S3:E4 ASSASSIN'S CREED

[Stryker]

PO2 ShranLahr ch'Verret
[Innominatum Outpost - The Pickled Pakled]

Lahr was bracing himself for the strike, which he could read on the the Klingon male's face, was coming from the female.  So much for trying to play it tough.

But the punch was interrupted by the unexpected arrival of Lt Aune.   For a moment the two Klingons were silent as they glanced towards one another, gauging their options.

Lahr was saved!  But his mission would be ended if he didn't handle this in just the right way.

Lahr turned a smile towards the Klingon and lifted a hand to tap the male Klingon on the shoulder weakly.   "Thanks for the demonstration there.   Yeah, you are right.  You are way faster than you look.  But you can put me down now.   You made your point.   I owe you that ale, now."

The Klingon male looked to Lahr in surprise, while the female clued in faster.  "You heard our friend, put him down.. gently now."

The Andorian looked over to the Lieutenant.  "So what can we do for Starfleet's best and brightest, eh?  What's up with this Red Alert? Are we being evacuated?"

[Innominatum Outpost - The Pickled Pakled]

"Stuff it." Sven said as he went to seize the Andorian. "Arrest those two for co-conspiracy." he ordered to his small security crew while making a small jerking motion of he head towards the Klingons.

"Mr. ch'Verret, you are under arrest by Starfleet Code of conduct article 42, section 12, subsection C for the sabotage of the Mjolnir. You have the right to remain silent. An advocate will be assigned to you by the Judge Advocate's General Office."

[Lek]

NPC Lt Taray - Chief of Security/Tactical]
[USS Challenger-A - Deck One - Bridge]

When the first report of activity in the Shuttlebay was announced by the Ops officer on the Bridge, Taray thought it would be no deal.  They had that place sealed off and locked out.  Or so she thought, but a moment later Lt Commander Sukal's authorization codes were used to by-pass Ops.

"Where the Hell is he going?!" she complained as she watched the shuttle begin to move out of the bay.  "Ops try hailing the Commander.  Find out what he's up to and when we can expect him back."  She grumbled more about the Chief of Ops not filing a proper flight plan in advance.

"No answer to our hails, sir."

More trouble sounded a moment later when a roving security patrol called in to report they'd found a body in the shuttlebay.  Was it related at all to Sukal's leaving?  Taray didn't know for certain but the situation meant she couldn't take the chance.

"Ops, tractor that shuttle!" she ordered.  Executive officer had some explaining to do.

"Tractor beam is not activating, sir. I've been locked out.  It need Command level authorization to reinitialize"

As she was listening to this Taray heard the Security officer call out that the shuttle was clear and powering up its warp engines.

"Red Alert!  Ops contact Innominatum and inform them that Lt Commander Sukal has cut communications and appears to have stolen a shuttle.  We request to be undocked in order to pursue."

Just as the Ops officer nodded their acknowledgement a call came in from the Outpost.

And then a second later a call from Lt Lek.

Taray answered. "Too late sir.  Challenger requests to be undocked and released from lockdown.  We believe Mr. Sukal.. or the intruder... has stolen a shuttle, and may be involved in the death of one of the crew.  Our tractor has been sabotaged.  We need to undock in order to pursue."

Taray waited for the permissions to be granted.

[Bridge - USS Challenger]

Lek stepped on the bridge in time to hear all the things that weren't working and it made him uncharacteristically angry. Most people probably thought he was a grumpy sort, but engineers are allowed to be grumpy, but actually being angry was not common for him. Watching the shuttle escape, all Lek could say was.

"Once again we look like idiots."

As his purpose for coming to the bridge no longer existed, he remembered Lahr wanted something. As he entered the turbolift for eengineering he asked.

"Computer, locate Petty Officer ch'Verret."

"Petty Officer ch'Verret is in the brig of the Innominatum Outpost."

Lek frowned, but did not alter his destination.

"Looks like whatever you wanted is going to have to wait my friend."

[ShranLahr ch'Verret]

PO2 ShranLahr ch'Verret
[Innominatum Outpost - The Pickled Pakled]

[Innominatum Outpost - The Pickled Pakled]

"Stuff it." Sven said as he went to seize the Andorian. "Arrest those two for co-conspiracy." he ordered to his small security crew while making a small jerking motion of he head towards the Klingons.

"Mr. ch'Verret, you are under arrest by Starfleet Code of conduct article 42, section 12, subsection C for the sabotage of the Mjolnir. You have the right to remain silent. An advocate will be assigned to you by the Judge Advocate's General Office."

As the Lieutenant walked over and took hold of him, for a moment Lahr was grateful.  Without the Klingon holding him up, Lahr didn't have a whole lot of strength to stand on his own.   But the security officer's grip was far more tight than he'd have expected for the man just helping him keep to his feet.

The Klingons also didn't put up a fight.  Since it seemed like the Andorian wasn't going to charge them with assault, they would likely be released in short order.. or that's what they thought - completely missing the mention of co-conspiracy.  Well, they missed it until the Lieutenant arrested Lahr for sabotage.   The female's eyebrows rose in surprise and looked at the Andorian a bit differently - maybe he did have uses after all.

