Season 16: Episode 2: A Night at the Opera

[M'Nia]

[Crewman Katerine Galven]
[USS Discovery | Deck 12 | Access Corridor 14]

Kat was pretty busy holding her part of the ship together. With main power gone unexpectedly, there was too much strain on too many important systems, and there were also far too many noises that shouldn't be there.

Next to her, Petty Officer Kane worked on a distribution node, trying to reroute power to the Shields. Usually he would tease her right now. Make fun of her jumpiness, today was different. The atmosphere felt tense. She held a Coil spanner, trying to bring the power phase back into alignment. It was tricky, for whenever she fought she had it fixed, the flow just seemed to shift. Sometimes the plasma seemed to get randomly excited, sometimes it was as if the controlling circuits just glitched suddenly.

Her feelings had always been sensitive to her surroundings, earning her many a nickname, many times they had been so without leading to anything. Today was different.

It was a quick fizzling sound, followed by the intense smell of burned meat. Then the sound of something dripping. Some liquid and something which should not have been liquid.
Fearing the worst, she turned around. Kane was still behind here. His hands placed firmly on the panel. But where there should be a line separating the two, burned flash was flowing into exposed plasma, the protective panel having been blown away by whatever has happened to the distribution node.

For a second she thought about screaming, then training reasserted itself:

" Ops, Engineering, Medical whoever can hear me we need help. There was an accident in Access Corridor 14, someone cut power, someone sent help! Quickly! "

Forced to watch helplessly as power cursed through him, she could no longer bear it and rushed towards a medical kit in the main corridor, not that it would be able to do much, given she could not even touch him at the moment, but it gave her the feeling to do something at least.

"This is lt. Jg M'nia in engineering. I'm on it." she accessed corridor 14 control and diverted power from there. "This is M'nia, I diverrted power. I'm headed over there to asses the situation." M'nia tio sick bay. we have an emergency in access corridor 14. Send someone there asap!" With that she grabbed her kit and made sure she had everything she would need and headed down to the access coriidor

(tag Crewman Katerine Galven)

[James Ramort]

"This is lt. Jg M'nia in engineering. I'm on it." she accessed corridor 14 control and diverted power from there. "This is M'nia, I diverted power. I'm headed over there to asses the situation." M'nia tio sick bay. we have an emergency in access corridor 14. Send someone there asap!" With that she grabbed her kit and made sure she had everything she would need and headed down to the access coriidor

[Crewman Katerine Galven]
[USS Discovery | Deck 12 | Access Corridor 14]

The energy faded and the muscle spasms plaguing Kane subsided just the moment Galven turned around the corner. In her hands, the small box with the staff of Asclepius on its top felt much heavier than it should have. Maybe the realisation of what she would to be doing the next couple of minutes would decide if her fried would survive was weighing it down.

The meat on his hands had become inseparable from the conduit. Even with the power cut plasma was still leaking, but she dared not touch it. Too great the fear to worsen the wound.

Kane had been standing before the accident and help upright by all his muscles fighting to contract as tightly as possible. Now they began to relax and the feared he would fall over, so she quickly stepped behind him, holding him up with one hand.

This limited her movability, though, preventing her from rendering any relevant first aid.

Hearing the Lieutenant gave her back some hope. If she arrived quickly enough, maybe she could stop the leak, and they could finally lay him down until the Medics arrived. Kane only needed to hold out a little bit longer, just a little bit..

[Ensign Lilly Hansen | Sec/Tac | Erewhon | Market Place | Café]

Lilly thought long and hard about that. And finally made a choice. ¨Sure, So, How dose this work?¨ Lilly asked as she took the card.

[Erewhon | Market Place | Café]

The Waiter slightly tilted his head, confusion flushing over his face for a second, his eyes loosing focus as if his mind busied itself with another task for a second.
As he focused on Hansens face again, his smile reformed.

"I see. This is a menu. It holds a list of Food and Drink Items we can provide you with. You open it and select an item. We will then provide you with the item for the appropriate fee, which will be added to your account.
I can suggest our Affogato, it is my personal favourite and well liked by our patrons in this climate."

