S5: E1 - Honor Against Glory

[Vasilisa Belmont]

[Sickbay - USS Challenger]

With the commotion over for now the atmosphere in Sickbay had changed substantially, as if a cool rain had fallen to rid the land of sweltering heat. There was still a level of tension, but when a few minutes had passed and the antidote seemed to have done the trick, fists unclenched, breaths let out, and everyone stopped looking like they were going to spring off the ground due to excess adrenaline. Lisa told Jess and Nathaniel to take a rest and write up their reports and she took over the President's care.

Lisa had her on a general sedative, but she began lowering the dose so she wouldn't be completely out if anyone came to question her or give her well wishes. She had a few hyposprays on hand for beginning the detoxification process, but for now all she had to do was monitor. Luckily President Blackwell was in good health and they had got to her in time, so there was no need for a ventilator and her brain scans showed normal parameters.

She sat and continued looking at scans, taking the time to decompress from the very tense situation they had been through.

"Coffee?" Jess asked.

She simply nodded and her friend passed over a mug with the dark roast.

"Never a dull moment here, is there?" she thought as she blew on the hot liquid and took a sip.

[Don Damien Addams]

[Galgan Security Control]
The Galga, a Senior Guardsman Flenix led Rhymus to their 'Control' and there the shift manager Devmok showed the sensor feed of the ballroom. While the video was soundless, the Galgans didn't keep sound recordings as it might interfere with the image of Galga being where you came to have a meeting in safety that was free of intrusion, the images didn't show anything untoward. No skulking figures, no one acting unsurprised when the President crumpled. All was as it should have been until it wasn't. Devmok played the log twice and said.

"That's all we have."

[Galgan Conference Facility - Guest Quarters]

When Shazham, T'Vas, and Blackfeather arrived at Glerk's quarters they were immediately admitted by a functionary who vanished out of sight as soon as the ambassador arrived. Slightly taller than most Ferengi, Glerk didn't come off as shady like most of his people, in fact he came of as urbane and cultured as he greeted the three Starfleet personnel.

"In what way may I be of assistance?"

When asked about the bloodwine, Glerk said,

"I freely admit I sold the Chancellor the bloodwine. He was quite pleased that I could procure some on such short notice, but I adamantly deny having anything to do with putting poison in it; the Alliance has been very good for business, and destroying it would be an act of idiocy. I am appalled that merchandise I provided could be used in this manner as it would cut into my personal profits should word of such a thing got out. So, no, I had no reason to poison your President politically and certainly not from a business stand point."

Before Glerk could continue, suddenly, a shadowy figure stepped out from behind the curtains in the room and threw an object at the Ferengi!

Shazham had was total focus listening to the Ferengi, watching his body movement as he was explaining how he was most likely was innocent. It was a sound story. What business man would kill of his customers? He could not think of anyone unless it was a hit job business. There was a possible two customers and one wanted the other dead. So one would hire to kill the other. Sounds like a neat story too.

Shazham and the security guard was in total shock which unable them to react when the object came flying toward the Ambassador ---

[Galga VI | Glerk's quarters]

"Watch out!"

T'Vas had been listening to the Ferengi, trying to absorb as much information as she could, trying to register everything when someone stepped out. She managed to react as she lunged forward, catching whatever the object was with the fingers of one hand. She had enough grip to then slam her other hand on it, careful not to let her Vulcan strength crush it into pieces.

Her lunge had her crashing to the floor, bruising her side and knocking the air from her lungs but she managed to shout "Stand back!" Aware that she was now potentially in mortal danger she clutched it to her chest and held her breath.

Blackfeather was fast as lightning to quick pulling his phaser out to look for the individual who threw the object. His eyes was scanning for the shadow figure.

Shazham had gone quickly to T'Vas and the Ferengi body guards came to the aid to stop any other attempt to attack their Ambassador. They held their firearms baring their teeth daring another assault.

[Galgan Conference Facility - Guest Quarters]

As T'Vas, lay on the floor, she realized the object was some sort of multi-pointed star, but larger and heavier than any she'd seen before. The assailant was dressed in some sort of black garment, but there was something odd about it as it blurred his or her outline and making it impossible to obtain any sort of view of what he or she looked like.

Blackfeather found the indvidual.

The assailant however, didn't attempt to flee, instead, they continued, their attack hurling another one of the stars at Blackfeather who managed to avoid the missile. Glerk, for all his urbanity, was screaming in the high pitch that only Ferengi seemed to be able to manage. Figuring that Glerk was the target, Blackfeather was able to pull Glerk to cover behind the couch and tapped his combadge.

"Emergency Glerk's quarters! We're under attack!"

T'Vas took all this in as she tried to get her wind back, but as she gasped, she realized, that in addition to the bruises she'd sustained in her desperate leap, she'd cut her hand on the star as she caught it. Although the laceration was a minor thing, one thing she did notice was, despite gulping in air, she didn't seem to be able to catch her breath. In addition, it was getting harder to keep her eyes focused, which had nothing to do with the odd garment the attacker was wearing.

"Hold still," Shazham told T'Vas. "We will get you help!"

Blackfeather decided to do the obvious thing. He had decided to shoot a stun at the ninja star thrower type person. Hoping that they got the assassin.

Shazham was trying to link a empath link to T'Vas as image of a rocking chair shaking her hard from slipping. He was able to say as well, "Don't slip away," he was begging her. The truth he hated to see life slip away.

[Ian Galloway]

Shazham had was total focus listening to the Ferengi, watching his body movement as he was explaining how he was most likely was innocent. It was a sound story. What business man would kill of his customers? He could not think of anyone unless it was a hit job business. There was a possible two customers and one wanted the other dead. So one would hire to kill the other. Sounds like a neat story too.

Shazham and the security guard was in total shock which unable them to react when the object came flying toward the Ambassador ---

Blackfeather was fast as lightning to quick pulling his phaser out to look for the individual who threw the object. His eyes was scanning for the shadow figure.

Shazham had gone quickly to T'Vas and the Ferengi body guards came to the aid to stop any other attempt to attack their Ambassador. They held their firearms baring their teeth daring another assault.

Blackfeather found the indvidual.

"Hold still," Shazham told T'Vas. "We will get you help!"

Blackfeather decided to do the obvious thing. He had decided to shoot a stun at the ninja star thrower type person. Hoping that they got the assassin.

Shazham was trying to link a empath link to T'Vas as image of a rocking chair shaking her hard from slipping. He was able to say as well, "Don't slip away," he was begging her. The truth he hated to see life slip away.

[Galga VI | Conference Facility | Glerk's Quarters]

"No..."

T'Vas lay there gasping. In her outstretched left hand, a trickle of green, coppery blood was flowing, her life force. Oh, now she knew it was poison, but she could barely curl her fingers, let alone drop the thing. Vaguely, she was aware of Shazam projecting images into her mind, but she couldn't respond. In her ears, she could hear her heart. lub-dub, lub-dub, lub-dub starting to get weaker. Her breaths were coming in shallower now. With an almighty effort, she managed to pull her right hand slowly, reaching across her chest until it rested on her commbadge. With one last effort, she grabbed the Starfleet insignia and took one last shuddering breath, her eyes open to nothing and eternity.

[T'Vas mindscape]

"Hello...?"

T'Vas stood there, half blinded... Which was impressive considering she was a Vulcan with an inner eyelid to withstand extremely bright light. She was wearing her Starfleet Dress Uniform, although her hand was still in its cut state, the jagged greenish wound. In her right hand was her Starfleet communicator. With a shrug, she replaced it on her uniform.

There was apparently a floor, as she made echoing footsteps, but everything was pure white. Is this the afterlife? As she began pondering the question, on queue, AntonÁ­n DvoÅ™Á¡k's Ninth Symphony (2nd Movement) started playing from nowhere and everywhere at once.

After the briefest of blinks, the whole landscape changed. Terfin? With a screech, an eagle flew straight overhead and a young toddler brushed past her, hands reaching up to the sky. It was herself and sure enough, there as Sodnol, her Father, big as life, with big, broad shoulders, picked up his child, hoisted her onto his shoulders, as the laughing child reached up, but the eagle was just out of reach, those fluffy white clouds also just out of reach.

Another blink, this time a wood log cabin. T'Vas saw her Father was holding onto her younger self's hand, a finger to his lips. The wooden floorboards creaked as they slowly walked through the cabin. There was T'Mov, sitting in the comfortable, tattered armchair. The sunlight streaming through the window just happened the catch the dust motes. In Mother's arms was a bundle of blankets, her newborn baby sister, T'Vir. Mother smiling and beckoning. Carefully, her younger self was allowed to hold her little sister. Though barely two years old and not really understanding, she instinctively kissed the baby on the forehead and murmured a promise of love.

Another blink, this time the lake. T'Vas as an early teenager. The sun was starting to creep over the horizon, but there she was swimming lengths of the lake. Father was there, as usual, calling out encouragement. The younger T'Vas didn't respond, only rhythmically and methodically swimming, knowing after this, there was the half marathon jog around the property, all before breakfast and more studies.

Another blink, this time, the school. Although Terfin was a colony world, it was not that remote and there were enough children for a school. But nevertheless, the almost entirely human colonists lived a simple life. But even in the late 24th century, children were still children, even in that enlightened era. The boys were once again picking on T'Vir, calling the larger sized sister, the one whose grades weren't nearly so good... Well, the younger T'Vas stormed forward and the boys vanished. They knew better. Her younger self wrapped an arm around her sister and tried to give as much encouragement as she could.

