S1E10 Listening In

[Rayek trLhoell]

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

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.

Rayek raised an eyebrow at Dr. Vaughan's comment.  "Doctor, if you would, please send all scans you have of the ship to the facility computer."

[Lizzie Vaughan]

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

Rayek raised an eyebrow at Dr. Vaughan's comment.  "Doctor, if you would, please send all scans you have of the ship to the facility computer."

Bridge

Lizzie gave a faint smile.

Of course Mr Rayak. If you can provide any insight, please let us know. Challenger out!

After closing the channel, she turned to the officer at Ops.

"Establish a link to the compounds central computer and upload or scans and all data regarding the mystery ship and it's familiar Warp trail." She ordered.

"Aye Commander." The Officer replied. "Establishing a link and uploading the data now." He paused for a few seconds. "All data uploaded Commander." He finally reported.

Lizzie went and sat in the centre chair.

"Good work. Let's hope they have more luck that we have so far." She remarked.

[Rayek trLhoell]

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

Bridge

Lizzie gave a faint smile.

Of course Mr Rayak. If you can provide any insight, please let us know. Challenger out!

After closing the channel, she turned to the officer at Ops.

"Establish a link to the compounds central computer and upload or scans and all data regarding the mystery ship and it's familiar Warp trail." She ordered.

"Aye Commander." The Officer replied. "Establishing a link and uploading the data now." He paused for a few seconds. "All data uploaded Commander." He finally reported.

Lizzie went and sat in the centre chair.

"Good work. Let's hope they have more luck that we have so far." She remarked.

Rayek glanced over towards the Captain and Commander while he waited for the download from Challenger to complete.  With each passing moment he half expected one or the other to suddenly call out to nearby security with orders to detain him. The hackers threat of sharing his whispered words very much on his mind.

But as each moment passed without that call for his arrest, Rayek began to suspect that the hacker hadn't said anything  - yet.  But why not?   Was he going to use it as a form of blackmail?  Or had something interfered before he could?  The signal had seemed to cut suddenly.  Why? Was it because he was being beamed out?  Was the hacker and the imposter the same person?  The hacker had said 'What WE got will guarantee US a life of luxury.'  So there was more than one person involved, but who?  And  why? Was it just greed or was there some hidden agenda to these hacks?   So many questions....

A chime from the computer announced the download complete.   Rayek looked over towards the Captain and Commander.  Technically, the Captain was still under suspicion so Rayek addressed his words to the Commander.  "The ships data is downloaded, sir.  Putting it on screen now."

[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 Á¢â,¬"œ 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.

Rayek watched the video of the ship and understood Dr. Vaughan's comment about familiarity now.  "Replay and pause at time index 17.83" The screen froze with the ship in the distant just beginning to fade from view.  The symbol was just visible on the hull.

"Magnify and enhance" he stated to the computer as he selected and tapped on the visual of the alien vessel.   The visual was grainy from the sheer distance but the design of the ship enlarged on the screen. The winged symbol much more prominent now.

He knew exactly where he'd seen this emblem before.  It seemed his 'sneaky and maladaptive' stereotypical Romulan hobby of reviewing mission logs and all manner of recordings was going to be of benefit in this instance.  Rayek smirked a moment then tapped his commbadge.

"Rayek to Challenger.  I need another download.  Send me the viewscreen recording of the coronal mass ejection."

While he waited for the download to come through.  "Commander, I believe this ship is of the same design as that which was recorded escaping the CME just last month.  I recognize the emblem as being on that ship as well, though its origin is still unknown."

[Lizzie Vaughan]

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

"Rayek to Challenger.  I need another download.  Send me the viewscreen recording of the coronal mass ejection."

Bridge

Lizzie heard the request and immediately nodded, now remembering that a small ship had been seen escaping shortly before the sun destroyed the Tholian colony.

Of course Mr Rayek. We'll pass the information along. Out.

She closed the channel and then turned to Ops.

"Do it. Send them the info he requested."

The officer nodded and began accessing the sensor records before dowloading them.

"Download complete Commander." He replied.

"Run our own analysis." She ordered. "Compare the readings of that ship we picked up near the CME to the images we got before the ship vanished. We need to know if they are the same and come up with a theory."

The officer nodded and began comparing the two sets of sensor readings.

[Lizzie Vaughan]

Sickbay

As the two arrived in sickbay, Bonnie grabbed hold of Elijah and raised him into one of the biobeds with the help of a nurse who quickly came over after they were transported.

