S1E10 Listening In

[Lizzie Vaughan]

[Bridge]

Ashley paused, a worried expression overcoming her. "Uhm..N-no. I haven't. S-Should I be hearing it? Maybe um...I still have issues sorting noise and processing them like most people can. Maybe that's why I can't hear it? Or..." She though carefully for a moment. She didn't want her paranoia that she was going to loose her hearing again to show to other people. Especially not people she'd just met. "Never mind actually." She added after a brief reflective silence.

Bridge

Lizzie gave a smile at this. It was entirely possible that, as she had only gotten her hearing back a short while ago that they had not implanted the coms and UT relay in her ear. She decided to find out.

"When you had the operation to restore your hearing, do you know if they implanted the standard communication and UT relay in your right ear?" She asked, anxiously wanting the answer.

[Dylan Torngate]

PO2 Rayek
[Betazed - Underground Security Compound - Secured Area]

Rayek nodded, glad that the Commander was in agreement, that would make things easier.   Now he just needed to get into the system himself and trace the source of the hack.  He was about to do that when each computer console in the room chimed.  Rayek quickly read over the information on his screen and heard the Commander swear.  More records had been released - sensitive ones, like classified mission logs. 

Rayek barely kept from grimacing at the order.  He would be of more use tracking down the hacker than escorting the Captain, but apparently the Commander either didn't know of his capabilities or didn't trust him in the system around sensitive information. Either way, he had his orders. "Yessir."

Rayek left the secured area and headed once more down towards the brig, once more double-timing it.  As he jogged through the corridors, the voice was at his ear once more taunting him.  It knew that he knew about the hacked implants, but suggested that they would never find him.  Rayek pointedly did not react to its commentary.

He arrived in the Brig and quickly relayed his orders to the security officer there and soon the Captain was once more under Rayek's supervision, still with his hands bound.  "This way sir."  Rayek started to guide the Captain back towards the secured meeting area.   

Suddenly it was the Captain's voice he was hearing in his right ear, even though Rayek was holding onto the Captain, with the man on his left.  A transmission via his UT, Rayek quickly deduced but even mindful of that the recorded message caught Rayek off guard and he stopped mid-way to the secured area to turn towards the Captain with a suddenly cold expression and a murmured sneer "I should have known."

Rayek's grip on the Captain's arm tighten almost to the point of being painful as he started to move once again.

[Brig]

Dylan was sitting, leaning against a wall, counting bolts when the door opened. It had hissed open a few times, but Dylan had paid no mind to them. He was focused on what he knew- Engineering. Three thirty-seven, three thirty-eight, three thirty-nine... he counted, glancing at each rivet and bolt on the cage. What he didn't expect was the force field to drop, causing Dylan to lose his place on the wall as he glanced over. He hauled himself to his feet, as he raised a questioning eyebrow toward Rayek.

As he felt the binders slide over his wrists again, he sighed. "What's going on, Rayek?" he asked, as he felt them tighten over him to restrict his movement. "You know I'm not going to run."

He followed mostly silently as he left, his arms bound in front of him, being paraded through the corridor like a prize, or at least that's how it felt to Dylan. It was embarrassing, degrading, and unfortuately, nessicary it seemed. Whatever was going on, Dylan was being wandered throughout in it.

He felt the pressure increace on his arm, and grimaced. He tried to shake his arm free from the iron grip forcibly, as he looked at the man. "Petty Officer, what is your major malfunction?" He asked, as he looked at the man. "Should have known what exactly?"

Dylan stopped, refusing to move and planting himself as he looked at the man. He wasn't moving until he got a reply he deemed satisfactory.

[Lek]

[Engineering]

Lek placed both his thumbs on the computer screen and smiled.

"Computer initiate security protocol Lek One Nine Zero, Lock!"

"Acknowledge."

The computer beeped twice and Lek stepped back for. His console.

"Good work ensign, no one, not us can access the computer remotely now. We'll have to leave these new protocols in place until someone figures out who is behind this intrusion. Whoever they are, they have lobes larger than I could ever imagine. Now let's see if we can help with that dampening field. If worst comes to worst, we'll just turn the damn universal translator off."

