Calli Valente
Starfleet Intelligence
"Don't get in my way."
Registered: Aug 4, 2010 21:19:10 GMT
Posts: 534
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Post by Calli Valente on Feb 4, 2018 23:20:24 GMT
SD: 2402.02.0204 USS Raven-C Conference Room :: Calli was sat in semi-darkness watching the last of the worker-bee shuttles glide away from the Raven's new Port side nacelle .... Sipping the now lukewarm coffee she stood and replaced the cup in the replicator. She was about to turn away but decided she needed another cup. "Coffee, black, hot." 'You have exceeded your stipulated intake for the twenty four hour period.'"Gimme the cup of coffee." she said, making a mental note to delete her self-imposed limit on coffee intake, at least for the time being. The cup materialized and she returned to her chair. The nacelle should have been fitted weeks ago, but for some reason there was delay after delay, until Admiral Torek finally ordered it done regardless ... One hundred meters beyond the nacelles, a worker-bee shuttle was finally moving the new core closer. This too had been delayed, though not by any bureaucrat deciding this was less important than having working ablutions, or the color of the corridors was the 'wrong' shade of grey, no, the core had needed to be constructed almost from scratch, there being no viable replacement at hand. Almost four months had passed, all the while the crippled USS Raven-C hung in the Dome, security increased exponentially as the attacks became more and more intrusive, but she would be ready, not today, not next week, but soon enough, and then she would be back in her element. "Penny for them ?" She turned to see Harry Wedlerson, the Raven's Operations Chief, stood silhouetted in the door. "Take a seat Harry." Calli said, smiling. Wedlerson went via the replicator then sat in what would normally be the Exec's seat at the table. Turning his seat to look out at the brightly-lit Dome. Worker-bees ans EVA-suited workers were moving around in what to the untrained eye looked like a ballet of synchronized chaos. "Any word about Admiral Tetsutaro ?" he asked, enjoying the hot liquid. "He's OK ..... Carl wasn't too happy as you can imagine, he pretty much chewed everyone in sight a new 'A-hole' then gave them another chewing out for good measure. Understandable I suppose given the Admiral is his unofficial Stepfather. That aside he's concerned that these groups of, well, whatever they are, are getting into area's they have no right to be in, and are getting way way too close to our Command Officers." Harry took in what she was saying then after a long moment replied: "There are 'rumors' going around ....." "Like what Harry ?" Calli asked, keeping her eyes on a space-suited figure drifting past holding a piece of bulkhead almost thirty meters in length that on Earth would have crushed him to death instantly. "Oh, you know ... Civilians being detained without charge, Officers being relieved of duty, or simply vanishing ....." "You should know better Harry. Starfleet Command is onl ...." Starfleet Command isn't here Calli." Wedlerson interrupted. "No, they're not ..... But 'WE' are ! ...... These rumors are just that. Security have obviously had to modify their procedures. Had the Starbase still been in position we wouldn't be having these problems and you know it." "Whoa Calli, I wasn't insinuating anything, just commenting on scuttlebutt." "Well maybe if these people devoted their time to helping ...." Calli said, falling silent before she said something she may regret, "Maybe the sooner the Raven is mission ready and we are back out there the better." "Maybe so." Harry replied. "What's our status ?" Calli asked, changing the subject. "Well, the nacelle is on as you can see, they will begin initial checks on the warp core in the morning, once signed-off Lieutenant Milyanov will bring it on-line, from there it's the usual routine. With luck we should be able to take the ship out in a week or so for preliminary field tests. Everything else is coming along, maybe ten percent of the minor systems refits to be completed, other than that ..." he shrugged. "I'm sorry Harry, I shouldn't have snapped at you like I did .... Too much coffee." she said apologetically. "I thought you'd put a cap on that." "I did." Calli said, getting up to return her cup to the replicator, "Alas I keep overriding my own directive." she walked to the door. "I could always restrict your allowance." Harry said with a wry grin. "You don't have the clearance." she said, waving as the doors slid silently open, "Night Harry." she said. "Night." he replied to the already closing door ..........
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Carl Torek
Command Staff ..
Site Executive Officer Ranks Officer
Fleet Admiral
"UTRINQUE PARATUS"
Registered: Jun 17, 2006 22:34:35 GMT
Posts: 6,163
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Post by Carl Torek on Feb 6, 2018 21:34:33 GMT
SD: 2404.02.0206 - 24:45 hrs ... Level Eight Five Two Judge Advocate General's Office :: She appeared to have been placed in the chair as if she had been working and had simply fallen asleep ..... "Who found her ?" Admiral Tetsutaro was asking as Torek entered the sparsely decorated Office. "One of the Junior 'JAG' Officers Admiral." the young woman informed them. Carl thought he knew the woman but couldn't be sure. Who is she ?" he asked. "Commodore Sha'rl M'orc, Diplomat." "Injuries ?" "The Medic says there is a small puncture wound at the base of her neck beside her spine, so ... I'm surprised she survived." "Commander. I trust you will be keeping everything you see here confidential ?" Sato asked, the man confirmed he would. "What was the JAG Officer doing down here, I was under the impression that they were working from a couple of the vacant offices on the Command Levels. So why would he, or her for that matter, need to come down here when it's restricted access only ?" Carl asked as he watched the Medics lift M'orc onto a mag-lev gurney before the Doctor continued her examination. "Sorry Admiral, I'm not sure why either would need to be here." ".... And you would be ?" he asked. "Lieutenant Commander Ethan Rice Sir, I'm attached to 'JAG' but I usually work in the Records Division at the Vulcan Embassy on Earth. I was here on attachment awaiting the Vulcan Ambassador who was negoti ....." "OK thank you Commander." Torek interrupted as Sato pulled him to one side. "It appears that after two failed attempts on my life they chose a lesser target, no ?" "Lesser target ?" "Indeed .... Commodore M'orc was working for the Diplomatic Corps, but she had no access to the Command structure of this Starbase or any other for that matter." "Oh ?" Carl commented. "You may, or indeed may not, remember an incident on Tallef Minor some years ago ?" Sato began, continuing before Carl could reply either way, "The then 'Admiral' M'orc, High Ambassador, had brokered a trade resolution and ceasefire between two massive conglomerates, alas it went completely awry when one faction discovered she was in a, relationship, with one of the leaders of the other faction. War broke out and she was recalled ... To save face, the Federation admitted responsibility and were forced to grant countless sanctions to keep the whole sordid episode from the public eye. M'orc was demoted but retained a position, of sorts, in the Diplomatic Corps." "So she was basically shelved ?" "Indeed." Tetsutaro said as the critically ill M'orc was taken away. "So why the attempt, or did it go wrong, it doesn't make any sense ?" Carl said, frowning. "A message, maybe ?" "A message to whom ? .... Us, Command ? ... Unless they are targeting any and all Flag Officers, but 'she' was nothing to do with the Command structure on 'SB47' nor was she involved in the day to day running of the Starbase. Attacking you would make sense if they are looking to hurt Command ...." Carl said, shaking his head, ".... But whoever did this, was making it perfectly clear that they can get at anyone anytime. It had never occurred to me that they would strike at anyone outside the chain of Command." "Somewhat ironic is it not." Sato mused, "Here we were doing everything in our power to prepare for what we may face out there, when the greater danger is in her with us. I fear we need to be much more vigilant my Friend." "We need to find some information on these groups. Someone must know something." Torek said, the annoyance and frustration obvious ..........
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Carl Torek
Command Staff ..
Site Executive Officer Ranks Officer
Fleet Admiral
"UTRINQUE PARATUS"
Registered: Jun 17, 2006 22:34:35 GMT
Posts: 6,163
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Post by Carl Torek on Feb 10, 2018 23:07:44 GMT
OOC : Posting as Yeland Serova ...
Level One Six Eight One - 23:00 Lower Communications Offices (Presumed open to space) Headquarters of Dissident Leadership ::
Yelana paced the room like something akin to a caged animal ... Each circumnavigation of the room she glared at the two people who had been brought before her. One man, one woman, both had been charged with carrying out a specific task, both alas, had failed ! ..... The guards were keeping phasers on the two, despite the fact that neither looked as if they posed any threat to their leader. Finally, she trusted herself to speak:
"What happened ?" she asked.
"We don't know, it should have worked. All the testing said it couldn't fail, but ..."
"But it 'DID' fail !" Yelana screamed. Neither one of her guests felt it wise to reply so she continued, "You told me that killing the old Commodore would send a better message, yet far from actually killing the woman you left her alive. Mind telling me what sort of message that sends, either of you, no ?"
"Ma'am. There is no way Command could know it was a failed assassination." the man risked.
"Is that so ?"
"Well, she's in a coma and unlikely to recover ..."
"Did I 'ask' you to put her in a coma, no. What I asked for was something to convince those in the high tower of theirs that they were vulnerable, reachable. Yet all you have done is show our incompetence !"
"It should have worked." the woman ventured. Yelana spun on her like a feral animal on it's disabled prey.
"What was it you used ?" she asked dangerously. The woman risked pointing to the satchel she had with her when brought here, Serova nodded and she turned, bending down to retrieve something. When she turned back she was holding what looked like a metallic pencil. She turned the upper section and it slid away revealing an opening. The woman took out the empty phial, throwing it to one side before handing the device to Yelana.
She turned it over in her hands waiting for the woman to continue:
"The phial is placed in the top. With the cover replaced, a micro-needle is charged, which when placed against the skin activates the device to deliver whatever the syringe contains. It was initially developed for one of our lesser-known Sections, presumably to sedate or encourage information delivery. I modified the device and capsule contents. It should have killed the Commodore within seconds, I would stake my life on it." the woman said, immediately regretting her confidence.
"Is that so ? ......" Serova said, raising her eyebrows, again circling the two before reaching into the satchel held by one of her guards. She took out a small case, holding five more phial's and held the clear glass container between her fingers. She grinned as the woman winced, realizing that it must be extremely fragile in construction, no doubt something that would kill her if broken on her skin.
She placed the small glass container in the devise and closed the cap, still walking around the two in a tight circle. Without warning she placed it against the back of the mans neck, feeling it activate as it registered a viable surface. The man slammed a hand on the injection site his eyes widening in absolute terror. The woman, realizing what had happened stepped back against the wall watching her partner in a combination of curiosity and regret ... It didn't last long as his legs gave way from beneath him and he collapsed on the carpet dead !
"Hmmmm." Yelana said, seemingly satisfied as the corpse was dragged from the room. She returned her attention to the woman:
"You have more of these I assume ?"
"You know that I don't ... I had brought this aboard the Station to be assessed by Admiral Tetsutaro."
"..... then, if you cannot supply supply me with more of these, along with the poison that goes with it, of what use are you to me ?"
"With the right equipment and resources, more can be made, but without the schematics it would be almost impossible to reverse-engineer." the woman said, fearing her fate was going to parallel that of her former colleague, "Likewise the poison, it is a concentrated nerve suppressant, one which is highly restricted, and one which I doubt can be found on any random shelf on the Starbase."
"But that said, I could have the phial's filled with almost anything dangerous, is that not so ?" Serova asked. The woman remained silent, "OK ... I like the reaction to your little toy, so we shall need more, along with the substance you, acquired to inject."
"Ma'am, I am sorry but it woul ....."
"Take her below ..." she ordered. One of the guards took the woman firmly by the arm, pulling her to the door, Yelana spoke again, "You have twenty four hours, Doctor ... At which time I expect you to be able to tell me you can reproduce that device."
As the woman was led out Yelana sat in one of the plush chairs she had had brought down her, purely for comfort, and once again turned the small pencil-like device over in her hands. With her most trusted people armed with one of these, no-one within the Command structure of Starbase Forty Seven would be safe, likewise, when she decided the time was right to leave them behind, those aboard her chosen Flagship vessel would be brought to their knees once her rule was demonstrated.
Of course, she fervently hoped that it would not come to such extreme actions, but she had come to learn long long ago that having something to fall back on was always a wise option .... She believed that once she was strong enough she would be able to face those currently holding the Station and it's inhabitants hostage, and peacefully effect a change of Command, one with her at the pinnacle of power, and the savior to lead them home ..........
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Gheskori
Command Staff ..
Commanding Officer Personnel Officer Trivia Officer
Section Admiral
USS Enzio
Registered: May 2, 2008 23:32:36 GMT
Posts: 1,538
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Post by Gheskori on Feb 21, 2018 15:05:04 GMT
JP between Gheskori & Aeryn Tavik - on return of USS Enzio
Ghes observed out the viewscreen as the Enzio made its approach to the Starbase. The station became discernible to the naked eye - the viewscreen not with any magnification - a glowing blue-silver pearl emerging from the velvet darkness like a ship catching a new dawn's light as it rises out of the hazy horizon.
To the left as it was displayed by the screen, was the dark matter nebula, slivers of colour and chrome coalescing across its otherwise dark, featureless surface area and enduring for fractions of a second before being subsumed back into the indefinite mass. Ghes knew the phenomena to be exotic matter particles reflecting off the main composition of the nebula, strands and streamers whose existence had only been tenuously grasped by SB47's sensors when it'd first hurtled, stricken, into this region of the galaxy.
"Colonel Tavik," he noticed the XO and SMO had returned to the bridge, "Has the Ferengi prisoner been secured?"
Aeryn sighed as she approached the center and stood to the right of her CO. βOh heβs not going anywhere, but Iβm beginning to disapprove of the no gagging rule.β She looked up at the viewscreen and saw the starbase looming ahead. It was part of her home now.
"On final approach," he said lightly turning back to the viewscreen, trying to picture the scene in Ops, in the offices of the station and Section commanders, past those layers of duranium and tritanium, "I will be glad to meet the Admirals. I think. I'm also glad that not too much maintenance work will be required, it will give us a chance to focus on crew mentality, of the Enzio and of other vessels."
Aeryn nodded, still looking ahead. βIts sorely needed, on all accounts. People are recovering though. Its almost as if we were always here.β Aeryn walked over to the tactical station and looked at the readouts. Most systems were optimal, but a few were in need of repair. βAs it always is,β she said to herself. Looking back up at Admiral Gheskori, she asked, βWhile you are out with the brass, anything you need me to do?β
"Yes, arrange with the Security Chief for the Ferengi to be taken to the station... See to the matter yourself in fact, Hood may be busy assisting Clark with repairs to the torpedo tubes and tractor beam arrays." He peered at the screen as the base increased in size, features becoming discernible. "This Ferengi was cooperating or in some way involved with the escaped Bajorans... He may have a role in the dissident movement of which the Bajorans are believed to have been a part.β
Aeryn nodded. βIβll liaise with Intelligence as well and see what information is lying around. Iβd like to be on top of this problem as soon as possible.β
He wondered how the matter of the dissidents was unfolding, how Command was coping and if Tetsutaro was safe. He paused and looked away from the screen to his arm panel, though truly he was looking inwards, and asked politely, "While over there, perhaps you could stop by my wife's quarters...?"
Aeryn looked over at the admiral and chuckled. βWhich one?β
Ghes smiled alertly and pivoted in his chair, "If they're not in the same quarters, then go to my second wife's quarters. A subspace message from her indicated Mwi'mci had been visiting her in the arboretum earlier today.β
Of course, the arboretumβ¦. Where Aeryn had been sucked into a long and drawn out conversation and who knows what with the admiralβs second wife. She was certainly an intelligent woman, but Aeryn couldnβt ever keep up with the chatting. She just wasnβt chatty. βIβll make sure theyβre taken care of.β
"As you know, the second wife hasn't adapted well to this new region, except for Mwv'mci she doesn't have many places to turn while I'm away, I'd like to know soon how she's faring." Unfortunately he wouldn't be able to spare a moment for some hours.
