S3:E1 CLONES

[Jehamy Jex]

[Shuttle 041AX - On Approach]

The sandy-haired figure stared in wonderment from the viewport of the shuttle of which they sat in the flight control position, crystal blue eyes gleaming in the casted reflection, as it approached Innominatum Outpost. His smile, warm and open, equally mirrored his excitement of what adventures awaited him.

PADD of instructions in one hand, he reached for the subspace communications panel with the other and signalled Outpost Operations.

"Dr Jehamy Jex to Innominatum - reporting for duty!" he announced happily, a light tone in his voice. What wonders would he see in his future? He very much looked forward in finding out.

[Lyra]

Conference Room - Deck 4 - Innominatum]

Ruth nodded vaguely at Lahr and smiled in encouragement.  She could sense something was wrong in his world by the way his antennae drooped every so often but she would have to deal with that later, it could just be the whole 'I want this episode to be over'.  'Well Lahr, dear, so do I!' she thought to herself.

"Do it... and report back as soon as possible.  Please return here as soon as you can." the Captain said worriedly.  She gave Sukal a smile and a nod as if to show she understood his stance on this but they would need to speak more once they knew that the Admiral was ok.

"Of course Mr. Lek..." Ruth answered somewhat distractedly.  She was grateful that her Chief of Engineering could be relied on to carry on without too much input from her right now as her brain already needed to work in five different directions.

Ruth passed a weary hand over her forehead and eyes coming down to pinch the top of her nose.  But she perked up a little at the sight of Mondo.

"Petty Officer Nari, you're a sight for literally sore eyes.  I'd appreciate if you stayed here with me, I know Lt. Sukal well and while he might be Chief of Operations, he can handle himself, as can Dr. Vaughan, however I'd welcome the Security presence here.  Cadet Olivia, please take a seat, I have a few bits of business to attend to and then I'll be having a chat with all of you new cadets.  Please feel free to replicate yourself a drink and there might be a pie or doughnut left from earlier if you'd like one."

She gently manoeuvered Mondo to one side so that the cadets couldn't hear what she had to say to him alone and spoke low.  "Sukal is unsure of Cadet Mr'aarra, he's an empath and can't read any hurt or stress and anguish from her despite the state of her paws, Admiral d'Arth has just been attacked and the last person to be with him was Cadet Rossario.  We have Cadet Olivia here, and Cadet Kenyi hasn't yet reported in.  I want the Cadets watched.  If necessary if Cadet Kenyi isn't here in the next 10 mins send a security detail to her location and have her escorted here."

Ruth was almost shaking with the inner rage she was feeling, she was starting to wonder who to trust and who not to.  Thankfully she was fairly sure of her senior staff, but what was that old maxim?  'Trust nobody'?? If she did that though, her job would be much harder and she'd probably end up dead anyhow.

The Captain smiled at her friend.  She could trust Lyra.  Of all the people on the manifest she knew she could trust Lyra, and Sukal, Lizzie, Mondo, Lek, Lahr.... she knew she could, just she had moments of doubt.

"Nothing that a good slug of Schnapps, 8 hours of sleep and Command actually telling me that I was gonna get my Executive officer and the supplies Mr. Lek wants so we can get off this darn base wouldn't solve?!  I'm okay though." she said with a weary smile.  "Free advice?  Never be a starship Captain, you need to wear too many hats!  I'm joking, there are good sides to the job too, and it's being proud in varying ways of my crew, that makes it all worthwhile when things seem to be going pear-shaped!"Ruth said with a small chuckle.

The Captain pondered for a moment and said "Have you any experience in forensics?  I'm wondering if there would be any trace of fingerprinting or other DNA on Sukal's console... we might find who hacked it that way."

[Admiral d'Arth's Quarters - Innominatum]

[AS PAULINE ROSARIO]

Pauline stood back as ordered and was concerned.  "Dr. Vaughan,..." she appealed to her superior, "I wasn't aware of any allergies from the Admiral's records on the central computer, I did the full report which I sent to you.  I brought the somnetic inducer and found the hypo on the floor beside the Admiral, I was about to check his pulse.  Is it possible he has any knowledge of medicine and he got the hypo while my back was turned getting the inducer, he did hare off out of Sickbay rather quickly, I had to run to try to catch up with him."

She nodded at the Security guys as they showed up.  "I'm innocent of an attack on Admiral d'Arth, Lieutenant, ask Dr. Vaughan, we are bound by the Hippocratic Oath."  she turned with the escort and was taken to the Conference Room.

[AS RUTH]
[Conference Room Deck 4 Innominatum]
"Ah Cadet Rosario, I assume Lt. Sukal had you sent here, now we're just missing Cadet Kenyi and we have a full house.  Since you were the last person to see the Admiral before he was found, it is reasonable to suspect that you might have a hand in it, but we will look at the evidence."  Ruth said just wishing it was all over.

Lyra chuckled also and patted Ruth's shoulder as a sign of her support.

"Ah, you know, I think I'll leave all that to you and offer you moral support, my workforce and unending friendship." she said with a grin.

Then she thought about the forensics and Ruth's question. The forensics weren't the problem...

"Hm, yes, some experience. But I don't think that we will find anything, to be honest. I mean, whoever it was has managed to erase his digital footprint in such a manner that we weren't able yet to make anything of it. Sadly, logic dictates that the culprit isn't stupid enough to leave fingerprints or DNA. Still, no reason not to try, though."

Behind them slowls the cadets arrived. Mr'aarra, the caitian, Rosario and Olivia, both humans, were already present. If Lyra remembered correctly there was only one Kenyi Haihes missing, a bajoran. And you didn't need to be a telepath or empath to feel, that the mood wasn't optimal right now.

"Oh well, maybe the cadets also need some moral support. And maybe more as both of us have thought." Lyra said quietly to Ruth.

[ShranLahr ch'Verret]

PO2 ShranLahr ch'Verret
[Innominatum Outpost - Airlock]

After about 10 minutes of waiting, Lahr got bored.

He gave the two security personnel a bit of a nod.  "Well, if I can't access the files on Challenger I'll see what I do to help from Ops.." the Andorian remarked in dull manner.  While he knew it wasn't their fault he couldn't get off the station - that was a decision much farther up the food-chain than them - it was still annoying that he could get to what he'd been ordered to do.

So Lahr headed up towards the Operations center.  He was questioned by security once as he stepped off the turbolift at Ops.  They called him in to the officer on duty and after a moment he was permitted access.  This was his first time at Ops on the station and he took a look around a bit wide-eyed.  It was certainly a different set up than any ship he'd ever been on.

After a moment he noticed someone waving him over.  Lahr headed that way.

"You must be Petty Officer ch'Verret." the woman stated

Lahr nodded.  "I must be."

"Perfect, you can take over for me while I grab a coffee-break."  She quickly gave him a run down of the console, and the station's current status and showed him where to find the stations procedures.  Then she headed over leaving Lahr to look over the Ops station for a half hour break.

With any luck, nothing would come up in that time.

While he waited he fired off an explanation to Lt Sukal as to why he wasn't doing what he'd been ordered to do.   He couldn't run the parity scan on the files without being on the Challenger, or rather more specifically on the Challenger's battle bridge ops stations because of the security measures he'd put in place.

Maybe the Ops officer would have some sway in getting him permission to leave the station.

[Shuttle 041AX - On Approach]

The sandy-haired figure stared in wonderment from the viewport of the shuttle of which they sat in the flight control position, crystal blue eyes gleaming in the casted reflection, as it approached Innominatum Outpost. His smile, warm and open, equally mirrored his excitement of what adventures awaited him.