Another blink, the spaceport. It seemed almost the entirety of Terfin had turned out. Cadet T'Vas, neatly turned out in her Starfleet Cadet's uniform, probably the colony's highest achieving citizen. Father stepped forward. Though Vulcan, he smiled broadly and hugged his older daughter. Mother, though more stoic, her eyes watering slightly with a hug. T'Vir, although a little slimmer, looked sad, knowing she didn't have the ability to follow. The younger T'Vas entered the transport ship, only after which a singular tear fell from her eyes.

With one last blink, everything disappeared and T'Vas turned around in place slowly, wondering what would happen next, when she saw people. But not people... The crew of Challenger. Though she hadn't met many, it seemed that they formed two neat rows, as guard of honour. With her echoing footsteps, she walked amongst them. As she passed, crew from Helm, Operations, Sciences, Engineering, male, female, other genders and all the species, all the beings that made up Challenger's crew, nodded to her in affirmation as she walked past. Near the end of the line were the senior officers and yes, even Katya and Arya. T'Vas would have laughed if she could, but Katya seemed to have a slight sneer as she nodded, though Arya was warmer.

Finally, Jettis almost at the end of the line nodded to her warmly, an almost bow. Standing there right at the end of the line was Captain Ian Galloway. With a deep nod, she said something, but she couldn't hear him. She cupped a hand to her ear, but she still couldn't hear him. Eventually, she leaned in close enough...

[Galga VI | Conference Facility | Glerk's Quarters]

"The fun is over, get back to work now."

Back in the real world, T'Vas whispered, but she wasn't quite sure what she whispered. Slowly, her breath started coming back, her chest rising and falling ever so slowly and increasing. With every passing second, she was gaining strength and she finally dropped that cursed star.

Blinking, she saw Shazam, but also that he was kneeling over her but keeping low, since that assassin was still attacking. Her voice was had a bit of a croaky quality to it and she couldn't maintain her speaking cadence, she had to get information out: "Get cover. Warn the Captain. Protect Glerk. Find out what he knows. Everyone in danger."

T'Vas flexed her arm. Her body had shut itself down, her Vulcan biochemistry had temporary shut down her body and its metabolism, more or less concentrating the poison into her left arm at present. Her arm felt as if the circulation was gone and there was a distinct pins and needles sensation all along, which was true in a sense. When she reached a medical facility, the Doctors would be able to scrub her blood clean. For now, her left arm hung somewhat limply and her reaction times were slowed as her Vulcan physiology kept her body from actually dying on her. She had a few hours to go, but right now, her duty came first. Seeing the commbadge in her hand, she hung it back in place on her dress uniform, trying to see where Blackfeather and the security team were still fighting a pitched battle with the unknown assassin.

[Galgan Conference Facility - Guest Quarters]

With Glerk's own security protecting him and Shazham looking after T'Vas, Blackfeather was able to concentrate on the shadowy attacker. He snapped off a quick shot that their assailant partially dodged, meaning he only took a fraction of the stun effect intended. Despite being grazed, the attacker still had the wherewithal to throw yet another star at Blackfeather, who was able to avoid the poorly thrown missile. Rolling away from where he went to cover, it was suicidal to pop back up from the last place your attacker saw you as it was likely they would be looking in that spot, thus when he popped back up from cover, he had moved three meters to the left of where he'd gone to ground and this time he tagged the thrower with a solid hit. The masked figure staggered and crumpled. Blackfeather sagged in relief and moved to cover the assassin, to be certain he stayed down.

[Galgan Conference Facility]

Ian heard the call from Blackfeather over the com and snarled. "Mo Chreach! NOW WHAT?" As he raced toward the guest quarters. The Galgan facility was a sprawling installation and it took him the better part of a minute running at full speed with Petty Officer Shurile running at his side to reach Glerk's quarters. Once there, he found Blackfeather standing over an unconscious Romulan man, and Shazham kneeling over T'Vas. Before he could even ask, Blackfeather stated.

"We were talking to the Ambassador, he's fine by the way, when this guy started throwing these star things. He had a disruptor pistol and a total of six of them on him, he threw three before I was able to stun him. T'Vas saved the Ambassador's life by catching the thing in flight. It was the damndest thing I've ever seen Sir, but she's paid for it, I'm sure she's been poisoned, cause she doesn't look so good."

Ian blinked at this information and wondered.

"Life wasn't this complicated as a bloody pilot."

Ian tapped his combadge.

"Galloway ta Challenger. Medical emergency. Two casualties ta beam up. One is Ensign T'Vas, probable poisonin', take her now. Second one, is a Romulan that's been stunned. I want a security detail in place before you beam him up. Question this wanker until his ears bleed, I need answers! Galloway out." 

Before he'd even finished speaking, T'Vas was beamed away and Ian turned to Blackfeather.

"Excellent work Chief."

"Wasn't me Sir, if not for the Ensign, I'm sure the Ambassador would be dead. That was one of the bravest, if not craziest things I've ever seen."

"I will remember that Chief."

Ian then moved to speak to the Ferengi.

"Ambassador, I'm glad you are unharmed."

"As am I Captain. I cannot thank your Ensign enough. I am, and believe me, this is not something a Ferengi says lightly, in her debt."

"I will be putting her in for commendation as soon as I can make a report."

"I'm certain that is a notable achievement, but it feels somehow too intangible. Regardless, please inform me of her condition and thank her for me when you can."

"I will Sir."

When Ian turned back to Blackfeather, the Romulan was beamed up and he asked.

"Did you get all the information you needed Chief?"

"I believe so Sir, the Ambassador admitted to selling the Chancellor the bloodwine, but denies poisoning it. He said that it would be bad for business."

Ian sighed.

"Very well Chief, let's get out of here. Ensign."

Ian led Shazham, Blackfeather, and Shurile back to their quarters. There he tapped his combadge again.

"Galloway ta Challenger, report."

[Sickbay - USS Challenger]

T'Vas appeared on a biobed and as soon as she was within its sensor range, the readings dropped. Breathing was labored, circulation in her left arm was severely reduced, and what passed for her liver was failing. Just as Lisa was processing this information, out of the corner of her eye, she saw the four person security team arrive, but had to put that out of her mind to concentrate on her patient.

Not long after the security team arrived, a Romulan male appeared on a biobed in the isolation ward where Lagar waited with four security officers to treat him. Romulan physiology was close enough to Vulcan that the sensors initially detected this casualty was just unconscious, but just as Lagar was about to announce that the Romulan was fine, the man began to convulse and the biobed readings all dropped rapidly.

[Don Damien Addams]

[Galga VI | Conference Facility | Glerk's Quarters]

"No..."

T'Vas lay there gasping. In her outstretched left hand, a trickle of green, coppery blood was flowing, her life force. Oh, now she knew it was poison, but she could barely curl her fingers, let alone drop the thing. Vaguely, she was aware of Shazam projecting images into her mind, but she couldn't respond. In her ears, she could hear her heart. lub-dub, lub-dub, lub-dub starting to get weaker. Her breaths were coming in shallower now. With an almighty effort, she managed to pull her right hand slowly, reaching across her chest until it rested on her commbadge. With one last effort, she grabbed the Starfleet insignia and took one last shuddering breath, her eyes open to nothing and eternity.

[T'Vas mindscape]

"Hello...?"

T'Vas stood there, half blinded... Which was impressive considering she was a Vulcan with an inner eyelid to withstand extremely bright light. She was wearing her Starfleet Dress Uniform, although her hand was still in its cut state, the jagged greenish wound. In her right hand was her Starfleet communicator. With a shrug, she replaced it on her uniform.

There was apparently a floor, as she made echoing footsteps, but everything was pure white. Is this the afterlife? As she began pondering the question, on queue, AntonÁ­n DvoÅ™Á¡k's Ninth Symphony (2nd Movement) started playing from nowhere and everywhere at once.

After the briefest of blinks, the whole landscape changed. Terfin? With a screech, an eagle flew straight overhead and a young toddler brushed past her, hands reaching up to the sky. It was herself and sure enough, there as Sodnol, her Father, big as life, with big, broad shoulders, picked up his child, hoisted her onto his shoulders, as the laughing child reached up, but the eagle was just out of reach, those fluffy white clouds also just out of reach.

Another blink, this time a wood log cabin. T'Vas saw her Father was holding onto her younger self's hand, a finger to his lips. The wooden floorboards creaked as they slowly walked through the cabin. There was T'Mov, sitting in the comfortable, tattered armchair. The sunlight streaming through the window just happened the catch the dust motes. In Mother's arms was a bundle of blankets, her newborn baby sister, T'Vir. Mother smiling and beckoning. Carefully, her younger self was allowed to hold her little sister. Though barely two years old and not really understanding, she instinctively kissed the baby on the forehead and murmured a promise of love.

Another blink, this time the lake. T'Vas as an early teenager. The sun was starting to creep over the horizon, but there she was swimming lengths of the lake. Father was there, as usual, calling out encouragement. The younger T'Vas didn't respond, only rhythmically and methodically swimming, knowing after this, there was the half marathon jog around the property, all before breakfast and more studies.

Another blink, this time, the school. Although Terfin was a colony world, it was not that remote and there were enough children for a school. But nevertheless, the almost entirely human colonists lived a simple life. But even in the late 24th century, children were still children, even in that enlightened era. The boys were once again picking on T'Vir, calling the larger sized sister, the one whose grades weren't nearly so good... Well, the younger T'Vas stormed forward and the boys vanished. They knew better. Her younger self wrapped an arm around her sister and tried to give as much encouragement as she could.