Lahr's confusion at the charge wasn't faked.  Nor did he miss the serious tone the Lieutenant had.  Lahr didn't think the guy was joking or making up charges to just pull Lahr out of his mess with the Klingons.

"What the hell?! Sabotage? The Mjolnir?  You got the wrong guy.  I was on the shuttle to adjust the seat height that's all - as ordered." Lahr commented this last with a bit of a sneer.  He hoped if he portrayed an unhappy crewman the Klingons might still believe he was serious about dealing.

"And to save you from looking like a total ass, I'll clue you in on something, sir.  I only just met these two, so accusing them of being 'co-conspirators' is not just ludicrous but verging on speciesist profiling - which Starfleet officers should really be above.  Don't think I won't put that in my written statement when I'm asked for it."

Lahr met Lt Aune's gaze steadily.  "If I were you I'd rethink arresting innocent by-standers on trumped up charges when you have no shred of evidence...  not for me... and certainly not for them. Just a thought..."

[Stryker]

PO2 ShranLahr ch'Verret
[Innominatum Outpost - The Pickled Pakled]

As the Lieutenant walked over and took hold of him, for a moment Lahr was grateful.  Without the Klingon holding him up, Lahr didn't have a whole lot of strength to stand on his own.   But the security officer's grip was far more tight than he'd have expected for the man just helping him keep to his feet.

The Klingons also didn't put up a fight.  Since it seemed like the Andorian wasn't going to charge them with assault, they would likely be released in short order.. or that's what they thought - completely missing the mention of co-conspiracy.  Well, they missed it until the Lieutenant arrested Lahr for sabotage.   The female's eyebrows rose in surprise and looked at the Andorian a bit differently - maybe he did have uses after all.

Lahr's confusion at the charge wasn't faked.  Nor did he miss the serious tone the Lieutenant had.  Lahr didn't think the guy was joking or making up charges to just pull Lahr out of his mess with the Klingons.

"What the hell?! Sabotage? The Mjolnir?  You got the wrong guy.  I was on the shuttle to adjust the seat height that's all - as ordered." Lahr commented this last with a bit of a sneer.  He hoped if he portrayed an unhappy crewman the Klingons might still believe he was serious about dealing.

"And to save you from looking like a total ass, I'll clue you in on something, sir.  I only just met these two, so accusing them of being 'co-conspirators' is not just ludicrous but verging on speciesist profiling - which Starfleet officers should really be above.  Don't think I won't put that in my written statement when I'm asked for it."

Lahr met Lt Aune's gaze steadily.  "If I were you I'd rethink arresting innocent by-standers on trumped up charges when you have no shred of evidence...  not for me... and certainly not for them. Just a thought..."

�Go right ahead. You will find that I don�t respond to threats. We�ve thad two assissinations, and now sabotage. And guess what? Your name was dropped by Commander Sukal. Imagine my surprise when I found you, locked inside a public establishment, being strangled by your so called new found acquaintances. I don�t buy it. I�ll tell you what. We�re going to question you and your friends in the upcoming investigation , and if you are all innocent as you claim, you have nothing to worry about.�

Sven said as he shoved the Andorran into a cell, while the Klingons were separated from each other and placed into their own cells.

(OOC Post restored due to server outage - ShranLahr ch'Verret)

[ShranLahr ch'Verret]

PO2 ShranLahr ch'Verret
[Innominatum Outpost - Brig]

�Go right ahead. You will find that I don�t respond to threats. We�ve had two assassinations, and now sabotage. And guess what? Your name was dropped by Commander Sukal. Imagine my surprise when I found you, locked inside a public establishment, being strangled by your so called new found acquaintances. I don�t buy it. I�ll tell you what. We�re going to question you and your friends in the upcoming investigation , and if you are all innocent as you claim, you have nothing to worry about.�

Sven said as he shoved the Andorran into a cell, while the Klingons were separated from each other and placed into their own cells.

Lahr grimaced as the human was clueless as to what he was trying to get across to him.

The Klingons unfortunately were arrested alongside Lahr... and when they were 'patted' down and scanned for their various weapons, the security personnel also found several packets of an unfamiliar drug.   Lahr however had nothing on him except a commbadge tucked underneath his jacket.

He and the Klingons were brought to the Brig on the Outpost.  The Andorian wondered if that was because the Lieutenant didn't want him being guarded by those he'd worked closely with in the past.

Later ... Interrogation room]
Lahr was getting fed up with questions that were repeatedly being asked him by his interrogator.  Because the interrogation was being recorded, Lahr couldn't answer the Lieutenant's questions as fully as he might have wanted.   They didn't know how deep Hecate's influence was - she could have informants that had access to the interrogation recordings.  He had to continue 'in character' until he could be sure that it was just him and Lt Aune.

