Now down in the Medlab Thysa breathes a sigh of relief, Lieutenant Tala has taken on a whole new persona confident, analyzing, efficient, this was her domain. She'd spent the past two years in a holodeck, testing and adjusting to any possible work space she may find herself in and this was one of her favorites.
She directs some of the staff to prepare a containment area in case of wounded, "and make sure you erect a force-field around it too, I don't want any breaches."
Something about the distress call had tipped her off as odd "Feed the plants". She didn't know the captain very well, but to take the time to add that to an emergency communication in a crisis situation seemed off to her.
"Tala to away team," she utters tapping her combadge, "It's just a hunch but keep an eye out for any plant life, or strange signs of crew behavior, it might be a clue to solving all of this."
Sighing she begins setting up the equipment for identifying the disease.
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Amset relays the medic's message. "We are instructed to be on lookout for plant life and aberrant behavior from the crew of the Kihai." It wonders at the purpose of this instruction. Are plants responsible for the dispersal of the infectious biological agent? Was this an idiom or allusion known to the organic Starfleet officers which escaped Amset's grasp? It flags the topic for insufficient data and stores it for easy retrieval should new information become available.
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"Mm." That's the reply from Chassy S. Quaen; roughly affirmative but clearly distracted as she continues to consider the foreign system. Then, a little bweep alerts the comms of the Vanguard, with a coordinates to another system in the sector and a note of 'possible home base'.
Only then does she seem to return to the now, stepping away from the console and signaling for her team to group up. "Secure the Cardassian on the Vanguard following whatever, ah, decontamination processes they've defined, and have him questioned." She orders to the designated 'prison guard', and to the others: "We will be proceeding with the assumption that they are armed." This comes with a nod towards a series of power cells spilled out on one of the worktables-- a clear indication of weapons dispersal. "Standard sweep procedure."
"You will be with me." She directs this last part to the AI, either doubtful of his utility in a firefight, or protective. It amounts to the same in the end.
Only then does she seem to return to the now, stepping away from the console and signaling for her team to group up. "Secure the Cardassian on the Vanguard following whatever, ah, decontamination processes they've defined, and have him questioned." She orders to the designated 'prison guard', and to the others: "We will be proceeding with the assumption that they are armed." This comes with a nod towards a series of power cells spilled out on one of the worktables-- a clear indication of weapons dispersal. "Standard sweep procedure."
"You will be with me." She directs this last part to the AI, either doubtful of his utility in a firefight, or protective. It amounts to the same in the end.
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The redshirts set up the pattern enhancers in the center of the scow's bridge. The perimeter beams sizzle into existence, defining a perfect triangle. The resentful Cardassian Captive is placed in its center with a guard to keep him under control.
"Assault Team to Vanguard," reports the guard, "ready to transport."
"Dropping the shield now," replies Ops.
The captive and his guard disappear from the scow, and the Vanguard's shields go up again a moment later.
The remaining three guards assemble near the hatch that leads down into the Kihai. Amset obediently follows Lt. Quaen to join them. Lt. Quaen triggers the hatch mechanism. The lock cycles. The door releases, and Lt. Quaen is able to prize it up and peer below.
The hallway beneath the hatch is narrow, no more than a meter across; the designer of the Kihai gave up elbow room to accommodate its double hull. The lights are still working, though the one closest to the hatch flickers a little. The flooring is metal grating, the walls polished metal plating; stealth will be difficult to maintain.
The hard surfaces play with the acoustics, and the distant sound of voices echo to them from somewhere far beyond, too distorted to make out.
The Captive Cardassian and his guard materialize in the quarantine area Dr. Tala has set up.
"Assault Team to Vanguard," reports the guard, "ready to transport."
"Dropping the shield now," replies Ops.
The captive and his guard disappear from the scow, and the Vanguard's shields go up again a moment later.
The remaining three guards assemble near the hatch that leads down into the Kihai. Amset obediently follows Lt. Quaen to join them. Lt. Quaen triggers the hatch mechanism. The lock cycles. The door releases, and Lt. Quaen is able to prize it up and peer below.