[Lt. Jg. James Ramort]
[Erewhon | On Route to the Transport Site]

As their group moved through the Street and his Tricorder still busy with running through every electromagnetic frequency available to its instruments, he took a second to glance up.

The sun far above him was painting dancing rays across the buildings to their sides, creating an actually quite pleasant atmosphere. If only he didn't know what was under the surface. If only they didn't employ humans, if only they weren't actively cloning them.
Every second he ever had spent in bio-ethics class was screaming from within his conscious to do something, but he only could continue walking.

His brooding thoughts suddenly being disrupted by a most peculiar sight.

A bit further down the street, a small group had assembled around a fire hydrant. Outwardly they looked like humans, but each one of them were wearing wristbands. Except for a person at the centre of the group who carried a small stick with a number attached to the top of it.

As they got closer, he was able to make out some of the words spoken in the group.

"..for booking our guided earth tour. We will begin this unique experience by taking a look at a most peculiar specimen of authentic earth technology. To prevent their cities from burning down, humans invented so-called Hydrants. Valves in the ground, laid out only to be used to unleash fountains of water to spray onto flames while..."

The Group seemingly deeply fascinated, one of them, an older man with a khaki shirt and wearing what looked like pith helmet, even daringly piking the metal hydrant at the side of the road.
Two more taking out Polaroid cameras to capture the daring stunt onto plastic.

His thoughts once again were disrupted by an audible ping from his Tricorder. It had finished its series and found something.

[James Ramort]
[Erewhon | On Route to the Transport Site]

"I think I got something"

The Tricorder had managed to finally get a result. At exactly 492.436 nm, there was something absorbed. The Frequency band so narrow and specific that the Tricorder had only checked it at the sixth run-through.

He would need to rework the algorithm once he got back, its heuristic properties had clearly been contra productive in this instance.

Since the device was only able to emit a very narrow beam at such specific frequencies, it took a quick minute to get the first page imaged. It was composed of what the Universal Translator deemed to be a table of contents. The Ninth Subsection being adequately placed at page number 10, the ninth counted from the Table of Contents.

Flipping through the thick pages he landed on what he counted to be the tenth one and began to scan it. Taking a second to look up they had left behind the strange group around the Hydrant. Their voices having faded to be lost among the casual chatter that filled the city.

The Street before them now opening to lead back into what was forming the cities center. The buildings here were taller and had facades made out of glass. Sporting logos of brands Ramort had only ever seen on the Holodeck, the original companies long since crumbeled in the aftermath of the third world war.

With another ping the Tricorder grabbed his attention again. On the small display there now was the translation displayed. Scrolling down to the Section they had been quoted earlier he read:

Section 9 - Subheading 14 - Appropriate Guest Interactions with other Guests

For the duration of their stay all guests may not remove their wristbands infront of another guests unless one of the medical or emergency conditions laid out in the sections of these Terms apply or upon the direction of the Facilities Staff or upon the device entering a state of critical misfunction.

All guests have to address each other with the required civil respect in regard to their station.

All physical altercations, leading to death of a party of these Terms or to permanent injury, may result in corporal or capital punishment. This sentence can be lessened based on the severity of the injury sustained to the station of the wounded.

In case of dispute, the party charged with violating the Terms has the right to arbitration. If this right is waived in accordance with Section 18 Subsection 3 or Section 2 Subsection 1 and 2 the appropriate penalty may be fixed, and the incurred fees added to the guiltiest parties account.

Capital punishment, this was bad. Their system also seemed far too arbitrary for his liking.

Turning to Lieutenant Lachlyn and Commander trLhoell he handed the Tricorder to the Lieutenant and let them have a look at it and asked:

"I don't like this at all. Did you reach the others? I fear, with such an arbitrary system, they might run into troubles of their own if we don't get to them fast enough. Is there any way we could protect ourselves?"

Worry gripping his heart as he realised just how close they might have got already to stepping into other highly tense situations. They really were not knowing enough about this civilisation.

[Lilly Hansen]

[Erewhon | Market Place | Café]

The Waiter slightly tilted his head, confusion flushing over his face for a second, his eyes loosing focus as if his mind busied itself with another task for a second.
As he focused on Hansens face again, his smile reformed.

