Starbase 47 ◇ Thread Concluded SD: 2409.0221

[Carl Torek]

Secure Communications Suite ...
Starfleet Intelligence
Command Centre
Starbase Forty-Seven ::

* Communicaion between Starbase Forty-Seven and Earth ...

"The Federation Council is on the brink of collapse Admiral," President Ra-Ghoranni said over the subspace link.

"We can't be held responsible for that ..... Mister President," Carl said as Gheskori looked on.

"This 'Changeling' activity, how close are you to resolving the issue?" the Efosian asked, fighting to keep his temper.

"We are of cou ....." Gheskori began but Torek interrupted:

"Nowhere near Sir..!" Carl said, ignoring the look from his superior, "... We have two options here, Mister President ..... We separate ourselves from both the Romulan and Klingon Empires until such time as their obvious in-fighting has been resolved one way or the other, Issue a Presidential instruction that 'ALL' members of both species vacate 'ALL' Federation Worlds, outposts, and facilities with immediate effect,"

"..... And your second option?"

"We make it clear that we will not stand for what is happening, the Changelings picked Starbase Forty-Seven for a reason, maybe it was just the closest Federation Starbase to the hostilities, who knows ..... Either way, we're in the middle of something that we need to get on top of, Federation Civilians along with Starfleet Personnel have lost their lives, frankly, I couldn't care less about a war between the Klingons and Romulans, what I do care about is our own people. Given the trouble and obvious presence of one or more of these Changelings, I suggest we broadcast 'base-wide' that we are granting a forty-eight-hour amnesty to allow 'ALL' Changelings to vacate Federation space, otherwise we will put every effort into systematically eradicating every last one of the Tkrnn, regardless of abilities, or lack thereof!"

"Admiral... If I may request clarification..." Ra-Ghoranni asked very deliberately, "... Am I correct in believing that, you are suggesting the Federation declare 'WAR' on the Tkrnn?" Ra-Ghoranni asked incredulously.

"Yes!" Carl said without hesitation.

"Section Admiral Gheskori. You agree with the Fleet Admirals assessment?" the President asked.

[ Tag : Gheskori ]

"This 'beam-out' ..... What information do you have on it?"

"There's no way the Klingons could have detected the explosive device and reacted in time to save the Ambassador, so they were either incomprehensibly lucky or had prior knowledge if Ch'Lor was actually saved that is," Carl said.

"Then we have no way of knowing if anyone was actually saved...?" the President asked. Carl realised he was right, there was no definitive proof that anyone survived the explosion, "... I have a meeting with what remains of the Council, I will take your recommendations under advisement Admiral Torek, but in the meantime, I suggest you do everything you can to ensure the wellbeing of all aboard Starbase Forty-Seven ..... Section Admiral," Ra-Ghoranni said with a curt nod to Gheskori before closing the comm. Carl knew he had spoken out of turn, and that Gheskori had allowed him to voice his opinions in full without interruption, but he doubted his friend would remain silent now they were alone ..........

[Gheskori]

"... Am I correct in believing that, you are suggesting the Federation declare 'WAR' on the Tkrnn?" Ra-Ghoranni asked incredulously.

"Yes!" Carl said without hesitation.

"Section Admiral Gheskori. You agree with the Fleet Admirals assessment?" the President asked.

Gheskori paused and drew himself up, steepling his fingers and glancing at Torek, "Yes, to some extent." The President's bushy eyebrows were raised more than seemed possible for an Efosian. To some extent, in what respect? Ra-Ghoranni asked. "While I don't quite agree that all Klingon and Romulan embassies should be removed from Federation worlds, I do believe they should be made to leave our Starbase. The same must apply for the Tkrnn."

"The changelings, who are setting the two species against one another, have shown that they're perfectly willing to kill Federation citizens to bring that state of war about," Ghes went on, "We must declare ourselves at enmity with the Tkrnn and not with Klingons or Romulans, some of whom are clearly pawns in the Tkrnn's hands. We won't take military action straight away but we can have no accommodation with the Tkrnn, Mr President."

"Then you agree, and I am bound to do so also," the President said, "I'll have to discuss it with the Council, if I can get any of the bleeding busybodies to work together. In the meantime you have my authorisation to broadcast your message to any Tkrnn to leave Federation space in your sector. I'll make contact with units in adjoining sectors. But do so in 48 hours, not before, to give me time to decide things with these scoundrels," he gestured to the seal of the Federation Council on the screen behind him. "Now, this 'beam-out' ..... What information do you have on it?"

The President went on his talk with Carl regarding Ch'Lor's possible escape before the channel was closed. Ghes nodded to the President as the visual display of the comm winked out. "Well, he's given us authorisation to turn the Tkrnn out of the Starbase, and the sector, at least."

"But not for 48 hours," Torek reminded, holding up a finger in warning.

"Not for 48 hours," Ghes smiled, and wondered whether Dolqar was going to get back to him any time soon about what Klingons if any he'd managed to rescue from the explosion, which - Torek was right - he would've had to have known about before it happened if he'd been in with any chance of recovering them. If he did at least attempt a beam-out then logically he must be in league with at least one of the Tkrnn (the one who presumably destroyed himself in the blast).

Perhaps Dolqar would contact them in the next 48 hours, if he wasn't too busy blocking the Maracanda's - and possibly the El Alamein's - return...?

They exited the comms suite and walked into the main area of the Intelligence office off the command centre. Apparently Mr Botracht had returned to the station, courtesy of Dolqar, and was asking to see Gheskori, Torek and Lemond in any of their three offices. Furious that the Klingon commander had managed to transport this criminal aboard, and yet grateful the guildsman had decided to come straight to them, Ghes was willing to grant the meeting.

"It seems suspicious to me," Lemond was saying on a terminal screen from her adjacent office.

"Has he been searched?" Ghes asked, sitting on the edge of a junior Intel officer's desk in the main area.

"Of course. Nothing was found."

"Then there's nothing he can do. Fine, we won't all meet him. Not that it'll make any difference. A security guard will be present. Carl, have Lemond and Jessica Yu prepare the warning message for the various Tkrnn aboard the station."

Gheskori, his own ADC Commander Barton and Torek went to the lobby of the Intel offices to meet the returned Botracht, whose spherical explosive - of a small yield but enough to kill the most senior of the base's admirals if they were in close enough proximity - he'd already planted by a rail out on the port-side of the mezzanine. It'd been missed by base security's scanners owing to its Tkrnn design, but the guildsman hadn't been brave enough to take into the Intel offices, whose equipment may be better.

As the trio of Gheskori, Torek and Barton - soon joined by a couple junior Intel staff and a security guard - met Botracht in the Intel lobby. The guildsman frowned as he spoke with them. This was all going wrong already. As it was, the absent Admiral Lemond would survive. And how on Earth was he going to draw these towards the small proximity device, and not be killed himself?

"You have a nerve returning here, Mr Botracht," Ghes made up his mind suddenly, "In fact, you're under arrest." The security guard approached and stood close beside the guildsman who tried to have himself led past where he'd sequestered the device.

[Carl Torek]

Botracht, as Head of the Tradesmens Guild, had limited access to the Command Centre .....

Having arrived on the Command Level, he had needed to ask for access to the Centre itself, this, as expected, was not forthcoming, and he had been led to a Reception Room without any internal windows on the Mezzanine Level that blocked visual access to the Command Centre itself. Left alone he had nervously positioned the spherical explosive beneath the railing where it was unlikely to be discovered. Moments later the Security Officer returned, instructing Botracht to accompany him to the Lobby itself! ..... He couldn't help but glance at the railing as the two passed the device and reentered the Main Administration Lobby, a large open space around the circumference of the massive Starbase. Now, the device he had secreted was over fifty metres away.

His mind raced as he watched Gheskori, Torek, A Commander named Barton, two Intelligence Personnel, and a second Security Officer approach him.

"You have a nerve returning here, Mr Botracht..." the Section Admirla said to the wide-eyed Guild Representative, seemingly making a decision suddenly before continuing, "... In fact, you are under arrest!" he said, nodding to the Security Officer, who immediately approached and stood close beside the guildsman who tried to have himself led past where he'd sequestered the device.

"This way, Sir," the Security Officer said, taking Botracht's arm to lead him in the opposite direction to the secreted explosive device. Carl had noticed the man's looking back towards the Mezzanine Level railing and frowned.

"When Botracht was allowed up here he was fully scanned, right?" Carl asked the remaining Security Officer.

"Yes Admiral, thoroughly,"

"..... And he wasn't left alone at any time?" Carl probed.

"Only for a moment Admiral," the man confirmed.

"Have the Command Centre fully scanned immediately...!" Torek ordered, turning to Gheskori, "... We have no way of knowing if Botracht was working with the Tkrnn, but I'd rather air on the cautious side on the off-chance he's been coerced or threatened to bring anything onto the Command Levels," Gheskori nodded in agreement as they headed for the Holding Cells adjacent to the Intelligence Offices on the Mezzanine.

Inside, Botracht was complaining furiously about being detained without charges, threatening to involve everyone from the Federation President to Starbase Janitorial Staff to attain his freedom.

"Take a seat Mister Botracht," Carl said calmly between the Gulid Reps' ranting.

"YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO DETAIN ME!" the man spat.

"We're in a state of weighted response to attacks carried out directly or indirectly on Starfleet Personnel and Federation Civilians, Mister Botracht, so yes, we can detain anyone we believe suspect in connection with said activities..." Torek said as the Guild Rep' again slammed his fists onto the desktop in frustration, "... You will, of course, be released with a full apology should of investigations exonerate you of any complicity in what is happening," he finished with a shrug.

"We want to know about your involvement with a race identified as the Tkrnn ....." Carl said, seeing the colour drain from Botracht's face at the mention of the Changelings.

"The ..... What?"

"Come now Mister Botracht," Carl said, shaking his head.

"I DON'T KNOW what you are talking about. I was abducted by the Klingons and questioned before being returned..." the Guildsman said, eyes darting left and right, "... They TORTURED ME!"

"Really?" Gheskori said, raising his eyebrows in disbelief.

"Yes ..... TORTURE ..... I want them prosecuted to the full extent possible!"

"Well, should evidence of this 'kidnap' and alleged 'torture' come to light, you can be sure we will be lodging the appropriate objections to the Klingon High Council," Carl said as a Security Officer approached asking to speak to the two seniormost Officers in private, with a glance at Botracht Gheskori and Torek left, returning a moment later, now with the Director of Intelligence accompanying him. Carl walked to the table and placed a small spherical device in front of the Guildsman. At first, Botracht tried to push his chair away but it was prevented from moving by the Security Officer standing behind him, then he slumped in defeat, clearly realising that any hope of carrying out his instructions to kill the Senior Staff of the Starbase had failed miserably!

"I take it from your expression that you know exactly what that is...?" Carl asked, pointing to the device, Botracht could only nod, "... So you can tell us who gave it to you?"

"..... No,"

"You will Mister Botracht, you will indeed," Gheskori said, nodding to Admiral Lemond.

"Master-at-Arms ..... Please take Mister Botracht to High Security Holding on Level One Nine One, I'll be there in due course," she said ominously.

"No... NO... I didn't do ANYTHING!" the Guildsman said, struggling as he was manhandled out of the chair and from the room ..........

[Carl Torek]

Delta Promenade ...
Level One Five Six Zero
Starbase Forty-Seven ::


"HE FAILED US!"

You cannot be sure of that..." the man opposite replied, sipping his drink as he watched people meander along the Promenade, "... There was no way he could have known the device you provided was useless, or the real one still in his belongings,"

"I did not have time to switch the two, YOU FOOL!" the Changeling spat.

"How many more are left?"

"Two ..... Just two, we had hoped that we would have forced the Klingons and Romulans into fighting on this facility by now, but it seems this 'Federation' is more adept than first thought,"

I told you not to underestimate their ability. What of the vessels you were pursuing?"

"They are being tracked..." the Changeling replied distractedly, "... You believe this Federation will take action against us?"

"Yes. They cannot be seen doing otherwise. You have tried to begin a war, regardless of your reasons, and the Federation cannot permit your continuing to cause havoc on one of their Starbases ..... You brought this upon yourselves, had you initiated a direct attack on either the Klingons or the Romulans, they would be at war now, leaving the Federation to play arbitrator, but no, you had to go your own way and look how that has turned out!"

"Botracht, will he talk?" the Changeling asked.

"Who can say, but he knows nothing of consequence, snippets of information the Federation cannot make use of,"

You will dispose of him before he can say anything,"

"..... And just how do you propose I do that, exactly!?" the man said, his anger growing exponentially as the conversation dragged on, "... You are the ones who can 'change' not I,"

"You will think of something unless you wish this Federation of yours to know they have another 'TRAITOR' in their midst!" the Changeling said, rising before walking away from the table ..........

[David Tan]

Entering Undesignated 'L' Class Star System ::

Coming about, the battered El Alamein turned towards the 'L' Class System and hopeful sanctuary .....

Komin was in constant contact with Grant Manley on the Maracanda, both agreed they would need to turn and fight their way out unless another opportunity presented itself ..... After pushing their drive systems beyond the prescribed safety limits, the pursuing vessels were now eight minutes behind the Federation Starships, but that was little respite in the scheme of things!

