S3:E5: Eliminating Shadows

[Sukal]

Innomintum Outpost
Commander's Office - Operation's Center

"First Officer's Log: Stardate:  73692.77.  The Conference has been a devastating disaster in several cases thanks to the unforeseen treachery of Lieutenant Commander D'leha Amoreen.  After nearly being assassinated by her - it was discovered by the crew that she was directly responsible for the assassination of Ambassador Sighn'wa of the Scorpion Triad.  Evidence suggest she used a TR-116 Rifle with a mini-transporter modification, but then attempted to place the blame and evidence on Ambassadorial Aide K'roa of the Sapphire Conglomerate using one of the prototype TP-117 Pistols.  Casualties thus far in our investigation not including the Ambassador and the Aide are three Starfleet personnel - two in Security from the outpost, and one Operations person from CHALLENGER.  Their names are listed at the end of this log.  I am awaiting the return of Captain Sigurdsdottir on the USS BELFAST with our new crew member, but I doubt it will be a very happy return for either of us.  My failure to stop this assassination has been brought to the attention of Starfleet Command and the Federation Council.

"However, some good has come from this disaster.  With the way the assassination took place; many of the Ambassadors believe Leyton to be behind the entire event.  As such, some of them have offered their cooperation in pinning Leyton's base of operations down.  In particular, three people have helped considerably with the whole purpose of the Conference, and it may serve to salvage my career for these three successes.  Only time will tell about that part.

"Ambassador Alyssa Winslow has told me of a dangerous and strange facility hiding within the Setisar Nebula near the Loren Star System.  Reports have indicated there were rumors this facility was abandoned due to a nuclear disaster on par with the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant on Earth in 1986.  She has heard of hostages being held there, and of an advanced cybernetics lab.  Both of these things I find intriguing, and will be advising the Captain to consider making our next target...assuming she doesn't want to find Amoreen first.  Praetor Aedile was able to convince Ambassador Veesha of the merits in having a base of operations in Reman space; though perhaps not on the Reman homeworld as it might make both sides too nervous.  The treaty was sent to the Federation Council to be voted on, but for the moment it appears we have joined forces with the Remans to stop Leyton's rebellion.  Lastly, and most unexpectedly, was Lady Gril'ka coming to me with some very interesting news.  It appears the Klingon Empire has lost three ships in or near the Crimson Nebula.  All indications seem to point to a Federation starship being responsible for their destruction.  One of the ships was one of the Negh'var Heavy Battle Cruisers, and the other was an aging (but modified) Vor'cha belonging to Gril'ka's House.  She believes these attacks indicate Leyton's base being in or around the Crimson Nebula.

"With various crew members finishing up their assignments; the CHALLENGER stands ready to leave the moment the Captain arrives.  I will have to brief her when she returns...not a pleasant prospect as I am sure Starfleet Command has already growled at her for my errors.  End Log."

All personnel were told to report to the CHALLENGER within the next two hours - giving them time to finish up any assignments necessary.  At the same time - while Sukal waited for his Captain's arrival; he was finishing up his reports to Starfleet Command and the Federation Council on the recent events.  Despite an hour having passed since being released from Sickbay; Sukal was still angry.  People had died on his watch.  Disaster and chaos had managed to attack his command...his people...those who were directly held in his care.  As badly as he wanted Leyton - he wanted Amoreen even more.  The next time he saw her...she was dead.

It was quite the change for the First Officer who normally did not advocate killing unless absolutely necessary.  D'leha Amoreen was an exception no one would have expected from the normally rational Vulcan/Betazoid officer.  He could only hope Lahr was able to finish up swiftly, because everyone was needed for this one...everyone.  She had made them all look like fools...had taken their honor from them, and he would make sure she was caught for her crimes and killed.  He took a deep breath as he sat there in the Commander's Office, but it did little to really sooth his anger.

[Ruth Sigurdsdottir]

[Innominatum - 1.5 hours before departure]

Ruth was experiencing mixed feelings.  Upon getting to DS9 she'd had a flurry of requests to see various people, a slew of messages from Starfleet Command and having to field questions from the top brass when she had utterly no information.

Apparently an assassination, 3 if you counted the aide and a member of the Ops crew from the shuttlebay. had taken part a mere hour after she'd left the base.  Had she known she would have turned back and arranged for the girls to be taken on.

As it was she now had Starfleet reviewing her Captaincy, however, it seemed that a lot hung on how successful they were about Leyton.  Clearly they thought that the assassination had something to do with that.  Ruth however, never assumed.

Striding with a purpose she had instructed the engineering crew of the USS Belfast to have the Mjolnir transferred over to the Challenger to continue repairs there, and send reports of the sabotage for analysis.  She had prevailed upon the Captain of the Belfast to run them back explaining the situation.  Since he was only going about 7 hours out of his way if they stuck to Warp 6, less if they (he'd said it with a wink) annoyed his Chief Engineer and pushed the Belfast to maintain warp 8 then they could have a day R&R they'd planned on DS9 on Innominatum instead, and help out a Captain.  He'd also, over dinner, given her some pointers about the ships they'd found the warp trails of...inadvertently.

Ruth had remained schtumm on the fact that Challenger had found the warp trails, admitting that they'd blown up the Redav, since Captain Chambers of the Belfast had mentioned it, asking why she'd blown up a perfectly good ship, and then saying he wondered if the Poseidon, Falcon, Gol (he did not mention either the Ushaan or the Kumari-E, Ruth did not volunteer the information either), were out there floating around somewhere then went on to elaborate about their captains. (Info found HERE).  Ruth had stored the information and intended passing it on to the 'Think Tank'.

Turning to Crewman Davies, Crewman Gohun, CPO T'ealc and Ensign Litt she gave them a grim smile, it wasn't their fault.

"No time to do anything.  Grab any stuff you had on base and then straight up to the Challenger please we disembark in 90 mins, if you're not on board you will have to stay behind and I can tell you that we're not back here until December.  Once you've made your presence known to as 'aboard' status, you have the next 48 hours off duty in lieu of the time that you missed out on over at DS9 given our hasty turnaround. Ms. Davies, a word in private if I may." The Captain said levelling a look at the other crewmembers which brooked no nonsense.

