circumnavigation of the 'Bridge' he stood facing the three, worryingly, he didn't see the man he had spoken to earlier. Surprisingly, none of them spoke, but simply waited, eyes flicking between Schirra, the phaser's the Security Officer's had trained on them, and back to Schirra.
"Which one of you is in Command ?" he asked, puzzled as the three looked at each other as if deciding on the spot which would own up, "Come on ! ..... Which of you three are in Command of this, vessel ?"
"None." was the only word spoken. Dan looked at the two Security Officer's who shrugged in unison.
"Where is your Commanding Officer ... Has he left the ship ?"
"He was, he was 'appointed' to converse with you on this occasion." one of the men said, and his comment seemed to precede an outpouring of information and questions from the three, at least until Warrant Officer Zarok raised his phaser in their direction, at which point the aforementioned silence was resumed. To say he was frustrated was somewhat of an understatement. He just hoped Psonoir was having better luck.
"You are aware of the repercussions should you attemp ......" his statement was interrupted when communicator chirped to life, he took the device, eyes locked on the centre man of the three, "Watch them !" he said, turning away and flicking the device open:
=^= Psonoir to Schirra .. We've been led into a trap .. Arkum Zoras is here at the computer core and he has my team unde ..... =^= the Comm fell silent before Schirra could finish.
=^= Schirra to Psonoir .. .. .. .. Schirra to Security team .. .. .. =^=
Dan spun on the three and approached the one he had been looking at earlier, without breaking stride he landed a blow in the man's midriff just below his sternum ...... The man dropped to the floor, gulping air into his lungs, the remaining two hurriedly stepped back, tripping and falling as they tried to get away from the maniac attacking them without reason. He turned to one of his Security:
"See if you can secure that door." he said, motioning to the seemingly paper-thin barrier between the Bridge and the corridor beyond. He opened his communicator and spoke:
=^= Schirra to Excalibur .. We have a situation over here =^=
=^= Report Commander ! =^=
=^= I have lost contact with Lieutenant Psonoir and the two Security personnel assigned to him .. .. Zoras is aboard this ship .. He is somewhere in the vicinity of Engineering .. Attempt to locate our Officers and Zoras .. If you can transport them all off the ship without waiting for my 'Go' .. .. =^=
=^= Scanning now Commander =^= Security Chief Yukigawa said quickly.
He turned to the three crew cowering together in front of what he assumed was the Captain's chair ..........
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Alyana Ryat
Commodore
Registered: Sept 5, 2007 16:34:56 GMT
Posts: 347
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Post by Alyana Ryat on May 21, 2015 0:25:48 GMT
"I have an idea that may get us more information. Give me a couple of minutes." he said, heading off the Bridge, returning shortly after having changed his gold tunic for the black jumper. "If I may ?" he asked, motioning towards her chair, she stood and moved to one side realizing what the man had in mind.
Aly smiled slightly, she was once again surprised and pleased by the initiative shown by her FO. She could not have chosen a better officer for the role.
"Comms, block 'ALL' sub-space transmissions for vessels in orbit, I'd like to keep this to ourselves for the moment ... Helm ... Approach the target vessel ... Bring us to two hundred meters dead ahead on their current orbital path." he said, sitting in the Command seat and waiting as the Zorastics ship, dwarfed by the Constitution Class Excalibur, came into view and the Excalibur changed her orientation so she was effectively reversing in her orbit and directly ahead of the other ship. He was a little surprised they hadn't already asked what the Federation Star Ship was playing at, but maybe they simply didn't care .... That, alas, was about to change:
"Sir, the Zorastics vessel is demanding to know what we are doing encroaching on their orbit."
"Raise shields and lock weapons on that ship." he ordered, "Open a Comm link." he sat calmly as the face of the Captain appeared:
=^= What is the meaning of you're 'UNAUTHORI' ...... =^= the man began, then suddenly stopped apparently surprised by the man in front of him.
"Sir, two of the Zorastics ships have changed heading and are approaching." the Tactical Officer informed them. Dan ordered weapons lock on both ships then turned his attention to the man on screen:
=^= We have evidence that your vessel fired on us .. .. There is little point in denying the attack ..You are to be charged with the unprovoked attack on a Federation Star Ship .. .. Be aware Captain that we are monitoring your computer systems .. 'ANY' attempt to purge the records of the last seventy two hours will result in our firing on your life support .. You will allow personnel from this vessel to board where you and your crew will be taken into immediate custody on numerous charges of murder .. If you prevent our boarding it will be taken as an aggressive action and we will react accordingly .. 'DO NOT' misunderstand me on this point Captain ! =^=
=^= But .. Wha ! .. .. .. I have no idea wha =^= the Captain flustered, obviously guilty. Schirra continued as if he hadn't spoken.