"We can't outrun the bunch of them..." Elena DeLuca voiced, watching the tactical plot on the viewscreen, "... That section with only three ships, could we try to break through there?"

"No, the others can easily make up the distance and trap us," Milo Van replied.

"We could hide ....." Tom Demik said from Tactical.

"How?" David asked.

"The fourth planet is practically primordial, those rings are strewn with metals. Some are the size of small pebbles, but some are massive, the size of cities ..... There's no distinction between the surface and the rings, unlike Saturn's rings which are relatively stabilized, these are constantly falling towards the surface of the still-forming planet at a steady rate. If we could secrete ourselves beside one of the bigger rocks we might be able to hide. Their sensors shouldn't see anything but rock and metallics, if we're deep enough into the ring system we should go unnoticed?"

"Let me get this straight..." Tan said, hoping he was mistaken but doubting it, "... You're suggesting we take the ship 'into' the ring system itself?"

"Well ..... Yes," the Tactical Officer said with a shrug.

"It's doubtful that our shields will function inside the rings, there's too much interference, same will apply to sensors and weapons, we'd effectively be a sitting duck if discovered!" Nico Carré informed everyone on the Bridge.

"It could be done though?" Captain Komin asked, seeing Grant Manley frowning on the split screen.

=^= Lieutenant Jarves .. Our Tactical Officer .. Believes it could work .. We would have to effectively put ourselves so close to one of the larger rocks that we would need to use thrusters to compensate for the micro-gravity =^= Manley said.

"If we're discovered there would be no chance of escape, all they would need to do is destroy the proverbial rock we're hiding under and we're done," DeLuca said, seeing the nods realising everyone had been thinking along the same lines.

=^= Well .. It's hide or run .. What's your pleasure Captain .. .. ? =^= Manley asked.

=^= The only other immediate option is to go to the surface of the second planet in the System .. They are all 'L' Class but at least that one affords us 'some' cover =^= Lieutenant Commander Onizuko confirmed from Maracanda's Operations.

"What do you think?" Komin asked as their pursuers got ever closer.

"You're the Captain," Clancy said, glancing at his colleagues briefly before returning his attention to the plot on the left side of the viewscreen.

"OK ..... Sharon, take us around the dark side of the planet, once out of sensor range find a suitable rock and head that way, take us as deep into the rings as you can without crushing us,"

=^= Captain .. I suggest you follow us in =^= she instructed Grant Manley, who reluctantly nodded before closing the comm.

The El Alamein circumnavigated the still-forming planetoid, the Maracanda in close formation with the Intelligence Vessel and approached the ring system from below. At two hundred metres Sharon Yip cut all drives bar the manoeuvering thrusters ..... Imperceptibly, the Defiant Class Starship began to 'rise' towards the ice, rock, and metallic rings until all aboard could actually hear impacts against the hull. Everyone remained silent, allowing the Navigation Officer to fully concentrate on the task at hand, she increased velocity to match the orbiting cometary debris and then once again began to 'climb' ..... Ahead, a boulder the size of a small asteroid loomed before them, Sharon began to reorientate the ship until it was parallel to the massive rock, then tentatively closed the distance.

Astern of the El Alamein, the Maracanda had followed suit, trying to match the manoeuvers of the ship ahead precisely until it too was close to their target.

Manley watched as the El Alamein rolled to Port almost eighty degrees until her ventral thruster array was pointing directly at the mass of metallic rock beneath her. Moving alongside to within fifty metres, Maracanda's Helm Officer duplicated the move until both were seemingly hovering, less than thirty metres from the jagged rock below them. Satisfied her ship could hold position, she ordered all non-essential systems be taken offline. Aboard the Maracanda Manley too ordered a shutdown apart from the essential life support and manoeuvering thrusters! ..... They were now in a waiting game, but on the Maracanda, Rhona McNaire at the Science Station frowned, risking a scan she turned to the Captain, informing him that she was picking up degradation on the ship's hull plating, something in the rings was corrosive to the duranium/tritanium composite hull.

Less than five minutes later the searchers arrived in the system! ..........

[Iorte Clancy]

The El Alamein and Maracanda held in formation about 30 metres above the surface of the sizeable rock, every now and then firing manoeuvering thrusters to levitate themselves up and away from the craggy and cratered terrain as the tiny gravity of the object tended very slowly to pull them in. The chasing Tkrnn ship, the Romulan warbird which had been chasing it, and some other warbirds and Klingon cruisers (seven vessels in total) dropped from warp into the system and started conducting scans.

Through long practice Clancy was suppressing the incipient nerves he felt at the prospect of entering battle, or perhaps trying to avoid one.

"Is this going to work?" First Officer Scober said from the bridge of the Maracanda on the El Alamein's split viewscreen and looked at his chair's armrest panel in confusion, "Are these reports on silent running? I never did take the new bridge exam. Captain, what does it say?"

Manley looked at him unhappily and Iorte thought on the Intrepid class XO's first question. Were they well enough concealed? He had no idea either, but if they weren't they'd find out about it soon enough...

"Captain, the warbird chasing the Tkrnn ship has opened fire on it," Ross reported from Ops. "She must be hoping for back up because she's dead in the water. It seems the Romulans blew her engines out catching up."

"Well it doesn't look like they're going to get it," Iorte replied, looking over Tom Demik's shoulder, "Neither of the other two Romulan craft or the three Klingon vessels are making a move towards the Tkrnn vessel."

Indeed it seemed that some of the ships were scanning the several planets, paying particular attention to the second world. "Everything seems to be holding at the moment," Van relayed to Komin as he was passed reports from department heads on and off the bridge, "We're going unseen."

And we've got damned lucky, Clancy thought, observing how three of the Klingon and Romulan ships (minus two others who stayed near the Tkrnn vessel and the disabled Romulan warbird that continued to fire weakly at the same Tkrnn craft) had thankfully bypassed the ringed fourth planetoid after only a cursory scan and instead entered orbit of the second planet. If the Federation starships had chosen the option of touching down on that second world they would surely have been detected by now, even if they had taken refuge in one of the many giant hollows in the ground.

"The Tkrnn ship and its friendly D'deridex warbird and Vor'cha cruiser are now out of range of the disabled Romulan vessel's disruptors..." Demik reported and froze, looking around slowly from his console, "Captain, the three are heading straight for us..." On the viewscreen's tactical display one Romulan double-headed eagle, one Klingon three-pointed device and a generic symbol for unknown vessel began creeping towards the fourth world.

They were heading for the rings at least. Clancy looked over towards his Intel colleagues and saw that they understood one another. Even if the changeling vessel and its two attendants hadn't detected them, it was clear they recognised the rings as a potential place the Federation vessels could weather out the storm.

He wondered about the warbird out there which had blown out its engines, having chased them and the Tkrnn from the Ceylanite system. It seemed it was the only Romulan ship present that maintained loyalty to the Star Empire, the other two vessels - one in orbit of the second planet, the other with the Tkrnn vessel - seemingly collaborating with the changelings. What could it mean? Were there elements in the Klingon and Romulan militaries that wanted to work with the Tkrnn to precipitate the war between them, something they thought only the Tkrnn could help them with?

"What do you advise, Fran?" Manley said on the split viewscreen, "I suggest running."

"I think we should hold fast, Captain. Unless we find we've definitely been discovered... I'd rather trust in our cover."

Clancy wasn't sure. If they had been discovered they wouldn't know what hit them. Well, the three vessels were firing!

"Shields!" Van cried.

"Impossible, Commander." They waited for the various impacts and yet nothing came. Sensors were detecting explosions, and even through the deck-plating they could sense the force and violence of the blows rippling from locale to locale... Distant objects in the ring system were being obliterated by the three ships. If their hunters couldn't yet detect the Federation vessels in the rings, they at least knew of their presence.

"It's only a matter of time," Iorte said to himself. "Is it possible that Romulan vessel out there could help us?" he asked, "They at least seem to want to stop this madness." How though when the Romulan craft's engines were destroyed?

[David Tan]

Distant objects in the ring system were being obliterated by the three ships. If their hunters couldn't yet detect the Federation vessels in the rings, they at least knew of their presence .....

Everyone on the El Alamein's Bridge could feel the shockwaves, the three vessels firing into the rings were clearly hoping to force either one or both Federation vessels into the open!

"How long before they hit something that will cause serious damage to us or the Maracanda?" Fran Komin asked.

"It's hard to tell, they don't seem to be using any logical pattern firing, it's almost as if they are firing blindly at anything large enough for us to hide behind..." Demik said as Sharon Yip again adjusted their position relative to the massive iron ore asteroid they and their sister vessel were hiding behind, "... Though given their targeting, I'd say a little more than thirty, maybe forty minutes," he finished unconvincingly.

"Then we need to make a decision," Komin said, looking at her counterpart on the Maracanda.

=^= Agreed =^= Manley concurred.

"I think we all need to agree that neither the Klingons nor the Romulans will want us getting word back to Federation Authorities about what's been happening," David said, seeing several on their Brideg nodding in agreement.

=^= Then we pick a ship each and attack before running for home? =^= Manley suggested.

"Sorry ..... Could I just ask a question...?" Iezelda Iezeld asked, and seeing everyone was clearly waiting, she continued, "... I'm relatively new to Intelligence, as you know, and the 'politics' of interspecies activities sometimes eludes me. So, these 'Tkrnn' are trying to force the Klingons and Romulans into war, at which time they, or at least this 'Elite' who can still shape-change, will begin to take over the battered Systems with little or no resistance?"

"Something like that, yes," Komin said encouragingly.

"..... OK, well we already know there are Changelings on Starbase Forty-Seven, trying to get the two fighting there ..... My confusion is why us?"

"What do you mean?" Rosa Noon asked.

"Well, We all agree that there must be elements in both camps that 'want' a war, presumably because they see great profit in any outcome. This is all supposition on our part, and they have no way of knowing what we're thinking, so why not just let us go?" the Chief Petty Officer asked, clearly voicing what most were possibly thinking already.

"Hold on ..... What can we actually tell the Authorities anyway...?" Elena asked, "... We were privy to fighting between Klingon and Romulan vessels, in attendance was a vessel of hitherto unknown origin, presumed to belong to the Tkrnn?"

=^= Given what we know of the situation on Starbase Forty-Seven .. I'm inclined to believe we should be helping there and not hiding here =^= Grant Manley said, others on his Bridge nodding silent agreement. Fran turned to David and the others:

"He has a point," she said.

"Then let's get the hell out of here before one of those sharpshooters hits one of us by share luck!" Ross Noon suggested. David looked at Iorte and Elena, who both agreed.

"Whenever your ready Captain," David said.

"Fine ..... Captain Manley, if you can follow us in close order, we'll go around the far side of this rock and come out firing. We'll target the Vor'cha, while you take the D'deridex ..... Target their drive systems. That way, if they choose to come after us we'll at least have a head start, albeit a slim one,"

"What about the Tkrnn ship and the disabled Romulan?" Milo Van asked.

"The Tkrnn shouldn't fire on us, if it does then we'll return fire, as for the disabled Romulan, not our problem..." Komin said looking back at the viewscreen, "... You ready, Captain?"

=^= I'll follow your lead =^= Maney said, closing the comm.

"OK, Sharon, take us around the far side of this rock, then drop us down and out of the ring system. Tom, get a lock on the Vor'cha as quickly as you can but 'only' fire if they fire on us first, understand?"

"Aye," the Tactical Officer replied, readying his station.

"The last thing we want is to be accused of some unprovoked attack...!" she checked the tactical plot Demik had put on the viewscreen, making a mental note as to the positions of the three firing ships, "... Let's go, Lieutenant," she ordered.

Thrusters fired, rotating the Defiant Class Starship, less than two hundred meters away, the Maracande mirrored the manoeuvre and followed the El Alamein heading away from the three ships initially before they turned and dropped below the ring system. The second they became visible all three attacking ships locked onto the Federation vessels and fired ..........

[Carl Torek]

SD: 2409.0130 .. 22:40 hrs ...
Command Centre
Starbase Forty-Seven ::

It had taken some time and patience, but finally, they had effectively locked-down Levels of the Starbase that had been under concerted attack. The announcement that 'ALL' Tkrnn were to leave the Starbase immediately, had gone out the previous evening after the agreed forty-eight-hour hold. It wasn't going to prevent the remaining Changelings from continuing their attacks given by their very nature the Federation had no real means to identify one of them if they wanted to remain hidden.

During the last weeks, Section Admiral Gheskori, or Carl himself, had been in constant contact with Starfleet Command and the Federation Council, finally, despite Carl's belief that the Starbase was being left to their own fate, the President had seemingly acted .....

"Sir, I'm picking up a vessel approaching the Starbase," One of the Duty Officers informed Fleet Captain Erik Helgesen, the Head of Starbase Operations.