She took her new crewmember to one side.  "Convince me that your wife can have a useful role on the Challenger or she'll have to stay on Innominatum, I must warn you too that we're going after ex-Admiral Leyton, someone that has been plaguing not just the USS Challenger but Innominatum for the past year and a half now.  It's going to be possibly slightly safer for her here but no less worrying for either of you.  I'm engaged to be married myself.  My husband to be is Captain of the USS Shran, it's not an easy life, we barely see each other. But duty is duty.  Make your decision between yourselves and make it quickly.  I'll make arrangements with Security at the Challenger airlock and with CPO Maghouin on the base to expect your wife whichever way you choose, if you choose Challenger it just takes a quick message to Maghouin to let her know that your wife is not to be expected, the airlock security, the same if she decides to stay here.  Either way, report to my Ready Room at the start of Alpha Shift tomorrow please. I'll leave you to discuss this with your wife.  You'll find me on the Challenger if you need me."

Striding purposefully through the base to the Challenger airlock she nodded, gritting her teeth at this person and that.  She stopped only to put her thumbprint to the PADD of the Security Ensign to gain access to her ship, the poor boy gabbling apologies at not having expected her.  She waved them away patting his shoulder absentmindedly and saying "At ease, you're doing a job and would rather jump through hoops knowing that there are measures in place for security, than walk straight through given recent events!"

'Sukal clamping down harder than a vice too probably, and with good reason!' she thought to herself.  Thinking of the same, and fending off greetings of welcome from the crew she headed straight for the Bridge.

[USS Challenger - Bridge]

"Mr. Sukal, My Ready Room please.  We have Litt, Davis, T'ealc and Gohun coming aboard in due course.  I have impressed upon them the need for urgency.  CPO T'ealc needs to collect some data from the Innominatum sickbay but I trust her to be back on board before we disembark."

She walked into her Ready Room, got herself a Ratkajino, sat down and waited for Sukal to be fully in the room and the door closed before she let her features that were in her 'resting bitch face' of annoyance, relax into something more normal for her.

[USS Challenger - Ready Room]

"OK, just how much of a disaster was it, how much have you salvaged?" she began knowing her First Officer would have done as much as he could.

[Sukal]

[Innominatum - 1.5 hours before departure]

Ruth was experiencing mixed feelings.  Upon getting to DS9 she'd had a flurry of requests to see various people, a slew of messages from Starfleet Command and having to field questions from the top brass when she had utterly no information.

Apparently an assassination, 3 if you counted the aide and a member of the Security crew from the outpost, had taken part a mere hour after she'd left the base.  Had she known she would have turned back and arranged for the girls to be taken on.

As it was she now had Starfleet reviewing her Captaincy, however, it seemed that a lot hung on how successful they were about Leyton.  Clearly they thought that the assassination had something to do with that.  Ruth however, never assumed.

Striding with a purpose she had instructed the engineering crew of the USS Belfast to have the Mjolnir transferred over to the Challenger to continue repairs there, and send reports of the sabotage for analysis.  She had prevailed upon the Captain of the Belfast to run them back explaining the situation.  Since he was only going about 7 hours out of his way if they stuck to Warp 6, less if they (he'd said it with a wink) annoyed his Chief Engineer and pushed the Belfast to maintain warp 8 then they could have a day R&R they'd planned on DS9 on Innominatum instead, and help out a Captain.  He'd also, over dinner, given her some pointers about the ships they'd found the warp trails of...inadvertently.

Ruth had remained schtumm on the fact that Challenger had found the warp trails, admitting that they'd blown up the Redav, since Captain Chambers of the Belfast had mentioned it, asking why she'd blown up a perfectly good ship, and then saying he wondered if the Poseidon, Falcon, Gol (he did not mention either the Ushaan or the Kumari-E, Ruth did not volunteer the information either), were out there floating around somewhere then went on to elaborate about their captains. (Info found HERE).  Ruth had stored the information and intended passing it on to the 'Think Tank'.

Turning to Crewman Davies, Crewman Gohun, CPO T'ealc and Ensign Litt she gave them a grim smile, it wasn't their fault.

"No time to do anything.  Grab any stuff you had on base and then straight up to the Challenger please we disembark in 90 mins, if you're not on board you will have to stay behind and I can tell you that we're not back here until December.  Once you've made your presence known to as 'aboard' status, you have the next 48 hours off duty in lieu of the time that you missed out on over at DS9 given our hasty turnaround. Ms. Davies, a word in private if I may." The Captain said levelling a look at the other crewmembers which brooked no nonsense.

She took her new crewmember to one side.  "Convince me that your wife can have a useful role on the Challenger or she'll have to stay on Innominatum, I must warn you too that we're going after ex-Admiral Leyton, someone that has been plaguing not just the USS Challenger but Innominatum for the past year and a half now.  It's going to be possibly slightly safer for her here but no less worrying for either of you.  I'm engaged to be married myself.  My husband to be is Captain of the USS Shran, it's not an easy life, we barely see each other. But duty is duty.  Make your decision between yourselves and make it quickly.  I'll make arrangements with Security at the Challenger airlock and with CPO Maghouin on the base to expect your wife whichever way you choose, if you choose Challenger it just takes a quick message to Maghouin to let her know that your wife is not to be expected, the airlock security, the same if she decides to stay here.  Either way, report to my Ready Room at the start of Alpha Shift tomorrow please. I'll leave you to discuss this with your wife.  You'll find me on the Challenger if you need me."

Striding purposefully through the base to the Challenger airlock she nodded, gritting her teeth at this person and that.  She stopped only to put her thumbprint to the PADD of the Security Ensign to gain access to her ship, the poor boy gabbling apologies at not having expected her.  She waved them away patting his shoulder absentmindedly and saying "At ease, you're doing a job and would rather jump through hoops knowing that there are measures in place for security, than walk straight through given recent events!"

'Sukal clamping down harder than a vice too probably, and with good reason!' she thought to herself.  Thinking of the same, and fending off greetings of welcome from the crew she headed straight for the Bridge.

[USS Challenger - Bridge]

"Mr. Sukal, My Ready Room please.  We have Litt, Davis, T'ealc and Gohun coming aboard in due course.  I have impressed upon them the need for urgency.  CPO T'ealc needs to collect some data from the Innominatum sickbay but I trust her to be back on board before we disembark."

