S3:E6 Eliminating Shadows, Part II

[Don Damien Addams]

[Science Station - Outside mystery door]

That's great news, Doc. We do have a key panel down here that has denied us access so far. Chie, We're a little hesitant to try any force not knowing what's on the other side of the door and we don't want to trigger any booby traps. 

Kyle glanced over at Lek and smiled.

Mister Meltem should be arriving any minute now. Give us two minutes and if Mister Lahr is able to open it from up there, let's do it. That way we can be prepared for entry. Briggs out. 

"I'll go in first, Chief. If there are any booby traps, we'll need you to deactivate anything I trip." Kyle said. Now they waited for Meltam and the door.

[Science space port]

The science officer had not paid any attention that Leyton could be on the station to wreck more havoc. He had never encountered the individual. That why he had not bother to be afraid.

Using his science tricorder he had attempt to find the cat. There was not one scan showing nothing, except the readings of the fellow Starfleet personal on the base.

"Hello. No luck?" He asked as he came walking to the men at the door. He stopped at the door and tilt his head the side. He looked down at his tricorder to see there was a reading against the door. The shielding of the door was blocking it. He had to tuck the tricorder in its pouch.

The scientist went up to the door, placed his webbed hands on the door and leaned his head to it so his right ear was close to the door. Then he was slowing getting down to the floor with his head against the door and he was in his knees.

"Something or someone is weak and scared behind this door," he shared, looking up at the Lieutenant. It was possible another victim of  that Leyton individual.

[ShranLahr ch'Verret]

PO2 ShranLahr ch'Verret
[Station]

Lahr was surprised to learn he had been right about T'ealc's mixed heritage.

[Space Station]

The fact they hadn't come under fire as soon as they beamed in or had found the station to be a multi-layered death trap did nothing to settle Lek's feeling of impending doom. In fact, being left to his own devices for what could go wrong only served to amp up his imagination of traps that were possible to find, so when Briggs found a door they couldn't open, the only thing that Lek could envision was that this was the one, the door that would kill him. His expression was pained as he approached the door to inspect it to see if he could get it open.

"The door has power, so it's not that it can't open. You used what was supposed to be the command code and that didn't work, so that implies this door requires either a manual code or uses biometrics like voice or retina to open.

"A manual code I can defeat, if it is biometrics, I can't. Let me check with Lahr about something."

Lek tapped his commbadge.

"Lahr, are there security logs that show the corridor we are in? I need to know what sort of option it uses before I can figure out a way around it. I really just need to know if it's biometrics or manual code."

Lek looked at Briggs with doubt in his eyes as he asked.

"Odds are, as this is the only locked door we've found, this is either what we are looking for or it's a trap."

Lahr was so focused on his list of names checking for names one after the other...he didn't register the call from Lek, nor the Vulcan's response about a possible password, until he heard her reply to Lt Briggs.  Lahr glanced up in confused. "What do they want me to do?  Open a door?"

After clarifying which hallway and which door, Lahr attempted to reset the security lockout to no avail.

"You say you might have found a password?  Give it to them.. "

[Ruth Sigurdsdottir]

[Science Station - Outside mystery door]

That's great news, Doc. We do have a key panel down here that has denied us access so far. Chie, We're a little hesitant to try any force not knowing what's on the other side of the door and we don't want to trigger any booby traps. 

Kyle glanced over at Lek and smiled.

Mister Meltem should be arriving any minute now. Give us two minutes and if Mister Lahr is able to open it from up there, let's do it. That way we can be prepared for entry. Briggs out. 

"I'll go in first, Chief. If there are any booby traps, we'll need you to deactivate anything I trip." Kyle said. Now they waited for Meltam and the door.

PO2 ShranLahr ch'Verret
[Station]

Lahr was surprised to learn he had been right about T'ealc's mixed heritage.

Lahr was so focused on his list of names checking for names one after the other...he didn't register the call from Lek, nor the Vulcan's response about a possible password, until he heard her reply to Lt Briggs.  Lahr glanced up in confused. "What do they want me to do?  Open a door?"

After clarifying which hallway and which door, Lahr attempted to reset the security lockout to no available.