PADD of instructions in one hand, he reached for the subspace communications panel with the other and signalled Outpost Operations.

"Dr Jehamy Jex to Innominatum - reporting for duty!" he announced happily, a light tone in his voice. What wonders would he see in his future? He very much looked forward in finding out.

Yeah,  Lahr was never that lucky.  However, his antenna perked at hearing the familiar voice and name.

"Innominatum to Dr. Jex.  Heya! Welcome back! Okay, I've got you on screen.  Please adjust your approach to the coordinates I'm sending to you.  The station is currently on lockdown so you'll have to be put into queue for docking.  Sorry." 

Lahr's tone as he spoke to the Trill scientist was more cheerful than it had been all day.

[Lizzie Vaughan]

Sickbay

Lizzie, still holding the Admiral materialised in the Challenger's Sickbay. Soon, she had him on a biobed and was scanning him again.

"Get me 20cc's of Animazine." She ordered the duty nurse.

"Yes Doctor." The nurse replied. She raised her eyebrow at the order for the potent stimulant but did as requested. She collected the drug and handed the hypospray to Lizzie who injected the Admiral.

"Keep an eye on the monitors. The Admiral has received a massive dose of eszopiclone and we need to bring him round as quickly as we can." She ordered.

Seconds later the Admiral began to stir and Lizzie could see the man's vitals returning to normal. She went over to him.

"You're in Sickbay Admiral." She said as his eyes opened. "You were apparently attacked, do you remember what happened?" She asked.

[Sukal]

Sickbay

Lizzie, still holding the Admiral materialised in the Challenger's Sickbay. Soon, she had him on a biobed and was scanning him again.

"Get me 20cc's of Animazine." She ordered the duty nurse.

"Yes Doctor." The nurse replied. She raised her eyebrow at the order for the potent stimulant but did as requested. She collected the drug and handed the hypospray to Lizzie who injected the Admiral.

"Keep an eye on the monitors. The Admiral has received a massive dose of eszopiclone and we need to bring him round as quickly as we can." She ordered.

Seconds later the Admiral began to stir and Lizzie could see the man's vitals returning to normal. She went over to him.

{Admiral Alexander d'Arth}

His eyes opened with rapid blinking for a moment before he focused his gaze on the CHALLENGER's CMO.  "Thank you for your aid, Doctor, but...," Alexander began before closing his eyes and opening them to refocus them on her, "...but, I can't think of what happened.  Your medic had attended me to my quarters and done her duty, and then...I...I don't know."

The Admiral closed his eyes again as he understood the depth of what had actually taken place.  Leyton had indeed kidnapped his family, and he had somehow corrupted some or all of the new Cadets.  He could almost believe the man was personally on the station even now, and his only hope was that the crew of the outpost and CHALLENGER would find him.  The chances, however, were not in his favor.

"I'll let you do what you need to do, but then I must get some sleep and be ready to oversee the repairs on my ship," he added to her once his eyes opened again.

Plans formulated in his mind like lightning...plans which had to be executed as quickly as possible, or his family would suffer the consequences.  There was nothing he could immediately do, but that would change when he once was free of Sickbay.  Of course, a couple of safeguards had to be put in place for those who did not deserve to be put through what he was.

[Lizzie Vaughan]

{Admiral Alexander d'Arth}

His eyes opened with rapid blinking for a moment before he focused his gaze on the CHALLENGER's CMO.  "Thank you for your aid, Doctor, but...," Alexander began before closing his eyes and opening them to refocus them on her, "...but, I can't think of what happened.  Your medic had attended me to my quarters and done her duty, and then...I...I don't know."

The Admiral closed his eyes again as he understood the depth of what had actually taken place.  Leyton had indeed kidnapped his family, and he had somehow corrupted some or all of the new Cadets.  He could almost believe the man was personally on the station even now, and his only hope was that the crew of the outpost and CHALLENGER would find him.  The chances, however, were not in his favor.

"I'll let you do what you need to do, but then I must get some sleep and be ready to oversee the repairs on my ship," he added to her once his eyes opened again.

Plans formulated in his mind like lightning...plans which had to be executed as quickly as possible, or his family would suffer the consequences.  There was nothing he could immediately do, but that would change when he once was free of Sickbay.  Of course, a couple of safeguards had to be put in place for those who did not deserve to be put through what he was.

Sickbay

Lizzie took one further look at the Admiral's vital's before giving him a smile.

"Well you seem to have come through your ordeal unscathed Admiral. I would prefer you remain here, though I see no reason for you not to return to your quarters." She paused. "Provided you are careful and do indeed get some sleep." She added. "You should feel the effects of the eszopiclone you were injected with for at least the next few hours, maybe even the next day or so."

[Mondo'li Nari]

Conference Room - Deck 4 - Innominatum

"Yes, Sir.  Thank you, Sir," Andrew said when he was offered a seat and given permission to scrounge for food.  Before long, he had replicated himself a weak coffee and was nibbling on a doughnut.  Andrew Oliva was a nervous eater, and being summoned here by the Captain was just the sort of thing to make a cadet very nervous.

Meanwhile, Mondo had stepped aside to speak with the Captain, nodding in acknowledgement as he was told to keep an eye on the cadets.

"I understand, Sir.  It is indeed suspicious that a Caitian would escape emotional detection by an Empath.  However, I would be remiss in my duties if I failed to stress that non-transmission of detectable emotions is not actionable in any way.  Nor is it admissible in a Federation court.  Emotional and Intellectual privacy is guaranteed by the Federation Bill of Rights.  If action is to be taken against any suspect cadets, it will have to be based on stronger evidence."

With that advice given, he moved to take a position where he could observe the cadet who was here and any others who might arrive.  This was a difficult time to serve in Starfleet.  Usually, you could trust in someone who wore the uniform.  Now, thanks to Leyton's mind-control, everyone was a suspect in everything.  Mondo would be glad when things returned to normal.

[Jehamy Jex]

[Shuttle 041AX - Innominatum orbit]

"Innominatum to Dr. Jex.  Heya! Welcome back! Okay, I've got you on screen.  Please adjust your approach to the coordinates I'm sending to you.  The station is currently on lockdown so you'll have to be put into queue for docking.  Sorry.  "

Dr Jex, despite the non-visual communique, frowned with mild confusion in response to the overly warm welcome. "   =/\=Uh. Noted Innominatum. Standing by. "

Closing off the channel, Dr Jex yawned, stretched and leant back, putting his feet up on the console. Thumbing the PADD, he switched output and called up "One Lump Or Infinity: Subspace Granulation in a Fifteen-Dimensional Space-Time Membrane"...before coming to the conclusion he wasn't up for some light reading and decided on "Romulan Pale In Comparison: A Guide to Fixing Up The Best Mind-Bending Cocktails This Side of the Galactic Barrier" for some more immersive literature.

Not quite the start of his first day he was expecting.

[Sukal]

Sickbay

Lizzie took one further look at the Admiral's vital's before giving him a smile.

"Well you seem to have come through your ordeal unscathed Admiral. I would prefer you remain here, though I see no reason for you not to return to your quarters." She paused. "Provided you are careful and do indeed get some sleep." She added. "You should feel the effects of the eszopiclone you were injected with for at least the next few hours, maybe even the next day or so."