βIβll see to it,β she said. As she spoke, the Enzio pilot executed the docking phase of the approach. The ship shuddered only slightly, giving credit to the pilotβs ability. βWell, here we are.β
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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 Feb 21, 2018 22:06:20 GMT
SD: 2402.02.0220 - 06:30 hrs Level One Four Five Zero Delta :: David had returned to their rooms in the early hours following his meeting in the lower levels ... He was here to meet up with two of Admiral Tetsutaro's Officers to give his report, going up to the Command levels was clearly too risky given recent events, so this was the best alternative. He was almost a third of the way round the circumference of the Starbase and hopefully well out of accidental discovery by those they were now working for. The two Officers, disguised as Technicians, came down the corridor complaining about their rota for the day, to any casual observer they were simply two disgruntled overworked engineers. As they continued apparently about to walk right past the rooms they were supposed to he making for, David reached out and snatched one by the shoulder, pulling him inside quickly as the second one turned, he put his finger to his lips and motioned for the man to enter, quietly. Inside he looked at the two men shaking his head: "I am going to assume that you two are new to Intelligence ...." he said, dropping into one of the chairs. "Sorry Sir, we were just trying to blend in." "Well you just about over-acted the role, maybe next time you could dumb-down the complaining and just sulk your way along the corridors. You attract way too much attention by acting like you did, and believe me, I for one don't want to step out of this room onto the wrong end of an itchy phaser trigger, OK." "Yes." they said, looking anything but happy about being chastised but Tan didn't care about their feelings. One thing was certain, he would be speaking to the Admiral ... He gave his report, making sure they were getting every piece of information down to relay. "I need the following people looked into thoroughly." he said, dictating a list of names: Yelana Serova Noel Grimes Safron Nelor Wilm Goras "That first name, Serova, she's been up to the Command Center trying to speak to the Section Admiral. She's a trouble maker." one of them said. "Ha, that I can believe." David said grinning before turning serious, "She's dangerous, we're pretty sure she is behind a major faction of the dissidents. Whether she's directly responsible for the attack of Admiral Tetsutaro is unknown, but if she didn't order it directly, it's possible she knows who did." "We'll have her arrested, questioned." "That will get you nowhere." Tan said, the frustration growing within him. "Sir, the Admiral isn't the only one that's been attacked ... Commodore M'ork, low-level Diplomat, she was poisoned, she's critical but alive." "When is the Enzio due back ?" "She docked about six hours ago." "Bloody hell !" he said, pacing the room, "I assume the Section Admiral has been apprised of the situation and is staying aboard ship ?" "Couldn't say Sir." "Fine .... Get that report up to Admiral Tetsutaro. 'Stress' the importance of making sure Gheskori is protected. If, when he leaves the Enzio have him use site to site transport. If they failed with Tetsutaro and the Commodore then they will be perfecting their skills, you can count on it. They are growing and getting bolder, despite all their bravado and speech-making, they will want to make a statement. OK, I need to meet up with Commander Massa and get back to the lower levels." "Yes Sir." "Stay here for five minutes then get out. Remember what I said about over-playing your roles. Get that report to Tetsutaro and 'DO NOT' forget my recommendation regarding the Section Admiral." The door slid aside as Tan approached, he glanced up and down the corridor before steeping out. Seconds later he was in a Jeffries Tube making his way down two levels. Once there he climbed out and made his way to the turbo-lifts ..........
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Sato Tetsutaro
Starfleet Intelligence
[Deceased]
Registered: Nov 30, 2013 2:01:59 GMT
Posts: 538
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Post by Sato Tetsutaro on Feb 25, 2018 21:33:10 GMT
SD: 2404.02.0225 Admiral Tetsutaro's Office Command Center :: The meeting had been going on for some time - Admiral Tetsutaro was chairing as the Section Admiral was delaied but would attend in due course: "Gentlemen it is quite clear that the distension among the populace is growing with these 'so called' Leaders making more and more public appearances." Sato said to the group. "I still believe it prudent to detain some of the more aggressive Admiral." the Stations Deputy Chief of Security commented. "We have gone over this Commander." David Tan, one of the Intelligence Officers present rebuked. "..... and just how is that investigation going again ?" the man replied, but Tetsutaro held up a hand signifying the conversation was at an end. "We have, I believe, tightened security around the Dome and the Command Levels .... If we begin plucking every person who disagrees with our running of the Starbase then most of those below will be held at one point or another." Tetsutaro said, walking to the replicator to refresh his beverage before returning to his desk, "No Gentlemen, we should continue our investigations, that is where we will find the leaders of these disruptive factions that are growing in our midst." "Admiral, with all due respect, there have been no less than 'two' attempts on your life, thankfully thus far they have been unsuccessful, but if those who wish you dead become more reckless then I fail to see how they cannot succeed." Admiral Basirov said. "Then I shall just need to place my well-being in the hands of those charged with my protection, shall I not." Sato said with a smile, "Now, I believe we were going to discuss the status of our vessels ... With Admiral Torek and Commodore Savot both out, it leaves the USS Enzio in dock. Do we have updated information on the status of the other vessels ?" "Sir, if I may ...." Captain Villam who was overseeing the reconstruction of two of the damaged vessels said, getting up to activate the large screen on the wall of the office. He put up charts showing work being carried out, work still needing to be completed, and a myriad of other information, "As you can see Sir's ... The USS El Alamein is progressing nicely, we managed to obtain a warp core from one of the scrapped Defiant Class vessels, it will be fitted within the week, the ship will need some other systems refitted but it should not prove too difficult. The Intrepid Class Maracanda is also progressing. I believe the Section Admiral has set aside time to be devoted to another vessel, presumably the least damaged of the remainder. There are only two viable options at this stage, the former Trieste and the California, both are, in our opinion, beyond repair at this stage." "I am sure the Section Admiral will view that as only a minor setback." Tetsutaro commented, receiving a chorus of smiles and polite laughter, "How long do we estimate for the El Alamein and Maracanda to be space-worthy ?" "Three and five months respectively, depending on our replication capabilities." "Good, then if there is nothing else Gentlemen ?" The group stood in unison before filing out of his office. David Tan had already spoken to Sato's Adjutant, Captain Lemond regarding his need to speak privately with the Admiral. He had also requested that the office be fully scanned for anything that constituted an audio visual relay or recording device. Skeptical, she had nonetheless complied. As they filed out she asked Tan to remain and once the room was empty he sat back down opposite Sato, she confirmed the room was completely secure as it should be: "Admiral, we have some information you need to know immediately." Tan said immediately, stopping speaking as Nia Lemond approached the desk. "The Section Admiral is here Sir." she said as the door opened and Gheskori entered. He apologised for this lateness then sat beside David. "Please, continue Commander." Sato urged. "Sir's it has come to our attention that several area's of the Starbase, namely the dome and some area's of the Command Levels, but not Operations, are under surveillance by one or more of the dissident factions currently being investigated." Both Gheskori and Sato involuntarily looked around the room. "As I said, Operations, and I assume your offices are free from these devices, at least for the moment." Tan said. "Sorry Commander, but am I in error thinking that access to all the Dome Levels, along with every Level from the eight hundred decompression Level are heavily restricted ?" Sato asked, getting up to roam around his office seemingly deep in thought before returning his attention to his Intelligence Officer, "This information is most disconcerting." "Can we track and disable them ?" Gheskori asked. "Once we know what we are looking for it should be easy enough to either remove or disable them, yes ...." Tan said. The other two in the room, realising he had more to say, remained silent, forcing him to continue, "My worry would be that the moment the surveillance is removed, those watching will know that we are aware and could go to more 'extreme measures. Also, whoever they have in their employ will of course be aware and will disappear." "We need to reassess who has acce ....." Gheskori began, but realised Tan had more to say: "Admiral, we have information that at least one Flag Officer is being watched and could possibly be of use to the dissident factions." Tan said. "..... and who would that be ?" Tetsutaro said, eyebrows raised. "Admiral Barisov, Sir." "Barisov .... But he's not even part of the Command Structure, at least he wouldn't be had we been at home." Gheskori said, looking at Tetsutaro. All David could do was shrug .......... < Tag : Gheskori >
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Gheskori
Command Staff ..
Commanding Officer Personnel Officer Trivia Officer
Section Admiral
USS Enzio
Registered: May 2, 2008 23:32:36 GMT
Posts: 1,538
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Post by Gheskori on Feb 27, 2018 0:40:13 GMT
Ghes paced about the office, peering now and again at the starfield, eclipsed as it was by the dark matter nebula off to their right. He rubbed the back of his neck, blowing out his breath as he turned back to the Admiral and Commander, "I do not believe it. Basirov's always disliked me, it is true, and... and this may explain the matter," he collapsed in a seat with a sigh.
"I wouldn't put too much credence by that, Admiral," Tetsutaro remarked, "And besides we are not yet sure of Basirov's allegiance."
"But that it's an issue of uncertainty... Keep watch on him."
"Yes..." he mused, thinking of his safety, noticing the guards appointed for him standing outside the doors of Tetsutaro's inner office, "On these surveillance devices, I hear Admiral Torek's crew located potential explosives strewn through parts of the Starbase. My understanding - gained by subspace comm - is that these devices are in the process of being identified and disabled, that they have some sort of defence mechanism activating a... temporal field? and most importantly that in some cases they're cloaked."
"The spherical explosives drawing energy from quantum slipstream reactions," Tetsutaro nodded, recalling the matter, "Discovered initially in the bodies of intruders on the Raven during her refit."
"Could it be that this surveillance equipment is using cloaking technology, the same as the explosive spheres?"
The three of them acknowledged the possibility, Tetsutaro having a message passed on via Lemond - to Starbase Ops and the relevant departments - to begin looking into ways of identifying and disabling the surveillance equipment, based upon the same techniques being used to uncover the quantum slipstream (QS) spheres. There was still the problem of how the dissidents (whatever groups of them were active in this particular subterfuge) were able to gain access to the Dome to plant such devices, yet they now considered that if a number of assassins were able to penetrate the upper levels to almost succeed in removing Tetsutaro and M'ork, they could surely access the decks to secrete audiovisual equipment. Also the same issue: how were the devices to be removed without revealing to the dissidents that they were onto them?
<Tag anyone wanting to work to find surveillance devices in Starbase Dome (Clark?)>
"I'll have people consult the Raven officers' logs on how they dealt with the QS devices," Tetsutaro added. Ghes nodded and asked, "How go the investigations below." Tetsutaro nodded to Tan, who summarised for Ghes everything he'd told Tetsutaro et al before Ghes's arrival.
"If Yelana Serova..." he paused, "From what you tell me neither she nor any of her colleagues suspect that infiltrators are now in their midst?" Both Intel men confirmed this. "Then she or a representative of hers may still risk coming up to the Dome to champion the labourers, try to catch our attention... Of course if she knew she was suspected, she'd stay well away... And yet, if she or someone does arrive, we still cannot legally detain them, especially if we want to uncover the root of the dissident movement." He regarded them, "She may well lie at the root, however we cannot be sure of that... Like the many heads of the hydra, cutting hers down may cause a multitude of others to spring up in its place. That is, if she enters the command levels demanding an audience, do nothing to her... but make it absolutely clear I'm not available for interview."
Tetsutaro nodded, "While your safety is paramount, Gheskori, perhaps allowing her an audience via comm would serve as a way of finding out what she truly wants and whether we can begin to diffuse this situation via diplomacy."
"Might even enable us to pinpoint her location, if done via comm -" Tan began.
"No. I will not speak to her. We do not deal with would-be assassins... Though if we do make face-to-face contact with a representative of hers, detain them for questioning, treating them cordially; we don't yet know how much power these people wield."
<Tag All>
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Sato Tetsutaro
Starfleet Intelligence
[Deceased]
Registered: Nov 30, 2013 2:01:59 GMT
Posts: 538
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Post by Sato Tetsutaro on Mar 2, 2018 22:59:23 GMT
SD: 2404.02.0302 Command Center :: A week had passed and things aboard the Starbase were moving almost without incident, but there were minor issues, mainly caused by the trouble-making factions disrupting not only the day to day running of the Starbase, but now they had begun to interfere with essential works ! Sato was in the Command Center going over the daily Security Reports ... Fighting among the civilian Personnel was increasing, not to the point where he felt additional security could be required, but it was getting close to that point, and he was worried. Tan had gone back a week earlier and was still engaged in the covert investigation into the disruptive factions that were seemingly still growing in numbers. One of their leaders, a woman named Yelana Serova, had attempted to enter the Command Levels demanding a meeting with the Section Admiral, true to his word though, Gheskori point-blank refused to even entertain sitting down with the woman who was likely behind the attempts on both Sato and the Commodore. "Admiral, we're getting more reports of disruption in the lower levels." one of the Duty Officers informed him. "Where this time ?" "We have lost power on Levels One Six Two One through One Six Five Seven." "I was under the impression that we had previously closed off those levels to preserve power. Am I mistaken Commander ?" Tetsutaro asked. "We had Sir, but we still maintained minimal power to the Engineering Levels and Environmental Control, but Technicians assigned to complete maintenance on those levels have refused to work down there without a Security presence. Several have been attacked, two seriously." "We don't have the Personnel to assign each and every work-group with a Security escort, they understand that, do they not ?" "Apparently not Admiral." the Commander replied, "We are getting sporadic reports of systems being deliberately sabotaged." "I do not understand these people." Sato said, shaking his head in dismay, "The rebel groups demand they be given a voice, then they attack the very thing that is keeping them safe and well. Their mentality is beyond me I must admit." "Sir, they are threatening to take environmental controls off-line if we don't cede to their demands." the Commander added. "But why .... They surely cannot believe that Command will simply lay down and hand control over to them, and even they must realise the futility of damaging the very systems that are keeping everyone, including themselves, alive. No, we shall not be held to ransom." "Should I assign Security teams then Admiral ?" the man asked. "I believe I gave my decision at the beginning of this conversation, Commander, did I not." he finished, handing the reports back to the man before walking up to the mezzanine level and his office. Once there he was greeted by his Adjutant,Captain Lemond. She handed him a glass before waiting while he sat at his desk, "Some days my Child, I feel as if I should have stuck to my proverbial guns and retired when I was going to, instead of allowing you to sway my decision." he said. "You wouldn't have retired and you well know it." Nia said with a grin before pulling up the very reports he had been reading a moment earlier, "These setbacks, do you think they are connected with that woman who keeps trying to see the Section Admiral ?" "Almost certainly my dear." he said, enjoying the warmth of the liquid as it slipped down his throat. "There was a man asking to see you earlier, a civilian named Grimes, Noel Grimes, shop owner." "Grimes, he is connected to our lady friend is he not ?" "Yes Admiral. Maybe she's given up on her efforts to see the Section Admiral and has changed tack, so to speak by sending someone in her stead." Nia speculated. "Maybe so .... Maybe so .... Alas, he too is going to be disappointed I fear." Tetsutaro said, eyes running over the data scrolling across the large screen opposite his desk, "These disruptions, are any affecting vital systems ? ... I know they have curtailed much needed repairs to the Environmental sub-systems, but we still have air I believe ?" "The Serova woman is demanding she speak with Gheskori, mentioning in passing that it would be 'unfortunate' should much needed repairs go uncompleted." "I think it about time we invited Ms Serova to a meeting of our choosing." Sato said, his eyes narrowing for a second as he gave the idea more thought, "Yes .... Have her located. Send a Security Team to her location and have her arrested, let us see how she reacts to not holding the proverbial 'upper hand' in this situation shall we." "I'll see to it right away Admiral." Lemond said, leaving the office ..........