"You say you might have found a password?  Give it to them.. "

[Science Station - OCC]

Lt. Briggs, Ensign Meltem should be with you, and Petty Officer ch'Verret said to give you this code, he's rather busy sending files to the Challenger that we found...Wait 

She turned to Lahr.  "you ok? I think I've found how to put in the code from here..." the doctor said and keyed in the number, backwards as she anticipated that was how it was to be inputted, but did not press execute.

...belay that, I've found the way in.  Assuming it works, executing in 3...2....1....

She pressed the button on the screen and waited.

You guys ok?

[Door to mysterious room]

There was an ominous CLICK-CLUNK and the door opened and swung out towards the 3 men.  There was absolutely nothing in the room bar 4 things.

1.  A metal chair with leather straps that looked ominously like those which had been used up to the 21st Century on 'Death Row' to electrocute terminally other than there were no connections, the straps on the arms and at ankle level were clearly only meant for making sure those sitting upon it were not going to run.

2. A metal box, no visible wires coming out of it, which was like an old fashioned Earthen safe, about 3.5ft high by 30in square, with a keypad in the middle of it.

3.  A broken commbadge that looked like someone had deliberately trodden on it with a heavy heel to break it.

4.  Last but not least a small, furry black and white creature who looked at them, tried to purr and said

"Mrrrowww?!"

.  Anyone checking the cat over would find a piece of paper in it's collar, which the cat had obviously tried to get off as it was torn, smudges of dirt all over it, and crumpled.

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

[Bridge - USS Challenger]

Ruth had got herself a Ratkajino and now that the caffeine was coursing through her mind she was thinking straight again.  She was still feeling a little alone, lost and scared but she had enough brainpower to put it in gear.

"Grelek, belay that about the Federation ships, we have an evacuation capacity of 3500! I don't know what I was thinking.  Preparing for company in the form of Leyton's friends... that's another matter to be discussed later." The Captain said chuckling.  "One I need to discuss not least with Tactical."

Bridge to Dradis... belay the stripping out of the small craft but give all craft the once over in preparation for evacuation procedures.  With luck we can just beam them all out and set up temporary quarters for them in the cargo bays.  Once you're done, we can think about putting a team together to get some bed rolls replicated.  Sigurdsdottir out. 

Ending that call she used the communications to hail the Away Team...they'd been awfully quiet.

=/\=Challenger to Away Team - any developments?  I have some files that have been sent up, have you found the cat, and any clues as to where the hostages have been moved to?

"Grelek I want locks on all the life signs of the away team, and that cat... the second they've got everything I want them out of there and blow that thing to kingdom come so Leyton can't use it again, inform the Enterprise-E collecting Commander Sukal that we are blowing the station and to RV with us at the start of the Mab-bu/Setisar corridor. [OOC: http://www.sttff.net/AST_MAP.html M/N3 on this map. We're currently at the Setisar Nebula]  Lt. Litt be ready to go at Warp 6, lay in a course for Deep Space 4 soon as we have them confirmed back on the Challenger - pedal to the metal as they used to say!" Ruth said, sounding more in command. 

[Don Damien Addams]

[Science Station - OCC]

Lt. Briggs, Ensign Meltem should be with you, and Petty Officer ch'Verret said to give you this code, he's rather busy sending files to the Challenger that we found...Wait 

She turned to Lahr.  "you ok? I think I've found how to put in the code from here..." the doctor said and keyed in the number, backwards as she anticipated that was how it was to be inputted, but did not press execute.

...belay that, I've found the way in.  Assuming it works, executing in 3...2....1....

She pressed the button on the screen and waited.

You guys ok?

[Door to mysterious room]

There was an ominous CLICK-CLUNK and the door opened and swung out towards the 3 men.  There was absolutely nothing in the room bar 4 things.

1.  A metal chair with leather straps that looked ominously like those which had been used up to the 21st Century on 'Death Row' to electrocute terminally other than there were no connections, the straps on the arms and at ankle level were clearly only meant for making sure those sitting upon it were not going to run.

2. A metal box, no visible wires coming out of it, which was like an old fashioned Earthen safe, about 3.5ft high by 30in square, with a keypad in the middle of it.

3.  A broken commbadge that looked like someone had deliberately trodden on it with a heavy heel to break it.

4.  Last but not least a small, furry black and white creature who looked at them, tried to purr and said

"Mrrrowww?!"