"I see. This is a menu. It holds a list of Food and Drink Items we can provide you with. You open it and select an item. We will then provide you with the item for the appropriate fee, which will be added to your account.
I can suggest our Affogato, it is my personal favourite and well liked by our patrons in this climate."

[Ensign Lilly Hansen | Sec/Tac | Erewhon | Market Place | Café]

"I see. This is a menu. It holds a list of Food and Drink Items we can provide you with. You open it and select an item. We will then provide you with the item for the appropriate fee, which will be added to your account.I can suggest our Affogato, it is my personal favourite and well liked by our patrons in this climate."

Lilly thought deep about the thought of eating some food, others were drinking some drinks...Whatever.
"Lets do the Affogato then'

Lilly kept watch on Dem and Malik, He was still talking to that candy lady. Hope she is a nice one and doesn't turn evil.

[James Ramort]

[Ensign Lilly Hansen | Sec/Tac | Erewhon | Market Place | Café]

Lilly thought deep about the thought of eating some food, others were drinking some drinks...Whatever.
"Lets do the Affogato then'
Lilly kept watch on Dem and Malik, He was still talking to that candy lady. Hope she is a nice one and doesn't turn evil.

[Erewhon | Market Place | Café]

"A very good choice! I will be back with your Item in a couple of minutes."

Taking the Card with him, he vanished into the building. Its facade made up of wide opened glass doors. Behind those, a large room clad in warm chestnut-wood panels was lightly illuminated by hidden light fixtures embedded into carved marble pillars. The relief depicting vine leaves climbing up to the roof, with multiple small animals, some clearly of earth origin and some completely alien, cleverly placed behind the large leaves.

Chairs and couches were placed around tables similar to those standing outside and forming up to bring a astonoshingly warm feeling to the room.

At the far end a small bar was set apart from the rest of the room by the large amount of flasks and glassware on the wall.

The waiter started by picking up a cup and filling it with two generous shots of espresso. Then scooping 2 large scoops of vanilla ice cream and placing them in the cup. The remaining heat from the coffee slightly melting the gelato. To top it off he took a bottle branded "Kahlua" and poured it over the mixture. Satisfied with the Product he went over to the table and presented it to the Ensign.

"Your Affogato, enjoy! If we can fulfill any more requests or you require anything else please let me know and we will strive to fulfill your every wish."

[Lorut Vila]

{USS Discovery|Bridge|Ops Console}

Vila had already settled in.

No... I don't suppose you are...

If anyone would know, it'd be him. She did sometimes, late at night when she couldn't sleep because of the night terrors, did kind of feel bad for the things she'd put him through. BUT then she remembered she saved his life and it went away. Ah, you win some, and lose some.

She heard the rest of the cacophony on the Bridge-McNair sounding off with some information, and Engineering from down below. Then, Commander Lek's voice. She'd never been so glad to hear the ear-grating drawl of a Ferengi before. "Captain, keep him on the line. I can maybe put a lock on his channel," she said, head bent, and fingers flying at a speed that would put anyone else to shame.

Brown eyes rose to check her screen. Excellent!!

"I am back in, sir," she said, pressing "send" to bring the channel lock information to the others' consoles. Thank the Prophets. 

[Rayek trLhoell]

(Ramort, Lek, Tanner & Rayek)
[Erewhon - En route to Transport Site]

[Lt. Jg. James Ramort]
[Erewhon | On Route to the Transport Site]

His brooding thoughts suddenly being disrupted by a most peculiar sight.

A bit further down the street, a small group had assembled around a fire hydrant. Outwardly they looked like humans, but each one of them were wearing wristbands. Except for a person at the centre of the group who carried a small stick with a number attached to the top of it.

As they got closer, he was able to make out some of the words spoken in the group.

"..for booking our guided earth tour. We will begin this unique experience by taking a look at a most peculiar specimen of authentic earth technology. To prevent their cities from burning down, humans invented so-called Hydrants. Valves in the ground, laid out only to be used to unleash fountains of water to spray onto flames while..."

The Group seemingly deeply fascinated, one of them, an older man with a khaki shirt and wearing what looked like pith helmet, even daringly poking the metal hydrant at the side of the road.
Two more taking out Polaroid cameras to capture the daring stunt onto plastic.

