S:5 E:9 - The Naked When

[Zhukdrashar Mrekrerhas]

[Ensign Zhukdra'shar Mrekrerhas | Deck One | Bridge | USS Challenger NCC-40117-A]

[Lieutenant Commander Nira Said | Bridge | Deck One | USS Challenger NCC-40117-A]

"Aye, Captain," said Nira. "McNair, Zhuk, Savar, choose four probes, inspect them, see how well they are, and then launch them while we set course for the nearest system."

It did make sense for Nira to only send four probes out while they themselves headed for the nearest system. Plus, they weren't sure how well the probes fared when the crew suffered intoxication.

Nira had just been informed that Espada had set course when T'Kel called out, "Captain, Commander! Ship decloaking off the port bow. Romulan cruiser, Ar'kala class."

"On screen," said Nira, and the image of the pulled up to show what looked like an extremely narrow-looking warbird. Looks of things, it had seemed to catch up and stop near the Challenger's path.

From the rear, it almost looked like more of a mixture of the Mogai warbirds and the antique K'Tinga look the Romulans acquired in their brief alliance with the Klingons in the days of Kirk. But Nira could tell from the two wings that it was an extremely narrow-looking warbird. Nonetheless, Nira's caution was up.

"Sirs, the Romulans are hailing us," said T'Kel.

"Commander Catalan, you'd best go with Zhuk and Savar to inspect the probes, we'll launch them anyway," said Nira. "Take T'Prith with you as well. Mister McNair, open the hailing frequency."

The viewscreen changed to show a Romulan subcommander who, to Nira's surprise, looked young, if not a few years older.

"Starship Challenger?" she said. "This is Subcommander T'Vaan of the Romulan Free State cruiser Joran. Are you all right?"

Nira breathed out relief. So the ship was from the Romulan Free State. Had it been any other faction, she would've been a little more cautious. With the Tal Shiar or any potentially hostile faction, she would be extremely guarded.

"We are, Subcommander," Nira replied. "Why do you...?"

"I beg your pardon, Captain," said T'Vaan, "But your first officer looks famili...oh, of course...Lieutenant Said, wasn't it?"

"Lieutenant Commander, actually," said Nira. "Have we met somewhere?"

"We met as the Starship Discovery was leaving Carraya IV...I remember you, I used to work for Subcommander Ralik. You and Captain Tekin saved his life, if I recall...and Captain...were you Discovery's former First Officer, Commander Galloway? Impressive how you stopped that temporal loop from that ancient..."

"Sorry, Subcommander," interrupted Nira, "but now's not the time for reminiscing. Did you, by any chance, happen to find this ship adrift?"

"Not me, personally," replied T'Vaan, "but less than two days ago, a passing pair of patrol ships, two Harpy-class light cruisers, caught sight of you as they were conducting routine long-range scans during their patrol. By the time they got to your position, however, you were gone. I had been sent to find you to ascertain your status while the patrol ships continued. I'm glad to see we made it in time. Especially since...well, En route, I had been informed by the same two patrol ships that they found a few more Romulan ships adrift as yours."

"Oh?" said Nira with interest. Anybody listening in would have looked at the viewscreen with interest. Even Lahr and T'Prith had stepped out to listen.

"Subcommander?" asked Savar. "Did any of the crews happen to display an aftermath of chaotic inebriation?"

"Now that you mention it, Lieutenant," said T'Vaan, "Each of the ships we came across certainly looked like chaos was reigning. Of the ships discovered, two of them had crews that died, either from disabling the life support or blowing the hatch or just falling victim to the chaos that had ensued."

"Where did you find those ships, Subcommander?"

"The patrol ships found them some eight light-years from here. That's also the closest system."

"Well, would you believe it if I told you the cause of that was the result of some stellar body that had undergone some kind of gravimetric shift?"

T'Vaan raised an eyebrow with interest, in the same way her Vulcan cousins would.

"You mean one of the systems in this area could be missing a star or a planet?"

"That's what we're trying to find out," said Nira.

"In that case, we'd be glad to help you with the search," said T'Vaan. "There's another Ar'Kala some twelve lightyears behind me, and the two Harpies are already helping out..."

"We do have probes we're about to send out..."

"We can send them to escort them," said T'Vaan. "This is, after all, Rator space that's recently handed over to the Free State, but they never did provide us with star charts; chances are, there are plenty of the Rator that want to rub it into the Free State's face by letting us fumble around blindly while potential bandits prey on our ships. I'll have the Harpies transmit what information they discovered."

"Thank you, Subcommander," said Nira in gratitude.

"The pleasure's all mine," said T'Vaan. "I'm glad to help a friend of Ralik's out. T'Vaan out."

The viewscreen switched to the Joran, which was now going alongside the Challenger. Nira felt as if it was like an old Excelsior escorted by a K'Tinga, Romulan or otherwise.

"Well, Captain," said Nira with a smile, "looks like we have some unexpected help." Then, addressing the bridge crew, she added, "Continue with the probes. Espada, maintain course and engage warp when ready. And transmit coordinates to the Joran."

Nira looked at Ian and nodded complementary. After all, given her temporarily being in charge of the ship, she had grown used to giving out the orders, but she still looked to the Captain to see if it was okay.

At the behest of Lieutenant Commander Nira, Zhukdra'shar prepared to head off to inspect the probes. His mission was briefly interrupted, however, as a Romulan cruiser decloaked off the port bow. An Ar'kala class. His ears and eyes set on the main viewport, he took a pause before he entered the turbo-lift to be able to gauge this Subcommander T'vaan, a member of the Romulan Free State. At least, she claimed so. And more surprisingly, she seemed to know Said. He shot a quick look over at Nira suspiciously, before setting it back upon the Subcommander.

He wasn't too fond of Romulans, and he had his reasons. After all, he had been owned by a Romulan nobleman before and kept alongside a few Remans. It had been a peculiar time in his life, to say the least. Trained for combat and treated more poorly than the Orion he used to belong to, plus seeing how bad they kept the Remans he ended up empathizing with had made a number upon his own personal views of the species. He didn't trust them, at all.

Frowning, and with his ears pulled close to his head, he crossed his arms as he kept listening to the conversation, considering that Savar had remained within the Bridge. He imagined that he should absolutely do the same. For him to gauge this Subcommander T'vaan. Surprisingly, she seemed to be rather accepting of Said's explanations as to what had transpired, once the link was made between the apparent intoxication of the crews of a few Romulan ships and the following chaos that ensued, and the Polywater virus, alongside the explanation that it had come from a gravimetric shockwave. More surprisingly, she accepted to aid the USS Challenger by providing all the available information their scout ships had recovered.

Unbelievable.

His mood was a little less dampened, but still wary once the Subcommander disconnected with a cordial goodbye. Content enough with the civil conversation that had been carried, he made his way to the turbo-lift alongside the rest of the assigned crew, and soon, they were off, heading to Deck 10.

[Bridge - USS Challenger]

Buck nodded. "Yes, commander." He took his position at the station, feeling Commander Catalan's gaze peering down at him as he worked as he ran a free hand through his short hair; now dry. "I'm taking a look at the schematics of Probe One." It perhaps wasn't entirely necessary to announce but he thought it would reduce the likelihood of someone having examining the same one that he was looking over. Trying not to get distracted by the conversation that was happening between the Commanders and the Captain on screen as they spoke about the Free State and the way they had found them.

He pulled up the schematics of the probe and turned it around as a model, checking from all angles that the probe was functional whilst it was running their initial scans. "Probe one seems to have sustained a little damage, initial readings tell me that it's at 95% functionality." It wasn't a lot but he was certain that if the madness was over, there could be a chance they would have the probe fully functional by the time they dropped out of warp. "Most likely damage done from when we were intoxicated but if necessary, I can go assist in repairs of the probe?"

[Ensign Zhukdra'shar Mrekrerhas | Deck Ten | Torpedo Maintenance Bay | USS Challenger NCC-40117-A]

The small team soon reached Deck 10, and Zhukdra'shar got to work. Examining the probes carefully and meaningfully, in order to provide a proper report back to Lieutenant Commander Nira. As such, he made sure to analyze the integrity of the probe's internal and external components, alongside determining if they had been marred by any substance or tool from the previous night's events. Of course, while he wasn't too much of an Engineer, he knew the basics of how to determine which probe would work best to explore the nearby systems.

And with the help of Commander Catalan, Savar, and Ensign McNair back at the bridge, he was pretty sure that everything was at least properly functional. He had a few worries overall about the capacity of the launch of the probes, but the scanners made sure to help them on choosing the most conserved ones.

"... That seems ideal. Hmm... I would argue that probes 3, 5, and 6 seem the most functional, according to scanners. They are at 98, 97, and 94% functionality, respectively. What do you think, Commander Catalan, Savar? I must admit that I am not the most well-versed on technology, so your input is greatly appreciated in such matters."

[Nira Said]

While it might have seemed to the Commander that Lahr had stepped outside the Captain's Ready Room to listen in with interest to her conversation, but truth was he was merely testing the door's responsiveness.   That he overheard the entire conversation was just incidental.

As he moved back to the control panel to make another adjustment (the door wasn't opening to standard specs), he was a bit saddened that this incident happened while his Ruth was stuck in Sickbay.  She'd have loved to delve into the science of the gravimetric shift.

He'd have to tell her all about it later, after work... and with that thought the Andorian turned his attention back to his repair.