"Aye Sir!"

James replied with a broad smile before reconfiguring her console to join in the task of securing the final opening in the Challenger's armor.

[Rayek trLhoell]

PO2 Rayek
[Betazed - Underground Security Compound - Brig]

Dylan was sitting, leaning against a wall, counting bolts when the door opened. It had hissed open a few times, but Dylan had paid no mind to them. He was focused on what he knew- Engineering. Three thirty-seven, three thirty-eight, three thirty-nine... he counted, glancing at each rivet and bolt on the cage. What he didn't expect was the force field to drop, causing Dylan to lose his place on the wall as he glanced over. He hauled himself to his feet, as he raised a questioning eyebrow toward Rayek.

As he felt the binders slide over his wrists again, he sighed. "What's going on, Rayek?" he asked, as he felt them tighten over him to restrict his movement. "You know I'm not going to run."

"The Commander has requested you be brought to him." Rayek replied, "As for the binding, it is protocol."

He followed mostly silently as he left, his arms bound in front of him, being paraded through the corridor like a prize, or at least that's how it felt to Dylan. It was embarrassing, degrading, and unfortuately, nessicary it seemed. Whatever was going on, Dylan was being wandered throughout in it.

He felt the pressure increace on his arm, and grimaced. He tried to shake his arm free from the iron grip forcibly, as he looked at the man. "Petty Officer, what is your major malfunction?" He asked, as he looked at the man. "Should have known what exactly?"

Dylan stopped, refusing to move and planting himself as he looked at the man. He wasn't moving until he got a reply he deemed satisfactory.

[Betazed - Underground Security Compound - Corridor]
Rayek kept hold of the Captain easily despite the man's attempt to shake his arm loose.  The Captain's sudden uncooperative behavior, Rayek realized immediately, was in reaction to his own attitude change; so Rayek held off responding to the refusal to move in a physical manner.

Just this once Rayek wished he hadn't taken his inhibitor so he could determine once and for all if he was wasting his time attempting to earn rank and trust in Starfleet.  The Romulan turned to look back at the stubbornly set Captain, and decided to answer the latter question rather than take offense to the former.  "I should have known that it was foolish to think my presence in Starfleet would be seriously accepted in any capacity other than an information resource for Starfleet Intelligence and your Section 31."

Rayek held up his free hand to forestall any attempt from the Captain to speak.  "And before you attempt to deny the sentiment, Captain, I just heard a recording of you saying as much via my UT. Seems our hacker is fond of sharing secrets through the system he's hacked.  So if you are quite done with resisting - I'd like to get you to the Commander as ordered, so I can turn my attention to tracking down this individual so I can thank him for opening my eyes."

That said Rayek resumed guiding the Captain back towards the Secured Area.  This time his hold on the Captain was kept light but ready.

[Betazed - Underground Security Compound - Secured Meeting Area]
A few minutes later Rayek found himself once more reporting in to Commander Briggs.
"Commander, the Captain as requested."

[Dylan Torngate]

PO2 Rayek
[Betazed - Underground Security Compound - Brig]

"The Commander has requested you be brought to him." Rayek replied, "As for the binding, it is protocol."

[Betazed - Underground Security Compound - Corridor]
Rayek kept hold of the Captain easily despite the man's attempt to shake his arm loose.  The Captain's sudden uncooperative behavior, Rayek realized immediately, was in reaction to his own attitude change; so Rayek held off responding to the refusal to move in a physical manner.

Just this once Rayek wished he hadn't taken his inhibitor so he could determine once and for all if he was wasting his time attempting to earn rank and trust in Starfleet.  The Romulan turned to look back at the stubbornly set Captain, and decided to answer the latter question rather than take offense to the former.  "I should have known that it was foolish to think my presence in Starfleet would be seriously accepted in any capacity other than an information resource for Starfleet Intelligence and your Section 31."

Rayek held up his free hand to forestall any attempt from the Captain to speak.  "And before you attempt to deny the sentiment, Captain, I just heard a recording of you saying as much via my UT. Seems our hacker is fond of sharing secrets through the system he's hacked.  So if you are quite done with resisting - I'd like to get you to the Commander as ordered, so I can turn my attention to tracking down this individual so I can thank him for opening my eyes."

