M1 - E1: Strategic Science Summit

[Naira]

[Shuttle]

Jules woke up as the cabin lights turned on, and rolled his eyes as his hands rubbed over his face. The trip had not been entertaining. He was told to report to some remote starbase, something to do with some of his work from his days in the Andorrian Engineering Corp. To be honest, he hadn't really paid much attention to the orders, he just knew he had to pack to get shipped out, and did so. The ship had been on autopilot for the most part, and Jules hadn't questioned any of it.

"Arriving at destination in 5 minutes." The shuttle chimed in the cabin area where he'd unceremoniously laid to sleep for most of the journey. While the trip was far away, the only shuttle really available was one of the slower ones. He had been on the shuttle for the past 2 and a half days, simply killing time, sending the odd letter or two out, going through Ushaan fighting stances and practices.

He went to make himself somewhat more presentable in the few minutes he had, repacked all of his stuff, and managed to make it to the door of the shuttle as it docked.

[Docking Area B]
Three humans stood in the doorway of the shuttle as the doors parted, and Jules's eyes shot up slightly. Their clothing was black, without rank or insignia that he saw offhand.

"Thumb print." The front one said simply, holding out a PADD. Jules took a few steps down the ramp, pressed his thumb to the PADD, and watched as the man turned it around and glanced at the information. The front man simply beckoned him with one hand before turning around and beginning to walk. The other two waited for Jules to pass between them, before flanking him on either side.

Jules felt that something was terribly off, but he was not in a position to question much. He had been stuck on a shuttle for 2 plus days, and he wasn't 100% sure he wasn't just being paranoid. Not that being paranoid ever hurt. And since he hadn't paid much attention to the shuttle or the orders given him, he didn't notice that he was at a different star base than the one he was supposed to arrive at.

It was a relatively short walk, but it let Jules work the sleepiness out of his muscles better, and felt good after being restricted to just a shuttle. They stopped in front of a door as it opened, and the front man stepped to one side to wave him in.

[Conference Room]

As Jules entered, he immediately noticed the two females present, and instantly stopped just past the door, which closed shut behind him somewhat ominously, he thought. His antennae had spun around when the door shut behind him, and spun back to face the two females.

"If I'm fired, couldn't we have done it back on the Athena?" He said, slowly stepping forward to take a seat, seeing if anyone stopped him before settling down, dropping his pack on the floor next to his seat.

Conference Room

Suzie looked up as another of the Athena crew entered. She shook her head in exasperation.

"If they wanted the three of us here, they should have told us and we could have made our way together!" She said. "And no, this is not related to the Athena in any way that we know, it is just pure co-incidence that all three of us are from the same ship!" She added, sitting back down and pouring herself a glass of water from one of the jugs on the table.

[Conference Room]

Naira's eyes darted to the door and she heard it swoosh open. She had been hoping to see someone who would be able to offer some sort of explanation, but instead she was greeted by the sight of one of the engineers from her ship.

It might be in the realm of coincidence that two people from the same ship could be called out here to work on some mysterious project, but three? Something was going on here and Naira had every intention of getting to the bottom of it. She didn't like the idea of being kept in the dark about whatever it was that was going on here.

"Petty Officer, I assure you that we have no more idea what we are doing here than you do." She turned back to address Ms Venator, "I was instructed not to inform anyone of my destination, as I'm sure the both of you were. I don't know what excuses the two of you gave, but as far as anyone is concerned I'm on the far side of the Beta Quadrant right now. The Athena has no idea where we are."

She glanced around the room and lowered her voice, but if they were being watched or recorded, it might not have mattered.

"Until we know what exactly we've gotten ourselves involved in, I suggest we stick together or remain in contact at all times. If anything happens..."

She cut her thought short as she heard footsteps outside and the door slid open once more.

[Location: Shuttle Iroquois, Starbase Katra Operations and Conference Room]

The pilot had remained with the Shuttle for the time being. He than heard a voice come over the comms, the pilot took a moment before he opened another comm with the station and replied with, "Starbase Katra, this is Shuttle Iroquois, I do read you, over" The man's tone was calm and professional, the Lieutenant was a tried and true combat Veteran, he kept things short and to the point, perhaps such is why he was take the Commander here.