She walked into her Ready Room, got herself a Ratkajino, sat down and waited for Sukal to be fully in the room and the door closed before she let her features that were in her 'resting bitch face' of annoyance, relax into something more normal for her.

[USS Challenger - Ready Room]

"OK, just how much of a disaster was it, how much have you salvaged?" she began knowing her First Officer would have done as much as he could.

CHALLENGER
Ready Room

The very moment his Captain returned; Sukal was already on his way back to the ship even before she called him to her Ready Room.  Every step he took told the crew members around that their First Officer was still angry, and with good reason.  Though the full extent of what had happened was not yet common knowledge to the entire crew; rumors had already started to spread.  It was hard to keep a lid on something as serious as an assassination at the outpost's very first Conference.  Everyone seemed to take extra care to stay out of his way, and Sukal was glad they understood to do so.  With every new step he attempted to bring more control over his emotions, because the last thing he needed to do was bring anger into a meeting with his Viking Captain.

He could only imagine how much harassment she had been dealing with from Starfleet Command and the Federation Council over the disaster.  The fact that he had pushed for this to happen did not make it any easier.  But, it had not been a complete loss, and this was what he going to explain to his Captain.

When he came in - she immediately inquired as to what the blazes happen.

"I failed," was all he said at first as he took in her gaze steadily while the rage inside was still trying to cool down.

Really, what more was there to say?  He had failed to defend the Conference, and he had failed to protect those under his command.  No matter how it was twisted or turned...he had failed.  In his time in Starfleet - this was indeed a rare occasion, but the situation remained.

After taking a deep breath; Sukal finally continued, "Captain, none of us were prepared for a Starfleet trained assassin assigned to us by Starfleet Command to take out an Ambassador they were sworn to protect.  None of us saw the idea of her using a TR-116 Rifle with a micro-transporter adaption to take out her target.  I knew she was dangerous.  It was in her record, in her movements, and in the cold way she seemed to view things.  But, I never saw this coming, Ma'am.  It wasn't until after the investigation was almost complete that the crew put it all together...well, as much as they have been able to.  I was on my way to Medical to deal with a headache that had started to develop after that witch had given her report.  It was there I was going to inquire further about Doctor York's report, but Lieutenant Commander Amoreen ambushed me outside the lift.  Why she didn't just kill me - I can't guess, but she left me to die between decks, and then impersonated me somehow enough to get aboard the CHALLENGER, kill an Ops person stationed in the shuttlebay, and steal a shuttle."

Again, the First Officer took a deep breath and paused in his report to his friend and superior.  "Since then, we tracked down and retrieved the shuttle, but the logs were wiped completely clean.  There was no sign of her.  I have then been in meetings with Ambassadors trying to salvage this.  Three things have been brought out of this which I doubt was expected.  First, Praetor Aedile was able to convince Ambassador Veesha of the importance of having an alliance with the Remans.  Though the base will not be constructed on the Reman homeworld; it will still be in a secluded part of their territory where Leyton will certainly not expect such.  Second, Ambassador Winslow of the Sapphire Conglomerate told me that there is a strange facility she heard about in the Setisar Nebula near the Loren Star System.  This facility is supposed to be abandoned due to some kind of nuclear tragedy, but she has heard rumors of hostages being held there.  There is even supposed to be a rather advanced cybernetics lab present.  Considering our current situation with Leyton - I figured such should be checked out soon.  Lastly, a true surprise came in from Lady Gril'ka of the Klingon Empire.  Apparently, the Klingons have lost three of their warships near or in the Crimson Nebula.  Gril'ka has personally lost a ship in that vicinity.  All of their reports indicate the attacks were carried out by a Federation starship, but since we are not at war with the Klingons...she believes Leyton's main base must nearby...perhaps actually inside the Crimson Nebula."

Sukal went over to the viewport behind his Captain, and stared off at the stars as he continued to recover from Amoreen's mental attack.  "I believe these three pieces allowed us to salvage the Conference with one other detail.  The assassination is believed to have been carried out by Leyton's people.  I am not sure I agree with this line of thinking, but it is possible I suppose.  In any case, the Ambassadors believe so, and in that belief is their desire to bring him down once and for all.  Therefore, all of them have decided to put their differences aside, and focus on helping us to nail Leyton down.  All of their cargo routes have been given to us in order to better defend them against rebel raids.  Any information they come up with on Leyton's movements will be forwarded to our ship or the outpost.  In short, this incident has sealed them together.  Was Leyton behind it - I don't think so, but who can say for certain until we catch the assassin.  Ambassador Veesha was rather surprised when she heard their desire to unify the region against Leyton, but I still think she believes I failed in my mission...which she is right."

Sukal paused to turn and face his Captain.  "So, now I must ask...has Starfleet decided to relieve me of my position and command here as your XO?"

[ShranLahr ch'Verret]

PO2 ShranLahr ch'Verret
[Innominatum Outpost - Brig]

Lahr and Drek, the Klingon male that Lahr finally got a name for, spoke quietly long into the night.  Most of it was Lahr bad-mouthing the Fleet and describing in detail, with only a few exaggerations, the many near lethal situations he'd had to face.  "Is it any wonder I'm looking for something more profitable and not so dangerous?"

To which Drek snorted.  "Hecate's crew is not as pleasant as you might think. We get into a skirmish or two ourselves.  Always coming out on top, of course," the Klingon bragged.

Lahr gave Drek a skeptical look. "Oh really?  Do tell.  Go on, impress me."

Through Lahr's sociable nature, he got the Klingon to divulge that Hecate, the Romulan leader of the drug cartel, Captained a Romulan Astrophysical Academy vessel, called Tal'Bath.  Drek was rather adamant that once Hecate heard of their incarceration - Lahr assumed Drek meant Drek and his partner B'Etalla, the female Klingon - that Hecate would descend on Innominatum with the fire power of the Tal'Shiar behind her.

That caught Lahr's interest and he tried to ply for more info on that but Drek didn't seem to know much more than Hecate had tries to the feared Romulan organization.  By the end of the night, Lahr was fairly certain he had Drek convinced to talk to B'Etalla on his behalf to get him in Hecate's crew.