[Bridge - USS Challenger]

Buck nodded. "Yes, commander." He took his position at the station, feeling Commander Catalan's gaze peering down at him as he worked as he ran a free hand through his short hair; now dry. "I'm taking a look at the schematics of Probe One." It perhaps wasn't entirely necessary to announce but he thought it would reduce the likelihood of someone having examining the same one that he was looking over. Trying not to get distracted by the conversation that was happening between the Commanders and the Captain on screen as they spoke about the Free State and the way they had found them.

He pulled up the schematics of the probe and turned it around as a model, checking from all angles that the probe was functional whilst it was running their initial scans. "Probe one seems to have sustained a little damage, initial readings tell me that it's at 95% functionality." It wasn't a lot but he was certain that if the madness was over, there could be a chance they would have the probe fully functional by the time they dropped out of warp. "Most likely damage done from when we were intoxicated but if necessary, I can go assist in repairs of the probe?"

[Ensign Zhukdra'shar Mrekrerhas | Deck One | Bridge | USS Challenger NCC-40117-A]

At the behest of Lieutenant Commander Nira, Zhukdra'shar prepared to head off to inspect the probes. His mission was briefly interrupted, however, as a Romulan cruiser decloaked off the port bow. An Ar'kala class. His ears and eyes set on the main viewport, he took a pause before he entered the turbo-lift to be able to gauge this Subcommander T'vaan, a member of the Romulan Free State. At least, she claimed so. And more surprisingly, she seemed to know Said. He shot a quick look over at Nira suspiciously, before setting it back upon the Subcommander.

He wasn't too fond of Romulans, and he had his reasons. After all, he had been owned by a Romulan nobleman before and kept alongside a few Remans. It had been a peculiar time in his life, to say the least. Trained for combat and treated more poorly than the Orion he used to belong to, plus seeing how bad they kept the Remans he ended up empathizing with had made a number upon his own personal views of the species. He didn't trust them, at all.

Frowning, and with his ears pulled close to his head, he crossed his arms as he kept listening to the conversation, considering that Savar had remained within the Bridge. He imagined that he should absolutely do the same. For him to gauge this Subcommander T'vaan. Surprisingly, she seemed to be rather accepting of Said's explanations as to what had transpired, once the link was made between the apparent intoxication of the crews of a few Romulan ships and the following chaos that ensued, and the Polywater virus, alongside the explanation that it had come from a gravimetric shockwave. More surprisingly, she accepted to aid the USS Challenger by providing all the available information their scout ships had recovered.

Unbelievable.

His mood was a little less dampened, but still wary once the Subcommander disconnected with a cordial goodbye. Content enough with the civil conversation that had been carried, he made his way to the turbo-lift alongside the rest of the assigned crew, and soon, they were off, heading to Deck 10.

[Ensign Zhukdra'shar Mrekrerhas | Deck Ten | Torpedo Maintenance Bay | USS Challenger NCC-40117-A]

The small team soon reached Deck 10, and Zhukdra'shar got to work. Examining the probes carefully and meaningfully, in order to provide a proper report back to Lieutenant Commander Nira. As such, he made sure to analyze the integrity of the probe's internal and external components, alongside determining if they had been marred by any substance or tool from the previous night's events. Of course, while he wasn't too much of an Engineer, he knew the basics of how to determine which probe would work best to explore the nearby systems.

And with the help of Commander Catalan, Savar, and Ensign McNair back at the bridge, he was pretty sure that everything was at least properly functional. He had a few worries overall about the capacity of the launch of the probes, but the scanners made sure to help them on choosing the most conserved ones.

"... That seems ideal. Hmm... I would argue that probes 3, 5, and 6 seem the most functional, according to scanners. They are at 98, 97, and 94% functionality, respectively. What do you think, Commander Catalan, Savar? I must admit that I am not the most well-versed on technology, so your input is greatly appreciated in such matters."

[Lieutenant Commander Nira Said | Bridge | Deck One | USS Challenger NCC-40117-A]

Nira took in the reports made by McNair and Zhuk and pondered a moment. Four probes weren't at full functionality. There could be some damage wrought by when the crew...weren't themselves. Catalan and Savar relayed their reports of the probes that made her contemplate further.

"Hold off on launching the probes a moment," said Nira. "Lahr, head down to Torpedo Maintenance, take a look at the probes. Despite the functionality percentages, there's a slight chance something could go wrong. It may be a good idea to check on them; something could go wrong with them when they launch or head out."

Nira looked back at the Captain and said, "It may be a good precaution, sir; Allah knows what we potentially did to the probes or what one of us put in one of them that wouldn't make them work well."

[ShranLahr ch'Verret]

PO1 ShranLahr ch'Verret
[USS Challenger-A - Deck One - Ready Room]

Still standing in the Captain's Ready Room doorway working on the door's pneumatic controls, Lahr considered the difference between the now three Romulans he'd personally encountered.

The first, oddly being a fellow security member on Challenger years before.  The then enlisted crewmember had a sort of intensity for the job that Lahr had found bordered on zealous.  The man, tr'Lhoell, hadn't made many friends - if any at all. Well maybe one - the engineer, Lek.  But the Romulan's zeal must have been noted by the higher ups because within a year that enlisted security crewmember had climbed the ranks up to Chief Petty and then was arbitrarily promoted to Lieutenant Commander as the First Officer on a station in the Gamma Quandrant.  Lahr shook his head sourly at the remembrance.

The second Romulan he'd had the unhappily luck to meet was Captain Galloway's nemesis - Commander Thelal.  That was one grumpy Romulan.  Full of himself too!  Making boasts that he could destroy Challenger easily. 'As if!!' The Andorian engineer scoffed at the idea.  Challenger had beaten back the Romulan offensives time and time again.  It would take more than a Bird of Prey - or even a pair of them - to take down this ship!

Now, here was this third Romulan.  A female subCommander who seemed more like an ally than an enemy.. but Lahr still had his doubts.

It was while he was pondering this that Commander Said's call to him broke him out of his thoughts.   He looked over towards her at her request to look check on some probes.  He recognized this was a bit of a time-sensitive matter so acknowledged her with a nod and a "Yes ma'am. Right away."

He grabbed up his tools quickly and headed for the turbolift, leaving the pneumatic door mechanism open and unfinished.  He'd get back to that afterwards.   "Deck 10." he called to the lift even as the doors were closing.

A few seconds later, he was sprinting through the halls to the Torpedo Maintenance Bay.

Inside the bay, he saw Commander Catalan, Lieutenant Savar, and Ensign Mrekrerhas already working on the probes. He frowned.  Why would the Commander ask him to assist?  It's not like he was some sort of engineering genius like Lek had been.   Anything he knew, these three would know as well.  Still an order was an order.

"Commander Said requested I take a look at the probes as well." Lahr offered up in apology as he pulled out his diagnostic scanner and began checking the work of the others.

Surprisingly, Savar's probe needed an adjustment to its navigational system.  A minor adjustment, but an adjustment that Lahr would have never thought possible with a Vulcan working on it?  Lahr looked over to the Vulcan Science officer.  "You still haven't gotten your shot, have you?" he questioned jokingly as he made the necessary adjustment to the probe.

He scanned the others probes and made similar adjustment to one more. Then closed his tricorder.  "That's all we can do for the moment.  We maybe need to put signage up in the bay that these things aren't to be ridden like some promenade merry-go-round rocket."

He looked to others a moment before taking the initiative to contact the bridge.  He tapped his comm badge. "ch'Verret to Commander Said.  Probes are good to go."

[Ian Galloway]

[Lieutenant Commander Nira Said | Bridge | Deck One | USS Challenger NCC-40117-A]

Nira took in the reports made by McNair and Zhuk and pondered a moment. Four probes weren't at full functionality. There could be some damage wrought by when the crew...weren't themselves. Catalan and Savar relayed their reports of the probes that made her contemplate further.

"Hold off on launching the probes a moment," said Nira. "Lahr, head down to Torpedo Maintenance, take a look at the probes. Despite the functionality percentages, there's a slight chance something could go wrong. It may be a good idea to check on them; something could go wrong with them when they launch or head out."

Nira looked back at the Captain and said, "It may be a good precaution, sir; Allah knows what we potentially did to the probes or what one of us put in one of them that wouldn't make them work well."

PO1 ShranLahr ch'Verret
[USS Challenger-A - Deck One - Ready Room]

Still standing in the Captain's Ready Room doorway working on the door's pneumatic controls, Lahr considered the difference between the now three Romulans he'd personally encountered.

The first, oddly being a fellow security member on Challenger years before.  The then enlisted crewmember had a sort of intensity for the job that Lahr had found bordered on zealous.  The man, tr'Lhoell, hadn't made many friends - if any at all. Well maybe one - the engineer, Lek.  But the Romulan's zeal must have been noted by the higher ups because within a year that enlisted security crewmember had climbed the ranks up to Chief Petty and then was arbitrarily promoted to Lieutenant Commander as the First Officer on a station in the Gamma Quandrant.  Lahr shook his head sourly at the remembrance.

The second Romulan he'd had the unhappily luck to meet was Captain Galloway's nemesis - Commander Thelal.  That was one grumpy Romulan.  Full of himself too!  Making boasts that he could destroy Challenger easily. 'As if!!' The Andorian engineer scoffed at the idea.  Challenger had beaten back the Romulan offensives time and time again.  It would take more than a Bird of Prey - or even a pair of them - to take down this ship!

Now, here was this third Romulan.  A female subCommander who seemed more like an ally than an enemy.. but Lahr still had his doubts.