"I'll say it again - slowly so that maybe this time it'll sink in.  Lek and I... we were ordered .. by the Captain... to check over her shuttle... before her flight - that's why we were there.  Makes sense, right?   I was specifically asked... by the Captain...  to adjust the pilot seat to her personal height preference.  Since we had other orders to deal with..."  Lahr looked to the Lieutenant significantly at this point,  "Lek just did the most cursory of checks on the shuttle's engines.   If there was any sabotage to the shuttle... it likely happened after our visit,... or was so subtle that it wouldn't be detected even by a pre-launch check..  Put simply... we didn't do this! And you are wasting your time asking me these questions repeatedly.  My answer isn't going to change."

(OOC Post restored due to server outage - ShranLahr ch'Verret)

[Stryker]

PO2 ShranLahr ch'Verret
[Innominatum Outpost - Brig]

Lahr grimaced as the human was clueless as to what he was trying to get across to him.

The Klingons unfortunately were arrested alongside Lahr... and when they were 'patted' down and scanned for their various weapons, the security personnel also found several packets of an unfamiliar drug.   Lahr however had nothing on him except a commbadge tucked underneath his jacket.

He and the Klingons were brought to the Brig on the Outpost.  The Andorian wondered if that was because the Lieutenant didn't want him being guarded by those he'd worked closely with in the past.

Later ... Interrogation room]
Lahr was getting fed up with questions that were repeatedly being asked him by his interrogator.  Because the interrogation was being recorded, Lahr couldn't answer the Lieutenant's questions as fully as he might have wanted.   They didn't know how deep Hecate's influence was - she could have informants that had access to the interrogation recordings.  He had to continue 'in character' until he could be sure that it was just him and Lt Aune.

"I'll say it again - slowly so that maybe this time it'll sink in.  Lek and I... we were ordered .. by the Captain... to check over her shuttle... before her flight - that's why we were there.  Makes sense, right?   I was specifically asked... by the Captain...  to adjust the pilot seat to her personal height preference.  Since we had other orders to deal with..."  Lahr looked to the Lieutenant significantly at this point,  "Lek just did the most cursory of checks on the shuttle's engines.   If there was any sabotage to the shuttle... it likely happened after our visit,... or was so subtle that it wouldn't be detected even by a pre-launch check..  Put simply... we didn't do this! And you are wasting your time asking me these questions repeatedly.  My answer isn't going to change."

Innominatum outpost brig

Sven let the Andorian finish.

�Security overide, Aune Sierra tango Romeo one one four. Disable holo recoding and secure the site.� he said. He took the com badge on his uniform and pulled it off.

�I�m well aware of your involvement with the drug ring ch�Verret. I know that Captain Sigurdsdottir planted you as an informant for a sting operation. I�m also aware that you probably couldn�t sabotage the Mjolnir even if you wanted to. But you need to keep the charade up a bit longer. However, you were on that shuttle so if you have any information concerning it, now would be a good time.� the large man said.

(OOC Post restored due to server outage - ShranLahr ch'Verret)

[Richard James Litt]

[Meanwhile on the Mjolnir...A day later]

"And remind me Mr. Litt, which department was it you wanted to cross train in?"

She was trying hard to keep people happy but being essentially trapped in a box with 5 other people was going to be an uphill job.

[Mjolnir · Somewhere]

"I want to do science ma'am..." He looked at the captain and said with a little smile in his face. "Actually I wasn't sure about that, but I hope that I have choose the right field."

[45 mins later]

"Ma'am incoming transmission from the USS Belfast, they can see us and will be with us in approximately 20 mins, we are to prepare to beam across and they will attach the tractor beam once we are safely aboard." T'ealc announced.

Litt celebrated silently with the news that there was help on the way. But right after that he recovered his focus, thinking that they had to discover who did that. The thing could be a little more difficult if the Captain was all alone with her sisters.

[ShranLahr ch'Verret]

PO2 ShranLahr ch'Verret
[Innominatum Outpost - Interrogation Room]

Innominatum outpost brig

Sven let the Andorian finish.

"Security overide, Aune Sierra tango Romeo one one four. Disable holo recoding and secure the site." he said. He took the com badge on his uniform and pulled it off.

"I'm well aware of your involvement with the drug ring ch'Verret. I know that Captain Sigurdsdottir planted you as an informant for a sting operation. I'm also aware that you probably couldn't sabotage the Mjolnir even if you wanted to. But you need to keep the charade up a bit longer. However, you were on that shuttle so if you have any information concerning it, now would be a good time." the large man said.

Lahr's drooping antenna perked a bit hearing the Lieutenant stop the recording.  This was either good - it that he could now speak freely... or very bad - in that maybe Aune was the assassin... working for Leyton and was going to finish the job the Klingons started.

With his hands cuffed to the table between them there wasn't much that Lahr could do other than watch the man closely, maybe dodge a first attack... that'd be pretty much it.

But Lahr's worries seemed to be for naught when Aune confirmed he knew about his mission and told him to keep up the act.  Unfortunately when the Lieutenant asked about any thing he might know about the shuttle Lahr shook his head.