That said Rayek resumed guiding the Captain back towards the Secured Area.  This time his hold on the Captain was kept light but ready.

[Betazed - Underground Security Compound - Secured Meeting Area]
A few minutes later Rayek found himself once more reporting in to Commander Briggs.
"Commander, the Captain as requested."

[Lizzie Vaughan]

[Ship]

As Lek made his modifications, the earpieces shrieked for moments before shorting out, deactivating shipwide. A small, black ship at the same time appeared on long-range sensors, as if some kind of sensor jamming had just been blocked, but no data was available.

Bridge

Lizzie was in the middle of her conversation with Ashley when she felt a sudden pain in her right ear. It only lasted a few seconds. She turned to the Ops Officer.

"Report?" She ordered.

"It looks like all the UT earpieces have shorted out. Whoever is hacking us, will no longer have any access to us." He reported.

She was about to ask further questions when the officer at Tactical called out.

"I'm picking up a ship on sensors Commander. It literally just appeared a moment ago. I suspect that whatever was causing the access to our implants was also blocking our sensors!"

"Are they in weapons range?" She asked.

"No Commander, we've got them on sensors but nothing more."

"Open a channel. I want to speak with these people!" She ordered.

"Aye Commander." The Tactical officer replied before manipulating his controls. "Channel open!"

This is Lieutenant Commander Vaughan of the Federation Starship Challenger. Please identify yourself?

[Lek]

[Ship]

As Lek made his modifications, the earpieces shrieked for moments before shorting out, deactivating shipwide. A small, black ship at the same time appeared on long-range sensors, as if some kind of sensor jamming had just been blocked, but no data was available.

Lek clutched his ears and emitted a sharp squeak as his implant shorted, but fortunately, the pain was short-lived. He shook his head to clear the after effects of the unexpected noise, but he smiled broadly when the taunting voice fell silent.

"Phenomenal work everyone! Whoever it was that broke into our systems was good, but you have proven you are better. Obviously Starfleet is going to have to implement some of these protocols fleet wide to keep any other sneaky PetaQ from trying to do something like this again, because this breach has caused extensive damage to Federation security.

Lek paused to let what he'd said sink in before continuing.

"I want all of you double checking every system we have, no matter how trivial for any other breaches. The intruder has already targeted a secondary system once, odds are they almost certainly have hit others. And I mean, every system! Get moving people, we have a lot of work to do!"

Again there was a chorus of "Aye Sirs!" as the crew began their fine toothed comb search of the Challenger's systems.

[Kyle Briggs]

PO2 Rayek
[Betazed - Underground Security Compound - Brig]

"The Commander has requested you be brought to him." Rayek replied, "As for the binding, it is protocol."

[Betazed - Underground Security Compound - Corridor]
Rayek kept hold of the Captain easily despite the man's attempt to shake his arm loose.  The Captain's sudden uncooperative behavior, Rayek realized immediately, was in reaction to his own attitude change; so Rayek held off responding to the refusal to move in a physical manner.

Just this once Rayek wished he hadn't taken his inhibitor so he could determine once and for all if he was wasting his time attempting to earn rank and trust in Starfleet.  The Romulan turned to look back at the stubbornly set Captain, and decided to answer the latter question rather than take offense to the former.  "I should have known that it was foolish to think my presence in Starfleet would be seriously accepted in any capacity other than an information resource for Starfleet Intelligence and your Section 31."

Rayek held up his free hand to forestall any attempt from the Captain to speak.  "And before you attempt to deny the sentiment, Captain, I just heard a recording of you saying as much via my UT. Seems our hacker is fond of sharing secrets through the system he's hacked.  So if you are quite done with resisting - I'd like to get you to the Commander as ordered, so I can turn my attention to tracking down this individual so I can thank him for opening my eyes."

That said Rayek resumed guiding the Captain back towards the Secured Area.  This time his hold on the Captain was kept light but ready.

[Betazed - Underground Security Compound - Secured Meeting Area]
A few minutes later Rayek found himself once more reporting in to Commander Briggs.
"Commander, the Captain as requested."