The hallway beneath the hatch is narrow, no more than a meter across; the designer of the Kihai gave up elbow room to accommodate its double hull. The lights are still working, though the one closest to the hatch flickers a little. The flooring is metal grating, the walls polished metal plating; stealth will be difficult to maintain.
The hard surfaces play with the acoustics, and the distant sound of voices echo to them from somewhere far beyond, too distorted to make out.
***
The Captive Cardassian and his guard materialize in the quarantine area Dr. Tala has set up.
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Thysa makes the last few adjustments to her equipment as the hum of an active transport fills the room. She turns around and stares into the eyes of the Cardassian as a cruel smile plays across her face.
"Well, well, a live specimen. What a treat." she turns once again and taps a few buttons confirming that yes, the containment field is active. "I'm afraid you two will have to stay put for the moment, until we know what we are dealing with." she tries to sound reassuring as she addresses the redshirt, but ends up coming across more cold than anything else.
"Computer I want you to scan the patient for any anomalous readings in his biology that may indicate disease." She taps her console once again bringing up the active readout for the contents of the atmosphere within the field.
"Well, well, a live specimen. What a treat." she turns once again and taps a few buttons confirming that yes, the containment field is active. "I'm afraid you two will have to stay put for the moment, until we know what we are dealing with." she tries to sound reassuring as she addresses the redshirt, but ends up coming across more cold than anything else.
"Computer I want you to scan the patient for any anomalous readings in his biology that may indicate disease." She taps her console once again bringing up the active readout for the contents of the atmosphere within the field.
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There's a moment of silent hesitation as the Trill lieutenant considers the environment below, then a gesture for the AI to assist in lowering the hatch door carefully, quietly. She reseals it despite the questioning look of her team, and straightens out to initiate comms.
"Away team to bridge. Do, ah, we have an assessment on the nature of the contaminate? If it is non-lethal and treatable, we'd, ah, do better to proceed without the suits. They will hinder stealth and surprise operations, and if we're engaged in a firefight that breaks the sealing, we'll be compromised regardless."
Did she just volunteer herself and her team to exposure!?
"Away team to bridge. Do, ah, we have an assessment on the nature of the contaminate? If it is non-lethal and treatable, we'd, ah, do better to proceed without the suits. They will hinder stealth and surprise operations, and if we're engaged in a firefight that breaks the sealing, we'll be compromised regardless."
Did she just volunteer herself and her team to exposure!?
Amset assists resealing the hatch and remains crouched afterward, anticipating that the hatch will be reopened soon. While they await a response from the Vanguard, it interjects quietly, "Lt. Quaen, I must disclose that my hardware mass totals 207.44 kilograms. If stealth is an operational priority, I may be a liability for the team."
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(For the sake of expediency, we assume the good Captain relayed this question to sickbay!)
The guard, still clad in his EV suit, hustles the Cardassian to one of the diagnostic beds and its scanners. After seeing the Andorian smile, the captive does not relish the idea of being remanded to Dr. Tala's mercies, but the redshirt is able to install him successfully into the bed and engage the restraints.
The computer begins to register the captive's vitals. His anxiety is evident, his pulse and respiration elevated, but the initial scans show nothing out of the ordinary. There is no clear pathogen present. If he has been infected with something, it is not yet detectable. Continued observation may be in order.
"Sickbay to bridge. Captain, I advise strongly against the assault team removing their suits. I haven't identified the cause or nature of the disease yet, and even if I do, I'd rather use our resources to assist those already infected, even if it's non-lethal and treatable."
The guard, still clad in his EV suit, hustles the Cardassian to one of the diagnostic beds and its scanners. After seeing the Andorian smile, the captive does not relish the idea of being remanded to Dr. Tala's mercies, but the redshirt is able to install him successfully into the bed and engage the restraints.
The computer begins to register the captive's vitals. His anxiety is evident, his pulse and respiration elevated, but the initial scans show nothing out of the ordinary. There is no clear pathogen present. If he has been infected with something, it is not yet detectable. Continued observation may be in order.