"I wish I did, sir... but I was being honest. We figured we were sent there just to pick up the drugs.   Lek did a quick systems check and found nothing alarming. That's it - after that we left.  I saw nothing suspicious or I would have brought it to Lieutenant Commander Sukal's attention."

The Andorian answered all questions put to him as best as possible, then afterwards made a bit of a request.

"I know you can't overlook the drugs you found on the Klingons - that would be suspicious... so instead... when you send me back to the cells to await the conclusion of your investigation...  can you arrange to have me bunked with the male Klingon? Call it a punishment - for my poor attitude or whatever.  I figure he might get talkative, if I rile him somewhat and the female isn't there to order him about."

[Ruth Sigurdsdottir]

[Meanwhile on Innominatum]

[As NPC Lena Maghouin]

Lena had got the message that Lt. Commander Sukal was missing, one of the Challenger's shuttles was missing and he had left on it, and that one of the turbolifts was stuck between floors.  It didn't take her long to figure out what was going on.  Hoping that she was wrong and that the Challenger's First Officer was still alive she rolled her eyes, clearly some 'logical lacing of evidence and theorising' exercises were going to have to be run in future.

As she was still stuck looking for the bullet and collecting evidence she hailed Amoreen.

Maghouin to Amoreen, please take a medical crew to the turbolift stuck between floors 200-202, potential casualty.  Maghouin out

Lena waited and listened.  She didn't even get the 2 click tap of acknowledgement and for someone who was a Lt. Commander she expected better.

Concerned she crossed to the wall console.  "Computer, locate two people Lt. Commander Amoreen and Lt. Commander Sukal, by lifesigns rather than commbadge."  The Chief had been caught out before by people playing hunt the commbadge, so lifesigns was more reliable.

"Lt. Commander Amoreen - no positive readings, last record, Shuttlebay 2 - Deck 20, USS Challenger..." there was a quick beep and the computer resumed.  "Lt. Commander Sukal, Turbolift 4a, between decks 200-202, Section E, off corridor 7b, Innominatum."

Lena breathed a sigh of relief.  "Take over here..." she was about to say more when one of those searching lifted an arm.  "Yes?"

"We've found the bullet, Ma'am!"

"Jolly good.   Bag it, send it down to the Brig, actually take it down I think we're done here.  Seal up the room, 6 people posted 2 on the door, 2 each end of the corridor, everyone else back to normal duties.  You, please inform Lt. Aune that if he has anyone locked up on suspicion of the assassination, question them but otherwise I think we unfortunately have our assassin and she's flown the nest...and that I'll explain when I come up later.  Right now I have an Executive Officer to rescue."

"Yes Ma'am?!"  the Bolian Security Ensign said, uncertainly.  He knew not to question just to do.

The Innominatum Security Chief set off at a run, tapping her commbadge as she did so.

Maghouin to Dr. York or Dr Al-Hambra, and to Engineering. Please meet Deck 202, Section E, off corridor 7b, turbolift.  Have reason to believe we have injured high ranking officer in broken lift.  Possible assassination attempt.  Maghouin out. 

[Innominatum Sickbay]

[As Dr. Maggie York]

Maggie got the hail through and picked up her medkit calling over to Kalim "Starfleet Medical, like the Number 10 bus... Wait all year for something it then 3 come along at once!  I'll leave you dealing with the aide, I don't think we need autopsy it's pretty obvious what happened there, as Lt. Commander Amoreen called it in.  Back, with whomever... prep a biobed will you and possibly neural pathway stuff... I don't know what condition this person will be in, better have the morgue ready too.  Piccadilly bloody Circus..." she muttered under her breath.

Arriving at Deck 202 [Turbolift] she saw Lena and gave a half smile.  It was greeting to her friend, but an all out grin in this grave situation would have been inappropriate.

"What we got Lena?" she asked.

Lena dropped her voice.  "Lt. Commander Sukal.  If I'm right then Lt. Commander Amoreen is our assassin, she's absconded or dead however, no lifesign on Innominatum or Challenger.  Sukal's commbadge isn't registering so it's either dead or with Amoreen, but his lifesign is in here.  I figured that it was better to climb down rather than up!"

Maggie gave Lena a grateful look, Maggie hated ladders with a passion.

"Let's get this done with..." the doctor said climbing down after an Engineering Ensign.  They'd been unsuccessful in getting the turbolift started quickly enough for either Lena or Maggie's liking but were still working on the panel although told not to move the turbolift until their signal..

1.5 decks down wasn't too bad, and they shortly were going through the hatch, looking down to the prone form of Lt. Commander Sukal.

Running the tricorder over his body, Maggie suppressed a laugh at Lena who had automatically knelt and pressed two fingers to Sukal's jugular.  "Sometimes old methods are the quickest for determining life I'll give you that, what's the verdict then Dr. Maghouin?!" she said with a small quirk of her lips.

