S1 - Mission 6 - Killer Cove

[Michael J. Tritter]

too Columbus, so they are not smugglers...this is fake, appears legit but does not make sense

With his communicator at hand he began thinking  and said What have you two found out? =/\

Tritter was not impressed with Jett's antics, but the Chief made no comment, he had zero interest in indulging the man. Tritter however, left the man alone, as he knew the amount of trouble they could get into was fairly minimal. He had been keeping an eye on one of the Engineering Officers when he heard that he was beckoned for.

[Tripoli]

There was something almost freeing about using the Starfleet Transporters. The way their atoms were broken down and reassembled; a split second existing everywhere and no where at once. It was almost poetic to say the least. Still, Octavius did not let it distract him from his duty as he led the way to the engine room. He was as eager to explore it as the higher ups were to know what they would find.

The tight fight between consoles and other equipment was no problem for the young man. What was a problem was the way one of the consoles appeared jerryrigged together. Putting his weight into it, Tav attempted to move the paneling that was wedged into place but it would not budge. "Commander?" he called out. "Going to need a hand over here if you don't mind." There did not appear to be any screws holding the paneling in place, he just needed a bit more strength.

Tritter shifted a bit to figure out the source of the beckoning, he would than notice Cadet Reo who had requested his assistance. The Chief replied with "Happy to", in a cool and collected tone as he responded. He made his way over towards the Cadet, as he looked over the situation, although the large man was unsure what exactly the Cadet was trying to do. He would take a moment before he replied with "How may I help you?" The Chief had several thoughts in his mind of what the man wanted him to do, but he wanted to make sure before he put 350 pounds of muscle to use and break something that might be bad of him to break.

Although his attention had been caught by the Engineering Officer he was with beckoning for him in a nervous sounding tone, "Commander, you might want to come here" He would shift his gaze towards Reo "Come with me" He moved quickly over towards the Ensign who had beckoned for him. The man than said, "Sir, take a look" and gestured off to his left, the man's voice was panicked, he didn't know what to do in this situation, he was an Engineer, not a bomb expert. Tritter looked at it, his blood ran cold, he knew immediately what it was and the danger they were in. And they had very limited time, about fifteen minutes worth to get everyone off the ship before they were blown sky high. Although he pondered leaving Jett behind, but even he isn't that big of an asshole.

He took a moment to reply, he had a good idea of the lay of the vessel as they had investigated as much as they could without giving them away. He than stated, "Cadet, Ensign, go to Deck 23, get the Escape pod ready. I will round up the others, and I will get a distress call out to the Gibson. Move" He made his point very clear, he would than exit the area and make his way over towards the Engine Room where Pardek was, he had to actually go to her as again, he was comm badge less. He would than make his way over towards her, it was obvious something was not right as he moved in a very quick fashion. He than looked towards the other Lieutenant Commander, before he replied with "Commander, we need off this ship, now, Deck 23, meet the others at the Escape Pod, I have to get Jett" his tone was calm and collected, he hoped she would simply follow his directions.

He would than exit, next stop, find Jett and get a distress call out. He checked his watch, 3 minutes gone, he should be ok than. He would eventually find Jett about a minute later in the Captain's ready room. He looked at him and stated a simple, "Jett, this vessel is rigged to explode, we have 11 minutes to get off of this tin can. Get down to Deck 23, don't ask any questions" He didn't have time for the man's second guessing nature, so he hoped they would just listen. Tritter than made his way to the bridge, he wasn't much of a comm's guy, but he knew the basics and that would be all he needed. He than sent the following distress call to the Gibson, he wasn't sure who would be on the other end, the message was calm "Gibson, this is Commander Tritter aboard the Tripoli, the vessel is rigged to explode, we will be leaving by Escape pod unless you can beam us off" He wasn't sure if they could, since things had gone this far off from what they had been, he would not be surprised if there was no way to get them all off the Tripoli, and he would rather be safe than sorry, as there is six other peoples lives that are in his hands. He would wait about thirty seconds for an acknowledgement back, as he really didn't want to be on this tin can when it blew sky high. He had nine minutes at this time to get to the other end of the ship and on the escape pod, or get transported off, whichever would be the option available.