Rayek also took note of the tourist group.  He might have found their antics odd if he hadn't researched Earth culture and it's past so thoroughly in his teen years.  At the time, Rayek had justified his study as mere learning more about the Empire's enemy, but it was clear even then he had a strange fascination for Humans.  It seemed it was a shared interest with these others.  But who were these guests, and what prompted their fascination with Earth culture?

He angled his head slightly to listen in to the group more, hoping to get some clue to answer his question, but his attention was diverted to Lek at his report.

[Outside Library - Erewhon]

"Bad news. It seems the radiation that drew us here to investigate is of an unknown type that our ship's system can't block. Warp is offline and they've have to abandon main engineering. They are running out of options and are considering docking the Erewhon's station, which seems to be shielded from the radiation to try and make repairs. Looks like we're stuck on this rock."

News of the ship's condition was surprising; almost as surprising to hear that the station was shielded from the radiation that was causing the problem.  It was almost like the station was the bait to lure them in and trap them.  The paranoid Romulan wondered if they did a check of this sector whether they would find reports of missing ships?  Was that how the human cloning began?  Some stranded or captured crew of some Earth explorers, perhaps?

Setting his conjecture aside he acknowledged Lek's report.  "Understood.  Seems we have no choice but to stay.  "

As he was about to say more, Rayek heard Ramort's Tricorder ping.  That was a good sound.  He diverted his attention to the science officer.

[James Ramort]
[Erewhon | On Route to the Transport Site]

"I think I got something"

With another ping the Tricorder grabbed his attention again. On the small display there now was the translation displayed. Scrolling down to the Section they had been quoted earlier he read:

Section 9 - Subheading 14 - Appropriate Guest Interactions with other Guests

For the duration of their stay all guests may not remove their wristbands infront of another guests unless one of the medical or emergency conditions laid out in the sections of these Terms apply or upon the direction of the Facilities Staff or upon the device entering a state of critical misfunction.

All guests have to address each other with the required civil respect in regard to their station.

All physical altercations, leading to death of a party of these Terms or to permanent injury, may result in corporal or capital punishment. This sentence can be lessened based on the severity of the injury sustained to the station of the wounded.

In case of dispute, the party charged with violating the Terms has the right to arbitration. If this right is waived in accordance with Section 18 Subsection 3 or Section 2 Subsection 1 and 2 the appropriate penalty may be fixed, and the incurred fees added to the guiltiest parties account.

Turning to Lieutenant Lachlyn and Commander trLhoell he handed the Tricorder to the Lieutenant and let them have a look at it and asked:

"I don't like this at all. Did you reach the others? I fear, with such an arbitrary system, they might run into troubles of their own if we don't get to them fast enough. Is there any way we could protect ourselves?"

The Romulan's V-ridge furrowed as he listened to the science officer read off the applicable Terms of Service.  Rayek was grateful that Lek was the type to attack verbally and not physically - or their situation could have been much worse.

"Does it say anything about the appropriate guest interaction with the Erewhon citizens?" he asked.

[Tanner Lachlyn]

"I don't like this at all. Did you reach the others? I fear, with such an arbitrary system, they might run into troubles of their own if we don't get to them fast enough. Is there any way we could protect ourselves?"

Tanner glanced at Ramort and nodded, "I did. Although explaining the situation was interesting." She shook her head and ran a hand through her hair, "Everything about this place creeps me out, though. I think the authentic experience these people are after is far from what they're getting. "

Her eyes roamed as she spoke, "I have a bad feeling."

[James Ramort]

Tanner glanced at Ramort and nodded, "I did. Although explaining the situation was interesting." She shook her head and ran a hand through her hair, "Everything about this place creeps me out, though. I think the authentic experience these people are after is far from what they're getting. "

Her eyes roamed as she spoke, "I have a bad feeling."

[James Ramort]
[Erewhon | City Center]

"Yes, authentic is an interesting concept to apply to this place. They got some things for the early 21st Century right. The focus on monetary systems of exchange, most architectural details and their holographic projections might have fooled earlier sensors even. But their behaviour. It seems almost like they despise humans. Holding human slaves, allowing them to be mistreated by their Visitors. It actually makes me nervous what might happen if some of them discover some of our team are human too. This is more your expertise but is there anything we could do without our gear if things go.. sideways?"