[Innominatum - Brig - Private room]
The next morning, the three were taken from the cells to meet with their legal representatives.  Lahr had his own Fleet issued representative - Lahr was impressed with how thorough Lt Aune was at making this all seem authentic - while the two Klingons had a civilian legal advisor.

During his brief session, Lahr repeated his justification for his presence on the Mjolnir, denying any knowledge of the sabotage and even made up an explanation for his bruises, that didn't make the Klingon's seem completely culpable.  He was informed that while the investigation was ongoing into the sabotage, new information had come up suggesting that he was not involved, so he would be released back to duty.  This was both welcome and unwelcome news.  Welcome because spending another night sleeping on a brig cot wasn't appealing; unwelcome because it would limit his access to Drek, as his drug cartel contact.

Just before he was set to be released, Lahr asked to speak to the Klingons one last time.  It was an unusual request but after 10 minutes of waiting it was allowed.  Lahr figured Lt. Aune pulled a few strings to permit it.

When Lahr entered the private room, where Drek and B'Etalla had just finished up with their legal advisor, he didn't go more then 3 steps into the room, giving a wave to Drek, when B'Etalla was up off her chair and charging for him.   He shouldn't have been surprised at the attack, but he'd thought that his winning over Drek would have translated over to her as well.  He couldn't have been more wrong.  Where she had hid her own shiv all this time, Lahr never did find out.

He was too surprised and thus too slow at reacting this time. The metal blade sank into his blocking arm three times before the security guards managed to stun the female Klingon, nearly catching him in the beam as well.

Afterwards, Lahr was taken to Medical on Innominatum to have his wounds seen to.  It was while he was in the midst of treatment that word came that Challenger was prepping for departure.  Lahr urged the doctor to release him for duty, promising that his first stop on the ship would be Sickbay.   Reluctantly, the doctor released him.

Lahr quickly gathered up his gear (and remaining drugs) from his rented room and headed back to the ship.  He managed to avoid the usual security check being extra friendly with his former department mates.   After this was all done he'd have to speak to Taray to fix that.  If he could slip drugs on and off the ship who was to say no one else was.

He hid the tablets in his room once more before heading to Sickbay to finish up his treatment.

[Richard James Litt]

[Innominatum Outpost]

A lot of things happened in the meantime that the small crew went to DS9 and came back. Someone was really trying to stop Challenger from proceeding, but they wouldn't be able to do that easily.

[Innominatum - 1.5 hours before departure]

Turning to Crewman Davies, Crewman Gohun, CPO T'ealc and Ensign Litt she gave them a grim smile, it wasn't their fault.

"No time to do anything.  Grab any stuff you had on base and then straight up to the Challenger please we disembark in 90 mins, if you're not on board you will have to stay behind and I can tell you that we're not back here until December.  Once you've made your presence known to as 'aboard' status, you have the next 48 hours off duty in lieu of the time that you missed out on over at DS9 given our hasty turnaround. Ms. Davies, a word in private if I may." The Captain said levelling a look at the other crewmembers which brooked no nonsense.

Once the crew arrived with Captain Ruth, she gave the order to pick up their stuff from the Innominatum Outpost and they had just 90 minutes to do that. Richard wouldn't need so much time because pretty much all his stuff was aboard the ship. So he spent just the minimum time there, and get on board on the ship.

[USS Challenger · Deck 5 · Litt's Quarter]

About 20 minutes after the arriving, Litt was on board, and ready to spent some time in his quarter, thinking about everything that happened.

"Well... Lets see it this Raktajino is really worth it..." He said remembering this was the drink the Captain drank most. After ordered one in the small replicator he took a sip, tasting the drink and had no doubt why Captain Ruth drank it.

After a few minutes enjoying the coffee he finally finished and made a call for his aunt Samantha. After almost half an hour talking with her, he hit his combage looking for Chief Dradis... "Chief... Litt here... Anything I can help you with or someone that you know needs something?" Despite having 48 hours off duty Litt wanted to be able to help where needed, and realized that he couldn't spent so much time doing nothing.

If Chief Dradis had nothing he could help with, he would look the Astrometrics to see if they would need anyone to help.

[Ruth Sigurdsdottir]

CHALLENGER
Ready Room

The very moment his Captain returned; Sukal was already on his way back to the ship even before she called him to her Ready Room.  Every step he took told the crew members around that their First Officer was still angry, and with good reason.  Though the full extent of what had happened was not yet common knowledge to the entire crew; rumors had already started to spread.  It was hard to keep a lid on something as serious as an assassination at the outpost's very first Conference.  Everyone seemed to take extra care to stay out of his way, and Sukal was glad they understood to do so.  With every new step he attempted to bring more control over his emotions, because the last thing he needed to do was bring anger into a meeting with his Viking Captain.

He could only imagine how much harassment she had been dealing with from Starfleet Command and the Federation Council over the disaster.  The fact that he had pushed for this to happen did not make it any easier.  But, it had not been a complete loss, and this was what he going to explain to his Captain.

When he came in - she immediately inquired as to what the blazes happen.

"I failed," was all he said at first as he took in her gaze steadily while the rage inside was still trying to cool down.

Really, what more was there to say?  He had failed to defend the Conference, and he had failed to protect those under his command.  No matter how it was twisted or turned...he had failed.  In his time in Starfleet - this was indeed a rare occasion, but the situation remained.

After taking a deep breath; Sukal finally continued, "Captain, none of us were prepared for a Starfleet trained assassin assigned to us by Starfleet Command to take out an Ambassador they were sworn to protect.  None of us saw the idea of her using a TR-116 Rifle with a micro-transporter adaption to take out her target.  I knew she was dangerous.  It was in her record, in her movements, and in the cold way she seemed to view things.  But, I never saw this coming, Ma'am.  It wasn't until after the investigation was almost complete that the crew put it all together...well, as much as they have been able to.  I was on my way to Medical to deal with a headache that had started to develop after that witch had given her report.  It was there I was going to inquire further about Doctor York's report, but Lieutenant Commander Amoreen ambushed me outside the lift.  Why she didn't just kill me - I can't guess, but she left me to die between decks, and then impersonated me somehow enough to get aboard the CHALLENGER, kill an Ops person stationed in the shuttlebay, and steal a shuttle."