{Commander Jessica Thompson and other command members of USS REDAV}

Jessica was massively confused.  This was not something she enjoyed by any stretch of the imagination, but confusion had been a part of her life it seemed since the attack by the rebel forces almost three days ago.  Every since that moment, things had been truly weird on her ship, and she did not like how it felt...not in the least.  Indeed, it might be said that Commander Thompson was seriously starting to become overly suspicious of every single thing which had happened since the attack...including the attack itself.  All was far from well on her ship, and it only continued to get stranger when Admiral d'Arth suddenly returned to the REDAV.  She had, of course, heard of the security alert on the outpost and of the attack on her superior, but no details had been given as yet.  Then, without warning, he had suddenly strode onto the Bridge with a rather determined look in his eyes.  One moment she had been helping to finish the repairs on the Tactical station, and the next she was being ordered over for a briefing with Captain Sigurdsdottier along with the rest of the command staff of the REDAV.  It seemed strange that he wasn't going to be present, but he simply informed her that he had been there for the main meeting, and that the CHALLENGER CO would be better at filling her and the rest in.

He was the Admiral and had been her CO, and thus she did not overly question this decision.

However, when she had arrived along with Lieutenant Commander T'Sel from Sec/Tac, Lieutenant Commander Misty Dubois from Engineering, and Lieutenant T'Lan from Science - she had to wonder why their CMO had not joined them.  Furthermore, the station was still on high security alert.  According to regulations - no one should have been transporting in or out of the station at this point, but she wrote that off as Admiral's privilege.  Thus, rather confused, she made her way along with the rest to the secondary conference room in order to meet Captain Sigurdsdottier.  Only, when she arrived, no one was there, and three security officers stopped them a bit puzzled as well.

"Commander, I don't understand what the Admiral was telling you, but Captain Sigurdsdottier is in the main conference room conducting meetings.  The base is on high alert as your Admiral was attacked and found unconscious in his quarters earlier.  I have no other details at this point, but I suggest you come with me to see the Captain," the Tellarite male security Ensign explained.

Thus, she and her comrades found herself on their way to the main conference room, but every instinct in her said all was far from well.  Her CO had lied to her.  There could be no other explanation, and yet she didn't feel comfortable calling him back for an explanation.  To do so might tip him off that she was aware of something wrong.

Conference Room - Deck 4 - Innominatum]

Ruth nodded vaguely at Lahr and smiled in encouragement.  She could sense something was wrong in his world by the way his antennae drooped every so often but she would have to deal with that later, it could just be the whole 'I want this episode to be over'.  'Well Lahr, dear, so do I!' she thought to herself.

"Do it... and report back as soon as possible.  Please return here as soon as you can." the Captain said worriedly.  She gave Sukal a smile and a nod as if to show she understood his stance on this but they would need to speak more once they knew that the Admiral was ok.

"Of course Mr. Lek..." Ruth answered somewhat distractedly.  She was grateful that her Chief of Engineering could be relied on to carry on without too much input from her right now as her brain already needed to work in five different directions.

Ruth passed a weary hand over her forehead and eyes coming down to pinch the top of her nose.  But she perked up a little at the sight of Mondo.

"Petty Officer Nari, you're a sight for literally sore eyes.  I'd appreciate if you stayed here with me, I know Lt. Sukal well and while he might be Chief of Operations, he can handle himself, as can Dr. Vaughan, however I'd welcome the Security presence here.  Cadet Olivia, please take a seat, I have a few bits of business to attend to and then I'll be having a chat with all of you new cadets.  Please feel free to replicate yourself a drink and there might be a pie or doughnut left from earlier if you'd like one."

She gently manoeuvered Mondo to one side so that the cadets couldn't hear what she had to say to him alone and spoke low.  "Sukal is unsure of Cadet Mr'aarra, he's an empath and can't read any hurt or stress and anguish from her despite the state of her paws, Admiral d'Arth has just been attacked and the last person to be with him was Cadet Rossario.  We have Cadet Olivia here, and Cadet Kenyi hasn't yet reported in.  I want the Cadets watched.  If necessary if Cadet Kenyi isn't here in the next 10 mins send a security detail to her location and have her escorted here."

Ruth was almost shaking with the inner rage she was feeling, she was starting to wonder who to trust and who not to.  Thankfully she was fairly sure of her senior staff, but what was that old maxim?  'Trust nobody'?? If she did that though, her job would be much harder and she'd probably end up dead anyhow.

The Captain smiled at her friend.  She could trust Lyra.  Of all the people on the manifest she knew she could trust Lyra, and Sukal, Lizzie, Mondo, Lek, Lahr.... she knew she could, just she had moments of doubt.

"Nothing that a good slug of Schnapps, 8 hours of sleep and Command actually telling me that I was gonna get my Executive officer and the supplies Mr. Lek wants so we can get off this darn base wouldn't solve?!  I'm okay though." she said with a weary smile.  "Free advice?  Never be a starship Captain, you need to wear too many hats!  I'm joking, there are good sides to the job too, and it's being proud in varying ways of my crew, that makes it all worthwhile when things seem to be going pear-shaped!"Ruth said with a small chuckle.

The Captain pondered for a moment and said "Have you any experience in forensics?  I'm wondering if there would be any trace of fingerprinting or other DNA on Sukal's console... we might find who hacked it that way."

[Admiral d'Arth's Quarters - Innominatum]

[AS PAULINE ROSARIO]

Pauline stood back as ordered and was concerned.  "Dr. Vaughan,..." she appealed to her superior, "I wasn't aware of any allergies from the Admiral's records on the central computer, I did the full report which I sent to you.  I brought the somnetic inducer and found the hypo on the floor beside the Admiral, I was about to check his pulse.  Is it possible he has any knowledge of medicine and he got the hypo while my back was turned getting the inducer, he did hare off out of Sickbay rather quickly, I had to run to try to catch up with him."

She nodded at the Security guys as they showed up.  "I'm innocent of an attack on Admiral d'Arth, Lieutenant, ask Dr. Vaughan, we are bound by the Hippocratic Oath."  she turned with the escort and was taken to the Conference Room.

[AS RUTH]
[Conference Room Deck 4 Innominatum]
"Ah Cadet Rosario, I assume Lt. Sukal had you sent here, now we're just missing Cadet Kenyi and we have a full house.  Since you were the last person to see the Admiral before he was found, it is reasonable to suspect that you might have a hand in it, but we will look at the evidence."  Ruth said just wishing it was all over.

When Jessica arrived with her staff to the main conference room - two of the three security officers remained to watch them outside the room; while the Tellarite went in to speak to the Captain.

"Captain, Commander Thompson is here with her Senior Staff for a meeting with you.  So far as I knew - you didn't have one for them, Ma'am, but I brought them here anyway.  She says the Admiral told her to come to the secondary conference room, and I found that strange.  Figured you would want to talk to her," the Tellarite explained to Ruth.

It was then that Lieutenant Commander Misty Dubois suddenly frowned openly, and turned to show Commander Thompson something on her PADD.  "We should never have survived that attack, Commander," she whispered with a scowl.  "I knew something was wrong, but I just double checked my findings with T'Sel.  Look at this!" the woman said pointing out the various damaged areas on the schematic of the REDAV.  "The damage we sustained did indeed hurt us, but not as bad as it seemed.  On the surface - our ship needs some overhaul for structural integrity, but in truth most of the primary systems are still very much intact.  The only one that really took a major hit was from the shuttlebay explosion which damaged the impulse drive.  We figured the Admiral was just better at tactics, but in truth...those two Akiras had us dead to rights, Ma'am.  We...we shouldn't be here," Misty explained.