[Secure Area]

Dylan looked on silently as he entered the room, the Admirals still all there. He looked for the Tellarite Admiral he'd seen earlier- he was gone.

Kyle looked up as Rayek and the Captain entered the Conference Room.

"You can remove the restraints." Kyle said. He notice a look on the CO's face as if to ask what was going on.

"More records have been released, Captain. But they screwed up this time." he said with a nod toward the monitor in front of him, beckoning Dylan to look. He continued as the CO made his way over. "The dumb asses used your code again. This time, while you were secured in the Brig."

He went on to explain how Rayek had suggested someone was listening in on the implanted UT's everyone had. "It would explain how they got your code, Sir."

[Rayek trLhoell]

PO2 Rayek
[Betazed - Underground Security Compound - Corridor]

Rayek didn't reply, continuing instead to escort the Captain back to the Commander.  The Captain's words however  - the suggestion that he hadn't heard the entire conversation - stayed with him.

[Betazed - Underground Security Compound - Secured Area]

Kyle looked up as Rayek and the Captain entered the Conference Room.

"You can remove the restraints." Kyle said. He notice a look on the CO's face as if to ask what was going on.

"More records have been released, Captain. But they screwed up this time." he said with a nod toward the monitor in front of him, beckoning Dylan to look. He continued as the CO made his way over. "The dumb asses used your code again. This time, while you were secured in the Brig."

He went on to explain how Rayek had suggested someone was listening in on the implanted UT's everyone had. "It would explain how they got your code, Sir."

At the Commanders's order Rayek arched an eyebrow in what seemed like amusement, before complying.   The Captain was released and Rayek moved to a nearby console to look over the latest transmission.

While the Commander explained his suggestion about the hacked UT's, Rayek turned his attention to tracing back the transmission.  As expected the signal was being routed around numerous satellites and ground stations, but Rayek was tenacious, and being more than just a little familiar in the art of hiding transmissions he knew what to look for as he worked back along the signal path.

As he worked, the Romulan quietly whispered to himself and his listener.  "You've gone through a great deal of time and effort to hack these systems.  I hope it was not to merely disseminate medical files and ship logs.  There is value to the information you've gathered.  I know of several that would pay richly for such information.  Think about it."

[Olivia Briggs]

[Deck 8 - Lounge]

Liv was slowly getting to the point where she was actually anticipating when the voice would taunt her again, this time more prepared especially when it came to protecting her son. Yes it had been awful listening to her fears, remembering conversations with her husband where he had consoled and reassured her that no one had thought any less of her when she revealed that she had seen a counsellor over her mothers death. But now it felt like she had been invaded and if it happened again then she would contact the Bridge regardless because she needed answers.

That was until a god awful shrieking noise rang in her ear, nearly causing her to drop the cup she had been holding as she reached for her ear. However it didn't last long and it suddenly began to make sense to Liv as she realised that was the ear where she had the UT implant. Whoever was behind the voices must have found a way to target them through the implants and despite the violation was relieved that she hadn't been imagining it all.

Still she decided it wouldn't hurt to get her ear checked out so there wasn't any lasting effects caused by the UT issue so picking up Elijah she left the Lounge with the intention of going to Sickbay.

[Dylan Torngate]

Bridge

This is Lieutenant Commander Vaughan of the Federation Starship Challenger. Please identify yourself?

[Bridge]

Finally, someone managed to establish visual contact. The ship was far off, and in orbit of the planet below. Whoever it was, they weren't fond of being seen. They were only on the screen for moments before they began to ripple, pulsate, and then disappear. The ship vanished- not a trace to be seen. Static flooded the Challenger's comms- they were being jammed.  Only one scan revealed anything of note, a simple image, one the Challenger had seen before.

The sensors then picked up an anomalous warp trail, with no apparent source.

All of a sudden, they were gone, and the Challenger was alone. An analysis of the warp trail would reveal some very – and eerily- familiar traces. Most notably, a similar engine trail to the drone-station that had taken the Challenger's crew prisoner months ago. Could it be connected, or was it merely a coincidence?

Silence filled the bridge as the jamming signal faded.