Another blink, the spaceport. It seemed almost the entirety of Terfin had turned out. Cadet T'Vas, neatly turned out in her Starfleet Cadet's uniform, probably the colony's highest achieving citizen. Father stepped forward. Though Vulcan, he smiled broadly and hugged his older daughter. Mother, though more stoic, her eyes watering slightly with a hug. T'Vir, although a little slimmer, looked sad, knowing she didn't have the ability to follow. The younger T'Vas entered the transport ship, only after which a singular tear fell from her eyes.

With one last blink, everything disappeared and T'Vas turned around in place slowly, wondering what would happen next, when she saw people. But not people... The crew of Challenger. Though she hadn't met many, it seemed that they formed two neat rows, as guard of honour. With her echoing footsteps, she walked amongst them. As she passed, crew from Helm, Operations, Sciences, Engineering, male, female, other genders and all the species, all the beings that made up Challenger's crew, nodded to her in affirmation as she walked past. Near the end of the line were the senior officers and yes, even Katya and Arya. T'Vas would have laughed if she could, but Katya seemed to have a slight sneer as she nodded, though Arya was warmer.

Finally, Jettis almost at the end of the line nodded to her warmly, an almost bow. Standing there right at the end of the line was Captain Ian Galloway. With a deep nod, she said something, but she couldn't hear him. She cupped a hand to her ear, but she still couldn't hear him. Eventually, she leaned in close enough...

[Galga VI | Conference Facility | Glerk's Quarters]

"The fun is over, get back to work now."

Back in the real world, T'Vas whispered, but she wasn't quite sure what she whispered. Slowly, her breath started coming back, her chest rising and falling ever so slowly and increasing. With every passing second, she was gaining strength and she finally dropped that cursed star.

Blinking, she saw Shazam, but also that he was kneeling over her but keeping low, since that assassin was still attacking. Her voice was had a bit of a croaky quality to it and she couldn't maintain her speaking cadence, she had to get information out: "Get cover. Warn the Captain. Protect Glerk. Find out what he knows. Everyone in danger."

T'Vas flexed her arm. Her body had shut itself down, her Vulcan biochemistry had temporary shut down her body and its metabolism, more or less concentrating the poison into her left arm at present. Her arm felt as if the circulation was gone and there was a distinct pins and needles sensation all along, which was true in a sense. When she reached a medical facility, the Doctors would be able to scrub her blood clean. For now, her left arm hung somewhat limply and her reaction times were slowed as her Vulcan physiology kept her body from actually dying on her. She had a few hours to go, but right now, her duty came first. Seeing the commbadge in her hand, she hung it back in place on her dress uniform, trying to see where Blackfeather and the security team were still fighting a pitched battle with the unknown assassin.

Shazham was feeling hopeless that he wished he had a damn medical device on him which he can apply something. It was to late to compress the poison from spreading her body. When she was fading away he was going to CPR if he had too.

Then she came out mumbling about the fun was over. The heart of his leaped out of his chest and he smiled. "Glad your back!" That meant she was not complete safe yet.

[Galgan Conference Facility - Guest Quarters]

With Glerk's own security protecting him and Shazham looking after T'Vas, Blackfeather was able to concentrate on the shadowy attacker. He snapped off a quick shot that their assailant partially dodged, meaning he only took a fraction of the stun effect intended. Despite being grazed, the attacker still had the wherewithal to throw yet another star at Blackfeather, who was able to avoid the poorly thrown missile. Rolling away from where he went to cover, it was suicidal to pop back up from the last place your attacker saw you as it was likely they would be looking in that spot, thus when he popped back up from cover, he had moved three meters to the left of where he'd gone to ground and this time he tagged the thrower with a solid hit. The masked figure staggered and crumpled. Blackfeather sagged in relief and moved to cover the assassin, to be certain he stayed down.

Shazham had placed his body over T'Vas body as a trained medic would do in the battle field to protect the wounded. To him those are the bravest boys. Running with a red cross on your helmet, running in combat to help the wounded and some enemy don't give a crap and shoot them. On their thought you are the enemy and if you have a cross on. One medic down means no aiding the wound. Not everyone played the rules.

[Galgan Conference Facility]

Ian heard the call from Blackfeather over the com and snarled. "Mo Chreach! NOW WHAT?" As he raced toward the guest quarters. The Galgan facility was a sprawling installation and it took him the better part of a minute running at full speed with Petty Officer Shurile running at his side to reach Glerk's quarters. Once there, he found Blackfeather standing over an unconscious Romulan man, and Shazham kneeling over T'Vas. Before he could even ask, Blackfeather stated.

"We were talking to the Ambassador, he's fine by the way, when this guy started throwing these star things. He had a disruptor pistol and a total of six of them on him, he threw three before I was able to stun him. T'Vas saved the Ambassador's life by catching the thing in flight. It was the damndest thing I've ever seen Sir, but she's paid for it, I'm sure she's been poisoned, cause she doesn't look so good."

Ian blinked at this information and wondered.

"Life wasn't this complicated as a bloody pilot."

Ian tapped his combadge.

"Galloway ta Challenger. Medical emergency. Two casualties ta beam up. One is Ensign T'Vas, probable poisonin', take her now. Second one, is a Romulan that's been stunned. I want a security detail in place before you beam him up. Question this wanker until his ears bleed, I need answers! Galloway out." 

Shazham felt sad he was not the one who was hit because he did not like to see others hurt. That why he would made a poor doctor. He put to much emotion in it and fall deep depression.

Shazham got up and took few steps away from the transporter beam. He had a fear standing to close to one with one person molecules being taken apart would had some effect by being close. Silly. Fear but it was his.

Before he'd even finished speaking, T'Vas was beamed away and Ian turned to Blackfeather.

"Excellent work Chief."

"Wasn't me Sir, if not for the Ensign, I'm sure the Ambassador would be dead. That was one of the bravest, if not craziest things I've ever seen."

"I will remember that Chief."

Ian then moved to speak to the Ferengi.

"Ambassador, I'm glad you are unharmed."

"As am I Captain. I cannot thank your Ensign enough. I am, and believe me, this is not something a Ferengi says lightly, in her debt."

"I will be putting her in for commendation as soon as I can make a report."

"I'm certain that is a notable achievement, but it feels somehow too intangible. Regardless, please inform me of her condition and thank her for me when you can."

"I will Sir."

When Ian turned back to Blackfeather, the Romulan was beamed up and he asked.

"Did you get all the information you needed Chief?"

"I believe so Sir, the Ambassador admitted to selling the Chancellor the bloodwine, but denies poisoning it. He said that it would be bad for business."

Ian sighed.

"Very well Chief, let's get out of here. Ensign."

Ian led Shazham, Blackfeather, and Shurile back to their quarters. There he tapped his combadge again.

"Galloway ta Challenger, report."

[Sickbay - USS Challenger]

T'Vas appeared on a biobed and as soon as she was within its sensor range, the readings dropped. Breathing was labored, circulation in her left arm was severely reduced, and what passed for her liver was failing. Just as Lisa was processing this information, out of the corner of her eye, she saw the four person security team arrive, but had to put that out of her mind to concentrate on her patient.

Not long after the security team arrived, a Romulan male appeared on a biobed in the isolation ward where Lagar waited with four security officers to treat him. Romulan physiology was close enough to Vulcan that the sensors initially detected this casualty was just unconscious, but just as Lagar was about to announce that the Romulan was fine, the man began to convulse and the biobed readings all dropped rapidly.

[Guest room at the Conference on Galga]

When they got to the room. "That seemed pretty sloppy for Romulan assassin," Shazham had commented as they stepped in the room. "Poison on Starfleet and Ferengi..." he placed his hands on his hips. "Klingon bottle was set up to make Ambassador Martok look like a assassin. And then the assassin had try to kill the Ambassador Gerik...unless the Romulan Assassin did not know we are there..." he shook his head. "I like riddles and this seems to be a mystery that does seem off to me," he shared.

[Lagar]

[Bridge - USS Challenger]

Shortly after Lagar logged into the science station, he immediately noticed activity among the Galgan patrol craft that ensured the security of the conference. No sooner had he realized the activity was unusual, Lieutenant jg. Richard Lowe, who was at Tactical reported.

"Sir, there is a marked increase in patrol activity going on at 128 Mark 85 and there is a lot of chatter on the Galgan Space Control frequency."

The Galga system boasted seven planets, with the conference taking place on the sixth. The outer planet was a gas giant with the inner four planets being various types of uninhabitable rocks. The coordinates Lowe reported were to Coreward, or south of the planet at the very edge of the system.

Lieutenant jg Lagar
[Sickbay "" USS Challenger]

Lagar had no way of knowing if his recommendation to the Bridge would lead to anything positive, but he felt a sense of accomplishment just the same. If this truly was Thelal and his Romulan faction, then any chess move in opposition to their goals out there in space might help turn the game in their favor. Thelal's element of Romulan society, reportedly dedicated to its own racial superiority and tyrannical despotism, was antithetical to the Phylosian Dream. The Romulan form of Imperialism, their desired 'rule', deserved little less than a great stampeding of a million botanical feet, a terrible and final rending of their buildings and weapons by a million tearing tendrils"¦ How many disruptors and warbirds can they build when their planets are split by roots and vines from the core to the outer layers...

Mentally, Lagar shook away the unwelcome thoughts while his body remained unmoving. Not while on duty.[/] he reminded himself. Returning to the present moment, he kept the padd in a free tendril, moving through the flow of his colleagues to join Lisa at the President's side. Phylosians maintained no form of central leadership or government, and even their vessels did not employ Department Heads or even Captains. As such, he felt no greater awe over this woman than he would anyone else of similar capabilities and intelligence.