Again, the First Officer took a deep breath and paused in his report to his friend and superior.  "Since then, we tracked down and retrieved the shuttle, but the logs were wiped completely clean.  There was no sign of her.  I have then been in meetings with Ambassadors trying to salvage this.  Three things have been brought out of this which I doubt was expected.  First, Praetor Aedile was able to convince Ambassador Veesha of the importance of having an alliance with the Remans.  Though the base will not be constructed on the Reman homeworld; it will still be in a secluded part of their territory where Leyton will certainly not expect such.  Second, Ambassador Winslow of the Sapphire Conglomerate told me that there is a strange facility she heard about in the Setisar Nebula near the Loren Star System.  This facility is supposed to be abandoned due to some kind of nuclear tragedy, but she has heard rumors of hostages being held there.  There is even supposed to be a rather advanced cybernetics lab present.  Considering our current situation with Leyton - I figured such should be checked out soon.  Lastly, a true surprise came in from Lady Gril'ka of the Klingon Empire.  Apparently, the Klingons have lost three of their warships near or in the Crimson Nebula.  Gril'ka has personally lost a ship in that vicinity.  All of their reports indicate the attacks were carried out by a Federation starship, but since we are not at war with the Klingons...she believes Leyton's main base must nearby...perhaps actually inside the Crimson Nebula."

Sukal went over to the viewport behind his Captain, and stared off at the stars as he continued to recover from Amoreen's mental attack.  "I believe these three pieces allowed us to salvage the Conference with one other detail.  The assassination is believed to have been carried out by Leyton's people.  I am not sure I agree with this line of thinking, but it is possible I suppose.  In any case, the Ambassadors believe so, and in that belief is their desire to bring him down once and for all.  Therefore, all of them have decided to put their differences aside, and focus on helping us to nail Leyton down.  All of their cargo routes have been given to us in order to better defend them against rebel raids.  Any information they come up with on Leyton's movements will be forwarded to our ship or the outpost.  In short, this incident has sealed them together.  Was Leyton behind it - I don't think so, but who can say for certain until we catch the assassin.  Ambassador Veesha was rather surprised when she heard their desire to unify the region against Leyton, but I still think she believes I failed in my mission...which she is right."

Sukal paused to turn and face his Captain.  "So, now I must ask...has Starfleet decided to relieve me of my position and command here as your XO?"

[Captain's Ready Room - USS Challenger]

Ruth let out a hard breath that she hadn't realised she'd been holding and gave Sukal a weak smile.  "That I can at least answer in a way that we'll both be happy about.  No.  They don't want to relieve you or I of our commissions just yet. We have a stay of execution, but it does depend largely on how successful we are in capturing Leyton.  They didn't say in as many words, but we have roughly 6 months, after that we may as well turn ourselves up for Mr. Lek's Toothbrush Hull Scrubbing Team if we haven't got Leyton behind bars." she said grimly.

"However, I didn't have the information you've just given me then, and I'm in two minds how much of that to pass onto HQ.  I think we have to relay about Praetor Aedile especially if we shall be relying on her kindness and friendship." Once again, Ruth puffed up her cheeks, put her head on one side while her eyes widened.

"Anyhow, we have a job to do.  And I mean to see that this is one job that gets finished.  One Leyton package, signed, sealed, and delivered to Fleet HQ, if at all possible along with the return of several 'missing' starships, ranking officers, cadets etc.  If we can tie all that, along with documents and so on about the brain washing device, up with a pretty red tape bow and give it to JAG for a nice Christmas present, belated or otherwise, I think we might well be off the hook.  And unless it's all the same to you, possibly the first place to start looking could be this science facility." the Captain said with a serious look.

"Wanna take her out? And if we can catch your little witch as well, we'll consider that a double victory!" she said with a small wink.  "In the meantime we can't dwell on the past, we can't let the assassination define us.  From now on - blinkers, and I don't mean what Americans call indicators on a car, I mean the ones for horses - focused on the task in hand.  Leyton.  Let's get underway and we'll brief the senior staff once we're clear of the station.  Agreed?"

[ShranLahr ch'Verret]

PO2 ShranLahr ch'Verret

and

NPC Lt Chloe Davies
[USS Challenger - Deck 7 - Sickbay]

Nurse Davies took one look at the bruised and battered Andorian that walked in, before ordering him up onto the nearest biobed.  "Tell me what happened Petty officer ch'Verret?" the head nurse ordered, not just to determine the method of injury but it was quick way of assessing the Andorian's quality of breathing and his level of consciousness.

Lahr headed for the biobed indicated and with a little help from the human woman got himself up  on the treatment bed.  The nurse had him lay on his back while she gathered her medical scanner. Lahr tucked his uninjured arm up under his head as he considered how to answer that question. "Well, I kinda let a pair of Klingon's use me for a punching bag."

"You did what?!  What ever for?" she asked looking to the Petty officer in surprise.

Lahr gave a slight shrug.  "It seemed the best way to make friends with them."

Chloe gave Lahr an incredulous look as she held the medical tricorder's probe over the Andorian, then whistled in dismay at the results it gave.  "Three fractured ribs, a nasal fracture, several lacerations, abrasions and contusions to both your face and your abdomen; and three partially treated puncture wounds to your right forearm.  I think you need a better way to make friends." she added sagely.  "Stay right there I'll see if the doctor wants to treat you herself, given the severity of your injuries."

Lahr watched as Nurse Davies headed off to fetch a doctor.  She was cute.  He wondered if he played up his injuries whether she'd consider going out with him?

[Sukal]

[Captain's Ready Room - USS Challenger]

Ruth let out a hard breath that she hadn't realised she'd been holding and gave Sukal a weak smile.  "That I can at least answer in a way that we'll both be happy about.  No.  They don't want to relieve you or I of our commissions just yet. We have a stay of execution, but it does depend largely on how successful we are in capturing Leyton.  They didn't say in as many words, but we have roughly 6 months, after that we may as well turn ourselves up for Mr. Lek's Toothbrush Hull Scrubbing Team if we haven't got Leyton behind bars." she said grimly.

"However, I didn't have the information you've just given me then, and I'm in two minds how much of that to pass onto HQ.  I think we have to relay about Praetor Aedile especially if we shall be relying on her kindness and friendship." Once again, Ruth puffed up her cheeks, put her head on one side while her eyes widened.