"The Chief Engineer is correct, Commander.  The REDAV should not have survived the battle we went through," T'Sel confirmed with a grim nod.

Jessica went from being confused to gravely worried and deeply distressed.  They had been setup, but to what purpose.  What was the reason behind the attack that had done not nearly enough damage to her ship?  Why had the Admiral called them to a meeting with the CHALLENGER CO, but at the wrong conference room - assuming there was a meeting at all?  Who had attacked the Admiral?  Did he even know who had done it?

"There is more, Commander.  I was double checking the repairs on the Ops station only to find that it was not caused by the attack.  Instead, Lieutenant Commander Susan Cole's station exploded from sabotage.  Someone had deliberately killed her, but covered it up to look like it was part of the attack.  She was constantly investigating something on our ship, but would never tell me what it was.  She only told me that it came directly from the Admiral, and he confirmed it," T'Sel added to her XO.

Jessica couldn't take it anymore, and before Ruth could call her team in - she barged past the puzzled security officers, "Captain, we have a huge problem!" she stated with a great deal of stress showing in her voice as she handed over Misty's and T'Sel's findings on the PADD.

{Admiral Alexander d'Arth - Bridge:  USS REDAV}

"Computer, link to Innominatum Outpost.  Security Override Code:  Zeta-Omicron-Nine-Seven-Omega-Two." Alexander ordered from the repaired Ops station.

"Security Code accepted, Admiral d'Arth.  Access Granted." the computer replied with its usual calm.

"Computer, security lockout for USS CHALLENGER-A for all moorings.  Then, clear all moorings for USS REDAV, and open space doors on my next mark.  Code:  Zeta-Alpha-One-Six-Theata-Three." Alexander continued as the Bridge crew began preparing for departure.

"Code and commands accepted, Admiral.  USS CHALLENGER-A is now under security lockout for all moorings.  USS REDAV now clearing moorings remotely.  Space doors on standby by next command." the computer chimed back.

"Helm, one-quarter impulse power, and proceed to the exit," he told Ensign Daniels, and the man complied with a grim nod.  As he did so, the Admiral gave the next command for the space doors to open.  Within moments, the USS REDAV was on her way out the door.

{Sukal}

After the Cadet had left and Doctor Vaughan had beamed away with the Admiral; Sukal's mind had been buzzing.  Knowing that there was likely not nearly enough security staff to cover the outpost; he had taken a team on in order to search the base for trouble.  The problem was - he had no idea what or who to look for.  His mind kept going back to Cadet Rosario being present when the Admiral had been attacked.  Part of him thought he should go to the Captain immediately, but the base was in trouble, and it was his duty to aid those around him anyway he could.  Thus, he found himself with a phaser on his left hip for the first time in a long while.  Two guards followed with him alert and ready for trouble.

Then, just up ahead, Sukal caught sight of a man in the shadows heading for the transporter room.  Considering the lockdown - no one should have been roaming the halls alone, and certainly not trying to move stealthily to avoid detection.

"HALT!" Sukal ordered sternly, and the man turned around just long enough to fire a phaser in Sukal's direction.  The Vulcan/Betazoid officer just barely managed to roll out of the way with his own phaser in hand, but the figure was gone.  "After him!" Sukal ordered hastily as he rushed around the corner followed by both of his guards with their own weapons drawn.  "Security Alert - Deck Twelve, Section B.  Intruder is armed with a phaser set to kill." he warned after tapping his badge.

Just around the next corner he saw a man he never expected to see.  For, there standing before him was none other than former Admiral Leyton.  He had seen pictures of the man before, but he was currently wearing a Medical uniform.  The renegade merely nodded with a smile as he vanished before Sukal's eyes after touching a transporter device on his arm.

"Computer, transporter trace from my location," Sukal commanded, but what he heard next was not what he was hoping for.

"There has been no transporter activity in your area." the computer answered dispassionately.

{Bridge:  USS REDAV}

Just as Alexander was about to sit down in his command chair; a transporter whine behind him gave him quite the start forcing him to whirl around.  There stood the man responsible for it all, and Alex as powerless to stop the man.  He had his family, and soon...he would not only have Alex, but the powerful USS REDAV not nearly as damaged as she was suppose to be.  The shields on the Galaxy-class III came on just seconds after the transport of the traitor.

[Ruth Sigurdsdottir]

Lyra chuckled also and patted Ruth's shoulder as a sign of her support.

"Ah, you know, I think I'll leave all that to you and offer you moral support, my workforce and unending friendship." she said with a grin.

Then she thought about the forensics and Ruth's question. The forensics weren't the problem...

"Hm, yes, some experience. But I don't think that we will find anything, to be honest. I mean, whoever it was has managed to erase his digital footprint in such a manner that we weren't able yet to make anything of it. Sadly, logic dictates that the culprit isn't stupid enough to leave fingerprints or DNA. Still, no reason not to try, though."

Behind them slowls the cadets arrived. Mr'aarra, the caitian, Rosario and Olivia, both humans, were already present. If Lyra remembered correctly there was only one Kenyi Haihes missing, a bajoran. And you didn't need to be a telepath or empath to feel, that the mood wasn't optimal right now.

"Oh well, maybe the cadets also need some moral support. And maybe more as both of us have thought." Lyra said quietly to Ruth.

[Conference Room - Deck 4 - Innominatum]

Ruth had the grace to chuckle at Lyra's comment.  "There's a phrase we use on Earth - 'It's tough at the top'... never a truer word spoken in jest.  Still, I have my help thankfully. And you're right, maybe they do.  Where is Cadet Kenyi, I need her here.  This is most remiss."

Conference Room - Deck 4 - Innominatum

"Yes, Sir.  Thank you, Sir," Andrew said when he was offered a seat and given permission to scrounge for food.  Before long, he had replicated himself a weak coffee and was nibbling on a doughnut.  Andrew Oliva was a nervous eater, and being summoned here by the Captain was just the sort of thing to make a cadet very nervous.

Meanwhile, Mondo had stepped aside to speak with the Captain, nodding in acknowledgement as he was told to keep an eye on the cadets.

"I understand, Sir.  It is indeed suspicious that a Caitian would escape emotional detection by an Empath.  However, I would be remiss in my duties if I failed to stress that non-transmission of detectable emotions is not actionable in any way.  Nor is it admissible in a Federation court.  Emotional and Intellectual privacy is guaranteed by the Federation Bill of Rights.  If action is to be taken against any suspect cadets, it will have to be based on stronger evidence."

With that advice given, he moved to take a position where he could observe the cadet who was here and any others who might arrive.  This was a difficult time to serve in Starfleet.  Usually, you could trust in someone who wore the uniform.  Now, thanks to Leyton's mind-control, everyone was a suspect in everything.  Mondo would be glad when things returned to normal.

"Did you take Federation Law as a secondary subject, Mondo?! " The Captain smiled.  "You're quite correct however.  And Andrew isn't it?!" she said turning to the cadet.