As they entered the city centre proper, his eyes began to take in their surrounding more aware. Marking all persons with Wristbands and what they were doing. Maybe it was instinctual, but he almost was looking for them to slip up. To reveal something about this place they had missed.

(Ramort, Lek, Tanner & Rayek)
[Erewhon - En route to Transport Site]

Rayek also took note of the tourist group.  He might have found their antics odd if he hadn't researched Earth culture and it's past so thoroughly in his teen years.  At the time, Rayek had justified his study as mere learning more about the Empire's enemy, but it was clear even then he had a strange fascination for Humans.  It seemed it was a shared interest with these others.  But who were these guests, and what prompted their fascination with Earth culture?

He angled his head slightly to listen in to the group more, hoping to get some clue to answer his question, but his attention was diverted to Lek at his report.

News of the ship's condition was surprising; almost as surprising to hear that the station was shielded from the radiation that was causing the problem.  It was almost like the station was the bait to lure them in and trap them.  The paranoid Romulan wondered if they did a check of this sector whether they would find reports of missing ships?  Was that how the human cloning began?  Some stranded or captured crew of some Earth explorers, perhaps?

Setting his conjecture aside he acknowledged Lek's report.  "Understood.  Seems we have no choice but to stay.  "

As he was about to say more, Rayek heard Ramort's Tricorder ping.  That was a good sound.  He diverted his attention to the science officer.

The Romulan's V-ridge furrowed as he listened to the science officer read off the applicable Terms of Service.  Rayek was grateful that Lek was the type to attack verbally and not physically - or their situation could have been much worse.

"Does it say anything about the appropriate guest interaction with the Erewhon citizens?" he asked.

The Commander's questions made a lot of sense, if they could find hints at what behaviour was expected of them, blending in and avoiding any unwanted attention would have been a lot easier.

"I will have to check the Document further. With our limited ability to perceive the script this might take a little while. If I may, the section recovered so far allows for a hyphothesis to be formed already, though. They seem to value their social station a lot. Which would explain their extreme reaction to Commander Leks perceived sleight. It also explains the need for arbitration, between individuals of societal stations enthralled in a battle to keep their stations or secure a higher one, judgement rendered by a neutral party allows everyone to maintain their perceived positions while resolving a conflict. Following from this we should try to remain polite in all matters and avoid any further situations happening at all cost.
I will begin to scan more pages of the Document to verify this hypothesis."

His mind while speaking already poking holes in this theory. How would they be able to verify each other's stations without being able to pierce through the Wristbands holo projections? How would such an arbitration be carried out? Why the need for such drastic punishments?

There were simply too many unknowns to be sure until he could scan and translate further parts of the text. Until then, he only hopped no further tense situations would arise. Especially now that their stay seemed to just have been prolonged.

[Lek]

{USS Discovery|Bridge|Ops Console}

Vila had already settled in.

If anyone would know, it'd be him. She did sometimes, late at night when she couldn't sleep because of the night terrors, did kind of feel bad for the things she'd put him through. BUT then she remembered she saved his life and it went away. Ah, you win some, and lose some.

She heard the rest of the cacophony on the Bridge-McNair sounding off with some information, and Engineering from down below. Then, Commander Lek's voice. She'd never been so glad to hear the ear-grating drawl of a Ferengi before. "Captain, keep him on the line. I can maybe put a lock on his channel," she said, head bent, and fingers flying at a speed that would put anyone else to shame.

Brown eyes rose to check her screen. Excellent!!

"I am back in, sir," she said, pressing "send" to bring the channel lock information to the others' consoles. Thank the Prophets.

(Ramort, Lek, Tanner & Rayek)
[Erewhon - En route to Transport Site]

Rayek also took note of the tourist group.  He might have found their antics odd if he hadn't researched Earth culture and it's past so thoroughly in his teen years.  At the time, Rayek had justified his study as mere learning more about the Empire's enemy, but it was clear even then he had a strange fascination for Humans.  It seemed it was a shared interest with these others.  But who were these guests, and what prompted their fascination with Earth culture?