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Gheskori
Command Staff ..
Commanding Officer Personnel Officer Trivia Officer
Section Admiral
USS Enzio
Registered: May 2, 2008 23:32:36 GMT
Posts: 1,538
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Post by Gheskori on Mar 12, 2018 13:59:42 GMT
Ghes was on the verge of allowing himself to be convinced by his wife's information. "I can't believe that it was an actual dissident. She wouldn't do such a thing even unwillingly, she'd back off and inform me."
"But she may not have even known, Gheskori," Phrixa answered. He pondered - if Mwv'mci had been talking to a dissident, it could only mean - unless she had more links with them than he was willing to accept - that they were aiming to influence him in some way: work through the Section Admiral's wife, have her manipulate him into unknowingly ceding things to the dissidents, get him so to speak in the dissidents' 'pocket'.
"Fine, be gone, dearest, I have much thinking to do." Phrixa, his second wife, left the office/quarters and Ghes was left alone to ponder with the stars and the nebula for company. Scratching his chin, starlight glittering off dark orbs, he swung towards his desk and took to the personal console, "Security, arrange to bring Serova or someone of her circle in. We don't give in to people who are attempted assassins, but we may be able to make concessions - meet half, or rather quarter way..." He frowned and scratched his head.
"Umm, yes, sir."
"Quarter way it is," a familiar aide of his appeared alongside the security chief on the screen and smiled. "Gheskori, Admiral Tetsutaro has already issued the order to bring her in. Also, there's a man by the name of Noel Grimes who has been asking Tetsutaro and Command for an interview."
"I see," Ghes nodded.
"Would you like us to bring him in as well?" the aide asked. Ghes answered in the affirmative and the aide closed the channel, proceeding to execute the order. Ghes called shortly afterwards to have the aide and the security chief see to it that the two possible dissidents were kept in separate rooms; they were not to become aware of each other and the fact they were both in custody.
<Tag>
It was the only way to know... he thought grimly, his eye catching in that moment on his deceased first wife's picture, covered in dust and with a broken stand, pitched awkwardly in a forgotten corner of his desk if such a thing was possible; he reached across and lifted it, ran a finger across its surface and observed how the dust was dispersed and her smile became luminous and clear.
If his newest wife, Mwv'mci, had been talking to dissidents, Serova or Mr Grimes may know about it. Additionally, Command may be able to begin answering some of the potential rebel groups' demands. He realised that thus far he'd operated with the attitude of all or nothing: either they acquiesced to all the demands - entailing handing over the base - or they didn't negotiate at all. This was inflexible, it was time to address the concerns around labour, use the run-into-the-ground civilians recruited for maintenance as a bargaining chip. In Section 47's case, it would be to see what it would take to make Serova cease her activities or allow herself to be prosecuted; in Ghes's case, it would be to discover whether his own wife had a case to answer.
Just over an hour later, he received news Grimes had been brought in. He walked out into an area on the deck beneath Ops, locating Tetsutaro. Security rushed past the other side of the room, Grimes with binds round his wrists being taken along in their midst. "Did we manage to find Serova?" he asked Tetsutaro.
<Tag Tetsutaro>
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Gheskori
Command Staff ..
Commanding Officer Personnel Officer Trivia Officer
Section Admiral
USS Enzio
Registered: May 2, 2008 23:32:36 GMT
Posts: 1,538
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Post by Gheskori on Apr 1, 2018 20:28:56 GMT
Ghes became sure Tetsutaro had already interviewed Serova, or if not already then he was certainly planning on it and in a covert manner. He nodded belatedly, trying to act in a way that wouldn't give away to bystanders his knowledge of Intelligence's ploy, "I understand, Admiral... Well, when you find her," he coughed, "Be sure to let me know. We'll content ourselves with Mr Grimes."
It was likely the case Intel would be conducting such an interview of Serova in their own time and on their own watch. That was satisfactory, Ghes would ask or rather demand of Grimes information about his wife. He felt a certain desperation in wishing to learn of what Mwv'mci might or mightn't know.
Perhaps she was wholly innocent, perhaps she hadn't spoken even unknowingly with people from the various dissident movements, and the entire situation was the product of Phrixa's imagination. Such questions could be pondered over without end, Ghes decided; they could only be resolved through firm, dispassionate action.
The interrogation of Grimes began. Ghes spent the time between a suite of interconnected ante-rooms to the detention centre in which the interrogation took place, secondly in Starbase Ops and in his office.
Sometimes it was best to let others do their work; he didn't have to be involved on a minute level, micro-managing the process and applying himself at every instant - that was what subordinates were for, something the SA himself should be particularly attuned to. Besides, there were other matters to see to, primarily as far as the Dome itself was concerned the matter of the surveillance devices planted apparently throughout it, with a preponderance fortunately away from Ops and the offices of the chiefs of staff.
Ghes had begun to suspect that whoever was working the lower decks on behalf of Intel had been passed false information as regarded the surveillance devices; not that Intel had been discovered and were being told lies to mislead them, but that the network of connections, the system of different dissident groups themselves were disorganised, with much useless data passing between them and to the larger population. Population, indeed, he thought, rather than complement, personnel, crew... The Starbase was, more than ever now in this lonely domain, a city amongst the stars.
The other issue was it seemed that nothing had been gained by the dissidents in deploying the surveillance devices - by whatever means they'd had at their disposal to carry out the installation. No more attacks had been witnessed. The dissidents didn't always show up in the right place on the few occasions such had been seen. And the information on Basirov's loyalties had reached a 'brick wall' as humans sometimes said, the man's allegiance seemingly not in question at least with what had thus far been uncovered; this made some of the staff believe that the surveillance of this officer by the dissidents was a fabrication.
<TBC - continuation may be on the Intel thread>
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Sato Tetsutaro
Starfleet Intelligence
[Deceased]
Registered: Nov 30, 2013 2:01:59 GMT
Posts: 538
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Post by Sato Tetsutaro on Apr 3, 2018 14:00:34 GMT
"Did we manage to find Serova ?" Gheskori asked. "We did indeed, she is currently enjoying refreshments in my office, under the watchful eye of two Security Officers." Tetsutaro replied, glancing up towards the mezzanine-level offices ... Truth be told he had spoken with the woman, albeit briefly, before the Section Admiral had arrived, and what Serova had to say what been somewhat alarming. "You do realise that you are in an untenable position Admiral." she had said confidently.
"I must apologise my dear, but you and I appear to have differing opinions on the situation at hand." Sato had replied, offering the woman a beverage, which she declined, "You see, I believe that while some of your argument has merit, the majority is, shall we say, unworkable ?"
"I was asked here to attend a meeting with the Section Admiral." Serova replied.
"..... And a meeting you have been granted, alas the Section Admiral is unavailable for the moment, thus my, hospitality. There is no need for exaggerated animosity between us my dear, no need at all. You have valid grievances, some of which can be easily rectified, but your continued disruption of the daily running of the Starbase is doing nothing but driving a wedge between you and your chances of a fair hearing I believe."
"You may well have underestimated us Admiral."
"Come now. You cannot believe that your actions will do anything but hinder our progress in attempting to find a way home ?" he asked, genuinely interested in her opinion.
"With all due respect, Admiral, my meeting is with the Secti ....."
"Section Admiral, yes, I am aware." Sato said, getting up, clearly bringing the conversation to a close, "Lieutenant, see to it that Ms Serova remains comfortable." ..... "Mister Grimes appears less than enthusiastic." Gheskori commented as he watched the 'shop keeper' taken under guard to one of the vacant conference rooms. "He believes we are treating him with disrespect." Sato said with a shrug, "Do you wish to speak with Ms Serova first ?" Ghes nodded and they climbed the ramp to the mezzanine level of Command, entering Tetsutaro's office. Sato remained standing beside his desk while the Section Admiral took the chair opposite Serova. "I understand you requested a meeting ?" the Section Admiral remarked. "I have been 'requesting' a meeting for several weeks, Admiral." the woman said, beginning to stand but halted by a hand on her shoulder from one of the Security Officers present. She looked up at the man then returned her attention to Gheskori, "You believe you are in danger, why else have these two present. I'm sure they could be on one of the Promenades breaking up some petty dispute or other rather than listening in on our supposed confidential meeting, could they not ?" "We cannot have just anyone roaming around the Command Center, now can we ?" Sato replied, but the woman was obviously ready for the rebuke. "Oh but I am not just anyone .... If things go to plan, which I am confident of, I am to be the one making the decisions in the very near future, in fact ..." she said, looking around the office as if speculating it's usefulness to her needs, "I am pondering which office I will need to occupy in my new position." Sato and Gheskori looked at each other, both keeping the faces expressionless, but both knowing that there was more than just bluster to her comments. This woman was dangerous, not physically of course, but those behind her were growing in number almost daily, and she would become a viable threat sooner rather than later, and later it would be more difficult to 'dismiss' her claims or indeed, her demands, so they needed to tread carefully, at least for the moment ! ... Sato glanced at the ornate mirror situated above the Elizabethan drinks cabinet he had purchased on Earth many years earlier, then turned to the Security Officers: "Please wait outside gentlemen." he ordered. "That's better, much more friendly ....." Serova commented as she got up from the chair and walked casually around the room, appreciating the decor and the Admiral's collection, "Tell me, Admiral Gheskori, Command are constantly reassuring the populace that every effort is being expended in trying to find a way home ... Just how many of the 'vast' fleet available to you, have you sent back through the dark matter cloud thus far ?" she asked, eyebrows raised. "If you are as informed as you wish us to believe, you already know the answer Madam." Sato replied for Gheskori. "Indeed." she said, the sarcasm obvious, "So, just how are you exploring ways to return, exactly ?" "I believe that information is classified, but let me assure you we are doing all possible to find a means to return everyone home. Exploring the nearby Systems is part of that. You will of course concede that it is possible we could befriend a species that has the technology we require. Or do you believe we should just set the thrusters to maximum and head back right now ?" "Sarcasm does not become a Section Admiral." Serova commented. Gheskori merely shrugged, waiting for her to continue, he wasn't disappointed, "To business gentlemen .... I 'requested' this meeting to inform you that changes in policy need to be made. It is felt that those currently in charge are, for want of a better word, lacking." "Opinion, I fear, is a matter of personal preference of course, alas, every Federation Starbase, be they surface installations or space-borne facilities, are run and operated under Military regulations, and as such are not open to random trends in civilian opinion, this is even more so since our situation is somewhat unique, so while we are more than willing to hear said comments or 'opinions' we will not be dictated by them, I assure you Madam, your constant disruptions to the functioning of this Starbase only serve to hinder any progress we are making. We are aware of your actions below, and should they prove a continued 'hindrance' you should rest assured that they will be curtailed." Sato replied. Serova looked at Tetsutaro then seemingly tiring of his opinion turned her attention to the Section Admiral: "We are aware of Admiral Tetsutaro's personnel Admiral, and of the approximate number of Starfleet personnel aboard the Starbase. Surely you cannot believe that should a hypothetical take-over be attempted you would be able to quash said uprising ?" She said darkly. "Is it something you are likely to incite ?" Geskori asked casually. "Not today Admiral, not today." "I think it wise to detain both you and your colleague Mister Grimes." Tetsutaro said, walking toward the door, "You can hardly incite this uprising of yours from a cell." as he reached the door it slid silently aside, both Security Officers spun to face into the Office, entering when Sato motioned for them to do so. "That would be a mistake Admiral." "Oh, how so ?" Gheskori asked, not sure he wanted the answer. "I believed I was here to attend a meeting to air numerous issues between the current overseers of Starbase Forty Seven, and those who feel a chance is in order. but I am no fool Admiral. Let us say that I took some understandable precautions before venturing into the proverbial lions den. Do not test me on this Admiral, it would prove, unfortunate." ..........
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Gheskori
Command Staff ..
Commanding Officer Personnel Officer Trivia Officer
Section Admiral
USS Enzio
Registered: May 2, 2008 23:32:36 GMT
Posts: 1,538
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Post by Gheskori on Apr 4, 2018 12:45:39 GMT
Gheskori tried not to glare at her. She will pay for this insolence, he thought, exuding what he hoped was an aura of empathy coupled with firmness of purpose. Secret power of unknown proportions as was seen here with Serova was to be taken seriously, but at the same time he couldn't let himself or Tetsutaro surrender completely to her wishes. There not being much danger of the second eventuality, he could only keep himself on guard and yet also remain receptive, which made for a difficult balancing act.
"You'll have an increase in ration credits of 150% for labourers on levels 1634 through 1686," he said levelly, Tetsutaro glancing at him trying to minimise - Ghes believed - his surprise, "We expect you not to interfere with matters in the Dome again or in anything in any way connected with the duties of Starfleet personnel or officially recognised civilian authorities. If you do so, expect to find that you will be tested, Ms Serova.
"Now," he sat at the desk once again, "What other issues did you want to raise in our short time here? Come, come, you've done extremely well to get a concession out of us despite your threats and your intimidating behaviour towards Admiral Tetsutaro." A light way of referring to two assassination attempts, he thought.
"I had nothing to do with that," Serova seemed deeply offended. Ghes tried to decide whether it was an act or not. "Do you think Iβd come here otherwise? Those were the actions of -" she cleared her throat, "I am here to represent the people of -"
"Yes, yes. You have induced us to make an allowance, now what do you truly want, besides our deposition and authority over the Starbase?" Despite his aggressive line, Ghes was acutely aware of the weakness of his argument: he had indeed made a concession, and now the flood gates may open, an allowance made was not a prelude to compromise, but rather a chance for the interlocutor to push the sudden advantage.
<tag if any matters to be raised by Serova here>
With the interview over and Serova just departed under guard, Ghes exhaled deeply, βSheβs taking a risk.β They'd seen from how much leverage Serova supposed she had that she had the ability to affect matters unduly, possibly in the Dome and certainly elsewhere, and to act on her implicit threats. Tetsutaroβs console beeped in front of him, Sato came across and pressed the receiver.
"What progress has been made in the questioning?" he asked the security officer who appeared on the screen. Grimes was being held behind a translucent aluminium screen in the next room from the officer.
"He broke down after twenty minutes, told us how to deactivate some of the surveillance equipment in the Dome, and gave us fourteen passwords, Admiral. He can't say what all of them are for. Some electronically stored, some purely verbal. Nothing about the matter you've alluded to, Section Admiral," the officer nodded deferentially.
Ghes felt relief washing over him though once it passed cold uncertainty began seeping in once more: Grimes didn't know anything about Mwv'mci. That didn't mean she wasn't involved.
The security officer was speaking again, "Admiral! Assistants say someone's beamed in... I mean three, I think there are three people. I don't understand how -"
"What?" Ghes asked sharply.