.  Anyone checking the cat over would find a piece of paper in it's collar, which the cat had obviously tried to get off as it was torn, smudges of dirt all over it, and crumpled.

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

[Bridge - USS Challenger]

Ruth had got herself a Ratkajino and now that the caffeine was coursing through her mind she was thinking straight again.  She was still feeling a little alone, lost and scared but she had enough brainpower to put it in gear.

"Grelek, belay that about the Federation ships, we have an evacuation capacity of 3500! I don't know what I was thinking.  Preparing for company in the form of Leyton's friends... that's another matter to be discussed later." The Captain said chuckling.  "One I need to discuss not least with Tactical."

Bridge to Dradis... belay the stripping out of the small craft but give all craft the once over in preparation for evacuation procedures.  With luck we can just beam them all out and set up temporary quarters for them in the cargo bays.  Once you're done, we can think about putting a team together to get some bed rolls replicated.  Sigurdsdottir out. 

Ending that call she used the communications to hail the Away Team...they'd been awfully quiet.

=/\=Challenger to Away Team - any developments?  I have some files that have been sent up, have you found the cat, and any clues as to where the hostages have been moved to?

"Grelek I want locks on all the life signs of the away team, and that cat... the second they've got everything I want them out of there and blow that thing to kingdom come so Leyton can't use it again, inform the Enterprise-E collecting Commander Sukal that we are blowing the station and to RV with us at the start of the Mab-bu/Setisar corridor. [OOC: http://www.sttff.net/AST_MAP.html M/N3 on this map. We're currently at the Setisar Nebula]  Lt. Litt be ready to go at Warp 6, lay in a course for Deep Space 4 soon as we have them confirmed back on the Challenger - pedal to the metal as they used to say!" Ruth said, sounding more in command.

[Science station]

As the doors opened Jasper had put his hands on the floor. He was on all fours. Then the black and white cat came up to him and meow. It was the cat distress emotions he was reading. He smiled to himself.

The man scooped the little fur ball, and got back on his own feet. "Hey there, you going to be okay-," he told the cat. Then his dark eyes caught the chair. He was patting the cat, not seeing the piece of paper on the cat. He narrowed his eye brows as he walked to the chair as he observed the chair.

The cat in his arms was rubbing his face against the scientist chest. He kneeled down to place the cat on the ground. He pulled out the science tricorder to scan the chair. The cat was rubbing his head against the Ensign's right ankle.

"Leyton had strapped the victims to the chair," he observed the straps. The tricorder registered the cat. "This is not the brain washing machine. Where is it?" He turned to look around the room.

The funny thing Jasper had always wanted to know if LEY-ton was a earth tea brand. The name seemed to be one. Though he had never asked or looked it up. He forgot to look before he go to sleep. 

[Kyle Briggs]

[Science Station. Unknown Room]

We're good, Doc. Thanks. 

Kyle walked into the room and looked around as Meltan approached and retrieved the Captain's mysterious cat.

And good work with the door. 

The chair just seemed like a place to strap down Leyton's victims. He picked up the comm badge and stuck in his pocket. Maybe they could retrieve some information from it. That left the strange looking safe off to the side. Kyle walked over to it and knelt down in front of it. It looked like some sort of key pad entry. He figured what the hell and keyed in the code he had originally tried for the door. Much to his surprise, it opened. Inside was some sort of helmet.

Kyle reached in and picked up the strange looking device. As soon as he did, the keypad on the front started beeping. He closed the door in order to get a look at it. A red light appeared over each number and the one on top of the zero was blinking. A moment later, that light disappeared and the one over the nine began to blink.

"SHIT!!" Kyle yelled as he stood and slapped for his comm badge.

Briggs to Challenger. Emergency beam out of everyone. NOW!!! 

[Don Damien Addams]

[Science Station. Unknown Room]

We're good, Doc. Thanks. 

Kyle walked into the room and looked around as Meltan approached and retrieved the Captain's mysterious cat.

And good work with the door. 