It was while he was pondering this that Commander Said's call to him broke him out of his thoughts.   He looked over towards her at her request to look check on some probes.  He recognized this was a bit of a time-sensitive matter so acknowledged her with a nod and a "Yes ma'am. Right away."

He grabbed up his tools quickly and headed for the turbolift, leaving the pneumatic door mechanism open and unfinished.  He'd get back to that afterwards.   "Deck 10." he called to the lift even as the doors were closing.

A few seconds later, he was sprinting through the halls to the Torpedo Maintenance Bay.

Inside the bay, he saw Commander Catalan, Lieutenant Savar, and Ensign Mrekrerhas already working on the probes. He frowned.  Why would the Commander ask him to assist?  It's not like he was some sort of engineering genius like Lek had been.   Anything he knew, these three would know as well.  Still an order was an order.

"Commander Said requested I take a look at the probes as well." Lahr offered up in apology as he pulled out his diagnostic scanner and began checking he work of the others.

Surprisingly, Savar's probe needed an adjustment to its navigational system.  A minor adjustment, but an adjustment that Lahr would have never thought possible with a Vulcan working on it?  Lahr looked over to the Vulcan Science officer.  "You still haven't gotten your shot, have you?" he questioned jokingly as he made the necessary adjustment to the probe.

He scanned the others probes and made similar adjustment to one more. Then closed his tricorder.  "That's all we can do for the moment.  We maybe need to put signage up in the bay that these things aren't to be ridden like some promenade merry-go-round rocket."

He looked to others a moment before taking the initiative to contact the bridge.  Hee tapped his comm badge. "ch'Verret to Commander Said.  Probes are good to go."

[Bridge - USS Challenger]

When Lahr reported to the bridge. Ian stepped in as he was keen to get under way.

"Evan, launch the probes at the other systems immediately. Espada, make your course for the nearest system. Warp eight. Execute."

The Challenger shivered as she went to warp, which was her way, and Ian was satisfied at how the ship and crew responded post PSI2000. Ian fully admitted he wasn't a scientist, but he knew the conditions were rare and that meant it shouldn't be hard to track down the source. All that he understood and was comfortable with, the thing that was bothering him was that a planet or star would emit the necessary gravity pulse with no warning. That was something he was not comfortable with in the slightest.

[Nira Said]

PO1 ShranLahr ch'Verret
[USS Challenger-A - Deck One - Ready Room]

Still standing in the Captain's Ready Room doorway working on the door's pneumatic controls, Lahr considered the difference between the now three Romulans he'd personally encountered.

The first, oddly being a fellow security member on Challenger years before.  The then enlisted crewmember had a sort of intensity for the job that Lahr had found bordered on zealous.  The man, tr'Lhoell, hadn't made many friends - if any at all. Well maybe one - the engineer, Lek.  But the Romulan's zeal must have been noted by the higher ups because within a year that enlisted security crewmember had climbed the ranks up to Chief Petty and then was arbitrarily promoted to Lieutenant Commander as the First Officer on a station in the Gamma Quandrant.  Lahr shook his head sourly at the remembrance.

The second Romulan he'd had the unhappily luck to meet was Captain Galloway's nemesis - Commander Thelal.  That was one grumpy Romulan.  Full of himself too!  Making boasts that he could destroy Challenger easily. 'As if!!' The Andorian engineer scoffed at the idea.  Challenger had beaten back the Romulan offensives time and time again.  It would take more than a Bird of Prey - or even a pair of them - to take down this ship!

Now, here was this third Romulan.  A female subCommander who seemed more like an ally than an enemy.. but Lahr still had his doubts.

It was while he was pondering this that Commander Said's call to him broke him out of his thoughts.   He looked over towards her at her request to look check on some probes.  He recognized this was a bit of a time-sensitive matter so acknowledged her with a nod and a "Yes ma'am. Right away."

He grabbed up his tools quickly and headed for the turbolift, leaving the pneumatic door mechanism open and unfinished.  He'd get back to that afterwards.   "Deck 10." he called to the lift even as the doors were closing.

A few seconds later, he was sprinting through the halls to the Torpedo Maintenance Bay.

Inside the bay, he saw Commander Catalan, Lieutenant Savar, and Ensign Mrekrerhas already working on the probes. He frowned.  Why would the Commander ask him to assist?  It's not like he was some sort of engineering genius like Lek had been.   Anything he knew, these three would know as well.  Still an order was an order.

"Commander Said requested I take a look at the probes as well." Lahr offered up in apology as he pulled out his diagnostic scanner and began checking he work of the others.

Surprisingly, Savar's probe needed an adjustment to its navigational system.  A minor adjustment, but an adjustment that Lahr would have never thought possible with a Vulcan working on it?  Lahr looked over to the Vulcan Science officer.  "You still haven't gotten your shot, have you?" he questioned jokingly as he made the necessary adjustment to the probe.

He scanned the others probes and made similar adjustment to one more. Then closed his tricorder.  "That's all we can do for the moment.  We maybe need to put signage up in the bay that these things aren't to be ridden like some promenade merry-go-round rocket."

He looked to others a moment before taking the initiative to contact the bridge.  Hee tapped his comm badge. "ch'Verret to Commander Said.  Probes are good to go."

[Lieutenant Savar | Deck Ten | Torpedo Maintenance Bay | USS Challenger NCC-40117-A]

Savar looked up to see Lahr coming and nodded in appreciation. "Much appreciated, Lahr," he said. "In fact, we had been about to call Commander Tharn to send one of her engineers to help us, we felt an engineer could spot what we couldn't."

He nodded in appreciation as Lahr calibrated the navigational systems. "Just as well," he said. "We certainly wouldn't; I've often heard from helmsmen about making sure their courses are precises, and an example of getting a course off by one degree can put you way off course eventually. It would be embarrassing if our probes were sent on a course that sent them into a star or if it hit something by accident. Still, it could be worse," he added as he bent down and showed him two ripped pieces of cloth, all of fine silk...one of them had patterns to indicate it belonged to Nira; the other was a piece of Vulcan robe.

"Commander Catalan found them snagged on his probe," he said as he tucked them away. "I wondered why there was such a tear in Nira's...never mind, you don't want to know...you do have a point that these things are not toys, least of all a carousel car."

[Lieutenant Commander Nira Said | Bridge | Deck One | USS Challenger NCC-40117-A]

Nira heard Lahr's call and nodded. "Acknowledged, Mr. ch'Verret," she replied. She turned to Nira to affirm and Ian gave the order. The probes were on their way.

With that, the Challenger, with the Joran guiding the way, set off to their destination.

Half an hour later, the Challenger and the Joran had arrived at the system. Nira and Ian were conferring with Subcommander T'Vaan in Nira's Ready Room, comparing notes; Ian's door was still stuck, but Lahr was giving the finishing touches. Zhuk had returned to the deck and was being the Subcommander's security escort. Nira immediately had the impression that Zhuk didn't like being around any Romulan, no matter the faction; she could tell like she was feeling cat's fur against her and she was feeling it from across the room.

She understood why he felt thus; according to his records, Zhuk used to be a slave under Romulans, so it was to be expected there would be, at the least, lukewarm feelings toward Romulans. But his body language, his feelings, she had an inkling of concern form him.

"Captain? Commander and Subcommander?" called Commander Catalan. "We're approaching."

All three came to the bridge, T'Vaan standing in observation.

"Alright, sensors. Let's see if a stellar body's missing in the system," said Nira.

The sensors got to work, and once the scan was complete, they detected something wrong. The system had listed six planets and...a rocky debris field at the outer extent of the system. It was too clustered together to be an asteroid belt, let alone part of the system's kuiper belt.

Once Espada got the ship into visual range, they saw how much of a debris field it was. For being in the outermost part of the system, there was hardly any ice to account it as part of the kuiper belt.

"Good Allah," said Nira in shock.

"What happened here?" asked T'Vaan in equal horror, beating Nira to the question by nanoseconds.

"Well, I guess this must be the source of the gravimetric shift that caused the virus," said Nira. "Question is...what caused this?"

"Great minds think - and question - alike," said T'Vaan. "This didn't happen naturally..."

The sensor readings came back and everybody was surprised by the news...

"Say that again?" asked Nira in surprise. "The planet has been crushed?!?"

It was as sensors indicated. In spite of the debris, there was a planet's magnetic field around the debris, but it something was wrong with it. Something had caused the field to be altered in a way that the planet's mass had grown increasingly heavier until it was crushed to powder by its own heavy gravitational mass.

"That explains the gravitational shift," said Nira ponderingly. "And it would've easily unleashed a shockwave once the planet disintegrated..."

"Captain, Commander," said T'Kel, "two more Romulan ships are found adrift near that debris field.

T'Vaan perked at news from her ship that her crew found the same thing...

"They haven't responded to hails," T'Vaan said. "There aren't any lifesigns..."

"Sounds like they're dead from the raucous chaos," said Nira. "This close, they would've been the first to suffer the virus and would've thus merried themselves to death. Still, their sensor logs would indicate what exactly happened."

"Oh, indeed," replied T'Vaan. "There are a number of Romulan factions out there that can have the technology for this mass destruction, and the Tal Shiar's easily one of them."

"Let's not point fingers just yet," said Nira, recalling that a year ago, she would've easily pointed fingers at the Tal Shiar herself at the first sign of some hostile Romulan faction up to some mischief (to put it nicely). "We probably need to find a way inside those..."

"Sirs!" said T'Kel, raising her voice sharply. "A third Romulan ship has decloaked and is firing on the ships!"