[Vem, son of Motag]

[Sickbay]

Vem bowed his head, placing the disruptor on the deck reverently- like an delicate artifact before he knelled before the piles of ash.

"Yours was a path unlike ours. In the name of the Elements, I witnessed your coming and your going. I saw you in a moment of weakness and offer my pleas to the Archelement, who oversees all other elements, that your journey is swift and that you return to the universe as more than you were." Vem intoned, prostrating himself on the ground before standing up- the disruptor admits the ash now like some sort of grave marker.

"Please forgive my... lack of grace." He said in his raspy voice to the room, "Wasn't supposed to end like that... but I sa'poze it was bound to."

If he didn't love his enemies he couldn't say he loved the universe. And he deeply loved the universe...

[Katheryn Brighton]

Sickbay

Everything seemed to happen so quickly that Katheryn took a couple of moments to allow her brain to catch up with what she had witnessed. Taken hostage, the demands, the Klingon chaplain protecting one of their own to finally the two obvious Romulan officers masquerading as freighter crew sacrificing themselves and now it was over almost as quickly as it had started. Taking her hands away from her head and putting them back down, she looked around at those gathered and wondered if they too felt the same but was unsure what to say at first.

After a few minutes she decided it was probably best for her to return to the Bridge and inform the Captain about what had transpired. " I'll head back to the Bridge and inform the Captain" she said to the room in general taking one last look at where the two had stood before turning round then walked out into the corridor. She had a brief conversation with her team who had met her at the door and headed for the turbolift assuming that Black would follow her. Once the lift doors closed, she called for the Bridge and leaned against the rail slightly her mind still a whir with everything as it took her up through the ship.

Bridge

The lift doors opened and Katheryn stepped out first not quite sure how she was going to explain it properly to the Captain but would least tell him everything that she had witnessed. She walked down to the command area and stood to attention " Captain there was a situation down in Sickbay that has now been resolved turns out the Freighter crew were Romulans".

[Safefta Pardek]

[Tripoli]

With Jett firmly out of the way, there had been nothing stopping Safefta from quickly going her way with her equipment. Her silent security guard said nothing to her, even as her expression narrowed while she pressed further into the intricate wiring and pathways of the ship's nervous system. There was something wrong here, something that didn't attach itself properly to the notion of being a human smuggler's vessel.

No, there was something very not-human about this indeed. The cross-hairs of the wires, the way the plasma conduits, even in their fried-out state, laid against one another. She had reached the source of the damage before it finally clicked. This was not a human vessel, no. She ripped a panel off the side of the console controlling the inertial dampers, and it cemented it, completely. The burnout markings and char lines were consistent with a feedback loop-- one certainly not accidentally placed.

This was a Romulan maneuver-- very specifically, a Tal'Shiar tactic. Disable the plasma filtration system, re-route the plasma back into itself until the contaminants destroyed and corroded the innards of the internial dampers. As this was a relatively easy fix if one knew what was going on, it was excellent for diversion, while still looking like a much bigger problem that it was.

Safefta had replaced plasma systems for many ships in the RSE where the Tal'Shiar had used this tactic. She barely had the time to load this information onto a PADD before Tritter interrupted. Explosive-rigged. Of course. How could she had not realised? She nodded her acknowledgement before dashing off to the nearest escape pod, security officer in tow. She doubted, even with her knowledge, that she could disable the explosives herself in time.

[Almar Dah el]

[Sickbay]

Vem bowed his head, placing the disruptor on the deck reverently- like an delicate artifact before he knelled before the piles of ash.

"Yours was a path unlike ours. In the name of the Elements, I witnessed your coming and your going. I saw you in a moment of weakness and offer my pleas to the Archelement, who oversees all other elements, that your journey is swift and that you return to the universe as more than you were." Vem intoned, prostrating himself on the ground before standing up- the disruptor admits the ash now like some sort of grave marker.

"Please forgive my... lack of grace." He said in his raspy voice to the room, "Wasn't supposed to end like that... but I sa'poze it was bound to."

If he didn't love his enemies he couldn't say he loved the universe. And he deeply loved the universe...