"Relax, I don't bite.  I may wave axes around a little but the last time I did that it was either in the holodeck or at a marauding Klingon pirate so i think you're fairly safe.  If it puts you at ease any, I've got you here for 2 reasons, the fact that there is no... alibi for lack of a better word, for Cadet Mr'aarra and the Redav's shuttlebay incident, records have gone missing, and now Admiral d'Arth has been attacked and the last person to see him was Cadet Rosario, so it's not looking too promising for you guys as you're the link between all these incidents.  I'm pretty sure you're all perfectly innocent, or at least I'm more of the persuasion of the 'innocent until...' and I add my own bit here unequivocally '...proven guilty' so you get the benefit of the doubt, and that being the case... I think Lt. Sukal wants a word with you too.  And the second more fun part - well you're all going to be part of my crew, I'd like to get to know you all a little and... Petty Officer Lyra here is going to work with you as liaison between you lot and me! So.... "

Ruth smiled.  "Once things settle down a bit I intend to have a little party since my Sisters are just a little younger than you, they'll be starting the Academy after the summer break, so it'll be good for them to hang out with you 4 a little and learn about your experiences.  I won't have you telling them how to get around certain instructors however!" she chuckled.  "Where is Kenyi?  I didn't want to have to do this...."

Sigurdsdottir to Security, base, Challenger and Redav... please locate Cadet Kenyi Haihes and bring her immediately to the Conference Room on Innominatum.  Sigurdsdottir out.

{Commander Jessica Thompson and other command members of USS REDAV}

Jessica was massively confused.  This was not something she enjoyed by any stretch of the imagination, but confusion had been a part of her life it seemed since the attack by the rebel forces almost three days ago.  Every since that moment, things had been truly weird on her ship, and she did not like how it felt...not in the least.  Indeed, it might be said that Commander Thompson was seriously starting to become overly suspicious of every single thing which had happened since the attack...including the attack itself.  All was far from well on her ship, and it only continued to get stranger when Admiral d'Arth suddenly returned to the REDAV.  She had, of course, heard of the security alert on the outpost and of the attack on her superior, but no details had been given as yet.  Then, without warning, he had suddenly strode onto the Bridge with a rather determined look in his eyes.  One moment she had been helping to finish the repairs on the Tactical station, and the next she was being ordered over for a briefing with Captain Sigurdsdottier along with the rest of the command staff of the REDAV.  It seemed strange that he wasn't going to be present, but he simply informed her that he had been there for the main meeting, and that the CHALLENGER CO would be better at filling her and the rest in.

He was the Admiral and had been her CO, and thus she did not overly question this decision.

However, when she had arrived along with Lieutenant Commander T'Sel from Sec/Tac, Lieutenant Commander Misty Dubois from Engineering, and Lieutenant T'Lan from Science - she had to wonder why their CMO had not joined them.  Furthermore, the station was still on high security alert.  According to regulations - no one should have been transporting in or out of the station at this point, but she wrote that off as Admiral's privilege.  Thus, rather confused, she made her way along with the rest to the secondary conference room in order to meet Captain Sigurdsdottier.  Only, when she arrived, no one was there, and three security officers stopped them a bit puzzled as well.

"Commander, I don't understand what the Admiral was telling you, but Captain Sigurdsdottier is in the main conference room conducting meetings.  The base is on high alert as your Admiral was attacked and found unconscious in his quarters earlier.  I have no other details at this point, but I suggest you come with me to see the Captain," the Tellarite male security Ensign explained.

Thus, she and her comrades found herself on their way to the main conference room, but every instinct in her said all was far from well.  Her CO had lied to her.  There could be no other explanation, and yet she didn't feel comfortable calling him back for an explanation.  To do so might tip him off that she was aware of something wrong.

When Jessica arrived with her staff to the main conference room - two of the three security officers remained to watch them outside the room; while the Tellarite went in to speak to the Captain.

"Captain, Commander Thompson is here with her Senior Staff for a meeting with you.  So far as I knew - you didn't have one for them, Ma'am, but I brought them here anyway.  She says the Admiral told her to come to the secondary conference room, and I found that strange.  Figured you would want to talk to her," the Tellarite explained to Ruth.

It was then that Lieutenant Commander Misty Dubois suddenly frowned openly, and turned to show Commander Thompson something on her PADD.  "We should never have survived that attack, Commander," she whispered with a scowl.  "I knew something was wrong, but I just double checked my findings with T'Sel.  Look at this!" the woman said pointing out the various damaged areas on the schematic of the REDAV.  "The damage we sustained did indeed hurt us, but not as bad as it seemed.  On the surface - our ship needs some overhaul for structural integrity, but in truth most of the primary systems are still very much intact.  The only one that really took a major hit was from the shuttlebay explosion which damaged the impulse drive.  We figured the Admiral was just better at tactics, but in truth...those two Akiras had us dead to rights, Ma'am.  We...we shouldn't be here," Misty explained.

"The Chief Engineer is correct, Commander.  The REDAV should not have survived the battle we went through," T'Sel confirmed with a grim nod.

Jessica went from being confused to gravely worried and deeply distressed.  They had been setup, but to what purpose.  What was the reason behind the attack that had done not nearly enough damage to her ship?  Why had the Admiral called them to a meeting with the CHALLENGER CO, but at the wrong conference room - assuming there was a meeting at all?  Who had attacked the Admiral?  Did he even know who had done it?

"There is more, Commander.  I was double checking the repairs on the Ops station only to find that it was not caused by the attack.  Instead, Lieutenant Commander Susan Cole's station exploded from sabotage.  Someone had deliberately killed her, but covered it up to look like it was part of the attack.  She was constantly investigating something on our ship, but would never tell me what it was.  She only told me that it came directly from the Admiral, and he confirmed it," T'Sel added to her XO.

Jessica couldn't take it anymore, and before Ruth could call her team in - she barged past the puzzled security officers, "Captain, we have a huge problem!" she stated with a great deal of stress showing in her voice as she handed over Misty's and T'Sel's findings on the PADD.

{Admiral Alexander d'Arth - Bridge:  USS REDAV}

"Computer, link to Innominatum Outpost.  Security Override Code:  Zeta-Omicron-Nine-Seven-Omega-Two." Alexander ordered from the repaired Ops station.

"Security Code accepted, Admiral d'Arth.  Access Granted." the computer replied with its usual calm.

"Computer, security lockout for USS CHALLENGER-A for all moorings.  Then, clear all moorings for USS REDAV, and open space doors on my next mark.  Code:  Zeta-Alpha-One-Six-Theata-Three." Alexander continued as the Bridge crew began preparing for departure.

"Code and commands accepted, Admiral.  USS CHALLENGER-A is now under security lockout for all moorings.  USS REDAV now clearing moorings remotely.  Space doors on standby by next command." the computer chimed back.

"Helm, one-quarter impulse power, and proceed to the exit," he told Ensign Daniels, and the man complied with a grim nod.  As he did so, the Admiral gave the next command for the space doors to open.  Within moments, the USS REDAV was on her way out the door.

{Sukal}

After the Cadet had left and Doctor Vaughan had beamed away with the Admiral; Sukal's mind had been buzzing.  Knowing that there was likely not nearly enough security staff to cover the outpost; he had taken a team on in order to search the base for trouble.  The problem was - he had no idea what or who to look for.  His mind kept going back to Cadet Rosario being present when the Admiral had been attacked.  Part of him thought he should go to the Captain immediately, but the base was in trouble, and it was his duty to aid those around him anyway he could.  Thus, he found himself with a phaser on his left hip for the first time in a long while.  Two guards followed with him alert and ready for trouble.

Then, just up ahead, Sukal caught sight of a man in the shadows heading for the transporter room.  Considering the lockdown - no one should have been roaming the halls alone, and certainly not trying to move stealthily to avoid detection.