"Well he's alive, and the pulse is relatively strong, breathing is regular I think we just have to wake him up, but I couldn't tell what put him under."  Lena said, breathing a sigh of relief that Sukal was alive.

"Neural... Something overloaded his senses, he's a telepath, I've got a feeling someone used their mind against his, not in a good way.  Probably Amoreen... wasn't, isn't she Betazoid? He's going to probably have the headache from hell but otherwise I think he'll be fine, maybe a couple of bruises from falling.  OK let's have 10ccs of Adrenaline and see if that helps get him back to rights, in the meantime..." she turned to the Engineering ensign who had come down with them.

"If you guys have worked your magic... feel free to move this to floor 150 Medical."

"Yes Ma'am, whomever killed this knew enough to kill it but not enough to permanently kill it!  Lift resume, Deck 150."

As the doors opened on Deck 150 she saw Dr. Al-Hambra waiting there with a hover stretcher and smiled a genuine warm smile.  She was going to miss the handsome Egyptian doctor when she was out on the Challenger.

"Thanks Kalim,.." she whispered as he went past to help the engineering ensign pick up Sukal gently to put him on the hover stretcher.

"Let's get him back to Sickbay, inform Challenger that we have Lt. Commander Sukal." she ordered.

Once settled on a biobed, Maggie entrusted the care of the XO over to nurses ready to shout the second that he came round.

[Ruth Sigurdsdottir]

[Mjolnir · Somewhere]

"I want to do science ma'am..." He looked at the captain and said with a little smile in his face. "Actually I wasn't sure about that, but I hope that I have choose the right field."

Litt celebrated silently with the news that there was help on the way. But right after that he recovered his focus, thinking that they had to discover who did that. The thing could be a little more difficult if the Captain was all alone with her sisters.

[Meanwhile on the Mjolnir/USS Belfast....]

A hail came through from the Belfast which T'ealc fielded.

"Ma'am, the Belfast ask how many of us are beaming across." she relayed.

"Well, liaise with them, if their Engineers prefer just to tractor us in then all 6 of us, otherwise,.. actually all 6 of us, we'll give them a run down of what has been going on once we're aboard.  I'm sure most of you will appreciate a sonic shower, a sleep and something to eat other than nominal rations." Ruth said smiling.

[Transporter Room - USS Belfast]

"Welcome aboard Captain Sigurdsdottir and... crew of the Mjolnir, I'm Commander LeFrage, Executive Officer of the USS Belfast.  Please allow me to conduct you to your quarters until we get to DS9, the Captain extends his greetings but as I'm sure you appreciate, is busy on the Bridge.  The tractor beam successfully engaged the Mjolnir and we'll be at DS9 in approximately 6 hours.  Is there anything you need particularly other than those you'd expect to find in VIP quarters?" LeFrage smiled.

Ruth sighed with relief. "Not that I can particularly think of right now Commander and thank you.  Please allow me to present my crew - Cadet Apprentices Sigurdsdottir, my sisters Arya and Katya, my flight officer Ensign Litt, Chief Petty Officer T'ealc - Medical, Crewman Gohun - Security. Thank you so much for coming to our assistance.  Oh I have thought of one thing you could have someone in Ops do for me, contact Innominatum, particularly to forward to Lt. Commander Sukal that we have been successfully rescued and a message to DS9 to my new crewmember Crewman Charlie Davis.  Lead on Commander, I believe I have a sonic shower and a cup of hot Yorkshire tea calling my name!"

LeFrage chuckled.  "Certainly, Captain this way."

Ruth nodded at the Ops Lieutenant at the Transporter controls by way of thanks then followed the Commander out.

[6.5 hours later.... DS9]

Ruth stepped out of the airlock and onto the main Customs of DS9 resisting the urge to bend down and kiss the decking.

"Well, we made it girls, and with time to spare.  Litt, T'ealc, Gohun, with the exception of you checking back in with me in 48hours and Mr. Litt can you please liaise between the crew fixing the Mjolnir and myself regarding the repair.  Once I have the girls seen off I want to be back to Innominatum as quickly as we can be but I promised some shore leave and thanks to the Captain of the USS Belfast being in rather a hurry to get to his next destination, we got here a full day ahead of schedule so you can thank him that you have 2 days R&R!!  Off you go, enjoy!" Ruth said with a grin.

"Now girls, I'm going to spend as long as I can with you but in order to do that we need to do some recon work first.  Find out exactly where the shuttle goes from, what time etc. and get your baggage across.  And I need to find Crewman Davis..."

[Stryker]

PO2 ShranLahr ch'Verret
[Innominatum Outpost - Interrogation Room]

Lahr's drooping antenna perked a bit hearing the Lieutenant stop the recording.  This was either good - it that he could now speak freely... or very bad - in that maybe Aune was the assassin... working for Leyton and was going to finish the job the Klingons started.

With his hands cuffed to the table between them there wasn't much that Lahr could do other than watch the man closely, maybe dodge a first attack... that'd be pretty much it.