"Warn it that it must not pass into restricted space,"

"I did Sir..." the young Officer said nervously, "... They said they had 'Diplomatic' authority to approach and dock. Their vessel reads as the Excelsior Class, USS Charleston, they are requesting comms on a secure channel,"

"Put it through to the terminal in Admiral Torek's office!" Helgesen said running up the ramp to the Mezzanine Level. In the office he accessed the channel, his eyes widening for a moment as he realised who he was addressing:

=^= Captain .. It's good to see you again =^= the woman onscreen said.

=^= Madam .. Vice President =^= Erik replied, looking at the image of thirty-four-year-old Sabine Laterza, the youngest Vice President in Federation history.

=^= Hello Captain .. In light of recent events .. The President felt it necessary for us to take a close look at what was happening .. Given the far-reaching ramifications .. .. =^=

=^= Madam Vice President .. The Section Admiral is off duty .. I will inform him of your arri .. .. =^=

=^= No need to disturb the Section Admiral .. Let's keep my visit on a 'need-to-know' basis for the moment shall we .. .. Captain Thomas informs me that we will be docking in thirty minutes =^=

=^= We? =^= Helgesen asked before he could stop himself, but the Vice President seemed ready for the query:

=^= Yes .. Representatives to the Federation Council .. Romulan Senator Crelev and Klingon Senator Chu'Vok .. Are with me .. As is Vulcan Ambassador T'Nul .. .. .. =^=

=^= Understood Ma'am =^= Helgesen said after a seconds hesitation, shocked that the Vice President herself, along with the three most Senior Ambassadors to the Federation were here.

=^= I'm sure you do Captain .. Thirty minutes .. I look forward to speaking to you about your Family Eric .. It has been some time .. Charleston .. Out =^=

The comm snapped off and it took several seconds for him to remember to breathe. The Vice President turning up unannounced was almost unprecedented. For a second he remained rooted to the spot, then realised almost everyone on the Command Floor was going to be asking questions. He left the office and went to the railing overlooking the Command Floor then told everyone to get the hell back to work. That done he contacted the Dockmaster:

=^= Jock .. .. There's a vessel on approach .. Make sure there are no hiccups during docking will you =^=

=^= .. .. And just who the hell might that be exactly .. I thoug .. .. =^=

=^= You'll see soon enough .. I'm sending Security down there .. Clear the Dock of 'ALL' Personnel now =^=

Eric snapped the comm off before Captain 'Jock' Reekie could quiz him any further, then he commed Colonel Dúpin, Deputy Head of Starbase Security to Command to give instructions on the pending arrival. Once he was sure he had everything covered he requested the Section Admiral and Carl Torek's presence ..........

[Gheskori]

High security holding, deck 191

"There is no escape, Mr Botracht. You should know your former assistant Ms Maroti is already assuming your duties on the promenade levels. You are utterly finished."

"How is that?" Botracht managed to leer, "What do you have on me, really? I've never before in my life seen that damn explosive device," he referred to the rotating image of the Tkrnn-made explosive - the physical version of which he'd planted on the port-side railing of the mezzanine - that was displayed on the interrogation room's wall panel.

The Intelligence officer Maerwicz turned to the guards at the entrance and nodded, casting a wry glance at Botracht as the doors hissed aside and another civilian entered and was invited to sit the other side of the small table to the guildsman.

"Please note Mr Sean O'Toole has now entered the room for witness's deposition," Maerwicz intoned for the recorder. "If you would, Mr O'Toole."

Botracht's head nearly hit the table as he regarded the bar-owner sitting opposite him. "I knew it!"

"Please, sir," Maerwicz hushed Botracht. "Sean?"

O'Toole shifted about and cleared his throat, "Yes, it's this fella here. Your boss had me engage on this business you see, Lieutenant Maerwicz, to expose a group of troublemakers operating out of the guildhall on Gamma Promenade. They wanted weaponry. Intelligence gave me that weaponry and I sold it to Botracht and a couple of maggots named Thomas and Mervin."

"Thomas and Mervin always suspected you..." Botracht moaned, unable to meet the bar-owner's eye. "Ah, this is entrapment!"

"No, Mr Botracht," Maerwicz said, "You accosted O'Toole, not the other way around. He hadn't spoken to my department before he began discussing the purchase of various explosives with you. He made the agreement with you and your associates, and only then he approached Starfleet Intelligence. You asked and he provided, and then he informed on you."

"You have me, but only by the letter of the law," the guildsman tried to protest.

"The letter of the law. Precisely. You're not going to make out that somehow you occupy the moral high ground, are you? The weapons you purchased from O'Toole were used against diplomats from neighbouring powers stationed at this Starbase. One of them 'inadvertently' killed several Federation citizens!"

Botracht spluttered, "The changeling took the weapons... I didn't intend for the -"

"Then what did you intend them for?!" Maerwicz cried. "No. Don't answer that. You'll face a Federation court soon, Mr Botracht. If I were you I wouldn't hope for an early release," he nodded to the guards and they escorted the man from the room. "Sean, thank you. Ah... And next time, speak to Lemond before you decide to push any materiel to suspected crooks."

"Now you know I can't guarantee anything, but I'll try my best, laddie." O'Toole patted Maerwicz on the shoulder and let himself out to return to Kara at Alpha Promenade.

---

Command Centre

From the central platform Gheskori watched the Excelsior class entering the Dome through the giant space doors on the viewscreen. The Charleston glided towards its appointed birth, its elegantly retro lines somehow fitting well against the backdrop of the Ournal class Starbase's interior. "Well, I didn't expect to be seeing that ship again so soon," he said, Torek nodding beside him.

"Indeed," Captain Helgesen said, "We had a bit of a nightmare with Drake didn't we?"

Ghes nodded to himself. Laterza was relatively new to her office, having taken over from former VP Drake after he'd been forced to resign in the wake of the business at Alpha Centauri with which the Enzio was well acquainted. The rebellious Regent Malthus of Alpha Centauri and his Andorian ally Sairal had been two of those who'd accompanied Drake aboard the Charleston on its previous trip to Starbase 47. During a tour of the docked Enzio, Sairal had surreptitiously used a tricorder to scan sensitive systems, and later he'd assisted Malthus in his attempted breakaway movement from the Federation, something the Enzio and several civic Denobulan ships had moved to prevent. Nothing concrete had connected Drake to the rebels but he'd been forced into retirement all the same and now lived a luxurious private life on Deneb III.

In contrast to Drake, Laterza was dutiful and energetic. Ghes hoped she hadn't brought too much of her customary zeal with her as she began to explore how the Tkrnn had established such a presence here at the Starbase. The more he thought about it the more he thought her trip here was quite unwise.

"This isn't right. We can't guarantee our safety," he murmured to Torek and Helgesen, and turned to the Chief Security Officer, "Highest alert. In addition to the honour guard and military band, I'd suggest we provide maximum security presence at the Charleston's berth when the Vice President exits the vestibule."

<Tag Torek & all>

[Carl Torek]

Dome Level Two Zero One ...
Alpha Docking Arm
Starbase Forty-Sevrn ::

Carl arrived at the Alpha Docking Arm Observation Lounge to see the area completely deserted ..... Eric Helgesen and Theo Dúpin had evacuated the area prior to the Presidential Flagship's arrival, he walked over to where the Section Admiral was watching the sleek Excelsior Class Starship coming to a complete stop .....

"This is not right. We can't guarantee their safety..." he murmured to Torek and Helgesen, and turned to the Chief Security Officer, "... Highest alert. In addition to the honour guard and military band, I suggest we provide maximum security presence at the Charleston's berth when the Vice President exits the vestibule."

"Already arranged Admiral," Dúpin said as a dozen Security Personnel spread themselves throughout the massive space.

Fifteen minutes after docking, the umbilicus walkway extended and sealed against the Charleston's hull. Two Security Officers wearing the insignia denoting Presidential Staff exited the walkway and approached the waiting group and introduced himself:

"Commander Williams, Head of the Vice Presidents Security detail,"

"Commander..." Carl replied before making the introductions, "... I assume the Vice President will insist on boarding the Starbase?" he asked needlessly.

"She didn't come all this way to look out of a window, Admiral," Williams said with a wry grin, stepping to one side as Sabine Laterza, followed by three others: T'Nul, the Vulcan Representative, then Crelev and Chu'Vok, the Romulan and Klingon Representatives to the Federation Council. Carl could see immediately that there seemed to be some animosity between Crelev and Chu'Vok, hardly surprising.

"Madam Vice President..." Gheskori was saying before presenting Carl and the others, "... Madam, I feel it only prudent to suggest you remain aboard the Flagship for the duration of your stay,"

"Well, it wouldn't actually 'be' a stay if I were to remain aboard my ship, now would it...?" Laterza replied with a grin, "... Don't worry yourself, Admiral, I'm sure that between your Staff and mine my life will be in good hands ..... Besides, if all goes well I fully expect all hostilities between the Klingon Empire and the Romulan Star Empire to come to a swift and decisive end," she finished with a smile at the two Representatives.

"Even so Madam Vice Presi ....." Cal began, falling silent as he was interrupted:

"Please, Admiral, can we dispense with the formalities, I don't think I'll ever get used to the title, please, call me Sabine," Carl glanced at Gheskori, half expecting him to object.

"Very well, Sabine..." Carl continued as they walked across the large open Observation Lounge towards the High-Security turbolifts, as they climbed he continued, "... You said you expect hostilities to cease, do you mind if I ask how you propose to achieve that?"

"My associates here, are going to see to that," Sabine said, motioning towards the Romulan and Klingon stood towards the rear of the turbolift, the Vulcan, T'Nol seemingly keeping them apart. For a moment Carl had the feeling that far from halting hostilities, they would ignite them even further into an all-out, hand-to-hand fight, running through the Starbase unchecked!

Presidential Suite
Level Eighteen ::

As they entered the quarters, Security took up positions at either end of the Section, and outside the door ..... Inside, Sabine Laterza, the three Representatives, Gheskori, Carl Torek, Eric Helgesen, and several of the Vice President's Staff found seats around the large conference table in one of the side rooms. Outside, Theo Dúpin was coordinating with the VP's Head of Security, overseeing the first of many precautions to ensure the safety of Ms Laterza during her stay.

"I think we should get down to business Gentlemen?"

"What do you have in mind Mada, Sabine?" Gheskori asked.

"First off, our guests: Representative Crelev and Representative Chu'Vok will contact their respective people and order them to stand down with immediate effect. Once these 'Changelings' know they have failed in their efforts to start an all-out war, they will be forced into finding other means to achieve whatever goal they had in mind ..... Meantime, the search for those remaining aboard will be intensified until they are off this facility and on their way out of Federation Space!"

"We still have no definitive number as to how many Tkrnn are aboard the Starbase," Gheskori conceded.

"..... We also have the issue in Ceylanite Space?" Carl added.

"Ahh, yes, I believe it prudent Crelev and Chu'Vok are given access to communications in their own quarters, I am sure they won't want us eavesdropping on what they have to say to their Commanders in the field, so to speak," again the unassuming smile. Carl believed this woman was nowhere near as naive as she came across and could probably hold her own in any situation.

"They have been assigned quarters on this Level Ma'am," one of Sabine's Aides confirmed.

"Far enough apart so as not to cause, friction, I assume?" the Vulcan Ambassador said with a raised eyebrow.

"Yes, Sir," the Aide said, wondering if the Vulcan had been trying to be humourous or not.

"Very well, then I think we should adjourn and reconvene at say, nine in the morning, zero nine hundred in the military vernacular I believe..." the Vice President said with a grin as she stood, everyone in the room doing likewise, as they filed towards the door it slid aside, Commander Williams and Theo Dúpin were waiting with a now enhanced Security Detail, "... Until tomorrow Gentlemen ..... Oh, Colonel Dúpin, if you have a few moments?"

"Yes, Madam Vice President," the Deputy Security Chief said, stepping into the room once everyone else had left. Commander Williams nodded then stepped back to allow the door to close, a fraction of a second later a forcefield snapped into place!

"If the Tkrnn finds out she's here they're going to make a play for her, that's guaranteed," Carl said worriedly as they entered the turbolift.

"Indeed..." Gheskori said, seemingly deep in thought, "... As soon as Colonel Dúpin is free have him double Security around the Vice President, I'll see you at zero eight hundred,"

"Yes, Sir," Carl replied as the Section Admiral stepped from the turbolift ..........

[Sean O'Toole]

O'Toole's Bar & Grill ...
Alpha Promenade
Level One Five Five One ::

Sean had been serving when the two Intelligence Juniors had entered - Sticking out like proverbial 'sore thumbs' they approached the bar, eyes darting left and right like cartoon spies .....

"Something I can do for you Gentlemen?" he asked.

"You need to come with us," one said.

"..... And why would I be doin' that?"

"Because we're TELLING you to!" the second, heavier-set man said, clearly trying, and failing, to exude an air of danger in his tone. For a second Sean deliberated taking the 'mick' out of the two but knew it would only upset them. He turned to Kara:

"I'm nipping out for a while Kara,"

"Okey's," his fiancé said, smiling at the two Intel Officers .....