The President had given a standing request for further information about who had poisoned her, but Lagar and Lisa had no live feed of current communications. They knew precious little more than she did, at the moment, but there was the possibility that she, as the victim, might have a clue or two that could help them. He drew near to her slowly, hoping that someone as well-traveled as she was familiar with his species, and wouldn't be disturbed by his nature.

"Madame President." he began gently. He didn't doubt that she was of durable character, but as a doctor, he felt it was wise to broach the topic carefully. It had been some time since her treatment, and her vital signs and Lisa's attentions meant that she was far better along now than she had been prior. "It is possible that an accomplice of the poisoners was down there at the conference observing you, in order to report the failure or success of the poisoning." He made sure to use the term 'possible', as there was no way to confirm this assumption. "May we ask if you noticed any unusual behavior from the attendees? Anyone who seemed to be observing you closely, but who did not approach you to speak to you, even when you were available? Any noteworthy details you may have seen, as the intended victim, could help us in our investigations."

[Jettis Jyur]

[Bridge - USS Challenger]

T'Kel paused for a moment as she completed her final sweep and replied.

"That is a logical assumption. However, with all the normal traffic in addition to the diplomatic traffic, combined with the imprecise nature of ion trails, tracking down this one specific trail is most unlikely Sir."

[ USS Challenger - Bridge ]

Jettis nodded, clasping his hands together. They had another piece of the puzzle, but no real way to track down the person via the trail. They would have to use other methods to locate the party-crasher. Hopefully those on the ground would have better luck gathering information, and for a moment he felt a twinge of regret that he wasn't down there as well.

The regret soon washed away though, as yet another emergency beam up request came in.

"Sir, Captain Galloway is ordering ensign T'Vas to be beamed directly to sickbay. As well as a security detail for a stunned Romulan." God damn it. Things seemed to only get progressively worse down on the planet. His mind quickly rifled through the security that was already present on the planet, and who that left available on the ship. "Send down three officers of your choosing. The millisecond he's cleared by medical, I want him transferred to the brig so myself, or Sigurdsdottir can speak to him. Clear?"

He paused for a moment, narrowing his eyes before continuing. "And have someone watching Madam President at all times. I don't know about you, but the idea of a captured Romulan doesn't sit right with me." Especially not with all the measures they had taken before. They had everything planned out, down to the tiniest bit of evidence, so one being captured seemed.. reckless. And recklessness was simply not in a Romulan's dictionary.

Tapping his commbadge, he reached out to the Captain's - or rather, the Captain's replacement.  "I don't have much for new information. Both T'Vas and the Romulan are still in sickbay, no news on their condition, or the makeup of the poison. The President is still stable. We hypothesis that a small shuttle made land on the planet, but we aren't able to track what kind, or where it had. What we do know almost certainly, is that it's still planet-bound, most likely. No way for us to narrow down where without moving the Challenger, sir."

[Ian Galloway]

[Guest room at the Conference on Galga]

When they got to the room. "That seemed pretty sloppy for Romulan assassin," Shazham had commented as they stepped in the room. "Poison on Starfleet and Ferengi..." he placed his hands on his hips. "Klingon bottle was set up to make Ambassador Martok look like a assassin. And then the assassin had try to kill the Ambassador Gerik...unless the Romulan Assassin did not know we are there..." he shook his head. "I like riddles and this seems to be a mystery that does seem off to me," he shared.

[Galgan Conference Facility - Guest Quarters]

Ian had to agree with Shazham. Two missed assassination attempts did not point to a well trained set of professionals that specialized in this sort of thing. Unfortunately, he didn't have any answers why the attempts failed, he was just glad they had.

"I don't know Lad, things are nae addin' up like they should. All I can assume is that since they failed, they are certain ta try again. We're goin' ta have ta be even more on our toes than we thought we had ta be."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lieutenant jg Lagar
[Sickbay "" USS Challenger]

Lagar had no way of knowing if his recommendation to the Bridge would lead to anything positive, but he felt a sense of accomplishment just the same. If this truly was Thelal and his Romulan faction, then any chess move in opposition to their goals out there in space might help turn the game in their favor. Thelal's element of Romulan society, reportedly dedicated to its own racial superiority and tyrannical despotism, was antithetical to the Phylosian Dream. The Romulan form of Imperialism, their desired 'rule', deserved little less than a great stampeding of a million botanical feet, a terrible and final rending of their buildings and weapons by a million tearing tendrils"¦ How many disruptors and warbirds can they build when their planets are split by roots and vines from the core to the outer layers...

Mentally, Lagar shook away the unwelcome thoughts while his body remained unmoving. Not while on duty.[/] he reminded himself. Returning to the present moment, he kept the padd in a free tendril, moving through the flow of his colleagues to join Lisa at the President's side. Phylosians maintained no form of central leadership or government, and even their vessels did not employ Department Heads or even Captains. As such, he felt no greater awe over this woman than he would anyone else of similar capabilities and intelligence.

The President had given a standing request for further information about who had poisoned her, but Lagar and Lisa had no live feed of current communications. They knew precious little more than she did, at the moment, but there was the possibility that she, as the victim, might have a clue or two that could help them. He drew near to her slowly, hoping that someone as well-traveled as she was familiar with his species, and wouldn't be disturbed by his nature.

"Madame President." he began gently. He didn't doubt that she was of durable character, but as a doctor, he felt it was wise to broach the topic carefully. It had been some time since her treatment, and her vital signs and Lisa's attentions meant that she was far better along now than she had been prior. "It is possible that an accomplice of the poisoners was down there at the conference observing you, in order to report the failure or success of the poisoning." He made sure to use the term 'possible', as there was no way to confirm this assumption. "May we ask if you noticed any unusual behavior from the attendees? Anyone who seemed to be observing you closely, but who did not approach you to speak to you, even when you were available? Any noteworthy details you may have seen, as the intended victim, could help us in our investigations."

[Sickbay - USS Challenger]

President Blackwell gave Lagar a double take when he moved next to her bed, but she covered her surprise with a big smile.

"And here I thought I was familiar with all the species of the Federation. I'm going to assume you are a Phylosian as I'm unaware of any other sentient plants in Starfleet. While I appreciate your attempted interrogation, but I don't have time for this. What I need is to get to the bridge, so I need you to answer one question. Will it kill me to leave sickbay?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[ USS Challenger - Bridge ]

Jettis nodded, clasping his hands together. They had another piece of the puzzle, but no real way to track down the person via the trail. They would have to use other methods to locate the party-crasher. Hopefully those on the ground would have better luck gathering information, and for a moment he felt a twinge of regret that he wasn't down there as well.

The regret soon washed away though, as yet another emergency beam up request came in.

"Sir, Captain Galloway is ordering ensign T'Vas to be beamed directly to sickbay. As well as a security detail for a stunned Romulan." God damn it. Things seemed to only get progressively worse down on the planet. His mind quickly rifled through the security that was already present on the planet, and who that left available on the ship. "Send down three officers of your choosing. The millisecond he's cleared by medical, I want him transferred to the brig so myself, or Sigurdsdottir can speak to him. Clear?"

He paused for a moment, narrowing his eyes before continuing. "And have someone watching Madam President at all times. I don't know about you, but the idea of a captured Romulan doesn't sit right with me." Especially not with all the measures they had taken before. They had everything planned out, down to the tiniest bit of evidence, so one being captured seemed.. reckless. And recklessness was simply not in a Romulan's dictionary.

Tapping his commbadge, he reached out to the Captain's - or rather, the Captain's replacement.  "I don't have much for new information. Both T'Vas and the Romulan are still in sickbay, no news on their condition, or the makeup of the poison. The President is still stable. We hypothesis that a small shuttle made land on the planet, but we aren't able to track what kind, or where it had. What we do know almost certainly, is that it's still planet-bound, most likely. No way for us to narrow down where without moving the Challenger, sir."

[Galgan Conference Facility - Guest Quarters]

Ian listened to the report and the most useful part of what Jettis said was that the President was still stable. As long as that didn't change, everything else would fall into place sooner or later.

"Thank you Lieutenant, let me know what you get out of that Romulan. Galloway out."

[Lagar]

[Sickbay - USS Challenger]

President Blackwell gave Lagar a double take when he moved next to her bed, but she covered her surprise with a big smile.

"And here I thought I was familiar with all the species of the Federation. I'm going to assume you are a Phylosian as I'm unaware of any other sentient plants in Starfleet. While I appreciate your attempted interrogation, but I don't have time for this. What I need is to get to the bridge, so I need you to answer one question. Will it kill me to leave sickbay?"

Lieutenant jg Lagar
[Sickbay - USS Challenger]

Damn. Lagar thought to himself. By asking him that question, and by asking it so directly, President Blackwell had placed Lagar in a position from which there was only one path outward. He could not lie to her and tell her "˜no', and he could not defer the President's question to Lieutenant Belmont. While the Lieutenant was the Chief Medical Officer and she had taken charge of the President's care, to defer to the Lieutenant would be to suggest that Lagar could not answer her question. And he could. President Blackwell's vitals were clear, the antidote had done its work marvelously, there was absolutely no reason why she would be killed by leaving Sickbay. Damn. he thought again in the same space of a second, knowing that answering her question might cause friction between himself and Lisa. He would arrange his pieces more carefully before attempting to play chess with this President again, suspecting that perhaps she knew the honesty of Phylosians by reputation, and had put her knowledge to effective use just now.