But Lahr's worries seemed to be for naught when Aune confirmed he knew about his mission and told him to keep up the act.  Unfortunately when the Lieutenant asked about any thing he might know about the shuttle Lahr shook his head.

"I wish I did, sir... but I was being honest. We figured we were sent there just to pick up the drugs.   Lek did a quick systems check and found nothing alarming. That's it - after that we left.  I saw nothing suspicious or I would have brought it to Lieutenant Commander Sukal's attention."

The Andorian answered all questions put to him as best as possible, then afterwards made a bit of a request.

"I know you can't overlook the drugs you found on the Klingons - that would be suspicious... so instead... when you send me back to the cells to await the conclusion of your investigation...  can you arrange to have me bunked with the male Klingon? Call it a punishment - for my poor attitude or whatever.  I figure he might get talkative, if I rile him somewhat and the female isn't there to order him about."

[Innominatum Outpost - Interrogation Room]

Sven nodded. The Andorian had a point, but there was another point that had Sven worried. The point of a shank.

"That sounds like a good idea in theory, but I'm concerned that your life will be put in danger doing that. Klingons have been known to harbor grudges and I'd hate to see you get hurt. But if you think you can handle it, then the risk is on you. Any information would be good." the beefy security officer said.

He walked the Andorian out of the room, and placed him in the cell with the male Klingon.
"I don't care for your lip, Andorian. Looks to me like we're going to have to double up cells for a bit."

[Sukal]

[Meanwhile on Innominatum]

[As NPC Lena Maghouin]

Lena had got the message that Lt. Commander Sukal was missing, one of the Challenger's shuttles was missing and he had left on it, and that one of the turbolifts was stuck between floors.  It didn't take her long to figure out what was going on.  Hoping that she was wrong and that the Challenger's First Officer was still alive she rolled her eyes, clearly some 'logical lacing of evidence and theorising' exercises were going to have to be run in future.

As she was still stuck looking for the bullet and collecting evidence she hailed Amoreen.

Maghouin to Amoreen, please take a medical crew to the turbolift stuck between floors 200-202, potential casualty.  Maghouin out

Lena waited and listened.  She didn't even get the 2 click tap of acknowledgement and for someone who was a Lt. Commander she expected better.

Concerned she crossed to the wall console.  "Computer, locate two people Lt. Commander Amoreen and Lt. Commander Sukal, by lifesigns rather than commbadge."  The Chief had been caught out before by people playing hunt the commbadge, so lifesigns was more reliable.

"Lt. Commander Amoreen - no positive readings, last record, Shuttlebay 2 - Deck 20, USS Challenger..." there was a quick beep and the computer resumed.  "Lt. Commander Sukal, Turbolift 4a, between decks 200-202, Section E, off corridor 7b, Innominatum."

Lena breathed a sigh of relief.  "Take over here..." she was about to say more when one of those searching lifted an arm.  "Yes?"

"We've found the bullet, Ma'am!"

"Jolly good.   Bag it, send it down to the Brig, actually take it down I think we're done here.  Seal up the room, 6 people posted 2 on the door, 2 each end of the corridor, everyone else back to normal duties.  You, please inform Lt. Aune that if he has anyone locked up on suspicion of the assassination, question them but otherwise I think we unfortunately have our assassin and she's flown the nest...and that I'll explain when I come up later.  Right now I have an Executive Officer to rescue."

"Yes Ma'am?!"  the Bolian Security Ensign said, uncertainly.  He knew not to question just to do.

The Innominatum Security Chief set off at a run, tapping her commbadge as she did so.

=/\=Maghouin to Dr. York or Dr Al-Hambra, and to Engineering. Please meet Deck 202, Section E, off corridor 7b, turbolift.  Have reason to believe we have injured high ranking officer in broken lift.  Possible assassination attempt.  Maghouin out. 

[Innominatum Sickbay]

[As Dr. Maggie York]

Maggie got the hail through and picked up her medkit calling over to Kalim "Starfleet Medical, like the Number 10 bus... Wait all year for something it then 3 come along at once!  I'll leave you dealing with the aide, I don't think we need autopsy it's pretty obvious what happened there, as Lt. Commander Amoreen called it in.  Back, with whomever... prep a biobed will you and possibly neural pathway stuff... I don't know what condition this person will be in, better have the morgue ready too.  Piccadilly bloody Circus..." she muttered under her breath.

Arriving at Deck 202 [Turbolift] she saw Lena and gave a half smile.  It was greeting to her friend, but an all out grin in this grave situation would have been inappropriate.

"What we got Lena?" she asked.

Lena dropped her voice.  "Lt. Commander Sukal.  If I'm right then Lt. Commander Amoreen is our assassin, she's absconded or dead however, no lifesign on Innominatum or Challenger.  Sukal's commbadge isn't registering so it's either dead or with Amoreen, but his lifesign is in here.  I figured that it was better to climb down rather than up!"

Maggie gave Lena a grateful look, Maggie hated ladders with a passion.