High Security Holding
Level One Nine One ::

As they approached the cells he was approached by someone who didn't bother to introduce himself, Sean thanked his escort, neither of which seemed to appreciate the Irishman's humour as he was led to a cell and asked to enter. Inside he was asked to sit as his presence was noted for the record. Apparently, Botracht was being questioned and he was there to confirm certain facts, much to the Guild Representatives' chagrin. He sat patiently as Botracht was questioned not quite knowing 'why' he had been brought in other than to humiliate the Guild Rep' ..... After Botracht was led out the Intelligence Officer, introducing himself as Maerwicz, thanked him.

"That's it?" Sean asked, more than annoyed.

"Yes, thank you. Ah... And next time, speak to Lemond before you decide to push any material to suspected crooks."

"Now you know I can't guarantee anything, but I'll try my best, laddie." Sean said as he headed for the turbolifts, waving cheerily to the two 'henchmen' that had brought him up here ..... Stepping out of the 'lift on the Alpha Promenade Level he was immediately aware that someone was following him as he headed back to the bar. They hadn't been in the turbolift so he could only assume that they had been waiting since he left his establishment, or had been notified of his impending arrival back on the Promenade. He decided against going direct to the bar, instead, began to meander along the myriad of shops and outlets.

Five minutes later, he had identified at least three people who seemed to be trying 'not' to be seen shadowing him, one unsurprisingly, was one of Botracht's associates: Thomas!

Grinning inwardly he began to step into one of the shops then unexpectantly turned around almost falling over one of the idiots following him:

"Excuse me," he said with a wry grin, the man did a double-take before spluttering some vague reply. Almost laughing out loud, Sean began to backtrack towards the bar when he felt something against his arm. Frowning he looked at his sleeve, maybe it was nothing, someone accidentally brushing against him on the crowded Promenade, but seconds later his head began to swim, dizziness overcame him and he felt himself being held up by one or more people. He just had time to register the other henchman: Mervin, before he blacked out!

~~~~~~~~~~

He wasn't sure if it was the third or fourth heavy slap that finally brought him around ..... His head was swimming, and the pain behind his eyes was almost unbearable - Whatever they had used to subdue him was bloody lethal.

"Starfleet is holding an acquaintance of ours, we'd like him back," someone was saying.

"HEY ... YOU'DE BETTER LISTEN BARKEEP!" someone else said, accompanying the comment with another punch to his jaw.

"Sorry, I, don't have any idea wha' you are talkin' about fellas," he replied, spitting blood on the deck between the mans feet.

"EYES OPEN...!" the first man said, holding something in front of his face. Despite his still blurred vision, he could barely make out a spherical object, "... You remember this?... You should, you supplied them," Sean could only shrug painfully.

"Our friend, you're going to get him released,"

"..... And just how do you think I'm going to be achievin' that feat again?" Sean asked, the pain easing a fraction allowing him to think a little straighter.

"Well, that's up to you boyo, but as we said, this thing here..." the man holding the sphere said, waving it back and forth in front of him, "... Is one of the explosives you supplied, and at this moment in time, another one just like it is in that fancy Irish bar of yours waiting to go BOOOOOM!"

"That sentence snapped Sean back to his senses, despite the pounding headache they had his full attention! ..........

[Gheskori]

Crelev and Chu'vok had been assigned to their suites on level 18 along with the Vulcan ambassador T'Nul, in addition to the Vice President of course. Helgesen had made a wise decision in Gheskori's view in placing T'Nul's quarters precisely between the Klingon and Romulan suites, which were situated - while not quite the opposite side of the deck - a fair distance away from each other.

The Denobulan didn't expect too much trouble from them, they'd worked together on Earth long enough and Laterza hadn't thought it inadvisable given the climate to take them both here to the base. The issue would be with their Starbase 47 equivalents - or what was left of them - who would shortly become aware of their ambassadors' presence. Most of the Klingons were now dead or missing, and most of the Romulans were in holding cells.

Of those still free, Romulans Senator-Ambassador Hazr'vat and an Uhlan-ranked security officer were the most troublesome, potentially, but they - like the changeling who'd approached Torek and Yu - were now wearing biometric bracelets.

Ghes was back on hand with his aide Barton, Helgesen and a security guard when the VP emerged from her suite.

"I think I'm in need of an early lunch. Will you show myself and my team around the Command Centre this afternoon, Mr Dupin? I think you'd better!" Laterza asked the deputy security chief as they, Williams and the rest of the visiting staff stepped into the corridor.

"Of course," Dupin nodded, his lips pursed. Gheskori asked him what was the matter but he evaded the SA's glance until Laterza and company were out of sight on the way to a turbolift; with the VP gone he looked directly at Ghes, "Everything's fine, sir... I'm sorry. The Vice President has asked me not to divulge what we discussed."

"How's that?"

"It concerns base security, and the security of the Federation as a whole."

Ghes didn't know whether to feel more mystified or affronted. "Leaving off the Federation just for a moment, am I not concerned with base security at least? Well, if not me, then perhaps Admirals Torek or Lemond? Can you tell them? Or perhaps even the captain, who has more to do with it on a daily basis than me," he indicated Helgesen.

"She is a formidable woman," Helgesen was saying looking down the corridor where Laterza and company had been. Ghes rolled his eyes and turned back to the colonel.

"I'm sorry, sir," Dupin repeated, "You may think it's not good enough and I understand why you'd take that attitude, but Ms Laterza swore me to utmost secrecy. I hope she'll allow me to speak of it soon," seemingly full of regret he began to depart. Ghes was about to stop him but Barton suggested otherwise.

The Denobulan sighed, "Well, let's get back to the Command Centre. Carl may have an update on where we are with the status of the Tkrnn aboard the station." He wished, but wasn't hopeful, that some of the Tkrnn would've already left the station, ideally having given up the game entirely and making their way back to their territory the other side of Romulan space...

---

Now in his office, he saw Commander Barton appear at his door and signal to those accompanying him, Torek, Jessica Yu and Calli Valente. "Thank you, Barton. Go and check on base status." He regarded the three newcomers, "What can I do for you? Is this about the Tkrnn?" Torek and Valente sat down while the Section XO's aide Yu stood near the door.

"That in a moment. Gheskori, we've just heard some news from Alpha Promenade," Torek said, "A bystander witnessed Sean O'Toole being accosted by a couple individuals. She was unsure what took place, but shortly after they stopped him he collapsed unconscious and they took him away. Calli pressed her on a description of the two... Thomas and Mervin."

Gheskori held a hand to his forehead, "I was wondering when they'd crop up again. We should never have let Mervin go on bail," he sighed, "Do we have any idea where they've taken him?"

"Internal sensors lost them after they departed the promenade levels. They may have jammed sensors using any of a number of devices," Valente replied, "If they had access - as they did via Sean - to explosives, they could easily have procured something to do the job. I've informed Admiral Lemond and a junior colleague named Maerwicz, and they've begun a search of the levels surrounding the promenades. They're expanding the search with standard security personnel but as it is it could take a very long time."

"Ok... What about the Tkrnn?"

"It's impossible to tell how many might be leaving the Starbase, of course, or how many are aboard," Torek said, "But we're still reading the tagged Tkrnn - wearing the bracelet - in the low levels of the Dome. He seems to be minding his own business. The question is, Gheskori, do we want to keep using him or should he be forced to leave with the rest of the Tkrnn?"

The base was receiving news that the El Alamein and Maracanda - both in varying degrees of damage - had broken through Klingon and Romulan lines and were rushing back to the Starbase...

[Sean O'Toole]

"..... They're expanding the search with standard security personnel but as it is it could take a very long time," Calli informed Carl and the Section Admiral. As the two Seniormost Officers continued to discuss the situation, Calli said she would join Admiral Lemond, Lieutenant Maerwicz, and the others in the search for Sean O'Toole .....

Observation Lounge ...
Level Five Hundred
Dome ::

Calli met up with Nia and the Intelligence Officers:

"Any signs of the Changeling Admiral...?" she asked, seeing an Officer eyeing her, "... Something I can do for you, Lieutenant?"

"Sorry, Ma'am ..... Lieutenant Maerwicz, Intelligence. I transferred here a few weeks ago, so I'm getting used to faces," the man said apologetically, Calli accepted the apology, telling him no to worry, or ever call her Ma'am again:

"The Changeling is over there, he's hardly moved in the last twenty-four hours other than seeming to meander aimlessly here and there..." Lemond informed her, "...Let's go say hello," they walked over and stood in front of the Changeling, who hardly seemed to notice their presence until Calli leaned forward to get his attention:

"Some of your friends have taken a Civilian resident of the Starbase, we'd like to know where they are holding him,"

"What makes you think I would be privy to such information?" the Tkrnn asked warily.

"Well, for one, the people I'm referring to are acting, either directly or indirectly for you, and secondly, if you can't help I'm going to accidentally throw you out of the nearest airlock!"

"Your threats are meaningless young lady..." the Tkrnn said with an expression bordering on resignation, "... But, in the 'spirit' of our new-found partnership, I do believe I overheard a conversation regarding the fact that someone was taken into the Service Level below Delta Promenade, Level One Five Six Two, possibly," he said with a shrug.

"That was very fortunate of you," Maerwicz said, trying his best 'glare' at the Changeling, who completely ignored the man, instead asking how long he would have to endure being 'tagged' like some prized animal.

"As you said, the Federation and Tkrnn are partners now..." Nia said dangerously, "... It's only right that we keep a close eye on you. After all, we would hate for something drastic, to befall you, especially if your information is useless,"

"Indeed," the Changeling said, returning his gaze to the stars beyond the liquid-aluminium windows ..........

Delta Promenade ...
Service and Utilities Access
Level One Five Six Two ::

On Delta Promenade, Nia Lemond organised her Officers. They would move to the Service Level along with a detachment of Security Personnel supplied by Colonel Dúpin. The Changeling didn't have an exact location, or if he did he hadn't felt it necessary to give them an exact location. Thankfully it had been quite easy to locate four people despite the almost ten-kilometre circumference of the outermost Service tunnels ..... Sealing all but two of the Access and Jefferies Tubes, one on either side of where they believed Sean was being held, they dropped to the Service Level and began to approach the Utility Stores.

Ten metres from one of the rooms, one of the Security Personnel quickly held up a hand and then turned - He pointed to his ear, raised two fingers indicating two voices, and then pointed along the corridor. A moment later, they heard several sounds, undoubtedly punches landing on flesh, as at least one of Sean's captors hit him again and again. Angry, Calli raised her phaser and signalled for the Security Officer to approach the door. Once on either side of the half-closed door, she mouthed 'one-two-three' then the Security Officer grabbed at the door to pull it fully open, but one of those inside had heard movement and was already approaching the door from inside the room.

The door juddered and the Security Officer yanked his hand away several fingers were broken when the man inside booted at his hand. The door opened and phaser fire filled the access tunnel from the room, Calli rolled forward, firing high in the hopes Sean was either seated or on the deck, she hit the nearest man, Thomas or Mervin, she didn't know which, spinning him around. Realising they were caught, the second man turned, lifting a section of metal conduit above his head as he ran at Sean, clearly intending to kill the bar owner. Sean saw him coming and threw himself bodily backwards, the iron rod slamming into his knees almost shattering one, then he saw the hole appear in his attacker's chest before he dropped to the deck!

"SEAN." Calli said as the room filled with Security, Nia Lemond and the Intelligence Lieutenant following ..." Are you alright?" she asked as she and Maerwicz righted the chair he was tied to and began releasing his bonds.

"THE BAR...!" he shouted, already trying to get free despite Calli's asking him to be patient, "... THEY PUT A BOMB IN THE BAR!" Sean yelled, tugging at the half-undone cords.

"What?"

"HE'S PUT ONE OF THOSE BLEEDIN' EXPLOSIVE DEVICES I SUPPLIED IN MY BAR... KARA'S UP THERE!" Sean almost screamed in frustration, running for the door as the last of the ties were released.

"SEAN ..... WAIT!" Calli said as Nia quickly slapped her commbadge:

=^= Lemond to Colonel Dúpin =^=

=^= Dúpin =^=

=^= COLONEL .. .. You need to evacuate O'Tooles on Alpha Promenade and all establishments two hundred metres on either side .. NOW! =^=

=^= Admiral? =^=

=^= IMMEDIATELY COLONEL .. An explosive device may have been secreted somewhere on the premises =^=

=^= Understood =^=

"Lieutenant Maerwicz, remain here, contact Medical to have 'that' cleared up..." she said, pointing at the body of Mervin, "... Have Seciruty take him to Secure Holding, we'll be on Alpha," Lemond said as they rushed from the room.

Kara was at the bar talking to one of the customers when Security burst through the door! ..........

[Carl Torek]

Level 1551 ...
Alpha Promenade
Section 'B' Emergency Bulkhead
One Hundred Fifty Metres from O'Tooles Bar & Grill ::

Carl stepped out of the turbolift with two Security Officers, they had the Changling between them. He saw Sean O'Toole pacing back and forth in front of the raised forcefield, and instructing Security to keep the Tkrnn back, he walked over to his friend:

"Kara's safe Sean, she was taken out the moment the alert was raised,"

"Yes, I know, she's making her way here now..." Sean said eyes still looking along the now deserted Promenade. Almost two hundred meters away, outside O'Tooles Bar & Grill, Engineers were scanning the establishment for the explosive device presumed secreted inside, "... This all went 'pear-shaped' way quickly for my likin' Carl,"

"Yes, we clearly never envisioned any retaliation against you, I'm sorry we got you involved," Torek said as Kara came running towards them from back along the Promenade. She threw her arms around Sean and then turned to Carl:

"Who's done this?" she asked, knowing neither he nor Sean could answer her so contented herself knowing her Fiancé was safe and well.

Outside the Bar, one of the Engineers commed to say they were entering the establishment but had picked u no reading to indicate explosives were present. They knew of course that Sean, acting on Starfleet's behalf, had supplied several devices, some timer activated while several were proximity set. If one of the timed devices was in the bar it would be almost impossible to detect until it came online to complete the final seconds of its cycle, so caution was imperative, none of those searching would have time to flee should the device detonate!

The four disappeared out of site as Gheskori, Lemond and the others arrived .....

"What's he doing here?" Calli asked, glaring at the Tkrnn.

"I thought having him see 'first-hand' what his associates were up to might encourage him to be more forthcoming," Carl said, knowing he wasn't required to give any explanation for his actions.

"The Klingon and Romulan Representatives have asked if they can be present, they will be here shortly," Gheskori informed everyone present.

"Great ....." Admiral Lemond muttered under her breath.

The search inside the bar continued in earnest. Two of the Engineers had moved left on entry, the second two right, each was scanning the fixtures and fittings as they took cautious steps further into the establishment. An hour passed without anything being found, two of the Engineers returned to the Promenade to report, it was looking like the threat to the bar and those inside was false, nothing had been found despite an exhaustive search, but Carl wasn't happy about releasing the forcefields and reopening the Promenade immediately. After a moment's thought, he instructed the search teams to check the shops on either side of the Bar.

The four had left O'Tooles seconds before the device exploded!

Debris was strewn across the Promenade, the four Engineers were thrown off their feet, slamming into bulkheads opposite the Bar. Everyone on the other side of the forcefield jumped back, startled. Claxons sounded as emergency systems doused the fires started and replaced the depleted atmosphere quickly, Emergency Services lowered the forcefield momentarily and entered the blast area to help the injured ..... As the dust settled, they could see a hole where the doors to the Bar had once stood, the deck plating twisted and bent upwards in a jagged mass of metal, everyone realised that whoever had planted the device, presumably Thomas, Mervin, or one of their cronies, had placed it 'underneath' the doors, in the Service and Utilities Level 'below' Alpha Promenade!

Sean spun, eyes locked on the Tkrrn as he strode over until the Security Officers put themselves between their charge and the oncoming O'Toole.

"I imagine you're non too happy with your latest venture..." the Irishman said, ignoring instructions to step back as he continued to address the Changing in almost a whisper, "... I'll tell you this, fella, you'll regret today!" whether the Changling would have replied to Sean's barely veiled threat, became moot, as a second explosion rocked the Promenade! ..........

[Carl Torek]

OOC: Posting as Thomas ...

IC:

Six Hours Before the First Explosion ::


Thomas had gone to the rooms the group had been using and collected what he needed: Two of the remaining three explosive devices along with several other items he would require .....

It had taken a great deal of gold-pressed latinum to obtain the structural diagrams and access codes he needed, but now he was ready. At first, he had only planned to deceive the Irish Bar owner into believing his Fiancé and Bar were in danger, but given his belief that O'Toole might be working with, or at least, aiding, Starfleet and the Federation, he had decided to hurt the man where he could!

Finding the Access door, he waited until the area was clear then quickly clambered inside, sealing the hatch he made his way to the ladder and climbed down, now in the Service tunnels, he checked the schematic on the PADD - O'Tooles was approximately seventy metres ahead, so carefully he made his way forwards, pausing every few metres to ensure no one else was nearby. He checked the ident data on columns and finally reached the one he needed, according to the schematic he was now standing directly beneath the double doors into O'Toole's Bar & Grill on the Promenade above.

Retrieving a small tool from the bag he cut a circular hole in the underside of the deck plating above his head, spraying adhesive into the newly cut hole he pushed the explosive device, now configured to a 'shaped' charge, into the space prepared. Once it was secure he took a spray from the bag and aimed, activating sending a spray of liquid metal upwards to completely surround the explosive while leaving a small, almost invisible, three-centimetre antenna protruding from the seal, he tidied the area as best he could, happy that it would escape all but a thorough investigation, then returned everything to the bag. Taking a small control he made numerous setting adjustments, confirmed by a single 'beep'  then that too was returned to the bag. With one last check, he retraced his steps climbed back up to the Promenade Level, then cautiously opened the hatch and reemerged .....