The Commander on the other hand was studying the Operations area when he was approached by a figure wearing nearly all black, no rank, no insignia, they were an almost too thin Japanese appearing female, with black hair tied back into a pony tail. She than approached the Commander, her tone to him was almost as if she was talking down to him, he wasn't the typical type that would be associated with this, she knew his background, he wasn't a scientist or other intelligent type, she regarded him as a grunt and thusly, looked down on him. She than stated, "Commander, if you may"

She than lead him down a side corridor, to a simple room that almost reminded him of an interrogation room. His  blood pressure and heart rate increased slightly, as well as his adrenaline started to pump, but he controlled his emotions and nothing about his demeanor changed. She than stated "Your orders Commander", she offered her right hand to him. Tritter produced the PADD and handed it to the female. She reviewed it, nodded slightly and held onto it. She took out her own PADD, placed it infront of him and said "Right thumb Commander", he proceeded to do as requested. Once it came back a match, she nodded once again and said "Follow me Commander"

She than made her exit, taking both PADDs with her and leading the Commander to a nearby conference room. He than proceeded to step inside, she than informed him to wait. He than proceeded to make his way to an area a bit of a ways from the others and he simply was content to watch the goings on for the time being.

She got up from her chair and approached the new comer. "Commander Tritter, is that you? What are you doing here?"

Naira wasn't a paranoid person, but something was definitely going on here.

PO2 Rayek
[USS Resnik]

As Rayek approached the USS Katra, his destination according to the encrypted orders he'd received from Admiral Kirok,  he wondered once more what manner of work took place on the station.  None of his standard searches on the station revealed anything about the place.  That alone had him suspecting it were under the purview of Starfleet Intelligence or perhaps an outlier of Section 31.  In either case, he was admittedly a bit nervous as to the nature of his being sent there, especially when his orders specified that no one on his ship was to know the true nature of his orders.  A cover-up assignment had been provided; Rayek was apparently was taking additional hand-to-hand combat training for the next two weeks.  He wondered how long it would take the Captain or Cleroux to question his need for such a lame excuse.

A chime on his wrist chronometer, reminded him to take his  medication.  Rayek pulled out the hypospray from his gear and self-administered the inhibitor.  He tucked the hypospray into his utility belt pouch for safe-keeping.

His request to the station for permission to dock was accepted and he was directed to Docking Area A.

[USS Katra - Docking Area A]
After landing, he was met perfunctorily by three unarmed men dressed completely in a black uniforms.  They requested his orders and a thumb print ID verification.  Rayek provided both and was prepared to have security 'randomly' inspect his travel bag but for once no such demand was made.   Instead, Rayek was escorted through the 'well-polished, state of the art' looking station to a door, the name plate of which read - Conference Room.   Rayek was instructed to 'wait inside'.  Rayek entered.

[Conference Room]
As he stepped into the room, he glanced over the room alertly.  He took note of 4 other individuals already present.  Keen eyes took note of their pips -  a collection of various ranks from Commander to a Petty officer like himself.  Species also ranged as well, including an Orion, and an Andorian.  Three seemed to be in conversation as he arrived while one, the Commander, sat apart from the group.  Since no one was seated at the 'head' of the table, Rayek assumed the one in charge had yet to arrive.  Rayek moved to a spot at the table mid-way between the group and the Commander and took a seat, tucking his travel bag at his feet.  He waited, observing and listening in.

She'd barely noticed that yet another person made their way into the room.

[Susan Venator]

[Conference Room]

Naira's eyes darted to the door and she heard it swoosh open. She had been hoping to see someone who would be able to offer some sort of explanation, but instead she was greeted by the sight of one of the engineers from her ship.

It might be in the realm of coincidence that two people from the same ship could be called out here to work on some mysterious project, but three? Something was going on here and Naira had every intention of getting to the bottom of it. She didn't like the idea of being kept in the dark about whatever it was that was going on here.

"Petty Officer, I assure you that we have no more idea what we are doing here than you do." She turned back to address Ms Venator, "I was instructed not to inform anyone of my destination, as I'm sure the both of you were. I don't know what excuses the two of you gave, but as far as anyone is concerned I'm on the far side of the Beta Quadrant right now. The Athena has no idea where we are."