The chair just seemed like a place to strap down Leyton's victims. He picked up the comm badge and stuck in his pocket. Maybe they could retrieve some information from it. That left the strange looking safe off to the side. Kyle walked over to it and knelt down in front of it. It looked like some sort of key pad entry. He figured what the hell and keyed in the code he had originally tried for the door. Much to his surprise, it opened. Inside was some sort of helmet.

Kyle reached in and picked up the strange looking device. As soon as he did, the keypad on the front started beeping. He closed the door in order to get a look at it. A red light appeared over each number and the one on top of the zero was blinking. A moment later, that light disappeared and the one over the nine began to blink.

"SHIT!!" Kyle yelled as he stood and slapped for his comm badge.

Briggs to Challenger. Emergency beam out of everyone. NOW!!! 

[Spaces station]

The Scientist was distracted by the Lieutenant messing with the safe. The man was successful opening the safe and taking the brainwashing machine out. "

When the light was reacting and Briggs scream shit and calling for emergency teleport. Jasper bent down to scoop up the cat. "Guess the safe is NOT the safest place after all!"

"What is- " he was saying as he taking the small piece of paper off the cat as his molecules were breaking down in the energy to be beam up.

[ShranLahr ch'Verret]

[Science Station. Unknown Room]

We're good, Doc. Thanks. 

Kyle walked into the room and looked around as Meltan approached and retrieved the Captain's mysterious cat.

And good work with the door. 

The chair just seemed like a place to strap down Leyton's victims. He picked up the comm badge and stuck in his pocket. Maybe they could retrieve some information from it. That left the strange looking safe off to the side. Kyle walked over to it and knelt down in front of it. It looked like some sort of key pad entry. He figured what the hell and keyed in the code he had originally tried for the door. Much to his surprise, it opened. Inside was some sort of helmet.

Kyle reached in and picked up the strange looking device. As soon as he did, the keypad on the front started beeping. He closed the door in order to get a look at it. A red light appeared over each number and the one on top of the zero was blinking. A moment later, that light disappeared and the one over the nine began to blink.

"SHIT!!" Kyle yelled as he stood and slapped for his comm badge.

Briggs to Challenger. Emergency beam out of everyone. NOW!!! 

Lahr reluctantly put aside looking through the list more and was in the process of helping T'ealc in searching the computer system for other info..  on the brainwashing machine... or where the prisoners were transferred.. anything that could help really.

The Lieutenant's call had been to Challenger, not to the Away Team... Lahr had no warning that he was going to be yanked away from the station.  He was in mid-keystroke when he felt the transporter take effect.  He paused for a brief moment, worried that he was being snatched by Leyton's men, but 4 seconds later he was aboard the Challenger once more along with the others.

"What happened?"

[Ruth Sigurdsdottir]

[OOC - Not quoting all that but great writing people!]

[Science Station]

T'ealc was about to open her mouth to answer Lahr when she felt the familiar pull of the transporter beam yoiking her out of there.

[Bridge - Challenger]

The Captain had ordered that the away team be deposited on the Bridge for quickness, and inwardly smiled as she saw that none of them appeared injured.

"Mr. Litt, get us out of here Warp 6 as instructed. Grelek, relay the same to Captain Hecate on the Tal'Bath.  Mr. Briggs - report, what had you have us yank you out so quickly?  Was my gut right? Petty Officer ch'Verret, doc... good work these files are going to have us busy for a while. Lek, thanks...go get some rest, we'll need you soon enough I suspect if these files yield what I hope.  And Mr. Meltem..." Ruth got up and walked to the Scientist.

"What do you have there, Hello baby..." she said fussing the cat around his ears and neck.  "...who's your owner.  Anything on the collar Ensign?  Someone get this poor furbaby some gushy food, and get someone to check him over, here let me take him..."

Judging by the stares she was getting they weren't expecting the Captain to go 'gaga' over a cat.  However, when she'd joined the Fleet she'd had to leave Skuggi (Shadow) and she had missed him very much.  She would have loved to have taken one of the many kittens around the farm when she had gone back to take care of the twins after her parents death... all evidently descendents of the raven-black tomcat who had died a couple of years previously.

She cradled the cat in her arms where he looked lovingly up at her for a few minutes, purring and then squirmed, hopping down and hopped up onto the First Officer's seat.

