S5: E1 - Honor Against Glory

[Don Damien Addams]

[Brig - USS Challenger]

The Romulan's hatred was almost palpable as it radiated off of him as he gave both Starfleet officers withering stares. However, besides his one outburst regarding Lagar, the Romulan returned to an attitude of sullen silence.

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

[Galgan Conference Facility]

When Shazham mentioned there was a group of Klingons that he couldn't read, it triggered something in Ian's gut, whether a long lost memory or a fragment of an incident in his past, but something about the term doppleganger made him surge forward into action. The group of six Klingons the Betazoid had pointed out had moved from a cluster to a half circle with the open end facing the President as she stepped to the podium.

As he ran at maximum speed he could see the Klingons beginning to draw weapons and with a final surge, he leapt the last two meters and tackled the President, knocking her to the floor and out of the line of fire as the Klingons began firing their disruptor pistols with abandon.

The first thing to happen was the podium exploded as it took multiple hits and this made Ian gasp as several fragments struck his back as he lay on top of Blackwell, shielding her body with his own. The next thing to happen was unmitigated chaos as guests started screaming and several other Klingons began shooting at the first group.

[Conference Hall on Galga IV]

Shazham heart leap up to his throat as he spotted Captain Galloway leaping for what he said. He held his arms out to say, don't. As he was doing that he saw what was correct. Those Klingons had pulled out weapons to attempt to assassinate the President. Two times, one Ferengi what has this all gone.

One of the first group Klingons had grabbed an hostage near by and pointed it at the individuals throat. "I will do it!" he growled. "How many will die," his eyes was searching the crowd to dare him. He was slowly moving his back to a wall. Which Shazham had failed to get by but a Ferengi leaped out and started to gnaw at the fellow's left boot. The Klingon was distracted and one of the 'real Klingons' had leaped to leaped to grab the disrupter and unarmed the 'fake' Klingon. "You got no Honor!"

Shazham then went over to Ian and the President. He was clearing things out of the way as a Klingon was helping with others. "Captain! Lady President you okay?" he cried out to them in a worried voice.

[Vince Stryfe]

.:: USS Mjolnir :: Ion Trail Location ::.

"The old trail is gone, but I'm picking up a new one and based on the gravitic anomalies that you said to look for, this thing is not only moving, but it's moving fast. Bearing 161 mark 15!" Randell sounded almost surprised and worried about his finding.

Vince started to do what he does best, fly when it's needed. He tapped away at the console, matching the course of the ion trail and gravimetric fluctuations. As he did he opened a com channel.

"Mjolnir to Challenger," Vince spoke quick and affirmatively.

Go ahead Mjolnir the comm channel rang back.

Vince immediately spoke up," Lt. Randell and I have lost original ion trail, but have picked up a new one, which is active. Coordinates of trail being transmitted now, along with suspected path and trajectory. Unknown event is bearing 161 mark 15. I have also given the accompanying patrol all relevant info. Mjolnir has matched suspected trajectory and speed of target, and we are in pursuit."

[Rhymus Cleroux]

[Galgan Conference Facility]

When Shazham mentioned there was a group of Klingons that he couldn't read, it triggered something in Ian's gut, whether a long lost memory or a fragment of an incident in his past, but something about the term doppleganger made him surge forward into action. The group of six Klingons the Betazoid had pointed out had moved from a cluster to a half circle with the open end facing the President as she stepped to the podium.

As he ran at maximum speed he could see the Klingons beginning to draw weapons and with a final surge, he leapt the last two meters and tackled the President, knocking her to the floor and out of the line of fire as the Klingons began firing their disruptor pistols with abandon.

The first thing to happen was the podium exploded as it took multiple hits and this made Ian gasp as several fragments struck his back as he lay on top of Blackwell, shielding her body with his own. The next thing to happen was unmitigated chaos as guests started screaming and several other Klingons began shooting at the first group.

[Galga VI, Conference Facility]

Time slowed for Rhymus as the Captain began running to the President. He watched in agonizing detail as the Klingons spread around the front row began drawing weapons to kill the leader of the Federation. It was the worst possible scenario, but one that had been planned for. In an eyeblink, Rhymus had identified six threats and was bringing his jacket to bear against the first. The Klingons were still bringing their weapons up after dragging them from their holsters. The speed reminded Rhymus of snails on a stone wall back home, a slow steady pace to ensure the kill. Unfortunately for them, Rhymus was faster. Rhymus was better.

Rhymus shot first.

The phaser blast from within the jacket cut through the air like a torpedo, impacting against the chest of one Klingon and sending them from their feet. In a matter of microseconds, all hell broke loose. The podium exploded in a half-melted mass of material and energy, the likes that would have killed the President easily had it not been for Captain Galloway's initiative and daring. The room filled with weapons fire as the security teams of other delegates attempted to sus out the culprit through force of arms. Many screamed, others ran, some died.

The element of surprise was lost, and Rhymus threw his jacket to the four winds, hoping to distract their aggressors for a moment longer. It was impossible to tell who was on who's side. But to Rhymus the Klingons had started the fight, he would end it with them. And he fired at another Klingon who seemed suitably threatening.