"HALT!" Sukal ordered sternly, and the man turned around just long enough to fire a phaser in Sukal's direction.  The Vulcan/Betazoid officer just barely managed to roll out of the way with his own phaser in hand, but the figure was gone.  "After him!" Sukal ordered hastily as he rushed around the corner followed by both of his guards with their own weapons drawn.  "Security Alert - Deck Twelve, Section B.  Intruder is armed with a phaser set to kill." he warned after tapping his badge.

Just around the next corner he saw a man he never expected to see.  For, there standing before him was none other than former Admiral Leyton.  He had seen pictures of the man before, but he was currently wearing a Medical uniform.  The renegade merely nodded with a smile as he vanished before Sukal's eyes after touching a transporter device on his arm.

"Computer, transporter trace from my location," Sukal commanded, but what he heard next was not what he was hoping for.

"There has been no transporter activity in your area." the computer answered dispassionately.

{Bridge:  USS REDAV}

Just as Alexander was about to sit down in his command chair; a transporter whine behind him gave him quite the start forcing him to whirl around.  There stood the man responsible for it all, and Alex as powerless to stop the man.  He had his family, and soon...he would not only have Alex, but the powerful USS REDAV not nearly as damaged as she was suppose to be.  The shields on the Galaxy-class III came on just seconds after the transport of the traitor.

She was about to turn back to the cadets when Commander Thompson and the other command staff showed up with Security.

Ruth barely had time to turn around and the XO and Chief Engineer or the Redav were giving their findings.  She scanned them her eyes becoming more and more Vulcan-esque every second they raised incrementally.

"I don't understand why the Admiral sent you to the secondary conference room especially when he was in here ... about 20 mins ago so he knew where the meeting was.  That's discomforting given current events.  Excuse me one moment."

Computer, locate Admiral d'Arth. 

Admiral d'Arth is on the USS Redav

"How the hell did he get there, Commander with me, Cadets, Petty Officers, with me... we need to walk and talk."

Sigurdsdottir to Security, belay the last order regarding Cadet Kenyi, deliver her to the Challenger if she is not already aboard, please go to the USS Redav and escort Admiral d'Arth to my Ready Room on the Challenger.

Ah... um... Ma'am... we already went to the airlock to stop anyone getting on or off the Redav, and... the Redav has undocked.    the poor man at the other end said it in a kind of 'Please don't shoot the messenger' voice.

Ruth took a deep breath and then scrambled her thoughts.

Sigurdsdottir to Operations, if those space doors are not yet open stop the Redav from leaving, Sigurdsdottir to all hands report to duty stations immediately.

"Commanders, Lieutenant... looks like you're hitching a lift with me.  I don't have a clue what he's up to, but I have a suspicion I know who's behind it.  Mr. Nari, Lyra, Cadets... let's hop to it."

Within moments Ruth was on the Bridge of the Challenger and requesting updates.

"Get me a channel to the Redav, I want to talk to Admiral d'Arth immediately, also contact all senior staff for a meeting, we have new evidence, Conference Room in 20 mins. Contact Outpost Operations to have us cleared to leave, I think we may be escorting the Redav if my suspicions pan out regarding the health of Admiral d'Arth, and have them clear any authorised personnel to come straight in bypassing the lockdown, for one I'm expecting Dr. Jex, I'd rather have him on board."

The Captain turned to the staff of the Redav apologetically.  "Please, if you wish to be useful you may take a duty console of the department you're in, or Commander you may take your staff and make use of my ready room."

Mentally counting off stuff in her mind she wished Sukal was on the Bridge already for his calming presence, or Lizzie who could hypo her into calmness.

Sigurdsdottir to Vaughan, come to the Bridge at your earliest convenience, I'd like your opinion on something. Bridge out.

"Ma'am, Redav contacted and responding." announced the Ops Ensign on communications.

"On Screen"

There was the Bridge of the Redav, Admiral d'Arth looking as weary as he had when he'd been in the meeting on the base, a figure standing behind him, back currently to the viewfinder, who turned and smiled evilly, laying a hand on Alex's shoulder, waited for the moment of recognition, and then the communication was abruptly cut.

"LEYTON!" Ruth shouted.  "Commander Thompson, you're not crazy to want to trust your CO, Admiral Torngate was turned by Leyton and if I can save Admiral d'Arth I will. Ops go to red alert, call all hands to duty stations immediately and prepare to depart, keep trace on the Redav if possible, while I hate to say it, the fact that we are 99% whole and have the full capacity of the warp engines over Redav's structural problems and the fact she can only make Warp 8... this gives us an advantage."   her voice was eerily calm and low, which had people scrambling.

'FASTER dammit!' she screamed in her head.

[Lizzie Vaughan]

[Conference Room - Deck 4 - Innominatum]

Sigurdsdottir to Vaughan, come to the Bridge at your earliest convenience, I'd like your opinion on something. Bridge out.

Sickbay

After the Admiral had left, she tidied up. she was about to step into her office to complete some paperwork when the ship went to alert. She was about to call the Bridge for an explanation when Ruth's call came through. She tapped her com-badge.

On my way Captain. Vaughan out!

Closing the channel, she nodded to the duty nurse and left at once for the Bridge.

Bridge

Lizzie walked onto the Bridge and saw it was unusually crowded, including some of the Redav's senior officers. She walked straight up to the Captain.

"What's going on Captain?" She asked.

Posting as Cadet Kenyi Haihes

Deck 13 - Secondary Computer Core

Haihes had been working on the secondary computer core when the ship went to alert. Not having been given an alert station yet, she decided to call the Bridge.

Cadet Kenyi to the Bridge. Um I haven't been given an alert station. Where should I be reporting to?

[ShranLahr ch'Verret]

PO2 ShranLahr ch'Verret
[Innominatum outpost - Deck One - Operations Center]

Lahr had been over seeing the waiting shuttlecraft that were in queue when a notification popped up on his screen that the Ops station was being remote accessed.   His antennae bobbed a bit in confusion.

When he checked the ID - it came up as Admiral d'Arth.  That was odd.  Maybe he should bring this up to the Duty officer.

"Um sir,  Admiral d'Arth has just remote accessed Innominatum's Ops controls.  He appears to be locking down the Challenger." Perhaps whatever had locked down the station had managed to migrate or sneak aboard the ship?

Lahr continued to track the commands being issued.  "And now he's releasing the moorings from the Redav.  Should I open a comm line to the Redav?"

As he asked that another notification flashed across his screen, even as alarms blared throughout the station in reaction to the weapons fire on Deck 12.

"Sir.  There's been weapons fire on Deck 12, Section B.  Phaser.  Set on kill setting.  Security has been alerted, sir."

It was at this point that Captain Sigurdsdottir called to Ops

quote Ruth

"I'll do what I can to slow her, Ma'am"

Lahr attempted to regain control of the Ops console but nope... other than notifications, he was locked out while it was in use by the Admiral.

Inspiration struck however, and he moved over a station to the auxiliary and opened a comm channel to Dr. Jex in his shuttle.

"Innominatum to shuttle... um.. shit.. to Dr. Jex.  It seems like we got someone trying to steal a ship.  We need to slow her down or stop her .. hoping you can lend a hand ... maybe target her thrusters so she can't move away from the station?"

Suddenly there was an angry presence at his side glaring down at him. "What the hell have you done to my console?"

Lahr looked over and saw the Ops Officer her had taken over from. The Andorian held up his hands peaceably as if to say 'it wasn't me.'