"Admiral, I - ahh!" Shadowy figures were moving behind the aluminium pane and a phaser beam sliced through it. Struck from behind, the lieutenant went down before their eyes. They continued to witness:
Three people had apparently beamed into the interrogation room that lay beyond the splintered aluminium pane. They could see one intruder seizing an interrogation staff member, holding a phaser to his temple and screaming at guards not to interfere. The intruder backed off, dragging his quarry while behind him two intruders (including Iorte Clancy, whom Ghes didn't recognise) beamed back out in a cerulean haze, taking Grimes - whose rescue was apparently the objective of their operation - with them. The last intruder and his captive interrogator backed up to the area round the interrogation table, fiddled with his equipment belt and beamed out with his hostage.
Tetsutaro was opening his desk intercom, "Nia, please tell me someone is responding to the incident in detention cell 72-beta?"
White light flashed from the centre of the interrogation room. Ghes realised what was happening... The last intruder had left behind an explosive, which was now detonating... The feed was lost as the detonation saturated the sensors which were then themselves obliterated as the explosion destroyed the series of cells and some surrounding structures. Dissidents had reclaimed Grimes at any cost, and had timed it to coincide with Serova's departure. They'd apparently been aware of each other's operations. "So much for the extra rations."
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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 14, 2018 14:20:58 GMT
One hour before meeting between Serova and Gheskori :: As instructed, David and Milo Van arrived at Level sixteen sixty one ... The whole corridor was in semi-darkness, the only light coming from the seemingly dulled emergency lighting: "How do they not get detected down here ?" Milo mused, knowing full well that all the levels in this section of the Starbase had been shut down save for emergency needs. "Beats me." Tan replied, straining to see into the gloom. "You're late." someone said, making both of them spin toward the unexpected voice, "Grab the bags, we have work to do." David saw the man stood beside three canvas large holdall's waiting impatiently while the two complied. he picked up the third then approached the turbo-lift saying nothing more. David and Milo had little option but to follow the man inside and wait. The turbo-lift arrive at Level one six two four and Tan was immediately cautious ..... This, among other levels, had been sealed by Engineering Officers to prevent anyone gaining access to critical systems, yet the malcontents seemed to be able to wander at will regardless of seals, blocks of otherwise. Tan glanced sideways at Van who was clearly wondering what they needed on this level. They didn't have long to wait as the man opened a sealed double-door, waiting patiently as the massive blast doors slid aside. He walked into the center of the vast area and kneeling put his bag on the floor, he motioned for them to do likewise, before they could do so Van touched David's arm, nodding to what the man was holding, his skin ran cold at the sight: "That is an antimatter mine." Tan said, matter-of-factly. "That it is .... I have one more, you two have two each, unpack them now, we need to have them in place." "You can't be serious !" Van said, dropping the satchel and stepping back, "Have you 'ANY' idea what detonating just 'ONE' of these things could do in here !?" "We know exactly what they will do, that is the whole point you idiot, now, get them unpacked I'll show you where they need to be placed." the man continued retrieving the second device before realising neither of his comrades were doing as asked. He casually reached into his satchel and pulled out a phaser, the red blinking icon signifying it's maximum setting, neither man needed reminding of the consequences should he fire !, "I'm going to assume your hesitation is in fact your worry regarding the devices you have, and not your sudden conscience getting the better of you, so .... Unfasten the bags, take the mines out .... Now." David moved forward, kneeling then opening the fasteners. He reached inside bringing the first mine into the open: "You can't detonate any of these." "Relax .... Two of them have had eighty percent of their antimatter mass removed, courtesy of one of our Engineering brethren, so 'if' we have to carry out our threat, there will be minimal damage to any vital system. If by any chance we need to detonate a third, well, all will have been lost with no way of succeeding by then, so ....." the man shrugged. "Which two ?" Van asked. "Mine, pardon the pun." the man laughed at his own joke then turned serious, "You, over there, set yours up against the bulkhead. You with me, we'll set ours next to the fusion reactors on this level. should make for one hell of a light show should she fail." "Fail ?" Milo said, halting his walk to the bulkhead and turning. The man looked up at the chronometer above the doors and grinned inanely. "About now, Yelana will be waiting feigning interest in something or other, dragging out the meeting she insisted upon with the Section Admiral, while others will be staging a fake escape attempt. It makes no difference that it will fail, we want it to so we can get more people close to Command without actually having to 'request' permission. Oh don't worry, we already have someone in place to let our people out of the cells when the time is right. Once we have what we want we'll be set." "..... And you think Gheskori or anyone else up there is going to allow her to contact outside help ?" Milo said, mirroring the mans smile. "No need. She's wearing a broach .... All she needs to do is to hold onto it for three consecutive seconds, and .... 'BOOOOOM' ...." David and Milo looked at each other in silence, the enormity of their situation dawning on them with and sudden and crystal clarity ! ..........
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Gheskori
Command Staff ..
Commanding Officer Personnel Officer Trivia Officer
Section Admiral
USS Enzio
Registered: May 2, 2008 23:32:36 GMT
Posts: 1,538
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Post by Gheskori on Apr 14, 2018 21:47:51 GMT
Ghes walked briskly through the corridors, ignoring the people springing out doors either side of him who accosted various members of the team following him, PADDs in hand, shouting at one another and getting in each other's way at every intersection. "I don't understand how this could've happened. They got him, they got Grimes," he said under his breath, through gritted teeth.
"It was always a possibility, Admiral," Tetsutaro followed, speaking politely, "Of course, one couldn't have predicted a response of such magnitude, such destruction."
"The extent of it was faked," Basirov commented, close on their tails - Ghes still felt he sometimes had to look over his shoulder at the man who until recently had been - perhaps still should be - under scrutiny for his alleged involvement with one or two of the main sects involved in the dissident movement. "None of the shops adjacent to the cells were destroyed as predicted by the sensors detecting the initial explosion. The audiovisual feed, as well as the sensors themselves, physically, were fed partially false data."
"Surely not," Ghes snapped, looking straight ahead as the figurative light at the end of the tunnel - the blinking, soft console lights of Ops - grew larger in his visual field.
"It's clear, Gheskori," Basirov barked.
An aide confirmed, speaking tersely, "Grimes has been recaptured and one of the interrogators has been kidnapped, but there were no casualties. No destruction. Whatever device was left behind flashed out blindingly but not with destructive energy, rather it was a stun grenade, high intensity, and knocked all unconscious."
Ghes reached Ops and swept up to his office. Its hive of activity was at a notch below the frenetic pitch he'd been expecting, still slightly above average but remarkably and admirably controlled. The Starbase personnel were well drilled for this situation, and their professional efficacy was probably marginally assisted by the latent knowledge that the explosion's magnitude had been manufactured.
"This is it, Sato, Basirov, Kletchley..." he gathered flag officers about him at the entrance to the Section Admiral's suite of offices, "Colonel?" The senior surviving marine of the Section, Zalmis, worked his way into the back of their group, elbowing aside ashen faced and objecting Admirals, a Commodore and two Captains. "Organise a search and destroy of the lower levels, those you believe to be concealing the one or two main dissident factions." The Colonel stood to attention, and departed.
* * *
Fifteen minutes later, with the space cleared and in his inner office, Ghes massaged his temples, leant forward, his elbows propped on the sable surface. Only Tetsutaro remained. "I hope you're doing the right thing, Gheskori."
"That makes two of us. You understand why, I'm sure?" Ghes sighed and shook his head, as if he was answering himself, "I allowed myself two moments of weakness, Admiral. I decided to negotiate, after my original stance, as you know. Then I made a concession regarding rations."
"None of it makes any difference. She will not be getting those rations now, Gheskori," Sato almost chided, "She, or perhaps a related group..."
"She's already denied the attack," Ghes snapped tiredly, pouring himself water from a fluted pitcher, "Has blamed it on a main rival group, to whom she and her associates have attached blame for all prior incidents, including the attempts on your life. You must see, I know this has destabilised your infiltration works, but it's said to be likely true that Serova already knows the identity of your spies in her ranks."
"Tan and his colleagues are smarter than that," Tetsutaro retorted; his manner was gentle but he was adamant. Ghes agreed to let the intelligence work behind the lines continue, while the fully-equipped marines and security combed the areas behind them.
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Sato Tetsutaro
Starfleet Intelligence
[Deceased]
Registered: Nov 30, 2013 2:01:59 GMT
Posts: 538
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Post by Sato Tetsutaro on Apr 22, 2018 14:48:49 GMT
Twelve Hours Later Command Center :: Sato was in his office .... It had been almost twelve hours since the Section Admiral had agreed on sending Marines into the presumed unoccupied depths of the Starbase to route out some or all of the leaders of the dissident groups. He had left messages at all the prearranged drop points, hoping that one or more of his Intelligence Teams would contact him. Since the escape plan, clearly some form of decoy given the resultant lack of damage, those responsible had gone to ground, presumably into the very bowels the Marines were now searching. Would they be caught, he seriously doubted it. Their support was growing and there was no shortage of people willing to harbour the dissident leaders. 'Hell, they could be in quarters right next to my own' he mused. He had increased Security throughout the public area's of the Starbase, but even with over one third off limits it was still a monumental task, one that was woefully failing in his eyes, but there was nothing to be done, there was a finite number of people to deploy, it was as simple as that ! Gheskori, obviously unable to sleep, entered his office and dropped into the chair opposite the aged Admiral: "Any news from your teams ?" he asked. "Alas ... No ..." Tetsutaro replied, getting up to refresh his sake, pouring a second for his friend. Gheskori took the offered cup gratefully waiting for Sato to retake his seat, "All three of the teams are overdue to report. This in itself is not unusual as times are dependent on their situation, but it has been almost eighteen hours since anyone of them were seen. Sean O'Toole, the proprietor of the bar on Alpha Promenade where my Officers usually frequent has reported that he has seen no-one since early yesterday. "Do you think we should send someone after them ?" Ghes asked, sipping his drink. "No, I believe not. They will contact us through one or other means in due course. It is also plausible they are themselves attempting not to find themselves captured by our Marines." With little else to do on the matter both men sat in silent contemplation .......... Delta Promenade Level one five five eight Poseidon Hotel :: Elena, David, Milo Van and Nate Massa were sat in the living area ... Two of Serova's men were with them. Two of the three Intelligence groups had inadvertently been brought together during the placing and setting of the antimatter explosives, none of which so far had been employed. "Iorte or Tom ?" Elena asked quietly, hoping not to attract the attention of the two outsiders. Each of her colleagues shook their heads almost imperceptibly. It didn't mean they were in trouble, in fact it was better they had remained separated for everyone's sake, it would be startlingly obvious that their purpose had been discovered had they been all been in the same room. David stood, walking to the rooms replicator asking what everyone wanted, Elena got up to help, handing the requested drinks out one by one. "How long are we supposed to stay here, the search teams could find us at any moment." Massa asked. "I for one am leaving soon, I have places to be." Elena replied defiantly. "You'll go nowhere until instructed." one of Serova's men said, eyeing her dangerously, but de Luca was more than up to the unspoken challenge, she strode across the room until she was stood before the man, he was half a meter taller and clearly heavier, he was also holding a phaser, something they had been denied ... She looked at him as if weighing up a potential opponent in the ring, then without warning her left hand shot forward, slamming into the mans throat. his hands instinctively went to his injured larynx while she reached out to retrieve the phaser as he dropped to his knees wheezing in pain, the phaser was already aiming at the second mans face before he could react: "I'm all for following the chain of command, regardless of how tenuous that chain may be, but I don't appreciate being told where I can go and when .... " she said, motioning for the second man to help his friend into one of the vacant seats, all the while the three other Intel' Officers had sat watching the scene unfold, ready to help if needed or requested, not that either were very likely, "Now, it is clear that you two are low on the ladder, otherwise you would be out doing something a little more important. So .... I'm going to ask this once and once only, so listen up .... Why are we being held here ?" It was clear that the man she had attacked was in no condition to chat, his friend though was quickly realising he was on his own. "You are not being held." he said, shrugging off his friends warning, "You're right, we are hardly atop the ladder. Each of us were told to bring those we were working with, namely your four, to this room and hide out until we got the all clear. There's nothing sinister occurring here, I assure you." Milo van had got up, entering the kitchen area before returning moments later, carrying several strips of cloth, he pulled the second man to his feet then tied his hands behind his back. The still struggling first man was bound hand and foot where he lay in an almost fetal position. "We're leaving." he said casually, "We'll send someone back to release you in due course." "Serova will have you killed, you know that, right ?" the second man informed them. "Why ?" de Luca asked. "She isn't accustomed to having her instructions ignored." "We have no way of knowing who you are working for, which of the dissident factions you could be affiliated with." David said as he opened the door to check the corridor beyond, "For all we know you are holding us for one of your leaders, maybe they hope to garner information on Serova and her activities from us." he walked back to the first man, rummaging through his pockets until he found what he was looking for. He looked the Comm badge over, glancing at the others before activating it: =^= Neeson .. Why are you contacting me ? =^= someone said, clearly very annoyed =^= He isn't .. .. .. =^= Tan replied. There was a second of silence before the voice continued. =^= Who is this ? =^= =^= Several of your 'disgruntled' colleagues who are more than annoyed at being held against their will =^= =^= Where are our people ? =^= =^= Our people ? .. .. I thought 'we' were 'our' people .. Is that no so ? =^= Tan said, knowing he was antagonising the man on the other end of the Comm. =^= I will not ask again =^= =^= They are resting comfortably .. .. .. Now .. How about finding someone who can inform me as to why several of us are .. Were .. Being held =^= =^= You are one of several groups in hiding .. We thought it best to keep the informa .. .. .. =^= =^= I want to speak to Serova .. Now .. Otherwise we will take our talents elsewhere =^= =^= No-one demands to speak with Madam President =^= 'Madam President ?' Elena mouthed.=^= She is more than aware of our value .. Get her now or we walk =^= there was a long silence, longer than anyone cared for before the man replied. =^= Remain where you are .. You will be contacted =^= the Comm fell silent and David threw the badge into the middle or the room. "Time to go I think." he said, no-one disagreed ..........
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Iorte Clancy
Starfleet Intelligence
Registered: Mar 9, 2016 17:58:55 GMT
Posts: 252
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Post by Iorte Clancy on Apr 24, 2018 20:35:54 GMT
Clancy exited the disused shop for the last time and made for the turbolift, leading a trio of Serova's henchmen, Brik, Los and Salazar. The former was the most intelligent, the others hired muscle and little else. The operation had been a success, although he understood Brik was disappointed by the lack of physical evidence left at the site of the recapture. The destruction had been limited, which given Brik's peculiar mental traits didn't sit well with him.
"Surprised the transporter was working so well," Iorte commented, wondering what reaction it would draw as they rode the lift down to Serova's HQ. The others said nothing; Salazar sniffed, Brik checked his personal chronometer.
"What will happen to the captured interrogator?" Clancy asked jovially. Still nothing, he let a reasonable length of silence develop and tried again, "What about Grimes - ?"
Brik rounded on him, his ragged clothes and his swarthy complexion, coupled with the threatening look giving Iorte an impression of brutality, "Mister, you ask too many questions. Allow us to keep ourselves to ourselves, and we won't demand different from you."
"You've already let me in on the ultimate goal of all this. You had me monitoring the functioning of the surveillance equipment in the Dome. And you recruited me into the team to take back Grimes and kidnap that interrogator. So what -"
"Wasn't us, mister," Brik turned his back on him in disgust.
"Wasn't you?"
The turbolift door opened and they were confronted with a room full of Maksym Serov's people: a section of the Russian's great uncle's retainers and their financial backers, some of whom - Iorte had discovered - had deep connections with Grynax, and a few of whom sat on the board of managing directors of that isolationist-minded organisation. Tom Demik was amongst them, looking uneasy but sneering in their midst at the quartet of newcomers (Brik, Iorte, Salazar, Los).