"Well, I do need an interim First Officer Mr. Pussycat, and cats are easily as devious and calculating as a Vulcan's mind can be but I think CPO T'ealc should take you off and get you checked over and give you something to eat, and Mr. Meltem maybe you could get a read off the cat to see if you can find any particles to determine the owner?"

She caught sight of what Jasper had in his hand..."What's that?" and then she staggered back, falling into her seat, seeing what Kyle had in his hands.  "Is that... Oh Gods..."

[Nathan Ryder]

[AS Dr. Maggie York]

"Actually, waking them, potentially after checking the other 3 to make sure our assumptions are correct, and then confining them to quarters 'for their own safety' mightn't be a bad idea.  Would it be wrong in light of the fact that the Captain has a list of 150 or so cadets that have been killed, to tell them that the Security detail is for their own safety rather than us keeping them away from the rest of the crew?" Maggie asked uncertainly.

She pondered for a moment then said "We can ask Ryder to visit them one by one, so they can't collaborate their stories, in their quarters, if they are sharing we can move them to their own quarters, I don't believe the ship is so fully staffed that we don't have enough rooms to keep them separate.  What do you say?  And should I go and check on Kixa or do you want me here?"

Re-emerging from his office, PADD in hand, Ryder nodded along with what Dr. York was saying. He had, in point of fact, been present for most of the goings on that day, but had to excuse himself to check a few regulations and ideas he had brewing. "I was going to suggest much the same myself, Doctor. At least temporarily. I will do what I can to build a most thorough report while they are here, but I think it is best that they join Commander Sukal on the Enterprise-E when it rendezvous."

"None of us here are really in any position to decide what they are capable of for the rest of their lifespan. Barring the Captain, of course, but she's got far too much on her plate for a non-issue like this. The Admiralty, or at the very least Fleet's corps of Engineers, can decide what's to be done with them." Personally, Nathan liked to think that with a bit of reprogramming they could become productive members of society like many other androids.

[Olivia Briggs]

[Sickbay]

[AS CMO Maggie York][/b]

"Actually, waking them, potentially after checking the other 3 to make sure our assumptions are correct, and then confining them to quarters 'for their own safety' mightn't be a bad idea.  Would it be wrong in light of the fact that the Captain has a list of 150 or so cadets that have been killed, to tell them that the Security detail is for their own safety rather than us keeping them away from the rest of the crew?" Maggie asked uncertainly.

She pondered for a moment then said "We can ask Ryder to visit them one by one, so they can't collaborate their stories, in their quarters, if they are sharing we can move them to their own quarters, I don't believe the ship is so fully staffed that we don't have enough rooms to keep them separate.  What do you say?  And should I go and check on Kixa or do you want me here?"

Re-emerging from his office, PADD in hand, Ryder nodded along with what Dr. York was saying. He had, in point of fact, been present for most of the goings on that day, but had to excuse himself to check a few regulations and ideas he had brewing. "I was going to suggest much the same myself, Doctor. At least temporarily. I will do what I can to build a most thorough report while they are here, but I think it is best that they join Commander Sukal on the Enterprise-E when it rendezvous."

"None of us here are really in any position to decide what they are capable of for the rest of their lifespan. Barring the Captain, of course, but she's got far too much on her plate for a non-issue like this. The Admiralty, or at the very least Fleet's corps of Engineers, can decide what's to be done with them." Personally, Nathan liked to think that with a bit of reprogramming they could become productive members of society like many other androids.

[Sickbay - Challenger]

Liv listened as Maggie agreed with her in regards to waking up the Cadets and what to say to them, to explain the need for Security. This was definitely the most plausible solution so as not to cause any suspicion or awkward questions as well as making sure, that they were right in assuming that all four Cadets had been replaced.

" Good thinking, that way we'll know for certain and I agree, that does seem the most plausible way for us to explain the need for Security" she replied, before she was asked, whether she still needed Maggie here or if she was okay to check on Kixa. Appreciating the options given, although did take into consideration what Ruth had told Maggie to do.

" You can check on Kixa, but I'll keep you updated on how it goes, once we've checked and woken them up".

The Acting CMO then looked towards Nathan as he reemerged from his office, glad that he had caught up as he then offered his own recommendations regarding the Cadets. He was right they weren't in the position to decide their fates, but it also didn't give them a lot of time to get information, before the Enterprise showed up.

