Season 16: Episode 1: Perfect Replicas

[Dem Broadshire]

[Ensign Lilly Hansen - Battle Bridge ------> Engineering | USS Discovery]

Lilly nodded at the group who had basically rescued her. "Thanks, Now lets go defend Engineering." As they entered the engineering, Lilly quickly began to mobilize the current Sec/Tac officers in the room. "We need 2-3 Security officers at each entrance, Rifles as well" Lilly was trying to distract her self. She was angry, And was about to leave and beam to the station to find the Imposter captain and kick his ass, But that was not ideal.

[Engineering | USS Discovery]

"Wait Ms Hansen. All points of entrance are sealed. We cant get in." Betaika informed the headstrong officer. His astute Romulan hearing had picked up the faint hum of the force field, yet he was still trying to think why Lek would have sealed himself inside. Is it to protect from an attack? Had the captain taken engineering already? There was only one man who could provide an answer. "Mr Lek, do you require some form of assistance?" He inquired, making the question ambiguous enough in order to not reveal their proximity to engineering, if Betaikas theory that Lek was compromised was correct.

[Rayek trLhoell]

rRayek tr'Lhoell
[Station - Operations Center]

"Priority presently is to secure the ship.  It is our best means back to the Gamma Quadrant.  Unfortunately they've raised there shields and I do not know the ship's shield frequency."  The rRomulan looked to the Vulcan.  "Do you?"

[USS Discovery - Unknown section]

Closing the comm, the man then brought up communications, and sent a secure channel to the station ops.

"Tekin to Ops.  What's your status?  Discovery is now fully aware of our plans."

rRayek was watching the clone Lieutenant Commander fire on the unactivated Bajoran, and waiting on the Vulcan's reply, when the Captain's call came in.  This time he didn't attempt to speak quietly.

"Just finished locking down the station personnel.  Had to send your other Lt Commander to deal with one of the unactivated clones, and my original. They'd gone and woke up the originals that Hrafn had secured in the lab holding cells.  We're going to have to destroy the entire station to keep the situation under wraps. But first, I need the ship's shield frequencies so that I can beam myself and the other activated clones to the Discovery.  From there we can help you gain control."
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~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Commander Rayek tr'Lhoell
[Station -  Cloning lab-  outside the holding cells]

Clone Vila:
"No," she said, her eyes flashing and her tone in its usual state of coldness. "I am at a loss as to why the Federation has, once again, allowed atrocities to happen under their watch," she said. "Once we figure out what's happening, I am tendering my resignation. Things need to be dealt with and the Fleet's rules won't allow me to do it MY way," she said. She moved forward, towards the Vila that lay on the biobed. The woman wasn't sleeping peacefully-some things never changed. Though she didn't look as tortured as Vila would've expected...more like...unsure. Hmm.

Vila shrugged. "You should be more careful about trusting people," she said, simply and evenly.

Vila's declaration of her intent to tender her resignation, was met with a frown.  "Lieutenant, I understand your frustration, however this," he gestured towards the slowly waking away team, "I doubt was intent of the program.  The Thinker replicants or clones are a threat that does need to be studied in order to come up with a means of defending against." He tried to reason with the Bajoran  however, he got no response back as it was then that Malik, or was it Malik's clone transported in behind her.

Finally, the "real" Vila was awake. They stared at each other, and Vila raised her phaser.

In a moment, a sound startled her and everything went black. What the HELL?

Real Vila:
Vila cried out as her...clone? Apparition? Nightmare? crumpled in front of her. She let out the shrillest scream she'd ever uttered. "Why did you kill her? Me?" She asked, struggling to sit up. "Someone help me!!"

[Station, Reactor Room]

The phaser was a direct hit. Clone Vila slumped to the floor dead.

"A sacrifice for the greater good. You won't understand."

Before he could get another shot off, non-clone Rayek charged at him. Clone Malik levelled the rifle at the True Romulan and fired again, hopefully with enough time before he was wrestled.

As Rayek charged towards the Risan-clone, he noted the phaser rifle leveling towards him.  The Romulan ducked low and tried to dodge to the side as he continued his forward press.  The phaser shot missed the fatal hit to his core, but grazed his right shoulder, causing the Romulan to stumble to the ground under the intense pain.

"Lachlyn.. stop him.." Rayek called out weakly to the Security Chief, as the Romulan struggled to get back to his feet, before the killing shot came.

[J.B Dersch]

[Engineering | USS Discovery]

"Wait Ms Hansen. All points of entrance are sealed. We cant get in." Betaika informed the headstrong officer. His astute Romulan hearing had picked up the faint hum of the force field, yet he was still trying to think why Lek would have sealed himself inside. Is it to protect from an attack? Had the captain taken engineering already? There was only one man who could provide an answer. "Mr Lek, do you require some form of assistance?" He inquired, making the question ambiguous enough in order to not reveal their proximity to engineering if Betaikas theory that Lek was compromised was correct.