"Anyhow, we have a job to do.  And I mean to see that this is one job that gets finished.  One Leyton package, signed, sealed, and delivered to Fleet HQ, if at all possible along with the return of several 'missing' starships, ranking officers, cadets etc.  If we can tie all that, along with documents and so on about the brain washing device, up with a pretty red tape bow and give it to JAG for a nice Christmas present, belated or otherwise, I think we might well be off the hook.  And unless it's all the same to you, possibly the first place to start looking could be this science facility." the Captain said with a serious look.

"Wanna take her out? And if we can catch your little witch as well, we'll consider that a double victory!" she said with a small wink.  "In the meantime we can't dwell on the past, we can't let the assassination define us.  From now on - blinkers, and I don't mean what Americans call indicators on a car, I mean the ones for horses - focused on the task in hand.  Leyton.  Let's get underway and we'll brief the senior staff once we're clear of the station.  Agreed?"

Sukal nodded in agreement with his Captain and friend, and then started to leave.  Before he reached the exit to the Bridge; he turned to face her once more.

"Captain...Ruth...I am glad you made it back safely," and then exited onto the Bridge.

No one was currently sitting in the Command Chair, but Sukal soon took care of that by taking the seat personally.

Only after he hit the comm did he begin the process of getting them under way.  "Innominatum Station, this is CHALLENGER.  We are preparing to get under way.  Release docking clamps, and we will see you all when we return."

Lieutenant Timothy Calhoun acknowledged the request in the outpost's Ops Center, "CHALLENGER, docking clamps are being released.  Good hunting."

Sukal didn't bother thanking the officer on the other end, but turned his attention to getting the ship to its new destination  "Helm, clear the docking ring at one-quarter impulse, and then proceed to course 115 Mark 027 at Warp Seven point three.  Engage when ready," he ordered Ensign Ozoim, and the Betazoid woman began putting in the directions even before he was finished giving the order.

"We are clear of the station, Sir.  Proceeding to 115 Mark 027 at Warp Seven point three...in three, two, one," she replied professionally, and soon the starship was speeding across space in the hopes of putting the end to some of the shadows which had plagued it.

[Ruth Sigurdsdottir]

Sukal nodded in agreement with his Captain and friend, and then started to leave.  Before he reached the exit to the Bridge; he turned to face her once more.

"Captain...Ruth...I am glad you made it back safely," and then exited onto the Bridge.

No one was currently sitting in the Command Chair, but Sukal soon took care of that by taking the seat personally.

Only after he hit the comm did he begin the process of getting them under way.  "Innominatum Station, this is CHALLENGER.  We are preparing to get under way.  Release docking clamps, and we will see you all when we return."

Lieutenant Timothy Calhoun acknowledged the request in the outpost's Ops Center, "CHALLENGER, docking clamps are being released.  Good hunting."

Sukal didn't bother thanking the officer on the other end, but turned his attention to getting the ship to its new destination  "Helm, clear the docking ring at one-quarter impulse, and then proceed to course 115 Mark 027 at Warp Seven point three.  Engage when ready," he ordered Ensign Ozoim, and the Betazoid woman began putting in the directions even before he was finished giving the order.

"We are clear of the station, Sir.  Proceeding to 115 Mark 027 at Warp Seven point three...in three, two, one," she replied professionally, and soon the starship was speeding across space in the hopes of putting the end to some of the shadows which had plagued it.

[Ready Room - USS Challenger]

Ruth smiled back at her XO, knowing that the launch of the Challenger was safe in his hands.  She had a few things to sort out before she could just go and sit in the command chair, one of which was dealing with the message she'd had from CPO Lena Maghouin.

Apparently she'd had a very distraught young woman, and a Star Fleet officer causing some kind of commotion in the Promenade, naturally after recent events on the outpost, the Security Officers around the scene had taken them into custody and they'd appeared before Lena to explain themselves, whereupon she found it was on Crewman Davis, her wife Sarah and they were arguing still about Charlie going off on a 'battleship'.  Lena reported that she'd put them in separate holding cells for now until she decided what to do with them, and once separated from her spouse, the crewman had said that for the sake of all concerned, she would take a job on the outpost in the Operations Department as there was an opening given that the crewmember killed by Amoreen in the shuttlebay had been one of the outpost's crew.

"All's well that ends well..." Ruth muttered to herself.  '...at least Will and I understand the importance of duty... and well one post has been filled, just not my Operations post!'  she sighed at her thoughts and then brightened.

'But then with Sukal and Lahr in Operations as well as the rest of my crew, I don't have a bad set.  Hmm, mentioning Lahr I wonder how he and Lt. Lek got on...'

Captain to Petty Officer ch'Verret and Lt. Lek, could you report to my Ready Room at your earliest convenience.  No need to immediately rush, I have a few things to do here right now so will be here a while.. Paperwork don't you know! Sigurdsdottir out.

[Lek]

[Ready Room - USS Challenger]

Ruth smiled back at her XO, knowing that the launch of the Challenger was safe in his hands.  She had a few things to sort out before she could just go and sit in the command chair, one of which was dealing with the message she'd had from CPO Lena Maghouin.

Apparently she'd had a very distraught young woman, and a Star Fleet officer causing some kind of commotion in the Promenade, naturally after recent events on the outpost, the Security Officers around the scene had taken them into custody and they'd appeared before Lena to explain themselves, whereupon she found it was on Crewman Davis, her wife Sarah and they were arguing still about Charlie going off on a 'battleship'.  Lena reported that she'd put them in separate holding cells for now until she decided what to do with them, and once separated from her spouse, the crewman had said that for the sake of all concerned, she would take a job on the outpost in the Operations Department as there was an opening given that the crewmember killed by Amoreen in the shuttlebay had been one of the outpost's crew.

"All's well that ends well..." Ruth muttered to herself.  '...at least Will and I understand the importance of duty... and well one post has been filled, just not my Operations post!'  she sighed at her thoughts and then brightened.

'But then with Sukal and Lahr in Operations as well as the rest of my crew, I don't have a bad set.  Hmm, mentioning Lahr I wonder how he and Lt. Lek got on...'

Captain to Petty Officer ch'Verret and Lt. Lek, could you report to my Ready Room at your earliest convenience.  No need to immediately rush, I have a few things to do here right now so will be here a while.. Paperwork don't you know! Sigurdsdottir out.