"I must say that it would not, ma'am, however-"

[Sickbay - USS Challenger]

T'Vas appeared on a biobed and as soon as she was within its sensor range, the readings dropped. Breathing was labored, circulation in her left arm was severely reduced, and what passed for her liver was failing. Just as Lisa was processing this information, out of the corner of her eye, she saw the four person security team arrive, but had to put that out of her mind to concentrate on her patient.

Not long after the security team arrived, a Romulan male appeared on a biobed in the isolation ward where Lagar waited with four security officers to treat him. Romulan physiology was close enough to Vulcan that the sensors initially detected this casualty was just unconscious, but just as Lagar was about to announce that the Romulan was fine, the man began to convulse and the biobed readings all dropped rapidly.

[Isolation Ward - Sickbay - USS Challenger]

The Isolation Ward was a separate, rather compact space found secured in the rear of the room which housed surgical suites and sanitation modules. It came equipped with security fields and, at the moment, a quartet of security officers, all of whom Lagar recognized and trusted implicitly. Even if he did not recognize them, the presence of the Starfleet Uniform was all that was needed to suggest that they held shared values and a sense of discipline and duty.

Lagar had mere moments to observe the Romulan man. He wore a strange black garment, a hood pulled back beyond his head and face. He was unconscious, likely struck by-

The man began convulsing, shaking violently. "Death-pill." said the calming voice of the Phylosian's voder, and his tendrils whipped into action. He began near the neck and skull, knowing that any "˜death-pill' carried by agents for the purposes of fatally evading capture were typically in the teeth or neck already. The bioscan revealed a cranial implant, and if Lagar had a mouth, and the kinds of emotions that would have allowed it, he would have grinned a gruesome smile of irony. This particular Romulan had the good fortune of being treated by a doctor who had very recent experience with Romulan cranial implants.

A tendril activated a powerful, localized electromagnetic pulse, in the hopes that the pulse would deactivate the killing thing. This meant that all of Lagar's modern tools would not work within its range, and he was back to using the manual meat-cutters of primitive surgeons. There was no hesitation as he withdrew the appropriate tools, a spare trio of tendrils rotating the prone Romulan onto his stomach as he dove in. Sallow-skin parted to reveal green, copper-based blood as the Phylosian entered. The colors matched in what might be a visually pleasing way, if one ignored the nature of the gory mixture. Forceps held skin back, scalpels gently separated walls of flesh until the offending implant was laid bare, its gripping arms and legs making it look much like a small robotic spider, clinging to the cerebral matter which it was attempting to kill.

Lagar carefully, slowly, made way to extract the killing thing. He had no breath to hold, so he simply focused. This Romulan would indeed die, but perhaps, it would not be today...

[Ian Galloway]

Lieutenant jg Lagar
[Sickbay - USS Challenger]

Damn. Lagar thought to himself. By asking him that question, and by asking it so directly, President Blackwell had placed Lagar in a position from which there was only one path outward. He could not lie to her and tell her "˜no', and he could not defer the President's question to Lieutenant Belmont. While the Lieutenant was the Chief Medical Officer and she had taken charge of the President's care, to defer to the Lieutenant would be to suggest that Lagar could not answer her question. And he could. President Blackwell's vitals were clear, the antidote had done its work marvelously, there was absolutely no reason why she would be killed by leaving Sickbay. Damn. he thought again in the same space of a second, knowing that answering her question might cause friction between himself and Lisa. He would arrange his pieces more carefully before attempting to play chess with this President again, suspecting that perhaps she knew the honesty of Phylosians by reputation, and had put her knowledge to effective use just now.

"I must say that it would not, ma'am, however-"

[Sickbay - USS Challenger]

The President didn't wait for Lagar to finish speaking before she swung her legs off the biobed and stood up. She paused for a couple seconds to make sure she could stand without wobbling before saying.

"Thank you Doctor."

She exited sickbay quickly and took the turbolift to the bridge. On arrival, even though she was still in her evening gown, she entered the bridge with all the dignity and confidence of the former Starfleet Admiral she was.

"Who is in charge here?"

[Isolation Ward - Sickbay - USS Challenger]

The Isolation Ward was a separate, rather compact space found secured in the rear of the room which housed surgical suites and sanitation modules. It came equipped with security fields and, at the moment, a quartet of security officers, all of whom Lagar recognized and trusted implicitly. Even if he did not recognize them, the presence of the Starfleet Uniform was all that was needed to suggest that they held shared values and a sense of discipline and duty.

Lagar had mere moments to observe the Romulan man. He wore a strange black garment, a hood pulled back beyond his head and face. He was unconscious, likely struck by-

The man began convulsing, shaking violently. "Death-pill." said the calming voice of the Phylosian's voder, and his tendrils whipped into action. He began near the neck and skull, knowing that any "˜death-pill' carried by agents for the purposes of fatally evading capture were typically in the teeth or neck already. The bioscan revealed a cranial implant, and if Lagar had a mouth, and the kinds of emotions that would have allowed it, he would have grinned a gruesome smile of irony. This particular Romulan had the good fortune of being treated by a doctor who had very recent experience with Romulan cranial implants.

A tendril activated a powerful, localized electromagnetic pulse, in the hopes that the pulse would deactivate the killing thing. This meant that all of Lagar's modern tools would not work within its range, and he was back to using the manual meat-cutters of primitive surgeons. There was no hesitation as he withdrew the appropriate tools, a spare trio of tendrils rotating the prone Romulan onto his stomach as he dove in. Sallow-skin parted to reveal green, copper-based blood as the Phylosian entered. The colors matched in what might be a visually pleasing way, if one ignored the nature of the gory mixture. Forceps held skin back, scalpels gently separated walls of flesh until the offending implant was laid bare, its gripping arms and legs making it look much like a small robotic spider, clinging to the cerebral matter which it was attempting to kill.

Lagar carefully, slowly, made way to extract the killing thing. He had no breath to hold, so he simply focused. This Romulan would indeed die, but perhaps, it would not be today...

[Isolation Ward - Sickbay - USS Challenger]

The Romulan's eyes fluttered open and the instant his eyes could focus, he shoved Lagar with all of his considerable strength, which was more than enough to knock the doctor back despite his bulk and multiple limbs. The Romulan leapt to his feet, moving toward the nearest pair of security officers, bowling them over before they could react, but Burke reacted before the Romulan could attack him and his partner and drilled him with a heavy stun blast, that was too much for even a Romulan's physiology. He staggered forward another step before folding up like a ragdoll.

[Lagar]

[Isolation Ward - Sickbay - USS Challenger]

The Romulan's eyes fluttered open and the instant his eyes could focus, he shoved Lagar with all of his considerable strength, which was more than enough to knock the doctor back despite his bulk and multiple limbs. The Romulan leapt to his feet, moving toward the nearest pair of security officers, bowling them over before they could react, but Burke reacted before the Romulan could attack him and his partner and drilled him with a heavy stun blast, that was too much for even a Romulan's physiology. He staggered forward another step before folding up like a ragdoll.

Lieutenant jg Lagar
[Isoliation Ward - Sickbay - USS Challenger]

The shove led to no guttural noise from its botanical victim, no gasp of breath or grunt, but the weighty plant-creature dropped backward just the same, the medikit on his back banging loudly against the Isolation Ward wall. The Romulan's successful maneuver belied his training; honed instincts which, despite being faced with a presumably unfamiliar and multi-limbed opponent, led to a martial shove that successfully dislodged the doctor. Two security officers were similarly knocked over before Burke's heavy shot sent him back into unconsciousness.

Lagar was able to speak immediately, even as he physically recovered his stance. "Thank you, colleagues." he said to each of them, for even the officers who had been bowled over had done their part in slowing this prisoner's attempted escape. He continued to address them as he knelt over the crumpled man. "We know, now, that if he is attempting to escape, then his methods of self-inducing a swift death are exhausted. Seven tendrils reached out, inexorably wrapping around the heavy figure and drawing him in close to the Phylosian's core. The four leg-structures twisted upward, uncoiling Lagar into a standing position with the heavy load in his grasp. His digital voice, showing no indication of strain given its nature, spoke on. "My colleagues, I encourage you to think of this man as a high-priority target who must be protected. By being captured, alive, I believe that he has become marked for death by his own. If they can find even the remotest chance of killing him, they will take it."

Lagar set the Romulan back down on the table, and with swift tentacles he sealed the surgical entry-point through which he had removed the device. "We must..." he paused, focusing for a moment, "...please be beamed to the Brig, where the fields should protect him from being beamed off of the... Challenger. And kindly... notify the Bridge. It's possible that this man's cohorts may board the ship in order to silence him." With the device gone, he had resumed using his more modern tools, but it was still careful work. "Warn me, before you beam me. I can continue caring for him in the Brig."

He could devote no more words to the matter. Security knew their duties. A tendril reached behind him to a dispensing device in the Isolation Room's suite of treatment equipment, filling a hypospray with a sedative configured for Romulan physiology. As soon as he and his patient were beamed to the brig, he'd sedate this dangerous man into a state where he could be roused, but wouldn't be able to wake up on his own and twist Lagar's head off.

[Vasilisa Belmont]

[Galgan Conference Facility - Guest Quarters]

With Glerk's own security protecting him and Shazham looking after T'Vas, Blackfeather was able to concentrate on the shadowy attacker. He snapped off a quick shot that their assailant partially dodged, meaning he only took a fraction of the stun effect intended. Despite being grazed, the attacker still had the wherewithal to throw yet another star at Blackfeather, who was able to avoid the poorly thrown missile. Rolling away from where he went to cover, it was suicidal to pop back up from the last place your attacker saw you as it was likely they would be looking in that spot, thus when he popped back up from cover, he had moved three meters to the left of where he'd gone to ground and this time he tagged the thrower with a solid hit. The masked figure staggered and crumpled. Blackfeather sagged in relief and moved to cover the assassin, to be certain he stayed down.