=^= No doubt whoever ordered you to fire the weapon assured you that using phased gravimetric distortion would likely show up as a minor 'wobble' on our systems, and the point of origin of the torpedo could not be established .. They were wrong .. .. Disengage your drive and weapons systems immediately .. Furthermore .. Contact both your sister vessels that are currently approaching this ship and order them to return to their previous orbit .. Failure will be unwise at this point .. I do not appreciate being attacked and if need be I will systematically go through each of your vessels to get the information I require .. You have fifteen seconds to comply ! =^=
The man turned away from the screen, gesticulating wildly at some unseen minion. He glanced at the screen every few seconds as if hoping the ordeal was a dream, but the Federation Intelligence Officer stolidly remained before him. Dan glanced at the Commodore who silently watched the exchange.
She met Dan’s gaze squarely but had to hide her concern. She trusted him, intellectually but there was a niggle of doubt that she did her best to fight, she would not allow him to fire the Excal’s weapons at the ship out there with intent to destroy. That had to be her call. It had to be.
"Fire on that ship. Disable their weapons and warp drive system immediately. Lock onto the third ship and stand by !" The Excalibur's phaser's fired in quick succession, bolts of almost pure energy slamming into and through the lesser shields of the Zorastics ship. It began a slow roll to Port and fell below their orbit, moments later climbing into a higher, albeit very temporary orbit on thrusters only. Without help from one of it's sister ship's it would remain in orbital decay until entering the atmosphere and burning up ... Dan ignored the view of the crippled ship and again returned his attention to the now visibly shaking Captain:
=^= It seems you're colleagues are less than enthusiastic regarding your situation .. .. .. Five seconds =^= The Zorastics Captain visibly slumped in his seat, defeat etched into his face. He nodded, unable to reply.
"We need to get a team over there as quickly as possible. I seriously doubt those other ship's are going to sit there indefinitely." he said, getting up from the Command seat.
Aly nodded. “Well done Commander.” She settled back into her chair. “Probably best if you leave off your normal duty uniform on boarding party.”
*******************
Now that they knew how the Excal had been effected by the Craylon gas, it was imperative that they develop some form of counter measure.
Aly was sitting on the Excal’s bridge listing to the reports coming in from the boarding party.
=/\= Schirra to Excalibur .. We have a situation over here =/\=
=/\= Report Commander ! =/\= Aly replied. She knew that things could not be good, she wasn’t entirely sure that she could qualify what the difference in Dan’s tone was but she could hear it clear as if he had ordered a red alert. In consequence her tone was clipped as she waited to hear what her FO had to say.
=/\= I have lost contact with Lieutenant Psonoir and the two Security personnel assigned to him .. .. Zoras is aboard this ship .. He is somewhere in the vicinity of Engineering .. Attempt to locate our Officers and Zoras .. If you can transport them all off the ship without waiting for my 'Go'.=/\=
She looked over at the security station where Yukigawa’s fingers were all ready flying across the console
=/\= Scanning now Commander =/\= Security Chief said.
=/\=Acknowledged. Commander. We will get them back=/\= Aly said. She knew her tone was now at its harshest. She rarely said things she didn’t mean, but sometimes the way you said things could be more important.
“There’s some sort of interference, sir” Yukigawa said. “It’s multiphasic, attempting to over come it.”
Aly wanted to cheerlead for her crew, but she knew that that would be a lot more of a hindrance than a help. Not to mention some of them might find it a little disturbing. She itched to physically help but at the moment she could only watch. It was taking a long time, or at least what felt like a long time.
“Got the signal locked.” Jenni shouted from the communications station.
“Got their life signs.” Yukigawa said.
=/\=Transporting now=/\= Aly said over the comm.