"Let's get this done with..." the doctor said climbing down after an Engineering Ensign.  They'd been unsuccessful in getting the turbolift started quickly enough for either Lena or Maggie's liking but were still working on the panel although told not to move the turbolift until their signal..

1.5 decks down wasn't too bad, and they shortly were going through the hatch, looking down to the prone form of Lt. Commander Sukal.

Running the tricorder over his body, Maggie suppressed a laugh at Lena who had automatically knelt and pressed two fingers to Sukal's jugular.  "Sometimes old methods are the quickest for determining life I'll give you that, what's the verdict then Dr. Maghouin?!" she said with a small quirk of her lips.

"Well he's alive, and the pulse is relatively strong, breathing is regular I think we just have to wake him up, but I couldn't tell what put him under."  Lena said, breathing a sigh of relief that Sukal was alive.

"Neural... Something overloaded his senses, he's a telepath, I've got a feeling someone used their mind against his, not in a good way.  Probably Amoreen... wasn't, isn't she Betazoid? He's going to probably have the headache from hell but otherwise I think he'll be fine, maybe a couple of bruises from falling.  OK let's have 10ccs of Adrenaline and see if that helps get him back to rights, in the meantime..." she turned to the Engineering ensign who had come down with them.

"If you guys have worked your magic... feel free to move this to floor 150 Medical."

"Yes Ma'am, whomever killed this knew enough to kill it but not enough to permanently kill it!  Lift resume, Deck 150."

As the doors opened on Deck 150 she saw Dr. Al-Hambra waiting there with a hover stretcher and smiled a genuine warm smile.  She was going to miss the handsome Egyptian doctor when she was out on the Challenger.

"Thanks Kalim,.." she whispered as he went past to help the engineering ensign pick up Sukal gently to put him on the hover stretcher.

"Let's get him back to Sickbay, inform Challenger that we have Lt. Commander Sukal." she ordered.

Once settled on a biobed, Maggie entrusted the care of the XO over to nurses ready to shout the second that he came round.

Sukal groaned as he started to wake up, and found himself laying on a biobed with a headache he wouldn't wish on anyone.  Well...almost anyone.  There were two people on his list which he rather wished he could transfer the pain to:  Leyton - the traitorous former Admiral which had made it necessary for him to return to Starfleet, and D'leha Amoreen - the reason he had the headache to begin with.  He groaned again - rather unwillingly as he attempted to sit up, but his limps simply would not cooperate at the moment.  Maggie York appeared to be tending to him as he lay there under her care, but he couldn't even form words yet.  So powerful had the assault been on his mind that it was taking him more time to recover from the effects.  Despite his mental strength and discipline; Sukal had only been subjected to a mental attack one other time.  In that instance, he had been prepared, but D'leha had caught him without any such preparation.

An emotion he normally kept quite in check now bubbled swiftly to the surface:  anger.  He had been angry before, but letting such out was indeed a rare moment for Sukal.  Holding it back this time was not even attempted.  Rage poured from this betrayal and loss of life.

"Please, tell me we have that treacherous witch in custody!" he finally growled as he looked up at Doctor York.  Anyone who knew him would have known such a burst of anger was truly unusual for the Vulcan/Betazoid, but the fury behind his tone was even more rare and unusual.  He wanted her captured and killed...and it showed in his voice and eyes without restraint.

[ShranLahr ch'Verret]

NPC Lieutenant Taray
[USS Challenger - Deck One]

From the Command chair that she�d been left in charge of, Taray glanced over towards the turbolift as Lek arrived.  His comment summed up her feelings rather nicely.  She felt utterly ineffective.  This was intensified when her request to undock immediately was denied.

She was told to wait until a Command Level Officer - likely one from the USS Janaran - could be take over and command the pursuit.  It was like a slap in face.  Being told she wasn�t capable enough of an officer to deal with a crisis.

She did her best in the meanwhile having Ops work at tracking their warp trail... but she had little hope it would make any difference.

(OOC Post restored due to server outage - ShranLahr ch'Verret)

[Richard James Litt]

[Meanwhile on the Mjolnir/USS Belfast....]

A hail came through from the Belfast which T'ealc fielded.

"Ma'am, the Belfast ask how many of us are beaming across." she relayed.

"Well, liaise with them, if their Engineers prefer just to tractor us in then all 6 of us, otherwise,.. actually all 6 of us, we'll give them a run down of what has been going on once we're aboard.  I'm sure most of you will appreciate a sonic shower, a sleep and something to eat other than nominal rations." Ruth said smiling.

[Transporter Room - USS Belfast]

"Welcome aboard Captain Sigurdsdottir and... crew of the Mjolnir, I'm Commander LeFrage, Executive Officer of the USS Belfast.  Please allow me to conduct you to your quarters until we get to DS9, the Captain extends his greetings but as I'm sure you appreciate, is busy on the Bridge.  The tractor beam successfully engaged the Mjolnir and we'll be at DS9 in approximately 6 hours.  Is there anything you need particularly other than those you'd expect to find in VIP quarters?" LeFrage smiled.