" If the Captain does agree and sends them with the Enterprise, then we don't have a lot of time to get that information, so Ryder, if you come with me, we'll confirm that they are all androids, then wake them, so we can start".

[Ruth Sigurdsdottir]

Re-emerging from his office, PADD in hand, Ryder nodded along with what Dr. York was saying. He had, in point of fact, been present for most of the goings on that day, but had to excuse himself to check a few regulations and ideas he had brewing. "I was going to suggest much the same myself, Doctor. At least temporarily. I will do what I can to build a most thorough report while they are here, but I think it is best that they join Commander Sukal on the Enterprise-E when it rendezvous."

"None of us here are really in any position to decide what they are capable of for the rest of their lifespan. Barring the Captain, of course, but she's got far too much on her plate for a non-issue like this. The Admiralty, or at the very least Fleet's corps of Engineers, can decide what's to be done with them." Personally, Nathan liked to think that with a bit of reprogramming they could become productive members of society like many other androids.

[Sickbay - Challenger]

Liv listened as Maggie agreed with her in regards to waking up the Cadets and what to say to them, to explain the need for Security. This was definitely the most plausible solution so as not to cause any suspicion or awkward questions as well as making sure, that they were right in assuming that all four Cadets had been replaced.

" Good thinking, that way we'll know for certain and I agree, that does seem the most plausible way for us to explain the need for Security" she replied, before she was asked, whether she still needed Maggie here or if she was okay to check on Kixa. Appreciating the options given, although did take into consideration what Ruth had told Maggie to do.

" You can check on Kixa, but I'll keep you updated on how it goes, once we've checked and woken them up".

The Acting CMO then looked towards Nathan as he reemerged from his office, glad that he had caught up as he then offered his own recommendations regarding the Cadets. He was right they weren't in the position to decide their fates, but it also didn't give them a lot of time to get information, before the Enterprise showed up.

" If the Captain does agree and sends them with the Enterprise, then we don't have a lot of time to get that information, so Ryder, if you come with me, we'll confirm that they are all androids, then wake them, so we can start".

[Sickbay]

[As Maggie York]

Maggie nodded agreeing with the comments between the counsellor and Liv.  "Yes, I'll go and see Kixa, and I'll update the Captain on her condition and recommend having the cadets taken off when Sukal is picked up. Counsellor if you could get a report ready to go with them and Liv, if you'd swing by my office when you're done I'd like a word about something if you don't mind.  Don't worry it's something I need to talk to another doctor about myself.  And no, not that" she added with a small grin trying to make everyone a little less serious.

The CMO wandered over to Kixa's bed to see if she was awake, checking on the vitals and reading the notes.

[Kyle Briggs]

[Bridge - Challenger]

The emergency beam out materialized the away team directly on the Bridge.

"Captain. We gotta go. Now." Kyle said. He had no command authority on the Challenger but Ruth knew him and trusted him to the point she didn't questions his statement.

"Mr. Litt, get us out of here Warp 6 as instructed. Grelek, relay the same to Captain Hecate on the Tal'Bath.  Mr. Briggs - report, what had you have us yank you out so quickly?  Was my gut right? Petty Officer ch'Verret, doc... good work these files are going to have us busy for a while. Lek, thanks...go get some rest, we'll need you soon enough I suspect if these files yield what I hope.  And Mr. Meltem..." Ruth got up and walked to the Scientist.

"What do you have there, Hello baby..." she said fussing the cat around his ears and neck.  "...who's your owner.  Anything on the collar Ensign?  Someone get this poor furbaby some gushy food, and get someone to check him over, here let me take him..."

Judging by the stares she was getting they weren't expecting the Captain to go 'gaga' over a cat.  However, when she'd joined the Fleet she'd had to leave Skuggi (Shadow) and she had missed him very much.  She would have loved to have taken one of the many kittens around the farm when she had gone back to take care of the twins after her parents death... all evidently descendents of the raven-black tomcat who had died a couple of years previously.

She cradled the cat in her arms where he looked lovingly up at her for a few minutes, purring and then squirmed, hopping down and hopped up onto the First Officer's seat.