"Sickbay to bridge. Captain, I advise strongly against the assault team removing their suits. I haven't identified the cause or nature of the disease yet, and even if I do, I'd rather use our resources to assist those already infected, even if it's non-lethal and treatable."
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"Acknowledged Sickbay. Keeping looking into it." Konie sits in silence contemplating what he was going to do. He could grant his away team's request, voluntarily infecting themselves with whatever is there. He could say no, they could continue in the suits and they would be easier to detect and be fired upon. Should one of the shots connect and rupture the suit, well.. they're infected anyways.
The bridge officers become impatient or concerned until one pipes up, "Captain they'll need a response."
Konie boops the button and speaks with certainty, "Away team from Vanguard. I will not authorize you to potentially infect yourself, instead I will transfer the order to you, lieutenant. Have the knowledge we aren't sure what the virus is, does or if it even can be cured. I understand the tactical advantage but it may come at the cost of your life. That said.. This decision to shed your suit is yours."
He stands and paces around the bridge a bit, "I'm going to need a drink."
The bridge officers become impatient or concerned until one pipes up, "Captain they'll need a response."
Konie boops the button and speaks with certainty, "Away team from Vanguard. I will not authorize you to potentially infect yourself, instead I will transfer the order to you, lieutenant. Have the knowledge we aren't sure what the virus is, does or if it even can be cured. I understand the tactical advantage but it may come at the cost of your life. That said.. This decision to shed your suit is yours."
He stands and paces around the bridge a bit, "I'm going to need a drink."
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"Understood, sir."
And that's all he gets, spoken in the same, monotonous, soft-volume voice.
Once the comms are cut, though, there's a fluster of words, her stutter vanishing in a practiced professionalism. They took just that long to reply that she formulated a plan and figured out how to execute it. Oh, and how to tell her team:
"Re-seat the enhancers around the main console; behind things, such as that chair leg, if possible, for amateur disguise. Enable remote authorization- I do not want the beams defaulted on. Ensign Amset, you will be in charge of enabling and energizing should it be necessary. Set the beam out to precisely four feet above its own location. You will be stationed just inside the infirmary door with one of the away team for cover. Myself and the remainder will be in the living quarters across from the hatch-" She indicates the door on the same side of the scow as the infirmary and takes a breath, colour tinging her cheeks. "We will, ah, open fire, heavy stun, when the hostiles clear the hatch at a distance where they are no longer visible from below."
The Trill either doesn't welcome any questions or just doesn't expect any, turning her back to pace up to the main console.
"Once, ah, everyone is in their positions, I'll enable the emergency alarms."
And that's all he gets, spoken in the same, monotonous, soft-volume voice.
Once the comms are cut, though, there's a fluster of words, her stutter vanishing in a practiced professionalism. They took just that long to reply that she formulated a plan and figured out how to execute it. Oh, and how to tell her team:
"Re-seat the enhancers around the main console; behind things, such as that chair leg, if possible, for amateur disguise. Enable remote authorization- I do not want the beams defaulted on. Ensign Amset, you will be in charge of enabling and energizing should it be necessary. Set the beam out to precisely four feet above its own location. You will be stationed just inside the infirmary door with one of the away team for cover. Myself and the remainder will be in the living quarters across from the hatch-" She indicates the door on the same side of the scow as the infirmary and takes a breath, colour tinging her cheeks. "We will, ah, open fire, heavy stun, when the hostiles clear the hatch at a distance where they are no longer visible from below."
The Trill either doesn't welcome any questions or just doesn't expect any, turning her back to pace up to the main console.
"Once, ah, everyone is in their positions, I'll enable the emergency alarms."
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Amset processes Lt. Quaen's instructions. It judges her plan tactically sound, though it is uncertain what conditions would call for the necessity of transporting anything 1.2192 meters above the floor. It arranges the pattern enhancers around the console as directed and computes the destination coordinates on its tricorder. "Away team to Vanguard," Amset says with a tap of its communicator. "Stand by for site to site transport. Transmitting coordinates now." It takes up position within the infirmary, out of sight.