Sure his movements hadn't aroused any suspicion he walked along the Promenade towards the Bar, a strange sense of 'danger' rushing through him as he glanced at the ornately engraved brass plate set into the deck in front of the door, denoting the Bar's name, knowing that in hours just a few short hours, it would no longer exist. He paused near one of the unoccupied shops opposite and cautiously removed the second device from his pack before attaching it to the uppermost corner of the shop's door. This charge, unlike the shaped one below, would detonate outward and hopefully cause further casualties. He grinned at the thought before walking away towards a bank of turbolifts, there he left Alpha Promenade.

Back on Level One Five Six Two, he found a battered and bloodied O'Toole, clearly, Mervin had been amusing himself. He leaned against the bulkhead, content that O'Toole was about to lose everything dear to him ..........

OOC: Posting as Torek ...

IC:


For several seconds after the detonation, everyone stood almost motionless as the forcefield erupted in some bizarre firework display ..... Even before the smoke and dust could settle, fire suppression systems burst to life dowsing the flames. Carl looked at the devastation as the air cleared, had the Promenade been open he dared not think of how many men, women, and undoubtedly children, would have died as a result of this blatant 'TERRORIST' attack, and at that moment he silently vowed to bring all of those responsible to justice, regardless of the consequences to him, the Starbase, or the very Federation itself!

"DROP THE FORCEFIELD ... NOW!" he ordered.

"Admiral, we can't do that, there's no tel ....." Dúpin began, falling silent as Torek turned on him.

"Drop the forcefield, Colonel..." Carl repeated emotionlessly, "... We have injured people in there," he finished, eyes locked on the Deputy Security Chief. After a moment's thought, Dúpin tapped his commbadge:

=^= Dúpin to Command .. Lower forcefield on Section 'B' now =^= there was a seconds delay then an audible crackle as the 'field dropped, instantly, the tortured air and burnt infrastructure invaded the group as Carl stepped over the threshold several Medics close behind looking for their colleagues. Remarkably, all four of the Engineers had survived, two with minor injuries, one with a broken arm, the other unscathed. Carl approached the one overseeing his colleagues:

"Lieutenant ....."

"Admiral,"

"What happened..." Carl asked quietly, "... How did you miss that second device?"

"Sensors didn't pick it up, nor did our preliminary scans before entering the Section Admiral, all I can think is that both devices were either shielded or cloaked," the man said as one of his colleagues was lifted onto a maglev bed. Carl turned through a full circle as he looked at the devastation wrought by the explosions, then made a decision as he saw Commander Malcolm Campbell, Head of Starbase Engineering and Maintenance, arrive with a group of his Engineers, he walked over to the man, waiting patiently while he gave orders to his team, in the lull he tapped the man on the shoulder:

"Commander ....."

"Admiral, what a bloody mess!" the Engineer said, shaking his head.

"How long before we can reopen the Promenade?"

"Sir?"

"How long?" Carl reiterated.

"A week, maybe two ....."

"You have forty-eight hours Commander,"

"With all due respect, but do I look like bloody Houdini Admiral?" the Engineer said, wondering if Torek had been somehow injured in the explosions.

"FORTY-EIGHT-HOURS, Commander, not a second more. I don't care how many people you have to put on this, snatch people from wherever you need to on my authority, but get this done ..... Understood?"

"..... Yes ..... Admiral ..... Understood," Campbell said, glancing at Gheskori, who had approached the two but hadn't interrupted the conversation. Once the Engineer walked away Gheskori made his presence known:

"You believe that timeframe doable?" he asked.

"Yes ....." Carl said, looking over Gheskori's shoulder, "... Where's the Changeling?" he asked ..........

[Nia Lemond]

Admiral Nia Lemond's Quarters ...
Level Sixteen ::

Computer .. Begin Recording:

Personal Log: Admiral Nia Lemond
Security Encryption Eyes Only
Stardate 2409.0205 ...

It is becoming abundantly clear, that the race now known as the Tkrnn, is intent on instigating a war between the Klingon and Romulan Empires. Their intentions for this, are as yet alas, unclear. But they are undoubtedly hoping that whatever losses both sides incur will only aid in their reaching their final goal. Why they chose to include the Federation, predominantly Starbase Forty-Seven, in their quest, is beyond reasonable conclusion at this stage, but safe to say they must believe that instigating hostilities between the two aforementioned races, both on the Starbase, and in deep space, could only advance their cause, and evidence indicating that they have already attacked vessels of both sides only strengthens this conclusion.

The untimely, and frankly 'irrational' arrival of the Federation Vice President, in my humble opinion only gives the Tkrnn another, one more important target to consider if they so chose to take that route. On my instruction, Security has been increased exponentially to ensure the Vice Presidents' safety, and I have, as Director of Starfleet Intelligence, assigned several Officers to shadow the Vice President and her enteragé while thorough investigations of her Staff and the Officers and Crew of the Presidential Flagship - USS Charleston are carried out during her stay on Starbase Forty-Seven, in the hopes that any information gained, regardless of importance or lack therof, could not only clear personnel, but pre-empt any attempt on her life.

It is clear that the Tkrnn, or Changelings, infiltration the Starbase, and possibly Starfleet Command itself, though as yet there is no evidence to confirm the latter assumption, may have employed additional malcontents to aid their cause, among these are the three 'known' Human associates, one of which is now deceased, while a second is in custody being questioned, while the third is presumed still at large. Regards the level of useful information concerning the Tkrnn and their activities, it is unlikely the surviving associate has any data that could directly benefit the Federation as a whole.

It has regrettably become clear that persons involved in this situation may be compromised by recent activities, legal or otherwise, which could result in errors of judgement on their part. Something I hope will not occur, but cannot be dismissed without investigation.

Re the explosions which occurred today on Alpha Promenade: These in my mind clearly targeted a Civilian, and former Intelligence Officer: Sean O’Toole, and have further escalated issues. It is plausible that their identification of this former Intelligence Officer could have made him and his associates, including his fiancé viable targets of opportunity. Along with the apparent unexplained disappearance of the 'tagged' Tkrnn Changeling, only strengthens my assumption that they being helped, which I stress again, could prove detrimental to the Starbase and the Federation, along with continued relations with the Klingon and Romulan Empires.

End Log .....

Shutting off the screen, Nia walked over to the settee and sat down, reaching over for her drink she sipped the red wine, enjoying the bouquet, minutes later she fell into a deep, restful sleep ..........

[Gheskori]

Alpha Promenade

"... Where's the Changeling?" Carl asked.

"Unknown. The command centre stopped receiving signals from his biometric bracelet about 45 minutes ago," Gheskori shook his head, "It's possible this event has forced him into hiding, now that he's seen it's not quite gone to plan. The question is how did he remove it without his tampering being recognised?"

"Where was the bracelet last detected?"

"Section E on Level 343. Security have investigated but were unable to locate... Presumably he's deactivated or destroyed it..."

While he was speaking the Klingon and Romulan ambassadors from Earth arrived along with their staff, both having heard while en route what'd happened but still shocked at the extent of the damage in front of O'Toole's and on the other side of the promenade. Their Vulcan mediator and colleague in Paris and San Francisco joined them. "Ambassador Crelev, Ambassador Chu'vok, and Ambassador T'Nul, welcome to the promenade. It's not usually like this I can assure you," the Denobulan said.

"That's good to hear, Admiral," the Romulan Crelev said pacifically, "I should notify you that the Vice President would like the tagged Tkrnn aboard the Starbase taken closer to Sol, to Starbase 8. Authorities from the core would like to question him, and so would I and Ambassador Chu'vok."

"That's just not possible. I'm afraid the Tkrnn has disappeared. We are conducting searches now," he glanced at Torek who seemed to say 'good luck with that'. Both were aware this Tkrnn had at least some shapeshifting ability. Whether or not that extended to non-humanoid forms was unknown, but if it did that would allow the Tkrnn to easily escape the bracelet - still though Ghes would've thought the bracelet would've detected such an attempt.

Chu'vok folded his arms in silence and the Vulcan T'Nul diplomatically acknowledged her Klingon colleague, "That's unfortunate, Admiral. The two empires of the Beta Quadrant are at the very brink. We would like to resolve this issue and for that we need the changeling whose people, we and our other colleagues on Earth now believe, are responsible for attempting to instigate this conflict."


The next morning, a conference room

Gheskori, Torek, Lemond, Dupin, Helgesen and the engineer Campbell sat round the table with the VIPs from the Charleston.

"Do you have a suspect?" Laterza asked as she stared at the wall display's silent recorded footage of the explosion on the promenade; no matter how many times she saw it, it was still shocking.

"We assume one of the Tkrnn, however many there are, is responsible," Dupin said, "But we can't discount the possibility they had help, mayble one of their associates scattered throughout the base. Perhaps even Mr Thomas, the businessman of that damned trio who's still active. I'd suggest it can't be the tagged Tkrnn as his bracelet was never detected anywhere near the promenade levels, until he accompanied you after the explosion," he nodded to Fleet Admiral Torek.

"Very well," Laterza turned to the Vulcan T'Nul.

"We've managed to foster strong elements in both the Romulan senate and the Klingon High Council that no longer believe their two species are responsible for the violence here," the ambassador told them, "We're keeping on trying to encourage those movements. Our hopes lie with convincing the praetor and his Klingon counterpart, but regardless, the Tkrnn's meddling here presents a new threat. Say the Klingons and Romulans are reconciled in short order. The Federation will still be at enmity with the Tkrnn. Luckily grand politics is my arena."

"I've howled over Ambassador Ch'Lor, to aid him on his way to Sto'vo'kor, despite the absence of a body," the delegate Chu'vok said suddenly and fell silent.

Crelev frowned at his colleague, "And I've spoken to our ambassador on the Starbase," he referred to Hazr'vat, "I've reprimanded him and am trying to force him to surrender his position. But when or if I return to New Romulus, it is I who may face punishment and not him. Unless you can avert this catastrophe," he regarded the six Starfleeters.

"We'll do our best," the Denobulan replied after a pause, "Well, whether or not Mr Thomas is responsible, or some Tkrnn, we need to find them immediately..."

As he spoke a picture frame on the section of wall behind the Klingon Chu'vok melted into a gelatinous silvery grey, a Tkrnn in its natural state... Going unnoticed, it dropped silently and slithered along the floor, rose up the Klingon's chair slowly and then shot towards his head and shoulders, enclosing itself round his neck and starting to choke him!

Ghes shot up from his seat; people were shouting, some diving towards Chu'vok to attempt to extricate him from the attacker. Ghes called in Laterza's security that waited outside; Commander Williams and a Starbase marine entered and aimed their Mk II phasers...

[Carl Torek]

Secure Conference Room 'C' ...
Mezzanine Level
Command Centre ::

"I have reprimanded Hazr'vat and am trying to force him to surrender his position. But when or if I return to New Romulus, I may face punishment, not him. Unless you can avert this catastrophe," Crelev replied, eyeing the Federation Officers.

"We'll do our best," Gheskori replied after a pause, "Well, whether or not Mr Thomas is responsible, or some Tkrnn, we need to find them immediately ....." before the Denobulan could continue, something rose and wrapped itself around the Klingon Diplomats neck and shoulders, Chu'Vok stood, stitching at the substance as he threw himself backwards. Slamming into the bulkhead beside the door he dropped to his knees, his face completely covered, it was clear to everyone that the Changeling was attempting to strangle or suffocate his Klingon captive, it was only Chu'Vok's strength and willpower that was keeping him alive!

Gheskori had called Security into the room, both Commander Williams and the Marine Lieutenant were covering the struggling Klingon trying to find an opportunity to fire without injuring the Klingon Diplomat, fortunately, or unfortunately, depending on your allegiance, Crelev didn't have the same concerns, he drew his disruptor and aimed:

"CHANGELING ..... Release your captive NOW, or I will remove you both from existence!" to make his point, the Romulan fired, burning a neat hole in the wall less than five centimetres from the fluidic mass. After several seconds, it began to release its hold, sliding down to the deck before reforming to a Human likeness. The Tkrnn eyed Chu'Vok as he pulled himself to his feet, his throat burning from the struggle to breathe, before he could regain full control of the senses, Gheskori ordered the Changeling moved to the far side of the room, instructing Williams and the Marine Lieutenant to set their weapons on maximum setting, and to fire on the Tkrnn should he, it, attempt to move.

After several moments, Chu'Vok spat bloodstained phlegm on the deck at the Changelings' feet and gave his oath that the Tkrnn would die at his hand before the day's end. The Changeling didn't react, which likely saved his life as Crelev replaced his disruptor, eyeing the Klingon with an expression approaching disappointment as he retook his seat.

"Are all the discussions on this Starbase so, entertaining?" he asked.

"Why...?" Carl said, addressing the Tkrnn, "... You must have known there was no way you would escape this room had you succeeded in killing him,"

"To make a point, Admiral..." the Changeling replied, a hint of sadness in his tone, "..... And just to clarify, had I wished the Ambassador dead, he would have died instantly,"

"THEN TRY AGAIN CHANGELING!" Chu'Vok shouted across the long table, but again the Tkrnn just smiled.

"I am not the one you are looking for. I watched as in the confusion of the second explosion my brethren escaped his watchers, not their fault I might add, given the circumstances it was understandable they chose to do the right thing, as you say,"

"How many of you are here?" Nia Lemond asked, waving Williams and the Marine back.

"Now, just him and myself, unless of course others have arrived without my knowledge, but I do not think that has happened. Two came here originally, I was sent to 'convince' them to return to our own space rather than pursue this futile war ..... One of us, as you are aware, sacrificed himself, a useless, futile waste..." the Changeling said, shaking his head, he fell silent for a moment before continuing, "... What is the word Humans use ..... 'Fanatic' ..... Hmm, yes, I believe he was a 'Fanatic' set on succeeding regardless of the cost, which we all know is growing exponentially,"

"Well if all goes well this 'war' they want won't come to fruition," Carl said.

"I think the 'Elites' as the Tkrnn with the ability to 'change' call themselves, and yes, I do know that I too fit into that category. But I assure you I have none of the fanatical compulsions the Elites possess..." the Tkrnn said with an all too Human shrug, "... War is secondary to them now, maybe the ones here have devised a means to inform their brethren of the situation, again I have no way to either confirm or deny, They just want to harm those who have,"

"Have... Have what, precisely?" Sabine Laterza asked, speaking for the first time since the start of the incident.

"Space... Madam Vice President... Space to live, space to thrive,"

"Why couldn't they simply come to the Federation for help?" Sabine asked, genuinely concerned.

"It is not in our nature to parade our, shortfalls, we are a very private, isolated Race. Asking for help from 'outsiders' would be, well, it just wouldn't be done,"

"I believe it would be appropriate to conclude this meeting until everyone is, rested," the Vulcan Ambassador commented, eyebrows raised as if half expecting someone to object, the Vice President nodded, rising to her feet.

"Sir..." Laterza began, frowning, "... Do you people have, names?"

"We do Madam, but they would be impossible for your vocal abilities to pronounce. Simply 'Tkrnn' or 'Changeling' will suffice when addressing me personally without any insult being incurred or implied,"

"OK ..... Then these gentlemen are going to escort you to a Secure location, will you give me your word you will do nothing to hinder that transfer?"

"You have my word, Madam Vice President," the Tkrnn replied, walking towards the door, Commander Williams, Lieutenant Finch, and Colonel Dúpin close behind him. He paused and turned at the door, "... Might I suggest you escalate your search for my fellow Tkrnn, he is alone now and I cannot be sure how he will react, but it will not go well,"

"We will," Nia Lemond confirmed. The Changeling nodded to the room in general and then left, his armed escort in close formation.

"Well 'that' could have gone better," the Head of Starbase Engineering said, clearly the understatement of the meeting.

"I will have to report to the President and the Council..." Sabine Laterza said as she and her Staff began to leave, "... I suggest we reconvene tomorrow?"