Tag: Karka / Dan
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Daniel Schirra
Captain
Registered: Apr 8, 2013 21:02:47 GMT
Posts: 468
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Post by Daniel Schirra on May 24, 2015 11:30:35 GMT
"You are aware of the repercussions should you attemp ......" his statement was interrupted when communicator chirped to life, he took the device, eyes locked on the centre man of the three, "Watch them !" he said, turning away and flicking the device open: =^= Psonoir to Schirra .. We've been led into a trap .. Arkum Zoras is here at the computer core and he has my team unde ..... =^= the Comm fell silent before Schirra could finish. Contacting the Excalibur he glared at the three on the floor as if the current issues were all of their doing ... He listened to the comm traffic as the ship attempted to locate the missing Officers. He knew now that there was more to the attack on Typhonce, he suspected this was a trial to see how the Craylon gas performed. The fact that Zoras was directly involved was a surprise but hardly a shock. Pacing back and forth he listened as the crew scanned the facility and began to make progress: =^= There is some sort of interference Sir .. Multiphasic .. Attempting to overcome it =^="They will not allow you to take them." one of the men on the floor suddenly said, making Schirra turn to face him. The one in the middle of the three seemed to have suddenly found some gumption and was now defiantly glaring back at him. "What did you say ?" Dan asked stepping closer, noting the other two cower back against the wall as if not wanting to be involved. =^= Got life-signs =^= .. .. .. .. .. =^= Got the signal locked =^="You think this is all we are going to accomplish, a few deaths, hardly worthy of news do you not think ?" "You two ! .... Over there, now !" Dan said, quickly separating the talker from the others. He intended to get the information he wanted, one way or the other .... =^= Commodore .. Several of the ships close-by are adjusting their orbit to intercept us =^="Talk, now .... What do you mean ?" =^= Eight of the Zorastics vessels are arming weapons =^="You cannot win." the man said as his eyes rolled upward into his head. Dan dropped to his knee's desperately feeling for a pulse, but it was no use, whatever the man had done it was quick and very effective ! ... He turned to the others, slowly rising to his feet ..... =^= Transporting now ! =^= Commodore Ryat's voice said over the open communicator. he felt the tell-tale grasp of the beam and shouted in frustration as he vanished from the room and reappeared on the Excalibur. he ran to the Bridge to see the 'window' seemingly full of the Zorastics ships. Individually they were no match for the new Constitution Class Excalibur, but it would only take one of them to use their multiphasic technology to transport a device into Engineering and Star Fleet would be minus one star ship ! "Jump to warp, let's get out of here." Ryat was saying as he approached to say he needed to get back down to the facility, "Take us to maximum sensor range and drop from warp, keep a close eye on those ships." "It was a test run." he said, quickly updating the Commanding Officer, "One of the people I was questioning committed suicide, it was too quick for me to do anything." "Captain, the Zorastics ships are going to warp." Yukigawa said suddenly. "Helm, warp spe ......" "Ma'am, they are not coming after us, they are heading away." Yukigawa interrupted the order. "They are going after something much bigger than the facility." Daniel confirmed, "I'd say go after them." "Helm .... Match speed of the Zorastic's vessels and pursue. keep us close enough to be able to act quickly but keep us off their sensors." Alyana ordered. Sixteen hours later ::The chirping of the Comm woke Daniel almost instantly, he reached over and tapped the link: =^= Commander .. The Commodore needs you on the Bridge =^= =^= On my way =^= he replied, already dressing ...... The Bridge was almost silent as he stepped from the turbo-lift, the 'window' was clear of information so they could see the stars passing by, he approached the Command seat, nodding to Karka who was stood near the Engineering Station as he passed. "We intercepted this five minutes ago." Ryat said quietly, ordering the relevant information on screen ... He read the communique in silence and shock: ... 2401.0524 :: 04:27:09 ...
Contact was lost with the Servetus Research Faculty located on Doxxol III in the Triagul Sector at 04:13:57 on this stardate Long-range scans show no life-signs within the complex and it is thought that all 18,066 personnel and families may have been lost No emergency beacons were activated and it is thought that whatever occurred was too quick to allow orbital escape pods to be activated Star Fleet Command are to dispatch Emergency and Medical vessels with all due haste to investigate A quarantine area has been set up extending one million kilometers from Doxxol III
... Message ends ... "They did just as the dead man warned they would." Dan said ordering the message taken down, "How soon before any of our ships reaches the faculty ?" "Maximum speed ..... Twenty six hours." Yukigawa said, "We can be there in three." "Increase speed to maximum." Ryat said getting up from the Command seat, "I've been up all night, I'm going to freshen up." Dan turned to Karka, who had been stood behind the Command seat reading the information along with the others. "I want all weapons one hundred percent. Drag your people out of bed if you need to, but I want every attack and defence system triple-checked before we reach Doxxol, OK." He finished and dropped into the seat vacated by Alyana a moment earlier. it was obvious now that trying to bring the Keeloon syndicate to justice simply wasn't an option any longer, they needed to be stopped .... NOW ! .......... < tag : Karka / Ryat >
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Karka Psonoir
Commander
Registered: Apr 9, 2013 19:55:13 GMT
Posts: 422
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Post by Karka Psonoir on May 24, 2015 18:46:49 GMT
Karka had materialised in the transporter room with Lieutenant Jablweski's body dropping instantly at his side, his blood staining the pad. Medics and security personnel rushed forward in shock to attend to the stricken engineer and subdue the apoplectic Arkum Zoras respectively. The man was huge, nearly 7 feet tall, and armoured in dark jagged plating lined with silver - he seemed like some fantastic interstellar warrior more than he did a placid Federation facility administrator. The security guards wrestled him to the ground while Karka had stepped off the pad, rubbing at his neck as he'd had to crouch in the ventilation shaft of the Zorastics vessel.