PO2 Rayek
[Betazed - Underground Security Compound - Corridor]
 "You've gone through a great deal of time and effort to hack these systems.  I hope it was not to merely disseminate medical files and ship logs.  There is value to the information you've gathered.  I know of several that would pay richly for such information.  Think about it."

Kyle looked up as Rayek and the Captain entered the Conference Room.

"You can remove the restraints." Kyle said. He notice a look on the CO's face as if to ask what was going on.

"More records have been released, Captain. But they screwed up this time." he said with a nod toward the monitor in front of him, beckoning Dylan to look. He continued as the CO made his way over. "The dumb asses used your code again. This time, while you were secured in the Brig."

He went on to explain how Rayek had suggested someone was listening in on the implanted UT's everyone had. "It would explain how they got your code, Sir."

[Lizzie Vaughan]

[Bridge]

Finally, someone managed to establish visual contact. The ship was far off, and in orbit of the planet below. Whoever it was, they weren't fond of being seen. They were only on the screen for moments before they began to ripple, pulsate, and then disappear. The ship vanished- not a trace to be seen. Static flooded the Challenger's comms- they were being jammed.  Only one scan revealed anything of note, a simple image, one the Challenger had seen before.

The sensors then picked up an anomalous warp trail, with no apparent source.

All of a sudden, they were gone, and the Challenger was alone. An analysis of the warp trail would reveal some very – and eerily- familiar traces. Most notably, a similar engine trail to the drone-station that had taken the Challenger's crew prisoner months ago. Could it be connected, or was it merely a coincidence?

Silence filled the bridge as the jamming signal faded.

Bridge

Lizzie looked as the symbol appeared on the viewscreen. Then nothing. She turned to the Tactical Officer.

"Can we trace them?" She asked.

"No Commander." The officer replied. "They have either gone to Warp and have hidden their trail or they have cloaked. Either way we cannot see them."

Lizzie nodded.

"Take us to Yellow Alert. Keep shields up and keep scanning the area."

"Aye Commander."



The klaxon sounded and yellow lights began to flash.

She then turned to Ops.

"Did you get anything from that ship?" She enquired.

"Not much Commander. The engine trail is similar to those drone ships we encountered. Nut I cannot find where it leads. Also that smbol is also Familiar. I can't place where though."

Lizzie nodded.

"Look into it. Meanwhile keep the scans up, we need something to go on!"

[Olivia Briggs]

[Sickbay]

Liv had just exited the turbolift when the yellow alert Klaxon began to sound and even though she was used to the noise it made her right ear hurt and knew that she had made the right decision to get checked out. Elijah also started to become distressed so she held him tighter and reassured him as she quickly made her way to Sickbay.

Once through the main doors, she looked around for Lizzie but saw no sign of her friend, but did spot Bonnie over by a biobed with the Science Ensign who shared the same first name as her son. Placing Elijah down onto an empty bed she waited for one of the nurses to appear.

[Rayek trLhoell]

PO2 Rayek
[Betazed - Underground Security Compound - Secured Meeting Area]

"Fvadt!" Rayek cussed under his breath as the line went dead.  The threat still echoing in his ear as loudly as the security alarm. 

He quickly opened a new screen, and attempted to trace the transporter signal.   After a moment he called out towards the Captain and Commander.  "A single person was transported from this chamber off planet.  The transporter had the Compound's shield frequencies."

He quickly tapped his commbadge. "Rayek to Challenger.  An imposter posing as Admiral Grann Fehlaarg has just been transported out of the secured meeting area, off-planet likely to a ship in orbit.  See if you can track any recent transporter signals to a specific ship and detain it."

[Lizzie Vaughan]

PO2 Rayek
[Betazed - Underground Security Compound - Secured Meeting Area]


"Rayek to Challenger.  An imposter posing as Admiral Grann Fehlaarg has just been transported out of the secured meeting area, off-planet likely to a ship in orbit.  See if you can track any recent transporter signals to a specific ship and detain it."

Bridge

Lizzie picked up the com.

Challenger to Rayek. The ship in question jammed our sensors and disappeared leaving behind a familiar warp trail and a symbol that is also familiar but we have yet to formally identify it.