"On screen," called Nira, and it showed a Romulan ship firing on two adrift Talon-class scoutships.

"It's not a Free State ship," said T'Vaan uneasily.

"Well, then, who...?" asked Nira, but her question fizzled out when she saw the expressions on Ian, T'Kel, Lahr and a number of other crewmembers. Nira looked back between them and the ship. She had, in no way, recognized the ship herself, but the ship certainly gave an inkling of recognition to the others.

"'Friends' of yours?" Nira asked, looking at each of their faces.

[Ian Galloway]

[Lieutenant Savar | Deck Ten | Torpedo Maintenance Bay | USS Challenger NCC-40117-A]

Savar looked up to see Lahr coming and nodded in appreciation. "Much appreciated, Lahr," he said. "In fact, we had been about to call Commander Tharn to send one of her engineers to help us, we felt an engineer could spot what we couldn't."

He nodded in appreciation as Lahr calibrated the navigational systems. "Just as well," he said. "We certainly wouldn't; I've often heard from helmsmen about making sure their courses are precises, and an example of getting a course off by one degree can put you way off course eventually. It would be embarrassing if our probes were sent on a course that sent them into a star or if it hit something by accident. Still, it could be worse," he added as he bent down and showed him two ripped pieces of cloth, all of fine silk...one of them had patterns to indicate it belonged to Nira; the other was a piece of Vulcan robe.

"Commander Catalan found them snagged on his probe," he said as he tucked them away. "I wondered why there was such a tear in Nira's...never mind, you don't want to know...you do have a point that these things are not toys, least of all a carousel car."

[Lieutenant Commander Nira Said | Bridge | Deck One | USS Challenger NCC-40117-A]

Nira heard Lahr's call and nodded. "Acknowledged, Mr. ch'Verret," she replied. She turned to Nira to affirm and Ian gave the order. The probes were on their way.

With that, the Challenger, with the Joran guiding the way, set off to their destination.

Half an hour later, the Challenger and the Joran had arrived at the system. Nira and Ian were conferring with Subcommander T'Vaan in Nira's Ready Room, comparing notes; Ian's door was still stuck, but Lahr was giving the finishing touches. Zhuk had returned to the deck and was being the Subcommander's security escort. Nira immediately had the impression that Zhuk didn't like being around any Romulan, no matter the faction; she could tell like she was feeling cat's fur against her and she was feeling it from across the room.

She understood why he felt thus; according to his records, Zhuk used to be a slave under Romulans, so it was to be expected there would be, at the least, lukewarm feelings toward Romulans. But his body language, his feelings, she had an inkling of concern form him.

"Captain? Commander and Subcommander?" called Commander Catalan. "We're approaching."

All three came to the bridge, T'Vaan standing in observation.

"Alright, sensors. Let's see if a stellar body's missing in the system," said Nira.

The sensors got to work, and once the scan was complete, they detected something wrong. The system had listed six planets and...a rocky debris field at the outer extent of the system. It was too clustered together to be an asteroid belt, let alone part of the system's kuiper belt.

Once Espada got the ship into visual range, they saw how much of a debris field it was. For being in the outermost part of the system, there was hardly any ice to account it as part of the kuiper belt.

"Good Allah," said Nira in shock.

"What happened here?" asked T'Vaan in equal horror, beating Nira to the question by nanoseconds.

"Well, I guess this must be the source of the gravimetric shift that caused the virus," said Nira. "Question is...what caused this?"

"Great minds think - and question - alike," said T'Vaan. "This didn't happen naturally..."

The sensor readings came back and everybody was surprised by the news...

"Say that again?" asked Nira in surprise. "The planet has been crushed?!?"

It was as sensors indicated. In spite of the debris, there was a planet's magnetic field around the debris, but it something was wrong with it. Something had caused the field to be altered in a way that the planet's mass had grown increasingly heavier until it was crushed to powder by its own heavy gravitational mass.

"That explains the gravitational shift," said Nira ponderingly. "And it would've easily unleashed a shockwave once the planet disintegrated..."

"Captain, Commander," said T'Kel, "two more Romulan ships are found adrift near that debris field.

T'Vaan perked at news from her ship that her crew found the same thing...

"They haven't responded to hails," T'Vaan said. "There aren't any lifesigns..."

"Sounds like they're dead from the raucous chaos," said Nira. "This close, they would've been the first to suffer the virus and would've thus merried themselves to death. Still, their sensor logs would indicate what exactly happened."

"Oh, indeed," replied T'Vaan. "There are a number of Romulan factions out there that can have the technology for this mass destruction, and the Tal Shiar's easily one of them."

"Let's not point fingers just yet," said Nira, recalling that a year ago, she would've easily pointed fingers at the Tal Shiar herself at the first sign of some hostile Romulan faction up to some mischief (to put it nicely). "We probably need to find a way inside those..."

"Sirs!" said T'Kel, raising her voice sharply. "A third Romulan ship has decloaked and is firing on the ships!"

"On screen," called Nira, and it showed a Romulan ship firing on two adrift Talon-class scoutships.

"It's not a Free State ship," said T'Vaan uneasily.

"Well, then, who...?" asked Nira, but her question fizzled out when she saw the expressions on Ian, T'Kel, Lahr and a number of other crewmembers. Nira looked back between them and the ship. She had, in no way, recognized the ship herself, but the ship certainly gave an inkling of recognition to the others.

"'Friends' of yours?" Nira asked, looking at each of their faces.

[Bridge - USS Challenger]

Ian took one look at the Norexan-Class warbird and recognized it immediately. His jaw tightened and he began barking orders.

"Red alert! Battlestations! Bring quantums ta ready! Bring phasers ta ready! Engage point-of-impact shields! T'Kel, hail the Joran!"

"Aye Sir. Channel open."

"Sub-Commander. This ship is the Kranu and is captained by a Commander Thelal who has been a thorn in Starfleet's side for as long as I've been aware of him. I strongly suggest you prepare for battle, we are. Galloway out."

Ian spoke to T'Kel again.

"Hail that wanker Lieutenant."

"Aye Sir."

[ShranLahr ch'Verret]

PO1 ShranLahr ch'Verret
[USS Challenger-A - Deck One - Ready Room]

[Lieutenant Commander Nira Said | Bridge | Deck One | USS Challenger NCC-40117-A]

Nira heard Lahr's call and nodded. "Acknowledged, Mr. ch'Verret," she replied. She turned to Nira to affirm and Ian gave the order. The probes were on their way.

With that, the Challenger, with the Joran guiding the way, set off to their destination.

Half an hour later, the Challenger and the Joran had arrived at the system. Nira and Ian were conferring with Subcommander T'Vaan in Nira's Ready Room, comparing notes; Ian's door was still stuck, but Lahr was giving the finishing touches. Zhuk had returned to the deck and was being the Subcommander's security escort. Nira immediately had the impression that Zhuk didn't like being around any Romulan, no matter the faction; she could tell like she was feeling cat's fur against her and she was feeling it from across the room.

"Captain? Commander and Subcommander?" called Commander Catalan. "We're approaching."

All three came to the bridge, T'Vaan standing in observation.

"Alright, sensors. Let's see if a stellar body's missing in the system," said Nira.

The sensors got to work, and once the scan was complete, they detected something wrong. The system had listed six planets and...a rocky debris field at the outer extent of the system. It was too clustered together to be an asteroid belt, let alone part of the system's kuiper belt.

The sensor readings came back and everybody was surprised by the news...

"Say that again?" asked Nira in surprise. "The planet has been crushed?!?"

It was as sensors indicated. In spite of the debris, there was a planet's magnetic field around the debris, but it something was wrong with it. Something had caused the field to be altered in a way that the planet's mass had grown increasingly heavier until it was crushed to powder by its own heavy gravitational mass.

"That explains the gravitational shift," said Nira ponderingly. "And it would've easily unleashed a shockwave once the planet disintegrated..."

"Captain, Commander," said T'Kel, "two more Romulan ships are found adrift near that debris field.

T'Vaan perked at news from her ship that her crew found the same thing...

...

"Sirs!" said T'Kel, raising her voice sharply. "A third Romulan ship has decloaked and is firing on the ships!"

"On screen," called Nira, and it showed a Romulan ship firing on two adrift Talon-class scoutships.

"It's not a Free State ship," said T'Vaan uneasily.

"Well, then, who...?" asked Nira, but her question fizzled out when she saw the expressions on Ian, T'Kel, Lahr and a number of other crewmembers. Nira looked back between them and the ship. She had, in no way, recognized the ship herself, but the ship certainly gave an inkling of recognition to the others.

"'Friends' of yours?" Nira asked, looking at each of their faces.

Lahr had just finished with his door repair, when Catalan called the Command officers to the Bridge.  He probably should have headed back to Main Engineering immediately, but curiosity got the better of him; and the Andorian dawdled over gathering his tools so he could see what had caused the gravitational shift.  Ruth would want to know all the details he could recall, when he told her about the discovery later when he could see her in Sickbay after his shift.

The revelation of a planet being crushed was alarming.  Lahr's first thought was to wonder if the planet had been inhabited.  He considered interrupting to ask but before he could news of the two Romulan ships was reported on.  No survivors apparently.   He wondered if they have been present when the planet was destroyed... or if they had come afterwards and surcame to the madness?

Science and Medical would have a busy time figuring out that question, he thought.  Curiosity sated for the moment, and knowing that Commander Tharn would be upset if he wasted too much time, Lahr turned his attention to his next task - the Bridge Head's recycler.