Conference Room

Suzie nodded.

"I was given orders over a week ago that placed me on temporary assignment to, what I found out later to be a fictitious space station. I then received private orders from Admiral Kirok to ship out on the Rhode Island and at specified co-ordinates leave that ship and proceed here in a Delta Flyer that the Rhode Island already had on board." She paused and took a sip of water. "My only relative is my surrogate Foster Mother, I was told to tell her nothing so I sent her a letter saying I would be out of communication range for a while and I would catch up with her when I was back." She finished.

She glanced around the room and lowered her voice, but if they were being watched or recorded, it might not have mattered.

"Until we know what exactly we've gotten ourselves involved in, I suggest we stick together or remain in contact at all times. If anything happens..."

She cut her thought short as she heard footsteps outside and the door slid open once more.

She got up from her chair and approached the new comer. "Commander Tritter, is that you? What are you doing here?"

Naira wasn't a paranoid person, but something was definitely going on here.

She'd barely noticed that yet another person made their way into the room.

Suzie noticed the other newcomer more than the Commander she had served briefly with the previous year. She got up and went over to him.

"It's Petty Officer Reyak isn't it?" She asked. "You serve on the Challenger under Captain Torngate right?" She asked.

[Rayek trLhoell]

PO2 Rayek
[Conference Room]

Suzie noticed the other newcomer more than the Commander she had served briefly with the previous year. She got up and went over to him.

"It's Petty Officer Reyak isn't it?" She asked. "You serve on the Challenger under Captain Torngate right?" She asked.

Rayek glanced over towards the Lieutenant as she approached and stood up rather than greet her from a seated position.  He inclined his head slightly, acknowledging her statement.   "Yes, ma'am.  Rayek tr'Lhoell," he offered his full name as a means of correcting her pronunciation of his name.  "I've been aboard the Challenger for just going on 3 months now."

The fact that his name was known by other officers in the fleet was not surprising to him. Romulans, and even Romulan hybrids, were a rarity in Starfleet.  His last check of Starfleet records prior to his assignment to the Challenger had only shown 4 or 5 others in the history of the fleet that he could access.   

[Susan Venator]

PO2 Rayek
[Conference Room]

Rayek glanced over towards the Lieutenant as she approached and stood up rather than greet her from a seated position.  He inclined his head slightly, acknowledging her statement.   "Yes, ma'am.  Rayek tr'Lhoell," he offered his full name as a means of correcting her pronunciation of his name.  "I've been aboard the Challenger for just going on 3 months now."

The fact that his name was known by other officers in the fleet was not surprising to him. Romulans, and even Romulan hybrids, were a rarity in Starfleet.  His last check of Starfleet records prior to his assignment to the Challenger had only shown 4 or 5 others in the history of the fleet that he could access.

Conference Room

Suzie returned the gesture.

"My apologies Mr Rayek." She replied. "I have an acquaintance who serves on the Challenger, perhaps you know her? Dr Vaughan?" She enquired.

[Rayek trLhoell]

PO2 Rayek
[Conference room]

Conference Room

Suzie returned the gesture.

"My apologies Mr Rayek." She replied. "I have an acquaintance who serves on the Challenger, perhaps you know her? Dr Vaughan?" She enquired.

Rayek regarded the officer somewhat warily, uncertain where she was going with this line of questioning. Did it have anything to do with why he was assigned here?  No, the Lieutenant's greeting seemed more social than duty-related.  He relaxed a bit and assumed an at ease stance.

"It would be rather difficult not to know the ships Medical Chief," he comment wryly as he nodded, "but yes, I know her.  I have worked closely with Dr. Vaughan on a number of occasions."  Then for some inexplicable reason, Rayek thought to expand upon his statement - as a sort of brag. "I've even had the pleasure of meeting and holding her daughter, Alys."

[Susan Venator]

PO2 Rayek
[Conference room]

Rayek regarded the officer somewhat warily, uncertain where she was going with this line of questioning. Did it have anything to do with why he was assigned here?  No, the Lieutenant's greeting seemed more social than duty-related.  He relaxed a bit and assumed an at ease stance.