[Ensign Lilly Hansen -  Engineering]

"Wait Ms Hansen. All points of entrance are sealed. We can't get in." Lilly sighed. "Yes Sir" Lilly nodded at the Doc. She grabbed a rifle and stood near the CMO, Rifle at the ready. She didn't exactly trust Lek, He too was Hot headed, but he was a Senior officer who was hot headed. She watched the other officers within the Engineering. She knew there were two Rayek's, and Two captains.....Were there two of Lek? If so, Lilly had to be careful, And right then and there she made a choice. If Lek were todo something that put the ship and its crew in any sort of danger, Lilly was going to drop the engineer, Meaning stun him.

[Lek]

[Engineering | USS Discovery]

"Wait Ms Hansen. All points of entrance are sealed. We cant get in." Betaika informed the headstrong officer. His astute Romulan hearing had picked up the faint hum of the force field, yet he was still trying to think why Lek would have sealed himself inside. Is it to protect from an attack? Had the captain taken engineering already? There was only one man who could provide an answer. "Mr Lek, do you require some form of assistance?" He inquired, making the question ambiguous enough in order to not reveal their proximity to engineering, if Betaikas theory that Lek was compromised was correct.

[Main Engineering - USS Discovery]

Lek heard the voice calling from outside the forcefield and moved carefully forward, staying in cover as he got to where he could reply.

"We're fine in here and plan to stay that way. Engineering is secure and well protected.  Going by all the defense probes you have out there, if you wanted to destroy the ship, you would have already done it, so that tells me, whoever is causing all this ruckus needs a ship. You can let whoever is in charge know, I will destroy the ship before I let anyone take control of her."

[M'Nia]

m

rRayek tr'Lhoell
[Station - Operations Center]

rRayek was watching the clone Lieutenant Commander fire on the unactivated Bajoran, and waiting on the Vulcan's reply, when the Captain's call came in.  This time he didn't attempt to speak quietly.

"Just finished locking down the station personnel.  Had to send your other Lt Commander to deal with one of the unactivated clones, and my original. They'd gone and woke up the originals that Hrafn had secured in the lab holding cells.  We're going to have to destroy the entire station to keep the situation under wraps. But first, I need the ship's shield frequencies so that I can beam myself and the other activated clones to the Discovery.  From there we can help you gain control."
.
.
.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Commander Rayek tr'Lhoell
[Station -  Cloning lab-  outside the holding cells]

Vila's declaration of her intent to tender her resignation, was met with a frown.  "Lieutenant, I understand your frustration, however this," he gestured towards the slowly waking away team, "I doubt was intent of the program.  The Thinker replicants or clones are a threat that does need to be studied in order to come up with a means of defending against." He tried to reason with the Bajoran  however, he got no response back as it was then that Malik, or was it Malik's clone transported in behind her.

As Rayek charged towards the Risan-clone, he noted the phaser rifle leveling towards him.  The Romulan ducked low and tried to dodge to the side as he continued his forward press.  The phaser shot missed the fatal hit to his core, but grazed his right shoulder, causing the Romulan to stumble to the ground under the intense pain.

"Lachlyn.. stop him.." Rayek called out weakly to the Security Chief, as the Romulan struggled to get back to his feet, before the killing shot came.

m'nia began to stir ans she slowly woke up. She vaguely registered phaser fire nearby. she fought to shake off the effect of whatever had gotten to her. Slowly, more and more she woke up. "umm where am I? what's going on?" she opened her eyes and tried to focus.

[Dem Broadshire]

[Main Engineering - USS Discovery]
Lek heard the voice calling from outside the forcefield and moved carefully forward, staying in cover as he got to where he could reply.
"We're fine in here and plan to stay that way. Engineering is secure and well protected.  Going by all the defense probes you have out there, if you wanted to destroy the ship, you would have already done it, so that tells me, whoever is causing all this ruckus needs a ship. You can let whoever is in charge know, I will destroy the ship before I let anyone take control of her."

[Engineering | USS Discovery]

Lek's response took Betaika off guard, surprised that he jumped to the conclusions that we did. His communication to the entire ship that the captain was compromised clearly did not reach is enlarged ears. "Mr Lek, the commander revealed to us that the captain is compromised. A clone if you will. You are mistaken in assuming that we are the clones. I relieved the captain of his command some time ago, and he escaped." Betaika took a breath and decided to change tact. "Believe me or remain suspicious, keep engineering secured. And please only overload it as a last resort."