As Rhymus fired precisely into the morass in front of them, aiming for anyone who so dared to look at the Federation delegates, Blackfeather and Shurile grabbed the President and the Captain. Both bled from a half dozen wounds each, but they seemed superficial at a glance. They were dragged bodily from the conference hall, back out the door they had come, under Rhymus's covering fire.

Once they had left the room, Rhymus fired a final blast into the door control panel, shutting the portal with a clang and deactivating it. It would buy them minutes. Maybe.

With the worst of the fighting separated from them, Rhymus looked over the wounded while tapping his combadge.

"Ground to Challenger. Code Black, Code Black. VIP under threat. Transporter Inhibitors are active, moving to alternate extraction. We will need a shuttle." 

With the worst of this unfortunate business out of the way, Rhymus turned to the unenviable task of pulling this bunch out of the fire and somewhere more preferable. Such as aboard the ship.

"Chief Blackfeather, Petty Officer Shurile. I hope you memorized this section of the schematics. We need to get to the nearest shuttlebay, formation Blackfeather-Two-Nine. Shurile on point, Blackfeather cover our rear."

With intent laid to the Tactical side, Rhymus turned to the wounded officials. He moved them to a sitting position against a wall.

"Captain, Madame President, can you walk? Time is of the essence."

[Ian Galloway]

[ USS Challenger - Brig ]

The Romulan simply met Jettis' gaze, with seemingly no reaction to anything he'd said. Not eve the implication that the President had died. Whether it be because he knew otherwise, or just simply because he refused to talk, Jettis would never know. Surely something had to make the man crack, but what?

"Rest assured, with the plethora of evidence you've so graciously provided, Starfleet will be able to launch an investigation now. You and I both know that even if Thelal did come back for you, rescue one of his own, it's to clean up collateral damage." Jettis' gaze penetrated through the man, looking for any inkling of wavering support, or logical reasoning. "Cooperating with us is much more beneficial to you at this time, and will especially be in the future. We can bring you into protective custody, as I'm sure you know more than I your failure will not be.. tolerated well. We can bring you to somewhere safe until you can have a fair judicial trial." Though he sensed these words may have no effect - the man had tried suicide in a final act of desperation. But perhaps the threat of what awaited him back in Romulan territory, was more scary than whatever Starfleet had in store for the man. At the very least, it wasn't an immediate, unwavering death sentence.

[Brig - USS Challenger]

Although, with the exception of the one outburst, the Romulan had remained silent, as Jettis spoke, the Romulan did something no one had seen before, he laughed.

"Do you seriously think you can stop the Tal Shiar from killing me? If you do, then Starfleet officers are more stupid than I thought. I am a dead man, we both know it. I failed in my mission and therefore, my life is forfeit, as it should be. However, just because I face death, it doesn't mean I will betray my oath to serve. You can go now. I will not try to kill you or this plant thing. All I ask is that I be freed from this bed."

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

[Conference Hall on Galga IV]

Shazham heart leap up to his throat as he spotted Captain Galloway leaping for what he said. He held his arms out to say, don't. As he was doing that he saw what was correct. Those Klingons had pulled out weapons to attempt to assassinate the President. Two times, one Ferengi what has this all gone.

One of the first group Klingons had grabbed an hostage near by and pointed it at the individuals throat. "I will do it!" he growled. "How many will die," his eyes was searching the crowd to dare him. He was slowly moving his back to a wall. Which Shazham had failed to get by but a Ferengi leaped out and started to gnaw at the fellow's left boot. The Klingon was distracted and one of the 'real Klingons' had leaped to leaped to grab the disrupter and unarmed the 'fake' Klingon. "You got no Honor!"

Shazham then went over to Ian and the President. He was clearing things out of the way as a Klingon was helping with others. "Captain! Lady President you okay?" he cried out to them in a worried voice.

[Galga VI, Conference Facility]

Time slowed for Rhymus as the Captain began running to the President. He watched in agonizing detail as the Klingons spread around the front row began drawing weapons to kill the leader of the Federation. It was the worst possible scenario, but one that had been planned for. In an eyeblink, Rhymus had identified six threats and was bringing his jacket to bear against the first. The Klingons were still bringing their weapons up after dragging them from their holsters. The speed reminded Rhymus of snails on a stone wall back home, a slow steady pace to ensure the kill. Unfortunately for them, Rhymus was faster. Rhymus was better.

Rhymus shot first.

The phaser blast from within the jacket cut through the air like a torpedo, impacting against the chest of one Klingon and sending them from their feet. In a matter of microseconds, all hell broke loose. The podium exploded in a half-melted mass of material and energy, the likes that would have killed the President easily had it not been for Captain Galloway's initiative and daring. The room filled with weapons fire as the security teams of other delegates attempted to sus out the culprit through force of arms. Many screamed, others ran, some died.

The element of surprise was lost, and Rhymus threw his jacket to the four winds, hoping to distract their aggressors for a moment longer. It was impossible to tell who was on who's side. But to Rhymus the Klingons had started the fight, he would end it with them. And he fired at another Klingon who seemed suitably threatening.

As Rhymus fired precisely into the morass in front of them, aiming for anyone who so dared to look at the Federation delegates, Blackfeather and Shurile grabbed the President and the Captain. Both bled from a half dozen wounds each, but they seemed superficial at a glance. They were dragged bodily from the conference hall, back out the door they had come, under Rhymus's covering fire.