[Engineering - USS Challenger]

Lek was monitoring ship's systems as they got underway and smoothly went to warp. At the speed if only warp 7.3, the engines were under virtually no strain and could maintain that speed for weeks. When the captain called, Lek was curious as she asked for Lahr as well and as they were away from the station, it couldn't have anything to do with the drug smuggling   which made him very curious.

"No time like now Ma'am, I'm on my way."

[ShranLahr ch'Verret]

PO2 ShranLahr ch'Verret
[USS Challenger - Deck 7 - Sickbay]

[Ready Room - USS Challenger]
Captain to Petty Officer ch'Verret and Lt. Lek, could you report to my Ready Room at your earliest convenience.  No need to immediately rush, I have a few things to do here right now so will be here a while.. Paperwork don't you know! Sigurdsdottir out.

[Engineering - USS Challenger]

Lek was monitoring ship's systems as they got underway and smoothly went to warp. At the speed if only warp 7.3, the engines were under virtually no strain and could maintain that speed for weeks. When the captain called, Lek was curious as she asked for Lahr as well and as they were away from the station, it couldn't have anything to do with the drug smuggling   which made him very curious.

"No time like now Ma'am, I'm on my way."

Because the comm was opened to both him and Lek, Lahr was able to hear Lek's immediate response.  The Andorian's antenna drooped.  He'd hoped he could get away with getting fully treated before having to report in to the Captain.

"I'll be there when I can, Ma'am.  I'm just in the midst of something." Then hearing the Nurse returning and not wanting the Captain cluing in where he was, Lahr abruptly cut the connection with out properly signing off.

"Doctor York is busy at the moment so she's instructed me to see to your treatment, unless you'd prefer the EMH"

Lahr shook his head smiled to the cute nurse.  "I'm all yours, Nurse Davies." then seemingly out of the blue asked "So how long is this roughly gonna take?"

Chloe smiled at the Andorian somewhat uncertainly.  Did he just make a pass at her? "Okay.... um.. I'll continue with those arm wounds... as for how long?  Given the the extent of your various wounds... I'd say 45 minutes to an hour using a regenerator."

Lahr's antenna twitched and he looked to Nurse Davies with a question.  "And if I just wanted the surface layers seen to now and came back later for the deep tissue work?"

"What?! Why ever for?" she asked as she prepared her equipment, pausing to look at the Andorian directly.

"Cause the Captain, called me up to her Ready room to likely give her a report.  And while I know I can't hide this from her forever..."  Lahr knew full well that all Sickbay injuries eventually went passed her desk.. but maybe he could convince the Nurse to slow that process down.  "I'd rather her not find out about it today.  She's got enough on her plate, y'know?  So if you can just do a quick 'superficial' fix... I'll head out - give her my report then come right back to finish off the treatment.  I'd rather not keep the Captain waiting, but I also don't want her worrying about me getting a few minor cuts and bruises... not when she should be focused on tracking down Leyton, right?"

Lahr watched the Head nurse's expression.  It wasn't looking like she was going for it.

The Andorian gave Chloe his best pleading face. 🥺

"Please..."

Chloe gave out a sigh.  "Fine.. 5 minutes to just get rid of the bruising on your face, and I'll have to set your nose by hand.  But you aren't back down here within the hour.  I'll put out a shipwide call for you." she warned.

Lahr nodded and let her do her work.

[Sukal]

Rear-Admiral Lower Alexander D'Arth

It was difficult to earn the trust of the man who had manipulated him into betraying his oath to the Federation and Starfleet.  He had been assigned specifically to hunt the rogue Admiral down, and now he was just as much of a rogue as the man he was suppose to hunt.  Of course, none of those betrayed knew he had been blackmailed with the safety of his family...now held in the custody of Leyton.  He hated it with every fiber of his being, but there had been little he could do.  His family came first...they always did.  It was actually rather surprising considering his rank and career to this point, but his family had always still come first.  For several weeks he had been working with Leyton to make the Crimson Nebula more secure and secretive.  Strangely enough, Alexander hadn't even thought of the nebula as being the center of Leyton's organization.  He figured it was some secret base on the galactic rim, or even on the other side of the galactic barrier, but no...it was here...in the Crimson Nebula.

One of the things he had discovered since working for Leyton was about the Cadet who had attacked him.  It was rather ingenious, actually, if in a frightening way.  The Cadets had been replaced with androids who had been programmed to imitate the originals.  Apparently, brainwashing alone was not enough for Leyton.  He had the ability to actually replace people with androids that could fool even a surface scan of them.  Such news was so twisted...so diabolical that Alex just knew it had to be revealed.  The project was in the prototype test phase.  The Cadets had been the first test subjects, and they had worked...to a point.

What Leyton didn't understand was why the replacements had suddenly been incarcerated on the outpost.  To this, Alex had told him truthfully that the new First Officer of the CHALLENGER had been suspicious of them almost from the moment they arrived.  He was not completely sure how, but it had something to do with the interrogation of Cadet Mr'aarra.  Something about the interrogation had put Lieutenant Commander Sukal off, and he was suddenly distrusting of all of the Cadets that had arrived other than the Captain's twin sisters.  Of course, Alex figured out why the Vulcan/Betazoid officer was suspicious.

He couldn't read the Cadet's mind...not even her emotions, and that should not have been something the Cadet could stop him from picking up.  It was as if the woman hadn't even been present in the room, and that had set Sukal off.  This he managed to keep to himself, and thus Leyton was still trying to figure it out.  He had been working on a way to get the Cadets free, and had even thought of using some one from the JAG Corps in order to help free them.  The problem with that plan had been, as Alex pointed out, that an investigation could backfire into revealing the Cadets for what they really were.  Leyton agreed.

News had reached him of the CHALLENGER leaving the outpost for the Setisar Nebula.  This was good news for him, because if the ship managed to breach Leyton's defenses there - they could figure out the Cadets, and they just might be able to rescue his family.  It was the one place he could think of in which they would be held...a place he wasn't suppose to go, and it was just mysterious enough to fit the bill.

Thus, he took his first risk against Leyton, and sent a very brief signal on a rotating frequency.  The signal was then erased from the logs of the computer...a mere seven second gap that looked only like a brief glitch in the system.  And, of course, it didn't have his log in the system, but some random Ensign that used the station often.