"It would be rather difficult not to know the ships Medical Chief," he comment wryly as he nodded, "but yes, I know her.  I have worked closely with Dr. Vaughan on a number of occasions."  Then for some inexplicable reason, Rayek thought to expand upon his statement - as a sort of brag. "I've even had the pleasure of meeting and holding her daughter, Alys."

Conference Room

Suzie smiled.

"I've not had the pleasure of meeting the little girl yet as it has been more than a year since we last saw each other face to face." She replied. "We do exchange letters regularly though and she has sent me several images of Alys and I sent her some clothing than Nana Marsh, Helen my Foster Mothers Mum, knitted. I met Lizzie when I was struck with Rygelian fever a number of years ago now and we've stayed in touch ever since." She finished.

[Rayek trLhoell]

PO2 Rayek
[Conference Room]

Conference Room

Suzie smiled.

"I've not had the pleasure of meeting the little girl yet as it has been more than a year since we last saw each other face to face." She replied. "We do exchange letters regularly though and she has sent me several images of Alys and I sent her some clothing than Nana Marsh, Helen my Foster Mothers Mum, knitted. I met Lizzie when I was struck with Rygelian fever a number of years ago now and we've stayed in touch ever since." She finished.

The fact that the doctor would make a point of keeping in contact with the woman, sending her pictures of Alys, spoke volumes to Rayek about the type of person both Elizabeth was and who Dr. Vaughan thought the Lieutenant was.

"I see. Well, I would pass along your greetings but as yet, I don't know your name... and given the subterfuge required to attend this meeting I suspect everything about this assignment will be classified.  Unless your cover story was hand-to-hand combat training, it will be difficult to explain our chance meeting."

[Susan Venator]

PO2 Rayek
[Conference Room]

The fact that the doctor would make a point of keeping in contact with the woman, sending her pictures of Alys, spoke volumes to Rayek about the type of person both Elizabeth was and who Dr. Vaughan thought the Lieutenant was.

"I see. Well, I would pass along your greetings but as yet, I don't know your name... and given the subterfuge required to attend this meeting I suspect everything about this assignment will be classified.  Unless your cover story was hand-to-hand combat training, it will be difficult to explain our chance meeting."

Conference Room

Suzie blushed at the remark.

"Sorry. I'm Susan Venator. Lieutenant Susan Venator. Lizzie knows me a Suzie. If you say you ran into me on a Starbase as we were both passing through that should be good enough. She's done classified work before so she knows the rules. If you say you can't talk about it then she will respect that." She replied, knowing her friend would not enquire unless it was life or death. "If it'll make you feel more comfortable, we can pick a base before we leave so we tell the same story." She added, not wanting to lie but understanding the secret nature of their situation.

[Michael J. Tritter]

[Conference Room]

Naira's eyes darted to the door and she heard it swoosh open. She had been hoping to see someone who would be able to offer some sort of explanation, but instead she was greeted by the sight of one of the engineers from her ship.

It might be in the realm of coincidence that two people from the same ship could be called out here to work on some mysterious project, but three? Something was going on here and Naira had every intention of getting to the bottom of it. She didn't like the idea of being kept in the dark about whatever it was that was going on here.

"Petty Officer, I assure you that we have no more idea what we are doing here than you do." She turned back to address Ms Venator, "I was instructed not to inform anyone of my destination, as I'm sure the both of you were. I don't know what excuses the two of you gave, but as far as anyone is concerned I'm on the far side of the Beta Quadrant right now. The Athena has no idea where we are."

She glanced around the room and lowered her voice, but if they were being watched or recorded, it might not have mattered.

"Until we know what exactly we've gotten ourselves involved in, I suggest we stick together or remain in contact at all times. If anything happens..."

She cut her thought short as she heard footsteps outside and the door slid open once more.

She got up from her chair and approached the new comer. "Commander Tritter, is that you? What are you doing here?"

Naira wasn't a paranoid person, but something was definitely going on here.

She'd barely noticed that yet another person made their way into the room.