Once they had left the room, Rhymus fired a final blast into the door control panel, shutting the portal with a clang and deactivating it. It would buy them minutes. Maybe.

With the worst of the fighting separated from them, Rhymus looked over the wounded while tapping his combadge.

"Ground to Challenger. Code Black, Code Black. VIP under threat. Transporter Inhibitors are active, moving to alternate extraction. We will need a shuttle." 

With the worst of this unfortunate business out of the way, Rhymus turned to the unenviable task of pulling this bunch out of the fire and somewhere more preferable. Such as aboard the ship.

"Chief Blackfeather, Petty Officer Shurile. I hope you memorized this section of the schematics. We need to get to the nearest shuttlebay, formation Blackfeather-Two-Nine. Shurile on point, Blackfeather cover our rear."

With intent laid to the Tactical side, Rhymus turned to the wounded officials. He moved them to a sitting position against a wall.

"Captain, Madame President, can you walk? Time is of the essence."

[Galgan Conference Facility]

The events in the conference room had become too confused to follow. Between the whine of the disruptors and phasers, the wails of the wounded or dying, the screams of the terrified, the blaring of the klaxon, and a kaleidoscope of other sounds and images was simply too much for a humanoid mind to process. Ian was aware that, at least for that instant, no one was shooting at the President, which was good because he was in the inconvenient, but necessary, position of being between her and the shooting.
When Shazham and Rhymus reached him, he risked raising his head and when that didn't draw a hail of fire, he agreed with the Chief completely, it was time to go.

"I'll live, let's go. Madam President, quickly."

"I will as soon as you get off of me you Scottish goon!" She snarled, but there was no heat in her tone and when Ian did move, so did she and for a woman in her late 70s, she somehow managed to move with speed and grace, adding. "Ruined, and I really liked this suit."

It was only once they were out of the conference room that Ian started having trouble keeping up with the others that he realized he'd been hit.

"The power of adrenaline I suppose."

He muttered and redoubled his efforts to keep up, which he found he could, but that it hurt to do so, a lot.

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

[Delta Flyer - Mjolnir]

As Vince maneuvered to track the new contact, the comm system blared to life with the measured tones of T'Kel, the Chief of Security and currently sitting in the center seat on the bridge.

"Challenger to Mjolnir. New orders, break off your pursuit and take the course 125 mark 30 distance 80 kilometers from your current location for an emergency rescue of landing party. These orders supersede all other priorities. Acknowledge."

[Ian Galloway]

[USS Challenger-A | Bridge]

"Lieutenant, this is but a clever trap."

T'Vas spun around in her chair from Science One, addressing her fellow Vulcan T'Kel, temporarily in charge. She had to take a moment, as she was still a little lightheaded. "Our shields are raised due to Yellow Alert. A shuttlecraft docking forces shields down. A volley of torpedoes fired at us. Challenger and the President with no shields." She concluded grimly.

She turned to the viewscreen and squinted. "The anomalous readings may still move. A cloaked vessel may still appear soon." T'Vas pursed her lips and waited.

[Bridge - USS Challenger]

T'Kel arched her eyebrow in classic Vulcan fashion as T'Vas announced her theory. She paused for a moment as she thought through the probabilities and replied.

"A valid hypothesis Ensign. However, we must recover the President at all costs. Therefore what you will do is reconfigure our deflector dish to emit a tachyon field. Should any cloaked ship attempt to take advantage of the moment we will have to lower shields, we will engage them with proximity fused photon torpedoes.

"Lieutenant Lowe, please prepare a full spread for immediately launch. You are to closely monitor your sensors and if such a vessel is detected, you are to destroy it without hesitation."

[Lagar]

[Brig - USS Challenger]

Although, with the exception of the one outburst, the Romulan had remained silent, as Jettis spoke, the Romulan did something no one had seen before, he laughed.

"Do you seriously think you can stop the Tal Shiar from killing me? If you do, then Starfleet officers are more stupid than I thought. I am a dead man, we both know it. I failed in my mission and therefore, my life is forfeit, as it should be. However, just because I face death, it doesn't mean I will betray my oath to serve. You can go now. I will not try to kill you or this plant thing. All I ask is that I be freed from this bed."

Lieutenant jg Lagar
[Brig - USS Challenger]

The Phylosian had seen the hatred in the man, a deep and pervading thing likely constructed on a solid foundation of decades. This Romulan was a product of carefully crafted training and political education, and was more than prepared to give his life in a war against the Federation. In fact, he had very well tried to give his life in that purpose once he had been captured. As the Romulan made his statement, revealing that he had failed in this mission and that the Tal Shiar sought to kill him, Lagar focused on one particular phrase. "It doesn't mean I will betray my oath to serve."

He had sworn that he would not try to kill Jettis or Lagar, and he was unlikely to escape the Brig now that he was detained behind the forcefield. If he could not escape, his most immediate means of accomplishing his oath to serve was to self-terminate. This man is going to kill himself for his cause. He tried once, with the device we removed, and given the freedom of his hands he will try again. Lagar thought to himself, respecting the brutal nobility of it, and recognizing that he had a duty to prevent it. I would mean speaking out of turn; this was Jettis' interrogation, and Lagar and the El-Aurian had no shared secret language that Lagar could use to communicate with him. The Phylosian had to speak out loud, to tell both men his stance.