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The redshirts scramble to comply, one taking a position with Amset just inside the infirmary entrance, the other two hurrying to the living quarters opposite the entry hatch.
When all is ready, Lt. Quaen trips the emergency alarm. The alert panels begin to strobe in bright red.
Everyone holds position as the moments tick by.
After an eternity of waiting, the lock that holds the hatch closed finally begins to cycle. The hatch releases, and a stocky, grubby human in mesh armor shoves it upward, hauling himself up in one rough yank and rushing toward the control board.
When all is ready, Lt. Quaen trips the emergency alarm. The alert panels begin to strobe in bright red.
Everyone holds position as the moments tick by.
After an eternity of waiting, the lock that holds the hatch closed finally begins to cycle. The hatch releases, and a stocky, grubby human in mesh armor shoves it upward, hauling himself up in one rough yank and rushing toward the control board.
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Patience is most certainly something the Trill has in spades. And so she waits in silence, and waits, and waits, and then there- the sound of the hatch- she catches her breath and keeps waiting, straining to hear the footfalls, counting the seconds..ten..fifteen, they must be clear of the hatch by now.
She lifts her weapon, double checks that it's on stun, and swings around the corner for a split-second firing at the being's back.
She lifts her weapon, double checks that it's on stun, and swings around the corner for a split-second firing at the being's back.
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(So, it is very late and Quae is unfortunately not around, so Konie made the roll in her absence. On a 20 sided die, he rolled... a 2.)
In the center of the room and unaware that he's not alone, the man is an easy target. The stun strikes him squarely in the back; the force of the bolt throws him forward against the main computer console, the mesh of his suit crackling with current as it attempts to discharge it. The console sparks in sympathy, rapidly overloading, and the console and the scavenger trade electricity for a few seconds before he finally slumps to the floor in a groaning pile.
The blackened console board throws off a few sullen sparks.
The open hatch remains empty; either the sounds of the firefight drove away the others or he returned to investigate the emergency alarm alone.
In the center of the room and unaware that he's not alone, the man is an easy target. The stun strikes him squarely in the back; the force of the bolt throws him forward against the main computer console, the mesh of his suit crackling with current as it attempts to discharge it. The console sparks in sympathy, rapidly overloading, and the console and the scavenger trade electricity for a few seconds before he finally slumps to the floor in a groaning pile.
The blackened console board throws off a few sullen sparks.
The open hatch remains empty; either the sounds of the firefight drove away the others or he returned to investigate the emergency alarm alone.
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Chassy pulls back around the corner and just listens for another full two minutes before she steps back out with a command to secure the hatch closed and for Ensign Amset to investigate the status of the console. As for herself, she's heading to the man's side, leaning down for a lifesigns check,
"Away team to medical, prepare for beam-in. Stunned hostile was electrocuted."
"Away team to medical, prepare for beam-in. Stunned hostile was electrocuted."
Amset finds the main console unresponsive to commands. It conducts a tricorder scan of the device and discovers that the console was improperly grounded, resulting in an overload when electricity was discharged through its casing. The circuitry is now fused. "The console is inoperable," Amset reports. "If desired, I may be able to re-route its functions to another console. This would permit us access to the sensor control, which may enable location of the remaining invaders. Our proximity to the Kihai should render interference from the planet negligible."
Thanks to his slightly smoking mesh armor, the scavenger is alive, and even aware. He swipes clumsily at Lt. Quaen when she turns him over, but doesn't come close to contact. "Feds," he slurs in disgust, and passes out.
OPS (Vanguard): "Bridge to away team. Medical's ready."
The unconscious scavenger shimmers and disappears as he is transported away.
With the loss of the main console, the ability to give more complex commands to the shuttle is gone, but with some clever rerouting Amset is able to regain basic sensor control and readout at one of the secondary boards.