[Location: Conference Room]

Tritter had been scanning the room when he heard a familiar voice, one that he immediately recognized. He was quick to identify the source of the voice, as he had to identify where the noise was coming from. He recognized the figure as Lieutenant Commander Naira. He watched her as she approached her, it was a bit reassuring to him to see a familiar face in the room. The whole secretive nature of this makes him a bit nervous, he had to hide things from his family and that wasn't something he was big on.

Once she approached, he than stated, "Yes Lieutenant Commander, it is me. I am unsure why I am here, Admiral Kirok requested me personally." His tone was even keeled and calm, even though internally, he didn't feel that way. He took another moment before he asked, "How is the Athena treating you?" Such a break of formal protocol was rare for him, but he wasn't completely socially inept.

[Kalro Zolarim]

Conference Room

Kalro watched as officers and crew trickled in to the conference space.  He knew none of them, but that was not surprising.  He had only just graduated from the Academy, and had not yet served a single day in the field outside of his cadet cruise.

According to the orders that brought him here, he was going to be assigned to the USS Shran.  However, his orders also indicated that he should make this rather remarkable pit stop along the way.  The nature of this waypoint was utterly unknown to him, but his orders told him to regard it as classified at the highest level.   Once he left this place, he was not to discuss it with anyone.  Not even other people who had been here.

Surely, it all had something to do with the Starfleet Intelligence recruiter he'd met on Earth.

Well, whatever people were being gathered here to do, it was guaranteed to be important.  He felt honored to be a part of it.

[Naira]

[Location: Conference Room]

Tritter had been scanning the room when he heard a familiar voice, one that he immediately recognized. He was quick to identify the source of the voice, as he had to identify where the noise was coming from. He recognized the figure as Lieutenant Commander Naira. He watched her as she approached her, it was a bit reassuring to him to see a familiar face in the room. The whole secretive nature of this makes him a bit nervous, he had to hide things from his family and that wasn't something he was big on.

Once she approached, he than stated, "Yes Lieutenant Commander, it is me. I am unsure why I am here, Admiral Kirok requested me personally." His tone was even keeled and calm, even though internally, he didn't feel that way. He took another moment before he asked, "How is the Athena treating you?" Such a break of formal protocol was rare for him, but he wasn't completely socially inept.

[Conference Room]

"The Athena has been treating me quiet well. I work among some very bright young minds, some of which have turned up here on this station. I believe you already know Lieutenant Venator from the brief time she served aboard the Columbus and the Andorian over there is one of my engineers."

She stepped to the side of the Commander so that she could continue to speak with him while simultaneously watching the way the others interacted with each other. Her Ops officer was engaged in conversation with a Romulan she was sure she had never seen before and then a cadet entered the room. She could maybe speculate why some of the others were there; Bash was a bright young engineer with plenty of ideas on how to innovate systems to better serve their needs; Venator was very efficient at her job, highly motivated and could take charge when needed; Tritter was a born leader who could keep his cool under pressure and had plenty of experience in crisis situations. Then, there was her own knowledge and experience in medicine and exobiology research.

The others were but a mystery to her.

What could they want with a fresh out of the academy cadet?

"You wouldn't happen to have any idea what we are all doing way out here, would you Commander?"

[Jules Bash]

[Conference Room]
"Petty Officer, I assure you that we have no more idea what we are doing here than you do." She turned back to address Ms Venator, "I was instructed not to inform anyone of my destination, as I'm sure the both of you were. I don't know what excuses the two of you gave, but as far as anyone is concerned I'm on the far side of the Beta Quadrant right now. The Athena has no idea where we are."

"Until we know what exactly we've gotten ourselves involved in, I suggest we stick together or remain in contact at all times. If anything happens..."

[Conference Room]
Jules's antennae swiveled around to feel the direction of the door as he heard it swoosh open. Jules realized that the door was quite soundproof, as he usually was able to hear just outside of any given room he was in, if he was paying attention, and facing appropriately.