"I apologize, but I cannot let you go. I believe that if I do, you will attempt to end your own life, and I believe that you will be successful in that endeavor. I cannot let that come to pass" A pair of tendrils near the man's neck waved slightly, showing that at least a foot of their length was free to move while still holding the Romulan still. "And if you attempt to swallow your tongue, Sir, I will prevent you. Believe that I am capable of this."

He would have to apologize to Lieutenant Jyur, who may have wished to use the man's release as a bargaining chip for more information. Lagar had come to a conflict caused by his beliefs in the Romulan's comittment, and his own vow to do no harm.

[Jettis Jyur]

[Brig - USS Challenger]

Although, with the exception of the one outburst, the Romulan had remained silent, as Jettis spoke, the Romulan did something no one had seen before, he laughed.

"Do you seriously think you can stop the Tal Shiar from killing me? If you do, then Starfleet officers are more stupid than I thought. I am a dead man, we both know it. I failed in my mission and therefore, my life is forfeit, as it should be. However, just because I face death, it doesn't mean I will betray my oath to serve. You can go now. I will not try to kill you or this plant thing. All I ask is that I be freed from this bed."

"I apologize, but I cannot let you go. I believe that if I do, you will attempt to end your own life, and I believe that you will be successful in that endeavor. I cannot let that come to pass" A pair of tendrils near the man's neck waved slightly, showing that at least a foot of their length was free to move while still holding the Romulan still. "And if you attempt to swallow your tongue, Sir, I will prevent you. Believe that I am capable of this."

He would have to apologize to Lieutenant Jyur, who may have wishes to use the man's release as a bargaining chip for more information. Lagar had come to a conflict caused by his beliefs in the Romulan's comittment, and his own vow to do no harm.

[ USS Challenger - Brig ]

Jettis' eyes met the mans with an intensity, realizing neither of them would back down. He recognized the man was right. It was highly unlikely that the Challenger, if having to go toe to toe with more than one Romulan Warbird, could stand its ground. And if it were a cloaked attack, the odds were near-zero. However, they did have the  luxury of doing anything else. The Romulan - and especially his goods had to be kept safe at all costs. Second only to the President's safety, at this point.

Jettis parted his mouth to grant the man his wish, before Lagar spoke first. He turned to the man... plant? Plantimal, with first surprise, then a respectful nod. "Thank you for your consideration, Lagar." It was a possibility that had crossed his own mind, but not as much as the Doctor's clearly. The idea of the man biting off his own tongue simply to kill himself hadn't even occurred to the Officer. And the more he dwelled on it, the more likely the scenario seemed to him. However, he couldn't exactly leave him chained to the bed with no way of relieving himself...

"A security detail will have needed to be placed on him anyway. To prevent any sort of boarding, or transportation off of the ship. I can also ensure a medical officer will be nearby at all times, and he will be given a more traditional set of handcuffs, so he can not injure the officers protecting him. He will only be uncuffed in order to relieve himself. Lagar, if you wish you can personally ensure his safety - otherwise you can pass the duty on to another medical officer as strong, or stronger than you." He paused, volleying the ball to Lagar's court. "Does that seem like a fair compromise, Lieutenant?"

If the phylosian said otherwise, Jettis would willingly take his more-recommended course of action without hesitation. If the officer still saw a danger, a flaw in his plan, he would take every concern into consideration. This had to be played out perfectly, and Jettis' own ego would not stand in the way of ensuring that it did. He did, however need to return to the bridge shortly, and would leave as soon as this was sorted.

[Vasilisa Belmont]

[USS Challenger-A | Sickbay]

"Glgghh..."

T'Vas gurgled, or tried to. Although only a few minutes had passed since her arrival in Sickbay, it felt an eternity. Though the blankets Chloe had wrapped around her kept her body temperature high (remembering that Vulcans thrived in hotter environments), she felt as if she were in an ice bath...

[T'Vas Mindscape]

Bit of a cliche, is it not at all?

T'Vas was... Home, but not quite. There was a fire crackling away in a fireplace, the big comfortable armchair, The Polovtsian Dance from the sound system. The floorboards creaked, as she saw herself walk around. Though both were wearing the standard blue Starfleet uniform (her real world self was still in Full Dress), but while she wore a neutral expression, her doppleganger looked hostile. As if to complete the cliche, a chessboard appeared. But unlike most cliches, T'Vas was certain she controlled this one, as not normal chess, or even 3D chess, but xiangqi was on the table.

She was drifting in an out of consciousness, as the Doctors had yet to save her. All she could do was sigh and play yet another game against herself in her mindscape as her doppleganger moved a horse. Picking up a Cannon of her own in counter, she wondered if Arya could hold onto her Katra if she died...

[USS Challenger-A | Sickbay]

"Lemon... Lime... Bitters..."

T'Vas whispered as a mantra once again. The only problem is for all the times she crashed, her situation wasn't really improving. Her vital signs were hovering dangerously low. Although Lisa, Chloe and medical technology could revive her, the flow of oxygen to her brain was getting lower and lower. If her vitals didn't improve soon, there would be brain damage too...