He angled his head slightly to listen in to the group more, hoping to get some clue to answer his question, but his attention was diverted to Lek at his report.

News of the ship's condition was surprising; almost as surprising to hear that the station was shielded from the radiation that was causing the problem.  It was almost like the station was the bait to lure them in and trap them.  The paranoid Romulan wondered if they did a check of this sector whether they would find reports of missing ships?  Was that how the human cloning began?  Some stranded or captured crew of some Earth explorers, perhaps?

Setting his conjecture aside he acknowledged Lek's report.  "Understood.  Seems we have no choice but to stay.  "

As he was about to say more, Rayek heard Ramort's Tricorder ping.  That was a good sound.  He diverted his attention to the science officer.

The Romulan's V-ridge furrowed as he listened to the science officer read off the applicable Terms of Service.  Rayek was grateful that Lek was the type to attack verbally and not physically - or their situation could have been much worse.

"Does it say anything about the appropriate guest interaction with the Erewhon citizens?" he asked.

[James Ramort]
[Erewhon | City Center]

"Yes, authentic is an interesting concept to apply to this place. They got some things for the early 21st Century right. The focus on monetary systems of exchange, most architectural details and their holographic projections might have fooled earlier sensors even. But their behaviour. It seems almost like they despise humans. Holding human slaves, allowing them to be mistreated by their Visitors. It actually makes me nervous what might happen if some of them discover some of our team are human too. This is more your expertise but is there anything we could do without our gear if things go.. sideways?"

As they entered the city centre proper, his eyes began to take in their surrounding more aware. Marking all persons with Wristbands and what they were doing. Maybe it was instinctual, but he almost was looking for them to slip up. To reveal something about this place they had missed.

The Commander's questions made a lot of sense, if they could find hints at what behaviour was expected of them, blending in and avoiding any unwanted attention would have been a lot easier.

"I will have to check the Document further. With our limited ability to perceive the script this might take a little while. If I may, the section recovered so far allows for a hyphothesis to be formed already, though. They seem to value their social station a lot. Which would explain their extreme reaction to Commander Leks perceived sleight. It also explains the need for arbitration, between individuals of societal stations enthralled in a battle to keep their stations or secure a higher one, judgement rendered by a neutral party allows everyone to maintain their perceived positions while resolving a conflict. Following from this we should try to remain polite in all matters and avoid any further situations happening at all cost.
I will begin to scan more pages of the Document to verify this hypothesis."

His mind while speaking already poking holes in this theory. How would they be able to verify each other's stations without being able to pierce through the Wristbands holo projections? How would such an arbitration be carried out? Why the need for such drastic punishments?

There were simply too many unknowns to be sure until he could scan and translate further parts of the text. Until then, he only hopped no further tense situations would arise. Especially now that their stay seemed to just have been prolonged.

[City Center - Erewhon]

Unfortunately for Vila's plan, Lek had already closed the Erewhon communicator before anyone could lock on. Lek was adamant that no contract existed with the locals as there was no voice or thumb print confirmation that the away team had agreed to the terms of conditions of the locals. However, it made sense to avoid the locals to ensure there would be no complications.

"I recommend we find a quiet place out of the way of the locals and wait for Discovery to contact us. Given the nature of these people, I don't want to interact with them again."

[Buck McNair]

[USS Discovery | Bridge]

[Ensign Kedan]
[USS Discovery | Deck 10 | Forward Sensor Module Control Chamber]
" Kedan to Bridge, I am seeing some strange quantum fluctuations here. Maybe these are somehow related to this. Without additional resources, it's hard to say. They might be responsible for the issues I am having with the sensors down here. If the molecular bands in our equipment are subjected to these frequencies, it could cause all kinds of problems. Are you detecting any similar problems on the ship? "

Buck grimanced, chewing on the inside of his lip as he thought about what Kedan had to say about the quantum fluctations. At least it showed that he wasn't seeing things and such that it was confirmed by someone not on the bridge and was qualified in reading the data sent back from the probe. Though it seemed that the Captain had something to say, and for Kedan, he went:  Standby Ensign

[USS Discovery - Deck 1 - Main Bridge]

"No... I don't suppose you are." he commented back at Vila, as she took her place.  A check on the ship systems showed that the energy required to keep the shields up was taking a toll on the remaining systems.  He frowned, but there wasn't much that could be done.  It wasn't like they could leave the system.  That wouldn't be an option.