He turned to Hansen, who had been waiting next to him. "Search the ship and find him. We have no luck here." He informed.

[Lek]

[Engineering | USS Discovery]

Lek's response took Betaika off guard, surprised that he jumped to the conclusions that we did. His communication to the entire ship that the captain was compromised clearly did not reach is enlarged ears. "Mr Lek, the commander revealed to us that the captain is compromised. A clone if you will. You are mistaken in assuming that we are the clones. I relieved the captain of his command some time ago, and he escaped." Betaika took a breath and decided to change tact. "Believe me or remain suspicious, keep engineering secured. And please only overload it as a last resort."

He turned to Hansen, who had been waiting next to him. "Search the ship and find him. We have no luck here." He informed.

[Main Engineering - USS Discovery]

Lek listened and firmly remained skeptical. It was like Frontier Day again, but at least he wasn't alone this time. He called back.

"You don't have to worry about Engineering being safe or me getting trigger happy with any anti-matter. You handle what is going on out there, I will handle what is going on in here."

[Tanner Lachlyn]

"Lachlyn.. stop him.." Rayek called out weakly to the Security Chief, as the Romulan struggled to get back to his feet, before the killing shot came.

Tanner didn't hesitate, having watched Malik take down Vila without explanation — a thing unlike him to do. Her phaser was aimed and fired, even before Rayek had a chance to glance back and fear for his life. Adrenaline coursed through her veins as she waited to see, a quick glance at her phaser ensuring it was set to stun.

[Malik Grippen]

Tanner didn't hesitate, having watched Malik take down Vila without explanation — a thing unlike him to do. Her phaser was aimed and fired, even before Rayek had a chance to glance back and fear for his life. Adrenaline coursed through her veins as she waited to see, a quick glance at her phaser ensuring it was set to stun.

[Station, Science Lab]

Before clone Malik could finish off the Romulan he was struck and sent into unconsciousness. At least he had taken care of the most troublesome one.

Original Malik meanwhile woke with a start in the same room. He tried to process the scene in front of him and failed. Someone looking very much like him was lying on the floor and there were two Lorut Vila's? He got up out of his pod.

"Am I dead? Is this hell?"

[Abas Th'vyrrol]

[Sickbay]

Primum non nocere. First, Do No Harm. This was the core tenet of modern medicine. Most cultures of the Federation had their own spins on the phrase, their own philosophers and codes of ethics which drove what they did. However, regardless of culture, it was a belief that almost everyone in the medical fields shared. When Abas saw the phasers and weapons being distributed, and their patients carted off to the brig like nothing more than cargo, a scowl firmly planted itself on his face.

Things only got stranger when the CMO decided now was the right time to pick a fight with the Captain. Nothing made sense - the Lieutenant was challenging the Captain's orders, trying to block the man's exit from the room. Under Starfleet medical orders (Regulation 121 to be precise) the CMO had the ultimate authority to remove officers from command if they were medically unfit. Abas didn't know what metric the Lieutenant was using to substantiate the assertions, but it was within protocol. With his patient mostly stabilized, he turned his attention to the proceedings. He couldn't get involved - at least not yet - but Abas was curious as to how this would go.

As it turned out, the Captain had no intention of complying with the order. With a flash, the man had locked the door with himself on the other side. If the Captain had wanted to dispel any idea that he was unfit for command, he'd done a bang-up job of the exact opposite. A short phaser blast later and the door was open, with the Captain long gone.

Abas pondered his options as the Lieutenant declared himself the Captain. They were on the knife's edge - if the man was right, he was acting within orders and trying to stop a hostile takeover of the ship. If he was wrong, they'd all hang for mutiny from the yardarm.

To Abas, it was no choice at all. He was a pacifist, but that didn't mean he would be passive. While he didn't take a phaser, he could still do his part and actively defend life and the peace. He followed the Doctor, a medical kit in hand. Perhaps he could at least patch up whatever carnage was about to follow. He didn't care much who he found, he'd help anyone he could.

[Rayek trLhoell]

Commander Rayek tr'Lhoell
[Station -  Cloning lab-  outside the holding cells]

M'nia began to stir as she slowly woke up. She vaguely registered phaser fire nearby. she fought to shake off the effect of whatever had gotten to her. Slowly, more and more she woke up. "umm where am I? what's going on?" she opened her eyes and tried to focus.

Tanner didn't hesitate, having watched Malik take down Vila without explanation — a thing unlike him to do. Her phaser was aimed and fired, even before Rayek had a chance to glance back and fear for his life. Adrenaline coursed through her veins as she waited to see, a quick glance at her phaser ensuring it was set to stun.