"Well, well, Maksym Serov's cronies," Brik snarled, exiting the lift. Iorte stepped forward with Brik, the lumbering heavies Los and Salazar stepping in behind them. Now Iorte noticed the trailing robes of members of the United Earth lodge - amongst them adepts - with the Great Uncle Serov group in the room.
"Brik, you failed to conceal our operation in the detention cells. The brother and sister are furious," the person next to Demik referred to Maksym and Yelana. "Thanks to you, the marines have been sent after us."
Accusations flew, and before Iorte was able to take it all in, weapons had been drawn and were fired. He watched Demik back up to an adjacent corridor as Brik and Los fired while retreating into the lift; Salazar went down by the bulkhead, struck in the shoulder, while Clancy instinctively drew his own weapon and fired blindly in self-defence, aiming at an angle towards the far ceiling but missing and striking Demik in the ankle. The El Alamein tactical officer shouted and went down. Iorte cursed and backed into the lift, Brik slamming the panel for deck 1558 just as Iorte made it inside, they and Los heading back up this time to Delta Promenade.
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Sato Tetsutaro
Starfleet Intelligence
[Deceased]
Registered: Nov 30, 2013 2:01:59 GMT
Posts: 538
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Post by Sato Tetsutaro on May 29, 2018 17:02:39 GMT
Weeks had past, inquiries into incidents on the Starbase combined with ongoing investigations into the malcontent factions, most prominent of those being the activities of Yelana Serova and her group were progressing slower than liked. Section Admiral Gheskori and Head of Intelligence Admiral Sato Tetsutaro had been increasing the number of personnel involved but still reliable information was scarce. This, combined with the escalating threats of action by Serova's people were cause for concern.
Finally, the dissident group made another move: Refit and Maintenance Schedule Weekly Briefing - Command Center ::
"What do you mean no-one is working on the Maracanda ?" Captain Lemond, Tetsutaro's Adjutant asked the Lieutenant. "Sorry Captain, but no-one turned up for the Alpha Shift, we tried contacting shift leaders and Engineers, but ....." "This is ridiculous." Lemond said jumping out of her chair and leaving the room. Moments later she returned with Admiral Tetsutaro: "Please bring me up to speed Lieutenant." he asked, taking Lemond's seat. "Sorry Admiral. I am one of the Duty Shift leaders, we were scheduled to begin installation of the warp core today but, when I arrived there was one technician waiting, she handed me a PADD and told me that everyone had been 'instructed' not to arrive for their shifts. Anyone doing so would reap the consequences, apparently." he pointed at the PADD on the table, Nia activated the device, motioning towards the screen on the wall ... Despite all efforts to transition power from military to civilian, our people are still being ignored It has therefore been decided that action will be taken Our first recourse is as you are now witnessing .. No civilian workers will report for duty on the reconstruction of the military vessel Maracanda A demonstration of our resolve follows They watched as a worked-bee shuttle slowly approached the Maracanda from below. It slowed until it became stationary one hundred meters from the hull ... For several seconds nothing happened and Sato realised that had it not been for the time index he would have believed the image fixed, then the worker-bee exploded ! While a spectacular show of pyrotechnics, the explosion itself was barely strong enough to do all but minimal damage to a dozen hull plates on the Starship above. The unknown woman returned: As you can see, this was meant as a demonstration only and we ensured no-one would be injured. That situation however can and 'will' change should certain conditions not be met in specified time-frames. Please understand, our President does not want to be responsible for any loss of life, we can all agree that we have indeed suffered enough, but, should initial steps not be seem to be acted upon loss of life will be inevitable
A document is currently being prepared which you will receive in due course. This document outlines the transition and will be adhered to without deviation
In seven days the first stage of transition to a civilian leadership will begin. Any and 'ALL' attempts to hinder this process will be met with appropriate and immediate recourse. Further to this, any attempt to recall the USS Raven-C will result in a series of devastating explosions using devices concealed throughout both Military 'and' Civilian levels The screen went black as the recording ended, everyone in the room sat or stood in complete silence, all eyes on Sato Tetsutaro ..... Finally he stood, motioning for his Adjutant to come with him into one corner of the room out of earshot of the others assembled. Once there he spoke quickly: "Encode what we have just seen and send it to Fleet Admiral Torek immediately." Nia nodded, he turned back to the room, "I believe this should be seen by Section Admiral Gheskori. meeting is adjourned, for the time being. I trust anything we have seen or heard will be kept in confidence. Please continue maintenance as scheduled, if there are any further 'absences' please inform my Adjutant in person not via communications. Thank you Ladies and Gentlemen." He stood in silence as the room emptied, then took the PADD across the mezzanine to Gheskori's office ..........
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Gheskori
Command Staff ..
Commanding Officer Personnel Officer Trivia Officer
Section Admiral
USS Enzio
Registered: May 2, 2008 23:32:36 GMT
Posts: 1,538
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Post by Gheskori on Jun 6, 2018 2:34:26 GMT
... throughout both Military 'and' Civilian levels
Ghes placed the PADD on the table and exhaled sharply, swinging in his seat. He peered out the window and meditated on the stars.
"It seems we have no choice," he said, rotating back to the desk. Tetsutaro was difficult to read as he took the seat opposite him, Ghes attempted to evaluate the man's thoughts on the matter and he did the same, the latter blinked first but Ghes cut him off with the movement of a hand towards his desk comm, "Have checks been made of the Maracanda since? We aren't disallowed from surveying its damage, presumably?" he called.
"The main sensor array has been turned on her, sir," someone responded, "The damage is minimal. We've evaluated causes for the explosion of the worker bee. Several of our investigators believe they can track the cause, given constituents of the released matter, to materials used by one of the dissident groups. We think - "
"We know," Ghes said into the comm, "Bar all crews - the ship's and repair - from approaching to within 300m of the Maracanda until further notice. I'll explain later." He closed the comm. "You were saying?" he asked Tetsutaro.
"You're going to allow them to begin the transition," Tetsutaro surmised.
"I'm to do no such thing," the Denobulan dusted off his jacket in quasi-faux irritation, "Well, yes and no, shall we say. We'll contact Serova and put into place procedures for bringing her appointed civilian officials to the Command centre. After a string of formalities, we'll hold briefings, impart information to them, brief them on current Section objectives, and see what they have to say, discover what direction they'd like to drive things." He paused, gripping a PADD in his fingers and pointing at the window, "But we'll talk tough, not make many concessions once we bring them to the table, so as to allay their suspicions."
"What suspicions? Don't tell me I had your intent wrong after all?"
Ghes smiled, "It will be a facade. No authority will be given to anyone Serova attempts to appoint or to any of those whom we brief. It'll be theatre: keep them in the room for long enough until they become frustrated at our methods and stonewalling. When they can get nowhere in either the briefing or once they've assumed their false authority, they'll become frustrated, will act recklessly or will abandon us all together, will try to leave the base."
"That could be a disaster. If they do consider departing, they will attempt to take much of the populace with them.
"That's why it's important that we alienate the populace from Serova and the other popular leaders and demagogues, by setting up our own champion, someone who can defend us on their own level, who will sway the population to our side and against Serova's group. She can't take on both of us, both Command and her rank-and-file, as it were. She and her colleagues are trying to rend the Section apart, methods that involve destruction of lives and property, they're true friends to no one and use others only to secure power; we must make most of the base realise that."
* * *
Admiral Basirov, Captain Lemond and a troupe of Ghes's aides now accompanied Ghes and Sato in the main conference room. "These are the names she's put forward," an aide said, producing a PADD and sliding it across to the admirals.
Basirov tapped at it and spun it about, he paused and grunted. "Serova listed first... Vice-President Dimok Bennett Jr... Brother Serov as Chief Justice? Who does she think she is?"
"The Federation President. And she'll be here in less than an hour," Ghes said to the table, "A dining room is being prepared, finery, Federation regalia and a small unofficial ceremony for Serova's investiture. Wear full dress uniforms. Afterwards we'll all be taking in a play on the holodeck." Ghes smiled.
"Are you kidding, Gheskori?!"
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Iorte Clancy
Starfleet Intelligence
Registered: Mar 9, 2016 17:58:55 GMT
Posts: 252
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Post by Iorte Clancy on Jun 7, 2018 21:44:33 GMT
Just over three weeks from now Iorte would be watching, through Intel surveillance systems, Serova's HQ in the depths of the Starbase empty, as the dissidents' staff prepared for their 'Federation Council Elect' to be presented to the military arm in the Dome. Right now though, a few hours after his disastrous rendezvous with the dissident group amongst whose number was Demik, Iorte was seeing to Salazar's wound. However, the brute had succumbed to his injuries and Iorte had spent the rest of the day avoiding Los who'd been set against him on the rampage.
Day 2: He'd spent most of the day recouping in the quarters appointed him by Serov's people. An attempt at communication with Demik had proven unfruitful. In the evening he'd headed into Serova's main operations room and watched the footage from the Dome wistfully.
Day 3: Escaping his dissident's quarters, Iorte had found himself wandering across the Gamma promenade. Scents reminded him of fountains and stately gardens, he rounded a corner and found himself face to face with Los. The towering heavy growled, advancing, his musculature flexing and bunching. Iorte incapacitated him and returned to his quarters.
Day 4: In a comparison of his quarters to his room in the rundown hotel on Alpha promenade, he concluded that despite the latter's dilapidated state it had the benefit of location and a view across the space that until a few days ago at least had been a hotbed of dissident activity. He moved - with the intention of making it permanent - back into the hotel, convincing Serov it was for the best. He spent the rest of the day and the next in calls to Serov, Brik, Tan and de Luca's contact Safron Nelor.
Day 7: The morning was spent on Beta Promenade amongst cups of coffee and PADDs of yesterday's news; the afternoon was a blur of moving lips and teeth, long communications with Serov.
Days 8-11: Hours of long black-out, time seeming to drag interminably, dreams in the periphery during waking hours and reality appearing in the centre of his dreams in a variety of REM states. Each second extended and amplified to become an age, temporally and then somehow spatially. The pain in his stomach returned, the back of his head likewise coruscating with pain... he recalled the failed meeting, the sudden lights out as the impact landed on the back of his cranium.
Day 12: At last he showered, returned to the Dome and the Intelligence department. Its administrative front beckoned; of course, field operatives' meeting places couldn't officially include any space reserved at HQ. Promising to return to the field once the week was out, he researched the background of Brik, found he was connected to Nelor and Dimok Bennett.
Day 13: Unfortunately he couldn't join Tan and Massa at supper as his clearance hadn't yet come through, Intel being less than pleased with his participation in the kidnapping of the interrogator of Grimes. Having shown that the data he'd gathered on the transporter hidden in the disused shop would prove invaluable to eventually prosecuting Serova et al, if that moment ever arrived, he was able to have adjourned preliminary proceedings by Intel's internal judiciary into his conduct, until next week.
Day 14: Iorte rose early and surveying communiques on his terminal, discovered that preparation for the week's operations was delayed. He was given a day's leave. The first impulse was to remain in his quarters and study the unidentifiable surveillance devices; he was not tempted by the gastronomic possibilities of the promenade until the evening came.
Day 15: "Mr Perkins, you've returned. I was beginning to think you'd lost your nerve." Iorte nodded, "I'd thought so, too. Is my suite in good order?" He made his way to the stairs of the rundown hotel and peered up the tight pearly spiral: strange figures loomed from the kaleidoscopic shadows.
Day 16-20: The following five days were occupied with curious and exasperating conversations and operations. In intermissions, he found a worker bee under prep in a once disused shuttle bay (Serova's silent techs engaged in another clandestine operation), in the main rooms, a short-tempered Serov drinking heavily behind their backs, Brik losing his position, Vice President Bennett studying quietly, Demik lounging with his fellow lodge members (no longer in the bilges as Serova had ordered them to cease labour efforts).
Day 21: Clancy had accused Brik and Los before the others. He'd made contact with Tan who reported on Massa's disappearance.
Day 22 (present): He'd joined Brik and Los - under pretence of being assigned to an op with them by Serov and Bennett - and had accompanied them into the worker bee, waited til the hatch was closed then strapped them down, questioned them, told them of his Intelligence position... He was told of a species Serova had made contact with, a few members of which were approaching the Starbase - currently hundreds of parsecs distant - then left the duo there as per instructions from Serov. Later that day, he'd watched the worker bee ignite as a new brief star beneath the coreless Maracanda.
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Simon Clark
Lt. Commander
Registered: Dec 1, 2016 22:21:10 GMT
Posts: 153
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Post by Simon Clark on Jun 19, 2018 20:00:22 GMT
[OOC: It's been a long road, getting from there to here... It's been a long time, but my post is finally here...] +++ Industrial Replication, Bay Five, Deck 1659, Starbase 47. Three weeks ago.
Vish was leaning over the maintenance hatch of Industrial Replicator 5C. The replicator operators had had intermittent parts off this machine with a weakened metallic structure, and the frequency was increasing.
"Have you checked the calibration on the atomic stabiliser?" he asked.
"Twice. It were nominal. No issues." Rob replied.
"Funny, that's where I would have thought-"
"Vish, there's someone here." Rob's voice was urgent.
Vish extricated him from the panel to see a short middle aged man in a civilian suit bearing down on him, flanked by two Starfleet security guards. He recognised one of the security detail as Greg Hampton, someone he'd not gotten drunk with for a long time.
"Alright Greg?" he said.
Greg sort of nodded, and rolled his eyes toward the man in the suit.
"You are Ensign Vishall Fox?" Suit-man asked. Vish got the impression he wasn't expecting an answer either way. "Do you know how long it took me to get down here? How far I had to walk?" He was incredulous, and yet Vish had no idea who this was. Facing down angry people was very much a production manager's job.
"Of course. Three turbolift changes, a one-point-five kilometre traipse around deck 1472 through dingy corridors strewn with blocking debris to avoid the vacuum in section 3, and a ten minute stroll in total darkness and silence through corridor 6D, deck 1604 with barely a breeze to tell you you can keep breathing."
"Think you're clever do you? I'll have you show me a little respect."
Respect? Thought Vish, Well you're funny. He smiled. "That, Sir, has been my daily commute for the last six months."
"Six? Months?" the man asked.
"Yes, Sir. If I may, Sir, who are you, and to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?" He tried a disarming smile. It didn't work. The man rounded on him.
"You have been intentionally ignoring orders from logistics command,"
"That I am aware of, all requested orders to Mat. Rep. have been fulfilled to the agreed schedule."
"And the Sovereign warp core superstructure request?"
"Say what?" Vish asked.
"Your top priority. I have been chasing your acknowledgement for nine days. For delivery yesterday. You have ignored my communications, ignored your orders and neglected your duty. Your department is a disgrace, and I will see you replaced at the earliest opportunity."
Aghast, and starting to get angry, Vish squared up to the man. He was vaguely aware that Rob was still by his side, and also of the exasperated look on Greg's face that told him not to push it. "Sir. Who are you, to march in with insults and threats?"
The man's face started to turn a shade of beetroot, and Vish could distinctly see a vein throbbing in his neck. "You know full well who I am! Once Director Morton hears of this..."
"Wait, you are Director Morton's Aide?"