[USS Challenger-A | Sickbay]

"Enough..."

T'Vas pulled herself out of bed. Although her vital signs were still in the low end of the range, she forced herself onto her feet. With slow, shuffling steps, she made her way to the replicator. She managed to not dislodge the sensors stuck to her head and chest as she croaked out "Lemon lime and bitters, cold." To Lisa, Chloe and Arya's respective astonishments, after the first sip, the vitals increased, defying known medical logic. By the first mouthful, they had improved. After draining the glass, the monitors showed the vitals to effectively normal Vulcan range.

Putting the glass back into the replicator for recycling, she walked back over. Although mostly recovered, she dropped her cadence once more: "The electrolytes helped. Or maybe it is a placebo effect." She carefully removed the monitors and handed them over. "My apologies, Doctors, with the President and the conference in danger, I need to be on the Bridge. I promise no Away Team duties until this is over and I will report back in for you to monitor my progress." She bowed somewhat deeply and gave Arya a ghost of a smile before exiting Sickbay.

[USS Challenger-A | Bridge]

"I relieve you, Chief."

T'Vas stepped out onto the Bridge... As good as could be under the circumstances. Having stopped briefly to change back into her duty uniform and to log a maintenance job for her damaged light, she shuffled slowly onto the Bridge, occasionally grabbing the back of a chair for support.

Slowly, she slid into the Science One seat and brought up the logs, aware that there was an ion trail, with a shuttlepod trying to track it. Her hand was still somewhat sore, where the star had cut and was still numb, but she was still determined to do her bit.

[Sickbay - USS Challenger]

Lisa and Arya continued to puzzle through T'Vas' meaning when suddenly the Vulcan stood up and administered her own treatment. Chloe made to assist her, but she handled herself well enough and amazingly, her condition improved until her vitals were back to "normal."

"But that-" Chloe stammered. Lisa looked to Arya and held up her hands in exaggerated disbelief. She didn't fully understand it herself, but somehow T'Vas knew what her body needed. It would all be in a report for the three of them to puzzle over later. She listened to her patient speak and gave her almost a bemused look as she suggested her solution was a placebo. What had inspired her to come up with such a thing? She had so many questions. Before she could ask any of them, T'Vas was...leaving.

"T'Vas, please, I need to at least do a final scan before I discharge you and in your condition you really shouldn't-"

But she was gone. Lisa put her hands on her hips.

"Chloe, get me another coffee. I don't usually drink more than one cup a day, but I'm not leaving my post until this new science ensign gets her butt back in my sickbay. Even if it takes the rest of the day."

Chloe flashed her a small, amused grin as she made for the replicator.

[Lagar]

[ USS Challenger - Brig ]

Jettis' eyes met the mans with an intensity, realizing neither of them would back down. He recognized the man was right. It was highly unlikely that the Challenger, if having to go toe to toe with more than one Romulan Warbird, could stand its ground. And if it were a cloaked attack, the odds were near-zero. However, they did have the  luxury of doing anything else. The Romulan - and especially his goods had to be kept safe at all costs. Second only to the President's safety, at this point.

Jettis parted his mouth to grant the man his wish, before Lagar spoke first. He turned to the man... plant? Plantimal, with first surprise, then a respectful nod. "Thank you for your consideration, Lagar." It was a possibility that had crossed his own mind, but not as much as the Doctor's clearly. The idea of the man biting off his own tongue simply to kill himself hadn't even occurred to the Officer. And the more he dwelled on it, the more likely the scenario seemed to him. However, he couldn't exactly leave him chained to the bed with no way of relieving himself...

"A security detail will have needed to be placed on him anyway. To prevent any sort of boarding, or transportation off of the ship. I can also ensure a medical officer will be nearby at all times, and he will be given a more traditional set of handcuffs, so he can not injure the officers protecting him. He will only be uncuffed in order to relieve himself. Lagar, if you wish you can personally ensure his safety - otherwise you can pass the duty on to another medical officer as strong, or stronger than you." He paused, volleying the ball to Lagar's court. "Does that seem like a fair compromise, Lieutenant?"

If the phylosian said otherwise, Jettis would willingly take his more-recommended course of action without hesitation. If the officer still saw a danger, a flaw in his plan, he would take every concern into consideration. This had to be played out perfectly, and Jettis' own ego would not stand in the way of ensuring that it did. He did, however need to return to the bridge shortly, and would leave as soon as this was sorted.

Lieutenant jg Lagar
[Brig - USS Challenger]

"It does Sir. And given your permission, I'll ensure this man's safety." Lagar was thankful for Lieutenant Jyur, wondering whether any other officer would have given the order anyway, causing a conflict between the ethics and beliefs of a creature who had taken the Hippocratic Oath... Another Doctor might not have arrived at the suicidal conclusion, and might have let the man go. Lagar could still be wrong, but he doubted it. This Romulan's devotion was the key, and perhaps the only thing that mattered to the Romulan was fulfilling his calling in the most ultimate way.

The Phylosian turned its head slightly, angling it toward Jettis. "We have made no announcement, yet, as to the fate of our prisoner, have we, Lieutenant?" he asked.