[Sickbay]

To say the events that had just unraveled did so swiftly would be, at the minimum, a drastic understatement. The operations crewman had followed the instructions of his would-be captor to the letter. Body still, hands lock, no shady movements. Enough training and, damn it if he didn't admit common sense, told Almar that there were enough chefs in the kitchen. His role was just to play the part.

Nevertheless, the Cardassian felt his heart tremble when the disruptor was first produced, and he could only take pride in that he didn't decompose on the spot from nerves. He had held himself together well enough.

With the Klingon's intervention and the ultimate double-suicide of the now-exposed Romulan spies, Almar finally let his eyes fall on the nurse, a pang of heavy guilt pulling at his stomach. He reached down and studied her face closer before picking up his PADD and stretching back to his full height.

"Fast thinking," was all he could say in reply. "And such a shame."

[Kirok]

[Sickbay]

The quick turnaround and the explosion of movement from a man they had considered a loon took its toll visibly on the Romulans. With Mevan weaponless and Kex's advantage taken away, his disruptor wavered uncertainly.

"You people." Mevan said. She saw there was no use at any more subterfuge. "You will never use the data to defeat the Empire."

"Centurion?" Kex asked, locking eyes with her.

Mevan only nodded, felt a slab of pride slide over the lump her throat, and closed her eyes.

The disruptor blast completely incinerated her, a fiery outline eating its way from out of the middle of her chest and reducing her to a puff of smoke and ashes. If it had been aimed at the bulkhead half of the deck would have been gone.

Before anyone could react, Kex tapped the heavy bracelet he had been wearing on his wrist. He glanced up at them and nodded, a gesture of respect to an enemy, before turning the disruptor on himself.

All that remained of Uhlan Kex and Centurion Mevan was one disruptor and a pile of ashes.

[Sickbay]

"En" Zex said.  She brought a hand to her mouth.  Never in her life had she seen anything like that before. 

"Is anyone hurt?" the Delta finally said.  She was likely in more shock than the others.  But it was the only thing she could think to say.

[Thomas Jett]

 [Tripoli]

He looked at the monitor as he keeps reading the plans.  Something was off and began the process.  All of the sudden  he was interrupted.

He would than exit, next stop, find Jett and get a distress call out. He checked his watch, 3 minutes gone, he should be ok than. He would eventually find Jett about a minute later in the Captain's ready room. He looked at him and stated a simple, "Jett, this vessel is rigged to explode, we have 11 minutes to get off of this tin can. Get down to Deck 23, don't ask any questions"

[Alexander Wu]

[Sickbay]

"En" Zex said.  She brought a hand to her mouth.  Never in her life had she seen anything like that before. 

"Is anyone hurt?" the Delta finally said.  She was likely in more shock than the others.  But it was the only thing she could think to say.

[Sickbay]

As soon as Vem attacked, Alex had slipped his hand under his jacket, pulling his disruptor free from it's holster. Within a few seconds though, it was all over. "Goddamnit." He swore, lowering his extended arm. There wasn't any further reason to point it. "Tabernac." He followed up, turning as Carter went to the bridge. "Doctor, your nurse, is there anything you can do for her?"

You will never use the data to defeat the empire...the bracelet. "Chalice." Alex swore again, bolting for the nearest console. "Wu to Bridge, before the second attacker committed suicide, he activated some sort of device on his wrist. Did you detect any signals being sent out?"

[Malcolm Adeyemi]

He would than exit, next stop, find Jett and get a distress call out. He checked his watch, 3 minutes gone, he should be ok than. He would eventually find Jett about a minute later in the Captain's ready room. He looked at him and stated a simple, "Jett, this vessel is rigged to explode, we have 11 minutes to get off of this tin can. Get down to Deck 23, don't ask any questions" He didn't have time for the man's second guessing nature, so he hoped they would just listen. Tritter than made his way to the bridge, he wasn't much of a comm's guy, but he knew the basics and that would be all he needed. He than sent the following distress call to the Gibson, he wasn't sure who would be on the other end, the message was calm "Gibson, this is Commander Tritter aboard the Tripoli, the vessel is rigged to explode, we will be leaving by Escape pod unless you can beam us off" He wasn't sure if they could, since things had gone this far off from what they had been, he would not be surprised if there was no way to get them all off the Tripoli, and he would rather be safe than sorry, as there is six other peoples lives that are in his hands. He would wait about thirty seconds for an acknowledgement back, as he really didn't want to be on this tin can when it blew sky high. He had nine minutes at this time to get to the other end of the ship and on the escape pod, or get transported off, whichever would be the option available.