"I am. And you are officially-"
Vish had had enough of this bumbling administrator. "Mister Arnold. Sir." there was silence in the room, "We take pride in our work, Sir. Mat. Rep. delivers to schedule, and that's a fact. This team has pulled double shifts for weeks to keep us to that schedule, and that's with interference and demands from some civilian group who claim, I think falsely, to be acting on behalf of Logistics Management. We have ignored them, and we have kept to and delivered to our schedule."
"If there has been a communications breakdown, I want to understand how it is that your order has not reached us. I propose we meet in the Mat Rep canteen in five minutes time, as we have recently lost power to the offices on this deck. Will you agree?
Wilbert's flat glare could have frozen a plasma fire. "Five minutes."
"Thank you, Sir." Vish replied, but found that he was addressing only a retreating backside. "There's something very fishy going on around here," he said, to no-one in particular.
"Beats me," Greg replied, "I just shoot stuff. Drinks next week?"
"If only I could, Greg. If only I could."
---
Five minutes later, Vish entered the canteen to find Wilbert Arnold sat at the table that was serving as his desk. Greg and his colleague had helped themselves to a coffee, but did not appear to have offered one to their charge. "Coffee, Sir?"
"Black. Strong. No caffeine. Two sugars, and a dash of almond." Wilbert replied.
Vish tried not to wince he fed the concoction request into the replicator, and took a seat opposite his own.
"We will start with a full review of logistics orders in the last three weeks." Wilbert said. He seemed significantly calmer with a seat, and a cup of hot.
Vish pulled up the relevant records on the desk display, while Wilbert ran a cross check on his PADD.
"This isn't right. Order 453242 is for magnetic interlock seals, not flexible plasma conduit pipe. And this! Everything after twelve days ago is wrong! And it says you have delivered to them! We have no records of any shipment matching these descriptions. Every one of these is still outstanding! I know there's communication issues, but this... this is unacceptable. Who signed for these deliveries?"
"Petty Officer Marston, Sir. Works up in central, he's-"
"Missing! Hasn't been seen for three weeks! You have deliberately falsified these records! You will never-"
The deck shuddered with the sound of explosion, and the lights flicked out.
"Get down!" he heard Greg shout.
Vish dove blindly under the desk, and pulled the administrator down beside him. Another explosion rocked the deck, and a bright stream of phaser fire crossed the room and struck the opposite wall. Vish saw Greg return fire, his pulse rifle bursting into the darkness as he tipped the nearest table and Vish's own and ducked down behind them.
"Surrender, Starfleet, you are on our ground. You have no authority here." a voice shouted.
Wilbert started, backing away from Vish. "You! You traitor! You're with them!? When the director hears of this!"
"No! It's not me!" Vish protested.
"Security, arrest this man!" Wilbert shouted.
Even through his fear, Vish was amazed at the man's stupidity. Several burning streams of energy crossed the room in succession, and two men charged from the darkness into the canteen. Greg got one in the chest but missed the second, who jumped the table, and rammed a short knife through the other security guard's shoulder; he dropped his rifle. Greg hit him with the butt of his, shot him twice for good measure, and fired several rounds through the open doorway. Someone groaned.
"Starfleet scum!" More phaser fire lanced through the door, and bounced off the tables they were hiding behind.
"Vish!?" Greg shouted.
"I'm not with them!" he shouted back.
"Then shoot." A hand phaser slid across the floor. Vish almost protested that he has no experience with weapons, and then grabbed the weapon anyway, pointed it over the table, and fired in vaguely the right direction.
Seconds later, they heard shouting from the other side.
"Hold it, Vish, something's up." Greg said.
The shouts continued, and then stopped.
"Hey boss, you all right?" a voice called.
"Rob, is that you?" Vish called back. "What happened?"
"We hit 'em on the heads." Rob called.
"Brave. Risky while I was shooting blind into the dark, but brave. Right, I am coming out." Greg flicked on his arm torch. "Rob, was it? Find something to tie these guys up with and somewhere to put them. Gather their weapons, we might need them. Ensign Fox, we need lights, and he needs a medkit. I want a plan of this area, and I want a roll call of your team as soon as. Got it?"
Vish nodded, relieved that someone else had the wherewithal to have some kind of plan. This was well beyond him, and though he could see the sense of it, he was shaking now that the adrenaline had worn off.
+++ Conference Room 7, Deck Six, USS Enzio. Three weeks ago.
It had been a couple of weeks since the Enzio had arrived back into the docking bay at starbase 47. Engineering had repaired the starboard ablative armour, and completely replaced the forward tractor emitters. Simon had worked with Lieutenant Hood to replace the torpedo control systems that had been fried when the tractors blew out. The only other damage to primary systems was the to the external elements of ventral sensors, which had been re-fitted only this morning. It was becoming more and more difficult to secure parts from the Logistics group on the starbase, and he had assigned Lieutenant Marin the task of finding out why, as he was obviously on good terms with the Mat. Rep. teams.
While Engineering were chasing down the minor repairs and snag lists on secondary systems throughout the ship, Simon had set up in an empty conference room in the diplomatic facilities on deck seven for something well beyond his comfort zone. The door chimed.
"Enter." Simon hoped his voice was confident, relaxed, spreading authority, and that the butterflies throwing loops through his midsection were not giving him away. The Starfleet standard barrier swished open, revealing a broad figure in engineering gold. "Ah, Lieutenant Kempton, come in."
"I am reporting to a meeting with Chief Engineer Lieutenant Junior Grade Simon Clark as ordered." Max stood stiff before the small conference table.
"That's a formal way to put it," Simon replied. Simon did not miss the emphasis that Max placed on 'Junior Grade'. He let it pass, because this conversation was going to be difficult enough without it. "Please, have a seat."
"Why are we here, Sir?" Max asked, ignoring the offer.
"Straight to the point. I have received several reports from some of the crew that they feel they have been treated brashly while working on your shift."
"I am direct in my role, and I get things done."
"Indeed you do, and I am not questioning your performance. Some of the reports detail repeated instances of sarcastic remarks over an extended period, to the point of being uncomfortable for the individuals concerned."
"Is this a formal reprimand?"
"No, it's-"
"So? What?" Have you just called me here to insult me?"
"No! I intended no insult, I wanted a candid-"
"Candid? And you didn't intend insult? Don't make me laugh! While you ignore everything I do, everything I contribute? Get your hypocritical head out of the clouds!"
This was getting out of hand. "Max, that's beyond-"
"Enough! I've had enough! Your job should have been mine! Engineering is my department! You're barely out of the academy, and you show up on my ship - an Ensign as Chief Engineer! Ridiculous! I worked for ten years to get to where you were promoted to on your first mission! No-one gets Lieutenant on their first week! No-one! What did you offer him? The Admiral? Huh? And you have the gall to call me up on conduct! You barely speak to me, you schedule me out of your shift - out of your life - out of primary starship operations. You! Sir! All! You!"
Simon sat back under the unexpected barrage of loud words, directed at him. He took a deep breath in, and released it. "You are angry."
"Yes! I am angry! Of course I'm angry! End this meeting! I've said my piece. Too long overdue. I'm out. Fix your own conduct first. Then we'll talk about mine."
Without waiting to be dismissed, Max turned marched out of the meeting room. The automatic door slid shut behind him. Simon took another deep breath, trying to still the thread of fight or flight worming through his body.
"That went well." he told himself. He needed help, and he certainly didn't want to involve anyone from within Engineering. He tapped the comm button on the desk.
"Clark to Ensign Rivers."
=/\= Ensign Rivers here. =/\=
"That difficult conversation we discussed a few weeks ago... would it... I mean... Could I have your advice?"
=/\= Sure. I'll come over. =/\=
"Thank you, Ensign. I'm in-"
The door swished open to reveal Alison Rivers.
"-conference room seven..." he finished.
"Yes, Sir. I asked the computer. I was across the hall." she said.
"A coincidence."
"No Sir, it was pre-planned. I anticipated that your meeting would not go as you wanted it to, and also that you would seek my advice."
Simon gaped. "Do you make a habit of monitoring the crew's schedules, Ensign?"
"Only when it is in the best interest of the ability for the crew to work together effectively as a team, Sir."
"But... how did you know? I mean, that Max would..."
"I didn't. I just thought it was likely." She grinned. "You know how you can look at a schematic of a computer system setup on the bridge console, and somehow tell the captain exactly what you think is wrong with it, how long it'll take to fix, and what the best workarounds are to use in the meantime?"
"Er... yes?"
"I can't, Sir. My speciality is people, and I can see that the relationship between you and Lieutenant Kempton is reducing the effectiveness of the whole engineering team. Commander V'Maz has specifically not asked me to help you repair it."
"I see," he replied. The awkwardness he felt when she sat opposite him without offering him any advice had absolutely nothing to do with their previous awkward conversation in the turbolift. This was a whole new awkward. "So... what do we do?"
"Officially, Sir. I am not here. 'We' will not do anything. By the book, you should file for insubordination against Lieutenant Kempton. However, I advise against it. Commander V'Maz and I do not wish to deal with such a report, and it would further damage your relationship with your engineer. We do not have the flexibility to separate you by transfer to another vessel, and in this situation of crews working closely, it would not even defer the issue. You are not aware that Commander V'Maz is holding a similar meeting with Lieutenant Kempton at this time. We need you both on the Enzio, no-one else on board has the skills that you both have, as the skills matrix you have put together over the past few months quite clearly shows. As this situation is of your own making, the two of you will unmake it."
Simon swallowed. This was not at all what he had been expecting. "What do you suggest?"
"I and the Commander have each observed a list of behaviours exhibited by each of you in recent months. In the first instance, you will both receive a copy of this report, and you will both be aware that the other has received it. We want you both to be aware of how you appear to your team. In the second instance, we have observed each of your behaviours in reaction to the other. There is a suggested developmental action for you for each listed observation, targeted specifically to help you work together. You will not receive a copy of what is suggested for each other, though as bright as you are, you can probably work it out. The list essentially boils down to: conduct the respect that you both deserve as professional engineers. We do not expect you to like each other. We do expect you to be effective without impact on your team, and to do so within the week. Do you have any questions on this proposal, Sir?"
Simon looked across at Ensign Rivers. At first glance her face was impassive, though on second thoughts... there was a sparkle in her eyes. Was she was actually enjoying this process? Simon realised that he was being unofficially ordered by a subordinate crew-mate to avoid an official process and to step up his standards in the name of politics, pragmatism and the avoidance of administration. His respect for the Starship Operations function in general, and Ensign Alison Rivers in particular moved up a notch. It was all so... coordinated, and so like her. He would not have put it past her to have suggested this to the Commander. He wondered how long she had to go before they promoted her to Lieutenant as well.
"I have no questions. I can see that we are being offered a chance, here. We will not need a second one." He doubted that they would see a second one.
"Very good, Sir. I look forward to not hearing from you if you do not have any questions, Sir. " She stood from the chair, with more than a hint of satisfaction in her tone, "Do I have permission to resume my normal duties?"
"I... er... Yes, You are dismissed, Ensign."
"Thank you, Sir," when she reached the door, she turned back to him, "Good luck, Simon." and ducked out of the room before he could react.
The door swished closed behind her, leaving him alone with the report, and to make something of what had definitely not officially happened.
"Computer, please book this conference room for me for an additional hour."
"Your request has been accepted."
He started reading.
+++ Industrial Replication, Bay Five, Deck 1659, Starbase 47. Three days ago.
"How many did we lose?" Vish asked.
"None, but Rob was injured. He'll live."
"We can't keep doing this, Greg. Thats two attacks in as many days. Reppers aren't meant for combat, some are talking surrender."
Greg grunted his disapproval. They had been over this twice, now. In both of the last meetings. The choice, such as it was, between fighting or surrendering, and maybe dying either way. "Got any better ideas?" he asked.
"Get help." Vish said.
"How? Serova's people control the communications on these decks. The only reason you kept getting yours was to avoid raising suspicion with command. And they were read and tampered with, or we wouldn't have come down."
"Before we lost bay two we were working on a long range communications array for the Maracanda refit. If we can power it, we can call for help."
"How does external communications help us? We don't have enough power for a turbolift, let alone a starship-scale subspace communication array. Besides, who would we call? We are inside the station we want to contact!"
"Ah, but we are outside of the ships that are in the docking dome. They could pick up even a weak signal, at this range." Vish said.
"That's a real long shot, Vish. I don't want to risk it. We've got a reasonable perimeter here, and we're holding out."
"How long, Greg? How long can we hold, with no hope of assistance? You've been here, what? Three weeks? We've lost four of my team, and one of yours. Not to mention that admin oaf, Wilbert, when he tried to talk to them during a firefight."
"We don't know that he was killed." Greg said.
"Yeah, and we don't know otherwise. How many more?" Vish asked.
Greg was quiet for a few moments while he thought. "Fine. Put it to the next meeting, then. But if we go, we all go, and we reform our perimeter there. "
+++ Science Laboratory 2, Deck 10, USS Enzio. Present Day.
"What do you think, M'Rell?" Simon asked.
"Sslipsstream is fascinating." The caition replied, the lab spotlight rippling in a wave down the fur of her neck as she bent over the sphere on the bench. "incredible, that ssuch exisstss without sstarfleet awareness."
"Commander Blakus' notes refer to the presence of quantum phase shift cloaking technology, self replication, and a chroniton based localised defensive temporal distortion field, as well as the antimatter warhead. I can't see how so much technology, including an explosive and it's detonator as big as we have seen, could be packed into such a small physical frame." Simon said.
"Quantum phase sshift." M'Rell said, as if this was all of the explanation that was needed. When the Petty Officer saw Simon's blank look, she quietly hissed her frustration. "Five sspheress, in the ssame sspace, phase-sshifted, in the ssame place."
Simon gently picked up the sphere. "I would have thought it heavier."
M'Rell's ears twitched toward him. "Sstarbase gravity plating only on one plane. Small weight. Larger mass."
"Interesting. Your comm said you had managed to deactivate it?"
"Dissable. Iss sstill active." M'Rell said.
With surprising alacrity, Simon placed the sphere back in the box from which he had lifted it. M'Rell smiled at him.
"You could have said something."
"Iss ssafe. Commander Blakuss wass able to disstort the quantum field with 0.03 tessla magnetic field. With correct osscilating harmonic, phase iss locked. Only power generating sphere in this plane. No explosssive, no chroniton defensse, no sself replication, and iss vissible."
"Can we do something similar to the other spheres?" Simon asked. While the science of how all this worked was interesting, the more pressing concern was an ability to disable all of the explosive spheres, and prevent them exploding.
M'Rell nodded, slowly, and uncertainly. "Generate 0.03 tessla field from warp core, will lock first ssphere to sshift into sstarbase reality plane."
"Will it make them visible?"
"No, it will keep them vissible."
Simon paced to the other end of the lab, and back again, collecting his thoughts. "So, you are saying, if we can generate a large enough fluctuating magnetic field, at exactly the right frequency of rotation, then any spheres that appear in the same quantum-plane as the starbase will not be able to phase shift again? I assume there's no way to know which phase of the sphere will be the next one to appear on the starbase?"
M'Rell nodded.
It wasn't much. But it was something. "All right. Good work, M'Rell. Anything else?"
"Yess. A sphere in partial phasse, will be forced into sstarbase plane."
"Or a surveillence device?"
"Yess, Ssir."
"That'll be handy, if we can disrupt their spying equipment. Very good. Keep working on it. I want to know if there is some way to influence which phase of the sphere will shift into our plane. I don't like the idea that they could still explode."