"He had a panic attack, there seemed to be some sort of disturbance. He needs a relaxant and some rest." Bonnie paused for a moment. "It looks as though his translator has malfunctioned. I'll go and get it checked out by a member of the crew once I know Elijah is ok." She finished.

[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.

Posting as Lieutenant Chloe Reynolds - Head Nurse

Sickbay

As the two entered Sickbay, she assisted getting the barely functioning young officer onto a bed and listened to Bonnie describe what happened. Nodding she took a tricorder from the rack and began scanning the Ensign.

"You are right Dr Moors." She replied. "His UT implant seems to have short circuited. I'm not sure if it can be repaired in situ or if it has to be removed. I'll give him something to help him relax in the meantime."

She gave the other woman a smile before preparing a hypospray of a mild sedative and injecting Elijah with it.

"That should settle him. Now do you want me to give you a look over?" She asked.

She looked at Mrs Briggs and gave her a nod to indicate that she knew that the other woman was there and would get to her once she had Dr Moors dealt with.

[Rayek trLhoell]

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

Bridge

Lizzie heard the request and immediately nodded, now remembering that a small ship had been seen escaping shortly before the sun destroyed the Tholian colony.

Of course Mr Rayek. We'll pass the information along. Out.

She closed the channel and then turned to Ops.

"Do it. Send them the info he requested."

The officer nodded and began accessing the sensor records before dowloading them.

"Download complete Commander." He replied.

"Run our own analysis." She ordered. "Compare the readings of that ship we picked up near the CME to the images we got before the ship vanished. We need to know if they are the same and come up with a theory."

The officer nodded and began comparing the two sets of sensor readings.

Rayek waited for the download then called up the recording he'd requested.  He played the recording of the CME.

quote Dylan post 178 - Brighter Side of Life
The atmosphere of the planet bent the flare, as electrical activity and geomagnetic activity went bezerk on the screens and sensors of the Challenger. A solid black ship, unknown to anyone and almost undetectable to sensors, streaked away from the sun past the Challenger, with meters to spare from the hull, as it entered warp. Only a small scan and image was able to be conducted, as the ship streaked farther into Tholian space.

Rayek replayed and froze the screen increasing it by fractions of a second until the image of the ship was at it's best possible.  "Magnify and Enhance" he requested of the computer as he tapped the viewscreen to once more select a specific spot on the alien ships hull.  There on the ship was the same winged emblem.

(OOC please note - ignore the name  'Anubis' on the side of the ship.  Is either not visible or not present for us in this story - as per Dylan's orders)

[Kyle Briggs]

[Betazed- Security Compound]

Suddenly, a fresh-faced security crewman ran over from a communications relay, running full-tilt toward the Captain and Commander. "Sirs!" he called, panting as he crossed the distance in record time. "Sirs... Admiral Grann Frehlaarg was just found murdered on his home on Tellar... yet he was here, at this
meeting!" he reported, awaiting the next set of orders.

Dylan looked over at Kyle, his wrists free. "What's the plan, XO?" he asked. He'd been out of the loop for quite a while now, all things considered. "Glad they're dumb. Skilled, but dumb."

He stood and waited. Something had just gone straight over their heads... he was sure of it.

Kyle's first thought was to return to the Challenger so they would have better equipment and first hand knowledge of any information that came in. Then he remembered where they were and heard Rayek contact the ship.

"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."

The reply followed and files were transferred down. Kyle watched as the Security Officer worked his magic. He wasn't sure what sort of computer classification he had, or if any considering his background, but right now, they needed answers and he could get them, Kyle wasn't about to stop him. He called for more records that were sent down right away.

"Rayek to Challenger.  I need another download.  Send me the viewscreen recording of the coronal mass ejection."

While he waited for the download to come through.  "Commander, I believe this ship is of the same design as that which was recorded escaping the CME just last month.  I recognize the emblem as being on that ship as well, though its origin is still unknown."

Kyle watched as the image of the ship they had encounter earlier appeared. "Who the hell are these people?" he said aloud and we he realized it, he continued. "And what does the Admiral have to do with them?" Dylan had asked him what he had wanted to do. He returned to his original idea. He said so as he turned back to the CO. "We think we need to return to the Challenger. the Petty Officer could probably work quicker with our equipment and not have to wait for file transfers. Lizzie is working on tracking the ship and if they're lucky, we need to depart immediately."

[Rayek trLhoell]

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

Kyle's first thought was to return to the Challenger so they would have better equipment and first hand knowledge of any information that came in. Then he remembered where they were and heard Rayek contact the ship.