[Station, Science Lab]

Before clone Malik could finish off the Romulan he was struck and sent into unconsciousness. At least he had taken care of the most troublesome one.

Original Malik meanwhile woke with a start in the same room. He tried to process the scene in front of him and failed. Someone looking very much like him was lying on the floor and there were two Lorut Vila's? He got up out of his pod.

"Am I dead? Is this hell?"

The sound of phaser fire as he glanced back towards his aggressor had the Romulan wincing.  However, the sound originated from Lachlyn not Malik.  He wanted to feel relieved but the fact that Malik inexplicably fired on both Vila and him, only led credence to his suspicion that these were Thinker programmed clones or replicants.  He could see that their were two Lachlyn's.  Which was the real one and which the clone?  What purpose did the clone serve, and importantly what would they be willing to do to achieve it?

Finally getting to his feet, Rayek completed his path to the downed Bajoran, though he angled himself to keep Tanner in his periphery.  He checked Vila or rather what he thought was Vila's clone for pulse, even as he addressed the waking away team members.

"Everyone... what is the last thing you remember?  I need you to answer one at time.  There's reason to believe the Away Team has been cloned by Thinker agents, as such, I hope you'll forgive me my intrusion."

Then as each spoke, Rayek would slip into the mind of each to read their surface thoughts, looking for anything that seemed off.

[Dem Broadshire]

[Main Engineering - USS Discovery]
Lek listened and firmly remained skeptical. It was like Frontier Day again, but at least he wasn't alone this time. He called back.
"You don't have to worry about Engineering being safe or me getting trigger happy with any anti-matter. You handle what is going on out there, I will handle what is going on in here."

[Engineering | USS Discovery]

Betaika managed a small smile. The ship was in safe hands. "Everyone move out to find the captain. He's not here." He ordered, walking towards the front of the ship at a steady, but purposeful pace.

[Lilly Hansen]

[Engineering | USS Discovery]
Lek's response took Betaika off guard, surprised that he jumped to the conclusions that we did. His communication to the entire ship that the captain was compromised clearly did not reach is enlarged ears. "Mr Lek, the commander revealed to us that the captain is compromised. A clone if you will. You are mistaken in assuming that we are the clones. I relieved the captain of his command some time ago, and he escaped." Betaika took a breath and decided to change tact. "Believe me or remain suspicious, keep engineering secured. And please only overload it as a last resort."

He turned to Hansen, who had been waiting next to him. "Search the ship and find him. We have no luck here." He informed.

[Ensign Lilly Hansen - Sec/Tac Officer  - Engineering - USS Discovery]
Lilly nodded. "Yes Sir, I will head to Gamma bridge to make sure it has not been taken, then will begin the search, Wish we had those damn internal sensors" Lilly then moved with the two other Security officers and begin to make her way to Gamma bridge. Lilly was not liking how the Fake Cap was turning the real crew agsint them selves, Or at least thats what it felt like. Damn, This job is really starting to piss me off[/i][/color]

[M'Nia]

M'nia awoke fully. Seeing Tanner fire a phaser at malik she was shocked. "Tanner what is going on? why did you just stun Malik? I hope he's just stunned!" she saw rayek, "commander? would you like to explain? and while your at it, why am I here? and where exactly is here?"

[Rayek trLhoell]

Commander Rayek tr'Lhoell
[Station -  Cloning lab-  outside the holding cells]

M'nia awoke fully. Seeing Tanner fire a phaser at malik she was shocked. "Tanner what is going on? why did you just stun Malik? I hope he's just stunned!" she saw rayek, "commander? would you like to explain? and while your at it, why am I here? and where exactly is here?"

Rayek couldn't feel a pulse. Mind you, he didn't have a medical tricorder to be able to detect the faintest of blood flow. To his knowledge she was dead.  He gently closed her eyes before looking to the questioning Caitian. He frowned. Something about her demanding questions,rubbed the Romulan the wrong way.

Favoring his injured shoulder, Rayek moved to the Risan to check and secure him.  As he did so, the Romulan addressed M'Nia first since she was the 'squeaky wheel'. "Junior Lieutenant M'Nia." he stressed the 'junior' part to get across his annoyance with her. "I don't have time or patience to deal with those who are not going to listen. I asked a question a moment ago. As your commanding officer, I require an answer."

He looked over toward the caitian wearing a hospital gown, much like his own, and met eyes with her as he repeated.  "What is the last thing you remember?" He slipped into her mind to confirm what she said was the truth.

This was not a 'mind-meld' - a sharing of thoughts and feelings.  Rayek's ability had been groomed as an espionage tool.  Slip in, find the intel and get out without being noticed - at least with species that were not telepathic.