Simon tapped his badge. "Lieutenant Clark to the Bridge."
=/\= Bridge here =/\= It was Ensign Rivers.
"We have the start of something we can use on those quantum spheres. We are going to need a low level warp field."
=/\= Inside the starbase? =/\=
"Er... Yes."
=/\= That's well outside of regulations, Sir. All right, let me set up a meeting with someone. Send me the details, I'll propose the agenda. Two hours time? =/\=
"That'll be fine. Thanks Ensign."
=/\= Rivers out =/\=
<Tag: Gheskori / Tetsutaro>
+++ Main Bridge, Deck 1, USS Enzio. Present Day.
"Commander, I am picking up a long range communication directed at the Enzio. Unknown source. Weak signal, the computer is barely making it out from the background noise, but it's definitely Starfleet. I suspect it is audio only." Ensign Rivers said into her console.
=/\= One moment, I'll come through. =/\=
The door to the first officers ready room swished, and the Commander took the centre seat. "All right, put it up."
"Channel open, sir."
"This is Commander Yarwood of the United Federation of Planets to unknown vessel. Please identify yourselves."
"Almir, is that you? Rob, boost the gain on that speaker, I can hear something, I can't make it out." The channel hissed. The Commander looked over at her, and then repeated the standard greeting.
"Commander, do you think he means Lieutenant Marin?" Alison asked, briefly muting the channel.
"Hi, Commander. This is Ensign Vish Fox, MatRep Production Manager. We are under attack by a group working for someone called President Serova. We have several wounded."
"This is an unauthorised channel, Ensign." Yarwood warned.
"Yes, Sir. My apologies. Communications are down, or controlled by this Serova group. This is the array we were building for the Maracanda, Sir. Sir, my portable generator is nearly empty. If some assistance could by provided so that we don't all die from being shot at, I would much appreciate it. Greg will fill out details. Here."
There was some scuffling, and a new voice took the front.
"Commander Yarwood, Sir. SitRep. Three Starfleet, and fifteen non-combat engineering civilians. Matter Replication Bay Two. Deck One-Six-Five-Nine. Three wounded, one serious. No medic. Max three days of provisions. Reasonable perimeter. Regular attacks by small groups. Administrator Arnold is missing. We request immediate assis-"
Commander Yarwood glanced across to the Ops station. "Ensign?"
"The channel has been closed, Sir. Lieutenant Marin reports that he is well acquainted with Ensign Vishall Fox. He is reviewing the communication now, Sir."
"Thank you, Ensign, efficient as always. Open a channel to starbase operations, and prepare to transmit the recording."
< Tag Gheskori / Tetsutaro >
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Simon Clark
Lt. Commander
Registered: Dec 1, 2016 22:21:10 GMT
Posts: 153
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Post by Simon Clark on Jul 9, 2018 20:45:30 GMT
Briefing Room, Deck 1, USS Enzio, Docking Dome, Starbase 47.
0900 hours. Simon arrived early for the briefing, loading the information he wanted to show on the wall display, and distributing several PADDs with a summary of the technical detail. He had never been keen on formal meetings, though they were a neccessary part of his role. He was not as nervous as Petty Officer M'Rell appeared to be. She was the first to arrive, her sleek fur slightly raised around the shoulders, betraying her unease. Lieutenant Max Kempton came next, a PADD under one arm, and another in his hand. He sat down without acknowledging Simon or M'Rell, and kept on reading. Now it was Simon who felt the twinge of apprehension in his back. He'd rather have faced a failing warp core than an awkward personality within his team. He didn't want to interrupt the man, but ignoring a superior officer was rude. He had tried to take on board the suggestions from the report on their interactions, and for the most part of four days, they seemed to be working together without heated debate. He wondered what V'Maz had said to Kempton in their own discussion. Perhaps it was best not to speculate. <Tag: Tavik, Hood: I'll not write you in, but I'll assume you are present.Claim any of the discussion as your own!> Commander V'Maz, second officer, and first officer Colonel Aeryn Tavik came in together in animated discussion. Tavik's military bearing was very apparent as the two stood side by side. Ensign Alison Rivers came slightly behind them, her long hair tied up in a bun, and her arms crossed over a large PADD held against her chest. She was nearly a head shorter than V'Maz, and it could have been comical, Simon thought, if either of them would think it funny. They wouldn't. He had seen they were both very serious about that sort of thing. "...it's not that I suspect anyone on the Enzio of such actions. We have a good crew, and I trust that department heads will bring any concerns of their staff to our attention. But we must be cautious." "I agree, Commander," Tavik replied taking the seat across from Simon, "but that's a discussion for another meeting. It's 0900. Shall we start?" "Yes, Sir. Ensign Rivers, please outline the discussion." V'Maz said. Alison touched one of the panels on her PADD. "A few months ago, several devices of unknown origin were discovered on the starbase in concealed locations, including within the bodies of some Starfleet and civilian personnel. The devices are described in the technical notes as a Quantum Slipstream sphere, containing so far as we know, self-replication, temporal distortion, dimensional phase shift cloaking, and matter antimatter explosive technologies. The science and engineering team on the starbase, led until recently by Commander Blakus, were able to detect and isolate a number of these devices using a small magnetic field generator. Our Science team here on the Enzio has some lab-based experience with the similar Quantum Slipstream technology, and have been working to extend the capability of that hardware. Lieutenant Clark has been overseeing the project, in the absence of a senior Science officer, and has findings to present. Lieutenant." "Why the Enzio, and not do the work on the Starbase, with more sophisticated facilities?" V'Maz asked, while Simon stood and flipped the screen to a schematic of the quantum sphere. "There is a team there as well, Sir." Simon replied, "Commander Blakus thought it best that there were multiple teams working independently in multiple locations, to minimize the security risk. The Enzio was chosen because of M'Rell's prior expertise in this field." V'Maz nodded, and Simon continued. "As you know, the spheres use a quantum phase shift technology both as a cloak, and as a way of packing multiple technologies into a tiny package. Their disadvantage is that only on phase of the sphere can be present in our quantum plane at a time. Building on the magnetic field work by Commander Blakus and his team, M'Rell has developed a way to lock the sphere into whichever phase is next present on this quantum plane when it is de-cloaked." "Don't we already have the ability to de-cloak and disable the spheres?" "Yes sir, but only over a short range with the device we have. The larger problem is that while we can decloak and disable one sphere, we reveal to the owner our ability to do so in the location in which this is done. We know that the status of each sphere is monitored, and that it can be controlled remotely. M'Rell has developed a method that utilises a low level warp field to detect or phase-lock the spheres, and any cloaked surveillance devices." "Or?" Ensign Rivers asked. "Yess. The ssphere is ssensitive to very sspecific magnetic frequenciess, likely to harmonicss within itss quantum phasse matrix. Multiplexing or alternating the ssignal was unssucesssful." M'Rell said. "Have you discussed this with the science team on the starbase who are looking into the spheres there?" "No, Sir. We don't entirely trust that the communication channels are secure, given recent events." Simon said. "Ha. There's a sign of our times, right there. And you trust our own internal systems?" Lieutenant Kempton said. The anxiety his body had been collating for the last few hours was realised, and Simon didn't immediately respond to the question. "You didn't think of that, Sir?" V'Maz cleared his throat loudly, and pointedly. Max looked abashed, and refused the eye contact with the Commander. "Sorry, Sir. That was out of line." Max said. Simon was quite taken aback. Max Kempton was apologising? What next? "Indeed." V'Maz replied. He gave Max a short hard stare, who continued to look slightly embarrassed. V'Maz turned back to Simon. "Have we address the security concerns here, Lieutenant?" "We... er... have, Sir. Lieutenant Hood has been monitoring our security closely. Though I didn't consider the security of internal comms, the security team did a full scan of both science labs, and all of deck one, room by room before with specially modified tricorders prior to this discussion commencing. We don't believe their are surveillance devices on deck one, or in any of the labs." "I understand from the plan on your memo that you want to generate a low level warp field to first detect, then reveal, and the lock in place all of the spheres and cloaked surveillance devices at the same time." "That's right." Simon replied. "You have said that these devices are monitored. I don't want to give away our hand. I suspect if it is discovered by the dissident factions that we have a way of disabling their devices they will take steps to prevent us from using it. It's a good plan, are you confident in its success? "Ninety percent, sir." "I would like better odds than that, chief. What are the risks in the other 10%?" Simon had largely not had direct involvement with the project itself. For the most part, M'Rell had worked with Max and Rory. He glanced across to Lieutenant Kempton. "Max?" Max sat up straighter, as he moved to speak. In his operational observed behaviour report, the notes stated that Simon often answered questions himself, rather than allowing his team the opportunity to show their own knowledge. He had been very conscious of this in his daily shift meetings this week, and had tried to allow his team to speak more. At the start, they were reluctant to share their views. Yet the quality of the discussion had developed to much better flow of technical ideas on some of the Enzio's snag-list. Of course, sometimes the debate had got a little heated, and he had to reign it in, yet his team seemed to accept it more readily than he had expected. He felt less awkward as Chief Engineer. He was being the facilitator, instead of the director, and his team felt even more his own. He handed Max the PADD he was using to control the display. "The main risk is that whatever phase the spheres are locked to, they are still active in that phase. If it's the power generator phase, the risk is low, but if it's one of the other four, we could induce a series of small antimatter explosions or localised temporal distortions that could inflict damage or injury throughout the targeted area." "That's not a small risk, Lieutenant." He grinned. "No, Sir, but M'Rell has been working on a way able to influence the phase that the sphere shifts to, with some success in the laboratory." "Can the same technique be applied on a larger scale? I think... strategy. We need to apply it to the whole station at the same time. If we are going to reveal something at that scale, we need to prevent an immediate response from whomever is controlling the spheres." "Perhaps." Simon said "The warp nacelles and deflector weren't designed to output to that level of fine resolution, they can't accurately hit the frequency patterns required in a single phase." Max raised his hand. "Do you remember when the starbase was passing through the dark matter field? One of the options then was to phase shift the starbase using the quantum slipstream technology that was under development within the starbase labs." "Sslipsstream requiress incredible field control." M'Rell said. "What's your point?" Max asked. "Phasse sshift a sstarbasse iss hard. Even conssidering it then, the equipment musst be capable of a sstarbasse sscale controlled quantum sstream." "And we could use that equipment to apply the magnetic field to every device on the starbase at the same time!" Max said, "That's not half bad, M'Rell" M'Rell purred lightly. "I would be more confident of we could test the procedure from the Enzio, first." Simon said. "We appear to have something we can use. We need to be careful. With so many ears around, and minimise any discussion of this idea outside an unsecured environment. I would like to suggest that Lieutenants Clark, Kempton, Hood if he is available and Petty Officer M'Rell prepare for an away mission to the starbase. Find admiral Gheskori and apprise him of this plan in person. I suspect he will want to involve Starfleet intelligence, as you have said, someone over there has this experience. These spheres are using quantum phase shift technology, and I suspect someone previously on the research team for the slipstream generator is now with the dissenting faction, either willingly or otherwise." "Won't a group of us from the Enzio look suspicious?" Ensign Rivers asked. "A group of colleagues taking some well deserved R&R after they've got the Enzio ship shape and ready to fly?" "Ah, I see." "Perhaps someone from the marines as well?" V'Maz asked of Tavik. <Tag Tavik, Hood>
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Gheskori
Command Staff ..
Commanding Officer Personnel Officer Trivia Officer
Section Admiral
USS Enzio
Registered: May 2, 2008 23:32:36 GMT
Posts: 1,538
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Post by Gheskori on Jul 26, 2018 15:37:20 GMT
The rest of the dining room was cast in shadow, the only light source emanating from directly above the table onto its surfaces and the ovoid shapes situated about it, an oily sheen from the faces and from the teak surface dominating their consciouses as they proceeded with their dialogue. Gheskori had tried to evaluate the stated intentions of Serova's team and what was implicit, and draw from that an approximate picture - and basic guess - of what their inner thoughts were.
Lemond had seen fit to arrange the seating such that the succession of chairs alternated between Section 47 command officer and Serova presidential Council member as their respective occupants. Ghes had on his left hand the prospective Chief Justice and on his right Internal Affairs secretary Moulek, with Serova sitting directly opposite him. They were onto dessert.
Of all the prospective Council members, Vice President-Elect Dimok Bennett seemed the most intelligent, the most aware and ethically inclined. He was of grave aspect, dark eyed, wary and curt in his speech, but clearly very perceptive. Serova's brother Maksym Serov was blundering, flustered, answered many questions monosyllabically and was drunk. The Chief Justice was a dullard, and the Technology Secretary acted as if he'd never seen or used so much as a PADD.
The meal began to draw to a close; it was time to move to the holodeck for a revamped Shakespeare. Before the final pleasantries were done with, an aide came in and passed Ghes a PADD. Irked slightly, he read the heading and the first paragraph... Well, what to be done? he thought, controlling his breathing, making sure not to flush or otherwise betray any emotion. He looked up and smiled; the conversation had continued to flow, synthehol having loosened the tongues and somewhat relaxed the animosity between the parties.
As they all stood, he signalled to Tetsutaro, who joined him with the aide in an anteroom. Sato was shown the PADD, both he and Ghes were informed of further developments and questions flew.
"Yes, sir, the transmission was detected by the Enzio. It would appear Ensign Fox's group is trapped down there, have been for the last two weeks or more."
"And there may well be other trapped groups," Ghes deduced, "Many sectors without main power do continue to operate, the staff resident there keeping about their duties."
They sent marines into that sector; however, as they discovered, battery-powered forcefields and makeshift barriers had been erected, preventing even the transport of supplies and medical equipment into the area occupied by Fox and company. Transporters were being jammed, too, though it emerged the coverage didn't extend to the vacuum-facing side. Ghes advised the preparation of a shuttlecraft that could situate itself outside the hull at the appropriate point, to either beam the besieged party aboard or to transport marines and security into their vicinity.
<Tag Clark (Fox et al)>
"Admiral Tetsutaro, after we see Richard III, detain Dimok Bennett. Perhaps we've found our champion, our means of turning Serova's supporters towards us."
"It won't be easy to convince him to betray Serova. Will detaining him improve our chances?"
"We'll merely talk to him. He'll understand he's been detained, until we can persuade him."
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Simon Clark
Lt. Commander
Registered: Dec 1, 2016 22:21:10 GMT
Posts: 153
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Post by Simon Clark on Jul 26, 2018 20:42:50 GMT
USS Frederick: USS Enzio Type 9 Shuttlecraft. Starbase 47 exterior.
"... Once we are inside, we will transfer and secure the corridor structure around the bay. Team two will hold the bay, while we cross to bay two, on this shortest path around bay one. There's only twelve of us, and we're going in blind, so be cautious. We set transport enhancers around the civilians, and we get everyone out." The marine captain finished.
"Sir, we are approaching deck 1659," the pilot announced.
Lieutenant Almir Marin took in his panel. "The breach in the doors for Industrial Replication bay six is large enough that the shuttle could pass through it, but there is a lot of debris around it. We may be able to clear it using the tractor beam, but the sensors cannot penetrate the outer hull of the starbase here." He told the the captain.
"That's unusual, I assume? Proceed at your discretion, Lieutenant."
"Yes sir. Ensign, move us closer, I want to see what there is on the optics." he told the pilot. "I am powering the forward flood lamps." The darkness of the cavernous bay withdrew as the lights came up. "Ensign, your assessment, please. I'm not much of a pilot, and the computer sensor model is incomplete."