[Jettis Jyur]

Lieutenant jg Lagar
[Brig - USS Challenger]

"It does Sir. And given your permission, I'll ensure this man's safety." Lagar was thankful for Lieutenant Jyur, wondering whether any other officer would have given the order anyway, causing a conflict between the ethics and beliefs of a creature who had taken the Hippocratic Oath... Another Doctor might not have arrived at the suicidal conclusion, and might have let the man go. Lagar could still be wrong, but he doubted it. This Romulan's devotion was the key, and perhaps the only thing that mattered to the Romulan was fulfilling his calling in the most ultimate way.

The Phylosian turned its head slightly, angling it toward Jettis. "We have made no announcement, yet, as to the fate of our prisoner, have we, Lieutenant?" he asked.

[ USS Challenger - Brig ]

Jettis nodded, as Lagar agreed to his plan, and wished to stay as the man's caretaker. It was for the best, given Lagar seemed best suited to handle the man. On several fronts. "Very well. I'll speak to the guard outside and have the security detail arranged." He moved to step out to do just so, when Lagar's words gave him pause. As his gaze slid to the prisoner once again, a half-smirk tugged at his lips.

"We haven't. It's unfortunate we'll have to inform the conference he died, do to a surgically-implanted suicide pill." He shrugged, glancing at the man to read any sort of response, or willingness to talk. Whether there was one or not, he would leave after the man either opened up, or stayed in his sullen silence.

Crossing to the guard, who was still in the small room where he'd first encountered him, he knocked lightly on the door. "Lieutenant Lagar will be remaining with the prisoner to ensure his safety. Please provide him with a pair of handcuffs for the man's freedom to move about, and a security detail of two officers. The man must be supervised by at least two people at all times." The man nodded, and moved swiftly to speak into his commbadge. Before Jettis had even gotten to the end of the hallway, two men marched down towards the cell he'd just left. Jettis nodded as they passed, continuing on his way.

[ USS Challenger - Bridge ]

"I have the Bridge," he announced as he stepped off the turbolift, and his gaze shifted to T'Kel. The woman dutifully moved around to return to Ops, and he glanced at the rest of the Bridge party. His eyes stopped though, as they landed on Science One. "Ensign T'Vas. Have you been cleared by Medical so soon?" His voice betrayed the fact that he already knew the answer - they both did. "And if not, why are you present here on the bridge?" He came to a stop in front of the centre chair, eyes still on T'Vas awaiting a feeble excuse for why she was still on duty after being poisoned.

[Ian Galloway]

Lieutenant jg Lagar
[Brig - USS Challenger]

"It does Sir. And given your permission, I'll ensure this man's safety." Lagar was thankful for Lieutenant Jyur, wondering whether any other officer would have given the order anyway, causing a conflict between the ethics and beliefs of a creature who had taken the Hippocratic Oath... Another Doctor might not have arrived at the suicidal conclusion, and might have let the man go. Lagar could still be wrong, but he doubted it. This Romulan's devotion was the key, and perhaps the only thing that mattered to the Romulan was fulfilling his calling in the most ultimate way.

The Phylosian turned its head slightly, angling it toward Jettis. "We have made no announcement, yet, as to the fate of our prisoner, have we, Lieutenant?" he asked.

[ USS Challenger - Brig ]

Jettis nodded, as Lagar agreed to his plan, and wished to stay as the man's caretaker. It was for the best, given Lagar seemed best suited to handle the man. On several fronts. "Very well. I'll speak to the guard outside and have the security detail arranged." He moved to step out to do just so, when Lagar's words gave him pause. As his gaze slid to the prisoner once again, a half-smirk tugged at his lips.

"We haven't. It's unfortunate we'll have to inform the conference he died, do to a surgically-implanted suicide pill." He shrugged, glancing at the man to read any sort of response, or willingness to talk. Whether there was one or not, he would leave after the man either opened up, or stayed in his sullen silence.

Crossing to the guard, who was still in the small room where he'd first encountered him, he knocked lightly on the door. "Lieutenant Lagar will be remaining with the prisoner to ensure his safety. Please provide him with a pair of handcuffs for the man's freedom to move about, and a security detail of two officers. The man must be supervised by at least two people at all times." The man nodded, and moved swiftly to speak into his commbadge. Before Jettis had even gotten to the end of the hallway, two men marched down towards the cell he'd just left. Jettis nodded as they passed, continuing on his way.

[Brig - USS Challenger]

The Romulan listened to exchange between Jettis and Lagar in silence. He made no effort to resist when the other security arrived and cuffed him. With three opponents and especially the raised force field, escape was not possible, so when he was released from the biobed and it was beamed away, he simply moved to the austere bunk and laid down, ignoring his keepers while remaining silent in the process.

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

[ USS Challenger - Bridge ]

"I have the Bridge," he announced as he stepped off the turbolift, and his gaze shifted to T'Kel. The woman dutifully moved around to return to Ops, and he glanced at the rest of the Bridge party. His eyes stopped though, as they landed on Science One. "Ensign T'Vas. Have you been cleared by Medical so soon?" His voice betrayed the fact that he already knew the answer - they both did. "And if not, why are you present here on the bridge?" He came to a stop in front of the centre chair, eyes still on T'Vas awaiting a feeble excuse for why she was still on duty after being poisoned.