He could only hope the crew of the USS CHALLENGER figured out what to do with his message...even if they wouldn't know where it came from.

USS CHALLENGER-A
Captain's Ready Room

Captain Ruth Sigurdsdottir's terminal beeped suddenly, but only for just the briefest of moments...a mere second to let her know a personal message had been received.  Once the message was discovered by the ever busy Captain; she would find this:

Sen:  09NO13TY19EL
Def:  05JA09S80ON

[Ruth Sigurdsdottir]

[Engineering - USS Challenger]

Lek was monitoring ship's systems as they got underway and smoothly went to warp. At the speed if only warp 7.3, the engines were under virtually no strain and could maintain that speed for weeks. When the captain called, Lek was curious as she asked for Lahr as well and as they were away from the station, it couldn't have anything to do with the drug smuggling   which made him very curious.

"No time like now Ma'am, I'm on my way."

PO2 ShranLahr ch'Verret
[USS Challenger - Deck 7 - Sickbay]

Because the comm was opened to both him and Lek, Lahr was able to hear Lek's immediate response.  The Andorian's antenna drooped.  He'd hoped he could get away with getting fully treated before having to report in to the Captain.

"I'll be there when I can, Ma'am.  I'm just in the midst of something." Then hearing the Nurse returning and not wanting the Captain cluing in where he was, Lahr abruptly cut the connection with out properly signing off.

[Captain's Ready Room - USS Challenger]

Ruth tapped her commbadge twice to acknowledge that she'd got their messages. Then turned to her console to send an update on what Sukal had revealed, at least some of it, other things she would keep to herself for now.  She let them know about what Praetor Aedile had agreed, it was enough to mollify themm for now realising that even with 3 deaths at the Conference, and the Conference itself not even really taking place, their work, Sukal's diplomacy and months of building relationships in this sector hadn't totally gone to waste just because Sukal's least favourite 'witch' had decided to...

Ruth thought for a moment.  Was Amoreen acting for herself?  For Leyton, or for some other faction using Leyton as a convenient smoke shield to hide their own agenda.

She stood and went to make a cup of chai, at the replicator, rubbing her neck from sitting reading over PADDs... various reports from what had been going on while she was seeing the girls off.

USS CHALLENGER-A
Captain's Ready Room

Captain Ruth Sigurdsdottir's terminal beeped suddenly, but only for just the briefest of moments...a mere second to let her know a personal message had been received.  Once the message was discovered by the ever busy Captain; she would find this:

Sen:  09NO13TY19EL
Def:  05JA09S80ON

Her console beeped and she turned to see a personal message alert.  Thinking it was possibly from the twins to let her know that they'd arrived safely at the Academy, she sat.

It was not at all what she expected.  It was merely 2 lines of text, some form of code.

Sen:  09NO13TY19EL
Def:  05JA09S80ON

Ruth's mind started working overtime and she picked out the letters and the numbers.  She made some connections but none of it made sense.  And where had it come from?

She decided to put it to the Think Tank...especially if they saw what she had in the code.

Captain to Senior Staff and special assignment staff.  Meeting in the Briefing Room, 10 mins.  Mr Lek, Mr ch'Verret you may give your report there.  Mr. Sukal, 2 mins in my Ready Room please.  Sigurdsdottir out.  

Ruth wanted to give Sukal the head's up about what this was about before they went in.  This was strange even to her. The Command Team needed to be together on this.

[ShranLahr ch'Verret]

PO2 ShranLahr ch'Verret
[USS Challenger - Deck 7 - Sickbay]

[Captain's Ready Room - USS Challenger]

Ruth tapped her commbadge twice to acknowledge that she'd got their messages.

Captain to Senior Staff and special assignment staff.  Meeting in the Briefing Room, 10 mins.  Mr Lek, Mr ch'Verret you may give your report there.  Mr. Sukal, 2 mins in my Ready Room please.  Sigurdsdottir out.  

Lahr tapped his commbadge to acknowledge the new orders then looked to Chloe as she continued working on the bruises of his face.  "Seems I'm popular today." he remarked.

Five minutes later the dark purple bruising on his face was gone all that was left visually was his broken nose.  True to her word, Chloe reset the nose by hand then used the regenerator at a denser setting to repair the cartilage.  Two minutes later his face was as good as new.

Lahr gingerly got down off the treatment table.  "I'll be back in an hour."

Before leaving Sickbay, Lahr replicated himself a uniform - because while showing up for a meeting late would only do wonders for his bad boy rep, doing so in his civilian clothes that were stained with his blood would just alert the Captain that he'd gotten himself a little over his head, with the Klingons and Hecate's drug ring.

[Sukal]

Her console beeped and she turned to see a personal message alert.  Thinking it was possibly from the twins to let her know that they'd arrived safely at the Academy, she sat.

It was not at all what she expected.  It was merely 2 lines of text, some form of code.

Sen:  09NO13TY19EL
Def:  05JA09S80ON

Ruth's mind started working overtime and she picked out the letters and the numbers.  She made some connections but none of it made sense.  And where had it come from?

She decided to put it to the Think Tank...especially if they saw what she had in the code.

Captain to Senior Staff and special assignment staff.  Meeting in the Briefing Room, 10 mins.  Mr Lek, Mr ch'Verret you may give your report there.  Mr. Sukal, 2 mins in my Ready Room please.  Sigurdsdottir out.   

Ruth wanted to give Sukal the head's up about what this was about before they went in.  This was strange even to her. The Command Team needed to be together on this.

With the starship underway; Sukal found himself called back to the Captain's Ready Room again, and nodded for Taray to take over briefly while he checked in on her.  After she let him in; Sukal twitched his left eyebrow up at her in curiosity.

"Forgot something?" he asked her.  It was not like her to forget things most of the time, but he knew she had been under a great deal of pressure even before he had returned to serve at her side.  It was his job to make sure she was okay...to support her even as Captain Kyle Briggs and Admiral T'ra Jones had taught him.  Of course, his old Captain had left with the rank of Commander, but still...he remembered the lessons the man had taught him.  It had been Kyle who had brought him back from giving seminars at Starfleet Academy about tactics against the Borg...another lifetime ago that now seemed.

"Or, a new development?" he added a moment later after shaking himself from his thoughts.