[Galgan Conference Facility]

Ian heard the call from Blackfeather over the com and snarled. "Mo Chreach! NOW WHAT?" As he raced toward the guest quarters. The Galgan facility was a sprawling installation and it took him the better part of a minute running at full speed with Petty Officer Shurile running at his side to reach Glerk's quarters. Once there, he found Blackfeather standing over an unconscious Romulan man, and Shazham kneeling over T'Vas. Before he could even ask, Blackfeather stated.

"We were talking to the Ambassador, he's fine by the way, when this guy started throwing these star things. He had a disruptor pistol and a total of six of them on him, he threw three before I was able to stun him. T'Vas saved the Ambassador's life by catching the thing in flight. It was the damndest thing I've ever seen Sir, but she's paid for it, I'm sure she's been poisoned, cause she doesn't look so good."

Ian blinked at this information and wondered.

"Life wasn't this complicated as a bloody pilot."

Ian tapped his combadge.

"Galloway ta Challenger. Medical emergency. Two casualties ta beam up. One is Ensign T'Vas, probable poisonin', take her now. Second one, is a Romulan that's been stunned. I want a security detail in place before you beam him up. Question this wanker until his ears bleed, I need answers! Galloway out." 

Before he'd even finished speaking, T'Vas was beamed away and Ian turned to Blackfeather.

"Excellent work Chief."

"Wasn't me Sir, if not for the Ensign, I'm sure the Ambassador would be dead. That was one of the bravest, if not craziest things I've ever seen."

"I will remember that Chief."

Ian then moved to speak to the Ferengi.

"Ambassador, I'm glad you are unharmed."

"As am I Captain. I cannot thank your Ensign enough. I am, and believe me, this is not something a Ferengi says lightly, in her debt."

"I will be putting her in for commendation as soon as I can make a report."

"I'm certain that is a notable achievement, but it feels somehow too intangible. Regardless, please inform me of her condition and thank her for me when you can."

"I will Sir."

When Ian turned back to Blackfeather, the Romulan was beamed up and he asked.

"Did you get all the information you needed Chief?"

"I believe so Sir, the Ambassador admitted to selling the Chancellor the bloodwine, but denies poisoning it. He said that it would be bad for business."

Ian sighed.

"Very well Chief, let's get out of here. Ensign."

Ian led Shazham, Blackfeather, and Shurile back to their quarters. There he tapped his combadge again.

"Galloway ta Challenger, report."

[Sickbay - USS Challenger]

T'Vas appeared on a biobed and as soon as she was within its sensor range, the readings dropped. Breathing was labored, circulation in her left arm was severely reduced, and what passed for her liver was failing. Just as Lisa was processing this information, out of the corner of her eye, she saw the four person security team arrive, but had to put that out of her mind to concentrate on her patient.

Not long after the security team arrived, a Romulan male appeared on a biobed in the isolation ward where Lagar waited with four security officers to treat him. Romulan physiology was close enough to Vulcan that the sensors initially detected this casualty was just unconscious, but just as Lagar was about to announce that the Romulan was fine, the man began to convulse and the biobed readings all dropped rapidly.

[Sickbay - USS Challenger]

It wasn't long until Lisa was joined by Lagar, who proceeded to question Blackwell about the attack. Lisa waited to see if her patient would be awake enough to do so, and when she showed she handled talking and moving well enough, Lisa then gave Lagar a nod and stepped away, only to be interrupted mid-step by an alarming turn of events.

[USS Challenger-A | Sickbay]

"Hemlock, all for you, Hippocrates!"

T'Vas appeared on the biobed and managed to just whisper the words, though her strength was ebbing. She dimly recalled The Captain and Shazam's words and she made a mental note to thank them both. As it was, she was barely clinging on to life. Although her Vulcan physiology was keeping the poison from killing her immediately, it could only try and contain it. With every passing moment, more and more poison was actually travelling from her arm into her body.

Where before, T'Vas had been heading towards the light, now she headed into the dark, as the edges of her vision started to fade. "Help..." Despite her best efforts, she couldn't stay awake and her Vulcan physiology reached its limits. Her muscles were starting to relax and the poison was now rapidly moving into her body. Mercifully, she passed out, but was now in immediate mortal danger.

Lisa spun toward the direction she suspected T'Vas would be transported, running through the processes for diagnosing and treating poisons as she went. Knowing that a security detail was en route, the Romulan was the least of her concerns. With the President making a nice recovery and in Lagar's capable hands, the Vulcan fell to her. When she caught sight of T'Vas, she hurried over and began searching for outward signs showing how the poison entered the body. While she did this she began bioscans and quickly determined that the substance had entered through a puncture wound. Within minutes some of her team had arrived with a crash cart prepared and Rashar showed up to analyze the poison.

"The poison injector does not seem to be on her, but there should be some residual substance around the entry wound. Rashar, collect and analyze it. We don't know how much time we have."

"On it."

While he carefully extracted a sample from the green-stained hand and ran it to a portable lab, Lisa worked on stabilizing the patient with various stimulants and a cortical stimulator at the ready.

"Help is on the way..." she responded to the science officer's plea. Right as she passed out Lisa had a hypo at the ready and injected it, keeping her from crashing for at least the few moments they needed to determine the antidote. She bit her lip as T'Vas' heart rate began to drop.

Alright T'Vas, hang in there..."

"Rashar, I need that antidote now, she's dropping."

"Almost there, just filling the hypo now."

Lisa's eyes glued to the screen showing the Vulcan's body with the status of all her organs and systems updating in real time. The area between the ribs and pelvis on the right side glowed red, and this key area glared as it branched out into other extremities that showed a glowing orange.

"Prepare defibrillator. Rashar, now!"

"Got it! Injecting now."

A quick jab to the neck by the ensign and the colors on the screen gradually became less angry. Chloe stood with the paddles at the ready, but after several moments she gently lowered her arms.

"Rashar, I need a full report on that poison. Chloe, take over treatment. Report due to me as soon as possible. I'll need it to assist in finding out who did this and why."

Two instances of poisoning, one of them being the President of the Federation. And now they had a Romulan in custody. She could only imagine what Galloway was feeling right now.

Lieutenant jg Lagar
[Sickbay - USS Challenger]

Damn. Lagar thought to himself. By asking him that question, and by asking it so directly, President Blackwell had placed Lagar in a position from which there was only one path outward. He could not lie to her and tell her "˜no', and he could not defer the President's question to Lieutenant Belmont. While the Lieutenant was the Chief Medical Officer and she had taken charge of the President's care, to defer to the Lieutenant would be to suggest that Lagar could not answer her question. And he could. President Blackwell's vitals were clear, the antidote had done its work marvelously, there was absolutely no reason why she would be killed by leaving Sickbay. Damn. he thought again in the same space of a second, knowing that answering her question might cause friction between himself and Lisa. He would arrange his pieces more carefully before attempting to play chess with this President again, suspecting that perhaps she knew the honesty of Phylosians by reputation, and had put her knowledge to effective use just now.

"I must say that it would not, ma'am, however-"

[Isolation Ward - Sickbay - USS Challenger]

The Isolation Ward was a separate, rather compact space found secured in the rear of the room which housed surgical suites and sanitation modules. It came equipped with security fields and, at the moment, a quartet of security officers, all of whom Lagar recognized and trusted implicitly. Even if he did not recognize them, the presence of the Starfleet Uniform was all that was needed to suggest that they held shared values and a sense of discipline and duty.

Lagar had mere moments to observe the Romulan man. He wore a strange black garment, a hood pulled back beyond his head and face. He was unconscious, likely struck by-

The man began convulsing, shaking violently. "Death-pill." said the calming voice of the Phylosian's voder, and his tendrils whipped into action. He began near the neck and skull, knowing that any "˜death-pill' carried by agents for the purposes of fatally evading capture were typically in the teeth or neck already. The bioscan revealed a cranial implant, and if Lagar had a mouth, and the kinds of emotions that would have allowed it, he would have grinned a gruesome smile of irony. This particular Romulan had the good fortune of being treated by a doctor who had very recent experience with Romulan cranial implants.

A tendril activated a powerful, localized electromagnetic pulse, in the hopes that the pulse would deactivate the killing thing. This meant that all of Lagar's modern tools would not work within its range, and he was back to using the manual meat-cutters of primitive surgeons. There was no hesitation as he withdrew the appropriate tools, a spare trio of tendrils rotating the prone Romulan onto his stomach as he dove in. Sallow-skin parted to reveal green, copper-based blood as the Phylosian entered. The colors matched in what might be a visually pleasing way, if one ignored the nature of the gory mixture. Forceps held skin back, scalpels gently separated walls of flesh until the offending implant was laid bare, its gripping arms and legs making it look much like a small robotic spider, clinging to the cerebral matter which it was attempting to kill.

Lagar carefully, slowly, made way to extract the killing thing. He had no breath to hold, so he simply focused. This Romulan would indeed die, but perhaps, it would not be today...

[Sickbay - USS Challenger]

The President didn't wait for Lagar to finish speaking before she swung her legs off the biobed and stood up. She paused for a couple seconds to make sure she could stand without wobbling before saying.

"Thank you Doctor."

She exited sickbay quickly and took the turbolift to the bridge. On arrival, even though she was still in her evening gown, she entered the bridge with all the dignity and confidence of the former Starfleet Admiral she was.