Bridge

The lift doors opened and Katheryn stepped out first not quite sure how she was going to explain it properly to the Captain but would least tell him everything that she had witnessed. She walked down to the command area and stood to attention " Captain there was a situation down in Sickbay that has now been resolved turns out the Freighter crew were Romulans".

[Sickbay]

As soon as Vem attacked, Alex had slipped his hand under his jacket, pulling his disruptor free from it's holster. Within a few seconds though, it was all over. "Goddamnit." He swore, lowering his extended arm. There wasn't any further reason to point it. "Tabernac." He followed up, turning as Carter went to the bridge. "Doctor, your nurse, is there anything you can do for her?"

You will never use the data to defeat the empire...the bracelet. "Chalice." Alex swore again, bolting for the nearest console. "Wu to Bridge, before the second attacker committed suicide, he activated some sort of device on his wrist. Did you detect any signals being sent out?"

[Bridge]

Stafford took in the information and did not let the shock show on his face. Right now the last thing they all needed to see was their captain panicking. Instead, he resolved to take action and worry about his feelings later. Stafford felt his civilian clothing sticking to his body and more sweat gathering on his shaved head and face.

"Status of the Tripoli?" he asked the Ops officer, Commander Daorn.

"She only has a few seconds." Daorn said, his tone stricken with emotion.

"Beam the away team on board. Helm, warp speed the moment they're aboard." The captain said quickly.

"Sir, at this range the Gibson will not survive, it might be best to--" The Tellarite warned.

"Transport!"

"Transport underway," The Tellarite fired back.

The captain let two heartbeats pass, willing himself to remain calm as he did so.

"Helm, any heading, warp one!" Stafford ordered.

The Nova class vessel smoothly left orbit of Killer Cove and leaped to warp. The shock wave from the Tripoli's warp core exploding lapped at the stern of the ship, but they were safe.

"Status of the away team?" Stafford's voice had never sounded so tiny, so weary.

"They're safely aboard." Daorn told him. "=/\=Bridge to sickbay. The Tripoli was rigged to explode, but the away team is back. We're going home."

The captain once again felt the data chip digging into his skin through his pocket. Stafford glowered at all of them, his normally jolly, rugged face pained and grief stricken.



"This research had better be worth it." was all he said.

[Alexander Wu]

[Bridge]
"=/\=Bridge to sickbay. The Tripoli was rigged to explode, but the away team is back. We're going home."

[Sickbay]

Even before the communique arrived, Alex had felt the familiar thrumming of Gibson's shifting engines below his feet, a sensation he once took for granted. He allowed a slight sigh of relief when it was confirmed though. Only one. Still, one that shouldn't have happened. If I hadn't convinced Howell to let them onboard, this wouldn't have happened. Morosely, he turned to the others in Sickbay. "Well done, counselor. You've saved lives today. Doctor Vem, Doctor Aviad, please secure the crewman's body and see to it that the Romulan agents' remains are gathered and sequestered. There will be an investigation, no doubt, and I'm interested as to why all our equipment didn't detect their duplicity, or their weapons."

"Crewman," Alex turned to the Cardassian newcomer. "Check that disruptor for tampering or booby-traps, and then take it to the Armory, it'll also have to be secured for further examination. Find and advise Mr.Tritter after you've done so."

"Wu to Stafford." He hesitated, leaning back against a biobed wearily. The crew's on edge enough, best not announce it over open comms. "Please come down to Sickbay at your convenience."

[Vem, son of Motag]

[Sickbay]Vem-that-would-be

[Malcolm Adeyemi]

Tritter was relieved that they all had made it back to the Gibson in one piece. Although he almost ended up getting knocked out as he was not in a good footing once they punched it into warp speed. He got his bearings and he gave his team direction to go relax in their quarters. He figured they earned the down time.