The reply followed and files were transferred down. Kyle watched as the Security Officer worked his magic. He wasn't sure what sort of computer classification he had, or if any considering his background, but right now, they needed answers and he could get them, Kyle wasn't about to stop him. He called for more records that were sent down right away.

Kyle watched as the image of the ship they had encounter earlier appeared. "Who the hell are these people?" he said aloud and we he realized it, he continued. "And what does the Admiral have to do with them?" Dylan had asked him what he had wanted to do. He returned to his original idea. He said so as he turned back to the CO. "We think we need to return to the Challenger. the Petty Officer could probably work quicker with our equipment and not have to wait for file transfers. Lizzie is working on tracking the ship and if they're lucky, we need to depart immediately."

Rayek glanced towards the Commander at his comment, uncertain whether to burst the man's bubble regarding the relative speed of Challengers equipment compared to the underground facilities. The Challengers computer systems, like her engineering systems were well-aged, and patchwork at best. What tipped the scale however was being able to depart swiftly, if new information came to light.   "I can continue my trace back on the Challenger easily, though it will likely lead back to that unknown ship," he commented as he began to transfer his trace program up to the Challenger.

"However, despite a suspected perpetrator having escaped, I would recommend leaving at least two security teams down here to continue interviewing the remaining meeting participants to ensure that the hacker didn't have an accomplice among them."  Even as he waited for the Commander's approval, Rayek mentally planned out which teams he would leave behind. 

[Lek]

[Engineering]

Lek started at the yellow alert klaxon and sighed.

"Is it so difficult to let engineering know what is going on? We might be in a fleet battle, there's a distress signal eight light years from here, or we might have detected a Tarellian ship. I have no idea what we need to do to prepare for what's going on.

In the absence of information, Lek began issuing orders for the most obvious systems.

"Fifty percent of warp power to supplement shields. Fifty percent warp power on stand by for weapons. One hundred percent of impulse on standby for sublight maneuvering. Damage control teams one through eight to your designated positions."

The engineering staff scattered to perform their assigned tasks and Lek signaled the bridge.

"Engineering to Bridge. How may we assist?"

[Lizzie Vaughan]

[Engineering]

Lek started at the yellow alert klaxon and sighed.

"Is it so difficult to let engineering know what is going on? We might be in a fleet battle, there's a distress signal eight light years from here, or we might have detected a Tarellian ship. I have no idea what we need to do to prepare for what's going on.

In the absence of information, Lek began issuing orders for the most obvious systems.

"Fifty percent of warp power to supplement shields. Fifty percent warp power on stand by for weapons. One hundred percent of impulse on standby for sublight maneuvering. Damage control teams one through eight to your designated positions."

The engineering staff scattered to perform their assigned tasks and Lek signaled the bridge.

"Engineering to Bridge. How may we assist?"

Bridge

Lizzie picked up Leks com and immediately responded.

Bridge to Lek. We have detected a vessel that appears to be connected to the incident on Betazed. However it has disappeared and since we don't know if it has left or is hiding nearby, we are at Yellow Alert as a precaution. When I have further information for you I will pass it on. Bridge out!

Lizzie closed the channel and hoped that they could id the ship before it caused any more trouble.

[Ashley Weir]

[Bridge]

Ashley but her bottom lip as her eyes scanned her console carefully as she ran flight simulations. She was trying to find the ship, unfortunately every single simulation she ran came back completely inconclusive. Each bad result made her more and more flustered. She quietly shook her head as she realized it was useless. They didn't see a fleeing vector, so it was nearly impossible to predict where they had gone with simulations.

Ashley frustrated brushed the loose strands of hair that had fallen out from in front of her face. She wondered if someone else would be able to do this better than she could. At least she had the advantage of not being in pain from an ear piece being shorted out or having to worry about some disembodied voice trying to distract her.

[Lek]

Bridge

Lizzie picked up Leks com and immediately responded.

Bridge to Lek. We have detected a vessel that appears to be connected to the incident on Betazed. However it has disappeared and since we don't know if it has left or is hiding nearby, we are at Yellow Alert as a precaution. When I have further information for you I will pass it on. Bridge out!

[Engineering]

Lek heard the response and sighed again.

"Understood."

He replied and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Don't call us, we'll call you. And when what you want isn't ready because you didn't think we needed to be in the information loop, we are the ones who look bad. I guess I'll sit here and monitor the deuterium flow until I'm needed. And people wonder why engineers are grumpy."

Not having anything to do, Lek did monitor the deuterium flow as it was better than doing nothing.