Yet before he could make it across the room, news of a third Romulan ship attacking the other two caught his attention.  Lahr's glance to the viewscreen turned into a sour stared.  Thelal.

[Bridge - USS Challenger]

Ian took one look at the Norexan-Class warbird and recognized it immediately. His jaw tightened and he began barking orders.

"Red alert! Battlestations! Bring quantums ta ready! Bring phasers ta ready! Engage point-of-impact shields! T'Kel, hail the Joran!"

"Aye Sir. Channel open."

"Sub-Commander. This ship is the Kranu and is captained by a Commander Thelal who has been a thorn in Starfleet's side for as long as I've been aware of him. I strongly suggest you prepare for battle, we are. Galloway out."

Ian spoke to T'Kel again.

"Hail that wanker Lieutenant."

"Aye Sir."

With the sound of the red alert klaxon going off, Lahr's primary duty shifted from standard maintenance to his battle station role. Lahr was part of a Damage Control Team assigned to be on call for emergency repairs.   He and his team were to deal with issues on the upper five decks.  Their rally point was the Observation Lounge, on deck down.

Lahr gave the Bridge one last wistful look over.  Roohz!  He was an idiot to miss this place.  Then the Andorian headed to the turbolift to get to his battle station.   As he stepped into the turbolift, he wished he could stick around and listen in the conversation between the Captain and the Romulan 'wanker'.   Lahr chuckled.  It was sure to be entertaining.

[Buck McNair]

[Lieutenant Commander Nira Said | Bridge | Deck One | USS Challenger NCC-40117-A]

Nira heard Lahr's call and nodded. "Acknowledged, Mr. ch'Verret," she replied. She turned to Nira to affirm and Ian gave the order. The probes were on their way.

With that, the Challenger, with the Joran guiding the way, set off to their destination.

Half an hour later, the Challenger and the Joran had arrived at the system. Nira and Ian were conferring with Subcommander T'Vaan in Nira's Ready Room, comparing notes; Ian's door was still stuck, but Lahr was giving the finishing touches. Zhuk had returned to the deck and was being the Subcommander's security escort. Nira immediately had the impression that Zhuk didn't like being around any Romulan, no matter the faction; she could tell like she was feeling cat's fur against her and she was feeling it from across the room.

She understood why he felt thus; according to his records, Zhuk used to be a slave under Romulans, so it was to be expected there would be, at the least, lukewarm feelings toward Romulans. But his body language, his feelings, she had an inkling of concern form him.

"Captain? Commander and Subcommander?" called Commander Catalan. "We're approaching."

All three came to the bridge, T'Vaan standing in observation.

"Alright, sensors. Let's see if a stellar body's missing in the system," said Nira.

The sensors got to work, and once the scan was complete, they detected something wrong. The system had listed six planets and...a rocky debris field at the outer extent of the system. It was too clustered together to be an asteroid belt, let alone part of the system's kuiper belt.

Once Espada got the ship into visual range, they saw how much of a debris field it was. For being in the outermost part of the system, there was hardly any ice to account it as part of the kuiper belt.

"Good Allah," said Nira in shock.

"What happened here?" asked T'Vaan in equal horror, beating Nira to the question by nanoseconds.

"Well, I guess this must be the source of the gravimetric shift that caused the virus," said Nira. "Question is...what caused this?"

"Great minds think - and question - alike," said T'Vaan. "This didn't happen naturally..."

The sensor readings came back and everybody was surprised by the news...

"Say that again?" asked Nira in surprise. "The planet has been crushed?!?"

It was as sensors indicated. In spite of the debris, there was a planet's magnetic field around the debris, but it something was wrong with it. Something had caused the field to be altered in a way that the planet's mass had grown increasingly heavier until it was crushed to powder by its own heavy gravitational mass.

"That explains the gravitational shift," said Nira ponderingly. "And it would've easily unleashed a shockwave once the planet disintegrated..."

"Captain, Commander," said T'Kel, "two more Romulan ships are found adrift near that debris field.

T'Vaan perked at news from her ship that her crew found the same thing...

"They haven't responded to hails," T'Vaan said. "There aren't any lifesigns..."

"Sounds like they're dead from the raucous chaos," said Nira. "This close, they would've been the first to suffer the virus and would've thus merried themselves to death. Still, their sensor logs would indicate what exactly happened."

"Oh, indeed," replied T'Vaan. "There are a number of Romulan factions out there that can have the technology for this mass destruction, and the Tal Shiar's easily one of them."

"Let's not point fingers just yet," said Nira, recalling that a year ago, she would've easily pointed fingers at the Tal Shiar herself at the first sign of some hostile Romulan faction up to some mischief (to put it nicely). "We probably need to find a way inside those..."

"Sirs!" said T'Kel, raising her voice sharply. "A third Romulan ship has decloaked and is firing on the ships!"

"On screen," called Nira, and it showed a Romulan ship firing on two adrift Talon-class scoutships.

"It's not a Free State ship," said T'Vaan uneasily.

"Well, then, who...?" asked Nira, but her question fizzled out when she saw the expressions on Ian, T'Kel, Lahr and a number of other crewmembers. Nira looked back between them and the ship. She had, in no way, recognized the ship herself, but the ship certainly gave an inkling of recognition to the others.

"'Friends' of yours?" Nira asked, looking at each of their faces.

[Bridge - USS Challenger]

As it seemed to transpire, the probes had been deployed and the job was being done. It had come as much a surprise as it did when the words had been uttered that a planet had been completely crushed. No matter that Buck had initially thought gravity or whatever had caused the planet's destruction sounded like someone making a pancake, it was interesting and concerning both at the same time.

Then the mood had soured as there seemed to be a Romulan ship firing at them, Buck braced himself against the console as he found his jaw tightening. His eyes swept the bridge as he watched the expressions of the senior commanders on the bridge tighten as well, their expressions having had said enough.

[Bridge - USS Challenger]

Ian took one look at the Norexan-Class warbird and recognized it immediately. His jaw tightened and he began barking orders.

"Red alert! Battlestations! Bring quantums ta ready! Bring phasers ta ready! Engage point-of-impact shields! T'Kel, hail the Joran!"

"Aye Sir. Channel open."

"Sub-Commander. This ship is the Kranu and is captained by a Commander Thelal who has been a thorn in Starfleet's side for as long as I've been aware of him. I strongly suggest you prepare for battle, we are. Galloway out."

Ian spoke to T'Kel again.

"Hail that wanker Lieutenant."

"Aye Sir."

[Bridge - USS Challenger]

Of course, there was never really a smooth ride when it came down to it. There was little hesitation from their captain in deploying shields and bringing them up to battle stations. Buck readied himself, running a check on the computer systems to ensure that none of them were going to be running the risk of slowing them down as well as bringing power transfers to the necessary systems under red alert battle station conditions.

[Zhukdrashar Mrekrerhas]

[Ensign Zhukdra'shar Mrekrerhas | Deck Ten | Torpedo Maintenance Bay | USS Challenger NCC-40117-A]

PO1 ShranLahr ch'Verret
[USS Challenger-A - Deck One - Ready Room]

Still standing in the Captain's Ready Room doorway working on the door's pneumatic controls, Lahr considered the difference between the now three Romulans he'd personally encountered.

The first, oddly being a fellow security member on Challenger years before.  The then enlisted crewmember had a sort of intensity for the job that Lahr had found bordered on zealous.  The man, tr'Lhoell, hadn't made many friends - if any at all. Well maybe one - the engineer, Lek.  But the Romulan's zeal must have been noted by the higher ups because within a year that enlisted security crewmember had climbed the ranks up to Chief Petty and then was arbitrarily promoted to Lieutenant Commander as the First Officer on a station in the Gamma Quandrant.  Lahr shook his head sourly at the remembrance.

The second Romulan he'd had the unhappily luck to meet was Captain Galloway's nemesis - Commander Thelal.  That was one grumpy Romulan.  Full of himself too!  Making boasts that he could destroy Challenger easily. 'As if!!' The Andorian engineer scoffed at the idea.  Challenger had beaten back the Romulan offensives time and time again.  It would take more than a Bird of Prey - or even a pair of them - to take down this ship!

Now, here was this third Romulan.  A female subCommander who seemed more like an ally than an enemy.. but Lahr still had his doubts.

It was while he was pondering this that Commander Said's call to him broke him out of his thoughts.   He looked over towards her at her request to look check on some probes.  He recognized this was a bit of a time-sensitive matter so acknowledged her with a nod and a "Yes ma'am. Right away."

He grabbed up his tools quickly and headed for the turbolift, leaving the pneumatic door mechanism open and unfinished.  He'd get back to that afterwards.   "Deck 10." he called to the lift even as the doors were closing.

A few seconds later, he was sprinting through the halls to the Torpedo Maintenance Bay.

Inside the bay, he saw Commander Catalan, Lieutenant Savar, and Ensign Mrekrerhas already working on the probes. He frowned.  Why would the Commander ask him to assist?  It's not like he was some sort of engineering genius like Lek had been.   Anything he knew, these three would know as well.  Still an order was an order.

"Commander Said requested I take a look at the probes as well." Lahr offered up in apology as he pulled out his diagnostic scanner and began checking the work of the others.

Surprisingly, Savar's probe needed an adjustment to its navigational system.  A minor adjustment, but an adjustment that Lahr would have never thought possible with a Vulcan working on it?  Lahr looked over to the Vulcan Science officer.  "You still haven't gotten your shot, have you?" he questioned jokingly as he made the necessary adjustment to the probe.