A sensor reading of the Kihai returns much more detailed information than was available at a distance with the Vanguard's equipment.
There are 63 humanoid lifeforms onboard the old warbird and living flora in the hydroponics bay. Most of those 63 signatures are centered in the enlarged infirmary. 9 are scattered in the corridors between the scow and the Kihai's engine room. There is also some odd forcefield activity in those hallways.
The intraship communications system is in use; all wall units spaced throughout the vessel have been activated. Who is listening to it or where they might be is unknown.
In the Vanguard's medical bay, another captive patient is transported into a quarantine bed. This one requires no hustling; he is already unconscious. The redshirt, still sporting his EV suit, eventually gets the armor off the newest guest; there are many things one can do in an EV suit, but undressing others was not something in the scope of its design.
Aside from the side effects of being stunned, electrocuted and lightly grilled, the human scavenger seems healthy.
(I don't mean to be frustrating, Dr. Tala. I promise, your time cometh soon!)
OPS (Vanguard): "Bridge to away team. Medical's ready."
The unconscious scavenger shimmers and disappears as he is transported away.
With the loss of the main console, the ability to give more complex commands to the shuttle is gone, but with some clever rerouting Amset is able to regain basic sensor control and readout at one of the secondary boards.
A sensor reading of the Kihai returns much more detailed information than was available at a distance with the Vanguard's equipment.
There are 63 humanoid lifeforms onboard the old warbird and living flora in the hydroponics bay. Most of those 63 signatures are centered in the enlarged infirmary. 9 are scattered in the corridors between the scow and the Kihai's engine room. There is also some odd forcefield activity in those hallways.
The intraship communications system is in use; all wall units spaced throughout the vessel have been activated. Who is listening to it or where they might be is unknown.
***
In the Vanguard's medical bay, another captive patient is transported into a quarantine bed. This one requires no hustling; he is already unconscious. The redshirt, still sporting his EV suit, eventually gets the armor off the newest guest; there are many things one can do in an EV suit, but undressing others was not something in the scope of its design.
Aside from the side effects of being stunned, electrocuted and lightly grilled, the human scavenger seems healthy.
(I don't mean to be frustrating, Dr. Tala. I promise, your time cometh soon!)
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Thysa frowns as she finishes the initial diagnosis of her newest patient and sighs impatiently. Although it makes her feel terrible she wishes somebody would get sick already, all the waiting was making her anxious, and she couldn't help but feel a nagging sense of impending dread.
"You" she points to a nearby nurse, "I want continuous scans of these patients, keep my informed if any new symptoms emerge."
She folds her arms and begins biting her lip. Lets just hope this is all a big surprise party to celebrate my graduation, she thinks to herself.
"You" she points to a nearby nurse, "I want continuous scans of these patients, keep my informed if any new symptoms emerge."
She folds her arms and begins biting her lip. Lets just hope this is all a big surprise party to celebrate my graduation, she thinks to herself.
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Amset reports the sensor data. "Fifty-four humanoid lifeforms located in the infirmary. Nine additional lifeforms dispersed between the Kihai's engine and this hatch. Vital signs appear stable. I am additionally detecting significant biomass in the hydroponics bay, more than one would expect to find in a vessel this size. The captain's distress call included an imperative to 'water the plants'; this may be worth investigating. I am slaving this vessel's control systems to the Vanguard to allow further scans to be conducted remotely."
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"Thank you." If she hadn't acknowledged the report, one might think she hadn't heard it, as the woman now stands in contemplative silence for an awkward amount of time.
Only once her remaining away team starts consulting eachother does she shift again, looking to Amset. "Can we trigger an internal environmental hazard alert on both vessels? It may drive the, ah, scow's crew back here for safety."
Edit: My phone autocorrected Amset to 'Smart'. Huh.
Only once her remaining away team starts consulting eachother does she shift again, looking to Amset. "Can we trigger an internal environmental hazard alert on both vessels? It may drive the, ah, scow's crew back here for safety."
Edit: My phone autocorrected Amset to 'Smart'. Huh.
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