He heard McNair mention hyper-energons, and he would have liked to respond, but the crackle and heavy static of a message interrupted them.  He could barely make up what was said, , but he could have sworn he heard Lek's voice.  Must be an update.

"Lek, this is Discovery.  We can barely hear you, and I'm sure you can hear me.  There is an unknown radiation in the system that is degrading ship systems.  We are on the dark side of the planet working on a solution.  It removed the safeties from the warp reactor, so we've had to shut down the drive and evacuate Main Engineering.  At the present time the safest place for you and your team is to remain in the protection of the planet.  Whatever has been blocking our sensors also seems to block out the radiation."

He paused for a moment and took a breath.  He actually hoped Lek wouldn't get this next part he said.

"If we can't find a way to counter the radiation's degradation effects on the hull and shields in time, we'll have to dock her at the station to protect the crew and the ship's computer while we make repairs.  Discovery out."

Once the channel was cut, Nevir stood up.  "The station is shielded.  It is an unknown, but it is shielded. Our shields will fail in about 3 hours. We have that long to figure out how to protect our system, or we will have to risk the ship docked at the station.  They did offer repairs."

"Mr McNair, you said something about hyper-energons?"

Buck didn't like the sound of it at all, their communications were patchy at the very best and that everything seemed to be compling on. The radiation causing fluctations and degrading ship systems, main engineering being out of use and they would have to resort to docking up at the station if they couldn't find a solution.

As a friend of his back on Earth would have said, the situation was 'no bueno'.

His head shot up to look at the captain who addressed him. "Cap'n," Buck took a breath. "The star system exists with this unknown radiation, but what I can't figure is the fact that there's life. We have a planet that seems to be existing with life when it should be the exact opposite-"

Hyper-energons.

Right.

Focus.

"There have been readings of Hyper-energons, these disrupt the molecules that make up our shielding when they collide causing rapid degeneration. Probably contributing to what we're seeing with our shields at the moment."

"This is lt. Jg M'nia in engineering. I'm on it." she accessed corridor 14 control and diverted power from there. "This is M'nia, I diverrted power. I'm headed over there to asses the situation." M'nia tio sick bay. we have an emergency in access corridor 14. Send someone there asap!" With that she grabbed her kit and made sure she had everything she would need and headed down to the access coriidor

(tag Crewman Katerine Galven)

Buck's attention shifted once more as another alert came out about an emergency call-out.    Anyone not on duty or is a free hand, please can we have people go to assist.    Otherwise, he would have to abandon his own station to deal.  Lieutenant M'nia, please provide an update as soon as you can when on scene. 

[Tanner Lachlyn]

"I recommend we find a quiet place out of the way of the locals and wait for Discovery to contact us. Given the nature of these people, I don't want to interact with them again."

Tanner lifted her brow at Lek's comment and a small smirk formed.

"Given your quick wit, I would suggest avoiding contact with them as well. Your sweetest setting still might cause offence."

With a glance to Rayek and Ramort, Tanner seemed to hesitate before addressing a few comments. Her eyes glanced about as if to check for ears.

"This is a business, first and foremost. The experience and how it utilizes clones makes sense financially. They are properties used to enhance as needed. People expect something when they pay for it and they won't risk mucking it up. The customer comes first. Hmm?"

[Lek]

Tanner lifted her brow at Lek's comment and a small smirk formed.

"Given your quick wit, I would suggest avoiding contact with them as well. Your sweetest setting still might cause offence."

With a glance to Rayek and Ramort, Tanner seemed to hesitate before addressing a few comments. Her eyes glanced about as if to check for ears.

"This is a business, first and foremost. The experience and how it utilizes clones makes sense financially. They are properties used to enhance as needed. People expect something when they pay for it and they won't risk mucking it up. The customer comes first. Hmm?"

[City Center - Erewhon]

Lek shrugged at the lieutenant's comments, completely unrepentant.

"These people are vile. They don't deserve sweetness. I'd like for the entire system to be tagged off limits to prevent their poisonous society from spreading."