He scanned the others probes and made similar adjustment to one more. Then closed his tricorder.  "That's all we can do for the moment.  We maybe need to put signage up in the bay that these things aren't to be ridden like some promenade merry-go-round rocket."

He looked to others a moment before taking the initiative to contact the bridge.  He tapped his comm badge. "ch'Verret to Commander Said.  Probes are good to go."

Zhuk offered a brief smile as he noticed Lahr walking into the room, tail swishing slightly behind him for a few seconds or so. He watched with rapt interest as he made his own analyses upon the probes, thankful that the responsability wasn't on his paws anymore. Fortunately, he managed to get the scanner properly working, and soon, the probes were cleared forth to be launched by the USS Challenger.

[Lieutenant Savar | Deck Ten | Torpedo Maintenance Bay | USS Challenger NCC-40117-A]

Savar looked up to see Lahr coming and nodded in appreciation. "Much appreciated, Lahr," he said. "In fact, we had been about to call Commander Tharn to send one of her engineers to help us, we felt an engineer could spot what we couldn't."

He nodded in appreciation as Lahr calibrated the navigational systems. "Just as well," he said. "We certainly wouldn't; I've often heard from helmsmen about making sure their courses are precises, and an example of getting a course off by one degree can put you way off course eventually. It would be embarrassing if our probes were sent on a course that sent them into a star or if it hit something by accident. Still, it could be worse," he added as he bent down and showed him two ripped pieces of cloth, all of fine silk...one of them had patterns to indicate it belonged to Nira; the other was a piece of Vulcan robe.

"Commander Catalan found them snagged on his probe," he said as he tucked them away. "I wondered why there was such a tear in Nira's...never mind, you don't want to know...you do have a point that these things are not toys, least of all a carousel car."

[Lieutenant Commander Nira Said | Bridge | Deck One | USS Challenger NCC-40117-A]

Nira heard Lahr's call and nodded. "Acknowledged, Mr. ch'Verret," she replied. She turned to Nira to affirm and Ian gave the order. The probes were on their way.

With that, the Challenger, with the Joran guiding the way, set off to their destination.

Half an hour later, the Challenger and the Joran had arrived at the system. Nira and Ian were conferring with Subcommander T'Vaan in Nira's Ready Room, comparing notes; Ian's door was still stuck, but Lahr was giving the finishing touches. Zhuk had returned to the deck and was being the Subcommander's security escort. Nira immediately had the impression that Zhuk didn't like being around any Romulan, no matter the faction; she could tell like she was feeling cat's fur against her and she was feeling it from across the room.

She understood why he felt thus; according to his records, Zhuk used to be a slave under Romulans, so it was to be expected there would be, at the least, lukewarm feelings toward Romulans. But his body language, his feelings, she had an inkling of concern form him.

"Captain? Commander and Subcommander?" called Commander Catalan. "We're approaching."

All three came to the bridge, T'Vaan standing in observation.

"Alright, sensors. Let's see if a stellar body's missing in the system," said Nira.

The sensors got to work, and once the scan was complete, they detected something wrong. The system had listed six planets and...a rocky debris field at the outer extent of the system. It was too clustered together to be an asteroid belt, let alone part of the system's kuiper belt.

Once Espada got the ship into visual range, they saw how much of a debris field it was. For being in the outermost part of the system, there was hardly any ice to account it as part of the kuiper belt.

"Good Allah," said Nira in shock.

"What happened here?" asked T'Vaan in equal horror, beating Nira to the question by nanoseconds.

"Well, I guess this must be the source of the gravimetric shift that caused the virus," said Nira. "Question is...what caused this?"

"Great minds think - and question - alike," said T'Vaan. "This didn't happen naturally..."

The sensor readings came back and everybody was surprised by the news...

"Say that again?" asked Nira in surprise. "The planet has been crushed?!?"

It was as sensors indicated. In spite of the debris, there was a planet's magnetic field around the debris, but it something was wrong with it. Something had caused the field to be altered in a way that the planet's mass had grown increasingly heavier until it was crushed to powder by its own heavy gravitational mass.

"That explains the gravitational shift," said Nira ponderingly. "And it would've easily unleashed a shockwave once the planet disintegrated..."

"Captain, Commander," said T'Kel, "two more Romulan ships are found adrift near that debris field.

T'Vaan perked at news from her ship that her crew found the same thing...

"They haven't responded to hails," T'Vaan said. "There aren't any lifesigns..."

"Sounds like they're dead from the raucous chaos," said Nira. "This close, they would've been the first to suffer the virus and would've thus merried themselves to death. Still, their sensor logs would indicate what exactly happened."

"Oh, indeed," replied T'Vaan. "There are a number of Romulan factions out there that can have the technology for this mass destruction, and the Tal Shiar's easily one of them."

"Let's not point fingers just yet," said Nira, recalling that a year ago, she would've easily pointed fingers at the Tal Shiar herself at the first sign of some hostile Romulan faction up to some mischief (to put it nicely). "We probably need to find a way inside those..."

"Sirs!" said T'Kel, raising her voice sharply. "A third Romulan ship has decloaked and is firing on the ships!"

"On screen," called Nira, and it showed a Romulan ship firing on two adrift Talon-class scoutships.

"It's not a Free State ship," said T'Vaan uneasily.

"Well, then, who...?" asked Nira, but her question fizzled out when she saw the expressions on Ian, T'Kel, Lahr and a number of other crewmembers. Nira looked back between them and the ship. She had, in no way, recognized the ship herself, but the ship certainly gave an inkling of recognition to the others.

"'Friends' of yours?" Nira asked, looking at each of their faces.

[Ensign Zhukdra'shar Mrekrerhas | Deck One | Bridge | USS Challenger NCC-40117-A]

Zhukdra'shar's fur was slightly raised, ears a little flat upon his head. He had to admit that watching over Subcommander T'Vaan as his escort was not something he expected, much less was enjoying. Still, as a proud member of Starfleet, and Security, to boot, he had accepted his duty without any type of complains. That would be shameful, he believed. Plus, he thought it as a good oportunity for himself to prove that he could remain unbiased on his job. And to his superiors, of course.

Still, it hadn't been easy. A soft, almost hidden rage remained within his chest as he glanced around, making sure that no danger could swipe over at the Subcommander if it were to jump from the corner. Every now and then, however, his slitted, green eyes glanced over at the Romulan. Though he remained as inexpressive as he could, he felt his stomach churning at watching her, even if it was for such a brief instance.

He chuckled to himself as he realized that the situation was a little ironic. He had worked as a security detail for his previous romulan owner, and now he was being one for another. Quite hillarious, though he dared not express it to the Subcommander. In any case, he didn't knew her.

But though she didn't knew it, he wouldn't fail in his task of protecting her. His own feelings cast aside for his duty.

As he accompanied Liutenant Commander Nira and the Subcommander to the Bridge, watching with both curiosity and awe at the debris field that remained of a planet. A chill ran down his spine as he overheard that some kind of weapon or device had ended up destroying the planet, leaving it in such a state. How? And why? He tried to think on an answer, but he could only think of two: either weapons testing from the Romulans, or mayhaps some kind of application of force from another faction that quarreled with the Free State, as T'Vaan had commented.

It seemed as if the Romulans disliked each other. Not too surprising, he mused, but nonethless, a little sad considering how their Empire had crumbled. A tenous peace that couldn't be mantained anymore.

[Bridge - USS Challenger]

Ian took one look at the Norexan-Class warbird and recognized it immediately. His jaw tightened and he began barking orders.

"Red alert! Battlestations! Bring quantums ta ready! Bring phasers ta ready! Engage point-of-impact shields! T'Kel, hail the Joran!"

"Aye Sir. Channel open."

"Sub-Commander. This ship is the Kranu and is captained by a Commander Thelal who has been a thorn in Starfleet's side for as long as I've been aware of him. I strongly suggest you prepare for battle, we are. Galloway out."

Ian spoke to T'Kel again.

"Hail that wanker Lieutenant."

"Aye Sir."

At the sudden alert, and as he watched the Romulan ship de-cloak and fire upon the adrift vessels, he stiffened up as he quickly fished forth his Type-2 phaser, though he didn't dare remove it from its sheath, in case the Subcommander got antsy. Instead, he only proceeded to remain there, with his previous orders ingrained on his mind. He watched the screen, ears perked up to see if he was told to go retrieve the phasers or to man the weapons. Else, he wouldn't leave Subcommander T'Vaan side.

It was a shame the ships were being destroyed, however. He really wanted to help with the boarding action

"Do not worry, Subcommander T'Vaan. While I breathe, this 'Commander Thelal' shalt not touch a hair of your head. I can promise less upon the Norexan-class warbird, however."

[Nira Said]

[Bridge - USS Challenger]

Ian took one look at the Norexan-Class warbird and recognized it immediately. His jaw tightened and he began barking orders.

"Red alert! Battlestations! Bring quantums ta ready! Bring phasers ta ready! Engage point-of-impact shields! T'Kel, hail the Joran!"

"Aye Sir. Channel open."

"Sub-Commander. This ship is the Kranu and is captained by a Commander Thelal who has been a thorn in Starfleet's side for as long as I've been aware of him. I strongly suggest you prepare for battle, we are. Galloway out."

Ian spoke to T'Kel again.

"Hail that wanker Lieutenant."

"Aye Sir."