Ruth sighed with relief. "Not that I can particularly think of right now Commander and thank you.  Please allow me to present my crew - Cadet Apprentices Sigurdsdottir, my sisters Arya and Katya, my flight officer Ensign Litt, Chief Petty Officer T'ealc - Medical, Crewman Gohun - Security. Thank you so much for coming to our assistance.  Oh I have thought of one thing you could have someone in Ops do for me, contact Innominatum, particularly to forward to Lt. Commander Sukal that we have been successfully rescued and a message to DS9 to my new crewmember Crewman Charlie Davis.  Lead on Commander, I believe I have a sonic shower and a cup of hot Yorkshire tea calling my name!"

LeFrage chuckled.  "Certainly, Captain this way."

Ruth nodded at the Ops Lieutenant at the Transporter controls by way of thanks then followed the Commander out.

[6.5 hours later.... DS9]

Ruth stepped out of the airlock and onto the main Customs of DS9 resisting the urge to bend down and kiss the decking.

"Well, we made it girls, and with time to spare.  Litt, T'ealc, Gohun, with the exception of you checking back in with me in 48hours and Mr. Litt can you please liaise between the crew fixing the Mjolnir and myself regarding the repair.  Once I have the girls seen off I want to be back to Innominatum as quickly as we can be but I promised some shore leave and thanks to the Captain of the USS Belfast being in rather a hurry to get to his next destination, we got here a full day ahead of schedule so you can thank him that you have 2 days R&R!!  Off you go, enjoy!" Ruth said with a grin.

"Now girls, I'm going to spend as long as I can with you but in order to do that we need to do some recon work first.  Find out exactly where the shuttle goes from, what time etc. and get your baggage across.  And I need to find Crewman Davis..."

[DS9]

The rescue didn't take long, Mjolnir's crew was transported to USS Belfast. 6.5 hours later they get in DS9, faster than the original plans, which was a good thing. Right before they went there, Captain Ruth was talking with the crew about the next couple of days, saying that they could have a little free time and asked Litt to liaise between her and the Mjolnir's repairs.

"Aye ma'am... I can handle that" He said to the Captain and awaited her to dismiss them. He didn't have much to do on DS9 so he was ready to focus only on Mjolnir, and if the repairs were ready soon, he would look for something to do in the remaining time.

[Ruth Sigurdsdottir]

Sukal groaned as he started to wake up, and found himself laying on a biobed with a headache he wouldn't wish on anyone.  Well...almost anyone.  There were two people on his list which he rather wished he could transfer the pain to:  Leyton - the traitorous former Admiral which had made it necessary for him to return to Starfleet, and D'leha Amoreen - the reason he had the headache to begin with.  He groaned again - rather unwillingly as he attempted to sit up, but his limps simply would not cooperate at the moment.  Maggie York appeared to be tending to him as he lay there under her care, but he couldn't even form words yet.  So powerful had the assault been on his mind that it was taking him more time to recover from the effects.  Despite his mental strength and discipline; Sukal had only been subjected to a mental attack one other time.  In that instance, he had been prepared, but D'leha had caught him without any such preparation.

An emotion he normally kept quite in check now bubbled swiftly to the surface:  anger.  He had been angry before, but letting such out was indeed a rare moment for Sukal.  Holding it back this time was not even attempted.  Rage poured from this betrayal and loss of life.

"Please, tell me we have that treacherous witch in custody!" he finally growled as he looked up at Doctor York.  Anyone who knew him would have known such a burst of anger was truly unusual for the Vulcan/Betazoid, but the fury behind his tone was even more rare and unusual.  He wanted her captured and killed...and it showed in his voice and eyes without restraint.

[Sickbay - Innominatum]

[As NPC Dr. Maggie York, CMO Challenger]

Maggie held up a restraining hand, gently pushing Sukal back into the biobed but raising the top of it so he could sit up while still being in a resting pose.  She totally understood his ire.  To anyone that used their mind, this was a violation, almost like rape but mentally.

"Don't shoot the messenger!" she said with a wry smile.  "I haven't got a lot of information but I'm guessing by '...that treacherous witch...' you're referring to Lt. Commander Amoreen.  I'm only going on what Lena said, and a lot of this is surmise but she's either dead or in some way off the Outpost and Challenger as there's no life sign for her.  That's the only way we found you... life sign.  Not sure where your commbadge is.  Now first, I'm going to give you..." Maggie held up a hypo.  "15ccs of Triptacederine to help get rid of that headache of yours.  I know she must have attacked you via your mind.  Now this is strictly between you and me... under normal circumstances I would not be letting you walk out of this Sickbay.  However, desperate times, desperate measures. And I know you'd discharge yourself anyhow so... providing you don't try running around, and promise to delegate where you can, I'll let you go.  I know you'll want answers, I'm letting you go get them.  I'll come with you up to the Challenger as I don't think there's anything left to be done down here."

She administered the Triptacederine and stood back.  "OK... here we go."