The Chief meanwhile would make his way to the Bridge, he had to duck even more here than on the Columbus, he already had knocked his head once good on the Tripoli, that ship was designed for midgets. The man would make his way onto the Bridge, he moved towards the Captain and gave the man a brief study, he could tell they were worn out. He than stated to the Captain, "Long time no see Sir", he had an odd way with humoe, but he figured it might bring some brevity to things and help the Captain mentally.

[Bridge]

"That's right, commander." Stafford was relieved to be able to speak and act like a Starfleet officer again. He knew that Tritter was feeling the same.

[Sickbay]

"Wu to Stafford." He hesitated, leaning back against a biobed wearily. The crew's on edge enough, best not announce it over open comms. "Please come down to Sickbay at your convenience."

[Bridge]

"=/\=Acknowledged, Wu." Stafford cast a look around the bridge. His expression was haunted. He managed to get out, "D-Dan, take the bridge. Set us on course for home."

[Sickbay]

The captain looked a bit more like himself with his cane as he limped into sickbay. But the uneasy cast to his eyes and the angry, tense look on his face was utterly unlike him.

The first thing he noticed upon entering the room was the body. A young, pretty female nurse, whose eyes were shot through with black. 8 ball hemorrhage. The woman had died violently, and in agony.

There were piles of ashes on the floor, and a lot of sad, shocked looks on the faces of those around him.

"Well?" The captain asked at them all, his tone bitter and challenging. He was addressing them all but seemed to hone in on Wu, the highest ranked one there. "What the hell happened?"

[Michael J. Tritter]

[Bridge]

Stafford took in the information and did not let the shock show on his face. Right now the last thing they all needed to see was their captain panicking. Instead, he resolved to take action and worry about his feelings later. Stafford felt his civilian clothing sticking to his body and more sweat gathering on his shaved head and face.

"Status of the Tripoli?" he asked the Ops officer, Commander Daorn.

"She only has a few seconds." Daorn said, his tone stricken with emotion.

"Beam the away team on board. Helm, warp speed the moment they're aboard." The captain said quickly.

"Sir, at this range the Gibson will not survive, it might be best to--" The Tellarite warned.

"Transport!"

"Transport underway," The Tellarite fired back.

The captain let two heartbeats pass, willing himself to remain calm as he did so.

"Helm, any heading, warp one!" Stafford ordered.

The Nova class vessel smoothly left orbit of Killer Cove and leaped to warp. The shock wave from the Tripoli's warp core exploding lapped at the stern of the ship, but they were safe.

"Status of the away team?" Stafford's voice had never sounded so tiny, so weary.

"They're safely aboard." Daorn told him. "=/\=Bridge to sickbay. The Tripoli was rigged to explode, but the away team is back. We're going home."

The captain once again felt the data chip digging into his skin through his pocket. Stafford glowered at all of them, his normally jolly, rugged face pained and grief stricken.



"This research had better be worth it." was all he said.

Tritter was relieved that they all had made it back to the Gibson in one piece. Although he almost ended up getting knocked out as he was not in a good footing once they punched it into warp speed. He got his bearings and he gave his team direction to go relax in their quarters. He figured they earned the down time.

The Chief meanwhile would make his way to the Bridge, he had to duck even more here than on the Columbus, he already had knocked his head once good on the Tripoli, that ship was designed for midgets. The man would make his way onto the Bridge, he moved towards the Captain and gave the man a brief study, he could tell they were worn out. He than stated to the Captain, "Long time no see Sir", he had an odd way with humoe, but he figured it might bring some brevity to things and help the Captain mentally.

[Vem, son of Motag]

[Sickbay]

"Two sick and injured dogs ran through here. They bit at everyone who extended a hand in compassion and eventually ate each other in their moral starvation." Vem stated in a raspy matter-of-fact tone.

"And... pain. Lots of... pain." Those words fell like hammers from his lips. Clearly there was more conflict inside him that he left out.

[Michael J. Tritter]

Tritter had been told to go to sick bay once they got back, but truth be told, he really didn't feel like it. He just wanted to find a chance to unwind. He left the Bridge and made his way to the Cargo bay. One may say he seemed "aimless", but he was walking sinoly to let his mind calm down after several days after having been  running at over 100 miles per hour. He was fairly well aware he was not needed at this time anyways, so he figured taking a mental break would not cause an issue.