PO1 ShranLahr ch'Verret
[USS Challenger-A - Deck One - Ready Room]

Lahr had just finished with his door repair, when Catalan called the Command officers to the Bridge.  He probably should have headed back to Main Engineering immediately, but curiosity got the better of him; and the Andorian dawdled over gathering his tools so he could see what had caused the gravitational shift.  Ruth would want to know all the details he could recall, when he told her about the discovery later when he could see her in Sickbay after his shift.

The revelation of a planet being crushed was alarming.  Lahr's first thought was to wonder if the planet had been inhabited.  He considered interrupting to ask but before he could news of the two Romulan ships was reported on.  No survivors apparently.   He wondered if they have been present when the planet was destroyed... or if they had come afterwards and surcame to the madness?

Science and Medical would have a busy time figuring out that question, he thought.  Curiosity sated for the moment, and knowing that Commander Tharn would be upset if he wasted too much time, Lahr turned his attention to his next task - the Bridge Head's recycler.

Yet before he could make it across the room, news of a third Romulan ship attacking the other two caught his attention.  Lahr's glance to the viewscreen turned into a sour stared.  Thelal.

With the sound of the red alert klaxon going off, Lahr's primary duty shifted from standard maintenance to his battle station role. Lahr was part of a Damage Control Team assigned to be on call for emergency repairs.   He and his team were to deal with issues on the upper five decks.  Their rally point was the Observation Lounge, on deck down.

Lahr gave the Bridge one last wistful look over.  Roohz!  He was an idiot to miss this place.  Then the Andorian headed to the turbolift to get to his battle station.   As he stepped into the turbolift, he wished he could stick around and listen in the conversation between the Captain and the Romulan 'wanker'.   Lahr chuckled.  It was sure to be entertaining.

[Bridge - USS Challenger]

As it seemed to transpire, the probes had been deployed and the job was being done. It had come as much a surprise as it did when the words had been uttered that a planet had been completely crushed. No matter that Buck had initially thought gravity or whatever had caused the planet's destruction sounded like someone making a pancake, it was interesting and concerning both at the same time.

Then the mood had soured as there seemed to be a Romulan ship firing at them, Buck braced himself against the console as he found his jaw tightening. His eyes swept the bridge as he watched the expressions of the senior commanders on the bridge tighten as well, their expressions having had said enough.

[Bridge - USS Challenger]

Of course, there was never really a smooth ride when it came down to it. There was little hesitation from their captain in deploying shields and bringing them up to battle stations. Buck readied himself, running a check on the computer systems to ensure that none of them were going to be running the risk of slowing them down as well as bringing power transfers to the necessary systems under red alert battle station conditions.

[Ensign Zhukdra'shar Mrekrerhas | Deck Ten | Torpedo Maintenance Bay | USS Challenger NCC-40117-A]

Zhuk offered a brief smile as he noticed Lahr walking into the room, tail swishing slightly behind him for a few seconds or so. He watched with rapt interest as he made his own analyses upon the probes, thankful that the responsability wasn't on his paws anymore. Fortunately, he managed to get the scanner properly working, and soon, the probes were cleared forth to be launched by the USS Challenger.

[Ensign Zhukdra'shar Mrekrerhas | Deck One | Bridge | USS Challenger NCC-40117-A]

Zhukdra'shar's fur was slightly raised, ears a little flat upon his head. He had to admit that watching over Subcommander T'Vaan as his escort was not something he expected, much less was enjoying. Still, as a proud member of Starfleet, and Security, to boot, he had accepted his duty without any type of complains. That would be shameful, he believed. Plus, he thought it as a good oportunity for himself to prove that he could remain unbiased on his job. And to his superiors, of course.

Still, it hadn't been easy. A soft, almost hidden rage remained within his chest as he glanced around, making sure that no danger could swipe over at the Subcommander if it were to jump from the corner. Every now and then, however, his slitted, green eyes glanced over at the Romulan. Though he remained as inexpressive as he could, he felt his stomach churning at watching her, even if it was for such a brief instance.

He chuckled to himself as he realized that the situation was a little ironic. He had worked as a security detail for his previous romulan owner, and now he was being one for another. Quite hillarious, though he dared not express it to the Subcommander. In any case, he didn't knew her.

But though she didn't knew it, he wouldn't fail in his task of protecting her. His own feelings cast aside for his duty.

As he accompanied Liutenant Commander Nira and the Subcommander to the Bridge, watching with both curiosity and awe at the debris field that remained of a planet. A chill ran down his spine as he overheard that some kind of weapon or device had ended up destroying the planet, leaving it in such a state. How? And why? He tried to think on an answer, but he could only think of two: either weapons testing from the Romulans, or mayhaps some kind of application of force from another faction that quarreled with the Free State, as T'Vaan had commented.

It seemed as if the Romulans disliked each other. Not too surprising, he mused, but nonethless, a little sad considering how their Empire had crumbled. A tenous peace that couldn't be mantained anymore.

At the sudden alert, and as he watched the Romulan ship de-cloak and fire upon the adrift vessels, he stiffened up as he quickly fished forth his Type-2 phaser, though he didn't dare remove it from its sheath, in case the Subcommander got antsy. Instead, he only proceeded to remain there, with his previous orders ingrained on his mind. He watched the screen, ears perked up to see if he was told to go retrieve the phasers or to man the weapons. Else, he wouldn't leave Subcommander T'Vaan side.

It was a shame the ships were being destroyed, however. He really wanted to help with the boarding action

"Do not worry, Subcommander T'Vaan. While I breathe, this 'Commander Thelal' shalt not touch a hair of your head. I can promise less upon the Norexan-class warbird, however."

[Lieutenant Commander Nira Said | Bridge | Deck One | USS Challenger NCC-40117-A]

The hail to the Joran was answered by T'Vaan's First Officer, though T'Vaan was still on the bridge. Nira looked over to T'Kel and said, "Commander Catalan, beam the Subcommander back on to her ship, site-to-site transport, and then raise shields as fast as you can."

Nira was somewhat impressed by the oath Zhuk had made. All she did was raise her eyebrow at him. T'Kel managed to get T'Vaan back to her ship and raised shields before she hailed this Thelal. Nira was somewhat surprised by the slow response from the ship. The Kranu didn't even turn...was it possible that they had came in at the same time the Challenger and the Joran did?

And there was another critical factor: The fact that a ship appeared to destroy those adrift ships meant that whoever sent Thelal had something to hide and didn't want to see the light of day.

[Trinam Nirreen | Bridge | Romulan Ship Kranu]

Nirreen smirked in satisfaction at finding some adrift ships near where the proving ground. It took her quite a while to convince Thelal to get over to the system. It was reasonably simple: Considering how close the ships were when the planet was crushed and how suddenly, as she could tell from the various hails from the lead ships, that they were making fools from themselves in increasing levels, from embarrassment to chaotic fatality.

The fleet from the Star Empire of Rotar had insisted in being there to watch our latest toy, she thought to herself. They were so set on leaving the Free State with only a whole cloud of rocks rather than let them have it. It's on their heads.

She may be a trinam working her way to centurion, but she knew immediately that so many Rotar ships adrift would not only get attention, their databanks would give their latest weapon of mass destruction away. She, along with the rest of her Tal Shiar group, agreed that they had to go. And since she was acting as Tal Shiar liaison as well as weapons officer, having been rotated onto the Kranu, and the Kranu was the closest ship...well, the rest was history.

Truthfully, Nirreen would much rather be back out; an assassin's talents was wasted serving as a ship weapons officer, especially under that fool Thelal. But she had her orders. And in any case, there was no denying the brainchild of the project needed to keep things quiet. But then, he was half-Reman and it was difficult making an alliance with him, but he was needed.

She had been so focused on firing on the ships that she was surprised by the hail...a hail from a Starfleet frequency...and she was further surprised to find a Federation Starship and a Free State vessel nearby...how did she miss...?

She knew what it was, of course. She heard plenty from the Kranu crew and intelligent reports of how frequently they had clashed with the Starship Challenger. And here they were once again, with a Free State ship backing them up.

"Thelal!" Nirreen called. "There's a Federation Starship and a Free State Cruiser...! They're hailing us...! I believe you know this Terran better than anybody."

[ShranLahr ch'Verret]

PO1 ShranLahr ch'Verret
[USS Challenger-A - Deck Two - Observation Lounge]

Lahr arrived at the muster point first.  The Andorian located the Damage Control Cache and added additional tools to his kit in preparation, while he waited for the other three members of his team.   Lahr called them 'his team' but really he was only just a secondary leader.

The team was actually lead by Ensign Kasey Jones, a human female who had been working on Challenger for as long as he, but had never risen in rank.  She was clumsy and unsure of herself, often causing more of problem than she solved, but also had a willingness to give her all and honestly try so that even Commander Tharn was hard put to tell the woman to find another career.  That Jones had been assigned coverage of the Bridge was a bit surprising.  'Maybe she'd shown improvement?'

His hopeful thoughts were interrupted by the loud clatter of items being dropped just outside the lounge doors.  The doors hissed open and the familiar voice of Ensign Jones explaining away her nervous clumsiness could be heard.  "My hands are so sweaty... they just slipped out of my grip.  I wish the Bridge would at least give the rest of the ship some clue as to what the Alert is about."