He backed as he gave her a quick overview of the situation until she had taken over the seat,  that's when Lahr headed down from the Ops Center to make his way to Challenger.

Lahr's duty station at present was auxiliary Ops on the bridge -so that's where he headed.

[Sukal]

She was about to turn back to the cadets when Commander Thompson and the other command staff showed up with Security.

Ruth barely had time to turn around and the XO and Chief Engineer or the Redav were giving their findings.  She scanned them her eyes becoming more and more Vulcan-esque every second they raised incrementally.

"I don't understand why the Admiral sent you to the secondary conference room especially when he was in here ... about 20 mins ago so he knew where the meeting was.  That's discomforting given current events.  Excuse me one moment."

Computer, locate Admiral d'Arth. 

Admiral d'Arth is on the USS Redav

"How the hell did he get there, Commander with me, Cadets, Petty Officers, with me... we need to walk and talk."

Sigurdsdottir to Security, belay the last order regarding Cadet Kenyi, deliver her to the Challenger if she is not already aboard, please go to the USS Redav and escort Admiral d'Arth to my Ready Room on the Challenger.

Ah... um... Ma'am... we already went to the airlock to stop anyone getting on or off the Redav, and... the Redav has undocked.    the poor man at the other end said it in a kind of 'Please don't shoot the messenger' voice.

Ruth took a deep breath and then scrambled her thoughts.

Sigurdsdottir to Operations, if those space doors are not yet open stop the Redav from leaving, Sigurdsdottir to all hands report to duty stations immediately.

"Commanders, Lieutenant... looks like you're hitching a lift with me.  I don't have a clue what he's up to, but I have a suspicion I know who's behind it.  Mr. Nari, Lyra, Cadets... let's hop to it."

Within moments Ruth was on the Bridge of the Challenger and requesting updates.

"Get me a channel to the Redav, I want to talk to Admiral d'Arth immediately, also contact all senior staff for a meeting, we have new evidence, Conference Room in 20 mins. Contact Outpost Operations to have us cleared to leave, I think we may be escorting the Redav if my suspicions pan out regarding the health of Admiral d'Arth, and have them clear any authorised personnel to come straight in bypassing the lockdown, for one I'm expecting Dr. Jex, I'd rather have him on board."

The Captain turned to the staff of the Redav apologetically.  "Please, if you wish to be useful you may take a duty console of the department you're in, or Commander you may take your staff and make use of my ready room."

Mentally counting off stuff in her mind she wished Sukal was on the Bridge already for his calming presence, or Lizzie who could hypo her into calmness.

=/\=Sigurdsdottir to Vaughan, come to the Bridge at your earliest convenience, I'd like your opinion on something. Bridge out.

"Ma'am, Redav contacted and responding." announced the Ops Ensign on communications.

"On Screen"

There was the Bridge of the Redav, Admiral d'Arth looking as weary as he had when he'd been in the meeting on the base, a figure standing behind him, back currently to the viewfinder, who turned and smiled evilly, laying a hand on Alex's shoulder, waited for the moment of recognition, and then the communication was abruptly cut.

"LEYTON!" Ruth shouted.  "Commander Thompson, you're not crazy to want to trust your CO, Admiral Torngate was turned by Leyton and if I can save Admiral d'Arth I will. Ops go to red alert, call all hands to duty stations immediately and prepare to depart, keep trace on the Redav if possible, while I hate to say it, the fact that we are 99% whole and have the full capacity of the warp engines over Redav's structural problems and the fact she can only make Warp 8... this gives us an advantage."   her voice was eerily calm and low, which had people scrambling.

'FASTER dammit!' she screamed in her head.

Sickbay

After the Admiral had left, she tidied up. she was about to step into her office to complete some paperwork when the ship went to alert. She was about to call the Bridge for an explanation when Ruth's call came through. She tapped her com-badge.

On my way Captain. Vaughan out!

Closing the channel, she nodded to the duty nurse and left at once for the Bridge.

Bridge

Lizzie walked onto the Bridge and saw it was unusually crowded, including some of the Redav's senior officers. She walked straight up to the Captain.

"What's going on Captain?" She asked.

Sukal practically ran onto the Bridge of the CHALLENGER just a few moments behind Lizzie, and immediately relieved the person at Ops.  The problems were mounting to a conclusion he did not like as he noted the traitor Leyton safely aboard the USS REDAV standing behind Admiral Alexander d'Arth.  To think he had just missed the man by seconds frustrated Sukal, but now was not the time to let such emotions get in the way of his duties.  He knew his Captain would want the ship underway as quickly as possible as he noted that the REDAV was already moving away from the outpost at half-impulse power.  It would not be long before she was going to at warp, and they hadn't even left the station yet.

"Captain, there is a security lockout on the moorings we are attached to.  They have Admiral d'Arth's clearance.  I am attempting to bypass the lockout, but it may take a bit more time than we have," Sukal reported as he had been preparing the ship to disembark.  His fingers danced over the Ops console rapidly in an attempt to break the lockout while coordinating with the duty officer at Ops on the outpost.  A couple of times his console made a rude noise explaining that access was denied, but Sukal kept his cool.  He was all duty right now...focused on the problem before him.  According to the sensors, the Galaxy-class III was now jumping to warp one and leaving the station behind.  If he did not get the lockouts taken care of soon - they would lose any chance of catching the REDAV.  After his fourth attempt to bypass - the computer finally acknowledged his solution, and Sukal swiftly cleared all the moorings from the outpost attached to their ship.  "Moorings cleared, Captain.  REDAV now at warp two and accelerating rapidly...course:  217 mark 039."

All he could do was wait now.  There was an incoming shuttle which apparently was bringing someone aboard, but they were not yet ready to dock.  He also noticed the REDAV had her shields up at full strength.  Despite the battle damage she had sustained; Sukal noted most of her primary systems were functioning well within performance parameters.  Briefly, he glanced back having noticed the command staff of the REDAV on the Bridge when he ran in, and locked gazes for a moment with Commander Thompson, but she looked away in pain and confusion.

"Captain, there is no need to pursue us.  After all, it will take you some time to finally get out of the outpost to do so, and by then...we shall be long gone.  I suspect this won't be the last time we meet...so...until next time," Alexander stated coldly before breaking the communique and the viewer reverting to the insides of the outpost.

[Jehamy Jex]

[Shuttle 041AX - Innominatum orbit]

"=/\= Innominatum to shuttle... um.. shit.. to Dr. Jex.  It seems like we got someone trying to steal a ship.  We need to slow her down or stop her .. hoping you can lend a hand ... maybe target her thrusters so she can't move away from the station? "

At this, Doctor Jex slowly lowered his PADD - tearing himself away from a cocktail recipe idea that involved mixing warp plasma to gin - and stared in bemusement at the console form where the voice, the same from earlier, manifested.

He didn't know whether Innominatum had realised, but they were asking him to stop a Galaxy-class starship (presumably the one emerging from the primary docking bay on something more nippy than manoeuvring thrusters) with his teenie, tiny Type-2 shuttle...? On his first day? With its shields up?

Jex supposed he had five minutes to kill.

Throwing his PADD to one side, Jex - in one swift motion - rolled from his seat into a crouched position under the main console, nimble fingers grasping at the access panel which came away easily. Casting this duranium sheet away, the Science Officer thrust his arm into the  revealed gubbings and scrabbled around, without looking, for a small dome device, no larger than a tangerine. Finding it, Jex pulled this from its housing and laughed with success.