[Lilly Hansen]

[Erewhon | Market Place | Café]

"A very good choice! I will be back with your Item in a couple of minutes."

Taking the Card with him, he vanished into the building. Its facade made up of wide opened glass doors. Behind those, a large room clad in warm chestnut-wood panels was lightly illuminated by hidden light fixtures embedded into carved marble pillars. The relief depicting vine leaves climbing up to the roof, with multiple small animals, some clearly of earth origin and some completely alien, cleverly placed behind the large leaves.

Chairs and couches were placed around tables similar to those standing outside and forming up to bring a astonoshingly warm feeling to the room.

At the far end a small bar was set apart from the rest of the room by the large amount of flasks and glassware on the wall.

The waiter started by picking up a cup and filling it with two generous shots of espresso. Then scooping 2 large scoops of vanilla ice cream and placing them in the cup. The remaining heat from the coffee slightly melting the gelato. To top it off he took a bottle branded "Kahlua" and poured it over the mixture. Satisfied with the Product he went over to the table and presented it to the Ensign.

"Your Affogato, enjoy! If we can fulfill any more requests or you require anything else please let me know and we will strive to fulfill your every wish."

[Ensign Lilly Hansen | Erewhon | Market Place | Café]

"A very good choice! I will be back with your Item in a couple of minutes."

Lilly nodded and begun to look around, It was a nice place, But what got her is, Why take their commbadges?
"Your Affogato, enjoy! If we can fulfill any more requests or you require anything else please let me know and we will strive to fulfill your every wish."

"Thanks" It looked good, now it taste good. Lilly took a bite. Yep, It was good, Interesting, She might have to get the recipe. She quickly finished and got up and went to Malik.

"Sir, I feel we should try to find out where the rest of the away team is"

[James Ramort]

Tanner lifted her brow at Lek's comment and a small smirk formed.

"Given your quick wit, I would suggest avoiding contact with them as well. Your sweetest setting still might cause offence."

With a glance to Rayek and Ramort, Tanner seemed to hesitate before addressing a few comments. Her eyes glanced about as if to check for ears.

"This is a business, first and foremost. The experience and how it utilizes clones makes sense financially. They are properties used to enhance as needed. People expect something when they pay for it and they won't risk mucking it up. The customer comes first. Hmm?"

[James Ramort]
[Erewhon | City Center]

Yet another time he felt as if ice had been injected into his blood, making him almost shiver in place. The suggestion.. but he couldn't deny Tanners logic. Why go through the effort of cloning humans if they possessed such advanced holo tech. The only logical answer seemed to be that they were mere show pieces. Little more than the pots of flowers and artful drawings he had seen in the VIP Quarters once, arranged in the apartments to make them seem lived in. To give depth to an illusion that was designed to fool those passing through but that crumbeled upon closer inspection.

And inspected they had. And so they had seen. The illusion dispelled, the magic shattered. The ugly face of reality revealed to the. Slavery of intelligent being.

Looking around, he saw multiple "guest" conversing with what might be holograms or real human beings. They were laughing, arguing, buying and making casual small talk. Not concerned in the slightest with what was going on around them. The bliss of seeming innocence. But did they really not know?

[City Center - Erewhon]

Lek shrugged at the lieutenant's comments, completely unrepentant.

"These people are vile. They don't deserve sweetness. I'd like for the entire system to be tagged off limits to prevent their poisonous society from spreading."

"This is above my paygrade but I think I have to agree. How can we risk more federation citizens coming here. What if the next holiday trend turns out to be Vulcan?"

turning to the Lieutenant:

"I really don't want to see our colleagues turned into the next generation of potted plants for everyones amusement."

[M'Nia]

Buck's attention shifted once more as another alert came out about an emergency call-out.    Anyone not on duty or is a free hand, please can we have people go to assist.    Otherwise, he would have to abandon his own station to deal.  Lieutenant M'nia, please provide an update as soon as you can when on scene. 

"Mcnair, it's m'nia. I'm on site. Think I can by pass the bad circuits and get the door open. I shut down the power to the area so it won't get any worse for now. I'd really like medical on hand when we get him out. Don't know how badly he's hurt."