Lahr moved from his place by the cache, to approach his team leader and see who she was talking to.  With her were the other two members of their team - Petty officer 3rd class T'roth, a Vulcan female who Lahr was certain had a disdain for men of any race; and Crewman Maranxx-ii, a Caitian whose mother had once served on the ship in its first year.  It was interesting to Lahr how the mother and daughter couldn't be further apart in personality or looks.  Maranxx had been sleek-furred and dark in color with a pleasant and motherly outlook on life.  Maranxx-ii in contrast couldn't seemed to be bothered with grooming at all, her mottled coloured fur was clumped or patchy - reminiscent of 'dreads', and her personality was what Lahr thought of as a 'rebellious teen phase'.  Lahr missed the more pleasant Maranxx.

"Probably shouldn't share this, but I saw the Kranu on viewscreen while I was leaving the Bridge." Lahr offered up to the team leader.

"The Kranu? You mean the Romulan warship?" Jones' expression hardened.  Like many on the ship - she had a dislike of that particular vessel and Commander, because of past encounters.  So far Challenger and her crew had been fortunate that none of the skirmishes with the Kranu had resulted in any Challenger crewmember death... but their escalating violence meant that it was only a matter of time.

The Vulcan, T'roth, fixed him with a bland stare.  "You are correct.  You shouldn't share what could potentially be confidential Bridge information.  This will be reported."

Ensign Jones looked dismayed at T'roth, but Lahr could see by her expression that she didn't feel confident enough to gainsay the Vulcan.   Maranxx-ii on the other hand had no such qualms, even though she was the most junior of the team.  "That's just cold, T'roth.  You know ch'Verret understands the difference between confidential intel and what should be offered out to the ship in general as an announcement."

"Yes, I do, Crewman.  It is his exact words - 'probably shouldn't share this'- that prompted my response."

Lahr sighed, as he crouched to help Jones gather the tools that had somehow fallen out of her grip, and mentally tuned out the Vulcan.  The wait for action was gonna be long. 

[T’prith]

[USS Challenger-bridge]

T'Prith was very suspicious about the entire situation. It probably wasn't a good idea to give out confidential information because that information could land into the wrong hands and if it did it wouldn't be good for the crew. She had to wonder if they were potentially followed by another ship. It seemed kind of shady but it might be too early to judge.

[Nira Said]

[Trinam Nirreen | Bridge | Deck One | Romulan Ship Kranu]

To Nirreen's surprise, Thelal was smirking when she told him, even as she brought up the Challenger on viewscreen.

"Ah. My favorite antique," he said sardonically. "Open hailing frequencies."

Nirreen was taken aback. No attacking? No...anything? And the way he talked about the Challenger...Nireen opened hails and the Challenger bridge came into view...and she was surprised again.

For sitting in the First Officer's chair next to Captain Galloway was somebody she recognized, though they never met face to face: Nira Said.

She could remember like it was yesterday: Studying her every move, everything about her. Naturally, she was chosen because of her resemblance to the Betazoid security officer, even down to height. From a distance, at least her face won't be recognizable. Then she would lead a team of false Starfleet officers to attack the station at the Tryka System...a plan to stop the formation of the Romulan Free State. One that was foiled.

Nirreen had to admit, she never gave so much as a thought of Said for a long time. And now, here she was, a First Officer on a starship that Thelal had plenty of dealings with. Was it possible fate was bringing them together in a confrontation.

On the viewscreen, she was sure Nira could see her, too, her brow slightly furrowed, like she had seen that officer before...as much as she was behind Thelal, there was a good chance Said could recognize her...did she see the security footage on that station...?

"Well, Captain Galloway," Thelal said, sneering. "So we meet again. To what do I owe the pleasure? With the amount of times we met across the border, it's so ironic that we have to meet again in my...how do you put it on Earth? On my home turf. Who's violating borders now?"

Of course he was sneering. He practically expelled so much familiarity to Galloway, of course Thelal would be one to exchange insults and sarcasm. And did they frequently clash when Thelal was on the wrong side of the border? Nirreen only scowled. Technically, they were in territory friendly to the Federation, even if it had been merged from the Star Empire of Rotar. They weren't particularly in Tal Shiar nor Praetoriana space, either. If she had her way, she'd engage the Challenger and what was apparently a Free State cruiser accompanying it. But then, as an assassin, she preferred to strike when the enemy least expected it.

[Ian Galloway]

[Trinam Nirreen | Bridge | Deck One | Romulan Ship Kranu]

To Nirreen's surprise, Thelal was smirking when she told him, even as she brought up the Challenger on viewscreen.

"Ah. My favorite antique," he said sardonically. "Open hailing frequencies."

Nirreen was taken aback. No attacking? No...anything? And the way he talked about the Challenger...Nireen opened hails and the Challenger bridge came into view...and she was surprised again.

For sitting in the First Officer's chair next to Captain Galloway was somebody she recognized, though they never met face to face: Nira Said.

She could remember like it was yesterday: Studying her every move, everything about her. Naturally, she was chosen because of her resemblance to the Betazoid security officer, even down to height. From a distance, at least her face won't be recognizable. Then she would lead a team of false Starfleet officers to attack the station at the Tryka System...a plan to stop the formation of the Romulan Free State. One that was foiled.

Nirreen had to admit, she never gave so much as a thought of Said for a long time. And now, here she was, a First Officer on a starship that Thelal had plenty of dealings with. Was it possible fate was bringing them together in a confrontation.

On the viewscreen, she was sure Nira could see her, too, her brow slightly furrowed, like she had seen that officer before...as much as she was behind Thelal, there was a good chance Said could recognize her...did she see the security footage on that station...?

"Well, Captain Galloway," Thelal said, sneering. "So we meet again. To what do I owe the pleasure? With the amount of times we met across the border, it's so ironic that we have to meet again in my...how do you put it on Earth? On my home turf. Who's violating borders now?"

Of course he was sneering. He practically expelled so much familiarity to Galloway, of course Thelal would be one to exchange insults and sarcasm. And did they frequently clash when Thelal was on the wrong side of the border? Nirreen only scowled. Technically, they were in territory friendly to the Federation, even if it had been merged from the Star Empire of Rotar. They weren't particularly in Tal Shiar nor Praetoriana space, either. If she had her way, she'd engage the Challenger and what was apparently a Free State cruiser accompanying it. But then, as an assassin, she preferred to strike when the enemy least expected it.

[Bridge - USS Challenger ]

Ian noted the sneer on Thelal's face and wanted nothing more than to drive the heel of his palm into the bridge of the Romulan's nose, just to hear the crunch as it broke and thought.

"One day you smarmy pillock, one day."

Out loud, Ian said as he smiled coldly.

"This is nae your 'home turf' you git and you ken that full well. This is Free State territory and you are again on the wrong side of a border where you aren't wanted.

"The only thing you need ta do is bugger off back ta the swamp you crawled out of Commander Phlem. I'd call you scum, but scum floats and I'd never give that much regard.

"I'm sure someone on your ship is competent enough ta know we have weapons loaded as does our colleague. Please try summat stupid so I can justify blastin' the Khranu so far up your arse you choke on it."

Ian then waited to see if he'd tweaked Thelal enough to make the preening Romulan choose... poorly.

[ShranLahr ch'Verret]

PO1 ShranLahr ch'Verret
[USS Challenger-A - Deck Two - Observation Lounge]

Because of the distances involved, though he knew that the Kranu was somewhere ahead of them, there was no way for Lahr to be able to see the Romulan ship against the backdrop of vast space.  The Challenger's viewscreen was designed to gather and interpret sensor data into a visual format that magnified vessels and selected astronomical phenomenon.  Still, he watched the starry expanse intently.

Was this gonna be the time encounter that settled the rivalry between the two ships?  Lahr could almost hear the banter between the two commanding officers.  Thelal - smug and condescending towards Challenger and her Captain.   Galloway - with his odd insults and almost taunting retorts.

Lahr wondered if Captains like Kirk or Picard also had had an enemy or two that just got under their skin to the point that diplomacy was just tossed out the window each and every time they were encountered.  But Lahr couldn't picture either iconic Captain calling anyone a 'wanker'.   It's comedic absurdity almost made light of the insult.

Lahr had a mental picture of Kirk screaming out in anger.  Khaaann!!! You wanker!!

The Andorian burst out in sudden laughter drawing the attention of the three women.

"Do you find something amusing about this situation?" T'roth spoke blandly, yet somehow her words came across as sounding rather reproving - like he'd just received a verbal slap to the back of his head in reprimand.

Lahr looked away from the observation window towards the Vulcan.  T'roth was his junior in rank but from her Vulcan tone you'd never know that.  Uncharacteristically, Lahr responded flippantly. "Yeah, actually I do. Is that problem?"

Taken aback by his unexpected retort, T'roth didn't answer immediately. Lahr figured she was logically calculating how to win this verbal battle.

Ensign Jones however, overhearing Lahr's tone, hurried over and stepped between the two.  She held out her hands palm towards each in a stopping gesture, though she looked timid doing so.

"Hey, we're a team.  Let's not snipe amongst ourselves." Kasey tried to reason with the pair.  But Lahr was in a sour mood now, and his antennae telegraphed this to anyone bothering to look.

Ensign Jones sighed. "ch'Verret... Please report in to Commander Tharn our team's readiness.  T'roth, uh.. Why don't you review Challenger's rapid repair procedures with Crewman Maranxx-ii over on the other side of the room?  This is her first time doing so" Kasey justified breaking them up by giving them tasks to keep them occupied.

Lahr gave a shrug at the order and watched the two women walk away, before tapping at his comm badge.

"ch'Verret to Commander Tharn.  Damage Control Team One - reporting in.  All is green and we are standing by."