"Who is in charge here?"

[Isolation Ward - Sickbay - USS Challenger]

The Romulan's eyes fluttered open and the instant his eyes could focus, he shoved Lagar with all of his considerable strength, which was more than enough to knock the doctor back despite his bulk and multiple limbs. The Romulan leapt to his feet, moving toward the nearest pair of security officers, bowling them over before they could react, but Burke reacted before the Romulan could attack him and his partner and drilled him with a heavy stun blast, that was too much for even a Romulan's physiology. He staggered forward another step before folding up like a ragdoll.

Lieutenant jg Lagar
[Isoliation Ward - Sickbay - USS Challenger]

The shove led to no guttural noise from its botanical victim, no gasp of breath or grunt, but the weighty plant-creature dropped backward just the same, the medikit on his back banging loudly against the Isolation Ward wall. The Romulan's successful maneuver belied his training; honed instincts which, despite being faced with a presumably unfamiliar and multi-limbed opponent, led to a martial shove that successfully dislodged the doctor. Two security officers were similarly knocked over before Burke's heavy shot sent him back into unconsciousness.

Lagar was able to speak immediately, even as he physically recovered his stance. "Thank you, colleagues." he said to each of them, for even the officers who had been bowled over had done their part in slowing this prisoner's attempted escape. He continued to address them as he knelt over the crumpled man. "We know, now, that if he is attempting to escape, then his methods of self-inducing a swift death are exhausted. Seven tendrils reached out, inexorably wrapping around the heavy figure and drawing him in close to the Phylosian's core. The four leg-structures twisted upward, uncoiling Lagar into a standing position with the heavy load in his grasp. His digital voice, showing no indication of strain given its nature, spoke on. "My colleagues, I encourage you to think of this man as a high-priority target who must be protected. By being captured, alive, I believe that he has become marked for death by his own. If they can find even the remotest chance of killing him, they will take it."

Lagar set the Romulan back down on the table, and with swift tentacles he sealed the surgical entry-point through which he had removed the device. "We must..." he paused, focusing for a moment, "...please be beamed to the Brig, where the fields should protect him from being beamed off of the... Challenger. And kindly... notify the Bridge. It's possible that this man's cohorts may board the ship in order to silence him." With the device gone, he had resumed using his more modern tools, but it was still careful work. "Warn me, before you beam me. I can continue caring for him in the Brig."

He could devote no more words to the matter. Security knew their duties.

Lisa walked into the isolation ward right before Lagar and the Romulan were beamed away. Noticing the surgical instruments, the almost unnoticeable remnants of an incision on the latter's head, and the disgruntled looks of the security crewmen, her eyes jumped to Lagar.

"Are you hurt?" she looked around. "Are any of you hurt?" Noticing next the anticipatory look on some of their faces, she shook her head. "Never mind, I'm assuming you all have this under control. But if I can be of assistance, let me know." She looked once more at the Romulan, who appeared like he had seen better days. She'd had her fair share of keeping criminals alive to be questioned. Now it was apparently Lagar's turn.

When that commotion had subsided, Lisa left the ward and inquired about the whereabouts of President Blackwell. Upon hearing that Lagar had discharged her, she looked for the paperwork but found none.

She sighed.

"Belmont to Bridge. I seem to have misplaced my MVP, Most Valuable Patient. Is she perhaps with you? Belmont out." 

While she waited, she found a replicator and got herself a large glass of water. "I hope to God I never take command and lose the good common sense I was born with."

[Ian Galloway]

Lieutenant jg Lagar
[Isoliation Ward - Sickbay - USS Challenger]

The shove led to no guttural noise from its botanical victim, no gasp of breath or grunt, but the weighty plant-creature dropped backward just the same, the medikit on his back banging loudly against the Isolation Ward wall. The Romulan's successful maneuver belied his training; honed instincts which, despite being faced with a presumably unfamiliar and multi-limbed opponent, led to a martial shove that successfully dislodged the doctor. Two security officers were similarly knocked over before Burke's heavy shot sent him back into unconsciousness.

Lagar was able to speak immediately, even as he physically recovered his stance. "Thank you, colleagues." he said to each of them, for even the officers who had been bowled over had done their part in slowing this prisoner's attempted escape. He continued to address them as he knelt over the crumpled man. "We know, now, that if he is attempting to escape, then his methods of self-inducing a swift death are exhausted. Seven tendrils reached out, inexorably wrapping around the heavy figure and drawing him in close to the Phylosian's core. The four leg-structures twisted upward, uncoiling Lagar into a standing position with the heavy load in his grasp. His digital voice, showing no indication of strain given its nature, spoke on. "My colleagues, I encourage you to think of this man as a high-priority target who must be protected. By being captured, alive, I believe that he has become marked for death by his own. If they can find even the remotest chance of killing him, they will take it."

Lagar set the Romulan back down on the table, and with swift tentacles he sealed the surgical entry-point through which he had removed the device. "We must..." he paused, focusing for a moment, "...please be beamed to the Brig, where the fields should protect him from being beamed off of the... Challenger. And kindly... notify the Bridge. It's possible that this man's cohorts may board the ship in order to silence him." With the device gone, he had resumed using his more modern tools, but it was still careful work. "Warn me, before you beam me. I can continue caring for him in the Brig."

He could devote no more words to the matter. Security knew their duties. A tendril reached behind him to a dispensing device in the Isolation Room's suite of treatment equipment, filling a hypospray with a sedative configured for Romulan physiology. As soon as he and his patient were beamed to the brig, he'd sedate this dangerous man into a state where he could be roused, but wouldn't be able to wake up on his own and twist Lagar's head off.

[Sickbay --> Brig - USS Challenger]

When Lagar wrapped up the Romulan, Burke smiled and said.

"You got it Doc."

He tapped his combadge.

"Burke to brig, lock onto Doctor Lagar and beam him and a Romulan to one of the cells."

Lagar and his prisoner appeared in a cell a few seconds later.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[Sickbay - USS Challenger]

It wasn't long until Lisa was joined by Lagar, who proceeded to question Blackwell about the attack. Lisa waited to see if her patient would be awake enough to do so, and when she showed she handled talking and moving well enough, Lisa then gave Lagar a nod and stepped away, only to be interrupted mid-step by an alarming turn of events.

Lisa spun toward the direction she suspected T'Vas would be transported, running through the processes for diagnosing and treating poisons as she went. Knowing that a security detail was en route, the Romulan was the least of her concerns. With the President making a nice recovery and in Lagar's capable hands, the Vulcan fell to her. When she caught sight of T'Vas, she hurried over and began searching for outward signs showing how the poison entered the body. While she did this she began bioscans and quickly determined that the substance had entered through a puncture wound. Within minutes some of her team had arrived with a crash cart prepared and Rashar showed up to analyze the poison.

"The poison injector does not seem to be on her, but there should be some residual substance around the entry wound. Rashar, collect and analyze it. We don't know how much time we have."

"On it."

While he carefully extracted a sample from the green-stained hand and ran it to a portable lab, Lisa worked on stabilizing the patient with various stimulants and a cortical stimulator at the ready.

"Help is on the way..." she responded to the science officer's plea. Right as she passed out Lisa had a hypo at the ready and injected it, keeping her from crashing for at least the few moments they needed to determine the antidote. She bit her lip as T'Vas' heart rate began to drop.

Alright T'Vas, hang in there..."

"Rashar, I need that antidote now, she's dropping."

"Almost there, just filling the hypo now."

Lisa's eyes glued to the screen showing the Vulcan's body with the status of all her organs and systems updating in real time. The area between the ribs and pelvis on the right side glowed red, and this key area glared as it branched out into other extremities that showed a glowing orange.

"Prepare defibrillator. Rashar, now!"

"Got it! Injecting now."

A quick jab to the neck by the ensign and the colors on the screen gradually became less angry. Chloe stood with the paddles at the ready, but after several moments she gently lowered her arms.

"Rashar, I need a full report on that poison. Chloe, take over treatment. Report due to me as soon as possible. I'll need it to assist in finding out who did this and why."

Two instances of poisoning, one of them being the President of the Federation. And now they had a Romulan in custody. She could only imagine what Galloway was feeling right now.

Lisa walked into the isolation ward right before Lagar and the Romulan were beamed away. Noticing the surgical instruments, the almost unnoticeable remnants of an incision on the latter's head, and the disgruntled looks of the security crewmen, her eyes jumped to Lagar.

"Are you hurt?" she looked around. "Are any of you hurt?" Noticing next the anticipatory look on some of their faces, she shook her head. "Never mind, I'm assuming you all have this under control. But if I can be of assistance, let me know." She looked once more at the Romulan, who appeared like he had seen better days. She'd had her fair share of keeping criminals alive to be questioned. Now it was apparently Lagar's turn.

As Lisa left, T'Vas finally felt able to breath and no longer felt that her death hovering over her. As she reveled in her restored ability to breathe, Ensign Rasher stepped next to her biobed.

"You scared us Ensign, nasty neurotoxin this time, much worse than what the President ingested. I suppose that Romulan was the one responsible for all this. Hopefully, now that he's in the brig, no one else will end up on a biobed full of something toxic."

[Jettis Jyur]

[Sickbay --> Brig - USS Challenger]

When Lagar wrapped up the Romulan, Burke smiled and said.

"You got it Doc."

He tapped his combadge.

"Burke to brig, lock onto Doctor Lagar and beam him and a Romulan to one of the cells."

Lagar and his prisoner appeared in a cell a few seconds later.