"As you wish," Gheskori said, lowering himself back into his seat. As the door closed the other Starfleet Officer did likewise ..........

[David Tan]

Aboard USS El Alamein ...
USS Maracanda Holding Station in Close Proximity
'L' Class Planetary Star System ::

The El Alamein in close proximity to the Maracanda were quickly running out of options ..... The Klingon and Romulan Vessels currently firing into the ring system both ships were hiding within were getting ever closer to the goal of presumably destroying the Federation Starships, or at the least, forcing them into the open, where one or both could face boarding!

"We need to make a run for it," Elena DeLuca said, voicing what everyone was thinking. Fran Komin had remained on the Bridge throughout the almost twenty-four-hour bombardment and silently couldn't have agreed more.

"Coms, open up a secure channel with Captain Manley, in my Ready Room please," she said, rising achingly out of the centre seat. Ten minutes later she returned to the Bridge, practically collapsing into her chair:

"Captain Manley agrees ..... So we're leaving ..... He believes our best initial chance is to drop below the rings and make our way to the far side of the planet below, before trying to make a run for home,"

"It's highly likely the Klingons 'and' Romulans will have thought of that, they'll be waiting for us, and in our condition, there's no way we can take on nine ships and come out the other side," David said.

"Well we'll just have to hope that they are not as on the proverbial 'ball' as you think, won't we..." Fran said with a wry grin, "... Helm, get ready, Comms, inform the Maracanda we're ready to go,"

"Maracanda confirms they are waiting on us, they will follow as agreed," the Communications Officer confirmed.

"OK, Sharon, drop us slowly under the ring system but not too far, I'd at least like a few seconds' grace before they come after us,"

Everyone on the Bridge, and undoubtedly throughout both Federation Starships was watching proceedings closely ..... Leaving the tentative protection of the enormous iron/rock asteroid, the two ships dropped on thrusters only, until finally the lower edge of the rings climbed upwards on the viewscreen. Once both ships, a mere two hundred metres apart, were clear, they began to move around the planet. Tom Demik at Tactical was watching the vessels firing into the rings for any signs they had witnessed the Starship's unannounced departure, confirming that they were still firing as the El Alamein and Maracanda passed around the dark side of the planet.

"Well, so far, so good," Iezelda Iezeld said nervously.

"Helm, plot a course that will take us wide of the group of ships then on to the Starbase..." Komin ordered, studying the tactical plot on the viewscreen closely, their issue being that whilst in hiding, they had no way of knowing where any of the other Klingon and Romulan vessels were in relation to their ideal escape route, "... As soon as we're in the open jump to warp,"

"Yes Captain," Lieutenant Sharon Yip confirmed from the Navigation Station.

The Maracanda, five hundred metres below and astern of the El Alamein was holding position, but her sensors had clearly picked up on something missed by the El Alamein, the Comm chirped to life as Komin and the others saw what her close companion had seen seconds earlier ..... As they had passed around the planet, they moved out of its gravitational influence and climbed back to celestial 'Zee', the tactical plot lit up with no less than eight indicators, all Klingon and Romulan!

"Holy hell!" David said, realising as had everyone else that their attackers had preempted their escape attempt and were now spread over almost half a light-year directly ahead.

"Captain, emergency communication from Starbase Forty-Seven!" the Comms Officer said suddenly.

"They will have to wait," Komin said, fighting not to rub the tiredness out of her eyes.

"Ma'am, they say we are to come out into the open and come to a complete stop. We're not to raise shields or bring weapons online!"

"WHAT?" David Tan spat.

"It's coming directly from Fleet Admiral Torek," the Comms Officer confirmed. During the brief exchange, Demik had been watching the blockade and informed Komin and the others that all the ships ahead were closing formation directly ahead.

"Helm ..... All stop, hold position, Comms, instruct the Maracand to follow suit," Fran said, completely confused until she was informed that Admiral Torek was on Comms.

"On screen," surprisingly, the screen split to show Captain Manley on the Maracanda, and Torek on the Starbase:

=^= Captain Komin .. We have contacted both you and Captain Manley simultaneously .. .. The situation has changed .. .. The vessels ahead of you have been ordered to allow you both safe passage to Starbase Forty-Seven =^=

=^= What's going on Admiral? =^= Komin asked.

=^= You'll be briefed on arrival here .. Begin your approach to the blockade at .. Full .. Impulse .. Only .. Do not go to warp .. A gap 'should' be opening ahead of you .. .. .. =^= Fran looked at Tom Demik, who nodded confirmation.

=^= Admiral .. There's an unidentified vessel somewhere in our Sector =^=

=^= We are aware Captain .. If it approaches the Klingons or Romulans will deal with it .. Begin your run now Captain .. .. Torek out =^= the comm from Torek snapped, off leaving a clearly puzzled Manley alone on the viewscreen.

=^= Full impulse Captain .. On my mark .. Now .. See you back at home =^= she instructed Manley before closing the comm link, then turned to Lieutenant Yip at Helm:

"Let's go before someone changes their mind," she ordered. The El Alamein moved off, the Maracanda five hundred meters off her Port Aft quarter. The Klingon and Romulan vessels loomed large on the viewscreen, Tactical informing everyone that 'all' of them had weapons locks on the two Federation Starships. Approaching at a relative snail's pace in aeronautical terms, they finally passed through the blockade, Komin's sigh of relief was premature as Demik informed them that two of the Klingon vessels had moved. Both had come around and were coming up on the El Alamein and Maracanda, Komin was about to order shields and weapons when the two Warships passed them and then turned away fast, clearly chasing something!

Breathing again, Fran instructed Helm to remain at full impulse before getting to her feet.

"I'll be in my Ready Room if anything else happens," she said, leaving the Bridge.

As Milo Van took the centre seat, David asked for the Aft view on the main viewscreen, admittedly surprised and confused at the sudden turn of events ..........

[Gheskori]

Gheskori was left feeling somewhat perplexed by the events of the meeting, which he supposed was to be expected considering another changeling had appeared and thrown itself at the Klingon delegate's face and neck. So there was now a third Tkrnn, but more unnerving was what the changeling had said after his abortive strangulation attempt.

"It doesn't seem right," he commented to Torek who remained in the conference room, "Did his explanation seem somewhat familiar to you?"

"Yes, by now it's seeming like a ready-made excuse, a line of reasoning they've been told to adopt if they get caught."

What the changeling had said was similar to what the Tkrnn who'd approached Torek and Yu - and held them captive in the Fleet Admiral's office before being detained and tagged with a biometric bracelet - had said: coming here to prevent those who'd preceded him from starting a war, claiming that it was the others who were the fanatics or rebels and so forth. It was possible this one was telling the truth, Ghes supposed, and that the old tagged Tkrnn had claimed the new one's story for his own, as if trying to claim he was on his side.

"I don't know if we can risk letting this one go like we did his predecessor," Ghes replied, "I understand security are still trying to find our missing friend with the bracelet."

---

He entered the command centre late the next morning, having spent the hours in his quarters pouring over reports and keeping himself appraised of the business with the blockade. The El Alamein and Maracanda had made it back through, he understood, despite the reluctance of a certain Klingon commander. There was some unidentified ship out there, too, to worry about, possibly having followed from the Ceylanite system.

It seemed that things were starting to cool off between the two Beta quadrant empires, at least in this and surrounding sectors. They had to keep encouraging matters in that direction, though as they did so, unavoidably a new antagonist appeared in ever sharper relief, the Tkrnn. A rebel faction, a fanatical splinter group, or their official state? For now it didn't matter. They simply had to find a way to eject all Tkrnn from Federation space.

"Admiral, we have news," Captain Helgesen alerted him on his entrance to the command centre, "Three officers and five enlisteds didn't report for duty this morning. It's a mixture of people from different departments with no seeming pattern, not even in the location of their residences, which seem to represent a random scatter."

"Do we have any bodies?" he asked, climbing on to the command platform in the centre of the amphitheatric room.

"No, sir. Missing completely," Dupin nodded and joined them.

Torek, Yu and the aide Barton joined Ghes, "Could Klingons or Romulans be responsible?"

"I doubt it," Ghes shook his head, "Most of them are locked down in their quarters for their safety. And it wouldn't be in their interests to attack Starfleet officers; they're dependent on the Federation to mediate things between them, or if some of them are still set on conflict, they'd attack each other and not Starfleet. No, a Tkrnn must be responsible. Inform Vice President Laterza and double her security detail, until I can suggest she depart."

---

He'd met with the businessman's surviving associate and headed up from the guildhall on Gamma Promenade to the security levels, using his own regular humanoid Tkrnn appearance and having only used his shapeshifting ability to make small adjustments of Tkrnn into human features.

He was only a minor member of the elite, overall possessing limited changing ability. His true skills lay in diplomacy rather than covert ops and espionage, but he still had his shapeshifting energy reserves (impersonating Torek and then changing form to escape from the biometric bracelet hadn't exhausted them by far).

He was highly valued by the supreme rulers of the Tkrnn, a different group from 'the elite' (the latter those with a lot of 'Founder' DNA). The command of this pathfinding expedition was his, this scouting out of the peripheries of the supreme rulers' planned new territory that lay across the Klingon and Romulan dominions. The Federation was one of their most potent prospective new enemies, and would have to be broken before the founding of a new state could take place on the ruins of two empires...

Putting all his effort into a change, he slipped through the gap in a poorly designed forcefield and entered the main detention centre. He located the captive, incapacitated a guard by moulding his left hand into a hammer and deactivated the cell's forcefield. "Let's go," he said to Botracht. "Your associate has sent for you."

Botracht trembled as he hesitantly followed the Tkrnn, "Wha- ...? Just one associate?"

"Mervin is dead, killed when Intelligence found a certain bar owner who your associates had kidnapped. Come on!" Botracht mumbled a question, asking why on Earth the Tkrnn was helping. "If you must know, my Tkrnn colleagues on the Starbase have thought of a new use for you and Mr Thomas."

[Carl Torek]

Stardate: 2409.0211
Fleet Admiral Torek's Office
Starbase Forty-Seven ::

Two days had passed ..... The El Alamein and the Maracanda had returned to the Starbase, battered and bruised from their endeavour... Both had docked and were already undergoing extensive repairs and refit.

The search for the missing Starfleet Personnel had turned up nothing ..... Carl had asked Nia Lemond and Colonel Dúpin to put whatever resources they could on the search, but as yet none of the missing had been found. He had the service records on the large screen in his office, but despite staring at the screen until his vision blurred he couldn't find one thing the missing Personnel had in common, other than the fact they were all in Starfleet!

More worrying, was the glaring fact that no one had come forward with information: Both Security and Intelligence had their sources, people who for a price could supply information, yet this time there was none, not a word, not a hint, either these people were too frightened to come forward, or as it seemed, the eight people missing simply - VANISHED!

ooo000ooo

Carl sat in his office with Commander Malcolm Campbell, Head of Starfleet Engineering on the Starbase, Carl wouldn't say it out loud, but the man looked like hell. He had taken the 'instruction' to have repairs to the damaged Section of Alpha Promenade, and more importantly - O'Tooles Bar & Grill - to heart, and had remained on the Promenade throughout the repairs. He had pushed his Corps of Engineers hard, yet to a man, not one had complained. They had even taken the time to replace the ornate brass threshold plate at O'Toole's. Carl had been down to the Promenade that morning and was admittedly surprised at the work completed, and the bar itself was due for their reopening that evening.

The Federation Vice President - Sabine Laterza, had initially ceded to Gheskori's request that she departs the Starbase, more for her own safety than any other consideration. But having heard the Promenade was to reopen, she had, presumably taking the photo opportunity, decided to make an impromptu appearance, something that was undoubtedly giving Gheskori nightmares! ..... So, rather than open the fitted Section to the general populace, Nia Lemond had suggested they hastily compile an 'invitation list' made up of Starfleet and Civilian dignitaries, Colonel Dúpin had made his opinion on this clear, and was none-too-happy to have his concerns dismissed out of hand by the Vice President. He had therefore instructed a substantial number of Security and Marine Personnel to dress in civilian wear to attend the opening incognito .....

The previous day, Carl had requested that both the Klingon and Romulan Federation Council Representatives meet with him, separately, where he asked both candidly if they had nothing to do with the disappearances, and if not, had they had acquired any information pertinent to said disappearances? ..... Both expectedly objected to being accused, and both said they had any pertinent information to aid the ongoing search.

He suddenly realised he had apparently been daydreaming, and consequently ignoring the Chief Engineer. However, it was instantly apparent that he needn't have been worried given the man was in a deep sleep in the chair opposite .....

Alpha Promenade
21:00 hrs ::

He and Calli walked along the newly revamped section of Alpha Promenade, he'd left Commander Campbell fast asleep in his office after giving instructions to one of the Duty Officers to wake him at nineteen hundred, he didn't want the man to miss the party after all. It had annoyed him that the Federation Vice President had invited herself to the opening, as was her right of course, it just meant she would be on the Starbase, and ergo in danger for that much longer. Now, rather than the general population of the Starbase being able to enjoy the opening, it had been hastily limited to an invited few, and even then almost thirty percent of those present were civilian-garbed Security Personnel!

As they walked over towards their close friends' bar, they admired the ornately two-metre by one-metre engraved plate in front of the doors showing the emblem of O'Tooles Bar & Grill .....

Sean, seeing them stood outside, made his excuses and came out to meet them:

"Well, I have to say, that Engineer of yours truly did a fine job of fixin' up our bar Carl, I'll have to stand him drinks for the duration of his assignment this Starbase and that's for sure." the Irishman said, grinning ear to ear as Kara came over to hug Carl and Calli. Calli grinned moving aside to talk to Sean's fiancé as Carl shook his head.

"Well I'd start saving, It's doubtful Commander Campbell will be reassigned anytime soon, in fact, I'm pretty sure this will be his last assignment before the takes retirement,"

"Bloody hell, I'll be broke and destitute by then..." Sean said, shaking his head theatrically before leaning close to Carl to whisper, "... Those bloody Federation Representatives are here, there's something decidedly queer about them three if you ask me, which, of course, you didn't but hey, maybe I'm just being a little paranoid, wouldn't be the first time I'm sure,"

"Something happened I should be worried about...?" Carl asked, casually looking around the throng of people before spotting the Klingon Representative Chu'Vok, T'Nul, the Vulcan Representative was standing with one of the Junior Diplomatic Liaison Staff, of the Romulan, at first he couldn't see him, then spotted the man off to on side seemingly deep in conversation with someone. Crelev was clearly concerned about being overheard as he couldn't stop looking at those nearby, "... Who's the Romulan talking to, do you know?" he asked casually. Sean glanced over at the two then frowned.

"Hmm ....."

"What?" Carl asked.

"Nothin' ... Sorry, listen, let's get ya's inside and get you both a drink, you must be parched," Sean said, tapping Kara and Calli as he passed them. Carl followed them in but Calli had seen his expression.

"Something wrong?" she asked, accepting a flute of champagne from one of the Staff. Carl shook his head and took a glass. Later, when he had a moment where Calli and Kara were talking to some of the guests, he turned to Sean:

"Well...?" he asked cryptically, "... Mind telling me what got your attention earlier?"

"It might have been nothin' but for a moment I could have sworn that the Romulan was talking to a Starfleet Officer ....."

"..... Nothing wrong with that, is there?"

"No, nothing, if just seemed a little, strange that a Romulan Diplomat would have more to say than a passing comment to an Ensign..." the Irishman said, shrugging, "... Hell ..... Maybe I'm seeing things ..... Well now, Section Admiral Gheskori, and what can I be gettin' for such an esteemed guest?" Sean finished, clearly changing the subject as Gheskori approached, Carl decided to have surveillance reviewed the next day on the off-chance he could see just who the former Intelligence Officer could be referring to! ..........

[Gheskori]

"... Well now, Section Admiral Gheskori, and what can I be gettin' for such an esteemed guest?" Sean finished.