Zoras was taken to the brig. The Engineering staff were glad to see Psonoir's return. Little did they or he know that while on the Zorastics vessel he'd contracted a disease - particular to his true species, the Hybrudeans - caused by oblivious exposure to the Craylon Gas derivative while near the computer core. Neither of his two companions - security officer Hearan or the deceased engineer Jablweski - had been affected, the quantity too small to terminally affect them.
Strange shapes loomed from the shadows, the structure in behind hidden and in any case formless if one were able to explore its uncertain lines. Karka recoiled, his fellow Hybrudeans collapsing at his side, fingers clawing at their throats as they expired silently. He stood for a second longer, before too succumbing to the poison that was diffusing from the dark structure. He took his final breath as, struck down by the blades of the poisonous shapes, he turned onto his side, facing one of his species... surprised he recognised him: Preah Tara, one of the other vigilantes. "We failed!" Preah rasped.
He woke and was alert immediately. Looking at the chronometer as he swung out of bed he realised he'd slept for twelve hours - decidedly longer than usual and unprecedented. He headed for the bridge, conferring with engineers by the port side's bank of consoles while they waited for the ship's subspace transceiver to process the communique it'd just intercepted.
He turned his thoughts to sixteen hours previous: Zorastics vessels pivoting as they prepared to bring their weapons to bear on the Excalibur. The Constitution class had yawed to starboard and jumped to warp, touching maxium sensor range as the eight Zorastics ships - Karka deduced four crewed, four automated, if the android they'd encountered on the surface had been reliable in its information - also made the jump.
Commander Schirra turned to him while the Commodore went off duty, "I want all weapons one hundred percent. Drag your people out of bed if you need to, but I want every attack and defence system triple-checked before we reach Doxxol, OK."
"Aye, sir," he acknowledged, reading the subspace communication over one more time.
He'd watched the information scroll across the screen in silence. None of them had expected this would happen, at least not with this great a cost to humanoid life. Clearly the Keeloon Syndicate, and these mercenary vessels representing Zorastics Inc, quite clearly a front for the Syndicate had managed to procure extra quantities of the Craylon Gas and were using it to terrorise further systems... It was the only way to explain how they were this far ahead of the Federation's prediction of the exponent in the Syndicate's escalation of their attacks. Where were they refining the Gas? And who was supplying them with it? he thought as he headed for the turbolift.
Tau Nexxi, their HQ? No, too obvious... Unless they were working off the old human saying of 'the last place they'd think to look'. "Chief Yukigawa, this is Lieutenant Psonoir," he said over the intercom, having reached one of the phaser bank ports that was down on efficiency. Engineers were busy setting about effecting repairs to the phaser system - if one bank was compromised, it affected all the others, as the EPS network redistributed energy to maximise potential firepower. They were working on a way to override that. "I'd appreciate your assistance on deck 7, section 14-delta. We have a faulty phaser bank."
"Be right there, Lieutenant," Yukigawa replied, "I've been trying to pin that down from up here, to no avail."
Karka acknowledged, the last words catching in his throat as he suddenly had a coughing fit. Thirty seconds later after a few slaps on the back from his engineers he managed to shake it off. They chuckled and went back to work. Karka wasn't concerned; he was intrigued; he'd never experienced anything like that before while in human form, nor had he ever slept any longer than seven hours. He felt moisture on his face; he touched his forehead, looked at the tips of his fingers - he was sweating profusely.
"Sir? Are you ok?" one of the engineers turned aside from her work.
"Yes," he replied, not sure if he should be mystified at or accepting of this turn of events, "It seems I have... a fever." Of course, he didn't know that the Craylon Gas (non-transmissible to species in the 23rd century) was working away at his nervous system, and that if he didn't change the course of his predetermined future actions, he'd infect his true species in its entirety.
Two hours later the Excalibur dropped out of warp several million kilometres above the orbital plane of the third planet in the Doxxol system.
<Tag Schirra, Ryat>
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