[USS Challenger-A | Bridge]

"Lieutenant, I performing my tasks."

T'Vas raised an eyebrow as she looked over her shoulder and nodded at Jettis. "My vital signs are within Vulcan norms. I have promised a return to Sickbay... After this conference is concluded. As a Vulcan, I have given my word." Returning her attention to her console, she dodged the old chestnut of Vulcans being apparently incapable of lying... And she had promised a return to Sickbay. The situation was still somewhat tense as she returned her attention to the console.

"Bridge to Engineering. Additional calibration required on main deflector to emit tachyon field. Report being transmitted."

[Bridge - USS Challenger]

T'Kel rose from the command chair and relieved Lowe at Tactical.

"Sir, the Mjolnir has a tentative contact with a cloaked vessel leaving the conference facility, they were in pursuit when I redirected them to pick up the landing party which has come under some sort of attack. Ensign T'Vas believes pursing the contact to be a ruse designed to get inside our shields when we drop them to recover the Mjolnir. She in the process of configuring our deflector dish to create a tachyon field to detect this cloaked vessel. I have a spread of photons with proximity fuses ready to launch should we get a targeting lock."

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

[Galgan Conference Facility - VIP Landing Pad]

The landing party exited the main building with Shurile, Blackfeather, and Rhymus covering behind them. Ian and Shazham were in front, with the President in the middle as they made their way onto the landing pad. Now that they were outside, they were no longer under the transporter inhibitor and the Mjolnir didn't even have to land to pick them up. So Ian stared hard into the sky looking for the distinctive silhouette of the Delta Flyer and hoped none of the shooters had followed them.

"Help will be here soon Madam President."

"I'm certain you have things under control in as much as there is any control at the moment." She replied stoically.

"May I offer a suggestion Madam President?"

"This I have to hear."

"The next time you have a conference, maybe have it on Spacedock with a battalion of marines?"

"I will take your input under advisement Captain."

[Jettis Jyur]

[USS Challenger-A | Bridge]

"Lieutenant, I performing my tasks."

T'Vas raised an eyebrow as she looked over her shoulder and nodded at Jettis. "My vital signs are within Vulcan norms. I have promised a return to Sickbay... After this conference is concluded. As a Vulcan, I have given my word." Returning her attention to her console, she dodged the old chestnut of Vulcans being apparently incapable of lying... And she had promised a return to Sickbay. The situation was still somewhat tense as she returned her attention to the console.

"Bridge to Engineering. Additional calibration required on main deflector to emit tachyon field. Report being transmitted."

[Bridge - USS Challenger]

T'Kel rose from the command chair and relieved Lowe at Tactical.

"Sir, the Mjolnir has a tentative contact with a cloaked vessel leaving the conference facility, they were in pursuit when I redirected them to pick up the landing party which has come under some sort of attack. Ensign T'Vas believes pursing the contact to be a ruse designed to get inside our shields when we drop them to recover the Mjolnir. She in the process of configuring our deflector dish to create a tachyon field to detect this cloaked vessel. I have a spread of photons with proximity fuses ready to launch should we get a targeting lock."

[ USS Challenger - Bridge ]

Jettis sighed as T'Vas answered stubbornly, making it clear she wasn't planning on leaving unless formally dismissed. And he would be hypocritical to do so, after the stunt he pulled several missions ago.  She expertly dodged saying the words 'no, I wasn't cleared per se...' as if her bridge duty depended on it. Which it did. "I suppose they're just letting anyone out of Sickbay these days."

The grumble was punctuated by him flopping into the center seat, as T'Kel promptly piped up to brief him. Nodding, he mulled over their hypothesis. It didn't seem farfetched at all, and like exactly the kind of stunt the Romulans would pull to recover their captive. "Good safety measures. How close is the Mjolnir to rendezvousing with the landing party?" An estimate as to when they would be back would hopefully give them time to get the deflector dish up and running. He would also have to inform the Captain of their findings, or rather lack of findings with the Romulan.

[Ian Galloway]

[ USS Challenger - Bridge ]

Jettis sighed as T'Vas answered stubbornly, making it clear she wasn't planning on leaving unless formally dismissed. And he would be hypocritical to do so, after the stunt he pulled several missions ago.  She expertly dodged saying the words 'no, I wasn't cleared per se...' as if her bridge duty depended on it. Which it did. "I suppose they're just letting anyone out of Sickbay these days."

The grumble was punctuated by him flopping into the center seat, as T'Kel promptly piped up to brief him. Nodding, he mulled over their hypothesis. It didn't seem farfetched at all, and like exactly the kind of stunt the Romulans would pull to recover their captive. "Good safety measures. How close is the Mjolnir to rendezvousing with the landing party?" An estimate as to when they would be back would hopefully give them time to get the deflector dish up and running. He would also have to inform the Captain of their findings, or rather lack of findings with the Romulan.

[Bridge - USS Challenger]

T'Kel consulted her display and replied promptly.

"The Mjolnir will reach the landing party in ninety seconds. How long to recover all six members depends of if they land or if they are beamed up, this unknown factor makes determining the exact time to recovery impossible to calculate, but between two and two point six minutes fits within normal parameters."