He watched as both the Lt. Commander and Lt. both found others in the room of interest to them. Jules, not knowing many in Starfleet outside of his shipmates, noticed an Ensign coming into the room. Jules felt no real need to introduce himself, considering he appeared to be the only engineer so far. He knew Lt. Venator was operations, and he overheard the Romulan mention hand to hand combat, which even though Jules enjoyed, he doubted most engineers did, besides throwing hyper-spanners at people. He settled himself into his chair, and let his antennae circle the room, trying to pick up what he could, for lack of anything else to work on.

[Michael J. Tritter]

[Conference Room]

"The Athena has been treating me quiet well. I work among some very bright young minds, some of which have turned up here on this station. I believe you already know Lieutenant Venator from the brief time she served aboard the Columbus and the Andorian over there is one of my engineers."

She stepped to the side of the Commander so that she could continue to speak with him while simultaneously watching the way the others interacted with each other. Her Ops officer was engaged in conversation with a Romulan she was sure she had never seen before and then a cadet entered the room. She could maybe speculate why some of the others were there; Bash was a bright young engineer with plenty of ideas on how to innovate systems to better serve their needs; Venator was very efficient at her job, highly motivated and could take charge when needed; Tritter was a born leader who could keep his cool under pressure and had plenty of experience in crisis situations. Then, there was her own knowledge and experience in medicine and exobiology research.

The others were but a mystery to her.

What could they want with a fresh out of the academy cadet?

"You wouldn't happen to have any idea what we are all doing way out here, would you Commander?"

[Location: Conference Room]

Tritter listened carefully as the Lieutenant Commander spoke. He than nodded slightly and stated, "Yes, she was with us briefly. I am glad your new assignment turned out well for you" His gaze scanned about the room too, as most of the faces were foreign to him and he was abit un-nerved by it. But if there was something the man was good at, it was hiding his emotions. Once she spoke, he turned slightly to face her and replied with, "No Doctor, unfortunately I do not" His tone was calm and mellow, although he spoke a few steps above a whisper. He kept the fact that he felt... uneasy about having lied where he went, as well as what was going on to his family. And he knew that with no one knowing, if anything did happen, he would be a spectre at that point.

[Rayek trLhoell]

PO2 Rayek
[Conference Room]

Conference Room

Suzie blushed at the remark.

"Sorry. I'm Susan Venator. Lieutenant Susan Venator. Lizzie knows me a Suzie. If you say you ran into me on a Starbase as we were both passing through that should be good enough. She's done classified work before so she knows the rules. If you say you can't talk about it then she will respect that." She replied, knowing her friend would not enquire unless it was life or death. "If it'll make you feel more comfortable, we can pick a base before we leave so we tell the same story." She added, not wanting to lie but understanding the secret nature of their situation.

At being provided a name, Rayek offered a nod.

He listened to her suggestion of collaborating on a lie, and raised an eyebrow at her comment that Dr Vaughan had done classified work before and thus knows the rules.  To Rayek's perspective, while classified work was admittedly respected so as not to be  questioned, it was always best if no one even suspected that there was something there that could be questioned.

But something about the Lieutenant gave him the impression that he'd best go along with the named Starbase collaboration or else he'd be having to claim the 'can't talk about it' line at some point to Dr. Vaughan.  "I'll leave the details to you, ma'am."

He glanced about the room once more, out of habit and Romulan paranoia, and noted a fifth individual he'd missed initially.  A Zakdorn if he wasn't mistaken.  He'd read that their species were brilliant strategists.  Rayek's curiosity was piqued and he inclined his head slightly in a non-verbal greeting towards the cadet, before he looked back to the Lieutenant.  "I take it that neither you nor your acquaintances here know what this assignment is about?"

[Kirok]

[Docking Pad 1]

After landing on Docking Pad 1, Kirok shut down the controls on the Durat.  The Jellyfish class ship was small.  So it was a quick an easy task.  And when he departed, Cartis was there waiting for you.

[NPC Cartis]

"Several our your invitees have arrived, Sir.  They are anxious to know why they have been summoned.  As instructed, they have been escorted to the conference room without preamble" Cartis reported.

"Would you like to go directly to the Conference Roon?  Or would you prefer to wait until everyone is here?   Before you start the meeting?" he asked curiously.

"I wish to go directly to the Conference Room.  And I would like you to join us.  Please lead the way" Kirok replied.