[Sickbay - USS Challenger]

The President didn't wait for Lagar to finish speaking before she swung her legs off the biobed and stood up. She paused for a couple seconds to make sure she could stand without wobbling before saying.

"Thank you Doctor."

She exited sickbay quickly and took the turbolift to the bridge. On arrival, even though she was still in her evening gown, she entered the bridge with all the dignity and confidence of the former Starfleet Admiral she was.

"Who is in charge here?"

[Isolation Ward - Sickbay - USS Challenger]

The Romulan's eyes fluttered open and the instant his eyes could focus, he shoved Lagar with all of his considerable strength, which was more than enough to knock the doctor back despite his bulk and multiple limbs. The Romulan leapt to his feet, moving toward the nearest pair of security officers, bowling them over before they could react, but Burke reacted before the Romulan could attack him and his partner and drilled him with a heavy stun blast, that was too much for even a Romulan's physiology. He staggered forward another step before folding up like a ragdoll.

[ USS Challenger - Bridge ]

Though Jettis had been slouched in his chair, just awaiting news from Sickbay, on either of their patients, he perked up at the sound of the Turbolift doors sliding open. And he snapped to stand, as he saw who had taken the ride up. A few emotions flashed through his eyes in rapid-fire; confusion, anxiety, worry, interest... But finally his gaze settled on a rather-neutral set, brows relaxing as he looked down at the smaller woman.

His eyes glossed over to the First Officer, who the Ambassador would no doubt recognized. But still, he had the bridge, so his gaze returned to the President. "That would be me, ma'am. Lieutenant Jyur, I was present at the dinner with Chancellor Martok." A pause. "Have you been discharged from Sickbay, ma'am?"

"Well I am here, aren't I Lieutenant?"

Jettis cheeks flushed a pale pink, as he gave a quick nod. "Yes, of course ma'am." Clearly she wasn't in a mood to be questioned, and the El-Aurian couldn't exactly blame her. His own last stint on Sickbay had been him working from the CMO's office, after his attempts at getting discharged failed.

She appraised him with a slightly crooked smile. "Lieutenant, you don't have to end every sentance with Ma'am. Update me on what has been happening. Have you discovered who had sabotaged Martok's gift?"

"My apologies, m-" Another pause. "My apologies. After you were transferred to Sickbay, the landing party discovered who had sold Martok the bloodwine, and gone to speak with them. While they were there though, there was an assassination attempt on the Ferengi Ambassador - the Ambassador was saved, but sadly one of our officers got hit..." He paused for a moment, before flicking back to his train of thought.

"The good news though, because the security officers were present during the attack, we have captured the Romulan responsible, and should be able to speak to him shortly."

Almost as if planned, his commbadge chirped. A gorgeous sound to Jettis, after all of this waiting.  "The Romulan prisoner has been moved from Sickbay to the Brig. He had one of them nasty suicide pills on him.. Or I guess, in him. Anyhow, Ensign Lagar told me ta warn you we might get some unpleasant visitors. It seems this guy wasn't supposed to survive being captured."

Jettis' gaze met the Ambassadors, before tapping his commbadge.  "Noted, we'll keep a lookout. Jyur out." As he spoke, he gave a nod to T'Kel, who no doubt understood the meaning without any verbal communications. Watch the area like a hawk.Last thing they needed was to get jumped by Thelal and Co.

His eyes shifted off the President, and onto Ruth, who still stood at the Science station. "Would you like to question him, or stay on the Bridge?" The question posed was put on hold, as once again his commbadge whistled with another incoming transmission.

When that commotion had subsided, Lisa left the ward and inquired about the whereabouts of President Blackwell. Upon hearing that Lagar had discharged her, she looked for the paperwork but found none.

She sighed.

"Belmont to Bridge. I seem to have misplaced my MVP, Most Valuable Patient. Is she perhaps with you? Belmont out." 

While she waited, she found a replicator and got herself a large glass of water. "I hope to God I never take command and lose the good common sense I was born with."

Jettis turned, shooting a half smile at Blackwell, who echoed it back.  "That she is, Doctor. No need to worry, I'll update you if anything changes. Jyur out."

He turned once again, shooting a look out the viewscreen for a moment, before querying, "President Blackwell, I don't suppose you would want to be present during the questioning?" It would require heavy security and many safety measures in place, but he would extend the offer out of courtesy. She was the subject of the attack, so she deserved a say in the matter as well.

[Ruth Sigurdsdottir]

[ USS Challenger - Bridge ]

Jettis turned as Ruth spoke, nodding as she spoke of the Romulans. "I agree. They've been such a pest for the Challenger already, I don't doubt their involvement. It's getting proof, that's difficult."

At her next words though, he burst into laughter. True laughter, though he typically contained himself on the bridge, the abruptness of her statement got to him. "Ich zweifle es nicht. Ich wusste nicht, dass du Deutsch sprichst." Reining himself in, he gave another soft chuckle. "I agree. Trying to convince the Galgans of this is as likely as it snowing in summer."

He sighed T'kel's words, continuing his tapping, before pausing. An idea spun in his head, and his lips parted with a look of focus in his eyes. "Lieutenant..." His words were drawn out, indicating he was still thinking it over as he spoke. "If we've only found one trail, and it's already fading... well I believe it would be logical to assume that the shuttle is still present on the planet, yes?"

He mulled it over for a moment, before turning his attention to Ruth. "If so, perhaps the landing party would be able to double check the guest list of authorized shuttles and people present, against sensor scans, and people within the conference. It's a long shot, and unlikely they picked anything up, but might be worth the effort."

[Bridge - USS Challenger]

Ruth grinned as Jettis guffawed with laughter.  "Yes, I'm a xenolinguist but most European languages I speak without the need for the UTs, thought you might appreciate that one!" she said with a wink.

"As for the assumption that the shuttle is still on the planet... yes, since we don't have trails for any larger ships it may have returned to... process of elimination I guess."

[ USS Challenger - Bridge ]

Jettis nodded, clasping his hands together. They had another piece of the puzzle, but no real way to track down the person via the trail. They would have to use other methods to locate the party-crasher. Hopefully those on the ground would have better luck gathering information, and for a moment he felt a twinge of regret that he wasn't down there as well.

The regret soon washed away though, as yet another emergency beam up request came in.

"Sir, Captain Galloway is ordering ensign T'Vas to be beamed directly to sickbay. As well as a security detail for a stunned Romulan." God damn it. Things seemed to only get progressively worse down on the planet. His mind quickly rifled through the security that was already present on the planet, and who that left available on the ship. "Send down three officers of your choosing. The millisecond he's cleared by medical, I want him transferred to the brig so myself, or Sigurdsdottir can speak to him. Clear?"

He paused for a moment, narrowing his eyes before continuing. "And have someone watching Madam President at all times. I don't know about you, but the idea of a captured Romulan doesn't sit right with me." Especially not with all the measures they had taken before. They had everything planned out, down to the tiniest bit of evidence, so one being captured seemed.. reckless. And recklessness was simply not in a Romulan's dictionary.

Tapping his commbadge, he reached out to the Captain's - or rather, the Captain's replacement.  "I don't have much for new information. Both T'Vas and the Romulan are still in sickbay, no news on their condition, or the makeup of the poison. The President is still stable. We hypothesis that a small shuttle made land on the planet, but we aren't able to track what kind, or where it had. What we do know almost certainly, is that it's still planet-bound, most likely. No way for us to narrow down where without moving the Challenger, sir."

"You might be more rational talking to Romulans... last time I spoke to one I shot them!" Ruth said with a wry smile.  "To be fair they fired on us first but me and Romulans... most of them I don't like especially after meeting Thelal.  I'd want to know if he's behind this."

"M-may I go to Sickbay?  T'Vas is my friend and I really want to make sure she's ok." Arya stammered from beside her.

Ruth nodded and indicated that they had Sciences covered it was ok.  "Since you've spent the best part of 4 years with her you might be able to offer insight to help medical if needed."

Turning back to Jettis she remarked "Oh and you're not the only one, but then I'm rather cynical and biased."

[Sickbay - USS Challenger]

Arya had hot footed it down to the Sickbay and presented herself to Lisa and Jess.  "T'Vas is my friend, how can I help?  Can I help?" she asked in a worried voice.

[Lagar]

[Sickbay --> Brig - USS Challenger]

When Lagar wrapped up the Romulan, Burke smiled and said.

"You got it Doc."

He tapped his combadge.

"Burke to brig, lock onto Doctor Lagar and beam him and a Romulan to one of the cells."

Lagar and his prisoner appeared in a cell a few seconds later.

[Sickbay > Brig - USS Challenger]

Lagar gave Lisa a nod, grateful for her concern, as he faded from view. The moment he and his patient successfully materialized in the Brig, his hypospray was at the assassin's neck, delivering a substance that would keep him sedated.

His next task involved removing the unusual garment the man wore, including the attached hood. Whatever it was, it possibly concealed weaponry or tools that the transporters hadn't detected. Tendrils patted down the Romulan's exterior, seeking anything metal or foreign that did not belong. The garment would be removed carefully, and Lagar's eyes sought any identifying marks that would be visible on the clothing or the man; logos, tattoos, tags, symbols, communicators.

No matter his success or failure in that endeavor, once done, he took the further measure of using the biobed's securing shackles to bind the Romulan's arms and legs in place. These bonds were in place to keep patients from hurting themselves, and to protect physicians from dangerous subjects. In Lagar's case, he had had to turn the patient over to remove the killing tool, and couldn't have employed the bindings earlier. He couldn't discount the possibility that the Romulan had anti-sedatives in his system of some kind; chemically-released substances that could counteract tranquilizers or similar compounds...