"Well, I do need an interim First Officer Mr. Pussycat, and cats are easily as devious and calculating as a Vulcan's mind can be but I think CPO T'ealc should take you off and get you checked over and give you something to eat, and Mr. Meltem maybe you could get a read off the cat to see if you can find any particles to determine the owner?"

She caught sight of what Jasper had in his hand..."What's that?" and then she staggered back, falling into her seat, seeing what Kyle had in his hands.  "Is that... Oh Gods..."

Kyle felt the ship surge forward as Flight punched it and hauled their asses to safety. At the site of the Captain's eyes widening, he offered up the helmet.

"We found this little trinket in some sort of safe. Unfortunately, as soon as I removed it, it triggered a self destruct sequence." he said as he nodded toward the doctor and Lahr. "I'm just glad they were able to get the info we needed."

"In coming shock wave." someone announced.

Everyone braced themselves for the impact however, Helm had gotten them far enough away that it was merely a bump in the road.

"What's next, Captain?" he asked as he turned his attention back to the CO.

[Don Damien Addams]

[Bridge - Challenger]

The emergency beam out materialized the away team directly on the Bridge.

"Captain. We gotta go. Now." Kyle said. He had no command authority on the Challenger but Ruth knew him and trusted him to the point she didn't questions his statement.

Kyle felt the ship surge forward as Flight punched it and hauled their asses to safety. At the site of the Captain's eyes widening, he offered up the helmet.

"We found this little trinket in some sort of safe. Unfortunately, as soon as I removed it, it triggered a self destruct sequence." he said as he nodded toward the doctor and Lahr. "I'm just glad they were able to get the info we needed."

"In coming shock wave." someone announced.

Everyone braced themselves for the impact however, Helm had gotten them far enough away that it was merely a bump in the road.

"What's next, Captain?" he asked as he turned his attention back to the CO.

[USS Challenger]

Jasper allowed the Captain to take the feline and cuddle it. It was funny. He smiled. Hiding it a smile would consider an insult to the Captain. By Zaldan culture.

"Captain, there is this piece of paper," he had looked down at it. Then he was observing it.

Then a bump. Then Jasper turned to look at the view screen. That could had been them. Blown up in small molecules.

"Here Captain, no poison on it. I think it safe for you to handle it," he handed the paper to her.

Weirdest thing an Ensign ever imagine walking to the Commander's chair scooping up a cat from command chair. "I'll see what we can find in the scans," he was checking the collar and there was a tag. "Oh. What's this?" He asked.

[Lek]

[Station --> Bridge - USS Challenger]

Lek's brain was still trying to process the door opening, the implications of the devices in the room, the cat, then the sudden beam out. Once on the bridge, all he could do was emit a strangled chuckle of pent up nerves and mumble.

"Told you there would be trap in that room."

[ShranLahr ch'Verret]

PO ShranLahr ch'Verret
[USS Challenger-A - Deck One - Bridge]

Lahr glanced about the Bridge in confusion.  His query having been lost in the bustle of the Captain and the Lieutenant speeding them away from the station.  He acknowledged her words of praise for finding the files with a nod, then looked on in confusion not knowing what to make of the Captain's fussing over the cat.  He just hoped she wouldn't trip over it should it somehow get loose from her cradling arms.

The cat seemed to absorb her attention for several minutes, during which time Lahr resumed his spot at Ops - taking over for Grelek after the Vulcan contacted Hecate on the Tal'Bath and informed her of the situation instructing the Romulan ship to keep pace with Challenger at Warp 6 as they headed their way to Deep Space 4.  The Vulcan had already contacted the Enterprise-E and informed them of the rendezvous at the start of the Mab-bu/Setisar corridor.

Eventually, after the cat left her arms, the Captain seemed to take note of the object Lt Briggs held.    It was at this point that the Lieutenant gave his report.  It seemed perfect timing for no sooner have he mentioned the self-destruct than the sensor chirped in alert on Lahr's console.

"Incoming shockwave" Lahr called out and braced himself... but they had enough lead time that it barely nudged the ship.

Lek's comment earned a glance back towards the Ferengi.  Go figure that the engineer would have called it.

Lahr turned back to his console, wondering what the business with meeting up with the Enterprise was all about.  He was surprised to see Sukal not on the Bridge and wondered if it was related.