[Lagar]

[Brig - USS Challenger]

The Romulan listened to exchange between Jettis and Lagar in silence. He made no effort to resist when the other security arrived and cuffed him. With three opponents and especially the raised force field, escape was not possible, so when he was released from the biobed and it was beamed away, he simply moved to the austere bunk and laid down, ignoring his keepers while remaining silent in the process.

Lieutenant jg Lagar
[Brig - USS Challenger]

Lagar remained just outside the field, standing as rigid as a tree, his tendrils swaying slightly despite the still and wind-less atmosphere of the Brig. Not so long ago he had stood in this very Brig in front of a different cell, keeping the company of a humanoid accused. Then, as now, the accused and imprisoned held a mindset and a philosophy that set them against the world around them. Then, as now, the fate of the prisoner appeared dark and dire.

The Romulan had failed in his mission, though he had no way of knowing, and in fact had been led to believe the opposite. Lieutenant Jyur had allowed the man to believe that he had succeeded in that task, and that the outside world had not been informed that the Romulan still lived, only that he had been captured. Despite the belief that the assassination had been successful, the capture... That alone was reason enough to feel shame, to attempt to activate the cerebral implant in order to protect his comrades and the cause that he had sworn an oath to serve. Now, there he lay on that bunk, silent, and alive, deprived of the tools with which he might send himself to whatever he believed was beyond this mortal coil. Soon he would be handed off to Federation experts better suited to his care, likely after an extended attempt to debrief him. How long would the deception that his team had killed the Federation President be maintained? How long until yet another source of shame came to this Romulan?

The Phylosian wondered, as he observed the prone man, what kind of future he might have. What was there for him to live for? His next opportunity to die? His next chance to pull away from his restraints and bash his skull against a sharp corner? Lagar could see him playing the long game, waiting months or years while interrogators and psychological analysts pawed feebly at his mind. Lagar could see the Romulan pretend to come around and to discard his oath and even like the Federation, and as soon as he had the chance and the free hands he'd end his own life.

"I wish to tell you about something, so I am going to speak for a few moments." Lagar began, his voder projecting his calm, synthesized voice into the room. "I believe that you do not plan on ever seeing your world again. I believe that you expect to never again see or speak to your people, and certainly not to your colleagues with whom you once served. I believe that even if you wished them to know that you were alive, you think that any message sent home would be intercepted and immediately discarded." Lagar had been well-read on the Romulan situation, and on the Federation's knowledge of the tactics and procedures of the Romulan intelligence agencies, and he was confident in his inferences. He believed, and he thought that the Romulan believed, that all links he once had to his people were now irrevocably severed, forever.

"There are Romulan worlds that are"¦ struggling. Economically. Agriculturally. There are"¦ channels, through which support is given to those Romulan worlds, not through Starfleet and not with any clear ties to the Federation. Food and medical supplies are smuggled and sold and traded until they read the people that need them. It is an apolitical effort, as far as I can tell. Lagar paused, allowing the thoughts to sink in. "This work, of assembling the supplies and getting them through those myriad obfuscating channels, needs laborers. The work of feeding Romulan families, and providing them with medicine and the tools they need to survive, is a worthy effort, I believe."

Lagar's tendrils, halted their movement, shifting to entwine together at his back. "The recipients do not know the origin of the supplies. They do not know who assembles them, they do not know the hands that package them or that organize them for transportation. They never will. But they are helped by those hands and those assemblers just the same." The golden eyes blinked then, shrinking to dots and expanding back to envelop the ends of the blood-red eyestalks. "Consider, perhaps, that your life"¦ may continue to have value to your people. It will not be the same service, not the same oath, but it will be service nonetheless. Selfless, and unsung. But significant, just the same."

The Phylosian held firm there, just in case there was a reply, even a rejection, or silence...

[Vince Stryfe]

.:: USS Mjolnir :: Galgan Atmosphere ::.

"Challenger to Mjolnir. New orders, break off your pursuit and take the course 125 mark 30 distance 80 kilometers from your current location for an emergency rescue of landing party. These orders supersede all other priorities. Acknowledge."

"Stryfe to Challenger, I copy. Breaking of pursuit and heading to supplied coordinates. Galgan Patrol craft are maintaining their pursuit of unknown vessel. Approximate time to extraction point. Randell will prep for emergency extraction via transporter. Will need to enter atmosphere to gain a clear transporter lock. We have six people on scanners, preparing systems for beam up. Need confirmation on number of people being beamed out. Repeat, we need confirmation on number of people being beamed up"

Vince tapped the controls furiously, maintaining the shields and dropping into the atmosphere at a steeper than usual angle. Emergencies called for more drastic measures, and flying at close to the safety protocols as he could. With their current speed and decent angle, Vince estimated 2 minutes until they were in optimal transporter capabilities to beam up six people. He glanced over at Randell, who was concentrated on his console waiting for the go to beam the targets up. Vince looked back over to his own console, glancing through gravitational info, hoping the ship they were following before wasn't instead following them now.

They were nearing the appropriate spot to commence transport. Capacity wasn't a worry, but Vince didn't want to sit in one spot for long, all he needed was confirmation from the Challenger. 30 seconds out, the time was now, he wasn't worried about them confirming, just anxious. It might be a bad situation, but Vince was having fun anyway.