Ding ding. "Warning: Warp propulsion is offline. Cochrane fields will not induce motive force." Ding ding.

Jex reminisced meeting the voice inspiration for the generic computer vocals. That was someone who knew how to play a mean game of thumb war.

Leaping up to his feet, and then into his chair, Jex's fingers danced over the flight controls and aimed the tiny shuttle at the Galaxy-class at one-quarter impulse, spinning in a vector that brought it between the now moving-at-pace nacelles.

It was then he slid the control for warp drive to its maximum speed of a paltry 5. Not that the top speed mattered much.

With the system largely made immobile, the warp fields from the shuttle drenched the nacelles of the Galaxy-class without actually travelling anywhere. The intention was that the lingering subspace layers would disrupt those of the much larger starship, preventing it from using its much more powerful engines from making a run for it.

It was all he could do from here and he hoped it was enough.

It wasn't.

The Galaxy-class launched into warp and was gone, causing the small shuttle to bounce around in its wake before stabilising, and leaving him sat there shaken like one of his mixology creations.

What a way to start a new posting!

[Ruth Sigurdsdottir]

Sickbay

After the Admiral had left, she tidied up. she was about to step into her office to complete some paperwork when the ship went to alert. She was about to call the Bridge for an explanation when Ruth's call came through. She tapped her com-badge.

On my way Captain. Vaughan out!

Closing the channel, she nodded to the duty nurse and left at once for the Bridge.

Bridge

Lizzie walked onto the Bridge and saw it was unusually crowded, including some of the Redav's senior officers. She walked straight up to the Captain.

"What's going on Captain?" She asked.

Posting as Cadet Kenyi Haihes

Deck 13 - Secondary Computer Core

Haihes had been working on the secondary computer core when the ship went to alert. Not having been given an alert station yet, she decided to call the Bridge.

Cadet Kenyi to the Bridge. Um I haven't been given an alert station. Where should I be reporting to?

[Bridge - Challenger]

Ruth gave a wry smile as Lizzie appeared on the Bridge.  She was glad of the doctor's presence.  "Short version - all hell's broken loose.  Slightly longer version, Leyton has been around, I assume on base too which is seriously alarming, and has infiltrated the Redav.  He and Admiral d'Arth are absconding with the Redav and most of her senior staff are... well ... here..." she gestured at Thompson and the rest of the senior staff of the Redav standing at various points around the bridge with a sympathetic look.

"And while I wouldn't normally recommend it, and I promise once this settles down a little I will rest.  Can you give me a booster jab of I dunno, caffeine and adrenaline or something to keep me going for about another 2 hours or so."

A call came thru from Kenyi Haihes and the Captain gritted her teeth forcing herself to speak civilly.

Report to the Bridge, we'll sort our details later.  Lt. Sukal will order you elsewhere as needed.  Sigurdsdottir out. 

The girl had annoyed her not coming for the meeting, but this was an emergency situation, and the person she was most annoyed with was herself and the fact that Leyton had been right under their noses and once again slipped the noose.

Sukal practically ran onto the Bridge of the CHALLENGER just a few moments behind Lizzie, and immediately relieved the person at Ops.  The problems were mounting to a conclusion he did not like as he noted the traitor Leyton safely aboard the USS REDAV standing behind Admiral Alexander d'Arth.  To think he had just missed the man by seconds frustrated Sukal, but now was not the time to let such emotions get in the way of his duties.  He knew his Captain would want the ship underway as quickly as possible as he noted that the REDAV was already moving away from the outpost at half-impulse power.  It would not be long before she was going to at warp, and they hadn't even left the station yet.

"Captain, there is a security lockout on the moorings we are attached to.  They have Admiral d'Arth's clearance.  I am attempting to bypass the lockout, but it may take a bit more time than we have," Sukal reported as he had been preparing the ship to disembark.  His fingers danced over the Ops console rapidly in an attempt to break the lockout while coordinating with the duty officer at Ops on the outpost.  A couple of times his console made a rude noise explaining that access was denied, but Sukal kept his cool.  He was all duty right now...focused on the problem before him.  According to the sensors, the Galaxy-class III was now jumping to warp one and leaving the station behind.  If he did not get the lockouts taken care of soon - they would lose any chance of catching the REDAV.  After his fourth attempt to bypass - the computer finally acknowledged his solution, and Sukal swiftly cleared all the moorings from the outpost attached to their ship.  "Moorings cleared, Captain.  REDAV now at warp two and accelerating rapidly...course:  217 mark 039."

All he could do was wait now.  There was an incoming shuttle which apparently was bringing someone aboard, but they were not yet ready to dock.  He also noticed the REDAV had her shields up at full strength.  Despite the battle damage she had sustained; Sukal noted most of her primary systems were functioning well within performance parameters.  Briefly, he glanced back having noticed the command staff of the REDAV on the Bridge when he ran in, and locked gazes for a moment with Commander Thompson, but she looked away in pain and confusion.

"Captain, there is no need to pursue us.  After all, it will take you some time to finally get out of the outpost to do so, and by then...we shall be long gone.  I suspect this won't be the last time we meet...so...until next time," Alexander stated coldly before breaking the communique and the viewer reverting to the insides of the outpost.

Ruth wasn't sure where first to look but looked to the staid, solid dependable figure of Sukal, so grateful that he was there.  It could be said that she had come to rely on him, but the ways of Vulcan had always calmed her. so it wasn't solely attributable to Sukal. She turned to him glad to have someone who would snap to orders before she even needed to give them.

"Lieutenant, good to see you where I need you most. Can you have someone check who's missing from our manifest, I wanted everyone to duty stations 10 mins ago and get Dr. Jex cleared for docking and up here pronto, alternatively have him fly into the Challenger's shuttlebay, we have room. Either way I want the crew on board...yesterday!" the Captain said her voice chillingly calm.  Sukal would remember if Ruth was not talking animatedly and babbling buoyancy, then it was advisable for people to walk around her with care.

She made a mental note that if this was the sort of response she got to 'Battle Stations' and the ship being at Red Alert, then a few drills were going to have to be run to bring the crew up to speed.  They'd been too complacent sitting around a base for a couple of months.

She looked to the helm, no Crewman Labinjoh yet, and the flight cadet, Olivia, probably was wondering if he should be on the Bridge since Haihes didn't know her duty station they likely hadn't been allocated. While Ruth herself could take the controls having started her Starfleet career in flight, she shouldn't have to baring an emergency. 'Ok,..' she thought to herself, '...different kind of an emergency, like the helm had been killed and the autopilot not working, falling out of orbit...'  she shook her head to get back on track and let out a weary sigh.

Bridge to Cadets Olivia, Rosario and Mr'aarra.  Report to the Bridge.  Your department heads will sort your locations from here. Bridge out. 

Ruth turned to Lizzie "I know the suspicion surrounding Rosario which is why I didn't have her go directly to the Sickbay.  However, fingers are now pointing more at Leyton since it's likely it was he that was the shadowy figure seen by Mr'aarra in the Shuttlebay of the Redav, and it's not exactly beyond the realms of possibility that it was he who attacked Alex d'Arth given that he's now on the Redav, that all ties in.  There are still a few things that don't add up but we have more pressing things to do, keep an eye on her but beyond that... let her work as normal."

As the Admiral spoke she whirled around again.

That's where you're wrong Admirals, you picked the wrong captain and the wrong ship, we will hunt you down even if we have to follow you to the ends of the Universe. Ruth stated with a vehemence of which her Viking ancestors would have been proud.