"Umm, whatever's popular at the moment," Gheskori gave the unnaturally wide Denobulan smile.

"I'm on it." O'Toole scooted behind the bar and set to work, grabbing different bottles and a mixing glass, Ghes curious though also somewhat dismayed at the drink's apparent complexity. He turned away and asked Carl what he and Sean had been talking about. Torek told him about O'Toole's suspicion of the Romulan delegate from Earth talking to a Starfleet ensign.

"There's other news you may find somewhat disturbing," Ghes said to him, "Botracht has escaped."

"What!"

"Yes, so it seems. Not without help, I'm sure. My suspicions fall on the Tkrnn again, whichever one of them it was. Perhaps there was - and is - more than one. The same as with the disappeared eight officers and enlisteds - a Tkrnn would seem to have been responsible." As for the Romulan Crelev and his new friend, Ghes couldn't say. He'd have to see some evidence.

Torek talked about Command Campbell falling asleep in his office. Ghes nodded. "He's not here now. A couple officers who went to get him couldn't stir him, so between them they carted him asleep to his quarters."

"Here you go, laddie," O'Toole reappeared and handed Ghes a pint glass of dark amber liquid; likely a beer of some sort. He nodded and eagerly took a sip, thought it palatable and took a gulp. He recoiled, and had to summon up a lot of willpower to keep from spewing the liquid across the wood floor and up O'Toole's shins.

"Gah! What is that?"

"A 2:1 mixture of Guinness and champagne, Mr Gheskori," O'Toole said as if it was obvious.

"Guinness? Tell me of this... Guinness. And why did it take so long? It looked to me as if you were making a slightly more elaborate cocktail than that."

"No," Sean shook his head innocently, "That was for the Fleet Admiral," and he slapped a glass of delicately mixed - and rare - Alpha Quadrant spirits into Torek's hand, "Drink up, Carl me boy." Torek winced and drank it.

So it seemed that Botracht - along of course with Thomas - was now on the loose again. Gheskori left the bar for a time and rendezvoused with Laterza a little down the promenade. "Ms Vice President," he greeted with decorum, "Are you planning to depart after this event and ceremony?" For so it had become, he thought.

"No, Gheskori," she absorbed his look of distress, "There's more still to do here. I know you say you can't vouch for my safety,but then you'd better do something to guarantee it. I'm reliant on you, Gheskori. As I'm reliant upon Crelev." Ghes was surprised by the weight she gave to the Romulan delegate's influence. How so? he asked. "Between you and me, he's a close adviser in this matter," she said, "Chu'vok is knowledgeable but distant, and unwilling to volunteer anything like as much about the Klingon Empire's current political arrangements. It's not the same with Crelev. Yes, you'd expect it to be other way round, wouldn't you? Crelev knows things about the Tkrnn that we don't, all the Romulans do of course. I've been prising information from him about what the Star Empire has learnt in their conflict with the Tkrnn, and he helps me decide how to handle them here."

"I'd warn against 'leaning on him too heavily', Ms Vice President. We know that the Romulans always try to work things to their own advantage."

"Can we really blame them? We do the same," she replied, and Ghes was forced to admit the truth of it. "Besides, that's what Chu'vok's for. Now, where is he?" she looked irritated and went off to find the Klingon.

Gheskori went around meeting and greeting various people, making small talk and pointing out to them various parts of the promenade where he thought repair work might've been done, meanwhile thinking about the eight missing people. Little did he know they were no longer on the station, some of them indeed no longer whole - remains hanging suspended and drifting out there in the vacuum round the station - but three still alive and elsewhere...

[Nia Lemond]

Level 1551 ...
Alpha Promenade
23:30 hrs::

She had been making the rounds, making small talk with numerous guests and 'dignitaries' for the last four hours .....

"Will you 'stop' tugging at it," she heard her Adjutant, Erin whisper from behind her, she turned and gave the young Commander what she hoped was a withering look.

"Who's idea was it that we turn up in full dress uniform anyway?" Nia asked, smiling at someone as they passed.

"You got the memo just like I did, the Section Admiral made the decision when he found out the Vice President was making an appearance, protocol, and all that," Erin said, grinning as her boss again put a finger into the collar of her dress tunic before tugging at it as if the thing was actually trying to strangle the life out of her.

"Beats me why she came here in the first place, pure publicity hunting if you ask me," Nia replied, finally giving up on the collar, vowing to have the thing sorted at the first opportunity. She was about to ask Erin to get her another drink when one of Sean's Staff wandered too close and she plucked a flute of champagne deftly off the tray she was carrying.

"Has the 'VP' spoken to you since she arrived?" Erin asked, frowning.

"Yes, she said 'hello' then made a bee-line for the Vulcan Ambassador, no doubt looking to secure the 'Vulcan vote' at the next elections,"

"You think she'll run for the Presidency, I thought Ra-Ghoranni was set to secure another term?" the Adjutant queried as she watched a Security Officer approach Theo Dúpin and whisper urgently n his ear. Dúpin did his best to hide any reaction, but Erin was skilled in detecting the most subtle of reactions, regardless how hard the person tries, and she knew something was amiss, she nudged Nia and motioned towards the two.

"Maybe he's complaining that he didn't get an invite," Lemond said sarcastically seeing the man in Duty Uniform.

"No, something's up..." Erin assured her. They watched as Dúpin 'casually' looked around the room until he found who he was looking for, he spoke to his Officer who moved away but not too far, as the Deputy Security Chief approached Admiral Torek, then, trying not to attract any undue attention, the two entered O'Tooles. A few seconds later Kara Devlin, Sean's fiancé walked over and asked the two if they would join Carl in the back room of the bar. Placing her glass on the nearby table, Nia headed in, her Adjutant a pace behind her, "... Told you," Erin said dramatically. Inside the bar, they went straight to the back room as requested, inside Carl was sitting at the sophisticated surveillance equipment as Dúpin looked on over his shoulder.

"Problem?" Nia asked.

"You might say that..." he said, shutting off the screen before standing to stretch an imaginary ache out of his back, "... It seems that one of the Enlisted Personnel that had gone missing, has turned up, or at least, part of her,"

"Excuse me?" Lemond queried.

"One of the scheduled maintenance shifts doing scheduled maintenance on the shield generators at Level one one five three, found something caught in a nearby antenna array..." Carl explained, emptying his glass, "... They reported it to their Shift Supervisor who told them to get the hell out of there and keep their mouths shut when they dock. The Supervisor checked the onboard recording and found himself looking at the bottom half of a woman in a Starfleet uniform. Security is talking to them now,"

"Do we know who it is, or how she got outside?" Nia asked all thoughts of the garotting collar forgotten.

"Security is retrieving the body as we speak..." Theo Dúpin confirmed, "... They will keep it out of the public eye, and transfer it to Secure Medical on Level eight two one,"

"Can we assume that she is one of the missing Personnel?" Nia asked.

"Well, it would be one 'hell' of a coincidence if she wasn't..." Dúpin said, immediately regretting the comment, "... I'll get up there, I've already asked someone to 'discreetly' inform Doctor Yalo,"

"It's going to be noticed if all the Senior Officers suddenly start making for the door....." Erin Paquin commented.

"Nia, you go, I'll remain down here until things start to quiet down," Carl said as he headed for the floor. The four left the secure office and headed back to the party. After a few minutes, Dúpin made his excuses, siting an early start next morning, and left, Nia waited until no one seemed eager to talk to her and she too ducked out, leaving Erin to make the proverbial rounds ..... Carl meanwhile had picked up another glass of champagne and took a circuitous route until he caught up with Gheskori. Asked about the new look of the Promenade by one of those in the small group with Gheskori, Carl gave his approval, glancing at the Section Admiral to silently make him aware he needed a word ..........

[David Tan]

USS El Alamein ...
En Route out of Ceylan'tar Space
One Week Earlier ::

The El Alamein with the Maracanda in close formation had tentatively approached the blockade - As informed, a space opened up when two of the ships moved away at high impulse ..... Following Admiral Torek's instructions to the letter, the Intelligence Officers watched as they passed at full impulse, a snails-pace in the grand scheme of things, but who was to argue with what amounted to a proverbial 'Get-Out-of-Jail-Free' card!

The next few days passed with everyone's nerves on end as not wanting to spend close to a month travelling back to Starbase Forty-Seven, they had been granted permission to pass through the galactic southernmost Sector of Romulan Space - This in itself was something of a lottery, given not 'all' Romulan patrols had been informed of their transit, and several times they had been forced to a complete stop while permits were checked with the appropriate authorities. Finally moving into open space and approaching the Yattho System, Fran Komin had ordered both Starships to increase to warp two ..... The air on the El Alamein tasted 'stale' though everyone knew that this was pure imagination given the air was purified and recirculated constantly, David had grinned having overheard one of the crew comparing their situation to an old enemy submarine being forced to wait on the bottom for their ever-vigilant pursuers to give up and leave .....

Starbase Forty-Seven ::

Having finally been given the authorisation to approach the Starbase, Komin had given Grant Manley leave to make his own way in, while she instructed her Executive Officer to oversee docking procedures.

Once docked, David and the others headed had headed straight up to the Command Centre and the Intelligence Offices to file their reports ..... David had fully intended to head to his quarters and sleep for at least two full days, which, he decided, would ensure he was rested enough to take a few days of the almost three hundred he'd accrued over time, he'd been told O'Tooles was reopening after the explosions that all-but devastated the Section the Bar was in, so despite his need for several nights of uninterrupted sleep, he set his alarm to wake him in good time to get himself refreshed and down to the celebrations.

Next Day ::

Waking after what he decided was a good sleep, he stretched the aches out of his limbs and put his hands behind his head, he'd get up and shower once he was fully awake he decided, in the quiet, he heard a mutated 'beeping' and realised that he'd slept through several comm requests - Scrolling down the list he knew none of them was vitally important, or no doubt someone would have come to get him personally, so picking one at random he contacted Calli Valente aboard the still docked USS Raven-C, and after a 'catch-up' as Calli always called their talks, they arranged to meet at Sean's that evening.

Finally realising he couldn't simply lay around for the day, he got up and showered before dressing ... Normally he would get something to eat from the replicator, but today he decided to treat himself - Leaving his quarters he headed to a small Café on Delta Promenade, it was owned by an elderly curmudgeon of a man from Earth, named unsurprisingly, Alfred, who he was sure could have been a Butler to some Lord or Lady on Earth in a former life, David was pretty sure the man's age was well into three-figure range, yet Alfred always insisted he was only seventy-five, something David doubted given the man had claimed to be that age since they had met almost fifteen years earlier.

"Ahh, if it isn't the Secret Agent!" Albert said by way of a greeting. David had long lost count of how many times he'd asked the old man 'NOT' to refer to him as a 'SPY' but it always seemed to fall on deaf ears ..... Dropping onto one of the outdoor barstools, he picked up the menu and watched as early morning trading got underway, he was about to order when a plate of bacon, eggs, and waffles, coated in a copious helping of maple syrup was plonked in front of him along with a large mug of strong coffee, something he only drank when here.

"Enjoy," the man said in his usual grumpy manner, leaving before David could comment on his unrequested breakfast, more than enough to satisfy two, maybe three people if shared. Nevertheless, he picked up the fork and cut a generous piece of waffle off before shoving it into his mouth, as usual, it was like some long-forgotten memory had been recalled and before he knew it he had finished the plate.

"So what you been up to then, out catching the baddies I bet?" Alfred asked as he dropped onto the stool next to Davids.

"You know I can't talk about work, and will you 'PLEASE' stop announcing me to all and sundry as a bloody SPY!"

"Fine, sooo, anything juicy in the offing, I'm sure I could help, if the call came," the in-denial centenarian asked.

"Routine as always," David said dismissively, hoping that Alfred would drop the subject, alas he was going to have no such luck.

"You missed it all while you were out galavanting ....." the elderly Café owner said, leaning in to continue his tale. Sighing, David tried not to glance up at the chronometer on the large screen that showed vessel movements in and out of the Strabase ..........

[Gheskori]

Deeply disturbed to learn about the part of the Starfleeter found stuck to an antenna far below, Gheskori withdrew from the party or ceremony or whatever it might be. Later DNA tests would tell them that the remains belonged to Petty Officer Minton, one of the eight missing personnel.

"Ah, and that matter you mentioned earlier, something that O'Toole thought he'd seen?" he asked. Carl said he was waiting to be updated by Sean on suspicions he'd had about the delegate Crelev talking with the Starfleet ensign.

With the events of the ceremony winding down - the dignitaries and other VIPs having drank their drinks, talked to who they felt they needed to talk to, and the like - Ghes started walking from the promenade, satisfied things - though hectic and unprecedented - were well in hand.

All Klingons and Romulans killed the explosions over the last couple weeks had been either accounted for or officially declared missing persons, and those who fell in the latter category were made up solely of those who were known not to have been in the vicinity of any of the trouble, except for the huge detonation which had probably killed Ch'Lor and taken a changeling with it.

Things were still tenuous in the extreme between the Klingons and Romulans, and something could be sparked any moment. But at least Section 47 now had another Vulcan ambassador aboard the Starbase - T'Nul - as well as the Vice President and her two senior diplomats from the two empires in tow from Earth. The first arriving Vulcan - Malvik - had left to travel into the border country of the Klingon and Romulan territories to assist negotiations and try to quell the rage of various border outpost COs.

Commander Dolqar and his cruisers had withdrawn several lightyears and set up their blockade, and - albeit reluctantly - had agreed to manoeuvre to allow the Maracanda and El Alamein to come back through, those two ships currently en route.

Ghes was under no delusions that the trouble between the two Beta quadrant powers was far from over, if it could even be said to have reached any sort of beginning of the end, something of which he was dubious. As long as there was no conclusive proof of what'd caused the explosions here on the Starbase, and as long as the Tkrnn were still out there, attempting to catalyse a conflict, things would remain difficult.

And admittedly the Tkrnn in and of themselves were a serious problem for the Federation...

Who exactly was responsible for the probable loss of all eight of those officers and enlisteds? The Klingons and Romulans still aboard were all locked down. The Denobulan could only think it was due to the Tkrnn. But which one?

Not presumably the one thought lost in the explosion that'd taken out Ch'Lor and most of his senior embassy staff. There was a Tkrnn in voluntary custody - the one who'd perhaps pretended to try to throttle Chu'vok. And that left one unaccounted for... the Tkrnn who'd briefly impersonated Torek and had shaken off base authorities by losing his biometric bracelet and disappearing just after the explosion at the entrance of O'Toole's.

But then perhaps there were other Tkrnn aboard - what the latter two changelings had said seemed to suggest that much. Both had claimed to be here trying to prevent those who'd preceded them into the Alpha and Beta quadrants from starting a conflict (both also claimed to be a good sort of Tkrnn, working on behalf of their government's executive).

Later Dupin and several returned Intelligence officers would find traces of Tkrnn DNA on Petty Officer Minton's lower body. Enough was enough! They would have to try to tackle the Tkrnn directly, and it would have to be more than asking all Tkrnn to leave Federation space.

Rounding the corner to approach the bank of turbolifts that would take him up into the Dome, Ghes was suddenly confronted by Mr Thomas! Botracht's business associate's features seized in anger and he swung at the Section Admiral. Ghes leant backwards and just avoided taking a strike to the chin; unfortunately, he lost his balance and fell to the deck on his back. He cried out for assistance; Torek, Valente and his ADC Barton came running around the corner.

Thomas stood over him and raised an elbow, jumping and making to break Gheskori's ribs. The Denobulan rolled aside and scrambled to his feet, gripping the off-balance Thomas by the raised arm. The businessman was unbelievably strong. Ghes held on to the arm with both hands, trying to wrench it around so he'd pin him to the floor, but Thomas, trying to force his arm in the opposite direction, let out a roar and slowly began overcoming him...

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..... End of Thread .....

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