"If we can move that section of hull plating, and the tritanium girder. There should be enough space. What's that behind them?"
"That's an industrial replicator. It looks like it's still attached to the deck plating, we probably won't move that with tractors."
"It'll be tight, if we cant. I'd rather not risk the shuttle."
"Cut it free with phasers?" The captain asked.
"Without sensor data, we can't tell if there's anything ignitable there." Almir told him.
"One risk, or the other. I'll risk the phasers, but not the shuttle." He gestured to the marine to his left, who took the copilot seat at the front of the shuttle, and accessed the weapon control panel. "Lieutenant, tell us where to shoot."
Almir sighed. Marines were so... trigger happy, sometimes. And they didn't care much for technical details. He brought up an overlay on the display, and highlighted the support rails for the replicator. "Here, and here. Focus the beam, and cut through this section. If you can avoid hitting this panel, that'd be good."
"What's behind that panel?" the marine asked.
"Could be anything. Whatever was in the replicator when the nebula blew out. I'd rather not blow it up." Almir told him.
"Understood. Manual targeting, now."
For their faults, marines were efficient and disciplined on the job. Almir's experience of how they worked was limited, and their discipline and orderliness surprised him, even as he expected it. There was no argument, no discussion. They did what needed to be done. Pragmatism like that in the engineering department would be useful.
The phasers fired, splitting the rails that supported the replicator, itself as big as the shuttle. Without artificial gravity, it slid backwards into the bay. the marine captain ordered the tractors, and the debris was slid, and bent, to one side.
"Take us in, Ensign."
"Aye sir." The shuttle moved forward.
"Anything on sensors?"
"A lot of static. Optics only." Almir replied. "The computer model is still building as we move in."
"Watch the displays for anything unusual," the captain said, pointing two more of his team to wall panels port and starboard.
"We are passing a third replicator." The pilot announced.
"What's that?" a marine asked, pointing to a ghostly hemisphere just visible behind one of the drooping replicator arms. It was embedded in one wall of the bay, almost completely transparent under the shuttles floodlights.
Almir drew a deep breath. "It looks like a quantum slipstream device in part phase. A big one, almost thirty times the diameter of the devices we have been studying. It's the source of the sensor static."
"Phasers?" The marine in the copilot seat asked.
"I'd rather disable it. Can we contact the Enzio?"
"No, Sir. there's no comms." the pilot responded
"Right. I need a minute to configure the deflector for a magnetic field emission."
"Risk?" The captain asked.
"It could be hold an antimatter charge in another phase. I want to disable it by locking it into this quantum phase. Petty Officer M'Rell's work showed that once phase locked, it won't be able to shift defend itself, and any explosion should be out of phase with both us and the starbase."
"I'm not very comfortable with 'should'." The pilot said.
"It will be out of phase," Almir said. "Okay I'm ready. Once it's completely visible, fire phasers. A short burst should do, these things weren't well armoured when we opened one up."
"Give it a long burst." The marine captain said. "Shields?"
"We need them down to Maneuver. There is space to raise forward shields as we fire," the ensign told him.
"Fine. hit it."
"Charging deflector." Almir pushed the panel, and brought up a 0.02 Tesla oscillating magnetic field. The deflector handled it perfectly, focusing the field ahead of the shuttle, just as it was designed to do at high warp. The quantum sphere shifted into reality, it's surface glowing and gleaming in the shuttles spotlight, until the bulkhead behind was obscured.
"Fire!" Almir said, hearing an even tension in his voice as he spoke.
"Forward shields up," the pilot said.
Phaser fire lanced through the spheres casing. It split in two. There was no explosion. A fine stream on dust puffed out of the rupture in the surface.
Almir checked his panel. "Sensors are online. The sphere is still active, we need to keep the deflector focused on it, or it could phase shift. There are life signs on this deck. They are close."
The shuttle vibrated gently as something was absorbed by the hull.
"There, in the corridors around the bay. One man in EVA suit in the airlock. He has a pulse phaser on us." The marine at tactical announced.
Another, greater, shock vibrated the hull, this time bigger, and an alarm from the weapons panel.
"Shields? Phasers?" the marine captain asked.
"Negative, sir. That was the primary control coupling," the marine replied.
"Who builds these things?" The marine asked, staring at Marin.
The hull shook again. Almir ignored the comment.
The marine captain focused on Almir. "Transporters, now. Get us into that corridor, it's aired, there, on that junction. We work down this section, then to the plan. Lieutenant Marin, you're our radio man. Ready? Energise."
Almir nodded along with the others, and targeted the transporter. "energising."
The five marines in the cockpit, and seven in the rear compartment vanished in a shimmer of light. The shuttle vibrated under another barrage of phaser fire.
"That's our starboard impulse engine." The pilot said.
"Steady. I've got an idea." Almir energised the transporter panel a second time. "There. I've transported him a few kilometers away from the starbase. Computer, level five damage report."
"The shuttle is ninety-six percent operational. Minor damage to impulse propulsion and phaser control." The computer chimed.
"Clever."
"Perhaps. Ensign, keep us in position, and monitor the activity around the sphere and the rep bay, I don't want to divide my attention too far."
=/\=... to Lieutenant Marin, we've secured to corridor F34. Heavy resistance on perimeter. They were expecting us. Get us a safe route, and call the second shuttle... =/\=
<Tag Tavik, or anyone else who wants to write a marine in combat!>
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Gheskori
Command Staff ..
Commanding Officer Personnel Officer Trivia Officer
Section Admiral
USS Enzio
Registered: May 2, 2008 23:32:36 GMT
Posts: 1,538
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Post by Gheskori on Jul 29, 2018 18:15:18 GMT
The holographic curtain fell and their party stood and gave applause, while Ghes and Serova stood impassively judging the mood of their respective parties. As Serova made to leave the theatre, Ghes said 'go' quietly into his commbadge, the transmission being picked up by the guards standing outside the holographic complex, they made their way in and blocked the exit.
The only dissident leader more intelligent than Bennett was Serova herself; she recognised the intention in the block and didn't take the bait, "Why have you prevented my leaving, Admiral?" she asked innocently, her crestfallen look as good an act as that of the hologram playing Richard, "I have tens of thousands of civilians waiting for me to minister to their needs."
"Apologies, Ms President. Perhaps we have been overzealous," he allowed, "We didn't intend to make you uncomfortable in our measures for your safety as well as for that of our crewmen stranded below deck." Not bad! he thought. Serova gave him a venomous stare and forced her way through the guards, the council members following haplessly in her wake.
Ten minutes later, Ghes learnt that VP Dimok Bennett had been detained after leaving the theatre. To security it'd appeared that he'd made himself available for capture.
"I see I'm being kept here against my will. Whatever you have to say, it cannot possibly be of the same significance as what we have planned for our new home," Bennett said, sipping at his coffee in the flag officers' lounge. He sat across from Ghes, Basirov and Kletchley on either flank (Tetsutaro was in the process of preparing intelligence officers to assist the team that'd just arrived from the Enzio). The place was deserted, the crispness and precision of Dimok's words carrying perfectly.
Basirov barked, "As we're sure you have deduced is our purpose, you must convince Serova to abandon her projects and align herself with justice." Bennett was unmoved.
"Or betray her and destroy her ability to blackmail us," Admiral Kletchley said firmly. Of course we're working on that last one already, Ghes thought of the slipstream spheres and surveillance. "Otherwise once we return to the Federation, you will face a court of -"
"Oh, please," VP Bennett slammed his coffee down, "We're never going back. The Federation is beyond our reach, regardless of your progress in understanding the micro-wormholes within the dark matter nebula. Wormholes which, needless to say, apparently only lead to non-baryonic, non-leptonic universes."
Ghes tried to hide his surprise. How widespread was the knowledge of Command's finding of the micro-wormholes, of the clandestine research by their scientists? He began, "Our efforts to return home must still be considered of para- "
"No, our old attachments must be put aside, our loyalty to the Earth and Vulcan-led Federation abandoned... you must recognise that such partisanship is crippling us. 'I am not a citizen of Athens, nor of Corinth, but a citizen of the world', or the universe. That is what we are, citizens of the universe, with no ties any more to the Alpha Quadrant or its conflicts."
They took a break, Bennett having the opportunity to smooth his ruffled feathers while the Admirals loitered, nonplussed and annoyed. Ghes asked Kletchley for his thoughts and the elderly Admiral shrugged, "He's Serova's theoretician. It's beyond doubt he has the capacity to understand our view, but can he be swayed? He's certainly amongst the most ethical of their leadership, but I'd say we've made the wrong choice if that choice is guided by the malleability of our target. Perhaps Maksym Serov is a better option."
"I'd like to persevere. Tetsutaro can run a deeper background check on Bennett, search records security don't have access to. There might be something there we can use to turn him."
If Bennett could be persuaded - and if he had access to the surveillance and slipstream sphere devices that were currently preventing Command from immediately arresting Serova - the problem would dissolve away very quickly. Turning him was the problem, and yet teams on the Starbase and the Enzio were working towards a solution that didn't involve betrayal, namely rendering ineffective the explosive spheres.
* * *
Meeting room below Starbase Ops
Ghes had met with his officers Clark, Kempton and M'Rell, three of his aides in attendance along with Admiral Basirov; against the wall, an unnamed man in intelligence uniform stood impassively, something between a grimace and a smirk on his face.
"Tell me that third part again," Ghes asked Clark and Kempton, squinting at the wall display with its image of an annotated rotating sphere. The phase shift and the need to lock it at the point at which a non-lethal phase intersected with their own universe's quantum plane was explained to him again. "I see," he said breezily, glad it was no longer critical for him to bring his scientific knowledge to bear. "Clark, M'Rell, how are we to apply a good enough magnetic field to the whole Starbase at once? Give me the best option."
"The warp core of one of the ships?" Basirov asked, "Or the tech formerly being worked upon by the researchers?" They were to given to understand the second option was preferred. Basirov turned briefly to Ghes before continuing, "We must inform you that 72 hours ago the Starbase's stock of benamite crystals went missing. Does this in any way impact your efforts with the slipstream tech previously being developed here?" Basirov paused, "You wouldn't have anything to do with the disappearance would you?" Kempton started at the absurd accusation.
"Admiral!" Ghes snapped, "That's out of line, and completely unfounded." He had to admit though the event was mysterious, yet levelling an accusation at members of his crew was an affront to himself as much as to them. "Does the loss in any way affect our development of a method to disable the spheres?" he asked.
<Tag Clark, All>
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Simon Clark
Lt. Commander
Registered: Dec 1, 2016 22:21:10 GMT
Posts: 153
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Post by Simon Clark on Jul 31, 2018 7:23:18 GMT
(OOC: post from mobile: please excuse typos) +++ Meeting Room 3B, below Primary Operations, Starbase 47
Simon was accustomed to the presence of Admiral Gheskori on the Bridge, as his captain. Here in one of Starbase Operations' broad meeting rooms, surrounded by his aides, Admiral Gheskori somehow held a more regal bearing than ever he did on the bridge of the USS Enzio.
Petty Officer M'Rell was less comfortable. Although her confidence had grown from standing at the still vacant science position on the bridge over the past few months, she had been amongst familiar people. Chief Petty Officer Hernandez said it had done her good. Here on the starbase, she had withdrawn onto herself, her eyes nervously flitting from face to face, the fur on the back of her neck alternately rising and falling as she tried to control her apprehension. As the meeting had progressed, Simon had made two spurious requests to move her away from the imposing Admiral Basirov, and the stern starfleet intelligence officer. It had seemed to help her maintain some semblence of calm, though he was sure it had made a mockery of whatever professionalism he had gained in giving the overview presentation detailing her work on the quantum spheres. M'Rell knew the subject best, and was to have given it herself. At the last minute, she couldn't; she had claimed up. She couldn't form the words, and there had been that awkward silence watching her stutter and hiss in front of everyone before Simon had stood up himself.
At the end of the presentation, while Max answered a few questions on the weapon content of the spheres, Simon made a note on his PADD to raise the issue with Chief Petty Officer Hernandez - M'Rell 's department head - and also Commander V'Maz. He hoped that they would be able to borrow a ship's councillor from somewhere who could discuss M'Rell's anxiety.
"I see," Gheskori said, breezily considering the display a moment longer. "Clark, M'Rell, how are we to apply a good enough magnetic field to the whole starbase at once? Give me the best option."
"The warp core of one of the ships?" Basirov asked, "Or the tech formerly being worked upon by the researchers?"
M'Rell tensed at the question was directed at her, her subconscious raising her hackles.
"Both options carry risk." Simon said. "Use of the prototype quantum slipsteam equipment is the better of the two options. It offers potentially finer control of the phase shift over the whole starbase volume, and could potentially be used to prevent the weaponised phases of the quantum sphere from shifting into the starbase reality plane. However, we have not tested anything at that scale, and we don't know the state of the prototype equipment. On the other hand, a warp field from one ship could not encompass the whole volume of the base. Several vessels with their warp fields at maximum extent would have greater coverage, but less fine control: and our testing has shown that we would not be able to influence the precise phase shift of the spheres as well as locking them in place."
Simon paused for breath, and Max picked up the thread. "The risks here: we don't have enough active starship: devices outside of the coverage would be unaffected, others within coverage could be left in an explosive antimatter or temporal distortion phase, and a group of starship converging in close proximity around the starbase is hardly a subtle operation."
Basirov turned briefly to Gheskori. "We must inform you that 72 hours ago the Starbase's stock of benamite crystals went missing." Basirov paused, and turned to the three Enzio officers, "You wouldn't have anything to do with the disappearance would you?" Simon watched as Kempton started forward. He held out his hand automatically, to stop him. For a wonder, he halted. And he was seething.
"Admiral!" Ghes snapped, "That's out of line, and completely unfounded."
Admiral Basirov stepped back. Simon did not think that he seemed convinced. Max certainly wasn't.
"Do you have any leads?" Simon asked, before Max said something he might regret later.
<Tag Ghekori/Basirov>
"Does the loss in any way affect our development of a method to disable the spheres?" Gheskori asked.
Simon nodded. "Slipstream devices use benamite to support the quantum matrix for the phase shift, just as warp cores use dylithium to stabilise a warp field. As we were hoping to utilise the slipstream to manipulate the magnetic fields throughout the starbase, our plan would not work without it. We have a tiny amount of benamite on board the Enzio that we borrowed to conduct testing on the spheres; nowhere near enough for a starbase."
"But surely you don't need benamite," said one of Gheskori's Aides, "We aren't trying to phase shift the starbase, just create a magnetic field."
M'Rell hissed quietly. Simon shook his head in agreement. "As I said, our trials piggybacked manipulation of the magnetic field on the phase shift capability of the slipstream technology. Without benamite, we can't use that option. If there is another way that does not use that material, it is unknown to us. The other concern I have, is if the benamite has been taken, what is it now being used for?"
The aide nodded, and turned to the Admiral. "I agree, we must recover the benemite to prevent any misuse."
"We need to move quickly." Admiral Basirov said, "We should use the starships we have to disable as many of the spheres as we can."
"But we don't have enough starships for full range. What about those spheres left unaffected? And how will we prevent this from exacerbating the political situation?"
"Unless we can recover the benemite, use of our starships warp fields is our best option, Sir." Simon said to Admiral Gheskori.
<Tag Gheskori >
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