[Olivia Briggs]

[Sickbay]

Liv could tell that the Medical personnel were busy as she watched Ensign Aldin and Bonnie get seen too and for a moment wondered if she had been a bit over cautious in deciding to come here when she had only experienced a few minutes of pain after the UT malfunctioned. Perhaps she shouldn't waste anyone's time especially as Elijah started to fuss again and the last thing she wanted was for him to get cranky and become restless whilst they waited.

Making a mental note to mention it to Lizzie when she saw her next, she handed Elijah a cookie to placate him until they could get back to their quarters and went to pick him up but not before she experienced a slight dizzy spell and waited for it subside.

[Lek]

[Engineering]

As Lek "stood by" his mind wandered from monitoring deuterium flow to the impulse engines to the shield efficiency upgrades he'd been working on for months.

"I'm so close to a break through. If I could just tighten the shield emitters' output through the right filter, the shields would be so tight we could fly into a star and not even get...."

Lek stopped in mid-word as the thought about what he'd just said.

"Fly into a star? Fly into a star? Fly into a star! Reyga's metaphasic shields! If I just use his basic technique and add a quantum harmonic balancer that will do it!"

Yellow alert forgotten for the time being, Lek pulled up his shield modification simm and began furiously inputting the new information to see if his theory would pan out.

[Dylan Torngate]

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."

[Secured Area]

Dylan frowned. Now fully back in charge, he knew what his next move would be had he done this- run as far and as fast as he could from Federation space, and hope they weren't followed. Unfortuately, Starfleet didn't work like that. He listened to the Romulan in front of him as he spoke. Afterwards, Dylan nodded. "So this site is compromised entirely. Wonderful." he said, thinking. "Have teams secure the Admirals. Get them back to their ship as soon as it arrives, and make sure they get out of Betazoid airspace as soon as possible. I want them in the wind within two hours. Then report back to the Challenger," he said, issuing the orders.

Dylan had figured out what the Admirals had been discussing, and he didn't like it. Nor was it his place to say, but it was the kind of information that was never to be discussed... It was about the Omega molecule. If someone stole the data on how to create it? That would be a bad day indeed. Some of Starfleet's top scientists had been here too... but as to why, Dylan still didn't know.

Dylan keyed his own commbadge. Crewman McDaniels, this is the Captain.  he said, waiting to make sure his message was received before he continued. Prepare a message to the Federation Science Beauru and the the Judge Advocate General's office. Message begins: Meeting compromised, data to be considered captured. Authentication, 'Nightwing'. Message Ends. he said, as he turned to Kyle and Rayek.

Kyle's first thought was to return to the Challenger so they would have better equipment and first hand knowledge of any information that came in. Then he remembered where they were and heard Rayek contact the ship.

The reply followed and files were transferred down. Kyle watched as the Security Officer worked his magic. He wasn't sure what sort of computer classification he had, or if any considering his background, but right now, they needed answers and he could get them, Kyle wasn't about to stop him. He called for more records that were sent down right away.

Kyle watched as the image of the ship they had encounter earlier appeared. "Who the hell are these people?" he said aloud and we he realized it, he continued. "And what does the Admiral have to do with them?" Dylan had asked him what he had wanted to do. He returned to his original idea. He said so as he turned back to the CO. "We think we need to return to the Challenger. the Petty Officer could probably work quicker with our equipment and not have to wait for file transfers. Lizzie is working on tracking the ship and if they're lucky, we need to depart immediately."

Dylan shook his head. "As much as I wish we could just leave, I need people I can trust down here. Teams will stay and secure the area, and as soon as that's done we'll return to Challenger and depart. We'll have to see what orders Starfleet sends us." he said, visibly annoyed. He didn't like sitting on his hands any more than the Commander likely did. When he grew up, if someone started a fight you finished it. By now, whoever it was was already well ahead- and any ship used for spying would definitely have the warp drive to outrun anything in it's path.

"We've been the victims of one hell of a spying attempt. Now we just have to hope we can contain the damage. I'm returning to the Challenger, you know where to find me." he said, before turning and leaving. There were other things on his mind now, but he pushed them aside as he focused on the task at hand. This was no time to be emotional.

Challenger, one to beam up. he said, before the snare of a transporter beam grabbed him and he reappeared on his familiar Excelsior class. He strode out of the transporter room and returned to the Bridge.

[Bridge]

"Report!" he barked, as the turbolift doors opened. He hoped the people on the Ship had had better luck than the crew below.

Engineering, Mister Lek. Make sure our warp drive is spooled up and ready to go... and Superb job on those implants. My complements. he said, knowing that morale had to be a little low around here at the moment.

"What's our status?"